Part 582: Nergal Reactor - Turn 4
Nergal Reactor: Tactical Update 4“Wait, I have figured it out!” Noretti called too late. “Do not engage the southern—”
Her heart sank as the Screamer opened fire on a target she couldn’t see. The azure whip of a PPC lit the smoke from behind, but Jason must have hit something because the enemy response was immediate. Noretti cursed, firing a snap-shot at the too-distant Viper in an attempt to spoil its aim, and breathed a sigh of relief as its own PPC missed the Screamer by meters.
“I am too slow-witted,” Noretti lamented on the company channel. “The southern star has a different unit insignia! The 197th Assault Trinary undoubtedly has a contract with another cluster commander, they’ve brought in an outside scouting force. I have no doubt that unit was honor-bound not to engage us directly unless we opened fire on them.”
“Of course!” Bethany echoed, “That’s why the brought the Naga! It’s not attacking us directly with its Arrow IVs, and it’s both a soft and tempting target while having enough firepower to goad us into attacking—!”
“Incoming!” Duncan’s broadcast was too late as another Arrow missile fell from the sky. This one didn’t burst in a shower of mines, but instead detonated a scant ten meters above the planet’s surface. Noretti winced as pressure waves battered her borrowed Phoenix Hawk. She’d been less than thirty meters distant, and had borne the brunt of the airburst. Almost instinctively she let her mouth fall open to keep the pressure waves from popping her eardrums. Her armor diagrams flashed the same angry orange color as the explosion outside her cockpit as armor plating shattered and fell away.
Noretti’s cockpit darkened momentarily to near complete opacity to preserve her vision, but when it cleared she swallowed. The fusion plant’s outer façade of pipes and concrete had crumbled revealing a hollow darkness within. “That’s not—” she’d only just begun to say when the rest of the false power plant erupted. Shaped charges carefully blew the building’s walls outward. Its towering smokestack-like heat exchanger fell directly towards her machine—then glanced off without an apparent impact as the lightweight plaster and wire mock-up crumbled and shattered.
“It’s still too soon for my tastes but it seems the ‘jig’ is up,” Major Karagan exclaimed darkly as his BattleMech raised a quintet of radiator fins to full extension, like a peacock flaring its tail feathers. A massive arm, large as the Phoenix Hawk’s torso twisted into view for a brief moment. Noretti stared, at once awestruck and mystified. She had no idea what she was looking at.
Movement Phase
Atlas III
- Enters Minefield Hex 2719, mines deal damage on 9+: rolled 9, suffers 5 damage to Right Leg (37/42 armor remaining)!
- - minefield density can’t be reduced below 5!
Grasshopper
- Enters Minefield Hex 2723, mines deal damage on 9+: rolled 4, no damage sustained!
- - minefield density can’t be reduced below 5!
Wild Weasel
- Switches Angel ECM to ECM!
- Switches Angel ECM to ECM!
Shooting Phase
Movement Phase
Atlas III
- Enters Minefield Hex 2719, mines deal damage on 9+: rolled 9, suffers 5 damage to Right Leg (37/42 armor remaining)!
- - minefield density can’t be reduced below 5 through use!
Grasshopper
- Enters Minefield Hex 2723, mines deal damage on 9+: rolled 4, no damage sustained!
- - minefield density can’t be reduced below 5 through use!
Wild Weasel
- Switches Angel ECM to ECM!
- Switches Angel ECM to ECM!
Shooting Phase
Arrow IV (High Explosive)
- Fired Last Turn at hex 2921 (4 base + 7 indirect fire = 11): rolled 10, shot scatters 1 hex!
- - Arrow IV (High Explosive) lands in hex 3021!
- - - Wild Weasel suffers 5 damage to Left Arm (7/12 armor remaining)!
- - - Copperhead Charlie suffers 15 damage to Left Arm (11/16 armor remaining)!
- - - Phoenix Hawk suffers 15 damage to Right Leg (13/18 armor remaining), Left Leg (13/18 armor remaining), Right Arm (8/13 armor remaining)!
