Incoming! (D12 EA Ninovo Combat)

[GM Yuusha]

Most of the open areas of the base have been taken. Resistance is tougher than expected. The Akos Militia had deployed more defenders than expected, possibly utilising troops that had retreated from Southern Akos. They were expecting us. There was even a company of tanks waiting north as a reserve, which other lances are having to deal with. Fortunately, the Angels still have superior numbers and firepower so the battle is well in our favour.

Your lance has been deployed in the centre of the Site to secure it. With the base defenders mostly neutralised and our infantry working their way through the buildings, this should have been an easy assignment. Things change when a Leopard dropship swoops down from the clouds to hover just west of the base. You quickly move to intercept as you spot it dropping off a lance of mechs!

If they can get inside the base they'll be a major threat to our infantry. With a position established they could hold out long enough for another lance to be brought in. That can't be allowed to happen. Destroy the enemy.

Objective: Destroy the enemy.

[Yori Hakamada]

"Command this is Apprentice, my lance is moving in to engage the hostiles now."
Yori's calm tone made its down the line as her own mechs moved to intercept the recently dropped hostile.

Tsueg and Mori's lighter mechs hurry ahead and split up while the slower mechs stomp towards the incoming enemies.

Tsuge: "Oh yeah, time to test my new machine out."
Mori: "Just try not to test how well the internals hold up under fire?"
Tsuige: "5th Doctor, you better be paying attention because you're gonna see how a professional operates."
Kawabe: "...Mmmmph"
Yori: "Pauper, stay focused...at least on better wordplay."

[GM Yuusha]

"Affirmative. We've sending a nearby Corsair freshly loaded with munitions to join you."

Yori's lance moved west. The enemy had suitable camouflage, making them harder to spot from a distance.

"This is Pilot Pullenza. Moving in to support you. Call priority targets, over."

(Free Reinforcement from Strength used for Aerospace support)



The enemy lance appeared to be two medium mechs, a light and a heavy. Respectable. The Dragon was a heavily armoured model that was under gunned. The Crab would be dangerous with its two large lasers. The Jenner was only a threat short range, as the lance well knew, and it was the kind with thin armour. Finally, there was a Clint - a sniper mech with an AC/5.



All four Militia mechs were moving rapidly toward the site.

[Yori Hakamada]

"Good morning Pullenza. Thank you for joining us." Yori's voice is as ever, full of neutrality.
"Please prioritize the enemy Crab."

The rest of her lance makes ready for the enemy.

"Man'O'War. Hold position. See if you can bait them into coming to you. Pauper, find somewhere to set up the PPC. 5th Doctor, wait for your moment."

(( Hunchback hold position
Shadow hawk walk to 1917, fire PPC and LRM at the Crab
Crusader walk to 1716, fire LRMs, at the Crab
Jenner walk to 1914))

[GM Yuusha]

Yori's lance did as ordered. Man'O'War remained hidden behind a nearby hangar as others moved to better positions.

As the Jenner approached it tried some long distance medium laser shots at the Shadow Hawk. Somehow, one of them clipped the mech's left torso at maximum range (5 damage). This show of luck was repeated as the Dragon puts an AC/2 shell into the right torso (2 damage LT).

Fortunately, Yori's lance were better shots. She puts a few dings into the Crab with LRMs (3 damage RA) as does the Shadow Hawk with its bigger dinger, a PPC (10 damage CT).

"Copy that. Prioritising the giant enemy Crab's weak points for massive damage."

The black Corsair flies in fast and low from the east, descending to get a good strafing run on the Crab. Spotting the threat, the Crab fired both its large lasers at the aerospace fighter, with one managing to clip its right wing (8 damage RWG). Fortunately, the pilot held it steady and focused the medium mech hard as soon as it was in range. Not a single weapon fired at the mech missed! Massive damage indeed (13 damage LT, 5 damage RL, 3 damage HD, pilot hit, 3 damage CT). As the Corsair speeds away the Crab wobbles for a moment, but it doesn't fall.



Even after that beating to the Crab the Militia keep coming. The Jenner zooms into the base, only stopping as it came to face the Hunchback. The Crab was right behind it followed by the Dragon. The Clint moved to the heavy woods the Dragon just left to provide covering fire. They were coordinating well.

[Yori Hakamada]

Mori: "These guys are determined"
Kawabe grunts as a Jenner skids around the corner in front of him, his hunchback cocking its biceps.
Yori: "Stay calm, we have them outgunned. Now execute the plan. 5th doctor forget about the Clin for now, Man'O'War is going to need you in a moment."

