Operation Terminus

Discussion in 'Campaign - Skjaldborg Saga' started by MagnusEffect, Mar 25, 2014.

  1. MagnusEffect

    MagnusEffect Administrator Staff Member Jarl SC Huscarl

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    June 3, 3049

    Zone L4: Despite significant damage to some of their mechs, Delta Lance performed with excellence. Even as Skwi's Axeman was crippled and Sheo's King Crab was cut down, Delta was relentless. The bandits were determined to hold on to the outpost at any cost, but Delta would not be denied their prize. At last, the outpost is ours!

    A lucky few of the bandits managed to escape Delta's wrath, but without any provisions, they won't last more than a day in the scorching desert sands of Novo Cressidas. The outpost is in a sorry looking state. The eastern wall has massive gaps where our artillery pounded it to rubble. Most of the perimeter defenses we had to destroy or disable. Thick black smoke still billows out of one of the hangars; its doors appear to have been blown out from the inside... probably a lit fuel reserve. Thankfully, some of the utility trucks and the repair facilities seem mostly intact.

    And yet... something doesn't feel right. Bandits don't fight pitched battles. They usually look for the easy score and disappear before anything heavy comes their way. This was just a backwater outpost on a backwater planet. What could this small facility possibly hold that they felt was worth dying for? I suppose we will find out sooner than later.

    Regardless, we now have a fortified position we can use to push back our pursuing enemies. Unfortunately, with still no word from Morgana, we must assume the worst; she's dead or has abandoned us and the mission to find the Mischief Maker is scrubbed. We will need to weather the wrath of the Martillos and Gorettis until our Dropships can safely land and get us off this godforsaken shithole of a planet.


    Capture-delta2.GIF

    Victory!
    -------------------

    Winner is: TEAM #1

    MagnusEffect: 0 BV remaining (from 0 initially) 0 BV fled
    Roaming Bandits: 6 BV remaining (from 15675 initially) 0 BV fled
    Skwisgaar: 0 BV remaining (from 2267 initially) 1274 BV fled
    Gihzmo: 2824 BV remaining (from 3545 initially) 0 BV fled
    Dihm: 2244 BV remaining (from 3643 initially) 0 BV fled

    Survivors are:
    Mechanized Tracked Platoon (HL) #6 (Roaming Bandits)
    Gunnery Skill : Brian Bilali [3]
    Kills : 0

    Victor VTR-9D2 (Gihzmo)
    Pilot : Sergeant Lance Hallberg [2/3] ( 1 hit(s) )
    Kills : 10

    Warhammer WHM-7Ar (Dihm)
    Pilot : L�jtnant Otack Kulandinglar III [2/3] ( 1 hit(s) )
    Kills : 9

    Hetzer Wheeled Assault Gun (SRM) (Dihm)
    Driver : Zarife Felekian [3/4]
    Kills : 1


    The following units are in retreat:

    Graveyard contains:

    The following utterly destroyed units are not available for salvage:

    Detailed unit status saved to entitystatus.txt

    Enemy BV Destroyed = 15675

    Member Rewards:
    BV Rating = 15675 / 13 = 1205
    x2 victory multiplier = 2412
    Member Pay = 2412 / 4 = 602 = +600k C-bills

    Salvage (100 tons max) :
    x2 Siege multiplier = 200 max
    x5 Riposte LAV
    x1 Striker light Tank
     
    Last edited: Sep 28, 2014
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  2. MagnusEffect

    MagnusEffect Administrator Staff Member Jarl SC Huscarl

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    This was no fault of Sheo's, but this is a good example of why you should never underestimate Battletech's ability to throw surprises at you:
    2 damage from a simple standard infantry squad caused a through-armor critical that knocked his King Crab out of the fight. I don't think you could be more unlucky if you tried.
    :happybear:

    Of course, as is usually the case, it could still be worse... at least he gets to keep his mech.
     
    Last edited: Sep 28, 2014
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  3. Dihm

    Dihm Speaker of the Word Staff Member Gothi SC Thane

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    Yeah, that was stunning. Clamps brought low!

