Clan Steel Viper

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Clan Steel Viper Logo
Clan Steel Viper
Faction Profile
Time period:	2807 – 3075
Classification:	Clan
Controlled systems:	5?
Capital world:	New Kent
Ruler title:	Khan
Military:	Clan Steel Viper Touman
Secret Service:	Clan Steel Viper Watch

Clan Steel Viper was one of the original twenty Clans founded by Nicholas Kerensky, named after the Steel Vipers found on Babylon. Their beginnings were marked by treachery due to the actions of their founder, now simply known as the Traitor Khan, and they're regarded by other Clans as self-serving. However the Steel Vipers would find their calling in espousing the recreation of the Star League, not through conquest but cooperation with the Inner Sphere. Despite this decidedly Warden philosophy many warriors within the Clan hold to the Crusader viewpoint, and the Steel Vipers took part in the Clan Invasion.

History

Founding

When Nicholas Kerensky founded Clan Steel Viper, he originally endorsed Antonius Zalman to serve as its first Khan. Antonius Zalman had served under his father fighting the Usurper in the Star League Civil War and demonstrated unshakable loyalty to the Kerensky family. At 80 years of age and in failing health however, Antonius knew he was unfit for the honor and so refused. Instead he asked that Nicholas instead endorse a protégé of his: Lieutenant Ellie Kinnison, a former member of the 131st Royal BattleMech Division. In turn Ellie Kinnison agreed to accept this responsibility only on the condition that Antonius accept the position of saKhan. Antonius agreed to this and both were voted in by their Clan.

Under her mentor's continued guidance Khan Kinnison helped shaped the Steel Vipers into an effective fighting force molded under the new Clan military system. She instilled in them those qualities which had served Antonius so well in his fight against the Usurper: flexibility, adaptability, and independence. Khan Kinnison's role in shaping the Clan would be expunged in later Clan histories which instead emphasized saKhan Zalman, eventually referring to him as their true spiritual founder. Regardless, saKhan Zalman would die after just two years of service when a training accident took his life. His loss would force the Steel Vipers to vote in Star Colonel Steven Breen as his replacement prior to their return to the Pentagon Worlds.

A Khan's Treachery

After the success of the Pentagon campaign, Clan Steel Viper was placed in charge of occupying Arcadia and assimilating its populations into the Clan way of life. Under the leadership of Khan Kinnison the Steel Vipers proved highly efficient at this task, earning the attention of the ilKhan when he made a tour of the planet. During this tour Khan Kinnison presented him with a gift of a huge steel viper taken from the planet's jungles, possibly an early sign of her growing affection for Nicholas and an attempt to win his.

In the following years all of the Clans grew in size with the births of both freeborns and trueborns except, most notably, the Steel Vipers: where a typical Clan sibko would graduate four or five warriors, the Steel Vipers were instead graduating one or two. Concerned by this, the ilKhan dispatched Clan Sea Fox scientists to examine this issue. Khan Kinnison gave the observers full access to the Steel Viper breeding program and after much examination the Sea Foxes concluded there was nothing inherently wrong with the program; the Steel Vipers simply followed a more demanding program which graduated fewer warriors but of higher quality. They returned to the ilKhan with their findings, along with an invitation for him and his wife Jennifer Winson to vacation on Arcadia and inspect the program themselves, to which he agreed.

Khan Kinnison took a personal interest in arraigning all security matters for the ilKhan's visit, unwilling to let an unusual yet inevitable spike in rebel activity taking place within Steel Viper territory to derail the visit. While saKhan Breen was in charge of security, every decision of his was double-checked on a daily basis by Kinnison. When the ilKhan and his entourage had arrived in-system and were half a day away from the planet, she began to check in with him every hour to ensure all preparations were complete.

