Part 608: Gravedigger - Turn 12

Grave Digger: Tactical Update 12

A silvery streak flashed over the Marsden, missing the Desert Hawg by less than a meter. Ezekial mar Vohrs was forced to admit: he’d never seen a weapon with a muzzle velocity like that before. It was almost as exhilarating as an Enkran Sleigh Ride. Old Scratch’s cannon would certainly be a quicker end than being slowly drug around and buried by an angry Sand Whale, but it was the challenge that Ezekial truly craved.

“I have this shot,” he murmured, seizing control of the turret from his gunner’s station. The man raised his hands helplessly and settled back into his chair, waiting without complaint for Ezekial to relinquish the turret controls. The old man smiled, his bony fingers closing on the control stick. He took a deep, cleansing breath then let it out slowly. As soon as his lungs felt empty he depressed the firing stud before they started to burn.

The Marsden’s smallbore autocannon coughed and an instant later Old Scratch’s turret waggled. Something tumbled free, raising an involuntary grin from Ezekial’s thin lips. He’d hit the hatch lock for one of Old Scratch’s ammo bins. The enemy tank’s shells—some of them at least—had gone tumbling over its sloped side and buried themselves in the sand.








Shooting Phase
Marsden II (Player)
- Fires Autocannon/5 at Old Scratch (4 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement = 9): rolled 11, hit Turret (25/30 armor remaining)! TAC!
- Fires SRM-6 (Deadfire) at Old Scratch (4 base + 4 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement = 11): rolled 3, miss!
- Fires SRM-6 (Deadfire) at Old Scratch (4 base + 4 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement = 11): rolled 7, miss!

Goblin Medium Tank "Diamondback" (Player)
- Fires Heavy Chemical Laser at Old Scratch (4 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 partial cover = 10): rolled 8, miss!
- Fires Heavy Chemical Laser at Old Scratch (4 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement + 1 partial cover = 10): rolled 12, hit Front (damage blocked by terrain)!

Bulldog Medium Tank (Player)
- Fires Heavy Rifle at Old Scratch (3 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement = 8): rolled 8, hit Front (44/50 armor remaining)!
- Fires SRM-4 (Inferno) at Old Scratch (3 base + 4 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement = 10): rolled 8, miss!
- Fires SRM-4 (Inferno) at Old Scratch (3 base + 4 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement = 10): rolled 8, miss!

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

Devil’s Due
- Fires Autocannon/10 at Marsden II (3 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement = 9): rolled 9, hit Front (20/35 armor remaining)!

Old Scratch
- Fires Gauss Rifle at Desert Hawg (4 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement = 9): rolled 8, miss!



End Phase
Old Scratch
- Through-armor critical chance in Turret: rolled 11, ammunition hit!








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 (Complete)
- Disable or destroy Old Scratch (0/1)



Orders Due: Midnight Tuesday!

PTN's note: We're almost certainly losing two more player units to auto-scrolling next turn, so if that happens I might roll us straight into a combat theater vote instead.