So a while back I wanted to run a Battletech Strategic Game. I set it in the "distant future" of 3087. The Battletech timeline has since moved on 31...something? I'm not in a blogging mood recently, but I did find some of my old fiction for it. Each piece covers a different faction. This one is a fiction piece about a commander in the expanded Clan Ghost Bear space.
 
2701st Regiment (Bloody Maw) Headquarters
Irece,
July 3086
            Unni Ghostbear adjusted the collar of his uniform, making sure the SLDF-style Colonel patch on his collar-immovably sewn-on was it was-- sat correctly. His chest, adorned with only his Galedon V campaign medal and his mechwarrior qualification medals paled in comparison to even some of the 2701st Lieutenants. He wasn't even technically qualified for the hot-drop that landed him in the Bloody Maw's frontlines two months ago. The Maw had reformed and repaired on Irece, and now, finally, stood at full strength again.
            Ghost Bear occupation had curtailed much of the paperwork which had plagued the Inner Sphere's military structure as well as the use of adjutants, which Unni suspected was much like having one's own personal lower casteman for lazy commanders. None the less, it was Merchant Ty who had done a bulk of the work necessary to adapt Unni into a unit filled with spheroids and second-rate freebirth warriors[1].
            "Colonel Unni?" Ty peered into the commander's office, "They're playing you on."
            Unni scowled, every inch the reluctant Clansman to outsiders, griping madly about ceremony, about formality, about an Inner Sphere unit, and an immediate lack of someone to shoot, kill, or destroy outright.
            His quarters adjoined his office, and he cut through there to the main corridor just inside of the admin building's main entrance. He walked calmly up to the platform, with a gait just too lively to make it a march. The band--a collection of loud brass instruments--played through the song for probably the tenth time, it was a generic military fanfare that was probably old when the Star League fell apart, and undoubtedly got less tolerable with every iteration.
            He mounted the steps and before him stood the entirely to the Ghost Bears 2701st Regiment, the Bloody Maw. Mechwarriors, vehicle crews, and infantry-basic and armored, were arrayed in orderly ranks before the stage. He approached the podium, and the tired music faded gracefully. No part of Clan warrior training taught warriors how to give speeches to a unit when you took command. It was not necessary, a new commander appeared, orders were given--
            He was a different warrior now, and he resolved to give the best address possible, regardless of however strange it may seem to him,. To adapt was the way of the Clans.
            "For gods sake," Ty had suggested when Unni had mentioned the oddness of it to him, "don't drone on. Believe it or not, a lot of you trueborns are in love with your own voices; just say something nice about the unit, outline some expectations, and don't talk about trueborn or freeborn, or even how you got here." Unni had nodded then, and nodded again as he adjusted the microphone.
            "I was impressed with what I saw on Galedon V, and with what I have seen since. You are warriors of Clan Ghost Bear; do not forget it."
            Without a further word, he turned and left the stage, hardly noticing the surprised faces of his Majors or the sound of his XO's improvised dismissal of the troops.

            Colonel Unni was satisfied; waiting in his office was a technician with a patch identifying him as a low-level worker in the Irece HPG facility[2] and a clearly-identifiable orders package marked with the insignia of the Khan.
---
1: There is a distinction made between between freebirth Clanners and spheroids within the Caste system. Freebirth Clanners tend to know their place.
2: It makes sense that within the Clans, there would be a clearly-identifiable structure to allow others to know their place. Seems like it would save time on trite introductions.

Denver 5 Comics 86-90

Denver 5 is an unillustrated comic strip about a group of dicks that are vaguely acquainted with one another because they are all endowed with metahuman abilities. Character descriptions are here.

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Comic 086
1. THE SPIDER is surrounded by people, many of them in costume. There's an assembled crowd. In the very back, the two uniformed figures from Comic 085 (Guards 85-1 and 85-2) are visible.

CHORUS

"Love your costume!"
"Were you there Friday?"
"Is this your first cosplay?"

THE SPIDER
"Ah, no. I come every year."

2. Same shot, but there's the flash of someone taking a picture and THe Spider squints slightly at it with all of his eyes. In the background, Guards 85-1 and 85-2 are getting closer, plowing through the crowd.

