shameless self bump

>>12528522
My name is Robert Paulson, formerly Commander Robert Paulson of 3rd McCarron's Armored Cavalry.

I'm pretty sure the Chaos March didn't exist at that point. It was the Sarna March then, under FedCom control. It wouldn't become the Chaos March until Operation Guerrero.

>>12528615
He's right. . . check sarna.net sometime to get your facts straight.

I move to alter "3049" to "3059" and change "Commander" to "Sang-wei." OP, is this OK?

Name's Ludo Jussi

>>12528615
Derp. My bad. Got my time frames mixed up. 3059 it is.

>>12528631
I like this Idea.....we get to play a Capellan!

>>12528642
Ex-sang-wei Robert Paulson fetches a glass of water from the hotel's sink.

>>12528666
Ludo Jussi sounds much more Capellan than that of a fight club persona

>>12528633
>>12528631
You finally manage to get your wits about you after your muddled brain shorted out for a moment. You recall you are Ludo Jussi, a Sang-wei (former) of the Capellan Confederation Armed Forces. You think over the events that led to your ending up here on Outreach. It wasn't so bad - You managed to buy a decent house to stay in, you managed to keep your 'Mech in one piece during the trip, the bank loans you took out got your unit up and running. It was strictly small-time at the moment - Nothing more than a half-dozen tanks, an infantry platoon, and your own personal BattleMech. Of course, the events that took you to Outreach draw your mind far away from the present moment, and even now, you're still trying to think over what the hell happened.

>>12528699
Reminisce about the invasion of FedSuns just a few years ago and our meager role in it

>>12528699
Perhaps we were torn between which is more likely to be considered "The Confederation" - It's people, or it's military, in some sort of nasty conflagration, perhaps a civil war against a cappie tyrant?

>>12528726
I remember that I need to get new actuators for my Quickdraw. I miss the 'Mech I used to pilot in the MAC.

>>12528745
Or better yet being separated from the military and HQ by a resounding defeat and was able to escape via a lil fast talking about being part of a mercenary troop, and let that snowball to where we are now

>>12528750
>Quickdraw
>Liao

...My head kind of hurts, now. It's difficult to wrap my mind around how we'd get one. That's really more a DC 'mech than anything else.

What say we roll for it?

The 3039 Mech distribution tables say Light-Med-Med-Hev-Hev-Asst on a D6, and afterwards, we could use TW to decide what ride we have.

...rerolling if it's not suitable for the era.

That, or we could just take an ever-so-common Vindicator.

>>12528750
I agree.

QKD-5M - Another basic upgrade of the Quickdraw utilizing Star League technology, the 5M replaces the SRM-4 launcher with a one-shot Hovertec SRM-4 Launcher. The armor has been upgraded to Kallon FWL Special Ferro-Fibrous and the 'Mech uses double heat sinks for better heat dissipation capabilities. The 'Mech has also had CASE added to protect against ammunition explosions.

>>12528769
well the quickdraw 5M, and 8K were considered mercenary viable units as well as one from the draconis combine

rolled 1 = 1

Rollan for Anubis get

>>12528811
True... assuming we got it AFTER leaving the CC.

But if it's the same one we've been riding in for years... it might be a bit, well, uncharacteristic of a cappie.

>>12528821
Please tell me we're using the DH dice system

rolled 3, 5, 2 = 10

>>12528791

Let's just see what this'd give us, if I were using my formula.

Nothing in the assault class, that's all I ask.

rolled 5 = 5

>>12528822
Agreed, here's our choices
Anubis, Avatar, Blackjack, Cataphract, Catapult, Cossack, Cronus, Duan Gung, Firebee, Flea, Helios, Huron Warrior, Jinggau, Koschei, Lao Hu, Marshal, Men Shen, Owens, Pillager, Raven, Sha Yu, Shen Yi, Sirocco, Snake, Striker, Sunder, Thunder, Ti Ts'ang, Tian-zong, Vindicator, Wraith, Xanthos, Yu Huang

>>12528841
>3L Vindicator.

Alert the media, this was completely unexpected.

Let's continue with that quest, then, shall we?

>>12528872
This it? Vindicator?

If not, say so now.

>>12528886
Actually, all instances of people proclaiming Vindicator have been samefagging by myself. Posting as I think, mostly.

I'll need someone else to confirm it from this point forward.

>>12528863
Also, considering the year of gameplay, let's not take anything post TRO 3058

rolled 4 = 4

>>12528886
It works OP, lets fuck some shit up with this jack of all trades

I like the Vindicator, a true workhorse mech that can do anything. Not too heavy, not too light, not too fast, but it can jump, and gets faster with more modern variants. Has good armor, and a decent array of firepower for just about anything, with a PPC being its main weapon - a reliable and powerful weapon that never runs out of ammo - good for a mercenary who runs on a budget.

Not only that, it offers the possibility of lots of upgrades - including, most importantly for us, a version with Stealth Armor in the 4L. Let's learn to love this mech /tg/ and ride it to glory.

