After Action Report - Probe - 6/13/3051
Result: Victory (Pyrrhic)
Midnight approached at night operating under a full moon with the Magistry 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. Magistry 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. Magistry 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 Magistry 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 Executioner ranged slightly further north and the LAM continued to be all over the map but the focus began taking it's 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.
Perhaps due to lack of recent night time operations, Midnight could not group it's damage successfully. As perhaps an extreme example, when victory was achieved the Charger was still operational. It had tissue paper for internal structure in it's head and left torso. The only armor it had remaining on anything but a leg was on it's rear left torso while all weapons had been destroyed, both arms and right torso gone and a hit to the engine. Despite all that it was still an operational threat given it's speed and deadliness of its kicks.
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 head cap. Colonel Atayde 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. The Colonel hopes the probe provides useful intelligence given the cost.
MoC Forces
Destroyed - Victor, Griffin, 2 Locusts, Wasp (Salvageable; lost 1 leg and both torsos)
Crippled - Charger, Scorpion, Panther
Operational - Wasp (Salvageable - legged), 2 Shadow Hawks, Locust, 4 Drillsons
Ranger Forces
Destroyed (Salvageable) - Shadow Hawk
Crippled - Warhammer
Operational - Phoenix Hawk LAM, Panther, Executioner (Allied)
Dead: Lt. Penny Roark
Killed: 2 Wasp WSP-1A, Victor VTR-9B, Griffin GRF-1N, 2 Locust LCT-1M
Value in CB: 19,104,707
50% Value: 9,552,354
Midnight claims 2 Wasp WSP-1A (3,228,480)