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[Darrian Wolffe]

You have 1 week to sign; must be signed by 9/20/63 (prior to Mission 2).

This will be a single-mission contract that will functionally replace Mission 3 of the WOTAN schedule.  Read the contract description.  Salvage % is maximum, but each lance can only salvage a single unit, and as this is a separate contract, it does NOT add to the WOTAN salvage pool.




14 November, 3063
Operation MEDEA recorded successfully complete.
FRR representatives are pleased that you were able to essentially flatten the Ghost Bear logistics hub. 
FRR representatives are pleased and grateful that you accomplished this mission with no civilian casualties; intelligence didn't have time to ascertain that the target building was being used by anyone except the Ghost Bears.
FRR representatives are satisfied with the death of Jason Sorenson, and while they would have preferred that his body be strung up publicly to send a message to other civilians who are considering "adoption" by the Ghost Bears, you were contracted for his assassination, and you performed the assassination.


68,805,014 C-bills have been credited to the Rangers account.  This money may be divided between Ranger forces in whatever allocation desired by the Unit CO.

[deadlyfire2345]

Signed:
COL Warin Mayer
9/20/63

Arguably not good for a person with honorable trait to take, but given the information provided, I will take it. Allowing your planet to be taken over freely is pretty reprehensible.

[Hat]

OOC: we've never had one of these, so I'm curious to see how it all works out, good and bad.  I've read the description and the contract entry in the rules.  I still have some questions.

1. Is the contract being brought to the lance leaders IC to discuss whether to accept or not, or are they being informed that the unit has accepted the contract?

2. Because it's replacing mission 3, does this mean it operates otherwise like a standard mission ~ 5 lances deployed?

3. Is there any intel on whether there will be innocents present?  Being taken as a pet/toy points towards no wife or children present, but the possible or likely scope of collateral damage may influence responses.  It's in a penthouse, who all else are in the building?

4. Any mechs that should be avoided including in the mission that are too Ranger / too far outside units found in the 2nd Regulan Hussars?

5. Do we know what the likely strength/composition of the OpFor is or how fast the "massive enemy reinforcements" will arrive?

6. If taken and there's a success, is the salvage of 1 mech/lance rule - only for the deployed lances while the two random bonuses with a reroll apply to the entire (active) unit?

As a player, I think it could be fun understanding there are a lot of potential consequences, both obvious and not.  That's my position regardless of what my lance leader thinks.

[XanderShade01]

As my lance is down pending extensive repairs and refits (I knew the HGR was a ticking time bomb...) I'll support whichever decision is made. IC my PC would be in favor of this action, in dealing with a traitorous Governor who sold out to the clans as well as further weakening a nearby threat to the budding pro-Katherine Loyalists.

[deadlyfire2345]

Since we have not had anything like this before, we are going to take this to spice things up in any contract. However, since I had a week to "decide" we can make a little RP session out of it.

To: All Lance COs,
      Our employer has sent us a secondary contract to assassinate ex political figures on planet that allowed the Bears to take control of the planet. Pay seems very reasonable and any salvage from mission comes to us "off the books", but only one mech for each who are interested. Any one have any objections, concerns, or tactics they wish to discuss on the matter. We can discuss the target once we finalize details with our employer. (Going to add more behind the scenes stuff regarding a situation I want the company to go through down the line and this will be a fantastic starting point for as well.)
     This type of action is how we lose our footing against the clans, although we cannot see it, we should set examples to those that do. In any case, we should proceed with caution, this is the type of thing that can bite us down the line.

[Darrian Wolffe]

OOC: we've never had one of these, so I'm curious to see how it all works out, good and bad.  I've read the description and the contract entry in the rules.  I still have some questions.

1. Is the contract being brought to the lance leaders IC to discuss whether to accept or not, or are they being informed that the unit has accepted the contract?

Right, you weren't there so you didn't get the head's up at the game.  I mentioned that this was coming up and talked about it a bit.  This contract/mission is going to be a bit more "fluffy" than usual, just due to the specific nature of it.  Analysis and foresight is good, try not to overthink yourselves into circles.

Also, I did mean for there to be a discussion between players about whether or not to accept it, but it's ultimately the Unit CO's call.  If you want to put a pin in "accepting" the contract and talk about it, that's fine.  I haven't advanced to October yet - we are still in September what with the solos and all - so nothing has been done in AtB aside from the contract generating for us.

Finally, again because you weren't present for the talk, black ops stuff is based on your unit Dragoons rating.  It has a tiny chance of proc-ing if you have a good Dragoons rating (something like 1% per contract signed), and a moderate chance if you have a crappy Dragoons rating (IIRC, something like 5% per contract).  Basically, disreputable forces are more likely to get hired to do disreputable things.  Since no iteration of the Rangers - or most home AtB games - ever have a bad Dragoons rating, it's not surprising we haven't seen one before. I've only ever had 2 black ops missions pop up, ever, both on an AtB home game that I deliberately ran as a semi-pirate force; ended up with an Assassination and an Espionage mission.

