Gramps' run through the Hyades Rim campaign

[MarkDey]

Mission 063: 2 Skull Defend Base ____ Employer: Pirates ____ Target: Local Gov ____ Biome: Lunar
Lance: Valkyrie (Medusa), Wolvie (Gramps), Fearless Leader (Mouth), Rainmaker (Glitch)

Report: Caught in the Act - What was supposed to be a smash and grab raid has taken much longer than expected, and a response force is inbound. We've been hired to protect the raiders until they can finish packing up and depart, although our employer can only afford to support 240 tons. I decide to take Wolvie on this drop, and keep Mouth in the lance to improve his skills just a little bit more. The base is atop a defensible plateau, so Medusa and I go scout while Mouth and Glitch take up good firing positions. The enemy Vanguard arrives quickly, and even gets close enough to open fire on the base. LCT-1M, WVR-6R, SDR-5V, JVN-10A.
____The main force arrives shortly thereafter, and our mechs start to run hot from all of the constant firing. Two of the buildings are destroyed from long range LRM and autocannon fire before we can refocus the attackers. I try to knock out the pilots of two mechs, but end up completely destroying them. Medusa gets shut down by one of the Blackjacks, but it able to power back up quickly. Mouth shuts down trying to eliminate an overaggressive Jenner. I overheat taking out the Centurion, and Glitch overheats taking out the Jenner. JR7-A, JR7-F, BJ-1X (survived), CN9-AH, JM6-A, BJ-1.

Damage: Valkyrie, 3x Overheated. Wolvie, 1x Overheated. Fearless Leader, 3x Overheated, scattered LRM hits. Rainmaker, 2x Overheated, RT reduced to 70% structure from autocannon fire.
Advancement: Mouth: Piloting 5 to 6.

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____We took too much damage on that drop, and didn't even salvage an entire mech, so I decide to leave orbit and continue visiting Black Market systems while Yang works on repairs.

 

[MarkDey]

____A few days after we get underway, Yang highlights a potential problem.

Event - The Norwegian Blue: A few birds got into the mech bay during one of our drops on Randis IV, and Yang has been able to trap most of them, but one parrot has adapted to zero gravity and is proving elusive. I ask Polish to help since she has zero-g experience.
Result: The hunt is successful, but Yang gets bit. The plan is to keep it onboard until we can release it on some other planet. Morale -2

____Cadlea has some interesting items for sale in its Black Market, so we stop there. There are also a few low-difficulty contracts that might be worth our time. Valkyrie has been fully repaired, and Fives is ready, but the other mechs are still a bit weakened from their lunar experience.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 064: 1 Skull Battle ____ Employer: Satan's Kittens ____ Target: Bloody Horns ____ Biome: Badlands
Lance: CTF-1X (Medusa), Rainmaker (Glitch)

Report: Test Drive - The Kittens have captured a Cataphract, and they'd like to have us test it out. Presumably, they're not used to having a mech that doesn't have flamers or Inferno missiles. However, the contract has a limit of only 160 tons, so we can only send one other mech down to escort it. Risky, but I decide to give it a try - Glitch will just have to stay out of sensor range. Medusa moves forward and detects some vehicles and mechs on sensors, which begin to move to intercept. Sumire reports that there is also another dropship coming in for a drop-off, which will hopefully be from some other faction that will want to fight our opponents. As it lands, she confirms that it has 'addict' markings - never seen that insignia before, but they do destroy a vehicle, proving that they do indeed want to fight everyone. LCT-3V, 2x Striker, Packrat, SDR-UNK (pilot kill), PNT-UNK (pilot kill)

Damage: CTF-1X, 1x Overheated. ____ Salvage: LCT-3V assembled and moved into storage.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 065: 1 Skull Base Capture ____ Employer: Badlands Horde ____ Target: Evil Eye ____ Biome: Highlands
Lance: Valkyrie (Behemoth), Fives (Gramps), Snipe (Medusa), Rainmaker (Glitch)

Report: Logistical Base Capture - A well hidden supply depot has been located, and we've been tasked with taking it over. I decide to try Fives out for a combat test, but I also bring the big guns because there's nothing wrong with a little bit of overkill. The base is unprotected, so Behemoth runs in to secure it while we wait for the patrol force to come back. Fives works out relatively well, although the engagement was too short to really tell. 3x LCT-1V, VL-5T (headshot).

