1200 Days - Gramps' run at a Kerensky rated career

[MarkDey]

Mission 088: 2.5 Skull Assassinate ____Employer: Local Gov ____Target: Canopians ____Biome: Jungle
Contract: 1/4 Pay, 3/4 salvage (3/12) ____ Lance: UltrAtlas (Goth), Highlander 40 (Sugar), Blasthopper (Jingle), Death Map (Moose)

Report: Our target is a smuggler leader, backed by the Canopians. They have two groups escorting them, so we plan to eliminate them in pieces, aiming for the mountaintop first. Inferno Carrier (ranged kill), WVR-6R (CT kill), Striker (ranged kill), JVN-10A (CT kill). Once the high ground is secure, the other units are engaged as they approach. FLE-15 (CT kill), VL-2T (CT kill), RFL-3N (headshot). The smuggler is surrounded, and then eliminated. WHM-6D (headshot).

Damage: Only armor. ____ Salvage: 3x WHM-6D as priority. WHM-6D assembled and moved into storage.
Advancement: Sugar, Gunnery 6 to 7. Goth, Piloting 6 to 7.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 089: 3 Skull Attack and Defend ____Employer: Local Gov ____Target: Canopians ____Biome: UrbanContract: 0/4 Pay, 4/4 salvage (5/23) ____ Lance: UltrAtlas (Hangover), Highlander 40 (President), Blasthopper (Jingle), Death Map (Moose)

Report: For a long slog like this, especially in a city, I decided to put Hangover and President back in the field to optimize our chances and our salvage. The initial deployment has us make quick contact with the enemy force, and the shooting starts early. Our base has 2x LRM, 1x Sniper, 1x Shredder turret, and Moose hangs back to coordinate fire with them. During the initial wave, a municipal cooling station is caught in the crossfire, ironically overheating the enemy Firestarter that was shooting at Jingle. As a close in fight develops, an enemy Cicada blasts President in the back, destroying the advanced gyro! Hangover takes two laser blasts to the head but keeps fighting. PNT-9R (CT kill), COM-1B (CT kill), KTO-18 (headshot), TDR-5SS (CT kill), JVN-10N (CT melee kill), PXH-1 (CT rear kill), CDA-2A (legs kill), FS9-H (CT kill).
____With a momentary lull in the fighting, Jingle sprints towards the enemy base, and gets in range of their standard-class turrets, 2x Shredder, 1x Sniper, 1x LRM. President and Hangover are able to launch one salvo of LRMs into the enemy base before turning to deal with a new hostile group that has dropped into the area. TBT-5N (CT melee kill), HCT-3X (pilot kill), 2x Manticore (ranged kills). Another wave of Canopian units drops into the city as the second wave is finished off, and Moose runs for cover as they drop much too close to him. President sees an opportunity and destroys an electrical transformer, catching multiple enemies in the blast as they sprint towards the facility we are protecting. SDR-5V (CT kill), CN9-A (CT kill), WVR-6K (pilot kill), CN9-AL (CT kill). Jingle finishes single-handedly demolishing the enemy base, and the last wave of enemies waves off their landing. This is just as well, as most of our mechs were out of ammunition.

Damage: UltrAtlas, RT rear 5% damage. Highlander 40, CT rear 5% damage, Gyro destroyed.
Salvage: 3x HCT-3X, 1x TBT-5N, 1x WVR-6K as priority. HCT-3X, TBT-5N, SDR-5V assembled and moved into storage.
Advancement: Hangover, Piloting 7 to 8.

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____"Boss! Did you see what the Canopians did to the Hatchetman design? It's amazing!"
____"It still didn't get close enough to us to swing its axe, Yang. I'm not that impressed."
____"Yeah, but it wasn't being piloted by one of Gramps' Giants!"
____I smiled. "Some other time Yang - maybe when we bring that third mechbay back into operation."

 

[MarkDey]

____Next stop, Linhauiguan. There was enough time to start some more refits, so I headed to the mechbay. After talking about some options, Yang agreed to repair the UltrAtlas and Highlander 40, but remove the cockpit bracing and broken gyro. Highlander 50 would then get the bracing and a replacement gyro to replace it in the lineup. Also, a Marauder refit was started, equipping it with 5 L Lasers, and being dubbed a MAD-5L after the initial suggestion of "MAD As L" elicited groans from everyone in earshot.
____On the way, Darius reported a new flashpoint in the Yuris system. The Capellan Confederation needed help dealing with some Criminal Minds and pirate groups. We could use a boost in reputation with the Capellans, but it was too far out of the way.
____Farah's project to run High-Power Conduits completed as we entered orbit of Linhauiguan, and the project to improve the ship's drive finally began. There are four contracts from the Canopians in the system, split equally between targeting the Capellans and the Pirates. Three other jobs exist from House Liao and the Pirates.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 090: 3 Skull Battle ____Employer: Magistracy of Canopus ____Target: Pirates ____Biome: Badlands
Contract: 1/4 Pay, 3/4 salvage (3/12) ____ Lance: UltrAtlas (Hangover), Highlander 50 (President), Blasthopper (Jingle), Death Map (Moose)