2. Because it's replacing mission 3, does this mean it operates otherwise like a standard mission ~ 5 lances deployed?

In general, yes. You should expect a 4-5 lance deployment.

3. Is there any intel on whether there will be innocents present?  Being taken as a pet/toy points towards no wife or children present, but the possible or likely scope of collateral damage may influence responses.  It's in a penthouse, who all else are in the building?

That's a very good question.  The information available to you at this time has been provided.  The FRR is not in the habit of deliberately targeting innocents, but they are a power of 70 worlds, reduced to 6 (one of which is a ComStar protectorate), so desperate actions are well within their remit.  The Regulan Hussars are noted, historically, for their willingness to accept collateral civilian damage, along with just dropping nukes on things when they get frustrated, so nobody would be terribly surprised if the "Regulan Hussars" committed some war crimes again. You can't make an omelette, etc, etc.

4. Any mechs that should be avoided including in the mission that are too Ranger / too far outside units found in the 2nd Regulan Hussars?

No, don't sweat that.  I thought about a functional prohibition on Clan Mechs for this exact reason, but that's a whole ugly can of worms that I as the GM don't want to deal with.  Imagine the local CO of this op being somebody who only has 5 Clan Mechs available. 

5. Do we know what the likely strength/composition of the OpFor is or how fast the "massive enemy reinforcements" will arrive?

In general, the mission is under a turn/time limit.  You should expect the likely strength/composition of the "massive enemy reinforcements" to be sufficient to have a 100% guarantee of completely and totally annihilating the deployed units unless they de-ass the mission area in time.  Essentially, don't dawdle.  Should be become necessary to actually deploy said reinforcements, I'll start with Bryan's double-binary of Dire Wolves and go up from there.

In terms of the immediate defenders, as a logistics center, trinaries would rotate in and out of the area taking on new personnel and supply, so an accurate prediction more than a week ahead of the op is basically impossible.  If you accept the contract, you'll get a standard OPFOR writeup just like a normal mission.  Since it's a base, you should expect some degree of base turrets and civilian units.  Since this is an extended operation near a major operating center, you should not expect to have artillery support (out of range) or much air support, if any.  From my one previous experience with an Assassination scenario, you have very good odds of this being an airdrop, which means ASFs are needed to escort your DropShip in and out.

6. If taken and there's a success, is the salvage of 1 mech/lance rule - only for the deployed lances while the two random bonuses with a reroll apply to the entire (active) unit?

Every lance in the unit gets the random bonuses.  Every deployed lance gets to "drag back" salvage.

[Black Omega]

To:  Col. Mayer, CO Numenorean Rangers, 2nd Regiment
From:  LtSG Daerin Wolf, CO Jazz Lance

You may, or not, remember that LtJG Chastity Wolf and myself are orphans and were raised by Wolf’s Dragoons in clan style sibcos.  We learned from the best and we earned our Wolf Honornames.  Among the many lessons learned were honor and professional integrity.  While we understand that governments sometimes keep secrets and may do despicable things, most Black Ops lead to nothing but trouble.  Please remember recent history.  During the Clan Invasion, Varldherre Tor Miraborg surrendered Gunzburg to Clan Wolf without firing a shot.  Is the Rasalhague govt. going to assassinate him too?  Where will it stop?  I urge you to reconsider this “contract”.  Jazz Lance wants nothing to do with this operation.

[Randicore]

To: Col. Mayer, CO Numenorean Rangers
From: LTSG Amalia Novak, CO Pilum Lance

Ah Inner Sphere "politics." I've heard this kind of murder is usually reserved for the Draconis Combine.

I have no qualms with this mission, it seems to me the traitorous little rat deserves it. I've killed people for less.

Let me at the little proditor.
I'll kick in the door in myself.

[agustaaquila]

To: Bossman
From: FencerBoi

Sorenson is a traitor, and should die.

If needed, I will strangle him with my own hands.

[Darrian Wolffe]

To: Col. Mayer, CO Numenorean Rangers
From: CPT (brevet) Robbie Hazen, CO Fury Lance

This entire mission is intrinsically dishonorable. If we are being commanded to kill some administrative drone, them the proper course of action would be to contact the commander of the Ghost Bear forces and demand a Trial of Possession for him. I do not know the terms of the Trial which resulted in the Ghost Bears taking control of Halesowen, but Sorenson's current status as bondsman to Star Colonel Bekker is highly unorthodox, and likely representative of the disintegration of morals which comes with the Ghost Bears prediction for caring about "family", as though the needs of the individual matter more than that of the unit or the Clan. As Sorenson is now the property of Clan Ghost Bear, Fury Lance has no issue with taking on this contract in order to better the moral fabric of Ghost Bear society. Someone clearly needs to.

