Editing Kael Pershaw

{{InfoBoxCharacter
| image               = Kael Pershaw 1.jpg
| caption             = Kael Pershaw
| name                = Kael Pershaw
| birthdate           = [[2996]]
| died                = [[3073]]
| othernames          = 
| affiliation         = [[Clan Jade Falcon]]
| rank                = 
| title               = 
| position            = [[Loremaster of the Clans]]
| profession          = 
| parents             = 
| siblings            = 
| spouse              = 
| children            = 
}}
'''Kael Pershaw''' was a respected warrior and officer of [[Clan Jade Falcon]] who would serve from well before and through [[Operation REVIVAL]], eventually going on to become the Falcons' [[Loremaster]]—and by extension—Commander of the [[Watch#Clan Jade Falcon|Jade Falcon Watch]].  He later attained the posting of Loremaster of the Clans, serving the [[ilKhan]] and the [[Grand Council]] in that capacity for well over a decade.  Pershaw maintained his role with Clan Jade Falcon during his tenure in the high post, until leaving [[Strana Mechty]] in [[3072]] during the [[Wars of Reaving]], when the last vestiges of the Falcons departed the [[Clan Homeworlds]] forever, having been [[Trial of Abjuration|Abjured]] by will of the [[Home Clans]].  Loremaster Pershaw died the next year from wounds sustained while battling [[the Society]] in the [[Deep Periphery]], but not before personally carrying out the [[Trial of Annihilation|Annihilation]] of [[Etienne (Balzac)]] at the battle's conclusion.<ref name=JFSp53>''Jade Falcon Sourcebook'', p. 53: "Star Colonel Kael Pershaw"</ref><ref name=ER3052p86>''Era Report: 3052'', p. 86: "Kael Pershaw, Profile"</ref><ref name=FM:CCp98>''Field Manual: Crusader Clans'', p. 98: "Loremaster Kael Pershaw"</ref><ref name=TWORp193>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 193: "Kael Pershaw, Profile"</ref>

==History==
Hailing from a [[Pershaw (Bloodname)|Bloodname House]] that originates in [[Clan Star Adder]], Kael Pershaw is said to be a typical warrior of his line; said never to be flashy or overly ambitious, most were simply solid warriors and officers with excellent combat records. Born during the height of the tension-filled [[Political Century]], Pershaw had strong Crusader views and a typically conservative outlook regarding [[freeborn]] warriors for most of his life, though time and experience eventually seemed to temper his view regarding the latter. Often described as abrasive—even by [[Clan]] warrior standards—Pershaw was known for his abilities with intelligence, analysis, logistics, strategy and tactics, and less for his skill with politics.  While serving as Loremaster of Clan Jade Falcon, Pershaw became adept at the role of spymaster, putting his considerable talents to use running what was considered to be one of the highest-rated [[Watch#Clan Jade Falcon|Watch]] services in all of the Clans. A veteran of many Trials and battles, much of Pershaw's body had been replaced by various cybernetic prostheses over the years.  Both of his legs and his left arm were prosthetic, as well as certain organs, complete with a concealed laser pistol built into his left forearm. A metal half-mask covered much of his face, and his voice was augmented by electronics<ref>''Falcon Rising'', ch. 5</ref> – all of which served to further alienate him from his fellow officers, to whom his extensive cybernetics imparted a sense of cold inhumanity. It has been speculated that only his lack of political acumen kept him from becoming a Khan of the Jade Falcons, a fact that has not escaped Pershaw himself. He was known to be quietly bitter about circumstances, though he would serve his Clan and the Crusaders' cause with nothing less than total devotion. He would eventually become a highly respected and influential individual during the years spent as [[Loremaster of the Clans]].<ref name=ER3052p86/><ref name=TWORp193/><ref>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 37: "Origins of the Bloodnames: The Clans’ Founders"</ref><ref name=TWORp225>''Rules Annex, Kael Pershaw''</ref><ref name=TWORp78,79,80>''The Wars of Reaving'', pp. 78–80: "The Wolf at the Door"</ref>

