Operation Terminus

Turn07-Mission01
July 10, 3049

Zone E3: PENDING



Victory!
-------------------

Winner is: TEAM #1

Sheo: 4479 BV remaining (from 6424 initially) 0 BV fled
Der Dihmstiger: 2504 BV remaining (from 4859 initially) 0 BV fled
Skwisgaar: 5548 BV remaining (from 6413 initially) 0 BV fled
Martillo Mercenaries: 0 BV remaining (from 9557 initially) 719 BV fled
Gihzmo: 3501 BV remaining (from 0 initially) 0 BV fled
LagCat: 0 BV remaining (from 0 initially) 0 BV fled
Alexia: 0 BV remaining (from 0 initially) 0 BV fled

Survivors are:

The following units are in retreat:

Graveyard contains:

The following utterly destroyed units are not available for salvage:

-MISSION PAYOUT-
Enemy BV Destroyed = 8838

Member Rewards:

• BV Rating = 8838 / 13 = 680
• x2 victory multiplier = 1360
• Member Pay = 1360 / 4 = 340 = +350k C-bills

-SALVAGE PENDING UNTIL END OF TURN-
Salvage (100 tons max) :

• Vedette Tank (50t) = +200k
• Vedette Tank (50t) = +200k

(split evenly among lance)

-ONGOING SUPPORT-
Transporting (100 tons max) :

• Griffin (55t)

 

Turn07-Mission02
July 11, 3049

Zone F4: PENDING



Victory!
-------------------

Winner is: TEAM #1

MagnusEffect: 3493 BV remaining (from 3643 initially) 0 BV fled
Trevnor: 2097 BV remaining (from 2209 initially) 0 BV fled
LagCat: 928 BV remaining (from 1065 initially) 0 BV fled
Alexia: 520 BV remaining (from 927 initially) 0 BV fled
Martillo Mercenaries: 0 BV remaining (from 8159 initially) 4349 BV fled
SERVER: 0 BV remaining (from 0 initially) 0 BV fled
Skwisgaar: 0 BV remaining (from 0 initially) 0 BV fled

Survivors are:

The following units are in retreat:

Graveyard contains:

The following utterly destroyed units are not available for salvage:

----------------------------
-MISSION PAYOUT-
Enemy BV Destroyed = 8159

Member Rewards:

• BV Rating = 8159 / 13 = 628
• x2 victory multiplier = 1255
• Member Pay = 1255 / 4 = 313 = +300k C-bills +250k (adjusted for deployment error)

------------------------------------------------------------
-SALVAGE PENDING UNTIL END OF TURN-
Salvage (100 tons max) :

• Bulldog Tank (50t) = +350k
• Scorpion Tank (50t) = +250k

(split evenly among lance)
-------------------------------
-ONGOING SUPPORT-
Transporting (100 tons max) :

• Shadow Hawk (55t)

 

Turn07-Mission03
July 12, 3049

Zone F4: PENDING



Victory!
-------------------

Winner is: TEAM #1

SERVER: 0 BV remaining (from 0 initially) 0 BV fled
sheo: 767 BV remaining (from 4718 initially) 0 BV fled
Skwisgaar: 2788 BV remaining (from 4455 initially) 0 BV fled
Dihm: 2022 BV remaining (from 3020 initially) 0 BV fled
Gihzmo: 3469 BV remaining (from 4567 initially) 0 BV fled
Martillo Training Cadre: 1689 BV remaining (from 13227 initially) 620 BV fled
LagCat: 0 BV remaining (from 0 initially) 0 BV fled

Survivors are:

The following units are in retreat:

Graveyard contains:

The following utterly destroyed units are not available for salvage:

Detailed unit status saved to entitystatus.txt

-MISSION PAYOUT-
Enemy BV Destroyed = 12607

Member Rewards:

• BV Rating = 12607 / 13 = 970
• x2 victory multiplier = 1940
• Member Pay = 1940 / 4 = 485 = +500k C-bills
• Target of Opportunity Lvl 1 = +50k

-SALVAGE PENDING UNTIL END OF TURN-
Salvage (100 tons max) :

• Vedette Tank (50t) = +200k
• Vedette Tank (50t) = +200k
• Shrek PPC Carrier (80t) = +1.75m
• Stinger (20t) = +250k

