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BATTLETECH
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A TIME OF WAR
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• CATALYST GAME LABS •

 THE FIRES OF HELL: GATHERING PLAYERS 6 Renegade Warrior 58
Battlefield Tech 59 THE FIRES OF HELL: THE MISSION BEGINS 102
THE UNIVERSE BEFORE YOU Life Modules Character Creation 61
Spending XP (Life Modules) 61
Prerequisites and Accumulating Experience 61 TRAITS
Welcome to the BattleTech Universe 16
Stage 0: Affiliation 62
Starting Out 16 Overview 106
Stage 1: Early Childhood 62
What is a Roleplaying Game? 16 Trait Points 106
Stage 2: Late Childhood 62
What’s Needed to Play 17 Character and Vehicle Traits 106
Stage 3: Higher Education (Optional) 62
A Universe at War 21 Positive, Negative and Flexible Traits 106
Stage 4: Real Life (Optional) 63
House Davion (Federated Suns) 21 Multiple Traits 107
Stage 0 Modules: Affiliations 63

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House Kurita (Draconis Combine) 21 Opposing Traits 107
Universal Experience Points 63
House Liao (Capellan Confederation) 21 Variable-Level Traits 107
Changing Affiliations 63
House Marik (Free Worlds League) 22 Trait Descriptions 108
Stage 1 Modules: Early Childhood 75
House Steiner (Lyran Alliance) 22 Alternate ID 108
Back Woods 75
ComStar 23 Ambidextrous 108
Blue Collar 75
Word of Blake 23 Animal Antipathy 108
Born Mercenary Brat 75
The Clans 23 Animal Empathy 108
Farm 75
The Periphery 24 Attractive 108

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Fugitives 75
A Brief History of BattleTech 25 Bloodmark 109
Nobility 76
Colonizing the Stars 25 Citizenship/Trueborn 109
Slave 76
Age of War 25 Street 76 Combat Paralysis 110
Star League 26 Trueborn Creche 76 Combat Sense 110
The Succession Wars 26 War Orphan 76 Compulsion 110
Clan Invasion 26 White Collar 76 Connections 111
Civil War 27 Stage 2 Modules: Late Childhood 77 Custom Vehicle 112
Jihad 27 Adolescent Warfare 77 Dark Secret 112
The BattleTech Universe 31 Back Woods 77 Dependents 113
Core Rulebooks 31 Clan Apprenticeship 77 Design Quirk 113
Technical Readouts 31 Farm 77 Enemy 113
ilClan 32 Freeborn Sibko 77 Equipped 116
Handbooks 32 High School 78 Exceptional Attribute 116
Sourcebooks 32 Mercenary Brat 78 Extra Income 116
Record Sheets 32 Fast Learner 117
E-Publications
Maps and Terrain
BattleMech Miniatures and ForcePacks
Fiction
Where to Order
Choose Your Rules
Gamemaster Adjudication
32
32
32
32
33
33
33
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Preparatory School
Space Family
Street
Trueborn Sibko
Stage 3 Modules: Higher Education
Overview
Choose Your Schooling
78
78
79
79
79
80
80
80
Fit
G-Tolerance
Glass Jaw
Good Hearing
Good Vision
Gregarious
Gremlins
117
118
118
118
118
118
118
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Fiction vs. Rules 33 Handicap 118
Age 81
Illiterate 119
Repeating Stage 3 81
Impatient 119
Master Schools List 82
Implant/Prosthetic 119
BASIC GAMEPLAY Stage 4 Modules: Real Life 84
In For Life 120
Age 84
Introvert 121
Overview 34 Repeating State 4 84
Lost Limb 121
Characters 34 Agitator 84
Natural Aptitude 121
Character Record Sheet 34 Civilian Job 84
Pain Resistance 121
Attributes 34 Clan Watch Operative 84
Patient 121
Traits 36 Clan Warrior Washout 85
Phenotype 121
Skills 36 Cloister Training 85 Poison Resistance 122
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Personal Data 37 Combat Correspondent 85 Poor Hearing 122

