The Scorpion Empire: All your Warhawks are belong to us

[Doc Swift]

If you liked OTP: Hanseatic Crusade, you might want to check Shrapnel 14 for a story and scenario by me that tie into the OTP. 

[Fire Scorpion IIC]

Oh hell yeah, the good stuff keeps coming!!!   

[rebs]

If you liked OTP: Hanseatic Crusade, you might want to check Shrapnel 14 for a story and scenario by me that tie into the OTP. 

Downloading! 

[Nerroth]

In ISP3, it was noted that Interstellar Expeditions had yet to set up a branch and/or liaison office in the Hanseatic League as of 3095, but that such an offer was being mooted.

I wonder if IE ever got around to making such an offer; whether the Hansa accepted it; which world such an office would be permitted to be established upon; and what (if anything) the Scorpions might do about it once the Hanseatic Crusade broke out?

I would assume that the League would keep IE on one of the three "open" trading planets, rather than letting them establish themsleves on Bremen itself.

As for the Scorpions: might IE have had some sort of contact with the Imperio, prior to the Hanseatic Crusade? Would the Scorpions permit IE to operate in Nueva Castile, or indeed in former Hansa space post-Crusade? And if so, what might the Khan (and later, the zarKhan) extract from IE in exchange? Or, might Seeker Galaxy aim to seize the local IE operation - should one exist - as isorla?

Personally, I might wonder if the need to maintain multiple lines of communication to and from the Inner Sphere and near Periphery might make leaving any local IE operations in place a viable option - or, at least, might encourage the Scorpions to refrain from forcibly winding it down in its entirety.

[rebs]

The Hansa probably turned IE down, if IE ever got around to making their offer.

As for the Scorps, I could see them trading exploration info in return for IE keeping silent about them and what they are doing.

Who knows what's actually going on, though. 

[ArkRoyalRavager]

Won't any IE Coreward operations get destroyed by Homie warship patrols?

Besides, Seekers are the Clan equivalent of IE, so IE is redundant to the Empire.

The Empire wouldn't want nosy people gathering intel on them either.

[Fire Scorpion IIC]

Just read Fighting For The Past in Shrapnel 14 and it's excellent, Doc is doing Great Father's work here. So much good stuff. Seekers are often mentioned and are staple of Scorpions' lore but we didn't have stories about actual quest until now. Relics, necrosia, zulkari, dance of scars, collecting pets, visions, it's all here and more. 10/10

Whole story is amazing (love the two part structure) so I'll just list off some of the cooler stuff I noticed:

[spoiler]Reverence for Star League really shines through, the way protagonist views her couple of Star League era trinkets and her reaction upon seeing actual SLDF site with her own eyes is amazing, like orphan who sees her old family home for the first time

We really get to see how Scorpions actually want to go about rebuilding Star League, they understand that it's about more than just conquest and that the actual work would be much harder and more complex than any simple war could ever be, Wardens 100% to this very day

This is second story that was hinted at in earlier works, first was story about last protomech pilot mentioned in Moving Forward and this one is related to dead patrol and missing K9 from Touring the Stars. Now I want to go over everything with fine tooth comb and try to guess what's going to be next? Story about Red Saturday from inside perspective would blow my mind

I guess we now have official Seeker motto/battlecry

Seeker shuttle is called Finders Keepers? Oh, my sides 

Scorpions officially limited zellbringen to strictly Clan affairs, everything else is standard warfare because others don't care for rules. Wise approach, learn from other people's mistakes not your own, very in character

Even after all these centuries and all the technological advancements the sight of a single Atlas battlemech is still enough to make even the finest soldiers' blood run cold, General Kerensky knew what to ask of his designers (this one was definitely salvageable, welcome home big guy)

Scorpions aren't the only ones with respect for Star League, there were Hansa soldiers who appreciated the past as well

Hansa had to officially reveal the existence of manufacturing complex on Braunschweig to prevent military action, this would mean that despite all the hostilities and raiding there were definitely some (begrudging) diplomatic interactions

And finally the very fact that Scorpions discovered this SLDF site is like a good omen, it's like Great Father himself confirmed that they are on the right path and that leaving the Clan Homeworlds was the right call. This is the place where Star Leave left off and Empire now needs to continue the work which started centuries ago

No wonder Imperial capital was moved here, there were other planets with central location but only this one had Star League era structure [/spoiler]

Excellent story, excellent writing! This is the good stuff

[Doc Swift]

Thanks for the kind words! Glad you enjoyed it!

