BattleTech Universe

Series · 110

books · 1986-2023

By Kevin Killiany, Victor Milán, Blaine Lee Pardoe, and more

Books in series

Decision at Thunder Rift

1986

Thirty years before the Clan invasion, the crumbling empires of the Inner Sphere were locked in the horror of the Third Succession War. The great Houses, whose territories spanned the stars, used BattleMechs to smash each other into rubble. Grayson Death Carlyle had been training to be a MechWarrior since he was ten years old, but his graduation came sooner than expected. With his friends and family dead and his father's regiment destroyed, young Grayson finds himself stranded on a world turned hostile. And now he must learn the hardest lesson of all: it takes more than a BattleMech to make a MechWarrior. To claim the title of MechWarrior all he has to do is capture one of those giant killing machines by himself. If it doesn't kill him first.

The Sword and the Dagger

1987

MechWarriors believe that the only way to kill a BattleMech is with another 'Mech... But Generals know that the best way to kill an army of 'Mechs is with a well-placed dagger. The five houses of the Successor States employ both warfare and treachery in their efforts to gain control of the interstellar empire once known as the Star League. Huge, man-like, walking tanks called BattleMechs rule the battlefields, but intrigues and plots rule the imperial courts. Hanse Davion is Prince of the Federated Suns, the largest of the five warring Houses... an idealistic man who has had to learn that politics is neither honorable nor straightforward. Ardan Sortek is the commander of Hanse Davion's personal guard. Although a long-time friend of Hanse's, he has not yet learned the lessons of power. Through a chance series of events he stumbles upon a plot of such magnitude that it threatens the balance of power of the Inner Sphere. Unfortunately, no one will believe him... Indeed, they think he is quite mad. Is Ardan crazy or is someone trying to kill Hanse Davion?

Mercenary's Star

1987

The Gray Death Legion. Mercenary warriors born out of treachery and deceit. Now the time has come for their first assignment, serving as the training cadre for farmer rebels on the once peaceful agricultural world of Verthandi. And although MechWarrior Grayson Carlyle has the knack for battle strategy and tactics, getting the scattered bands of freedom fighters to unite against their oppressors is not always easy. But the Legion must succeed in their efforts or die - for the only way off the planet is via the capital city, now controlled by the minions of Carlyle's nemesis, who wait for the Legion with murderous schemes...

The Price of Glory

1987

The Price of Glory, by William H. Keith, Jr., is the third book of the Saga of the Gray Death Legion. An established mercenary command by now, the Gray Death Legion suddenly find themselves framed for atrocious war crimes and in the end forge an unlikely cooperation with their old nemesis, Duke Hassid Ricol.

Warrior

En Garde

1988

In the third volume of the Warrior Trilogy miniseries, stripped of his rank, an exiled Justin Allard is given one last chance to reclaim his honor by fighting his own half brother in a high-tech duel for control over the ultimate power of the Inner Sphere. Original.

Warrior

Riposte

1988

Hanse Davion and Melissa Steiner have united two Great Houses of the Inner Sphere in a marriage that suddenly upsets the balance of power among the stars. Though some hope this may bring an end to centuries of war, Maximilian Liao of the Capellan Confederation has enlisted the aid of two highly placed Davion traitors to destroy Hanse Davion and the Federated Suns from both within and without. But in the distant star chambers of the Capellan March and Draconis Combine, the Warlords of Maximilian Liao are honoring a different and more deadly to wage an unholy war that threatens to rip asunder the vulnerable worlds of the Federated Suns. As Davion 'Mech commander Andrew Redburn and his mercenaries streak into battle, an explosive clash of metal and men signals the return of a formidable foe. Interstellar legend Yorinaga Kurita has returned to stake his claim as the most bloodthirsty warrior of all. For both men it is do-or-die combat that could ensure the triumph of a glorious new alliance—or result in its total annihilation.

Warrior

Coupé

1989

THE EXPLOSIVE CONCLUSION TO THE WARRIOR TRILOGY The minions of Maximilian Liao are about the deliver a crippling blow to the forces of Prince Hanse Davion—discovering a way to use Hanse's own technology against him. Half a galaxy away, assassins stalk Hanse's wife, Melissa Steiner, and her mother, Archon Katrina Steiner, in the passageways of their own palace. Invasion is imminent. The only 'Mech force capable of stopping that invasion—the mercenary Kell Hounds—is trapped in a game of search and destroy with the most fearsome Kurita unit ever formed. Even if they come back in time...how many would make it? In a world where ten-meter-tall war machines are the soul of battle, assassins are state policy, and a spy's loyalty is always for sale, the only thing certain is death. Who can you trust? And in the bitter end, how will you be betrayed?

Wolves on the Border

1988

Bushido governs all these concepts. As a MechWarrior of the Draconis Combine, Minobu Tetsuhara was bound b Bushido - a code that demands loyal service - to the devious Warlord Grieg Samsonov. But when Minobu came upon a strange blue-and-gold Archer, the field littered with its vanquished opponents and its weapons now empty, Bushido also dictated that he not destroy the honorable but helpless warrior. And so he rescued Jaime Wolf. Minobu was then assigned as liaison to the Wolf's Dargoons, one of the Combine's most elite mercenary units, who treated him with the respect due a fellow warrior. When the mercenaries refused to renew their contract with Samsonov, Minobu was instructed to destroy them. Now Bushido dictates that Minobu oppose his honorable foe, a man with whom he has served and who deserves far better than betrayal...

Heir to the Dragon

1989

Theodore Kurita is heir apparent to the Draconis Combine, one of the most powerful realms of the Inner Sphere. But the Draconis Combine has never been a place of smooth transitions. Historically, a Kurita proves himself fit to lead by a successful bid for power - political or... otherwise. His perilous journey to power is a twenty-year odyssey of lethal encounters and narrow escapes. And at the end awaits the most dangerous foe of all, the man whom Theodore must one day depose - his own father.

#10

Lethal Heritage

1989

In the first volume of the Blood of Kerensky trilogy, the five warring Successor States of the Inner Sphere confront a new, mutual threat, the invasion of the Clans, technologically superior, bioengineered warriors.

#11

Blood Legacy

1990

Jaime Wolf has brought all the key leaders of the Inner Sphere together at his base on Outreach in an attempt to put to rest old blood feuds and power struggles. For only if all the Successor States unite their forces do they have any hope of defeating this invasion by warriors equipped with BattleMechs far superior to their own. But old hatreds and suspicions are hard to put aside, and mutual trust even harder to attain. Especially when the very man who asks for that trust has freely admitted to being a former Clansman himself. And even if the Houses should agree to stand together, another threat as fully dangerous lurks within their very midst - ComStar, the sect controlling interstellar communication which is determined to rule all of the Inner Sphere by any means at its disposal... Blood Legacy, volume two of the Blood of Kerensky trilogy, continues the saga of the Clan invasion begun in Lethal Heritage. This explosive trilogy is now back in print by audience demand and is the basis for the top-rated animated series.

#12

Lost Destiny

1991

With secret aid from ComStar - the Terran-based sect that serves as the keeper of the Inner Sphere's technological secrets and controls interstellar communication the Clans' BattleMech warriors have been incredibly successful in their campaign of invasion. But ComStar has its own reasons for giving aid to the enemy, and if its strategy proves successful, the Inner Sphere worlds will finally be reunited under ComStar's rule. Yet neither the Clans nor the Great Houses of the Inner Sphere are ready to become ComStar's puppets. And within ComStar's upper echelon a new power struggle is about to begin. As the Clans continue their inward drive, with Terra itself as their true goal, can ComStar mobilize the Inner Sphere's last defenses - or will their own internal political warfare provide the final death blow to the empire they are sworn to protect? Lost Destiny concludes the Blood of Kerensky trilogy, which is now back in print by audience demand and is the basis for the top-rated animated series. Don't miss any of the other BATTLETECH titles, which continue the saga of the Clan invasion and the explosive struggle within the Inner Sphere.

#13

Way of the Clans

1991

In the 31st century, Aidan aspires to be a warrior of Clan Jade Falcon and faces trials that will shape him into one of the best warriors in the galaxy, a member of an elite group of warriors resulting from generations of controlled breeding

#14

Bloodname

1991

Truebirth – Born in the laboratory, these genetically engineered soldiers train to be the ultimate warriors. They are the elite pilots of the Clan's fearsome BattleMech war machines. Freebirth – Born of the natural union of parents, these too are soldiers, but pale imitations of their truebirth superiors. Depised for their imperfections, they fight where and when their Clan commands. Aidan has failed his Trial of Position, the ranking test all truebirth warriors of the Clan Jade Falcon must pass. He is cast out. Disgraced. His rightful Bloodname denied him. But with a Bloodname, all past failures are forgiven. With a Bloodname comes respect. With a Bloodname comes honor. Aidan will do anything to gain that name. Even masquerade as the thing he has been taught to despise. A freebirth.

#15

Falcon Guard

1991

A Clash of Empires: In 2786, the elite Star League Army fled the Inner Sphere, abandoning the senseless bloodshed ordered by the Successor Lords. Now, almost three hundred years later the Clans, heirs of the Star League Army, turn their eyes back upon their former home. Nothing will stop them from raising the Star League banner over Earth once again. A Clash of Armies: For two years, the Clans' BattleMech war machines have overwhelmed the armies of the corrupt Successor Lords. Now, at the gates of Earth the Clans must fight one final battle, a battle that will decide the fate of humanity for all time. A Clash of Cultures: For Star Colonel Aidan Pryde of Clan Jade Falcon the battle is more than a question of military conquest. It is an affirmation of the superiority of the Clan way, a way of life he has sworn to uphold despite his fear that the noble crusade has fallen prey to the lust and ambition of its commanders.

#16

Wolf Pack

1992

The Succession Wars, The Marik Civil War, The War of '39, The Clan Invasions. Wolf's Dargoons were victorious in them all! For fifty years, the five mercenary regiments of Wolf's Dargoons have been the toughest MechWarriors in the Inner Sphere. Whatever the job, whatever the odds, Jaime Wolf's Dragoons always won. Now an aging Colonel Wolf is facing the biggest challenge of his career. And the enemy is not an Inner Sphere Lord or a Clan Khan, but a rebellion among his own men!

#17

Main Event

1993

Dispossessed in the battle of Tukayyid, former Com Guard Soldier Jeremiah Rose wants nothing more than to strike back at the Clans who destroyed his 'Mech and his career. Dreams of swift vengeance turn to nightmares when every effort he makes to rejoin the fight to protect the citizens of the Inner Sphere is rejected. Forced to win a new BattleMech by fighting on the game world of Solaris VII, Rose recruits other soldiers from the arenas to create a new mercenary unit and take his grudge back to the invaders. Unfortunately, Rose is long on battle experience and desperately short on business skill. Turning a band of mismatched MechWarriors into an elite fighting unit becomes harder than he imagined when Rose is forced to fight his fellow MechWarriors in order to fight the Clans.

