OBT Forum

Okay.  So a lot of you out there are sad and disappointed by the disappearance of the 1st Scorpion Cateran Cluster (Heartvenom) from the Clan Goliath Scorpion Touman in my previews for Handbook:  Clan Goliath Scorpion.  And I can understand why.  The problem was, it just didn't fit into the feel of Beta Galaxy.  Too many Elementals, too few OmniMechs to ride.  And yes, I know by the fluff that many of those were actually intended to paradrop in from Kirghiz heavy OmniFighters . . . but what about after that?  How would they keep up with the fast paced units of the Sand Runners?

So, I transformed Heartvenom into a Dragoon Cluster.

And I nearly--almost, anyway--went back and added several Special Operations Elemental Trinary formations to regain that "feel" of the old Cateran unit.

But that really didn't work.  And as much as I wanted to add the Scorpion Cateran Cluster (modified, of course!) back into the Touman as an independent unit, I tried to abide by the limits of what the Scorpions raised in canon.  Of course, when I decided to Absorb some Nova Cats after their Abjuration, I added a couple of new units outside the realm of what the Scorps raised in the canon universe.

So, my question is this:

Should I go ahead and add the following unit to the Scorpion Touman in HB:  CGS?  The 26th Scorpion Cateran Cluster is quite different from the usual Scorpion formations (both canon and my version!) and is, in fact, nothing less than Clan Golaith Scorpion's version of Special Forces.  Navy SEALs.  Marine Force Recon.  Delta Force.  SAS.  Etc.  Etc.  Etc.

Anyway, this is what I have for them when I was working on the concept.  Tell me your opinion in the poll above and feel free to post your thoughts below.


26th Scorpion Cateran Cluster (The Ghost Scorpions)
Skill:  Elite
Reliability:  Fanatical

The 26th Scorpion Cateran Cluster was organized in 3044 by Khan Nikolai Djerassi when he oversaw the reorganization of Clan Goliath Scorpion's Touman.  While the role of the Cateran Cluster was originally entrusted to the 1st Scorpion Cluster (Heartvenom), Djerassi intended for that Flagship unit of the Clan to become a more conservatively organized Dragoon Cluster.

The role of a special operations force was--in his considered opinion--a necessary one for the Clan.  But he questioned whether or not the components of the existing Cateran Cluster were required for the role.  Specifically, what use were OmniMechs (and to a lesser degree, OmniFighters) in conducting Special Operations . . . which, in a traditional sense, were more light infantry forces operating as irregulars, raiders, and commandos.  Often behind enemy lines and out of support of regular forces.

The newly assembled 26th Scorpion Cateran Cluster would be based around five Trinary formations comprised of some of the finest Elemental Warriors to be found within the Clan.  But Djerassi required more than mere Warrior prowess to be selected for this unit . . . he required a "flexibility" in thinking and outlook that many Clan Warriors simply did not have.

Even with nearly 4500 Elemental Warriors assigned to the Touman, Djerassi was hard pressed to find the 375 he would eventually assign to the Ghost Scorpions.  But he did manage to find them and to train them in an uncompromising fashion.

The Ghost Scorpions train in hostage rescue, head-hunting missions, strategic reconnaisance and infiltration operations, abductions and/or assassinations of high value targets, and small scale commando operations that include sabotage as well as direct combat.

The average Warrior of the 26th Cateran Cluster is one of the deadliest within the Scorpion Touman . . . by any means of measure.  Moreso, because these Warriors will set aside zellbrigen and Clan traditions if necessary to accomplish their missions.

Djerassi knew that the Ghost Warriors would require battlefield transport, because while Elemental Battle Armor was very effective in its role, it was also quite slow.  A small hover transport--named the Janus--was designed and commissioned and one assigned to each Elemental Point within the Cluster.  This dedicated OmniVehicle (crewed by just a single Warrior) could transport the Elemental point faster than even a Fire Moth and provide direct supporting fire if needed. 

The second dedicated vehicle was the Blackhawk Small Craft.  This vessel--a variant of the commonly used Zama--was rebuilt to serve as a transport.  Although unarmed, the Blackhawk was well armored and while the transport capacity was slight (5 Elementals and up to 10 tons of cargo, or just 10 Elementals) it was also incredibly fast for a Small Craft!  Indeed, the Blackhawk was able to match the thrust of the Avar OmniFighter!

These vessels delivered the Elemental Warriors of the 26th Cateran Cluster via parachute or paraglider deep behind enemy lines or in hostile territory.  Able to conduct HALO (high-altitude, low-opening), HAHO (high-altitude, high-opening), and LALO (low-altitude, low-opening) drops (normally at night and at high rates of speed, though typically--but not always!--subsonic), the Blackhawk was one of the favored insertion platforms for the Ghost Scorpions.

Transport was provided for each Trinary with a Scorpion Mark VI Troop Carrier DropShip.  Each Scorpion VI could carry 75 Elemental Warriors, 15 Janus hover transports, and 5 Blackhawk Small Craft, plus technical support crews and staff.  Only 212 tons of general cargo space remained available, but the Ghost Scorpions required little in the way of support that more traditional OmniMech and OmniFighter based formations needed in order to operate for extended periods of time.

Interstellar transport was provided by a single Voyager-class JumpShip with the sixth docking collar occupied by a Warden-class Assault DropShip for orbital support.  However, unlike other Clan Clusters, the 26th Cateran would often assign a Trinary or two to operate independently.  When this happens, the Khan or saKhan will assign a Merchant caste JumpShip (typically a two-collar Aggressor-class or three-collar Seeker-class) for transport and support.

Only seldom is the full Cluster deployed en masse.

While the 26th Cateran Cluster is often described as an "Elemental Cluster", the Warriors do not always wear suits of Elemental Battle Armor.  Rather, they will wear Elemental Battle Armor, Undine Underwater Operations Battle Armor, light Battle Armor, or the Clan upgrade of the old Nighthawk PA(L) as needed and required by their mission.  In fact, Warriors of the Ghost Scorpions have on at least one occasion deployed as unarmored infantry!

When facing the Ghost Scorpions one can never quite be certain of just what he will be fighting!