October 3153

Clan Steel Viper preliminary strikes against the Inner Sphere have been planned, with their attacks to concentrate on the Marian Hegemony. The Marians are seen as a weak power after their recent battle with the Free Worlds League Military. The Hegemony has also begun operations in the Lothian League to “regain lost territories”. This means their military is already occupied, allowing simpler insertion by the Wolverine Union into their territories.

Before the strikes against the Hegemony proper, Khan Hartford Zalman wanted to establish a beachhead on nearby worlds to be used as supply depots and recharge stations for their JumpShips and WarShips. Alpha Galaxy, led by Zalman himself, moved in to take New St. Andrews. SaKhan Kathya Olezko’s Gamma Galaxy was tasked with taking Thadora’s Land. Not following the classical Clan rules of engagement, both mobilized their entire Galaxy along with naval assets, led by Essex Block III WarShips. “Nothing is to be left to chance” is the motto of this operation.

First Strike: Clan Steel Viper: Thadora’s Land

Thadora’s Land is defended by the Schofield’s Garrisoneers along with a planetary militia. The Garrisoneers have a company of BattleMechs, with 4 Liu Wei Bing as command units. The remainder of the unit is composed of units from the Periphery and Mercenaries (3145) list. The planetary militia is composed of foot infantry and armor assets taken from the Periphery (3025) list, a company strong.

Gamma Galaxy is composed of 4 Clusters, 1 fully modern Wolverine BattleMechs, 1 basic Clan BattleMechs and 2 mixed Clusters using a combination of both. While “Nothing left to chance” is in effect, Gamma Galaxy still follows basic bid rules to take over the planet. The only difference is that they do not issue a batchall to the planetary defenders, as they fully intend to expand as much forces as necessary to take the world.

First Strike: Clan Steel Viper: New St. Andrews

New St. Andrews is much better defended than Thadora’s Land. Even at 80% operational strength, the Nelson’s Longbows are an elite mercenary outfit that is deeply entrenched on the world. The Longbows formations generally are led by 1 LRM equipped BattleMech with 3 support units meant for closer engagements. The Longbows first company is a ‘Mech Company, while 2 other are combined arms companies. Units for the Longbows are taken from the Jihad era Mercenary and Periphery list.

New. St. Andrews planetary militia is composed of a Battalion of combined arms, with a company of BattleMechs as the command lance for each company. All units are taken from the 3050 Clan Invasion Periphery list.

Alpha Galaxy of the Steel Viper is composed of 4 Clusters. The two first Clusters (1^st Viper Guards and 4^th Viper Guards) are composed of modern Wolverine BattleMechs. The 333^rd Combat Cluster used standard Clan BattleMechs, with Elemental support for their command stars. The 400^th Assault Cluster is a combined arms Cluster, using original Clan equipment. Unlike Gamma Galaxy, Hartford Zalman does not let his troops bid on the attack of New St.Andrews.