BattleTech: The Animated Series

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BattleTech was an animated series based on the Battletech universe produced for syndication by Saban Entertainment in 1994. The series ran for 13 episodes and focused on the Clan invasion of the Inner Sphere in 3050, particularly on the actions of Federated Commonwealth Major Adam Steiner as he tries to liberate his home planet of Somerset from Clan Jade Falcon.

The series was noted for the use of Computer animation to depict most battles between the BattleTech universe's signature BattleMechs.

1 Story
2 Characters
3 Sourcebook
4 References
5 External Links

[edit] Story

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The series takes place in the year 3050 of the BattleTech calendar. The Inner Sphere is suddenly invaded by an unknown force of massive power, with BattleMechs of a power unknown by the nations of the Inner Sphere. This force identifies itself as The Clans. One of the many planets that falls to the Clan onslaught is a small, mostly unimportant world known as Somerset.

Far away, on the planet Tharkad, Major Adam Steiner, a teacher at the Nagerling military academy and native of Somerset, receives word of the attack on his homeworld and loss of all communication with the forces there, including his brother Andrew. Using his relationship to one of the FedCom's ruling family for the first time in his life, he mangages to get permission to assemble a force to "Gather intelligence on the Clans" (even if that includes taking a certain planet back from the invaders).

Unfortunately, the only available JumpShip that could take them off-planet is the Katana, a Draconis Combine ship that was recently seized for smuggling. The Draconis Combine and the Federated Commonwealth have been enemies for generations, however, and a lot of bad blood exists between their people. Before Adam Steiner can even think of taking on the Clans, he has to keep his FedCom troops and Draconis crew from each others' throats.

[edit] Characters

[edit] 1st Somerset Strikers

Adam Stiener
Rachel Specter
Katiara Kylie
Ciro Ramirez
Zachary Miles "Hawk" Hawkins
Valten Ryder
Franklin Sakamoto

[edit] Federated Commonwealth

Melissa Steiner-Davion
Victor Steiner-Davion

[edit] Clan Jade Falcon

Nicolai Malthus
Kristen Redmond
Pytor
Vandervahn Chistu
Natalya

[edit] Sourcebook

in 1995, FASA released 1st Somerset Strikers, a Sourcebook for the animated series. The book provided background information on the BattleTech universe for viewers of the series, as well as stats and information on the characters, 'Mechs, and equipment introduced by the series for BattleTech, MechWarrior, AeroTech, and BattleSpace. In addition, the book contained a synopsis for all 13 episodes, and in many ways attempted to address the contradictions of the series with the established Battletech canon. The book also contained BattleTech scenarios to allow players to fight pivotal battles shown in the series.