With less than an hour until the ilKhan's arrival, saKhan Breen decided to make a final personal tour of the drop site where, stepping inside a storage warehouse, he was attacked by three masked warriors. He subdued all three at the cost of a broken arm, but nevertheless sounded the alarm and began searching the warehouse for more assailants. He took by surprise two more warriors setting up a high-powered Sniper Rifle and killed them with his Laser Pistol. Breen searched the two bodies but found no evidence as to their plan...until the voice of Khan Ellie Kinnison came through the assassins' two-way communicator.

Steven Breen rushed to the landing site where the ilKhan's DropShip had touched down, arriving as the ramp unfolded and Nicholas and Jennifer descended to meet the waiting Kinnison. Having seized one of the assassins' pistols he fired at the Steel Viper Khan, hitting her in the shoulder and dropping her to her knees. As Breen was set upon by three other Steel Viper Warriors and both Nicholas and Jeniffer were surrounded by their bodyguards, only the Steel Viper saKhan and the ilKhan's wife saw what happened next: Khan Kinnison drawing a pistol and aiming it squarely at Jennifer Winson. Managing to break free of his attackers, saKhan Breen drew his laser pistol and fired again at his Khan. This time his shot punched through Kinnison's head and killed her instantly.

Steven Breen surrendered himself to joint Wolf/Steel Viper custody while the ilKhan and his advisers investigated the cause of the assassination attempt. Nearly twenty-four hours after the attempt on his life, ilKhan Kerensky and Steven Breen appeared before the Bloodnamed of Clan Steel Viper, where Nicholas revealed the findings of his investigations. By interrogating the subdued conspirators and searching through Khan Kinnison's personal effects, especially her diary, Nicholas revealed that Ellie Kinnison had developed an unhealthy obsession with him and hoped that by killing his wife she would somehow take her place at his side. To the relief of the assembled warriors he chose not to punish the Steel Vipers for the pathetic plot of a deranged woman, but instead condemned her to obscurity in what would become known as the Ritual of Abjuration. With the endorsement of their ilKhan the Steel Viper Bloodnamed elected Steven Breen to take over as senior Khan and elected Star Colonel Shandra Zalman as the new saKhan. In the months that followed, Khan Breen would lead his Clan to victory in a number of Trials of Possession launched by other Clans seeking to take advantage of the situation.

The Golden Century

Clan Without A Cause

While the Golden Century was a boon to most of the Clans, it would prove to be a rough time for the Steel Vipers. Compelled to excel in military matters, the Clan's martial prowess grew in the years after the Traitor Khan's death, though this came at a cost to the civilian castes whose opportunities for growth were curtailed. This lead to restlessness among the lower castes which led to rebellions becoming an every-day part of life for the Clan, which in turn increased the warrior's commitment to military excellence. The Clan became aimless, its warriors losing focus on anything but training for war purely for the sake of it. This loss of purpose also affected the civilians castes: scientists were unsure of where to focus their research and merchants had trouble establishing stable trading partnerships. After Steven Breen the Clan suffered from a string of Khans who not only failed to harness their Clan's efforts towards a higher purpose but pursued their own personal agendas with no regard for precedent. Khan Jacob Masters for example failed to appreciate the value of OmniMechs following their introduction and did not peruse this technology, instead directing his scientists to create the ultimate 'Mech weapon which lead to the development of the Ultra Autocannon/20. These Khans were also content to allow the Steel Vipers to fall behind on exploring and exploiting new worlds. This flip-flopping proved to be a source of frustration when other Clans attempted to work together with what derisively became known as the "rubber viper."

This changed in 2860 when Khan Masters nominated a brilliant young MechWarrior, Sanra Mercer, to the position of saKhan. Khan Masters believed Mercer, who had espoused no political views at all during her career, would be a loyal aide in fulfilling his personal plots. The magnitude of Masters' error became known in a matter of months as Sanra Mercer began circulating among Steel Viper warriors what she called Nicholas Kerensky's "true vision" for the Clans, claiming to have recordings of secret meetings which took place between Kerensky and Steven Breen. In these recordings Mercer claimed that the ilKhan intended for the Clans to eventually return to the Inner Sphere and reconquer all of the worlds which once belonged to the Terran Hegemony. In this respect Clan Steel Viper would serve as the ilClan, the leader of the Clans, since the others were too caught up in their petty interests to implement the Founder's vision. Once the Hegemony was liberated the Steel Vipers would turn towards the rest of the Sphere, bur rather than subjugate them through naked oppression Clan Steel Viper would instead help guide the Great Houses in the formation of a new Star League...after their armies had been defeated in honorable combat, of course. Once the leadership of the Great Houses had been brought into line their people would be taught the error of their ways and the wisdom of the Founder by the Steel Viper civilian castes, who themselves would receive rich rewards after years of austerity.