- - - Quonset Hut 3121 suffers 15 damage (0/10 CF remaining)! Building destroyed!
- - - Quonset Hut 3123 suffers 5 damage (5/10 CF remaining)!
- - - Nergal Reactor Hex 2921 suffers 15 damage (0/15 CF remaining)! Hex collapses!
- - - - ??? suffers 1 damage in the collapse to Left Arm (131/132 armor remaining)
- - - Nergal Reactor Hex 2920 suffers 5 damage (10/15 CF remaining)!
- - - Nergal Reactor Hex 2820 suffers 5 damage (10/15 CF remaining)!
- - - Nergal Reactor Hex 2821 suffers 5 damage (10/15 CF remaining)!
Atlas III (Player)
- Holds fire!
- Gains 2 heat, sinks 24!
Awesome (Player)
- Fires rER PPC at Sohei Gamma (3 base + 2 range + 1 movement + 0 enemy movement = 6): rolled 11, hit Center Torso (28/38 armor remaining)!
- - Plasma arcs to Right Torso (21/26 armor remaining)!
- Fires rER PPC at Sohei Gamma (3 base + 2 range + 1 movement + 0 enemy movement = 6): rolled 6, hit Left Arm (16/26 armor remaining)!
- - Plasma arcs to Left Torso (21/26 armor remaining)!
- Fires PPC at Sohei Gamma (3 base + 4 range + 1 movement + 0 enemy movement = 8): rolled 11, hit Left Torso (11/26 armor remaining)!
- Fires PPC at Sohei Gamma (3 base + 4 range + 1 movement + 0 enemy movement = 8): rolled 5, miss!
- Gains 51 heat, sinks 50!
Grasshopper (Player)
- Fires Large X-Pulse Laser at Viper (3 base + 4 range + 3 movement + 4 enemy movement + 1 partial cover - 2 pulse laser = 13): automatic miss!
- Fires Medium Laser at Viper: out of range, automatic miss!
- Fires Medium Laser at Viper: out of range, automatic miss!
- Fires Medium Laser at Viper: out of range, automatic miss!
- Fires Medium Laser at Viper: out of range, automatic miss!
- Gains 30 heat, sinks 30!
Lament (Player)
- No Line of Sight to primary target (even it was in LOS, it wasn’t in an arc where you could’ve hit it with an alpha strike)!
- No Line of Sight to secondary target!
- Gains 2 heat, sinks 32!
Copperhead Gamma (Player)
- Holds Fire!
- Gains 2 heat, sinks 24!
Mountain Lion (Player)
- Torso-twists to threaten hex 2725!
- Fires Gauss Rifle at Thunderchild Razormaw (4 base + 2 range + 0 movement + 3 enemy movement + 1 partial cover + 1 light woods = 11): rolled 5, miss!
- Gains 1 heat, sinks 26!
Coyote (Player)
- No line of sight to any target!
- Gains 2 heat, sinks 40!
Hunchback #1 (Player)
- Holds Fire!
- Gains 0 heat, sinks 20!
Hunchback #2 (Player)
- Fires Heavy Gauss Rifle at Sohei Gamma (3 base + 2 range + 1 movement + 0 enemy movement = 6): rolled 10, hit Right Torso (1/26 armor remaining)!
- Gains 3 heat, sinks 10!
Screamer (Player)
- Torso-twists to threaten hex 1925!
- Fires rER PPC at Stormcrow Storm Surge (2 base + 2 range + 3 movement + 1 enemy movement - 1 targeting computer = 7): rolled 3, miss!
- Fires Medium Pulse Laser at Stormcrow Storm Surge (2 base + 4 range + 3 movement + 1 enemy movement - 1 targeting computer - 2 pulse laser = 7): rolled 9, hit Left Leg (18/25 armor remaining)!
- Gains 24 heat, sinks 25!
Bobcat (Player)
- Fires rER PPC at Sohei Gamma (3 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement = 7): rolled 7, hit Left Torso (1/26 armor remaining)!