CHORUS

"Look at that articulation on the mouth!"
"I don't think he's tall enough."
"Can I get a picture with you."

3. Same shot, but The Spider is looking back, directly at the approaching security officers.

CHORUS

"Does the real Spider have that accent?"
"You let me take a picture with you last year."
"What's with the jacket?"

The Spider
"Well, you see, I'm ah..."

4. Wider shot. The Spider is moving into the crowd, off of the right side of the panel and handing his jacket back to TYLER FOSS, who was just off of the left side of the panel for the rest of the strip. Tyler is utterly bewildered at this. 

THE SPIDER

"Yes, we take a few pictures."

Denver 5 Comics 81-85

Denver 5 is an unillustrated comic strip about a group of dicks that are vaguely acquainted with one another because they are all endowed with metahuman abilities. Character descriptions are here.

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Comic 81
1. TYLER FOSS and THE SPIDER are walking around Cherry Creek Mall. Tan, faux marble floors and facades. Glass dividers and storefronts with bright silver handrails and detailing. In the background, there are some cosplayers. They and others look at the pair of metas as they walk into a clothing store, side by side.

Tyler: "You don't have to watch me; I was just kidding with you about causing trouble."

 
2. The Spider is checking out a rack of coats on a clearance rack.

Tyler: "I just wanted to hang with someone without a lecture on Ehm-theory and responsibility."

3. The Spider has picked out a coat [See reference] and is taking it to check out.

Tyler: "...you notice how we never train to work as a team?"

4. The Spider is offering the coat with a pile of cash to a cashier who is staring, aghast, at his mouth. Tyler looks sad.

The Spider: "We're not a team." "We'll never be a team." "We'll never work together."

Denver 5 Comics 76-80

Denver 5 is an unillustrated comic strip about a group of dicks that are vaguely acquainted with one another because they are all endowed with metahuman abilities. Character descriptions are here.

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Comic 076
1. THE DENVER FACILITY BREAK ROOM (See Comic 11 for reference). In addition, there's a Key Rack on the side of the refrigerator, towards the front so it doesn't catch on the door. THE SPIDER is sitting in the couch, reading a copy of The Rocky Mountain News (a newspaper which is defunct IRL). Through the interior wooden door behind him, TYLER FOSS is leaning through.

TYLER FOSS

"Hey. I'm going to the mall. Wanna come?"

2. We're looking at The Spider head-on, from a POV just inside of the newspaper. He's pointing his left hand at his face.

THE SPIDER

"This is not a mask. I'm a violent vigilante."

3. We're back to the POV from Panel 1. The Spider's word bubble continues across to this panel. His hands are both back on the newspaper. Tyler is standing in the room now.

THE SPIDER

"I'm hated by criminals, wanted by the police, and loathed by activists hunting for a cause."

4. Same POV. Tyler is curious and has stepped a bit closer to The Spider.

TYLER FOSS

"You're worried they'll catch you?"

THE SPIDER

"I'm worried your ego will be collateral damage when they do."

 

Denver 5 Comics 71-75

Denver 5 is an unillustrated comic strip about a group of dicks that are vaguely acquainted with one another because they are all endowed with metahuman abilities. Character descriptions are here. 

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Strip 71
1. CYBERPARANOID exits Professor Wilson's office, MARCUS and ALEXANDER are waiting outside. Marcus is a short man with a bookbag and thin-rimmed glasses. He's wearing a polo shirt and slacks. Alexander is taller and thinner, but still shorter than Cyberparanoid. He has long, dirty hair that could be blonde on a good day. He carries a beaten spiral notebook. Both are white and about the same age as Cyberparanoid. Both have been waiting for CP for a while, with Alexander leaning on the wall and Marcus standing, facing the direction they are about to walk.

Marcus

"About time. We're probably going to be late to Lit."

Cyberparanoid *smugly*

"Don't worry about it."

2. Alexander is looking over his shoulder while they walk down the hall, which has white paint over large bricks that come halfway up the wall. Other students pass behind them, including CLIFF WHITE, who has just passed them and is giving Cyperparanoid the stink-eye.

Alexander

"Took long enough. He suckin' off his best student in there?"

Marcus *rolling his eyes; he's a bit tired of Alexander's crudeness*

"Ugh."

