MechWarrior 5: Clans/Campaign Missions

Smoke Jaguar Campaign

Tutorial Missions

Missions taking place on Huntress in 3048.

Welcome Committee - Training - Jayden and his sibkin Liam, Ezra, Mia, and Nasir arrive from Londerholm to Stalker Base on Huntress to complete their training. Kit Commander Ibrahim Ismiril tasks the group with a training exercise, fighting through drone vehicles, VTOLs, and BattleMechs, before facing off against and defeating a Star of fellow cadets.

Trial of Position - Trial of Position - Eight months later, Jayden and his sibkin prepare for their Trial of Position. Jayden aims for the rank of Star Commander, requiring at least two kills in his Trial. Piloting a Summoner, Jayden defeats his first two opponents, piloting a Mad Dog and Hellbringer respectively, but is swiftly defeated by his third foe in a Timber Wolf. After the Trial, Jayden reunites with Liam, Ezra, and Mia, learning that Nasir did not survive his own Trial. The surviving sibkin are ransomed together to Beta Galaxy under Galaxy Commander Cordera Perez, where they will form a new Star in Star Colonel Emilie Wimmer's 362nd Assault Cluster, with Nasir's former position in the Star taken by a warrior named Naomi. The meeting is interrupted by the arrival of the JumpShip Outbound Light over Huntress, precipitating Khan Leo Showers's speech to the Grand Council which spurs the Clans to return to the Inner Sphere.

Santander's World

Missions taking place during the Invasion of Santander in August and September 3049.

Nasir is replaced by Naomi.

Touchdown - Investigation - As the Clan Smoke Jaguar fleet arrives in the Periphery, Jayden and his Star, now designated Cobalt Star, are bid by saKhan Sarah Weaver into the initial landing on Santander V to contest pirate king Helmar Valasek for control of the planet. On arrival, Cobalt Star finds three empty Union-class DropShips, and is ordered to scout ahead while two other Stars investigate the DropShips and secure their position. As Cobalt Star returns from their scouting run, Valasek detonates explosives packed inside the DropShips, destroying one Star and heavily damaging the second. Cobalt Star works with the survivors of the explosion to repel an ambush by several lances of Valasek's forces, but Valasek himself is not present.

Pirate's Bay - Assault - Incensed at Helmar Valasek's dishonorable tactics, saKhan Sarah Weaver sends Cobalt Star to clear a path for her own Star to assault Valasek's base of operations. Cobalt successfully clears a minefield and finds another Union-class DropShip, which launches shortly afterwards. Once Cobalt opens the gate to the base, Weaver and her Star deploy. Working together, the two Stars successfully clear the base, but the launched Union was a decoy; Valasek was neither aboard it nor in the base.

Target Acquisition - Investigation - Star Colonel Wimmer tasks Cobalt Star with scouting a number of local homesteads seized by Santander's Killers to use as depots, ideally while avoiding enemy patrols in the area. Cobalt's scouting will allow Hawk Star's aerospace fighters to bombard the targets, robbing Valasek of vital supplies without a heavy force commitment from the Jaguars. On arrival, Cobalt finds three of the homesteads to be mainly munitions depots, but a fourth is being used to house prisoners. As Hawk Star destroys the three munitions depots, Cobalt Star is ordered to draw the attention of the nearby enemy forces so that the prisoners can be safely evacuated and potentially interrogated as to Valasek's whereabouts.

Traffickers - Assault - The liberated prisoners do not know Valasek's location, but they provide the location of another prison facility; saKhan Weaver and Star Colonel Wimmer task Cobalt Star with liberating the facility. Defeating an ambush by a pirate Orion to gain access to the base, Cobalt successfully locates and defends the prison facility, allowing for the prisoners' extraction. Despite their success, Liam receives a stinging rebuke from saKhan Weaver for his conduct and language during the mission, and the rebuke extends to Jayden as his commander for allowing it. After the mission, Jayden scolds Liam and instructs him to shape up; Liam promises to do so while on mission.