>Harlech

FUCK YOU OP, NOW I'LL HAVE GODDAMN "MEN OF HARLECH" IN MY HEAD FOR DAYS. _DAYS_.

There IS no better mech for a new mercenary. It can do anything, go anywhere (jumpjets), kill anything (PPC) and is oh-so-cheap, reliable, and easy to repair and find replacement parts for, especially if you operate in the Capellan Confederation. It's perfect.

>>12528934
We might have a little while to wait yet, for stealth armor.

But that 3L is no slouch. Durable, and extremely heat efficient.

There's few units out there that can reliably jump and fire an ERPPC. This is one of them.

That decided, what tanks did we manage to purchase?

Givent that this is a cheap-ass Merc command, there's no fucking chance we got Regulators, so I'm thinking Hetzer spam, perhaps.

rolled 3 = 3

VINDICATOR!

>>12529012
3 Saladins backed up by a Saracen might work, too.

Hetzers are dirt-cheap, though, which helps if we're a cash-tracking merc commander.

>>12529012
Probably Pos, Zhukovs, Possibly hetzers and Scorpions.

Still, I'd rather continue with the quest at this point than stat out the whole force and not make any progress.

That said, Op. This is just the quest I've been waiting for. The only way this could be better is if it were being drawn post-by-post.

>>12528918
>>12528934
>>12528961
>>12528958
>>12528903
Your Vindicator 3L is being well-cared for overnight, courtesy of your new ten-man technical staff. The chief technician, Larry Kimlinson(a FedSuns native, ex-military) is giving the war machine a fresh paintjob in your new unit colors. You still haven't decided on an insignia for your tanks and 'Mech to wear into combat, but until you get your name out there(assuming you do - the majority of all mercenary companies are destroyed in combat or disbanded through bankruptcy in their first year, after all), it would be a non-factor.

You recall the circumstances that led you to Outreach with some bitterness in your heart. Your part in the invasion of the Federated Suns had gone off without a hitch, but shortly after the offensive began, you were redirected to a Periphery border world that was undergoing a very violent revolution, upsetting the caste system upon which the Confederation was based. A tyrant backed by the masses, and a band of Periphery pirates launched a bloody coup and overthrew the planet's rightful rulers.

When your unit went to put down the revolt, disaster struck. The alliance of the rebel militia and their pirate allies led to a two-month long bloodbath in which half your forces were annihilated, including your own lance. The Sang-shao in charge of your force had perished immediately afterward, and your unit abandoned the world posthaste.

>>12529057

You, however, were still alive, and forced to play hide-and-seek with the pirates and rebels, before finally seeking transport aboard an independent merchant vessel landing on the world to deal with the new government. The pirates promptly broke their deal with the militia and attempted to hijack the ship. Trading your 'Mech and your skills in return for a ride off-world, you were able to keep the pirates off the merchant DropShip long enough for the merchants to conclude their business and leave, thankfully with you in tow.

After wandering for a time, you pondered returning to the Confederation, but after recalling how readily they would abandon their own, you, as a Fed Rat would so eloquently put it, decided to say 'fuck that shit' and headed for Outreach.

>>12529057
I've picked my unit logo. It is an old Terran symbol of luck, intellect, and creativity. Pic related.

rolled 5 = 5

>>12529078
Boo yeah! kicking in pirate teeth, good way to start

>>12529078
Interesting.

As for our paintscheme, I vote camo suited to the landscapes. I've never been quite as partial to parade schemes as straight up camo patterns.

I'm curious if we have already snagged ourself a sweet contract.

rolled 3 = 3

>>12529113
I like it!

Also another possibility ... The Brofists

I like
>>12529113
It works, and its a 4chan quest...

>>12529113
Hell, why not? A Vindicator is a 'Mech primarily intended to troll the other guy for a good, long time, anyways.

>>12529056
>The only way this could be better is if it were being drawn post-by-post.

Sadly, I cannot do that. My drawfaggotry skills are limited to stick figures, and those would hardly be any good for the epic levels of win you guys will no doubt achieve. I wouldn't do you guys justice.

>>12529144
The contract itself is nothing big. Garrison duty on some remote mining world, courtesy of the Corvatti Corporation. Your unit is one of at least ten minor mercenary companies being contracted for a seven-month hitch, not even counting freelancers and independents. Corvatti seems unwilling to hire anything bigger than a couple of lances from a single outfit.

>>12529078
WE should do a helluva lot of searching.
Do not stop, as we need a contract. (I must have a 200 kph puma!)

>>12529195
Lets talk to the other mercs. Maybe even get signed up with them, or have them signed up with us.

>>12529195
>>12529195

Facility defence? Sounds like a job for hull-down Hetzers with camo netting.

Patrols & convoys would be a bitch for them, though. Bleh.

rolled 5 = 5

>>12529195
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF!
Corvatti Corporation? The same corporation that starts out hiring the "Legionnaires" from MW4- Black Knight

>>12529195
Obviously, if our next contract is with Corvatti, we're going to need to get ourselves a lift there. Is it provided by the company, or are we expected to get our own lifts. If the latter, are we to be compensated afterwards for the transport?