[Nerroth]

So, in the process of typing up posts over in this thread, I was poring over the 3140 touman as listed in Operational Turning Points: Hanseatic Crusade.

By my count, the Scorpions had three Keshiks and thirty-one Clusters spread across six Galaxies on the eve of the invasion - plus four Clusters from their respective PGCs used to create the ad hoc Grunt Galaxy in anticipation of the battle for Bremen.

So, if one subtracts the Grunt Galaxy Trinaries back out from the touman once the war is over (so as to deploy them as PGCs to newly-conquered Hansa worlds), accounts for battle damage caused during the invasion itself (to include those killed on Red Saturday), then adds in new MechWarriors taken as bondsmen and (presumably) later added to the touman, plus new recruits from across the Empire to replenish the pre-existing Clusters, plus however many new Clusters are created when Eta Galaxy is established, that might leave... somewhere between 35 to 38 Clusters in the touman as per the onset of the IlClan Era?

-----

If so, that compares quite favourably to the Cluster counts for a number of the Council of Six Clans in the Inner Sphere and near Periphery, as per Field Manual: 3145.

But that was before the Battle for Terra. With both strains of Falcon greatly reduced from their pre-Terra peak, the "provisional" Smoke Jaguars in a similar boat, and the IlClan facing close to 60 percent losses from its own pre-Terra total at last reporting, that leaves even fewer Inner Sphere and near Periphery Clans with a touman exceeding the Scorpions' strength.

And even then, neither Clan Hell's Horses nor the Rasalhague Dominion are in great shape as per June 3152 ..

-----

Of course, with the unresolved question of the Homeworld Clans to consider, the Scorpions can ill afford to be complacent.

But, even if one leaves the key HPG advantage to one side - which of course they should not - it would appear that the Empire is certainly in a position of relative strength, if or when the time comes to establish negotiations (perhaps via long-distance HPG relay) with the new Star League Council.

But since TPTB don't appear to be going back to the Homeworlds any time soon, and since the nearest House military to the Empire (the LCAF) is still in pretty bad shape itself, perhaps the Scorpions might have the time to start planning a new long-distance campaign - say, against the Rim Territories - after all.

[ArkRoyalRavager]

They can certainly move against the Rim Territories or the Coreward LC worlds further from the Horse OZ to get a productive new province.

But before that happens, they have to finish consolidating the Hansa territories and add at least 40 more Clusters to the Imperial Military.

[Weirdo]

To play devil's avocado for a moment...

...perhaps the Scorpions might have the time to start planning a new long-distance campaign - say, against the Rim Territories - after all.

...but why exactly would they do that? What have the Territories done to bring this, or what do they have that the Scorpions want? Clan Goliath Scorpion has never been a particularly expansionist entity, only going after Nueva Castille because they desperately needed a new home at the time. After they had that, they were content to expand through colonization, they didn't go after the Hansa until they were provoked. Finally, by all indications their recent actions in Chainelaine aren't maneuvers of conquest, instead acknowledging that they need some form of enclave closer to the Inner Sphere, they can't afford to be 100% isolated.

They can certainly move against the Rim Territories or the Coreward LC worlds further from the Horse OZ to get a productive new province.

But before that happens, they have to finish consolidating the Hansa territories and add at least 40 more Clusters to the Imperial Military.

Similar question: Why 40 clusters? What makes that number significant?

[Fire Scorpion IIC]

While we the audience and of course writers know that Homies will be staying put for the time being in-universe people don't and Scorpions still see them as number 1 threat, we know this from official recent lore

Therefore it's safe to assume that at least 50% of their military assets (probably more) will always be parked home and pointed in the direction of the Homeworlds

Size wise they don't have to grow their military all that fast because thanks to Garrison Caste they have decent amount of wiggle room in terms of military planning

I don't see them invading and conquering Rim Territories but it doesn't mean there won't be military operations there

Rim Territories are pirate kingdom and only thing Scorpions hate more than Home Clans are pirates

Rim Territories probably increased their muscle thanks in big part to Scorpions themselves and the Deep Periphery pirate exodus that their anti-pirate campaign has caused

So it's quite possible that we could see some punitive expeditions into Rim Territories to proon the pirate hedges without any wars of conquest

I agree that colonization is Scorpions' main mode of expansion and since they have been moving into old Invasion Corridor it's possible they could start collecting any loose former RWR planets, they have been snooping around that place since Operation Revival started, Great Father pardoned the people of RWR, planets are nice enough, they had contacts with the locals and the place is loaded with relics

