Invasion corridor - Clan Smoke Jaguar

Order of Battle

Jaguar's Den Command Trinary

Shroud Keshik Command Trinary

Clan Smoke Jaguar Naval Reserve - Star Commodore Paulina Perez

3 Clan Monoliths, 7 Clan Invaders, 12 Clan Merchants, 9 Clan Star Lords, 7 Clan Scouts

Alpha Galaxy

Jaguar's Spirit Keshik

Jaguar Grenadiers

5th Jaguar Regulars

6th Jaguar Dragoons

7th Jaguar Dragoons

122nd Striker Cluster

Beta Galaxy

Swath Keshik

1st Jaguar Guards

3rd Attack Cluster

214th Jaguar Dragoons

225th Jaguar Battle Cluster

362nd Assault Cluster

Delta Galaxy

Skyriders Keshik

1st Striker Cluster

3rd Jaguar Cavaliers

4th Jaguar Dragoons

19th Striker Cluster

Preparations

With the successful vote to invade the Inner Sphere passed in the wake of the Outbound Light incident, the bidding process to determine which of the Clans would take part in the invasion commenced. In retribution for opposing the vote the Crusaders forced Clan Wolf to be one of the four assaulting Clans, while the the Warden faction had managed to insist that a fifth Clan be held in reserve. For the rest of the Clans the honor of participation would be determined over the course of two fulls days of bidding, divided into three rounds, and a final day of combat trials. The bidding began with each Clan making their preliminary bid before retiring to study the opposing Clans' bids. On the second day the bidding war began in fullness and Clan Smoke Jaguar was the first to emerge victorious, having slashed their initial bid of eleven Galaxies down to three. In the final round of combat the Smoke Jaguars were victorious again, earning their place alongside Clan Wolf, Clan Jade Falcon and Clan Ghost Bear in the invasion force. Clan Steel Viper meanwhile had earned its place as the fifth reserve Clan, while Clan Nova Cat and Clan Diamond Shark each won a Trial of Refusal for the right to be next in line.

In the Grand Council meeting to determine the basic plan of attack, ilKhan Leo Showers in conjunction with Jade Falcon Khan Elias Crichell decided that the four invading Clans would bid for one of four "invasion corridors" which stretched from the Periphery towards Terra. The purpose for this was that, according to an obscure passage in Nicholas Kerensky's diary, the two Khans proposed that whichever Clan captured Terra would become ilClan, the supreme Clan. When it came time to bid, Smoke Jaguar Khan Lincoln Osis achieved a great victory by winning the corridor which ran through the Draconis Combine. Besides worthy opponents, it was believed that House Kurita aided the infamous Stefan Amaris in bringing about the downfall of the Star League, and the Smoke Jaguar warriors welcomed the chance to fight such a foe. As the assembled invasion force gathered in orbit above Strana Mechty ilKhan Showers gave a final speech, promising swift victory and boldly predicting Clan Smoke Jaguar would conquer Terra within the year.

Invasion Route

4.1. Periphery (August-September 3049)

Smoke Jaguar operations in the Periphery

Though each of the four invading Clans were assigned their individual corridors for the invasion, at the insistence of the Khans ilKhan Showers declared the Periphery open territory for all. This allowed Clan Smoke Jaguar to attack Santander's World, controlled by the pirate king Helmar Valasek, which lay within the Ghost Bear corridor. Smoke Jaguar saKhan Sarah Weaver was determined to win her Clan the honor of killing the pirate king and personally led the bidding war against Star Colonel Kellin MacKenzie of the Ghost Bears for that right. Though both had bid down to a Trinary each, saKhan Weaver claimed victory when she removed her own 'Mech from the fight and Star Colonel MacKenzie failed to reciprocate. Because saKhan Weaver had removed her own 'Mech from the bidding process, she would coordinate the battle from her command DropShip.

The fight for Santander's World would prove to be the most bloody and hard-fought during the Periphery campaign as the dishonorable pirates used underhanded tactics; though other battles would take place for control of other worlds none were worthy of note. By January of 3050 the Smoke Jaguars had completed their sweep of the Periphery on schedule and lost very few 'Mechs in the process. Though pleased with their progress there was minor indignation felt at the fact that Clan Wolf had likewise accomplished their sweep even faster.

Periphery Campaign

Date	Location	Attacker	Defender	Outcome
August-September 3049	Santander's World	Alpha Galaxy Shroud Keshik Beta Galaxy 362nd Assault Cluster	Santander's Killers	Smoke Jaguar Victory

4.2. Wave One (March-April 3050)

With the easy successes of their Periphery campaign, Clan Smoke Jaguar anticipated their first battle against the "valiant" warriors of the DCMS. Their plan was to conquer ten Combine worlds within two months in the hopes of surpassing the speed of Clan Wolf's invasion. Nine of the ten worlds were divided between the Clan's three Galaxies, and whichever captured their allotted targets first would be given the honor of attacking the tenth.

It was with much disappointment then that the elite warriors of House Kurita broke and ran under the fury of the Smoke Jaguar assault; only on Richmond did they face any significant opposition. Though they had expected an easy victory, the Clan warriors felt strangely cheated by how effortless it had been. They also encountered more acts of dishonorable duplicity, and reacted seemingly out of proportion to these offenses, as had happened on Idlewind. In a meeting of the Grand Council Khan Lincoln Osis was forced to defend himself, explaining that the people of the Inner Sphere needed to be taught a lesson.

