PRE BATTLE/AOR
Following retreating units after the last missions seemed to give what appeared to be a lucky break. Units would disappear after heading into low mid level terrain and after establishing an OP they would be spotted again once more on the outskirts of what appeared to be a small city. After putting in a request for small drone overflight and any hackable satellite data it was determined as worth investigating. The satellite was simply untouchable and the first drone shot was vague at best. The second drone however gave a bit more and was in such a spot as to allow it to make entry into even the city. The Jump infantry made there way in close enough to get the drone up and get very minimal data and then after its destruction pulled out in due haste. That drone data would give a glimpse of a large set of traffic specifically going into one building which would include not only foot traffic but mech and armor. The buildings in most cases were fairly beat down but of the few still intact one looked to be a relay for the turret complex. Another seemed to be a small barracks and lastly a large building with what appeared to be scientists and security detail. This fit the original contract stipulations of who they were after and started a countdown.
Fire, Norbotten, and Blitzkrieg were to go secure the OP and stage there. After arriving it was quickly announced to pull in Unit CO with Lancer as well as Foil. Both would be ideal c3 groups to help relay information and deal with units as needed. Also they would allow for verification of target if needed and relay any change in contract terms. Flexibility of Foil would allow for transport if needed as well. Heavy BA, tank support and transport were delivered as well. Seeing an opportunity Fire ordered an immediate attack before Unit Co could get there to assume command. The 3rd drone attempt would garner now mounted patrols and following this immediate exfil for the infantry team was ordered. Instead of the skeleton crews that were expected with shutdown units and skeleton crew they were now on full alert and patrolling.
Following the extensive planning process before the final drone overflight tasks, lanes and support were finalized. Already having a plan set and now with a clear countdown started it was launch now or lose the contract. Last second contract changes would have a large impact on determination of execution however.
Fire, Norbotten, Blitzkrieg were to be with tank support and various support units. Foil and Lancer would support at full haste once able to enter the AO. Fire and Norbotten intended to push center through the least terrain resistance with blitzkrieg slightly south with tank support. Smoke was ordered with the intent to allow control of center AO while weakening any opfor utilizing the sole high ground strongpoint. An audible was called by the tank commander and was passed up the chain with push back. As local CO it became the voices of many with some persuading variables to not follow the original plan. With no time to argue it was decided to let them deviate to a small extent and still do what they were expected to do. Once this happened just like any plan when it comes into contact no longer existed.
The battle started as expected roughly for most lances. That was where any semblance of expectation pretty much went out the window. Tank support took motive damage on an opening salvo as did several other members with highly accurate fire it was clear that this would not proceed as needed. A lateral shift started after unit frequency confirmations were given to blitzkrieg but in that instant communications appeared to breakdown and were never really restored. Not for a majority of the battle in the most part and by that point it took the southern prong to carry the day.
Opfor units established themselves in the south of the city and on the overlooking strongpoint. This would attempt to absorb and envelope the Ranger units from the North and South in the city. They also recalled one patrol which very much so impacted the day with a sequence of events starting with partial confirmation of firing protocol on the smoke rounds. The delay and confusion caused overlapping drift and did not offer the protection needed even more so enforcing a lateral shift. Following this a pair of lightnings took advantage of the ranger transport damaging and then dropping the lift fan by volley two. With the entire battle starting in favor of the WOB units it did not look like anything could be going right. Things would and could only be worse but it was already worse before that as not only did the communications breakdown affect multiple areas it became suspected there would be a traitor in the midst.
Norbotten lance was able to step into the battering ram role and dismantle several units on the march toward the city. Eventually losing the Rampage to a near catastrophic event and also the Spartan dropping prior to that. Both units lost storming the hillside strongpoint but doing so in impressive manner including ripping a pristine torso from a Helm upgraded Charger. The Sunder proceeded to handle multiple units before coming face to face with a test bed Victor with some degree of unknown. It would explode horridly after taking fire from Kanazuchis through a smoky hail mary in addition to Fire lead finally hitting something. The Victor would certainly get noticed and result in a bubble and dying in said bubble.
Fire attempting to figure out what was happening became a near null factor most of the battle. The BA were able to be dropped at the objective but lost a suit from a gauss slug on the way in. The atlas would put down range fire as would others but couldnt hit with much or at all in some cases save for the Archer. The Archer managed to test semi guided LRMs which tagged by Foils Owens managed to drop a Cestus. The Owens seeing the writing on the wall did its best impression of a rock in a hole following this and did it quite well. The Marauder finally getting into point blank range managed to hit something but took massive fire in response.
Blitzkrieg would proceed as expected but would take heavy fire and was delayed. They would also manage to drop several enemies including VTOLS and various vehicles or mechs. Advancing center south and shifting to turn the corner allowed Foil to also push in to support completing the turn. Norbotten's KU and Sunder were also able to advance and deploy forces. These forces in the end were able to fully gain control of the objective building and make short work of the bodyguard unit securing the HVT. This bubble would be important in maintaining the operational exfil route. Fire would help to blunt additional forces with no certainty on how well it would hold.
The center strongpoint was pushed and then fairly controlled by Norbotten and Lancer with some support by Fire. This would continue for the remainder of the mission even as these forces were pulling back to regroup due damage. The still remaining local forces and the new large northern force made a big effort to stop that however. This resulted in the Rampage and Spartan. This regroup and following push to secure the hill would force the cost of three mechs and crippling of a fourth would establish the center bubble disrupting any chances of group three intercepting the exfil.
With no practical way to secure the HVT they had been tasked with the WOB forces withdrew plotting for another day.
Inei would be seen giving a few orders to his lance, techs and then also a massive scene regarding the techs. The oddity however was the presence of unit CO who was given a data pad following dropship load and another scene involving the techs again. As far as what was discussed was Atlas cockpit data and cam footage. This would follow for the remainder of each lance member involved. Inei would give a standing order that his lance is restircted to quarters until an investigation could be done. He was not to be seen again for the remainder of the duration or trip until planetfall. Something close to 60-70% of all weapons fire missed of which roughly 20% of those went directly down into the dirt or straight up in the air (snake eyes - I have never seen so many for any single game I have ever played). Cam footage review would show crosshair and correct FCS compensation. However expected firing pathing had a small coding change set to activate when the trigger fired. Be it calibration of the lenses or barrels or the software in itself it was painfully apparent that adjusting fire for even the most basic of targets would simply not be possible and as intended.
As soon as the criteria were met identifying the POI and the research facility a sleeper was activated to sabotage by subtle means and not compromise himself. This would only be figured out after reaching St Ives and digging in to the coding. It would be found to have access codes belonging to Nick Chen Fire lances own light pilot. When looking to confront him his bunk would be found empty and roughly 50K CB taken in the form of a signing bonus and forced a contract nullification fee of 2M CB that was mysteriously filed. A potential second breach attributed to Tech Roger Young and a potential third in the form of a coverup by the lance doctor is still pending an ongoing review resulting in confines to quarters and potential firing. Inei made sure to assert that if found guilty they would be gone or worse and if not they would receive a full pardon due to the nature of who appears to have committed the acts from him and no further questions would be asked.
Inei following this would make a formal apology for the
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Topic: FLINT Mission 6 - 2/11/3059 (Read 1593 times)