Requiem
06/30/19 02:58 AM
1.158.130.13
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Within Operation Hadrian’s Wall Wick pointed out to me that ….
“I don't think there's anything that could be offered to the more rabid Crusader Clans to have them give up the dream of Terra. The Crusader philosophy is based on the Great Father's intention (or inferred intention) that the Clans would one day return the Inner Sphere and rebuild the Star League. For the Crusaders, it is their ultimate goal. Abandoning it is tantamount to asking the Clans to not follow Kerensky's vision anymore. It does not work so long as the Crusaders are in power”.
If I take this statement to its logical conclusion then I need to ask myself what would those Home Clans do when faced with reality of a Defeat by their most experienced Clan forces at the hands of untested and inexperienced ComGuard forces whose weapons are even older than that of the Clans themselves.
Bitter humiliation would not begin to express the level of hate they would feel for their erstwhile cousins within the Inner Sphere.
And as they are from a warrior society that abhors weakness, in even the most smallest of failings, I contest that a “rabid” Crusader would therefore express their frustration along the following lines – “Those within the Inner Sphere have tainted the honour of all the Clans with their failure at Tukayyid, and as such they must be punished accordingly – as they have shown by their failure they are not worthy of becoming the il-Clan (the one to rule them all)!”
Coming from a warrior society I therefore contend that there is really only three options available for the home Clans considering the situation they find themselves, and sitting within the Home Worlds having a cup of hot chocolate it not one of them … action is required in the form of …
1. To abjure those within the Inner Sphere (as per Operation Hadrian’s Wall)
2. To replace those within the Inner Sphere – By losing to children with no combat experience and with weapons older than the Clans themselves shows a level of ineptness on the part of that Clan – Thus they have shown they are unworthy of becoming the il-Clan – they must be replaced by another Can that is more worthy of becoming the il-Clan.
I therefore postulate a war of replacement by one of the Home Clans for the invasion corridor worlds the Inner Sphere Clan has won to-date. Accepting their defeat this Clan will thus return to the Home Worlds with all due alacrity.
3. To absorb those within the Inner Sphere - By losing to children with no combat experience and with weapons older than the Clans themselves shows a level of ineptness on the part of that Clan’s leadership – Thus they have shown they are unworthy of becoming the il-Clan – only by absorbing them into a true Clan and instituting proper discipline and leadership can this former Clan’s warriors be redeemed.
I therefore contend a war or absorption by one of the Home Clans for the invasion corridor and the Clan therein as this is trial will determine whom is truly worthy to be considered a candidate for becoming the il-Clan.
Battle of Tukayyid Results:-
Wolf – Decisive Victory
Bears – Marginal Victory
Falcons – Draw
Jaguars – Loss
Vipers – Loss
Shark - Loss
Cat - Loss
At the minimum would not there be bitter challenges raised by the Home Clans for that of for Jaguars, Vipers, Shark and Cat’s Invasion Corridors and the right to become the il-Clan?
Or would all have to suffer the indignity of being replaced/absorbed?
So why not consider that while the Inner Sphere reforms the Star League and reforms its martial prowess to once more fight the Clans on the field of battle do the Clans engage in a war to determine whom is truly worthy of becoming their foe and is also worthy of being granted the future title of il-Can …. A position that can only be obtained by the Clan that has the fiercest warriors!
The only question that must now be asked is who is worthy of being considered these Clans Replacements?
Get thee to Coventry … Now is the winter of our discontent, made glorious by this daughter of Tharkad … Our army shall march through. Well to New Avalon tonight.
Edited by Requiem (06/30/19 03:02 AM)
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Requiem
07/01/19 12:03 AM
1.158.130.13
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The Clans are based upon the idea of feuds and the idea that at the time of the invasion Crusader Clans were looking to crush Clans to weaken the Warden resolve.
So when weakened Clans within the invasion corridor appear would they not also want to crush them and either replace / absorb them and thus gain the right to compete for the title of il-Clan.
So which Clans should be considered contenders for this Trial of Annexing / Absorption ….
Clan Blood Spirit – Crusader philosophy – originally they believed the time was not right for the invasion and their bidding for Operation Revival ensured their failure to win a place in the trials, let alone in the invasion force. They derived some measure of satisfaction and vindication when the invaders faltered at Tukayyid.
The question is would a small / isolationist Clan change their view and consider taking part of the Annexing?
Possible target – Vipers / Shark
Clan Cloud Cobra – Warden (very religious)philosophy – Originally voted for Operation Revival but lacking strength to prosecute the war they withdrew from the bidding.
With a second chance to take place in the invasion would they consider taking part of the Annexing?
Possible target – Vipers / Shark
Clan Coyote – Warden philosophy – The Clan has just recently undergone a reorganization – Given the Shark is considered their allies
Possible target - Vipers (?).
Clan Fire Mandrill – Their warriors were honed to a fine edge and should have won a place in Operation Revival and only internal politicking stopped this.
With a second chance they would take it
Possible target – All
Clan Goliath Scorpion – Warden – they do not believe in recreating the Star League through Conquest rather than that of teaching.
Possible target – None
Clan Hell’s Horses – Crusader – They participated enthusiastically in the trials for positions in the invasion, but failed to win a place. After Tukayyid they supported every initiative to resume the invasion.
Possible Target – All
Clan Ice Hellion – avid Crusaders – even to the point of launching a pre-emptive invasion of the IS and in the future years to win the position of ilKhan and thus Invading Clan status.
Possible Target - All
Clan Snow Raven – They fought hard to join the Inner Sphere invasion force, but took too many losses before the Trials and were denied a place. They have a formal alliance with Clan Jade Falcon.
Possible Target – All bar the Falcons.