Combat Data 37 ComStar/Word of Blake 85 Poor Vision 122
Biographical Data 37 Cover Operations 86 Property 123
Inventory 37 Dark Caste 87 Rank 123
Vehicle Data 37 Explorer 87 Reputation 124
Actions 38 Goliath Scorpion Seeker 88 Sixth Sense 125
Attribute Checks 38 Guerilla Insurgent 88 Slow Learner 125
Skill Checks 39 Merchant 88 Tech Empathy 125
Opposed Actions 39 Ne’er-do-well 89 Title/Bloodname 126
Basic Action Resolution 40 Organized Crime 89 Toughness 127
Edge 42 Postgraduate Studies 89 Transit Disorientation Syndrome 127
ProtoMech Pilot Training 89
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Unattractive 128
THE FIRES OF HELL: THE CALM BEFORE 44 Scientist Caste Service 90 Unlucky 128
Solaris Insider 90 Vehicle Level 128
Solaris VII Games 90 Wealth 128
Think Tank 90
CHARACTER CREATION Tour of Duty 90 THE FIRES OF HELL: SECURING THE LZ 136
To Serve and Protect 91
Overview 48 Travel 91
Choosing the Character Concept 48 Purchasing Attributes, Traits and Skills 91
Character Creation Basics 49 Determining Final Levels 92 SKILLS
The XP Pool 49 Master Skill Fields List 92
Archetype Character Creation 51 Opposed Traits and Canceling Experience 96 Skills Overview 140
Point Buy Character Creation 51 Optimizing Leftover Points 97 Using Skills 140
Archetypes 52 Buying Additional Experience Linked Attributes 140
MechWarrior 52 Points (Optional) 97 Target Numbers 141
Tanker 53 Final Touches 99 Complexity Rating 141
Aerospace Pilot 54 Defining Features 99 Subskills 141
Elemental 55 Character Background 99 Specialties 141
Scout 56 Purchasing Equipment 99 Available Skills 141
Faceman 57 Completing the Record Sheet 101 Acrobatics 141
 Acting 142 Melee Combat Rolls 175 Movement Modifiers 230
Administration 143 Melee Combat Limits 175 Terrain Types 230
Animal Handling 143 Range and Line of Sight 175 Clear 231
Appraisal 143 Other Combat Modifiers 175 Vegetation 231 THE UNIVERSE
Archery 143 Special Melee Effects 175 Rough 232
Damage Resolution 177 Ice 232 BEFORE YOU
Art 144
Artillery 144 Damage Notation 177 Water 232
Career 144 Standard Damage vs. Fatigue 179 Paved 232
Climbing 144 Standard Ranged Attack Damage 179 Urban 232
Communications 144 Standard Melee Attack Damage 180 Magma 233
Continuous Damage 180 Terrain Conditions 233 BASIC

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Computers 145
Crytopgraphy 145 Falling Damage 181 Soft Terrain 233 GAMEPLAY
Demolitions 146 Fatigue 182 Fragile Terrain 234
Disguise 146 Damage Effects 182 Dynamic Terrain 235
Driving 146 Injury Modifiers 182 Weather Conditions 236
Fatigue Modifiers 183 Exotic Conditions 237
Escape Artist 147
Consciousness Check 184 High/Low Gravity 237
Forgery 147 CHARACTER
Bleeding Effect 184 Creatures 238

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Gunnery 147
Death 184 Encounters 239 CREATION
Interest 147 Creature Attributes 239
Tactical Kill 184
Interrogation 148 Creature Skills 239
Stun 184
Investigation 148 Creature Combat 240
Traits and Damage Effects 184
Language 148 Creature Compendium: Terrestrials 241
Armor and Barrier Effects 185
Leadership 148 Armor and Barrier Types 185 Creature Compendium: Extraterrestrials 242
Martial Arts 149 AP vs. BAR 185 Creatures Table 245 TRAITS
MedTech 149 Armor Degradation 186 Diseases 245
Melee Weapons 149 Stacked Armor 188 Medical Maintenance 245
Navigation 150 End Phase 189 Random Disease Effects 248
Negotiation 150 Bleeding and Continuous Damage 189
Perception 151 Fatigue 189 THE FIRES OF HELL:
Piloting 151 Resolving Extended Actions STORMING THE OBJECTIVE 250
Prestidigitation 152 and Automatic Events 189 SKILLS
Protocol 152
Running
Science
Security Systems
Sensor Operations
Small Arms
Stealth
153
153
153
153
153
154
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Morale Checks
Hit Locations
Knockdown Damage
Lethality Reduction
Healing and Recovery
General Healing Rules
189
189
190
192
192
192
192
Overview
EQUIPMENT

