The campaign has automatic difficulty increases once you complete certain milestone missions. When he completes the Danse Macabre flashpoint, the average difficulty on all systems will be increased by half a skull.
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Gramps' run through the Hyades Rim campaign
- Thread starter MarkDey
- Start date
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The campaign has automatic difficulty increases once you complete certain milestone missions. When he completes the Danse Macabre flashpoint, the average difficulty on all systems will be increased by half a skull.
Mission 168: 0.5 Skull Recovery ____ Employer: Bad Moon Rising ____ Target: White Death ____ Biome: Polar
Lance: Ghost (Shadow), Valkyrie (Hardpoint), Snipe (Eck)
Report: Men Who Stare At Mechs - The last job in the system is to convince the leader of a small gang to rethink their recent decision to cooperate with the local authorities. Drop in, break their defenses, and take over their base. A small force of defending mechs is quickly eliminated. Once they are gone, our target is quite willing to reconsider their position. JVN-10A, LCT-1M, PNT-9ALAG, COM-1D.
Damage: Only armor. ____ Salvage: LCT-1M, PNT-9ALAG assembled and moved into storage.
Advancement: Hardpoint: Tactics 7 to 8 - Master Tactician
Lance: Ghost (Shadow), Valkyrie (Hardpoint), Snipe (Eck)
Report: Men Who Stare At Mechs - The last job in the system is to convince the leader of a small gang to rethink their recent decision to cooperate with the local authorities. Drop in, break their defenses, and take over their base. A small force of defending mechs is quickly eliminated. Once they are gone, our target is quite willing to reconsider their position. JVN-10A, LCT-1M, PNT-9ALAG, COM-1D.
Damage: Only armor. ____ Salvage: LCT-1M, PNT-9ALAG assembled and moved into storage.
Advancement: Hardpoint: Tactics 7 to 8 - Master Tactician
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Dumassas
____Hardpoint celebrates her official MRB certification as a Striker, and is excited to pilot Snipe the next time she drops. Yang should have Macross and Valkyrie repaired by the time we reach the jump point, but the day after we leave orbit he arrives in a foul mood.
Event - Temporary Improvements: The pilots are complaining about how long repairs are taking. Darius suggests that we have the loudest complainers help Yang to move things along faster, and I agree.
Result: +1 Tech Point for 14 days
____I keep the crew at a normal rate of pay for the monthly financial report, and Kamea is glad that we've arrived in Dumassas. While she focuses on setting up the contact with Interstellar Expeditions, Darius hands me a datapad. Highlighted are some items of interest in the Black Market: a Magestrix Alpha Rangefinder and Thermal Exchanger III, both the best technology available for those items. I give him a nod to approve the purchases.
Event - Temporary Improvements: The pilots are complaining about how long repairs are taking. Darius suggests that we have the loudest complainers help Yang to move things along faster, and I agree.
Result: +1 Tech Point for 14 days
____I keep the crew at a normal rate of pay for the monthly financial report, and Kamea is glad that we've arrived in Dumassas. While she focuses on setting up the contact with Interstellar Expeditions, Darius hands me a datapad. Highlighted are some items of interest in the Black Market: a Magestrix Alpha Rangefinder and Thermal Exchanger III, both the best technology available for those items. I give him a nod to approve the purchases.
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- - - - - - - - Flashpoint: The Man Comes Around - - - - - - -
Our initial plan to meet Lord Madeira outside of the Interstellar Expeditions compound falls through, as our IE contact rigidly adheres to the terms of the contract. Plan B is a combat drop on the IE base - very subtle. Kamea explains that her motivations are more than just confirming who sold us out on Randis. Alexander also has access to an intelligence report done by House Madeira to identify key locations near the Aurigan Reach that have vital resources or facilities for war. Having that information will open up new options for us.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Mission 169: 3 Skull Defend Base ____ Employer: Darius ____ Target: Interstellar Expeditions ____ Biome: UrbanLance: Ghost (Gramps), Valkyrie (Behemoth), Snipe (Nimbus), Crazy Eights (Glitch)
Report: I decide to scout for this drop personally, and our flight parameters will let us deploy a full lance. It's very quiet when we land, and IE isn't responding. Kamea decides to take a risk and asks for Alexander to come out. That prompts Grey Noton to break radio silence, revealing that this is a trap for Kamea. His forces have been holding the IE staff hostage to force an appearance. Kamea disembarks to help Alexander evacuate the building of IE staff, and I turn the lance to engage Grey Noton and his forces. Vehicles and mechs are quickly spotted in a column on the road, which should minimize collateral damage. Bulldog, SRM Carrier, VL-2T, WVR-6D (headshot). Nimbus jumps atop a tall building for the best lines of fire, Behemoth moves up the flank, and Glitch opens fire on the lead unit in the line.