===Early career===
Said to be a promising officer with a knack for exploiting his enemies' weakness on the battlefield, Pershaw steadily rose though the Jade Falcon ranks to earn a Bloodname and attain the rank of [[Star Colonel]] in his first few decades as a warrior.  During that time, he was a political supporter of then-[[saKhan of Clan Jade Falcon|saKhan]] [[Sejanus Buhallin]], who was one of the few Jade Falcon warriors to place any trust or value in the reports of [[Wolf's Dragoons]], who were regarded as little more than Wolf [[Freeborn|freebirth]]s, and therefore, untrustworthy liabilities to the Crusader agenda.  Buhallin was later forced from office in favor of ''[[ristar]]'' [[Elias Crichell]], sometime after the end of the [[Third Succession War]] and the apparent news of the Dragoons having "gone native."  Star Colonel Pershaw's career hit the rocks after being caught on the wrong side of this political divide, drawing nothing but low-end assignments for many years to come.<ref name=ER3052p86/><ref>''Jade Falcon Sourcebook'', p. 19: "Ristar Elias Crichell"</ref>

===Battle at Glory Station===
One of these commands happened to be garrison duty on the world of [[Glory (system)|Glory]], a backwater planet in the [[Kerensky Cluster]] known for its unusually varied topography.  Many warriors of the [[Glory Station Garrison Cluster (Clan Jade Falcon)|Glory Station Garrison Cluster]] were freeborns, which of course caused a great deal of tension with the [[trueborn]] warriors under his command.  Dealing with problems that occurred between the two sides seemed to be an ongoing process, especially with regard to one particular freebirth called [[Star Commander]] Jorge, who could not stop brawling with his trueborn counterparts.  During one of these incidents, while proscribing punishment against Jorge for killing trueborn Star Commander Bast in another of their brawls, forces of [[Clan Wolf]] that had appeared days earlier in-system announced their intentions.  The already angry Pershaw was stunned to hear the Wolves' Star Colonel [[Mikel Furey]] of the [[16th Battle (Clan Wolf)|16th Battle Cluster]] issue a ''[[batchall]]'' for the possession of Pershaw's own genetic legacy.  Horrified at the prospect of his genes being uprooted from the Jade Falcons to the hated Clan Wolf, Pershaw was forced to use all of the warriors at his disposal in order to keep his legacy out of a Wolf genetic repository.  This included Star Commander Jorge and his freeborn warriors.  As it turned out, Jorge was able to come up with a plan that Pershaw accepted, one that turned the tide of battle at a key moment, allowing the Jade Falcons to win the engagement.  Pershaw reveled in sending [[Star Captain]] [[Dwillt Radick]] back to his commander in shame, after refusing to take the Wolf officer as a bondsman for the shame of having lost the battle because of the plans of a freebirth.<ref name=JFSp53/><ref>''Bloodname'', chs. 1–20</ref>

{{Quote|''You are such a fraud, Jorge. I could almost like you. 'What we must do, we do.' Spoken like a trueborn, Jorge, but filth in the mouth of a freebirth.''|Kael Pershaw to Jorge/Aidan after the battle of Glory Station}}

Begrudgingly forced to honor the freeborn for his achievements in battle, he was surprised when Star Commander Jorge announced that he was actually a trueborn named Aidan, who had masqueraded as a freeborn in order to be a warrior.  Further, Aidan demanded the right to fight for a [[Pryde (Bloodname)|Pryde Bloodname]] legacy which had become vacant.  Outraged at the deceitful and shameless pretense, Pershaw ordered Aidan detained and brought before the [[Clan Council]] on [[Ironhold]], along with witnesses [[Joanna]] and [[Horse]], where he would testify against Aidan and [[Ter Roshak]], the [[Falconer Commander]] who orchestrated the entire scheme.  Though the Clan Council and Khan Crichell decided against Aidan's claim—as well as condemning Joanna and Ter Roshak in the process—the young Star Commander challenged the decision to a [[Trial of Refusal]].  He would win the Trial against daunting three to one odds, alongside his former [[Falconer]]s, who both chose to cast their lots with Aidan's Trial of Refusal, each for varying reasons.  As Pershaw watched Aidan fight through this, and the subsequent [[Trial of Bloodright]], he began to have mixed feelings about the warrior, admiring his skill and fighting spirit.  Though Pershaw would part ways with the young warrior, it was not the last of [[Aidan Pryde]] that he would see during his lifetime.<ref name=JFSp53/><ref>''Bloodname'', chs. 21–35</ref>

===Operation REVIVAL===
[[File:Galaxy Sigma (Clan Jade Falcon) logo.png|right|thumb|150px|Pershaw's command prior to coming to the Inner Sphere]]

