Battletech: Planet's Fall

(Optional event)
The AFFC have asked for a meeting and Tessa Wentworth has organised it for after lunch. The meeting room in the mobile HQ is the chosen site. Kurt and some of his entourage sit on one side of the conference table. Angels sit on the other. It was time to go over options and to pin down some vague terms in the contract. It might also be a chance to negotiate a few new terms.

This event will work a little differently to others. The winner will be able to pick one of the winning choices as below, impacting the storyline. The winner will be decided by total raises across all three steps. If this is tied, the winner will be decided by highest final roll on the 'Put your point across' step. All three steps must be completed successfully to participate.

1) Have a point to make
Kurt Guttenburg wants the Obsidian Angels to do more. That was possible, with incentives. Now to find some leverage. This is a TN20 roll using one of the following skills: Strategy [Intelligence], Administration (logistics) [Intelligence] or Commerce [Awareness]. Note the Administration (logistics) [Intelligence] roll is TN25 due to low impact.

2) Put your point across
With a point to make, you only need to be persuasive and cordial in making it. This is the most important thing in a negotiation. This is a TN20 Negotiation [Awareness] Roll.

3) Don't give in
There is a polite way to refute points and to behave and a wrong way. When things get heated it is important to remain calm. This is a Protocol (Willpower) TN15 roll.

Winning choices:
a) Powerful mechs needed - The AFFC are persuaded to lend the Angels some better equipment, with the option to purchase it later, to assist their future attacks. A Union later drops off a company of mechs the Angels can put to use. Every lance will have a single NPC member's mech updated to something worth more BV. For those without an inherited mech, this can instead be your mech. Strength increases by 0.5, but Angels commanders can no longer be swayed in their target choices.

b) All out assault - The Angels agree to an all out assault on the enemy in Zone One tomorrow as a gesture of good will. This means a secondary site will also be attacked. This option will lower strength by 1.0. Whichever site receives the second highest number of votes is attacked and taken by Angels forces (offscreen NPCs and Angels Combat PCs not participating in combats day 6). This will generate salvage as if the site was conquered normally. Additionally, impact and threat will be raised by their base amounts for the site.

c) Additional AFFC air support - If the AFFC want to get the Militia to stay put, they need to help. With their aerospace forces not doing much the AFFC could strike a number of targets across Akos to increase the pressure. This will be carried out overnight, causing all the defenders to take note! This option will slightly weaken defences in non-civilian sites across southern and central Akos. This will make combats easier. However, it will raise threat by 0.5 and lower impact by 0.5.

d) Discuss with the GM. If you have a suggestion and you win, let's talk!

"I understand the reason for your concern." This is familiar ground, as Klaus had discussed this in private beforehand. "I assure you, the taking of the communications station was the run up. Our intelligence reports that the response from the militia is muddled, with a great deal of confusion over our numbers and the actual threat. At the moment, this is to our detriment: militia command is planning to reinforce the mainland. However, it opens a narrow window of opportunity that I feel that we must take. I recommend hitting the hardest sites we can right now in an attempt to cripple the local forces, and to capitalize on the confusion."

-----
D5-Particulars-Step 1-Strategy/Intelligence-Strategist advantage-2 raises-TN 30: 10d10o10k4 25 Fail

Negotiation/Awareness-1 CR-TN 25- Edge spent: 7d10o10k4 29 1 raise

Protocol/WIllpower-1 raise-TN 20-Edge spent: 5d10o10k3 25 1 raise

2 raises to event score

Charlie was there. He wasn't sure why. He just saw a bunch of people going one way and followed them just in case he had missed a meeting. And no one stopped him. He wasn't sure if he was supposed to be here or not. So, he participated until someone told him to shut up.

He found some interesting fine print in the contract as they were going through it. Did he do it in a way that convinced anyone of anything? No. But he manage to at least politely refute any arguments against him.

