[RP/MM] Turn 40 - CSA v. LC - Kwangchowwang 1413 (Completed CSA Win)

[DisGruntled]

The Adder watch had identified no notable formations on Kwangchowwang which made sense with it being behind the major defensive cordon.  The task of taking the world had fallen to Tau Armored.  It remained to be seen if the intelligence would prove to be true, or if the watch had lived up to in's normal standards.  "Defenders of Kwangchowwang, I, Star Colonel Justin, have been tasked with taking this system in the name of Clan Star Adder and Charlemagne Steiner."

OOC: A force of fighters leads several dropships in system.

[chanman]

There is no response from the ground.

[DisGruntled]

With no interdiction the Adders take up position in orbit.

Any defenders or are we done here?

[Cannonshop]

New Seoul, Kwanchowwang...

"Mister Governor, it's too late to talk about that now-the Adders are here."  Lt. Nguyen Pol made a negating gesture, "The LCAF stripped the area, and a heavy company of Marines isn't enough to even make a fight of it."

"You Must be able to do Something!" Governor Johann Stenton insisted.

"Look, we might have been able to do something about it if..and only if...we'd not had the arms shipments diverted to the front." the Kowloonese 'relief' officer stated, "You bought off on that, if I recall, you also asked the Theater high-command to pull my men out-which, by the way, they rejected, but they also froze additional reinforcements at current levels.  Your Colonel of Militia is currently roaring drunk and his staff are making their way to the space-port to make a run of it."

"I understand, Commander...why are you and your men still here?" Stenson asked.

"Because our ride out is three weeks missing, and until I'm relieved by competent authority, we're still stuck here." Nguyen told him.

"your people, they worked with the Star Adders on the Plague while we were under Clan Occupation the first time..." the Governor mused.

"NO. I will NOT...crap...I know what you're thinking, if the Adders will accept a 'proxy' fight and bid low enough... I don't think they will.  That is a real invasion force out there-they aren't fucking around, they probably won't play honour games, and even if they do, You can expect they're likely going to win-they aren't idiots."

"But there's a chance they will?" Stenson asked.

"Maybe.  I don't know if Dao Pham impressed 'em enough that they'll accept it." Nguyen said, "I'm pretty sure they won't if we phone 'em identifying as Lyran Commonwealth defenders in any case-the LC's screwed up that angle so badly nobody in their right head's going to buy it, but they might if it's in the name of the Kowloonese Coast Guard under the authority of the Assembly-which would make you by definition in rebellion against the lawful governance of the Lyran Commonwealth-which in turn means if..and it's a major if, since they'd have to accept the challenge first, they accepted and we managed to win without breaking one of their 'honour rules', and then they turned around and accepted the result, you'd be facing treason charges as soon as you left the system...as would I, for trying it and succeeding."

"Do you think the Clanners would know that?" Stenson asked.

"Yeah." Nguyen asserted, "They'd know it, and you can bet their site commander knows it.  IF, and I do mean IF we do this, and they accept, the aim on that end would be to push for Independence and keep Kwanchowwang out of the Commonwealth-best you could hope for is a kind of Neutral status, one that wouldn't apply to the other Clans, or an offer of 'protection' as a Client State of the Star Adders."  the Coast-guard officer paused, "ME, I'd be facing fifteen to life for inciting rebellion and that's if the Treason charge doesn't stick, about when I got home, unless someone puts up an Article Nine vote in the Assembly and it passes, in which case, there's a lot of Lyran Commonwealth between here and home, and I'd be a criminal in every centimeter of it."

"Please...please, call them, make the offer." Stenson said,  "I beg you, for my people..."

Nguyen looked at Stenson.  "They aren't like the Mandrills, Mister Governor." he said doubtfully.

"I can't take that risk....we can't." Stenson told him.

"You realize I'm throwing away my career doing this." Nguyen said quietly, "I will try."

[Cannonshop]

To: Star Colonel Justin, Tau Armoured, Clan Star Adder
From: Lt. JG Nguyen Pol, Kowloon Coast Guard Marines, 11th Relief Detatchment, 1st Kowloon Coast Guard Marine Regiment, Kwangchowwang

RE:
Upon request by local civilian authority, and in the absence of competent local military authority, I have accepted the duty of answering your challenge.

In order to avoid potential civilian casualties, the 11th Relief Detachment will face whatever forces you deem an appropriate bid in the Mangrove swamps of the Yalu River Delta, coordinates 185321 by 244223.   As we are unable to leave the system, this will be to a conclusion on our part, though we will not oppose the retreat of any portion of the force you deem appropriate should things go our way instead of yours.

