Difference between revisions of "Clan Diamond Shark"

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'''Clan Diamond Shark''', originally named [[Clan Sea Fox]], was one of the twenty original [[Clans]] created by [[Nicholas Kerensky]].  Its willingness to change its own name exemplified the Clan's flexibility and progressive thinking - it was the only Clan which permitted universal suffrage - and helped make it one of the strongest and wealthiest during the Clans' history.  Known derisively as the "Merchant Clan" by their jealous rivals, they nevertheless took great pride in their accomplishments and their direct contributions to the creation of the Clans.  The Clan's original totem animal, the [[Sea Fox (species)|Sea Fox]], was chosen for it by Kerensky for the honor it showed it's prey before striking.  The Clan then took as their new totem the [[Diamond Shark (species)|Diamond Shark]], which nearly wiped out the Sea Fox when it was introduced to the oceans of [[Strana Mechty]], as a sign of respect to a superior predator.
  
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==History==
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===Founding===
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The Sea Foxes' most influential Khan was not their first.  [[Karen Nagasawa]], daughter of two members of the [[Star League Defense Force]], spent her formative years hiding within a [[Castle Brian]] on [[Dieron]] while the [[Amaris Civil War]] raged on.  Afterwards, when [[Aleksandr Kerensky]] called for [[Operation Exodus|the SLDF to leave the Inner Sphere and save itself]], the Nagasawa family joined him and settled on [[Arcadia]] in the [[Pentagon Worlds]].  Karen would graduate from school and become a journalist, where she used her gifted writing skills in an ultimately fruitless attempt to stop the coming [[Pentagon Civil War|civil war]].  Her writings did bring her to the attention of Nicholas Kerensky and in a meeting between the two Karen was convinced of Nicholas' vision for a better society.  Working alongside Nicholas and [[Jennifer Winson]], Karen was responsible for writing the speeches in which Nicholas proposed a [[Second Exodus]].<ref name=IC131>''Invading Clans'', p. 131-132</ref><ref name=FMWC57>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 57</ref>
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On Strana Mechty, Karen would continue to work alongside Nicholas Kerensky, turning his grand ideas into eloquent and understandable words which would become a source of inspiration for the present and future generations, including ''[[The Remembrance]]''.  Feeling a need to have a greater role in the formation of this new society, she also began training to become a warrior, eventually achieving the rank of [[Star Colonel]] as an aerospace pilot.  When Clan Sea Fox was formally created however, [[David Kalasa]] and [[Dianne Sennet]] would earn the right to be its first [[Khan]] and [[saKhan]] respectfully, and Karen Nagasawa was originally assigned to [[Clan Blood Spirit]].  However, David Kalasa agreed to take his new position on the condition that Star Colonel Nagasawa was transferred to his Clan, arguing that the journalist-turned-warrior better exemplified the noble spirit of the Sea Fox.  The Blood Spirits initially resisted this request, though only as a matter of form - Khan [[Colleen Schmitt]] thought some of Nagasawa's writings to be dangerously liberal - and ultimately approved the transfer.<ref name=IC131/><ref name=FMWC57/>
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===Operation Klondike===
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{{main|Operation Klondike}}
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===A Rising Tide===
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The remarkable skills and leadership Karen Nagasawa displayed during the Babylon campaign would propel her to replace the deceased David Kalasa as senior Khan, helped in no small part by the recommendations of saKhan Sennet and Nicholas Kerensky himself.  Once in a leadership role Khan Nagasawa began implementing policies based on what she believed had made the [[Star League]] so successful: material prosperity and individualism.  While adopting the [[Clan Caste System]] as a way of giving every person a meaningful role to play in society, the "lesser" castes would not exist solely to support the warriors but all would be treated as equals.  The bonds between castes would be further strengthened by allowing a level of freedom of information and association not seen in any of the other Clans.<ref name=IC133>''Invading Clans'', p. 133</ref><ref name=FMWC58>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 58</ref>
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These policies had an immediate positive effect on the Sea Foxes as they rebuilt in the wake of the war.  Respected for their efforts, the civilian castes performed to higher standards than those in other Clans and the Clan as whole profited.  It was Sea Fox scientists who ultimately perfected the [[Iron Womb]] and genetic engineering technology which would play a pivotal role in the Clans' eugenics program.  Sea Fox merchants turned information into a commodity with the creation of the [[Chatterweb]], an information-exchange network which would spread to all of the Clans.<ref name=IC133/><ref name=FMWC58/>  Clan Sea Fox, working alongside [[Clan Nova Cat]], continued to explore and exploit the [[Kerensky Cluster]] and worlds beyond, and developed an improved version of the [[Machine Gun]] in [[2825]].<ref>''Era Digest: Golden Century'', p. 5-6</ref>
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These advancements directly translated to military advantage for the Sea Foxes.  In a [[Trial of Possession]] for [[Delios]], Sea Fox warriors used information obtained via the Chatterweb and sharp bidding practices to cause [[Clan Coyote]] to commit far fewer forces than they originally intended.  Their victory established the Sea Foxes as tricky warriors, and even brought about a [[Trial of Grievance]] from Khan [[Jerome Winson]] of [[Clan Wolf]].  The Sea Foxes succeeded in fighting the Trial to a draw, establishing their right to bid as they saw fit and giving rise to a popular saying: "Do not place your foot in the water unless you are prepared to get soaked."<ref name=IC133/><ref name=FMWC59>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 59</ref>
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===Golden Years===
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The prosperity Clan Sea Fox achieved in the aftermath of the Pentagon wars continued to grow in the years known as the [[Golden Century]], and it can well be said that the century belonged to the merchant caste.  With the merchant caste taking the lead Clan Sea Fox outperformed most of the other Clans in their exploration and colonization efforts, establishing profitable trade routes and strategically-placed colonies, and joined with the Nova Cats in adopting futures-trading.  While the warriors still retained their leadership role, they were increasingly advised by the merchant caste on actions taken and as often enough fought Trials for mercantile reasons as martial ones.  Other Clans saw the rise of the Sea Fox merchants with both disdain and concern, but so long as the Sea Foxes continued to follow the Way of the Clans there was not much to be done.<ref name=IC133/><ref name=FMWC59/><ref name=FMWC60>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 60</ref>
  
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It was because of their exploration efforts that the Sea Foxes first discovered a particular jelly-like substance on [[Strato Domingo]], one which toughened into a hardened coating which could withstand the rigors of space.  Clan Sea Fox would eventually refine this substance into [[HarJel]] and defend the plant so no other Clan could gain a foothold.  This monopoly on HarJel gave the Sea Foxes a great military advantage and, even more importantly, a source of immense profit once they began trading it with the other Clans.<ref name=IC133/><ref name=FMWC59/>
  
