Editing History of Clan Sea Fox

:''This article details the history of '''''Clan Sea Fox'''''. For more information, see [[Clan Sea Fox]].''
:''For the history of the Clans as a whole, see [[History of the Clans]].''
{{InfoBoxFactions
| crest = [[Image:Clan Sea Fox Logo.png|250px|Clan Sea Fox Logo]]
| factionname = Clan Sea Fox
| timeperiod = [[2807]]–[[2985]] (changed name); resumed original name in [[3100]])
| classification = [[Clan]]
| systems = 3(?)
| capital = None - All warriors live on ArcShips
| rulertitle = [[Khan]]
| military = [[Clan Sea Fox Touman|Clan Sea Fox ''touman'']]
| secretservice = [[Clan Sea Fox Watch]]
}}

'''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 (species)|Diamond Shark]], a predator designed solely to hunt and kill the [[Sea Fox (species)|Sea Foxes]] that 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.<ref name=HOKp101>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 101</ref> 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 ''[[touman]]s'' among the Clans.{{Citation needed}}

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 now almost entirely reside on giant [[ArcShip]]s and [[CargoShip]]s that roam throughout human-occupied space.

==History as Clan Sea Fox==
===Founding===
The Sea Foxes' most influential Khan was not their first.  [[Karen Nagasawa]], daughter of two members of the [[Star League Defense Force]], spent her formative years hiding within a [[Castle Brian]] on [[Dieron]] while the [[Amaris Civil War]] raged on.  Afterwards, when [[Aleksandr Kerensky]] called for [[Operation Exodus|the SLDF to leave the Inner Sphere and save itself]], the Nagasawa family joined him and settled on [[Arcadia (Clan System)|Arcadia]] in the [[Pentagon Worlds]].  Karen would graduate from school and become a journalist, where she used her gifted writing skills in an ultimately fruitless attempt to stop the coming [[Pentagon Civil War|civil war]].  Her writings did bring her to the attention of Nicholas Kerensky and in a meeting between the two Karen was convinced of Nicholas' vision for a better society.  Working alongside Nicholas and [[Jennifer Winson]], Karen was responsible for writing the speeches in which Nicholas proposed a [[Second Exodus]].<ref name=IC131>''Invading Clans'', pp. 131–132</ref><ref name=FMWC57>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 57</ref>

On Strana Mechty, Karen would continue to work alongside Nicholas Kerensky, turning his grand ideas into eloquent and understandable words which would become a source of inspiration for the present and future generations, including ''[[The Remembrance]]''.  Feeling a need to have a greater role in the formation of this new society, she also began training to become a warrior, eventually achieving the rank of [[Star Colonel]] as an aerospace pilot.  When Clan Sea Fox was formally created however, [[David Kalasa]] and [[Dianne Sennet]] would earn the right to be its first [[Khan]] and [[saKhan]], respectively, and Karen Nagasawa was originally assigned to [[Clan Blood Spirit]].  However, David Kalasa agreed to take his new position only on the condition that Star Colonel Nagasawa was transferred to his Clan, arguing that the journalist-turned-warrior better exemplified the noble spirit of the Sea Fox.  The Blood Spirits initially resisted this request, though only as a matter of form — Khan [[Colleen Schmitt]] thought some of Nagasawa's writings to be dangerously liberal — and ultimately approved the transfer.<ref name=IC131/><ref name=FMWC57/>

===Operation Klondike===
{{main|Operation Klondike}}

Clan Sea Fox was assigned to take Babylon alongside [[Clan Coyote]], [[Clan Cloud Cobra]], and [[Clan Ice Hellion]].  No one Khan was placed in overall command, but all agreed that [[Camlaan]] on the continent of Solath, the strongest power on Babylon, would be the first target.  After that, they would spread out into different sectors and work largely independently of one another.<ref name=HOKp62-63>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', pp. 62–63</ref>

The four Clans grounded in valleys near Camlaan and, forming up together, advanced on the city.  The Camlaan militia prepared to meet the invaders, mobilizing for defense and calling in reinforcements.  Constant, accurate artillery fire targeted the Clans until Cloud Cobra silenced it with their aerospace fighters.<ref name=HOKp63>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 63</ref>

Reinforcements began to arrive, splitting the Clan forces.  First the Cloud Cobras and Ice Hellions spotted Camlaan reinforcements threatening their DropShips, and redeployed to meet the counterattack.  The Coyotes and Sea Foxes broke through the defensive lines around Camlaan, pushing the militia hard. [[Star Colonel]] Karen Nagasawa had kept her two Stars of fighters mostly in reserve, but when she spotted more reinforcements closing from the west and the north, she took the fighters in, bombing and strafing.  Spotting weaknesses in the enemy lines, she ordered the other two Clans to attack them.<ref name=HOKp63/>

[[Khan of Clan Coyote]] [[Dana Kufahl]], offended by these orders and what she saw as dishonorable acts of massed fire by Clan Sea Fox, instead ordered her Clan to withdraw to a nearby hill, taking up defensive positions. Firing only if fired upon, the Coyotes left the Sea Foxes to fight on largely alone.  The only aid came from a few Cloud Cobra fighters, which, like those of the Sea Foxes, were low on fuel.<ref name=HOKp63-64>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', pp. 63–64</ref>

The battle lasted nine hours, with Clan Sea Fox fighting unsupported for five.  Half their [[BattleMech]]s, two fighters, and seven warriors were lost.  Khan [[David Kalasa]] was among the slain.<ref name=HOKp64>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 64</ref>

The Sea Foxes accused the other Clans of abandoning them, saying the others had laid claim to portions of Camlaan without paying a price in blood as the Foxes had.  The Coyotes were the target of especial ire for Khan Kufahl's actions.<ref name=HOKp64/>

The Sea Foxes continued alone, thirsting for vengeance.  Settlements were given only one chance to surrender.  If this was refused, the attack continued until every armed opponent was neutralized, and dead opponents were often preferred.  Among the conquered populations, even suspected resistance was cause for execution, and peaceful protests were met with deadly force.  This was tempered by generous offers of food and medicine where needed.  In the face of this, many settlements either surrendered or forced the armed garrisons outside their precincts.<ref name=HOKp64/>

