1200 Days - Gramps' run at a Kerensky rated career

[MarkDey]

____"Sumire, I know that we were looking at Tiverton next, but how long would it take us to just head to Tarragona directly?"
____"Two more jumps, so about a week longer than just heading to Tiverton - sixteen days total. However, it'll be about half the time of the original plan of stopping at Tiverton, Portland, and then Tarragona."
____"Then let's do that. I want to make that Kurita flashpoint a priority."
____Yang completed our mech repairs, finished the second SHD-15 refit, and then continued work on the Highland Storm. The drive upgrades to the Argo were completed, and to help Yang along, I directed the next engineering effort to focus on the Improved Automation. It also came time for the monthly financial report, and I kept the pay at a normal level. During the discussion, our MRB level came up, and we took a look at our current progress.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Days Remaining: 980 ____ Career Points: 371,573 ____ Career Rating: Regular
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -​

____Arriving in Tarragona, the contracts seemed good. There were five from the local government, one from the Magistracy, and one from the pirates that was useless to us. Of primary importance to me, though, was the job from House Kurita, and we reached out as soon as we entered orbit.

 

[MarkDey]

- - - - - - - - Flashpoint: Of Unknown Origin - - - - - - -​

Bob Kurita hires us to find Captain Magorian, from a Deep Periphery salvage company, who had made a report about finding a ship of unknown origin.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -​

Mission 105: 2 Skull Capture Base ____Employer: Kurita ____Target: Pirates ____Biome: Highlands
Contract: 0/4 Pay, 0/4 salvage (0/3), Reputation +10 ____ Lance: UltrAtlas (Sugar), Highlander 50 (Goth), Blasthopper (Jingle), Death Map (Moose)

Report: I decide that it's much more valuable to improve our reputation with House Kurita, so we focus on that instead of salvage. The mission is a straightforward movement to contact, and the base has a defending lance of mechs. COM-2D (CT kill), CN9-A (CT kill), GRF-1N (CT kill), FLE-4 (CT kill). Hostile reinforcements arrive. TBT-7K (pilot kill), GRF-1S (headshot), SHD-2H (CT kill).

Damage: Only armor damage. ____ Salvage: No priority picks.
Advancement: Sugar, Guts 8 to 9.

 

[MarkDey]

- - - - - - - - Flashpoint: Of Unknown Origin - - - - - - -​

Captain Magorian has been taken prisoner by the Baumann Group, an influential black market organization. Darius suspects that the ship they found was full of lostech, which is why we're seeing so many rare items on the market. Zeta Lance has him in a secure location, so our plan is to find Zeta Lance, defeat them, and then search their computers for his location.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -​

Mission 106: 2 Skull Battle ____Employer: Kurita ____Target: Baumann Group ____Biome: Lowlands
Contract: 0/4 Pay, 0/4 salvage (0/3), Reputation +10 ____ Lance: UltrAtlas (Sugar), Highlander 50 (Goth), Blasthopper (Jingle), Death Map (Moose)

Report: Sumire reports a sensor blip from a source in geosynchronous orbit as we narrow in on Zeta Lance's location. Contact is made quickly, and Sumire reports incoming drop pods. LCT-1M (CT kill), CDA-2A (CT kill), Bulldog (ranged kill), Striker NARC (ranged kill). The drop pods have Star League era drones in them, and they are definitely hostile. 2x SLDF Medium Drone (ranged kills)

Damage: No damage. ____ Salvage: No priority picks.
Advancement: None.

 

[MarkDey]

- - - - - - - - Flashpoint: Of Unknown Origin - - - - - - -​

The SLDF orbital platform, referred to as Moderbjorn, has established communications with us, and we discover that we have complementary objectives regarding the mystery ship. I decide to have Moderbjorn's drones perform the rescue operation directly while we attack an armory and draw in troops as a distraction.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -​

Mission 107: 2 Skull Destroy Base ____Employer: Kurita ____Target: Baumann Group ____Biome: Badlands
Contract: 0/4 Pay, 0/4 salvage (0/3), Reputation +10 ____ Lance: UltrAtlas (Sugar), Highlander 50 (Goth), Blasthopper (Jingle), Death Map (Moose)

Report: Our drop puts us very close to enemy forces, and Moose runs to the rear and posistions atop a small hill while the rest of the lance charges forward. LCT-1V (CT melee kill), DRG-1N (CT kill), RFL-3N (CT kill). The base is encountered, and it has light turrets for defense, 4x Laser. During the fight, the Argo receives a communication from a nearby JumpShip - Nokter Baumann. Hostile reinforcements rush in to try and save their armory and are blasted apart, PNT-9R (CT kill), FLE-4 (CT kill), LCT-1E (CT kill), JVN-10N (headshot).

