10 June
SOLO MISSION: Probe (Attacker) - Wolverine
RESULT: VICTORY - no effect on contract score
After-Action Report: Wolverine Lance deployed on the north-western part of the battlefield, and the enemy deployed in three groups along the eastern edge of the battlefield. As we moved to engage, Wolverine Lance split into two main groups, the Wolverine and Wolverine II on the northern side, and Gladiator and Centurion on the southern side. After a short amount of time, one of the enemy Stingers was knocked over. Its Machine Gun ammo exploded, and a small crater was left in the pavement where the Stinger once stood. Seconds later, the second enemy Stinger lost its second leg and fell to the ground both legless and armless.
A minute into the battle enemy reinforcements arrived. After the reinforcements arrived, one of the enemy Vedette tanks was destroyed while another was immobilized. One of the enemy Phoenix Hawks lost its second arm and shutdown with no arms and one leg while prone, bringing the tally of immobilized and destroyed units to 5. A Locust from the enemy reinforcements attempted to charge the Liaison but was immediately vaporized. An enemy Wasp was also put out of commission within a few seconds. As the Magistracy forces fell back, an enemy Vedette and a Firestarter were destroyed. In total, 6 mechs and 2 vehicles were destroyed. Friendly units took moderate damage, but no friendly units were destroyed, and the sector was declared secure.
12 June
SOLO MISSION: Probe (Attacker) - Reaper
RESULT: VICTORY - no effect on contract score
After-Action Report: Reaper Lance was on patrol when it encountered MOC forces. The MOC forces where deployed in 3 groups to East of several moderately-sized lakes. As Reaper's forces moved into the area, the 3 groups converged and moved towards us a rapid pace. The MOC force consisted of 4 Mechs and 8 vehicles. LTJG Edmondson in the Orion, SGT Brooks in the Shadow Hawk, and Liaison Virula in a Blackjack moved to the South as the engaged using the hills for some cover to minimize incoming fire. Meanwhile LTSG Wilhelm in the Gladiator and SGT Graves in the Griffin moved to the northeast, trying to flank the MOC forces. During this action 2 Hetzers were able to connect with AC/20 rounds on SGT Graves's Griffin severing its right leg. LTSG Wilhelm was able to divert the MOC forces, and gave SGT Graves to stand the Griffin back up.
The flanking action paid off, limiting the MOC forces maneuvering room and allowing for a murderous crossfire from Reaper Lance. LTJG Edmonson was successful at using his 2 LB 10x’s to eliminate searchlights on Mechs, immobilize 2 Hetzers, and hit the Guillotine in the head enough to cause the pilot to pass out and be killed from the fall. LTSG Wilhelm shot the both arms and 1 leg of the Stinger, as well as hitting the cockpit of the Shadow Hawk with a well placed PPC, killing the pilot. He also put several SRM’s into the head of the Ostroc throughout the battle causing injuries to its pilot who also was killed by a final injury from falling. SGT Brooks was able to give a lot of support fire and was successful in destroying a Vedette tank. Our Liaison did his part in helping and eliminated a Vedette tank as well. After both the commanders were killed the remaining 4 active tanks requested to be allowed to leave the field and take the rest of the MOC survivors with them, a request which was granted by Ranger forces. Calling for a repair team for SGT Graves's Griffin, Reaper Lance declared the area secure.
13 June
SOLO MISSION: Probe (Attacker) - Midnight
RESULT: VICTORY - no effect on contract score
After-Action Report: Midnight approached at night operating under a full moon with the Magistracy forces weighted heavily to the northeast (Charger, Victor, Shadow Hawk, Panther) while the lighter more mobile lance was deployed mid southeast (Griffin, Shadow Hawk, Wasp, Wasp). Working to pin the heavier forces in the North, Midnight deployed both the LAM and Exterminator into the northwest while deploying the rest mid to southwest. The Colonel in his Warhammer anchored the maneuver directly west. Magistracy armor and 'Mech reinforcements deployed due east and slowly started working over. It was a long running battle (16 turns) that slowly worked down towards the southwest corner. Magistracy forces had search lights on 9 of their 16 units and it wasn't until very late in the battle that the last one was taken out. Midnight used terrain and darkness to provide an edge in fire exchanges with partial cover being a significant factor in their eventual victory. The LAM was used to harass enemy units from behind and prevent the Magistracy forces from overrunning the Ranger's position. Roughly halfway through the battle, the Drillsons finally reached and climbed the crater ridge and provided cover fire to help herd and pin down the majority of Midnight. The Exterminator ranged slightly further north and the LAM continued to be all over the map but the focus began taking its toll on the Rangers. One bright spot was bringing down the Victor by combined fire through the back which hit multiple AC/20 ammo bins.
