BattleTech: Shrapnel, Year One


Book Description

Strap into the Cockpit! Proudly carrying the battle standard for BattleTech short fiction, the first year of Shrapnel: The Official BattleTech Magazine continues the tradition of explosive, hard-hitting stories set in the war-torn, BattleMech-dominated interstellar future of the 31st century. In this collection of issues #1–4, you will attempt to escape from a bandit king’s stronghold, ally with longtime enemies on the front lines of the swift and merciless Clan invasion, and fight brutal arena duels on the game world of Solaris VII. You will defend your home in the Deep Periphery from opportunistic invaders, share tales of victory and woe at a popular MechWarrior bar, and discover a long-abandoned ’Mech that helps build an idealistic young woman’s sense of purpose. Then go beyond the story and forge your own legend with in-universe articles, conspiracy theories, technical readouts, unit and planet digests, playable scenarios, role-playing adventures, weapons catalogs, social commentaries, and much, much more! This collection also includes the entire four-part Kell Hounds serial novel, If Auld Acquaintance Be Forgot… by New York Times-bestselling author Michael A. Stackpole. Tighten your safety harness, thumb off your weapon safeties, and march into battle to see where it all began, with heart-wrenching stories and powerful game features penned by long-time BattleTech luminaries and exciting new authors. Note: this is the same file that all Kickstarter Mercenaries backers have already received. If you backed the campaign at any level, you have already received this file as part of your pledge.




BattleTech: Shrapnel, Issue #2


Book Description

THE WAR RAGES ON! Shrapnel: The Official BattleTech Magazine returns with more explosive BattleMech action from the 31st century! Experience tales of hard-won survival from the gaming world of Solaris VII, the wilds of the Deep Periphery, and the annals of Clan history. Dive deep into in-depth technology articles, technical readouts, conspiracy theories, war-game and role-playing adventures, and more—all from veteran BattleTech authors, fan favorites, and our latest enlistees: Michael A. Stackpole • Jason Schmetzer Michael J. Ciaravella • Travis Heermann Alan Brundage • James Simakas John-David Karnitz • Aaron Cahall Matthew Cross • Daniel Isberner Alex Kaempen • Tom Stanley • Chris Wheeler




BattleTech: Shrapnel, Issue #17


Book Description

ENTER THE ARENA! Shrapnel: The Official BattleTech Magazine is your spotlight for tales of brutal, one-on-one BattleMech action in the no-holds-barred gladiatorial arenas of the 31st century and beyond! A patsy expected to take a fall must utilize every asset at his disposal to avoid becoming another Solaris tragedy when backroom intrigue spills into the arena. A law enforcement agent with ties to organized crime must fight an unsanctioned duel to help stage a daring rescue. Coming out of retirement, a washed-up has-been with an abysmal win-loss record seeks one last bout for a final chance at glory. In this issue, you’ll begin your journey on the Game World of Solaris VII, where two gladiators must take dangerous risks for a shot at revenge in the name of the Federated Suns. You’ll witness a debt-collection attempt gone wrong, where survival is more valuable than seizing a ’Mech as collateral. And you’ll blast your way into the first installment of the serial novel Violent Inception, by Russell Zimmerman. Whether you begin in unranked matches in the Reaches, or you’ve worked your way up to the famed Class Six arenas, Solaris is where legends are made and fortunes come to an abrupt end. And the best way to climb the ladder to become the Grand Champion is to arm yourself with advice on survival and ’Mech-scale melee weapons, Stable Digests, technical readouts, and more—all by defending-champion BattleTech authors and some new challengers in the arena: Russell Zimmerman Michael J. Ciaravella Tom Leveen Mark Hill Chris Hussey Devin Ramsey Craig A. Reed, Jr. Robin Briseño Matthew Cross Daniel Isberner Matt Larson Wunji Lau Lorcan Nagle Eric Salzman Zac Schwartz Stephen Toropov




BattleTech: Shrapnel, Issue #1


Book Description

JUMP BACK INTO THE COCKPIT! Picking up the battle standard for BattleTech fiction, Shrapnel: The Official BattleTech Magazine continues the tradition of hard-hitting stories set in the war-torn interstellar future of the 31st century and beyond. Fire up your ’Mech’s fusion reactor, secure your neurohelmet, and wade into battle with stories from the merciless front lines of the Clan Invasion and other eras, conspiracy theory articles, game scenarios, and more from veteran BattleTech authors, fan favorites, and some new recruits. Featuring: Michael A. Stackpole • Blaine Lee Pardoe Kevin Killiany • Craig A. Reed, Jr. • Chris Hussey Jason Hansa • Lance Scarinci • Michael J. Ciaravella Patrick Wynne • Aaron Cahall




