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| | :[[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 (Vessel)|Bear's Den]]'', ''[[Dieron's Run]]'', 6 Clan [[Monolith]]s, 8 Clan [[Merchant]]s, 7 Clan [[Scout]]s, 6 Clan [[Invader]]s | + | ::''[[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''']] |
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| | ==Preparations== | | ==Preparations== |
| − | With the successful vote to invade the [[Inner Sphere]] passed in the wake of the ''[[Outbound Light]]'' incident, the bidding process to determine which six [[Clans]] would take part in the invasion commenced over the course of two fulls days in three rounds. The bidding began with each Clan making their preliminary bid - Clan Ghost Bear starting at twelve full [[Galaxy|Galaxies]] - before retiring to study the opposing Clans' bids. On the second day the bidding war began in fullness, and while [[Clan Smoke Jaguar]] was the first to emerge, slashing their initial eleven Galaxies down to three, Clan Ghost Bear similarly won by slashing down to three. The other Clans to make it to the final round were [[Clan Wolf]], [[Clan Jade Falcon]], [[Clan Nova Cat]], [[Clan Steel Viper]] and [[Clan Diamond Shark]], where combat would determine who would serve as the primary force and who would serve as a reserve. The Third Bear Guards fought on behalf of the Ghost Bears and were victorious in winning their Clan the right to be among those to invade the Inner Sphere first, along with the Wolves, Jade Falcons and Smoke Jaguars; the Steel Vipers were placed as the reserve Clan, while the Nova Cats and Diamond Sharks each won a [[Trial of Refusal]] for the right to be next in line.<ref name=IC18>''Invading Clans'', p. 18</ref>
| + | 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> |
| | | | |
| − | While a basic plan of attack was agreed upon in the [[Grand Council]], with the Ghost Bears assigned an invasion corridor corresponding to territory held by the [[Draconis Combine]] and [[Free Rasalhague Republic]], each was responsible for the specifics of their own invasion. As Ghost Bear [[Khan]] [[Karl Bourjon]], [[saKhan]] [[Theressa DelVillar]] and their [[Star Colonel]]s met to debate their strategy, Khan Bourjon argued that, as those Inner Sphere forces they would face in battle would provide only minimal opposition to their invasion, he did not want to bring along excessive supplies which would weigh down their fleet and impose hardship on those left behind on the homeworlds. SaKhan DelVillar, while agreeing that their invasion force would defeat all comers, was not as sure with regards to the low amount of supplies Khan Bourjon was proposing. Her arguments fell on deaf ears though, and in the end Clan Ghost Bear would invade the Inner Sphere with the fewest supplies and materiel of any invading Clan.<ref name=IC18/>
| + | 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/> |
| − | | |
| − | In the meantime 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/>
| |
| | | | |
| | ==Invasion Route== | | ==Invasion Route== |
| | ===Periphery=== | | ===Periphery=== |
| − | Though each of the four invading Clans were assigned their individual corridors for the invasion, at the insistance of the 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 these worlds. 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, p. 18-19</ref> | + | 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> |
| | | | |
| − | 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/> | + | 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/> |
| − | | + | {| border="1" style="text-align:left" |
| − | ====[[Porthos]] (September 3049)====
| + | |+ Periphery Action |
| − | :'''Attackers:''' [[Star Captain]] [[Ian DelVillar]], Alpha OmniMech Star ([[Ourse Keshik (Clan Ghost Bear)|Ourse Keshik]])
| + | |- |
| − | :'''Defenders:''' MechWarrior Uchi Tikidomo (former [[DCMS]] officer)
| + | ! '''Date''' |
| − | :'''Major Battle Site:''' Deson Ranch
| + | ! '''Location''' |
| − | :'''Outcome:''' Uchi Tikidomo had retired to Porthos after serving with distinction in the [[War of 3039]] where he planned to live out his days in peace - at least until the Clans arrived. Expecting no resistance the Ghost Bears were surprised to meet Tikidomo in his ''[[Archer]]'' waiting for them at their landing site, where he promptly challenged them for control of his defenseless world. The Ghost Bears immediately accepted his challenge, and Star Captain DelVillar won the right to face off against Tikidomo in his ''[[Nova]]''. While the mismatched fight ended in a predictable fashion, Tikidomo's tenacity in the face of adversity so impressed the Star Captain that he agreed to hire the former warrior as a liaison between the planet's government and the Clan.<ref name=IC30>''Invading Clans'', p. 30</ref>
| + | ! '''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 |
| | + | |- |
| | + | |} |
| | | | |
| | ===Wave 1 (March-April 3050)=== | | ===Wave 1 (March-April 3050)=== |
| − | [[Image:operationrevival-ghostbearwaveone.png|Ghost Bear operation in wave 1]]<br>
| + | 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> |
| − | 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]], 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'', p. 19-20</ref> | |
| − | | |
| − | 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, with most considering the pathetic resistance offered thus far the most they could expect as they advanced further. 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/>
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| − | | |
| − | ====[[Thule]] (FRR) March 3050====
| |
| − | :'''Attackers:''' [[50th Striker (Clan Ghost Bear)|50th Striker Cluster]], Alpha Galaxy; [[304th Assault (Clan Ghost Bear)|304th Assault Cluster]], Beta Galaxy; [[3rd Bear Striker (Clan Ghost Bear)|3rd Bear Striker Cluster]], Delta Galaxy
| |
| − | :'''Defenders:''' [[1st Hussars (Free Rasalhague Republic)|1st Hussars]]
| |
| − | :'''Major Battle Site:''' Fresdon Desert
| |
| − | :'''Outcome:''' The First Hussars' commanding officer, [[Överste]] [[Joannie Swigard]], refused to respond when the Ghost Bears announced their presence with a [[batchall]], instead massing her troops in the Fresdon Desert where they had trained extensively to defend their world. As Ghost Bear ships dropped to the planet Khan Bourjon decided that each of the three Galaxies would be represented and in the resulting bidding war three Trinaries, one of which was a [[Supernova (unit)|Supernova]], were chosen to face off against the defenders. As they landed on the desert plane the Clan warriors expected a swift victory, however they had failed to account for the Hussars' greatest advantages: terrain and [[artillery]]. In the hot climate many Clan [[OmniMechs]] suffered from heat overload and were forced to shut down after firing their initial salvo, leaving them vulnerable to Hussar artillery strikes. An entire Trinary's worth of equipment was lost before the warriors could get their machines working again, and in response the Hussars began hit-and-run attacks with their lightweight [[BattleMechs]] to try and force them to overheat again.<ref name=IC19-20/>
| |
| − | | |
| − | :Star Colonel [[François Cote]] was the first to break his bid and call in the rest of his [[Cluster]] for assistance, against which the Hussars launched aerospace fighters to strafe the approaching Third Bear forces. In response Star Colonel [[Stephan Huntsing]] broke his bid by calling in his aerospace forces and the 50th Striker Cluster moved in to surround the Hussars. When the defenders were enveloped however the Ghost Bear forces held off their attack, preferring to wait until nightfall and cooler weather. Överste Swigard responded by striking at the enemy's northern flank, maneuvering her troops away from the heavier Ghost Bear units and successfully achieving a breakout. At this point the Ghost Bears had achieved aerial superiority, but the Hussars' artillery continued to punch huge holes in their rear lines. Star Colonel [[Paul Vishio]] was the last to break his bid and called in aerospace reinforcements to finally silence the guns.<ref name=IC19-20/>
| |
| − | | |
| − | :On the run the Hussars made for the large river which bisected the Fresdon plain, sacrificing an entire [[company]] in an effort to successfully rendezvous with their naval assets and flee upriver aboard massive cargo ships. This left the Ghost Bear warriors in a quandary and a vote was held to decide whether to use their aerospace assets to sink the ships or track them and resume battle when the Hussars disembarked. Concluding that sinking the ships was against Clan honor aerial units were dispatched to follow the ships until they landed. With the Hussars largely out of the picture the planet seemed to accept Ghost Bear rule and the Khans declared it conquered, leaving behind the 312th Assault Trinary to garrison the world and destroy the Hussars when they finally landed.<ref name=IC19-20/>
| |
| − | | |
