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After Darius cuts off some comments about how Lord Madeira will need to get his hands dirty on the
Hysteria once our work here is done, our mission objectives are outlined. First, visit the ATC headquarters to clear the company's debt and secure clear travel throughout the Periphery assuming we can stay in ATC's favor. Second, raid a Taurian facility that is critical to fusion reactor production. The goal is not to destroy the factory, but to raid the rare earth metal stockpiles being used. As for an escape plan, Kamea intends to use our temporary fame to pose as Jinxie and the Banshees to blame them for the attack. Sumire is excited about the idea, and Darius and I think it might actually work.
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Mission 173: 2.5 Skull Objective Raid ____
Employer: Darius ____
Target: Taurian ____
Biome: Martian
Lance: Ghost (Gramps), Valkyrie (Behemoth), Macross (Medusa), Snipe (Glitch)
Report: We will be able to drop with a full lance, but no slow and heavy units. Our Elite Max pilots take this drop as I want to have the best chance at victory. The mission is a complicated mess, so the lance splits up with one Phoenix Hawk each to protect our two vehicles as they record footage, Glitch in the center to react and get good lines of fire, and me to find enemy forces. Hostile mechs are found quickly, and we engage. FS9-K, JVN-10A, ENF-4R, JR7-A. Another enemy lance appears on our sensors moving to reinforce the first group. BJ-1DC, JVN-10N, SHD-2H, FS9-H. Glitch is able to collapse a tunnel entrance from afar with Snipe's Gauss Rifle, sealing off a path for enemy reinforcements. Medusa overheats in the harsh environment, but destroys the other tunnel entrance and then finds temporary refuge in a small area of ice.
____Yang has overridden control of the refinery's turrets, and they begin to join the fight. A Firestarter sprints close to Glitch, injuring her in a hail of machine gun fire and shutting down Snipe. Fortunately, Behemoth is able to jump back and destroy it before it can take advantage of the situation. The rest of the enemy forces are defeated, and our units cool down a bit. With both tunnels destroyed, the Taurian force will need to attack along the main road, so we set up accordingly and wait. They bring an unexpectedly strong force.
AS7-D (!), CPLT-C4, GRF-1N, BJ-1DC. Additional units are detected approaching from side canyons - presumably, they were able to survive the destruction of the tunnels and redirect their route. JR7-F, FS9-A, BJ-1DB, GHR-5H. The refinery turrets open fire, and while most of their shots miss, they do force the Taurians into more vulnerable positions. JVN-10N, BJ-1DB, ?, ?. The Taurian units are forced to retreat, and we secure over
7 million C-Bills worth of loot.
Damage: Macross, Overheated x1. Snipe, RA reduced to 50% structure. Glitch injured for 12 days.
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____Taurian news broadcasts are branding the attack on the refinery as terrorism. Commodore Samuel Ostergaard has publicly pledged to hunt down the forces behind the attack. The command staff wonder about future scenarios, and Alexander Madeira proposes a move to Alphard and the Marian Hegemony with a goal of unlocking full transportation access to the Inner Sphere by replacing the identification core of the
Hysteria. Darius and Kamea debate on who to contact next, and I propose that we leave the five Great Houses alone for the moment, and focus on the Periphery.
____We decide to wait a few days as Yang repairs Macross, but just before the work is done, we are contacted with a unique opportunity.
Event - Letter Of Marque Liao: House Liao is interested in issuing us a letter of marque so that we can perform supplemental contracts for the Capellan Confederation. The concern about getting involved in cut-throat Liao family politics is evident amongst the bridge crew. I decide to stick to the Periphery for now and decline the offer.
Result: Darius begins crafting a tactful reply, and believes that this may open up opportunities for us to take independent flashpoints. +1 Reputation with the Black Market Pirates.
____Once Macross is repaired, I decide to take a look at the existing contracts. The Taurians aren't chasing us yet, so there is still work available.