Part 369: Hastilude - Turn 15
Hastilude: Tactical Update 15“Damn that Varas,” Duncan Marik grumbled to himself as he stormed into his command center as technicians began swarming around the feet of his prototype Grand Titan. Aides and officers saluted and promptly stepped out of his way, and despite his foul mood the Captain-General acknowledged each with eye contact and a slight nod. He slipped into his office, slumped into a heavily-padded office chair and rested his face in both hands to massage his eyes with his fingertips.
“Don’t rub too hard, my liege.”
“Harrison,” Duncan Marik didn’t look up. “As soon as this idiotic fight is over, I want Varas here. I want his head on my desk.”
“That will prove difficult,” Harrison Kalma didn’t miss a beat. “The Clanners killed him.”
“Damn. And the others?” Duncan paused, “No. Don’t answer that. Are we winning or losing?”
“Still inconclusive,” Harrison replied in low tones, “but it’s not looking good. Dr. Sequord still thinks she can earn a victory but the Clan pilots are very good. Varas’s little stunt may have cost us the fight and I also must apologize. My advice was ill-considered: when they told us about their culture of “warrior superiority” and we learned they were actually three independent commands, I assumed they’d be partially occupied competing with each other and would have difficulty working together as a unit. I was wrong.”
“You weren’t, Harrison,” Duncan sighed. “I’ve spoken with them, face-to-face. Clan culture is a warrior culture. They’re not soldiers, not an army. They’re a collection of individuals who just happen to share the same culture. We should’ve known their pilots are skilled enough to know how best to work around each other, it’s just how they fight. Regardless: someone is going to answer for Varas, I want his second in command brought here immediately.”
Harrison Kalma nodded, “I’ll send a runner.”
Duncan forestalled him with a raised hand. “Not a runner, Harrison. Send a platoon of infantry.”
Kalma’s eyes widened inquisitively, “My liege?”
“I’ve underestimated Kemper Varas twice now. There will not be a third time.”
Combat Phase
Knights Wraith
- Fires Medium Pulse Laser at Clan Grizzly (3 base + 2 range + 3 movement + 2 enemy movement + 1 heat - 2 Pulse Laser = 9): rolled 7, miss!
- Gains 11 heat, sinks 20!
Knights Anvil
- Fires Large Pulse Laser at Clan Grizzly (4 base + 2 range + 0 movement + 2 enemy movement + 1 light woods - 2 Pulse Laser = 7): rolled 7, hit Right Leg (11/27 armor remains)!
- Fires Large Pulse Laser at Clan Grizzly (4 base + 2 range + 0 movement + 2 enemy movement + 1 light woods - 2 Pulse Laser = 7): rolled 6, miss!
- Fires Medium Laser at Clan Grizzly (4 base + 2 range + 0 movement + 2 enemy movement + 1 light woods = 9): rolled 7, miss!
- Gains 23 heat, sinks 24! Overheating!
Clan Wraith
- Fires Large Pulse Laser at Knights Wraith (3 base + 4 range + 3 movement + 4 enemy movement - 2 Pulse Laser = 12): rolled 6, miss!
- Gains 17 heat, sinks 20!
Clan Orion
- Holds fire!
- Gains 2 heat, sinks 22!
Clan Grizzly
- Fires Gauss Rifle at Knights Anvil (3 base + 0 range + 3 movement + 0 enemy movement + 1 light woods = 7): rolled 12, hit Left Torso (0/21 armor, 11/14 structure remains)! Crit!
- Fires Large Pulse Laser at Knights Anvil (3 base + 0 range + 3 movement + 0 enemy movement + 1 light woods - 2 Pulse Laser = 5): rolled 8, hit Right Torso (0/14 structure remains)! Torso destroyed!
- - Damage transfers to Center Torso (6/30 armor remains)!
- Fires LRM-10 at Knights Anvil (3 base + 0 range + 3 movement + 0 enemy movement + 1 light woods = 7): rolled 9, 6 missiles hit Center Torso (1/30 armor remains), Center Torso (0/30 armor remains)!
- Gains19 heat, sinks 22!
End Phase:
Knights Anvil
- Must pass a piloting test or fall (4 base + 1 massive damage = 5): rolled 5, succeeds!
- Critical chance in Left Torso! No critical hits sustained!
Unit Status:
Knights of the Inner Sphere Mission Objectives:
- Win (incomplete)
Hastilude Enemy Movement Mods:
- Wraith – Jumped +4
- Orion – Ran +1
- Grizzly – Ran +1
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