Clan Nova Cat

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Clan Nova Cat Logo
Clan Nova Cat
Faction Profile
Time period: 2810-Present
Classification: Abjured Clan
Controlled systems: 14
Capital world: New Barcella, Irece
Ruler title: Khan
Military: Clan Nova Cat Touman
Secret Service: The Watch


Now a Warden Clan, the Nova Cats are known for their mystic ways and are governed by visions. They ignored such visions when they joined the attack on the Inner Sphere and shared the Smoke Jaguars invasion corridor. They were defeated on Luthien, then on Tukayyid. This caused the Nova Cats to heed a new vision that encouraged them to join with the Draconis Combine and the Inner Sphere against the Smoke Jaguars. They joined with the new Star League in driving the Jaguars out of the Inner Sphere and joined them again on Strana Mechty during the Great Refusal. For this, they were abjured by the other Clans and forced to leave Clan space under fire and resettle in the Irece Prefecture of the Draconis Combine. The abjuration often shrouds the Nova Cats' previous fame as excellent marksman (they often competed with the Goliath Scorpions to see what clan had the best sharpshooters), and as the developers of the Extended-Range Laser technology used by all Clans.

Demographics

General

Goverment
Clan (Caste Driven, Warrior dominant hierarchy)[1]
Capital
New Barcella, Irece[1]
Economy
Socialist Market[2]
Currency
Combine Ryu[1]
C-Bill Exhange Rate
4 to 1[1]
Dominant Language
English (Official)[1]
Dominant Religion
None (Nova Cat Mysticism)[1]
Center of Innovation
Scientist Caste[3]
Major Military Academies
Clan Sibko System[3]
Major Naval Academies
Clan Sibko System [4]

Rulers

Planets

The Nova Cats currently occupy the Irece Prefecture, a swath of worlds in the Draconis Combine's Pesht Military District. The Nova Cats have been granted control of these planets in exchange for a pledge to support the Draconis Combine if attacked.

Industry

The Nova Cats have control over several manufacturing centers. While not close to the level of production they once enjoyed, these facilites grant the Nova Cats some level of self-sufficiency.

Facility Planet Production
Avon Alpha Avon Huntsman
Barcella Battle Armor Facility Irece Clan Battle Armor
Barcella Beta Irece Shadow Cat, Shoden
Irece Alpha Irece Conjurer, Griffin IIC, Jenner IIC, Huntsman,Nova Cat, Ocelot, Supernova
LAW-Barcella Irece SM1 Tank Destroyer
Matabushi Incorporated Avon Overlord, Union

Additionally, the Nova Cats have recently been granted ownership of an unnamed facility on Coudoux. Constructed by Luthien Armor Works through duplicitous means, the Nova Cats were given ownership after LAW's illegal act was discovered.[5]

History

Founding

Beginnings

The Nova Cats were one of the original twenty Clans founded by Nicholas Kerensky in the wake of the Pentagon Civil Wars. The Dagda Nova Cat, known for its protective mane of poisonous quills, was chosen as the emblem for this Clan, as Kerensky appreciated its always alert readiness toward danger.

Of its twenty founding Warriors, Phillip Drummon was chosen as Clan Nova Cat's first Khan. He forged the Nova Cats into a potent fighting force in readiness for the invasion of the Pentagon Worlds. Anna, Phillip's wife and herself an important founder of the Cats, would become leader of their Merchant Caste.

Operation Klondike

See also: Operation Klondike

For Operation Klondike, Clan Nova Cat was chosen to invade the Pentagon World of Circe along with Clan Mongoose, Clan Snow Raven, and Clan Wolverine. Khan Phillip Drummond's knowledge of Circe's terrain made the Nova Cat's a natural choice for this campaign, and his leadership helped the Nova Cats maintain a strategic, as well as technological advantage over their opponents during the campaign. It was during the Circe campaign that the Nova Cat tendency toward marksmanship first made itself present.

Post Klondike

Shortly after Operation Klondike, Phillip Drummond was forced to step down from the position of Khan. With the charge he was no longer able to perform his duties as Khan, Sandra Rosse, Phillip's daughter, challenged him to a Trial of Grievance. Phillip voluntarilly stepped down and Sandra Rosse was made Khan.

