The IlClan Era
Communications are gone. The Jihad Era and the destruction brought by the Word of Blake is felt throughout the Inner Sphere. What does the future hold for the citizens of the Inner Sphere? The Blackout prevents communications amongst the greater powers, but now its time to survive and hopefully find some answers.,
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The Blackout
Ghost war - Michael A. Stackpole
In-Universe Date: 3132 – 3133
Synopsis: IN A TIME OF PEACE…
For generations, the Republic of the Sphere has known a Golden Age of peace. Mighty BattleMechs, once kings of the battlefields, now aid the reconstruction of war-torn worlds. But when terrorists destroy the interstellar communications net, each planet is thrust into isolation. Suddenly old hatreds resurface, and a people who have never known war face the prospect of it firsthand…
A MYSTERIOUS NEW THREAT ARISES…
Sam Donelly is one of the best LumberMech jockeys on the planet, wielding his 'Mech's fifteen-foot chainsaw with the grace and precision of a surgeon. Caught in a skirmish with revolutionaries, he soon finds himself a rebel recruit. But Sam is no mere lumberjack, and if his true identity is discovered, the repercussions could be disastrous not only for Sam, but for the entire Republic…
A Call to Arms - Loren L. Coleman
In-Universe Date: 3133
Synopsis: A UNIVERSE GONE DARK…
Months have passed since the interplanetary communications net was destroyed, isolating planets across the Republic of the Sphere and beyond. Achernar is one of the few worlds that still possesses a working Hyperpulse Generator Station, a device that enables communications across the galaxy—and a highly sought-after prize for the splintering factions of the Republic...
After failing to qualify as an active MechWarrior, Raul Ortega finds solace in the Republic’s military reserves on Archenar, and dreams of the day he might know the adventure and glory of real combat. The planet’s Republic-loyal forces are supported by a loose alliance with the Swordsworn, a faction pledged to House Davion—whose leaders have an agenda all their own.
When the planet falls under siege by yet another splinter group, the Steel Wolves, who are intent on capturing the HPG station, Raul is called up to active duty. But when the Swordsworn desert Archenar in its time of need, Raul discovers there’s little honor in the subtle schemes of treachery and the brutal realities of war...
The Ruins of Power - Robert E. Vardeman
In-Universe Date: 3133
Synopsis: THE SWORD OR THE PLOWSHARE...
The destruction of the interplanetary communications net has isolated planets across the Republic of the Sphere. On Mirach, a widening schism in the military between those who would remain loyal to The Republic and those who would break away threatens the peace and prosperity that have lasted for generations.
Once a formidable MechWarrior, governor Sergio Ortega now believes that diplomacy will win the day. His sons, Dale and Austin, are also stalwarts of The Republic and aspiring MechWarriors. Facing growing civil unrest, they urge a military show of force before events spiral out of control. But Mirach has no BattleMechs, and their pacifistic father is slashing military spending.
But when power-hungry forces within the government begin plotting to overthrow it by any means necessary—including assassination—Austin must rebel against everything he’s known to fight for the safety and freedom of Mirach…even if that means facing off against his own father...
A Silence in the Heavens - Martin Delrio
In-Universe Date: 3132 – 3133
Synopsis: THE INNER SPHERE UNDER ASSAULT…
Since the failure of the interplanetary communications system, the decades-long peace brokered by the Republic of the Sphere has begun to splinter. Power-hungry factions—such as the Steel Wolves—are invading vulnerable worlds to establish their own rule.
As a gateway to Terra, the planet of Northwind has strategic value—making it a fiercely-contested target for the emerging factions springing up across the Republic—and Duchess Tara Campbell will not allow her home to fall into enemy hands. Offering military assistance, the Republic sends Paladin Ezekiel Crow and his fully armed BattleMech to help defend Northwind.
MechWarrior Anastasia Kerensky, she of the infamous Clan Bloodline, has set her sights on conquering Northwind—and what Anastasia wants, Anastasia usually gets. But first she must contend with the deadly politics of the Steel Wolves before she embarks on a conquest that could lead to the very heart of The Republic itself...
Truth and Shadows - Martin Delrio
In-Universe Date: 3133 – 3134
Synopsis: LYING IN WAIT…
The Highlanders defeated Anastasia Kerensky the last time she attacked Northwind—although she retreated with most of her troops intact. Now dispersed among several planets, the Highlanders will need a bigger edge if they are to end Kerensky's threat completely. A rumor places Anastasia Kerensky on Northwind. If that's true, the Steel Wolves must also be close by. Determined to locate them, Paladin Ezekiel Crow and Countess Tara Campbell order a reconnaissance—unaware that their enemy may be closer than they think.
With her forces on standby, Anastasia believes there is little the embattled Republic can do to stop her from finally conquering Northwind. What she doesn't realize is that she has allies she never imagined—and enemies she never suspected.
It's a moment of truth for Crow, Campbell, and Kerensky, when lies emerge from the shadows, and the fate of a world hangs in the balance.