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'''Clan Diamond Shark''' was originally named [[Clan Sea Fox]] by [[Nicholas Kerensky]]. Its behavior, exemplified by its name change, marks it as one of the most unique of all the Clans.
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It was during this time that Clan Sea Fox became aware, via the Chatterweb, that Clan Coyote was developing what would become known as [[OmniMechs]]. Seeing the potential in this new development, the Sea Foxes approached the Coyotes about a possible collaboration, and Sea Fox scientists and technicians would prove instrumental in making OmniMechs a reality, fielding their first designs less than a year after the Coyotes debuted theirs.  Although winning some important battles with these new war machines Clan Sea Fox made sure to downplay their strengths so that the other Clans would concentrate on the Coyotes in their efforts to secure the technology.<ref name=IC133/><ref name=FMWC59/>
  
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==History==
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The Clan also played a pivotal role in the refinement of [[Elemental Battle Armor]].  When Clan Wolf unveiled these new suits in [[2868]], Clan Sea Fox saw the potential of mating this technology with HarJel.  They approached the Wolves with a preemptive ''[[batchall]]'' to arrange a trade, guaranteeing a continuous supply of HarJel at reduced cost in exchange for the suits, while both Wolf and Sea Fox technicians would work together via the Chatterweb to incorporate the two technologies together.  Clan Coyote, offended that they hadn't received a similar preemptive ''batchall'' for their OmniMech cooperation, attempted to seize Strato Domingo in a [[Trial of Possession]] but were defeated by Sea Fox Elementals.<ref name=IC133/><ref name=FMWC59/>
  
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[[Nicholas Kerensky]] selected the Sea Fox as a clan totem because it seemingly made a bow prior to striking its prey. He appreciated the honor it showed its opponent.  
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HarJel patching systems would be sold to the other Clans at a profit, although notably two were able to acquire them through other means.  [[Clan Smoke Jaguar]] was the only won to win the technology militarily, bringing heavy forces to bear against the Sea Foxes in a fight.  While some outsiders thought the Sea Foxes didn't fight nearly as hard as they could to defeat the Smoke Jaguars, in the end the Sea Foxes would exact a heavy price by charging a premium on Smoke Jaguar HarJel purchases.  [[Clan Hell's Horses]] meanwhile had developed a breed of [[Elemental|"super-warriors"]] which the Sea Foxes wished to acquire for their battle armor suits, but rather then fight it out approached them with a resource-sharing arraignment: in exchange for allowing the Hell's Horses to set up a colony on Strato Domingo and limited rights to HarJel production, Clan Sea Fox would receive assistance in setting up their own Elemental breeding program. The arraignment would prove to be highly profitable for both Clans.<ref name=FMWC59/><ref name=FMWC60/>
  
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The Sea Foxes' original Khans were [[David Kalasa]] and [[Dianne Sennet]]. The two requested that the ilKhan reassign [[Karen Nagasawa]], a [[Star Colonel]] with the [[Blood Spirit]]s, to the Sea Foxes instead. A journalist who had helped the Founder write many of his major addresses, including [[The Remembrance]], Nagasawa had given the Blood Spirits cause for concern because she also espoused language that bordered on egalitarian between the castes, and they agreed to the transfer.  
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===A Sea Change===
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It was in [[2984]], late in the Golden Century, [[Damon Clarke]] was elected to be the Sea Foxes' new senior Khan, winning the election thanks to a recent string of military victories. A conservative-minded warrior, Khan Clarke believed in the primacy of the warriors and took an arrogant attitude to the other castes.  Many Sea Fox civilians feared he would undo most of Khan Nagasawa's more progressive policies and turn their Clan into something more akin to the Smoke Jaguars or [[Clan Jade Falcon|Jade Falcons]]. Fate stepped in, however.<ref name=FMWC60/><ref name=IC134>''Invading Clans'', p. 134</ref>
  
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Clan Sea Fox was part of the liberation force for [[Babylon]] during [[Operation Klondike]]. They were paired with the Cloud Cobras, Coyotes, and Ice Hellions. The Sea Foxes were highly critical of the battle plan, believing they had direly underestimated their opponents. Additionally, the Coyotes had developed a style of combat that involved a series of single-combat duels, and insisted that the invaders use this new style. While this would eventually be adopted by the Clans as a whole as [[Zellbrigen]], at the time even the Clans did not practice it. The Sea Foxes thought the whole idea was suicidal.  
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Months prior to Clarke's election, Khan [[Liam Howell]] of the [[Clan Snow Raven|Snow Ravens]] had become incensed at his Clan's recent defeat by the Sea Foxes for control of the oil fields of [[Priori]]. Having learned beforehand of the attack via the Chatterweb, the Sea Foxes defeated the Snow Ravens in battle, then proceeded to fill the Chatterweb with insults directed at the Snow Raven Khan and his fighting skills (or lack thereof). An insecure man, Khan Howell took the insults personally and privately vowed revenged.  As it happened Snow Raven scientists had developed a genetically-engineered shark they believed to be superior to any other underwater predator.  During a visit to Strana Mechty, Khan Howell stole one of these sharks and, transporting it by [[VTOL]], dropped it into the planet's freshwater oceans.<ref name=IC134/>
  
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The attack eventually bogged down in a siege of the main rebel stronghold. The Coyotes continued to insist on breaching the fortress using single combat, and losses were heavy. Finally, Star Colonel Nagasawa lead her aerospace point on a bombing run against the fortification, breaching it and permitting the attack to resume. The Coyotes, furious, abandoned the attack entirely and with the Ice Hellions and Cloud Cobras otherwise engaged, the Sea Foxes completed the attack on their own. Khan Kalasa died in the fighting and, at the suggestion of Nicholas Kerensky, the Sea Foxes elected Nagasawa as their new [[Khan]] after the fighting ended.  
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After winning his election Khan Clarke undertook the customary ritual of honoring the Sea Fox as set forth by Khan Nagasawa, sailing out into the Strana Mechty seas to make an offering of fish to the noble predators. It took much longer than usual before the Khan and his party finally spotted their totem animal, and when they did they were caught off-guard as a strange shark attacked and killed the sea fox in a brief struggle by snapping its neck. Horrified, a meeting of the Sea Fox [[Bloodname]]d was called and it was decided to capture this strange creature and discover from whence it had come.  Two whole [[Point]]s of Elementals were required to subdue the creature, which killed one of its captors, and Sea Fox scientists preformed numerous tests on the subject. They eventually christened it the Diamond Shark on account of its unique spines and, after further study, determined the creatures had wiped out nearly 75% of the sea foxes on Strana Mechty; within the year the entire species would become extinct.<ref name=IC134/><ref name=IC135>''Invading Clans'', p. 135</ref>
  
