Rise of the Clans : OOC

Before I introduce the concept of this story, our place in a long canonical timeline, and my goals for this exercise I feel it is important to outline the factions that will be appearing.

The Factions
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s209/DrunkDwarf12/StarLeagueLogo.jpg


The New Star League
[An in-depth article on the workings of the Star League can be found here. It is not required reading for this story.]
Forged sixty years ago by Henrik Steiner, leader of the Lyran Commonwealth, the New Star League stepped into the void created after the fall of its previous incarnations. A governing body ruled by a noble council representative of the major Lords of the Inner Sphere, The New Star League's primary doctrine is to negotiate disputes between Noble Families while taking hold of the Core Worlds during times of crisis. With Henrik Steiner passing two years ago the mantle of First Lord, leader of the Star League, falls to his young son Gustav.

The Systems of the Star League:
http://www.sarna.net/wiki/images/4/49/House_Steiner_Logo.jpg
The Lyran Commonwealth - Lead by Gustav of House Steiner, renown for their wealth in commerce and trade. Their native language is German, although English is a required course of study for all citizens. They control 400 planets, amongst them several of the Inner Sphere's most valuable.

http://www.sarna.net/wiki/images/6/6f/Draccombine.gif
The Draconis Combine - A feudal dictatorship founded primarily on Military Might the Draconis Combine or DC for short is lead by Hideki of House Kurita. Their native language is Japanese. They control about 600 planets and a very large, very potent military force. They are lifelong enemies of House Steiner and the Lyran Commonwealth and were the last to join the New Star League.

http://www.sarna.net/wiki/images/a/a1/Capellan_Confederation_Logo_New.png
The Capellan Confederation - An Autocratic State ruled by Chancellor Tsu-Hi of House Liao. The native language is Mandarin. While the Capellan Confederation controls roughly 1200 planetary systems a majority of those are impoverished. Unique in the Star League, The Confederation suffers from constant civil unrest. This generally is exercised in the form of small-scale civil war between impoverished provinces.

http://www.sarna.net/wiki/images/6/65/Federated_Suns_Logo.png
The Federated Suns - Ruled by First Prince Craig of House Davion, the Federated Suns are the military powerhouse of the Inner Sphere. The Monarchy is of American and European heritage with English serving as the native language. They are the most technically advanced and rigidly disciplined nation within the Star League and take great pride in being the first into battle and the last to disengage.


The Clans

After months of deliberation, Aleksandr Kerensky; a warrior of the Star League Defense Forces convened most of the Star League forces still loyal to him (over 80%) and departed the Inner Sphere. After years of traveling, the massive flotilla of Star League refugees came upon five marginally habitable worlds, the so-called Pentagon Worlds (due to their near-pentametric relation to each other). There Kerensky's followers tried to forge life as they knew it once again, and for a time it seemed the Star League would still exist, far away from Terra, although this was not to be. Within a year, cracks were beginning to form along faction lines and soon the Pentagon Worlds were at war: an eerie parallel to the carnage unfolding concurrently in the Inner Sphere, a conflict now known as the First Succession War. At this, Kerensky prepared to gather the precious few troops still loyal to him, when he suffered a massive heart attack and as his dying wish, Kerensky left the reigns of the Exile Star League in the hands of his son, Nicholas.

Kerensky's son took 800 of his best warriors and 600 civilian families away to a planet known as Strana Mechty ("land of dreams" in Russian) where he forged a new order. This order was known as the Clans. Those who possessed exceptional military skill became the breeding stock of what would become a hereditary ruling class. They embodied the pinnacle of combat prowess, and were put through a variety of competitive and selective processes with each generation to produce virtual super-soldiers. They were charged to protect the weak and powerless, but primarily to take back the Pentagon Worlds and, some day, the Inner Sphere where they, the Clans, would reinstate the glorious Star League. The second exodus was finished in 11. June 2802. On this day five years later Nicholas announced the foundation of the Clans.