This took only two weeks, and then the Sea Foxes moved to the continent of Valence.  The local power was the [[Sumral Carta]], with the third largest military on-planet before the Clans arrived.  The Foxes performed an orbital drop directly on the town of Logen, taking it and its airfield as a base of operations.  Star Colonel Nagasawa led a campaign of aerial bombardment over the next five weeks, targeting any suspected hangar or armory in the Carta's territory, and some civilian structures as well.  During the third week, Khan Sennet's BattleMechs set up at the outskirts of the capital city, Sumra.  Twice the Sumral forces attacked, and both times they were defeated.  Thirty-three days of siege took Sumra, and a week later the entire nation had fallen.<ref name=HOKp64/>

Callandra, a continent of mountains and deserts, was the final objective of Clan Sea Fox on Babylon.  There they faced three foes: the mountain settlements, the nomads, and Callandra itself.  Siege tactics worked well against the scattered mountain settlements at first, but the desert nomads were their allies, and they were in possession of BattleMechs that had been hidden away in various caches.  Two of the nomad chieftains led the nomads in an effective guerrilla campaign against the Sea Foxes: [[Yadier Nossov]] and [[Luciana Bede]].  The nomads would appear, focus on one or two Sea Fox 'Mechs, and fade away after destroying or crippling it.  In this the locals were aided by Callandra itself: blowing sand caused mechanical issues in equipment at a rate five times that normally experienced by the Clans, and sand and debris tripled even routine maintenance times.<ref name=HOKp68>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 68</ref>

During this time, one capable nomad warrior spawned a legend that grew greatly in the telling: that of the [[Callandra Witch]].<ref name=HOKp69>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 69</ref>

With the aid of two members of the Clan's Scientist Caste, Star Colonel Nagasawa found a solution: the scientists noticed that the nomads followed the herds in the desert.  By threatening the nomad civilians, Nagasawa forced the nomad forces to dissolve and go back to defend their own.  This allowed the Clan to finish taking the mountain settlements without outside interference.  Then the Sea Foxes found a nomad cache with a map that showed the location of seven other caches, and from that point on the conclusion was certain.<ref name=HOKp69/>

===A Rising Tide===
The remarkable skills and leadership Karen Nagasawa displayed during the Babylon campaign would propel her to replace the deceased David Kalasa as senior Khan, helped in no small part by the recommendations of saKhan Sennet and Nicholas Kerensky himself.  Once in a leadership role Khan Nagasawa began implementing policies based on what she believed had made the [[Star League]] so successful: material prosperity and individual liberty.  While adopting the [[Clan Caste System]] as a way of giving every person a meaningful role to play in society, the "lesser" castes would not exist solely to support the warriors but all would be treated as equals.  The bonds between castes would be further strengthened by allowing a level of freedom of information and association not seen in any of the other Clans.<ref name=IC133>''Invading Clans'', p. 133</ref><ref name=FMWC58>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 58</ref><ref name=HOKp99>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 99</ref>

These policies had an immediate positive effect on the Sea Foxes as they rebuilt in the wake of the war.  Respected for their efforts, the civilian castes performed to higher standards than those in other Clans and the Clan as a whole profited.  It was Sea Fox scientists who ultimately perfected the [[Iron Womb]] and genetic engineering technology which would play a pivotal role in the Clans' eugenics program.  Sea Fox merchants turned information into a commodity with the creation of the [[Chatterweb]], an information-exchange network which would spread to all of the Clans.<ref name=IC133/><ref name=FMWC58/>  Clan Sea Fox, working alongside [[Clan Nova Cat]], continued to explore and exploit the [[Kerensky Cluster]] and worlds beyond, and developed an improved version of the [[Machine Gun]] in [[2825]].<ref>''Era Digest: Golden Century'', pp. 5–6</ref>

These advancements directly translated to military advantage for the Sea Foxes.  In a [[Trial of Possession]] for [[Delios]], Sea Fox warriors used information obtained via the Chatterweb and sharp bidding practices to cause [[Clan Coyote]] to commit far fewer forces than they originally intended.  Their victory established the Sea Foxes as tricky warriors, and even brought about a [[Trial of Grievance]] from Khan [[Jerome Winson]] of [[Clan Wolf]].  The Sea Foxes succeeded in fighting the Trial to a draw, establishing their right to bid as they saw fit and giving rise to a popular saying: "Do not place your foot in the water unless you are prepared to get soaked."<ref name=IC133/><ref name=FMWC59>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 59</ref>

===Golden Years===
The prosperity Clan Sea Fox achieved in the aftermath of the Pentagon wars continued to grow in the years known as the [[Golden Century]], and it can well be said that the century belonged to the merchant caste.  With the merchant caste taking the lead Clan Sea Fox outperformed most of the other Clans in their exploration and colonization efforts, establishing profitable trade routes and strategically placed colonies, and joined with the Nova Cats in adopting futures trading.  While the warriors still retained their leadership role, they were increasingly advised by the merchant caste on what actions to take and as often enough fought Trials for mercantile reasons as martial ones.  Other Clans saw the rise of the Sea Fox merchants with both disdain and concern, but so long as the Sea Foxes continued to follow the Way of the Clans there was not much to be done.<ref name=IC133/><ref name=FMWC59/><ref name=FMWC60>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 60</ref>

It was because of their exploration efforts that the Sea Foxes first discovered a particular jelly like substance on [[Strato Domingo]], one which toughened into a hardened coating that could withstand the rigors of space.  Clan Sea Fox would eventually refine this substance into [[HarJel]] and defend the planet so no other Clan could gain a foothold.  This monopoly on HarJel gave the Sea Foxes a great military advantage and, even more importantly, a source of immense profit once they began trading it with the other Clans.<ref name=IC133/><ref name=FMWC59/>

It was during this time that Clan Sea Fox became aware, via the Chatterweb, that Clan Coyote was developing what would become known as [[OmniMechs]].  Seeing the potential in this new development, the Sea Foxes approached the Coyotes about a possible collaboration, and Sea Fox scientists and technicians would prove instrumental in making OmniMechs a reality; Clan Sea Fox fielded their first designs less than a year after the Coyotes debuted theirs.  Although winning some important battles with these new war machines Clan Sea Fox made sure to downplay their strengths so that the other Clans would concentrate on the Coyotes in their efforts to secure the technology.<ref name=IC133/><ref name=FMWC59/>

