The recent annihilation of Clan Smoke Jaguar by the combined forces of the Inner Sphere gave some in Our Order cause to celebrate. After all, if the Houses could forget their endless fighting to accomplish such a difficult task, perhaps other goals were not as unattainable as we once thought. But even with the re-born Star League triumphant, it was readily apparent that the remaining Clans were not going to pack up and move back to Strana Mechty. Furthermore, events even now are coming to a head in the former Federated Commonwealth which herald more conflict in the near future. How much, we cannot say.
Some predict minor skirmishes concluded by the assassination of either side’s leader. As one of these leaders is none other than Our Order’s own Precentor Martial, Victor Steiner-Davion, most conclude this is unlikely. Another outcome which has more support and is (sadly) more probable is a Civil war, one in which it is said the fighting will eclipse even the great battle between Kerensky and Amaris, though that is hard to imagine. This, along with the natural tendency of the Houses to exploit one another’s weaknesses, spells major trouble, perhaps as soon as 3063. And Our Order is not the only body to come to this conclusion.
All the Houses are fortifying their borders, pouring billions of credits into research and development on the predication of impending war; indeed, even the Clans are gearing up their sibkos, training camps and production facilities for they know not what. As a result, 3062 is proving to be a watershed of sorts.
The Inner Sphere in particular is busy creating upgrade packages for existing ‘Mech frames; they consider it a quicker and ultimately more cost-effective method of increasing their available forces than the time-honored investment in new production facilities, replacement battleframes and the years of lead time these require. Of new designs, there are a few, a very few, but they use existing factory capacity and do not embody any great technological leaps. Instead, they more adequately fill gaps in battlefield doctrine left by ineffective ‘stopgap’ forebears.
The strategic and tactical doctrine of each House has been honed to a fine edge over the past two decades – there is not much left to discuss concerning the Clan threat, which has been blunted by assimilation, or the perennial spats between the haves and the have-nots of each House. Of the appearance of new ‘Mechs, much more may be said, and to greater profit. Many of these new Inner Sphere designs are actually depot-level refits intended to perform new tasks, execute existing duties more efficiently or serve as test beds for new types of weaponry and tactical thinking. Some (as was noted above) are entirely new designs meant to fill roles which did not exist two years ago.
While there may be much classroom debate as to whether or not these machines will actually fulfill their promise, it remains a fact that Our Order is still viewed with suspicion by nearly every House – and the maxim ‘know thine enemy’ still applies to even the lowliest Adept. Especially now.
