A Splinter of Hope
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| A Splinter of Hope | |
|---|---|
| Product information | |
| Type | Novella |
| Author | Philip A. Lee |
| Pages | 125 (EPUB) |
| Cover Artwork | Florian Mellies (art) Matt Heerdt David Allen Kerber (design) |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Catalyst Game Labs |
| First published | 1 August 2018 |
| MSRP | $2.99 (EPUB) |
| Content | |
| Era | Dark Age era |
| Timeline | 3 September 3147—30 August 3148 |
| Series | A Splinter of Hope + The Anvil |
| Followed by | The Anvil |
A Splinter of Hope is a novella by Philip A. Lee that was published in EPUB on 1 August 2018.
A Print on Demand and EPUB omnibus edition of the story—together with its companion novella The Anvil—was published on 1 February 2019 under the title A Splinter of Hope + The Anvil.
The title marks the relaunch of the BattleTech fiction series.
From the Back Cover
| “ | AT THE EDGE OF A PRECIPICE…
Violent expansion of the Capellan Confederation and the Draconis Combine has cost recently crowned First Prince Julian Davion more than just countless strategic Federated Suns worlds. The war’s toll claimed a mentor and close friend, and righteous vengeance burns bright. To rally his people and preserve the future of the Great House, Julian funnels the fires of justice into an ambitious yet risky campaign to retake a vital system: New Syrtis, the lost capital of the Capellan March. Success would dislodge an ancient enemy from their strategic foothold in Suns space, but failure may cost Julian the nation he inherited. However, the Capellan people have fought dearly for their prize, and will do anything in their power to hold onto it. Will Julian’s gamble save the very soul of the Federated Suns, or is the invasion of New Syrtis doomed before it even begins? |
” |
Plot Summary
First Prince Julian Davion decides that to save his beleaguered nation, he needs to break the truce he bargained with the Capellan Confederation and retake New Syrtis, leading the New Syrtis thrust of the campaign personally. To this end he hires numerous mercenary units including Tally's Talons whose contract, which is about to run out, he personally renegotiates with unit CO Major Tallula "Tally" Zheng and her XO, Captain Malerie "Mal" Faulkner.
The three-pronged Davion offensive, Operation CERBERUS, hits Taygeta on 23 November 3147 and threatens to overrun the defending Dynasty Guard regiment under Sang-shao Eliza Zhao. The elite unit is fighting back, but Zhao receives orders from the Chancellor himself to withdraw to New Syrtis—he has divined the attackers' ultimate goal.
CERBERUS' Task Force Styx jumps into the New Syrtis system on 4 December 3147, half (including Julian Davion aboard his DropShip Kingsman) at the lunar L2 pirate jump point and the other half (including the Fortune Charlie mercenary contingent, with Tally's Talons aboard the DropShip Maxilla) at the planet's own L2 point. Both forces are engaged by Capellan defenders and suffer casualties. Tally Zheng feels that the mercenary contingent was used as bait, and in private talk with her XO doubts reports that the House troops were hit equally hard.
The hard-fought campaign culminates in the attack against The Cave, New Syrtis's underground command center. During the fighting, Tally Zheng reveals that her unit has a secret head-hunting contract with the Capellans for First Prince Julian Davion. However, her backstabbing attempt is thwarted by Mal Faulkner, who defends (and thus saves) the First Prince on instinct.
The Capellan defenders continue the fight even after the loss of The Cave, but on 21 December they make a stand in a Jihad era ruin of a city where they are crushed. Eliza Zhao is slain in battle.
By 18 July 3148 Mal Faulkner, now an AFFS Leftenant, witnesses another terror attack by Capellan guerrillas who are still active on New Syrtis. These eventually draw Julian Davion back from Remagen to New Syrtis, where he is immediately jumped by Capellan forces under a vengeful Danai Liao-Centrella (who counted Eliza Zhao among her friends). Although Mal Faulkner can save his life in battle once again (and implicitly dies herself in the process), Julian Davion is gravely wounded. He returns to forge a new truce with the Capellan Confederation, represented by Danai, on 30 August 3148 to consolidate his gains.
Featured Characters
- Erik Sandoval-Groell
- Siobhan Sortek
- Eliza Zhao
- Tallula Zheng
- Anastasia Zibler
- Amanda Hasek (holovid playback)
- Daoshen Liao (holovid playback)