Part 399: Ultimatum - Turn 25

Ultimatum: Tactical Update 25

The enemy Assault `Mech loomed in the smoke like some prehistoric ambush predator. Its near-perfect camouflage mirrored the swirling murk and reduced it to a vague shadow visible only where the smoke parted to pass it by. Star Captain Bekker had underestimated the power of that machine—only a last-second shift had spared him from taking the enemy machine’s wicked pike straight to the face. The blow had shattered the two-and-a-half tons of armor protecting the Kodiak’s center torso and severed a dozen frame members as well.

It was a monster, and for the first time in his career Star Captain Bekker wasn’t having fun. He squeezed his primary target interlock circuit, unleashing every weapon in the Kodiak’s massive arsenal. Only the belly-mounted ER Large Laser failed to fire as the arm-mounted medium lasers siphoned away most of the fusion reactor’s power. A capacitor charge warning popped up on Bekker’s secondary monitor but it hardly mattered, a moment later the monitor cracked down the center as heat in the Kodiak’s cockpit spiked to unbearable levels.

The enemy machine shook under the barrage, and globules of molten armor spattered against the Kodiak’s canopy like white-hot rain. As they ran, they cooled to a deep, angry red-orange. Bekker watched them, his scarred lips aching in the heat. The enemy pilot didn’t even have the common decency to die under the Kodiak’s wild assault. A calm settled over Bekker as his foe twisted methodically.

As though showing its contempt, the enemy’s chin-mounted flamer-canon spat an iridescent blue-green ball that caught the Kodiak square in the chest. The computer howled failure warnings but Bekker hardly cared. He was now certain this was where he was going to die. The enemy’s LB-X autocannon roared. Perhaps the pilot hadn’t realized the Kodiak was already dead. Bekker felt a strange sense of satisfaction at the act: his enemy hadn’t executed him with a single weapon as though he were some mad animal, the Rim Worlder had fought with everything he’d had. Bekker had lost this fight from the outset, but at least his foes had treated him with honor.

The computer howled an ejection warning just as one of the enemy’s LB-X shells exploded against the Kodiak’s canopy, shattering one of the shaped charges intended to blow the armored transplex away. Bekker barely felt any pressure at all as the command couch’s rockets crushed him into the ceiling of his own cockpit.



Movement Phase
Crab (ACE)
- Deactivates Void Signature System!



Combat Phase
Kodiak
- Torso-twists to threaten hex 0314!
- Fires Ultra AC/20 (ultra) at Unknown Assault (2 base + 0 range + 0 movement + 0 enemy movement + 3 Void Signature System + 1 smoke = 6): rolled 8, 2 shells hit Left Leg (0/37 armor, 4/21 structure remains (Crit!)), Left Torso (11/31 armor remains)!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Unknown Assault (2 base + 0 range + 0 movement + 0 enemy movement + 3 Void Signature System + 1 smoke = 6): rolled 11, hit Right Arm (5/32 armor remains)!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Unknown Assault (2 base + 0 range + 0 movement + 0 enemy movement + 3 Void Signature System + 1 smoke = 6): rolled 7, hit Right Leg (30/37 armor remains)!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Unknown Assault (2 base + 0 range + 0 movement + 0 enemy movement + 3 Void Signature System + 1 smoke = 6): rolled 7, hit Right Arm (0/32 armor, 15/17 structure remains)! Crit!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Unknown Assault (2 base + 0 range + 0 movement + 0 enemy movement + 3 Void Signature System + 1 smoke = 6): rolled 7, hit Right Leg (23/37 armor remains)!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Unknown Assault (2 base + 0 range + 0 movement + 0 enemy movement + 3 Void Signature System + 1 smoke = 6): rolled 10, hit Center Torso (38/45 armor remains)!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Unknown Assault (2 base + 0 range + 0 movement + 0 enemy movement + 3 Void Signature System + 1 smoke = 6): rolled 7, hit Left Arm (18/32 armor remains)!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Unknown Assault (2 base + 0 range + 0 movement + 0 enemy movement + 3 Void Signature System + 1 smoke = 6): rolled 11, hit Right Torso (4/31 armor remains)!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Unknown Assault (2 base + 0 range + 0 movement + 0 enemy movement + 3 Void Signature System + 1 smoke = 6): rolled 6, hit Left Torso (4/31 armor remains)!
- Fires Streak SRM-6 at Unknown Assault (2 base + 0 range + 0 movement + 0 enemy movement + 3 Void Signature System + 1 smoke = 6): rolled 5, fails to lock-on!
- Fires Streak SRM-6 at Unknown Assault (2 base + 0 range + 0 movement + 0 enemy movement + 3 Void Signature System + 1 smoke = 6): rolled 7, 3 missiles hit Left Arm (16/32 armor remains), Left Arm (14/32 armor remains), Left Torso (2/31 armor remains)!
- Gains 56 heat, sinks 40! Overheating!

