FUCK YEAH. Shoot us a map, and lets deploy.

Sound The Horn, CHARGE

I sure hope those dropships don't notice us...

MY BODY CAN TAKE IT

>>12651554
Cain's got them under control. Or so i was told.

>>12651572
Well then I hope they've taken care of both of them by the time we get there. It only takes one with their weapons still active and in enemy hands to do us in. I'm sorry for being a downer, just, maybe we should call ahead to make sure that both of them are down first. If one of them is still operational, we can go around the disabled one and use it as cover.

>>12651572
Rr at least he will have them under control in short order.

>>12651509

Many enemies with superior eqipment, numbers, and the firey painful fate of everyone present at stake?

Let's do this.

>>12651606
in the words of specter "the fiercer the foe, the sweeter the salvage"

>>12651647
Praise be to Specter Lance.

>>12651665
>>12651647

too bad 4 mercs sucked the proverbial gigantic hairy one.

As you approach the dig site, you realize a single ridgeline is all that stands between you and the Blakist mercenary command lance overseeing the bunker itself. On the shortwave band, you can pick up a transmission.

"Damn it, hurry it up!"

"We've got the doors open! Just buy us time to load the loot onto the flatbeds!"

Deployment orders, fa/tg/uys?

>>12651680
Us and the Luckner at the front, Goblins on the flanks, infantry in the middle and towards the back.

>>12651680

Thought this might be appropriate

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u29RCnsIZqY

Then AMBUSH!

>>12651680
I want goblins wasting the flatbeds that have no nukes on them, so two on that vector. Our mech, and our armor, are going to try and lure the command lance away from the entrance, so that slade's boys can storm the bunker. if we send the mech over the ridge, then back, we can try to lure off one of the mechs at first, bring him over the ridge for a facefull of armor.

Any additions anyone?

>>12651680

Us in the center behind the ridge, all vehicles up near the top, ready to run through that low pass in the ridge.
Infantry monted up in one of the Goblins for fast deployment.

>>12651719
Slight problem with that....

>>12651719
>>12651722

These two together.

>>12651719
I like though if only one pops over let us try to kill it before it can tell its buddys whats about to happen

>>12651730
OH SHIT

This is gonna suck!

>>12651730
oh shit focus fire on the pillager!

>>12651747
FIRE FIRE FIR GO FOR THE LEGS!

>>12651730
Well. Fuck. FULL BROADSIDE, LET HIM HAVE IT

Since the marauder was so kind as to show us his ass end, let him have it up the ass from te top half of our forces, the bottom distracting Jihadist Jones.

Remember, people! We don't have to actually beat them! Just hold their attention while Slade's guys get through to the bunker!

>>12651768
I have a nasty feeling he'll trigger if he notices them enter the bunker, but you're correct, have the armor split its fire between Jihadist Jones and the maurauder, and the infantry swarm mau on their way to the bunker.

>>12651768
Yes but we do have to LIVE through this and that pillager is very detrimental to that end.

EVERYTHING! FIRE EVERYTHING!

>>12651730

This isn't bad. Marauder and Pillager are primarily long-ranged bruisers. Have everyone swarm/gank the Pillager ASAP, then deal with the Marader once that's down. then beeline to the bunker.

>>12651730
>>12651730
>>12651730
HOLY BLOODY FUCKNUTS

I vote for bumrushing the Pillager since it's meant for long range. Kneecap it, then get at the Marauder.

>>12651858
I am obviously lacking some vital intel, fuck everything and kill Jihadist Jones.

>>12651858
Bwahahahahahaha!
BWAHAHAHA!!

well night all I will check in the morning....if we live

The opening volley of the battle results in some moderate damage to the Pillager's armor, while Slade's Marauders engage the Blakist forces north of your position. They come across a Warhammer and a Bombardier alongside that Marauder, and begin an attack on the Warhammer. "We're goin' for the legs! We'll engage these guys here while I have Delta Squad press on ahead!" Slade's personally leading the attack on the Warhammer.

Meanwhile, you have more pressing concerns. Most of your unit engages the Pillager, opening fire, and you end up closing into melee to negate the use of its Gauss Rifles. It uses it's spiked fists to deal some significant damage to your shoulder actuator, before turning to engage the Von Luckner tank.

"Oh shit! Boss, magnetic field spike! He's loading the gauss! I-" With a pair of dull, but loud, 'thumps', two gauss rounds are pumped into Jacobs' tank, shattering its armor and setting off the engine. "Boss! The engine's gone! I- Oh, SHIT! Bail out! BAIL OUT!"

The Pillager shows no mercy, and fires a series of lasers into the damaged tank, setting it ablaze and causing it to explode.

Lt. Jacobs is dead.