>>12529216

Not sure we have the funds to hire other 'mech mercs just yet.

OTOH, getting to know them and having them in a position to want to help us out will be extremely useful when the shit inevitably hits the fan. Also seful for more efficient coordination.

>>12529195
I want to know what my armor crews are doing, so I call up the lieutenant in charge of them.

>>12529255
>>12529256

Corvatti aren't too bad. Lyran company, so not stingy with the cash. Rabidly Pro-Katrina, IIRC. We should be okay workign for them, I think.

>>12529256
That's part of what you'll be discussing tomorrow. The Corvatti negotiator will be discussing the exact details of the contract. From what you've heard(thanks to the ever-pervasive mercenary rumor mill), everyone gets offered the same opening deal, but when negotiations start in earnest, they always end up different and varied. One of the other companies was given full battlefield salvage rights and liaison command rights, in return for what most might construe as a pay-cut. Clearly, that commander expects trouble. Meanwhile, another unit was granted no salvage rights, additional payment, and independent command rights. One thing seems universal: Corvatti's willing to transport your unit there and back, free of charge, no strings attached.

>>12529283
Alright, no strings attached usually means hidden strings.

What are our goals for the contract?
I want full battlefield salvage rights, independent command, and to be security for this group (possibilities for the destruction of mercenaries that turn on all of us... (would not be a good thing.))

>>12529283

I'm thinking we should ditch salvage at this point and try to pull extra pay and command rights - having a cash buffer this early in our career is a good thing in case something goes wrong - and slavaged 'mechs and tanks won't do us any good if we don't have the cash to repair them or hire pilots.

>>12529283
let's consider bringing down our paycheques in order to increase our salvage rights...

Corvatti, like all Lyrans, are bound to be a little tied to their money. They might be more interested in putting us on the front lines, so that they can "Default" on payment when there's nobody left to send the cheque to.

But keep our cost down, and while we'll not be making much coin if it's an uneventful mission, we'll not need it either, as we'll have negligible maintenance costs.

>>12529263
I'd suggest the following lance if our armor component runs a lot of Hetzers and Saladins:
Dervish (jump-capable missile boat)
OSR-2D Ostroc (derp-proof maintenance, SRM4, ERLL)
RVN-3L Raven (lolitrollu electronic warfare, CAPELLA STRONG)

>>12529271
It's almost midnight; Your tank crews are all sleeping. Or being crazy bastards out on the town. Either way, you probably won't be able to reach them, but you phone up the lieutenant anyway.

Lt. Mark Jacobs, ex-Federated Suns planetary militia tanker, answers the phone, grumbling. He's not simply in charge of your armor: He's one of the three people on your impromptu command staff, the other two being Lt. Kyle Namakara, an old DCMS groundpounder who fought in the initial Clan invasion, and your chief technician, Larry Kimlinson.

"Commander, I apologize, but I absolutely MUST know why you're calling me at midnight." His sarcastic tone of voice ever-present, he never fails to show you his bitter side, which had been brought to the fore when he was drummed out of Mechwarrior training and relegated to tank-driver duties.

>>12529350

We've got one 'mech and a few tanks. A whole lance is right out at this point.

>>12529360
Why did he wash out?

>>12529333
Corvatti probably won't want salvage, though. Their chief product is the Long Tom, so the last thing they want is a bucket of Whitworth pieces, half a Shilone, and three tons of expired rations.

Let's offer to ditch some payment for the salvage rights. We can always turn around and sell the stuff. Besides, our techs need spares if we start getting critted like crazy.

>>12529373
For one, he's a renowned drunk. Just the kind of crazy bastard necessary to drive tanks in combat, but not so much for Battlemechs. Showing up to your exam with a half-empty bottle of whiskey in hand makes a poor impression on the instructors.

>>12529383
...too bad for us all, I like crazy.
(He needs an assault mech if we ever get one...)

>>12529360
I tell Jacobs that I want to make sure that all my moneymakers are asleep in their beds and not out boozing and whoring. We need to be at full strength for this operation and in good health. Are all our vehicles in good maintenance? As in, are they ready to roll down the DropShip ramp fighting?

>>12529333
I've not thought of it from that perspective.
I suppose we SHOULD go for the bigger paycheque, earlier on.

Though in doing so, we'd better be prepared to have to be a front-line unit. Perhaps we could negotiate for something like having them cover costs of repairs... That'd get them pretty careful with our toys.

>>12529383

If he's a chronic drunk, why on earth would he be asleep as early as midnight?

>>12529372
I meant for subcontracting out to independent warriors, or enticing them away from other commands.

>>12529399
Naw, man.
Even if they're boozing and whoring, It'll be a good 5-day flight by dropship just to get to the jumpship.

They've got more than enough time to recover from a hangover in a cramped sardine can of a dropship.

>>12529409
Hey, he has his head on straight SOMETIMES.

>>12529399
"Well, yeah, they're all asleep. 'Cept one....OK, don't kill me over this, boss, but one of the tank crews went out to pinch some spare SRM ammo from one of the vendors' warehouses. I didn't exactly say no. We're already hemmoraging money as it is. I figure if we can get ourselves some extra missiles, no harm done. They'll be back in...twenty minutes, assuming the cops didn't catch 'em."

