“Honestly, I’m sort of insulted that you think I’m stupid enough to believe any of that crap.” You summed up your thought precisely, “Tell me, what do you have to gain from playing mind games with your armor support?”

Wies, the engineer who had just finished telling you something that by all means seemed to be even more of a fairy tale than any of the fables you had experienced recently, seemed little, if at all offended, by your outburst. “Denial. Ideal attitude to have. Should be no danger, then.” With that, he sauntered off, whispering something to Honnrieg. Honnrieg acknowledged him, but was far too wrapped up in something else to do more than nod.

You noticed that many of the soldiers of Bat Company were eyeing you with some suspicion, though at least not hostility. Perhaps you were too clean and well dressed for their tastes. Admittedly, the flashy decorations on a Tank Officer’s armor made the conservative wear of any infantry officer rather plain by comparison. A luxury affordable by the fact that armor officers could remain hidden in their tanks; any traditional flash by infantry officers had been all but deleted from modern uniforms as part of lessons learned from the Emrean War and the Valsten Civil War. Strossvald’s transition to such was less drastic; infantry officers were often not of noble blood, and would not be tolerated outshining the nobility in the cavalry if it could be helped.

One of the infantrymen was overcome by curiosity, finally, and approached you. The marking on his collar marked him as a Rifle Senior; often the leader of the rifle team in a two part infantry squad that followed fire and maneuver tactics. His square and plain face was pockmarked with little scars that discolored his otherwise tanned skin.

“Von Tracht. Hell.” The raider said quickly, “That’s your name, isn’t it? Tracht? So you could be related, right?”

“Related to who?” you ask, if only to be polite.

“Hell. Eh, Heller. Everybody here called him Hell.” The rifleman added quickly, “Baddest man in the east, they called him once. Just wondering, see. Thinking…maybe you’re his kid? Tho he said he had no kids. Blue blood’s supposed to be like each other, so…y’know.”

>Heller Von Tracht is my uncle, yes. I would think of myself as better mannered, if not necessarily as renowned.
>You knew my uncle? Everybody here seems to know about him.
>Does it matter? Doesn’t matter whose blood is who when it is spilled.
>Other

>twitter is @scheissfunker for announcements. Pastebin with all previous threads is @ https://pastebin.com/UagT0hnh

>>1531269
> Well, my uncle was considered the black sheep of the family. Hopefully I can measure up to his reputation,if not his manners.

>>1531269
>Heller Von Tracht is my uncle, yes. I would think of myself as better mannered, if not necessarily as renowned.
>You knew my uncle? Everybody here seems to know about him.

>>1531306
2nd.
>>1531269
>>You knew my uncle? Everybody here seems to know about him.
Did our uncle use to serve around this area before he disappeared?

>>1531269
Essentially this with
>>1531306
Added to it

>You knew my uncle? Everybody here seems to know about him.

Or
>Does it matter? Doesn’t matter whose blood is who when it is spilled.

>>1531343
>>>1531269
>Essentially this with
Essentially what? You linked back to the update.

>>1531357
Oops.

Essentially
>>1531331
With
>>1531306
added to it

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Apologies for the wait. Wanted to change a few things around with the picture, even though I had it half done ahead of time. Non-illustrated updates don't take as long, but I'm thinking of having more. So if it takes forever I'll try to have a bonus on. I also like having pictures for the obvious reason of...well, if I don't ever have them, y'all don't know what things are supposed to look like.

---

“Heller Von Tracht is my uncle, yes,” you answer, “He was considered a black sheep of the family, though. Hopefully I can measure up to his reputation, if not his manners.”

“Figured that,” the Senior Rifleman said, settling down onto a crate with a sigh, “The name, you’ve got the look too.”

“Oh, not that again…” you put your hand over your face.

“You look like Heller, not the other thing” the Senior said, without a change in tone. “Adel, get over here. No way you’ve only got one smoke. Give me one.”

A rifleman, presumable one of the Senior’s team, walked up, peering at you.

“My smokes are mine,” he said plainly, not taking his eyes off you. “This the tank man?”

“The one,” the Senior answered, laying his unloaded gun against a leg, “He’s Hell’s nephew.”

“Hm.” Adel said, unblinking, “Shorter than I thought one of Hell’s would be.”

“You all knew my uncle?” you ask. The rifleman seemed a bit young for that. “Everybody here seems to know about him.”

“Everybody in Bat Company knows about Hell,” the Senior said, “Maybe not all know him personally. Adel here joined up long after he left, but I was around for his last couple raids. We’re from up and to the east, south of the Ohlenlands. We fight Sosaldtian bandits and mercs, keep the fear of Hell in them long after the man went.”

“We’re of the 3rd Holterberg Light Rifles,” the man named Adel said plainly, “Though Hell apparently stole enough tanks to fool some.”

Von Holterberg’s lands were smack up against Sosaldt, and around the area your uncle, Heller Von Tracht, had earned his fame. His unit wasn’t originally the 3rd, or so you had researched. It only was reorganized into such a month before his court martial and expulsion.

“I see.” You looked to one, then the other. “So, was that man…Wies, does he like messing around with people? The Captain too? They told me a few things that I don’t believe.”

“The Captain likes his jokes,” the Senior said, “Wies though? He’s not the sort. He never grew a sense of humor. I don’t know what he talked to you about, but if you’re still around, it can’t be serious. Don’t give it any mind, Big Brother.”

“Big Brother?” you echoed.

“People’s name for you.” Adel explained, “If you’ve got a noble name, people prefer to give you nicknames. Over near Sosaldt, if you have a fancy name, bandits might single you out for kidnapping and ransom.”

“I see,” you said warily. “But why Big Brother?”

“A few of the men saw you walking around town with your little sister.” The Senior said, smiling to himself slightly, “Remembered you when the Captain told us who you were and that you were coming. Caught on well. They said it was right adorable how close she hung on you.”

>She’s not my…whatever. Sure, I’m Big Brother.
>I’d prefer to be addressed by my title and name, thank you, although the comradery is a welcome reprieve from earlier mockery.
>I’d prefer something a little more intimidating, honestly.
>Other

>>1531637

>She’s not my…whatever. Sure, I’m Big Brother.

Can we explain to them she's not our little sister? Them not knowing might lead to some misunderstanding later on.

>>1531637
>>1531675
2nd.
>Can we explain to them she's not our little sister? Them not knowing might lead to some misunderstanding later on.
>Them not knowing might lead to some misunderstanding later on.
Like incest?

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>>1531734
perhaps

“She’s…not my sister.” You tried to explain. Considering what was planned for you and Maddalyn’s future, any misunderstandings could be rather unpleasant.

“You’re a bit young to be her father,” observed the Senior. “I heard she wasn’t that small.”

That could be an even worse misunderstanding. “No, she’s my…fiancée. We’re engaged.”

The look the two gave you made you immediately regret saying that; a fine mix of concern and disappointment.

“Marn, is that legal?” Adel murmured to his cohort, after a long pull on his cigarette.

“The nobility do things differently, you know. We shouldn’t judge…” the Senior said slowly and hoarsely.

“The LT said she looked twelve or thirteen, at most,” Adel said out the side of his mouth trying to keep quiet but still being plenty within your range of hearing, “I’m no lawyer, but…”

“Adel, he’s right in front of you,” the Senior hissed at him through his teeth, “Stow it.”

“She’s older than I am,” you desperately tried to salvage this sinking, burning ship, “Really. Her betrothal documents listed her as being twenty three, certainly not twelve or thirteen.”

Adel’s eyes flicked back over to the Senior, but the older enlisted shook his head ever so slightly at him.

“I…suppose…Big Brother won’t work then…” Adel avoided looking at you.

“No, the name’s fine, really, just not in relation to my wife to be.” You said hurriedly, but not loud enough for Adel to try coming up with a few names.

“Impatient?” He suggested to the Senior, “Hm…no, how about…Early Bird? Or maybe Veal Pounder?”

>I’ll pound your veal if I hear any more names of that sort.
>Big Brother. Goodness. I shouldn’t have said anything.
>How about we just forget any names. I’d rather be kidnapped by bandits than suffer more innuendos.
>Other

>>1531870
>>I’ll pound your veal if I hear any more names of that sort.

hehe.

>>1531870
Big brother. Goodness. I shouldn't have said anything. How about we just forget any names. Id rather be kidnapped by bandits then suffer more innuendoes.

>>1531870
>I’ll pound your veal if I hear any more names of that sort.
>Big Brother. Goodness. I shouldn’t have said anything.

“I’ll pound your veal if I hear any more names of that sort.” You retorted to the varying names with crass connotations.

Adel smirked ever so slightly, as if he thought of something as a result of what you said, but held his tongue.

“Goodness. I shouldn’t have even said anything. Big Brother is fine.” You rub your brow pensively. “Although I’m giving some thought as to whether it’d be worse to be kidnapped by bandits, or to suffer any more innuendos.”

“That’s alright,’ the Senior gave Adel a look, “I’m sure you’d love to hear how creative the best of Bat Company can be, but I think we’ll keep this exchange to ourselves, so that we don’t end up with more names than we know what to do with. Isn’t that right, Adel?”

Adel winced. “Er, of course.”

From the tent nearby, a voice came calling. “Barge man’s just come, everybody, come in for some story time.”

“Ahyup,” the Senior rifleman heaved himself off the crate and snapped up his gun, “Time to go see if we haven’t memorized this mess yet.”

---

The interior of the large tent was well lit by several lanterns; benches provided seating for the numerous operatives who would be taking part in this mission. Captain Honnrieg stood at the front, accompanied by a pair of aides, and flanked by maps of the area. He looked over the crowd as everyone sat themselves; you placed yourself at the back, near the grizzled man you remembered as the Barge Captain.

Honnrieg began to call for the attendance of the leaders.

Lieutenant Hadden, commander for the second group. Lieutenant Yerte, in charge of holding the crossing area and managing of light mortar support. Sergeants Kul, Japarren, Bonna, and Fieg, squad leaders for each of the assaulting elements.

“Shippie?” Honnrieg nodded towards the back. The Barge Captain grunted and raised an arm. “And Lieutenant Von Tracht, our heavy support.”

“Present.” You announced.

“Good, then,” Honnrieg rolled his head around, “In about an hour, we’ll be hitting the other side of the river. We’re going over this one last time, to make sure everybody knows how this is going to go.”

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Honnrieg sauntered over to a map showing the city, and pointed south of the city, over the Glennz river. “All through last month, the Seagulls down in the 3rd Republic of Valsten have been building up their forces on our border. A week past, we received intel that, in the local area here, our friendly sea people have been bringing up heavy guns, and constructing fortifications to hide them in. They’ve been really careful about trying to keep it a secret, but we’ve found out anyways. High Command thought it wouldn’t be neighborly for us to leave those guns and their crews on their lonesome.”

Honnrieg pointed at a diagram; an aerial photograph of the area, taken long ago but still a good indicator of the terrain. Red circles dotted it. “The guns emplaced in hidden bunkers here are real, real big. Thirty centimeter siege guns, developed from dreadnaught cannon. A full battery of those over a sustained bombardment could blow everything from here to across the river into little bits of rubble and giblets. We’re to keep that from happening by executing a preemptive strike on this battery.”

“We’ve had our ranks bolstered by engineers from our very own 3rd,” Honnrieg went on, “Each squad will have a pair of demolitions experts with them, both carrying explosives. These bunkers are supposed to be well stocked with ammunition now, so we’re going to put a charge in the ammunition, and another in the guns themselves. That should keep them from being used to even fire a ranging shot.”

“Now that you know what needs to be done, here’s how we’re going to do it.” Captain Honnrieg declared with more enthusiasm, “At 3, we’re going to cross the river in small boats. Lieutenant Yerte and his contingent will keep our boats safe and set up a couple of 5 centimeters if we need them. We’re expecting friendlies in disguise to help cover our landing. They’ll be wearing Valstener uniforms, but they’ll have black or dark armbands.” Honnrieg pointed at a picture of some Valsten infantry, presumably POWs taken in the last war. “Some of you might’ve never seen a seagull before. They look like this; round helmets, khaki uniforms. Nice and light so the armbands should stand out.”

“After we secure the perimeter and make sure nobody’s around but our disguised collaborators, the Shippie and the Tankie will cross over. In case things go to shit, and we either need to deal with a reaction force, a heavy patrol, or, worst comes to worst, we have to ditch the boats and break across the goddamn bridge, the tank will make that mess a lot easier.”

