Clan Occupation Zones

The Clan Occupation Zones are the regions of former Lyran Commonwealth, Free Rasalhague Republic, and Draconis Combine space that are under the control of the Clans following the Clan Invasion.

Organization

Each COZ's structure and hierarchy differs according to whichever Clan is in control. For example, life in Clan Ghost Bear's Zone resembles that of the Rasalhague Republic, with currency and free trade, while life in the Clan Jade Falcon OZ is structured like life in the Kerensky Cluster, broadly centered around socialist economic thought and traditional Clan values.

The Zones all added together are slightly bigger in planetary assets than the Capellan Confederation, and possess the bulk of the respective invading Clans' forces.

History

Originally there were four occupation zones: the Smoke Jaguar zone, later shared with the Clan Nova Cat, all in former Combine space, the Ghost Bear zone, almost exclusively in former Rasalhague space, the Clan Wolf zone, in Rasalhague space, and Clan Jade Falcon zone, later partnered with the Clan Steel Viper, in Lyran Commonwealth space. But the number of clans present, and the number of zones, reduced quickly: in 3059, after Operation Bulldog the Smoke Jaguar Occupation zone was reconquered by the Combine, and Nova Cat worlds turned into the Irece Prefecture. In the year 3061, the Steel Vipers were defeated by the Jade Falcons and forced to leave their Occupation zone exclusively to them. After the Great Refusal, the Clan Hell's Horses invaded the rear of the Wolf and Falcon zones, creating their own occupation zone. The space of all the zones changed drastically with the time: The Ghost Bear zone expanded greatly, taking worlds from the Horses, Wolves and even the Draconis Combine, after the Combine-Ghost Bear War.

Planning and Structure

Before the start of Operation Revival, each clan (with the exception of the Warden-minded Clan Wolf, who was forced into the invasion as punishment for stalling the invasion) would fight in a series of trials to determine which clan would join the invasion. Those who fought well would get a chance to select their own Successor State to attack, while other clans who showed decent progress where placed as reserve clans. This organization was done by the Crusader Clans to achieve the promise of the Hidden Hope Doctrine of restoring the Star League. When the dust was settled only three Crusader Clans spearheaded the assault, leaving Clan Wolf as the only Warden Clan to participate out of punishment for objecting to the invasion. As each Invader Clan plotted which faction to attack, they would give their own mindsets about their clan which would affect how their captors would be treated under their rule.

Clan Ghost Bear would set to attack the Free Rasalhague Republic. They Ghost Bear Clans' mindset was that they wanted to have a positive image upon their captors. Rather than act as conquerors, the Bears would instead act like partners learning the culture of their realm, while at the same time indoctrinating them into the Clan Way. The groundwork set by Ghost Bear SaKhan Theresa DelVillar and capture of Elected Price Ragnar Magnusson would pay off greatly for the clans. They would claim a large portion of the Free Rasalhague Republic, renaming it into the Ghost Bear Dominion and later on the Rasalhague Dominion.[1]

The sole Warden Clan, Clan Wolf would also strike the Free Rasalhague Republic. However, their motives unlike the other Crusader Clans were to protect the inhabitants of the Inner Sphere. They believed that the Inner Sphere would be better protected and respected by a Clan who cares about them rather than others who would abuse them and disregard them as barbarians. As such, the Wolves would cooperate with their captors gaining quicker world in the process. This act of goodwill and respect towards its citizens would end after the Refusal War as the Crusader Wolves treated their own people with the same typical mindset of the Crusader Clans. Only the exiled Warden Wolves still maintain these relations with the Inner Sphere about joining the Arc-Royal Defense Cordon.

The traditional minded Clan Jade Falcon treated their captors with the same attitude as their homeworld counterparts. The Falcons would settle on attacking the Lyran half of the Federated Commonwealth (later renamed as the Lyran Alliance). The Jade Falcons were brutal and quick to put down oppression in any world they conquer. Despite their harsh treatment of their labor caste in the Inner Sphere, they still respect their captors to such an extent, that they give them a high standard of living. They would still impose their traditionalist views upon their captors though.