    We avenged him by burning those fuckers alive
     
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  4. Sheogoraath

    Sheogoraath Worst Person in the Universe Viking

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    I hope the super sniper who took out my hip join is still alive in there. I need to have a conversation with him.
     
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  5. MagnusEffect

    MagnusEffect Administrator Staff Member Jarl SC Huscarl

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    Final Total Rewards for Turn 03:

    Alpha
    C-bills = (600k/ + 500k/)
    Salvage = x4 Goblin Tanks (IFV) (400k/)

    Beta
    -no missions-

    Gamma
    C-bills = 450k/
    Salvage = x1 Dragon (450k/)


    Delta
    C-bills = (550k/ + 600k/)
    Salvage = x5 Riposte LAVs, x1 Striker Light Tank (300k/)

    *The "/" is shorthand for "/member" that took part in missions.

     
    Last edited: Sep 28, 2014
  6. Sheogoraath

    Sheogoraath Worst Person in the Universe Viking

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    There better be a spare LBX-10 floating around....everything else on clamps shouldn't be TOO hard to fix, I don't think
     
  7. MagnusEffect

    MagnusEffect Administrator Staff Member Jarl SC Huscarl

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    yeah you are good; the damage was only temporarily disabling. Clamps Sr. will be kicking ass again in no time.
     
  8. MagnusEffect

    MagnusEffect Administrator Staff Member Jarl SC Huscarl

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    All above rewards applied.

    Savefile updated.
     
  9. Trevnor

    Trevnor Tokin' Canadian Staff Member Jarl SC Huscarl

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    Yeah, we've got repair facilities now. I can reattach the arm of the Hatchetman. Sorry Skwi, I'll get it fixed, don't worry.
     
  10. Skwisgaar

    Skwisgaar XO Thrall

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    It's been a bad round for limbs. I've got my own missing arm issues.
     
  11. Sardonic

    Sardonic Well Liked Viking

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    "Me three," said the armless Crabbie.
     
  12. Skwisgaar

    Skwisgaar XO Thrall

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    And that's the reason we decided to push on and clear this grid. Needed to get some refit before attrition took too much of a toll.
     
  13. MostlyHarmless

    MostlyHarmless Master of Recruits Staff Member Jarl SC Huscarl

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    I'm hoping we may have a little out of mech roll 20 action since this base was so heavily defended by pirates. Perhaps some bunker clearing with shotguns to figure out why they wanted to keep it so badly as to sacrifice their entire force.
     
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  14. Tzeentch

    Tzeentch Bigfoot Hirdman

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    Imitators.
    [​IMG]
     
  15. MagnusEffect

    MagnusEffect Administrator Staff Member Jarl SC Huscarl

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    June 4, 3049

    Zone J4: With most of Beta Lance dispossessed, they had been relegated to perimeter defense and reconnaissance duty. While on a scout mission, Hunter Gamma discovered a small group of surviving Goretti forces fleeing westward. Unfortunately, the rest of Beta was not on-hand to lend assistance. Despite putting up a valiant effort, the Gorettis were too numerous and overwhelmed HG; blasting his hovertank to scrap. More concerned with escaping than ensuring there were no survivors, the Gorettis quickly moved on. As they drove off into horizon, a hatch suddenly kicked open on the forsaken hovertank. Bloody and burned, HG emerged... but still alive.


    upload_2014-10-5_16-33-45.png

    Defeat!
    -------------------

    Winner is: TEAM #2

    MagnusEffect: 0 BV remaining (from 0 initially) 0 BV fled
    HG: 0 BV remaining (from 575 initially) 0 BV fled
    Goretti Convoy: 169 BV remaining (from 169 initially) 0 BV fled
    Goretti Forces: 2816 BV remaining (from 3035 initially) 0 BV fled

    Survivors are:
    Ignis Light Artillery (SPG) (Convoy)
    Driver : Kyle Pietramellana [5/6]
    Kills : 0

