Raid on Novari
General Summary
Scenario Profile
- Type: Stand-Up Fight
(Modified Deployment) - Force Sizes: 500 PV vs 650 PV
- Location: Novori City, Phalan
Situation Overview
It is the year 3135, and the blackout of the HPG network has had serious repercussions across the Inner Sphere. Opportunists choose to gamble on things they ordinarily wouldn't dare try, and accurate information is hard to come by. Some of the Clan forces have begun eyeing their ultimate prize with thoughts of it being more possible to achieve. It was starting to look as if there was a serious potential one of them might be able to seize Terra.A probing attack was made on Phalan by the Rasalhague Dominion, looking to find soft targets to strike in their efforts to expand. To that end a Binary of 'Mechs were gathered and dispatched to seize a local city, believing it to be held by only a minor garrison with at most some Heavy 'Mechs on hand. However, disconnected elements of the Kell Hounds had been stuck on the planet for several months due to the HPG Blackout and had gone to ground inside the city to await instruction. When learning there were Dominion 'Mechs on approach to seize the city, they quickly prepared for combat.
Forces
Tundra Galaxy (Attackers)
Omicron Star
Rho Star
Omicron Star
- Stone Rhino Prime (Skill: 2)
- Nova Cat Prime (Skill: 4)
- Warhawk Prime (Skill: 3)
- Pouncer Prime (Skill: 4)
- Cougar Prime (Skill: 4)
Rho Star
- Warhammer IIC 2 (Skill: 3)
- Kit Fox A (Skill: 2)
- Summoner Prime (Skill: 3)
- Nova Prime (Skill: 3)
- Stormcrow A (Skill: 3)
Kell Hounds (Defenders)
- AS7-S4 Atlas (Skill: 3) (Brawler)
- Mad Cat T (Skill: 3) (Striker)
- GLT-3N Guillotine (Skill: 2) (Skirmisher)
- LGB-7V Longbow (Skill: 3) (Sniper)
- KGC-0000 King Crab (Skill: 2) (Brawler)
- BL-7-KNT Black Knight (Skill: 2) (Brawler)
- GUN-3ERD Gunslinger (Skill: 3) (Skirmisher)
- MON-67 Mongoose (Skill: 2) (Striker)
- HGN-732 Highlander (Skill: 4) (Sniper)
- CRD-5M Crusader (Skill: 2) (Skirmisher)
- CRB-27 Crab (Skill: 2) (Skirmisher)
- WSP-1A Wasp (Skill: 4) (Striker)
Special Rules
No Retreat: The defenders have nowhere to retreat to, and thus cannot enter forced withdrawal. The attackers are likewise unwilling to compromise and will fight until destroyed.BattleTech: Aces: The defenders' behavior is governed by the "BattleTech: Aces" Open Beta playtest rules. Four decks for unit roles have been released to determine how these units move and target enemies. While some of the unit roles do not have decks yet, the four decks provided are adequate for these behaviors.
Simplified Terrain: Visible on the field are areas where tree standees are being used to define "forests", and punch-out counters representing "rough terrain" are placed on similar areas. The whole of these areas count as the indicated terrain for purposes of this scenario.
Simplified Buildings: Buildings are not treated as destroyable terrain, and no statistics for buildings are being considered. They are treated as abrupt elevated terrain, which will require jumping movement to reach the tops of buildings over 3" in height.
Battle Report
Prelude
(Image Link)The attacking Ghost Bear 'Mechs chose to split into two Stars and approach from opposite directions in an effort to overwhelm the defenders. The Star Captain assigned to the operation was optimistic of their chances, until sensors picked up the composition of the defending units. Orders were made not to retreat until it was clear victory was impossible.
The Captain in command of the Kell Hounds had not expecting an attack, but now was rapidly working on constructing a battle plan in the face of the Ghost Bear forces. After making sure all units were ready, she instructed each 'MechWarrior to use their own judgment and pick targets as opportunities arose. Despite technological advances having made the mercenary forces more powerful on the field, they still had outdated 'Mech designs on the field which might struggle to fight Clan hardware.
Only after the battle was over would it be clear just how badly things would go.
The Captain in command of the Kell Hounds had not expecting an attack, but now was rapidly working on constructing a battle plan in the face of the Ghost Bear forces. After making sure all units were ready, she instructed each 'MechWarrior to use their own judgment and pick targets as opportunities arose. Despite technological advances having made the mercenary forces more powerful on the field, they still had outdated 'Mech designs on the field which might struggle to fight Clan hardware.
Only after the battle was over would it be clear just how badly things would go.
