[RP/MM] T39 Clans v's CFM Invasion - Shadow 2438 C *Complete*

[Marlin]

OP: If the Horses really need to be retconned into the Blockade, I would offer some Ships of mine off the blockade to make up for the loss, so that we keep up the ratio. Because had I know that, I would have let my ships take over the part of the Horses in the first place of course.

[Daemonknight]

Dropzone Delta/Jade Falcon
Planet Shadow
Sector: N-9/a

The main body of Clan forces lands on Shadow, the DZ filled with nearly a Galaxy's worth of Battlemechs and Elementals, shadowed by their massive dropships, and watched over by the multitude of omnifighters. saKhan Brian Pryde walked his Timber Wolf out of the mech bay of his Overlord-C, and saw that the disembarkation was going along smoothly. The commander of the omnifighters sent to recon north, in the direction of the main Scientist/Mandrill bases had reported that the enemy forces were still forming up, and would likly not be prepared for the better part of 4 hours.

However, the saKhan's true interest was with the 77th far to the north. He knew that sending a single Cluster, even one so heavily armed, was dangerous. Should the Mandrills decide to turn their forces north to trap them, his own ground forces would be hard pressed to catch them, with only the omnifighters really having the speed to make a difference. However, the saKhan's specific orders from the Khan had been to make an example of the warriors of the Fire Mandrills. This he knew he could do. But the Watch operative's communique had reached him mid-descent about the facility near the northern polar reaches of the planet. He had the special action team stationed there, observing and if it looked like activity was picking up, the operative had orders to destroy the facility with extreme prejudice.

He ordered the Ice Hellions, mostly lighter mechs than his own forces, to proceed ahead of the main body, acting as their scouting force. The aerospace forces would not be risked, staying back to act as the strike group's reactionary force, and also to allow them to quickly race north, instead of expending ammunition and requiring resupply.

"Unit commanders, let us begin out march, north along Ridge E19." With that, the forces of the Clan coalition began moving north to engage the rouge Mandrill forces.

***************************************

Sector: EN-12/b
Planet Shadow
Outskirts of Mandrill Military Complex

They had left their last 2 supply pods .5Km to the southwest, and were now taking shelter in a stand of pine trees on a hilltop just outside the military complex's chain fence. Between them and the fence was 20m of antipersonnel and anti-Mech mines. They had already marked out multiple paths through the fields for themselves at 6 different points. They also had rigged an area with thin strips of detcord for when the 77th Assault Cluster arrived. They could blow a path through the minefields, and assuming none of the mechs within had Thunder-LRMs, that would also give the mechs an escape point if things escalated...

He glanced up towards the night sky. It was becoming lighter, but it was still dark enough to make out the stars, and more importantly, the sleek shapes of the two warships that were ready to deploy their weapons on the complex if necessary. Their transceiver was hidden high up in one of the trees, it send/recieve antenna just barely poking out above the treetops, effectivly hidden from optical observation from the base watch towers.

With only 3 Elementals left, he didnt have the firepower to take on the base's security detail. They had spotted and confirmed a trinary's worth of battlemechs, most were mediums, but 2 were heavies, able to decimate his small command all by themselves. However, a number of his other operatives had snuck into the complex at different times, and rigged different areas with packs of C-90. The aerospace hanger had been their best target, but they knew that trying to get into the middle of the compound unnoticed would be next to impossible. Instead, the omnifighter pilot's barracks, two of the mech repair bays, the main ATC tower, and a hangar containing LRM and SRM ammunition for the mechs and omnifighters, had all been rigged for demolition with the last of the team's C-90.

However, with the landing of the Clan forces to the south, and the diverting of the 77th's dropships to what could only be this base, so far north, had prompted much tigher security. Therefore, they would need to wait untill the 77th's mechs were actually attacking the complex to avoid attracting the attention of the security force.

So they watched, and waited. They knew that in 2 hours, the battlemechs of the 77th Assault Cluster would be on station to capture this facility. And if they were unsuccessful... He looked into the night sky again. He just hoped they had enough warning to get to the minimum safe distance before the sky fell on them all.

((OOC: Clan forces land on Shadow, and prepare to attack the enemy positions. The Jade Falcon 77th Assault Cluster is not participating in the main fighting, instead being tasked with a special target removed from the main fighting. The forces i noted as being there are just an RP device, its obviously upto the GM's to decide what kind of forces we run into.

Other Clans participating in the ground combat need to either post their combat strength or PM me.

CJF forces participating:
Main battle front: 40FP ground forces, 22.5FP ASF

77th Assault Cluster:
12.5FP ground forces, 6.25FP integrated ASF, 10FP ASF released from Janice Hazen ASF wing(total ASF strength = 16.25FP)

Janice Hazen and Bunker Hill(both Aegis cruisers) still in geosynch and targeting the base complex where the 77th is heading.

[Marlin]

Hellions commit: 8 FP of Aero fighters, 49,75 FP of ground forces. Keep in mind that 16 FP of them are a Flurry unit. You may want to keep them as rearguard or Camp Guard. Because if you let them take part in concert with any other more regular force, that will give them a huge boost in recognition.

