OBT Forum

CLAN STAR ADDER

FRONT LINE FORCES

Clan Command
Adder Command Keshik (The Light of Command) (Elite/Fanatical)
Adder Quasar Keshik (Iron Will) (Elite/Fanatical)

Alpha Galaxy (Old Blood and Guts)
5th Assault Cluster (Georgie's Gorillas) (Elite/Fanatical)
85th Dragoon Cluster (Gallant Steeds) (Elite/Reliable)
87th Dragoon Cluster (Ivory Six-Shooters) (Veteran/Reliable)
11th Armored Cavalry Squadron (Messina Missionaries) (Veteran/Reliable)

Beta Galaxy (Sheridan’s Rifles)
7th Assault Cluster (Serpent's Squires) (Veteran/Fanatical)
116th Dragoon Cluster (Rattlesnakes!) (Veteran/Fanatical)
155th Dragoon Cluster (Dixie Thunder) (Elite/Reliable)
14th Armored Cavalry Squadron (Pale Riders) (Elite/Fanatical)

Gamma Galaxy (Blood Feud)*
2nd Assault Cluster (Brave Serpents) (Elite/Reliable)*
69th Dragoon Cluster (Fighting Gurkhas) (Elite/Fanatical)*
73rd Dragoon Cluster (Scourge of the Highlands) (Veteran/Fanatical)*
9th Armored Cavalry Squadron (Spirit Crushers) (Veteran/Reliable)*

Delta Galaxy (Thunderstrike)
6th Assault Cluster (Vladivostok Flames) (Veteran/Fanatical)
17th Dragoon Cluster (Dreamweavers) (Veteran/Fanatical)
71st Dragoon Cluster (Roughriders) (Elite/Reliable)
18th Armored Cavalry Squadron (Allah's Will) (Elite/Fanatical)

Epsilon Galaxy (Night Terrors)
13th Assault Cluster (Arcadian Devils) (Veteran/Fanatical)
42nd Dragoon Cluster (The Answer) (Elite/Reliable)
193rd Dragoon Cluster (Restless Spirit) (Veteran/Fanatical)
10th Armored Cavalry Squadron (Buffalo Soldiers) (Veteran/Fanatical)

SECOND LINE/GARRISON FORCES

Kappa Provisional Galaxy
178th Adder Sentinels (Veteran/Reliable)
300th Adder Sentinels (Regular/Reliable)
417th Adder Sentinels (Veteran/Reliable)
421st Adder Sentinels (Veteran/Reliable)

Rho Provisional Galaxy*
152nd Adder Sentinels (Green/Reliable)*
312th Adder Sentinels (Green/Reliable)*
460th Adder Sentinels (Regular/Reliable)*
714th Adder Sentinels (Regular/Reliable)*

Sigma Provisional Galaxy
114th Adder Sentinels (Regular/Reliable)
129th Adder Sentinels (Regular/Reliable)
286th Adder Sentinels (Regular/Reliable)
899th Adder Sentinels (Regular/Reliable)

Tau Provisional Galaxy
163rd Adder Sentinels (Regular/Reliable)
362nd Adder Sentinels (Regular/Reliable)
882nd Adder Sentinels (Regular/Reliable)
935th Adder Sentinels (Regular/Reliable)

Omicron Provisional Galaxy*
223rd Adder Sentinels (Green/Reliable)*
301st Adder Sentinels (Regular/Reliable)*
332nd Adder Sentinels (Regular/Reliable)*
485th Adder Sentinels (Green/Reliable)*

NAVAL FORCES

Alpha Naval Star
McKenna-class Battleship (Sovereign Right)
Lola III-class Destroyer (Warlock)
Essex-class Destroyer (Eagle)
York-class Destroyer (Ranger)

Beta Naval Star
Black Lion-class Battle Cruiser (Admiral William S. Preston)
Lola III-class Destroyer (Necromancer)
Essex-class Destroyer (Crusader)
York-class Destroyer (Avenger)

Gamma Naval Star*
Sovetskii Soyuz-class Heavy Cruiser (Nygaard)*
Lola III-class Destroyer (Sorcerer)*
Essex-class Destroyer (Thunderer)*
York-class Destroyer (Sentinel)*

Delta Naval Star
Potemkin-class Troop Cruiser (Renown)
Volga-class Transport (Cho Polu; Pompeii)
Vincent Mk 42-class Corvette (Pegasus)

Units marked with an asterisk (*) remain in the Homeworlds.

