Part 388: Ultimatum - Turn 14
Ultimatum: Tactical Update 14Technician’s Mate Iruki sat hunched over her terminal, her fingers flying over one of the keyboards that kept the Maher’s HPG aligned. In a way, she was a living terminal, an extension of the Maher itself. It was her duty to keep up-to-date on reports from a dozen different units and be ready to respond at a moment’s notice—but she found it difficult to concentrate when her chair was slick with the blood of the technician she’d hastily replaced.
It was harder still to keep her eyes on the monitor with a puncture the width of her torso less than a meter above the display and an enemy machine parked right outside. She wanted to run, to hide until the battle ended—but she’d seen the security feed. The enemy didn’t hesitate to crush Clan noncombatants underfoot. The waste of it—and the terror—was unthinkable. She’d been in battle before but never one like this.
She flinched and yelped as the armored hull of the Maher flashed from cool gray to hot orange in an instant at the instantaneous touch of the enemy’s laser. The Maher didn’t budge—the muddy plateau on which they’d chosen to bivouac had hardened into something approaching concrete, and until a few minutes ago when their first and last attempt to escape had shattered one of the Maher’s massive tracks even the Galaxy Commander hadn’t realized the danger. Well, it was obvious now. They were all going to die. Iruki was going to die. It was the ultimate truth of Clan life: everything ended. Kerensky, the Star League, the stars themselves. Nothing lasted.
Iruki just hadn’t expected her end so soon. Or to meet it so shamefully.
A strong hand—a warrior’s hand—clasped her shoulder and Iruki froze with her head turned downward, and her eyes squeezed tightly shut. Her breath shook, the ragged sound of it was suddenly deafening over the screams and explosions. The hand squeezed with a gentleness—an understanding—which she never would have expected from a member of the warrior caste. It reminded her of the last time she’d seen her father—she was twelve, and he’d been reassigned to a distant world in the Kerensky Cluster. He’d squeezed her shoulder and told her to be strong for the Clan. She’d never seen him again—but this time, she’d be the one going away.
“Open your eyes,” Galaxy Commander Ares Howe’s voice was strong and pleasant. At sixty-two years old, he was ancient by the standards of the warrior caste. A relic twelve generations obsolete. He had been a good commander, never asking for more from his technicians than they were capable of giving. Iruki respected him, and not simply out of fear.
“Face your death,” the Galaxy Commander’s tone was encouraging, his voice dominated the suddenly-silent command center. Iruki looked up at the enemy machine. The cyclopean barrel of its large laser seemed to stare back at her like the eye of something utterly alien, a huge giant incapable of comprehending the pain and fear it caused. Iruki wasn’t sure why she did it, but her hand moved—a single keystroke, and the Maher began broadcasting the Galaxy Commander’s next words back to the fleet.
“We are Snow Ravens, and we resisted to the last. Die with pride in your hearts, knowing that you served the Clans to the end! Die with hatred in your hearts, knowing that our end came not at the hands of an honorable foe but at the hands of the minions of the Usurper! All things end—but it will be up to those for whom we give our lives to see the threat of House Amaris vanquished for all time. Our legacy will live on, and we will be remembered.”
The machine outside drew back, preparing for a final strike with the massive spike which had slain Iruki’s predecessor. She didn’t look away, and Ares Howe repeated: “All things end. But we will be avenged, and the House of Amaris will end before the Clans. This I swear, on behalf of those to come. Thus we shall stand, until we all shall fall. Seyla!”
“Seyla!” a ragged, disorganized cry sprung from the lips of her fellows—warriors and technicians alike. Iruki was surprised to find her own voice among them. “Seyla,” she repeated, as the cry turned into a chant.
“Sey—”
Movement Phase
Warhawk B
- Moves out of Fire hex, gains +2 heat!
