Clan Jade Falcon

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Property "Update Needed From" (as page type) with input value "Handbook: Major Periphery States]], Historical: Operation Klondike, Era Digest: Golden Century, Objectives: Clans, Wars of Reaving, A Bonfire of Worlds, [[Field Manual: 3145" contains invalid characters or is incomplete and therefore can cause unexpected results during a query or annotation process.

Clan Jade Falcon
Faction Profile
Time period:	2807 – Present
Classification:	Clan
Controlled systems:	?
Capital world:	Sudeten
Ruler title:	Khan
Military:	Clan Jade Falcon Touman
Secret Service:	Clan Jade Falcon Watch

Clan Jade Falcon is one of the original twenty Clans created by Nicholas Kerensky. It was named for the Jade Falcon, a genetically engineered mix of peregrine and gyrfalcon, which the Clan's founding Khan Elizabeth Hazen was the first to tame. A strictly traditionalist and ardent Crusader Clan, the Jade Falcons long viewed Clan Wolf as their most hated rival for their strength, ideological position, and (most of all) possession of the coveted Kerensky Bloodname. The Jade Falcons participated in the initial invasion of the Inner Sphere and seized many Lyran worlds from the Federated Commonwealth. They were the first Clan to taste defeat at the hands of Inner Sphere forces, losing on Twycross in 3050. Achieving a draw with the ComGuards on Tukayyid, they schemed and plotted to undo the Truce. They were nearly destroyed by their Refusal War with the Wolves in an attempt to do just that. They lost many warriors and both of their Khans in subsequent politicking. Their new Khan launched a daring strike at Coventry in the Lyran Alliance and managed to restore the Jade Falcons' strength by winning possession of other Crusader units in the Harvest Trials. The Jade Falcons beat the ComGuards during the Great Refusal on Strana Mechty and then pushed the Steel Vipers out of their Occupation Zone; after that, they seized (and lost) several more Lyran worlds during the FedCom Civil War. They still eye Terra and have not given up hope of claiming it.

History

Founding

Among those who joined Aleksandr Kerensky during the initial Exodus from the Inner Sphere were four individuals who would be recognized as founders of Clan Jade Falcon. First and foremost among them was Elizabeth Hazen, a commander in the Royal Black Watch Regiment at the time of the Amaris Civil War who led a resistance movement against Stefan Amaris on Terra. She became a lover to General Aaron DeChevilier and joined Kerensky's command staff for the Exodus. Daniel Mattlov was a fighter pilot of the 11th Royal BattleMech Division and fought against Amaris through to the liberation of Terra, when he was badly injured. His loyalty to General Kerensky caused him to join the Exodus and forsake his title as Duke of Caph. Carl Icaza was a commander in the 17th Jump Infantry Division when his unit was wiped out during a rescue mission to Epsilon Eridani and he was taken prisoner; by some miracle he survived the Usurper's prison camp and joined the Exodus, probably hoping to put this experience behind him. The last was Lisa Buhallin, rumored to have been a member of the Blackhearts special operations group, who served with Hazen in her guerrilla unit and later joined Kerensky's security staff.

During the journey, Major Hazen was among the troops sent in to quell the Prinz Eugen Mutiny. Afterwards, when the Pentagon Worlds were settled and the Star League-in-Exile was set up, the four founders went about trying to build new lives. This was also the time when the Legend of Turkina began to take shape, as Elizabeth Hazen became the first person to tame a jade falcon. It wasn't long before the Pentagon Worlds erupted into civil war though and all four were again compelled to choose the path of Exodus, this time following Nicholas Kerensky to Strana Mechty.

On Strana Mechty the four founders were instrumental not only in shaping their new Clan but the others as well. Elizabeth Hazen became the Clan's senior Khan, endowing the Jade Falcons with her tenacity, and Lisa Buhallin became the Clan's saKhan and Loremaster, using her scholarly background to help Kerensky shape the Clans' laws and traditions. Daniel Mattlov, who had become friends with Hazen during their time together, displayed the same sense of determination when his injuries prevented him from flying anymore by successfully becoming a Jade Falcon 'Mech pilot. And it was Carl Icaza who rose to command of the Jade Falcon Clan's infantry forces, and was responsible for training all Clan infantry units in new formations and tactics, though only the Jade Falcons continue to recognize his contributions in this field.

