Difference between revisions of "History of Clan Jade Falcon"

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[[File:Jiyi Chistu TamarRising.png‎|right|thumb|150px|Jiyi Chistu, Khan of the Falcon Remnants]]
 
[[File:Jiyi Chistu TamarRising.png‎|right|thumb|150px|Jiyi Chistu, Khan of the Falcon Remnants]]
 
After Chinggis Khan [[Malvina Hazen]] took the almost totality of the Falcon Touman to participate at the [[Battle of Terra (3151)]], leaved behind barely some [[Solahma]]s  
 
After Chinggis Khan [[Malvina Hazen]] took the almost totality of the Falcon Touman to participate at the [[Battle of Terra (3151)]], leaved behind barely some [[Solahma]]s  
While the Falcons as a whole had left their Occupation Zone, not every member of the Clan followed. Of those left behind, two in particular rose to prominence. Jiyi Chistu had been a [[Star Captain]] serving under [[Malvina Hazen]], until he grew disillusioned with her methods. Reassigned to protect one of the Falcons' precious [[VaultShip|VaultShips]], he cultivated the loyalty of those serving under him and grew to respect the merchants who crewed the ship. By mid-3151, Chistu and his comrades were cut off from central leadership, left only with confusing reports coming from [[Terra]] ranging from a Falcon victory to a resurgent [[Word of Blake]]. It was then that his ship received a recall order from the Clan's [[Merchant Factor]], [[Marena]].<ref>''Tamar Rising'', pp. 50-51</ref>
+
While the Falcons as a whole had left their Occupation Zone, not every member of the Clan followed. Of those left behind, two in particular rose to prominence. [[Jiyi Chistu]] had been a [[Star Captain]] serving under [[Malvina Hazen]], until he grew disillusioned with her methods. Reassigned to protect one of the Falcons' precious [[VaultShip|VaultShips]], he cultivated the loyalty of those serving under him and grew to respect the merchants who crewed the ship. By mid-3151, Chistu and his comrades were cut off from central leadership, left only with confusing reports coming from [[Terra]] ranging from a Falcon victory to a resurgent [[Word of Blake]]. It was then that his ship received a recall order from the Clan's [[Merchant Factor]], [[Marena]].<ref>''Tamar Rising'', pp. 50-51</ref>
  
 
==References==
 
==References==

Revision as of 14:17, 12 July 2022

This article details the history of Clan Jade Falcon. For more information, see Clan Jade Falcon.
Clan Jade Falcon Logo
Clan Jade Falcon
Faction Profile
Time period: 2807 – Present
Classification: Clan
Controlled systems: 129 (as of 3151)[1]
Capital world: Sudeten
Ruler title: Khan
Military: Clan Jade Falcon Touman
Secret Service: Clan Jade Falcon Watch

Founding

Elizabeth Hazen, Founder of Clan Jade Falcon.

Call of the Jade Falcon

After their arrival on the Pentagon Worlds and the long Exodus from the Inner Sphere, the Star League-in-Exile colonists would face many challenges to their survival. Among them was a predator on the planet Eden called the Serpent of Eden. This venomous winged reptile-like creature attacked the herds of animals that the colonists brought along with them from Terra. To combat this pest, scientists genetically engineered the peregrine falcon with genes from a gyrfalcon, designing it to survive the harsh environment of Eden and other Pentagon Worlds. It was soon brought to Dagda to combat similar pests. One of the first of these Dagdan falcons to hatch was taken up and trained by Elizabeth Hazen, the garrison commander of Dagda. She was well-known for her love of falcons, having trained in falconry on Terra in the years between the end of the Amaris Crisis and the Exodus. She would name her new falcon Turkina, in honor of a powerful wife of a Mongol Khan from Terra's ancient history.[2][3]

Legend of Turkina

During the following years, Hazen trained her jade falcon, becoming the first to do so. She and Turkina would become minor celebrities throughout the colonies, one seldom seen without the other. In one story, Hazen challenged a land owner due to the excessive price he attached to a piece of property. When the man threatened her with hints of violence, she pointed up in the sky at a circling dot, which then descended rapidly, swooping down with talons bared only inches from the man's face. Some would say the bird read the mind of her mistress. Regardless of this claim's veracity, the legend would continue to grow.[2]

