Part 475: Sludge Factory - Turn 19

Sludge Factory: Tactical Update 19

The Tokugawa rocked as another brush from the enemy BattleMech’s large laser struck it like a hammer. The vehicle’s thick plating took on an angry, reddish hue as the ceramic layers wicked away excess heat. The fact that that glow was visible at all told Gunsho Bakr all she needed to know. Another hit like that and her crew would be lucky if they died before getting coated in molten steel-ceramic composites. Losing such a new vehicle was a blow, but the Coordinator-Prince had made his thoughts clear. He’d rather the newly-formed “regimental combat team” abandon a dozen machines if it preserved the veteran warriors who crewed them. She didn’t agree but giri demanded she obey.

“Everyone out,” she made the final call, cracking open the rear gantry. She squeezed her eyes shut against the sudden rush of stinging sulfur. She was the last out—or so she’d thought. The moment her foot hit the soft soil the rear gantry’s hydraulics whined as it began to swing closed. Spinning in place, she met the grim gaze of her loader: a man she’d served with for more than a decade. He didn’t salute, she was no officer and it wouldn’t have been proper, but he did offer as respectful a bow as he could manage under the circumstances. He didn’t speak, but his resolve was clear: he would continue to man the Tokugawa’s last functioning weapon until the weapon or the tank itself was destroyed.

She bowed in return. The obligations of duty were one of the Combine’s greatest strength: the Dragon’s soldiers rarely struggled with doubt; but it was also one of the Combine’s greatest weaknesses. Every soldier interpreted their giri differently.








ACE Mars Assault Vehicle
- Fires Gauss Rifle at Panther (4 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement + 1 partial cover = 9): rolled 6, miss!
- Fires LB 10-X Autocannon (Slug) at Panther (4 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement + 1 partial cover = 9): rolled 10, hit Right Torso (0/10 armor remaining)!
- Fires LRM-15 at Panther (4 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement + 1 partial cover = 9): rolled 5, miss!
- Fires LRM-15 at Panther (4 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement + 1 partial cover = 9): rolled 4, miss!
- Fires LRM-15 at Panther (4 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement + 1 partial cover = 9): rolled 12, 9 missiles hit Left Arm (5/10 armor remaining), Center Torso (4/14 armor remaining)!

Manticore (LBX)
- Fires LB 10-X Autocannon (Slug) at Ammo Dump (4 base + 4 range + 1 movement + 0 enemy movement + 2 light woods = 11): rolled 6, miss!

Wasp
- Holds fire!
- Gains 4 heat, sinks 10!

Hunter 1
- Fires ER Large Laser at Ammo Dump (4 base + 4 range + 0 movement + 0 enemy movement + 2 light woods = 10): rolled 5, miss!
- Fires LRM-15 at Ammo Dump (4 base + 4 range + 0 movement + 0 enemy movement + 2 light woods = 10): rolled 9, miss!

Tokugawa 2
- Fires Artemis SRM-6 at Infantry 2109 (4 base + 4 range + 0 movement + 0 enemy movement = 8): rolled 10, 2 missiles hit! 4 troopers killed!

Partisan 2
- Crew Stunned!

PNT 10K2 Panther
- Fires ER PPC at Mars Assault Vehicle (4 base + 0 range + 3 movement + 0 enemy movement = 7): rolled 6, miss!
- Fires SRM-4 at Mars Assault Vehicle (4 base + 2 range + 3 movement + 0 enemy movement = 9): rolled 8, miss!
- Fires SRM-4 at Mars Assault Vehicle (4 base + 2 range + 3 movement + 0 enemy movement = 9): rolled 7, miss!
- Gains 25 heat, sinks 24!

Sylph Point
- Fires Micro Pulse Laser at M.A.S.H. (4 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 0 enemy movement - 2 pulse laser = 3): rolled 11, hit (17/50 CF remaining)!

Athena Combat Vehicle
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Building Hex 2707 (4 base+ 4 range + 0 movement - 4 enemy movement - 1 targeting computer = 3): rolled 9, hit (19/90 CF remaining)!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Building Hex 2707 (4 base+ 4 range + 0 movement - 4 enemy movement - 1 targeting computer = 3): rolled 11, hit (12/90 CF remaining)!

Horned Owl
- Torso-twists to threaten hex 1811!
- Fires Large Pulse Laser at Tokugawa (4 base + 2 range + 3 movement + 2 enemy movement - 2 Pulse Laser - 4 immobile target = 5): Rolled 6, hit Front (10/40 armor remaining)! TAC!
- Fires Medium Pulse Laser at Tokugawa (4 base + 4 range + 3 movement + 2 enemy movement - 2 Pulse Laser - 4 immobile target = 7): Rolled 6, miss!
- Gains 20 heat, sinks 20!

Elementals
- Hold fire!



End Phase
Tokugawa
- Through-armor critical chance in Front! No critical hit sustained!








Player Status:



Opposing Force Status:




Mission Objective:
Capture the Coolant Factory (0/1)

Secondary Objectives:
Protect the Mobile Army Support Hospital from detection (Failed)
Defend the Mobile Army Support Hospital (0/1)
Locate the Clan Ammunition Dump (1/1)
Destroy the Clan Ammunition Dump (0/1)

Special Rules:
Caustic, Tainted Atmosphere (TacOps p56)
Vehicles suffer an automatic Crew Stunned if armor is breached, Mechwarriors take double damage from cockpit hits.
Point Commanders
As long as they are active combatants, the Mars Assault Vehicle and Epona Pursuit Tank may designate one unit each as an Ace for two turns. New Ace units may not be designated until Ace status expires. Units which opt to remain immobile for at least two turns gain Ace status on the first turn they move. BattleMechs and VTOLs may not be Aces.



Orders Due: Midnight Tuesday!