Clan Sea Fox

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Clan Sea Fox is the original name of Clan Diamond Shark. Clan Sea Fox and Clan Snow Raven had a falling out, and in response Clan Snow Raven created the Diamond Shark, a predator designed solely to hunt and kill the Sea Foxes who lived in Strana Mechty's oceans. After most of the Sea Foxes had been killed, Clan Sea Fox petitioned the Grand Council to change its name to Clan Diamond Shark. Several sea foxes were preserved by the Clan and placed on other worlds, where they flourished. As a result, Clan Diamond Shark changed its name back to Clan Sea Fox by 3100. The Diamond Shark/Sea Fox Clan has relied heavily on its Merchant Caste since its inception, giving them more power and freedom than most Clans. Though many believe them to be weak because of their democratic attitudes toward their lower castes, the Diamond Sharks maintained one of the largest and most elite Toumans among the clans. After the Jihad, the Diamond Sharks were one of several Clans forced to move to the Inner Sphere. Having few worlds of their own, the reborn Clan Sea Fox is a nomad trader Clan who almost mostly reside on giant ArcShips and CargoShips that roam throughout space.


Worlds & Enclaves

The Clan has control over three worlds: Twycross, Trondheim, and Itabiana.[1] In addition to these worlds, the Clan has enclaves on eighteen different worlds.

Brief History Post-Jihad

  • 3070-3080s - Khanate and Aimag formations begin to appear with modified WarShips at their core. They begin roving to render aid to worlds left isolated due to Blakist attacks.
  • 3097 - Clan Wolf forces in the Feltre Star System attack the Swimmer Khanate's Beta Aimag, which consist of two JumpShips and their attendant flotilla of DropShips. The Wolves believed they could overpower the Aimag's Cluster sized force. They deploy an aerospace-heavy force against Beta's troops, who easily defeat them. The Wolf force is unable to capture a single ship belonging to the Aimag.[2] Later that year, Clan Sea Fox dispatches two entire Khanates and a Galaxy's worth of troops to assault the Wolves on Feltre. The assault destroys two Clusters of Clan Wolf troops. Clan Sea Fox leaves the planet after the battle, displaying no interest in claiming Feltre for themselves. However, Clan Wolf traders suffer a 200 percent price increase in their dealings with Clan Sea Fox subsequently.[3]
  • 3100 - Clan Diamond Shark formally changes its name to Clan Sea Fox.[4]
  • 3137 - Delta Aimag of the Spina Khanate negotiates a deal with "Clan" Spirit Cats to jointly control the world of Marik, which becomes newest of the 'clearing-house worlds’.[5]

Culture & Characteristics

Sea Fox clansman have an uncanny sense of smell due to the near-sterile space environment they live in.[6] They are able to smell a wide variety of scents. It should be noted that they sometimes find Inner Sphere odors rather offensive.

Despite the Clan's nomadic existence in the Inner Sphere, their solidarity continues to keeps the Clan whole socially.

Many of the Warriors of the Clan have been trained to be as much like merchants as possible in order to understand the ramifications of actions and deals. Despite making it appear that the warriors are more "bargainers first", they are still very much fearless Clan warriors.[7]

Due to the relative independence of individual Aimags, and their isolation from one another, they can sometimes be perceived as sub-Clans. However they remain largely synchronized with entire Clan.

Clan Sea Fox Fleet Structure

The Sea Foxes are primarily a space-bound community. After the Jihad, their vessels were reorganized into two types of Fleet. These Fleets are divided in a manner similar to the Galaxies and Clusters of other Clans. However, these divisions are not strictly military formations, since they contain substantial civilian elements as well.

The Sea Fox fleet is organized in two types of formations: Khanates & Aimags.

Each of the five autonomous Khanates is lead by a saKhan, except for the ilKhanate, which is the Khan's personal Khanate.[8]

Khanate

The Khanate is largest formation, which consists of five attending Aimag Jumpship fleets.[9]

Most Khanates & their Aimags bid for and fought over specific regions of space - worlds each Aimag & Khanate would use to further their revenue, honor, and glory for the Clan.[10]

There are five Khanates - Spina, Skate, Tiburon, Fox, and the ilKhanate[11]

The ilKhanate acts as an oversight government, with the fleet moving at will. It is the home of the Khan and Alpha Council. The ilKhanate checks on the activities of the other Khanates, collecting ten percent of the Clan's due.[12] The Khan's flagship is referred to as the ilArcShip[13].

Aimag

These are the smaller of the Clan Sea Fox formations. The Aimag is commanded by a ovKhan, who oversees all enclaves, business interaction with worlds, setting up colonies, fleet operations and the maintenance thereof.

There are five Aimags per Khanate. Each is named after one of the first five letters of the Greek alphabet: Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and Epsilon.

Sea Foxes generally deploy their Aimags individually in a wide area and not in close proximaty to each other in order to maximize the rewards of getting economic deals cut between worlds.