The Clan also played a pivotal role in the refinement of [[Elemental Battle Armor]].  When Clan Wolf unveiled these new suits in [[2868]], Clan Sea Fox saw the potential of mating this technology with HarJel.  They approached the Wolves with a preemptive ''[[batchall]]'' to arrange a trade, guaranteeing a continuous supply of HarJel at reduced cost in exchange for the suits, while both Wolf and Sea Fox technicians would work together via the Chatterweb to incorporate the two technologies together.  Clan Coyote, offended that they hadn't received a similar preemptive ''batchall'' for their OmniMech cooperation, attempted to seize Strato Domingo in a [[Trial of Possession]] but were defeated by Sea Fox Elementals.<ref name=IC133/><ref name=FMWC59/>

HarJel patching systems would be sold to the other Clans at a profit, although notably two were able to acquire them through other means.  [[Clan Smoke Jaguar]] was the only one to win the technology militarily, bringing overwhelming forces to bear against the Sea Foxes in a Trial.  While some outsiders thought the Sea Foxes hadn't fought nearly as hard as they could to defeat the Smoke Jaguars, in the end the Sea Foxes would exact a heavy price by charging a premium on HarJel purchases by the Smoke Jaguars.  [[Clan Hell's Horses]] meanwhile had developed a breed of [[Elemental|"superwarriors"]] which the Sea Foxes wished to acquire for their battle armor suits, but rather than fight it out they approached them with a resource-sharing arrangement: in exchange for allowing the Hell's Horses to set up a colony on Strato Domingo and limited rights to HarJel production, Clan Sea Fox would receive assistance in setting up their own Elemental breeding program.  The arrangement would prove to be highly profitable for both Clans.<ref name=FMWC59/><ref name=FMWC60/>

===A Sea Change===
[[File:DiamondSharkSeaFox.jpg|thumb|right|The first sighting of a Diamond Shark attacking a Sea Fox]]
It was in [[2984]], late in the Golden Century, that [[Damon Clarke]] was elected to be the Sea Foxes' new senior Khan, winning the election thanks to a recent string of military victories.  A conservative-minded warrior, Khan Clarke believed in the primacy of the warrior caste and took an arrogant attitude towards the others.  Many Sea Fox civilians feared he would undo most of Khan Nagasawa's more progressive policies and turn their Clan into something more akin to the Smoke Jaguars or [[Clan Jade Falcon|Jade Falcons]].  Fate stepped in, however.<ref name=FMWC60/><ref name=IC134>''Invading Clans'', p. 134</ref>

Months prior to Clarke's election, Khan [[Liam Howell]] of the [[Clan Snow Raven|Snow Ravens]] had become incensed at his Clan's recent defeat by the Sea Foxes for control of the oil fields of [[Priori]].  Having learned beforehand of the attack via the Chatterweb, the Sea Foxes defeated the Snow Ravens in battle, then proceeded to fill the Chatterweb with insults directed at the Snow Raven Khan and his fighting skills (or lack thereof).  An insecure man, Khan Howell took the insults personally and privately vowed revenged.  As it happened Snow Raven scientists had developed a genetically engineered shark they believed to be superior to any other underwater predator.  During a visit to Strana Mechty, Khan Howell stole one of these sharks and, transporting it by [[VTOL]], dropped it into the planet's freshwater oceans.<ref name=IC134/><ref name=HOKp129>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 129</ref>

After winning his election Khan Clarke undertook the customary ritual of honoring the Sea Fox as set forth by Khan Nagasawa, sailing out into the Strana Mechty seas to make an offering of fish to the noble predators.  It took much longer than usual before the Khan and his party finally spotted their totem animal, and when they did they were caught off guard as a strange shark attacked and killed the sea fox in a brief struggle by snapping its neck.  Horrified, a meeting of the Sea Fox [[Bloodname]]d was called and it was decided to capture this strange creature and discover from whence it had come.  Two whole [[Point]]s of Elementals were required to subdue the creature, which killed one of its captors, and Sea Fox scientists performed numerous tests on the subject.  They eventually christened it the Diamond Shark on account of its unique spines and, after further study, determined the creatures had wiped out nearly 75% of the sea foxes on Strana Mechty; within the year the entire species would become extinct.<ref name=IC134/><ref name=IC135>''Invading Clans'', p. 135</ref><ref name=HOKp129/>

Using this information and after much deliberation, Khan Clarke came to a rather startling conclusion: the Diamond Shark had proven itself to be the superior hunter to the Sea Fox, and so his Clan ought to change its name in honor of this prowess.  Khan Clarke called for a meeting of the [[Grand Council]] with a draft proposal of this name change, hoping to secure their support before approaching the rest of the Sea Foxes.  The other Khans were very much surprised by this decision and responded to varying degrees: some agreed with Clarke's assessment of honoring the superior warrior by taking its name, however most were offended he would cast off the name granted to his Clan by the great Nicholas Kerensky.<ref name=FMWC60/><ref name=IC135/><ref name=HOKp129/>

Opposition to the name change was led by Khan Howell, incensed that his revenge plot might be turned on its head, and during a heated moment in the debate let slip the fact he was the one responsible for introducing the Diamond Shark to Strana Mechty.  Outraged and ashamed at his behavior, Snow Raven saKhan [[Niamh Sukhanov]] immediately challenged him to a Trial of Grievance and killed him on the spot.  However the opposition was severely weakened by this revelation, and so the final vote was only nine to eight against allowing the name change.  This meant that, in the [[Trial of Refusal]] he called for, Khan Clarke would only have to face one [[Cluster]] reinforced by a single [[Star]] against one Cluster of his own.  With the Snow Ravens winning the right to fight on behalf of the Council, Damon Clark commanded his forces personally and put on a masterful show, achieving a kill ratio of three to one and defeating the Snow Ravens handily after just 45 minutes.  In the aftermath of this the Sea Foxes would seek their own revenge on the Snow Ravens by targeting Liam Howell's loyal supporters with Trials of Grievances in what became known as the "Month of Grievances."<ref name=FMWC60/><ref name=IC135/><ref name=HOKp129/>

