Sarna News: Bad 'Mechs - Icestorm

Difference between revisions of "Invasion corridor - Clan Ghost Bear"
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==Commands & World==
+
==Order of Battle==
−
 
 
 
:[[Ourse Keshik (Clan Ghost Bear)|Ourse Keshik]]
 
:[[Ourse Keshik (Clan Ghost Bear)|Ourse Keshik]]
−
:[[Clan Ghost Bear Naval Reserve]]
+
:Clan Ghost Bear Naval Reserve
 +
::''[[Bear's Den (Individual Black Lion-class WarShip)|Bear's Den]]'', ''[[Dieron's Run]]'', 6 Clan ''[[Monolith]]''s, 8 Clan ''[[Merchant]]''s, 7 Clan ''[[Scout (JumpShip class)|Scout]]''s, 6 Clan ''[[Invader]]''s
  
 
:[[Alpha Galaxy (Clan Ghost Bear)|'''Alpha Galaxy''']]
 
:[[Alpha Galaxy (Clan Ghost Bear)|'''Alpha Galaxy''']]
Line 9: Line 9:
 
::[[3rd Bear Guards (Clan Ghost Bear)|3rd Bear Guards]]
 
::[[3rd Bear Guards (Clan Ghost Bear)|3rd Bear Guards]]
 
::[[50th Striker (Clan Ghost Bear)|50th Striker Cluster]]
 
::[[50th Striker (Clan Ghost Bear)|50th Striker Cluster]]
 +
 
:[[Beta Galaxy (Clan Ghost Bear)|'''Beta Galaxy''']]
 
:[[Beta Galaxy (Clan Ghost Bear)|'''Beta Galaxy''']]
 
::[[Shrill Keshik (Clan Ghost Bear)|Shrill Keshik]]
 
::[[Shrill Keshik (Clan Ghost Bear)|Shrill Keshik]]
Line 15: Line 16:
 
::[[332nd Assault (Clan Ghost Bear)|332nd Assault Cluster]]
 
::[[332nd Assault (Clan Ghost Bear)|332nd Assault Cluster]]
 
::[[14th Battle (Clan Ghost Bear)|14th Battle Cluster]]
 
::[[14th Battle (Clan Ghost Bear)|14th Battle Cluster]]
 +
 
:[[Delta Galaxy (Clan Ghost Bear)|'''Delta Galaxy''']]
 
:[[Delta Galaxy (Clan Ghost Bear)|'''Delta Galaxy''']]
 
::[[Jorgensson's Keshik (Clan Ghost Bear)|Jorgensson's Keshik]]
 
::[[Jorgensson's Keshik (Clan Ghost Bear)|Jorgensson's Keshik]]
Line 23: Line 25:
 
::[[140th Striker (Clan Ghost Bear)|140th Striker Cluster]]
 
::[[140th Striker (Clan Ghost Bear)|140th Striker Cluster]]
  
−
===3.1. Periphery===
+
==Preparations==
 +
While a basic plan of attack had been agreed upon in the [[Grand Council]] - four [[Invader Clans]] operating along four "invasion corridors", with the Ghost Bears receiving the one which ran through territory held by the [[Draconis Combine]] and [[Free Rasalhague Republic]] - each Clan was responsible for the specifics of their own invasion. As Ghost Bear [[Khan]] [[Karl Bourjon]], [[saKhan]] [[Theresa DelVillar]] and their [[Star Colonel]]s met to debate their strategy, Khan Bourjon argued against bringing along excessive logistical support to support their forces. Reasoning that, since the Inner Sphere forces they would face in battle could provide only minimal opposition to their invasion, he did not want to bring along too many supplies which would both weigh down their fleet and impose hardship on those left behind on the homeworlds.  SaKhan DelVillar, though agreeing that their invasion force would defeat all comers, was less convinced that the minimal support Khan Bourjon was proposing would be sufficient.  The Khan's argument won out in the end though, resulting in Clan Ghost Bear invading the Inner Sphere with the fewest supplies and matériel of any Clan.<ref name=IC18>''Invading Clans'', p. 18</ref>
 +
 
 +
During these deliberations, the rest of the invading Ghost Bear forces met on [[Strana Mechty]] for two nights of feasting, hunting and sports, including the traditional decathlon-style event dating back to the founding of the Clan.  They also sent out six Clawing parties which pledged to return within the week.  The fact that four of them returned alive, and two of those with a [[Ghost Bear (species)|Ghost Bear]] kill, was an unprecedented success rate and taken as a sign of assured victory in the coming campaign.<ref name=IC18/>
  
−
====[[Porthos]] (September 3049)====
+
==Invasion Route==
−
:'''Attackers:''' [[Ourse Keshik (Clan Ghost Bear)|Ourse Keshik]]
+
===Periphery===
−
:'''Defenders:''' MechWarrior Uchi Tikidomo (former [[DCMS]] officer)
+
Though each of the four invading Clans were assigned their individual corridors for the invasion, at the insistence of the other Khans [[ilKhan]] [[Leo Showers]] declared the [[Periphery]] open territory for all.  This allowed Clan Smoke Jaguar to attack [[Santander's World]], which lay within the Ghost Bear corridor, while the Ghost Bears bid unopposed to invade the [[Elysian Fields]] within the Clan Wolf corridor.  Ghost Bear interest in these worlds was sparked by [[Star League]] records indicating an advanced research facility was hidden on one of them. Their invasion of the Elysian Fields were unopposed by the local governments, but in the end they found no trace of the supposed hidden facility and promptly evacuated these worlds, unwilling to even leave a garrison behind out of shame.<ref name=IC18-19>''Invading Clans'', pp. 18–19</ref>
−
:'''Outcome:''' The destiny of this planet was decided by a duel. Uchi Tikidomo, a retired DCMS officer, fought for the liberty of his homeworld but was beaten by his opponent. In appreciation of his skills during the fight Tikidomo was made the speaker of this world for the Clans.<ref name="IC-30">''Invading Clans'', p. 30</ref>
 
  
−
====[[Santander's World]] (July 3052)====
+
The rest of the Clan's Periphery targets were swept aside with little effort, and in the Grand Council meeting that followed they reported finding an overwhelming lack of worthy adversaries.  Accepting the Periphery's level of technology and training at face value, the Ghost Bear Khans expected no better from the Inner Sphere as they returned to their Clan to plan the First Wave, and even the paltry supplies they had brought along were beginning to look like an overestimation.<ref name=IC18-19/>
−
:'''Attackers:''' [[1st Bear Guards (Clan Ghost Bear)|1st Bear Guards]] ([[Alpha Galaxy (Clan Ghost Bear)|Alpha Galaxy]])
+
{| border="1" style="text-align:left"
−
:'''Defenders:''' [[7th Provisional Garrison Cluster (Clan Smoke Jaguar)|7th Provisional Garrison Cluster]] (Clan Smoke Jaguar)
+
|+ Periphery Action
−
:'''Outcome:''' The Ghost Bears fought a [[Trial of Possession]] for this world against its original conqueror [[Clan Smoke Jaguar]] for two reasons: first to test the strength of the Jaguars and second as revenge for the lost biding during the starting phase of the invasion.  While the Bears won the Trial they did resort to unorthodox tactics. <ref name="IC-30"/>
+
|-
 +
! '''Date'''
 +
! '''Location'''
 +
! '''Attacker'''
 +
! '''Defender'''
 +
! '''Outcome'''
 +
|-
 +
|September 3049
 +
|[[Porthos]]
 +
|[[Ourse Keshik (Clan Ghost Bear)|Ourse Keshik]]
 +
:Alpha OmniMech Star
 +
::[[Star Captain]] [[Ian DelVillar]]
 +
|MechWarrior [[Uchi Tikidomo]]
 +
|Ghost Bear Victory
 +
|-
 +
|}
  
−
===3.2. Wave 1 (March-April 3050)===
+
===Wave 1 (March-April 3050)===
 +
As per Ghost Bear tradition, a vote was held among the warriors to determine who would have the honor of conquering the first world, [[Thule]].  The vote turned out to be a laborious process which lasted for an entire week and delayed the Ghost Bear timetable considerably.  With each warrior wanting the honor and none willing to step aside, saKhan DelVillar eventually declared all three Galaxies would participate and assigned each one a continent on the planet.  The conquest of Thule was not without its difficulties, but the Khans eventually declared it a success, leaving behind a single [[Trinary]] to garrison the planet and continuing on to the other worlds.<ref name=IC19-20>''Invading Clans'', pp. 19–20</ref>
  
−
[[Image:operationrevival-ghostbearwaveone.png|Ghost Bear operation in wave 1]]
+
The Ghost Bears finished their conquest of their first wave target worlds ahead of schedule and, as on Thule, similarly left behind light garrisons. Those warriors who noted the discrepancy in garrison sizes between Ghost Bear and Wolf worlds were ignored; as it had in the Periphery, the pathetic resistance offered thus far by Rasalhagian forces further reinforced the notion that the invasion would be a quick and easy victory.  To celebrate the first wave's successful completion, the Khans declared a round of games, with the winner receiving his choice of assignments in the next wave, and that these games were to be held at the end of each invasion wave.<ref name=IC19-20/>
  
−
====[[Damian]] (FRR) March 3050====
+
While on the face of it the Ghost Bear invasion looked to be a success, beneath this veneer real trouble was brewing.  By the end of the first wave the Ghost Bear Clan had already expended most of their available war matériel, against token resistance at that, and were less efficient than the other Clans, who conquered more worlds in their first waves.  Compounding the small garrisons left behind on their worlds was the Ghost Bears' unwillingness to leave administrating these worlds in the hands of their [[ComStar]] allies or local governments.  Had Khan Bourjon been able to admit his mistakes and take steps to rectify them, such as bringing forward additional supplies, future misfortunes may have been averted.<ref name=IC23>''Invading Clans'', p. 23</ref>
−
:'''Attackers:''' [[8th Bear Cuirassiers (Clan Ghost Bear)|8th Bear Cuirassiers]] (Delta Galaxy)
 
−
:'''Defenders:''' [[Black Omen]] (a mercenary company)
 
−
:'''Outcome:''' During its initial First Wave invasion Damian fell easily as the Black Omen company seemingly fled rather than face this new enemy.  In truth, recognizing they could not defeat their opponent in open combat the mercenaries instead chose to hide, wait for the main force to pass, and then emerge to overrun the small garrison force left behind.  In the Second Wave the 8th Bear Cuirassiers returned and retook Damian, showing no mercy to the Black Omen which barely survived long enough to escape off-world.<ref name="IC-30"/>
 
