Part 602: Gravedigger - Turn 6

Grave Digger: Tactical Update 6

“Jesus Davion-Liao-Christ!” Krel squealed, his fat foot smashing down on the gas pedal. He yanked hard on the wheel, slewing the Desert Hawg to the right just in time to dodge one of the crystalline, claw-like fins on the Sand Whale’s back. Krel was no stranger to the deserts, he’d seen Sand Whales up close before, but never one this large.

Sand Whales were completely unlike any Terran animal Krel had ever encountered. Lacking a distinct head, a Sand Whale’s lower jaw was attached almost directly to its shoulder blades. Even a calf could open its mouth wide enough to swallow a man whole, which was really the only way Sand Whales ate anything. Their small, surprisingly soft and peg-like teeth weren’t really useful for anything more than gripping large items, but there was an old desert tall tale that said a big Sand Whale could digest anything it could squeeze into its maw.

It was a story Krel had hoped never to see tested, but the Sand Whale clearly had other ideas. No moisture glistened as the creature’s mouth opened wide and closed on the crew cabin of the Rotunda armored car. It may not have been a relief to the Rotunda’s crew when Phelix’s Goblin fired, vaporizing the scout car’s armor and instantly killing the men or women inside, but it certainly calmed Krel’s flopping stomach. Even so, as the Whale thrashed and struggled to swallow its ten-odd ton ‘meal’ it managed to drive its shoulder spine into the Desert Hawg’s crew cabin. The spike didn’t penetrate, but it did stave in a structural support and left a dent that extended half a meter into the crew’s seating area.

“Ok,” Krel stammered, his knuckles white with fear. At that moment, it would’ve taken at least one of the Desert Hawg’s lift hoists to pry his foot from the gas pedal. “No more waiting. Keep up or stay to get eaten, I don’t care which.”








Movement Phase
Thor Artillery Vehicle "Exhumer" (Player)
- Instantly destroys Sand Raider Bull Riders!



Shooting Phase
Marsden II (Player)
- Fires SRM-6 (Deadfire) at Vedette (4 base + 0 range + 2 movement - 4 enemy movement = 2): 3 missiles automatically hit Right Side (8/18 armor remaining), Rear (17/20 armor remaining), Right Side (5/18 armor remaining)!
- Fires SRM-6 (Deadfire) at Vedette (4 base + 0 range + 2 movement - 4 enemy movement = 2): 4 missiles automatically hit Turret (3/20 armor remaining), Turret (0/20 armor remaining), Rear (14/20 armor remaining), Rear (11/20 armor remaining)!
- Fires Autocannon/5 at Sand Raider Calf Riders #2 (4 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement + 1 secondary target = 7): rolled 11, hit! 1 trooper killed!

Goblin Medium Tank "Diamondback" (Player)
- Fires Heavy Chemical Laser at Rotunda (4 base + 0 range + 4 movement + 0 enemy movement = 8): rolled 9, hit Left Side (0/4 armor, 0/2 structure remaining)! Vehicle destroyed!
- Fires Heavy Chemical Laser at Rotunda (4 base + 0 range + 4 movement + 0 enemy movement = 8): rolled 10, hit Rear (0/3 armor, 0/2 structure remaining)!

Bulldog Medium Tank (Player)
- Fires Heavy Rifle at Scarback (3 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement = 5): rolled 9, hit Scarback suffers 1 damage!
- Fires Inferno SRM-4 at Sand Raider Calf Riders #1 (3 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement + 1 light woods + 1 secondary target = 9): rolled 10, 1 missiles hit!
- Fires Inferno SRM-4 at Sand Raider Calf Riders #1 (3 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement + 1 light woods + 1 secondary target = 9): rolled 12, 3 missiles hit!
- - 12 troopers killed in Inferno attacks!

Thor Artillery Vehicle "Exhumer" (Player)
- Fires Vehicle Flamer (Damage) at Vedette (4 base + 0 range + 2 movement - 4 enemy movement = 2): automatically hit Turret (3/5 structure remaining)! TAC! (natural 12)
- Fires Vehicle Flamer (Damage) at Vedette (4 base + 0 range + 2 movement - 4 enemy movement = 2): automatically hit Turret (1/5 structure remaining)! TAC! (another natural 12)

Dig Lord “Sancho Panzer” (Player)
- Fires Autocannon/10 at Vedette (4 base + 0 range + 2 movement - 4 enemy movement = 2): automatically hit Front (5/20 armor remaining)!
- Fires Light Machine Gun at Vedette (4 base + 0 range + 2 movement - 4 enemy movement = 2): automatically hit Turret (0/5 structure remaining)! Vehicle destroyed!
- Fires Light Machine Gun at Vedette (4 base + 0 range + 2 movement - 4 enemy movement = 2): automatically hit Front (4/20 armor remaining)!
- Fires Light Machine Gun at Vedette (4 base + 0 range + 2 movement - 4 enemy movement = 2): automatically hit Front (3/20 armor remaining)!
- Fires Light Machine Gun at Vedette (4 base + 0 range + 2 movement - 4 enemy movement = 2): automatically hit Left Side (17/18 armor remaining)!
- Fires Light Machine Gun at Vedette (4 base + 0 range + 2 movement - 4 enemy movement = 2): automatically hit Front (2/20 armor remaining)!
- Gains 3 heat, sinks 3!

Vedette
- Fires Autocannon/5 at Marsden II (4 base + 0 range + 0 movement + 1 enemy movement = 5): rolled 3, miss!

Rotunda Armored Car
- Fires Machine Gun at Desert Hawg (4 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement = 6): rolled 4, miss!
- Fires Machine Gun at Desert Hawg (4 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement = 6): rolled 6, hit Turret (38/40 armor remaining)!
- Fires Machine Gun at Desert Hawg (4 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement = 6): rolled 7, hit Front (38/40 armor remaining)!
- Fires Machine Gun at Desert Hawg (4 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement = 6): rolled 9, hit Turret (36/40 armor remaining)!

Sand Raider Calf Riders 2
- Attack Goblin (3 base + 4 range + 2 enemy movement = 9): rolled 2, miss!



Physical Combat Phase:
Scarback
- Devours Rotunda!
- Rams Desert Hawg (4 base + 1 opposed driving + 0 enemy movement = 5): rolled 5, hit Left Side (32/40 armor remaining)!








Player Status:




Ally Status:




Opposing Force Status:




Special Rules
Drifting: Vehicles may shift one column to the left or right during the movement phase without expending an MP to turn, provided the move does not cross through an enemy unit or terrain that would cost additional MP. Adjacent vehicles may be rammed for low damage with a sideswipe and lighter vehicles may be knocked off course next turn!
Half-Height Terrain: All terrain features rise to only half their normal height. Vehicles behind a height 1 hill may still attack and be attacked, but may only receive damage to their turrets. Vehicles without turrets are hidden as normal. Hills only cost 1 MP to climb rather than the additional 2. BattleMech and IndustrialMech units treat height 1 hexes as if they are clear terrain, height 2 as if they are height 1, etc.
Oases: Oases are surrounded by boggy soil that will trap ground vehicles and may attract native fauna.
Mirages: Heat shimmer can make water appear where there is none. Mirages may be driven through safely but may hide other features.
Redline the Engines: The Desert Hawg’s speed cannot be reduced by damage or critical hits.



Primary Objectives
- Protect the Desert Hawg (0/1)
- Disable or destroy the Devil’s Due (0/1)

Secondary Objectives
- Drive away or destroy Scarback (0/1)
- Destroy the ???? (0/1)



Orders Due: Midnight Tuesday!