The Let's Play Archive

Battletech

by PoptartsNinja

Part 685: Snake Pit - Turn 13

Snake Pit 13

One of the strangest quirks of lasercomm systems was: as long as they weren’t encrypted, any ‘Mech could receive and retransmit them. There wasn’t much cause to do so, most commands considered direct communication with enemy Mechwarriors to be some form of borderline treason. Of course, it still happened. Typically when a lance commander wanted to gloat.

When Rose D’Antonio’s radio began transmitting unexpectedly, it wasn’t the first time she’d ever been addressed by the enemy. But it was the first time that enemy had been a Clanner, and that alone sent an involuntary chill down her spine. She’d only caught a glimpse of the enemy as she’d advanced towards the most likely positions of the enemy’s command posts, but that had apparently been enough to mark her. Even as she ducked out of sight, the Clanner’s transmission continued—he must have been using the tower’s observation post as a relay.

“Interesting,” the basso voice rolled through her cockpit as though the Clan commander had taken direct control of her Mongoose’s volume. “I did not think the Inner Sphere decisive enough to field a headhunter unit. But you are all different colors. Different units, quiaff? Or perhaps you are mercenaries or volunteers? It hardly matters.”

“I am Khan Grier Seidman of the Hell’s Horses—but it strikes me that you may not understand the import of that. I am the supreme commander of Clan Hell’s Horses in the Inner Sphere. I had wondered if you would retreat once it became obvious your advance was detected, but you have chosen to continue. A warrior is a warrior, but courage is not a universal trait and yours is to be commended. To honor your courage, I choose to face you directly. You have issued no formal challenge, but should you manage to defeat me the Hell’s Horses on Luthien will stand down and accept our Absorption into the forces of the Draconis Suns.”

“All forces save my own Star will stand down immediately to act as witnesses, unless you re-engage them,” Seidman continued after barely a pause. “Do not think I am foolish enough to blunder into an ambush. You will first have the honor of facing Star Captain Nizhoni Seidman, the leader of the Alpha Galaxy Keshik, my personal bodyguard, as well as Star Commander Bronislaw Cobb. As is their duty, neither will allow me to engage you unless you defeat both first, and if you are unable to defeat them at least know that as long as you live you will have succeeded in distracting me from managing the course of the larger battle. Of course,” he sounded almost hopeful, “you may choose to attack me directly, which will free me—and all Clan forces present—to engage you.”









Movement Phase
Mongoose
- Must pass a 3+ check to activate MASC: rolled 6, succeeds!
- Checks Hex 2105 for enemy command post: rolled 6: enemy command post located!



Shooting Phase
Roughneck DSI (Player)
- Delays turn!

Roughneck 3A (Player)
- Fires medium laser at Firefly (4 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement = 8): rolled 8, hit Right Arm (5/10 armor remaining)!
- Fires medium laser at Firefly (4 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement = 8): rolled 5, miss!
- Fires medium laser at Firefly (4 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement = 8): rolled 8, hit Left Torso (6/11 armor remaining)!
- Fires medium laser at Firefly (4 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement = 8): rolled 10, hit Right Arm (0/10 armor remaining)!
- Gains 14 heat, sinks 36!

Bandersnatch (Player)
- Delays turn!
- Gains 2 heat, sinks 20!

Centurion (Player)
- Fires Snub-Nose PPC w/ PPC Capacitor at Firefly (3 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 2 enemy movement = 6): rolled 7, hit Left Torso (0/11 armor, 0/7 structure remaining)! Torso destroyed! Left arm blown off!
- - Damage transfers to Center Torso (13/15 armor remaining)!
- Fires Snub-Nose PPC at Firefly (3 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 2 enemy movement = 6): rolled 9, hit Head (0/8 armor, 1/3 structure remaining)! Pilot hit! Crit!
- Fires Medium Laser at Firefly (3 base + 2 range + 1 movement + 2 enemy movement = 8): rolled 9, hit Center Torso (8/15 armor remaining)! TAC!
- Gains 30 heat, sinks 30!

Mongoose (Player)
- Holds fire!
- Gains 2 heat, sinks 20!

Hitman (Player)
- Holds fire!
- Gains 2 heat, sinks 20!

Sentinel (Player)
- Holds fire!
- Gains 2 heat, sinks 20!

Spider (Player)
- Holds fire!
- Gains 10 heat, sinks 23!

Charger (Player)
- Torso-twists to threaten hex 1825!
- Fires Medium Pulse Laser at Wyvern IIC (3 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement - 2 pulse laser = 5): rolled 5, hit Right Leg (6/22 armor remaining)!
- Fires Medium Pulse Laser at Wyvern IIC (3 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement - 2 pulse laser = 5): rolled 3, miss!
- Fires Medium Pulse Laser at Wyvern IIC (3 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement - 2 pulse laser = 5): rolled 3, miss!
- Fires Medium Pulse Laser at Wyvern IIC (3 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement - 2 pulse laser = 5): rolled 10, hit Center Torso (0/21 armor, 12/14 structure remaining)! Crit!
- Gains 18 heat, sinks 24!

