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On Babylon during Operation Klondike, the progenitor of Alpha Galaxy’s Diamond Skate (then known as the Emerald Keshik) eventually took the primary rebel stronghold city of Hammurabi. Since rebuilding after that campaign, Alpha Galaxy has led the way in any major offensive undertaken by Clan Diamond Shark. On Tukayyid, that honor turned to tragedy when two Deathstrike Clusters were almost completely destroyed. The Deathstrike Galaxy’s climb back to its former stature has been difficult, but its resurrection is at last complete.
As members of the Clan’s most prestigious Galaxy, most Deathstrike warriors are Bloodnamed. Freeborn warriors have never been prevalent in Alpha Galaxy, both before and after Khan Ian Hawker forbade their presence in that unit. Those freeborns who serve in this Galaxy have shown that they deserve deserve their positions by dint of their abilities.
Deathstrike Galaxy warriors paint their ’Mechs dark blue with black trim. The Galaxy insignia is a diamond shark swimming out of a diamond-shaped field of stars.
Since the days of Khan Damon Clarke, Alpha Galaxy has advocated a go-for-the-throat tactical doctrine that emulates the Clan’s diamond shark totem. On the field, Deathstrike warriors are exceptionally adept at locating a weak spot and exploiting it.
The twenty-seventh Cluster is well trained in flanking maneuvers. One of Khan Sennet’s favorite uses for this Cluster is to send its members to the rear of the battlefield and establish a kill zone for retreating enemy units.
Not counting the fighters of the strategic command Star, the Diamond Skate boasts a full Trinary of light to medium OmniFighters. Two other Trinaries are Supernovas, combining OmniMechs with Elementals. With unmatched bravery and the pride of the entire Clan on its shoulders, this Cluster will fight to the last warrior rather than breaking or surrendering.
The Cluster insignia sets the Deathstrike insignia over a starburst.
Despite being overwhelmed by greater numbers on Tukayyid, the warriors of the Thirty-ninth still gave better than they received. When operating anywhere close to equal numbers, they can rapidly cut apart an enemy force.
The Cluster’s insignia is an overhead view of a trio of sharks, swimming in a tight triangle around a single drop of blood.
The three lead Trinaries are pure aerospace units with one exception: The command Star includes a single Point of Elementals for security duty while on the ground or aboard ship. One of the two ground-based Trinaries is composed of Heavy and Assault OmniMechs. The other is similarly formed, but as a Supernova Trinary with Elemental support. The ground-based units are the remnants of the Nineteenth Heavy Cluster that was decimated on Tukayyid. The Cluster insignia is a diving aerospace fighter, its nosecone painted with a shark-like grin. All machines are trimmed in silver.
This Cluster was slowly built around a Trinary taken from Rho Spina’s Cruiser Cluster that specialized in flanking maneuvers.
The insignia of
the Twenty-seventh Cruiser is a chromed shark’s tooth set in a circular
ivory field.
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When the Deathstrike and Snapping Jaws Galaxies fell on hard times after Tukayyid, Beta Galaxy took over the job of holding the front line. Heavily supported by Rho and Lambda Spina Galxies, Predator Galaxy did just that. The warriors of Beta met and for the most part repulsed tentative strikes aimed at testing Diamond Shark resolve.
Fortunately, the gutting of Beta feared by its’ Galaxy Commander never took place. Many of Beta’s best warriors challenged for open positions, usually in the Deathstrike Galaxy. But those positions opened slowly, and for every warrior who left Beat Galaxy, the Keshik delivered two potential replacements, either of which could keep Beta up to its level of excellence. Recently, Predator Galaxy proved itself yet again when it assisted Clan Nova Cat in a fighting retreat from Barcella.
Predator Galaxy uses a dark blue and green paint scheme. The Galaxy insignia is a faceted shark’s head thrusting upward through a circular field.Opponents of Beta Galaxy, and especially the Pearl Skate, are lured in close and then delivered a sustained series of crushing blows reminiscent of a diamond shark attack. This blistering assault has cracked the resolve of many more experienced warriors.
One Trinary of aerospace fighters, three Strike Trinaries of OmniMechs, and a Cruiser Supernova of ’Mechs and Elementals make up the Pearl Skate. All of these veteran warriors are capable of acting independently and remaining effective, even without their commanders.