Damage: Only armor damage. Reputation with Kurita increases to Liked. ____ Salvage: No priority picks. FLE-4 assembled and moved into storage.
Advancement: Goth, Guts 7 to 8.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -​

____Bob Kurita has his man, and quickly departs the system after delivering a crate of salvage and c-bills. The best item in the crate is a Freidhof Kite gyro. Moderbjorn reveals that the Dobrev is likely part of the Exodus, and its programming compels it to report its failure to protect its city to Star League command. Dr. Murad is amazed by the potential for new knowledge, and Yang is dreaming of a starship full of rare and powerful technology. I expect that getting a piece of Kerensky's Exodus would help obtain a Kerensky rated career, so we agree to help Moderbjorn and Darius starts putting out feelers to find our next lead on tracking down the Dobrev. With that out of the way, our attention turns back to the jobs from the local government.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 108: 1.5 Skull Destroy Base ____Employer: Magistracy ____Target: Taurians ____Biome: Highlands
Contract: 1/4 Pay, 3/4 salvage (3/12) ____ Lance: UltrAtlas (Sugar), Highlander 50 (Goth), Blasthopper (Jingle), Death Map (Moose)

Report: The base is across a lake, shielded by mountains on either side. Our approach encounters some defenders. 2x JVN-10A (CT kills), JR7-D (pilot kill), GRF-1S (legs kill). The base also has some light turrets, which are reduced to rubble along with the base. 1x LRM, 2x Shredder, 1x Laser.

Damage: Only armor. ____ Salvage: 3x JR7-D as priority. GRF-1S, JR7-D assembled and moved into storage.
Advancement: None.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 109: 2 Skull Destroy Base ____Employer: Local Gov____Target: Pirates ____Biome: Highlands
Contract: 1/4 Pay, 3/4 salvage (3/12) ____ Lance: UltrAtlas (Sugar), Highlander 50 (Goth), Blasthopper (Jingle), Death Map (Moose)

Report: The defenders are close to the drop zone, so shooting starts quickly. ENF-4R (headshot), ASN-21 (legs kill), KTO-18 (pilot kill). The small base is protected by small turrets, and it is all turned into small pieces. 2x LRM, 2x Shredder.

Damage: Only armor. ____ Salvage: All salvage recovered. ENF-4R, KTO-18 assembled and moved into storage.
Advancement: Sugar, Gunnery 8 to 9.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 110: 2.5 Skull Battle ____Employer: Local Gov____Target: Pirates ____Biome: Badlands
Contract: 0/4 Pay, 4/4 salvage (4/19) ____ Lance: UltrAtlas (Sugar), Highlander 50 (Goth), Blasthopper (Jingle), Death Map (Moose)

Report: Tag team matchup against the pirates - us and a local government lance. Looks like we won't be able to casually disassemble our opponents like the last mission, especially with the dismissive attitude of these guys. At least they have impressive looking mechs - a King Crab, Hunchback, Thunderbolt, and Panther. Following their lead, we do indeed stay out of their way and mostly let them soak up enemy fire - only one of them needs to report back, and I won't be sad if we end up with the King Crab as salvage. Pirates are encountered quickly, and the battle happens over a ridgeline. In an impressive display of bravado, the pirate Hatchetman charges the King Crab, closing to melee range and opening up its torso armor like a can of rations. Other pirate mechs fire salvos at it and Agamemnon (the allied lance commander) panics, firing his AC/20s and destroying the left torso of the enemy Grasshopper, but overheating and destroying the King Crab's own left torso! The fight continues, with pirate mechs dropping consistently as the Hatchetman continues its attacks on its opponent, but it is eventually destroyed as the King Crab smashes it with its remaining claw, and the Panther blows it in half as it collapses to the ground. All of the local government forces are missing an arm or a torso, but the pirates are defeated. PXH-1 (CT kill), SHD-2D (CT kill), ASN-101 (pilot kill), UM-R60L (CT kill), TDR-5SS (headshot), HCT-3X (CT kill), GHR-5H (CT kill), GRF-1S (legs kill).