Oh. Joy. Troublemakers, already.

>>12529452
If thats all they took, well... They will be in shit for it.

THey better have gone after more than just SRM's if they are risking our necks.

>>12529426
Chlamydia lasts longer than five days. I know this from spending a wild spring break on Canopus that turned into a semester that I skipped. God bless Sian University for being a cake school!

>>12529452
I can't imagine that getting a criminal record on the planet of our base of operations, or at the least, or bungalo, is a good idea.

If we can abort the theft, let's do so... Otherwise, plausible deniability. Tell the commander that this conversation never happened.

...Hope the lines aren't already tapped.

>>12529452
No worries, I say. As long as they don't get caught and when we load out to leave we don't wave it in front of the vendor, I don't really care. I don't approve because it's pretty damned risky, but it's his men so I'll let him decide if discipline is necessary.

>>12529463
>>12529488
"Got it, boss. I'll phone ahead and tell 'em to snag some AC-5 ammo, and maybe some spare armor for your ride. Lord knows we're gonna need it. That all?"

>>12529510
Sounds good. Then get some legitimate booze for you and your crew. Its for when we complete the contract, got it? Nothing too expensive.

>>12529510
AC/5s... our tank platoon is running Scorpions?

>>12529543
It's a pretty safe bet that at least one of our tanks runs an AC5. Between their not requiring HS on a tank, and low cost, it's not surprising.

Trying to archive the thread.

>>12529543
>>12529543
Two older-model Vedettes, actually. This is aside from the Von Luckner Heavy Tank that Jacobs is personally in charge of, a Condor hovertank, and two of the Goblin 'infantry support vehicles' that just came out last year. This tank platoon is a mish-mash of useful and useless equipment, as is common in merc units of your size.

>>12529542
"I'll see to it myself, sir. Not sure if the Kuritan will think too highly of it, but, hey, you're in charge, not him. I think he's drilling the infantry right now. If they're zombie-walkin' tomorrow morning, don't be too surprised."

>>12529697
Got it. See you in the morning at the negotiation. SHow up sober, and be ready. Also, keep a list of things you guys may need.

Good night everybody, take good care of Ludo and the coolface mercenary company, somebody archive this when your done I need a good read tommorrow, and also thanks OP was fun!

>>12529726
Just as well. It's midnight where I live, and I got work in the mornin'. Feel free to archive it. If it's still here tomorrow, we'll go on to the contract negotiations, and(maybe) some fightan and lootan. Assuming you get salvage rights, and assuming there's any action.

Get some sleep, Mechwarriors.

>>12529743
but... 9pm...
Sadness.
Meh, ive got class tomorrow. WHat time we setting up?

>>12529785
Eh, whenever I get my act together. Don't worry, you'll see the thread.

>>12529802
Hopefully. Have a good night OP.

>>12529697

that's... actually a really good mix of vehicles. Goblins are good, especially since we have infantry. The von Luckner may as well be another 'mech as far as we're concerned, and the Condor isn't half bad.

I'd say we got damn lucky with our tank support.

goddamnit I always miss any quest that is relevant to my interests

>>12530203

same here... I was gonna vote Catapault. I... Have a thing for them.

>adjumoui feeling.

And apparently, so does Captcha!

>>12530175
... oh god, there's something inexplicably arousing in the Von Luckner.

>>12533721
>>12530175
>>12529697
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFUCK YEAH WE HAVE A VON LUCKNER

So pretty much, if we end up going against anything short of a Medium/Heavy or Heavy lance, we might have a decent chance of winning from the looks of it. Sweetness

Whoo! Awesome, thread's still here.

Yes, I changed my tripcode; Posting as anonymous elsewhere needs that. Anyways, bump for interest, and then we can get rolling again.

>>12534929
Hooray! MechwarriorQuest!

Also, if we ever get a bit of expendable cash, I say we get an Urbie. Namely, the Capellan AC-20 version. Just for the hell of it.

>>12534999
Ah, you fa/tg/uys and your Capellan silliness. Oh, the fun you shall have with your Capellan nonsense.

Bumping once again to generate additional interest.

Last chance!

>>12535534
Still here sah

>>his yeasung
We should probably get that looked at D:

Eh, it's kind of early for this, I think.

Gotta wait till the anons start pouring in after getting home from work.

And I need food.

Back in forty-five.

>>12535170
>>12535534
Mechquest go go go

im lurking, but i know jack shit about the mech warrior universe

>>12535827
http://www.sarna.net

Everything you will ever need to know.

>>12536040
thanks, ill check it out

>>12535722
Shit, we're active already?

Nice. I've got me beer and ready to rock
>rocks ficators
Damned right this rocks my ficators

Our Von Luckner wouldn't happen to be a VNL-K75N, would it?

Please?

>>atugge cornstarch
Captcha believes we should add a tug of cornstarch

Sorry for the abrupt disappearance, everyone, had to take care of matters. Rockin'-an'-rollan' now.