Supply and Demand

Equipment Ratings
Acquiring Gear
254
254
254
256
COMBAT
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Strategy 154 Normal (Unassigned) Healing 193 Using Equipment 259
Streetwise 154 Assisted Healing 193 Equipment Data 259
Support Weapons 154 Surgery 193 Repairs 259
Surgery 154 The Warrior’s Catalog 260
Survival 156 THE FIRES OF HELL: HEAVY ARTILLERY 196 Melee and Archaic Weapons 260
TACTICAL
Swimming 156 Archaic Melee Weapons 260 COMBAT
Tactics 156 Archaic Ranged Weapons 260 ADDENDUM
Technician 157 TACTICAL COMBAT Modern Melee Weapons 260
Thrown Weapons 158 Small Arms 264
Tracking 158 ADDENDUM Ballistic Weapons 264
Training 159 Energy Weapons 265 SPECIAL
Overview 200
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Zero-G Operations 159 Flechette Weapons 266
Vehicular vs. Infantry Units 201 Gauss Weapons 272
CASE
THE FIRES OF HELL: RECON 160 The Combat Turn 202 Gyrojet Weapons 272 RULES
Initiative Phase 204 Miscellaneous Small Arms 272
Rolling Tactical Initiative 204 Support Weapons 272
Tactical Action Sequence 205 Machine Guns 272
COMBAT Tactical Action Resolution 205 Grenade Launchers and Mortars 274
Action Phase 206 Missile Launchers 276
Overview 164 Action Sequence 206 EQUIPMENT
Recoilless Rifles 276
The Combat Turn 164 Movement Actions 206 Support Energy Weapons 276
Initiative Phase 164 Vehicular Combat 209 Support Gauss Weapons 276
Action Phase 164 Weapon Damage Conversion 211 Explosives 277
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End Phase 164 Margin of Success/Failure in Tactical Combat 212 Standard Explosives 277
Initiative Phase 164 Vehicular Weapon Traits 212 Demolitions 279
Battle Armor Weapons 214 GAMEMASTERING
Individual vs. Squad and Team Initiative 165 Ordnance 279
Initiative Modifiers 166 Damage to Vehicle Pilots/MechWarriors 218 Specialty Ammunitions 279 GUIDE
Holding Action 166 Physical Attacks 218 Weapon Accessories 285
Action Phase 166 End Phase 218 Personal Protective Equipment 287
Movement Actions 167 Heat (’Mechs and Fighters) 218 Flak Armor 287
Movement Modes and Maneuvers 167 Special Pilot Abilities 219 Ablative Armor 287
Terrain and Encumbrance 169 Gunnery Abilities 219 Ablative/Flak (AB/FLAK) Armor 287
Movement From Previous Turn 170 Piloting Abilities 222 Ballistic Plate Armor 287 INDEX
Command Cohesion 170 Miscellaneous Abilities 225 Neo-Chainmail Armor 287
Resolving Actions in Personal Combat 171 Myomer Armor 287
THE FIRES OF HELL: JOURNEY 226 Concealed Armor 289
Ranged Combat Resolution 171
Ranged Attack Roll 171 Combat Armor Accessories 289
Ranged Line of Sight 171 Standard Armor Kits 291
Other Combat Modifiers 172 SPECIAL CASE RULES Exotic Armor 291
Special Ranged Attack Effects 172 Hostile Environment Gear 291
Melee Combat Resolution 175 Planetary Conditions 230 Stealth Gear 297