((Jenner run to 1818
Crusader stay still, SRMs and all medium lasers on the dragon
Hunchback walk to 2020, all mediums and the small on the Jenner and then go in for a kick
Shadowhawk stay still, PPC and LRM on the Dragon))

[GM Yuusha]

Kawabe is in a spot of trouble as the Jenner fires all its weapons at his mech. The alpha strike largely lands with the exception of any SRMs (5 damage RT, CT, RL, LT, edge used to avoid a HD hit, no edge left), although the mechwarrior has to manoeuvre to avoid being hit in the head. He only just keeps the mech upright. In response he tags the Jenner back with his own lasers (10 damage LT, 2 critical hits on jump jets, 5 damage RA, 3 damage LA). The Jenner looked very vulnerable after the exchange, its left torso both emitting sparks and smoke.

Yori manages to hit the Dragon with a medium laser (5 damage LA) and her companion in the salvaged Shadow Hawk clips it too, although the narrow profile was a nuisance (5 damage RA, 2 damage RT).

To Kawabe's shock, the Jenner sidesteps out of his kick only to hit his mech with a side kick of its own (7 damage LL). His mech is barely kept upright. Good that none of his lance mates saw that really.

(Hunchback on 3 heat)



As the friendly Corsair flies off to the north, preparing to turn back around, the damaged Jenner jumps away to cool off. It is immediately replaced by the Crab. The Militia wanted to take the main entrance it seemed. The Dragon was running that way too.

[Yori Hakamada]

Kawabe: "They're pushing me pretty hard here."
Yori: "We're coming to you Man'O'War, don't let one of them past."
Kawave: "Chansude wanai"
Mori: "I'm going after that Jenner."
Tsuge: "Uhh, moving to another position myself"

((Crusader run to 1519, SRMs and medium lasers into the Dragon's rear
Jenner run to 2024 and turn as north as possible, 4 mediums into the other Jenner's rear
Hunchback stay still, 4 medium lasers and a small laser into the crab, then a kick
Shadowhawk jump to 1517, PPC and LRM into the Dragon's rear))

[GM Yuusha]

Yori advances and tries to hit the rear of the Dragon with her weapons, but its narrow profile remained problematic (2 damage RL, RTR, RA). She was only getting in glances hits.

In the centre, the Hunchback punches through the Crab's centre armour, but it doesn't do any critical damage (10 damage CT, 5 damage RL). The Jenner duel is a surprise, with Yori's lance mate hitting the left leg of the other Jenner twice and damaging something important (10 damage LL, critical hit on Lower Leg).

All of this comes at a price. The Crab does good damage to the stationary Hunchback with its weapons. It even singe the mech's cockpit with its small laser, causing Kawabe some minor yet painful burns in the process (8 damage LA, CT, 3 damage HD, 1 pilot hit). The Dragon split fire, but it only hits the Shadow hawk with a medium laser (5 damage RT). Meanwhile, the Clint continued to be an exceptional annoying sniper as it continues to ding the Crusader (5 damage LT, RA).

Now that it was close the personal both Tsuge and Kawabe let the Crab have it. The Crab does manage to kick the Hunchback's left leg (10 damage LL), which left precious little armour in that location, but both medium mechs savage it in turn (10 damage RL, 11 damage LL). If only they coordinated on which leg to go for! The Crab topples over a moment later as it completely loses its balance (5 damage RT, 2nd pilot hit, pilot blacks out!). The mech doesn't move for a while after that. The pilot was probably injured.

In the south Mori tried kicking the enemy Jenner, but missed.

(Hunchback on 2 heat, Jenner on 4 heat)



As the Jenner moved to create some distance the Dragon jogged past it to cover its fallen Crab friend. Touching, really. The Clint continued to snipe.

[Yori Hakamada]

Kawabe grunts as a warning sign flashes on his mech and he slams his fist down to turn it off.

Mori: "Man'O'War you gotta pull back!"
Kawabe: "Hmmph"

((Yori walk to 1419, all medium lasers and one of the SRM6s on the Jenner, kick with the other
Shadow Hawk PPC and a kick at the prone/immobile Crab
Jenner to 1922, all medium lasers and a kick at the prone/immobile Crab
Hunchback walk backwards 2 spaces, fire all medium lasers at the prone/immobile Crab))

[GM Yuusha]

The combat was getting messy and personal, being so close range. Luckily, the Militia were less used to such an intense situation than Yori and her lance mates. The Dragon hits Mori's mech with a medium laser (5 damage LA) and Kawabe's with its AC/2 (2 damage LT). Not the end of the world. Surprisingly, the Clint misses all its weapons fire for the first time, as does the enemy Jenner.

Yori aims at the Jenner and plugs it with a few hits (7 damage CT, 2 damage RT). It was still a threat however. To her left, the Crab is shot to pieces by Kawabe and Tsuge. It was certainly crippled now - if and when the pilot woke up they'd have to be suicidal to continue the fight. It had even lost part of its torso and an arm! (15 damage LT, section destroyed, limb blows off, 2 damage transfers to CT, Critical hit on engine, 13 damage RL, 2 critical hits: on Foot and Upper Leg, 5 damage RT)

Knowing the Crab was being put down, Mori hits the Dragon with a few medium lasers (5 damage LT, 2 damage CT). It retaliates by kicking the lighter mech, removing most of the armour from its left leg (12 damage LL). The Jenner gets a little revenge with its own kick (7 damage RL). Tsuge tries too, but misses the attack.

