1200 Days - Gramps' run at a Kerensky rated career

[MarkDey]

Mission 254: 3.5 Skull Assassinate ____ Employer: Lyran Commonwealth ____ Target: Pirates ____ Biome: Polar
Lance: Bull Shark X (Jalopy), ANH-4G (Scrub), Toothy (Jingle), Death Map (Moose)

Report: This job is another time-sensitive one, targeting a well-connected anarchist. Jalopy takes the Bull Shark along the left flank and fights a delaying action against an entire lance while everyone else sweeps around the right flank and rolls up the enemy. 2x CRB-20 (one pilot kill), CPLT-C1 (legs kill), TBT-5N, CN9-A (pilot kill), 2x HBK-4G, TDR-5S, VTR-9S (pilot kill).

Damage: Bull Shark X, LT rear, 5% structure damage. ____ Salvage: VTR-9S, TBT-5N, TDR-5S, CPLT-C1, CRB-20, HBK-4G assembled and moved into storage.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 255: 5 Skull Target Acquisition ____ Employer: Lyran Commonwealth ____ Target: Marik ____ Biome: Polar
Lance: Bull Shark X (Jalopy), ANH-4G (Scrub), Toothy (Jingle), Death Map (Moose)

Report: Another job where time is of the essence, but this one is against the toughest opposition we could realistically expect to face. Scrub and Jalopy bring the heavy mechs into a central forested position while Jingle sprints from beacon to beacon, setting up the targeting. Just over half of the enemy mechs are destroyed before Jalopy's armor is breached, and a lucky hit lights off all of the AC/5 ammo in the leg, sending him falling to the ground!
____Fortunately, the cockpit bracing saves him from injury. The last of the defenders are dispatched just in time for a Marik kill team to arrive between us and our evacuation zone. Two of them are sniped at a distance, but the Black Knight and enemy Bull Shark get too close for comfort. Everyone runs out of ammunition, and in the last attack, Moose charges the Death Map into melee combat, removing the enemy bracing and enabling the final salvo that eliminates them. After that, it's a long limping walk to the extraction zone for Jalopy, but we are victorious. CPLT-C1, MAD-3D (pilot kill), 2x BL-6-KNT (headshots!), 2x TDR-5SE, CPLT-C4, CTF-1X, CPLT-K2, ON1-K (pilot kill), JM6-S, GHR-5H. BLR-1G (headshot), WHM-6D (headshot), BSK-M3, BL-6-KNT.

Damage: Bull Shark X, RT, 10% structure damage, RL destroyed, including 3x AC/5 ammo
____ANH-4G, RT & RL, 20% structure damage
____Toothy, RT rear, 50% structure damage
Salvage: BL-6-KNT, BLR-1G assembled and moved into storage.

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____"Well, that's the toughest contract completed. Glad that we have that other Bull Shark ready."
____Thinking to myself, I should have stayed at a longer range, but there wasn't a good defensive position that we could use while also trying to get to all of the beacon locations in time.
____Darius replied, "Right. Hopefully the rest of the contracts don't prove too troublesome." I hoped so too.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 256: 3.5 Skull Battle ____ Employer: Lyran Commonwealth ____ Target: Free Worlds League ____ Biome: Polar
Lance: ANH-4G (Hangover), Bull Shark U (President), Toothy (Jingle), Death Map (Moose)

Report: Not having a mech with maximum armor to draw fire is somewhat concerning, but hopefully good scouting and our large amount of firepower will still prevent any serious damage. Our drop is in a valley, and the lance begins climbing up the surrounding mountains to get the best fields of fire before engaging the enemy. ASN-21, 2x SPPC Carrier, BL-6-KNT (pilot kill), CN9-A, AWS-8Q (pilot kill), Demolisher LB-X, RFL-3C (headshot).

Salvage: AWS-8Q, CN9-A assembled and moved into storage.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 257: 3.5 Skull Recovery ____ Employer: Lyran Commonwealth ____ Target: Pirates ____ Biome: Polar
Lance: ANH-4G (Hangover), Bull Shark U (President), Toothy (Jingle), Death Map (Moose)

Report: Successful recovery of an encryption key. TDR-5S, VTR-9B (headshot), KTO-18 (pilot kill), VND-1R (pilot kill).

