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{{InfoBoxFiction
| name = Chaos Theory
| image =
| author = [[Bryan Young]]
| pub_date = 25 November 2022
| product = [[Alpha Strike Boxed Set]]
| type = Short story
| publisher = [[Catalyst Game Labs]]
| illustrations = [[David Kerber]] and [[Mark Hayden (person)|Mark Hayden]]
| pages = 24
| era = [[ilClan era]]
| startdate = 20 December [[3151]]
| enddate = 22 December 3151
| series =
| precededby =
| followedby =
}}
'''''Chaos Theory''''' is a short story by [[Bryan Young]] that was first published as supplementary fiction for ''[[Alpha Strike Boxed Set]]''.

== From the Back Cover ==
{{quote|'''''BEST LAID PLANS...'''
''On what should have been a simple shoot-and-scoot recon mission the thick jungles of the planet [[Caph]], Kevin Street and the famed [[Northwind Highlanders]] [[mercenaries]] under his command encounter a much different foe than the Capellans they were expecting.

Star Commander Aran Helmer leads a Star of Jade Falcon MechWarriors, fierce fighters that find themselves attacked by [[Inner Sphere]] mercenareies while guarding a communications outpost in the jungle. But Helmer and her people know how to make the Highlanders pay for their audacity.

Two units of powerful, fearsome warriors in the deadliest war machines ever created - BattleMechs - each facing an equally determined foe. Which side will prevail?''}}

== Plot Summary ==
On 20 December [[3151]] while in high orbit above Caph, [[Captain]] Kevin Street briefs his truncated [[Company]] on their mission; conduct a reconnaissance in force of an old listening post at the southern edge of the Cretaceous Zone on the Steam continent. The rest of the [[First Kearny Highlanders]] will conduct similar operations at other points on the planet to gauge the defenses of the [[Capellan Confederation]] which [[Battle of Caph (3151)|conquered]] the planet in March of that year. Upon landing on 22 December the two [[lance]]s moved towards the outpost. Street's lance would advance from the North, while Lieutenant Andrea Riche's lance was to follow a river and approach from behind.

A [[Trinary]] of [[OmniMech]]s of the [[5th Battle (Clan Jade Falcon)|Fifth Battle Cluster]] has been spread out to defend the whole of Steam continent, with a single [[Star]] led by [[Star Commander]] Aren Helmer defending the listening post. Presumably the remainder of the Fifth Battle was focused on the main continent of Brunnel. Alerted to the Highlander's presence by [[ECM Suite|jamming]], the Star deploys moments after the arrival of Street's lance. Helmer ordered Milla's ''[[Fire Moth|Fire Moth D]]'' and Gavin's ''[[Nova]]'' into the jungles to flush out Street's lance, Secily's ''[[Pouncer]]'' take up an advantageous sniping position, while his ''[[Warhawk]]'' and Katherine's ''[[Timber Wolf]]'' remained at the facility. He also ordered the facility's [[laser]], [[autocannon]], and [[artillery]] weapon emplacements online.

Having discovered that the outpost is not only manned, but that Clan Jade Falcon had since occupied the world, Street was faced with the choice between retreating with this information or engaging the hated Jade Falcons. Reasoning he could do both and fulfill his mission, he ordered an attack. His lance focused on the OmniMechs while Riche's previously undetected lance attacked the facility to neutralize the weapon emplacements. Ryan's ''[[Locust]]'' was destroyed by those emplacements almost immediately, killing the pilot. Street ordered Alan's ''[[Wraith]]'' to break from his lance and assist Riche's lance in destroying the weapon emplacements. Green was able to ascertain (via [[Headhunter]] Special Piloting Ability) that Helmer was in command.