Clan Totals
Front Line Clusters:  22
Garrison Clusters:  20
WarShips:  16

Star Adder Touman Organization and Overview
The powerful Star Adders are a rising force in the Clans.  Within the past three decades, they have managed to supplant the Coyotes as one of the top-tier Clans of Kerensky (joining the Ghost Bears, Jade Falcons, Smoke Jaguars, and Wolves).  Although a staunch Clan of Crusaders, the Adders are almost as cautious as the Bears, and rely heavily upon assets that many other traditional Clans find to be . . . disconcerting.  The Adder Watch is perhaps the finest intelligence organization in the Homeworlds, and while not quite the historical-philes that the Scorpions are, they pay close attention to the lessons of the past to avoid making the same mistakes as their ancestors.

Adder front-line Clusters are organized along traditional lines, with three OmniMech Trinary, one Elemental Trinary, and one OmniFighter Trinary.  Transport is provided by a single Discovery-class JumpShip and three DropShips:  an Overlord-C class, a Sassanid class, and a Charybdis class.  The front line Clusters are organized as Assault Clusters (heavy and assault-weight OmniMechs), Dragoon Clusters (medium and heavy-weight OmniMechs), and Armored Cavalry Squadrons (light and medium-weight OmniMechs).  Both Keshik Clusters are organized as Dragoon Clusters.

The second line/garrison Adder Sentinel Clusters are built around a Command Star of 5 BattleMechs, two mixed Trinary (each with 10 BattleMechs and 10 vehicles), two Infantry Trinary (each with 10 vehicles, 25 Elementals, and 125 Conventional Infantry), and a Binary of Aerospace Fighters.  Transport assets consist of one Traveler-class JumpShip and five DropShips:  one Overlord-C class (Command Star and Mixed Trinary), two Seeker-C class (Infantry Trinary), and two Carrier class (Aerospace Binary).

The Adder Fleet is somewhat on the lighter side, but it remains nonetheless a powerful formation organized into four Naval Stars (three combat and one transport).  Their civilian Merchant Fleet is average for the Clans, with 20 Voyager-class, 20 Odyssey-class, and 40 Aggressor-class on active duty, and an additional 10 Wanderer-class, 10 Odyssey-class, and 8 Discovery-class vessels in mothballs orbiting Sheridan.

Total Adder strength consists of 16 WarShips, 150 JumpShips (10 Wanderer-class, 20 Voyager-class, 20 Traveler-class, 30 Odyssey-class, 30 Discovery-class, and 40 Aggressor-class), 187 military DropShips (including 21 Assault DropShips), 472 civilian DropShips, 990 OmniMechs, 500 BattleMechs, 800 vehicles, 1110 OmniFighters, 400 Aerospace Fighters, 3225 Elementals, and 5000 Conventional Infantry.

Operation Revival
With four front line Galaxies, three second line/garrison Galaxies, and three Naval Stars committed to the Invasion of the Inner Sphere, the Adders plan on acquiring a tremendous boost in worlds and resources.  Although the Khans do not believe that the remaining powers in the Inner Sphere will fold once the Lyran Commonwealth has been destroyed, they are prepared to do their best to ensure that destruction.

Three Galaxies (Gamma, Rho Garrison, and Omicron Garrison) and one Naval Star remain in the Homeworlds to protect the five Star Adder enclaves.  Sheridan is garrisoned by Gamma Galaxy (a front line unit) and Gamma Naval Star.  Two Clusters each from the second line Rho and Omicron Galaxies are assigned to Arcadia, Brim, Marshall, and Strana Mechty.





Blood Spirit: 17 Front Line, 15 2nd line/Garrison, 8 Warships, 81 JumpShips, 1395 'Mechs, 400 ASF, 930 vehicles, 1425 Elementals, and 5625 Conventional Infantry.

Burrock: 18 Front Line, 16 2nd line/Garrison, 8 Warships, 143 JumpShips, 1345 'Mechs, 660 ASF, 640 vehicles, 2300 Elementals, and 8000 Conventional Infantry.