Salvage: VTR-9B, KTO-18 assembled and moved into storage.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 258: 4 Skull Ambush Convoy ____ Employer: Free Worlds League ____ Target: Lyran Commonwealth ____ Biome: Polar
Lance: ANH-4G (Hangover), Bull Shark U (President), Toothy (Jingle), Death Map (Moose)

Report: Not wanting our reputation with the Free Worlds League slide too much, we take their contract to eliminate a Lyran convoy. CPLT-C4, 2x TDR-5SE (pilot kills), GHR-5H (pilot kill), PPC Carrier, Manticore, Bulldog, SPPC Carrier.

Salvage: GHR-5H, CPLT-C4, TDR-5SE assembled and moved into storage.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 259: 4 Skull Recovery ____ Employer: Lyran Commonwealth ____ Target: Marik ____ Biome: Polar
Lance: ANH-4G (Hangover), Bull Shark U (President), Toothy (Jingle), Death Map (Moose)

Report: Cargo recovery from a crashed and confiscated dropship. JM6-A, CPLT-C1 (pilot kill), TDR-5S, QKD-4G (pilot kill).

Salvage: CPLT-C1, QKD-4G assembled and moved into storage.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 260: 5 Skull Recovery ____ Employer: Magistracy of Canopus ____ Target: Pirates ____ Biome: Polar
Lance: ANH-4G (Hangover), Bull Shark U (President), Toothy (Jingle), Death Map (Moose)

Report: This mission is the first one we ever take with the intent to ruin our reputation with our employer. We drop in, and then immediately withdraw. During the negotiations, all of our compensation is set to reputation, for a potential +23 boost. When we withdraw, our reputation drops by double that amount! This puts us on Friendly standing with the Canopians. In addition, our MRB reputation drops by 4 points, but I'm confident that we can get that back easily.

 

[MarkDey]

____ It is ten days to Katla, and Yang fills that time with mech repairs. Our pilots, however, fill that time with other activities.

Event - Skinny Dipping: A recording of the hallway that leads to the Low-G Pool shows a half-dozen crew members returning from a bout of skinny dipping. After rolling my eyes, I decide to address the crew regarding basic hygiene and decorum.
Result: A single mortified voice, echoing regret through the vent shafts, is the best acknowledgement that my message was received. +2 Morale

____ The contracts in Katla are excellent, although I am sad to see that the two from the Magistracy of Canopus are unavailable. It's also odd to see three contracts from the Federated Suns, but they are all targeting pirate forces, so perhaps this is a continuing campaign against lawlessness that spans multiple systems.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 261: 4 Skull Battle ____ Employer: Free Worlds League ____ Target: Lyran Commonwealth ____ Biome: Tundra
Lance: Bull Shark X (Hangover), Bull Shark U (President), Toothy (Jingle), Death Map (Moose)

Report: Interception of a Lyran elite lance, and we're back to both Bull Sharks. Our pilots do an exceptional job of dissection, leaving a good amount of salvage. AWS-8Q (pilot kill), 2x BSK-M3 (pilot kill and headshot), ZEU-6T (pilot kill).

Salvage: 2x BSK-M3, ZEU-6T assembled and moved into storage.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 262: 5 Skull Assassinate ____ Employer: Lyran Commonwealth ____ Target: Free Worlds League ____ Biome: Highlands
Lance: Bull Shark U (Hangover), ANH-4G (President), Toothy (Jingle), Death Map (Moose)

Report: A Lyran pilot defected with an assault mech to Marik forces (possibly because they heard what we just did to their elite lance) and we've been tasked with tracking them down and eliminating both the pilot and the mech. Our negotiated salvage is not tremendous, so I bring the Annihilator into the lance, opting for firepower over armor. AWS-8T (headshot!), WHM-6D (headshot), TDR-5SS, BNC-3M (headshot), AS7-D (headshot).

