>>12634050

After relaying word of the engagement to the other CMC outfits on-planet, the Coolfaces dragged their salvage and crippled tanks back to Mining Camp Three for repairs. Most of the CMC outfits are also en route to Mining Camp Three, with the notable exceptions of Frenzy Company and Cain's Claws. Cain's Claws are being non-specific about the reason for their delay, while Frenzy Company simply refuses to say anything.

Meanwhile, Dead Sky tailed McGann's Mercury back to the canyon that the Neighbors seem to be using for a stronghold. Once again, they were forced away by ground fire before they could get a closer look. But, it has been confirmed that McGann made it to safe territory.

With all of this information, Jussi now plots his next move. What does he do? You tell me, fa/tg/uys!

FUCK YES
MECHWARRIOR QUEST

Alright, let's get this show on the road. Lopez and Larry were s'posed to be checking the radio bands. They find anything?

Maybe Halloween was the wrong day to pick for this.

Probably.

Firstly, apologise to the pilots about the death of their comrade in the first combat, repeat that all we knew was that all the signs from Corvatti pointed towards the miners being killed off, which was correct, and that you didn't know there were two groups until very recently.
Start grilling the "pirates" on what they were up to and why they were here, and reassure them we're not going to kill them out of hand.

Let's not tell anyone that we've got prisoners yet. Keep em under wraps.

>>12635577
Meanwhile get a report on how badly Grif is injured.

Since the miners are all dead I hope we can use some of the parts from the crawlers and stuff they have to patch up the Vedettes, if we're lucky.

>>12635577
Lets also talk with the pirate commander and try and figure out whats going on.

>>12635923
We shouldn't open communications until we've worked out what they're after. Letting them sweat about what we're doing to them is ok.

>>12635977
True lets get that info out of the Firestarter pilot then have him contact the commander.

>>12634050
my circadian rhythm hates you, but I love you

What's the ETA for repairs on the tanks? Can we cannibalize one to repair the other? Or are both a complete loss?

op its fine

Oh, last time, our guys were able to intercept a communication from what sounded like the Star League raiders. We have an approximate position, so can we ask Namakara if he has any infantry he can trust to do a recon patrol?

I don't want to use Dead Sky because an overflight of aerospace fighters would let the target know that we're aware of their location. Infantry should be harder to detect.
Maybe see if there are any fast vehicles they could use.

We need to scout out the location of the digging by the third party do we have access to seismological records at the base that could indicated large mining explosions being set off and where they could of taken place?

>>12636063
this is why I think we should have some attack helicopters. For recon and search and rescue but ya send some ground troops on recon

>>12636063
Any motorbike/speeder things? See if we can't get a buggy or swiftwind or something to make a run. But it won't exactly be sensor-fitted most likely.


...I think OP didn't ever come back considering
>>12634916
and
>>12635577
are more than an hour apart.

OP! You really need to make a schedule to say when you're going to be making the threads! Say at least which days it'll be likely to be up!

>>12636093
But given the our history of using a single thread for two sessions he will be back and have a lot to sort through when he does.

>>12636089
whats our choice for helicopters in battletech?

What kind of mech is the atlas punching out there?

>>12636190
Here ya go anything and everything you need to know.

http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Main_Page

>>12636204
Masakari (Daishi)

op comeback q.q

>>12636190
>>12636212
There aren't any VTOL categories.
A few of the craft we were looking at:
http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Yellow_Jacket
GAUSS ON A COPTER HOLY SHIT
http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Hawk_Moth
LIGHT GAUSS ON A COPTER THIS IS EVEN BETTER
http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Cavalry
SRM launcher. Probably gets its shit wrecked.
http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Donar
ER large laser and Streak SRM
As above.
http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Warrior_(Combat_Vehicle)
Autocannon and SRMs. Meh.

After comparing the Yellowjacket and Hawkmoths I like the Hawks for trolling more and more. Snipe EVERYTHING. Hawks carry even more ammo than Yellowjackets. Even though they have shit armour they have MAXIMUM RANGE with light gauss.

this website is good also (a bit slow but good) http://www.solaris7.com/

>>12636332
http://www.solaris7.com/TRO/Aerospace/FighterInfo.asp?ID=242 I love this website already they gave the ww2 p38 lighting battletech stats!

>>12636357
I would never have guessed the P38 was armed with a medium laser in its nosecone.

>>12636415
oh that's nothing look at this http://www.solaris7.com/TRO/HTMLBattleMech/BattleMechInfo.asp?ID=4711 (GDI mammoth mk2)

Well, we don't have to pay the loans off all at once. We can use half the money we get to keep the banks happy, and the rest for our payroll, and maybe acquire a Hawkmoth and a pilot.

I can't wait till we get an assault mech. We'll troll some dipshit lance into following our Hawkmoth and Vindicator while we hit and run them, and then SUDDENLY LYRAN SCOUT LANCE.

First thing's first: What do the other commanders think of this new intel?

>>12636454
> What do the other commanders think of this new intel
They don't, not until we interrogate the pirates first. Hopefully they won't ask about the pilots until after we've got all the answers.

;____;

>>12636089
Gentlemen- let me make a recommendation:

Attack helicopters in battletech are not a great purchase for a starter merc unit. They are too fragile and they don't carry enough firepower. In battetech, helicopters are primarily scouts and artillery spotters, and with a sideline for delivering infantry at speed. A single round of LBX AC fire will ruin any VTOLs day when it takes out the rotor and pulse lasers eat them for lunch. You do not want these things hanging around a battlefield if you value force preservation.

If you are dead set on VTOLS, I'll recommend a Ferret Light Scout (armor variant). Everyone makes them, it costs 61k, moves 15/23 (faster than any mech), and has enough armor to maybe deal with a lucky shot, though at its speed, nothing shy of an aerofighter is probably going to hit it. Granted, it only has the basic vehicle sensor suite, but it's cheaper than dirt, and you shouldn't be wasting money on toys anyway.

My recommendation- get some ICE heavy tanks to give you more of a punch. The Po is a Liao design, with an AC 10, 40 points of armor to the front and at least 30 everywhere else, that you can get for 1 million C-bills a pop. This will give you some badly needed heavy support, and let you start punching in a much higher weight class than you can now.

>>12636567
Alternatively, think about the LRM variant of the Goblin. 850k, with a pair of LRM 10s, and parts compatibility with tanks you already own. It has some nice stand-off ability that you don't have now.

>>12636298
Remember, at speed (+2) and at range (+4), with an average pilot (4), your shots will need 10+ on a 2d6 to hit at best, before enemy movement and cover is taken into account. Plus, with the LGR, you are only doing 8 damage per shot. While the Yellowjacket has a guass rifle, the downside to it is that at 6/9, a fast mech or hover can outrun it fairly easily, and it can't generate any more than a +3 to hit on a dead sprint.

>>12636696
But at standoff range, the enemy has to make a choice whether to chase after the horde of angry gauss guns pointed at his side armour and plant his ass in our sights, or stay engaged with conventional forces while they plunk away at him. He can't do both very easily.

The only problem I can forsee is enemy airpower. Any fast aerospace fighter will wreck their shit.

>>12636731
LBX 5 misses it by 1 and 2 ranges you by 5, and the yellow jacket is slow as hell for a VTOL at 6/9. If you like the concept of trolling, you're better off going for fast hover teams with LRM racks carrying a ton of Thunder Ammo each. Draw them out, then lay down a minefield behind them so they can't retreat. Plus you're more durable than VTOLs, with better combat utility, and probably less expensive than the Yellow-Jacket and Hawkmoth.

WHOA

Totally forgot about this!

Sorry, guys!

>>12636830
Welcome back

>>12636794
At the numbers you're going to be looking at, I'd just keep my forces moving back and forth from cover to cover until you ran out of ammo. When you are hitting on 12's, you can be ignored. You can troll with VTOLs in battetech, you just need a TAG unit and guided ARROW IVs to do it.

>>12636853
Awww. I was thinking the standard mechs could force the enemy from cover since the opponent is pinned down while the yellowjackets hold fire or something.

>>12635641
>>12636033
Grif's pretty messed up. Looks like a concussion. He won't be fit for duty for a while. One Vedette has a totally demolished engine, and the other one's got a ruined gun stabilizer and a damaged left tread. Both tanks are unfit for combat at this time. Thankfully, Corvatti is footing the bill for all battlefield repairs, meaning your tanks can be repaired as soon as Corvatti can get a shipment of spare tank parts to Hellhole.

>>12635577
>>12636022
Well, the Firestarter pilot is very cooperative.

"Alright, I'll fill you in. This is our home. We're the descendants of a renegade Lyran unit that abandoned the Commonwealth back during the Second Succession War. Haven is our home." You notice that the pirates have a sort of pale skin color; This would add up with them claiming that they were born here. Hellhole's sun doesn't shine through the chemical clouds in the atmosphere, so no chance for a tan. It also explains their own name for the planet in question.

>>12636962
You can have VTOLS spot for your LRM Carriers. That is always fun.

>>12636811
>>12636853
Not to mention hell on any mission critical convoy. Mechwarriors guarding something? Hit it with gauss at range. There go THEIR bonuses.

Itd cut down on our ability to defend though.

We need to scout out the location of the digging by the third party. Do we have access to seismological records at the base that could indicated large mining explosions being set off in the past and where they could of taken place?

>>12636971
Your HOME? Ah, jeez. How many of you are there?

...I dunno how people stake claims to worlds in Battetech. Can pirates like this settle like this legally?

I'm already seeing plans for brokering them for working as guards for the capellans after we finish here.

>>12636971
well lets hope that those new tanks are here soon

>>12637073
No seismic records, but Larry and Lopez have been hard at work trying to pin down the location of some encrypted radio transmissions. The lostech-equipped raiders haven't been precisely located, but, you can bet that they'll find the dig site a matter of days, if not hours.

>>12637099
how is caboose doing?

>>12637099
When in doubt, ask the locals. Do they know about the third party, and where they're at?

I want to point Frenzy company at the Lostec raiders as soon as possible to get rid of em so they don't blow holes in the natives.

Also, sleep time for me. The VTOL argument can wait too seeing as we are on a barren rock with no market.

>>12637099
Very well, repair and refit our units and get ready to move out to attack or defend against the third party when we find their location or they reveal themselves.

>>12637099
Again, we need to talk with Namakara and see if any of his men can perform some recon for us. Also check with the equipment here at the mining camp to see if they have a rover or any other kind of small personal transport vehicle. We don't want anything too big or it'll show up on the lostech raider's radar.

>>12637134
Crying over his busted tank. Not injured, at all.

>>12637085
They're pirates. They can't do ANYTHING legally. Wanted criminals that have a habit of raiding Periphery border worlds in the Successor States pretty much lose the right to do anything of importance. A lot of pirates get bounties put on their head, but this is the first you've heard of this particular group.