In a heartbreaking final exchange of fire, Lt. Penny Roark's Shadow Hawk was decapitated with a large laser strike, killing her instantly. She was the Colonel's second XO lost in combat and second of his three original wingmen. In the end the allied Exterminator remained virtually unscathed as did the LAM. Midnight's Panther piloted by SGT Lassiter had nearly lost a leg and an arm. The Royal Shadow Hawk piloted by Lt. Roark had heavy armor damage and some internal damage prior to the death of its pilot. Colonel Atadye managed to keep his Warhammer upright despite taking internal center torso damage from both front and back, losing two actuators in his right arm and nearly the arm in it's entirety.
13 June
MISSION: Hold the Line (Defender) - Crusher, Ice, and Bright Lances
RESULT: VICTORY - Contract Score raised to 2
After-Action Report: Crusher, Bright, and Ice Lance were dispatched as a counter-attacking force to hold a river line against a Canopian battalion which pushed past the occupied Ranger pickets (Reaper and Midnight lances having just been engaged and in refit). The Ranger forces emerged from the eastern shore of a large lake into the combat area, and directly into a massive lightning storm. Separating into two spearheads, they pushed forward to the river, engaging the evenly-spread Canopian forces Crusher and Bright Lance to the north were slowed by Canopian minefields, but were able to break through thanks to several massive lightning bolts striking and disabling Canopian support LRM carriers, which opened a gap in the MOC lines. Ice lance demonstrated against an assault lance to the south, pulling them away from their supporting forces, until Freya lance - hurrying to the area of operations to assist - arrived, granting sudden local superiority. While no breakthrough was achieved on the south end of the battle, they did neutralize the attacking Canopian assault Mechs and prevented the Ranger advance in the north from having its flank turned. When it became apparent that there would be no breakthrough of the Ranger lines, the Canopians ceded the field and fell back in good order, less two Awesomes, a Shadow Hawk, and their entire supporting company of combat vehicles.
17 June
MISSION: Breakthrough (Attacker) - Skaraborg, Dragon, and Ice Lances
RESULT: DRAW - no effect on Contract Score
After-Action Report: After the failed breakthrough attempt at the River Amina, Canopian forces fell back into evenly-distributed defensive postures. However, after a few days in the field, several Mechs were down for repair as their normal maintenance cycles were extended. In shuffling units about to keep their garrisons at strength, communications broke down, two units moved to cover a single gap, and this left a pass through Nefertiri's Mountains undefended. The Rangers quickly moved to capitalize, and in response, the Canopians dispatched a company, half the strength, of the Magestrix's personal guard as an emergency blocking force. The two forces engaged over a farming hub, and the Rangers pushed through the light urban environment efficiently. Once they realized the potential of grain silo explosions, they slowed their advance and, uncharacteristically, deliberately fired on the civilian structures from a distance so that they posed no threat to the attacking force.
The Canopians had formed a defensive line just north of the hub, behind a series of low ridges, and held the position effectively for a significant portion of the battle. The Rangers advanced into two spearheads, attacking either flank of the line (reinforced by an emergency airdrop of Reaper Lance on the Ranger left), and eventually got the Canopians to charge up and over the ridge when the threat to their flanks became severe. The battle descended into a point-blank slugfest, and the Rangers abandoned their breakthrough attempt in favor of hammering the stubborn Canopians. The Rangers took unexpectedly heavy casualties during this phase of the battle; Skaraborg lance and LT Hitzig advanced down the center of the field while the bulk of the Ranger forces were along the Canopain flanks, and this left them vulnerable to the Canopian counter-charge. LT Hitzig was engaged by a Canopian Banshee, who punched her Victor's head completely off; LT Hitzing survived only through sheer luck; being blown bodily clear of the Mech and landing in exceptionally soft mud (albeit badly hurt and unconscious). The same Banshee rampaged across the middle of the field, kicking off the leg of Skaraborg Lance's priceless salvaged Turkina before being brought down. Several other Ranger MechWarriors were injured, and Reaper Lance's SGT Bruno Graves was KIA when a Gauss Rifle hit his cockpit. Only two light Mechs from Dragon lance managed to actually break completely though the Canopian lines. They ran across and captured a Canopian Kintaro and its pilot (out of his Mech), before being ordered to fall back. The Canopians had held the line, but were shattered as a command; only 5 of the 16 units engaged were able to fall back off the field of battle.
19 June
SOLO MISSION: Probe (Defender) - Wolverine
RESULT: VICTORY - no effect on contract score
After-Action Report: Wolverine Lance deployed on the northwestern part of the battlefield in the small foothills. The enemy entered the battlefield from the southeastern edge. Within the first 20 seconds of the engagement, one of the enemy Pegasus hover tanks skidded into a hill side and immobilized itself for the remainder of the battle. A few seconds later, the enemy VTOLs tried to flank our forces from the eastern side by flying over the city. LTSG Cherikov in his Wolverine II and SGT Chadwick in his Centurion managed to hit them, and the VTOLs were destroyed. SGT Morley in his Wolverine pursued the enemy Clint, taking decent damage along the way, while the remainder of our forces held off the other enemy forces.