Damage: Only armor. ____ Salvage: 3x TDR-5SS, 1x GHR-5H as priority. TDR-5SS, GHR-5H, SHD-2D assembled and moved into storage.
Advancement: Goth, Guts 8 to 9.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 111: 2.5 Skull Defend Base ____Employer: Local Gov____Target: Taurians ____Biome: Tundra
Contract: 0/4 Pay, 4/4 salvage (4/19) ____ Lance: UltrAtlas (Sugar), Highlander 50 (Goth), Blasthopper (Jingle), Death Map (Moose)

Report: Enemy vanguard is detected on approach and is quickly engaged. LCT-1E (CT kill), VND-1R (CT kill), SHD-2H (CT kill). Before the vanguard is eliminated, two more lances arrive. Moose is able to drop missile fire onto the advancing units, tying them up a long distance from the base in a good target area for our assault mechs. ASN-101 (CT kill), WVR-6K (CT kill), SHD-2H (pilot kill), ASN-21 (CT kill), GRF-1S (CT kill), GRF-1N (pilot kill), VND-1R (pilot kill).

Damage: Only armor. Reputation with Taurians drops to Disliked.
Salvage: 3x SHD-2H, 1x GRF-1N as priority. SHD-2H, GRF-1N, ASN-101 assembled and moved into storage.
Advancement: None.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 112: 2.5 Skull Battle ____Employer: Local Gov____Target: Canpoians ____Biome: Tundra
Contract: 1/4 Pay, 3/4 salvage (3/12) ____ Lance: UltrAtlas (Sugar), Highlander 50 (Goth), Blasthopper (Jingle), Death Map (Moose)

Report: An extremely heavy mech has been detected without an escort. Hopefully there is good salvage. The terrain is poor, so Jingle ventures out towards the target while the rest of the lance takes up positions in a semi-defensible woods. The bait turns out to be a Vindicator - I guess extremely heavy is relative around here. Jingle shears off the left leg with focused laser fire, and then takes it apart piece by piece, eventually killing the pilot. VND-1AA (pilot kill). The enemy rescue force is able to launch some LRMs at Jingle, and eventually they follow her into our missile range. JVN-10A (CT kill), TBT-5N (pilot kill), CPLT-C4 (CT kill).

Damage: Only armor. ____ Salvage: 1x each CPLT-C4, VND-1AA, TBT-5N as priority. VND-1AA, TBT-5N assembled and moved into storage.
Advancement: Sugar, Gunnery 9 to 10 - Elite.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 113: 3 Skull Ambush Convoy ____Employer: Local Gov____Target: Canpoians ____Biome: Tundra
Contract: 0/4 Pay, 4/4 salvage (4/19) ____ Lance: UltrAtlas (Sugar), Highlander 50 (Goth), Blasthopper (Jingle), Death Map (Moose)

Report: Smugglers posing as a military convoy - clever, but they got caught and we get to be the hammer. Convoy guards are detected first, as expected. Near the end of the fight, Moose gets too aggressive and Death Map takes a L Laser hit. ASN-101 (CT kill), HBK-4G (pilot kill), ASN-21 (pilot kill), BL-6-KNT (CT kill). Gallant Urban Assault Vehicle, Striker, Demolisher, Inferno Carrier.

Damage: Death Map, RT 5% structure damage. ____ Salvage: 1x BL-6-KNT, 3x HBK-4G as priority. BL-6-KNT, HBK-4G assembled and moved into storage.
Advancement: Goth, Tactics 9 to 10 - Elite.

 

[MarkDey]

____We leave orbit and head away from Taurian space to tour the independent systems some more, and will reach Portland in just shy of two weeks. Death Map is repaired, and equipped with the new Freidhof Kite gyro since Moose has been getting too aggressive lately. The Highland Storm refit will be completed on the way, which would leave Yang with an open schedule.
____Wanting to use his time wisely, I decide to put the SRMclops into storage, and bring out a CTF-0X into the bay to replace it. Might as well see how much ECM makes a difference for some missions, or at least have it as an option, anyway. The refit plan changes the Cataphract into a short range brawler, with an Ultra AC/20 as its main weapon, backed up by three M Lasers, and two S Lasers to aggressively clean out any enemies that intrude into its ECM bubble. This mech is named Guard Dog, and enemies that don't keep their distance are going to get bit.
____Darius reports that there is a new flashpoint in the Capellan Confederation. On Primus, House Kurita is asking for help to handle a Succession crisis versus the Red Hare Irregulars. As much as I'd like to boost our reputation with House Kurita, it's too far away at this point. We do, however, get an entertaining insight into successor state politics.

