OBT Forum

I was doing some reading on Sarna.net, and came across this in the Clan Mongoose entry:

During the early years of the Golden Century, many conflicts would arise as the Clans expanded to fill up the volume of the Kerensky Cluster. Clans that used their resources for exploration and colonizing often had to defend their investments from another Clan that was waiting to poach the fruits of their labor with military strength. Surprisingly, the most aggressive Clan of this era was not the Smoke Jaguars, despite being well-known for their casual brutality.[2] That distinction belonged to Clan Mongoose. Driven by Khans who mortally feared showing any martial weakness to their competitors, they were almost as infamous for their incessant attacks on many of their neighbors as they were for their constant political maneuvering, which had over the years earned for their Clan the nickname "the Weasels".[3] The Clans targeted for their predations included, but certainly were not limited to, Clan Blood Spirit during the years after the Annihilation of the Not-Named Clan, and later, Clan Star Adder.[4][5][6]

Okay, Clan Mongoose was THE single most aggressive Clan of the period following Klondike, the Wolverine Annihilation, and the Widowmaker Absorption.  And, apparently, they were quite good at it.  They took several worlds from the Adders (no mean feat, that) while simultaneously engaging other Clans.  That part was really surprising.

In 2868, the Mongooses geared up for a strike against the Smoke Jaguars on the colony world of Atreus as part of an ongoing feud with that Clan. Just as they launched this attack, the Star Adders launched their own multi-world assault on Clan Mongoose in revenge for the loss of nearly half their colony worlds five years earlier. Colony after colony fell to the well-executed plans of the Star Adders and their Khan.[6] The disrupted Mongoose attack against the Smoke Jaguars on Atreus was soundly defeated. This turn of events would lead Khan Walter Martindale of Clan Mongoose to hastily bring charges against Clan Smoke Jaguar in the Grand Council, accusing them of starting a wasteful conflict. While this was a blatantly obvious ploy to stall for time in which to get his Clan out of the pit it had dug for itself, what decided his fate - as well as the fate of every other Mongoose citizen - was his shameless use of the Great Kerensky's words in an attempt to bolster his position. Infuriated by this sickening display of political maneuver, Smoke Jaguar Khan Theodore Osis would declare the Mongoose leaders incapable of ruling their citizens. Calling Khan Martindale's citation of the Great Kerensky's words in a ploy to cover his Clan's weakness an act of Treason against the Grand Council, Khan Osis would immediately demand a Trial of Absorption against their Clan. The Grand Council had seen far too many political stunts by the Mongoose Khans during the past few decades, and voted in favor of the Smoke Jaguar Khan's motion. Clan Mongoose would have little time to prepare their already damaged Touman for the onslaught ahead.[4][5][7]

The events leading up to their Absorption Trial, and the rather politically tone-deaf nature of Khan Martindale.  Plus we are told that Clan Mongoose (the Mongeese, perhaps??) had little time to prepare for the brutal Jaguar assault about to descend upon them.

Wasting no time, the Smoke Jaguar WarShip fleet attacked the Mongoose fleet above Circe. After the appearance of the Quicksilver Mongoose, the Mongoose's flagship, the battle nearly tipped in their favor, as it destroyed its Clan Smoke Jaguar counterpart, the McKenna-class Obsidian. But after engagement by the Lola III-class Storm Cat, it was crippled and allowed to drift into space, leaking atmosphere from its shattered frame. A large part of the Mongoose's Aerospace Fighters made their appearance above Circe, inflicting heavy loses on the Jaguars. By the end of the engagement, the bulk of the Mongoose fleet had been destroyed, but only at a high price paid by the Jaguar's space forces.[5][8]

Next, the Smoke Jaguars would hit the now isolated Mongoose colonies remaining in the Kerensky Cluster. At the Mongoose colony on Atreus, the Smoke Jaguars would win after a conflict that ground both sides down to dust. After the initial pitched battle, remnants of the Mongoose naval and aerospace forces rallied to nearly retake the spaceport, but ultimately failed to do so. On Kirin, the battle would be even more protracted. The Mongoose defenders brought in most of their remaining Aerospace forces, which were still considerable. In spite of a few flashes of hope in these battles, as well as the inflicting of heavy casualties on the Jaguar attackers, the Mongoose defenders were inevitably destroyed, or surrendered.[5][8]

Here is what caught my eye at first glance.  The Warriors of Clan Mongoose are giving just as good as they are getting . . . against the Jaguars!  ". . . ground both sides down to dust."  ". . . the inflicting of heavy casualties on the Jaguar attackers . . ."  This is NOT the picture that I had of the Mongoose Touman.  Sure, they are losing against the Jags, but are inflicting just as many (if not MORE) casualties upon the attacker as they are taking.