The most graphic example of that lesson, and of the Smoke Jaguars' brutality during the invasion, would take place on Turtle Bay. Following their conquest of that planet the Clan placed all surviving Kurita troops in the capital city Edo's formidible Kurushiiyama prison. Unbeknownst to them among their prisoners was crown prince Hohiro Kurita, son of Theodore Kurita, Gunji-no-Kanrei of the DCMS. To their intense embarrassment the Smoke Jaguars only learned of this after the local Yakuza launched a successful jailbreak which freed Hohiro and the other surviving DCMS troops. An intensive search effort was launched to find and recapture the crown prince, but their efforts were continually hampered by yakuza cells launching guerrilla attacks and setting off bombs. Finally Galaxy Commander Cordera Perez commanded all Smoke Jaguar warriors to withdraw from Edo and order Beta Galaxy's WarShip, the Sabre Cat, to level the city. Repeated strikes from the ship's autocannons and laser weapons bombarded the city until there was nothing left but smoking debris.

The barbarity of Commander Perez and others' actions in the destruction of Edo caused an immediate backlash both within the Smoke Jaguar Clan and from without, with Star Colonel Dietr Osis successfully challenging Perez for command of Beta Galaxy. Even the most hardline Crusader saw the act as a sign of cowardice, while many Warden sympathizers called the wholesale destruction criminally irresponsible. Clan Wolf took the opportunity to announce that, henceforth, it would bid away all naval assets in every battle; the other Clans, Smoke Jaguar included, as a matter of honor had no choice but to declare the same.

Wave One

Date	Location	Attacker	Defender	Outcome
March 3050	Richmond (DC)	Alpha Galaxy 5th Jaguar Regulars Trinaries Assault and Second Battle	1st Alshain Regulars	Smoke Jaguar Victory
March 3050	Tarnby	Alpha Galaxy 6th Jaguar Dragoons Trinaries Battle and Assault	4th Pesht Regulars	Smoke Jaguar Victory
March 3050	Idlewind (DC)	Delta Galaxy 3rd Jaguar Cavaliers Trinary Assault	Idlewind Stormtroopers	Smoke Jaguar Victory
March 3050	Schwartz (DC)	Delta Galaxy 19th Striker Cluster Trinaries Command and Second Battle, Supernova Striker	9th Pesht Regulars	Smoke Jaguar Victory
March 3050	Rockland (DC)	Skyriders Keshik Alpha and Bravo Stars	Rockland People's Army	Smoke Jaguar Victory
March 3050	Bjarred (DC)	Alpha Galaxy Jaguar Grenadiers First Trinary Battle, Trinary Striker, Binary Elemental	1st Bjarred Armored Regiment 2nd Bjarred Armored Regiment	Smoke Jaguar Victory
March 3050	Turtle Bay (DC)	Beta Galaxy 362nd Assault Cluster	14th Legion of Vega	Smoke Jaguar Victory
April 3050	Almunge (DC)	Beta Galaxy 1st Jaguar Guards Trinary Battle Alpha Battle Star	Almunge Cadet Infantry Battalion	Smoke Jaguar Victory
April 3050	Virentofta (DC)	Beta Galaxy 225th Jaguar Battle Cluster Trinary Assault, Alpha Elemental Star	Seventh Hell's Brigade	Smoke Jaguar Victory
April 3050	Stapelfeld (DC)	Alpha Galaxy Jaguar's Spirit Keshik Alpha Command Star	None	Smoke Jaguar Victory

4.2. Wave Two (May-June 3050)

Smoke Jaguar operation in Wave Two

The Smoke Jaguars first began to face difficulties during the Second Wave of the invasion, as they were forced to use more troops to garrison their territory and so conquered fewer worlds than anticipated. Not wishing a repeat of what happened on Turtle Bay, their answer was to partner with ComStar in the administration of occupied worlds. However even with the assistance of ComStar the Smoke Jaguars still insisted of installing their own planetary governors and instituting severe penalties for even the most minor of infractions. On many worlds "nonessential" personnel were pressed into making munitions to replenish the Jaguar's diminishing stockpiles; true to form no compensation was offered, the honor of serving the warrior caste deemed payment enough. The mix of ruthless, totalitarian rule and warriors with no knowledge of the societies they now commanded simply caused more dissent and rebellion. Little did they know that Theodore Kurita was secretly smuggling weapons into their Occupation Zone, mainly through yakuza networks, in order to fuel these rebellions.

This policy had tragic consequences on Nykvarm where, over ComStar's objections, a large farm on the worlds northern continent was shut down and its workers transfer to a munition plant. When told that a deadly viral plague broke out annually on the northern continent and that this farm was the sole production site for a type of grain which could cure it, the Smoke Jaguar governor dismissed their warnings as "Inner Sphere trickery." When the plague did break out that year the governor was surprised to find many of his own warriors, as well as a quarter of the local population, dying of the disease. He would die three week into the epidemic, just days before the scientist caste could develop a vaccine.