| − | :In truth when the First Hussars reemerged during the Second Wave they destroyed the garrison force and reasserted Ralashagian control of the world. Seemingly responding out of proportion to the situation the entire Alpha Galaxy returned to Thule and caught the defenders amid the planet's frigid south lands. Elemental forces easily swept through the Hussar's prepared positions, with saKhan DelVillar reported to have stated "How polite of you to spare us the effort of digging your graves." Joannie Swigard was taken as a [[bondsman]] during this battle.<ref name=IC20-21/>
| |
| | | | |
| − | ====[[Damian]] (FRR) March 3050====
| + | 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/> |
| − | :'''Attackers:''' 34th Striker Trinary ([[8th Bear Cuirassiers (Clan Ghost Bear)|8th Bear Cuirassiers]], Delta Galaxy)
| |
| − | :'''Defenders:''' [[Black Omen]] (a mercenary company)
| |
| − | :'''Major Battle Site:''' None
| |
| − | :'''Outcome:''' During its initial First Wave invasion Damian fell easily as the Black Omen company seemingly fled rather than face the Ghost Bears in battle following six days of fruitless searching. In truth, recognizing they could not defeat their opponent in open combat the mercenaries instead chose to hide, waiting for the main force to pass. The small garrison left behind on Damian was easily overrun when the Black Omen reemerged two months later. This forced the Bears to retake the planet during the Second Wave, though to disastrous results, and showed no mercy to the Black Omen's "treachery."<ref name=IC30/>
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| | | | |
| − | ====[[Holmsbu]] (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:''' 43rd Elemental Support Trinary ([[12th Bear Chevaliers (Clan Ghost Bear)|12th Bear Chevaliers]], [[Beta Galaxy (Clan Ghost Bear)|Beta Galaxy]])
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| − | :'''Defenders:''' 7th and 8th Corrugated Lancers (2 armored regiments supported by infantry)
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| − | :'''Major Battle Sites:''' Redwood, Linden's Bluff
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| − | :'''Outcome:''' The defending Lancers were ill-prepared to face the [[Battle Armor]]ed [[Elemental]]s and were quickly defeated by the Clanners, who readily accepted the Lancers' surrender.<ref name=IC30/>
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| | | | |
| − | ====[[Pinnacle]] (FRR) March 3050====
| + | [[Image:operationrevival-ghostbearwaveone.png|Ghost Bear operation in wave 1]] |
| − | :'''Attackers:''' Alpha and Bravo Assault Stars, 71st Assault Trinary ([[140th Striker (Clan Ghost Bear)|140th Striker Cluster]], Delta Galaxy)
| + | {| border="1" style="text-align:left" |
| − | :'''Defenders:''' The Pinnacle Guardsmen (1 regiment of mechanized infantry)
| + | |+First Wave |
| − | :'''Major Battle Site:''' Lodan Factory
| + | |- |
| − | :'''Outcome:''' Within hours of landing the Ghost Bear [[OmniMechs]] had successfully overrun the infantry regiment's hardened positions and conquered the planet.<ref name=IC30/><ref name="IC-31"/>
| + | ! '''Date''' |
| − | | + | ! '''Location''' |
| − | ====[[Constance]] (DC) April 3050====
| + | ! '''Attacker''' |
| − | :'''Attackers:''' [[68th Striker (Clan Ghost Bear)|68th Striker Cluster]], [[Delta Galaxy (Clan Ghost Bear)|Delta Galaxy]] | + | ! '''Defender''' |
| − | :'''Defenders:''' The Honor Guard (5 companies of 'Mechs, 2 armor regiments) | + | ! '''Outcome''' |
| − | :'''Major Battle Sites:''' Cedar Groves, Hartmond Hills | + | |- |
| − | :'''Outcome:''' The defenders used every trick in the book to defeat the Clan invaders in this savage battle, including poisoning the general water supply on the assumption they did not have their own reserves. Star Colonel [[Chou Vong]] labeled the Honor Guard [[dezgra]] after this incident and used it as an excuse to call down his entire Cluster to finish the battle quickly. However the Honor Guard's use of guerrilla tactics denied this swift victory as both sides resorted to ambushes and other devious tactics. The Honor Guard's elite armor regiments were finally hunted down over the course of five days of attrition fighting.<ref name="IC-31">''Invading Clans'', p. 31</ref> | + | |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 |
| | + | |- |
| | + | |} |
| | | | |
| | ===Wave 2 (May-June 3050)=== | | ===Wave 2 (May-June 3050)=== |
| − | [[Image:operationrevival-ghostbearwavetwo.png|Ghost Bear operation in wave 2]]<br>
| + | 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> |
| − | The Second Wave of the invasion initially got off to a good start with the Ghost Bears confronting 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. However it was in the midst of the Second Wave that reports were coming 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 on Damian. On many worlds previously conquered by the Ghost Bears the local populace was rising up and disposing of the weak Clan garrison forces, arming themselves and ringing their cities with [[vibrabomb]]s. Leaving behind token garrisons again entire Galaxies were redirected back to pacify these worlds, though that was easier said than done: as Delta Galaxy struggled through a week of constant fighting Galaxy Commander [[Roberto Snuka]] threatened to level every city in rebellion if they did not submit. Fortunately the situation on many worlds was defused by the local ComStar [[Demi-Precentor]] broadcasting a plea for peace and promise that the "new administration" would work cooperatively with the populace, a peace which was backed up by more hefty garrison forces.<ref name=IC20-21/>
| |
| − | | |
| − | Alpha Galaxy would return to Thule and destroyed 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 would result in tragedy as they made the jump on 17 May aboard the ''Bear's Den'' and went missing. Busy with other matters a week went by before the Ghost Bear Khans could focus on the missing galaxy and sent the 50th Strike to search for them. Upon their arrival on Damian the Black Bears learned that an asteroid had struck the ''Bear's Den''; though damages were minor they were beyond the ability to fix with field repairs and, more seriously, had wiped out an entire Cluster. While Beta Galaxy managed to land on Damian following the accident and destroy the Black Omen, the planet had no HPG station and so couldn't inform the Khans of what had happened.<ref name=IC20-21/>
| |
| | | | |
| − | 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, though this delayed the start of the Third Wave. In combination with the larger garrison forces now deemed necessary this loss also left the Clan dangerously short of combat forces. As they mustered their remaining units at Damian a close vote was held in early June which decided that the invasion should continue as planned, with potential troop shortages countered by holding fewer units in reserve.<ref name=IC20-21/> | + | 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/> |
| | | | |
| − | ====[[Susquehanna]] (FRR) May 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:''' 96th Battle Trinary ([[14th Battle (Clan Ghost Bear)|14th Battle Cluster]], Beta Galaxy)
| |
| − | :'''Defenders:''' [[Regal Death]] (a mercenary company supported by 2 battalions of heavy armor)
| |
| − | :'''Major Battle Sites:''' Silver Lake, Vernaw Woods
| |
| − | :'''Outcome:''' During their batchall with the Regal Death mercenary company the 96th landed at the agreed-upon location to find their enemy was not there. Remembering the disappearance of the Black Omen company they spread out in search of their opponent, although they did not expect to find them. Bravo Battle Star walked right into the mercenaries' trap in Vernaw Woods as pit traps and minefields destroyed three of their 'Mechs, while concentrated weapons fire from prepared positions destroyed a fourth and seriously damaged the fifth. Fortunately for the survivor the rest of the Trinary's [[Stars]] arrived to avenge their fallen comrades and left not a single Regal Death soldier alive. Following the events on Susquehanna many Ghost Bear commanders declared all mercenaries [[dezgra]], unworthy not only honorable treatment as per [[zellbrigen]] but also the issuing batchalls or taking of [[bondsmen]].<ref name=IC31-32>''Invading Clans, p. 31-32</ref>
| |
| | | | |
| − | ====[[Jarett]](DC) May 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/> |
| − | :'''Attackers:''' Trinary Galaxy Command, 310th Assault Trinary, 17th Battle Trinary (1st Bear Guards, Alpha Galaxy)
| |
| − | :'''Defenders:''' [[9th Alshain Regulars]]
| |
| − | :'''Major Battle Site:''' Solun Jungle
| |