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Karen Nagasawa was not a member of the [[Star League Defense Force]], but was a journalist and historian. Her impassioned articles earned the attention of the Kerenskys, and she is credited with writing the first lines that appear in [[The Remembrance]]. Nagasawa believed that the [[Star League]]'s greatness lay in the value it placed on each individual and its material prosperity; therefore, Nagasawa gave Clan Sea Fox an unparalleled liberal view, which gave great freedoms to [[freeborn]]s and to the lower castes, especially the merchants, as well as an openness between the castes.
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Using this information and after much deliberation, Khan Clarke came to a rather startling conclusion: the Diamond Shark had proven itself to be the superior hunter to the Sea Fox, and so his Clan ought to change its name in honor of this prowess. Khan Clarke called for a meeting of the [[Grand Council]] with a draft proposal of this name change, hoping to secure their support before approaching the rest of the Sea Foxes.  The other Khans were very much surprised by this decision and responded to varying degrees: some agreed with Clarke's assessment of honoring the superior warrior by taking its name, however most were offended he would cast off the name grated to his Clan by the great Nicholas Kerensky.<ref name=FMWC60/><ref name=IC135/>
  
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In addition to being the greatest merchants in Clan space, the Sea Foxes were terrific scientists, aiding the [[Clan Cloud Cobra|Cloud Cobras]] in developing the Iron Womb technology, helping the [[Clan Coyote|Coyotes]] design the [[OmniMech]], and developing the substance known as [[HarJel]], which became incorporated into [[Elemental (battle armor)|Elemental armor]] and starship hulls. The Sea Foxes sent exploration teams across the [[Kerensky Cluster]] and created the [[Chatterweb]], a Clan-wide information network. The Foxes are also sharp bidders and great warriors, being among the first to win the OmniMech from the Coyotes.
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Opposition to the name change was led by Khan Howell, incensed that his revenge plot might be turned on its head, and during a heated moment in the debate let slip the fact he was the one responsible for introducing the Diamond Shark to Strana Mechty.  Outraged and ashamed at his behavior, Snow Raven saKhan [[Niamh Sukhanov]] immediately challenged him to a Trial of Grievance and killed him.  However the opposition was severely weakened by this revelation, and so the final vote was only nine to eight against allowing the name change.  This meant in the [[Trial of Refusal]] he called for Khan Clarke would only have to face one [[Cluster]] reinforced by a single [[Star]] against one Cluster of his own. With the Snow Ravens winning the right to fight on behalf of the Council, Damon Clark commanded his forces personally and put on a masterful show, achieving a kill ratio of three to one and defeating the Snow Ravens handily after just 45 minutes. In the aftermath of this Sea Foxes would seek their own revenge on the Snow Ravens by targeting Liam Howell's loyal supporters with Trials of Grievances in what became known as the "Month of Grievances."<ref name=FMWC60/><ref name=IC135/>
  
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===Name change===
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Having won the right to change his Clan's name through combat, Damon Clarke then went into seclusion for two days to decide how he would approach his own Clan about the change.  His conservative leanings would have him limit the vote to only the Bloodnamed as was traditional in Clan society; allowing the lower castes to have a say in the matter might also set a dangerous precedent and undo his attempts thus far to reshape the Clan.  At the same time not allowing the entire Clan to vote could also lead to a serious backlash, even widespread unrest, and his own reforms had resulted in mixed results at best.  Seeking inspiration, he turned to the writings of Khan Nagasawa, and found himself converting to her viewpoint by her reasoning and logic.  On the third day he emerged from isolation and announced a vote would be held on September [[2985]] in which all members of the Clan would be allowed to vote.  This decision wasn't universally celebrated by all Sea Foxes though: many warriors felt betrayed by Khan Clarke's change of heart, and Beta Galaxy commander [[Brett Leroux]] along with seven other Bloodnamed warriors would challenge their Khan in turn to Trials of Refusal, though all would lose.<ref name=IC135/><ref name=IC136>''Invading Clans'', p. 136</ref>
  
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Late in the Golden Century, the Sea Foxes elected Khan [[Damon Clarke]], a conservative-minded warrior, who was expected to undo most of Khan Nagasawa's acts. Fate stepped in, however.
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When the vote was finally held on 30 September, 50 million people cast their votes in order of precedent of their caste.  The warriors went first, voting largely in favor of the change, while the scientists voted against it.  This was repeated again when the merchants voted in favor and the technicians against, and after the four castes had voted the count was 51% against the change.  The labor caste, in gratitude to Khan Clarke's new-found liberalism, voted 95% in favor of the change, and Clan Sea Fox officially became Clan Diamond Shark.  The Diamond Sharks' strength would be immediately tested when Clan Smoke Jaguar launched a Trial of Possession for Priori with overwhelming force.  Giving his commanders free reign to prosecute the battle as they saw fit, Khan Clarke trusted in his warriors to use their flexibility to the fullest and was rewarded with a great victory.  The Diamond Sharks had fought with greater unity and sense of purpose than expected, and this validation of the progressive ideals Karen Nagasawa first espoused inspired the Diamond Shark Khan to reverse all his previous attempts at reform.<ref name=IC136/><ref name=FMWC60/>
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===Blood in the Water===
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During the first decades of the [[Political Century]], Clan Diamond Shark tried to stay neutral in the growing debate between the [[Wardens]] and the [[Crusaders]].  Initially the Clan leaned slightly Warden, viewing the [[Inner Sphere]] and its peoples with less hostility than the Crusaders.  As the years wore on though the Diamond Sharks found themselves drawn more and more to the Crusader camp until eventually becoming wholly a part of it, though not for the same reasons.  Seeing the invasion as an inevitability, they decided it was best to try and influence it from the insides, turning what was shaping up to be a bloodbath instigated by the Jade Falcons and Smoke Jaguars into an actual liberation.  They also saw their liberal ideas as more reflective of the Star League they wished to recreate, and thus the most qualified Clan to accomplish this task.<ref name=IC136/><ref name=FMWC61>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 61</ref>
  
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Khan [[Liam Howell]] of the [[Clan Snow Raven|Snow Ravens]], incensed at his clan's recent defeat by the Sea Foxes, ordered his scientists to create a sea-going predator to wipe out the Sea Fox. Howell placed it in the waters of [[Strana Mechty]], and the Sea Foxes witnessed their totem being hunted to the point of extinction.
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Clan Diamond Shark voted in favor of the [[Dragoon Compromise]] of [[3000]], seeing it as eminently wise to gather as much information about the Inner Sphere as possible before attempting to liberate them.  The information they received, especially regarding the totalitarian [[Great Houses]] like the [[Capellan Confederation]], convinced the few remaining Wardens in their ranks as to the righteousness of their cause.  It did however cool their relationship with the other Crusaders though, and when a new vote was held in [[3029]] they abstained rather than lend support to the new Smoke Jaguar Khan, [[Leo Showers]].<ref name=IC136/><ref name=FMWC61/>
  