(split evenly among lance)

-ONGOING SUPPORT-
Transporting (100 tons max) :

• Griffin (55t)

 

Turn07-Mission04
July 13, 3049

Zone F4: PENDING


Hunters or prey? - Martillo mercenaries shortly before encountering Skjaldborg Commando's Alpha Lance



Victory!
-------------------

Winner is: TEAM #1

SERVER: 0 BV remaining (from 0 initially) 0 BV fled
Trevnor: 2078 BV remaining (from 2519 initially) 0 BV fled
LagCat: 1166 BV remaining (from 1755 initially) 0 BV fled
Alexia: 688 BV remaining (from 688 initially) 0 BV fled
MagnusEffect: 3765 BV remaining (from 4235 initially) 0 BV fled
Martillo Mercs: 0 BV remaining (from 8706 initially) 268 BV fled

Survivors are:

The following units are in retreat:

Graveyard contains:

The following utterly destroyed units are not available for salvage:

Detailed unit status saved to entitystatus.txt

----------------------------
-MISSION PAYOUT-
Enemy BV Destroyed = 8438

Member Rewards:

• BV Rating = 8438 / 13 = 650
• x2 victory multiplier = 1300
• Member Pay = 1300 / 4 = 325 = +300k
• Target of Opportunity Lvl 1 = +50k

------------------------------------------------------------
-SALVAGE PENDING UNTIL END OF TURN-
Salvage (100 tons max) :

• Bulldog Tank (50t) = +350k
• Scorpion Tank (50t) = +250k
• Valkyrie (30t) = +850k
• Wasp (20t) = +700k
• Javelin (30t) = +300k
• Wasp (20t) = +200k

(split evenly among lance)
-------------------------------
-ONGOING SUPPORT-
Transporting (100 tons max) :

• Shadow Hawk (55t)

 

Turn07-Mission05
July 14, 3049
Zone F4: PENDING


Fire & Ice - Kavellrist Moros in his Wolfound trading shots with some Martillo mercs.



Victory!
-------------------

Winner is: TEAM #1

MagnusEffect: 0 BV remaining (from 3408 initially) 2147 BV fled
Derak Darksun: 2257 BV remaining (from 2288 initially) 0 BV fled
Tzeentch: 2767 BV remaining (from 3369 initially) 0 BV fled
Ibex: 1060 BV remaining (from 1368 initially) 0 BV fled
HG: 2206 BV remaining (from 2549 initially) 0 BV fled
Martillo Mercs: 348 BV remaining (from 7898 initially) 1133 BV fled

Survivors are:

The following units are in retreat:

Graveyard contains:

Detailed unit status saved to entitystatus.txt

----------------------------
-MISSION PAYOUT-
Enemy BV Destroyed = 8026

Member Rewards:

• BV Rating = 8026 / 13 = 617
• x2 victory multiplier = 1235
• Member Pay = 1235 / 4 = 309 = +300k
• (1/4 goes to Hunter Gamma)
• Target of Opportunity Lvl 1 = +50k

------------------------------------------------------------
-SALVAGE PENDING UNTIL END OF TURN-
Salvage (65[x2] tons max) :

• Javelin (30t) = +1000k
• Valkyrie (30t) = +950
• Valkyrie (30t) = +950
• Wasp (20t) = +700k

(split evenly among lance)
-------------------------------
-ONGOING SUPPORT-
Transporting (65[x2] tons max) :

• Panther (35t)

 

TURN EIGHT
July 16, 3049 (Standard Terran Calendar)
System: Star's End
Planet: Novo Cressidas (northern hemisphere)
500km South of the Martillo stronghold, Castello di Coltelli



At last, the final battle begins. The Skjaldborg Commandos have grown weary of the promise of hidden treasures and pirate ships. Lily Morgana, her crew, and the infamous Harbinger are long gone... and with them, any chance of achieving the Commando's original objectives. Our current path remains a simple one: getting off-planet. We will take whatever we can when we can, but our primary goal remains most important.

To that end, our once enemies and now allies, the Goretti crime family, has offered their assistance. We need only help them remove one final obstacle: their long time rivals, the Marillo family. It is painfully ironic now; when we first arrived on Novo Cressidas, the Martillos offered us employment. We accepted their help even as we plotted and schemed to steal the Mischief Maker from the Gorettis. Then we deserted the Martillos only to find that Morgana had beat us to the Mischief Maker.