| − | :'''Outcome:''' The conquest of Jarret involved the first major conflict between Clan Ghost Bear and the [[DCMS]]. ''[[Tai-sa]]'' [[Sonia Zev]] responded to saKhan DelVillar's batchall but, not knowing what the strange woman was expecting in response and knowing her troops were inexperienced, refused to reveal their location. Unfortunately the saKhan was informed by local [[ComStar]] allies that the 9th Alshain's three [[battalion]]s were spread out over the planet's northern continent. SaKhan DelVillar personally led her troops as they made an orbital drop in standard combat formation and confronted the DCMS forces in the lush Solun Jungle. The battle began with the saKhan challenging an enemy ''[[Commando]]'' against which her [[Elemental]] [[Point]] quickly shredded, however when the warrior refused to give up fighting, even confronted by battle-armored soldiers, DelVillar decided to capture and make him her bondsman. The battle would last for nearly ten days as the 9th Alshain used tree cover and fighting withdrawals to hold off the Ghost Bears to delay their inevitable defeat. Inspired by their commander many warriors chose to capture rather than kill their opponents, accounting for the 9th's impressively high survival rate as a few companies managed to escape off-world, and in the process the Ghost Bears learned much of Inner Sphere guerrilla tactics.<ref name=IC20-21>''Invading Clans'', p. 20-21</ref><ref name=IC32>''Invading Clans, p. 32</ref>
| |
| | | | |
| − | ====[[Trondheim]](FRR) May 3050====
| + | [[Image:operationrevival-ghostbearwavetwo.png|Ghost Bear operation in wave 2]] |
| − | :'''Attackers:''' Trinary Command, 12th Battle Trinary, 34th Fighter Binary (3rd Bear Guards, Alpha Galaxy)
| + | {| border="1" style="text-align:left" |
| − | :'''Defenders:''' Trondheim Freedom Defenders (2 mechanized infantry regiments, 1 aerospace wing, 2 battalions of heavy armor, 1 'Mech company)
| + | |+Second Wave |
| − | :'''Major Battle Sites:''' Misby Flats, Lava Web, Millargro
| + | |- |
| − | :'''Outcome:''' A mobile campaign fought across most of the planet's largest continents was waged in the battle for control of Trondheim, beginning first on the Lava Web, a flat plain of lava whose top crust varies in thickness. The defenders managed to lure a Star of heavy Ghost Bear OmniMechs onto this plain, where their weight caused them to crash through the crust and sink into the lava below. The rest of the battle was spent as the avenging Clan forces chased the defenders through the open fields of Millargro to the crowded strees of Misby Flats, where the defenders were finally pinned down and destroyed.<ref name=IC32/>
| + | ! '''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)=== | | ===Wave 3 (June-July 3050)=== |
| − | [[Image:operationrevival-ghostbearwavethree.png|Ghost Bear operation in wave 3]]<br>
| + | 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> |
| − | Dissatisfaction was quickly growing within the Ghost Bear ranks at the Khans' handling of the situation. Most of their available supplies had already been exhausted by the end of the First Wave, though if he had admitted his mistake and brought forward additional supplies Khan Bourjon might have salvaged the situation. Instead he not only continued forward but compounded his mistake by leaving behind insufficient garrison forces reluctant to trust the administration of newly-conquered worlds to ComStar or the local governments, resulting in civilian uprisings against which entire Galaxies were redirected to put down in an uncharacteristic overreaction. 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, nor did he react to the Wolves' accelerated invasion schedule.<ref name=IC20-23>''Invading Clans'', p. 20-23</ref> | |
| − | | |
| − | It was in the midst of this growing scandal that ilKhan Showers contacted saKhan DelVillar in late May to suggest that the Ghost Bears bid for the right to conquer [[Rasalhague]], capital world of the FRR. Though it lay within the Wolves' invasion corridor its presence near the border with the Ghost Bear's made it a legitimate target; as well conquering this world would slow down the Wolves' lightning advance and boost Ghost Bear morale. SaKhan DelVillar agreed with the ilKhan's advice, but when she brought the proposal to Khan Bourjon he originally intended to reject it, seemingly unable to see the advantage in taking such a prize. Only the traditional Ghost Bear obedience to the ilKhan prompted Khan Bourjon to finally agree, but when 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 movement to replace the Khan at the earliest opportunity.<ref name=IC20-23/>
| |
| | | | |
| − | 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 for the bidding to take place. As a stepping stone to Rasalhauge the Ghost Bears kicked off the 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 stiff competition Oathmaster Kabrinski earned the title. In her first official statement Kabrinski turned on Khan Bourjon, calling him a fine warrior but an incompetent leader whose failings were to blame for their Clan's poor performance, and nominated Star Colonel [[Bjorn Jorgensson]] to challenge the Khan for his position. Caught off-guard 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 the position.<ref name=IC20-23/>
| + | 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/> |
| | | | |
| − | Khan Bourjon called for a [[Trial of Refusal]], which Khan Jorgensson accepted personally. Bourjon elected to fight 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 in the beginning of the fight, using the jungle's cover against Jorgensson's strafing runs, the aerospace pilot continued to bind his time 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 Jorgenson pressed his advantage aggressively until Bourjon pleaded [[hegira]].<ref name=IC20-23/> | + | 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/> |
| | | | |
| − | 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/> | + | 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/> |
| | | | |
| − | The bid for Rasalhague took place 4 July 3050 aboard the ''[[Dire Wolf (Vessel)|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 as low as possible to guarantee failure, and afterwards directed his warriors to continue with the invasion. 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, but by then everyone had been surprised by the Wolves' success in conquering the planet with just three Clusters - and the help of a bondsman, [[Phelan Kell]].<ref name=IC20-23/><ref>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 81</ref>
| + | 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/> |
| | | | |
| − | ====[[Last Frontier]] (FRR) 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> |
| − | :'''Attackers:''' [[Silveroot Keshik (Clan Ghost Bear)|Silveroot Keshik]], Ourse Keshik, 310th Assault Trinary (1st Bear Guards, Alpha Galaxy)
| |
| − | :'''Defenders:''' [[1st Freemen]]
| |
| − | :'''Major Battle Sites:''' Brighton Rock, Ascension
| |
| − | :'''Outcome:''' The elite of Clan Ghost Bear's invasion forces faced off against 1st Freemen, a green 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 when on 24 June the Ourse Keshik raided a Freemen ammunition depot. Överste [[Knute Kurita]]'s defending company of 'Mechs opened fire on the charging warriors and, surely by chance, scoured a direct missile hit on saKhan Theressa DelVillar. Removed from the battlefield by her Elemental Point DelVillar slipped into a coma from which she never emerged.<ref name=IC20-23/><ref name=IC32>''Invading Clans'', p. 32</ref>
| |
| | | | |
| − | ====[[Radlje]] (FRR) July 3050====
| + | [[Image:operationrevival-ghostbearwavethree.png|Ghost Bear operation in wave 3]] |
| − | :'''Attackers:''' Alpha Nova Star, Supernova Echo ([[115th Striker (Clan Ghost Bear)|115th Striker Cluster]], Delta Galaxy)
| + | {| border="1" style="text-align:left" |
| − | :'''Defenders:''' 12th Rasalhagian Dragoons Free Company (4 'Mech lances supported by an infantry battalion)
| + | |+Third Wave |
| − | :'''Major Battle Site:''' Lochsdown
| + | |- |
| − | :'''Outcome:''' When the Twelfth Dragoons refused to respond to her batchall Star Captain [[Marialle Hawkins]] took the insult personally and hunted them for three full days before finally running the defenders down. The Clan warriors showed no mercy as they saturated the battlefield with weapons fire and refused all offers of surrender until every single enemy 'Mech was destroyed. Due to this undisciplined action Star Captain Hawkins received an official reprimand and served two months of garrison duty on Radlje to better understand the people she had conquered.<ref name=IC32/>
| + | ! '''Date''' |
| − | | + | ! '''Location''' |
| − | ====[[Polcenigo]] (DC) July 3050====
| + | ! '''Attacker''' |
| − | :'''Attackers:''' 321st Assault Trinary (304th Assault Cluster, Beta Galaxy) | + | ! '''Defender''' |
| − | :'''Defenders:''' [[Polcenigo Guard]] (1 infantry regiment, 1 'Mech battalion) | + | ! '''Outcome''' |
| − | :'''Major Battle Sites:''' 43rd Regional Correctional Facility, Park Mountains | + | |- |
| − | :'''Outcome:''' In an ironic twist of fate the Ghost Bears were actually welcomed as liberators in their conquest of Polcenigo, a world ruled by the iron fist of a tyrannical dictator engaged in illegal spice trade. That the planet's governor had evaded the attention of the [[ISF]] by ruthlessly controlling the lives of his citizens was a mere afterthought in the ComStar intelligence report. When the Howling Bears received no response to their batchall they landed on the planet in the middle of an uprising, catching the government's battalion of 'Mechs and a regiment of augmented infantry between themselves and the revolting populace. As the locals launched guerilla attacks against government troops and supply depots and Ghost Bears quickly sized up the situation and struck the government forces, forcing them to retreat to a specially-dug tunnel network beneath the Park Mountains. Though the newly-freed citizens gladly accepted the new administration and helped the Ghost Bears root out their oppressors, nearly a third of the Polcenigo Guard evaded capture or destruction, requiring a substantial garrison of front-line troops to be posted.<ref name=IC20-23/><ref name=IC32/> | + | |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)=== | | ===Wave 4 (July-October 3050)=== |
