30 March 3058
Mission: SOLO - Recon Raid - Spectre Lance
Result: Victory - no effect on contract score
After-action Report: At the beginning, OpFor advanced in a line against PCs spread across the center, where OpFor takes heavy damage without doing overly much in return. A flea and locust break through on east and west board edges respectively. Then, OpFor units start dropping as flea and locust get ready to scan, with many OpFor units falling during the scan. Suddenly, vehicle reinforcements move quickly along the sides, while more OpFor die in the middle. PC units start faltering, as the Shadow Hawk falls repeatedly and the Black Hawk's back gets hounded. As the last OpFor units die in the middle of the board, the reinforcement vehicles make one last break back but get shot down.
31 March 3058
Mission: Convoy Attack (Attacker) - Lancer, Osiris, Marigold
Result: Victory - +2 to contract score
After-action Report: In a swampy field, Lancer and Marigold (along with liaison) hid in the trees on the East bank, while Osiris hid in the trees on the West near the South end, noticed a large brick of mechs protecting a small convoy coming through the city. The Rangers presence were known after a few seconds of the convoy advancing. As soon as we have faded out of the shadows, we were intercepted by a small lance on the East, which Lancer and Marigold became frantic and dealt with the light force in a scattered haste, while Osiris dealt with vehicles, along with 2 mechs in the North.
Struggling to make headway on both fronts, the convoy block began pushing in on the Rangers causing serious damage to all lances. Osiris struggling to land hits and stumbling over every step and a reinforcement ready to come in case any of the units pull through. The LRM mechs on the pirates tore through the bulk of the COs Highlander, causing confusion to Lancer and having to readjust every chance it can, while Marigold slowly worked on mechs that began to bleed through the line. Jazz lance comes in and takes a beating from the enemy Grizzly, having to pull back to work on the larger block of the units. While this is going off, Osiris is still struggling to get by and proceeded to pull out the win by killing all 6 units on his side.
Lancer CO took too many hits to the head, losing the head on the mech, and nearly his life by punching out early. The finishing blow was decided when the Grizzly was taken down on the 11th hour, netting the win for the rangers, forcing the convoy to shut down and surrender. No mechs were lost on the Ranger side, but damage and questions as to why things went as poorly as they did. Ranger CO is out of commission for 8 weeks while he recuperates from his injuries. Despite having the bulk of the lighter element on his back in the end, Marigold left the field with armor damage.
4 April, 3058
Mission: SOLO - Hold the Line (defender) - Shadow
Result: Victory - no effect on contract score
After-action Report: Shadow deployed a wide net north to south against the initial run of opposing forces with 2 AC/2 Carriers swinging north through the NW, anchored by the Marauder and Blackjack in the west and supported by the remaining AC/2 Carrier, LRM Carrier, Centurion and Vulcan in the SW. The Lancelot supported by the Trebuchet drove to the SW to deal with the LRM Carrier while the Vindicator kept the attention of 2 of the AC/2 Carriers freeing up the Cataphract and Berserker to take on the Marauder and Blackjack. As the heaviest units danced, MSGT Robbie von Hoff in the Lancelot took down the LRM carrier coming under coordinated fire from the mixed lance. The liaison officer was successful in taking out one of the AC/2 Carriers as LTJG Dean Damsden legged the Blackjack and LTSG Xiao Lixin did likewise to the Marauder.
The Marauder got in a parting shot before LTSG Xiao kicked the head off the Marauder, killing the opposing forces' CO. Not long after the Cataphract destroyed the right torso of the Blackjack forcing the pilot to abandon the mech. A lucky shot by SGT Zhao Yifei cooked off the ammo in the Vulcan while the pilot punched out and successfully made it to ground. He would be later picked up by MSGT von Hoff. LTJG Damsden picked up the Blackjack pilot as there was a bit of a lull in the combat as the Lancelot maneuvered to avoid the withering fire with SGT Zhao offering herself as target. LTSG Xiao destroyed the last of the northern AC/2 carriers.
The OpFor's strategy was well timed as Shadow's heaviest units were out of position for the pirate reinforcements in the southeast. MSGT von Hoff was nearly hit by the lead Hetzer's AC/20, but was fortunate that it didn't connect. SGT Zhao's position was too exposed and she took fire from the Ostwar in addition to the Centurion and remaining AC/2 carrier with both side torsos stripped and damaged internally. The Galleon made good use of its speed to zip along the southern edge of the zone outpacing the Vindicator trying to come to support. The Hetzers protected the Galleon and prevented the Lancelot from pursuing as the only unit with a hope of keeping up or taking it out. It was a successful strategy as the Galleon would eventually escape to the East but costly for the Hetzers as the first was dropped by the Lancelot and the second by the Trebuchet, each maneuvering to avoid the fixed firing arc of the massive AC/20s.
