With each of the BattleTech box sets comes a twenty four page novella set in the BattleTech universe.

At the moment I have four such novellas. I imagine when the two new box sets that arrived today are opened there will be a further two.

I started with the novella that comes with the BattleTech Beginner Box (40th Anniversary), Golden Rule by William H. Keith.

It turns out that this is part one of a trilogy of novellas. The second part is a novella in the BattleTech Game of Armored Combat (40th Anniversary) box sets. Then from my research the third and final part is in the MechWarrior: Destiny rpg.

Yes there is a BattleTech rpg that “Includes rules for incorporating gameplay with BattleTech’s Total Warfare and Alpha Strike for a richer experience.” Amazon product page.

So to finish this story arc you need to splash out for two other products. One (the rpg) that you most likely won’t use! Good for potential sales. I can see players having the Beginner and Armored Combat box sets. But that extra purchase of the rpg, a step too far for me.

I actually enjoyed the story in the novella.

Having only a very limited page/word count every word counts. So not much time is spent setting up the rest of the story before we are in the thick of the action.

The basic story is a mech team has been hired to deal a blow to an upstart warlord before that warlord can become a problem. A straight hit and run. Give the warlord a bloody nose, put them in their place, and get out. Naturally the simple mission does not go to plan.

As an introduction to the BattleTech universe it’s a light, brief introduction. The writing or story are not going to win awards. It’s functional and does the job.

Yes there is terminology about the mechs and weapons etc used throughout the novella. Luckily the last four pages or so are taken up with pictures of the mechs, and explanations of terms used.

I was left wanting more, particularly with the “cliff hanger” ending.

I want to read the next part of the story. But I’m also now curious about other BattleTech novels. As expected with a forty year history there are a lot of novels. The main issue where to start, and are the books in print?