Damage: Only armor. ____ Salvage: LCT-1V assembled and moved into storage.
Advancement: Gramps: Tactics 8 to 9.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 066: 1.5 Skull Assassinate ____ Employer: Taurian Concordat ____ Target: Bloody Horns ____ Biome: Highlands
Lance: Valkyrie (Behemoth), Fives (Gramps), Wolvie (Medusa)

Report: Escaping Spy - We've been tasked with sweeping the area for a spy that is looking to escape Taurian retribution. We can only field 160 tons, but that should still be enough to perform this goodwill mission for the Concordat. I decide to drop with a heavily armored team to see how that works out. We move to engage our target's escorts first. JVN-10F, 2x GRF-1N (one pilot kill), JR7-A (pilot kill). After eliminating them, we head towards our target, who we find is already moving quickly towards us. MAD-3R (pilot kill)

Damage: Only armor. ____ Salvage: MAD-3R assembled and moved into storage.
Advancement: Behemoth: Piloting 8 to 9.

 

[MarkDey]

____Continuing our journey, we head towards the next nearest Black Market system. On the way, I get a communication from another dropship that is riding the same jumpship as us.

Event - The Warning: Another mercenary company commander lets me know that Glitch has a bad reputation, and warns me not to trust her. I delete the message, and suspect that he just wanted to hire Glitch himself.
Result: No lasting consequences.

____Carvajal has a Gauss Rifle++ along with a job for ATC, so I decide to stop there and give the upgraded Wolvie a workout.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 067: 0.5 Skull Assassinate ____ Employer: Alphard Trading Company ____ Target: Taurus Territorial Industries ____ Biome: Tundra
Lance: Valkyrie (Behemoth), Fives (Gramps), Wolvie (Medusa)

Report: Bug Hunt - This contract is to eliminate a TTI terrorist and any escort they might have. It's a job limited to 160 tons, so I negotiate for an improved reputation with ATC. Our approach is slow, and we meet with some escorts first. FS9-K, PNT-9R. Our target join the fight just as we eliminate the other mechs, and they get our full attention. SHD-2H (headshot).

Damage: Only armor.

 

[MarkDey]

____Leaving orbit, we set course for Firey Plains, but find some interesting jobs in Xissette that would improve our standing with the Black Market pirates, and potentially the Taurians as well.

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Mission 068: 2.5 Skull Escort ____ Employer: Pirates ____ Target: Taurian Concordat ____ Biome: Tundra
Lance: Wolvie (Behemoth), Fives (Medusa), Snipe (Gramps), Rainmaker (Glitch)

Report: Man of the People - An important diplomat requires protection from credible threats as they travel to a summit meeting. There is no drop restriction mentioned, so we bring the big guns. As we land, we receive reports of enemy contact, so Behemoth and Medusa sprint ahead while Glitch and I get into a better firing position. FS9-A (pilot kill), JVN-10N (pilot kill), JR7-F (pilot kill). After the threat has been eliminated, we reform our lance and then begin escorting the convoy. Another group of enemy units is detected near the landing pad, and we move to engage. Striker, JR7-F (pilot kill), Galleon, LCT-1M. A last group of Taurians drops in just as the convoy begins loading on the extraction dropship. 3x LCT-1M, 1x GRF-1N (headshot).

Damage: Only armor. ____ Salvage: GRF-1N, JVN-10N, FS9-A assembled and moved into storage.
Advancement: Medusa: Piloting 8 to 9.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 069: 1.5 Skull Recovery ____ Employer: Pirates ____ Target: Bloody Horns ____ Biome: Polar
Lance: Wolvie (Behemoth), Fives (Medusa), Snipe (Gramps), Rainmaker (Glitch)

Report: Carrier - There is a computer research lab that is developing a virus that could incapacitate a mech. Our employer wants to get a sample of it to see how it works and develop a defense, and it's our job to get a mech infected with that code. Yang and Farah apparently know how to contain a virus like this so it doesn't wreck our own mechs. Sumire drops us at the base of a mountain, and we make a long loop around the right flank to come at the base so it's downhill from us. Behemoth runs in and secures the code before any shots are fired, and then we open up on our way out as the security forces finally notice us. BJ-1, HBK-4G (headshot), COM-2D, LCT-1S.

Damage: No damage. Reputation with Bloody Horns decreased to Disliked. ____ Salvage: HBK-4G assembled and moved into storage.
Advancement: Glitch: Piloting 8 to 9.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 070: 1 Skull Capture Base ____ Employer: Taurian Concordat ____ Target: Isle Avengers ____ Biome: Polar
Lance: COM-2D (Guano), PNT-9R (Stubble), UM_R60 (Pontoon), Wolvie (Gramps)

Report: The B Team - I'm going to run a mission with some Taurian rookies to walk them through a basic drill of how mech operations should go. I'm sure something will go wrong, but we'll just have to see. I decide to take Wolvie since that will let me react as fast as the other mechs in the lance. We approach the compound and find a set of light turrets that are powering up. I jump in and Stubble and Pontoon open fire from afar while Guano runs around to the right. 2x Sniper, 1x Shredder, 1x Laser. Enemy reinforcements also arrive, and I take them out. COM-1D, HBK-4G.

