Hey Folks We’re playing a little bit of hooky today. As part of Thanksgiving Week, we’re goofing a bit, (we’ll have a full boat of our normal content again next week). Following up on the well received Void Krakens and Steel Crabs, we’re giving you another new Clan. Behold, the wonder of the Thunder Ants.
As stated, this is a FAN PROJECT. This is not official CGL material, nor is it endorsed by the powers that be at Battletech, but it is something that I find interesting. It’s also a “My Dudes are cool” sort of project. Like the previous project, this is an Ilclan Era expansion of the Homeworld Clans. Let’s see how this plays out, shall we?
So, what the hell is Clan Thunder Ant, why are they, and where do they come from?
Why Clan Thunder Ant?
Our strength is a fellowship, and it is long since time our numbers grew again. I submit that each of our clans will apportion warriors, technicians, merchants, laborers, and scientists to grow our fellowship, and return our numbers. For far too long, we have been four. Now we shall be eight.
Illkhan Hannibal Bannacek,
January 9th 3101.
Foundation and Disaster
Clan Thunder Ant was spun off from the Stone Lions following the Illkhan’s declaration. Taking 1 cluster of Solahma aged warriors, and approximately 25% of the other castes, Clan Thunder Ant was also gifted with Ironhold as a homeworld. One of many worlds abandoned by the clans following the Reaving.
The aged warriors of Myrmidon Keshik and their leader, Giselle Amirault immediately set the civilians to work rebuilding destroyed Enclaves and industry. They were extraordinarily lucky and in record time had restored their industrial capacity to Jade Falcon capacities during the Golden Century. Their efforts were showing great promise when all hell broke loose.
They had constituted Alpha and Beta Galaxy formations to protect new enclaves spread around the surface. Myrmidon provided supervision to the younger formations. Stone Lions, reeling from losses with the Steel Crabs, arrived in force and declared harvest trials against both Galaxies. The fighting was terribly fierce, and Beta Galaxy was lost in its entirety to the Lions. Three of the five Clusters of Alpha Galaxy were also taken by the Lions. The Myrmidons threw their entire combat prowess into the battle and saved the remaining two clusters at the cost of nearly their entire strength.
The Cloud Cobras stepped in, putting three entire Galaxies in the path of the rampaging Stone Lions. Insults and threats escalated to the Grand Council and the Lions were censured for their conduct. That was little comfort to the badly depleted Ants.
Aid Unlooked For
Khan Amirault, unable to fight due to injuries sustained during the fighting, felt a swell of dread when long range sensors detected a fleet of warships entering the system and making best possible speed for Ironhold. Forty Three Dropships from 6 clans landed outside their capital.
Her dread turned to shock when nearly three hundred solahma aged mechwarriors descended the ramp. The grand council had polled its oldest warriors and offered any who wished for a chance to honor the Way of the Clans were transferred to the Thunder Ants. Further Elemental and vehicle crews were also pulled, and merchants from all six clans pulled extra resources and made favorable deals to help them recover.
Khan Amirault organized her new warriors and built her clan's strength off their industrial capabilities above all. They also used a cache of Terraforming equipment to restore some of the damage Ironhold's biosphere had suffered from the Society.
The merchants of Thunder Ant took to their task with a rare fervor outside of the Sea Foxes of yesteryear and built underground factory sites alongside processing stations and fully functional manufacturing Enclaves. These “Hives” were constructed in Castle Brian esque facilities with integrated scientific, technical, and laborer housing.
By the 3130s, there were nearly fifty such “Hives” scattered across Ironhold. Each Hive was defended by a Cluster of aged warriors. Organizationally, these Clusters fall outside a galaxy command Structure and are administered by members of the Myrmidon Keshik.
Industrial Power
Khan Amirault finally succumbed to her lingering health issues in 3135. Her Successor, Khan Siobhan Cobb continued her predecessor's good works. Laborer Caste personnel met every production quota that was set in front of them, and the resources they provided further expanded the Thunder Ants industrial base.
Large teams of Thunder Ants went to the unenviable task of environmental remediation throughout the cluster. Terraforming expertise and brute force enabled the recolonization of most of the worlds inside the Cluster. The Ants maintain an Enclave on each world to supervise the Terraforming equipment and continue their resource extraction.
As 3149 dawned, The Ants had turned their industrial capacity to helping other worlds bloom. Pushing past previous “standards,” the Ants made theClusters's worlds very habitable. self sufficiency was their target, and their efforts were appreciated by the Illkhan, who requested the Ants assist the Void Krakens with their colonization and exploration efforts. The two clans were deep in talks as the year progressed.
Thunder Ant Touman
The Thundering Horde
The Thunder Ants only operate 4 nominal Galaxies. Able, Baker, Charlie, and Echo Galaxies handle the offensive side of Thunder Ant operations. They maintain a Watch Cluster as well, and they operate a third Keshik outside of the normal two. The Royal Watch Keshik guards the Khan, Carpenter Keshik guards the Sakhan. Myrmidon Keshik supervises the Hive defense network.
The Hive plan hosts nearly eighty clusters scattered throughout their holdings and another forty on other worlds they maintain a presence on.
Thunder Ant Navy
The Thunder Ants use small groups of HPG equipped Jumpships to move heavy industrial equipment and terraforming equipment throughout the Cluster.
They maintain a small Warship Fleet.
War Queen (Nightlord Class)
Thunderous Fury (Sovetski Soyuz Class)
Ant Hill(Potemkin Class)
Combat Doctrine
The Ants (like the Lyran Commonwealth) believe mass is a very important quality. They skew towards assault weight Battlemechs, Battle Armor and Combat Vehicles. Light Aerospace fighters round out the Touman.
They operate in oversized formations (stars will always be represented by Binaries, Trinaries have an extra star, etc).
Freeborns make up approximately 35% of the total Touman.
Note: they produce mechs and equipment in all weight classes for trade with the other clans (except the Stone Lions).
Thunder Ant Culture
Unlike the rest of the Clans, the Thunder Ants don't have an age bias. Older warriors occupy positions of respect and authority throughout the Touman. Most warriors who would test down in other clans are assigned to Hive Units, where they guard the most important parts of the Ant holdings. They also provide social supports for Caste members too old to perform their tasks, often becoming assistants and teachers to younger members of the clan.
Thunder Ant civilians sleep on average about 5 hours a night. People aren't sure why this is, but the Hives are almost always buzzing with activity. They outproduce most other clan facilities, and have an internal competition among themselves to be the best. Winning Hives earn command of the Myrmidon Keshik for their Overseer for that quarter. It is an immense source of pride for them.
The rare Enclave not built around the Hive complex is usually a trading hub or an agricultural facility. Mining enclaves are also extremely common and are scattered across the Cluster.
Thunder Ant Colors
The Thunder Ants usually use a brown and orange color scheme. Each Hive has a Yellow Number painted on the right shoulder of its mechs and Battle Armor, and the right front panel of its motive systems
(So, that’s what I've got for Clan Thunder Ant for right now. This is an alternate future for the battletech timeline of what “Could” be happening in the clan homeworlds in the aftermath of the Reaving. Does this sound cool? Would you like to know more? Should I continue working on this idea? Let me know folks.)
Y’all have fun, and stay safe out there!
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