Part 586: Nergal Reactor - Turn 8

Nergal Reactor: Tactical Update 8

“What are you doing?!” Yul’s Bobcat extended its right arm, three-clawed hand open wide as though to implore her companion to stop. The Beowulf’s cloven foot smashed into the side of the fallen Warhawk’s cockpit, denting armor and doubtless spraying the pilot trapped inside with razor-sharp shards of glass from his cockpit monitors. The legless machine couldn’t even raise an arm to resist.

“This company is a band of murderers so bad even Noretti can’t stand ‘em,” COOTS drawled, “they ain’t gunning to capture us and I ain’t about to let that go unpunished. This one had special markings, that’s gotta mean it’s the company commander, right? I’ve got another hostile lance on sensors lurking out in the estuary. So use that fancy pig-sticker of yours and help me finish ‘em off, I don’t want this guy taking potshots at us for the rest of the fight!”

“I,” Yul thumbed the activation stud for the Bobcat’s vibrosword. The blade hummed to life, its leading edge taking on a silvery blur. A wave of heat washed through her cockpit, overwhelming her heat exchangers as she pushed her `Mech yet again. It was risky just to finish off a downed enemy she couldn’t even see through the mud coating his cockpit transplex. She drew her arm back, prepared to strike for just a moment.

“No,” she shook her head, cutting power to the blade and letting it fall still. “This isn’t right. We’re not executioners—and if that Mechwarrior needs to die a trial will prove it.”

“An interesting observation,” Major Karagan interjected. Of course he was listening, the Rim Worlder probably had complete access to the entire laser comm. system. Unless they pointed their communications lasers at their intended recipient, he’d hear everything the Demon Hawks said. “But the Battle for Andurien is do-or-die for both sides.”

As if to punctuate his remark, the Nergal’s massive arm rose skyward then drove the tip of its lance through the Nidhogg’s cockpit, torso, and into the ferrocrete below. The `Mech’s arms twitched as the six-meter spike shorted electronic components and computers throughout. It fell, limp and lifeless. “Central’s routed another lance our way as back-up. I don’t know about you, but I plan to win this fight.”

“I won’t kill a helpless pilot,” Yul reiterated, her voice deep and even.

“That’s what makes me better than the Clans,” she finished, leaving the other implications of her statement unsaid.








Movement Phase
Beowulf (Player)
- Needs a 3+ to activate MASC: rolled 6, succeeds!
- Active probe reveals a hidden enemy unit!
- Active probe reveals a hidden enemy unit!

Nidhogg
- Must pass a piloting test to stand (3 base + 5 leg destroyed = 8): rolled 8, succeeds!
- - Stands facing 2418!



Shooting Phase
Atlas III (Player)
- Fires Snub-Nose PPC at Varangian Undertow (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 light woods + 1 heat = 7): rolled 8, hit Right Arm (24/34 armor remaining)!
- Fires Snub-Nose PPC at Varangian Undertow (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 light woods + 1 heat = 7): rolled 5, miss!
- Fires Heavy Gauss Rifle at Varangian Undertow (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 light woods + 1 heat = 7): rolled 4, miss!
- Gains 24 heat, sinks 24! Overheating! TSM Active!

Awesome (Player)
- Fires rER PPC at Warhawk Riptide (3 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 1 enemy movement = 5): rolled 10, hit Right Leg (0/35 armor, 10/18 structure remaining)! Crit!
- - Plasma arcs to miss!
- Fires rER PPC at Warhawk Riptide (3 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 1 enemy movement = 5): rolled 8, hit Left Leg (8/18 structure remaining)! Crit!
- - Plasma arcs to miss!
- Fires PPC at Warhawk Riptide (3 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 1 enemy movement = 5): rolled 10, hit Left Leg (0/18 structure remaining)! Leg blown off!
- - Damage transfers to Center Torso (31/42 armor remaining)!
- Fires PPC at Warhawk Riptide (3 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 1 enemy movement = 5): rolled 3, miss!
- Gains 51 heat, sinks 50!