Cloud Cobra: 17 Front Line, 15 2nd line/Garrison, 15 Warships, 120 JumpShips, 915 'Mechs, 2010 ASF, 480 vehicles, 1675 Elementals, and 3000 Conventional Infantry.

Coyote:  20 Front line, 16 2nd line/Garrison, 12 WarShips, 120 JumpShips, 1560 ‘Mechs, 860 ASF, 320 vehicles, 1975 Elementals, and 8000 Conventional Infantry.

Diamond Shark:  18 Front line, 16 2nd line/Garrison, 18 WarShips, 223 JumpShips, 1415 ‘Mechs, 1170 ASF, 800 vehicles, 3700 Elementals, and 4000 Conventional Infantry.

Fire Mandrill:  17 Front line, 20 2nd line/Garrison, 8 WarShips, 80 JumpShips, 1365 ‘Mechs, 1190 ASF, 400 vehicles, 1500 Elementals, and 10000 Conventional Infantry.

Ghost Bear:  21 Front line, 20 2nd line/Garrison, 13 WarShips, 160 JumpShips, 1645 ‘Mechs, 1060 ASF, 400 vehicles, 3975 Elementals, and 5000 Conventional Infantry.

Goliath Scorpion:  16 Front line, 15 2nd line/Garrison, 16 WarShips, 130 JumpShips, 1202 ‘Mechs, 832 ASF, 450 vehicles, 2810 Elementals, and 3750 Conventional Infantry.

Hell’s Horses:  18 Front line, 16 2nd line/Garrison, 10 WarShips, 120 JumpShips, 1110 ‘Mechs, 710 ASF, 1420 vehicles, 3650 Elementals, and 6250 Conventional Infantry.

Ice Hellion:  19 Front line, 15 2nd line/Garrison, 12 WarShips, 110 JumpShips, 1650 ‘Mechs, 1220 ASF, 150 vehicles, 1675 Elementals, and 1875 Conventional Infantry.

Jade Falcon:  24 Front line, 20 2nd line/Garrison, 16 WarShips, 124 JumpShips, 1980 ‘Mechs, 1610 ASF, 200 vehicles, 1800 Elementals, and 5000 Conventional Infantry.

Nova Cat:  17 Front line, 20 2nd line/Garrison, 14 WarShips, 147 JumpShips, 1650 ‘Mechs, 940 ASF, 600 vehicles, 1725 Elementals, and 5000 Conventional Infantry.

Smoke Jaguar:  25 Front line, 16 2nd line/Garrison, 15 WarShips, 90 JumpShips, 1650 ‘Mechs, 940 ASF, 600 vehicles, 1725 Elementals, and 5000 Conventional Infantry.

Snow Raven:  17 Front line, 15 2nd line/Garrison, 25 WarShips, 174 JumpShips, 1375 ‘Mechs, 1260 ASF, 600 vehicles, 2325 Elementals, and 3750 Conventional Infantry.

Star Adder:  22 Front line, 20 2nd line/Garrison, 16 WarShips, 150 JumpShips, 1490 ‘Mechs, 1510 ASF, 800 vehicles, 3225 Elementals, and 5000 Conventional Infantry.

Looks awesome, can't wait for Clan Wolf!!!!!

CLAN WOLF

FRONT LINE FORCES

Alpha Galaxy (The Dire Wolves)
The Golden Keshik (Trinary) (Elite/Fanatical)
328th Assault Cluster (The Lion-Hearted) (Elite/Fanatical)
4th Wolf Guards (The Cyclops Cluster) (Elite/Fanatical)
16th Wolf Guards (The Golden Hags) (Elite/Fanatical)
279th Wolf Guards (The Golden Horde) (Elite/Fanatical)

Beta Galaxy (The Arctic Wolves)
The Silver Keshik (Trinary) (Elite/Reliable)
341st Assault Cluster (The Silver Blizzards) (Elite/Reliable)
352nd Assault Cluster (The Silver Wolves) (Elite/Reliable)
3rd Wolf Guards (The Silver Devils) (Elite/Reliable)
101st Wolf Guards (The Winter Wolves) (Elite/Reliable)