As troubles began to escalate across the Pentagon Worlds, Turkina would become ill with a virus and died in spite of the skilled care of her mistress. When riots on Eden evolved into full revolution in 2801, General Aleksandr Kerensky ordered General Aaron DeChavilier and Major Elizabeth Hazen to lead a force with the purpose of restoring order. Once on the ground in the troubled region known as the Pokill Jungle, their force came under sudden and vicious attack. Elizabeth Hazen's Black Knight fell into a concealed pit of oil that burst into flames, narrowly ejecting before she burnt up with her doomed 'Mech. Struck by a bullet to her helmet, she would lose consciousness only to regain it in time to witness the valiant death of General DeChavilier.[4]

Golden Century

Clan Invasion

Battle of Tukayyid

File:Aidan Pryde 3052.jpg
Aidan Pryde, Hero of Clan Jade Falcon.

Assigned the target cities of Olalla and Humptulips, the Jade Falcon Khans bid their Delta, Vau, and Gamma Galaxies.[5] While not opting to take special measures with regards its supplies and weapon configurations, their experience with "dishonorable" Inner Sphere tactics and eagerness to outdo Clan Wolf led the Falcon Khans Elias Crichell and Vandervahn Chistu to forbid their forces from batchall during the battle. In an effort to secure an earlier landing and mock the Com Guards, the dezgra Falcon Guards, a unit tainted by its humiliating loss on Twycross and led by the highly unconventional Aidan Pryde, were bid into the Falcon contingent. The Com Guards defending forces consisted of the largely green rated Eleventh and Third Armies bolstered by the addition of the 394th, Seventy-seventh, and 309th Divisions from the Second, Twelfth, and First Armies. Due to a lack of actual combat experience on the part of the Eleventh and Third's command staff, the campaign was almost entirely directed by Precentor Martial Focht.

Allowing their DropShips to land unopposed fifty kilometers south of the Prezno River, the Precentor Martial exploited the Jade Falcons cautious and slow-moving advance by ordering 394th Division to pull its scouts back and "strike and hiss," to engage in hit-and-run attacks that were shown to be most effective against the Clans. The troops of the 394th proceeded to launch endless ambushes on the Falcon advance, unleashing a massive hail of fire and retreating before the Clan warriors could effectively engage them. Suffering only minimal losses in return, the 394th's attacks convinced the overly cautious Falcons that they were facing not one but multiple divisions from the Eleventh Army, successfully delaying their advance and buying the defenders of Plough Bridge and Robyn's Crossing vital time to prepare. Being the only two bridges across the violent Prezno River, these would prove natural bottlenecks for the advancing Clan forces and ensure more straight-up fighting that suited their warriors.

Defending the approaches to Robyn's Crossing, the 403rd Division was crushed by the First Falcon Striker, the Clan Cluster inflicting greater than 70% casualties as they brushed aside the regular rated division. As the 305th Assault and 124th Striker Cluster advanced to Plough Bridge, the defending 214th Division broke under the massed fire of the 305th's Assault weight OmniMechs. Having dug in around Robyn's Crossing, the 388th Division held that bridge in the face of a heavy push by the Twelfth Falcon Regulars, but were forced back when the jump jet–equipped command Star of the Aidan Pryde's Falcon Guards reinforced the Regulars with an unorthodox flanking action.[6] While suffering heavy losses, these divisions were successful in buying time for Com Guard sappers to rig demolition charges to collapse both bridges when the Falcons tried to cross, sending the Command Star and two Trinaries of the Twelfth Falcon Regulars, and a Trinary and two Binaries of the 305th to their deaths in the fast-moving Prezno River.

