Editing The Ruins of Power

{{InfoBoxProduct
| image               = The Ruins of Power.jpg
| name                = 
| type                = Novel
| author              = [[Robert E. Vardeman]]
| development         = 
| primarywriting      = 
| pages               = 295
| cover               = [[Ray Lundgren]]
| interiorart         = 
| illustrations       = 
| publisher           = [[Roc Books]]
| productioncode      = 
| year                = 1 April 2003
| ISBN10              = 0451459288
| ISBN13              = 978-0451459282
| MSRP                = 
| content             = 
| era                 = [[Dark Age era]]
| timeline            = 3 April - 12 May [[3133]]
| series              = [[MechWarrior: Dark Age Novels]]
| precededby          = [[A Call to Arms]]
| followedby          = [[A Silence in the Heavens]]<br />([[The Proving Grounds (series)|The Proving Grounds trilogy]])
}}
'''''The Ruins of Power''''', by [[Robert E. Vardeman]], is the third novel in the [[MechWarrior: Dark Age Novels|MechWarrior: Dark Age]] series. It was first published in April 2003 by [[Roc Books]] and was later republished in April 2021 by [[InMediaRes Productions, LLC|Catalyst Game Labs]] as a [[BattleTech Legends]] title.

== From the back cover ==
{{quote|''The destruction of the [[Hyperpulse Generator|interplanetary communications net]] has isolated planets across [[The Republic of the Sphere]]. On the world of [[Mirach]], a widening schism in the military between those who would remain loyal to The Republic and those who would break away threatens the peace and prosperity that have lasted for generations...''

''Once a formidable [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarrior]], Mirach governor [[Sergio Ortega]] now believes that diplomacy will win the day. His sons, [[Dale Ortega|Dale]] and [[Austin Ortega|Austin]], are also stalwarts of The Republic and aspiring MechWarriors. Against growing civil unrest, they urge a military show of force before events spiral out of control. But Mirach has no military equipment up to [[BattleMech]] status. And the pacifistic governor is slashing military spending.''

''[[Marta Kinsolving]]'s [[Mirach Business Association]] has been converting [[IndustrialMech]]s into fighting machines. After putting down a civil uprising, MBA could field a force in the imminent civil war and split Mirach three ways. Although Austin believes that Marta may be complicit in murder, she may turn out to be the strongest ally the Ortegas have when open warfare erupts.''}}

== Plot Summary ==
{{sectionstub}}

==Featured characters==
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
* [[Austin Ortega]]
* [[Benton Nagursky]]
* [[Boris Chin]]
* [[Calvilena Tortorelli]]
* [[Dale Ortega]]
* [[Dmitri Borodin]]
* [[Elora Rimonova]]
* [[Hanna Leong]]
* [[Inger Ryumin]]
* [[Jerome Parsons]]
* [[Manfred Leclerc]]
* [[Marta Kinsolving]]
* [[Pavel Orndorff]]
* [[Sergio Ortega]]
* Barnaby
* Barkhausen
* Bethany
* Jurgen
* Captain Mugabe
* Lieutenant Newell
* Dr. Penrose
* Sergeant Posner
* [[Aaron Sandoval (32nd c.)|Aaron Sandoval]] (mentioned)
* [[Devlin Stone]] (mentioned)
* [[Galina Stepanova]] (mentioned)
* [[Jacob Bannson]] (mentioned)
* [[Kal Radick]] (mentioned)
* Colonel Armitage (mentioned)
{{div col end}}

== Featured worlds ==
* [[Mirach]]

== Featured units ==
* [[First Cossack Lancers]]
* [[Mirach Home Guard]]

