(Due to a technical issue, the usual Contract Summary Image isn't available. Information is reproduced below)
Contract Name: Operation SOVNYA
Employer: Capellan Confederation
Enemy: Aurigan Coalition
Mission Type: Recon Raid
Location:Fjaldr
Ally Rating: Regular/B
Enemy Rating: Elite/A
Start Date: 3054-04-04
Contract Length (months): 3
Overhead Compensation: None
Command Rights: House
Transport Terms: 100%
Salvage Rights: 50%
Straight Support: 50%
Battle Loss Compensation: 10%
Required Lances: 14 Lance(s)
Contract Pay: 62,679,460 CB
Transportation Amount: 42,342,150 CB
Total Monthly Payout: 15,669,865 CB
Monthly Payout PER LANCE: 824,730 CB
Monthly Payout UNIT SHARE: 4,123,645 CB
4 April, 3045
Unit makes landfall on Fjaldr. Contract Begins
Administrator Assignments
Command (+1 initiative during combat assignments)
1x Fight
1x Defend
1x Scout
Logistics (-1 to IntroTech Availability TNs)
* Devil
* Freya
* Skaraborg
* Phoenix
HR (each Tech gains +30 extra Repair minutes per day)
* Crusher
* Dancer
* Reaper
* Ice
Mech Repair Vehicles
* Midnight - Black Knight
* Wolverine - TBD
4 April, 3054
Unit CO assigns the following Roles: (**denotes MFB assigned to lance)
Scout:(x4 minimum)
Alpha and Bravo Companies
* Midnight
* Crusher
* Devil
* Dancer
* Wolverine
* Reaper
Defend:
Delta Company
* Skaraborg
* Dragon
* Phoenix
Fight:
Charlie Company
* Ice
* Freya
* Bright
Training: None
Unassigned: None
Operation SOVNYA Summary
Always seeking the potential to turn the Davion flank and regain their St Ives territories, the Capellan Confederation has hired the Rangers to reconniter the remnants of Coalition space. No military activity of note has occurred in the area for several decades, but the small size of the CCAF leads them to caution; better to risk a mercenary unit than a homegrown command in an area which saw such heavy fighting by (ostensibly) a significant force of high-technology assault-weight BattleMechs.
Current Effects in Place:
-All Acquisition TNs are at a +3 penalty.
-Most missions will involve the Scout role
-High incidence of Solo Missions
21 April, 3054
MISSION - Able Company (Midnight, Devil, Crusher) - Recon Raid (Attacker)
Result: Victory
After-action Report: The Rangers' Able Company made an aggressive push into the Coalition lines, seeking to break through their screening forces and discover the main enemy strength. Expecting ramshackle Periphery defenders, they ran into a shockingly well-equipped and well-disciplined buzzsaw of a defense. Supported by significant infantry reinforcements in a reverse slope defense, the Coalition forces held a ridgeline strongly against the main Ranger assault, retaining an assault lance in reserve to their own left in order to block any attack on the ridgeline's hanging left flank. While the Coalition plan generally worked, they did not anticipate the aggressive LAM pilots of Crusher and Freya (reinforcing) Lances. These LAMs exploited the gap between the main line of defense and the supporting assault lance, racing through the gap to get eyes on the enemy rear. Both LAMs ran headfirst into a strong AA net, however, and while both made it back to the hangar by the end of the day, both LAMs would be downchecked for weeks in repairs. Meanwhile, a stiff thrust to the center of the engagement area - the same gap exploited by the LAMs - allowed the Ranger primary forces to both isolate the assault lance and defeat it in detail, and roll up the ridgeline defense from the left. Several Mechs from both Devil and Crusher lances were badly damaged, but the Coalition losses, for all the skill of their defense, were nearly total, and the Coalition withdraw from the field with barely 2 lances of functional units of all types.