  
−
====[[Thule]] (FRR) March 3050====
+
[[Image:operationrevival-ghostbearwaveone.png|Ghost Bear operation in wave 1]]
−
:'''Attackers:''' [[139th Striker (Clan Ghost Bear)|139th Striker Cluster]] (Alpha Galaxy) + [[304th Assault (Clan Ghost Bear)|304th Assault Cluster]] (Beta Galaxy)+ [[73rd Battle (Clan Ghost Bear)|73rd Battle Cluster]] (Delta Galaxy)
+
{| border="1" style="text-align:left"
−
:'''Defenders:''' [[1st Hussars (Free Rasalhague Republic)|1st Hussars]]
+
|+First Wave
−
:'''Outcome:''' In the conquest of Thule [[Khan]] [[Karl Bourjon]] decided that all of Ghost Bear's invading [[Galaxy|Galaxies]] would be represented, and sent three [[Trinary|Trinaries]] to face off against the defending Hussars.  However the Ghost Bears immediately ran into problems as they began their assault on the planet: in addition to the inhospitable desert landscape, many units were destroyed by aerospace and artillery strikes, while the Hussars would retreat in the face of the Clan attacks to lessen their own losses.  More reinforcements would be called in as the Hussars kept up their harassing attacks until they were forced to fight from prepared positions against the Golden Bears, where they were annihilated.<ref name="IC-30"/>
+
|-
 +
! '''Date'''
 +
! '''Location'''
 +
! '''Attacker'''
 +
! '''Defender'''
 +
! '''Outcome'''
 +
|-
 +
|March 3050
 +
|[[Thule]] ([[Free Rasalhague Republic|FRR]])
 +
|Alpha Galaxy
 +
:[[139th Striker (Clan Ghost Bear)|139th Striker Cluster]]<br />
 +
Beta Galaxy
 +
:[[304th Assault (Clan Ghost Bear)|304th Assault Cluster]]<br />
 +
Delta Galaxy
 +
:[[73rd Battle (Clan Ghost Bear)|73rd Battle Cluster]]<br />
 +
|[[1st Hussars (Free Rasalhague Republic)|1st Hussars]]
 +
|Ghost Bear Victory
 +
|-
 +
|March 3050
 +
|[[Damian ]] (FRR)
 +
|Delta Galaxy
 +
:[[8th Bear Cuirassiers (Clan Ghost Bear)|8th Bear Cuirassiers]]
 +
::34th Striker Trinary
 +
|[[Black Omen]]
 +
|Ghost Bear Victory
 +
|-
 +
|March 3050
 +
|[[Holmsbu]] (FRR)
 +
|Beta Galaxy
 +
:[[12th Bear Chevaliers (Clan Ghost Bear)|12th Bear Chevaliers]]
 +
::43rd Elemental Support Trinary
 +
|[[7th Corrugated Lancers]]<br />[[8th Corrugated Lancers]]
 +
|Ghost Bear Victory
 +
|-
 +
|March 3050
 +
|[[Pinnacle]] (FRR)
 +
|Delta Galaxy
 +
:[[140th Striker (Clan Ghost Bear)|140th Striker Cluster]]
 +
::71st Assault Trinary
 +
:::Alpha & Bravo Assault Stars
 +
|[[Pinnacle Guardsmen]]
 +
|Ghost Bear Victory
 +
|-
 +
|April 3050
 +
|[[Constance]] (FRR)
 +
|Delta Galaxy
 +
:[[68th Striker (Clan Ghost Bear)|68th Striker Cluster]]
 +
|[[The Honor Guard]]
 +
|Ghost Bear Victory
 +
|-
 +
|}
  
−
====[[Holmsbu]] (FRR) March 3050====
+
===Wave 2 (May-June 3050)===
−
:'''Attackers:'''  [[12th Bear Chevaliers (Clan Ghost Bear)|12th Bear Chevaliers]] ([[Beta Galaxy (Clan Ghost Bear)|Beta Galaxy]])
+
The second wave of the invasion initially went off to a good start as the Ghost Bears confronted forces of the Draconis Combine for the first time.  Informed by intelligence reports from the Smoke Jaguars of the Combine's curious mix of honorable and brutal military tactics, the Ghost Bears were certain that they would make for superior challenge compared to their previous Periphery and Rasalhagian opponents. Led by their saKhan, elements of Alpha Galaxy clashed with Kuritan troops on [[Jarett]] and overcame them after a ten-day, hard-fought battle.<ref name=IC20-21>''Invading Clans'', pp. 20–21</ref>
−
:'''Defenders:''' 7th and 8th Corrugated Lancers (2 armored regiments supported by infantry)
 
−
:'''Outcome:''' The defending Lancers, frightened at the aspect of facing these heretofore-unknown invaders, quickly gave up the planet.<ref name="IC-30"/>  
 
  
−
====[[Pinnacle]] (FRR) March 3050====
+
However, it was in the midst of the second wave conquests that reports came in of trouble in the Clan's rear.  The First Hussars had reemerged and destroyed the garrison on Thule, winning back the planet from the Ghost Bears, as had the Black Omen [[mercenary]] company on Damian.  On other worlds previously conquered by the Ghost Bears, the local populace was rising up, disposing of the weak Clan garrison forces, arming themselves and ringing their cities with [[vibrabomb]]s.  Leaving behind token garrisons again on their second wave worlds, entire Galaxies were redirected back to pacify these uprisings, though that was easier said than done: as Delta Galaxy struggled through a week of constant fighting on one planet, [[Galaxy Commander]] [[Roberto Snuka]] threatened to level every city in rebellion if they did not submit.  Fortunately the situation was defused by the local ComStar [[Demi-Precentor]] broadcasting a plea for peace and a promise that the "new administration" would work cooperatively with the populace...a promise which was backed up by heftier garrison forces.<ref name=IC20-21/>
−
:'''Attackers:''' [[140th Striker (Clan Ghost Bear)|140th Striker Cluster]] (Delta Galaxy)
 
−
:'''Defenders:''' The Pinnacle Guardsmen (1 regiment of mechanized infantry)
 
−
:'''Outcome:''' The defending infantry force had no chance when they meet the invader's [[OmniMechs]] in battle and the planet was quickly conquered.<ref name="IC-30"/><ref name="IC-31"/>
 
  
−
====[[Constance]] (DC) April 3050====
+
Alpha Galaxy would return to Thule and destroy the remainder of the First Hussars on the planet's frigid south lands, easily sweeping aside their prepared positions and ending the battle before it began.  Beta Galaxy's response to Damian however resulted in tragedy when, after making the jump on 17 May aboard the [[Bear's Den (Individual Black Lion-class WarShip)|''Bear's Den'']], the unit went missing.  Busy with stamping out rebellions and other matters, a week went by before the Ghost Bear Khans could focus on the missing Galaxy and sent the 50th Striker to search for them.  Upon their arrival on Damian, the Fiftieth learned that an asteroid had struck the ''Bear's Den''; though damage was minor it had knocked out the ship's communications and were beyond the ability to fix with field repairs.  More seriously the asteroid strike had also hit one of the attached [[DropShips]] and wiped out an entire Cluster.  While Beta Galaxy managed to land on Damian following the accident and destroyed the Black Omen, the planet had no [[HPG]] station and so couldn't inform the Khans of what had happened.<ref name=IC20-21/>
−
:'''Attackers:''' [[68th Striker (Clan Ghost Bear)|68th Striker Cluster]] ([[Delta Galaxy (Clan Ghost Bear)|Delta Galaxy]])
 
−
:'''Defenders:''' The Honor Guard (5 companies of 'Mechs + 2 armor regiments)
 
−
:'''Outcome:''' The defenders used every opportunity to fight the invaders, including setting traps for the Ghost Bears and poisoning the general water supply.  The commanding officer of the 68th Striker saw this as a breach of honor and called in reinforcements to wipe out the entire defending force.<ref name="IC-31">''Invading Clans'', p. 31</ref>  
 
  
−
===3.3. Wave 2 (May-June 3050)===
+
The scale of the losses suffered deeply affected the Ghost Bears, with both Khans agreeing to hold a traditional two-day ceremony to honor the fallen on Damian.  Every Ghost Bear warrior barring those on essential duties arrived to take part, though this delayed the start of the Ghost Bears' third wave. In combination with the larger garrison forces now deemed necessary to hold their planets, the loss of an entire Cluster also left the Clan dangerously short of combat forces. As they mustered their remaining units at Damian, the Clan held another vote in early June to determine the best course of action going forward.  In a close victory it was decided that the invasion should continue as planned, with the Khans planning on combating future troop shortages by holding fewer units in reserve.<ref name=IC20-21/>
  
 
[[Image:operationrevival-ghostbearwavetwo.png|Ghost Bear operation in wave 2]]
 
[[Image:operationrevival-ghostbearwavetwo.png|Ghost Bear operation in wave 2]]
 +
{| border="1" style="text-align:left"
 +
|+Second Wave
 +
|-
 +
! '''Date'''
 +
! '''Location'''
 +
! '''Attacker'''
 +
! '''Defender'''
 +
! '''Outcome'''
 +
|-
 +
|May 3050
 +
|[[Susquehanna]] (FRR)
 +
|Beta Galaxy
 +
:[[14th Battle (Clan Ghost Bear)|14th Battle Cluster]]
 +
::96th Battle Trinary
 +
|[[Regal Death]]
 +
|Ghost Bear Victory
 +
|-
 +
|May 3050
 +
|[[Jarett]] ([[Draconis Combine|DC]])
 +
|Alpha Galaxy
 +
:[[1st Bear Guards]]
 +
::Trinary Galaxy Command
 +
::310th Assault Trinary
 +
::17th Battle Trinary
 +
|[[9th Alshain Regulars]]
 +
|Ghost Bear Victory
 +
|-
 +
|May 3050
 +
|[[Trondheim (FRR)|Trondheim]] (FRR)
 +
|Alpha Galaxy
 +
:[[3rd Bear Guards (Clan Ghost Bear)|3rd Bear Guards]]
 +
::Trinary Command
 +
::12th Battle Trinary
 +
::34th Fighter Binary
 +
|[[Trondheim Freedom Defenders]]
 +
|Ghost Bear Victory
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 +
===Wave 3 (June-July 3050)===
 +
Dissatisfaction was quickly growing within the Ghost Bear ranks at Khan Bourjon's handling of the situation.  The dwindling supply situation, combined with the rebellion outbreaks on previously conquered world (and the seemingly uncharacteristic overreaction of sending entire Galaxies to put down armed civilians), had caused the Ghost Bears to fall way behind the other Clans.  When Clan Wolf announced an accelerated timetable for their invasion force, Khan Bourjon failed to heed his warriors' demands that [[Provisional Garrison Cluster]]s (PGCs) be brought forward so that more frontline units could be freed up to attack more worlds.  As well, though not blamed for the tragedy of Beta Galaxy, he failed to focus his warriors' anger at the loss into meaningful battlefield gains.<ref name=IC20-23>''Invading Clans'', pp. 20–23</ref>
  
 +
It was in the midst of this growing disapproval that ilKhan Showers contacted DelVillar in late May to suggest that the Ghost Bears bid for the right to conquer [[Rasalhague]], capital world of the Republic.  Though it technically lay within the Wolves' invasion corridor, by the agreed-upon rules its presence near the border with the Ghost Bears made it a legitimate target; additionally should the Ghost Bears conquer this world it would slow down the Wolves' lightning advance and boost morale.  DelVillar agreed with the ilKhan's advice, but when she brought the proposal to Bourjon he originally intended to reject it, seemingly unable to see the advantage in taking such a prize.  Only the traditional Ghost Bear habit of obedience to the ilKhan prompted Khan Bourjon to finally consent to the plan.  Once the rest of the warriors learned about their Khan's initial rejection they became furious.  The Clan's [[Oathmaster]], [[Aletha Kabrinski]], became the head of a growing movement to replace the Khan at the earliest opportunity.<ref name=IC20-23/>
  
−
====[[Susquehanna]] (FRR) May 3050====
+
A plan of attack was formulated and Khan [[Ulric Kerensky]] of Clan Wolf was informed that the Ghost Bears would bid him for the right to take Rasalhague. Khan Kerensky's objections went unheeded and he agreed to meet the Ghost Bear Khans on 27 June when the bidding would take place.  As a stepping stone to Rasalhague, the Ghost Bears kicked off their third wave by attacking [[Last Frontier]] on 23 June, but while the victory was a foregone conclusion tragedy again struck when a lucky shot killed saKhan DelVillar.  Immediately Khan Bourjon convened a meeting of the Clan's [[Bloodnamed]] warriors to elect a new saKhan, and after defeating stiff competition Oathmaster Kabrinski earned the title.  In her first official statement as saKhan, Kabrinski immediately turned on Khan Bourjon, calling him a fine warrior but an incompetent leader whose failings were to blame for their Clan's poor performance.  She nominated Star Colonel [[Bjorn Jorgensson]] to challenge the Khan for his position.  Caught off guard by this turn of events, Khan Bourjon called for a vote of no confidence, which he lost unanimously, and in the following vote the assembled warriors elected Bjorn Jorgensson to succeed to his position.<ref name=IC20-23/>
−
:'''Attackers:''' [[14th Battle (Clan Ghost Bear)|14th Battle Cluster]]  (Beta Galaxy)
 