No Stone Unturned - Investigation - The Clan has taken notice of a group of storehouses that may provide supplies or intel on Valasek's location. Cobalt Star is dispatched to crush the defenders of these storehouses so that Elementals can clear them for whatever they may hold. Cobalt fights through the defenders, eventually running up against a large Corsair FrankenMech that is summarily destroyed. At Liam's request, Jayden scans the data core of the fallen Corsair, which houses data that Liam hopes may prove useful.

Flushing the Nest - Assault - Previous operations have uncovered the location of a pirate base containing the signatures of the fusion reactors from the three derelict Union-class DropShips that Valasek previously detonated. Cobalt Star assaults the base, destroying the fusion reactors and cutting power to Valasek's operations, but true to form, Valasek himself is nowhere to be found.

The Pirate King - Extermination - With his bases and operations severely hamstrung, Clan Smoke Jaguar has finally located Valasek's personal BattleMaster. Cobalt Star is ordered to clear a landing zone for saKhan Weaver's command Star and screen their approach to Valasek's location. Working together, the two Stars demolish Valasek's remaining forces. SaKhan Weaver in her Timber Wolf engages Valasek's BattleMaster in a duel, winning by crushing its cockpit; however, Valasek reveals shortly afterward that he was not in the 'Mech, escaping the system on a Leopard-class DropShip as Weaver looks on. While his escape is a disappointment, Valasek's departure frees the Jaguars to conclude operations on Santander and in the Periphery as a whole, allowing them to move on to Operation REVIVAL: the invasion of the Inner Sphere proper.

Turtle Bay

Missions taking place during the Invasion of Turtle Bay in March 3050.

The Invasion Begins - Assault - Beta Galaxy's first engagement in the Inner Sphere is against the Combine's Fourteenth Legion of Vega on Turtle Bay. Cobalt Star is assigned to form a Binary with Star Captain Megan Corral's Ursa Star. Cobalt and Ursa make landfall under heavy anti-air fire, watching another Smoke Jaguar Broadsword-class DropShip go down immediately after. Cobalt and Ursa take a vantage point on a ridgeline, picking off numerous Legion of Vega targets at long range before being forced from the position by artillery fire. The Binary continues forward, knocking out multiple outposts, their artillery emplacements, and their defenders.

Outskirts of Edo - Investigation - The Fourteenth's forces have retreated to entrenched positions in the northern suburbs of Turtle Bay's capital city, Edo. Cobalt Star is ordered to strike these positions and hunt down the forces therein. Destroying the Fourteenth's units, Cobalt confronts and defeats a lance led by a man named Yuichi, piloting an Awesome. Jayden and Ezra are impressed with Yuichi's skill; to the chagrin of Wimmer and Perez, Ezra claims the defeated warrior as a bondsman. Wimmer's interrogation concludes that Yuichi poses little risk to the Clan, and as such he is allowed to stay as Ezra's personal tech. Additionally, Beta Galaxy is assigned a ComStar liaison in Demi-Precentor Akari Ito, who will provide intelligence and help administer captured worlds.

Pacification - Patrol - The capture of Edo is sullied by a bombing which slays a number of civilians and Jaguar officers in a club in Edo. A single old man claimed responsibility, but he was executed before he could be interrogated. Demi-Precentor Ito believes his claims are extremely suspect, as the man was a member of a pacifistic order of monks, and thinks he claimed responsibility to avoid Jaguar reprisals on his people. Cobalt is dispatched alongside elements of Granite Star to investigate suspected military contraband stashes to attempt to find the true perpetrators. Cobalt finds multiple stashes, but is attacked by a group claiming affiliation with the Ryugawa-gumi, a yakuza organization highly loyal to the Draconis Combine and a much more likely culprit of the bombing. The Ryugawa-gumi forces are defeated, but swear to continue resisting.

Smuggler's Den - Investigation - A mining corporation is suspected to be hiding a Ryugawa-gumi armory on Turtle Bay's moon. Cobalt Star, using navigational beacons to maneuver with limited visibility through a heavy dust storm, locates the facility and captures the manufacturing equipment within for Clan Smoke Jaguar.

