22 January, 3053 Unit makes landfall on Vanra. Contract begins.
Current Administrator AssignmentsCommand (+1 initiative during combat assignments)
1x Fight
1x Defend
1x Scout
Logistics (-1 to IntroTech Availability TNs)
Devil
Crusher
Ice
Reaper
Wolverine
Bright
Skaraborg
HR (each Tech gains +30 extra Repair minutes per day)
Midnight
Dancer
Freya
Dragon
22 January, 3053Unit CO assigns the following Roles:Scout:(x3 minimum; **denotes MFB assigned to lance)Midnight
Dancer
Freya
Defend:(x1 minimum)Skaraborg
Ice
Phoenix
Fight: (x6 minimum)Crusher
Reaper
Wolverine
Bright
Dragon
Devil
Training:None
Unassigned:None
All lances paid 1,157,629 in November 3052.
Lances start collecting a monthly salary of 385,876 upon landfall and contract start on January 22, 3053.Operation ANGEL Summary:In 3049, the Free World's League's 2nd Marik Militia raided Sarna due to flawed intelligence which underestimated the strength of its defenses. The defenders of that world, the 3rd FedCom RCT, inflicted heavy losses on the shocked 2nd Marik, forcing the LCCC to order the 12th Atrean Dragoons to extricate the 2nd. Hot-dropping on the 3rd FedCom barracks, the 12th inflicted severe losses to the 3rd RCT, and the exhausted 3rd allowed the Marik attackers to fall back off-planet.
Hot for revenge, the reconstituted 3rd RCT jumped the border in mid 3052 to attack the 12th Atrean on Varna. Unfortunately for them, the 12th Atrean wasn't alone on that world. Through sheer poor luck, the First Orloff Grenadiers had returned from their two-year "show the flag" tour of the independent systems surrounding the Duchy of Orloff two weeks prior to the 3rd arrival in-system. The 3rd RCT jumped into a hornet's nest, lost a quarter of their BattleMech strength in the opening engagement, sent a panicked message for help back to friendly space, and went to ground in the mountains south of the capital city of Utrecht. Frequent reconnaissance missions into the mountains from the Orloff Military Academy (intended mostly to give experience to new recruits) have kept the 3rd penned up in the hostile terrain, and the bulk of the Grenadiers and 12th Dragoons have held their positions. Certain that assistance is on the way, their obvious plan is to intercept any relieving forces when they attempt to link up with the 3rd, and defeat both enemies in detail.
Current Effects in Place:-All Acquisition TNs are at a +3 penalty to begin the contract; this penalty drops by -1 for each mission victory to a minimum of -1 bonus.
-Mercs do not get Factory Bonuses or access to Unit Market until they have won at least 3 missions in a row
-As contract continues, Allied units become heavier and more plentiful
-High incidence of Solo Missions
2 February, 3053SOLO MISSION - Midnight - Probe (Attacker)
RESULT: Victory - no effect on contract score
After-Action Report: Numenorean Rangers Alpha Company Midnight lance was tasked with probing the Free Worlds League defenses. Geared for fighting in less than ideal weather and light conditions, they deployed into a pitch black fog with active probes and a couple of search lights as needed. They were strung out in a line north to south with the Valkyrie anchoring the north, the Shadow Hawk in the south and the remainder in between when they made contact with a lance of mechs and a lance of armor. Of the FWL forces, two were deployed in a screen to the south while the rest were traveling together. All three of the FWL mechs equipped with searchlights had them on, while Midnight kept theirs off. (Starting deployment)
At the beginning, the Ranger forces paused to determine their opponents’ intent. As it became clear that the League forces would be pushing directly east into the heart of the Ranger formation, they began to move. The Shadow Hawk shifted south while the Valkyrie shifted north, taking advantage of the available terrain for cover. As League forces continued to close and fire began to be exchanged, the Wolfhound moved south to support Sgt Milos’ Shadow Hawk as it made its way west, circling under the advancing mech forces and began closing on the screening Vedettes that had held steady on the western edge of the engagement. With them they drew the Ostroc and Wolverine while the Griffin and Guillotine worked to engage the Black Knight and Ostwar. The Saladins continued their slow advance in an effort to bring their large bore weapons to bear. In a fortunate shot, the Wolfhound took out the Griffin’s searchlight limiting the number of targets the League forces could paint.