Gamma Galaxy (The Wolf Hussars)
The Bronze Keshik (Trinary) (Elite/Reliable)
7th Wolf Guards (The Hungry Wolves) (Elite/Reliable)
11th Wolf Guards (The Bronze Lancers) (Elite/Reliable)
13th Wolf Guards (Wolf’s Widowmakers) (Elite/Reliable)
17th Wolf Guards (The Bronze Shield) (Elite/Reliable)

Delta Galaxy (The Red Wolves)
The Red Keshik (Trinary) (Elite/Questionable)
12th Wolf Guards (The Lightning Pack) (Elite/Questionable)
4th Striker Cluster (Red Death) (Elite/Questionable)
37th Striker Cluster (The Blood Kits) (Veteran/Questionable)
103rd Striker Cluster (Red Thunder) (Veteran/Questionable)

Epsilon Galaxy (Timber Wolves)
The Green Keshik (Trinary) (Veteran/Reliable)
5th Wolf Guards (Ghost Hunters) (Veteran/Reliable)
10th Wolf Guards (The Stalkers) (Veteran/Reliable)
8th Striker Cluster (The Wolf's Swords) (Veteran/Reliable)
24th Striker Cluster (The Scouts) (Veteran/Reliable)

Zeta Galaxy (The Prowling Wolves)*
The Grey Keshik* (Trinary) (Veteran/Reliable)
271st Assault Cluster (The Big Bad Wolves)* (Veteran/Reliable)
8th Wolf Guards (The Stalkers)* (Veteran/Reliable)
17th Wolf Guards (Night Hunters)* (Veteran/Reliable)
42nd Striker Cluster (Snapping Jaws)* (Veteran/Reliable)

SECOND LINE FORCES

Kappa Garrison Galaxy
7th Wolf Chasseurs (Regular/Reliable)
8th Wolf Chasseurs (Regular/Reliable)
14th Wolf Chasseurs (Regular/Reliable)
20th Wolf Chasseurs (Regular/Reliable)

Iota Garrison Galaxy*
6th Wolf Chasseurs* (Regular/Reliable)
9th Wolf Chasseurs* (Regular/Reliable)
10th Wolf Chasseurs* (Regular/Reliable)
15th Wolf Chasseurs* (Regular/Reliable)

Sigma Garrison Galaxy
5th Wolf Chasseurs (Regular/Reliable)
11th Wolf Chasseurs (Regular/Reliable)
16th Wolf Chasseurs (Regular/Reliable)
18th Wolf Chasseurs (Regular/Reliable)

Tau Garrison Galaxy
1st Wolf Chasseurs (Veteran/Reliable)
2nd Wolf Chasseurs (Veteran/Reliable)
3rd Wolf Chasseurs (Veteran/Reliable)
4th Wolf Chasseurs (Veteran/Reliable)

Omega Garrison Galaxy*
12th Wolf Chasseurs* (Regular/Reliable)
13th Wolf Chasseurs* (Regular/Reliable)
17th Wolf Chasseurs* (Regular/Reliable)
19th Wolf Chasseurs* (Regular/Reliable)

NAVAL FORCES

Clan Flagship
Sovetskii Soyuz-class Heavy Cruiser (Dire Wolf)

Alpha Naval Star
McKenna-class Battleship (Werewolf)
Congress-class Frigate (Rogue)
Lola III-class Destroyer (Blood Drinker)
Vincent Mk 42-class Corvette (Trailblazer)

Beta Naval Star
Black Lion-class Battle Cruiser (Implacable)
Congress-class Frigate (Bloody Fang)
Lola III-class Destroyer (Nature's Wrath)
Vincent Mk 42-class Corvette (Killing Blow)

Gamma Naval Star*
Black Lion-class Battle Cruiser (Stealthy Kill)*
Congress-class Frigate (Lone Wolf)*
Lola III-class Destroyer (Pack Hunter)*
Vincent Mk 42-class Corvette (Relentless Pursuit)*

Delta Transport Star
Potemkin-class Troop Cruiser (Full Moon)
Volga-class Transport (Provider)
Carrack-class Transport (Night Warrior)
Vincent Mk 42-class Corvette (Valiant)

Units marked with an asterisk (*) remain in the Homeworlds.