Should you desire to reduce forces in order to prevent un-necessary casualties and/or collateral damage, I am amenable to honouring the famous bidding practices of the Clan system, in violation of LCAF General Orders and current "New Star League" polcies dated March of this year.  This is because I and my men know that you will not abuse the civilians in the manner in which they were previously mistreated should you obtain victory-though convincing THEM of that is beyond my present ability.

Present Force compoisition, listing of equipment and capital gear, and standard survey maps are attached to this transmission.
[Attachment: Personnel Records, 11th Det.CGM]
[Attachment: Capital Equipment Kwangchowwang Miliz]
[Attachment: SurveymapYaludelta3060]

[Cannonshop]

To: Star Colonel Justin, Tau Armoured, Clan Star Adder
From: Lt. JG Nguyen Pol, Kowloon Coast Guard Marines, 11th Relief Detatchment, 1st Kowloon Coast Guard Marine Regiment, Kwangchowwang

RE:
Upon request by local civilian authority, and in the absence of competent local military authority, I have accepted the duty of answering your challenge.

In order to avoid potential civilian casualties, the 11th Relief Detachment will face whatever forces you deem an appropriate bid in the Mangrove swamps of the Yalu River Delta, coordinates 185321 by 244223.   As we are unable to leave the system, this will be to a conclusion on our part, though we will not oppose the retreat of any portion of the force you deem appropriate should things go our way instead of yours.

Should you desire to reduce forces in order to prevent un-necessary casualties and/or collateral damage, I am amenable to honouring the famous bidding practices of the Clan system, in violation of LCAF General Orders and current "New Star League" polcies dated March of this year.  This is because I and my men know that you will not abuse the civilians in the manner in which they were previously mistreated should you obtain victory-though convincing THEM of that is beyond my present ability.

Present Force comosition, listing of equipment and capital gear, and standard survey maps are attached to this transmission.
[Attachment: Personnel Records, 11th Det.CGM]
[Attachment: Capital Equipment Kwangchowwang Miliz]
[Attachment: SurveymapYaludelta3060]

Oh, yeah...

.5 FP regular/conventional (no 'mechs)

[GraeGor]

To: Star Colonel Justin, Tau Armoured, Clan Star Adder
From: Lt. JG Nguyen Pol, Kowloon Coast Guard Marines, 11th Relief Detatchment, 1st Kowloon Coast Guard Marine Regiment, Kwangchowwang

RE:
Upon request by local civilian authority, and in the absence of competent local military authority, I have accepted the duty of answering your challenge.

In order to avoid potential civilian casualties, the 11th Relief Detachment will face whatever forces you deem an appropriate bid in the Mangrove swamps of the Yalu River Delta, coordinates 185321 by 244223.   As we are unable to leave the system, this will be to a conclusion on our part, though we will not oppose the retreat of any portion of the force you deem appropriate should things go our way instead of yours.

Should you desire to reduce forces in order to prevent un-necessary casualties and/or collateral damage, I am amenable to honouring the famous bidding practices of the Clan system, in violation of LCAF General Orders and current "New Star League" polcies dated March of this year.  This is because I and my men know that you will not abuse the civilians in the manner in which they were previously mistreated should you obtain victory-though convincing THEM of that is beyond my present ability.

Present Force compoisition, listing of equipment and capital gear, and standard survey maps are attached to this transmission.
[Attachment: Personnel Records, 11th Det.CGM]
[Attachment: Capital Equipment Kwangchowwang Miliz]
[Attachment: SurveymapYaludelta3060]



Oh, yeah...

.5 FP regular/conventional (no 'mechs)

TO: Lt. JG Nguyen Pol, Kowloon Coast Guard Marines, 11th Relief Detatchment, 1st Kowloon Coast Guard Marine Regiment, Kwangchowwang
FROM: Star Colonel Justin, Tau Armoured, Clan Star Adder

Lieutenant, on behalf of Clan Star Adder and Charlamagne Steiner, your defense bid is accepted, and will be met at the coordinates provided.

While the force that will face your will be comparable in experience and size [OOC: .5 FP, regular/conventional - no 'Mechs], a Cluster shall stand at the ready nearby on the alert for treachery. We have been, what is the term...ah yes, burned, we have been burned to often to trust any blindly.

Whether you accept it or not, that is how we now conduct Trials against Inner Sphere foes. Clan Star Adder forces are enroute now and will arrive at the designated location in the near future. Prepare your defenses and yourselves, for once the smoke clears, Kwangchowwang will be a holding of Clan Star Adder.