3
 Non-Combat Attire 297 Traits 333 Bloodnamed (Greater, General Bloodhouse) 355
Battle Armor and Exoskeletons 298 Skills 333 Bloodnamed
Special Game Rules 300 Training 334 (Greater, Phenotype Bloodhouse) 356
Electronics 300 Downtime 334 Bloodnamed
Communications Equipment 300 Wealth and Property 334 (Lesser, General Exclusive Bloodhouse) 356
Audio/Video/Trideo Equipment 300 Rank and Power 336 Bloodnamed
Computers 301 NPCs and Random Encounters 336 (Lesser, Exclusive Phenotype Bloodhouse) 356
Surveillance Gear 302 NPC Templates 336 Bloodnamed
Optics 303 NPC Types 337 (Greater, Exclusive General Bloodhouse) 356
Remote Sensors 305 Random Encounters 340 Bloodnamed (Greater, Exclusive Phenotype

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Power Packs and Rechargers 306 Gamemastering Tips and Suggestions 342
Bloodhouse/Kerensky’s Legacy) 356
Power Packs 306 General Gamemastering Guide 342
Common Military Ranks 356
Rechargers 307 Developing Stories 345
The Plot Approach 345 Universal Aesthetics 359
Miscellaneous Gear 307
The Grand Plot 345 Worlds 359
Espionage Gear and Security 307
The Sandbox Approach 346 People 359
Repairs/Salvage Gear 309
Combined Approach 346 Politics 360
Other Miscellaneous Gear 309

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Remember… 346 Technology 360
Health Care 311
Medical Equipment 311 Adventure Seeds 346 MechWarriors and Their ’Mechs 360
Prosthetics 314 Adventure Seeds 347 Touring the Stars 362
Limb and Organ Replacements 314 Political and Military Power 349 Society and Culture Across Human Space 362
Elective Implants 316 Roleplaying Power 349 Economics and Industries 366
Drugs and Poisons 317 Titles and Ranks Explained 351 Whistle Stop Tour 374
Special Game Rules 318 Knight Bachelor 351 El Dorado 374
Personal Vehicles 321 Knight Banneret 351 Arcturus 376
Special Game Rules 323 Baronet 352 Ovan 377
Fuel 323 Baron 352 Annapolis 380
Viscount 352 Solaris VII 382
THE FIRES OF HELL: BURNOUT 326 Count/Countess 352
Marquis/Marquessa 353
Duke/Duchess 353
Grand Duke/Grand Duchess 353 INDEX
GAMEMASTER’S GUIDE
Character Advancement
Rewards
Character Advancement Overview
Aging
330
330
332
332
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Sovereign/Head of State
Clan Social Rank
Trueborn
Trueborn (Exclusive Bloodname)
353
353
355
355
355
Bloodnamed (Lesser, General Bloodhouse) 355
RECORD SHEETS

TABLES
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Attributes 333 Bloodnamed (Lesser, Phenotype Bloodhouse) 355

CREDITS

Project Concept Product Editing 2022 Revisions

Randall N. Bills Diane Piron-Gelman Paul Sjardijn, Keith Hann, David Kerber
Project Development BattleTech Line Developer Miniatures Painting & Photography
m
Herbert A. Beas II Joel “Psycho” Hardwick, David “Dak”
Ray Arrastia
Development Assistance Assistant Line Developer Kerber, Frederic “foxbat” Lagoanere, Steve
Randall N. Bills Aaron Cahall “MadDoc” Livingston, Ed (Captain of the
Paul Sjardijn
Watch) Smith.
Writing Production Staff 2005 Origins International Games Expo Diorama
The Fires of Hell (Fiction) Art Direction Ray “Adrian Gideon” Arrastia, Chad
Ben H. Rome Randall N. Bills “Urbiemech” Derrenbacker, Ross “Savage
Jason Hardy Brent Evans Coyote” Hines, David “Dak” Kerber, Mark
Ken’ Horner Cover Art
“Hyena” Maestas, Steve “Insane Kangaroo”
Kevin Killiany Jim Holloway
McCartney, Ryan “F15CFlyer” Peterson,
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Nick Marsala Cover Design