Our points of concern are being wrapped into Inner Sphere back-door politics.  If we take on such a contract, does this dishonorable action grant the agents of the Free Rasalhague Republic - who are clearly underhanded themselves for even offering this as an option - any leverage over our own unit? Would they use this as justification to strike against us if they required we take more dishonorable actions at a later date and we refused those orders?  While Fury Lance is not opposed to the mission - fewer Bears in the galaxy is always a net positive - we do have concerns about future leverage or ramifications against the Rangers should we take on the contract.

[Black Omega]

To: Col. Mayer
From: LtSG Daerin Wolf, CO Jazz Lance

I never thought that I would agree with a Falcon, but if you are hell bent on accepting this contract a Trial of Possession sounds like the right way to go.  Turning a Black Op into a White Op may piss off our employer, but it will maintain our reputation.  Assuming winning the trial, Sorenson could be returned to the Rasalhague govt and let them deal with him.  Killing him should not be done by the Rangers.

[deadlyfire2345]

Technically, we don't have to kill him, just ID him. Destroy the building, smuggle him out, and get paid regardless. If he does end up dying by some cause, then less to worry about. Given we have full control on the field, our employer wont need to know about his whereabouts. Maybe even get some info for ourselves in the process. It's possible there was an outside force that caused him to cave so easily.

Given that the Bears are more merciless in their tactics compared to other clans we have faced regarding their "honor" system, I highly doubt they would accept a trial of sorts. But I guess it wouldnt hurt to send a call to their local officers about the situation in lieu of what our contractor wants wouldnt hurt either.

[ADHDtv]

To: Col. Mayer
From: Cpt Seraphina Wellston, XO Numenorean Rangers
Something about this communique I received from one Star Captain Wing-nut Bekker, specifically the part calling me out for being a "worthless pillow princess armchair false general who knows nothing about honorable combat, like all merc scum", tells me they wouldn't accept a full on trial proposition, and importantly, If we were to propose such a trial that would simply warn them that there is a combat force on location with an interest in the man, beefing up security and potentially losing our window. Three may keep a secret if two of them are dead, and so on and so forth.
While I understand the reservations about what kind of precedent this sets; there's a reason this is a black operation no one is supposed to know about, this isn't actually precedent-setting in terms of codifying vengeance into law, but the manic morale boosting powerplay they need to maintain control of what remains of the FRR, which as far as I'm concerned is the daily operation of these inner sphere goons, not like its anything new for me.

[deadlyfire2345]

Out of rp. Looking at the dates, this game will occur in November, meaning it might not even be m3.

[Hat]

To: Col. Mayer, CO Numenorean Rangers
From: CPT Anders Wolfram-Kelswa, CO Ehreschuld Lance

Think very carefully before accepting this contract.  If you aren't prepared and expecting to have this outed when least convenient, walk away now.  Expect our Dragoon Rating to drop by a level.  Consider that 1st Regiment may cut ties, disavow us and even come gunning for us at some point for tarnishing the unit's good name.  All this even if we are successful.  The FRR is a ghost of its former self, hell the Tortuga Dominion and Lothian League are as big or bigger these days. Names not ringing any bells?  That's the point.  Sure, they're desperate.  That doesn't work in our favor.  If we're effective, just leverage us again.  They're losing their war.

That said, when it all goes to shit either short term or long term, them considering us persona non grata for 5 or so years, whoopdie do.  Sometimes distasteful things are necessary.  I get it.  Not inherently a fan, but can get behind it when needed.  The emphasis is on WHEN NEEDED.  Are we really so desperate?  Why are we the knife in the dark?

Oh, and to SGLT Wolf's point, putting Tor Miraborg and Governor Sorenson's actions in the same solar system is insulting.  Tor Miraborg looked at an overwhelming force and surrendered for the good of his people to prevent needless loss of life and destruction.  Governor Sorenson sabotaged and betrayed his own loyal defenders.  Might it save more lives in the long run?  Maybe.  Tor's a hero and Sorenson's a goddamn coward.  To CPT (brevet) Hazen's point, it's Inner Sphere politics.  Choose carefully where you cast your lot.

If you pull the trigger on this I'm not sitting this out on principle.  Fuck the Clanners.  Just don't act surprised if you do this and bad shit happens.

And if it makes you feel any better, this is the 6th and most polite version of this missive.

WK

OOC: As a player I'm good with whatever.  It sounds interesting, and the chances of this coming back to majorly bite the unit in the ass is high.  It's been interesting to see the various IC opinions so far.