−
:'''Defenders:''' [[Regal Death]]  (a mercenary company supported by 2 battalions of heavy armor)
 
−
:'''Outcome:''' A single Trinary to sent to face off against the defending mercenaries, who seemingly retreated in the face of the Ghost Bear attack.  In truth it was only for them to set up an ambush which took out an entire [[Star]], although this only served to anger the two surviving Stars which proceeded to wipe out the entire defending force.  In the wake of this second ambush on as many worlds the Ghost Bears declared all mercenaries to be ''[[dezgra]]'' for which the rules of ''[[zellbrigen]]'' would not apply.<ref name="IC-31"/><ref name="IC-32">''Invading Clans'', p. 31</ref>
 
  
−
====[[Jarett]](DC)  May 3050====
+
Khan Bourjon called for a [[Trial of Refusal]], which Khan Jorgensson accepted personally.  Bourjon elected to fight the Trial "augmented," he in his 'Mech and Jorgensson in his [[OmniFighter]], while Jorgensson chose to fight in the tropical jungles of Last Frontier.  While Khan Bourjon held the upper hand at the beginning of the fight, using the jungle's cover against Jorgensson's strafing runs, the aerospace pilot continued to bide his time whilst making leisurely attacks.  Bourjon's 'Mech eventually slowed to a crawl as his constant movements churned the ground into a soupy bog, and once sufficiently mired Jorgensson pressed his advantage aggressively until Bourjon pleaded ''[[hegira]]''.<ref name=IC20-23/>
−
:'''Attackers:''' 1st Bear Guards  (Alpha Galaxy)
 
−
:'''Defenders:''' [[9th Alshain Regulars]]
 
−
:'''Outcome:'''  The conquest of Jarret involved the first major conflict between Clan Ghost Bear and the [[DCMS]].  Informed of the 9th Alshain's location on the planet by local [[ComStar]] allies, [[saKhan]] [[Theresa DelVillar]] personally led her Ghost Bear warriors against the inexperienced Kurita troops.  Over the course of ten days the green 9th Alshain fought a mobile campaign with passion and fury which, although not enough to save their world, did impress the Bears enough to avoid killing the defenders when possible and instead take them as [[bondsmen]].  In the end a few surviving companies managed to escape off-world to [[Luzerne]], only to fight the Smoke Jaguars later that year.<ref name="IC-20">''Invading Clans'', p. 20</ref><ref name="IC-32"/>
 
  
−
====[[Trondheim]](FRR)  May 3050====
+
Khan Jorgensson's first official acts were to inform the ilKhan and Khan Kerensky of what had transpired, asking for a delay in the bid for Rasalhague, and reluctantly contacted the Steel Vipers to garrison Ghost Bear-occupied worlds.  While asking a hated enemy for help was a bitter pill to swallow, it would free up the entire Ghost Bear invasion force to concentrate on conquering more worlds. A policy of putting the local civilian population to work rebuilding their shattered communities, rather than throwing them into prison camps, also did much to lessen enmity between the two peoples and reduce the constant level of uprisings to isolated revolts.<ref name=IC20-23/>
−
:'''Attackers:''' [[3rd Bear Guards (Clan Ghost Bear)|3rd Bear Guards]] (Alpha Galaxy)
 
−
:'''Defenders:''' Trondheim Freedom Defenders (2 mechanized infantry regiments  1 aerospace wing  2 battalions of heavy armor  1 'Mech company)
 
−
:'''Outcome:'''  Although the defenders were killed to the last man, they were able to take a number of Ghost Bears with them after having led several OmniMechs into a lava field.<ref name="IC-32"/>
 
  
−
===3.4. Wave 3 (June 3050)===
+
The bid for Rasalhague took place 4 July 3050 aboard the ''[[Dire Wolf (Individual Sovetskii Soyuz-class WarShip)|Dire Wolf]]'' and constituted ninety minutes of grueling textbook Clan bidding.  Khan Jorgensson eventually realized he could not win the bid but continued nonetheless, pushing the Wolf bid down to just three [[Cluster]]s before bowing out.  After having pushed the bid as low as possible so as to guarantee the Wolves would fail in their invasion, Jorgensson then directed his warriors to continue with the invasion, although time taken up by the change in leadership and the bid for Rasalhague allowed for only two additional planets to be taken during the third wave.  In the end everyone had been surprised by the Wolves' success in conquering the planet with so few forces - and the help of a certain [[bondsman]] called [[Phelan Kell]].<ref name=IC20-23/><ref>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 81</ref>
  
 
[[Image:operationrevival-ghostbearwavethree.png|Ghost Bear operation in wave 3]]
 
[[Image:operationrevival-ghostbearwavethree.png|Ghost Bear operation in wave 3]]
 +
{| border="1" style="text-align:left"
 +
|+Third Wave
 +
|-
 +
! '''Date'''
 +
! '''Location'''
 +
! '''Attacker'''
 +
! '''Defender'''
 +
! '''Outcome'''
 +
|-
 +
|June 3050
 +
|[[Last Frontier]] (FRR)
 +
|Ourse Keshik<br />
 +
[[Silveroot Keshik (Clan Ghost Bear)|Silveroot Keshik]]<br />
 +
Alpha Galaxy
 +
:1st Bear Guards
 +
|[[1st Freemen (Free Rasalhague Republic)|1st Freemen]]
 +
|Ghost Bear Victory
 +
|-
 +
|July 3050
 +
|[[Radlje]] (FRR)
 +
|Delta Galaxy
 +
:[[115th Striker (Clan Ghost Bear)|115th Striker Cluster]]
 +
::Supernova Echo
 +
:::Alpha Nova Star
 +
|[[12th Rasalhagian Dragoons Free Company]]
 +
|Ghost Bear Victory
 +
|-
 +
|June 3050
 +
|[[Polcenigo]] (DC)
 +
|Beta Galaxy
 +
:304th Assault Cluster
 +
::321st Assault Trinary
 +
|[[Polcenigo Guard]]
 +
|Ghost Bear Victory
 +
|-
 +
|}
  
 +
===Wave 4 (July-October 3050)===
 +
Every effort was made by Khan Jorgensson and saKhan Kabrinski to ensure their Clan would be well prepared for the start of the fourth wave, taking a number of steps to refit and resupply their battered forces.  In addition to replacing Beta Galaxy's destroyed Cluster, they followed the lead of other Clans and called forth a number of PGCs to replace the frontline garrison forces currently in use.  While returning the Clan to the strength of its original invasion bid, this effort also delayed the start of their fourth wave by three weeks, costing them prestige in the eyes of the others Clans who considered two months too little time to conquer their eight target worlds.  In response, saKhan Kabrinski reminded her subordinates that there was less honor lost in breaking a bid and winning than in holding to it and losing, and that Inner Sphere commanders now knew of Clan bidding practices and were looking for ways to exploit them.<ref name=IC24>''Invading Clans'', p. 24</ref>
  
−
====[[Last Frontier]] (FRR) June 3050====
+
The fourth wave began well as the Ghost Bears conquered six worlds in a little over a month's time, though they faced their first stiff resistance on [[Casere]] and the battle for control of [[Soverzene]] demonstrated the fighting abilities of truly motivated Inner Sphere forces.  Regardless, towards the end of October, with all of their targets captured and garrisoned with only minor resistance, the Ghost Bear Khans declared the fourth wave a success.  When ilKhan Showers called for a Grand Kurultai to be held in the recently Wolf-conquered [[Radstadt]] system, the Ghost Bear Khans delayed their departure to ensure their forces were settled; thus they were the last to learn the dire news that Leo Showers was now dead.<ref name=IC24/><ref name=IC25>''Invading Clans'', p. 25</ref>
−
:'''Attackers:''' [[Silveroot Keshik (Clan Ghost Bear)|Silveroot Keshik]], Ourse Keshik, 1st Bear Guards (Alpha Galaxy)
 
−
:'''Defenders:''' [[1st Freemen]]
 
−
:'''Outcome:''' The elite of Clan Ghost Bear's invasion forces faced off against 1st Freemen, a medium-weight unit with little battle experience.  Outnumbered and outmatched from the very start, the defenders nevertheless fought to the last man and extracted a heavy price against the invaders.  In particular the mortal wound they inflicted upon Theresa DelVillar would have serious consequences for the Ghost Bears and the invasion.
 
−
 
 
−
====[[Polcenigo]] (DC) July 3050====
 
−
:'''Attackers:''' 304th Assault Cluster (Beta Galaxy)
 
−
:'''Defenders:''' [[Polcenigo Guard]] (1 infantry regiment, 1 'Mech battalion)
 
−
:'''Outcome:''' In an ironic twist the Ghost Bears were actually welcomed as liberators in their conquest of Polcenigo, a world ruled by the iron fist of a tyrannical dictator in league with drug lords.  Assisted by an uprising of local citizens the Ghost Bears easily swept aside the defending Polcengio Guard, and the planet would serve as a key supply and trading center for the Ghost Bear invasion corridor.
 
−
 
 
−
====[[Radlje]] (FRR) July 3050====
 
−
:'''Attackers:''' [[115th Striker (Clan Ghost Bear)|115th Striker Cluster]] (Delta Galaxy)
 
−
:'''Defenders:''' 12th Rasalhagian Dragoons Free Company (4 'Mech lances supported by an infantry battalion)
 
−
:'''Outcome:''' In response for the dishonor shown to her during ''[[batchall]]'' the 115th Striker's commander officer showed the defenders no mercy even as they tried to surrender.  For punishment she would be forced to serve in the garrison unit tasked with occupying the planet afterwards so that she could come to better understand her victims. <ref name="IC-32"/>
 
−
 
 
−
===3.5. Wave 4 (July-October 3050)===
 
  
 
[[Image:operationrevival-ghostbearwavefour.png|Ghost Bear operation in wave 4]]
 
[[Image:operationrevival-ghostbearwavefour.png|Ghost Bear operation in wave 4]]
 +
{| border="1" style="text-align:left"
 +
|+Fourth Wave
 +
|-
 +
! '''Date'''
 +
! '''Location'''
 +
! '''Attacker'''
 +
! '''Defender'''
 +
! '''Outcome'''
 +
|-
 +
|August 3050
 +
|[[Vipaava]] (FRR)
 +
|Beta Galaxy
 +
:14th Battle Cluster
 +
::23rd Battle Trinary
 +
:::Alpha Battle Star
 +
::76th Supernova
 +
:::Alpha Nova Star
 +
|[[22nd Rasalhagian Free Company]]
 +
|Ghost Bear Victory
 +
|-
 +
|September 3050
 +
|[[Jezersko]] (FRR)
 +
|Alpha Galaxy
 +
:1st Bear Guards
 +
::310th Assault Trinary
 +
::16th Fighter Binary
 +
:::Alpha Fighter Star
 +
|[[1st Jezersko Brigade]]<br />
 +
[[2nd Jezersko Brigade]]
 +
|Ghost Bear Victory
 +
|-
 +
|September 3050
 +
|[[Pomme De Terre]] (FRR)
 +
|Alpha Galaxy
 +
:[[139th Striker (Clan Ghost Bear)|139th Striker Cluster]]
 +
::Trinary Command
 +
:::Alpha Command Star
 +
|None
 +
|Ghost Bear Victory
 +
|-
 +
|September 3050
 +
|[[Predlitz]] (FRR)
 +
|Beta Galaxy
 +
:[[332nd Assault (Clan Ghost Bear)|332nd Assault Cluster]]
 +
|[[17th Rasalhagian Free Division]]<br />
 +
[[20th Rasalhagian Free Division]]<br />
 +
[[31st Rasalhagian Free Division]]
 +
|Ghost Bear Victory
 +
|-
 +
|September 3050
 +
|[[Spittal]] (FRR)
 +
|Delta Galaxy
 +
:140th Striker Cluster
 +
::141st Striker Trinary
 +
:::Alpha Striker Star
 +
::Trinary Command
 +
|[[3rd Spittal Knights]]<br />
 +
[[4th Spittal Knights]]<br />
 +
|Ghost Bear Victory
 +
|-
 +
|September 3050
 +
|[[Casere]] (FRR)
 +
|Alpha Galaxy
 +
:3rd Bear Guards
 +
|[[2nd Hussars (Free Rasalhague Republic)|2nd Hussars]]
 +
|Ghost Bear Victory
 +
|-
 +
|October 3050
 +
|[[Goito]] (FRR)
 +
|Alpha Galaxy
 +
:1st Bear Guards
 +
::Supernova Command
 +
|[[The Hunting Revelers]]
 +
|Ghost Bear Victory
 +
|-
 +
|October 3050
 +
|[[Soverzene]] (DC)
 +
|Beta Galaxy
 +
|[[2nd Alshain Regulars]]<br />[[27th Dieron Regulars]]
 +
|Ghost Bear Victory
 +
|-
 +
|}
  
