These measures also help serve as a means of exerting control over the general population. [16], The Grand Council was left to absorb and debate what had happened in the preceding months during their meeting on 27 April. [41][42][62], Each Clansman receives work credit on a monthly basis, the exact amount determined by their grade. He borrowed ideas from the medieval Mongol hordes, Shogunate Japan and twentieth century China to create the twenty Clans, each one a reinforced battalion of forty warriors. When the duel degenerated into a melee the ilKhan attempted to step in, but was accidentally fired upon and killed by the Widowmaker Khan. If a Clansman says they will do something they will do it, as not keeping one's word not only slights their personal honor but that of their Clans. With the exception of the Diamond Sharks, most are too involved in their own power politics to meddle with overall Clan affairs, while the threat of bloody reprisals and occasional concessions by the warriors keeps them in line. The exact origins for this practice are unknown: while it requires the speaker to think more about what they are going to say and its archaic form gives a sense of history and tradition, such a petty restriction on what people can say can be another form of control in and of itself. This opposition came to a head in August 2823, and after various political and military clashes, the first Trial of Annihilation was carried out against Clan Wolverine. Like lacrosse most soccer players are aerospace pilots and MechWarriors and its fast pace requires them to develop strategies on the fly. However, it was also during this time that ilKhan Kerensky revealed to ComStar the goal of their invasion was Terra herself. [47], While the eugenics program is popularly associated with trueborn warriors, it also applies to the civilian freeborn castes as well. The Invading Clans formed the Council of Six and forswore any further contact with the Home Clans. [59][60][61], Second-line units are a Clan's reserve and garrison force, used to hold ground taken by frontline units or to attack secondary objectives. Lastly Clan law discourages the combining of genes from related warriors, usually within three generations of each other; despite genetic screening incest remains a taboo. Finally, among most trueborn warriors at least, the idea of worshiping an almighty God figure does not mesh easily with the fact that they were grown in a lab by decidedly ungodlike scientists. Khan Leo Showers, an ardent Crusader, now had the perfect opportunity to force through his agenda. This war resulted in the Home Clans isolating themselves from both the Inner Sphere and the Invader Clans, seeing both as irredeemably tainted. The only truly revolutionary concept pioneered by the Clans was battle armor, introduced by Clan Wolf in 2868, which combined previously available elements such as exoskeletons into an entirely new form with no direct Star League lineage. Though the first rumblings of discontent would come from Clan Jade Falcon (whose Khans eventually purged themselves of this "cancer" in what became known as The Culling), opposition to the ilKhan's authority eventually coalesced around Clan Wolverine. Thanks to their skill at arms, Clan Nova Cat switching sides, and the neutrality of Clan Ghost Bear, the Second Star League succeeded in completely reclaiming all of the conquered Smoke Jaguar worlds in a matter of months. They were brothers and sisters to our own ancestors 250 years ago, yet have been tempered by a stronger flame. These forces typically consist of trueborn warriors less skilled or who have aged past the point where they are still worthy of serving in frontline units, and while not given the latest equipment many still possess Omni technology and given good logistical support. This "macrocurrency" allows financial institutions to operate and for the smooth transfer of goods without having to barter materials. New worlds were explored and colonized, industry rebuilt, and the population finally reached its prewar levels in 2832 thanks to the eugenics program. While the three lower castes enjoy programming largely similar to that found in the Inner Sphere, including soap operas and cooking shows, scientist programming empathizes the advancement and dissemination of knowledge, while warriors prefer material focusing on battles, Trials, military technology and great leaders. Though he had the loyalty of his own unit and most of the navy, the rest of the army rejected him due to his lack of combat experience and made their own attempts to assume command. The surnames were termed Bloodnames, and were traced matrilineally through mitochondrial DNA. [30], The type of media produced also depends on