This would bring them in contact with Lyrans and Horses which could go either way but I think that both Lyrans and Scorpions are smart enough to play nice with each other, official alliance is unlikely but a decent trade agreement would go a long way for both

Plus having friends as backup option or at least a supply route in case of war with Homies would be very helpful, they saw how much isolation cost Smoke Jaguars (granted, Jaguars were isolated because they were pricks while Scorpions are isolated solely due to geography but the point stands)

And there could be some trade and diplomatic links with Timbuktu Collective in the future, you never know

[tassa_kay]

...but why exactly would they do that? What have the Territories done to bring this, or what do they have that the Scorpions want? Clan Goliath Scorpion has never been a particularly expansionist entity, only going after Nueva Castille because they desperately needed a new home at the time. After they had that, they were content to expand through colonization, they didn't go after the Hansa until they were provoked. Finally, by all indications their recent actions in Chainelaine aren't maneuvers of conquest, instead acknowledging that they need some form of enclave closer to the Inner Sphere, they can't afford to be 100% isolated.

My thoughts exactly. The Scorpions have absolutely no reason to start getting aggressive or expansionistic now. Honestly, the course that makes the most sense for them is to put them back on the shelf next to the other Home Clans and bring them out when it actually makes sense for them to be involved in something.

[Fire Scorpion IIC]

My thoughts exactly. The Scorpions have absolutely no reason to start getting aggressive or expansionistic now. Honestly, the course that makes the most sense for them is to put them back on the shelf next to the other Home Clans and bring them out when it actually makes sense for them to be involved in something.

This would be boring plus Scorpions aren't Home Clans

I doubt CGL was doing all this prep work with Scorpions just because their writers and developers are underutilized and have free time on their hands

Major sourcebooks have followed geographical order so book that comes after IKEO should be focusing on Lyran region (so far only place not covered) and factions in the vicinity of Lyran Commonwealth like Hell's Horses OZ, Timbuktu Collective, Sea Foxes in Chainlane Isles and Scorpion Empire

[Baldur Mekorig]

I would not find ooc for the Scorps to actually build a base or capture a planet in the former RWR region, if only to back Seeker activity in the area.

[Nerroth]

The colonization drive undertaken by the Imperio prior to 3140 was by no means about peaceful expansion for its own sake. Rather, it was a key element of the broader efforts by the Scorpions to prepare for the inevitable war of conquest against the Hanseatic League.

It's no coincidence that all seven of the new colony worlds were located in the direction of Hansa space: not only did this shorten the distance the first and second waves of invasion had to cross when the war finally broke out, but the ability to install HPGs on these worlds (even as the Inner Sphere and near Periphery suffered the effects of the Blackout) meant that the Scorpions were able to maintain secure lines of communication from these new jump-off worlds back to Nueva Castile proper.

The Seeker incident at Bergen in 3139 might have been used as the immediate trigger for the Hanseatic Crusade, but the Scorpions had every intention to go in that direction when the time was ripe. Or rather, it was their careful preparation, implemented over several decades, which enabled Khan Scott to turn the Bergen incident into a full-scale casus belli.

-----

Going forward, the Empire has seemingly swung the Imperial/Preserver debate firmly in favour of the former faction... at least for now. But even leaving the long-range expeditions of the Seekers to one side, there remains a need for some kind of outlet through which the more aggressive energies to be found within the touman can be directed outwards.

While the enclave in the Chaine Cluster provides one such outlet, as well as a key point of contact with Clan Sea Fox, it also puts the forces deployed there at risk of what might happen should their hosts win one Trial of Possession too many.

So, rather than rely on a single pincer stretching towards the Inner Sphere and near Periphery from the Empire proper, it might be an option to extend a second pincer towards a region where there isn't a local Clan (or House) host military to reckon with.

Conveniently, the Rim Territories offers just such a venue. No-one would miss the local dezgra pirates - but at the same time, as suggested above, the Scorpions need not conquer the entire region all at once. They have enough military strength to spare to pick off one or two worlds at a time, consolidate their presence on each world, and then move on to the next.

Which, as also suggested above, might suit Seeker Galaxy, were it to provide a forward base from which they can operate in the region. Which, I suppose, would make it the nearest Clan equivalent to an Interstellar Expeditions branch office...

-----

And yes, in game terms, I want to see more of the Scorpions going forward, even in the absence of news regarding the Homeworld Clans for the foreseeable future.

