Part 392: Ultimatum - Turn 18

Ultimatum: Tactical Update 19

The Donar Attack Helicopter’s rotors spun for an instant and then stopped as the engine died with a choking whine. Akara slammed her gloved hands against the controls in frustration—she’d known better. The engine compartment had still been open when she’d thrown herself into her vehicle’s cockpit. The technicians had still been working on her machine. There’d been no risk, they’d said. Now was the perfect opportunity for a complete overhaul. She pressed the ignition again, but this time only silence greeted her. Something was probably damaged, but she didn’t care. If it took a thousand attempts for a miracle to happen, she’d push the button a thousand times.

The enemy had knocked out the other half of her recon point in the first few moments of battle: and understandably so, a high-flying helicopter could monitor their entire force from safety—yet they’d ignored her machine and left her screaming in frustration for what was starting to feel like hours. The enemy’s pilots were either very observant or their sensors had been able to determine that her machine wasn’t flight-capable—and so they’d left her, surrounded and helpless.

Akara was freeborn, she understood that feeling of helplessness very well. She hated it. She hated feeling it again after three years as a Clan Warrior. And she raged at her useless machine while her gunner spouted useless platitudes in an attempt to calm her down.

Her eyebrow twitched involuntarily as her hand fell on the canopy’s quick-release. It snapped upward, and smashed against one of the rotors. Either the transplex or the rotor would be damaged by the impact but Akara didn’t spare it a moment’s thought. Her copilot raised a hand to restrain her but Akara’s glare stopped him cold. She stepped out onto the hard-baked mud. All she had was a combat knife. She didn’t care.

She’d show those damned Rim Worlders she wasn’t helpless even if she had to climb a moving `Mech and knife the pilot to do it!




Combat Phase
Warhawk B
- Fires Gauss Rifle at Phoenix (3 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System + 2 light woods + 1 smoke + 1 EMP - 1 targeting computer = 9): rolled 4, miss!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Phoenix (3 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System + 2 light woods + 1 smoke + 1 EMP - 1 targeting computer = 9): rolled 7, miss!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Phoenix (3 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System + 2 light woods + 1 smoke + 1 EMP - 1 targeting computer = 9): rolled 7, miss!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Phoenix (3 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System + 2 light woods + 1 smoke + 1 EMP - 1 targeting computer = 9): rolled 5, miss!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Phoenix (3 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System + 2 light woods + 1 smoke + 1 EMP - 1 targeting computer = 9): rolled 7, miss!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Phoenix (3 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System + 2 light woods + 1 smoke + 1 EMP - 1 targeting computer = 9): rolled 11, hit Center Torso (4/21 armor remains)!
- Fires Streak SRM-6 at Phoenix (3 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System + 2 light woods + 1 smoke + 1 EMP - 1 targeting computer = 9): rolled 3, fails to lock-on!
- Fires Streak SRM-6 at Phoenix (3 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System + 2 light woods + 1 smoke + 1 EMP - 1 targeting computer = 9): rolled 10, 4 missiles hit Center Torso (2/21 armor remains), Center Torso (0/21 armor remains), Left Arm (12/16 armor remains), Center Torso (14/16 structure remains (Crit!))!
- Gains 31 heat, sinks 40!

Kraken 3
- No Line of Sight to primary target!
- Fires LRM-15 at Chameleon (2 base + 4 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement + 1 light woods = 11): rolled 8, miss!
- Fires LRM-15 at Hunchback (2 base + 4 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement + 2 light woods = 11): rolled 8, miss!
- Fires LRM-15 at Hunchback (2 base + 4 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement + 2 light woods = 11): rolled 5, miss!
- Fires LRM-15 at Hunchback (2 base + 4 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement + 2 light woods = 11): rolled 5, miss!
- Fires LRM-15 at Hunchback (2 base + 4 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement + 2 light woods = 11): rolled 7, miss!
- Fires LRM-15 at Hunchback (2 base + 4 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement + 2 light woods = 11): rolled 6, miss!
- Fires LRM-15 at Hunchback (2 base + 4 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement + 2 light woods = 11): rolled 9, miss!
- Fires LRM-15 at Hunchback (2 base + 4 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement + 2 light woods = 11): rolled 4, miss!
- Gains 42 heat, sinks 38! Overheating!