Having won the right to change his Clan's name through combat, Damon Clarke then went into seclusion for two days to decide how he would approach his own Clan about the change.  His conservative leanings would have him limit the vote to only the Bloodnamed as was traditional in Clan society; allowing the lower castes to have a say in the matter might also set a dangerous precedent and undo his attempts thus far to reshape the Clan.  At the same time not allowing the entire Clan to vote could also lead to a serious backlash, even widespread unrest, and his own reforms thus far had resulted in mixed results at best.  Seeking inspiration, he turned to the writings of Khan Nagasawa, and found himself converting to her viewpoint by her reasoning and logic.  On the third day he emerged from isolation and announced a vote would be held on September [[2985]] in which all members of the Clan would be allowed to vote.  This decision wasn't universally celebrated by all Sea Foxes though: many warriors felt betrayed by Khan Clarke's change of heart, and Beta Galaxy commander [[Brett Leroux]] along with seven other Bloodnamed warriors would challenge their Khan in turn to Trials of Refusal, though all would lose.<ref name=IC135/><ref name=IC136>''Invading Clans'', p. 136</ref>

When the vote was finally held on 30 September, 50 million people cast their votes in order of precedence of their caste.  The warriors went first, voting largely in favor of the change, while the scientists voted against it.  This was repeated again when the merchants voted in favor and the technicians against, and after the four castes had voted the count was 51% against the change.  The labor caste, in gratitude to Khan Clarke's newfound liberalism, voted 95% in favor of the change, and Clan Sea Fox officially became Clan Diamond Shark.  The Diamond Sharks' strength would be immediately tested when Clan Smoke Jaguar launched a Trial of Possession for Priori with overwhelming force.  Giving his commanders free rein to prosecute the battle as they saw fit, Khan Clarke trusted in his warriors to use their flexibility to the fullest and was rewarded with a great victory.  The Diamond Sharks had fought with greater unity and sense of purpose than expected, and this validation of the progressive ideals Karen Nagasawa first espoused inspired the Diamond Shark Khan to reverse all his previous attempts at reform.<ref name=IC136/><ref name=FMWC60/><ref name=HOKp129/>

==As Clan Diamond Shark==
{{InfoBoxFactions
| crest = [[Image:Clan Diamond Shark.jpg|right|Clan Diamond Shark Logo]]
| factionname = Clan Diamond Shark (Clan Sea Fox)
| timeperiod = [[2985]] &ndash; [[3100]]
| classification = [[Clan]]
| systems = 10
| capital = [[Strana Mechty]] (formerly)
| rulertitle = [[Khan]]
| military = [[Clan Diamond Shark Touman|Clan Diamond Shark ''touman'']]
| secretservice = [[Clan Diamond Shark Watch]]
}}
===Blood in the Water===
During the first decades of the [[Political Century]], Clan Diamond Shark tried to stay neutral in the growing debate between the [[Warden]]s and the [[Crusader Clans|Crusaders]].  Initially the Clan leaned slightly Warden, viewing the [[Inner Sphere]] and its peoples with less hostility than the Crusaders.  As the years wore on though the Diamond Sharks found themselves drawn more and more to the Crusader camp until eventually becoming wholly a part of it, though not for the same reasons.  Seeing the Invasion as an inevitability, they decided it was best to try and influence it from the inside, turning what they saw to be a bloodbath instigated by the Jade Falcons and Smoke Jaguars into an actual liberation.  They also saw their liberal ideas as more reflective of the Star League they wished to recreate, and thus made them the most qualified Clan to accomplish this task.<ref name=IC136/><ref name=FMWC61>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 61</ref>

Clan Diamond Shark voted in favor of the [[Dragoon Compromise]] of [[3000]], seeing it as eminently wise to gather as much information about the Inner Sphere as possible before attempting to liberate them.  The information they received, especially regarding the totalitarian [[Great Houses]] like the [[Capellan Confederation]], convinced the few remaining Wardens in their ranks as to the righteousness of their cause.  It did however cool their relationship with the other Crusaders, and when a new vote was held in [[3029]] they abstained rather than lend support to the new Smoke Jaguar Khan, [[Leo Showers]].<ref name=IC136/><ref name=FMWC61/>

In [[3046]] a moderate Crusader, [[Ian Hawker]], was elected to be senior Khan of the Diamond Sharks and immediately made policy changes which, in his explanations, were required to prepare the Clan for the imminent Invasion.  These changes resulted in curtailing many of the privileges the civilian castes had enjoyed, the most obnoxious of which were the posting of warrior representatives on all merchant vessels, the vetoing of future exploration missions, and the banning of all [[Freeborn|freebirth]]s from front-line duties.  These repressive measures would be justified as necessary when in [[3048]] Leo Showers brought forth evidence extracted from the ''[[Outbound Light]]'' and called for a new vote to invade, which Khan Hawker cast in favor.<ref name=FMWC61/><ref name=IC137>''Invading Clans'', p. 137</ref>

Reaction to this vote by the Diamond Sharks was immediate, widespread and largely hostile.  The civilian castes felt their rights had been violated when Khan Hawker failed to include them in on the vote for Invasion.  Even the Bloodnamed warriors felt slighted that their Khan hadn't at least consulted them first before he cast his vote.  Loud noises were made about a possible challenge to his leadership, but Khan Hawker was able to remind them the Clan would need all of its warriors in fighting shape for the upcoming campaign and so head off any attempts.<ref name=FMWC61/><ref name=IC137/>

