Operation Terminus

I will wait until Magnus is ready and adjust the message accordingly. Don't want to jump the gun after he ruined his own campaign

 

Turn08-Mission05
July 20, 3049
Castille di Coltelli, Eastern Quarter (Martillo HQ)



Zone D4:
Major Sullivan pressed on into the heart of the Martillo stronghold. The rest of Alpha Lance, unwilling to abandon their commander, followed after but with some reservation. Recent events had shaken, but not broken their loyalty. However, chasing Savio Drago into his lion's den was a dangerous move. What traps had he lay in wait for them? The answer would come sooner than anyone, believed.

Caution and careful planning is usually required when confronting a skilled enemy within a fortified position. Like chess, a deadly dance of moves and counter-moves must be engaged before true victory can be achieved. On much more rare occasions, luck can take all that careful planning and scatter it to the wind. In the case of the hunt for Savio Drago, luck would be the deciding factor.

For the past week he had set up concentric circles of manned turrets without and within Castille di Coltelli. His plan had been hold his heaviest forces in reserve and allow the Skjaldborg Commandos to exhaust themselves on his entrenched gun positions. Once the Commandos had been sufficiently softened, he would counter attack with his own mech forces and crush his enemies in one brilliant push.

Yet, he had not expected the Commandos to push so far and so fast into his defenses. As Drago rushed his Banshee to rally the defenses, a chance encounter was about to change everything. Turning a corner near the wall of the Martillo castle, Savio Drago came face to face with one part of his dark past that refused to die, Magnus Sullivan. Their meeting at such close range was so sudden and unexpected as to give them pause, but only for a brief moment. There was no time for words. There was no time for threats. There was only hatred... and deadly intent. Drago's towering Banshee outweighed Sullivan's Black Knight by 20 tons and, at such short range, any casual observer would have placed the odds in Drago's favor. But Drago's strength was matched by Sullivan's speed. The two managed to exchange a single round of inconsequential fire before coming to physical blows. Drago's mech swung first, but missed Sullivan and staggered forward. Sullivan's counterattack was as precise as it was devastating. Raising his Black Knight's massive fists over his head, Sullivan brought them down like twin meteors squarely on top of the Banshee's head. The Banshee's cockpit exploded in a hail of glass and steel. Their entire exchange had been barely ten seconds... but now Savio Drago was finally dead.

Alone in his cockpit, Sullivan wept. Nearly a lifetime of seeking revenge had not prepared him for so sudden a victory. How long had he fantasized a slow and painful death for Savio Drago?... now he felt only exhaustion and profound emptiness.

The extremely sudden death of their most decorated commander spread panic through the remaining Martillo mercenary forces. If the Skjaldborg Commandos had killed the dreaded "Butcher" so easily, what fate awaited them? The Martillo castle was abandoned as fast as the panic spread. Boss Firo Martillo and his few remaining guard attempted an escape to his private dropship, but his hopes were dashed as Skjaldborg artillery shelled his ship into a shattered hulk. No... not just artillery... something from the sky...

a dark and predatory shape cuts through the clouds raining death and destruction...

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

Winner is: TEAM #1

Skjaldborg Commandos: 0 BV remaining (from 0 initially) 0 BV fled
Trevnor: 1792 BV remaining (from 3346 initially) 0 BV fled
LagCat: 2062 BV remaining (from 3220 initially) 0 BV fled
MagnusEffect: 6849 BV remaining (from 3303 initially) 4593 BV fled
Martillo Command: 0 BV remaining (from 5613 initially) 0 BV fled
Martillo Guard: 499 BV remaining (from 6358 initially) 0 BV fled
Alexia: 1789 BV remaining (from 1962 initially) 0 BV fled

Survivors are:
Hatchetman HCT-4L Ymir (Trevnor)
Pilot : Kapten Treabhar Holmre [2/3]
Kills : 2

Infantry (Rifle) (Trevnor)
Gunnery Skill : Urshita Rickward [3]
Kills : 0

Battletoads (Rifle) (Trevnor)
Gunnery Skill : Derrick Kadeer [3]
Kills : 1

Shadow Hawk SHD-2K Duvhok (LagCat)
Pilot : Sergeant Malcom Gerard [4/5]
Kills : 0

Hetzer Wheeled Assault Gun (Standard) (LagCat)
Driver : Josef Boer [4/5]
Kills : 1

Field Gunners (Thumper) (LagCat)
Gunnery Skill : Andreas Gies [3]
Kills : 1

Portable Turret (AC5) #3 (Martillo Guard)
Driver : Zachary Gidley [3/8]
Kills : 0

Portable Turret (AC5) #4 (Martillo Guard)
Driver : Kadija El Kamche [4/8]
Kills : 0

Raven RVN-4X Muninn (Alexia)
Pilot : Kavellrist Alexia Beriadanwen [4/5]
Kills : 0

LRM Carrier (Standard) (Alexia)
Driver : Alva Yaz?c?z?de [4/4]
Kills : 0

LRM Carrier (Standard) #2 (Alexia)
Driver : Qadir bin Sami [4/5]
Kills : 0

Buccaneer - Mischief Maker (MagnusEffect)
Driver : Lily Morgana [3/3]
Kills : 0


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

SECONDARY OBJECTIVE MET: ALPHA GAINS "Killed Bounty: Savio Drago" (8 million)

 

July 21, 3049

Dawn seeps into Castille di Coltelli through black smoke and broken walls. As Major Sullivan regroups and solidifies control of the Martillo stronghold, a new voice is heard by all of the Commandos:

"...I repeat. To all Skjaldborg forces... this is Major Henrik Olsson aboard the Union dropship Silver Forge. We have been sent by Central as reinforcements to recover and extract you from Novo Cressidas. We will be making planetfall in six hours. Central has ordered all friendly forces to rendezvous and prepare for extract at the following coordinates..."

