BattleTech Read online

  SUCCESSOR LORDS

  After the fall of the first Star League, the remaining members of the High Council each asserted his or her right to become First Lord. Their star empires became known as the Successor States and the rulers as Successor Lords. The Clan Invasion temporarily interrupted centuries of warfare known as the Succession Wars, which first began in 2786.

  BATTLETECH ERAS

  The BattleTech universe is a living, vibrant entity that grows each year as more sourcebooks and fiction are published. A dynamic universe, its setting and characters evolve over time within a highly detailed continuity framework, bringing everything to life in a way a static game universe cannot match.

  To help quickly and easily convey the timeline of the universe—and to allow a player to easily “plug in” a given novel or sourcebook—we’ve divided BattleTech into eight major eras:

  STAR LEAGUE

  (Present-2780)

  Ian Cameron, ruler of the Terran Hegemony, concludes decades of tireless effort with the creation of the Star League, a political and military alliance between all Great Houses and the Hegemony. Star League armed forces immediately launch the Reunification War, forcing the Periphery realms to join. For the next two centuries, humanity experiences a golden age across the thousand light-years of human-occupied space known as the Inner Sphere. It also sees the creation of the most powerful military in human history.

  (This era also covers the centuries before the founding of the Star League in 2571, most notably the Age of War.)

  SUCCESSION WARS

  (2781-3049)

  Every last member of First Lord Richard Cameron’s family is killed during a coup launched by Stefan Amaris. Following the thirteen-year war to unseat him, the rulers of each of the five Great Houses disband the Star League. General Aleksandr Kerensky departs with eighty percent of the Star League Defense Force beyond known space and the Inner Sphere collapses into centuries of warfare known as the Succession Wars that will eventually result in a massive loss of technology across most worlds.

  CLAN INVASION

  (3050-3061)

  A mysterious invading force strikes the coreward region of the Inner Sphere. The invaders, called the Clans, are descendants of Kerensky’s SLDF troops, forged into a society dedicated to becoming the greatest fighting force in history. With vastly superior technology and warriors, the Clans conquer world after world. Eventually this outside threat will forge a new Star League, something hundreds of years of warfare failed to accomplish. In addition, the Clans will act as a catalyst for a technological renaissance.

  CIVIL WAR

  (3062-3067)

  The Clan threat is eventually lessened with the complete destruction of a Clan. With that massive external threat apparently neutralized, internal conflicts explode around the Inner Sphere. House Liao conquers its former Commonality, the St. Ives Compact; a rebellion of military units belonging to House Kurita sparks a war with their powerful border enemy, Clan Ghost Bear; the fabulously powerful Federated Commonwealth of House Steiner and House Davion collapses into five long years of bitter civil war.

  JIHAD

  (3067-3080)

  Following the Federated Commonwealth Civil War, the leaders of the Great Houses meet and disband the new Star League, declaring it a sham. The pseudo-religious Word of Blake—a splinter group of ComStar, the protectors and controllers of interstellar communication—launch the Jihad: an interstellar war that pits every faction against each other and even against themselves, as weapons of mass destruction are used for the first time in centuries while new and frightening technologies are also unleashed.

  DARK AGE

  (3081-3150)

  Under the guidance of Devlin Stone, the Republic of the Sphere is born at the heart of the Inner Sphere following the Jihad. One of the more extensive periods of peace begins to break out as the 32nd century dawns. The factions, to one degree or another, embrace disarmament, and the massive armies of the Succession Wars begin to fade. However, in 3132 eighty percent of interstellar communications collapses, throwing the universe into chaos. The suspicious factions begin rebuilding their armies, and wars erupt almost immediately.

  ILCLAN

  (3151-present)

  The once-invulnerable Republic of the Sphere lies in ruins, torn apart by the Great Houses and the Clans as they wage war against each other on a scale not seen in nearly a century. Mercenaries flourish once more, selling their might to the highest bidder. As Fortress Republic collapses, the Clans race toward Terra to claim their long-denied birthright and create a supreme authority that will fulfill the dream of Aleksandr Kerensky and rule the Inner Sphere by any means necessary: the ilClan.

