A Time of War: The BattleTech RPG

BATTLETECHTMA TIME OF WARSample file• CATALYST GAME LABS •

THE FIRES OF HELL: GATHERING PLAYERS 6THE UNIVERSE BEFORE YOUWelcome to the BattleTech Universe 16Starting Out 16What is a Roleplaying Game? 16What’s Needed to Play 17A Universe at War 21House Davion (Federated Suns) 21House Kurita (Draconis Combine) 21House Liao (Capellan Confederation) 21House Marik (Free Worlds League) 22House Steiner (Lyran Alliance) 22ComStar 23Word of Blake 23The Clans 23The Periphery 24A Brief History of BattleTech 25Colonizing the Stars 25Age of War 25Star League 26The Succession Wars 26Clan Invasion 26Civil War 27Jihad 27The BattleTech Universe 31Core Rulebooks 31Techinical Readouts and Record Sheets 31The Jihad 31Handbooks 32Historicals 32Maps, Terrain and Miniatures 32Fiction 32BattleCorps 32Choose Your Rules 33Gamemaster Adjudication 33Fiction vs. Rules 33BASIC GAMEPLAYOverview 34Characters 34Character Record Sheet 34Attributes 34Traits 36Skills 36Personal Data 37Combat Data 37Biographical Data 37Inventory 37Vehicle Data 37Actions 38Attribute Checks 38Skill Checks 39Opposed Actions 39Basic Action Resolution 40Edge 42THE FIRES OF HELL: THE CALM BEFORE 44CHARACTER CREATIONOverview 48Choosing the Character Concept 48Character Creation Basics 49Points-Only Character Creation (Optional) 51Prerequisites and Accumulating Experience 51Choosing Life Modules 52Stage 0: Affiliation 52Stage 1: Early Childhood 52Stage 2: Late Childhood 52Stage 3: Higher Education (Optional) 52Stage 4: Real Life (Optional) 53Stage 0 Modules: Affiliations 53Universal Experience Points 53Changing Affiliations 53Stage 1 Modules: Early Childhood 65Back Woods 65Blue Collar 65Born Mercenary Brat 65Farm 65Fugitives 65Nobility 66Slave 66Street 66Trueborn Creche 66War Orphan 66White Collar 66Stage 2 Modules: Late Childhood 67Adolescent Warfare 67Back Woods 67Clan Apprenticeship 67Farm 67Freeborn Sibko 67High School 68Mercenary Brat 68Military School 68Prepatory School 68Space Family 69Street 69Trueborn Sibko 69Stage 3 Modules: Higher Education 70Overview 70Choose Your Schooling 70Age 71Repeating Stage 3 71Stage 4 Modules: Real Life 74Age 74Repeating State 4 74Agitator 74Civilian Job 74Clan Watch Operative 74Clan Warrior Washout 75Cloister Training 75Combat Correspondent 75ComStar/Word of Blake 75Cover Operations 76Dark Caste 77Explorer 77Goliath Scorpion Seeker 78Guerilla Insurgent 78Merchant 78Ne’er-do-well 79Organized Crime 79Postgraduate Studies 79Protomech Pilot Training 79Scientist Caste Service 80Solaris Insider 80Solaris VII Games 80Think Tank 80Tour of Duty 80To Serve and Protect 81Travel 82Purchasing Attributes, Traits and Skills 85Determining Final Levels 85Opposed Traits and Canceling Experience 87Buying Additional Experience Points 89Optional Points-Only Design System 89Final Touches 91Defining Features 91Character Background 91Purchasing Equipment 91Sample Characters 93MechWarrior 94Tanker 95Aerospace Pilot 96Elemental 97Scout 98Faceman 99Renegade Warrior 100Battlefield Tech 101Sample fileTHE FIRES OF HELL: THE MISSION BEGINS 102TRAITSOverview 106Trait Points 106Character and Vehicle Traits 106Positive, Negative and Flexible Traits 106Multiple Traits 107Opposing Traits 107Variable-Level Traits 107Trait Descriptions 108Alternate ID 108Ambidextrous 108Animal Antipathy 108Animal Empathy 108Attractive 108Bloodmark 109Citizenship/Trueborn 109Combat Paralysis 110Combat Sense 