===The Business of War===
====Preparations====
Unfortunately for Khan Ian Hawker, his internal troubles would continue during the Trials to determine which Clans would have the honor of conquering the Inner Sphere.  Although his was one of the six Clans to make it to the final rounds, the Diamond Sharks placed dead last behind the Nova Cats.  Hawker was able to salvage something from the disaster by winning a Trial of Refusal guaranteeing his Clan would be among the first to reinforce the Invasion should it be required, but his warriors were less than impressed.  Publicly none were willing to challenge their Khan, aware of his warnings that infighting might weaken them too much, but in the background political maneuvering towards this goal intensified.  In response, Khan Hawker sought political aid from wherever he could, including the one Crusader Clan he considered the most powerful.  While Khan [[Vandervahn Chistu]] of the Jade Falcons was skeptical of Hawker's overtures, saKhan [[Elias Crichell]] saw an accomplice he could manipulate to his own ends and agreed to an alliance.<ref name=IC137/>

As a minor consolation, [[ilKhan]] Leo Showers would allow the [[Home Clans]] to send representatives along with the Invasion to act as observers, limited to no more than a [[Trinary]]'s worth of troops along with whatever [[WarShips]] and [[DropShips]] were necessary.  Khan Ian Hawker and saKhan [[Barbara Sennet]] would accompany the senior Khan's command Trinary, [[Diamond Skate (Clan Diamond Shark)|Diamond Keshik]], which Hawker would command personally.  Rather than just stick with any one Clan, Hawker at first was determined to move between the Invading Clans in order to observe as many battle sites as possible and, hopefully, be allowed to participate in some.  The Diamond Shark saKhan meanwhile had more mercantile thoughts on her mind: she was determined to visit as many worlds conquered by the Clans as possible, take note of what supplies they needed, and report back this information to the rest of the Clan so profitable trade could commence.<ref name=IC138>''Invading Clans'', p. 138</ref>

====Merchant Marines====
A few days away from reaching the outskirts of the [[Periphery]], ilKhan Showers proclaimed that these worlds were open to bidding from any of the Clans regardless of the prearranged invasion corridors.  Khan Hawker immediately became excited at the prospect and bid his command Trinary to invade [[Blackstone]], only for his effort to be shot down by the ilKhan who rudely explained his proclamation applied only to the four official Invading Clans.  In a patronizing move he invited the Diamond Shark Khan by himself to join Smoke Jaguar forces in their future conquests, an invitation he stiffly declined, and instead took up an offer by the Jade Falcons for the entire Diamond Keshik to accompany them instead.  The Diamond Sharks joined the Jade Falcons in their conquest of [[Last Chance]], performing admirably in their first fight against the Inner Sphere "barbarians."  Although this pleased saKhan Crichell, many of his subordinates looked down on the Diamond Sharks and their "freebirth ways" towards combat, viewing their excellent performance on a Jade Falcon battlefield as an insult.<ref name=IC138/>

In the meantime, having studied the conditions in the Periphery, saKhan Sennet returned to the Homeworlds and began building support among the merchant caste to send a trading fleet.  In order to smooth over any objections, the saKhan proposed the merchants be allowed to keep 90% of all profits they made in the Inner Sphere.  Faced with the prospect of so much wealth, the merchants overwhelmingly agreed and began preparing eight merchant [[JumpShips]] for the journey.  This course of action infuriated many warriors though, resenting the fact mere traders and peddlers would set foot on the "lost paradise" before they could, and a few unsuccessfully challenged the junior Khan's decision with Trials of Grievances.<ref name=IC138/>

By the time the merchant fleet had reached the Inner Sphere the First Wave of [[Operation Revival]] was nearing its end, during which they first approached the Jade Falcons.  As it happened their first attempt at business was with the Jade Falcons' Beta Galaxy commander, Mar Helmar, who had earlier been disgusted by the inclusion of the Diamond Sharks during the Last Chance conquest.  In the most insulting of terms Galaxy Commander Helmar refused their wares and began agitating other Bloodnamed warriors to drive the freebirths back to Clan space.  Although most Jade Falcon warriors were more concerned with the upcoming second wave, the Diamond Sharks took no chances and began plying their trade elsewhere.<ref name=IC138/>

As it was none of the other Clans' front-line troops were willing to buy from the Diamond Sharks either, even as their supply problems began to grow; when questioned many felt it to be a matter of honor, that to buy from a Clan's lower caste which had traveled to the Inner Sphere before their own warriors had would be an unacceptable stain.  A far more practical mindset was to be found among Clan garrison forces however: lacking sufficient supplies to effectively combat the growing resistance movements on their worlds, these forces chose practicality over honor.  Within weeks of the start of the second wave the Diamond Sharks had begun to finally turn a profit.<ref name=IC138/>

Unfortunately this put the Diamond Sharks in direct conflict with the ilKhan, whose own Smoke Jaguars were having difficulties pacifying their conquered worlds.  To add insult to injury, many Smoke Jaguar garrison commanders had bought desperately needed supplies from the Diamond Sharks, putting his Clan in debt to them.  The ilKhan argued heatedly with both Diamond Shark Khans about whether their merchants were allowed in the Inner Sphere, to which saKhan Sennet noted by the terms of the pre-Invasion Trials only Diamond Shark warriors had been forbidden to enter the Inner Sphere in force, not Diamond Shark merchants.  Ian Hawker backed his junior Khan by observing the ilKhan seemed too eager to change the rules and that a less fickle commander might be needed to lead the Invasion.  The ilKhan was forced to back off, but in retaliation ordered a Smoke Jaguar [[Provisional Garrison Cluster]] to invade [[Delios]].  The Diamond Sharks' Alpha Galaxy saw off this attempt and in response attacked [[Vinton]], capturing a number of key Smoke Jaguar industrial sites and disrupting their flow of supplies until eventually being forced to retreat.<ref name=IC138/><ref name=IC139>''Invading Clans'', p. 139</ref>

====Hostile Takeover====
At the start of the third wave of the Invasion, the Diamond Sharks had brought an additional six merchant JumpShips into the Inner Sphere, making handsome profits selling not only to supply starved garrison units but trading nonmilitary goods directly with native bushiness which had managed to stay afloat.  Unfortunately these good times came to an end when, in June [[3050]], a Diamond Shark merchantman operating near [[Brocchi's Cluster]] vanished without a trace; shortly thereafter resistance movements on Clan-occupied worlds in the area suddenly spiked.  Galaxy Commander Mar Helmar saw a connection between the two and publicly accused the Diamond Sharks of aiding the enemy.  With the support of a few other Jade Falcon warriors and before the Grand Council Helmar called for a [[Trial of Annihilation]] against the "Merchant Clan" for the traitorous actions of their merchants.<ref name=IC139/>