Combat Phase
Warhawk B
- Fires Gauss Rifle at Bobcat (3 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 3 enemy movement + 0 Void Signature System + 1 EMP - 1 targeting computer = 7): rolled 4, miss!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Bobcat (3 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 3 enemy movement + 0 Void Signature System + 1 EMP - 1 targeting computer = 7): rolled 10, hit Left Torso (11/18 armor remains)!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Bobcat (3 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 3 enemy movement + 0 Void Signature System + 1 EMP - 1 targeting computer = 7): rolled 8, hit Right Arm (6/13 armor remains)!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Bobcat (3 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 3 enemy movement + 0 Void Signature System + 1 EMP - 1 targeting computer = 7): rolled 6, miss!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Bobcat (3 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 3 enemy movement + 0 Void Signature System + 1 EMP - 1 targeting computer = 7): rolled 12, hit Right Torso (11/18 armor remains)!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Bobcat (3 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 3 enemy movement + 0 Void Signature System + 1 EMP - 1 targeting computer = 7): rolled 7, hit Left Arm (6/13 armor remains)!
- Fires Streak SRM-6 at Bobcat (3 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 3 enemy movement + 0 Void Signature System + 1 EMP = 8): rolled 7, fails to lock on!
- Fires Streak SRM-6 at Bobcat (3 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 3 enemy movement + 0 Void Signature System + 1 EMP = 8): rolled 10, 3 missiles hit Left Arm (4/13 armor remains), Left Arm (2/13 armor remains), Right Leg (16/18 armor remains)!
- Gains 33 heat, sinks 40!
Vapor Eagle
- You didn’t give me any targets, but you only had line of sight to the Longbow in 1736 so that made my job easier!
)- Fires Large Pulse Laser at Longbow (3 base + 4 range + 3 movement + 0 enemy movement + 3 light woods + 2 Void Signature System - 1 targeting computer - 2 Pulse Laser = 12): rolled 7, miss!
- Fires Medium Pulse Laser at Stinger (target out of range!): I should fire these anyway but nope, you get to dodge the heat!
- Fires Medium Pulse Laser at Stinger (target out of range!): I should fire these anyway but nope, you get to dodge the heat!
- Fires Medium Pulse Laser at Stinger (target out of range!): I should fire these anyway but nope, you get to dodge the heat!
- Fires Streak SRM-2 at Stinger (target out of range!): automatically fails to lock on!
- Fires Streak SRM-2 at Stinger (target out of range!): automatically fails to lock on!
- Gains 16 heat, sinks 22!
Wolf Spider B
- Fires ER PPC at Phoenix (3 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 3 enemy movement + 0 Void Signature System = 7): rolled 8, hit Rear Right Torso (0/6 armor, 3/12 structure remains)! Crit!
- Fires ER PPC at Phoenix (3 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 3 enemy movement + 0 Void Signature System = 7): rolled 5, miss!
- Fires Gauss Rifle at Phoenix (3 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 3 enemy movement + 0 Void Signature System = 7): rolled 3, miss!
- Gains 41 heat, sinks 32! Overheating!
Ebon Jaguar
- Fires ER PPC at Locust (3 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 3 enemy movement - 1 targeting computer = 7): rolled 6, miss!
- Fires ER PPC at Locust (3 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 3 enemy movement - 1 targeting computer = 7): rolled 11, hit Right Leg (0/8 armor, 0/4 structure remains)! Leg blown off! `Mech destroyed!
- - Damage transfers to Right Torso (5/8 armor remains)!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Locust (3 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 3 enemy movement - 1 targeting computer = 7): rolled 4, miss!
- Fires Streak SRM-6 at Locust (3 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 3 enemy movement = 10): rolled 10, 6 missiles hit Center Torso (8/10 armor remains), Left Torso (6/8 armor remains), Right Torso (3/8 armor remains), Right Torso (1/8 armor remains), Left Torso (4/8 armor remains), Right Torso (0/8 armor, 4/5 structure remains)! Crit!
- Fires Streak SRM-6 at Locust (3 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 3 enemy movement = 10): rolled 6, fails to lock-on!
- Fires TAG at Locust (3 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 3 enemy movement - 1 targeting computer = 7): rolled 11, hit!
- Gains 37 heat, sinks 40!
Huntsman A
- No line-of-sight to target!
- Gains 5 heat, sinks 24!