#18

Ideal War

1993

Captain Paul Masters, a knight of the House of Marik, is well versed in the art of BattleMech combat. A veteran of countless battles, her personifies the virtues of the Inner Sphere MechWarrior. But when he is sent to evaluate a counterinsurgency operation on a backwater planet, he doesn't find the ideal war he expects. Instead of valiant patriots fighting villainous rebels, he discovers a guerrilla war - both sides have abandoned decency for expediency, ideals for body counts, and honor for victory. It's a dirty, dirty war...

#19

Natural Selection

1992

Moderate edge and spine wear. Comes shrink wrapped. Ships next business day. Free tracking. 100% guaranteed.

#20

Assumption of Risk

1993

Solaris VII, the Game World, is the Inner Sphere in microcosm, and Kai Allard-Liao is its Champion, veteran of the war against challengers who wish his crown for their own. There is no place he would rather be. Then the political realities of the Federated Commonwealth intrude on Solaris. Ryan Steiner, a man sworn to dethrone Victor Steiner-Davion, comes to Solaris to orchestrate his rebellion. Tormano Liao, Kai's uncle, redoubles efforts to destroy the Capellan Confederation, and Victor Davion plots to avenge his mother's assassination. In one short month, Kai's past, present and future collapse in on themselves, forcing him to do things he had come to Solaris to avoid. If he succeeds, no one will ever know - but if he fails, he'll have the blood of billions on his hands.

#21

Blood of Heroes

1993

Melissa Steiner's assassination ignited the fires of civil war, and now secessionist factions clamor for rebellion against the Federal Commonwealth. The rebels' plans hinge on gaining control of the Skye March, and thus controlling the crucial Terran Corridor. Throughout the March, civil and military leaders plot to take up arms against Prince Victor Steiner-Davion. The final piece of the plant requires the secessionist forces to gain access to the planet Glengarry and the mercenary group that calls it home: the Gray Death Legion. When Prince Davion summons Grayson Death Carlyle and his wife, Lori, to the Federated Commonwealth capital, the rebel forces seize their chance to establish a garrison on Glengarry. The rebels didn't expect the legion's newest members to take matters into their own hands...

#22

Close Quarters

1994

Resourceful, ruthless, beautiful, apparently without fear, Scout Lieutenant Cassie Suthorn of Camacho's Caballeros is as consummately lethal as the giant BattleMechs she lives to hunt. Only one other person in the freewheeling mercenary regiment has a hint of the demons which drive her. When the Caballeros sign on to guard Coordinator Theodore Kurita's corporate-mogul cousin in the heart of the Draconis Combine, they think they've got the perfect gig: low risk and high pay. Cassie alone suspects that danger waits among the looming bronze towers of Hachiman - and when the yakuza and the dread ISF form a devil's alliance to bring down Chandrasekhar Kurita, only Cassie's unique skills can save her regiment. All she has to do is confront her darkest nightmares.

#23

Far Country

1993

Sho-sa Yubari Takuda leads a Draconis Elite Strike Team, one of the Combine's elite commando units. Well versed in techniques of conventional and unconventional warfare, even MechWarriors respect and fear the prowess of these deadly warriors. A follower of the ancient code of the samurai, Sho-sa Takuda firmly believes in the superiority of the Combine warrior culture and has always maintained that it would produce a harmonious and prosperous society - if only the realm could be freed from the pressures of foreign aggressors. But when a JumpShip malfunction catapults Takuda's team and a company of mercenary MechWarriors beyond known space, he finds long-held beliefs challenged. For the warriors find themselves on a planet inhabited by a primitive alien race, a race enslaved by the descendants of another group of humans - from the Draconis Combine.

#24

D. R. T.

1994

In a new adventure based on the popular science fiction role-playing game, rebel forces battle government armies as they compete in an intergalactic war to capture a inestimable prize. Original.

#25

Tactics of Duty

1995

Während ihres Kampfs auf Caledonia hat die Gray Death Legion gegen alle Grundsätze des Söldner-Ehrenkodex verstoßen. Das Kriegsgericht setzt als Strafe zu einem Tiefschlag Grayson Carlyle verliert Titel und Güter; die Legion muss Glengarry verlassen. Kommandeur Carlyle und seine Mannschaft wissen, dass sie einem Komplott zum Opfer fielen. Um ihre Ehre zurückzugewinnen, fassen sie einen tollkühnen Entschluss. Schlägt ihr Plan fehl, verspielt die Legion mehr als ihren guten Ruf.

#26

Bred for War

1995

Along with the throne of the Federated Commonwealth, Prince Victor Steiner-Davion inherited a number of problems. Foremost among them is the Clans' threat to the peace of the Inner Sphere - and a treacherous sister who wants to supplant him. The Expected demise of Joshua Marik - heir to the Free Worlds League, whose very presence maintained peace - also endangers harmony. Victor's idea is to use a double for Joshua, a deception that will prevent war. But secret duplicity is a hard to maintain, and war erupts anyway, splitting the Inner Sphere and leaving the Federated Commonwealth defenseless. And when Victor thinks things can get no worse, word comes that the Clans, once again, have brought war to the Inner Sphere...

#27

I Am Jade Falcon

1995

For years, Star Commander Joanna has had to live with the shame of the Jade Falcon defeat at Twycross, and the nightmares of the heroic Aidon Pryde flaunting his bloodname in her face. Now, with the arrival of the new Star Colonel Ravill Pryde, who will lead them against the Wolf Clan, Joanna must once again fight for her chance to recapture the glory of her victory at Tukkayid. But will her advanced age bring her to defeat again, or will being a Jade Falcon be enough for her to take on the legendary Black Widow in a repeat battle at the Great Gash on Twycross?

#28

Star Lord

1996

An ancient evil has slumbered for centuries, passing from generation to generation, until one day a man discovers the truth of his genetic heritage - and proclaims himself Star Lord of the Inner Sphere. Disguising his army of renegade mercenaries as Knights of the Inner Sphere, the self-appointed Star Lord launches a series of raids that threaten and terrorize the universe! But Thomas Marik, leader of the Free Worlds League, cannot afford to have his Knights tarnished - and two can play the game of impersonation. With the help of a trusted advisor, Thomas comes up with a plan to infiltrate the evil Star Lord's backwater legions. Enter Duncan's Demons, a company of MechWarriors so improbable only desperation could have dreamed them up. Two soldiers seeking justice, a dishonored Clanswoman, a ne'er-do-well gambler and a real Knight of the Inner Sphere are entrusted with saving the Free Worlds League. But first they must learn how to get along...

#29

Highlander Gambit

1995

Death Commando Loren Jaffray is dispatched to the planet Northwind to destroy the elite Northwind Highlanders by winning their trust and starting a war from within—but Loren is waging his own personal battle between honor and duty. Original.

#30

Hearts of Chaos

1996

Sent to the planet Towne to prevent an invasion by the secret Black Dragon Society, Cassie Suthorn and Camacho's Caballeros find a world that has descended into faction-ridden turmoil, with a hostile population that rejects all outside intervention. Original.

#31

Operation Excalibur

1996

The Mercenary Code was broken by the Gray Death Legion during their desperate fighting on the planet Caledonia. At least, that is the ruling of the courts. And the judges decide to hit below the belt - Grayson Carlyle, revered leader of the now outlawed mercenary band, is stripped of his title and holdings, and the legion is banished from Glengarry, the planet they've called home for years. All seems lost, but Carlyle and his legendary troop of hardened warriors know they've been set up - and they have a trump card yet to play. Their dangerous scheme just might work, with the help of House Steiner - and enough guts and firepower to restore the name of the mighty Gray Death Legion to its rightful place of honor. But should they fail, they could lose a great deal more than their reputation...

#32

Malicious Intent

1996

With the Lyran Alliance beset by two threatening enemies, Vlad of the Wards and the Jade Falcons, Katrina Steiner finds her only hope in her brother and political rival Victor Davion, who may be destroyed if he assists her. Original.

#33

Black Dragon

1996

Theodore Kurita, samurai tyrant of the mighty Draconis Combine, is celebrating his sixty-first birthday. Topping the guest list is an unlikely bunch of high-tech troublemakers: Camacho's Caballeros, the toughest team of mercenary 'Mech warriors the Inner Sphere has ever seen. But their invitation is more than merely social. Theodore's powerful cousin, "Uncle Chandy," has recruited their ace operative, Cassie Suthorn, for a dangerous mission. On a xenophobic planet where honor and duty are worshipped like deities, the freelancing Caballeros are considered barbarians. But Cassie's covert investigation uncovers an insurrection, and Camacho's foreign "barbarians" could be the only unit with enough guns and grit to save the Draconis Combine from its own extremists.

#34

Impetus of War

1996

Major Loren Jaffray is a soldier's soldier, a hardened professional who made his reputation with the Capellan Confederation's legendary Death Commandos. Now serving as an officer in the Northwind Highlanders, Loren longs to prove his loyalty to his new comrades. And he's getting that chance - the Draconis Combine is hiring his regiment to take on a mission unlike any before it. The ruthless Clan Smoke Jaguar emulate the savagery of their feline namesake with lethal accuracy. Nobody knows this better than the samurai of the Draconis Combine, who fought to the death to save their very home world. Now Loren's crack highlanders will be the instrument of the Combine's vengeance, striking into the Deep Periphery to crush one of the Jaguars' supply centers on a distant world called Wayside V. But the young, confident major is in for a very nasty surprise - and unless he makes a brilliant change in plans, Wayside V will be soaked in Scots blood...

#35

Double-Blind

1997

BattleMech Blitzkrieg Using fast and furious hit-and-run tactics, Marcus GioAvanti and his Avanti's Angels mercenaries have earned a tough reputation throughout the Inner Sphere. But the Inner Sphere isn't where their newest job is taking them - because their latest employer resides in that remote and mysterious region of space known as the Periphery... Interworld Intrigue The Magistracy of Canopus has been the target of aggression by the Marian Hegemony, and in hiring Marcus and his gutsy band of can-do commandos, it hopes to retaliate. But the fact that the Canopians are armed with technology that is considered rare in the Periphery is the least of Marcus' problems. Marcus and his "Angels" will have to face the real force behind the hostilities - the religious cult known as Word of Blake. This fanatical group has a scheme deadly enough to trap even the amazing Avanti's Angels...

#36

Binding Force

1997

Aris Sung, a rising star in House Hiritsu, noblest of the Warrior House that have sworn allegiance to the Capellan Confederation. The Sarna Supremacy, a newly formed power in the Chaos March, is giving the Confederation some trouble - and Aris and his Hiritsu comrades are chosen to give the Sarnans a harsh lesson in Capellan resolve. But there is far more to the mission than meets the eye - and unless Aris beats the odds in a race against time and treachery, all the ferro-fibrous armor in the galaxy won't be enough to save House Hiritsu from the high-explosive cross fire of intrigue and shifting loyalties...

