The Calm of the Void
Sarna News
| The Calm of the Void | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Short story by Randall N. Bills | |||
 | |||
| First Publication | |||
| Published | 18 November 2019 | ||
| Publisher | MechaPub, INc. | ||
| Illustrator(s) | David Allen Kerber (cover) | ||
| Pages |
| ||
| MSRP | Free | ||
| Chronology | |||
| Era | Succession Wars era | ||
| Timeline | 5 December 2991 — 20 June 2992 | ||
| Series | |||
| |||
The Calm of the Void, subtitled A MechWarrior 5 Origins Series Story, Installment 1, is a short story by Randall N. Bills, offered as a free tie-in product supporting the MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries computer game.
It was originally released in electronic EPUB format on 18 November 2019, before being also included in an electronic omnibus collection on 12 December 2019, two days after the game's launch. The story was re-released on 12 April 2021 as part of The Mercenary Life anthology, which also featured an additional postscript from the author.
Plot Summary[edit]
Working for Merchant Captain Cardian of the free trader JumpShip Talia's Investiture, Nikolai Mason has a fierce professional rivalry with procurement officer Jules Vonic, whose position with Cardian he hopes to usurp. Vonic is aware of his goal, and tells him to his face that "Whatever you want, I get."
To prove his worth, draw the Captain's attention and get the promotion he seeks, Nicolai endeavors to procure a replacement Motor Control Unit for a Star League era Champion, a lostech spare desperately sought by the Twelfth Star Guards, one of the mercenary units Cardian supplies. To this end Nikolai makes contact with Chloe Reed, a tech with the Blackhearts, and develops a crush on her. From her he learns of Detlef Jorgenson, a master tech with Bowie Industries who is in possession of such a MCU and who is prepared to "jump ship" to a new employer. As corporations don't usually let their master techs walk away, Nikolai arranges for Jorgenson's covert extraction on Wyatt.
Nikolai had considered a Free Worlds League attack on Wyatt coinciding with his mission a complication so unlikely as to be negligible. However, their escape truck unexpectedly comes under attack from a Wasp in Marik Militia livery. Jorgenson is killed and Nikolai is wounded. Merchant Captain Cardian's meticulously planned timetable for his year-long round trip is upset and pushed back two days, earning Nikolai his ire. Worse, it turns out that Vonic was apparently behind the attack; she has secured the priceless MCU and is the one to provide it to the Twelfth Star Guards five weeks later.
Thus, Vonic reaps all the rewards for Nicolai's toil and expenses, namely the prestige, contacts, and good standing with Cardian. The wounded Nikolai can only watch helplessly as she mouths her "Whatever you want, I get" to him.
Featured Characters[edit]
- Chloe Reed
- Detlef Jorgenson
- Jules Vonic
- Nikolai Mason
- Merchant Captain Cardian
- Joshua
- Albert Rivers (mentioned)
- Zardoff (mentioned)
Featured Units[edit]
- Twelfth Star Guards (mentioned)
- Blackhearts (mentioned)
- Marik Militia (mentioned)
Featured Places[edit]
- New Earth
- New Kyoto
- Solaris VII
- Wyatt
- Algorab (mentioned)
- Alioth (mentioned)
- Alula Borealis (mentioned)
- Bell I (mentioned)
- Cavanaugh II (mentioned)
- Denebola (mentioned)
- Ford (mentioned)
- Galisteo (mentioned)
- Giausar (mentioned)
- Gienah (mentioned)
- Gacrux (mentioned)
- Hyde (mentioned)
- Loric (mentioned)
- Millungera (mentioned)
- Nockatunga (mentioned)
- Phecda (mentioned)
- Poulsbo (mentioned)
- Rahne (mentioned)
Featured BattleTech[edit]
BattleMechs[edit]
Vehicles[edit]
DropShips[edit]
JumpShips[edit]
- Star Lord-class JumpShip, Talia's Investiture