____ As the initial force is eliminated, two other enemy forces are detected moving along the flanks, and we move to intercept. Behemoth moves to the right and starts picking off the vehicles near Grey Noton. I move to the left flank and start cutting down targets while spotting for Glitch and Nimbus. My flank is cleared first, and Noton gets close enough to sensor lock me as I turn to intercept his force. Behemoth eliminates the last of the vehicles, and Glitch sensor locks Noton, letting Nimbus open fire from afar. Noton seems to have some extra protection for his cockpit as two salvoes from Snipe fail to land any hits on the head. Noting that, I clear Behemoth for unrestricted fire, and she and I cut his mech to pieces as several ammunition explosions send pieces flying. FS9-H, SHD-2H, JR7-A, CPLT-C4. Manticore, Striker, Gallant UAV, RFL-LK(!).
Damage: Reputation with Bad Moon Rising dropped to Indifferent. Snipe, LA Reduced to 85% structure. ____ Salvage: FS9-H, WVR-6D assembled and moved into storage.
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- - - - - - - - Flashpoint: The Man Comes Around - - - - - - -
The IE personnel are secure and are moving to their vehicles. We are to secure the exit area of their garage, and then escort them to a landing pad and evacuate them to safety. In Alexander Madeira's case, safety is a relative term as he has an appointment with Kamea.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Mission 170: 2.5 Skull Escort ____ Employer: Interstellar Expeditions ____ Target: Bad Moon Rising ____ Biome: UrbanLance: Ghost (Gramps), Valkyrie (Behemoth), Snipe (Nimbus), Crazy Eights (Glitch)
Report: The exit area is clear of enemy forces, and the APCs speed up the road near me, quickly detecting additional hostiles. Nimbus jumps to a rooftop and finds an angle to core out the enemy Phoenix Hawk. Crazy Eights struggles to keep up with the fast pace of the combat despite Glitch's elite piloting. Noton splits his fire, and each arm of his Legend Killer Rifleman takes out an IE vehicle. As he swivels to aim at the remaining two APCs, Nimbus cores the Blackjack, opening up a line of fire. Glitch rounds the corner of a building and fires a concentrated salvo into Noton, destroying his mech and knocking it flat. That lets me move up and eliminate a Commando, destroying its entire right side in the process. PXH-1K, BJ-1DC, COM-1C, RFL-LK.
____ The last two IE vehicles get to the extraction point at the same time, and as Sumire lands, additional hostiles appear on our sensors. The extraction is quick, and the enemy doesn't even get a shot off before the DropShip departs. Similarly, Glitch doesn't get a shot off before the enemy is defeated, rounding the corner in time to see me shred the Vulcan from behind. CDA-2B, CN9-AL (headshot), ENF-4R, VL-5T.
Damage: Only armor. ____ Salvage: PXH-1K assembled and moved into storage.
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____Yang is able to salvage a mid-range heat exchanger from the wreckage, but not much else. After a little less than a day to recover and make sure that Noton wasn't going to appear yet again, Kamea brings Alexander to the bridge and tells him that we don't have the Amaris Legacy because we were ambushed on Randis, and ambushed yet again here on Dumassas. Alexander quickly understands that we suspect him to be behind both events, which he completely denies. When pressed for proof that it was someone else in Interstellar Expeditions, he doesn't have any, but he does offer to use the payment codes from the Amaris Legacy contract to completely settle our debt to the Alphard Trading Company. The catch is that we'll need to travel to Perdition, the headquarters of ATC. Kamea also asks Alexander for the Aurigan Warbook targets on Perdition. Once he realizes that we are not concerned about being branded as pirates, he agrees, but wants time to plan an escape from Taurian forces as he did not expect this at all. Seems like there's a lot of unexpected things happening.- 1
Cytron
____Yang installs the advanced rangefinder in the Ghost, removing a MG++ to make room. Snipe is repaired, and we begin making our way to Perdition. As if they knew we were coming, we receive a message from the Alphard Trading Company.
Event - Pay Your Bills: Claiming 'unpaid retroactive fees', ATC is asking for more money. Fortunately, we are still on good terms with ATC, so some of the cost is already waived. I agree to pay the rest.
Result: We lose 50k C-Bills.
____Entering the Taurian Concordat at Althea's Choice, I'm surprised to see a fully functioning Cyclops-HQ for sale on the open market. At a cost of 26 million C-Bills though, we can't afford to make that sort of investment. However, the Black Market at Cyrton has a Friedhof Sparrow gyro available, so we stop to purchase that and complete a couple of jobs while we are in orbit.