Clan Star Adder – Crusader – Favour a swift return to the invasion – they reasoned the invading Clans would need to call for additional support.
(Nt: The introduction of these forces will bring the largest naval fleet to the IS.)
Possible Target- All
Clan Burrock – Conspired with the Dark Caste – Canon has them being absorbed by Star Adder in 3059 – however prior to this They did fight for a place in Operation Revival, they were defeated by Clan Steel Viper and their Hated Blood Spirit Rivals.
Possible Target – Viper / All
Given the possibility of becoming a part of the Invasion Corridor I believe given the evidence above there is a case for the Home Clans to initiate Trials of Annexation / Absorption within the Invasion Corridor no later than that of 18 months post Tukayyid defeat - those that are defeated go home in shame!
Thoughts ?
Get thee to Coventry … Now is the winter of our discontent, made glorious by this daughter of Tharkad … Our army shall march through. Well to New Avalon tonight.
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Requiem
07/01/19 02:36 AM
1.158.130.13
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Suggested Battles and type
Invasion Corridor ……………………. Home Clan ………………….. Assignment
Clan Jade Falcon …………………….. Clan Ice Hellion ……………. Annexe
Clan Smoke Jaguar …………………. Clan Fire Mandrill ………… Starts as Annexe Ends as Annihilation
Clan Nova Cat ………………………… Clan Cloud Cobra ………….. Annexe
Clan Steel Viper ……………………… Clan Blood Spirit ..…………. Absorption
Clan Diamond Shark ………………. Clan Star Adder …………….. Absorption
Those that could be swapped out with those assigned above …
Clan Coyote
Clan Hell’s Horses
Clan Snow Raven
Those that I doubt would ever be assigned …..
Clan Goliath Scorpion
Clan Burrock
Though the big question is would they go against …
Clan Wolf …………………………….. (?)
Clan Ghost Bear …………………….. (?)
I doubt any of the Home Clans could be able to / would be able to engage these two Clans. That is unless two of the Home Clans engage one of these …
Clan Ghost Bear …………………….. Clan Hell’s Horses and Clan Snow Raven
Thoughts?
Get thee to Coventry … Now is the winter of our discontent, made glorious by this daughter of Tharkad … Our army shall march through. Well to New Avalon tonight.
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Wick
07/01/19 07:19 PM
45.43.104.179
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Combination of 2 and 3 is what I think should have happened. In limited cases I think it was tried, but failed. I remember one of the Clans (Hell's Horses I think) called for a Trial of Absorbtion against the Sharks for failing to win any Inner Sphere planets from the others, touting they were the only Clan to understand things like supply lines, and then seemingly proving otherwise by getting beat the worst at Tukayyid. And of course we did see some renewed attempts at invasion courtesy of the Horses and Hellions. Agree that maybe it should have been more Clans than just these two.
I absolutely think the Hellions, Horses, Mandrills, Adders (if not engaged with the Burrocks at the time), and Burrocks (if not facing Absorbtion) would want to replace the "failed" invading Clans. Maybe the Ravens, too. Cobras and Spirits would like to, but may have to settle for a smaller piece of the pie. I don't see the Coyotes as very interested.
I mostly like the lineups, but would move Star Adder to Wolf (they're probably the most capable home Clan to tackle the large Wolf occupation zone.) if the Horses aren't lining up against the Bears, then I'd move them against the Sharks. The Falcons are already trying to eject the Vipers, so let's say the Vipers get caught in the middle between the Falcons and either the Hellions or Burrocks. I don't see the Bears as being dislodged at all. Let's say they make friends with the Rasalhaguian government a little earlier and are able to stave off any attacks - the invading Clans sort of split into two forks: one along Jaguar/Cat space, and another along Wolf/Falcon/Viper space. (For story purposes, this has the added benefit of making the road to Terra a little longer.)
Some neat ideas along this line:
* Snow Raven vs Nova Cat. Khan Leroux is an aerospace ace, so I could see this being a very aerospace-oriented conflict. These are also two of the more practical Clans, fighting proxy battles rather than all-out assaults. If facing each other, its likely both toumans survive mostly intact.
* Ice Hellion vs Diamond Shark. If the Hellions, who have utter disdain for the Merchant Caste and never allow them to travel without armed escort and marines on board all vessels, were to absorb the Sharks, how would the former Shark Merchant caste members react to the new draconian measures of the Hellions?
* Fire Mandrill vs Smoke Jaguar. Who doesn't love assault mech battles? (My fellow Ice Hellion fans, roll your eyes now.)
* Ice Hellion overzealousness: Would the Hellions try to take on two Clans at once? If facing the Bears and blunted, would they dare try to go down both sides, one into Wolf space and the other in Jaguar space?
* Fire Mandrill factionalization: Would the Mandrills end up with several small enclaves from more than one Clan, as each kindraa focuses on its own little empire.
* Falcon overextension. The Falcons are taking on the Vipers and now have a second Clan entering the picture, all while fending off AFFC raids. If Snow Raven reclaims the warships and jumpships loaned to the Falcons, do they have enough transports to maintain such a large territory?
* Blood Spirit opportunitists. Do the Spirits get involved at all to carve out a little 2 or 3 world enclave near the periphery border? Perhaps grabbing something secondhand from a Clan like the Burrocks or Adders after they'd previously taken it from someone else?
* Coyote-Wolf friendship. Would the strongly Warden Coyotes do anything to help their Wolf friends? Or do they settle to snatch up underdefended territories in the homeworlds?
* Hell's Horses vs AFFC in the former Falcon corridor. How do these two combined arms forces compare? (I prefer this to Hell's Horses along the Draconis side, as the DCMS has had centuries dealing with the FedSun's combined arms tactics.)
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