Report: A lone, very heavy mech is expected to be bait, and we're going to take it. Once we enter sensor range, a 70 ton mech is located, and Jingle's scan reports it to be a Cataphract. Precise shots and massed LRM fire bring it down. CTF-1X (headshot). Enemy reinforcements then arrive and are dispatched. HBK-4P (pilot kill), BJ-1DB (pilot kill), SHD-2D (CT kill), VND-1R (CT kill).

Damage: Only armor. ____ Salvage: 2x CTF-1X, 1x SHD-2D as priority. SHD-2D, CTF-1X, BJ-1DB, HBK-4P assembled and moved into storage.
Advancement: President, Piloting 7 to 8.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 091: 2.5 Skull Destroy Base ____Employer: Magistracy of Canopus ____Target: Capellans ____Biome: Tundra
Contract: 0/4 Pay, 4/4 salvage (5/23) ____ Lance: UltrAtlas (Hangover), Highlander 50 (President), Blasthopper (Jingle), Death Map (Moose)

Report: A suspected mech factory has been brought back online, and I'm hoping for more Orions to salvage. Yang, however, says no luck. A force of enemy mechs is detected and engaged. After they are destroyed, the standard turrets and the base are demolished. WVR-6R (CT kill), TBT-5N (CT melee kill), WVR-6K (headshot), COM-2D (CT kill). 2x LRM, 1x Shredder, 1x Laser.

Damage: Only armor. ____ Salvage: All salvage recovered. WVR-6K, WVR-6R assembled and moved into storage.
Advancement: None.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 092: 2.5 Skull Battle ____Employer: Magistracy of Canopus ____Target: Pirates ____Biome: Tundra
Contract: 1/4 Pay, 3/4 salvage (3/12) ____ Lance: UltrAtlas (Hangover), Highlander 50 (President), Blasthopper (Jingle), Death Map (Moose)

Report: Interception of a newly dropped heavy lance. We drop near a good cliffside position, so set up there while Jingle scouts out the targets. Not only does she find the target lance, she also finds their reinforcements. Moose takes a hit from a PPC before the enemy spotter is eliminated. SHD-2H (CT kill), TBT-5N (CT kill), BJ-1 (headshot), JVN-10N (CT kill), CDA-2A (headshot), VND-1AA (CT kill), HCT-3F (headshot), WHM-6R (CT kill).

Damage: Death Map, RT 5% structure damage. ____ Salvage: 1x each SHD-2H, TBT-5N, WHM-6R as priority.
Advancement: President & Hangover, Piloting 8 to 9.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 093: 3 Skull Battle ____Employer: Magistracy of Canopus ____Target: Capellans ____Biome: Badlands
Contract: 1/4 Pay, 3/4 salvage (3/12) ____ Lance: UltrAtlas (Hangover), Highlander 50 (President), Blasthopper (Jingle), Death Map (Moose)

Report: We get to turn a Capellan combined arms military drill into a live-fire exercise. HBK-4G (legs kill), PXH-1K (CT kill), WVR-6K (CT kill), TDR-5SE (CT kill). Demolisher LB-X, Gallant Urban Assault Vehicle, SRM Carrier, Inferno Carrier.

Damage: Only armor. ____ Salvage: 1x each HBK-4G, WVR-6K, TDR-5SE as priority. TDR-5SE, WVR-6K assembled and moved into storage.
Advancement: None.

 

[MarkDey]

____ 10 days travel to Tincalunas, and it was time for some more refits. The Death Map was repaired again, and minor weapon upgrades were made to Blasthopper (MG+ and melee damage) and Highlander 50 (LRM20 and S Lasers). MAD-5L and SRMclops refits had their schedules altered to adjust. Also, we as a company had an opportunity to make an adjustment.

Black Market Invitation Event: Darius has finally had success with his negotiating. Given how often we've fought against the pirate groups, I'm surprised that he succeeded; when I hear the 2.5 million c-bill price tag, I understand why. After some debate, I agree to pay the extortionate fee, mainly because we have the funds and I want to keep our options open.
Result: The Black Market is now available. We do, however, have a ten-times markup to deal with, but it's an option.

