SIGN ON THE DOTTED LINE... Shrapnel: The Official BattleTech Magazine puts your loyalty to the test amid unrelenting BattleMech combat that spans the war-torn battlefields of the 31st century and beyond!

The head of a security team must seek unusual allies to keep the First Prince of the Federated Suns safe from assassination. An aging Elemental warrior imparts lasting lessons to a young cadet when pirates threaten everything he holds dear. A young IndustrialMech pilot must use the only weapon he knows in the face of rampaging occupiers.

In this issue, you'll visit the Unwearied Second's 1,000th birthday celebration, a gala attended by the upper crust of Lyran society. Then roll up your sleeves and dive into testing a dangerous but poweful experimental weapon system. Stand firm with the Nova Cats, who try to hold back the inevitable tide of destiny, and travel to the Mercenary's Star to navigate through scams and con artists in order to find the right outfit to call home.

Sign your contract and seek victory, with the help of mercenary-advice articles, technical readouts, unit digests, an in-depth look at the true nature of the "Death to Mercenaries" edict, and more-all by BattleTech veterans and new recruits:

Tom Leveen Geoff "Doc" Swift Charles Gideon Robert Schubert James Bixby Alan Brundage Kelvin Casing Jason DeSouza James Kirtley Craig A. Reed, Jr. Alayna M. Weathers Alex Fauth Jason Hansa Ken' Horner Chris Hussey Daniel Isberner Ben Klinefelter Matt Larson Wunji Lau Lorcan Nagle Eric Salzman Stephen Toropov