Incoming! (D12 EA Ninovo Combat)

[GM Yuusha]

The Corsair turns and tries another attack run, but the Marauder is slightly too much to its right to circle and still dive. Swearing, the pilot aims for the Panther instead, but most shots miss (3 damage RA).

Yori and Kawabe fire many weapons at the Clint, but only Yori's hit. She shoots off its left arm and hits the head among other things (5 damage LA, section destroyed, 3 damage transfers to LT, critical hit on 2 locations: jump jet and medium laser, 2 damage to LT, 2 damage to HD, 1 pilot hit, 2 damage to CT and RA). Like Kawabe, somehow Mori misses all the shots at the back of the Panther. It was a wasted opportunity. At least the last lance mate hits the Wasp with its PPC, destroying its left arm too (10 damage LA, section destroyed, 5 damage transfers to LT, critical hit on heat sink).

The Clint gets a measure of revenge as it fires at Yori's big mech, scorching it with medium lasers (10 damage RL, critical hit on 2 locations: Foot and Lower Leg, 11 internal structure remaining in right leg). The mech's right leg is in trouble, its joints partially fused from the heat. Yori can't keep her mech upright and it crashes to the ground (5 damage RT, 2 damage LT). She at least avoids coming to harm.

Meanwhile, the Panther hits the Corsair with a couple SRMs (4 damage NOS) and the Marauder hits the Jenner once with a medium laser (5 damage RA). The Wasp also clips the Shadow hawk with its own medium laser (5 damage CT). The whole lance was getting beaten up.

Making an attack on the Panther, the Jenner tries to kick it only to miss. Mori's mech topples to the ground (4 damage LL, 11 internal structure remaining). Up above, the Corsair begins to rattle about as the damage makes the controls harder, making it shoot straight ahead. Pullenza fights to regain control over the craft, but the low altitude attacks, manoeuvring and damage had all contributed to making that difficult. The aerospace fighter starts to pitch downward as gravity reached for the flying metal bird. It seized it and dragged it toward the Earth. Pullenza flicks the landing gear down switch as she opens comms.

"Mayday, losing altitude. No control. Going t-"

The plane clips the trees beside the Shadow Hawk (narrowly avoiding hitting it and destroying them both) before smacking hard into the grass and dirt. Somehow, miraculously, it survives impact. Not only that, but it was still operational.

(Jenner on 2 heat, Hunchback on 3 heat)



The Clint pilot finally got the message and ejected the crippled mech. That was one down. Now just a lance of angry Kuritans to go. The Wasp looked messed up, missing one third its upper body, but it continued to jump and fight.

[Yori Hakamada]

Yori, neutrally: "I'm down"
Mori, a bit more panicked: "I'm down!"
Kawabe: "The Clint is down"
Tsuge: "Our air support is down?!?!"


(( shadow hawk run to 1028 then turn north, PPC at the Wasp
Jenner stand if it can then to get behind the panther at 1020 to keep firing 3 medium lasers, no kicking
Hunchback walk to 1924, turn to face south west, 4 medium lasers on the Stinger
Crusader to stand if it can, turn southwest if it can then medium lasers and SRMs on the stinger))

[GM Yuusha]

The Panther pauses, the pilot unsure whether to attack the Jenner or the Corsair as the aerospace fighter attempted a vertical lift off. It shoots its PPC at the Corsair ultimately. It misses.

The Marauder twists its arms back to shoot at Mori, a medium laser digging deep into its right torso and another hitting its arm (5 damage RT, 4 internal structure remaining, 5 damage LA). It looked fragile.

The Stinger shoots at Yori's Crusader, eating away the remaining armour. If Yori were less fortunate her ammo might have exploded (5 damage LA, 5 damage RT, 14 internal structure remaining, critical hit on explosive equipment rerolled by edge, 1 remaining, critical hit on heat sink instead).

Returning fire, she hits the Stinger repeatedly, as does Kawabe. By the end of the salvo of weapons fire the mech is in a sorry state (9 damage RT, 5 damage CT, 4 damage LL, 5 damage RA, critical hit on Lower ARM, Upper Arm and Hand).

The Jenner only manages a single hit on the Panther (5 damage LL). Opting not to kick, the pilot dodges a flailing punch from the Panther.

(Crusader on 1 heat, Hunchback on 2 heat, Jenner on 3)



The red mechs continue to pressure Yori's lance.

