Tukayyid - Original Song - ft. George Hoctor 

Breakdown of the lyrics. (Warning long read) Essentially Tukayyid was to determine the future of the invasion. If ComStar won the clans would halt their advance for a period of 15 years, and a demarcation line would be drawn at Tukayyid itself. If the Clans won, Comstar would not impede the march to Terra. The chorus line specifically references the clan drop order, which was Smoke Jaguar, Nova Cat, Diamond Shark, Ghost Bear, Steel Viper, Jade Falcon, and lastly Clan Wolf. The order was decided by typical clan honor bidding. Basically the clans viewed it more honorable if they could achieve their objectives with less resources used. So Smoke Jaguar won the right to hit the planet's surface first, but they bid away nearly a third of their forces to do so. Each clan had two cities to claim as their objectives. Taking and holding these cities would ensure a clan victory. Clan Smoke Jaguar was already considered one of the more aggressive clans. They were reeling from defeats on two other planets, Luthien and Wolcott, and were itching to get revenge and reclaim their honor. By the time they left Tukayyid they were nearly wiped out. Only 22% of their equipment survived the battle. Both clan leaders were killed in battle. Clan Nova Cat was a quasi-mystical clan, they believed in visions and would often consume a poison to enter a trance to see these visions prior to battle. After the battle they would eventually see more in common with the Inner Sphere, and eventually would fight against the clans in what was called 'The Great Refusal'. 'From the sky they fall' refers to the Nova Cats having a favored tactic called the hover drop. Normal drops involved landing the dropship and disembarking, which took time, or dropping units in pods, which left them vulnerable. Hover drops involved having them jump out while the dropship was a few feet off the ground. Clan Diamond Shark was untested in battle and sought to prove themselves, and it was used against them. The Diamond Shark Khan had forbidden Freeborns(IE natural born humans) from serving in front line combat units, favoring 'Trueborns' (genetically created warriors). The Sharks were nearly wiped out, but a reserve force of freeborn warriors bravely charged at the advancing Comguards to allow the Khan to escape. After this show of bravery he would rescind his order and allow freeborns to serve on the front lines. The Ghost Bears were highly pragmatic. They decided at the onset to forgo the practice of 'zellbrigen', which were essentially one on one fights, as they knew the Inner Sphere did not conform to this practice. They fought smartly, pressing their advantages, though they barely managed to take one of their city targets before ComStar reinforcements arrived. They were awarded a marginal victory after negotiations between both sides. Most of their forces still intact, this left them in a good position for the infighting among the clans that would follow Tukayyid. Steel Viper managed to avoid the mistakes that the Jaguars made, but they were still prone to following clan tradition. Initially after falling into a ComStar trap in a muddy canyon, the Viper Khan ordered a withdrawal. A ComGuards commander saw this, and issued a direct challenge and insult to the retreating Vipers, which enraged them and they recommitted to the attack. Despite fighting through the trap, they stretched their supply lines too thin, and ran out of ammunition. ComStar threw every dirty trick at the Vipers. Though it should be noted they suffered probably the least heavy losses among losing clans. Jade Falcon viewed themselves as the true heirs of Star League, and the purest form of Kerensky's vision. They believed Terra was their birthright and destiny, and would fight ruthlessly for the chance to claim it. Also abandoning zellbrigen and any notion of clan honor practices, they fought brutally and managed to take one of their target cities, and outmaneuvered a number of ComGuard traps. It should be noted that the withdrawal from battle was more bloody than the advance. This battle was considered a draw. The Wolves were anything but unprepared. Having extensive knowledge on Inner Sphere tactics and deliberately not bid away all their forces, they were in a strong position when they landed. They slowly and methodically advanced, making sure to keep their supply lines secure. They also didn't rely as heavily on ammunition based weaponry. They did not dismiss the enemy as a paper tiger as most of the other clans had, and thus fought smartly. They took both their target cities and held them. The only clan that would claim a complete victory. Tukayyid was a crucible for the Clans way of life. They lost badly. This would lead to the clans fracturing down the line. That perhaps, is but a song for another day.

Good man. Good man indeed.

It's been almost thirty years since I wrote the original Tukayyid scenario book for FASA. Haven't written anything for publication since the '90s, but I still play tabletop with my kids and (via virtual tabletop) with my old gaming buddies - mostly 2nd edition WH40k, but we do break out the BattleTech models once in a while for a game with the original 1987 Rules of Warfare. Nice to see that the Tukayyid setting got updated for the modern rule set. Happy gaming!

