Fully possible as well. But it makes for a bad story when having them out there as the boogieman works just as well. There is even a hint to that with a cave full of destroyed Wolverine Mechs and the WoB defending the site (or just destroying a stray expidition) with a Thera in one sourcebook.
Yes....but OTOH, SOMEONE out there seems to be using the Wolverines as boogiemen. And it isn't necessarily the Wolverines.
How many of the stories of the Wolverines and Minnesota Tribe, how many are false, how many are deliberate misinformation designed as a cover by one or more third parties?
The entire Wolverine story is a mess...a huge plot hook players and GMs can use but which offers several different directions, contradictory information, which can never live up to its promise if the truth is ever revealed. It'd please a handful of players and annoy the half who preferred another story.
I mean, look at the Minnesota Tribe. Were they Clan Wolverine? Refugees from the SLiE? Runaways from the Clans? Exiles of the Pentagon Powers? A scout fleet from the Clans? A hunting party seeking the Wolverines? An old SLDF unit returned for supplies? ComStar?
Everyone likes to think they are the Wolverines and maybe they are. Maybe they were just a buncha pirates who found a wreck and took the Mechs as trophies.
All of these theories have been pushed at some point. Some even have evidence or inference....there is speculation the Jenner IIC originated because the Tribe captured some and brought it back to the Cluster.
Right now, there is very little information about the Wolverines that can be treated as canon or correct. Anything you read may be true, may be false.
A great plot hook....but one that I doubt will ever be realised.
Are they dead?
Maybe
Did they keep running?
Maybe.
Are they the Minnesotas?
Maybe
Was that cave a Wolverine stash?
Maybe
Was it a WoB front?
Maybe.
Are the Wolverines associated with the Ebon Magiatrate?
Maybe
Did the MoC simply drag themselves up with a lot of hard work, good leadership and sensible planning?
Maybe.