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BattleTech Universe
The Bonds Of Battle
The Clans. Mysterious invaders from beyond the stars, wielding highly advanced technology and tactics. They have fallen upon the Inner Sphere with little warning and lightning speed, destroying all who stand in their way...
On the very edge of the Periphery, Tai-sa David Vivas of the Draconis Combine has been tasked with the impossible feat of finding some way to defeat these strange invaders, even at the cost of his own life. Having seen his comrade-in-arms fall in battle, David knows that the only thing awaiting him on the battlefield is most likely a swift death. But he will make these so-called "Ghost Bears" pay for every inch of ground they try to claim.
Ghost Bear Star Commander Cymril Tseng's orders are simple: conquer the outlying world of Constance and defeat all forces that defend it. But the reality is more complicated than that. Expecting a garrison of retired mechwarriors, Tseng finds one--Combine officer Adam Kaningamu-- who fights with the fury of a true warrior. Having captured him, Tseng now ponders what to do with his former enemy. He could destroy him, but to terminate such a proud fighter, or relegate him to a garrison planet would seem to be a waste.
Tseng will figure out what to do with Kaningamu in time... just as soon as he eliminates the rest of the man's fellow Combine soldiers...
On the very edge of the Periphery, Tai-sa David Vivas of the Draconis Combine has been tasked with the impossible feat of finding some way to defeat these strange invaders, even at the cost of his own life. Having seen his comrade-in-arms fall in battle, David knows that the only thing awaiting him on the battlefield is most likely a swift death. But he will make these so-called "Ghost Bears" pay for every inch of ground they try to claim.
Ghost Bear Star Commander Cymril Tseng's orders are simple: conquer the outlying world of Constance and defeat all forces that defend it. But the reality is more complicated than that. Expecting a garrison of retired mechwarriors, Tseng finds one--Combine officer Adam Kaningamu-- who fights with the fury of a true warrior. Having captured him, Tseng now ponders what to do with his former enemy. He could destroy him, but to terminate such a proud fighter, or relegate him to a garrison planet would seem to be a waste.
Tseng will figure out what to do with Kaningamu in time... just as soon as he eliminates the rest of the man's fellow Combine soldiers...
- GenresScience Fiction
20 pages, Paperback
Published November 27, 2020
About the author
Blaine Lee Pardoe
96 books119 followersBlaine Pardoe is a New York Times Bestselling and award winning author of numerous books in the science fiction, military non-fiction, true crime, paranormal, and business management genre's. He has appeared on a number of national television and radio shows to speak about his books. Pardoe has been a featured speaker at the US National Archives, the United States Navy Museum, and the New York Military Affairs Symposium. He was awarded the State History Award in 2011 by the Historical Society of Michigan and is a silver medal winner from the Military Writers Society of America in 2010. In 2013 he was awarded the Harritt Quimby Award as part of the induction ceremony at the Michigan Aviation Hall of Fame. Mr. Pardoe is also a member of the League of WWI Aviation Historians.
His books have even been mentioned on the floor of the U.S. Congress. His works have been printed in six languages and he is recognized world-wide for his historical and fiction works. He can be followed via Twitter (bpardoe870)
His books have even been mentioned on the floor of the U.S. Congress. His works have been printed in six languages and he is recognized world-wide for his historical and fiction works. He can be followed via Twitter (bpardoe870)
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 25, 2022
Short story that came with a battletech Clan invasion box set.
Overall it does a reasonable job of introducing clans to the reader however, the amount of Japanese on the Draconis Combine side and what I assume is just jargon on the Clanners side is ridiculous and unnecessary. It makes reading this story a chore.
This is coming from someone who has lived in Japan and can speak the language at an intermediate level.
Nothing would have been taken away from the story if Tai-sa is translated to colonel and Sho-sho to 3rd lieutenant etc. Putting the Japanese language in but making characters behave like dirty gaijins does not a Japanese themed nation make. I am well aware that Draconis Combine is not Japan, but there is more than one way to make it a Japanese themed nation.
Furthermore, for the first five pages we are being told what happened, how honour guard was fighting bravely etc. Instead of them, you know, maybe... Actually fighting bravely?
Overall this is the weakest short story so far out of the ones included in the beginners, the game of armoured combat and the clan invasion boxes. It's not a great time investment being 20 pages long, but at the same time it's just not particularly good.
Overall it does a reasonable job of introducing clans to the reader however, the amount of Japanese on the Draconis Combine side and what I assume is just jargon on the Clanners side is ridiculous and unnecessary. It makes reading this story a chore.
This is coming from someone who has lived in Japan and can speak the language at an intermediate level.
Nothing would have been taken away from the story if Tai-sa is translated to colonel and Sho-sho to 3rd lieutenant etc. Putting the Japanese language in but making characters behave like dirty gaijins does not a Japanese themed nation make. I am well aware that Draconis Combine is not Japan, but there is more than one way to make it a Japanese themed nation.
Furthermore, for the first five pages we are being told what happened, how honour guard was fighting bravely etc. Instead of them, you know, maybe... Actually fighting bravely?
Overall this is the weakest short story so far out of the ones included in the beginners, the game of armoured combat and the clan invasion boxes. It's not a great time investment being 20 pages long, but at the same time it's just not particularly good.
November 10, 2021
Two stars for a perfectly "ok" short story.
I had the most fun recognizing the OmniMechs by the breebirth descriptions. The story itself was short so not much deep stuff going on, just honorable Clanners versus underhanded-tactics-relying freebirths.
I had the most fun recognizing the OmniMechs by the breebirth descriptions. The story itself was short so not much deep stuff going on, just honorable Clanners versus underhanded-tactics-relying freebirths.
January 20, 2024
A story included in the Battletech Clan Invasion box, set during the early days of the Invasion in a world of the Draconis Combine Periphery border. Short, fun, action packed and to the point, a distillation of the Clans and their ways.
October 24, 2022
Short, sweet, and to the point. I'm happy anytime there are Ghost Bears inauguration story.
January 30, 2024
I mean its a 20 page book that came as part of a game...
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews