Battletech: Planet's Fall

Szekeres has a patrol group of vehicles that do a wide sweep around it a few times a day. With the attack on Szekeres planned for the afternoon, it makes sense to take out the patrol, and thus reduce the overall number of defenders, when they're furthest away from the site. That time is the late morning. Destroying or immobilising each vehicle will stop it raising the alarm or arriving as reinforcements later.

Objective: Prevent the escape of all 4 vehicles: Any enemies that escape will raise threat and/or reinforce the enemy. Each vehicle will attempt to move from one end of the map to the other, where it will attempt to withdraw.

Richard was one of the first to take his role in the battle on the day. The goal was simple: cut off and eliminate the enemy patrol.

His Lance was fast and had jump jets, but its firepower left much to be desired. But that was life as a scout lance.

Up ahead was a fast moving but light armoured force.



A Striker light tank, with LRMs and SRMs, and a Galleon light tank with a single medium laser and a couple small lasers. The bigger threat was the Saracen, a heavier hover tank, with LRMs and SRMs. Finally, there was a J.Edgar, but it seemed to be one of the cheaper models with ICE rather than a fusion engine. It would be a little slower. It still had some short range firepower however.



The Militia splits into two escape forces, perhaps showing their hand too early...

"Okay guys, listen up. Alpha and Jester, take care of the J.Edgar and the Galleon. Harpy come with me. Lay low and use your jump jets to move fast. Stop that patrol!" he relayed as a command.

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Use Jump Jets to head east, trying to stay in cover.
Firestarter: If in Range shoot LL

All four mechs moved closer to the enemy. However, there was no weapons fire. They were out of range and the enemy didn't have a clear shot for their few long range weapons.



The tanks continued to move up, although the hilly terrain was slowing them down. The Saracen nearly slips sideways into some woods as the pilot lost control, but it turned ready to come about later.

"Harpy, try to get into the forest and fire your LL at the Striker, try to torch the forest too, the smoke can still be useful to us!"

"Spider, Alpha try to get closer, but continue to stay under cover, we still have the terrain on our side!"

"I'll try to take out the Striker with Harpy!"

he barked the Commands through comms
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Spider & Fire Javlin shall advance, trying to get cover -> Shoot if possible
Firestrater advencing to forest at 1306 firing LL at the Striker.
Vulcan Jump to 1309 if possible, shooting the striker if possible

Harpy did as instructed. She found herself trying to line up a difficult shot, but it was possible. Nonetheless she missed. Fortunately, so too did the enemy. Nothing else fired.



Spider and Alpha had good positioning, which forced both their targets to have to move around them. Meanwhile the Striker and Saracen were trying to force a path through the north.

(Firestarter on 4 heat)

"Alpha & Jester try to outmaneuver them and try to play them off against each other!"

"Harpy go try to bother that Medium Tank, I'll try to reinforce ASAP"

"I'll go and fry that Striker"

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Move Firejavelin to Hex 1314 Alpha Strike J.Edgar
Move Spider to 1612 facing 1413 Alpha Strike J.Edgar
Move Firestarter to 1804 facing 1805: Fire Small Lasers + Flamer
Move Vulcan to 1709 facing 1708 commence Alpha Strike

Melee when needed and safe (+50% chance)

Things go from quiet to intense in a matter of seconds. The Javelin takes some hits from the J.Edgar (5 damage LT, 4 damage RA, 2 damage RL). No big deal. The Saracen plants a few SRMs into the Firestarter (2 damage LA, 2 damage to LT, crit but not confirmed), including one missile that punctured through the left torso through blind chance but thankfully didn't hit anything important.

In response, the lance lashed out with their close range weapons. Richard landed just over half his shots on the Striker (2 damage to TU, 5 damage FR, heavy damage, 1/2 MP, 5 damage LS, heavy damage again but no further effect). He'd done some heavy damage and slowed the Striker down dramatically. The Javelin landed hits on the J.Edgar (5 damage TU, FR). Unfortunately, the Spider missed its shots as too did the jumping Firestarter. Still, they'd given more than they'd taken. It was a good start.