Honnrieg next pointed to numbered lines coming off the beach. “1st and 2nd squads will be under me. We’ll be hitting the two positions to the west. 3rd and 4th will be with Hadden, and they’ll be going west. If we need to talk to each other, we relay it with duck calls.” He drew his finger along a line, and stopped at a marked hold point. “We’ll be in two groups, but once we’re halfway there, we’ll split the groups again into their squads. After that, we go to these points and wait. We need to hit all of these at the same time, so we’ll be holding at these points until we relay to each other that we’re all ready. Once we’re all set, we’ll hit all these bunkers at once.”

Honnrieg then pointed to the suppressed submachinegun he held. “These things don’t make much noise, and neither do the pistols with cans on the end you’ve got. You can bet your ass that as soon as trouble comes up, the enemy’ll do their best to make things loud, though, so as soon as we attack the jig’s probably up. Each squad’s keeping a machine gun team in case we have to fight anything heavier than the gun crews, but don’t get any ideas with those until it’s absolutely necessary.”

Honnrieg exhaled slowly, having said quite a lot over the past couple of minutes. “Of course, the bombs going off’ll be a good indicator that the job’s done, but we don’t want to be anywhere near when that happens. The explosives’ll be on a six to ten minute timer. Once you’ve set them and get out, you’re to pop a green flare into the sky, then head back to the split points to rendezvous with your other squad before going back to the crossing point.”

Honnrieg then looked back to you before saying, “You’ll notice you’ve got red flares along with the green ones. You only pop those off if there’s something you can’t go around or through, and you need the tank to come and bail you out. The Seagulls might have some gear that’s heavier than what we expect, but there’s no way they’ll have anything the tank can’t blow the hell out. That’s only if you can’t do anything else, though, because once the tank starts shooting we have to get moving real quick and real hard.”

He then points to Lieutenant Yerte, “Yerte’s tubes have smoke, illumination, and bombs. Since we won’t have radio comms with him, we don’t want to use the bomb in case they come down on our heads. We’re only expecting him to lay smoke to cover our tracks, or light up the enemy so we can bring hell down on ‘em.”

“We still follow the maneuver plan if we get caught or things get hot,” Honnrieg finished up, “This isn’t a deal we can back out of. Those guns need to be taken down, no matter the losses on our part. Our numbers mean we can only put a squad on each bunker. If it looks like there’s too many to attack, that’s too damn bad. We’re showing these sea roaches who the baddest bastards in the east are tonight, come fire or brimstone. If our exit strategy is compromised, we’ll meet on the coast and consolidate our numbers before breaking through the bridge.”

Honnrieg sighed and cracked his knuckles. “That should about cover it. Any questions you lot have should be asked now or never, cause you won’t get the chance to be chatty once we’re over the Glennz.”

>Any questions?
>Understood. Ready whenever.

>>1536058
>Which bridge are we to break through if it comes to this?
(I'm thinking it's the eastern one 'cause there's a river before the other one, but I want to be sure)
>Can we expect covering fire from our side of the river during the retreat?
>Do we have a password system to recognize the disguised friendlies, just in case?
>Do we have to maintain radio silence throughout, or can we break it once the jig is up?
>How do we tell Yerte which shells to use?
>What's the ground condition on the infiltration site? Will it hold a tank?
(I'd also like to tell our crew to pack up all the light arms and grenades thay can find)

>>1536113
This.

>>1536113
>Which bridge are we to break through if it comes to this?

“So we’ll be taking the eastern bridge out then, right?” you ask, “If we need to.”

“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.” Honnrieg replied. “Whoever’s in the back snickering, you shut it. Anyways, it’ll depend on which direction the enemy’s pressing from the hardest. I’d prefer the east, but if we see that they’re heavy in Havarnn, we go west.”

>Can we expect covering fire from our side of the river during the retreat?

“Yerte’ll have a radio with his team, in case things get so bad that we need to call in something bigger. We won’t be using it until it’s needed, of course.” Honnrieg said, “But we can’t expect much if it turns out that way. The lines aren’t prepared to move for our convenience. After all, right after we finish, the Archduke’s Air Force is going to send in all the bombers it has to level the ground in preparation for dawn. In any case, we can’t wait the amount of time it would take for our requests to get passed to an active battery. As said before, if it’s too big, that’s too bad. We have to take it with what we’ve got. Once we get close to the island, I actually wouldn't want anybody getting too bold. It's too dark to properly identify targets at a distance.”

“So if we aren’t out in time...?” you prompt.

“Then we blow up along with everything else ten clicks south of Salzburg.” Honnrieg finished for you.

“I see.”

“Yeah.”

>Do we have a password system to recognize the disguised friendlies, just in case?

“Do we have a password system to recognize the disguised friendlies?” you ask.

“Nope.” Honnrieg said, “All of them are to ignore and avoid us. If they come investigating or calling to see who it is, we either shoot them or beat them down. If they slip on that part that’s on them. Intelligence Office has told them to stay away from the party crashers.”

>Do we have to maintain radio silence throughout, or can we break it once the jig is up?

“How do we tell Yerte which shells to use?” you ask.

“Duck calls.” Yerte himself responded.

“I don’t believe I have one of those…” you said slowly.

“No need. Your tank has a radio, yes?” Yerte pointed out, “If the mortars or the tank are firing, then there is no more need to keep the air clear.”

That answered your other question as far as radio use went.

>What's the ground condition on the infiltration site? Will it hold a tank?

Von Tracht knows the ground conditions from being in the area. The general area is hard ground, dry enough that there are few forests or similar wooded terrain, and the edges of the river are such that the barge can actually get right up on the shore if needed, so there won't be any wading being done.

>Anything else?
>That’s all.

>>1536263
That's all.

>>1536263
>Bombers? Couldn't they just bomb the battery to bits then? Why are we even needed?

>>1536426
>Bombers? Couldn't they just bomb the battery to bits then? Why are we even needed?

Perhaps there are a few things I need to elaborate on.

These are not open air batteries. They are camouflaged, entrenched and hardened fortresses that have big guns in them. They are difficult to see from the air, and resistant to blasts. Hence why they must be attacked directly.

Additionally, the bombers in question are relatively light two engine level bombers, not dive bombers. Their payloads tend to be 50 kilogram bombs carried internally. Even if they carried munitions big enough to blow away the fortification and everything under it, its ability to hit with the precision needed is basically nil.

>>1536488
Okay then

>That’s all.

You had no more pressing questions to ask. A few others did, but they were mostly clarifications and stray concerns about the risks, mostly satisfied in turn.

“That’s done then,” Captain Honnrieg lazily turned the board with the map over, spinning it down for no apparent reason. “Let’s get all our shit pre-staged near the site then. Assemble outside, first, though. These briefings don’t set me in the mood I need.”

The tent cleared out slowly, following Honnrieg out. You managed to get near him for a moment, and requested something.

“I was wondering, actually,” you draw near, “If we could borrow some of your weapons and grenades.”

“Nope,” Honnrieg denied your request immediately, “You’re already sitting on a pile of machine guns and shells. I’m not going to hedge my bets on failure and take guns off my troops to put onto you.”

“Your generosity is much appreciated.” You mutter, before falling away. It was worth a try, you supposed.

Eventually all the occupants of the tent were outside in a loose block, behind the captain, waiting. It was a cool autumn night, with sparse clouds and dim starlight crowning the tops of the city’s dark towers with blue and silver halos.

“Alright, you scuzzheads,” Captain Honnrieg said, with his back turned to his troops, facing towards the south, where some ways away lay the river. “You know I’m not one for speeches, so I’ll get right to the point of it.” He turned around and hefted his submachinegun to his shoulder, “Just like old times. We go in, and give them hell. No wharf roach is a match for Hell’s Boys.” He grinned and saluted, “If any of you clowns die, you have to buy us all drinks in hell. Let’s get this war going.”

A muted cheer of approval swept through the raiders before they dispersed into their squads, bleeding towards the coast carrying inflatable boats, procured from a large boxy canvas tent.

“So…” you look at the Barge Captain, who was chewing on a cigarette next to you, “Where’s mine?”

“No’ yet,” the tanned and crinkled old man said drowsily, taking a long drag off of the last ashy remnant of his softly glowing cigarette before letting it fall to the ground, “Once they get across, I pilot the ol’ girl down the Glennz, then you drive on. Have ta secure the landin’ and all.”

“Yeah, yeah, I knew that part.” you stretch your arms out and do a few squats; the m/32 didn’t grant much opportunity for such things, so you had to get it in now. “So when is that?”

“Rea’ soon for me,” the Barge Captain puffed, pulling another pair of smokes, “For you, 'bout fifteen after they cross. Want any o’ dis before I go tah set sail?” He proffers you a cigarette, “Blackflower, from Baou. Helps the nerves.”

You didn’t know if Blackflower was any different up north in Baou, but wild Blackflower in Strossvald was a plant you had encountered before, in your outdoor adventures. Once, you had even procured some for a fellow cadet at the Academy. It wasn’t until later that you found out that that was because of the…unusual effects that Blackflower fumes had on the behavior of young women.
>Sure, I’ll take one. You have a light?
>I’m not feeling it right now, but I’ll take it off your hands.
>No thanks, I don’t smoke.
>Other

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>>1537156
>I’m not feeling it right now, but I’ll take it off your hands.

"Unusual effect on women" huh

>>1537156
>No thanks, I don’t smoke.
There aren't any young women we would want to poison with this shit, and poisoning ourselves is also right out.

>>1537156
I'm not feeling it right now, but I'll take it off you hands.

Is smoking the culturally in thing at the moment? I feel if it was it'd be mentioned more or that Richter would be carrying his own pack. If we have our own pack offer to for a handful. We might have some special nobles brand after all.

>>1537379
Don't the posh nobility usually smoke pipes?

>>1537156
>I’m not feeling it right now, but I’ll take it off your hands.

Nerves of steel now, nerves of jelly later.

Alright, so as a part of the next update, I'm going to be including a few rules for...well, you can probably guess what's going to happen. However, this is a bit of a last minute addition to a much larger set, so I'm having to modify a few things in the way it works. I'll have both the update and a summarization of the applicable rules as soon as I can, and after that, I'll answer any questions for clarification on said rules before we actually take them for a spin.

>>1537379
It’s relatively in. It isn’t seen as a very noble thing to do, however; Tobacco is mostly grown on the southern peninsula of the Grossreich. The common man doesn’t tend to bear such minor grudges over where a product came from, but nobility would rather use less common, more expensive alternative plant.

>>1537432
Usually. Richter wishes he was posh, though; so far as most see you, you're only a couple of steps above a new money stock merchant. You've got the blood and a household but little else.

---

“I’m not feeling it right now, but I’ll take it off your hands.” You reply, picking the blackflower from the Bargeman’s proffered fingers. You didn’t really smoke; not much anyways. Your mother had a particular distaste for the smells of burned plants, so you’d not done much with it other than what was considered conservative experimentation.

“Mn,” the old man smiled a very slight smile. Even the smallest change completely rewrote his facial architecture in a fascinating way. “Jes’ don’ smoke it ‘round gals. Ones fancy ‘nuff to know what ed is migh’ thing you’re up to somfin, and ones who ain’t’ll get sleepy or too feisty, depen’s. Ma wife, Judge rest’er soul, ‘s the only woman ever met who wasn’ touched by it.”

“Hm,” you reply noncommittally. You didn’t really want it as much anymore after learning that you could be seen as a scoundrel for it, but it wasn’t enough to convince you not to keep it, just in case. For what, you weren’t sure. It certainly wasn’t in your tastes to try and drug somebody with.

The tranquilizing properties might have had some potential use at some point, but the potential other property would have made such a thing too risky. You decide it’s probably just better to use in its intended way, though not right now.

After the Barge Captain slumped away, whistling, you made your way back to your tank, to get it to the forward assembly point, and eventually, get on the barge.

Soon enough, you’re on your way.

“You know,” Hans said below, “I’ve not had much chance to shoot one of these things.” Presumably, he referred to the 13mm machine gun mounted in the hull. Developed from an multipurpose machine gun that ended up being mostly used in aircraft and light anti-air, it had quite a bit of power. The same round was used in Strossvald’s standard anti-tank rifle.