The Culling

When ilKhan Nicholas Kerensky chose to tie himself and his bloodline to Clan Wolf, publicly the Jade Falcons greeted the news with oaths of fealty to the ilKhan and his new command. Privately though they were shocked and appalled by his decision. Many felt the Jade Falcons had fought as good if not better than Clan Wolf and should have deserved the honor. Khans Hazen and Buhallin would eventually settle on the idea that while the Wolves had fought just as well they lacked the same foresight as the Jade Falcons, requiring the Great Founder to take a hand in their development. Among the rank-and-file though the discontent was more treasonous; many questioned that, if Kerensky was not wise enough to pick Clan Jade Falcon as his home, then perhaps his wisdom was lacking elsewhere.

The Jade Falcon Khans did little to combat these rumblings until July 2823, when a group of Jade Falcon warriors made public their misgivings about ilKhan Kerensky's leadership and their willingness for the Clan to forge its own path. Days after this public statement, the ilKhan contacted Hazen and Buhallin to let them know he was planning on visiting Eden to meet with them. Whether this meeting was entirely coincidental or directly in response to the growing unrest within the Jade Falcon ranks was never known. It did however spur the Jade Falcon leadership into action.

In what became know as "The Culling", all those who had questioned the creation of Clan society or the Jade Falcons' role within it were dealt with harshly. The ringleaders were executed and their bodies put on public display. Of the rest, some were subjected to corporal punishment, while others were sent on "exploratory missions" to marginally inhabited worlds of the Kerensky Cluster. By the time the ilKhan had arrived, the Culling was over and all opposition had been repressed. For Clan Jade Falcon, the Culling would forever serve as a symbol of their devotion to the ideals and traditions created by Kerensky, and a stark contrast for when similar discontent lead to the destruction of the Not-Named Clan a year later. It also served as the first unofficial act of Reaving, leading to the destruction of the Jae-Hyouk, Ustone, and Yont Bloodnames.

Golden Century

Banner of Clan Jade Falcon.

The beginning of what became know as the Golden Century was a period of progress and setbacks for Clan Jade Falcon. The death of ilKhan Kerensky lead to the Absorption of Clan Widowmaker by Clan Wolf, a prospect which vexed the Jade Falcons. The seizure of all Widowmaker assets by the Wolves would make that Clan more powerful, potentially causing other Clans to pay more heed to their dangerously liberal ideas. In the Grand Council the Jade Falcon Khans argued that the spoils of the Widowmaker Absorption be distributed evenly among all the Clans, but the motion was roundly rejected as going against the teachings of Kerensky. The Jade Falcons' worst fears came to fruition as Clan Wolf's pillaging of Clan Widowmakers made it the most powerful force in the Grand Council and a powerful foil to Clan Jade Falcon and other conservative Clans.

Seeking to grow economically and expand their territory to match Clan Wolf, the Jade Falcons founded new colonies in the Kerensky Cluster and stepped up production of civilian JumpShips to manage the flow of colonists and raw resources. Many of these colonists however baulked at the caste-based restrictions placed on them, seeking greater freedoms in order to operate more productively. Such blasphemous ideas did not sit well with the Jade Falcon leadership, and disputes between the warrior caste and civilian castes grew among these new colonies. Events threatened to get out of control when a Jade Falcon colony petitioned the Grand Council for permission to join another Clan - preferably Clan Wolf.

As they had during the Culling, the Jade Falcon Khans acted swiftly, decisively, and harshly. Military units were deployed to all civilian colonies in the Kerensky Cluster to seize control and kill any civilians who openly rebelled. The rest were sent back either to the Pentagon enclaves or those Kerensky colonies which were more developed. The now-abandoned Jade Falcon holdings were sold off to the other Clans, as was a greater part of the civilian JumpShip fleet.

