Part 395: Ultimatum - Turn 21

Ultimatum: Tactical Update 21

Mechwarrior Ath howled in surprise as his foe jumped on him from behind—the force of the impact reminded him of a circle of equals long ago, where his opponent had jumped on his back and broken his ribcage by driving his body to the ground with her knees. His ribs ached at the memory, but the metal spike jutting from the Kraken’s chest told him his current foe hadn’t done anything so drastic. Like all BattleMechs, Ath’s Kraken fought with 360-degrees of vision compressed into a 120-degree strip, so he’d seen the blow coming—he simply hadn’t expected a hit forceful enough to drive the enemy machine’s entire forearm into the Kraken’s thickly-armored back.

The tip of the enemy’s spike-like weapon didn’t even have the decency to look damaged. Whatever it was made of, it was harder than `Mech armor. Ath’s impression was only confirmed when the enemy pilot twisted—not to pull his arm free, but to use his greater strength and leverage in an attempt to damage the Kraken’s internal frame members like a child might’ve snapped a doll made of twigs. With a sudden jerk the enemy machine’s Lance jerked upwards, sending square plates of the Kraken’s intact frontal armor flying through the air as the welds failed spectacularly. An instant later, the Coyote was free and Ath took a half-step to the left to compensate for the sudden shift in balance. The Kraken’s entire right side fell away and exploded a moment later as the ammunition bins were crushed. The machine’s boxy arm pinwheeled through the air whipping the ground with trailing myomer and stray internal components before crushing itself uselessly.

Ath roared in anger. Another opponent had just spared his life! He’d hoped the heartless Rim Worlders might’ve been worthy foes, but instead they were as weak as everyone else he’d ever faced!



Combat Phase
Kodiak
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Chameleon (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 smoke + 1 Void Signature System = 7): rolled 7, hit Right Arm (9/16 armor remains)!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Chameleon (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 smoke + 1 Void Signature System = 7): rolled 7, hit Right Arm (2/16 armor remains)!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Chameleon (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 smoke + 1 Void Signature System = 7): rolled 8, hit Left Arm (9/16 armor remains)! TAC!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Chameleon (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 smoke + 1 Void Signature System = 7): rolled 9, hit Right Leg (17/24 armor remains)!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Chameleon (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 smoke + 1 Void Signature System = 7): rolled 9, hit Right Torso (9/16 armor remains)!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Chameleon (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 smoke + 1 Void Signature System = 7): rolled 10, hit Right Arm (0/16 armor, 3/8 structure remains)! Crit!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Chameleon (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 smoke + 1 Void Signature System = 7): rolled 7, hit Left Arm (2/16 armor remains)!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Chameleon (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 smoke + 1 Void Signature System = 7): rolled 10, hit Center Torso (15/22 armor remains)!
- Gains 42 heat, sinks 40!

Kraken 3
- Reverses arms!
- Fires LRM-15 at Coyote (2 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System = 5): rolled 10, 12 missiles hit Center Torso (10/33 armor remains), Center Torso (5/33 armor remains), Right Arm (12/20 armor remains)!
- Fires LRM-15 at Coyote (2 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System = 5): rolled 10, 6 missiles hit Right Torso (2/22 armor remains), Left Torso (4/22 armor remains)!
- Fires LRM-15 at Coyote (2 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System = 5): rolled 9, 9 missiles hit Right Torso (0/22 armor, 12/15 structure remains (Crit!)), Right Torso (7/15 structure remains (Crit!))!
- Fires LRM-15 at Coyote (2 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System = 5): rolled 6, 6 missiles hit Center Torso (0/33 armor remains), Left Leg (27/28 armor remains)!
- Fires LRM-15 at Coyote (2 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System = 5): rolled 5, 9 missiles hit Left Arm (11/20 armor remains), Right Arm (8/20 armor remains)!
- Fires LRM-15 at Coyote (2 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System = 5): rolled 10, 9 missiles hit Right Torso (2/15 structure remains (Crit!)), Center Torso (17/21 structure remains (Crit!))!
- Gains 31 heat, sinks 38! Overheating!