 

July 22, 3049
300 km West of Castille di Coltelli

"...unfortunately, recent events have come to my attention that force me to take immediate action. According to article 249 of the Skjaldborg Mercenary Charter, I, Major Henrik Olsson, officially relieve Major Magnus Sullivan of all duties and hearby take command of the Skjaldborg Commandos. Major Sullivan is to be held for questioning for the following charges:

Conspiracy with one "Lily Morgana" in regards to the capture of the Mischief Maker and the withholding of information on "Project Harbinger", improper hazarding of Skjaldborg assets in regards to the pursuit of an unsanctioned bounty for one "Savio Drago", dereliction of duty in regards to abuse of his position and withholding key information from Skjaldborg Central, and finally, absence without leave in regards to his recent disappearance and suspicious activity.

Major Sullivan is to be treated as a suspect and witness. He is to be detained under house arrest, but is to remain unharmed. Lethal force is only to be used as a last resort in self-defense. He will face the charges against him in our military court upon our return Rasalhague.

All previous arrangements made by Major Sullivan with local governmental bodies are now considered null and void. I have advised both Goretti and Martillo representatives to stay out of our area of operations for the next seven days. Any organized resistance in our AO will be met with lethal force.

All remaining Skjaldborg forces are to rendezvous at my current position. This is Major Olsson signing off."

 

He hasn't given himself up yet... And we could have comm static

 

There is no really wrong or right choice here. Players can take whatever lawful or chaotic choice they want. Also, I have yet to post the response from Sullivan and Goretti. This is just all setting the stage.

 

Dibs on the black knight

 

Magnus, are you ready for a Delta response or do you wish to do more set up? I don't want to jump the gun

 

I should have the last of it up today. After that, everything should be in place.

 

ok i lied. i am working on it, though. Some RL stuff came up that delayed the next update. will have it done for sure some time tomorrow night.

 

July 22, 3049
Castille di Coltelli - Martillo Capital

A familiar voice is heard on open channels...

"To all Commandos, this is Major Sullivan. It has been a long road and it has been my greatest honor to fight alongside you. I will not forget how you have all served with distinction in your own way. Unfortunately, Skjaldborg High Command seems to have lost faith in my leadership. If not for Major Henrik Olsson's intervention, I would recommend every last one of you for commendation. It is with a heavy heart that I have taken you into harms way for a deeply personal vendetta. I ask you this, however; how many employers have you fought for that have not asked the same? For those who still feel the sting of betrayal, rest assured I have not forgotten your efforts; I have set aside a hidden account funded by my personal fortune to make sure you are all compensated. I had to make some estimations , so if it is not sufficient, I can only ask your pardon given the circumstances.

I fully admit to the charge of withholding information from most of you, but never once has your safety not been a priority of mine, never once has my leadership failed you in the heat of battle, and never once have I asked anything of you that I would not do myself. Where other lesser men would have ordered others into fighting for them, I have led you from the front of this entire campaign! If I am to be judged, judge me for the sum of my actions or not at all!

Regardless of what people may think or say, my conscience overall remains clear in regards to my campaign on Novo Cressidas. Under normal circumstances, I would be willing to submit to military court and address the charges against me. Unfortunately for most of you, it has come to my recent knowledge that some of my family might still be alive. Savio Drago may be dead, but I cannot rest until I have found them. Rasalhague is a long way from here and a court martial will only take longer... time I do not have. I hope one day you will all forgive and understand me, but I cannot submit to arrest at this time. Ask yourselves: if you were in my shoes and had the means to find your family, would you not do the same?

In regards to the fate of the Commandos, apparently, High Command and Major Olsson have forgotten our origins. Some of you will remember we were a fighting force before we yoked ourselves to the Skjaldborg. We had a name then and we will have a name now. Major Olsson can have 4th Battalion, but he will come to find it smaller than he had expected. To every soldier who wishes to join him, you are free to go. No harm will come to you and you may carry with you anything you properly own. To those of you still loyal to me, to those who remember how family comes first, to those who remember a time before the Skjaldborg... join me! I have never failed you before and I will not fail you now!

Effective immediately, I am terminating my contract with the Skjaldborg and recommissioning my former command of the Blacksun Irregulars. I am formerly claiming ownership of all former Blacksun assets including but not limited to Omega Squadron, the Seeker dropship "Vanguard", and our pre-existing support vehicles.

It is with great regret that I must leave the Skjaldborg under such terms, but as I have explained, I feel I have no other choice. However, I still see the Skjaldborg in general as brothers-in-arms and do not wish for any bloodshed between us. I am ordering all forces loyal to me to avoid taking hostile actions on any Skjaldborg forces and rendezvous at Castille di Coltelli. At the same time, I must caution Skjaldborg units to give my forces a wide berth; I do not want a shooting war between us, but do not confuse that as a sign of weakness. We have a hidden strength that will not hesitate to destroy any threat placed in our way.

Honor and glory to all of you.

This is Major Magnus Sullivan... signing off."

 

July 22, 3049
later that day...
unknown location near Castille di Coltelli

"Major Olsson, this is Boss Firo Martillo of the Martillo Family. I am glad to hear you have renounced Sullivan's actions! He has caused much harm to the people of Novo Cressidas in his quest for a personal vendetta. Our city is swathed in chaos; looting, raping, and murder goes unchecked! The Martillo Family is eager to return order, but we lack sufficient strength to retake the city on our own. If you would help us dislodge these Blacksun interlopers, we can retake what is rightfully ours! Naturally, you would be compensated accordingly for your actions and we would not bother you further."