Damage: COM-2D, RT reduced to 60% structure. ____ Salvage: HBK-4G assembled and moved into storage.
Advancement: Gramps: Gunnery 8 to 9.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 071: 1.5 Skull Destroy Base ____ Employer: Taurian Concordat ____ Target: Harbingers of Doom ____ Biome: Tundra
Lance: Valkyrie (Behemoth), Fives (Gramps), Wolvie (Medusa)

Report: Incomplete Intelligence - Our last task here is to eliminate some warehouses that have some questionable goods. The Taurians want this to be a small incursion, so we're limited to 160 tons. Our target is atop a distant hill, and the three of us sprint along the road to the facility. We quickly encounter a defending force, and Medusa fires the first shots to announce our arrival. COM-UNK, JR-UNK, FS-UNK, PXH-UNK. The defenders are defeated, and a set of light turrets is detected as we approach the base. 2x Laser, 2x Shredder.

Damage: Only armor.

 

[MarkDey]

____As we head back to the jump point, Yang's crew finishes work on Fearless Leader. Rainmaker and Snipe then undergo repairs and refits, mostly to incorporate new equipment and add on more armor with the available tonnage that was freed up. Stopping in Micros III, we find even more new equipment to buy, including enough pieces to assemble an Atlas II!
____We don't have room for it in the bay since I want to keep Rainmaker around, but it's a great find nevertheless. We do, however, make a lot of room by selling a bunch of mech chassis and equipment in order to buy the new gear. Before leaving the shop, I also decide to buy enough salvage to assemble an Annihilator, and then put that in storage.
____There are a few contracts here that are worth taking, and then it's on to the Alphard Trading Company flashpoint in Firey Plains to deal with The Mad Cat Who Walks Through Walls.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 072: 1.5 Skull Assassinate ____ Employer: Taurian Concordat ____ Target: Majesty Metals ____ Biome: Desert
Lance: Valkyrie (Behemoth), Wolvie (Medusa), Fives (Gramps), Fearless Leader (Glitch)

Report: Bug Hunt - A limited-time target of opportunity has been identified and we've accepted a contract for an immediate deployment. There is a single target with a lance of escorts, and I'm hoping to take most of them as salvage. 2x PNT-9R (one headshot, one pilot kill), HBK-4SP (pilot kill), LCT-1V, CPLT-C1 (pilot kill).

Damage: Only armor. Reputation with Taurians increased to Liked. ____ Salvage: 2x PNT-9R, HBK-4SP, CPLT-C1 assembled and moved into storage.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 073: 2 Skull Battle ____ Employer: Satan's Kittens ____ Target: Bloody Horns ____ Biome: Desert
Lance: Valkyrie (Behemoth), Wolvie (Medusa), Fives (Gramps), Fearless Leader (Glitch)

Report: Fight for Your Right to Party - We've been contracted to crash a party, which I'm assuming means to join a fight that's already been arranged between two sides. We drop in, find a lance of mechs, and light them up. JR7-A, COM-2D, ENF-4R (pilot kill), BJ-1DB (pilot kill). Another lance of mechs appears from Magna Metals, and move to engage the Bloody Horns, but we've already eliminated them, so they pick a fight with us instead. They do a decent job of it, landing SRM hits on the heads of Wolvie and Valkyrie. JVN-10N (legs kill), TBT-5S, COM-1B, CRB-20.

Damage: Medusa injured for 14 days. ____ Salvage: ENF-4R, COM-1B assembled and moved into storage.
Advancement: Behemoth: Piloting 9 to 10.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 074: 1 Skull Battle ____ Employer: Magna Metals ____ Target: Antithesis Creed ____ Biome: Desert
Lance: Valkyrie (Behemoth), Fives (Gramps), Fearless Leader (Glitch)

Report: Seek and Destroy - This is a straightforward job to eliminate a lance of mechs that is threatening our employer's operations. It's also a low-budget job, where we only drop with 160 tons. We move to contact, and Behemoth starts off the fight by jumping into close range and obliterating an enemy cockpit! FS-UNK (headshot), JVN-UNK, Striker, Hover Tank.

Damage: Only armor.

 

[MarkDey]

____With Medusa out of action, and Yang still working on refits, I decide to head to another Black Market site to check for better supplies. I issue some extravagant bonuses when the monthly financial report comes around. The following day, the command deck gets an urgent call.

Event - Fire in the Barracks: Mouth reports a fire in the barracks. Dr. Murad seals the room, but recommends venting it to space. Eck reports that he's found some fire extinguishers behind a panel. I have Mouth and Eck use them to fight the fire.
Result: The fire is put out with minimal damage and no injuries. -2k C-Bills, Morale +1, Eck and Mouth gain Brave.