____ Tincalunas is full of contracts that we can't use - all from the Capellan Confederation. Seeing that, I decide to move on to the next system - Mandalas. That system is much better - five local government contracts, and only two that are useless: one from the pirates, and one from the Capellans. These missions should be trivial, so I bring Goth and Sugar back into the drop roster.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 094: 1.5 Skull Battle ____Employer: Local Gov ____Target: Pirates ____Biome: Desert
Contract: 0/4 Pay, 4/4 salvage (2/11) ____ Lance: UltrAtlas (Sugar), Highlander 50 (Goth), Blasthopper (Jingle), Death Map (Moose)

Report: On the hunt for a pirate rabble-rouser, we run into their escort. JVN-10A (CT melee kill), LCT-1S (CT kill), Striker NARC (ranged kill), Striker (ranged kill). Our target then rushes into view - Jingle makes the decapitation look easy. PXH-1 (headshot).

Damage: Only armor. ____ Salvage: 2x PXH-1 as priority. PXH-1 assembled and moved into storage.
Advancement: None.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 095: 1.5 Skull Battle ____Employer: Local Gov ____Target: Pirates ____Biome: Desert
Contract: 0/4 Pay, 4/4 salvage (3/15) ____ Lance: UltrAtlas (Sugar), Highlander 50 (Goth), Blasthopper (Jingle), Death Map (Moose)

Report: Hostile scouts have been spotted, and we've been asked to permanently discourage their activity. Turns out, they've brought friends. PXH-1 (CT kill), LCT-1S (CT kill), LCT-1M (CT kill), COM-2D (CT kill). GRF-1S (pilot kill), 3x SDR-5V (CT kills).

Damage: Only armor. ____ Salvage: 3x GRF-1S as priority. GRF-1S assembled and moved into storage.
Advancement: None.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 096: 1.5 Skull Battle ____Employer: Local Gov ____Target: Pirates ____Biome: Desert
Contract: 1/4 Pay, 3/4 salvage (3/12) ____ Lance: UltrAtlas (Sugar), Highlander 50 (Goth), Blasthopper (Jingle), Death Map (Moose)

Report: Off to crush some vehicles, with some mechs on the side if they dare to show up. Striker NARC, Manticore, Gallant Urban Assault Vehicle, Demolisher. The Manticore blasts Jingle in the head as she draws fire, prompting her to stomp on the vehicle as she turns towards the mech escorts. JR7-D (CT kill), PNT-9R (legs kill), JVN-10N (CT kill), SHD-2D (legs kill).

Damage: Only armor. ____ Salvage: 2x SHD-2D, 1x PNT-9R as priority. PNT-9R assembled and moved into storage.
Advancement: None.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 097: 2 Skull Assassinate ____Employer: Local Gov ____Target: Pirates ____Biome: Lowlands
Contract: 0/4 Pay, 4/4 salvage (2/11) ____ Lance: UltrAtlas (Sugar), Highlander 50 (Goth), Blasthopper (Jingle), Death Map (Moose)

Report: Our target is leading a lance of mechs - no other escorts. RLF-4D (pilot kill), JVN-10N (pilot kill), KTO-18 (CT kill), ON1-K (CT kill).

Damage: Only armor. ____ Salvage: All salvage recovered. RFL-4D, KTO-18, JVN-10N, assembled and moved into storage.
Advancement: Goth & Sugar, Tactics 8 to 9.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 098: 1.5 Skull Defend Base ____Employer: Local Gov ____Target: Capellan ____Biome: Badlands
Contract: 0/4 Pay, 4/4 salvage (5/23) ____ Lance: UltrAtlas (Sugar), Highlander 50 (Goth), Blasthopper (Jingle), Death Map (Moose)

Report: The authorities are expecting a swarm of fast mechs to attack; hopefully, we'll be able to target all of them quick enough and draw their fire away from the buildings. The good news is that the base is well positioned; the bad news is that the enemy vanguard has ECM. Turns out that it is vehicle mounted, which I had never seen before, and Jingle is able to sensor lock it, setting up Moose for the kill. Packrat (ranged kill), Striker (ranged kill), FS9-H (pilot kill), JR7-D (CT kill). Enemy reinforcements appear, and we pivot to engage them. GRF-1N (pilot kill), 2x JVN-10A (CT kills), 2x COM-2D (CT kills). Moose gets too close to the fighting and a Commando lands some SRM hits.

