Part 378: Ultimatum - Turn 4

Ultimatum: Tactical Update 4

“It seems as though they were listening, acting Star Commander.” Crow said in a sardonic deadpan as Tara’s Mist Lynx’s arm fell limp, then snapped off as a stream of charged particles caught her machine from the side. “Rim Worlders, if you still eavesdrop, I urge you to ignore Mechwarrior Tara’s idle boasts. She is a walking mouth that somehow became a Mechwarrior. Our combat efficacy will not be diminished if you eliminate her.”

The enemy didn’t respond, not that Crow had been expecting—or would’ve listened to—such a retort. He was certain they were listening, however, and wanted to make sure they understood how little he thought of them. As if to illustrate his prior statement, he let his crosshairs fall over an enemy Crab and burned half the armor from its left breast. The enemy machine was heavier and more heavily armored, but Crow estimated their firepower was probably fairly equal. For good measure, he raked the nearly-transparent machine with his tag and was surprised when it successfully locked on.

He was even more surprised a moment later when his radio spat, “Alpha-Nu-Tri-Em-Recon-4, this is Gamma-Iota-Bi-Vee-2. Receiving your targeting data. Are you requesting a fire mission, quineg?”

Crow’s mind whirled at the unexpected hail. “Gamma-Iota-Bi-Vee-2, what is your ETA to combat zone?”

“Neg eta,” the Freeborn tank crewman replied. “We are uncrewed. My loader and I were doing maintenance, but we are immobile. Requesting confirmation: are you requesting Alpha-4?”

Crow shut his eyes, as though trying to shut away the outside world for a few seconds so he could think. The Mechwarrior in him loathed the idea of giving kills to a mere tank, and the Trueborn in him loathed the idea of giving even a small portion of his victory to a Freeborn, no matter how helpful. Nonetheless, they were badly outnumbered and that fool Tara was as useful as an anchor on a JumpShip.

“Aff,” he grunted. “Confirming request.”

“Huitzilopochtli Iota-2, request confirmed. Arrow IV missiles inbound. ETA: 30 seconds,” his mysterious benefactor replied mechanically. Crow was almost impressed, until the Freeborn added: “Please try to have a target designated. Our Galaxy Commander loathes wasted ammunition.”



Combat Phase
Fire Moth Prime
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Stinger (3 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 3 enemy movement = 8): rolled 9, hit Rear Right Torso (0/2 armor, 0/5 structure remains)! Torso destroyed! Engine hit! Engine hit!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Stinger (3 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 3 enemy movement = 8): rolled 6, miss!
- Fires SRM-6 at Stinger (3 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 3 enemy movement = 8): rolled 3, miss!
- Fires SRM-4 at Stinger (3 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 3 enemy movement = 8): rolled 4, miss!
- Gains 19 heat, sinks 20!

Mist Lynx B
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Stinger (3 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 3 enemy movement = 8): rolled 10, hit Left Arm (0/3 structure remains)! Arm blown off!
- - Damage transfers to Left Torso (0/8 armor, 3/5 structure remains)! Crit!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Stinger (3 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 3 enemy movement = 8): rolled 8, hit Center Torso (0/6 structure remains)! `Mech destroyed!
- Fires ER Small Laser at Stinger (3 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 3 enemy movement = 8): rolled 9, hit!
- Fires SRM-6 at Stinger (3 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 3 enemy movement = 8): rolled 11, 6 missiles hit!
- Fires SRM-6 at Stinger (3 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 3 enemy movement = 8): rolled 9, 5 missiles hit!
- Gains 22 heat, sinks 20! Overheating!

Mist Lynx D
- Target already destroyed!
- Gains 2 heat, sinks 20!

Arctic Cheetah
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Crab (3 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System = 7): rolled 8, hit Left Torso (7/14 armor remains)!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Crab (3 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System = 7): rolled 3, miss!
- Fires LRM-5 at Crab (3 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System = 7): rolled 12, 4 missiles hit Right Torso (10/14 armor remains)!
- Fires LRM-5 at Crab (3 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System = 7): rolled 7, 2 missiles hit Left Leg (20/22 armor remains)!
- Fires TAG at Crab (3 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System = 7): rolled 10, hit!
- Gains 16 heat, sinks 20!