Quickdraw (Player)
- Holds fire!
- Gains 2 heat, sinks 36!

Von Rohrs (Player)
- Fires PPC at Thunderbolt (4 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement = 9): rolled 8, miss!
- Fires SRM-6 (Inferno) at Thunderbolt (4 base + 4 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement = 11): rolled 11, 5 missiles hit! Thunderbolt IIC gains 10 Heat!
- Fires SRM-6 (Inferno) at Thunderbolt (4 base + 4 range + 2 movement + 1 enemy movement = 11): rolled 3, miss!
- Gains 20 heat, sinks 32!

Bandersnatch (Player, delayed)
- Fires Medium Laser at Wyvern IIC (3 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 2 enemy movement = 6): rolled 9, hit Center Torso (7/14 structure remaining)! TAC!
- Fires Medium Laser at Wyvern IIC (3 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 2 enemy movement = 6): rolled 9, hit Right Arm (0/7 structure remaining)! Arm blown off!
- - Damage transfers to Right Torso (6/17 armor remaining)!
- Fires Medium Laser at Wyvern IIC (3 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 2 enemy movement = 6): rolled 7, hit Right Torso (1/17 armor remaining)!
- Fires Medium Laser at Wyvern IIC (3 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 2 enemy movement = 6): rolled 7, hit Right Torso (0/17 armor, 7/11 structure remaining)! Crit!
- Fires LB 10-X Autocannon (Cluster) at Wyvern IIC (3 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 2 enemy movement - 1 cluster = 5): rolled 10, 6 submunitions hit Head (8/9 armor remaining (Pilot hit!)), Right Torso (6/11 structure remaining (Crit!)), Right Torso (5/11 structure remaining (Crit!)), Center Torso (11/14 structure remaining (Crit!)), Center Torso (10/14 structure remaining (Crit!)), Right Leg (5/22 armor remaining)!
- Fires LB 10-X Autocannon (Cluster) at Wyvern IIC (3 base + 0 range + 1 movement + 2 enemy movement - 1 cluster = 5): rolled 9, 6 submunitions hit Center Torso (9/14 structure remaining (Crit!)), Right Torso (4/11 structure remaining (Crit!)), Right Torso (3/11 structure remaining (Crit!)), Center Torso (8/14 structure remaining (Crit!)), Center Torso (7/14 structure remaining (Crit!)), Left Leg (10/11 structure remaining (Crit!))!
- Gains 18 heat, sinks 20!

Roughneck DSI (Player, delayed)
- Fires Clan Gauss Rifle at Firefly (3 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement = 7): rolled 7, hit Left Leg (0/14 armor, 6/7 structure remaining)! Crit!
- Fires Clan Large Pulse Laser at Firefly (3 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement - 2 pulse laser = 5): rolled 12, hit Center Torso (0/15 armor, 8/10 structure remaining)! Crit!
- Fires Clan Small Pulse Laser at Firefly (3 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement - 2 pulse laser = 7): rolled 8, hit Center Torso (3/10 structure remaining)! TAC!
- Fires Medium Laser at Firefly (3 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement = 9): rolled 7, miss!
- Fires Magshot Gauss Rifle at Firefly (3 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement = 9): rolled 7, miss!
- Fires Magshot Gauss Rifle at Firefly (3 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement = 9): rolled 11, hit Center Torso (1/10 structure remaining)! Crit!
- Fires Magshot Gauss Rifle at Firefly (3 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement = 9): rolled 12, hit Center Torso (0/10 structure remaining)! ’Mech Destroyed!
- Fires Magshot Gauss Rifle at Firefly (3 base + 2 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement = 9): rolled 9, hit Right Leg (12/14 armor remaining)!
- Gains 22 heat, sinks 22!

Wyvern IIC
- Fires ER Large Laser at Bandersnatch (3 base + 0 range + 3 movement + 1 enemy movement = 7): rolled 6, miss!
- Fires SRM-6 at Bandersnatch (3 base + 0 range + 3 movement + 1 enemy movement = 7): rolled 10, 4 missiles hit Right Arm (16/18 armor remaining), Right Arm (14/18 armor remaining), Left Arm (16/18 armor remaining), Center Torso (21/23 armor remaining)!
- Fires Machine Gun at Bandersnatch (3 base + 0 range + 3 movement + 1 enemy movement = 7): rolled 5, miss!
- Fires Machine Gun at Bandersnatch (3 base + 0 range + 3 movement + 1 enemy movement = 7): rolled 8, hit Center Torso (19/23 armor remaining)!
- Gains 25 heat, sinks 24 20! Overheating!

