Clan Hell's Horses
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Clan Hell's Horses is a member of the Clanners in the sci-fi BattleTech universe created by the FASA Corporation. The Clan is known for their combined-arms attacks, favoring infantry and vehicles over 'Mechs. Clan Hell's Horses political structure is unusual in that the majority are Wardens, but the high ranking officers are staunch Crusaders.
[edit] Founding
Attempts to adapt horses to the deserts of Circe resulted in a carnivorous beast uncontrollable through conventional taming methods. Scheduled for termination, these animals were released by a sympathetic soldier, and have since thrived on Circe. Respected for its tenacity and unadulterated aggressiveness, the hell's horses made an ideal Clan totem. The commander of the Star League Defense Force's Thirty Fifth Infantry Division, John Fletcher, used this fearsome new beast to create his Clan.
The Clan started off well, colonizing many worlds in Clan space, but remained largely in the background. As the years passed, the Hell's Horses were significantly weakened in many large battles with other Clans, mainly the 2921 conflict with Clan Ghost Bear over the planet Tokasha, as well as the crushing defeat on Bearclaw.
[edit] Return to the Inner Sphere
The Clan was not in the initial invasion force that smashed into the Inner Sphere in 3050, but in a scheme hatched by Clan Wolf's Khan Vladimir Ward, the Hell's Horses were given three worlds in the Inner Sphere invasion corridor.
Ward's scheme played on Hell's Horses Khan Malavai Fletcher's hatred of the Ghost Bear Clan. Ward knew that by giving Fletcher three worlds bordering the Ghost Bear Dominion, Fletcher would inevitably attack the Ghost Bears. Because the Ghost Bears were at war with the Draconis Combine, it would cripple them and prolong war in the Inner Sphere. All to Clan Wolf's benefit.
His plan worked and Khan Fletcher did indeed raid. When Clan Hell's Horses reached the planet of Predlitz however, they were met with a surprisingly tenacious Ghost Bear defense force which dealt them a decisive defeat and resulted in Khan Malavai Fletcher's near death. Fletcher was later deposed and killed in a Trial of Possession.
Clan Hell's Horses have since stabilized their gains and are growing slowly but surely, with a small foothold in the Inner Sphere.
[edit] References
- Nystul, Bryan, Test of Vengeance, ROC, 2001, ISBN 0-451-45836-2
- Clan Hells Horses Official clan listing on ClassicBattleTech.