Damage: Death Map, RA 20%, RL 5% structure damage. ____ Salvage: 3x GRF-1N, 2x FS9-H as priority. GRF-1N, FS9-H, JVN-10A, COM-2D assembled and moved into storage.
Advancement: None.

 

[MarkDey]

____Rockwellawan is our next stop, and I finally have time to look at Yang's refit plans. It takes a few days, mainly because before I look at the refits, I list all of the mechs we have ready in the bay, and ask Yang why we're paying maintenance for them. He stumbles a bit at first, but to his credit, doesn't actually say "But, they're cool Boss" even though it looked like that was his initial thought. In the end, I'm satisfied with the general plan for keeping so many mechs ready.
____In the first six bays, there is the UltrAtlas, Highlander 50, Death Map, Blasthopper, SRMclops, and Highlander 40. That's our usual drop lance, plus a close-in brawler and the repaired Highlander. Because of how our fights tend to happen at long range, I'm not sure about keeping the SRMclops, but decide to have it ready, just in case one of the usual mechs takes serious damage. Replacing it with an ECM equipped Cataphract is discussed, but it's not a high priority. Highlander 40 though, gets opened up for a major overhaul. The final refit plan has four LRM20 launchers, seven tons of ammo, eleven heat sinks, two and a half tons of armor, and a big warning label on the cockpit door to stay out of enemy sensor range. It is renamed Highland Storm, and it could be swapped into the lance in place of Highlander 50 where we are expecting a heavy vehicle presence (less need for targeted shots to improve salvage), or need to take out several assault-class turrets.
____The second set of mech bays hold the equipment for drops where our tonnage is restricted. The MAD-5L and Orion 20 would drop with the Death Rap and up-gunned Firestarter for the heavier set of restricted drops - typically 75 tons per mech and 240 tons for the whole lance. For the lighter weight drops, typically 55 tons per mech and 200 tons for the lance, the heavy mechs would be replaced with the Shadow Hawk and a HBK-4P. Going over the mechs in the second bay took most of the time, but it also let Yang segue into his refit plans. The Orion 20 would drop its autocannon for more missiles, lasers, and armor; the final plan has the ON1-K chassis carry two LRM20s, four M Lasers, and fifteen and a half tons of armor to be the tough mech of the group, dubbed Orion 40.
____The Hunchback -4P would work well for now, but I wanted to eventually replace it with another Shadow Hawk. For the Shadow Hawk we had ready, it made sense to me to swap out the autocannon for LRMs, as that would pair well with the launchers on the Death Rap. That was a relatively quick change, and so the SHD-2D was altered to have one LRM15, three M Lasers, and two S Lasers, with full jump jets and armor to improve its survivability. Shadow Hawk 15 was a bit of a mouthful to say, so this was renamed SHD-15. In the same conversation, the Firestarter refit was renamed FS9-M because of all the M Lasers and MGs it carried.
____As we pull into orbit and head down to the surface to make our introductions with the authorities, Darius is already reviewing the available contracts. They look fairly good, with six jobs available, and only one that is off the table for us from the pirates. During our short time on the surface though, I hear about one more job.

Hell of a Deal Event: Hangover has a plan for shady dealings. Jingle, a million c-bills, and a little bit of time is all she needs to trade an exotic animal for special mech salvage. Sumire is extremely skeptical, as am I, but Yang apparently did enough convincing during our conversations that the lure of rare equipment is rather appealing. I give Hangover the go-ahead and the funds.
Result: Hangover gains High Spirits. Jingle gains Criminal. 1x ZEU-6S mech salvage acquired - not terribly exciting.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 099: 1.5 Skull Battle ____Employer: Local Gov ____Target: Canopians ____Biome: Lowlands
Contract: 1/4 Pay, 3/4 salvage (2/9) ____ Lance: UltrAtlas (Sugar), Highlander 50 (Goth), Blasthopper (Jingle), Death Map (Moose)

Report: Canopian mechs are terrorizing the populace. That won't do at all. Turns out they've been getting away with it so long because they have a Raven! RVN-1X (CT kill), JVN-10N (CT kill), COM-2D (CT kill), LCT-1M (CT kill).

