Gramps' run through the Hyades Rim campaign

[MarkDey]

____ Yang gets to work upgrading weapons as we get underway. Shortly after leaving orbit, we get a concerning message.

Event - Black Market Shakedown: Despite having bought and sold several million C-Bills worth of items a few days ago, the pirates that run the black market have asked that we pay a membership renewal fee. I'm annoyed, but not terribly surprised, and since we are on very good terms with the pirates it's a minimal cost.
Result: We lose 50k C-Bills and retain Black Market access.

____ Neucratis has a few contracts of interest, and it's a short trip to the planet, so I decide to stop.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 124: 1.5 Skull Destroy Base ____ Employer: Local Gov ____ Target: Pirates ____ Biome: Desert
Lance: Ghost (Merch), Macross (Shadow), Snipe (Nimbus)

Report: Eviction - An illegal operation has been located and we've been hired to evict the inhabitants by destroying the facility. We're limited to 160 tons, but that should be more than enough for this sort of work. A lance of mechs guard the base. TBT-5N (headshot), FS9-H (headshot), LCT-UNK, CTF-0X (headshot). As the fight moves closer to the buildings, a set of light turrets opens fire. 1x Command, 1x Sniper, 1x LRM, 1x Laser. Once the turrets are eliminated and the buildings begin to fall, hostile reinforcements appear on our sensors. Merch goes to scout but is sensor locked and takes a PPC hit before being able to disengage. COM-1B (headshot), FS9-M (headshot), JVN-10A, CTF-0X (headshot).

Damage: Ghost, LA, MG++ Crit. ____ Salvage: FS9-H assembled and moved into storage.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 125: 2.5 Skull Capture Base ____ Employer: Pirates ____ Target: Satan's Kittens ____ Biome: Desert
Lance: Ghost (Merch), Macross (Shadow), Valkyrie (Behemoth), Snipe (Eck)

Report: Magistracy Pleasure Pit - The Kittens have hijacked a shipment of contraband and directed the convoy to a remote base. We've been tasked with capturing that base and the supplies inside for the black market. We are limited to 240 tons, but the Warhammer is not ready yet. I decide to deploy both SLDF Phoenix Hawks and Behemoth is glad to get back in the field. Merch runs the Ghost straight into the base before the defenders can react, revealing no turrets, one lance of defending mechs, and communications to a second lance that is being recalled to defend the base. 3x PNT-UNK (pilot kills), COM-UNK. The base is secured as the second lance arrives, and we move to engage them. JVN-UNK (pilot kill), GRF-UNK (pilot kill), GHR-UNK (pilot kill).

Damage: Valkyrie, LT reduced to 95% structure. ____ Salvage: GHR-UNK, GRF-UNK, JVN-UNK, 2x PNT-UNK assembled and moved into storage.

 

[MarkDey]

____ Having finished with our contracts and shopping, we get underway. The Badlands system has a contract from the Alphard Trading Company, which I decide is rare enough to stop for.

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Mission 126: 2.5 Skull Capture Base ____ Employer: Alphard Trading Company ____ Target: Satan's Kittens ____ Biome: Martian
Lance: Ghost (Merch), Macross (Shadow), Snipe (Nimbus)

Report: Steal the Prototype - A fast deployment of 160 tons on a reputation boosting mission will secure a prototype of civilian technology that the Kittens have in their possession. We move on the base and encounter a set of heavy turrets. 1x Shredder, 2x LRM, 1x Sniper. A lance of hostile units is detected on our sensors, moving to intercept us. 2x WVR-UNK, KTO-UNK.

Damage: No damage. Reputation with Satan's Kittens reduced to Disliked.
Advancement: Shadow: Tactics 8 to 9.

 

[MarkDey]

____ Getting underway again, Yang has some time on his hands, and has his crew spend time organizing the bay. At night, I come across someone else taking advantage of downtime.

Event - Moonlighting with an Autocannon: Merch is fiddling around with an AC/5. I decide to let him keep working on it.
Result: Merch succeeds in improving the weapon, but injures himself. AC/5 improved to AC/5+. Merch is injured for 18 days.