Initial focus fire on both sides saw the Ostwar and the Guillotine targeted including a nice grouping of fire by Atayde’s Black Knight including gauss slug and large laser into the Guillotine’s center torso. As Milos closed on the Vedettes the Rangers changed tactics, bringing their own searchlights to bear highlighting the Vedettes and the Griffin. This allowed the Rangers to down one of the Vedettes cooking off the AC ammo in the turret as they circled past, keeping on the move to prevent their complete enclosure from the Ostroc, Vedette, Wolverine and Saladins. The Ranger forces did not come out unscathed as a burst of machinegun fire took out the Shadow Hawk’s searchlight.
In the northern engagement the Guillotine continued to get pummeled but as the Vedette blew in the south, Sgt Gruber in the Ostwar discovered the skill of the Griffin pilot as he kicked him twice in the left leg, nearly stripping it of armor. This is rapidly followed up by a couple of kicks to the Black Knight’s right leg as the Griffin’s greater mobility allowed it to better position it for attacks. Attempting to escape, Atayde jumps into the woods on the hill only realizing his mistake as the Griffin lands on the hill above him preparing to kick him twice. Focus fire from both the Black Knight and Ostwar are not enough to put it down and as the Griffin prepared to kick, Atayde connected with his sword apparently unbalancing the Griffin enough to knock it to the ground.
The Shadow Hawk and Wolfhound continued to run the gauntlet from the south and shifted west north of the Saladins, putting themselves at some risk to the high bore weapons, but managing to avoid being hit by them. Sgt Milos was able to take out one of the Saladins on the way by, leaving just one to content with. Focused fire from the Ostwar, Shadow Hawk and Wolfhound finally blew the leg off the Guillotine and destroyed its SRM launcher. Having already taken significant damage including the loss of its right arm, it was combat ineffective and the pilot punched out as the mech fell to the ground. Given the volume of damage Atayde had poured into it, he was credited with the kill. This ended up being the turning point of the battle, though about two thirds of the way through. At this point both Atayde’s Black Knight and Sgt Gruber’s Ostwar were missing lots of armor and there was internal structure to a leg each, though no damaged components.
Atayde paused to take out one of the Saladin’s with his gauss rifle and extended range large laser, before moving to collect the Guillotine’s pilot. Recognizing the danger the Griffin represented, focus shifted to dropping the Griffin as the Wolverine closed to support it. The Ostroc meanwhile had taken up an overwatch position in the south on top of a hill in heavy woods, using his search light to paint targets and taking advantage of the lack of need to move to take shots at things within the range of its extended range large lasers.
The Rangers reacted by advancing on the Ostroc seeking to take it down from its sniper’s nest, the Wolverine falling back to support it, leading to the isolation of the Griffin. It is a testament to the Griffin pilot’s skill and luck that when the legs were finally blown off and the mech cored, the only armor or structure untouched were pieces of its rear side torsos and a pristine head. Atayde moved to collect the Griffin pilot as well.
The battle clearly going against the League forces, they began to try and disengage. Sgt Milos was able to maneuver her Shadow Hawk into a rise just above the Ostroc and poured fire and kicks into it as in moved down the hill through the woods. As the Ostroc reached the bottom, Milos finished kicking through both side torsos, destroying them and coring the mech. She recovered the pilot before pressing on. The final two units were brought down by lucky hits. As the last Vedette tried to finish disengaging, Milos managed to hit and destroy its engine, leaving it little more than a fairly well armed pillbox. For the Wolverine, focused fire didn’t initially drop it, but did knock it to the ground as it attempted to escape before a shot from Cochrane’s Wolfhound cooked off the torso mounted SRM ammo and Sgt Gruber in the Ostwar managed to snag the injured pilot.