>>12651870
Pillager is a heavily armed and armed battlemech. It is meant primarily for long range combat. While it is far from defenseless up close, we stand a better chance now than if we had engaged it from a distance. What everyone is saying is to go and attack it now and prevent it from opening up some distance, for if it does that it will proceed to rain hellfire down at us. Whereas now it's mostly restricted to just normal napalm, as it were.

>>12651908
D:

>>12651908
Our one potencial Mechwarrior in our Company.
And bestest friend.

R-... Re... REVENGE!

>>12651908
JAAAAAAACOOOOOOOOOOOBS! AND OUR VON LUCKNER!

That's it, your dead ya goddamn Wobbie! YA HEAR ME? EVEN IF WE HAVE TO DRAG YOU OUTTA YOUR COCKPIT AND SHOOT YOU, YOU ARE DEAD!

>>12651908
"FUUUUUCK YOUUUU!!!" Ram our PPC in his face, and let loose. All currently unengaged units TAKE THIS FUCKER DOWN.

>>12651908

Aaaaand fuck. There goes our AC/20 ace-in-the-hole. Double Fuck.

>>12651908

...Can we DFA the Pillager?

>>12651908
Thats it time to end this wobie piece of shit!!!

>>12651962
better yet, grab him, blast our jets and piledrive him into the cliff face.

Or pump all our fire into the cockpit.
Whatever works.

......THAT TANK COST OVER THREE MILLION DOLLARS YOU BASTARD!

>>12651962
Yes.

Yes you can.

>>12651986

Brofist.jpg

>>12651993
Unless DFA stands for Damn Fucking Asshole, you've lost me ._.

>>12652008
death from above

>>12652008
Death From Above

The act of jumping on top of an enemy 'mech using Jmp Jets, and attempting to crush/penetrate their cockpit/upper torso withthe seer mass of your 'mech.

Those who do it are generally considered to be batshit insane.

>>12652018
Considering he's a heavy, this isn't going to do all that much....is it..? I'm not very familiar with the mechanics of Btech.

ie, the mushroom stomp, just like the mario bros.

>>12652037

He's an assault. And it can do a surprising amount. We'll just have to wait and see.

>>12651986
In that case...TAKE THIS, MY LOVE, MY ANGER, AND ALL MY SORROW, SHINING MECHA STOMP!!!!!!!!

>>12651986
Unless there's no chance they'll hit us by accident, have our other forces concentrate on the other mechs.

The DFA was successful. Between the damage from it, the damage from falling and hitting the ground, and the damage from some supporting fire from the rest of your unit, the Pillager has taken some heavy hits and has been knocked prone.

"Damn it! Get up! Get up, you stupid machine!"

"Jussi, Slade here! I think we're winning up here, against the rest of his lance! The way's almost clear for Delta Squad to break through!"

"Jussi, this is Galm Two! Looks like we got a lance of 'Mechs approaching your position from the west! ETA, thirty seconds!"

>>12652077

GO FOR HEADSHOT!

can you do that while they are prone? I forget.

>>12652077

FUUUUCK YEEAAAAAAAAAHHH

Killitkillitkillitkillitkillitkillit quickly. We need to reform in time to finish this lance and ounter the next wave.

>>12652077
Coup de grace. Waste the pilot.
"My name is Ludo Jussi, Mercenary Commander of the Coolfaces, you killed my best friend, PREPARE TO DIE."

we need backup, or we're going to lose more men, is ANYONE availible? Has the colonel radioed back yet?

enemy: "Killing me won't bring your friend back."

us: "Ain't that a damn shame."

*BLAM*

>>12652101

Headcap with everything if we can.

>>12652101
The Colonel has NOT reported back to you yet.

However, the Pillager is back on its feet. Jussi seems the type to just knock it down again, so I took the liberty of ordering a second DFA.

>>12652077

Have the vehicles rush that Bombardier and get within the minimum range of it's LRMs. That should neutralize it nicely.

>>12652135

I'm imagining the Vindicator doing a ton of crazy jump-jet assited Kung Fu right now.

Um, guys? If we kill this guy, or defeat him, and he sees that he's going to loose, he might set off the nukes... Maybe we should back off?

>>12652158

No, killing him quickly is the best option here. Balkists are fucking psycho, they'll set of nukes at the drop of a hat.

Well, so will the writers, but that's another story.

>>12652158
Hell no we are going to curb stomp this asshole into the ground!

>>12652156

Drawfags. Fucking Now.

If we can capture the Piliger, it's being call the Jacobs.

If a new mining town is founder here, it's being called Jacobstown.

Never forget.

>>12652207

>>12652225
Yes, lets name the mech that murdered him after him. /sarcasm.