[Yori Hakamada]

It's tense times, each member of the defectors working furiously to keep themselves and the others alive as Yori calmly delivers instructions. Even Kawabe's anger has settled into a grim determination.

((Jenner to 0927, turn north east, 3 medium lasers on the stinger, no kick
Shadowhawk run to 0626 turn north, twist and fire PPC + LRMs at the stinger
Crusader run to 1522, medium lasers and SRMs on the Panther
Hunchback run to 1622, 4 medium lasers on the Panther

If the corsair can get airborne against it's time to fly!))

[GM Yuusha]

Yori's mech was limping along. It could only move at half speed. She was a sitting duck. The enemy were bound to notice any moment. As she tries to get to cover the Panther nails her with a PPC hit, nearly severing her right leg and taking out the SRM6 launcher mounted there (10 damage RL, Critical hit on SRM6). The Marauder also hits her with a PPC (10 damage LT). Yori returns fire on the Panther, her SRMs impacting it all over (2 damage LT, RT, CT, LA). Kawabe hits it too (5 damage LT). It was still combat active however! Then Tsuge lands some LRMs on its head (2 damage HD, 1 pilot hit).

At the same time, Mori hits the Stinger with two solid medium laser hits, destroying its right arm and nearly removing its right leg (5 damage RA, section destroyed, 3 damage transfers to RT, section destroyed, 5 damage RL, critical hit - Heat sink).

Yori keeps her mech upright as the Stinger tries to kick the Jenner. It misses yet remains upright. The pilots were competent.

Further south, the Corsair lifts up higher and roars off upwards. There was nothing over comms yet, but the bird still flew.

(Crusader on 1 heat, Hunchback on 2, Jenner on 4)



The enemy continued to move around. It made tracking them all difficult. Both the Stinger and Wasp were heavily damaged.

[Yori Hakamada]

Yori desperately tries to haul her crippled mech into cover as the rest of the lance rushes to cover her.

((Crusader walk to 1622, LRMs and medium lasers at the Panther
Hunchback run to 1523, LRMs and 2 medium lasers at the Panther
Shadowhawk back up to 0526, PPC and LRM at the Panther
Jenner walk to 0727, 3 medium lasers into the rear of the Stinger))

[GM Yuusha]

Becoming the centre of attention, the Panther is bathed in fire. It is hard to tell exactly who destroys the light mech, but it is certainly destroyed. Combat data would later award the kill to Kawabe.

The Jenner, meanwhile, digs into the back of the Stinger like some juicy snack (5 damage CTR). It takes fire in return however, a PPC blast severing its right arm (10 damage RA, section destroyed, 2 damage transfers to RT, 2 internal structure remaining). It was looking beat up.

The enemy Marauder, at least, misses its weapons fire. The Stinger clips the Shadow Hawk's left leg however, removing practically all its armour there. This would be important...

It follows up the shot with a kick. Connecting with the Shadow Hawk's left leg, the damage goes internal and, like Yori's mech, the leg ends up somewhat busted (4 damage LL, 10 internal structure remaining, 2 critical hits - on Lower Leg and Hip). Just before toppling over, Tsuge gets a kick in as revenge, removing the Stinger's left leg entirely! (11 damage LL, section destroyed, 4 damage transfers to LT).

Toppling over, Tsuge ends up with some scrapes and a further damaged mech (5 damage CT, 1 damage RA, 1 pilot hit). At least the right arm and centre torso had armour. The Stinger suffers similarly (2 damage LL, LT, 1 pilot hit).

(Crusader on 1 heat, Hunchback on 3, Jenner on 4)



Comms open again.



"Now you're vulnerable. You are mine, honourless dog." (Japanese)

The Marauder turns and stalks the Crusader and Hunchback. Both Yori's other lance mates wouldn't be able to help quickly. The Wasp, abandoning the Stinger, races forward in a near suicidal manner to assist.

[Yori Hakamada]

Yori, in Japanese: "Do all your 'honourable' fights involve ambushing your opponent already in battle? You sound just like the Colonel...no wonder he sent you."
Mori: "Bet she's another young woman, another one of his favourites"
Kawabe: roar of absolute violence
Tsuge: "Don't count me out!...Oww though."

