>>4348252
FUCK YOU COOLI
MECH TIME BABY!

File: theFan.png (677 KB, 1028x816)

677 KB PNG

https://files.catbox.moe/eyb0uo.mp3

Aaahh… damn… your head. It hurt. And it’s so fucking hot.
Your mouth feels pasty. You open and close it a few times, trying to bring some saliva in it. Your throat is dry after drinking the whole night … and a bit of the morning too.
You take a deep breath. You can smell a fragrance of ethanol mixed with vomit and diesel. The air is heavy with dust.
You try to open your eyes, struggling against your glued eyelids. The little light that goes through the blinders hurt.
And you sweat like a fucking pig. You try to open your coat a bit to expose some skin to the draft.
You feel like shit.

There’s something hard pressing against your neck. Seems like you slept a while your it angled in an improbable way. It hurt just trying to get a good posture.
With an herculean effort, you manage to roll on the side. A quick inform you that it’s a combat boot, belonging to one of your men.
Yeah, that’s right, you’re supposed to be the commanding “officer” of that bunch. You stare around. Good news, it seems you’re still in the saloon. The room is plunged in semi-darkness and is empty except for your and your three wingmen. One of them is snoring loudly.
You take a pause, close your eyes. Heart is pounding in your head and your chest.
You can hear the sound of the ceiling fan, having an almost therapeutic effect on your pathetic meat bag. But it’s regularly interrupted by a sizzling voice. It comes from the back of the room.
The radio. Someone is trying to call you.
<<H..y G… ...n y… … w...k>>

>Try to not die
>Answer the radio
>Write in

>>4348257
>>Try to not die

>>4348257
>Write in
Find some food n' water to stuff in your face, then answer the radio.

>>4348257
>Write in

"NO I CANNOT"

>>4348266
+1

>>4348266
support

>>4348266
+1

The first thing that crosses your mind is to shout “NO, I CANNOT”. You cannot answer and you won’t. You’re dying right here. But soon enough you realize that it would hurt more than it would be satisfying.
What is important right now is to survivre. Breath in, breath out. Try to think about something else than your brain pounding against your skulls. You bring your hand against your forehead and start slowly massaging it. Your skin is sticky.
Soon, the good old reflexes come back. Would have been nice if you had them before crashing into a dreamless exhausting sleep.
You need to drink a big glass of water. And to eat something. You’ll never recover if you don’t. And so the next hardest task of the day starts: Standing up. You first try to find some motivation in giving yourself a countdown. At 10, you rise.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 … 8 ….. 9 ……… 9 and a half …….. 9 and three quarters ……… Fuck.
Seems like you will have to do it the hard way. You roll on your flank, trying to use your arm to recover. And slowly. Painfully. First on your face, then on your knees, you finally stand-up.
“Fuck” you say this time with a coarse voice.
Someone answers a brief “shaddup”. You want to give him a proper answer but you have more important things to do. Trying not to die for example. You lean on a table with both your hands and start to scan the room. An old and battered standard colonial construct. At first glance you could say that it’s the typical saloon template for colonial outpost number 1023. But the place is so old, it existed for so long that life came to it. Wood used in the construction has taken a patina through the age. On the wall, pictures of the settlers are hanging. A handmade billiard stand in a corner. The table next to you is where they play cards in the evening.
Damn they were good and now your pockets are empty. But they were good lads. Know how to entertain themselves with foreigners.

You stagger toward the counter. you go around. Leaning against the wall you walk toward the sink and pick-up an half empty pint among the one littering the counter. You quickly wash it and wait as it fills up, counting each second that passes. 20. You’ll need at least 60 seconds of water if you want to live.You take a deep breath and drink without interruption. Half the water drips out of your mouth. Damn does it feel good. Mountain’s water is the best. The cold liquid goes down your throat and runs down your skin, mixing with sweat. Soon enough your pint is empty and you wait for another one to fill. You make a quick glance around, looking for food. Some crackers here, some goat cheese there and already the pint is full. You empty it as fast as the first one, but this time, the last sip starts to be hard. While the last one is filling, you find bread, and some dry sausage.
And here you go again, drinking life in liquid form. Not as satisfying as the first one, water doesn’t drip that much anymore and to be honest, you struggle to finish the damn thing, but you know it’s good for you.
You prepare a little breakfast with what you found, but right now, the idea of introducing something solid in your mouth is nauseating.

<<Hey, does anyone hear me ? Please respond, over.>>
The radio again. Someone from the ship is trying to reach you.

>Time to answer
>Time to force food down your throat, it’s good for you
>Write-in

>>4348360
>Time to answer
>Get some glasses for the lazy fucks. Wake the fuck up.

>>4348360
>Time to answer
>Time to force food down your throat, it’s good for you

Why not both, im sure we will be easy and clear over the radio even with our mouth full

>>4348369
+1

>>4348369
supporting

File: toilets.jpg (65 KB, 600x800)

65 KB JPG

For how long did this guy try to reach you. His weary voice is enough of a hint for you to decide to move toward the radio. At least there is no sense of urgency.

But first you spread some cheese on a slice of bread and take a dry sausage with your other hand. Your chew without conviction, as you stumble toward the sound of the radio. You open a door and find yourself in the washroom. The radio is quite literally down the toilet. At least it’s like the rest. Clean and old. There are children’s drawings pinned on the wall. Not sure this place is for clients.

You reach for the radio antenna and bring it to you, drying it against your pant. You sit on the toilet and lay back, eye closed for a few seconds. Or maybe minutes. Your rest is interrupted by the same bored voice as earlier.

<< Can anyone hear me ? Over>>
You clear your throat as you bring the radio toward your mouth and press the button.
<< Yeah, Yeah, I can hear you, this is ...

> Zaur Givi talking, Over>>
> Write-in (another name).

Also, please roll a d100, DD40, roll under. Let's see how this stomach is holding.

>>4348427
>> Zaur Givi talking, Over>>

File: 91399377_3169029699795831(...).png (396 KB, 737x527)

396 KB PNG

>>4348427
> Write-in (another name).
Todd Howard talking, Over.

>>4348427
rollin' n rollin'

Rolled 27 (1d40)

>>4348427
sorry i forgot to roll
best of 1 or best of 3?

Rolled 81 (1d100)

>>4348465
fuck

Rolled 1 (1d100)

>>4348427

>>Vasily Romanov Reporting<<

Rolled 68 (1d100)

>>4348427
> Zaur "irongut" Givi talking, Over
We're going to live dammit

>>4348439
>best of 1 or best of 3
Best of 1, you're here to suffer. But not right now it seems

... Zaur Givi talking, Over.>>

you start eating with a little more energy. You feel bad, but it’s a little better since you’re seated. Hopefully you won’t vomit everything you just ingested. At least you’re already sitting on the toilets.

<< Ah, Zaur nice to hear you. Where are you right now? We need you to come back to the ship with your platoon ASAP, Over >> the operator answer quite excited

You take a bite off your sosig and answer with the mouth full:

<< We are in Auvillar, what do you need us for? … Over >>

<< You’re the only platoon available and the Erean army reached for help. Seems like they need support near the coast or something. Come back quickly, the CAG will be waiting for you on the flight deck. Over and out>>

Great Fucking news. You let a death rattle out as you sink on your sitting. Luckily, you start to feel a little better.

Not time to waste. You stand-up and move back into the room.
“Time to wake-up” you try to shout as best as you can. Damn it hurt. You put emphasis on your word by starting to kick the first body you see.
“... w … what now? Leave me alone …” Say your victims as protests start to fill the air.
“We are expected to come back on the ship.” you answer.
The lack of enthusiasm is disconcerting, but not unexpected. You start filling up pints of water. You take the last one, and empty it without mercy on each of them.
At least they are waking up. Or it would be more appropriate to say that they rise. The four of you are looking like living dead.

“Come on, we don’t have much time, CAG is waiting for us”. A thinly veiled threat. CAG isn’t known for “waiting” his plastered subordinates. At least you have an excuse. Technically you are in permission. The maggots crawling on the ground suddenly find a second wind. They are quick to drink and eat. Even if one of them quickly empty everything on the ground.

Ten minutes later, you’re all ready.

File: mountainRoadErea.jpg (117 KB, 900x521)

117 KB JPG

https://a.pomf.cat/hwklgl.mp3

You open the door. It’s already the afternoon.
You emerge in a small courtyard. There is a recon vehicle in it. Doors is open, and the key is certainly still on the contact. Not that anyone would steal it as most people here are staunch independentists.
With a handwave, you take your teammates with you.
A good thing that the vehicle is convertible. You make quick work of the roof while someone take the wheel. As you step in the engine roar and you have a hard time to hang on. The vehicle quickly leaves the courtyard and accelerates on the countryside road. You’re not sure what the speed is, and you don’t really want to know. You just take a deep breath, taking advantage of the cool wind. Quite reinvigorating, but that won’t be enough to mitigate the damage done by a night of drinking. But right now it feels good. The car is winding through the mountain. You see the ravine next to the road coming closer and closer at each turn. You wonder if this will be your last moment on earth. You contemplate for an instant your life. And what a life it was.

>Time to choose your background and your callsign.

(note that backgrounds influence your stats)

Medicine Dropout: Born in a rich family, you had the chance to become someone pretty smart, you were promised to a bright academic future. But this academic future revealed itself as a pretty boring life. As soon as the independence war began, the call for adventure was too strong and you left for a corsair’s crew, as your skills were in pretty high demand.
Patriot: You always believed in Erea and Erean people. The Empire always was some kind of abstract thing for you. Until the war took its toll on the people here. Increasing Taxes, requisitioning and waves of conscription in order to feed a never ending wars in the outer worlds slowly turned you into a political activist. You were in the front row for the independence (it's possible to see the top of your head and your hat on the historical photo) and the first in the line to fight for independence.
Tech wizard: You were in ! You were fucking in ! The whole planet defense system ! WTF ! Did the whole army’s digital infrastructure was built by code monkeys or what? Next thing you remember is the men in black throwing you in a van. There was some stuff about you cooperating and the death sentence being commuted. But the prison was targeted by independentists and a corsair offered you to become part of his retinue. That means a roof and no more beating.
Military: From a family with a long military tradition in the imperial army, you should have joined the imperial navy for a life full of war in the outer worlds. But you enjoyed the Erean climate and managed to sabotage just enough your grades in order to be assigned to the Imperial Garrison on the world. As soon as the war began, you deserted and joined your brothers
Weapon Freak:
“The right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed”, they will come for your guns, you know it. So you’ll fight them until the bitter end. And if it means using cool new toys, it’s even better.
> Write-in (other)

>>4348622
Weapon Freak:
“The right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed”, they will come for your guns, you know it. So you’ll fight them until the bitter end. And if it means using cool new toys, it’s even better.

Fucking imps violated the NAP

>>4348622
Tech wizard: You were in ! You were fucking in ! The whole planet defense system ! WTF ! Did the whole army’s digital infrastructure was built by code monkeys or what? Next thing you remember is the men in black throwing you in a van. There was some stuff about you cooperating and the death sentence being commuted. But the prison was targeted by independentists and a corsair offered you to become part of his retinue. That means a roof and no more beating.

Might not be 100% obvious but you need to come-up with a callsign by yourself.

>>4348642
Sapper? Titan? Leo? Grug?

>>4348622
>Tech wizard: You were in ! You were fucking in ! The whole planet defense system ! WTF ! Did the whole army’s digital infrastructure was built by code monkeys or what? Next thing you remember is the men in black throwing you in a van. There was some stuff about you cooperating and the death sentence being commuted. But the prison was targeted by independentists and a corsair offered you to become part of his retinue. That means a roof and no more beating.
>>4348642
>>4348649
Seconding callsign Titan

>>4348622
>Tech wizard: You were in ! You were fucking in ! The whole planet defense system ! WTF ! Did the whole army’s digital infrastructure was built by code monkeys or what? Next thing you remember is the men in black throwing you in a van. There was some stuff about you cooperating and the death sentence being commuted. But the prison was targeted by independentists and a corsair offered you to become part of his retinue. That means a roof and no more beating.

>>4348622
>Tech Wizard

File: SeghuMaru.png (4.45 MB, 2048x1536)

4.45 MB PNG

https://a.pomf.cat/famiev.mp3

https://a.pomf.cat/famiev.mp3

You saw your life flashing before your eyes. As a children of the city you rapidly took an interest in the digital world that complemented the real one and helped the whole planet run. You dreamed about the fully automated imperial arcologies in far away worlds, highly advanced AI capable of guiding human decisions and cutting edge tech like cyber brains. You immersed yourself in virtual reality to cope with those unfulfilled dreams. Frustrated by the little you had, you started to build what should have stayed the dream from far away worlds.

You dropped out from high school but you were more than able to make a living off your craft. And you were smart enough to not get caught. Until that day. The day you stepped on the wrong toe. You were imprisoned in an imperial black site until the revolution.You were liberated by the Corsair you are currently working for. You joined his retinue and were assigned to the electronic warfare department. Soon enough you were were part of a mech platoon, directly injecting malicious code before the quantum computer started flaring up.

You quickly realized that you were not just good at playing with terminals. But you still had your fun playing around with your mech systems. They were old but still light years ahead of what you had worked with until now.
As you look back on your life, you ponder how a pirate became a corsair. Quite fitting really.

But the death at the bottom of a ravine didn’t come. Soon enough, the road becomes a bit more straight as you enter the valley. And here it lies.

The Seghu Maru. Your ship.

Or more exactly the captain’s ship. You’re just a member of the crew after all. But you became attached to it, like everyone else. It was a second home for most of you.
It was badly battered in combat with an imperial Frigate. It prevailed but it was a pyrrhic victory. The ship landed here about a month ago and has been in repair since then.

It is a heavy freighter that was converted into some kind of merchant raider, strapping as much weaponry as possible on it. You were lucky enough to be among the roughly two thousands crew members to embark on it and fight for your planet.

You’re not sure how long it will take to repair it, but discussing it with a chief engineer a few days ago, he sounded quite optimistic. Maybe it would set sail before the end of the war. After all, the ship is safe here, and people from the whole district are coming to see if they can help. Plus, the Erean beer is as good as it ever was, helping with everyone’s morale.

Your car is rapidly closing in with the ship ...

File: tegaki.png (11 KB, 400x400)

11 KB PNG

https://a.pomf.cat/jkxzql.mp3

That's it for today, hope it got you interested.
See you in around 10h.

>>4348901
Great start man, loving it.

