[RP/MM] Turn 40: The Dark vs Randis Invasion Randis 5138 *Complete*

[LittleH13]

The Dark are invading!

Ground/ASF

Ocelot Galaxy   Blue Keshik   Veteran   Fanatical   Mech Cluster                8.875
Ocelot Galaxy   401 Volunteer Cluster   Veteran   Fanatical   Mech Cluster   13.25
Ocelot Galaxy   401 Garrison Wing   Regular   Fanatical   Aero Cluster                7
Ocelot Galaxy   402 Volunteer Cluster   Regular   Fanatical   Mech Cluster   13.375
Ocelot Galaxy   402 Garrison Wing   Green   Fanatical   Aero Cluster                3
Ocelot Galaxy   403 Volunteer Cluster   Green   Fanatical   Mech Cluster   13
Ocelot Galaxy   403 Garrison Wing   Regular   Fanatical   Aero Cluster                12
Ocelot Galaxy   404 Volunteer Cluster   Veteran   Fanatical   Mech Cluster   10.5
Ocelot Galaxy   404 Garrison Wing   Regular   Fanatical   Aero Cluster                6
Ocelot Galaxy   405 Volunteer Cluster   Elite   Fanatical   Mech Cluster   17.625
Ocelot Galaxy   405 Garrison Wing   Regular   Fanatical   Aero Cluster                18


Naval

C Naval Star   Weakness (Davion (Block 2))   Davion Block II   Regular   Fanatical  15
C Naval Star   Interdictor (Wagon Wheel)   Wagon Wheel   Regular   Fanatical   9
C Naval Star   Nova Hawk (Dart)   Dart   Regular   Fanatical                            24
C Naval Star   Jaeger (Aegis (2372))   Aegis 2372   Regular   Fanatical  27
C Naval Star   Alexander (Avatar)   Avatar   Green   Fanatical                            8.75

[Dave Baughman]

As the Dark warships spread out to cover Randis' jump points, a radio transmission is sent to the surface...

"Knights of Randis, I am Galaxy Commander Paul Moon of The Dark. I claim this Star System, and every resource and individual within it, as the property of Clan Smoke Jaguar. What forces choose to die opposing us?"

[Iron Mongoose]

In the Knight's HQ, the senior brothers all were concerned.  "I know this man," Lucas Beckett commented, "or at least I did.  The Moon I knew was a jackass, to be sure, but a true son of Kerensky, not a monster who lays waste to worlds, leaves populations in ruins, rains destruction from the sky.  Against such a man, what can we do?"

"We can fight," one of the newer breed of knights commented.  "We can make them pay.  We can show them what we are made of!"

"We can run." The words were little more than a whisper, but from Brother Galahad Fews, it filled the stone fortress like a bomb blast.  "Our duty is to more than our pride.  It is to our people, to our homeland." 

Lucas Beckett nodded to the Brotherhood's elder statesman.  "He is right."  He hung his head for a moment.  "We have a higher duty.  As a Clan warrior, as a Knight of Randis, my whole life from my birth to this moment, I have answered to a duty to protect the people of the universe.  It is why I was a warrior, why I left that to become a Knight.  That is what our calling is, not to fighting, but to fighting so that others may be spared that fighting.  To take that terrible burden on ourselves. We will fight, yes. But we will fight to buy time for the evacuation of Randis' major cities and population centers.

"Contact the port commission.  Anyone who wishes to leave on a drop ship, find them space until every ship leaving the system is full, and then some.  The Wings of Maradonna will escort them out, if they can.  Its a risk against that war fleet, but if they bring their ships in system to bombard us, it will hurt the tightness of their blockade.  The rest of the population will take refuge in the country side, in the mountains, and other such places as they can find.  Our support personnel and our squires and trainees will go with them, to help protect them as long as they can.  Some of our conventional armor as well.

"The mechs and fusion powered armor will fight delaying actions, tie up the enemy.  We'll hold out as long as we can, inflict as much damage as we can, to keep them from hunting for our people, and to buy time for our Holy Crusade Taskforce to gather support and stage a rescue. 

"Given the wide front of the Dark's invasion thus far, that may be a very long time.  It may be never.  But we need to give them the time and opportunity to do this.  We may have few moments more like this, so let us pray..."

[Iron Mongoose]

As the Dark warships spread out to cover Randis' jump points, a radio transmission is sent to the surface...

"Knights of Randis, I am Galaxy Commander Paul Moon of The Dark. I claim this Star System, and every resource and individual within it, as the property of Clan Smoke Jaguar. What forces choose to die opposing us?"

"Paul Moon of the Jaguars, I am Lucas Beckett, of Clan Cloud Cobra.  From the survivor of one fallen Clan to another, it gives me a bit of hope to know that between our two Clans, mine remains the stronger of the two.  The strength of the Jaguars may have been in its mechs, but the strength of the Cobras was in our Way, in our dedication to the principles that made us better than the Successor Lords we left behind, than the distruction we walked away from.  I still hold to that, Paul Moon.  You embrace it.