#38

Grave Covenant

1997

Possessing precious secret information that will lead them down the Exodus Road, the Inner Sphere Successor States can now meet the Clans on their own terms... and behind enemy lines. The Herculean task of amassing enough power means re-establishing the legendary Star League - a union of the Successor States and their BattleMechs led by Victor Steiner-Davion. But with the deadly game of politics making the Successor Lords wary of alliance, and Victor's Machiavellian sister, Katrina Steiner, hatching more vicious plots to further her own agendas, the war against the Clans may only be a distraction from the real danger...

#39

The Hunters

1997

"Carry the fight to the Clans!" has become the rallying cry for the armies of the Successor States. Now, as the Great Houses launch an offensive against the Clan Occupation Zone, a combined armed task force, drawn from across the Inner Sphere, begins its own desperate journey. Following the road marked out for them by a Clan defector, Task Force Serpent sets out to strike a blow at the heart of the Clans, at their home worlds. For so many years, the Inner Sphere has been the prey of the Clans. Now, in a war to end all wars, the hunted have become... The Hunters.

#40

Freebirth

1998

Dispatch Horse to the planet Huntress! The orders to investigate the secret experiment being done by the Falcons on the Smoke Jaguar homeworld came down from the Jade Falcon Khan herself. But does the covert mission require the natural bravery of a freeborn warrior - or do Horse's genetically engineered comrades consider him expendable? The perilous trek is dead-ended by a crash landing - right into a Smoke Jaguar trap. His 'Mech confiscated, his DropShip down, his Trinary imprisoned, Horse is duty bound to the enemy Jaguars - and closer to the core of the strange secrets of the Falcon stronghold than he ever imagined. For the Clan, the consequences could be explosive. For Horse, they could be fatal...

#41

Sword and Fire

1998

An awesome mission has been assigned to Taks Force Serpent: to destroy Huntress, homeworld of Clan Smoke Jaguar, the Inner Sphere's greatest menace. But the invasion has suffered a serious blow: Marshal Morgan Hasek-Davion has been struck down by an unknown assassin. With the fate of the entire Inner Sphere in jeopardy, only one other daredevil warrior is brave - and reckless - enough to bring the enemy to its knees... She is General Ariana Winston of the famed Eridani Light Horse mercenary brigade, and new commander of Task Force Serpent. The battle ahead is dangerous and uncertain, but Winston and her courageous comrades have the upper hand with hard-earned battle skills honed to fighting-edge perfection - and a secret weapon that could destroy Huntress for a ll time...

#42

Shadows of War

1998

General Ariana Winston shepherds her massive mercenary brigade over enemy lines in Operation Serpent in hopes of wiping out the military force of Clan Smoke Jaguar, and finds she has bitten off more than she can chew. Original.

#43

Prince of Havoc

1998

Task Force Serpent has triumphed and Clan Smoke Jaguar is shattered beyond redemption. But the final battle is still to come, when Prince Victor Steiner-Davion braves the unknown and travels to the very heart of the Clans: Strana Mechty. There, with elite units from across the Inner Sphere, he must wage the ultimate battle to destroy the the Crusader cause and forever eliminate the possibility of a new Clan invasion. Pushed to the edge of of endurance by a peace they cannot understand, the Clans accept the challenge—and the ultimate battle begins. But even if the Inner Sphere should prove triumphant, will their return be what they expect? Prince Victor left an Inner Sphere in united under a new Star League to battle the most dangerous foe the Inner Sphere has ever encountered: the Clans. But he also left behind his scheming sister Katrina Steiner, whose ambition knows no bounds. Task Force Serpent and Prince Victor believe that facing the Clans on their own homeworlds would prove the most difficult fight of their lives. They will soon learn that their fight has just begun.

#44

Battletech 43

Falcon Rising: Twilight of the Clans VIII

1999

As the Khans of the Clans gather on Strana Mechty to plan a new invasion of the Inner Sphere, Jade Falcon Khan Marthe Pryde strives to rebuild her Clan to its former glory. She bloods new warriors and wins others in Trials from other Clans, but she cannot waste any fine warrior - even those who are freeborn. She gives a Trinary composed entirely of freeborns to a freeborn Star Captain and allows Diana, the freeborn daughter of a Jade Falcon hero, to compete for a bloodname. The Khans of the Steel Vipers - long-standing rivals of the Falcons - use these radical moves against Marthe, attacking her in the Grand Council. In the midst of this war of intimidation, the Inner Sphere accomplishes the unthinkable - an invasion of Clan space. But even that cannot stop Marthe Pryde or the Steel Vipers as their ripening conflict explodes into war...

#45

Threads of Ambition

1999

Sun-Tzu Liao is the first Lord of the resurrected Star League. In the last year of his reign, he decides to milk his power for every ounce of benefit to himself. His dream to rebuild his Capellan Confederation at any cost is about to become a reality. His first victim: his own aunt, Candace Liao, who deserted the Confederation in the Fourth Succession War, taking the St. Ives Compact with her. Answering Sun-Tzue's call to battle is Warrior House Hiritsu, always ready to serve, and the Hustaing Warriors, who will do what is necessary to get the job done. As border skirmishes between BattleMechs turn bloody, military units rally to Candace Liao's call to hold the line. Both Sides are unyielding in this hard-fought war. And as Capellan fights Capellan, the high price of glory will be paid in full...

#46

The Killing Fields

1999

In hope of salvaging the embattled worlds of the renegade St. Ives Compact, Chancellor Sun-Tzu Liao has launched a war that stretches far beyond the scope of military conquest. His mission: reunite St. Ives with his own Capellan Confederation. But after months of combat extend into years, the smash-and-destroy tactics have turned the crippled Compact into a bloody wasteland- and the Chancellor's costly victory into a virtual deathwatch. For the warriors of Hause Hiritsu, and for the Capellan and Compact soldiers on the 'Mech-shredded front lines Sun-Tzu's noble crusade has become a nightmare. And now, with his dream of glory slipping away, the Chancellor will make one last desperate gamble - a final solution to regain total control of a civil war exploding out of control. no matter what the cost.

#47

Dagger Point

2000

Edwin Amis, new commander of the Eridani Light Horse, faces a tough decision: Should he openly defy the First Lord of the Star League? Sun-Tzu Liao, the First Lord, has sent Star League troops as "peace-keepers" to the St. Ives Compact to prevent open rebellion by angry citizens - but they're not seeking peace. Amis knows the mission is only a guise for reclaiming territory for the Capellan Confederation, and he's ready to station counter-forces on Milos, close to the heart of the Capellan capital. But on Milos, things are already escalating - Death Commando Chen Shao and his ruthless partner, Nessa Ament, have secretly murdereed a dissident's family in cold blood. Now, in what could erupt into full-scale war, both forces are at each other's throats.

#48

Ghost Of Winter

1999

All his life, Sturm Kintaro wanted to be a MechWarrior. Now, he is one - untested in combat, but eager to show his prowess and be transferred away from the backwater planet Kore. But he is about to get a bigger opportunity than he ever wanted when a band of interstellar pirates launches a surprise attack and takes control of the planet. After the rout, Sturm finds himself stranded in the frozen wastes of Kore with no 'Mech, no help, no hope... Until he stumbles upon a long-hidden secret, one that will help him prove himself a worthy MechWarrior. Now, Sturm must wage a one-man war against the invading force - and resurrect a ghostly legend of Kore - if he is going to save his people from annihilation.

#49

Roar of Honor

1999

Angela Bekker is a rising star in the Ghost Bear Clan. Devoted to duty and honor, relentless in the pursuit of flawless victory - a prime example of Clan excellence in mind and body. So when she receives orders to form a new Trinary from scratch, she jumps at the chance to have her own command. Especially since they are to be stationed on the planet Toffen at the leading edge of Ghost Bear space. But what is an honor for some is an opportunity to strike for others. Led by the bloodthirsty Dirk Radick, forces of Clan Wolf launch an assault to take the valuable planet from the inexperienced troops. But the hunters soon become the hunted, as the Stalking Bears live up to their name. Only when the smoke clears does Angela realize that great honor comes at a great price - one that she may not be willing to pay...

#50

By Blood Betrayed

1999

Harley Rassor is a simple farm boy in a complex techno-universe - more than happy to work the land of planet Slewis with his father. His restless older brother left to join the elite merc corps, Able's Aces... and paid with his life. Now, Harley's father want him to join the fight - and learn what happened to his brother. What he learns is that the Aces are in turmoil. His instructor - tough-as-nails Lieutenant Livia Hawke - also happens to be his brother's ex-lover. Rumors of suspected payoffs and setups are commonplace. And the entire unit is in danger of being disbanded. Then pirates launch a devastating raid on the Rim Collection's resources, sparking an all-out fight that will put the Aces in the thick of battle - and reveal to Harley that there are worse things in war than death...

#51

Illusions of Victory

2000

Solaris VII is known as the Game World - where entertainment is king, money is power, and MechWarriors from every corner of the Inner Sphere come to make war against one another in the ultimate sporting event. Michael Searcy arrived on Solaris VII as a dishonored MechWarrior, and worked his way up in the rankings to become a value commodity in the games. He knows all the moves, plays all the angles, and can put on a show as well as he fights. But now, the ancient grudges pitting warriors against each other have spilled out of the arena - and are moving through the streets in an all-out war. And Michael is caught in a championship match where the winner is the last man left alive...

#52

Flashpoint

2001

One of the few survivors of the First Kathil Uhlans' battle with the Clans, David McCarthy returns to Kathil to join the planetary militia, only to find a planet torn apart by factional strife out to seize control of Kathil's orbital shipyards. Original.

#53

Measure of a Hero

2000

Colonel Felix Blucher's orders from the Archon were simple enough: quash the Davion Loyalist uprising on Thorin. But Blucher never planned on facing the fearless Archer Christifori, local militia leader and decorated MechWarrior in the Clan Wars. As tensions rise between Blucher's Lyran Alliance and the Davion Loyalist population, Archer is torn between obedience to the Archon or allegiance to his people. But when Blucher's forces go too far, Archer takes up the Loyalist cause and becomes commander of the rebel army. The final confrontation looms and the rebels face long odds - but it takes more than 'Mechs to win Thorin's freedom. It takes a hero...

#54

Path of Glory

2002

NEW ALLIES. OLDER ENEMIES. For MechWarrior Zane, allegiance to the Nova Cat Clan comes above all else. So when he sees his clan disgraced, cast out, and suddenly allied with the hated Inner Sphere, Zane's only desire is to see the Nova Cats returned to their former greatness. For Palmer Yoshio, the Draconis Combine is the only honorable thing in a chaotic galaxy. But when he is forced to train alongside the outcast Nova Cats, he finds that his own notion of honor is a far cry from his leader's. Now, for Zane and Yoshio, the line between friend and foe will be drawn in the blood of their fallen comrades—and neither warrior will be able to look at their universe in the same way again....

#55

Test of Vengeance

2001

When a renegade faction of the Draconis Combine military invades the Ghost Bear capital of Alshain, the long-time bitter enemies are once again plunged into bitter conflict, a brutal war in which Jake Kabrinkski, an Elemental, a race of genetically engineered warriors equipped with advanced power armor, is destined to play a key role. Original.

