Clangründer: Traum

Published by FanPro as the fifth of their German-only line of Classic BattleTech novels in January 2006, Clangründer: Traum ("Clan Founders: Dream") is a translation of a novel by Randall N. Bills. The second part of the Founding of the Clans trilogy, the original English language text was announced for publication via BattleCorps in 2007 but failed to materialize.

From the back cover (translated from German)
"The dream of a Star League in exile has failed. Nicholas Kerensky is unable to prevent war from spilling over from the Pentagon worlds. He decides to lead his followers on a second Exodus, like his father once did who left the Inner Sphere with his fleet. But Nicholas chooses a different path: He wants to do away with all that was, and dreams of creating an entirely new society. The bounds of society that go back millennia cannot be shed so easily. Resistance must be overcome and blood must be spilled before Nicholas' dream can come true. But without his brother Andrey's help the entire venture is doomed. Brothers, however, don't always pursue the same goals. Andery finds that, as the last vestiges of civilization are purged in this new society, humanness wanes as well. Can he stop this development?"

Canonicity
Being published in German only, Clangründer: Traum does not technically meet the criteria for Canon in the BattleTech universe and must therefore be considered apocryphal.

However, it should be noted that Herbert Beas, in an official statement, made a somewhat unclear reference to this particular book that could be construed to mean it is actually fully canon despite having only been published in its German translation so far:
 * "Computer games and the material printed only in Germany (with the exception of the Founding of the Clans novels by Randall Bills) are not considered canonical.

It is thought that the English-language original script is used for research by the CGL fact checker team and treated as essentially canonical even though it is technically unpublished.

Plot Summary
As the Second Exodus fleet makes planetfall on Strana Mechty on 8 June 2802, Raymond Sainze and Windham Khatib discuss their feelings of anxiety about the whole idea of a second exodus. They agree that they need Nicholas Kerensky to lead them, but also need Andery Kerensky to keep his brother Nicholas in check in this.

Nicholas sets up a bivouac near the Strana Prime colony and bluntly tells the local governor that they are here to stay, then proceeds to erect a new city—Katyusha, the future capital. Together with his consort Jennifer Winson Nicholas has grandiose plans about submitting the SLDF troops to ruthless live-fire tests, to weed out the weak and form a core of elite soldiers. He uses their reverence of the late Aleksandr Kerensky and begins to build a cult around his father and himself. Andery is alarmed by the numerous subtle changes instigated by Nicholas, and gets increasingly jealous because his lover Dana Kufahl is among Nicholas' most ardent supporters.

During one of the live-fire trials, Andery accidentally kills another MechWarrior, Captain Johann Keyes. Shocked over the unnecessary death he powers down his own 'Mech, and two years later to the day (on 1 May 2805) he climbs Simon Mons and pours Keyes' ashes in the wind, noting the man had no relatives and only a few friends and thus would not be remembered for the ultimate sacrifice he gave for Nicholas' dream.

By 2807, Andery is a rifleman training instructor again. He is uncomfortable with the young age of his charges and about the foster family program that is now in place. His students are among the most successful in the tests, and his casual use of "Aff" spreads through the ranks and is adopted as part of a new speaking pattern that Nicholas models for his utopia society.

Windham Khatib meanwhile is worried that his church had to make room for the city's construction, and Nicholas Kerensky seems unlikely to keep Jennifer Winson's promise to rebuild it eventually. He shares his sorrow with Andery who is unable to help him, realizing that Nicholas will not tolerate prayers to another god.

On 11 June 2807 Nicholas Kerensky delivers a speech where he announces the formation of the Clans from a core of eight hundred elite warriors, and his intention to return to the Pentagon worlds to reconquer and pacify them. He concludes his speech with "Seyla", the word his and Andery's mother had used to utter at the conclusion of her prayers. Four days later, Andery is called to an improvised wedding ceremony between Nicholas and Jennifer during the night.

On 29 December 2807 Andery is tasked with bringing Sandra Tseng and Hans Jorgensson back from the polar region, after they refused to be separated and turned their backs on Nicholas Kerensky instead, a mission he succeeds in on 5 January 2808.

Dana Kufahl has meanwhile been elevated to the rank of Khan of Clan Coyote. Her decision to follow a vision and lead her Clan away into de-facto exile in the dangerous Broken Sea desert causes a rift between her and Andery. Sarah McEvedy is becoming a friend to Andery in Dana's stead.

As Nicholas' appointed envoy to the non-military castes, Andery is confronted with serious discord in late 2814 because the foster family program has been massively extended and has now been made mandatory. Senior Laborer Justin makes it clear that the civilians will not tolerate this perceived attack on family bonds. Andery realizes he is being set up as a catalyst for a possible uprising again, just like for the Prinz Eugen Mutiny, and tries to talk the civilians out of their evident plans for rebellion. Still, an attempt on Nicholas' life is made during a parade on 27 December of that year that wounds several warriors and kills Andery's friend James Carson, among others. Laborer Justin is found dead shortly afterwards, obviously in an attempt to appease Nicholas who is now ruthlessly exploiting the attack for his agenda—he had actually expected the attack (wearing a bullet-proof vest). Recovering from his wounds, Andery finds himself a helpless bystander again while Nicholas builds a new, rigidly organized meritocratic society centered around the Warrior caste and subdues the other castes into submission.

On 9 June 2815 Nicholas finally declares himself ilKhan and announces their return to the Pentagon. Andery has a very bad feeling about Nicholas' manipulations and personality cult, which have established him as something of a prophet or sect leader in his new order. In a private meeting on that evening, Jennifer Winson admits to Andery that she underwent plastic surgery, and was previously Jess Cole. She is both a glowing follower of Nicholas' ideas and a driving force for him, sharing his ideas and claiming to have served him as a loyal soldier since the occupation back on Terra, wearing so many masks over time that one more ("Jennifer Winson") does not matter anymore.