Unknown Assault
- Fires Gauss Rifle at Warhawk B (2 base + 2 range + 0 movement + 0 enemy movement + 3 smoke + 1 light woods + 1 Void Signature System = 9): rolled 10, hit Right Arm (8/28 armor remains)!
- Gains 31 heat, sinks 32! Overheating!
Thug
- Torso-twists to threaten hex 0328!
- Fires Medium Pulse Laser at Wolf Spider B (2 base + 4 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement - 2 pulse laser = 8): rolled 12, hit Right Torso (8/24 armor remains)!
- Gains 6 heat, sinks 34!
Longbow
- Torso-twists to threaten hex 0940!
- Fires LRM-20 w/ Artemis IV (Artemis) at Wolf Spider B (2 base + 2 range + 0 movement + 2 enemy movement + 1 light woods + 1 Void Signature System = 8): rolled 9, 20 missiles hit Left Arm (0/3 armor, 10/12 structure remains (Crit!)), Left Arm (5/12 structure remains (TAC!)), Left Arm (0/12 structure remains (Arm blown off!)), Left Leg (12/32 armor remains)!
- Fires Large Laser at Wolf Spider B (2 base + 4 range + 0 movement + 2 enemy movement + 1 light woods + 1 Void Signature System = 10): rolled 6, miss!
- Fires TAG at Wolf Spider B (2 base + 4 range + 0 movement + 2 enemy movement + 1 light woods + 1 Void Signature System = 10): rolled 4, miss!
- Gains 24 heat, sinks 26!
Longbow
- Fires LRM-20 w/ Artemis IV (Artemis) at Huntsman A (2 base + 2 range + 1 movement + 3 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System = 9): rolled 9, 20 missiles hit Left Arm (6/16 armor remains), Head (4/9 armor remains (Pilot hit!)), Right Leg (16/24 armor remains), Left Arm (1/16 armor remains)!
- Fires Large Laser at Huntsman A (2 base + 4 range + 1 movement + 3 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System = 11): rolled 6, miss!
- Fires TAG at Huntsman A (2 base + 4 range + 1 movement + 3 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System = 11): rolled 5, miss!
- Gains 24 heat, sinks 26!
Coyote
- Fires ER Large Laser at Gamma Galaxy Maher Mobile Command Center (2 base + 0 range + 0 movement - 4 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System = -1): automatically hit Right Side (17/98 armor remains)!
- Fires Streak SRM-6 at Gamma Galaxy Maher Mobile Command Center (2 base + 0 range + 0 movement - 4 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System = -1 ): 6 missiles automatically hit Right Side (15/98 armor remains), Right Side (13/98 armor remains), Right Side (11/98 armor remains), Right Side (9/98 armor remains), Right Side (7/98 armor remains), Right Side (5/98 armor remains)
- Gains 26 heat, sinks 28!
Hunchback
- Holds fire!
- Gains 2 heat, sinks 22!
Phoenix
- Torso-twists to threaten hex 1125!
- Fires Large Variable Speed Pulse Laser at Wolf Spider B (2 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement - 2 Pulse Laser = 6): rolled 5, miss!
- Fires SRM-4 (Inferno) at hex 1123! (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement - 4 enemy movement + 1 secondary target = 1): 1 missile automatically hit! Target hex ignites!
- Fires SRM-4 (Inferno) at hex 1123! (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement - 4 enemy movement + 1 secondary target = 1): 3 missiles automatically hit! Target hex ignites!
- Gains 28 heat, sinks 28!
Bobcat
- Fires Snub-Nose PPC w/PPC Capacitor (drained) at Warhawk B (2 base + 0 range + 3 movement + 0 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System + 1 light woods + 1 smoke = 8): rolled 6, miss!
- Fires Light PPC at Warhawk B (2 base + 0 range + 3 movement + 0 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System + 1 light woods + 1 smoke + 1 minimum range = 9): rolled 12, hit Right Leg (13/18 structure remains)! Crit!
- Gains 31 heat, sinks 24! Overheating! ACE!
Locust
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Cauldron Born (2 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement + 1 smoke = 9): rolled 5, miss!