#57

Call of Duty

2002

The planet of Odessa is caught between two adversaries whose personal antagonism may cost them much more than their lives. On one side is Count Nicholas Fisk, ruler of Odessa and a staunch supporter of Katrina Steiner, the ruler of the Lyran Alliance. In an effort to help stamp out the rebellion against Katrina's rule that has sprouted up across dozens of Alliance worlds, Count Fisk hopes to lure one of the more successful rebels to ultimate destruction. On the other side of the conflict are Leftenant General Archer Christifari and his Archer's Avengers, who support Prince Victor and his bid to oust Katrina. Though he knows that Odessa is a trap, the possibility of winning over the famed mercenary unit Snord's Irregulars to the cause is too tempting to pass up. But where peace is expected, battle ensues. And the black and white of friend and foe quickly turn to shades of gray while treachery abounds.

#58

Initiation to War

2001

On planet Epsilon Eridani, young Tybalt Kelly dreams of one day becoming a MechWarrior - no matter how much his father hates the idea. When the local County Shu Militia starts recruiting for warrior training, Tybalt finally gets his wish. But he might not live to regret it. Because the raw, untested forces of the Shu are about to meet their baptism of fire. Unidentified 'Mech raiders have been hitting cities and supply depots, destroying and plundering at will. And the newly fitted MechWarriors are going after them. Now Tybalt is about to discover the hard truth that some battles have no winner - and in war, glory may be fleeting, but death is forever...

#59

The Dying Time

2002

Only days after the demise of legendary warrior Grayson Death Carlyle, the mercenary forces of the Gray Death Legion are called into action. Their mission is to protect Hesperus II in the Isle of Skye. With civil war raging, it is vital that the planet's famous Defiancé BattleMech production facilities not fall into the hands of the enemy. Seeing the Lyrans and Davionists at each other's throats, the Skye separatists have seized the opportunity to instigate a new rebellion, and they too threaten the safety of Hesperus II and its factories. Now commanding the Legion is Lori Carlyle, widow of Grayson. But what Lori doesn't realize is that her troops are little more than pawns in the continuing hostilities between the factions of Victor Steiner-Davion and his ever-cunning sister, Katrina - and that the Gray Death are about to enter a battle they are meant to lose. If there is one constant in this universe, it is that pawns are made to be sacrificed...

#60

Storms of Fate

2002

The civil war within the Federated Commonwealth rages unabated. Katrina Steiner-Davion continues her tyrannical rule as her deposed brother, Victor, slowly wins back the empire Katrina stole from him. Now, with the Clans striking out once more from their occupation zone and violence chewing up armies on dozens of worlds, Victor prepares what he hopes is the final assault to stop his sister's plans. His battlefield: the Star League conference, where Katrina is maneuvering herself into position to become leader of the entire Inner Sphere! But even as Victor looks toward victory, Katrina's carefully laid plans develop a more personal - and sinister - offensive. A torch, lit by the flames of treachery, threatens to start a blaze that will consume Victor, the civil war, and the entire Inner Sphere...

#61

Imminent Crisis

2002

Leftenant Colonel Grayson Addison's first absolute loyalty is to the Capellan March of the Federated Suns. If Field Marshal Hasek calls, Addison and his Eighth Syrtis Fusiliers will heed. But his fealty is not so clear where Archon-Princess Katrina, ruler of the entire Federated Commonwealth, is concerned. For as Katrina and her brother vie for power in a civil war that has engulfed the entire realm, the Fusiliers sit in an island of calm, neither supporting nor opposing any side and walking a dangerous line between survival and annihilation. But when the hammer of an invading army lands upon them, the time for decisive action is at hand - and Addison finds he must battle old friends as well as enemies if he is to remain true to his House and his army, as well as to himself...

#62

Operation Audacity

2002

The Civil War rages on, with deposed Prince Victor Steiner-Davion's forces bloodied from the recent defeats inflicted by his sister, Katrina. Worse still, Clan Jade Falcon has seized the opportunity to launch a determined offensive into the Lyran Alliance, destroying forces on both sides of the conflict. But Prince Victor has formed a daring plan of his own - hold the Falcons in check on the worlds they have already conquered and unleash a massive force under Major General Archer Christifori deep inside Clan space with the mission to cut the Falcon offensive off at its core. To succeed, Victor and Archer must convince one of Katrina's most loyal warriors - Leftenant General Adam Steiner - to join the fight. But how can either side trust the enemy they have sworn to kill?

#63

Endgame

2002

It is the darkest hour of the ongoing civil war between Prince Victor Steiner-Davion and his sister, Katrina. With Victor brought low by the assassination of his love, Omi Kurita, the allied forces are rudderless. As Victor recovers in hiding, Katrina's military rallies. Victor's last chance lies before him, and he will need to draw on his strongest supporters. Kell. Allard-Liao. Sandoval. Marik. Sortek. All have their parts to play as the allied forces attempt to sweep Katrina's loyalists before them. It is their final bid to claim victory, bring a tyrant to justice, and return the thrones of two interstellar nations to benevolent rule.

#64

Ghost War

2002

For generations, the Republic of the Sphere has known a Golden Age of peace. Mighty BattleMechs, once kings of the battlefields, now aid the reconstruction of war-torn worlds. But when terrorists destroy the interstellar communications net, each planet is thrust into isolation. Suddenly old hatreds resurface and a people who have never known war face the prospect of learning its meaning firsthand. Sam Donelly is one of the best ForestryMech jockeys on the planet, wielding his 'Mech's fifteen-foot chainsaw with the grace and precision of a surgeon. Caught in a skirmish with revolutionaries, he soon finds himself a rebel recruit. But Sam is no mere lumberjack, and if his true identity is discovered, the repercussions could be disastrous not only for Sam, but for the entire Republic...

#65

A Call to Arms

2003

Months have passed since the interplanetary communications net was destroyed, isolating planets across the Republic of the Sphere. Achernar is one of the few worlds still in possession of a working Hyperpulse Generator Station, a device that enables communication across the galaxy - and a much sought after prize for the splintering factions of the Republic... After failing to qualify as an active MechWarrior, Raul Ortega finds some solace in the Republic's military reserves on Achernar and dreams of the day he might know the adventure and glory of real combat.The Republic-loyal forces of Achernar are supported by a loose alliance with the Swordsworn, a faction pledged to House Davion, whose leaders have an agenda all their own. When the planet falls under siege by yet another splinter group the Steel Wolves, who are intent on capturing the HPG station, Raul is called to active duty. But when the Swordsworn desert Achernar in its time of need, Raul discovers that there's little honor in the subtle nuances of treachery and the brutal realities of war...

#67

BattleTech Legends

A Silence in the Heavens

2003

Since the failure of the interplanetary communications system, the ages-long peace within The Republic of the Sphere has begun to shatter. Power-hungry factions - such as the Steel Wolves - are raiding vulnerable worlds to establish their own rule... As a gateway to Earth, the planet of Northwind has strategic value - making it an exposed target to the splintering factions emerging across The Republic - and Duchess Tara Campbell will not allow her home to fall into enemy hands. Offering military assistance, The Republic sends Paladin Ezekial Crow and his fully armed BattleMech to help defend Northwind. MechWarrior Anastasia Kerensky, she of the infamous bloodline, has her sights set on possessing Northwind - and what Anasatasia wants, Anastasia usually gets. But first she must contend with the deadly politics of the Steel Wolves before she embarks on a conquest that could lead to the very heart of The Republic itself...

#68

Truth and Shadows

Book Two of the Proving Grounds Trilogy

2003

The Highlanders defeated Anastasia Kerensky the last time she attacked Northwind - although she retreated with most of her troops. Now dispersed among several planets, the Highlanders will need a bigger edge if they are to end Kerensky's threat completely. A rumor places Anastasia Kerensky on Northwind. If that's true, then the Steel Wolves must be close by. Determined to locate them, Ezekial Crow and Tara Campbell order a reconnaissance - unaware that their enemy may be closer than they think. With her forces on standby, Anastasia believes that there is little the embattled Republic can do to stop her from finally making a trophy of Northwind. What she doesn't realize is that she has allies she never imagined and enemies she never suspected. It's a moment of truth for Crow, Campbell, and Kerensky, when lies emerge frm the shadows, and the fate of a world hangs in the balance.

#69

Service for the Dead

2003

The world of Northwind has been decimated in the battle between the Highlanders and the Steel Wolves - and now the Clan warriors set their sights on Terra. The fate of the planet rests in the hands of three MechWarriors: Ezekiel Crow: betrayer of the Highlanders - and on the run from both political and military enemies. Anastasia Kerensky: ruthless ruler of the Steel Wolves - and if she has her way, the next Conqueror of Terra. Tara Campbell: leader of the Northwind Highalnders - and Terra's only hope in its most desperate hour. The explosive conclusion to The Proving Grounds Trilogy, which includes A Silence in the Heavens and Truth and Shadows.

#70

By Temptations and By War

2003

When The Republic of the Sphere was established, it absorbed a quarter of Capellan Confederation space. Now that the crippled Republic is embattled everywhere, the Confederation Chancellor sends an operative into former Capellan territory to nurture the seeds of rebellion. Freedom fighter Evan Kurst has resisted The Republic's "benevolent occupation" of the world of Liao for as long as he can remember. He has fought side by side with agents from the Confederation, and rallied other fighters to the cause. Until now, his efforts have been in vain. In the chaos of the interstellar communications blackout, Kurst sees a new chance to liberate his homeworld and return it to its rightful rulers. The Chancellor's support is assured, and embodied in the person of Mai Wa, the operative sent to ensure Kurst's success. But Mai has betrayed Kurst before, and Kurst's biggest problem remains knowing whom to trust in a world where today's ally is tomorrow's enemy.

#71

Fortress of Lies

2004

After his victory of New Aragon, Duke Aaron Sandoval has the embattled Republic in his debt. But Sandoval's hidden agenda has more to do with his own power than any loyalty he ever had to The Republic of the Sphere. He'll spare no expense to achieve his ultimate goal. When the Duke becomes the target of an assassination attempt, he realizes that his efforts to build a coalition against the invading House Liao are failing. Many planetary governors prefer capitulation to war. What he needs is a new ship and a new approach. To launch his campaign, Sandoval sends his nephew Erik, fresh from the front lines, to Shensi. His job is to convince the governor to join his uncle's alliance instead of making peace with Liao. Although Erik is honored to be the Duke's strong right hand, he's convinced that his uncle's arrogance is getting the better of him. But what Erik doesn't yet realize is that his uncle will sacrifice anyone to achieve his dreams of glory...

#72

BattleTech Legends

Patriot's Stand

2004

Under assault and ill-equipped, Alkalurops has come apart since the loss of its communications grid and the inability of The Republic to reestablish it. But in a universe of powerful players, a leader has to grab power fast if she's going to survive... Grace O'Malley's people are valiantly making a stand against Loren Hanson's Roughriders, a band of mercenaries destroying everything in their path. Badly outnumbered, her forces need real BattleMechs operated by trained MechWarriors. And they're not going to be easy to afford, especially since the big mine owners refuse to offer any funds for planetary defense. But Grace will not surrender her homeland, no matter what the price. Even though the ragtag locals are putting up a surprisingly good fight, Hanson remains confident he can defeat them. What he doesn't count on is an opponent determined to write her planet's history in the scorched wreckage of the battlefield...

