New Release Books by Blaine Lee Pardoe

A RACE TO VICTORY... Terra. Birthplace of humankind. Cradle of the Inner Sphere. For centuries, it has been the Clans' ultimate prize. As prophesied by their founder, Nicholas Kerensky, the Clan that conquers Terra shall ascend above all others to become the ilClan, ruler over the rest of the Clans. And its leader shall become the ilKhan, and will lead the Inner Sphere into a new era. And now, nearly a century after the Clan Invasion, two Clans race to be the first to reach Terra. On one side is Alaric Ward, Khan of Clan Wolf, a brilliant warrior and complex mix of the best of the Clans and the Inner Sphere. He comes to save the Inner Sphere from itself, intending to construct a new empire among the stars. His main adversary is Chingis Khan Malvina Hazen, the brutal, ruthless leader of Clan Jade Falcon. Forged in a tradition where only the strong survive, she leads her touman not to save the Inner Sphere, but to raze it to ashes and rebuild it according to her own twisted vision. All that stands between them and a decisive victory that will reshape the Inner Sphere forever is the impenetrable barrier shielding Terra from invasion, not to mention the forces of the once-mighty Republic, which has no plans to surrender without a vicious fight...the only question is, who will reach Terra first?

THREE SIDES TO EVERY WAR… In 3069, the extremist Word of Blake group attacked the capital of the Free Worlds League and declared its leader, Captain-General Thomas Marik, to be a fraud. House Marik fell into disgrace, and after eight centuries, the Free Worlds League shattered. Three captains-general now vie to reunite the realm: • Anson Marik of the Marik-Stewart Commonwealth prides himself on possessing Marik blood, and seeks to rule on its strength. • Lester Cameron-Jones of the Regulan Fiefs knows the Marik bloodline is defunct; only a new royal house can resurrect the League. • Jessica Marik of the Oriente Protectorate is on a mission to redeem her father's name: the false Thomas Marik, and the very man who helped destroy the League. The world of Marik becomes a battleground as the three contenders prove they will go to any lengths to further their causes. But only Jessica Marik appears to remember that the Free Worlds League was forged not through military might alone, but also through alliances of trust. They will all find the price for their ambitions is higher than they could ever have imagined. Who will be willing to pay to achieve their dream?

BEYOND THE WALLS… They are the Fidelis, a brotherhood of warriors whose devotion to honor and courage on the battlefield is unmatched. Their existence known only to a former exarch, they are a fighting force to be reckoned with—a force three knights must consider as they undertake missions that could save the Republic…or cripple it. Lady Crystal Synd embodies the vision of the knight-errant. Devoted wholeheartedly to the Republic and its citizens, she believes in her mission. But what she must do to accomplish it will test her mettle as a knight—and as a human being. Hunter Mannheim is descended from a long line of military leaders, and feels he must continue the tradition of excellence in service and sacrifice in battle. But what he must sacrifice in the name of duty may be more than he can bear. Kristoff Erbe is a man burdened by shame. His father was a collaborator who served as commander of a “re-education camp” for those who defied the fanatical Word of Blake. To this day, Kristoff searches for a way to redeem his family honor. Three knights. Three dreams. For each, one chance lies outside the walls of the Fortress Republic…

TOO OLD TO FIGHT, TOO YOUNG TO DIE… For nearly a decade, the relentless warriors of Clan Jade Falcon have held the world of Jangso in the A Place system, using it as a training ground for their next generation of warriors. When the planet’s garrison departs to join other Falcon forces in the fight for Terra, the Clans’ ultimate prize, aging Star Commander Hasara is ordered to remain behind. Deemed too old to be worthy of going to Terra, he still embraces his honor, and vows to safeguard the planet and all of the cadets too young to join the fight. The Lyran Commonwealth, still stinging from losing Jangso to the Falcons, resolves to exploit their absence by taking back the planet before the Falcons can return. Armed with military intelligence and smuggled BattleMechs, Lyran natives on Jangso launch critical strikes at Hasara, his ex-MechWarrior partner, and the Falcon cadets under their wings, luring them into a trap. But the Lyrans have greatly underestimated the Falcons’ indomitable spirit and the lengths they will go to when driven to the brink of desperation. As Hasara wrestles with his own sense of honor, and faces dwindling morale and diminishing returns against troops seeking to exterminate him and his cadets, he must prove there is still enough fight left in his old bones to secure a victory for the future of his Clan.