| − | [[Image:operationrevival-ghostbearwavefour.png|Ghost Bear operation in wave 4]]<br>
| + | 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> |
| − | 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 (Provisional Garrison Clusters) to replace the front-line garrison forces currently in use. While returning the Clan to the strength of its original invasion bid this effort also delayed them 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> | |
| − | | |
| − | The Fourth Wave got off to a good start as the Ghost Bears conquered six worlds in a little over a month's time, though they faced their first stiff resistance on [[Casere]] while 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 Khans declared the Fourth Wave a success. When the ilKhan called for a Grand Kurultai on [[Radstadt]] the Ghost Bear Khans delayed their departure to ensure their forces were settled, and were hence the last to learn the dire news: Leo Showers had been killed.<ref name=IC24/><ref name=IC25>''Invading Clans'', p. 25</ref>
| |
| − | | |
| − | | |
| − | ====[[Vipaava]] (FRR) August 3050====
| |
| − | :'''Attackers:''' Alpha Battle Star (23rd Battle Trinary, 14th Battle Cluster, Beta Galaxy) & Alpha Nova Star (76th Supernova, 14th Battle Cluster, Beta Galaxy),
| |
| − | :'''Defenders:''' 22nd Rasalhagian Free Company (1 'Mech company, 2 regiments of infantry)
| |
| − | :'''Major Battle Site:''' Lion's Den
| |
| − | :'''Outcome:''' When the defended 22nd Rasalhagian Free Company answered their batchall and agreed to meet them in battle at the Lion's Den, a massive rock outcropping far from the planet's cities and towns, the Clan warriors suspected a trap and approached the site cautiously. Thus were they surprised to see the defenders arranged as promised, intent on challenging the Ghost Bear forces to a stand-up fight. In the ensuing battle Alpha Nova Star engaged the defenders first and utterly decimated them, forcing the Rasalhagian's surrender. This engagement helped convince the [[KungsArmé]] that they could not defeat the invaders in a straight fight and began developing new strategies to face the Clanners.<ref name=IC32>''Invading Clans'', p. 32</ref>
| |
| − | | |
| − | ====[[Jezersko]] (FRR) September 3050====
| |
| − | :'''Attackers:''' Alpha Fighter Star (16th Fighter Binary, 1st Bear Guards, Alpha Galaxy), 310th Assault Trinary (1st Bear Guards, Alpha Galaxy)
| |
| − | :'''Defenders:''' 1st and 2nd Jezersko Brigade (2 regiments of armor)
| |
| − | :'''Major Battle Sites:''' Hell's Ridge, Pleasure Grotto
| |
| − | :'''Outcome:''' In their meeting engagement at Hell's Ridge the 310th stormed Jezersko tanks' positions, using their weight and speed to their advantage to pick the defenders apart and preempt their attempts to outmaneuver the Ghost Bears. The defenders scrambled to their fall-back position at the Pleasure Grotto, where remote-firing weapons and [[vibrabomb]]s had been placed. While the 310th were able to side-step most of these emplacements with ease they faced difficulty in forcing the defenders from their position. Finally they called in aerial units to bombard the Jezerkso Brigades and force them into the open where they were finally defeated.<ref name=IC33>''Invading Clans'', p. 33</ref>
| |
| − | | |
| − | ====[[Pomme De Terre]] (FRR) September 3050====
| |
| − | :'''Attackers:''' Alpha Command Star (Trinary Command, 139th Striker Cluster, Alpha Galaxy)
| |
| − | :'''Defenders:''' None
| |
| − | :'''Major Battle Site:''' None
| |
| − | :'''Outcome:''' With only a small planetary military several prominent Pomme De Terre politicians, based on reports of high civilian casualties in previous fights with the Clans and the Ghost Bear's reputation of treating conquered populaces equitably, appealed to the planet's ruling council to surrender. Several days of debate ensued until an agreement to capitulate was reach only minutes before Star Colonel Huntsig broadcasted his batchall. Only a small garrison was left on Pomme De Terre as the Ghost Bear juggernaut continued forward<ref name=IC33/>.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ====[[Predlitz]] (FRR) September 3050====
| |
| − | :'''Attackers:''' 2133rd Striker Trinary & 469th Assault Trinary (332nd Assault Cluster]], Beta Galaxy)
| |
| − | :'''Defenders:''' 17th, 20th and 31st Rasalhagian Free Divisions (1 'Mech battalion, 2 regiments of armor)
| |
| − | :'''Major Battle Sites:'''
| |
| − | :'''Outcome:''' In the face of the Ghost Bears' overwhelming forces the defending Rasalhagian units employed a mobile defense, dashing from supply cache to supply cache as the Clan warriors hot on their heels. Each of the first two Divisions were eventually forced to make their stand and be destroyed in detail. The last was finally defeated near the craggy cliffs of Billy's Tears when the 2133rd discovered an unused supply cache and laid in wait for the enemy; when the defenders arrived the Ghost Bears pounced from the crags and wiped them out.<ref name=IC33/>
| |
| − | | |
| − | ====[[Spittal]] (FRR) September 3050====
| |
| − | :'''Attackers:''' Alpha Striker Star (141st Striker Trinary) & Trinary Command (140th Striker Cluster Delta Galaxy)
| |
| − | :'''Defenders:''' 3rd and 4th Spittal Knights (2 'Mech companies, 1 battalion of infantry)
| |
| − | :'''Battle Sites:''' Rutger's Pass, Swerve Pass
| |
| − | :'''Outcome:''' The Spittal Knights had set up a [[vibrabomb]] minefield in Rutger's Pass into which they planned on leading the Ghost Bears, however when the mines failed to explode they were forced to retreat to their fallback position in Swerve Pass. Here their infantry forces were arrayed along the ledges with clear firing lines onto the chasing Ghost Bears, however they had not counted on the enemy 'Mechs having [[jump jet]]s. Rising out of the pass and onto the ledges from which the infantry were firing on them the Ghost Bears quickly dispatched their foes.<ref name=IC33/>
| |
| − | | |
| − | ====[[Casere]] (FRR) September 3050====
| |
| − | :'''Attackers:''' 3rd Bear Guards (Alpha Galaxy)
| |
| − | :'''Defenders:''' [[2nd Hussars (Free Rasalhague Republic)|2nd Hussars]]
| |
| − | :'''Major Battle Site:''' Hemmond Industries sector
| |
| − | :'''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 weapons' superior range were effectively negated, though not their firepower, and the battle was intense between both sides. Despite the Ghost Bear's habit of taking as many bondsmen as possible the 2nd Hussars were fanatically loyal to the Republic, forcing the 3rd Bear Guards to destroy the entire regiment to the last man.<ref name=IC24/><ref name=IC33/>
| |
| − | | |
| − | ====[[Goito]] (FRR) October 3050====
| |
| − | :'''Attackers:''' Supernova Command (1st Bear Guards, Alpha Galaxy)
| |
| − | :'''Defenders:''' The Hunting Revelers (2 armor battalions)
| |
| − | :'''Major Battle Site:''' Apache Canyon
| |
| − | :'''Outcome:''' In the face of Supernova Command's relentless advance the green Revelers morale broke and made a clumsy retreat into Apache Canyon where they were wiped out.<ref name=IC33/>
| |
| − | | |
| − | ====[[Soverzene]] (DC) October 3050====
| |
| − | :'''Attackers:''' Beta Galaxy
| |
| − | :'''Defenders:''' [[2nd Alshain Regulars]], [[27th Dieron Regulars]]
| |
| − | :'''Major Battle Sites:''' Averti, Killimangero Fjords
| |
| − | :'''Outcome:''' Soverzene was an important Combine planet, the main source of the [[Alshain Military District]]'s raw materials, prompting the DCMS to reinforce the 2nd Alshain with the 27th Dieron when it came under attack. ''[[Tai-sa]]'' [[Jasic Yoshiro]] and ''[[Tai-so]]'' [[Ano Tars]] planned to use the various supply caches scattered across the planet's main continent to conduct a mobile defense. Discovering that they faced two full regiments Khan Jorgensson skipped the bidding process and ordered the entirety of Beta Galaxy to capture the world, approving Galaxy Commander [[Laurie Tseng]]'s conservative plan to split her forces in two in order to capture Soverzene's two principle cities.<ref name=IC24/>
| |
| | | | |
