Part 380: Ultimatum - Turn 6

Ultimatum: Tactical Update 6

Star Captain Ren Sukhanov’s hands crossed his Warhawk’s controls with the practiced ease of a man who’d been fighting for nearly two decades. He’d been one of the first to clamber up to his machine before the attack had begun, and unlike the young hatchlings in his command he’d kept the engine running at a low power setting rather than shutting his machine down completely. He’d tried to drill it into the heads of the younger Snow Raven warriors that the difference between a sixty-second warm start and a five- to fifteen-minute cold start were huge, but of course none of them had listened.

Why would they? He was still a Star Captain at only two years shy of forty, if the Clans had still been in the homeworlds he’d soon have been relegated to a training facility or a solamha unit. Nevermind that he’d beaten warriors half his age to the cockpit—at least most of his command would be lucky enough to die in their machines, he doubted the Snow Hunters had kept their pilots on ready status.

It was just another sign of the laziness and decadence that’d infected the Clans since their misguided return to the Inner Sphere, he brooded to himself. Surely he hadn’t been so foolish when he’d been young—but as he watched the Ghost Bear Fire Moth charge boldly into the guns of the Talon the enemy was using to bait it into an untenable position, he knew that was precisely the ploy he’d have taken as a youth.

Not for the first time, Star Captain Ren Sukhanov found himself questioning the Clan ideal of youthful superiority.



Combat Phase
Arrow IV Salvo
- Explodes harmlessly in mid-air!

One-Turn ACE Huntsman A
- Fires Large Pulse Laser at Longbow (2 base + 0 range + 3 movement + 0 enemy movement + 3 Void Signature System + 1 Light Woods - 2 Pulse Laser = 7): rolled 9, hit Rear Right Torso (0/7 armor, 15/18 structure remains)! Crit!
- Fires Large Pulse Laser at Longbow (2 base + 0 range + 3 movement + 0 enemy movement + 3 Void Signature System + 1 Light Woods - 2 Pulse Laser = 7): rolled 7, hit Left Arm (0/9 armor, 13/14 structure remains)! Crit!
- Fires LB 2-X Autocannon at Longbow (2 base + 0 range + 3 movement + 0 enemy movement + 3 Void Signature System + 1 Light Woods + 4 minimum range = 13): automatic miss!
- Fires LRM-10 at Longbow (2 base + 0 range + 3 movement + 0 enemy movement + 3 Void Signature System + 1 Light Woods = 9): rolled 5, miss!
- Gains 30 heat, sinks 24! Overheating!

One-Turn ACE Wolf Spider B
- Fires ER PPC at Talon (3 base + 2 range + 1 movement + 4 enemy movement = 10): rolled 5, miss!
- Fires ER PPC at Talon (3 base + 2 range + 1 movement + 4 enemy movement = 10): rolled 7, miss!
- Fires Gauss Rifle at Talon (3 base + 2 range + 1 movement + 4 enemy movement = 10): rolled 6, miss!
- Fires Flamer at Talon (3 base + out of range + 1 movement + 4 enemy movement = automatic miss): automatic miss!
- Gains 35 heat, sinks 32!

ACE Hunchback
- Holds fire!
- Gains 12 heat, sinks 22!

Fire Moth Prime
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Talon (3 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 4 enemy movement = 8): rolled 10, hit Left Torso (5/12 armor remains)!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Talon (3 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 4 enemy movement = 8): rolled 6, miss!
- Fires SRM-6 at Talon (3 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 4 enemy movement = 8): rolled 7, miss!
- Fires SRM-4 at Talon (3 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 4 enemy movement = 8): rolled 9, 3 missiles hit Left Torso (3/12 armor remains), Center Torso (15/17 armor remains), Center Torso (13/17 armor remains)!
- Gains 28 heat, sinks 20! Overheating!

Mist Lynx B
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Talon (3 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 4 enemy movement = 9): rolled 7, miss!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Talon (3 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 4 enemy movement = 9): rolled 10, hit Right Leg (9/16 armor remains)!
- Gains 26 heat, sinks 20! Overheating!

Arctic Cheetah
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Stinger (3 base + 0 range + 3 movement + 4 enemy movement + 1 light woods = 11): rolled 9, miss!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Stinger (3 base + 0 range + 3 movement + 4 enemy movement + 1 light woods = 11): rolled 8, miss!
- Fires LRM-5 at Stinger (3 base + 0 range + 3 movement + 4 enemy movement + 1 light woods = 11): rolled 9, miss!
- Fires LRM-5 at Stinger (3 base + 0 range + 3 movement + 4 enemy movement + 1 light woods = 11): rolled 8, miss!
- Gains 17 heat, sinks 20!

Unknown Assault
- Fires Gauss Rifle at Mad Dog Prime (2 base + 2 range + 0 movement - 4 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System = 1): automatically hit Rear Center Torso (0/7 armor, 12/20 structure remains)!
- Fires Plasma Rifle at Mad Dog Prime (2 base + 2 range + 0 movement - 4 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System = 1): automatically hit Rear Center Torso (2/20 structure remains)!
- Gains 21 heat, sinks 32!

Thug
- Charges Heavy PPC!
- Gains 15 heat, sinks 34!

Longbow
- Torso-twists to threaten hex 1749!
- Fires Large Laser at Huntsman A (2 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 3 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System + 1 partial cover = 8): rolled 7, miss!
- Gains 9 heat, sinks 26!

Longbow
- Holds fire!
- Gains 26 heat, sinks 26!

Black Knight
- Holds fire!
- Gains 2 heat, sinks 36!