Out of the most aggressive clans in Operation Revival, Clan Smoke Jaguar chose to attack the Draconis Combine. Their reasons for doing so is due to the belief that the Combine were worthy foes, but also the fact that House Kurita had a hand in helping Stefan Amaris destroy the Star League. The Jaguars brought their brutal mentality to not only the soldiers of the DCMS but its citizens as well. They treated civilians poorly akin to the Londerholm Revolt and spurned help from Inner Sphere advisers on how to manage the populace. On top of this, Jaguar warriors abused their captors taking their anger and aggression out on them when they reacted poorly to news like hearing of Clan Wolf's rapid progress. This would cause the populace to rise up against their oppressors. The Jaguar's most infamous example of their butchery was the massacre of Turtle Bay after they failed to re-capture Theodore Kurita's son, Hohiro Kurita.[2] The Jaguar would pay for their harsh rule and brutality in the form of the Second Star League. The Smoke Jaguars would lose all of their holdings in the Inner Sphere and get annihilated as a result.[3]

New Occupation Zones

In 3057 after the Refusal War, Clan Wolf and Clan Jade Falcon would announce that any clan warrior who wished to fight in the Inner Sphere would have to do it under the banner of both clans. This would be known as the Harvest Trials, as it would quickly replenish the strength of both Wolves and Jade Falcons [4]. Although most clans gave away their Crusader-minded units, Horse Khan Malavai Fletcher would instead see this as an opportunity to join the Inner Sphere. He would propose a deal to Wolf Khan Ward to donate his unit to the Wolf Touman in exchange for the Horses keeping their loyalty. Khan Ward agreed and gifted three worlds to the Horses as a part of their occupation zone. While the Horses would be beaten out of the Inner Sphere by the Ghost Bears, they would return in 3071 under the "alliance" with Clan Ice Hellion[5]. Following the Jihad, the Hell's Horses would claim worlds from the Clan Wolf in retaliation for their manipulation.

In the 3060's Clan Snow Raven would finally depart from the Clan Homeworlds. They would later enter a war with the Draconis Combine after they lost a ship from their forces. The Ravens would later seek refuge with the Outworlds Alliance and reside with them after fruitful relations.

Wars of Reaving

Although the Invading Clans enjoyed the tremendous wealth they gained from the aftermath of Operation Revival, their luck would eventually run out during the late 3060's. After the dissolution of the Second Star League and expiration of the Truce of Tukayyid, ilKhan Brett Andrews would direct his attention to the Invading Clans, claiming in order to restart another invasion, they must purge the Inner Sphere taint within their clan. This would result in a brutal civil war between the Invading Clans (and those who briefly visited the Inner Sphere) and Home Clans. As a result, communications were severed between the two realms permanently. Some clans, such as the Ice Hellions and Hell's Horses did attempt to carve their own occupation zone, leaving the former to become scattered among the Inner Sphere. Clan Diamond Shark would be the first clan to depart to the Inner Sphere during the civil war, followed by the other spheroid clans. Their holdings in clan space were fought over by the other clans. This would leave Clan Diamond Shark, Clan Snow Raven and Clan Hell's Horses as the only three clans who escaped the Inner Sphere. With the formation of their own grand council and barring of the Home Clans, the Clan Occupation Zones would now serve as the permanent homes for the remaining Spheroid Clans.

Dark Age

The most drastic change of the zones happened during the Dark Age. Some of the Clans would merge with their Inner Sphere counterparts or revert back to their original names. In 3085, Clan Snow Raven and the Outworlds Alliance would merge to become the Raven Alliance. After the censure of Clan Diamond Shark and news of their original namesake totem flourishing in various Inner Sphere worlds, the clan would revert back into Clan Sea Fox and reform as a nomadic trading Clan in 3100. The Ghost Bear Dominion would finally merge with the remaining worlds of the Free Rasalhague Republic, calling themselves the Rasalhague Dominion in 3103. In 3136, Clan Wolf abandoned their zone, already greatly reduced, Alaric Wolf relocated all his clan into Lyran Commonwealth space, creating what they called the Wolf Empire. Their old zone was quickly conquered by their neighbor clans, mainly by the Hell's Horses, who conquered twenty-two of their worlds, including the former Wolf capital, Tamar. By 3145, The Bears and Falcon zones have expanded even more, (the first mainly after absorbing the Vega Protectorate, conquering dozens of worlds from the Combine, the Commonwealth and the Republic of the Sphere.

  1. Field Manual: Warden Clans, p. 82
  2. Technical Readout 3060, p.47
  3. The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky, pp. 24-25, "The Great Refusal"
  4. Field Manual: Crusader Clans, p. 57 "Current Events"
  5. Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents, p. 28, "Operation ICE STORM"