>>12536490
It's the 3025 model.

The Vedettes and the Condor are both circa 3025-3026. The Goblins are circa 3058.

Is the quest thread starting back up, then?

>>12537464
As promised! Everything of relevance is out of the way, and I'm good to go. Barring unforeseen annoyances, Mechwarrior Quest is proceeding. As soon as I get my narrator back on.

After getting a good night's sleep and resting up properly, you awaken in the morning to head out for the contract negotiation with the Corvatti Corporation rep at the Harlech Hiring Hall. Dressing, showering, and eating a light breakfast before you go, you find Lt. Jacobs and Lt. Namakara awaiting your arrival.

"Good to see you, boss. Corvatti rep should be waitin' on you. How're we doin' this?" Jacobs has a hip-flask on hand, wearing a standard army-green tank-driver dress uniform, not worn by many except as generic dressing for mercenary companies. Lt. Namakara wears combat fatigues rather than a dress uniform, of the same coloration. Noticeably, Namakara brought his sidearm with him. You've noticed that the Kuritan appears paranoid at times, and this is probably going to be one of them.

>>12537924
Alright, we need a game plan before we actually talk to the rep.

What should we shoot for? I want to say 'independent command rights'.

>>12538011
I'm going for larger paycheck and/or full repairs to our equipment. We need to hire more people before we get more equipment.

>>12538011
>>12538043
Isn't our gear all in working order?

I say we open up with a demand for full salvage rights.

>>12538069
>Isn't our gear all in working order?
Full repairs AFTER any battle.

How about larger paycheck and first pick of half the salvage? At the moment we're understaffed, so we don't need a huge lot of equipment, and salvage doesn't always sell well.

Hello? OP? You still around?

>>12538043
>>12538011
>>12538123
>>12538069
Jacobs and Namakara both think this over for a moment. "Well, let's see what they have to offer us, first, boss." Jacobs turns to lead the way into the Hiring Hall. Business looks good today. Leaders of mercenary outfits you've never even heard of before are signing contracts with Successor State negotiators, corporate reps, and more shady-looking types.

The Corvatti rep meets you at a pre-determined location; A private office set aside just for hiring the large number of mercenaries that Corvatti's been picking up lately. The representative is well-dressed in a typical business suit, briefcase in hand. The pinnacle of a businessman, and he obviously knows his stuff or Corvatti wouldn't have sent him.

"Good to see you, Mr. Jussi. My name is Henry Jan. Call me Henry." He greets you with an obviously-rehearsed smile and offers you his hand.

>>12538123
I'm with the full repairs and half salvage, and I'd love to have a bigger paycheck. I just think that we'll have to accept a lower paycheck for the repairs and salvage.

>>12538216
Let's see how good we can bargai when we get there, and let's see what the mission is precisely, if there are any expected enemy forces etc.

"Remember, the heavier the fighting and the more damage we take the more salvage there'll be after the fact. You'll recoup any losses from the repair bills from the other half of the salvage. Full paycheck, please."

Awesome quest, go for full salvage even if we sacrifice a little pay.

>full repair bill, half salvage
>get screwed over on what "full repair" actually entails
>get screwed out of "half salvage"
>Enjoy being an F rated merc unit

>>12538209
Shake the man's hand, firmly, and introduce our two lieutenants.
Let's get down to business.

+1 lurker who knows shit about BattleTech but likes the MW games (and the MC games too)

>wintlers law

>>12538339

All depends on how the op is doing this.

If this is copy-pasta Mechwarrior 4 style, Pay won't be an issue. month-long contracts that net millions of C-bills? We'd might as well go for the money.

However, if we're playing the other end of the scale, like, Mechwarrior 1 payscale, and/or Mercenaries Handbook (1989), then corvatti is going to chump change us, and we'll be lucky just to make 6000 C-bills per month per "unit". In that case, it doesn't matter what we salvage, most anything off the battlefield will be worth more than a months' wages.

>>12538370
Jan sits down on his side of the desk, and opens his briefcase. "Our terms are open to negotiation, but here's what we have to offer." He pulls out a piece of paper, sliding it over to you. "Half salvage rights, payment is 300,000 a month. The contract is good for seven months. We'll be transporting you personally. You'll have a liaison to keep you on-task. We'll be paying up to half the full cost for combat repairs before we start taking it out of your payment to cover the fees. Resupply is covered at the same rate, so spare parts, ammunition, food and the like will be covered by us unless you start burning through it at a higher rate than expected. So if you have any big eaters, we're open to suggestions on that point." He chuckles at his horrible joke before a look that says 'quit joking, this is srs business' from your good Kuritan lieutenant shuts him up.

>>12538360
I can already see it happening:

You go into battle, the enemy has clan mechs, or the clans get involved.

You get "half salvage", which means all the clan tech goes to the company, and you get whatever's left.

Replace 'clan tech' with 'anything decent' and it still holds true.

Anything less than full salvage means being jewed out of the best salvage.

>>12538360
FIRST pick of salvage. That means we get the least damaged stuff, while not getting a massive pay decrease. We can haggle the terms to say half of the tonnage on the field, if you like.

