In 3069, Clan Thunder Cat’s Kurultai convened to discuss the defense of the clan’s touman. Recent security breaches into other clans’ homeworlds by Inner Sphere reconnaissance groups concerned the clan. It was decided that drastic measures would have to ensure the clan’s safety and longevity. Addressing the defensive aspect, clan engineers managed to devise innovations to prevent invasions. Listening posts were set up throughout clan territory and jump points. Automated defense satellites were hastily deployed in orbit around Butna to destroy any intrusive vessels entering the area. All clan and certified neutral ships emitted signals for clearance past the satellites, which were equipped with streak LRM’s. The next topic of debate was the expansion of the clan’s armada. It had grown to considerable strength with the introduction of the Blake-Class Warship. Should resources now be focused upon omnimech technology instead of ship building? Toumaster Adam Galuszka immediately expressed his opinion by saying, “We need to continue expanding our fleet! More ships means more exploration.” The rest of the Kurultai agreed and approved funds for expansion. By 3070, Clan Thunder Cat boasted of it’s indispensable armada which had grown to the largest of all clans. Many warships were constructed in the likeness of the Blake-Class Warships, but in smaller scale. The main fleet remained on routine patrols while newer and smaller ships performed reconnaissance on the edge of the Inner Sphere.
Clan reconnaissance missions began to turn up interesting discoveries. A training facility was revealed after a routine search of a seemingly isolated planet located on the edge of the Inner Sphere. Preliminary reports were dismissed as mere camps for mercenaries. However, a following search showed the surrounding areas of the facility to be active with mech training. These unusual reports concerned Star Colonel Dana Hume, head of the clan’s recon operations. She immediately sent the reports directly to her superior, Galaxy Commander Ryan Benech. Knowing the area to be normally quiet, he order Star Captain Cooper Hawks to lead an espionage mission into the area to gather more information. A special assault team was to attack and subdue several cadets in training there. The recon team lead by Star Captain Hawks would then assume their identities. Files concerning the purpose of the facility were to be confiscated and be brought back as soon as possible. The abduction of the cadets succeeded and Star Captain Hawks’ team remained on the planet. Elements of 4th Battle Group Delta hid near a neighboring planet to assist the team’s rescue if discovered.
A secured message relayed by Star Captain Hawks reached 4th Battle Group Delta’s ship one month later. He gained access to the facility’s files and infiltrated the commanding officer’s personal logs. All that was needed was obtained. Trouble arose ,however, when the team attempted to secretly leave via dropship. The unit’s identity was discovered and their dropship was detained for boarding. The108th Assault Binary of 4th Battle Group Delta responded and displayed resilience by attacking the facility’s mech units. The recon team’s dropship managed to narrowly escape with mech support. A quick skirmish ensued before the 108th ‘s withdrew back to clan territory. The strategy was successful and was completed without casualties.
In late October of 3070, Star Captain Hawks returned to Butna and reported directly to Galaxy Commander Ryan Benech on his results. Astonished by the various documents, personal logs and conference transmissions confiscated by Star Captain Hawks, Galaxy Commander Benech immediately called upon the Thunder Cat Khans and Kurultai into an emergency session. Conversations between Inner Sphere commanders revealed crucial evidence of an elaborate plan to invade the Clans’ homeworld.