110Compulsion 110Connections 111Custom Vehicle 112Dark Secret 112Dependents 113Design Quirk 113Enemy 113Equipped 116Exceptional Attribute 116Extra Income 116Fast Learner 117Fit 117G-Tolerance 118Glass Jaw 118Good Hearing 118Good Vision 118Gregarious 118Gremlins 118Handicap 118Illiterate 119Impatient 119Implant/Prosthetic 119In For Life 120Introvert 121Lost Limb 121Natural Aptitude 121Pain Resistance 121Patient 121Phenotype 121Poison Resistance 122Poor Hearing 122Poor Vision 122Property 123Rank 123Reputation 124Sixth Sense 125Slow Learner 125Tech Empathy 125Thick-Skinned 125Thin-Skinned 126Title/Bloodname 126Toughness 127Transit Disorientation Syndrome 127Unattractive 128Unlucky 128Vehicle Level 128Wealth 128THE FIRES OF HELL: SECURING THE LZ 136SKILLSSkills Overview 140Using Skills 140Linked Attributes 140Target Numbers 141Complexity Rating 141Subskills 141Specialties 141Tiered Skills 141

Available Skills 141Acrobatics 141Acting 142Administration 143Animal Handling 143Appraisal 143Archery 143Art 144Artillery 144Career 144Climbing 144Communications 144Computers 145Crytopgraphy 145Demolitions 146Disguise 146Driving 146Escape Artist 147Forgery 147Gunnery 147Interest 147Interrogation 148Investigation 148Language 148Leadership 148Martial Arts 149MedTech 149Melee Weapons 149Navigation 150Negotiation 150Perception 151Piloting 151Prestidigitation 152Protocol 152Running 153Science 153Security Systems 153Sensor Operations 153Small Arms 153Stealth 154Strategy 154Streetwise 154Support Weapons 154Surgery 154Survival 156Swimming 156Tactics 156Technician 157Thrown Weapons 158Tracking 158Training 159Zero-G Operations 159THE FIRES OF HELL: RECON 160COMBATOverview 164The Combat Turn 164Initiative Phase 164Action Phase 164End Phase 164Initiative Phase 164Individual vs. Squad and Team Initiative 165Initiative Modifiers 166Holding Action 166Action Phase 166Movement Actions 167Movement Modes and Maneuvers 167Terrain and Encumbrance 169Movement From Previous Turn 170Command Cohesion 170Resolving Actions in Personal Combat 171Ranged Combat Resolution 171Ranged Attack Roll 171Ranged Line of Sight 171Other Combat Modifiers 172Special Ranged Attack Effects 172Melee Combat Resolution 175Melee Combat Rolls 175Melee Combat Limits 175Range and Line of Sight 175Other Combat Modifiers 175Special Melee Effects 175Damage Resolution 177Damage Notation 177Standard Damage vs. Fatigue 179Standard Ranged Attack Damage 179Standard Melee Attack Damage 180Continuous Damage 180Falling Damage 181Fatigue 182Damage Effects 182Injury Modifiers 182Fatigue Modifiers 183Consciousness Check 184Bleeding Effect 184Death 184Tactical Kill 184Stun 184Traits and Damage Effects 184Armor and Barrier Effects 185Armor and Barrier Types 185AP vs. BAR 185Armor Degradation 186Stacked Armor 188End Phase 189Bleeding and Continuous Damage 189Fatigue 189Resolving Extended Actionsand Automatic Events 189Optional Personal Combat Rules 189Morale Checks 189Hit Locations 190Knockdown Damage 192Lethality Reduction 192Healing and Recovery 192General Healing Rules 192Normal (Unassigned) Healing 193Assisted Healing 193Surgery 193THE FIRES OF HELL: HEAVY ARTILLERY 196Sample fileTACTICAL COMBATADDENDUMOverview 200Vehicular vs. Infantry Units 201The Combat Turn 202Initiative Phase 204Rolling Tactical Initiative 204Tactical Action Sequence 205Tactical Action Resolution 205Action Phase 206Action Sequence 206Movement Actions 206Vehicular Combat 209Weapon