Wolf Spider B
- Fires ER PPC at Crab (3 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement + 1 light woods + 1 smoke + 3 Void Signature System = 12): rolled 9, miss!
- Fires Gauss Rifle at Crab (3 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement + 1 light woods + 1 smoke + 3 Void Signature System = 12): rolled 10, miss!
- Gains 17 heat, sinks 32!

Ebon Jaguar
- Torso-twists to threaten hex 0511!
- Fires ER PPC at Hunchback (3 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement + 0 Void Signature System + 2 smoke = 9): rolled 7, miss!
- Fires ER PPC at Hunchback (3 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement + 0 Void Signature System + 2 smoke = 9): rolled 7, miss!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Hunchback (3 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement + 0 Void Signature System + 2 smoke = 9): rolled 7, miss!
- Fires TAG at Hunchback (3 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement + 0 Void Signature System + 2 smoke = 9): rolled 7, miss!
- Gains 42 heat, sinks 40!

Huntsman A
- Fires Large Pulse Laser at Phoenix (2 base + 0 range + 3 movement + 0 enemy movement + 2 light woods + 3 void signature system + 2 heat - 2 Pulse Laser = 10): rolled 7, miss!
- Gains 25 heat, sinks 24! Overheating!

Unknown Assault
- Fires Light PPC w/ PPC Capacitor (charged) at Warhawk B (2 base + 4 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement + 2 smoke + 1 void signature system = 11): rolled 9, miss!
- Fires Light PPC w/ PPC Capacitor (charged) at Warhawk B (2 base + 4 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement + 2 smoke + 1 void signature system = 11): rolled 2, miss!
- Gains 36 heat, sinks 36!

Longbow
- Fires Large Laser at Huntsman A (2 base + 4 range + 2 movement + 3 enemy movement = 11): rolled 9, miss!
- Fires TAG at Huntsman A (2 base + 4 range + 2 movement + 3 enemy movement = 11): rolled 7, miss!
- Gains 8 heat, sinks 26!

Longbow
- Holds fire!
- Gains 16 heat, sinks 26!

Black Knight
- Fires Heavy PPC w/ PPC Capacitor (charged) at Huntsman A (2 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 3 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System = 10): rolled 3, miss!
- Gains 30 heat, sinks 36!

Excalibur
- Torso-twists to threaten hex 1446!
- Fires Gauss Rifle at Huntsman (2 base + 0 range + 0 movement + 3 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System + 1 partial cover = 7): rolled 3, miss!
- Gains 11 heat, sinks 22!

Coyote
- Holds fire!
- Gains 17 heat, sinks 28!

Hunchback
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Ares (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement - 4 enemy movement = 0): automatically hits Front (14/19 armor remains)!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Ares (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement - 4 enemy movement = 0): automatically hits Front (9/19 armor remains)!
- Gains 12 heat, sinks 22!

Crab
- Torso-twists to threaten hex 1214!
- Fires ER Large Laser at Ebon Jaguar R (2 base + 2 range + 0 movement + 2 enemy movement + 2 smoke + 1 Void Signature System = 9): rolled 7, miss!
- Fires ER Large Laser at Ebon Jaguar R (2 base + 2 range + 0 movement + 2 enemy movement + 2 smoke + 1 Void Signature System = 9): rolled 4, miss!
- Gains 34 heat sinks 36!

Chameleon
- Fires Large Laser at Beta Galaxy Maher Mobile Command Center (2 base + 2 range + 2 movement - 4 enemy movement + 1 smoke + 1 Void Signature System = 6): rolled 11, hit Rear (69/98 armor remains)!
- Fires Large Laser at Beta Galaxy Maher Mobile Command Center (2 base + 2 range + 2 movement - 4 enemy movement + 1 smoke + 1 Void Signature System = 6): rolled 9, hit Rear (61/98 armor remains)!
- Gains 28 heat sinks 32!