- Fires Inferno SRM-2 at Cauldron Born (2 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement + 1 smoke = 9): rolled 3, miss!
- Fires Inferno SRM-2 at Cauldron Born (2 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement + 1 smoke = 9): rolled 2, miss!
- Fires Inferno SRM-2 at Cauldron Born (2 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement + 1 smoke = 9): rolled 6, miss!
- Fires Inferno SRM-2 at Cauldron Born (2 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement + 1 smoke = 9): rolled 5, miss!
- Gains 15 heat, sinks 20!
Locust
- Holds fire!
- Gains 2 heat, sinks 20!
Locust
- Torso-twists to threaten hex 1227!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Wolf Spider B (2 base + 2 range + 0 movement + 2 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System = 7): rolled 12, hit Left Leg (12/32 armor remains)!
- Fires Inferno SRM-2 at Wolf Spider B (2 base + 2 range + 0 movement + 2 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System = 7): rolled 10, 1 missile hit! Wolf Spider B gains 2 heat!
- Fires Inferno SRM-2 at Wolf Spider B (2 base + 2 range + 0 movement + 2 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System = 7): rolled 11, 1 missile hit! Wolf Spider B gains 2 heat!
- Fires Inferno SRM-2 at Wolf Spider B (2 base + 2 range + 0 movement + 2 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System = 7): rolled 3, miss!
- Fires Inferno SRM-2 at Wolf Spider B (2 base + 2 range + 0 movement + 2 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System = 7): rolled 7, 2 missiles hit! Wolf Spider B gains 4 heat!
- Gains 25 heat, sinks 20! Overheating!
Locust
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Wolf Spider B (2 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement = 8): rolled 5, miss!
- Gains 10 heat, sinks 20!
Arrow IV Salvo
- Must roll a 4+ to strike the map: rolled 6, succeeds!
- Must roll a 4+ to strike the map: rolled 7, succeeds!
- Must roll a 4+ to hit the target Locust: rolled 9, hit Right Arm (0/6 armor, 0/3 structure remains)!
- - Damage transfers to Right Torso (0/5 structure remains)! Torso destroyed! Engine hit! Engine hit!
- - - Damage transfers to Center Torso (6/10 armor remains)!
- Must roll a 4+ to hit the target Locust: rolled 9, hit
End Phase:
Phoenix
- Critical chance in Right Torso! 3 critical hits sustained!
- - Double Heat Sink hit!
- - Double Heat Sink hit!
- - Double Heat Sink destroyed!
Warhawk B
- Critical chance in Right Leg! 1 critical hit sustained!
- - Lower Leg Actuator hit!
- Must pass a piloting test or fall (4 base + 1 actuator damage = 5): rolled 10, succeeds!
Huntsman A
- Must pass a 3+ consciousness test: rolled 10, succeeds!
Physical Combat Phase:
Coyote
- Attacks Gamma Galaxy Maher Mobile Command Center with Lance (3 base + 1 movement - 4 immobile target + 2 lance = 2): rolled 6, hit Left Side (0/98 armor, 0/10 structure remains)! Vehicle destroyed!
Next Turn’s Movement Phase
Locust
- Deactivates Void Signature System!
Arrow IV Counter: 2 Turn
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 Phase 3 unit. Some of these units start on the map, others will enter from elsewhere.Player Status:
Glorious Deaths
Phase 2 / Phase 3 Objectives:
- Defeat as many enemy `Mechs as possible (6/39 defeated)
- Defend Clan HQ Vehicles (2/3 remaining)
- Defend Clan Personnel (I lost count/84 tents remaining)
- Defend Clan Equipment (24/36 units remaining)
Enemy Status:
Thug – Damaged
Black Knight – Damaged
Excalibur – Damaged
Hunchback – Damaged
Longbow – Damaged, Pilot injured
Longbow – Damaged
Bobcat – Damaged
Phoenix – Damaged
Enemy Movement Mods:
- Longbow +0
- Longbow +0
- Thug +1
- Coyote +1
- Hunchback +1
- Bobcat +3
- Locust +3
- Locust +3
Orders Due: Tuesday Night!