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Inner Sphere News - May 6th, 3067

Sources in the Irece Prefecture, the Nova Cat administered section of the Combine/Dominion border, have been reporting the massing of Nova Cat naval assets in the Mualang for several days now.  Bt May 5th, there were a reported 11 combat JumpShips at the systems nadir jump point, with rumours of additional vessels in nearby systems.

However, early this morning, nine of the eleven vessels jumped out of the Mualang system, not to the Ghost Bear Dominion, but to other systems in the Prefecture.  This sudden massing and dispersal of forces has eerie parallels in Operations GOTTERDAMMERUNG and GALAHAD, with observers interested to see if such an event occurs again.

Despite the apparent exercise, or stand down, persistent rumours are coming from Combine sources close to the Nova Cats, stating that the sudden stand down was unexpected and that the DCMS fully expected a heavy foray by Nova Cat forces against the Ghost Bear Dominion.  Why the Nova Cats opted to call of any potential assault, or why the assault was planned in the first place, is not clear, only adding to the deeper mystery of these enigmatic Clansmen.

Report Name:      State of Clan Forces Fleeing Homeworlds
Date:         12th February 3072
Author:   Colonel Sally Jacka, Commander, Wolfnet Clan Analysis Division

The following report outlines what we now know of the Inner Sphere Clan’s assets that relocated from the Clan Homeworlds over the course of 3070-3072.  Wolfnet gained this information through contacts we have cultivated with Clan Diamond Shark, but the reasoning behind the relocation is still not clear.  Our sources continue to remain quiet regarding what has happened in the Homeworlds and we will continue our ongoing investigations into this matter.

CLAN DIAMOND SHARK
Clan Diamond Shark had a total of twenty Clusters and eight WarShips in the Homeworlds in 3070, with what appears to be extensive preparations for a Ghost Bear style relocation, allowing a large percentage of these units to escape.

Alpha Galaxy lost two clusters, but was able to get nearly 200 000 civilians and the Clan’s Genetic assets off Babylon.  The remaining strength of the Galaxy is two weak Clusters, but other forces will likely be transferred to rebuild the Galaxy.

Lambda Spina was the core of the successful evacuation of Paxon, where over 600,000 civilians were rescued.  Although the Galaxy took heavy damage, it remains operational.
Rho Spina assisted nearly 500,000 civilians evacuate Barcella, but suffered the loss of its command Cluster in the heavy fighting there.  It is possible that the Galaxy will be disbanded and folded into Alpha Galaxy.

Sigma Galaxy was spread across three worlds, assisting with the successful Paxon operation, as well as over 200,000 civilians of Delios.  However, on Strata Dominigo, the 73rd Striker was destroyed along with the Diamond Shark enclave there.  Sigma remains operational, but only in a limited sense.

Spread across 4 worlds, Zeta suffered the worst damage of all Shark Galaxies.  With two clusters gone and two more in poor state, it is likely that Zeta will be used to fill holes in Sigma’s roster.

All in all, eight clusters were lost or severely damaged, with two more heavily damaged and the remaining ten in some semblance of order.

The Diamond Shark fleet assets in the Homeworlds had been augmented by the Cache fleet, as had many Clans in recent years, with the CDS Deep Strike (McKenna), CDS Diamond Will (Cameron), CDS Piranha (Lola), CDS Quick Death (Vincent) and CDS Thresher (Congress) joining the fleet.  These ships became the margin of error that allowed the Sharks to evacuate so much from their Homeworld enclaves.

The entire fleet assembled in the Paxon system, where the various civilian convoys rendezvoused prior to the final evacuation.  The combined Adder/Viper/Cobra fleet attempted to destroy the Shark super-convoy in one battle, but was thwarted due to the heroic actions of the fleet.  The CDS Diamond Will (Cameron), last ship to be recommissioned was barely able to function and was left behind, with CDS Piranha (Lola) heavily damaged and left adrift.  The CDS Bloodlust (Aegis), CDS Swiftstrike (Fredesa), CDS Devourer (Carrack) and CDS Bloodletter (Carrack) were all lost over Paxon, with the CDS Star Swimmer (Carrack) and CDS Tracey (Essex) barely able to make it out of the system.