Grasshopper (Player)
- Fires Large X-Pulse Laser at Nidhogg (3 base + 2 range + 3 movement + 0 enemy movement - 2 pulse laser = 6): rolled 3, miss!
- Fires Medium Laser at Nidhogg (3 base + 4 range + 3 movement + 0 enemy movement = 10): rolled 10, hit Left Torso (17/22 armor remaining)!
- Fires Medium Laser at Nidhogg (3 base + 4 range + 3 movement + 0 enemy movement = 10): rolled 9, miss!
- Fires Medium Laser at Nidhogg (3 base + 4 range + 3 movement + 0 enemy movement = 10): rolled 9, miss!
- Fires Medium Laser at Nidhogg (3 base + 4 range + 3 movement + 0 enemy movement = 10): rolled 12, hit Left Arm (15/22 armor remaining)!
- Gains 27 heat, sinks 30!

Lament (Player)
- Fires rER PPC at Crossbow Beta (4 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement + 1 smoke + 1 partial cover - 1 targeting computer = 9): rolled 5, miss!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Crossbow Beta (4 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement + 1 smoke + 1 partial cover - 1 targeting computer = 9): rolled 3, miss!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Crossbow Beta (4 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement + 1 smoke + 1 partial cover - 1 targeting computer = 9): rolled 6, miss!
- Gains 29 heat, sinks 32!

Coyote (Player)
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Night Gyr Epsilon (4 base + 4 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement = 10): rolled 6, miss!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Night Gyr Epsilon (4 base + 4 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement = 10): rolled 11, hit Right Torso (17/22 armor remaining)!
- Gains 12 heat, sinks 40!

Hunchback #2 (Player)
- Fires Heavy Gauss Rifle at Varangian Undertow (3 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 light woods = 6): rolled 9, hit Right Arm (0/34 armor, 16/17 structure remaining)! Crit!
- Fires Medium Laser at Varangian Undertow (3 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 light woods = 6): rolled 6, hit Left Arm (19/34 armor remaining)!
- Fires Medium Laser at Varangian Undertow (3 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 light woods = 6): rolled 6, hit Center Torso (42/47 armor remaining)!
- Gains 9 heat, sinks 10!

Hunchback #1 (Player)
- Torso-twists to threaten hex 2113!
- Fires LB-20X Autocannon (Slug) at Varangian Undertow (3 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 light woods = 6): rolled 11, hit Left Leg (21/41 armor remaining)!
- Fires Medium Pulse Laser at Varangian Undertow (3 base + 2 range + 1 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 light woods - 2 pulse laser = 6): rolled 10, hit Center Torso (36/47 armor remaining)!
- Fires Medium Pulse Laser at Varangian Undertow (3 base + 2 range + 1 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 light woods - 2 pulse laser = 6): rolled 5, miss!
- Fires Medium Pulse Laser at Varangian Undertow (3 base + 2 range + 1 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 light woods - 2 pulse laser = 6): rolled 6, hit Center Torso (30/47 armor remaining)!
- Gains 20 heat, sinks 20!

Screamer (Player)
- Fires rER PPC at Crossbow Beta (2 base + 2 range + 3 movement + 0 enemy movement + 1 light woods + 1 smoke + 1 partial cover - 1 targeting computer = 9): rolled 8, miss!
- Fires Medium Pulse Laser at Crossbow Beta (2 base + 2 range + 3 movement + 0 enemy movement + 1 light woods + 1 smoke + 1 partial cover - 1 targeting computer - 2 pulse laser = 7): rolled 4, miss!
- Gains 24 heat, sinks 25!

Bobcat (Player)
- Fires rER PPC at Warhawk Riptide (3 base + 0 range + 3 movement + 1 enemy movement = 7): rolled 6, miss!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Warhawk Riptide (3 base + 0 range + 3 movement + 1 enemy movement = 7): rolled 5, miss!
- Gains 33 heat, sinks 26! Overheating!

Beowulf (Player)
- Fires Large Pulse Laser at Warhawk Riptide (3 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement - 2 pulse laser = 4): rolled 10, hit Right Torso (8/26 armor remaining)!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Warhawk Riptide (3 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement = 6): rolled 10, Center Torso (26/42 armor remaining)!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Warhawk Riptide (3 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement = 6): rolled 5, miss!
- Gains 25 heat, sinks 24!