With no place to call home, we fell in with the Free Cressidas Army, a local partisan force opposed to Goretti control of their lands, but their fight for freedom was never our own. In the end, we turned our backs on them as well. Although we would not stand directly in their way, our departure has weakened their struggle against the Gorettis. Now we have finally come full circle; our first allies are our final foes and our first foes will be our final allies.

Ultimately, it looks as though the Gorettis have the most to gain from all this... even with the loss of the Harbinger and the destruction of half their forces. For as we approach the Martillo battlements, the Gorettis have focused most of their remaining strength on the partisan forces that continue to fight. Very soon this will all be over and, in such a brutal war, their can only be one victor.

And yet a few questions remain...

The Butcher of New Belfast, Savio Drago, remains unaccounted for. He likely awaits our assault at the Martillo stronghold, Castello di Coltelli. Major Sullivan remains unusually adamant on pursuing his capture. Whatever his motivations might be, Sullivan is not forthcoming, but the 16 million reward makes it harder to object.

Ben Kingsley, the mutineer, murderer, and former first-mate to the Harbinger's last captain, Buck "Starhound" Harrison is another loose end. He could be the key to unlocking more info as to the whereabouts of the Harbinger. Perhaps he knows the Harbinger's hidden berths. Unfortunately, he remains in the custody of Boss Goretti until we destroy the Martillos.

Finally, there is perhaps the most uncomfortable question of all; what of our dropships? Our communications off-planet remain limited, but we should have heard from them by now... even if only sporadically. From what we now know, the constant fighting has weakened both the Martillo and Goretti aerospace forces to the point that it is highly suspect they even have the capabilities to prevent our dropships from landing. But if that is the case, why have we not seen or heard from our ships? Boss Goretti promises us access to his communication network after we have completed our mission, but that is only a small comfort. Major Sullivan has repeatedly stated that there has been no word from Skjaldborg command, but how can this be possible? Our dropships would have made it a priority to contact us as soon as possible and call for reinforcements. For two months we have been stranded here. It is as if we have been forgotton. Something isn't right...


ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS:

• Castello di Coltelli is well defended; expect up to an additional +30% bonus to OpFor BV strength! (depending on your mission)
• Any and all dropship support will be unavailable until communications with our dropships is reestablished.
• Players that are captured may request a POW exchange as per normal rules (see Master Rules, page 5). Consider the Gorettis to be "Hired Muscle" when applying costs and modifiers.

 

Turn08-Mission01
July 16, 3049
Martillo Mining Outpost (Derelict Dropship Site)



Zone E1: As the rest of the Commandos probed the defenses of Martillo HQ, Delta followed up on a lead that looked promising. To the west at the foot of a mountain lay a centuries old derelict dropship. Long past the point of ever flying again, the ship had been stripped of anything valuable. Yet the gigantic hulk proved valuable twice over as it was later discovered it made an ideal location for a mining operation. The Martillos repurposed the dropship into a massive hangar and forward outpost.

The encroaching threat of the Skjaldborg Commandos had forced them to retreat most of their forces back to their headquarters at Castello di Coltelli. What remained was to safeguard the facility until reinforcements could arrive. Unfortunately, word of the retreat had spread to a nearby group of bandits who took the opportunity to capture the facility mostly intact. However, their victory was short-lived. For just as they were about to plunder their illgotten gains, a new threat appeared on the horizon... the Martillos had sent militia reinforcements. They were too few in number, though, and the bandits too well dug in by that point. The best the Martillos could hope for was a standoff until more help arrived.

In a matter of speaking, "help" did come the next day... but not in the form they had hoped. The Commando's Delta Lance had heard about the facility and came to take it for their own. Desperately stuck between a rock and an anvil, the Martillos militia made an impromptu deal with Delta; they would barter their firepower for their lives. At the very least, it would deny the wretched bandits the time needed to strip the facility bare.

Walking into the fight, Delta was not without its share of battle scars. Both Otack's Warhammer and Lar's King Crab were still heavily damaged. However, they did have two full lances of light artillery at their disposal. The bandits attempted a rush over a central hill, but Delta's precise artillery strikes proved too much for them. In the end, not a single bandit unit survived the attack.