Before the Falcons could regroup, the Third Army's 111th and 201st Divisions emerged from hiding on the other side of the river, pushing the Clan forces back with long-range weapons fire and artillery strikes. Pulling back to repair and resupply as the Clan's OmniFighters ceaselessly pounded the Com Guard troops at the bridgeheads, the Falcon Guards and Second Falcon Regulars, led by Aidan Pryde and Marthe Pryde, eventually broke the stalemate on 7 May by moving downstream and establishing a makeshift breakwater in the middle of the river through the sacrifice of a Star of OmniMechs. The jump jet–equipped 'Mechs of the Falcon Guards and Second Regulars were now successfully able to cross. While a costly maneuver, losing three more 'Mechs and a Star of Elementals in the process, the 111th and 201st Divisions were totally unprepared for an attack on this side of the river and retreated to the target city of Olalla as the Falcon Clusters captured both Plough Bridge and Robyn's Crossing.[7]

With both sides of the bridges in Falcon hands and the Clan's Techs setting about constructing pontoon bridges to allow the other Clusters to more easily cross, the Falcon Guard and Second Regulars then advanced toward Olalla and met no resistance. Highly suspicious at the seemingly undefended city, Kael Pershaw, high above in a suborbital spotter plane, detected disparities between the Olalla before him and the pre-Invasion holo-images of the city and, consequently, guided Aidan Pryde to order only a single heavy Star to enter. As the Falcon 'Mechs entered the city center, the Seventy-seventh Division emerged from hidden bunkers buried beneath the city's streets. ComStar engineers had razed the city and rebuilt it with fake buildings to disguise underground BattleMech bunkers from which BattleMechs would rise to the surface and attack, a most dezgra trap indeed. Due to Pryde's concerns of such a dezgra tactic, the trap snapped shut only on a single Star. The Falcon Guards successfully escaped and eventually destroyed the 111th and 201st Divisions. With the arrival of the First Falcon Velites, Eighty-ninth, and Ninety-fourth Falcon Strikers, the Falcon Guards and Second Regulars now ruthlessly hunted down and obliterated the Seventy-seventh Division and captured the city. But this triumph would be short-lived as Com Guard DropShips transporting the six fresh divisions assigned to the defense of Humptulips prepared to land and retake it.

Elsewhere the battle also began to turn dangerously against the Falcons. With the withdrawal of Clan Ghost Bear from Tukayyid freeing up the remains of the First and Fourth Armies, the Precentor Martial assigned the Fourth to assist the 388th and 214th in a massive assault against the Falcons' repair and resupply depots at Plough Bridge and Robyn's Crossing. Meanwhile, the divisions of the First joined the bulk of the Eleventh Army to recapture Olalla. Though the Falcons Delta and Vau Galaxies held their ground against the counterattack, a Com Guard airstrike succeeded in destroying Gamma Galaxy's supply depot at Robyn's Crossing. Now facing four full Com Guard Armies and with all Falcon units, with the exception of the Falcon Guards, running low on ammunition and supplies to take both objectives, the destruction of the depot forced the Jade Falcon Khans to reluctantly order a general withdrawal.

The withdrawal was, if anything, even bloodier than the advance. As the Falcons attempted to retreat from Olalla to the bridgeheads, the 309th Division attempted to cut off their escape as the Second Falcon Regulars raced to stop them. In some of the bloodiest combat on Tukayyid, the green 309th stood their ground to the last man, with the Second Regulars suffering nearly 70% losses before it utterly obliterated the Com Guard division. Now able to cross the bridge at Robyn's Crossing, the four withdrawing Clusters smashed through the Ninetieth Division as they advanced to towards the Jade Falcons' original LZ.

Just as the Falcon troops drew close, two Overlord-class DropShips carrying the 104th Division attempted to land behind Jade Falcon lines in an attempt to catch the Clan forces in a pincer movement. Unfortunately, a group of Falcon Elementals were able to attack the Com Guard DropShips moments after landing, successfully destroying one and tying up the other before they could deploy their 'Mechs. While the Com Guard forces fanatically threw themselves at the Falcons in a desperate attempt to stop them, the Falcon Guards beat back the attackers and allowed their fellows to board and escape. Remaining behind to allow the escape of wounded troops, Falcon Guards CO Star Colonel Aidan Pryde defeated over two 'Mech Level IIs before he finally fell.