The engine stop and you’re suddenly overwhelmed by the song of the cicadas around. You step over the doors and land pretty well even if you have trouble finding your equilibrium for a few seconds. On your left, one of your wingmen throw up just after opening the door. It seems to be quite an amusing sight for the few technicians around.

It is installed next to a river that you cross at the ford before arriving toward the loading area. Here, you are in the shadow of the huge ship. Air is fresher here and soon, your foot won’t burn anymore. You have to wait a bit before getting a lift. There are other way to get inside the ship, but it would necessitate to walk. And right now, it’s quite important to reduce physical activity at a minimum.

One of your subordinate manage to find a flattened cigarettes in a pocket and start so smoke, looking at the horizon. You’re not the only one to feel like shit.

Finally some room is made on top of crates and you’re lifted in the loading bay. The song of the cicadas slowly fade to be replaced by the purring of the machines. You land on your feet and step in the colder ship. Environmental control keep the temperature cooler in the inside, but it’s at the price of having air smell like burned ozone. But the odor improved quite dramatically since you came down on Morning Star. Maybe the filter have been purged after a full month not working in closed circuit.

You make your way through the cramped corridors of the vessel. Refitting the ship into a warship was made with a few sacrifice. It wasn’t that bothering when in 0G but back on earth, it was quite a pain in the ass. Especially when you’re on your last leg like your platoon.

Eventually, you arrive on the flight deck, finally able to walk correctly. With a quick glance, you locate a man with a stern face. You try to straighten up and bend your chest, hoping the rest of the platoon will manage to make good figure.

“Sir ?” you ask tentatively.

The strict looking man turn toward you and you can instantaneously see his look becoming jaded.

“Lieutenant … “ He pauses and close his eyes. “As you know, we need money to accelerate the reparations on the ship.” His eyes open and you can feel his cold stare on you. “The Erean Forces contacted us for help since we are in the area. They are having some difficulty around Aingstgaard. Something a platoon of mech would certainly able to solve. Good thing yours is available for a contract.”

The CAG look at each of you. You certainly look miserable.

“You are expected to be deployed on the north coast in …” he look at his watch “ … roughly ten hours” his eyes come back to you. “Do you think you’ll be able to be ... operational by then?”

>”Sir, yes Sir!”
>”We’ll recover during the flight”
>”We might need a pick-me-up ...”
>Write-in

>>4349515
>”We’ll recover during the flight”

>>4349515
>”We’ll recover during the flight”
>Get the Not!Meth ready.

>>4349515
>>”We’ll recover during the flight”

>>4349515
>”We’ll recover during the flight”
>Write-in
See if we can get our guys some vomit buckets and greasy food before we leave.

Ten hours ? You try quickly to remember the rate alcohol withdrew from the body but it might be too much to ask from your brain right now. Instead you trust your experience. It should be enough for most of the alcohol to go away. And you’ll be able to rest during the flight. Aingstgaard is pretty far from the mountains after all.

“We’ll recover during the flight, Sir!”

The CAG stares at you suspiciously before relaxing a little. He put his hand behind his back before saying : “I wouldn’t have expected it another way.” You’re not sure if you hear satisfaction or if you just meet the minimum expectation. It’s always hard to know with him. He continues: “I expect you to be ready for take-off at 9PM, I’m sure you need to prepare so I won't keep you any longer. Be sure to check your mechs with the mechanical team before departure. We can’t afford to have one break down in the middle of an operation, so far from the ship. That is all.” He makes a short bow from the head and leaves - not without clicking his heels, an old imperial navy habit of his.

Soon, you are en route for the mech bay.

File: mechBay.jpg (186 KB, 1000x563)

186 KB JPG

https://a.pomf.cat/dnwhrb.mp3

Here you are, the mechbay. Home.
You take a deep breath, appreciating for an instant the smell. Diesel fumes, spilled oil, black powder. The smell of walkers. Mechanics are hard at work it seems, preparing your mechs. There is quite the commotion in here. Looks like they are already working on your mechs. You go check some hands here and there, someone crack a joke when he see yourself, and before you realize, you have a half smoked cigarette dangling from your mouth.

You recognize the CMO and wave your hand toward him. His hands are full so you move to help him. He starts the conversation: “Heard you were going out, so we wanted to be sure everything was A-OK.” You let out a small laugh and ask him - rhetorically - “How long have you been here? How come you’re still self conscious about your work. You’ve been maintaining the walkers for the last month and even managed to get spare parts. They are in pristine condition. Should be a routine check.” He turns his head and answers: “Hey, I’m not telling you how you do your work, so you don’t tell me how I do mine?”. A smile spreads across your face as you shake your head … Ouch, you wince, wasn’t a good idea.

Soon you’re done helping, and done with the small talk, ready to go through the mechs checklist.

File: Sunburn.png (291 KB, 262x466)

291 KB PNG

“Hey, boss”, you hear the voice of one of your wingmen. Sunburn. The one that threw up when getting-out of the scout car. He’s livid. “Can I skip the checklist ?”. Well, sure, you could take care of it yourself. After all, that is what you do most of the time. Pilots are expected to be here for fine tuning.

“Sure, just be sure to be back for when we leave.” He stays a few seconds idle before stepping forward. “Say, Boss, I know you told the old man that we were all right, but, you know. There are some people at the infirmary that owe me for a card game, I can get us some amphetamines.” He roll his eyes before adding “you know, just in case”. I can fetch some for the whole platoon. What do you think of it?

“You’re going to do it, no matter what I tell you, so go for it. It might help anyway.” … As he leaves, you call him. “Hey, Sunburn!” He stops and looks at you. “Get some food. You know, the greasy one. You’re pale as fuck and we haven’t eaten anything proper for a while. If we don’t want to starve before starting the operation, we will need it.” You throw him some credits to put emphasis on your words.

He just nods and leaves.

You turn back toward the mechs.

>Time to choose your roster, you will need to choose a total of 4 mechs. Please assign one to Zaur “Titan” “Irongut” Givi

File: apolloMkII.png (487 KB, 440x650)

487 KB PNG

Apollo Mk II:

Mobility: High
Turbine Engine
Afterburner for better acceleration or Jump(can overheat)
Can deploy wheel on even terrain for better movement

Weapons: Short-Ranged
Small calibers auto-canons that can deliver a short burst of high-damage, low velocity shells.
hull anti-personal machine gun
Progressive knife

Protection : Minimal, defeat only small caliber infantry weapons and machine guns. Anti-tank gun can damage it at small range

Extra :
Smoke pods
Flashbangs pods

File: marsRev12.png (1.44 MB, 1600x1510)

1.44 MB PNG

Mars rev 1.2:

Mobility: Medium
Diesel Engine

Weapons: Medium Range
1 medium Caliber, water cooled, pneumatic, auto-canon, long burst of armor piercing shells
1 Gatling gun
High explosive grenades launcher (short 3 grenade burst, need a minute too reload)
Power hammer embedded in the second arm

Protection: Medium
Armour can take a lot of beating, but will fail after several hit or if targeted by powerful weapons

Extra:
Flares

File: Vulcan.png (867 KB, 823x971)

867 KB PNG

Vulcan :

Mobility : Low
Pretty slow due to its heavy armour and inventory
Diesel Engine

Weapons :
High Caliber Canon (HE/AT)
Two coaxial Auto-canon (short range, low penetration explosives bullet)
Dual Purpose (CIWS/AA/APers Gatling gun)

Protection :
Heavy. Designed to be a target and give a hell to anyone dare to stop it.

Extra:
Magic Lance (shaped charge)

File: JupiterWeapSys.png (472 KB, 1066x800)

472 KB PNG

Jupiter weapon system :

Mobility : Low
Need to be stationary to launch, Pretty slow, heavy and a big target
Diesel Engine

Weapons :
Heavy support missile bay, can be loaded with a wide variety of laser guided missiles (need to be in sight of a targeting pod, either from the mech or from a JTAC)
Missile types :
- Swarm - Shrapnel - Anti-Mech - HE - AT - Anti Bunker / Seismic Charge
- Gaz - Vector interceptors - And so on
Coaxial medium caliber canon
Coaxial Grenade launcher

Protection : Medium

>I'll need a precise loadout for the missiles (30 slots)

File: notGundamAthenaPlatform.gif (1.04 MB, 500x375)

1.04 MB GIF

Athena Platform :

Mobility: Good
Can Climb, and create a fire position pretty much anywhere
Turbine Engine

Weapons: Long Range
Heavy caliber anti-material canon for long range penetrative shot. Bullet are dual purpose shaped charge that explode after penetration dealing large damage on a small area, ideal for precision strike or dismemberment.
APERS/AT mine dispenser

Protection: Minimal
defeat only small caliber infantry weapons and machine guns.
Counter-Battery Shield, designed to survive a few shot from Athena main weapon at normal combat range.
Operator can be exposed when in long range firing position

Extra :
4 drones slots : Recon or CAS

My vote is either the Athena Platform or Vulcan. The tank build and the sniper scout appeals to me.

>>4349841
I agree, but I wonder which one will better be suited with our stat Tech wiz
I think i'm leaning towards Vulcan a bit

>>4349852
Why is the Vulcan your choice?

>>4349811
>Athena for Givi, 3 recon and 1 CAS
>two Mars
>one Vulcan for fire support

Seems like there is no real consensus. Maybe it's a bit overwhelming, I'm not sure. If you have any question, I can answer them.
For now I will let more time for you to decide. It will certainly mean that next update will be tomorrow.

>>4349858
I like the lance
But now that i think about more, tech wiz might suit the sniper class more? Especially the drones

>>4349827
Tanks and only tanks. That's my vote. The Arbrams with legs.

The Jupiter and Athena would be best since we are a tech wizard. We have the best synergy with them. We can customize the programming on the missiles of the Jupiter or better tinker with the drones/mines of the Athena.

>>4349811
If there isn't more detail regardng the situation..
>>4350080
support

File: cockpit.jpg (446 KB, 798x1319)

446 KB JPG

https://a.pomf.cat/nrucmg.mp3

Most of the mechs in the mechbay were imported illegally from the inner systems or forcefully acquired, raiding Imperial ships. All newly produced mech are sent on the frontline in the outer systems. A small rebellion on a frontier world must be a footnote for imperial strategists. You know that settlers are trying setup a production line since the captains offered graciously some of the mech you captured for retro-engineering. A pastoral world like Morning star wouldn't dream to have the imperial authority designate it for the implementation of an automated factory.

Talking about mechs, your's are in perfect condition, as expected. What a waste of time. Time that would have been better spent with a nap, but a certain CMO would certainly disagree. You watch as the four mechs are lifted from the mechbay to the flight deck. They are to be loaded in a Caravel you’ll soon embark.

As you arrive on the flight deck, you are informed that for the mission, you’ve been assigned Three caravel. The first one will be transporting your platoon, the second one is loaded with ammo and will be able to drop resupply pod if needed. If the third one is able to land on a safe LZ, they will be able to deploy a workshop. You know that you can’t expect too much from it though. Any damage too heavy to be fixed on the field will have to wait for you to come back to the Seghu Maru.

You go to the changing room where your men are readying up. You open your locker and put your jumpsuit on. You quickly glance at the monitor on your arm to see if it pick up your life sign. Satisfied with what you see, you check on your helmet to see if the screen are workings and proceed to a quick radio check with the rest of the team.

You put on a flack vest and put two 30-round magazine in the front pouch. The last one goes directly in the SMG you strap on. You slide your trusty revolver in the holster on your leg. Last but not least, a 2kg plasma charge. Designed to scuttle unrecoverable mechs, but can also be used to vaporize a two story building.

Anticipation build up as you walk toward the Athena. You grab the lifting cable and put your boot in the stirrup. It bring your cockpit. You find there some presents from Sunburn in the form of a little metal tube containing round white pills and a kraft bag containing fried chicken and fries. You get in your seat, warmed up by the junk food and … wait.

File: MorningStar.jpg (18 KB, 940x627)

18 KB JPG

https://a.pomf.cat/wqehyx.mp3

You’re smoking, looking at the top of your cockpit. There’s a pic of a party thrown on the flight deck after your first sortie. The captain is on it. You wonder how big the party will be when this war end. When will it end actually. And what will you do when it happen. Your thought are interrupted by a feminine voice coming from your radio.

Chariot
<<Welcome aboard Chariot airline, I’ll be your pilot for the night, we’ll be soon departing from the Seghu-Maru, the flight to Aingstgaard is expected to last 8 hours. Please fasten your seatbelts and make sure your tray tables are up.>>

You can feel the rumble getting louder and louder as the Caravel engines starts. The transport ship is now moving in position to attach on the electromagnetic catapult. You brace deep in your sit as you know what is to come. You would have prefered to be in a better shape for that, but here we go.

Chariot
<<All systems are go, output is nominal, going at full throttle and engaging post-combustion. Hang onto something!>>

Oh yeah, here it come. The engines roars loudly as you’re stuck in your sit. The ship quickly gain momentum and a second later, it is airborne and you can see the landscape passing quickly under your legs. Altitude increase rapidly and your field of view gets darker, narrower, and then you blackout.

Coolighost proudly presents ...

You focus on breathing and keeping everything inside. Time goes slow but finally the post combustion end, you blink a few time until you finally see something. The curvature of Morning star and the sun that graze the horizon.

A Coolighost Production …

The view is quite exhilarating, hard to ever be accustomed to it. The planet is suspended in space, your whole universe is here. So big, yet so small.

Cooli’s Mech Quest: The siege of Aingstgaard.

The Caravel engines finally stops. You relax a bit as you watch the sun that graze at the horizon.

>Try to rest
>Take a pill
>Write-in

>>4351425
>Try to rest
Try not to feel sick, feel sick.

>>4351425
>Take a pill

>>4351425
EAT FOOD
SET TIME FOR 7 HOURS
SLEEP

>>4351425

>Try to rest

You try to find the most comfortable position in your seat. You eat your fries absentmindedly. Storing them under your leg revealed itself to be quite a good idea as it kept them warm as life support that keep the cockpit warm. The fries themselves are quite soggy now but you prefer them like that. You eat a little bit of your fried chicken before making an attempt to sleep.

You close your eyes, lulled by the vibrations of the life support. The smell of the fake-leather on the seat is quite intoxicating but it's a good substitute too the one of … fuel and ……. oil ………...that …………………..

