Catalyst 35900 - Shattered Fortress [2018].pdf

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A DARK AGE ERA SOURCEBOOK
SHATTERED FORTRESS
SHATTERED FORTRESS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CREDITS …………………………………………………
3
BRING THE DAWN ……………………………………
4
3146: CRACKS IN THE FOUNDATION ……………
15
A Long Way from Home …………………………………
15
Taking the Scenic Route ………………………………………
15
Raiding the Confederation ……………………………………
16
An Invitation ……………………………………………………
16
Higher Aspirations ………………………………………………
17
The Capellan Invasion …………………………………………
17
Backyard Raids …………………………………………………
18
At the Lyrans’ Side Door ………………………………………
19
Tragedy and Triumph …………………………………………
20
The Marlette Deception…………………………………………
22
A Test of Loyalty …………………………………………………
24
Antisocial General ………………………………………………
25
Send in the Hounds ……………………………………………
25
The Dragon Strikes ……………………………………………
28
Goshen Rendezvous ……………………………………………
28
The Dragon Constricts …………………………………………
28
3149: THE DAM BREAKS ……………………………
62
The Curtain Rises …………………………………………
62
Blowing the Ram’s Horns ………………………………………
62
Divine Retribution …………………………………………
64
Promises Kept ……………………………………………
66
Dieron ……………………………………………………………
66
Fear and Confusion ……………………………………………
66
Shades of Kapteyn ………………………………………………
67
Binding the Dragon’s Tongue …………………………………
68
The Vanishing Remnant…………………………………………
69
Extinguishing the Flame ………………………………………
70
TIAMAT, Wave One ………………………………………………
72
TIAMAT, Wave Two ………………………………………………
73
The Heart of the Draconis March ………………………………
76
Insatiable Appetite ………………………………………
17
The Dragon and the Tiger ………………………………
67
Wrestling the Dragon ……………………………………
68
Reuniting with the Remnant ……………………………
69
Cementing the Pact ………………………………………
72
The Republic Rampage …………………………………
75
The League Ascendant …………………………………
19
Sowing the Seeds of Chaos ……………………………
21
Throwing Down the Gauntlet …………………………
24
Nightfall ……………………………………………………
28
3150: THE PREDATORS STRIKE ……………………
79
Walking on Eggshells ……………………………………
79
The Blueprints of Invasion ………………………………………
79
The Silent Front …………………………………………………
80
Securing the Draconis March …………………………………
80
The Sleeping Bear ………………………………………………
82
The Assault of Skye ……………………………………………
84
Chasing Down the Herd ………………………………………
85
87
88
89
89
90
90
91
91
91
92
92
93
93
94
95
96
97
3147: THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM …………
31
Searching for the Grail …………………………………
31
Forming the Round Table ………………………………………
Operation PERCEVAL, Round One………………………………
Operation PERCEVAL, Round Two ………………………………
The Dragon’s Response …………………………………………
Tightening the Belt ……………………………………………
The Gibraltar Setback …………………………………………
Chimera …………………………………………………………
Orthus……………………………………………………………
Hydra ……………………………………………………………
Crossing the River Styx …………………………………………
Challenging the Archon ………………………………………
The Silence of the Clans ………………………………………
The Concordat’s Future …………………………………………
31
32
33
33
34
35
38
39
39
40
40
41
42
42
44
45
The Harried Dragon ………………………………………
80
Wolves on the Hunt ………………………………………
84
The Marian Problem ……………………………………
87
Marian Blitzkrieg ………………………………………………
Canopian Response ……………………………………………
League Response ………………………………………………
The Path to Illyria ………………………………………………
Dissidents and Breakaway States ………………………………
The Falcons Gather ……………………………………………
The Jaws Close …………………………………………………
The Falcon Storm ………………………………………………
Delayed Vengeance ………………………………………
The Three-Headed Dog …………………………………
War on All Sides …………………………………………
The Race to Terra …………………………………………
Operation CLARITY: The Battle of Northwind ………
Elsewhere in the Inner Sphere …………………………
3148: THE COMING SHADOW ………………………
47
Excising the Cancer ………………………………………
47
Chemotherapy …………………………………………………
47
The Falcons Advance ……………………………………………
49
State of Emergency ……………………………………………
52
A Campaign of Vengeance ……………………………………
53
A Hard Bargain …………………………………………………
54
Unfit to Lead ……………………………………………………
55
Costly Sacrifices …………………………………………………
55
Cessation of Hostilities …………………………………………
58
New Steel ………………………………………………………
59
Tsujigiri …………………………………………………………
60
Can You Hear Me Now? …………………………………………
The Capellan Threat ……………………………………………
Unexpected Help ………………………………………………
The Shadow Arrives ……………………………………………
Dropped Calls……………………………………………………