| − | :As the 12th Bear Chevaliers and 14th Battle Cluster advanced on Averti the Dieron Regulars used aerial assaults to herd them towards the nearby crescent-shaped Killimangero Fjords, though the Ghost Bears knew they were being manipulated and approached the site cautiously. Finding two companies of Dieron Regular 'Mechs waiting on the edge of the narrow waterways the 12th sent a Trinary to engage, only to see the Combine 'Mechs retreat directly over the side of the cliffs and use their jump jets to scale the opposite cliff face. When the hidden explosives detonated most of the Trinary was sent tumbling in a rock slide, though unfortunately few Clan 'Mechs were actually destroyed in the trap while at the same time the 14th's flanking maneuver caught the ascending Combine 'Mechs as the reached the top of the opposing cliff. The rest of the Dieron Regulars emerged from the trees at that point and attacked but were thrown back by the Clan forces and pursued as they made for their rough-hewn escape tunnels down among the waterways. As they emerged on the far side of the fjord they sent the command to detonate the rest of their planted explosives and returned to Averti, believing themselves the victors. In truth during the fighting at the fjord the Ghost Bear commanders had sent their [[Elementals]] into the tunnels to disarm the majority of the explosives, and later that night they defeated the Dieron Regulars in nearly bloodless surprise attack.<ref name=IC24/>
| + | 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> |
| | | | |
| − | :The Alshain Regulars fared even worst as the 332nd and 304th Assault Clusters pursued them to one of their supply caches, in doing so getting a fix on its location and destroying in by aerial bombardment. Low on ammunition the defenders fled north with the 304th on their tail, where further aerial attacks forced them towards a forest where the 332nd awaited; trapped between the two Clusters the Alshain Regulars suffered heavy losses. The survivors though would manage to stage a daring rescue mission at Averti, where captured soldiers and equipment from the devastated Dieron Regulars were kept, and led the Ghost Bears on a nearly two week-long hunt before the call to elect a new ilKhan came. The surviving elements of the two devastated regiments therefore managed to escape the planet.<ref name=IC24/><ref name=IC25>''Invading Clans'', p. 25</ref> | + | [[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 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 by a married couple the Clan had always placed an importance on close personal relationships, and 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 re-establish lines of communication, shuttling between worlds when possible, to bring back a sense of unity and ''esprit de corps'' which would serve them well in the coming year.<ref name=IC25/> | + | 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/> |
| | | | |
| − | In the meantime though dissension ran between the surviving Khans as they debated what to do next. Many called for bringing forth more forces to punish the Inner Sphere while others warned against abandoning their carefully-laid invasion plans. Khan [[Perigard Zaiman]] 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 Zaiman said, eventually the Khans realized it was the only way to keep their invasion force cooperating.<ref name=IC25/> | + | 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/> |
| | | | |
| − | During the return journey the Khans of Clan Ghost Bear, Jade Falcon and Smoke Jaguar conspired to place the death of Leo Showers as being Khan Ulric Kerensky's fault. Though they had no hard evidence of the fact they also doubted Ulric's ability to disprove their claims and the Ghost Bear Khans were always ready to strike at the Wolves in even the most minor ways. Still, Jorgensson and Kabrinski suggested a back-up plan: if Ulric was able to prove his innocence, they would hamstring him by electing him to be the new ilKhan, effectively binding him to the will of the Crusader-dominated Grand Council and allowing his expected successor, Crusader-leaning [[Loremaster]] [[Conal Ward]], to assume his position.<ref name=IC25/> | + | 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/> |
| | | | |
| − | At the meeting of the Grand Council testimony was offered to support the Crusader's accusations against Khan Kerensky, though thanks to the heated arguments of one [[Phelan Wolf]] he was cleared of all charges. In the follow-up vote to elect the new ilKhan the conspiracy went as planned, with Ulric Kerensky succeeding to the position, but 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 she confirmed her new role during her [[Trial of Position]] and the Crusader conspirators were handed a Phyrric 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> | + | 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> |
| | | | |
| | ===Wave 5 (November-April 3052)=== | | ===Wave 5 (November-April 3052)=== |
| − | [[Image:operationrevival-ghostbearwavefive.png|Ghost Bear operation in wave 5]]<br>
| + | 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/> |
| − | 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 stockpile and established an unbroken chain of supply routes between the Inner Sphere and the homeworlds. The Fifth Wave would also be modeled on the Smoke Jaguar's 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]], and the Khans recommended to their commanders that they prohibit bidding, though many took a wait-and-see approach.<ref name=IC26/> | |
| | | | |
| − | Alpha Galaxy were 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 District. Having delivered this stunning blow to the Combine and completing the 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 expended and their extraordinarily long supply lines too slow to be effective, delaying the start of the third sweep by nearly a month and prompting Khan Jorgensson to issue sweeping 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 or the use of zellbrigen. The merchant caste were also ordered to bring in additional supplies, no matter the cost, which resulted in an exchange of cultures between Inner Sphere civilians and nonwarrior Clan members. As Clan merchants traded with their Inner Sphere counterparts it was hoped this friendly contact might reduce instances of rebellion on garrisoned worlds; that such efforts succeeded helped contributed towards the Ghost Bear's success.<ref name=IC28>''Invading Clans'', p. 28</ref> | + | 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> |
| | | | |
| − | With the capture of eighteen worlds in all the Fifth Wave as a stunning success, with Clan Ghost Bear outperforming all other Clans bar the Wolves, engendering a sense of pride in all Ghost Bear warriors. When they received the news that ilKhan Kerensky had made a deal with [[Primus (ComStar)|Primus]] [[Myndo Waterly]] for the Clans to fight the [[Com Guard]] on [[Tukayyid]] to decide the fate of the Inner Sphere, the Ghost Bear Khans' reactions were mixed. Khan Jorgensson disagreed with the idea of deciding the invasion in this one battle, while saKhan Kabrinski, confident in the Clans' victory saw it as an excellent way to bring about a decisive end. Eventually the matter was decided by vote in the Grand Council, and in the fate of the Inner Sphere was decided in the [[Battle of Tukayyid]].<ref name=IC28/> | + | 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/> |
| | | | |
| − | ====[[Thessalonika]] (DC) November 3051==== | + | {| class="wikitable" |
| − | :'''Attackers:''' Delta Galaxy
| + | |+Wave Five |
| − | :'''Defenders:''' [[8th Alshain Regulars]], [[12th Sun Zhang Academy Cadre]]
| + | |- |
| − | :'''Major Battle Sites:''' Dorian Cove, Guerdel practice fields, Verdandra, Holy Marsh | + | ! '''Date''' |
| − | :'''Outcome:''' The 12th Sun Zhang Academy Cadre had been assigned to the planet as part of a training exercise when Delta Galaxy attack, trapping them with the 8th Alshain Regulars. ''Tai-sa'' [[Tasha Greer]] of the 8th initially ordered the cadets to withdraw to safety, but when ''Tai-sa'' [[Anthony Fanhorn]] politely but firmly refused this order she decided to work them into her battle plan. Khan Jorgensson meanwhile would personally lead Delta Galaxy in the first engagement signaling the Clan's return to the Inner Sphere.<ref name=IC26/> | + | ! '''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 |
| | + | |- |
| | + | |} |
| | | | |
| − | :When he received no reply to his batchall Khan Jorgensson used information provided by ComStar to launch the 68th Striker Cluster against what he thought was the Alshain Regulars. Surprised to find their opponents meeting them in open combat rather than cowering behind cover the Clan warriors eagerly charged forward to close the gap while the Kurita forces returned fire and gradually pulled back. The battle was going almost too well for the Ghost Bear warriors and just as they began to suspect a trap Star Colonel Chou Vong detected additional forces approaching from the rear. Immediately the Ghost Bears noticed these new forces were acting with more skill and professionalism than before and the truth was revealed: the cadets had been used to draw the Clanners into a trap set by the Regulars. Khan Jorgensson immediately ordered the 73rd Battle Cluster to attack, but when the 68th protested at having to share glory the Regulars took advantage of the distraction to deliver a crippling blow. Scouts had located the 68th's [[DropShip]]s and, using the First Battalion to pin them down, the rest of the regiment proceeded to launch an all-out attack which crippled the transports. Only one DropShip managed to lift off in time but was so damaged it crashed before reaching the 68th.<ref name=IC26/>