3. They continue walking through the building, passing Rockin' Fuel vending machines.

Cyberparanoid *smiling*

"Actually, he wanted to say he expected better work out of me in the future."

Marcus

"Only you could make that sound like a compliment."

Denver 5 Comics, 61-65

Denver 5 is an unillustrated comic strip about a group of dicks that are vaguely acquainted with one another because they are all endowed with metahuman abilities. Character descriptions are here.

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Comic 061
1. THE DENVER FACILITY CENTRAL CLASSROOM. It has two rows of four wide tables. Each table has a four seats and each row his higher than the next. At the front of the room are a large electronic "blackboard," a simple, wooden podium, and a table with a matte black top. Brown, zig-zag soundproofing covers the side of the room. There are single doors on either side of the front of the room and double doors on each side of the back wall. TYLER FOSS and THE SPIDER are entering the front right door with notebooks and pencils. You can see the entire front room of the class here and only The Spider and Tyler are visible.

TYLER FOSS

"Class? Really?"

2. Same shot, but Tyler is moving towards the front left table. Spider is trailing further behind, taking the room in.

TYLER FOSS

"This is way too early. I just woke up, like, five minutes ago."

3. Shot over Tyler's shoulder as he puts his books on the table. He's looking off to the left in surprise. This is probably the first shot which allows you to see the two back doors of the classroom.

TYLER FOSS

"I was up until two playing--"

THE SPIDER (OFF-PANEL)

"I've been up for 72 hours sraight."

4. POV is from Tyler. The Spider is sitting at the left table, second chair from the center aisle stairs. His posture is tight and focused, spine straight, feet on the floor. As much as possible, he's staring straight forward.

THE SPIDER

"In another 12, the hallucinations start."

Denver 5 Comics, 56-60

Denver 5 is an unillustrated comic strip about a group of dicks that are vaguely acquainted with one another because they are all endowed with metahuman abilities. Character descriptions are here.

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Comic 056
1. In the police station office from strip 28. OLDER OFFICER is looking up from a report he was reading. OFFICER 56-1 (Female) is standing in the doorway. She's carrying a folder.

OFFICER 56-1

"Spider caught Jesse Childs."

OLDER OFFICER

"St. Lukes?"

OFFICER 56-1

"St. Lukes."

2. OFFICER 56-1 and OLDER OFFICER still in the office, but Older Officer is getting his coat on. She's reading the folder to him.

OFFICER 56-1

"They say Childs flipped his car through The Spider."

OLDER OFFICER

"Fucking Spider."

3. OFFICER 56-1 and OLDER OFFICER walking through the police station towards the exit. She's still reading the folder. He's grabbing a coffee from a small table with coffee supplies.

OFFICER 56-1

"Units were already in the area because of a building collapse."

OLDER OFFICER

"Fucking Spider."

4. OFFICER 56-1 and OLDER OFFICER outside of the police station, just past the awning from comic 37 (This was incorrectly described as an eave when it is in fact an awning.). The older officer has his keys pulled out is unlocking the key to his car. His other hand is still holding the coffee.

OFFICER 56-1

"There was a second vehicle involved in the crash. We don't think it's related."

OLDER OFFICER

"Fucking Spider."

Denver 5 Comics, 51-55

Denver 5 is an unillustrated comic strip about a group of dicks that are vaguely acquainted with one another because they are all endowed with metahuman abilities. Character descriptions are here.

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Comic 051
1. THE SPIDER is still in the loft from Strip 50. He's holding a shotgun casually while looking at a crumpled girl (50-1) on the floor.

Spider

"Tell me she's new."

2. FRANKLIN and SAMANTHA are standing on the right and left side of the loft window. Samantha is obviously angry, but carries her rifle in a very casual left shoulder arms. Franklin looks obviously worried, and holding one hand as if to halt THE SPIDER while grabbing a slip of paper from his pocket with the other.

Franklin

"She's new! She's new!"

3. THE SPIDER moves past FRANKLIN AND SAMANTHA to the window. Franklin is looking to his right (towards Cohort 50-1) and lifting the hand as if he's still holding the paper even though he isn't.

Spider

"Thank you."

4. FRANKLIN moving to the left while SAMANTHA is leaning out the window.

Samantha

"YOU'RE A PIECE OF SHIT, SPIDER!"