Steve Mohan, Jr. Matt Heerdt Robert “Cabal” Pidgeon, Ben “Ghostbear”
Jim Rapkins BattleTech Logo Design Rome, Paul Sjardijn, Allen “Papoose” Soles,
Paul Sjardijn Shane Hartley, Steve Walker Joe “Minidragon” Wiedeman
Rules and Matt Heerdt Terrain
Herbert A. Beas II Evolved Faction Logos Design Blair Line Signs, Busch, GHQ Miniatures,
Additional Rules Jason Vargas Ground Zero Games, Herpa Miniature
Joel Bancroft-Connors Graphic Presentation Models, Iron Wind Metals, Joker’s Terrain,
Craig Erne
Chris Hartford David M. Stansel-Garner JR Miniatures, Kato USA, Marklin, Old
Ken’ Horner Troy Stansel-Garner Crow Models, Pegasus Hobbies’ Platformer
Nick Marsala Layout Terrain, Talon Games’ BattleHex Terrain
Mike Miller Matt Heerdt Map of the Inner Sphere
Jim Rapkins Illustrations Øystein Tvedten
Ben H. Rome Klaus Scherwinski Record Sheets
Paul Sjardijn Liam Curtner David L. McCulloch
The Universe Before You Chris Lewis Index
Björn Schmidt Will Nichols
Rita Tatum
 Additional Design and Development Beta Testers
The following people have been involved in the creation and development Special thanks to those of you whose comments during the “Beta”
of BattleTech rules, either by writing material that was assimilated into the playtest cycle helped to improve this project for the final release. Though
main body of the rules, serving as the BattleTech line developer in the past, or I may not know you all by name, a hearty thank you goes to all of the THE UNIVERSE
otherwise contributing to the game in a major way. following avatars from the BattleTech forums: BEFORE YOU
Samuel B. Baker, Herb Beas, Randall N. Bills, Forest G. Brown, Chuck Crain, Arcologist, Arthinas, Atlas3060, Bedwyr, bluedragon7, Christian Soldier,
Chris Hartford, Clare Hess, Scott Jenkins, J. Andrew Keith, James R. Kellar, Colodie, COLWebbSFMC, Crushus Maximus, Darkblood18, DarkISI, Darrian
Dale Kemper, L.R. “Butch” Leeper, Bryan LiBrandi, Jim Long, David McCulloch, Wolffe, DarthGM, Demos, Diplominator, Dmitry, doulos05, dratt, Drop-Bear,
Jim Musser, Bryan Nystul, Mike Nystul, Blaine Pardoe, Boy F. Peterson Jr., Rick Dukeroyal, Erin Steiner, fever_Dream, Fokker, Frischi, Gelai, Geoff Watson,
Raisley, Jerry Stenson, Christoffer Trossen, Wm. John Wheeler. gnome76, Goose, Granite, ice_trey, Imperator, Jackmc, joechummer, BASIC

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JohnHawk, Kasaga, Khanjohn, König Wolf, Koyla Tsneg, Leon_Shirow, Liam’s GAMEPLAY
Acknowledgements Ghost, Lime2K, Lisette Woo, Lt. Nebfer, MadDogMike, Maelwys, Major Tom,
To Randall Bills for, well, for foisting this one on me, and for letting me turn Mad Catter, Martius, Maverick, Minchandre, mitchberthelson, Monbvol,
the Jihad story arc into one of my favorite fictional playgrounds, and for not Mrpossum, Munchkinman, NicoliVoldkif, Nightsong, Nodachi, Paj, Pinetree,
firing me as an assistant dev when I missed…a few deadlines. This has all Plainsfox, Pyro, RoundTop, Rugoe, Ryoken Prime Pilot, sidewinderoog,
been a blast so far! Specter83, Starfleet, StCptMara, swang30, Taharqa, Takiro, Talz, CHARACTER

