Editing Clan Wolf

{{Update Needed|[[Handbook: Major Periphery States]]|[[The Wars of Reaving]]|[[Operational Turning Points: Widowmaker Absorption]]|[[Icons of War]]|[[Shattered Fortress]]|[[Empire Alone]]|[[IlClan (sourcebook)]]}}
{{Otheruses|the Clan|other uses|Wolf (disambiguation)}}

{{Quote|Here, with the [[Strana Mechty Wolf|Strana Mechty wolf]], we see what may be the epitome of a warrior, cunning matched with instinct and stealth, joined with a final, terrifying attack. For this mighty creature, I name you. You are Clan Wolf.|Nicholas Kerensky, 2810 <ref name=FMCC134>''Field Manual: Crusader Clans'', p. 134</ref>}}

{{Quote|We are Wolves, my Khan. We are the masters of war. It is our element. No true harm can come to us when we are engaged in it.|Star Colonel Alaric Wolf, 17 December 3136<ref>''Masters of War'', p. ??{{cn}}</ref>}}

{{Quote|What's it like fighting the Wolf? Imagine lightning on legs, or an earthquake with arms, or catastrophe with genius, or just pure hell on wheels.|A soldier of the Lovinac militia to a reporter, 2 June 3050<ref name=WCS31>''Wolf Clan Sourcebook'', p. 31</ref>}}

{{InfoBoxFactions
| crest = [[Image:Clan Wolf logo.png|center|279px]]
| factionname = Clan Wolf
| timeperiod = [[2807]] – present
| classification = [[Clan]]
| systems = 115 (as of [[3151]])<ref name=SFp102-103>''Shattered Fortress'', pp. 102–103: "Inner Sphere - 3151" (Map) - 114 worlds in ''Shattered Fortress'', plus Terra as of ''IlClan''</ref>
| capital = [[Terra]] (as of [[3151]])
| rulertitle = [[Khan]]
| military = [[Clan Wolf Touman|Clan Wolf ''touman'']]
| secretservice = [[Watch#Clan Wolf|Clan Wolf Watch]]
}}

'''Clan Wolf''' (from [[3142]] the '''Wolf Empire''') was not only one of the original twenty [[Clans]] founded by [[Nicholas Kerensky]], but was also given the distinct honor of carrying forth Kerensky's name and his genetic legacy. This status as caretaker of the Kerensky [[Bloodname]] also served as a source of conflict with other Clans, especially [[Clan Jade Falcon]], which felt slighted by the [[ilKhan]]'s decision. Named for the massive wolves of [[Strana Mechty]], which grow to nearly twice the size of their ancestors on [[Terra]], the Wolf Clan has been a dominant force in the Clans since its inception.  Responsible for the [[Trial of Annihilation|Annihilation]] of [[Clan Wolverine]] and the [[Trial of Absorption|Absorption]] of [[Clan Widowmaker]], Clan Wolf was also instrumental in the development of [[battle armor]]. The leader of the [[Warden]] faction in the [[Grand Council]], the Clan was nevertheless forced to participate in the [[Clan Invasion]] of the [[Inner Sphere]], where they proceeded to outshine all other Clans in the number of worlds conquered. Clan Wolf was nearly destroyed by its hated enemy the Jade Falcons in the [[Refusal War]] that followed, but although the Clan survived it was split in two: a [[Crusader Clans|Crusader]]-minded Clan Wolf and Warden-minded [[Clan Wolf-in-Exile]].

In the years that followed this divide Clan Wolf rebuilt its strength, but suffered severely during the [[Word of Blake]] [[Jihad]] even as it was [[Wars of Reaving|forced]] from the [[Clan Homeworlds]] and [[Clan Hell's Horses]] carved out its own Occupation Zone from the Wolves' coreward territory. Two generations of relative peace allowed Clan Wolf to recover from these setbacks, so that when the [[Blackout]] set off a new round of wars and chaos the Clan was able to carry off a mass migration from their Occupation Zone deep into the Inner Sphere. Clan Wolf conquered over sixty worlds from the revived [[Free Worlds League]] and the [[Lyran Commonwealth]] before proclaiming itself reborn as the Wolf Empire on 1 January 3142. By 3145 the Wolf Empire was poised to strike into the [[Republic of the Sphere]]'s remaining territory in an effort to seize [[Terra]] itself. In 3151, they would breach the Republic to get to Terra and become the [[ilClan]] of the reborn Star League.

== History ==
{{main|History of Clan Wolf}}
=== Origin ===
Clan Wolf was founded by [[Jerome Winson]], an officer in the [[Star League Defense Force]] who served under [[General]] [[Aleksandr Kerensky]] during the [[Amaris Civil War]].  After Kerensky's family was rescued from Moscow during [[Operation Liberation|the final battle for Terra]], Jerome became something of an older brother to Aleksandr's two sons, [[Andery Kerensky|Andery]] and Nicholas.  When Aleksandr proposed an [[Operation Exodus|Exodus]] from the Inner Sphere, Jerome was among those who chose to follow him.<ref name=H:OK106>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 106</ref>

Jerome maintained a close association with the Kerensky family on the [[Pentagon Worlds]], and as the threat of [[Pentagon Civil War|civil war]] threatened to consume the [[Star League-in-Exile]] he again chose to follow a Kerensky, this time Nicholas, when he called for another [[Second Exodus|exodus]].  On Strana Mechty the bond between Jerome and Nicholas only grew stronger following the marriage of [[Jennifer Winson]], Jerome's younger sister.  Eventually Jerome was chosen to be the first [[Khan]] of the Wolf Clan, and under his leadership the Wolves became the first to be combat certified by Nicholas.<ref name=H:OK106/>

=== Operation KLONDIKE ===
{{main|Operation KLONDIKE}}
====Eden====
The [[Eden]] system was an important target for the Clans, as that was where the [[Pentagon Civil War]] began.  Competition was fierce for a part in the invasion.  The Wolves defeated [[Clan Star Adder]] and won their place alongside [[Clan Hell's Horses]], [[Clan Jade Falcon]], and [[Clan Smoke Jaguar]].<ref name=HOKp89>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 89</ref>

Clan Wolf's first assignment was the Abaddon Heights, an area with low population due to the [[Curse of Eden]] but with important mineral resources, most notably Eden's uranium supply.  On 5 July [[2821]], the Wolves began with an offer of the antigen rather than violence.  Most of the smaller settlements surrendered without a fight.  When fighting was necessary, the Wolves took care to avoid civilian casualties and minimize collateral damage.  Seeing this as weakness, some rebels fought back by coercing civilians into suicide attacks.  Others used everything from laser drills up to a few [[BattleMech]]s.  The Wolves stuck to a slow, deliberate strategy of peacekeeping, isolating foes and forcing them to surrender.<ref name=HOKp93>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 93</ref>

The Wolves then joined the other Clans for the main assault on the [[Levic Ascendancy]], a far better equipped and organized force.  The Ascendancy contested the Clan landing on the continent of Noruff with aerospace attacks while harassing the Clan forces with ambushes on the ground.<ref name=HOKp93/>  The [[Ascendancy Martial Foundation]] nearly succeeded with a special operations raid against the Jade Falcons, but the Wolves and Smoke Jaguars, already warned, were better prepared for them.<ref name=HOKp94>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 94</ref>

The AMF chose to withdraw into the capital city, Novy Moscva, in hopes that urban warfare would help their greater numbers offset the greater quality of the Clan forces.  The Wolves and Jaguars tried to prevent this withdrawal with their fast 'Mech forces and aerospace elements, but with little success.<ref name=HOKp94/>

After a difficult strategy meeting, the [[ilKhan]] chose a strategy of lightning thrusts to seize key bastions within the city.  The Wolves came in from the north, feinting toward the government buildings before seizing the Eden Military Academy, supported by vehicles and infantry from the Hell's Horses.  While the attack was to begin on 15 October, AMF recon elements stumbled upon the Wolf staging area, and so the attack began several hours early.  The Wolves sent a fast Star of 'Mechs equipped with jamming gear to pursue the AMF scouts while the main Wolf force advanced on their objective.<ref name=HOKp95>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 95</ref>

The Wolf fortunes turned about six hours into the assault when the Star pursuing the AMF scouts ran into an AMF staging point and were cut off from support.<ref name=HOKp95/>  Khan Winson sent a detachment, led by [[Andery Kerensky]], to create an escape route for the beleaguered Star.  This was successful, though only one 'Mech survived from the rescued Star, and two of the warriors later died of their wounds.<ref name=HOKp95-96>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', pp. 95–96</ref>

