Invasion corridor - Clan Nova Cat

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Order of Battle

Clan Command

Nova Cat Keshik

Clan Nova Cat Naval Reserve

Alpha Galaxy ("Victory Over Delusion")

Vision Keshik

4th Nova Cat Guards

448th Assault Cluster

489th Assault Cluster

Sigma Galaxy ("Spiritual Vision")

Galaxy Command Trinary

178th Striker Cluster

44th Nova Cat Cavaliers

Nova Cat Lancers

Delta Galaxy ("Ways Of Seeing")

Shiva Keshik

4th Nova Cat Guards

274th Battle Cluster

119th StrikerCluster

Preparations

As part of the agreed-upon plan for Operation REVIVAL, four Clans would take part in the reconquest of the Inner Sphere; eventually the Wardens managed to have a fifth "reserve" Clan added. Due to their heritage Clan Wolf was unanimously agreed to be one of the four invading Clans, while determining one of the other four spots would decided via Trials of Combat. Although Clan Nova Cat made it to the final round of six Clans, they ultimately placed fourth behind Clan Steel Viper and so would not take part in the initial invasion. In recompense for their good showing the Nova Cats and Clan Diamond Shark both fought and won Trials of Refusal guaranteeing their forces would be next in line should it be required.

However, while their forces would have to stay behind, the Grand Council invited the non-invading Clans to send representatives with the invasion force to personally observe its progress. These representatives could bring their own WarShips and DropShips but were limited to no more than a Trinary in size. The leadership of Clan Nova Cat, Khan Severen Leroux and saKhan Lucian Carns, as well as Oathmaster Biccon Winters, chose to accompany the invasion aboard the True Vision with the Nova Cat Keshik as their escort. As part of their Trial of Refusal decision the Nova Cats would also be allowed to use this small force to take part in minor actions alongside the four invading Clans.

While the rest of their warriors made themselves ready and the merchants began planning supply lines, as per tradition both Nova Cat Khans consulted with Oathmaster Winters for guidance on the upcoming invasion. When she reported back her vision the Oathmaster had only unhappy tidings: the wolf, the bear, the falcon and the jaguar conquered all in their path, taking world after world with trivial ease, all the while trailed by a white mist. Eventually they were joined by other Clan animals - including, after much coaxing by the Khans, the nova cat - but eventually all were engulfed by the white mist which became a thick, roiling cloud. Though Winters tried to warn her Khans that the vision foretold impending doom, they ignored these warnings and concentrated instead on the fact their Clan was destined to take part in the invasion. Still, the Khans could not shake an uneasy feeling as they gathered with the invasion fleet above Strana Mechty and listened to ilKhan Leo Showers' speech of impending victory.

Invasion Route

Periphery

When the Periphery was invaded by the Clans, Clan Wolf allowed warriors of the Nova Cat Keshik to reinforce Red Keshik's aerospace element during their conquest of Drask's Den. The Nova Cats performed admirably during their first combat experience in the Inner Sphere, destroying ground forces alongside Wolf pilots for no loss of life. However it was during this engagement that Oathmaster Winters had another vision: she saw the cat fighting alongside the other Clan animals, winning glory against a divided Inner Sphere, but suddenly the sky rained fire and the Inner Sphere stood fast against the Clans. Then a black cloud, an enemy older than the Inner Sphere, threatened the cat, representing treachery on the part of the Smoke Jaguars. When the Nova Cat warriors returned to add their victory to the Chronicle of Battles, Winters revealed her vision after the ritual was ended. As with her earlier vision, the warriors chose only to heed the positive aspects and ignored the warning.

As the Periphery campaign wrapped up many of the Clans celebrated their easy victory as a sign of things to come, however the Wolf Khan Ulric Kerensky warned that what meager forces they had faced thus far did not fully represent their Inner Sphere foes and that it would not be wise to underestimate them. Only the Nova Cat Khans heeded these warnings, recalling their Oathmaster's visions. At the same time, ComStar succeeded in making official contact with the Clans and sent Precentor Anastasius Focht as their representative. The Nova Cats were chosen to escort Precentor Focht to the command ship Dire Wolf to begin negotiations. At first sight of the Precentor's white robes though Biccon Winters immediately attacked Focht, pinning him to the ground with her boot on his neck and screaming "This is the white mist that has come to destroy us!" Eventually she was subdued by Focht's Elemental honor guard, but Winters immediately challenged saKhan Carns to a Trial of Grievance for transporting the instrument of their destruction. She was defeated in a Circle of Equals and Focht was safely conveyed to the Dire Wolf, where he succeeded in negotiating the terms of cooperation between ComStar and the Clans.