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Capturing one of these creatures, named Diamond Sharks, Khan Clarke proposed to the [[Grand Council]] that his Clan be allowed to change its name as an acknowledgement of the greater predator. When Khan Howell carelessly let slip his responsibility, his [[saKhan]] killed him and then led the Grand Council forces in the [[Trial of Refusal]] against Clarke's decision. The Sea Foxes triumphed, winning the right to change their name.
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In [[3046]] a moderate Crusader, [[Ian Hawker]], was elected to be senior Khan of the Diamond Sharks and immediately made policy changes which, in his explanations, were required to prepare the Clan for the imminent invasion.  These changes resulted in curtailing many of the privileges the civilian castes had enjoyed, the most obnoxious of which were the posting of warrior representatives on all merchant vessels, the vetoing of future exploration missions, and the banning of all [[freebiths]] from front-line duties.  These repressive measures would be justified as necessary when in [[3048]] Leo Showers brought forth evidence extracted from the ''[[Outbound Light]]'' and called for a new vote to invade, which Khan Hawker cast in favor.<ref name=FMWC61/><ref name=IC137>''Invading Clans'', p. 137</ref>
  
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After much agonizing, and reviewing the writings of Nagasawa, Khan Clarke decided to allow all the castes to vote on the name change. With the inclusion of the lower castes, the Clan overwhelmingly supported the change from Clan Sea Fox to Clan Diamond Shark.
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Reaction to this vote by the Diamond Sharks was immediate, widespread and largely hostile.  The civilian castes felt their rights had been violated when Khan Hawker failed to include them in on the vote for invasion.  Even the Bloodnamed warriors felt slighted that their Khan hadn't at least consulted them first before he cast his vote. Loud noises were made about a possible challenge to his leadership, but Khan Hawker was able to remind them the Clan would need all of its warriors in fighting shape for the upcoming campaign and so head off any attempts.<ref name=FMWC61/><ref name=IC137/>
  
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===Political Century and invasion===
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===The Business of Invasion===
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====Preparations====
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Unfortunately for Khan Ian Hawker, his internal troubles would continue during the Trials to determine which Clans would have the honor of conquering the Inner Sphere.  Although his was one of the six Clans to make it to the final rounds, the Diamond Sharks placed dead last behind the Nova Cats.  Hawker was able to salvage something from the disaster by winning a Trial of Refusal guaranteeing his Clan would be among the first to reinforce the invasion should it be required, but his warriors were less than impressed.  Publicly none were willing to challenge their Khan, aware of his warnings that infighting might weaken them too much, but in the background political maneuvering towards this goal intensified.  In response, Khan Hawker sought political aid from wherever he could, including the one Crusader Clan he considered the most powerful. While Khan [[Vandervahn Chistu]] of the Jade Falcons was skeptical of Hawker's overtures, saKhan [[Elias Crichell]] saw an accomplice he could manipulate to his own ends and agreed to the alliance.<ref name=IC137/>
  
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During the [[Political Century]], the Diamond Sharks tended towards the [[Warden]] viewpoint, though the election of [[Ian Hawker]] swung them to the [[Crusader Clans|Crusader]] camp just in time for [[Operation Revival]]. The Diamond Sharks did not fare well enough to be included in the invasion force, but won a Trial of Refusal naming them as a reserve clan.
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As a minor consolation, [[ilKhan]] Leo Showers would allow the non-invading Clans to send representatives along with the invasion to act as observers, limited to no more than a [[Trinary]]'s worth of troops along with whatever [[WarShips]] and [[DropShips]] were necessary.  Khan Ian Hawker and saKhan [[Barbara Sennet]] would accompany the senior Khan's command Trinary, [[Diamond Skate (Clan Diamond Shark)|Diamond Keshik]], which Hawker would command personally.  Rather than just stick with any one Clan, Hawker at first was determined to move between the invading Clans in order to observe as many battle site as possible and, hopefully, be allowed to participate in some. The Diamond Shark saKhan meanwhile had more mercantile thoughts on her mind: she was determined to visit as many worlds conquered by the Clans as possible, take note of what supplies they needed, and report back this information to the rest of the Clan so profitable trade could commence.<ref name=IC138>''Invading Clans'', p. 138</ref>
  
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The Diamond Sharks were given the opportunity to win the planet Nyserta from the [[Clan Ghost Bear|Ghost Bears]] and participated on [[Tukayyid]], though they were utterly defeated. The only way any Diamond Sharks survived was through the noble sacrifice of its freeborn warriors, whom Khan Hawker despised. The Diamond Sharks lost Nyserta soon afterwards and returned to Clan space to protect their holdings.
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====Merchant Marines====
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A few days away from reaching the outskirts of the [[Periphery]], ilKhan Showers proclaimed that these worlds were open to bidding from any of the Clans regardless of the prearranged invasion corridors.  Khan Hawker immediately became excited at he prospect and bid his command Trinary to invade [[Blackstone]], only for his effort to be shot down by the ilKhan who rudely explained his proclamation applied only to the four official invading Clans.  In a patronizing move he invited the Diamond Shark Khan by himself to join Smoke Jaguar forces in their future conquests, an invitation he stiffly declined, and instead took up an offer by the Jade Falcons for the entire Diamond Keshik to accompany them instead. The Diamond Sharks joined the Jade Falcons in their conquest of [[Last Chance]], performing admirably in their first fight against the Inner Sphere "barbarians."  Although this pleased saKhan Crichell, many of his subordinates looked down on the Diamond Sharks and their "freebirth ways" in combat, viewing their excellent performance on a Jade Falcon battlefield as an insult.<ref name=IC138/>
  
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To rebuild their ''[[touman]]'', the [[trueborn]] head of the Merchant's Council, [[Angus Labov]], took a leadership role in the Clan, much to the dismay of the Crusaders. His merchants flooded the occupation zones, driving hard bargains for much-needed supplies, even as they pursued profit relentlessly in the Kerensky Cluster. He poured the profits into construction of war machines, and meanwhile moved the best of the Diamond Shark's reservists out of retirement.  
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In the meantime, having studied the conditions in the Periphery, saKhan Sennet returned to the homeworlds and began building support among the merchant caste to send merchant fleet. In order to smooth over any objections, the saKhan proposed the merchants be allowed to keep 90% of all profits they made in the Inner Sphere. Faced with the prospect of so much wealth, the merchants overwhelmingly agreed and began preparing eight merchant [[JumpShips]] for the journey.  This course of action infuriated many warriors though, resenting the fact mere traders and peddlers would set foot on the "lost paradise" before them, and a few unsuccessfully challenged the junior Khan's decision with Trials of Grievances.<ref name=IC138/>
  
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Khan Hawker joined with [[Clan Ice Hellion|Ice Hellion]] Khan, Asa Taney, to form a Home Clans Coalition, but this ultimately failed. The Harvest Trials saw the removal of many Diamond Shark Crusaders, and their experiences swung the Clan back to the Warden viewpoint.
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By the time the merchant fleet had reach the Inner Sphere the First Wave of [[Operation Revival]] was nearing its end, during which they first approached the Jade Falcons.  As it happened their first attempt at business was with the Jade Falcon's Beta Galaxy commander, Mar Helmar, who had earlier been disgusted by the inclusion of the Diamond Sharks during the Last Chance conquest. In the most insulting of terms Galaxy Commander Helmar refused their wares and began agitating other Bloodnamed warriors to drive the freebiths back to Clan space.  Although most Jade Falcon warriors were more concerned with the upcoming second wave, the Diamond Sharks took no chances and began plying their trade elsewhere.<ref name=IC138/>
  