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 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…

IMBALANCE OF POWER… On the faraway Clan Homeworlds during the Golden Century, Nicholas Kerensky’s vision of the Clans has blossomed into a thriving, varied culture where the warrior is esteemed above all…and MechWarriors, in their armored war machines, are at the pinnacle of Clan hierarchy. The eighteen Clans have existed in relative technological parity as well…until the day Clan Coyote fields a radical new ’Mech that gives them the edge on any battlefield—the OmniMech. Supremely customizable thanks to its modular design, the OmniMech threatens to upend the delicate balance of power among the Clans…and its secrets become a hotly contested prize. In the annual Trial of Possession for the OmniMech technology, the Jade Falcons have won the right to challenge the Coyotes first. But along with the upcoming ’Mech battle, a shadowy force is willing to do whatever is necessary to ensure that the Falcons succeed…even if it requires the sacrifice of cherished ideals…

IT IS THE DAWN OF A NEW AGE… At the beginning of the 20th century, the world was forever changed by the discovery of electroid, a strange liquid that allowed for lighter-than-air travel. Militaries around the world rushed to develop new vessels based on this amazing invention, resulting in a class of flying ships unlike anything ever seen before…the leviathan. Now, the skies are filled with massive armored warships that soar through the air, armed with devastating cannons that can lay waste to an enemy vessel in moments. The nations of the world have entered into a dangerous new arms race, and all it will take is the right spark to set off a war that will ensnare the nations on and around the European continent…and may engulf the world… Featuring stories by: William H. Keith, Jr. Michael J. Ciaravella Steven Mohan, Jr. Bryn Bills Blaine Lee Pardoe S.M. Stirling Harry Turtledove Tyler Whitney

ALL OR NOTHING... On 1 May 3052, twenty-five Galaxies from seven Clans clashed with twelve armies of ComStar’s Com Guards on the pastoral planet of Tukayyid. For twenty-one days, one of the largest campaigns in BattleMech warfare unfolded to decide the fate of the Inner Sphere. The Battle of Tukayyid is one of BattleTech’s most pivotal conflicts. Now, explore this crucial campaign through eight different points of view—from the enigmatic ComStar, whose relatively untested forces are the Inner Sphere’s last defense against the seemingly unstoppable Clans, to each Clan, as their leaders and MechWarriors attempt to achieve victory on their own terms. The fate of the Inner Sphere hangs in the balance…and it all comes down to one planet… Featuring stories by: Jason Schmetzer Michael J. Ciaravella Randall N. Bills Blaine Lee Pardoe Steven Mohan, Jr. Bryan Young Chris Hussey Joel Steverson

MORE THAN A CENTURY IN THE MAKING… Since the Clan Invasion of 3050 ended in failure, there are those who have not forgotten Nicholas Kerensky’s ultimate goal: The conquering of Terra, and the rise of one Clan above all others…to become the ilClan, and rule over both the rest of the Clans and the Inner Sphere…regardless of what the Great Houses may say about it… THE BATTLE THAT WILL RESHAPE THE INNER SPHERE BEGINS… Now, in 3151, two Clans make the final jump into the shattered remains of the Republic of the Sphere. Their target: the cradle of humankind, and the ultimate symbol of the Inner Sphere…Terra. But Clans Jade Falcon and Wolf will face a powerful, tenacious enemy in the remaining forces of the Republic, led by their resurrected leader, Devlin Stone. The impending battle will engulf the entire planet, and when it is over, only one shall stand supreme...

A RACE TO VICTORY… Terra. Birthplace of humankind. Cradle of the Inner Sphere. For centuries, it has been the Clans’ ultimate prize. As prophesied by their founder, Nicholas Kerensky, the Clan that conquers Terra shall ascend above all others to become the ilClan, ruler over the rest of the Clans. And its leader shall become the ilKhan, and will lead the Inner Sphere into a new era. And now, nearly a century after the Clan Invasion, two Clans race to be the first to reach Terra and the ultimate prize. On one side is Alaric Ward, Khan of Clan Wolf, a brilliant warrior and complex mix of the best of the Clans and the Inner Sphere. He comes to save the Inner Sphere from itself, intending to construct a new empire among the stars. His main adversary is Chingis Khan Malvina Hazen, the brutal, ruthless leader of Clan Jade Falcon. Forged in a tradition where only the strong survive, she leads her touman not to save the Inner Sphere, but to raze it to ashes and rebuild it according to her own twisted vision. All that stands between them and a decisive victory that will reshape the Inner Sphere forever is the impenetrable barrier shielding Terra from invasion, not to mention the forces of the once-mighty Republic, which has no plans to surrender without a vicious fight…the only question is, who will reach Terra first?

