The Calm of the Void
Apocryphal Product Although the subject of this article is an official BattleTech product, it does not meet the current criteria for Canon. Its content may or may not be canonical for the BattleTech universe, and for the purpose of the Sarna.net BattleTechWiki is considered apocryphal. |
The Calm of the Void | |
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Product information | |
Type | Novella |
Author | Randall N. Bills |
Pages | 75 (EPUB edition) 46 (PDF edition) |
Cover Artwork | David Kerber |
Publication information | |
Publisher | MechaPub Inc |
First published | 18 November 2019 |
MSRP | Free |
Content | |
Era | Succession Wars era |
Timeline | 5 December 2991 - 20 June 2992 |
Series | MechWarrior 5: Origins |
Followed by | Vision's Hunger |
The Calm of the Void, subtitled A MechWarrior 5 Origins Series Story, Installment 1, is an original BattleTech novella penned by Randall N. Bills. It was released in electronic format on 18 November 2019.
The MechWarrior 5 Origins series is offered as a free tie-in product supporting the MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries computer game; the individual stories narrate the backgrounds of important characters from the game.
Contents
Canonicity
This novella is a promotional publication going with MechWarrior 5 and, like MechWarrior 5, derives from Piranha Games' license to BattleTech video games instead of the (distinct) "mainline" BattleTech license held by Catalyst Game Labs. As such it does not meet the criteria for canon in the "mainline" BattleTech universe and is therefore flagged as apocryphal.
Plot summary
Working for Merchant Captain Cardian of the free trader JumpShip Talia's Investiture, Nikolai Mason has a fierce professional rivalry with procurement officer Jules Vonic, whose position he hopes to usurp. Vonic is unimpressed though, and tells him to his head that "Whatever you want, I get."
To draw the Captain’s attention, Nicolai seeks to procure a replacement Motor Control Unit for a Star League era Champion, a lostech spare desperately sought by the Twelfth Star Guards, one of the mercenary units Cardian supplies. To this end Nikolai makes contact with Chloe, a tech with the Blackhearts, and learns of Detlef Jorgenson, a master tech with Bowie Industries on Wyatt, who is in possession of such a MCU and who is prepared to "jump ship" to a new employer. As corporations don't usually let their master techs walk away, Nikolai arranges for Jorgenson's covert extraction.
However, their escape truck unexpectedly comes under attack from a Wasp. Jorgenson is killed and Nikolai is wounded. Merchant Captain Cardian's meticulouly planned timetable is upset and pushed back two days, earning Nikolai his ire. Worse, it turns out that Vonic was apparently behind the attack; she has secured the priceless MCU and is the one to provide it to the Twelfth Star Guards five weeks later. Vonic reaps all the rewards for procuring the device, namely the prestige, contacts, and good standing with Cardian. The wounded Nikolai can only watch helplessly as she mouths her "Whatever you want, I get" to him.
Featured Characters
- Merchant Captain Cardian
- Chloe
- Detlef Jorgenson
- Joshua
- Jules Vonic
- Nikolai Mason
- Albert Rivers (mentioned)
Featured BattleTech
BattleMechs
Featured spacecraft
- Mule-class DropShip Perdido
- Star Lord-class JumpShip Talia's Investiture
Featured Places
- New Earth
- New Kyoto
- Solaris VII
- Wyatt
- Algorab (mentioned)
- Alioth (mentioned)
- Alula Borealis (mentioned)
- Bell I (mentioned)
- Cavanaugh II (mentioned)
- Denebola (mentioned)
- Ford (mentioned)
- Galisteo (mentioned)
- Giausar (mentioned)
- Gienah (mentioned)
- Gacrux (mentioned)
- Hyde (mentioned)
- Loric (mentioned)
- Millungera (mentioned)
- Nockatunga (mentioned)
- Phecda (mentioned)
- Poulsbo (mentioned)
- Rahne (mentioned)
Notes
External links
- MechWarrior 5 novella downloads (official)