The facility was now Delta's, but there was no time for celebration. Shocking news was coming from the Martillo front... a secret agenda... a deal made behind closed doors... a shadow of doubt... Lily Morgana alive? Their commander... Major Magnus Sullivan was behind it all. He had much to answer for... and Delta would make sure of it.



Victory!
-------------------

Winner is: TEAM #1

MagnusEffect: 0 BV remaining (from 0 initially) 0 BV fled
Bandits: 0 BV remaining (from 12208 initially) 0 BV fled
Martillo Militia: 0 BV remaining (from 1493 initially) 0 BV fled
Dihm: 1631 BV remaining (from 2550 initially) 0 BV fled
Sheo: 1983 BV remaining (from 2513 initially) 0 BV fled
Skwisgaar: 4052 BV remaining (from 4203 initially) 0 BV fled
MostlyHarmless: 1859 BV remaining (from 1929 initially) 0 BV fled

Survivors are:

Graveyard contains:

The following utterly destroyed units are not available for salvage:

SECONDARY OBJECTIVE MET: DELTA GAINS "REQUISITION" (resupply logistical support) & +2MP for this Turn

 

Turn08-Mission02
July 17, 3049
Castille di Coltelli, Western Quarter (Martillo HQ)



Zone D4: While Alpha Lance infiltrated Castille di Coltelli to the east, Gamma led a frontal charge into the weakest point of the Martillo's defenses. Their job was to penetrate deep behind the Martillo's fortifications and sow chaos through their ranks while we gathered our forces and prepared our final assault.

As the rest of the Skjaldborg Commandos had discovered, Savio Drago had prepared pre-recorded messages that blared through the streets cautioning them that Major Sullivan had betrayed their trust and to turn back before it was too late. Gamma was not to be convinced in the middle of a firefight though and continued with their mission. Their rationale was fairly simple and logical: up until now, Sullivan had still been writing their checks and there would be time to settle matters after the dust settled.

The full company of Martillo Urbanmechs and various other conventional forces did little to blunt Gamma's piercing maneuver. Two kilometers into the city, Gamma found themselves marching unopposed towards the center of the Martillo's stronghold. Unbeknownst to them at the time, they would be the first to find the source of their troubles...

Victory!
-------------------

Winner is: TEAM #1

MagnusEffect: 0 BV remaining (from 0 initially) 0 BV fled
Ibex: 1465 BV remaining (from 1780 initially) 0 BV fled
Derak Darksun: 2523 BV remaining (from 2610 initially) 0 BV fled
Tzeentch: 4477 BV remaining (from 4905 initially) 0 BV fled
Martillo Militia: 6464 BV remaining (from 9440 initially) 0 BV fled

Survivors are:

The following units are in retreat:

Graveyard contains:

The following utterly destroyed units are not available for salvage:

SECONDARY OBJECTIVE MET: GAMMA GAINS = 200k C-bills or +1 repair bonus next Turn!

 

As you continue your march, you pick up an open frequency. What you hear you wish you had not... the roar of jet engines... and screams... bloody deafening screams. Then... nothing at all.

 

Turn08-Mission03
July 18, 3049
Castille di Coltelli, Eastern Quarter (Martillo HQ)



Zone D4:
As Gamma and Delta harried the Martillo defenses to the west, Alpha struck swiftly to the east. Their goal was a power substation that supplied electricity to the southern half of Castille di Coltelli. With it down, the Martillos would have to rely on auxilliary power for the city's defenses and they would be almost blind to night attacks. Reaching their objective would not be easy, however. The Martillos had positioned their heaviest forces, The Martillo Guard, to block Alpha's advance, yet Alpha Lance would not be denied. To aid them in this dangerous mission Boss Goretti sent some of his best infantry and fire support. The initial push into the city was bogged down by snowbanks, but once this support had reached the paved city streets, victory was almost assured.