BattleTech: Shrapnel, Issue #3


Book Description

THE DAY THE STAR LEAGUE DIED! Shrapnel: The Official BattleTech Magazine brings you more BattleMech action from the war-torn 31st century and beyond! Celebrate Star League Day with tales of a long-abandoned ’Mech rediscovered and pressed into service, a quest for vengeance in enemy territory, the resurgence of old ghosts, and the threat of bitter betrayal in the face of long odds. Charge headlong into technical readouts, assassin conspiracies, in-depth equipment articles, playable holiday-themed scenarios, and more—all from BattleTech veterans, fan favorites, and new authors: Michael A. Stackpole Loren L. Coleman Blaine Lee Pardoe Bryan Young Bryn Bills Charles Dalmas Chris Hussey Daniel Isberner Alex Kaempen Craig A. Reed, Jr. Eric Salzman Lance Scarinci David Smith Tom Stanley




BattleTech: Shrapnel, Issue #18


Book Description

UNCHARTED TERRITORY Shrapnel: The Official BattleTech Magazine is your map and compass for discovering heavy-hitting tales of BattleMech combat on the battlefields of the Hinterlands! Former Jade Falcon cadets who found a new home within the Kell Hounds are pushed to the breaking point of loyalty when ordered to hunt down Falcon holdouts. Plagued by raids and unrest, the Malthus syndicate seeks to end the rise of a charismatic and elusive Jade Falcon leader known only as the Talon. And a planetary noble desperate for protection will stop at nothing to keep the planet’s mercenary force on a permanent contract, even if that means they can never return home… In this issue, you’ll also travel beyond the Hinterlands region to help a Draconis Combine tea master undertake a treasure hunt for the fabled lost treasure of House Kurita. You’ll see rival mercenary units forced into close proximity on Small World erupt into a bitter feud with only one logical outcome: a prank war. And you’ll wander into a merciless blizzard in the Magistracy of Canopus, hoping to hunt down a pirate before the hunter becomes the hunted. The Hinterlands region of the Inner Sphere is packed full of surprises: shifting loyalties, shady characters, selfless heroes, and more. Get lost in the uncharted chaos of this region with articles forecasting the future of Duke Vedet Brewer’s Vesper Marches and the independent planet of Blue Hole, a playable campaign for Barcelona, planet digests, technical readouts, and more—all by veteran BattleTech authors and some new trailblazers: Russell Zimmerman Giles Gammage James Bixby Sam Barrett Alex Fairbanks James Hauser Ken’ Horner Bryan Young Alex Fauth James Kirtley Matt Larson Mike Miller Lorcan Nagle Luke Robertson Eric Salzman Zac Schwartz Tom Stanley Stephen Toropov




BattleTech: Shrapnel, Issue #8


Book Description

STAY FROSTY! Shrapnel: The Official BattleTech Magazine delivers tales of tragedy and triumph amid the struggles of BattleMechs on the battlefields of the 31st century and beyond! A spurned Solaris gladiator enacts a unique brand of payback. A Federated Suns mission to take down the infamous “Lady Death” Trevaline runs afoul of pirate ingenuity. A ex-mercenary on Outreach must risk everything during the Fourth Succession War to protect those who cannot protect themselves. In this issue, you’ll venture into the jungles and avoid native predators while racing to recover lost Star League-era data; discover the truth lurking behind a seemingly unbeatable Word of Blake ’Mech; and fight to preserve a MechWarrior’s right to crack open a cold, frosty beverage after the battle is done. Then return to the shadows and danger of the Game World with the penultimate part of our Solaris VII serial. Keep cool under fire with technical readouts, a playable campaign, glimpses at the Malthus Confederation and Canopian pleasure circuses, a guide for new citizens of the Federated Suns, a report on dangerous alien plant life, and much more—all from BattleTech veterans and a few new faces: Craig A. Reed, Jr. Jason Hansa James Bixby Eric Salzman Douglas Carruthers Jeremy Ciccone Keith R. A. DeCandido Daniel Isberner John-David Karnitz Joshua Franklin Johannes Heidler Ken’ Horner Wunji Lau Mike Miller Tom Stanley Joel Steverson Stephen Toropov




