March 22, 3063
Springfield
After Action Report
Captain Anders Wolfram-Kelswa Commanding
AAR
Ranger forces were deployed for a beach assault with Ehreschuld anchoring west against the closing ground forces, Blitzkrieg in the SW, Fire in the SE and then Pilum in W suburbs and Jazz in E suburbs and out to the east of it. Landing craft obliqued, shifting east for a concentrated though delayed landing. Initial fire saw the western forces' Thunderbolt savaged and minor damage to one of the landing craft. The landing craft hit the beaches as the destroyer entered the OZ. Both Lightnings made strafing runs on it and were shot down before being able to line up for shots demonstrating just how dangerous the craft was. The destroyer focused primarily on leveling buildings throughout the rest of the short engagement though dished out enough damage to mech forces to definitely make its presence felt. Good maneuvering by the Assault lance attacking Ehreschuld allowed the Charger to put a foot through it's rear torso, damaging the engine. Focused fire from Fire and Blitzkrieg lances dropped one and two hovercraft respectively taking out nearly a lance in one pass. As the 6th pushed in from the beaches, careful strafing immobilized the remaining vehicle. Jazz's fire crippled the Trebuchet, but hardly a fair trade as Blitzkrieg's Nova Cat was crippled, a GR blowing and the pilot falling unconscious as they found themselves as the only viable targets for multiple opponents. Ehreschuld's Cauldron-Born sporting 5 SRM-6s dropped the Thunderbolt, triggering an ammo explosion, destroying the engine and the pilot died in the fall. As the battle's focus shifted eastward with units getting into close quarters Ehreschuld's Banshee damaged the gyro of both the Charger and the Penetrator and blew off the right torso of the Penetrator after having cleanly blown off the left arm. The Lyran pilot in it's panic would jump on a building attempting to go prone to hide, though apparently had undetected engine damaged as the mech went up in a mushroom cloud making the attempt. Jazz's Berserker hit the Loki dropping it while others in the lance felled the Trebuchet. Fire lance dropped the Catapult, though the danager and damage was far from over.
Withering fire from Ehreschuld's Cauldron-Born took more of a toll on the assault lance blowing the head off the MadCat Mk II, though the MadCat took out Ehreschuld's Marauder's engine in exchange. Reckless fire from the Lyran Black Knight who had taped down the triggers resulted in the 'Mech shutting down due to heat problems. Pilum's forces killed the Charger before it could complete its charge of Ehreschuld's Marauder while Jazz Actual reminded the Rangers of his natural touch, running his mech backwards uphill into woods to tactically relocate. Blitzkrieg's Nova Cat pilot had awakened and fought back, but ultimately shut down the 'Mech after having been breached in every location. Focus fire from Pilum drops the Cyclops while Fire's lance took out one of the reinforcement Strikers.
Reinforcements from both side colided in the northeast of the OZ as Fire's Viper got swarmed. A successful strafe and heavy bombing damaged the surrounding OpFor units and allowed the Viper to kill the attacking Shadow Cat. Ehreschuld having secured the western front with Pilum's help shifted attention to fire on the destroyer, breaching the armor at least once, though not the point where it started flooding. Jazz's forces crippled the Rakshasa and badly damaged the Black Knight. Pilum destroyed the Wolverine's engine, gyro and CT. The most tragic loss happened moments later when the Lyran's Atlas blew the head off Fire's Spartan killing SGT Achilles Butterworth in the process. Blitzkrieg's Highlander tried a burial to even the score and though destroying most of the head, failed to kill the pilot in the process.
Fire from the Ranger's two Long Tom artillery landed throwing up a wide screen across the front of the suburbs preventing clear sight from the destroyer who decided to disengage. As the brief and brutal battle reached its conclusion the Atlas landed it's final blow and Blitzkrieg's Highlander dropped, it's right torso destroyed. Jazz' Berserker took off the head of the Black Knight, which went up in a massive fireball and radioactive cloud after collapsing raising questions of whether the 6th's 'Mechs not just their pilots were rigged with dead man's switches. With the final salvo Jazz's MadCat destroyed the Rakshasa, Fire's lance cored the Crusader as well as destroying botht he Harasser and Raven.
It should be noted that at some point one of Blitzkrieg's pilots picked up the 6th's Victor pilot. It was then that the dead man's switches were confirmed when the pilot detonated their vest. The pilot sustained moderate, but not life threatening injuries.