 +
===The Death of Leo Showers and Election of a New ilKhan===
 +
The death of the ilKhan had a strange and profound effect on the Ghost Bears, as all normal activity ground to a halt and their warriors said a silent prayer for his soul.  Founded as they were by a married couple, the Clan had always placed an importance on close personal relationships; even as they grew in size over the years members of the same ''[[sibko]]'' always managed to keep in touch, while the warrior caste was more fraternal in nature with an intimacy which fostered an informal command structure compared to other Clan or Inner Sphere units. The necessities of the Clan invasion would force a type of regimented schedule not seen since the conquest of the [[Pentagon Worlds]] and a breakdown in these types of familial communications.  Thus the ilKhan's death served as an emotional wake-up call to the Ghost Bear warriors, who began to renew their friendships and reestablish lines of communication - shuttling between worlds when possible - to bring back a sense of unity and ''esprit de corps'' which had served them well before and would continue to do so coming year.<ref name=IC25/>
  
−
====[[Vipaava]] (FRR) August 3050====
+
In the meantime though, dissension ran rampant between the surviving Khans as they debated what to do next. Many called for bringing forth more forces to punish the Inner Sphere for the ilKhan's death while others warned against abandoning their carefully-laid invasion plans.  Khan [[Perigard Zalman]] of Clan Steel Viper used this discord to recommend the Clans return to [[Strana Mechty]] and elect a new ilKhan.  Though this caused even more debate, and Khan Jorgensson felt inclined to disagree with anything Zalman said, eventually the Khans realized it was the only way to keep their invasion force cooperating.<ref name=IC25/>
−
:'''Attackers:''' 14th Battle Cluster (Beta Galaxy)
 
−
:'''Defenders:''' 22nd Rasalhagian Free Company (1 'Mech company, 2 regiments of infantry)
 
−
:'''Outcome:''' Meeting the invaders in open battle the 22nd Rasalhagian Free Company was utterly destroyed.  It would mark the last of such engagements as the [[KungsArmé]] began developing new strategies to face the Clanners.<ref name="IC-32"/>
 
  
−
====[[Jezersko]] (FRR) September 3050====
+
During the return journey the Khans of Clan Ghost Bear, Jade Falcon and Smoke Jaguar conspired to place the blame for Leo Showers' death squarely on Ulric Kerensky. Though they had no hard evidence to support this charge, they also doubted Ulric's ability to disprove their claims, and the Ghost Bear Khans were always ready to adversely affect the Wolves in even the most minor ways. Still, Jorgensson and Kabrinski suggested a backup plan: if Ulric was able to prove his innocence, they would hamstring him by electing him to replace Showers as the new ilKhan.  Though seemingly rewarding their [[Warden]]-minded opponent, as ilKhan Kerensky would effectively be bound to the will of the Crusader-dominated Grand Council and allow his expected successor, the Crusader-leaning [[Loremaster]] [[Conal Ward]], to assume his position.<ref name=IC25/>
−
:'''Attackers:''' 1st Bear Guards (Alpha Galaxy)
 
−
:'''Defenders:''' 1st and 2nd Jezersko Brigade  (2 regiments of armor)
 
−
:'''Outcome:''' The defending tank force attempted to confront the Ghost Bears from prepared defensive positions, but were forced out by [[artillery]] support.  Caught in the open they had no chance against the Clan invaders.<ref name="IC34">Invading Clans Page.34</ref>
 
  
−
====[[Pomme De Terre]] (FRR)  September 3050====
+
At the meeting of the Grand Council, testimony was offered to support the Crusaders' accusations against Khan Kerensky, though thanks to the heated arguments of one [[Phelan Wolf]] he was cleared of all charges.  In the followup vote to elect the new ilKhan the conspiracy went as planned, with Ulric Kerensky succeeding to the position.  In a surprise move ilKhan Kerensky chose [[Natasha Kerensky]] to replace him as the Clan Wolf Khan, catching everyone (including the Black Widow herself) off guard. In an explosive performance during her [[Trial of Position]] she confirmed her new role and the Crusader conspirators were handed a Pyrrhic victory. Only the new ilKhan's decision to not pair them with another Clan for the next invasion wave tempered the Ghost Bear warriors' animosity to their new leader.<ref name=IC26>''Invading Clans'', p. 26</ref>
−
:'''Attackers:''' 139th Striker Cluster (Alpha Galaxy)
 
−
:'''Defenders:''' None
 
−
:'''Outcome:''' Fearing high casualties to the local population, the planet's civilian leadership elected instead to surrender to the Ghost Bears.
 
  
−
====[[Predlitz]] (FRR) September 3050====
+
===Wave 5 (November-April 3052)===
−
:'''Attackers:''' [[332nd Assault (Clan Ghost Bear)|332nd Assault Cluster]]  (Beta Galaxy)
+
During the months-long return journey to the Inner Sphere, the Khans of the Ghost Bears and the six other invading Clans were able to redress deficiencies in their previous plans.  The Ghost Bear Khans brought with them a quantity of supplies rivaled only by Clan Wolf's stockpiles, and established an unbroken chain of supply routes between the Inner Sphere and their homeworlds. The fifth wave would also be modeled on the Smoke Jaguars' strategy of assigning each Galaxy a sweep pattern, with the first one to conquer all of its assigned targets given the honor of taking the first sweep's primary target of [[Alshain]]. Finally, the Khans recommended to their commanders that they prohibit the practice of bidding, though many took a wait-and-see approach to this new rule.<ref name=IC26/>
−
:'''Defenders:''' 17th, 20th and 31st Rasalhagian Free Divisions  (1 'Mech battalion, 2 regiments of armor)
 
−
:'''Outcome:'''  All three defending units were defeated in detail by the 332nd Assault Cluster, with the last Free Division destroyed during a resupply run by a hidden Ghost Bear force.<ref name="IC34"/>
 
  
−
====[[Casere]] (FRR)  September 3050====
+
Alpha Galaxy was the first to capture all of their assigned planets and, in the hard-fought battle that followed, successfully conquered the capital world of the [[Alshain Military District]].  Having delivered this stunning blow to the Combine and completing their first sweep on schedule, the Ghost Bear warriors voted to skip the usual rest and refit period and immediately launched the second sweep.  Though completing it with little difficulty, they quickly discovered most of their ammunition stores already expended and their extraordinarily long supply lines too slow to effectively replenish them.  This delayed the start of the third sweep by nearly a month and prompted Khan Jorgensson to issue new general orders in January 3052.  Most missile and autocannon systems were to be replaced by lasers and PPCs, and he made official a temporary moratorium on Clan honor rules, forbidding the issuing of ''[[batchall]]s'' and the use of ''[[zellbrigen]]''.  The merchant caste were also ordered to bring in additional supplies, no matter the cost and even if it meant dealing with merchants of the Inner Sphere.  As Clan merchants traded with their Inner Sphere counterparts it was hoped this friendly contact between nonwarrior Clan members and Inner Sphere civilians might reduce instances of rebellion on garrisoned worlds; that such efforts succeeded helped contributed towards the Ghost Bears' success.<ref name=IC28>''Invading Clans'', p. 28</ref>
−
:'''Attackers:''' 3rd Bear Guards  (Alpha Galaxy)
 
−
:'''Defenders:''' [[2nd Hussars (Free Rasalhague Republic)|2nd Hussars]]
 
−
:'''Outcome:''' Following the 3rd Bear Guard's landing, lighter elements of the 2nd Hussars began harassing the invaders and lured the Cluster into an old industrial sector where the main host waited in ambush.  In the close confines of the area the Ghost Bear's superior range and speed were effectively negated but not their firepower, and the battle was intense between both sides.  The 3rd Bear's [[Star Colonel]] was impressed by the fighting prowess of the defenders and ordered as many captured as possible, but the 2nd Hussars were fanatically loyal to the Republic.  The entire regiment was killed to the last man.<ref>Invading Clans Pg. 24</ref>
 
  
−
====[[Spittal]] (FRR)  September 3050====
+
With the capture of eighteen worlds in all, the fifth wave was a stunning success.  That Clan Ghost Bear had outperformed all other Clans (bar the Wolves) in the number of planets conquered engendered a sense of pride in all Ghost Bear warriors.  When they received the news that ilKhan Kerensky had made a deal with [[Primus of ComStar|Primus]] [[Myndo Waterly]] for the Clans to fight a proxy battle against the [[Com Guards]] on [[Tukayyid]] to decide the fate of the Inner Sphere, the Ghost Bear Khans' reactions were mixed. Khan Jorgensson disagreed with the idea of letting everything be decided on this one battle, while saKhan Kabrinski, confident in the Clans' victory, saw it as an excellent way to bring about a quickly decisive end.  Eventually the matter was decided by a vote in the Grand Council, and it was agreed that the fate of the invasion and the Inner Sphere would hinge on the outcome of the [[Battle of Tukayyid (3052)|Battle of Tukayyid]].<ref name=IC28/>
−
:'''Attackers:''' 140th Striker Cluster (Delta Galaxy)
 
−
:'''Defenders:''' 3rd and 4th Spittal Knights  (2 Mech companies, 1 battalion of infantry)
 
−
:'''Outcome:''' The Spittal Knights attempted to lay a trap for the invading Clanners, retreating under fire into a prepared canyon laden with mines.  The trap backfired however when the mines failed to go off, and the defenders were quickly overrun.
 