Denver 5 Comics, 46-50

Denver 5 is an unillustrated comic strip about a group of dicks that are vaguely acquainted with one another because they are all endowed with metahuman abilities. Character descriptions are here.

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Comic 046
1. Location is inside of the building described in Comic 045. POV is over the shoulder of THUG 46-1 in the back, right corner of the store. He's behind a counter that runs the length of the back of the store with an opening on the far end, opposite the entrance. On Thug 1's left are two windows—one broken where THE SPIDER entered—and three pillars. Two other thugs are behind the pillar (Thug 46-2 and Thug 46-3). Thugs 46-2 and 46-3 are both hunched and covered in glass. The opposite wall also has three pillars with two more thugs behind it (Thug 46-4 and Thug 46-5). On the right wall are piled shelves from when the building was a convenience store. Behind them are Thugs 46-6 and THUG 46-7. THE SPIDER is in the center of the floor, Thugs 1, 4, & 5 have guns (M-16's, with optional, futuristic flourishes if you want) trained on him. He's crouching low, coming up from his three point stance when we last saw him.

Spider (Internally)

"There's a rumor I got my name from my first night out."

2. Same shot as panel 1. Gunfire is erupting. THE SPIDER is crashing through the counter that was in front of THUG 46-1, grasping his assault rifle. The Spider's face is intimidating. Staggered above THUG 46-6 and THUG 46-7 are indistinct glints of thrown grenades (M-84 stun grenades), two each.

Spider (Internally)

"I fell into a hideout, and took out eight gangers."

3. Close up on THE SPIDER, crouched on THUG 46-1's chest. Thug 46-1 is unconscious. The Spider's right arm is straight back because he's thrown 46-1's assault rifle at 46-4. You can either pan out to show his hand after the throwing motion. Alternatively, while I usually eschew motion lines for The Spider, as he's often moving too quickly for them, they would be acceptable here.

Spider (Internally)

"They think eight is my limit. So they always send nine."

4. POV over The Spider's shoulder as he looks back and up at the grenades.

Spider (Internally)

"It was fifteen."

Denver 5 Comics, 41-45

Denver 5 is an unillustrated comic strip about a group of dicks that are vaguely acquainted with one another because they are all endowed with metahuman abilities. Character descriptions are here.

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Comic 041

1. CITIZEN #41-1 & CITIZEN #41-2 are walking past a laundromat. If you look at the top, The Spider's shadow should be running down the building and across the sidewalk.

Citizen #41-1
"'Come in the long way!' What's wrong with Leo?"

2. Same shot as panel 1, the two are moving at a fast walk. Approaching an alley on the right.

Citizen #41-2
"Probably the same thing makin' him protect this Childs guy."

3. Close up on Citizen #1

Citizen #1
"I heard The Spider is looking for him."

4. Same scene as panel 3. In the background, you can see THE SPIDER.

Spider
"I heard he just found him."

Denver 5 Comics, 36-40

Denver 5 is an unillustrated comic strip about a group of dicks that are vaguely acquainted with one another because they are all endowed with metahuman abilities. Character descriptions are here.

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Comic 036

1. THOMAS SMITH are TYLER FOSS are in Tyler's cell block. Snake is fighting down laughter and even wiping away a tear.

Smith

"You are literally, heh-heh, the only person here who cares about that."

2. Same scene. Closer on Smith as he wraps a hand around Tyler's cell bars as if to steady himself. The other is off to the side, as if demonstrating something.

Smith

"Prosecutors want convictions. The Michaels family wants someone punished."

3. Same scene. Closer on Smith, who's now gripping the bars with two hands and leaning in.

Officer

(1)"Childs certainly doesn't care how guilty he is."

(2) "Would you rather stay in his place?"

4. Same scene. Same distance from the two, but pivoting the POV to focus on Tyler through the bars, who bears a combination of shame and resignation.

Tyler

"No."

Denver 5 Comics, 31-35

A few months ago, I and a friend kicked around an aborted comics project featuring superhuman jerks being jerks on a truly superhuman level. I wrote some test scripts, but we never got the art together. Character descriptions are here. 