“Sure I know how to shoot it, but somebody was in my spot. Was afraid of firing the thing too,” Hans continued. “Should be fun to finally use it, yeah?”

Fun would be subjective. One of Valsten’s more common tanks, the VPw-5, had armor so thin that 13mm would shred it were it to come close enough to do any damage with its main weapon.

“I should let you know, commander…” Stein said, looking into the gun optic, “These aren’t as good as the other tank. This is using native optics, not Reich imports. Seems we don’t make them as…you know.”

The gunsight wasn’t the only difference. The Von Blum model of m/32 also had thicker frontal armor. However, you figured that wouldn’t matter as much. After all, at combat ranges, the standard m/32 model couldn’t even penetrate its own frontal armor. Tests indicated that they would have to be close; and the enemy tank with a similar penetrative armament, the VPw-5, would do far worse against you if it came into range.

Truth be told, your platoon had a massive advantage in firepower compared to most Strossvald standard armor platoons. m/32s were very new tanks. If battalions had them, they tended to be in the minority as far as total numbers went. Most territorial lords were not so rich as Von Blum as to not only manufacture their own new model tanks, but manufacture special customized models. Therefore, the majority of Strossvald’s tanks were the m/28 model. Valsten’s tanks would be a much closer match for them than you.

“So boss,” Hans said once you had arrived at the forward assembly point, and had little to do but wait for the barge, “I’m just a little curious. What do you think of this? The work, whether we’ll live…the usual, you know. Also if there’s any monster ghosts.”

>I fully expect monster ghosts to somehow play a part, because life isn’t fair.
>This’ll be cake. We’re in a superior model of tank, supporting the elite of the east. We’ll be eating dinner tomorrow in Goudrhafen. (The capital of Valsten, naturally.)
>I’m not sure if this is the most common way of committing suicide, but it’ll at least be flashy.
>Who knows? All we can do is hope for the best and to come out alive.
>Other

Okay and here's the other thing.

Alright, time has come for the implementation of part of a new set of mechanics. These pertain to shooting at, hitting, and damaging targets. These new rules are sure to be confusing horse shit for a bit, but bear with me and I'm pretty sure they should make sense once it's time to really use them.

Visual aid .pdf will be in next post.

First off, we have a picture of our target. In this particular view, there are no penalties from cover or whatnot. Cover comes into play in another part of my magical new rules, but not right now.

In order to fire a shot in this particular way of doing this, which I’m tentatively calling Target Only Combat, you pick a place on the target, and in the case of multiple targets, which to shoot, and rolls 2d2, and 2d100.
These dice determine deviation. Or, in other words, how much you miss your target by. The d2s determine the direction of deviation, and the d100s determine the degree.

Deviation from your target, naturally, is bad, and ideally reduced as much as possible. In other combat modes, reduction of deviation works differently, but in Target Only Combat, deviation is reduced by stats of the vehicle and crew.

We’ll discuss the stats later, for now, we’ll just list them off as numbers.

File: tcq_shortrules.pdf (600 KB, PDF)

600 KB PDF

The vehicle’s crew skill is 40, half of which is applied to deviation in Target Only Combat, and the gun’s accuracy has a +5 modifier, as do the optics. This adds up to a flat 30, which is the amount taken off of gun deviation rolls.
For example, if a shot was made that rolled a 1, 2, and then a 23 and a 50, the shot would be technically headed to the right and down, but the reduction in deviation would mean that there would be no horizontal deviation and only 20 degrees of vertical deviation. If reduction in deviation would reduce a stat to less than zero, it does not and only reduces it to zero.

If a hit is registered, deviation on further shots on the same target, so long as they are not moving, are reduced by an additional 50. Of course, if a tank is moving, it cannot fire accurately; the penalty to such is so enormous, it’s better not to fire at all, really. Keep in mind that no tanks in setting currently have any form of vertical stabilization and thus cannot fire effectively on the move.

Naturally, these same rules apply to enemies shooting at the player, and allies shooting eneies, as far as hit deviation goes. However, they also have to roll to hit; this is because the way their to hit rolls work are from the more general rules. They don’t have any players because in general combat, unlike Target Only, a rolled hit cannot deviate off of the hit vehicle. This is being done to reduce the amount of rolling you guys have to do; in the general combat not coming up quite yet, you have to roll to hit, then roll deviation. These rules are quite untested and may be subject to change.

In conclusion, it’s a good thing to roll low on deviation!

This also means that the most reliable place to shoot at an enemy is their exact center, but this might not necessarily be the place you want to hit.

I also have visual aids in a little pdf, as well as explanation there. However, keep in mind that the visual aid used for the graph is not necessarily accurate; a target’s only going to fill up the whole hitgrid in normal combat; since Target Only is supposed to be more cinematic, it’s going to be less of the frame; also to balance out you not having to roll to hit it.

I’m not going to discuss vehicle stats and damage rules in a post because those aren’t changed.

Whatever questions or clarifications you need, go ahead and voice them. It's a lot harder for me to see when things aren't clear because I've got all the rules in my head.

Also because these are cut down from a larger set, I might have missed a few things.

>>1539487
>I fully expect monster ghosts to somehow play a part, because life isn’t fair.

>>1539487
>I fully expect monster ghosts to somehow play a part, because life isn’t fair.

>>1539516
Will there be any kind of Critical miss/success?

>>1539487
>I fully expect monster ghosts to somehow play a part, because life isn’t fair.

>I fully expect monster ghosts to somehow play a part, because life isn’t fair.

>>1539516
Ok, reading over the new system I'm pretty sure I get it, but why did you feel the need to change it up?

>>1539487
>I fully expect monster ghosts to somehow play a part, because life isn’t fair. However we are in superior armor and surrounded by the elite of the east going for us.

Update soon.

>>1539861
>Will there be any kind of Critical miss/success?

I thought about doing it, although roll-under system means a crit would be a 1...

Degrees of success and failure are involved at points, but I don't know about criticals yet. I've got something in mind for when one is rolled.

>>1540376
>but why did you feel the need to change it up?

Felt things would be better if they were less played by ear. Before I'd end up forgetting how I did certain things or changing up things inconsistently, so I figured I should make a concrete ruleset to refer to, mostly for the benefit of keeping it constant.

Also because I feel the more visual a combat is the better idea one has of what they can or should do.

“I fully expect monster ghosts to somehow play a part,” you said dryly in reply, “because life isn’t fair.”

“Really roll with those punches, don’tcha boss.” Hans grumbled, stretching out in his seat.

“The ghosts are more of a concern than the seagulls,” you tried to say something more encouraging, “We’ve got superior armor and we’re with the best of Strossvald’s eastern troops. We’ve got better chances than most.”

There was truth to what you were saying, although the ghosts weren’t the concern so much as the Riverman was. Given his overtures about peace, there was no telling what he’d do when the spark of war burst into open flame. Soulbinders were supposedly strictly against intervening in conflicts of the world, but if he was young and enough of a novice to not have the culture of his betters beaten into him yet…

It could be a problem. At the very least, he couldn’t hurt you directly, so far as you knew, and you thought you’d deterred him from messing with you more. He’d be at most, you expected, somebody else’s problem. Hopefully.

You had already watched the raiders go across the river without incident. With your binoculars, you had spied a patrol of men in Valsten uniform, with dark armbands, come near the riverbank, only to veer away and investigate a clutch of friarberry bushes instead. The Intelligence Office’s spooks hard at work.

You checked your watch every so often in the dimly lit interior of the turret, the yellow light hooded so less light would reflect out of your cupola’s aperture. Fifteen minutes on the dot, the low, boxy form of the barge slid silently out from downriver. It either had a fantastically quiet motor or it was cruising with no power; had you not been looking for it, you’d have never noticed it arriving.

Time for you to mess all that up, then.

“Driver, let’s get going.” You command over the intercom, “We’re going to be taking a ride on that barge and going on a picnic in Valsten.”

You winced a bit as the m/32’s engine roared to life. It wasn’t a very subtle machine. However, with the local patrols conveniently replaced by infiltrators, you supposed it unlikely for many to take exception to your racket down south.

It strained your nerves, all of it. Embarking, sailing, then disembarking, but it was over before you knew it.

You had wanted to take the time to tie down your tank, lest you roll over the side of the barge somehow and disappear into the depths of the Glennz, but the Barge Captain only laughed at you, then asked if you thought he was incompetent when you insisted. You lost out on that particular debate rather quickly.

All in all you were thankful to be back on dry land, and maneuvered your force to accompany Lieutenant Yerte, who had already set up his team on the beach. A sharp eyed machine gun team lay just below the crest of the hill, the assistant occasionally giving the land down south a quick sweep with a periscope, whose construction was undoubtedly a makeshift, if effective, affair.

The Lieutenant himself was with a radio operator and carrier, who was squatting on the ground, enduring the encumbrance of the large backpack mount. About ten meters away were the mortars; a pair of 5cm light mortars, whose crews had just finished levelling the ground and were dialing in ranges.

“Twenty minutes until it gets loud, I’d say.” Yerte acknowledges you as you arrive, “High Command didn’t give us much time. Even if we’re right out the bombers’ll be right on top of us.”

You had some time to goof off, at least. Not like you could do much other than put the tank turret down and wait.

>Shoot the shit with somebody (Write in who)
>Wait until it’s go time; keep it quiet.
>Other

>>1540492
>Wait until it’s go time; keep it quiet.

>>1540492
>Take some time to camouflage the tank just in case
>Reconnoiter the beach and the ways to drive off it.

Some camo would be nice, perhaps we could use some shrub?

Finding proper camouflage around the Varbonnlands was rather difficult; there was a lack of forest or thick brush, besides old bushes whose roots could sink deep enough into the soil and find enough food to grow tall, and a few clumps of scraggly trees who had fallen on unusually fertile ground.

It could be better than nothing, however.

While hunting the beaches for some scrub, you surveyed the terrain. The slope from the river’s edge up hill was rather gentle, if irregular; it’d be no problem to drive straight up from most places. Most of the odd high points (lightly covered stony outcroppings who resisted erosion) had been commandeered by watches anyways.

After some time you had collected a large armful of freshly cut bushes of various sorts. There wasn’t really too good of a way to attach them to the tank; it hadn’t been a design consideration, after all. Naukland didn’t even use the m/32, having designed it for export, and Strossvald’s doctrine demanded that tanks not risk covering their markings and seals, prioritizing recognition by friendly forces over diminishing detection by the enemy.

Strossvald’s tanks were painted in dull blues, after all, before they became covered in mud and dust. The mud and dust tended to be its own sort of camouflage in a way, since it was invariably the terrain that was being operated in. Your tank had gained a decent, although not ideal, covering. It hadn't been driving around the place for long enough to be thoroughly filthy.

Now there was the matter of how to apply this rough foliage. Being experienced in outdoorsmanship, you knew enough to twist them together and ram the stems into whatever cracks were available, so application was possible, if inelegant.

> Try to prioritize hiding the turret; it was preferable to engage hull down, anyways.
>The hull moved less, and thus had less chance of throwing off your haphazard field camo. It would have to do, even if the turret was left bare.
>Spread it out on both, sacrificing density for overall coverage.
>Other

>>1540587
> there was a lack of forest or thick brush

*in this particular area

This is due to the Varbonnlands having rather dry and infertile soil, better for scratchy grasses than denser foliage. While the soil is supposed to be fertile deeper down, local farming is less than encouraged due to the possibility of border wars.

>>1540587
>> Try to prioritize hiding the turret; it was preferable to engage hull down, anyways.

>>1540596
Seconded

>>1540596
Dis one, maybe someone will mistake it far away for one of their Valsten tanks?

You decided it was best to keep the turret covered. The front and the barest bit of the sides, to be exact; the turret doors wouldn’t be good to obstruct too much, in case you actually had to use them to get out of the vehicle.

None of the Bat Company men paid you any mind as you tended to your mounted garden. It likely wasn’t that unusual to them; the Sosaldtian banditry they likely were used to fighting were infamous for their wily nature; not following the rules of war allowed them to be more experimental than most, it was said.

Just to the north of where Bat Company’s mother formation of the 3rd Light Rifles were based was a land known as the Eastern Cauldron; a magical place that not only bordered Sosaldt, but the unfriendly nation of Netilland. The Netillians clashed with Sosaldt almost as much as Strossvald, and thus were almost as tricky, although not as devious and definitely not as clever, as the bandit kings. It was likely that formations like the 3rd Light Rifles that were close to such problem areas were well used to these less than officially sanctioned tactics, as a matter of survival.