| + | ===Tukayyid=== |
| | + | {{Main|Battle of Tukayyid (3052)}} |
| | | | |
| − | :Led by their Khan the 73rd crushed the cadet force, leaving the 8th Alshain as the only Combine unit left in the field. Joined by armor and infantry units from the local planetary militia the 8th proceeded to harass the Clan units in a continuous delaying action, leading Khan Jorgensson to suspect they had called in reinforcements. In response he called down the rest of Delta Galaxy to secure the planet immediately and quickly overwhelmed the conventional regiments sent to face them, but still the 8th Alshain remained elusive and launched stinging raids while Kurita fighters denied the Ghost Bears air superiority for an entire week. Eventually the cause for the Kurita force's effectiveness in avoiding destruction was revealed: an intercepted transmission from one of the planet's moons revealed a small research station which was using its powerful telescopes to track Clan movements and relay this information to the Combine soldiers below. A dispatch of Elementals quickly seized the station and deactivated its transmitters; denied its invaluable intelligence the 8th Alshain Regulars were finally defeated.<ref name=IC27>''Invading Clans'', p. 27</ref>
| + | ==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> |
| | | | |
| − | ====[[Kempten]] (FRR) December 3051====
| + | 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> |
| − | :'''Attackers:''' 712th Assault Trinary (12th Bear Chevaliers, Beta Galaxy)
| |
| − | :'''Defenders:''' Kempten Border Legion
| |
| − | :'''Major Battle Sites:''' Precious Plight, Sacrifice Mound
| |
| − | :'''Outcome:''' Having heard of the Smoke Jaguars' defeat on [[Wolcott]] the 12th Bear Chevaliers were disquieted when the Kempten Border Legion, in truth a collection of aging warriors in ancient 'Mechs and [[combat vehicle]]s, answered their batchall and agreed to fight a stand-up battle at the amusement park Precious Plight. When the Ghost Bear warriors landed they found themselves in the middle of a confusing carnival of light and sound as mirrors hung by the Legionarries at all angles served to disorient the Clan OmniMechs' scanners, and a battalion of [[Devastator (Combat Vehicle)|Devastators]] caused considerable damage in their opening salvo. The Ghost Bears quickly recovered from their confusion though and fanned out, destroying the slower Devastators and pursuing the survivors to Sacrifice Mound where they were destroyed.<ref name=IC34>''Invading Clans'', p. 34</ref>
| |
| | | | |
| − | ====[[Kaesong]] (DC) December 3051==== | + | {| class="wikitable" |
| − | :'''Attackers:''' Trinary Command (14th Battle Cluster, Beta Galaxy)
| + | |+Post-Tukayyid Battles |
| − | :'''Defenders:''' [[Blue Lightning]] (mercenary company)
| + | |- |
| − | :'''Major Battle site:''' Vedsan City
| + | ! '''Date''' |
| − | :'''Outcome:''' Having found themselves accidentally stranded on Kaesong just prior to its attack by the Ghost Bears, the Blue Lightning mercenary company agreed to defend the world against an invasion from the Clans. This caused more harm than good though as, knowing they faced dezgra mercenaries, Star Colonel [[Dane Jorgensson]] skipped the bidding process and sent in the elite Trinary Command to face the Blue Lighting, where they pursued the company to the streets of Vedsan and destroyed them.<ref name=IC34/>
| + | ! '''Location''' |
| − | | + | ! '''Attacker''' |
| − | ====[[Sheliak]] (DC) December 3051====
| + | ! '''Defender''' |
| − | :'''Attackers:''' 78th Elemental Support Binary (68th Striker Cluster, Delta Galaxy)
| + | ! '''Outcome''' |
| − | :'''Defenders:''' Sheliak Professional Football League
| + | |- |
| − | :'''Major Battle Site:''' Kurita Stadium
| + | |July [[3052]] |
| − | :'''Outcome:''' Of little strategic value and with no military to defend them the planetary government of Sheliak was in a state of panic when the commissioner of the Sheliak Professional Football League, Jimmy "Straight Jim" Lorne, proposed something bold. Believing the Clans knew nothing of the rules, he proposed that the fate of the planet be decided by a game of "American" football: if the Ghost Bears won they could claim the planet, if they lost Sheliak would remain free. Desperate the planet's governors consented to the plan, and to their surprise the Ghost Bears agreed to play. Unfortunately they had no idea that the Clans [[Clans#Arts & Entertainment|still played the game]], nor had they counted on the opposing team being composed of eight-foot-tall [[Elementals]]. The final score of the game was 84 to 3, and in the postgame show the planetary government officially handed Sheliak over to the Ghost Bears.<ref name=IC34/>
| + | |[[Santander's World]] |
| − | | + | |Alpha Galaxy |
| − | ====[[Alshain]] (DC) December 3051====
| + | :1st Bear Guards |
| − | :'''Attackers:''' Alpha Galaxy
| + | ::310th Assault Trinary |
| − | :'''Defenders:''' [[6th Alshain Regulars]], [[2nd Sword of Light]]
| + | ::117th Battle Trinary |
| − | :'''Major Battle Sites:''' Polotmy Mountains, Fareer Canyons
| + | ::Supernova Command |
| − | :'''Outcome:''' The fight for the capital of the [[Alshain Military District]] was destined to be tough as the entire Alpha Galaxy squared off against two experienced DCMS regiments. [[Theodore Kurita]] had assigned the 2nd Sword of Light to defend the planet alongside the 6th Alshain, and ''[[Tai-sa]]'' [[Kelly Dok To]] answered saKhan Kabrinski's batchall directly, truthfully telling her which units defended Alshain but refusing to disclose their location. In response saKhan Kabrinski decided to split the Golden Bears up to pin down as many Kurita troops as quickly as possible, assigning the 1st Bear Guards to attack the 6th Alshain while the 3rd Bear Guards and 50th Striker attacked the 2nd Sword of Light.<ref name=IC27/>
| + | |Clan Smoke Jaguar |
| − | | + | :[[7th Provisional Garrison Cluster (Clan Smoke Jaguar)|7th Provisional Garrison Cluster]] |
| − | :The 1st Bear Guards found the 6th Alshain in the Ptolomy Mountains where they had dug in among the majestic peaks to their advantage. During their assault repeated aerial attacks failed to even faze the defenders, while the Alshain Regulars used their height and natural sniper cover to deny the Rage from gaining any ground. Meanwhile in the Fareer Canyons the 3rd Bear Guards and 50th Striker were mired in an inconclusive struggle with the 2nd Sword of Light, having been initially lured to the floor of the canyon by a tempting bait of light 'Mechs. When the Ghost Bears pounced the light 'Mechs used their jump jets to sail up and out of the canyon while battalions of Kurita 'Mechs unleashed their fire down on the Black Bears below. Their advantage was short-lived though when the Clan 'Mechs followed suit by using their own jump jets to escape the trap. In the shooting match that followed the rocky ground and natural crevices of the Canyons provided ideal cover and neither side was able to achieve air superiority; though individual Kurita warriors sometimes answered Ghost Bear challenges to single combat, the practice was quickly ended by '''Tai-sa''' Dok To when it became clear the Clan warriors always won. Eventually the 3rd Bear Guards discovered a steep path leading out of the canyon which would allow them to flank their opponents but, having learned from prior experience, Star Colonel Tseng ordered his Elementals to sweep it of booby traps first, revealing and defusing enough explosives to obliterate the entire Bear Guards. Quickly the Star Colonel and the 3rd Bear Guard advanced upwards to flank the 2nd Sword of Light, though in the confusion they did not know that the 50th Striker were doing the same from the opposite direction and for a few seconds both mistakenly fired upon each other, allowing the 2nd Sword to withdraw and launch a devastating counterattack on the Ghost Bear's weak left flank, destroying an isolated Trinary.<ref name=IC27/><ref name=IC28/>
| + | |[[Santander V#Clan Invasion|Ghost Bear Victory]] |
| − | | + | |- |
| − | :By the time the rest of the Ghost Bear forced turned on them the 2nd Sword were in full retreat towards the city of Silverdale, using tactics developed by [[Kanrei Kurita]] - staying mobile, hiding when confronted and combining fire - to inflict massive damage. Convinced that the tide of battle had turned the saKhan ordered the 50th Striker to the Ptolomy Mountains to assist the 1st Bear Guard while the 3rd Bear Guard continued their pursuit. Unfortunately the ilKhan's Shield ran straight into a trap when the 2nd Sword brought all four battalions to bear at once on them, forcing a now-desperate Star Colonel Tseng to punch through at any cost. Only by a heavy expenditure of machines and ammunition were the 3rd Bear Guards able to extricate themselves, though the 2nd Sword did not pursue them and instead continued towards Silverdale and their waiting DropShips.<ref name=IC28/>
| + | |} |
| − | | |
