Hibernaculum: (Vacation) Home of Clan Star Adder

[Sjhernan3060]

What do the Star Adders want?
Being a dominant and independent force to be reckoned with.
Never bent the knees before Alaric and the Wolves.
Being the one who defines what it means to be Clan.

Recognizing that we have very old info to work with do we think that the adders would declare a new “true”star league? If not I must concur that they need to offer a new mission statement for home clans

[tassa_kay]

The Horses have a long history of "contract warfare" and attaching themselves to others (the Coyotes at Foster, Vlad Ward's Wolves in the 3060s, the Adders in the Jihad/WoR, Malvina in the Dark Age), so it's not out of the realm of possibility at least that they might ally themselves with the Adders if the Home Clans ever return to the narrative.

Bonus points if the Stone Lions are the ones to extend the olive branch to the Hell's Horses.

[Metallgewitter]

Might be more a topic for the Horses thread but with the rise of a certain warrior with the surname Cobb the Horses might once more turn into a new side of independence. Though Cobb was also smart enough to enter alliances of convenience like with the Hellions and then the Falcons but they were more like alliances of equals not the Horses being the followers. Though the Adders did promise Cobb back then that they would not attack the Horses OZ (at least the Adders would not)

[Wotan]

Assuming that the ties between the homeworlds and the IS are cut after the WoR, there shouldn't be much information about the events we all know in the IS. So at least the official version.
I can't believe the Adders will not have one or two ways to get in touch, so that they at least know the bullet lines of the news. But it is hard to believe they have any real insight on whats going on and why.

What do the Star Adders want?
Being a dominant and independent force to be reckoned with.
Never bent the knees before Alaric and the Wolves.
Being the one who defines what it means to be Clan.

Sure they want to be the force that defines the way of clans. But WHAT is the way of clans? Surely not the kind of wrong decisions that led to the invasion and up to the WoR. From the creation of the clans there was just one dream to resurrect the SL.
This culminated in 3048 when the Outbound Light arrived in the homeworlds and up to the end of WoR in 3075.
After all the time this dream has crashed. There can't be any hope for a renewed SL in the IS. All the reason for their existence lay shattered before them. But what now?
The last arguments here tend to exile the clans from the IS. This is in hard contrast to the last philosophies we know from official sources at the end of WoR. Both philosophies, Bastions and Aggressors, are defined with the goal to go back to the IS.

But with time passing is this still their dream? Or do they find a new reason to exist far from the IS? It seems a bit weird just to define the own existence by being independent from tainted people. For what better ideal? There must be a better idea than Bastions or Aggressors have to go a new way.

And as this is still a game of combat there must be some kind of fighting. So if not fighting the IS, there must be a threat from unknown realms. Maybe this would open a whole new style of combat and enemies to the line of BT games?
But as the majority of BT fans don't want to have aliens, the only conflicts remaining are new inner homeworld wars or a new invasion...

[rebs]

I can't believe the Adders will not have one or two ways to get in touch, so that they at least know the bullet lines of the news. But it is hard to believe they have any real insight on whats going on and why.

This is what I was thinking.  Not a lot of contact by any means, it's very rarified contact. 

But the Horses and the Adders in my mind are not fully severed.  Just mostly, and if you asked the Horses, they would insist that they "hate the Homies and NEVER contact them or even think about it, there's nothing for us there, etc..."   The Horses keep up the appearance of having no contact with them, but they are loyal allies and friends.  It's in their makeup.

And there is no better source of intel regarding the IS than the Horses and the info they feed back to the Adders. 

[rebs]

Anyway, just speculating.  Happy Saturday. 

