Defeat the guardians (D6 EA Budai Combat)

[GM Yuusha]

The southern defences have been overcome along with the outer defenders. Having taken a western route, your lance is now flanking right into the facility. You'll be the first in as other allies have been held up getting past walls and tackling the defenders all morning. It's the very early afternoon and only a handful of defenders should be left, but they include bothersome VTOLs and dug in infantry. The objective is simple - destroy them. More Angels are moving to your position so assistance is on the way. However, you have ample time to clear the site.

Objective: Defeat the enemy. You have 12 turns to destroy the defenders, ending the combat. Should an enemy remain after turn 12, they will flee, which will prevent them from being salvaged. This will reduce impact by 0.1. The infantry do not count to this and are an optional target.

[Mary Macharu]

Having gotten the mechs out of the repair's area, The Second Chancers were deployed in the late afternoon. Given the target, the Kinaro's SRM ammo had been swapped out for inferno ammo. VTOLs were annoying to fight, but at least they weren't trying to jump at them with an axe. Still, she disliked not being the most maneuverable combatant on the field.

"primary targets are the vtols. fingers (kintaro) you're loaded up to take on the infantry, so we'll be counting on you for that. everyone else engage the vtols and keep them off fingers (kintaro). and be ready, they've got the edge of maneuvering. we need to drop them before they fly off and join the other forces."

"Gonna ground us some flyboys, Woo!" came the response from Scotty, still riding high after his performance in the last engagement. the more experienced lancemates were more subdued, but ready to fight. This could go very well or very badly, but the die was cast.

[GM Yuusha]

As Mary's lance drew closer the enemy forces began to move. Two VTOLs, both older model Warrior attack helicopters, scrambled to intercept them. The 7-C had LRMs and SRMs. The 7-A had an AC/5 and a machine gun. Neither was a massive threat, but they would be a nuisance. They really were fast.

Infantry on small buggies left the facility too, as did a Maxim troop transport hover tank and a Pegasus with its SRMs. Surely someone remembered those? However, the biggest threat was also the biggest thing on the field. A gigantic 100 ton Behemoth heavy tank lurched south and leisurely turned toward the attackers. It had weapons for all ranges and lots of armour. The only weakness it had was its slow speed.



With Mary and co in the South West, it seemed like the enemy would be coming to meet them. How... considerate,

[Mary Macharu]

(Apologies, player cannot read the tiny letters on this map even at maximum zoom, so we're going to be a little bit vague).

Well so much for dug in defenders. The Second Chancers had apparently kicked over the anthill. That behemoth was going to be really tough.

"alright, slowly fan out. we need to clear this field one unit at a time. if you have a clean shot on a vtol, take it. if you've got the gear for the infantry and a shot, take it. otherwise, the priority is the pegasus, followed by the hover tank. stay away from the behemoth until we take out the softer targets, when we hit it we want to hit it all together and from as far away as we can get away with." she ordered.

[GM Yuusha]

(No worries. Please ask and I can send you zoomed images whenever you need them. Sorry it's vague.)

With the nearest Warrior in ideal weapons range, Mary and Righty remain where they are to try targeting it. Her other two lance mates edge forward using the hills as cover from the other Militia forces.

From further away, the other Warrior lands a small number of LRMs on Mary's Griffin (5 damage RL, 1 damage LL). It's just enough to throw off her aim. Others have more luck. The Kintaro plants four SRMs across the H-7A's body (2 damage RS, 6 damage FR) and the Chameleon clips its rotor with its large laser (1 damage RO, rotor damaged!).

(Griffin on 2 heat, Kintaro and Chameleon on 1)



(I've increased the zoom. Does this help?)

The Warrior, now crippled and spewing smoke, makes an emergency landing right then and there on the hilltop. It appeared to be surrendering. The same couldn't be said of the other, as it darts behind the mechs to try for some rear shots. The hover tanks continued to guard the perimeter, with one dropping infantry near some woods, as the Behemoth rolled closer. Inside the facility a single squad of infantry guarded a small communications site, receiving and sending out orders.

