Clan Nova Cat

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Clan Nova Cat is a member of the Clanners in the sci-fi BattleTech universe created by the FASA Corporation. The Clan has a deeply spiritual side that guides most of their actions.

1 Founding
2 The Golden Century
3 Return to the Inner Sphere
4 The Great Refusal
5 References

[edit] Founding

The Clan's totem is the Dagda feline. It has a mane of tipped, poisoinous barbs that shoot up suddenly, like a nova, if alerted. It is admired for its alertness and ferocious attacks.

Unlike all of the other Clans, the Nova Cats had non-military founders. Peter Drummond had left the Star League Defense Force and was a scientist, while Anne Rosse was part of the Merchant Caste. This is very unusual and made them suspicious to the other Clans. Anne Rosse had become a deeply spiritual person during the Amaris Civil War and believed in rituals and visions. These beliefs transferred over to her Clan through her daughter, seen as the true Founder, Sandra Rosse. The practices instituted by Sandra shaped the actions of the Clan throughout its existence. Most notable of these institutions was the office of Oathmaster, which aided the Clan in its spiritual well being. Following her sweeping changes, Khan Sandra Rosse wrote the Ways of Seeing, a compilation of all her and her mother's visions so that it may guide the Clan.

[edit] The Golden Century

The Golden Century proved very good for the Nova Cats. Driven by our Scientist and Merchant Castes, which had been given free rein, they quickly moved into a leading spot among the Clans. Where other Clans were developing better 'Mechs and Elementals, Clan Nova Cat developed Long Range Lasers which would prove extremely advantageous in the years that followed.

[edit] Return to the Inner Sphere

The Nova Cats faught furiously for a spot in the invasion force of the Inner Sphere, and were granted a place in the reserves along with Clan Steel Viper.

After the death of ilKhan Showers, the new ilKhah Ulric Kerenskey activated the Nova Cats, but were forced to share the invasion corridor with their hated enemy, Clan Smoke Jaguar.

Clan Nova Cat invaded many worlds after joining the invasion force but was humiliated in a disastrous defeat at the hands of the Draconis Combine on Luthien, losing the better part of two whole Galaxies. On Tukayyid, the Nova Cats were the most successful Clan, crushing their assigned ComStar objectives. It was a Pyrrhic victory however, as the Clans were forced off the planet in defeat.

[edit] The Great Refusal

After the Clans defeat on Tukayyid, the Nova Cats turned inward to better themselves and rebuild. Guided by visions, they opened talks with the Draconis Combine. When Prince Victor Steiner-Davion revived the Star League Defense Force and invaded the Clan Homeworlds, the Nova Cats sided with the SLDF and fought against their fellow Clan, Clan Ice Hellion. This resulted in the deaths of both their Khans, but the SLDF were victorious. Because of their participation in the Great Refusal, Clan Nova Cat was Abjured and attacked on all sides by the Clans. The Nova Cats were decimated, losing three whole Galaxies so that the Clan could escape to the Inner Sphere.

Shattered and broken, the Nova Cats have been effectively integrated into the Draconis Combine because of their help in the Great Refusal, and granted a few worlds.