The Cataphract was able to close on the cluster of Ostwar, Centurion and AC/2 Carrier, first taking out the AC/2 Carrier in withering fire before jumping behind the Centurion, opening up it's back and cooking off it's ammo. The pilot didn't survive the explosion. The Berserker traded fire with the Ostwar holding its focus and maneuvering for physical attacks managing to land a solid kick to the left leg. In a coordinated effort with the Cataphract, the two heaviest of Shadows mechs took off the leg of the Ostwar as it attempted to quickly drop the Vindicator and eliminate the liaison. Though it crippled the Vindicator, it did not down it. With the Ostwar on the ground, and the Galleon close to leaving the area of engagement, LTSG Xiao managed to destroy the Ostwar's right arm and force the pilot to abandon the mech, collecting the pilot as the lone surviving pirate unit - the Galleon, disappeared to the east.
13 April, 3058
Mission: SOLO - Star League Cache 1 - Ironside
Result: Victory - no effect on contract score
After-action Report: Inside the cache Major Erikson and SGT Rommel located 2 buildings. Inside the smaller building they found a Dragoon AEM-01 that SGT Rommel immediately began her inspection and got the mech powered up very quickly. While SGT Rommel was doing this Major Erikson went to investigate the larger building. Shortly after entering the larger building Major Erikson’s sensors started indicating 3 enemy units approaching. The 3 mechs came down the ramp. The Dervish heading straight for the door of the larger building and the Ostroc went around to the right of the building looking to corner Major Erikson, but he came out the right side to limit the fire coming at him. The Griffin had head towards the left of the larger building. Sgt Rommel not wanting to be left out of the fight came out the top of the smaller building onto the bridge between the buildings. SGT Rommel expertly kept the Griffin occupied while Major Erikson played cat and mouse with the Ostroc and Dervish. He was able to manuever so that he was engaged with only 1 mech at a time. Major Erikson first concentrated on the Ostroc and put it down after trading lots of fire. Then he turned his attention to the Dervish. He was able to destroy both arms and a leg from the Dervish. The pilot abandoned his mech and fled. Major Erikson immediately turned his attention to the Griffin. Which SGT Rommel had cornered in the upper level of the larger building. They soon were able take the right torso of the Griffin leaving it weaponless. The pilot shut down the Griffin and Major Erikson, the honorable person he is, allowed them to leave. The Dragoon had very little armor damage and Major Erikson’s Flashman came back with a lot less armor and a little internal structure damage. Major Erikson claimed salvage rights for the Griffin and Dervish.
13 April, 3058
Mission: SOLO - Star League Cache 1 - Norbotten
Result: Victory - no effect on contract score
After-action Report: Norrbotten lance was mid recovery on Amaris Era Rampage when pirate were converging on the location in the early hours of 4/13. Mechwarriors Kent, Nilsson and Perrin were able to pull the majority of the pirates away and was able to distract the enemy forces. LT Smith was left to escort out the Rampage under the operation of Tech LT Vaslivesky.
Smith caught the pirate Warhammer by surprise with a full battery from his Sunder, and the confusion also gave Vaslivesky an opportunity to strike, the ancient machine still having good warload several hundred years later - connected with a full battery much to the shock of everyone. The Griffin and Hunchback were stunned by this sudden revelation and the Warhammer went to engage the Rampage in close quarters combat.
The Rampage however, was up to the challenge, and promptly kicked the leg off the Warhammer which sadly exploded from the fall. Its pilot, a smear across the back of the cache wall from the resulting detonation. The cat and mouse continued for several turns, with the griffin notably trying to get into kicking range of the Sunder but after multiple medium pulse laser and PPC rounds at close range decided against that plan - the Rampage going the long way around the factory building pulling the hunchback with it, abusing the MASC system to its fullest.
The Sunder attempted to join back up with the Rampage to give it protection from the approaching Hunchback - the Griffin and the Rampage came to physical blows, resulting in the Griffin getting a leg kicked off however it did result in the Rampage falling and the MASC system failing from the fall. Acting quickly, Smith jumped behind the Hunchback to keep it busy and the resulting fire disabled its autocannon - and the kick knocked it down but not out.