26 April, 3054
SOLO MISSION - Dancer - Hide & Seek (Attacker)
Result: Victory
After-action Report: Reports of Aurigan Coalition activity at a forward base in sector 182. Dancer Lance sent to investigate. Dancer enters area from North and encounters stiff resistance at small town just North of Aurigan field base. Combined armed forces take full advantage of lighter gravity confounding Dancer attempts to split forces for isolated destruction. Light gravity severely affected Dancer SRM targeting as Inferno SRM rounds missed ALL shots fired. Recalibration of targeting systems required upon return to base. Weight of fire finally allowed Dancers to destroy enemy commanders mech. Both sides forces withdrew afterward. Final tally 2 mechs destroyed, 2 crippled and withdrawn; 2 Vedette tanks destroyed, Scimitar hover tank crippled and immobilized. No Dancer losses although Gladiator crippled. Unknown but strangely familiar insignia on enemy commanders Rifleman: Styled as blue/white campaign ribbon with black stars and one silver star in center.
26 April, 3054
MISSION - Phoenix - Extraction (Defender)
Result: Victory
After-action Report: Aurigan Reach forces deployed center except for the Cicada which deployed on the far east edge of the operating zone. Ranger forces evenly distributed center and south while the civilian forces were split - vehicles on far west, Grommet in center and construction mech on far east side. Rangers immediately shifted to a wider net to prevent the escape of the civilian forces, while the Reach Hunchbacks moved to center woods and the Archer climbed the ridge on the NE side. The APC dumped ammo immediately to try and avoid a catastrophic ammo explosion, but was hit by Malthus' Marauder IIC with all 3 cER PPCs and cored.
The Grommet tried to run the gauntlet through the center, doing damage and pushing it's speed. Concentrated fire opened several holes with a shot hitting and causing to explode the flamer ammo torching the mech. Meanwhile the construction mech successfully made it into the river, but failed to get out of it and fell. Left torso was breached, but already useless as was the left arm. Just after exiting the river it was destroyed by the Vindicator liasion pilot. The threat of the parked Hunchbacks in the center allowed the Reach forces to mostly control the center of the field with the Hunchback 4H shooting anything that popped up on the central ridge, supported by the Archer who had a commanding view of the battlefield. The arrival of the reinforcements allowed a Stinger to hook up with the damaged MASH unit. Multiple hits slowed its forward progress due to multiple motor hits and it eventually succumbed to fire. In the middle of the battle one Stinger, the Centurion and the Locust were all destroyed with the Locust and Stinger pilots captured. Late in the battle the Rangers destroyed the second Stinger, but despite having achieved their objectives and having endured heavy fire and damage the Rangers continued to press the Reach forces. This additional push resulted in the destruction of the Phoenix Hawk, but came at a cost as well.
It appears that these forces were perhaps better trained than intelligence identified. Their ability to successfully target the heads of the Ranger forces were uncanny. The Panther sustained one shot to the head. All three of the Marauder pilots including Lt. Malthus each took two shots to the head. The second shot at the end of the combat rendered the Lieutenant unconscious injuring him further when his mech fell. Unusual markings were noted on the Royal Crab as they closed, though the markings were not replicated on any of the other units.
The only Reach mech not completely cored was one of the Stingers who was missing it's entire left side. It was claimed as salvage. It should also be noted that Lt. Malthus earned 4 kills (3 Mech, 1 Vee) and made Ace.
28 April, 3054
MISSION - Wolverine - Probe (Attacker)
Result: Victory
After-action Report: During our probing mission, we encountered enemy forces escorting 2 King Crabs. We took a defensive position by some hills on the West side of the battlefield. The King Crabs mirrored our tactics and set up as fire support behind some hills on the Eastern side of the battlefield while the remaining 6 units split into 2 groups, moving along the Northern and Southern sides of the battlefield. SGT Morley, driving the Wolverine II WVR-7HLx, advanced to match the enemy on the Northern front, while SGT Kazazain, driving the Wolverine II WVR-7HLxC2, moved to match the enemy on the Southern front. Meanwhile, the remainder of our forces remained in a defensive position and acted as fire support, drawing the fire of the King Crabs.
Kazazain reports seeing a strange insignia displayed underneath the cockpit of the Shadow Hawk 2D, and after seeing some images, it seems familiar, but I have never seen it before. It had a horizontal slate grey bar, with several black stars, and a single silver star of identical size placed in the center. Might not be anything, but I wasn’t sure if it would mean anything to you.
In total, after engaging the enemy, we managed to take down 6 of the enemy units, including one of the King Crabs. After that, we allowed the remaining enemy forces to retreat, and sent in our salvage teams to secure the remains of the destroyed King Crab. Damage to our forces were minimal, with major armor damage, but only minor internal damage, and a single lost limb on the Wolverine II WVR-7HLxC2.