Not least if the forthcoming BattleTech Universe book happens to introduce a new set of readers to the Scorpion Empire - and to the potential for the Seekers to show up where you least expect them...

But then, who is to say that we would hear from all four Homeworld Clans all at once? I wouldn't be surprised if, say, the Coyotes one day decided to pack up and head for pastures new. Which might still cause the Scorpions some issues, even if the Star Adders and f(r)iends had the Inner Sphere - and the newly-minted ilClan - in their sights.

[tassa_kay]

The colonization drive undertaken by the Imperio prior to 3140 was by no means about peaceful expansion for its own sake. Rather, it was a key element of the broader efforts by the Scorpions to prepare for the inevitable war of conquest against the Hanseatic League.

It's no coincidence that all seven of the new colony worlds were located in the direction of Hansa space: not only did this shorten the distance the first and second waves of invasion had to cross when the war finally broke out, but the ability to install HPGs on these worlds (even as the Inner Sphere and near Periphery suffered the effects of the Blackout) meant that the Scorpions were able to maintain secure lines of communication from these new jump-off worlds back to Nueva Castile proper.

The Seeker incident at Bergen in 3139 might have been used as the immediate trigger for the Hanseatic Crusade, but the Scorpions had every intention to go in that direction when the time was ripe. Or rather, it was their careful preparation, implemented over several decades, which enabled Khan Scott to turn the Bergen incident into a full-scale casus belli.

This is pure conjecture that’s unsupported by actual canon. The only canonical word on the subject, located within the one product (OTP Hanseatic Crusade) where such conjecture would surely have been discussed, says that the colonization of these worlds was to obtain vital resources and increase their population base.

I get wanting to romanticize one’s factions and attributing this sort of thinking to them to paint them in the best light possible, and I can even see a case for it possibly being true, but it’s still just headcanon without anything in canon to actually support it.

[CJC070]

Personally the only movement out of the Scorpions post 3150 are their Seeker stars.  We may have some conflicts between the elements of the Sea Foxes and factions from the
 Chainelane Isles but not much else.  I would like to see an update on the Scorpions around 3200 just to see how they have changed especially if there is no sabre rattling at the gates.

[rebs]

I hope we see the Scorps sooner than 3200!  Besides, we have no idea what major events may be forthcoming in the years ahead.  Situations may change drastically and that could encourage factions that may have been resting in the wings to get up and make some moves.

Then 3200 will be truly interesting for all factions.

[Wrangler]

I wonder how long setting will remain in 3150s.  It seems they don't want rush ahead. Heck, we may be more old gray by time they decide to get to 3200.

[CJC070]

I hope we see the Scorps sooner than 3200!  Besides, we have no idea what major events may be forthcoming in the years ahead.  Situations may change drastically and that could encourage factions that may have been resting in the wings to get up and make some moves.

Then 3200 will be truly interesting for all factions.

Don’t disagree but unless a new faction comes out of the periphery there is little for the Scorpions to do.  Right now distance is as much of a hinderance as a help. In terms of distance it is almost like North America and Europe in the 1800s, unless you already have a beachhead all you can do is send trading jumpships and sell/trade your wares. 
Actually the reason I sent out the 3200 is with every Clan faction we are seeing elements of Clan culture being changed with the Scorpions, Ghost Bears, and Sea Foxes being the flagship factions.  50 years (to me) seem to be a good time landmark where we see the shift and changes being made either temporary or permanent. 

[tassa_kay]

I'd like to see them have their long-overdue showdown with the Home Clans. They're the only faction that actually poses a threat to the Scorpions, they've have had 70ish years to prepare for it (long enough to get the Aggressors into positions of power in their Clans), and it feels like a very Star Adder thing to do to use this Clan hybrid state as a way to prepare themselves for an invasion of the Inner Sphere. Plus the Scorpions have been on a meteoric win streak since the WoR and could stand to have an existential crisis. Bonus points if the Home Clans' Protos (maybe with some of that delightful Society tech incorporated into 'em) embarrass them on the battlefield and show them that getting rid of Protos was a mistake. 

[ArkRoyalRavager]

Similar question: Why 40 clusters? What makes that number significant?

They need at least 70+ clusters for garrison and offense at the same time. A safer number will be minimum 150. A Cluster is roughly equal to a battalion, and that's not going to cut it against any major faction, so they need to ramp up both civilian and military expansion.