its target audience, though the promotion of the Clan lifestyle remains pervasive. Their invasion corridor encompassed territory from the Federated Commonwealth and the Free Rasalhague Republic. [30], The Clans' language is rooted in Star League English, the language of government and commerce during the now defunct Star League. [40], The jury is directly involved in the trial's proceedings and may ask questions via the inquisitor. An executive officer or a department head on a vessel. The military police are a little-known warrior subcaste, almost exclusively composed of test-downs and freebirths, and are poorly regarded by mainstream warriors. Such punishments are left up to the individual Clan to determine, but can range anywhere up to chemical reprogramming or execution. Accordingly, the Clans adopted a lifestyle in which nothing is wasted. Refusing to honor the deal is possible but such a thing happens just as infrequently. While similar in many respects to the original sport, in Clan Lacrosse each team starts with one hundred points, each goal scored awards fifty and any player carrying the ball may be hit with the butt end of the crosse. [59][60][61], The Clans utilize a strong centralized economic system dedicated to supporting their military forces, with a heavy focus on efficiency and recycling even in daily life. The truth however is that much of this advancement was focused entirely in areas either directly or indirectly combat related, such as weapons, computing, and material chemistry. Denied a chance to participate in the Clan Invasion, they lashed out at the other Clans during, Staunch traditionalists and aggressive fighters, the Jade Falcons were central in the creation of the Crusader philosophy and considered Clan Wolf their enemy. Between 3059 and 3085, no less than eight Clans were Absorbed, Annihilated, or Abjured, while one entirely new Clan (Clan Stone Lion) had been created. Equivalent to a Star Colonel, commands a squadron of DropShips or JumpShips, or a single WarShip. The Jade Falcons were at the forefront of the Crusader faction, their role eventually taken over by the Smoke Jaguars, and were first to introduce a motion to the Grand Council to invade the Inner Sphere in 2980. The visual arts are the most common form of artistic expression and are widely practiced by members of every caste. Clan Diamond Shark was the main proponent of these ventures, as was Clan Nova Cat before becoming outcasts. [38], Given the fact that civilian castes contain more grades of responsibility than the warrior caste (25 vs. 7) and subsequently improving levels of work-credit for food, accommodation, and other amenities, ambition plays a driving force in improving a Clansman's livelihood. [26][27] As per the eugenics program, civilians are matched together based on their genetic compatibility, though the only purpose of these sanctioned matches is for the production of children; as a result promiscuity is also prevalent among the castes. The rank the warrior holds is used as their title unless they hold the lowest rank (for example, Star Commander Zane). For example, higher graded personnel are given more spacious and luxurious housing, though all but the most senior individuals live in apartment blocks. However, all goods are officially the property of each Clan which, along with any unused work credits, can be redistributed at will by the leadership. A blind eye is turned to these "unofficial" couplings so long as birth control is used. Rather than solve crimes, Clan police's primary duty is discouraging them through brutal, authoritative measures; physical beatings also help serve to vent their anger. It formalizes most combats and many decision-making processes into a set of Trials, such as Trials of Position to earn rank, Trials of Possession to claim a resource held by another, and Trials of Refusal to legally refute the order of a superior officer or ruling body. [22] For example, it is known that if a member of Clan Jade Falcon dies, the still functioning inner organs are harvested for transplantation. [14], Each of the devastated Clans attacked their neighbors in a show of strength, the Jade Falcons penetrating into the Lyran Alliance as far as Coventry while the Wolves raided the Smoke Jaguars for more breeding stock. Originally of the Crusader mindset, they were one of the four Clans to first invade the Inner Sphere and blazed an invasion corridor which included the, The Goliath Scorpion Clan was obsessed with recovering any and all lost artifacts of the fallen Star League, sending, A fierce, quick-handed Clan bordering on reckless, the Ice Hellion Clan often grasped for prizes beyond their reach and could be their own worst enemy. Ice Hellion warriors prized