Part 62: Vipers of Somerset - Turn 20

Vipers of Somerset: Tactical Update 20

Movement Phase
Random Ace Beta: B5 Lucerne!
Random Ace Gamma: G2 Unknown Assault 2!

L2 backs into hex 1608—insufficient MP, L2 Zeus falls!
L2 Zeus suffers falling damage to Right Arm (14/22 armor remains), Right Leg (0/17 structure remains)! ‘Mech disabled!
L2 Zeus must make a piloting test to avoid pilot damage (5 base + 0 hexes moved + 1 previously destroyed foot actuator + 1 trying to avoid pilot damage + 5 leg destroyed = 12): rolled 5, fails!

L2 Zeus must pass a 7+ consciousness test: rolled 3, fails!

B4 Mugger walks to 1413!



Combat Phase:
L2 Zeus holds fire
L2 Zeus gains 1 heat, sinks 17! Now at Overheat 0!

B4 holds fire!
B4 Mugger gains 2 heat, sinks 28! Now at overheat 0!

B5 Lucerne holds fire!
B5 Lucerne gains 0 heat, sinks 26! Now at overheat 0!



End Phase



Physical Combat Phase:



End Phase:

L2 Zeus gains 10 heat due to fire, sinks 17! Now at overheat 0!

B5 Lucerne gains 10 heat due to fire, sinks 26! Now at overheat 0!

Consciousness Rolls for the next 5 turns: 3, 5, 3, 4, 7 (this battle is over)



Sam’s retreat was the correct decision intellectually, tactically, and every other way that mattered—her battered Zeus couldn’t stand up under another kick and she knew it. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the wise choice mechanically. The Zeus’ legs, stressed by heat and the tortuous beating at the hands of the Lucerne, just didn’t work.

Certainly, the actuators worked—but the myomer musculature that supported the eighty-ton death machine barely responded to Sam’s controls. Her first step backwards was also her last; her ‘Mech’s right leg screamed as tortured, fatigued metal simply sheared off just above the knee. Sam had been expecting a fall, planning on it—but not so soon. She’d been hoping for a controlled slide down the hill; a fall that would let her minimize the threat of her own cockpit.

Instead, she just rattled around inside it like the last bean in a tin-can as her ride came crashing down onto the forest floor.

Caught between her left joystick and her primary monitor, Sam’s arm snapped like a twig. The last thing she noticed before blacking out were vibrant green laser pulses as the Clanner—either out of some misguided mercy or darker motives—began blasting the forest around her to splinters.

He probably just wants a look at my ‘Mech, she thought darkly as she fell back into unconsciousness.



Enemy Forces:
B4 Mugger: Waiting to move!
B5 Lucerne: Remains stationary!
G1 Unknown Assault 1: Remains Stationary!
G2 Unknown Assault 2: Remains Stationary!
G3 Unknown Assault 3: Remains Stationary!
G4 Unknown Assault 4: Remains Stationary!
G5 Unknown Assault 5: Remains Stationary!

Mission Objectives
Defeat Beta Star! (Failed)
Survive! (19/20 Turns) (Failed)




Ace Note: Previous turn's movement will be in black, current turn's movement will be in green!
Whoops Note: I forgot to put the Mugger on the map. Whoops.



CP-10-Z Cyclops
Notes: Destroyed by ammunition explosion!

ZEU-6S Zeus
Weight: 80 tons (Assault)
HD A(S): 4/9 (3/3)
LT A(S): 18/18 (17/17)
LT R A(S): 6/6
CT A(S): 21/26 (25/25)
CT R A(S): 9/9
RT A(S): 10/18 (17/17)
RT R A(S): 3/6
LA A(S): 4/22 (13/13)
RA A(S): 14/22 (13/13)
LL A(S): 0/24 (8/17)
RL A(S):0/24 (0/17)
Heat: 0/30
Overheat Penalty: None
Heat Sinks: 17
Movement: 4/6/0
Mechwarrior: Pilot 5, Gunnery 4
Mechwarrior Name: Leutnant Samantha Clover
Mechwarrior Player: Mukaikubo
Mechwarrior Status: Sprained Back, Severe Concussion, Broken Arm (consciousness 7+)!
Armament:
Large Laser – LT (Heat: 8, Range: (L:15 M:10 S:5), Status: OK!)
LRM 15 – RA (Heat: 5, Ammo: 1, Range: (L:21 M:14 S:7 Min:6), Status: OK!)
Medium Laser (REAR) – LT(R) (Heat: 3, Range: (L:9 M:6 S:3), Status: OK!)
Medium Laser – CT (Heat: 3, Range: (L:9 M:6 S:3), Status: OK!)
Autocannon/5 – LA (Heat: 1, Ammo: 1, Range: (L:18 M:12 S:6 Min:3), Status: OK!)
Critical Damage: Left Foot Actuator Destroyed! Right Foot Actuator Destroyed!
Notes: No hands

BNC-3S Banshee
Notes: ‘Mech destroyed, pilot killed!