Even more than their difficulties controlling their subjugated population was the fact that those "spinless" Wardens at Clan Wolf were making excellent progress. At first they took their aggression out on each other in practice bouts; when these turned into more deadly contests Loremaster Edmund Hoyt ordered an end to them to preserve the Clan's warriors for real fighting. This left only the populations of occupied worlds for Jagaur warriors to vent their anger, though attacks on civilians only fueled the fires of rebellion further. Eventually saKhan Weaver received permission from ilKhan Showers to bring forward Provisional Garrison Clusters from the homeworlds in order to garrison captured worlds and free up frontline troops for the next wave.

Sawyer (DC) May 3050

Attackers: Supernova Battle (225th Jaguar Battle Cluster, Beta Galaxy)

Defenders: The Dark Horns mercenary company

Major Battle Site: Posit Woods

Outcome: The battle would last two days as the mercenaries decided to dig in their defensive positions in a lightly wooded area east of the capital city. Elementals from Alpha Nova Battle Star spent most of the first day hunting down the defenders, while on the second they hit them early on and flushed them straight into the Supernova's waiting OmniMechs.

Nykvarm (DC) May 3050

Attackers: Supernova Assault (19th Striker Cluster, Delta Galaxy)

Defenders: Nykvarm Armored Battalion

Major Battle Sites: Nykvarm (capital city), Bollins Marsh, Lucerna Plains

Outcome: Initially the defenders were successful in holding off the Jaguars, conducting a mobile campaign and wining a few victories by using their superior speed to stay ahead of the slow-moving Clan assault 'Mechs. This served only to delay the inevitable though and their defeat was swift and complete at the hands of Star Captain Castris. Only a few members of the battalion would escape with their lives.

Coudoux (DC) May 3050

Attackers: Alpha Battle Star (First Trinary Battle, Jaguar Grenadiers, Alpha Galaxy)

Defenders: Colette's Crusaders ('Mech Company)

Major Battle Site: Lodio Spaceport

Outcome: The battle ended in a Smoke Jaguar victory as the attackers quickly overran their objectives, in the process seizing the defender's DropShip as welcomed booty.

Chupadero (DC) May 3050

Attackers: First Trinary Assault and Aerospace Trinary ([[214th Jaguar Dragoons (Clan Smoke Jaguar)|214th Jaguar Dragoons], Beta Galaxy)

Defenders: 1st Chupadero Armored Legion (1 regiment of armor, 2 mobile infantry regiments, 1 aerospace wing)

Major Battle Sites: Dale Valley, Billoc Tunnels

Outcome: The battle started quickly in the Jaguars' favor as their OmniFighters quickly decimated their opponent's antique fighters, winning air superiority and First Trinary Assault ample time to hunt down the defenders at their leisure. At Dale Valley they easily stepped over 'Mech traps laid by the defenders and routed the tank regiment even as it retreated. The Legion's remnants fell back to the Billoc Tunnels, through which they intended to reach the capital Fredsin and make their final stand, but were foiled when Star Captain Wesley Moon decided to enter after them and destroyed their last remaining vehicles.

Garstedt (DC) May 3050

Attackers: Trinary Assault, Trinary Command, Binary Elemental (7th Jaguar Dragoons, Alpha Galaxy)

Defenders: 3rd Alshain Regulars

Major Battle Sites: Cordivas Grotto, Filmore Steppes

Outcome: Tai-sa Albert Brookhaven's plan was to hole up his forces in the Cordivas Grotto, forcing the Smoke Jaguars to suffer heavy losses as they tried to flush them out. When the Smoke Jaguar commander instead chose to wait him out, Tai-sa Brookhaven realized his only option was to retreat and decided upon the best approach back to the Third Regulars' DropShips, located at the south end of the Filmore Steppes. When the defenders made their move it started a running battle all the way to the DropShips' location, where a Star of 'Mechs destroyed Brookhaven's command company and lighter elements of Trinary Command held up the Third until Trinary Assault's arrival. Of the regiment's three battalions two managed to retreat off-world, the third utterly destroyed by the Smoke Jaguars.

4.3. Wave Three (June 3050)

Smoke Jaguar operation in Wave Three

Khan Osis and saKhan Weaver reacted poorly when Clan Wolf announced their intention to accelerate the pace of their invasion for Wave Three. As a result they revised their invasion timetable, intending to capture the next three worlds en masse while PGCs garrisoned conquered worlds. While plan worked as expected, the Smoke Jaguars ran into a couple of problems. The first was that the PGCs consisted of relatively inferior warriors with poor equipment, completely unprepared to deal with the rebellions; on Tarnby remnants of the Fourth Pesht Regulars even managed to capture the planet's spaceport and board their DropShips, their escape only foiled when Clan aerospace forces managed to shoot them down before they could leave the planet. The second was that Smoke Jaguar warriors were being stricken by the so-called Paradise syndrome: surrounded by the beauties of the Inner Sphere they began bidding amongst themselves and fighting Trials of Possession for plots of land. This not only cost the lives of several Smoke Jaguar warriors but their lapses in attention allowed local guerrilla groups to successfully sabotage supply stockpiles.

The scale of these problems forced ilKhan Leo Showers to personally intervene, first invalidating all Trials of Possession then ordering the merchant caste to come up with a solution to the rebellious populace. The merchants' answer was to make the locals bondsmen to their own caste, with the promise of paying them for their work should they behave, and to house the new bondsmen near their supply depots to discourage any attempted bombings. With the matter solved for the time being, ilKhan Showers would personally lead Delta Galaxy in the conquest of their next four worlds, finishing their Third Wave campaign ahead of the other three Clans. Despite this impressive pace the Smoke Jaguars were still overshadowed when the Wolf Clan managed to conquer more worlds than them, including Rasalhague, capital of the Free Rasalhague Republic. For the next wave then Khan Osis was determined that his Clan would also capture a capital world.