the ability to strike first above other considerations, though members of the civilian caste were more restrained in their dealings. The pinnacle of Clan society, and indeed the entire reason for its existence, Clan military forces diverge sharply from their Inner Sphere counterparts thanks to a variety of factors. Few Elementals play lacrosse, which is favored more by aerospace pilots (whose small size suits them in offensive positions) and MechWarrior pilots. [10], In the summer of 3048 the Outbound Light, a ComStar exploration ship, appeared in orbit of the Smoke Jaguar capital world Huntress and was quickly seized. Crimes which might result in long-term imprisonment in the Inner Sphere are normally handled through physical punishment such as flogging, the individual's Abjuration or their execution. a warrior who pilots a vehicle will be called "crewman", and aerospace pilot will be called "pilot" and so on (for example, MechWarrior Aidan). Primarily a propaganda generator tending towards relaying information and indoctrination, Clan media censorship in many ways mirrors the type found in the Draconis Combine or Capellan Confederation (or even in some cases, the Federated Commonwealth), though Clansmen will say at least they are honest with themselves about such censorship. In addition, all of the Invading Clans were formally expelled from the Homeworlds by their Home Clan brethren. So began the Exodus Civil War, which would eventually encompass all five Pentagon worlds and last nearly twenty years.[4]. They throw a lot of breaking balls, and they tend to play for one run at a time. The result is that the general technology level in the Clan Homeworlds differs very little from that of the Inner Sphere and in some areas even lags behind. Such units rarely use Omni technology or battle armored Elementals, instead making do with conventional BattleMechs and aerospace fighters, along with combat vehicles and unarmored infantry. Largely electronic, physical forms of Kerenskies do exist for limited use: small coins two centimeters across represent denominations of 1, 5, 10 and 20 KE, while larger two-by-four centimeter rectangular blocks represent larger values of 100, 1,000, 100,000 and 1,000,000. [9], The debate would continue for decades, and by 3000 the Clans were on the brink of invasion. Recycling of garbage is standard and describing another Clan as wasteful is a deep insult. Ethical concerns kept these artificial wombs from being used for any other purposes, concerns discarded by Kerensky and his scientists in their need for a larger population. At the time of the Clan Invasion of the Inner Sphere, seventeen of the original twenty Clans were still in existence, one of which - Clan Sea Fox - had changed its name to Clan Diamond Shark. Traditionally the Khan serves as head of the Clan while the saKhan acts as the Clan's warlord, although these functions vary between Clans. [27], While known for their utilitarian mindset, the Clans maintain a number of well-developed artistic traditions, much of it focused on their mythological past (especially the Kerenskys); other favorite subjects include major historical events, Clan totems, and landscapes. Some share resources with primary facilities, although the latter always takes precedence. Even ProtoMechs were largely based on 'Mech technology which was simply scaled down in size. But after their loss at Tukayyid, internal tensions within the Clans and an alliance between the Great Houses ended their invasion with the Great Refusal. Primary facilities can generally handle over eight sibkos at a time and graduate a new one every three to six months, depending on the particular Clan's training style. After years of travel coreward from the Inner Sphere, the massive flotilla of Star League refugees came upon five marginally habitable worlds, the so-called Pentagon Worlds (due to their nearly pentametric relation to each other), in August of 2786. However, to the dismay of the Jaguars, Clan Cloud Cobra would fight (and win) for the right to adopt 11 Mongoose legacies that the Cobras continue to use. Focusing on the execution of preplanned plays and teamwork, it is played almost exclusively by Elementals. [50], After being born into a Crche Clan trueborn warriors are then assigned to a sibko, or "sibling company," composed of children from the same geneparents. "[63], Despite restrictions, a substantial black market exists within Clan society. [21] The worlds of the Kerensky Cluster and the Pentagon Worlds are barely habitable and lack easily reachable natural resources. The merchant caste oversees all aspect of economic activity, from the running of major industries like manufacturing, farming and mining to the monolithic trading