FAR FROM HOME… Exarch Devlin Stone, hero of the Word of Blake Jihad and architect of the Republic of the Sphere, has returned to Terra only to find his beloved nation under siege and in danger of breaking apart. As threats bear down on the Republic from all sides, Stone and his inner circle must move fast to bolster Terra’s defenses from all who seek to conquer the birthplace of humanity. However, not all of his allies have heeded Stone’s call to arms. Former Exarch Damien Redburn, who left Terra to defend the Republic’s borders from the rapacious Clan Wolf, was cut off when the walls of Fortress Republic rose. Without support or reinforcements, Redburn, the Fidelis, and Countess Tara Campbell’s Highlanders have held the line against the Wolves for years, but the never-ending campaign has pushed all of them to their breaking points. Is Stone’s return genuine, or a carefully crafted hoax? Can Redburn be brought back into the fold, or has he gone rogue for good? In the end, Stone, Redburn, and their allies must each decide their path before tensions can erupt in a clash that could shake the very foundation of the Republic.

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 Pardoe Craig A. Reed, Jr. E. Clark Avery Jason Schmetzer James Bixby M. W. Hayden Mark Hill Daniel Isberner Alexander J. Roth Ken' Horner James Kirtley Wunji Lau Eric Salzman Joel Steverson Stephen Toropov

BROTHERS IN ARMS… At long last, the Clans’ campaign for the Inner Sphere is coming to a head. Khan Alaric Wolf is preparing for his biggest moves yet…and is willing to enlist just about anyone who can help him achieve his ultimate goal—the conquest of Terra. To that end, he sends one of his own on a special assignment. Marotta Kerensky is a Clan Wolf warrior unlike any other—the perfect candidate for a mission unlike any other: convince the legendary Wolf’s Dragoons to rejoin the Clan they originally came from. But when Marotta reaches the mercenary unit, he finds them quite different from the storied force of a century ago. Times have changed since then, and the Dragoons have as well…or have they? Driven to accomplish his mission at any cost, Marotta allies with a Dragoons officer on a risky gambit that may help him deliver what his Khan wants…or tear Wolf’s Dragoons apart forever.

SEMPER FIDELIS In the year 3060, the reborn Star League has destroyed Clan Smoke Jaguar, conquered their home world Huntress, and scattered the few remaining Jaguar warriors to the winds. Now the League seeks to end the Clan invasion for good by using former Smoke Jaguars against their own people. Meanwhile, two bitter enemies seek to salvage a future for the last Jaguars in existence: Trent, who betrayed his wayward Clan to help them regain their honor, and Paul Moon, a disgraced warrior torn between his pledged loyalty to the Star League and a duty to the Smoke Jaguar civilization he was born to protect. But power-hungry predators lurk in Clan space, waiting for the right time to strike the vulnerable Star League forces. And to the victor will go the spoils: the priceless artifacts of a destroyed Clan and the sacred genetics of the final generation of Smoke Jaguar warriors. Trent and Paul Moon must fight tooth and nail against would-be conquerors to save the soul of the surviving Jaguar people before they are consigned to the annals of history. But will their divergent plans tear the survivors apart, or lead them toward freedom?

VICTORY AT ANY COST… Jump into your BattleMech cockpit, fire up your fusion engine, and charge into the fray with two all-new BattleTech novellas from Philip A. Lee and bestselling writer Blaine Lee Pardoe. A Splinter of Hope: Violent expansion of the Capellan Confederation and the Draconis Combine has cost recently crowned First Prince Julian Davion both his mentor and countless Federated Suns worlds. To rally his people, he funnels the fires of justice into an ambitious yet risky campaign to retake a vital system: New Syrtis, the occupied capital of the Capellan March. However, the Capellan people have fought dearly for their prize and will do anything in their power to hold onto it. Will Julian’s gamble preserve the future of the Federated Suns, or is the invasion doomed before it even begins? The Anvil: Khan Malvina Hazen of Clan Jade Falcon is known throughout the Inner Sphere as a merciless, bloodthirsty tyrant. The next target for her scorched-earth, take-no-prisoners tactics is the Lyran Commonwealth world of Coventry: a persistent stain on the Jade Falcons’ history. But not all Falcons follow Malvina’s lead. Ordered to take Coventry at any cost, Galaxy Commander Stephanie Chistu wishes to see her Clan victorious, but no victory is worth the Jade Falcons losing their very soul. To stand up to tyranny and find an honorable path forward for her Clan, she must balance the razor’s edge between duty and honor—or die trying.