Event - Pay Your Bills: Claiming 'unpaid retroactive fees', ATC is asking for more money. Fortunately, we are still on good terms with ATC, so some of the cost is already waived. I agree to pay the rest.
Result: We lose 50k C-Bills.
____Entering the Taurian Concordat at Althea's Choice, I'm surprised to see a fully functioning Cyclops-HQ for sale on the open market. At a cost of 26 million C-Bills though, we can't afford to make that sort of investment. However, the Black Market at Cyrton has a Friedhof Sparrow gyro available, so we stop to purchase that and complete a couple of jobs while we are in orbit.
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Mission 171: 2.5 Skull Escort ____ Employer: Pirates ____ Target: Harbingers ____ Biome: Lunar
Lance: Ghost (Nimbus), Valkyrie (Shadow), Snipe (Hardpoint), Crazy Eights (Eck)
Report: What Are Friends For? - This job is to recover some people and convoy them to safety. Darius thinks they are slaves, Farah thinks they are prisoners, but I think it's nice to have an employer that can afford an unrestricted drop weight. The lance drops onto the lunar surface and encounters no opposition as they secure the base where the convoy is. A Harbinger vehicle escort arrives around the same time, and we open fire. Manticore, Striker NARC, Inferno Carrier, Scorpion. Shadow lands a death from above attack on the Manticore, and while the tank is still moving despite the two large holes from Valkyrie's feet, the follow-up machinegun fire shreds the internal structure and destroys the vehicle. Nimbus impales the Scorpion with Ghost's sword, and the other two vehicles are eliminated in a barrage of ballistic fire from Eck and Hardpoint.
____ Our convoy reforms into good order, and arrives at the extraction site all at the same time. A last-minute entry of Harbinger forces is able to reveal the Ghost and sensor lock the vehicles with not one, but two, Active Probe bursts, but none of the vehicles are damaged as the lance cuts down the opposition before they can fire. JR-UNK, CDA-UNK, BJ-UNK.
Damage: Only armor. ____ Advancement: Eck: Guts 8 to 9. Shadow: Piloting 8 to 9.
Lance: Ghost (Nimbus), Valkyrie (Shadow), Snipe (Hardpoint), Crazy Eights (Eck)
Report: What Are Friends For? - This job is to recover some people and convoy them to safety. Darius thinks they are slaves, Farah thinks they are prisoners, but I think it's nice to have an employer that can afford an unrestricted drop weight. The lance drops onto the lunar surface and encounters no opposition as they secure the base where the convoy is. A Harbinger vehicle escort arrives around the same time, and we open fire. Manticore, Striker NARC, Inferno Carrier, Scorpion. Shadow lands a death from above attack on the Manticore, and while the tank is still moving despite the two large holes from Valkyrie's feet, the follow-up machinegun fire shreds the internal structure and destroys the vehicle. Nimbus impales the Scorpion with Ghost's sword, and the other two vehicles are eliminated in a barrage of ballistic fire from Eck and Hardpoint.
____ Our convoy reforms into good order, and arrives at the extraction site all at the same time. A last-minute entry of Harbinger forces is able to reveal the Ghost and sensor lock the vehicles with not one, but two, Active Probe bursts, but none of the vehicles are damaged as the lance cuts down the opposition before they can fire. JR-UNK, CDA-UNK, BJ-UNK.
Damage: Only armor. ____ Advancement: Eck: Guts 8 to 9. Shadow: Piloting 8 to 9.
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Mission 172: 1.5 Skull Defend Base ____ Employer: Federated Suns ____ Target: Taurian Concordat ____ Biome: Lunar
Lance: Ghost (Eck), Valkyrie (Shadow), Snipe (Hardpoint)
Report: Censor's Wrath - A hidden propaganda base has been located by the Taurians, and the Federated Suns unit has allocated the rest of their meagre resources to pay for us to protect them while they evacuate. Our three mech force deploys, and I expect Hardpoint to split fire on the attackers to disrupt their approach. She does, and thanks to Eck and Shadow destroying one Locust and staggering the other one, each of her three shots scores a kill! LCT-1M, LCT-1E, Striker, Scorpion. As our lance returns to the base and cools down, another dropship arrives with a heavier force. I direct the mechs to engage from the side while the buildings take some fire before we can intervene. Concentrated fire collapses the tallest structure, and a nearby warehouse is damaged, but not destroyed. SHD-2D (headshot), FS9-K, FS9-A, BJ-1DB.
Damage: Only armor. Reputation with the Federated Suns increased to Liked.