Service for the Dead - Martin Delrio
In-Universe Date: 3133 – 3134
Synopsis: TARGET: TERRA
The world of Northwind has been ravaged in the fierce battle between the Highlanders and the Steel Wolves—and now the Clan warriors have set their sights on Terra. The fate of the birthplace of humankind now rests in the hands of three very different MechWarriors:
Ezekiel Crow: Betrayer of the Highlanders—and on the run from both political and military enemies.
Anastasia Kerensky: Ruthless leader of the Steel Wolves—and if she has her way, the next Conqueror of Terra.
Tara Campbell: embattled Countess of the Northwind Highlanders—and Terra’s only hope in its most desperate hour.
A desperate three-way race ensues to see who will be the first to reach Terra…and who will ultimately claim it….
By temptations and by war - Loren L. Coleman
In-Universe Date: 3134
Synopsis: A SPARK OF REBELLION…
When the Republic of the Sphere was established, it absorbed a quarter of Capellan Confederation space. Now that the crippled Republic is embattled everywhere, the Confederation Chancellor sends an operative into former Capellan territory to nurture the seeds of rebellion.
Freedom fighter Evan Kurst has resisted the Republic's “benevolent occupation” of the world of Liao for as long as he can remember. He has fought side by side with agents from the Confederation, and rallied other fighters to the cause. Until now, his efforts have been in vain.
But amid the chaos of the interstellar communications blackout, Kurst sees a new chance to liberate his homeworld and return it to its rightful rulers. The Chancellor's support is assured, and embodied in the person of Mai Wa, the operative sent to ensure Kurst's success. But Mai has betrayed Kurst before, and his biggest problem remains knowing whom to trust in a world where today’s ally is tomorrow's enemy…
Fortress of Lies - J. Steven York
In-Universe Date: 3134
Synopsis: PAWNS ARE MEANT TO BE SACRIFICED…
After his victory on New Aragon, Duke Aaron Sandoval has the embattled Republic in his debt. But Sandoval's hidden agenda has more to do with his own power than any loyalty to the Republic of the Sphere, and he'll spare no expense to achieve his ultimate goal.
When the Duke becomes the target of an assassination attempt, he realizes his efforts to build a coalition against the invading House Liao are failing. Many planetary governors prefer capitulation to war. What he needs is a new ship and a new approach.
To launch his campaign, Sandoval sends his nephew Erik, fresh from the front lines of the campaign against the encroaching Capellan Confederation, to Shensi. His job is to convince the governor to join his uncle’s alliance instead of making peace with Liao. Although Erik is honored to be the Duke’s strong right hand, he's convinced that Aaron’s arrogance is getting the better of him. But what Erik doesn't yet realize is that his own uncle will sacrifice anyone to achieve his dreams of glory...even a member of his own family…
Patriot's Stand - Mike Muscoe
In-Universe Date: 3134
Synopsis: A DESPERATE FIGHT…
Under assault and ill-equipped, Alkalurops has come apart since the loss of its communications grid and the inability of the Republic of the Sphere to re-establish it. But in a universe of powerful players, a leader has to grab power fast if she's going to survive...
Grace O'Malley's people are valiantly making a stand against Hansen's Roughriders, a band of mercenaries destroying everything in their path. Badly outnumbered, her forces need real BattleMechs operated by trained MechWarriors. And they're not going to be easy to afford, especially since the big mine owners refuse to offer any funds for planetary defense. But Grace will not surrender her homeland, no matter what the price.
Even though the ragtag locals are putting a surprising good fight, Loren Hansen remains confident he can defeat them. What he doesn't count on is an opponent determined to write her planet's history in the scorched wreckage of the battlefield...
Flight of the Falcon - Victor Milan
In-Universe Date: 3134
Synopsis: PREDATORS AND PREY…
A Clan Jade Falcon invasion force is en route to eradicate the Steel Wolves—but its true mission is the subjugation of the Republic of the Sphere. Constrained by an imposed peace for decades, the Falcons embark on their most spectacular war in generations—and their lust for blood runs hot...
Siblings Malvina and Aleks Hazen are Jade Falcon’s best and brightest MechWarriors. Each achieved high command at a young age, and their bond is strong—but so is their rivalry. While Aleks believes warriors should protect the weak, Malvina is obsessed with dark visions of power and glory. If the leader of the Clan is destined to rule the Inner Sphere, then Malvina's first step toward seizing that role for herself is to conquer the Republic...or utterly destroy it.
On Skye, Tara Campbell faces a major invasion with too few Northwind Highlanders to beat it back. Some in the Planetary Council want to negotiate with the invaders to spare Skye the frightful carnage already wreaked on other worlds by the Falcons’ inexorable advance. Now Tara—the Republic's greatest defender—finds herself fighting dissension at home when unity is needed in the face of Skye’s greatest crisis...