____ Famdo has a few interesting contracts where we can improve our reputation, so I elect to make a stop, even though it won't be a quick one.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 127: 1.5 Skull Capture Base ____ Employer: Alphard Trading Company ____ Target: Antithesis Creed ____ Biome: Highlands
Lance: Ghost (Merch), Warhammer (Shadow), Snipe (Eck), Crazy Eights (Nimbus)

Report: Pulling Linchpins - We've been tasked with taking over a critical base that is being used by the Antithesis Creed. No weight limit, so Crazy Eights comes into the lance again. Merch is quick to spot a set of light turrets and lance of defending mechs. 1x Shredder, 1x LRM, 1x Laser, 1x Command. LCT-UNK, JVN-10A, SDR-5D, CTF-0X (headshot). Additional forces arrive and are quickly dealt with. LCT-1V, LCT-3V, 2x COM-UNK.

Damage: Only armor. ____ Salvage: CTF-0X assembled and moved into storage.
Advancement: Merch: Tactics 8 to 9. Eck: Gunnery 7 to 8.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 128: 1.5 Skull Assassinate ____ Employer: Evil Eye ____ Target: Local Gov ____ Biome: Highlands
Lance: Ghost (Merch), Warhammer (Shadow), Snipe (Eck), Crazy Eights (Nimbus)

Report: Flyswatter - A local noble is touring the area in her ancestral Cicada. Should be an easy target as long as we can catch it. There are two lances of escorts, which we quickly start cutting down. The noble herself attracts a full salvo from Crazy Eights, targeting the reactor. TDR-5S, PNT-9R, CN9-AL (headshot). CRB-20, JVN-10A, 2x LCT-1M. CDA-2A.

Damage: No damage.
Advancement: Shadow: Guts 6 to 7. Nimbus: Gunnery 7 to 8.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 129: 1 Skull Battle ____ Employer: Unitron Incorporated ____ Target: Local Gov ____ Biome: Tundra
Lance: Ghost (Merch), Macross (Shadow), Snipe (Eck)

Report: I Let Love In - We've accepted a job that limits us to 160 tons, and targets a local official that is on patrol. Apparently, his wife would prefer that he not return from patrol to make things simpler for her. We're able to provide a quick death. JR7-F, 2x JVN-10A, LCT-1M.

Damage: No damage. ____ Salvage: LCT-1M assembled and moved into storage.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 130: 0.5 Skull Battle ____ Employer: Local Gov ____ Target: Pirates ____ Biome: Badlands
Lance: Ghost (Merch), Macross (Shadow), Snipe (Eck)

Report: Stubborn Surrender - This job is to eliminate a small group of rebels that has been harassing government facilities. Once they are found, it doesn't take long to eliminate the entire unit. FS9-H, LCT-1V, PNT-9ALAG, JVN-10F.

Damage: Only armor. ____ Salvage: JVN-10F assembled and moved into storage.
Advancement: Merch: Guts 6 to 7.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 131: 2 Skull Attack and Defend ____ Employer: Taurian Concordat ____ Target: Pirates ____ Biome: Highlands
Lance: Ghost (Merch), Macross (Shadow), Snipe (Eck)

Report: Emergency Evacuation - Our last job here is to support the liberation of a number of civilians being held hostage at a black market meeting gone bad. The Taurians will be securing the meeting site, and need us to run interference against the nearby compound that houses a number of pirate troops. A group of three Taurian LCT-1Ms will be supporting us - hopefully I can keep them alive. Merch sprints the Ghost up the road to sneak through to the enemy base and start demolishing it while Shadow and Eck take out the enemy attacking forces. DRG-UNK (pilot kill), HBK-4SP (pilot kill), 2x PNT-UNK, 2x UM-UNK (pilot kills).
____ One of the Taurian Locusts decides to run in and kick a Panther while it's down. The Panther then staggers to its feet and punches straight through its reactor before I can eliminate it. Another pirate attack lance lands, and is swiftly dealt with. PNT-UNK (pilot kill), LCT-UNK, JVN-10A (pilot kill), COM-UNK. A third pirate lance lands, and the Spiders rush towards the base and almost get out of my range. 2x SDR-UNK (pilot kills), 2x JVN-UNK (pilot kills). A final pirate lance lands, and some hits are scored on the buildings and the remaining Taurian Locusts. One more Locust is destroyed by a volley from the Dragon, but no buildings are demolished. VL-UNK (pilot kill), JVN-10F (pilot kill), DRG-1C (pilot kill).