WATP Event: Administration 1 Raise TN 30: 7d10o10k5 42 Forgot to include that I was using EDGE. Cleared it with Yuusha. 2 Points (exceptional Raise)

WATP Event: Negotiation TN 15 EDGE for Skill: 3d10o10k2 7 Got the TN's mixed up for roll 2 and 3 and didn't realize it until after the roll. Clearly, I need sleep. Failed regardless.

WATP Event: Protocol TN 20 EDGE 1 Raise: 4d10o10k3 25 1 Raise

Richard could think of better things to do than argue with his old employer, but it was necessary and he wanted to make a good impression on the Angels. So he went to Mobile HQ and threw himself into the fray.

"But what if we move our troops here?"

",...how about a surprise attack there?..."

",...what options does the Milita have there?,..."

His strategic objections were rather basic, but still good enough not to make him look bad.

"Mr. Guttenburg, I must ask you..."

",....but it would improve our supply lines."

",...someone with your excelence will agree with me that..."

Yep, arguing with nobles is almost as exhausting as running through the sun in a hot mech, but at the end of the discussion Richard was sure he had made a good impression.


----
D5:EA:WATP - Have a point to make: Strategy / Intelligence, Edge +1k1, 1CR, TN25: 5d10o10k4 34 -Succes! 1 Raise

D5:EA:WATP - Put your Point across: Negotiation/Awareness, Edge +1k1, TN20: 5d10o10k4 21 -Success!

D5:EA:WATP - Don't give in: Protocoll/Willpower, TN15: 4d10o10k3 29 -Success! 1 EXP Raise!

All Success 2 Raises

"Well really, everything is happening on the ground. That's where they're looking right? But some comments made yesterday about rustyness, maybe a good old air smash will get the blood pumping and remind people this is a war zone. Focus the mind, narrow down the targets, get people riled up! It'll be great right?"

Alison was pretty sure of her opinion, as sure as she was that the bubblegum rule for meetings sucked. She really fancied some gum right now.

(ooc:
D5 EA event roll 1 - strategy/int! Tn20 unskilled roll: 4d10 21 - pass!
D5 EA event roll 2 - Negotiation [Awareness] TN20: 7d10o10k4 29 pass!
D5 EA event roll 3 - Protocl/Willpower+edge! TN15: 4d10o10k3 29 pass, 1 raise from exceptional success

All 3 rolls completed, 1 raise total

Tanaki makes his own opinion clear, the Angels need to step up, and clear as many targets as possible with an all out blitz to help make up for the low impact their initial attacks have had on this theatre, before moving on somewhere else.


Particulars - Commerce TN 20: 6d10o10k4 47
Particulars - Negotiation TN 20: 8d10o10k4 28
Particulars - Protocol TN 15: 5d10o10k3 31
(All Three Successful, 3 Raises from Exceptional Success)

Result:

The meeting lasts a good two hours before Tessa brings it to a close. It feels much longer than that. Kurt makes the reservations of the AFFC very clear throughout. Luckily, Richard and Alison mostly defuse those, while other Angels try to clarify contract points. However, it is Tanaki that goes the furthest to addressing their employer's wishes. He proposes an ambitious plan to attack two sites tomorrow. There were attack plans for each site after all, so the ground work was already laid. It would only mean splitting the Angels forces. On the one hand it would mean much more risk, likely damage to their forces, potential loss of life and a drop in morale as teams had to work overtime. Most of that was tolerable risk for mercenary life. On the other hand it would lead to a much bigger hit on the Akos Militia, pleased employers and a great deal more salvage. Eric agrees with the suggestion after some deliberation. The target would be the Southern Akos Militia Barracks. At this news Kurt looked delighted. Now, would the Angels be able to pull it off?

All out assault - The Angels agree to an all out assault on the enemy in Zone One tomorrow as a gesture of good will. This means a secondary site will also be attacked. This option will lower strength by 1.0. Whichever site receives the second highest number of votes is attacked and taken by Angels forces (offscreen NPCs and Angels Combat PCs not participating in combats day 6). This will generate salvage as if the site was conquered normally. Additionally, impact and threat will be raised by their base amounts for the site.