fil
To the core group of people who, to one extent or another, have TwilightWalker, twycross, Tycho, Unosdraconis, Vigonal, WiseOldNovaCat,
CREATION
significantly contributed to keeping BattleTech not simply alive these last Wolf Lancer 4.
five years, but thriving once more: Ray Arrastia, Herb Beas, Loren Coleman,
Warner Doles, David M. Stansel-Garner, Diane Piron-Gelman, Jason Hardy, Adventure Seeds
Chris Hartford, Jason Knight, Chris Lewis, David McCulloch, Ben Rome, Matt Thanks also to Edward McEneely and John H. McCullough for the
Plog, Paul Sjardijn, Peter Smith, Scott Taylor, Christoffer Trossen, Øystein Adventure Seeds The Birthright and The Package.
Tvedten, Jason Vargas, and the fanatic core of fact-checkers and playtesters TRAITS
who sometimes worked under four-day “urgent data requests” more times Herb’s Thanks and Dedication
than I should probably mention. More than any other book prior, I would have to thank my wife, Beckie, for
To David Stansel-Garner for being the primary vision behind the new re- her patience and support, especially in the midst of the chaos and stress that
branded graphic presentation of Classic BattleTech. swirled around its over-extended creation. And to our “children”—Oscar,
To Rob Boyle for constantly putting up with Randall’s endless demands, Annie, Meggie, Blaze, and Logan—most of whom kept me company when
while I more or less hid in the shadows with fingers crossed. work intervened. And a final farewell to Merlin “Cash” Beas, the fifth feline SKILLS
To all the Commandos, for their ongoing stalwart support! “Herblet”, who will be missed.

themselves this time yet again.

Playtesters/Proofers/Fact Checkers e
To Franz Vohwinkel, Klaus Scherwinski and Chris Lewis for all the great
BattleTech art over the years (and the years that will come) and for outdoing

There is no overstating the invaluable assistance our cadre of playtesters

I’d also like to thank my older gaming groups, particularly the
“Fundamentally Doomed”: Jamie “Damon” Amirault, Hal Brown, Jeff “Fletchi”
Fletcher, Jay Fletcher, and Kevin Dwelley, as well as newer gamers Jason “Jay”
Bouchard and Rich “Not ANOTHER Marauder!” Putz.
And of course, I would also like to thank Bryan Nystul, who brought me
into BattleTech over 12 years ago now; Randall Bills, for putting me in this
COMBAT
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and fact-checkers have made it possible to buff the tarnish off this twenty- position and being a great mentor and virtual boss; Loren Coleman, for his
plus-year-old game of ours. Were it not for these guys’ tireless efforts to fix the dogged support, even when I was screaming at him; Ben Rome, for taking
broken rules, dust off the ancient tomes for obscure component origins and Masters & Minions away when I needed it most; and to the cadre of other
one-line factoids—or even argue the pros and cons of “retcons” versus “two- “core writers” I’ve worked with through these past ten years: Chris Hartford, TACTICAL
steps”—we’d never achieve the level of quality we’ve managed to produce in Chris Trossen, Ken’ Horner, Kevin Killiany, Camille Klein, Nick Marsala, David
McCulloch, Steve Mohan, Diane Piron-Gelman, Jason Schmetzer, Paul
COMBAT
these last few years. And to rise to that occasion for TechManual so soon after
Total Warfare, I don’t think we could ask for a better team. Thanks, to you guys! Sjardijn, Øystein Tvedten, Andreas Zuber, and so many more! ADDENDUM
Joel Agee, Ron Barter, Roland Boshnack, Jason Bouchard, James Richard
Brown, Rich Cencarik, Jean-Marc Comeau, Konstantin Dika, Brent Dill, ©2022 The Topps Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. A Time of War:
Nicholai Duda, Bruce Ford, Aaron Gregory, Jon “Worktroll” Haward, Glenn The BattleTech RPG, Classic BattleTech, BattleTech, ’Mech, BattleMech and
“Lobsterback” Hopkins, Adam Jury, Jen-Hendrik Kalusche, Rod Klatt, Edward MechWarrior are registered trademarks of The Topps Company, Inc. in the United SPECIAL
m

“TenakaFurey” Lafferty, Edward Lott, Chris Marti, Jeffrey Morgan, Daryl States and/or other countries. No part of this work may be reproduced, stored in CASE
“FlailingDeath” Myers, Andrew Norris, Aaron Pollyea, Richard Putz, Craig a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior RULES
Reed, Andreas Rudolf, Christopher K. Searls, Adam Sherwood, Sam Snell, permission in writing of the Copyright Owner, nor be otherwise circulated in any
Chris Wheeler, Patrick “Roosterboy” Wynne. form other than that in which it is published.
…And, of course, to all the players whose on-line questions and incidental
remarks fed (and continue to feed) a wealth of the material that went into this Corrected Third Printing.
book and other BattleTech products, past and future. Although I don’t know EQUIPMENT
you all by your real names (and some of you may actually be playtesters I Published by Catalyst Game Labs,
already mentioned), I want to thank all of you “avatars” listed below for your an imprint of InMediaRes Productions, LLC
on-line input in the creation of this book: 5003 Main St. • #110 • Tacoma, Washington 98407
Sa