By the middle of the day on 16 October, the Wolves were entering the Academy grounds, but they faced stiff resistance that held out for several days.  The Wolves also had to stage a rescue of a trapped Hell's Horses convoy during this time.<ref name=HOKp96>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 96</ref>  Once the Academy was secured as a base, the Wolf forces began hunting for the AMF high command.  It was the Jade Falcons who found them, however, due to a lucky signals intercept on 11 November by a Jade Falcon Star almost on top of the hidden base.  Elements from all of the Clans quickly laid siege to the headquarters under Wolf [[saKhan]] [[Elise Fetladral]].  Andery Kerensky intercepted a relief force of AMF troops, forcing them to withdraw, and by dawn the next day the headquarters was taken, including Ascendancy leader [[Mathieu Tillam]].<ref name=HOKp96/>

Victory was assured, but there was yet a cost to pay: on 1 December a group of fleeing AMF 'Mechs caught Andery Kerensky alone, destroying the cockpit of his 'Mech.  The Eden campaign ended shortly after, on 3 December, and the Wolves and Jade Falcons went to reinforce Dagda.<ref name=HOKp96/>

====Dagda====
The Clans assigned to liberate [[Dagda (Clan System)|Dagda]] had encountered numerous problems, with only [[Clan Burrock]] performing as expected.  The ilKhan chose to bring in reinforcements for the final campaign: [[Clan Jade Falcon]] and Clan Wolf, both under direct supervision of Nicholas Kerensky.  With the other Clans securing the perimeter and lesser objectives, the Wolves were tasked with securing the Thorin Pass near the [[Brian Cache]] known as "[[Black Brian|the Black Brian]]", and then the Falcons neutralized the external defenses of the fortress.<ref name=HOKp86-87>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', pp. 86–87</ref>

The Donegal forces inside the cache were still able to sally forth and make fast raids, retreating before they could be counterattacked.  Operation FERRET began on 2 April [[2822]] with the initial Dagda Clans establishing a secure perimeter around all known exits, while the Wolves were tasked with breaching and holding three gates, a Binary of 'Mechs assigned to each gate. First one, and then the other two gates fell, and the Jade Falcons passed through the Wolf lines into the Black Brian.  The Donegal 'Mech forces were destroyed within ten days, but crushing all resistance within took fifty-four days total, with the Falcons plagued by enemy ambushes.  Wolf Khan [[Jerome Winson]] offered his warriors as a relief force but was refused by Khan Hazen.<ref name=HOKp87>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 87</ref>

When Hazen emerged with the last prisoner, the Council of Khans was waiting for her.  The ilKhan declared Operation KLONDIKE complete.<ref name=HOKp87/>

=== Wolverines Annihilated ===
The ilKhan implemented a number of brutal measures in the months following the success of Operation KLONDIKE, seeking to bring about a total reform of society and prevent any more devastating infighting, although these measures also brought about mounting criticisms from some of the other Clans.  Chief among these critics was [[Clan Wolverine]], whose opposition to the ilKhan crystallized in October [[2823]] when they were forced to give up a [[Brian Cache]] they claimed as theirs and theirs alone.  Their actions, including ultimately the use of a [[nuclear weapon]] to destroy the [[genetic repository]] of [[Clan Snow Raven]], gave the ilKhan all the evidence he needed to call for a [[Trial of Annihilation]]: the Grand Council voted unanimously on 11 October to approve the measure.<ref name=WCS12>''Wolf Clan Sourcebook'', p. 12</ref><ref name=CWK12-13>''The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky'', pp. 12–13</ref>

Over the next few days all of the Clans bid for the right to carry out the Grand Council's decision, until eventually it came down to a contest between Clan Wolf and [[Clan Widowmaker]].  Already there was bitter enmity between these two Clans and, according to the Wolves, the Widowmakers deliberately drove the bidding down to dangerous levels before withdrawing.  This meant that Clan Wolf would be outnumbered when they finally confronted the Wolverines, a fact which very much pleased Clan Widowmaker.<ref name=WCS12/><ref name=CWK12-13/>

Nonetheless the Wolves began their assault on 25 October and for two days confronted the traitors on land, in the air and in space around [[Circe]].  Despite being outnumbered Clan Wolf succeeded in driving Clan Wolverine from their homeworld and for the next nineteen days continued to hunt the survivors as they fled across Clan space.  In the end the Wolverines' warriors were completely wiped out, although the Wolf force had suffered heavy losses themselves with almost eighty percent killed.  The next two months were spent completely dismantling the Wolverines' infrastructure, terminating all Wolverine ''[[sibko]]s'' and sterilizing the Clan's civilian survivors.<ref name=WCS12/><ref name=CWK12-13/>

When a final report was made on 22 January, [[2824]], the Wolf Clan [[Loremaster]] noted numerous discrepancies between official Wolverine records and battlefield kill tallies.  While the majority of frontline warriors were accounted for, it appeared a number of second-line troops and some civilians were missing, along with a sizable cache of equipment.  Ultimately these were rationalized as shoddy bookkeeping, although in truth the Grand Council suspected that part of Clan Wolverine had [[Minnesota Tribe|escaped]].<ref name=WCS12/><ref name=CWK12-13/>

=== Golden Century ===
[[Image:Clan Wolf Banner.png|thumb|right|250px|Banner of Clan Wolf.]]

==== Absorbing the Widowmakers ====
In the wake of the Wolverine Annihilation all of the Clans turned towards the task of rebuilding a society devastated by civil war.  By [[2830]] industries were rebuilt, food production rose to its highest point and new colonies in the [[Kerensky Cluster]] were being founded, officially starting what the Clans would call the [[Golden Century]].  Clan Wolf itself became an economic powerhouse, thanks in part to their encouragement of their merchant caste to trade throughout Clan space.  Unfortunately in the years since the Trial of Annihilation, the animosity between Clans Wolf and Widowmaker only continued to grow, each one declaring [[Trial of Possession|Trials of Possession]] against the other which often skirted the rules of honorable combat.  This conflict eventually came to a head between the two in [[2834]].<ref name=WCS22>''Wolf Clan Sourcebook'', p. 22</ref><ref name=CWK14>''The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky'', p. 14</ref>

In order to meet their growing demand for raw resources, the merchants of Clan Wolf made an initial approach to the merchants of Clan Widowmaker for a year's worth of production from their bauxite mines on Dagda, bauxite being a vital component of [[Ferro-Aluminum Armor]].  While amiable to trading with them, the Widowmaker merchants were overruled by their Khans and the deal fell through.  This forced the Wolves to declare a formal challenge for the bauxite and in the Trial of Possession which followed the Wolves were victorious.  Angry at being forced to give away a valuable resource due to what they saw as their warrior caste's arrogance, the Widowmaker merchants took the drastic step of formally petitioning the Grand Council to censure their Khan, [[Cal Jorgensson]], for his negligence.  Fearing that the Wolf Khan Jerome Winson was behind this seditious petition Khan Jorgensson took drastic action: on 7 June mass arrests were carried out and the protest's ringleaders were executed.<ref name=WCS22/><ref name=CWK14/><ref name=EDGC4>''Era Digest: Golden Century'', p. 4</ref><ref name=HOKp101>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 101</ref>

In the Grand Council Khan Jorgensson formally charged Khan Winson with agitating his merchants to revolt against his rule, a claim which the Wolf Khan vehemently denied.  In his own countercharge Khan Winson argued that Jorgensson's massacre of his own people showed not only that the Widowmaker Khan was unfit to lead his people, but so was his Clan's warrior caste, and demanded the right to [[Trial of Absorption|Absorb]] the Widowmaker Clan.  For nearly a week the matter was debated in the Grand Council, but in the end the vote was unanimous in favor of Clan Wolf.  Not only had Jorgensson's actions genuinely shocked the other Clans, but Clan Widowmaker had made too many enemies and few strong allies.  After the vote the Widowmakers called for a [[Trial of Refusal]], and in the bidding that followed the Wolves fought hard to earn the right to refute their enemy's refusal.<ref name=WCS22/><ref name=CWK14/><ref name=EDGC4/><ref name=HOKp101/>

The battle took place 7 October at a neutral site, the Steitz Plains of [[Ironhold]], capital world of the Jade Falcons.  The forces opposed were nearly even at a [[Cluster]] each, although the Wolves had eleven [[Star]]s to the Widowmakers' ten.  Due to the serious nature of the fight and bitter history between the two Clans, the ilKhan himself and all of the Khans of the other Clans would serve as referees, while beyond the battlefield other Clan warriors watched eagerly through monitors and satellites.  When the battle commenced the initial exchange between the sides was fierce, but eventually Khan Winson and Khan Jorgensson found each other and declared a [[Trial of Grievance]].  While the two warriors faced each other the battle around them died down as those present formed an impromptu [[Circle of Equals]] around the dueling Khans.<ref name=WCS22/><ref name=CWK14/><ref name=EDGC4/><ref name=HOKp101/>

[[File:Nicholas Kerensky Death.JPG|thumb|right|Cal Jorgensson's 'Mech shooting ilKhan Nicholas Kerensky's 'Mech.]]

