Burrock Absorption

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The Burrock Absorption was a three-way conflict between Clans Blood Spirit, Burrock and Star Adder fought in 3059.

Although it was expected to be a straightforward Trial of Absorption between Clans Star Adder and Burrock, interference by Clan Blood Spirit turned the conflict into a larger struggle with ongoing repercussions for Clan Blood Spirit especially. The outcome of the Trial also left Clan Star Adder positioned as possibly the most powerful Home Clan.

Origins of the Conflict

The roots of the absorption, and the reasons for the Blood Spirit's interference in it, go back to the earliest days of the Clans. Bitterness at the losses sustained by the Burrock Touman during Operation Klondike caused over a thousand lower castemen and a Trinary of warriors to defect to the Dark Caste (Cloud Cobra sources claim that two Trinaries of warriors defected). Both the Burrocks and Clan Cloud Cobra were ordered by the Clan Grand Council to hunt these renegades down, but where the Cobras engaged as ordered, the Burrocks lied and merely claimed they did, allowing their former Clansman to live. The Burrocks and the renegades traded supplies and information, both benefiting from a relationship known only to the successive Khans of Clan Burrock.

After the Annihilation of Clan Wolverine, several other Clans, including Clan Burrock, saw Clan Blood Spirit's then-extant philosophy of extending help to all other Clans freely as deviating dangerously from the orthodox line. This feeling came to a head in a December 2824 meeting of the Grand Council where Khan Seth Van Houten of Clan Burrock called for the Annihilation of Clan Blood Spirit. Although the motion was defeated, Clan Burrock especially would not let the matter drop, choosing to demonstrate the Blood Spirits' military weakness by relentless raiding of Clan Blood Spirit holdings. Ultimately, this created a deep-seated hatred between the two Clans.

Clan Burrock was able to successfully hide its ties to the Dark Caste for over a century. However, in 3058 shortly after the end of the Refusal War, Khan Cassius N'Buta of Clan Star Adder discovered this long-standing collusion, immediately bringing his evidence to the Grand Council.

Absorption Call

Khan N'Buta presented his evidence to the Grand Council in early 3059 and proposed the Absorption of Clan Burrock as a means of delivering the warriors and civilians of that Clan from a treasonous leadership. The motion was backed by Clans Cloud Cobra and Blood Spirit.

The magnitude of the Burrocks' crimes were such that ilKhan Lincoln Osis called for an immediate vote on the matter, and in February 3059, the Clan Grand Council awarded the right to absorb Clan Burrock to Clan Star Adder.

Clan Blood Spirit had expected to have been given the right to absorb their long-time rivals, and were outraged by the Grand Council's decision. Their Khans left the Grand Council meeting in a fury. They were encouraged by Loremaster Bayle Campbell to attack the Burrocks without Grand Council sanction.

First Moves

Clan Burrock formally bid their entire Touman of three front-line and four second-line Galaxies into the Absorption, choosing to concentrate their forces on their capital world of Albion. This included summoning reinforcements from off-world. By the time the Absorption battles got underway, Burrock forces on Albion included their Alpha and Kappa Galaxies.

Clan Star Adder created a strategic plan that would fulfill their goal of absorbing the bulk of the Burrock Clan intact while eliminating the treasonous element within.

The plan called for the decapitation of those in the Burrock leadership identified as having been involved in dealings with the Dark Caste - Khan Jocelyn Siddiq, her saKhan and Galaxy Commander Seth Marghar. Since the majority of Clan Burrock members had remained unaware of their Clan's dealings with the Bandit Caste, it was likely anticipated by Clan Star Adder that once the Burrock leadership was removed, much of the fight would go out of the Burrock forces, which ultimately proved to be the case.

Clan Star Adder dropped three Galaxies on Albion, including Alpha and Beta. The Adder Command Keshik was also part of this task force. In addition, a Star of Adder WarShips was assigned to this part of the operation.

Gamma and Delta Galaxies, supported by the newly organized Tau Provisional Galaxy were assigned to assault Priori.

Epsilon Galaxy was ordered to take Burrock holdings on Dagda.

Xi Provisional Galaxy, already based in the Paxon system, was given the task of Absorbing the single Burrock Cluster that also maintained a garrison in system.

Finally, Sigma Provisional Galaxy was allocated to take the small Burrock holdings on Hoard.

Enter Clan Blood Spirit

As the official Absorption Trial got underway, Clan Blood Spirit launched its own attack on Clan Burrock forces, committing some seventy percent of their Touman to the conflict. Khans Schmitt and Keller expected the Trial to break down into a series of three-cornered contests that they could take advantage of. However, with the exception of the action on Dagda, Burrock and Star Adder troops joined forces in the face of the new threat and defeated the Spirit units.

To Albion, the Blood Spirits assigned three Galaxies, including Alpha and Kappa.

On Priori, the Blood Spirit task force included Beta, Delta and Pi Galaxies.

Conduct of the Absorption Campaign

Albion

...

Arcadia

....

Dagda

...

Paxon

...

Priori

...

Outcome and Aftermath

The remnants of Clan Burrock were incorporated into Clan Star Adder. Significant portions of of the surviving Burrock Touman were quickly made Abtakha to compensate for the casualties caused by Blood Spirit interference.

The Absoprtion made Clan Star Adder one of the strongest of the Home Clans, with significant gains in territory.

Clan Blood Spirit lost well over fifty percent of its Touman, and consolidated its forces on York, becoming even more isolationist.

References