Part 603: Gravedigger - Turn 7

Grave Digger: Tactical Update 7

“Let’s make those Sand Shepards eat our dust,” Chastity growled enthusiastically, leaning out of the commander’s chair to kick her driver in the back. The man involuntarily jammed his foot on the gas pedal as his body flinched away from the impact, and only a pull on the tank’s tread-control levers kept them from plowing into a copse of foliage at full speed. It was rare to see Enkra’s fast-growing tree-analogs without any sort of surface water, but the big Sand Whale had undoubtedly gotten to it. She swore the more they drank, the bigger they got. It was probably for the best that the desert was bordered on all sides by high mountains—she didn’t want to know what’d happen if one of them ever made it to the ocean.

At least the whales were just animals, unlike the Sand Raiders. She’d never understand how humans could feel any empathy for creatures that would kill and eat them given half a chance—she’d always suspected it was some unnatural instinct long-ago engendered by mankind’s long association with cats. Empathy wasn’t something Chastity had much use for, but even she (barely) valued other humans more than she would’ve what amounted to a walking armored hole full of teeth. The fact that the Sand Whale was keeping up with the Desert Hawg was worrisome, but for the time being it wasn’t her problem. If it was still there after they’d passed the ridgeline she’d put a few shots into it to encourage it to find a nice oasis to settle down at.








Movement Phase



Shooting Phase
Marsden II (Player)
- Fires Autocannon/5 at Sand Raider Calf Riders #2 (4 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 0 enemy movement + 1 secondary target = 7): rolled 11, hit! 1 trooper killed!

Goblin Medium Tank "Diamondback" (Player)
- Holds fire!

Bulldog Medium Tank (Player)
- Holds fire!

Thor Artillery Vehicle "Exhumer" (Player)
- Holds fire!

Dig Lord “Sancho Panzer” (Player)
- Holds fire!

Vedette (BAGC)
- Holds fire!

Vedette
- Holds fire!

Sand Raider Calf Riders 1
- Attack Bulldog (3 base + 2 range + 2 enemy movement = 7): rolled 4, miss!

Sand Raider Calf Riders 2
- Attack Dig Lord (3 base + 2 range + 1 enemy movement = 6): rolled 8, of 15 troopers, 9 hit dealing 9 damage to Right Arm (14/19 armor remaining), Center Torso (25/29 armor remaining)!








Player Status:




Ally Status:




Opposing Force Status:




Special Rules
Drifting: Vehicles may shift one column to the left or right during the movement phase without expending an MP to turn, provided the move does not cross through an enemy unit or terrain that would cost additional MP. Adjacent vehicles may be rammed for low damage with a sideswipe and lighter vehicles may be knocked off course next turn!
Half-Height Terrain: All terrain features rise to only half their normal height. Vehicles behind a height 1 hill may still attack and be attacked, but may only receive damage to their turrets. Vehicles without turrets are hidden as normal. Hills only cost 1 MP to climb rather than the additional 2. BattleMech and IndustrialMech units treat height 1 hexes as if they are clear terrain, height 2 as if they are height 1, etc.
Oases: Oases are surrounded by boggy soil that will trap ground vehicles and may attract native fauna.
Mirages: Heat shimmer can make water appear where there is none. Mirages may be driven through safely but may hide other features.
Redline the Engines: The Desert Hawg’s speed cannot be reduced by damage or critical hits.



Primary Objectives
- Protect the Desert Hawg (0/1)
- Disable or destroy the Devil’s Due (0/1)

Secondary Objectives
- Drive away or destroy Scarback (0/1)
- Destroy the ???? (0/1)



Orders Due: Midnight Tuesday!