Unwilling to lose a potential ally, saKhan Crichell brokered a compromise between his Clan and the Diamond Sharks.  He challenged Helmar to produce evidence confirming Diamond Shark treachery; when the Galaxy Commander failed to do so, he convinced the Diamond Sharks to open their books and provide complete access to their records about all transactions with non-Clan traders.  This further confirmed the Diamond Shark merchants had only sold military goods to Clan forces.  He then argued the Diamond Shark merchants should leave the Inner Sphere and not return until the Invasion had been completed, to which the Grand Council agreed.  Happy to have avoided a potential Annihilation both Diamond Shark Khans consented to these terms, although their merchants were less accommodating: after having transmitted information back to the Homeworlds, the Diamond Shark merchant caste held a vote and chose to stay in the Inner Sphere.  Angered by this defiance, Khan Hawker ordered the Diamond Keshik's WarShip to destroy one of the merchantmen.  Cowed by this display, the remaining merchants agreed to head home.<ref name=IC139/>

Jade Falcon saKhan Crichell also took note of this act, viewing it as Ian Hawker being serious about reforming his Clan along more traditional lines.  He invited both Khans and the Diamond Keshik to join the Jade Falcons in combat again at the start of the fourth wave.  The Diamond Sharks fought alongside the Jade Falcons on seven of the worlds they targeted, during which the Diamond Sharks performed admirably, eventually winning the Jade Falcons' grudging respect.  It was after combat on [[Leskovik]] that both Clans received the ilKhan's summons to join him on the [[Dire Wolf (Vessel)|''Dire Wolf'']] in [[Radstadt]].  When they finally arrived, the frantic battle between the ''Dire Wolf'' and [[Free Rasalhague Republic|Rasalhagian]] forces was already over, and the ilKhan was dead.<ref name=IC139/><ref name=IC140>''Invading Clans'', p. 140</ref>

====A Pound of Flesh====
Khan Hawker and Sennet agreed the Invasion force needed to return to Strana Mechty and vote for a new ilKhan to lead the liberation.  However, when the other Crusaders tried to blame the Wolf Khan [[Ulric Kerensky]] for Leo Showers' death and charged him in the Grand Council, the Diamond Sharks voted heavily against these false accusations.  When it finally came time to elect an ilKhan they also voted heavily in favor of Ulric, albeit for different reasons: Hawker in order to curry favor with his Jade Falcon allies, Sennet because he had been the fairest in dealing with the occupied populations of worlds conquered by the Clans, and thus keeping to the traditions of the Star League.  Both hoped Ulric would reward their Clan for their support when he won the election.<ref name=IC140/>

Ulric Kerensky did activate the Diamond Shark Clan after achieving the post of ilKhan, although only to serve as the designated "reserve" Clan behind the [[Clan Steel Viper|Steel Vipers]] and Nova Cats.  This turn of events was bitterly received by many Diamond Shark warriors, and the two Khans petitioned Ulric for them to reinforce the [[Clan Ghost Bear|Ghost Bears]] in the same manner as the Steel Vipers and Nova Cats had done for the Jade Falcons and Smoke Jaguars.  The ilKhan refused, but instead allowed them to fight a Trial of Possession over a single Ghost Bear world to serve as their future base of operations.  The Diamond Sharks chose [[Nyserta]], and in March [[3052]] they succeeded in capturing the planet.<ref name=IC140/>

Overjoyed to have finally scored a major victory after all their previous setbacks, Diamond Shark warriors began planning their next conquest while the merchants began to assemble another trading fleet.  Both Diamond Shark Khans now appealed to the ilKhan to lift the previous ban on Diamond Shark merchants, arguing their presence was necessary to build sufficient supply lines and allow the Invasion to continue forward.  The ilKhan granted their request, over the objections of others including the Jade Falcon Clan, and the order was transmitted for the merchant fleet to depart.  They would arrive over Nyserta little more than a day before Ulric Kerensky announced his plan for a [[Battle of Tukayyid (3052)|proxy battle]] with [[ComStar]] over the fate of the Inner Sphere.<ref name=IC140/>

===A Different Tack===
The Diamond Shark warriors lost most of their forces and much of their pride after the stinging defeat of Tukayyid, with both Alpha and Omega Galaxies seriously depleted and an entire Cluster of Omega Galaxy wiped out.  The disaster was compounded when the Ghost Bear Clan retook Nyserta shortly after Tukayyid, further gutting Omega Galaxy as a fighting force.  Ejected from the Inner Sphere, the Clan retreated back to the Homeworlds in order to defend their extensive holdings against any other Clans attempting to exploit their weakness.  Such was the nature of the Diamond Sharks that Khan Hawker began allowing [[freeborn]] warriors into front-line units.<ref>''Invading Clans'', p. 141</ref><ref name=FMWC62>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 62</ref>

With the ''touman'' understrength and political upheaval amongst the ranks, the Diamond Shark Khans were forced to give effective control of the Clan to [[Angus Labov]], a retired warrior and [[trueborn]] leader of the merchant council, with the mandate to rebuild the Diamond Shark military at any cost.  Under Labov's leadership, the merchant caste flooded into the Clan [[Occupation Zone]]s and stepped up their efforts in Clan space, driving hard bargains to gain major concessions (or driving the competition out of the market with attacks on other Clans' merchant lanes).  Labov activated the Diamond Sharks' reserve system for the first time and instituted the "Minus-One Testing" program to quickly fill in gaps in the Diamond Shark ''touman''.  Thanks to the miracles Angus Labov worked — and [[Refusal War|distractions elsewhere in Clan society]] — the Diamond Sharks were able to quickly regain much of their strength.<ref name=FMWC62/><ref name=FMWC63>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 63</ref><ref name=FMWC64>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 64</ref>

