Thule March 10th, 3048 Olofsered, Akranes Arnhult via Holovid, Husavik 09:00 Briefing Room Okay Mechwarriors, listen up. Time to get off yer arses and actually earn your pay! You've all been going soft from the standby duty we've pulled for the last year on Rasalhague. Retro-fits are fun and all, and hazing new recruits never gets old, but there's a time and place for all that. We've finally got someone to test our new mettle against. Now, by this point, you've all probably heard that a unknown force has landed on-planet. We believe, from the few garbled reports that have come out of Thule City, that these are the guys that we were sent here for. Not much as come out of Thule City, some garbled reports about unscheduled dropships squawking IFF as merchants, then suddenly 'mechs appearing in the spaceport. After that initial contact, nothing as been received from the 1st Hussars on station. The boys over there had a reinforced 'mech company of lights and mediums, with a tank company complimented by infantry. That might seem enough to hold Thule City, but if these guys are using signal jamming, then it's safe to say that the Hussars are quite possibly in trouble. Now, IF these guys that have suddenly appeared are the forces we think they are, they're not going to stay on-planet for very long. As I said when we landed, they like hit-and-run tactics. I've sent out a request for some of the local aerospace to do a fly over of Thule City, and if they can, scare off the dropships to force these guys to tangle with us. You might be asking yourself, "Why weren't we all just put in Thule City?", and I'll answer you this. We were sent here partly as extra protection, and partly as a force to trap this scum. We didn't know where they might hit, so we spread out between all the major areas so no target would be to hard to attack. Also, going from the reports, these guys like agricultural depots and water facilities, which every city here has, so we felt it necessary to cover all our bases, so to speak. So, now that they've landed, what do we do? Well, those of you in Arnhult, you've got access to water transports that can get you to anywhere on the same coast as Thule City quick enough to hit these cowards before they can leave. Versoix, Hallarby, and Thule City itself are places you can land. For you guys in Olofsered, Alpha lance is going to be using the Karnov VTOL transports to get to Hallarby, and from there to strike into Thule City itself. 3rd Company, you guys are fast enough to get in and tangle with them within 24 hrs, although you might want to sync up with Alpha Lance. Beta Lance, you'll have to possibly go on foot, unless the Karnovs can get back to you in time. We can either link up in Hallarby, and do a concentrated push, or stay split and attack on two fronts. Lance Leaders, report to myself or Magnus with thoughts or suggestions for the plan of attack. Alright Mechwarriors, Time to mount up and roll out. We've got people to see, 'mechs to kill, and tanks to stomp. Dismissed!
Well 3rd can head to Hallarby and wait for all you slow movers to catch up if thats what yall would prefer. But I figure we might as well take advantage of our abundance of speed and swing south and around to make sure they arent hiding any reserves that could jump up and cornhole yall when you weren't expecting it. Route would be swing through Vecka to Grenchen then north towards Rukven. If we haven't popped any surprises by then we can jump into whichever fight looks like it could use our help. Just the plan of an old chopper pilot so if you big brain tactical types have something better let us know and we will make it work. (Doing this since we may or may not be jumping into fights this weekend due to Hak's school schedule, and this will make some use of us till we can shoot some things.)
Well, there were only two dropships reported before we lost communications with the Hussars, so I don't know if they've dropped anywhere else. Nothing's been reported, and all stations checked in when the first reports of attacks made it through. So, really, it's up to you if you want to surprise them from the rear
All right Delta, listen up. Orders coming down are to make for Thule City. That's the last known enemy location and we've lost contact with the locals. Prepare your mechs to load up, we're getting on the transports and heading across Lake Thorik to the industrial park. Our last intel put an enemy contingient moving towards it and flanking the forces in the city. We need to peel them off and provide support while the rest of our forces get in to position. We're making for hex 1409 on your StratMap, hopefully we can push the ships and make it in to the industrial park in time, but it will be a close call. Be prepared, we're likely to be going in hot. If we DO make it in time, we'll hunker down in the park and defend as they come in, supporting the friendlies in Thule City's right flank.