FOR SOME, THE BATTLE IS NOT OVER YET... For generations, the Clans bided their time, waiting for the right opportunity to appear from beyond the Periphery and conquer the Inner Sphere. They risked all at the Battle of Tukayyid – only to be soundly defeated. The results were deadlier than they could ever imagine. For one devoted warrior of Clan Smoke Jaguar, the disgrace of Tukayyid has scarred him for life. And it is this tragedy that will change the universe forever, a treachery hidden beyond the Exodus Road.

LIVE BY THE 'MECH... Harley Rassor is a simple farm boy in a complex techno-universe—more than happy to work the land of planet Slewis with his father. His restless older brother left to join the elite mercenary corps Able's Aces...and paid with his life. Now, Harley's father wants him to join the fight—and learn what happened to his brother. What he learns is that the Aces are in turmoil. His instructor—tough-as-nails Lieutenant Livia Hawke—also happens to be his brother's ex-lover. Rumors of suspected payoffs and setups are commonplace. And the entire unit is in danger of being disbanded. DIE BY THE 'MECH... Then pirates launch a devastating raid on the Rim Collection's resources, sparking an all-out fight that puts the Aces right back into the thick of battle—and reveal to Harley that there are worse things in war than death...

In 1971 and 1972, a killer stalked the streets of the nation's capital. His targets, young girls who he kidnapped, raped, and left their remains along busy roadways in plain view. Then, as mysteriously as he started, the Freeway Phantom stopped. Now, after nearly five decades, Washington DC's oldest unsolved serial killing spree is pried open.

BORN TO SERVE... Major Loren Jaffray is a soldier's soldier, a hardened professional who made his reputation with the Capellan Confederation's legendary Death Commandos. Now serving as an officer in the Northwind Highlanders, Loren longs to prove his loyalty to his new comrades. And he's getting that chance—the Draconis Combine is hiring his regiment to take on a mission unlike any before it. SLATED TO DIE. The ruthless Clan Smoke Jaguar emulate the savagery of their feline namesake with lethal accuracy. Nobody knows this better than the samurai of the Draconis Combine, who fought to the death to save their very homeworld. Now Loren's crack Highlanders will be the instrument of the Combine's vengeance, striking into the Deep Periphery to crush one of the Jaguars' supply centers on a distant world called Wayside V. But the young, confident major is in for a very nasty surprise—and unless he makes a brilliant change in plans, Wayside V will be soaked with Scots blood...

I am a true Jade Falcon… The leader of Clan Jade Falcon, Khan Malvina Hazen, is known throughout human-occupied space as a merciless tyrant hell bent on shattering and reforging the entire Inner Sphere in her own bloodthirsty image. The next target for her scorched-earth, take-no-prisoners Mongol Doctrine is the Lyran Commonwealth world of Coventry: a persistent stain on the Jade Falcons’ history, and a system defended by legendary Lyran heroes. But not all Falcons subscribe to Malvina’s twisted cult of personality. Ordered to take Coventry at any cost, Galaxy Commander Stephanie Chistu has no choice but to follow her orders and conquer the planet in Malvina’s name. Stephanie wishes to see her Clan victorious, but no victory is worth the Jade Falcons losing their very soul. To stand up to Malvina’s tyranny and find an honorable path for her Clan’s future, Stephanie must balance the razor’s edge between duty and honor—or she will die trying.