Sandra Rosse's reign as Khan would prove short. However, she implemented many policies that have shaped permanently shaped the Nova Cats. After Sandra Rosse' death in the wake of the Clan Wolverine Annihilation, Phillip Drummond resumed the position of Khan. He would lead the Nova Cats well into the Golden Century.

Golden Century

Scientific Overview

The Clans made numerous scientific advances during the Golden Century, with the Nova Cats proving no exception. Their scientist caste perfected ER Laser technology. Combined with their skill with accuracy, this gave the Nova Cats an unmatched combat force until this technology had spread through the rest of the Clans. The Nova Cats maintain a preference toward energy weapon based designs to this day.

Economic Overview

More impressive then their scientific achievments were their economic ones. Thanks to the polices set in place by their earlier Khans, Clan Nova Cat merchants were given an unmatched degree of freedom compared to most Clans. This resulted in Clan Nova Cat becoming an economic powerhouse among the Clans.

It was during this time that Clan Nova Cat merchants reintroduced the concept of 'Futures Trading' among the Clans. After stockpiling certain materials and equipment, they approached Clan Sea Fox, one of the Clans most involved in exploring and exploiting their surrounding territories. Clan Nova Cat offered to supply Clan Sea Fox with all the material it needed to use these worlds, and in return the Nova Cats would receive a percentage of the results. While initially suspicious, the Sea Foxes agreed to the deal and both Clans reaped the rewards. Clan Sea Fox was able to gain more resources then any one Clan would have been able to by itself, while Clan Nova Cat managed to achieve necessary raw material and other essentials at a relatively small cost and effort.

Political Overview

Crusader Movement

The Golden Century was the birth of the Crusader and Warden movements. The Nova Cats, supported by their Merchant caste's readiness to exploit new worlds, fell solidly into the Crusader camp. While firm Crusaders, the Nova Cats felt that only a Nova Cat ilKhan could properly lead an invasion of the Inner Sphere and did not trust any other Clan's leadership as they lacked the necessary spiritual guidance. When Clan Ghost Bear Khan Nadia Winston tried to force the issue in 3000, the Nova Cat Khan Severen Lerous and SaKhan Lucian Carns voted in favor of the creation of the reconnaissance unit that would become known as Wolf's Dragoons. A similar invasion proposal by Khan Leo Showers, years later, was also voted against by the Nova Cat Khans. It was only after a second proposal by Khan Showers, bolstered by evidence taken from the Comstar ship Outbound Light, that the Nova Cat Khans would support the invasion.

Other Developments

Thanks to the joint ventures between the two Clans, the Merchant Castes of Clan Nova Cat and Clan Diamond Shark developed a close working condition during the Golden Century. While never formally allies, the two Clans would continue to work together toward mutually beneficial arrangements to this day.

Clan Invasion

Preparations

During the Trials to determine the three Clans who would invade the IS with Clan Wolf, and the one Reserve Clan, Clan Nova Cat placed 5th, just behind Clan Steel Viper. The Nova Cats, along with the Diamond Sharks challenged the Grand Council to a Trial of Refusal. Their victory would ensure those two Clans would be next in line to invade, if deemed necessary. Additionally, it allowed a small contingent of Nova Cats to participate in minor actions during the initial invasion.

While Oathmaster Biccon Winters voiced misgivings, Khans Severen Leroux and Lucian Carns made preparations with the Merchant caste to create a steady supply line. Thanks to Biccon Winters' visions, they knew the Nova Cats would soon join the other invading Clans in the Inner Sphere.

While not a major part of the initial invasion, elements of the Nova Cat Keshik were allowed to aid Clan Wolf in their invasion of the Periphery world of Drask's Den. Khans Leroux and Carns celebrated the victory, ignoring further warnings from their Oathmaster, The rest of the periphery fell just as quickly as Drask's Den and contact was soon established with ComStar.

Due to their limited role in the invasion, Clan Nova Cat was chosen to be the escort to ComStar ambassador Precentor Martial Anastasius Focht, transporting him to the Clan flagship Dire Wolf via the True Vision. Oathmaster Biccon Winters, seeing Focht as a threat, attacked the Precentor Martial, and only conceded when she a lost a Trial of Refusal to SaKhan Lucian Carns. The Clans would go on to ally with ComStar in a limited role.

