Snake Eyes
General Summary
Mission Profile
- Mission Type: Recon Raid
- Force Size: Unlimited
- Location: Grid D23
- Weather: Light Rain
- Time of Day: Midmorning
Situation Overview
The Draconis Combine has moved a considerable amount of force into a staging area north of the city, and the activity has made Commander Sethan nervous. The fast-attack hovercraft are being used in an attempt to scout out the forces mustering there, the intent being to get a feel for what potentially could be attacking Minos Firebase. Heavier elements of Priam Company are giving cover for them, intending to engage any attackers and potentially take out part of the attack force if it comes down to it.Objectives
Primary Objective: Visually confirm each enemy unit, requiring a clear line of sight within ten hexes of the enemy unit.Secondary Objective: Priam Company must not lose more than 25% of their forces.
Setup
The Draconis Combine mustering area has a single shelter building set up for logistics support (represented by one Medium Building element) but is largely a hilly area outside the city. The player for the Draconis Combine is allowed to set up 1d6 Light Woods elements, 1d6 Rough elements, 1d6 +3 Hill elements, 1d6 Mesa elements as they prefer. (For this particular scenario this is: 4 Light Woods elements, 4 Rough elements, 4 Hill elements, and 2 Mesa elements.) They have the option to set up with at most half of their units hidden within the Light Woods elements. The two unit commanders may not be hidden and start within four hexes of the building.Priam Company's player sets up on the far edge of the map from the building, within 2 hexes of that edge.
Forces
Priam Company
- VTR-9B (Mikell) (2/2, Tactical Genius, Iron Will)
- BLR-1G (Aubrey) (2/4, Hot Dog)
- WHM-6R (Olivia) (0/2, Specialist: PPC, Marksman, Lucky 1)
- STK-3F (Reginald) (1/3, Multi-Tasker, Oblique Attacker)
- WLF-1 (Kelly) (1/3, Blood Stalker, Marksman)
- SHD-2H (Calvin) (5/6)
- Condor A (Crew 86) (3/4, Maneuving Ace)
- Scimitar (Crew 32) (3/5)
Draconis Combine
Lance One
Lance One
- ARC-2K (3/5) (C)
- HBK-4G (2/5)
- GLT-4P (3/5)
- UM-R60 (5/6)
- QKD-5A (4/5) (C)
- JVN-10F (4/7)
- PNT-9R (4/5)
- PXH-1 (4/6)
- Hetzer (3/6)
- Saladin (4/5)
- Hunter LRM-15 (4/6)
Special Abilities
Blood Stalker: Once per scenario, this pilot may focus entirely on one target unit. They receive a -1 to hit bonus against that target, but have a +2 to hit penalty against any other target. These modifiers last until the end of the turn after the specified target has either retreated or been otherwise defeated.Hot Dog: Experience has taught this pilot to handle the heat load of their BattleMech carefully. This pilot can add a -1 bonus to the Target Number needed to avoid all heat effects due to high heat levels.
Iron Will: This unit has a tough time being affected by anything which would spook or shake a normal person. It receives a -2 TN bonus for purposes of morale or other mental resistance tricks.
Lucky: Sometimes you just find luck when you least expect it. For each point of Lucky, this pilot may reroll one Gunnery or Piloting roll per scenario.
Maneuvering Ace: This pilot has practiced a lot concerning movement, and can make their units do some truly amazing stunts. This pilot can employ the "lateral shift" maneuver at +1 MP if they are a MechWarrior. They also receive a -1 bonus to rolls to prevent skidding/sideslipping.
Marksman: This pilot has trained to be able to pick out a target area on their enemies rather than merely trying to hit. If the pilot does not move, and fires only one weapon on its turn, they may make a called shot as though it has a Targeting Computer. (Consult TW, p.143)
Multi-Tasker: Whenever you want to exploit a target-rich environment, or just need to have your attention divided, it's difficult. However, this pilot reduces all attacks against secondary targets by a -1 To-Hit bonus after working on their ability to split their focus.
Oblique Attacker: It takes some skill to read where your enemy is, when you can't have visual confirmation. This pilot can make Indirect LRM attacks against a target without the benefit of a spotter and have an additional -1 To-Hit modifier when doing so.
Tactical Genius: Officers often have a grasp of the broader situation on the battlefield, which leads to spectacular events concerning combat. This unit may choose to act one phase earlier in initiative phases.
Battle Report
Prelude
Image Link"Okay, orders are simple here. Set up a firing line and let the Condor crew get in there and spot what's there. That forest is going to play with our ability to maneuver or fire so stay clear of it. Sensor readings suggest two full lances plus some vehicle support, but we don't know what else is there."
"You heard the man, Priam Company. If any of them poke out of their little hiding hole, I want you to handle it with extreme prejudice. Primary targets are anything with heavy short-range capability. Shoot to disable if you can, if not shoot to kill."