Not everyone was keen to these developments though, driven as they were by a lowly merchant.  Star Colonel [[Jeremy Hawker]], a subordinate in Khan Hawker's Alpha Galaxy, challenged Angus Labov to a [[Trial of Grievance]] over the power he had accumulated.  Labov agreed to the Trial and, using a ''[[Glass Spider]]'' loaned to him by saKhan Sennet, defeated his opponent in under two minutes.  Thanks to a quirk in the Sharks' military reserve system, Labov's victory allowed him to return to active duty immediately with the same rank as his defeated opponent.  Star Colonel Labov, with the help of saKhan Sennet, was able to assume one of the positions which opened up following the loss of many Crusader-minded warriors in the [[Harvest Trial]]s, though it would take a couple more challenges before he finally quieted any further opposition and cemented his standing in the Clan.<ref name=FMWC62/><ref name=FMWC63/>

Seeing his control of the Clan slipping away from him, Khan Hawker made one final push to regain power during [[Operation Bulldog]], the [[Second Star League]]'s assault on the Smoke Jaguar Clan.  Hoping to gain prestige and a new alliance, Khan Hawker assembled a strike team to go to the aid of the beleaguered Jaguars on [[Huntress]].  Unfortunately, Khan [[Vlad Ward]] of the Wolves got wind of this plan and forestalled it by challenging Hawker to a [[Trial of Possession]] for his genetic legacy.  Caught unawares, Khan Hawker was defeated, though out of spite the Wolf Clan refused to take him as a [[bondsman]].  While Clan Smoke Jaguar was dying, Khan Hawker was preoccupied with launching several military expeditions to regain his lost heritage, all of which ended in defeat.<ref name=FMWC63/>

Humiliated and thwarted at every turn, Ian Hawker saw the writing on the wall.  When the Star League arrived on [[Strana Mechty]] and initiated the [[Great Refusal]], he bowed to the will of his Clan and voted along with the Wardens to not participate in the Trials.  Hoping for a Clan victory, the peace won by the Inner Sphere was the final nail in the coffin for the disillusioned Khan, who chose to take his own life.  Barbara Sennet became the new Khan of Clan Diamond Shark and Angus Labov won the election to replace her as saKhan.<ref name=FMWC63/>

===Aggressive Expansion===
In the immediate aftermath of the Great Refusal, with the complete destruction of Smoke Jaguars, the surprise relocation of Ghost Bears, and the [[Trial of Abjuration|Abjuration]] of the Nova Cats, an immense void had been opened up in the Clan power structure, one which the survivors rushed to fill in.  The [[Wars of Possession]] were largely profitable to the Diamond Sharks, who were gifted a number of Ghost Bear enclaves for their support in the Grand Council.  The Diamond Sharks largely eschewed any attempt to seize former Smoke Jaguar territory, although they were quick to take the Jaguar enclave on [[Vinton]], instead moving to secure former Ghost Bear assets.  Extensive gains were made on [[Paxon]], though when they realized trying to hold onto [[Tokasha]] would be too costly the Diamond Sharks voluntarily withdrew.<ref name=FMWC63/><ref>''Invading Clans'', p. 26</ref>

The Diamond Sharks also took advantage of the Nova Cats' dire predicament, offering their services in exchange for immense profit.  On [[Delios]], the Diamond Sharks agreed to allow the Nova Cats to withdraw with most of their equipment in exchange for their territory.  At [[Barcella]], the Nova Cat capital, the Diamond Sharks leased a number of ''[[Potemkin]]'' troop transports to move the Nova Cat population and offered Beta Galaxy under contract to shore up the beleaguered defenders.  The deal netted the Diamond Sharks most of the Nova Cats' assets and large tracts of their territory, along with the enmity of the Jade Falcon and Ice Hellion Clans, who would continue to challenge the Diamond Sharks for control of the world.<ref name=FMWC63/><ref>''Invading Clans'', p. 28</ref>

Diamond Shark activities at this time were not just limited to Clan space either.  In the summer of [[3061]], the Diamond Sharks entered into formal negotiations with the [[Draconis Combine]] for the sale of ''[[Ha Otoko]]'' BattleMechs, an event which brought about an immediate challenge from Clan Jade Falcon.  Arguments that selling the stripped-down 'Mech to the Inner Sphere would not constitute a threat to the Clans fell on deaf ears in the Grand Council, so the Sharks announced that the resulting [[Trial of Refusal]] would be fought with second-line 'Mechs.  Though the Jade Falcons won the right to a Trial, they lost in the subsequent fight, allowing the sale to go forward.<ref name=FMU58>''Field Manual: Updates'', p. 58</ref>

The Diamond Sharks' pivot from the Homeworlds, which were increasingly seen as a liability, towards the rich markets of the Inner Sphere continued at an accelerated pace.  In [[3062]], they sold their enclave on [[Priori]] to [[Clan Star Adder]] in exchange for new weapons technology and a twenty-year lease on the ''[[Renown (Vessel)|Renown]]''; in [[3064]] they put their Eagle Crater enclave on [[New Kent]] up for auction by Clans Ice Hellion and Coyote, which the Coyotes won.  Finally, later that year, the Diamond Sharks struck a deal with the Jade Falcons, exchanging their assets on Lum for the right to settle [[Twycross]].  The Jade Falcons believed they had finally gotten the better of the Diamond Sharks until [[3065]] when it was revealed that Jonah's Reach, a near-lifeless planet in the Twycross system, was a second source of [[HarJel]].  This turn of events caused no small amount of insults and threats between the two Clans on the Chatterweb.<ref name=FMU58/>

Diamond Shark advancement into the Inner Sphere continued unabated, winning control of [[Trondheim (FRR)|Trondheim]] and [[Itabaiana]] from the [[Ghost Bear Dominion]] and Draconis Combine respectively to serve as trading hubs.  The Chatterweb was subsequently expanded to cover the Inner Sphere, with safeguards to prevent unauthorized access to the Homeworld network.  Additionally, through their contacts with the Nova Cats and [[Clan Wolf-in-Exile]], the Diamond Sharks began selling their Twycross-produced HarJel to the Combine and [[Lyran Alliance]], stamping "Made in the Inner Sphere" on their products to fend off any formal challenges but nevertheless causing an uproar.  Their most controversial move though came in [[3066]], when they unveiled the ''[[Mad Cat Mk II]]'' and intended to sell it (along with a lucrative service contract) to the Inner Sphere.  Unlike the ''Ha Otoko'', the ''Mad Cat Mk II'' contained advanced Clan components (albeit older models taken from their [[Brian Cache]]s), which seriously threatened the technology advantage the Clans had heretofore enjoyed.<ref name=FMU58/> This action later led the Diamond Sharks to a scandal where they were censured by the Grand Council for selling Clan equipment to the Inner Sphere.