All of which leads up to the finale . . .

Finally, Circe was the only Mongoose enclave left. After taking the Mongoose territory on the main continent, defended by the Mongoose solahma, the Smoke Jaguars would run up against the island fortress of Fianna. With heavy defenses and even a blue navy to patrol the surrounding waters, the Mongooose warriors were optimistic about being able to hold out for years against their slowly-weakening attackers. The problem was solved when Khan Osis asked ilKhan Zenos Danforth and the Grand Council for the right to use Orbital Bombardment against the Mongoose stronghold. His request would be granted. Unknown to all, Clan Mongoose Khan Walter Martindale perished during the bombardment, a fact that if known could have ended the Trial then and there. After raining destruction down on the western shores of Fianna, the Jaguar forces poured onto the island to finish off their enemy. With Khan Osis personally leading his forces against the final defenses arrayed against them in the city of Tara, Mongoose saKhan Alanah Knox led her Keshik against the Jaguar Khan's flanks, inflicting more casualties than they took, while the last few Aerospace Fighters covered their maneuvers.[9] But it was simply too late. This last, desperate attack would be the final act of a doomed Clan.[8]

I reckon that someone took the Mongoose capital on Shadow, but that isn't mentioned at all.  Still, Clan Mongoose sacrificed their Solahma to buy time to further fortify and reinforce the island-fortress of Fianna.  Plus the mention that the Mongoose had a blue-water navy to help defend the island . . . AND that the Jags (normally all about a massive frontal assault) actually balked at using such tactics against the last stronghold and ASKED permission to use Ortillery to reduce the defenders.

Even then, saKhan Knox and her Keshik inflicted more casualties on the Jags than her Warriors took when she sortied against them.

THAT is really shocking, to me.

And from the entry on Theodore Osis:

Finally, back on Circe, the Jaguars were temporally halted by the massed defenses of the island stronghold of Fianna.[5]

The problem was solved by Orbital Bombardment, a weapon the Jaguars would not shy away from using again, later in their history.[6] This action would kill Mongoose Khan Walter Martindale, a fact that technically could have ended the trial there, but would not be known until later. In one final attack, the cream of the Mongoose Touman ambushed the advancing Jaguars who were led by Khan Theodore Osis personally. The Mongoose saKhan Alanah Knox led her Keshik against the Jaguar flanks, as they poured against the final Mongoose defenses at the city of Tara. The few accounts existing tell of the Mongoose warriors taking out more Jaguars than their own numbers, though the only detailed account is from a source by Mongoose Loremaster, Giovanni Mercedes after years of Jaguar subjugation.[5] The final Aerospace Fighters made their appearance in support of the force of Mongoose 'Mechs. But it was too late. Soon, the struggle was over, and another Clan was no more.[1][2][7]

Let me say this again.  ". . . the Jaguars were temporarily halted by the massed defenses of the island stronghold of Fianna."  And ". . . the cream of the Mongoose Touman ambushed the advancing Jaguars . . ." with ". . . Mongoose Warriors taking out more Jaguars than their own numbers . . ."

From the entry on Alanah Knox:

After the fall of the Mongoose colonies in the Kerensky Cluster, the last Mongoose stronghold left was Circe. After the Orbital Bombardment that rained destruction on the Mongoose defenses of Fianna's western shore (in which Mongoose Khan Walter Martindale perished, unbeknownst to all, including saKhan Knox), the Smoke Jaguars poured onto the island and quickly advanced on the Mongoose city of Tara, led by their Khan, Theodore Osis.[2]

In their last stand of the Trial, the Mongooses arrayed their heavy and assault 'Mechs as the primary defense of the city. Once the Smoke Jaguar horde engaged this force, the Mongoose command Keshik emerged and cut into the flank of the attackers while the remaining Mongoose Aerospace Fighters covered their maneuvers; in the end they destroyed more than they lost. In the end however, they lost to the overwhelming force of the Smoke Jaguar attack. With their last 'Mech to fall, Clan Mongoose also died.[2]

After her charge into the flanks of Khan Osis' forces attacking the city of Tara, the last holdout of Clan Mongoose, it is not clear if she was a survivor or if she died during the attack. Regardless, her genetic legacy, along with the legacies of every other warrior of her Clan, would be cast aside by their arrogant conquerors.[1][3]

Now, perhaps it is just me, but I'm wondering . . . what if ilKhan Danforth and the Grand Council had denied Khan Osis and the Jaguars permission to use Orbital Bombardment?  Could the Jaguars have actually finished the job and taken Fianna without Ortillery support?  And if so, would the Jaguars have been so weakened could they have fallen?

MA