Year of Peace

Bjarred (DC) November 3051

Attacker: Nova Cat Keshik

Defenders: Free Bjarred League

Outcome: Initial reconnaissance of the planet showed no military activities at all, however it wasn't until the Nova Cat garrison force arrived on planet, that they would discover active guerrilla groups. In contrast to the former owner, Clan Smoke Jaguar, the commander of the Nova Cat Garrison Cluster opted for negotiations with the rebel leaders for a peaceful coexistence.

Chupadero (DC) November 3051

Attacker: Shiva Keshik
(Delta Galaxy)

Defenders: Surviving elements of the
1st Chupadero Armored Legion
(1 infantry battalion
2 armor battalions)

Outcome: Subjected to Clan Smoke Jaguar's brutal fighting style, the populace of Chupadero turned into a fierce resistance movement. The Nova Cat Keshik tried everything to avoid too much damage, but the defenders gave them little choice, and so the people of Chupadero were beaten down by the might of the Clans once more.

Courchevel (DC) December 3051

Attacker: 4th Nova Cat Guards
(Delta Galaxy)

Defenders: 2nd Jaguar Regulars
(Zeta Galaxy
(Clan Smoke Jaguar)

Outcome: The fate of the world was decided by clan tradition by trial. The 2 Trinaries showed to different fighting styles. The Smoke Jaguars used their famed frontal assault tactic, because the Nova Cat make attempts with flanking maneuvers. The engagement get brutal afte a Jaguar battle 2 opponents at the same time. The Cats unleashed their fury at the enemy and one with one omnimech remaining operational.

Jeanette (DC) December 3051

Attacker: 1st Nova Cat Guards
(Alpha Galaxy)

Defenders: None

Outcome: The conquest of the world was uncontested and an easy gain for the Nova Cats.

Sawyer (DC) November 3051

Attacker: Lachesis Keshik
(Beta Galaxy)

Defenders: None

Outcome: The planet was ceded from the Jaguars to the Nova Cats. The garrison force discovered no active resistance, because the former owners wiped out all signs of rebellion by brute force.

Tarnby (DC) November 3051

Attacker: Vision Keshik
(Alpha Galaxy)

Defenders: survivors 4th Pesht Regulars

Outcome: The proud DCMS soldiers answered the batchall of the Cats to defend the world by all means necessary. The Keshik showed their superiority and the battle was decided within 60 minutes.

Wave 5 (November-December 3051)

Avon (DC) December 3051

Attacker: 274th Battle Cluster
(Delta Galaxy)
449th Assault Cluster
(Alpha Galaxy)

Defenders: 2nd Amphigean Light Assault Group

Outcome: The fight for the planet was brutal. The light 'Mech unit of the DCMS knew about the advanced technology of the invaders and created fast response teams to expand weak spots in the enemy formations. The heavier Clan forces chose a different tactic. The main body hunted the small groups of the assault group, because the lighter elements make flanking assaults. The 2nd Amphigean had no chance for rest or refit. The situation got worse when they had no access to their stockpiles, which were guarded by Elementals. The defenders met their destiny in a last stand where the command was destroyed from massed fire by the Nova Cats.

Caripare (DC) February 3052

Attacker: 1st Nova Cat Guards
(Alpha Galaxy)

Defenders: 2nd Ghost Regiment

Outcome: By using misinformation during the Clan's batchall, the DCMS defenders lured the Nova Cats into a trap. When the two Nova Cat trinaries made their landing near Johnson Lake, the 2nd Ghost Regiment emerged from the water and attacked before the Nova Cats could prepare. The Nova Cats were forced to break their initial bid by calling in a third trinary, the following battle was fierce but the Cats eventually won, destroying the 2nd Regiment to the last man. In the aftermath the Smoke Jaguars challenged the Nova Cats for the ownership of the planet, and over a long period of negotiations both sides agreed to share control over the world.

Cyrenaica (DC) February 3052

Attacker: 179th Striker Cluster
(Beta Galaxy)

Defenders: 1st Shin Legion

Outcome: The defenders were prepared to give the Clans a good fight. The Nova Cats command used a different fighting style as expected. The Cats used their heaviest machines to reduce the force of the Legion. The lighter machines made flanking raids and finally the fighters strike the rear of the defenders. The development of the fight surprised the commander of the DCMS. He give order for a fighting retreat. The withdrew cost them dearly. Only the timely arrival of reinforcements gave the 1st the opportunity to escape offworld.

