Part 42: Combat Theater Vote 2 Results

Vote 3 Results
The 2nd Donegal Guards win with 33 votes!
The 1st Lyran Guards look forward to second place and their continued survival with 8 votes!
The ComGuards weep for poor leadership that landed them in last place with only 4 votes!

Howling Dogs run wild in first place with 16 votes!
Power Rangers understand that second place is really just the first loser with 11 votes!
Knight Lights were not issued to scotophobic ‘Mechwarriors with only 10 votes!





“Pitiful warriors of the Inner Sphere, hear my batchall and quake in your boots!”



“Arrogant, aren’t they?” Hauptmann-Kommandant Caesar Steiner commented quietly. Samantha smiled, she’d served as the irreverent Major’s aide when he’d been in command, and still served Caesar’s replacement. Colonel Rossi glared, drawing a smirk from the chubby ex-Colonel.

“I am Star Colonel Dusk of the Clan Steel Viper,” the Clanner continued. She was handsome enough, her black hair cropped short save for a long braid. The Clanswoman’s eyes were a striking green, Samantha noted, at once piercing and inhuman. “I bring with me the entire cluster of the Fourth Viper Guards, the Deadly Venom. With what forces do you defend the planet?”

“What’s the latency on that?” Colonel Rossi asked quietly.

“Eighty secon—” Samantha began, as aide, the comms were her responsibility. An eighty-second latency would put the Steel Vipers just beyond a stable orbit—they’d likely be landing within the hour, she’d been about to say until her former commander cut her off.

“Steel Vipers, beware,” Caeser Steiner announced, bravado getting the better of him. “The Second Donegal Guards stand ready to kick your asses back to whatever dark corner of the universe you crawled out of! We’re not some periphery militia for you to walk all over. This regiment has served the Lyran Commonwealth for over a thousand years. It’s you who should be shaking, Steel Viper!”

Rossi glared again, motioned for Caeser to hold his tongue.

After a short delay, Dusk’s full lips curled into a vicious smile. “You speak bravely, for a barbarian,” she taunted quietly. “To whom am I speaking?”

“To my subordinate,” Rossi said coldly, “I am Colonel Rossi, and you deal with me, Star Colonel.”

“I make no deals, Colonel,” Dusk sneered, “I mean to take this planet from you. Will you oppose us with the whole of your Donegal Guards?”

“You’re damned right we will!” Caeser’s booming voice filled the cramped command center and several of the non-coms raised their voices in agreement.

Rossi pressed his face to his palm. “The Hauptman-Kommandant will remain silent,” he ordered with a voice like a Tharkad winter. He turned to face Dusk’s expressionless image. “Why,” he asked quietly, “would we choose to fight you with less than our full complement of forces?”

“When you lose,” Dusk gloated, “the troops that you did not bid would be granted hegira.”

“Is that word supposed to mean something?” Rossi asked pointedly.

“It means everything,” Dusk replied. Samantha shuddered—Dusk’s voice carried as much conviction as any Kurita samurai speaking of his honor. “What forces,” Dusk continued, “do you bid.”

“We’ll fight you with everything we have,” Rossi announced quietly, “except Hauptman-Kommandant Caeser Steiner.”

Dusk’s eyebrow quirked with intrigue, “Steiner?”

“Leutnant Clover, sever the connection,” Rossi ordered. “I want everyone deployed within the hour and I want our squadrons in the air now; and,” The Colonel turned, facing her directly, “I want to know why nobody spotted these damned Steel Vipers before they hit Orbit!”

Caeser Steiner glowered at his replacement, “Colonel—I won’t be left out of this fight.”

“Hauptmann,” The Colonel replied quietly, “You will be on special assignment. There are two other scions of House Steiner on this planet; you will escort them to the Dropship Tigris and get them off this planet.”

“Sir,” Caeser protested, clearly not liking the idea of being left out of this fight.

“It is not,” Rossi countered, “a request.”






2nd Donegal Guard ‘Mechwarrior List
Colonel Aldo Rossi – CP-10-Z Cyclops “Polyphemus” (g4 p5) (WarLocke)
Leutnant Samantha Clover – ZEU-6S Zeus (g4 p5) (Mukaikubo)
Staff Sergeant Major Gerhart von Kempner – BNC-3S Banshee “Screaming Mimi” (g4 p5) (Angry_Ed)
Corporal Richard Hunter – WLF-1 Wolfhound (g4 p5) (Spencerb)

With special guests
Tank Crew Twelve: Sergeant Bonnie Hammer, Private Sarah Montesquieu, PFC John Blucher – Rommel “Message in a Bottle” (g4 d5) (raverrn)



Mission Objectives
Survive for 20 Turns – At least one ‘Mech survives to the end of Turn 20 (sorry, the tank does not count)! (Total Victory)
Defeat Beta Star – Destroy or disable all ‘Mechs in Beta Star (Partial Victory)



Special Gimmicks
Tigris and Euphrates: Are dropships. The Euphrates is Height 6 and can absorb 200 damage. The Tigris is height 3 and can absorb 80 damage. They can be attacked, but if the Tigris is disabled the mission will count as a loss. The Steel Vipers will not attack the dropships unless provoked.



New House Rules:
Random Ace: Every turn, one member (each) of Beta and Gamma stars (selected randomly) automatically wins initiative. If only one ‘Mech remains active, there is a 50/50 chance on a given turn that ‘Mechwarrior will win initiative.

Relentless: Once per battle, Clan forces may seize the initiative after destroying an enemy ‘Mech. All Clan ‘Mechs automatically win initiative on the next turn.

Zellbrigen: The ‘Mechs of Gamma Star cannot engage unless Beta Star is destroyed or they are fired upon. Clan ‘Mechs will challenge a specific target and focus on that target above all others (this target will be publically visible). Clan ‘Mechs will not voluntarily move out of weapons range of their target. Clan ‘Mechs will not engage another Clan ‘Mech’s target unless fired upon by that target. Clan ‘Mechs will not fire at prone targets and will allow them to stand, unless fired upon by that target. Clan ‘Mechs will NOT hesitate to fire at an immobile (pilot unconscious / ‘Mech overheated or shut down) target.