Wars: An Introduction
WARS is about energy, power, conflict and the mysterious quantum effects of The
Mumon Rift. In the 24th century, escalating warfare among three human factions in
Earth’s Solar System increases dramatically when a new planet and two warring alien races suddenly enter through an enormous rift in the fabric of the universe. Before delving into the short stories below, read this introduction to the Wars universe:
WARSONG: Interludes Part 1
1. Under Construction
by James Wylder (art by Bri Crozier)
2387 Common Era.
Jhe Hei-Ran delivers a sensitive parcel.
Read it at Arcbeatle Press.
2. The Lost Legacy of Dogman Gale
by James Wylder (art by Rachel Johnson)
2387 Common Era.
A short story, and adventure compatible with the WARS Roleplaying game from Mongoose Publishing, released by Arcbeatle Press and Decipher, Inc.
Learn about a mysterious pirate who disappeared with his treasure after his last heist, and venture into a ghost ship far into the depths of space…
Read it at Arcbeatle Press.
3. So Spake the Space Pope
By James Wylder (art by Callum Brown)
2387 Common Era.
A new Holy Mother is appointed on Gongen.
Read it at Arcbeatle Press.
4. A Star in Her Eye
By James Wylder
2387 Common Era.
Sang Mi just wanted a normal Christmas. But when she makes a discovery she wasn’t meant to, she and her brother have to outrun the biggest Knave of them all: the legendary rifleman Captain Jack Wilgress.
Featuring a brand new Novelette tale, new rules compatible with Mongoose Publishing’s WARS Roleplaying game.
Read it at Arcbeatle Press.
WARSONG: Interludes Part 2
1. Kalingkata Has a Bad Night Out
By James Wylder
2388 Common Era.
On Christmas Eve, Kalingkata saved a kid from the criminal syndicate known as the Ebon Gate. But now an agent of theirs is coming to call… they say no good deed goes unpunished, and Kalingkata needs to find a way to make up for their loss, or else…
Read it at Arcbeatle Press.
2. Kippli Darnel Should Read the Room
By James Wylder
2388 Common Era.
The “side-b” story that shows what happened during the story, “Kalingkata Has a Bad Night Out,” from the perspective of Earther Kippli Darnell.
Read it at Arcbeatle Press.
3. A Quick One Before the Box Opens
By Dillon O’Hara
2388 Common Era.
Space pirate Pepper Tokarates travels to Ireland to track down a mysterious and powerful device, things go sideways when her contacts try to manipulate her.
Read it at Arcbeatle Press.
4. Too Clear and Thus Difficult to See
By Joshua Anderson
2388 Common Era.
Join a scientist and an artificial intelligence as they begin to learn about each other and themselves.
Read it at Arcbeatle Press.
Warsong: The Battle of Phobos
1. WARSONG: Preludes: The Battle of Phobos Book 1
2388 Common Era. Humanity has fractured, and now in its cracks the seeds of the greatest conflict humanity has ever known begin to take root…
Rogan Hallard is on the trail of a rogue scientist, but in trying to catch him and the secrets he stole, Hallard and his crew will find themselves in the crossfire of more than one hidden agenda…
Higen Orochito’s ancestors created Shocho: an AI powerful enough to run an entire planet. But when Higen begins to suspect that Shocho is malfunctioning, how can he save both his family and the future?
Jack Wilgress lost the family that raised and loved him in order to eke out his own freedom. Now, the family that he found on the edges of space could be lost too, but Wilgress isn’t going to take that threat lying down.
Featuring three novellas by Nathan P. Butler (Healers and Hunters), Sean E. Williams (The Great Journey), and Jim Perry (Firefight at Overwatch Command), with a brand new short story by James Wylder (Four Meetings and a Funeral).
Based on the universe created by writers like New York Times Bestselling Author Michael Stackpole, comes the return of the cult-classic series from Decipher, Inc. and Arcbeatle Press.
The journey to the Battle of Phobos begins here. Whose side will you be on?
Available on Amazon
Shown on the left is the original printing under the ‘Wars’ heading. Shown on the right is the 2022 reprint and rebrand under the ‘Warsong’ heading. The reprint contains additional short stories.
2. WARSONG: Stretti: The Battle of Phobos Book 2
2388 Common Era. Humanity has fractured, and now in its cracks the seeds of the greatest conflict humanity has ever known begin to take root… And war is on the horizon.