After Aidan's Blooding, Star Colonel Pershaw began to receive markedly better assignments, with plenty of heavy fighting.  During a raid against Clan Star Adder, Pershaw was grievously injured.  Due to the fact that Pershaw had a rare condition that rendered him highly allergic to the [[Clans]]' regenerative gene therapy treatments, he chose to have the damage repaired with cybernetic and mechanical prostheses, instead of medically grown replacement limbs and organs.  More prostheses were slowly added over the years, resulting in Pershaw's truly becoming more machine than man.  His already poor relations with other Clansmen further deteriorated because of this; most warriors regard cybernetics and prosthetics with great disdain.  Some had even noted that his appearance had taken on a monstrous aspect at times.<ref name=ER3052p86/><ref name=TWORp193/><ref>''Falcon Guard'', ch. 17</ref>

As [[Operation REVIVAL]] began to draw near, Pershaw held the rank of [[Galaxy Commander]], commanding [[Sigma Galaxy (Clan Jade Falcon)|Sigma Galaxy]] in the [[Clan Homeworlds]].  He mostly involved himself with administrative duties, while leaving much of the day-to-day command of the [[Galaxy]] to his subordinate Star Colonels.<ref name=ER3052p86/>

After the devastating Jade Falcon loss on [[Twycross]] in September of [[3050]], newly elected [[saKhan of Clan Jade Falcon|saKhan]] [[Vandervahn Chistu]] requested that Pershaw—one of Chistu's former commanders—be reassigned to the Inner Sphere as a top-level adviser.  Though it effectively meant a demotion back to the rank of Star Colonel, Pershaw had few qualms about his new role.  SaKhan Chistu also wanted to re-form the [[Jade Falcon Guards (Clan Jade Falcon)|Falcon Guards]] as a unit, and asked Pershaw to aid him in the task of choosing new leadership.  With the disgrace of Twycross hanging over the [[Cluster]], few wanted to command what was often referred to as a ''[[dezgra]]'' unit by other Jade Falcon warriors.  Pershaw knew immediately that only one Falcon Star Colonel would be receptive to the offer, and even well-suited for the role of commander of the new Falcon Guards.  Star Colonel Aidan Pryde had been languishing as commander of [[Nega Garrison (Clan Jade Falcon)|Nega Garrison Cluster]], charged with mop-up and defense of worlds conquered by the front line Galaxies.  SaKhan Chistu agreed with Pershaw's assessment, and though Khan Elias Crichell was not quite so magnanimous about the decision, the Jade Falcon Guards were re-formed in time for participation in the [[Battle of Tukayyid (3052)|Battle of Tukayyid]].<ref>''Jade Falcon Sourcebook'', pp. 28–29: "Fourth Wave: The Falcon Falters"</ref><ref>''Jade Falcon Sourcebook'', p. 48: "Twycross"</ref><ref name=JFSp54>''Jade Falcon Sourcebook'', p. 54: "saKhan Vandervahn Chistu" and "Khan Elias Crichell"</ref><ref>''Falcon Guard'', chs. 7–21</ref>

{{Quote|''Good! Good! Then perhaps, in your own arrogance, you are the proper choice to command the new Falcon Guards!''|Kael Pershaw informing Star Colonel Aidan Pryde of his new command.'''<ref>''Falcon Guard'', ch. 17</ref>}}