“Getting ready for Langenachtfest, commander?” Stein asked humoredly when you let yourself back into the tank, “A little early, isn’t it?”

“It’s never too early,” you said back.

Later, after you had grown accustomed to your spot, though keeping a steely eye on all flanks while turned out, signs of the assault squads operating echoed back to you.

The suppressors weren’t perfect silencers, despite what the civilian models claimed, but they did reduce the normal buzzing snaps of Messer SMGs down to series of rumbling pops. The timing had been perfect; after a chorus of duck calls, battles had erupted from the directions of every emplacement, before quieting down. No calls for help had been made; a good sign.

The flares began to shoot into the sky. One green, then two…then four. You breathed a sigh of relief; all had, apparently, gone to plan.

Perhaps too soon, though. No sooner had the fourth green flare shot into the sky, than a red flare cropped up on the easternmost point.

“Hey, Big Brother…” Lieutenant Yerte called out.

“I’m already on it. Turn that radio on.” You reply quickly, “Driver, take us out towards that red flare. We’ve got some enemies to make.”

Pushing the m/32’s tolerances was a bad idea, considering how finicky of a machine it was, but if there was a significant enemy presence coming from the east, that was potentially right in the way of the emergency exit route. Potentially, you could be closed in if the enemy was allowed to proceed unmolested, let alone the risk this new threat posed to your countrymen.

Also, Malachi hadn’t ever had a tank break down under him, and he’d been driving the even less reliable Von Blum model, which was loaded down with extra weight from heavier armament and armor. Frankly, you didn’t give the possibility of breaking down much consideration, with this in mind.

>Better safe than sorry. Keep it to a steady pace.
>You’re short on time. Make as if the Judge’s hammer is bearing down upon you, the mechanisms of the tank be damned.
>Other actions?

>>1540621
>>Better safe than sorry. Keep it to a steady pace.

If the tank doesn't work we're fucked.

>>1540621
>Better safe than sorry. Keep it to a steady pace.
At night, in unfamiliar terrain, far from any support, cut off by a river is not a good time to break down.

>>1540621
>>Better safe than sorry. Keep it to a steady pace.

File: tcqscene53.png (303 KB, 1138x700)

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You kept the pace steady, not testing the tank’s limits. Your lack of mindless haste might’ve not been ideal for the people you were heading out to help, but in your mind, it would have been even less ideal to suffer your first breakdown at a rather critical moment.

Turned out and looking around, you didn’t see the source of concern for a bit. There was no further gunfire, although you did spot one squad returning to their rendezvous point; objective presumably accomplished. They had nobody on their tail; you drove past them.

“Commander, I’m seeing something.” Stein reported. “Headlights coming on.”

You spotted them quickly. A pair of sets of lights, bearing to the east and heading roughly north; not in the direction of the rest of the squads or the landing point. Was the squad in distress trying to draw them away from the rest of their comrades? They had led them quite a ways away, if that was the case.

“One big ugly box…” Stein listed off, looking through the magnified sight before you could look with your binoculars, “One other thing…something I’ve never seen before.”

The Model 7 was slightly offset from its partner, angled towards you, presumably keeping a wedgelike formation. The other thing was something you didn’t recognize either; it didn’t help that it was obscured by the Model 7. A lone infantryman accompanied the Model 7; if there were any others, you didn’t spot them. The tanks did not have their commanders turned out, thus losing visibility despite their lights being on in searching. The raiders had presumably done a fair job of peppering their commanders with fire, if they had tried turning out.

You were within engagement range when these two were spotted. The Model 7’s frontal armor was roughly comparable to yours, you noted while determining what step to take next. It was unlikely they had detected you, either, since you were traveling with your headlamp off.

You had a decent shot at the Model 7’s side armor, or perhaps at the side of the turret. Alternatively, you could take a shot at the unknown variant of vehicle, though you had no way of knowing how thick its armor was. At a glance though, it seemed tough, and had quite a big gun…

>Take a shot at the Model 7 (Specify target location, otherwise will be center mass shot.
>Take a shot at the mystery vehicle (Same as above; target or default to center mass)
>Try to maneuver to a more advantageous location, risking advantage but potentially having better shots on more vulnerable angles.
>Other

I'm unsure of whether to overlay a hit grid; if you feel it's needed in order to more precisely show where you want to shoot, I'll include it in the future.

>>1540736
>Try to maneuver to a more advantageous location, risking advantage but potentially having better shots on more vulnerable angles.

Just a little bit, so we hit the side armor square from us and our front armor facing.

We'll never hit the mystery machine like this and we'll likely only get one shot. Rather not have to deal with two tanks.

>>1540748
>>1540736
I don't know, tanks are loud so perhaps the infantryman would spot us.

We could just take a shot at the tank and then open up with our MG to kill the infantry.

>>1540736
>Try to maneuver to a more advantageous location, risking advantage but potentially having better shots on more vulnerable angles.

File: tcqscene54.png (204 KB, 1138x700)

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You didn’t like the angles you had here; you were outnumbered, so you wanted to have the best shots possible, to reduce the odds to one on one, then possibly to one on zero, without taking return fire.

“Driver, half right,” you command your crew, “Gunner, turn the turret half left, just in case we need to shoot before turning all the way round. Whatever that mysterious fellow is, we’re not going to give it a chance to introduce itself.”

You had almost reached a point where you could get a square side shot on both, when the infantryman spotted you.

In a flash, he had climbed onto the Model 7, banging on the turret and shouting something. The Model 7 quickly turned off its lights, and began to turn its turret to face you. The treads gradually began to turn, but not fast enough, before you were in position to fire. Meanwhile, the infantryman dove behind the tank, taking cover from your potential wrath.

The other machine hadn’t gotten the memo, apparently. Its lights were still on, and it had made no movements.

You thought quickly about which target to take. There was a golden opportunity to shoot at the flank of the other machine, but the Model 7 was likely to try and turn to face you while you dispatched its comrade. On the other hand, the Model 7’s cannon was ineffective against your tank’s armor. The only way it could severely damage you was with a shot to your treads, or an exceedingly rare arced shot onto the top armor; a feat only possible in theory. The other machine’s cannon appeared big enough to cause serious harm if it hit you.

>Fire upon the Model 7
>Fire upon the other machine
>Other

>In both cases, specify where to aim.

>>1540960

>Fire upon the other machine

Go for the turret.


If the Model 7 can't really harm us we should fire upon the other machine while it's preoccupied.

>>1540960
>Fire upon the other machine

I'd rather just hit center mass but either way the more dangerous machine.

Also the how much trouble could the infiltration squad really have been in if these tanks weren't firing at them?

>>1540960
>Fire upon the other machine

Stay on target.

File: tcqscene54hitgrid.png (229 KB, 1138x700)

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Righty then.

So before I ask for rolls, here's how it's going to work. First response's rolls dictate the direction. The direction doesn't change if anybody else rolls, but the amount of deviation does; we'll keep it simple for now and say the average of up to three rolls.

With that said, roll 2d2 and 2d100, hitgrid laid over top in this image.

>>1541121
(As an additional note I compromised between center mass and turret by putting the center on the space right between the two.)

Rolled 1, 1 = 2 (2d2)

>>1541121

Rolled 42, 97 = 139 (2d100)

>>1541141

Did I do it right? I'm new to /qst/ OP, please bare with.

>>1541141
>>1541147
That's fine, although I'd recommend combining the two rolls into one post. You can roll multiple types of dice with the plugin.

...That said, that shot might have gone a little high if we only use that roll.

>>1541160
>That's fine, although I'd recommend combining the two rolls into one post. You can roll multiple types of dice with the plugin.
How do you roll multiple types of dice on /qst/? I thought it only allowed one type of dice.

Rolled 1, 2 + 2 = 5 (2d2 + 2)

>>1541164
You take the normal input and you stack however many other dice you want on top.

...Unless that doesn't work on /qst/. Quick test here.

If this does work, the text is "dice+2d2+2d100"

>>1541170
Lol apparently not.

That's fine, only one direction deviation roll is needed anyways.

Rolled 66, 53 = 119 (2d100)

>>1541121

The 3.7cm cannon flashed, and you watched the shot fly, depressingly over the target. Likely it didn’t even know it’d been shot at.

“Load AP!” you were about to shout, but the loader had already slammed the breach closed.

“Way ahaed’ve yu, Luut.” Your loader, Jorgen, said.

Crew Trait revealed: Ace Loader: Once per battle, reload time is reduced to zero.

“Then…” you say, caught off guard, “…Fire! Again!”

“On the way!” Stein shouted, the cannon blasting once more…

>Roll another 2d2 and 2d100.
>Due to quick reload, enemy vehicle position has not changed siginificantly. Same hitgrid as before is in use.

Rolled 1, 1 = 2 (2d2)

>>1541121
>>1541266
>2d2

Rolled 82, 65 = 147 (2d100)

>>1541121
>>1541266
>2d100

>>1541266
>Crew Trait revealed: Ace Loader: Once per battle, reload time is reduced to zero.
Oh, so he really is that good.

>>1541273
Well good thing we went through the trouble of getting him.

>>1541273
I'm guessing we're going to need another roll because we'd need <=10 on the 2nd dice to hit the turret at this rate.

>>1541275
Yep.

Rolled 17, 35 = 52 (2d100)

>I'm guessing we're going to need another roll because we'd need <=10 on the 2nd dice to hit the turret at this rate.

um ok

>>1541291
Well, deviation is reduced by crew skill and optics quality; in the case of your vehicle and crew, that's a flat reduction of 50.

So it wouldn't take too much of a reduction, just need to not roll horribly.

>>1539516
Oh. Missed that part in the PDF and post.
>>1541291
>>1541306
So since it seems like we're using a roll-below combat system, we'd need an averaged <=60 to hit the target?

>>1541313
Roll below, yes.

And that's about the size of it, with the 1,1 deviation. Any lower deviations would be a lot easier to hit, but the dice love trying to shoot over.

>>1541121
>>1541323
>>1541300
Oh good. Thanks for the roll, looks like we got a solid turret hit.

File: tcqscene55.png (180 KB, 1138x700)

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Rolled 94, 57 = 151 (2d100)

CHUNK

With a loud crash you could hear from your turned out position, the shot struck the space between the new vehicle’s pseudo-turret and its casemate hull. A solid flank hit.

…However, it didn’t seem to do much. The vehicle appeared unfazed by your assault, although it also didn’t seem to recognize your presence in a timely manner either.

The Model 7, in the meantime, had turned its full attention on you. It had turned about slightly, angling towards your tank, and let loose volleys from its main cannon and its machinegun…

This was about when the disadvantages of operating turned out came into play.

File: tcqscene56.png (175 KB, 1138x700)

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You ducked into the turret, hearing the machine gun rounds crack all around, but none seemed to strike near. Its cannon shot went way off course, birthing a geyser of earth approximately thirty meters to your rear.

You breathed a sigh of relief and peeped out again, low enough to avoid drawing fire, but enough to still observe the enemy.

The new machine appeared to be trying to turn its turret, but it strained against an unseen blockage. Had your shot interrupted its turning mechanism? Quite a boon, especially considering the lack of serious damage your shot had caused.

You heard the breach close once more on the gun in your tank; you were ready to fire again. On whom, though?

>Attempt another shot on the well armored menace
>Turn your attention to the Model 7
>Other

>>1541509
>Turn your attention to the Model 7

Since the other tanks ability to actually do damage to us is null, at least for now we should go after the guy that can cause immediate harm.

>>1541509
>Turn your attention to the Model 7

>>1541530
Same

>>1541509
>. Had your shot interrupted its turning mechanism?
>>1541520
Support. The other tank can't do that much damage either, but better safe than sorry.

With the other foe seeming to be out of commission, and the Model 7 having earned some of your spite for trying to murder you, you had your gunner target it next.

Trying to strike it from the front angle was tricky, though, since its frontal armor on its hull and turret were supposed to be resistant to your weaponry. However, the “cheeks” of the turret, as well as the side of the hull, were definitely not as well armored. Vulnerable targets.