Security Protocols - Patrol - Comparing aerial recon with old orbital scans, Demi-Precentor Ito has noticed a previously unoccupied valley that now seems to be full of activity and equipment. Cobalt Star deploys to investigate, and to secure or destroy the resources. On arrival, Liam notes that the aerial recon is several weeks old, and thus it seems suspicious that this was only brought up now. Cobalt makes their way into a sealed supply depot in the valley, but an assault lance drops into the valley behind them. On Perez's orders, Cobalt disengages and retreats through a back exit to the depot, breaking through enemy forces to reach the extraction zone without being caught by the assault lance.

Air Superiority - Assault - ComStar has intercepted transmissions that indicate that an old DCMS air base in the Hanenda Region is being reactivated along with its compliment of mothballed Shilone Bombers. Cobalt Star, working once again with elements of Granite Star, is deployed to capture the base and deny the Ryugawa the use of the Shilones therein. Cobalt and Granite seize the base, destroy the bombers, and prevent Ryugawa forces from destroying a nearby fuel depot, before then fending off an attack from multiple 'Mechs and heavy aircraft.

Boxed In - Extermination - ComStar believe that they have found the Ryugawa-gumi base of operations; the Clan has dispatched a Binary, but after verifying enemies in the area they dropped out of contact. Cobalt is dropped into an ongoing firefight alongside Granite and Topaz Stars. Together the Smoke Jaguar forces push up a river toward the cave entrance to the Ryugawa base, fighting through 'Mechs, bombers, artillery, and minefields. Once inside, the Clan forces destroy the power generators keeping the defensive orbital cannons running, then capture the rest of the base. The missing Binary is not found, however Cobalt is able to recover a data packet that may prove useful. Afterwards, Galaxy Commander Perez and Demi-Precentor Ito learn that the Ryugawa had sacrificed the base in order to stage a major operation elsewhere - the liberation of a prison facility that, unbeknownst to the Clan, had been holding Hohiro Kurita, grandson of the Combine's ruling Coordinator.

Heir to the Dragon - Assault - Cobalt's recovered intel indicates that the DCMS and Ryugawa intend to evacuate Hohiro Kurita on a DropShip from Edo Spaceport. All available Smoke Jaguar forces, including Cobalt Star, Adam Bes's Shadow Binary, and Alexander Hoyt's Mist Star, are dispatched to the location. Passing by multiple riots instigated by the Ryugawa, Cobalt successfully pushes to the spaceport, destroying its fuel reserves and power generators to slow the DropShip's launch. However, they are too late to prevent the DropShip's launch, forcing Cordera Perez to order the Sabre Cat to destroy it from orbit. Immediately after, ComStar learns that the destroyed DropShip was also a diversion, and that Hohiro Kurita has already escaped on a shuttle and is safely away from the planet. Furious at this development, Perez orders all Clan forces to vacate the planet, before ordering the Sabre Cat to destroy fleeing civilian DropShips and bombard the city of Edo. The bombardment obliterates the city and its inhabitants, to the shock and horror of Cobalt and the other Clan forces. Shortly after, Perez is challenged and defeated by Dietr Osis and is relieved of command by saKhan Weaver. Star Colonel Wimmer takes responsibility for her forces' conduct and invokes surkairede for her failure, shielding Cobalt and the rest of the 362nd from some of the consequences, but it will still be a black mark on their codices. With Turtle Bay pacified, the Smoke Jaguar armada moves on to Courchevel.

Invasion of Courchevel

Missions taking place during the Invasion of Courchevel in September 3050.

Redemption - Assault - Star Colonel Wimmer has successfully bid the 362nd Assault Cluster to fight the Tenth Alshain Regulars for control of Courchevel, a world on the Rasalhague border. Seeking absolution for the actions of Beta Galaxy on Turtle Bay, Wimmer entreats her Cluster to act with the utmost honor in the battle to come on the Harcourt Plains. Cobalt Star takes a position along a river to destroy the Regulars forces attempting to cross. Once the area is clear, Cobalt then crosses the river themselves, pushing to establish a beachhead on the opposite side of the river. From there, the Clan forces push on the Regulars' base nearby, destroying several 'Mechs before they can power up and successfully taking the base for Clan Smoke Jaguar.

