wow you guys are awesome I hope the new TT game is supported by stuff like that. One of the things that really drag me in as a fan of Battletech were the little cameo short stories in the early rule books and the side bar stories in the scenario packs/ books. They really brought the feel of the campaign universe to life. The old periphery guide is a great example .
Actually, just about every new product I've seen from Catalyst has stuff like this. They've really done a good job fleshing out the lore. Most of the rule books I have, their major chapters usually start with a 3-5 page story and then there are the side bar stories as well.