Book excerpt: CONTINUING THE FIGHT... Shrapnel: The Official BattleTech Magazine charges toward victory on the war-ravaged, BattleMech-dominated battlefields of 31st century! In these tales, a Republic of the Sphere operative undertakes a personal quest to track down a missing family member, a small, untested mercenary command faces off against vicious pirate raiders, an aging soldier strives to protect an idyllic village on a forgotten world, and Colonel Wayne Waco seeks to exact his revenge against the legendary commander of Wolf’s Dragoons. Configure your target-interlock circuits and hold the line with technical readouts, conspiracy theories, in-depth equipment and tactics articles, a planetary digest, and a glimpse into the future of the new ilClan era—all from BattleTech veterans and new authors: Michael A. Stackpole Tom Leveen Lance Scarinci Bryan Young Matt Alexander Craig A. Reed, Jr. Paul Sjardijn Aaron Cahall Michael J. Ciaravella Johannes Heidler Chris Hussey Daniel Isberner Mike Miller Eric Salzman Joel Steverson