Sound and Fury
Sound and Fury | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Short story by Jason Schmetzer | |||
| Publication | |||
| Published | 25 December 2007 | ||
| Publisher | BattleCorps | ||
| Pages | 23 | ||
| Chronology | |||
| Era | Civil War era | ||
| Timeline | 28 September 3067 — ca. 3 October 3067 [see notes] | ||
| Series | |||
| |||
{{#set:Era=Civil War era}}{{#set:Start date=28 September 3067}}{{#set:End date=ca. 3 October 3067 [see notes]}}
Sound and Fury is a short story by Jason Schmetzer that was first published online on BattleCorps on 25 December 2007. In 2012, the story was republished in EPUB/MOBI format in the BattleCorps anthology The Edge of the Storm.
It is the second story about the mercenary unit Lennox's Light Horse.[see notes]
Teaser Text
| “ | How will honorable mercenaries react when they’re painted with the same brush of atrocity as their employers? | ” |
Plot Summary
Hired to support the Taurian Concordat invasion of the Federated Suns system Hyalite in September 3067, Lennox's Light Horse are tasked with taking out a Davion supply depot. They confront some outnumbered defenders and allow them to clear the area before destroying the ammunition dump. The pilot of an enemy Enforcer III offers a salute as the mercenaries retreat.
Back aboard their DropShip, the Caliban, the mercenaries are berated for their failure to attack such targets of opportunity by their liaison officer. They are under contract for another three weeks but after what recently happened on Bromhead (where the dependents of the Hansen's Roughriders mercenaries were slaughtered by attacking Taurian forces), neither side will ask nor give quarter now; honorable mercenary conduct to minimize losses like they did at the depot is not an option anymore on the battlefield.
Over the course of the next days, Davion resistance grows stronger and before long the Taurian forces are preparing their retreat from Hyalite. Lennox's Light Horse is overrun while embarking their DropShip under fire, after the Taurian DropShips lift off without giving the mercenaries any prior warning. Captain Andrew Lennox is forced to surrender, but as it turns out his fair treatment of the Enforcer III at the depot pays off: His unit is allowed to leave in exchange for surrendering Lennox's personal Warhammer, a very cheap ransom under the circumstances.
With the infantry mercenary unit Nealsson's Fourth Marines aboard (who had been hired as security detail) who have decided to join Lennox's Light Horse as Captain Lennox had stood for them during the surrender, the Caliban prepares to dock with a JumpShip and move for Outreach to find a new contract.
Featured Characters
- Captain Andrew Lennox
- Lieutenant Thea Craft
- Lieutenant Derek Ravin
- Captain Paul Nealsson
- Duke George Hasek (mentioned)
Featured Units
- Third Taurian Lancers (mentioned)
- Crucis Lancers (mentioned)
- Eleventh Avalon Hussars (mentioned)
- First Davion Guards (mentioned)