[Fire Scorpion IIC]

Recognizing that we have very old info to work with do we think that the adders would declare a new “true”star league? If not I must concur that they need to offer a new mission statement for home clans

I will just repeat my opinion that Home Clans should be faced with some kind of cosmic disaster (supernova, black hole, etc...) which would force them to quietly and quickly relocate

Preferably somewhere close to Combine/Rasalhague in Yarnfolk vicinity or anywhere in invasion corridor (because they would be in a hurry)

After that just let paranoia do it's thing and you get many nice wars, no need for any grand operations or ideological crusades, just have self-preservation and human nature take over and do it's thing

[Metallgewitter]

Wasn't that also at least partially the reason the original invasion of the IS started? I seem to rememeber that at least some pressure came because their own worlds were resource poor and the IS was (in their minds) a paradise which held more resources for them

Considering how much damage the Wars of Reaving brought I would not be suprised that at one point the Kerensky cluster becomes inhospitable for it's inhabitants should they again go total war against each other

[Mendrugo]

It's all a matter of priorities.

Just as in the Inner Sphere, after a period of steady expansion, the rate of new colony formation fell off drastically.  The outer limits of colonized space effectively stagnated after the Golden Century transitioned into the Political Century.

One explanation given for this is that every time a Clan put resources and effort into surveying, terraforming, and then colonizing a new world, they would be almost immediately beset by Trials of Possession from opportunistic Clans that had put their own resources into warriors and weapons.  Few Clans would be willing to suffer such losses repeatedly, so every Clan Council would be strongly incentivized to curtail exploration and colonization efforts in favor of bolstering their zero-sum Trial of Possession capabilities.

There was a political movement calling for renewed colonization efforts and another calling for greater investment in existing colonies to make them more productive and improve quality of life, but both were crowded out by the Warden/Crusader split, both of which put Clan policy towards the Inner Sphere front and center.

Few of the Kerensky Cluster worlds were hospitable to begin with, and had to be terraformed.  It is possible that the post-Reaving Clans could have set aside their traditions of inter-Clan Trialing and refocused on collaborative rebuilding and terraforming efforts. 

The view of the Inner Sphere worlds as paradises was intentionally cultivated through propaganda created and distributed by an inter-Clan cabal of Merchant Conclaves that wanted to distract the warrior caste from its aggressive policing of merchant caste activities.  Getting them focused on the Inner Sphere as an irresistible shiny object meant less chance of a repeat of the Londerholm Massacre.

[Gaiiten]

Few of the Kerensky Cluster worlds were hospitable to begin with, and had to be terraformed.  It is possible that the post-Reaving Clans could have set aside their traditions of inter-Clan Trialing and refocused on collaborative rebuilding and terraforming efforts. 

This. suchz efforts in the post-WoR era.
There have been told us some hints about such efforts in the post-WoR era.

I think there are many star systems with much resources in the vicinity of the Homeworlds.
Further if they have achieved a stronger cooperation and left this pirate-like Trial-of-Possession-for-anything-what-the-others-have behind, there could be another golden age for them.

Given the domination of the Star Adders and their playing the long game, exactly this domination might help this (or better enforce).

The view of the Inner Sphere worlds as paradises was intentionally cultivated through propaganda created and distributed by an inter-Clan cabal of Merchant Conclaves that wanted to distract the warrior caste from its aggressive policing of merchant caste activities.  Getting them focused on the Inner Sphere as an irresistible shiny object meant less chance of a repeat of the Londerholm Massacre.

Nice one.
Why do I have to think of a cat (warrior caste) and a laser pointer (merchants playing with).

[Fire Scorpion IIC]

Clan Homeworlds are not garden planets but most of them are not barren wastelands either

Problem is that most are not utilized to their full potential

Smoke Jaguars had pretty decent planets but they were completely incapable of getting any mileage out of them, just look at Huntress: planet with jungles and rivers which could have been made into excellent place to live but (I'm complete disregard for their founder's advice) they squandered their efforts on becoming glorified looters

And Jaguars had many such planets and holdings

Contrast that with Goliath Scorpions who's two sole planets were genuine hellscapes, Dagda didn't even have any oxygen or usable atmospheric pressure above sea level but still they put on the work and managed to get everything they needed to survive and prosper out of them (example of a Clan which paid close attention to teachings of their founder)

Third extreme were Blood Spirits who had disadvantages of both above Clans: poor planets and extreme militarism hampering other aspects of development

And then there are Star Adders with good planets and good organizational skills, no wonder they came out on top

And they would know what remaining Home Clans need to do in order to avoid decline and move forward no matter how many heads they need to crack on order to get the message across

[rebs]

Colonizing several key worlds in the Kerensky Cluster was was all in Absalom Truscott's playbook.  I think that was why they went for Tathis, Sheridan, and Marshall right away.