Sanra Mercer never produced evidence as to the existence of these recordings, much less their content, but it mattered not. Even those warriors not swayed by her charisma and who questioned the source of this information were willing to overlook such things if it gave their aimless Clan a higher, glorious purpose. Support for Mercer grew among the low-ranking warriors until she became a threat to Khan Masters and the current power structure. Hoping to regain control of the situation the Khan convened the Clan Council and charged Mercer with treason. While the eloquence of Sanra Mercer won her many more converts among the Bloodnamed, she was still found guilty of the charge. Mercer challenged the verdict to a Trial of Refusal and faced off against Khan Masters and his aerospace-heavy force at two-to-one odds. The battle was going in Masters' favor when a lucky Gauss Rifle shot from Mercer's Highlander hit the Khan's Aerospace Fighter cockpit, killing him instantly and demoralizing his force enough to allow victory for the saKhan. Shortly thereafter, Sanra Mercer was elected senior Khan on 12 August.

A Self-Imposed Exile

Khan Mercer immediately went about tearing down the old power structure and unifying her Clan towards the goal of Kerensky's "true vision." This included removing those who disagreed with this new direction, either through reappointment or Trials, and consolidating her power base with those loyal to her ideals, such as pushing through the election of Habash Grimani as the new saKhan. Her position secured, she began to formalize a policy of protecting the Steel Vipers from what she privately called the "corrupting influence" of the other Clans. Her first edict was to completely ban the lower castes of Clan Steel Viper from interacting with those of any other Clans, all except for the merchants, who would remain under close supervision of the warriors.

The warriors of the Steel Viper Clan welcomed these policy changes, seeing them as a natural progression from the defensive mindset they'd adopted following the Traitor Khan's actions. Many other Clans saw it differently however, with some accusing the Steel Vipers of following in the footsteps of the Not-Named Clan. Khan Mercer defended her actions in both words and deeds as being orthodox, saying the Steel Vipers still believed in the teachings of the Founder and even that the other Clans had a role to play in the "true vision" she espoused, though her Clan would be at the forefront. In the end the Grand Council dismissed her policies and statements as indicative of youthful arrogance and encouraged other Clans to do the same.

As she promised Khan Mercer's isolationist policy was not meant to completely cut them off from the rest of the Clans: Steel Viper warriors were encouraged to test themselves and sought to make up ground by launching attacks against the other Clans. The Steel Vipers finally acquired working OmniMech designs through these efforts, as well as the technology behind Battle Armor and new genetic material. Bowing to the wishes of her merchant caste, Khan Mercer even authorized the founding of several new colonies, despite fears such distant settlements might stray from the "true vision."

This policy helped Clan Steel Viper earn the enmity of Clan Snow Raven during the conflict over ownership of Hellgate between 2897 and 2899. An inhospitable world, Hellgate was rich in Germanium and ideally situated as a trading hub. The Snow Ravens put much effort into colonizing the planet, including the construction of agro-domes to feed the planet's population. Rather than attempt to conquer the whole planet Clan Steel Viper instead fought a series of Trials for control of the agro-domes and in the end won. Denied the ability to produce food locally and unable to import sufficient supplies, Clan Snow Raven was forced to cede control of the planet to the Steel Vipers.

Operation Revival

Main article: Invasion corridor - Clan Steel Viper

The Steel Vipers were made the Reserve clan in the invasion force and were first activated by the Ghost Bears to help garrison their worlds. After the death of ilKhan Leo Showers and the election of Ulric Kerensky, the Vipers were activated as a full invading Clan and assigned to share the Jade Falcon Occupation Zone.