Many Clans foresaw this development as the Jade Falcons hobbling their chances of becoming a great Clan (and indeed the sell-off of the fleet would come back to haunt them during the Inner Sphere invasion). However the Clan's Merchant Caste came to their rescue, becoming an instrumental part in the nascent Clan economic system by providing loans and facilitating commerce between different castes and Clans. The sharp banking practices of the Jade Falcon merchants more than made up for the colonies' loss and helped to make the Clan an economic powerhouse by the end of the Golden Century, winning back many others to their traditionalist views.

Operation Revival

Clan Jade Falcon launched the first of five major assault waves on the Inner Sphere on March 20th, 3050 with attacks on 10 Federated Commonwealth planets. Their second wave of attacks began in May 3050 and conquered 12 worlds from the Federated Commonwealth, meeting minimal resistance. Due to supply problems, the third wave of attacks was directed at only 5 worlds. The supply problem was fixed and in the fourth wave, 15 planets were to be attacked, but the Clan faced some setbacks, including the FedCom counter-attack on Twycross and the death of the staunch Crusader ilKhan Leo Showers. This caused Jade Falcon and the other Clans to withdraw all Bloodnamed troops to Strana Mechty to elect a new ilKhan. After a year of peace, the Falcons were jointly paired with Clan Steel Viper to continue the invasion, in November 3051. Clan Steel Viper won bidding rights for assaults on three worlds, and won Trials of Possession for another two worlds. Out of the original seven worlds selected for the fifth wave assault, the Jade Falcons were only allowed to assault and claim two. At Tukayyid, the Falcons were outfought by the ComGuards, resulting in a tactical draw. Aidan Pryde of the Falcon Guards was responsible for much of the positive outcomes of the battle.

Refusal War

In 3057, Ulric Kerensky, ilKhan of the Clans, was accused of genocide against the Clans by negotiating the Truce of Tukayyid because generations of Clan warriors would be denied the chance at warfare against the Inner Sphere. Khan Elias Crichell of the Jade Falcons led the Crusader faction of the Grand Council against the Warden faction of ilKhan Kerensky. If ilKhan Kerensky were to be found guilty, then the Truce of Tukayyid would be revoked and the Jade Falcons would be prepared to renew the invasion with the goal of becoming ilClan. On August 8th, 3057, the Grand Council found Ulric guilty. Ulric declared a Trial of Refusal. He bid the entire Clan Wolf touman against the entirety of Clan Jade Falcon in a ploy to destroy the Crusaders in his own ranks and weaken the forces of one of the strongest Crusader Clans.

Jihad

During the early stages of the Jihad, the Jade Falcons launched another attack on the Lyran Alliance; the first planet to be seized was Graus, captured on the 7th of October 3068. The Jade Falcons followed this up with attacks that conquered Black Earth, Blackjack, Blue Hole and Roadside by late January 3069. The Falcons would continue to take worlds from the Lyrans throughout 3069 and 3070, although Clan Wolf launched an invasion of their own, shadowing the Falcon's advances. The Wolves also snapped up three Falcon worlds during the first two weeks of March 3069: Bessarabia, Biota and Cusset. Despite losing these three worlds to the Wolves, the Falcons pressed on against the Lyrans, capturing Mkuranga and Pasig between the 10th and 14th of June 3069 and Deia on the 15th of August. The Falcons launched an attack on Zanderij in the second week of June 3070, but the campaign wouldn't be a quick occupation; defending LAAF and Clan Wolf-in-Exile forces pushed the Falcons back off Zanderij on the 12th of August. An attack on the heavily fortified world of Great X also didn't go the Falcon's way, turning instead into a grinding quagmire of a campaign.

The Falcon campaign against the Lyrans slowed in 3071; after attacking Morges on the 8th of February, the Falcons found themselves the target of attacks from Clan Hell's Horses, who had been seizing Periphery worlds from Clan Wolf for some months. The Falcons attacked the Horses on Steelton in the second week in April, while also sending a small force to Arc-Royal under a flag of truce. The last ten days of April saw the Falcons invaded themselves, as Clan Ice Hellion launched a two-part invasion of the Falcon Occupation Zone that would tie up the Falcon touman for some months. Intelligence obtained by Star Captain Brian Pryde from a contact within Clan Hell's Horses had indicated in January that ninety percent or more of the Clan Ice Hellion touman had been gathered together at Nouveaux Paris in the Deep Periphery over the course of 3070 in preparation for their invasion.

