Invasion corridor - Clan Steel Viper

Preparations and Early Waves

When the Grand Council made the fateful decision to invade the Inner Sphere, it was decided that just four Clans would be enough for the task. By dint of being Nicholas Kerensky's direct descendents Clan Wolf was guaranteed one of these four spots, while the other three would be decided by Trials of Combat. However the Warden faction argued heatedly for and won the inclusion of a fifth "reserve" Clan in case the invasion did not go as planned. This would prove fortuitous for Clan Steel Viper, which did well enough in the early rounds to remain one of the last six Clans still fighting for a spot, but in the end could not overcome Clan Smoke Jaguar, Clan Jade Falcon and Clan Ghost Bear. While they would still accompany the invasion force, Steel Viper units would have to watch as their rivals were the first to conquer the "lost paradise."

Bitterly disappointed, the Bloodnamed of Clan Steel Viper challenged Khan Natalie Breen and saKhan Perigard Zalman to a Trial of Grievance, laying the blame for their Clan's failure on its highest officers. Both Khans made no excuse or apology for their Clan's poor performance in the final rounds of the Trials, but nevertheless defeated this challenge to their leadership. They ordered their warriors to resume preparations for the journey ahead, reminding them that they still had the honor of accompanying the invasion force and setting foot on worlds only dreamed about since the Exodus.

During the first few months of Operation REVIVAL, Clan Steel Viper's primary task was to patrol the lines of communication between Clan Space and the invasion force. The dishonor of this thankless task was only compounded when, at the end of the Third Wave, Clan Ghost Bear contracted the Steel Vipers to garrison their worlds. Newly-promoted Khan Bjorn Jorgensson was in desperate need of all the troops he could muster for the coming bidding war against Clan Wolf over Rasalhague, even if it meant having to ask a hated rival for help. The Steel Viper warriors' grumbling at being given tasks normally reserved for freebirth garrison units was only tempered by the awe they felt exploring worlds not seen with Clan eyes in generations.

At the same time Khan Breen was carefully studying the progress of the invasion. The four other Clans were achieving incredible victories, destroying large numbers of Inner Sphere units for little loss, but their progress was much slower than originally anticipated. Bringing this to the attention of her junior Khan, both Breen and Zalman recognized the implications. Sooner or later, the IlKhan would be forced to activate the Steel Vipers in order to shore up the advance.

The Year of Peace

When Leo Showers called for a Grand Kurultai aboard the Dire Wolf, no one expected an attack against the IlKhan by forces of the Free Rasalhague Republic, much less the Rasalhagians themselves. In the final moments of the frantic assault by the Flying Drakøns, Kapten Tyra Miraborg piloted her Shilone fighter into the bridge of the Dire Wolf, killing Leo Showers and paralyzing the entire invasion. In the emergency meeting afterwards many of the assembled Khans argued for an immediate retaliatory strike against the Inner Sphere, while others advised against going against their previously-arraigned strategy in response to a "quirk of fate."

It was the Perigard Zelman who cut through the discord and pointed out the obvious to all in attendance: without an IlKhan to provide some sort of guidance to the invasion and arbitrate any disputes, what little unity there was between the invading Clans would fall apart and with it the invasion. A new IlKhan would have to be elected, which would require a consultation with all Bloodnamed warriors, forcing the Bloodnamed of the five invading Clans to return to Strana Mechty and effectively put the invasion on hold. Objections were raised against this course of action, which would leave the Clans' hard-won gains vulnerable to counter-attack, but it was eventually agreed that electing a new IlKhan was necessary; the remaining Clan forces combined with the state of the Inner Sphere and assistance from ComStar made the possibility of a successful counter-attack slim. On 1 December 3050 the Bloodnamed of the five invading Clans began the long journey back home.

During this time the Khans of the Jade Falcons, Ghost Bears and Smoke Jaguars conspired to charge Wolf Khan Ulric Kerensky in the culpability of Leo Showers' death and so strip him of his rank. They approached the other Khans with their revenge plot, including Breen and Zelman, but in the end the Steel Viper Khans threw their support behind Ulric and voted down the motion in the Grand Council. It was while the Grand Council was still in session that Clan Steel Viper chose to fight a Trial of Possession with the Jade Falcons over the genetic material of their Khan, Elias Crichell. In spite of his age Khan Crichell led the Trial himself, throwing three Clusters of the Omega Galaxy against the entirety of the Steel Viper's Gamma Galaxy and soundly defeating them. In retaliation the Jade Falcons would fight another Trial of Possession, this time over control of the Clan planet Hellgate, which the Steel Vipers loss.

After losing in the first phase of their revenge against Ulric, the Crusader conspirators initiated the second phase of their plan and chose to nominate him to the position of IlKhan. When he won, Ulric repaid their kindness by activating the Steel Vipers and Nova Cats as full members of the invasion, then pairing them with the Jade Falcons and Smoke Jaguars respectively to share the same invasion corridors. The Jade Falcons understood this to be a shrewd political move, intended to imply they needed help and saddle them with a "partner" more likely to slow them down, and planned accordingly. For their part the Steel Vipers were overjoyed to be an active part in the invasion, despite having to fight alongside the Jade Falcons; though neither Clan liked the other, the Jade Falcons were more intense in their hatred of the Steel Vipers than was repaid in kind.

Wave 5 (November-December 3051)

Worlds Ceded to Clan Steel Viper

Jabuka (FRR) December 3051

Attacker: Alpha Galaxy

Defenders: 17th Donegal Guards RCT 19th Lyran Guards RCT

Outcome: The Vipers decided to change the common fighting style. Because they used artillery strikes and Elemental for sneak attacks from the rear.

