Clan Jade Falcon Remnants
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The Clan Jade Falcon Remnants were an independent splinter group of Clan Jade Falcon, separated from the main Clan forces on Terra. They were the last remaining Jade Falcon presence in the Hinterlands, led by Khan Jiyi Chistu.[1]
 | |
| Clan Jade Falcon Remnants | |
|---|---|
| Faction Profile | |
| Time period: | Early 3150s - present |
| Classification: | Splinter Faction |
| Controlled systems: | 7 |
| Capital world: | Sudeten |
| Ruler title: | Khan |
| Military: | Clan Jade Falcon Touman, Mercenaries |
| Secret Service: | Clan Jade Falcon Watch |
History[edit]
Foundation[edit]
After Chinggis Khan Malvina Hazen took nearly all of the Falcon touman to participate at the Battle of Terra, all that was left behind were a few barely operational solahma units.[citation needed]
While the Falcons as a whole had left their Occupation Zone, not every member of the Clan followed. Of those left behind, two in particular rose to prominence. Jiyi Chistu had been a Star Captain serving under Malvina Hazen, until he grew disillusioned with her methods. Reassigned to protect one of the Falcons' precious VaultShips, he cultivated the loyalty of those serving under him and grew to respect the merchants who crewed the ship. By mid-3151, Chistu and his comrades were cut off from central leadership, left only with confusing reports coming from Terra ranging from a Falcon victory to a resurgent Word of Blake. It was then that his ship received a recall order from the Clan's Merchant Factor, Marena.[2]
Marena had risen through the ranks of the Falcon merchant caste for decades, gaining great influence for her skilled management of the Falcons' economy. After the chaos erupted in the prior Falcon occupation Zone, which became the Hinterlands, she saw her opportunity. Moving swiftly to secure the planet Alyina, Marena overthrew the ruling warrior caste as she sought to build a new nation based on commerce. On 20 July, 3151, Marena declared herself the Syndic of a new government, the Alyina Mercantile League.[3] She sent out a recall order to all the Falcon VaultShips scattered throughout space, ordering them to return to Alyina.[citation needed]
While most of the VaultShips heeded the recall order and fell in line behind the new Syndic, VaultShip Gamma, the ship to which Chistu had been assigned, was impeccably loyal to Chistu and, through him, Clan Jade Falcon. Rather than join the AML, the VaultShip crew created a council made up of both warriors and lower castes that unanimously elected Chistu their new Khan. Among his first actions was to secure Sudeten, arresting the planetary leader, Scientist General Axle after a short battle. Another of Chistu's acts was to invite Marena to his capital to find a path forward together. Marena informed Chistu that she and her nation were no longer subject to Clan rule, and offered Chistu a place as the leader of her armies. Unable to fathom swearing fealty to a merchant, the talks ended almost as soon as they began.[4]
Expansion[edit]
Chistu lost no time expanding the Remnants' meager foothold in the Hinterlands. First, he seized the nearby planets of Graus and Dompaire. After defeating their garrisons, he expanded his roster of warriors by recruiting from among the lower castes on both planets. Chistu now had more than two Trinaries at his disposal, having begun the campaign with barely a single Trinary.