"If Kerensky Had A Text-to-Speech Device"

"TLDR: The clans brought their best, and Space AT&T said Get Bent Weirdo."

*Reactor online. Sensors online. Weapons online. All systems nominal.*

The Clans: "Come out and fight us, cowards!" Inner Sphere: "Fine, we'll play by your rules. Let me just call my friend." The Clans: "Who's that?" ComStar: "Pay your bills, fucko."

Let this be a reminder to always pay your telephone bill on time.

So this is what it feels like when someone who doesn't know anything about 40k listens to the other songs.

What the clans failed to realize and what ultimately brought their down fall, was that in Anastasius Focht they weren't fighting some random jumped up bureaucrat but that most dangerous of all threats from the inner sphere: a competent Steiner general.

Reactor: ONLINE Sensors: ONLINE Weapons: ONLINE Stringstorm: ONLINE All systems: NOMINAL

"Eyup, looks like them spheroids and Star League boys are up to no good again..." > All the Periphery citizens watching Clanners and ComStar beat each other up

Ahhh Tukayyid one of the few times Comstar DIDN"T screw everything up by being crazy and weird.

Tukayyid was the battle of two bastard sons of Star League, each no where near the original ideal, each with their own version of how things should be.

"The Clanners made the worst possible mistake when looking at an opponent: They dismissed him as a joke, and failed to respect him. And for that, he _fucking broke them."_

ComStar: "Hello Clans! This is Ben!" Clans: "Who?" ComStar: *"BEN DOVER"*

Clans: "Nooooo you can't fight without honour, this is not what Kerensky dreamt of for mankind!" ComStar: "Go ahead, call Kerensky. He can't untax your life import."

Happy I could help with this! This project is what inspired me to look into Battle Tech lore!

The Clans planned for Honor and Glory. Comstar planned for Victory.

Sometimes, you just get Fochted. (Warm thanks to Tex both for this joke and explaining the lore of Battletech).

"Get bent weirdos"- Space AT&T AKA ComStar

"Pay your phone bills, or else" - Comstar "No" - Hanse Davion, fighting an intergalactic war through the clever use of carrier piggeons, circa 3030

The time a telecom company beat an invading horde.

Don't forget, COMGUARD was founded by SLDF who *didn't* go with Kerensky beyond the Periphery. Although they've changed a lot, the line "Brothers of three century's divide" is more true than you may think.

I'm not a Battletech fan. I have no idea who any of these people are. WHY CAN'T I STOP LISTENING?!

I don't know anything about battletech but I shall headbang anyway

Ah...remember when we praised the emperor in this section ? Clan Wolverine remembers...

That this would hit my suggested feed... Today of all days. May 20th, 2022.

For people who don’t know what the comments about throwing out the rules is about, the defenders challenged the invading clans to basically a battle/duel on the planet this song is named for. The defenders got to rules lawyering such as removing the locations the clans were required to take and hold so that fulfilling their agreed objectives was impossible.

Heh “await their fearsome brothers of three centuries divide”. Just realised that while clans are descended from the majority of the Star leagues military who left the sphere after the fall of the star league, Comguard most likely descends from the star league military who refused to leave the sphere and stayed behind on Terra and joined Blake. Brothers indeed

ComStar after the battle: "And this is why you must always...REMEMBER TO PAY YOUR BILLS FUCKO!"

You know the writers at Catalyst are pretty chill. I wouldn't be surprised if they canonize this song into the universe.

/me glances at the title. Huh, is there a a Tukyiad in 40K too- Oh. Oh boy. This is amazing, and welcome to Battletech!

Just remember the two lessons of Tukayid- Never underestimate your enemy. And always, always, ALWAYS, pay your fucking phone bill.

As Holy Terra fell to the chaos god of corporate meddling we turn our heads to the stars

The only acceptable time to like comstar.

Please, PLEASE make more Battletech songs. You have just tapped into a goldmine I never knew existed.

I love how the entire 40k fandom has just migrated to battletech out of spite

Sabaton, then Stringstorm. Best fucking bday

Comstar: "We challenge you to a duel!" Clans: "Alright, here's our rules." Comstar: Throws rulebook out the window.

Especially as it went through a few stages. listen 1: I don’t really get it, but it’s pretty ok. Iisten 2… a while later: you know this is pretty good. Oh, there’s a cool explanation in the comments. Listen 5: yeah this slaps. Listen 57: “SO IT HAS BEEN! ONE FOUGHT FOR HONOR AND ONE FOR FINALITY!”

*blackpantslegion has entered the chat* Welcome to the legion.

I will say the thing that scares the clans the most LOGISTICS!

