Strap into the Cockpit! Proudly carrying the battle standard for BattleTech short fiction, the first year of Shrapnel: The Official BattleTech Magazine continues the tradition of explosive, hard-hitting stories set in the war-torn, BattleMech-dominated interstellar future of the 31st century. In this collection of issues #1–4, you will attempt to escape from a bandit king’s stronghold, ally with longtime enemies on the front lines of the swift and merciless Clan invasion, and fight brutal arena duels on the game world of Solaris VII. You will defend your home in the Deep Periphery from opportunistic invaders, share tales of victory and woe at a popular MechWarrior bar, and discover a long-abandoned ’Mech that helps build an idealistic young woman’s sense of purpose. Then go beyond the story and forge your own legend with in-universe articles, conspiracy theories, technical readouts, unit and planet digests, playable scenarios, role-playing adventures, weapons catalogs, social commentaries, and much, much more! This collection also includes the entire four-part Kell Hounds serial novel, If Auld Acquaintance Be Forgot… by New York Times-bestselling author Michael A. Stackpole. Tighten your safety harness, thumb off your weapon safeties, and march into battle to see where it all began, with heart-wrenching stories and powerful game features penned by long-time BattleTech luminaries and exciting new authors. Note: this is the same file that all Kickstarter Mercenaries backers have already received. If you backed the campaign at any level, you have already received this file as part of your pledge.

JUMP BACK INTO THE COCKPIT! Picking up the battle standard for BattleTech fiction, Shrapnel: The Official BattleTech Magazine continues the tradition of hard-hitting stories set in the war-torn interstellar future of the 31st century and beyond. Fire up your ’Mech’s fusion reactor, secure your neurohelmet, and wade into battle with stories from the merciless front lines of the Clan Invasion and other eras, conspiracy theory articles, game scenarios, and more from veteran BattleTech authors, fan favorites, and some new recruits. Featuring: Michael A. Stackpole • Blaine Lee Pardoe Kevin Killiany • Craig A. Reed, Jr. • Chris Hussey Jason Hansa • Lance Scarinci • Michael J. Ciaravella Patrick Wynne • Aaron Cahall

THE WAR RAGES ON! Shrapnel: The Official BattleTech Magazine returns with more explosive BattleMech action from the 31st century! Experience tales of hard-won survival from the gaming world of Solaris VII, the wilds of the Deep Periphery, and the annals of Clan history. Dive deep into in-depth technology articles, technical readouts, conspiracy theories, war-game and role-playing adventures, and more—all from veteran BattleTech authors, fan favorites, and our latest enlistees: Michael A. Stackpole • Jason Schmetzer Michael J. Ciaravella • Travis Heermann Alan Brundage • James Simakas John-David Karnitz • Aaron Cahall Matthew Cross • Daniel Isberner Alex Kaempen • Tom Stanley • Chris Wheeler

ENTER THE ARENA! Shrapnel: The Official BattleTech Magazine is your spotlight for tales of brutal, one-on-one BattleMech action in the no-holds-barred gladiatorial arenas of the 31st century and beyond! A patsy expected to take a fall must utilize every asset at his disposal to avoid becoming another Solaris tragedy when backroom intrigue spills into the arena. A law enforcement agent with ties to organized crime must fight an unsanctioned duel to help stage a daring rescue. Coming out of retirement, a washed-up has-been with an abysmal win-loss record seeks one last bout for a final chance at glory. In this issue, you’ll begin your journey on the Game World of Solaris VII, where two gladiators must take dangerous risks for a shot at revenge in the name of the Federated Suns. You’ll witness a debt-collection attempt gone wrong, where survival is more valuable than seizing a ’Mech as collateral. And you’ll blast your way into the first installment of the serial novel Violent Inception, by Russell Zimmerman. Whether you begin in unranked matches in the Reaches, or you’ve worked your way up to the famed Class Six arenas, Solaris is where legends are made and fortunes come to an abrupt end. And the best way to climb the ladder to become the Grand Champion is to arm yourself with advice on survival and ’Mech-scale melee weapons, Stable Digests, technical readouts, and more—all by defending-champion BattleTech authors and some new challengers in the arena: Russell Zimmerman Michael J. Ciaravella Tom Leveen Mark Hill Chris Hussey Devin Ramsey Craig A. Reed, Jr. Robin Briseño Matthew Cross Daniel Isberner Matt Larson Wunji Lau Lorcan Nagle Eric Salzman Zac Schwartz Stephen Toropov

