Pick a Target Discussion (D1 EE Event Headquarters and Briefing Room)

[Alex Kovac]

Alex just came in to the room trying to be unnoticed that the warrior is a bit late. The warrior looked at the map and the cookies and just shrugged, not taking a cookie. The Penguin just analyzed the situation at hand, keeping quiet and keeping the opinion to oneself.

//Quote or pm for interaction

[GM Yuusha]

"Err, w-we'll look into t-that." Iria responds. She taps away on her noteputer to mark it down as a risk. A low risk.

She clears her throat to address the comms matter. "While we've taken out their communications satellites, there are multiple methods they can use to communicate still. Taking out the communications outpost will reduce their options and certainly cause confusion while they are forced to figure out w-what happened, but it won't completely eliminate their ability to relay information. Even so, it still makes the most sense to me too. It also occupies a key strategic position."

[Klaus von Zinzer]

Klaus seems to mull for a moment."Would we consider simultaneous attacks if our reconnaissance bears it out? Im aware that splitting forces bears risks, and if we have doubts then we should not do it. But crippling the comms and Garrison at the same time would give us almost complete unfettered control of this part of the continent"

[GM Yuusha]

Iria raised her hand a bit.



"O-o-one thing. One t-thing at a time Sir." She stuttered, feeling nervous speaking to him. "We n-need to start somewhere."

[Alison Rodríguez]

"Yeah, one thing at a time. Let's not split up when we've only just arrived, that'll leave us exposed" Alison agreed, nodding to the woman and giving her a smile.

She looked over at the brooding Kurt in the corner, still looking sweet and welcoming even with her shades on.

"Hauptmann Guttenberg, do you have any info about the surveillance from the difference sites of the surrounding areas? I'll get the old drones up into the air over the next couple of days to scout 'em out but I'd like them to not be blasted to pieces at the first attempt and I trust your knowledge on the place."

She took this chance to take a bite out of the cookie. It was so good!

[Richard Winter]

...

He took one and, very cautiosly, bit one piece of it.

Damn, they're good he thought
"Damn, they're good" he said

He observed the discussion and realized that there seemed to be a consensus on the goal.

"Disrupting communications even temporarily definitely seems like an advantage for us in the short and long term. We may actually be able to use the station during the campaign to strengthen our own communications or disrupt those of the target." he threw his opinion into the pot.
"But to play devil's advocate: Possibly the opposition has already thought that communication will be our first target and therefore secured the station accordingly, be it mechs, minefields or other traps and obstacles. In the worst case, this obvious target could be used to lure us into a meat grinder to either eliminate us early or weaken us severely.

[Klaus von Zinzer]

Iria raised her hand a bit.



"O-o-one thing. One t-thing at a time Sir." She stuttered, feeling nervous speaking to him. "We n-need to start somewhere."

"That is an understandable limitation" Klaus nods, trying to put the woman at ease. "If it is not a viable option to split our forces, then let's not lose sleep over it. I simply don't want to have it appear that we neglected the idea"

[Mary Macharu]

...

He took one and, very cautiosly, bit one piece of it.

Damn, they're good he thought
"Damn, they're good" he said

He observed the discussion and realized that there seemed to be a consensus on the goal.

"Disrupting communications even temporarily definitely seems like an advantage for us in the short and long term. We may actually be able to use the station during the campaign to strengthen our own communications or disrupt those of the target." he threw his opinion into the pot.
"But to play devil's advocate: Possibly the opposition has already thought that communication will be our first target and therefore secured the station accordingly, be it mechs, minefields or other traps and obstacles. In the worst case, this obvious target could be used to lure us into a meat grinder to either eliminate us early or weaken us severely.

Mary listened to the Lieutenent. At least he seemed to be open-minded and smart, rather than close minded and stupid.

"it's the job of the scouts to locate such hazards, sir. anything is possible, but we can't allow ourselves to be thwarted by theoretical threats, sir." she offered very quietly.

[Gianna Rains]

Gianna, hood pulled close around her face and lance mates clustered protectively around her, had been in the meeting as required. She'd been deathly silent and unmoving since she sat down.

She stayed that way throughout the meeting.

[Charlie Schroeder]

Kenna immediately makes a beeline for Charlie.

"Another mechtech actually came. Well, I'll be damned."

He takes a seat right beside Charlie.

"It's obvious the best stuff will be at Budai." The Chief Mechtech leaned in closer to Charlie. "I hear they have a gauss rifle testing range. You know what that means."

Charlie smiles. "That is interesting. How did you hear about that already?"

[Catherine Maia Hayes]

Watching the proceedings from her seat, Catherine speaks up quietly to her two companions.