An Honest Fight - Assault - The 362nd has successfully forced the Tenth Alshain Regulars to retreat into the Dragon's Rift Mountains, where the Clan forces are prepared to box them in and crush them. Star Colonel Wimmer assigns Cobalt Star to work directly with her Command Trinary in the field to deal the finishing blow and force the Regulars to surrender. Cobalt successfully pushes through to link up with the Command Trinary, but the Star Colonel's 'Mech has taken serious damage and she is off comms. Cobalt defends Star Colonel Wimmer's 'Mech as they successfully bring down Franco Zimmer and his lance. Zimmer orders the Regulars to surrender, bringing an end to the battle. However, militia and other forces on Courchevel still refuse to surrender, fearing that the Smoke Jaguar forces will massacre them as happened at Edo. Star Colonel Wimmer opts to use Ezra's bondsman Yuichi as a go-between to help ease tensions.

Combat Patrol - Patrol - The Courchevel militia continues to fight even after the surrender of the Tenth Alshain Regulars. Cobalt Star is deployed to attempt to ferret out who is continuing to provide the militia with arms. Patrolling an area with bases being used as likely arms depots, Cobalt fights off multiple ambushes but uncovers a data cache indicating that a local company is working with Luthien Armor Works to continue to arm the militia. Nonetheless, Cobalt is able to clear the area of hostiles, despite a heavy militia lance dropping nearby as Cobalt awaits extraction.

Pinned Down - Assault - Star Captain Adam Bes's Shadow Binary was recently dispatched to eliminate a high-ranking militia leader at a farmland base, but was unable to finish the job. Cobalt Star is deployed to reinforce Shadow Binary and complete the mission. Cobalt deploys directly into a fight, helping Bes's Command Star destroy a large group of militia 'Mechs in a zone pre-sighted for enemy artillery. Once the 'Mechs and the guns are silenced, Cobalt is able to open a gate that was cutting off Shadow Binary's second Star, lead by Star Commander Travers. Cobalt Star and the remainder of Shadow Binary are able to clear out the remaining militia 'Mechs, tanks, and Shilone bombers. Wimmer is unimpressed with Shadow Binary's performance, but praises Cobalt Star for theirs; Cobalt is extracted to redeploy elsewhere while Shadow Binary is left to clean up the mess.

No Holds Barred - Defend - Militia forces across Courchevel have been striking at bases previously captured by Clan Smoke Jaguar; Star Colonel Wimmer is spreading the 362nd as thin as she dares to defend them. Cobalt Star is assigned to defend Delta Base on the Gasperri Plains. The militia grows increasingly desperate, throwing multiple lances and even a heavily armed Gazelle-class DropShip into the attack on the base. Cobalt is able to rebuff the attackers and destroy the Gazelle before being extracted for relief.

Voices of the Past - Investigation - Orbital reconnaissance has located an intact Star League Defense Force depot on Courchevel. Cobalt Star is deployed to seize the depot and keep it out of militia hands, but is surprised by the presence of a militia base just outside the depot's still-sealed gates. Destroying the militia forces, Cobalt is able to use old SLDF codes to enter the gate. As the gates open, the base's systems send Cobalt a transmission left behind in 2784: Aleksandr Kerensky himself, explaining that he had taken the military goods and food from the depot, but that anything else was left behind in hopes of others using it to survive the dark times to come and keep the spirit of the Star League alive. Cobalt then receives a second archived transmission from several decades later. The second transmission was left by Michael Evans, a ComStar official on the run from Primus Conrad Toyama's increasingly mystical vision of ComStar; Evans had erased the depot from ComStar records, explaining how it weathered the centuries relatively intact. However, a third transmission then reveals that Kuritan forces stormed the base assuming that they had stolen SLDF tech - perhaps sent there on false intel by ComStar, Evans guesses - before using chemical weapons to kill Evans and his group of refugees. Reaching the innermost hangar of the base, Cobalt finds it to be not only in use, but storing Clan tech salvage: the ISF has been using the depot as a base to sift through Clan salvage for use by the Inner Sphere, and has planned to use this hangar to trap Cobalt and take their 'Mechs. Cobalt is able to fight their way back out of the depot, receiving reinforcements outside the gates from Alexander Hoyt's Star. Back at base, Cobalt discusses these events and transmissions; Liam believes that he can track the ISF data back to its origin given time, which Jayden allows him to do.