Damage Conversion 211Margin of Success/Failure in Tactical Combat 212Vehicular Weapon Traits 212Battle Armor Weapons 214Damage to Vehicle Pilots/MechWarriors 218Physical Attacks 218End Phase 218Heat (‘Mechs and Fighters) 218Special Pilot Abilities 219Gunnery Abilities 219Piloting Abilities 222Miscellaneous Abilities 225THE FIRES OF HELL: JOURNEY 226SPECIAL CASE RULESPlanetary Conditions 230Movement Modifiers 230Terrain Types 230Clear 231Vegetation 231Rough 232Ice 232Water 232Paved 232Urban 232Magma 233Terrain Conditions 233Soft Terrain 233Fragile Terrain 234Dynamic Terrain 235Weather Conditions 236Exotic Conditions 237High/Low Gravity 237Creatures 238Encounters 239Creature Attributes 239Creature Skills 239Creature Combat 240Creature Compendium: Terrestrials 241Creature Compendium: Extraterrestrials 242Creatures Table 245Diseases 245Medical Maintenance 245Random Disease Effects 248THE FIRES OF HELL:STORMING THE OBJECTIVE 250EQUIPMENTOverview 254Supply and Demand 254Equipment Ratings 254Acquiring Gear 256Using Equipment 259Equipment Data 259Repairs 259The Warrior’s Catalog 260Melee and Archaic Weapons 260Archaic Melee Weapons 260Archaic Ranged Weapons 260Modern Melee Weapons 260Small Arms 264Ballistic Weapons 264Energy Weapons 265Flechette Weapons 266Gauss Weapons 272Gyrojet Weapons 272Miscellaneous Small Arms 272Support Weapons 272Machine Guns 272Grenade Launchers and Mortars 274Missile Launchers 276Recoilless Rifles 276Support Energy Weapons 276Support Gauss Weapons 276Explosives 277Standard Explosives 277Demolitions 279Ordnance 279Specialty Ammunitions 279Weapon Accessories 285Personal Protective Equipment 287Flak Armor 287Ablative Armor 287Ablative/Flak (AB/FLAK) Armor 287Ballistic Plate Armor 287Neo-Chainmail Armor 287Myomer Armor 287Concealed Armor 289Combat Armor Accessories 289Standard Armor Kits 291Exotic Armor 291Hostile Environment Gear 291Stealth Gear 297THE UNIVERSEBEFORE YOUBASICGAMEPLAYCHARACTERCREATIONTRAITSSKILLSCOMBATTACTICALCOMBATADDENDUMSPECIALCASERULESEQUIPMENTGAMEMASTERINGGUIDEINDEX3

Non-Combat Attire 297Battle Armor and Exoskeletons 298Special Game Rules 300Electronics 300Communications Equipment 300Audio/Video/Trideo Equipment 300Computers 301Surveillance Gear 302Optics 303Remote Sensors 305Power Packs and Rechargers 306Power Packs 306Rechargers 307Miscellaneous Gear 307Espionage Gear and Security 307Repairs/Salvage Gear 309Other Miscellaneous Gear 309Health Care 311Medical Equipment 311Prosthetics 314Limb and Organ Replacements 314Elective Implants 316Drugs and Poisons 317Special Game Rules 318Personal Vehicles 321Special Game Rules 323Fuel 323THE FIRES OF HELL: BURNOUT 326GAMEMASTER’S GUIDECharacter Advancement 330Rewards 330Character Advancement Overview 332Aging 332Attributes 333Project ConceptRandall N. BillsProject DevelopmentHerbert A. Beas IIDevelopment AssistanceRandall N. BillsPaul SjardijnWritingThe Fires of Hell (Fiction)Ben H. RomeJason HardyKen’ HornerKevin KillianyNick MarsalaSteve Mohan, Jr.Jim RapkinsPaul SjardijnRulesHerbert A. Beas IIAdditional RulesJoel Bancroft-ConnorsCraig ErneChris HartfordKen’ HornerNick MarsalaMike MillerJim RapkinsBen H. RomePaul SjardijnThe Universe Before YouBjörn SchmidtTraits 333Skills 333Training 334Downtime 334Wealth and Property 334Rank and Power 336NPCs and Random Encounters 336NPC Templates 336NPC Types 337Random Encounters 340Gamemastering Tips and Suggestions 342General Gamemastering Guide 