Just as it appeared Jerome Winson was ready to defeat his opponent, a Star of Widowmaker 'Mechs jumped to their Khan's defense and attacked the Wolf Khan.  Whether this was on their own volition or in response to orders was unknown but the flagrant violation of ''[[zellbrigen]]'' caused the other Khans, including the ilKhan himself in his personalized ''[[Atlas (BattleMech)|Atlas]]'', to immediately intercede in Jerome's defense.  What happened next according to Khan Jorgensson's later testimony was an accident, a result of his dazed state caused by the Wolf Khan's attacks and his warriors' unexpected actions.  Seeing something stooping over his fallen 'Mech the Widowmaker Khan instinctively shot it square in the head with a [[Large Laser]], too late realizing that it was the ilKhan's 'Mech he just hit.  Combat came to an abrupt halt as technicians and medics rushed towards the ilKhan, but by the time they reached his 'Mech Nicholas Kerensky was already dead.<ref name=WCS22/><ref name=CWK14/><ref name=EDGC4/><ref name=HOKp101/>

The warriors of Clan Wolf were driven insane with rage and fell upon the surviving Widowmaker warriors.  Only Khan Jorgensson was spared, just long enough for the briefest of trials to determine his guilt and arrange his execution.<ref name=HOKp102>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 102</ref>  Over the next three days and with the aid of the other Clans the Wolves managed to track down every last Widowmaker warrior, even those in the most remote outposts, and exacted their revenge.<ref name=WCS22/><ref name=CWK14/><ref name=EDGC4/>  The last of these battles took place on the Widowmaker capital of [[Roche]], where the remaining Widowmaker warriors were pursued to the deserted city of Porthos.  As the Wolf forces entered the city's downtown district, Widowmaker [[saKhan]] [[Kyle Vordermark]] sprung his trap: two [[Trinary|Trinaries]] of Widowmaker 'Mechs appeared from their hiding places and surrounded the Wolf warriors, while through the external speakers of his own 'Mech saKhan Vordermark taunted the Wolves with their imminent demise.<ref name=FMWC103>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 103</ref>

Luckily a group of [[Clan Goliath Scorpion]] warriors had been observing the battle, among them Khan [[Cyrus Elam]] and Loremaster [[Ethan Moreau]].  Driven by his ''[[surkairede]]'' to defend the kin of Nicholas, Loremaster Moreau charged his ''[[Black Knight]]'' into the city, followed quickly by the rest of the Goliath Scorpions.  Their impromptu charge broke through the trap and both Scorpions and Wolves fought together against the Widowmakers.  During the fighting both the Scorpion Khan and Widowmaker saKhan engaged in a heated duel with each other but were killed by an [[artillery]] barrage of unknown origin; this same barrage also destroyed two whole Stars of 'Mechs.  The arrival of Clan Wolf reinforcements finally ended the battle, which also served to mark the official end of Clan Widowmaker's existence.  Despite the timely arrival of the Goliath Scorpions in saving their forces the Wolves were initially outraged at the interference, although Khan Winson eventually accepted that Moreau's ''surkairede'' was an honor debt to his entire Clan and richly rewarded the Goliath Scorpions.<ref name=FMWC103/>

Over the objections of the Jade Falcons the Grand Council unanimously granted the Wolves' demand to claim all Widowmaker resources, something which only further increased their power relative to the other Clans.  Very few Widowmaker warriors survived to be Absorbed.<ref name=WCS22/><ref name=CWK14/><ref name=EDGC4/>  Jerome Winson was elected to take Nicholas' place as ilKhan of the Clans, although ironically with the Great Founder's death the position immediately began to lose some of its prestige.  While ilKhan Winson's authority in matters concerning all of the Clans was always respected, this was less so in matters considered strictly internal to a given Clan.  This trend would continue with future ilKhans until eventually the position lapsed.<ref name=CWK16>''The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky'', p. 16</ref>

==== An Age of Growth ====
[[File:Clan Wolf Elemental Warrior.jpg|right|thumb|Elemental Warrior with [[Enhanced Imaging]] tattoos]]

While all of the Clans benefited from one degree to another during the Golden Century, Clan Wolf remained in the forefront of new developments and economic expansion.  This was thanks in part to the fact that the Wolves allowed their civilian castes a measure of freedom unseen in most other Clans, granting them the opportunity to explore and create.<ref>''Era Digest: Golden Century'', p. 5</ref>  While the feud with Clan Jade Falcon at times threatened the Wolves' dominance - carving out enclaves on Dagda and [[Glory (system)|Glory]] to harass Wolf facilities there - the Falcons' rigid adherence to tradition curtailed their ability to grant the civilian castes even the limited freedoms necessary for large-scale colonization projects.  This left Clan Wolf free to fully exploit new worlds discovered within the [[Kerensky Cluster]] and establish major industrial centers on [[Paxon]] and [[Tiber (Clan system)|Tiber]].<ref name=WCS23>''Wolf Clan Sourcebook'', p. 23</ref><ref name=FMCC135>''Field Manual: Crusader Clans'', p. 135</ref>

When [[Clan Coyote]] unveiled the [[OmniMech]] in [[2854]], Clan Wolf knew that it would need this technology to maintain its edge but that its current research and development resources were already dedicated to another project and it could take years, even decades, to retool for OmniTechnology development.  Fighting a Trial of Possession over the technology was also out of the question since the Coyotes were strong allies in the Grand Council.  Fortune came to the Wolves' aid when the Coyotes informed the Clan that the Jade Falcons had just recently won the technology from them, and provided details on the specific unit which had fought in the Trial of Possession.  Armed with this knowledge the Wolf Clan succeeded in intercepting the Jade Falcons and seizing from them copies of the OmniMech designs they had so recently won.  The result was that Clan Wolf was only a few years behind Clan Coyote and on par with the rest of the Clans in terms of OmniMech technology.<ref name=FMCC135/>

In thanks for their tip-off the Wolves also let the Coyotes in on the special project which was currently occupying their efforts.  In [[2842]] Clan Goliath Scorpion unveiled new [[Exoskeleton]] designs, nicknamed "water elementals", for use in undersea mining operations.  After witnessing them in action Wolf merchants offered the Goliath Scorpions access to almost all of Dagda's oceans in exchange for these new suits.<ref>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 104</ref>  For the next couple of decades much of Clan Wolf's R&D efforts were dedicated to developing this technology to create new armored infantry.  While environment-specific suits were prototyped, Wolf scientists eventually settled on a suit able to operate in a variety of environments, and their efforts were completed in late [[2867]].  The final product was christened [[Elemental (Battle Armor)|Elemental battle armor]], so named because it could fight in any element, and in [[2868]] two Stars of these suits defeated a light Star of [[Clan Nova Cat]] OmniMechs in a Trial of Possession.<ref name=WCS23/><ref name=FMCC135/>

Immediately following the Trial [[Clan Hell's Horses]], which had been developing their eugenics program to produce genetically superior [[Elemental|conventional infantry]], demanded a Trial of Possession for this new technology.  The Wolves were sufficiently impressed with the Hell's Horses' new supersoldiers and Wolf Khan [[Alexis Ward]] agreed to a series of three Trials with Horse Khan [[Eric Amirault]] on Tiber.  Each Clan wagered examples their respective technology, a third of which was bid in each of the three Trials.  The Wolves managed to win two of the three and so won glory by taking a larger portion of the Hell's Horses' wager, although their victory was somewhat diminished with Clan Jade Falcon swooped in shortly afterwards and stole examples of both battle armor and genetic supersoldiers.  Clan Wolf posted a sarcastic congratulation of the Jade Falcons' daring raid on the [[Chatterweb]], which was enough for [[Clan Fire Mandrill]] and Clan Coyote to conduct similar raids on the Jade Falcons just two months later.<ref name=WCS23/><ref name=FMCC135/>