Baiting the Hook - Assault - Star Colonel Wimmer opens the briefing with an announcement: Galaxy Commander Dietr Osis has badly lost the battle on Wolcott. Not only is Wolcott now off-limits to Clan Smoke Jaguar, but the Clan has been forced to turn over several OmniMechs and Elemental suits as a condition of the Trial. As Galaxy Commander Osis has been executed for this severe failure, saKhan Weaver now directly commands Beta Galaxy. Nonetheless, with the ISF goal of recovering Clan technology now laid bare, Star Colonel Wimmer sets a trap. Using unarmed Igor UAVs carrying Clan equipment as bait, she intends to draw in militia forces; as the target is so valuable, they will certainly be headed up by ISF personnel. Cobalt Star is deployed to the area ahead of time, alongside Star Captain Ethan Freelander's Brass Star, to lay in wait to ambush the militia and ISF forces. True to Wimmer's prediction, militia and ISF 'Mechs soon attack the area. As Cobalt and Brass destroy the 'Mechs, Liam reveals to Jayden that he has installed an enhanced sensor package onto Cobalt's 'Mechs, which he hopes can harvest data for his investigation from any downed ISF 'Mechs. After destroying the enemies as well as scanning and flagging multiple downed ISF 'Mechs, Cobalt Star returns to base. Star Colonel Wimmer informs Cobalt that the Clan Watch has had no success tracking down the ISF, but Liam explains his own methods and his gathered data. Seeing this as their best opportunity, Wimmer takes direct command of Liam for the time being and tasks the Watch to assist him; she assigns Alexander Hoyt to fill the vacant slot in Cobalt Star for the time being.

Mountain Maze - Investigation - Liam has tracked the ISF transmissions to a location near the polar regions of Courchevel. The area is uninhabitable, with thirty minutes of exposure to its constant salt storms usually being fatal. Star Colonel Wimmer assigns Cobalt Star to escort Liam to the location, with Liam commanding the mission on the ground. The first location is a navigation buoy, daisy-chained to further buoys in the area. As Cobalt scouts the buoys and fends off defenders, Liam reveals that Wimmer has offered him a transfer to the Watch. He plans to accept, believing that he can help the Clan more from that position. However, the last buoy in the chain has been sabotaged, forcing Liam to dismount his Stormcrow to interface with it by hand. He discovers that the intel is a trap, and the location is sighted for artillery; he orders Cobalt to run, as artillery strikes hit his location and topple his 'Mech before he can reach it. Cobalt detects no life signs, as well as a breach in the cockpit of the Stormcrow; even if Liam is still alive, he cannot use it for shelter and will soon die of exposure. Over Mia's frantic objections, Jayden pulls the Star out of the area to attempt to draw fire away from Liam's position on the off chance that he is alive. After extraction, Mia pleads with Jayden and then Star Colonel Wimmer to rescue Liam, but Wimmer refuses, deeming it far too risky to engage an alerted and entrenched enemy. Furious, Mia challenges her to a Circle of Equals, backed by Jayden as Mia lacks the standing to challenge on her own. Mia is soundly defeated, with Wimmer rebuking both her and Jayden for their emotional and immature response to the situation. Soon after, Wimmer announces the death of ilKhan Leo Showers, and that all Bloodnamed warriors must return to Strana Mechty to elect a new ilKhan. As Cobalt's warriors are not Bloodnamed, they will stay behind until the armada returns in a year to resume the invasion.

For this mission, Liam is replaced by Alexander Hoyt.

Occupation of Courchevel

This arc begins 17 May 3051 in the middle of the Year of Peace as now-Star-Colonel Cordera Perez arrives to take command of the occupation.

Liam is replaced by Yuichi.