In the beginning there were twenty clans, each with forty warriors. Over time, three clans were Absorbed (Clans Widowmaker, Mongoose, Burrock), two were Annihilated (Clans Wolverine and Smoke Jaguar), one was Abjured (Clan Nova Cat), another was split in two (Clan Wolf), and two eventually merged with Inner Sphere nations (Clans Ghost Bear and Snow Raven, respectively). Today, the Clans are almost wholly unrecognizable, compared to their forebears.

The Clans have sworn an oath of Fealty to Mikhail Kerensky of Clan Wolf. More information can be found at this URL, and while not required reading may still be of help to writers. http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Clans#History

Our Story
The Clans, lead by Mikhail Kerensky, have invaded the Inner Sphere once again and wrought untold devastation. Their forces are crushing Star League defenses across a vast array of worlds. Desperate to replace the many soldiers killed the Star League have enacted an emergency edict emptying their military prisons. Men and Women who at one time were considered derelicts or traitors to the Core Worlds are being released and forged into units. Our characters will form one of these small units. They will be thrust ill-equipped and ill-informed into the most dangerous of situations. Their survival will be dictated by their willingness to band together, their ability to overcome adversity, and their desire for a fresh beginning in life.

The Unit, tentatively named Rylan's Roughriders, will consist of a variety of machines. Those new to the thread should expect to start with older, badly-maintained machines. Gradually upgrades will be given.

The Battlemech

Massive machines of war, walking death to everything save another Mech, their invention has revolutionized war. Designated in five distinct classes they come in a myriad of sizes and shapes. The most lethal Mech Technologies are those of the Clans. Rylan's Roughriders will consist of a unit based in size upon the amount of interest we gather and will number no-more than eight units.

The Classes of Mech are Assault, Heavy, Medium, Light, and Ultra-Light.

Our unit will consist of a mix between Medium and Heavy Mechs of older designs and standard munition load-outs.

To Join
Post up a Preliminary Biography of your Character. Remember that your warrior, male or female, has spent fairly substantial time in prison and have only just been released. Common offenses could be murder, assault, desertion, and treason. As biographies are posted I will be assigning Mechs to characters.

The Cast
Colonel Scott Rylan - Summoner ( 70 tons ) Played by Light Ice
- The Unit Commander and only Crew Member with contact from General Argus Rhei.

Private Lorelei "Rory" Keegan - Osiris ( 30 tons ) Played by SiaKlynn
- Designated Recon and Light Fire Support

Private Jason Ashby - Thresher ( 60 tons ) Played by MilkManDan007
- Direct Fire Support and Assisting Mechanic

Private Yorini - Vulture ( 60 tons ) Played by MadMissJ
- Forward Assault and Long Range Fire Support

Private Zoey Kessler - Bushwacker ( 55 tons ) Played by Bardic
- Direct Fire Support

Private Hiro Kagekaze - Wolverine ( 55 tons ) Played by Vic_26m
-Forward Assault and Fire Support

Private Neela Cranyz - Hellbringer ( 65 tons ) Played by Slut Pride
-Forward Assault and Fire Support

Private Chao Zen - Thanatos ( 75 tons ) Played by LitShark
-Direct Fire Support and Assault

Private Casey Smith - Uziel ( 50 tons ) Played by Marauder13
-Direct Fire Support and Assault

Private Liao Xue-Ying - Hellspawn ( 45 tons ) Played by VampiricTouch
-Direct Fire Support and Assault

Corps Medic Brennan Deschenal Played by Caela
The IC Link is here: http://forum.literotica.com/showthread.php?t=693377

http://emeraldcityguy.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/hugh_jackman.jpg
Name: Scott Rylan
Age: 36 Years Old
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 190 lbs
Bio:

A former Colonel of the 20th Avalon Hussars serving the Federated Suns, Scott Rylan was tried and convicted of desertion of duty following his refusal of a direct order. A decorated hero and Mech Warrior of great renown, Rylan's imprisonment was news throughout the Inner Sphere. Details of his betrayal were never released, and Rylan has never spoke of the circumstances of his imprisonment, but rumors persist that Rylan fired upon a civilian colony of Jade-Falcon Clanners in order to draw their defense forces from the frontline.