The LTSG Cherikov, LTJG Adamson in her Gladiator, and SGT Chadwick poured everything they had into the enemy Victor, but the Victor did not go down. SGT Chadwick in the Centurion took an AC-20 to its center torso, and even though it barely pierced the armor, it critically damaged the Centurions gyros and the Centurion fell. Shortly after that, SGT Morley in his Wolverine that had been pursuing the enemy Clint completed his task by destroying the gyros of the enemy Clint. The remaining enemy forces began to flee, and the LTJG Adamson destroyed the Victor’s Right torso and right leg. The Victor tried to stand but failed. Then LTSG Cherikov blew the second leg off the Victor as the remaining enemies fled the battle.
In conclusion, the battle was won, and our forces took decent damage. Friendly pilots were uninjured and the only major damage that was taken was the Centurion’s gyros being destroyed. Both enemy VTOL’s were destroyed, and the Victor, Clint, and one of the Pegasus tanks were immobilized. The Victor was salvaged from the battlefield.
21 June
MISSION: Extraction (Attacker) - Dancer, Midnight, and Phoenix Lances
RESULT: VICTORY - CONTRACT COMPLETE
After-Action Report: The HVT and his escorts had decided to make their own escape. Raiding a small warehouse south of Crimson, they "liberated" several ancient vehicles and Mechs, and started moving toward a rendezvous with the Rangers, broadcasting their intent in the clear and hoping they could make it before the Canopian forces caught up with them. Their line of advance was ill-chosen, and their movement was stalled by a temporary outpost setup to block Ranger incursions into the area. COL Atayde moved out quickly, gathering whatever forces he could muster on short notice, to rescue the HVT. However, the Colonel had the misfortune of crossing a bridge damaged earlier in the day by a freak civilian accident, which collapsed under most of his lance. The damage was minimal, but extricating themselves from the rubble would take precious time, so Atayde reluctantly dispatched Crusher Lance to take his place on the operation, eventually falling back himself into Crusher's base defense posture.
This meant that command fell to unit XO MAJ Benton Mudd of Dancer Lance. Linking up with their Marik Militia allies, Mudd charged headlong into the area of operations, pushing every man and woman of the Rangers to make their way to the suburb in which the HVT had taken shelter. He placed the Marik forces on his left flank to shield his advance from the Canopian defense force, and decided to take his chances with the light Mech headhunter company itself moving onto the battlefield on his right. The Rangers lost the race into the suburb - the headhunter company was composed mostly of Wasps and Stingers - but the HVT's escorts put up a spirited defense. On the Ranger right, the FWL forces proved too slow to intercept the Canopian heavy units charging out of the base, and the Ranger column was severed approximately 500 meters north of the edge of town. The forward elements of the Rangers continued to press into the town, while the rest of the Rangers fought a point-blank brawl against two Canopian heavy lances, including - to the shock of everyone - the Ranger's old Commanding Officer, Sylvie Fairchild. Sylvie retired to Canopus in 3046, and had been essentially drafted back into Canopian service at a high rank and with bonuses, since her experience in the Inner Sphere was too valuable to be lost to the Magistracy. Sylvie personally fought fiercely, disabling several Ranger Mechs but carefully not firing to permanently disable or kill her former comrades, and indeed, she would be the only heavy Canopian unit to exit the field that day.
The fight was decided by the heavy elements of Freya Lance, who, late to the battle, entered the combat area in support of the FWL forces. This reinforcement allowed the Rangers to push through and turn the flank of the Canopian heavy forces, leading eventually to a complete encirclement and (except for Sylvie) their annihilation. Tragically, in the last moments of the battle, SGT Maria Riebera was killed in the cockpit of her Crusader when she and a Canopian Archer engaged in a melee brawl, killing each other simultaneously. With the rout of the headhunter company by Crusher's forces, and the annihilation of the Canopian heavy units, the HVT and his surviving escorts were escorted out of the combat zone and to a waiting DropShip, ending combat actions on Canopus.
22 June
CONTRACT ENDS IN VICTORY
Each Lance receives $2,369,460 CB (remaining monthly disbursement)
Unit receives $11,847,310 CB (remaining monthly disbursement)
Unit receives $88,381,440 CB (transport cost reimbursement)
Employer Award Checks are made (bottom of thread)
All units roll for prisoner recruitment, if any
All units roll for retirements
The unit will remain on Canopus until at least 1 August.
Author
Topic: Operation LIBER June - September, 3051 (Read 1691 times)