And my point is that it in no way shows that they had any interest in absorbing Clan Mongoose. For all we know they were simply reclaiming enclaves previously lost.
If the interest in Absorbing Clan Mongoose was not there, this is the first time the Star Adders were involved with the events of an Absorption. It's just my opinion that here is where the seeds were planted.
There are always rumbling about absorbing this Clan, annihilating that Clan, doesn't mean that the Clan as a whole is interested or that the Khans will act on one or any of them. Do you really think that the Star Adders were interested in absorbing the Coyotes the way Graves was planning?
No other Clan is involved with or linked to so many Trials of Absorption, whether directly, as in most cases latter in their history, or in a tertiary manner as with the Mongoose Absorption. I do think that there was a small but strong minority within the political makeup of the Star Adders that were plotting exactly these kinds of things for a long time. Carson Graves was an early Crusader, obviously. It stands to reason he was acting in accord with his political beliefs.
The Adders have a thing for making plans long in advance, after all. This is still my opinion, but it has a strong base in the text.
By contrast, the Adders and Burrocks were indicated to work closely together, exploring and profiting from the exploration of the Kerensky Custer. Yet when evidence came to light of the Burrocks dealings with the Dark Caste and Bandits, the Adder Khan Cassius N'Buta had no compunction about demanding the right of absorption. The odds are very good I figure that the Adders even had a plan shelved for such an occasion. Possibly one for each Clan that neighbored them. Just my opinion.
No I am talking about the Coyotes and Stone Lions on Haven. Neither the Coyotes nor the Stone Lions landed on Honor. By the time the Coyotes and Stone Lions arrived Honor had already suffered its catastrophic earthquake and neither Clan was interested in seizing territory on a planet that could fall apart at any time.
You stated that the Star Adders were obsessed with absorbing another Clan, my main point is that they were no more obsessed with absorbing another Clan than any other Clan. If they were obsessed with anything then, like any Clan, they were obsessed with increasing their Clan's strength be it through capturing a single enclave, a planet or an entire Clan. Sure they would have been glad to absorb Clan Coyote but more due to the fact that it would have increased their Clan's strength and brought them closer to becoming ilClan not because they cared particularly about absorbing the Coyotes.
OK about Honor and Haven and where exactly the other Home Clans turned against the Blood Spirits, as it was in the same star system. I misremembered that bit. But that is besides the point.
Taking a step back for a second: The Adders were involved with a so-called Annihilation of the Steel Vipers. We all know it to be a bizarre proceeding, as it was open to all Clans. But even though the Grand Council called it an Annihilation, the Andrews Bloodline screams "ABSORPTION!". The other Bloodlines do as well.
Then the Spirit Annihilation/Absorption happened after the events discussed.
Basically, if "obsessed" is too strong of a word, perhaps fixated works better.
No other Clan is linked to or involved with so many Absorptions. There are several Clans that are never involved with anything of the sort. The Star Adders seem to have recognized Absorption as the fastest way to grow amongst the Clans, and have acted on it more than any other Clan. They also seem to always be ready for anything, but especially for Trials of Absorption. Perhaps that is part of how disgustingly perfect they are perceived to be by some players.