This video is ALMOST perfect. There is just 1 flaw to it that I almost cannot forgive. It did not come out on May 20th. UNFORGIVABLE!!!

Whenever stringstorm make another song. I'm sure i will play it on repeat for a few weeks. This is quite a banger.

The Clans: We will fight using only the best of our best to prove our way of life Comstar: We are going to bring everyone and everything to this to keep our way of life.

Remember Tukayyid, and always, ALWAYS remember to pay your HPG bills.

This is the best response ever, deep respect

Remember Tukayyid, where Space AT&T gave them Clanners one hell of a bloody nose.

Great song, Stringy! Hopefully one day we can all return to Holy Terra, but for now we'll enjoy other franchises.

The song of how "Space AT&T" defeated the Clanners taking advantage of their "Stupid, Stupid Ways". I expect a few batchalls in the mail.

Finally something Tukayyid related that honors both sides of the battle. Love you music and am excited to see what else you do with the rich setting of Battletech. Word of Blake need a song badly, just sayin’….

For the glory of the Clans, for honors sake, in KERENSKY'S NAME!....This is incredible!

The best line is "A trial of possession for the future of mankind." True and very poetic.

I know nothing of Battletech This intrigues me greatly.

The day eugenically breed honor-obsessed warrior weirdos from beyond the Deep Periphery has been crushed by the PHONE COMPANY!

".... its hard to do any of the above while getting your ass handed to you by crazy people" Long Live the Inner Sphere!

The risk the clans took was calculated but man are they bad at math

If the Clans are going to be a focus, I'd love to see a rock opera following Clan Wolverine, told from their perspective during the Trial of Annihilation

It's fucking about battletech! I'm not mad I was just so confused. This did my head in proper this morning, I'd never heard about this in 40K lore and trying to piece it together was like "Okay.. It's on Terra and there's.. Men of Iron? White Scars? Cats!? CARCHARADONS!? SPACE WOLVES!? THE FUCK IS HAPPENING!?" Love it bro, good show. Support the boycott and love yourselves, get yourself a printer and hold the line.

And this children, is why we always pay our phone bills

Any 40k refugees who are migrating into the Inner Sphere this day, I heartily recommend the BattleTech video game put out by Harebrained Schemes a few years ago. It's an amazingly good turn-based tactics game where you're in charge of your own mercenary outfit in a region on the rimward periphery (the 'south' of the Inner Sphere maps) that does a very good job of introducing you to the world and the lore. It's set in 3025 so roughly 25 years before the Clan Invasion (which was paused at Tukayyid) but it gives you a great introduction on who the Star League was, the nature of politics (feudalism in various disguises), and for lore veterans hints at some things that only become more well known later (like just how batshit crazy ComStar is, and who the Wolf's Dragoons really are).

The Smoke Jaguars. Once and always doomed by their leadership.

And so the migration from Warhammer to BattleTech has officially begun.

Pay me no mind, just sitting here breaking the replay button...

On that day, the Clans learned that when someone asks you to show up so they can ambush you, you shouldn't show up expecting to pull a fast one on them.

Defense in depth, also known as a castle defense, also known as hippity hoppity get off my property.

Two questions: 1. Amaris civil war rock opera when? 2. Battle tech idol month when

This is goddamn brillant. I love it.

I don't think I can put it into words just how happy I am that you're doing battletech stuff. That you started with Tukayyid is just icing on the cake.

CREDITS!! :D Lyrics by LunaticPathos Melody by GAILE ru-vid.com/show-UCFzLYkyc1trnQyLUZYMGU9w twitter.com/ILLEGAILE Vocals by George Hoctor www.hoctorindustries.org/ Thumbnail art by St. Baird instagram.com/p/CTARC3KrNfD/ www.artstation.com/stbaird

WHERE'S TEX AND THE BLACK PANTS LEGION AT! HAHAHAHA

Time to start the classic Stringstorm ritual where you’re unsure about a song on your first go, to singing it at the top of your lungs at 3:00 AM on repeat.

You know if you think about it, the Battle for the Jefferson Memorial in Fallout 3 was a sort of Tukayyid. Two remnants of a long-gone government that have changed drastically from their original forms, now battling for the future of their homeland.

Mechanicus that found a way to this universe: I think I'm going to oil myself.

2:21- all I needed to hear. A truly marvelous entry into Battletech, and as a Clan Ghost Bear fan it greatly warms my heart to see you use the Kodaik battlemech for the thumbnail. I look forward to more Battletech content from you in the future and extend my offer to aid you with any lore questions you may have. Consider yourself added to my subscription list. Seyla

I’m enjoying this pattern of Stringstorm writing an awesome song that gets me to investigate a new thing.