Inspection Duty - Patrol - Six months after the departure of the armada, Liam's slot in Cobalt Star has been filled by Ezra's former bondsman Yuichi, who has been formally adopted into the Clan. Cordera Perez, now only a Star Colonel, arrives on Courchevel to take over operations. Perez assigns Cobalt Star to help Zeta Galaxy with garrison efforts, and sends Cobalt to Jardin Spaceport to inspect departing civilian DropShips. The civilian spaceport authorities allow Cobalt access to the spaceport, where they inspect a Leopard and a Union without issue, but a Gazelle flees rather than face inspection; on Jayden's orders the port shoots down the Gazelle. A well-armed force immediately attempts to seize the wrecked DropShip, surprising Cobalt Star who had thought all significant opposition to have been destroyed in the past few months. Cobalt destroys the opposing forces and inspects the DropShip wreckage, revealing that the ship was attempting to smuggle Clan military technology off-world. Perez orders the Jaguar forces to investigate and destroy these mystery raiders.

Scrapyard - Investigation - The Smoke Jaguar merchant caste has informed the warrior caste that two of their Union-C DropShips went missing two weeks ago and have not been recovered. Star Colonel Perez has received intel indicating that a large scrapyard is showing unusual energy signatures which do not match normal Kuritan tech. He dispatches Cobalt Star to investigate, with Garnet Star as potential backup if the raiders are present. Cobalt quickly encounters the raiders and summons Garnet for assistance. Together the two Stars sweep the scrapyard, encountering one of the missing Union-Cs. While the raiders turn its gun turrets on the Clan forces, they have not yet stripped the ship for parts, and so the two Stars are able to disable its turrets and recapture the ship. The second missing Union-C is speculated to have already been broken down for parts, which were likely the payload of the smuggler Gazelle destroyed in Jardin.

Crater Investigation - Investigation - A Binary from the Jaguar Regulars was recently dispatched to a former DCMS base built in a series of craters, but has fallen out of contact. Cobalt Star is dispatched to investigate the base. On arrival, they encounter resistance from the mystery raiders; additionally, they are able to locate five of the fallen Jaguar Regular 'Mechs but the other five are missing, likely having been moved for salvage. Cobalt continues forward, encountering a Union-class DropShip with its doors open for a salvage run. The Union attempts to power up and escape but Cobalt is able to destroy the ship's defenders and turrets, leading the ship to power down and surrender.

Local Invasion - Extermination - Investigation of the captured Union DropShip has revealed the identity of the mystery raiders: the Fifth Amphigean Light Assault Group, mercenaries permanently indentured to House Kurita. Intel indicates that the ALAG forces are being harbored in the coastal city of San Tropez. Star Colonel Perez dispatches Cobalt Star to investigate these rumors, and to punish anyone harboring the ALAG forces. The residents refuse to give up any information, and a transmission from ALAG commanding officer General Kent Gerber galvanizes their resistance. Over the increasingly vehement objections of Cobalt Star, Perez orders them to destroy more and more of the city, destroying the ALAG defenders as they go. With the armada still months away and Perez still proving popular among the other garrison commanders, Cobalt has little choice but to comply against their wishes. After the battle, Ezra confronts Jayden in private, expressing that the group needs to do something about Perez; Jayden adamantly opposes the idea of challenging him, but asks Ezra to continue searching for options.

On the Hunt - Assault - Interrogation of captured Amphigean personnel has revealed a group of townships housing communications equipment used by the ALAG for pirate broadcasts. At Star Colonel Perez's orders, Cobalt Star is sent forth to destroy these communications installations and any ALAG forces defending the area.

Disciplinary Action - Assault - The second missing Union-C DropShip has been located, along with its unreported cargo of Clan 'Mechs. Star Colonel Perez dispatches Cobalt Star to hunt down these 'Mechs and prevent them from escaping the area. The stolen 'Mechs are split up into four groups, each with its own escort: first a Stormcrow, then a pair of Novas, followed by a pair of Hellbringers, and finally a Stormcrow paired with a Nova. Cobalt is able to bring down all of the stolen 'Mechs and their escorts, but tensions within the group are growing over continuing to follow Perez's orders.