houses which control the distribution of goods within each Clan and the transactions of goods between them. [6], Opposition to his rule destroyed, the ilKhan set about restructuring society and laying the groundwork for future prosperity. For this reason any nonmerchants found to be in possession of hard currency are considered racketeers and punished with a two-step reduction in grade and public flogging. This helps explains why the mortality rate is much higher among the Clans than in the Inner Sphere: besides the harsher conditions, medical attention is more likely to go to highly skilled individuals who contribute most to society rather than unskilled and easily replaced workers or those whose injuries or old age prevent them from working. First, organized religions provide an alternative power structure to the Clan hierarchy, threatening it with what some deem "poisonous" ideas which could lead to revolt. It also encourages proxy battles and token fights in the form of a bidding process to minimize the forces involved in combat, and duels to minimize actual fighting while, again, emphasizing individual combat prowess. As Aleksandr's eldest son, Major-General Nicholas Kerensky, commander of the 146th Royal BattleMech Division, was his designated heir to take command of the exiled SLDF. Reverses were suffered by the Falcons at the Battle of Twycross and the Jaguars at the Battle of Wolcott, but it would take the sudden death of ilKhan Showers on 1 November 3050 to actually halt the invasion. Consisting of aged or disgraced warriors these units may occasionally be ordered, in the face of overwhelming odds and near-certain death, to hold a location or attack an enemy as part of a major campaigns. In matters involving a warrior, the inquisitor supports the prosecution while an advocate, also a law-trained warrior, supports the defense. The game ends when one team is reduced to negative points or after one hour of play, in which case the team with the highest score wins. Though they failed to secure a place among the invaders of Operation Revival, they made great gains in the Homeworlds during that time, and would go on to Absorb Clan Burrock. Another Clan known for their aggression, Clan Mongoose has been known to clash with other Clans and use politics to sidestep various rules of the Clan. [53], In comparison to the militaries of the Inner Sphere, the Clans have no distinction between enlisted and officer ranks; in effect all warriors are considered "officers" with rough parallels to Inner Sphere ranking systems, though such comparisons break down below the rank of Point Commander. This includes the restoration of archaic English terms such as "rede" and "troth," the abbreviation of certain phrases, and influence of other languages (particularly Russian) in shaping new words, phrases and sentence structures.[34]. Instead of resuming their drive on Terra, a civil war based on territorial status and resentment erupted within the Clan Homeworlds. Both sides used the writings and sayings of Nicholas Kerensky to justify their position, though it was not until the middle of the thirtieth century that the Crusader creed began to gain strength. Only in rare cases will they be sentenced to serve time aboard the Prinz Eugen, the Alcatraz of the Clans, whose cells are reserved predominately for civilian caste members too influential to execute or exile. When the Clans were founded and their breeding program started, surnames were done away with (after the first generation of warriors) and an ordeal called a Trial of Bloodright was established to allow eligible warriors to win the surnames of the original warriors that founded the Clans. [5], By mid-2821, Nicholas had judged the time was right and unleashed Operation KLONDIKE, the campaign to take back the Pentagon worlds. [35] The Council also elects a Loremaster to function as their Clan's arbiter and keeper of knowledge. Commands a section or a work crew on a vessel. The only Clan where a different caste is held in esteem comparable or possibly even greater than the Warriors is Clan Diamond Shark (formerly Clan Sea Fox), where Warrior-Traders are fairly common and Merchants are now the de facto rulers. The relaxation of social mores and taboos, which had been essential for survival during the early Second Exodus, became permanent fixtures in Clan culture. Whereas in the Inner Sphere such acts are considered a sign of intimacy in a relationship, among Clan warriors it is merely a normal part of friendship. [41][44][45], Ironically, while the Clans' eugenics program is the centerpiece of their society, in many ways it is the least technologically advanced. While some of this prestige was lost in the wake of their failure, the power