====Battle of Tukayyid====
Pershaw's role during the battle with the [[Com Guards]] was as strategic adviser to saKhan Chistu and Head of Operations for Clan Jade Falcon.  As the fighting raged day and night, Pershaw orbited far above the fray in a ''[[Spectre (Support Vehicle)|Spectre]]'' Command/Control aerospace craft, relaying pertinent information and a constant stream of new orders to the commanders below as he coordinated much of their effort.  He also observed at the war councils, often keeping the proceedings on track in his abrasive and sometimes imperious manner when need be. Pershaw especially kept tabs on the Falcon Guards, who had broken out to nearly take the objective of Olalla after securing a bridgehead on the Prezno River.<ref>''BattleTech: Battle of Tukayyid'' and other recent works spell it Prezno; earlier works spell it Przeno.</ref>  While the Jade Falcon Guards were ultimately unable to claim the objective, they wiped out the [[201st Division (ComStar)|201st BattleMech Division]] and [[77th Division (ComStar)|77th ComStar Division]], before reinforcements from six other divisions arrived.  As the days thundered by and the situation became untenable, the Falcons began to withdraw from the world.  The Falcon Guards and [[2nd Falcon Jaegers (Clan Jade Falcon)|2nd Falcon Jaegers]] under the command of Star Colonel [[Marthe Pryde]] covered the withdrawal, with up-to-the-minute tactical aid from Pershaw aboard his ''Specter''.  As the Com Guard [[4th Army (ComStar)|4th Army]] and [[309th Division (ComStar)|309th Division]] closed on the retreating Falcons to cut them off from escape, the Falcon Guards and the Falcon Jaegers would rise to the occasion, obliterating the 309th along the way.  As the DropShips were boarded, Pershaw helped to guide Aidan Pryde in tracking the surrounding Com Guard forces, keeping them at bay.  Star Colonel Pryde stayed behind, as the [[DropShip]] ''Raptor'' broke free from the surface of Tukayyid.  He went on to destroy over a company of Com Guard [[BattleMech]]s, as Pershaw offered sensor data and support to the heroic effort until his very last minutes, when communications failed aboard Aidan's ''[[Timber Wolf (Mad Cat)|Timber Wolf]]''.  The actions saved the lives of the surviving warriors of Jade Falcon Galaxy, and the overall performance of the Falcon Guards helped their Clan to earn a draw, rather than a loss as most Clans faced in the disastrous battle.  All of this was at the cost of Star Colonel Aidan Pryde, who died defending his Clan from the Com Guards.  Pershaw would later take an important role in [[giftake|accepting Pryde's genetic legacy]] into the Clan's eugenics program, offering his final respect to the fallen warrior.<ref name=JFSp53/><ref>''Jade Falcon Sourcebook'', pp. 31–32: "Battle of Tukayyid"</ref><ref>''Falcon Guard'', chs. 22–37</ref><ref>''Falcon Guard'', Epilogue</ref>

===Loremaster and spymaster===
[[File:Kael Pershaw.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Loremaster of the Clans, [[3059]]]]

At some point after Tukayyid in [[3052]], Kael Pershaw officially became the Jade Falcons' [[Loremaster]] and head of the Jade Falcon [[Watch#Clan Jade Falcon|Watch]].  While lacking the experience, infrastructure and funding of many Inner Sphere intelligence agencies, Pershaw was able to shape the Watch into an efficient force more than capable of carrying out its mission.  One reported operation in [[3054]] even fooled ComStar into mistaking Wolf and Jade Falcon units for each other in some of their field reports.<ref name=ER3052p86/><ref name=FM:CCp98/>

In [[3057]], anomalies in various scientist caste shipping manifests and other related inconsistencies led Pershaw to suspect some type of plot was being perpetrated against his Clan.  Though he was not clear on who was involved, he suspected [[Clan Wolf]] scheming to be involved. After sending Star Commander Joanna to the facility under the guise of a warrior being sent to ''[[solahma]]'', new information gathered at an uncharted world called [[Dogg]] was able to clarify the situation.  The discovery of bodies of dead warriors—some of them heroes—mixed in with techs and other lower caste members, and all of them loaded into mislabeled containers being traded between Clans at first appeared an act of sabotage on the Jade Falcon breeding program, but later turned out to be a much larger conspiracy among the scientist castes of several Clans.  The revelation that certain Falcon warriors were born from unauthorized combinations of genes from Clan Wolf supported this, and confirmed for Pershaw what had long been suspected about a conspiracy in the ranks of the scientists.<ref>''I am Jade Falcon'', chs. 1–12</ref><ref>''I Am Jade Falcon'', chs. 13–28</ref>

The conspiracy deepened in [[3059]], when evidence emerged from [[Huntress]] that [[Clan Smoke Jaguar]] possessed a copy of Aidan Pryde's genetic legacy.  Coupled with the cloak of secrecy that the scientists spread over nearly everything they did, the picture of a vast secret society began to emerge.  Scientist [[Peri (Watson)]] further investigated Jade Falcon Scientist-General [[Etienne (Balzac)]], finding a secret facility on [[Ironhold]] that contained a clone ''[[sibko]]'' decanted solely from the genes of Aidan Pryde.  In [[3062]], these findings were confirmed by Scientist Peri, as well as the Watch, resulting in Khan [[Marthe Pryde]] sacking Etienne from the post of Scientist-General, and exiling him from the Inner Sphere worlds, where he had developed an extensive network to hide and conduct illegal research.  Pershaw would still keep tabs on [[The Society]], though several events served to distract him and his Watch operations over the next few years.<ref>''Freebirth'', chs. 20–37</ref><ref>''Falcon Rising'', chs. 15–23</ref><ref>''Falcon Rising'', chs. 24–38, Epilogue</ref>

