MASTERS OF WAR... In the 32nd century, two things are a constant in the Inner Sphere: war, and the need to hire people to fight them. Mercenaries have been around nearly as long as organized warfare. Those skilled or lucky enough can make their fortune...and all they have to do is survive to spend it...
This volume contains two novellas in the BattleTech Fortunes of War series:
HOUNDS AT BAY BY GEOFF SWIFT
Lieutenant Shane Atkins and the rest of the Coursing Hounds mercenary unit had a comfortable garrison assignment on Cumbres-until a Jade Falcon task force landed on the planet with orders to wipe the Hounds out to the last warrior.
Forced to flee the planet, Shane and his people embark on a search-and-destroy campaign to hurt the bloodthirsty Clan in their own occupation zone. But the ruthless Watch leader of the Falcon force will stop at nothing to hunt these rampaging Hounds down. And when the Jade Falcons catch the Coursing Hounds in a trap, only one side will survive the desperate battle...
HEAVY IS THE HEAD BY PHILIP A. LEE
Major Michael Crown, leader of the Crown Crusaders mercenary battalion, has finally hit the big time: not only are the Crusaders fighting to liberate the capital of the Federated Suns' Capellan March, they are under the command of the First Prince Julian Davion. But when battle plans against the Capellan Confederation go awry and the blame falls on the Crusaders, Michael must make a desperate deal to prove his loyalty and save his unit from extinction.
That deal leads to an unusual post in the Davion Outback, where true friends are hard to come by and devious enemies could be masquerading in plain sight. Michael and the Crown Crusaders must navigate the untamed wilds of the Periphery March if they are to have any hope of cleansing the stain on their honor.
(NOTE: These are the same stories that were distributed to the BattleTech Mercenaries Kickstarter campaign. If you received this story through the campaign, you do not need to buy them here.)