Kabah (DC) June 3050

Attackers: Alpha and Bravo Stars (Second Trinary Assault, 214th Jaguar Dragoons, Beta Galaxy)

Defenders: The Kabah Guards (2 'Mech companies)

Major Battle Site: The Kabah Palace

Outcome: In an hour-long battle on the jousting fields of the Kabah Palace the planetary defenders proved to be no match for the Smoke Jaguars, with only three members of the Kabah Guards taken as bondsmen.

Jeanette (DC) June 3050

Attackers: Alpha and Bravo Battle Stars (First Trinary Battle, 4th Jaguar Dragoons, Delta Galaxy)

Defenders: Divine Light (2 Level II Com Guards units)

Major Battle Site: Jeanette HPG Station

Outcome: Though the Smoke Jaguars had been informed the planet was undefended, they were surprised when their supposed allies opened fire on them. Divine Light's commander, Precentor Kevin James, was angry about the cooperation between his organization and the Clans and took their landing as reason to assault the Clan troops. In response the Smoke Jaguar destroyed the unit to the last machines, and the incident was temporally a burden for the alliance until Precentor Martial Anastasius Focht issued a personal apology and paid restitution for the damages done.

Schuyler (DC) June 3050

Attackers: Trinary Command, Trinary Assault, Binary Elemental (7th Jaguar Dragoons, Alpha Galaxy)

Defenders: 3rd Alshain Regulars (survivors from Garstedt)

Major Battle Sites: Olasin Fjord, Mitsuhama Ridge

Outcome: While the Jaguars had intended to finish off the surviving Third Regulars which had escaped their conquest of Garstedt, the resupplied regiment had other ideas. Over a series of staged battles lasting nearly a week, the Regulars forced the Smoke Jaguars to expended energy and ammunition chasing after them as the regiment moved from one spot to another. Such was the damage inflicted on the Clan forces that the Seventh Dragoon's commander Star Colonel Nevversan broke his bid and called in an extra Trinary to decide the battle. However the reinforcements came too late, and the Third Regulars retreated off-world.

Hanover (DC) July 3050

Attackers: Third Battle Supernova (5th Jaguar Regulars, Alpha Galaxy)

Defenders: Hanover Militia (2 'Mech battalions)

Major Battle Site: Foothills of the Worldspine Mountains

Outcome: The Militia was well-prepared for the invading Clan force, using several hidden supply depots hidden in the Worldspine Mountains to force the undersupplied Smoke Jaguars into a stalemate. The situation continued for the next 9 days until the Jaguar commander called more troops to the ground and sent them on a flaking maneuver, pinning the militia in place for a final battle. Bad weather conditions in form of a blizzard inflicted heavy damage on both sides during the fight. The Hanover Militia's commander finally surrendered to Jaguar forces after extracting a promise that his soldiers would be treated honorably.

Savinsville (DC) July 3050

Attackers: Shroud Keshik

Defenders: Rolling Thunder (1 'Mech lance, 2 infantry companies)

Major Battle Site: Blue Ridge Valley

Outcome: SaKhan Weaver was eager with anticipation when she won the right to conquer Savinsville, defended by what she thought was the legendary Rolling Thunder mercenary company of which Wolf's Dragoons had reported. Much to her dismay she instead faced off against a two-bit outfit which was using the same name as the more famous unit. Within minutes of their landing the Smoke Jaguars made short work of the defenders, who broke and ran.

Albiero (DC) July 3050

Attackers: Trinary Command, Trinary Striker, Alpha Elemental Star (1st Jaguar Guards, Beta Galaxy)

Defenders: 8th Albiero Militia

Major Battle Sites: Dartson Ridge, the Little Hills

Outcome: The battle for Albiero proved to be fierce as the Eighth Militia attacked the Smoke Jaguars as soon as they landed, pushing them back to the Dartson Ridge where the the militia's armoured battalion used artillery to trap the Clan forces. This lasted until Trinary Striker broke free in a fierce assault and eliminated the artillery units, allowing Trinary Command and the Elemental Star to locate the Eight's supply depots where they set up an ambush. The milita regiment's command company walked right into the trap and was annihilated, causing all resistance to collapse save for some companies which managed to escape into the hills. Throughout the rest of the invasion these survivors would launch periodic hit-and-run raids on the local Jaguar garrison.

4.4. Wave Four (July-October 3050)

Smoke Jaguar operation in Wave Four

The Fourth Wave would prove to be the least successful for Clan Smoke Jaguar as the Draconis Combine, freed from having to defend its border with the Federated Commonwealth with a promise from Hanse Davion they would not invade, threw fresh troops in front of the Clan's advance. Well-equipped and determined to make the Clanners pay for every inch of ground, these troops refused to engage in single combat, instead hitting the Smoke Jaguars with massed fire and engaging in hit-and-run attacks. This caused many Jaguar commanders to pull back, having greatly underbid the forces they thought necessary to conquering a world, and led to their first outright defeat on Wolcott.