The next round of fire resulted in the Rampage getting very unlucky and heavy concentrated fire resulted in the left leg armor failure and two actuators being hit (Stayed standing on THREE NINES!) and began withdrawing immediately - the Hunchback attempted to get in close to try to finish off the lame Hunchback - and once again, Vasliveskly took a leg off with the resulting kick. The Griffin lost both arms and could not stand and the Hunchback lost a leg and an arm and was no longer in the fight. In the final round of fire the Sunder lost a hip meaning both machines needed assistance off the field of battle.
4 April, 3058
Mission: Hold the Line (defender) - Shadow, Spectre, Fury
Result: Victory - +2 to contract score
After-action Report: Trying to prevent the pirates from advancing the line, Charlie deployed a stopping line with Fury in South, Shadow in North, Spectre center. Awaiting the help of Marigold from the South, and Fire dropping in from the ship in the East to help reinforce the line. Fury and Marigold tore through the vehicle and light reinforcement pushing in from the SE as the pirates stumbled to get through the line. Spectre was trying their best to hold the units pushing the center while the Cronus pushed through and lucked out from all the fire it has taken during its travel. Shadow, with 2 of Fire, was struggling to take the units in the North, but was able to force them out by the 11th hour.
During the fight, Shadow ended up taking an ammo explosion and SGT Zhao Lifei ended up being ejected and picked up by enemy pilot. Spectre began to move North to help support Shadow after this event and most of those in the center were routed. Fire was taking out those that made it towards the Eastern front, taking out most units that got near him. Fury began to push up and support form the South, while Marigold began to move North as well. Spectors Marauder pilot, along with the Partisan team, taking pot shots to the head of the Merlin, killing both the pirate pilot and SGT Zhao Lifei.
After a long battle, most lances ended up with minor damage, while the Cronus pulled through without opposition by the end of it. All lances are repaired by end of month, with Spectre down a pilot, looking for a replacement. hopefully the pirate that made it through is dealt with in an expedited manner.
14 April, 3058
Mission: Hide and Seek (defender) - Jazz
Result: Victory - no effect on contract score
After-action Report: Satellite surveillance indicated possible pirate activity approaching sector 73. As Jazz was on patrol in the area, orders were sent to set up an ambush. Jazz arrived in sector 73 less than 5 minutes ahead of a company of pirate forces. Jazz was able to find hiding places for Lt Bischoff, Sgt Finch and liaison Pekka Reima. Sgt’s Wolf and Reese were entering 2 small groves of trees as a vehicle lance and medium mech lance entered the area from the west in a loose spread formation.
Combat engaged rapidly as one pirate Vedette tank attempted to roll into the copes of trees hiding Lt. Bischoff’s Axman. The Axman’s large bore autocannon did its job, ripping apart the Vedette in seconds. Across the battlefield however, the pirate spread formation outnumbering the Rangers 2-1, played havoc on Jazz attempts to control the initiative of the skirmish. Seconds later, Lt. Bischoff used up his luck quotient for the month as both enemy Hetzers and Griffin missed clean shots [ooc: edged 2 ac20 hits and erppc head shot in one turn]. Sgt Finch was finally able to outmaneuver the pirate Hunchback and get a few shots at its lightly armored back, but was unable to deliver the fatal blow. Jazz managed to maneuver and isolate individual pirate units and cut down the numerical advantage, disabling both Hetzer engines, destroying the remaining Vedette and dropping a Wasp with a destroyed gyro while Jazz Actual wore down the Griffin. Pirate reinforcements briefly appeared at the western edge of the battlefield but Jazz held firm and Sgt Reese convinced the pirates to retreat by dropping the reinforcing Wasp and killing the pilot with a hatchet to the head. The Griffin pilot surrendered after losing several leg actuators and 2 engine hits.
