Something I've been planning for a little while now is a Battletech AU with the concept that Clan Invasion was larger and more destructive. It also, importantly involves the participation of the only Clan cool enough to wear black leather for their dress uniforms: the Star Adders.
The story diverges around 3005 where the Star Adder wargame the invasion to determine how to best execute it. Then they check their results, swear a lot and conclude that they are truly and utterly screwed if they try to fight in traditional Clan manner against the Inner Sphere (for starters, their best estimate is that they're outnumbered six to one. (It's actually closer to seven to one)). Still, they really really want to invade, so they start laying out logistics and training and more importantly building up their numbers fanatically.
More than forty years later, when the Clans really are going to invade, the Star Adders look at the plans to invade (the ilKhan reckons that two clans are sufficient but just to be safe he's taking four clans and a fifth in reserve) and envisage the likely consequences. Then they abstain from the vote to invade which under Clan law means that they aren't bound either not to invade (if the vote failed) or to invade under the ilKhan's plan (when it succeeded). Then they hastily redeploy everything they can muster to the Inner Sphere to invade simultanously with the other clans although far enough away not to impede each other.
Mapping this out is one reason it's taking a huge amount of time to plan. The Battletech universe has a lot of very detailed (if sometimes conflicting) information about who was where and so forth. Avoiding some of the obvious pitfalls (Mr. Stackpole, I'm looking at you right now) would be good, but that's led to a lot of book-keeping.
While there will be a number of canon characters featured, events will of course diverge faster and faster and the major viewpoint character for battles on the ground will be Mechwarrior Costigan of Clan Star Adder, who will rise through the ranks as the invasion sprawls out across the Inner Sphere and participate in many important battles (both victories and defeats) for the Clans.
Thoughts? Questions?
The story diverges around 3005 where the Star Adder wargame the invasion to determine how to best execute it. Then they check their results, swear a lot and conclude that they are truly and utterly screwed if they try to fight in traditional Clan manner against the Inner Sphere (for starters, their best estimate is that they're outnumbered six to one. (It's actually closer to seven to one)). Still, they really really want to invade, so they start laying out logistics and training and more importantly building up their numbers fanatically.
More than forty years later, when the Clans really are going to invade, the Star Adders look at the plans to invade (the ilKhan reckons that two clans are sufficient but just to be safe he's taking four clans and a fifth in reserve) and envisage the likely consequences. Then they abstain from the vote to invade which under Clan law means that they aren't bound either not to invade (if the vote failed) or to invade under the ilKhan's plan (when it succeeded). Then they hastily redeploy everything they can muster to the Inner Sphere to invade simultanously with the other clans although far enough away not to impede each other.
Mapping this out is one reason it's taking a huge amount of time to plan. The Battletech universe has a lot of very detailed (if sometimes conflicting) information about who was where and so forth. Avoiding some of the obvious pitfalls (Mr. Stackpole, I'm looking at you right now) would be good, but that's led to a lot of book-keeping.
While there will be a number of canon characters featured, events will of course diverge faster and faster and the major viewpoint character for battles on the ground will be Mechwarrior Costigan of Clan Star Adder, who will rise through the ranks as the invasion sprawls out across the Inner Sphere and participate in many important battles (both victories and defeats) for the Clans.
Thoughts? Questions?