Soon the tradition of mating these new battlesuits with Elemental supersoldiers spread to the rest of the Clans, although not without a fight: the Wolves were successful in holding off many Trials of Possession for a number of years, forcing several of the Clans to scavenge the technology from each other.  [[Clan Sea Fox]] was able to trade Elemental technology from the Wolves in exchange for [[HarJel]], a self-sealing substance that was later incorporated into Elemental suits. Feeling they were owed something, Clan Goliath Scorpion also traded for Elemental suits, giving the Wolves access to three of their most cherished [[Bloodright]]s with the understanding Clan Wolf would only use them to breed for three cycles and never challenge the Scorpions' control of the associated [[Bloodnames]].  [[Clan Ice Hellion]] used subterfuge during their Trial, bidding conventional infantry and sneaking in new [[combat vehicles]], and while successful their underhandedness earned them the enmity of the Wolves.  [[Clan Smoke Jaguar]] tried repeatedly to win the technology from Clan Wolf, even if they could have had an easier time taking it from the other Clans, and the Wolves took great pleasure in repeatedly beating them in the Trials.  Eventually after a final battle where Clan Wolf was heavily outnumbered yet won thanks to the debut of the ''[[Timber Wolf]]'' design, the Smoke Jaguars gave up and won the technology from the Sea Foxes.<ref name=FMCC135/><ref name=FMCC136>''Field Manual: Crusader Clans'', p. 136</ref>

=== Political Century ===
==== The Dragoon Compromise ====
As the Golden Century came to a close, a new division arose within Clan society, leading to what would be known as the [[Political Century]].  On one side stood the [[Crusader Clans|Crusaders]], who believed it was time that the Clans return to the Inner Sphere as conquerors, while on the other were the [[Warden]]s who believed the Clans' role was to protect the Inner Sphere not "liberate" it.  At first Clan Wolf remained largely neutral in the debate but as the years wore on they eventually came down on the side of the Wardens and, alongside [[Clan Coyote]], headed the Warden faction in the Grand Council.<ref name=FMCC136/><ref name=WCS24>''Wolf Clan Sourcebook'', p. 24</ref><ref name=HOKp103>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 103</ref>

By the dawn of the [[thirty-first century]] public opinion in the Clans was swaying towards the Crusader camp, however even those Wolves who adhered to the Crusader philosophy thought their compatriots in other Clans were too quick to leap into the unknown.  The Clans were blind as to what was going on in the Inner Sphere and an early effort known as Intelstar brought back fragmented rumors from the [[Periphery]].  When in [[3000]] Khan [[Nadia Winson]] of [[Clan Ghost Bear]], herself a former Wolf warrior taken as ''[[abtakha]]'', proposed an invasion vote in the Grand Council, the Wolf Khan [[Kerlin Ward]] managed to outmaneuver the Crusaders with what became known as the [[Dragoon Compromise]].  A small unit of Clan Wolf warriors disguised as [[mercenaries]] would infiltrate the Inner Sphere, make a thorough survey of the situation, and report back to the Clans.<ref name=FMCC136/><ref name=WCS24/><ref name=CWK17>''The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky'', p. 17</ref><ref name=HOKp103/>

Rather than risk their best warriors it was decided that [[Wolf's Dragoons]] would be composed largely of [[freeborns]] with a few [[trueborns]] and led by [[Joshua Wolf|Joshua]] and [[Jaime Wolf]], themselves freeborns.  Although many of the Clans objected to this roster, it was ultimately decided that Clan Wolf had the right to compose the unit as they saw fit.<ref name=WCS24/>  In a surprise move the Goliath Scorpion saKhan [[Ren Posavatz]] won unopposed a bid to train this new unit and used the [[First Cateran Cluster (Clan Goliath Scorpion)|Heartvenom Cluster]], the elite special forces of Clan Goliath Scorpion, to transform the Dragoons into a match for any frontline Cluster.<ref name=FMWC107>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 107</ref>

In [[3004]] the unit was ready to go when Khan Ward made the surprise announcement that the Dragoons' mission would last twenty-five years, holding off the invasion until [[3030]] at the earliest and causing a near rebellion by [[Clan Ice Hellion]].<ref name=CWK17/>  For the next few years Wolf's Dragoons reported back to the Clans with intelligence which not only gave vital data on the operation of the [[Great Houses]]' militaries but vastly contradicted their preconceived notions of the state of the Inner Sphere.  During the closing years of the [[Third Succession War]] however these reports became less frequent, until finally around [[3019]] they stopped reporting altogether.<ref name=WCS25>''Wolf Clan Sourcebook'', p. 25</ref><ref name=HOKp103/>

==== Delaying the inevitable ====
The apparent desertion of Wolf's Dragoons caught a divided Grand Council off guard and further agitated the Great Debate between Crusaders and Wardens.  With their sole source on the Inner Sphere's current situation gone and unable to agree to a replacement, the Clans were left with only hearsay.  In late [[3029]] rumors reached the Clans of the [[Federated Commonwealth|Federated Suns and Lyran Commonwealth joining in union]], the Crusaders saw this as the first step in the Inner Sphere uniting on its own and reason enough to intervene now so that the Clans could restore the Star League on their terms.  Khan Ward' successor, Khan [[Ulric Kerensky]], managed to stall a vote in the Grand Council until news of the [[Fourth Succession War]] reached the Clans and undercut the Crusaders' argument.  By a slim margin he was able to pass a resolution holding off the invasion vote until that conflict's resolution, buying more time for Wardens and antagonizing the Crusaders and the head of their faction, Clan Jade Falcon.<ref name=WCS25/>  A similar situation arose with the [[War of 3039]] and was similarly diffused.<ref name=CWK17/>

In [[3048]] Clan Smoke Jaguar dropped a bombshell: they had captured the [[ComStar]] exploration ship ''[[Outbound Light]]'' in orbit of their homeworld [[Huntress]].  Using information he purported to have gleaned from the captured vessel, Khan [[Leo Showers]] presented evidence that was the Federated Commonwealth was well on its way to conquering the rest of the Inner Sphere and declaring itself the reborn Star League, and that furthermore ComStar was close to revealing the location of the Clan Homeworlds and opening them up to attack from the Inner Sphere.  The very thought of a reverse invasion by the Inner Sphere was anathema to the Clans, and on 21 November the Grand Council voted almost unanimously for invasion.<ref name=WCS25/><ref name=CWK18>''The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky'', p. 18</ref>

Only Clan Wolf stood opposed to the invasion and Khan Ulric Kerensky demanded a Trial of Refusal.  While the odds initially stood at sixteen to one, bidding eventually reduced that to four to one, with the [[Third Battle (Clan Wolf)|Third Battle Cluster]] facing off against Leo Showers' Crusaders.  Fighting valiantly the Wolves came close to seizing victory from Showers and his forces, but in the end sheer numbers overwhelmed them and the Trial was lost.  Within weeks Leo Showers was elected ilKhan and preparations for the invasion were begun immediately.<ref name=WCS25/><ref name=CWK18/>

=== Operation REVIVAL ===
{{main|Invasion corridor - Clan Wolf}}

==== Wolves across the border ====
Clan Wolf was automatically given the right to participate as one of the four Clans to invade the [[Inner Sphere]] by dint of their Kerensky heritage, however ilKhan Showers was determined to shame them for their opposition.  When the invasion route was divided into four "corridors" the Wolves were given the least prestigious, running mostly through the weaker [[Free Rasalhague Republic]], and the ilKhan's headquarters would be placed aboard the Wolf flagship [[Dire Wolf (Individual Sovetskii Soyuz-class WarShip)|''Dire Wolf'']], implying that they needed his supervision.<ref>''Wolf Clan Sourcebook'', p. 26</ref>  There was also division within the Clan, with strong Crusader faction led by saKhan [[Garth Radick]] who wanted to prove their worth in the invasion in opposition to Ulric Kerensky and the Wardens which opposed it in principle.  Eventually an understanding was reached between the two factions.  In the words of Ulric Kerensky "The best revenge against those who forced it on us is to best them at it."<ref>''Wolf Clan Sourcebook'', p. 27</ref>

The first opposition the Wolves met in the course of their invasion were on the planets of the [[Periphery]], small numbers of enemy forces operating machines dilapidated even by Inner Sphere standards.  Despite the ease with which they destroyed these forces, Wolf warriors came to respect their opponents, especially the [[Kell Hounds]] whom they faced on [[The Rock]], and study their fighting styles.  They freely offered this information to the other Clans but it was met only with derision for the dishonorable way the barbarians conducted themselves.  It was during the battle for The Rock that Clan Wolf made perhaps its most important acquisition: the capture of [[Phelan Kell]].<ref>''Wolf Clan Sourcebook'', pp. 27–29</ref>

The first two waves of the invasion were cautious successes for the Wolves, sticking to their initial plan of invading six worlds per wave.  Their opposition mostly consisted of Rasalhague forces which were easily swept aside by the Clan advance, a function of both the disdain which Rasalhagians felt towards the mercenaries who defended them and paralysis among their government's high command.  In truth though no Inner Sphere force was truly equipped for the surprise attack of such advanced foes, and what [[Federated Commonwealth]] worlds they invaded fell just as easily.<ref>''Wolf Clan Sourcebook'', pp. 31–32</ref><ref name=FMCC136/>