For the Duration of the Crisis …………………………
52
Fallout ………………………………………………………
TIMELINE OF EVENTS: 3146–3150 …………………
99
NEW UNIT PROFILES ………………………………
104
Dawn Guards [Federated Suns]………………………………
Hikage [Draconis Combine] …………………………………
Fides Defenders [Republic] …………………………………
The Grey Watch [Republic/Merc] ……………………………
104
104
105
105
106
106
106
Trouble in Paradise ………………………………………
54
The Dragon’s Shadow ……………………………………
59
FORTRESS REPUBLIC TECHNOLOGY …………
HPG Blackout ………………………………………………
The Wall ……………………………………………………
2
SHATTERED FORTRESS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TOUCHPOINT TRACKS ………………………………………………………
Touchpoint:
Touchpoint:
Touchpoint:
Touchpoint:
Touchpoint:
Touchpoint:
Touchpoint:
Touchpoint:
Touchpoint:
Touchpoint:
Arc-Royal …………………………………………………………………
New Avalon ………………………………………………………………
Marik ………………………………………………………………………
New Syrtis ………………………………………………………………
Buena ……………………………………………………………………
Remagen …………………………………………………………………
Castor ……………………………………………………………………
Robinson …………………………………………………………………
Skye ………………………………………………………………………
Northwind ………………………………………………………………
108
108
109
110
111
112
114
115
116
117
118
120
CREDITS
Writing
Philip A. Lee
Bring the Dawn
Jason Schmetzer
Additional Writing
Aaron Cahall
Ken’ Horner
Joshua C. Perian
Chris Purnell
Craig A. Reed
Paul Sjardijn
Geoff Swift
Product Development
Herbert A. Beas II
Ben H. Rome
Philip A. Lee
Product Editing
Aaron Cahall
BattleTech Line Developer
Brent Evans
Assistant Line Developer
Ray Arrastia
Production Staff
Art Direction
Anthony Scroggins
Assistant Art Director
Ray Arrastia
Cover Art
Anthony Scroggins
Design & Layout
Ray Arrastia
New Illustrations
Alan Blackwell
Brent Evans
Harri Kallio
Ben Meyers
Anthony Scroggins
Maps
Ray Arrastia
Philip A. Lee
Øystein Tvedten
Additional Logos
Ray Arrastia
RECORD SHEET ………………………………………………………………
Special Thanks
It has been a long road to get here, but the wait is finally over. As the primary author and
developer on this book, I’d like to give a special shout-out to all of the folks who helped me get this
long-awaited book to publication.
First off, my deepest gratitude goes to Herb A. Beas II and Ben H. Rome, for entrusting me with
this project. Without your guidance and support, this book might never have seen the light. I hope
this is a volume you both can be proud of.
Our fact-check team, who powered through this book in record time. We couldn’t have done
this without you!
Craig A. Reed, for moral support and cheerleading, even when we faced difficulties during the
production of this book.
Aaron Cahall, writer and editor extraordinaire, for stepping up to the task and coming through
in crunch time.
Ray Arrastia, whose tireless dedication to
BattleTech
serves as the pilot light feeding this
universe we all love.
Brent Evans, whose kick in the pants and laser-like drive helped get this book into readers’ hands.
And finally, my wife, Carrie Landers, whose endless love and support made this whole
endeavor possible.
Dedication
To the fans who’ve been awaiting this next chapter in the continuing, war-torn saga that is
BattleTech:
This book is for you. Thank you for sticking with us! You’re gonna love what’s coming next…
Fact Checkers and Playtesters
Stephan “Frabby” Frabartolo, Joshua C. Perian, Eric “Mendrugo” Salzman, Patrick “Roosterboy” Wynne
Find us online:
precentor_martial@catalystgamelabs.com
(e-mail address for any BattleTech questions)
http://bg.battletech.com
(official Classic BattleTech web pages)
http://www.CatalystGameLabs.com
(Catalyst web pages)
https://store.catalystgamelabs.com
(online ordering)
Published by Catalyst Game Labs, an imprint of InMediaRes Productions, LLC
PMB 202 • 303 91st Ave NE • E502 • Lake Stevens, WA 98258
©2018 The Topps Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. BattleTech: Shattered Fortress, BattleTech, Classic BattleTech,
BattleMech, and ’Mech are registered trademarks and/or trademarks of The Topps Company Inc. in the United States and/or
other countries. No part of this work may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any
means, without the prior permission in writing of the Copyright Owner, nor be otherwise circulated in any form other than
that in which it is published. Printed in the USA.