- - Plasma arcs to Left Arm (11/26 armor remaining)!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Sohei Gamma (3 base + 4 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement = 9): rolled 4, miss!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Sohei Gamma (3 base + 4 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement = 9): rolled 4, miss!
- Gains 27 heat, sinks 26!
Beowulf (Player)
- Holds fire!
- Gains 2 heat, sinks 24!
Wild Weasel (Player)
- Fires LRM-20 w/Artemis IV (Thunder) at Hex 1712 (3 base + 2 range + 1 movement - 4 immobile target = 2): Automatically hit!
- Gains 7 heat, sinks 22!
Phoenix Hawk (Player)
- Fires Large Pulse Laser at Viper Ocean Breeze (3 base + 4 range + 3 movement + 4 enemy movement - 2 pulse laser = 12): rolled 7, miss!
- Gains 15 heat, sinks 20!
Varangian Undertow
- Fires ER Large Laser at Beowulf (2 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 3 enemy movement + 2 light woods + 1 partial cover = 12): rolled 9, miss!
- Fires ER Large Laser at Beowulf (2 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 3 enemy movement + 2 light woods + 1 partial cover = 12): rolled 8, miss!
- Gains 26 heat, sinks 40!
Ragnarok Beta
- Fires Gauss Rifle at Atlas III (2 base + 4 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement + 1 smoke = 9): rolled 3, miss!
- Fires Gauss Rifle at Atlas III (2 base + 4 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement + 1 smoke = 9): rolled 6, miss!
- Fires Gauss Rifle at Atlas III (2 base + 4 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement + 1 smoke = 9): rolled 4, miss!
- Gains 5 heat, sinks 28!
Unknown `Mech Alpha
- Holds fire!
- Gains 2 heat, sinks 36!
Warhawk Riptide
- Holds fire!
- Gains 2 heat, sinks 44!
Sohei Gamma
- Fires ER PPC at Awesome (3 base + 2 range + 1 movement + 1 enemy movement = 7): rolled 8, hit Right Arm (11/26 armor remaining)!
- Fires LRM-20 w/ Artemis IV at Awesome (3 base + 2 range + 1 movement + 1 enemy movement = 7): rolled 6, miss!
- Gains 21 heat, sinks 32!
Wolf Spider Eta
- Fires ER Large Laser at Mountain Lion (2 base + 4 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement + 1 light woods = 9): rolled 9, hit Rear Right Torso (0/8 armor, 13/15 structure remaining)! Crit!
- Gains 14 heat, sinks 50!
Night Gyr Epsilon
- Fires Large Pulse Laser at Screamer (3 base + 2 range + 3 movement + 5 enemy movement + 1 light woods - 2 pulse laser = 12): rolled 7, miss!
- Gains 2 heat, sinks 24!
Nidhogg Eta
- Holds fire!
- Gains 2 heat, sinks 32!
Crossbow Alpha
- Fires LRM-20 w/Artemis IV (swarm-i) at Mountain Lion (2 base + 4 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement + 1 light woods = 9): rolled 4, miss! Swarm-i targeting degrades to Swarm standard due to ECM interference!
- - Swarm-i LRMs attack Grasshopper (2 base + 4 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement = 10): rolled 10, 20 missiles hit Center Torso (55/60 armor remaining), Left Leg (55/60 armor remaining), Center Torso (50/60 armor remaining), Right Leg (55/60 armor remaining)!
- Fires LRM-20 w/Artemis IV (smoke) at hex 2124 (2 base + 2 range + 2 movement - 4 enemy movement + 1 secondary target + 1 light woods = 4): rolled 8, hit!
- Fires Streak SRM-6 at Screamer (2 base + 4 range + 2 movement + 5 enemy movement + 1 light woods + 1 partial cover + 1 secondary target = 16): fails to lock-on!
- Fires Streak SRM-6 at Screamer (2 base + 4 range + 2 movement + 5 enemy movement + 1 light woods + 1 partial cover + 1 secondary target = 16): fails to lock-on!
- Gains 14 heat, sinks 24!
