Dateline: New Avalon-BattleTechnology correspondent Harrison Coulter has called for a formal investigation into the death of correspondent Tomio Ochiba, calling the officially stated cause of death (a heart attack) highly suspicious. "Tommy Ochiba and I were friends for a long time," Coulter told the editorial staff of BattleTechnology. "He didn't smoke, drink, or take recreational drugs. He was a consummate martial artist and a top-flight grav-ball player. There's no way I can believe that this 'heart attack' is attributable to natural causes." Coulter went on to say that it was Ochiba's interest in the martial arts which sparked his curiosity about the Nekekami in the first place. "He'd read about the ninja of Old Earth's feudal Japan and figured that they must have survived in one form or another. That's why he asked for a transfer to the offices on Luthien. Where else would you expect to find the descendants of an ancient Japanese cult of spies and assassins, but in the Draconis Combine?" Coulter concluded his statement by saying, "If we permit this kind of thing to go on, no correspondent will be safe. We must take immediate action to determine the real cause of Tommy Ochiba's death and bring those who murdered him to justice." The staff of the BattleTechnology office on Luthien were unable to reach anyone in the Kurita government for comment on Coulter's statements. BattleForce Command College Graduates Honored Dateline: New Avalon-New Avalon Institute honors top military science grads. Professor-General Sam Lewis of the New Avalon Institute of Science announced the graduation of his two prize students from the BattleForce Command College. Top: Professor-General Sam Lewis (center) flanked by two graduates of the BattleForce Command College on New Avalon-Maj. Owen Harding (left) and Maj. Timothy Myers The Graduation exercise, conducted under simulated battlefield conditions, was a classic clash of virtually equal forces over standard terrain which tested the fundamental theories of Urizen Kurita and the works of Alexander Kerensky. Bottom: Lt. Chris Randazzo (left) and Lt. Shawn Carnes-victorious lance commanders at FASA's BattleTech tournament at GenCon. Lieutenants Randazzo and Carnes tied for First Place. Major Myers was awarded victory with his use of a Kerensky Wedge over Major Harding, who employed a nearly successful variation of Urizen Kurita's Block and Sweep technique. The Federated Suns feel both proud and safe knowing that tacticians of Harding's and Myer's prowess safeguard our borders, expertly trained by instructors like Professor Lewis. Kurita and Steiner Forces Settle Dateline: GenCon, Solaris -- After four arduous days of combat, the sole surviving MechWarriors joined battle in a conflict which would determine the final victor in FASA's BattleTech tournament. This tournament, held yearly at GenCon as part of the Solaris Games, pits the best MechWarriors of the Inner Sphere against one another in the ultimate test of skill, tactics, and courage. The battle orders for the match were clear and simple. "Lt. Randazzo. You are ordered to take your lance into sector 9476. Eliminate all Kurita forces no later than 1600 hours." Lt. Carnes had similar orders. "Secure area 9476 at all costs. Control must be established no later than 1600 hours. I don't want a single Steiner Mech left alive." An operational nuclear power plant was the goal for both parties in this simulation. Much to the consternation of both Kurita and Steiner forces, at 1603 hours the reactor core began to melt down, requiring both sides to flee the objective area. Lt. Chris Randazzo and Lt. Shawn Carnes were forced to break off combat and board their DropShips. The contest was declared a tie. Back to BattleTechnology 3 Table of Contents Back to BattleTechnology List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 1988 by Pacific Rim Publishing. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com