Also, two Clusters are from Zeta Prime, so Freeborn. They are also fanatical. Will take on any battle.

[Daemonknight]

((whats a flurry unit??))

[GreyJaeger]

((whats a flurry unit??))

*OOC- Is it not those freaks who get their jollies by dressing up as animals?

No...Wait...Those are Furries...

Flurry units are an ad-hoc formation of vehicles and whatever mechs can be cobbled together. Typically, the are used to hold a territory until more conventional Garrison troops can arrive on scene.

[Marlin]

OOC: I already wrote him a PM.

But still, the ground action is still underway, when will it go forth?

[Parmenion]

ooc:  Hell's Horses ground component is 66.375FP.  Horses ground force commander is Star Colonel Helena Ravenwater.

Remaining CHH naval assets will either maintain the blockade (as per orders) or stand ready to continue their offensive naval interdiction.

[Marlin]

Galaxy Commander Eld Coddington led his 3 Clusters in advance of the main body of the Inter Clan Force.

The 7th Flurry went with the main part, they were too slow anyway, with their heavy tanks.

"Hellions, more distance between you, remember Atreus. Anything on the radar yet?"

"I have several contacts. It could be the main body." "Understood. I will prepare the message to the saKhan."

It seemed they were close. "Fall back, no immediate action."

[Daemonknight]

Multi-Clan battlegroup engages the main Mandrill forces. the Hellion Flurry unit(worth 16FP) are kept as a rearguard, and do not directly participate in the fighting.

Clan forces:
Hell's Horses: 66.375FP -> 66.5FP
Clan Jade Falcon: 62.5FP
Ice Hellion: 41.75FP

Total Clan forces: 170.75 FP move north to engage enemy forces, 30.5FP is ASF on CAP
Damage allocation: even split between all Clan forces, 80/20 Ground/ASF

what forces do we encounter?

The special action team detonates their pre-placed C-90 charges as the 77th Assault Cluster hits the northern military base. The 10FP of ASF from the warships hit the base itself, trying to prevent the base from launching ASF, by bombing the runway and the entrance to the underground hangar.

[Dave Baughman]

Mandrill Forces
Clan Fire Mandrill   Faraday Tanaga   Command Trinary   Elite   Reliable   Transported Ground   4
Clan Fire Mandrill   Faraday Tanaga   12th Support   Regular   Reliable   Transported Ground   12
Clan Fire Mandrill   Faraday Tanaga   12th Air   Regular   Reliable   Transported ASF   5
Clan Fire Mandrill   Payne   Command Trinary   Elite   questionable   Transported Ground   3
Clan Fire Mandrill   Beyl-Grant-Smythe   87th Airborne   Veteran   questionable   Transported ASF   13
Clan Fire Mandrill   Kline   Command Air   Veteran   Reliable   Transported ASF   6.25

Total FP: 19 FP ground, 24.25 FP aero

Science Caste Forces
1st Heavy Assault Cluster - 20 FP V/F
55th Special Forces Cluster - 8 FP E/F
19th Special Action Cluster - 15 FP R/R
23rd Special Action Cluster - 15 FP R/R
29th Special Action Cluster - 15 FP R/R
7th Experimental Cluster - 12.5 FP R/R
8th Experimental Cluster - 12.5 FP R/R
3rd Aerospace Cluster - 25 FP R/R

98 FP ground, 25 FP aero


Fire Mandrills and Science Caste are coordinating their actions under Science Caste command.

Total defender FP: 117 FP ground, 49.25 FP aero




Science Caste will attempt to use five nuclear weapons tokens.


Special Scenario: due to preparations taken in advance of the battle, Clan Jade Falcon may attempt to stop the nuclear attack with an orbital strike on the Science Caste's nuclear weapons stockpile. On a 8+, all 5 nuclear weapon tokens are destroyed Each number below 9 allows one weapon to be deployed (i.e. a roll of 6 means the Scientists are able to use two nuclear tokens).

[Dave Baughman]

(oh, to clarify, the 7th Experimental is the one defending the stockpile - the rest of the defenders will end up facing the main body of your force)

[Marlin]

OP: We still can call in Aerospace forces from the Warships, can we?

[Daemonknight]

curiosity, can i attempt to take the stockpile BEFORE i have to hit it from orbit? Or do i not have a chance to capture the stockpile intact?

[Daemonknight]

just in case though...

[blockquote]Rolled 2d6 : 6, 3, total 9[/blockquote]

[Daemonknight]

ok, now that i know i dont need to take nuclear weapons damage...


main battlefront:
Mandrill/Scientist Ground Forces: 104.5FP
Mandrill/Scientist ASF Forces: 49.25FP

Clan Ground Forces: 170.75FP
Clan ASF Forces: 30.5FP

Ground Combat Res Tables:
Outnumbered 1:1 in favor of Clans

ASF Combat Res Tables:
Outnumbered 1:1 in favor of Mandrills/Scientist

Clan ground combat roll:
[blockquote]Rolled 2d6 : 3, 6, total 9[/blockquote]

Clan air combat roll:
[blockquote]Rolled 2d6 : 5, 6, total 11[/blockquote]