Tukayyid

Assigned the targets of Kozice Ranch Station and Kelly Springs during the Battle of Tukayyid, the Steel Viper Khans bid three Galaxies, the front-line Alpha and Gamma with the second-line Zeta Galaxy held in reserve. Setting down en masse on the open expanse of the Kozice Plains, Alpha and Gamma Galaxies both advanced via the Devil's Bath, a horrific combination of geysers, boiling mud and narrow paths walled by massive granite columns, stretching for dozens of kilometers between the Viper's dropzone and their target cities.

With the tight paths negating the Clan's weapons superior range and missteps losing entire Stars to the bottomless pools of boiling mud, Khan Natalie Breen realized too late her troops had stumbled into a massive trap. Attempting to pull back and go around the Devil's Bath, a desperate Precentor Beeshor Yekel of Com Guard 6th Division issued an insulting public challenge to goad them into continuing their attack via the Bath. Enraged by the insult, the Vipers redoubled their advance, pushing the 6th and 78th Division through Devil's Bath. While ultimately obliterating both divisions, both Alpha and Gamma Galaxies had used up their ammunition in the process, with elite 1st Division blocking Zeta's attempts to resupply them.

With Zeta reinforcing the virtually unarmed Alpha and Gamma as they reached the far-side of the Bath, the Steel Viper advance met the fresh and untouched 321st and 401st Divisions who stalled the Vipers until the 1st and 386th Divisions could enter the fray and finally drive them back. Recognising her blind rage had doomed her forces and with the defeat of several other Clans freeing up other Divisions from other fronts that could be redeployed against them, Khan Breen ordered her warriors to board their DropShips in defeat, ultimately stepping down and allowing Perigard Zalman to become Khan.

Aftermath of the Invasion

Like many Clans the Steel Vipers hoped to take advantage of the power vacuum on the Homeworlds caused by the withdrawal of Clan Ghost Bear, the Abjuration of Clan Nova Cat and the Annihilation of Clan Smoke Jaguar. Unfortunately the Vipers gained little success, Clan Cloud Cobra repulsing their Trial of Possession for former Jaguar holdings on Homer while the Snow Ravens gained a foothold on Hellgate to enhance their efforts to retake their former world.

In 3061 they struck at the Jade Falcon worlds in the Occupation Zone and attempted to drive them out. Though initially successful, Falcon Khan Marthe Pryde rallied her forces, winning the pivotal battle of Sudeten. Ultimately, the Vipers' attempt completely failed and they were forced to accept Hegira, driven out of the Inner Sphere entirely. Khan Zalman faced numerous challenges to his position during the voyage back to the Clan home worlds, ultimately prevailing.

The Wars of Reaving

The Wars of Reaving were initiated by the new ilKhan Brett Andrews under his rule he declared reavings on the Clans to remove "the Inner Sphere taint." The Vipers were annihilated during the conflict.

Culture

Early in their history the Steel Vipers adopted a form of self-enforced isolation, though nowhere near as extreme as practiced by the Blood Spirits, which led to their unique philosophical position among the Clans. Depending on one's viewpoint they can be regarded as Crusading Wardens or Warden Crusaders. The Clan's central tenet, instilled in them by Sanra Mercer, is the restoration of the true Star League through cooperation with the Inner Sphere rather than total subjugation like other Clans. Of course this would take place under the benevolent guidance of the Steel Vipers, following the complete destruction of the Inner Sphere's military forces, so that the misguided Spheroids may be led onto the path of truth by the rightful ilClan. However efforts at enforcing this policy within their Occupation Zone were less than satisfactory. While they blamed their failures on the previous Jade Falcon mismanagement and extremists who do not wish to be liberated, the Vipers failed to realize it was largely their low view of freeborns that would forever doom their efforts.