amassed by them nevertheless made the Home Clans extremely jealous, such that Clans of both Warden and Crusader ideologies worked together to stem the power of the Invaders, albeit for different reasons. In 2800 the first of several small-scale clashes broke out on Eden between colonists of Capellan and Federated Suns origin; by May of next year full-scale rebellion broke out. These surnames are named after great historical scientists (Newton, Watson, etc.) Genetic modification to alter physical or mental traits is used only sparingly beyond correcting adverse recessive traits or ensuring an equal balance of males and females to each Bloodhouse. [29], The warrior caste maintains control over the Clans through control of several important institutions and individual positions, with direct participation restricted to Bloodnamed warriors. Much scientific and technological progress took place during this time, most notably when Clan Coyote fielded the first OmniMech in 2854, and with the introduction of battle armor by Clan Wolf in 2868. Like Moses, Aleksandr Kerensky is seen as a father figure who led his people into the wilderness but never saw the Promised Land, while his son Nicholas is the messiah who rescued his people from darkness. [8], During the Political Century, Clan society coalesced around two competing viewpoints: Crusaders who believed it was their right to reestablish the Star League by force with themselves as leaders, and Wardens who thought it was their mission to protect the Inner Sphere from outside threats while maintaining their own distinct culture. The Clans were originally descended from the self-exiled remnants of the Star League Defense Force, who had departed the Inner Sphere after Stefan Amaris brought about the downfall of the Star League. In February of 2784 he made this plan known to the rest of the SLDF: they would depart from the Inner Sphere and live in exile, denying the competing great houses the misuse of their military might during the coming conflagration which would soon engulf known space. Although any form of surname outside the warrior caste is frowned upon, the scientist caste secretly assigns surnames (referred to as Labnames) to people who make great scientific contributions. Rugby is principally played by Clans Steel Viper, Ice Hellion and Star Adder, and revolves around moving an ovoid ball across the pitch to score one of three ways. The Chapels not only serve to hold the DNA of all of its Bloodnamed members, living or dead, but also to memorialize the exploits of their founders and their worthy successors. Of the thousands of troops which had joined his Second Exodus, rigorous testing was used to ensure only the best able, regardless of gender, race or any other quota, would have the honor of becoming among the eight hundred to join the Clans. Tragedy struck just two years later however during a Trial of Refusal between Clan Wolf and Clan Widowmaker. If successful profit is made at minimal effort, while failure means the Clan must absorb the expense. However, exact attitudes towards the media differ between the Clans: at one extreme, the Smoke Jaguars had virtually no media industry and rarely allowed "nonessential" broadcasts within their territory, while at the opposite end, the Diamond Sharks pioneered the Chatterweb, sold media products to the other Clans, and maintain a media empire the rival of any within the Inner Sphere. The five castes are the Warrior Caste, Scientist Caste, Merchant Caste, Technician Caste, and Laborer Caste, with the warriors being the most prestigious. [23], The Clans as a whole adhere to a fairly strict honor system known as the Honor Road. Likewise its units, organized around a base-five system, differ in several regards to classic Inner Sphere military structures. [28][34], Classic religions still exist in Clan society, none more so than in Clan Cloud Cobra where they formed the basis for the formation of Cloisters, whose differing traditions are covered by an overarching concept known as "The Way." Petty crimes might involve the accused person's immediate peers, while more serious crimes require high-ranking officials of the same caste, whether from their city or military unit. Likewise is the belief that, as the honest and noble descendants of the Star League, the Clan way of life is the true way, and any dissenting voice is considered treasonous. [18], Ownership of property is considered un-Clanlike and punishable in accordance with Clan law. The Clan placed a heavy emphasis on aerospace and naval forces, such that for many years they possessed the largest. The use of memory metals and similar compounds, along with sophisticated computer systems, allowed for the creation of adaptive architecture