"Well, do you want our military strength, or the total size of the population? We only have about three-dozen 'Mechs, and a handful of tanks. We have a settlement in the canyons, called Safehouse, hidden in the caves. The original settlers had to kidnap a large number of construction workers and engineers to build a small town inside the caves. All of the children, civilian workers, and support personnel hide out there. We send out raiding parties with our Dropship to take food, toys for the kids, and supplies from the Lyrans. We try to keep civilian casualties and collateral damage to a minimum on the worlds we raid. No un-necessary harm. That's our rule."

>>12637163
We'll have to coordinate with the other merc group, as our mostly tank company might not be effective against the two mech heavy groups on the planet.

We should also as the POWs how many other pirates are loyal to McGann, as he seems to be a person against the leader of the pirates. If anything we might be dealing with a larger attack by him and other pirates likeminded to him.

>>12637207
Good point. Their Colonel seems like someone we might be able to negotiate with; McGann, though, sounds like he's going to need to eat a bullet.

>>12637223
Although we're keeping the mechs we took down, Sorry Colonel, Your men who attacked us got to be punished some way.

>>12637163
Repairs will take some time. And remember, one of your tank commanders is out of commission in the medical bay. You're going to be short two tanks for a while, if only because they're both too damaged to function in combat. The rest of your unit is comparably unharmed altogether, and has already been repaired and reloaded. Corvatti won't have a large bill to pay except where your Vedettes are concerned.

>>12637183
Namakara agrees with your assessment, but has a recommendation to make. "It'll be a long trip on foot, Commander, but I think my men can make it. Cain's Claws and Slade's Marauders may be better-equipped, however. They have battle-armor, and my men have just seen combat, whereas they have not. My suggestion? Talk to Slade and Cain, and see if they're willing to make the run. They'll be able to cover the distance in a shorter time."

>>12637308
Lets give them a call

>>12637223
They've got a full battalion of mechs. That's a SOLID force. Frankly, it is worth it to see if we could entice them to join up- being a mercenary offers a bit more security to their families than being a pirate trying to stay under the radar. The prospect of having a banner to hide behind while they relocate their dependents to a core world might at least pull some of them, along with the idea of a fresh start for their kids.

>>12637326
I like it, the pirate children are at least trained in combat as far as we can see, trained mechwarriors, but as for high combat they might not be fully versed in.
But with them on the payroll, it'll be our own Dropship.

If we only manage to pull a few away that grab their tanks and mechs and kids with them? Oh well, still worth it

>>12637326
Unlikely that we could pull it off and I doubt they would all put themselves under the command of a freshly minted merc commander but we may be able to swing a few pilots/technicians and their families away from the pirates and into our ranks.

>>12637308
The Claws didn't come back when we told all the company commanders about the pirates being non-hostiles, so I'm voting to contact the Marauders.
Ask them to check something out, that we've got some encrypted transmissions from the raider group.

>>12637326
It's an idea, but they'll still have to be registered with the MRBC, which could be problematic.
But if it works, we can milk Corvatti for triple-pay while the pirates relocate.
Sure we won't get salvage, but it's triple pay for doing nothing. I think the other commanders could get behind that.

>>12637317
After a bit of a hectic search across all radio bands, you find Slade's Marauders. "Yello!" One of the Marauders responds cheerfully. "How ya doin', partners? Cheerful day on Planet Hellhole, I dare say! What can I do for ya?"

>>12637527
"yo man we need some of your men to do some recon"

(WERE IN THE HELL IS EVEY ONE!!!!!)

>>12637560

We should be careful how we phrase this, we don't want to make it seem like we're ordering these other guys around. We got bitched at about that once already, we don't want to make it a habit.

>>12637527
"We're in a bit of a bind. We've picked up some encrypted radio transmissions; sounds like it's the bloody raiders that killed all the miners. We need to do some recon, but most of our vehicles would show up on radar, and our infantry would have to hoof it otherwise. We were wondering if we could ask you to take a look around."

>>12637591
Right. Ask them a favor, and that we'll owe them one. We're not ordering, we're asking.

FFFFFF- Just saw the thread now, reading! Go Mechwarrior Quest!

In regards to the VTOL airforce, if we utilize the YellowJacket, and upgrade it to have a XL fusion engine instead of the combustion engine it normally runs, we get a targeting computer and a helluva lot more move.

ALso, if we utilize some scouting probes and a mech lance in addition to the VTOL's, we can use them as a deterrent for raids on cities, placing a couple oif probes around the enemy, and keeping tabs on them, while setting the copters between them and a various city...


And, they have great range, as well as great firepower.

SO, lets get on with this quest!

this quest is making me watch red vs blue all over again

Just waiting for OP...

>>12637638
Shouldn't we get some heavy tanks, like the Po, first before getting some VTOL's? Simply because we need some hard-hitters right now.

>>12637707
...Heavy hitters?
What kind of heavy do you want? Right now I am talking about Gauss RIfle VTOL's...

Decent armor, amazing firepower, and decent chance of boom headshot.(And some amazing speed.)

>>12637707
Sorry for the wait, computer gave me the blue screen of death. Gonna get it fixed tomorrow.

>>12637600
"Uh, well, one sec. Hey, Slade!...Yeah, it's Jussi! Says he needs us to do a quickie recon run! Something about the raiders...Slade approved it. On the move." Well, that was quick.

>>12637638
>In regards to the VTOL airforce, if we utilize the YellowJacket, and upgrade it to have a XL fusion engine instead of the combustion engine it normally runs, we get a targeting computer and a helluva lot more move.

....which will certainly make them far more expensive. And they will still go down to one good hit. Sometimes you need staying power, and that's where giant slabs of armor with treads and guns come into play.

>>12637783
"Awesome, thanks. Give us a call when your men get back, will you?"

>>12637812
"Yeah, bro. On it." Well, this guy seems friendly. "Hey, Sev, grab my demo-pack!"

"Do it yourself."

"Well, fine, asshole..."

>>12637720
The Hawk moth has acceptable speed at 8/12. It can probably outrun anything short of that Mercury. The Yellow Jacket moves at 6/9. There are a fair number of common mechs that can pace it. On top of that, the Yellow Jacket with an ICE engine costs 1.12 million cbills. An XL engine refit will probably double that.

For what you want to do, light hovers simply work better- they're faster than either VTOL, more durable, and vastly cheaper. I'm talking 2.5 to 3 for the price of one gunship.

>>12637783
Great, let's try and call one or two of the other mech merc groups to either come in on a white flag, or watch the place if McGann comes in for another attack

>>12637822
>Sev
>demo-pack

Oh, shit.

>>12637861
who is sev?

>>12637822
We might want to open up communications with the Colonel of the pirates. McGann might be trying to get the others riled up, and if we can offer the Colonel a peaceful solution, we might be able to get out of this without fighting them and still get paid.

>>12637822
Heh, nice. How about we ask our captives about giving us the frequency we need to talk to their Commander? They said that they'd be able to set up a meeting for us. I think that would be best, and it gives us something to do while our tanks get patched up and Church recovers.

>>12637812
>>12637824
It makes it cost 2 mil.

And it has pretty good armor... I highly doubt that we will be going up against PPC's and Gauss Rifles, and even if we do, the projected damage is so amazingly extensive that its not anywhere near funny.

Depending on the tactics we utilize, the hover's would get railed, while anything and everything that goes against the YellowJackets would get destroyed.

It all depends on our tactics.

And I will continue to run the numbers and simulations in Megamek...

>>12637869
One of the main characters from Star Wars: Republic Commando, the absolute BEST Star Wars game ever created besides Knights of the Old Republic/KotOR 2(your mileage may vary, not going there).

I was going 'Oh, shit' because WE DON'T HAVE THEM IN OUR UNIT. Grr.

We need to hire Delta Squad away from Slade. They're too awesome to waste on an NPC ally.

>>12637872
>>12637880
Well, the captives give you the frequency, and soon enough you're listening in on a transmission between two of the pirates.

"McGann, I don't care what your reasoning for the attack was. The Colonel's not going to be happy."

"Did I have a choice in the matter?"

"Yes! You had a very simple choice, and it was 'don't attack the mercs.' Yes, they killed Alan. I get that, but you shouldn't have flown off the handle like that. Now Donovan and Kyle are both dead, and we've lost three 'Mechs."

"I don't care, Sam. They killed Alan, and I'm going to get revenge for it."

"McGann, you're being an idiot. Focus. Nobody else is backing you up here. Either give yourself up and await a trial by the Council, or starve in that 'Mech. That's your choice. We're not letting you in just for repairs so you can rampage out again."

You decide to interrupt. "Problem, pirates?"

"...Who's on this frequency?"

>>12637957
>"Problem, pirates?"
If nothing else, this line was worth the wait.

>>12637957
"If Donovan and Kyle were in two of those other mechs you attacked us with, we've got them here with the other guy. They're fine and we're treating them as best you can expect. We'd like to talk with your commander and see if we can hopefully work together here and find some way to make amends for Alan."

>>12637957
All three of the pirate mechwarriors survived, right?
"The name's Ludo Jussi, one of the mercs that McGann there tried to, and failed hard at, attacking.
"We've got your three pilots with us, and I want to talk to your Colonel."

>>12637957
Tell him who we are.

Then ask him why he attacked us instead of opening communications.

>>12637985
>>12637986

"Oh, right. On it, phoning the Colonel now. He'll be up in a minute...Uh, as long as I've got you on the line here, I'd like you to convince my son that you're not aliens. Say hi, Bobby!"

A young boy's voice comes on the radio. "Hello, aleens!" D'awww.

>>12638021
lets get a witty banter going on here!

>>12638021
"No, Bobby, we're not aliens. We're ruthless, cold, calculating mercenaries, whose loyalty is only to the contract, and whose faith is in the almighty C-Bill, and who only bow to the dictates and judgments of the Mercenary Review and Bonding Commission.
"But no, we're not aliens."

>>12638052
Seconding this.

>>12638052
No no trolling the kids as it may put us in bad with the pirates.

>>12638021
"Hi there Bobby, I'm the Alien that your father warns you about. If you're not a good boy and do what you father says and eat all your veggies, I'm gunna Getcha!"

>>12638052
Add in:
"Well, except for maybe those Dead Sky guys. No one's ever seen their Demon Lord's face. They say he came from a sector of of the Unknown Regions called Strategic Area B7R. No one knows his face, or his name except for his callsign.
"Oh, and there's Caboose. He's weird enough to be an alien. But I think it's just because he's dumb."

>>12638052
you are going to be a bad father

>>12638081
>>12638088
The guy wants us to convince his son we're not aliens. I don't know if saying we're gonna get'em is any worse than saying we're the nightmare of pirates.

>>12638052
"...What's a murcindary?"

"Go play, son."

"OK, daddy."

"So, uh, jokes about morality aside, yeah. Colonel's coming. Hold tight...Here you go, Colonel."

Another man's voice comes on over the radio. "Colonel, here. What do you want, merc? I understand you have a few of my men in custody. You offering a ransom, or something?"

>>12638150
No, they want to go home, and we want to let them...
We also want to stop a rogue element on this planet from killing a bunch of miners, and get paid while doing it.

