In November of 3062, Clan Ghost Bear launched a blitzkrieg against Draconis Combine worlds, including half the planets under Clan Nova Cat control. A year later Clan Ghost Bear and House Kurita reached a settlement that would end the war. The conflict was devastating for the Nova Cats, costing them nearly two full Galaxies of troops and twice that number of wounded. To make matters worse, the Ghost Bears never gave the Nova Cats honorable battle, but instead treated them as Abjured outcasts. Though the largely Crusader Home Clans had acted identically when ejecting the Cats from Clan space, the Ghost Bears' strong Warden stance, as well as their attempts to fully integrate with the Inner Sphere, created a different expectation. The Nova Cats would never forget or forgive what they saw as the Bears' betrayal.

Early in 3067, the Nova Cat Watch learned that the Ghost Bears were constructing a third Leviathan-class WarShip aptly named Rasalhague. The ship was being built in space dock over the world of Alshain, once a Combine planet until the Ghost Bears conquered it. The Rasalhague was jump-capable and operational for space flight, but not combat-ready; it lacked weapons and many other systems required to support a crew for extended periods of time. Ready to fly but unable yet to defend itself, the new ship was a prize worth the taking.

The Nova Cat Clan Council convened to discuss their options. Here was a clear opportunity to seek retribution for the dishonor the Bears had brought on the Cats. If the Nova Cats could take the WarShip and badly maul the Ghost Bears' navy in the process, that victory would satisfy Clan honor and dilute the Bears' naval strength.

Nova Cat Khan West authorized a Trial of Possession for this new WarShip and allowed all three naval Stars to bid for the honor. The bidding was fierce as the various Star Admirals maneuvered like WarShips for the final broadside. In the end, two Stars-Transcendent and Vision, with nine WarShips plus fighters and DropShips between them-won the bid. Mystic Star would remain behind to defend the Cats' Irece Prefecture. Khan West's orders were simple: give the Ghost Bears a chance to honor the Nova Cats with a well-fought Trial. If they refused, the Cats would destroy their fleet.

Each Naval Star consisted of heavy cruisers supported by lighter naval elements. Five Trinaries of fighters and four Trinaries of DropShips would accompany the WarShips, giving them added protection against the Bears' own fighters and DropShips known to be in the Alshain system.

The two Stars rendezvoused at the zenith point of the planet Mualang. On Homecoming Day, 1 May 3067, the Cat forces jumped to a star system between Mualang and Tinaca. A week later, on the morning of 8 May, Transcendent Star jumped into the Alshain system to deliver the batchall. Vision Star followed three minutes later, arriving in-system just in time to see Ghost Bear ships attacking Transcendent Star. Though they had hoped otherwise, their worst fears were realized. Ignoring the Cats' batchall, the Ghost Bear naval commander instead assumed they meant to strike Alshain and launched an immediate attack against them. Once again, the Bears had responded by treating the Cats as Abjured-an insult for which Transcendent Star was making the Ghost Bears pay dearly.

Vision Star stayed out of the fray, watching while Transcendent Star fought the Ursa Major, a NightLord-class battleship supported by four Ghost Bear destroyers. Then Vision Star detected a second Bear fleet getting under way, presumably to join the current engagement. Alerted to the Ghost Bear move, Star Admiral Leroux immediately issued the batchall again, this time to the commander of the incoming ship Bear's Den. He accused the Ghost Bears of false dealing, citing their failure to honor the Cats' batchall even though they had done so for Clan Wolf in-Exile. Shamed by the truth, the Ghost Bear senior commander accepted the Nova Cat challenge at face value-they had come for the Rasalhague, as they had said, and not to invade Alshain. Furthermore, the Bear's Den commander agreed that the Ghost Bear commander who had launched the assault was at fault and the Nova Cats were within their rights to punish him and his ships. That conflict would not affect the Trial of Possession for the WarShip and could proceed without interference.

The two distinct clashes that ensued would add up to one of the largest naval engagements in Inner Sphere space since the long-ago First Succession War.

When the Ghost Bear�s heavies finally got underway the Nova Cats had organized themselves to meet the on coming Bear forces. Launching their own assigned fighters and DropShips escorts the Nova Cat WarShips moved to engage.

Vision Star task was to battle the Ursa Minor, Dieron�s Run, Bear�s Den, and Black Ghost, Star Admiral Leroux�s star would moved at full speed to engage both the Ghost Bear fleet now that they accepted the Batchall. The Bears would finally meet the Nova Cats in an honor dual for the biggest prize of them all, the Rasalhague. Except that the Nova Cats were going to take more than just the new Leviathan-class battleship. Operation Thunder Strike, they were going to take the Bear�s Den; the Ghost Bear�s fleet command ship. In the process the Ghost Bears would find out why the Nova Cats were contemporaries of the Snow Ravens in spatial combat.

"Neg Star Admiral," Answered True Vision�s commander Star Commodore Michael Fokker. "Though I suspect that the reason they refused us the honor was the stravag Abjurement."

"I concur with you Commodore. I do believe that after this battle the Bears and Nova Cats will forever be at each other throats."

"Alert! I have four hostiles on an intercept course bearing 294, minus 045 from our plane moving at maximum thrust," Reported the sensor operator.

"Ah good the Dieron�s Run commander sees what I see. He is moving to engage us." The Admiral stated, "Now that we have exacted a measure of vengeance, we can show them why we Nova Cats are to be respected and feared."

"What do you think convinced him to accept your batchall over that of Star Admiral Rand's?" Inquired Fokker

"My comparison of him and his Bears to the former Khan of the Horses I would suspect." Replied Leroux

Stifling a laugh as were his bridge crew Fokker asked, "Your orders sir?"

"Prepare to execute Operation Thunder Strike. We are going to engage the Bear�s Den with the Blood Oath supported by fighters and DropShips. Inform Dragon�s Heart and Enlightenment�s Truth that their target is the Bear�s Den. We may be here for the Rasalhague; nothing says we cannot take another one. Since we have the two new Nekohono�o DropShips we are going to give them a prize.

"The rest of the star will engage the targets they have been assigned. Support when needed. Only on my command will we activate Operation Thunder Strike." Pausing he waited for questions, knowing there would be none, he finished, "Communications, inform the Star that their objectives are moving to intercept. They have permission to engage when they are at optimal range. Star Commodore lets see about our own target. We have the Rasalhague to win." ordered Star Admiral Leroux.

"As you command sir." replied Fokker with a predatory grin.