Kraken 3
- Fires LRM-15 at Crab (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement + 1 light woods + 1 smoke = 8): rolled 7, miss!
- Fires LRM-15 at Crab (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement + 1 light woods + 1 smoke = 8): rolled 5, miss!
- Fires LRM-15 at Crab (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement + 1 light woods + 1 smoke = 8): rolled 6, miss!
- Fires LRM-15 at Crab (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement + 1 light woods + 1 smoke = 8): rolled 4, miss!
- Gains 22 heat, sinks 38!

Dire Wolf H
- Torso-twists to threaten hex 1405!
- Fires Heavy Large Laser at Chameleon (2 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 2 enemy movement +1 Heavy Laser (whoops! I’ve been forgetting about this ) + 1 partial cover + 0 Void Signature System - 1 targeting computer = 6): rolled 10, hit Right Leg (damage blocked by terrain)!
- Fires Heavy Large Laser at Chameleon (2 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 2 enemy movement +1 Heavy Laser + 1 partial cover + 0 Void Signature System - 1 targeting computer = 6): rolled 12, hit Right Leg (damage blocked by terrain)!
- Fires Gauss Rifle at Chameleon (2 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 2 enemy movement + 1 partial cover + 0 Void Signature System - 1 targeting computer = 5): rolled 8, hit Right Leg (damage blocked by terrain)!
- Fires Gauss Rifle at Chameleon (2 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 2 enemy movement + 1 partial cover + 0 Void Signature System - 1 targeting computer = 5): rolled 10, hit Left Leg (damage blocked by terrain (what did that hill ever do to you, anyway?))!
- Gains 45 heat, sinks 40! Overheating!

Atlas IIC
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Chameleon (2 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement + 0 Void Signature System = 8): rolled 7, miss!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Chameleon (2 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement + 0 Void Signature System = 8): rolled 6, miss!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Chameleon (2 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement + 0 Void Signature System = 8): rolled 7, miss!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Chameleon (2 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement + 0 Void Signature System = 8): rolled 10, hit Left Leg (17/24 armor remains)!
- Fires Hyper-Assault Gauss Rifle 40 at Chameleon (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement + 0 Void Signature System - 1 range = 5): rolled 8, 5 projectiles hit Rear Center Torso (4/9 armor remains), Rear Right Torso (3/8 armor remains), Rear Right Torso (0/8 armor, 10/12 structure remains (Crit!)), Rear Left Torso (3/8 armor remains), Left Arm (7/16 armor remains)!
- Fires Streak SRM-6 at Chameleon (2 base + 4 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement + 0 Void Signature System = 10): rolled 11, 2 missiles hit Rear Right Torso (8/12 structure remains (Crit!)), Rear Right Torso (6/10 structure remains (Crit!))!
- Fires Streak SRM-6 at Chameleon (2 base + 4 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement + 0 Void Signature System = 10): rolled 9, fails to lock-on!
- Gains 34 heat, sinks 38!

Dire Wolf B
- Fires Large Pulse Laser at Coyote (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement + 2 smoke - 2 pulse laser = 5): rolled 11, hit Center Torso (23/33 armor remains)!
- Fires Large Pulse Laser at Coyote (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement + 2 smoke - 2 pulse laser = 5): rolled 10, hit Left Arm (10/20 armor remains)!
- Fires Large Pulse Laser at Coyote (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement + 2 smoke - 2 pulse laser = 5): rolled 4, miss!
- Fires LRM-20 w/Artemis IV (Artemis) at Coyote (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement + 2 smoke = 7): rolled 7, 20 missiles hit Center Torso (18/33 armor remains), Right Torso (17/22 armor remains), Right Leg (23/28 armor remains), Left Leg (23/28 armor remains)!
- Fires LRM-20 w/Artemis IV (Artemis) at Coyote (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement + 2 smoke = 7): rolled 11, 20 missiles hit Left Leg (18/28 armor remains), Right Arm (15/20 armor remains), Center Torso (13/33 armor remains), Left Arm (5/20 armor remains)!
- Fires Gauss Rifle at Coyote (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement + 2 smoke + 1 minimum range = 8): rolled 7, miss!
- Fires flamer at Coyote (2 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement + 2 smoke = 9): rolled 3, miss!
- Gains 48 heat, sinks 36! Overheating!