If you can't think of some decent terms yourself you deserve to lose pay.

>>12538421
Perhaps negotiating danger pay bonuses is in order. I'd recommend it.

Let's drop our repair benefits a little bit, and negotiate for bonuses whenever we get put into combat situations.

>>12538421
>>12538360
>>12538428
Remember to specify we get first pick of the salvage. By tonnage or by hulls, which would you people recommend?

rolled 2 = 2

>>12538480
1 = hulls
2 = tonnage

>>12538459
Actually, we've got our own techs, don't we?

Perhaps we can eschew our repair benefits altogether for that extra hazard pay when they put us on the field.

How much is a Vedette in C-Bills anyway?

inb4 MECHACCOUNTING QUEST

BEST DEALS ON OFFER AS MATHEMATICALLY CALCULATED BY THE FINEST BRAINS

>>12538480
Yeah... hmm.

If we're against light units, we should go by tonnage.

If we're expecting assaults, by hulls..

Considering we're in a Vindicator, bunched in with a few tanks and a squad of infantry, I'm actually kind of leaning towards Tonnage, at the moment. Hulls would be handier later on.

>>12538561
I've little knowledge of the changes since BV2, but a flip to the back of Maxtech reveals they cost 725,000 C-bills for the L1 version, 941,000 for the L2 version, and 919,000 c-bills for the NTSC variant

(ballpark figures)

That said, the cheaper Scorpion tank that is equipped with nearly the same gear goes for 327,083

>>12538578
Right then. First right of half the salvage by tonnage.

(And we're prepared to drop the repair costs to a quarter of full repair if we get an additional... 50000 per enemy engagement?

Fuck, if we're going up against just pirates that's a bonus, but if there's heavy assaults on us we'd lose out.

I'd rather just stick with the repair costs, because we can cheat and repair salvage with them and put the costs under "repair of goods".)

>>12538644
I think we should pressure the corp rep for more information about the contract, such as expected enemy forces, as well as environmental conditions of where we're going to be stationed. We can't accurately come up with a price without that information.

>>12538644
50,000 might be a bit low. I'd say closer to one-months pay per engagement, considering that we're covering for our 'mech and six vees, as well as a platoon of infantry.

50,000 is barely enough to buy a Medium Laser, or 5 tons of standard armor.

>>12538644
+50,000cr per engagement is peanuts. That will probably cover ammunition costs. Hopefully.

A decent mech sits at millions of credits, nevermind paying the mechwarrior who pilots it.

>>12538617

Difference being, Scorp is slow as fuck and the 'Vede is damn fast.

>>12538421
That's a decent deal. Sounds like one of the Mechwarrior 2: Mercs contracts, actually. I'm inclined to leave it as it is, given how much 'mechs and shit tend to cost. Maybe take a *small* pay cut to get us an earlier pick on salvage.

>>12538675
Definitely.
"How often do you expect attacks on whatever we're garrisoning? Are we going to be running scouting sorties? Expected to run assaults if there are enemy forces gathering? What's the climate like? Any enemy forces expected, and if so what kind?"

>>12538459
>>12538544
Jan frowns in thought. "Well, if you insist on hazard pay, you're expecting quite a bit, if you're willing to throw your repair expenses clause out the window for a long-shot. Of course, that's your right. MRBC regulations say we need to fill you in on what you can expect, so I'll be blunt, Mr. Jussi. It's garrison work, so there's no guarantee of action at all. The world you and the other mercenaries will be covering is an uninhabited world along the Periphery border of the Lyran Alliance. You're going there purely as a security measure."

>>12538675
"The planet doesn't have a name on any official star maps, but the miners have taken to calling it 'Hellhole.' The PROPER designation for it is Mining World LV-515A. It's a barren rock, without a breatheable atmosphere. You know those old pictures of Terra's moon, Luna? Picture that, only with a sky that's sort of an eerie shade of green whenever it's technically daytime. Armored EVA suits are required for infantry and other combat personnel that don't pilot BattleMechs."

>>12538741
Given that this is a quest, and including Metaknowledge, of course there's going to be an engagment. Periphery means Pirates, generally.

I support the "Small pay cut to get the first pick on the half-salvage and leave it at that" option.

>>12538741
>"The planet doesn't have a name on any official star maps, but the miners have taken to calling it 'Hellhole.' The PROPER designation for it is Mining World LV-515A. It's a barren rock, without a breatheable atmosphere. You know those old pictures of Terra's moon, Luna? Picture that, only with a sky that's sort of an eerie shade of green whenever it's technically daytime. Armored EVA suits are required for infantry and other combat personnel that don't pilot BattleMechs."

Is that to say the atmosphere is tainted to the point of breathing being impossible without respiratory gear, or that there's no oxygen?

If the Latter, we're going to have to leave our ICE vees at home. If they can't run in the atmosphere, they may be dead weight.

Allright then. First pick of half the salvage for 270 per month, with the half-repair clause still there.