Directly following the events from The Battle of Phobos Book 1, PRELUDES…
The Gongen: Inexplicably, Hijen Orochito, senior technician to the artificial intelligence that oversees Gongen society, ‘Shocho’ (and direct descendant of its ‘maker’), has been appointed to be Director of Takumi, one of Gongen’s most important cities. In his new role, Orochito must quickly learn to balance the tricky politics of the Gongen ruling body–the Atarashii Hajimari–with those of his own city…and the greater Solar System. Before he can even settle in, an attack by a group of rogue Earthers rips through the city, allowing highly sensitive starfighter technology to be captured. Orochito must determine the truth behind the attack and reclaim the starfighters before his political rivals see him disgraced. Will the Gongen get drawn into an all-out war with Earth before the planet is ready…
The Earthers: Earth Ambassador to Mars, Kippli Darnel, has gone missing with top secret information. Once again it is up to XeLabs’ elite duo Rogan Hallard and Jerlen Krae, and CISyn’s Jannett Yens, to reform their unique alliance, this time to track down Earth’s senior diplomat before the Mars government does. Their nemesis is Ito Ryu, a top-level official of Mars’ powerful ‘Hajimari’ bureaucracy with direct connections to the AI tech, Shocho, and other more dangerous persons. The Earthers must tread especially careful as tensions are thin and all-out war threatens to break out with just one wrong move…
The Mavericks: Among Jack Wilgress’s many talents as a pirate and rogue, there is one he would prefer to do without–the elite ability to make more enemies for every one he checks off. And more powerful enemies at that after his last little excursion on Phobos hardly went unnoticed. Now Earth’s CISyn puppetmaster, Jylan Rathe, desires Jack’s unique skill-set for a hush-hush “job” he urgently needs done as war with Mars looms ever closer–and he thinks he knows just how to play the Knave ‘leader’. What is Jack to do: The Cartel wants him – The Hellcats won’t hear him – autonomy eludes him – and the one planet in the universe he’s trying to escape is blackmailing him…
Featuring three novellas by Nathan P. Butler (On Red Soil), Sabrina Fried (Red Lion), and Jim Perry (The Titan Deception), with two brand new short stories by James Wylder (A Battle Without Honor or Dignity; Last Flight Out).
Based on the universe created by writers like New York Times Bestselling Author Michael Stackpole, comes the return of the cult-classic series from Decipher, Inc. and Arcbeatle Press.
The journey to the Battle of Phobos is on the horizon… Whose side will you be on?
Available on Amazon
Shown on the left is the original printing under the ‘Wars’ heading. Shown on the right is the 2022 reprint and rebrand under the ‘Warsong’ heading. The reprint contains additional short stories.
3. WARSONG: Codettas: The Battle of Phobos Book 3
2388 Common Era. Humanity has fractured, and now in its cracks the seeds of the greatest conflict humanity has ever known begin to take root…
Rogan Hallard has been trying to walk the line between his roles of healer and hunter within the Earther military. When a diplomat goes missing on the planet Gongen, will Hallard and his team finally have to cross that line for good?
Higen Orochito has gone from a techie to a leader, and as relations between Earth and Gongen deteriorate, millions of lives are in his hands. With subterfuge all around him, will Higen be able to keep his family together while protecting a planet?
Jack Wilgress has made a lot of enemies in the last few months, and his actions come home to roost as he’s blackmailed into a shady job he doesn’t want to… and rope his crew into it too. Nothing is going to be the same after Wilgress has to pull the Titan Deception.
Featuring three novellas by Nathan P. Butler (TBA), Sabrina Fried (TBA), and Jim Perry (TBA), with two brand new short stories by James Wylder (TBA). Return to the universe crafted by New York Times Bestselling Author Michael Stackpole, Decipher, Inc., and Arcbeatle Press.
The journey to the Battle of Phobos begins here. Whose side will you be on?