Damage: Only armor. ____ Salvage: All salvage recovered.
Advancement: Goth, Gunnery 6 to 7. Sugar, Guts 7 to 8.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 100: 1.5 Skull Battle ____Employer: Local Gov ____Target: Taurians ____Biome: Jungle
Contract: 1/4 Pay, 3/4 salvage (2/9) ____ Lance: UltrAtlas (Sugar), Highlander 50 (Goth), Blasthopper (Jingle), Death Map (Moose)

Report: First combat against the Taurians - leftover remnants of a military unit that was defeated and the survivors turned into brigands. FLE-4 (CT kill), FLE-15 (CT kill), JVN-10F (pilot kill), LCT-1M (CT kill). Their friends also join the party, JVN-10F (pilot kill), JR7-D (headshot), PNT-9R (CT kill), BJ-1 (pilot kill).

Damage: Only armor. ____ Salvage: 2x BJ-1 as priority. BJ-1, JVN-10F, FLE-15 assembled and moved into storage.
Advancement: None.

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____One hundred missions successfully completed. We have finally started being able to execute a pattern of tactical disassembly of enemy mechs on a reliable basis. Hopefully that can continue.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 101: 2 Skull Assassinate ____Employer: Local Gov ____Target: Taurians ____Biome: Desert
Contract: 1/4 Pay, 3/4 salvage (3/12) ____ Lance: UltrAtlas (Sugar), Highlander 50 (Goth), Blasthopper (Jingle), Death Map (Moose)

Report: Our target is a Taurian smuggler. Their base is in the middle of a lake in the desert, with a tough approach. Moose levels some buildings so Sugar and Goth have cover and clear fields of fire when they arrive in the base. HBK-4G (pilot kill), SDR-5K (CT kill), 2x FLE-4 (CT kills), 3x LCT-1M (CT kills), Striker NARC (ranged kill), Striker (ranged kill).

Damage: Only armor. ____ Salvage: 3x HBK-4G as priority. HBK-4G assembled and moved into storage.
Advancement: None.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 102: 2 Skull Battle ____Employer: Local Gov ____Target: Canopian ____Biome: Jungle
Contract: 1/4 Pay, 3/4 salvage (3/12) ____ Lance: UltrAtlas (Sugar), Highlander 50 (Goth), Blasthopper (Jingle), Death Map (Moose)

Report: We are sent to wipe out stragglers from a defeated Magistracy unit. They land several head hits, but the cockpit bracing continues to keep our pilots safe. GRF-1N (headshot), GRF-1S (legs kill), ON1-K (pilot kill), QKD-4G (CT kill).

Damage: Only armor. ____ Salvage: 3x ON1-K as priority. ON1-K, GRF-1S assembled and moved into storage.
Advancement: Goth, Guts 6 to 7. Sugar, Gunnery 7 to 8.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 103: 2 Skull Assassinate ____Employer: Local Gov ____Target: Pirates ____Biome: Jungle
Contract: 1/4 Pay, 3/4 salvage (3/12) ____ Lance: UltrAtlas (Sugar), Highlander 50 (Goth), Blasthopper (Jingle), Death Map (Moose)

Report: There once was a spy / we seek and fight, they must die / haiku not limerick. WVR-6R (CT kill), 2x CN9-A (pilot kill and CT kill), VND-1R (pilot kill), RFL-4D (pilot kill).

Damage: Only armor. ____ Salvage: 3x RFL-4D as priority. RFL-4D, CN9-A, VND-1R assembled and moved into storage.
Advancement: None

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 104: 2 Skull Escort ____Employer: Local Gov ____Target: Pirates ____Biome: Desert
Contract: 0/4 Pay, 4/4 salvage (4/19) ____ Lance: UltrAtlas (Sugar), Highlander 50 (Goth), Blasthopper (Jingle), Death Map (Moose)

Report: The last job here is to escort a civilian convoy from an at-risk facility. Hopefully their drivers are competent. Our first contact is with an enemy blocking force, and their Assassin scouts far enough to score some hits on Death Map before being blasted apart. LCT-1S (CT kill), FS9-H (legs kill), SHD-2D (pilot kill), ASN-101 (pilot kill). After joining up with the convoy, we encounter additional hostile units once the evacuation dropship arrives. The presence of their Raven is not noticed until they enter visual distance, but once again, sensor locks save the day. ENF-4R (pilot kill), RVN-1X (CT kill), COM-1B (CT kill), TBT-7K (CT kill).

Damage: Death Map, RA & CT 5% structure damage.
Salvage: 3x SHD-2D, 1x TBT-7K as priority. TBT-7K assembled and moved into storage. SHD-2D assembled and moved into the bay, sending the Hunchback to storage.
Advancement: Goth, Gunnery 7 to 8.

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____"Yang, there's that second Shadow Hawk we were talking about. You can turn that into a SHD-15 too, right?"
____"No problem, Boss - all I need is time."