Turning Point in Twycross

Because war always changes. Eventually.

Tex Talks BattleTech - Turning Point at Twycross

EPISODE SYNOPSIS

“… we will be returning to the subject of military history by discussing in detail the early years of the clan invasion. While we touched on this in a previous lesson by discussing the climax, if not the terminus, of the first Clan Invasion, with the Battle of Tukyidd, the lesson this evening serves as another bookend, that of the early war where the inner sphere suffered through their own ignorance and catastrophic miscalculation to finally find the means to turn the tide against the invaders. For the Inner Sphere, it is a time of hopelessness, fear, dread, destruction, chaos, and, of course, heroes.”

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Clanner society puts the conflict in “conflict resolution.” It is a civilization built on the precept of might makes right, where skill, ambition, and violence of action are the rungs on the ladder of success. Ultimately, they are the living embodiment of, at least for the warrior caste, a lethal rendition of the Peter principle: consistent promotion through competence until the warrior shows a lack of flexibility, tactical thought, or leadership qualities. When challenged with an edge case scenario that requires “soft skills,” it is sink or swim for a clan warrior, with failure stalling out the warrior’s career, public shame, demotion, and even death. That is not to say that clanner society is incapable of functioning; rather, it can be placed under significant, if not shattering, stress when exposed to the extremes found at either bell-end of new situations.

The clan invasion of the inner sphere was inevitable, not because of any need for resources or territorial gain but as a manifestation of cultural mores bordering on religious fervor, as defined by generational derivations of a half-baked pseudo-historical philosophy. The methods used to rear Clan trueborn warriors, advanced genetic screening and editing of traits, followed by what most would consider a brutal childhood of constant training and drill, only amplified the certainty of what clan leadership called “The Return.”

The Inner Sphere had other choice words for it – in authentic recording recovered from The Rock by a venturing Space Phone Company operative:

SHIT, SHIT, FUCK, OH SHIT, WHY IS EVERYTHING ON FIRE! OH GOD WHAT IS THAT

<radio squelch>

For the discerning audience, we also have --REDACTED-- version available for your perusal. However, the phone company might want words with you. Proceed with caution, and pay your bills.

DISCLAIMER

TEX TALKS BATTLETECH is a fan-based parody/attempt at education for a setting that deserves much love. Battletech, Mechwarrior, and all other material are owned by CGL, Topps, Tornante, PGI, their various subsidiaries, and a million shareholders (though not harmony gold, fuck those guys). No challenge to their ownership status is being made or intended by the creation of this work. Battletech is owned by the company, but the fanbase is what keeps it alive. Let us hope they forgive us for what fun we have. Tex Talks Battletech is a semi-serious take on Battletech, its setting, lore, and history in an attempt to bring people into one of the greatest franchises ever envisioned and should not in any way represent the official stance of any corporation, conglomerate, megacorp, holding company, or cartel which currently owns the franchise.

TL;DR: this is the opinion of one guy who loves a setting, and is dead-set on bringing it to everyone who cares to hear about it.

Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, Allowance is made for “Fair Use” for the purposes of Criticism, Comment, News Reporting, Teaching, Scholarship, and Research. Fair use is therefore Permitted by Copyright Statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-Profit, Educational, or Personal use tips the balance in favor of “Fair Use.”

LINKS

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