| − | :As the 2nd Sword seemed to make their escape the 50th Striker had managed to get in behind the 6th Alshain's defensive position and in a matter of hours swept them towards the 1st Bear Guard's waiting guns. Desperate to escape the Alshain Regulars managed to punch a hole through the Ghost Bear lines which was immediately closed in behind them. Destruction was averted as the 2nd Sword of Light made a daring combat drop directly on top of the 1st Bear Guards, and in the resulting chaos the Regulars were able to reach their DropShips as the 2nd Sword made a fighting withdrawal. The assembled Ghost Bear forces attacked en masse, throwing units at the 2nd Sword from every angle, but failed to break the defenders' lines.<ref name=IC28/>
| |
| − | | |
| − | :When the remainder of the 3rd Bear Guards made their own combat drop an hour after the Second's it was already too late. The planetary militia, held in reserve up to that point, suddenly attacked and provided enough of a distraction to allow the remnants of both regiments to evacuate. Despite their escape and the losses suffered the Ghost Bears had nevertheless succeeded in taking Alshain and delivering a stunning blow to the Draconis Combine.<ref name=IC28/>
| |
| − | | |
| − | ====[[Tinaca]] (DC) January 3052====
| |
| − | :'''Attackers:''' Bravo Supernova (115th Striker Cluster, Delta Galaxy)
| |
| − | :'''Defenders:''' [[1st Sun Zhang Academy Cadre]]
| |
| − | :'''Major Battle Site:''' Nearmiss
| |
| − | :'''Outcome:''' The 1st Sun Zhang Academy Cadre had been ordered to surrender to the 115th Striker Cluser, whose commander similarly desired to take as many of the cadets alive as possible and make them bondsmen. However the cadets threw themselves at the Ghost Bears as soon as they landed and engaged them in desperate fighting including the use of [[death from above]] attacks. Star Captain [[Edore DelVillar]] was forced to order Bravo Supernova's 'Mechs to aim for the opposing machines' legs while the Elementals pried cadets from their cockpits. While many died in the fighting a full battalion of cadets were eventually captured.<ref name=IC34/><ref name=IC35>''Invading Clans'', p. 35</ref>
| |
| − | | |
| − | ====[[Marawi]] (DC) January 3052====
| |
| − | :'''Attackers:''' 332nd Assault Cluster (Beta Galaxy)
| |
| − | :'''Defenders:''' [[41st Dieron Regulars]]
| |
| − | :'''Major Battle Sites:''' Brossard Woods, Deep Cove, Hull
| |
| − | :'''Outcome:''' Star Colonel [[Seija Harlow]] expected little resistance from the green 41st and landed her Cluster east of their position, straight into an artillery barrage. As the Clan 'Mechs sought cover their [[OmniFighters]] were tasked with finding and silencing the guns. They were soon set upon by a [[Wing (Military Unit)|wing]] of [[conventional fighter]]s but in the ensuing dogfight the old-fashioned planes were destroyed in less than 20 minutes and the Clan aerial units succeeded in destroying the Dieron Regulars' artillery. No longer trapped by the bombardment the rest of the Cluster slammed into the 41st' left flank and pursued them through Brossard Woods to the town of Hull, where the aerospace forces caught the defenders on its outskirts and destroyed them.<ref name=IC35/>
| |
| − | | |
| − | ====[[Halesowen]] (DC) January 3052====
| |
| − | :'''Attackers:''' Alpha and Tango Stars (Trinary Command, 140th Striker Cluster, Delta Galaxy)
| |
| − | :'''Defenders:''' The Halesowen Protectors (1 'Mech company, 1 regiment of infantry) | |
| − | :'''Major Battle Site:''' Corlene Steppes
| |
| − | :'''Outcome:''' As they struck at high noon the two Clan Stars overran the entrenched infantry's position in order to engage the enemy's retreating 'Mechs. However this was part of an elaborate ambush as the infantry regiment attacked the Stars from both sides, destroying seven of the ten OmniMechs before the Clan warriors could withdraw. The rest of Trinary Command was ordered in and encircled the ambush site, trapping the Protectors, but the defenders managed to slip through the Ghost Bear's lines with a distracting artillery strike. Determined not to lose Star Colonel Jorgensson broke his bid and called in his air units, which forced the Protectors onto the wide-open Corlene Steppes where they were easily destroyed.<ref name=IC35/>
| |
| − | | |
| − | ====[[Sternwerde]] (DC) January 3052====
| |
| − | :'''Attackers:''' 1st Bear Guards (Alpha Galaxy)
| |
| − | :'''Defenders:''' [[7th Alshain Regulars]] | |
| − | :'''Major Battle Sites:''' Lone Hill, Marlet, Dearborne Lake, Hideaway
| |
| − | :'''Outcome:''' Dropping through heavy cloud cover the Bear Guards engaged the Alshain Regulars in a running fight by maneuvering along their first line of defense and punching through its center, spreading out to take down as many opponents from behind as possible. The 7th's commander officer ''Tai-sa'' [[Gerber Shazil]] upset this plan by ordering his units to instead charge through the Bear Guards' line and march into the waters of Dearborne Lake. The Clan warriors chased them out of the lake but briefly lost contact with them in a blinding rainstorm. They caught up with them at dawn the next day and engaged the regiment near their parked DropShips, but elements of the 7th sacrificed themselves so that the bulk of their unit could escape.<ref name=IC35/>
| |
| − | | |
| − | ====[[Maule]] (DC) February 3052====
| |
| − | :'''Attackers:''' 433rd Supernova Trinary (73rd Battle Cluster, Delta Galaxy)
| |
| − | :'''Defenders:''' 6th and 43rd Maule Armored Brigades
| |
| − | :'''Major Battle Site:''' Billowing Leaf
| |
| − | :'''Outcome:''' While the defending military units were easily wiped out outside the town of Billowing Leaf and a Provisional Garrison Cluster left behind to occupy the planet, the populace's subsequent round-the-clock protests outside the Clan administrator's headquarters made life miserable. Unable to imprison everyone on the planet for "treasonous activities" the Ghost Bears eventually gave into the people's grievances and allowed a limited degree of freedom, including travel under Clan supervision. With the end of the Clan invasion and Maule being one of the few planets with regular trade ties to the Inner Sphere, it has since been occupied by the 304th Assault Cluster.<ref name=IC35/><ref name=IC36>''Invading Clans, p. 36</ref>
| |
| − | | |
| − | ====[[Ardoz]] (DC) February 3052====
| |
| − | :'''Attackers:''' Trinary Command, (3rd Bear Guards, Alpha Galaxy)
| |
| − | :'''Defenders:''' Unknown | |
| − | :'''Major Battle Sites:''' Unknown
| |
| − | :'''Outcome:''' The planet's HPG station was destroyed in the initial attack, resulting in a total information blackout concerning what transpired on Ardoz during the Clan's invasion. No ComStar officials have been allowed to rebuild the destroyed facility and the Ghost Bears have released no information about the present situation on the world. Rumors that they discovered an intact [[Star League]] base have yet to be confirmed.<ref name=IC36/>
| |
| − | | |
| − | ====[[Setubal]] (DC) February 3052====
| |
| − | :'''Attackers:''' 50th Striker Cluster (Alpha Galaxy)
| |
| − | :'''Defenders:''' [[21st Benjamin Regulars]]
| |
| − | :'''Major Battle Sites:''' Marcil's Noose, Creation Fields
| |
| − | :'''Outcome:''' The green 21st Benjamin Regulars split their forces into two parts approximately two kilometers apart, hoping that the Ghost Bears would do the same and allow the defenders to slowly close the two halves together and destroy the Clan forces with their combined strength. In response Star Colonel [[Stephan Huntsig]] massed his entire unit against one half and, as hoped, watched as it cracked and retreated towards the other half with the 50th close behind. Not knowing who was charging over the hill towards them the other half of the 21st opened fire at the pack of 'Mechs, hitting both friendlies and enemies, and the 50th Striker charged forwards to engage both forces, causing the 21st to surrender.<ref name=IC36/>
| |
| − | | |
| − | ====[[Utrecht]] (FRR) March 3052====
| |
| − | :'''Attackers:''' Ourse Keshik
| |
| − | :'''Defenders:''' None
| |
| − | :'''Major Battle Site:''' None
| |
| − | :'''Outcome:''' Khan Jorgensson personally signed the treaty of surrender as Utrecht surrendered without a fight. Rich in natural resources necessary for the construction of [[Ferro-Fibrous Armor]] the Ghost Bears have since set up a large mining operation to extract the valuable ore.<ref name=IC36/>
| |
| − | | |
| − | ====[[Eguilles]] (DC) March 3052====
| |
| − | :'''Attackers:''' 115th Striker Cluster (Delta Galaxy)
| |
| − | :'''Defenders:''' [[4th Arkab Legion]]
| |
| − | :'''Major Battle Sites:''' Rockcliff, Carstairs Plains, Island Tropics
| |
| − | :'''Outcome:''' Landing just north of the 4th Arkab's main encampment the 115th Striker launched a series of damaging raids on the defenders, using the flexibility of their OmniMechs' pod system to hinder the defenders' attempt to determine the Ghost Bears' numbers and composition. However because there had been no response to their batchall the Clan warriors also assumed they were vastly outnumbered, so when ''Tai-sa'' [[Sajulam Kosiridam]] and his officers opted to launch a suicide charge into the enemy's center they were surprised when the Ghost Bears broke and retreated under the weight of the assault. As Clan forces turned to make their stand at Carstairs Plains, Star Colonel [[Romano Tseng]] engaged in two separate one-on-one duels with the enemy as the rest of her Cluster kept the others busy. However in the second of the two duels ''Tai-sa'' Kosiridam destroyed Teng's 'Mech, demoralizing the 115th; leaderless and low on ammunition the Clan warriors retreated to their DropShips at Rockcliff, where they reconfigured their 'Mechs with energy weapons and waited. Surrounding the Ghost Bear unit the 4th Arkab expected an easy victory, but when their second battalion collapsed under the weight of the 115th's counter-attack they retreated. Choosing to live and fight another day the Legion fell back to their own DropShips, unmolested by the exhausted Ghost Bear forces, and escaped.<ref name=IC36/>