FLASH TRANSMISSION UPDATE: Thule City: *sssssssssssssssssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh* Can you - *Sshshhsshs* radar, at least a lance of assaul - *shshshshshsshhshs* and I'm finally clear of the ECM field on the dropships at the space port. We've encountered a full lance of Assaults, and we believe they are the command lance. They consisted of a Victor, Hatamoto-chi, a Charger, and a Battlemaster. Both Val and Ghiest took a high amount of armour damage. Their Victor tangled with Val with a DFA, and ended up exploding from a freak accident of his AC/20 bin getting somehow hit. We've lightly damaged the remaining three assaults. Preparing to extract from battle and retreat, but I have to run in after these bastards to let Ghiest escape.... I might not be riding out in my machine.... Further reports will be forth coming. Treabhar out. /END TRANSMISSION
[standing at the rail of the transport ship with his lance mates around him] All right boys, we've got people in trouble in the TeeCee. All I know at this point is that Treab's lance got hit hard by the enemy's assault element, but managed to take one down. We don't know where in or around the city they're at, or even where our folks are retreating towards. Hell, at this point, I don't even know how they got to the TeeCee in the first place, I thought they were out east. Either way, get ready to sack up, we've got people who need us.
If their assaults hit TC that means there will probably be a screening force running for Hawick. Let's bust them up quick so we can link up and help out Alpha.
Thule March 29, 3048 Northern outskirts of Hawick Industrial Center, Vik 05:30 Field Command Vehicle Alright ladies and gents, some good news and some bad news. Our first contact with this force has actually gone fairly well, considering what we've traded in terms of machines for what they've lost. Our forces and our allies have them penned in to Thule City, but some intercepted communications makes it seem that they'll be concentrating a push towards Ringsbo, in a possible attempt at a break out. These Ronin bastards are going to become even more desperate as time goes on. We've trapped these guys on-planet, as their dropships have been chased clear back to the jumpship of origin, and they've jumped out-system. We don't know if they've just retreated to lick their wounds, as our dropships managed to make a muck of things for them, or if they are gathering reinforcements. Suffice to say, we need to wear current Ronin forces down as much as possible, while losing as little as we can. This is the bad news, it's now a war of attrition. So, as the forces we've encountered thus far are almost equivalent to ours in numbers, if not in amount of more advanced 'tech, we've got to be careful when engaging them. Try to inflict as much damage as you can, while taking as little as you can yourself. Ambushes are encouraged, as they have a higher chance of destroying forces. I know that some of you have wondered where they hell these guys came from, or why in Valhalla they seem this well equipped. All I know is what the 'intelligence' boys have told me. These guys have been hiding out somewhere in the periphery. Some of you have seen the reports of pirate activity in this region dropping off significantly. We we think we know, is that these Ronin, after escaping piece meal from DC's purge of their units, formed up under a smart commander. He consolidated what they had, and raided all pirates in the region, easily defeating them and capturing supplies. Most of the pilots must've still had their rides when they formed up or were found by this last unit. It's what we know, and because their previous tactic is no longer viable, it's safe to say that they may attempt to break out of Thule City, so that they have better maneuverability, and would be able to engage us on a open field. Because of their assault lance, we should not allow this to happen, if possible. So, to sum up our situation. We've got them penned into Thule City and surrounding area. They will be attempting a breakout, you can be rest assured, so their forces can maneuver the countryside easier. And now, because their rides have left, we've got a war of attrition on our hands. This will be a tough slog, but Thor willing, well kill these bastards. I know, I know, we are all tired, and by Odin's beard it's early, but do any of you have any questions?
We're not entirely sure at the moment. By last reports they had drawn back into the center of Thule City, and may be moving South West to support a break out attempt. At this point, that's all conjecture. Right now, the plan of action, if encountered on the field is to do what damage you can, then bug out. If they are caught in the open, out of the city, feel free to use artillery for effect. If we can drop the number of active 'mechs down to just those assaults, we'll be in a pretty good position.
Alpha Lance will be doing our part to keep them too busy to attack you guys to the north (you are welcome). However, I doubt we will be able to neutralize them until more of their supporting forces are dealt with.