==== The Pack races ahead ====
Clan Wolf began the third wave of the invasion with the surprise plan to invade nearly twice as many worlds as before.  They succeeded in no small part to the considerable concern Ulric Kerensky gave to the matter of logistics.  Whereas the other Clans were willing to invade worlds with only one or two ammunition reloads and wait for their merchant caste to bring up more supplies from the rear, Ulric increased the flow of supplies and took the daring chance of forward deploying supply caches in enemy territory.  This drastically cut down the amount of time it took to repair and refit his forces and allowed the Wolves to proceed at their quickened pace.<ref>''Wolf Clan Sourcebook'', p. 33</ref>

The third wave plan also brought them into conflict with Clan Ghost Bear, which desired the capital world of [[Rasalhague]] and lay close enough to the border of their invasion corridor to bid for against the Wolves.  A fierce bidding war took place between the two sides on the ''Dire Wolf'' in July, and while Clan Wolf won they were forced to go way below the [[cutdown]] and invade with only three Clusters.  Despite this disadvantage the Wolves were successful in [[Battle of Rasalhague (3050)|conquering Rasalhague]], in no small part thanks to the information provided by Phelan Kell.<ref>''Wolf Clan Sourcebook'', pp. 35–37</ref>

Clan Wolf launched the fourth wave ahead of schedule and again targeted far more worlds than before; by the end of the advance in October 3050 Clan Wolf had conquered twice as many worlds as any other Clan.  Beyond the valor and skill of Wolf warriors this success was attributable to Ulric's logistical planning, including the acquisition of local resources in a fair and just manner.  Unsurprisingly this success also embarrassed and enraged the other Clans, and Leo Showers was determined to put the brakes on his rival's breakneck pace.  He convened a Grand Council meeting, planning to censure or remove Ulric from command, but never got the chance to implement his plan.  On 1 November the ''Dire Wolf'' came under attack by Rasalhagian forces, and the ilKhan was killed by a kamikaze attack from [[Tyra Miraborg]].<ref>''Wolf Clan Sourcebook'', p. 39</ref>

==== Alpha Wolf ====
On the journey back to Clan space to elect a new ilKhan, the other invading Clans conspired to get back at Ulric for the death of Leo Showers.  At first they attempted to convict him of being directly responsible for the ilKhan death but thanks to testimony from Phelan Kell, who had also saved Ulric from the same attack which killed Leo Showers, the Wolf Khan was exonerated.  Foiled, they then attempted to get back at Ulric in a more unconventional way, electing him to replace Leo and thereby forcing him to command the invasion he was philosophically opposed to.  They also hoped this would free up Ulric's position as Wolf Khan for another Crusader-minded warrior.  Again Ulric sidestepped them by nominating [[Natasha Kerensky]] to take his place, then thanked the Crusaders for their support by assigning [[Clan Nova Cat]] and [[Clan Steel Viper]] to "assist" Clans Smoke Jaguar and Jade Falcon, forcing the two to give up planets to their new allies and causing friction within their occupation zones.<ref>''Wolf Clan Sourcebook'', pp. 41–42</ref>

A year had passed when the invasion resumed with the fifth wave, but despite the best efforts of the Inner Sphere to prepare Clan Wolf continued to steam over their opposition.  Clan Wolf continued to conquer more worlds than any other Clan and at a much faster pace, thanks to their meticulous planning, excellent logistics and the skill of their warriors.  By the end of the wave Clan Wolf was in the lead and well on its way to being the first Clan to reach [[Terra]] and so become [[ilClan]].

When ilKhan Ulric Kerensky personally told [[ComStar]] of their destination, the Order was stunned.  Where before they had cooperated with the Clans, the realization that their seat of power was under threat caused a sea change in thinking among the Order's leadership.  In April [[3051]], [[Anastasius Focht]] negotiated with ilKhan Ulric Kerensky that a Trial be held on the planet [[Tukayyid]] between the forces of the Clans and the [[Com Guards]].  If the Clans won then Terra was theirs, but if ComStar won the Clans would agree to truce.  The ilKhan agreed, setting the truce period to fifteen years, and the stage was set for the climax of the invasion.<ref>''Wolf Clan Sourcebook'', pp. 43, 46</ref>

==== Battle of Tukayyid ====
{{main|Battle of Tukayyid (3052)}}

Unlike the other Clans which bid away vital forces to earn earlier landings, the Wolves held back and conservatively bid their most elite Clusters of Alpha, Beta, and Gamma Galaxies, content to use the other Clans as stalking horses. Thanks to the direct insight and experience of Khan Natasha Kerensky and bondsman-turned-Clansman Phelan with Inner Sphere tactics, the Wolves prepared for a long campaign against a foe intelligent enough to take advantage of their weaknesses on a battlefield of his making, suspending all ''zellbrigen'', making plans to build up and protect their supply chain and configuring their OmniMechs with a heavy bias towards energy weapons.{{cn}}

Recognizing that Clan Wolf would be his hardest opponent, Precentor Martial Focht devoted his best troops to the battle, transferring the elite 278th to assist the Ninth and Tenth Armies, the Tenth assigned to defend the primary target of Skupo with the Ninth guarding the secondary city of Brzo. Further, with the Wolves landing last, Focht would also find that he could transfer troops slated to face other Clans after they withdrew in defeat, an ace in the hole he hoped would go unused.{{cn}}

With the Clan Wolf DropShips grounding unopposed forty kilometers southeast from both target cities, the Wolves Third and Seventh Battle Clusters and Alpha Galaxy's Fourth Wolf Guards advanced shoulder to shoulder as if expecting to fight for every step towards the primary target city of Skupo. The Clan advance encountered the 278th and 166th Divisions outside of the small hamlet of Forest's End at the foothills of the Porozistu Mountains. While the Sixty-sixth Division harried the Wolves' right flank and the inexperienced 283rd Division prevented the Fourth Wolf Guards from encircling the 166th and 2787th positions, the Wolf Khans focused all their efforts on the primary defensive line, slowly pushing the 166th and 278th Divisions back.{{cn}}

But as the Com Guard divisions retreated towards Skupo under artillery cover, the Clan Wolf forces proved strangely hesitant to follow, the Tenth Army's CO Precentor Margo Koivu ordering recon patrols be stepped up as a precaution. The ComStar forces finally discovered why, with Khan Natasha Kerensky's Thirteenth Wolf Guards launching a series sweeping attacks to try and completely bypass the 166th Division's section of the retreat. Desperately ordering the held in reserve 282nd Division to delay and push Kerensky's Wolf Spiders back to allow the rest of the retreating Com Guard forces to reach the target city, while battered the elite Wolf troops brutally tore the veteran division to shreds. While incredibly costly, the 282nd's sacrifice allowed the remaining divisions of the Tenth Army to fall back to their defensive positions outside Skupo.{{cn}}

However before the Tenth Army's divisions could dig in, nipping at their heels the Wolf forces resumed their attack. But while initially successful in breaking through the ComStar lines, the Thirteenth Wolf Guards walked into an ambush as the entrenched 138th Division emerged from hidden positions on an apparently barren hilltop. While any other unit would have broken in the face of such a point-blank ambush, their sheer stubbornness allowed the Wolf Spiders to hold their ground until they succeeded in killing the 138th's CO Precentor Jernberg and forcing the devastated division back. With Precentor Martial Focht hurriedly ordering reinforcements from the Ninth Army's 198th and 247th Divisions to try and bolster the faltering Com Guard battle line, as the Wolf Spiders began to tear into the 166th Division, the morale of the Com Guard defenders began to suffer as the Wolves unceasing assault ran roughshod over them.{{cn}}

With the elite 278th Division now the sole ComStar unit left effectively combating the Clan Wolf forces, ilKhan Ulric Kerensky ordered Delta Galaxy's Eleventh Wolf Guards to eliminate the troublesome unit. Despite a brilliantly coordinated counterattack against the Eleventh, the Com Guard division then found itself encircled by another Wolf Cluster. Unable to break the trap, the 278th went down fighting, inflicting heavy losses on their attackers. Now lacking the forces to hold Skupo after the loss of the 278th, Precentor Martial Focht ordered the withdrawal of the remaining Sixty-sixth and 208th Divisions defending it to try and save them from succumbing to the Clan forces, Clan Wolf cautiously advancing to avoid any further ComStar traps before taking Skupo unopposed.{{cn}}