Montmarault (FC) November 3051

Attacker: 1st Viper Guards (Alpha Galaxy)

Defenders: 305th Assault Guards (Delta Galaxy)

Outcome: The hatred of both sides turned the battle into a slaughter. After 72 hours of fighting the forces were executed. The Steel Viper could secure victory, but the Jade Falcons were angry about the outcome. The Viper force were annihilated after the warriors named the Jade Falcon Clan Chicken.

Orkney (FRR) December 3051

Attacker: 104th Assault Cluster (Viper Guards)

Defenders: 1st Falcon Strikers (Delta Galaxy)

Outcome: With equal forces from the two clans, the following battle showed no clear winner. The engagement ended after 2 days in a retreat of both sides. The Vipers claimed sole ownership of the planet because the Falcons left the world after Tukayyid.

Twycross November 3051

Attacker: 423rd Assault Cluster 428th Assault Cluster 94h Battle Cluster (Gamma Galaxy)

Defenders: 9th F-C RCT 10th Lyran Guards RCT

Outcome: The Vipers knew about the horrendous defeat from the Falcons and tried to avoid the same mistakes. The clan forces used the planetary weather to their advantage. The sandstorms were used as cover for the landing cluster. The defenders were not prepared and the Vipers dealt a huge amount of damage to the F-C units. The Viper-Maw tactic was used with great effect by the cluster. The defenders made a fighting retreat to the spaceport and abandoned the world.

Post Invasion

Antares (FC) September 3053

Attacker: 1st Viper Guards 2nd Viper Guards (Alpha Galaxy)

Defenders: 2nd Falcon Jaegers 5th Battle Cluster (Delta Galaxy)

Outcome: The invading Steel Viper unit was surprised by the aid from the locals. They helped the Vipers with their superior knowledge about the terrain. These give the Vipers an initial advantage, because the defending Falcon units were corralled to one place. The co of the Falcon ask the Vipers for safcon, which was granted.

Blackjack (FC) June 3052

Attacker: 4th Viper Guards Aplpha Newt Cluster Alpha Solahma Cluster (Alpha Galaxy)

Defenders: 3rd Talon 4th Talon (Omicron Galaxy)

Outcome: As a response to the raids from the Jade Falcons, the Viper came to Blackjack to stay. The initial landing was shortly contested by the 2 Talon forces. When they discover the superior numbers of the invaders, they retreat to a small city. The high temperature were in the beginning an disadvantage to Vipers. At the dawn of the night, the invaders make the final assault and have another planet in their ownership.

Blair Atholl (FC) November 3052

Attacker: 4th Viper Guards 400th Assault Cluster (Alpha Galaxy)

Defenders: 89th Striker Cluster 94th Striker Cluster (Vau Galaxy)

Outcome: The initial landing of the Steel Vipers were contested by the 89th Striker. The assault seed chaos in the line of the invader, but only for a short time. The 89th had withdrew to an second defense line were the sister unit, the 94th Striker Cluster, waited in prepared position of the advancing Viper forces. In a long battle the 89th were annihilated by the fury of the Steel Vipers adn the 94th Striker could barely lift offworld.

Goat Path (FC) June 3052

Attacker: Viper Fusiliers 126th Strike Cluster (Beta Galaxy)

Defenders: 2nd Falcon Jaegers 5th Battle Custer (Delta Galaxy)

Outcome: In response to the increase crossborder raids between the Falcon and the Viper, the planet get an battleground. The Vipers tried to take the fight to the Falcons back. The equal forces battle hard to gain the upper hand. The two Viper cluster could secure the planet but only with heavy loses.

Graus (FC) September 3053

Attacker: 4th Viper Guards 400th Assault Cluster (Alpha Galaxy)

Defenders: 4th Falcon Velites 89th Striker Cluster (Vau Galaxy)

Outcome: The invasion of the world was hard fought on both sides. The simultaneous assault at Antares gave the Falcons time for preparation, because the other Viper force started their assault 30 minutes too early. The following battle continued for over 72 hours without rest. The Falcons decided to leave the planet immediately.

Parakoila (FC) July 3052

Attacker: 75th Striker Cluster (Gamma Galaxy) Steel Viper

Defenders: 5th Provisional Garrison Cluster (Rho Galaxy) Jade Falcon

Outcome: The planetary commander of the Falcon troops considered the world not worthy enough for a battle with the invading Steel Vipers. With only few shots fired, the 5th PGC abandoned the planet.

Persistence January/March 3054

Attacker: 195th Striker Cluster (Beta Galaxy)

Defenders: 4th Talon (Omicron Galaxy)

Outcome: What began as an normal invasion get into along campaign. The assaulting 195th Striker Cluster used their ferocity as an advantage, but the Talon unit gained lost ground. This situation continued for the next 12 weeks. Both sides haven't the proper strength to deliver the final strike when needed. The situation was decided with an duel which the CO of the Viper had won.

Trell I (FC) April 3053

Attacker: 51st Battle Cluster (Gamma Galaxy) Steel Viper

Defenders: 8th Provisional Garrison Cluster (Epsilon Galaxy) Jade Falcon

Outcome: The 51st Battle Cluster had the task to destroy the raiders base of the Jade Falcon. The landing was uncontested and the following search took a long time. When the Vipers enter the a cave system, the defending Falcon began their ambush. The battle was hard and over the next 4 days no clear winner had emerged. The better equipment of the Viper secured the victory even in light of the high casaulties.