Jussi's attempt at a second DFA is not as successful. Meanwhile, the Bombardier that is hanging back opens up with LRM-20s, aimed at Jussi. One salvo misses, but the other is enough to tear the left arm off of Jussi's Vindicator.

Meanwhile, the Pillage opens up on your Goblin again, this time causing damage to the turret. "Shit! This is Goblin One, turret is locked into position! I say again, we can no longer rotate our turret! Resuming engagement!"

"Slade here! Losing some men, but this'll be over with soon enough! Delta Squad is pushing through to the bunker now!"

The incoming 'Mechs are twenty seconds out.

>>12652189
>>12652178
Alright, fine. But if he triggers the nukes right before his defeat, don't come crying to me.

>>12652241

Fck, once was pushing it. At any rate, we need to get up and start jumping around. Get some PPC and LRM into his face.

>>12652241
We're fucked. That's it. Game over man, game over. we're down an arm,the pillager is free to fire, WHY OP, WHY DID YOU DO IT TWICE, it never works twice, don't you know how awesome stunts work?

We have NO support. None. Zip. we were mid to light armor and one mech vs an assault lance of veteran mechwarriors. sure, delta might get to the bunker, but once we're dead, he'll just nuke the place once he finds out delta got inside.


Lets drag ourselves up, and nail this sunnuvabitch with everything we can.

Oh wow, just woke up after yesterday and now F5ING LIKE CRAZY

Fortunately Gauss has minimum range.

>>12652313
Not minimum enough to save poor Jacobs.....

>>12652241
Well? Do it AGAIN. Have the rest of our units fire as well. We've got nothing more to loose. Either we kill him or he kills us. Third time's the charm and all that.

Well, the chips are down, and it looks like things are bad for the Coolfaces right about now.

Goblin One was just destroyed by the Blakist Marauder(which was subsequently crippled by Slade's men). The Warhammer lies prone once again, and the Pillager just ate a huge storm of weaponsfire that any pilot would have a hard time weathering.

But, the enemy lance is still oncoming.

"Jussi, Delta Squad is inside the bunker now! Make or break, boys! Let's do it!"

Namakara curses over the radio. "Damn it! Second wave is inbound! Get ready people!"

"Jussi! This is the Colonel! Sit tight, hotshot! Help is on the way!"

>>12652383
Saw that one coming.

>>12652383
HALLELUJAH!!!

>>12652383
Oh thanks fuck. Also, damnit, they got one of our tanks. Also double fuck, the Pillager isn't dead yet. SHOOT IT AND DON'T STOP SHOOTING UNTIL IT OR US IS DEAD!

>>12652383
"Colonel! You sweet sonovabitch! Corvatti forces, do not fire on the newcomers, they're allies! Trust me on this!"

>>12652383
HEELLLL YEAAAAHHH!!!!
This momentary relief almost makes up for the face i just lost more good men.

"You sure take a long time to decide shit. All units be advised, Colonel is bringing in a bunch of mechs, these are friendlies."

I just had a thought.

Nukes don't make good salvage, it's not as if anyone's buying them except suicidal pirates and Word of Blakists.

Motherfuck.

Shoot that Pillager in the head again.

>>12652477

We can probabl offload them to ComStar, the MRBC or the new Star League (Founded last year, if this is 3059) and claim a hefty bounty for them.

>>12652486
>ComStar
...So we sell the nukes back to WoB? Starleague sounds good.

Well, just having them is enough to have Blakists hunting us down, if we take em we'd better be careful. But let's survive first.

MWQ OH YEAH

>>12652506
We lost men trying to ensure they never went off. I say we disassemble them and sell them as scrap, and dispose of the rest in some deep corner of space. Yes, we lose some money, but we're not trafficking WMD's. We're Mercs, not single mindedly greedy monsters. That said, survival first.

>>12652506
It's okay, Focht will just load them in his Atlas like LRMs and take ont he Wobbies single-handed.

"This is Goblin Two! The Bombardier's sighting in on us! Heavy damage! We're done here." Thankfully, the tank seems intact, but is too damaged to continue fighting.

The Colonel's lance begins closing in on the Bombardier. "We'll get this guy off your tank. Your battle-armor seem to have the Warhammer and Marauder covered, and you've got some...personal issues to work out with that Pillager, I think."

The Pillager MechWarrior is taunting you, laughing over the radio. He decides to ask a question that's been on his mind for a while.

"You mad?"

>>12652599
Actually yes we are and that is why you shall die.

>>12652599
Keep wailing on him.

"Yes, I mad."

>>12652599
"Oh. I mad." Everything still functioning, unload it into this bitch. If none of our guns are powerful enough, DFA the fucker.

>>12652599

Facefuck that Pillager. Facefuck him and Sodomize him.