or "smart buildings." Advanced life support and regenerative techniques means the Clans can sustain an injured warrior indefinitely and regrow nearly any body part. Considered time-consuming and "wasteful" by most warriors and scientists, the performing arts are dominated by and produced largely for the merchant and laborer castes, with an entertainment "supercaste" consisting of members from both having developed over the years. They are responsible for electing or sponsoring a qualified applicant to earn an available Bloodname. [63], Maintaining and tracking the flow of work credits and Kerenskies is the job of each Clan's "central bank," in truth a series of institutions associated with major mercantile concerns. The ownership of weapons by nonwarriors is a crime in Clan society. When rumors of first the Fourth Succession War and then the War of 3039 reached them, they put the invasion again to a vote, each time only narrowly defeated by the efforts of Clan Wolf. While some Clans are far more strict and conservative than others, all Clans follow this concept of honor to some extent. Simply replicating an individual however implies stagnation and goes against the Clans' belief in evolution and natural selection. A step down from second-line units, though in the same category, are provisional garrison units. Clan Wolf split into two factions in 3058 after the Refusal War: the Warden Clan Wolf-in-Exile under Khan Phelan Kell who settled in the Inner Sphere, and the 'new' Clan Wolf forged by Khan Vladimir Ward from the remaining Crusader Wolves. [39] Once the jury has reached a verdict, only warriors may appeal by fighting a Trial of Refusal while civilians must accept their punishment. The Com Guards would fight the Clans at a neutral site to decide the fate of the invasion: if they won the Clans would agree to a fifteen-year truce, if they lost then Terra was theirs. In Clan Coyote and Clan Hell's horses, commanders of a Nova have the rank, In Clan Coyote and Clan Hell's horses, commanders of a Supernova have the rank, Your BattleTech News Roundup For July 2022, Your BattleTech News Roundup For June, 2022, Community Outreach - Gaming Jay And His Crescent Hawks Style Remake, civil war based on territorial status and resentment, https://www.sarna.net/wiki/index.php?title=Clans&oldid=863746. The "Not-Named Clan" had been Annihilated shortly after Operation Klondike, while Clan Widowmaker and Clan Mongoose had been Absorbed by Clan Wolf and Clan Smoke Jaguar, respectively, during the Golden Century. On 12 April the reborn SLDF sent a delegation to Strana Mechty and before the Grand Council called for a Trial of Refusal against the invasion of the Inner Sphere. The use of so-called "dirty tricks" in order to get ahead is thus more prevalent among the civilians than it is in the warrior caste, and the most senior member of each caste has an authority potentially rivaling that of the Khans. Each surname has an organization called a Bloodname House. Secondary facilities can train four sibkos at a time, on average graduating one per year. [44][43], The one area where Clan technology really took off however was in the medical field, a result of heavy investment due to the Clan Homeworlds' harsh nature and the need for a large military. [7], The next hundred years between 2830 to 2930 became known as the Golden Century, a time of immense prosperity and growth. These forces are held in the rear to clean up after frontline and second-line units and hold less important targets. While the warrior caste is the most visible part of a Clan's military, or touman, it also includes members of the other civilian castes in a supporting role. Clans Coyote, Goliath Scorpion, and Nova Cat also practice different forms of mysticism, including the use of vision quests to guide their actions. grow food); some teams though are given a specific assignment for a limited time, and so frequently move between different tasks. When charged by the Clan Council to deal with a nonmilitary matter (often at the prompting of the civilians themselves), the caste councils can directly assign individual teams to the task or delegate the matter to a lower council, which does the same. ()". Though they were less quick to adopt new technologies or concepts than other Clans, their approach to life also ensured their survival and growth over the years. The idea of sexual fidelity is completely lost on them as coupling with friends, usually members of the same sibko, is completely natural. Financial transactions between the two are difficult as the exchange ratio of the KE and C-bill is hard to peg down due to differing levels of the availability of goods. They play by weird rules and customs, like the Designated Hitter.