Pearl Skate trims all combat units with a mother-of-pearl accent. The border of the Galaxy insignia is studded with six small pearls, one of which is black. The position of the black pearl designates the Trinary.
From its formation shortly after Operation Klondike, the Seventh was designated for rapid deployment against any threat. Its six Trinaries are balanced evenly between aerospace fighters, OmniMechs, and Elementals, with two unmixed Trinaries of each. This Cluster specializes in operations involving Elementals, and has had an Elemental commander for more than a century.
The Riptide Cluster insignia is a simplified outline of a shark, colored in a wash of blues and greens.
This Cluster’s command Trinary is a Supernova of OmniMechs and Elementals, a recent change that occurred once an Elemental was given command. The Sixth remains primarily a ’Mech unit, however, with two unmixed OmniMech Trinaries and one Trinary of aerospace support.
The unit insignia is a diamond shark silhouette on a blood-red diamond field. This Cluster has taken to painting a large drop of blood on the left breast of ’Mechs and Elemental suits or fighter fuselage for every kill.
Over the last two years, the staunchest Crusaders left in Predator Galaxy have congregated in this Cluster. Though commanded by an elite OmniMech Trinary, four Cluster Trinaries are made up of aerospace fighters, and the Cluster is most often called upon for air support.
The Forty-second
Combined Strike insignia is a set of razor-sharp, bared teeth over a red field.
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The losses on Tukayyid hurt Gamma, which suffered again when many of its best warriors fought for positions in Alpha Galaxy. Most of the warriors who abandoned Gamma for the Deathstrike Galaxy, however, were Wardens and apparently left in order to temper the Crusader fever that gripped the original Deathstrike command.
Gamma was mostly rebuilt from excellent reservists and experienced warriors from the Spina and Garrison Galaxies. The high average age of Snapping Jaws Galaxy warriors has not blunted the unit’s effectiveness. This rebuilt Galaxy made a solid debut on Tokasha fighting the Jade Falcons, and only the decision to consolidate on Paxon prevented them from holding Diamond Shark territory on Tokasha.
The Snapping Jaws Galaxy employs a dark green color scheme with blue and silver accenting. The Galaxy insignia is a sunburst set inside a nearly circular field, the border of which is the open jaws of a diamond shark.
On Tokasha, where the Jade Falcons were threatening the Diamond Sharks’ main holding, Gamma Galaxy used elements of the Emerald Skate to lure the Jade Falcons out of position and then brought up the Eighth Assault to widen the breach. The Twenty-eighth Cruiser then poured into the Falcon rear lines, causing major damage and forcing the Falcons to withdraw for the day.
Even though all Diamond Shark Clusters have access to the information network run by Diamond Shark merchants, the Emerald Skate seems extraordinarily well briefed. On Tokasha, the unit consistently used intelligence to negate the tactical advantages of opposing commands.
The Emerald Skate drops the blue accenting for a simple dark green and silver color scheme. Units in this keshik display only the Clan and Galaxy insignia.
Two supernovas of assault OmniMechs and Elementals form the core of this unit. Two Trinaries mixing light to heavy Omnis round it out, with a single heavy Trinary of air support. This unit holds the balance of Gamma’s surviving veterans from Tukayyid.
The Rogue Hunters use a bilious green in their paint scheme. They recently discontinued the unit’s old insignia, and have not adopted a new one. Other warriors refer to them as the Rogue Falcons, a slur on former Khan Ian Hawker’s relationship with late Jade Falcon Khan Elias Crichell.
Despite the emphasis on MechWarriors during rebuilding, this Cluster remained largely elemental. Presented with a fait accompli, the Khans modified the Twenty-first’s four Elemental Trinaries by melding one into a Supernova with heavy OmniMechs and attaching an aerospace Trianary. This unit has trained hard for night fighting, which puts most units at a disadvantage. The unit insignia is an Elemental holding a trident. Elemental armor faceplates are stained to resemble bluish-green, frothy surf.
The Sturm Wache (Storm Guards) are Gamma’s BattleMech shock troops. They rely on speed; ’Mechs in this unit must be able to move at a minimum of 90 kph and deliver a quick, hard punch. The ’Mechs are grouped into three Trinaries of similar speeds. One Elemental Trinary takes on headhunting missions, and two Trinaries of fast fighters ensure that dogfights will take place over enemy territory.
The unit uses a dark
purple in place of the Galaxy’s usual dark blue. The Sturm Wache
insignia is a dark humanoid-shaped cloud set on a silver diamond.