>>12652599
"Says the dude who's entire lance is being ripped apart and is about to die. Don't get me wrong. I might not be the one to kill you. And you might kill me before you go. But today, one of us is going to get you. There's just too many of us, sooner or later you'll take one too many hits and your mech will be unable to continue to fight. And then the others will kill you. It's as simple as that.

That being said, I really do hope that *I* get the pleasure of killing you, because the fury that I am feeling towards you right now for the death of my men is so intense that it feels like the only way to release it is to rip you out of your mech and beat you over and over again personally until your body stops moving!"

>>12652631
Dude, as a fellow troll you should KNOW raging at trolls is what they want. Just shoot him.

>>12652643
No. What they want is impotent anger that is unable to hurt them. We aren't going to give him that. We're going to give him death. And seriously, try to think if it was you. Your men are dead, your mech is damaged. Do you really think you could keep completely composed?

>>12652676
1: We're mercs.
2: Firing your guns is is going to hurt him faster than words.

>>12652691
Um.... what does being mercs have to do with it? It doesn't make us inhuman. And I know this is tricky, but, get ready for this, it's actually possible to talk AND shoot him AT THE SAME TIME. Fucking blows your mind, amirite?

>>12652691
While I'm not >>12652676 who ever said we shouldn't be shooting while we speak?

>>12652691
How about we stop arguing and do both? Cursing and blowing his nuts off are not mutually exclusive.

>>12652705
>talk AND shoot him AT THE SAME TIME.
It's also possible to say "u mad" and arm nukes at the same time. If we were in his position and the enemy goes into a long winded speech it would be a PERFECT time to activate all nukes nearby.

You know what I think that the wobbie may be bluffing on the nuke usage.

>>12652729
He could arm the nukes at any time, it doesn't matter what we say. And again. We can do your shooting thing to stop him AND talk at the same time. I know this must be difficult, but it means that both things can happen. Together. Simultaneously.

>>12652745
Because the look on his face when he tries to activate the nukes and they've already been disarmed IS a perfect retaliatory "yes I mad but why are thou mad?"

>>12652755
....now you're just switching arguments completely. Whatever, I'm done. You "win", for whatever it's worth.

Yo, OP, you still here? We shoot the Pillager :O

>>12652618
The Pillager turns, and tries to retreat back up the ridge, but some earlier damage from the battle fucks him over: Hip actuator damage caused by your PPC. He falls prone, and turns himself onto his back, facing you.

You promptly prepare to fire all of your weapons into the 'Mech while he's down. The Pillager does the same to you, hitting your 'Mech across the body in various locations.

"I commit my life to the Word of Blake!"

Luckily, your Condor and Namakara's Infantry finish the job, breaching the head armor and killing the monster once and for all. "No! Damn it! No! I'm not supposed to die this way! I am immortal!" As he's exposed to Hellhole's atmosphere, the Blakist dies screaming and choking.

Victory music? Victory music. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvH5uBpzXX0

>>12652814
YES!!!

>>12652814
We take a moment to wallow in sadistic delight as he suffocates and dies...."That...Was for Jacobs."

general frequency, if you will op.

"Attention Mercenary forces, This is Ludo Jussi, Your commander is dead. power down and surrender."

>>12652814
Huh. I really expected him to blow us all up. Either he couldn't make good on his threats or Delta Team already disabled the nukes. Either way, at least we're alive.

And the Pillager isn't annihilated! Salvage! Tsk, and you sid you didn't want us to have an Assault mech OP.

>>12652845
Our one candidate for mechwarrior is in fifty pieces inside a tank that is in fifty more pieces. fat lot of good it does us right now, as piloting that thing ourselves falls under the category of "Too Soon"

>>12652845
Hey, you lost two tanks getting it.

>>12652839
"To hell with this! I'm bugging out for the Dropships!"

"Oh, no you don't!"

The remnants of the Blakist mercenary force begin to bicker and scatter, some heading for the dropships and getting gunned down, others for the mining camps and getting gunned down. Three or four stand down and surrender.

>>12652851
not quite we still have the two we captured earlier assuming that they are still alive.

>>12652857
"Slade...Status on the nukes?"

>>12652874
"Scorch, status?"

"Working on it, boss! Now was it red-red-green, or red-green-red..."

"Uh, that's a negative. Not disarmed yet."

>>12652851
We can sell it. Or keep it until we get a person who can pilot it to join up with us.

>>12652857
Indeed. And we lost Jacobs. And the other two crew members of the Luckner, I assume. There will be time for mourning when all this is done and we're certain that the enemy mercs are finished and the nukes aren't a danger.

We'd better get hazard pay for this. I don't think nukes were in our contract.

>>12652880
"We're still in hot water people..." ( But why didn't he do it..) "Nakamara...go see what's left of Jacobs."