Last Resort - Assault - The Jaguar fleet has returned from the Homeworlds and has just passed Santander, leading the DCMS to recall all agents in Clan occupied space. This has flushed out the Fifth ALAG forces, which are gathering on Courchevel's second moon. Star Colonel Perez orders Cobalt Star to act as an advance Strike Star, taking point in a mission to finish off the ALAG forces. Cobalt is able to force the surrender of a Leopard-class ship before it can flee. However, Tai-sho Gerber sacrifices himself to hold off Cobalt and allow the unit's command Union-class DropShip to retreat, his dying actions earning him the respect of Perez and Cobalt Star. Nonetheless, Perez orders Cobalt to take a Star of Elementals to secure the fuel yard and execute anyone who aided the ALAG forces. After the battle, Jayden speaks with Mia, who is suffering the effects of her new implants; she has taken them to give her the edge needed to rise in the Clan and undo the influence of Perez and people like him, and she cautions Jayden that he and Ezra need to choose a cause sooner rather than later.

While no precise date is given for this mission, Cordera Perez mentions that the Jaguar fleet has returned along the Exodus Road and has just left Santander. With Santander around six jumps away from Courchevel and versus the return of the main Smoke Jaguar force immediately after the next mission (in the Crusader path) as well as the canonical resumption of the Clan Invasion in November, this mission most likely takes place in October.

Reckoning - Assault - On 1 December 3051, the 4th Nova Cat Guards issues a Trial of Possession for Courchevel, which is set to take place in the Dragon's Rift Mountains. Due to the sudden disappearance of Ezra, Perez bids away Cobalt Star, keeping them as a reserve force. Mia successfully petitions for a temporary transfer to the Second Jaguar Regulars participating in the bid; Perez assigns two warriors, Amelia and Lance, to fill out Cobalt Star's ranks. During the Trial, a rogue Smoke Jaguar Warhawk breaches zellbrigen, turning the Trial into a melee and bringing Cobalt Star into the action. That Warhawk turns out to be piloted by the missing Ezra, who started the melee to cover his defection from the Smoke Jaguars. Jayden must make a choice, with Naomi and Yuichi behind him: join Ezra on the Warden path and leave the Smoke Jaguars for an uncertain future, or go to reinforce Mia, remaining loyal to the Clan and the Crusader way. Regardless of Jayden's choice, Ezra is able to withdraw aboard a Wolf's Dragoons DropShip in the mayhem, while Clan Smoke Jaguar ultimately loses the Trial and the planet to Clan Nova Cat.

For this mission, Ezra and Mia are replaced by Amelia and Lance.

Luthien

Missions taking place during the Invasion of Luthien, referencing canonical events that occurred on 5 January 3052. There are two variants of this series, depending on the choice made in the previous mission.

Crusader path

Ezra is replaced by Alexander Hoyt.

Dragon Slayer - Assault - Star Colonel Perez harshly interrogates Cobalt Star over Ezra's actions and attempts to drum them out of Beta Galaxy, but is countermanded by saKhan Weaver and Star Colonel Wimmer, newly returned from the homeworlds. The Smoke Jaguar and Nova Cat forces arrive at the Kuritan capitol world of Luthien, forgoing a batchall due to the dishonorable conduct of Kuritan forces in the past. Demi-Precentor Akari advises the Jaguars to expect many elite units, but no mercenary support due to the Death to Mercenaries edict. Cobalt Star, with Alexander Hoyt now permanently assigned to Ezra's former position, is assigned to break through a weak point in the lines of the First and Second Sword of Light in the Waseda Hills. Cobalt fights through extremely heavy resistance in order to reach a power station powering a series of orbital cannons. Cobalt is able to reach and destroy the station, relieving some pressure from the Jaguar forces, but faces off with Wolf's Dragoons units in the area, confirming not only that there are unexpected mercenaries in play, but that House Davion is assisting House Kurita.

Canonically, the action at Waseda Hills occurred at around 1230 hours.