  
−
====[[Goito]] (FRR) October 3050====
+
{| class="wikitable"
−
:'''Attackers:''' 1st Bear Guards (Alpha Galaxy)
+
|+Wave Five
−
:'''Defenders:''' The Hunting Revelers  (2 armor battalions)
+
|-
−
:'''Outcome:''' With no real experience in combat, the Hunting Revelers were forced to retreat into a canyon during their battle with the Ghost Bears where, with no chance to escape, they were wiped out.<ref name="IC33">Invading Clans Pg. 33 </ref>
+
! '''Date'''
 +
! '''Location'''
 +
! '''Attacker'''
 +
! '''Defender'''
 +
! '''Outcome'''
 +
|-
 +
|November [[3051]]
 +
|[[Thessalonika]] (DC)
 +
|Delta Galaxy
 +
|[[8th Alshain Regulars]]<br />[[12th Sun Zhang Academy Cadre]]
 +
|Ghost Bear Victory
 +
|-
 +
|December 3051
 +
|[[Kempten]] (FRR)
 +
|Beta Galaxy
 +
::12th Bear Chevaliers
 +
:::712th Assault Trinary
 +
|[[Kempten Border Legion]]
 +
|Ghost Bear Victory
 +
|-
 +
|December 3051
 +
|[[Kaesong]] (DC)
 +
|Beta Galaxy
 +
:14th Battle Cluster
 +
::Trinary Command
 +
|[[Blue Lightning]]
 +
|Ghost Bear Victory
 +
|-
 +
|December 3051
 +
|[[Sheliak]] (DC)
 +
|Delta Galaxy
 +
:68th Striker Cluster
 +
::78th Elemental Support Binary
 +
|Sheliak Professional Football League
 +
|Ghost Bear Victory
 +
|-
 +
|December 3051
 +
|[[Alshain]] (DC)
 +
|Alpha Galaxy
 +
|[[6th Alshain Regulars]]<br />[[2nd Sword of Light]]
 +
|Ghost Bear Victory
 +
|-
 +
|January [[3052]]
 +
|[[Tinaca]] (DC)
 +
|Delta Galaxy
 +
:115th Striker Cluster
 +
::Bravo Supernova
 +
|[[1st Sun Zhang Academy Cadre]]
 +
|Ghost Bear Victory
 +
|-
 +
|January 3052
 +
|[[Marawi]] (DC)
 +
|Beta Galaxy
 +
:332nd Assault Cluster
 +
|[[41st Dieron Regulars]]
 +
|Ghost Bear Victory
 +
|-
 +
|January 3052
 +
|[[Halesowen]] (DC)
 +
|Delta Galaxy
 +
:140th Striker Cluster
 +
::Trinary Command
 +
:::Alpha and Tango Stars
 +
|[[The Halesowen Protectors]]
 +
|Ghost Bear Victory
 +
|-
 +
|January 3052
 +
|[[Sternwerde]] (DC)
 +
|Alpha Galaxy
 +
:1st Bear Guards
 +
|[[7th Alshain Regulars]]
 +
|Ghost Bear Victory
 +
|-
 +
|February 3052
 +
|[[Maule]] (DC)
 +
|Delta Galaxy
 +
:73rd Battle Cluster
 +
::433rd Supernova Trinary
 +
|[[6th Maule Armored Brigade]]<br />[[43rd Maule Armored Brigade]]
 +
|Ghost Bear Victory
 +
|-
 +
|February 3052
 +
|[[Ardoz]] (DC)
 +
|Alpha Galaxy
 +
:3rd Bear Guards
 +
::Trinary Command
 +
|Unknown
 +
|Ghost Bear Victory
 +
|-
 +
|February 3052
 +
|[[Setubal]] (DC)
 +
|Alpha Galaxy
 +
::[[50th Striker (Clan Ghost Bear)|50th Striker Cluster]]
 +
|[[21st Benjamin Regulars]]
 +
|Ghost Bear Victory
 +
|-
 +
|March 3052
 +
|[[Utrecht]] (FRR)
 +
|Ourse Keshik
 +
|None
 +
|Ghost Bear Victory
 +
|-
 +
|March 3052
 +
|[[Eguilles]] (DC)
 +
|Delta Galaxy
 +
:115th Striker Cluster
 +
|[[4th Arkab Legion]]
 +
|Ghost Bear Victory
 +
|-
 +
|March 3052
 +
|[[Krenice]] (DC)
 +
|Beta Galaxy
 +
:12th Bear Chevaliers
 +
|[[5th Amphigean Light Assault Group]]
 +
|Ghost Bear Victory
 +
|-
 +
|March 3052
 +
|[[Mannedorf]] (DC)
 +
|Beta Galaxy
 +
:304th Assault Cluster
 +
::72nd Assault Trinary
 +
::1st Elemental Support Binary
 +
|[[The Gold Miners]]
 +
|Ghost Bear Victory
 +
|-
 +
|March 3052
 +
|[[Toffen]] (DC)
 +
|Beta Galaxy
 +
:332nd Assault Cluster
 +
::469th Assault Trinary
 +
|[[3rd Toffen Guards]]<br />[[8th Toffen Guards]]
 +
|Ghost Bear Victory
 +
|-
 +
|April 3052
 +
|[[Rubigen]] (DC)
 +
|Alpha Galaxy
 +
:1st Bear Guards
 +
|[[4th Alshain Regulars]]
 +
|Ghost Bear Victory
 +
|-
 +
|}
  
−
====[[Soverzene]] (DC)  October 3050====
+
===Tukayyid===
−
:'''Attackers:''' Beta Galaxy
+
{{Main|Battle of Tukayyid (3052)}}
−
:'''Defenders:''' [[2nd Alshain Regulars]], [[27th Dieron Regulars]]
 
−
:'''Outcome:'''  Soverzene was an important Combine planet, prompting the DCMS to reinforce the 2nd Alshain with the 27th Dieron when it came under attack.  In response the Ghost Bears invaded with an entire Galaxy, initially sending two Clusters to attack the 27th. The 27th attempted a feigned retreat in order to lure its attackers into a trap, but they were only partially successful and called upon the 2nd to support them, against which the other two Clusters launched their own separate attack.  Over the course of several days the two Kurita regiments were wiped out by Beta Galaxy, with only a handful of survivors escaping death or bondage.<ref name="IC34"/>
 
  
−
===3.6. Wave 5 (November-December 3051)===
+
==Post-Invasion==
 +
The Ghost Bears took some amount of pride in the fact they had managed to capture and hold one of their two objectives during the battle of Tukayyid, and had inflicted slightly greater losses on the Com Guards than they had sustained during the fight, claiming a marginal victory.  It did nothing to ease the sting of having to accept the [[Truce of Tukayyid]], and they wasted no time scapegoating the other Clans for their failures during the battle. In the immediate aftermath, Khans Jorgensson and Kabrinski began rotating in fresh troops from the homeworlds to replace their battered forces within the Ghost Bear [[Occupation Zone]].<ref name=IC29>''Invading Clans'', p. 29</ref><ref name=FMWC82>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 82</ref>
  
−
[[Image:operationrevival-ghostbearwavefive.png|Ghost Bear operation in wave 5]]
+
The Khans also put in place policies to better solidify control over their Inner Sphere holdings.  On many worlds, local governance was handed back to the people, with minimal Clan oversight.  Local industries were expanded to keep unemployment down and help to regrow the [[Clan Ghost Bear Touman|Ghost Bear ''touman'']].  And a limited amount of regular, warrior-regulated trade was allowed between Ghost Bear and Inner Sphere merchants.  These initiatives quickly allowed the Ghost Bears to rebuild their forces in the Inner Sphere and laid the groundwork for future developments.<ref name=IC29>''Invading Clans'', p. 29</ref><ref name=FMWC82>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 82</ref>
  
−
====[[Alshain]] (DC)  December 3051====
+
{| class="wikitable"
−
:'''Attackers:''' Alpha Galaxy
+
|+Post-Tukayyid Battles
−
:'''Defenders:''' [[6th Alshain Regulars]] [[2nd Sword of Light]]
+
|-
−
:'''Outcome:''' Both sides know that the fight for the world would get dirty. The entire Alpha Galaxy  stand against two experienced DCMS units. The 1st Bear Guards start early their assault but were blocked by  fire fights at all sides. The 6th Alshain used the terrain and fortified positions to bring the Guards to an hold. The Khan must order the other 2 cluster to break combat with the 2nd Sword of Light. That was difficult. The 2nd give ground, because they regroup and retreat back to a city. These development split the 3rd Bear Guards from the 50th Striker Cluster. The Guards survived by sheer will. During that time the 6th Alshain does their best to avoid any trap by the Ghost Bear. The Elementals could disarm hidden demolition charges which had could destroyed many mechs. The 2nd Sword headed to their Dropships and lifted off world. Pinned in place by two cluster, the remaining DCMS command fight for their lives. Then the third Cluster make an combat drop to deliver the final blow. But to the surprise of the Bears the 2nd Sword of light make also a combat drop. The chaotic situation was further increased with the arrival of the planetary militia. That was the change for both DCMS commands to escape the melee and save back to space.  <ref>Invading Clans Page.27-28  </ref>
+
! '''Date'''
−
 
+
! '''Location'''
−
====[[Ardoz]] (DC) February 3052====
+
! '''Attacker'''
−
:'''Attackers:''' 3rd Bear Guards (Alpha Galaxy)
+
! '''Defender'''
−
:'''Defenders:''' Unknown
+
! '''Outcome'''
−
:'''Outcome:''' Since the capture of the world and the following blackout through the destruction of the local HPG no new information are available.<ref>Invading Clans Page. 36  </ref>
+
|-
−
 
+
|July [[3052]]
−
====[[Eguilles]] (DC) March 3052====
+
|[[Santander's World]]
−
:'''Attackers:''' 115th Striker Cluster (Delta Galaxy)
+
|Alpha Galaxy
−
:'''Defenders:''' [[4th Arkab Legion]]
+
:1st Bear Guards
−
:'''Outcome:''' The fight for the planet was hard for both sides. The defending 4th Arkab Legion were unprepared by the probing raids of the 115th Cluster. The officers of the Legions choose to fight and to kill as many enemies as possible. The assault at the center of the Ghost Bear was partial successful, because the Bears retreat. During 2 duelles the Star Colonel was killed. The Cluster running low of ammunition changed their omnimech configurations to energy weapons. The Legion had surrounded the clan warriors, but the collapse of the 2nd battalion was the signal for retreat. The 115th let the Legion go. <ref>Invading Clans Page.36  </ref>
+
::310th Assault Trinary
−
 
+
::117th Battle Trinary
−
====[[Halesowen]] (DC) January 3052====
+
::Supernova Command
−
:'''Attackers:''' 140th Striker Cluster (Delta Galaxy)
+
|Clan Smoke Jaguar
−
:'''Defenders:''' The Halesowen Protectors (1 'Mech company 1 regiment of infantry)
+
:[[7th Provisional Garrison Cluster (Clan Smoke Jaguar)|7th Provisional Garrison Cluster]]
−
:’’’Outcome:’’’ The battle on the planet was in someway unusual. The Bears ignored the conventional infantry and attacked the mechs. But the defenders had set a trap. Only 3 Omnimech from 10 survived. The clan commander call for reinforcement. The defenders could escape a second time the frustrated Ghost Bear. Then the clan fighter were called to strike at the artillery sites. That was to much pressure and the militia was destroyed.<ref>Invading Clans Page.35  </ref>
+
|[[Santander V#Clan Invasion|Ghost Bear Victory]]
−
 
+
|-
−
====[[Kaesong]] (DC) December 3051====
+
|}
−
:'''Attackers:''' 14th Battle Cluster (Beta Galaxy)
 
−
:'''Defenders:''' [[Blue Lightning]] (a mercenary company)
 
−
:'''Outcome:''' The mercenary command stranded accidental at this world and agreed to defend the planet against the an invasion from the clans. That happens only a short time later. The CO of the clan force give no mercy to in his regard honorless opponents. The Blue Lightning unit were destroyed in the capital.<ref>Invading Clans Page 34  </ref>
 
−
 
 
−
====[[Kempten]] (FRR) December 3051====
 
−
:'''Attackers:''' 12th Bear Chevaliers (Beta Galaxy)
 
−
:'''Defenders:''' Kempten Border Legion
 
−
:'''Outcome:''' The planetary garrison used the batchall, to set a trap. The landing clans force agreed and were surprised by the modification made by the defenders. The clan warrior were confused, which allowed the Devastators tanks to destroy some mechs. But the tides changed quickly and the tanks were destroyed. The remaining militia was annihilated in short order after wards.<ref>Invading Clans Page 35  </ref>
 
−
 
 
−
====[[Krenice]] (DC)  March 3052====
 
−
:'''Attackers:''' 12th Bear Chevaliers (Beta Galaxy)
 
−
:'''Defenders:''' [[5th Amphibian Light Assault Group]]
 
−
:'''Outcome:'''  The Assault Group await the Chevaliers in hardened positions. The Bears tried to catch the defenders with their heavier equipment, but failed. The DCMS unit was so successful that they interrupted the supply lines of the enemy. The 12th were in the situation to push the 5th ALAG back from the awaiting droships. The Tai-sa send a company to lure the clan forces away into an ambush. The clan commander sent a trinary after the DCMS unit. The trinary disappeared without any notice. The 5th tried to break through the clan line, but the Chevaliers awaited them. The DCMS command was destroyed by the concentrated fire from all directions. <ref>Invading Clans Page.36-37  </ref>
 