Main article: Operation ICE STORM

On the 15th of May 3076 the Jade Falcon Khan, Marthe Pryde, was assassinated on Sudeten by unidentified agents.

Peacetime prior to the HPG Blackout

The Falcons took heavy damage during the Jihad; a total of 24 clusters of troops were lost, with the remaining forces reduced down to half strength, and while the foresight Marthe Pryde displayed in dispersing the various Falcon genetic legacies around the Falcon occupation zone saw them avoid a scourging at the hands of the Word of Blake akin to that of the Wolves, for unknown reasons the sibkos being produced in the early 3080s were smaller than average, leading to a shortage of warriors. This lack of strength prevented the Falcons from taking advantage of the reduced strength of the neighbouring Wolves, although some ineffective probes from the Lyran armed forces in 3080 drew a swift response from the Falcons.

Dark Age & Republic Incursion

Jade Falcon Incursion of the Republic

In March 3134, seeing an opportunity caused by the collapse of the HPG network, the Falcons staged an incursion into the Republic of the Sphere. This expedition force consisted of Turkina Keshik, Delta and Zeta Galaxies. The Expedition was led by the political Jade Falcon radicals known as the "Mongols", following Turkina Keshik's "Mongol Doctrine". The expedition masqueraded their actions under the guise of hunting the Clan splinter group, the Steel Wolves. The invasion focused on Prefecture IX, where they captured a string of worlds in two Prefectures, including the single Lyran Commonwealth world of Chaffee. The Prefecture had been weakened by the uprising and subsequent defection of its own Prefecture military forces, principally the Stormhammers splinter group. The Expedition Galaxies separated, and were able to capture a number of worlds until they reunited at Skye. In what was named the "1st Battle for Skye", the Falcon force utilized its assets, including its WarShip, the Emerald Talon, to cover the Expedition's landings in August. Once on the surface, the Jade Falcons' forces were tricked and out-maneuvered by the desperate Republican forces and its allies led by Prefect Tara Campbell, forcing them to pull-back.

However, after months spent regrouping after this initial setback, Falcon forces resumed their battle for Skye in October. Allied Republican and splinter forces attempted to disrupt Falcon supply chains by liberating various worlds controlled by the Expedition forces. Meanwhile, the Expedition's military leader, "Khan" Malvina Hazen used nuclear weapons to disrupt the electronics within Skye's capital, forcing the defenders out of the city. In orbit, the Jade Falcon's Emerald Talon was badly damaged and forced-off as reinforcements led by the Lyran Commonwealth's WarShip, LAS Yggdrasil arrived. However, in late December, despite their best efforts to regroup for a third strike, Falcon forces were able to overwhelm Skye's defenders and win control of the planet, forcing them to withdraw from the planet entirely.

A Rending of Falcons: Jade Falcon Civil War

A year after establishing the Falcon's Reaches, Malvina Hazen led the bulk of the Expedition back to Clan Jade Falcon's Occupation Zone. In September 3135 Hazen requested a Trial of Possession against Khan Jana Pryde for control of the Clan. However, Loremaster Julia Buhallin denied Malvina her trial, and Malvina in turn declared herself Khan and began attempts to claim the Expedition zone for herself. By December, Falcon forces had been fighting around the Occupation Zone, favoring Hazen in her success with Clan Hell's Horses allies. Khan Pryde mustered the entire Jade Falcon Touman at Sudeten to root out Malvina's forces. The Khans met in early April in an officiated Trial of Possession. In a brutal 'Mech battle, Malvina killed Jana and officially gained Khanship of the Falcons. Hazen then ordered the badly damaged Emerald Talons to crash into the planetary capital of Sudeten to eliminate the Clan's political rivals. Shortly after this attack, Hazen participated in a Trial of Possession against her Clan Hell's Horses ally, Manas Amirault. Her victory won control of a Fire Horse Galaxy as well as bolstered support for Mongol doctrine.