Final tally: 2 Vedettes destroyed, 2 Hetzers disabled, 2 Wasps and Griffin crippled; no Jazz losses but Sgt Wolf has to rebuild her Firestarter again…
2 May, 3058
Mission: Recon Raid (attacker) - Ironside, Foil, Fury
Result: Victory - +2 to contract score
After-action Report: The third mission in our polar gulf contract began as most did, heavy opposition in deeply entrenched and defendable positions. This time, however, we had a plan Jazz's LAM would fly up to the eastern side of the enemy position and quickly capture the information under the cover of smoke. But like every plan, it changed as soon as enemy contact was made. Ironside lance pushed up the center while Foil assisted Jazz's advance, they were met with extreme opposition. through the hailstorm of gunfire, the LAM continued to race to the observation point. But just as the pilot began to scan their surroundings the enemy reinforcements arrived. The LAM was forced to flee the heavy enemy mechs and vehicles. As the enemy's reinforcements entered so did ours, Osiris was the first to arrive, moving up the western side and assisting the central push. During this time the central defense of the pirates began to crumple, but more heavy vehicles moved to bolster their defenses. The pace of the battle fell to an almost standstill as both sides dug in and exchanged volleys of fire. Spectre lance arrived and assisted the eastern advance, but even then they were bogged down by the firepower of the enemy. As the fight dragged on a single mech from Osiris lance snuck behind the enemy defenses and completed the objective. All while the enemy's forces dwindled until the Jazz LAM sped back to the northeastern corner and completed the objective with the covering fire of foil and Spectre. The mission was finished as the final killing blows were dealt to the straggling enemy mechs.
18 May, 3058
Mission: Stand Up (defender) - Marigold
Result: Victory - no effect on contract score
After-action Report: Marigold lance was "on patrol" about 10 klicks NW of Rangers FOB. In actuality, Eliska had witnessed short tempers and combative behavior amongst the lance and was looking to pull the team together with some fresh hunting & fishing. She wasn't sure if it had been the frustrating nature of this campaign against "pirates" with clan gear and bad attitudes, or if it was the fact that the group spanned 3 generations and the tight competitive camaraderie that existed in other groups had so far been elusive for Marigold. Their liaison had gladly provided the location of a promising lake, trading the info for an invitation. It wasn't ideal, but generally the employer liked to be included any time they were traipsing their mechs through the local countryside.
As they approached the small lake, hopefully well-stocked, scanners started pinging on an incoming pirate patrol. One of the local residents must have earned a nice bounty for reporting Marigold's location to the pirates, and they'd sent out a company-sized welcoming party. Well, if outdoor activities were off the table, maybe a good punch to the face would work also.
Marigold sought defensible positions as the pirates came into view. Eliska requested that the liaison remain out of the fight, but she politely declined to do so, and instead posted up on a hill with a good view of the entire field. At long range a few shots were fired, to zero effect. As the pirates continued to quickly advance, Marigold units mostly found the cover they were looking for although Joshua raced ahead to get his pulse lasers into the fight as soon as possible. Always trust that a 23-year-old mechwarrior will behave exactly as expected. Brash - check. Over-confident - check.
It quickly became obvious why the liaison wasn't sitting this one out, as her ERPPC reached out and erased over a half ton of armor from the pirate Catapult. Alice in her Archer also slammed her full complement of LRM's into the enemy mech, thanks to the Artemis IV system's improved accuracy. The final elements of the pirate company also entered the field, a mixed lance of PO and Hunter tracked tanks. As most of the pirate heavy lance moved into the woods, Joshua aggressively moved his Maelstrom into position to begin hounding their flank/rear. The pirate catapult continued to soak lots of damage, being the lone mech to head away from the protective grove, and all the armor was stripped from it's left missile pod.
The pirate scout lance moved full speed in a flanking maneuver to the south. The scouts continued to advance and turned into Eliska's flank in the Black Knight, combining their fire with the Catapult and the entire vehicle lance. The small hill in front of the Black Knight got the worst of it, and only a ton of armor was lost from the mech. Eliska returned fire, ripping the weapons pod off the left side of the Catapult.
Joshua's aggressive play in the Maelstrom paid off as he kicked the Grasshopper and knocked it down. All battle discipline was lost as the battle descended into a swirling mass of chaotic destruction. The senior member of the unit, Nancy Pascha, in her Catapult sought to help the youngest member and they engaged the PO's at close range preventing them from concentrating fire on a single mech. Nancy reached out with her LRM's and destroyed the drivetrain of a pirate Hunter tank, choosing to ignore the tank's crew as they poured out and into the surrounding cover.
The combination of fire from the Maelstrom and Catapult's pulse weapons stripped the armor from the Grasshopper's leg and fused the foot actuator, resulting in yet another fall for the heavy mech.
