D12:EA:Simulations - Wolverine Deluxe

[Richard Winter]

Richard had made an appointment with Cat for a simulator round, and maybe it was Cat, but this time it was quicker to get an appointment than before.

Richard was already waiting outside the room in his Coolant Vest and looking at his vidphone.

[Catherine Maia Hayes]

Catherine could never resist spending time in the Simulator. Especially now, that she is on serious Battlemech withdrawal. It's already the third day without her precious Dúthracht. All hopes for survival wer looking bleak already!

But then Richard's life saving invitation came and the young tomboy eagerly agreed. Changing into her coolant vest took a few minutes and then she rushed over.

A little out of breath but high in spirit the redhead comes rushing around the corner, literally bouncing off the wall to change direction.

"Hey, Richard! Thanks for the call! I'm ready." She declares with an eager grin.

[Richard Winter]

He put his vidphone away and waved "Hey Cat!" he opened the doors to the simulator room, the hum of pods streaming towards them.

"I'm curious to see how your Wolverine performs, the programmers have dubbed it a 'cheat' mech" he laughed, "I find it hard to believe you can cheat with a mech."

[Catherine Maia Hayes]

Catherine responds with a giggle and the smile on her lips shines bright.

"I didn't know it would get this much attention so quickly. Kenna only gave me the prognosed data yesterday and it is still a work in progress. But he said it would be within the margins of error, or something like that and I have been dying to try the new version out!"

She blushes and forces herself to calm down, to follow up with a soft laugh. "With a wizard like our Chief Mechtech doing his magic, it really is a little bit like cheating."

[Richard Winter]

He laughed, "You're excited either way! Let's see what's on the program." Richard went to the input terminal and picked out a few missions that were suggested based on the mechs, "Well, we'd have a classic eliminate all opposition mission, just mechs, VOTL and tanks, no infantry or an extraction mission, with an overwhelming number of enemies and VIP's that need to be secured and then moved to safety." He read through the missions and then looked to Cat, "What are you in the mood for?"

[Catherine Maia Hayes]

"And why wouldn't I be?" Catherine quips back and follows him to peek at the terminal. With him way too tall to look over his shoulder, she has to lean in from the side. "Hm. Both look good. I'm still trying to get a feel for the new setup though, so lets go all out with the more straightforward mission. Keep it simple."

She gives Richard a poke to get his attention and grins up at him. "Besides, I have a knack for breaking more complex scenarios and if you go in too, we won't have someone to oversee."

[Richard Winter]

"So you're one of those who gives the poor programmers a headache" he laughed, "And they try so hard to program their AI reasonably well".

He nodded "Alright then, let's go beat up some mechs" he said and selected the scenario, then he had to select more options, "Do you want it Hard (+25% BV), Harder (+50% BV) or Unfair (+100%BV)?" he asked Cat

[Catherine Maia Hayes]

"I'm Hellcat. I take the ninth option, out of the four I am being offered." The tomboy gives him a grin.

"Hm.. I would usually go straight for the impossible, but I am still getting used to my new Dúthracht. I think I can hold a candle to Assaults now though. What do you think you can keep up with yourself, Richard? Let's go with that."

[Richard Winter]

"Last time I still had the Phoenix Hawk and got my teeth kicked in,.... now it would be interesting to see how well the EXT-4Db performs,. hmmmmm,... Let's take 'Harder' We don't learn anything if it's a fair fight, don't you think?"

[Catherine Maia Hayes]

"The Phoenix Hawk is a nice Battlemech, but really not the toughest. The Exterminator however can take a real beating. And does not have to worry about ammo explosions too. That's a big plus."

Catherine routinely checks her simulator pod and makes sure it is running properly, before getting in.

"Harder sounds good. Let's do it."

[Richard Winter]

"Alright, Let's do this!"

The pods powered up and the simulation started. Richard and Cat received a short briefing, the robotic voice of the pods said: "MechWarrior, your task is to rid the city of the opposition. There are tanks, as well as a Catapult, a Highlander and a Spider. Good luck"



Richard started his Comm Module and said, "As a little surprise for you today, I'm going to listen to your command Cat" he said and laughed, "Sooner or later you'll probably rank above me, so you might as well get ready for it".