  CLAN HOMEWORLDS

  (2786-present)

  In 2784, General Aleksandr Kerensky launched Operation Exodus, leading most of the Star League Defense Force out of the Inner Sphere in search for a new world far from the strife of the Great Houses. After traveling more than two years and thousands of light years, they arrived at the Pentagon Worlds. Over the next two-and-a-half centuries, internal dissent and civil war led to the creation of a brutal new society—the Clans. And in 3049, they returned to the Inner Sphere with one goal—the complete conquest of the Great Houses.

  LOOKING FOR MORE HARD HITTING BATTLETECH FICTION?

  WE’LL GET YOU RIGHT BACK INTO THE BATTLE!

  Catalyst Game Labs brings you the very best in BattleTech fiction, available at most ebook retailers, including Amazon, Apple Books, Kobo, Google Books, Barnes & Noble, and more!

  NOVELS

  Decision at Thunder Rift (The Gray Death Legion Saga, Book One) by William H. Keith

  Mercenary's Star (The Gray Death Legion Saga, Book Two) by William H. Keith

  The Price of Glory (The Gray Death Legion Saga, Book Three) by William H. Keith

  Warrior: En Garde (The Warrior Trilogy, Book One) by Michael A. Stackpole

  Warrior: Riposte (The Warrior Trilogy, Book Two) by Michael A. Stackpole

  Warrior: Coupé (The Warrior Trilogy, Book Three) by Michael A. Stackpole

  Wolves on the Border by Robert N. Charrette

  Heir to the Dragon by Robert N. Charrette

  Lethal Heritage (Blood of Kerensky Trilogy, Book One) by Michael A. Stackpole

  Blood Legacy (Blood of Kerensky Trilogy, Book Two) by Michael A. Stackpole

  Lost Destiny (Blood of Kerensky Trilogy, Book Three) by Michael A. Stackpole

  Way of the Clans (Legend of the Jade Phoenix, Book One) by Robert Thurston

  Bloodname (Legend of the Jade Phoenix, Book Two) by Robert Thurston

  Falcon Guard (Legend of the Jade Phoenix, Book Three) by Robert Thurston

  Wolf Pack by Robert N. Charrette

  Main Event by Jim Long

  Natural Selection by Michael A. Stackpole

  Ideal War by Christopher Kubasik

  Assumption of Risk by Michael A. Stackpole

  Blood of Heroes by Andrew Keith

  Close Quarters by Victor Milán

  D.R.T. by Jim Long

  Tactics of Duty by William H. Keith

  Bred for War by Michael A. Stackpole

  I Am Jade Falcon by Robert Thurston

  Highlander Gambit by Blaine Lee Pardoe

  Hearts of Chaos by Victor Milán

  Operation Excalibur by William H. Keith

  Malicious Intent by Michael A. Stackpole

  Black Dragon by Victor Milán

  Impetus of War by Blaine Lee Pardoe

  Double-Blind by Loren L. Coleman

  Binding Force by Loren L. Coleman

  Exodus Road (Twilight of the Clans, Book One) by Blaine Lee Pardoe

  Grave Covenant (Twilight of the Clans, Book Two) by Michael A. Stackpole

  The Hunters (Twilight of the Clans, Book Three) by Thomas S. Gressman

  Freebirth (Twilight of the Clans, Book Four) by Robert Thurston

  Sword and Fire (Twilight of the Clans, Book Five) by Thomas S. Gressman

  Shadows of War (Twilight of t
he Clans, Book Six) by Thomas S. Gressman

  Prince of Havoc (Twilight of the Clans, Book Seven) by Michael A. Stackpole

  Falcon Rising (Twilight of the Clans, Book Eight) by Robert Thurston

  Threads of Ambition (The Capellan Solution, Book One) by Loren L. Coleman

  The Killing Fields (The Capellan Solution, Book Two) by Loren L. Coleman

  Dagger Point by Thomas S. Gressman

  Ghost of Winter by Stephen Kenson

  Roar of Honor by Blaine Lee Pardoe

  By Blood Betrayed by Blaine Lee Pardoe and Mel Odom

  Illusions of Victory by Loren L. Coleman

  Flashpoint by Loren L. Coleman

  Measure of a Hero by Blaine Lee Pardoe

  Path of Glory by Randall N. Bills

  Test of Vengeance by Bryan Nystul

  Patriots and Tyrants by Loren L. Coleman

  Call of Duty by Blaine Lee Pardoe

  Initiation to War by Robert N. Charrette

  The Dying Time by Thomas S. Gressman

  Storms of Fate by Loren L. Coleman

  Imminent Crisis by Randall N. Bills

  Operation Audacity by Blaine Lee Pardoe

  Endgame by Loren L. Coleman

  Ghost War by Michael A. Stackpole

  A Call to Arms by Loren L. Coleman

  The Ruins of Power by Robert E. Vardeman

  A Silence in the Heavens (The Proving Grounds Trilogy, Book One) by Martin Delrio