Since Clan Jade Falcon succeeded in briefly capturing Olalla and inflicted significantly higher losses on the Com Guards than they suffered in turn, the ilKhan and the Precentor Martial agreed that they had earned a draw. Almost all the Jade Falcons successes could be attributed to Aidan Pryde and his Falcon Guards. While both Pryde and his unit had been considered virtually dezgra before the battle, his unconventional outlook proved the perfect foil for the Com Guard tactics designed to combat traditional Clan opponents. The Crusader Falcons would go on to be the biggest opponents to the result of Tukayyid, trying to undermine and break the truce via the Red Corsair and extract revenge on the Wolves via the Refusal War.[8][9][10][11]

Refusal War

Vandervahn Chistu, Ulric's murderer.

The Crusader elements within Clans Wolf and Jade Falcon made their first attempt to undermine the truce during the Red Corsair incident of 3054-3055. The failure of this conspiracy only galvanized the Crusaders further, and would lead to the Refusal War of 3057.

Ulric Kerensky was charged by Crusaders within his own Clan of conspiring to destroy the Clans' genetic heritage; by denying them three generations of conflict, the Clans' warriors would be untested and easy prey for the Inner Sphere's armies when the truce finally ended. Ulric directed the charges to the Grand Council, where he was narrowly voted guilty and deposed as ilKhan. The Crusaders then expected that the truce would simply be repudiated, but Kerensky instead orchestrated a Trial of Refusal - not on an individual basis, but pitting the entirely of Clan Wolf against Clan Jade Falcon, the strongest of the Crusaders. His plan was for the Crusader Wolves and the Jade Falcons to destroy one another in battle while the Warden Wolves under Khan Phelan Kell would move to Arc-Royal and continue protecting the Inner Sphere. In the end, the Crusaders would be deprived of their most powerful fighting force.

The Refusal War became a pyrrhic victory for the Crusader cause. Clan Jade Falcon effectively won the conflict, killing both Ulric and Natasha Kerensky, and driving the Wolves' most fervent Wardens into exile. The surviving Wolves were reforged as a 'new' Clan Wolf, this time dominated by Vlad Ward and fellow minded Crusaders. But the Falcons' own Touman suffered such heavy losses that it was in no state to resume the invasion, and their Khan Elias Crichell's election to ilKhan was swiftly followed with his death at the hands of Vlad Ward. In any case, other Warden Khans argued successfully in favor of maintaining the truce, and the Crusaders agreed that the time was not yet right to resume the invasion.

Great Refusal

At Zhaloba Mountain the Jade Falcon's Turkina Keshik selected the best possible defensive position, and then used it to batter the approaching Com Guard force. Despite fighting skillfully, ComStar's Invader Galaxy was forced to accept hegira from their opponents.

Civil War Era

Hegira War

Even after the Great Refusal, Clan Steel Viper would continue to become a thorn in the side of Clan Jade Falcon. The Falcon's "Viper problem" would be dealt with after Steel Viper Khan Perigard Zalman insulted Falcon Khan Marthe Pryde for allowing freeborns into her Touman. Responding to this insult, Marthe would challenge Perigard to a Trial over it, starting what would be known as the Hegira War. Over the course of the war the Steel Vipers were losing ground to the Jade Falcons as well as their worlds. The climax would come when Khan Zalman himself would lead the charge in facing Clan Jade Falcon, only to be met against Diana Pryde - The Daughter of Legendary Hero, Aidan Pryde. As the two were fighting each other, Perigard would face his defeat against a freebirth he had despised. Diana would offer the fallen Viper Khan hegira, in which he would accept as all remaining Steel Viper would leave the Inner Sphere. With Clan Steel Viper ejected from the Inner Sphere and their former worlds under their control, the Falcons could breath easier as they could now focus their sights on Terra once more.

Jihad

Wars of Reaving

In the 3070s, the Bloody ilKhan, Brett Andrews, would decree that in order to start a new invasion they must purge themselves of the Inner Sphere taint in order to remain pure of spirit. This would start a civil war in what would be known as the Wars of Reaving. Like many other Invading Clans left in the Clan Homeworlds, the Jade Falcons would be abjured from Clan space during the Wars of Reaving. Falcon Khan Marthe Pryde would consolidate with Horse Khan James Cobb To set up the Council of Six. With this new council they would agree to forswear any other contact with their Homeworld Brethren and concentrate their efforts around the Inner Sphere.