And yet, there was room for doubt. Savio Drago had more tricks up his sleeve. Throughout the city, loudspeakers and huge vidscreens played a repeating message accusing Major Sullivan of nefarious scheming and betrayal. An old acquaintance had surfaced: the Grey Cat. She was the information broker the Commandos had first contacted on the planet for information on the location of the Mischief Maker. Her deal with Drago was nothing personal against the Commandos. This was just normal business. She had supplied Drago with evidence showing Sullivan's duplicity in not only delaying Skjaldborg dropships from landing, but secret dealings with another familiar face: Lily Morgana! Apparently, Morgana had never disappeared at all. After she and her crew had stolen the Mischief Maker, they continued to orbit the planet and had been playing cat and mouse with Martillo and Goretti aerospace forces ever since. Thanks to Morgana's efforts, there had never been anything preventing Skjaldborg dropships from landing at all; Major Sullivan was purposefully leaving high command in the dark! Drago accused Sullivan of using the Commandos to wage some personal and misguided war against him, but details would have to wait... there was still a battle to fight and the rest of Alpha Lance would not be deterred.

Alpha had always excelled in urban combat and even with the odds stacked heavily against them, this time proved no different. However, the victory this time would not be a flawless one. Near the end of the firefight, LagCat in his Wolfhound took a wrong turn that put him on the business end of a Stalker piloted by the Martillo force commander. The Stalker had actually been successfully swarmed by Goretti infantry only moments before and was mere seconds away from being brought down. In desperation, the enemy commander ignored the infantry clinging to his mech and targeted LagCat instead; determined to not die without taking someone with him. LagCat's Wolfhound was shredded in a hail of weapons fire, but LagCat narrowly escaped with his life. A few seconds later, another Goretti LRM barrage slammed into the Stalker, striking some stored ammunition, and exploding the mech in a massive fireball.

With the Martillo commander down, the few remaining infantry scattered and the battle was over. What first began as a covert raid had ended in a complete route of the Martillo's heaviest forces. If Alpha didn't have their attention before, they definitely did now. But what of these accusations against Magnus Sullivan? Was any of it true? Had he truely betrayed the Commandos for his own personal gain? The truth would soon be told...



Victory!
-------------------

Winner is: TEAM #1

MagnusEffect: 4501 BV remaining (from 4858 initially) 0 BV fled
Trevnor: 2904 BV remaining (from 3084 initially) 0 BV fled
LagCat: 706 BV remaining (from 2977 initially) 0 BV fled
Alexia: 2149 BV remaining (from 2365 initially) 0 BV fled
Martillo Guard: 10 BV remaining (from 13130 initially) 0 BV fled <-- FUCK YEAH!

Survivors are:

The following units are in retreat:

Graveyard contains:

The following utterly destroyed units are not available for salvage:

SECONDARY OBJECTIVE MET: ALPHA GAINS "Hidden Intel: Savio Drago"

 

"So close now... Watch over me, father. Guide my hands, brother. Strike swiftly and without mercy.
I will give them nothing and take from them... everything. Drown my enemies in fear and blood. "

 

Turn08-Mission04
July 19, 3049
Castille di Coltelli, Western Quarter (Martillo HQ)

In progress...
Derak! I believe in you!



Victory!
-------------------

Winner is: TEAM #1

Skjaldborg Commandos: 0 BV remaining (from 0 initially) 0 BV fled
Derak Darksun: 1164 BV remaining (from 2755 initially) 387 BV fled
Martillo Guard: 0 BV remaining (from 9305 initially) 0 BV fled
Skjaldborg Commandos.2: 660 BV remaining (from 0 initially) 0 BV fled
File error: Log lost Tzeentch and Moro's mech report, but here's the short version:

• Tzeentch's Banshee status: disabled (leg destroyed), pilot recovered
• Moro Ibex's Wolfhound: salvage (CT destroyed), pilot recovered

Survivors are:

Graveyard contains:

The following utterly destroyed units are not available for salvage:

 

July 20, 3049
Borderlands of Castille di Coltelli (Martillo HQ)

To all my brothers in the Skjaldborg, this is Major Magnus Sullivan. If you can hear me, listen well. There isn't much time so I must make this short.

Firstly, I want to congratulate all of you on a job well done. Nothing about this contract was routine and yet you have managed to overcome every obstacle Star's End has thrown at us. What started as a simple search and recovery contract has evolved into so much more... and personal. It is this latter point that many of you have begun to question my leadership.

