Iron Defender was the last piece I did for FASA, and reportedly the last cover they assigned. It features the Mad Cat, a very popular machine in the Battletech universe. Those familiar with this universe will rcognize the drop ships in the background, implying that the Mad Cat is invading, not defending, so my choice of title waffled a bit. Then I was vindicated by a late-night phone call from a veteran flight sergeant of the Jade Wolves who had actually been part of their counterattack at the gas-giant Onfub's fourth moon. He convinced me that the beleaguered history of the Wolves make their entire latter campaign a war of defense. I agreed that the terms of the Abjuration were unjust, but I had to hang up on him when he started frothing that a clone of Kerensky would one day rule the galaxy.