LETS NOT GET TOO BOGGED DOWN HAGGLING FOLKS THIS WILL SOON EXPLODE IN OUR FACES ANYWAY

Also, oof at the cost of armored environmental suits...

According to A Time of War, a heavy environmental suit goes for 10,000 C-bills a pop.

If we've got a full foot-platoon of infantry, that's going to be quite the investment in armor.

>>12538816
>>12538816
"Breatheable with respirator gear. Exposure of someone's skin usually results in chemical burns of some kind, and if you get a suit rupture, there's no guarantee we'll be able to haul you into a safe environment to help you in time."

>>12538786
"This works for us very nicely, Mr. Jussi. How does 250,000 a month sound in return for the salvage rights?"

>>12538888
"Oh, and don't worry about the suits. The company will loan them to your infantry for the duration of the contract, and if they get damaged, we'll just take it out of your payment. 10,000 C-Bills a suit, so if you damage up to five suits during combat, your hazard pay will cover it."

>>12538920
>"This works for us very nicely, Mr. Jussi. How does 250,000 a month sound in return for the salvage rights?"

I'm down with that if that's the only alteration to the original contract.

250 for first-rights salvage. Normally not a great option but we're guaranteed combat or a long personell quest, so either way we're good.

Shake on it.

>>12538920
250k isn't much, especially considering our payroll.
Hopefully we'll be able to make up for it in salvage.

I vote to accept.

>Drop 50,000cr on the monthly take
>Get 50,000cr hazard pay and salvage rights

>>12538999

It's one medium laser of difference from the original 300k. Getting the chance to pick the better salvage will far outweigh that almost right off the bat.

>>12538920
>"This works for us very nicely, Mr. Jussi. How does 250,000 a month sound in return for the salvage rights?"

That is to say, we get PAID 250,000 per month, and not you take 250,000, leaving us only 50,000 of pay per month, correct?

>>12539013

Well I'd rather not have to ditch the repairs for the hazard pay, mind. Just swapping a bit of pay for better salvage is more than enough in my meager opinion.

As long as we get over 350,000 c-bills worth in salvage over the original half salvage we would of gained we will have done better. A couple of weapons here, a BBEG's chassis there and we will be doing great.

>>12539031
"But of course."

>>12538946
>>12538999
>>12538964
"Good to see we were able to keep this meeting short, Mr. Jussi. Just sign on the dotted line..." He slides the contract over to you, and by the looks of the terms in the paper, he had this set aside with blank lines to fill in for the expected payment-per-month, salvage rights, hazard pay, and so on. It's all blank, likely because he was expecting to negotiate over it a bit more intensely.

You then come to the realization that he likely has dozens more of these in that briefcase.

>>12539072
Wait.

Waitwaitwait.

Wait.

This seems fishy to me all of the sudden.

>>12539072
Wait... let's also negotiate a clause to get heavy environmental suits for our infantry

Those seem rare and expensive, but corvatti probably has tons of them.

Perhaps we can get some as loaners for our infantry squads, or buy them at a discount as part of our contract. They're not exactly common-place.

>>12539072
FIRST PICKS over salvage. That's important. We're not the only merc team going out there.

Heck, I'm willing to drop more pay or half the repair bills for that.

>>12539097
Quit being a pussy, I think Jan's legit.

>>12539112
'First pick of salvage' just means 'Anything we kill, we get to keep.' Specifically, anything WE kill. If any other merc team wastes some pirates or something, then that's between them and Corvatti. Same deal with us.

>>12539112
Against pirates, there's not going to be much of anything worth salvaging.

Lots of vees, most likely, and when those go, there's little leftover. We might score some medium lasers, a decrepit Locust...

>>12539099
See:
>>12538920

They're loaning us the suits.

>>12539142
Good point. We might be working in tandem with other forces, but then again maybe not.

ANWAY DEAL IS DONE LETS GO CELEBRATE BY GETTING SMASHED AND DRUNKENLY WALKING OUR MECHS OVER THAT BASTARD MERC'S WHEELED TRANSPORT DOWN THE ROAD

>if you damage up to five suits during combat, your hazard pay will cover it.

WHOA WHOA WHOA...

10K per suit... only Five will be covered by hazard pay?

Five infantry splattered is all our hazard pay?

We're getting stiffed, right there. Plus, That's barely 5 tons of armor covered therein. That's not hazard pay, that's a novelty.

>>12539164

3059 Pirates. By this point they've started to get nasty again. These aren't old 3025-era vee spam shitjobs, you know.

>>12539217

We didn't take that option, if I recall the conversation correctly. Not worth giving up the Repairs & Ammo clause for.

>>12539217
See? Told you something seemed off, here. Then again, we're getting an extra 50,000 per engagement with any potential attackers.

I want to re-open the negotiations. I have an idea.

Hery, just got in. Lets look over the blanks, what kinds of things are we looking at?

(I want: first into combat with full selection of which merc units to scoop up and bring with us, as well as first pic of 50% salvage, dictated by Ton. A minimum of 250,000 (Not including hazard pay), and then ask what our other two want for their benefits.

>>12539220

Not that Vee spam is necesarially useless. Scorpion's Nest, anyone?