30 April, 3054
MISSION - Charlie Company (Ice, Freya, Bright) - Hold the Line (Attacker)
Result: Victory
After-action Report: Identifying a weak spot in the Coalition lines, Colonel Atayde dispatched Charlie Company to punch a hole which could be exploited by the cavalry lances of Bravo Company. Coincidentally, the Coalition reinforced the position as part of a normal rotation just prior to the assault. Charlie Company, tasked with a frontal assault into an open valley and against an elevated position defended by twice their numbers, hurridly called for artillery support: not to break up the enemy formations, but to drop a rolling barrage of smoke to cover the Charlie units as they advanced across the kilometer of open ground. The plan worked fantastically; Captain Moon emerging from the dense smoke and immediately blowing the head off of the enemy commander's Atlas set the tone for the remainder of the engagement. While the enemy fought tenaciously, the point-blank assault of the Rangers into their position simply overwhelmed them. Even a brave attempted counterattack to the south by a Coalition light lance was ineffective at turning the Rangers from their assault, and the position was carried with remarkably little damage to the Rangers. As a hasty assault, this battle would be added to the Ranger textbooks.
29 May, 3054
MISSION - Delta Company (Skaraborg, Phoenix, Dragon) - Breakthrough (Attacker)
Result: Victory
After-action Report:
As a result of their capture of the Oasis outpost, the Rangers gained valuable intelligence:
As a result of capturing the outpost intact, you gain the following intelligence.
1) You are not facing Aurigan Coalition forces on this planet, but are opposed by elements of three ComGuard Divisions, operating under something called a "HOLY SHROUD" protocol. These units include 323rd Division/3rd Army, 34th Division/9th Army, and 90th Division/4th Army (a unit which, to your knowledge, was disbanded after Tukayyid).
2) The ComGuard on-planet report to a command group referred to only as "Delta/Epsllon", but there are also references that indicate reports are forwarded as well to something called "Rho/Rho".
3) The ComGuard arrived here in mid-3053, and have been systematically moving across the planet in a series of sequential operations grids. Once they have moved out of a grid, the support elements do not return. Military units do occasionally as need dictates. In November of 3053 they smashed a mercenary unit (which interrogations later determined were sent by Capellans to explore the planet for lostech), which prompted a request for reinforcements along with a request to consider the dispatch of an unfamiliar vessel, the CSS Montpellier. Repatriation of the survivors of the mercenary unit are not mentioned; only a confirmation that, "all evidence of the engagement has been cleansed" might provide insight into their eventual fate.
4) The ComStar non-military forces onplanet are clearly looking for something which was last seen in the area of the Aurigan Coalition approximately 30 years ago. Documentation repeatedly mentions that if the item or object is not repairable or salvageable, it is to be destroyed in situ. "Extreme sanctions" (sic) are repeatedly mentioned and authorized.
5) Since you have taken the facility intact, the ComStar forces onplanet are now aware that you know everything listed in points 1-4.
9 June, 3054
MISSION - Freya Lance - Hold the Line (Defender)
Result: Victory
After-action Report: Freya Lance successfully defended their assigned sector against a company-strength enemy counterattack. The OPFOR advanced across a broad front in a classic "horns of the bull"; quick flanking units to either side, and the heavier elements advancing across the Ranger center to attempt to pin the Freya Lance in place so they could be flanked and enveloped. in response, Freya held SGTs Fore and LT Hartmann back as a base of fire, assisted by the Capellan liaison, and counterassaulted the incoming flanking elements on the Ranger left flank using SGT Young's Falconer. This 2-Mech element was isolated and defeated in detail by SGT Young. Meanwhile the OPFOR was reluctant to advance in quick order in the face of SGT Fore's accurate fire at long range, meaning the assault broke up. SGT Young turned the OPFOR right flank, and when the OPFOR heavy units turned to deal with her, LT Hartmann, supported by SGT Fore, attacked the exposed OPFOR left flank. In a close quarters brawl, the OPFOR Lancelot, Flashman, Bombardier, and Summoner were all disabled or destroyed; the pilot of the Lancelot being killed outright.