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Comic 031
1. TYLER FOSS in a cell block with a hallway running in front of it. At the end of the hallway, there's a turn away from the cells. CYBER PARANOID is walking around that turn.

Cyber Paranoid
"Nice digs. Learn anything?"

Tyler
"No. Not really."

2. CYBER PARANOID is closer now. Almost in front of TYLER'S cell. Tyler is taken aback.

Cyber Paranoid
"Did you at least try to pick the lock on the cuffs on the ride over?"

Tyler
"No!"

3. Same shot. CYBERPARANOID is curious. TYLER is embarassed.

Cyber Paranoid
"Then how was the ride over?"

4. Same shot. CYBER PARANOID is laughing. TYLER is fuming a bit.

Cyber Paranoid
(1)"Never mind. I see the marks on your face."
(2)"That is so stupid!"

Denver 5 Proof of Concept, pt 06

A few months ago, I and a friend kicked around an aborted comics project featuring superhuman jerks being jerks on a truly superhuman level. Character descriptions are here and the pilot plots are posted below.

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Comic 026
1. Tyler Foss is in the back of a police car. Two cops, Passenger and Driver, are in the front seat.
 

Tyler
"You know I can lift cars, right?"

Passenger
"Yeah."

Tyler
"Then why the cuffs?"

Driver
"Procedure."

2. Same as 1. Police officers are irritated.

Tyler
"But they do nothing. It's inconvenient for me not to break them."

Passenger
"Procedure."

3. Tight focus on Tyler through grid of the police car. His expression is scornful.

Tyler
"That's stup--"

4. Original POV including all three men. The screech of brakes is prominent in the picture. Tyler is being thrown forward, painfully, into the grid. Both police officers are grinning slightly.

Driver
"Red light."

Denver 5 Proof of Concept, pt 04

A few months ago, I and a friend kicked around an aborted comics project featuring superhuman jerks being jerks on a truly superhuman level. Character descriptions are here and the pilot plots are posted below. 

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Comic 016

1. View of Doctor Roberts' office. GUY DREIL stands at the door, opposite DOCTOR ROBERTS, who's sitting at his desk. There should be bookshelves along the wall closer to Bob and a window closer to Guy.

Smith (CAPTION BOX)

"My name is Thomas Smith."
 

Guy Dreil

"You don't seem concerned. He's left the compound without permission."
  

Smith (CAPTION BOX)

"I'm not in this one."

2. Still in Dr. Bob's office.
 

Smith (CAPTION BOX)

"I was thinking about lies today."
 

Dr. Roberts

"Of course not. In all likelihood he went home to visit his parents."
 

Smith (CAPTION BOX)

"There are plenty of factual things which are perfect lies."

3. TYLER is in a club, dancing with TASHA, an attractive woman his age.

Smith (CAPTION BOX)

"...and more falsehoods that are the truth."
 

Tyler

"Me? I'm a student at CSU, but I'm taking a semester off to reevaluate."
 

4. Still in the club.

Smith (CAPTION BOX)

"Sometimes, two people lie because they want to believe."
 

Tasha

"Really? That's cool."

Denver 5 Proof of Concept, pt 01

A few months ago, I and a friend kicked around an aborted comics project featuring superhuman jerks being jerks on a truly superhuman level. Character descriptions are here and the pilot plots are posted below.

Next

001

*Doctor Bob, standing at a podium, obviously speaking to an unpictured group.*

Doctor Bob (DB): "All metas trained by U.N.I.T.Y. may be called upon at any time to serve a front-line role in an emergency."

---

*Shows Cyberparanoid(CP) performing CPR on a dummy. DB's voice continues, but he is not present.*

DB: "Basic first aid should be administered unhesitatingly and expertly. U.N.I.T.Y. certification means saving lives, and doing so responsibly."

---

*Shows The Spider moving ambulances over a simple map of a city with fires on various buildings. OR CP with parts of a miniature city in front of him, a 'scoreboard' is behind him with a countdown timer and words similar to "Crisis Response Scenario 03." Regardless of the exact image, DB is again only narrating and not present.*

DB: "Whether it's because of your meta abilities or perceived affiliation with U.N.I.T.Y., others will often defer to you in a crisis."

---

*Back to Bob, who's looking offscreen.* "Your goal is to be ready for any—excuse me I have to go."