#73

Flight of the Falcon

2004

A Clan Jade Falcon force is en route to eradicate the Steel Wolves - but its true mission is the subjugation of The Republic of the Sphere. Constrained by an imposed peace for decades, the Falcons embark on their most spectacular war in generations - and their lust for blood runs hot... Siblings Malvina and Aleks are Jade Falcon's best and brightest MechWarriors. Each achieved high command at a young age, and their bond is strong, but so is their rivalry. While Aleks believes warriors should protect the weak, Malvina is obsessed with dark visions of power and glory. If the leader of the Clan is destined to rule the Inner Sphere, then Malvina's first step toward seizing that role for herself is to conquer The Republic... or utterly destroy it. On Skye, Tara Campbell faces a major invasion with too few Highlanders to beat it back. Some in the Planetary Council want to negotiate with the invaders to spare Skye the frightful carnage visited on other worlds. Now Tara - The Republic's greatest defender - finds herself fighting dissension at home when unity is needed in the face of Skye's greatest crisis ever...

#74

BattleTech Legends

Blood of the Isle

2004

Sky struggles to rise from the ashes of the last Jade Falcon assault. Tara Campbell's Highlanders are limping back from battles fought all across the Prefecture. And Anastasia Kerensky's Steel Wolves have disappeared again. It's a matter of when - not if - the Falcons will renew their brutal assault, and Skye is unprepared... On the world of Nusakan, Landgrave Jasek Kelswa-Steiner appears to be Skye's only chance for salvation. Gathering his Stormhammers, he prepares to throw his force into the teeth of the Falcon advance. But will the cure be worse than the disease? Jasek passionately advocates a return to House Steiner, a political movement his father just as passionately opposes. Unfortunately for The Republic, desperate times call for desperate alliances - and the Jade Falcon force is still spoiling for battle. Clan Jade Falcon will not rest until Sky is conquered... or reduced to a charred cinder.

#75

Hunters of the Deep

2004

Sea Fox Clansmen are space-bound, nomadic warrior-merchants who live and die aboard their naval vessels, going planetside only to negotiate a new deal or for combat - often the same thing for a Fox. Divided into five autonomous Khanates, they are led by the Khan of all Clan Sea Fox. Their mission: to make deals and acquire the revenue needed to expand Sea Fox's honor, glory, and power... For more than a decade, ovKhan Sha Clarke has watched his Spina Khanate achieve greater wealth and fame than any other. A quiet passion drives the MechWarrior to free Spina Khanate from the shackles of Clan Sea Fox - no matter the cost... A MechWarrior fiercly loyal to Clan Sea Fox, ovKhan Petr Kalasa knows that Sha is plotting rebellion, but even he cannot guess the lengths to which Sha will go to achieve victory. In his attempt to stop his rival, he baits Sha into a one-on-one duel. The result is a disaster that vividly demonstrates how much Petr will have to sacrifice to put an end to Sha's machinations. Yet his suspicions of Sha will not let him rest. He has lost one battle, but - as The Clan is his witness - he will not lose the war...

#76

The Scorpion Jar

2004

Exarch Damien Redburn has called for the election of his replacement. Paladins assemble from all corners of The Republic, and those vying to be elevated are creating a lively nomination process. But machinations behind the scenes threaten to turn the election into a bloodbath. Paladins Heather GioAvanti and Jonah Levin are both conducting investigations into suspicious activities swirling around the edges of this high-level gathering. The leads they follow repeatedly intersect, and it becomes clear that more than one group intends to disrupt the election of the exarch. Through political influence, association, or rebellion, each of these cabals ultimately seeks to place its own man or woman on the exarch's seat - and whoever controls the exarch controls The Republic. But Damien Redburn refuses to allow his successor to be a puppet. He is willing to throw a few 'Mechs and a secret agent or two at the situation to get the result he wants - even if what he wants may be a surprise to his operatives.

#77

Target of Opportunity

2005

Despite years of effort, ComStar has been unable to repair the HPG interstellar communications grid. Now The Republic is taking a hands-on approach to fixing the problem. An active hyperpulse generator can turn its planet into a tempting target. So when ComStar appears close to reactivating the HPG on Wyatt, The Republic takes steps to counter any threats to the world - at a time when ComStar is determined to prove that it's once more a force to be reckoned with... Knight-Errant Alexi Holt is assigned to defend Wyatt for The Republic. But her greatest challenge is to protect Tucker Harwell - a genius possessing unmatched HPG skills - from the invaders who will certainly try to capture him. Both the Oriente Protectorate and Clan Spirit Cat have an interest in Wyatt. The first seeks to control the man who can fix an HPG, the other a safe haven. Unsavory characters will also step forward. After all, though a reactivated HPG makes Wyatt a target, Tucker Harwell is the biggest prize of all.

#79

Daughter of the Dragon

2005

Between The Republic of the Sphere and the Draconis Combine stands the military unit known as the Dragon's Fury. Claiming worlds in the name of the Combine without House Kurita's support and threatening the entire Inner Sphere, the Fury pursue their leader's agenda with fanatical devotion... Katana Tormark bears the burden of disgrace. A traitor's actions against her father discredited her family. Now, to regain the respect the Tormark clan deserves, she openly challenges the Coordinator's policy of nonaggression with The Republic, hoping to push House Kurita into a conflict - a conflict the Coordinator apparently doesn't want. Warlord Mitsura Sakamoto believes Katana is making House kurita look weak, and he is determined to turn the situation to his advantage. For he has his own designs on ruling the Combine, and he's not going to let the daughter of a dishonored samurai stand in his way...

#80

Heretic's Faith

2005

Centuries ago, Minoru Kurita abandoned his noble name and heritage when he was adopted by Clan Nova Cat, who utilized Minoru's psychic abilities to create a powerful new breed of warrior: the Mystic Caste, a secretive spiritual branch of the Clan led by their exalted Oathmaster... From the moment Kisho left the Iron Womb, he has been trained in the Mystic Caste with one goal in mind: to forge his entire being into a tool - not simply as a weapon to fight the Clan's enemies, but as an instrument of strength to bring glory to Clan Nova Cat through his visions. Now he has been chosen by the Oathmaster himself to be his protégé and possible successor. But Kisho's great pride masks a greater deception: He does not believe any of it. He has walked the path all his life, yet he has no faith in the gifts the Mystic Caste supposedly possesses and he is running out of time. For Kisho is about to be sent into battle with his warrior brethren to fight alongside the forces of the controversial Warlord Katana Tormak - and the faith he has so long denied may be the only thing that can save them...

#81

Fortress Republic

2005

Julian Davion - Prince's Champion of the Federated Suns - is a warrior who has lost his way. Amidst political turmoil and the shifting fortunes of war, he struggles to find his destiny... Julian's First Davion Guards have restored order on Terra. The Republic is closing it borders, keeping its core intact while leaving farther-flung worlds to fend for themselves. But The Republic is not only being attacked from without - it's being undermined from within, and the hunt for seditionists continues. Ex-knight and now-senator Conner Rhys-Monroe still leads the fight to destroy The Republic from the inside. He is expertly opposed by Countess Tara Campbell, leader of the Highlanders and The Republic's best hope on the outside. Terra lies at the center of their titanic tug-of-war, where Julian struggles to keep his footing in a situation shifting like blood-drenched quicksand.

#82

Blood Avatar

2005

The first body that turns up in Farway, a secluded town on the planet Denebola, is from out of town. When the Denebola Bureau of Investigation and the legate's office from half a planet away decide to help identify the murder victim, Sheriff Hank Ketchum knows he's in over his head. Enter the infamous detective Jack Ramsey. With the help of the talented and beautiful local medical examiner Amanda Slade, Ramsey digs into the case and discovers evidence that puts Farway at the heart of a conspiracy. But who's the greater threat - the Clans, the Word of Blake, or the legate's intelligence operative?

#83

BattleTech Legends

Trial by Chaos

2006

The Raging Bears have begun their occupation of the planet Vega with the hope of restoring order on a planet beset by violence and civil ruin. But their bold move to stabilize Prefecture I for The Republic of the Sphere may prove to be the chance their enemies have waited for... While the military takeover of Vega was no great challenge, setting up a new planetary government and restoring the infrastructure of civilization have proven to be far more difficult for the peacekeeping forces of the Rasalhague Dominion. There remains an underground resistance that refuses to cease fire, and the Bears suspect that the Draconis Combine is secretly supporting the rebellion. As the Combine threatens them from without, the Bears also find themselves plagued by betrayal and deception from within. Unless they can expose the rival elements in their clan, they may end up as fodder for destruction...

#84

BattleTech Legends

Principles of Desolation

2006

For more than a year, "divine leader" Daoshen Liao has relentlessly pushed his Capellan Confederation forces in their invasion of the Republic. Now the time has come for the next stage of his conquest - a conquest that will begin not with an enemy, but with his ownfamily... Raised among royalty in the Magistracy of Canopus, where the superiority of women is a cultural axiom, Danai Laio-Centrella possesses all the confidence necessary for her to ascend through the Confederacy ranks, despite having to contend with the constant machinations of her maniacal brother, Daoshen. But when her latest mission ends in defeat and personal disgrace, Danai will face the greatest challenge of her life. Chancellor Daoshen rewards her failure by giving her a battalion of her own and a brand-new battlefield. And Danai is about to learn that in service to the state, even family comes second to safeguarding the Capellan Confederation.

#85

BattleTech Legends

Wolf Hunters

2006

Anastasia Kerensky has led the Steel Wolves to the planet of Galatea to repair, resupply, and - to the annoyance of her MechWarriors - retrain themselves in infantry combat. Ignoring Clan traditions, she has forged the Steel Wolves into a tighter, more cohesive fighting force with a new agenda... Declaring the Steel Wolves mercenaries, Anastasia plans to sell the Clan's skills to the highest bidders. Fighting wars for wealth and continuous supplies of upgraded equipment will provide her elite troops an autonomy and strength that almost no other MechWarrior battalion can match. But her decision divides the Steel Wolves, with many veterans striking off on their own. Reduced to a mere fraction of their original strength, Anastasia's newly rechristened Wolf Hunters seek worthy warriors to refill their ranks. Star Colonel Varnoff Fetladral, one of Kerensky's most vocal opponents, believes Anastasia has betrayed the founding principles of the Clan. With his own faction of loyal Steel Wolves by his side, he sets out to hunt down and destroy every member of the Wolf Hunters - and to restore MechWarrior honor...