File: situation.png (250 KB, 1674x929)

250 KB PNG

https://a.pomf.cat/dnczgd.mp3

Captain Preiss
<<This is the Captain Preiss speaking. I’ll be your liaison with the eighth division of the Erean army. Pleased to make your acquaintance.>>

“Nice to meet you” you answer politely.

Captain Preiss
<<I’ll try to be short and concise. The Erean second corps was to move through the plains in the south to try to outflank elements of the imperial army in the sector. We were hoping that with this manoeuvre, we would be able to eliminates all resistance west of the administrative capital: Behring. The second corps would then have been able to meet with the fourth and third corps, respectively coming from the north and east of the capital.

The attack was swiftly executed. Unfortunately, imperials were able to reorganize and form a defensive line. More importantly, they manage to retake the automated railway that is the logistical backbone of the imperial army here. The second corps have been since reorganizing for the next attack. The eight division was supposed to keep in check imperial forces around the city of Aingstgaard and ultimately besiege them to keep the flank of the second corps secure. Hopefully it would have been able to remove this thorn from the second corps side before attack start on Behring.

Now that the railway is operational again, Aingstgaard isn’t a pocket anymore and have become a bridgehead for the imperial army. Recent report indicate that they are actually building-up their forces. They are certainly planning an attack that would put the whole second corps at risk of being cut-off. Therefore, the eighth division is to attack before the imperials manage to concentrate enough troops for their plan.

Regrettably, with the current build-up in the enemy forces, such a move could reveal itself to be quite risky. This is where you come in, corsairs. >>

File: datalink.png (1.03 MB, 1236x932)

1.03 MB PNG

Captain Preiss
<<We have synchronized with your datalink so you should be able to see the intel we have on the area of operation.

We will soon launch an all-out attack on enemy positions. In this battle, the eighth division led by the general Himmelmann will face the remnant of the Imperial first division, recently reinforced. It will start with armoured units flanking enemy south of their defensive line at 0830. With such a threat on there back, we hope the imperials will withdraw to their second line of defense. Our infantry will attack the enemy defensive line at 0930 to increase the pressure. We hope to overrun them before they are able to properly deploy on their second line.

You’ll be dropped at 0630, on the Lavalette’s airstrip (south-east). We made two recon flight during the week and it seems Lavalette is lightly defended. Only one infantry platoon is dugged in north of the village. Once you are on site you are to secure Lavalette’s airstrip so we can bring some airlifted infantry that will defend it.

After that, your objective is simple. Wreak havoc. Disrupt enemies supply line, destroy their support weapons, attack their HQ, etc. you understand the idea. The enemy only have infantry, IFVs and tanks on this section of the front. With Anti-Mech missiles being the biggest threat you’ll face, you will have your hand frees to hit pretty much any target in the area. Keep in mind some area were mined by the enemy.

I will give you a quick overview of the most notable targets in the area. You will be able to gather intel from the population outside of Aingstgaard as they are mostly favourable to our cause. You’ll certainly find new objective as you operate on the ground.

A first target could be Genareli, and its airfield. If it is secured and the enemy AA silenced, we should be able to deploy our airborne QRF, a light infantry company that should be capable to firmly hold the city and provide support if needed.
Another could be Aingstgaard railhead, located south-east of the city. It’s where most of their supply come from and have become a de-facto supply dump. It’s destruction would seriously damage the ability of our enemy to bring reinforcement and
Aingstgaard itself is lightly defended and hosts the headquarter of the Imperial first division. Should be a terrible blow for them to lose their leadership as we attack them.
Finally, the citadel of Acroma should be a tough nut to crack if enemy forces were to dig-in there. It’s elevated position give it a good overview of the area and they are currently using it to guide their artillery strike.

Last but not least, the Imperials are heavily jamming radio communication in the area. It will be hard to communicate once you'll be on ground. Luckily, it's have a double edge. It mean the Imperials won't be able to react quickly until they realize something is up. Try to use that to your advantage. >>

>Understood
>I have some questions (Write-in)

>>4351887
>I have some questions (Write-in)
I'd like to know more about our Mech. How much heat to mechs typically generate?

>>4351904
It depends a bit on the atmospheric conditions. Life support try to keep cockpit at a liveable temperature. If it fail for some reason, it can go up to 60°c inside. More if you turbocharge the diesel engine for example.
Heat signature on the outside is pretty high ordinarily. The fact that you will operate under a summer sun mean that it will be even higher (the whole mech is covered in metal).

File: tegaki.png (12 KB, 400x400)

12 KB PNG

https://a.pomf.cat/jkxzql.mp3

Tomorrow should be an action packed session. It will most likely start at 3PM CET.
I will come earlier to answer any questions that have piled up.

Also please tell me if the briefing is completely unreadable for someone that isn't a complete autist

>>4351912
I should add that it only concern your mechs as they are pretty low tech. Brand new mechs from the inner systems are pretty good at keeping a low heat signature. Most of them are suited for combat in space withtout any addon and are designed to accumulate heat in heatsinks that can be ejected.

>>4351887
>I have some questions (Write-in)
Can our recon drones detect mines?

>>4352777
With a little bit of tech wiz magics, it can analyze patterns on the ground and identify where it was dug to place mines.
Making one fly over a known minefield would certainly help for better recognition.

>>4352834
And how about our communications, can we use the drones as makeshift walkietalkies in the field?

besides that
>understood

>>4352844
Short range radio might work, and if there is no obstacle between your mechs, they can continue to share data through optical communication.
Cutting edge mechs use quantum entanglement to share data.
Of course you can use the UAV as relays, you're a tech wizard after all.

>>4352876
>Understood
Time to murder

>>4351887
>I have some questions
What's the scale of the map and the range of enemy artillery? How about allied artillery?

>>4352928
Graduations on top and left are 10km each. Lavalette is roughly 10km from Genareli.
Imperial artillery can hit pretty much anywhere on the map.
Erean artillery in the area is pretty barebone. It's mostly mortars for direct support and softening trenches.

https://a.pomf.cat/lujexz.mp3

The re-entry in the atmosphere is as chaotic as expected. You just brace waiting for the turbulence to end.

Chariot
<<All right boys, T minus 1 minutes before the, should start those engine of yours.>>

She won’t have to ask twice. You check quickly to see if the atmospheric pressure is enough and then press the starter. The engine loudly roar, even louder than the Caravels one. Everything seems fine and when you check on your HUD, you’re happy to see that everyone is ready.

Chariot
<<T minus 20 seconds. The fall should last for 10 minutes roughly. See you later>>

You close your eyes and here a loud clack. Suddenly your stomach jump in your belly and you feel the adrenaline rushing in your vein as you start an atmospheric free-fall in a multi-tons metal hulk.

You’re mechs are equipped with the same add-on that let your mechs operates in space. It give you some control over your fall and will automatically trigger retro-rockets on your final approach. It will then detach.

File: Duster.jpg (16 KB, 372x660)

16 KB JPG

Duster, Vulcan
<< Uuuh, Boss? I’ve been detected by a radar. >>

Biscuit, Mars 2
<< That’s strange, the imperial AA on Generalli shouldn’t have enough range to hit us. We’re quite the small targets >>

Duster, Vulcan
<< No, it seems that it’s coming … from right under us? It must be from Lavalette. >>

Sunburn, Mars 1
<< Lavalette? You mean the LZ ?! >>

Biscuit, Mars 2
<< Precisely. >>

Duster, Vulcan
<< Annnd I’ve just been locked. >>

Sunburn, Mars 1
<< Good fucking recon Captain Preiss >>

Thanks to the datalink you have a rough idea of the what kind of threat you’re facing. It seems there is an AA battery consisting of 4 missiles system. They are in the process of acquiring their targets.
You give a quick glance at your altimeter. 5000m before touchdown, that’s a little less than 2 minutes.

You’re off to a good start.

>Evasive maneuver
>Shoot back
>Write-in (other)

>>4353000
>Evasive maneuver
Rely on our small target profile.

>>4353007
+1

>>4353000
>Shoot back
We're unlikely to be able to evade for 2 minutes. Also the Vulkan has CIWS

>>4353036
+1, good reasoning

File: oops.png (35 KB, 860x625)

35 KB PNG

>>4353007
>>4353032
>>4353036
>>4353060
Maybe I should have told when I started to work on the update.
Will wait for someone to break the gridlock and adapt the update accordingly.
Next vote decide.

>>4353066

Changing my >>4353032 vote to >>4353036

>>4353070
Updating then

File: agressiveSEAD2-1.png (932 KB, 1024x1200)

932 KB PNG

Rolled 42, 50, 34, 18 = 144 (4d100)

“Shoot back!” you say in the radio. Sure you could just wait to hit the ground and make mince meat of them as they are defenseless. But it doesn’t quite fit your style.
Your men acknowledge your order as you start to move away so you don’t get into each other’s way. You flick a few switch as your aiming computer goes online.
You can see from the corner of your eye that both Biscuit and Sunburn have started deploying flare to confuse terminal guidance.

You finally acquire a visual on your targets. You can’t stop a smile from coming to your face. Shit, this is what sheer panic looks like. They are shooting everything they have. Too bad, that won’t be enough to stop you.

Your heart is beating like crazy as you cling onto your controls, aiming precisely for one of the self propelled AA. As you’re about to press the trigger, you start to hear Duster’s CIWS starting to spit lead.

>rolling 4d100 DC40 (-20 (CIWS, Flares)).
>Please roll 4d100 DC54, 47, 49, 59 for attack ||maybe should simplify that next time?||

Rolled 4, 39, 73, 10 = 126 (4d100)

>>4353095
haha mech go brrrrt

File: poutingCatte.png (101 KB, 327x298)

101 KB PNG

>>4353099
Please leave some rolls so your friends can have fun too!
I will only pick the first one which is a critical success.

still need 3d100

>>4353107
oh, could have specified with a "roll 4 1d100s"
:^)

Rolled 17, 46, 94, 36 = 193 (4d100)

>>4353095
>>4353107

Rolled 8 (1d100)

>>4353095
>>4353107
>>4353119
Oh shit my bad, forget about those!

Rolled 84 (1d100)

>>4353095

>>4353117
Thanks, will know next time how to properly say it.

Rolled 30 (1d100)

>>4353107
Better

File: Biscuit.jpg (30 KB, 262x465)

30 KB JPG

First missiles salvo comes up to meet you but you don’t really feel like receiving them properly. You focus on your target, the northernmost self-propelled AA. Hard to properly aim while free-falling. But there is a quick instant where you feel everything is right. You press the trigger. The shot moves the whole mech away, but you stay focused on the target. two seconds later, the shell hit the vehicle that disappear in flames. A good shot … until you see a missile leaving the fireball with an horizontal angle before hitting the vehicle next to it! [Critical success!]

“Did you see that! Holy shit! Two for the price of one!” you shout on the intercom.

Biscuit
<< Why don’t you look at that before jerking off? >>

You see one of the two Mars opening fire. A short burst from his auto-canon, all of them directly hit the southernmost vehicle, disabling it. [Three degrees of success]

Sunburn
<< Not bad old man >>

The second Mars open fire on the last AA position operational … and … miss. Laughs erupts on the radio, one of them being yours. [Three degrees of failures] It is stopped short as you hear a loud BANG, you look sideways and see the Vulcan engulfed in flames. A direct hit! Fuck! You weren’t even paying attention anymore after so much missiles either missed or were shot down by the CIWS. [Enemy Success! Right leg hit]

Duster
<< It’s ok, I’m alright! the computer says there is only minor damages. >>
The hit was defeated by the mech’s armour

Good thing they only manage to hit the most armoured mech you had. You don’t want to know how your’s would have looked like after such a hit.

Duster
<< Let’s see if you like being on the receiving end. >>

The Vulcan shoot with its main gun and is completely thrown off balance. A thousand meters below the last AA disappear in a huge explosion. [Two degrees of success]

Duster
<< Not that much uh? >>

While your platoon celebrates on open canal, you start to look the around the LZ and quickly notice the digged in infantry, north of the city. You could take advantage of still being airborne to shoot at them from above, but with the city between you and them, you take the risk of having collateral damage.

You start picking-up enemy short-range radio. Seems like your program already managed to break there communication’s encryption.

Imperial Lieutenant
<< … the truck and rush to the company HQ! They must know what is happening here! >>

> Death from above (Which weapons/mechs ?)
> Wait to be on the ground (Write-in strategy if you have one)
> Write-in (write-in)

>>4353156
>Write-in
Wait for that truck to appear then fuck it up. The HQ must know nothing.

>>4353163
+1

Also wondering what our CAS drone has for combat capabilties >>4353156

>>4353183
HE/AT missiles, you can choose the loadout before it take off. It reload each time it is recovered by the mech. Loadout can be changed at will once recovered.

>>4353156
>>4353163
This

updating

File: droneView.png (151 KB, 1820x1381)

151 KB PNG

Telling HQ about what is happening here? That doesn’t sound like something you’d like to happen. Shooting above the village sounds like a bad idea, so you decide to launch the UAVs. You don’t particularly care about the loadout. Anything should take care of a “truck” really. You flick a plastic cover and press the buttons to launch a recon UAV and the CAS one. A rail deploy on the back of your mechs and moments later, the UAVs are airborne.

Around the same time you hear and feel the main thrusters of your space mobility addon going at full capacity. Your head nosedive as your muscle aren’t enough to keep you straight. You hold firmly on the straps holding your body. You rapidly lose speed and the rest is taken care of by shock absorbers. Explosives bolt rapidly goes off and your mech is liberated of the clunky add-on.

“Sunburn, Biscuit, go through the town and hit on the enemy infantry platoon before it organize. Duster, join them as soon as you can. I’m going to circle around the city and provide fire support”. After everyone acknowledge your order, you split-up and start moving while you bring the video feedback of the recon UAV on your HUD.

You can see an infantry squad is boarding a truck on the outskirt of Lavalette. A single AT missile is launched from the attack drone. A few second laters, it hit the truck around the engine. It looks disabled, but you keep the video feedback, just in case.
You start to hear deflagrations coming from the infantry position as you get into position. You zoom on the enemy position and notice they are trying to deploy and AT launcher. Even if it’s a pretty low threat, you take the shot. The battle is pretty one sided, but as you’re about to leave your position to get a better angle, the movement detector alert you. You instinctively, turn toward the potential threat, ready to shoot when you notice imperial soldiers with raised hand coming out of the village. It must be the surviving crew of the truck you disabled.