Chameleon
- Fires Large Laser at Beta Galaxy Maher Mobile Command Center (2 base + 2 range + 2 movement - 4 enemy movement + 1 smoke + 1 Void Signature System = 6): rolled 3, miss!
- Fires Large Laser at Beta Galaxy Maher Mobile Command Center (2 base + 2 range + 2 movement - 4 enemy movement + 1 smoke + 1 Void Signature System = 6): rolled 10, hit Rear (53/98 armor remains)!
- Gains 28 heat sinks 32!

Phoenix
- Torso-twists to threaten hex 2019!
- Fires Large Variable Speed Pulse Laser at Warhawk B (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement + 1 smoke + 2 light woods + 1 Void Signature System - 2 pulse laser = 6): rolled 8, hit Left Torso (5/26 armor remains)!
- Fires SRM-4 (EMP) at Warhawk B (2 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement + 1 smoke + 2 light woods + 1 Void Signature System = 10): rolled 6, miss!
- Fires SRM-4 (EMP) at Warhawk B (2 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement + 1 smoke + 2 light woods + 1 Void Signature System = 10): rolled 6, miss!
- Gains 28 heat, sinks 30!

Phoenix
- Torso-twists to threaten hex 1147!
- Fires Large Variable Speed Pulse Laser at Huntsman A (2 base + 0 range + 0 movement + 3 enemy movement + 1 light woods + 1 Void Signature System - 2 pulse laser = 5): rolled 5, hit Center Torso (0/25 armor, 15/16 structure remains)! Crit!
- Fires SRM-4 (Inferno) at Huntsman A (2 base + 2 range + 0 movement + 3 enemy movement + 1 light woods + 1 Void Signature System = 9): rolled 11, 2 missiles hit! Huntsman A gains 4 heat!
- Fires SRM-4 (Inferno) at Huntsman A (2 base + 2 range + 0 movement + 3 enemy movement + 1 light woods + 1 Void Signature System = 9): rolled 9, 3 missiles hit! Huntsman A gains 6 heat!
- Gains 25 heat, sinks 30!

Bobcat
- Holds fire!
- Gains 16 heat, sinks 24!

Locust
- Holds fire!
- Gains 2 heat, sinks 20!

Arrow IV Salvo
- Must roll a 4+ to strike the map: rolled 7, succeeds!
- Must roll a 4+ to strike the map: rolled 10, succeeds!
- Missile explodes harmlessly!
- Missile explodes harmlessly!



End Phase:
Phoenix
- Critical chance in Center Torso! No critical hits sustained!

Huntsman A
- Critical chance in Center Torso! Jump Jet destroyed!



Physical Combat Phase:
Unknown Assault
- Kicks Beta Galaxy Maher Mobile Command Center (2 base + 2 movement - 4 target movement - 2 kick = 0): automatically hit Rear (33/98 armor remains)!

Chameleon
- Attacks Mad Dog with Lance (2 base + 2 movement - 4 target movement = 0): automatically hit Rear Center Torso (0/20 structure remains)! `Mech destroyed!










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 Phase 3 unit. Some of these units start on the map, others will enter from elsewhere.



Player Status:


Glorious Deaths




Phase 2 / Phase 3 Primary Objectives:
- Defend Clan HQ Vehicles (2/3 remaining)

Phase 2 / Phase 3 Secondary Objectives:
- Defeat as many enemy `Mechs as possible (8/39 defeated)
- Defend Clan Equipment (22/36 units remaining)
- Defend Clan Personnel (I lost count again, thanks smoke! )



Enemy Status:
Everything is a hair’s breadth from exploding. Probably.

Enemy Movement Mods:
- Unknown Assault +?
- Longbow +1
- Longbow +0
- Black Knight +1
- Excalibur +0
- Coyote +??
- Crab +0
- Chameleon +??
- Chameleon +??
- Hunchback +2
- Hunchback +1
- Phoenix +2
- Phoenix +2
- Bobcat +3
- Locust +4



Orders Due: Tuesday Night!