Leaving several Clusters from their Gamma Galaxy to protect Skupo before the bulk of their forces made way to Brzo, the Wolves Alpha Galaxy engaged the remaining divisions of the Tenth Army that guarded the approaches to the city while Beta Galaxy fended off reinforcements from the Ninth Army's 366th and 379th Divisions. As the Com Guard lines began to weaken, the withdrawal of Clan Jade Falcon allowed Precentor Martial Focht to transfer the Eleventh and Thirteenth Armies to the fight against the Wolves, with the divisions of the Eleventh dropping in the fringes of Brzo to reinforce the defenses. Pulling back in the face of three full Armies, the Wolves focused on capturing Com Guard depots and securing their own supply lines before advancing, only for the divisions of the Eleventh Army to launch an all-out attack against Beta Galaxy in the Pozoristu Mountains.{{cn}}

But under cover of a fierce storm, Natasha Kerensky's Wolf Spiders led the remaining Clusters of Alpha and Beta in quietly breaching the Com Guard lines in an attempt to bypass nine divisions. While the Precentor Martial spotted the Wolves advance and sent to Thirty-ninth and 222nd Divisions to separate and stall the Wolf Spiders until the divisions of the ad hoc Thirteenth Army to could arrive, Phelan's Ax Star instead held the 222nd trapped until the arrival of their fellows. In the midst of this bloody battle, senior Khan Garth Radick was killed, with the Eleventh Army pushing the advantage and forcing the shocked Wolf warriors into retreat. However the blow to the Wolves morale was short-lived, with Kerensky's Thirteenth Wolf Guards crushing the remains of the 222nd and capturing Brzo for Clan Wolf.{{cn}}

While poor deployment by Com Guard forces allowed the Ghost Bears to earn a marginal victory and the savagery of the Jade Falcons allowed them to extract a draw, Clan Wolf comprehensively defeated ComStar at every turn, even when facing four full Armies. In many respects it would be Clan Wolf's greatest hour, but would bring disastrous consequences. Mirroring the Clans as a whole, the divide between Wolves Warden and Crusader factions only increased in intensity after Tukayyid, eventually resulting in the Refusal War and the sundering of the Clan into separate Crusader and Warden halves.{{cn}}

=== Refusal War ===
{{main|Refusal War}}

In [[3057]], Clan Jade Falcon sought to remove Ulric and continue the invasion. When the Council tried Ulric for treason and voted him out of office, Clan Wolf all but destroyed itself in preventing the Jade Falcons from breaking the truce by instigating a Trial of Refusal on a scale never before seen outside of a [[Trial of Annihilation]]. This particular [[Trial of Refusal]] would be forever referred to as the "[[Refusal War]]" against the Jade Falcons.<ref name=FMCC136/><ref name=FMWC153>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 152</ref>

To ensure the Clan's survival, Ulric ordered Phelan Kell (then known as Phelan Ward) to take a contingent of warriors and a cross section of the other castes to the Inner Sphere while he and Khan Natasha Kerensky sought to break the Falcons. Eventually, the Falcons were victorious, but they could not touch the part of the Wolf Clan that left Clan-controlled space and went into self-imposed exile to the Inner Sphere.  This [[Clan Wolf-in-Exile]] would eventually settle on planet [[Arc-Royal]] in the [[Lyran Alliance]] and guarded the border against any Clan incursions.<ref name=FMCC136/><ref name=FMWC153>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 152</ref>

==== Clan Jade Wolf ====
{{main|Clan Jade Wolf}}

In an attempt to both destroy a hated enemy and win himself enough political prestige to potentially win the next ilKhan election, the Jade Falcon saKhan [[Vandervahn Chistu]] made the claim that the Refusal War had been a Trial of Absorption and that all remaining Wolf Clan assets were now Jade Falcons, at the same time Abjuring those who had fled with Phelan Kell.  However saKhan Chistu had not counted on the survival of [[Vlad Ward|Star Captain Vlad]], who had borne witness to the treacherous ambush which killed Ulric Kerensky.  As the only member of Clan Wolf who had not either fled to the Inner Sphere or accepted the absorption and with evidence against Chistu, Vlad was in a position to challenge his claim of an Absorption, but only with the help of the Jade Falcon Khan [[Elias Crichell]].  The senior Khan agreed to help Vlad and in the Trial of Refusal which followed Vlad succeeded in killing Chistu, thereby rendering the Absorption null and void.<ref name=FMCC137>''Field Manual: Crusader Clans'', p. 157</ref>

Khan Crichell upheld part of the bargain by granting Vlad the Ward [[Bloodname]], but instead of fully re-forming Clan Wolf he created instead [[Clan Jade Wolf]], made up of all captured Wolf warriors who had been "absorbed" into the Jade Falcons.  Vlad was furious with this deception at first but bided his time instead, winning the position of Khan for this new Clan.  When the Grand Council convened to elect a new ilKhan Elias Crichell won the vote as expected, but what came next surprised everyone.  Khan Ward immediately challenged Crichell as being unfit for command and in the Trial that commenced slew him.  With the Jade Falcon Khan dead at his feet Vlad Ward declared that the Jade Wolves were "reborn" as Clan Wolf, a technically new Clan with none of the taint of the pre–Refusal War Wolves.<ref name=FMCC137/>

=== Harvest Trials ===
{{main|Harvest Trials}}

=== Great Refusal ===
{{main|Great Refusal}}

=== Jihad ===
Clan Wolf initially stayed neutral in the [[Word of Blake Jihad]], but they were attacked anyway. Tamar was the subject of a damaging attack from [[Word of Blake]] forces on the 28th of December [[3070]], the [[Scouring of Tamar]]. The Blakists didn't land ground forces; instead, the attack consisted of nuclear strikes aimed at a number of heavily populated areas, including the Clan Wolf headquarters. The attack on Tamar, capital world of the Clan Wolf Occupation Zone, coincided with an attack on [[Arc-Royal]], the capital world of [[Clan Wolf-in-Exile]].<ref>''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 48: "The Jihad in Review"</ref>

This forced Khan [[Vlad Ward]] to plan and launch [[Operation DAMOCLES II]], effectively abandoning Clan Space and relocating all assets to their Occupation Zone. In the last stages of the Jihad, Clan Wolf finally joined [[Stone's Coalition]], first with a small unit, later with all their strength, putting an end to the Jihad.<ref>''Icons of War'', p. 183</ref>

===Wars of Reaving===
In the 3070s, the tensions between Home and Invasion Clans were growing. This was evident by the Snake Alliance's decision to elect Mandrill Khan Garrett Sainze as ilKhan and Brett Andrews succession of him. Wolf Khan Vlad Ward noted how much the debacle and decisions among the Clans and Grand Council were a joke. He would even mock both ilKhan Andrews and the Council after discussing the matters that have been plaguing both Clans. Furious, ilKhan Andrews attempted to vote to Annihilate the Wolves for their lack of honor and taint, but instead this would be reduced to an Abjuration by the Grand Council, leaving the Wolves to become abjured from Clan Space.<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 66</ref>

During the [[Wars of Reaving|Clan Civil War]] in the mid 3070s, the now abjured Clan Wolf would launch a daring raid on the Kerensky Blood Chapel. The goal was to capture the legacy of the Kerensky and destroy every bit of it from physical material to copies. The Wolves would also offer a ''[[batchall]]'' to the rest of the other Clans to "snatch Kerensky's legacy from the Wolf's jaws to prove themselves worthy of it". The fighting lasted for days until Clan Wolf detonated the Kerensky Blood Chapel. Upon the aftermath of the war and creation of the [[Council of Six]], it would be revealed that Clan Wolf actually saved the copies of genetic legacy of the Kerensky name.<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 145: "The Council of Six"</ref>

=== Post-Jihad ===
The Wolves found themselves facing a crisis of confidence in the early 3080s; the Clan needed to make a show of strength to intimidate their neighbors and project an attitude of strength, but the strength of the [[Clan Wolf Touman|Wolf ''touman'']] had been badly reduced by the [[Jihad]]. The Wolves had been using a mixture of confidence and skill to avoid challenges that would expose their weakness for almost fifteen years, but the Wolf ''touman'' mustered just sixty percent of the strength in [[3081]] that it had managed to field in [[3067]], and the Wolf occupation zone was now surrounded by enemies. Actions against [[Clan Hell's Horses]] in recent years had gone badly and with the ''sibko'' program decimated, the Wolves were forced to accept more freeborn warriors into the ''touman'' while stripping second-line Clusters of OmniMechs and advanced technology to keep the front line Clusters in top form.<ref name="J:FRp111">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 111: "Clan Wolf"</ref>

==== Operation HAMMERFALL ====
HAMMERFALL was conceived by Archon [[Melissa Steiner II|Melissa Steiner]] as means to strengthen her House in face of multiple threats after the collapse of the [[Republic of the Sphere]] and the [[Blackout|fall of HPG nets]]. The operation included a secret alliance with Clan Wolf to pass through Lyran space to occupy worlds on their border with the Free Worlds League.