The Golden Forge - Extermination - SaKhan Weaver explains that the Nova Cats have also confirmed the Wolf's Dragoons and Kell Hounds presence on planet, and that this means Ezra is likely on planet as well; she instructs Jayden to hunt him down if he is identified in the field. In the meantime, the 362nd is assigned to take the main campus of Luthien Armor Works, a maze of corridors that plays havoc with 'Mech sensors and forces the Cluster to deploy Star by Star instead of in a larger force. Cobalt assists Raven Star and breaches the facility, sweeping through extremely heavy resistance from its defenders, before encountering and destroying an administration post. As the final defenders fall, Ezra contacts Jayden and issues a Trial of Grievance, set for the Imperial Gardens three hours hence, which Jayden accepts. As Jayden prepares for the fight, Alexander approaches him and tells a story of being forced to kill one of his own sibkin in the past but earning his Bloodname sponsorship from Jayden's genefather in the process; he offers to similarly sponsor Jayden for a Hoyt Bloodname if he succeeds in killing Ezra.

Canonically, the Jaguars attacked the Luthien Armor Works at around 1400 hours.

Annihilation - Trial of Grievance - Star Colonel Wimmer warns Jayden that the 362nd has taken heavy losses taking the Luthien Armor Works facility, and thus she does not have the manpower to lend any support for the battle against Ezra. Nonetheless, Cobalt Star deploys to the Imperial Gardens. Ezra restates his call to trial, but as Ezra is dezgra, Jayden denies him an honorable trial. Cobalt pushes through Kuritan and Black Widow Battalion forces to engage Ezra in the heart of the gardens. Ezra states his wish to take Jayden as bondsman, but Jayden refuses. As Ezra's 'Mech falls he restates his position about the dishonorable actions of the Clan, but a furious Jayden fires a full salvo into Ezra's downed 'Mech, killing him but leaving Jayden feeling empty at having killed his sibkin and former friend. Mia contacts Wimmer for Cobalt's next assignment, but Wimmer orders Cobalt to withdraw altogether: while Jayden and Cobalt fought valiantly, the Clans have lost the battle for Luthien and are in full retreat. Cobalt fights their way to a Smoke Jaguar DropShip, where they retreat to fight another day. Afterwards, Jayden is promoted to Star Captain for his actions and restates his commitment to the Crusader cause, as the Smoke Jaguars regroup from Luthien and prepare to resume their invasion of the Inner Sphere.

If this mission took place at the time arranged in the previous mission, it likely happened at around 1700 hours, coinciding with the Jaguars' canonical final attack and retreat from Kado-guchi Valley.

Warden path

Mia is replaced by Samantha Middleton.

Hold the Line - Defend: Now working for the Wolf's Dragoons, Cobalt Star is sent to help the other mercenaries defend the Waseda Hills against the Nova Cats, culminating in the destruction of a Nova Cat DropShip.

A World on Fire - Defend: Cobalt Star must defend a critical repair base with generators powering the repair bays. After defending, Jayden must fight Cordera Perez's star in a Trial of Grievance.

Kishi Kaisei - Trial of Grievance: Mia makes her final stand against Jayden & his Wolf's Dragoon Star; Mia offered a Batchall, Jayden, seeing this as an opportunity to save a sibkin accepts, with hopes he can take Mia in as a Bondsman & prevent further bloodshed. Jayden and Ezra plead with Mia but are refused honorable combat. After fighting through Clan Jaguar forces, Jayden down's Mia's 'Mech during the Trial of Grievance. Jayden attempts to take Mia as a bondsman, but she refuses and detonates her reactor. After the Trial, the Star is informed the Clans have been defeated and both the Nova Cats and Smoke Jaguar are in full retreat. The Star pursues the retreating Clan warriors and destroy them and their Union Dropship. Post-mission, Jayden restates his desire to protect the Inner Sphere from the tyrants the Clans have become.

Ghost Bear Campaign

Huntress

Missions taking place on Huntress, starting 4 July 3051.

Eyes on a Prize - Assault

Falcon Hunt - Assault

A Grizzly Trial - WarShip Defense

Alshain

Missions taking place on Alshain, starting 2 December 3051.

Orbital Insertion - Space Station Assualt

Turn the Tables - Defensive Operation

Secure the Summit - Assault

Roaring Advance - Rescue Operation

Counterstrike - Defensive Operation

Pin the Dragon - Search and Destroy

An Iron Wall - Factory Assault

The unit face the Iron Talon

Bears Trapped - Assault

Clamping Down - Urban Assault

The unit face the Caspian

Bibliography

• MechWarrior 5: Ghost Bear Flash Storm (video game)