Dark Ages

Jade Falcon Civil War

Malvina Hazen, The Chinggis Khan of Clan Jade Falcon would emerge to lead the Jade Falcons under her rule.

During Clan Jade Falcons desant on Terra Malvina and her forces would see heavy fighting against the Republic of the Sphere. Events would change after the death of Malvina's closing sibkin Aleksandr and her own injuries during the invasion after receiving no support for her group. After hearing the truth about the reinforcements not arriving, Malvina would challenge Jana to a Trial of Position for Khanship of Clan Jade Falcon. Jana Pryde would die at the hands of Maliva Hazen after the trial for Clan Jade Falcon[12]. With Malvina's victory and declaration as the new Khan, she would change Clan Jade drastically, into a clan that was respected through fear and honor to one that is hated through fear and dishonor. To silence any potential challengers and send a message to anyone who would oppose her, Malvina would send the Emerald Talon crashing to the capital world of Sudeten[13]. Supporters of her Mongol Doctrine would wear black versions of the Jade Falcon uniforms.[14] Although, their were still those who would defy her or her supporters within the Clan. These warriors would be referred to as the Traditionalists, as they would work to undermine the the Chinggis Khan and purify their clan from the taint of their Mongol Doctrine.

Battle For Terra

Despite Clan Hell’s Horses’ victory against the Falcons with Operation NOYAN and their worry of Hazen’s retaliation towards them, they were relieved when it was found that she had bigger issues to deal with, such as getting to the planet of Terra.

As Malvina was making her way to depart toward Terra, she would continue to take various worlds within the Republic wall as a way to find a weakness to exploit while getting to the planet. She would use her scientist and technicians to figure out how they can break the walls so they can reach Terra, but her salvation would come to her in the form of her hated Galaxy Commander, Stephanie Chistu. Chistu stated that she was given the codes on breaching the Republic wall from Alaric Ward of Clan wolf, as part of an invitation to join him. She was wary at first, but she decided to accept the help and used those codes to get her to Terra. There she would face the Republic forces on the plains of Geneva, hoping to decimate all opposing remnants there. The climax of her conquest would stop when She would bombard the city as a way to terrorize the citizens and soldiers of the Republic. Khan Alaric Ward would not allow this and would move the McKenna’s Pride in to stop her madness and challenge her for possession of the planet. Khan Hazen would relent and accept his proposal. This would now cause Devlin Stone and his Republic to face the clans on two fronts, causing him to feel the pressure on both sides.

Malvina Hazen would also be the target of an assassination attempt by Damien Redburn to destroy leadership within both Clan Wolf and Clan Jade Falcon. Fortunately for her, the plan backfired causing Devlin Stone to invite her with Alaric to discuss terms of surrender. The soon-to-be former Exarch would offer to give all of his remaining assets to both clans, but this was not feasible to them. Already having angered two of the Clan's Khans, Alaric would propose his own terms: the disbandment of the Republic of the Sphere. While Stone was reluctant to do so, he eventually accepted and was accompanied by Chance Vickers to make sure he followed suit on his announcement to end the Republic. With the once-mighty empire dismantled, Alaric would propose one final Trial to Malvina: The ilClan Trial for Terra. This "winner-take-all" trial would ensure that the victor would become the ilKhan and First Lord of the Star League, with their Clan being the ilClan of Terra. With a tempting offer like that, Khan Hazen excepted and both clans had a ceremony to mark this solemn occasion.

ilClan Trial

Cynthy, Malvina's "pet" and the real architect behind her downfall.

Alaric would declare one final trial to Malvina Hazen, the trial for ilClanship and to be called the First Lord of the Reborn Star League. This trial would essentially become a Trial of Refusal. Unlike the Refusal War however, both sides would bid everything they had to fight each other. To mark the ceremonious occasion, both Wolf and Jade Falcon members would have their own ceremonial uniforms and traditions to signify its importance. The two sides would agree to fight on the plains of North America as their staging ground.

