Operation Terminus

July 22, 3049
Later that evening...
Goretti Command Outpost Alpha

Boss Benito Goretti had been studying recent troop reports. Major Sullivan had until now, made well on his promises, but the recent arrival of this Major Olsson's forces was a new variable he had not accounted for. He frowned in deep thought as he pondered his options.

Sullivan could not be controlled directly, but at least his motives were clear; that was at least something Goretti could potentially use to his benefit. Olsson, however, was completely beyond his reach. It would be in the Martillos' best interest to cooperate with Olsson and that cooperation would work against Goreitti's long-term plans. If he was to gain the upper-hand...

Ben Kingsley burst into his office with a report firmly gripped in his hand.
"Boss... it's confirmed... Morgana has the Mischief Maker and is working with Sullivan!"

"So... it is as you said... but are you certain? Kingsley, I would be... very disappointed... if you got it wrong."

Kingsley knew what that meant. He showed some hesitation, but swallowed hard and overcame it.
"I'm certain. It has been a challenge, but we finally zeroed in on their comms if only for the moment. They have likely been working together this entire time."

"Well done, Kingsley. I guess you were right about Morgana too. She really must be pissed at us for killing her beloved 'Starhound'. I never knew she was capable of carrying such a grudge, though. I always figured her the type not to let business get personal."

Kingsley nodded in aggreement.
"Perhaps it is simply that, but I wager it is a combination of factors. From what we have gathered, I believe her and Sullivan relationship may have developed beyond a professional level. As silly as it seems, I think she admires his determination to avenge his family. I can't think of any other reason for her to remain in Star's End. She may even be attracted to him... hard to say for sure, though. She's always been a slippery fish."

Goretti looked pleased.
"Very good. If possible, we will try to use some of that to our advantage. Our priority remains destroying the Martillos and surviving this mess, but if we manage to kill or capture those two, that would be icing on the cake. I want you to lead a team in hunting them down, but you must be careful not to draw attention from the Martillos or Skjaldborg. If you succeed in capturing Sullivan or Morgana, I will reward handsomely."

Kingsley gave a malevolent grin.
"Thank you, sir. I will relish this opportunity."

Goretti turned back to his work and his own thoughts.
"...now...how can I use this..."

 

GM NOTE: I didn't want to overload you guys with a wall of text, so you should all know that I have one more entry planned and then we will be ready to start scheduling drops. I recommend each of you read through the last page of posts and begin formulating a plan in your respective lance threads (ie. NOT HERE). As it stands, the various "factions" that seem to be formulating are the following:

• Blacksun Irregulars led by Major Sullivan (predominantly NPC faction with maybe a few "surprises")
• Skjaldborg 4th Battalion led by Major Olsson (default ally faction for most players)
• Martillo Remnant led by Firo Martillo (NPC only faction)
• Goretti Special Forces led by Ben Kingsley (predominantly NPC faction with maybe a few "surprises")

Players may ally themselves with any of the above factions. Obviously, however, some of these factions are not going to get along with eachother and so you may have to choose a side.

 

GM NOTE: I would like to clarify my previous post in terms of under-the-hood mechanics here. I have the different factions set up as a sort of tiered difficulty system. Keep in mind that this final chapter of the Terminus (Skjaldborg) campaign will serve as a testbed to how the Prometheus campaign will be handled. At it's most basic, "greater risk = greater reward", but it will be entirely up to the player to know their own limitations. As GM, I will be as fair and as helpful as I can be, but don't expect me to intervene if you are determined to be suicidal. The one major difference between this final stage of this campaign compared to Prometheus is that for THIS campaign, there will still be no permadeath. The reason for this is simple: at some point I would like to relaunch the Skjaldborg campaign to tackle the Clan Invasion... presumably after we've gotten bored with Prometheus (shouldn't be anytime soon).

So here's the breakdown of player's choices:

1. join Skjaldborg (doves) - easiest challenge; neutral to Blacksuns; protect dropship and prepare extract; limited PvP (vs. *mostly* NPCs)
2. join Skjaldborg (hawks) - initiate clandestine raids against the Blacksuns Irregulars before extraction; full PvP! (vs. Sullivan's Blacksuns)
3. join Blacksuns (Sullivan's army) - protect starport, loot Martillo stronghold, & extract; full PvP (vs. Martillos, Gorettis, & Skjaldborg radicals). PLEASE NOTE: choosing Blacksuns will remove your character from normal play; future cameo appearances will still be possible, however.

The above three choices will decide which of the following factions you will face in combat:

• Skjaldborg (radicals) - these are those loyal to the Skjaldborg, but are determined to make Sullivan pay for his betrayal
• Blacksun Irregulars - these are those loyal to Sullivan first and foremost; they will be focused on loading the Martillo cache and extracting
• Martillo Remnant - neutral to all Skjaldborg conservatives, focused on retaking their capital and preventing looting of their stronghold
• Goretti Special Forces - neutral to Skjaldborg radicals, focused on killing Martillos/Blacksuns
• Bandits - hostile to everyone; never underestimate their eagerness to engage easy targets of opportunity

Obviously, the Blacksuns have the greatest number of enemies, but don't misjudge them for an easy target. They have a few aces in the hole. If you've been paying attention, you probably know *some* of them.