Event - New Holovids: A new set of holovid chips is part of this month's purchasing. I decide to schedule a regular holovid night in the lounge. A random draw from the chip stack schedules an episode of the campy, political thriller Under Cover.
Result: Some pilots take the show too seriously, and end up getting into a contentious debate on the political history of the period, especially the role of the Territorial States of the Star League. Moose gains High Spirits for 30 days. Goth gains Low Spirits for 14 days.

____Farah's team completes the Improved Automation in the mech bay, and I focus on expanding the usable space of the ship next. Work begins on restoring the Beta Pod, and the Gamma Pod will follow after that.
____Arriving in Portland, the contracts are a good mix. Two from the Taurians, two from the Canopians, one from the local government, and two from the pirates that we can't use.

 

[Marauder3D]

Good thing about getting Friendly status with House Kurita is it opens up the Red Hunt flashpoint, which is definitely one of my favs. Can I recommend the 'Give me Death' mod by @Justin Kase ? It uses mechs from the Heavy Metal DLC that should have been used when the Flashpoint was written, but those mechs weren't in game yet.

Cheers,

mad

 

[MarkDey]

Good thing about getting Friendly status with House Kurita is it opens up the Red Hunt flashpoint, which is definitely one of my favs. Can I recommend the 'Give me Death' mod by @Justin Kase ? It uses mechs from the Heavy Metal DLC that should have been used when the Flashpoint was written, but those mechs weren't in game yet.

Thanks for pointing that out! I'm trying to run through this campaign as vanilla, but that sounds like a good addition.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 114: 1.5 Skull Recovery ____Employer: Taurians ____Target: Pirates ____Biome: Lowlands
Contract: 0/4 Pay, 3/4 salvage (3/12), +5 Reputation ____ Lance: UltrAtlas (Sugar), Highlander 50 (Goth), Blasthopper (Jingle), Death Map (Moose)

Report: I'm a little concerned with our Taurian reputation, and so devote some of our compensation into improving that. Our target facility is over a sparsely wooded hill. Jingle sprints over it to spot for the LRMs. The fight is over quickly. Do you copy, over? LCT-1E (CT kill), BJ-1DB (headshot).

Damage: Only armor. Taurian reputation increased to Indifferent. ____ Salvage: 3x BJ-1DB as priority. BJ-1DB assembled and moved into storage.
Advancement: None.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 115: 1.5 Skull Capture Base ____Employer: Taurians ____Target: Magistracy ____Biome: Desert
Contract: 0/4 Pay, 3/4 salvage (3/15), +5 Reputation ____ Lance: UltrAtlas (Sugar), Highlander 50 (Goth), Blasthopper (Jingle), Death Map (Moose)

Report: The base only has light turrets for its initial defense, 1x Shredder, 3x LRM, although there are reports of a patrol returning. They do indeed return, and manage to get a good angle on Sugar, shooting her in the back. FLE-15 (CT melee kill), FLE-4 (CT kill), CN9-A (headshot), GRF-1S (pilot kill).

Damage: UltrAtlas, RT rear 20% structure damage. ____ Salvage: 3x CN9-A as priority. CN9-A, GRF-1S assembled and moved into storage.
Advancement: None.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 116: 1.5 Skull Recovery ____Employer: Canopians ____Target: Taurians ____Biome: Polar
Contract: 0/4 Pay, 4/4 salvage (4/19) ____ Lance: UltrAtlas (Sugar), Highlander 50 (Goth), Blasthopper (Jingle), Death Map (Moose)

Report: Straightforward approach - enemy mechs are defending, but the base has no turrets. GRF-1S (pilot kill), TBT-5N (pilot kill), HBK-4G (pilot kill).

Damage: Only armor. ____ Salvage: 2x GRF-1S, 1x HBK-4G, 1x TBT-5N as priority. GRF-1S, HBK-4G, TBT-5N assembled and moved into storage.
Advancement: None.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 117: 2 Skull Battle ____Employer: Local Gov ____Target: Canopians ____Biome: Lowlands
Contract: 0/4 Pay, 4/4 salvage (4/19) ____ Lance: Griffin (VIP), UltrAtlas (Sugar), Highland Storm (Goth), Death Map (Moose)

Report: Another VIP escort, another chance for Jingle to rest from her scouting duties. I also decide to give the Highland Storm its first combat drop with Goth at the controls. She's not as good as splitting fire as Moose, so the sheer volume of fire might be overkill on a single target. Our patrol route encounters hostiles near a ruined city in a valley - we move to the left to climb the hill and get the better ground. PXH-1K (pilot kill), DRG-1N (CT kill), LCT-1M (CT kill). As the initial combat occurs, Sumire reports that another drop ship is arriving - turns out to be enemy reinforcements, but they are very distant. By the time they arrive, the VIP is able to lead them into the center of our kill-zone, with LRMs on each flank and UltrAtlas in the center. 2x TBT-5N (pilot kill and CT kill), 2x LCT-1M (CT kills). Highland Storm worked out well, and even sprinting Locusts couldn't dodge all of the LRMs that were launched in an alpha strike.

