BattleTech Magazine

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 SchmetzerMichael J. Ciaravella • Travis HeermannAlan Brundage • James SimakasJohn-David Karnitz • Aaron Cahall Matthew Cross • Daniel Isberner Alex Kaempen • Tom Stanley • Chris Wheeler

HEROES OF ALL STRIPES Shrapnel: The Official BattleTech Magazine celebrates bravery in all its forms on the triumphant, BattleMech-dominated battlefields of 31st century and beyond! Witness the birth of a new mercenary command in the late Third Succession War, follow a combat medic tackling a precarious injury, learn the true meaning of loyalty during the FedCom Civil War, and track down pirates on a forgotten world in the Periphery. Then don your neurohelmet and push back against the enemy with technical readouts, ghost ship sightings, in-depth technology articles, unit digests, playable scenarios, and more-all from BattleTech veterans and a squad of new authors: Jason SchmetzerHarper BrandFaith McCloskyGiles GammageCharles GideonDavid RaziMarc FollinJames LeeAaron CahallMichael J. CiaravellaMatthew CrossKen' HornerCraig A. Reed, Jr.Eric SalzmanJoel SteversonStephen Toropov

CONTINUING THE FIGHT... Shrapnel: The Official BattleTech Magazine charges toward victory on the war-ravaged, BattleMech-dominated battlefields of 31st century! In these tales, a Republic of the Sphere operative undertakes a personal quest to track down a missing family member, a small, untested mercenary command faces off against vicious pirate raiders, an aging soldier strives to protect an idyllic village on a forgotten world, and Colonel Wayne Waco seeks to exact his revenge against the legendary commander of Wolf's Dragoons. Configure your target-interlock circuits and hold the line with technical readouts, conspiracy theories, in-depth equipment and tactics articles, a planetary digest, and a glimpse into the future of the new ilClan era-all from BattleTech veterans and new authors: Michael A. StackpoleTom LeveenLance ScarinciBryan YoungMatt AlexanderCraig A. Reed, Jr.Paul SjardijnAaron CahallMichael J. CiaravellaJohannes HeidlerChris HusseyDaniel IsbernerMike MillerEric SalzmanJoel Steverson

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 PardoeCraig A. Reed, Jr.E. Clark AveryJason SchmetzerJames BixbyM. W. HaydenMark HillDaniel IsbernerAlexander J. RothKen' HornerJames KirtleyWunji LauEric SalzmanJoel SteversonStephen Toropov

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.

FIGHT WITH CONFIDENCE Shrapnel: The Official BattleTech Magazine drops you right into the action as BattleMechs and their pilots forge ahead on the battlefields of the 31st century and beyond! A rookie MechWarrior fights for independence during the Andurien Wars. The Fox Patrol finds itself on the Mercenary's Star-and in the middle of a deal gone wrong. In these pages, you'll travel to a distant Periphery world where a young boy pursues his dreams and witness a rare moment of unity for Clan Fire Mandrill in the Clan Homeworlds. Then return to Solaris VII once more for the conclusion of our Vengeance Games serial, and a close look at a different but familiar kind of competition on the Game World.No matter your skill at the controls, you can wade confidently into battle with technical readouts, a unit and planet digest, a playable scenario of an unusual Hell's Horses competition, advice for aging warriors, and a historical look at the capital of the first Star League-brought to you by BattleTech veterans and a handful of new enlistees: Craig A. Reed, Jr.Bryan YoungDavid G. MartinJennifer BixbyÉtienne Charron-WillardAlex FairbanksPhillip JohnstonOlli RosnellDavid SmithAlayna M. WeathersMatthew CrossAlex FauthJames HauserDaniel IsbernerBen KlinefelterJoshua PerianEric Salzman