Damage: Only armor. ____ Salvage: COM-UNK, DRG-1C, DRG-UNK, JVN-UNK assembled and moved into storage.
Advancement: Eck: Guts 6 to 7.

 

[MarkDey]

____ After selling a few pieces of salvage, we get underway again, continuing our journey towards Randis IV. On the way, I receive a private message.

Event - The Warning: A commander from another mercenary company sends a message warning me about Shadow. Shadow has been doing well with us, so I delete it.
Result: No lasting consequences.

____ Baltar has a couple of interesting contracts, and while the black market store has a good variety of equipment, there isn't anything that would be a direct upgrade for us.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 132: 1.5 Skull Ambush Convoy ____ Employer: Local Gov ____ Target: Taurians ____ Biome: Lunar
Lance: Ghost (Merch), Warhammer (Shadow), Snipe (Eck), Crazy Eights (Nimbus)

Report: Terrorist Convoy - A fast moving convoy that is suspected to be carrying supplies for a terrorist organization needs to be intercepted. Merch sprints directly for the extraction zone while the rest of the lance runs up the road and engages the escorts and slower vehicles. 4x LCT-1M (two headshots), Striker, Manticore, Bulldog, Galleon TAG.

Damage: Only armor.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 133: 1.5 Skull Assassinate ____ Employer: Taurus Majoris Mining ____ Target: Local Gov ____ Biome: Lunar
Lance: Ghost (Merch), Warhammer (Shadow), Snipe (Eck), Crazy Eights (Nimbus)

Report: Weakest Link - A local government official that has been holding up permits for lunar mining operations is our target for this drop. He's apparently been holding out for TTI to place a bid, and TMM is done waiting. A platoon of vehicles is escorting him and we engage them first. Galleon TAG, Gallant Urban Assault Vehicle, Bulldog, Striker NARC. Our target comes into view and we surround them to cut off their escape. CDA-2B.

Damage: Only armor.
Advancement: Nimbus: Guts 6 to 7. Shadow: Gunnery 8 to 9.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 134: 2 Skull Recovery ____ Employer: Alphard Trading Company ____ Target: Taurus Majoris Mining ____ Biome: Lunar
Lance: Ghost (Merch), Warhammer (Shadow), Snipe (Eck), Crazy Eights (Nimbus)

Report: Corporate Secrets - We've been hired to force a valued scientist back into ATC's employ instead of having them waste their talents at TMM. During the negotiations, we focus only on increasing our reputation. Merch sprints towards the base while the rest of the lance moves towards the evac zone. Some hostile units are spotted on sensors, but they aren't able to catch the Ghost. Ballistic weapons fire from Snipe and Crazy Eights eliminates the only enemy near Merch, and then everyone extracts safely. HBK-4J (headshot), three blips.

Damage: No damage. Reputation with ATC increased to Honored, and TMM decreased to Disliked.
Advancement: Merch: Gunnery 8 to 9.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 135: 2 Skull Defend Base ____ Employer: Local Gov ____ Target: Taurus Territorial Industries ____ Biome: Lunar
Lance: Ghost (Merch), Valkyrie (Shadow), Warhammer (Nimbus), Snipe (Eck)

Report: Garrison Duty - Apparently, TTI didn't like that the government official that we eliminated earlier is no longer around. We've been asked to protect a facility that apparently contains evidence of their actions to influence local officials. A hostile vanguard is detected shortly after we land, and we move to intercept. SDR-5V, FS9-H (headshot), COM-2D, FS9-M. Follow-on forces arrive as we finish eliminating the first wave, and they begin to land hits on the base. The Ghost is sensor locked and the enemy Crab is able to maneuver around behind, blasting into its CT and causing significant damage. 3x LCT-1M, CRB-20 (pilot kill). LCT-1V, LCT-1E (pilot kill), 2x COM-1B.