Also, it was designed to tie up political rival and opponent of her policies, Duke [[Vedet Brewer]] of [[Hesperus II]] by having him lead a military campaign into the old Free Worlds League space. [[Trillian Steiner-Davion|Trillian Steiner]] was sent to both Clan Wolf-In-Exile and Duke Vedet to pitch the operation.

[[Clan Wolf-in-Exile]] Khan [[Patrik Fetladral]] met with the Archon on [[Tharkad]] in January [[3137]] to formalize their plans to invade.

The LCAF began bringing up regiments to staging bases along the Marik border between late 3136 and early 3137.

===Wolf Empire===
During the Dark Age Era, Clan Wolf decided to move out of their Occupation Zone and make a new one in parts of Free Worlds League space and later Lyran territory. This was brought to fruition by then Lyran Archon Melissa Steiner's whom proposed joint invasion of the former Free Worlds League. In [[Operation Hammerfall]], the Wolves and the Lyran forces had invasion principally Marik-Commonwealth.  However, due to Lyran's betrayal during the campaign, Khan Ward choose cease further invasion of the League, turn eyes to the Lyran Commonwealth due to treatment of it's migrating civilian caste. On New Year's Day in [[3142]],<ref>''Field Manual: 3145'', p. 148: Wolf Empire founded Jan 1, 3142</ref> this new occupation zone would be renamed into the Wolf Empire and would continue to envelop the inside of the Commonwealth with it's capital set on world of Gienah.<ref name=EAp106>''Empire Alone'', p. 106: Gienah planet profile note it's take over</ref> While carving inside Commonwealth space, they experienced fierce fighting from both the Free Worlds League and the Lyrans. The Wolves, seeing an opportunity to reunify Clan Wolf to their former glory, decided to cooperate with their [[Clan Wolf in Exile|exiled counterparts]]. They would offer the exiles a chance to "come home" through a [[Trial of Absorption|absorption]] as an alternative to being destroyed by other Clans or being treated like bandits by the other Clans. Some exiles decided to take the chance, while others did not.<ref name=SFp27>''Shattered Fortress'', p. 27</ref>

====ilClan Trial====
Under the leadership of Khan Alaric Ward, the Wolf Empire would disband the Republic of the Sphere and have one final battle with Clan Jade Falcon.<ref>''Hour of the Wolf'', pp. 346–352</ref> This would result in what would be known as the [[ilClan Trial]], a final battle that would decide the fate of both Terra and the Inner Sphere where the winner would become the ilClan of the Star League. Both Clans would fight hard to claim the mantle and as a result, took heavy losses. The battle ended when Malvina Hazen was defeated on the field.<ref>''Hour of the Wolf'', p. 582</ref>

===ilClan Era===
Only forty percent of clan Wolf survived Terra's campaign. On April 27, [[3151]], following the Wolf victory for the ilClanship, sixty percent of the Wolf Clan Council voted to allow the Exiles to rejoin Clan Wolf.<ref name=iCp114-115>''IlClan'', pp. 114‒115: "Reuniting the Pack"</ref> In the aftermath of their battle against Clan Jade Falcon, Clan Wolf would become the ilClan of the [[Third Star League|Reborn Star League]] and take control of Terra for themselves. Both claims were recognized - at least officially - by Clans Ghost Bear, Jade Falcon, Sea Fox, and Snow Raven, but not by Clan Hell's Horses, whose Khans angrily denied any claim to their loyalty by Alaric or the Wolves.<ref name=iCp108-109>''IlClan'', pp. 108‒109: "The ilClan Ascends"</ref>

As Alaric had taken almost all Wolf warriors to Terra, his Empire was left almost defenseless. But unlike the Jade Falcon Occupation Zone, which collapsed into the anarchic [[Hinterlands]], the Wolves' Empire remained intact through a combination of their benign rule and their still-fearsome reputation in the neighboring Free Worlds League and Lyran Commonwealth. Another key factor in the Empire's survival was the highest-ranking officer left on the capital [[Gienah]], Star Colonel [[Othar]], who assumed command of the Empire on his own initiative and created two new Galaxies: [[Rufus Galaxy (Clan Wolf)]] and [[Lupus Galaxy (Clan Wolf)]], to defend it.<ref>''Redemption Rites'', pp. 43–45</ref>

However, despite the refusal of both the Lyran leader, Archon [[Trillian Steiner]], and the League's [[Nikol Halas-Hughes Marik]] to invade the Empire, some of their subordinates and League provinces mounted smaller attacks on their own initiative, first using mercenaries to test the Empire's defenses. Simultaneously, [[Wolf's Dragoons]], enraged by their losses on Terra and Alaric's insults, began hitting targets across the Empire, both on their own and under contract.<ref>''Redemption Rites'', p. 145</ref>

Over almost a full year, Othar managed to keep most of the Empire intact, despite losing some worlds and suffering a devastating Dragoons raid on Gienah itself. But in all that time, he didn't receive a single warrior from Terra, barely two messages from the ilKhan, and it became evident that for whatever reason, Alaric could not or would not send any aid to the Empire. Worse was to come in mid-[[3152]]: the League Parliament voted to undertake a full invasion of the Wolf Empire and on June 28 the first wave of FWLM attackers crossed the border.<ref>''Redemption Rites'', p. 329</ref><ref>''Empire Alone'', p. 77</ref>

== Culture ==
While taking heed of many of the teachings passed down by the Great Founder, Clan Wolf has been noted for their lack of formality and rigid adherence to tradition.  The caste system is still present in Clan Wolf and the warriors still dominate, however personal freedom is a right of every member of the Clan, regardless of caste.  Individuals are still expected to work for the greater good of their Clan and to follow the orders of their superiors, but they are allowed to express whatever views they may believe in any manner they choose.<ref name=CWK97/>

Beyond their martial skills Wolf warriors tend to be highly adept politicians, wielding their words as skillfully as they would a weapon in combat.  In this manner the Clan was able to lead the Warden faction and delay the invasion vote for many decades until fate finally intervened.  The Wolf Clan is also noted for respecting technology as a means for achieving one's maximum potential, with the field of genetics the most highly respected due to its role in the eugenics program.  As a rule most Wolves will refuse the use of cybernetics, seeing these devices as turning someone into something they are not, and will prefer the use of [[Artificial Limbs#Type Six: Cloned Replacement Limbs|vat-grown cloned limbs]] to prosthetic limbs.  The noted exception is the use of [[Enhanced Imaging]] by Crusader-minded warriors.<ref name=CWK97/>

Clan Wolf also does not observe formal rituals beyond those common to all of the Clans, such as the Rite of Maturity held after a cadet's Trial of Position and the [[Ritual of Adoption]].  They trust that the upbringing their warriors receive is good enough and that no further loyalty tests are required.  Historically each frontline Galaxy did maintain their own individual rituals, such as Alpha Galaxy's [[Alpha Galaxy (Clan Wolf-in-Exile)#Wolf Rite|Wolf Rite]], which set them apart from each other.<ref name=FMCC141>''Field Manual: Crusader Clans'', p. 141</ref><ref name=FMWC156>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 156</ref>

Since the rebirth of Clan Wolf under the leadership of Khan Vlad Ward, an effort has been made to destroy many traditions associated with the Warden faction in order to ensure the future domination of the Crusaders.  These include a more authoritarian stance with regards to the civilian castes, which has put a strain on the traditionally good relations between the castes.<ref name=CWK97/>

== Military ==
{{Main| Clan Wolf Touman}}

The military successes of Clan Wolf have been attributable to a doctrine broken down into three stages.  The first is acquiring accurate intelligence of your enemy: their willingness to study and analyze Inner Sphere fighting styles early in during the Clan Invasion allowed Clan Wolf to better plan their attacks and so achieve success with fewer losses.  The second is to ensure adequate preparation before undertaking a military campaign.  The breakneck pace of the Wolf invasion, and indeed their success in the battle of Tukayyid, was thanks only due to the diligent work given over to logistics.  Finally once battle commenced a commander has to be willing to take calculated risks, as often this could be the determining factor in winning or losing a fight.<ref name=FMCC140>''Field Manual: Crusader Clans'', p. 140</ref>

Just as they have been known as consummate politicians, so too were the Wolves particularly skilled in the ''[[batchall]]'' and the art of bidding.  To the casual observer a Wolf warrior engaged in bidding appears to take on a carefree attitude as they bid away whole units, but in truth every Wolf warrior knows that the very outcome of the coming battle hangs in the balance during this phase and so bids accordingly.<ref name=FMCC140/>  When necessary though the Wolf Clan's penchant for precision, low bidding was dispensed with, as occurred during the Clan invasion.  If a world could be taken more quickly with a larger force then that was preferable to a more drawn-out confrontation which wasted resources.<ref name=WCS43>''Wolf Clan Sourcebook'', p. 43</ref>