Dire Wolf H
- Fires Heavy Large Laser at Hunchback (2 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement + 1 light woods + 1 smoke - 1 targeting computer = 9): rolled 7, miss!
- Fires Heavy Large Laser at Hunchback (2 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement + 1 light woods + 1 smoke - 1 targeting computer = 9): rolled 6, miss!
- Fires Gauss Rifle at Hunchback (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement + 1 light woods + 1 smoke - 1 targeting computer = 7): rolled 6, miss!
- Fires Gauss Rifle at Hunchback (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement + 1 light woods + 1 smoke - 1 targeting computer = 7): rolled 4, miss!
- Gains 40 heat, sinks 40!

Ebon Jaguar
- Fires ER PPC at Crab (3 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement + 1 light woods + 1 partial cover = 9): rolled 4, miss!
- Fires ER PPC at Crab (3 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement + 1 light woods + 1 partial cover = 9): rolled 2, miss!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Crab (3 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement + 1 light woods + 1 partial cover = 9): rolled 5, miss!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Crab (3 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement + 1 light woods + 1 partial cover = 9): rolled 10, hit Center Torso (0/18 armor, 11/16 structure remains)! Crit!
- Fires Streak SRM-6 at Crab (3 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement + 1 light woods + 1 partial cover = 9): rolled 6, fails to lock-on!
- Fires Streak SRM-6 at Crab (3 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement + 1 light woods + 1 partial cover = 9): rolled 11, 3 missiles hit Center Torso (9/16 structure remains (Crit!)), Left Arm (12/14 armor remains), Left Torso (5/14 armor remains)!
- Fires TAG at Crab (3 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement + 1 light woods + 1 partial cover = 9): rolled 7, miss!
- Gains 42 heat, sinks 40!

Dire Wolf B
- Fires Large Pulse Laser at Longbow (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement - 2 Pulse Laser = 3): rolled 12, hit Right Torso (4/18 armor remains)!
- Fires Large Pulse Laser at Longbow (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement - 2 Pulse Laser = 3): rolled 5, hit Left Leg (0/18 armor, 16/18 structure remains)! Crit!
- Fires Large Pulse Laser at Longbow (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement - 2 Pulse Laser = 3): rolled 9, hit Center Torso (15/27 structure remains)! Crit!
- Fires LRM-20 w/ Artemis IV at Longbow (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement = 5): rolled 10, 16 missiles hit Center Torso (10/27 structure remains (Crit!)), Left Torso (0/18 armor, 15/18 structure remains (Crit!)), Right Torso (0/18 armor, 14/18 structure remains (Crit!)), Right Torso (13/18 structure remains (Crit!))!
- Fires LRM-20 w/ Artemis IV at Longbow (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement = 5): rolled 10, 20 missiles hit Right Leg (3/18 armor remains), Right Leg (0/18 armor, 16/18 structure remains (Crit!)), Left Torso (10/18 structure remains (Crit!)), Center Torso (5/27 structure remains (Crit!))!
- Fires Gauss Rifle at Longbow (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement = 5): rolled 9, hit Center Torso (0/27 structure remains)! `Mech destroyed!
- Fires Flamer at Longbow (2 base + out of range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement = ??): automatic miss!
- Gains 48 heat, sinks 36! Overheating!

Coyote (Ace)
- Fires Snub-Nose PPC w/ PPC Capacitor (drained) at Kraken 3 (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System + 2 heat = 7): rolled 7, hit Rear Left Torso (0/10 armor remains)!
- Fires Streak SRM-6 at Kraken 3 (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement + 1 Void Signature System + 2 heat = 7): rolled 7, 6 missiles hit Left Arm (32/34 armor remains), Rear Center Torso (11/13 armor remains), Right Arm (32/34 armor remains), Right Leg (38/42 armor remains), Right Leg (36/42 armor remains), Right Arm (30/34 armor remains)!
- Gains 41 heat, sinks 28! Overheating! Ace!

Crab (Ace)
- Torso-twists to threaten hex 1214!
- Fires ER Large Laser at Ebon Jaguar “R” (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement + 1 light woods + 1 Void Signature System = 8): rolled 8, hit Left Arm (0/17 armor, 7/10 structure remains)! Crit!
- Fires ER Large Laser at Ebon Jaguar “R” (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement + 1 light woods + 1 Void Signature System = 8): rolled 5, miss!
- Gains 36 heat sinks 36! Overheating! ACE!