Firefly C
- Fires Medium Pulse Laser at Roughneck 3A (4 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement - 2 pulse laser = 6): rolled 7, hit Right Arm (11/18 armor remaining)!
- Fires Medium Pulse Laser at Roughneck 3A (4 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement - 2 pulse laser = 6): rolled 7, hit Left Torso (15/22 armor remaining)!
- Fires Medium Pulse Laser at Roughneck 3A (4 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement - 2 pulse laser = 6): rolled 8, hit Center Torso (14/31 armor remaining)! TAC!
- Fires ER Small Laser at Roughneck 3A (4 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement = 8): rolled 6, miss!
- Fires ER Small Laser at Roughneck 3A (4 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement = 8): rolled 7, miss!
- Fires ER Small Laser at Roughneck 3A (4 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement = 8): rolled 4, miss!
- Fires ER Small Laser at Roughneck 3A (4 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement = 8): rolled 7, miss!
- Fires SRM-2 at Roughneck 3A (4 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 2 enemy movement = 8): rolled 8, 1 missile hit Right Torso (20/22 armor remaining)!
- Gains 24 heat, sinks 20!

Thunderbolt IIC
- Fires LRM-20 w/Artemis IV at Von Rohrs (3 base + 0 range + 2 movement + 3 enemy movement = 8): rolled 10, 12 missiles hit Right Arm (8/13 armor remaining), Left Torso (10/15 armor remaining), Right Leg (18/20 armor remaining)!
- Gains 18 heat, sinks 32!



End Phase:
Wyvern IIC
- Must pass a 3+ consciousness test: rolled 9, succeeds!
- Critical chance in Center Torso: rolled 7, no critical hits sustained!
- Critical chance in Center Torso: rolled 9, 1 critical hit sustained!
- - Engine hit!
- Critical chance in Right Torso: rolled 5, no critical hits sustained!
- Critical chance in Right Torso: rolled 4, no critical hits sustained!
- Critical chance in Right Torso: rolled 10, 2 critical hits sustained!
- - Double Heat Sink hit!
- - Jump Jet hit!
- Critical chance in Center Torso: rolled 7, no critical hits sustained!
- Critical chance in Center Torso: rolled 6, no critical hits sustained!
- Critical chance in Center Torso: rolled 5, no critical hits sustained!
- Critical chance in Right Torso: rolled 8, 1 critical hit sustained!
- - Double Heat Sink hit!
- Critical chance in Right Torso: rolled 8, 1 critical hit sustained!
- - Double Heat Sink destroyed!
- Critical chance in Center Torso: rolled 4, no critical hits sustained!
- Critical chance in Center Torso: rolled 6, no critical hits sustained!
- Critical chance in Left Leg: rolled 4, no critical hits sustained!
- Must pass a piloting test or fall (4 base + 1 massive damage = 5): rolled 4, fails!
- Suffers 4 damage in the fall to Right Torso (0/11 structure remaining)! Torso destroyed!
- - Damage transfers to Center Torso (6/14 structure remaining)! Crit!
- Critical chance in Center Torso: rolled 8, 1 critical hit sustained!
- - LRM-10 hit!
- Must pass a piloting test to avoid pilot damage (4 base + 1 massive damage + 2 avoiding pilot damage = 7): rolled 5, fails!
- Must pass a 5+ consciousness test: rolled 5, succeeds!

Roughneck DSI
- Must pass a piloting test or fall (4 base + 1 massive damage = 5): rolled 9, succeeds!



Physical Combat Phase:
Bandersnatch (Player)
- Kicks Wyvern IIC (4 base + 1 movement + 2 enemy movement - 2 kick - 1 adjacent prone target = 4): rolled 5, hit Center Torso (0/14 structure remaining)! ’Mech destroyed!





Map Link



Player Status:




Opposing Force Status:




Special Rules
- Enemy units are alert and aware of player positions



Primary Objectives
- Find and Destroy enemy commander (0/1)

Secondary Objectives
- Destroy Enemy BattleMechs (7/19 remaining)



This Turn's Betting Pool Points
Unknown #8 – Firefly
- No correct guesses

Unknown #9 – Thunderbolt IIC
- LegendairyBovine (70t guess)



Contest Results
Gun Jam is our winner!
Grand Prize is your choice of:
- An MWO Bootleg of your choice from Warhansa, either sent to you directly or cleaned, assembled, painted, and shipped by me. I recommend the Warhammer (the Sledge, not the Warlock. The Warlock is not very good :c ), Atlas, or Black Knight but the choice is yours!
- A steam copy of Brigador: Up-Armored Edition
- Steam copies of Shadowrun: Returns, Dragonfall, and Hong Kong (They’re not on sale anymore
- A special option in the next political vote only you get to vote for? I’d also take a prize suggestion if there’s something you really want.

TheParadigm and Goatface are our runners-up. They each get to name any as-yet unnamed Clan OmniMech!

Tying for third place are Raverrn and jng2058, who also get to name any as-yet unnamed Clan OmniMech (TheParadigm and Goatface get first choice)!



Orders Due: Midnight Saturday!