>Select a place to aim and shoot at
>reference is earlier picture

File: effs.png (177 KB, 1138x700)

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>>1541568
We should hit it's engine through the weaker side armor.

pic related is where I say shoot.

>>1541568

Side of the hull beneath the center of the turret and below that extra plate of armor.

>>1541586
>>1541568
Few places we could hit, the cheeks of the turret (what do we hit if inside the tank if we hit the cheek, the gunner?), or the engine as you mentioned. We could also go for the weak under-armor, where the munitions are stored, or try machine gunning those ports.
I'd go for the under-armor in between the tracks and hope we hit for a vital area, the engine might be too far for us to get a good shot.

>>1541618
Hitting the under armor seems like a good plan. I'll switch to this to break the tie.

I put the center of the hit grid about where I think it's wanted.

Fun fact; I forgot the night-dark filters on the last couple. Oh well.

Anyways, roll for shot deviation. I haven't specified rules for hitting nearby targets instead of repeat shots on the same target...we'll say these rolls have an additional subtraction of ten to deviation distance.

>2d2 and 2d100

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>>1541674
...*cough*

Rolled 1, 2 = 3 (2d2)

>>1541674
What program do you draw with? Also do you use a drawing tablet?

Rolled 1, 2 = 3 (2d2)

>>1541674

Rolled 94, 16 = 110 (2d100)

>>1541674

Rolled 86, 84 = 170 (2d100)

>>1541674
in the original run Maddy wasn't blind ight? I get the feeling the supernatural stuff wasn't added in until the reboot or I would it have featured prominently during the Reich segments?.

Rolled 51, 98 = 149 (2d100)

>>1541674
>>1541681
Looks about right.
>>1541656
Thanks.
>>1541689
>>1541694
Huh. Even with these rolls we're almost guaranteed a hit thanks to the center hit-marker the QM gave us.

>>1541702
Ho estly I'm about to read the rules now, since it's apparently under my highish rolls are detrimental?

>>1541694
>in the original run Maddy wasn't blind ight?

mabye she just didn't tell us

>>1541709
She could read and write letters. At least I think she did when we went to that northern country. It's been a long time since it ran and I haven't had the time to reread the old run.

>>1541674
>>1539516
>>1541708
>>1541323
Roll-under system, yes. We've got some really good bonuses though, +50 from crew+tank and +10 from nearness.

Rolled 4 + 1 (1d6 + 1)

>>1541685
Photoshop, and yes. Overall a rather pricey way of going about it, but it's worth it.

>>1541694
She wasn't. The supernatural element was there, but it hadn't developed into a prominent position. Didn't waste time beating about the bush for that this time.

----

Your next shot soared out, and sank into the flank of the Model 7 just below its tread and into its lower hull. You spied a slight flash from inside as the explosive core of the armor piercing shot detonated. A tantalizing, silent second passed by.

Rolling for fire/explosion. This is a roll-high = good, at least, as far as you're concerned.

>>1541779
The orange glow of a rapidly intensifying fire began to show through the new hole. Near immediately, hatches began to open, the crew bailing out and fleeing.

>Cut them down
>Let them leave
>Other

>Strossvald Military Law rules that it is acceptable to destroy crewmen abandoning their vehicle, in the case of a land engagement, should they not surrender. Pilots are not to be shot at until they land, in which case their choices are to surrender or be considered a hostile and armed combatant.

>>1541795
>Let them leave

if they aren't activity trying to kill us let's not waste the time on them, instead we should focus on the other tank.

>>1541795
*pilots who have bailed out and are parachuting

This is just highlighting the difference between bailing crewmen in aircraft and in land vehicles.

I also forgot to mention, if the vehicle is on fire, the crewmen are allowed to disembark from the vehicle, but if they do not surrender in the direction of whom they are surrendering to, and instead attempt to flee, they are considered hostile and armed targets to be destroyed.

>>1541779
Huion, Xp Pen or Wacom? Thinking of grabbing one now that I got CS6 pirated properly

>>1541795
Let them leave.

We can't safely facilitate a surrender and I don't think Tracht is that blood thirsty to gun them down, at least not yet.

>>1541795
>>1541803
>>1541813
Support. Deal with the other tank, then deal with the fleeing folks. So long as they don't warn the others about what's going on, which might take a while, we'll be fine.

>>1541804
>but if they do not surrender in the direction of whom they are surrendering to, and instead attempt to flee, they are considered hostile and armed targets to be destroyed.
>>1541813
>>1541821
We can actually shoot them down since they're trying to flee, but for the reasons mentioned we shouldn't yet.

>>1541795
>Let them leave

File: tcqscene57.png (273 KB, 1138x700)

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“There they go!” cried Hans from down below, “So, boss? Do we give them a farewell gift?”

“No,” you replied, “They’ll get off easy this time. Let’s finish all of the threats in front of us.”

You allowed the Valstener crews to flee. The fire spread impressively quickly, and soon the steady

POOM. POOOM, CRACK POOM.

Of the ammunition cooking off began to ring in muffled bursts from inside the enemy vehicle. It may have been more exciting to see it explode all at once into tiny little bits, but a kill was a kill.

The other vehicle, likely unable to properly train its gun on you without significant effort and also now lacking a partner, turned its front towards you and began to back away. A canister was thrown out of the top, which turned out to be a smoke candle. It began to gout thick, white smoke, which threatened to obstruct your view of the escaping enemy vehicle.

All these new toys and none of them belonged to you.

>Take a shot at the fleeing vehicle?
>And if so, where?

>>1541808
I use a Wacom Intuos, can't say I have much experience with the other brands than Wacom. I'd recommend a Cintiq if you can shell out the dough for it. They're worth the price, but the price is sort of the sticky bit.

>>1541946
>>Take a shot at the fleeing vehicle?
>>And if so, where?
'dat weak under armor. Pretty much the largest, weak frontal target at the moment.

>>1541946
>Shoot the tracks

Try to immobilize it, taht or the under armor

>>1541983
Supporting the under armor thing

>>1541967
while a cintiq would be nice, I can't justify the price just for drawing maps and character busts, though the Huion and XP pen alternatives to a cintiq are half it's price.

>>1541946
Supporting
>>1541983

>>1541946

If we couldn't penetrate it from the side we probably can't from the front; continuing to fire would just waste ammo and draw further attention to our position, which is concerning since that burning Model 7 is probably serving as a nice big beacon for every single enemy reinforcement element to converge on. We should withdraw.

>>1541476
>>1542010
But that was on the side of its plated turret armor, not the under armor, which are typically one of the weakest spots on a tank.
>>1541946
I didn't expect us cook off its munitions though.

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So this is about the spot, right?

If so, roll for deviation. Same as usual, 2d2 and 2d100. Bonus would be 50 from a previously hit target, but since we switched around and the target is moving/has moved from its previous spot I'm decreeing it's still at a 10 bonus, for 60 total reduction.

>roll

>>1542080
Is that the under-armor or the plated frontal armor? I can't tell from this angle. Either way it's a pretty good target spot.

Rolled 1, 2 = 3 (2d2)

>>1542080
roll

Rolled 100, 84 = 184 (2d100)

>>1542080
roll(2)

Rolled 53, 16 = 69 (2d100)

>>1542080
>>1542091
Hopefully this goes better.

Rolled 5, 54 = 59 (2d100)

>>1542080

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>>1542091
>100

Rolled 1, 1 = 2 (2d2)

>>1542098
>>1542080

>>1542100
Hey uh, QM, do we have crits in this system?

>>1542120
No critical failures, no. Not for now, at least. Things tend to more work on degrees of succcess rather than pass or critical.

---

You spied the lower glacis plate. It beckoned to you, begging for you to blast it.

“Gunner, go for the large, flat plate at the bottom.” You order.

Stein aims without question.

“Fire.” You called.

“On the way!”

CR-PANG

You watched the shell blow apart when it hit the armor plate, leaving naught but a slight dent and a black mark. What was this thing made of? It was armored like a landship!

At one of the weaker points in the front armor, too. The m/32 and m/28 certainly couldn’t absorb hits like that to their lower glacis…

The smoke candle had begun to coat the area between you and your target with its dense, white and grey plume, dyed orange by the furious flames of the Model 7.

>Take another shot, at a different target? (20 penalty to deviation due to partial smoke obstruction, using same picture reference as before for convenience)
>Break off. You’ve driven off the enemy.
>Other

I’ll be having to leave for dinner soon, but I’ll try and have the next update resolved before that.

>>1542100
>100
What did I win?

>>1542130
>You watched the shell blow apart when it hit the armor plate, leaving naught but a slight dent and a black mark.
>At one of the weaker points in the front armor, too. The m/32 and m/28 certainly couldn’t absorb hits like that to their lower glacis…
What the shit?
>>1542010
Yeah, you were right on that. I didn't think their armor was that tough.
>>1542130
>>Other
What's our mission again? Clearly our guns won't do jack shit to this tank.

>>1542152
>What's our mission again? Clearly our guns won't do jack shit to this tank.

If the raider squads ran into trouble, you were to go beat up whatever was harassing them.

With one tank burning and the other retreating, it'd be safe to say mission accomplished.

>>1542130
Switch to HE, try to disable it's tracks and withdraw.

>>1542171
Supporting. It doesn't have track skirts.

>>1542171
Supporting.

>>1542130
>>1542171
>>1542177
Support. We can't let this tank pop up sometime later with gear like that.
>>1542165
Oh good, so now we're on the bonus round.

Right, I've gotta head off now. Will be back later with shuut interface.

Until then..I dunno.

>>1542199
We list off reasons why Maddy is best girl?

Good idea QM!

>A CUTE
>Redhead
>Adorable
>Demon's for Eyes
>Easily Flustered
>Rich Family
>qt3.14
>Flat

>>1542261
You sir, have good tastes.

>>1542261

True but her sister is still hotter.

>>1542261
>>1542474
What does her sister look like?

>>1542480
Like Maddy but her mole is somewhere different

Truly the patrician taste

File: Maddalyn and Mathilda.png (239 KB, 600x700)

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>>1542480

Behold

>>1542496
Alt Maddy had a mole on her stomach as well

>>1542261
Perhaps there is some bias due to being engaged.

Anyways roll 2d2 and 2d100, and try your luck.

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>>1542873
...ahem.

Rolled 1, 1 = 2 (2d2)

>>1542480
>>1542496
>>1542532
Topkek.
>>1542689
How'd we find that out?

>>1542873
>Perhaps there is some bias due to being engaged.
Certainly not.

>>1542873
>>1542882
>2d2
Oh hey, we're aiming for the farther tracks. Clever aiming.

Rolled 60, 38 = 98 (2d100)

>>1542882

>>1542901
Bueno.

>>1542882
>>1542873
Never, if we weren't engaged till death do us part (TONIGHT) she'd still be best waifu for laifu if only for being incredibly flustered by the thought of kissing Richter.

Is it always going to be first roll taken for shooting?

>>1541121
>>1542997
He takes the first 2d2 roll for direction, or the quadrant of shooting, and second 2d100 roll for the deviation of the shot. Lower is better for the deviation. He averages between the 3 2d100 rolls.
>>1542130
We have +50 bonus from the tank and a -20 from the partial smoke, so a +30 bonus.
>>1542901
We'll end up hitting on that small port on the center of the tank with the current roll.

>>1542882
>>1542171
>>1543021
>We'll end up hitting on that small port on the center of the tank with the current roll.
From the looks of what we're about to hit, I think we're going to kill the driver from the shot. A bit of a shame it's HE otherwise we might've actually gotten a critical hit there.

>>1543037
Admittedly I would have been pretty anally devastated if my big bad mother fucker enemy got taken out by a fluke roll from AP hitting just the right spot.
----

Far from striking the treads, the shell instead veered to the right, splattering apart on a casemate that appeared to house the driver. It struck just below the driver’s vision slot before exploding; not a direct hit, but surely the shock and shrapnel would at least wound the driver.

You sadly wouldn’t have the opportunity to view your handiwork for now, though. The plume of smoke had only thickened, and now your view of the enemy was completely obscured.

On cue, the hidden gun emplacements burst asunder to the south. Even from as far away as you were, the pressure waves buffeted you and your vehicle with gusts of wind, the booming explosions echoing over the river and back again. Soon after that, the groan of sirens began to sound, the flames of the destroyed bunkers like mighty torches compared to the little lamp that was your kill.

It probably wouldn’t take long for a serious response to appear.