((Shadowhawk stands, if he can PPC and kick into the stinger, I assume no punch as its prone
Jenner run to 1426, medium lasers on the Marauder
Crusader turn to 1522, turn south west, medium lasers and SRM on the Wasp, LRMs on the Marauder
Hunchback run to 1626, 4 mediums and small laser into Marauder, and a kick))

[GM Yuusha]

Yori is fortunate as the Marauder's fire hits parts of her mech that still have armour (10 damage CT, 5 damage LA). That could have been much worse. The Wasp hits the Hunchback with its remaining weapon, but it's a similar story (5 damage LT).

Yori finds her LRMs only do minor damage to the Marauder (3 damage RT). She needed a better angle. Kawabe has more luck, although the chicken legged mech had such a low profile that many hits were only glancing blows (2 damage LA, 5 damage RA, 2 damage LT, 5 damage RL). The Jenner, now with only four medium lasers after losing an arm, only gets a single hit in (5 damage LA). Yet, it's enough. The combined damage rocks the heavy mech and it topples to the ground (5 damage RA, 3 damage LL).

Kawabe finds it easy to give it a good kick! (10 damage RA).

(Hunchback on 4 heat, Jenner on 2)



The Marauder does get up and continue to fight. At least Yori's lance now outnumbered the enemy. The Dragon pilot continues to watch.

[Yori Hakamada]

It's coming down to the wire, as the increasingly crippled mechs on both sides have at eachother

((Jenner to 2028, turn north west, to medium lasers and a kick into the rear of the marauder
Hunchback to 1929, 3 medium lasers and the small laser on the Marauder, kick if possible but don't think it's the right angle. Also dump all his LRM ammo
Crusader stationary, Medium lasers and SRM at the Wasp
Shadowhawk stationary, PPC and LRM at the Wasp))

[GM Yuusha]

The Corsair returns for another attack run. There is no communication however. It was likely that they weren't working.

Angered at the enemy's persistence, the Marauder pilot switches focus to Kawabe's Hunchback. However, she only manages to hit it with a single laser (5 damage RT). The Hunchback pours medium lasers into the heavy mech, doing good damage (5 damage LA, LT, 2 damage LL, 3 damage RT). Mori misses her two shots. The Corsair swoops down for a pass at the Marauder, finally managing to hit it - the pilot doesn't hold back either, firing everything possible at the enemy mech (8 damage RL, 7 damage RA, 1 damage LT, 5 damage LA). Much of it was now stripped of armour and internals were being damaged.

The Wasp manages to hit Yori's Crusader once (5 damage CT), but then Yori opens fire on it with medium lasers and SRMs. She chews right through the centre torso, destroying it entirely.

On the opposite hill the Shadow Hawk carefully aims at the Stinger and destroys takes it out with hits to its engine and gyro.

Fearing the Corsair was flying close to target it, the Dragon shoots at it, removing the last specks of armour on its right wing (2 damage right wing).

Mori makes up for her poor shooting by kicking the Marauder in the back of its right leg (7 damage RL). Just a bit more and it would go down.

(Hunchback on 2 heat)



Cursing in her cockpit, the Kuritan mechwarrior pushes her mech up the hill toward Yori's Crusader. If she could at least kill the enemy leader she would die with honour.

Having fired at the Corsair the Dragon pilot decided the ceasefire was over. It moves back in to engage...

[Yori Hakamada]

Yori keeps grimly hauling what's left of her mech through the forest, almost feeling the glowing pin pricks of the Marauder's hunting PPCs.

Said Marauder continues to be swarmed by the Hunchback and Jenner like a pack of dogs as they continue to try and bring the beast down.

((Crusader to 1421, LRMs at the Marauder via spotting
Shadowhawk to 0824, PPC and LRMs at the Marauder
Hunchback run to 1926, 4 mediums, small and a kick into the Marauder's back
Jenner to 2025 and face north west, 2 mediums, kick and spotting into the Marauder))

[GM Yuusha]

Kawabe and Mori pour fire into the Marauder (6 damage RTR, 5 damage LA, RA, 5 damage LL). It kept coming. Then Tsuge, from way out of left field, strikes the Marauder with a savage PPC hit and LRMs. The heavy mech's right arm is torn clean off (5 damage RA, section destroyed, 4 damage CT).

It was, however, still standing. Still a threat.

Without any communication the Corsair zooms back in, trailing smoke, and it lights up the Marauder further with lasers. The heavy mech is brought down as its right leg is shot out from under it (8 damage RL, section destroyed, 3 damage transfers to RT, 2 damage RT).