As a man he is known to be notoriously brutal on the men in his command and intolerant of mistakes. He is a womanizer, a notorious drinker, and cigar enthusiast.

Scott Rylan's Mech - Designation Summoner

http://www.sarna.net/wiki/images/2/23/Thor.jpg
Specifications
Manufacturer: Eagle Craft Group
Model: Prime
Class: Heavy
Height: 14 Meters
Weight: 70 tons
Jump Jets: JF Standard
Speed: 86.4 km/h
Weaponry:
1 LB 10-X Auto-cannon
1 LRM-15 Missile System
1 ER Particle Projection Cannon

History:
Rylan's Summoner is a captured Jade Falcon Mech that has been repaired and refitted in order to serve. An older model Mech known for its versatility, relatively light armor, and resistance to system failure it has a reputation as a proven design. By comparison to more popular Clan and Inner Sphere designs it is a mostly obsolete.

Introducing....

http://i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab302/Meli_Ann/600full-angie-everhart.jpg

Lorelei “Rory” Keegan
Age: 30 years old
Hair: Red
Eyes: Green
Height: 5’8”
Weight: 130 lb

Bio:
Rory is a former sergeant for The Federated Suns; trained as a light-mech pilot Rory proved be quick, gutsy and a helluva a shot. She wasn’t afraid to take chances her peers wouldn’t. After training she was recruited as a Recon Mech dropping into the hot zones and taking out specified targets before the squad moved in. She was always clean and swift. She was good, no she was the best and served without question for five years. On her last mission she was ordered to stand down; the situation had changed. Rory was furious and wasn’t about to give up the chance to nail the bastard, so she disobeyed the direct order and opened fire on the apartment tower. Her decision to defy that order resulted in the death of a dozen civilians who were inside the tower where the target was last reported and whose death was never confirmed. She was arrested and convicted of murder sentenced never to walk outside of the prison walls. Now she’s been called back to active duty, she’s bitter, but willing as the threat of death in battle is better than rotting away in a hellish dank prison cell.

Rory Keegan's Mech - Designation Osiris

http://www.sarna.net/wiki/images/1/17/Osiris.jpg
Specifications:
Manufacturer: Achernar BattleMechs
Model: OSR-3D
Class: Light
Height: 10 Meters
Weight: 30 Tons
Jump Jets: Rawlings 61
Speed: 129.6 km/h
Weaponry:
5 ER Medium lasers
1 SRM-6 Short-Range Missile Battery
1 Anti-Infantry Machine Gun

History:
An aging but proven design, the Osiris is lightly-armored fast-moving Mech designed for Recon and Artillery sighting. While the battery of five medium lasers makes it more than a match for most Recon Mechs it lacks both the punch and armor to engage heavier BattleMechs. Rory's Mech is the most technologically advanced of the unit's, however it is still an older model that has been supplanted by superior Clan designs such as the Dragonfly. Like most of the unit's machines it was captured and repaired.

Jason Ashby

http://stupidcelebrities.net/wp-content/colin_farrell_1max.jpg

Name: Jason Ashby
Age: 29
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown
Height: 6’ 0”
Weight: 170lbs

Bio:

Jason Ashby spent much of his life as a test pilot for the Federated Suns at the New Avalon Institute of Science, mainly testing and debugging new weapon systems for heavy mechs. His innate understanding of mechanics and intelligence caught the attention of his superiors at NAIS, who offered him an opportunity he could not resist. He was to pose as a defector, to become a traitor to those around him, and travel to the research facilities at Tharkad in the Lyran Commonwealth to gain insight into their advanced weapons research program.