> Press the trigger
> Ignore them
> Try to do something about your new prisoners (what ?)
> Write-in

>>4353380
>Try to do something about your new prisoners (what ?)
tell them to bugger off, we have higher priority targets to deal with

>>4353383
Seconding this, not necessarily ignoring them but we have bigger fish to fry at the moment

>>4353380
take control of the airstrip at Lavalette
bring infantry in to secure the prisoners

>>4353380
> Try to do something about your new prisoners (what ?)
Tell them to disarm and get on the ground with their hands in their heads. Deploy a drone to watch them.

>>4353383
>>4353422
PoW's are sorta like currency. We could trade them out for equipment or any PoW's they have on our side. The more we get the greater the value of the bargaining chip.

>>4353450
This too

File: droneView2.png (267 KB, 1820x1381)

267 KB PNG

You’re a bit perplex about what to do with them. You first think about living them be but what could stop them to just walk to the company HQ or any other unit in the area. You could outrun them but that’s a risk you don’t really want to take. Especially since you don’t know how long you will have to wait for the Erean forces. At the same time you don’t really feel like wasting them using a gun designed to disable mechs.

As you’re absent-mindedly look at drone’s video feedback, you suddenly have an idea. You grab the SMG strapped on the front of your flak vest an open the cockpit but stay hidden behind the huge armour doors. “Hey, Imperials” you shout at the top of your lung. Good, it looks like they are hearing you over the engine.
“Throw your weapons in front of you, and get on the ground !” They do it without asking questions. You point at the sky towards the drone : “If I see you moving with the drones, I’ll shoot a missile, ok ?”. They’re acquiescing.
You close the door and strap yourself back to your seat. You put back your helmet and the oxygen mask. You move toward your new prisoner. They start to panic but you just step on their weapons before leaving toward the actual combat.

As you arrive on site, one of the Mars is still shooting grenades, but the battle have quite down. Trenches have almost disappeared because of the sheer volume of firepower they were exposed too. You can sometime distinguish bodies emerging from the freshly ploughed fortification. It appear they didn’t really had the opportunity to surrender over here.
“Let’s proceed to Lavalette’s airstrip, we need to secure it so they can bring in reinforcement.” you say. As you go through the village, you start to see head popping up in windows. People are starting to be curious now that the fight is over. You arrive on the airstrip. One of the AA is still burning not so far. You quickly scan around, but it doesn’t see any resistance is to be expected. You deploy with your platoon to cover the airstrip.

Sunburn
<< Let’s hope it will be that easy for the whole mission >>

Biscuit
<< The real mission haven’t even started, keep your head on your shoulders >>

Duster
<< Hey boss, do you see that? >>

A ping appear on the corner of your field of view. You check quickly and see that a small group of civilian have gathered on the outskirt of the village. What do they want?
>Ignore them
>Go check alone
>Have the whole unit move toward them
>Write-in

File: tegaki.png (8 KB, 400x400)

8 KB PNG

See you tomorrow around 3PM CET, maybe earlier

>>4353655
do we have any drones with speakers and microphones we could use to communicate with the villagers?

>>4353655
>Ignore them

>>4353655
>Ignore them

>>4353655
Drone

>>4353655
Go check alone

>>4353847
I would say it's possible to hear them if they speak loud enough, but you won't be able to communicate with them as your UAVs don't have speakers.

>>4354358
We'll need to install more speakers and more powerful microphones then when we have the time.

File: LavaletteAirstrip.jpg (359 KB, 1000x667)

359 KB JPG

https://a.pomf.cat/dzjest.mp3

You stare at the horizon, trying to locate Erean air transports. Nothing come. As you wait, each minutes feel like it’s longer than the one that came before. Slowly but steadily, the pressure of the first combat wears off. So your eyes wanders around. If it wasn’t for all the farm arounds, the landscape would be almost arid. The ocean is not so far off, north of here, but the sea breeze doesn’t get that far. That’s why most of population hug the coast. Maybe in one or two hundred years, this area will be properly irrigated and a lush vegetation will have replaced the scattered bushes.

From time to time you check if your “prisoners” are still in place. It looks like they don’t feel particularly motivated to do anything heroic. You think to yourself that it’s a good thing you arrived so early, it would have been hard for them to lie on a scorching hot ground.
At first you wanted to ignore the civilians gathering out of Lavalette, but curiosity finally get the best of you. You send and UAV toward them and try to make sense of the gibberish. Trying to separate the different voices using the analytical tool of the drone provide little stimulation. They are trying to determine if you’re with Erean forces. It’s true that you don’t have anything to identify yourself. Some want to see how they can help you while other advocate for caution, and letting you do your own things.

Finally, a bit before 0700, you spot four transport ship escorted by two gunship. They hover a while, certainly checking if Lavalette is secure. They eventually move at full speed toward the airstrip. You finally establish contact through the short range radio.

Erean Captain
<< Thank you for clearing the area. I heard that you had a tightly pack schedule so we won’t keep you any longer, we'll take it from here. >>

“Good” you answer, “we have some prisoners waiting for you to the north-west of the Lavalette, remember, they are ours”. The Erean captain acknowledge. From here you can see Erean troops dismounting through the dust raised by the engines, quickly establishing a defensive perimeter.

He’s right, you have more pressing matters to attend to. But what is coming next?

>Move toward Genareli
>Gather intel amonst the local populace
>Other (Write-in)

>>4354587
>Gather intel amonst the local populace

>>4354587
>Gather intel amonst the local populace
Manly men masking for informantion

Free at last. You’re about to give the order to leave, but seeing all the people gathered outside Lavalette, you think it might be a good idea to gather some intel from the locals. After all, you’ve already seen the limited value of the intels you by jumping on top of an imperial AA position. You stare at Lavalette. An old colonial city, standard template. might have been the first step of a more ambitious plan, but it was most likely abandoned to divert resources somewhere else. But the city have its charm, people here have been taking care of it and it looks like a little island of vegetation in the middle of the arid plain.
You move toward the bunch you were spying on earlier. They warmed up quite a bit since the arrival of Erean forces and when you arrive, you’re welcomed as a liberator. There are cheers and a lot of curious kids seeing a mech for the first time in their life. You open the cockpit and put your boot in the stirrup. As you go down, people gather under you and soon enough, people are offering you local specialty and want you to meet their daughter. You politely drink a few shot of whatever moonshine they are producing here before remembering your duty.

“They day isn’t over for me, the people here ...” you point at the Erean light infantry deploying on the airstrip “... are going to stay to keep you safe, but we are going to move north. So if any of you have valuable informations on the Imperials or anything that could help us free the region, please share it with me.”

The people around start to talk between them trying to find what could be of use for valiant freedom fighters like you. Soon enough you are amongst the family heads.
They start talking about how the Imperials keep receiving reinforcement from the railroad. Apparently the stream of reinforcement accelerated the last few days. The AA battery you disabled arrived yesterday apparently, and girl tell you that her aunt, that is living not so far from the railhead have been complaining about the back and forth of the vehicle on the main street. Apparently they are also receiving supply from the sea as a heavy cargo ship arrived in Aingstgaard a week ago. But people here don’t know much about its content as the denizen of Aingstgaard are mostly favourable to the imperials.

“They have imprisoned the mayor of Generali last week.” Say an old man. A younger lad with a straw hat add “They were suspecting him of working with the resistance”. A woman that might be his wife answer “Well he was !”. He brush it off: “Almost the whole cities is working one way or the other with the resistance. What are they going to do, arrest them one by one ?”. “They’d be better off if they did just that” say jokingly someone you can’t see. The old man who spoke first talk again: “The mayor’s nephew is living in the outskirt of Genareli. He might be of some help. Pocket terminal won’t work because of imperial jamming but we have a landline here, you might be able to talk with him.”

Someone pat your shoulder, you turn around and see 4 farmers with what look like antique colonial rifle. The rifle that were distributed to the first settlers for self defense. You immediately understand what they want. “Hey pal, we want to help? We’re sick of waiting and doing nothing. We know the area better than the imperials and I’m sure we could help in some way.”. You could always let them climb on the mechs but it would be dangerous and you’re afraid your countrymen don’t really realize what could happen.

>Thank everyone for the valuable informations, you’ll be on your way.
>Accept the militiamen help
>Refuse politely
>Try to contact the mayor’s nephew
>Ask anything specific to the locals (write-in)

>>4354706
>Try to contact the mayor’s nephew
>Redirect the militiamen to the infantry commander

Yeah. No. You won’t bother yourself with them. Sure it could be helpful to have locals guide you around. But you don’t feel like cleaning what is left of them on your mech when you will inevitably come face to face with a mechanized patrol or anything else. “Uhh, see the captain there?” you point the troops organizing on the air strip. “It’s the only one with the beret. He will certainly need your help to setup a defensive perimeter.” The four militiamen leave, quite excited to be able to help Erean forces. Someone else problem now.

You turn toward the old man. Everyone started to talk again and you try to tell him above the din : “Show me the way, I want to speak with that nephew you were talking about.”, he nods and signal you to follow him. You enter in a big building, most likely a public hall. It’s chilly here. You wonder if there is an air conditioning or if it’s just the huge wall that naturally cool off the place.

“You’re quite lucky, for some reasons we had regular power outage for the last week, but this morning everything seems stable. Quite weird since we’re only a few kilometers from the powerplant but well, I guess that’s expected when you're under siege.” he says as he guide you inside the rooms.

https://a.pomf.cat/odurou.mp3

You finally arrive next to an old communication terminal. He play with the keyboard and a moment later, the communication establish. A young man appear on the screen. “'Morning, grandpa, how are you doing?” he asks. The old man explain the situation without a care for the eventual secrecy of your mission. Not like the imperials would expect anyone to use a landline. It’s the remains of the early colonization after all. As he’s made aware that the Erean forces are about to attack, you can see that it’s difficult for him to contain his excitement.

He turn toward you after you’re introduced. “I’m honored to meet you sir. I’m the nephew of the mayor. He was secretly organizing an uprising to take the control of Genareli when the Erean forces would attack the imperials. But he was caught a few days ago. Unfortunately, he was the only one to know the different members of the local cell.” He scratch his head, hopeless.

Then you notice a spark in his eye like he just had an idea. He tell you:
“Yesterday, they moved him from the mayor office where they were keeping him until now to the hospital. I’m afraid they want to move him away from the city. A transport ship landed in the night on the hospital but they still didn’t left for some reason. We might have a window of opportunity to free him before the transfer. If we manage to approach the hospital without raising an alarm, we might be able to take them by surprise and stop them from taking him to the transport. Then he would be able to coordinate the uprising! I’m sure we can do it with your help!”.
He then give you his addresses, a house in the eastern outskirt of Genareli, on the road between the city and the railroad. He tell you he’ll wait for you there while contacting some close friends to help carry-out an eventual rescue.

>Commit to the plan
>You’ll decide later
>Not interested
>Other/Questions (write-in)

Should I slow down on the updates?

>>4354779
>Commit to the plan

>>4354779
>Commit to the plan

>>4354779
>Commit to the plan

>>4354779
>Commit to the plan
Why not, we're going to Genareli anyway.

You scratch your budding beard while you think a little. His interests align with yours. If the uprising is as important as he make it out to be, it might cut-off one of the main retreat axis the imperials have toward Aingstgaard. It will also cut the main road between the front and the railhead. The imperials will need some time to find an alternative path for their supply. Might even be an opportunity to capture the airport, but you’d need to find a way to contact Erean forces for reinforcement.
Anyway, you will have time to think about this later.

You focus back on your interlocutor and say: “All right, I will come with my men as soon as possible. Hopefully I’ll be here in half an hour.”. “You won’t regret it” he say in a whisper before taking a deep respiration. Did he hold his breath the whole time you were thinking?

The communication is cut short by a power outage. Is that what the old man was talking about? Luckily, everything you had to say was already said. You thank him for everything, he insist that he should be the one thanking you. You walk rapidly toward the main door. In the street you can see the Erean soldiers receiving the same treatment you had ealier. It give you the opportunity to slip between the denizen of Lavalette and get back to your mech unopposed.

You use the lift cable to your cockpit and get back to your seat. You quickly explain the situation to the rest of the platoon and conclude with “let’s meet up on the main road, northwest of Lavalette, we will move from here toward Genareli.”

File: roadsideMeeting.jpg (313 KB, 1920x500)

313 KB JPG

Less than five minutes later, Biscuit, Duster and Sunburn are with you and you start to go up the road toward the city. “Try to keep a low profile, we want to avoid detection as much as possible if we are to enter the city without being noticed.” You send one of your UAV forward to clear the road ahead. You leave the basin in which Lavalette is located and emerge on a plateau. The landscape start to change, scattered pinetrees leave place to a pinewoods after a kilometer. It will sure be easier to move undetected with such a forest, and your superior optics should give you more than enough time to hide if a patrol come your way.

Sunburn
<< Looks pretty good around here. It would just need a lake and it’d be the kind of place I’d like to settle in after the war>>
Duster
<<Still thinking about opening a marina, eh? >>
Sunburn
<< At least it’s not a restaurant >>

You notice a flash on the side of the road from the UAV video feedback. You interrupt the column. The conversation immediately die down as the pilots revert back to a more serious mode. You interact with your HUD to zoom on the suspicious light. It looks like a stranded vehicle on the side of the road. You use your mech optics to better distinguish what this is all about.

It is a limousine. You can see a you woman and a servant looking a bit lost as he look at the guts of the vehicle.

>Ignore them
>Avoid them (will slow you down)
>Have a little conversation
>See if you can help
>Write-in

>>4355008
>Write-in
Do we have anyone mechanically savvy in our squad?
Walk up to them with one mech, while leaving the others to take a quick perimeter and ask for identifiers.

>>4355008
>Ignore them
With the jamming going on, they won't be able to pass along info on us if they wanted to, and everything else is irrelevant.
Don't try to help them. It's not our business, and also higher status people are more likely to be Imperial sympathizers.

>>4355020
>>4355023
changing vote to support this one, let's get the train going

File: Biscuit2.png (111 KB, 220x291)

111 KB PNG

>>4355020
Biscuit is a hands-on type of person. He might manage something.

>>4355023
+1

File: datalink2.png (1.04 MB, 1236x932)

1.04 MB PNG

After further observations, you conclude it doesn’t look like an ambush. You tell everyone to get back on track. As you get closer, you can make out the details. Looks like a young girl, between 18 and 22, in a sundress. Must be from an imperial family. Maybe an aristocrat or a merchant judging by the car and the servant. You don’t have time to please lower nobility so you keep moving even if she try to get your attention.