Back with Yori, she is kicked by the enemy Jenner (7 damage LL) before she can kick it. With some annoyance she treads on the light mech's right leg, nearly taking it off (13 damage RL, Critical hit on 2 locations: Hip and Upper Leg). The Jenner immediately falls over, taking more damage (4 damage CT, 1 pilot hit). To Yori's dismay, Mori falls over too after losing balance from the Dragon's kick (4 damage RA). At least the pilot managed to avoid banging their head! The cockpit, indeed the whole mech, was now very hot however.

(Hunchback 1 heat, Jenner on 8 heat)



The pilots of the Jenner and Crab both choose to live. Each ejects, leaving only the Dragon and the Clint. Both mechs pushed into the site aggressively.

"Pullenza coming in hot. Focusing the Dragon, over."

The Corsair had swung back around for another pass finally. However, another communication quickly follows.

"Apprentice, heads up. Looks like something else is coming your way from the west. I can see the trees moving. Looks like... red mechs, over."

A moment later and Yori's sensors also pick up a new threat:

'Warning: Unknown mech signatures detected.'

[Yori Hakamada]

Yori: "Unknown red...STAND DOWN EVERYONE STAND DOWN." Yori's yelling is neutral but louder.

Kawabe's yelling over the open comms is more effective as his hunchback moves to cover itself from the Dragon: "Listen, Dragon pilot. You might get me in a rush, maybe. But not before my lancemates here turn what's left of your mechs into a canoe. That lance you're seeing on your sensors coming in from behind, they aren't friendly. And if they're who I think they are they're a bunch of Combine mechs on their way to kill everyone here.

So if you want to get your squad killed to make some Drac's life easier, you can keep firing. But I didn't think that was what you boys were about."

Day 12 EA, Ninovo Combat, Communications/Awareness from Kawabe, unknown TN to get the militia to stand down. Take 2: 4d10o10k2 22

There's a brief silence as the rest of the lance look at eachother, they'd never heard the sergeant speak for half as long before.

Yori, dully "Negative Pullenza, I say negative. Abort attack run on Dragon, prepare for strafing run on approaching mechs on my command."

((Mori will try and stand and Kawabe will move north out of LOS and melee from the Dragon but nobody is gonna shoot at the militia while we try and get them on board))

[GM Yuusha]

The Dragon comes to a stop as the Hunchback moves away and the mercenaries stop firing at it. There's a pause for a moment. Then a brief response on open comms.

"We'll see. Standing down for now."

The Clint clearly was having none of it as it fired upon Yori's mech (5 damage LT, RL).



Another message hits open comms immediately after. "We have come to execute traitors to House Kurita. Akos Militia, do not interfere. We have no interest in this base, only the heads of mass murderers." It is a confident woman's voice in clear English.

"Prepare to die." (Japanese)



The mechs move quickly, coming into view and readying their weapons. The Corsair reports on them as best it can. "Three lights and... a Marauder. There's a Marauder!" Pullenza calls in, having slowed down to get a better visual.

The Dragon, not wanting any part of this, stomps into the base to wait and watch. The Client, confused and surrounded, continues to fight.

[Yori Hakamada]

Yori, politely: "Good afternoon, you've come a long way to die for a coward. Please compose your death poem in the next few seconds to avoid delays."
Kawabe: "Hmmph, couldn't even come himself, sent an errand girl."
Mori: "Wait, surely this fight doesn't have to happen!"
Tsuge: "YOU RUINED MY LIFE!"

Yori: "Pullenza. I want every.gun.you.have to fire on that Marauder."

((Shadowhawk walk to 1523, PPC at the Panther.
Crusader walk to 1421, turn south west LRMs at the Panther
Jenner run to 1225, 2 mediums on the panther
Hunacback run to 2219, LRMs at the panther))

[GM Yuusha]

As Kawabe reports he doesn't have a firing solution, the enemy begin to open fire. Most concentrate on Yori's mech.

"Dropping ordnance Apprentice. Enjoy the fireworks."

The Corsair cuts over the Marauder and turns toward the Panther, leaving a trail of falling metal in its wake. This spreads out and explodes across the ground, hitting both mechs. The Marauder takes damage on its left side (10 damage LT, 5 damage LL). The Panther takes much more damage as it is bathed in flames (10 damage CT, 5 damage RTR, RT). The airstrike had scattered more than desirable however, so both mechs remain standing.