Salvage: AS7-D, AWS-8T assembled and moved into storage.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 263: 5 Skull Assassinate ____ Employer: Federated Suns ____ Target: Pirates ____ Biome: Highlands
Lance: Bull Shark U (Hangover), ANH-4G (President), Toothy (Jingle), Death Map (Moose)

Report: Switching over to the pirate-hunter contracts, the first one is to eliminate a newly arrived commander that is planning to expand the control of the cartels. We are to welcome him to the system with a hail of fire and destroy any hostiles we encounter. CTF-1X (pilot kill), ON1-K (pilot kill), ON1-V (pilot kill), ARC-2R (pilot kill), CPLT-C4 (headshot), TDR-5SE (pilot kill), VTR-9B, BLR-1S (pilot kill), AWS-8T (pilot kill).

Salvage: BLR-1S assembled and moved into storage.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 264: 5 Skull Destroy Base ____ Employer: Federated Suns ____ Target: Pirates ____ Biome: Badlands
Lance: Bull Shark U (Hangover), ANH-4G (President), Toothy (Jingle), Death Map (Moose)

Report: With the commander out of the way, we move onto the destruction of the pirate base that she was heading to. Heavy turrets protect the well-positioned base, and our approach is detected by the defensive patrol. Moose is hit by a lucky shot before the Highlanders are eliminated. 1x Sniper, 2x Laser, 1x Shredder. 3x HGN-733P (all headshots!)

Damage: Death Map, RA, 50% structure damage. ____ Salvage: 3x HGN-733P assembled and moved into storage.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 265: 5 Skull Capture Base ____ Employer: Federated Suns ____ Target: Pirates ____ Biome: Martian
Lance: Bull Shark U (Hangover), ANH-4G (President), Toothy (Jingle), Death Map (Moose)

Report: For our last mission, we have been tasked to capture a small facility that is suspected to contain a cache of bioweapons that are prohibited by the Ares Conventions. The Federated Suns has a disposal team on the way, but they need us to secure the area. The lance splits up to have better angles of attack with Moose and President staying downhill with the long-range firepower, and Hangover and Jingle moving uphill along the left flank. A defending patrol is encountered and eliminated. AWS-8Q (headshot), WHM-6R (pilot kill), 2x ON1-V (one pilot kill). Once the base comes into view, we see the heavy turrets that have been trying to snipe us from afar. 2x Sniper, 1x Shredder, 1x Laser. Pirate reinforcements arrive as we move in to take control of the base. ZEU-6T, AWS-8T (pilot kill), CPLT-C4 (pilot kill), QKD-4G (pilot kill).

Salvage: AWS-8T, AWS-8Q assembled and moved into storage.

 

[MarkDey]

____ Our next stop is Leyda, but the contracts are poor - only three that aren't from the pirates, so we move on. Yang takes advantage of the time to install the bulkier actuators in the most commonly used mechs. Some pilots find other ways to pass the time.

Event - The Catapult: President, along with Youngbloods Lechner and Black, are working on a makeshift catapult made of dried noodles. Since I have some time to spare, I decide to supervise their work, and only have to offer a few suggestions for improvement.
Result: The catapult works once before breaking, but it does send a radish clear across the mess hall. President, Youngblood Lechner, and Youngblood Black gain High Spirits for 30 days.

____Piriapolis is our next stop, and the contracts there are decent - only two are unavailable since they are offered by the Capellans, and importantly, there is one from the Magistracy of Canopus that we can use to further modify our reputation. The store has a Double Heat Sink for sale, as well as lots of mech salvage, which we quickly purchase.

 

[Harmon Ward]

____ Our next stop is Leyda, but the contracts are poor - only three that aren't from the pirates, so we move on. Yang takes advantage of the time to install the bulkier actuators in the most commonly used mechs. Some pilots find other ways to pass the time.

Event - The Catapult: President, along with Youngbloods Lechner and Black, are working on a makeshift catapult made of dried noodles. Since I have some time to spare, I decide to supervise their work, and only have to offer a few suggestions for improvement.
Result: The catapult works once before breaking, but it does send a radish clear across the mess hall. President, Youngblood Lechner, and Youngblood Black gain High Spirits for 30 days.

____Piriapolis is our next stop, and the contracts there are decent - only two are unavailable since they are offered by the Capellans, and importantly, there is one from the Magistracy of Canopus that we can use to further modify our reputation. The store has a Double Heat Sink for sale, as well as lots of mech salvage, which we quickly purchase.