As if to make up for missing half his laser fire, Parrish swings with both fists at the light tank on higher ground. One swing hits beautifully, causing the hover system to partially malfunction (3 damage FR, motive system damage - heavy damage, 1/2 MP). At the same time the Spider kicks the left side of the Galleon, taking out the small laser there (4 damage LS, critical hit, small laser malfunctions). The Firestarter missed its kick on the Saracen.

(Vulcan on 5 heat, Javelin on 1, Firestarter on 4)



The J.Edgar pivots around the Javelin, but it was moving slow. The Striker was only inching forward. On the other hand the Galleon made a break for it south and the Saracen speeds into the open ground to the north!

"Harpy we both pursue the Saracen! Alpha and Jester leave the Striker and take care of the Galleon!"

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Vulcan jump to 1106 firing at Saracen, MG, ML, ML
Firestarter jumping 1204 firing SL's at Saracen.
Fire Javlin & Spider running/jumping to cut of the Galleon. Spider firing all Weapons, Javelin Alpha Striking

The J.Edgar smashes into trees, but keeps going as Richard's lance chase after the Galleon and Saracen (2 damage to FR. Moderate damage, -1MP). It wouldn't be going anywhere fast.

Alpha and Jester display good piloting skills as they chase after the Galleon. One manoeuvres backwards downhill while the other manages to rush over deep snow, avoiding getting stuck.

Both mechs in the south focus on the Galleon. The Fire Javelin lands three of its medium lasers, slagging a great deal of the Galleon's armour (5 damage FR, Commander injured and crew stunned, 5 damage TU, 5 damage FR, minor damage, +1 to driving skill rolls). Its front armour looked weak. Sadly, the Spider missed once more. In return, the Spider took some damage from the J.Edgar (5 damage to RT, 2 damage RA, LL). Its right armour was now incredibly thin. Meanwhile the Saracen landed a little damage on the Firestarter (2 damage LT, RA), but nothing too worrying yet.

For a moment it looked like the Spider might kick the Galleon to the side, but the nimble little tank avoids the blow. Dang! At least the Spider didn't fall over.

(Firestarter and Javelin on 2 heat)



Three of the enemy were now moving much slower, but they were still trying to escape. The Saracen was trying to escape and still moving at top speeds. Would it get away?

"By the looks of it, the Saracen is getting away from us! Harpy try again with the LL, I'll try to get him to stop somehow!"
Richard hated what was about to follow, he set up for a jump and would prepare an Alpha Strike, the heat was pre-programmed.

"Alpha! Status report!"

"Galleon damaged. Edgar still fighting, we'll take care of it!"

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Firestarter ran up to 0802 Fire LL & SL's
Vulcan jump to 0503 facing 0602 -> Pray to the Diecelords and Alpha Strike
Spider move to 1015 facing 0915 firing all Weapons + Melee
Javeling move to 0815 to 0915 firing 3/4 ML's + Melee

The light mechs were making themselves easy targets by remaining in place. Richard's lance mate learned this the hard way as the Spider took every shot the J.Edgar fired its way (5 damage to CT, 2 damage RT, 6 internal structure remaining, critical hit on 2 locations: 2 jump jets damaged, 4 damage LT). Alarms were blaring inside that cockpit. On the northern side the Saracen targeted Richard's Vulcan, but it missed everything.

The Firestarter misses its large laser, but does land a small laser into the right side of the retreating hover tank (3 damage RS). Richard only managed to hit with one medium laser, but it was a good hit (5 damage LS, crew stunned). The vehicle's movements became a little more unhinged over the next few seconds.