PUSH YOUR LUCK!Shrapnel: The Official BattleTech Magazine gives you the weapons you need to triumph when battlefield tragedy strikes and the odds are stacked against you. Forge on through the unforgiving BattleMech warfare of the 31st century and beyond!Two brothers on opposite sides of an Inner Sphere-wide war run into each other at the flashpoint of a local struggle. A captured wet-navy vessel patrolling a critical river stands alone against the Draconis Combine's oppressive occupation of Verthandi. A group of friends on a dying planet in the Davion Outback undertake a risky and dangerous mission to escape the system on the last departing DropShip, and a young mercenary on his first assignment must choose which inevitable losses will weigh less on his conscience.In this issue, you'll charge headlong into danger in the cockpit of a fragile but fleet 'Mech that loves to run at full throttle. Then you'll confront incredible four-against-one odds in a vicious gladiatorial event that will be talked about for decades to come. Wander into a vast megaforest where brutal Marian Hegemony troops could spring an ambush at any moment, then wade through a mist-filled city guarded a mysterious protector who will stop at nothing to defend their home.Burn some sage, grab your rabbit's foot, and knock on wood as you march on through bad luck with a look at a cursed cooling suit, the logs of a JumpShip that misjumped on Friday the 13th, a guide to unique battlefield geography, a peek at the culture and Machiavellian politics of the Raven Alliance, a Unit Digest for the hard-luck mercenaries of Wilson's Hussars, along with technical readouts, playable scenarios, RPG adventures, and more-all by BattleTech veterans and some newcomers:Bryan YoungRussell ZimmermanDavid G. MartinAdam NeffJoseph A. CosgroveMatthew CrossGiles GammageBen KlinefelterWestin RiversideKen' HornerWunji LauJosh PerianEric SalzmanZac SchwartzEd StephensStephen Toropov

EVER VIGILANTShrapnel: The Official BattleTech Magazine is your latest intel report on enemy movements across the war-torn, BattleMech-dominated battlefields of the 31st century and beyond!Among the shattered remnants of the Free Worlds League, a Marik Protector vows to track down a missing compatriot and save them from an unspeakable fate in the Marian Hegemony. A pirate-hunting Hell's Horses Elemental must do anything to escape a dead-end unit and erase the shame of the Mark of Hell, even if it leaves her unarmed and vulnerable. When a Republic Armed Forces pilot program seeks to showcase the effectiveness of remote-controlled 'Mechs, the controllers discover life and death is real, no matter what side of the screen you're on.Step onto a not-so-abandoned rock in the Deep Periphery where the inhabitants guard a secret worth killing for. Visit New Samarkand, the temporary capital of the Draconis Combine, for the most audacious heist of the century. Then stop at Paradise for a while, where mercenary commander Ace Darwin not-so-discreetly test-drives an under-wraps 'Mech prototype. Finally, end your journey through the Inner Sphere on Galatea, the Mercenary's Star, for the latest Death Kangaroos (mis)adventure from Michael A. Stackpole. And make sure you stick around for the brutal conclusion of Russell Zimmerman's serial novel, Violent Inception.Guard yourself against surprise attacks with in-depth looks at the Free Guilds of Clan society; the Federated Suns' attempt to recover from the Palmyra Disaster on 3144; the lawless "free zones" on some Lyran Commonwealth worlds; and the hyperpulse generators that make interstellar communication possible. Then strike back with playable scenarios, technical readouts, and more, from BattleTech veterans and the newest enlistees:Russell ZimmermanMichael A. StackpoleD. G. P. RectorLukasz FurmaniakJames BixbyBryan CarterGiles GammageO. J. S. GoodmanBrian F. KennyLorcan NagleAlayna M. WeathersMarc FollinWunji LauEdward McEneelyMike MillerEric SalzmanZac SchwartzTom StanleyStephen Toropov