Crab (ACE)
- Fires ER Large Laser at Kraken 3 (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement + 1 heat = 5): rolled 5, hit Left Arm (22/34 armor remains)!
- Fires ER Large Laser at Kraken 3 (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement + 1 heat = 5): rolled 10, hit Left Arm (14/34 armor remains)!
- Fires Medium Pulse Laser at Kraken 3 (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement + 1 heat - 2 Pulse Laser = 3): rolled 3, hit Left Torso (22/32 armor remains)!
- Fires Medium Pulse Laser at Kraken 3 (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement + 1 heat - 2 Pulse Laser = 3): rolled 5, hit Left Torso (16/32 armor remains)!
- Fires ER Small Laser at Kraken 3 (2 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement + 1 heat = 7): rolled 5, miss!
- Gains 36 heat sinks 36! Overheating! ACE!

Unknown Assault (ACE)
- Fires Plasma Rifle at Kodiak (2 base + 0 range + 0 movement + 0 enemy movement + 1 smoke + 1 heat + 1 Void Signature System = 5): rolled 7, hit Center Torso (0/31 structure remains)! Target gains 3 heat! `Mech Destroyed!
- Fires LB-10X Autocannon (Cluster) at Kodiak (2 base + 0 range + 0 movement + 0 enemy movement + 1 smoke + 1 Void Signature System + 1 Heat - 1 Cluster = 4): rolled 6, 6 submunitions hit Right Leg (22/34 armor remains), Head (3/9 armor remains (pilot killed while ejecting!)), Right Arm (16/32 armor remains), Center Torso, Right Torso (21/32 armor remains), Center Torso!
- Charges PPC Capacitor!
- Gains 26 heat, sinks 26! Overheating! ACE!

Longbow
- Fires Large Laser at Incubus 1 (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement - 4 target movement + 1 partial cover = 1): automatically hit Rear Center Torso (0/5 armor, 7/10 structure remains)! Crit!
- Gains 10 heat, sinks 26!

Black Knight
- Fires Heavy PPC w/ PPC Capacitor (charged) at Dire Wolf B (2 base + 2 range + 0 movement + 0 enemy movement + 1 partial cover + 3 smoke + 1 Heavy PPC = 9): rolled 6, miss!
- Gains 30 heat, sinks 36!

Excalibur
- Fires Gauss Rifle at Dire Wolf B (2 base + 2 range + 0 movement + 0 enemy movement + 1 partial cover + 3 smoke = 8): rolled 10, hit Left Arm (19/34 armor remains)!
- Gains 11 heat, sinks 22!

Coyote
- Fires ER Large Laser at Dire Wolf B (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 0 target movement + 1 partial cover + 3 smoke = 8): rolled 4, miss!
- Fires Snub-Nose PPC w/ PPC Capacitor (Charged) at Dire Wolf B (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 0 target movement + 1 partial cover + 3 smoke = 8): rolled 5, miss!
- Gains 39 heat, sinks 28! Overheating! ACE!

Coyote
- Fires ER Large Laser at Incubus (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement - 4 target movement = 0): automatically hit Rear Center Torso (0/10 structure remains)! `Mech destroyed!
Fires Snub-Nose PPC w/ PPC Capacitor (Charged) at Incubus (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement - 4 target movement = 0): automatically hit Rear Center Torso!
- Gains 39 heat, sinks 28! Overheating! ACE!

Coyote
- Fires ER Large Laser at Dire Wolf B (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 0 target movement + 1 partial cover + 3 smoke = 8): rolled 6, miss!
- Fires Snub-Nose PPC w/ PPC Capacitor (Charged) at Dire Wolf B (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 0 target movement + 1 partial cover + 3 smoke = 8): rolled 4, miss!
- Gains 39 heat, sinks 28! Overheating! ACE!

Coyote
- Fires ER Large Laser at Dire Wolf B (2 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 0 target movement + 1 partial cover + 3 smoke = 7): rolled 5, miss!
- Fires Snub-Nose PPC w/ PPC Capacitor (Charged) at Dire Wolf B (2 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 0 target movement + 1 partial cover + 3 smoke = 7): rolled 9, hit Right Torso (0/32 armor, 13/21 structure remains)! Crit!
- Gains 39 heat, sinks 28! Overheating! ACE!