#86

BattleTech Legends

Surrender Your Dreams

2006

They are the Fidelis, a brotherhood of warriors whose devotion to honor and courage on the battlefield is unmatched. Their existence known only to a former exarch, they are a fighting force to be reckoned with - a force three knights must consider as they undertake missions that could save the Republic... or cripple it. Lady Synd embodies the vision of the knight-errant. Devoted wholeheartedly to the Republic and its citizens, she believes in her mission. But what she must do to accomplish it will test her mettle as a knight - and as a human being. Hunter Mannheim is descended from a long line of military leaders and feels he must continue the tradition of excellence in service and sacrifice in battle. But what he must sacrifice in the name of duty may be more than he can bear. Kristoff Erbe is a man burdened by shame. His grandfather was a collaborator who served as commander of a "reeducation camp" for those who defied the fanatical Word of Blake. To this day Kristoff searches for a way to redeem his family honor. Three knights. Three dreams. For each, one chance lies outside the walls of the Fortress Republic...

#87

Dragon Rising

2007

Rewarded for her loyalty and cunning, Katana Tormak has been granted the rank of warlord of Dieron - a somewhat dubious position of honor. For even as she is awarded her new title, she is also given a nearly impossible task to prove her worth - a task that may usher in a new era of interplanetary chaos... Barely three generations ago, the Draconis Combine ceded control of dozens of planets to The Republic. But Exarch Jonah Levin removes his protection, and these same planets are left to fend for themselves. Some go on as if nothing has changed, while others find themselves pawns in a deadly game of territorial sovereignty. These are the planets Katana must take over if she is to reestablish the historic Dieron Military District. If she can manage this with minimal resources and with the very subtle support of the Combine's coordinator, then she will become a full-fledged warlord of House Kurita. But Katana's enemies see the ensuing confusion as a chance to destroy her once and for all...

#88

Masters of War

2007

As Clan Wolf launches a daring campaign of reprisal against The Republic, three warriors will find their destinies intertwined on the field of battle, and in the fight for their futures... Alaric is a living legend among the Wolves: fearless, ruthless, merciless. But his own lust for victory may mean his undoing, unless he learns to see beyond himself - and recognize what a true warrior fights for. Anastasia is a former Clan Wolf warrior, now leading a band of mercs against her onetime comrades. She knows that to lead, she must prove not only her ability but her complete separation from the Wolves. And there is only one way for her to do so - in combat. Verena is the new commander of a ragtag merc force. Her desire for greatness will uncover her own superior abilities and draw her ever closer to a final confrontation in which mercy is unheard-of - and only death awaits the unworthy...

#89

A Rending of Falcons

2007

Ever since their defeat in the Great Refusal decades ago, and all through their partial demilitarization when faced with Devlin Stone's Republic of the Sphere, the Clans have sought their place in the universe. Now one Clansman has found her vision, and will make a bid for power that will shake the very foundations of the Inner Sphere... Jade Falcon Galaxy Commander Malvina Hazen and her warriors are encamped on the planet Skye in their Occupation Zone, overseeing the consolidation of power on the worlds they've wrested from The Republic. When a ship appears at Skye's jump point and its commander declares a Trial of Possession for the wartime doctrine he claims Malvina stole from Clan Hell's Horses, Malvina sees her vision unfolding: she agrees to single BattleMech combat. Malvina emerges from the fray victorious - and inspired to ride her growing reputation into Clan Jade Falcon's halls of power. But her bold actions may herald the beginning of a civil war that could unmake not simply her own Clan, but the entire Clan way of life.

#90

BattleTech Legends

Pandora's Gambit

2007

On 25 October 3069, t he extremist Word of Blake attacked the capital of the Free Worlds League and declared the League's leader, Captain-General Thomas Marik, a fraud. House Marik fell into disgrace, and after eight centuries of existence, the Free Worlds League shattered. Three captains-general now vie to reunite the realm: Anson Marik of the Marik-Stewart Commonwealth prides himself on possessing Marik blood and seeks to rule on its strength. Lester Cameron-Jones of the Regulan Fiefs knows the Marik bloodline is defunct; only a new royal house can resurrect the League. Jessica Marik of the Oriente Protectorate is on a mission to redeem her father's name: the false Thomas Marik, the man who helped destroy the League. The world of Marik becomes a battleground as the three contenders prove that they will go to any lengths to further their causes. Only Jessica Marik appears to remember that the Free Worlds League was forged not through military might alone, but also through alliances of trust. They will all find the price for their ambitions is higher than they could ever have imagined. Who will be willing to pay?

#91

Fire at Will

2007

For too long, the people of the Lyran Commonwealth have only reacted to attacks by their enemies. But now Archon Melissa Steiner will launch an intricate gambit that will ensure the safety of her subjects - and secure her own power against those who wish to take it... Trillian Steiner has always been a loyal warrior and supporter of the archon. But when she is ordered to strike against the Free Worlds League, victory is not her only goal. The leader of the campaign - the politician and business magnate Duke Vedet Brewster - has been consolidating power within the Commonwealth for years. And now the archon has decided to rid herself of two threats with one move. For Trillian is there, not to ensure success but, through a web of machinations, to guarantee the duke's downfall - before the worlds he conquers become the foundation of an attempt to take over the Commonwealth. And in the chaos of war and the never-ending struggle for power, Trillian's strength and devotion will be sorely tested...

#92

The Last Charge

2007

It is a time of trials for the Marik-Stewart Commonwealth. Besieged by enemies on all sides, their once mighty forces are struggling to survive - as is their leader... Anson Marik is at his wit's end. His Lyran enemies - aided by the warriors of Clan Wolf - are pressing on the borders of the Commonwealth. His chief tactician has resigned in the midst of the chaos. And his abilities as a leader are failing him. He finds himself unable to summon the legendary rage that brings focus to his mind, and the loss couldn't have happened at a worse time. For his enemies are already on the move, taking the Commonwealth planet by planet, forcing Marik to pull his forces back in a bravely fought running retreat. And if Marik cannot gather his strength to stop the invasion, his people will be doomed.

#93

BattleTech Legends

To Ride the Chimera

2008

Negligent leadership has left the Marik-Stewart Commonwealth on the brink of collapse. If something isn't done soon, its implosion will leave many worlds and many lives vulnerable to factions eager to conquer and exploit them... A MechWarrior without peer, Thaddeus Marik has become the figurehead for a new community of planets attempting to resurrect the Free Worlds League. After defeating a Lyran invasion on the successful alliance with the Protectorate Coalition, Marik must now ally himself with Jessica Halas-Hughes if the new League is to have a chance. Having Marik and his forces at her side gives Jessica much-needed credibility and greater influence on Oriente. But old hatreds die hard and soon erupt into a war against enemies who will stop at nothing to destroy the founding of a new League...

#94

A Bonfire Of Worlds

2010

A GALAXY AFLAME... The universe has gone dark. Interstellar communications has been lost across the Inner Sphere, threatening the corporate giant ComStar—and maybe civilization itself. Risking everything on a last chance for survival, Comstar has kidnapped the engineering genius Tucker Harwell, hoping he can unravel the mystery of the blackout. But Tucker isn’t just working on why it happened...he’s also trying to figure out who’s behind it. Meanwhile, Khan Malvina Hazen solidifies her hold on a purified Clan Jade Falcon while hunting for the next enemy to crush under the talons of her brutal Mongol Doctrine. Hundreds of light-years away, Clan Wolf is carving out territory along the Lyran Commonwealth/Free Worlds League border—and Alaric Wolf is primed to make his moves in the halls of power. Plans years in the making begin to come together across hundreds of star systems, and secrets hidden for decades will finally be revealed while an empire goes up in flames…

#95

BattleTech

Isle of the Blessed

2013

The Federated Suns have long been held as the pinnacle of military professionalism and skill in the Inner Sphere, a reputation earned across centuries of combat on hundreds of worlds. But when the Word of Blake launches their Jihad and attacks the Suns capital world, New Avalon, even that reputation will be put to the test. Marshal of the Armies Jackson Davion is the heir to a centuries-old tradition of martial excellence, but even he may not be enough to stem the tide of invasion. Precentor Geoffrey Zucker is an idealist of the Word of Blake, a man who fights not for flag but for ideas. Forced to attack his homeworld, he chafes beneath the conflict between duty and family. Avitue is one of the Word of Blake elite, a Manei Domini—a hand of the Master. Blessed by the Word of Blake’s leaders, imbued with cybernetic enhancements, and driven by a fanatical zeal to succeed, she will go to any length to capture New Avalon. Among such icons, can the everyday soldiers and citizens of New Avalon survive? This edition includes the entire novel originally published serially on the BattleCorps fiction website, as well as companion in-character journal entries, and a new foreword from the author. Steven Mohan, Jr. has professionally published more a half million words of military science fiction including the BattleTech novel A BONFIRE OF WORLDS. He has sold original fiction to markets as diverse as INTERZONE, POLYPHONY, and PARADOX, as well as several DAW original anthologies. His short stories have won honorable mention in THE YEAR'S BEST SCIENCE FICTION and THE YEAR'S BEST FANTASY AND HORROR and he has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize.

#96

BattleTech

Embers of War

2015

For Ezra Payne and the Stealthy Tiger mercenaries, professionalism is everything. Hired to assist in the bitter, bloody fighting on the planet Hall, they quickly earn a decisive victory for their employer. They settle afterward in for a needed period of rebuilding, and a few months’ peace before moving on to the next contract. But their respite does not last. More mercenaries, hired by the Allied Mercenary Command itself, land on Hall. They believe the Tigers’ employer to be league with the Word of Blake, a shadowy interstellar organization that worships technology, and which has been building its own empire among the worlds around Terra. The Tigers want nothing of this battle, but war rages across the Inner Sphere. The hard-fought cease-fire cannot last, even on Hall, and when every faction is embittered and fueled by fervor, peace has no chance at all. As a new conflict erupts, will the Stealthy Tigers’ BattleMechs be enough to save them? Or will the looming threat of renewed war engulf them in its fiery embrace?

#97

BattleTech

Betrayal of Ideals

2016

THE TRUE FATE OF CLAN WOLVERINE… Every member of modern Clan society knows of the Not-Named Clan, the one that was erased from history for perpetrating acts of heresy against the Way of the Clans. But what truly happened to Clan Wolverine?Long before the Clans invaded the Inner Sphere in 3049, their ancestors escaped the brutal Succession Wars by braving uncharted space and forming a new society, only to plunge back into the ravages of war. The year is 2822. The Pentagon Civil War is long over, and Operation Klondike saw ilKhan Nicholas Kerensky’s twenty Clans victorious over the petty warlords who had conquered the Pentagon worlds. But with no true enemies left to fight, the nascent Clans have lost their laser-sharp focus, and begun straying from the ilKhan’s vision.Khan Sarah McEvedy, leader of the progressive Clan Wolverine, sees the dangerous path the ilKhan is steering his Clans onto, but she cannot follow them without compromising her beliefs or her honor. Unsure whom to trust among the scheming Clans, she must navigate the political waters of the Grand Council with caution and resolve, or suffer the deadly consequences. As her enemies seek to engineer her Clan into the ultimate scapegoat, Khan McEvedy must do everything she can to ensure her Clan survives, or they will all be hunted down and destroyed.Written by BattleTech veteran Blaine Lee Pardoe, Betrayal of Ideals tells the complete story of the true history of Clan Wolverine.