[Catherine Maia Hayes]

While running the simulated start up sequence of her Mech with easy routine, Catherine closely examines the map and murmurs to herself. She loves having a good Command Mech for this.

"Catapult. Highlander. Spider. Several tanks. A threat. Wrong kind to be a real threat. Small issue. Buncha Bugs. Let's see how this plays out."

"Okay! Got some ideas. Let's play to our strengths and draw them out for a bit, before springing some surprises on them. Get you into the city quick and use your mobility try to get you some close range fights on your condition. I'll go after the Catapult and we'll see from there."

"I marked a good looking approach on the map for you. Please let me know if something is off, before we commit. Fire at Will until further notice."

"Let's go!"
___

Code: Select all

WVR-Cat	5/8/5 run 0221 facing 0121 | PPC,LL,LL on 0508; 	(heat 0+2+26-30=0)
EXT-4Db	6/9/6 run 1018 facing 1118 | fire at will;  		(heat 0+#+#-22=#)

[Richard Winter]

"Affirmative, Hellcat" he replied and moved his mech to the mentioned position, "I won't have a clear field of fire from there" he reported back and started his maneuver while Cat chased her Wolverine across the battlefield, in a run she fired her PPC and the two big lasers but just missed the catapult. Good thing her mech could take so much heat, Cat felt none of the intense heat that would normally fry a pilot.

Cat could see the catapult firing its massive LRM20 batteries, but the trajectory was not directed at her! The missiles flew straight at the Exerminator, who couldn't cover himself between trees like Cat, and it just pounded him. His pod was properly shaken and for a moment it looked like his mech would topple, but he was still able to catch himself.

"Impact! How the hell did he see me?!" he reported over comms. "My armor is still holding up fine!"

(5dmg to LT,RT,LL,RL, 17 Armor left RT/LT, 24 LL/RL)



The opponents now jumped into action and began their advance toward Cat and Richard

[Catherine Maia Hayes]

"He shouldn't have." Catherine answers Richard. "Alex knows a trick though, the data is in the system. Didn't expect that."

She quickly scans the map data.

"Heh. Spidey made a mistake!" A marker appears on Richard's map, right next to a Hover Tank. "Kid, jump on the mark. Full close range alpha at Spidey! Melee at will."

Her own path is trickier. That Highlander is closing in and she wants to avoid exposing herself as much as possible. Hellcat decides to keep rushing the Catapult and take a few pot shots of opportunity on the clearest target, preferably the Highlander. Also try to poke that tank a little.

"I'll keep going after the Catapult."

____

Code: Select all

WVR-Cat	5/8/5 jmp 0216 facing 0316 | PPC,LL,LL on [1212 (0508 if easier)]; ML,ML on 0513;	(ht: 0+5+32-30=7)
EXT-4Db	6/9/6 jmp 1619 facing 1520 | fire 6x ML, 1 SL at 1520; melee at will			(ht: 0+6+19-22=3)

[Richard Winter]

"I see, obviously the programmers of our combat data slipped into the system. I don't quite know what to think of that, well," Richard complained over the comm and carried out Cat's orders.

Cat, in turn, launched her own jump jets and changed positions, the pods each giving a jerk to simulate the jump. Once in position, she had a perfect shot at the Highlander, and even though the Large Lasers had no visible effect on the mech, her PPC shot seemed to do something to the Highlander's Large Laser! Also the tank that Cat targeted got his share and ate some damage!

On the other side something developed that could only be described as a shit show, neither Richard, nor the catapult, nor the tanks, nor the Highlander were able to execute an effective attack. Only the Spider managed to direct its medium laser at Richard's right leg and do some damage there.

To make matters worse, there was no window for Richard to kick, and the nimble Spider dared to raise its fist at the Exterminator as well, even if it didn't score a hit.



The enemies, on the other hand, did not leave Cat's side, apparently they wanted to surround Wolverine. But the fokus of the enemies could be the advantage for Cat and Richard.

"Sorry I'm still getting used to the EXT. I've been switching mechs too much in the last couple of weeks, I think," he tried to justify himself.

[Catherine Maia Hayes]

"Try to get used with punching and kicking." Catherine advises, surprised that Richard did not even try to melee the Spider or the hovertank. "You have a much bigger mech now. Use that to your advantage."