>>12652897
Like I said in >>12652744 he may have been bluffing to make sure that those under him remained loyal.

>>12652889
Uh, I have a loophole in our contract we can exploit. Corvatti's gotta pay all battlefield repair expenses.

Hinthint, we have a DAMAGED Pillager. We also have a DAMAGED Ostscout and a DAMAGED Firestarter.

>>12652915
........somehow I don't think it's going to be that easy, but if it is....... *drools*

>>12652915
I love this and you for it

>>12652915
Oh! Oh! Don't forget the Crab and Assassin we picked up earlier!

>>12652764
I'd shrug, but whatever. Guy's dead.

Get the Colonel on the line.
"Colonel. You saved our bacon at the end there, you have my thanks. We should be able to tidy up here, you'd better fall back before anyone on our side gets the wrong idea and tries to engage you."

Any more immediate threats, or can we go over casualty lists?

>>12652880
"hey Cain, if you have anyone trained to disarm nukes, i think Scorch could use a few hands down in the bunker."

"Also, Colonel, thanks for helping out. When i'm in a more fit state of mind, we can work out a new agreement for you and your people."

>>12652897
>>12652911
Alternatively he dropped the remote and the cockpit breached while he was grabbing at it. Or he had a minor seizure. Or whatever.
"Namakara, see if that bastard had any comms device in there, anything that says 'NUKE ARMED' or something."

>>12652956
also true.

>>12652956
We can ask Slade to check that...Namakara's retrieving one of our own.

>>12652944
Casualty List
----
>Lt. Jacobs, Von Luckner Tank, KIA, tank destroyed
>Goblin One, Goblin Infantry Support Vehicle, KIA, tank destroyed
>Multiple casualties among Slade's Marauders


"Not so fast, kid. I want my Dropships. That's actually why I'm here. But, glad I could help. It's very rewarding to be a good neighbor, these days."

Think Slade will be willing to part with some of that nuke salvage, seeing as we covered for him? Hope he's broly enough for that. Then again, they might just have saved all our asses.

>>12652970
Hey OP, if after our contract was up, we contacted corvatti and recommended the neighbors as future security forces, think corvatti would go for that kind of deal, and would it protect them from their piratey pasts? Obviously this rock needs security, and will, even after we leave after seven months are up.

>>12652970
>I want my dropships

Ah hell nah. This might get ugly real quick.

"Uhh... Say again, Colonel, I thought the plan was for you to wait for your own dropship to get back."

>>12652997

I'm pretty sure we did offer him one of these guys' dropships earlier on, before we even knew they had two of em.

>>12653005
You did, actually.

>>12652997
"Ah, crap. And in all the excitement, I was hoping you'd have forgotten." The Colonel sounds a little bitter about that. "No, really, Jussi. We're gonna need a second Dropship to move everything off-planet. We simply have too many people down there. If we get a second Dropship, we can move everything and everyone off-planet in a single trip and be gone before Corvatti gets here with more miners. We'll...do something legitimate from now on."

>>12652986
Corvatti wouldn't exactly take a bunch of pirates for security at face-value. "Oh, sure, pirates. We'll hire local PIRATES for security. Great idea. Here, see this contract?" RIP

>>12653005
That we did not sure how much Cain's Claws are gonna like this though.

>>12653005
One guy mentioned it but it wasn't ever brought up again.

Besides, we don't have ANY dropships, they're currently in control of Slade's team and I dunno about the other one. Slade might be a cool guy and all but giving up rightfully taken salvage to a bunch of pirates who just showed up after we took a beating because another merc commander said "yeah, hand it over"?

Who's currently in control of the dropships, anyway? Can Namakura take one of them? We're asking a lot of him, I know.

>>12653021
They're a sixteen-man unit with nothing but scout power armor.

What are they going to do with TWO Union-class Dropships?

>>12653021

...what if we rent one of the Dropships from them for a bit?

>>12653017
"Well...We may have a problem with Cain, seeing as he's the one who seized the dropships..I'm sure we can come to some accord. And Colonel, if you or your boys ever decide to make a living as a Merc, as a company or as individual pilots, look us up, its not the best job, but it pays the bills. Usually."

>>12653017
If we can't get control of a dropship to simply give to them, let's bargain.
"Is getting your people offworld for now ok, Colonel? I.. I don't think I can pry the dropships from Claws Company, but I can probably bargain a free ride offplanet from them."

(If we CAN nab a dropship we should be able to give them a free ride anyway, if they don't choose to press the issue)

>>12653032

Brilliance. Need to work out a detailed lease contract including terms of return, though.

>>12653025
Sell them and retire while laughing all the way to the bank? It's what I do if I only had 16 men to split two dropships worth of salvage by.