Yori misses her shots. Indeed, most enemies do in the chaos. The Clint was still having a go at her however, hitting her left leg with a laser (5 damage LL). Could the lance afford to keep ignoring it?

The enemy were confident and skilled. The Panther hits the Jenner with its PPC while avoiding return fire (10 damage RT). The Marauder misses Yori's mech with its PPCs thankfully, but the heavy mech takes another AC/5 hit (5 damage RL). Then the Stinger hits her with a medium laser too (5 damage RT). Her armour was practically at half its normal level.

In the skies the Corsair pulls away and starts to turn back around. On the ground the enemy Marauder was beginning to show up on thermals.



The striking heavy mech remained in cover. The Panther jumped back into heavy woods as both other lights moved to flank Yori's lance.

[Yori Hakamada]

Well, it was looking dicey, but the lance wasn't going down without a fight.

((Jenner run to 0627, 3 medium lasers + kick into the panther
Shadowhawk run to 1026, PPC + LRMs into the panther
Hunchback walk to 2020, 4 mediums and the LRMs into the Clint
Crusader walk 1422, turn south east, all SRMS and medium lasers into the Clint))

[GM Yuusha]

The Corsair flies around sharply to provide assistance. It lines up for the Marauder, but swoops down to hit one of the light mechs en route, damaging the Wasp slightly (3 damage LA, LT).

Yori backs up and mostly misses the elusive Clint, but she does hit its left arm (5 damage LA). Kawabe has more luck, striking it with a salvo of LRMs at the expense of heating his mech up (5 damage RA, RTR). Its right rear torso looked very exposed. For good measure, Yori kicks it, doing excellent damage and destroying a jump jet (13 damage RL).

Meanwhile the Wasp and Stinger harass Yori (5 damage RT, LL), with her left leg becoming low on armour. The Clint pilot, devoid of its favourite target, decides to shoot at the Shadow Hawk instead. It hits it with a medium laser (5 damage LT).

The Marauder aims for the annoying ASF, but it misses. Directly south of it, the Panther and Jenner end up in a brawl, but each dodges the attacks of the other.

(Hunchback on 7 heat, Jenner on 1)



The Clint jumps away awkwardly, getting some height and distance. The Dragon continued to sit out the fight.

As for the Kurita attackers, the Marauder continued to camp and the Panther moved toward it for protection. Both light mechs jump into cover.

[Yori Hakamada]

Yori: "This...interesting"
Kawabe: "I will have my vengeance on this Clint, he has interrupted my vengeance."
Mori: "God damn....Panther just slipped by me."
Tsuge appeared to still be screaming incoherently.

Yori: "We have them split up, continue to use the cover to hide from the enemy fire, Man'O'War and I will clean up the lights. Pullenza, another run at the Marauder if you can."

((Jenner run to 0323 behind the Marauder and turn to face north east, 3 medium lasers and a kick into its back
Shadow hawk run to 0728, and turn to face north west, PPC on the Wasp
Crusader back up to 1622, medium lasers and SRMs into the Stinger
Hunchback walk to 1922, 3 medium lasers on the Clint))

[GM Yuusha]

"Bad angle. Hitting the Wasp and coming back around for another pass."

The Wasp and Marauder both shoot at the Corsair, but neither can hit it. The Corsair doesn't miss with all its weapons, its large laser hitting the Wasp's left torso and doing excellent damage (8 damage LT, Critical hit on Machine Gun).

Meanwhile, the Clint continues to harass the Crusader (5 damage RL, LA). Annoying thing! Kawabe hits it with a two of his shots, damaging the left arm enough to strip the armour (5 damage LT, 5 damage LA). The Stinger fires at Yori too, but misses. Yori hits the Stinger with a medium laser and four SRMs (5 damage LA, 4 damage RL, 2 damage RA, CT).

The enemy Panther hits the Shadow Hawk with its PPC (10 damage LL). Nearby, the Jenner unloads into the Marauder, all its shots hitting but only glancing due to the mech's low profile (2 damage CTR, RL, LL). A moment later and the Shadow Hawk hits the Panther, the Wasp providing nearly impossible to target. The Panther's left arm looks very vulnerable as a result (13 damage LA).

The Stinger goes to kick the Crusader only to miss. Mori lands a kick on the back of the Marauder, but it doesn't go down (7 damage RL).

(Jenner on 2 heat, Hunchback on 3 heat)



The Clint backs away, but continues to use its weapons, as the Kuritan lance rapidly repositions.

[Yori Hakamada]

Yori's own lance by contrast has split up, circling around the Kuritans and continuing to pressure them while staying out of the way of the big guns.

((Jenner walk to 0820, 3 medium lasers into the back of the panther
Hunchback run to 1923, 4 medium lasers at the Clint,
Crusader walk to 1823, medium lases and SRMs at the Clint
Shadowhawk walk to 0627 and turn north east, PPC at the wasp))