>Pursue the heavy vehicle; you can’t let it go just like that. It was only about half to three quarters of a click away.
>The direction the enemy you just fought was going in indicated the raider squad that had requested help was trying to lead them away from the rendezvous point, thus going off the planned route. Try and find them, to make sure that they aren’t still in trouble.
>The raiders know what they’re doing; head back to the assembly point. The sooner you leave the better.
>Other

>>1545329
>>The raiders know what they’re doing; head back to the assembly point. The sooner you leave the better.

The last thing the raiders need is a big loud tank bumbling over to them and exposing their position. If they're halfway intelligent they should have started making their way back as soon as we engaged the enemy tanks anyway. If they really still need us they'll pop another flare or call on the radio.

>>1545329
The raiders know what they are doing... Rather go back to the others so we Can be ready to help should we be needed somewhere Else, also if we go after Them we risk that they mistake us for the enemy

You decided to head back to the assembly point. The raiders hardly needed to be nannied; destroying this enemy that was searching for them was quite enough.

You called in the results of your encounter over the radio.

“Saw it.” Yerte responded after a few seconds, “Good work. I could have given some illumination if you asked, though.

“No need, no need,” you replied, “They had their headlights on; it was practically child’s play. I suppose they weren’t expecting a tank to have crossed the river.”

“Just letting you know.” Yerte said back before getting off the net; apparently, one of his spotters had sighted a returning squad.

It wasn’t too long before you returned as well. Three squads had arrived ahead of you, and the final squad actually arrived not long after.

“Yerte tells me you rescued one of my squads,” Honnrieg approached you, looking up at you as you craned out of the cupola. “A bit embarrassing for them, I’m sure, but I ‘preciate it.”

“It’s what I do.” You lean back into the turret. Considering Honnrieg’s earlier disdain for you, you felt somewhat validated.

“Didn’t need any rescuin’.” A sergeant who had come up with the captain objected. He had the voice of bark and leather rubbing against each other. “Just didn’t want anything snooping around our exit.”

“Of course you did.” Honnrieg flicked the Sergeant’s cap. The NCO didn’t seem amused.

“Captain,” the sergeant of the squad you’d aided said in a raspy voice, “We saw something bad on our way out. We ran into trouble of the sort we didn’t expect.”

“Something bad?” the Captain gave immediate and full attention to this, “Not seagulls, then.”

“No,” the sergeant pointed out south, “Blood Sun. Don’t know how many, they’re spread out.”

“Damn,” Captain Honnrieg swore quietly, “You sure? How do you know?”

“Ran into a two person crew during the breach,” the sergeant said, “Checked their things after we ventilated them, since they weren’t dressed like gull crew. Found their badges on their jackets, and their tank out back.” He held up a pair of cut out fabric patches, which were emblazoned with the symbol of a stylized crimson sun.

Honnrieg sighed, took off his cap and brushed his hair back. “The Third Republic’s either full of big spenders, or they really, really wanted this island back.”

“Blood Sun?” You asked cluelessly, “Who are they?”

“Sosaldtian mercenaries.” The Sergeant answered.

“So, bandits then.” You concluded quickly. The brutish, tasteless name for their organization certainly fit.

“Nah,” Honnrieg put his cap back on and straightened it, “Mercenaries, full time and well paid. The Southern City’s preferred method of solving problems. ‘Course, their help costs a fortune for anybody who isn’t somebody in those gilded shit pits.”

“I’d say they’re still bandits, captain.” The sergeant supported your initial judgment.

“Maybe they act like it,” Honnrieg cracked his knuckles, “but that doesn’t make ‘em less of a private, hardened army.”

They’re ruthless, vile, don’t have any regard for the rules of war, terrorize civilians, and are well armed enough to get away with all of it. Bandits in an army’s guise.” The sergeant insisted.

“Can’t argue with that.” Honnrieg relented.

>I’m not seeing how that’s bad news. So Valsten has some hired muscle, so what?
>If they’re anything like any other bandit gang, the more intimidating the name, the less capable they actually are. By that metric I might be more scared of a puppy than of them.
>I’d like to know more about this enemy. What can you tell me about them? (Write in questions)
>Other

>>1545673
>>I’m not seeing how that’s bad news. So Valsten has some hired muscle, so what?

>>1545673

>You said they had a tank with them? What exactly are they equipped with? And how many of them can we expect?

“I’m not seeing how that’s bad news,” you stated plainly, unconcerned. “So Valsten has some hired muscle, so what?”

“It means,” Captain Honnrieg cracked his neck, tilting his head to the side, “Oof. That our friends in the South Cities might have been getting ready to nab a piece of the Seagulls’ pie. Getting the Blood Suns to do work that doesn’t involve raping and pillaging the towns of the folk who don’t know any better than to piss off the South Cities Courts costs quite the pretty pfenning.”

“Seems important than.” You surmised, “You said they had a tank with them?” You noted the Sergeant’s report on what they had found, “What exactly are they equipped with? And how many of them can we expect?”

“Hell didn’t tell you much about his work, did he?” Honnrieg mused.

“We didn’t talk much.”

Honnrieg took a moment to see that everything was being packed up quickly, before turning back and answering, “They’ve got the money to buy a lot, but they aren’t fond of spending more coin than needed. Less loot to spend on nubile young women and gambling, see. So they like to have swarms of cheap junk to screen huge, flashy pieces. That applies to all their gear, their artillery, their tanks, but they’re all crewed by hard bastards. For how many…” He thought for a second, “When they go off somewhere, there’s not supposed to be many. Maybe a demi-company usually, but if the Southern Cities want to dip their toes in the loot…a shit ton more.”

“Captain!” one of the watches called from uphill, “Armor on approach. Coming fast, multiple directions.”

“Shit.” Honnrieg ran up the hill. You followed him, naturally.

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You looked out to where he and the watch were looking with your binoculars. You spotted a trio of tanks; definitely not of Valsten make. They wore the sign of the Blood Sun on their turrets, but these tanks appeared to be of Caelussian make. Cheap imports from across the sea, made in their thousands and shipped over the known world as well as to the numerous conflicts the Caelussian Confederacy fueled for its own gain.

The tanks were called T-8s, although they appeared to have some heavy modifications. They carried what appeared to be 4cm anti-tank cannons, comparable to your own 3.7cm in power. They also had some armor bolted to the front of the turret, but mostly likely that was only just enough to resist anti-tank rifle fire; T-8s were extremely light vehicles, although swift.

“How’d they figure we were here?” the Watch asked as Honnrieg scoped out the situation.

“They didn’t.” he answered, “Three from the south, two from the east and west…fuckin’…Hortenmanner must have killed the popular ones. They’re sweeping in from the general area, thinking they’ll catch us, since we’ve got to be somewhere around…We’re getting the hell out with what’s loaded.” He tapped the watch on the shoulder, “If it’s not loaded up, we’re not packing. We’ve got to get back across before any of them start looking at the river.”

“What about the tank?” you spurt loudly. It wasn’t yours, but you still felt an obligation to it. Leaving it behind would mean scuttling it; an improper payment for its diligent service.

“If they spot you sailing away, they’ll be taking shots at you.” Honnrieg told you between shouting at squads to move, “If you want to risk that, that’s on you. I’d leave it and get out.”

>Scuttle the tank and leave on the small boats. You'll apologize to Von Walen for blowing up his tank later.
>Stand and fight. Maybe you can scare them off with enough effort.
>Make a daring break for the city across a bridge; you can punch through a few tanks and run.
>Other

>>1546080
Forgot to have the choice of

>Sail away, Come sail away, Sail away with me.

And going on the barge like planned.

>>1546110
>>1546080
Does stand and fight mean the infantry are going to help us? If yes, let's do that.

If no, let's...

>Make a daring break for the city across a bridge; you can punch through a few tanks and run.

>>1546080
>You spotted a trio of tanks;
>The tanks were called T-8s, although they appeared to have some heavy modifications.
>>1546170
If the infantry are helping us, how hard would it be to defeat them?

>>1546190
>They also had some armor bolted to the front of the turret, but mostly likely that was only just enough to resist anti-tank rifle fire

Probably hard, but I figure we could pull shenanigans with some clever infantry ambushes and drive them off.

If you don't like it I'm up for scuttling the tank entirely and fucking off though.

>>1546170
>>1546190
If you stay, the infantry will not stay with you. Being a raid, their duty is to disengage as soon as possible once the objective is complete. As far as they're concerned, they're expecting you to either scuttle the tank or try and escape on the barge. They have absolutely no obligation to stay on that side of the river any more.

In any case, they're light infantry. Their only defense against these tanks would be the mortars attempting to strike the top armor; they have no purpose-built anti tank weaponry.

>>1546231
Escaping on the barge meaning, with the tank. If you leave the tank they'll take you with on the small, fast boats.

The barge is unlikely to draw attention without a tank on it.

>>1546080
Scuttle the tank and extract with the infantry. If there's a debriefing later ask for priority for a replacement tank for our efforts.

>>1546110
>>Sail away, Come sail away, Sail away with me.

>>1546241
>>1546231
Ok then,seeing as our objective was to just help the infantry out I say we've done our job and should leave asap. I'm switching my vote.

>Scuttle the tank and leave on the small boats. You'll apologize to Von Walen for blowing up his tank later.

You deemed it best to leave as quickly as possible, which unfortunately meant that you had to scuttle the tank.

Oh well. You could apologize to Von Walen when you got back by getting a priority replacement.

“We’ll be destroying the tank and leaving with you.” You tell the Captain.

“Destroying it? In what way?” He asked you between counting heads.

“I was thinking of just setting the scuttling charge on the engine and watching it burn.” You told him. Burning it out was less risky than trying to blow it up and possibly showering you all with shrapnel before you got far enough away.

“No,” Honnrieg held up a hand, “If you’re going to wreck it, drive it into the river or something. A flame will draw them to us more quickly.”

>Insist on destroying it with charges
>Agree to drive it into the river
>Come up with some other less visible method of destroying it (Write in)
>Other

>>1546469
>agree to drive it into the river

>>1546469
>>Come up with some other less visible method of destroying it (Write in)

Can we rig the scuttling charges in a way that booby traps the tank? That way it won't blow up until they get their hands on it, and they get a nasty surprise when they do.

>>1546469
>Agree to drive it into the river

unless we have time to set up some sort of pressure plate charge. then >Come up with some other less visible method of destroying it (Write in)

There was a way to use the scuttling charge as a booby trap, not that it was employed often. The way the scuttling charge worked was similar to a grenade with a significantly longer fuse, and a lot more explosive fuel. When a pin was turned two hundred and sixty degrees clockwise and removed, the charge detonated within either twenty seconds or one minute, depending which of the two time fuses was pulled.

Since the detonating mechanism was activated by the pulling out of a fuse, it was a simple affair to rig a simple pull-wire trap.

You didn’t have anything like a pressure plate; you were a tanker, not a combat engineer laying mines, but this would do well enough.

It was a good thing you didn’t go anywhere without a good length of twine. Steel wire would have been better suited, but you didn’t have any and you certainly didn’t have the time to pull some out of the tow cables.

As you rigged up the pulling trap to the commander’s hatch, Hans, having strategically removed a few parts, pulled the radios to pieces, slinging select parts into the river. In case this didn’t work, you wouldn’t be betraying any of the company’s codes. You also held onto a case of important files, locking down the driver’s hatch and threading the twine through the ring on the now-set demolition charge, which you had stashed between a loose assortment of upright shells.

You ever so carefully tied the other end of the thread to the commander’s hatch, while having Hans and Jorgen hold it slightly ajar. If the hatch was opened now, after twenty seconds of quietly cooking, the tank would likely explode.
There was the possibility of the charge being found and tossed away, but that would be a dangerous game to play with only twenty seconds to search. The line and the pin would be yanked far away from the actual bomb itself if pulled.

“I don’t know, commander,” Stein commented as you all jumped down, “Call me crazy, but I think we could have taken them.”

“Bombers are already on their way,” you heaved yourself down onto the grass, “Even if we had a good chance, I’d rather not risk being flattened with aerial ordinance. The tank’s done its job.”

“You done up there yet?” Honnrieg called, “We’re about to just piss off without you if you take much longer.”

With a sigh, you motioned to your crew. “Come on, we can have the wake later.”

