Battletech: Planet's Fall

(Open to 2 Combat PCs)
Lakshmi had some music playing in the simulator room. She'd also had the heating on. The whole room felt... nicer? Yes, nicer than usual. More welcoming. There was even a faint scent of something sweet in the air. The pods were on and Lakshmi's lance had just left.

Twirling about to the music in the centre of the room, dancing around a noteputer on a stack of crates, the Captain was in a great mood. Her lance had done well and her latest simulation had run well. Better still, she'd been given access to a few challenging simulations and she'd beaten two of the three.

The sight of the small, attractive captain dancing around in boots, tight shorts, a loose top and nothing else would be hard to miss for anyone entering the simulation room now that it was free.

Ezmeralda arrived for the raider company simulator run. "Good work getting us the slot Laks!" she said before stretching, "What's the sim?"

"Your choice~" She calls back to Ez, still dancing. "Here, take a look. It's one of these for a challenge or I put you up against a prediction of a possible encounter with the Militia we'll be facing."

She points to the noteputer.

Scorpion's Nest
Surrounded by companies of Scorpion tanks as you await extraction. How long can you last against the cheap militia hordes?

Black Watch
Fight against the Black Watch. A lone Highlander faces off against you. Can you defeat a legend?

Lance Strike
The intelligence officer suggested a small number of enemies. Now you're somehow facing a heavy lance. What do you do?

"Scorpion's nest or whatever the militia mock up sim is are probably good ideas," she smirked as she watched the captain dance, "I'm not expecting being out-tonned as much as out-manned for a bit."

While Catherine prefers real Battlemech action over a simulation, there are many situations you can not train for otherwise. Or in other words, she has to get her hours in any way she can. Not that she actually needs. Spaceflights are long and a good simulation stave off boredom better than most things.

Simulations can be a lot of fun and get her heart pumping.

Eyes already shining with excitement, the small redhead comes rushing into the room, wearing a simple coverall that fails to live up to its name, since it leaves her legs uncovered. She takes a quick look around and greets the two people present with a quick wave.

"Hey Laks! Hey Ez!"

"Hey Cat! Do you want a bunch of tanks, a militia group, a lance, or one big bad mech?" Ezmeralda asked with a grin, "Actually lets not do the big bad mech. I heard it is a wrecking machine."

Being assaulted immediately with the choices, Catherine has to change gears and think for a moment. But the answer is simple.

"What are we most likely to face in the next few days? Big bad mech probably not. Militia or tanks, I assume. I haven't trained stomping on flat metal bugs for a while, because it is sorta not so fun. Maybe better get into it now, so we don't mess up when it counts."

"Sounds like Scorpions' nest then," she smiled, "The manpower over firepower force."

Lakshmi sways past them to turn the music off. She returns with a smile. "Scorpion's Nest is interesting. The other companies should try stuff like it more. You're going to want to exploit the terrain as much as possible. If you stay on the flats you're going to get taken out."

She pats each on the shoulder then points to the pods. "Put your helmets on and hop in. I'll load it up. There will be a brief mission blurb to start and I'll be on the comms. How's that?" Laks asks cheerfully.

"Sounds good!" Ezmeralda said with a grin grabbed a helmet and went for her pod.

Your mission was to locate a missing flatbed truck spotted in an abandoned desert stopping point. Upon finding the remains of the truck your sensors began to ping.

You are in a Scorpion's nest!!!

Eliminate the enemy and secure the target site. Beware hidden enemies. Good luck mechwarriors!

The writing flashed up for both Ez and Cat once they were ready. The simulation then loaded, placing them in a desert kill zone. Not good! Immediately, their sensors reveal the presence of enemies. Some come into visual range...



There were a mix of different Scorpion tanks. Immediately the closest begin speeding to your position!



(Your go!)

Advance 2 at a walk (hex 1111) and then turn to face hex 1011. Dumping fire into the nearest SRM tank.

Catherine is quite taken aback by Ezmeralda's silent walk forward. There is little time to think though. Having a good overview of the map on her Command Module, she knows just where to jump.
Fire jump jets first. Then start shouting over the radio while in mid air.

"Easy! Hey! What's your plan? Say something!"

She follows this with a few seconds of silence, while she makes sure to stick her landing in the heavy foliage of her choice.

Then in a more resigned tone the young Mechwarrior continues. "I'll take the East."

__________
Jumping 5 hexes, into hex 1312, facing hex 1412. Shooting the tank on hex 1812 with LL (short rng) + SRM-6 (med range). (Heat: 8+4+5: 17, -14 -> Heat level: 3)

Both mechs was slow to respond. Ez lurched forward and turned her mech toward the incoming pair of tanks while Cat jumped away to handle some of the enemy. As she did so, she found another SRM Scorpion lurking in the woods behind the building she'd landed beside. Not good!