>>12638021
....well. That went smoothly. I'm pleasantly surprised. And Jerkface- I mean, McGann, didn't even butt in to insult us or to say how they shouldn't trust us. It's almost eerie...

>>12638150
I think the first offer we need to make is for there to be a cease-fire between us and the pirates.
I'm worried that Frenzy Company might want to pick a fight, though.
"Yes. Your three mechwarriors in exchange for you and your people to sit tight and hide until our contract with Corvatti is over. You don't want to fight us, and if we can help it, we don't want to have to fight you as long as we get paid.
"Does that sound agreeable, Colonel?"

>>12638150
"Not even that. We're willing to let them go, but we'd like to talk to you first and make sure we're all squared away. Now we're sorry about your man, Alan, and we know that sorry isn't going to bring him back. Right now, we want to be straight with you. It seems like you're not the only pirates here, and it's them that we're after. They've caught all of the miners and most of the equipment, and they're digging for something. From what your men tell us, you've got upwards of two dozen mechs, and I'd rather not have to fight the pirates and your men. If we can come to an understanding, or if we're looking for a miracle, an alliance, then that would be ideal."

>>12638187
"Er...well, see, that's a problem. You know about us, and Corvatti knows where we live now. You can't guarantee their silence, can you? If they go ratting us out to the Lyrans, then our safety will no longer be assured. That's a problem for our dependents. I want to take you up on your offer, but, you know where we are, and that makes you a threat to our little society here on Haven."

"Colonel, that's why I led the raiding party out to kill them! We can't let them leave!"

"McGann, SHUT UP. Tell you what, merc, assure Corvatti's silence on the matter, and gimme back my pilots, and you got our guarantee we'll leave you alone."

>>12638150
"That's a good idea, Three fairly skilled mechwarriors could fetch me and my company a nice price wouldn't they? Hadn't thought of that.

No, I'm here about on thing, Peace. Reports and intel found around here that you guys werent responsible for the planets attack, and everyone here being killed. By the looks of it, you were rather friendly. I like that that, I'm here about working out an agreement between you and I. I was hired to take back this planet from its attacker, and ways i see it, it Wasn't you, meaning you are not my enemy.

I'm sorry about the man you lost, i'm sorry to his wife, and any children of his. Let's see what we can do about working out a favorable deal Colonel.

>>12638232
"It sounds like we have a deal Commander."

Well, now we just have to figure out how to keep the corporation silent. Though, do they even know about this? We're fully independent here, command-wise. Unless someone told them, I doubt they even know that there are two groups of pirates. So, just make sure that no one tells them about these pirates.

Alternately, join up with these guys.

Ok guys, let's figure out the best way to troll Corvatti on this one.

>>12638283
I don't think so. We'd be teaming up with renegades. That wouldn't look too good. Let's stay neutral/on good terms with them.

Let's just stick with the contract, while being awesome.

>>12638295
Yeah, you figure that out.

On that note, I need to go ahead of schedule. Painkillers are kicking in, and I have a dentist's appointment in the morning. Thank god for sick days.

See you, fa/tg/uys. Deliberate amongst yourselves on how Corvatti should get trolled this time.

>>12638232
Here is the other thing... As Far as Haven is concerened, would you guys be willing to house a couple more people? Just in case we run into trouble and need a place to stay.

Well what if they run security for Corvatti in exchange for their silence?

>>12638319
Maybe we could convince the Colonel to give us McGann when this thing's over?
As for Corvatti, besides convincing one of them to sing poker face? I'm not sure.

Corvatti doesn't know that there are 2 groups, the pirates and the raiders.
We've already had 2 battles, and if we wipe out the raiders, then as far as Corvattie knows, the pirates that killed their miners are dead and we get paid.
This all depends on the Colonel's pirates sitting tight and not getting seen by any Corvatti personnel.
I would suggest that they relocate back to somewhere in the Inner Sphere or the Chaos March, but that's up to them. If they get seen by Corvatti while we're here, then we WILL have to kill them all, and this planet is valuable enough that Corvatti WILL send in more mercenaries to hunt down these pirates.

So I think that the best that we can offer is to kill the raiders and tell Corvatti that we've taken care of the pirate problem.
That's the best we can offer to the Colonel, I think.

>>12638356
The idea came to me to ask them for Mech repairs... Buuuuut, cant really ask them to repair their own mechs for us to take back.

As for Corvatti, I got another idea, a better one. We tell them re found replacement miners, and supply security for them as well (this being the pirates own force that we say is ours) If we convince the Pirates to give up the piracy and have more simple jobs, they'll be paid, fed, and taken care of and can rely on their own people for protection as well!
All while us getting a Steady paycheck from Corvatti for a security contract.

>>12638411
>>12638478
Both of these work, though the latter will depend on if the Commander is willing to go for it. And we'll need to come up with an explanation for how we managed to get so many people so soon. Also, if we manage to save the kidnapped miners, they might not be interested in new ones. Though since it looks like the pirates killed a good number of the workers, I suppose they WILL need some new blood.

>>12638478
I like your idea, and we should run it past the Colonel.
The pirates must have their own JumpShip, so when it comes back, we can make it look like they're bringing new workers.
Say we know an old friend from our time with the Capellans, and that's where the workers came from.

>>12638499
Worth a try, going off of the sooner or later your piracy will lead back to here, and your people will be in danger. your men might be able to fight back, but can your women? your children?

Might be enough to make them turn a new leaf

Late answer is late but I just woke up.

Trying to hide these folk won't work, for the simple reason Dead Sky followed them to their base. He (she?) May have kickass piloting skills but we can't rely on their silence.

No, a much better plan is using our FULL SALVAGE RIGHTS.

Mechs... dropships... 'slaves'...

We go 'capture' a whole pirate contingent single-handedly by pretending to hold their children hostage, later we can ferry them out to a new planet or even loan them to Corvatti as local miners with their own mech security force at a cheap price.

The only hard bit is getting them to agree to surrendering, but their only other option is for them to bug out NOW with all their men (leaving behind the majority of their hardware that they can't fit onboard). Everyone else is going to want to kill them.

>>12640651
Well, if we're going to do a mock battle to get everything and everyone as our salvage, then why not go all the way and do the same trolling that Clan Nova Cat did, and use the most troll-tastic method of winning possible.

I'm torn between a coin toss, a round of Rock-Paper-Scissors, a game of Tic-Tac-Toe, or a drinking contest.

One thing I was thinking about in regard of the last battle, maybe we could plan ahead a little for future skirmishes? I think the most important thing would be that we keep the goblins and the vedettes in the rearlines and the Von Luckner and the Vindicator, as they are the heaviest-hitting and heaviest-armored units in our group, as the frontliners. The light armor assets can try for rear shots and act as a cavalry reserve force better than tank, so to say.

>>12640804
>Well, if we're going to do a mock battle to get everything and everyone as our salvage, then why not go all the way and do the same trolling that Clan Nova Cat did, and use the most troll-tastic method of winning possible.

While that's nice and all, we've gotta make it look like realistic for the sake of Corvatti and the other mercs. Remember, we can't ACTUALLY trust these folk until they're disarmed, and with a coin toss the other merc companies will just waltz in and shoot up the place and take the mechs, claiming we didn't actually fight for them.

Besides, it's FAR more trolltastic to go in with one mech and capture an entire base. I've even got a plan:

Fake to the pirates that one of their guys got free and escaped in his mech and is returning to base. Except that WE'RE in the mech, feeding false comms signals to them. Then we go in and threaten the civilians, causing everyone to surrender, at which point Namakara and his team secure the enemy mechs.

EXCEPT we're also lying to Corvatti and the mercs and have arranged all this beforehand with the base commander, so we don't get shot. It gets to the point where it looks like we're trollfacing BOTH sides to each other, and our MASSIVE TROLLING reputation will SKYROCKET.

>>12640871
"You walked in alone, in a busted light mech with no right arm, and captured a DROPSHIP and 30 ODD MECHS?"
"Eh, pirates will roll when you push em."

If nothing else we'll be known as crazy brave with iron balls. I'm worried about McGann and Frenzy, though. Both of them won't take too kindly to our plans, even if the Colonel agrees to it. Suggest whatever we do, we do it fast. Pulling our troops off the Corvatti dropship is fine now, since we should have alternative transport with luck.

>>12640871
How about we at least use our own Vindicator, and the story we'll spin is that the pirate escaped and decided, 'Why the Hell not', and stole it instead of using his own busted ass mech.
To make it look convincing, we have our own available tank and APC forces chasing after us, to keep up the ruse of the pirate having stolen our mech.
So it's not as ridiculous as 1 mech taking on the entire pirate base, but it's a little more believable.

>>12641646
Oh, that IS a good idea to use the vindy - I was already relying on a chase to be necessary to get our troops in position without relying on the other mercs.

The other merc leaders will know it's us in that mech, so they don't order us blown away (fucking Frenzy) and our "justification" to the pirates for not blowing the shit out of our own mech that was captured is we don't want to wreck our own captain's mech.

Story checks out to everyone, as long as the pirates don't double-cross us, the other mercs don't try to interfere to steal some salvage, or the third party crashes us.

I kinda expect that to happen - no way we're getting a full haul of 30 mechs, even if we're not going to keep all of them ostensibly.

>>12641852
Well, it's not in the pirates' best interests to double-cross us, but McGann seems stupid enough to try.
I'm now sure about the Claws, but Frenzy Company seems like they're crazy enough to want to kill the pirates just to kill someone.
The other mercs will be okay with it as long as they get a cut.

But yeah, the Star League Cache raiders are the real wildcard. If we can pull this off with the pirates fast enough, I don't think the raiders will have a chance to do anything.
I don't see them interfering, though. They're concentrating on getting the Cache and getting off-planet. They don't want to get bogged down in a firefight with mercs.

>>12643175
>The other mercs will be okay with it as long as they get a cut.
They won't be getting ANY of the salvage, that's the beauty of it - we keep around half of the mechs for ourselves, and let the pirates keep the rest while they relocate or hire with Corvatti (or we can even keep them if some want to join up), since it's all our salvage from our "battle".

Frenzy and the other mercs can go after the Star League Cache raiders.

A small bump

>>12644197
And I thank you for the bump! Small note, I may not be very active, as I am on codeine to deal with pain from a serious tooth infection. Prescribed painkillers rule.

Anyways, I will do what I can today, but, no guarantees.

So, someone gimme the tl;dr of matters. What's your plan, fa/tg/uys?

>>12644989
We're gonna troll everyone by trying to convince the pirates to join us.

lulz.

>>12645130
Uhh...

OK, then.

One sec, gonna actually take the time to read what's been posted in my absence.

>>12645389
The actual plan is problematic. We need to offer several plans to the pirates, making sure they know what's on the table.

First, make sure we've got a secure frequency, can't have anyone else listening in.