Blood of the Isle - Loren L. Coleman
In-Universe Date: 3134 – 3135
Synopsis: IN THE FALCON’S CLAWS…
Skye struggles to rise from the ashes of the last Jade Falcon campaign. Tara Campbell's Highlanders are limping back from battles fought all across the Prefecture. And Anastasia Kerensky's Steel Wolves have disappeared again. It's a matter of when—not if—the Falcons will renew their brutal assault, and Skye is unprepared.
On the world of Nusakan, Landgrave Jasek Kelswa-Steiner appears to be Skye's only chance for salvation. Gathering his Stormhammers, he prepares to throw his force into the talons of the Falcon advance. But will the cure be worse than the disease? Jasek passionately advocates a return to House Steiner, a political movement his father just as passionately opposes.
Unfortunately for the Republic, desperate times call for desperate alliances—and the Jade Falcon force is still spoiling for battle. Clan Jade Falcon will not rest until Skye is conquered...or reduced to a charred cinder.
Hunters of the Deep - Randall N. Bills
In-Universe Date: 3134
Synopsis: HUNTING FOR PROFIT...AND POWER...
Sea Fox Clansmen are space-bound, nomadic warrior-merchants who live and die aboard their naval vessels, going planetside only to negotiate a new deal or for combat—often the same thing for a Fox. Divided into five autonomous Khanates, they are led by the Khan of Clan Sea Fox. Their mission: to make deals and acquire the revenue needed to expand Sea Fox's honor, glory, and power...
For more than a decade, ovKhan Sha Clarke has watched his Spina Khanate achieve greater wealth and fame than any other. A burning passion drives him to free Spina Khanate from the shackles of Clan Sea Fox—no matter the cost...
Fiercely loyal to Clan Sea Fox, ovKhan Petr Kalasa knows Sha is plotting rebellion, but even he cannot guess the lengths to which the other ovKhan will go to achieve his goal. Attempting to stop his rival, he baits Sha into a one-on-one duel. The result is a disaster that vividly demonstrates how much Petr will have to sacrifice to put an end to Sha's machinations. Yet his suspicions of Sha will not let him rest. Petr has lost one battle, but—as the Clan as his witness—he will not lose the war...
The Scorpion Jar - Jason M. Hardy
In-Universe Date: 3134 – 3135
Synopsis: POISON COMES IN MANY FORMS…
Exarch Damien Redburn has called for the election of his replacement. Paladins assemble from all corners of the Republic, and those vying to be the next Exarch are creating a lively nomination process. But machinations behind the scenes threaten to turn the election into a bloodbath.
Paladins Heather GioAvanti and Jonah Levin are both conducting investigations into suspicious activities swirling around the edges of this high-level gathering, including a suspected assassination at the highest level of Republic government. The leads they uncover repeatedly intersect, and it becomes clear that more than one group intends to disrupt the election. Through political influence, assassination, or rebellion, each of these cabals ultimately seeks to place its own man or woman in the Exarch's seat—and whoever controls the Exarch controls the Republic.
But Damien Redburn will not allow his successor to be a puppet, and is more than willing to throw a few 'Mechs and a secret agent or two into the mix to get the result he wants—even if what he wants may be a surprise to everyone else...
Target of Opportunity - Blaine Lee Pardoe
In-Universe Date: 3135
Synopsis: A PRIZE WORTH THE RISK…
Despite years of effort, ComStar has been unable to repair the HPG interstellar communications grid. Now the Republic is taking a hands-on approach to fixing the problem. An active hyperpulse generator can turn its planet into a tempting target. So when ComStar appears close to reactivating the HPG on Wyatt, the Republic takes steps to counter any threats to the world—at a time when ComStar is determined to prove that it's once more a force to be reckoned with...
Knight-Errant Alexi Holt is assigned to defend Wyatt for the Republic. But her greatest challenge is to protect Tucker Harwell—a genius possessing unmatched HPG skills—from the invaders who will certainly try to capture him.
Both the Oriente Protectorate and Clan Spirit Cat have an interest in Wyatt. The first seeks to control the man who can fix an HPG, the other is looking for a safe haven. Unsavory characters will also step forward. After all, though a reactivated HPG makes Wyatt a target, Tucker Harwell is the biggest prize of all…
Sword of Sedition - Loren L. Coleman
In-Universe Date: 3134 – 3135
Synopsis: POLITICS OF DESTRUCTION…
Newly elected Exarch Jonah Levin is still trying to come to terms with the responsibilities of his office. With his recent discovery of treachery in The Republic's Senate, he can trust very few people—and not even his own Paladins have been immune to murderous intrigue...
Tensions are heating up between Exarch Levin and the senators determined to fight what they call the "injustice being done to the Republic's government." Some are even agitating for Levin's censure—a move that could accomplish the same thing as the recent attempted coup that killed legendary Paladin Victor Steiner-Davion.
One of The Republic's last hopes is the summit of Inner Sphere leaders gathering on Terra. Ostensibly a tribute to the assassinated Steiner-Davion, it also has the potential to halt the escalating violence of the last few years. And although Victor would not have wanted his death to be the cause of more political maneuvering, Levin knows the great man would not begrudge the Republic this one final service to stave off all-out war—if only it isn't too late...