Alice's Archer worked with the liaison to knock down the Cataphract before it could deliver a kick on the Archer, and Eliska combined fire and a brutal kick to remove the leg of the adjacent Firestarter. The enemy pilot frantically tried to remain standing, but crashed down clumsily onto a sharp upright log in the light woods, piercing the cockpit and ending his mediocre criminal career. His sacrifice made all the worse as his lancemates mostly missed the Black Knight with their fire. As the remaining scouts moved towards the liaison, Eliska launched the Black Knight back into her original firing nest, and opened up on the Grasshopper. With armor sloughing off from sustained fire, Eliska's final shot found that single ton of ammo in the enemy mech and ignited the 70-tonner into a fireball. The pilot ejected successfully and was immediately retrieved by Joshua in his Maelstrom.
One of the Stingers, in an act of either utter bravery or absolute stupidity, launches himself into the air and aims to pile-drive the liaison's Vindicator into the turf. Incoming fire from the Vindicator and Archer removes a ton and a half of armor, but he maintains his course and violently collides with the liaison doing damage to both arms and knocking the mech off a level 3 hill for even more damage. Joshua's recklessness costs him as fire pours in from all directions, tons of armor dropping to the ground and eventually severing one of the jump jet controls in the left torso of his Maelstrom. Despite this, he finishes off the Catapult, and kills the pilot as well.
Seeing the Maelstrom absolutely rocked by fire, and obscured in smoke, Nancy goes feral and demonstrates yet again why her callsign is Shrike. She butchers the adjacent Po with her pulse lasers, and the Hunter with her LRM's at the same time, finishing up with a damaging kick to the Po under her feet. Eliska continues to savage the pirates as well, this time stripping the remaining armor from the Cataphract and using her clinical knowledge of mech construction to fuse the hip joint with a pulse laser. "Shrike" continues her rampage, jumping onto the hill next to a Stinger and kicking right through it's center torso, while also pouring fire into the Cataphract, somehow hitting all ammo bins to consume both the mech and pilot in an inferno.
Alice finishes off the other Stinger with a kick as well, while Joshua focuses on the Black Knight. The Maelstrom starts to struggle under the combined weight of fire, as the Po shreds the mech's right arm, destroying his trusty ERPPC. At this point, Eliska considered offering her enemies a chance to surrender, but the fact that her team had really come together for the first time in months gave her pause. Of course, the fact that the Rangers had lost a few people on this contract and these were just filthy pirates also came into play.
Marigold continued hunting down the remaining Black Knight, Firestarter, and Po, and a couple minutes later it was all over. Joshua's Maelstrom had legged the Black Knight, and the liaison had similarly taken the leg off the Firestarter.
Finally, "Shrike" completed her savaging of the vehicle lance by utterly destroying the Po. In all, 3 enemy pilots were captured, and the Black Knight and Firestarter were taken as salvage, sending some additional salvage to the unit.
The Black Knight, Archer, and Catapult would just need to replace armor, and the Maelstrom would need more extensive repairs, having lost an arm, weapon, jump jet, and lots of armor.
Overall, a good day and as promised, it really WAS a good hunting spot.
18 May, 3058
Mission: Breakthrough (attacker) - Lancer
Result: Victory - no effect on contract score
After-action Report: While trying to push the line, Lancer made it to the city with limited information about where enemy forces were located. Fire started pretty early with minor pockets of damage between fire on both sides. Being bogged by the amount of forces, LTJG Geiger in the Archer, began taking heavy fire from the West flank in the South. Archer began pulling around through the South while a lance of medium mechs began to follow. Highlander and Zeus began to push the heavier units on the East end. Highlander and Zeus began to fire at the smaller tanks, taking them out before even reaching closer to the center of the city with a motorized infantry in hot pursuit. While the Archer tried to get into a better position, one of the Shadow Hawks got a lucky hit on an ammo bin, taking the engine along with it. In a fit of fury, Kranz in the Orion ended up taking down 3 medium mechs in the push North while the other 3 units got hindered. Highlander got a lucky shot taking out the behemoth with a good motive, while Zeus and Apollo slowly chipped at other units. Zeus fired at a building where an infantry unit went into and taking the building down on them. Getting to the center of the city is when the battle began to heat up with the Warhammer and Wyvern giving heavy damage to remaining units.
Orion broke through the center, taking massive damage and giving it, got to the end without a hitch while Zeus and Highlander still worked on preventing remaining units from catching up. The center was a bloody battle, with Highlander and Zeus taking heavy damage, but able to leg or destroy weapons on the remaining mechs that stood in our way. One by one, the enemy mechs began to fall, take ammo explosions, losing limbs, while the field gunner struggled to get a position to fire. After the last mech fell and was unable to move, the remaining 2 units in Lancer moved away from the fire to preserve what little mech they both had left, while the Orion stood idle on the North end. Damage was severe, but theirs is worse.