===In service to the Grand Council===
In addition to his activities with the Jade Falcon Clan Watch, Pershaw also served the [[Grand Council]] as Loremaster of the Clans, a position he held from around early [[3058]] until the chaotic years leading up to the [[Wars of Reaving]].  Along with this posting came responsibility for the All-Clan Watch, which answered only to the Grand Council and the [[ilKhan]].  In January of that year, he witnessed the rise of Elias Crichell to the post of ilKhan, and his subsequent death at the hands of Khan [[Vlad Ward]], leaving the seat vacant once more.  The election of another ilKhan would wait until they could hold a proper Grand Council on [[Strana Mechty]].<ref>''Malicious Intent'', chs. 9–10</ref>

He likewise saw the rise of the [[Home Clan Coalition]], and its fall, as the [[Harvest Trials]] took much of the [[Crusader Clans|Crusader]] fire out of [[Clan Ice Hellion|Ice Hellion]] Khan [[Asa Taney]]'s upstart coalition.  Pershaw oversaw the ascension of [[Lincoln Osis]] to ilKhan in November of 3058, as well as the Clans' reactions to news of the [[Second Star League]], and [[Operation BULLDOG|its successful attacks]] on Smoke Jaguar-held territory, all while dealing with his own Clan's disturbing reports regarding the Society, analyzing the data and coordinating responses.  He also maintained the peace in the [[Hall of Khans]] when debate turned to feud once more between [[Clan Steel Viper]] and his own Jade Falcons on several occasions.  He was also there to record the accusations against [[Clan Burrock]] involving secret [[Dark Caste]] dealings, accusations that brought about their [[Trial of Absorption|Absorption]] by Clan Star Adder soon after.<ref>''Grave Covenant'', chs. 20, 34</ref><ref>''Freebirth'', chs. 5–6</ref><ref>''Falcon Rising'', chs. 5, 7–8</ref><ref>''Field Manual: Crusader Clans'', pp. 114–115: "The Burrock Absorption"</ref>

When news of the Inner Sphere attack on Huntress arrived at Strana Mechty in [[3060]], Loremaster Pershaw conducted and tallied the unanimous vote to stay out of the Smoke Jaguar affair, watching as the Jaguars were [[Trial of Annihilation|Annihilated]] by forces that claimed to represent the Second Star League.  Pershaw also observed [[Victor Steiner-Davion]]'s challenge and victory during the [[Great Refusal]], and the subsequent death of the great Crusade against the Inner Sphere at the hands of [[Task Force Serpent]].  Later, from his post in the Grand Council, he glared and met Victor's gaze as the [[Archon-Prince]] mounted the dais at the center of the [[Hall of Khans]] to make his address to the assembly, but the old Loremaster could say or do nothing to reverse the results of the fateful Trial.<ref>''Shadows of War'', ch. 1</ref><ref>''Prince of Havoc'', chs. 3–15</ref>

Loremaster Pershaw conducted Grand Council sessions without an ilKhan for several years after the death of Lincoln Osis, but the effectiveness of the body was increasingly called into question by many of the Khans.  After the Great Refusal, the [[Home Clans]]' anger smoldered until hostilities again broke out.  The Steel Vipers, who had taken aim at the Jade Falcons in the Grand Council for years, were once again criticizing the Falcons' use of freeborn warriors – and especially their allowing a freeborn, [[Diana Pryde|Diana]], to compete for the [[Pryde (Bloodname)|Pryde Bloodname]].  This hostility presaged a surprise attack in June of [[3061]], in which the Steel Vipers attempted to wrest control of the Jade Falcon [[Occupation Zone]].  They were ultimately repulsed and driven from the Inner Sphere by an extensive Jade Falcon counterattack that left [[Clan Steel Viper Touman|the Clan's ''touman'']] greatly weakened.  The Vipers were humiliated by the defeat, which included [[Perigard Zalman]]'s loss at the hands of Diana Pryde in a duel on the key world of [[Waldorff]].<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 12: "Armed Politics"</ref><ref>''Falcon Rising'', chs. 29–39</ref>

===Politics and power plays===
[[File:Clan Watch Insignia.jpg|right|thumb|Clan Watch Insignia]]