>>12653043
"Fine by me. From that point, we can probably pay our way to Outreach. We'll set ourselves up, and start fresh."

>>12653025
This anon actually makes a very good point. Unless Cain intends to sell the Dropships outright, they have almost literally no reason to hang onto either one.

>>12653066

Having or own droppy would be awesome if we can wangle it, but I shudder to think what we'd have to give up to get one.

BTW, OP, can we claim the Bombardier Colonel's forces splashed, or are they going to nab it?

>>12653066
Might as well get on the horn with Cain then. "Hey, Cain, think we could take those dropships off your hands? my company doesn't actually have any, and we recently came into a nice bunch of mechs"

If anyone's got a better diplomacy skill than i do right now, correct me, i think i'm slipping due to it being 3 am.

>>12653066
(So, CAN we seize a dropship from Blakists, or did the Claws get both of them?)

"Allright, you've got my word that I'll get Cain to let you hitch a ride on out of here. Let's mop up the rest of them first. There's still a battle going on, you know."

Don't actively engage, but if there's any more mechs that are kicking up a fuss help out at long range. Do we still have the PPC, or was that destroyed?

>>12653083
No, don't ask them yet. Wait until AFTER the battle, and the shooting's stopped. We don't want the other mercs turning on us when we've just lost everyone but us, pretty much, and the colonel is going to want to protect his own.

Oh boy, that Pillager was a hair-raiser. You have a good sense of drama, OP. Between the desperate battle royal, Jacobs' death, approaching enemy reinforcements, and nuclear devices under the lance's very feet, I think I sort of forgot to breathe for a few minutes while reading.

Still, to the victor go the spoils. I think we're pretty settled on our new ride. Hell, after all necessary repairs, sale, hiring and cannibalizing, we're propably up to a full lance and with assets left over for appropriate vehicle support. Shit's only getting started. And think of the reputation we just made for ourselves. Breakthrough assault against a nuke-toting wobbie lance with only one old and clunky medium battlemech on our side.

Say, which version was our Vindy? Stock?

>>12653083

For a fair trade in whatever is wanted, of corse. No misunderstandings like at the start again, please.

>>12653078
The Bombardier was actually detonated. Internal ammo explosion set off all the LRMs.

Crazy, huh?

>>12653083
"Uh, well, y'know, I was...plannin' to sell 'em. I mean, this is practically a flying ball of retirement money. I'm afraid I'll need to pass on your request for charity, but, if you need a lift for your pirate buddies, I'll let aboard, free of charge. No further than one jump, though."

>>12653087
The Claws got both Dropships, sadly.

>>12653101

3L. Minor upgrades over stock, comes out a hell of a lot better.

>>12653101
its the VND-3L

>>12653109

Sounds like the best we'll get. Does Colonel acquiese of this course of action?

I'm gonna get outa here, hope i don't miss jacobs' funeral.

When do you normally run these, OP? Any particular schedule?

>>12653117
>Any particular schedule

I tend to run them around the weekend.

Failing that, whenever I have time. On average, two or three days a week.

Okay, so assumign no more fighting it looks like we've pulled from this campaign:

3Z Pillager
Firestarter
Ostscout
Assassin
Crab

This is an awesome haul. Maybe sell the shitty Assassin and Ostscout to boost or cash reserves or buy more vehicles & infantry.

After we've exploited Corvatti to repair everything thanks to that aforementioned contract repair loophole, of course.

>>12653109
"That'll do, Cain, can't ask for any more than that."

"Well, I COULD, but that'd be downright unfriendly, heh."

We need more friends. We seem to be losing them too fast ;_;

Anyway OP! Is the fighting wrapped up? Call in the other mercs, see if they're ok or if they're still engaged.

>>12653115
"Better than nothing, right? I'll take it."

"Shellcracker One, here. All designated targets have been destroyed. Hellhole's our's."

"Best fight I've had in a while." The Frenzy Company commander laughs over the radio.

>>12653129
Hows everyone else doing?

>>12653129
>"Best fight I've had in a while."
Well thank fuck for that.

ALL RIGHT LOOSE ENDS TIME

"Slade? Got the nukes and the bunker under control? Any sign of the miners left?"

"Any wounded, Namakara? And any captive enemy pilots?"

"Apart from that, let's pack this in, people."

>>12653129
Call for salvage and barter-time, and direct a call to base. Tell the wardogs to roll out the kegs and break out the beef from the freezer, there's going to be a victory party slash mercenary funeral service tonight.

Also, we need to meet up with our Corvatti liaison about what happened down here, and what will happen to the nukes from here on out. But before that, we need to have a huddle with the "mercenary council" over what to do. And, also, take inventory and assign a hefty around-the-clock guard around the nuke bunker. Make sure none are missing, and no more GO missing.