ComStar’s Invader Galaxy belied it’s Inner Sphere origins. It was to become the most elite fighting group of all the Great Houses. The Invader Galaxy’s primary mission was to infiltrate and annex clan territories. Equipped with modified clan technology left behind after Tukayyid and trained warriors in the Inner Sphere, the Invader Galaxy’s size was far superior to any known clan galaxy. Khan Alex Eng feared for the worst and believed that this tremendous force could perhaps crush an entire clan if undetected. “The hour is at hand! We must destroy this Inner Sphere scum before it turns into a plague we cannot stop,” uttered Khan Eng. He commanded saKhan Sean St. Cin to create a force to oppose the Invader Galaxy in battle. SaKhan St. Cin responded proudly by directing the assignment and introduction of the new cluster ,the 187th Assault Cluster, for eight months. A blend of young, untested mechwarriors and the finest veteran warriors trained together to form the core fighting groups. Top omnifighter aces filled the VR squadron rosters. Elemental soldiers endured rigorous training in extreme temperatures to ready themselves for battle. However, manpower was not the only aspect being prepared by Clan Thunder Cat. The 187th Assault Cluster’s mechs solely consisted of assault and heavy omnimechs. Stone Rhinos, Dire Wolves, Warhawks, and Kodiaks were amassed simultaneously with much haste. The whole cluster incorporated large mechs, elementals and omnifighters. The thought behind the organization was twofold. First, the cluster was to be “thunderous” in it’s attack as well as lethal. Initial strikes consisted of omnifighter, bomber, and elemental offensives. While these forces engaged the enemy, the heavy and assault mechs would advance into the area to mop up any insignificant opponents remaining. Secondly, vast numbers of omnifighters and elementals would replace the need for light and medium mechs. The larger mechs relied on these squadrons and stars for cover and escort. On July 5, 3071, saKhan St. Sean Cin presented the 187th Assault Cluster before Khan Alex Eng during a parade through downtown Kayless. Khan Eng was clearly impressed by the cluster’s intimidating presence. His fiery speech praised his saKhan’s efforts as well as the vigorous preparation the cluster experienced. Khan Eng encouraged the 187th to confront the Invader Galaxy with ferocious intensity. “Never allow this dishonorable Inner Sphere plot to accomplish it’s insidious goal. Destroy the freebirth scum in it’s tracks and wipe it’s blood from clan history!” Provided with two newly-commissioned dropships, the 187th Assault Cluster headed for a secret subterranean base on the edge of Clan Thunder Cat territory. Led by Nova Colonel John Garpenlov, the taskforce resided on an isolated planet with a covert nature. The 187th’s presence was only known to the Clan Thunder Cat populace and Clan Wolf Khans.
Fully operational and prepared for confrontation,
the 187th Assault Cluster began it’s search through conventional means.
Intercepted messages and memos between ComStar leaders were thoroughly
analyzed but showed no sign of the Invader Galaxy being mentioned.
It was later deduced that the Invader Galaxy was a top secret not even
known to high-ranking officials. Routine patrols during odd hours
were conducted along the edge of the Inner Sphere. For months, not
a single piece of further evidence revealing the Invader Galaxy’s whereabouts
could by confiscated. However, a clan agent returning from a standard
espionage mission retrieved information vital to Invader Galaxy’s
current status. The Invader Galaxy’s commander sent an encoded
message to ComStar’s head precentor. The clan agent managed to decipher
the message before leaving the Inner Sphere. In the message, the
commander reported the progress of the galaxy’s training and it’s military
strength. The location of the Invader Galaxy’s main base was finally
narrowed down to an area around Atreus in the Free Worlds League.
Puzzled as to why the base was so far from the Clans’ occupational territories,
Nova Colonel Garpenlov pursued an explanation for this contradictory information.
If the Invader Galaxy was equipped and trained for invasion, why is it’s
base located in such a distant area from the edge of the Inner Sphere?
Nova Colonel Garpenlov ordered his warriors to step up their reconnaissance
efforts to find the answer. A break in the silence finally arrived
during a boarding of an Inner Sphere merchant ship. Stranded in Clan
Thunder Cat territory, it’s engines malfunctioned near a jump point.
When asked about the nature of his ship cargo, the captain refused to cooperate
with clan officials. A forced seizure of the ship’s logs revealed
it’s destination and cargo. Headed for Luthien, the capital city
of the Draconis Combine, the ship’s cargo contained metals essential for
mech production, mech repair tools, as well as munitions for torso casings.
The client’s identity was never mentioned. Confirmed reports of a
large base on Luthien shed new light on the mystery. It was popular
belief that the base was built by Draconis forces for Draconis forces.
In addition, the Draconis Combine leader, Takashi Kurita of the House Kurita,
flamboyantly boasted of the Combine’s new bastion of military prowess.
Nova Colonel Garpenlov comprehended the situation almost immediately.
ComStar was in collaboration with the Draconis Combine to build the Invader
Galaxy within the Free Worlds League then proceed on to Luthien.
ComStar’s first attempt to build the Invader Galaxy failed when Star Captain
Hawk’s espionage operation infiltrated and ruined the galaxy’s concealed
training center. It’s base was then moved way beyond the reach of
the Clans until recently. The Draconis Combine, distressed by it’s
adjacent location to the Clans, offered ComStar a base to disguise itself.
Knowing a direct assault into the Inner Sphere would be suicidal, Nova
Colonel Garpenlov maneuvered his soldiers into a defensive position close
in proximity to that of the Invader Galaxy. The 187th continues extensive
training until the Invader Galaxy strikes. However, the 187th Assault
Cluster anxiously awaits the time when it will bask in victory and glory
over the Invader Galaxy....
Copyright © 1997 Mek Tek Productions