| |
| − | | |
| − | ====[[Krenice]] (DC) March 3052====
| |
| − | :'''Attackers:''' 12th Bear Chevaliers (Beta Galaxy)
| |
| − | :'''Defenders:''' [[5th Amphibian Light Assault Group]]
| |
| − | :'''Major Battle Site:''' Bellow Canyon, LightDraught Woods, Hasnorvan
| |
| − | :'''Outcome:''' As soon as the Ghost Bears landed the 5th Amphibian sprung their ambush from concealed positions amid Bellow Canyon's natural craigs, then scattered through the rock formations to raid the 12th's supply lines, disrupt communications and launch the occasional assault. Clan heavy 'Mechs fruitlessly chased after the lighter, swifter machines of the 5th until eventually flushing the defenders out using air assets and herding them away from their DropShips towards the city of Hasnorvan. During this chase ''Tai-sa'' [[Helen Cassidy]] made due by sending raiding parties to engage in hit-and-run attacks on the pursuing Ghost Bears; in at least one instance a company of 5th 'Mechs led the entire 12th on a merry chase through LightDraught Woods for two hours until the Clanners became lost and required aerospace observers to guide them out.<ref name=IC36/><ref name=IC37>''Invading Clans'', p. 37</ref>
| |
| − | | |
| − | :As they finally approached Hasnorvan though the 5th was taken by surprise by the 63rd Assault Trinary, which had been ordered to march toward the city ahead of the main Clan body and dig in on its outskirts. When the Combine soldiers approached the dug-in Trinary's firing range the entire force opened up, catching the 5th within a web of interlocking fire and decimating it.<ref name=IC36/><ref name=IC37/>
| |
| − | | |
| − | ====[[Mannedorf]] (DC) March 3052====
| |
| − | :'''Attackers:''' 72nd Assault Trinary & First Elemental Support Binary (304th Assault Cluster, Beta Galaxy)
| |
| − | :'''Defenders:''' [[The Gold Miners]] ('Mercanery company) | |
| − | :'''Major Battle Site:''' Silvermain Mines
| |
| − | :'''Outcome:''' Bidding fiercely for the right to destroy the mercenaries the 72nd confronted the Gold Miners at the Silvermain Mines, but their dezgra foes intended to bury the Clanners beneath a pile of rubble by packing every nook and cranny with all of the explosives they could find. Unbeknownst to the Miners the Ghost Bears had intercepted their communications and knew of the plan; furthermore they knew of a hidden Star League base beneath and behind the mine shafts, and Elementals were sent ahead to open the entrance to the base's tunnel network. When the 72nd entered the mines after the mercenaries the Gold Miners triggered their explosives, detonating just before the Clan warriors managed to slip to safety. As the Gold Miners emerged from the rear exit they found the 72nd waiting for them, and the company was wiped out.<ref name=IC37/>
| |
| − | | |
| − | ====[[Toffen]] (DC) March 3052====
| |
| − | :'''Attackers:''' 469th Assault Trinary (332nd Assault Cluster, Beta Galaxy)
| |
| − | :'''Defenders:''' 3rd and 8th Toffen Guards (2 'Mech companies, 1 regiment of infantry)
| |
| − | :'''Major Battle Sites:''' Dell Reservoir, Longueil Power Plant
| |
| − | :'''Outcome:''' Gambling on the idea that the Clans would not risk damaging the cities they had come to conquer, the green 3rd and 8th Toffen Guards made their stand at the Dell Reservoir, which stood above the planet's major metropolitan centers. However when confronted by only a single Trinary the defenders grew confident and advanced to engage them. Easily routing the Toffen Guards the 469th then chased them to the abandoned Longueil power plant three kilometers away, where the infantry took cover among the abundant large metal cylinders and planted explosives. Frustrated the Ghost Bears took to opening every old generator in their search for the enemy as Toffen soldiers slipped away a few at a time out of the main building. Suspicious of a trap Star Captain [[Pinter Hall]] ordered the Trinary out of the plant just before it exploded. While the angry Ghost Bear warriors hunted down the remaining defenders many escaped and went to ground. Since then occasional flare-ups of violence from the survivors have caused trouble for the Clan garrison forces.<ref name=IC37/>
| |
| − | | |
| − | ====[[Rubigen]] (DC) April 3052====
| |
| − | :'''Attackers:''' 1st Bear Guards (Alpha Galaxy)
| |
| − | :'''Defenders:''' [[4th Alshain Regulars]]
| |
| − | :'''Major Battle Sites:''' Gibbon's Reality Park, SouthBell, Granite Bluffs, Lodo Spaceport
| |
| − | :'''Outcome:''' While the 4th Alshain attempted to shoot down the Ghost Bear DropShips before they could land, their attempts were defeated and the Clan warriors landed safely in Gibbon's Reality Park, a giant virtual-reality center with high-quality holographic projectors. The 4th Alshain and their commander ''Tai-sa'' [[Boris Timsjek]] used this to their advantage by projecting many false images, causing the Ghost Bears to believe they were suddenly surrounded by three entire regiments of 'Mechs, and hid amid the illusions to swarm the Clan unit. Star Colonel Whover ordered his 'Mechs to fire on anything which gave off a signal and shed heat while the Elementals were tasked with disabling the holoprojectors. The armored troopers succeed only to find the 4th had fled, and a headhunter squad sent to find ''Tai-sa'' Timsjek failed in their task. For the better part of a month the 1st Bear Guards pursued the defenders, as every time they managed to pin the Kuritas down they would vanish. At the end of three weeks of this chasing and realizing he could only delay the inevitable, ''Tai-sa'' Timsjek ordered his regiment to make for their DropShips and retreat. Under heavy fire from the Bear Guards less than a battalion of the 4th Alshain made it off-world.<ref name=IC37/>
| |
| − | | |
| − | ===Tukayyid===
| |
| − | {{Main|Battle of Tukayyid}}
| |
| − | | |
| − | ==Post-Tukayyid==
| |
| − | ===Periphery===
| |
| − | ====[[Santander's World]] (July 3052)====
| |
| − | :'''Attackers:''' 310th Assault Trinary, 117th Battle Trinary, Supernova Command ([[1st Bear Guards (Clan Ghost Bear)|1st Bear Guards]], [[Alpha Galaxy (Clan Ghost Bear)|Alpha Galaxy]])
| |
| − | :'''Defenders:''' [[7th Provisional Garrison Cluster (Clan Smoke Jaguar)|7th Provisional Garrison Cluster]] (Clan Smoke Jaguar) | |
| − | :'''Major Battle Site''': Santander's Jewel
| |
| − | :'''Outcome:''' The Ghost Bears fought a [[Trial of Possession]] for this world against its original conqueror [[Clan Smoke Jaguar]] for two reasons: first as a test of their rebuilt fighting strength in the wake of the [[Battle of Tukayyid]] and second as revenge for having lost the biding war for the world during the initial phase of the invasion. While the Ghost Bears won the fight the Smoke Jaguars charged them with using "contemptible Inner Sphere skullduggery" and demanded ilKhan [[Nicholas Kerensky]] to rebuke their un-Clan-like behavior. The ilKhan told the Smoke Jaguars if they had a problem with the Ghost Bear's flexible tactics they had the right to call the appropriate trials and left the matter at that.<ref name=IC30/>
| |
| | | | |
| | ==References== | | ==References== |
| Line 357: |
Line 500: |
| | | | |
| | ==Bibliography== | | ==Bibliography== |
| | + | * ''[[Field Manual: Warden Clans]]'' |
| | + | * ''[[Invading Clans]]'' |
| | | | |
| | [[Category:Clan Invasion Era Military Operations|Revival, Operation]] | | [[Category:Clan Invasion Era Military Operations|Revival, Operation]] |
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
Tukayyid[edit]
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]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Invading Clans, p. 18
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Invading Clans, pp. 18–19
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Invading Clans, pp. 19–20
- ↑ Invading Clans, p. 23
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Invading Clans, pp. 20–21
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Invading Clans, pp. 20–23
- ↑ Field Manual: Warden Clans, p. 81
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Invading Clans, p. 24
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Invading Clans, p. 25
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Invading Clans, p. 26
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Invading Clans, p. 28
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Invading Clans, p. 29
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Field Manual: Warden Clans, p. 82
Bibliography[edit]