#98

BattleTech

Forever Faithful

2019

SEMPER FIDELIS In the year 3060, the reborn Star League has destroyed Clan Smoke Jaguar, conquered their home world Huntress, and scattered the few remaining Jaguar warriors to the winds. Now the League seeks to end the Clan invasion for good by using former Smoke Jaguars against their own people. Meanwhile, two bitter enemies seek to salvage a future for the last Jaguars in Trent, who betrayed his wayward Clan to help them regain their honor, and Paul Moon, a disgraced warrior torn between his pledged loyalty to the Star League and a duty to the Smoke Jaguar civilization he was born to protect. But power-hungry predators lurk in Clan space, waiting for the right time to strike the vulnerable Star League forces. And to the victor will go the the priceless artifacts of a destroyed Clan and the sacred genetics of the final generation of Smoke Jaguar warriors. Trent and Paul Moon must fight tooth and nail against would-be conquerors to save the soul of the surviving Jaguar people before they are consigned to the annals of history. But will their divergent plans tear the survivors apart, or lead them toward freedom?

#99

Battletech

Redemption Rift

2019

ON THE HUNT AGAIN… It is the Dark Age—3139—and the famed mercenary regiments of Wolf's Dragoons have returned to the employ of House Kurita after a century of bitter enmity. Somehow, mercenaries and Kuritans must find a way to work together in a combined invasion of the Dragon’s oldest enemy, House Davion. Thrust into the middle of this new conflict, Colonel Henry Kincaid is surprised by the commonalities—duty, honor, expediency—the Wolves and Combine forces share. But as the Wolves’ lightning tactics and unstoppable drive brings world after Davion world under the Dragon’s banner, old hatreds arise anew, and with them come insidious plots engineered to cause the mercenaries’ downfall. Throughout the campaign, Colonel Kincaid struggles to rectify what he thought he had always known about the Kuritans with the truth he discovers while actually working with them. But when his forces are trapped on a Davion world with no way to escape and the regiments of House Davion closing in, can he pull another bit of genius from his hat, or will the battalions of Wolf’s Dragoons be destroyed?

#100

BattleTech

Icons of War

2020

SYMBOLS OF POWER... After the Word of Blake exacts an incalculable toll on Clan Wolf, Elemental warrior Garmen Kerensky is tasked by Wolf Khan Vlad Ward to undertake an audacious, top-secret mission in the Clan Homeworlds. While other covert teams help the Wolves evacuate Clan Space, Garmen’s command will steal the most prized relic of Clan the body of the Great Father, Commanding General Aleksandr Kerensky, Garmen’s ancestor. But the father of the Clans’ founder is entombed aboard the McKenna’s Pride, a Star League-era WarShip in permanent geosynchronous orbit above the Clans’ capital city, a staunchly guarded vessel that will take ingenuity, a warrior’s spirit, and more than a little luck to reach. Stealing his ancestor’s remains is a tall order under normal circumstances, but the Homeworld Clans are on the verge of open warfare with each other, and this mission threatens to blow Clan society apart entirely. As the elite warrior guards of the Ebon Keshik hunt Garmen, he and his hardened team must navigate the intrigue of the shadowy Dark Caste to have any hope of reaching the Pride alive. But no plan ever survives enemy contact, and Garmen must overcome the forces arrayed against him or risk forever losing the Great Father’s body to the chaos and destruction of the Clans’ internal warfare.

#101

BattleTech

Children of Kerensky

2020

A RACE TO VICTORY… Terra. For centuries, it has been the Clans’ ultimate prize. As prophesied by their founder, Nicholas Kerensky, the Clan that conquers Terra shall ascend above all others to become the ilClan, ruler over the rest of the Clans. And its leader shall become the ilKhan, and will lead the Inner Sphere into a new era. And now, nearly a century after the Clan Invasion, two Clans race to be the first to reach Terra and the ultimate prize. On one side is Alaric Ward, Khan of Clan Wolf, a brilliant warrior and complex mix of the best of the Clans and the Inner Sphere. He comes to save the Inner Sphere from itself, intending to construct a new empire among the stars. His main adversary is Chingis Khan Malvina Hazen, the brutal, ruthless leader of Clan Jade Falcon. Forged in a tradition where only the strong survive, she leads her touman not to save the Inner Sphere, but to raze it to ashes and rebuild it according to her own twisted vision. All that stands between them and a decisive victory that will reshape the Inner Sphere forever is the impenetrable barrier shielding Terra from invasion, not to mention the forces of the once-mighty Republic, which has no plans to surrender without a vicious fight…the only question is, who will reach Terra first?

#102

BattleTech

Hour of the Wolf

2020

MORE THAN A CENTURY IN THE MAKING… Since the Clan Invasion of 3050 ended in failure, there have been those who have not forgotten Nicholas Kerensky’s ultimate goal: The conquering of Terra, and the rise of one clan above all others to become the ilClan, and rule over both the rest of the Clans and the Inner Sphere regardless of what the Great Houses may say about it… THE BATTLE THAT WILL RESHAPE THE INNER SPHERE BEGINS… Now, in 3151, two Clans make the final jump into the shattered remains of the Republic of the Sphere. Their target: the cradle of humankind…and the ultimate symbol of the Inner Sphere…Terra. But Clans Jade Falcon and Wolf will face a powerful, tenacious enemy in the remaining forces of the Republic, led by their resurrected leader, Devlin Stone. The impending battle will engulf the entire planet, and when it is over, only one shall stand supreme

#103

BattleTech

Blood Will Tell

2021

You can’t choose your parents. Outside the building where she’s just brokered peace–again–with Julian Davion, Danai Liao-Centrella wipes her hands of the sickness of her parents. Her life is her own. Her duty is to the state. And with the Republic making rumblings, the Clans digging deeper into former Republic space, her duty is clear: preserve the state. At any cost. Her father, Chancellor Daoshen Liao, is head of the state and its armies. Acclaimed, as all Capellan chancellors are, the ‘Celestial Wisdom’ of the Confederation, he alone decides policy. By giving up New Syrtis, Danai has broken with that policy. He will not be pleased. She doesn’t care. Her duty is to the state. And for the state to survive, the entire campaign against the Davion Federated Suns must be abandoned. There is a richer prize in sight. A greater threat. The Republic of the Sphere is coming out from behind its wall. The Capellan Confederation must be ready.

#104

Battletech

Fall From Glory

2004

Timeline: 2784-2785 First part of the Founding of the Clans trilogy that was written in English, but translated and published in German before being published in English (via BattleCorps). English title: Founding of the Clans: Fall from Glory. FLIGHT INTO THE UNKNOWN...100 million dead. 500 million wounded. One billion homeless. The worst war in human history is over-and has left the Star League shattered. Jealousy and infighting from the five Great House Lords over who will be the next First Lord has the entire Inner Sphere already teetering on the brink of all-out conflict again. Against this grim backdrop, Aleksandr Kerensky, commanding general of the Star League Defense Force, faces a terrible choice. Stay, and see the mightiest military ever known subsumed into the Great Houses, lighting a conflagration that may burn even brighter than the terrible Amaris Coup. Or do the unthinkable... To save the Inner Sphere, Aleksander-along with his sons, Nicholas and Andery, must leave it behind. He marshals the largest fleet ever assembled to carry millions of people on thousands of JumpShips to head into the unknown. Exodus! But though the Great General strives to make a fresh start for his people far from the Inner Sphere, old habits and allegiances are difficult to leave behind. Soon the Kerenskys and their followers face threats both external and internal as they search the endless black for a new world upon which they can forge a Star League-in-Exile...or die trying.

#105

BattleTech

Visions of Rebirth

2006

THE DREAM DESTROYED… General Aleksandr Kerensky is dead. The Pentagon Worlds are in flames. The dream of a Star League-in-Exile is over, shattered by civil war. Amid the chaos, Nicholas Kerensky leads those who will follow him on a second exodus to the world of Strana Mechty. Yet unlike his father, Nicholas must choose a different He wants to do away with all that was, and create an entirely new order. However, the bounds of society that go back millennia cannot be shed so easily. Resistance must be overcome, and blood must be spilled before Nicholas' dream can be achieved. But without his brother Andery's help, the entire venture is doomed before it even begins. Brothers, however, don't always share the same goals. And as more aspects of civilization are purged in the relentless forging of this new society, Andery fears the worst of human nature will arise. Can he find a way forward and stay by his brother’s side…or will Nicholas’ ultimate vision be realized as everything Andery stands against?

#106

BattleTech

Land of Dreams

2022

Return in Triumph... or Not at All... Two thousand light years from Terra, two brothers leave behind the shattered dreams of their Father, the great General Aleksandr Kerensky. For a second time, war drives them into the dark, cold void as raging conflict engulfs the Pentagon Worlds and the nascent Star League-in-Exile. For nearly fifteen years on the world of Strana Mechty - the land of dreams - Andery Kerensky has watched his elder brother Nicholas shape an all-new society of warriors that follows their ilKhan with near religious fanaticism. And despite the costs already paid in blood for that transformation, Andery knows the worst is yet to come. For Nicholas will stop at nothing to mold his followers into something never seen in human history. And all with one singular goal: to return to the Pentagon Worlds and punish those that destroyed their father's dream. Can Andery continue to be his brother's conscience, even as Nicholas' final hammer blows forge the Clans into the great and terrible society it is poised to become? Or will the titanic assault of Operation Klondike and the Clans' return to the Pentagon Worlds shatter what Nicholas has built entirely? And just how far will Andery let Nicholas go to pursue his zealous quest of united Clan Homeworlds...

#107

BattleTech

A Splinter of Hope/The Anvil

2019

VICTORY AT ANY COST… Jump into your BattleMech cockpit, fire up your fusion engine, and charge into the fray with two BattleTech novellas from Philip A. Lee and bestselling writer Blaine Lee Pardoe. A Splinter of Hope : Violent expansion of the Capellan Confederation and the Draconis Combine has cost recently crowned First Prince Julian Davion both his mentor and countless Federated Suns worlds. To rally his people, he funnels the fires of justice into an ambitious yet risky campaign to retake a vital New Syrtis, the occupied capital of the Capellan March. 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 preserve the future of the Federated Suns, or is the invasion doomed before it even begins? The Anvil : Khan Malvina Hazen of Clan Jade Falcon is known throughout the Inner Sphere as a merciless, bloodthirsty tyrant. The next target for her scorched-earth, take-no-prisoners tactics is the Lyran Commonwealth world of a persistent stain on the Jade Falcons’ history. But not all Falcons follow Malvina’s lead. Ordered to take Coventry at any cost, Galaxy Commander Stephanie Chistu wishes to see her Clan victorious, but no victory is worth the Jade Falcons losing their very soul. To stand up to tyranny and find an honorable path forward for her Clan, she must balance the razor’s edge between duty and honor—or die trying.