The Jade Falcons were kept busy on both of their fronts for a time.  Loremaster Pershaw often had to analyze data from their Inner Sphere enemies, assisting Khan Pryde with information that allowed her to prepare strikes into [[Lyran]] territory in [[3064]].  While following up on investigations into The Society, Pershaw remained on distant Strana Mechty to fulfill his role with the Grand Council.  One of the few failures of the Watch was to detect an area of the Twycross system that naturally produced a material with similar properties to [[HarJel]], before conceding all future rights to the world to [[Clan Diamond Shark]] in [[3067]], in exchange for Shark holdings on [[Lum]] in the [[Kerensky Cluster]].  Also, the Falcons' [[ProtoMech]] development program was scrapped at this time, deemed to be a failure by many in the warrior caste.  The truth that the research program had been sabotaged by many of the very scientists working on the project would not be realized for several years.  Neither did anyone notice that funding for the program continued in spite of the warrior caste's order to abandon it, hidden within the veils of secrecy woven by the scientist caste.<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 19: "Wheels and Deals" and ''Considering Twycross''</ref><ref name=IP2p34>''Jihad Conspiracies: Interstellar Players 2'', p. 34: ''The Society''</ref><ref name=TWORp152,153>''The Wars of Reaving'', pp. 152–153: "The Society"</ref>

The Steel Vipers and Jade Falcons continued to clash in the Homeworlds, with hostilities coming to a head in [[3069]].  After a brutal exchange on the world of [[Marshall]] that saw the Falcons break their bid unannounced—as well as use a massive artillery barrage to regain their advantage over the Viper forces—Khan [[Brett Andrews]] of the Steel Vipers demanded censure of the Jade Falcons, claiming them to be irredeemably tainted by contact with the Inner Sphere.  When this vote failed, the Vipers took it upon themselves to enact revenge.  Within 36 hours of the failed vote, the Steel Vipers struck with their entire ''touman'' in a relentless wave of assaults that would push the Falcons from the Clan Homeworlds.  By February of [[3070]], the only possession owned by the Falcons in the Homeworlds was their enclave on Strana Mechty, which all Clans not Abjured, Absorbed or Annihilated were entitled to by Clan law.<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 45: "Viper and Falcon"</ref><ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', pp. 46–48: "Exodus Requiem"</ref>

===Wars of Reaving===
Pershaw maintained his position, but was somewhat isolated in the increasing chaos of the Clan Homeworlds. In early [[3072]], newly elected ilKhan Brett Andrews announced his intention of cleansing the Clans of Inner Sphere taint through the process of Reaving.  Any Bloodname associated with an [[Invader Clans|Invading Clan]] could be targeted with a Reaving, carried out by simply challenging the warrior holding the Bloodname to an immediate [[Trial of Reaving]].  IlKhan Andrews demonstrated this by calling a Reaving on saKhan [[Angus Labov]] of [[Clan Diamond Shark]], who was present in the chamber.  After Labov's acceptance of the Trial (and demand that it be carried out with no delay), Andrews quickly hurled a concealed knife and stuck Labov in the throat killing him on the floor of the Grand Council.  A frenzy soon broke out on Strana Mechty as Clan Wolf took the Kerensky Blood Chapel, and seized the Founder's genetic legacies.  Clan Wolf Star Colonel [[Ramil Kerensky]] challenged the rest of the Clans to take it back from them.  Later, the Wolves claimed to have destroyed the legacies, which further enraged the Clans that were vying for the prestige of housing the genes of the Founders. Secretly, the legacies made their way back to the Wolves in the Inner Sphere where they were safe from the indiscriminate violence blossoming in the Homeworlds.<ref name=TWORp78,79,80/><ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 75: ''Viper Ascendant''</ref><ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 78: "The Reaving of the Blood"</ref>

During the following days, chaos descended on Strana Mechty, as every Clan became involved in the fighting, sometimes against the Wolves and other Spheroid Clans, but often against anyone in reach.  The Wolves were put up for a [[Trial of Annihilation]] by the Grand Council (excluding the Ghost Bears, Jade Falcons, and Hell's Horses), but the results of the vote were ordered to be kept secret.  Loremaster Pershaw's loyalty was to Clan law and tradition, and not to the individuals wielding power, so he informed Loremaster [[Laurie Tseng]] of the Ghost Bears as well as his Khans, and was ordered to gather all Falcon personnel and depart Strana Mechty.  As Pershaw prepared his staff to leave, Steel Viper Star Colonel [[Thomas Andrews]] accosted him on orders from the Viper Watch, which had picked up on the Jade Falcon plans and declared a Reaving on Pershaw for betraying the ilKhan and the Grand Council.  Pershaw and Andrews entered a [[Circle of Equals]] after a surprising challenge from the old Loremaster who claimed no weapons but his "flesh and bones, and the machines grafted to them."  Pershaw shot Andrews with the laser pistol grafted into his left arm and walked away, taking enough time to allow all members of the Jade Falcon enclave to escape.  The rest of Andrew's [[Star]] were stunned at the outcome, but allowed Pershaw to leave in peace because the spirit of the Trial had not been violated in spite of what had transpired.  By the time their anger motivated them to finally give chase, it was too late.  Pershaw would never see the Clan Homeworlds again.<ref name=TWORp78,79,80/>