The Dragon fires half heartedly at Kawabe's Hunchback, reducing the armour on its left leg to an absolute slither (2 damage LL). It and the Marauder also track the Corsair. Out of spite, the Marauder shoots a few weapons up at it mid-topple, scoring a single hit on its left wing (5 damage LWG).

Hitting the ground hard, the Marauder pilot is injured and the heavy mech is further damaged (8 damage RT). It was a mess. Even so, Kawabe kicks it to hasten its destruction (10 damage CT).
(Hunchback 3 heat, Crusader 1 heat)



Corsair destroyed fails to pull up after strafing the Marauder and shooting off one of its legs. As it continues to descend anyone watching will see the cockpit fly off and an ejection seat shoot into the sky. The aerospace fighter crashes hard into the ground rather after. Meanwhile, the lone Dragon was still in excellent condition. After firing upon the Corsair it turned to the easiest looking kill. Yori. It advanced on her Crusader at speed.

[Yori Hakamada]

Yori says something unflattering about the Dragon as Tsuge loudly cheers the Marauder's destruction.

((Shadowhawk walk to 0824, PPC and LRM on the Dragon
Hunchback walk to 1823, 4 medium lasers on the Dragon
Jenner run to 1622, 2 mediums and a kick on the Dragon
Crusader run to 1521, lasers, SRM and a kick on the Dragon))

[GM Yuusha]

The Dragon opens fire in all directions. In the end, only a few LRMs hit the Shadow Hawk (5 damage RT, 1 damage CT). It really didn't have the best firepower.

The whole lance opens fire at it, doing respectable damage (2 damage LA, 9 damage CT, 2 damage RL). It then takes a kick from Yori's Crusader as well (13 damage RL). This is enough to send it crashing to the ground (5 damage LA, 1 damage RA).

It was still fighting.

(Hunchback on 2 heat)



Yori notices she is out of SRM ammo as the Dragon gets up.

[Yori Hakamada]

But what she wasn't out of, was friends (the best ammo of all?) The dragon met by the ragged remains of a lance that refused to quit.

(( Crusader back walk to 1420, mediums and LRMs, might as well use the ammo, on the Dragon
Jenner walk to 1621, 2 medium lasers and kick on the Dragon
Hunchback to 1622, 4 mediums, small and a kick on the Dragon
Shadowhawk walk to 0925 and face north east, PPC and LRM on the Dragon))

[GM Yuusha]

The lance shoot and kick away at the Dragon. Yori's Crusader takes a little more damage, but it remains functional. The Dragon also kicks the Jenner, but it remains upright!

After enough attacks the Dragon's internals are exposed and its AC/2 ammo is hit, blowing the mech into lots of pieces.

The day was won.

(Strength lowered by 0.3 due to loss of Corsair)

((All enemies defeated! Congratulations!)

"This is HQ, come in."

The members of the lance finally notice their comms have been ringing. It had been hard to tell amidst the frantic combat.

"What's your status?"

[Yori Hakamada]

"This is HQ, come in."

The members of the lance finally notice their comms have been ringing. It had been hard to tell amidst the frantic combat.

"What's your status?"

Yori, calm as ever, enjoying the breeze through the new ventilation installed all over her mech.
"HQ this is Apprentice, we were engaged by a second enemy lance. Both enemy lances are destroyed, we have quite a bit of salvage for you over here."

Tsuge: "Yeah there's like 8 wrecks over here."
Mori was just happy to be alive, it sounded like she was quietly praying over the comms.
Kawabe lights up a cigar: "Been a while since we had to take down a Combine lance."
Mori: "We almost died!"
Kawabe: "War is a lot of almost dying."

Yori: "HQ, the Corsair that was supporting us went down under fire with the pilot ejecting, are you able to provide coordinates? We'd like to pick her up."

[GM Yuusha]

"We're not getting a signal. Please investigate the wreckage as a priority. We have two lances moving to reinforce your position. ETA 3 minutes. What's your condition?"

There was no sign of the Leopard that had dropped in the Militia lance. How the Combine lance arrived when they did was anyone's guess.

[Yori Hakamada]

"We're on our way."
Yori checks the condition of the mechs in her lance
"Heavy damage to 4 of our mechs, but all our mobile."