#108

BattleTech

Hunting Season

2021

KNIVES IN THE DARK… Captain-General Jessica Marik is holding the reborn Free Worlds League together by the might of her indomitable will, and has managed to keep all of the interstellar nation’s foes at bay. But even the strongest and most inspiring leaders have chinks in their armor. After a personal tragedy, Jessica vanishes from the public eye, leaving no hand on the tiller of the fractious nation as multiple hostile neighbors drag them into open warfare. Beset on all sides, the League must navigate the flames of war with no direction from the top, leaving Warden-General Nikol Marik, Jessica’s youngest child, in control of the League’s military forces at a time when the nation needs her mother’s leadership the most. Nikol steps up to the challenge, however, as this is the moment she has been preparing for her entire life. But forces in the shadows seek to capitalize on the chaos and bring the Free Worlds League to its knees from within. The threat of coups and assassins sets the League on edge as Nikol strives to maintain the unity her mother had fought so hard to achieve, even if it means putting herself in danger. But she is not alone. At her right hand stands General Wilburn Kirkland, commander of the Ducal Guard, Jessica’s personal bodyguard regiment. Together they must discover who the League’s true enemies are, and hunt them to the ends of the Inner Sphere if necessary...

#109

BattleTech

A Rock and a Hard Place

2021

ALIVE OR DEAD… Just a few months after their universe-shaking campaign on Helm, and the distribution of the Helm Memory Core, all Grayson Carlyle and his Gray Death Legion want is to settle into their new home on Glengarry. But they barely touch down on-planet when a Lyran Commonwealth general contacts the GDL, intent on hiring them to track down and capture Draconis Combine agents behind a daring raid on Lyons. Tracking the Kurita raiders to the Draconis border system of Valdis—better known as Wheel—Grayson and his people have their work cut out for them. The system’s main feature is literally a wheel-shaped deep-space station and recharge facility at the Valdis star’s zenith jump point. Its structure means a direct assault with BattleMechs will be extremely risky, both because of the tight quarters and the very real danger of an errant shot or missile depressurizing and destroying the entire station. Also, Grayson will be splitting his force, with Lori Kalmar providing a decoy operation on the nearby mining planet Valdis I, otherwise known as Rock, to draw the Combine’s attention away from Wheel. It’s a high-risk operation on both ends, but Grayson and the GDL have their orders, and they intend to capture the Draconis operatives one way or the other…even if they have to risk destroying the entire space station to do so…

#110

BattleTech

No Substitute for Victory

2022

TOO OLD TO FIGHT, TOO YOUNG TO DIE… For nearly a decade, the relentless warriors of Clan Jade Falcon have held the world of Jangso in the A Place system, using it as a training ground for their next generation of warriors. When the planet’s garrison departs to join other Falcon forces in the fight for Terra, the Clans’ ultimate prize, aging Star Commander Hasara is ordered to remain behind. Deemed too old to be worthy of going to Terra, he still embraces his honor, and vows to safeguard the planet and all of the cadets too young to join the fight. The Lyran Commonwealth, still stinging from losing Jangso to the Falcons, resolves to exploit their absence by taking back the planet before the Falcons can return. Armed with military intelligence and smuggled BattleMechs, Lyran natives on Jangso launch critical strikes at Hasara, his ex-MechWarrior partner, and the Falcon cadets under their wings, luring them into a trap. But the Lyrans have greatly underestimated the Falcons’ indomitable spirit and the lengths they will go to when driven to the brink of desperation. As Hasara wrestles with his own sense of honor, and faces dwindling morale and diminishing returns against troops seeking to exterminate him and his cadets, he must prove there is still enough fight left in his old bones to secure a victory for the future of his Clan.

#112

BattleTech

Redemption Rites

2022

OUT FOR BLOOD… Wolf's Dragoons, the most storied and elite mercenary unit in the Inner Sphere, has been utterly shattered for the first time in its centuries-long history. In 3151, most of the Dragoons listened to Marotta Kerensky and followed Alaric Ward to Terra. There, they helped him destroy the Republic of the Sphere and establish the ilClan. Four out of five Dragoons died in the fighting. The survivors were injured, shell-shocked, and finally, gravely insulted by Alaric Ward’s token payment of thirty pieces of silver. In one brutal gesture, the ilKhan did what no other enemy had ever He broke Wolf’s Dragoons. The decimated survivors limped off Terra to rendezvous with their remnants that had stayed behind. Colonel Henry “Hack” Kincaid, senior striker officer, is waiting when the Dragoons convoy appears, full of wrecked machines, but depleted of personnel. Kincaid is a man of reputation in the Dragoons. His word carries weight. And he hasn’t been tarnished by Terra. Three regiments and one of his irreplaceable striker battalions have all been ground to dust. All that is left now is duty. And vengeance…

#113

BattleTech

A Question of Survival

2022

A FUTURE FOR THE TAKING… As the last Bloodnamed Warrior left in the former Jade Falcon Occupation Zone, newly-elected Khan Jiyi Chistu has ’Mechs, but no MechWarriors—making it impossible to rebuild his Clan after the disaster on Terra. Meanwhile, despite being riven by the Dominion-wide vote on whether to join the new Star League or not, Star Colonel Emilio Hall’s Ghost Bears have a planet full of talented sibkos ready to graduate. When word of these sibkos reaches Khan Chistu, he hatches a bold plan to take them, eager to rebuild the Jade Falcons. But with Star Colonel Emilio caught up in the politics of the Ghost Bear vote, will he even see Jiyi coming? Or will he lose the sibkos that represent the very future of his Clan? For both men and the Clans they hold dear, these dilemmas become nothing less than a question of survival…

#115

BattleTech

The Damocles Sanction

2022

TO REFORGE A NATION… The once-mighty Federated Suns has been weakened by years of conflict on both sides of its border. Its proud capitol, New Avalon, has been held by its mortal enemies, the Draconis Combine, for years, forcing First Prince Julian Davion to rule his fractious nation on the run. But at long last, the time to liberate New Avalon from the Dragon is at hand. And despite very different opinions as to how they retake the Davion family’s seat of power, Julian and his Prince’s Champion, Field Marshal Erik Sandoval, must work together to free the planet, the first step to rebuilding their proud nation. Yet liberating New Avalon is only the first step. While the First Prince attempts to hold the marches together and the Prince’s Champion battles Draconis Combine forces on nearby worlds, new threats lurk around every corner. Facing dangers both at home and abroad, both men must fight to preserve the Davion throne while ensuring their own rivalry doesn’t spark a brand-new conflict—one that could tear the Federated Suns apart all over again…

#116

BattleTech

Escape from Jardine

2023

SHE FOUND THE LOST PLANET… Intrepid interstellar explorer Brooke Stevens has seen many strange and unique sights in her lifetime, but this one may be the most incredible one of all. Tasked by the organization Interstellar Explorations to locate an entire world, she located the previously “lost” planet of Jardine. BUT WILL SHE LIVE TO TELL ANYONE ABOUT IT? Once there, however, she stumbles upon a powerful ComStar faction, the Word of Blake, that will do anything to keep Jardine’s location a secret—including terminating any outsiders with knowledge of their concealed base. Now Brooke and what’s left of her team—a taciturn tech and a native of Jardine whose tribe was wiped out by brutal Manei Domeni cyborgs—must brave the hazards of the jungle planet and journey to the heart of the Word of Blake’s operations in hopes of finding a way off the planet…before their relentless enemies bury them on it…

Authors

Victor Woodward Milán was an American writer known for libertarian science fiction and an interest in cybernetics. In 1986 he won the Prometheus Award for Cybernetic Samurai. He has also written several shared universe works for the Forgotten Realms, Star Trek, and Wild Cards Universes. He has also written books under the pseudonyms Keith Jarrod, Richard Austin (Jove Books The Guardians series), Robert Baron (Jove Books Stormrider series), and S. L. Hunter (Steele series with Simon Hawke, who used the pen name J. D. Masters). He also wrote at least 9 novels under the "house name" of James Axler for the Harlequin Press/Gold Eagle Books Deathlands series & Outlanders series.

Among other things, I was an English major in college and so I know that I'm supposed to write things like, "Ilsa J. Bick is ." Except I hate writing about myself in the third person like I'm not in the room. Helloooo, I'm right here . . . So let's just say that I'm a child psychiatrist (yeah, you read that right)as well as a film scholar, surgeon wannabe (meaning I did an internship in surgery and LOVED it and maybe shoulda stuck), former Air Force major—and an award-winning, best-selling author of short stories, e-books, and novels. Believe me, no one is more shocked about this than I . . . unless you talk to my mother.

Originally hailing from the piney woods along the Alabama/Florida border, J. Steven York has wandered between many genres (science fiction, fantasy, mystery) and points on the map. Though he now lives on the Pacific shore in Oregon, his current mystery series "Panorama Beach," is set in the sunny Florida panhandle during the 1960s, and its fictional environs are inspired by his real-life ancestral roots there, and his happy visits to the gulf coast when he was a child.

Bill Keith was raised in the mountains of western Pennsylvania, and served in the Navy as a corpsman for many years. In addition to writing fiction and non-fiction works, he is an award-winning illustrator/artist. He has also published under the psuedonyms: Ian Douglas (SF series: Heritage, Legacy, Inheritance, Star Carrier, Andromedan Dark) H. Jay Riker (SEALS:The Warrior Breed series) Keith Douglass (Carrier and Seal Team 7 series) Bill Keith Keith William Andrews (Freedom's Rangers series) Robert Cain (Cybernarc series)

Steven Mohan Jr.

Author · 7 books

Steven Mohan, Jr. has professionally published more a half million words of military science fiction including the BattleTech novel A Bonfire of Worlds. He has sold original fiction to markets as diverse as INTERZONE, POLYPHONY, and PARADOX, as well as several DAW original anthologies. His short stories have won honorable mention in THE YEAR'S BEST SCIENCE FICTION and THE YEAR'S BEST FANTASY AND HORROR and he has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize.

Michael J. Ciaravella

Credited on some German editions as "Robert N. Charette".

Loren L. Coleman

Author · 25 books

Loren L. Coleman (born 1968) is a science-fiction writer, born and grew up in Longview, Washington. He is known for having written many books for series such as Star Trek, Battletech/Mechwarrior, Age of Conan, Crimson Skies, Magic: The Gathering and others. Former member of the United States Navy, he has also written game fiction and source material for such companies as FASA Corporation, TSR, Inc. and Wizards of the Coast. In early 2010s, he began writing The ICAS Files series, science fiction short-stories. [wikipedia]

A pseudonym used by Debra Doyle and James D. Macdonald.

Ardath Frances Hurst Mayhar was an American writer and poet. She began writing science fiction in 1979 after returning with her family to Texas from Oregon. She was nominated for the Mark Twain Award, and won the Balrog Award for a horror narrative poem in Masques I. She had numerous other nominations for awards in almost every fiction genre, and won many awards for poetry. In 2008 she was honored by Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America as an Author Emeritus. Mayhar wrote over 60 books ranging from science fiction to horror to young adult to historical to westerns; with some work under the pseudonyms Frank Cannon, Frances Hurst, John Killdeer, Ardath P. Mayhar. Joe R. Lansdale wrote simply: "Ardath Mayhar writes damn fine books!"