Clan Nova Cat took many lesson from the initial invasion. Chief among these were the importance of secure supply lines. An offer to supply the invading clans with supplies from Clan Nova Cats already established supply lines was soundly rejected by all involved. Additionally, the Nova Cats contrasted the reactions of occupied planets to the planets treatment by their new masters.

Forbidden by ilKhan Leo Showers to participate in any more combatpast the second wave, the Nova Cat Khans were content to travel with Clan Wolf and simpy observe. They were impressed with Clan Wolf's progress compared to the other Clans, and admired Khan Ulric Kerensky's tactical abilities, innovativeness, and personal integrity. This would have later ramifications.

When Tyra Mirabolg's fighter crashed into the Dire Wolf, killing ilKhan Showers, the Nova Cat Khans voted to return to Strana Mechty to choose a new ilKhan. Sickened by the other invading Clans attempt to blame Ulric Kerensky for ilKhan Shower's death, and further vowing to oppose any policy set by the Smoke Jaguars, the Nova Cats voted a resounding no against this measure. On the other hand, a measure to vote Ulric Kerensky into the position of ilKhan was supported by the Nova Cats. This was due to their respect for Kerensky rather then the other Crusader's attempts to hobble Clan Wolf's leadership.

Ulric Kerensky was voted in as ilKhan and activated Clan Steel Viper and Clan Nova Cat as invasion clans. While this news pleased the Nova Cats, this was soon mellowed by the fact they would share a corridor with their traditional rivals the Smoke Jaguars. Rather then allow their commanders to bid, the Nova Cat leaders chose their Alpha Galaxy and Delta Galaxy as their main invasion force, with Beta Galaxy standing by to act as reserve and to attack Smoke Jaguar held planets.

Wave 5

Initial Moves

The initial steps taken by Clan Nova Cat were ones of pacification. As part of the process of sharing their invasion corridor, Clan Smoke Jaguar ceded the worlds of Bjarred, Chupadero, Jeanette, Sawyer, and Tarnby to the Nova Cats. Additionally, a narrowly won Trial of Possession won them the world of Courchevel. While the Nova Cats had planned a quick sweep through the planets to enforce their control, years of Smoke Jaguar mismanagement led to worlds filled with discontent rebels with plenty of anti-Clan experience. Rather then repeat the Smoke Jaguar's mistakes, Nova Cat spent several weeks rounding up goverment leaders and negotiating a more amicable relationship. For the most part, the civilians of these captured worlds were content with Nova Cat control, compared to the more brutal hands of Clan Smoke Jaguar.

During this time, the Nova Cats applied a modified form of Clan Wolf's Logistical Augmentation Program. Members of Clan Nova Cat's Merchant and Technician castes worked with the civilians of their garrisoned worlds, to find and jury rig necessary supplies.

Avon

Both Clan Smoke Jaguar and Clan Nova Cat lay their sights on the world of Avon. While the Nova Cats initially planned to claim the planet for themselves, the Smoke Jaguars suggested a joint attack to limit the waste of resources. ilKhan Kerensky favored the Smoke Jaguar proposal and convinced the Nova Cat leaders to accept. Elements of both Clan Smoke Jaguar and Clan Nova Cat would go on to defeat the 2nd Amphigean Light Assault Group to gain control of this valuable world.

Irece

Main article: Battle of Irece

At the same time as the invasion of Avon, Clan Nova Cat's Beta Galaxy would invade Irece. An important factory world, Irece was the last functional Land Air 'Mech production site. Defended by the 18th Dieron Regulars, the Battle of Irece proved to be a bloody affair. In the end, Clan Nova Cat managed to take the world, and its LAM factory, relatively intact.

Luthien

Main article: Battle of Luthien

A joint attack by Clan Nova Cat and Smoke Jaguar, the battle of Luthien ended up being a failure for both Clans. Of the two Galaxies Clan Nova Cat contributed to the attack, they lost sixty percent of their commited forces on the attack. Delta Galaxy would be disbanded and its remaining forces incorporated into Alpha Galaxy.

Other Gains

With Alpha and Delta galaxies heavily damaged during the fighting on Luthien, Beta was the only force readilly available to continue the Nova Cat's drive to Terra. Splitting up into smaller groups, the better to thin out defending Combine forces, Beta galaxy would wind up captured Itabaiana, Juazeiro, and Mualang in the space of 25 days. Beta would go on to capture Cyrenaica.