Wild Weasel (Player)
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Varangian Undertow (3 base + 2 range + 1 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 smoke + 1 light woods = 9): rolled 3, miss!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Varangian Undertow (3 base + 2 range + 1 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 smoke + 1 light woods = 9): rolled 6, miss!
- Fires ER Medium Laser at Varangian Undertow (3 base + 2 range + 1 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 smoke + 1 light woods = 9): rolled 6, miss!
- Fires LRM-20 w/Artemis IV (Artemis Capable) at Varangian Undertow (3 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 smoke + 1 light woods = 7): rolled 5, miss!
- Gains 22 heat, sinks 22!

Phoenix Hawk (Player)
- Fires Large Pulse Laser at Night Gyr Epsilon (3 base + 2 range + 3 movement + 0 enemy movement + 2 smoke - 2 pulse laser = 8): rolled 6, miss!
- Gains 16 heat, sinks 20!

Nergal (Allied Player)
- Torso-twists freely to threaten hex 2519!
- Fires Hyper Pulse Laser at Varangian Undertow (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 light woods - 1 pulse module = 5): rolled 7, hit Right Torso (12/32 armor remaining)!
- Fires Hyper Pulse Laser at Varangian Undertow (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 light woods - 1 pulse module = 5): rolled 10, hit Center Torso (10/47 armor remaining)!
- Fires Heavy Gauss Rifle at Varangian Undertow (2 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 light woods = 8): rolled 5, miss!
- Gains 52 heat, sinks 52! Overheating!

Varangian Undertow
- Torso-twists to threaten hex 2115!
- Fires Ultra AC/20 (Ultra) at Hunchback #1 (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement = 4): rolled 6, 1 shell hit Left Arm (0/16 armor, 4/8 structure remaining)! Crit!
- Fires Ultra AC/20 (Ultra) at Hunchback #1 (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement = 4): rolled 11, 2 shells hit Left Torso (0/12 structure remaining (Torso destroyed!)), Right Torso (0/20 armor remaining)!
- - Damage transfers to Center Torso (18/26 armor remaining)!
- Fires Medium Pulse Laser at Hunchback #2 (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement + 1 secondary target + 1 partial cover - 2 pulse laser = 4): rolled 8, hit Right Arm (2/16 armor remaining)!
- Fires Medium Pulse Laser at Hunchback #2 (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement + 1 secondary target + 1 partial cover - 2 pulse laser = 4): rolled 8, hit Left Torso (13/20 armor remaining)!
- Fires Medium Pulse Laser at Hunchback #2 (2 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement + 1 secondary target + 1 partial cover - 2 pulse laser = 4): rolled 6, hit Right Leg (damage blocked by terrain)!
- Gains 40 heat, sinks 40!

Unknown `Mech Alpha
- Holds fire!
- Gains 1 heat, sinks 36!

Warhawk Riptide
- Torso-twists to threaten hex 3911!
- Fires Large Pulse Laser at Beowulf (2 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 3 enemy movement - 2 pulse laser - 1 targeting computer = 3): rolled 11, hit Right Arm (4/14 armor remaining)!
- Fires Large Pulse Laser at Beowulf (2 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 3 enemy movement - 2 pulse laser - 1 targeting computer = 3): rolled 12, hit Left Arm (4/14 armor remaining)!
- Fires Large Pulse Laser at Beowulf (2 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 3 enemy movement - 2 pulse laser - 1 targeting computer = 3): rolled 7, hit Left Leg (12/22 armor remaining)!
- Fires Large Pulse Laser at Beowulf (2 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 3 enemy movement - 2 pulse laser - 1 targeting computer = 3): rolled 7, hit Center Torso (10/20 armor remaining)!
- Gains 41 heat, sinks 44!

Wolf Spider Eta
- Holds fire!
- Gains 2 heat, sinks 50!

Night Gyr Epsilon
- Fires LRM-20 w/ Artemis IV at Coyote (3 base + 2 range + 0 movement + 2 enemy movement = 7): rolled 11, 20 missiles hit Center Torso (22/27 armor remaining), Center Torso (17/22 armor remaining), Right Arm (15/20 armor remaining), Head (4/9 armor remaining)!
- Fires LRM-20 w/ Artemis IV at Coyote (3 base + 2 range + 0 movement + 2 enemy movement = 7): rolled 10, 12 missiles hit Center Torso (12/32 armor remaining), Right Leg (13/28 armor remaining), Right Torso (20/22 armor remaining)!
- Fires LRM-20 w/ Artemis IV at Coyote (3 base + 2 range + 0 movement + 2 enemy movement = 7): rolled 2, miss!
- Fires LRM-20 w/ Artemis IV at Coyote (3 base + 2 range + 0 movement + 2 enemy movement = 7): rolled 4, miss!
- Gains 24 heat, sinks 24!