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Lambda Spina is a contrast to Rho Spina Galaxy, which uses Elementals rather than aerospace assets -- though the Starstrike Galaxy deploys only three Trinaries of aerospace fighters. The Galaxy gets its nickname from its permanently assigned WarShip, the Aegis-class heavy cruiser Bloodlust.
Starstrike’s ability to be rapidly deployed and inserted made it a prime choice to occupy Paxon once Clan Ghost Bear granted that world to the Diamond Sharks. Lambda Spina dropped on Paxon just in time to deflect a major push by Clan Wolf, whose local garrison force commander attempted to take advantage of the changeover and expand the borders of the Wolf Clan’s Paxon enclave.
Lambda Spina has adopted a blue and silver paint scheme. The Starstrike insignia is a missile, its front half bulging into the forward half of a diamond shark, rocketing across a diamond-shaped field of stars. All Lambda Spina warriors may paint silver diamonds on the side of their ’Mech, battle armor, or fighter craft, one for every Point’s worth of kills they accrue.On Paxon, the Starstrike Galaxy sent forward a combined force from the Eleventh Strike and Fifteenth Cruiser Clusters against the Twelfth Wolf Regulars. Elements of the Fifteenth flanked the Wolves until the Eleventh Strike was heavily engaged, then released independent Stars to move into Wolf territory and challenge for loosely defended installations. On the Wolf Khan’s orders, the Star Colonel of the Twelfth Wolf Regulars was ordered to “cut a deal” with the Diamond Sharks before he lost territory to them. The Wolves ended up with a slightly larger enclave, but lost an important water processing plant and also must purchase all non-military imports through Clan Diamond Shark for five years.
Two Trinaries of aerospace fighters remain permanently stationed aboard the WarShip Bloodlust, as do a Trinary of Elementals trained in zero-G combat. The fourth Trinary, also of aerospace fighters and led by the Galaxy Commander, follows him between shipboard assignment and ground stations. One OmniMech assault Trinary and one Supernova Strike Trinary complete the Skate’s TO&E.
The Sapphire Skate insignia is a diamond shark with star-sapphire eyes, leaping over a silver field.
The Trinaries of the Eleventh are divided between two light-to-medium units, two medium-to-heavy units, and two heavy-to-assault units. The Trinaries of medium and heavy Omnis are Supernovas, matching each OmniMech with a Point of Elementals. This Cluster is Lambda Spina’s main assault force.
The Cluster insignia is the head-on silhouette of a diamond shark centered over a flaring supernova.
The command Trinary is a Supernova of light OmniMechs and Elementals. On Paxon, the Cluster deployed the command unit and two Trinaries each of Elementals and BattleMechs to flank the Wolves and keep them pinned. The heavy BattleMech Trinary and an additional Elemental Trinary were held in reserve. On orders from the Galaxy Commander, four ad hoc Supernova Stars, quickly formed from the flanking forces, penetrated the Wolf lines and threatened some of their most important installations.
This Cluster has no
special insignia. Its warriors paint a small red diamond inside the
silver ones that the Galaxy warriors use to mark kills.
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The Steelsoul Galaxy believes in preparing for any and all threats. It is one of two Diamond Shark Galaxies that employ armored vehicles in response to the historic clashes with the Ice Hellions and Hell’s Horses. The Galaxy’s training is somewhat haphazard compared to its fellow Galaxies; it is not uncommon for one Star or Trinary to specialize in defensive strategies and another in offensive tactics, while yet another acts as support for either. Rho Spina is the most adaptable of the Diamond Shark Galaxies, with its jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none ethos.
The Steelsoul Galaxy employs a blue-gray base color with iridescent accents. Its insignia is a clockwork diamond shark on an iridescent field. Like Lambda Spina, warriors of the Steelsoul Galaxy may paint diamonds on the sides of their ’Mechs, armor, vehicles or fighter craft. The diamonds are iridescent, and each one designates a Point’s worth of kills.
More by accident than design, the Steelsoul Galaxy often breaks a fight down into several component battles. This divide-and-conquer strategy often gives the Galaxy a combat edge, as long as it maintains command integrity.
With four Trinaries of OmniMechs and two of Elementals, the Opal Skate can form itself into Supernovas or break down into component Stars and fight with equal proficiency. Freeborn warriors are not accepted into the command Cluster. Likewise, trueborn warriors who have failed and attempt at earning their Bloodname are barred from service here.