A reconstituted Alpha Galaxy would to hit Teniente and Caripare, capturing these worlds from their Combine defenders. A Smoke Jaguar Trial of Possession for the world of Caripare would result in another world being under joint control of both forces. Kanowit too, eventually fell to the Nova Cats, although this would prove to be another hard fought battle for Alpha Galaxy.

Further gains would be halted by the Battle of Tukayyid

Tukayyid

Main article: Battle of Tukayyid § Clan Nova Cat

Clan Nova Cat's performance was ruled a loss. While they had inflicted more damage on the ComGuard defender then any other Clan, they failed to take any of their objectives. Clan Nova Cat's Alpha and Beta Galaxies, as well as the newly introduced Gamma Galaxy, were effectively shattered.

Aftermath

The invasion effectively over, Clan Nova Cat was left to lick its wounds. Concentrating on rebuilding its shattered Touman, aggressive action was limited to raids on Smoke Jaguar holdings.

SLDF Nova Cats Emblem

Abjuration

Jihad

The Clan fought the Word of Blake with combined arms on 21 August, 3072, in the Nagasaki community zone, within the Crane district, on Luthien.[6]

Clan Nova Cat Emblem
(Dark Age Era‎)

Dark Age

Culture

See also: Clans § Culture

The Nova Cats originated as one of the twenty Clans spawned by Kerensky. Now Abjured, they still tend to follow the beliefs and practices followed by the other Clans. However, they do share notable differences with the other Clans.

Religion

While technically atheistic, the Nova Cats follow a spiritual way of life that has many religious overtones. Known as Nova Cat Mysticism, this way of life is heavily influenced by ritual and visions. While not an official, government sponsored religion, Nova Cat Mysticism is wide spread throughout the Clan and entrenched in the Warrior Caste.

The position of Oathmaster retains its original goal in the Nova Cats. It has also taken on a guiding role among the Cats, and the visions of the Oathmaster continue to help shape Nova Cat decision making and policy.

Bloodnames

While Abjured among the Clans in general, the Nova Cats still maintain the tradition of Bloodnames.

General Bloodnames
Deleportas
Devalis
MechWarriors
Drummond
Nostra
Lossey
Rosse
Elementals
Lenardon
West
Winters
Aerospace Pilots
Bavros
Leroux

Treatment of the Lower Castes

The Nova Cat Merchant Caste is granted a degree of independence unknown in most other Clans. Allowed to operate freely, the Merchant Caste contributed much to the Nova Cats power before their abjuration. Post-Abjuration, they remain an important fixture in Nova Cat society. The Nova Cat merchant fleet maintains a large number of Carrack class warships modified for Merchant use.

The Nova Cats treat their other lower castes in a manner described as 'fair-handed.'

Crusader vs Warden

Traditionally, the Nova Cats fell into the group known as the Crusader Clans. Interpreting visions that pointed to their inevitable presence in the Inner Sphere, and goaded on by a profit seeking Merchant Caste, the Nova Cats felt that retaking the Inner Sphere was part of their destiny.

Post-Tukkayid, this attitude started to change. Under the guidance of Biccon Winters, the Nova Cats drifted to a more Warden based position. This culminated in the Nova Cats siding with the Inner Sphere during the Great Refusal and they are now fully considered a Warden Clan.

Nova Cat Holidays

The Nova Cats celebrate certain holidays unique to them.

Military

Main article: Clan Nova Cat Touman

Clan Nova Cat's touman remains in a state a flux. Hampered by resource shortages, front line Galaxies are increasingly replacing losses with non-Omnimech Clan designs, mothballed Star League Defense Force units, and even Inner Sphere units. The Nova Cats still maintain standard Clan rank and unit structure, even if unit composition is less uniform then it has been in the past.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Total Warfare, p. 17 - "Clan Nova Cat"
  2. ↑ TechManual, p. 17 - "Clan Nova Cat"
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Tactical Operations, p. 17 - "Clan Nova Cat"
  4. ↑ Strategic Operations, p. 17 - "Clan Nova Cat"
  5. ↑ Masters and Minions, p. 14 - "Feline Shell Games"
  6. ↑ Jihad Turning Points: Luthien, p. 1 - "Manifest Destiny"

Bibliography

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