The Skjaldborg radicals are still nominally allied to their conservative counterparts, but can be considered the more "hawkish" of the two. Major Olsson has his orders and cannot condone their actions against the Blacksuns, but there is "plausible deniability" in giving the radicals a long leash and he is willing to turn a blind eye if it means claiming the Martillo cache for the Skjaldborg.

Also remember that full PvP missions will have fairly balanced BV for all teams (with perhaps some minor differences depending on the mission). To offset this increased difficulty, XP and cash rewards will be doubled.

 

July 23, 3049

"Sir! Scouts have confirmed sighting of the Mischief Maker and Vanguard landing near Castille di Coltelli. The Blacksuns seem to be using the stronghold as a rally point to consolidate their remaining forces. Drone images show they are loading their dropships with valuable cargo from the Martillo stronghold. This may be our last chance to stop them. What are your orders?"

 

Skjaldborg "conservatives" and "radicals" renamed to "doves" and "hawks" respectively... because extra letters are expensive (and clutters me map). check Roll20 for deployment zones

 

TURN NINE (Finale)
July 23, 3049 (Standard Terran Calendar)
System: Star's End
Planet: Novo Cressidas (northern hemisphere)
Martillo stronghold, Castello di Coltelli



After over four months of nearly ceaseless combat, Operation Terminus is finally coming to an end. There have been many casualties. Not least among those have been the very ties that held the Commandos together. Sullivan's true motivations have been laid bare and although his vengeance has been met, it came at significant cost. Facing captivity for his unsanctioned actions and spurred on by promises from Brenda Arbis that some of his family still lives, Sullivan has chosen exile over imprisonment. A line in the sand has been drawn and loyalties will be tested. Some have remained loyal to Sullivan. Some, angered by his deceptions, seek retribution. Some have heeded the call of their Skjaldborg bretheren, but remain hesitant to raise arms against former allies. Meanwhile, remnants of the Martillo and Goretti factions lurk in the shadows eager to exploit the situation for their own benefit. As the differences between friend and foe blur, the city surrounding Castello di Coltelli becomes a powderkeg. Only a single match need be struck to plunge everything into chaos.

Each player's must make a choice:

1. join Skjaldborg (Doves) - easiest challenge; neutral to Blacksuns; protect dropship and prepare extract; limited PvP (vs. *mostly* NPCs)
2. join Skjaldborg (Hawks) - initiate clandestine raids against the Blacksuns Irregulars before extraction; full PvP! (vs. Sullivan's Blacksuns)
3. join Blacksuns (Sullivan's army) - protect starport, loot Martillo stronghold, & extract; full PvP (vs. Martillos, Gorettis, & Skjaldborg radicals). PLEASE NOTE: choosing Blacksuns will remove your character from normal play; future cameo appearances will still be possible, however.

Please discuss strategies in your corresponding threads found here:
http://www.theskjaldborg.com/index.php?forums/lance-threads.245/

 

Pardon my delay, response will be worked on in the morning. Fucking work

 

no prob dude. i've been struggling to keep up too.

 

TURN 8 REWARDS

Turn08-Mission01 (Delta)

Total reward per player = +550k
====

Turn08-Mission02 (Gamma)

Total reward per player = +450k
===

Turn08-Mission03 (Alpha)

Total reward per player = +2 million
===

Turn08-Mission04 (Gamma)

Total reward per player = +1.75 million
===

Turn08-Mission05 (Alpha)

Total reward per player = +2.15 million

 

July 22, 3049
Even later that evening...
An undisclosed location west of the Martillo HQ

Hear me, Otäck Kulandinglar III, o' soldiers of the Skjaldborg Commandos and inhabitants of Shitball. Hear me o' Mr. Sullivan, you who dunst not deserve our brotherhood. Everyone on this horrorshow of a rock is trying to kill us now. Why is that? Because you utilized us as your own personal army. Skjaldborg is not your personal army.

You forcibly brought us into your mad crusade without bothering to inform us of why we were risking our lives. Was it for the glory of the Skjaldborg and this fellowship that we are part of? NO, of course not. It was for your own petty vengeance that you were too ashamed of to share with your comrades. Why might that be? Because you knew your actions were unjust to your brethren whose lives you so callously threw into the fires of mortal conflict? You are no leader. You are a petty criminal who abuses those who put their faith in you.

Major Olsson wishes you held for questioning. He wishes you unharmed. That is not how we repay treachery. Our blood that you have caused to be spilled will be spilled by yourself and all who join you. We will not kill you. No, that would be too good for you. But we shall indeed allow you to live to see not only our justice but also the justice of High Command. You needn't be whole for that though. Just alive.