Lance: Ghost (Eck), Valkyrie (Shadow), Snipe (Hardpoint)
Report: Censor's Wrath - A hidden propaganda base has been located by the Taurians, and the Federated Suns unit has allocated the rest of their meagre resources to pay for us to protect them while they evacuate. Our three mech force deploys, and I expect Hardpoint to split fire on the attackers to disrupt their approach. She does, and thanks to Eck and Shadow destroying one Locust and staggering the other one, each of her three shots scores a kill! LCT-1M, LCT-1E, Striker, Scorpion. As our lance returns to the base and cools down, another dropship arrives with a heavier force. I direct the mechs to engage from the side while the buildings take some fire before we can intervene. Concentrated fire collapses the tallest structure, and a nearby warehouse is damaged, but not destroyed. SHD-2D (headshot), FS9-K, FS9-A, BJ-1DB.
Damage: Only armor. Reputation with the Federated Suns increased to Liked.
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Perdition
____Yang upgrades the gyros in Snipe and Warhammer as Sumire sets course out of orbit and on to Perdition. Before we can get to the jump point, some uninvited guests arrive.
Event - Pirates Ambush the Dropship: A wing of AeroSpace fighters fly on either side of the Hysteria, and they hail us demanding we pay an escort fee for safe passage. Darius begins to work his negotiating magic, betting that being Honored by the Black Market pirates will resolve things peacefully.
Result: Enough names are dropped and connections are made to convince our escort to leave us alone. Morale +1.
____The rest of the trip is relatively quiet until we get to Perdition - nothing really exciting in the stores or for contracts on the way. A day after we leave the JumpShip, though, Sumire reports a distress call.
Event - Distress Call: A mid-sized vessel is reporting an energy surge with their engines. I authorize an immediate change in course to attempt a rescue.
Result: Sumire gets us there just in time to rescue a handful of passengers before the reactor goes critical and explodes. Reputation increased by 1 with the Taurians. Morale +1.
Event - Pirates Ambush the Dropship: A wing of AeroSpace fighters fly on either side of the Hysteria, and they hail us demanding we pay an escort fee for safe passage. Darius begins to work his negotiating magic, betting that being Honored by the Black Market pirates will resolve things peacefully.
Result: Enough names are dropped and connections are made to convince our escort to leave us alone. Morale +1.
____The rest of the trip is relatively quiet until we get to Perdition - nothing really exciting in the stores or for contracts on the way. A day after we leave the JumpShip, though, Sumire reports a distress call.
Event - Distress Call: A mid-sized vessel is reporting an energy surge with their engines. I authorize an immediate change in course to attempt a rescue.
Result: Sumire gets us there just in time to rescue a handful of passengers before the reactor goes critical and explodes. Reputation increased by 1 with the Taurians. Morale +1.
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Flashpoint: Danse Macabre
- - - - - - - - Flashpoint: Danse Macabre - - - - - - -
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.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Mission 173: 2.5 Skull Objective Raid ____ Employer: Darius ____ Target: Taurian ____ Biome: MartianLance: 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.
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Mission 174: 1.5 Skull Battle ____ Employer: Taurian Concordat ____ Target: Badlands Horde ____ Biome: Highlands
Lance: Ghost (Nimbus), Valkyrie (Shadow), Snipe (Hardpoint), Crazy Eights (Eck)
Report: Last Mech Standing - A straightforward drop to eliminate all hostiles that have been raiding the local populace. No drop weight restriction, so Crazy Eights comes out to play again. The advanced rangefinder lets Nimbus spot targets easily, setting up long ranged fire from Eck and Hardpoint that begins cutting down our opponents before we even appear on their sensors. Interestingly, one of our targets appears on sensors as Automatic - must be notable enough to have an MRB callsign. A sensor lock on their Javelin reveals some lostech that will boost their energy weapon damage! Hardpoint flags the mech for capture, and as the battle unfolds, she finds an opportunity to kneecap it from the side, breaking both of its legs. 2x JVN-UNK, COM-UNK (legs kill), LCT-UNK.
Damage: Only armor. ____ Salvage: 1 JVN-UNK piece with the lostech. Yang thinks that it's hardwired into the frame, just like a Warhammer's special capacitor.
Lance: Ghost (Nimbus), Valkyrie (Shadow), Snipe (Hardpoint), Crazy Eights (Eck)
Report: Last Mech Standing - A straightforward drop to eliminate all hostiles that have been raiding the local populace. No drop weight restriction, so Crazy Eights comes out to play again. The advanced rangefinder lets Nimbus spot targets easily, setting up long ranged fire from Eck and Hardpoint that begins cutting down our opponents before we even appear on their sensors. Interestingly, one of our targets appears on sensors as Automatic - must be notable enough to have an MRB callsign. A sensor lock on their Javelin reveals some lostech that will boost their energy weapon damage! Hardpoint flags the mech for capture, and as the battle unfolds, she finds an opportunity to kneecap it from the side, breaking both of its legs. 2x JVN-UNK, COM-UNK (legs kill), LCT-UNK.