Khan Chistu then embarked on a bold stroke against the Clan Ghost Bear garrison on Quarell. Arriving on planet with both of his Trinaries, Chistu challenged the Ghost Bears to a Trial of Possession for several training sibkos. The Khan put up VaultShip Gamma as prize. Local Ghost Bear commander Star Colonel Emilio Hall and his troops suffered defeat in the subsequent Trial, and Chistu took the sibkos at the cost of one of his Trinaries in battle.[5]
Returning to Sudeten, Chistu put down a rebellion on Dompaire with minimal losses. Soon after, a JumpShip laden with warriors and technicians arrived, exiles departing the Alyina Mercantile League to rejoin Chistu's "true" Falcons. Additional reinforcements arrived shortly after in the form of the mercenary group Lone Wolves, who were seeking employment. Though Khan Chistu refused to contract the mercenaries, he allowed them to land and stay on planet.[6]
Few of the refugees and mercenaries had been processed or interrogated when, on 3 March 3152, a fleet of Clan Hell's Horses arrived in Jade Falcon Remnant territory, pursuing objectives of Operation STAMPEDE.[7]
Battle of Sudeten[edit]
Clan Hell's Horses' assault on Sudeten was an existential threat for Chistu's Falcon Remnants. Ironically, the actions of both Horses' Khans inadvertently strengthened the Falcons' defense during the subsequent Battle of Sudeten.[citation needed]
By refusing to recognize the Falcons as a "true" Clan and designating Chistu's followers as dezgra, the Hell's Horses cast off any obligations for the Falcons to fight with traditionally honor-bound Clan tactics. As Horses losses mounted, Khan Gottfried Amirault attempted to negotiate—but the Falcons ignored his entreaties. Even the nominally neutral Lone Wolves took common cause with the Falcons, furnishing Chistu with much-needed manpower and equipment.
Falcon casualties were far from light and the capital of Hammarr was devastated, but the surviving Falcon Remnants were more united than ever.[8]
In May 3151, the neighboring Tamar Pact attacked the Jade Falcon system of Blair Atholl. Blair's skeleton Falcon garrison managed to stalemate the invaders in what amounted to a strategic victory for the Remnants.[9]
New Expansion[edit]
Khan Chistu leveraged the momentum of his military successes to expand Remnant territory. Small expeditions to nearby worlds bore fruit. A scouting force probing Jangso discovered a local guerrilla contingent of Falcons led by Star Captain Hasara, and the recombined Jade Falcon force secured the planet for Chistu.[10] More expeditions expanded Falcon territory by seizing Antares and Morges.[citation needed]
Diplomatic Relationships[edit]
Now styling himself the Clan Jade Falcon Khan, Jiyi Chistu has not yet communicated with the original Jade Falcon force which departed for Terra with Khan Malvina Hazen. Unbeknownst to the Remnants, Jade Falcon survivors on Terra now serve the ilClan and ilKhan Alaric Wolf. It is unknown how the parallel Khan Stephanie Chistu will react to Jiyi Chistu's changes among the Remnants. The possibility of internecine conflict cannot be ruled out.[11]
Clan Hell's Horses have made their hostility toward the Falcon Remnants clear, and it is unknown if their new Khan, Fulk Lassenerra, will treat with the Remnants after the Sudeten debacle.[12]
Nearby potential adversaries also include the Lyran Commonwealth and Alyina Mercantile League (AML). The AML has already sought armed assistance from the Tamar Pact against the Falcons.[13] The Tamar Pact also shelters another Jade Falcon enemy, the Malthus Confederation. This latter faction has not only infiltrated agents into Sudeten and incited riots against the Falcons, but also have placed a price on Khan's Chistu's head. The Confederation's Tamar Pact protection largely precludes Jade Falcon retaliation for the time being.[14]
Military[edit]
The military forces of the Clan Jade Falcon Remnants are very limited, described as a "rather motley assortment of Clan Warriors, robbed from the cradle or rescued from the nursing home", forcing them to accept the help or even contract mercenaries like the Lone Wolves. Initially a Trinary, they grow to be at least a full Cluster.[11]
Systems[edit]
References[edit]
- ↑ Tamar Rising, p. 69
- ↑ Tamar Rising, pp. 50–51
- ↑ Tamar Rising, pp. 42–44
- ↑ Tamar Rising, pp. 51–52
- ↑ Tamar Rising, p. 54
- ↑ Without Question, ch. 1
- ↑ Tamar Rising, pp. 55–56
- ↑ Tamar Rising, p. 67
- ↑ Tamar Rising, pp. 68–69
- ↑ No Substitute for Victory, ch. 29
- ↑ a b Tamar Rising, p. 88
- ↑ Tamar Rising, p. 93
- ↑ Tamar Rising, p. 69
- ↑ Without Question, ch. 17
Bibliography[edit]
- No Substitute for Victory (novel)
- Tamar Rising
- Without Question (novel)