His traitorous intentions were made public, and he was declared a persona non grata, all part of the plan to keep his real mission concealed. The Lyrans took him in, but with skepticism. It took him nearly a year to convince them that he had truly left his life behind to start anew, mainly by divulging a few military secrets that had been recently declassified and providing them insight into some of the research being done at NAIS.

The plan was simple: Obtain information that would be useful to the researchers at NAIS, transmit what he could to a relay station along the Federated Suns / Draconis Combine border, and the message would be sent from there to NAIS for study. Unfortunately for Ashby, one of his communications was intercepted. The Lyrans were naturally furious. In their eyes, he had defected from the Federated Suns only to betray them to the Draconis Combine. The Combine, of course, denied he was an agent of theirs, which only added to the conspiracy theories that the police force were trying to sift through. Was he a Federated Suns spy? Was he A Draconis Spy? Was he a mercenary hired to plunder as much research and technology as possible? Ashby was promptly arrested and thrown into prison for treason while they tried to sort out the mess.

Even the Federated Suns kept their mouth shut. They did not want to provoke any sort of retaliatory actions, and simply denounced him once again as a defector and that he would remain unwelcome. Once a traitor, always a traitor, they said. He was now truly alone, a non-person, a man without rights or a home to return to. He continued to train, keeping himself as physically and mentally fit as he could while behind bars. The last 4 years had been difficult, but with the invasion of the Clans, he would have a chance to redeem himself.

(I can’t tell you how long I’ve wanted a decent BattleTech thread to start up.)

Jason Ashby's Mech - Designation Thresher

http://www.sarna.net/wiki/images/3/34/Thresher.jpg
Specifications
Manufacturer: DSF-51
Model: THR
Class: Heavy
Height: 12 Meters
Weight: 60 Tons
Jump Jets: Grandthrust Mk. 3
Speed: 108 km/h
Weaponry:
1 Ultra Autocannon/10
2 Medium Pulse Lasers
2 SRM-6 Short Range Missile Launchers
1 ER Medium Laser

History:

A Clan design that proved reliable, well-rounded, and capable the Thresher is in many ways a predecessor of the Summoner design. It boasts a more robust offensive platform and is equally resistant to breakdown. The major difference is that the Thresher sports less armor and is capable of reaching 108 km/h due to its MASC system. A powerful close-range fighter the Thresher is one of the more potent anti-Mech machines available to the unit.

Inside the Cockpit of a Mech

To all prospective writers:

http://www.sarna.net/wiki/images/1/19/Neurohelm.jpg
This is the neurohelmet. It is a bulky, heavy, uncomfortable machine that binds the Pilot's senses to the Mech's limbs and sense of balance. It allows the pilot to have a sense of his massive machine and aide him in guiding its movements. The HUD it provides can change through various visual spectrums and feeds combat information. Older neurohelmets, such as the ones our unit use, are not only ungainly and uncomfortable but pilot-specific. Using another pilot's mech will lead to dizziness, a buzzing sound that can become disabling, and nausea.

This link details a Mech's cockpit and command chair. It has illustrations and detailed explanations.

http://battletech.rpg.hu/battlemech_cockpit.html

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v37/peachytart007/Yorini.jpg

Name: Yorini
Age: 27 Years Old
Height: 5’3”
Weight: 105 lbs
Bio:

She lived by the Bushido code once. An officer in The Sword of Light, elite Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery. Yorini prided herself on honor, loyalty and honesty. However her shining star, so close to that much coveted position on the Otomo, was not to be. Life in the Draconis Combine is dangerous at best, and though Bushido is prized not everyone can live by its code. She was known as “The Warrior Geisha”, studious and pleasing to the eye, she was well rounded and well taught as a Mech Warrior.

It’s not known what exactly transpired that earned Yorini her scar. Her beautiful face cut and skillfully slashed from her dark eye and down her cheek, but what is known is that revenge was exacted. It’s said that she was as silent as a cat, sneaking around her own base to kill her commanding officer. She didn’t even try to leave, knowing it was a coward’s way out to sneak away from her feat like a thief in the night. Her own sword was through the belly of the man that had taken his knife to her face, his blood on her kimono.