Ez might wince as her AC/20 fire flew over the top of the SRM Scorpion along with one of her lasers, but the other did connect (5 damage to RR). Cat was having similarly middling results, her SRMs making small craters around but not on her target. Fortunately, her large laser did some work and immobilised it (8 damage, critical hit, engine destroyed. Target immobile).

The return fire against them was equally middling, but the enemy outnumbered them...

Cat's Wolverine is surprised by the SRM Scorpion's weapons fire. 4 SRMs hit the Wolverine (2 damage to RA, RT, 4 damage to LL), making small impacts. The machine gun fire missiles while more missiles hit the ground beneath the Wolverine, igniting the dry foliage (fire on 1312!). LRMs and AC/5 fire rain down around the mech, but none of it lands.

The Hunchback was rocked with hits as it stopped in the killzone. SRMs and medium lasers tore up its armour (2 damage to RT, CT, LT, LL, 4 damage to LA, RL). Ezmeralda had to swivel to the side to avoid one missile connecting with her head (1 Edge spent). Then the LRMs hit (3 damage to LT, 5 damage LA, 1 damage LL). There were enough impacts to knock the mech off balance. Although Ez prevented herself from getting hurt, she couldn't stop the mech falling onto the pavement (5 damage to RL). Her simulator pod was rumbling.

Wanting to do some more damage, Cat plants her mech's left fist into the SRM Scorpion closest to her. It leaves a big dent on the light tank's right side (5 damage RS).

(Hunchback is on 1 heat, Wolverine is on 3. Hunchback is prone!)

Smoke began to fill the air where there was fire. Perhaps they could use it to their advantage? The two nearest Scorpions gave chase to both mechs as the others moved to react. The one Cat had immobilised stopped being a threat as the crew appeared to bail. Their forms vanished as the simulation stopped displaying them. That was one down at least.



The other Scorpions were gradually closing in or holding their firing positions, in the case of the LRM variants.

(Your go!)

"Get up Ez. Keep communicating. You need a plan!" Laks urges through their headsets.

She fought to get the mech back on its feet. "Sorry, I was hoping to cover my back and break the mini srm carrier so I could breathe and coordinate from there," she grimaced, "My hunchie isn't the best thing to take into a canyon ambush. Those srm ones are murder."

(Try to stand up and if that works stumble into 1112 and lasers + kick that tank)

"Easy, what's your target? I can't help you like this!" Catherine asks over radio, before deciding that she will rather stay out of that mess for now. The Hunchback can take a beating and a hit with that AC-20 will take out any of these tanks with a single hit, no matter where. As long as it is a hit.

Firing her jump jets once again and flying in a half pirouette, she announces in mid air. "Going after that SRM in the East. Targeting the LRMs next."

__________
Jumping 5 hexes into hex 1810, facing 1710. Shooting the SRM tank with my own SRM-6 and 2 ML. Following it up with a kick if necessary. (Heat 3+5+4+6: 18, -14 -> Heat level: 4 )

Weapons roared on both sides. There was an intense exchange of fire. The Wolverine was hit by SRM fire, LRMs and a single AC/5 slug, but the thick armour was holding (1 damage CT, 4 damage LT, RT, 5 damage RL).

Somehow Ez managed to avoid nearly all the shots fired her way by ducking and weaving. Only a single shot from a sneaky Scorpion revealing itself caused any damage (5 damage to LL).

The mechwarriors dished out punishment in return. While Ez unfortunately missed her AC/20 shot again, she landed one of her lasers which immobilised the nearby laser Scorpion (5 damage RS, major damage - immobilised). The other medium mech focused everything on the retreating SRM Scorpion, tearing its armour to pieces, stunning the crew and damaging its tracks (5 damage LS, 2 damage LS, 6 damage FR. Stunned, heavy damage and 1/2 MP).

A moment later and the SRM tank light tank crumpled as Ez kicked it right up its backside (destroyed!). The other SRM tank was similarly kicked by Cat's mech, but it only dented the thing's turret (11 damage TU). It was being stubbornly persistent.

(Wolverine on 6 heat [not quite sure how!] and Hunchback is on 4 heat)

There were still some hidden enemies if the mechs' intermittent sensor readings were correct. The enemy light tanks moved to regroup and spread out while the crew of the immobilised laser variant bailed.



(Your go!)

"Nice one Ez!" Laks cheers over comms.

Having no idea what Ezmeralda's plan is, Catherine decides to immediately move on. That LRM tank down there is quite exposed. Let's hope they are just being cocky and not bait. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

"Going after the LRM bug to my south." Hellcat announces and fires her jump jets. Mid air she suggests "Let's clear this side of the map."
__________
Jumping 5 hexes into 1915, facing 1815. Shooting the LRM tank on 1916 with my SRM-6 and 2x ML. Following it up with a kick. (Heat 6+5+4+6: 21, -14 -> Heat level: 7)(Running hot, so please do not let me go "[not quite sure how!]" into heat level 8+! XD)
(SRM ammo: 13/15, -1)