Savio Drago is a murderer, rapist, slaver, and traitorous bastard... but there is some measure of truth to his allegations against me. I have not lied to any of you, but neither have I been entirely forthcoming. It is late in coming, but here is the truth:

Very few of you know this, but I am originally from Risin in the Outworlds Alliance. My father was a retired mechwarrior who had continued to make a living as a salvager and mechanic repairing farm equipment. He and my older brother had been working a contract with Jureck's Jaegers when a hidden Star League cache was discovered in 3035.

As history will tell you, that cache soon attracted the attention of a nearby pirate group known as the Blades of Death. They descended upon Risin with a sudden ferocity that none were prepared for. My hometown, New Belfast, was among the hardest hit. The Jaegers put up a valiant defense, but they were ultimately overwhelmed and destroyed. I watched my father and brother die in front of me; cut down by fire from an enemy Grasshopper painted stone grey with bloody red arms.

But the pirates didn't stop there. After destroying our defenses, they rounded up all the prisoners, executed the officers, and put the rest in chains to be sold as slaves. Then they turned their attention on the civilian population. Anyone who resisted was shot immediately. Anyone who was too old... was shot immediately. Anyone who was found to be of "low value"... was shot immediately. The rest were raped or beaten and thrown in chains. This unfettered pillaging continued into the night.

The rest of the details matter little now, but eventually I was captured along with my mother and sister. During my captivity, I managed to learn that it was a Lieutenant Savio Drago in the "bloody armed" mech who had killed my brother and father. To my dismay, he had taken a perverted liking to my mother and young sister. I will not.. I cannot describe what I was subjected to in the week that followed, but I will tell you how it ended.

I managed to escaped. My sister and mother did not. That was fourteen years ago. I have been searching for them ever since. My search is what ultimately brought me to the Rasalhague... and then the Skjaldborg. It was only after we had signed on with Lily Morgana and reached Star's End that I learned Savio Drago was still alive and... more importantly... within my reach. My family may be long dead, but how could I turn away from this chance for righteous vengeance? Ask yourselves... could you?

For those that care nothing about honor, know that from here on out you will be paid out of my own pocket. Some of you may forget that the Skjaldborg Commandos was built upon a force I had made my own. Merging with the Skjaldborg has helped it grow, but they do not own me. Although my recent actions have been unsanctioned by Skjaldborg Command, as my subordinates, you all are protected from any repercussions. As your senior commanding officer, the consequences of my actions fall on my shoulders alone. When this is over, I will resign from my position as commander of 4th Battalion, but first I ask you all a personal favor... help me right an old wrong. The souls of so many dead demand it.

If you will not stand with me, I only ask you not stand against me. Skjaldborg dropships are approaching the planet as we speak and then you can leave. Just know that I will not hesitate in my pursuit of the Butcher of New Belfast. I care little to wager the differences between vengeance and justice. Drago has committed many sins against myself and others; for that he will suffer... gravely.

If you value your lives, do not try to stop me.

 

July 20, 3049
Castille di Coltelli, Central District (Martillo HQ)

MARTILLO COMMAND ELEMENTS SIGHTED!

ALPHA LANCE ENGAGING!

 

Don't forget that roughly half of 4th Battalion is members that were loyal to Sullivan before they even merged with the Skjaldborg. Since 7 is marginal in this case, I will meet you half way on that: they let you use comm channels, but only briefly. You try the comms, but don't receive any response. Eventually, they get impatient and suggest you try again later (ie. next Turn).

 

As the battle rages on around Castille di Coltelli, a fateful encouter plays out at the castle walls...