In the end the Smoke Jaguars captured only four worlds. With the sting of their defeat and the fact that Clan Wolf continued to outperform his Clan, ilKhan Showers made the fateful decision to call for a Grand Kurultai in an effort to slow the Wolves' progress, justifying the extraordinary call by claiming the Wolf Clan's speed of advance put the entire invasion in jeopardy. Where before the ilKhan's efforts to slow down the Wolves had failed, this time their success had provoked enough resentment from the Jade Falcons and Ghost Bears to give Showers their backing. Wolf Khan Kerensky agreed to the meeting, stipulating that it take place aboard the Dire Wolf in the Radstadt system and that no other WarShips be present. Unfortunately within hours of the ilKhan's arrival the 1st Drakøns attacked the Dire Wolf and a single fighter piloted by Tyra Miraborg crashed into the ship's command bridge, killing Leo Showers.

Luzerne (DC) August 3050

Attackers: First and Second Trinary Battle (4th Jaguar Dragoons, Delta Galaxy)

Defenders: 9th Alshain Regulars (survivors from Jarett)

Major Battle Sites: Topeka Bay, Lawrence Pass

Outcome: Having learned the hard way on how to fight the Clans after escaping the Ghost Bear's conquest of Jarett, the Ninth Regulars set a trap for the two Clan Trinaries, catching both between a well-planned crossfire in Topeka Bay. While their plan was sound the Smoke Jaguars managed to fight their way out of the ambush and circle behind the defenders, forcing them to conduct a fighting retreat northwards with heavy casualties. The Ninth reached Lawrence Pass, the only route through the mountains towards the planet's capital and spaceport, but were set upon by the Jaguars who fired down on them from the walls of the pass, resulting in the regiment being virtually destroyed.

Bangor (DC) September 3050

Attackers: Trinary Command, Trinary Assault, Second Trinary Battle (Jaguar Grenadiers, Alpha Galaxy)

Defenders: 2nd Benjamin Regulars

Major Battle Sites: Bangor Market, Division Shield

Outcome: The battle began with the Grenadiers using their superior weapons range to devastating effect against the DCMS forces, then sending in heavy units to breach through the defender's lines. The Bejamin Regulars made an orderly without panic, but the pressure of the Jaguar's continual onslaught proved too much, and they were finally destroyed on the high plateau known as Division Shield overlooking the planet's capital.

Courchevel (DC) September 3050

Attackers: Trinary Command, First and Second Assault Supernovas (362nd Assault Cluster, Beta Galaxy)

Defenders: 10th Alshain Regulars

Major Battle Sites: Dragon's Rift, Harcourt Plains

Outcome: While the Tenth Regulars had prepared hardened positions to face the Jaguars, they were surprised on the first day when the fast-moving 'Mechs of the two Supernovas arrived an hour early and caught them in the open. The engagement quickly became a bloodbath, with the Tenth fighting a series of intense battles to extricate themselves and fall back towards the rocky ground of Dragon's Rift. Star Colonel Emilie Wimmer had expected such a maneuver though, and her Command Trinary was waiting for them in the Rift when the DCMS forces arrived. The regiment finally surrendered shortly after dawn on the second day.

Jeronimo (DC) September 3050

Attackers: Trinary Assault, Second Trinary Battle, Binary Elemental (3rd Jaguar Cavaliers, Delta Galaxy)

Defenders: 5th Galedon Regulars

Major Battle Site: Topside Woods

Outcome: The Fifth Regulars fought against the invading Clanners for several hours from their hardened positions, forcing Star Colonel Paul Moon to break his bid and call down the Second Trinary Battle. With these reinforcements the Smoke Jaguars were victorious, with only a battalion and a half of the defending regiment managing to escape offworld.

Byesville (DC) October 3050

Attackers: Binary Elemental (6th Jaguar Dragoons, Alpha Galaxy)

Defenders: The Byesville Militia (1 armored battalion, 2 infantry battalions)

Major Battle Site: Rydersin, Killogny, Peel

Outcome: During the course of the Smoke Jaguar's night attack their Elementals managed to locate the headquarters of the militia's units and took control of them. When morning came the defenders realized what had occurred and surrendered immediately.

Wolcott (DC) October 3050

Attackers: 225th Jaguar Battle Cluster, Galaxy Command Trinary (Beta Galaxy)

Defenders: 1st Genyosha, 2nd Genyosha

Major Battle Site: Swamp Valley

Outcome: The battle for Wolcott was a carefully-planned affair by Theodore Kurita, ever aware that his people desperately needed a victory against the Clans, with the planet chosen specifically for its natural features. The hot marshes which covered most of the eastern continent produced a thick, blinding fog and contained tightly-packed trees which would provide cover and force the Clans to fight at close range. These were further enhanced under Theodore's orders by hanging large strips of reflective metal from the trees to further confuse the enemy 'Mechs' scanners, while the elite Genyosha regiments were transferred to the planet under the fake identity of the green "Yuutsu" regiments.

When Beta Galaxy arrived in orbit of the planet Galaxy Commander Dietr Osis issued a batchall, to which Theodore's son Hohiro answered and laid out the terms of the coming battle: if the Jaguars won the planet was theirs, but if the Combine won then the Clan would not only give its word to never attack Wolcott again but also hand over four OmniMechs and two dozen Elemental suits. Galaxy Commander Osis hesitated to accept such turns but when Hohiro goaded the Jagaur commander, reminding him that only green troops which should be easy to defeat were defending the planet, he accepted and personally led the invasion.