Duster
<< Are we going to let them on the side of the road? >>

“If we help every person we meet on our way, the Erean army will have captured Behring before we make it to Aingstgaard.” you answer.

Sunburn
<< Are you sure? She’s pretty cute. >>

Biscuit
<< You can come back later if you want to offer her a date >>

He took the words right out of your mouth.
As you approach quickly from the city, you start to think about the next step. With your drone you can see the AA position and prefab buildings, 1st company HQ most likely. A network of trenches, barbwires, and if you believe the data shared by the Captain preiss, a minefield. You’d be obviously spotted if you continued along the road. The main problem being that a pretty steep cliff separated the plateau on which you were moving from the city. The road next to the position you’re observing being the most obvious way to cross it.

The forest on the right of the road can provide a good cover to move undetected until the cliff. It would give a good overview of the area, but the only way to continue would be most likely on foot. You could temporarily abandoned the mech to join the meeting with the mayor’s nephew. In the meantime, someone could start a recon of the area, and maybe plan a path for the attack…

>Prioritize the meeting, infiltrate the outskirt
>Prioritize the assault, Hitting hard and fast will be enough to paralyze the imperials
>Do both (Who goes where?)
>Other (Write-in)

File: tegaki.png (16 KB, 400x400)

16 KB PNG

https://a.pomf.cat/jkxzql.mp3

And that's it for today.
I won't update tomorrow most likely (I'm running a pathfinder campaign), but I be able to answer some question if it can help you prepare your next move.

>>4355200
>Prioritize the assault, Hitting hard and fast will be enough to paralyze the imperials
Going on foot into an enemy-occupied town during active combat sounds like a recipe for being captured.

>>4355200
>Prioritize the assault, Hitting hard and fast will be enough to paralyze the imperials

>>4355200
>Prioritize the assault, Hitting hard and fast will be enough to paralyze the imperials

File: generali1.png (361 KB, 2400x1113)

361 KB PNG

https://a.pomf.cat/hdhhdh.mp3 (embed)

First and foremost, you have to prepare for the attack on the city. You have less than one hour before the Erean armoured unit start their attack. You can’t just go walk around and take the risk of being captured while you have this much firepower at your disposal. You launch all three recon UAV and advance with your own mech as close from the edge of the forest as you can without being detected. The rest of the platoon naturally take position to cover your flank and your back.

From here you have a good view on the city of Generali. It’s located in a gorge. It must be sheltered from the higher temperature on the plateau. Maybe that’s why the city was implemented here. Both side are surrounded by pretty steep escarpments. The kind that mechs don’t really likes.
The Athena could manage to overcome the obstacle, but both the Mars and the Vulcan will be forced to use the same path the road between Genareli and Lavalette use. You could safely send a pilot below using the same lifting cable you use to get inside your cockpit though.

The city itself isn’t really crawling with soldiers. There’s a few roadblock around the city. They are occupied by gendarmes: auxiliary troops that usually are only involved with law enforcement. Their equipment is pretty dated, compared to Imperials regular. Imperials equipement is pretty outdated now that you think about it. Every weapons used in this war is.
They have a few IFV. Bulky, slow, without much armour, but their auto-canon aren’t to be underestimated.

The biggest concentration of troops is the company headquarter at the south-west of the city. It looks like it was a farm that was requisitioned by the Imperials. They built trenches and gabions around to fortify it. The fortifications continue to encompass the AA battery, west of the HQ. There’s a few bunker and a mortar position. You think there are AT missiles launcher, but the video feedback quality is pretty poor.
There are between 50 and 100 soldiers on the position if you count administrative personnel.

File: generaliAnnotated.png (639 KB, 2400x2400)

639 KB PNG

You look around to find one of your target: the Hospital. It’s pretty easy to find as the brick building tower above most neighboring apartments. It is pretty deep inside the city. You immediately see the VTOL landed on top. The light of the rising sun reflect on the cabin of the aircraft. In the courtyard in front, there is two APC - from the army this time - and six imperials. Probably more inside the hospital itself.

You estimate that at full speed, without stopping too much, the Athena could be there in 5 minutes, maybe less. Both the Mars could manage to be there in something between 8 and 10 minutes. On the other hand, the Vulcan would need 20 minutes, maybe more. It would give the imperials enough time to move the mayors away. As your drone close by, you manage to pick-up some radio chatters. One of them catch your attention:

Imperial Pilot
<< How much longer are we going to wait the gunship supposed to escort us? Did anyone manage to get HQ?>>

So that’s why they still didn’t move the mayor?

You then try to locate the house of the mayor’s nephew. You didn’t even asked his name. At least you have his address. You finally manage to find it. A modest house, on the outskirts, east of the city. There are more than 10 car parked in the alley. Must be the “close friends” he was talking about. You still wonder how you will coordinate - if you coordinate at all - with him. You notice behind the house an irrigation ditch that goes into a sugar cane field. A pretty good way to approach the house unobserved.
As you ponder the idea you notice a column of four tanks coming on the main road, right next to the house. They are coming from the railroad. Most likely reinforcement. It doesn’t look like they plan to stop in the city.

The last important objective in your eyes is the airport, which doesn’t looks defended.

You quickly find in your databank an old map of the city and annotate it with your observations. It’s time to devise a strategy.

> Try to contact the nephew (how ?)
> Rush the hospital with everything you have
> Write-in (More complex strategy)

File: tegaki.png (6 KB, 400x400)

6 KB PNG

Sorry for the late update. Some unplanned stuff and then I decided it was the perfect moment to waste a lot of time trying to make a map to illustrate the situation.
I'm pretty tired and it's pretty late, so that will be all for today. Hope I didn't forgot words or half sentence this time.
As always, if you have any questions that could help you strategize or feedbacks, feel free to ask.

See you tomorrow around 5PM CET for an update?

>>4358421
>Write-in (More complex strategy)
Send the Marses to knock out the tank colony
Keep vulcan ready to shoot down any incoming gunships while we go check out the address for the mayors nephew.

Was the vtol over the hospital already loaded with the mayor?, otherwise we could knock it out with a HEP missile from the CAS drone

>>4358421
>Write a note explaining our plans and send it to the nephew via drone
>Our plans: since we can't reach the city covertly in mechs, and since the only way in is passing near the AA position, and since it's also the biggest enemy concentration here, that's what we'll hit first. Then we go into the city and try to free the mayor
>We'll keep an eye on the VTOL and disable it with a missle if they try to evacuate the mayor
>The rebels are to be ready to hit the hospital once we reach it and neutralize the outer security.
>The nephew can write a response and show it to the drone's camera.

>>4358800
>>4358800
>knock out column
Might not be clear but they are just going through the city. If you were to rush in, they would be already on the western end of it.

>Was the vtol over the hospital already loaded with the mayor?
Hard to tell, the cargo isn't visible, the only thing you know is that it arrived suring the night and have been here for a few hours already.

>>4358819
You might loose a drone in the process

>>4358860
>You might loose a drone in the process
Better than losing a pilot

>>4358819
yeah this ones better +1

Rolled 54, 100, 50 = 204 (3d100)

Sending someone to the nephew’s house would take ages and was too risky. This was the only thing that blocked you. You needed him and his “friends” to storm the hospital once you would have secured the courtyard. You didn’t feel like storming the building with an SMG, even less if you considered how many Imperials were there.

You suddenly have an idea. As stupid as it may sound, it might just work. You look for papers and eventually find the maintenance manifest. You rip a page and start writing on it using a pen linked with a cord. At the same time you try to think about a way to escape the wrath of the CMO. You’ll pay one way or the another. You try to keep it simple. The mayor’s nephew and his men should be ready, half an hour after the reception of this message to attack the hospital. “Please wave at the drone camera upon reception of this message …” you say out-loud as you add the final touch.

You retrieve one of you drones and climb on the shoulder of the Mech. Rolling the paper around the UAV is easier than you thought. But you realize it might be hard to notice. You try to hard a few pointing arrow on the fuselage of the drone and get back into your cockpit. Soon after, the UAV depart to it’s destination

You open a communication line with the rest of the platoon and explain them your plan. You will hit the company HQ first, knock-out any opposition before it can organize, and then move toward the hospital.

Duster
<< Sounds good, but what if they just load the prisoner and leave? >>

He’s right, attacking the enemy base will take some time. Time the enemy can use to react. There is one thing you can do and it’s to disable the VTOL on the roof. You first think about shooting it with the Athena gun. The hospital is pretty far but you’re confident you can do it in less than three shots. But a quick glance make you realize, one or two stray shot would end in the neighbourhood. A gun designed to take down Mechs could surely waste colonial buildings. Your CAS drone will have to do. You hesitate a bit before launching it with 2 HE, and 2 AT missiles.

The scouting drone finally arrive in the outskirt in the east of the city. You circle around the nephew's house trying to find a way to bring the message until you resign yourself. The drone dive, follow a bell curve before crashing down in the living room window. You're heart miss a beat as the video feedback freeze. But you realize then that you still receive a frame every few seconds. After a short wait, you can see hands, supposedly waving at the drone.

Time to do what you’re paid for.


>Please roll 4 1d100 for the attack on the enemy position DC 74, 67, 69, 79 (unsuspecting yet fortified enemy)
>Infantry in the compound will try to defend the area. 1d100 DC 60 for moral, 2d100 DC 30 for combat.

File: time.gif (138 KB, 640x368)

138 KB GIF

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>The enemy will react after 1d20+10 minutes

Rolled 20 (1d100)

>>4359312

Rolled 81 (1d100)

>>4359312

File: tegaki.png (12 KB, 400x400)

12 KB PNG

Maybe asking for 4 1d100 was a bit optimistic
Hoped I could squeeze one or two more update tonight :|
I will update tommorow around 5PM CET.

Rolled 81 (1d100)

>>4359312

Rolled 26 (1d100)

>>4359312

Rolled 60 (1d100)

>>4359670

File: battleEchoes.png (1.36 MB, 1279x700)

1.36 MB PNG

https://a.pomf.cat/rwpmiq.mp3

You start to move, the engine roar as the whole cockpit shake. Damn you like pushing it like that. You quickly gain momentum and start to ignore pine tree on your way. You can feel your whole body moving in unison with your mech. To your displeasure, you can’t push it to it's maximum capacity. Sunburn and Biscuit must lead the formation as they will be the tip of the spear. Some time you’d wish to be in one of those insanely fast mechs like the Apollo. Sadly platoon leaders aren’t allowed to risk their lives in killboxes that rush towards enemy line at 120km/h As soon as you reach the forest edge, you stop to provide fire support. The Marses run into the fray. The surprise is total.

The main building is rocked by an explosion. Windows shatters, the second floor is blowned up and nex to you the Vulcan’s main gun is smoking. Imperials are quick to understand what is happening. You can see them through your scope, dashing to the closest trenches, manning defensive positions. You quickly take over Duster’s supportive role and start to open fire on the enemy base. Nothing can escape your eye. You methodically disable vehicles, building entrances, destroy weaponries, clear bunkers, and so on. [Five degree of success]

Even with such a precise harassing fire, you start to see the trails of AT missiles as they emerge from the trenches and the bunkers. Most of them aren’t even aimed properly, but the few that could become a threat are evaded by the Marses. [Two degrees of failures]
It is enough to hamper the ability of your assault mechs to return fire. They are releasing a deluge of lead with their gatling guns. They are even firing a few burst of auto-canon and have already used there HE grenades pods, but in the end it only amount to a suppressive fire. [4 degree of failure for both (was reduced by one by previous success)]

If you can see some infantry abandoning their defensive positions before the mechs are even on them, most hold their positions. You can give that to the imperials: if there is something they don’t lack, it’s courage. Moral roll: success
You suddenly hear a loud THOMP, thanks to visual damping, you aren’t blinded when a thunderous explosion shake the whole compound. It is soon covered in smoke and you feel the earth trembling, despite the shock absorbers.

Sunburn
<< Wooohooo! Who did that?! >>

A silence is the only answer he get.

Duster
<< What the fuck just happened...? >>

You don’t know. You are mesmerized for a few seconds, then blink a few times and quickly focus back on the situation. “Don’t know, don’t care, charge them while they are still stunned by the explosion” you barks on the radio. From afar it looks like some ammunition depot blew up. Was it the mortar position? [Critical failure]

Duster clearly heard your order. In fact, he was moving the whole time, using Sunburn and Biscuit as screens. You hear the rumble of the Vulcan’s waist’s auto-canon. The flame are starting to burn the camp and now, the devil himself is standing here, spitting explosives ammo at an incredible rate of fire. Trenches are ravaged, while he hit buildings with his main weapon. A 122mm HE shells every 6 seconds. Clearly, he isn’t counting his ammo, even the CIWS is firing. That’s the kind of guy he is. [Five degrees of success]

You’re attack is doing well, but time still runs.

>Beat the iron while it’s still hot
>Use the confusion to break-off and hurry to the hospital
>Finish them off with Duster, but send Sunburn and Biscuit to the hospital
>Write-in

[/spoiler]I keep calling it a company HQ when it’s a brigade HQ, how do I retcon such failure.[/spoiler]

>>4360766
>>4360774
>Beat the iron while it’s still hot

>>4360774
>Beat the iron while it’s still hot

File: tanks.png (620 KB, 1321x650)

620 KB PNG

You quickly scan the imperial line you conclude you aren’t useful anymore from here. You start to circle around on the left to establish a visual contact on the enemy AA and trust your allies to finish the job.

You take advantage of this little downtime to check the video feedback of your recon UAV orbiting the hospital. There is clearly some activity. Soldiers are coming and going in the courtyard and the VTOL is starting his engines. But when you listen to their radio frequency, they still seems confused about the situation. For now.

You toy with the idea of sending some mechs while they are still in this state, but you brush the thought away. You are going to keep attacking while the garrison at the brigade HQ is still off balance. It only need a little push before the resistance collapse and the area is secured.
You finally find a small clearing in the pinewood that would make a good position. You get inbetween big pinetrees and start to aim for the AA. They are heavier models than the one you’ve seen at Lavalette’s airstrip. Most importantly, they are hull-down behind earthworks.

A tricky shot, but not something that should be too hard to pull-of. As you concentrate on your target, you suddenly hear the voice of the tactical assistant you installed on the Athena. Not something standard, but tinkering all nights with your onboard computer have its perks.