[OOC: we're fine with a SimpRes for this one]

[Cannonshop]

Mangroves are tough territory from a tactical perspective- combine heavy forest, shallow water, and deep mud with a layer of "Ground" that is really just intertwined tree-roots (and not all that strong, either) it's country best suited for avoidance.  You can't drive on it, the trees are an obstacle to most air-cushion vehicles, and the 'crust' condition of the "Ground" makes the terrain dangerous for vehicles of other sorts.

The "Best" vehicle for this sort of terrain, is a helicopter, second best being a pair of jungle-boots or a small, flat-bottom boat that ends up being carried half the time.

"Think they read the survey-maps, sir?" Gunny Phillip Top asked.

Nguyen nodded, "THey'd be idiots not to.  That map probably has a lot to do with what they're sending down-Battlesuits would drown out here, and 'mechs would end up becomign part of the terrain without our help-standard military maxim is you need to outnumber an opponent three to one when he's in good, defensible terrain. figure they likely had to scrape their personnel roster for guys with experience fighting primitive-maybe second-line Solahma vets or occupation troops."

"Sir?"  the Gunny asked.

"We don't rate their first-liners, Gunny." Nguyen told the NCO, "WE aren't big and shiny with all the toys a Regulars outfit would be carrying, and we're kind of separated from aerospace support by...oh...a few hundered light years or so."

"Why are we out here, again?" the Gunny asked.

"Because one, our ride home hasn't got here, Two, we were left in charge of this mess, and three, It's our Job."  he said.

"Aye-Aye, Sir." the NCO said, "The troops are in position."

"Good, we stick to the plan-they want a 'straight' fight, now per the record, that basically means we can't mob 'em, but then again, we don't have the bodies or the gear for that anyway, they accepted the terms with what I'd consider probably better intel than they deserved, so they can't bitch if they brought the wrong shit or they screwed something up."  Nguyen ticked off his fingers, "They might bitch if they realize how many dirty tricks we can't pull out here-because they can't pull 'em either.  This means the kids had better keep their heads together, because there's no room for mistakes this time."

"What do we do if we win?" Gunny Top asked.

"We recover wounded, and repatriate any EPW's, the Clanners'll like that, and nobody deserves to be left out here...You're being optimistic, that's good." He grinned. "It won't stop the next try, and it might not stop 'em from deciding it wasn't a fair fight since they couldn't use all their shiny down here..."

"If we lose..." Top stopped.

"If we lose, we hope they send our remains home without an accompanying invasion as an honor guard, Top."  Nguyen told him, "I should've specified that when I sent the message...oh well, I guess we'd better win, huh?"

"Incoming!" 

Overhead, the first of the adder's deployment craft appeared, slowing through the sound barrier and cork-screwing to one of the 'better' clear areas for landing.

"They're gonna hate having to walk, maybe they'll para-jump in?" Gunny speculated.

"Don't sell 'em short, they'll probably bring the dropper to hover, and deploy out the bays with those big cobra copies, maybe gunship support too." Nguyen mused, "Sure as hell they aren't stupid enough to think just 'cause it's a swamp, that hovertanks are a good idea here..."

[Cannonshop]

[blockquote]Rolled 2d6 : 4, 5, total 9[/blockquote]

[Cannonshop]

[blockquote]Rolled 2d6 : 5, 6, total 11[/blockquote]

[Cannonshop]

[blockquote]Rolled 2d6 : 2, 2, total 4[/blockquote]

[Cannonshop]

[blockquote]Rolled 2d6 : 1, 5, total 6[/blockquote]

[Cannonshop]

Okay, now if I read it correctly...

.5 FP vs. .5FP

Roll 1: 70% Damage, check for crit.

Roll 2: 11, two crits

Roll 3: 4,  Lt. Nguyen gains experience, and +1 to further rolls this turn

Roll 4: 6, but because of roll 3, that's a 7, reduce damage done to Alpha Co. by 20%, increases damage to CSA force by 15%.

Now, 85% of .5 is around .45, leaves around .05 Adder Forces remaining.

Obviously, the swamp battle was messy.

[Daemonknight]

((OOC: the +1 is to further rolls this combat, not sure if that means this round of combat, or the following rounds of this combat(a single combat consists of 6 rounds). Because it wouldn't make sense for a critical to affect another critical in the same combat, but maybe i'm wrong))

[Cannonshop]

A six just halves the damage reduction, and gives a 10% damage increase.

I figure the Coasties won't last long once the Adder players start rolling-figure it's going to be a mutual-wipe-out.  (Damage IS done simul, right?)