3 February, 3053SOLO MISSION - Ice - Chase (Defender)
RESULT: Victory - no effect on contract score
After-Action Report:LTSG MOON and ICE LANCE were tasked with holding a recently claimed FOB. Point and task being hold the facility but also act as area denial preventing counter attacking elements from pushing past to isolate the FOB and the 3rd RCTs line of retreat. Any elements entering AO were to be chased down as much as possible before coordinating hand off of mission to other elements.
Attackers moved in swiftly catching the still unprepared units out of position. FWLM elements pushed in staggered lines until the 3rds liason ordered the trap sprung. Richmonds warhammer and the liason deployed center board in or near wooded terrain. Ice lead and the remainder of his lance deployed in or around the FOB in hasty semi acceptable lanes of fire.
ICE actual in overwatch called to vacate the center of the battlefield opting to isolate individual units when able forcing the bases natural chokepoints to be the battle points. ICE actual began hurling thunder and nickel down range opening up on a shadowhawk from elevation. Cam footage would show sparks near the ammo bin but failed to ignite ruining instead the lrm20 missile release circuitry.
Faith at this time seeing battle feed data noticed a gap in formation on the left hoping to seize initiative fired jump jets landing in the middle of 1-2 full mech lances. Her sudden appearance achieved just that. One urban mech moving faster than the others ended up square in her sites.. A freak accident and luck followed as a nickel slug bounced off the large bore arm with 0 affect to the left nub arm shattering it fully. The confusion drawing her eyes and crosshairs from right to left she happened to trigger her battery of ML coring through the back of the head. Scratching her head shrugged and began dodging fire as if at a rave party shortly after vaulting back into the base with minimal damage.
Others opted for additional woods cover but immediately found themselves toe to toe with saladins and more shooting point blank ducking in their cockpits wondering with amazement how and why no alarm indicators kicked on.
FWLM units began a full picket charge to thin the Ranger lines which ended up working to great effect. Isolated pockets of fighting commenced the liason and Richmond isolated at the wooded area to the northeast of the FOB. Ice actual isolated to the side and rear ramparts continuing to become Thor God of lightning killing a Maxim that following Salvo, while having some supporting fire from Ruprath in her Javelin. The javelin attempting to light up the semi early morning terrain and vehicles with inferno. Faith holding her own on the left flank drawing units in.
The charge more of a 3 pronged push through the chokepoints devolved into close range brawls for all but the liason and Richmond who fought on the outside. When the smoke settled durimg this next part of the engagement ICE actual was forced to vacate the confines to the rear of the base to begin commencing in brawlhala throwing kicks and lightning shattering limb and foe under the ferocity few that day would escape.
Lynn and the liason harassed the FWLM command elements outside the wall using their mobility thick foliage to achieve superior positioning buying time and opening holes before they could disengage.
ICE actual would account for 9 kills. Two of which were catastrophic ammo bins, two outright removals of both legs and torso in same motion, removal of the wolverines head from elevation, anothers removal via ppc, marksmanship on 2 others, and the Mexican hat dance on a poor Saladin while avoiding an 80kph charge across open terrain. At point blank a salvo of ppcs caught the charging Vindicator in the CT severely damaging the gyro which the pilot could not keep upright. Ice lance broadcasting shoot it over speaker and com in a puckering moment. Only through force of will target saturation and priority did the Vindicator not die then and there. The Vindicator rising to the occasion backing away unwobbling unflinching further into the base created some distance.