Mirroring the views of more fanatical Clans such the Smoke Jaguars, the Steel Vipers' views regarding freeborns relegate them to the lower rung of society and as such are treated poorly. This policy extends into martial matters, and save for a brief period under Khan Perigard Zalman, freeborns are generally barred completely from serving in the Steel Viper touman.

Military

Main article: Clan Steel Viper Touman

Steel Viper MechWarrior

The command structure of Clan Steel Viper's touman emphasizes a clear delegation of authority and well-defined areas of operations. The Khans lay out the grand strategy of a campaign, enacted by Galaxy Commanders who form the strategic command of each operation and delegate tactical responsibilities to Star Colonels. The effect is that individual commanders are given considerable leeway in how they complete their objectives. However, cooperation between Steel Viper Galaxies is poor, as each commander recognizes only the authority of the Khans and the Clan Council, and even within a Galaxy the Cluster commanders will only accept orders from their immediate superior. For large-scale operations then one of the Khans must be present in order to coordinate multiple Galaxies, with a similar problem for multi-Cluster operations. This heavy reliance on senior officers renders the Steel Vipers especially vulnerable to headhunter operations; as happened on Tukayyid, should senior command be incapacitated then cooperation breaks down and individual units can be isolated and destroyed in force.

On the tactical scale Steel Viper units rely on maneuverability and firepower, with many battle plans centered around these concepts. One of them, known as the Viper's Fangs, is a Trinary-scale operation which uses two columns of 'Mechs, or "Fangs", to attack at separate points along the enemy's line using krait and boa Stars supported by Elementals. When either one or both "Fangs" break through the Elementals rush through to exploit the hole and another 'Mech group known as the "Maw" moves in to pin down the defenders. The defenders then must either continue facing this new threat, allowing the Elementals to run roughshod through their rear, or turn to chase after them, exposing themselves to the Maw as they withdraw. A second tactic known as the Coil involves a smaller force of two or three Stars, one half of which pins down the enemy while the second flanks and envelops their position. Once in place the entire force begins circling the enemy, slowly reducing the size of the envelopment and restricting not only the enemy's ability to maneuver but to concentrate fire on a specific target. The Coil only works on units of smaller size though and, because each MechWarrior is forced to change their targets in violation of zellbrigen, generally suitable only for Inner Sphere and dezgra forces.

The Steel Vipers' attitudes towards zellbrigen however is one of pragmatism and adaptability, a fact which has ensured success over the centuries. Against a respected Clan foe the rules of honorable combat will be staunchly followed. For those considered dishonorable such as Inner Sphere forces or a mortal enemy like the Jade Falcons, whatever is deemed necessary to ensure victory is permitted.

Inter-Clan Relations

The Steel Vipers, again despite their talk of cooperation, were almost completely at a loss for allies among their fellow Clans. Their self-serving politics alienated both Warden and Crusader Clans and their arrogant attitude towards others had not served them well. The Steel Vipers had feuds with the Fire Mandrills, Blood Spirits, Snow Ravens, Jade Falcons, and Ghost Bears.

Leaders of Clan Steel Viper

Khan

• Ellie Kinnison 2807-2824
• Steven Breen 2824-28??
• Sanra Mercer 2860-2906

• Natalie Breen 3045-3052
• Perigard Zalman 3052-3065
• Brett Andrews 3065-3075
• Boyle Grimani 3075

saKhan

• Antonius Zalman 2807-2809
• Steven Breen 2809-2824
• Shandra Zalman 2824-28??
• Sanra Mercer 2860-2860
• Habash Grimani 2860-????

• Natalie Breen 30??-3045
• Perigard Zalman 3045-3052
• Christopher Ahmed 3052-3058
• Brett Andrews 3058-3065
• Nicole Hoskins 3065-

Era Specific Data

3062

Clan Space Worlds

• Arcadia (37 percent)
• Grants Station (55 percent)
• Homer (15 percent)
• Marshall (15 percent)
• New Kent (66 percent)

Bibliography

• Field Manual: Warden Clans
• Invading Clans
• Tukayyid

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