"Huh. Looks like a lot of people want to go after their Comms first. Why don't they want the Research lab? And if not that, why not take that Repair site first instead and get a good stockpile of repair parts going for us? There is also a real good chance we can nap some complete Mechs for free, just waiting for us on a nice concrete platter. Who would pass on that?"

[Richard Winter]

...

"That's right Mary, but we have to factor in that we will make mistakes, miss things, and that the enemy will do everything in their power to hinder us and hide their own power as best they can."

We have already underestimated an enemy once, it will not happen a second time. He thought with reflection on the Starlit Knights.

[Ezmeralda]

snip.

"Same reason folks pilot mechs without hands. They just want to go get into a fight not reap the rewards afterwards," she sighed, "But I can see the benefits of more comms disruptions. Hopefully the garrison has something worth salvaging and the loss of surprise doesn't boost the garrisons on the money targets, otherwise its a bad payday."

[Catherine Maia Hayes]

"Some people just are like that." The small redhead shrugs. "Dunno why. I'd rather have my cake and eat it too. In my opinion, a good comms disruption makes more sense later, when we need to misdirect their attention. Not a good idea to tip our hand there too early. I'm not a war map pin pusher though, so what I know best is the rush of collecting sweet toys."

[Aleksandr Korolov]

Alek was there of course just listening and watching for a bit.

"Disrupting communications is always advantageous Ki- Hayes." He said pivoting away from the more casual name he usually called her. It was a staff meeting after all and he was a senior NCO.

He cleared his throat "Good to start with because it hurts their ability to communicate from the start. Means they have trouble verifying our numbers, coordinating with each other. Slows their response time. If we hit communications and then move quickly and take the barracks or testing facility it will be a powerful one two punch."

[Catherine Maia Hayes]

Catherine gives Aleksandr a quick salute and greeting. "Good Evening, Fist."

She ponders his explanation with a soft hum. "I am pretty sure we won't be able to take out their communications without them sending off a message. Such an attack is clearly an act of war and will alert them accordingly. An attack on the research facility though is much more likely to be written off as a quick smash and grab by some random opportunists."

The small redhead smiles cheerfully. "And if we attack their communications afterwards, their warning may conflict with that assessment and sow some confusion. Likely not much and it is easily enough resolved, but any little thing that can help is worth thinking about."

[GM Yuusha]

"Hauptmann Guttenberg, do you have any info about the surveillance from the difference sites of the surrounding areas? I'll get the old drones up into the air over the next couple of days to scout 'em out but I'd like them to not be blasted to pieces at the first attempt and I trust your knowledge on the place."

The Liaison Officer shook his head. He did not.

Charlie smiles. "That is interesting. How did you hear about that already?"

"How do you think? I'm old! I read the tech journals. Nothing better to do with my damn time. All the tech companies, big and small, release updates to shareholders and some to the public. Budai made a big press release less than a year back about a joint venture with Blackwell. On what you ask?" He tapped his ear. "Something they're calling a Grizzard model gauss rifle. Now, they've only got a weapons research site on one planet. This one. Combine that with the secluded location up in the hills. It's a no brainer."

The old man got up and gestured animatedly at the mechwarriors.

"And they want to go for a damn comms site as if they're actually fighting someone worth a damn. You're only outnumbered by amateurs!"

Huffing, he sat back down and crossed his arms. "Raider company are the only ones with any balls and they're all women! The heck's up with that? In my day you'd just mention a single gauss rifle and every mechwarrior in ear shot would be fighting to the death over the damn thing. Youth of today!"

[Lakshmi Kaala]

"I'd have gone for the Maintenance & Repair Site second as well. It's not just repair. Maintenance means they'll have some stuff there that just needs some oil. But, you know, everyone's treating this like we're up against the Sword of Light."

Laks placed her arms behind her head and relaxed as the Chief Mechtech went off on one. She nods a bit, but doesn't say anything. It wasn't her show.

When he sat back down she yawned a little. "Hopefully we hit something valuable next. The estimates suggest the Garrison has a modest amount of salvage. That's better than nothing. Anything really valuable will be hauled out of this Zone in less than a week. Mark my words."

[Aleksandr Korolov]

Alek frowned slightly "I'm approaching things like we're going against an armed and armored opponent. Numbers and experience are all nice on paper but when those shots start flying anything can happen."

"I've seen lights hit ammo stocks on heavies and watch pilots taken out by lucky shots. I'm no coward and you've all seen how I fight, I'll go head first into any opponent even the Sword of Light. But doesn't mean we can't play things smart if we have time on our side."

[Yori Hakamada]

Without looking up from her position near the back while still working on her map

"Perhaps it is a question of how much one values battle and salvage versus how much one values pursuing the contract as assigned?"