Social Structure of Clan Jade Falcon

Clan Jade Falcon is founded on a caste-based martial society, which divides people into several distinct groups. The highest caste is the warrior caste, where MechWarriors, pilots, and genetically enhanced infantry called Elementals command the greatest respect. Warriors are genetically bred through steel wombs, where the genetic material from prominent warriors is combined to create a unique batch of children who are thought to be superior in combat. These children, or sibkos, go through a variety of tests for their first 20 years, at the end of which they will be judged to be warriors or not.

Below the warriors are the techs, who keep the BattleMechs, aerospace fighters, and armored infantry functioning. While they are essential to the society, most warriors look down on techs as inferiors and less valuable members of society. Roughly parallel to the techs is the Scientist caste, where biologists, engineers, and researchers determine how to further enhance Clan Jade Falcon's already-considerable gene pool, armament, and technological progress.

Below the scientists and techs are the merchants, who conduct trade with other Clans and, covertly, states and trading houses from the Inner Sphere. While they are rarely seen, the merchants provide the industrial and transportation backbone for the Clans.

At the lowest level of Clan Jade Falcon are the laborers, who do manual labor and jobs too demeaning for other caste members.

Manufacturing Center

A detailed list of some Jade Falcon manufacturing and company centers.

Major Defense Industries

3067

• Olivetti Weaponry
• Red Devil Industries
• Trellshire Heavy Industries

Military Structure of Clan Jade Falcon

The military structure (or Touman) of Clan Jade Falcon, like most Clans, is split up into groups: Naval and Ground.

Naval Structure

Clan Jade Falcon has numerous WarShip, JumpShip, and DropShip assets to control space and transport troops to landing sites. Destroyers, Cruisers, and Battleships have been observed within the Naval hierarchy, which, combined with assault DropShips, can successfully defend most of the Clan's holdings in both the Inner Sphere and the Clan homeworlds. Naval commanders, however, are considered inferior to the Jade Falcon ground troops. While they are genetically bred warriors, the focus of combat personnel has always been the MechWarrior on the ground.

Ground Military Structure

Jade Falcons esteem MechWarriors above all other combat personnel, and see their MechWarriors as the ultimate result of their breeding practices. Their MechWarriors are brash, fierce, and unrelenting. While subtlety is rare among the Jade Falcons, their relentless drive to crush the enemy is a potent force. MechWarriors will often take incredible risks, sometimes failing, but often gaining victory or a heroic death that ensures their genetic legacy will live on among future generations.

Jade Falcon Elementals are thought highly of as well, with particular attention paid to tenacity and endurance. During their initial sweep into the Inner Sphere, Jade Falcon Elementals played an integral part in capturing and maintaining order among hostile worlds.

While pilots of aerospace fighters are not as highly respected as MechWarriors, they are still warriors and rank above the other castes.

Terminology

Within Clan Jade Falcon, several terms are used to describe given organizations. Some of them are listed below:

Combat Unit Terminology

Until after Operation Revival, the Falcon Touman had its own designation for its unit/force make up which was unique to Falcons. These designation for Stars, are usually used as part of a Star's name. Per a mission or campaign, Trinaries and Stars are renamed for their temporary mission function.

Permanent Unit Designations

• Com - Command Star, usually reserved for large Cluster and Galaxy formations.
• Beak - A Star composed of medium to heavy 'Mechs - Note: Beak was typically used for mixed-weight classes beyond what is designated here.
• Eyrie - A Star composed of wide mix assortment of weight classes of 'Mechs. Sometimes called Beak Star.
• Nova - Double Star formation, which has separate combat unit types, ('Mech/Elemental/Fighter/Combat Vehicle) per type. The Nova name was designation only unique to Falcon in manners of naming its units are combinations.
• Strider - A Star composed of Infantry/Battle Armor.
• Talon - A Star composed of heavy to assault weight 'Mechs
• Wing - A Star composed of Aerospace Fighters
• Mix - A Star which has Points compose of different unit types (Vehicle infantry/Battle Armor/fighters etc.).
• Dark Wing - Jade Falcon name for a Solahma Unit.