With the ''Fire Moth'' and ''Nova'' burning the jungle behind them, and the ''Pouncer'' unable to find targets, Street in his [[Atlas (BattleMech)#Variants|AS7-S ''Atlas'']] ordered the rest of his lance to advance on the facility and destroy the ''Warhawk''. As Street turned to face the ''Warhawk'', the ''Fire Moth'' and ''Nova'' burst through the woods and struck at his rear, though Street was able to score a heavy hit on the ''Fire Moth's'' right torso and arm with his rear facing weapons that destroyed the [[Flamer]] and two [[ER Medium Laser]]s. At the same time, Secily's ''Pouncer'' managed a clear shot rear on Michelle's ''[[Wasp]]'', killing the pilot. In response Alan's ''Wraith'' turned to engage the ''Pouncer'' but not before it delivered a cockpit hit to Beth's ''[[Phoenix Hawk]]'' that appeared to kill her as well.

Helmar fell down under the withering barrage, though not yet destroyed. As both forces wavered on the edge of [[Combat Loss Groupings]], a stampede of [[neosaur]]s resembling Terran triceratops plowed through both forces, knocking the ''Nova'' (already disoriented from an SRM cockpit hit from Street) off its feet. Taking advantage of the distraction Street ordered a withdrawal back to their DropShip with the intelligence they'd gathered.

Two hours later Helmar was extricated from his cockpit and gave the wounded but still living Sara Beth the option of becoming a [[bondsman]] or being left to the hostile environment of Steam. Beth accepted and became a member of Clan Jade Falcon.

== Featured Characters ==
{{div col|colwidth=30m}}
* [[Duke of Tybalt|Duke]] [[Loren Hansen]] (mentioned)
* [[Captain]] [[Kevin Street]]
* [[Lieutenant]] [[Rebecca Green (32nd c.)|Rebecca Green]]
* Lieutenant [[Andrea Riche]]
* [[Sergeant]] [[Kimberly Michelle]]†
* Sergeant [[Robert Gregg]]
* [[MechWarrior (rank)|MechWarrior]] [[Anthony Ryan]]†
* MechWarrior [[Sara Beth]]
* MechWarrior [[Jason Alan]]
* [[Star Commander]] [[Aren Helmer]]
* MechWarrior [[Katherine]]
* MechWarrior [[Secily]]
* MechWarrior [[Gavin (32nd c.)|Gavin]]
* MechWarrior [[Milla]]
* [[Tara Campbell]] (mentioned)
{{div col end}}

== Featured Places ==
* [[Caph]]

== Featured BattleTech ==
=== BattleMechs ===
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Atlas (BattleMech)|AS7-S ''Atlas'']]
* ''[[Warhammer]]''
* [[Blackjack (BattleMech)|''Blackjack'']]
* ''[[Wasp]]''
* ''[[Archer]]''
* ''[[Locust]]''
* ''[[Phoenix Hawk]]''
* ''[[Wraith]]''
* ''[[Warhawk]]''
* ''[[Timber Wolf]]''
* ''[[Pouncer]]''
* ''[[Nova]]''
* ''[[Fire Moth]]'' D
{{div col end}}
=== DropShips ===
* ''[[Trojan]]''-class cargo carrier [[DropShip]], ''[[Ghost Piper (Individual Trojan-class DropShip)|Ghost Piper]]''

== Notes ==
* Unlike the included fiction in the ''[[BattleTech: Beginner Box]]'' and ''[[BattleTech: A Game of Armored Combat]]'' sets, ''Chaos Theory'' more directly connects with the contents of the ''Alpha Strike'' box, including the 'Mech miniatures it contains and with Alpha Strike pilot cards for each of the characters, serving as an example of game itself.
* The backcover spells Ar'''a'''n Helmer, though the interior narrative her Alpha Strike pilot card spell her name Aren Helmer.
* While the Alpha Strike card for Street's ''Atlas'' in the boxset is an AS7-S4, the weapons configuration and exposition in the story indicate he's piloting an AS7-S.

[[Category:Short Stories|Chaos Theory]]
[[Category:Works by Bryan Young|Chaos Theory]]
[[Category:ilClan Books|Chaos Theory]]

Chaos Theory - Revision history

imported>Ti"Lore"Jo at 00:37, 21 September 2024