Ahh, yes... I'm surprised to even find this game online, and it brings back some old memories. It was fun to play, and if you want to know about the story read the classic Battletech line of books. This title appeared before major bugs and long load times became commonplace in PC games. The last time I saw it for sale was in the Powerhits three pack. It is the sequel to Battletech: the Crescent Hawk's Inception, and it continues the storyline.
The third game in the pack is called Mechwarrior, with no 1 or 2 just Mechwarrior. This one is also a 'Mech simulator like its later installments.