I hereby place a place a bounty on the head of the man responsible for our misery on this hellhole. Sullivan is to be captured, alive, and brought to ME. The reward for his capture is 20 million C-Bills. Bring us the cock of the traitor Sullivan and you shall be a Prince of Shitball. I care not what happens to his supporters. Do with them as you wish in your own bid for revenge.

Let us see where loyalties truly lie. Let us see where those you trust in this new mercenary band of the 'Blacksun Irregulars' lie. Let us see where the loyalties lie of those who inhabit this planet to which you have brought so much death and destruction.

We are coming for you Magnus.

 

Lances have first claim to mechs they salvaged. If they choose not to claim them, the mechs can be claimed by anyone who can afford them. The following mechs still need to be claimed or will be sold to the market:

Alpha Lance:

• *Stalker STK-4P [85t]= 3.15m - missing LT (claimed by Alexia)
• *Charger CGR-1A5 [80t]= 3.85m - missing LT
• **Banshee "Morrigan" [95t]= 5.2m - missing HD (claimed by LagCat)
• Orion VA [75t]= 3.2m

Gamma Lance:

• *Ostroc 2C [60t]= +2.5m - engine destroyed
• *Rifleman 3C [60t]= +2.4m -missing LA (claimed by Moro Ibex)
• Thunderbolt 5SE [65t] = +2.65m

Available to everyone:

• Thunderbolt 5S [65t] = 2.7m
• Valkyrie QA [30t] = 1.3m
• Victor 9B1 [80t] = 3.9m
• **Phoenix Hawk 2b [45t] = 3.9m (claimed by LagCat)

*due to severe damage only limited repairs were completed for this Turn.
**advanced/upgraded model (has increased price)

 

+1,000,000 C-bills in Dispossession Insurance paid out to Moro Ibex and LagCat for the loss of their mechs (tough time to be a Wolfhound).

 

I've finished doing the tally for cash payouts and almost all of you have at least 5 million in cash (a couple of our newer players have 2-4 million). Suffice to say, you are all stinking rich from this contract... regardless of your former commander's personal agenda.

Be sure to review our mech surplus for any last minute purchases before the end of this campaign:
http://www.theskjaldborg.com/index.php?threads/operation-terminus.7591/page-22#post-257415
Remember that anything you own that survives the end of this campaign may be "grandfathered" over to the new Prometheus campaign.

savefile updated - check MekHQ to get an exact amount of your current funds

 

And remember, there is a 20 mil bounty out there too

 

NOTE: These mechs are not going to be available once missions start for Turn 9. That is why I am putting them up now. Your bounty won't come into play until the end of Turn 9 (assuming you kill/capture Sullivan). With the division of the Commandos, some of these mechs may find themselves in the hands of other NPCs on either sides if you don't claim them now.

The RP reasons behind this is that, Sullivan would have sold/abandoned any surplus equipment he didn't need prior leaving the Skjaldborg. Anything left behind will be immediately claimed by Olsson or hostile forces. The REAL reason is that I forgot to do this at the end of Turn 8. In terms of where we are right now, consider us at the pre-Turn 9 stage of things.

 

TURN NINE (Finale)
July 23, 3049 (Standard Terran Calendar)
System: Star's End
Planet: Novo Cressidas (northern hemisphere)
Martillo stronghold, Castello di Coltelli



After over four months of nearly ceaseless combat, Operation Terminus is finally coming to an end. There have been many casualties. Not least among those have been the very ties that held the Commandos together. Sullivan's true motivations have been laid bare and although his vengeance has been met, it came at significant cost. Facing captivity for his unsanctioned actions and spurred on by promises from Brenda Arbis that some of his family still lives, Sullivan has chosen exile over imprisonment. A line in the sand has been drawn and loyalties will be tested. Some have remained loyal to Sullivan. Some, angered by his deceptions, seek retribution. Some have heeded the call of their Skjaldborg bretheren, but remain hesitant to raise arms against former allies. Meanwhile, remnants of the Martillo and Goretti factions lurk in the shadows eager to exploit the situation for their own benefit. As the differences between friend and foe blur, the city surrounding Castello di Coltelli becomes a powderkeg. Only a single match need be struck to plunge everything into chaos.

Each player's must make a choice:

1. join Skjaldborg (Doves) - easiest challenge; neutral to Blacksuns; protect dropship and prepare extract; limited PvP (vs. *mostly* NPCs)
2. join Skjaldborg (Hawks) - initiate clandestine raids against the Blacksuns Irregulars before extraction; full PvP! (vs. Sullivan's Blacksuns)
3. join Blacksuns (Sullivan's army) - protect starport, loot Martillo stronghold, & extract; full PvP (vs. Martillos, Gorettis, & Skjaldborg radicals). PLEASE NOTE: choosing Blacksuns will remove your character from normal play; future cameo appearances will still be possible, however.

Please discuss strategies in your corresponding threads found here:
http://www.theskjaldborg.com/index.php?forums/lance-threads.245/