Nidhogg Eta
- Fires Heavy Large Laser at Wild Weasel (3 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement + 1 smoke + 1 partial cover = 7): rolled 10, hit Right Leg (damage blocked by terrain)!
- Fires Ultra AC/10 (Ultra) at Wild Weasel (3 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement + 1 smoke + 1 partial cover = 7): rolled 7, 1 shell hit Head (0/9 armor, 2/3 structure remaining)! TAC! Pilot hit!
- Fires LRM-15 w/ Artemis IV at Wild Weasel (3 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement + 1 smoke + 1 partial cover = 7): rolled 11, 9 missiles hit Left Leg (damage blocked by terrain), Center Torso (13/18 armor remaining)!
- Gains 31 heat, sinks 32!

Crossbow Alpha
- Torso-twists to threaten hex 1822!
- Fires LRM-20 w/ Artemis IV (Swarm-I) at Nergal (2 base + 2 range + 1 movement + 0 enemy movement + 1 partial cover - 1 superheavy = 5): rolled 9, 12 missiles hit Left Torso (81/126 armor remaining), Center Torso (160/180 armor remaining), Right Arm (106/132 armor remaining)!
- - 8 missiles seek secondary target, attack Atlas III (2 base + 2 range + 1 movement + 0 enemy movement + 3 smoke = 8): rolled 8, 5 missiles hit Right Torso (23/32 armor remaining)!
- Fires LRM-20 w/ Artemis IV (Swarm-I) at Nergal (2 base + 2 range + 1 movement + 0 enemy movement + 1 partial cover - 1 superheavy = 5): rolled 7, 12 missiles hit Right Arm (101/132 armor remaining), Left Arm (126/132 armor remaining), Left Leg (damage “blocked” by terrain)!
- - 8 missiles seek secondary target, attack Atlas III (2 base + 2 range + 1 movement + 0 enemy movement + 3 smoke = 8): rolled 6, miss!
- Gains 13 heat, sinks 24!

Crossbow Beta
- Torso-twists to threaten hex 2027!
- Fires Streak SRM-6 at Lament (3 base + 2 range + 1 movement + 2 enemy movement = 8): rolled 9, 6 missiles hit Center Torso (16/32 armor remaining), Left Leg (14/30 armor remaining), Center Torso (14/32 armor remaining), Left Arm (18/20 armor remaining), Right Leg (21/30 armor remaining), Center Torso (12/32 armor remaining)!
- Fires Streak SRM-6 at Lament (3 base + 2 range + 1 movement + 2 enemy movement = 8): rolled 5, fails to lock-on!
- Fires Streak SRM-6 at Lament (3 base + 2 range + 1 movement + 2 enemy movement = 8): rolled 7, fails to lock-on!
- Fires Streak SRM-6 at Lament (3 base + 2 range + 1 movement + 2 enemy movement = 8): rolled 6, fails to lock-on!
- Fires Streak SRM-6 at Lament (3 base + 2 range + 1 movement + 2 enemy movement = 8): rolled 11, 6 missiles hit Head (7/9 armor remaining (Pilot hit!)), Left Leg (12/30 armor remaining), Right Torso (6/22 armor remaining), Head (5/9 armor remaining (Pilot hit!)), Right Leg (19/30 armor remaining), Head (3/9 armor remaining (Pilot hit!))!
- Fires Streak SRM-6 at Lament (3 base + 2 range + 1 movement + 2 enemy movement = 8): rolled 5, fails to lock-on!
- Gains 10 heat, sinks 24!

Naga Alpha
- Lurking?
- Gains ?? heat, sinks 24!

Viper Ocean Breeze
- Fires Heavy Large Laser at Awesome (3 base + 0 range + 3 movement + 0 enemy movement + 1 heavy laser + 1 partial cover = 8): rolled 4, miss!
- Gains 23 heat, sinks 24!