Temporary Unit Designations

• Hold - Rear Guard Unit, whose mission it is to tie up the enemy's advance.
• Probe - Recon Unit
• Shield - Defense unit
• Sweep - A pursuit unit, trained in hunting down fleeing enemy forces.

Unique Officer Rankings

• Falconer - a training officer
• Falconer Commander - a senior training officer

Touman Listings of Clan Jade Falcon

See Clan Jade Falcon Touman.

Leadership

Khans

• Elizabeth Hazen, 2807 - ????
• Lisa Buhallin, 28?? - 28??
• Natalie Buhallin, 28?? - 28??
• Ackerley Hazen, 29?? - ????
• Yvonne Hazen, ???? - 3048
• Elias Crichell, 3048 - 3057,
• Marthe Pryde, 3057 - 3076
• Samantha Clees, 3076 - n/a

saKhans

• Lisa Buhallin, 282? - ????
• Sejanus Buhallin, 30?? - 30??
• Elias Crichell, 30?? - 30??
• Timur Malthus, 30?? - 305?
• Vandervahn Chistu 305? - 3057,
• Marthe Pryde, 3057
• Samantha Clees, 3057 - 307?
• Uvin Buhallin, 307? - 308?
• Diane Anu, 308? - n/a

Bloodnames

General Bloodnames:

Chistu

Hazen

Malthus

MechWarriors:

Buhallin

Helmer

Pryde

Roshak

Elementals:

Icaza

Mattlov

Pilots:

Binetti

Thastus

Von Jankmon

Era Specific Data

Jade Falcon Demographics
Affiliation: Crusader > 31st Century Traditional & Adaptive > 32nd Century: Jesse / Slip / Mongol

Clan Space Worlds:
Barcella (15 percent)
Dagda (9 percent)
Eden (34 percent)
Gatekeeper (100 percent)
Glory (45 percent)
Huntress (42 percent)
Ironhold (100 percent)
Marshall (6 percent)
Tokasha (64 percent)
Capital: Ironhold
Population (Clan Space): 116,264,000 (3060)
Population growth rate: 2.6 percent (72/46)
Self-Sufficiency Index: 93 percent

Leaders:
Khan: Marthe Pryde
saKhan: Samantha Clees
Loremaster: Kael Pershaw
Scientist-Gneral: Etienne (Balzac)
Merchant Factor: Moriz
Master Technician: Sanders
Senior Laborer: Tae

Military:
Clusters: 47
WarShips: 23

Quotes

“

"We are Jade Falcon, great among the Clans. We are warriors who fight with the strength of the falcons claw and ascend to the heavens on the wings of the same. We remember with the clarity of falcon-sight the words of Kerensky. Through the smoke of time he speaks to us, his chosen, and urges us onward with the promise of Eden. We will retake what is ours by right, that shining jewel Terra. Not the vastness of space nor the Wolf’s obstinate howl will stay us from our righteous goal. We are Crusaders and will trample all who stand in our way!"

”

“

Praised be the Founders of Clan Jade Falcon! Daniel Mattlov, From him came the fire of the first Falcons. Carl Icaza, From him came the stubbornness and strengh, Lisa Buhallin, From her came the will to remember But all hail mighty Elizabeth Hazen and Turkina As first among equals, For she was the first Khan And Turkina her winged soul. From them came our spirit and destiny.

”

- From the Jade Falcon Invocation.

Bibliography

• A Rending of Falcons
• Blood of the Isle
• Blood of the Skye
• Era Digest: Golden Century
• Field Manual: Crusader Clans
• Field Manual: 3085
• Flight of the Falcon
• Historical: Operation Klondike
• Jade Falcon Sourcebook
• Jihad: Final Reckoning
• Jihad Hot Spots: 3072
• Jihad Hot Spots: Terra
• Masters & Minions: The StarCorps Dossiers
• Tactical Operations
• The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky
• The Falcon and the Wolf
• The Wars of Reaving

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