Her charge was murder, shamed and imprisoned instead of being put to death. She’d been on suicide watch ever since, which has lent her a reckless attitude that cannot be matched. Before being sent to prison she’d been known as a smart but brutal soldier, now without anything, even her life to lose, she’s even more dangerous as one of Rylan's Roughriders.

Yorini's Mech - Designation Vulture

http://www.sarna.net/wiki/images/4/4e/Mad_Dog.jpg
Specifications:
Manufacturer: Various
Model: Prime
Class: Heavy
Height: 11 Meters
Weight: 60 Tons
Jump Jets: None
Speed: 86 km/h
Weaponry:
2 LRM-20 Long Range Missile Systems
2 Medium Pulse Lasers
2 Large Pulse Lasers

History:
Known as the Mad Dog to the Clans that built it, the Vulture is a Mech built with the understanding that taking down a threat before it fires on you is a better defensive strategy than absorbing blows. With relatively light armor but an overwhelming offensive load out the Vulture has the firepower to overwhelm mechs several tons heavier. It's advanced targeting systems are designed to allow it to also defend a unit from air-support.

We'll begin soon. I'm absolutely certain I'll have to end up turning writers away before long but I'd almost rather get started sooner, rather than later. It's mostly a selfish thing. I can't wait to get started.

Our story is going to begin within the belly of our unit's dropship.

http://www.sarna.net/wiki/images/2/2b/Leopard.gif


While canon tells us that the Leopard-Class dropships cannot carry more than 4 Battlemechs, we'll be modifying this to carry 8. The ship is dominated by a large hanger bay that extends the length of its ventral hull. The upper decks are a series of tightly packed cabins that serve as the crew's home. It is an aging ship. Dirty. Constantly being repaired. Constantly losing power in the crew sections. It has been named the Bellyacher by its pilot, a man whom everyone knows only as Mad Max, a wheel-chair bound cynic.

We will begin within the Leopard. Characters will be introduced to one another, to Rylan, and to their machines. They will be briefed.

Simulation sessions will be the most of our combat for a short time. Mostly because our story is more about the evolution of our characters than it is the war in which they are living.

Sounds good. I can't wait to begin.

Any more openings?

Still have room for another Mech warrior?I loved this game and role played it several times. Even had characters that were infantry based and helicopter pilots.

We do. You can be our last male. We've got one committed via PM who will be posting his Bio tomorrow.

Note to authors. I'm pleased nobody has argued with their selection of machine so far, but I recognize that I've avoided the sexiest Mechs so far. Take heart. After our first major engagement there will be chances to scavenge better machines and tech. I suggest any requests for your character's machines be made to me via this thread.

Name: Zoey "Zombie" Kessler
Age: 31
Hair: Brunette.
Eyes: Hazel
Height: 5'5"
Weight: 119

Bio:

It isn't entirely certain why Zoey was buried deep in one of House Liao's prisons, but there are whispers about something involving her landing her Heavy on one of the Capellan Confederation's lesser heirs after jumping off a cliff, which resulted in a massive weapons failure and the destruction of a small neighborhood. Apparently, they take it personally when they don't get to kill their own rivals.

One thing for certain is that despite being a talented pilot and field engineer for the Lyran Commonwealth, she was constantly at odds with her superiors from day one when she decked her drill sergeant during an argument about her dress uniform.

During her two full terms starting at sixteen, she received as many commendations as she did reprimands which is why many of her exploits are generally unheard of, though it cannot be denied she earned the nickname Zombie due to her apparent inability to die thanks to some of her more idiotically genius maneuvers.

She sat as a forgotten POW for several years before desperation forced the hand of Star League, and she has jumped at the opportunity to once again sit in the cockpit of a mech.