____Tirabad does have some interesting items for sale, so we go visit there. Medusa heals up by the time we arrive in orbit. I decide to spend some time doing a full refit of our mechs using the best equipment that we have available. Valkyrie improves the cockpit bracing, exchanges the L Pulse Laser for a Snub PPC++ and double heat sink, the Arm Mod+++ for an additional double heat sink, and a M Laser for an ER M Laser++. Fives upgrades an LRM5 to an LRM5+++. Wolvie is almost swapped for a Griffin until Yang reminds me about the Battlecom upgrade that makes it as fast as a light mech. So, instead, I replace the M Laser in the head with cockpit bracing, and add a double heat sink. Snipe upgrades a UAC5 to a UAC5++, and adds a double heat sink and more armor with the available weight. All of this takes about a month. During that time, our pilots start finding other activities.

Event - Target Practice: Behemoth requests permission to set up a live fire target range at the back of the dropship. I give her the go ahead.
Result: Things start out okay, but when people start bringing out heavy weapons and explosive rounds, Darius reprimands Behemoth and puts in place better safety rules. Behemoth gains Low Spirts for 30 days.

Event - Rustgut: Glitch has been making Engine Room Rustgut - moonshine. I make it clear that this is not safe, and have her dismantle the still.
Result: Glitch grumbles but obeys. -1 Morale. Glitch gains Low Spirits for 30 days.

____The refits are finally completed, and it looks like all of the contracts in this system are ones we can take without upsetting our friends. I have Darius start organizing the jobs before the pilots get any other ideas.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 075: 2 Skull Destroy Base ____ Employer: Badlands Horde ____ Target: Local Gov ____ Biome: Polar
Lance: Valkyrie (Behemoth), Snipe (Medusa), Fearless Leader (Gramps), Rainmaker (Glitch)

Report: Broken Chain - Our target is a well defended logistics base that should have some valuable equipment. We drop with the big guns, and after looking at the avenues of approach, head to the high hills on the far left flank. Once the rest of the lance is set, Behemoth jumps towards the base, quickly picking up multiple targets, including a set of light turrets. 2x Shredder, 1x LRM, 1x Sniper. LCT-1S, COM-1D, PNT-9R (pilot kill), FS9-H (headshot). Reinforcements arrive quickly, but are destroyed just as methodically. JR7-F, VND-1X (pilot kill), VND-1R (pilot kill).

Damage: Only armor. ____ Salvage: VND-1R, VND-1X, JR7-F, PNT-9R assembled and moved into storage.
Advancement: Medusa: Piloting 9 to 10.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 076: 1 Skull Recovery ____ Employer: Magna Metals ____ Target: Taurus Majoris Mining ____ Biome: Polar
Lance: Valkyrie (Behemoth), Snipe (Medusa), Fearless Leader (Gramps), Rainmaker (Glitch)

Report: Corporate Secrets - This job is to retrieve a researcher that has violated their NDA by taking a job with a rival corporation. Behemoth jumps ahead while we take up good firing positions, and she recovers the target before the defenders can open fire. COM-1B (pilot kill), PNT-9R (pilot kil), LCT-1M, FLE-15.

Damage: Only armor. ____ Salvage: PNT-9R, LCT-1M, COM-1B assembled and moved into storage.
Advancement: Gramps: Tactics 9 to 10 - Elite

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 077: 1 Skull Recovery ____ Employer: Evil Eye ____ Target: Unitron Incorporated ____ Biome: Polar
Lance: Wolvie (Medusa), Fives (Gramps), Fearless Leader (Glitch)

Report: Asset Retrieval - We've been tasked with recovering some suspected lostech that was found by our employer, but taken by Unitron Incorporated. We need to maintain a low profile, so the drop is limited to 160 tons. Our target is on one side of a very tall ridge, and we drop on the opposite side, so our first moves are to begin jumping up the mountain. As Medusa begins heading down to the base, we detect a lance of defending mechs. LCT-1V, JVN-10F, FS9-H (pilot kill).

Damage: Only armor. Reputation with Unitron decreased to Disliked. ____ Salvage: FS9-H assembled and moved into storage.
Advancement: Glitch: Piloting 9 to 10.

 

[MarkDey]

Mission 078: 1 Skull Battle ____ Employer: Local Gov ____ Target: Harbingers of Doom ____ Biome: Tundra
Lance: Valkyrie (Medusa), Fives (Behemoth), Fearless Leader (Gramps), Rainmaker (Glitch)

Report: Last Mech Standing - The rest of our contracts here will be for the local authorities, and this first one is a job to eliminate a unit that is on a rampage. The negotiations are heavily weighted towards pay, so this should be quick since I won't have to focus on salvaging our opponents. There are no drop limits, so we drop with a full lance and quickly move forwards to seek and destroy. LCT-UNK, FLE-UNK, JVN-UNK.

Damage: Only armor.
Advancement: Behemoth: Guts 7 to 8.