When the Smoke Jaguars landed in the designated battlefield they discovered their scanners were rendered useless by the hostile environment. Suddenly racing out from the thick underbrush came Savannah Master hovercraft which struck at the Jaguar's flanks, forcing them to close formation so they would be vulnerable to a rain of long-range missiles fired by the Genyosha's battalion of heavy 'Mechs. Pinned down by the shower of missiles the Jaguar 'Mechs proved easy pickings as more maneuverable Combine light 'Mechs picked away at them over several hours of hit-and-run attacks. After whittling away at the Clan command with these fast strikes Galaxy Commander Osis finally agreed to a surrender on the condition his troops were allowed safe passage off-world. Due to his failure Osis would be executed on the battlefield by one of his Clansmen as the Smoke Jaguars left Wolcott under the supervision of the Genyosha.

The Election of Ulric Kerensky

News of ilKhan Showers' death stunned the Clans into inaction, none more so than the Smoke Jaguars. While the rest of the invasion force debated what to do next, some wishing to return to Clan space to elect a new ilKhan while others argued they should crush the Inner Sphere immediately, both Khan Osis and saKhan Weaver were oddly silent; when time came to vote both abstained. Not just its two Khans but indeed the entire Smoke Jaguar Clan became loss in the shock and grief of their sudden loss, and as the Clans made their return to the homeworlds to elect a new ilKhan the Osis and Weaver were finally roused to action when Khan Chistu of the Jade Falcons recommended they focus their rage at Clan Wolf. A conspiracy was hatched among the Crusader Khans to convict the Wolf Khan Kerensky of being responsible for the late ilKhan's death where, if they succeeded, he would be executed on the battlefield for his crimes. If they failed a second plot was formulated, whereby Kerensky would be elected as ilKhan and forced to command the invasion, an endeavor which the Wolf Khan had so passionately fought to prevent. It was also expected that the Wolf Loremaster Conal Ward would then assume his position as Khan of the Wolves, putting the Warden-minded Clan under the control of a Crusader.

At the Grand Council meeting on Strana Mechty, the Smoke Jaguar Khans called upon all warriors who had been present on the Dire Wolf's bridge to testify as to Kerensky's blood-guilt. Khan Osis, under the mistaken belief that Ulric's "Inner Sphere freebirth lackey" would be the one most likely to betray his master, allowed Phelan Kell to address the assembly, only for the bondsman to give such a lucid account of the events that he utterly destroyed the Smoke Jaguar's case. The first conspiracy foiled, Khan Osis launched the second by nominating Kerensky as ilKhan, a motion which was passed by the Grand Council. Once again the Crusaders' revenge was thwarted when ilKhan Kerensky made the surprise move of appointing Natasha Kerensky, infamous leader of the Wolf's Dragoons' Black Widow Company, to succeed him as Clan Wolf's Khan.

As "thanks" for electing him to lead the invasion, ilKhan Kerensky agreed with the Smoke Jaguar's arguments that the Clans needed to keep pace with each other. Rather than slow down Clan Wolf though, instead he proposed that Clan Steel Viper be moved from reserve to active status, with Clans Nova Cat and Diamond Shark added to the invasion fleet. Furthermore to shore up the Smoke Jaguars' and Jade Falcons' faltering pace, both would be partnered with the Steel Vipers and Nova Cats respectively, while the Diamond Sharks remained in reserve. Furthermore both Steel Viper and Nova Cat Clans would be allowed to establish their own supply lines, meaning they would need to bid for control of some of the worlds already captured by the Jade Falcons and Smoke Jaguars. The matter was passed in a vote over the furious objections of both Clans.

Though the Jade Falcons and Steel Vipers would spend much of the Fifth Wave at each others' throats, the Smoke Jaguar Khans partially sidestepped ilKhan Kerensky's maneuver by reaching an accord with their Nova Cat counterparts. Unwilling the pay the price a Trial of Refusal would enact in resisting the ilKhan's ploy, instead they simply handed over control to the Nova Cats six of their most rebellious worlds to control. This had the added benefit of freeing up troops necessary to garrison these worlds for the Firth Wave, whose target would be the Combine capital world of Luthien.

4.5. Wave Five (November-December 3051)

The Fifth Wave of the invasion began in early November 3051 with a simultaneous assault on four Combine worlds, though the Smoke Jaguars were dismayed to find the Combine had heavily fortified these worlds while they were gone and became bogged down in heavy fighting on three of the four. Once this initial sweep was completed the Jaguar set their sights on Avon as a base from which to launch their attack on Luthien, however the Nova Cats also laid claim to the world. Initially the Nova Cat Khans intended to refuse the Smoke Jaguars' offer of working together to conquer the world and jointly ruling it together, but they eventually gave in under ilKhan Kerensky's recommendation so as to avoid needlessly wasting men and materials on inter-Clan fighting. A Cluster from each Clan would land on Avon and succeeded in conquering it.