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When the [[Inner Sphere]] invaded [[Huntress]], Khan Hawker attempted to send a relief force to aid the [[Clan Smoke Jaguar|Smoke Jaguars]], but a challenge by Khan [[Vladimir Ward]] of the [[Clan Wolf|Wolves]] for his genetic legacy stalled him.
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As it was none of the other Clans' front-line troops were willing to buy from the Diamond Sharks either, even as their supply problems began to grow; when question many felt it to be a matter of honor, that to buy from a Clan's lower caste which had traveled to the Inner Sphere before their own warriors had would be unacceptable.  A far more practical mindset was to be found among Clan garrison forces however: lacking sufficient supplies to effectively combat the growing resistance movements on their worlds, these forces chose practicality over honor.  Within weeks of the start of the second wave the Diamond Sharks had begun to finally turn a profit.<ref name=IC138/>
  
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Bowing to the Warden sentiments in his Clan, Khan Ian Hawker voted with the Wardens, stayed out of the [[Great Refusal]] and stepped down soon afterwards.
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Unfortunately this put the Diamond Sharks in direct conflict with the ilKhan, whose own Smoke Jaguars were having difficulties pacifying their conquered worlds.  To add insult to injury, many Smoke Jaguar garrison commanders had bought desperately-needed supplies from the Diamond Sharks, putting his Clan in debt to them.  The ilKhan argued heatedly with both Diamond Shark Khans about whether their merchants were allowed in the Inner Sphere, to which saKhan Sennet noted by the terms of the pre-invasion Trials only Diamond Shark warriors had been forbidden to enter the Inner Sphere in force, not Diamond Shark merchants.  Ian Hawker backed his junior Khan by observing the ilKhan seemed too eager to change the rules and that a less fickle commander might be needed to lead the invasion.  The ilKhan was forced to back off, but in retaliation ordered a Smoke Jaguar [[Provisional Garrison Cluster]] to invaded [[Delios]].  The Diamond Sharks' Alpha Galaxy saw off this attempt and in response attacked [[Vinton]], capturing a number of key Smoke Jaguar industrial sites and disrupting their flow of supplies until eventually being forced to retreat.<ref name=IC138/><ref name=IC139>''Invading Clans'', p. 139</ref>
  
 
===The Jihad and Beyond===
 
===The Jihad and Beyond===
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==Bibliography==
 
==Bibliography==
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* ''[[Era Digest: Golden Century]]''
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* ''[[Field Manual: Warden Clans]]''
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* ''[[Invading Clans]]''
 
* ''[[Jihad: Final Reckoning]]''
 
* ''[[Jihad: Final Reckoning]]''
 
* ''[[Jihad Hot Spots: Terra]]''
 
* ''[[Jihad Hot Spots: Terra]]''

Revision as of 17:39, 11 June 2015

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Clan Diamond Shark Logo
Clan Diamond Shark (Clan Sea Fox)
Faction Profile
Time period: 2807 – Present
Classification: Clan
Controlled systems: ?
Capital world: ?
Ruler title: Khan
Military: Clan Diamond Shark Touman
Secret Service: Clan Diamond Shark Watch

Clan Diamond Shark, originally named Clan Sea Fox, was one of the twenty original Clans created by Nicholas Kerensky. Its willingness to change its own name exemplified the Clan's flexibility and progressive thinking - it was the only Clan which permitted universal suffrage - and helped make it one of the strongest and wealthiest during the Clans' history. Known derisively as the "Merchant Clan" by their jealous rivals, they nevertheless took great pride in their accomplishments and their direct contributions to the creation of the Clans. The Clan's original totem animal, the Sea Fox, was chosen for it by Kerensky for the honor it showed it's prey before striking. The Clan then took as their new totem the Diamond Shark, which nearly wiped out the Sea Fox when it was introduced to the oceans of Strana Mechty, as a sign of respect to a superior predator.

History

Founding

The Sea Foxes' most influential Khan was not their first. Karen Nagasawa, daughter of two members of the Star League Defense Force, spent her formative years hiding within a Castle Brian on Dieron while the Amaris Civil War raged on. Afterwards, when Aleksandr Kerensky called for the SLDF to leave the Inner Sphere and save itself, the Nagasawa family joined him and settled on Arcadia in the Pentagon Worlds. Karen would graduate from school and become a journalist, where she used her gifted writing skills in an ultimately fruitless attempt to stop the coming civil war. Her writings did bring her to the attention of Nicholas Kerensky and in a meeting between the two Karen was convinced of Nicholas' vision for a better society. Working alongside Nicholas and Jennifer Winson, Karen was responsible for writing the speeches in which Nicholas proposed a Second Exodus.[1][2]

On Strana Mechty, Karen would continue to work alongside Nicholas Kerensky, turning his grand ideas into eloquent and understandable words which would become a source of inspiration for the present and future generations, including The Remembrance. Feeling a need to have a greater role in the formation of this new society, she also began training to become a warrior, eventually achieving the rank of Star Colonel as an aerospace pilot. When Clan Sea Fox was formally created however, David Kalasa and Dianne Sennet would earn the right to be its first Khan and saKhan respectfully, and Karen Nagasawa was originally assigned to Clan Blood Spirit. However, David Kalasa agreed to take his new position on the condition that Star Colonel Nagasawa was transferred to his Clan, arguing that the journalist-turned-warrior better exemplified the noble spirit of the Sea Fox. The Blood Spirits initially resisted this request, though only as a matter of form - Khan Colleen Schmitt thought some of Nagasawa's writings to be dangerously liberal - and ultimately approved the transfer.[1][2]

Operation Klondike

Main article: Operation Klondike

A Rising Tide

The remarkable skills and leadership Karen Nagasawa displayed during the Babylon campaign would propel her to replace the deceased David Kalasa as senior Khan, helped in no small part by the recommendations of saKhan Sennet and Nicholas Kerensky himself. Once in a leadership role Khan Nagasawa began implementing policies based on what she believed had made the Star League so successful: material prosperity and individualism. While adopting the Clan Caste System as a way of giving every person a meaningful role to play in society, the "lesser" castes would not exist solely to support the warriors but all would be treated as equals. The bonds between castes would be further strengthened by allowing a level of freedom of information and association not seen in any of the other Clans.[3][4]

These policies had an immediate positive effect on the Sea Foxes as they rebuilt in the wake of the war. Respected for their efforts, the civilian castes performed to higher standards than those in other Clans and the Clan as whole profited. It was Sea Fox scientists who ultimately perfected the Iron Womb and genetic engineering technology which would play a pivotal role in the Clans' eugenics program. Sea Fox merchants turned information into a commodity with the creation of the Chatterweb, an information-exchange network which would spread to all of the Clans.[3][4] Clan Sea Fox, working alongside Clan Nova Cat, continued to explore and exploit the Kerensky Cluster and worlds beyond, and developed an improved version of the Machine Gun in 2825.[5]

