The year is 2364 and the Helghan Republic has emerged from the fires of war and chaos to an uncertain future.
Four years ago, the CEO of Stahl industries accidentally unleashed a weapon of genocidal potential on the inhabitants of Helghan. With a flash of emerald light, the abhorrent weapon detonated above the ruins of Phyrrus city, destroying their navies and closing off the sky in the process.
After the destruction, a lot of things happened and the people of Helghan have formed a new, more democratic nation founded on the principles of peace, justice, and freedom. Furthermore, the storms of irradiated petrusite energy that filled the skies have finally dissipated to reveal a new and unfamiliar starscape.
What they didn't know was they were transported into the world of BattleTech.
The Lords of Ruin
is a Killzone/BattleTech Crossover Quest Fic written by prometheus110 on Sufficient Velocity.com. You, the players, are the government of the Helghan republic. You will choose the actions to take and lead your people in this new world.
This quest provides examples of:
- Adaptational Heroism: In the original source, the Helghan was the villain. Here, they're the hero and the protagonist.
- The Alliance: The ORDI (Outer Rim Defense Initiative) is an alliance between the Helghan Republic, Aurigan Coalition, Magistracy of Canopus, and Taurian Concordat; the four most influential powers on the Rimward Periphery of the Inner Sphere.
- Big Good: The Helghan Republic. They have been involved in many conflicts from Portland's Civil War and Aurigan Civil War and they're generally seen as the good guys.
- Dark Is Not Evil: The Helghan. Their soldiers are dressed in black armor with gasmask to boot, but they're good guys.
- Death by Adaptation:
- Due to Arden meeting with Helgan, Hanse Davion dies.
- Ulric Kerensky died a year before the Clan Invasion started.
- Takashi Kurita dies a few years early due to the Clans attacking Luthien in late 3049.
- Doom Troops: How soldiers of the Helghan Republic look. Subverted since they're the protagonists and aggressively democratic and egalitarian.
- For Want Of A Nail: The presence of Helghan changes many events in the world of BattleTech.
- Gas Mask Mooks: The Helghan, again.
- Good Is Not Soft: The Helghan Republic is a progressive, caring, and almost utopian nation, but that doesn't mean they won't pull a punch when dealing against their enemies.
- Green Rocks: The petrusite, the glowing green rock from Helghan. Many Helghast's weapons and technology are fueled by petrusite, so the Helghan Republic makes it a state secret to make sure nobody can use it.
- Outside-Context Problem: The Helghan. Nobody from the BattleTech knows who they are. They appear out of nowhere with dark demonic soldiers and mysterious technologies like the petrusite weapons.
- Private Military Contractors: Several,
- Markham's Marauders. The Helghan contract them during the Portland Civil War to assist the rebels.
- Raven Interstellar. Founded by the Helghan republic, they work as a deniable mercenary company.
- Powered Armor: After a long research period, the Outer Rim Defense Initiative created their own Power Armor (Light) led by the Helghan Republic.
- The Minuteman system was the first powered armor system developed by the ORDI alliance’s joint development program. It is, however, barely suitable for front-line combat and was rapidly replaced.
- The subsequent Man-At-Arms was the second powered armor and was much more advanced than the preceding Minuteman, which was relegated to militia units upon the release of the Man-At-Arms.
- Spared by the Adaptation: Due to Helgan's presence, the events of BattleTech (2018) play out differently. As such, Raju "Mastiff" Montgomery survives the civil war. The destruction of the Artru cache is avoided as well.
- Synthetic Plague: One story arc has a synthetic, extremely contagious rabies variant unleashed on Helghan.
- Weaponized Exhaust: The Clans use their Warships' fusion drives to attack some ORDI vessels. Highly successful, but too late to save them.