Longbow
- Fires Large Laser at Dire Wolf B (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement = 5): rolled 9, hit does nothing!
- Fires TAG at Dire Wolf B (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement = 5): rolled 6, hit does nothing!
- Gains 10 heat, sinks 26!

Longbow
- Holds fire!
- Gains 16 heat, sinks 26!

Black Knight
- Holds fire!
- Gains 17 heat, sinks 36!

Excalibur
- Holds fire!
- Gains 11 heat, sinks 22!

Hunchback
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Dire Wolf B (2 base + 4 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 light woods = 10): rolled 7, miss!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Dire Wolf B (2 base + 4 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 light woods = 10): rolled 6, miss!
- Gains 12 heat, sinks 22!

Hunchback
- Torso-twists to threaten hex 1309!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Dire Wolf H (2 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement + 2 light woods + 1 Void Signature System = 9): rolled 7, miss!
- Fires Ultra AC/20 (Ultra) at Dire Wolf H (2 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement + 2 light woods + 1 Void Signature System = 9): rolled 6, miss!
- Gains 33 heat, sinks 22! Overheating! ACE!

Chameleon
- Fires Large Laser at Kodiak (2 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 smoke + 1 Void Signature System = 6): rolled 9, hit was ineffective!
- Fires Large Laser at Kodiak (2 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 smoke + 1 Void Signature System = 6): rolled 4, miss!
- Fires TAG at Kodiak (2 base + 2 range + 1 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 smoke + 1 Void Signature System = 8): rolled 9, hit!
- Gains 27 heat sinks 32!

Chameleon
- Torso-twists to threaten hex 0814!
- Fires Large Laser at Beta Galaxy Maher Mobile Command Center (2 base + 2 range + 1 movement - 4 enemy movement + 3 smoke = 4): rolled 6, hit Rear (25/97 armor remains)!
- Gains 19 heat sinks 32!



End Phase:
Coyote
- Must pass a piloting test or fall (3 base + 1 massive damage = 4): rolled 7, succeeds!
- Critical chance in Right Torso! No critical hit sustained!
- Critical chance in Right Torso! 1 critical hit sustained!
- - Streak SRM-6 hit!
- Critical chance in Right Torso! 1 critical hit sustained!
- - Streak SRM-6 hit!
- Critical chance in Center Torso! No critical hit sustained!

Chameleon
- Critical chance in Left Arm! No critical hit sustained!
- Critical chance in Right Arm! 1 critical hit sustained!
- - Shoulder hit!

Crab
- Critical chance in Center Torso! No critical hit sustained!
- Critical chance in Center Torso! No critical hit sustained!



Physical Combat Phase:
Coyote
- Attacks Kraken 3 with TSM Lance (3 base + 2 movement + 0 target movement + 1 opposed piloting = 6): rolled 6, hit Rear Left Torso for 26 damage (0/21 structure remains)! TAC! Torso destroyed! Arm blown off!
- - Damage transfers to Rear Center Torso (6/13 armor remains)!



End Phase:
Kraken 3
- Critical chance in Center Torso! 2 critical hits sustained!
- - Engine hit!
- - Double Heat Sink destroyed!



Next Turn’s Movement Phase
Coyote
- TSM Activated!
- Gains ACE Status!

Crab
- TSM Activated!
- Gains ACE Status!

Hunchback
- TSM Activated!
- Gains ACE Status!



Arrow IV Counter: 1 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 (9/39 defeated)
- Defend Clan HQ Vehicles (2/3 remaining)
- Defend Clan Personnel (I lost count again, thanks smoke! )
- Defend Clan Equipment (22/36 units remaining)



Enemy Status:
Everything is a hair’s breadth from exploding. Probably.

Enemy Movement Mods:
- Longbow +0
- Black Knight +1
- Excalibur +2
- Coyote +ACE
- Coyote +2
- Coyote +2
- Coyote +2
- Coyote +2
- Crab +ACE
- Chameleon +1
- Chameleon +1
- Hunchback +ACE
- Hunchback +2
- Phoenix +3
- Bobcat +3



Orders Due: Saturday Night!