Damage: Ghost, CT rear reduced to 20% structure, Gyro++ Destroyed. Snipe, RA reduced to 85% structure. ____ Salvage: CRB-20, LCT-1V assembled and moved into storage.
Advancement: Eck: Gunnery 8 to 9.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 136: 1 Skull Attack and Defend ____ Employer: White Death ____ Target: Satan's Kittens ____ Biome: Lunar
Lance: Macross (Merch), Warhammer (Shadow), Snipe (Eck), Crazy Eights (Nimbus)

Report: Escort Services Provided - Our last contract here is to protect an entertainment facility that the Kittens are looking to take over. A nearby command base will be coordinating the expected attack, and we will be grinding up any mechs that head our way. Two allied JVN-10As are available to protect the base. I decided to leave Ghost back on the Hysteria so Yang can start repairs and doesn't need to worry about losing the whole mech on this drop, so Merch runs ahead in Macross and begins spotting targets. SDR-UNK, FS-UNK, 2x COM-UNK, 3x PNT-UNK, UM-UNK. Additional enemy forces start to arrive, and our allied Javelins switch to melee attacks after running out of ammo. One of them goes down in the brawl. JR-UNK, PNT-UNK, SDR-UNK. FS-UNK, GRF-UNK (pilot kill). COM-UNK (pilot kill), SDR-UNK, JVN-UNK (pilot kill), PNT-UNK (pilot kill).

Damage: Only armor. ____ Salvage: 2x PNT-UNK, GRF-UNK, FS-UNK, COM-UNK assembled and moved into storage.

 

[MarkDey]

____ Enough equipment is sold to buy some of the more expensive salvage from the black market, and a Star League Black Knight is assembled. It's quickly put into storage, and its weaponry and double heat sinks are used to fill our stock of spare parts. Yang gets to work on repairing the Ghost and swapping gyros, and he even has time to upgrade the Warhammer's lasers.

Event - Power Interlock: I get a sense of deja vu as Shadow comes to me with Farah about fixing the power interlock and regaining some efficiency. Again, I side with Farah and decide to leave things alone.
Result: No lasting consequences.

____ The Hadley system has a few contracts we can take, as well as a robust black market, so we make another stop there.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 137: 1 Skull Escort ____ Employer: Warboys ____ Target: Death's Consorts ____ Biome: Tundra
Lance: Ghost (Merch), Macross (Shadow), Snipe (Nimbus)

Report: Caravan Open Season - An unprotected convoy is moving through the area, and we've been hired to redirect it. Our employer wants to keep a low profile though, so we're limited to 160 tons. We intercept the convoy easily enough, but run into resistance as we lead it to the new extraction location. 2x Striker, Hover Recon, Hover Tank. JVN-10A (headshot), FS9-A, FS9-M (headshot).

Damage: Ghost, RA reduced to 85% structure. Arm Mod Destroyed. ____ Salvage: FS9-M, JVN-10A assembled and moved into storage.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 138: 0.5 Skull Assassinate ____ Employer: Pirates ____ Target: Federated Suns ____ Biome: Highlands
Lance: Ghost (Merch), Macross (Shadow), Snipe (Nimbus)

Report: Bug Hunt - An investigator that has been effective in shutting down black market operations has been located and we've been tasked with eliminating him before he leaves the area. We're limited to 160 tons because this particular employer is cheap, but they are willing to sign over almost all of the salvage from this drop. As we drop in, Sumire is able to report that the escorting units are out of position, and we have a generally straight shot to our target. I have the lance move a bit to the right flank for the optimal approach, and then rush in. JR7-A. The escorts move to intercept, but they are too late. LCT-1M, PNT-9R (pilot kill).

Damage: Snipe, LA reduced to 75% structure. ____ Salvage: LCT-1M, PNT-9R assembled and moved into storage.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 139: 1.5 Skull Escort ____ Employer: Pirates ____ Target: Warboys ____ Biome: Martian
Lance: Ghost (Merch), Macross (Shadow), Snipe (Nimbus)

Report: Man of the People - A Warboy unit has made threats against the safety of a popular black market coordinator. We've been hired as an escort for his crew to safely leave the planet along with their equipment. A hostile scout is encountered on the way to meet up with the convoy. LCT-UNK (pilot kill). After the convoy gets moving, another unit is detected. JVN-UNK (pilot kill). The main Warboy force arrives just as the extraction dropship lands, and we move to give the convoy enough cover to evacuate. PNT-UNK, Galleon, Rotunda Recon, Striker.

Damage: Only armor. ____ Salvage: JVN-UNK, LCT-UNK assembled and moved into storage.
Advancement: Nimbus: Gunnery 8 to 9.