RECRUITS WANTED! Shrapnel: The Official BattleTech Magazine transports you to the blistering, hard-hitting BattleMech conflicts that ravage the war-torn future of the 31st century and beyond! A young Jade Falcon cadet must prove her mettle in a Trial of Position against a cunning opponent if she is going to become part of her struggling Clan's future. Elite aerospace pilots from the Outworlds Alliance and the Snow Ravens meet in a clash for the ages, and a veteran wielding only an implement of peace stands up to defend his home against unusual invaders. In this issue, you'll sign up for a notorious mercenary unit and fight through your first day on the job. You'll jockey to be first across the finish line in a hovertank race fraught with danger. You'll chase the glory days of a once-noted BattleMech manufacturer in a quest to reinvigorate a declining enterprise and secure your birthright. Will you defeat your demons from the Battle of Tukayyid during battle with would-be conquerors? Will you escape from murderous cartel members, or succumb to the elements in the unrelenting, sun-beaten desert? Load your chamber with technical articles, a Northwind Highlanders unit digest, a MechWarrior's catalog of cockpit must-haves, a snow-filled RPG adventure, a BattleForce scenario, and more-all by BattleTech veterans and new enlistees: Tom Leveen Bryan Young Russell Zimmerman D. G. P. Rector W. T. Brown James Hauser Chris G. Lane R. J. Thomas Phillip Johnston Alayna M. Weathers James Bixby Étienne Charron-Willard Matthew Cross Wunji Lau Eric Salzman Tom Stanley Stephen Toropov

ALWAYS READ THE FINE PRINTShrapnel: 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. StackpoleBryan YoungChris PurnellJason SchmetzerDaniel IsbernerAlan BrundageJames KirtleyRobin BriseñoJames BixbyGiles GammageJason HansaJames HauserTom LeveenDavid MartinLance ScarinciJaymie WagnerRussell ZimmermanAlex FauthStephan FrabartoloJohannes HeidlerKen' HornerWunji LauLorcan NagleEric SalzmanZac SchwartzEd StephensStephen Toropov

UNCHARTED TERRITORYShrapnel: 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

ONCE MORE UNTO THE BREACH! Continuing to hoist the battle standard for BattleTech short fiction, the second year of Shrapnel: The Official BattleTech Magazine maintains 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 #5–8, you'll witness the fateful duel between bitter mercenary rivals Jamie Wolf and Wayne Waco, learn how (in)famous commander Ace Darwin acquired his iconic pink Panther, protect the next generation of Wolf-in-Exile warriors during a vicious Jade Falcon attack on Arc-Royal, and hunt down the murderous pirate "Lady Death" Trevaline on Tortuga Prime.Then go beyond the story and arm yourself with 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 serial novel, Vengeance Games, by fan-favorite BattleTech author Craig A. Reed, Jr.Power up your reactor, keep an eye on your sensors, and wade back into the battle, with more pulse-pounding stories and powerful game features penned by BattleTech legends and the latest rising stars.

BRACE FOR IMPACT!Shrapnel: The Official BattleTech Magazine is your ultimate target for tales of hard-hitting, explosive BattleMech action across the battlefields of the 31st century and beyond!Trapped on a forgotten planet, a lone MechWarrior fighting to survive must stay one step ahead of the relentless barbarians hunting her down. Amid a naval battle for the ages, a damage-control technician will do his part to put an end to the greatest evil in human-habited space. And during the Wars of Reaving, a Clan technician given the opportunity of a lifetime must guard her secret, even if it leads to her grave…In this issue, you'll travel to the edge of the Periphery, where a dying, sun-baked world breathes its last gasp; you'll follow a daring criminal cult in search of dangerous victims in the Capellan Confederation; and you'll have to outsmart or outfight other pirates to keep them from stealing the perfect score out from beneath you… Plus, brace yourself for the exciting conclusion of the serial novel Lone Wolf and Fox, by Bryan Young.No matter where you go in the Inner Sphere, conflict will inevitably find you, and the surefire way to defend yourself against it is with articles on arms dealers to either buy from or hunt down, spacefaring threats both real and imagined, and the best methods for transporting your weapons of war. Then go deeper into the trenches with unit and planet digests, technical readouts, a cautionary tale of ten playable pilots, and more-all by BattleTech authors both new and old:Bryan YoungCraig A. Reed, Jr.Steve P. VincentDevin RamseyBenjamin JosephDavid RaziRussell ZimmermanJennifer BixbyAlex FauthKen' HornerWunji LauJamie Kaiju MarriageMike MillerLance ScarinciZac SchwartzTom StanleyJaymie WagnerChris Wheeler