The roaring flames of the stricken fortified guns began to wane as you raced back across the river with your comrades. The barge, in the meantime, innocently cruised down the channel. Far off, the buzzing drone of a few score of the Archduke’s bombers sounded an oppressive dirge. There would be no rest for the weary; you would be expected to rejoin your platoon and help take the western bridgehead soon after the bombers finished their work and the artillery completed their preparatory bombardments.

There was no cheering or celebration when you got back to the other side of the river, and onto safe ground on the island Salzbrucke occupied. The raiders merely slipped away into the streets, quietly mumbling to one another.

“Lieutenant,” the captain was waiting for you when you disembarked, “Good work tonight. I’m sure the Intelligence Office will be pleased with their rising star. You’re to head straight to your platoon.”

“No debriefing?” you ask, puzzled.

“Not for you.” The captain shook his head. “Don’t expect any accolades either. This was secret; nobody’ll recognize that it happened for at least five years.”

“I did sort of leave a lot of evidence behind,” you look away from the captain. You would have appreciated it if you were told about the lack of glory, as well as the apparent need for secrecy.

“Easily explained away.” The captain pulled a cigarette out and lit it, flicking the match he used into the river. “It was an expected risk. So long as nobody was captured, this was to be considered a success.”

He took a long drag, and blew a smoke ring. “Course, you can’t expect any promotions, like I said, but I can push the IO to pass an award through easier, if you want. I’m told there’s plenty of Bronze Lotuses prepared for the next month or so.”

The Bronze Lotus was an award for distinguished service. It went up in orders of silver and gold. A rather sightly award, naturally; not quite on the level of the White Shield of Valor and Heroism, but still a worthy decoration.

>I’d rather not have any unfair looking awards, but thank you.
>Sure, why not. I’m sure I’ll be getting Gold in a couple of weeks anyways.
>While he’s here, ask anything you’d like to know. Besides anything that might turn out to be classified.
>Other

>>1548055
Sure, why not.(for the medal)
Also if you can help me to push for a replacement tank for the one we lost,that would be appreciated.

>>1548055
>>Other
Instead of an award, I'd like a replacement m/32 sent to my unit to replace the one I just lost on the otherside.

>>1548071
Seconding

>>1548071
Thirding

>>1548055
>>1548071
Wasn't that m/32 we lost a spare one specifically for this raid?
On another note, if we do get a replacement tank, could we get one with equipment able to defeat that mystery tank that was barely affected by our hits on its weak points, or a gun that can do so for our current tanks?

>>1548720
It was von Walens tank we borrowed. As mentioned here >>1546080

Also our upgunned von Blum model might be capable of penetrating those tanks we met.

“I’d rather have a replacement m/32…” you say, “Than an award in the future, at this particular moment.”

“Too bad.” Honnrieg shrugged, “None of this happened yet, remember? You never lost a tank.”

“I figured as much,” you scowled. “But I do need a replacement of some sort.”

“I’m not in logistics. I’ll pass the word to the IO, and maybe they’ll lose a tank for you. I can’t make any promises.” Honnrieg threw up an arm in passing and began to walk off. “Don’t get killed too fast, you hear?”

“Yeah, whatever.” You mutter, kicking a stone into the Glennz in frustration. A pat on the back for a job well done; an excellent payoff to this highly dangerous and risky mission. At least, you thought as you looked across the river with your binoculars, you could watch some Sosaldtian scum blow themselves up on your tank.

To your disappointment, it still sat there, by the bank of the river. There wasn’t even a sign anybody had been near it, let alone tried to tamper with it. Was it possible that they called off their search when they heard the bombers coming?

Speaking of which, the bombers were really starting to get rather loud now. As your watch’s hour hand strayed ever closer to four, the Archduke’s squadrons were arriving along with the first hints of daylight.

>Go to your platoon to get ready to move
>Go to the company HQ to go over any plans
>Take shelter; who knows how many bombs might fall short. Paranoia is a friend when bombs are falling from the sky.
>Other

>>1548720
>Wasn't that m/32 we lost a spare one specifically for this raid?
No, it was one you had to provide yourself because the IO are cocks.
As far as equipment goes, the most heavily armed vehicle you could plausibly get is the Von Blum variant of the m/32, otherwise known as the m/32-47 for its 4.7cm gun. Getting more of those isn’t very likely, though; you weren’t able to get replacements of those even when you were up where they were made, getting them down here with any sort of speed probably won’t happen.

The 4.7cm gun was made specifically to counter the threat of more heavily armored Imperial Landships, so >>1548727 is making a reasonable conclusion.

>>1548746
>>Go to your platoon to get ready to move

Inform von Walen his crew will have to sit out and act as a personnel reserve until we can get him another vehicle.

>>1548746
>Go to your platoon to get ready to move

Being a patriot is suffering it seems.

>>1548746
I wonder if we could sneak up to our tank and disarm the chargre during the attack tomorrow.

You collected your crew and started to head back to the platoon’s encampment. It was slower going, since you had to walk now; a bitter reminder of what you had to leave behind.

When you were a quarter of the way to your camp, a flight of fighters passed overhead, presumably sweeping for any opposition. Besides the pop of flak, you heard no signs of battle, and the fighters, after circling a few times, journeyed further south.

About halfway back to your platoon, the bombers began to fly directly overhead. It was the most planes you’d ever seen in your life; around three score, maybe more. You could spy the first few formations dropping their payloads; while they appeared to be dropping them right on top of the Glennz, you knew that the momentum of the planes would carry their bombs far forward. The rippling booms carried across the river, and over the town, and they were still echoing in the distance when you arrived back at camp.

Your platoon was, to your pleasure, all up and about, seemingly waiting for you.

“Lieutenant,” Von Walen approached, “You’re, er…without my tank.”

“I lost it.” You tell him, “You’ll be a personal reserve until we can get another vehicle.”

“Lost it?” he repeated, “The hell do you mean?”

“I left it across the river,” you walk past him. You had to get to your second in command, Von Metzeler, to discuss your options and preparedness.

---

I don’t think we ever did this, so we may as well take care of it now right before it becomes relevant.
It’s time to structure the platoon. Obviously, being of rank, Von Metzeler is the second in command, but vehicle allocation is completely free.

OFFICERS+CREWS:
LT Von Metzeler
JLT Krause
JLT Von Walen
JLT Von Igel

While JLT Neubaum is an officer, due to platoon size restrictions he does not have a vehicle and instead serves as crew. He is oddly complacent with this.

CURRENT PLATOON RESOURCES:
X1 m/32-47
X1 m/32-37
X2 m/28-25
X1 5 person Crew, no Vehicle (Von Walen)

>Distribute crew and officers to vehicles
>Any other options to take at camp?

If any information on the vehicles themselves is needed, be it a reminder or anything not covered, I am happy to divulge.

>>1548817
You could certainly try that, if you can find it when you cross over. Although it'd be less disarming than either prying open the locked driver's hatch and cutting the twine, or scrambling in the normal way and throwing the charge into the river before it blows.

>>1548954
Additionally, while the m/32-47 is supposed to be your own tank, if for some reason you want to get into something else you can.

...not sure why you would, but the option is there.

>>1548954
>You could certainly try that, if you can find it when you cross over. Although it'd be less disarming than either prying open the locked driver's hatch and cutting the twine, or scrambling in the normal way and throwing the charge into the river before it blows.
Rescue op for our own tank? Sure. How hard will it be?

>>1548954
>Give Metzeler the second best tank so if we need to split the platoon both halves would have heavy support.
Other than that, I have no preferences.

>>1548972
Yeah, I agree with this, seems sensible.

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So this'll be the platoon setup for now, unless there are any objections as to placement.

Update soon.

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>>1549291
>Von Walen's Cuck Space

>>1549291
BTW OP, could you do anything to make the text easier to read? I can't really make it out to well.

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>>1549321
A bit of a sloppy method, but I remade the picture so it's in bigger and higher res. Should help.

>>1549359
Yeah that's better, thanks.

You rounded up your platoon quickly.

“I want Von Walen to hang around the Company HQ until we get a replacement,” you say once you’ve gathered them all, “For now, we’ll be operating understrength, but I’m expecting that to change soon enough.”

The thought of retrieving your lost m/32 had entertained your mind since you had left it across the river. Perhaps, if the battle moved quickly enough, there would be no need for a replacement at all. Or, possibly, if it came through anyways, you could finally saddle Von Neubaum with a crew and tank. How greedy that would be to hope for, though.

It would mean you needed to procure a new radio, though. Hans had done too fine of a job destroying the missing tank’s radio to hope to simply put in a few new wires.

“We’ll all be going to the company HQ now,” you say over both the sound of not only bombs falling, but the sound of the artillery on your side of the river waking up. A titanic crash from far away to the north signaled the warcry of a railroad cannon. “We’re going to be storming the bridge down there,” you point down to the Southwestern bridge from Salzbrucke into Valsten; you hadn’t learned its name yet, though it was presumably after some saint or merchant noble. “Let’s find out how we’re going to do this.”

No enemy return fire hampered your journey yet; not that you wanted to jinx it by announcing such. Once was to behin toto come in, though, you hoped that you’d have pushed deep into enemy territory. Salzbrucke was a perfect target to sight in artillery to for the entire area.

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"Update Soon" he said

Captain Schwartzholdt was waiting when you came in with your officers. You were late, of course, but that was hardly your fault. You’d discussed that on the radio when you were on your way.

“Well, gentlemen,” Schwartzholdt began, “It appears that we are at war. Thankfully, we have a plan.”

Schwartzholdt referred to a map with handmade paper markers, focusing attention on the area of the great bridge.

“Our task, as 3rd company, is to capture the St. Allegn bridge, as well as a bridgehead, as well as this bridge down here, if possible. Once we have secured these places, we are to hold and wait for the infantry to form battle lines.”

He pointed to a marker that indicated a company of friendly infantry. “Von Varbonn’s 1st Company of the 4th Varbonn Rifles will be crossing the river here, in small boats, to assist our capture of the bridge. At the end of the…” Schwartzholdt paused as the railway gun interrupted his briefing with its racket, “At the end of the barrage after this current cannonade, the final rounds will create a barrier of smoke. We and the infantry will be using that as concealment to avoid drawing accurate fire from any forces on the other side of the river.”

Schwartzholdt then regarded a pair of markers already on the bridge. “Our battalion’s reconnaissance platoon has advanced up the bridge, but have been stopped by a reported armor platoon. They are holding there, waiting for us to come and support them, delaying the enemy from rigging charges to blow up the bridge. Another enemy armored platoon is reported to be across the bridge on this high ground at the head. They will also have to be destroyed, should this artillery barrage fail to annihilate them. It will likely not.”

“Here is how this will be accomplished. We have little room for maneuver, so our options are clear, but limited. 1st Platoon will lead the way, and help the Reconnaissance destroy their enemy on the bridge. After that, 1st Platoon will be held in reserve, as 2nd Platoon attacks the hill, 3rd Platoon advances down the road to meet any oncoming foes, and 4th Platoon secures the crossing here.”

Schwartzholdt then looked to you. “I am unsure of what to do with 5th Platoon. I will allow you to decide what you wish to take part in, Von Tracht.”

>Green Line: Lead the Charge, then be held in reserve.
>Yellow Line: Advance until Contact
>Blue Line: Destroy the hilltop foe
>Red Line: Capture the southern bridge
>Questions may be asked.

>>1549545
>Green Line: Lead the Charge, then be held in reserve.

>>1549545
>>Yellow Line: Advance until Contact
Were an under strength tank platoon, we might as well reinforce 3rd platoon and coordinate as an adhoc platoon. Since their to advance right into enemy reinforcements they could use all the help they could get.

>>1549545
>>Yellow Line: Advance until Contact

3rd Platoon will have the most room to maneuver so they'll be able to make the most use of a supporting platoon; we could also swing south and support 4th Platoon from there if desired.

>>1549545
>>1549749
>>1550090
Support.
>>1549541
>The thought of retrieving your lost m/32 had entertained your mind since you had left it across the river.
Can we request to attempt to recover our lost m/32 to bring our platoon back up to strength?

>>1550243
You can, although the way that seems to have been decided upon leads you away from it. For reference, the place you left it is a few clicks to the east of the eastern edge of the map; you'd have to cross the south bridge over the tributary river to get to it.