With the trial beginning, it was now time for Clan Wolf to bring in their allies to finish their final battle on Terra. Alaric would bring his allies of Wolf origins including both Clan Wolf-in-Exile and the Wolf's Dragoons mercenary unit. The Fidelis would also join as part of the deal to Alaric to reconstitute the Jaguars. Both forces would suffer their own heavy losses, but this was to be expected due to how greatly both leaders wanted to become the First Lord of the Star League. While the Dragoons were ordered to pull back and retreat, Anastasia would be the one to make the final blow again the Chinggis Khan Malvina Hazen, ending the battle for Terra.

The ilClan Trial would see a radical change among the Jade Falcons, starting with the death of Malvina Hazen. Khan Hazen's cruel actions would catch up to her in the form of Cynthy. Her "pet" had snapped on her after all the years of physical abuse she had inflicted on her and the ilKhan's words would spark something in her to defend herself. This would cause Cynthy to stab the mad Khan, causing her to bleed to death with Stephanie watching along with her. With Malvina dead, the Khanship for Clan Jade Falcon was vacant.[15]

ilClan Era

Following the victory of Clan Wolf during the ilClan Trial, Clan Jade Falcon would take time to continue healing from their near destruction. The Falcons would be reconstituted as a bodyguard clan as a way to mend relations with the Wolves and begin the healing process.

Separation of Clan Jade Falcon

The ilClan Trial had a negative effect on Clan Jade Falcon as a whole. While Malvina took nearly all of her clan to depart towards Terra, it would ended up fracturing the Clan into two factions: The Bodyguard Clan bound to Alaric Ward and the Jade Falcon Remenant left behind, clinging to the remaining Jade Falcon Occupation Zone.

Clan Jade Falcon (Star League)

History

The Jade Falcons of the Third Star League are lead by Khan Stephanie Chistu, who fought in the ilClan Trial under the command of Chinggis Khan, Malvina Hazen. After the death Malvina, she would be nominated by her peers due to her honorable conduct in defiance of her Khan. Although a Mongol supporter opposed her, she quickly established herself as the Khan to Clan Jade Falcon. Tara Wolf would also be given to Khan Stephanie as a tactician to redeem the honor tainted by Malvina during the Dark Ages. This faction of Clan Jade Falcon would serve as a bodyguard in honor of Elizabeth Hazen's Black Watch origins and Tara's Star League heritage through the Northwind Highlanders.

Clan Jade Falcon (Remnants)

History

Jiyi Chistu, Khan of the Falcon Remnants

After Chinggis Khan Malvina Hazen took the almost totality of the Falcon Touman to participate at the Battle of Terra (3151), leaved behind barely some Solahmas While the Falcons as a whole had left their Occupation Zone, not every member of the Clan followed. Of those left behind, two in particular rose to prominence. Jiyi Chistu had been a Star Captain serving under Malvina Hazen, until he grew disillusioned with her methods. Reassigned to protect one of the Falcons' precious VaultShips, he cultivated the loyalty of those serving under him and grew to respect the merchants who crewed the ship. By mid-3151, Chistu and his comrades were cut off from central leadership, left only with confusing reports coming from Terra ranging from a Falcon victory to a resurgent Word of Blake. It was then that his ship received a recall order from the Clan's Merchant Factor, Marena.[16]

References

  1. Shattered Fortress, pp. 102–103: "Inner Sphere - 3151" (Map)
  2. 2.0 2.1 Jade Falcon Sourcebook, p. 9 - "Legend of Turkina"
  3. Jade Falcon Sourcebook, p. 9 - "Elizabeth Hazen"
  4. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named JFSp10
  5. BattleTech: Battle of Tukayyid, p. 114
  6. Tukayyid, pp. 61–63: "Assault on Robyn's Crossing [18]"
  7. BattleTech: Battle of Tukayyid, p. 116
  8. Tukayyid, pp. 58–59: "Campaign: Clan Jade Falcon"
  9. ComStar, pp. 70–71: "Battle of Tukayyid"
  10. Wolf Clan, p. 50: "Days of Armageddon - Jade Falcon"
  11. Jade Falcon Sourcebook, pp. 30–32: "Battle of Tukayyid"
  12. A Rending of Falcons, p. 291
  13. A Rending of Falcons, p. 306
  14. A Splinter of Hope + The Anvil, p. 92
  15. Hour of the Wolf, p. 539
  16. Tamar Rising, pp. 50-51

Bibliography