Damage: Only armor. ____ Salvage: 1 JVN-UNK piece with the lostech. Yang thinks that it's hardwired into the frame, just like a Warhammer's special capacitor.
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Mission 175: 1.5 Skull Defend Base ____ Employer: Taurian Concordat ____ Target: Harbingers of Doom ____ Biome: Urban
Lance: Ghost (Nimbus), Valkyrie (Shadow), Snipe (Hardpoint), Warhammer (Eck)
Report: Our Payday - A VIP is being targeted by a Harbinger attack on the base they are visiting. There is a set of light turrets, but it is expected that they will not be sufficient to repel the attack (1x Battery, 2x Artillery, 1x Support). A mid-sized force is needed, so we're limited to 240 tons for this job; our Warhammer swaps in for Crazy Eights. The enemy vanguard is quickly detected and engaged. 2x FLE-UNK, Striker NARC, Hover Recon. Harbinger reinforcements arrive just as the last Flea is destroyed, and the lance pivots to engage them. COM-UNK, 2x LCT-UNK, 2x PNT-UNK (one pilot kill), FLE-UNK.
Damage: Only armor. ____ Salvage: PNT-UNK, LCT-UNK assembled and moved into storage.
Advancement: Hardpoint: Tactics 8 to 9.
Lance: Ghost (Nimbus), Valkyrie (Shadow), Snipe (Hardpoint), Warhammer (Eck)
Report: Our Payday - A VIP is being targeted by a Harbinger attack on the base they are visiting. There is a set of light turrets, but it is expected that they will not be sufficient to repel the attack (1x Battery, 2x Artillery, 1x Support). A mid-sized force is needed, so we're limited to 240 tons for this job; our Warhammer swaps in for Crazy Eights. The enemy vanguard is quickly detected and engaged. 2x FLE-UNK, Striker NARC, Hover Recon. Harbinger reinforcements arrive just as the last Flea is destroyed, and the lance pivots to engage them. COM-UNK, 2x LCT-UNK, 2x PNT-UNK (one pilot kill), FLE-UNK.
Damage: Only armor. ____ Salvage: PNT-UNK, LCT-UNK assembled and moved into storage.
Advancement: Hardpoint: Tactics 8 to 9.
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Mission 176: 2.5 Skull Battle ____ Employer: Badlands Horde ____ Target: Harbingers ____ Biome: Lowlands
Lance: Ghost (Eck), Valkyrie (Shadow), Snipe (Hardpoint)
Report: Shock Troops - Two big and scary mechs need to be destroyed. Darius negotiates for max salvage since the employer is cheap and can only afford 180 tons anyway. Eck quickly picks up our targets on sensors, around the same time that we get a communication from Warboy command saying that we need to clear the area. Looks like they're after our salvage, but they can just join the scrap pile instead. Shadow jumps ahead and confirms the targets, and Hardpoint sends a gauss round through the cockpit of the Grasshopper, just like she practiced. GHR-UNK (headshot), BLR-UNK (legs kill). The Warboy lance lands and our troops move clear so the Harbinger Battlemaster can welcome them. Shadow jumps a little too close and a Centurion connects with a left hook but a block catches the damage on Valkyrie's arm. The Warboys fight the Harbingers while our lance shoots at both sides. TBT-UNK, COM-UNK, 2x CN-UNK (one headshot). Several volleys of fire are aimed at the Battlemaster's head, but nothing connects, so the lance switches to targeting the legs, severing both of them.
Damage: Valkyrie, RA reduced to 85% structure. ____ Salvage: CN-UNK, GHR-UNK assembled and moved into storage.
Advancement: Hardpoint: Guts 4 to 5. Shadow: Piloting 9 to 10 - Improved Resolve Gain
Lance: Ghost (Eck), Valkyrie (Shadow), Snipe (Hardpoint)
Report: Shock Troops - Two big and scary mechs need to be destroyed. Darius negotiates for max salvage since the employer is cheap and can only afford 180 tons anyway. Eck quickly picks up our targets on sensors, around the same time that we get a communication from Warboy command saying that we need to clear the area. Looks like they're after our salvage, but they can just join the scrap pile instead. Shadow jumps ahead and confirms the targets, and Hardpoint sends a gauss round through the cockpit of the Grasshopper, just like she practiced. GHR-UNK (headshot), BLR-UNK (legs kill). The Warboy lance lands and our troops move clear so the Harbinger Battlemaster can welcome them. Shadow jumps a little too close and a Centurion connects with a left hook but a block catches the damage on Valkyrie's arm. The Warboys fight the Harbingers while our lance shoots at both sides. TBT-UNK, COM-UNK, 2x CN-UNK (one headshot). Several volleys of fire are aimed at the Battlemaster's head, but nothing connects, so the lance switches to targeting the legs, severing both of them.