00Dawg, 3rdCrucisLancers, 97jedi, Akalabeth Angel, Atlas3060,

ATN082268, AWPrime, BattleFish, Bedwyr, bilblak, bluedragon7, Boilerman, FIND US ONLINE:
GAMEMASTERING
BrianDavion, Casper, Casperionx, Centurion, Charlie Tango, ColBosch, precentor_martial@[Link]
ColonelCody, COLWebbSFMC, corbrausn, Critias, cvb, DarkISI, DarkMessiah, (e-mail address for any BattleTech questions) GUIDE
Darrien Wolffe, Daryk, Deathknight69, Discord, DougGlendower, Dread [Link]
Moores, Drop-Bear, drufause, Dukeroyal, Fallguy, Feret, Fokker, General308, (official BattleTech web page)
Ghost Bear Legend, God and Davion, Grantwhy, GreenDragon, grunt213, [Link]
Guardiandashi, Gus, Hammer, Hammerpilot_IIC, HunterADA, ice_trey, Idea (Catalyst Game Labs web page)
weenie, incrdbil, IronSphinx, Jabberwocky, Jaim_Magnus, Jazzjr, JediBear, [Link] INDEX
JerimiahRose, Kojak, krazzyharry, Labyr, Lazarus Sinn, Leto_II, Liam’s Ghost, (online ordering)
limejello, Logic, LostInSpace, MacPhail, MadCapellan, Maelwys, Martius,
Mattlov, Monbvol, Nerd, Netherek, NicolBolas, Nikita, Paint it Pink, Pallando,
panzerfaust150, PerkinsC, Psycho, Psychopompous, Pyro, raven, Red Pins,
rlandrigan, Round Top, Semi_Jumppanen, Sharkhead11, Siden Pryde,
skiltao, StCptMara, Sushi, Taharqa, Tel Hazen, The Prince, Thoth, TopCat,
Trboturtle, Tenchknife, Tycho, Uroshnor, Vandal, Vestifex, Vorpal, Wanderer,
wasp, Wrangler, Yellow Dog

5
 e
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Ben H. Rome

FORT DEFIANCE e Buzzy sighed again and smiled. He turned and thrust the case at
pl
MARIA’S ELEGY Naoko, cracking a smile.
HESPERUS II, LYRAN ALLIANCE “Da.”
5 JUNE 3076
sts
“Watch out!” came the cry from across the bay.
Lunging forward, Sergeant Busby “Buzzy” Matvey caught the tee- Lieutenant Luella Hildebrand stalked away from the retreating
tering metal case just before it plunged down to the mid-sized han- lifter, the confrontation filed away and forgotten. There was still too
gar’s ferrocrete floor. With a grunt, he shoved the olive-drab canister much to do and clearly not enough time. Detonators, she thought.
m

back onto the top of its stack while the forklift backed away. Did we pack enough?
But not fast enough. She consulted the datapad clutched in her left hand and scrolled
Buzzy smiled as Lieutenant Luella Hildebrand boiled up to the down the list, her determined stride missing not a hitch as she
side of the lift like a miniature tornado. He shook his head as he stalked down the corridor toward the Captain’s office. Without look-
returned to his work transferring the supply crates into the tight ing up, she deftly avoided collisions with her fellow officers, finally
cargo bay of the Mark IV Landing Craft. Already, Luella’s dressing- stopping in front of a nondescript gray-green door. Knocking once,
down of the poor lift driver was reaching a staccato pace that even she didn’t wait for an acknowledgement and stormed in.
a Mydron Minigun couldn’t match. “Problem, Luella?” asked the man seated in front of her, his night-
Sa