These advancements directly translated to military advantage for the Sea Foxes. In a Trial of Possession for Delios, Sea Fox warriors used information obtained via the Chatterweb and sharp bidding practices to cause Clan Coyote to commit far fewer forces than they originally intended. Their victory established the Sea Foxes as tricky warriors, and even brought about a Trial of Grievance from Khan Jerome Winson of Clan Wolf. The Sea Foxes succeeded in fighting the Trial to a draw, establishing their right to bid as they saw fit and giving rise to a popular saying: "Do not place your foot in the water unless you are prepared to get soaked."[3][6]

Golden Years

The prosperity Clan Sea Fox achieved in the aftermath of the Pentagon wars continued to grow in the years known as the Golden Century, and it can well be said that the century belonged to the merchant caste. With the merchant caste taking the lead Clan Sea Fox outperformed most of the other Clans in their exploration and colonization efforts, establishing profitable trade routes and strategically-placed colonies, and joined with the Nova Cats in adopting futures-trading. While the warriors still retained their leadership role, they were increasingly advised by the merchant caste on actions taken and as often enough fought Trials for mercantile reasons as martial ones. Other Clans saw the rise of the Sea Fox merchants with both disdain and concern, but so long as the Sea Foxes continued to follow the Way of the Clans there was not much to be done.[3][6][7]

It was because of their exploration efforts that the Sea Foxes first discovered a particular jelly-like substance on Strato Domingo, one which toughened into a hardened coating which could withstand the rigors of space. Clan Sea Fox would eventually refine this substance into HarJel and defend the plant so no other Clan could gain a foothold. This monopoly on HarJel gave the Sea Foxes a great military advantage and, even more importantly, a source of immense profit once they began trading it with the other Clans.[3][6]

It was during this time that Clan Sea Fox became aware, via the Chatterweb, that Clan Coyote was developing what would become known as OmniMechs. Seeing the potential in this new development, the Sea Foxes approached the Coyotes about a possible collaboration, and Sea Fox scientists and technicians would prove instrumental in making OmniMechs a reality, fielding their first designs less than a year after the Coyotes debuted theirs. Although winning some important battles with these new war machines Clan Sea Fox made sure to downplay their strengths so that the other Clans would concentrate on the Coyotes in their efforts to secure the technology.[3][6]

The Clan also played a pivotal role in the refinement of Elemental Battle Armor. When Clan Wolf unveiled these new suits in 2868, Clan Sea Fox saw the potential of mating this technology with HarJel. They approached the Wolves with a preemptive batchall to arrange a trade, guaranteeing a continuous supply of HarJel at reduced cost in exchange for the suits, while both Wolf and Sea Fox technicians would work together via the Chatterweb to incorporate the two technologies together. Clan Coyote, offended that they hadn't received a similar preemptive batchall for their OmniMech cooperation, attempted to seize Strato Domingo in a Trial of Possession but were defeated by Sea Fox Elementals.[3][6]

HarJel patching systems would be sold to the other Clans at a profit, although notably two were able to acquire them through other means. Clan Smoke Jaguar was the only won to win the technology militarily, bringing heavy forces to bear against the Sea Foxes in a fight. While some outsiders thought the Sea Foxes didn't fight nearly as hard as they could to defeat the Smoke Jaguars, in the end the Sea Foxes would exact a heavy price by charging a premium on Smoke Jaguar HarJel purchases. Clan Hell's Horses meanwhile had developed a breed of "super-warriors" which the Sea Foxes wished to acquire for their battle armor suits, but rather then fight it out approached them with a resource-sharing arraignment: in exchange for allowing the Hell's Horses to set up a colony on Strato Domingo and limited rights to HarJel production, Clan Sea Fox would receive assistance in setting up their own Elemental breeding program. The arraignment would prove to be highly profitable for both Clans.[6][7]

A Sea Change

It was in 2984, late in the Golden Century, Damon Clarke was elected to be the Sea Foxes' new senior Khan, winning the election thanks to a recent string of military victories. A conservative-minded warrior, Khan Clarke believed in the primacy of the warriors and took an arrogant attitude to the other castes. Many Sea Fox civilians feared he would undo most of Khan Nagasawa's more progressive policies and turn their Clan into something more akin to the Smoke Jaguars or Jade Falcons. Fate stepped in, however.[7][8]

Months prior to Clarke's election, Khan Liam Howell of the Snow Ravens had become incensed at his Clan's recent defeat by the Sea Foxes for control of the oil fields of Priori. Having learned beforehand of the attack via the Chatterweb, the Sea Foxes defeated the Snow Ravens in battle, then proceeded to fill the Chatterweb with insults directed at the Snow Raven Khan and his fighting skills (or lack thereof). An insecure man, Khan Howell took the insults personally and privately vowed revenged. As it happened Snow Raven scientists had developed a genetically-engineered shark they believed to be superior to any other underwater predator. During a visit to Strana Mechty, Khan Howell stole one of these sharks and, transporting it by VTOL, dropped it into the planet's freshwater oceans.[8]

After winning his election Khan Clarke undertook the customary ritual of honoring the Sea Fox as set forth by Khan Nagasawa, sailing out into the Strana Mechty seas to make an offering of fish to the noble predators. It took much longer than usual before the Khan and his party finally spotted their totem animal, and when they did they were caught off-guard as a strange shark attacked and killed the sea fox in a brief struggle by snapping its neck. Horrified, a meeting of the Sea Fox Bloodnamed was called and it was decided to capture this strange creature and discover from whence it had come. Two whole Points of Elementals were required to subdue the creature, which killed one of its captors, and Sea Fox scientists preformed numerous tests on the subject. They eventually christened it the Diamond Shark on account of its unique spines and, after further study, determined the creatures had wiped out nearly 75% of the sea foxes on Strana Mechty; within the year the entire species would become extinct.[8][9]

Using this information and after much deliberation, Khan Clarke came to a rather startling conclusion: the Diamond Shark had proven itself to be the superior hunter to the Sea Fox, and so his Clan ought to change its name in honor of this prowess. Khan Clarke called for a meeting of the Grand Council with a draft proposal of this name change, hoping to secure their support before approaching the rest of the Sea Foxes. The other Khans were very much surprised by this decision and responded to varying degrees: some agreed with Clarke's assessment of honoring the superior warrior by taking its name, however most were offended he would cast off the name grated to his Clan by the great Nicholas Kerensky.[7][9]