For the same reason Clan Wolf historically had a very liberal attitude towards the traditional rules of engagement or ''[[zellbrigen]]''.  Though the other Clans may call into question the honorable nature of some of their tactics, to Clan Wolf they adhered to the Great Founder's teachings of conserving resources; what's more this flexible mindset was responsible for their tremendous success.<ref name=FMCC140/>  For example it was Clan Wolf which pioneered the use of [[Elemental (Battle Armor)#Variants|Headhunter]] units for infiltrating the enemy's rear area to decapitate their command structure.<ref name=WCS43/>  However under the leadership of Khan Vlad Ward the Clan as a whole took on more conservative views regarding ''zellbrigen''.<ref>''Total Warfare'', p. 274</ref>

Similar to the egalitarian nature of intercaste relations in Clan Wolf, the relationship between [[trueborn]] and [[freeborn]] warriors has historically shifted from mere mild contempt to friendly competition.<ref>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 155</ref>  Despite Khan Vlad Ward's known hatred for freeborns, he too has been forced to rely on these "freebirths" to fill out his depleted ''touman''.  Likewise [[bondsmen]] were readily allowed to prove their worth to the Clan and adopted wholeheartedly, a practice which continues under Vlad's leadership.<ref name=CWK97>''The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky'', p. 97</ref>

Traditionally each frontline [[Galaxy]] in the Clan performed their own rituals for new and current members.  Following the re-formation of Clan Wolf Vlad Ward has put an end these practices, part of an effort to ensure the domination of the Crusader faction within the Clan.<ref name=FMCC140/><ref name=CWK97/>

==Rulers==
===Khans===

See: [[Khan of Clan Wolf]] and [[Khan of Clan Wolf-in-Exile]]

===saKhans===

See: [[SaKhan of Clan Wolf]] and [[SaKhan of Clan Wolf-in-Exile]]

===Loremasters===

See: [[Loremaster of Clan Wolf]] and [[Loremaster of Clan Wolf-in-Exile]]

== Bloodnames ==
{{main|List of Bloodnames#Clan Wolf}}
{{Category|Clan Wolf Bloodnames}}

==Inter-Clan Relations==
Before their eventual sundering, Clan Wolf has gained a respectable amount of attention. Their status as "Guardians of Kerensky's Legacy" alone has given them a good amount of allies and enemies.
Of course, their coveted status has also given the Wolves envious foes.

After the events of the Refusal War, the Wolf Clan's relationships changed as they became reformed Crusaders.

{| class="wikitable" border="1"; text-align:center;
|-
!Clan Name
!Symbol
!Relationship
!Reason
|-
|'''[[Clan Smoke Jaguar]]'''
|[[Image:SmokeJaguar.jpg|100px]]
|Ally
|The Jaguars' feud with the Wolves would stem to before Operation Revival and due to their Warden views. When Leo Showers was elected as ilKhan, he would punish the Wolves by forcing them to participate in the Crusader-led assault. Clan Wolf's success during the invasion made the Jaguars so furious, that they plotted with other Clans to sabotage their efforts and use them as scapegoats. The Jaguars would even grow angrier when their plan to make Ulric Kerensky an ilKhan backfired on them. The [[Fidelis]] members who fought with Clan Wolf during the ilClan Trials would maintain those ties even after being re-formed into Clan Smoke Jaguar.
|-
|'''[[Clan Jade Falcon]]'''
|[[Image:Clan Jade Falcon.jpg|100px]]
|Ally
|The Jade Falcons were the primary nemesis of Clan Wolf. To start, the Jade Falcon Clan were angry when ilKhan Nicholas Kerensky joined and gave them his [[Kerensky, Nicholas (Bloodname)|revered legacy]] to the Clan. In addition, the Wolf Clan's Warden philosophy and leadership were something that the Jade Falcons could not stand. They would finally get their revenge on them during the Refusal War, splitting the once mighty Clan into two factions. Following the war, they gained a friend in Clan Jade Falcon, seeing them as potential allies with Marthe and Vlad working together to foil the Home Clan Coalition and cause the Jaguars' destruction. Post–Dark Age Era, Clan Wolf would begin the process of healing with Clan Jade Falcon by making them a bodyguard Clan out of respect for their tenacity during the [[ilClan Trial|ilClan Trials]] and [[Royal Black Watch|Black Watch]] heritage, thus ending the historic Wolf-Falcon rivalry.
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" border="1"; text-align:center;
|-
!Clan Name
!Symbol
!Relationship
!Reason
|-
|'''[[Clan Ice Hellion]]'''
|[[Image:Clan Ice Hellion.jpg|100px]]
|Enemy
|The Ice Hellions disliked the Wolves to such an extent that they even named one of [[Ice Ferret|their own 'Mechs]] to insult them before it was captured and renamed. In 3057, Clan Ice Hellion found new reasons to hate the Wolves: their interference with Asa Taney's [[Home Clan Coalition]] and the [[Harvest Trials]]. The Ice Hellions swore vengeance upon Khan Ward and his Wolves for ruining their plans until their destruction in 3072.
|-
|'''[[Clan Hell's Horses]]'''
|[[Image:Clan Hell's Horses.jpg|100px]]
|Enemy
|The Hell's Horses also maintain good relations with the Wolves, despite their change to the Crusader camp. Horse Khan Malavai Fletcher would bid his forces to Vlad Ward to join the Inner Sphere, only to get ejected by their hated rivals, Clan Ghost Bear. After their return, they would conquer Clan Wolf worlds under new Khan James Cobb, due to the manipulation of his Clan during [[Operation Ice Storm]]. The hostilities were amplified after the Dark Ages when angry Horse Khan, Gottfried Amirault confronted ilKhan Alaric about not inviting them for the ilClan Trial, which was later followed by a Trial of Refusal against the ilKhan. In response, Alaric refused while responding with logic-filled insults toward the Horse Khan. In turn, Horses leadership would refuse to recognize Clan Wolf as the ilClan.
|-
|'''[[Clan Coyote]]'''
|[[Image:Clan Coyote.jpg|100px]]
|Enemy
|[[Clan Coyote]] was a true ally of the original Clan Wolf, given the close relationship between Coyote Founding Khan [[Dana Kufahl]] and Wolf Instructor [[Andery Kerensky]], as well as their Warden philosophies. The Coyote-Wolf relationship would sour due to the change of the reborn Wolf Clan and Post-Reaving, Clan Coyote and Clan Wolf would sever their ties due to the political ideologies and geographical alliances set up by the Home and Invader Clans.
|-
|}

==Historical Map Gallery==
<gallery>
File:CWOZ3052.jpg|Clan Wolf Occupation Zone in April 3052
</gallery>

==References==
<References/>

==External links==
* [http://www.hakujin.net/Games/BTech/clanwolf.html Clan Wolf Council Hall]
* [http://www.camospecs.com/Unit.asp?FactionID=47 Camo Specs Online], Wolf Clan gallery
* [http://www.btencyclopedia.com/entry/clan_wolf ComStar Historical: Archives entry on Clan Wolf]

==Bibliography==
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
* ''[[Blood Legacy]]''
* ''[[A Bonfire of Worlds]]''
* ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20080613223517/http://www.wizkidsgames.com/mechwarrior/courier/pda.asp?a=37770 Clan Wolf Today]'', [[WizKids]] Games (accessed November 9, 2007, link is for a copy held at the Internet Archive)
* ''[[Field Manual: 3145]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Crusader Clans]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Updates]]''
* ''[[Fire at Will]]'' (novel)
* ''[[Ghost War]]'' (novel)
* ''[[Grave Covenant]]'' (novel)
* ''[[Hour of the Wolf]]''
* ''[[Jihad: Final Reckoning]]''
* ''[[Jihad Hot Spots: 3070]]''
* ''[[Lethal Heritage]]'' (novel)
* ''[[Lost Destiny]]'' (novel)
* ''[[Malicious Intent]]'' (novel)
* ''[[Masters of War]]'' (novel)
* ''[[MechWarrior 2: 31st Century Combat]]'' (video game)
* ''[[Natural Selection]]'' (novel)
* ''[[Prince of Havoc]]'' (novel)
* ''[[Roar of Honor]]'' (novel)
* ''[[The Scorpion Jar]]'' (novel)
* ''[[Wolf Clan Sourcebook]]''
{{div col end}}

[[Category:Clans]]
[[Category:Factions|Clans, Clan Wolf]]
{{wikipedia|72417071}}