342Developing Stories 345The Plot Approach 345The Grand Plot 345The Sandbox Approach 346Combined Approach 346Remember… 346Adventure Seeds 346Adventure Seeds 347Political and Military Power 349Roleplaying Power 349Titles and Ranks Explained 351Knight Bachelor 351Knight Banneret 351Baronet 352Baron 352Viscount 352Count/Countess 352Marquis/Marquessa 353Duke/Duchess 353Grand Duke/Grand Duchess 353Heir/Prime Minister 353Sovereign/Head of State 353Clan Social Rank 355Trueborn 355Trueborn (Exclusive Bloodname) 355Bloodnamed (Lesser, General Bloodhouse) 355Bloodnamed (Lesser, Phenotype Bloodhouse) 355Product EditingDiane Piron-GelmanCREDITSSample fileBattleTech Line DeveloperHerbert A. Beas IIProduction StaffArt DirectionRandall N. BillsBrent EvansCover ArtNeil RobertsCover DesignMatt HeerdtBattleTech Logo DesignShane Hartley, Steve Walkerand Matt HeerdtEvolved Faction Logos DesignJason VargasGraphic PresentationDavid M. Stansel-GarnerTroy Stansel-GarnerLayoutMatt HeerdtIllustrationsKlaus ScherwinskiLiam CurtnerChris LewisWill NicholsBloodnamed (Greater, General Bloodhouse) 355Bloodnamed(Greater, Phenotype Bloodhouse) 356Bloodnamed(Lesser, General Exclusive Bloodhouse) 356Bloodnamed(Lesser, Exclusive Phenotype Bloodhouse) 356Bloodnamed(Greater, Exclusive General Bloodhouse) 356Bloodnamed (Greater, Exclusive PhenotypeBloodhouse/Kerensky’s Legacy) 356Common Military Ranks 356Universal Aesthetics 359Worlds 359People 359Politics 360Technology 360MechWarriors and Their ‘Mechs 360Touring the Stars 362Society and Culture Across Human Space 362Economics and Industries 366Whistle Stop Tour 374El Dorado 374Arcturus 376Ovan 377Annapolis 380Solaris VII 382INDEXRECORD SHEETSTABLESMiniatures Painting & PhotographyJoel “Psycho” Hardwick, David “Dak”Kerber, Frederic “foxbat” Lagoanere, Steve“MadDoc” Livingston, Ed (Captain of theWatch) Smith.2005 Origins International Games Expo DioramaRay “Adrian Gideon” Arrastia, Chad“Urbiemech” Derrenbacker, Ross “SavageCoyote” Hines, David “Dak” Kerber, Mark“Hyena” Maestas, Steve “Insane Kangaroo”McCartney, Ryan “F15CFlyer” Peterson,Robert “Cabal” Pidgeon, Ben “Ghostbear”Rome, Paul Sjardijn, Allen “Papoose” Soles,Joe “Minidragon” WiedemanTerrainBlair Line Signs, Busch, GHQ Miniatures,Ground Zero Games, Herpa MiniatureModels, Iron Wind Metals, Joker’s Terrain,JR Miniatures, Kato USA, Marklin, OldCrow Models, Pegasus Hobbies’ PlatformerTerrain, Talon Games’ BattleHex TerrainMap of the Inner SphereØystein TvedtenRecord SheetsDavid L. McCullochIndexRita Tatum

Additional Design and DevelopmentThe following people have been involved in the creation and developmentof BattleTech rules, either by writing material that was assimilated into themain body of the rules, serving as the BattleTech line developer in the past, orotherwise contributing to the game in a major way.Samuel B. Baker, Herb Beas, Randall N. Bills, Forest G. Brown, Chuck Crain,Chris Hartford, Clare Hess, Scott Jenkins, J. Andrew Keith, James R. Kellar,Dale Kemper, L.R. “Butch” Leeper, Bryan LiBrandi, Jim Long, David McCulloch,Jim Musser, Bryan Nystul, Mike Nystul, Blaine Pardoe, Boy F. Peterson Jr., RickRaisley, Jerry Stenson, Christoffer Trossen, Wm. John Wheeler.AcknowledgementsTo Randall Bills for, well, for foisting this one on me, and for letting me turnthe Jihad story arc into one of my favorite fictional playgrounds, and for notfiring me as an assistant dev when I missed…a few deadlines. This