Damage: Only armor. ____ Salvage: All salvage recovered. 2x TBT-5N, LCT-1M, DRG-1N, PXH-1K assembled and moved into storage.
Advancement: Goth, Gunnery 8 to 9. Sugar, Tactics 9 to 10 - Improved Resolve Gain.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 118: 2.5 Skull Capture Base ____Employer: Magistracy ____Target: Pirates ____Biome: Desert
Contract: 1/4 Pay, 3/4 salvage (3/12) ____ Lance: Assassin (Guano), Griffin (Stubble), Cicada (Pontoon), UltrAtlas (Goth)

Report: This drop is sort of the opposite of the last one. Goth gets to be a VIP in the UltrAtlas, and serve as a good example for the B Team of fresh recruits. The abandoned base we are supposed to take possession of is not abandoned, is protected by standard-class turrets, and is apparently bait because a pirate lance of reinforcements is detected on approach as soon as we enter sensor range of the buildings. The turrets, three Sniper and one LRM, are quickly destroyed, and the base is occupied as hostile forces arrive. The B Team is at least mobile enough to serve as scouts, and they help box in the enemies so Goth can blast them. They are not, however, very good at staying out of the enemy's fire. Pontoon catches a full salvo from the Marauder (which overheats to the point of shutting down), and is incapacitated as the left two-thirds of the Cicada melts away. Guano gets into a slugging match with the Phoenix Hawk, and loses badly, crumpling to the ground. Stubble manages to hang back at the base, using a low wall for cover and firing long distance shots while Goth finally arrives on the front line and takes up a defensive position in the woods, blasting off enemy legs as she goes. Her ammo runs dry, but the UltrAtlas finishes the fight with close range laser fire, incapacitating the enemy Marauder as the last target. JR7-D (legs kill), MAD-3D (pilot kill), PXH-1K (legs kill), SDR-5V (CT kill).

Damage: Only armor for Goth. B Team has Guano and Pontoon KIA, and the Assassin and Cicada are destroyed.
Salvage: 3x MAD-3D as priority. MAD-3D assembled and moved into storage.
Advancement: None.

 

[MarkDey]

____"Commander - the Taurians are offering a travel contract to our next port of call."
____I take the datapad from Darius and look at it; the Taurian Concordat needs a pirate manufacturing base captured. "Looks fine to me. Go ahead and tell them we accept."
____During the trip, the UltrAtlas is repaired, the Guard Dog refit is completed, and Yang has no additional work to do. I tell him to enjoy the break because hopefully the black market on Tiverton will have some upgraded equipment to install.
____The contracts look like a decent mix, and the store has a normal array of equipment, with the exception of 4 Inferno SRM launchers that catch my attention. The black market, however, makes my jaw drop. Not only do they have a Hatchetman and a Raven available for purchase, they have an SLDF Battlemaster, an SLDF Crab, an Annihilator, and several bays of other mechs and advanced equipment. It's too bad that everything is ten times the standard price, but I start looking at our inventory to see what we can trade and what we can spare in order to acquire some of that exceptional gear.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 119: 1 Skull Capture Base ____Employer: Taurians ____Target: Pirates ____Biome: Tundra
Contract: 0/4 Pay, 1/4 salvage (1/7), +5 Reputation ____ Lance: Orion 40 (Goth), MAD-5L (Sugar), FS9-M (Jingle), Death Rap (Moose)

Report: Reputation focus for the Taurians again, and this time, I decide to try out the medium-weight restricted drop lance. It should still be overkill for this mission, but I'd rather make sure that the idea works well in practice. The speed of the FS9-M is impressive, even without jump jets. One downside is that it is easy to outrun LRM support range, and Moose sprints to keep up. The accuracy of the MAD-5L is helpful, but it feels like more firepower would be useful if I was going to replace a unit in the main drop lance. LCT-1M (CT melee kill), JVN-10A (pilot kill), FLE-4 (CT kill), JR7-D (CT kill), PNT-9R (headshot).

Damage: None ____ Salvage: 1x PNT-9R as priority. LCT-1M assembled and moved into storage.
Advancement: None.