Onboard Computer
<< Enemy tank detected >>

>leave them to the rest of the platoon
>Focus on the tank
>Other (write-in)

>Please roll 2 2d100 DC 84, 77, 79, 89 (defenseless infantry and tanks in open terrain)
>Nearby tanks come to help, not expecting mechs. 2d100 DC 50

Rolled 54, 78 = 132 (2d100)

>>4360920
>Focus on the tank
The others are distracted right now, better not to risk it.
>Also, hit the VTOL's engine right now
If we miss the moment they load the mayor in, we'll be in a hard situation.

Rolled 31, 31 = 62 (2d100)

>>4360920
Just realized I had forgotten the tanks rolls

Rolled 63, 6 = 69 (2d100)

>>4360920

Two tanks are coming from the south-west. They must have come to investigate the commotion. You aren’t well armoured but they didn’t spot you. You decide to seize the initiative. You just concede a few seconds to tell everyone about the threat and start to aim.

Imperial Tank
<< All right, I’ll take the leftmost one, you take the middle one. We trade shots and leave before the big one can target us >>

You won’t let them do as they please. There armour shouldn’t be too hard to defeat, but you don’t want to take the risk of bouncing-off. You aim for the junction between the main body and the turret. You press the trigger. The whole mech shake, but stabilizers keeps you on target. The tank you aimed for loose speed and seems to aim downward. Suddenly you see smoke coming out of the canon and soon flames follow, erupting from the commander cupola. You can see part of the crew bailing out. [Interrupted]

You then aim for the second one. The same weak spot. You’re about to shoot when you see dust and dew raised by the tank’s main gun firing. “Fuck” you say between gritted teeth. You press the trigger. This time it’s a bit more spectacular. The turret is sent flying almost 10 meters above as the tank explode. Ammunitions are cooking off, nobody survived.[3 degrees of success]

Sunburn
<< I’ve been hit! >>

Your heart skip a bit. [2ish degrees of success]

2ish degrees of success is red, I made a mistake. I'm trying to experiment with colors to make combat phase more understandable

Sunburn
<< Self diagnosis is running, but I can already say the right arm was damaged >> ][Amor defeated, right arm damaged, power hammer unusable]

You exhale loudly. Not ideal, but not crippling damage either. You come back to the AA and start shooting. At the same time you send your last recon UAV on the western flank to not let another surprise like that happen. You then switch control to another UAV, the CAS orbiting the hospital. You don’t want to be busy elsewhere when they bring the mayor on the roof and miss the moment they load him in. You shoot a first missile. The VTOL is hit, but not enough to your taste. A second HE missiles follow soon after and you look satisfied at the left engine burning. The VTOL start to spin a little before hitting an air vent.

In the meantime, your platoon overwhelm the brigade HQ. The difference in firepower is way too big. The poor imperials don’t stand a chance.

Sunburn stays behind and doesn’t take a huge part into clearing the compound. It’s most likely he’s trying to see how bad damage are. [Failure]

Biscuit circles around the enemy position, by the south. He ends up on the enemy rear and cut-off their retreat to the second part of their fortifications. [1 degree of success]

Duster, on the other hand, go heads on and enters the perimeter of the occupied farm. You lose sight of it. But you hear a lot of small arm fire, you’re pretty sure you also catch the sound of a few portable AT weapon shooting. But it’s the Vulcan that does most of the noise. Closing your eyes, you can almost believe it’s a thunderstorm far away, and a sweet summer night. But reality is different. It’s morning, you feel nauseous, and the thunder is bursts of explosives shells that crash into earthworks and tracers bouncing off the ground. You raise an eyebrow when you see a whole building collapse. After a few minutes of this treatment and the silence finally come back. [8 degrees of success]

Duster
<< Uh, boss, we’ve got quite a few prisoners … >>

>Ignore them, you need to move to your next target
>Leave someone behind (who?)
>Other (write-in)

File: tegaki.png (13 KB, 400x400)

13 KB PNG

https://a.pomf.cat/jkxzql.mp3

That's all for today.
Hopefully I'll start to update pretty early tomorrow.
More action to come.

>>4361432
>Ignore them, you need to move to your next target

>>4361432
>Ignore them, you need to move to your next target

>>4361432
>Ignore them, you need to move to your next target

>>4361432
>Ignore them, you need to move to your next target
and destroy their weapons if posible just like last time

File: hospital.png (505 KB, 1877x1438)

505 KB PNG

https://a.pomf.cat/sgkyze.mp3

“Ignore them, we’re moving to the hospital.” you say in a tense voice. Clearing the brigade HQ took more time than expected. Prisoners would have been nice, even more if it was administrative personnel. Who know, maybe there is a colonel crawling in the rubble of his outpost right now. But these people can’t be considered a threat anymore, and you still have a mission.

You and your platoon move back to the road and then go north. You’re a bit surprised when you notice that the roadblock south of Genareli has been abandoned. As you cross it, you suddenly see red flares popping in the sky, a few hundred meters north-east of your position. “Quick, they are starting to react.” you say through the radio as you accelerate.

You arrive unopposed to the entrance of the city. You're a bit surprise when you see the wavelength of the communication, you pick-up. It's a long-range radio signal.

Olympus
<< Olympus speaking, radio restrictions are temporarily lifted, red flares have been spotted, what is the situation? Over. >>

Bad news. You check for the roadblock on the right and notice it’s still occupied. Moreover, you understand that the unit manning the first roadblock retreated here. The red flare might even have originated from here. Something catch your attention. A Gendarmerie officer at the back of an APC, picking up a handset.

Panicked voice
<< The 1st brigade HQ have been annihilated! They have Mechs … >>

Oh shit. You raise your gun and aim for the IFV.

Panicked voice
<< … there is nothing we can do! They are already in Genareli! Send hKRFSSHHHHHSHSHSH- >>

The officer fly away from the burning IFV. “Too late” you think out loud. You aim for the second IFV and give it the same treatment for good measure. “All right guys, we might have been detected. Double time.” You take the lead and go straight north-west, leaving the highway.

Olympus
<< This is Olympus, repeat ... >>

Statics is his only answer.

Olympus
<< Does anyone have a visual on Genareli or the first brigade HQ? >>

Communication multiplies as the imperials try to understand what is happening. You clearly kicked in the hornet nest.

Captain Preiss
<< Captain Preiss to Titan, it seems the enemy stopped jamming communications. How the mission is going? >>

You explain to him the current situation and advise him to have his QRF ready. Genareli AA battery have been destroyed and you’re working on taking the city. Some help would be appreciable. By the time everything is explained you’re almost on target. You switch to your UAV video feedback and notice that Imperials soldiers are gathering in entry hall of the hospital. Are they planning to evacuate the mayor by vehicle?

>Strike now, force them back in the hospital and wait for the nephew and his men
>Wait for them to be exposed and ambush the convoy
>other (Write-in)

>>4362518
That's a really nice image. How did you make it?
>Order the soldiers to drop their weapons and surrender, then wait for the nephew
Ambushing the convoy risks hurting the mayor.

>>4362523
Arma 3 and shitty filters

>>4362518
>>Wait for them to be exposed and ambush the convoy
also keep an eye in which vehicle they put the mayor so we don't end up destroying it

>>4362815
+1

Rolled 2 (1d10)

https://a.pomf.cat/klppqg.mp3

You try to zoom on the front desk and tamper with the video feedback to get the sharpest image you can have with that shitty UAV’s camera. There’s clearly a guy in a dress shirt, with handcuffs on, guarded by two soldiers. That got to be the mayor. If they’re planning to move him with the three vehicles outside, it might be a great opportunity to rescue him. Without the protection of the hospital walls, they will be at your mercy. Moreover, you won’t have to risk his nephew’s life by having him storm the place with ... what exactly? You don't even know.

You will have to stay pretty far so they don’t suspect your presence though. You quickly look at the map in your databank and only see 4 obvious escape route for the imperials. Your lucky day. You give your orders. The platoon will take position to intercept and ambush the column. You have to make a whole detour so you can’t be heard from your target. The city is pretty ancient. Like a lot old place, all building are standard colonial template. There must be million of copies of those building accross the galaxy, but there's only one city like Genareli. Old places have all their own things. They are a window on the people that lived here for centuries. It's part of their charm.

You finally arrive at the designated position. A public square that will give you a great line of sight on a road going north, toward Aingstgaard. The only thing left is to wait. You keep an eye on the imperials as they order there convoy. You notice that a few people are observing you at there balcony. There's even an old lady, hanging out her laundry, completely unphased.
The square itself is dotted with tables in front of the housings. Certainly where people eat and socialize. In the middle of it, there’s a nice fountain and a bit of vegetation. You can see a few statues: the traditional representation of the first settlers. There’s also a band stand and an outdoor restaurants. Or is it a café? It’s closed anyway. You hope you won’t have to ruin it.

Your attention come back to your mission as you start to see movement in the entry hall. They establish a perimeter outside. Once they are satisfied with the safety, they escort what has to be the mayor in the SUV waiting for them in the courtyard. You inform everyone of the vehicles that should be left unscathered and wait with anticipation to see what will be there next move.

>1d10 for:

1: The convoy slips away
2 - 3: Titan
4 - 5: Sunburn
6 - 7: Biscuit
8 - 9: Duster
10: Unforeseen consequences

The engines starts, they are leaving the courtyard annnd … They’re going north! It’s for you. You realize you have the mouth wide open as you focus back on your environment. It looks like this nice square is about to become a warzone. It felt easier when this place was just a texture on a map. You remove your helmet and open your cockpit. Standing half outside, you make big moves to catch the attention of the people around.

“Things are about to get heated here, stay indoors and close the shutters, ok?” you say in a tone that feel weird even for you. You’re not used to fight amongst your people. It still look like they are complying. Shit, there’s even childrens. Of course there would be childrens. Good thing you didn’t try to shoot at the VTOL. A missed shot would have probably landed somewhere in the area.

You get back in your cockpit, and try to sit comfortably. But you still feel uneasy about the situation. “Focus Zaur. It’s the same work as always, you know what you’re doing” you say to yourself in an attempt to calm your nerves. You put back your helmet, lock back the oxygen mask in position. You’re feeling the sweat getting cold on your skin because of the environmental control. Sure it was hot outside but you were there for what? Twenty seconds?

You don’t have time for useless question, the convoy is near. You update the rest of the platoon and prepare for the imperials. You pick-up the vehicles audio as they approach the street. You crack your neck, roll your shoulders and grab the controls, ready to press the trigger.

>roll 1d100, DC54 for the ambush

File: hospital2.png (496 KB, 1848x1440)

496 KB PNG

>>4364068
forgot pic

Rolled 63 (1d100)

>>4364088

>>4364088
Why do we need an O2 mask in a ground vehicle?

>>4364138
First of all it contain the microphone for radio. It is also useful to prevent asphyxia in case of failures (electrical fires, engine shitting the bed and leaking, etc.) that wouldn't necessitate ejection (or when it's impossible). It is also useful for space flight (your jump suit is pressurized once the mask is on).

It is also part of the environmental control: fresh air keep you and your suit at an agreeable temperature.

Rolled 8 (1d100)

>>4364088
Did you only need one roll or can i slip a failure in there too? :^)))

Rolled 93 (1d100)

>>4364157

Rolled 28 (1d100)

>>4364088

File: ambush.jpg (2.13 MB, 1869x1440)

2.13 MB JPG

https://a.pomf.cat/ebfbox.mp3

The convoy rolls out in front of you, You know what you need to do. Shooting the APC in front will stop the convoy. Shooting the one in the back will immobilize the vehicle transporting the mayor. Nothing hard really.
You'd think as the convoy would draw nearer, training would kick-in and you would be able to concentrate, but the opposite is happening. You start to breath heavily. “Come on Zaur, you’re not twelve anymore” you say irritated by your own behaviour.

You wait. You must be patient. The best moment to strike. The convoy just took a turn and is like an accordion. You want the vehicles to take back their respective position. Most importantly, you don’t want the SUV to be riddled by bits of the front vehicle if it explode.

It’s almost there. You aim perfectly for the weakspot on the armoured vehicle. Not that you really need to do it. But feel kind of reassuring.

“Now!” Your brain scream as it suddenly find an invisible pattern for the perfect moment. You press the trigger. Nothing. Your eyes open wide as you’re startled. You only need half a second to understand what happened. “What the fuck is wrong with you?” you swear with gritted teeth. You unlock the safety and press the trigger just a second too late. [Failure]

The first vehicle explode as it was decelerating for the next turn. The driver behind slam on the breaks. Maybe with too much zeal as the APC behind collide directly with it. The black car begin to spin and roll on the side as the last armoured vehicle stop.

For a moment time freeze.

Then you start to see the commander periscope moving one way, the turret turn the other way. They are looking for you. You could place another shot before they spot you, but the car now shield half of the APC. A difficult shot. What if the APC explode with the car so close! What if you hit the fucking car! It’s too hard! You can’t do it!

>You CAN do it! (roll 1d100 DC 44)
>Charge
>”Fuck!”
>Other (write-in)

>>4364341
>Other: change positions for a better line of fire and order the rest of the team to attack from the rear.

>>4364354
rest of the team is still on its way

Rolled 88 (1d100)

>>4364341
LETS FUCKING GOOOO
>You CAN do it!

>>4364341
>punch the tank

>>4365188
+1, doesn't our mech have a shield we can somewhat hide behind?

>>4365215
Yes, It will increase the armor for right arm and body.

File: titan.gif (782 KB, 500x335)

782 KB GIF

Rolled 51 (1d100)

https://a.pomf.cat/uihsos.mp3

You can’t do it? You can’t shoot it? Who gives a fuck about heavy caliber anti-material canon anyway?! You’re Zaur fucking Givi! You’re in a big forty tons robots designed to trash anything in a 12km radius. You’re not called Titan for nothing! You’re going to trash this fucking APC yourself! You’re going to flip it like you would flip your morning pancakes!

You floor the accelerator pedal. The turbine engine shake the whole mech as it try to keep up with your sudden desire in increasing RPM. You drop the Athena Canon and grab the counter battery shield. You then raise it to protect your center of mass.

One step, another, the mech rapidly gain momentum. You can feel the controls, your seat, your whole body, tremble as the turbine agonize for air. The intakes protection plates open wide so it doesn't struggle to properly feed the turbine as pressure build up in pumps.

Soon enough, you’re running. You’d be bouncing in your seat if it was not for the safety bars keeping you in place. Like a coiled spring you jump above the low wall around the park and dash toward the APC. The engine whines but still offer you its full output. As you’re almost on it, the turret align on you.