has allbeen a blast so far!To the core group of people who, to one extent or another, havesignificantly contributed to keeping BattleTech not simply alive these lastfive years, but thriving once more: Ray Arrastia, Herb Beas, Loren Coleman,Warner Doles, David M. Stansel-Garner, Diane Piron-Gelman, Jason Hardy,Chris Hartford, Jason Knight, Chris Lewis, David McCulloch, Ben Rome, MattPlog, Paul Sjardijn, Peter Smith, Scott Taylor, Christoffer Trossen, ØysteinTvedten, Jason Vargas, and the fanatic core of fact-checkers and playtesterswho sometimes worked under four-day “urgent data requests” more timesthan I should probably mention.To David Stansel-Garner for being the primary vision behind the new rebrandedgraphic presentation of Classic BattleTech.To Rob Boyle for constantly putting up with Randall’s endless demands,while I more or less hid in the shadows with fingers crossed.To all the Commandos, for their ongoing stalwart support!To Franz Vohwinkel, Klaus Scherwinski and Chris Lewis for all the greatBattleTech art over the years (and the years that will come) and for outdoingthemselves this time yet again.Playtesters/Proofers/Fact CheckersThere is no overstating the invaluable assistance our cadre of playtestersand fact-checkers have made it possible to buff the tarnish off this twentyplus-year-oldgame of ours. Were it not for these guys’ tireless efforts to fix thebroken rules, dust off the ancient tomes for obscure component origins andone-line factoids—or even argue the pros and cons of “retcons” versus “twosteps”—we’dnever achieve the level of quality we’ve managed to produce inthese last few years. And to rise to that occasion for TechManual so soon afterTotal Warfare, I don’t think we could ask for a better team. Thanks, to you guys!Joel Agee, Ron Barter, Roland Boshnack, Jason Bouchard, James RichardBrown, Rich Cencarik, Jean-Marc Comeau, Konstantin Dika, Brent Dill,Nicholai Duda, Bruce Ford, Aaron Gregory, Jon “Worktroll” Haward, Glenn“Lobsterback” Hopkins, Adam Jury, Jen-Hendrik Kalusche, Rod Klatt, Edward“TenakaFurey” Lafferty, Edward Lott, Chris Marti, Jeffrey Morgan, Daryl“FlailingDeath” Myers, Andrew Norris, Aaron Pollyea, Richard Putz, CraigReed, Andreas Rudolf, Christopher K. Searls, Adam Sherwood, Sam Snell,Chris Wheeler, Patrick “Roosterboy” Wynne.…And, of course, to all the players whose on-line questions and incidentalremarks fed (and continue to feed) a wealth of the material that went into thisbook and other BattleTech products, past and future. Although I don’t knowyou all by your real names (and some of you may actually be playtesters Ialready mentioned), I want to thank all of you “avatars” listed below for youron-line input in the creation of this book:00Dawg, 3rdCrucisLancers, 97jedi, Akalabeth Angel, Atlas3060,ATN082268, AWPrime, BattleFish, Bedwyr, bilblak, bluedragon7, Boilerman,BrianDavion, Casper, Casperionx, Centurion, Charlie Tango, ColBosch,ColonelCody, COLWebbSFMC, corbrausn, Critias, cvb, DarkISI, DarkMessiah,Darrien Wolffe, Daryk, Deathknight69, Discord, DougGlendower, DreadMoores, Drop-Bear, drufause, Dukeroyal, Fallguy, Feret, Fokker, General308,Ghost Bear Legend, God and Davion, Grantwhy, GreenDragon, grunt213,Guardiandashi, Gus, Hammer, Hammerpilot_IIC, HunterADA, ice_trey, Ideaweenie, incrdbil, IronSphinx, Jabberwocky, Jaim_Magnus, Jazzjr, JediBear,JerimiahRose, Kojak, krazzyharry, Labyr, Lazarus Sinn, Leto_II, Liam’s