BattleTech: Shrapnel, Issue #6


Book Description

FIGHT FOR THE FUTURE! Shrapnel: The Official BattleTech Magazine surges onward, waging wars that will decide the fate of the BattleMech-dominated future of the 31st century and beyond! Follow a quest for quick cash that yields unusual Star League relics. Commiserate with an aging MechWarrior convinced he is cursed with the devil’s luck—which is about to run out. Listen to the tale of how mercenary commander Ace Darwin obtained his iconic ’Mech—but how much of his story is true? Within these pages, you will visit Terra after the dawn of the ilClan era, venture into the postwar period of the Aurigan Coalition, and travel to the far-flung worlds of the Scorpion Empire in the Deep Periphery. Then you will dive into the intrigue and vice of Solaris VII in the beginning of a new, four-part serial novel. Choose your plan of attack with technical readouts, after-action reports, a deep dive into plasma technology, a treatise on covert-ops poisons, and a look at Free Worlds League politics, along with playable scenarios and more—all loaded into your autocannon by both BattleTech veterans and new voices from the Inner Sphere: Blaine Lee Pardoe Craig A. Reed, Jr. E. Clark Avery Jason Schmetzer James Bixby M. W. Hayden Mark Hill Daniel Isberner Alexander J. Roth Ken’ Horner James Kirtley Wunji Lau Eric Salzman Joel Steverson Stephen Toropov




BattleTech: Shrapnel, Issue #15


Book Description

ALWAYS READ THE FINE PRINT Shrapnel: The Official BattleTech Magazine is your go-to source for brutal, heavy-metal BattleMech action across the battlefields of the 31st century and beyond—and now it’s bigger than ever before! This special double-size issue is jam-packed with the true currency of the Inner Sphere: mercenary troops! To reclaim a priceless personal memento, the Gray Death Legion must teach a young noble an invaluable lesson. The Northwind Highlanders, facing the loss of everything they hold dear, must defend their homeworld by forcing House Davion to pay in blood for every centimeter they gain. When the Crescent Hawks discover a lost family member might still be alive, they will stop at nothing to find her and bring her home. In this issue, you’ll search for the fabled city of gold in the former Rim Worlds Republic, witness the Kell Hounds interview a new recruit with an unusual connection to Morgan Kell himself, and learn the trials and tribulations of a novice mercenary on a long-haul space journey for the first time. Experience the true cost of losing a personal ’Mech in battle, evade competing mercenary units fighting over your secret cargo, and raid a lost vault for invaluable treasure on behalf of a prestigious collector. Whatever the job, there’s always soldiers of fortune ready to sign on the dotted line, and they can build their legend with content such as advice articles on how to run a mercenary unit and negotiate favorable contracts; Unit and Planet Digests for intel on the competition; technical readouts on unique ’Mechs; various downtime entertainment options; playable scenarios to test your tactical chops; and much more—all by veteran BattleTech authors and a new addition to the roster: Michael A. Stackpole Bryan Young Chris Purnell Jason Schmetzer Daniel Isberner Alan Brundage James Kirtley Robin Briseño James Bixby Giles Gammage Jason Hansa James Hauser Tom Leveen David Martin Lance Scarinci Jaymie Wagner Russell Zimmerman Alex Fauth Stephan Frabartolo Johannes Heidler Ken’ Horner Wunji Lau Lorcan Nagle Eric Salzman Zac Schwartz Ed Stephens Stephen Toropov




BattleTech: Shrapnel, Issue #14


Book Description

WATCH YOUR SIX! Shrapnel: The Official BattleTech Magazine brings you more hard-hitting BattleMech action from the heavy-metal wars of the 31st century and beyond—but don’t let your guard down! A loyal Republic of the Sphere MechWarrior must make a life-or-death decision when catastrophic news from Terra throws everything into chaos. A sheriff on a Periphery backwater planet investigates mysterious murders terrorizing a community. A desperate survivor of the Clan Invasion seeks revenge against the Jade Falcons while he still has the chance… In this issue, you’ll travel to the Hanseatic League in the Deep Periphery, where the Scorpion Empire will stop at nothing to obtain a priceless Star League-era relic. Then witness the first Marauder built in the new millennium walk off the assembly line, face a so-called zombie ’Mech arisen from the grave, and discover how to effectively weaponize a BattleMech’s operating system. No matter the situation, you can stay out of harm’s way by reviewing a most-wanted list of criminals and assassins, a roster of the Marian Hegemony’s Legion of the Dead, technical readouts, unit and planet digests, playable scenarios, a campaign set in the resource-poor wilds of the Third Succession War, and more—all by battle-hardened BattleTech authors and some new boot-camp graduates: Bryan Young Chris Hussey Marc Follin Jaymie Wagner James Bixby J. D. Neal Jeremy A. Reynolds David Stier Geoff “Doc” Swift Étienne Charron-Willard James Kirtley Matt Larson Lorcan Nagle Eric Salzman Zac Schwartz Tom Stanley Stephen Toropov Chris Wheeler