Clan Totals
Front Line Clusters:  24
Garrison Clusters:  20
WarShips:  17

Wolf Touman Organization and Overview
One of the most powerful Clans of Kerensky, the Wolves are a force with which to be reckoned.  Matching the Falcons for the total number of Clusters, and only bested by the Jaguars in the number of front line units, the Wolves also field the third largest Fleet in the Clans, behind the Ravens and the Sharks.  Flexible and capable of independent operations, the Wolves value combined arms and artillery . . . and are experts at employing both.

Wolf front line Clusters are built around a Command Star of 4 OmniMechs and 2 OmniFighters, an OmniMech Trinary, three mixed Trinary of 10 OmniMechs and 25 Elementals each, and a Binary of OmniFighters, for a total strength of 49 OmniMechs, 75 Elementals, and 22 OmniFighters.  Transport assets consist of a Voyager-class JumpShip and six DropShips:  Overlord-C class, one Union-C class, two Carrier class, an Assault DropShip, and a cargo vessel.

The Galaxy Command Keshiks consist of a Command Star of 5 OmniMechs and an OmniMech Binary normally outfitted for artillery support.  Transport is an Aggressor-class JumpShip with two DropShips (a Union-C class and a cargo vessel), except for the Golden Keshik which is transported by the Heavy Cruiser Dire Wolf.

Second line/garrison Clusters are optimized for defense:  each has two BattleMech Trinary, two Infantry Trinary (each with 10 vehicles, 25 Elementals, and 125 conventional infantry), and a Trinary of Aerospace Fighters.  Transport consists a Traveler-class JumpShip and five DropShips:  two Union-C class, two Seeker-C class, and one Charybdis class.

The Wolf Fleet is well-drilled and contains a core of powerful capital ships, but although the third largest in size, it is still dwarfed by the Raven Fleet.  In addition, the Wolves have a large Merchant Fleet with a total of over two hundred active and reserve JumpShips.  The Merchant Caste fields forty Odyssey-class, forty Discovery-class, and forty Aggressor-class JumpShips, with twenty Traveler-class and twenty one Aggressor-class in the Clan Naval Cache over Grant’s Station.

Total Wolf strength is 17 WarShips, 210 JumpShips (24 Voyager-class, 40 Traveler-class, 40 Odyssey-class, 40 Discovery-class, and 66 Aggressor-class), 249 military DropShips (including 47 Assault DropShips), 588 civilian DropShips, 1266 OmniMechs, 600 BattleMechs, 400 vehicles, 758 OmniFighters, 600 Aerospace Fighters, 2900 Elementals, and 5000 Conventional Infantry.

Operation Revival
The Wolves have devoted the majority of their Touman to Operation Revival, leaving just one front-line Galaxy, two Garrison Galaxies, and one Naval Star in the Homeworlds to defend their eight enclaves.  Iota and Omega Garrison Galaxy have assigned one Cluster to each of the following enclaves:  Circe, Dagda, Eden, Grants Station, Paxon, Roche, Tiber, and Tranquil.  Zeta Galaxy has assigned one Cluster (the 17th Wolf Guards) to Strana Mechty and retains the remainder of its strength on Grants Station ready to respond to any provocation, along with the Gamma Naval Star.

The Wolves are taking no chances with this Invasion committing eight full Galaxies (five front line and three garrison); while Khan Kerensky opposed it, she also realizes that it would a disaster for the Clans were the Falcons or Jaguars to become the ilClan.  Accordingly, she is planning on doing what is necessary to ensure that regardless of what is to come, the Wolves will remain the lead dog.  Sharing Idrmach with Clan Coyote, the Wolves are running through their list and checking it twice, making certain that all is in order before the ilKhan gives the GO order.



Blood Spirit: 17 Front Line, 15 2nd line/Garrison, 8 Warships, 81 JumpShips, 1395 'Mechs, 400 ASF, 930 vehicles, 1425 Elementals, and 5625 Conventional Infantry.

Burrock: 18 Front Line, 16 2nd line/Garrison, 8 Warships, 143 JumpShips, 1345 'Mechs, 660 ASF, 640 vehicles, 2300 Elementals, and 8000 Conventional Infantry.