[tassa_kay]

They need at least 70+ clusters for garrison and offense at the same time. A safer number will be minimum 150. A Cluster is roughly equal to a battalion, and that's not going to cut it against any major faction, so they need to ramp up both civilian and military expansion.

That's crazy talk. The largest Clans in the Dark Age/ilClan era didn't field numbers nearly this large, with the sole exception of the Wolves and Falcons during their drive to Terra (the Wolves at their 3145 peak numbered 75 Clusters, the Falcons in the 50s). What could the Scorpions possibly be doing that would warrant such a bloated military? Their only proximate threat, the Home Clans, haven't been heard from in literally decades. Their closest Inner Sphere neighbors besides the Foxes are the Lyrans, who can't even keep their realm together right now, and the Hinterlands. The Empire could throw a few Galaxies together (Alpha, Hellion, Seeker, Omega as a reserve) as an expeditionary force, maybe even assign it one of their WarShips, and carve out space wherever they wanted.

The question is, what would bring the Scorpions to the Inner Sphere? What would their goal be? I don't think fighting pirate nations on the Lyran frontier makes too much sense for them, at least not on any large scale. A land grab that far from the Empire doesn't make much sense either, especially as we've seen they had no problem just colonizing the worlds around their realm. We know that they're now aware of their being an ilClan, and from the looks of it, they seem content to sit by the phone and wait for Alaric to call. I suppose they could send Seeker Galaxy to the former Rim Worlds to scour for artifacts, and that could even involve them in the Hinterlands (especially with the former RWR capital world smack-dab in the middle of it). Besides that, I got nothin'.

[rebs]

Not to mention where would this industrial capacity to produce such a huge military come from? 

[Fire Scorpion IIC]

They need at least 70+ clusters for garrison and offense at the same time. A safer number will be minimum 150. A Cluster is roughly equal to a battalion, and that's not going to cut it against any major faction, so they need to ramp up both civilian and military expansion.

I missed the digits on the first read but these numbers are wild

70 is huge, 150 is mental

Latter one isn't "war-against-major-faction" size, it's "let's-conquer-clan-homeworlds-and-be-back-before-christmas" size

Forget Lyrans, you could invade Federated Suns with that and expect to do good

And Scorpion clusters aren't some protomechs+vehicles grade, it's good old fashioned mechs+aerospace with some token vehicles because Nikki K said so

Entire Clan Sea Fox would choke on that order, hell even old Jaguars would freak out after seeing that pricetag surge

Plus why would they go that crazy? Current size is just fine, Touman is growing steadily and affordably, Garrison Caste is doing their part and Empire ain't hankering for major war

It's overkill with all caps

[Shin_Fenris]

Bonus points if the Home Clans' Protos (maybe with some of that delightful Society tech incorporated into 'em) embarrass them on the battlefield and show them that getting rid of Protos was a mistake.

I fully support this outcome. Power to the Protos.

[CJC070]

They need at least 70+ clusters for garrison and offense at the same time. A safer number will be minimum 150. A Cluster is roughly equal to a battalion, and that's not going to cut it against any major faction, so they need to ramp up both civilian and military expansion.

Your math is a little off a Cluster is actually the equivalent to a Regiment.  Remember even by the end of the Clan invasion 8 Inner Sphere mechs = 5 Clan mechs.


On the other hand as of right now I foresee the Homeworld Clans returning only if CGL decides to resurrect the Protos.  Yes they exist but unless the come out in plastic I will probably not touch them.

[Weirdo]

Bonus points if the Home Clans' Protos (maybe with some of that delightful Society tech incorporated into 'em) embarrass them on the battlefield and show them that getting rid of Protos was a mistake.

This cannot happen soon enough. I would happily accept vast chunks of the Scorpion Empire getting destroyed or ripped away* if it meant the survivors got an interesting Touman once again.

*Before anyone says anything, you already know I'm not talking about the WarShips here.

[Fire Scorpion IIC]

I also hope that Homies try to invade the Empire with protomechs, it will make it easier for Scorpions to mop the floor with them and absorbe/annihilate them 

Scorpions would be on the mother of all winning streaks, 4 Clans in the bag, baby!

Just imagine some poor unfortunate Stone Lion or Star Adder runt washout in a knockoff 40k dreadnought seeing an ocean of actual military hardware coming to send them to meet the Great Father in person?

Tanks, hovertanks, militia mechs, battlemechs, omnimechs, elementals, battle armor, gunships, aerospace... it's beautiful 

There's a reason why fancy IS Clans like Wolves, Falcons or Bears don't bother with D'n'D robots