Martillo Command (Captain Brenda Arbis): Magnus... you don't know me... but I knew your sister, Rachael.
MagnusEffect (Major Magnus Sullivan): ...
Martillo Command (Captain Brenda Arbis): For what it is worth, thank you for killing Drago. He was a cruel sonnavabitch.
Martillo Command (Captain Brenda Arbis): I wish I had the courage that you had to face him, though, I didn't expect him to fall so easily to you.
MagnusEffect (Major Magnus Sullivan): Your thanks is misplaced. I will butcher all of you before this battle is over!
Martillo Command (Captain Brenda Arbis): Hear me well, Mechwarrior! Drago took many slaves before you killed him.
Martillo Command (Captain Brenda Arbis): I too was taken many years ago, but your sister... she took me in... protected me.
Martillo Command (Captain Brenda Arbis): Your sister told me how your family suffered... and how you escaped.
MagnusEffect (Major Magnus Sullivan): ...
Martillo Command (Captain Brenda Arbis): We were separated when she and the remaining Jaegers were sold to a merchant in the Marian Hegemony.
Martillo Command (Captain Brenda Arbis): Rachael was lucky to escape Drago's grasp when she did, but I had to endure as his plaything...
Martillo Command (Captain Brenda Arbis): ...though I never forgot how she helped me... and I owe her for that.
MagnusEffect (Major Magnus Sullivan): What the hell are you talking about?
Martillo Command (Captain Brenda Arbis): The Martillos will fall... I see that now...
Martillo Command (Captain Brenda Arbis): With Drago dead and the Martillos in disarray, I finally have a chance at life on my own terms...
Martillo Command (Captain Brenda Arbis): ...but my Stalker is too damaged to fight my way out of here and I have no ride off Novo Cressidas.
Martillo Command (Captain Brenda Arbis): I offer you a trade: get me out of here safe... get me off this planet... and I will help you find your sister.
MagnusEffect (Major Magnus Sullivan): How do I know you aren't lying?
Martillo Command (Captain Brenda Arbis): You don't, but I am not... and even if that were the case, I am at your mercy regardless.

MagnusEffect (Major Magnus Sullivan): ...Fine... Head south and I will escort you to extraction... but if you betray me, I will kill you where you stand.

 

Turn08-Mission05
July 20, 3049
Castille di Coltelli, Eastern Quarter (Martillo HQ)



Zone D4:
Major Sullivan pressed on into the heart of the Martillo stronghold. The rest of Alpha Lance, unwilling to abandon their commander, followed after but with some reservation. Recent events had shaken, but not broken their loyalty. However, chasing Savio Drago into his lion's den was a dangerous move. What traps had he lay in wait for them? The answer would come sooner than anyone, believed.

Caution and careful planning is usually required when confronting a skilled enemy within a fortified position. Like chess, a deadly dance of moves and counter-moves must be engaged before true victory can be achieved. On much more rare occasions, luck can take all that careful planning and scatter it to the wind. In the case of the hunt for Savio Drago, luck would be the deciding factor.

For the past week he had set up concentric circles of manned turrets without and within Castille di Coltelli. His plan had been hold his heaviest forces in reserve and allow the Skjaldborg Commandos to exhaust themselves on his entrenched gun positions. Once the Commandos had been sufficiently softened, he would counter attack with his own mech forces and crush his enemies in one brilliant push.

Yet, he had not expected the Commandos to push so far and so fast into his defenses. As Drago rushed his Banshee to rally the defenses, a chance encounter was about to change everything. Turning a corner near the wall of the Martillo castle, Savio Drago came face to face with one part of his dark past that refused to die, Magnus Sullivan. Their meeting at such close range was so sudden and unexpected as to give them pause, but only for a brief moment. There was no time for words. There was no time for threats. There was only hatred... and deadly intent. Drago's towering Banshee outweighed Sullivan's Black Knight by 20 tons and, at such short range, any casual observer would have placed the odds in Drago's favor. But Drago's strength was matched by Sullivan's speed. The two managed to exchange a single round of inconsequential fire before coming to physical blows. Drago's mech swung first, but missed Sullivan and staggered forward. Sullivan's counterattack was as precise as it was devastating. Raising his Black Knight's massive fists over his head, Sullivan brought them down like twin meteors squarely on top of the Banshee's head. The Banshee's cockpit exploded in a hail of glass and steel. Their entire exchange had been barely ten seconds... but now Savio Drago was finally dead.

Alone in his cockpit, Sullivan wept. Nearly a lifetime of seeking revenge had not prepared him for so sudden a victory. How long had he fantasized a slow and painful death for Savio Drago?... now he felt only exhaustion and profound emptiness.

The extremely sudden death of their most decorated commander spread panic through the remaining Martillo mercenary forces. If the Skjaldborg Commandos had killed the dreaded "Butcher" so easily, what fate awaited them? The Martillo castle was abandoned as fast as the panic spread. Boss Firo Martillo and his few remaining guard attempted an escape to his private dropship, but his hopes were dashed as Skjaldborg artillery shelled his ship into a shattered hulk. No... not just artillery... something from the sky...

a dark and predatory shape cuts through the clouds raining death and destruction...