Kit Fox
- Fires ER Large Laser at Hunchback (3 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement + 2 Void Signature System = 7): rolled 9, hit Rear Center Torso (0/5 armor, 11/16 structure remains)! Crit!
- Fires LB 5-X Autocannon (Cluster) at Hunchback (3 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement + 2 Void Signature System - 1 cluster = 6): rolled 5, miss!
- Fires Streak SRM-4 at Hunchback (3 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement + 2 Void Signature System = 7): rolled 7, 3 missiles hit Rear Left Torso (2/4 armor remains (TAC!)), Rear Right Torso (2/4 armor remains), Rear Center Torso (9/16 structure remains (Crit!)!
- Fires Small Pulse Laser at Hunchback (3 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement + 2 Void Signature System - 2 pulse laser = 5): rolled 6, hit Right Arm (12/16 armor remains)! TAC!
- Gains 20 heat, sinks 20!

Unknown Assault
- Fires Gauss Rifle at Mist Lynx B (2 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 3 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System = 10): rolled 10, hit Right Arm (0/4 armor, 0/4 structure remains)! Limb blown off!
- - Damage transfers to Right Torso (0/7 armor remains)!
- Fires Light PPC w/PPC Capacitor (charged) at Mist Lynx B (2 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 3 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System = 10): rolled 11, hit Center Torso (0/10 armor remains)!
- Fires Light PPC w/PPC Capacitor (charged) at Mist Lynx B (2 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 3 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System = 10): rolled 9, miss!
- Gains 31 heat, sinks 32!

Thug
- Charges Heavy PPC!
- Fires Heavy PPC w/ PPC Capacitor (Charged) at Mist Lynx D (2 base + 2 range + 1 movement + 3 enemy movement + 1 Heavy PPC + 1 Void Signature System = 10): rolled 7, missed!
- Gains 36 heat, sinks 34! Overheating!

Longbow
- Torso-twists to threaten hex 1548!
- Fires LRM-20 w/Artemis IV (Artemis IV) at Kit Fox (2 base + 2 range + 0 movement + 2 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System + 2 light woods = 9): rolled 6, miss!
- Fires LRM-20 w/Artemis IV (Artemis IV) at Kit Fox (2 base + 2 range + 0 movement + 2 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System + 2 light woods = 9): rolled 6, miss!
- Fires TAG at Kit Fox (2 base + 2 range + 0 movement + 2 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System + 2 light woods = 9): rolled 5, miss!
- Gains 26 heat, sinks 26!

???
- ???!
- Gains 0 heat, sinks 26!

Black Knight
- Charges PPC Capacitor!
- Fires Large Laser at Kit Fox (2 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement + 3 light woods + 1 Void Signature System = 12): rolled 6, miss!
- Fires Large Laser at Kit Fox (2 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement + 3 light woods + 1 Void Signature System = 12): rolled 7, miss!
- Gains 33 heat, sinks 36!

Excalibur
- Fires Gauss Rifle at Kit Fox (2 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement + 3 light woods + 1 Void Signature System = 12): rolled 8, miss!

Coyote
- Fires ER Large Laser at Clint IIC (2 base + 2 range + 0 movement - 4 immobile target + 1 Void Signature System = 1): automatically hits Center Torso (0/15 armor, 9/12 structure remains)!
- Gains 22 heat, sinks 28!

Chameleon
- Fires Large Laser at Mist Lynx D (2 base + 4 range + 2 movement + 3 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System = 12): rolled 4, miss!
- Gains 20 heat, sinks 22!

Crab
- Fires ER Large Laser at Arctic Cheetah (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 3 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System + 1 light woods = 9): rolled 3, miss!
- Fires ER Large Laser at Arctic Cheetah (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 3 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System + 1 light woods = 9): rolled 6, miss!
- Gains 34 heat, sinks 36!