THE TRUE FATE OF CLAN WOLVERINE… Every member of Clan society knows of the Not-Named Clan, the one that was erased from history for perpetrating acts of heresy against the Way of the Clans. But what truly happened to Clan Wolverine? Long before the Clans invaded the Inner Sphere in 3049, their ancestors escaped the brutal Succession Wars by braving uncharted space and forming a new society, only to plunge back into the ravages of war once more. The year is 2822. The Pentagon Civil War is long over, and Operation Klondike saw ilKhan Nicholas Kerensky’s twenty Clans victorious over the petty warlords who had conquered the Pentagon worlds. But with no true enemies left to fight, the nascent Clans have lost their laser-sharp focus, and begun straying from the ilKhan’s vision. Khan Sarah McEvedy, leader of the progressive Clan Wolverine, sees the dangerous path the ilKhan is steering his Clans onto, but she cannot follow them without compromising her beliefs or her honor. Unsure whom to trust among the scheming Clans, she must navigate the political waters of the Grand Council with caution and resolve, or suffer the deadly consequences. As her enemies seek to engineer her Clan into the ultimate scapegoat, Khan McEvedy must do everything she can to ensure that her Clan survives, or they will all be hunted down and destroyed. Written by BattleTech veteran Blaine Lee Pardoe, Betrayal of Ideals tells the complete story of the true history of Clan Wolverine.

For too long, the people of the Lyran Commonwealth have only reacted to attacks by their enemies. Now, Archon Melissa Steiner launches an intricate gambit that will secure the safety of her subjects—and secure her own power against those who wish to take it... Trillian Steiner has always been a loyal warrior and supporter of the archon. But when she is ordered to strike against the Free Worlds League, victory is not her only goal. The leader of the campaign—the politician and business magnate Duke Vedet Brewster—for years has been consolidating power within the Commonwealth. And now the archon has decided to rid herself of two threats with one move. For Trillian is there not to ensure success but, through a web of machinations, to guarantee the duke's downfall—before the worlds he conquers become the foundation of an attempt to take over the Commonwealth. And in the chaos of war and the never-ending struggle for power, Trillian's strength and devotion will be sorely tested ...

"This book tackles the thirty-one-year-old unsolved murder of Maggie Hume"--

"An examination of the unsolved 1963 murder of Battle Creek's Daisy Zick"--

The Saga Continues! A BattleTech Novel Despite years of effort, ComStar has been unable to repair the HPG interstellar communications grid—so The Republic is taking a hands-on approach to fixing the problem. An active hyperpulse generator can turn its world 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 for his knowledge. 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 seeks 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.

When the occult-obsessed Reich sets its sights on an ancient artifact held in Washington, D.C.s Smithsonian Castle, the ruthless Hermann Von Hezinger plans an unprecedented raid on U.S. soil...and only Major John MacNeal and the elite soldiers of the 42nd Marines stand before them. Theres more to this mission than meets the eye, however. Why has the enigmatic Matriarchy mobilized its forces? And to whom is the mysterious mercenary Wolf truly loyal? Prepare for an epic battle that will rage deep into Americas heartland!

The planet Odessa is in peril as its two major leaders cannot see eye to eye. And their personal antagonism may cost them much more than their lives. Is war the only answer?

Based on the popular role-playing game, this story sets the stage for a rebellion on Thorin, where a local militia leader holds the fate of the world in his hands.

The new book based on the top-selling CD-ROM game! Ghost Bear Commander Angela Bekker has been sent to the strategically important planet of Toffen, where she faces ambush by a rival clan. Are her unorthodox tactics and sheer bravery enough to pull her troops through this galactic hell?

On December 21 1916, a sailing ship slipped out of the river Weser in Northern Germany. Her captain had false papers & a young sailor with a blond wig to pose as his wife. This is an account of Felix von Luckner, the Imperial German Navy raider set upon the high seas of WWII to sink Britain's vital wartime supply ships.

His forces bloodied from recent defeats, deposed Prince Victor Steiner-Davion forms a daring plan to cut the offensive off at its core...

Spying on your co-workers, sleeping your way to the top, backstabbing, brownnosing, sabotage—all seem to be fair in today?s supercompetitive workplace. So don?t get mad—get ready! This book is your survival guide for today?s corporate reality. Be prepared, or be prepared to become a casualty. Cubicle Warfare: • Maps out the field of battle in your office • Helps you review your own strengths and weaknesses and those of your opponents • Details every low-down, sleazy tactic and how to defend yourself against them all • Identifies the types of cubicle warriors you?ll find in every office and equips you to deal with them • Profiles the seven personality types found in every office—the Aggressors, Survivalists, Career Politicians, and others • And much, much more! Cubicle Warfare is the book your colleagues don?t want you to read. It?s your best defensive for survival in the office wars—and your best offensive strategy for achieving your goals.