    Cannonball APC (MG) (OpFor)
    Driver : Waleeda Yasser [3/3]
    Kills : 0

    Cannonball APC (MG) #2 (OpFor)
    Driver : Lexie Misianevich [3/4]
    Kills : 0

    SS/AM Truck (OpFor)
    Driver : Matthew Charles [4/5]
    Kills : 0

    SS/AM Truck #2 (OpFor)
    Driver : Dodo Cen [4/5]
    Kills : 0

    Scorpion Light Tank (Standard) (OpFor)
    Driver : Loflinger Wagner [3/4]
    Kills : 0

    Scorpion Light Tank (Standard) #2 (OpFor)
    Driver : Mouloud Mujawayo [3/4]
    Kills : 0

    Scorpion Light Tank (Standard) #3 (OpFor)
    Driver : Kaley Campbell [3/4]
    Kills : 0

    Scorpion Light Tank (Standard) #4 (OpFor)
    Driver : Phuong-Hanh De [3/4]
    Kills : 0

    Hover Scout (Standard) #2 (OpFor)
    Driver : Wolf Saltzman [4/4]
    Kills : 1

    Hover Scout (Standard) #3 (OpFor)
    Driver : Cyril Perrin [3/4]
    Kills : 0

    Hover Scout (Standard) #4 (OpFor)
    Driver : Chut-Njadin Kusuma [4/4]
    Kills : 0


    Graveyard contains:

    The following utterly destroyed units are not available for salvage:

    Detailed unit status saved to entitystatus.txt

    GM NOTE: Next time, if you can't make an agreed meeting time, please post something in your lance thread. It really screws things up for me if you don't show up when you say you will. I have to do a lot of planning ahead of time to have things ready. Anyway, don't worry about it. Let's just try to do better next time.
     
    Last edited: Oct 5, 2014
  16. MagnusEffect

    MagnusEffect Administrator Staff Member Jarl SC Huscarl

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    June 4, 3049
    Outpost Ignis - Skjaldborg Commandos' interim HQ (former Goretti outpost)
    Command Office

    Major Sullivan slouches in a bored manner in his chair while watching archived surveillance videos. He mutters to himself in frustration.
    "What happened here?"

    He skips ahead in the video. A familiar silhouette snaps him out of his somber mood. He stabs at the "pause" button and stares at the image.
    "I'll be damned".

    He opens a com channel on his radio.
    "Trev, get in here. I found her."

    (sorry for lack of updates. been distracted. more incoming in the next 24 hours).
     
    Last edited: Oct 15, 2014
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  17. MagnusEffect

    MagnusEffect Administrator Staff Member Jarl SC Huscarl

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  18. MagnusEffect

    MagnusEffect Administrator Staff Member Jarl SC Huscarl

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    June 5, 3049
    Outpost Ignis - Skjaldborg Commandos' interim HQ (former Goretti outpost)
    Command Center

    [​IMG]

    Everyone was here now. Officers had packed the room to watch the video for themselves. Captain Treabhar "Trevnor" Holmre was assisting Captain Anthony Kobs with the video playback as Major Magnus Sullivan began.

    "I will keep this short. We've been pouring over records and surveillance videos of this outpost since we got here. The Goretti records haven't offered much, but surveillance has more than made up for it. Captain Kobs, first video if you will, please."

    The viewscreen flickered and then began a video of what appeared to be the main hangar of the outpost before it had been partially destroyed. A variety of fixed wing and VTOLs aircraft could be seen inside. Partially covered by a large sheet hanging from the hangar's rafters, one large spacecraft dominates the background... probably a small aerodyne dropship.

    "Stop the video. I would like to direct your attention to the large object in the background. This video was recorded roughly 2 weeks ago. Hold that one for now. Next video please."

    The viewscreen when black and then began playing another video. This time the spacecraft was missing as well as most of the smaller aircraft that had been sitting in front of it.

    "Approximately six months ago and every day before that, this outpost's hangar had been mostly empty. Then suddenly, this spacecraft appeared as if out of nowhere. Skip ahead one hour."