Hunchback
- Torso-twists to threaten hex 0744!
- Fires Ultra AC/20 (Ultra) at Warhammer IIC (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement - 4 immobile target + 1 Void Signature System = 1): 2 shells automatically hit Rear Center Torso (0/15 armor, 20/25 structure remains), Rear Center Torso (0/20 structure remains)! `Mech destroyed!
- Gains 36 heat, sinks 22! Overheating!

Bobcat
- Fires Light PPC at Mist Lynx B (2 base + 0 range + 3 movement + 3 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System = 9): rolled 8, miss!
- Fires Snub-Nose PPC w/ PPC Capacitor (Drained) at Mist Lynx B (2 base + 0 range + 3 movement + 3 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System = 9): rolled 6, miss!
- Gains 25 heat, sinks 24! Overheating!

Talon
- Charges PPC Capacitor!
- Charges PPC Capacitor!
- Gains 20 heat, sinks 22!

Stinger
- Torso-twists to threaten hex 0921!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Fire Moth Prime (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 3 enemy movement = 7): rolled 6, miss!
- Gains 7 heat, sinks 20!

Stinger
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Mist Lynx B (2 base + 2 range + 3 movement + 3 enemy movement = 10): rolled 6, miss!
- Gains 12 heat, sinks 20!



End Phase:
- Hunchback
- Critical chance in Center Torso! 2 critical hits sustained!
- - Engine hit!
- - Engine hit!
- Through-armor critical chance in Left Torso! No critical hits sustained!
- Critical chance in Center Torso! 2 critical hits sustained!
- - Angel ECM hit!
- - Void Signature System hit!
- Through-armor critical chance in Right Arm! 1 critical hit sustained
- - Lower Arm Actuator hit!
- Must roll 3+ to avoid automatic shutdown: rolls 9, succeeds!



Physical Combat Phase:
Bobcat
- Attacks Mad Dog with Lance (3 base + 3 movement - 4 immobile target = 2): rolled 7, hit Head (0/9 armor remains)! Rolls 3, Lance fails to penetrate!



Next Turn’s Movement Phase
Hunchback
- Void Signature System deactivated by damage!
- Triple Strength Myomer activates!
- Gains Ace status!



Arrow IV Counter: 2 Turns









Special Rules
Overheat Ace: The Rim World Blackguard gain Ace status when they overheat by 10 points or more!

Blind: Enemy units are only visible in direct Line of Sight

Hidden Units: Some enemy units remain hidden until they attack. Additionally, units equipped with Void Signature Systems may expend a turn’s movement to hide themselves if they are not in direct line of sight.

Expect Surprises: When the players lose their Phase 1 units, they will gain control of a powerful Phase 2 unit. When the players lose their Phase 2 unit, they will still have a chance to influence the outcome of the battle with a weaker Phase 3 unit. Some of these units start on the map, others will enter from elsewhere.



Player Status:




Phase 1 Objectives:
- Delay the enemy for as many turns as possible
- Defend Clan HQ Vehicles (3/3 remaining)
- Defend Clan Personnel (67/84 tents remaining)
- Defend Clan Equipment (30/36 units remaining)

Phase 2 Objectives:
- Defeat as many enemy `Mechs as possible (1/39 defeated)
- Defend Clan HQ Vehicles
- Defend Clan Personnel
- Defend Clan Equipment

Phase 3 Objectives:
- Defeat as many enemy `Mechs as possible
- Defend Clan HQ Vehicles
- Defend Clan Personnel
- Defend Clan Equipment



Enemy Status:
Stinger –Structure damage
Hunchback – Armor damage

Enemy Movement Mods:
- Unknown 100-ton Assault +0
- Longbow +0
- ??? +?
- Thug +0
- Black Knight +0
- Excalibur +0
- Coyote +2
- Chameleon +2
- Hunchback ACE
- Crab +0
- Bobcat +0
- Talon +2
- Stinger +3


Orders Due: Tuesday Night!