>>1550261
So we'll have to move to an entirely different plan to get that? We'd have to switch to >Red Line: Capture the southern bridge I'm guessing.
>>1548746
Will we have Round 2 with Imperial Landship if we do so?

>>1550285
I won't say you have to race in Red Line to try for it, since technically the objective is only to get the bridge, not to push past it. It would just put you the nearest to it in case you wanted to go for it after.

That vehicle wasn't an Imperial Landship, by the by. Richter knows what an Imperial Landship looks like and they don't look like that. They're way bigger.

There were a few in the last version of this but they were pretty ineffectual. Needless to say that isn't likely to be the case anymore if you run into any,

>>1550310
>It would just put you the nearest to it in case you wanted to go for it after.
Oh, alright.
>>1550090
So his plan is still workable?

>>1550310
>There were a few in the last version of this but they were pretty ineffectual.
Why's that?

>>1550327
>So his plan is still workable?

It is. Considering you're a spare platoon, you have some freedom of movement as a reserve unless something fucks up enough to have to replace a platoon.

Why were they ineffectual? Eh, I dunno. The mechanics were unrefined, but I guess there was lucky rolling when they were around.

>>1549545
>Yellow Line: Advance until Contact

>>1550327
>Why's that?

Because we were operator as fuck in the last quest and tore through every enemy in our way.

Sorry people, but it's taking me longer than I expected to get everything set up. I'll just get the prep work for what's planned done tonight, and start back up tomorrow at 3PM EST.

>>1550794
Thanks fine, thanks for the update QM.

>>1549359
>>1550341
Oh right. If we're going to potentially try picking up our abandoned tank afterwards, where are we going to store Van Walen's crew if they're going to operate it? Inside one of our tanks, hiding out with the infantry in reserve?

>>1552134

We could probably just requisition a messenger or supply truck and have them brought up from the rear.

or we could just have the crew commandeer a raft and stand by on the other shore opposite of the tank and if we then manage to reclaim it they can just cross the river... that way they dont get in the way of anybody else and they dont risk geting shot at before they get to the tank

Why are we even considering recovering the tank during a combat op? Whats wrong with just waiting till we secure the south bank and recovering it then?

Instead of having people rushing to get in, remembering to remove/disposing the explosive charge.

Even if we do get it functional again, there is no radio in the tank. How are we gonna communicate, flags/hand signals/screaming?

Just wait till the replacement arrives, or secure it after the operation, that way we might get the replacement and the old one.

>>1552148
>>1552187
These work. We could use the raft or barge we had from the last raid. Could we try giving Van Walen’s crew a portable radio so they know when the signal is, and use it as an improvised tank radio?

>>1552202
>Why are we even considering recovering the tank during a combat op? Whats wrong with just waiting till we secure the south bank and recovering it then?
We're doing this as a side mission, Van Walen's crew aren't expected to crew the tank until the coast is clear or we have nothing better to do. However, the enemy might try destroying the tank before we could reach it, but I doubt that. Plus getting another tank could really help in the battle.

>Even if we do get it functional again, there is no radio in the tank. How are we gonna communicate, flags/hand signals/screaming?
We could try requisitioning another radio, shouldn't be too hard. Alternatively, we could use duck calls.

“I will join 3rd Platoon, in case any reinforcements turn out to be larger than expected.” You declared.

“Very well then,” Captain Schwartzholdt nodded, then looked down at the map, and nodded again. “Get made up into a company column, then. Once the smoke comes down, we’ll begin this assault.”

“Sir,” one of the other platoon commanders slammed his hands on the table, “I object to not beginning the attack immediately! Our comrades are in trouble on the bridge, and I am loathe to let them remain in peril for any longer than absolutely necessary.”

“The Reconaissance platoon has not requested aid,” Schwartzholdt eyed the upstart officer coldly, “They have been retreating and delaying the foe on the bridge, and have sustained minimal casualties.”

“I still request that I be allowed to move ahead of time.” The other lieutenant repeated.

Schwartzholdt looked around the space for any other voices, but only for a moment. “Lieutenant Scherben,” he decided, “Your role is to assault the bridge, in any case. If you wish to move ahead of time, then you may, so long as you do not proceed beyond your objectives.”

“Thank you, sir!” the 1st Platoon Commander saluted eagerly and ran out.

You left Von Walen at the HQ. Should your plan to retrieve you vehicle come to fruition, he could be easily delivered with the Company Command’s courier vehicles.

You watched 1st Platoon’s formation race off as you journeyed back to your platoon. Their makeup was typical of a Strossvald armor platoon, at least, how it was supposed to be according to new standards; two m/32 and three m/28. Of course, being from Von Blum’s territories, their m/32s were of the deadlier model you knew. 1st Platoon in particular appeared to use two of the m/28-13 models, which would be sure to make any Model 5s encountered absolutely miserable.

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In the space of few minutes, the smoke barrage began to come down, along with the order to advance. Part of it came down onto the bridge, presumably shooting short. It would probably help 1st Platoon, at least, although with how quickly it came they certainly could have afforded to wait.

The wind was blowing mostly to the south and to the east; causing the smoke to, fortuitously, blow into the faces of the foe. As you advanced across the bridge, the smoke became so thick that you could hardly see the shore.
Sounds of battle began down to the south.

“I’ve run into the kliefnaz!” the 1st Platoon Commander suddenly said on the Company net, “I will destroy them!”

There was a furious fusillade, just within sight; it ended quite quickly, though. You had only lifted your binoculars in time to see the gruesome sight of a lone crewman from a VPw-5 try to escape out the top of the turret, only for a burst of 13mm fire to pierce through the hatch and turn his insides to mulch. He fell back down into the turret.

“The enemy has suffered one hundred percent casualties,” 1st Platoon said smugly, “No damage to my platoon. I am advancing further to the bridgehead.”

That wasn’t part of their mission, but you heard no objections from the Captain.

Some forlorn members of the Battalion’s recon platoon passed you by on the bridge. Their PzA-19s had taken some hits, but it appeared that they had very few wounded. They simply stared at you as you went by; their lack of manners was only to be expected, as most armored recon came from the Grenzwacht border patrolmen.

You encountered the Valsteners they ran into on the bridge soon enough; or rather, the brutalized wreckage of them. Although they were well positioned to protect their lighter tanks, they had no chance against Von Blum’s heavier models of m/32. The Model 7s had been eviscerated by 4.7cm shells, and the lighter tanks torn to pieces by 13mm fire. It was likely that, had they concentrated their fire in their limited time fighter on the m/32s, that they would have realized with a shock that their weaponry was completely ineffective on their foes. After all, the normal m/32-37 was already resistant to the Model 5 and 7’s cannons. The Von Blum Model, being more armored, was like to be completely immune.

You were to wait, and allow 2nd Platoon to pass you; you were to advance down the road only after they had engaged the enemy platoon atop the hill ahead of the crossing. Thankfully, the bridge was not overly clogged, although it was certainly a taut space with so much armor on it.

>Investigate the wreckage for any survivors
>Pass on by
>Other

>>1552236
>>Investigate the wreckage for any survivors
Would doing this interfere or delay our mission?

>>1552245
It wouldn't; it wouldn't take long enough to, since you're waiting for the Blue Line op to start and move past that.

>>1552236
>>Pass on by
>>Other

Follow up personnel should be investigating the wreckage and it sounds like we have the recon guys providing close security so we dont need to be concerned about it. Getting out of the tank would just present us as a target to marksmen anyways.

I dont see why we cant talk to the recon guys from our tank while we wait for 2nd platoon to pass by. Ask them about the enemies morale and fighting caliber and if theres anything we should watch out for.

>>1552236
>Investigate the wreckage for any survivors
It won't do for someone to try to ambush us with a scuttling charge or something

>>1552247
Nice. If we pass on by, what'd we be doing, more recon, security, or discussion with the other folks?

>>1552251
Whatever you feel, if you want to write anything else specific in. There won't be a huge amount of time to do it, though. Five to ten minutes or so at most.

>>1552236
>Investigate the wreckage for any survivors

better safe than sorry.

>>1552256
>>1552236
>Investigate the wreckage for any survivors
>Other
>>1552245
Hm, alright. Have keep at least one person in each tank on machine gun duty while we check the wreckages. Notify the recon platoon or nearby guards before doing so. Call out for any survivors to surrender and lay down their arms so they'll be taken in by the rules of war, or something so they don’t try scuttling charging us.

>>1552248
Personally I hope we can get some prisoners for more intel on the op, we've got enough time and the recon folks should have our back.

Why is tank crew going to investigate wreckage when we have recon guys around us? Wouldnt it make more sense for them to stay in their vehicles in case something happens? Wouldnt do much good if a tank suddenly becomes understrength due to mortar shelling or a marksman, or even someone shooting them while their investigating the wreckage.

>>1552274
>>1552265
Hm, right. Reverse the roles then. We're on tank gunner and guard duty while the recon guys investigate.

Since it looks like a 2-2 tie, this is sort of a tiebreaker vote of sorts

While 2nd Platoon moved on ahead, you placed your platoon at the side of the bridge and approached the idle reconnaissance platoon. Besides having lost one of their armored cars, you didn’t notice any wounds besides superficial scratches. All in all, quite lucky, considering what they had encountered.

“While we’re here,” you explained, “We may as well see if there’s anything alive in those hulks. We can see if anybody wants to tell us how their defenses look down the line.”

“Who the hell are you?” one of the NCOs sneered, “You don’t get to tell us what to do. We already took fire for you, you can go hunting for seagulls yourself.”

You were sort of expecting that from Grenzwacht, you supposed.

>I don’t have time for your part-time army nonsense. I’m not going to ask twice, either do as I say or I have somebody else make you.
>Fine, fine. I see that you have to let the real soldiers do your job for you.
>Your efforts are well appreciated, but we’re most effective inside tanks rather than picking through wreckage. It benefits both of us if you do as I ask.
>Other

Note: Since Recon formations are drawn from Grenzwacht, or Border Patrol, they're seen as of a lower class than even common riflemen. Insulting their status is a good way of pissing one off. Whether that's desired or not is up to you.

>>1552320
>>Your efforts are well appreciated, but we’re most effective inside tanks rather than picking through wreckage. It benefits both of us if you do as I ask.
They should know that if they cooperate, we'll have better chances of surviving. Having a tank guarding some recon guys investigating is better than having some recon guys guarding a tank crew investigating.

>Note: Since Recon formations are drawn from Grenzwacht, or Border Patrol, they're seen as of a lower class than even common riflemen. Insulting their status is a good way of pissing one off. Whether that's desired or not is up to you.
>Pissing off your own teammates.
lolno, we're not dicks.

>>1552320
>>Your efforts are well appreciated, but we’re most effective inside tanks rather than picking through wreckage. It benefits both of us if you do as I ask.
On a side, does Strosvald operate their armor with mechanized infantry? Weres our attached/organic infantry to support the bridgehead assault?

>>1552320
>Your efforts are well appreciated, but we’re most effective inside tanks rather than picking through wreckage. It benefits both of us if you do as I ask.

>>1552340
>On a side, does Strosvald operate their armor with mechanized infantry?

Of a sort. Panzergrenadier units are, in theory, meant to work with Panzer units; as truck-mounted heavy infantry. However, this theory isn't often practiced since commanders see them more as mobile reserves rather than exploitation forces, so they'll usually end up separated.

This is due to doctrinal inflexibility as well as petty politics; Panzergrenadiers are usually from the middle class, being both not noble enough to be given positions of prestige but not common enough to be relegated to line infantry. Thusly, they chafe with the noble high command who'd rather not give them prestige on the battlefield.

On that note Strossvald doesn't really have the concept of exploitation forces down; armored units are more meant to act as local spearheads and support rather than infiltrating enemy lines; tactics emphasize battle-line integrity rather than encirclement or isolation of the enemy like a more...modern mechanized army would.

>Where's our attached/organic infantry to support the bridgehead assault?

Strossvald's armor units have no organic infantry support, but will usually have some attached. For whatever reason, you do not have attached infantry units, despite that being the usual way things are done. Why that is, you don't know, but it would likely be some scheme for some commander to have their famous "battle of the bridge," while not having to share prestige with the foot sloggers.

>>1552378
Thanks for explaining.
If ever you need to feel to handwave support elements away to focus and streamline the quest to more tank orientated action hero stuff,
I dont mind. Was just wondering where our supporting elements were for capturing a bridge.