The Hermes and Galleon fled in fear while the FWLM CO attempted to rally fighting ferociously picking up pace once the shock and awe had settled. Richmond firing her jets mounted the ramparts was surprised and followed by the swift agile Marauder. This act rallied a 3 mech firing concave on the isolated warhammer. This lasted through two volleys and was only lessened by Kennedys Javelin jumping into the frey. Forced to handle another threat close by the concave broke leaving just the CO Richmond and the liason.. The valiant attempt failed and morale broke when a ppc strike from Richmond caught the CO. The sudden radio silence recounted by the captured troops told them enough. The battle left vehicles exploded covered in sticky napalm, mechs scattered from catastrophic failures. This took quite a number of FWLM troops realizing they couldn't escape they opted to stay and fight CQC inside the base. Sadly during the fighting Kennedy Ruprath miscalculated her placement siding an already damaged leg toward the shadowhawk who somehow has held its own. This would end up being the mistake FWLM needed as two urban mechs the shadowhawk and still functioning Vindicator lay in wait. Weapons volley was not what ended up doing her in but the swift leg sweep and crush of the leg at the hip that severed and destroyed it putting her on her backside. The following 30 seconds would be one of frustration as she stood legless to fight her foes as her lancemates closed in. As enough enemies fell shadowhawk taking a nickel.slug to a CT ammo bin and the same coring the Vindicator. Volley firing two more times and finally an end in sight the last words were oh no as she fell attempting to stand again neuro feed showed a spike and sudden steady calm. The last thing seen was ICE actual and Carlyle zeroing in on the final standing urban mech near full salvo killing it but only after the ac10 ripped through tagging the bin and laser coring the Javelin. The unconscious Ruprath having no idea what happened as she died from neuro feedback in her sleep in a fireball of what was the Javelin. Her captured pilot however seen exactly what happened as the ejection kicked sending them both into the pavement killing him and further damaging an already dead Ruprath.
Of the enemy forces only the Hermes and Galleon would make it off the field while three pilots would outright escape into the corridors hills and smoke left behind from fighting.
Captured FWLM pilots would recant the horror of seeing an Atlas suddenly lifting into the air raining lightning landing near a friendly mech or vehicle. Moments later missing varying limbs head arms legs and the hulking mass of smoke that once was a fully functional battlemech slumped over. The anger fear and hopelessness overcame them breaking morale leaving the hunk of mechs they once were on and standing at a Ranger mechs legs asking to be picked up.
William would be seen after the battle standing over first Kennedys ejection pod offering a prayer and then going to each of the other mechs who's pilots had died.
3 February, 3053MISSION - Dancer, Freya, Phoenix - Extraction (Attacker)
RESULT: Victory
After-Action Report: Upon hearing of the Rangers landing on Vrana, the 3rd RCT sent a medium company to link up with the Rangers. Hit by elements of the 12th Atrean en-route, the company - now essentially a lance - broke contact. Elements of the Rangers moved to rescue the beleaguered lance, and reached the Fedcom position roughly at the same time as the 12th Atrean regained contact, outside a small city.
The Atrean immediately turned and attacked the Rangers, pushing a salient deep into the line of the lighter Ranger Mechs. Dancer and Phoenix Lances gave ground, under covering fire from Freya on their left flank. Wolverine Lance deployed in as reinforcements, extending the Ranger right flank and pushing forward. This had the triple effect of attacking and destroying FWL support structures, creating a safe lane for the Fedcom force to pass behind the Ranger lines to safety, and counterattacked the southern shoulder of the FWL salient. Under pressure from Freya in the north and Wolverine in the south, the salient collapsed into a double envelopment, and though the members of the 12th Atrean went down hard, they were essentially annihilated. SGTs Ni Frank of Dancer Lance and Natalie Knightly of Phoenix Lance were both killed in action by a particularly murderous Atrean Awesome pilot, though SGT Knightly returned the favor by burning the pilot out of his cockpit with her final volley of PPC fire.
Author
Topic: Operation ANGEL Unit Record January - August 3053 (Read 1291 times)