Meanwhile the J.Edgar was taking a beating from both mechs (5 damage TU, FR, LS, FR, heavy damage, 1/2 MP again, moderate damage, +2 to driving skill rolls, -1MP again). The nimble light hover tank then avoided both punches of the Fire Javelin, although the Spider's foot caught its backside (6 damage RR, moderate damage again).

Embarrassingly for Richard, he went for a kick on the Saracen as it passed by, offering him a good chance. He missed. He missed with such force his mech toppled over (4 damage to RA). He at least avoided hurting himself or doing any major damage. He'd get to enjoy the desert like heat from a horizontal position for a moment.

(Vulcan on 9 heat, Firestarter on 4 heat)



One thing went right. The crew of the J.Edgar switched off the damaged vehicle and got out with their hands up. Not so good was the Galleon trying to get away. The Saracen was about to hit some flatlands too.

"Scheiße verdammt!" Richard cursed as he fell to the ground. "Harpy get that Saracen! Alpha how it going?

"Jester got hit pretty hard, but we're managing, one vehicle surrenderd but the Galleon is nearly gone."

"Do what you can to stop it, Alpha!"

"Affirmative!"

----
Vulcan stand up and try to go to 0202. Fire MG, 2xML and punch.
Firestarter get close enough to melee and use flamers and Small lasers
Spider and Javelin chase down the Galleon, firing everything.

Richard plugs the Saracen with a couple of medium laser hits, but the hover tank was still going (5 damage LS, TU). The Javelin missed all its fire at the Galleon, which was more bad luck than anything else, as the vehicle keeps weaving awkwardly left and right in the most erratic way imaginable. The Firestarter hit the Saracen with its flamer (2 damage LS). The enemy missed or were too stunned to fire.

The Galleon is finally brought down by the Javelin kicking it. It skids to a halt. The crew surrender immediately before either mech can open fire on it further.

Meanwhile Richard misses his punch yet his lance mate lands a kick, once again stunning the crew. This was the pair's lance chance to destroy or immobilise it! (7 damage LS, crew stunned)

(Vulcan 6 heat, Javelin on 2, Firestarter on 4)



Somewhere in the distance the Striker continued to move forward like a slug. Its crew were already debating abandoning it and fleeing into the woods.

"Harpy, let's give them everything we got!"

"We're done Kid! We're taking on the last tank!"

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Vulcan+Firestarter getting as close as possible firing as much as possible.

Spider+Javlin advance on the striker (I do t think they can make it to us in time)

Both Harpy and Kid quickly catch up to the stunned crew of the hover tank. Opening fire with all their weapons they utterly destroy it. Richard and Harpy both shared the last kill.

As soon as the Javelin jumped next to the Striker its crew surrendered. That was good. The vehicle would need some repairs, but it could move by itself. Slowly. Incredibly slowly. It could be put on perimeter duties until it was repaired, as long as there were a few people who could crew it.

All four enemy crews are captured after the battle.

(All enemies eliminated! Congratulations!)

Over their radios, the lance are thanked for destroying the other patrol force so swiftly and utterly. The Comms Site wouldn't be getting reinforcements quickly and the attack's secrecy would be easy to maintain. Why, a mech could walk in through the front gates...

"Good job guys," Richard announced through the comms, slightly exhausted. He was soaking wet after the Vulcan had done honor to his namesake. "Tonight we celebrate, tomorrow we debrief!"

Some infantry would arrive an hour later, carried by an APC to their location, to secure the area. The prisoners were taken back in the APC under armed guard. Most were quite happy to get in as they were very cold after being stuck outside for an hour. The Angels kindly provided them blankets.

Richard's lance was released from having to guard the area after that. A salvage assessor would be on their way soon. However, after the difficult battle, the Spider would need some repairs that would take time. The other mechs only needed armour replacements.

(Jester cannot participate in another combat until after day 6 unless they have another mech to pilot. The Spider will take this long to repair.)

Richard Winter gains 0.2 fame for his contributions toward a successful combat.

Combat closed.