That catapult event, when it works, is just about the best event in the game. Having three Mechwarriors with High Spirits just about doubles your opportunities for Precise Shots!

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 266: 3.5 Skull Battle ____ Employer: Magistracy of Canopus ____ Target: Capellans ____ Biome: Lowlands
Lance: Bull Shark U (Goth), ANH-4G (President), Toothy (Jingle), Death Map (Moose)

Report: Another mission to ruin our Canopian reputation. In theory, we would deploy to resolve a dispute between two influential families. In reality, we decrease our reputation to Liked.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 267: 3.5 Skull Battle ____ Employer: Free Worlds League ____ Target: Capellans ____ Biome: Lowlands
Lance: Bull Shark U (Goth), ANH-4G (President), Toothy (Jingle), Death Map (Moose)

Report: Seek and destroy a recently deployed hostile lance. We encounter them quickly, and engage them from both flanks. During the fighting, Goth is hit by several LRMs, and one of them sends shrapnel into her cockpit. GHR-5H (pilot kill), AS7-D, RFL-4D (pilot kill), WHM-6R (pilot kill).

Damage: Goth injured for 7 days. ____ Salvage: WHM-6R, GHR-5H assembled and moved into storage.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 268: 4 Skull Ambush Convoy ____ Employer: Lyran Commonwealth ____ Target: Free Worlds League ____ Biome: Jungle
Lance: Bull Shark U (Sugar), ANH-4G (President), Toothy (Jingle), Death Map (Moose)

Report: This job is to intercept a convoy that is transporting advanced weaponry - hopefully, nothing that will be used against us. Our drop zone puts us in a poor position to intercept, and everyone starts sprinting towards the convoy's extraction zone. We manage to get ahead of the convoy, but Moose and Jingle run directly into the drop zone of enemy reinforcements. Jingle jumps away, but Moose takes some fire before reaching the cover of some trees and is injured by LRM explosions. Gallant Urban Assault Vehicle, Demolisher, LRM Carrier, PPC Carrier. TDR-5SE (headshot), WHM-6D (headshot), ARC-2R (headshot). CDA-2A, CPLT-K2 (headshot), TBT-5N (headshot), GHR-5H (headshot).

Damage: Moose injured for 7 days. Death Map, CT, 5% structure damage. ____ Salvage: WHM-6D, GHR-5H, ARC-2R assembled and moved into storage.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 269: 4 Skull Battle ____ Employer: Free Worlds League ____ Target: Pirates ____ Biome: Highlands
Lance: Bull Shark U (Sugar), ANH-4G (President), Toothy (Jingle), Death Map (Hangover)

Report: Hangover volunteers to pilot the Death Map on this drop, improving its initiative, but missing out on the advanced gunnery techniques. That said, a casual observer couldn't tell, as every enemy cockpit is blasted apart from afar. TDR-5SE (headshot), HBK-4G (headshot), ARC-2S (headshot), 2x GHR-5H (headshots), JM6-S (headshot), WHM-6R (headshot), CPLT-C1 (headshot).

Salvage: WHM-6R, ARC-2S assembled and moved into storage.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 270: 5 Skull Attack and Defend ____ Employer: Lyran Commonwealth ____ Target: Pirates ____ Biome: Desert
Lance: Bull Shark U (Sugar), ANH-4G (President), Toothy (Jingle), Death Map (Hangover)

Report: Our last mission is a challenging one, and I hope that the pilots are as efficient with their shots as in the last battle. The Lyrans have taken a base from the pirates, and have a lance of mechs (ARC-2R, CPLT-K2, JM6-A, CN9-A) deployed to protect it while their dropships arrive. Our task is to destroy the other pirate base nearby and intercept any hostile forces. The battle is long, but decisive. 2x ON1-K, 3x CP-10-Q (one headshot), WHM-6D (headshot), KGC-0000, HBK-4P, 2x ARC-2R (headshots), SHD-2H, BSK-M3 (headshot), ON1-V, JM6-A, RFL-4D, CPLT-C4, VTR-9S (pilot kill), CPLT-C1, QKD-5A, CPLT-K2.

Salvage: CP-10-Q, BSK-M3 assembled and moved into storage.