(You are now Imagining a Scorpoin's Nest Scenario with Hetzers instead of Scorps. Manually.)

>>12539248

So, what's the Idea?

>>12539248
OH I've got it!

Rather than negotiating a flat repair cost... Let's negotiate a PERCENTAGE of coverage.

Corvatti loses big if they try to stick us in a dangerous spot.

And if it's not that much damage, well, then we can afford to foot the bill.

>accidentally waste rival merc group, thinking they're pirates
>salvage their mechs

>>12539339
(con't)

In so doing, we can get rid of any need for "Hazard pay", because hazard pay is really only there to make corvatti not throw us to the dogs. This way, we still get paid, and Corvatti makes sure that they'll only use our services if they expect us to come back with minimal damages.

win-win.

>>12539339
See
>>12538421
>We'll be paying up to half the full cost for combat repairs before we start taking it out of your payment to cover the fees
We're ALREADY getting 50% repairs. That's why 5 suits going down would count towards that as a separate problem - 5 suits and we're down half a platoon?

...Can we please go past the actual bargaining to the deployment?

I'd say it's too late to renegotiate. Corvatti has us by the balls. Way to jump the gun guys.

For starters, we'll be absolutely unable to use our infantry as anything other than recce. Five guys get wasted and the entirety of our hazard pay is gone. If we lose a whole platoon, we might end up OWING money.

>>12539318
>>12539339
My idea is awesome.

Guys. You ready for this?

'Cus this is gonna blow your mind.

Seriously. It's gonna totally make your head explode with how awesome it is.

Demand a higher standard of pay by an insane margin in return for ditching salvage rights altogether. OP mentioned we have a bunch of bank loans to cover way back in >>12528699.

We need munnee moar than parts.

>>12539369
...well, I'm convinced.

Img: me, clearly reading all the previous posts.

>>12539387

In this instance, salvage is generally more valuable than whatever amount of bonus cash we could otherwise get.

>>12539373
We didn't sign for the hazard pay option, remember?

>>12539417
please note
>>12539164

The salvage will be low-tier gear, if we find anything.

Wait, got it.

BOUNTY BONUSES

If we enter combat, we ditch the hazard pay and take up a bounty system - Any kills we score net us a bonus. Better than straight-up hazard pay, because the better we do over the course of one fight, the more we get paid.

>>12539451
I want to say "yes", but that can be messy.

Leading to people wanting to "Confirm" kills.

I think I'm going to say that we're good, at this point.

Let's find out more about the planet. For instance... would incendiaries work in the atmosphere? Infernos could well come in handy.

>>12539437
Not necesarially. As mentioned before, this is 3059, not ye olde 3025 years of crappy gear everywhere. Pirates have surprisingly decent stuff by this point more often than not. They'll be building their own 'mechs in a few years, after all.

That said, salvage tends to turn a better profit than straight cash. One Medium Laser is 40,000 C-bills. An ER or pulse version is double that. A PPC or basic autocannon, even old ones, are a months pay or more for us.
Now that we've signed for first pick, we can nab all the expesnive stuff like the bigger weapons, fusion engines and such. Salvage is the way of profit in Battletech.

Bad news, anons. 'Fraid we're going to have to cut this short. Family emergency.

Continue deliberation, and I'll post responses tomorrow ASAP, because I'm not likely to get back anytime tonight.

>>12539510
That said, these are pirates. They tend to still have lower-tech gear on average, and the infernos are more for their vehicles, which they're bound to have more of.

Pirates are well known for their love of lightning raid tactics, and hovercraft play a big role in that.

It would be handy if we had an LBX10 toting unit in our force, that considered. Luckily, we've still got some Pulse Lasers, and those SRM tubes might as well be bolstered with Infernos.

>>12539531
Good luck sir. I hope youre family is well.

Lets get all of our setups done. WE want to be able to salvage, and get paid a minimum of x. What else should we get?

>>12539531
Hope everything's ok.

I'll be watching for this tomorrow.

Great job so far OP, will gladly be on the watch for a continuation.

>>12539532
I agree that we should stock up on Infernos. That's jst good tactics.

Lower-tech is still valuable, though. Cosnider if the bandits rush us with, say, a dirt-cheap, shitty, low-tech 2 lances of Scorpion tanks, and we bust them all by not being stupid.. With our salvage rights, we could just strip the AC/5s from them and leave the rest for Corvatti under our first-pick half-salvage rights.

A single, old-school, as-low-tech-as-its-possible-to-go AC/5 is worth 125,000 C-bills. We just salvaged 8. that's that's 1 million-C-bills if we can turn arround and sell the things at full price - 800,000 if we need to take broker's fees or some shit. Even so, that's clsote to 3 month's pay for us - and we can keep the AC/5s for repairs on our mostly-AC/5-equipped tanks.

"Low-tech" in BTech does not necesarially mean "inexpensive".

Good job guys
I am glad this thread still exists, and I hope OP's family is ok.
Its starting to look like Battletechaccountants quest at the moment. Can't wait to see how invloved we get when the actual story starts.