Opposition to the name change was led by Khan Howell, incensed that his revenge plot might be turned on its head, and during a heated moment in the debate let slip the fact he was the one responsible for introducing the Diamond Shark to Strana Mechty. Outraged and ashamed at his behavior, Snow Raven saKhan Niamh Sukhanov immediately challenged him to a Trial of Grievance and killed him. However the opposition was severely weakened by this revelation, and so the final vote was only nine to eight against allowing the name change. This meant in the Trial of Refusal he called for Khan Clarke would only have to face one Cluster reinforced by a single Star against one Cluster of his own. With the Snow Ravens winning the right to fight on behalf of the Council, Damon Clark commanded his forces personally and put on a masterful show, achieving a kill ratio of three to one and defeating the Snow Ravens handily after just 45 minutes. In the aftermath of this Sea Foxes would seek their own revenge on the Snow Ravens by targeting Liam Howell's loyal supporters with Trials of Grievances in what became known as the "Month of Grievances."[7][9]

Having won the right to change his Clan's name through combat, Damon Clarke then went into seclusion for two days to decide how he would approach his own Clan about the change. His conservative leanings would have him limit the vote to only the Bloodnamed as was traditional in Clan society; allowing the lower castes to have a say in the matter might also set a dangerous precedent and undo his attempts thus far to reshape the Clan. At the same time not allowing the entire Clan to vote could also lead to a serious backlash, even widespread unrest, and his own reforms had resulted in mixed results at best. Seeking inspiration, he turned to the writings of Khan Nagasawa, and found himself converting to her viewpoint by her reasoning and logic. On the third day he emerged from isolation and announced a vote would be held on September 2985 in which all members of the Clan would be allowed to vote. This decision wasn't universally celebrated by all Sea Foxes though: many warriors felt betrayed by Khan Clarke's change of heart, and Beta Galaxy commander Brett Leroux along with seven other Bloodnamed warriors would challenge their Khan in turn to Trials of Refusal, though all would lose.[9][10]

When the vote was finally held on 30 September, 50 million people cast their votes in order of precedent of their caste. The warriors went first, voting largely in favor of the change, while the scientists voted against it. This was repeated again when the merchants voted in favor and the technicians against, and after the four castes had voted the count was 51% against the change. The labor caste, in gratitude to Khan Clarke's new-found liberalism, voted 95% in favor of the change, and Clan Sea Fox officially became Clan Diamond Shark. The Diamond Sharks' strength would be immediately tested when Clan Smoke Jaguar launched a Trial of Possession for Priori with overwhelming force. Giving his commanders free reign to prosecute the battle as they saw fit, Khan Clarke trusted in his warriors to use their flexibility to the fullest and was rewarded with a great victory. The Diamond Sharks had fought with greater unity and sense of purpose than expected, and this validation of the progressive ideals Karen Nagasawa first espoused inspired the Diamond Shark Khan to reverse all his previous attempts at reform.[10][7]

Blood in the Water

During the first decades of the Political Century, Clan Diamond Shark tried to stay neutral in the growing debate between the Wardens and the Crusaders. Initially the Clan leaned slightly Warden, viewing the Inner Sphere and its peoples with less hostility than the Crusaders. As the years wore on though the Diamond Sharks found themselves drawn more and more to the Crusader camp until eventually becoming wholly a part of it, though not for the same reasons. Seeing the invasion as an inevitability, they decided it was best to try and influence it from the insides, turning what was shaping up to be a bloodbath instigated by the Jade Falcons and Smoke Jaguars into an actual liberation. They also saw their liberal ideas as more reflective of the Star League they wished to recreate, and thus the most qualified Clan to accomplish this task.[10][11]

Clan Diamond Shark voted in favor of the Dragoon Compromise of 3000, seeing it as eminently wise to gather as much information about the Inner Sphere as possible before attempting to liberate them. The information they received, especially regarding the totalitarian Great Houses like the Capellan Confederation, convinced the few remaining Wardens in their ranks as to the righteousness of their cause. It did however cool their relationship with the other Crusaders though, and when a new vote was held in 3029 they abstained rather than lend support to the new Smoke Jaguar Khan, Leo Showers.[10][11]

In 3046 a moderate Crusader, Ian Hawker, was elected to be senior Khan of the Diamond Sharks and immediately made policy changes which, in his explanations, were required to prepare the Clan for the imminent invasion. These changes resulted in curtailing many of the privileges the civilian castes had enjoyed, the most obnoxious of which were the posting of warrior representatives on all merchant vessels, the vetoing of future exploration missions, and the banning of all freebiths from front-line duties. These repressive measures would be justified as necessary when in 3048 Leo Showers brought forth evidence extracted from the Outbound Light and called for a new vote to invade, which Khan Hawker cast in favor.[11][12]

Reaction to this vote by the Diamond Sharks was immediate, widespread and largely hostile. The civilian castes felt their rights had been violated when Khan Hawker failed to include them in on the vote for invasion. Even the Bloodnamed warriors felt slighted that their Khan hadn't at least consulted them first before he cast his vote. Loud noises were made about a possible challenge to his leadership, but Khan Hawker was able to remind them the Clan would need all of its warriors in fighting shape for the upcoming campaign and so head off any attempts.[11][12]

The Business of Invasion

Preparations

Unfortunately for Khan Ian Hawker, his internal troubles would continue during the Trials to determine which Clans would have the honor of conquering the Inner Sphere. Although his was one of the six Clans to make it to the final rounds, the Diamond Sharks placed dead last behind the Nova Cats. Hawker was able to salvage something from the disaster by winning a Trial of Refusal guaranteeing his Clan would be among the first to reinforce the invasion should it be required, but his warriors were less than impressed. Publicly none were willing to challenge their Khan, aware of his warnings that infighting might weaken them too much, but in the background political maneuvering towards this goal intensified. In response, Khan Hawker sought political aid from wherever he could, including the one Crusader Clan he considered the most powerful. While Khan Vandervahn Chistu of the Jade Falcons was skeptical of Hawker's overtures, saKhan Elias Crichell saw an accomplice he could manipulate to his own ends and agreed to the alliance.[12]

As a minor consolation, ilKhan Leo Showers would allow the non-invading Clans to send representatives along with the invasion to act as observers, limited to no more than a Trinary's worth of troops along with whatever WarShips and DropShips were necessary. Khan Ian Hawker and saKhan Barbara Sennet would accompany the senior Khan's command Trinary, Diamond Keshik, which Hawker would command personally. Rather than just stick with any one Clan, Hawker at first was determined to move between the invading Clans in order to observe as many battle site as possible and, hopefully, be allowed to participate in some. The Diamond Shark saKhan meanwhile had more mercantile thoughts on her mind: she was determined to visit as many worlds conquered by the Clans as possible, take note of what supplies they needed, and report back this information to the rest of the Clan so profitable trade could commence.[13]

Merchant Marines

A few days away from reaching the outskirts of the Periphery, ilKhan Showers proclaimed that these worlds were open to bidding from any of the Clans regardless of the prearranged invasion corridors. Khan Hawker immediately became excited at he prospect and bid his command Trinary to invade Blackstone, only for his effort to be shot down by the ilKhan who rudely explained his proclamation applied only to the four official invading Clans. In a patronizing move he invited the Diamond Shark Khan by himself to join Smoke Jaguar forces in their future conquests, an invitation he stiffly declined, and instead took up an offer by the Jade Falcons for the entire Diamond Keshik to accompany them instead. The Diamond Sharks joined the Jade Falcons in their conquest of Last Chance, performing admirably in their first fight against the Inner Sphere "barbarians." Although this pleased saKhan Crichell, many of his subordinates looked down on the Diamond Sharks and their "freebirth ways" in combat, viewing their excellent performance on a Jade Falcon battlefield as an insult.[13]