  Truth and Shadows (The Proving Grounds Trilogy, Book Two) by Martin Delrio

  Service for the Dead (The Proving Grounds Trilogy, Book Three) by Martin Delrio

  By Temptations and By War by Loren L. Coleman

  Fortress of Lies by J. Steven York

  Patriot’s Stand by Mike Moscoe

  Flight of the Falcon by Victor Milán

  Blood of the Isle by Loren L. Coleman

  Hunters of the Deep by Randall N. Bills

  The Scorpion Jar by Jason M. Hardy

  Target of Opportunity by Blaine Lee Pardoe

  Sword of Sedition by Loren L. Coleman

  Daughter of the Dragon by Ilsa J. Bick

  Heretic’s Faith by Randall N. Bills

  Fortress Republic by Loren L. Coleman

  Blood Avatar by Ilsa J. Bick

  Trial by Chaos by J. Steven York

  Principles of Desolation by Jason M. Hardy and Randall N. Bills

  Wolf Hunters by Kevin Killiany

  Surrender Your Dreams by Blaine Lee Pardoe

  Dragon Rising by Ilsa J. Bick

  Masters of War by Michael A. Stackpole

  A Rending of Falcons by Victor Milán

  Pandora’s Gambit by Randall N. Bills

  Fire at Will by Blaine Lee Pardoe

  The Last Charge by Jason M. Hardy

  To Ride the Chimera by Kevin Killiany

  A Bonfire of Worlds by Steven Mohan, Jr.

  Isle of the Blessed by Steven Mohan, Jr.

  Embers of War by Jason Schmetzer

  Betrayal of Ideals by Blaine Lee Pardoe

  Forever Faithful by Blaine Lee Pardoe

  Kell Hounds Ascendant by Michael A. Stackpole

  Redemption Rift by Jason Schmetzer

  Grey Watch Protocol (The Highlander Covenant, Book One) by Michael J. Ciaravella

  Honor’s Gauntlet by Bryan Young

  Icons of War by Craig A. Reed, Jr.

  Children of Kerensky by Blaine Lee Pardoe

  Hour of the Wolf by Blaine Lee Pardoe

  Fall From Glory (Founding of the Clans, Book One) by Randall N. Bills

  Paid in Blood (The Highlander Covenant, Book Two) by Michael J. Ciaravella

  Blood Will Tell by Jason Schmetzer

  Hunting Season by Philip A. Lee

  A Rock and a Hard Place by William H. Keith

  Visions of Rebirth (Founding of the Clans, Book Two) by Randall N. Bills

  No Substitute for Victory by Blaine Lee Pardoe

  Redemption Rites by Jason Schmetzer

  Land of Dreams (Founding of the Clans, Book Three) by Randall N. Bills

  A Question of Survival by Bryan Young

  Jaguar’s Leap by Reed Bishop

  The Damocles Sanction by Michael J. Ciaravella

  YOUNG ADULT NOVELS

  The Nellus Academy Incident by Jennifer Brozek

  Iron Dawn (The Rogue Academy Trilogy, Book One) by Jennifer Brozek

  Ghost Hour (The Rogue Academy Trilogy, Book Two) by Jennifer Brozek

  Crimson Night (The Rogue Academy Trilogy, Book Three) by Jennifer Brozek

  OMNIBUSES

  The Gray Death Legion Trilogy by William H. Keith

  The Blood of Kerensky Trilogy by Michael A. Stackpole

  The Legend of the Jade Phoenix Trilogy by Robert Thurston

  NOVELLAS/SHORT NOVELS

  Lion’s Roar by Steven Mohan, Jr.

  Sniper by Jason Schmetzer

  Eclipse by Jason Schmetzer

  Hector by Jason Schmetzer

  The Frost Advances (Operation Ice Storm, Part One) by Jason Schmetzer

  The Winds of Spring (Operation Ice Storm, Part Two) by Jason Schmetzer

  Instrument of Destruction (Ghost Bear’s Lament, Part One) by Steven Mohan, Jr.