Unfortunately, while the larger battle was held in control, the Capellan liaison was left exposed at the rear of Freya's formation. The Capellan Griffin was attacked in a close-quarters assault by the OPFOR Zephyr hovertanks/ Under the range of its own guns and unable to break contact from the speedy vehicles, liaison Ch-oe was killed in action when his Griffin's head was struck by a medium laser and several SRMs in quick succession. Freya Lance command wishes to note that this is what happens when one leads from the rear like some sort of giant anthropomorphic sociopathic rat, rather than leading from the front where you can inspire your subordinates to greater deeds; if you're in the rear and your subordinates advance, then you're left without friends to help you.
In the end, the assault petered out, and the OPFOR commanding officer in the Crockett asked for permission to withdraw from the field with their salvage. Freya Lance allowed this, less the inoperable Summoner, knocked out by a freak engine hit and therefore prime salvage.
11 June, 3054
MISSION - Dragon Lance - Prisoner Rescue (Attacker)
Result: Loss
After-action Report: Dragon split up 3 units going towards center. Thor from the East flank, Orion and Hatamoto on the West. Orion intercepted enemy LAM who got close to the hidden unit, falling from the gravity after first fit of fire. Thor ended up in a pincer with 5 enemy mechs shooting at it, losing major armor and a RA after a double tap from Ryoken, along with a varying fire from other units. Shortly after, the LAM pilot chased DT while Thor dealt with Crab and Hitzig in the hatamoto standing between DT and the rest of the forces.
Hitzig ended up taking out the enemy Sentinel while DT was being chased by enemy LAM. Barely standing after taking laser fire, the LAM went in for a kick on the spider pilot, fatally landing a kick on the head, knocking the pilot unconscious. The fall ended up killing the pilot and the game ended.
25 June, 3054
MISSION - Reaper, Ice, Bright, Phoenix Lance - Recon Raid (Attacker)
Result: Victory
After-action Report: Following the May breakthrough, Ranger forces surged into the gap in the Com Guard lines only to find nothing whatsoever. Nearly the entire Comstar defense action had been a feint to draw the Rangers away from the actual objective. Realizing this, Colonel Atayde and the Capellan liaison authorized a reconnaissance in force in precisely the opposite direction from where the entire campaign had begun. Their guess was spot-on. On the 25th of June the Ranger scouting force ran across a Comstar dig site defended by two full companies of crack troops.
The advance from the south was general, swinging slightly away from the Comstar heavy forces, towards the eastern side of the dig site crater. While Comstar rushed their northern forces south and west to link up with their assault units, Ranger forces isolated and engaged a shockingly resilient Level II to the southeast of the crater in the midst of some dense, wooded, hills. The Level II gave ground grudgingly, but fell back to the east all the same, giving the bulk of the Rangers the opportunity to swing into the crater from the southeast and eastern side. A point-blank battle ensued inside the crater. With Comstar assault units pouring fire into the crater, Ranger forces sheltered behind the object of the entire exercise: the crashed and ruined remains of a massive DropShip of unknown origin, identified only by the name "Argo" painted upon the hull.
Under intense fire, the Rangers were able to make an incomplete scan of the mystery DropShip at the insistence of their employer, and as the last of the Comstar resistance shattered, began to fall back. The Ranger evacuation was incomplete when the Comstar contingency plan detonated, giving the shocked and terrified Rangers an example of the "extreme sanctions" discussed in the recovered Comstar documents the month prior. A nuclear device, concealed in the hull of the Argo, annihilated the lostech vessel in an instant, and reached out to consume the surrounding area. Several Mechs were vaporized outright, and a half-dozen more Ranger MechWarriors, exposed to the intense heat and radiation from holes in their armor, died either on the battlefield or shortly thereafter. The only lance minimally affected was the reinforcing Freya Lance; concentrating on getting the data scanned by their Land-Air-Mech - not to mention recovering the dispossessed and ejected LT Brightsword - Freya had falled back early and was therefore spared the worst of the blast wave.
Although the DropShip was not completely scanned, a significant proportion was, and in light of Colonel Atayde's service to the Capellan Confederation and recognizing the particularly unique nature of a simple reconnaissance mission to the Periphery which spiraled completely out of control, Capellan Authorities declared the mission an unqualified success and rewarded the members of the Numenorean Rangers appropriately.
Author
Topic: Operation SOVNYA Unit Record; April 3054 (Read 1994 times)