On occasions when Aimags do meet, they conduct various rituals and trials such as: Live Fire Training Excerises (Ritual of Combat) and Bloodright Trials. It is not unusual for years to pass between meetings of Aimags..[14]

Aimags compete against one another for mining rights, the creation of colonies, setting enclaves, etc. Each Aimag tries win profit & glory as well as honor to their deeds.

Sea Fox Ships

Mother ships of the Sea Foxes are former Warships were build during the age of the Star League. Both types of large ships in service with typically retain their Interplanetary drives, however they are rarely used due to structural changes caused by refits to CargoShips & ArcShips. These ships have had their armor and weaponry removed to allow them to roam both Clan Occupational Zones and Great Houses freely.[15]

  • CargoShip - They are redesigned Warships which have been reconfigured to become dedicated roving, long-term habitats and mobile supply stations. These ships are part of the typical core of a Aimag fleet.[16] They have gutted DropShips (typically Behemoth Class ships), permanently attached to attached to the hull of the ships.
  • ArcShips - These are redesigned Warships which have been reconfigured to be societal points of congress and core governmental structures for the entire Clan.[17] They generally have extensive modified to add habitats in both in former cargo bays and covering outer hulls. ArcShips have been typically former Potemkin Class WarShips, which have been extensively lengthen, widen, and given increased mass. Among the largest ArcShips is the Poseidon, which was expanded to 2.5 Million tons.[18]

Apart from extensive Jumpship fleet consisting of both Inner Sphere and Clan built designs. The Sea Foxes have former military DropShips which have been converted to serve as cargo haulers, with some military capacities. These vessels demilitarized DropShips. A common DropShip to be seen in Sea Fox service is the De-militarized Overlord-C Class Dropships are primary cargo hauling vessels. The ship has only one BattleMech bay for Trinary (15) Mechs/vehicles.

Known ArcShips & CargoShips

Clan Sea Fox Ranks & Uniforms

Clan Sea Fox Ranks

Clan Sea Fox typical has similar ranking system as normal Clans. However, they do have exclusive ranks that only found I their clan.

  • saKhan - Individual whom commands a Khanate fleet formation & all of its Aimag's assets. The saKhan is answerable to the Khan of the Sea Foxes.
  • ovKhan - Individual whom command a Aimag fleet size fleet & assets. Answers to saKhan of their assigned Khanate.
  • saFactor - Sea Fox Chief Negotiator of Aimag fleets whom is part of [Merchant Caste].
  • Master Merchant - Rank for Sea Fox ship commander.[20]

Uniforms

Uniforms - All Sea Fox uniforms are all blue, but the shoulders colors mark their subcaste types. Here are examples: Yellow = teachers, Green = teachers, Red for eurgentics, Double Stripes = Labor Caste While

Sea Foxes ceremonial leathers, have details of Sea Fox across torso of the suit.[21]

References

  1. Hunters of the Deep pg. 97 & 130 & Touring the Stars - all locations where transplanted Sea Foxes live.
  2. Touring the Stars Clan Sea Fox article Sean Lasko, PhD article"
  3. Touring the Stars - Clan Sea Fox article - Mentioned in sub-article —Sean Lasko, PhD, Professor of Clan Society and Politics, University of Thorin"
  4. Touring the Stars - Clan Sea Fox article.
  5. Pandora's Gambit page 97 - The Spirit Cats bargain with Sea Foxes for help securing the planet as safe haven for the them.
  6. Hunters of the Deep pg. 57 - Petr Kalasa picks up scents in Merchant House on Adhafera.
  7. Touring the Stars - Clan Sea Fox article - Mentioned in sub-article —Sean Lasko, PhD, Professor of Clan Society and Politics, University of Thorin"
  8. Hunters of the Deep rear cover of book
  9. Touring the Stars - Sea Fox Clan - "Khanate has five attendant JumpShip fleets (Aimag)"
  10. Hunters of the Deep pg. 185 - How Khanate & Aimag formations function.
  11. Touring the Stars - Clan Sea Fox section
  12. Hunters of the Deep pg. 185 - Explanation of how Sea Foxe's ilKhanate operates.
  13. Hunters of the Deep 262 - ilArcShip mentioned
  14. Hunters of the Deep pg. 100 - Petr thinks of infrequency of Aimag encounter.
  15. Touring the Stars Clan Sea Fox article
  16. Touring the Stars - information regarding CargoShips & ArcShips.
  17. Touring the Stars - information regarding CargoShips & ArcShips.
  18. Hunters of the Deep pg. 169 - Petr describing the changes of the Poseidon.
  19. Touring the Stars - Clan Sea Fox Article
  20. A Rending of Falcons pg. 97 - Master Merchant Senna Rodriguez
  21. Hunters of the Deep pg. 25 - description of the ceremonial uniform of the Khan.

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