The ambitious First Lord of the resurrected Star League launches a campaign to rebuild the ancient Capellan Confederation. With his sights set on expanding his borders through the reclamation of the St. Ives Compact, he is brought into direct conflict with his own family. Supported by the ferocious Hustang Warriors, the threat poses a danger to all who would oppose the First Lord's rule. With military units divided in their loyalties, the question remains: Who is willing to pay the higher price in blood?

Trained to be the Inner Sphere's finest warrior, Prince Victor-Steiner Davion has only known one enemy in battle: the Clans. A year earlier he had led a massive counter-strike against the Smoke Jaguar Clan, pursuing them all the way to their homeworld. He then faced all of the Clans in one last battle for supremacy. But for a man of war like Prince Victor, can there ever be peace? When he returns home he finds the Inner Sphere in tatters, with a new order in power, leaving him a hero without a home.

UNCHARTED TERRITORY Shrapnel: The Official BattleTech Magazine is your map and compass for discovering heavy-hitting tales of BattleMech combat on the battlefields of the Hinterlands! Former Jade Falcon cadets who found a new home within the Kell Hounds are pushed to the breaking point of loyalty when ordered to hunt down Falcon holdouts. Plagued by raids and unrest, the Malthus syndicate seeks to end the rise of a charismatic and elusive Jade Falcon leader known only as the Talon. And a planetary noble desperate for protection will stop at nothing to keep the planet’s mercenary force on a permanent contract, even if that means they can never return home… In this issue, you’ll also travel beyond the Hinterlands region to help a Draconis Combine tea master undertake a treasure hunt for the fabled lost treasure of House Kurita. You’ll see rival mercenary units forced into close proximity on Small World erupt into a bitter feud with only one logical outcome: a prank war. And you’ll wander into a merciless blizzard in the Magistracy of Canopus, hoping to hunt down a pirate before the hunter becomes the hunted. The Hinterlands region of the Inner Sphere is packed full of surprises: shifting loyalties, shady characters, selfless heroes, and more. Get lost in the uncharted chaos of this region with articles forecasting the future of Duke Vedet Brewer’s Vesper Marches and the independent planet of Blue Hole, a playable campaign for Barcelona, planet digests, technical readouts, and more—all by veteran BattleTech authors and some new trailblazers: Russell Zimmerman Giles Gammage James Bixby Sam Barrett Alex Fairbanks James Hauser Ken’ Horner Bryan Young Alex Fauth James Kirtley Matt Larson Mike Miller Lorcan Nagle Luke Robertson Eric Salzman Zac Schwartz Tom Stanley Stephen Toropov

THE DAY THE STAR LEAGUE DIED! Shrapnel: The Official BattleTech Magazine brings you more BattleMech action from the war-torn 31st century and beyond! Celebrate Star League Day with tales of a long-abandoned ’Mech rediscovered and pressed into service, a quest for vengeance in enemy territory, the resurgence of old ghosts, and the threat of bitter betrayal in the face of long odds. Charge headlong into technical readouts, assassin conspiracies, in-depth equipment articles, playable holiday-themed scenarios, and more—all from BattleTech veterans, fan favorites, and new authors: Michael A. Stackpole Loren L. Coleman Blaine Lee Pardoe Bryan Young Bryn Bills Charles Dalmas Chris Hussey Daniel Isberner Alex Kaempen Craig A. Reed, Jr. Eric Salzman Lance Scarinci David Smith Tom Stanley