Crossbow Beta
- Fires Streak SRM-6 at Screamer (2 base + 4 range + 2 movement + 5 enemy movement + 1 light woods + 1 partial cover = 15): fails to lock-on!
- Fires Streak SRM-6 at Screamer (2 base + 4 range + 2 movement + 5 enemy movement + 1 light woods + 1 partial cover = 15): fails to lock-on!
- Fires Streak SRM-6 at Screamer (2 base + 4 range + 2 movement + 5 enemy movement + 1 light woods + 1 partial cover = 15): fails to lock-on!
- Fires Streak SRM-6 at Screamer (2 base + 4 range + 2 movement + 5 enemy movement + 1 light woods + 1 partial cover = 15): fails to lock-on!
- Fires Streak SRM-6 at Screamer (2 base + 4 range + 2 movement + 5 enemy movement + 1 light woods + 1 partial cover = 15): fails to lock-on!
- Fires Streak SRM-6 at Screamer (2 base + 4 range + 2 movement + 5 enemy movement + 1 light woods + 1 partial cover = 15): fails to lock-on!
- Gains 2 heat, sinks 24!
Naga Alpha
- Holds fire!
- Gains 1 heat, sinks 24!
Swordbreaker Storm Surge
- Free to engage!
- Torso-twists to threaten hex 2332!
- Fires Heavy Large Laser at Screamer (3 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 5 enemy movement = 12): rolled 9, miss!
- Fires TAG at Screamer (3 base + 4 range + 2 movement + 5 enemy movement = 13): automatic miss!
- Gains 20 heat, sinks 38!
Thunderchild Razormaw
- Free to engage!
- Holds fire!
- Gains 6 heat, sinks 20!
Shadowcat Eta
- Free to engage!
- Holds fire!
- Gains 5 heat, sinks 28!
Viper Ocean Breeze
- Free to engage!
- Fires ER PPC at Screamer (3 base + 0 range + 3 movement + 5 enemy movement + 2 light woods = 13): automatic miss!
- Gains 23 heat, sinks 24!
Nergal Reactor
- Reactor Output: 3000%
End Phase
Sohei Gamma
- Must pass a piloting test or fall (4 base + 1 massive damage + 1 swamp = 6): rolled 10, succeeds!
Grasshopper (player)
- Must pass a piloting test or fall (4 base + 1 massive damage + 1 hardened armor = 6): rolled 12, succeeds!
Mountain Lion (player)
- Critical chance in Right Torso: rolled 4, no critical hit sustained!
Next Turn’s Movement Phase
Sohei Gamma
- Attempts to free itself from the mud (4 base + 1 swamp = 5): rolled 3, fails!
NRG-0000-0X Nergal (Allied)
- Activates shaped charges.
- - Fusion Reactor Shell destroyed in a controlled collapse.
- - Adjacent minefields cleared by falling debris!
Player Status:
Allied Status:
Opposing Force Status:
House Rule: Flooding Sucks – An armor breach underwater no longer destroys hit locations outright. A section that floods instead suffers damage to all weapons in that location, knocking them offline. All ammunition or special equipment in a flooded section is likewise rendered useless. Head armor breaches are treated as normal.Primary Objectives
- Lure the Clans near the Nergal Reactor (failed!)
- Protect the NRG-0000-0X Nergal (0/1)
Secondary Objectives
- Accrue Bounty (0 c-bills / 0 goods)
- - Light `Mechs: 1,000,000 c-bills
- - Medium `Mechs: 2,000,000 c-bills
- - Heavy `Mechs: 3,000,000 c-bills
- - Assault `Mechs: 4,000,000 c-bills
- - Infantry Units: 250,000 c-bills
- - Battle Armor Units: 1,000,000 c-bills
- - AeroSpace Fighters: 2,000,000 c-bills
- Last Mission’s Total Bounty: 62,300,000 c-bills (93,450,000 goods)
- Total Accumulated Bounty: 62,300,000 c-bills (93,450,000 goods)
Orders Due: Midnight Saturday!