[Mary Macharu]

I really hate these flyboys. Mary thought as one got behind them to shoot at their backs.

"righty (chameleon) let's try and pop that other flyboy. everyone else, move north, keep using the hills as cover and engage on best target, but stay away from the behemoth as best you can. she ordered.

[GM Yuusha]

The Warrior was being a pain. It missed. Mary and Righty missed. It was an impasse. Her lance mates followed the canyon north as instructed.

(Griffin on 1 heat)



Trying to find a better angle for a shot, the Warrior drifts backwards. Elsewhere, infantry and hover tanks move to where they can intercept the approaching mechs.

[Mary Macharu]

An impasse was bad, they didn't have all day to do this.

"righty (chamelon) let's keep heading north after the flyboy. lefty, fingers, keep going but try to keep the hills between you and the behemoth, he's getting close to his optimal firing range if he can draw a bead on you it's going to hurt." Mary ordered.

[GM Yuusha]

Some of the infantry began radioing back the locations of the Kintaro and Wolfhound, acting as spotters. The Behemoth made its presence known as it tags the Kintaro with a few LRMs from out of sight (3 damage CT, RA). Elsewhere, the Warrior strikes the Chameleon with a few SRMs including one that nearly penetrates the left torso (2 damage RA, RT, LT - critical not confirmed). For a moment there was a warning light in the cockpit for Righty, but it turns off. Similarly, the Wolfhound has a warning light for a moment too as it is struck by laser rifle fire from the motorised platoon (2 damage CT, LL, RA - critical not confirmed).

Setting that aside, the Wolfhound pilot draws a bead on the Pegasus Scout Hover Tank. The last one had been a real threat. Firing only the large laser, the carefully aimed shot strikes the hover vehicle and immobilises it (8 damage RR, major damage, vehicle immobile). One shot, one kill. The Kintaro tries to eradicate the squad of motorized troops approaching it with inferno SRMs, but they skid aside, avoiding the all the SRMs!

Mary tries for another PPC shot on the Warrior as it pulls back. It was ideal weapons range, but she just couldn't seem to land a shot. Her LRMs also sail past the VTOL. Righty is less cautious. He heads north and nearly under the Warrior. In prime weapons range, he lets rip with a full alpha strike. Firing all lasers... and machine guns. Many of them actually hit, surprising him and the badly shaken VTOL pilot (5 damage LS, 3 damage FR, 2 damage FR).

To make up for the wastage of SRM rounds, the Kintaro pilot kicks the Maxim (11 damage LS, critical, SRM2 damaged), hitting something important on the left side.

(Griffin on 3 heat, Chameleon on 9)



The Warrior helicopter attempts an emergency landing after taking so many hits, but the pilot accidentally hits a canyon wall and the machine crashes to the ground. There is a big explosion just a few dozen meters ahead of the very warm Chameleon!

Outgunned and damaged, the Maxim tries to return to the relative safety of the inner compound. The security infantry could earn their pay. Further south, the Behemoth continued to draw closer...

[Mary Macharu]

While the Pegasus and the last VTOL going out were good news, the doom tank was moving into it's perfect range, while Mary was too far away, and Righty had pulled too far away and was too hot. This is where things might get really dicey.

"fingers (kintaro), you're going to have to jump onto that behemoth. leftie (wolfhound) chase down that maxim and get away from the behemoth. righty (chameleon) cool down and reposition. you and i both need to move so we can focus fire on the behemoth soon. remember, keep in cover because that monster is hungry at every range."

[GM Yuusha]

Signalling their affirmatives, Mary's lance mates moved into position. The Kintaro backed up a bit, both to fire SRMs at the motorized infantry platoon and to be ready to rush the Behemoth as soon as it appeared. The infantry nearby focused on the medium mech, but they mostly just chip paint and scratch armour (2 damage CT, 1 damage LA). The SRM platoon tried to hit the steaming Chameleon, but their shots all go wide. The range wasn't good. The smaller squad of mechanized troops support by calling in indirect LRM attacks from the Behemoth onto the Kintaro. This does a bit more damage than the infantry, but nothing too severe (5 damage RL, 4 damage RT).