Second, the plans that the pirates can have. Either:
a: They bug out immediately, abandoning some equipment to fit everything onto the dropship. They can't come back as Corvatti will tip off the Lyrans most likely and we salvage whatever they leave behind. That's fine by us, free salvage.

b: They try to wipe us out, and leave afterwards making several trips. This is bad for everyone, as it's quite possible we'll wipe THEM out or at least lose a lot of good men.

c: We take them "captive" as with the above plan. This is very good for us, we take half their mechs, and it is very good for them, as they can potentially stay on planet because as our temporary bond-slaves we can hire them out to Corvatti as miners who know the area already and will want to defend it as their homes.

The downside for plan c is that they have to be VERY trusting of us to be allowed in captivity - at that point we'll be holding all the cards. To show our sincerity, Jussi personally will be making the capture - 30 or so mechs vs one will end with one dead merc cap if they decide not to trust us (of course at that point we'll be all over them with the rest of our unit as Jussi tries to withdraw if they do start firing but we don't tell them that).

Other problems with Plan C is that it requires ALL the mech pilots to trust their commander, so we need to ask first: will the Colnel go with the plan, and will the pilots trust him enough to not mutiny.

Other than that, we're hoping for plan C.

>>12645503
Oh, finally, the reason why we can't guarantee Corvatti's silence is the fact that we can't speak for the other mercs. Dead Sky KNOWS where the enemy base is, he'll relay it to the rest of the mercs. At that point Frenzy and the rest of the mercs will come in and mash everyone and take the broken salvage. The only way they can escape that is either a: escape NOW, or c: surrender to us and go under our mercenary protection. If they're under a merc banner unless Frenzy or the others want to get blacklisted by firing on allies no-one but the third set of pirate/mercs/looters can attack them.

We have to decide fast, though, for all we know Frenzy company has already started prepping for an assault on the pirate civilians.

>>12645546
Not only Frenzy Company, but also the Claws as well.
The Colonel needs to know that there are 2 merc companies right now not responding to our communiques and are likely prepping an assault.

>>12645503
Well, sounds like Plan C is the one Jussi would make a proper pitch for.

"Uh, well, see, the problem with all of that is...we'd like to keep our rides. Hell, your plan sounds like a good one. Corvatti...doesn't seem to take care of their people all that well, but we take care of ourselves just fine. But, our 'Mechs are our 'Mechs. If you intend to take a bunch of 'em, we're going to have to say no. It's a good offer, but, it's 'a thing' with us. A lot of these 'Mechs go back to the time of the original settling of Haven. They're as much a part of our heritage as our bloodline. As for your Frenzy Company buddies, we're not seeing anything on our radar." Well, shoot. Sounds like they're pretty attached to their rides.

>>12645783
"In that case, I suggest you prep for bugging out in your dropship. While I'm not going to order an attack, my fellow mercs will be happy to run roughshod all over you guys judging by your four jokers out here. Look, I'm not threatening you here, but the other mercenary aerial team tracked you back to your base, and we can't order them to keep quiet about it."

"It comes down to this - do you love your mechs more, or your planet? If you want the mechs, take em, get em offworld, don't come back or Corvatti WILL sell you out to the Lyrans for a quick buck. If you love Haven here.. well - you can fight for it, but that's just going to call down the Lyrans eventually."

"Or.. you can go with my plan, which leaves you with most of your mechs, and the only chance of staying on the planet without an army coming after you. And you won't be pirates any more. Anyone who wants to sign up with my company can, and the rest can stay and protect the colony."

"You'd actually have legal protection with a company, a wage, and no more having to risk your lives raiding other peoples' supplies. No more having to risk killing innocents."

"It's your call."

>>12645783
I don't know about everyone else, but I'm willing to budge on the mechs.
It's either this plan, or we kill every single last one of them.

>>12645901
Seconding this.

>>12645903
The thing is, if we go without salvage, there's no angle in this for us. These people are going to be quite literally UNDER OUR GUNS with no support just because a guy who just killed one of their buddies is telling them he can take them captive to save their lives, at which point if we're untrustworthy we COULD very well execute the lot of them and throw them out the airlock midjourney and take ALL the mechs.

At the least we can ask what else they have of value. I doubt they'd part with the dropship, and whatever else the have isn't going to be worth a lot I doubt.

>>12645901
"...Well, when you put it that way, I have a counter-offer. You know those other raiders? The ones that killed all the miners? They have to have a dropship somewhere. We'll tell you where their little dig site is, and when you've dealt with the raiders, give us their dropship. We'll take it from there, leave Haven, and we all walk away happy." He's not getting 'desperate', but the fact that he's trying to bargain for his peoples' safety and freedom to do as THEY will shows something about the Colonel.

>>12646110
See pic, it's my response.

Option C or nothing, bitch.

>>12646110
Wait wait wait. I thought they already had a dropship. If they already have a dropship, there's no need for a second, and we'd take the raider dropship that they want for our salvage anyway.
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/12602264/#12604892

Unless we got it wrong and these guys are the ones who actually killed the miners.. but I think that's just a continuity glitch.

Anyway.

"Allright. If you provide the information we'll wipe out the raiders and claim that's all the enemy forces, but we won't hand over their dropship - don't you have your own? Well, never mind about that, if we're both VERY lucky we can tell Corvatti the threat's gone and you should be able to sneak out after we've stood down. That's only if the other mercs don't spot you first - we can't stop them attacking you."

>>12646110
So what we're getting is:
-peace treaty of sorts with a force that rivals all the mercs on planet combined. Means we won't have to split our forces across two fronts
-intel on the other pirates
-whatever salvage these guys can't fit on a dropship

For the cost of:
-one dropship that belongs to someone else

Sounds good to me.

>>12646110
Huh. Sounds good. I still don't see why we don't just let them keep their mechs, other than just being an asshole who HAS to get something out of this.

>>12646295
They DO have their own Dropship. However, their Jumpship is out of the system, and their Dropship went with it. Raiding party. See the previous thread, it's in there somewhere after you took the captives from your battle with the pirates.

So, what the Colonel's proposing is very simple: Give them an extra Dropship so they can take ALL their shit with them when they leave.

The Colonel seems willing to accept your offer, though. "It'll take a return trip or two, but, we can get everyone off Haven with all our gear after the raiders are gone. Talk to the other merc commanders, though, get them to stand down if you can. I figure we'll be able to slip off world quickly enough. Nobody ever has to know we were here."

>>12646330
Because if we weren't given anything we WOULD take half their mechs ANYWAY and chuck the rest of them overboard for a hot drop while holding the kids in the mech's arms.

We're a merc company, not a damn charity. Our own crew would probably mutiny if we let a scoop of mechs walk out on us when we've got them under our grubby little paws.
>>12646345
>Talk to the other merc commanders, though, get them to stand down if you can. I figure we'll be able to slip off world quickly enough. Nobody ever has to know we were here

"It's your funeral. I'll do my best, but we've got some real psychoes with us. And if they attack you, we can't NOT help them - otherwise we'll get blacklisted and end up on the run as well. I'm trying to get you guys the best deal as possible, but not at the expense of my own people, you understand."

"Remember, if you ever want to run the surrender OP and get free immunity, you've got to call it in before the other merc companies get here. You've got my transmission codes. Now, tell us where the REAL murderers are, and we'll divert everyone to them."

"Jussi out."

>>12646345
Well, the only thing that I can think of that would get the other mercs, Frenzy included, to stop paying attention to the pirates would be to dangle the promise of salvaging SL-era weapons and mercs from the raiders.

I'm willing to accept this offer, as long as the Colonel gives us everything about the raiders.
We need to try to kill them in their sleep.

>>12646422
I dunno, bro. Sounds like the Colonel's pretty broly.

If we let them leave with their 'Mechs, they might set themselves up as a mercenary outfit back on Outreach. If they do that, we might be able to count on their backup/support at a later point somehow. Sounds like a good idea to just let them keep their shit.

How about a modified option C.

We "salvage" their hardware, and then buy a ticket with all of it, take it to a pre-designated location, and give it back to them.

Of course, we want payment for that.

>>12646422
So, right. Like I said. Only reason to do it is because you seem to think we NEED to get something out of it.

Because getting in good with the people who know a lot about good mining spots on this planet isn't enough.

One thing we gotta remember here is that we're not dealing with ordinary pirates. These guys have dependents and families, and McGann's in trouble with some kind of 'council', indicating they have a working civilian government. I think giving them what they want here would be a good idea for better relations down the line, if they intend to relocate to somewhere in the Inner Sphere, even if it's some backwater farming world.

>>12646451
They're pirates with families, dude. Unless they LIKE bringing their kids into hot-drop zones on their dropship, they're not going to be doing a lot of missions. And they're still AT LARGE AND WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE by the Lyrans, signing up at Outreach would just cause them to paint a big target on them when notification of the new mercenary squadron gets out.

As such, they're going to keep being pirates and raiding people - that's taking goods and food away from others.

See, the only way they can get that threat off of them is by getting bond-slaved for at least a bit, which means they're property and can't be touched for past crimes. If they want to pass up that, well, they can't be helped.

>>12646455
I like this. Satisfies Mr. Jaded McProfitmongler, and lets them keep their heritage.

>>12646497
>>12646455
In fact, we could also say, that we found a buyer for the hardware.... ANd have the pirates give us something that they pirate, say a dropship, or some extra hardware...

>>12646480
This. Never let it be said that good deeds are punished.

>>12646455
>>12646466
Well, we COULD rely on them being utterly naive fools.

"Hey, I'm a merc commander who wants you to give me all your mechs. Don't worry, we won't run off with this absolute fortune of machinery, and we're doing this ABSOLUTELY FREE, since we're absolutely honest mercenaries who care more about precious lives rather than C-bills. By the way, sorry for killing your guy earlier."

If they're willing to go for that, I'll take that option, as long as they can provide SOMETHING for risking our ass. Like helping us against the lostec raiders or something.

>>12646514
Nice.... Oh, and not to mention, but with them giving us the coordinates of the real pirates, that gives us an advantage. It puts us in a position of power, as far as organizing an attack against them goes. Granted, we can't force the other mercs to follow our plan, but showing that we managed to find it out signifies that we are competent.

Anyway, what I'm getting at is that we can position ourselves to be in the best position to get our hands on that stuff the pirates are digging for. I don't know what this Star League stuff is, but it sounds pretty valuable, and if we're there and in a position to claim it as salvage, then that would make up for not getting their mechs.

>>12646545
...I still want payment, and we ought to offer a couple of them as part of our rides... slot them in under our tech crew.

>>12646560
I'm just paranoid that if they can't trust us (because we're taking something from them) we can't trust them (they shoot us in the back or try to take us hostage or something crazy to pre-empt us backstabbing them).

I'd love to get them out alive, but these guys would have to be crazy to just hand over the keys of all their mechs to us over one comms conversation without knowing what we get out of it.

Remember, payment is something we could very well take right off them after we gain control of their mechs, and I'm certainly not going to trust them with access to their own equipment immediately while we're shipping them offworld as "our bondslaves". That's just asking for US to be dumped over the side if we're not careful.

Nevertheless, we're on plan A at the moment. We go after the lostec raiders and pray these buggers don't launch an attack on our dropships while we're out in the field.