The Opal Skate insignia is a drop of blood centered on an opal, and may be displayed only by Bloodnamed members of the Cluster.
So many veterans fought their way up to front-line Galaxies from this unit that the Galaxy Commander broke the unit and transferred most of the remaining warriors of any worth to the command Cluster or the Thirteenth. The unit was then re-formed as the Thirty-third Combined Strike. Its command Trinary is comprised solely of veteran Elementals, backed by another unmixed Elemental Trinary and two heavy Supernovas. The Thirty-third holds the Steelsoul Galaxy’s only aerospace assets: two Trinaries of fighter craft, one regular and one green.
The insignia of the thirty-third is an Elemental holding a diamond shark above its head -- a testament to the Elemental (a Horn) who served in this unit and led the team that captured the first live diamond shark.
The Thirteenth maintains a Trinary of vehicles with veteran crews, deployed in scout formations as well as in battle. Three Trinaries of medium-to-heavy OmniMechs and BattleMechs round out the Thirteenth’s forces.
The Poisoned Spine Cluster uses
a sickly green accent that runs alongside the usual iridescent trim of Steelsoul
Galaxy. The unit insignia is a trefoil design, created by an overhead
view of three diamond sharks placed with tails toward the center and set against
a circular green field.
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With the strongest ties of any Diamond Shark Galaxy to the merchant caste, Omega was the logical choice for a garrison Galaxy when it came time to carve out territory in the Inner Sphere. A full Cluster was allowed to accompany the Clan forces on Tukayyid, a reserve force no one thought would be needed.
The Omega Cluster on Tukayyid was decimated during the fighting. A single Trinary of freeborn warriors survived the retreat, but sacrificed themselves at the bitter end to buy time for Alpha and Gamma Galaxy’s shattered remnants to escape. Another two Clusters were beaten down when the Ghost Bears retook Nyserta, its survivors becoming bondsmen to the Bears. Even with the reserve warriors recently called up, Bloodscent Galaxy is a shadow of its former self.
The Galaxy employs a color scheme of dark green with blood-red accents. The Galaxy insignia is a red coral-like pattern painted around the lower right leg of a ’Mech or armor suit, extending upward in relation to the number of victories a warrior gains.
The Coral Skate adds a bright red border to the Clan Diamond Shark insignia. Warriors of this Cluster also paint small sharks that weave in and out of the Galaxy’s coral insignia, though no one is sure what they represent.
The Elementals of Maine’s command Trinary were chosen for their ability as instructors as well as their fighting skills. This Cluster concentrates on armored infantry, with a BattleMech and Elemental Supernova, an assault BattleMech Trinary, and an aerospace Trinary rounding out the Cluster.
The Marauders have yet to adopt an insignia.
This is an impressive Cluster, relying on obscure trueborn warriors and a heavy array of freeborns. The freeborn presence is not surprising, considering the unit was built from the few survivors of Omega’s heroic last stand on Tukayyid. Three Trinaries are unmixed, one each of BattleMechs, Elementals, and fighters. A fourth Trinary is an assault Supernova, and the fifth is an assault Trinary. The insignia of the Fifty-seventh is a whirlpool with an eye at its center.
This Cluster focuses on aerospace
power to the virtual exclusion of all else. One of its four Clusters
is organized as a fighter/Elemental Supernova; its Elementals handle security
duty and boarding actions. The unit insignia is a diamond shark body
with fighter craft wings and tail.
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As a garrison Galaxy, Sigma never felt the need to abandon the name and military traditions from the Clan’s days as Clan Sea Fox. Sigma's warriors support Clan Diamond Shark as they always have, protecting enclaves and colony worlds and occasionally serving as escorts to merchant-caste ships working the trade routes near Sigma’s stations. Freeborn warriors make up roughly 40 percent of Sigma’s roster.
Sigma’s interpretation of its Sea Fox heritage, however, is unique. Though its warriors show honor to a foe, they temper this with the honor being showed them in return. In bidding, Sigma’s officers demonstrate respect for the enemy’s strengths rather than relying on an abstract concept of honor that demands single combat.
Sigma Galaxy employs a paint scheme of aquamarine with blue and green accents. The Galaxy insignia is a sea fox, shown in its traditional bow but displaying its teeth.