In the meantime, having studied the conditions in the Periphery, saKhan Sennet returned to the homeworlds and began building support among the merchant caste to send merchant fleet. In order to smooth over any objections, the saKhan proposed the merchants be allowed to keep 90% of all profits they made in the Inner Sphere. Faced with the prospect of so much wealth, the merchants overwhelmingly agreed and began preparing eight merchant JumpShips for the journey. This course of action infuriated many warriors though, resenting the fact mere traders and peddlers would set foot on the "lost paradise" before them, and a few unsuccessfully challenged the junior Khan's decision with Trials of Grievances.[13]

By the time the merchant fleet had reach the Inner Sphere the First Wave of Operation Revival was nearing its end, during which they first approached the Jade Falcons. As it happened their first attempt at business was with the Jade Falcon's Beta Galaxy commander, Mar Helmar, who had earlier been disgusted by the inclusion of the Diamond Sharks during the Last Chance conquest. In the most insulting of terms Galaxy Commander Helmar refused their wares and began agitating other Bloodnamed warriors to drive the freebiths back to Clan space. Although most Jade Falcon warriors were more concerned with the upcoming second wave, the Diamond Sharks took no chances and began plying their trade elsewhere.[13]

As it was none of the other Clans' front-line troops were willing to buy from the Diamond Sharks either, even as their supply problems began to grow; when question many felt it to be a matter of honor, that to buy from a Clan's lower caste which had traveled to the Inner Sphere before their own warriors had would be unacceptable. A far more practical mindset was to be found among Clan garrison forces however: lacking sufficient supplies to effectively combat the growing resistance movements on their worlds, these forces chose practicality over honor. Within weeks of the start of the second wave the Diamond Sharks had begun to finally turn a profit.[13]

Unfortunately this put the Diamond Sharks in direct conflict with the ilKhan, whose own Smoke Jaguars were having difficulties pacifying their conquered worlds. To add insult to injury, many Smoke Jaguar garrison commanders had bought desperately-needed supplies from the Diamond Sharks, putting his Clan in debt to them. The ilKhan argued heatedly with both Diamond Shark Khans about whether their merchants were allowed in the Inner Sphere, to which saKhan Sennet noted by the terms of the pre-invasion Trials only Diamond Shark warriors had been forbidden to enter the Inner Sphere in force, not Diamond Shark merchants. Ian Hawker backed his junior Khan by observing the ilKhan seemed too eager to change the rules and that a less fickle commander might be needed to lead the invasion. The ilKhan was forced to back off, but in retaliation ordered a Smoke Jaguar Provisional Garrison Cluster to invaded Delios. The Diamond Sharks' Alpha Galaxy saw off this attempt and in response attacked Vinton, capturing a number of key Smoke Jaguar industrial sites and disrupting their flow of supplies until eventually being forced to retreat.[13][14]

The Jihad and Beyond

The Diamond Sharks joined the allied coalition assembled by Devlin Stone to fight against the Word of Blake on the 20th of February, 3076, offering their transport services to the coalition.[15][16] A few months later, the Diamond Sharks challenged Clan Ghost Bear for the right to set up a trading enclave on the former Free Rasalhague Republic world of Tukayyid. The trial took place on the 7th of May, 3076, with the Diamond Sharks the victors.[16][17]

On the 11th of May 3080 Star Admiral Naomi Nagasawa succeeded Barbara Sennet as Khan of the Diamond Sharks, Sennet having stepped down from the position. Two months later, Diamond Shark WarShips would successfully defend Tukayyid from an attack by a Word of Blake flotilla of nuclear weapon-equipped fighters and Pocket WarShips.[18]

In the wake of the Jihad the Diamond Sharks' presence in the Inner Sphere began to steadily increase, with the Sharks' larger WarShips becoming noticeably more active, leading numerous trade missions to the various capital worlds. While the bulk of the Diamond Shark touman continued to remain on the major trade worlds controlled by the Sharks, each trade mission was commonly accompanied by a cluster of troops, although Inner Sphere intelligence agencies were confounded by being unable to find any sign of half of the Diamond Shark units known to exist in 3067.[19]

In the late 3070s or early 3080s the Diamond Sharks also established an enclave on the Lyran Alliance world of Halfway, marking a new level of interaction with the nations of the Inner Sphere for the mercantile Clan. The enclave on Halfway allowed the Sharks to gain influence as far away as Sian as they built and maintained connections with major Inner Sphere corporations.[20]

Clan Diamond Shark changed its name back to Sea Fox in 3100, after the events surrounding their censure by the Grand Council, and their relocation to the Inner Sphere during the Blakist Jihad, which resulted in the development of autonomous trade fleets, known as Khanates, and a new chapter in the history of the Clan began.

Allies and enemies

The Diamond Sharks have mercantile relationships with all Clans, though few real lasting friends or enemies. They are notably one of the few Clans that deals with the Blood Spirits, and they were close enough to the Ghost Bears and Nova Cats to be granted territory when they left Clan space. Historically, the Sharks have had good relations with Clan Wolf, and these continue with Clan Wolf-in-Exile.

The Diamond Sharks harbor a grudge against the Snow Ravens for their role in the death of the Sea Fox, but this mostly takes the form of besting them in mercantile transactions.

During the Trials of Possession for Ghost Bear, Nova Cat, and Smoke Jaguar holdings, the Ghost Bears ceded Tokasha and Paxon to the Sharks, though they withdrew from Tokasha to hold onto Paxon. They also gained Barcella through the friendship of the Nova Cats, as well as Vinton from the late Smoke Jaguars.

Diamond Shark Warrior

Homeworlds

Clan Diamond Shark owns ten worlds in Clan space. Their capital is on Strana Mechty.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Invading Clans, p. 131-132
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Field Manual: Warden Clans, p. 57
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Invading Clans, p. 133
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Field Manual: Warden Clans, p. 58
  5. ↑ Era Digest: Golden Century, p. 5-6
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Field Manual: Warden Clans, p. 59
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 Field Manual: Warden Clans, p. 60
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Invading Clans, p. 134
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Invading Clans, p. 135
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Invading Clans, p. 136
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Field Manual: Warden Clans, p. 61
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Invading Clans, p. 137
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 Invading Clans, p. 138
  14. ↑ Invading Clans, p. 139
  15. ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 20, "Timeline of the Jihad"
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 55, "The Jihad In Review"
  17. ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 21, "Timeline of the Jihad"
  18. ↑ Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 61, "The Jihad In Review"
  19. ↑ Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 112, "Clan Diamond Shark"
  20. ↑ Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 114, "Clan Diamond Shark"

Bibliography

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