Damage: Valkyrie, RA reduced to 85% structure. ____ Salvage: CN-UNK, GHR-UNK assembled and moved into storage.
Advancement: Hardpoint: Guts 4 to 5. Shadow: Piloting 9 to 10 - Improved Resolve Gain
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Atreus Prime
____"Darius, Yang says that It'll take a week to finish the repair jobs."
____"So I've heard. Did he mention anything about a job to you?"
____"Nope. What sort of job?"
____"A 'Big Score' in Davion space to acquire a rare mech. He even had Sumire flag it as a Flashpoint, and arranged for JumpShip travel by calling in some favors."
____"Sounds interesting... I'll take a look."
____Yang's opportunity was a reasonable distance away, and the chance to visit some systems in the Federated Suns seemed like a good enough reason to make that our next stop. A few of the systems on the way had nothing of interest, but Atreus Prime had some salvage of a Cyclops -HQ for sale and a pair of contracts worth taking. On the way in to orbit, a flashpoint in Cluff's Stand appears, calling for entrants in the Tournament of Champions. Might be worth looking into later.
____"So I've heard. Did he mention anything about a job to you?"
____"Nope. What sort of job?"
____"A 'Big Score' in Davion space to acquire a rare mech. He even had Sumire flag it as a Flashpoint, and arranged for JumpShip travel by calling in some favors."
____"Sounds interesting... I'll take a look."
____Yang's opportunity was a reasonable distance away, and the chance to visit some systems in the Federated Suns seemed like a good enough reason to make that our next stop. A few of the systems on the way had nothing of interest, but Atreus Prime had some salvage of a Cyclops -HQ for sale and a pair of contracts worth taking. On the way in to orbit, a flashpoint in Cluff's Stand appears, calling for entrants in the Tournament of Champions. Might be worth looking into later.
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Mission 177: 2 Skull Battle ____ Employer: Taurian Concordat ____ Target: Evil Eye ____ Biome: Highlands
Lance: COM-2D (Stubble), UM-R60 (Flapjacks), UM-R60 (Pontoon), Crazy Eights (Hardpoint)
Report: Junk-Heap Local - The Taurians need help in exercising their local defense force. I decide to have Hardpoint try this drop solo to test out her leadership abilities. The recruits are so bad it's comical, but they can at least follow basic instructions. Hardpoint leads them up to a good sized hill for a better field of fire. Unfortunately, that direction happens to be very close the drop zone of an unknown Leopard that Sumire detects on approach. The recruits head away from the drop zone and the Evil Eye forces that have appeared on sensors, hoping to reach some nearby trees. Crazy Eights moves as fast as the UrbanMechs, and I'm very glad for the jump jets. A lance from Bad Moon Rising debarks from the dropship, and opens fire on the Evil Eye units. Our units jump into cover and fire from long range as the fighting continues. Stubble takes some fire as he heads around the right flank, but survives intact through the end of the combat. 4x LCT-1M. CDA-2A, 3x JVN-10A.
Damage: COM-2D, LA reduced to 30% structure. ____ Salvage: CDA-2A assembled and moved into storage.
Advancement: Hardpoint: Guts 5 to 6.
Lance: COM-2D (Stubble), UM-R60 (Flapjacks), UM-R60 (Pontoon), Crazy Eights (Hardpoint)
Report: Junk-Heap Local - The Taurians need help in exercising their local defense force. I decide to have Hardpoint try this drop solo to test out her leadership abilities. The recruits are so bad it's comical, but they can at least follow basic instructions. Hardpoint leads them up to a good sized hill for a better field of fire. Unfortunately, that direction happens to be very close the drop zone of an unknown Leopard that Sumire detects on approach. The recruits head away from the drop zone and the Evil Eye forces that have appeared on sensors, hoping to reach some nearby trees. Crazy Eights moves as fast as the UrbanMechs, and I'm very glad for the jump jets. A lance from Bad Moon Rising debarks from the dropship, and opens fire on the Evil Eye units. Our units jump into cover and fire from long range as the fighting continues. Stubble takes some fire as he heads around the right flank, but survives intact through the end of the combat. 4x LCT-1M. CDA-2A, 3x JVN-10A.