3
SHATTERED FORTRESS
BRING THE DAWN
K1-class shuttle
Sanguine
Terra Orbit
Fortress Republic
6 June 3146
Outside the thick transpex port the blue-white orb of Terra
spun on its axis, but Julian Davion didn’t see it. His gaze looked into
the past by several weeks. He saw a ghost’s face. King Arthur’s face.
He saw it every time he closed his eyes. He saw it when he let his
eyes unfocus. He heard the voice and the words.
“It’ll be worth your time to come,” the ghost had said.
The ghost that wore Devlin Stone’s face.
There was a chime behind him. It startled him out of his
reverie, but before Julian had fully turned the hatch slid open.
A trim woman with a smooth brown hair and a stern expression
stepped into the compartment. “Prince Davion,” she said. She let
the hatch close behind her and stood straight, her hands clasped
in front of her.
“I am not yet First Prince,” Julian said. Again.
The woman—she wore major’s insignia—simply stared at him.
Again.
It was an act that had been replayed the entire trip from
Nanking. She called him prince; he denied it. Both of them knew
he’d be acclaimed First Prince of the Federated Suns as soon as he
got home. She preferred not to wait for formalities.
Julian needed the formalities. The universe had become too
strange to discard the comfort of formality and tradition. The
Wolves laired in what used to be the Free Worlds League and the
Republic of the Sphere. The Jade Falcons had swallowed much
of the Lyran Commonwealth. Callandre Kell… Julian bit back a
grimace. Calamity Kell was calamitous, but in ways which were
simply unbelievable. And Caleb Davion was dead… Julian blinked.
“We’ll begin our descent in a few minutes,” the major said.
“You’ll want to be strapped in. I’m told there will be a convoy
waiting for you.”
“To take me to the Exarch.”
“To take you to Stone,” the major said. “I’m not informed
whether Levin will be present.”
Julian had given up trying to figure it out. It didn’t matter
what Stone called himself. He’d be in charge. If Julian remembered
back to the things Harrison Davion used to force him to learn, he
even understood. Letting Levin keep the Exarch’s portfolio gave
Stone political distance should he need it. It gave the Republic’s
government distance from Stone, should the Republic need it.
It was a smart political move, because whatever rules and laws
said, no one in the Inner Sphere would believe Jonah Levin would
override Devlin Stone.
Julian stood up. Sanguine was in a powered orbit, so he had the
illusion of gravity. The major—her nametape read WEALTHOW—
stepped back to give him room. He pulled his suit jacket from
the back of his chair. His stateroom—a specially-constructed VIP
compartment—was close to the boarding dock. “You don’t wish
to remain here during landing?” Her face was blank, but over the
weeks of their transit Julian had learned to look at her eyes to get a
read of her emotions. He saw the smile there.
“I’m not a child,” Julian told her. “I can stand two gravities of
decel if I have to.” He stepped past her into the companionway.
“Besides. I don’t have a lot of time. The sooner Stone has his say, the
sooner I get can back to what matters.”
Major Wealthow followed him down the companionway. “This
is important, Prince Davion.”
Julian didn’t stop. “If I’m the First Prince,” he told her, “then it
had damn well better be important.”
More important than hiding in a hole for a decade,
he didn’t say
out loud.
sts
Despite his earlier rush, Julian wanted to linger a moment in
the cool Geneva air before he entered the side entrance to the Hall
of Government. Whatever else happened, this would likely be the
last time he’d get to arrive anywhere without fanfare. Without being
noticed, protected, watched. Without facing the second-to-second
scrutiny he’d watched Harrison Davion endure for years.
I used to be
thankful I didn’t have to tolerate that.
Used to be.
A few moments later he was in a small office with two men.
One of the men was Devlin Stone. He looked like he’d walked out of
the HV documentaries. The other man was younger, and seemingly
broken—pallid, with visible scar tissue on his temples. He stood
behind Stone’s desk, off to the side. The vizier’s position. In all the
holovids Julian had watched growing up, that role had been filled
by David Lear, but David Lear was dead.
The office was spartan, decorated in shades of gray. The walls
were bare except for flatscreens. The desk was large, and Julian saw
the telltale projectors that would display holos above its surface.
There was nothing on the desk, though the smudges where
Stone had typed on a virtual keyboard projected on the tabletop
were visible. The room was warm with the humidity of too much
exhalation in too small a place and the burnt-rubber smell of warm
electronics. It was not at all the room Julian would have expected to
meet the most powerful man in the Republic of the Sphere inside.
Which was, he was certain, the entire point.
“Thank you for coming,” Stone said. There was no other
preamble.
Thank you for coming.
Julian just stared at him. He didn’t
speak. He was processing. The words were polite enough, but the
tone was all wrong. It was the tone of a man using words he knew
others expected, but that he himself was exasperated with. Julian
knew he had used that same tone any number of times, but never
to someone who’d done him a favor.
4

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