>>12646622
Don't worry, bro. These guys seem to be on the level. McGann's the only asshole we've seen so far, and they have kids that they seem to care about. That alone implies they've got some sense of morality. Corvatti won't let 'em leave, and neither will the Lyrans. We're their only shot offworld without getting massacred, and they're offering us valuable intel.

I think we're safe. I say we go with the Colonel's deal.

>>12646622
Hmm...

What if, they got all their hardware out, we went in took the rest, and gave it back for whatever they can get in the next 7 months (when our contract ends).

THen we may even sign up to join them...

>>12646650
>They seem to be on the level

SO WAS ARCTURUS MENGSK

We all saw how THAT one went down, didn't we, Mr. Raynor?!

>>12646752
You're right. We can't trust them.

Fuck. We can't trust anyone. They could all be liars, out to get us. All of them. Even our parents. Hell, they might not be our real parents! TRUST NO ONE!

>>12646752
So you're saying that these pirates will become revolutionaries against a corrupt Spherewide government with the intent of overthrowing it, and then seizing power in the midst of an ongoing assault by two alien races, and will then lead them into battle just before being defeated by said aliens.

Makes perfect sense.

>>12646422
"Well, if you're offering. Alright, sending coordinates of the raider LZ now. Their little dig site or whatever is probably some distance from it, so you'll need to search for where they're keeping the captured miners. Best of luck, Jussi. I'll discuss matters with our ruling council and see if we can come to an agreement on a course of action. We might actually take you up on the bond-slave idea, as distasteful as it is. Colonel out." You're not certain, but you're starting to get a feeling Colonel's actually his name, rather than his rank...

>>12646889
I hope they take the bond slave option.

For now, go check in with the men. See how our forces are doing morale wise.

>>12646889
(Fucking connection dying on me)
Allright. Let's see if we can't draw some waves.

"Namakara! Larry! Get your men ready for another OP!"

"Calling all mercenary units. After that furball with some of the pirates, we've discovered the true position of their home base from their logs - they're digging for Lostec or something. Location is XX-XX, and they're pretty close to finding out what they're looking for. They've got at least two heavy lances out there, and if they dig up an assault lance or two we're not going to have it easy. What say we regroup and form a plan of attack before they do that, so we can all get in on that tasty salvage? I'm down to two tanks and two-and-a-half mechs, and can't take em alone."

>>12646981
Well, the technicians are griping about how they can't fix the Vedettes with what they have. The other vehicles and your Vindicator are all patched up, but the Vedettes are effectively crippled unless you're willing to let a Corvatti Dropship leave to procure the necessary spare parts to fix it.

Both of the Vedette crews are kind of lower-than-optimal, as far as morale goes. One tank commander's injured, and both their vehicles are totaled. Jacobs' own personal tank crew and the Goblin crews are feeling on top of the world, and Namakara's infantry are in the middle of a drinking contest, having stolen some of Jacobs' booze.

Excuse me if I skimmed over an already answered question, but what are we going to do with the POWs (again)?

>>12647067
You planned to release them to their pirate buddies, if I'm not mistaken.

>>12647067
We WERE going to give them back, but right now that'd draw attention to the colonists (I'm going to call them that). Right now we need to leave them here under minimal guard ("for their own safety - if you go back now you'll lead mercs right to your pals").

Lets go see Caboose and the gang before the rest of the mercs get back, see if we can't cheer them up by suggesting they might get mechs to replace their tanks. Or certainly better support and fixed vehicles next round, since we're getting the repair done on Corvatti's bill.

>>12647060
Hmm..... Well, it would take a while for the parts to get here even if we did let one of the Dropships go.

I say we get in touch with Argyle, Demon Lord and the Shellcrackers, since they've been pretty cool guys so far. Try to coordinate an attack on the real pirates.

>>12647151
Don't forget! Slade's Marauders are doing recon on the lostech raider's dig site for us RIGHT NOW.

So, just summing it up for myself. Basically, we got two mechs, two of our crawlers were crippled into unusable condition as of now, and have three POWs?
And, the pirates technically are not the real threat, or is it the unidentified army outfitted with the Lostech junk?

Please excuse all of my questions, I find it hard to put all of this together.

>>12647151
We want everyone in on this - Frenzy especially. We go in, hit hard, everyone gets all happy they've gotten a share of the salvage. We DON'T want Frenzy to go all nuts without having any fight at all.

Jeez, they haven't actually done anything and we're treating them like battle-frothing axe-crazy murderers. Probably best to keep doing so.

Anyway, sound the call to the other companies first, then go see if we can't cheer up the rest of the crews.

Pop by the trio of captive colonists too, and explain to them shortly why we can't let them go immediately.

Should we prep the firestarter, as damaged as it is, for battle?

>>12647181
Ah, right! We should bring them in too. I mean, don't actually exclude anybody, but it seemed like last time a few of the commanders didn't take kindly to us acting as though we were ordering them around, so I figured we should hold a smaller meeting now with the people we can trust a bit better to work with us.

>>12647217
>Basically, we got two mechs, two of our crawlers were crippled into unusable condition as of now, and have three POWs?
Two crippled mechs, one more badly damaged than the other, and we can repair up to one crawler with the other's parts. And 3 POWs that have had info extracted and can now be used as bargaining chips but we're trying to play nice.

>And, the pirates technically are not the real threat, or is it the unidentified army outfitted with the Lostech junk?
If they hold up to their end of the deal they're no threat. If they attack our dropships while we're attacking the unidents we'd be SOL but they seem like nice guys so we'll risk our lives trusting them.

>>12647282

Thanks a bunch, Anon.

>>12647217
And dont forget our Pirate 'friends' are also skilled with repair, so we might not have to wait for spare parts to come back when the parts are still planetside.

As for if they really demand their mechs back, say the three mechwarriors went against Colonel's order's with Mcgann (who we might say we should take his Mercury off his hands as well) As an effective punishment

>>12647282
...mechs, ATTACK a DROPSHIP?
pff.

Like that will ever happen. THere is a reason you dont bring a dropship into a mech fight. Its like bringing a nuke to a duel at high noon.

>>12647315
Not asking them to fix up their own mechs for us to take back though (unless Colonel goes by the punishment/We won it by contract with corvii sorry) Then we might try asking.
Let them get a little more time with their family heritage before opening a new chapter of their lives

>>12647378

If we do take there mechs, it's not like it could come back to bite us in the butt. Right? They're only settlement based pirates. But, if you have any sense of morality, you would be killing an entire camp, full of women and children.

>>12647399
>you would be killing an entire camp, full of women and children.
Eh, if the price is high enough. And a cache of Star League technology is still worth a whole lot.

>>12647399
Talking about the 4 ambush mech McGann Purposely put as risk by deciding to attack the mercs. He and his men should pay the price of their disloyalty, and thank themselves it didnt cost them their lives.

Not about the 30 odd mechs they have total

>>12647371
A grounded dropship or two versus 30 light or medium mechs is no laughing matter. ESPECIALLY with no support. Hell, simply barraging it with LRMs from behind a hill would toast the ships.

Besides, if they scare both dropships off, then we're fucked both ways.

>>12647426

Yup! If there is any, of course.

>>12647431
>>12647371
Also, don't forget THE LOSTEC RAIDERS HAVE A DROPSHIP. If going up against a dropship is lolautolose we're screwed. But seriously, if Mechwarrior is any indication swarming a dropship or hitting it with heavy or assault lances work. That's what we're going to do, and that's what the colonists might do if they decide to bust us.

>>12647371
But if it succeeded they'll be heralded as heroes!

>>12647480

You think the dropship will have those fancy little car/truck things that help it power up the weapons, engines ect? MCPs, or something. We could take that into account. And, if the pirates DON'T blow us off, Lady Luck bless, not to mention SOMEHOW not being detected, we can also have the element of surprise. Helpful against dropships.

You know, we're mercs. We shouldn't give these lostech raiders a fair chance. We need to find a way to sneak into their camp and slit their throats while they sleep. Or put a fast-acting neurotoxin in their food.
I'd rather not have to fight a lance of Star League-era battlemechs AND their dropship.

Well, Slade's Marauders are finally getting on the radio back to you. It's a risk on their part, if the lostech-equipped raiders are watching for radio transmissions. "Jussi, it's Slade. We found their dig site. Good lord, they got a Pillager on-site. Hundred-tonner. No fuckin' way. Three heavies, too, by the looks of it. Anyways, by the looks of it, they've unearthed the bunker. Looks like there's a keypad on it, so they'll most likely just resort to cutting the doors open. I'll keep you posted Slade out."

So, that leaves you and any support you can drum up to go and deal with the raider dropship.

>>12647557

Our best sharpshooters better be aiming for the cockpit of the Pillager.

>>12647557

>you will never have Arrow IVs.

Don't we have any artillery? Old-fashioned guns that go boomboomboom? Dropships are huge, stationary targets.

>>12647557
...hehehe.

Deploy infantry with detpacks?

or deploy dropship/dfa?

>>12647540
We do not have the time. They're getting the lostec in..
>>12647557
Oh god.
Signal all mech commanders. We DID set up some secure channels, didn't we?

"All Corvatti forces, we are up against one assault mech and three heavies at XX-XX. There may be another lance of enemies out here as well. These guys are about to break into a lostec armoury, so if we don't go in and toast these guys NOW we might be up against a horde of 120 tonners or something. All forces, report in if you want lostec and don't want an army coming your way."

If we have a secure channel:
"Rendevous at XX-XX+10 KM" (somewhere out of sight but within sprinting range of them).

Frenzy might go in first but frankly I don't give a fuck about them. As long as everyone else gets a force together we should be able to overwhelm the fuckers before they get it together.

>>12647673

Do it. Do it now. Prep everyone for battle, and get a full assesment on that Firestarter, maybe we can use it. If not, just go full force and start swarming.

>>12647673
I'm not one for charging into a fight, but it doesn't look like we have a choice on this one.
If they get into that bunker, we are hosed.
I hope Namakara and his men are good at anti-mech infantry tactics.

Oh, and comm the Colnel one last time before we leave - tell him if we all die Corvatti will be sending more people to secure this rock so they'd better be gone by then.

Fuck, I'd blackmail them into joining us in this horrible battle, but we don't have any proper leverage at the moment.

What's Star League tech?

>>12647635
No. YOU HAVE NO ARTILLERY. HOW DO YOU FEEL NOW?!

>inb4 feels bad man

>>12647673
All the mercenary commanders send the word out that they are moving to the rally point, except for the Wardogs. "We'd, uh, we'd prefer to stay on-site, sir...I don't think we'd be a whole lotta help, anyhow." APCs, inexperienced troops, and rifle-equipped infantry? Yeah, his assessment's right on the money.

"All units, this is Slade! Enemy forces have discovered our position! Engaging two heavy 'Mechs! Shit! Falling back! All units, pull back!"