== Featured BattleTech ==
{{columns-start|num=3}}
=== 'Mechs ===
* ''[[Atlas (BattleMech)|Atlas]]''
* ''[[Centurion (BattleMech)|Centurion]]''
* ''[[Enforcer III]]''
* ''converted [[AgroMech]]''
* ''converted [[MiningMech (Dark Age)|MiningMech]]''
{{column}}
=== Combat Vehicles ===
* [[Behemoth II (Combat Vehicle)|Behemoth II]]
* [[Condor (Combat Vehicle)|Condor]]
* [[JES Tactical Missile Carrier]]
* [[Lamprey (Combat Vehicle)|Lamprey]]
* [[Mobile HQ]]
* [[Ranger VV1]]
* [[Shandra Advanced Scout Vehicle]]
* unspecified APC
* unspecified VTOL
{{column}}
=== Battle Armor ===
* ''[[Hauberk]]''
* ''[[Purifier]]''

=== DropShips ===
* ''[[Union (DropShip class)|Union]]''-class
* ''unspecified DropShips''
{{columns-end}}
<!--==Notes==-->
==Foreign-Language Editions==
===German=== 
A German edition, translated by [[Reinhold H. Mai]], was published by [[Heyne]] in 2004 as ''Ruinen der Macht'' (ISBN 9783453879003).<ref>Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Catalog entry for [https://d-nb.info/969708092 ''Ruinen der Macht'']</ref>

===Hungarian===
A Hungarian edition, translated by Zaránd Fruzsina, was published by [[Delta Vision]] in 2003 as ''A hatlom romaji''.<ref>Beholder product page for [http://beholder.hu/?m=bolt&cikk=5007 ''A hatlom romaji'']</ref>

===Spanish===
A Spanish edition, translated by Ángel Martínez, was published by [[Devir]] in 2004 as [[List of BattleTech Print Novels in Spanish#Las ruinas del poder|''Las ruinas del poder'']].

==Covers==
<gallery>
File:The Ruins of Power.jpg|Original 2003 cover. Art by Ray Lundgren.
File:The Ruins of Power (2021 cover).jpg|2021 cover. Art by [[Tan Ho Sim]].
File:MWDA-03-Ruinen der Macht.jpg|2004 German edition. Art by Franz Vohwinkel.
File:A hatlom romaji - 2003.jpg|2003 Hungarian edition.
File:SpanishBattletech-Las_ruinas_del_poder.jpg|2004 Spanish edition.
</gallery>

=References=
<references/>


[[Category:Novels|Ruins of Power, The]]
[[Category:MechWarrior: Dark Age novels|Ruins of Power, The]]
[[Category:Works by Robert E. Vardeman|Ruins of Power, The]]
[[Category:German Editions|Ruins of Power, The]]
[[Category:Hungarian Editions|Ruins of Power, The]]
[[Category:Spanish Editions|Ruins of Power, The]]
@@ Line 33: / Line 33: @@
 == Plot Summary ==
-Tensions are high on Mirach in the aftermath of the Blackout. The planet's minister of information, Elora Rimonova, openly foments unrest against the pacifistic Governor Sergio Ortega and key business leader Marta Kinsolving, using her control of Mirach's communications network. The economy is in crisis, shattered by the HPG collapse, and the planet has caught the attention of the rogue industrialist Jacob Bannson.
+{{sectionstub}}
-Brothers Austin and Dale Ortega, members of their father's elite First Cossack Lancers, fear for the planet. When Dale's lover Hanna Leong is assassinated, shortly followed by Dale himself, Austin finds himself searching for the truth. Before his investigation can amount to much, though, the culprit makes her move. Rimonova, alongside manipulated Legate Calvilena Tortorelli, launches a military coup, seeking to hand the planet over to Kal Radick's Steel Wolves.
-Through the combination of Sergio's plots and manipulations, Marta's Mirach Business Association IndustrialMech force, Republic agent Jerome Parsons's ''Atlas'', and Austin's heartfelt pleas and museum-recovered ''Centurion'', the planetary government fends off the coup attempt. Rimonova is sent into exile, and Tortorelli, left in his post, is stripped of his powers.
 ==Featured characters==