https://battleint.net/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=En_Passant_%28short_story%29En Passant (short story) - Revision history2026-06-04T12:45:06ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.44.0https://battleint.net/index.php?title=En_Passant_(short_story)&diff=61901&oldid=previmported>Ti"Lore"Jo: Revision, update and expansion of page content2024-11-02T20:15:13Z<p>Revision, update and expansion of page content</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{otheruses|the [[BattleCorps]] short story|the German BattleTech novel by [[Michael Diel]]|En Passant (novel)}}<br />
{{InfoBoxFiction<br />
| name = En Passant<br />
| image = <br />
| author = [[Phaedra M. Weldon]]<br />
| pub_date = 18 August 2004<br />
| product = <br />
| type = Short story<br />
| publisher = [[BattleCorps]]<br />
| illustrations = [[Matthew Plog]]<br />
| pages = 19<br />
| era = [[Civil War era]]<br />
| startdate = 7 October [[3065]]<br />
| enddate = <br />
| series = <br />
| precededby = <br />
| followedby = [[Epaulet Mate]]<br />
}}<br />
'''''En Passant''''' is a short story by [[Phaedra M. Weldon]] that was first published online on [[BattleCorps]] on 18 August 2004. It was one of the stories that could be downloaded for free from the BattleCorps website for promotional purposes and was also included in the free [[BattleCorps Fiction Sampler]]. It was later republished in print in the first BattleCorps anthology ''[[The Corps]]'' in 2008.<br />
<br />
It is the first story of a trilogy about [[Päl Wyndham-Sandoval]]'s conflict with his scheming mother, [[Baroness of Exeter|Baroness]] [[Margarette Wyndham-Sandoval]]. The story was later continued in ''[[Epaulet Mate]]'' and ''[[Fianchetto]]''.<br />
<br />
== Teaser Text ==<br />
{{quote|''Päl Wyndham-Sandoval has just returned to [[Robinson]] after three years away fighting the [[Draconis Combine|Combine]]. But is home really ever a safe harbor?''}}<br />
<br />
== Plot Summary ==<br />
Scion of a [[House Sandoval|noble family]], Päl Wyndham-Sandoval has returned from a three-year tour of duty as a [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarrior]] with the [[1st Robinson Rangers|First Robinson Rangers]]. Reporting on the new Duke [[Tancred Sandoval]]'s plans about easing relations with [[Theodore Kurita (31st c.)|Theodore Kurita]] to his parents, he is embroiled in politics against his wishes. His support of this policy and his loyalty to the Duke cause an argument. Päl's parents regard [[Victor Steiner-Davion]] and his allies, including the Duke, as essentially selling out to the Draconis Combine. Subsequently, Päl comes to realize that he is a stranger to his own three-year-old son, who is being raised by his mother in Päl's absence and is becoming another pawn on the political board; his wet-nurse even describes the infant as the Baroness' pet project.<br />
<br />
At a reception in honor of his return, Päl notices a black-clad intruder on the estate and happens to eavesdrop on a discussion where his father warns other nobles about how the new Duke's actions will weaken [[House Davion]]'s defenses against an attack by [[House Kurita]] that he claims is likely to occur, in an obvious attempt to sway their already wavering loyalty away from the Duke. Later that night, Päl discovers and brings down an assassin, but both Päl and his wife Khim are wounded in the process. When pressed by Päl, the dying assassin claims that Baroness Wyndham-Sandoval sent him. Small tidbits later reinforce Päl's impression that his own mother set him up to be killed, to blame his death on the Draconis Combine to further his parents' political agenda. Päl comes to regard the political landscape as a chess board, where he is a mere pawn that his mother was going to sacrifice.<br />
<br />
Taking up the deadly political game, Päl turns the tables on his mother by claiming in front of the assembled guests at the reception that the assassin had confessed to have been sent by [[Katherine Steiner-Davion]].<br />
<br />
== Featured Characters ==<br />
* [[Leftenant]] [[Päl Wyndham-Sandoval]]<br />
* [[Baroness of Exeter|Baroness]] [[Margarette Wyndham-Sandoval]]<br />
* [[Baron of Exeter|Baron]] [[Marquinn Wyndham-Sandoval]]<br />
* [[Khim Wyndham-Sandoval]]<br />
* [[Zeus Wyndham-Sandoval]] (mentioned)<br />
* [[Duke of Robinson|Duke]] [[Tancred Sandoval]] (mentioned)<br />
* Duke [[James Sandoval]] (mentioned)<br />
* [[Major General]] [[Mai Fortuna]] (mentioned)<br />
* [[Arthur Steiner-Davion]] (mentioned)<br />
* [[Victor Steiner-Davion]] (mentioned)<br />
* [[Katherine Steiner-Davion]] (mentioned)<br />
* [[Coordinator of Worlds|Coordinator]] [[Theodore Kurita (31st c.)|Theodore Kurita]] (mentioned)<br />
* Chauncy, the nanny<br />
<br />
== Featured Units ==<br />
* [[1st Robinson Rangers|First Robinson Rangers]] (mentioned)<br />
<br />
== Featured Places ==<br />
* [[Robinson]]<br />
* [[Exeter]] (mentioned)<br />
* [[Ashio]] (mentioned)<br />
* [[Mallory's World]] (mentioned)<br />
<br />
== Notes ==<br />
* The story is named after a [[w:chess|chess]] move where a [[w:Pawn (chess)|Pawn]] can be taken if it moved out two squares from its starting position instead of only one (a unique move permissible only on a given pawn's first move) to a position adjacent to an opposing pawn; the other pawn may then take it ''[[w:en passant|en passant]]'' ("in passing") as if it had only moved a single square, as per its normal movement.<br />
* The first name of the [[Baron of Exeter]] is written Marquin in this story, while in later stories it is constantly written Marquin'''''n'''''. For consistency, the spelling from the later published stories is used in this article.<br />
<br />
<br />
[[Category:BattleCorps publications]]<br />
[[Category:Short Stories]]<br />
[[Category:Works by Phaedra M. Weldon]]</div>imported>Ti"Lore"Jo