>The APC Gunner try to aim and shoot at you, DC40

You notice the turret turning toward you. You slightly change your course in an arc to stay out of its firing arc. As you’re about to jump above the second low wall, you hear the auto-canon opening fire. A slow and rhythmic sound that kind of synchronize with your heart beating in your ears.

He miss almost all it’s shot except the last one that bounce back on the shield you've just thrown at it. With both of your arm now free, using your full momentum, you collide with the APC that start sliding. With one of your arm you “punch” in the turret, jamming it in place, gun pointed toward the sky. You’re not even sure the gunner is still firing at this point.
With the other arm, you grab the lower side of the vehicle and start rising it. The servomotors in the Athena are enough to lift the whole vehicle. To have it topple should be easy enough. As you continue dragging the armored vehicle, it hit the sidewalk. It then roll on it’s flank in an instant.

You stay that way a few seconds. Then you start breathing again as pressure blow. You release the pedal and your mech calm down for a bit. You approach the SUV where the mayor is. Everyone inside is still recovering, but one of the guards still raise his hands as much as he can. Not like you have anything to shoot him. At least not from inside the mech.

The mayor is a middle aged man, half bald and with a big belly. He wear what must have been a suit and tie. But he only have a shirt on now. It's kind of dirty. Good new is that he seems alive.

You wait a bit for your men to arrive. They quickly deploy on the square to secure the area. Feeling a bit safer with them around, you decide to check in person how the mayor is doing. While your cockpit open, you remove your gear. You then catch the lifting cable and go down, your other hand holding on your SMG. Nobody will try anything stupid with three mechs around but you’re never safe enough.

As you go down you can see wounded imperials starting to pour out of there vehicles around you. They are stunned but comply to your orders. You align them against a wall and pick the ones that are in good shapes and requisition there helps to get the mayor out. The car wasn't badly damage so it's not like you need to extricate him out.

“I didn’t expect to be rescued in such a way. My name is Desmond. May I inquire about the indentity of the fine gentlemen I owe my freedom too?” he say in between winces of pain. You explain him the situation while performing a small medical check-up. A few broken ribs, maybe a broken elbow. Nothing bad really.

After some explanation he understand that you’re here for his network and the potential uprising. “Eh, not even some time to breath.” He say, trying to stand-up without help. Not like I expected the struggle for a free Erea to be a stroll in the park anyway”. He clear is throat before asking: “I need to go to my office. That’s where I have everything stored. And I have a landline there. Will be easier to contact everyone”.

You look at him. He could certainly fit with you in the cockpit. The mayor’s office, his office, isn’t that far. It shouldn’t be too much of a pain really. You grab the lifting cable, put your foot in the stirrup, and you’re soon back in your seat.
You pick-up your headset to check if you missed anything and hear that Duster is trying to contact you.You tell him you're back.

Duster
<< There are some vehicles coming this way. Civilian trucks and cars. I see armed people on top. What do I do with them? >>

It must be the mayor’s nephew. Maybe he could take care of Desmond himself after all?

>Go to the mayor office
>Let the nephew handle it from here and move to your next target (railroad? airport? Acroma fortress? something else?)
>Other (write-in)

>>4365696
>Let the nephew handle it from here and move to your next target: the railhead.

>>4365696
>Let the nephew handle it from here and move to your next target

>>4365696
>Go to the mayor office

>>4365696
>Let the nephew handle it from here and move to your next target: airport
Good to secure the comfortable airlift pathway and force any imperials incoming to rely on paradropping and other low payload transports

>>4365840
regarding which target we should secure next, the Airport should be pretty close and defenseless, we could just send a drone or check by ourselves then let the nephew hold it while we contact Eran forces and inform them that they can send reinforcements, and while we are contacting them ask if they need us to silence the artillery battery in Acroma citadel, other wise the supply base looks like a better target

>Railhead
>>4365714
>Mayor's office
>>4365962
>Airfield
>>4366130
>>4366112

I will update tomorrow I think so I leave votes open for now.

>>4365696
>Let them handle it, head for the airport
Militia folk hopefully can take out the city with an uprising

A column made of pick-ups, off-roads and more ordinary cars enters the square. You recognize the man standing on the back of the front vehicle. “A bit late, eh?” you whisper to yourself. You go lean against the half opened cockpit door and wave the hand toward the mayor’s nephew. When he sees you, his face lights up as he waves back excitedly. “You could have waited for me!” he shouts jokingly as a greeting. A smile appears at the corner of your mouth. “I’m in a hurry! But the mayor is here, safe and almost sound” you say while pointing at the nephew’s uncle. “Do you think you can take care of him and quickly contact the members of your resistance circle? There is no way to tell how much time you’ll have before the imperials come to investigate, you need to act quickly.”

The mayor’s nephew nods energetically and grabs the mayor’s nephew’s uncle arm to helps him on a car. It’s starting to be a bit confusing and you decide to ask his name before your inner monologue become even more complicated. He seems a bit startled and answer “De-Desmond… my name is Desmond Sir!”. “Well, have a safe trip Desmond!” you say before coming back to your seat.

Wait. Wasn’t Desmond his uncle’s name?

You look at the map the Erean send you at the start of your mission to determine which target would be the most appropriate. You first think about making a little detour to neutralize the railhead but you eventually settle for Genareli's. You won’t have to go too far, the AA is already neutralized, your recon didn’t highlight any enemy presence in the area except for a roadblock. And staying a little longer will give time to the resistants to take actions.

You inform the rest of the platoon of your decision through the intercom and start moving through the street toward the airport. As you go down an avenue, you start to see more people at the windows, and on the sidewalk. Soon, you start to witness the same kind of joy in the population as the one you’ve experienced in Lavalette.

Sunburn
<< Hey, Biscuit, can you wave at them? My mech’s right arm doesn’t work that well and I don’t think that’s a good idea to wave the minigun around. >>

The only answer he get is a chuckle. Biscuit’s mech starts to salute the crowd. It seems it have some effect on the children's that are now cheering and running dangerously close from your mech. You're a bit slowed down but you don't mind that much.

Duster
<< Do people react like that in every liberated cities? Maybe I should have joined the Erean army instead of becoming a Corsair. >>

On your way to the airport, you notice a group of armed citizens with salmon and alabaster armbands, the colours of the newly created Erean state. They are setting up a barricade with the help of the neighbourhood. The people of Genareli are a bit faster than you expected to organize.

File: airport.png (108 KB, 944x1113)

108 KB PNG

https://a.pomf.cat/vnjpit.mp3

You finally arrive at the airport. There’s no sign of the Gendarmes. The place isn't in the best condition and it's pretty easy to get inside. The airport must have been pretty useful in the first days of the colonization, but with the port of Aingstgaard, the place can't compete, Furthermore, you doubt it can be modernized as a spatioport. You're platoon invest the runway to confirm it is still usable and if there is no bad surprise waiting for you here. Except a few weeds and the fact that only one of the runway seems to have been maintained, everything is fine.
You open a long range communication. “Titan to Captain Preiss, as promised we’ve secured the airport of Genareli. I hope your QRF is ready for deployment.”, you say, holding your mask.

Captain Preiss
<< Copy that, Titan. I’m giving the order for them to take off in a second. They will fly over Lavalette since it’s potentially the most secure approach vector. Good Work. >>

You stay idle covering the expanse, west of the airport. Out of boredom you listen enemy radio chatter. You filter it by long range frequency and pick-up something interesting.

Imperial corporal
<< We’re ready to move toward Genareli Sir. We should be able to make a quick recon of the western side of the city, maybe even have a visual on the first brigade HQ >>

It seems you will soon have guests. How do you plan on receiving them?

>Dissuade any attempt by shooting them at long range
>Wait for them to be close enough and annihilate them
>Hide and try to capture the recon unit
>Other (write-in)

>>4368133
>Wait for them to be close enough and annihilate them

>>4368141
+1

>>4368141
+1

>>4368133
>Hide and try to capture the recon unit
It's weird that the Imperials don't seem to listen in on our comms.

>>4368165
It's a perk of being a tech wizard.

>>4368166
They also don't seem to listen in on Preiss' comms.

>>4368178
It's a perk of being able to pirate encrypted communications. Your platoon, Imperial's and Erean's com are encrypted.

File: Imperials.png (250 KB, 1874x1440)

250 KB PNG

Rolled 11 (1d100)

https://a.pomf.cat/cimnpz.mp3

“Alright everyone, it seems the Imperials finally decided to investigate the situation in Genareli, a recon unit will soon be coming from the west. Try to hide behind the terminal, we will wait for them to be close enough and destroy them before they can react.” Everyone acknowledge your order and take position for the ambush.

It may have been only a few minutes, but the anticipation made it feel like an eternity. Soon, you won't be able to act as freely as you did until now. Imperials are bound to figure how much of a threat you are. But for now, only a small patrol of to lightly armed vehicles appear on the horizon.The recon unit most likely. You try to keep the lowest profile possible so they don’t suspect anything. Once they will be at less than two kilometers, it should be pretty easy to take them out.

You watch them getting closer. At the same time you order the CAS UAV to come from the north, in their blind spot. Unexpectedly they stop a few hundred meters short of your designated killzone to check the the terrains in front of them.

>The recon unit is suspicious since they have no contact with the units in the area. 1d100 for recon, DC 20.

Rolled 39 (1d100)

>>4368226
LETS GOOO

Rolled 72 (1d100)

>>4368226

>>4368233
>>4368276
The roll is already in the post, I'm not sure how to say it when it's me rolling for the bad guys. Anyway, since they manage to spot you, the update will be a bit longer than expected.

File: Imperials2.png (245 KB, 1856x1440)

245 KB PNG

The first vehicle is hit by a dual purpose shaped charge shell that leave a gaping hole in the engine before the whole vehicle explode in flames. The crew is already at a safe distance when this happen though.

The second vehicle isn’t that lucky. The gunner on the passenger side is quick to react but the driver and the turret gunner are a bit slow. The vehicle suffer a direct hit from the Vulcan weapon and is blown away by it. The recon vehicle tip over and you see two disarticulated ragdoll falling on each side.

Imperial Corporal
<< Sparrow to Olympus, we’re taking fire. I have a visual on at least two mechs on Genareli airport. They have a lot of firepower, we need help n- >>

The recon team is silenced. But too late.

File: genareliBattle.png (423 KB, 2400x1113)

423 KB PNG

https://a.pomf.cat/enmabe.mp3

Olympus
<< Corporal? >>

Olympus
<< Damn I hoped the Gendarmes were in cahoots with insurrectionists and trying to have us thin our frontline before the enemy attack... >>

Olympus
<< Bad news everyone. It seems that the Rebels somehow got there hands on mechs and have taken control of Genareli >>

Olympus
<< Colonel Zimmermann, prepare the second mechanized guards battalion for an attack on the city. You will strike from the west. Major Koenig, regroup the first armoured company in camp Lagrangia and support the colonel in his attack. You’ll be supported by our firebase in Acroma. In the meantime I will assemble two forces to attack from Aingstgaard and the railhead. It will not be much but we have to do with what we’ve got. >>

This time, it is for real. The Imperials are going all in. You’d do the same if you were them. You take a look at your map and hastily scribble on it what you gathered from the enemy intention. You share it with the rest of the platoon and start to think about what can be done to hold the city. The flank you're occupying is the one that will bear the brunt of the attack. The resistance might me able to hold the rest of the city. It would still be nice if you'd managed to have a greater level of coordination with them.

It’s that moment that the Erean airbornes decide to show up. Light aircrafts appears from the plateau south of the city. The small transports can accomodate for a squad each. They are hanging on benches welded on the sides of them. One after the other, they land on the airstrip and light infantry pour on the tarmac. They are arriving just in time for the attack.

You establish radio contact with the commanding officer, a fellow named Sabatier. He's the captain of the seventh airborne company. You can see it from here but he take the time to explain that the aircraft are not fit for combat. Actually, they are requisitionned vehicles belonging to the postal service. Apparently they use them to deliver mail in the most remote villages. They were acquired when the city of Thiercelin was liberated.

They are only good to move men quickly, they are quite exposed when doing so. But the Captain want to be reassuring. His men are well trained and well equiped. They have light anti tank weapons that are perfect for urban combat. They expect to receive reinforcement soon, so the moral is pretty high. They are ready to assist you in your plan.

File: airportTopography.png (229 KB, 1800x1113)

229 KB PNG

You send one of your drone to study the terrain the Imperials will use to advance. It's pretty. The airport provide good cover and the runway a good line of sight. The biggest problem you see is a pinewood south-west of the terminal. It will give plenty of cover to the Imperials to launch an attack. The terrain in the gorge itself is pretty open, but small variations in the elevation can provide enough cover for infantry to progress. North of the road, the terrain is pretty rough. Vehicles can't move there, but it is an obvious cover for infantry. The wide plain between it and the first buildings should be enough to disqualify it as an attack vector.

You start to draw over your tactical map to have a better view of the situation when you're interrupted by distant explosions.

Major Koenig
<< Olympus, this is the Major Koenig. I have report from one of my platoon that they are in contact with Rebel’s armoured units that are on their way to strike from the south and flanking our line of defense. >>

Olympus
<< Ignore them. If it’s not possible, slow them down. We need to take care of these mechs, we won’t be able to hold long enough for our counter attack.>>

That’s right. 0830. The Erean’s armoured units have started to move.

You still have some time before the attack. What should it be used to ?

>Find a way to improve coordination with the resistance
>Lay mines in the woods west of the city
>Other (write-in)

File: tegaki.png (11 KB, 400x400)

11 KB PNG

https://a.pomf.cat/jkxzql.mp3

Should have gone to sleep
Not sure the last post even make sense
Hope you're awaiting the next battle
See you tomorrow

>>4368469

>Find a way to improve coordination with the resistance

>>4368469
>Find a way to improve coordination with the resistance

>>4368469
>Us: run to the Resistance, establish coordination
We're fast and don't have to return all the way back to take part in the fight.
>The rest of the mechs: Lay an ambush in the SW pinewood
Whether the Imperials try to attack from the woods or the road, we'll have good position and lines of fire.
>Half of the QRF fortify in the ariport, with a good MG position overlooking the approach from the rough terrain
>The rest of the QRF support the mechs in the forest
It's the perfect ground for light AT weapons

>>4369006
changing this to support-
>>4369019
-this one instead

So much things to do, so little time. You exhale loudly, lie down in your seat, put your hands behind the back of your hands, trying to relax a bit. You close your eyes, still feeling the the light of your HUD through your eyelids. You really needed to coordinate with the resistance. You can't just spread the airbornes through the city, you need your back secured.