===Ice Hellion invasion===
In [[3071]], word from a small [[Clan Goliath Scorpion]] expedition to former [[Rim Worlds Republic]] sites reached the Jade Falcon Watch.  The Scorpions reported two [[Clan Ice Hellion]] invasion fleets approaching the Jade Falcon Occupation Zone. Weeks later, [[Operation ICE STORM]] began – which Pershaw later referred to as the "Hellion Tantrum".<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 58: ''Scorpion Wanders''</ref><ref name=JS:TBDp28>''Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents'', p. 28: ''Report ANA -CIH-3071-V''</ref>

After a vicious series of struggles that saw many worlds change hands from Falcon to Hellion and back within a half-year's time, saKhan [[Connor Rood]] fought a losing battle in the [[Dark Nebula]] against the Hell's Horses' [[Theta Galaxy (Clan Hell's Horses)|Theta Galaxy]] and the Jade Falcons' [[Delta Galaxy (Clan Jade Falcon)|Delta Galaxy]].  Falcon saKhan [[Samantha Clees]] offered ''[[hegira]]'' after a naval exchange that saw much of the Ice Hellions' fleet captured or destroyed.  Rood accepted in order to save the lives of his remaining forces.  Khan [[Raina Montose]] was killed shortly after on [[Vantaa]], in March of [[3072]].  By this point, Pershaw's small flotilla had arrived from the Clan Homeworlds after a six month circuit.  Assessing the situation, Pershaw ordered [[Alpha Galaxy (Clan Jade Falcon)|Alpha Galaxy]] to assemble and begin flanking attacks to secure planetary systems from the Hellions.  His arrival was fortuitous.  Their cagey allies, the Hell's Horses, had liberated several worlds, from [[Steelton]] to [[Botany Bay]], choosing to retain possession of them in spite of Falcon protests.  Pershaw's last report on the retreating Ice Hellions followed Rood until their jump into the Deep Periphery, but no further.  He suspected they would stop at Nouveaux Prime, aware that an Ice Hellion garrison was on that world.<ref name=JS:TBDp28/><ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 63: ''The Torrent Begins''</ref><ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', pp. 69–71: "The Hellion Strikes"</ref>

===Annihilation of The Society===
{{Quote|''My Khans, be wary. Something is stalking the Falcon; with our eyes wide open, we will turn the tables and triumph once again over our foes.''|(Excerpt) ''Loremaster Kael Pershaw, Watch Addendum 30053072''<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 98</ref>}}

In [[3070]], Pershaw reported the disappearance of Scientist Peri (Watson) to Khan Pryde.  Peri had been conducting further investigations into The Society on several Clan worlds, uncovering more clues to their agenda.  Events of the [[Wars of Reaving]] and the [[Jihad]] served to distract the Jade Falcons from their hidden enemies, though this changed after the Falcons' flight from Strana Mechty.  By [[3072]], an outbreak of virulent infection was spreading among certain segments of the warrior caste, centered on several Bloodname houses.  The Chistu and Mattlov lines were particularly hit hard by the mysterious ailment, with few surviving its passing.  Also, several computer viruses paralyzed [[JumpShip]] resources and [[HPG]] generators across the Occupation Zone, and into Wolf and Hell's Horses territory, greatly disrupting communications and trade across the region.  Almost to confirm who was behind this, the former Scientist-General, Etienne (Balzac), sent an ultimatum to Khan Pryde, demanding that the warrior caste stand down from power in favor of the scientists, whom he called "the true keepers of Kerensky's vision".  He backed up his demand by threatening to destroy the Jade Falcons' genetic repository on [[Wotan]], as well as several key industrial complexes, while hinting that he would unleash more biological weapons on his attackers if need be.  Khan Pryde soon issued orders for the Annihilation of the entire Jade Falcon Scientist caste in response to the threat.<ref name=TWORp152,153/><ref name=JS:TBDp28/><ref name=TWORp182,183>''The Wars of Reaving'', pp. 182–183: "Etienne (Balzac)"</ref><ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 99: "Scraping the Falcon" and ''Ultimatum''</ref>