“Hot one, her, yes?” asked Buzzy’s lanky partner. black face cast strangely aglow by the monitor he was staring into.
“Da,” he replied, handing over another narrow crate marked, The Lieutenant snapped to attention and saluted. “Captain Travis,”
“CAUTION: FLAMMABLE”. she barked. “No, sir. Just a lift driver who isn’t aware of the regs
“You know I wasn’t talkin’ about her looks, now.” regarding volatile and explosive cargo.”
Buzzy sighed. “Da,” he responded again, this time looking his Captain Jared Travis leaned back, looking over at his exec. His white
companion full in the face. A grizzled soldier, Ethan Naoko had once teeth practically lit up his face. “I assume you re-educated him?”
more neglected to shave the stubble from his pointed chin. “You Luella relaxed slightly. “Yes, Captain. I’ll report him later.”
know, if the Captain sees that scruff, he’ll have words again.” Jared waved it off.
The older man shrugged. “So what? Not like we’re on a mission. “No need,” he said. “We’ve got more important things at the
Unless you’ve heard something I’ve not?” moment.” He stood and turned, searching the cluttered shelves
“Nope,” Buzzy replied. “I just know as much as you.” behind him. “Has Corporal Logan reported in yet?”
Pivoting, he grabbed another case from the stack. Luella’s rapid-fire “Not yet, sir.”
delivery finally ceased in the background and he noted the lift’s whine “Very well. He should soon, I would expect. The shuttle from the
as it backed away, almost as though the machine itself were sulking. Duquesne was probably delayed. Ah-ha!” The captain snagged a
He heard Ethan’s low whistle behind him. “Still, y’know, she’s small book from the shelf and turned back to Luella.
pretty hot…” “Have the team report to the hangar at twenty-hundred hours,”
he said as he opened the leather-
bound book to a ribbon-marked
page.
“Very good, sir.” Luella turned
to go, already churning through
the supply list in her head.
“Oh, and Luella?” Jared called.
She stopped and turned to
look back at him. “Sir?”
“Take a few minutes to relax.
Don’t know when we’ll get the

e
chance again.”

sts

Captain Jared Travis closed the small Bible in his hand and leaned

fil
back in his office chair, unable to concentrate enough to quiet his
own self. The butterflies he felt in his stomach weren’t from the
orders sitting on his monitor, or their promise of action.
No, he thought, it’s because she’s coming.
Jared took a deep breath and released it slowly. The last time he
and Belle Lee had crossed paths—two years ago—it had been a
torrential downpour of violence, emotion, stress and fatigue.
And it all ended with a failed marriage proposal.
Ancient history, Travis! he chided himself. Get a grip!
He had no idea why his mind was dragging it all back up again.

But it was all in the past.

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Yes, the fighting on Kittery was horrific; their escape from that Blakist
hellhole a nightmare ordeal that still kept him awake sometimes.

Travis snapped himself out of his reverie. The General was coming
to brief them on a mission, not to re-ignite some short-lived, war-
pl
fueled relationship. Jared refocused on the monitor in front of him.
The orders were simple enough on the surface, but that wasn’t
saying much; a reconnaissance mission to an as-yet-undetermined
planet, part of a larger operation currently being assembled. Travis
knew without a doubt that the target world was already deter-
mined, but that operational security demanded such information
be withheld until all the players were in place and ready to strike.
m
That was simply how these things went down.
The rest of the orders contained little else in the way of useful
information beyond the standard bureaucratic rhetoric. Indeed, the
only part that had Jared’s insides doing somersaults was the last line:
“General Belle Lee will present your operational orders in person.”
Shaking off the malaise, he refocused again on the screen, bring-
ing up the profiles of his two new team members. He tapped past
Luella’s dossier; she’d already been here a week and he felt he had
Sa

her pegged.
That brought him to the “newbie”: Franz Logan.
Jared’s mouth turned down as he scanned Logan’s short record.
Recent academy grad from Skye, failed the MechWarrior MOS twice,
two reprimands from his drill sergeant for daydreaming on watch.
Excellent weapons skills, passable first aid, and licensed to operate
standard WorkMechs.
“So basically, we’ve got ourselves a wannabe ’Mech jock who
knows which end of the rifle goes where and is most likely to suc-
ceed as a battlefield casualty when the crap hits the fan,” he said to
the empty office.
“Wonderful.”

sts

Corporal Franz Logan pressed his face against the unyielding sur-
face of the observation deck’s massive, armored window, looking