"And I will defend my Way, my world, my people, with all of my strength, and all of the strength of my Brotherhood, and even if by your numbers or by the guns of your warships you should kill us all, our Way will remain, and in the end, you will be defeated by it.

"But come now, Paul Moon, and test your way against ours.  I had hoped once again in my life to fight true warriors.  But I suppose your and your rabble will have to suffice."

[Jeyar]

Love to know how they got a Wagon Wheel.    Can I have avatar design specs in return?

In any case, I am willing to try and make a roll to get my forces here IF I can guarrentee a MMaero game. This attacking mix is almost a dream for plucky defenders, but for block rolls, well the odds are too stacked and unless the force was with them, they'd be converted into resupply for the Dark.

[Dave Baughman]

Love to know how they got a Wagon Wheel.    Can I have avatar design specs in return?

In any case, I am willing to try and make a roll to get my forces here IF I can guarrentee a MMaero game. This attacking mix is almost a dream for plucky defenders, but for block rolls, well the odds are too stacked and unless the force was with them, they'd be converted into resupply for the Dark.

OOC- I can't guarantee a MegaMek game. However, if you want to try to reinforce, please feel free.

[Jeyar]

*Switching Hats*

Presently there is a CoPS force in the system:

21st Striker Regiment - Reg Rel - 10 FP Mix (I think that means it is a quarter each of: Aerospace, BA, mech and vehicle).

So Randis, please let us know what you're doing so that I can plan accordingly the CoPS actions.

Just in case I have to roll init: [blockquote]Rolled 2d6 : 6, 4, total 10[/blockquote]

[Iron Mongoose]

Depending on the Dark's orders, the Wings of Maradonna (5FP) will make a run for it, along with fluffed civilians, and perhaps Randis's RP stockpile (which is like 20RP; a lot for a small nation)

The remaining forces (11.25) will fight a series of actions before, potentaly, becoming gurillas.

I'd send your air cover with mine to run.  You can take your ground forces there as well, or else chance it on the ground with us.

[Jeyar]

*Jaw drops at the RP stockpile.*

I'm pretty sure that you only survive the escape with a roll of 11 or 12 - good luck! Then only survive on the ground with a... 12? The rest goes to the Dark...

Hmmm... wasn't there a force from the FS and whatever the Empire headquarted on Terra is called?

[LittleH13]

This is not an OOC thread please keep it IC.

[Dave Baughman]

Command Deck
SJS Interdictor

Paul Moon stroked his chin thoughtfully as he listened to Lucas Becket's transmission. Unlike so many of his other foes, Moon did not feel contempt for Becket; pity, perhaps, but not contempt. If nothing else, Lucas Becket was a man of honor.

"Commtech," Moon said in a level voice, "record for transmission."

The communications technician - a young man perhaps sixteen or seventeen years old - nodded deferentially and opened the circuit.

"Lucas Becket, since you are aware of the fate of your Clan, surely you have watched events develop since the rise of the false Star Leagues. You speak of the Way, and the need for dedication to principle, but you have blinded yourself to the truth. It was moral weakness that has doomed the Grand Council to defeat. Every compromise made, every Spheroid contamination accepted, every chalcas affront ignored, is a crack in the foundation of not only the Council but of the entire Clan way of life."

"I will offer you a... bargain, Lucas Becket. If you and your Knights will swear fealty to The Dark and put aside your personal sentiments in favor of dedicaton to principle - the principle of laying low the Successor States and bringing about the return of the True Star League, I will spare the inhabitants of this world. They will be free to leave, unmolested, but you - you and your Knights will belong to me."

"Even now, my Aerospace fighters are approaching the LaGrange point I presume you intent to use for evacuating the convoy of DropShips our sensors have detected... so decide quickly."

[Jeyar]

Assuming that the forces of Randis do as suggested above, command is TOTALLY turned over for the CoPS aerospace and ground forces to Randis. At least that way there is a slightly better chance for them surviving (i.e. - integrated roll).

Aerospace: 2.5 RP

Ground: 7.5 RP (mix)

[Iron Mongoose]

I want to be sure as to how the Dark are deploying, as a blockade or interdiction?  With what portion of their force?  And, what are the rules for it these days!?

[LittleH13]

Warships are on Offensive Interdiction and the Ground/ASF are burning towards the planet.

[Iron Mongoose]

Now, I've been a secondary guy for most of these past round of rules changes, so I'm not 100% clear on how things are done these days.

But looking at the Offensive Interdiction rules, I see this (emphasis mine):

Offensive Interdiction
Type: Special
Requirement: Aerospace units
Effect: Successful interdiction prevents defending transports from retreating from a system. Offensive Interdiction is only possible where no hostile forces are on interdicton, blockade, or naval engagement orders.

Given the 7.5 FP of forces on defensive interdiction (the defualt orders) one imagines that so long as these forces continue to interdict (that is to say, fight their hopeless battle and die) then the other, fluffed non-combat forces can escape (along with any CPS forces intrested in running as well).

Does that seem to be the current status of the rules in this matter?