−
 
 
−
====[[Mannedorf]] (DC) March 3052====
 
−
:'''Attackers:''' 304th Assault Cluster (Beta Galaxy)
 
−
:'''Defenders:''' [[The Gold Miners]] ('Mercanery company)
 
−
:'''Outcome:'''  The mercenary unit used the mines on this world as a trap to the invading clan force. The Ghost Bear got word of the plan and used an former SLDF base to their advantage. The defenders thought that they had won the engagement, but they were wrong. The Bears were ready to show the mercenaries the true might of the Clans.<ref>Invading Clans Page.  37</ref>
 
−
 
 
−
====[[Marawi]] (DC) January 3052====
 
−
:'''Attackers:''' 332nd Assault Cluster (Beta Galaxy)
 
−
:'''Defenders:''' 41st Dieron Regulars
 
−
:'''Outcome:'''  The DCMS unit was no match for the clan force. The initial landing was contest by artillery fire. The clan fighter find the location of the guns soon and silenced them forever. The omnimech used their new mobility to catch the green unit at the flank. That was the point were the 41st had no change to survive. <ref>Invading Clans Page. 35 </ref>
 
−
 
 
−
====[[Maule]] (DC) February 3052====
 
−
:'''Attackers:''' 73rd Battle Cluster (Delta Galaxy)
 
−
:'''Defenders:''' 6th and 43rd Maule Armored Brigades
 
−
:'''Outcome:'''  The invasion was easy work for the Clan forces. But the rebellious behavior of the locals surprised the Ghost Bears. The clan leader allowed them greater liberties to calm the situation. <ref>Invading Clans Page. 35-336 </ref>
 
−
 
 
−
====[[Rubigen]] (DC) April 3052====
 
−
:'''Attackers:''' 1st Bear Guards (Alpha Galaxy)
 
−
:'''Defenders:''' [[4th Alshain Regulars]]
 
−
:'''Outcome:'''  The 4th Alshain prepared their defenses well. The Bear Guards were surprised by the sighting of 3 regiments. Then the clan troops start to firing on every visible enemy. Many were only holographic by the entertainment equipment of the park. The Star Colonel used his Elemental for an Head Hunter attempt, which failed. The Regulars had retreat in the meantime and start an guerrilla campaign. Every time when the Cluster pinned the enemy in place they disapproved. The Tai-sa chose to fight another day and give a general retreat order to his troops. Under heavy fighting only 3 companies were in condition to leave the world. <ref>Invading Clans Page.  37</ref>
 
−
 
 
−
====[[Setubal]] (DC) February 3052====
 
−
:'''Attackers:''' [[50th Striker (Clan Ghost Bear)|50th Striker Cluster]] (Alpha Galaxy)
 
−
:'''Defenders:''' [[21st Benjamin Regulars]]
 
−
:'''Outcome:'''  The Regulars divide their forces into equal parts, with the goal to pin the enemy between them. The Bears chose to fight one enemy force with their full might. The beleaguered Regulars call for the other half of the regiment, but the soldiers were confused. They start to fire on their own units. The Bears hold the line and forced the 21st Benjamin to give up.<ref>Invading Clans Page. 36</ref>
 
−
 
 
−
====[[Sheliak]] (DC) December 3051====
 
−
:'''Attackers:''' 68th Striker Cluster (Delta Galaxy)
 
−
:'''Defenders:''' Sheliak Professional Football League
 
−
:'''Outcome:'''  The future of the planet was decided in an football game. The home team was convinced that the locals could beat the invaders at this game. The outcome was terrifying. The clan team won the game with 84 to 3.<ref>Invadings Clans Page.  </ref>
 
−
 
 
−
====[[Sternwerde]] (DC) January 3052====
 
−
:'''Attackers:''' 1st Bear Guards (Alpha Galaxy)
 
−
:'''Defenders:''' 7th Alshain Regulars
 
−
:'''Outcome:'''  The landing Bear units used the bad weather conditions for a combat drop at the position of the Regulars. The 7th were surprised and had difficult to fight the bears in their rear, but the CO give order to break through the lines of the Clans. The 1st Guards followed the retreating DCMS unit to a large lake. The Regulars could escape for a short time. The Bears knowing that the DCMS command will try to get to their Dropships and set a trap. The ambush was only partial successful, because the main body could retreat off world with the freely sacrifice of a few warriors.<ref>Invading Clans Page. 35 </ref>
 
−
 
 
−
====[[Thessalonika]] (DC) November 3051====
 
−
:'''Attackers:''' Delta Galaxy
 
−
:'''Defenders:''' [[8th Alshain Regulars]] [[12th Sun Zhang Academy Cadre]]
 
−
:'''Outcome:'''  The clan leader chose the 68th Striker cluster as the invading force. The 12th Cadre await the clan troops in the open and give ground when the battle started. The star colonel was surprised by the smooth operation, but then another Kuritan force arrived in the rear of the Bear unit. Pinned in a trap he must call another cluster as reinforcement. The 12th Cadre faulted under the pressure, because the 8th make an successful assault at the transporters of the cluster. It was an mystery to the overall commander of the clan troops how were it possible that the Regulars could survive so long. The naval assets recognize a small research facility at the moon. That provide the DCMS defenders with information about troop movement. The Khan ordered all his clusters to the ground and finished the job.<ref>Invading Clans Page. 26-27 </ref>
 
−
 
 
−
====[[Tinaca]] (DC) January 3052====
 
−
:'''Attackers:''' 115th Striker Cluster (Delta Galaxy)
 
−
:'''Defenders:''' [[1st Sun Zhang Academy Cadre]]
 
−
:'''Outcome:'''  The Cadet Cadre was fanatical loyal to House Kurita and sacrificed their live in the defense for this planet. The Star Colonel tried to capture as many cadets alive as possible, but in the ending only 3 companies get bondsmen. The other members of the cadre unit were killed in the battle. <ref>Invading Clans Page 34 - 35  </ref>
 
−
 
 
−
====[[Toffen]] (DC) March 3052====
 
−
:'''Attackers:''' 332nd Assault Cluster (Beta Galaxy)
 
−
:'''Defenders:''' 3rd and 8th Toffen Guards (2 'Mech companies 1 regiment of infantry)
 
−
:'''Outcome:'''  The defenders used the terrain to their advantage during the fight for the planet. The militia used an old industrial area to frustrate the Ghost Bear. Whenever the clan warriors searched for the enemies he slipped away. The commander could save his unit from the explosion of the power plant building. That was the turning point. The clan force hunt the militia to the last man.<ref>Invading Clans Page.37  </ref>
 
−
 
 
−
====[[Utrecht]] (FRR) March 3052====
 
−
:'''Attackers:''' Ourse Keshik
 
−
:'''Defenders:''' None
 
−
:'''Outcome:'''  The planet surrender to the Ghost Bear without a fight. The clans welcomed the resource rich world.<ref>Invading Clans Page. 36</ref>
 
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
 +
 +
==Bibliography==
 +
* ''[[Field Manual: Warden Clans]]''
 +
* ''[[Invading Clans]]''
  
 
[[Category:Clan Invasion Era Military Operations|Revival, Operation]]
 
[[Category:Clan Invasion Era Military Operations|Revival, Operation]]

Latest revision as of 00:24, 17 February 2024

Order of Battle[edit]

Ourse Keshik
Clan Ghost Bear Naval Reserve
Bear's Den, Dieron's Run, 6 Clan Monoliths, 8 Clan Merchants, 7 Clan Scouts, 6 Clan Invaders
Alpha Galaxy
Silveroot Keshik
1st Bear Guards
3rd Bear Guards
50th Striker Cluster
Beta Galaxy
Shrill Keshik
18th Bear Chevaliers
304th Assault Cluster
332nd Assault Cluster
14th Battle Cluster
Delta Galaxy
Jorgensson's Keshik
8th Bear Cuirassiers
73rd Battle Cluster
68th Striker Cluster
115th Striker Cluster
140th Striker Cluster

Preparations[edit]

While a basic plan of attack had been agreed upon in the Grand Council - four Invader Clans operating along four "invasion corridors", with the Ghost Bears receiving the one which ran through territory held by the Draconis Combine and Free Rasalhague Republic - each Clan was responsible for the specifics of their own invasion. As Ghost Bear Khan Karl Bourjon, saKhan Theresa DelVillar and their Star Colonels met to debate their strategy, Khan Bourjon argued against bringing along excessive logistical support to support their forces. Reasoning that, since the Inner Sphere forces they would face in battle could provide only minimal opposition to their invasion, he did not want to bring along too many supplies which would both weigh down their fleet and impose hardship on those left behind on the homeworlds. SaKhan DelVillar, though agreeing that their invasion force would defeat all comers, was less convinced that the minimal support Khan Bourjon was proposing would be sufficient. The Khan's argument won out in the end though, resulting in Clan Ghost Bear invading the Inner Sphere with the fewest supplies and matériel of any Clan.[1]

During these deliberations, the rest of the invading Ghost Bear forces met on Strana Mechty for two nights of feasting, hunting and sports, including the traditional decathlon-style event dating back to the founding of the Clan. They also sent out six Clawing parties which pledged to return within the week. The fact that four of them returned alive, and two of those with a Ghost Bear kill, was an unprecedented success rate and taken as a sign of assured victory in the coming campaign.[1]

Invasion Route[edit]

Periphery[edit]

Though each of the four invading Clans were assigned their individual corridors for the invasion, at the insistence of the other Khans ilKhan Leo Showers declared the Periphery open territory for all. This allowed Clan Smoke Jaguar to attack Santander's World, which lay within the Ghost Bear corridor, while the Ghost Bears bid unopposed to invade the Elysian Fields within the Clan Wolf corridor. Ghost Bear interest in these worlds was sparked by Star League records indicating an advanced research facility was hidden on one of them. Their invasion of the Elysian Fields were unopposed by the local governments, but in the end they found no trace of the supposed hidden facility and promptly evacuated these worlds, unwilling to even leave a garrison behind out of shame.[2]

The rest of the Clan's Periphery targets were swept aside with little effort, and in the Grand Council meeting that followed they reported finding an overwhelming lack of worthy adversaries. Accepting the Periphery's level of technology and training at face value, the Ghost Bear Khans expected no better from the Inner Sphere as they returned to their Clan to plan the First Wave, and even the paltry supplies they had brought along were beginning to look like an overestimation.[2]

Periphery Action
Date Location Attacker Defender Outcome
September 3049 Porthos Ourse Keshik
Alpha OmniMech Star
Star Captain Ian DelVillar
 MechWarrior Uchi Tikidomo Ghost Bear Victory

Wave 1 (March-April 3050)[edit]

As per Ghost Bear tradition, a vote was held among the warriors to determine who would have the honor of conquering the first world, Thule. The vote turned out to be a laborious process which lasted for an entire week and delayed the Ghost Bear timetable considerably. With each warrior wanting the honor and none willing to step aside, saKhan DelVillar eventually declared all three Galaxies would participate and assigned each one a continent on the planet. The conquest of Thule was not without its difficulties, but the Khans eventually declared it a success, leaving behind a single Trinary to garrison the planet and continuing on to the other worlds.[3]

The Ghost Bears finished their conquest of their first wave target worlds ahead of schedule and, as on Thule, similarly left behind light garrisons. Those warriors who noted the discrepancy in garrison sizes between Ghost Bear and Wolf worlds were ignored; as it had in the Periphery, the pathetic resistance offered thus far by Rasalhagian forces further reinforced the notion that the invasion would be a quick and easy victory. To celebrate the first wave's successful completion, the Khans declared a round of games, with the winner receiving his choice of assignments in the next wave, and that these games were to be held at the end of each invasion wave.[3]