Also, more Coolface Command Vindicator.

>>12653145
Well, let's see.

>Argyle's Armored Guerillas: Three tanks down, extensive damage to the rest of them. Argyle's tactical genius proved useful.
>Revenants: One 'Mech left standing.
>Frenzy Company: No losses, high kill count.
>Wardogs: Were on 'guard duty' back at the camp in the event the Blakists broke through and came after your support personnel. Saw no action.
>Cain's Claws: Sitting prettier than anyone else, at this point, with no casualties and two Dropships for salvage.
>Phalanx: Lost both their 'Mechs, and all of their infantry. Two tanks are all that's left of the outfit.
>Dead Sky: Unharmed, but not exactly going to be getting rich off salvage.
>Shellcrackers: Two 'Mechs down, and lost both of their tanks. High kill count.
>Slade's Marauders: Heavy casualties incurred fighting the Blakist command lance. Down to about half strength.

>>12653164
>Frenzy Company: No losses, high kill count.
These fuckers are scary. Really. AC20-scary.

Then again, we didn't do half bad. What did we bag in total during this campaign? 7 mechs?

>>12653157
"Miners look OK. What's left of 'em. Scorch is disarming the nukes. Holy fuck, but there's a ton of 'em. Thirty, forty warheads, easy. Either way, bunker's our's."

"Namakara, here. Sweeping for survivors, sir. So far, nothing."

>>12653164

Considering the Retardedly-heavy opposition encountered, and the ohfucknukes factor limiting our options, i'd say that this was a pretty good outcome, considering. Should be enough salvage to go around, and we nabbed everyone enough pay and repairs to cover losses.

All in all, a good outcome. Apart from losing our pal. He'll be hard to replace, if at all.

Also, we shodl look into hiring the Mercs we defeated/captured. Especially the English guy, even if we have to pay for cybernetics. The sheer skilla nd balls it takes to stand up a 'mech one-legged is enough to give a Clanner pause.

>>12653164
>Frenzy Company: No losses, high kill count
Dem frenzys, dem fuckin' frenzies
Out of the rest of them, did any of the teams lose their commanders? We could do with some additions, especially if the pilots got out alive of those mechs.

Apart from that, do >>12653159 for hauling stuff back to base, beer rounds and guarding the nukes. We should go meet the Colonel in person and raise a glass to Jacobs.

>>12653194

And to the Men he lost. No harm in beign conciliatory.

>>12653159
Also, u DFA'd? is awesome.

>captcha: artillery. sistolas

>>12653113
>>12653110
3L? ERPPC, medpulse, LRM-5, double heatsinks? Sheesh, I'm almost tempted to suggest keeping with the Vindie and giving the pillager to a new wingman. But still, a 100-tonner is a 100-tonner...

I wonder, though. Maybe we should set up a salvage barter market meeting with the other outfits after the dust clears and we've managed to stitch our wounds, bury our dead and haul our loot to base. The less useful loot we've made this far could go for a number of things more useful for the Coolfaces in its' current state.

>>12653233
Ohshi- how did I not have the presence of mind to add that text?

Here, new and improved.

Well, I need to be hitting the hay, all. We'll have to do all that at some later point.

Someone archive the thread, would you kindly?

>>12653268
Yeah, we can't run a proper lance with one assault, a medium and lights. We might just want to barter the Pillager for several mechs.

But I'm waiting for the after party first.

>>12653279
Allright, thanks for the quest. Have a good sleep and hope the tooth thing isn't too bad. Archiving now...
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/12651509/

>>12653279
Yeah, thanks a bundle, OP. This quest is solid gold.

Agree. The coolfaces on the mechs make it even better.

u dfa'd?

Lt. Jacobs lived life on his own terms and died doing it.

To all of those he left behind, Lt. Jacobs will forever be frozen in their memories.

They will recall the energetic child who was described as being more animated than the Cartoon Network's "Adam Steiner". They will recall the thrill-seeker, the guy who liked to ride motorcycles, fast. The guy who loved to joke. The guy whose devotion to his comrades could not be measured.

To his daughter, 9-year-old Brynn, he will live only in the memories of others. Her father may not be physically present, but he will be there in spirit, handed down moments at a time to Brynn by those who loved Mr. Jacobs.

His wife, Courtney, asked him once to write a letter to Brynn, something that could be put away should he not return. Mr. Jacobs told his wife not to worry about it, that wasn't going to happen. He was young and tough and smart and had that sense of invincibility that comes with youth and confidence.

He was a thrill-seeker. He put this quote in his Academy-school yearbook: "If you want to be able to experience the ultimate thrill, you have to be willing to pay the ultimate price."

