Editing Sandra Rosse

{{InfoBoxCharacter
| image               =
| caption             =
| name                = Sandra Rosse
| birthdate           = 
| died                = circa [[2823]] or [[2824]]<ref name=ICp108>''Invading Clans'', p. 108: "Death and Rebirth"</ref>
| othernames          = 
| affiliation         = [[Clan Nova Cat]]
| profession          = [[Khan of Clan Nova Cat|Khan]]
| parents             = [[Phillip Drummond]] (father)<br/>[[Anna Rosse]] (mother)
| siblings            = Lily,<br>Daisy<ref name=LOD />
| spouse              = 
| children            = 
}}
'''Sandra Rosse''' was the second [[Khan]] of [[Clan Nova Cat]] and was the founder of Nova Cat Mysticism in the Clan. She was the daughter of [[Phillip Drummond]] and [[Anna Rosse]].

[[File:Liam Ismiril and Sandra Rosse.jpg|right|thumb|400px|Liam Ismiril and Sandra Rosse]]

==History==
===Early life===
The daughter of [[Phillip Drummond]] and [[Anna Rosse]], Sandra was born on the [[Pentagon Worlds|Pentagon World]] of [[Circe]], prior to the [[Pentagon Civil War]].  A victim of the uprising, Sandra's two sisters Lily and Daisy were killed when her family's settlement was attacked by a pro-[[Lyran Commonwealth|Lyran]] faction. Her parents initially took part in the escalating violence, siding with Kerensky loyalists, but they eventually grew weary of it.  When [[Nicholas Kerensky]] called for a [[Second Exodus]], her parents escaped to [[Strana Mechty]], taking Sandra with them.<ref name=ICp103,104>''Invading Clans'', pp. 103–104: "Civil War"</ref><ref name=LOD>''Land of Dreams'', ch. 29</ref>

With the formation of the [[Clan]]s, Sandra's life took a new direction.  While her father would test into the Warrior Caste, and become [[Khan]] of Clan Nova Cat, Sandra was raised by her mother, now in the Nova Cat Merchant Caste. Under Anna's guidance, Sandra was steeped in her mother's belief in ritual and visions. While Phillip does not seem to have been directly involved in Sandra's life at this point, Anna kept him up to date on Sandra's progress.<ref name=ICp103,104/>

===Warrior===
Sandra's path with the Nova Cats took her into the Warrior Caste.  Sandra inherited many gifts from her parents, including a brilliant tactical sense and a gift for strategy. Her natural aptitude was also impressive, and she emerged from her Trial of Position as a [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarrior]] in Clan Nova Cat, with the rank of [[Star Captain]].<ref name=ICp104,105>''Invading Clans'', pp. 104–105: "New Blood"</ref>

It was then that her father confided in her that he had developed a degenerative disease that was sapping his skill and reflexes.  Sandra had adopted Anna's beliefs, and retreated to her mother's home to meditate on the issue.  After three days of fasting, a vision proclaimed itself to her; she would become Khan of the Nova Cats in Phillip's place.<ref name=ICp104,105/>

As part of her plan she would need to gain a [[Bloodname]]. Sandra competed for, and won, the Rosse [[Bloodname]] within several months.  As the laws and regulations of the Clans' eugenics program were not yet set in stone, Sandra chose to compete for the Bloodname Rosse, in honor of her mother. The Rosse Bloodname belonged to Jason Rosse,<ref>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 36: "Origins of the Bloodnames: The Clan's Founders"</ref> a Bloodname for which she would be ineligible by modern Clan standards, but due to the temporary flexibility of law, she was accepted.<ref name=ICp104,105/><ref>''The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky'', pp. 39–40: "Warriors of the Double Helix"</ref>

===Khan===
Secure in her position, Sandra challenged Phillip to a [[Trial of Grievance]], accusing him of being unfit to fulfill his duties as Khan.  Bucking the rules of engagement, she requested her father step down from the position voluntarily.  Phillip's response was to bow to his daughter, step out of the [[Circle of Equals]], and walk away from the position.<ref name=ICp105,106>''Invading Clans'', pp. 105–106: "Khan Rosse"</ref>

Accusing her of sentimentality, she was immediately challenged to several Trials of Position by several Bloodnamed Warriors of the Clan. She easily defeated her opponents, impressing the gathered Nova Cat Warriors with her skill and bravery.  When her supporters nominated her to the position of Khan, the Clan accepted.<ref name=ICp105,106/>