>>12647770
Newtech. Level 2 technology. ER energy weapons and LBX autocannons and Double Heatsinks and Ferro Fiberous armor and Endosteel internals and ECM and Beagle Active Probes... It's stuff from the year 2500 to 2750. Then 3040+

It's better than L1 "oldtech". It's stuff from 2800 to 3025 ish.

>>12647792
lets move in, get to the position and while everyuone pulls out, we get in and set traps.

>>12647792
"Stay calm son." Plot the nearest intercept between them and the nearest force, and tell them to go there. That force should be able to ambush them, and ask that force nicely to help them out.

"Coolfaces! We're rolling out!"

Is the firestarter good to go, and do we have a pilot for it? (Not the POW) If no, leave it. Otherwise we'll need it, take it with us.

>>12647845
Have out rank guy take it.

And lets get in on that salvage!

Do we have any anti-mech mines?
And I'm pretty sure that we picked up anti-mech detpacks for exactly this sort of situation.

>>12647875
Was I not the one to suggest that?
I was. Lets hope it pays off.

>>12647794
Wait.....what? So, this stuff, from 2500-2700, is better than current technology in 3059? What is this, 40k?

Oh well, whatever. Sounds like getting our hands on it would be a _very_ good thing.

>>12647900
You don't know jack or shit about the Battletech timeline or setting, then?

>>12647949
Nope. Just what I've gathered from the quest.

>>12648027
http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Main_Page
This will answer your Battletech related questions.

>>12648027
Alright, this is what you need to know in terms of translation. Big mech's, in light, medium, heavy, and assault. Light can be anywhere from 15 to 35. Medium goes through 65. Heavy goes through somewhere round 90, and assault is above that.

There is more, but thats some of the major info.

Further than that, you need to research.

>>12647845
The only trained MechWarrior in your unit besides yourself is Jacobs, and he didn't pass his exam. Plus, he's the commander of your tank platoon. It's best if the Firestarter stays.

Your Vindicator, Goblins, and the Von Luckner, along with Namakara's infantry all prepare to move out. All of the other mercenary commands report that they're moving in from various angles.

"Galm Two, here. Getting visual on enemy LZ...Now...Holy crap! All units, early estimates of enemy forces were way off!"

>>12648042
Gee, thanks. I'll be sure to pour through the entire site looking for why technology from the past is better than that of the current. Because I totally have that kinda time on my hands.

>>12648096
"......please tell me that they were overly pessimistic, and the enemy is hours form being ready...."

>>12648096
...Welp.

Prep the firefly and get it ready to go critical on command, then we are drop it and blow it up.

The explosion ought to do enough damage to our enemies.

>>12648107
Instead of whining, why don't you just put "lostech" into the search and read that?

>>12648096
"Bug out if it's too hot. Can you get an ID on them, any markings?"

Right, hate to go to sleep now, but I must (arg work).

Suggest simply getting ready to dust off if it's too much, other option is convincing the colonel to join in and that these guys aren't going to leave anyone alive.

Come on guys, don't let the trolling stop! Dropping the Osterwind is a better idea, by the way, since it's more damaged.

>>12648145
"They aren't in combat formations yet, but from what I'm seeing, we're dealing with twice the originally-expected enemy force! Two, I say again, TWO raider dropships, complete with 'Mech units! We're looking at two full companies of enemy units, here! We're going to need everybody for this one!"

"Oh, yeah. This is MY kind of fight." The Frenzy Company commander sounds a little too eager.

"Speak for yourself, psycho!" Slade's still on the run, in case you were wondering.

Ill do simulator Duty...
Lets get ready to rock...
And roll.

>>12648145
Well if we're lucky, they only have the mechwarriors currently in their mechs.

>>12648204
Because it's not the technology that concerns me, it's finding out why exactly the universe seems to have experienced some kind of dark age. Perliminary searches for "Tech Levels" and "Timelines" are either unhelpful or contain pages and pages of information. How about instead of tossing a web address at me and telling me to go wild, you spare a minute to just give me a short explanation?

Anyway... Ask what exactly they mean, and what we're looking at here.

>>12648245
Lol no.

Here's hopeing the ships dont take off when we down the buddies. Because we are unstoppable!

...Yeah, we're gonna need CAS from dropships for this one. Drop a critical overloading Osterwind onto one of the dropships from a height. THAT is maximum trolling.

Two full companies is what, 4 lances or something? Two lances is bad enough, but how many lances are there?

>>12648284
Alright. One of the greatest military commanders up and left.

He took almost all of the greatest minds, and some of the greatest tech with him, and went away.

THis left everyone else to fend for themselves, and they entered wars, which destroyed jumpship (FTL travel) factories, and some mech factories. Now most mechs are relics, and Jumpships are non-combatants, except in cases with the clans interference, the descendents of the general.

We fought a war with them, and stopped them at Tukkayad due to luck.

Now Clan tech is the superior, and inner sphere tech (where we are from) is less useful in almost every way.

>>12648315
Do this if the cores bad on the Osterwind use the Firestarters core instead.

>>12648284
If you had just done a search for lostech, you would have found that the page explains why lostech is so valuable and the reasons behind the fall of the average level of technology during the Succession Wars.
That the Star League was a Golden Age for Mankind, but when it fractured and the Succession Wars started, each side tried to bomb the others into the Stone Age, destroying the ability to manufacture certain pieces of technology or their schematics.

And now I've had to waste my own time to write this up because you were too lazy to do what I told you to do.

>>12648315
"Six lances! Looks the raider command lance is covering the bunker! The Pillager HAS to be the raider commander! I'm not seeing any other pirate 'Mech that matches its weight or firepower! That's the big guy!"

"Picking up pirate fighter launches! Galm Squadron, engaging enemy! Looks like the raiders are spreading out and getting ready to intercept you all! Get ready for company!"

In other words, all of the different mercenary companies will be engaging different raider elements.

Because huge amounts of units on both sides would cause Megamek to lag like shit.

>>12648400
they have two dropships... lets drop it on both of em.

Or rip a couple out of the tanks and drop those,

>>12648336
Thank you very much.

>>12648408
Except you didn't tell me to search for lostech, and I hadn't noticed it used very much until you said it. Hey, you know what? Maybe instead of the main page, you could have *gasp!* linked to the Lostech page instead!

>>12648441
How do you plan on ripping out the reactor from the mech chassis, getting a dropship into the correct spot for it to drop the core onto the right location, in the few minutes that we have?

>>12648424
I like the dropping a mech set to overload on them plan. Let's do that. Is we can, use the mostly destroyed Ostscout instead of the Firestarter.

>>12648408
>>12648480
Guys. Cool it, please.

>>12648441
Lets try to save one for the pirate buddys or hell tell them if they help they can have one or both dropships.

>>12648498
Simple.
Rig the mech to blow on a radio signal.
Attatch it to an aerospace fighter, and airdrop it.

>>12648441
Hey hey, we want one of those dropships as salvage and any leftover mineral would be there too.
We should see if we can't hit the assault mech with it if you drop one of the Vedettes with the Osterwind.

"SHEILA! NOOOOOO!!!!!"

>>12648506
Alright. I don't suppose we can expect the "good" pirate's help in this? They seem to want to just keep their heads down, but I don't see what we'd loose by asking. And who knows, maybe they will help us, it's worth the 30 seconds it'll take to ask.

>>12648530
I think they may be more open to helping if we go with >>12648507

>>12648517
Can an aerospace fighter even carry that kind of payload? I mean, maybe, if all of the weapons were stripped off. Not only that, but it would be a sitting duck with something that big and massive hanging off of it.

>>12648618
Awesome. And there should be plenty of salvage to go around for the other mercs as well. Hopefully someone other than us will be stuck fighting the Pillager. As awesome as being able to salvage it would be, I don't fancy our chances if we go up against it.

>>12648517
I liked your Dropship idea better as Dead Sky is currently busy with the enemy fighters

>>12648315
Two companies is 6 lances. That's the equivalent of 24 battlemechs.

I can't believe i missed the negotiations with the Colonel. Damn you Halloween!! Coolfaces, lets show these raiders a problem!

First off, we have our own Corvatti sponsored dropship correct? How heavily armed is this sucker, and can we reposition it in time to set up a trap to lure the enemy lances into?

Prep for combat fellas.

We are getting ready to roll.

>>12648755
It's a MERCHANT dropship. Union-class, sure, but not equipped for combat.

>>12648698
And that's terrible.

Sorry, had to do it.

Anyways, yeah. We're ready to start the fight here, fellas. Like I said, loads and loads of enemy units will make this lag like crap, so we're doing it over a series of seperate engagements, spread out over a wide distance.

Our good tripfag Lord HIghlander has already stepped up to the plate, and we're ready to roll.

>>12648883
Alright. Let's bring those det packs. Distribute a few amongst the infantry. Give one to each of the Gremlins and the Luckner. Two for ourselves.

>>12648961
good idea, a lance of mechs is no match for a rockslide. line a canyon with em, lure enemy in, and then..looks like..
*pulls off sunglasses*
rocks fell, everyone died.

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!

>>12648961

Reloading CP...

Give OP a minute or two.

ANd we have 1 infantry unit, with 2/2 for skill.

2 goblin infantry support, our vindi, a von luckner

and 6 allied battle armor.

>>12648999
were using the comp rules, not the fluff...

If you could do it in say... warhammer 40k, then it might be viable here.

Lets get some appropriate music rolling for this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RznSoEIT6IU&feature=related

>>12648999
I'm almost positive an entire Clan cluster was wiped out in exactly this type of ambush on Tukayyid by Comstar.

>>12649005
Heavy mechs, We might die?

Someone, many people, very well might die.

>>12649024
you CAN...its just a matter of player agreed fiat. "So rock slide does X damage, in X radius? yeah that works." Granted this is a computer so you cant get creative. Call me when battle's over, i try to use my brain too much :P

>>12649080
Ive got an expert on all of this stuff..
ANd some of the books.

ANd by some, I mean pretty much every single one.

ANd by expert, I mean the person whom has read these...

ANd I need your creativity, because oh shit, mechs.

>>12649075
Unfortunately, this is probably where it ends without some ungodly amount of plot armor. we had trouble with a 4mech lance, and those were light-ish. But hey, if we die, we roll up a new commander, and go about our next adventure. This was fairly ill set up, and talks with the Colonel could have gone much better if we had focused on negotiating instead of profits and extra men. But hey, its all part of the game.

>>12649192
Worst comes to worst?
Sacrafice the battle armor and run the hell away.

We may be able to win, but Im not sure right now.

Weeeelll the shit hit the fan pretty goddamn quick. Lets just hope we can actually, you know, HIT something this time around.

BTW OP, what kind of fighters are Galm Squad flyin'? I'm not as familiar with AeroFighters as Mechs, so I'm having a hard time figuring out what the BT equivalent of a F15C is.

>>12649204
If we did the detpacks, it could happen just before battle begins, meaning the deployed force is reduced.

>>12649235
Right now it doesnt matter. they will be in their own fight.

>>12649204
>>12649192
Well they may still help if we offer them both dropships like >>12648507 is saying.

Awaiting OP...

sadness.