With the month of November nearly over, by some unknown means Theodore Kurita learned on the impending attack on his capital by the combined Clan forces. Though the source of his information was never identified, it was suspected that the Smoke Jaguar Khans leaked this information to him themselves. If true it would mean they had at least learned the usefulness of psychological warfare, hoping to demoralize their opponent by advertising their intent to strike at his very heart, or at the least hoping their warning would cause a further buildup in troops and increase the challenge of capturing the world. Regardless throughout December of 3051 the Smoke Jaguars conducted no further attacks, preparing themselves for the coming battle for Luthien. When the time came Khan Osis was overjoyed when ilKhan Kerensky gave him the honor of assuming overall command of the operation, not only looking forward to a true test of his warrior's mettle but the chance to earn enough political and military clout to challenge Kerensky for his position.

The Battle of Luthien was the second-largest battle of the entire Clan Invasion, second only to the Battle of Tukayyid. In the end though the two-day battle was a total and bitter defeat for the Smoke Jaguars, having lost over fifty percent of their forces. It would take more than a month to recover not only their material losses but from the intense humiliation of their defeat, taking their anger out on the populace of their occupied worlds and quarreling with Clan Nova Cat, accusing their merchants of gun-running for the rebels on Jaguar worlds. Though such activity was rumored there was no hard evidence of such smuggling, and ilKhan Kerensky would not allow any Trials of Grievance so as to preserve the Clans' fighting strength. In the meantime under orders from DCMS high command the Ryuken regiments stationed on Wolcott conducted lightning raids on nearby Jaguar worlds, both to destroy Clan supply caches and arm the locals, a move which to even harsher punishments for those suspected or linked in any way to subversive activities and a blanket ban on fraternization between Clan personnel and the public.

It wouldn't be until Februrary of 3052 that the Smoke Jaguars resumed their Fifth Wave offensive, capturing five more worlds though at a far higher toll than expected; however all hope of catching up with Clan Wolf's stunning pace of success was lost. In a demoralized state from their defeats the Smoke Jaguar Khans welcomed the announcement by ilKhan Kerensky that the fate of the Inner Sphere would be decided in a proxy battle on Tukayyid. Distrustfully of anything which bore the fingerprints of the ilKhan and taken aback by the possibility of fifteen years of peace, they nevertheless saw it as a chance to redeem themselves in the eyes of the other Clans.

Marshdale (DC) November 3051

Attackers: 3rd Jaguar Cavaliers (Delta Galaxy)

Defenders: 6th Ghost Regiment

Major Battle Sites: Drenden, Asquare Field, Thoughnet

Outcome: The Sixth Ghost had one year to prepare themselves for the coming of another Clan wave, their preparations including a series of fortified positions and stockpiles scattered across the planet's smallest continent. When the Smoke Jaguars finally attacked the Sixth Ghosts led them on a running battle along the length of the continent, destroying a number of Jaguar 'Mechs in ingenious traps. At the last the Jaguar commander ordered his heavy forces into Drenden and order them to lay waste to the city, hoping to draw the regiment into open battle. The Ghosts complied and faced them in Asquare Field, an area they had previously sown with bombs and traps. However the Third Cavaliers had learned their lesson and sent members of the technician caste ahead to trip the bombs in advance; once accomplished they proceeded to cut a swath right through the Sixth Ghost. Though an orderly retreat was made to the city of Thoughnet, the Jaguars manage to overtake and defeat the unit there.

Labrea (DC) November 3051

Attackers: Trinary Assault (5th Jaguar Regulars, Alpha Galaxy)

Defenders: 3rd Royal Labrean Defense Regiment (2 armored battalions + aerospace support)

Major Battle Site: Colodney

Outcome: When the battle began the Smoke Jaguars were surprised by the appearance of the Labreans' aerospace fighters, something which their commander had failed to mention in the batchall. Though this initially pinned down the attacking Clanners, their response to what was considered a falsehood was to destroy the grounded air units during a nighttime raid. Within a week the rest of the armored battalions were hunted down and destroyed.

Hyner (DC) November 3051

Attackers: 1st Striker Cluster (Delta Galaxy)

Defenders: 2nd Arkab Legion

Major Battle Sites: Trent's Glen, Wessen, Binar Heights

Outcome: The battle for the planet was personally led by Loremaster Edmund Hoyte, dropping through heavy cloud cover with the rest of First Striker only to be immediately engaged by the Second Arkab. Much to the immense surprise and disturbance of the Jaguars, an entire battalion of the defender were equipped with Star League-era 'Mechs, a sight never-before seen during the invasion. The Legionaries used hit-and-run tactics to whittle down the Jaguar forces as they sloughed through Trent's Glen, turning to attack them en mass as they cleared the glen. However the implacable fury of the Smoke Jaguars eventually forced the Second Arkab's lines break, with over half of the Legionnaires retreating back through the wooded glen. They eventually evaded their Smoke Jaguar pursuers and ultimately escaped offworld during a brilliant midnight operation under the cover of darkness.

Outer Volta (DC) November 3051

Attackers: Alpha Star (Shroud Keshik)

Defenders: None

Major Battle Site: None

Outcome: The only one of the initial four planets taken with ease, Outer Volta's planetary council announced their surrender before the Smoke Jaguars had a chance to land.