Damage: COM-2D, LA reduced to 30% structure. ____ Salvage: CDA-2A assembled and moved into storage.
Advancement: Hardpoint: Guts 5 to 6.
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Mission 178: 2.5 Skull Assassinate ____ Employer: Federated Suns ____ Target: Taurian Concordat ____ Biome: Tundra
Lance: Ghost (Eck), Macross (Merch), Valkyrie (Shadow), Snipe (Hardpoint)
Report: Flyswatter - A Taurian noble is showing her support for the troops by joining a patrol in her family Cicada. Our job is to squash the bug despite the expected heavy escort. Speed is of the essence, so despite not having a drop weight limit, Crazy Eights stays home. Our drop location is at the foot of a mountain, and our target was last reported to be on the top. I have the lance make a large loop around the left flank to try and bypass the escort; Snipe is quickly left in the dust, so Hardpoint moves it to a spot that is most likely to intercept the escort when they react. Once everyone is in position, the mechs rush in and make contact. Eck is able to shear off the Cicada's right leg before it can run away. Some of her escort are able to land some hits with LRMs, but the noble's mech is destroyed before it can stand. CDA-2A. Our attention then shifts to the escorts, who we decide to engage since they have to fight uphill. The team takes their time, expertly disassembling the enemy mechs and securing a lot of valuable salvage. 2x TDR-5S (pilot kills), 2x CN9-AL (pilot kills).
Damage: Snipe, RA reduced to 80% structure. ____ Salvage: 2x TDR-5S, CN9-AL assembled and moved into storage.
Lance: Ghost (Eck), Macross (Merch), Valkyrie (Shadow), Snipe (Hardpoint)
Report: Flyswatter - A Taurian noble is showing her support for the troops by joining a patrol in her family Cicada. Our job is to squash the bug despite the expected heavy escort. Speed is of the essence, so despite not having a drop weight limit, Crazy Eights stays home. Our drop location is at the foot of a mountain, and our target was last reported to be on the top. I have the lance make a large loop around the left flank to try and bypass the escort; Snipe is quickly left in the dust, so Hardpoint moves it to a spot that is most likely to intercept the escort when they react. Once everyone is in position, the mechs rush in and make contact. Eck is able to shear off the Cicada's right leg before it can run away. Some of her escort are able to land some hits with LRMs, but the noble's mech is destroyed before it can stand. CDA-2A. Our attention then shifts to the escorts, who we decide to engage since they have to fight uphill. The team takes their time, expertly disassembling the enemy mechs and securing a lot of valuable salvage. 2x TDR-5S (pilot kills), 2x CN9-AL (pilot kills).
Damage: Snipe, RA reduced to 80% structure. ____ Salvage: 2x TDR-5S, CN9-AL assembled and moved into storage.
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Elektra
____With all of the jobs done, we sell some spare equipment and then break orbit. On the way to the JumpShip, I complete the monthly financial report with Darius, who then takes the opportunity to host a poker night for the command staff.
Event - Poker Night: Darius is still excited, even though Kamea and Alexander have declined his invitation. I decide to play a casual game.
Result: Yang does very well, and his good mood is contagious. +1 Tech Point for 7 days.
____It's only two jumps into the Federated Suns territory, but the Elektra jump point is two weeks away from the planet. The time passes without any major incident, although another flashpoint is posted for our attention with a summary of The Baying of Hounds. Most of the details are sealed, but it's relatively close to the Tournament of Champions, so maybe worth looking into once we are over there. For now, we have Yang's job to work on.
Event - Poker Night: Darius is still excited, even though Kamea and Alexander have declined his invitation. I decide to play a casual game.
Result: Yang does very well, and his good mood is contagious. +1 Tech Point for 7 days.
____It's only two jumps into the Federated Suns territory, but the Elektra jump point is two weeks away from the planet. The time passes without any major incident, although another flashpoint is posted for our attention with a summary of The Baying of Hounds. Most of the details are sealed, but it's relatively close to the Tournament of Champions, so maybe worth looking into once we are over there. For now, we have Yang's job to work on.
