Part 376: Ultimatum - Turn 2

Ultimatum: Tactical Update 2

“Multiple heavy- and assault-weight targets in the south,” Mechwarrior Kel announced over an open frequency. Only training kept his rising panic from creeping into her clinical declaration. “My computer cannot identify—”

“They are using some form of camouflage system.” A harsh but instantly-recognizable voice interrupted him. “Have your computer analyze the silhouette, as though it were fighting at night.”

“Aff, Loremaster,” Kel replied, his hands brushing across the controls nearly unbidden. “Longbow, ninety-seven percent match. Black Knight, eighty-five percent. Excalibur, ninety-three percent. Unknown heavy, computer is tagging as a Mad Dog at thirty-three percent—”

“That must be one of the Rim World heavies the Free Worlders described for us,” Loremaster Lynn McKenna mused. “Tag it as a Coyote and move on, unit capabilities unknown.”

“Aff, Loremaster,” Kel swept his Kit Fox back and forth. The little machine couldn’t torso-twist in the usual fashion, but it was small and the leg joints were highly flexible—which worked about as well. “No other targets in—”

A harsh red glare lit his cockpit as one of the garrison cluster’s Ares tanks exploded. Kel swept the treeline beyond the barrier fencing, but saw nothing until his computer tagged a target in the small copse of trees thirty meters inside the dense barbed wire. Kel’s mind whirled, how had the enemy managed to remain undetected? How could they have infiltrated so closely, without triggering any of the seismic sensors?

“Hunchback,” he heard himself say. “Ninety-four percent.”



Combat Phase
Fire Moth Prime
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Stinger (3 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement + 3 Void Signature System = 10): rolled 5, miss!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Stinger (3 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement + 3 Void Signature System = 10): rolled 6, miss!
- Gains 12 heat, sinks 20!

Mist Lynx B
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Stinger (3 base + 0 range + 3 movement + 0 enemy movement + 3 Void Signature System = 9): rolled 7, miss!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Stinger (3 base + 0 range + 3 movement + 0 enemy movement + 3 Void Signature System = 9): rolled 8, miss!
- Fires ER Small Laser at Stinger (3 base + 2 range + 3 movement + 0 enemy movement + 3 Void Signature System = 11): rolled 5, miss!
- Gains 18 heat, sinks 20!

Mist Lynx D
- Fires ER Small Laser at Stinger (3 base + 4 range + 3 movement + 0 enemy movement + 3 Void Signature System = 13): automatic miss!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Stinger (3 base + 0 range + 3 movement + 0 enemy movement + 3 Void Signature System = 9): rolled 9, hit Right Leg (1/8 armor remains)!
- Fires Ultra AC/2 (Ultra) at Stinger (3 base + 0 range + 3 movement + 0 enemy movement + 3 Void Signature System = 9): rolled 7, miss!
- Gains 17 heat, sinks 20!

Arctic Cheetah
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Stinger (3 base + 0 range + 3 movement + 0 enemy movement + 3 Void Signature System = 9): rolled 10, hit Center Torso (2/9 armor remains)!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Stinger (3 base + 0 range + 3 movement + 0 enemy movement + 3 Void Signature System = 9): rolled 8, miss!
- Gains 16 heat, sinks 20!

Kit Fox
- Holds fire!

Thug
- Fires Heavy PPC w/ PPC Capacitor (Charged) at Mist Lynx B (2 base + 2 range + 0 movement + 3 enemy movement + 1 Heavy PPC + 1 Void Signature System + 2 light woods = 11): rolled 9, missed!
- Gains 30 heat, sinks 34!

Chameleon
- Fires Large Laser at Mist Lynx D (2 base + 2 range + 0 movement + 3 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System + 1 light woods = 9): rolled 3, miss!
- Fires Large Laser at Mist Lynx D (2 base + 2 range + 0 movement + 3 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System + 1 light woods = 9): rolled 9, hit Center Torso (5/10 armor remains)!
- Fires TAG at Mist Lynx D (2 base + 4 range + 0 movement + 3 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System + 1 light woods = 11): rolled 8, miss!
- Gains 26 heat, sinks 22!

Talon
- Fires Light PPC w/ PPC Capacitor (Charged) at Arctic Cheetah (2 base + 0 range + 0 movement + 3 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System + 2 light woods = 8): rolled 6, miss!
- Fires Light PPC w/ PPC Capacitor (Charged) at Arctic Cheetah (2 base + 0 range + 0 movement + 3 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System + 2 light woods = 8): rolled 3, miss!
- Gains 30 heat, sinks 22! Overheating!

Stinger
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Arctic Cheetah (2 base + 0 range + 0 movement + 3 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System + 1 light woods = 7): rolled 4, miss!



Next Turn’s Movement Phase
Stinger
- Disables Void Signature System!

Stinger
- Disables Void Signature System!









Special Rules
Overheat Ace: The Rim World Blackguard gain Ace status when they overheat by 10 points or more!

Blind: Enemy units are only visible in direct Line of Sight

Hidden Units: Some enemy units remain hidden until they attack. Additionally, units equipped with Void Signature Systems may expend a turn’s movement to hide themselves if they are not in direct line of sight.

Expect Surprises: When the players lose their Phase 1 units, they will gain control of a powerful Phase 2 unit. When the players lose their Phase 2 unit, they will still have a chance to influence the outcome of the battle with a weaker Phase 3 unit. Some of these units start on the map, others will enter from elsewhere.



Player Status:




Phase 1 Objectives:
- Delay the enemy for as many turns as possible
- Defend Clan HQ Vehicles (3/3 remaining)
- Defend Clan Personnel (79/84 tents remaining)
- Defend Clan Equipment (33/36 units remaining)

Phase 2 Objectives:
- Defeat as many enemy `Mechs as possible (0/39 defeated)
- Defend Clan HQ Vehicles (3/3 remaining)
- Defend Clan Personnel (79/84 tents remaining)
- Defend Clan Equipment (33/36 units remaining)

Phase 3 Objectives:
- Defeat as many enemy `Mechs as possible
- Defend Clan HQ Vehicles (3/3 remaining)
- Defend Clan Personnel (79/84 tents remaining)
- Defend Clan Equipment (33/36 units remaining)



Enemy Status:
Stinger – Armor Damage

Enemy Movement Mods:
- Longbow +0
- Thug +1
- Black Knight +1
- Excalibur +1
- Coyote +0
- Chameleon +2
- Hunchback +0
- Crab +1
- Bobcat +0
- Talon +0
- Stinger +3
- Stinger +3



Fake Edit: And today's my birthday, so if I missed any obvious errors let me know so I can fix `em!