Cloud Cobra: 17 Front Line, 15 2nd line/Garrison, 15 Warships, 120 JumpShips, 915 'Mechs, 2010 ASF, 480 vehicles, 1675 Elementals, and 3000 Conventional Infantry.

Coyote:  20 Front line, 16 2nd line/Garrison, 12 WarShips, 120 JumpShips, 1560 ‘Mechs, 860 ASF, 320 vehicles, 1975 Elementals, and 8000 Conventional Infantry.

Diamond Shark:  18 Front line, 16 2nd line/Garrison, 18 WarShips, 223 JumpShips, 1415 ‘Mechs, 1170 ASF, 800 vehicles, 3700 Elementals, and 4000 Conventional Infantry.

Fire Mandrill:  17 Front line, 20 2nd line/Garrison, 8 WarShips, 80 JumpShips, 1365 ‘Mechs, 1190 ASF, 400 vehicles, 1500 Elementals, and 10000 Conventional Infantry.

Ghost Bear:  21 Front line, 20 2nd line/Garrison, 13 WarShips, 160 JumpShips, 1645 ‘Mechs, 1060 ASF, 400 vehicles, 3975 Elementals, and 5000 Conventional Infantry.

Goliath Scorpion:  16 Front line, 15 2nd line/Garrison, 16 WarShips, 130 JumpShips, 1202 ‘Mechs, 832 ASF, 450 vehicles, 2810 Elementals, and 3750 Conventional Infantry.

Hell’s Horses:  18 Front line, 16 2nd line/Garrison, 10 WarShips, 120 JumpShips, 1110 ‘Mechs, 710 ASF, 1420 vehicles, 3650 Elementals, and 6250 Conventional Infantry.

Ice Hellion:  19 Front line, 15 2nd line/Garrison, 12 WarShips, 110 JumpShips, 1650 ‘Mechs, 1220 ASF, 150 vehicles, 1675 Elementals, and 1875 Conventional Infantry.

Jade Falcon:  24 Front line, 20 2nd line/Garrison, 16 WarShips, 124 JumpShips, 1980 ‘Mechs, 1610 ASF, 200 vehicles, 1800 Elementals, and 5000 Conventional Infantry.

Nova Cat:  17 Front line, 20 2nd line/Garrison, 14 WarShips, 147 JumpShips, 1650 ‘Mechs, 940 ASF, 600 vehicles, 1725 Elementals, and 5000 Conventional Infantry.

Smoke Jaguar:  25 Front line, 16 2nd line/Garrison, 15 WarShips, 90 JumpShips, 1650 ‘Mechs, 940 ASF, 600 vehicles, 1725 Elementals, and 5000 Conventional Infantry.

Snow Raven:  17 Front line, 15 2nd line/Garrison, 25 WarShips, 174 JumpShips, 1375 ‘Mechs, 1260 ASF, 600 vehicles, 2325 Elementals, and 3750 Conventional Infantry.

Star Adder:  22 Front line, 20 2nd line/Garrison, 16 WarShips, 150 JumpShips, 1490 ‘Mechs, 1510 ASF, 800 vehicles, 3225 Elementals, and 5000 Conventional Infantry.

Steel Viper:  20 Front line, 16 2nd line/Garrison, 14 WarShips, 100 JumpShips, 1750 ‘Mechs, 480 ASF, 160 vehicles, 3050 Elementals, and 4000 Conventional Infantry.

Wolf:  24 Front line, 20 2nd line/Garrison, 17 WarShips, 210 JumpShips, 1866 ‘Mechs, 1358 ASF, 400 vehicles, 2900 Elementals, and 5000 Conventional Infantry.

For the wolves I would have though Gamma Galaxy would stay back in the homeworlds with the Gamma Naval Star but perhaps the two aren't linked just similar names. Wolf looks awesome, can't wait to see them (and all these clans) in action.