Sigma recognizes zellbriggen, as long as the enemy is worthy and offers to match them with equal force. However, they are not foolish enough to match up their BattleMechs one-for-one against Omnis. Outside of zellbriggen, Sigma thinks nothing of softening up an enemy with aerospace forces before moving in with ’Mechs and Elementals. They see such tactics as an extension of single combat that takes place in more than one wave.
Two mixed-weight BattleMech Trinaries front this Cluster, backed by a Supernova and an aerospace Trinary. The Moonstone Skate prefers night combat, where specialized training gives its warriors an edge. This Cluster originally fought against the “skate” designation, but lost its Trial of Refusal against Khan Damon Clarke.
The unit insignia is a diamond shark and a sea fox silhouetted over a full moon.
Aware of its limited assets, this Cluster remains on the defensive unless it can shift the odds dramatically in its favor. Its warriors are trained in open territory fighting, preferring a long-range jousting battle.
The Leaping Fox Cluster insignia is a cresting sea fox in mid-leap.
The Sky Fox insignia is a winged Sea Fox.
The Eighth can trace its history back to one of the Clan’s first Elemental units. One Trinary of fast BattleMechs is the only non-Elemental unit in the Cluster.
The Eighth’s insignia depicts a sea fox riding the crest of a silver wave.
This Cluster takes its name from its warriors’ tendency to run their BattleMechs and fighter craft hot. They have repeatedly requested that the merchant caste acquire supplies of triple-strength myomer from the Inner Sphere, to no avail.
The Desert Fox Cluster insignia
is a sea fox backed by a large sun.
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Zeta Galaxy is Clan Diamond Shark’s primary homeworld defense force. It keeps its Clusters stationed on high-profile worlds, guarding some of the Clan’s most valuable assets. Zeta often works with the Spina Galaxies, holding the line so that Spina warriors can go on the offensive.
When the recent Territory Wars broke out among the Clans, Zeta fielded several challenges. In one, Clan Jade Falcon attacked Strato Domingo, believing that Diamond Shark efforts to take or defend territory elsewhere would leave the Clan vulnerable on this valuable colony world. With a bit of unexpected assistance from Clan Hell’s Horses, who have a vested interest in keeping other Clans off Strato Domingo, an overmatched Zeta Galaxy held off and then drove back the Falcons. Rho Spina Galaxy arrived just in time to shepherd the retreating Flacons from the system. Zeta beamed a final message to the Falcon Star Colonel, a saying adopted by the Diamond Shark merchant caste and garrison Galaxy warriors: “When you swim in the ocean, do not forget who owns it.”
Zeta Galaxy uses a green color base on all war machines, accented with dark blue and white. The Galaxy insignia is a pentagon, formed by the overhead view of five shark silhouettes against a muted aqua background.
“Dig in and hold” is Zeta’s traditional battle philosophy. Though its warriors still tend to disregard their machines’ heat curve, recognizing and taking advantage of the defensive nature of local terrain is a habit deeply ingrained in each trooper.
The assault Cluster specializes in combat over limiting terrain, such as dense trees or hills and valleys. Bidding usually ensures tht the Cluster fights in terrain of its choosing.
The Agate Skate changes the field color of the Galaxy insignia from aqua to milky white, but have no special insignia.This Cluster is primarily a BattleMech unit. Its recent drop in experience is the result of many warriors transferring to a Spina Galaxy. This unit has a reputation for endurance under fire.
The Fifty-first’s insignia is a diamond-scale pattern set in a large diamond field.
With three Trinaries of BattleMechs, a Trinary of aerospace fighters and a Supernova combining Elementals with armored vehicles, the Eighty-third can meet almost any threat. Despite their high attrition rate, the unit’s armored vehicle crews still manage to maintain veteran status.
The Cluster insignia depicts a diamond shark with sharp blades in place of its fins.
This Cluster boasts two unmixed Trinaries of aerospace with a Trinary each of Elementals and BattleMechs. One aerospace Cluster is comprised of veteran freeborn. All fighter craft are most at home in planetary atmospheres, lending valuable support to ground troops.
The Free Air insignia is a thundercloud shaped like a shark, set against a blue field.
The speed and excellent scouting abilities of the Forty-fourth allow this unit to occupy a battlefield early, establishing itself in a superior defensive position.
The insignia of the Forty-fourth
is a mechanized diamond shark on BattleMech legs.
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