To all 40k fan out there. Welcome to the Inner Sphere. Thank you StringStorm for bringing so many to battletech.

The polyphony at the end is what really made this one incredible to me. Proof that there's nothing special about 40k lore. Stringstorm could make a song about anything and make it sound amazing.

I have no clue about battletech... but what I do know is *that this is absolutely ducking amazing!* keep it up String Storm! Even in difficult times you never disappoint and we'll always stand behind you

The clans were so powerful that capitalism itself had to be summoned to defeat them this prooves that the only thing stronger than star league is star league but baptized in corporate juice

me at the start . Nice one, don't really know what it is about but stilll . me now : SO IT HAS BEEN ...

If there's one good thing to be said about GW's latest exterminatus, it's that it brought Stringstorm to Battletech. A silver lining in every cloud! Now, Great Exodus song when?😀

We fall back to BattleTech so that we may some day reclaim 40k Hail to string storm and hail to the BattleTech fans for your hospitality

This song is great. "Just remember, we sent the Clanners packing, basically free of charge." Yeah and then Space AT&T decided it wanted to do a Jihad.

Soldiers Vs Warriors Warriors came to win a battle for glory, the Soldiers came to end a war.

To OUT-HONOR the HONORABLE for HONOR's sake!!! HONOR on the side, hold the HONOR with extra HONOR!!!

Thought some of the lyrical timing on this one felt a bit stilted and some of the notes clashed with the tune, but overall another good song! Love the rock opera vibe and the vocals are gorgeous!

Holy smokes this is good. I guess I ought to google battletech lore now.

Those Comstar people must be badasses to stop all the clans by themselves.

I have no idea what's this is about *BUT I CAN FELL IT!*

Wild how Sabaton is still going 1000 years later

BattleTech?!? Man the future is looking bright.

The clans fell before the commguard did

Man this song brings me back to the days I played the tabletop RPG with my friends. Good times. I recall one campaign (one of our first) where everyone rolled up a Clan Jade Falcon character. Except me. Who did a DCMS (Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery) Mech Jockey... So we had an intro adventure that was supposed to be about my character alone (as far as Mech Warriors go) ordered to defend a backwater world while everything else got stripped for the Battle of Luthien (The second time the Clans got dunked on in the invasion in lore, the first being Wolcott, and Tukayyid there being the third). It was supposed to be something where the battle was hopeless but my brave defense of the capital city was going to see me enslaved by the clanners. All I had was a 35 ton light mech (A Firestarter as I recall), and some ground combat elements (Tanks, Artillery, Infantry) against what the other players were bringing. 100 ton assault mechs that they tweaked out in what is very Clanner fashion in a way. "Who needs heatsinks, MORE GUNS AND AMMO!". Through the use of some cheeky tactics, and the fact that BattleTech's initiative system allowed me to move after they all did, and fire before they could, I managed to overheat enemies one by one with the flamers, and use some artillery pieces I had set up to finish off their shut down assault mechs, gaining a nigh impossible victory. Which resulted in them trying again, and again, and again. I think we went like 20 battles over that planet before the DM finally said the Clan gave up on it. With one by that point very battered and worn down Firestarter and some infantry boys and tanks having saved their world, killing something like 1 million tons of Clanner Mechs. Because, just like on Tukayyid... the Clan players expected I'd fight fair. That I'd just stand out in the open to get shot by superior technology and heavier mechs. They didn't think I'd have concealed bunkers with artillery pieces ready to shoot them in the back, like ComStar did. Or actually use Infantry to swarm them while they were disabled. It's just funny because there's that cross between the lore and the players of the game themselves. The Clans in lore think nothing but strictly superior pilots and mechs will win everything and that all battles would just be a duel. And so do Clan players.

Holy shit, this song got me so hype to check out Battle Tech lore. Great lyrics by LunaticPathos, George Hoctor's voice works so well with your style, and damn the music is on point! Can't wait for more Battle Tech songs!

this song got me into battletech lore. thanks stringstorm

I grew up on Battletech, playing the old Mechwarrior games in my basement before I even knew they were part of any larger franchise. Now, with the fall of 40K, it's honestly heartwarming to see that the Battletech community has grown so much, with everyone pitching in. To hell with GW, and remember Pay your bills, fucko

The Com Guard and Clan Warriors who perished on that battlefield deserved to listen to this masterpiece.

It's been a while since I last piloted a mech. The battle tech sim pods at Dave and busters was awesome