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Flashpoint: Yang Virtanen's Big Score
- - - - - - - - Flashpoint: Yang Virtanen's Big Score - - - - - - -
Michell Graves is a very wealthy businessman, and his private collection of 'mechs is our target for this job. Yang's plan is to leverage a rivalry with another rich guy named Wallo to lure Grave's security detail away from the showroom. Our pilots will arrive with Yang and hijack the mechs before the guards return.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Mission 179: 2.5 Skull Capture Base ____ Employer: Yang ____ Target: Security Solutions, Inc. ____ Biome: DesertLance: Ghost (Eck), Macross (Shadow), Snipe (Nimbus), Crazy Eights (Hardpoint)
Report: Our first move is to secure Wallo's warehouse, and I authorize the deployment of our big guns to deal with the expected defenses. We are contacted shortly after landing and ordered to withdraw. Ignoring the warnings, our lance moves forward, waiting for Crazy Eights to close the distance to the base. As soon as the warehouse comes into view, they sprint forward at full speed. No hostile units are detected in the base at all, although there is a nearly complete Achilles dropship undergoing work in the building. After a minute, the security force finally shows up, and we move to engage. HBK-4P, HBK-4J (headshot), WVR-6K, HBK-4H (pilot kill).
Damage: Only armor. ____ Salvage: HBK-4H, HBK-4J assembled and moved into storage.
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____Wallo contacts us as the lance begins departing the area, and Sumire advises him to take the parts Mr. Graves wants and place them outside of the warehouse so the Achilles isn't damaged. Wallo thanks her for the advice, and promises a reckoning.- 1
- - - - - - - - Flashpoint: Yang Virtanen's Big Score - - - - - - -
Yang has infiltrated the showroom and is amazed at the exceptional condition of the mechs. We can't take all of them, so we need to make a decision on whether we will secure the faster mechs and run, or take the heavier mechs and shoot our way out. I tell him to take the biggest mechs that are there, and he gets to work.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Mission 180: 2.5 Skull Battle ____ Employer: Yang ____ Target: Paladin Protection LLC ____ Biome: DesertLance: CPLT-C4 (Hardpoint), TDR-5SE (Eck), DRG-1N (Nimbus), KTO-18 (Shadow)
Report: The security force has caught up with us, and so I direct the lance into a good defensive position. Shadow and Nimbus scout ahead and spot a Blackjack rushing to intercept us. We open fire and begin cutting down the guards. BJ-1, WVR-6R (pilot kill), JR7-F. As the fight continues, another Paladin lance arrives to reinforce the first group. PXH-1K, ENF-4R (headshot), SHD-2D (pilot kill).
Damage: Only armor. ____ Salvage: SHD-2D, WVR-6R assembled and moved into storage.
Advancement: Eck: Piloting 7 to 8, Guts 9 to 10 - Improved Resolve Gain. Hardpoint: Piloting 4 to 7. Nimbus: Piloting 7 to 9.
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____Our celebrations are cut short as the Achilles dropship enters orbit and locks weapons on the Hysteria. Fortunately, Wallo wants to talk instead of just shooting us down. Yang and Sumire are able to get on his good side and play up how we've hurt Graves. In the end, Wallo lets us go in exchange for three of the four mechs we took. I decide to keep the Thunderbolt as Darius confirms that it would have the highest resale value.____Breathing a sigh of relief as the Achilles returns to the planet, I turn to Darius to see what contracts are available. There are several, and they are all challenging - nothing rated less than 3 skulls. It takes a while to filter through the details, but I eventually select one to get started with.
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Mission 181: 3.5 Skull Recovery ____ Employer: Taurian Concordat ____ Target: Capellan Confederation ____ Biome: Urban
Lance: Ghost (Nimbus), Macross (Merch), Snipe (Hardpoint), Warhammer (Eck)
Report: Mind Boggling Scientist - The Capellans are looking to capture a Taurian scientist, and we are to break through their attacking force to save him. The city infrastructure will only support a drop of 240 tons, but that lets us bring Warhammer to anchor a full lance. Darius negotiates for double salvage shares as I'm expecting to face some heavy opposition. Sadly, my salvage bet is a poor one as the Capellan force we encounter is half vehicles. 2x PPC Carrier, ON1-K, JM6-A (pilot kill).
Damage: Only armor. Reputation with the Capellans decreased to Disliked. ____ Salvage: JM6-A assembled and moved into storage.
Lance: Ghost (Nimbus), Macross (Merch), Snipe (Hardpoint), Warhammer (Eck)
Report: Mind Boggling Scientist - The Capellans are looking to capture a Taurian scientist, and we are to break through their attacking force to save him. The city infrastructure will only support a drop of 240 tons, but that lets us bring Warhammer to anchor a full lance. Darius negotiates for double salvage shares as I'm expecting to face some heavy opposition. Sadly, my salvage bet is a poor one as the Capellan force we encounter is half vehicles. 2x PPC Carrier, ON1-K, JM6-A (pilot kill).
Damage: Only armor. Reputation with the Capellans decreased to Disliked. ____ Salvage: JM6-A assembled and moved into storage.
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