Victory!
-------------------

Winner is: TEAM #1

Skjaldborg Commandos: 0 BV remaining (from 0 initially) 0 BV fled
Trevnor: 1792 BV remaining (from 3346 initially) 0 BV fled
LagCat: 2062 BV remaining (from 3220 initially) 0 BV fled
MagnusEffect: 6849 BV remaining (from 3303 initially) 4593 BV fled
Martillo Command: 0 BV remaining (from 5613 initially) 0 BV fled
Martillo Guard: 499 BV remaining (from 6358 initially) 0 BV fled
Alexia: 1789 BV remaining (from 1962 initially) 0 BV fled

Survivors are:
Hatchetman HCT-4L Ymir (Trevnor)
Pilot : Kapten Treabhar Holmre [2/3]
Kills : 2

Infantry (Rifle) (Trevnor)
Gunnery Skill : Urshita Rickward [3]
Kills : 0

Battletoads (Rifle) (Trevnor)
Gunnery Skill : Derrick Kadeer [3]
Kills : 1

Shadow Hawk SHD-2K Duvhok (LagCat)
Pilot : Sergeant Malcom Gerard [4/5]
Kills : 0

Hetzer Wheeled Assault Gun (Standard) (LagCat)
Driver : Josef Boer [4/5]
Kills : 1

Field Gunners (Thumper) (LagCat)
Gunnery Skill : Andreas Gies [3]
Kills : 1

Portable Turret (AC5) #3 (Martillo Guard)
Driver : Zachary Gidley [3/8]
Kills : 0

Portable Turret (AC5) #4 (Martillo Guard)
Driver : Kadija El Kamche [4/8]
Kills : 0

Raven RVN-4X Muninn (Alexia)
Pilot : Kavellrist Alexia Beriadanwen [4/5]
Kills : 0

LRM Carrier (Standard) (Alexia)
Driver : Alva Yaz?c?z?de [4/4]
Kills : 0

LRM Carrier (Standard) #2 (Alexia)
Driver : Qadir bin Sami [4/5]
Kills : 0

Buccaneer - Mischief Maker (MagnusEffect)
Driver : Lily Morgana [3/3]
Kills : 0


The following units are in retreat:

Graveyard contains:

The following utterly destroyed units are not available for salvage:

Detailed unit status saved to entitystatus.txt

SECONDARY OBJECTIVE MET: ALPHA GAINS "Killed Bounty: Savio Drago" (8 million)

 

July 21, 3049

Dawn seeps into Castille di Coltelli through black smoke and broken walls. As Major Sullivan regroups and solidifies control of the Martillo stronghold, a new voice is heard by all of the Commandos:

"...I repeat. To all Skjaldborg forces... this is Major Henrik Olsson aboard the Union dropship Silver Forge. We have been sent by Central as reinforcements to recover and extract you from Novo Cressidas. We will be making planetfall in six hours. Central has ordered all friendly forces to rendezvous and prepare for extract at the following coordinates..."

 

July 22, 3049
300 km West of Castille di Coltelli

"...unfortunately, recent events have come to my attention that force me to take immediate action. According to article 249 of the Skjaldborg Mercenary Charter, I, Major Henrik Olsson, officially relieve Major Magnus Sullivan of all duties and hearby take command of the Skjaldborg Commandos. Major Sullivan is to be held for questioning for the following charges:

Conspiracy with one "Lily Morgana" in regards to the capture of the Mischief Maker and the withholding of information on "Project Harbinger", improper hazarding of Skjaldborg assets in regards to the pursuit of an unsanctioned bounty for one "Savio Drago", dereliction of duty in regards to abuse of his position and withholding key information from Skjaldborg Central, and finally, absence without leave in regards to his recent disappearance and suspicious activity.

Major Sullivan is to be treated as a suspect and witness. He is to be detained under house arrest, but is to remain unharmed. Lethal force is only to be used as a last resort in self-defense. He will face the charges against him in our military court upon our return Rasalhague.

All previous arrangements made by Major Sullivan with local governmental bodies are now considered null and void. I have advised both Goretti and Martillo representatives to stay out of our area of operations for the next seven days. Any organized resistance in our AO will be met with lethal force.

All remaining Skjaldborg forces are to rendezvous at my current position. This is Major Olsson signing off."