Once more retreating to her private sanctuary, Khan Rosse meditated and fasted for five days, seeking a vision about the proper path for her Clan.  The answer was to give her Clan a more spiritual way of life.  While she had previously kept her reliance on visions secret, she decided to reveal her mystic nature to the Clan.  Many warriors, both in Clan Nova Cat, and among the other Clans, questioned the wisdom in this path.  Unable to find any evidence of un-Clanlike behavior, they were forced to watch and see how events would unfold.  Those predicting a loss of honor would be disappointed as Sandra's ways were tempered with pragmatism.  Ritual would not interfere with daily duties and routines.<ref name=ICp105,106/>

Sandra Rosse's term as Khan would not be free of mistakes.  Her short love affair with [[Clan Smoke Jaguar|Smoke Jaguar]] [[saKhan]] [[Liam Ismiril]] would result in a long running feud between the two Clans.  Her creation of the position of [[Oathmaster]] earned condemnation by Nicholas when it was found she has appointed a warrior rather than allow competition for the title. Still, her Clan emerged from her reign in a position of strength among the other Clans.<ref name=ICp105,106/>

===Death===
When [[Clan Wolverine]] claimed the sole rights to the equipment in a disputed Brian's Cache, Khan Rosse supported the Wolverines in their decision.  This started a chain of events that led to the Wolverine [[Trial of Annihilation]].  After wiping out the Wolverines, then Khan [[Jerome Winson]] of [[Clan Wolf]] challenged each Khan who had supported the Wolverines to a Trial of Grievance. This included Sandra Rosse.<ref name=ICp108/>

While Rosse fought well, a lucky shot against her primary weapon system crippled her [[BattleMech|'Mech]].  Rather than surrender, Sandra continued to fight and was killed in the Trial.<ref name=ICp108/>

==Legacy==
Khan Rosse was instrumental in making the Nova Cats the Clan they are today.

===[[Nova Cat Mysticism]]===
While not a religion per se, the Nova Cats follow a way of life that has many religious overtones. Widely known as Nova Cat mysticism, this system of beliefs was introduced by Khan Rosse.  Through her book, ''[[Ways of Seeing]]'', Khan Rosse described her and her mother's mystical experiences and gave guidance as to the importance of rituals and visions.  A majority of the Nova Cat Clan follows this set of beliefs and rite, and it has been instrumental in many of the decisions that the Nova Cats have made in their history.<ref>''Invading Clans'', p. 106: "Ways of Seeing"</ref>

Sandra Rosse also compiled a private journal filled with mysterious portents and her divinations regarding the future.  Often proving to be eerily accurate, this document is of supreme importance to [[Clan Nova Cat]] Oathmasters.  It would one day guide their decision to side with a reborn [[Star League]] against the rest of the Clans.<ref>''Invading Clans'', p. 107: "Future Truth"</ref>

===Oathmaster===
Sandra Rosse created the position of [[Oathmaster]] within the Clans.  While it has since become a more honorary position than one with any real duties among the other Clans, it maintains an important spiritual role inside Clan Nova Cat.<ref name=ICp105,106/>

===Merchant Caste===
One of Khan Sandra Rosse's first policies was to give the Merchant Caste free rein to operate for the benefit of the Clan.  A policy influenced by her mother, Anna Rosse, and later cemented into place by Khan Rosse's father, Khan Phillip Drummond, this lead to Clan Nova Cat becoming a strong economic power among the Clans, cementing its place as one of the invading Clans during [[Operation Revival]].<ref name=ICp105,106/>

===Smoke Jaguar Feud===
The long running Nova Cat-Smoke Jaguar feud was the result of Khan Sandra Rosse's brief love affair with [[Clan Smoke Jaguar]] saKhan [[Liam Ismiril]].  While initially feeling an attraction which she could not clearly identify, Sandra would reach a point where she could not ignore the differences between their respective Clans' philosophies.  She found her growing love for the [[saKhan]] disorientating and confusing.  After one particularly nightmarish vision that Sandra interpreted as the Nova Cats being destroyed if they followed the path of the Jaguar, Sandra Rosse broke off their relationship.  Within a week, saKhan Ismiril responded; the corpse of a [[Nova Cat (species)|Nova Cat]] was discovered in one of her Clan's iron wombs, an unmistakable declaration of enmity between the two cat Clans.  The Nova Cats and Smoke Jaguars remained bitter enemies until the latter's demise at the hands of the reborn Star League.<ref>''Invading Clans'', pp. 106–107: "Dreams of Friends and Enemies"</ref>

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
* ''[[The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky]]''
* ''[[Historical: Operation Klondike]]''
* ''[[Invading Clans]]''
* ''[[Land of Dreams]]'' (novel)


[[Category:Clan Nova Cat Characters|Rosse, Sandra]]
[[Category:Khans|Rosse, Sandra]]
[[Category:In-Universe Authors|Rosse, Sandra]]