Ghost,limejello, Logic, LostInSpace, MacPhail, MadCapellan, Maelwys, Martius,Mattlov, Monbvol, Nerd, Netherek, NicolBolas, Nikita, Paint it Pink, Pallando,panzerfaust150, PerkinsC, Psycho, Psychopompous, Pyro, raven, Red Pins,rlandrigan, Round Top, Semi_Jumppanen, Sharkhead11, Siden Pryde,skiltao, StCptMara, Sushi, Taharqa, Tel Hazen, The Prince, Thoth, TopCat,Trboturtle, Tenchknife, Tycho, Uroshnor, Vandal, Vestifex, Vorpal, Wanderer,wasp, Wrangler, Yellow DogBeta TestersSpecial thanks to those of you whose comments during the “Beta”playtest cycle helped to improve this project for the final release. ThoughI may not know you all by name, a hearty thank you goes to all of thefollowing avatars from the BattleTech forums:Arcologist, Arthinas, Atlas3060, Bedwyr, bluedragon7, Christian Soldier,Colodie, COLWebbSFMC, Crushus Maximus, Darkblood18, DarkISI, DarrianWolffe, DarthGM, Demos, Diplominator, Dmitry, doulos05, dratt, Drop-Bear,Dukeroyal, Erin Steiner, fever_Dream, Fokker, Frischi, Gelai, Geoff Watson,gnome76, Goose, Granite, ice_trey, Imperator, Jackmc, joechummer,JohnHawk, Kasaga, Khanjohn, König Wolf, Koyla Tsneg, Leon_Shirow, Liam’sGhost, Lime2K, Lisette Woo, Lt. Nebfer, MadDogMike, Maelwys, Major Tom,Mad Catter, Martius, Maverick, Minchandre, mitchberthelson, Monbvol,Mrpossum, Munchkinman, NicoliVoldkif, Nightsong, Nodachi, Paj, Pinetree,Plainsfox, Pyro, RoundTop, Rugoe, Ryoken Prime Pilot, sidewinderoog,Specter83, Starfleet, StCptMara, swang30, Taharqa, Takiro, Talz,TwilightWalker, twycross, Tycho, Unosdraconis, Vigonal, WiseOldNovaCat,Wolf Lancer 4.Adventure SeedsThanks also to Edward McEneely and John H. McCullough for theAdventure Seeds The Birthright and The Package.Herb’s Thanks and DedicationMore than any other book prior, I would have to thank my wife, Beckie, forher patience and support, especially in the midst of the chaos and stress thatswirled around its over-extended creation. And to our “children”—Oscar,Annie, Meggie, Blaze, and Logan—most of whom kept me company whenwork intervened. And a final farewell to Merlin “Cash” Beas, the fifth feline“Herblet”, who will be missed.I’d also like to thank my older gaming groups, particularly the“Fundamentally Doomed”: Jamie “Damon” Amirault, Hal Brown, Jeff “Fletchi”Fletcher, Jay Fletcher, and Kevin Dwelley, as well as newer gamers Jason “Jay”Bouchard and Rich “Not ANOTHER Marauder!” Putz.And of course, I would also like to thank Bryan Nystul, who brought meinto BattleTech over 12 years ago now; Randall Bills, for putting me in thisposition and being a great mentor and virtual boss; Loren Coleman, for hisdogged support, even when I was screaming at him; Ben Rome, for takingMasters & Minions away when I needed it most; and to the cadre of other“core writers” I’ve worked with through these past ten years: Chris Hartford,Chris Trossen, Ken’ Horner, Kevin Killiany, Camille Klein, Nick Marsala, DavidMcCulloch, Steve Mohan, Diane Piron-Gelman, Jason Schmetzer, PaulSjardijn, Øystein Tvedten, Andreas Zuber, and so many more!Sample file©2010-2015 The Topps Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. A Time of War:The BattleTech RPG, Classic BattleTech, BattleTech, ’Mech, BattleMech andMechWarrior are registered trademarks of The Topps Company, Inc. in the UnitedStates and/or other countries. No part of this work may be reproduced, stored ina retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the priorpermission