5
So ive been vocal lately (again) about the lack of Battletech in my Battletech game, but theres always this woeful misunderstanding of that actually means, and what Battletech is and where "Big Stompy Robots" come in. So im going to endeavor to educate and entertain and maybe make a convert of a few, or a fool of myself.
If anyone like St Jobe, or Joe, or Bishop, Vassago, if anyone wants to play the Opfor from time to time, im more than welcoming of that.
The date is November 30th, 3000. We're 159 years into the Third Succession War. The location is Shirotori, in the Draconis Combine. Our mercenary unit has taken a contract for the Lyrans, to assist in the capture the world..
For the past year our start up mercenary company has fought with Free Worlds League, only to be stabbed in the back by being used as a diversionary attack for one of their main thrusts into Capellan territory. Putting our light forces in extreme danger for very little pay.
Beleaguered and broke, we've taken whats left of our forces and set out on this year long contract for the Lyrans, hoping to turn around our luck.
We currently hold a C rating (not bad, we did technically complete the last contract), with a paltry 4 million Cbills in the bank. Our assistant tech pool is good, and we have enough medics to take care of our mechwarriors and staff should anything happen, but not nearly the triage nessacary to take care of our two platoons of infantry.
Our OOB currently stands at a single company, 3 lances. One light scout lance of combined arms, a heavy lance containing all medium mechs, A hunchback, Shadowhawk, and two Wolvies. Our third lance is our training lance which contains our leading ace pilot in a Clint, training two platoons of infantry and a Locust 1E, in suppression and movement tactics.
(yeah thats the guy from Silence of the Lambs, the **** dance guy, driving my best Wolvie, Wolverine...drives the other Wolverine.)
Were currently tasked with protecting civilian assets as they vacate the area under threat of leading edge Draconis forces that have launched a counter attack in the area.
The Lyrans have purposed us a Wasp to scout for us, and were tasked with keeping it alive as well as many of the civilians as possible.
Fortunately our lance of mediums was able to make it to the battle in time from the nearby staging area.
The battle will take place at night with a full moon, in the woods. Wind is calm and the weather is clear. This is good for my air assets. Would also be good if I had any special forces or artillery.
Heres a look at the field of battle.
After forces are deployed, my scout lance takes the field in the North East corner, with the Warrior VTOL, Pegasus hover tank, and Transit medium Aerofighter. The heavy lance will arrive on turn 8, as they were still approaching the battle from another location. The Lyran Wasp is in the west, and we appear to have surrounded the Draconis Forces in the middle of the map, with the Civilians at the south, trying to make their way off the north end of the map.
After flipping on EM sensors, heres the situation. Not looking good for me:
Lyrans and the Civilians won initiative and have moved the Wasp and some civilians. Unfortunately with the fast units the Dracs have, destroying the Wasp and civilians should be a pretty easy task, before im able to stop them. I doubt now that the heavy lance will even be relevant (slow ********).
So right off the bat, 10 seconds in, were in a pickle. The Lyran Wasp (in Red) has come face to face with the Drac Wasp (lime green, ill check the units theyre from eventually, but yeah there are Lyran units in Red and Drac units in Green) , which at least didnt go after the civilians.
My warrior vtol had to make a piloting skill check to move at full speed and tightly turn to bring its AC2 to bear against any vehicles that were going to head south to intercept the civilians, but it seems the Dracs have decided as they should, the best way out of an encirclement is to fight back against the advance. My pegasus remains hidden by the woods, and my Aero fighter flies over the 45 ton Pheonix Hawk to make a guns pass (though at night that will be difficult as you can see with 11 to hit (he's also a terrible pilot).
The enemy looks to be able to bring its firepower that far exceeds mine to bear against the weakest of my forces. Lets hope my air assets high movement offsets the close range and bad situation theyve put themselves in.
Couple things you might notice looking at the screen shots, is that both the Warrior and those Wolverines that may or may not show up all have natural quirks. The Warrior has 'Positive VTOL Rotor Arrangement) which makes it less susceptible to failing piloting rolls from turning at high speed. The wolverines, being man walkers, are naturally more steady, improving their piloting checks as well, at the cost of being more likely to fall over when punched, kicked, or hit with a massive amount of damage. The chicken walkers are less steady footed, but more likely to absorb impact. Like say a charge or the other things mentioned.
