OBT Forum

I've always wondered just how the Invasion might have turned out differently if the Clans had not possessed a great number of WarShips of their own.  Would the Great Houses of the Inner Sphere have spent the capital resources to build them if they had not had opponents who possessed them?  Anyway, here is a brief look at how this might have come to pass.

Hall of Khans
Katyusha City, Strana Mechty
December 17, 2824

Thirty-eight Khans stood silently as their leader, Nicholas Kerensky, ilKhan of the Clans, and his wife, Jennifer Winson, entered the chamber.  Just over a year ago, there would have been forty Khans . . . but the Not-Named Clan had since been destroyed and the survivors of that bitter fight were slowly rebuilding from the chaos sown by their treachery.

"At ease," the ilKhan ordered as he reached the podium.  "Be seated . . . there are grave issues today which we must discuss.  Decisions which must be made that will determine the road forward for our Clans; for our Society," he continued.

The Khans sat, but many exchanged glances and there were low murmurs of questions . . . surely there could not be another schism in their ranks, not so soon.  Not after the Annihilation of the Not-Named and all, civilian and Warrior alike, who swore allegiance to them.

"My Khans," Nicholas began, but then he paused and shook his head.  "My friends.  My family.  For that is what we forty here today are in truth.  One family, divided into differing households, true, but one family we remain.  We are the Clans and always shall we remain such."

Nicholas stepped forward from his podium, and a servant brought out the worn, blood-stained, and much revered camp-stool that his father, Aleksandyr Kerensky, had used on campaign so many years before.  The ilKhan thanked the servant, and then he sat down, perched right on the edge of the dias.

"We, my brothers and sisters, we have fought to build this Society.  Through the Pentagon Civil War, to forming your Toumans here on Strana Mechty, to training our Warriors to a razor's edge, to liberating those five worlds during KLONDIKE, to dealing with the betrayal and base treachery of those who Shall Never Again Be Named."

"We have prevailed through all of this, my . . .," Nicholas smiled, but it was a weary smile.  "My trothkin, to use a word whose meaning is clear.  My family of the Oath."

Nicholas sighed.  "But there is something which troubles me . . . something which should trouble us all.  During the Civil War, during KLONDIKE, during the recent Annihilation . . . we were all reminded once again of the sheer destructive power contained within our WarShips.  The power to lay waste to entire populations at the order of a single man; whether or not that man is sane.  Or authorized by his superiors."

A low groan passed through the Khans, and the corner of Nicholas' lips twitched as he heard (at the very limits of his excellent hearing) Stephen McKenna, "Oh crap, not this again!"

Nicholas laughed.  "Yes, Stephen.  My mind has been troubled by the presence of our WarShips for a long, long time . . . and now I am convinced that we simply must take measures to ensure that they will NEVER again be responsible for the atrocities we have witnessed in the Pentagon and at Dehra Dun."

There was silence in the chamber and Nicholas nodded.

"We must destroy our WarShips."

Shouts of protest arose, but the ilKhan raised one hand and he waited until the furor died down.

"We will not destroy all of them, trothkin.  The Potemkins and Volga will be disarmed of all offensive weapon and converted purely into transport vessels . . . all of them will be concentrated under the direct command of the ilKhan and provided to the Khans as needed for transport and colonization."

"Furthermore," Nicholas continued, after briefly looking at his wife, who nodded in support, "I have been convinced that we must retain a small number of WarShips of our own.  But we must ensure that only our most loyal officers have command of them.  To that end, I will permit thirty-nine ships to remain operational and with their weaponry intact.  McKenna's Pride will serve as my Flagship, as the Flagship for all future ilKhans to come.  And each of you, my Khans, my brothers, my sisters, will select by Trial one vessel that will serve as your Flagships."

"But I will not do this by decree," Nicholas declared.  "Such a decision must be made by this body as a whole.  YOU, my family, my loved friends, you must make this decision and you must stand by it.  As must your successors."

There was a moments silence.

"What of the Inner Sphere?  They have WarShips of their own; what of our eventual return?" asked Stephen McKenna.

"Let us be realistic, Stephen.  It will be two centuries, at the least, before we are ready to return.  We must develop our industry here, we must drive forward our technology, we must . . .," Nicholas smiled again, "we must take the time to bond our Clans into an unstoppable sword that when swung cannot be parried.  We will address the issue with WarShips at that time . . . not before.  Until then, they are a drain upon our resources and manpower.  Symbols of authority and playthings for a mere handful of Warriors that serve no purpose."

"And if we do not agree, ilKhan?" the Snow Raven Khan asked quietly.

"Then I will abdicate and my wife and I will retire into exile and obscurity."

Shouts of denial and shock reverbeted throughout the Hall.  Even Stephen McKenna stood, his face draining of blood to become as pale as a linen sheet.

"Shall I call the vote?" asked Nicholas.