Irece (DC) December 3051

Attacker: Beta Galaxy

Defenders: 18th Dieron Regulars

Outcome: The planet was from strategic value, because on this world was the last functional LAM factory in the Inner Sphere. The protection of the world rested in the hands of the elite 18th Dieron Regulars, a seasoned urban fighter command. The High Command of the Cats choose to use their full military potential of Beta Galaxy to gain victory. The battle plan of the defenders was to use artillery to wear the Cats down. Another part was to retreat to prepared fortifications and as a final solution to destroy the plant when necessary. The Cats make their landing out of range from the DCMS. The clan fighter destroyed the artillery, because the mech force failed to trap the Regulars in place. The 18th were in the position to destroy an entire cluster but must retreat with the arrival of more Cats troops. The fight continued over the next day. With pat situation the Galaxy Commander sent a Head-Hunter unit after the enemy commander. The attempt failed by the accidental discovery of the Elementals. In response the Tai-sa sent his own DEST attachment to the Cats' command post with better results. The Galaxy Commander was killed and the DEST commandos took nearly 20 OmniMechs with them to the grave. The new commander of Beta Galaxy began a series of raids which weakened the Regulars further. When the first Clan troops entered the LAM factory complex the attempt to destroy the facility goes wrong. Advance teams of Elementals had found and disarmed the demolitions charges planted by the DCMS. The 18th made a last stand, but were destroyed to the last machine.

Itabaiana (DC) January 3052

Attacker: 179th Striker Cluster
(Beta Galaxy)

Defenders: None

Outcome: With no standing garrison force, the planet was handed over to the Nova Cats without a fight.

Juazeiro (DC) January 3052

Attacker: 44th Nova Cat Cavaliers
(Beta Galaxy)

Defenders: 21st Galedon Regulars

Outcome: The defending 21st Galedon Regulars had prepared their defense for frontal assault. But the Star Colonel chose another way. She used her Elementals to kill the enemy commander with a head hunter tactic. This surprised the DCMS unit which awaited an assault from the front. The new commander recognized the new situation too late when the main body of the cluster raided the rear area of the Regulars successfully. The Tai-sa split her force into smaller units and tried to escape offworld. That was only a partial success, because less than 3 companies of DCMS warriors made it aboard the DropShips.

Kanowit (DC) March 3052

Attacker: Elements of Alpha Galaxy

Defenders: 11th Alshain Regulars
34th Galedon Regulars

Outcome: Seeing the DCMS defenders, Nova Cat saKhan Lucian Carns decided to split his forces to attack both enemy units simultaneously, the 11th Alshain Regulars , who had taken the high ground, tried to pin the clan troops in place, until the more experienced 34th Galedon Regulars could assist them. The 34th was forced to retreat before they could regroup, leaving the 11th to fight the Nova Cats on their own, seeing the severity of the situation the 11th broke rank and fled to their DropShips.

Luthien (DC) January 3052

Attacker: Alpha Galaxy
Delta Galaxy
Smoke Jaguars forces

Defenders: 1st Sword of Light
2nd Legion of Vega
1st Genyosha
2nd Genyosha
Otomo
(Mech regiment)
Dragon's Claws
[Wolf's Dragoons]]
(5 regiments)
Kell Hounds
(2 regiments)

Outcome:

Mualang (DC) January 3052

Attacker: The Nova Cat Lancers (Beta Galaxy)

Defenders: 9th Dieron Regulars

Outcome: Convinced that they could beat the invading Clan force, the 9th Dieron Regulars answered the Lancers' batchall. The following battle was fierce, heavy elements pushing the Regulars into a corner while the lighter elements harassed the DCMS units on the flanks. The Tai-sa was forced to move his entire unit into an urban area, thinking that the Lancers would be at a disadvantage, but the Tai-sa was wrong; by the time he recognized his error it was too late. Instead of pursuing the 9th, the Lancers had proceeded to capture the DCMS DropShips. Unable to flee the advancing Nova Cats, The 9th Dieron would fight to the last man.

Teniente (DC) January 3052

Attacker: 449th Assault Cluster
489th Assault Cluster
(Alpha Galaxy)

Defenders: 3rd Pesht Regulars
11th Pesht Regulars

Outcome: The DCMS commanders thought their forces were sufficient to beat the Nova Cats in open battle, however the clan warriors gave the enemy no chance, unable to adapt to the new fighting style, the old guard commanders were severely outclassed, it was at this moment the heir to the Draconis Combine, Hohiro Kurita, assumed command of the remaining forces. Hohiro immediately changed tactics to a guerrilla campaign, delaying the frustrated Nova Cats long enough for help to arrive, and arrive it did in the form of a rescue force led by Victor Davion, who had come on behalf of Omi Kurita herself. The rescue was successful and the IS forces could escape their enemies.