Available on Amazon
WARS TCG Fiction Part 1: Phobos
1. The Battle of Phobos: Cloud
2388 Common Era. Technician Sana Camrik is assigned to a dangerous mission in Horatio Hicks’ effort to reclaim Phobos from the Gongen. (released 11-18-04)
WARS TCG Fiction Part 2: The Rift Opens
1. A Monster Among Monsters
2391 Common Era. What’s a human doing playing chess with a Quay? Find out in Michael Stackpole’s Quay tale that features Inca squadron taking on Hekatons. (released 10-04-04)
2. Keeping Score
2391 Common Era. A Quay mauler hunts human prey on an Earther-occupied asteroid.
(released 11-17-04)
3. Anticipation
2391 Common Era. Jossel Swin is stripped of his rank. This micro story originally appeared in the French gaming magazine Lotus Noir. (released 03-15-05)
4. Playing by the Rules
2391 Common Era. Jack Wilgress is pulled into a deadly game of blackjack in the infamous Rats’ Nest, in this rousing Maverick tale by Decipher’s Public Relations and Marketing Manager – and WARS Radio host – Mark Tuttle. (released 01-24-05)
5. Return to Juno Station
2391 Common Era. Earthers attack Alnak Station. (released July/August 2005)
Starhawk & Torako
1. A Matter of Life of Death
In Stackpole’s first WARS story, enemies Maverick Nick “Starhawk” Murrin and Gongen Kujiko Torako face the Shi – and form an unexpected alliance. The PDF is a full-color reproduction of the printed story booklet, complete with illustrations. (released 08-22-04)
2. The First Arrow Was light, But the Second Went Deep
As nanites regenerate a wounded Shi warrior, he considers how humans fit into the Shi’s concept of reality. (released 09-24-04)
3. Negotiation is My Business
Take your first look at the beautiful and deadly Raving Red-Jane! Not only is she dangerous to opponents but sometimes to her associates as well! (released 03-23-05)
4. Even in Defeat, A Beautiful Performance
This sequel to “A Matter of Life or Death” gives further insight into Kujiko Torako, and the Gongen culture, as she visits her mentor and teacher to confess her “failure”. (released 09-09-04)
5. Your Life is Already Lost!
Starhawk meets Torako’s brother in a duel to first blood. (released 09-16-04)
Venus
1. Don’t Divulge the Whole at Once
When a Shi ship crashes on Venus, a deep-cover operative seeks intelligence about the enemy. (released 10-21-04)
2. Weight of Command
An ambitious Crown class Tilak seeks to retrieve a “spy” quarrel and its pilot from Venus… and in the process, to enhance his own prestige. (released 12-23-04)
Trag Wars Part 1
1. Rousing Leap
A Quay assault on a Gongen mine on Ganymede gives a rookie squad leader perspective on her leadership role. Learn more details about one of the exciting stories from Nowhere to Hide. (released 02-09-05)
2. Claim Jumper
In this Maverick short story by Michael O’Brien (desktop support specialist in Decipher’s Information Services department), a Hellcat pilot and a Cartel programmer make an intriguing – and, they hope, profitable – find on an abandoned Gongen station. But they’re not the only ones interested… (released 12-16-04)
Trag Wars Part 2
1. Followers Have Neither Peace Nor Rest
Newly graduated Earther cadet Sheria Coreg attempts to explain to a classmate why she accepted an assignment to the Outer Rim instead of a “safe” posting at the Venus yacht-works. (released 09-02-04)
2. When the Mind is Realized, the Body is Free
A damaged bot, salvaged from the back streets of Themis by a female Maverick “Cog”, tries to fill in the gaps in its memory.
3. When the Mind and Body Become One
The Accord finds out about Traginium.
4. The Agrippa Encounter
An intense story of a Maverick crew answering an Earther automated distress call, and the horrors they find within. (released 02-15-05)
5. Nowhere to Hide, Part 1
Howler’s Blades are assigned to guard a CGC mining complex on Ganymede… but against what threat? Exciting new WARS fiction by Decipher Game Studio VP Tim Ellington. (released 12-02-04)
6. Nowhere to Hide, Part 2
Will Howler’s troops succeed in fending off the Ikazuchi Gongen attack? Find out in the conclusion to Tim Ellington’s short story. (released 12-09-04)
7. Rolling Thunder
A Maverick Cog and her Cog-to-be apprentice repair (well, sort of) a downed Juggernaut and head for a mining facility to take it back from the Earthers controlling it. (released 01-07-05)
Quay on Earth
1. Family Matters
An ‘Edge of a Sword’ preview story. The Quay attack Earth and kidnap a young Earther boy, but what are they really after? (released 02-25-05)
The Mumon Rift Wars TCG 