21 May, 3058
Mission: Stand Up (defender) - Osiris
Result: Victory - no effect on contract score
After-action Report: The Pirates entered the zone from east with the mechs to the North. Osiris Lance entered from the southwest. LTJG Morles and SGT Frost headed due east to intercept the vehicles while LTSG Maat and SGT Mitchell moved northwest to get into position to intercept the mechs. They could tell it was going to a while for the mechs to reach them, so they helped to take out the vehicles. The Liaison hung back taking up a firing position to give fire support. The Saladins rushed LTJG Morles and he deftly destroyed them with fire at one and a well placed kick to the other. Then the combined fire of the Osiris Lance quickly dispatched the rest of the vehicles as the pirate mechs engaged. As the battle continued Osiris Lance was able to give out heavy damage while taking minor damage to themselves. The Ostroc made a run at the Liaison taking off both the arms of the Vindicator he was in. LTSG Maat and LTJG Morles blitzed the Rifleman causing it’s ammo to explode while SGT Frost and SGT Mitchell put heavy fire into the Ostroc causing some major damage to it. After that the pirates quickly with retreated and conceded the battlefield. (IRL situation arose ending the game).
All vehicles and Rifleman destroyed or crippled for a total of 9 units. Victory declared.
22 May, 3058
Mission: Base Attack (Attacker) - Fire, Norbotten, Blitzkrieg
Result:
After-action Report: Fire lance and company were tasked with hunting down the pirates in their enclave almost to the man. After some back and forth due to concerns of prisoner treatment the mission parameters were solidified. Conduct a full assault onto the small bastion and remove the foothold of pirate forces in the area.
Fire and Norbotten lances deployed southwest. The liason and local St Ives forces deployed south east "alongside" Blitzkrieg lance. Fury deployed via highway to the east on a delayed prong attack and Ironsides deployed after repositioning through the center.
Pirate forces deployed with clear intent forming a centered concave. Additional units deployed almost haphazardly but were placed with intent that very much so became evident later on. Supplementing the forces were old turrets (found and reassembled), local infantry units that were very clearly experienced city fighters and commandeered mining equipment. Among the turrets lay an abomination reconstructed from parts long forgotten and now clearly remembered....
Pirates forces started their feigned withdrawal in the west as soon as Ranger and St Ives units advanced. Eastern pirate units moved for positioning on the east. Both sides sending artillery continued this for some time exchanging fire when able.
Both lines converged artillery targeting pirate support and pirate haphazardly firing into the wind but still being effective in some regard. Both Ranger and St Ives units began taking sporadic longtom and sniper fire fairly quickly. Significant damage would be dealt to at Ives forces initially and Ranger forces the remainder. Many Rangers would recall the shear terror of the sudden explosion and near fatal and crippling damage. Ranger counter battery was highly effective neutralizing the longtoms. The aging Helepolis however was about as terrifyingly effective. Under direction of Fire CO air superiority was heavily tasked with constant hard point breaking and later headhunting. This was not an envied role but necessary as Ranger air assets drew heavy ground fire on CAS runs allowing Ranger units to push in the East. Unfortunately heavy damage on the fighters will make down time necessary. One bird was lost with pilot and was unrecoverable.
The west was just as rough although lighter in force. Pirate forces gave just as much hate. They showed the importance and necessary role of ground troops in urban environments. Although Ranger lance Norbotten attempted to breach the city it became apparent the infantry nor mechs were willing to part and break. As the breach began to widen stray artillery struck Norbotten lance forcing retreat. Light units heavily pursued the lance but were eventually defeated or ran. Fire Lance and Ironside broke through the line and kill zone separating the pirate lines. The East was nothing but close in fighting and could be considered nothing less than a brawl. This became the same across the entire battlefield shortly after.
The combat loss groupings began to take hold and heavy damage filled most of the Ranger units. Some specifically drawing ire across the pirate forces more than others. The Rangers dug deep and didn't break. Mop up duties commenced as more pirate forces fell and wrapped up with Ranger victory. Sadly the fighting claimed SGT Tara Rathbone of Blitzkrieg. The last defiant action of a black knight blowing out her cockpit while being offered surrender.