And Marshall is where the Mongeese show up and all hell breaks loose.  It's also about the time that the OmniMech makes its appearance. 

[Mendrugo]

All of the Kerensky Cluster colonies were hamstrung from the start, per Nicholas' policy.  He mandated that whenever a new world was colonized, there had to be at least two Clans sharing it, often more.  This baked in inter-enclave conflicts and Trials, and slowed development, as the colonizing Clans had to do everything keeping an eye out for Warriors seeking to Trial for everything they had.

[Metallgewitter]

In defense of the Blood Spirits: York was one of only two worlds (Vinton was the other) that had a sustainability rate of 100%. They were bascially living on a planet that could provide enough for the entire Clan to live off. Their newest colonies were more a measure of spreading out, getting new materials and rebuilding for potential counter attacks. And if the clans had embraced a more say "wastefulk" lifestyle they might have build a more modern society and not the Spartan life they had. Remember when the Star League in Exile was building up they had very modern cities especially on Eden. They had the heavy industry and technology to "tame" their new homes. Then came the civil war and Nicolas "we don't want excess" mandate

[rebs]

Strana Mechty was the third self-sufficient world other than Vinton and York, yes. 

I would be more disappointed than surprised if the remaining Homies just stay there in the Kerensky Cluster and Pentagon Worlds for nostalgia and clan tradition.  With only four of them, this should be far less chaotic to explore, colonize, and exploit the resources that they gain.

[Gaiiten]

A fantastic new artwork by Matt Plog for the Star Adders:

https://www.deviantart.com/mattplog/art/Comm-Clampless-Champ-1077895691

[Sjhernan3060]

All of the Kerensky Cluster colonies were hamstrung from the start, per Nicholas' policy.  He mandated that whenever a new world was colonized, there had to be at least two Clans sharing it, often more.  This baked in inter-enclave conflicts and Trials, and slowed development, as the colonizing Clans had to do everything keeping an eye out for Warriors seeking to Trial for everything they had.

Wow I never knew that…. Post WOR and the need for rebuilding I have to think the Adders would relax or update that or abolish it all together. On that subject I am curious if the dead or abandon worlds list right after the WOR is still current? I mean are they dead dead? Or simply waiting for a new population transfer?

[CJC070]

Wow I never knew that…. Post WOR and the need for rebuilding I have to think the Adders would relax or update that or abolish it all together. On that subject I am curious if the dead or abandon worlds list right after the WOR is still current? I mean are they dead dead? Or simply waiting for a new population transfer?

Some of the planets that are “dead” were barely habitable or render uninhabitable due to bio or chemical warfare.  It would require a lot of resources to rebuild.  It could also be a good reason why we haven’t heard from the Clans.  They are still rebuilding from the WoR. 

[Metallgewitter]

Wow I never knew that…. Post WOR and the need for rebuilding I have to think the Adders would relax or update that or abolish it all together. On that subject I am curious if the dead or abandon worlds list right after the WOR is still current? I mean are they dead dead? Or simply waiting for a new population transfer?

The question is if the Homeworld Clans still follow the "waste not want not" mentality. If the merchants deem it to expoensive to resettle the "lost" planets they will most likely stay "dead". Also woirth to remember: the Tanite worlds were bombed into oblivion. Those planets were rich in ressources but the Adders destroyed everything to wipe out the "taint". I can see them not resettling them because those worlds are deamed as cursed. Or look at York: one of the few "good" worlds but the Adders bombed it into the stone age. Repairing THAT damage will most likely never be possible. I bet searching for new planets might be the more viable option. That or at one point in the far future migrating into the IS

[Gaiiten]

The Clans have ever been experts in Terraforming. They are the heirs of Star League DOME (Department of Mega Engineering), know and have access to the knowledge and technologies.

