Mission success.
AAR
Combine forces started with a center, center east deployment, the SRM Carrier tucked between hills. Of the Komodo there was no sign which kept the Rangers on high alert. Ranger forces under the command of LT Kelswa pushed mostly up the western edge of the OZ, using the ridge and woods for cover, while Kelswa in his Battlemaster claimed the eastern high ground. It wasn't long before the Komodo was spotted by the Grasshopper's active probe just as the Avatar was passing it's hidden location. It is a testament to MSGT Lee's skill that the Avatar didn't fall under the combined fire of a lance of mechs including the Komodo at close to point blank range. The fight would largely continue contested between the central high ground claimed by the Combine forces and the woods and western ridge to their southwest.
The Rangers took turns drawing fire to give other members of the lance the opportunity to drop withering fire onto the others. Some well grouped damage had the Battlemaster dumping SRM ammo after the left torso was breeched. He took down one of the Bulldogs and the Grasshopper exchanged fire with the SRM Carrier, surviving 33 missile strikes. A strong grouping into the tank's front dropped it before it could let loose with a second salvo. Focus fire softened the Maelstrom up while the Marauder took point. The two similar machines took similar damage, each damaging their gyros and coring the Maelstrom as the Marauder took sufficient engine damage to shut it down. Kelswa and Price were able to capture the Combine C.O. turning the tide of battle. (Despite me having a +1, Ryan won most initiative checks prior to taking out the Maelstrom.)
The reinforcements had closed and were adding their fire as well. Kelswa and Price would take out both the Komodo and the Kabuto in rapid fashion, while MSGT Fox took out the KU. It was a piece of the parting exchange as the SGT Lee's devastating salvo with medium lasers and 23 SRM missiles dropped the Jenner with four of those hitting the head, the machine falling from the onslaught and having it's ammo bin go off. The pilot beyond any hope of saving. As a parting shot as the Lee prepped the shutdown sequence on the Avatar, a kick from the Spider came straight at her head. She juked (Edge spent) but it was not enough and it connected, damaging life support and sensors. A mixed lance of Combine forces limped off the field including one Bulldog, the Raptor, Spider and the Firestarter D.
In the end, Lt. Kelswa accepted the price of victory. The Black Hawk KU and the Firestarter Prime were salvaged, though the latter only worth selling crippled. Of the Ranger forces, the Marauder's engine was destroyed as was it's left arm and it was breeched in all torsos. Both the Battlemaster and Grasshopper took critical damage with the Battlemaster needing repairs to several systems and having lost a medium laser outright. The Grasshopper took a direct shot to the hip and MSGT Swanson told SGT Fox that the leg would need to be replaced entirely. The Avatar though was even worse. Right arm destroyed all torsos and head breeched, engine damaged, weapons to repair.
Summary
MSGT Tara Price & LTSG Anders Wolfram Kelswa - 3 kills (Bulldog, Komodo, Kabuto), 5 XP, MSGT Price makes Ace (+5 XP)
LTJG Dean Ramsden, 2 pilot hits - 1 kill (Maelstrom), 3 XP
MSGT Jane Fox, 1 pilot hit - 2 kills (SRM Carrier, Black Hawk KU) - 4 XP
MSGT Carlie Lee, 2 pilot hits - 2 kills (Firestarter Prime, Jenner) - 4 XP, made Ace (+5 XP)
Liaison - Untouched
Salvage
Black Hawk KU-D
Firestarter O-Prime
Captured
Maelstrom pilot: Colm Trick Hvy, Elite (1/2, EDG: 1, Gun Spec: Energy, Enviro Spec: Woods, Dodge)
NOTE: I incorrectly reported the death of the Avatar pilot. I had misremembered the tonnage of the Spider thinking it 35 rather than 30T. Taking 6 vs. 7 points of damage left it with 1 IS and a crit check. Ryan made a valiant effort to still kill the pilot rolling a 10 and 2 crits on the head. For them he rolled 1 and 2, leaving the pilot alive. As it was the last roll of the game, nothing else changed.