Turn One
(Image Link)On the forested side of the city, the Kit Fox and Summoner moved north to intercept the defending Crab, with both landing shots at medium ranges. The Stormcrow and Nova took a move towards the city, where the defending Guillotine exchanged shots with the Stormcrow. The Crusader, Longbow, and Highlander supplemented these defenders and maneuvered into positions to fight Rho Star. The Warhammer IIC in command of the Clan forces held back to determine where to focus their considerable firepower. The Wasp moved into the woods in that area, prepared to flank the advancing Clan forces if possible.
Meanwhile, the western edge of the city had Omicron Star advanced slowly as a single unit, with exchanged fire towards the Mad Cat in the defenders' keeping. The defending Mongoose moved to use the buildings as cover, while the King Crab, Gunslinger, and Black Knight cross the central plaza in front of a larger building. The presence of so many heavier 'Mechs in Omicron Star drew the Atlas to add to the defenders, as it could take significant punishment and its stealth armor would make it harder to damage on approach.
Turn Two
(East Side: Image Link)(West Side: Image Link)
Rho Star's engagement quickly began to shift momentum as the Clan forces failed to eliminate the Crab and wound up losing their Stormcrow to the Guillotine's firepower. The Kit Fox and Summoner attempted to use their speed to encircle enemies, only to be intercepted and the Light OmniMech was seriously damaged for its trouble. The commanding Warhammer IIC took shots at the Guillotine, delivering a powerful blow, while the Nova began maneuvering to engage the Highlander and draw some fire.
Omicron fared much worse, as the Pouncer was outmaneuvered by the defending Mongoose and eliminated with firepower through the rear armor. Concentrated fire from the King Crab, Black Knight, and Atlas put an end to the Nova Cat before it could do too much damage, at the cost of the Mad Cat being the target of the three Clan Assault 'Mechs. The Cougar had moved into the woods, hoping to use the flank to get past into the city, but it was more clear its firepower was going to be needed on a defensive role instead of an offensive one.
Turn Three
(East Side: Image Link)(West Side: Image Link)
On the east side of the city, Rho Star began to run into serious complications with their gamble. The Warhammer IIC managed to elminate the Guillotine, though the return fire from the other 'Mech was a serious concern. The Kit Fox found itself embroiled in a trap, being destroyed as the Crab was taken out by the Summoner in order to remove a target. The Nova's pilot followed through on their own plan, challenging the Highlander with a full salvo of weapons fire. The heat load caused the Nova to shut down, but in turn the Assault 'Mech had much of its armor removed. The Wasp continued moving along the flank, hoping to make itself useful.
Omicron Star had the defenders quickly proving to be a match for the Clan forces, with the Black Knight, Mongoose, and King Crab taking the Warhawk out of the picture. The Mongoose had maneuvered hoping to entrap the Stone Rhino and strike it in the rear, only for the Assault 'Mech to employ Jump Jets and destroy the Light 'Mech with a single salvo. When the Cougar wheeled about to strike at the Atlas in the rear, it in turn had the Longbow wheel and strike. Numerous missiles caused the skirmishing 'Mech to fall, ending its ability to support rather handily.
Turn Four
(East Side: Image Link)(West Side: Image Link)
The Clan forces were unwilling to declare defeat just yet, but Rho Star would learn the hard way what the cost of their gamble would be. Massed fire eviscerated the Nova before it could start up again, and the Longbow fired missiles over the building into the Warhammer IIC. The barrage would have been survivable, were it not for the Wasp to emerge from its flanking maneuver. The Light scout 'Mech snapped a shot into the Star Commander's BattleMech. The pilot would be permitted to brag for some time of being able to take down a Clan Assault 'Mech, with nothing more than an outdated Wasp and a prayer.
Omicron's Star Commander was in much more dire straits, though they were unwilling to surrender or admit defeat just yet. One lone Stone Rhino against the Inner Sphere Defenders, and it was focused on punishing the Atlas. The King Crab and Black Knight boxed it in and began raining fire into it, shearing through armor steadily until damaging leg actuators. While many would accept the inevitable, it seemed the Warrior inside would rather die cursing his enemies.
Aftermath
(Image Link)The Omicron commander was forced to admit defeat as his 'Mech was rendered inoperable by the defenders, and the lone Summoner from Rho Star chose to begin withdrawing in the face of such serious defenses. The raiders had severely underestimated what the defenders could bring to bear, paying the price in blood and metal. As a result of this outcome, more equipment was allocated to take the planet in order to ensure it would be taken when it came time for a proper battle.
Table of Contents
Report Date
02 May 2023
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