  The Fading Call of Glory (Ghost Bear’s Lament, Part Two) by Steven Mohan, Jr.

  Vengeance by Jason Schmetzer

  A Splinter of Hope by Philip A. Lee

  The Anvil by Blaine Lee Pardoe

  A Splinter of Hope/The Anvil (omnibus)

  Not the Way the Smart Money Bets (Kell Hounds Ascendant #1) by Michael A. Stackpole

  A Tiny Spot of Rebellion (Kell Hounds Ascendant #2) by Michael A. Stackpole

  A Clever Bit of Fiction (Kell Hounds Ascendant #3) by Michael A. Stackpole

  Break-Away (Proliferation Cycle #1) by Ilsa J. Bick

  Prometheus Unbound (Proliferation Cycle #2) by Herbert A. Beas II

  Nothing Ventured (Proliferation Cycle #3) by Christoffer Trossen

  Fall Down Seven Times, Get Up Eight (Proliferation Cycle #4) by Randall N. Bills

  A Dish Served Cold (Proliferation Cycle #5) by Chris Hartford and Jason M. Hardy

  The Spider Dances (Proliferation Cycle #6) by Jason Schmetzer

  Shell Games by Jason Schmetzer

  Divided We Fall by Blaine Lee Pardoe

  The Hunt for Jardine (Forgotten Worlds, Part One) by Herbert A. Beas II

  Rock of the Republic by Blaine Lee Pardoe

  Finding Jardine (Forgotten Worlds, Part Two) by Herbert A. Beas II

  The Trickster (Proliferation Cycle #7) by Blaine Lee Pardoe

  The Price of Duty by Jason Schmetzer

  Elements of Treason: Duty by Craig A. Reed, Jr.

  Mercenary’s Honor by Jason Schmetzer

  Elements of Treason: Opportunity by Craig A. Reed, Jr.

  ANTHOLOGIES

  The Corps (BattleCorps Anthology, Volume 1), edited by Loren. L. Coleman

  First Strike (BattleCorps Anthology, Volume 2), edited by Loren L. Coleman

  Weapons Free (BattleCorps Anthology, Volume 3), edited by Jason Schmetzer

  Onslaught: Tales from the Clan Invasion, edited by Jason Schmetzer

  Edge of the Storm by Jason Schmetzer

  Fire for Effect (BattleCorps Anthology, Volume 4), edited by Jason Schmetzer

  Chaos Born (Chaos Irregulars, Book 1) by Kevin Killiany

  Chaos Formed (Chaos Irregulars, Book 2) by Kevin Killiany

  Counterattack (BattleCorps Anthology, Volume 5), edited by Jason Schmetzer

  Front Lines (BattleCorps Anthology, Volume 6), edited by Jason Schmetzer and Philip A. Lee

  Legacy, edited by John Helfers and Philip A. Lee

  Kill Zone (BattleCorps Anthology, Volume 7), edited by Philip A. Lee

  Gray Markets (A BattleCorps Anthology), edited by Jason Schmetzer and Philip A. Lee

  Slack Tide (A BattleCorps Anthology), edited by Jason Schmetzer and Philip A. Lee

  The Battle of Tukayyid, edited by John
Helfers

  The Mercenary Life by Randall N. Bills.

  The Proliferation Cycle, edited by John Helfers and Philip A. Lee

  No Greater Honor (The Complete Eridani Light Horse Chronicles), edited by John Helfers and Philip A. Lee

  Marauder by Lance Scarinci

  Fox Tales by Bryan Young

  MAGAZINES

  Shrapnel, Issue #1

  Shrapnel, Issue #2

  Shrapnel, Issue #3

  Shrapnel, Issue #4

  Shrapnel, Issue #5

  Shrapnel, Issue #6

  Shrapnel, Issue #7

  Shrapnel, Issue #8

  Shrapnel, Issue #9

  Shrapnel, Issue #10

  Shrapnel, Issue #11

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party Web sites or their content.

  The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the authors’ rights is appreciated.

  BATTLETECH: RIPTIDES

  by Randall N. Bills

  Interior art by Aaron Harris

  Cover design by David Kerber

  ©2023 The Topps Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Shadowrun & Matrix are registered trademarks and/or trademarks of The Topps Company, Inc., in the United States and/or other countries. Catalyst Game Labs and the Catalyst Game Labs logo are trademarks of InMediaRes Productions LLC. 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.