Organizing the Jade Falcon Watch into squads, Pershaw, and his protégé, Star Colonel [[Brian Pryde]], ordered their forces to go from planet to planet secretly carrying out their mission.  All trueborn scientists were targeted, as were many freeborn scientists that fell under any suspicion.  Scientists native to the Inner Sphere who associated with their trueborn [[Clan]] counterparts were also eliminated as a precaution.  The operations were swiftly carried out, and in most cases, a world was deemed "cleansed" within a week of their arrival.  65% of their determined targets were terminated in the first waves, but it was those who temporarily escaped their doom that would cause problems for the Jade Falcons for many years to come.<ref name=TWORp152,153/><ref name=TWORp182,183/><ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 118: "Spreading the Contagion"</ref>

Etienne and the Society fought back by releasing another [[SLOT virus|SLOT Virus]] in [[3073]], and gathering support from dissatisfied elements of the populations under Falcon rule.  The Society cells operated with near total autonomy, though with some coordination and planning from Etienne.  Pershaw gathered the Jade Falcons' Alpha Galaxy at [[Von Strang's World]], along with the WarShips CJF ''Falcon's Nest'', CJF ''Hawk Eye'', and CJF ''Turkina's Pride'' for a push toward a planet in the [[Deep Periphery]] called [[Etienne's Sanctuary]].  During the final assault, Kael Pershaw led a Star of infantry and [[Elemental]]s into Etienne's stronghold, after the [[101st Battle (Clan Jade Falcon)|101st Battle Cluster]] breached the walls.  Leading the way into the den of evil, Pershaw suffered severe wounds from the fighting inside the scientist's fortress.  Regardless of pain, Pershaw soldiered on anyway, knowing that he had to fulfill one last task.  Upon seeing and recognizing Etienne amongst those inside the facility, he immediately shot the ''[[chalcas]]'' rebel leader through the face.  Soon afterward, Kael Pershaw died from his wounds, satisfied that he had seen the end of Etienne's threat to his Clan.<ref name=TWORp182,183/><ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 138: "Falcon Vengeance"</ref>

==Legacy==
Having long since prepared his replacement as head of the Jade Falcon Watch, Kael Pershaw could rest easy knowing that his Clan would survive and thrive long after his demise.  His elimination of Etienne (Balzac) was a morale boost for his Clan during the dark years of the Jihad, though it would take many more years of sporadic fighting to complete the Annihilation of the rebel scientists.<ref name=MMp127,128>''Masters and Minions: The StarCorps Dossiers'', pp. 127–128: "Brian Pryde"</ref>

==Additional Quotes==
{{Quote|''If any freebirth scum has killed off a newly qualified Jade Falcon warrior to take his place, I will personally see to it that he or she has his skin peeled off alive.''|Kael Pershaw to [[Deval Huddock]] regarding the possibility of a Clan Wolf spy in their ranks'''<ref>''I Am Jade Falcon'', ch. 8</ref>}}

==References==
<references/>

==Bibliography==
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
* ''[[Bloodname (novel)|Bloodname]]'' (novel)
* ''[[Era Report: 3052]]''
* ''[[Falcon Guard (novel)|Falcon Guard]]'' (novel)
* ''[[Falcon Rising]]'' (novel)
* ''[[Field Manual: Crusader Clans]]''
* ''[[Freebirth (novel)|Freebirth]]'' (novel)
* ''[[Grave Covenant]]'' (novel)
* ''[[Historical: Operation Klondike]]''
* ''[[I Am Jade Falcon]]'' (novel)
* ''[[Jade Falcon Sourcebook]]''
* ''[[Jihad Conspiracies: Interstellar Players 2]]''
* ''[[Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents]]''
* ''[[Malicious Intent]]'' (novel)
* ''[[Masters and Minions: The StarCorps Dossiers]]''
* ''[[Prince of Havoc]]'' (novel)
* ''[[Shadows of War]]'' (novel)
* ''[[The Wars of Reaving]]''
{{div col end}}

[[Category: Clan Jade Falcon Characters|Pershaw, Kael]]
[[Category: Loremasters|Pershaw, Kael]]