While on the face of it the Ghost Bear invasion looked to be a success, beneath this veneer real trouble was brewing. By the end of the first wave the Ghost Bear Clan had already expended most of their available war matériel, against token resistance at that, and were less efficient than the other Clans, who conquered more worlds in their first waves. Compounding the small garrisons left behind on their worlds was the Ghost Bears' unwillingness to leave administrating these worlds in the hands of their ComStar allies or local governments. Had Khan Bourjon been able to admit his mistakes and take steps to rectify them, such as bringing forward additional supplies, future misfortunes may have been averted.[4]

Ghost Bear operation in wave 1

First Wave
Date Location Attacker Defender Outcome
March 3050 Thule (FRR) Alpha Galaxy
139th Striker Cluster

Beta Galaxy

304th Assault Cluster

Delta Galaxy

73rd Battle Cluster
 1st Hussars Ghost Bear Victory
March 3050 Damian (FRR) Delta Galaxy
8th Bear Cuirassiers
34th Striker Trinary
 Black Omen Ghost Bear Victory
March 3050 Holmsbu (FRR) Beta Galaxy
12th Bear Chevaliers
43rd Elemental Support Trinary
 7th Corrugated Lancers
8th Corrugated Lancers 		Ghost Bear Victory
March 3050 Pinnacle (FRR) Delta Galaxy
140th Striker Cluster
71st Assault Trinary
Alpha & Bravo Assault Stars
 Pinnacle Guardsmen Ghost Bear Victory
April 3050 Constance (FRR) Delta Galaxy
68th Striker Cluster
 The Honor Guard Ghost Bear Victory

Wave 2 (May-June 3050)[edit]

The second wave of the invasion initially went off to a good start as the Ghost Bears confronted forces of the Draconis Combine for the first time. Informed by intelligence reports from the Smoke Jaguars of the Combine's curious mix of honorable and brutal military tactics, the Ghost Bears were certain that they would make for superior challenge compared to their previous Periphery and Rasalhagian opponents. Led by their saKhan, elements of Alpha Galaxy clashed with Kuritan troops on Jarett and overcame them after a ten-day, hard-fought battle.[5]

However, it was in the midst of the second wave conquests that reports came in of trouble in the Clan's rear. The First Hussars had reemerged and destroyed the garrison on Thule, winning back the planet from the Ghost Bears, as had the Black Omen mercenary company on Damian. On other worlds previously conquered by the Ghost Bears, the local populace was rising up, disposing of the weak Clan garrison forces, arming themselves and ringing their cities with vibrabombs. Leaving behind token garrisons again on their second wave worlds, entire Galaxies were redirected back to pacify these uprisings, though that was easier said than done: as Delta Galaxy struggled through a week of constant fighting on one planet, Galaxy Commander Roberto Snuka threatened to level every city in rebellion if they did not submit. Fortunately the situation was defused by the local ComStar Demi-Precentor broadcasting a plea for peace and a promise that the "new administration" would work cooperatively with the populace...a promise which was backed up by heftier garrison forces.[5]

Alpha Galaxy would return to Thule and destroy the remainder of the First Hussars on the planet's frigid south lands, easily sweeping aside their prepared positions and ending the battle before it began. Beta Galaxy's response to Damian however resulted in tragedy when, after making the jump on 17 May aboard the Bear's Den, the unit went missing. Busy with stamping out rebellions and other matters, a week went by before the Ghost Bear Khans could focus on the missing Galaxy and sent the 50th Striker to search for them. Upon their arrival on Damian, the Fiftieth learned that an asteroid had struck the Bear's Den; though damage was minor it had knocked out the ship's communications and were beyond the ability to fix with field repairs. More seriously the asteroid strike had also hit one of the attached DropShips and wiped out an entire Cluster. While Beta Galaxy managed to land on Damian following the accident and destroyed the Black Omen, the planet had no HPG station and so couldn't inform the Khans of what had happened.[5]

The scale of the losses suffered deeply affected the Ghost Bears, with both Khans agreeing to hold a traditional two-day ceremony to honor the fallen on Damian. Every Ghost Bear warrior barring those on essential duties arrived to take part, though this delayed the start of the Ghost Bears' third wave. In combination with the larger garrison forces now deemed necessary to hold their planets, the loss of an entire Cluster also left the Clan dangerously short of combat forces. As they mustered their remaining units at Damian, the Clan held another vote in early June to determine the best course of action going forward. In a close victory it was decided that the invasion should continue as planned, with the Khans planning on combating future troop shortages by holding fewer units in reserve.[5]

Ghost Bear operation in wave 2

Second Wave
Date Location Attacker Defender Outcome
May 3050 Susquehanna (FRR) Beta Galaxy
14th Battle Cluster
96th Battle Trinary
 Regal Death Ghost Bear Victory
May 3050 Jarett (DC) Alpha Galaxy
1st Bear Guards
Trinary Galaxy Command
310th Assault Trinary
17th Battle Trinary
 9th Alshain Regulars Ghost Bear Victory
May 3050 Trondheim (FRR) Alpha Galaxy
3rd Bear Guards
Trinary Command
12th Battle Trinary
34th Fighter Binary
 Trondheim Freedom Defenders Ghost Bear Victory

Wave 3 (June-July 3050)[edit]

Dissatisfaction was quickly growing within the Ghost Bear ranks at Khan Bourjon's handling of the situation. The dwindling supply situation, combined with the rebellion outbreaks on previously conquered world (and the seemingly uncharacteristic overreaction of sending entire Galaxies to put down armed civilians), had caused the Ghost Bears to fall way behind the other Clans. When Clan Wolf announced an accelerated timetable for their invasion force, Khan Bourjon failed to heed his warriors' demands that Provisional Garrison Clusters (PGCs) be brought forward so that more frontline units could be freed up to attack more worlds. As well, though not blamed for the tragedy of Beta Galaxy, he failed to focus his warriors' anger at the loss into meaningful battlefield gains.[6]

It was in the midst of this growing disapproval that ilKhan Showers contacted DelVillar in late May to suggest that the Ghost Bears bid for the right to conquer Rasalhague, capital world of the Republic. Though it technically lay within the Wolves' invasion corridor, by the agreed-upon rules its presence near the border with the Ghost Bears made it a legitimate target; additionally should the Ghost Bears conquer this world it would slow down the Wolves' lightning advance and boost morale. DelVillar agreed with the ilKhan's advice, but when she brought the proposal to Bourjon he originally intended to reject it, seemingly unable to see the advantage in taking such a prize. Only the traditional Ghost Bear habit of obedience to the ilKhan prompted Khan Bourjon to finally consent to the plan. Once the rest of the warriors learned about their Khan's initial rejection they became furious. The Clan's Oathmaster, Aletha Kabrinski, became the head of a growing movement to replace the Khan at the earliest opportunity.[6]

A plan of attack was formulated and Khan Ulric Kerensky of Clan Wolf was informed that the Ghost Bears would bid him for the right to take Rasalhague. Khan Kerensky's objections went unheeded and he agreed to meet the Ghost Bear Khans on 27 June when the bidding would take place. As a stepping stone to Rasalhague, the Ghost Bears kicked off their third wave by attacking Last Frontier on 23 June, but while the victory was a foregone conclusion tragedy again struck when a lucky shot killed saKhan DelVillar. Immediately Khan Bourjon convened a meeting of the Clan's Bloodnamed warriors to elect a new saKhan, and after defeating stiff competition Oathmaster Kabrinski earned the title. In her first official statement as saKhan, Kabrinski immediately turned on Khan Bourjon, calling him a fine warrior but an incompetent leader whose failings were to blame for their Clan's poor performance. She nominated Star Colonel Bjorn Jorgensson to challenge the Khan for his position. Caught off guard by this turn of events, Khan Bourjon called for a vote of no confidence, which he lost unanimously, and in the following vote the assembled warriors elected Bjorn Jorgensson to succeed to his position.[6]

Khan Bourjon called for a Trial of Refusal, which Khan Jorgensson accepted personally. Bourjon elected to fight the Trial "augmented," he in his 'Mech and Jorgensson in his OmniFighter, while Jorgensson chose to fight in the tropical jungles of Last Frontier. While Khan Bourjon held the upper hand at the beginning of the fight, using the jungle's cover against Jorgensson's strafing runs, the aerospace pilot continued to bide his time whilst making leisurely attacks. Bourjon's 'Mech eventually slowed to a crawl as his constant movements churned the ground into a soupy bog, and once sufficiently mired Jorgensson pressed his advantage aggressively until Bourjon pleaded hegira.[6]

Khan Jorgensson's first official acts were to inform the ilKhan and Khan Kerensky of what had transpired, asking for a delay in the bid for Rasalhague, and reluctantly contacted the Steel Vipers to garrison Ghost Bear-occupied worlds. While asking a hated enemy for help was a bitter pill to swallow, it would free up the entire Ghost Bear invasion force to concentrate on conquering more worlds. A policy of putting the local civilian population to work rebuilding their shattered communities, rather than throwing them into prison camps, also did much to lessen enmity between the two peoples and reduce the constant level of uprisings to isolated revolts.[6]

The bid for Rasalhague took place 4 July 3050 aboard the Dire Wolf and constituted ninety minutes of grueling textbook Clan bidding. Khan Jorgensson eventually realized he could not win the bid but continued nonetheless, pushing the Wolf bid down to just three Clusters before bowing out. After having pushed the bid as low as possible so as to guarantee the Wolves would fail in their invasion, Jorgensson then directed his warriors to continue with the invasion, although time taken up by the change in leadership and the bid for Rasalhague allowed for only two additional planets to be taken during the third wave. In the end everyone had been surprised by the Wolves' success in conquering the planet with so few forces - and the help of a certain bondsman called Phelan Kell.[6][7]

Ghost Bear operation in wave 3

Third Wave
Date Location Attacker Defender Outcome
June 3050 Last Frontier (FRR) Ourse Keshik

Silveroot Keshik
Alpha Galaxy

1st Bear Guards
 1st Freemen Ghost Bear Victory
July 3050 Radlje (FRR) Delta Galaxy
115th Striker Cluster
Supernova Echo
Alpha Nova Star
 12th Rasalhagian Dragoons Free Company Ghost Bear Victory
June 3050 Polcenigo (DC) Beta Galaxy
304th Assault Cluster
321st Assault Trinary
 Polcenigo Guard Ghost Bear Victory

Wave 4 (July-October 3050)[edit]

Every effort was made by Khan Jorgensson and saKhan Kabrinski to ensure their Clan would be well prepared for the start of the fourth wave, taking a number of steps to refit and resupply their battered forces. In addition to replacing Beta Galaxy's destroyed Cluster, they followed the lead of other Clans and called forth a number of PGCs to replace the frontline garrison forces currently in use. While returning the Clan to the strength of its original invasion bid, this effort also delayed the start of their fourth wave by three weeks, costing them prestige in the eyes of the others Clans who considered two months too little time to conquer their eight target worlds. In response, saKhan Kabrinski reminded her subordinates that there was less honor lost in breaking a bid and winning than in holding to it and losing, and that Inner Sphere commanders now knew of Clan bidding practices and were looking for ways to exploit them.[8]

The fourth wave began well as the Ghost Bears conquered six worlds in a little over a month's time, though they faced their first stiff resistance on Casere and the battle for control of Soverzene demonstrated the fighting abilities of truly motivated Inner Sphere forces. Regardless, towards the end of October, with all of their targets captured and garrisoned with only minor resistance, the Ghost Bear Khans declared the fourth wave a success. When ilKhan Showers called for a Grand Kurultai to be held in the recently Wolf-conquered Radstadt system, the Ghost Bear Khans delayed their departure to ensure their forces were settled; thus they were the last to learn the dire news that Leo Showers was now dead.[8][9]