in writing of the Copyright Owner, nor be otherwise circulated in anyform other than that in which it is published.Corrected Second Printing.Published by Catalyst Game Labs,an imprint of InMediaRes Productions, LLCPMB 202 • 303 91 st Ave NE • E502 • Lake Stevens, WA 98258FIND US ONLINE:Precentor_martial@classicbattletech.com(e-mail address for any BattleTech questions)http://www.battletech.com(official BattleTech web page)http://www.CatalystGameLabs.com(Catalyst Game Labs web page)http://www.battlecorps.com/catalog/(online ordering)THE UNIVERSEBEFORE YOUBASICGAMEPLAYCHARACTERCREATIONTRAITSSKILLSCOMBATTACTICALCOMBATADDENDUMSPECIALCASERULESEQUIPMENTGAMEMASTERINGGUIDEINDEX5

FORT DEFIANCEMARIA’S ELEGYHESPERUS II, LYRAN ALLIANCE5 JUNE 3076“Watch out!” came the cry from across the bay.Lunging forward, Sergeant Busby “Buzzy” Matvey caught the teeteringmetal case just before it plunged down to the mid-sized hangar’sferrocrete floor. With a grunt, he shoved the olive-drab canisterback onto the top of its stack while the forklift backed away.But not fast enough.Buzzy smiled as Lieutenant Luella Hildebrand boiled up to theside of the lift like a miniature tornado. He shook his head as hereturned to his work transferring the supply crates into the tightcargo bay of the Mark IV Landing Craft. Already, Luella’s dressingdownof the poor lift driver was reaching a staccato pace that evena Mydron Minigun couldn’t match.“Hot one, her, yes?” asked Buzzy’s lanky partner.“Da,” he replied, handing over another narrow crate marked,“CAUTION: FLAMMABLE”.“You know I wasn’t talkin’ about her looks, now.”Buzzy sighed. “Da,” he responded again, this time looking hiscompanion full in the face. A grizzled soldier, Ethan Naoko had oncemore neglected to shave the stubble from his pointed chin. “Youknow, if the Captain sees that scruff, he’ll have words again.”The older man shrugged. “So what? Not like we’re on a mission.Unless you’ve heard something I’ve not?”“Nope,” Buzzy replied. “I just know as much as you.”Pivoting, he grabbed another case from the stack. Luella’s rapid-firedelivery finally ceased in the background and he noted the lift’s whineas it backed away, almost as though the machine itself were sulking.He heard Ethan’s low whistle behind him. “Still, y’know, she’spretty hot…”Sample fileBen H. RomeBuzzy sighed again and smiled. He turned and thrust the case atNaoko, cracking a smile.“Da.”stsLieutenant Luella Hildebrand stalked away from the retreatinglifter, the confrontation filed away and forgotten. There was still toomuch to do and clearly not enough time. Detonators, she thought.Did we pack enough?She consulted the datapad clutched in her left hand and scrolleddown the list, her determined stride missing not a hitch as shestalked down the corridor toward the Captain’s office. Without lookingup, she deftly avoided collisions with her fellow officers, finallystopping in front of a nondescript gray-green door. Knocking once,she didn’t wait for an acknowledgement and stormed in.“Problem, Luella?” asked the man seated in front of her, his nightblackface cast strangely aglow by the monitor he was staring into.The Lieutenant snapped to attention and saluted. “Captain Travis,”she barked. “No, sir. Just a lift driver who isn’t aware of the regsregarding volatile and explosive cargo.”Captain Jared Travis leaned back, looking over at his exec. His whiteteeth practically lit up his face. “I assume you re-educated him?”Luella relaxed slightly. “Yes, Captain. I’ll report him later.”Jared waved it off.