You would have to trust the airbornes and your men to organize while you’re gone looking for the Desmonds. You can still give some guidelines. You start to talk on the common radio channel so both your men and the Erean can hear you. “Captain Sabatier. I’m going to leave for a while. I should be back for the party, don’t worry.” you feel the need to add before he start to doubt his new allies. “I’ve gathered informations suggesting the Imperials are about to attack in force from the west. The rest of my platoon will deploy in the pinewood south-west of the airport. They will hide and wait for an ambush. The imperials are most likely to try to use this wood as a base for an attack on the airport. Best case scenario, we would catch them pants down in open terrain. Worst case scenario, we wil still have a good position to hit them if they decide to move along the highway.”

You wait a bit to see if he agrees with your analysis. He seems to, making your next request easier. “With your men hidden in the wood, We would have even more fire power. The trees would provide a pretty good cover and the range is ideal for your LAT weapons.” He don’t try to argue with your logic. “We still need some of your men defending the airport in case the Imperials try to attack through the rough terrain north of the road. A well placed machine-gun should be enough to deter any real attempt. And they could be able to cover the flanks of the unit in the wood. If things go south, they'll be able provide suppressive fire in case they need to retreat.”.

Captain Sabatier
<< Sounds like a plan, I’m going to start organizing the men. >>

You’re reassured that he accepted your leadership without questions. You were not sure how direct collaboration with Erean forces would go. You gently push the stick and start moving toward the city. Approaching the city, you have the sun in the eyes. You realize it will certainly blind the Imperials during their attack. It looks like Mother Luck always keeps an eye on her Corsairs.

You stop at the first group of armed citizen you see. Maybe you should add some kind of speaker on the Athena you think as you remove your headset yet again. You’re used to fight with peoples having radios, having to leave your sit and open the cockpit door each time you want to communicate start to get on your nerves. You engage the conversation: “Hey there, I’m looking for Desmond, do you know where I can find him?”. They answer with quizzical looks. “Hm, the Mayor”, you feel the need to add. They suddenly seems to understand what you are talking about. They point you toward the mayor’s office, obviously.

“At least, that’s where he was the last time I saw him. We were supposed to use land lines to communicate but we had a power outage, yet again.” say a middle-aged men with the kind of mustache that would make any Erean proud. “I hope this will stop once the Erean will have chased the Imperials.” add an old men wearing a flat cap. You thanks them for the help and start to move again.

As you approach the city center, you start to see the colours of Erea, hanging from windows and on clothes line. The mayor’s office is bursting with activity people are getting in and out. They are equipped with all kind of weapons. From the old settler rifle to the gendarme SMG. Some are suspiciously young, others can’t stay straight without a cane. It's quite a diverse crowd. You don’t have to announce yourself, the mayor limp outside and request some huzzah for you.

When people have calmed, you tell him about the incoming imperial attack and the fact that you will hold the left flank of the city. You then continue on the main reason for your trip : “I would need a way to coordinate with you and your men. We trust you for holding the city. But it's important for both of us to know what's going on for the other, and support each other if needed". He answer immediatly: “I wholeheartedly agree. I was planning on using the landlines as we did for the last months but it seems the inconsistent energy supply that have plagued us for the last few day have it again. And at the worst time possible that is." He make a pose as he visibly think. "I have a few men trying to get in the Gendarmerie’s armory. It's quite possible they had some radios in there. But if it's the case, they stand behind an armoured door. Maybe it's something you can take care off?"

>Sure. I’ll be on my way to help your men?
>Wait, is Desmond really your name?
>I’ll just give you the frequency we’re using, I have other things to attend to (Write-in)

>>4370228
>Sure. I’ll be on my way to help your men?

>>4370228
>Sure. I’ll be on my way to help your men?
>Wait, is Desmond really your name?

>>4370228
>Sure. I’ll be on my way to help your men?

The Gendarmes abandoned the Gendarmerie? Either you scarred them shitless or their hierarchy doesn’t want them to commit in a fight against Erean. In any case, if they have abandoned their equipment there, it’s quite possible you could find radios and equip the people of Genareli with it. In any way you should be able to find better weapons than settlers rifles.

“Sure, I”ll be on my way to help your men.” you tell. Before going back to your seat, you hesitate a little about asking to the mayor if his name is really Desmond but decide it’s not worth it. The Gendarmerie is only a hundred meters away, south from the mayor’s office. But the street are full of peoples. On your way you notice a school bus loaded with peoples. It seems they are evacuating citizens to the neighbourhoods east of the city. Most people here are certainly walking to the same destination. You wonder if they will make it out of harm’s way in time. Rising barricades don’t make this evacuation nor your journey easier.

Eventually you get in front of the Gendarmerie. An imperial flag lie trampled on the ground and an Erean one, sewed together, replace it on the flag pole. The building's metal shutters have been forced and you immediately see an awkwardly parked van on the stairs leading to the glorified police station. A chain is hooked in the back and the vehicle is desperately trying to accelerate in the descent.

You open your cockpit and ask : “What’s all this ruckus”. The driver stop flooring his pedal and lean through the opened window. “I’m trying to break open the Gendarmerie’s armory.” He stare at your mech from top to bottom. “Think you could give an helping hand?”. “That’s why I’m here !” you answer. He look confused for a second before saying : “Oh, wait, there’s people inside. I’ll tell them to fuck-off.” The man jump out of the van, run up the stairs and start shouting through the half open shutters. You can’t make out what he’s saying but a moment later, half a dozen people are getting out of the place.

You’re not exactly sure how to handle that. You first try to open the shutters full to better see what is going on inside. You’re quickly frustrated by the maneuver and destroy the whole entry hall using Athena’s hand. It feel like crushing a cardboard-box. Once the entrance is cleared, you spot the armory doors. The chain coming from the back of the van is coiled around the opening mechanism. You pick it up and try to pull on it. You’re a bit disappointed when the chain snap. You’re not piloting an industrial mech. The Athena isn’t designed for that kind of precision maneuver. Once again you lose your cool and just punch the door along a good part of the wall. It doesn't offer not much more resistance than the previous one.

The dust clear quickly. It’s hard to see anything from here, but using the mechs optics, you identify riot gears, bulletproof vests, shotguns, SMGs, tear gas grenades and … something that looks like short range radios? Unless the Gendarmes are storing their lunch-boxes locked away in their armory, it must be handheld radios. You open your cockpit in half and shout to the militiamen hiding behind cars. “Do you know how to operate radios?”. One of the guy nod vigorously before telling “Yeah, I had to use them during my conscript time, shouldn’t be too hard.” Good. It will make everything easier.

He come back with a whole bunch or radios slinged around his arm. You tell him about the frequency you're using and help him through the process of accessing the encrypted channel. As you finish doing it with the first radio, you receive a communication from the Airborne officer.

Captain Sabatier
<< Sabatier to Titan, my forward recon unit informed me that they have spotted an enemy column coming from the highway. There’s quite a lot of them. >>

Maybe you dragged on a little too much. You quickly tell to the member of the resistance to do the exact same things the rest of the radios and to spread them as fast as he can. Imperials are about to attacks and you'll be able to coordinate with them. You leave them on top of their equipement stockpile and start to move toward the party.

And you might be a little late to the fun.

>Rush back and try to join the forces in the pinewood before the Imperials are here
>No need to take any risks. The Airport would be a fine position for the Athena
>Other (write-in)

File: tegaki.png (10 KB, 400x400)

10 KB PNG

Battle will start tomorrow at 6PM CET

>>4372213
>No need to take any risks. The Airport would be a fine position for the Athena
We're too sniper for close combat.

>>4372213
>No need to take any risks. The Airport would be a fine position for the Athena

https://a.pomf.cat/lyilax.mp3

Olympus
<< Soldiers of the Empire >>

Olympus
<< The day we were waiting for is finally upon us. The rebels are making a desperate attempt to retake the Aingstgaard salient. For the last few weeks, we prepared. Each one of you have worked tirelessly to fortify our line. Now, the traitors are unleashing their whole might in the hope that we will break. >>

Olympus
<< But don’t be mistaken. This is their last ditch attempt at preventing the collapse of the whole front. They are aware that each day passing make us stronger. That’s why you should expect them to throw everything they have in this battle. The traitors have accumulated quantity of equipment and soldiers to attack. Today fight will be a hard fight. >>

Olympus
<< Men of the second mechanized guard battalion and the first armoured company. You’ll have the hardest task of us all. You will be the hammer that strike the enemy. The tip of our spear. You will have to frustrate the enemy in its attempt to flanking our line. A ferocious struggle lies ahead of us, but if at any moment, you start to loose hope, remember one thing. >>

Olympus
<< Against overwhelming odd, the armies of the Empire have always prevailed. It’s time for all of us to uphold the traditions of our noble institution. I’m confident that by the end of the day, when the dust will settle, we will stand triumphant. >>

File: imperials3.jpg (94 KB, 803x995)

94 KB JPG

“Quite a melodramatic speech”, you think as you enter the perimeter of the airport. You had already spotted a firing position so you don’t loose time getting ready for the attack.

Sunburn
<< You aren’t coming with us, boss ? >>

You can feel the smugness of your subordinate from here. “I can provide fire support from here, and I wouldn’t be that useful at short range.” you justify, regretting it instantly.

Sunburn
<< I see... >>

Damn he can be a pain in the ass sometime. You focus back on the task at hand, namely the imperials preparing to attack. With your UAVs orbiting in the sky, you have a pretty good view of the battlefield. The imperials sure aren’t joking. You can see at least forty IFV and more than a dozen tanks coming your way. Infantry is dismounting before the pinewood. Some squads are entering it while other are following the highway. According to the way they behave, this men look trained. It’s not a guard unit just by the name it seems. The tank are align on the road, ready to push while some IFV are maneuvering to enter the wood.

While scanning the horizon, you notice a forward unit already deployed on the edge of the forest. It seems they are doing a recon before the bulk of the battalion is done deploying.Your tempted to open fire on them. You wouldn’t do much damage and your position would be known by all, but it should be enough to divert their attention toward the airport and give more chance to your men in the wood to stay undetected.
On the other hand you could just wait for the imperials to step in the open terrain and fall in the ambush. After all, your attempt to draw their attention might look fishy to them and reinforce there vigilance.

>Open fire
>Wait for them to fall in your trap
>Other (write-in)

File: airportTopography2.png (293 KB, 1800x1113)

293 KB PNG

small map for better visualization

>>4373352
>Wait for them to fall in your trap
>Have the two Marses meet the recon unit. The enemy knows we have at least two mechs, so let's show him the less threatening ones. Hide the infantry.
>Use this time to locate Col. Zimmerman and Maj. Koenig (triangulate their comms with the drones maybe?)
The expectation is that once our pinewood position is discovered, the enemy will prepare an assault, probably with a flanking movement, which will bring them into Titan's killzone. Then we should try to snipe the commanding officers if possible, and generally create as much chaos as we can. If they try to turn around and attack the airport, the pinewood guys can hit their flank.

We're looking at about 400 infantry with IFV support versus aroung 100 QRF men. The mechs will have to carry this fight, and we will need to employ shock and confusion to the utmost effect.

>>4373470
+1

Rolled 79 (1d100)

Right now isn’t the proper moment to strike. You have to be patient. If this ambush work, you could deal a serious blow to the attacking force before the battle even begin. Let them think they have the initiative, that they are the one attacking. The shock will be greater once you counter-attack.

The scouts in the pinewood are surveying the surroundings. Some of them have come near what is left of the unit you eliminated earlier. They are looking for wounded. They are tring to be careful but you can clearly see they are pressing forward as much as they can. They lack time to clear Genareli with the threat of a general attack coming soon.

You use this precious time to try to find where the enemy officers are. You have quite a few ideas how to do it, but time is a precious resources that both side don’t have.

>The Imperials are making a recon before the attack. DC35

File: airportTopography3.png (305 KB, 1800x1113)

305 KB PNG

Rolled 58, 68 = 126 (2d100)

https://a.pomf.cat/isdmju.mp3

Imperial Scout
<< It seems the enemy have already abandoned the area, I’ve send a few men forward and there’s nothing to report. Maybe they have retreated in the city proper. >> [Four degrees of failure]

What? Not even the men in the terminal? Half there equipment is still outside! Does he think it was already here? If Lady Luck keep spoiling her chlidren like that you’re going to grow complacent!

Colonel Zimmermann
<< Good copy, you will on the northern side of the road and approach the airport from here. Use the terrain to stay in cover. You should be able to survey the city from there. If it’s possible, cross the open terrain and invest the airport administrative buildings. Once it’s done I’ll send the second company in their vehicles so we can make secure a perimeter and use the area as a stepping stone for the attack on the city. Third company, move to the wood south-west of the airport. Once there, tell me if it seems possible to attack the city from this angle. If the scout unit have some trouble over the airport. First company, you will cover second company while it move. >>

A choir of acknowledgments answer his orders. You use this time to make an attempt in triangulating his position. Which is pretty hard with only two recon drones. You’re trying to exploit the datalink of one of the IFV to get a third radio.

The forward unit start to rotate north of the road. They are replaced by a larger unit preparing to cross the open terrain. They are getting ready to advance with the support of IFV that have some trouble crossing the wood. By the time they are ready to advance, the infantry platoon is on the edge of the rough terrain and is preparing to cross. They are advised to wait for mechanized unit on their south to be ready to support them, but emboldened by the lack of resistance and suspecting it might be an opportunity to gain precious time, the scouting unit leader decide to cross nonetheless.

“Sunburn and Biscuit, you’ll be the firsts to attack with the infantry. I want to draw more of them by letting them think you’re our only heavy assets in the area. If things go south or if they bring the big gun, I will intervene with Duster.”

Sunburn & Biscuit & Sabatier
<< Copy >>

As soon as you finish giving your orders, enemy units starts to move. They advance unsuspectingly in the trap you've layed for them. You look for any sign of suspicion, but they are completely clueless about your presence. “Wait …… wait ….”, you need the perfect timing, you want them to be exposed at the right moment. Too far too retreat, but not enough to rush your men.

"Now !"

>Please roll 1d100 for your attempt at finding enemy officers. DC42
>Please roll 2d100 for Sunburn and Biscuit, DC 77, 79 (exposed, surprised, prepared attack)
>The Erean airborne in the airport and the pinewood attack the exposed enemy DC 70 (same mods)