Turn One
Image LinkAlmost immediately, the Scimitar and Wolfhound moved ahead to stake out positions and spotted a Javelin and Panther taking that flank. A warning shot from the Wolfhound caused some damage to the Javelin, as the heavier assets of Priam Company moved up. The Warhammer strode forwards, then likewise fired off a shot, the damage wrecking one of the Javelin's lasers. With that established, the BattleMaster joined them on that flank, focusing on what might come out of the woods ahead. The Condor began its move to start picking up visuals on the enemy and relaying it to the Commander in the Victor.
On the other flank, the Shadow Hawk and Stalker moved forward with the Victor, and spotted a Saladin and Hetzer moving to intercept. The two had heavy weapons which could be dangerous, but firing solutions were less likely. Instead the Stalker fired downrange at a Phoenix Hawk which had shown itself through the woods, tagging it for some damage.
Turn Two
Image LinkThings turned a little worse as the Shadow Hawk was tagged with the Class 20 Autocannons from the Hetzer, but failed to fold. The Phoenix Hawk moved quickly to disrupt Priam Company's plan for a firing line, but found itself in trouble as the Victor and Warhammer had no hesitation in simply unloading into it. Unfortunately, visual scanning picked up a Hunchback and Guillotine approaching; one was a Medium 'Mech with another Class 20 Autocannon . . . and the other was a rarer Heavy 'Mech, it certainly would have a bad bite if it could get closer in the forest.
Meanwhile the Javelin charged in at the Scimitar and wound up caving in the side and wrecking the motive system. It took considerable punishment while the Wolfhound and BattleMaster backpedaled to keep it in sights. The Condor managed to savage the Panther further, before noticing other 'Mechs which were unaccounted for and adding a Hunter tank to the list of confirmed units.
Turn Three
Image LinkThe Draconis Combine wheeled around and focused fire into the Warhammer, pounding it with an AC/20 from the Saladin and laser strikes from the Guillotine. Meanwhile, the Javelin failed to capitalize on positioning behind the BattleMaster, the Scimitar traversing its turret and blasting into the Javelin.
Undaunted, the Warhammer turned left and unleashed a blistering salvo which left the Hetzer in ruins and the Saladin gutted. The Victor and Stalker punished the Phoenix Hawk as well, and the Wolfhound proved to be a feared enemy as it almost wrecked the Panther. With the Condor's report, all the forces had been visually confirmed and the hover tank swung around to escape around the forest there. With all the targets thus identified and some havoc wrought, the Commander of Priam Company began a retreat order before anything was more thoroughly wrecked.
The Draconis Combine likewise withdrew, unwilling to risk pushing the attack after the Warhammer and Stalker both proved very dangerous. Outmassed, and outgunned, they permitted Priam Company to withdraw carrying the damaged Scimitar.
Aftermath
"Bloody nose to them, all it cost us was half a Warhammer and Shadow Hawk. But I think they'll pull back a bit, before pushing on."
"Louis is going to be upset."
"I'm going to be upset. If this firepower they have rolls forward and anything close comes from the other angle, we're going to need to lift off and make for another site."
Damage Report
Damage
- VTR-9B: Left Leg (2 Armor)
- BLR-1G: Left Arm (5 Armor), Right Arm (6 Armor), Left Torso (6 Armor), Center Torso (5 Armor)
- STK-3F: Left Torso (20 Armor)
- WHM-6R B: Right Arm (5 Armor), Left Torso (2 Armor), Right Torso (16 Armor, 75% Structure), Left Leg (2 Armor), Right Leg (4 Armor), Center Torso (12 Armor)
- SHD-2H: Left Arm (Replacement Required), Right Arm (5 Armor), Left Leg (16 Armor, 25% Structure)
- Scimitar: Left (Stabilizer Hit), Rear (6 Armor), Turret (6 Armor), Motive System Hit
Rearming
- VTR-9B: AC/20, SRM 4 (2 tons)
- STK-3F: LRM 10, SRM 6 (2 tons)
- BLR-1G: SRM 6 (1 ton)
- WHM-6R B: SRM 6 (1 ton)
- SHD-2H: AC/5, LRM 5 (2 tons)
- Condor A: AC/5 (1 ton)
- Scimitar: AC/5, SRM 2 (1 tons)
Medical Report
No new casualties.Salvage Report
No salvage taken.NPC Report
Destroyed
- Hetzer (3/6). Destroyed. Crew killed.
- Saladin (4/5). Destroyed. Crew killed.
Table of Contents
- General Summary
- Forces
- Special Abilities
- Battle Report
- Aftermath
- Damage Report
- Medical Report
- Salvage Report
- NPC Report
Report Date
06 Jan 2017
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