==Jihad and Beyond==
The Diamond Sharks joined the allied coalition assembled by [[Devlin Stone]] to fight against the [[Word of Blake]] on the 20th of February, [[3076]], offering their transport services to the coalition.<ref name="JHS:Tp20">''Jihad Hot Spots: Terra'', p. 20: "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref><ref name="J:FRp55">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 55: "The Jihad in Review"</ref> A few months later, the Diamond Sharks challenged [[Clan Ghost Bear]] for the right to set up a trading enclave on the former [[Free Rasalhague Republic]] world of [[Tukayyid]]. The Trial took place on the 7th of May, 3076, with the Diamond Sharks the victors.<ref name="J:FRp55"/><ref name="JHS:Tp21">''Jihad Hot Spots: Terra'', p. 21: "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref>

On the 11th of May [[3080]] [[Star Admiral]] [[Naomi Nagasawa]] succeeded [[Barbara Sennet]] as Khan of the Diamond Sharks, Sennet having stepped down from the position. Two months later, Diamond Shark [[WarShip]]s would successfully defend Tukayyid from an attack by a [[Word of Blake]] flotilla of nuclear weapon-equipped fighters and [[Pocket WarShip]]s.<ref name="J:FRp61">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 61: "The Jihad in Review"</ref>

In the wake of the [[Jihad]] the Diamond Sharks' presence in the Inner Sphere began to steadily increase, with the Sharks' larger WarShips becoming noticeably more active, leading numerous trade missions to the various capital worlds. While the bulk of the Diamond Shark ''touman'' continued to remain on the major trade worlds controlled by the Sharks, each trade mission was commonly accompanied by a Cluster of troops, although Inner Sphere intelligence agencies were confounded by being unable to find any sign of half of the Diamond Shark units known to exist in [[3067]].<ref name="J:FRp112">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 112: "Clan Diamond Shark"</ref>

In the late 3070s or early 3080s the Diamond Sharks also established an enclave on the [[Lyran Alliance]] world of [[Halfway]], marking a new level of interaction with the nations of the [[Inner Sphere]] for the mercantile Clan. The enclave on Halfway allowed the Sharks to gain influence as far away as [[Sian]] as they built and maintained connections with major Inner Sphere corporations.<ref name="J:FRp114">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 114: "Clan Diamond Shark"</ref>

During the [[Wars of Reaving]], the Diamond Sharks were abjured from Clan space by their Homeworld brethren, leaving their holdings and equipment controlled by the other Clans.

==Reformation==
Clan Diamond Shark changed its name back to [[Clan Sea Fox|Sea Fox]] in [[3100]], after the events surrounding their censure by the [[Grand Council]], and their relocation to the [[Inner Sphere]] during the Blakist Jihad, which resulted in the development of autonomous trade fleets, known as Khanates, and a new chapter in the history of the Clan began.

===The Sea Foxes in the Dark Age===
The Foxes prospered during the [[Dark Age]]. Keeping strictly to their policy of neutrality, their ships travelled throughout the Inner Sphere, doing business, selling goods and information. They avoided any direct participation in the conflicts that erupted, especially after the [[Blackout]]. The loss of [[HPG]] signals made their business harder, as they were forced to rely on paying hard currency. Falcon Merchant [[Marena]]'s creation of the [[ArcShip]]s assisted them in their business, however. In [[3138]], ovKhan [[Petr Kalasa]] broke his neutrality by assisting [[Spirit Cats]] Star Colonel [[Rikkard Nova Cat]] in conquering [[Marik]], which later resulted in the creation of the [[Clan Protectorate]], a state in which the Sea Foxes were an important voice.

Years later, the Foxes acquired all [[ComStar]] assets in the reborn [[Free Worlds League]], clearly showing their intention to absorb and replace ComStar.<ref>''Shattered Fortress'', p. 74: "ComStar Liquidation Completed"</ref>

===The ilClan Era===
The Sea Foxes played a secondary but vital part in [[Alaric Ward]]'s [[Battle of Terra (3151)|Battle of Terra]], supplying him with weapons and equipment and moving his troops. After Ward's victory in the [[ilClan Trial]], their Khans quickly recognized the Wolves as the [[ilClan]]. 

The creation of the [[Alyina Mercantile League]], a merchant, Clan-inspired protostate in the old Jade Falcon Occupation Zone, now known as the [[Hinterlands]], greatly benefited them. They also soon made deals with the reborn [[Tamar Pact]] in the same area.

However, the growth of the Foxes never stopped; their restoration of [[Alyina]]'s HPG and building of a new HPG on Twycross showed the Foxes' ability to solve the [[Blackout]], and suggested they would eventually replace ComStar as the only Inner Sphere–wide communications group. They reinforced that suspicion when they took control of all of the [[Wolf Empire]]'s active or inactive HPGs in exchange for their military support in its defense.<ref>''Redemption Rites'', pp. 190–192</ref>

On the other side of the Inner Sphere, [[Ya'el Labov]], saKhan of the Fox Khanate, began a surprising and daring strategy: he offered his services as broker to the [[mercenary]] [[Illician Lancers]]. His offer was accepted, which suggests that he intended his Clan to replace the [[MRBC]].<ref>''Riptides''</ref>

==References==
<references/>

==Bibliography==
* ''[[The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky]]''
* ''[[Era Digest: Golden Century]]''
* ''[[Empire Alone]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Warden Clans]]''
* ''[[Invading Clans]]''
* ''[[Jihad: Final Reckoning]]''
* ''[[Jihad Hot Spots: Terra]]''
* ''[[Riptides]]''
* ''[[Shattered Fortress]]
* ''[[Tamar Rising]]''


[[Category:History|Clan Sea Fox, History of]]
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