    Kobs skipped the video ahead. For a brief moment, images fly past in quick succession, but then suddenly... the video twitches slightly and the spacecraft appears in the hangar as if out of thin air. Kobs pauses the video. Magnus continues.

    "We have six months of compressed surveillance like this. We see the spacecraft missing. Then it appears suddenly. Then it is gone again. Then it reappears the same way; covered and sitting in the back of the hangar. The Gorettis clearly have been hiding something here and they have gone to great lengths to keep it off record. We have yet to find any documents mentioning a dropship stationed here. I don't think I have to tell you this is incredibly suspicious behavior for a backwater pirate cartel."

    Almost at once, everyone in the room comes to the same realization. One name is on everyone's lips; the Mischief Maker.

    Lieutenant "Tzeentch" Van Brisngr is the first to ask the next most important question.

    "But Major, if it was here, it isn't now. This place is a wreck. What happened here? What happened to the ship?"

    Sullivan nods and smiles like he knew this is what everyone would ask.

    "Good question. Captain Kobs... play the audio we intercepted on the 25th of May."

    As the recording ends, the room remains silent. Sullivan continues.

    "We now know that transmission was related to whatever happened here. Some of you may remember that transmission came from forward elements of Martillo forces who were at the time, our allies. On May 25th, a sudden and devastating attack occurred on this outpost. We believe our Marillo scouts had been unlucky enough to get caught in the crossfire. This begs the question, though... if it wasn't the Gorettis and it wasn't the Martillos... who was it? Captain Kobs, continue the first video please."

    The screen switches back to the first video they had seen and the lights in the room dimmed. There was no audio, but the hangar appeared silent and still as a graveyard. Then a small group of soldiers entered the frame. Their movement looked suspicious; like someone who wasn't suppose to be there. One of them, a woman, seemed to be directing the others towards key points in the hangar. The camera suddenly moved as if someone had been controlling it at the time; adjusting slightly and zooming in on her. The hat had been kept low over her eyes, but when she noticed the camera, she dramatically removed it. Bright red hair billowed out from beneath it. Lily Morgana smiled and shoved a middle finger at the camera.

    Groans filled the room. Lieutenant Kulandinglar audibly swore.


    The video continued. Morgana turned and ran towards the large aerodyne, some of her crew following her. While some pulled at the sheet on it, she and others disappeared inside. A Buccaneer dropship was revealed, but this one was different. The Buccaneer class was a civilian hauler, but at this range one could see hints of extensive weaponry additions; missile ports and turret nacelles covered almost every section of the ship. Also, what had appeared to be a dormant ship locked up in storage was far from the truth. Although the video had no sound, it was visibly clear now that the dropship was simply minutes from launching. Previously obscured exhaust ports belched gas, smoke, and fire as power cables and fluid lines were systematically ejected from attachment points on the ship; all the telltale signs of flight pre-checks. Then suddenly... the firefight began.

    [​IMG]

    Goretti security must have finally realized the situation. Gunfire was pouring in from every entrance to the hangar. Morgana's soldiers held their own, but as they began to take casualties, they made a fighting retreat back to the dropship. As heavily armed Gorettis rushed the hangar entrances, the situation seemed to be rapidly spiraling out of control. Suddenly, a dozen nacelles on the dropship sprung open. With mechanical efficiency, menacing turrets emerged quickly and locked on to the Gorettis. Morgana must have hacked the dropship's security codes for the point defense system. For a brief moment, the Gorettis froze... no doubt gripped in fear. The closest squad leader appeared to say something directed at the ship. A short exchange of words; no doubt Morgana communicating with the ship's external speakers. Then... the real bloodbath began. Some were cut in half while others simply disappeared in a wet, red mist. The turrets were merciless in their efficiency. In less than ten seconds, the hangar was wiped clean of anything living.