Excalibur
- Torso-twists to threaten hex 1942!
- Fires Gauss Rifle at Huntsman A (2 base + 0 range + 0 movement + 3 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System + 1 partial cover = 7): rolled 10, hit Right Torso (but the target is invulnerable this turn)!
- Fires LRM-20 w/Artemis IV at Huntsman A (2 base + 0 range + 0 movement + 3 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System + 1 partial cover = 7): rolled 4, miss!
- Gains 0 heat, sinks 22!

Coyote
- Fires ER Large Laser at Kraken 3 (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement - 4 immobile target + 1 Void Signature System = 1): automatically hits Center Torso (38/16 armor remains)!
- Gains 24 heat, sinks 28!

Chameleon
- Fires Large Laser at Fire Moth Prime (2 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System = 9): rolled 9, hit Left Torso (0/4 armor, 1/5 structure remains)! Crit!
- Fires Large Laser at Fire Moth Prime (2 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System = 9): rolled 7, miss!
- Fires TAG at Fire Moth Prime (2 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System = 9): rolled 5, miss!
- Gains 28 heat, sinks 22! Overheating!

Crab
- Torso-twists to threaten hex 1825!
- Fires ER Large Laser at Arctic Cheetah Prime (2 base + 0 range + 0 movement + 2 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System + 3 light woods = 9): rolled 3, miss!
- Fires ER Large Laser at Arctic Cheetah Prime (2 base + 0 range + 0 movement + 2 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System + 3 light woods = 9): rolled 6, miss!
- Gains 34 heat, sinks 36!

Bobcat
- Fires Snub-Nose PPC w/PPC Capacitor at Mist Lynx B (2 base + 0 range + 0 movement + 3 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System = 6): rolled 12, hit Rear Right Torso (0/5 armor, 0/6 structure remains)! Torso destroyed! Engine hit! Engine hit!
- - Damage transfers to Rear Left Torso (2/6 armor remains)!
- Fires Light PPC at Mist Lynx B (2 base + 2 range + 0 movement + 3 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System = 8): rolled 5, miss!
- Gains 30 heat, sinks 24! Overheating!

Talon
- Fires Light PPC w/ PPC Capacitor at Fire Moth Prime (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement + 3 minimum range = 9): rolled 5, miss!
- Fires Light PPC w/ PPC Capacitor at Fire Moth Prime (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement + 3 minimum range = 9): rolled 7, miss!
- Fires ER Small Laser at Fire Moth Prime (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement = 6): rolled 6, hit Left Arm (0/3 structure remains)! Limb blown off!
- - Damage transfers to Left Torso (0/5 structure remains)! Torso destroyed! Engine hit! Engine hit!
- - - Damage transfers to Center Torso (5/6 structure remains)! Crit!
- Fires ER Small Laser at Fire Moth Prime (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement = 6): rolled 9, hit Right Torso (1/4 armor remains)!
- Fires ER Small Laser at Fire Moth Prime (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement = 6): rolled 7, hit Center Torso (2/6 structure remains)! Crit!
- Fires ER Small Laser at Fire Moth Prime (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement = 6): rolled 6, hit Right Arm (0/3 armor remains)!
- Fires ER Small Laser at Fire Moth Prime (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement = 6): rolled 2, miss!
- Gains 32 heat, sinks 22! Overheating! ACE!

Stinger
- Torso-twists to threaten hex 1323!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Fire Moth Prime (2 base + 0 range + 3 movement + 2 enemy movement = 7): rolled 9, hit Right Torso (0/4 armor, 1/5 structure remains)! Crit!
- Fires ER Small Laser at Fire Moth Prime (2 base + 2 range + 3 movement + 2 enemy movement = 9): rolled 10, hit Center Torso (0/6 structure remains)! `Mech destroyed!
- Gains 14 heat, sinks 20!



End Phase:
Talon
- Must pass a piloting test or fall (3 base + 1 massive damage = 4): rolled 5, succeeds!

Longbow
- Must pass a piloting test or fall (3 base + 1 massive damage = 4): rolled 7, succeeds!
- Critical chance in Right Torso! 1 critical hit sustained!
- - LRM-20 Semi-Guided Ammo hit!
- Right Torso ammunition explosion! Pilot hit! Pilot hit!
- - Suffers 100 damage to the Right Torso (14/18 structure remains)! Crit!
- - - Remaining damage vented safely by CASE II!
- Critical chance in Left Arm! 1 critical hit sustained!
- - LRM-20 hit!
- Must pass a 5+ consciousness test: rolled 6, succeeds!
- Critical chance in Right Torso! No critical hit sustained!



Physical Combat Phase:
Bobcat
- Attacks Nova D with Lance (3 base + 0 movement - 4 immobile target = -1): automatically hit Head (0/9 armor remains)!



End Phase:



Turn End Phase:



Next Turn’s Movement Phase
Hunchback
- Triple Strength Myomer deactivates!
- Loses Ace status!

Talon
- 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:


Glorious Deaths




Phase 1 Objectives:
- Die Gloriously!

Phase 2 / Phase 3 Objectives:
- Defeat as many enemy `Mechs as possible (1/39 defeated)
- Defend Clan HQ Vehicles (3/3 remaining)
- Defend Clan Personnel (63/84 tents remaining)
- Defend Clan Equipment (27/36 units remaining)



Enemy Status:
Stinger –Structure damage
Hunchback – Armor damage
Longbow – Structure damage! Pilot injured!
Crab – Armor penetrated

Enemy Movement Mods:
- Unknown Assault +0
- Longbow +0
- Longbow +0
- Thug +0
- Black Knight +1
- Excalibur +2
- Coyote +0
- Chameleon +1
- Hunchback +1
- Crab +0
- Bobcat +0
- Talon ACE
- Stinger +4


Orders Due: Tuesday Night!