Meanwhile, the Wolfhound chases down the Maxim and the two end up duking it out at knife fight distances. The Wolfhound is hit by a few SRMs and machine gun bursts (4 damage RT, 2 damage CT). It gives more than it gets, repeatedly hitting the heavy transport's right side (10 damage RS).

While Mary misses her LRM shots on the SRM platoon, the Kintaro turns to fire all three SRM-6 launchers at the mechanized infantry harassing it. Having loaded inferno missiles, the vehicles explode into balls of fire as they are hit. A few infantry jump off moments before, but the fire blossoms across the ground and catches them all within seconds. Soon only charred corpses are left (entire platoon destroyed).

Not wanting to be out of the action, Leftie hastily attempts to finish off the Maxim with a punch. Impressively, it works! Her fist goes through the armour and damages the hover drives. The hover vehicle splutters as it gradually descends to the ground. Attempts to restart it were unsuccessful (4 damage RS, major damage, vehicle immobile).

(Kintaro on 3 heat, Wolfhound and Chameleon on 1)



As predicted, the Behemoth moves up toward the approaching lance. One squad of infantry remained in the compound. The rest tried to stay close to the heavy tank.

[Mary Macharu]

Mary was super ineffective. At least her lancemates were competent.

"alright, everyone converge on the behemoth, pour everything you can into it. if you can stay out of his short range, great, but we want to drop him now." she orders.

[GM Yuusha]

The next few seconds are scary, but Mary's lance pull through. They do take some damage however. The Kintaro is hit by a volley of SRMs from the platoon above (3 damage RA, 2 damage RT, 4 damage LT). It gets revenge by bathing them all in inferno rounds (platoon destroyed!). The Behemoth's turret swings around to target the Chameleon, but the mech avoids most of its fire by hunkering down in the woods. Only a few SRMs hit it (4 damage LL, 2 damage RA).

Mary, jumping up on top of the canyon for a good vantage point, targets the Behemoth. She manages to hit it with both her weapons systems (16 damage RS, moderate damage, +2 to driving skill rolls, -1MP). It began trailing smoke. That was a good sign! The Wolfhound adds its own supportive fire, its large laser further opening up the right side (8 damage RS, moderate damage again). The Chameleon assists as best it can with smaller weapons, but their numbers make a difference (5 damage LS, 3 damage FR, minor damage, +1 to driving skill rolls, 3 damage LS, 3 damage TU, 3 damage FR, major damage, vehicle immobile, 2 damage FR, minor damage again, 2 damage RR, heavy damage, +3 to driving skill rolls, 1/2 MP). After all that the Behemoth looked more like a smoking bunker with guns than a tank.

The Kintaro went to kick it, but the crew were fleeing the vehicle at speed. They were likely worried it might explode! Gradually the smoke would die down over the next few minutes, but it was immediately obvious the day was won.

Wisely, the surviving mechanised infantry squad surrender. The squad inside the compound take an elevator down to alert their fellows the above ground was lost...

(All enemies eliminated! Congratulations!)

The Behemoth, Pegasus Maxim and grounded Warrior were all salvageable. They'd each need a great deal of repairs to work properly again. It might be better to strip them for parts. This was something the mechtechs could worry about later. For now, Mary reports the site as secure. Over the next few minutes more Angels arrive. Soon her lance could return back to the dropsite for some rest.

[Mary Macharu]

The battle went....pretty well. Less damage than the last one, and more salvage. That should please the more monetary minded.

Having reported back already, Mary congratulated her lance.

"excellent work team, both as individuals and together. it remains an honor to serve with such capable mechwarriors. "

Mary was a bit disappointed in some of her own misses, but she at least contributed when it was time to bring down the behemoth and no one exploded (well no one on her side anyways). Overall, a very successful mission.

[GM Yuusha]

Mary Macharu gains 0.2 fame for her contributions toward a successful combat.

Combat closed.