Invasion corridor - Clan Ghost Bear

Order of Battle

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

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 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.

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 Colonels 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.

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 kill, was an unprecedented success rate and taken as a sign of assured victory in the coming campaign.

Invasion Route

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.

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.

Porthos (September 3049)

Attackers: Star Captain Ian DelVillar, Alpha OmniMech Star (Ourse Keshik)

Defenders: MechWarrior Uchi Tikidomo (former DCMS officer)

Major Battle Site: Deson Ranch

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.

Wave 1 (March-April 3050)

As per Ghost Bear tradition a vote was held among the warriors to determine who would have the honor of conquering the first world, Thule, 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.

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.

Thule (FRR) March 3050

Attackers: 50th Striker Cluster, Alpha Galaxy; 304th Assault Cluster, Beta Galaxy; 3rd Bear Striker Cluster, Delta Galaxy

Defenders: 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, 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.

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.

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.

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.

Damian (FRR) March 3050

Attackers: 34th Striker Trinary (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."

Holmsbu (FRR) March 3050

Attackers: 43rd Elemental Support Trinary (12th Bear Chevaliers, Beta Galaxy)

Defenders: 7th and 8th Corrugated Lancers (2 armored regiments supported by infantry)

Major Battle Sites: Redwood, Linden's Bluff

Outcome: The defending Lancers were ill-prepared to face the Battle Armored Elementals and were quickly defeated by the Clanners, who readily accepted the Lancers' surrender.

Pinnacle (FRR) March 3050

Attackers: Alpha and Bravo Assault Stars, 71st Assault Trinary (140th Striker Cluster, Delta Galaxy)

Defenders: The Pinnacle Guardsmen (1 regiment of mechanized infantry)

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.

Constance (DC) April 3050

Attackers: 68th Striker Cluster, Delta Galaxy

Defenders: The Honor Guard (5 companies of 'Mechs, 2 armor regiments)

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 the Ghost Bears 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.

Wave 2 (May-June 3050)

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 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 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 a promise that the "new administration" would work cooperatively with the populace, a promise which was backed up by more hefty garrison forces.

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 would result in tragedy as, making the jump on 17 May aboard the Bear's Den, the unit went missing. Busy with other matters a week went by before the Ghost Bear Khans could focus on the missing Galaxy, sending 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 had knocked out the ship's communications and were beyond the ability to fix with field repairs. More seriously the asteroid strike 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.

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 to hold their planets 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.

Susquehanna (FRR) May 3050

Attackers: 96th Battle Trinary (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.

Jarett(DC) May 3050

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 battalions 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.

Trondheim(FRR) May 3050

Attackers: Trinary Command, 12th Battle Trinary, 34th Fighter Binary (3rd Bear Guards, Alpha Galaxy)

Defenders: Trondheim Freedom Defenders (2 mechanized infantry regiments, 1 aerospace wing, 2 battalions of heavy armor, 1 'Mech company)

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 streets of Misby Flats, where the defenders were finally pinned down and destroyed.

Wave 3 (June-July 3050)

Dissatisfaction was quickly growing within the Ghost Bear ranks at the Khans' handling of the situation. While most of their available war materiel had already been exhausted by the end of the First Wave, if Khan Bourjon had admitted his mistake and brought forward additional supplies he might still have salvaged the situation. Instead he had 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. This only resulted in in civilian uprisings against which, in an uncharacteristic overreaction, entire Galaxies were redirected to put down. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

Last Frontier (FRR) June 3050

Attackers: 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.

Radlje (FRR) July 3050

Attackers: Alpha Nova Star, Supernova Echo (115th Striker Cluster, Delta Galaxy)

Defenders: 12th Rasalhagian Dragoons Free Company (4 'Mech lances supported by an infantry battalion)

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 indiscriminate 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.

Polcenigo (DC) July 3050

Attackers: 321st Assault Trinary (304th Assault Cluster, Beta Galaxy)

Defenders: Polcenigo Guard (1 infantry regiment, 1 'Mech battalion)

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 guerrilla attacks against government troops and supply depots the 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.

Wave 4 (July-October 3050)

Every effort was made by Khan Jorgensson and saKhan Kabrinski to ensure their Clan would be well prepared for the start of the Fourth Wave, taking a number of steps to refit and resupply their battered forces. In addition to replacing Beta Galaxy's destroyed Cluster they followed the lead of other Clans and called forth a number of PGCs (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.

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.

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 defending 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.

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 vibrabombs 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.

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.

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 with 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.

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 jets. Rising out of the pass and onto the ledges from which the infantry were firing on them the Ghost Bears quickly dispatched their foes.

Casere (FRR) September 3050

Attackers: 3rd Bear Guards (Alpha Galaxy)

Defenders: 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Wave 5 (November-April 3052)

Ghost Bear operation in wave 5
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. 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.

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 stores expended and their extraordinarily long supply lines too slow to effectively replenish them, delaying the start of the third sweep by nearly a month and prompting 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 or the use of zellbrigen. The merchant caste were also ordered to bring in additional supplies, no matter the cost, 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 Bear's success.

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 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.

Thessalonika (DC) November 3051

Attackers: Delta Galaxy

Defenders: 8th Alshain Regulars, 12th Sun Zhang Academy Cadre

Major Battle Sites: Dorian Cove, Guerdel practice fields, Verdandra, Holy Marsh

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.

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 DropShips 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.

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.

Kempten (FRR) December 3051

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 vehicles, 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 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.

Kaesong (DC) December 3051

Attackers: Trinary Command (14th Battle Cluster, Beta Galaxy)

Defenders: Blue Lightning (mercenary company)

Major Battle site: Vedsan City

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.

Sheliak (DC) December 3051

Attackers: 78th Elemental Support Binary (68th Striker Cluster, Delta Galaxy)

Defenders: Sheliak Professional Football League

Major Battle Site: Kurita Stadium

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 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.

Alshain (DC) December 3051

Attackers: Alpha Galaxy

Defenders: 6th Alshain Regulars, 2nd Sword of Light

Major Battle Sites: Polotmy Mountains, Fareer Canyons

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.

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.

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 Theodore 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.

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.

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.

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 as the Elementals pried cadets from their cockpits. While many died in the fighting a full battalion of cadets were eventually captured.

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 of conventional fighters but in the ensuing dogfight the old-fashioned planes were destroyed in less than twenty 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Utrecht (FRR) March 3052

Attackers: Ourse Keshik

Defenders: None

Major Battle Site: None

Outcome: Khan Jorgensson personally signed the treaty of surrender as Utrecht gave up 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.

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.

Krenice (DC) March 3052

Attackers: 12th Bear Chevaliers (Beta Galaxy)

Defenders: 5th Amphigean Light Assault Group

Major Battle Site: Bellow Canyon, LightDraught Woods, Hasnorvan

Outcome: As soon as the Ghost Bears landed the 5th Amphigean 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Tukayyid

Main article: Battle of Tukayyid

Post-Tukayyid

Periphery

Santander's World (July 3052)

Attackers: 310th Assault Trinary, 117th Battle Trinary, Supernova Command (1st Bear Guards, Alpha Galaxy)

Defenders: 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.