Swordbreaker Upsilon
- Lurks More!
- Gains 0 heat, sinks 20!

Adder Upsilon
- Lurks More!
- Gains 0 heat, sinks 26!



End Phase
Warhawk Riptide
- Critical chance in Right Leg: rolled 12, leg blown off! `Mech destroyed

Varangian Undertow
- Critical chance in Right Arm: rolled 7, no critical hits sustained!
- Must pass a piloting test or fall (3 base + 1 massive damage = 4): rolled 12, succeeds!

Wild Weasel (player)
- Through-armor critical chance in Head: rolled 4, no critical hit sustained!
- Must pass a 3+ consciousness test: rolled 5, succeeds!

Lament (player)
- Must pass a 3+ consciousness test: rolled 9, succeeds!
- Must pass a 5+ consciousness test: rolled 8, succeeds!
- Must pass a 7+ consciousness test: rolled 7, succeeds!
- Must pass a piloting test or fall (4 base + 1 massive damage = 5): rolled 8, succeeds!

Hunchback #1 (Player)
- Must pass a piloting test or fall (4 base + 1 massive damage = 5): rolled 6, succeeds!



Physical Combat Phase:
Atlas III (player)
- Kicks Nidhogg: automatic miss! Right leg already destroyed!

Nergal (player)
- Attacks Nidhogg with Lance (4 base + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement + 1 lance = 7): rolled 7, hit Head (0/9 armor, 0/9 structure remaining)! Pilot killed!
- - This wouldn’t normally but 68 damage transfers to Center Torso (0/22 structure remaining)! `Mech destroyed!

Beowulf (player)
- Kicks Warhawk!



Next Turn’s Movement Phase
Varangian Undertow
- Warhawk Riptide destroyed: fury subsides, must roll a 7+ to avoid losing Unit Skill: rolled 6, fails!
- Loses Unit Skill: Cull the Weak!

Unknown `Mech Alpha
- Warhawk Riptide destroyed: fury subsides, must roll a 7+ to avoid losing Unit Skill: rolled 12, succeeds!
- Warhawk Riptide destroyed: Cull the Weak activates!
- Nidhogg Eta destroyed: Cull the Weak activates!
- - Unit gains ACE! status until 2 enemy targets are destroyed!

Wolf Spider Eta
- Warhawk Riptide destroyed: fury subsides, must roll a 7+ to avoid losing Unit Skill: rolled 9, succeeds!
- Cull the Weak cannot activate for ACE units!

Crossbow Alpha
- Warhawk Riptide destroyed: fury subsides, must roll a 7+ to avoid losing Unit Skill: rolled 8, succeeds!
- Cull the Weak cannot activate for ACE units!

Crossbow Beta
- Warhawk Riptide destroyed: fury subsides, must roll a 7+ to avoid losing Unit Skill: rolled 5, fails!
- Loses Unit Skill: Cull the Weak!

Phoenix Hawk (Player)
- Fury Increases on a 7+ roll: rolled 5!








Player Status:




Allies




Opposing Force Status:





House Rule: Flooding Sucks – An armor breach underwater no longer destroys hit locations outright. A section that floods instead suffers damage to all weapons in that location, knocking them offline. All ammunition or special equipment in a flooded section is likewise rendered useless. Head armor breaches are treated as normal.



Primary Objectives
- Lure the Clans near the Nergal Reactor (failed!)
- Protect the NRG-0000-0X Nergal (0/1)

Secondary Objectives
- Accrue Bounty (21,000,000 c-bills / 31,500,000 goods)
- - Light `Mechs: 0 (1,000,000 c-bills)
- - Medium `Mechs: 3 (2,000,000 c-bills)
- - Heavy `Mechs: 1 (3,000,000 c-bills)
- - Assault `Mechs: 3 (4,000,000 c-bills)
- - Infantry Units: 0 (250,000) c-bills
- - Battle Armor Units: 0 (1,000,000) c-bills
- - AeroSpace Fighters: 0 (2,000,000) c-bills

- Last Mission’s Total Bounty: 62,300,000 c-bills (93,450,000 goods)
- Total Accumulated Bounty: 83,300,000 c-bills (124,950,000 goods)



Orders Due: Midnight Saturday!