Avon (DC) November 3051

Attackers: 5th Jaguar Regulars (Alpha Galaxy), 4th Jaguar Dragoons (Delta Galaxy), 214th Jaguar Dragoons (Beta Galaxy), Clan Smoke Jaguar; 274th Battle Cluster (Delta Galaxy), 449th Assault Cluster (Alpha Galaxy), Clan Nova Cat

Defenders: 2nd Amphigean Light Assault Group

Major Battle Site: Devon Highlands, Fresno, Beachweld

Outcome: A joint Smoke Jaguar-Nova Cat operation, the invasion of Avon began with each Clan landing one Cluster to face off against the Second Amphigean. Knowing they could not defeat their foes in a stand-up battle, the defenders instead began a short but fierce guerrilla campaign aimed at destroy as much of the Clans' supplies as possible. Entire companies of 'Mechs attacked Clan supply depots under the cover of darkness, though in truth their attack was merely a diversion to allow commando units to infiltrate and plant explosives among the supplies. As a result of such "perfidious" tactics, the Smoke Jaguar commander ordered a "headhunter" Star to locate and destroy the Second's command post, which they succeeded in a ruthless strike which killed the entire command staff. Bereft of leadership the defender's efforts began to falter, until finally the unit was destroyed just days later from an attack by the 214th Jaguar Dragoons.

Luthien (DC) January 3052

Attackers: Alpha, Beta and Delta Galaxies (Clan Smoke Jaguar), Alpha and Delta Galaxies (Clan Nova Cat)

Defenders: Draconis Combine Order of Battle

Outcome: Battle of Luthien

Yamarovka (DC) February 3052

Attackers: Trinary Striker, Binary Elemental (6th Jaguar Dragoons, Alpha Galaxy)

Defenders: Legion of Yamarovka (2 'Mech companies)

Major Battle Site: Lasden Bluffs

Outcome: In a short, intense battle the Sixth Dragoons' OmniMechs tore through the defenders before the Elementals even landed on the planet.

Asgard (DC) February 3052

Attackers: 19th Striker Cluster, 4th Jaguar Dragoons (Delta Galaxy)

Defenders: 3rd Benjamin Regulars

Major Battle Sites: Vernan, Odin's Retreat, Ragnarok Plains

Outcome: A continuous artillery bombardment launched by the Third Regulars hit the Smoke Jaguar force as soon as they landed on Asgard. This forced the invaders to conduct a night march to escape the bombardment, arriving at the city of Vernan a full day before they were expected. In the fierce battle which followed the Third's heavy and assault 'Mechs tied up the Jaguars to allow the rest of the regiment to withdraw to secondary defensive lines near the rock formation Odin's Retreat. There they dug in and held the line over the course of an entire month of combat. At the last assault elements of the Fourth Jaguar broke through and rolled up the Third Regulars' western flank, forcing them to pull back across the Ragnarok Plains in a fighting retreat all the way back to their DropShips. Little more than a battalion of the Third Regulars managed to escape offworld.

Port Arthur (DC) March 3052

Attackers: Shroud Keshik, 7th Jaguar Dragoons (Alpha Galaxy)

Defenders: 1st Proserpina Hussars

Major Battle Sites: Zuave Vale, Disher, Point aux Trembles

Outcome: The conquest of the resource-rich Port Arthur was personally conducted by saKhan Weaver, her forces immediately engaging the defenders as soon as they landed and forcing them to fall back to secondary positions. When their attack bogged down, saKhan Weaver ordered a "headhunter" Star to destroy the First Hussars' command company, succeeding in wiping out half the unit but failing to killing Tai-sa Jeong Moon Lee who narrowly escaped. This caused the defenders to retreat again, with the Jaguars again pursuing them. However the Hussars managed to draw them into range of concealed remote-firing weapons protected in hardened positions, forcing the Jaguars to disengage and spend nearly a week rooting out the defenses while the Hussars launched sporadic raids on Clan supply depots. The use of such "dishonorable" tactics only served to infuriate the Jaguars even more; they mericlessly hunted down the rest of the regiment until they were forced to abandon the world.

Tarazed (DC) April 3052

Attackers: Trinary Assault, Trinary Battle (1st Jaguar Guards, Beta Galaxy)

Defenders: 17th and 13th Tarazed Armored Regiments

Major Battle Sites: Lucerne

Outcome: Launching their assault immediately upon landing, the sheer ferociousness of the Smoke Jaguar's assault OmniMechs overwhelmed the defending regiments.

Kiamba (DC) March 3052

Attackers: Galaxy Command Trinary, Alpha Galaxy

Defenders: 3rd Proserpina Hussars

Major Battle Sites: Collins Ridge, Hecate's Swamp

Outcome: Loremaster Hoyte personally led the assault against the combat veterans of the Third Hussars. Upon their landing the Smoke Jaguars were immediately attacked by an armored battalion attached to the Third, allowing attached aerospace forces to strafe the Clan DropShips until the Jaguars finally forced their retreat. The Clan forces then pursued the retreating armor into Hecate's Swamp, where the battalion's personnel mixed kerosene with the murky swamp water and ignited it, catching two whole Trinaries in the fiery deathtrap. Enraged by the dishonorable tactic, Hoyte ordered a headhunter unit to locate the Third's command staff and eliminate them. Tai-sa Weston, along with most of his command company, died in the headhunter's attack, forcing the rest of the demoralized Third to retreat back to Collins' ridge for a brave but futile last stand.

Tukayyid

Main article: Battle of Tukayyid

Bibliography

• Invading Clans