“No need,” he said. “We’ve got more important things at themoment.” He stood and turned, searching the cluttered shelvesbehind him. “Has Corporal Logan reported in yet?”“Not yet, sir.”“Very well. He should soon, I would expect. The shuttle from theDuquesne was probably delayed. Ah-ha!” The captain snagged asmall book from the shelf and turned back to Luella.“Have the team report to the hangar at twenty-hundred hours,”

he said as he opened the leatherboundbook to a ribbon-markedpage.“Very good, sir.” Luella turnedto go, already churning throughthe supply list in her head.“Oh, and Luella?” Jared called.She stopped and turned tolook back at him. “Sir?”“Take a few minutes to relax.Don’t know when we’ll get thechance again.”stsCaptain Jared Travis closed the small Bible in his hand and leanedback in his office chair, unable to concentrate enough to quiet hisown self. The butterflies he felt in his stomach weren’t from theorders sitting on his monitor, or their promise of action.No, he thought, it’s because she’s coming.Jared took a deep breath and released it slowly. The last time heand Belle Lee had crossed paths—two years ago—it had been atorrential downpour of violence, emotion, stress and fatigue.And it all ended with a failed marriage proposal.Ancient history, Travis! he chided himself. Get a grip!He had no idea why his mind was dragging it all back up again.Yes, the fighting on Kittery was horrific; their escape from that Blakisthellhole a nightmare ordeal that still kept him awake sometimes.But it was all in the past.Travis snapped himself out of his reverie. The General was comingto brief them on a mission, not to re-ignite some short-lived, warfueledrelationship. Jared refocused on the monitor in front of him.The orders were simple enough on the surface, but that wasn’tsaying much; a reconnaissance mission to an as-yet-undeterminedplanet, part of a larger operation currently being assembled. Travisknew without a doubt that the target world was already determined,but that operational security demanded such informationbe withheld until all the players were in place and ready to strike.That was simply how these things went down.The rest of the orders contained little else in the way of usefulinformation beyond the standard bureaucratic rhetoric. Indeed, theonly part that had Jared’s insides doing somersaults was the last line:“General Belle Lee will present your operational orders in person.”Shaking off the malaise, he refocused again on the screen, bringingup the profiles of his two new team members. He tapped pastLuella’s dossier; she’d already been here a week and he felt he hadher pegged.That brought him to the “newbie”: Franz Logan.Jared’s mouth turned down as he scanned Logan’s short record.Recent academy grad from Skye, failed the MechWarrior MOS twice,two reprimands from his drill sergeant for daydreaming on watch.Excellent weapons skills, passable first aid, and licensed to operatestandard WorkMechs.“So basically, we’ve got ourselves a wannabe ’Mech jock whoknows which end of the rifle goes where and is most likely to succeedas a battlefield casualty when the crap hits the fan,” he said tothe empty office.“Wonderful.”stsCorporal Franz Logan pressed his face against the unyielding surfaceof the observation deck’s massive, armored window, lookingSample file