So far they were not interested in more Terraforming because the Home Worlds were considered as temporary.

That has changed after WOR. But they will need much resources and time.
Given the alien worlds they have, I wonder if they will have to adapt more radically than before.

Will they adapt with using genetic altering of people? Making the Genecaste a reality?
Leaving the planets and so living space nomads (if you know the SF saga Hyperion Cantos you may think of the Ousters).

[Fire Scorpion IIC]

....
Will they adapt with using genetic altering of people? Making the Genecaste a reality?
Leaving the planets and so living space nomads (if you know the SF saga Hyperion Cantos you may think of the Ousters).

None

All these are way too much work for very little (or no) gain

Easiest solution is to just pick up and move elsewhere, tweak the new planets if needed but otherwise pretty simple

[Wotan]

There are many unused resources in the home worlds. Relocating factories etc. is costly. It would be easier to make the homeworlds and other nearby worlds more usable and actually expand the breeding program to expand the civilian castes.

On the other hand, the position of the homeworlds is compromised. So it might be in the interest to relocate, even if it delays reconstruction and expansion.

[Gaiiten]

The Home Clans may build more automatic factories and using more supportive AI. Having a manpower problem that may be a solution. The technologies for this they have.

[Metallgewitter]

Or perhaps use more mobile factories. Bring the factories to where the ressources are (like asteroids or moons) and build stuff there. Of Course we don't know if there are other star Systems close to the Kerensky Cluster. The Spirits found their Colleen System close to the cluster so i suspect there must be others as well And with the pragmatic Adders in charge I can see the homeworld Clans dablle into more robotic stuff like automatic mining or automatic production facilities. They should have the Technology for that unless they burned their old Star League archives

[Gaiiten]

In the Golden Century the Clans stopped their interstellar exploration programs after time. Main reason (IMHO) was the predation of other Clans, which made more exploration too costly (and thinking of "parasites" getting the benefits while you had only costs was discouraging for more efforts).

After WoR there have been quite a large cooperation among the remaining Home Clans. New exploration projects and the settlement of new star systems would be very reasonable and would give the Home Clans a much needed Grand Task after the desaster of the WoR.

That they are going to resettle known , now deserted planets, depends on how they might consider the benefits. Let it be true resettlement or only harvesting raw materials.

[Mendrugo]

In the Golden Century the Clans stopped their interstellar exploration programs after time. Main reason (IMHO) was the predation of other Clans, which made more exploration too costly (and thinking of "parasites" getting the benefits while you had only costs was discouraging for more efforts).

Doesn't have to be qualified with (IMHO).  Clan Spaniel explicitly says that's what curtailed colonization efforts.

[tassa_kay]

Doesn't have to be qualified with (IMHO).  Clan Spaniel explicitly says that's what curtailed colonization efforts.

Goes back a lot further than Clan Spaniel, actually. Foster is literally a textbook example of exactly what Gaiiten is talking about: the Blood Spirits' colonization efforts there were being preyed on by the Burrocks so heavily that the costs outweighted the benefits, and they eventually traded away the colony to the Smythe-Jewels.

[Crimson Dynamo]

The Raven colony of Hellgate was a huge bone of contention between the Ravens and Vipers IIRC. The Mongeese were apparently prolific marauders of new colonies, which seemingly worked out well for them right until it didn't. I also never realized the Mongeese and the Burrocks were allies until now.

[tassa_kay]

None of this is news, though. The Clans have been eating each other literally since their debut in the setting. It's as much as part of who they are as their genetic politics and speech patterns.

[Crimson Dynamo]

None of this is news, though.

Quite so, but I was agreeing with you and throwing out a couple more examples of colonies being big risks for the Clans that invested in their development.