A few questions:

1) The Haven Construction Star, is this purely of your own creation and/or is there any canon evidence of the clans having Newgrange ships?
2) The Central Naval Reserve Cache you have here over Strana Mechty, I assume this is of your own creation but did you pull the classes, total number or anything from canon evidence. Also does the existence of a central reserve negate the existence (hinted at in canon) of individual Clan naval mothballs? (The first one of the top of my head is the mention in WoR or the Supp. I can't remember about Clan Snow Lion working to reactivate the last two warships of the Hell's Horses naval cache)

The Tartarus Keshik and the use of Barbados as a penal colony are interesting and I think make a lot more sense than using the Prinz Eugen, I get the feeling from this that your Clans have a much more centralized and higher functioning joint government. I always got the feeling in Canon that the Ebon Keshik was more of just a watch kind of unit and the Katyusha Keshik was just the military police of Katyusha city. The McKenna's pride being the only really true joint project of the Clans and I always assumed the Snow Ravens did most of the work keeping it up.

Do the Free Guilds [which were the merchants, techs, scientists, and other lower castes whose affiliation is to Clan society and not one Clan] (see the Jade Falcon Sourcebook page 21) exist in your AU? I know canon retconned them as an error made by Focht. (link below)

http://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,16102.msg369030.html#msg369030

The Guilds are mentioned again (page 21 JFSB) as Crichell ordered the Falcon bankers to contract a few extra transports from the Free Guilds. The Guilds, in return for the Falcons' long standing disdain for their caste, charged that Clan extraordinarily high fees for each ship, while giving the other Invading Clans a far more reasonable rate.

If the goal is to cripple/conquer the Lyran Commonwealth, the the Clans should be hitting key worlds.  Economic powerhouses, manufacturing centres, key military installations.  Leapfrogging and bypassing unimportant worlds and snatching them up later would make the most sense.

My two cents.

CABALS OF DARKNESS

There exist in the Homeworlds two final players on the stage . . . or rather two players waiting in the wings.  The Dark Caste has been a problem which the Clans have failed to quash throughout their history; these bandits seek to destroy the Clans and free the lower castes.  Recently, the bandits of the Dark Caste have found a strange ally among the so-called Society, a cabal of scientists who plan to overthrow the Warrior caste and institute a new leadership based upon those best suited to govern (themselves).  The hidden cabals of the Society (present in every Clan) and the cells of the Dark Caste (found on every single Clan world) realize that individually neither is able to accomplish their goals.  So despite their differing goals, the two have begun to work together over the past half-century.

In 3007, a Clan JumpShip crewed by members of the cabal discovered a system some ten jumps away from the Kerensky Cluster.  Designated as Defiance, this system contained two barely habitable worlds:  Honor and Haven.  Keeping this information secret, the Defiance system has become the core of both the Society and the Cabal.  With a population of almost fifty million divided among the two worlds, these renegade factions have slowly been building up their military strength in anticipation for the day when they can strike.

Leaders of the Society and the Dark Caste both believe that their best (indeed, their only) opportunity is coming soon; as the Clans deploy nearly 80% of their total strength in Operation Revival.  Although the exact timing of their uprising has yet to be determined, a substantial military force is being built and trained on Honor and Haven.  Currently, the Society and Dark Caste have at their disposal just over twenty Clusters of troops—mostly outfitted with second-line equipment, but four Clusters are comprised of OmniMechs, Elementals, and OmniFighters.  The second line units have outfitted their Conventional Infantry in PA(L) suits; not as effective as true Elemental armor, the cabals are able to produce the lighter suits at factories on Honor and Haven and the sheer number of PA(L) troopers should provide the cabals with an advantage in numbers, if not quality.  It is an impressive force to be sure, but one that is dwarfed by the troops left to garrison the Homeworlds.  However, the Society has made available various nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons and have managed to quietly recover nearly a dozen WarShips (mostly smaller designs) that have been sent to the breakers over the past century.

When the time comes, when the Clan Toumans are bitterly engaged against the Inner Sphere, the cabal plans to strike, hoping that surprise (and a few technological tricks that the Society has managed to keep from the greedy hands of the Warrior caste) and WMD strikes will prove sufficient to break the power of the Warriors in the Homeworlds once and for all.  Their current operational plans call for the assassination of many senior Warriors on the very eve of the operations, along with nuclear strikes against strategic and tactical targets, leaving their military arm to finish off any survivors.  However, the all or nothing nature of this plan (which depends heavily on the bulk of the civilian castes supporting the cabal) continues to delay its implementation.

And the Clan Watch is blissfully unaware of this dagger poised at their back.