    But the Maker wasn't done yet... Morgana and her crew were still locked inside the hangar. A minute passed. Then the missile ports on the ship opened. If they weren't going to let her leave, she would blast her way out. Five seconds later,, the video erupted in a hail of shrapnel and explosions. The feed went dead, but a moment later, suddenly reappeared from a different angle. The dropship and Morgana were gone, but devastation had been left in their wake. A gaping hole appeared where the locked hangar doors must have been. A few shattered mechs could be seen lying just beyond them. Goretti security was already scrambling to put out fires, but the damage was extensive... and very similar to how it appears now.

    The video ended and the room lights brightened. The officers remained quiet; still digesting in their minds what they had seen. The Major broke the silence.

    "Hopefully this answers some questions I know some of you have. After checking records we found at Crow's Nest, I can now confirm your suspicions...yes, that was the Mischief Maker. We've pieced together that, after her little show here, she went on to wipe out most of the Gorettis and Martillos forces in this region. Not sure if she had her own reasons or if it was to help us. My guess is that Morgana simply wanted to test out her new toy on these poor bastards before she left. This would also explain the SOS transmission we got on the 25th and why we have not seen any of the cartels since we arrived here. The bandits we fought the past couple of days were simply opportunists and scavengers here to pick the carcass. I believe they were hoping to profit in the wake of destruction left by the Mischief Maker... maybe even find information on the ship itself."

    As Major Sullivan paused to let things sink in, Lieutenant Kulandinglar, irritably cut in with a question.
    "If Morgana has left with the prize, where is she now? Shit, she had some of our own people with her. Why have we not heard from any of them?"

    Sullivan frowned, but nodded in understanding.
    "Good question. I'm not happy about the implications here either. However, right now we need to focus on surviving long enough to make contact with our own dropships. We can hold here for now, but it won't be long before the Martillos and Gorettis put the pieces together... and then they will both be looking for our heads. Together, the Martillos and Gorettis could overwhelm us. Time is of the essence. Eliminating the Gorettis before they can coordinate with the Martillos will buy us the time we need. If the Gorettis can't be reached, we hit the Martillos where they are most vulnerable. Either way, we keep the pressure on. The longer we can delay their arrival here, the more time we have to hope for a rescue."
     
    Last edited: Oct 21, 2014
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  19. MagnusEffect

    MagnusEffect Administrator Staff Member Jarl SC Huscarl

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    "There is motion on the horizon... Prepare yourselves, Mechwarriors!" :tobattle:

    GM Update:
    Sorry, everyone. I let Warframe eat up all my spare time. This campaign is still on, though. I look forward to finishing this before the year is out! Please review recent events and check in with your lancemates. I will post an updated schedule in the next 24 hours.
     
  20. MagnusEffect

    MagnusEffect Administrator Staff Member Jarl SC Huscarl

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    TURN FOUR BEGINS
    June 6, 3049 (Standard Terran Calendar)
    System: Star's End
    Planet: Novo Cressidas (northern hemisphere)

    View attachment 2820
    Capture.GIF Turn4.GIF

    After making good on our escape, we finally found a position to gather our strength. The abandoned Goretti base in Zone L4 we have taken and renamed as Outpost Ignis. It will be from here we turn this campaign around. We've discovered the last known whereabouts of the Harbinger and Lily Morgana. Apparently, it was here that Morgana found the Harbinger, stole it, and then proceeded to tear apart the Gorettis in the surrounding area before leaving for parts unknown. We fear she has abandoned us to our fates. Some of our crew was working with her, though. We can't be sure what has happened to them nor how they could allow her to betray us.

    These are questions that will have to be answered later though. Our immediate objective is crushing the Gorettis and Martillos before they can mount an organized assault on our position. Alpha and Delta lance are already making use of the outpost's surviving repair facilities. Gamma and Beta are returning at best speed, but the enemy is certain to be close behind them. No doubt there are more hidden bandits roaming the wastelands as well. We will have to be ready to turn them all back. No word from our dropships, yet. We remain on our own for now.

    If we give our enemies another bloody nose, they should back off. Hopefully, that will give us time to rearm Beta Lance; they lost most of their mechs two weeks ago in Zone H6. Once we are back at full strength... there is a head in need of collecting.
     
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