Zoey Kessler's Mech - Designation Bushwacker

http://www.sarna.net/wiki/images/d/db/Bushwacker.jpg
Specifications:
Manufacturer: TharHes Industries
Model: BSW-X1
Class: Medium
Height: 10 Meters
Weight: 55 Tons
Jump Jets: None
Speed: 86.4 km/h
Weaponry:
1 Autocannon/10
2 LRM-5 Long Range Missile Systems
1 ER Large Laser
2 Anti-Infantry Machine Guns

History:
Originally a failed Mech design the Bushwacker received a new lease on life with the capture of Clan Technologies in the Vulture and Loki designs. It's small profile presents a difficult target to hit. With a respectable speed for its weight the Bushwacker represents a flexible and adaptable design. It has a fair armor rating with substantial firepower.

Hope everyone is satisfied with their machines so far! Remember, our Mechs are battered and out of date in both their technology and design. That doesn't mean the chassis so much as the weapon systems and the model of weapons inside them. We'll upgrade as we go, I promise, but for right now I want everyone to enjoy their own personal piece of junk.

Duck tape fixes everything as does a sound fist pounding or swift kick!

And we're up. http://forum.literotica.com/showthread.php?p=33229006#post33229006

I'm leaving it for all the writers to write their own Mechanic NPC. All NPC crews are to be considered military staff and are not to be criminals.

Room for one more girl?

I love BattleTech, my older brother got me hooked on it when he played with his friends,I really want in on this if you have room for one more that is.

I was thinking something like this:

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b298/spazmodious/RachelTrue.jpg


Name: Neela "Lunatic" Cranyz
Age: 28
Hair: Med. Auburn
Eyes: Hazel
Height: 5'3"
Weight: 115

Bio:"Mentally unstable" "Lose Cannon" and "Psycho Bitch" were words often used to describe Neela Crantz, if you were to ask any of her former team mates or commanders they might say she was "Full on,balls out,streetrat crazy" and if it weren't for her skill and potential as a Mech pilot and explosives expert she might have been exiled to deep space as early as age 18.
She is prone to mercurial mood swings verging on a bi-polar disorder and suffers from what doctors at the prison for the criminally insane where she spent the last two years call a"severe emotional detachment disorder". Basically she lacks any or all signs of possessing any discernible human emotions. (at least on the surface)
She was sent to a maximum security prison for the criminally insane after a violent mental breakdown following the death of her lover Sarah,when Neela set off an explosion in the barracks where she and Sarah first met because "it brought back too many memories"
Now she says she has come to terms with Sarah's death and is "ready to get back to kicking some major ass" and accepted the offer to get back into a Mech and fight so fast it was days later that it occured to her she had not inquired or heard any of the details of the arrangement, not that it mattered much to her,she just wants to fight.
But she know she has to follow orders this time,and try not to kill any of her own team...she promises to do her best and be a "good girl".

Let me know what you think,
Thanks.
~Slut~

Two females have sent me PMs previous to you, Slut, so forgive me if I make you wait until I find out whether they are jumping onboard or not before I tell you yes or no. Also, Vin and LitShark should be posting bios relatively shortly.

Alright. So we're going to have ten writers. I've a suggestion for combat.

Listen. We're here to write an evolution of our characters. We're not here to back and forth for three days about a battle. So here's my suggestion.

For battles, all posts are handled as flashbacks or diary entries.

Meaning. I'll post a flashback of the battle giving a summary of the events on a basic level. Did we win, did we lose, and what our haul for the mission was. My flashback will also detail the personal exploits of my character, his hardships, and his triumphs.

Then, after I post a flashback, all other writers can post their own flashbacks as they please. Feel free to take some command of enemy NPC forces (within reason please). This format, I feel, will help us from getting caught up waiting on each other to move on with our personal stories.

Let me know what you guys think.

Interesting concept, but it works for me. Nothing kills a group thread like someone having no time to post and leaving everyone else hanging.

Where to find mechs?

http://merugear.nl/wp-content/battlemech.jpg


I have books somewhere, but anyone know some good online resources. Should have a character before the weekend. Have some other writing too do, but I'm excited.