>>12649257
OP, we're gonna need to call in some backup.
Patch me through to the Colonel.

"Colonel, this is Jussi, we're mobilizing against the raider forces, they're packing serious heat, and we need some assistance. I know what you're thinking, 'why stick my neck out when the raiders will probably leave me alone anyway' but they aren't your problem, we are, if we get fragged, Corvatti sends more vicious, better equipped mercs, who probably won't be as understanding of your position as we have been, and you'll have to deal with them without support. help us out here, and you have my word we will assist you in any way we can in making sure your dependents are kept safe. Colonel, you seem like a man who cares about his people, and i admire that, help us or not, it's been a pleasure negotiating. Jussi Out."

OP...LIVES!

And brings appropriate music. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYd-DCOc3-Y

If anyone's already posted fight music, I missed it. Now, let's rock.

>>12649235
Near as I can tell, there's no specific equivalent.

But they're flying several different types. The Demon Lord flies a Lucifer(oddly appropriate).

>>12649362
"Uh, this is Safehouse Command. The Colonel is in a meeting with our Council right now. I'll relay your message to him. From there, it's his show."

So, the Colonel won't be hearing about your problem for a little while, and there's no guarantee of his help. But, hey, worth a shot, right?

>>12649467
it would have been nice if i had been around for establishing the precedent, as negotiations is where i did well last session.

I have done all that i can. Is the detpacks reducing enemy deployed during our combat round greenlit? Would be nice to catch two or three heavies in a pile of rubble.

other than that, it's your show now Hlghlander.

We have one more battle armor... its down south somwhere.

OP, you cant use what info you shouldn't know.

>>12649522
Forces deployed already. You're engaging a lance of medium 'Mechs some distance away from the dig site; They broke off from the raider LZ and have already moved to your position. It seems the heavies gave up the chase, because you're backing up Slade's Marauders.

>>12649364
Now now now, that's not very rock battle music.

I say we play it up a little more, classic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mPmg6ZR25s

Alright, target selected... Any suggestions?

Or do you guys just want me to do as needed, and keep you updated?

>>12649595
End it quickly, and try not to leave anyone hanging. Op, i expect the same between turns narration to our good Lord as you provided for us last time. Good show gents. Shoot to kill. [Screenshots after each phase not necessary, unless tactical decision making is required of anon.)

>>12649559
So those other Infantry are Slades? Okay. Well, target the Crab with the Goblins, Condor, and our Laser infantry. The Luckner and us will fire at the Sentinel.

>>12649595

>Any suggestions

Try not to get our infantry killed, Namakara is too much of a bad ass to lose.

>>12649700
>>12649680
>>12649636
The results are good.

Ill let OP post.

The opening volley is a violent one, as you completely destroy the pirate Crab with some concentrated fire. The raider MechWarrior fails to eject, and the killing blow goes to your Condor tank.

Also in the opening volley, the raider Assassin loses its right arm, and Jussi's Vindicator takes minor damage. The Condor hovertank takes some paint damage from a medium laser, courtesy of the Crab, while Jacobs' Von Luckner is lit up by the raider Sentinel.

"Taking some tread damage here!" His left tread is noticeably a little out-of-order, but his tank still works. "Engaging enemy!"

"Jussi, you magnificent bastard! I'm going to owe you a beer for this one!" Slade's happy to see you, at least.

>>12649759
Fuck yes. Slade's infantry, our infantry, and the Goblins target the Hunchback (We can't order Slade's men, but since it's the only thing in range for the most of them, I'm hoping that's what they do). The Condor, Luckner and us fire at the Assassin.

>>12649808
Dont forget to aim for disabling shots of more damaged mechs.

Saying another merc group took out a mech when we did too is another way to gain fast friends.

lots more damage... it was pretty.

>>12649896
How pretty?

>>12649759
The engagement continues. Within a few seconds, Slade's armored infantry are swarming the pirate Hunchback. The pirate MechWarrior returns fire, killing one of Slade's men, but between the swarming infantry, and some supporting fire from your tanks, the 50-tonner drops to the ground. The pilot can be seen unconcious in the cockpit as it hits the dirt. "'Mech down! This one's our's, Jussi."

Meanwhile a small distance south, Jacobs' tank scores the best lucky shot you've ever seen: His AC/20 tears the Sentinel's right leg clean off. The Sentinel gets a few good shots in, causing additional tread damage, but the Sentinel is down for the count, leaving the pirate Assassin standing.

"Damn it! I knew this op was a bad idea." The pirate Mechwarrior can be heard whispering to himself over the short-range radio channel. "To hell with this, I'm gone. Boss, this is Flanker Three, my lance is gone. I'm bugging out."

"Negative! You will fight, or you will die."

"Sir, I-"

"GET IN THERE!"

"...Yes sir."

>>12649930
Huncback salvage pretty.

>>12649896
Hopefully not too much damage to us....

>>12649930
Was it two disabled mechs pretty?

Or two going critical mechs pretty?

>>12649935
>>12649935
Offer the assasin pilot the opportunity to surrender

>>12649936
Hunchback claimed by Slades men.

Let's swat the ejected pirate out of the air like a fly!

>>12649954
Short Wave: "Dont be Stupid, You can see how fast we took out your buddies, now bail out now and give it up, and you just may leave this place alive.
Hell. I might have a job for you."

>>12649935
Awesome. Concentrate all firepower on that super star destroyer! I mean, Assassin!

>>12649935
"Assassin Pilot: This is commander Ludo Jussi of the Coolfaces, power down and surrender your mech quietly, and we will see that you survive this fight. I don't think your boss is willing to offer you those terms."

>>12650019
"You have no idea what he's going to do! I- I can't trust you, damn it!"

Slade's men are swarming all over the Hunchback, and some are breaking off to head south to support your tanks. Then, you see a miraculous sight.

The Sentinel is standing up ON ONE LEG.

On the shortwave band, you hear the Sentinel pilot speak, with a cultured British accent. "None shall pass."

There's barely any pause before Commander Jussi blurts out his confusion. "What?"

"NONE SHALL PASS."

"I...What is this? I don't even-"

"No, wait! I mean...I am standing my 'Mech up on one leg. Your argument is invalid!"

"A guy pulls off an awesome stunt like that, and he can't even pick which one-liner to let off. It's sad, really." Jacobs mutters over the comm.

A little too stunned to kill the Sentinel, and already in position to demolish the Assassin, your tanks and Slade's infantry all concentrate fire on the Assassin, while the Sentinel has a clear shot at Jacobs' Von Luckner.

The annihilation of the Assassin is a brief and simple affair.

>>12650118
.........riiiiight. Well then. Let's take down the Sentinel. Though, the picture shows the Assassin to still have at least half health, if I'm reading right. You sure it's been annihilated?

>>12650118
O dear lord the Sentinel pilots a black knight from Monty Python!

>>12650118
"I like you, We could use a man like you in our organization!"

Level the cannon. "Provided you survive, otherwise, count yourself..."

"Fired."

>>12650118
Oh yeah, this pirate boss just made my shitlist. "Fare thee well, Unknown Assassin Pilot, may the salvage always be plentiful in Valhalla.....Sentinel Pilot, i repeat my request, power down and take your chances, or die like your lancemates. Your call. "

>>12650177
We hadn't concluded the shooting phase at the time of the screenshot.

The Assassin's annihilated now. The Von Luckner scored the killing blow.

>>12650179
He needs to join us, and be in one of these.

>>12650208
Ah. Well crap. Annihilated doesn't sound like there's much left to salvage...

Going with everyone else, try to get the guy to surrender. If he won't, take him out.

>>12650019
Taken out!

KERPOW!
that was beautiful...
and me may have ourselves a pilot! now for the (awakened) hunchback. Salvage is back on the table boys! 3 kills with Vonny, lets see if we get it to four!

There's a slight pause before the volley that destroys the Sentinel. As he realizes just how much firepower is aimed his way, you can hear his pants-shittingly terrified voice utter the words "Oh shi-" before the volley annihilates his 'Mech. SOMEONE sets off an internal ammo detonation, setting off his AC/5 ammunition. The auto-eject system kicks in, and you can see the pilot escaping the Sentinel on the ejector seat. Of course, before the Sentinel is destroyed, he loses both arms and the other leg.

However, it seems there's a disturbance to the north. The Hunchback pilot just woke up, and the 'Mech is flailing all about.

>>12650311
Goblins save that Sentinel pilot NOW!!!

If possible, close with with the Hunchback and aim our PPC right at the cockpit.

"If you would check your sensors, you'll see that your buddies were not inclined to surrender. Think your feelin' bit more..agreeable?"

Any pilot that is skilled enough to get a mech to stand on one leg deserves to be saved.

>>12650348
Um... you do know that if I dont move, I hit on a 3 to the face?

So we gat a Crab and an Assasin? Awesome. Crabs are bloody excellent Mediums, although the Assassin is shite enough to warrant selling it for cash.

A pity we can't claim the Huchback, since that is also awesome, but meh.

>>12650311
Well, at least we get the arms and legs, if not the torso, right?

>>12650391
Was more for intimidation factor. Plus we could stake a claim. Maybe trade what's left of the Assassin and Crab for the more or less intact Hunchback?

>>12650388

He'll be needing some new arms and legs. I wonder how expensive prosthetics are?

>>12650418
...we got all the salvage...

3 kills by vonny, one by infantry.

>>12650436

No way in hell are we trading the Crab. Hunchback or not, the Crab is too damn good to pass up.

>>12650442

Didn't Slade's crew claim the Hunchback?

>>12650437
I think he was speaking of the mech not the pilot.

As you mop up, Slade's men use their weapons to try and subdue the flailing Hunchback. The pilot manages to climb out after it becomes apparent the 'Mech isn't going anywhere with a damaged leg actuator, and the pilot is seized by Slade's infantry. The other pilot is also rescued by Slade, and both are brought to your Goblins.

"We got 'em, Jussi. One lance down! Thanks for the assist!"

>>12650470
They did. Thes she got up and we killed the mech and took it for ourselves.

>>12650482

It's a woman. Delicious.

I'm considering we should press on and join the main assault. More potential salvage,a nd as far as damage goes, we're pretty much untouched. Maybe a few minutes of jury-rigging to get the Von Luckner's tracks back in order. Should bring Slade's boys with us for the attack, they're useful.

How about it?

>>12650482
No problem!
Now lets get on to that drilling site and find what goodies we can.

We should totally use a laser to burn the Coolface's symbol into the ground here before we go.

>>12650482
to the captured men
"Ok pirates, here's the deal, you're our prisoners right now, but your boss doesn't seem too keen on your welfare. Answer my questions, and we can see to it that you live, sound good? What's his deal, what are you doing out here, and why were your mates so afraid of surrendering?"

I have a question OP. As the quest continues and our men are in more battles, will their stats increase, as faar as things that it's feasible for such a thing to happen? Like, firing more accurately, as opposed to our men suddenly being able to get shot more without dying.

>>12650539
Maybe we should split a little to move to assist any of the nearby battles incase one isnt going in our favor first.