Looking for blind spots, she finds a pretty central one. One double check later she is sure that the Highlander has no line of sight there and she swiftly marks it.

"Found you a blind spot, Kid. Jump there and fire at will, keep your heat low."

Scanning her own options, she comes to a decision. Seeing no good cover on the way, she has to expose herself for a moment. "I gotta take a risky step now. Let's hope it doesn't blow up in my face."
____

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WVR-Cat	5/8/5 jmp 0312 facing 0412 | LL,LL,ML,ML on 0814; SPL on 0313; kick;	(heat 7+5+24-30=6)
EXT-4Db	6/9/6 jmp 1117 facing 1017 | 5x ML at will;				(heat 3+5+15-22=1)

[Richard Winter]

"All right, I'll remember that next time" he confirmed and navigated to his new position. The jump jets lifted him into the air and the shots he fired at the J. Edgar tank seemed to damage him badly, as digital smoke began to rise from him.

Meanwhile Cat performed her maneuver, it was quite risky as she became a target for her enemies, the Highlander tried an Alpha Strike, the tanks fired their SRM's, AC's and MG's, but Cat emerged, reasonably unscathed, and focused her fire on the Highlander's right torso, which caused him to quickly get behind the nearest wall.

Without the protection or distraction that the Highlander provided, the small Scorpion tank went up in flames in a mixture of laser fire and a few well-aimed stomps.

Cat's maneuver had paid off in any case.





The spider seemed to want to support the Highlander, and it also looked like the tanks realized that they could do little on their own, and sought cover.

"Are you okay, Hellcat?" asked Richard who had only seen everything around Cat explode.

[Catherine Maia Hayes]

"Woooo! That's hot!" Catherine laughs, while explosions ripple around and over her mech. "Did I just make a Highlander fall back?!"

Eye on the map, she finds some sweet spots to keep pressure on their opponents and she marks them on the map. The Exterminator is assigned right next to the lone tank in the city centre, behind the Highlander."

"Let's press our advantage! Jump on the mark and unload on our big friend's back. Don't forget to give the bug a stomp, but make sure to keep your balance! That's a bad spot to fall down. Prepare for heavy rain from the Northwest! Sorry, but you'll have to weather it."

"I'm going to give that Catapult some backburn in return!"

The tomboy mech pilot really loves to jump all over the place.
____

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WVR-Cat	5/8/5 jmp 0508 facing 0509 | LL,LL,ML,ML,SPL on 0509; 2x punch;		(heat 6+5+24-30=5)
EXT-4Db	6/9/6 jmp 1312 facing 1212 | 6x ML at 0914; SL on 1212; kick 1212;	(heat 1+6+19-22=4)

[Richard Winter]

Richard laughed, "Seems like it, having fun in your killing machine?" he said, carrying out Cat's orders as usual, harassing the Highlander as well as the tank at his feet.

"Boom! Headshot!" he shouted over comms when he saw one of his lasers make contact with the Highlander's head, "How are you doing?" he asked Cat, who was in the process of maltreating the catapult.

The long-range mech was at a real disadvantage, and it didn't help that Cat was also dealing devastating damage, bringing the catapult down.
A triumphant kick into the side of the big mech also gave him more reason to keep his distance next time.



Cat's and Richard's offensive forced the enemy on the defensive, probably they had underestimated them. The Highlander bunkered down between a few buildings and the rest of the tanks gathered in front of the city.

The poor pilot at Cat's feet failed to get the mech up again, a shame really.

[Catherine Maia Hayes]

"Dúthracht is loads of fun this way." Catherine laughs back over the radio.

A glance at the combat map tells her what to do next.

"Kid, jump right back into the trees you came from." She helpfully re-highlights the spot on their map. "Unload five onto Spidey. Small on tank and kick. Good Luck. Stay watchful!"

She fires her own jump jets towards the East.

"I'll keep playing with the two up here." She informs him in a more playful tone. The young Mechwarrior seems to think this combat is going their way.

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Code: Select all

WVR-Cat	5/8/5 jmp 1007 facing 0908 | PPC,LL,LL on 0509; 		(heat 5+5+26-30=6)
EXT-4Db	6/9/6 jmp 0915 facing 0815 | 5xML at 0517; SL at 0815; kick;	(heat 4+6+16-22=4)