Marshall:
Arriving in the Marshall system sensors showed a large number of naval vessels from other Clans. The largest of these were the Goliaths Scorpions Fire Wheel Battle Star with an additional Potemkin carrier. The Fire Mandrills had the Lola III- Rage, the Ice Hellions had Moore's Honour an Essex, lastly the Star Adders had the Admiral William S Preston.
Marshall having at any one time at least 6 clans, a warship escort was not unusual. Star Admiral Hinda Shu, ordered her ships forward, they made their way towards the planet. Intercepted transmissions revealed that the Steel Vipers were under attack by both the Fire Mandrills and the Goliath Scorpions.
As the Raven forces closed the distance to the planet, the Scorpions began to move there own ships, but not directly in the Raven's path. Shu brought her ships close to the orbital factories. Galaxy Commander Thorsten Magnus sent an open transmission, demanding that all attacks on the Steel Vipers stop, that the Ravens were here to finish their Legal absorbtion of the failed Clan.
Khan Amanda Carral was the first to reply, "Clan Snow Raven you are welcome to your trial, we have not broken any laws. It is the basis of Clan society to attack and take from those too weak to keep it."
Thorsten sent the following response, "Kindra Mattila-Carrol you have slighted our honour and stolen our right to glory in combat. My warrios are sending challenges for Trial of Grievences. I believe that a series of unarmed challenges can decide whom is right. No need to hide behind augmentation or politics. To that end we request Safcon to the surface for a Union ship carrying the warriors that will be fighting these trials."
The Madrill's always loving a good fight, swiftly agreed to the trials. Soon after the Scorpions had sent a reply to Thorston's message, but a dismissive "Yes, we will resolve our disagreement shortly." Was his only reply.
The Union ship uncoupled and headed down to the Mandrill enclave, their course taking them right past the Scorpion ships. The Ravens traveled purposefully but not with any haste and made no attempt to keep any special distance with the warships, almost taunting them.
Upon landing the Ravens and Mandrills began their trials, as this went on, the other clans in system had different reactions. The Jade Falcons watched with suspicion knowing first hand nothing with the Ravens was as it seemed.
The Ice Hellions were grudgingly grateful for the shift in attention of the other clans. They had lost half there force in a foolish attack on the Viper a few months back and before the absorbtion trial had started the Vipers had taken half their holdings in reprisals. They knew the other clans were all looking to eject them from the system completely.
The Goliath Scorpions were caught off balance having been basically scolded then ignored by the Ravens. They wasted time trying to decide what to do, whether to challenge the Ravens or continue on against the Vipers.
Clan Star Adder were dumbfounded by the Ravens sheer lack of perspective! To stop a Trial of Absorbtion to hold Trials of Grievences, the Raven's obvious obsession with protocol and the law was absurd to say the least.
Clan Steel Viper took the break in the relentless attacks to repair and rearm themselves.
The first ToG saw Star Captain Taylor Magnus put in a standing arm lock. Without pause, Taylor shattered his own arm while spinning around jabbing Star Captain Lopez in his throat. Taking advantage of the staggering warrior who instinctively grabbed his throat as he fought for air. Taylor drop kicked the Elemantal in the chest sending him out of the circle.
Khan Amanda Carrol was surprised and impressed with the ferocious battles, having not expected this from the "Naval Clan." Amanda Carrol took time over the next couple days as the trials continued to talk with Galaxy Comander Thorsten Magnus.
But on the fifth day the Scorpions had had enough being ignored and renewed their assault on the Steel Vipers. As the 22 Scorpion Uhlans and 23rd Cuirassiers attacked the 104 Assault and the 17 Viper Regulars, the Vipers pulled away. They headed straight to the Mandrills territory who mobilized the 301 Fireband Cluster to turn away the running battle. But the Vipers just ran through the Mandrill line followed closely by the Scorpions.
Khan Amanda Carrol and her forces quickly mounted up and the trinary of Raven warriors jumped in the mechs they had brought with them. The strengthened cluster smashed into the running battle and a melee ensued.
After 20 chaotic minutes the last Viper mech had fell, the Scorpions tried to extract themselves but the Mandrills wouldn't let them just disengage. Thorsten transmitted a message to Amanda asking she allow the Scorpions to withdraw, before everyone lost. The Mandrill Khan relented since they had bloodied the Scorpions.
Thorsten messaged saKhan Nelson Elam challenging him to a trial of Grievence, for twice interfering with Snow Raven trials. Thorsten walked his damaged Direwolf forward, with a damaged knee actuator it was terribly slow. Nelson came forward in a damaged Gargoyle, once both mechs were within range. They stopped, "Let this trial settle our dispute as the Great Father taught us and let non interfere!"
Thorsten cut loose with every functional weapon his Direwolf prime still possessed, breaching the reactor and setting off. Just as Nelson fired his heavy A/C and lasers, cutting the leg of Thorsten's mech dropping it to the ground. Nelson ejected from doomed machine, as Throsten moved his mech into a awkward sitting position using an arm to balance himself. Over the broadband frequency Thorsten declared,"This trial is over, you have lost, I grant your forces Hegira. You and your forces will quite the field, with no claim to the territory or materials from today. Take your warriors, your honour and leave."
To Khan Amanda Carrol, with no clear winner of the trials Thorsten suggested a draw, with the Mandrill keeping what they had claimed. Thorsten further traded away the rest of the former Viper enclave, minus the orbital factories, for production rights to the Salamander and some pledge support from the Mandrill Clan.
Star Admiral Hinda Shu began breaking down the factories immediately, while taking inventory the plans for a new dropship the Vipers had been working on were found.
Thorsten sent a message to Khan Lynne McKenna; My Khan,
Your orders have been carried out to the letter. I taunted the Scorpions till they made a mistake and I suitably humbled their saKhan. This should quiet his criticisms of our working with Khan Ariel Suvorov to strengthen their aero branch. My failure only came at not being able to taunt one of their warship Captains into making a mistake.
Though we made away with a great BA design and gently aimed the Mandrills at the Ice Hellions. I feel you gave away too much! If you had not allowed me to upgrade all my Trinaries to Super Novas, I would be challenging you right now."
Reply from McKenna,
Galaxy Commander Thorsten Magnus, well done in your mission, your minor failure is of no concern. Our yards are already full repairing our newest acquisitions already, also we will being upgrading two more Kimagura. Do not concern yourself about the holdings of one system, our future is not here but the Inner Sphere.
Once the new factory is loaded, the Swift Star will head to Bearclaw and you will head to Lum. You shall rebuild and make ready to head with me to the Inner Sphere. We will be joined by the new Galaxy I am christening, from all our recent gains. It will be second line mechs, infantry and second line firghts. They will be used to garrison what you conqour! The rest of the clan will consolidate what we have and with a few other arrangements, we should be left relatively alone.