First off, there's a reddit AMA with Mike McCain where this creative director at Harebrained Schemes answers questions about BATTLETECH, their upcoming mech combat game. Also, a Kickstarter update from Harebrained notes that the crowdfunding campaign for BATTLETECH has hit their penultimate revealed stretch goal (thanks nin). This carries a couple of sub-goals which they are still to reach, while their next major stretch goal is PvP multiplayer, which will require about three-quarters of a million dollars in additional pledges over the next two week. Here's word on the expanded mercenary campaign their stage 3 expanded goal triggered:

The STAGE 3 EXPANDED MERCENARY CAMPAIGN puts you in full control of your life as a mercenary.

• The single-player story campaign is now open-ended - charter JumpShip transport for your mercenary outfit to travel to various hot-zones across the Periphery and Inner Sphere, and continue your career even after the game's main story arc is resolved.
• You’ll be able to choose your contracts and alliances, with both the 5 Great Houses and other sub-factions within the Inner Sphere.
• A procedural contract-generation system will ensure that you always have fresh contracts available, wherever your Mercenary career may take you.
• The missions you choose to accept and the objectives competed in those missions will determine your reputation as a mercenary, affecting the contracts and contract terms you may be offered in the future.