WLF-1 Wolfhound
Notes: ‘Mech destroyed, pilot taken by the Clans!

Rommel Tank:
Notes: Tank destroyed, crew escaped into the woods!



Enemy Status
Beta Krait
B1 Battle Cobra
Critical Damage: Destroyed!
Notes: Counts as rough terrain!

B2 Thunderchild
Tonnage: 50
Critical Damage: Right Arm Destroyed!
Notes: Retreated off map!

B3 Copperhead
Critical Damage: None!
Notes: Forced off map!

B4 Mugger
Tonnage: 65
Target: CP-10-Z Cyclops!
Critical Damage: None!
Pilot Name: Mechwarrior Azael
Pilot: Piloting 4, Gunnery 3
Heat: 0/30
Overheat Penalty: None!
Armament: Unknown
Notes:

B5 Lucerne
Tonnage: 65
Target: ZEU-6S Zeus
Critical Damage: None!
Pilot Name: Mechwarrior Drang
Pilot: Piloting 4, Gunnery 3
Heat: 0/30
Overheat Penalty: None!
Armament: Unknown
Notes: Equipped with ECM, using ECM to generate Ghost Targets!



Gamma Boa
G1 Unknown Assault
Tonnage: 80
Target: None Possible!
Critical Damage: None!
Pilot Name: ???
Pilot: Piloting 4, Gunnery 3
Heat: 0/30
Overheat Penalty: None!
Armament: Unknown
Notes:

G2 Unknown Assault
Tonnage: 80
Target: None Possible!
Critical Damage: None!
Pilot Name: ???
Pilot: Piloting 4, Gunnery 3
Heat: 0/30
Overheat Penalty: None!
Armament: Unknown
Notes:

G3 Unknown Assault
Tonnage: 85
Target: None Possible!
Critical Damage: None!
Pilot Name: ???
Pilot: Piloting 4, Gunnery 3
Heat: 0/30
Overheat Penalty: None!
Armament: Unknown
Notes:

G4 Unknown Assault
Tonnage: 90
Target: None Possible!
Critical Damage: None!
Pilot Name: ???
Pilot: Piloting 4, Gunnery 3
Heat: 0/30
Overheat Penalty: None!
Armament: Unknown
Notes:

G5 Unknown Assault
Tonnage: 95
Target: None Possible!
Critical Damage: None!
Pilot Name: Star Colonel Dusk
Pilot: Piloting 2, Gunnery 1
Heat: 0/30
Overheat Penalty: None!
Armament: Unknown
Notes:



After-Action Report:
Ouch, our first loss of the LP. This will have ramifications. You won’t get to see exactly what until the story update; but there are a lot of forces in motion right now. That said, I was expecting this to go far, far worse for the players. The turn the Banshee took that headshot, I figured it was all over.

We need MVPs again, for the 2nd Donegal Guards and for the Steel Vipers; and I imagine this one’s going to be really close.

Since your also probably curious, the current status of the Clan ‘Mechs is:
B4 Mugger
HD A(S): 2 armor remains
LT A(S): 17 armor remains
LT R A(S): 9 armor remains
CT A(S): 16 armor remains
CT R A(S): 8 armor remains
RT A(S): 17 armor remains
RT R A(S): 9 armor remains
LA A(S): 8 armor remains
RA A(S): 13 armor remains
LL A(S): 0 armor, 8 structure remains
RL A(S): 16 armor remains

B5 Lucerne
HD A(S): 9 armor remains
LT A(S): 5 armor remains
LT R A(S): 8 armor remains
CT A(S): 11 armor remains
CT R A(S): 10 armor remains
RT A(S): 2 armor remains
RT R A(S): 8 armor remains
LA A(S): 4 armor remains
RA A(S): 0 armor remains
LL A(S): 28 armor remains
RL A(S): 15 armor remains

So yeah, you really beat the hell out of ‘em. Congratulations, guys; this scenario was designed to be tough as hell and you came within inches of pulling it off anyway.