Ghost Bear operation in wave 4

Fourth Wave
Date Location Attacker Defender Outcome
August 3050 Vipaava (FRR) Beta Galaxy
14th Battle Cluster
23rd Battle Trinary
Alpha Battle Star
76th Supernova
Alpha Nova Star
 22nd Rasalhagian Free Company Ghost Bear Victory
September 3050 Jezersko (FRR) Alpha Galaxy
1st Bear Guards
310th Assault Trinary
16th Fighter Binary
Alpha Fighter Star
 1st Jezersko Brigade

2nd Jezersko Brigade

Ghost Bear Victory
September 3050 Pomme De Terre (FRR) Alpha Galaxy
139th Striker Cluster
Trinary Command
Alpha Command Star
 None Ghost Bear Victory
September 3050 Predlitz (FRR) Beta Galaxy
332nd Assault Cluster
 17th Rasalhagian Free Division

20th Rasalhagian Free Division
31st Rasalhagian Free Division

Ghost Bear Victory
September 3050 Spittal (FRR) Delta Galaxy
140th Striker Cluster
141st Striker Trinary
Alpha Striker Star
Trinary Command
 3rd Spittal Knights

4th Spittal Knights

 Ghost Bear Victory
September 3050 Casere (FRR) Alpha Galaxy
3rd Bear Guards
 2nd Hussars Ghost Bear Victory
October 3050 Goito (FRR) Alpha Galaxy
1st Bear Guards
Supernova Command
 The Hunting Revelers Ghost Bear Victory
October 3050 Soverzene (DC) Beta Galaxy 2nd Alshain Regulars
27th Dieron Regulars 		Ghost Bear Victory

The Death of Leo Showers and Election of a New ilKhan[edit]

The death of the ilKhan had a strange and profound effect on the Ghost Bears, as all normal activity ground to a halt and their warriors said a silent prayer for his soul. Founded as they were by a married couple, the Clan had always placed an importance on close personal relationships; even as they grew in size over the years members of the same sibko always managed to keep in touch, while the warrior caste was more fraternal in nature with an intimacy which fostered an informal command structure compared to other Clan or Inner Sphere units. The necessities of the Clan invasion would force a type of regimented schedule not seen since the conquest of the Pentagon Worlds and a breakdown in these types of familial communications. Thus the ilKhan's death served as an emotional wake-up call to the Ghost Bear warriors, who began to renew their friendships and reestablish lines of communication - shuttling between worlds when possible - to bring back a sense of unity and esprit de corps which had served them well before and would continue to do so coming year.[9]

In the meantime though, dissension ran rampant between the surviving Khans as they debated what to do next. Many called for bringing forth more forces to punish the Inner Sphere for the ilKhan's death while others warned against abandoning their carefully-laid invasion plans. Khan Perigard Zalman of Clan Steel Viper used this discord to recommend the Clans return to Strana Mechty and elect a new ilKhan. Though this caused even more debate, and Khan Jorgensson felt inclined to disagree with anything Zalman said, eventually the Khans realized it was the only way to keep their invasion force cooperating.[9]

During the return journey the Khans of Clan Ghost Bear, Jade Falcon and Smoke Jaguar conspired to place the blame for Leo Showers' death squarely on Ulric Kerensky. Though they had no hard evidence to support this charge, they also doubted Ulric's ability to disprove their claims, and the Ghost Bear Khans were always ready to adversely affect the Wolves in even the most minor ways. Still, Jorgensson and Kabrinski suggested a backup plan: if Ulric was able to prove his innocence, they would hamstring him by electing him to replace Showers as the new ilKhan. Though seemingly rewarding their Warden-minded opponent, as ilKhan Kerensky would effectively be bound to the will of the Crusader-dominated Grand Council and allow his expected successor, the Crusader-leaning Loremaster Conal Ward, to assume his position.[9]

At the meeting of the Grand Council, testimony was offered to support the Crusaders' accusations against Khan Kerensky, though thanks to the heated arguments of one Phelan Wolf he was cleared of all charges. In the followup vote to elect the new ilKhan the conspiracy went as planned, with Ulric Kerensky succeeding to the position. In a surprise move ilKhan Kerensky chose Natasha Kerensky to replace him as the Clan Wolf Khan, catching everyone (including the Black Widow herself) off guard. In an explosive performance during her Trial of Position she confirmed her new role and the Crusader conspirators were handed a Pyrrhic victory. Only the new ilKhan's decision to not pair them with another Clan for the next invasion wave tempered the Ghost Bear warriors' animosity to their new leader.[10]

Wave 5 (November-April 3052)[edit]

During the months-long return journey to the Inner Sphere, the Khans of the Ghost Bears and the six other invading Clans were able to redress deficiencies in their previous plans. The Ghost Bear Khans brought with them a quantity of supplies rivaled only by Clan Wolf's stockpiles, and established an unbroken chain of supply routes between the Inner Sphere and their homeworlds. The fifth wave would also be modeled on the Smoke Jaguars' strategy of assigning each Galaxy a sweep pattern, with the first one to conquer all of its assigned targets given the honor of taking the first sweep's primary target of Alshain. Finally, the Khans recommended to their commanders that they prohibit the practice of bidding, though many took a wait-and-see approach to this new rule.[10]

Alpha Galaxy was the first to capture all of their assigned planets and, in the hard-fought battle that followed, successfully conquered the capital world of the Alshain Military District. Having delivered this stunning blow to the Combine and completing their first sweep on schedule, the Ghost Bear warriors voted to skip the usual rest and refit period and immediately launched the second sweep. Though completing it with little difficulty, they quickly discovered most of their ammunition stores already expended and their extraordinarily long supply lines too slow to effectively replenish them. This delayed the start of the third sweep by nearly a month and prompted Khan Jorgensson to issue new general orders in January 3052. Most missile and autocannon systems were to be replaced by lasers and PPCs, and he made official a temporary moratorium on Clan honor rules, forbidding the issuing of batchalls and the use of zellbrigen. The merchant caste were also ordered to bring in additional supplies, no matter the cost and even if it meant dealing with merchants of the Inner Sphere. As Clan merchants traded with their Inner Sphere counterparts it was hoped this friendly contact between nonwarrior Clan members and Inner Sphere civilians might reduce instances of rebellion on garrisoned worlds; that such efforts succeeded helped contributed towards the Ghost Bears' success.[11]

With the capture of eighteen worlds in all, the fifth wave was a stunning success. That Clan Ghost Bear had outperformed all other Clans (bar the Wolves) in the number of planets conquered engendered a sense of pride in all Ghost Bear warriors. When they received the news that ilKhan Kerensky had made a deal with Primus Myndo Waterly for the Clans to fight a proxy battle against the Com Guards on Tukayyid to decide the fate of the Inner Sphere, the Ghost Bear Khans' reactions were mixed. Khan Jorgensson disagreed with the idea of letting everything be decided on this one battle, while saKhan Kabrinski, confident in the Clans' victory, saw it as an excellent way to bring about a quickly decisive end. Eventually the matter was decided by a vote in the Grand Council, and it was agreed that the fate of the invasion and the Inner Sphere would hinge on the outcome of the Battle of Tukayyid.[11]

Wave Five
Date Location Attacker Defender Outcome
November 3051 Thessalonika (DC) Delta Galaxy 8th Alshain Regulars
12th Sun Zhang Academy Cadre 		Ghost Bear Victory
December 3051 Kempten (FRR) Beta Galaxy
12th Bear Chevaliers
712th Assault Trinary
 Kempten Border Legion Ghost Bear Victory
December 3051 Kaesong (DC) Beta Galaxy
14th Battle Cluster
Trinary Command
 Blue Lightning Ghost Bear Victory
December 3051 Sheliak (DC) Delta Galaxy
68th Striker Cluster
78th Elemental Support Binary
 Sheliak Professional Football League Ghost Bear Victory
December 3051 Alshain (DC) Alpha Galaxy 6th Alshain Regulars
2nd Sword of Light 		Ghost Bear Victory
January 3052 Tinaca (DC) Delta Galaxy
115th Striker Cluster
Bravo Supernova
 1st Sun Zhang Academy Cadre Ghost Bear Victory
January 3052 Marawi (DC) Beta Galaxy
332nd Assault Cluster
 41st Dieron Regulars Ghost Bear Victory
January 3052 Halesowen (DC) Delta Galaxy
140th Striker Cluster
Trinary Command
Alpha and Tango Stars
 The Halesowen Protectors Ghost Bear Victory
January 3052 Sternwerde (DC) Alpha Galaxy
1st Bear Guards
 7th Alshain Regulars Ghost Bear Victory
February 3052 Maule (DC) Delta Galaxy
73rd Battle Cluster
433rd Supernova Trinary
 6th Maule Armored Brigade
43rd Maule Armored Brigade 		Ghost Bear Victory
February 3052 Ardoz (DC) Alpha Galaxy
3rd Bear Guards
Trinary Command
 Unknown Ghost Bear Victory
February 3052 Setubal (DC) Alpha Galaxy
50th Striker Cluster
 21st Benjamin Regulars Ghost Bear Victory
March 3052 Utrecht (FRR) Ourse Keshik None Ghost Bear Victory
March 3052 Eguilles (DC) Delta Galaxy
115th Striker Cluster
 4th Arkab Legion Ghost Bear Victory
March 3052 Krenice (DC) Beta Galaxy
12th Bear Chevaliers
 5th Amphigean Light Assault Group Ghost Bear Victory
March 3052 Mannedorf (DC) Beta Galaxy
304th Assault Cluster
72nd Assault Trinary
1st Elemental Support Binary
 The Gold Miners Ghost Bear Victory
March 3052 Toffen (DC) Beta Galaxy
332nd Assault Cluster
469th Assault Trinary
 3rd Toffen Guards
8th Toffen Guards 		Ghost Bear Victory
April 3052 Rubigen (DC) Alpha Galaxy
1st Bear Guards
 4th Alshain Regulars Ghost Bear Victory

Tukayyid[edit]

Main article: Battle of Tukayyid (3052)

Post-Invasion[edit]

The Ghost Bears took some amount of pride in the fact they had managed to capture and hold one of their two objectives during the battle of Tukayyid, and had inflicted slightly greater losses on the Com Guards than they had sustained during the fight, claiming a marginal victory. It did nothing to ease the sting of having to accept the Truce of Tukayyid, and they wasted no time scapegoating the other Clans for their failures during the battle. In the immediate aftermath, Khans Jorgensson and Kabrinski began rotating in fresh troops from the homeworlds to replace their battered forces within the Ghost Bear Occupation Zone.[12][13]

The Khans also put in place policies to better solidify control over their Inner Sphere holdings. On many worlds, local governance was handed back to the people, with minimal Clan oversight. Local industries were expanded to keep unemployment down and help to regrow the Ghost Bear touman. And a limited amount of regular, warrior-regulated trade was allowed between Ghost Bear and Inner Sphere merchants. These initiatives quickly allowed the Ghost Bears to rebuild their forces in the Inner Sphere and laid the groundwork for future developments.[12][13]

Post-Tukayyid Battles
Date Location Attacker Defender Outcome
July 3052 Santander's World Alpha Galaxy
1st Bear Guards
310th Assault Trinary
117th Battle Trinary
Supernova Command
 Clan Smoke Jaguar
7th Provisional Garrison Cluster
 Ghost Bear Victory

References[edit]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Invading Clans, p. 18
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Invading Clans, pp. 18–19
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Invading Clans, pp. 19–20
  4. ↑ Invading Clans, p. 23
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Invading Clans, pp. 20–21
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Invading Clans, pp. 20–23
  7. ↑ Field Manual: Warden Clans, p. 81
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Invading Clans, p. 24
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Invading Clans, p. 25
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Invading Clans, p. 26
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Invading Clans, p. 28
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Invading Clans, p. 29
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Field Manual: Warden Clans, p. 82

Bibliography[edit]

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