Chameleon
- Torso-twists to threaten hex 1506!
- Fires Large Laser at Dire Wolf H (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement + 1 partial cover + 1 Void Signature System = 6): rolled 8, hit Left Leg (damage blocked by that same hill )!
- Fires TAG at Dire Wolf H (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement + 1 partial cover + 1 Void Signature System = 6): rolled 10, hit!
- Gains 20 heat sinks 32!

Chameleon
- Fires Large Laser at Dire Wolf H (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement + 1 partial cover + 1 Void Signature System = 6): rolled 6, hit Left Arm (21/34 armor remains)!
- Fires TAG at Dire Wolf H (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement + 1 partial cover + 1 Void Signature System = 6): rolled 8, hit!
- Gains 25 heat sinks 32!

Longbow
- Fires LRM-20 w/ Artemis IV (Semi-Guided) at Dire Wolf H (2 base + 2 range + 0 movement + enemy movement ignored + spotter movement ignored + spotter shooting ignored + indirect fire penalty ignored = 4): rolled 6, 12 missiles hit Left Torso (22/32 armor remains), Right Arm (28/33 armor remains), Left Leg (30/41 armor remains)!
- Fires LRM-20 w/ Artemis IV (Semi-Guided) at Dire Wolf H (2 base + 2 range + 0 movement + enemy movement ignored + spotter movement ignored + spotter shooting ignored + indirect fire penalty ignored = 4): rolled 7, 12 missiles hit Left Arm (16/34 armor remains), Right Arm (23/34 armor remains), Right Arm (22/34 armor remains)!
- Gains 22 heat, sinks 26!

???
- Fires LRM-20 w/ Artemis IV (Semi-Guided) at Dire Wolf H (2 base + 2 range + 0 movement + enemy movement ignored + spotter movement ignored + spotter shooting ignored + indirect fire penalty ignored + 1 Void Signature System = 5): rolled 7, 16 missiles hit Center Torso (41/47 armor remains), Right Torso (12/32 armor remains), Center Torso (36/47 armor remains (TAC!)), Center Torso (35/47 armor remains)!
- Fires LRM-20 w/ Artemis IV (Semi-Guided) at Dire Wolf H (2 base + 2 range + 0 movement + enemy movement ignored + spotter movement ignored + spotter shooting ignored + indirect fire penalty ignored + 1 Void Signature System = 5): rolled 2, miss!
- Gains 22 heat, sinks 26!



End Phase:
Unknown Assault
- Critical chance in Right Arm! No critical hits sustained!
- Critical chance in Left Leg! No critical hits sustained!

Chameleon
- Critical chance in Right Torso! 1 critical hit sustained!
- - Engine hit!
- Critical chance in Right Torso! No critical hits sustained!
- Critical chance in Right Torso! No critical hits sustained!

Dire Wolf B
- Critical chance in Right Torso! 1 critical hit sustained!
- - Gauss Rifle hit! Gauss Rifle explodes!
- Dire Wolf B suffers 20 damage to Right Torso (0/21 structure remains)! Torso destroyed! Arm blown off!
- - Remaining damage vented harmlessly by CASE!

Dire Wolf H
- Through-armor critical chance in Center Torso! 2 critical hit sustained!
- - Double Heat Sink Hit!
- - Engine hit!



Physical Combat Phase:



End Phase:



Turn End Phase:



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

Coyote
- TSM Activated!
- Gains ACE Status!

Coyote
- TSM Activated!
- Gains ACE Status!

Coyote
- TSM Activated!
- Gains ACE Status!

Coyote
- TSM Activated!
- Gains ACE Status!

Crab
- TSM Activated!
- Gains ACE Status!

Chameleon
- Deactivates Void Signature System!

Chameleon
- Deactivates Void Signature System!









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 (13/39 defeated)
- Defend Clan HQ Vehicles (2/3 remaining)
- Defend Clan Personnel (20 tents remain! )
- Defend Clan Equipment (17/36 units remaining)



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

Enemy Movement Mods:
- Unknown Assault +ACE
- Unknown Assault +???
- Longbow +0
- Longbow +???
- Black Knight +0
- Excalibur +0
- Coyote +ACE
- Coyote +ACE
- Coyote +ACE
- Coyote +ACE
- Crab +ACE
- Chameleon +3
- Chameleon +3
- Phoenix +0
- Bobcat +0
- Locust +3
- Locust +3
- Locust +2



Orders Due: Saturday Night!