>>12650576

Going by the Tac/Stratops rules, yes, Pilot and Gunnery skill can increase.

The "Being able to take a ton more shots" is generally achieved by buying better 'mechs.

>>12650576
Excellent question!

The answer is yes.

Victory theme! http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/watch?v=PvH5uBpzXX0

>>12650597
Right, hence what I meant about that last part not happening. It makes sense that having experience in battle will increase your ability to hit. But you won't suddenly be able to survive a gunshot to the head.

Anyway, let's continue onwards.

>>12650607
Sweet. Looks like the Sentinel is toast, but maybe the Assassin is salvagable.

Kinda wish we got the Hunchback...

>>12650520
>>12650637

We did.
I think the wording on how it was said confused us. Our men said Jussi, this one is ours, meaning a goblin saying the hunchback is ours.

>>12650637
The Assassin and Crab are both in salvageable condition. The Sentinel is not, and the Hunchback belongs to Slade.

As for the pirates...

>>12650567
"For the love of crap!" The British MechWarrior speaks up, rather pissed off. "We're mercenaries, not pirates!" OK, and the plot thickens yet again. Bet you're sick of this, eh?

>>12650675
oh for the love of god again with the twist! ok what merc company are they from?

>>12650662
Oh, no. I should clarify, that one was Slade. Sorry

>>12650675

Fuck. Ing. Hell.

Okay, ask *which* outfit he's a part of. Confirm whether they were the guys who hit the miners. Beat head agaisnt command console until this shit makes sense.

>>12650675
So the Pirates are pirates by technicality, and the other pirates are mercenaries. WHERE ARE THE EYE-PATCHES I SAY!?

"Mercs, ok, that changes my question slightly,who hired you, what's your outfit, who's your boss, and then answer all previous questions, in order, thank you. I have limited time, and a lot of info i need to keep myself from telling Nakamara over there to assist you two in taking a dirt nap. Understood?"

>>12650707
"Well, we're just a bunch of independent freelancers, actually. The big guy in the Pillager set himself up as the boss right quick. We all got hired by a Free Worlds League guy to come out here and find some old Star League bunker and bring back what was inside. Gave us a whole bunch of shiny Lostech BattleMechs that we could keep as payment, courtesy of the Word of Blake."

>>12650729
.......Wob..........rage growing quick

>>12650729
...... Oh shit now we have to stop them.

>>12650729
>Word of Blake
OH MAN DERKA DERKA BLAKIST LIGHT JIHAD

>>12650729
I think we should warn people that the blakests might be on world

>>12650729
Oh, that's bad. Well, let's leave this fellow or whatever is standard procedure and then head onwards. See if we can lend a hand to anyone who needs it.

>>12650729

Oh fucking hell. This jsut getts better and better.

Upside, they're not officially MRBC-backed, which means we can wipe them as we will. Downside, fucking lostech.

Still, we may be able to score soem recruits fromt his. If we take out the Pillager and the commander, they'll probably give and surrender or devolve to infighting.

>>12650775
No we need to hit the dig site NOW!!

>>12650729
"One last thing we need to know. what kept your buddy from surrendering. it sure as hell wasn't loyalty."

OH GOD I JUST GOT A WORD OF BLAKE TRANSMISSION! http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/watch?v=H3NCkZQX5Bs

For a "Garrison duty", this sure as hell turned into one hell of a clusterfuck.

>>12650808
"Well, uh, heh, funny thing...He threatened to nuke everybody here if any of us broke and ran.

Yes, I said nuke. That bunker? Chock full of 'em, complete with delivery systems. The Blakists want it all."

>>12650840
!!!! FUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

>>12650790
First those dropships need to be disabled or destroyed has the Colonel gotten back to us yet?

>>12650840

...Jesus fucking christ.

New plan. Get this info to fucking everyone right now. Our allies, the pirates, whatever. Then we need to launch a frontal assault so that we can punch a hole for *all* the Battle armour and infantry to get in, storm that place and neutralize the nukes ASAP.

Consensus?

>>12650790
I figure everyone is fighting AT the digsite, or on the way to it. And if we charge in alone then we die. No two ways about it.

>>12650840
... Oh sweet sonofabitch

>>12650840
FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK!!! Secure channel!

"All units, be advised, that bunker is rigged to blow sky high, along with everything else on this rock, TAKE DOWN THAT PILLAGER!!"

>>12650878
agreed!

>>12650840
You really want to work for somebody ready to spend nukes that freely? I mean god damn, these guys gotta die forcing honest mercs into a situation like that.

>>12650878
"You realize they don't exactly the disarmament of nuclear warheads in basic, Jussi. Right?"

One of Slade's men pipes up, raising a clawed hand. "Uh, actually, sir, I DO know how to disarm nukes."

"Scorch, why am I not surprised?" Slade visibly suppresses the urge to facepalm.

"Hey, me good at boomy-boom. Part of boomy-boom, is NOT being boomy-boom'd."

"And you got specialized training to disarm tac-nukes, just for such an occasion." Slade's disbelief is not suspended.

"Yeah."

"...Scorch, I don't know whether to love you right now, or be scared shitless."

"Little bit of A, little bit of B?"

>>12650840
>>12650848
>>12650878
>>12650884
>>12650900
this song fits the mood http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QR58imnQdjo

>>12650903

I'm thinking we could expand damn fast if we can kill the head and convince a bunch of these "Freelancers" to join us along with their 'mechs.

We need like a contract dispenser inside our Goblin tanks at this rate.

>>12650930

Sounds like a plan to me.

Okay, in terms of Tactics, who has ideas on how to handle their Dropships?

>>12650903

I'm putting money on the Pillager/Commander being a Blakist agent.

>>12650934
Not a song, but superior.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrkmdHX9JHA

As far as how to deal with the dropships...once they light up, Osama is going to blow us all to hell and collect his virgins...if we could use the infantry, led by Nakamara, to take over the dropships quietly?

Wait, what about Cain's Claws? They're commandos, right?

They've even got Gray Death Scout Armor. They can infiltrate the area, seize the Dropships, and keep them from taking off.

>>12650944
Well the Colonel wants those drop ships so he can evac his people so I say we tell them exactly whats going on for he shall have to act or risk being nuked on their departure from here. so have them take one the ships while we go for the nukes.

>>12651002

So, Slade's men storm the bunker, and Nakamara's team takes one of the Dropships? Sounds okay, but there's still one more droppy left to deal with.

Do any of the other Mercs on site have Infantry/BA teams that can do the job too?

>>12651020

Good call. Can we get them on the squak box?

>>12650930
LOL. Well, guess we need to make sure Scorch is ok

>>12651053
As a matter of fact, you can.

"Cain, here. Kinda busy. Whatcha want, Jussi?" There's definite sounds of gunfire over the radio, but as if its coming from a huge distance.

>>12651092

Fill him in on the situation. Let him know our survival hinges on getting Slade's men to the nukes, which means we need to capture the dropships. Which his men are ideally equipped for.
Don't give him orders, just outline the situation for him in no uncertain terms.

>>12651092
"The Lostech vault is full of nukes. These 'pirates' are mercs contracted by the Word of Blake to retrieve them. You guys are ace commandos, thought you'd be among the best men here to get to the nukes and disarm them."

>>12651092
"Yeah, Cain, we got a huge problem, the bunker down there is packed full of nukes, and the pillager has the remote, we need the dropships neutralized quietly so we can move the main force in to take him down. Can you do it?"

>>12651105
"OH, right, the dropships. You mean, the raider dropships...The ones we are already aboard and in the process of taking. Sure, buddy, we'll get right on that. Thanks for the heads-up." Well, they're not exactly rookies if they're toting around stolen Gray Death equipment.

>>12651119
"Hah, sorry I underestimated you, won't happen again, keep up the good work"

Ok guys, lets saddle up, we got nukes to disarm!

>>12651119
Why those magnificent bastards I believe we should owe them a drink for that.

>>12651105
What? Aren't the nukes in the bunker? I mean, they can't have gotten ALL of them on the ships already, can they? Meh, whatever. I still think they should disarm any nukes they find.

And, all this is happening as ew head for the dig site, right?

>>12651119

Well, you clearly have yor reputation for a reason.

Time to do something about those nukes. Let's punch a hole for Slade's boys.

>>12651160

Yes, nukes are in the bunker. Which is behind the Dropships, which are massive towering vehicles coated in hundreds of tons of armour and bristling with hundreds of 'mech-scale guns. Those dropships.

Did I mention that they're covered in guns?

>>12651186
Yes. Which is why the stealthy infantry should maybe try to sneak past them to the bunker and THEN take the dropships. I don't know, that's what I'd do. If the nukes go off, everyone dies. So I think disabling them is top priority. Still, if they're already in the dropships, not much we can do about it now. The important thing is to make sure that the guy who's got the means to blow them up doesn't do so. If it looks like he's going to die, then he'll likely blow them up, so we can't just try to kill him. Not until the bombs are disarmed.

>>12651166
"Right behind you, Jussi! You clear us a path, and we'll get in there!"

Judging from friendly radio chatter, most of the other CMC outfits are heavily engaged, distracting the majority of the Blakist mercenaries. "Shellcracker Five is down!"

"Just lost Phalanx Two!"

"Man down over here!"

The entire area around the dig site and enemy landing zone is ablaze with combat. You and the Coolfaces, backed by Slade's Marauders are rolling in now, and nobody seems to be paying attention to you as you approach the bunker.

You ready to be a big damn hero? Because disarming all these nukes is going to make all the Corvatti mercs here big damn heroes.

So, I will ask you again: YOU READY TO BE A BIG DAMN HERO?

>>12651235

Probelm is, I don't think they have the Anti-nuke training that Slade's guy has. And Slade's guys aren't in stealthy sneaky armor.

Also Slade's guys aren't in stealth armour - just lighter, faster versions of normal Battle armour.

>>12651269

WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK WE ARE?!

>>12651290
Oh. I thought that Cain's dudes DID have stealthy armor. Nevermind then, yeah, if they can't get to the nukes without being killed.... yeah. Ignore my previous statement then.

>>12651269
Fuck yeah.

>>12651269
Coolfaces, weapons hot! lets keep them off Slade!

>>12651269

OUR PPC SHALL PEIRCE THE HEAVENS

AND MAKE A NICE PROFIT OUT OF IT TOO

Lord Hlghlander, you still here? We need our ace field commander.

>>12651327
Sadly, he had to go.

However, the option exists for a battle directed by you, and overseen by me. Complete with MOAR SCREENSHOTS.

You game?

>>12651344
GO FOR IT!

>>12651344
I'm More Than Ready.

WARNING: Thread is in autosage.
All hands abandon thread.

>>12651344
Very well OP.

>>12651368

Considering it's been going since sunday, that's half a miracle it hasn't already reached that.

>>12651368
Wow.

Thanks for the heads-up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dv7AYn8k3ME

EPIC BIG DAMN HERO CHARGE!!!

>>12651509

new thread

>>12651509


New thread!