CLAN ICE HELLION

Clan Ice Hellion, with most of the Clan’s main combat formations in the Inner Sphere, and never being noted for thinking too far ahead, was unprepared for the savagery of the assaults that fell on the Hellion Homeworlds.  With only seven Clusters and nine Flurries to defend their civilians, the Ice Hellions were only able to evacuate 735,000 of the lower castes.

Delta Galaxy, long a pariah in the Clan, saw savage action on Barcella and Hector, with only a single Cluster escaping the carnage.  Theta suffered the same fate, with only one of its Clusters escaping.  The Flurries suffered just as much as their more honoured brethren, with five Clusters destroyed outright and barely one and a half Clusters of equipment evacuated.

The Hellion Homeworld fleet was in the process of fitting out its remaining cache ships when the other Clans struck.  The CIH Savage (Essex), CIH Hector's Shield (Lola), CIH Hector's Sword (Lola), CIH Icehold (McKenna) and CIH Great Den (Potemkin) were all in varying states of readiness when attacked, with only the Great Den suffering much damage and the Hector's Sword only just functional enough to jump out of its refit station.  Several other ships were lost with the CIH Pack Leader (York) lost over Hector and the CIH Maker (Carrack), CIH Moore’s Honour (Essex) and CIH Impaler (Lola) lost over Tamaron.

CLAN SNOW RAVEN

Clan Snow Raven had seen the writing on the wall in 3071, doing its best to prepare itself for an eventual evacuation from the Homeworlds.  Although not a noted ground power, the Raven’s Ground forces proved more than enough force when covered by the guns of the Raven Fleet.

On Bearclaw, Beta Galaxy was able to get 350,000 civilians away, with moderate to heavy losses, mainly to the 9th Wing and Beta Solahma.  Lum saw Delta Galaxy loose the 4th Garrison Cluster, but manage to evacuate nearly 400,000 from the Raven Capital.  Hellgate was completely evacuated, but at a severe cost to Epsilon Galaxy, as the Vipers hit hard and fast.  Brim saw heavy fighting, but a successful evacuation offset the heavy losses suffered by Gamma Galaxy.  However on Circe, Kappa Galaxy was brutalised, with little more than 250,000 civilians evacuated before Kappa was routed from the field.  Spread across four worlds, Zeta Galaxy was all but wiped out, with only remnants of one Cluster still operational.  There seems little chance of Kappa or Zeta remaining active, with their remaining forces likely to go to shoring up heavily damaged formations like Gamma Galaxy.  The additional loss of the Corvus Keshik was a blow, but their actions protected the genetic legacies of the Clan.

The Raven fleet proved the difference for the safety of the Clan, with only the CSR Black Beard (Fredesa) and CSR Treachery (Potemkin) lost over Circe, the CSR Corvidae (York) and CSR Currawong (Aegis) lost over Lum, the CSR Blue Quest (Aegis) and CSR Snow Raven (Nightlord) lost at Strana Mechty.  Additinally, the CSR Cold Hunter was lucky to escape Hellgate after taking significant damage.  These losses were offset by the commisioning of the following ships over the previous three years: the CSR Currawong (Aegis) CSR Silver Shield (Cameron), CSR Grey Roost (Carrack), CSR Nighthawk (Essex) and the CSR Saladin (Sovetskii Soyuz).

Although a report from 3072, and me planning in 3067 at the moment, that should give an idea of how the Wars of Reaving effect this AU.  Attached is the above posts with a little more detail.

Here is a quick export showing the Falcon/Lyran border, with units shown.  Should work well.

Second Law of Thermodynamics?