Prophetic words.

Mr. Jacobs was doing what he wanted to do with his life when he was killed last Sunday on Hellhole. His unit was ambushed on the Diyala Ridge by a W.O.B. "Pillager". Jacobs and two other soldiers, Spc. Chad Groepper, and Spc. Pilla were killed.

Mr. Jacobs was 31.

His biography may be slim, only spending slightly more than three decades among the living, but he lived a lot of life in his time here. He loved life. He loved Courtney. He loved Brynn.

And he loved the guys he served with.

His brothers.

They had a special bond. They witnessed the horror first-hand. They witnessed the worst inhumanity you can imagine. They also witnessed the best humanity, evidenced by the story of Mr. Jacobs saving the life of the men under his command.

When men die at war, the word "hero" gets thrown around a lot.

Mr. Jacobs was a hero, to be sure. He died so others could live. There is nothing more heroic.

But he was also just a man. A husband. A father. A son.

And no matter what you think about his "job", its purpose or lack thereof, its execution or lack thereof, its conclusion or lack thereof, you have to respect Mr. Jacobs's service and sacrifice.

"Now . . . it kind of leaves a hole in your heart," said his Merc. commander Ludo Jessi.

For now, and forever.

So I was thinking of what we could send the widow to compensate her for the loss of her dearly beloved husband, and need to ask, how many C-Bills does it take to send a nuke by mail?

>>12655692
That was beautiful man.

Now, as we have a few mechs we could potentially trade for, and some of the other lances mechs are down (but maybe not destroyed) Trading and bartering is of course an option.
Phalanx Really got hit pretty bad, and if they end up disbanding, we might see if their two Mechwarriors survived
The Revenants are also an option with only one mech standing.

And lets not forget Destroyed Mechs, with perhaps salvageable Arms, legs, and lasers. Sure ammunition might go off going through to damage the guns, but Lasers have no ammo.

>>12655756
We need to see if we lost any commanders and if we can snap up their forces.
>Argyle's Armored Guerillas: 2 tanks lost
3/4 of them are ok, they got salvage.
>Revenants: One 'Mech left standing.
Down to 1/5th force, ask to incorporate.
>Frenzy Company: No losses, high kill count.
Crazy motherfuckers, smile and get them to pass a drink round.
>Wardogs: Guard Duty
No risk, no glory. No rights to salvage.
>Cain's Claws: No casualties and two Dropships for salvage.
Eh. If they can take two dropships from Blakists and disarm nukes they probably deserve it.. we’re getting a free ride out of them anyway.
>Phalanx: Two tanks left
Less than half force, see if they won’t join up.
>Dead Sky: Unharmed, no salvage, did a lot of recon
Try and persuade Slade’s guys to hand over a nuke to them. They deserve it for all the scouting they did.
>Shellcrackers: Two 'Mechs down, and lost both of their tanks. High kill count.
They’re good. 2/3rds of a force left, got salvage.
>Slade's Marauders: Heavy casualties incurred fighting the Blakist command lance. Down to about half strength.
Tricky. We might be able to claim having protected them from the enemy to allow them to break through to the bunker but we’re already getting salvage from the mechs we toasted and they did get the nukes under control.

What I want to know is exactly HOW many nukes we can salvage out of that bunker there, and how much they are each.

The only other thing to remember is if the the Revenants and the Phalanxes disband and are incorporated, we get their destroyed or salvagable mechs as well as their still operational ones. But then they could just take the salvage and sell it to retire.

I really want to know how big that bunker was, what exactly Jacobs died to stop the Wobbies getting their hands on.

>>12655756
When our beloved Op comes back, we need to have a serious meeting, funeral, and celebration. All in all we command no one besides our brothers in arms, we shall offer to everyone and anyone the opportunity to sign on when each of our respective terms are carried out. Phalanx and Revenants should be respected for their sacrifice and that means not harping them to join under us...let them serve their 7 months and let them decide what they want to do next. We need to as of right now, do a role call, count our dead, call our techs for salvage opperations, our medics for our wounded, and for the scant few miners exploited by the Wobbies. God willing, the Word of Blake have made a powerful enemy today. So says Ludo Jessi

>>12655787
And dont forget.
Sure we get all these mechs, and we may get even more in a merger.

But we need to have Pilots, for them, and any tanks we might buy.

>>12655830
...
>Eyebrow
There's an idea. If we can work with the Revs and the Phalanxes before hand, agree on a merger, and let the whole contract fill out, They'll have another 700,000 to bring to the table. Because the Corvii might not pay us both if we've joined into one mid service.

>>12655831
Mechs are replaceable pilots are not, Jacobs was all we had, drummed out no less, I'd trust him with my back in a mech

memo to self dont dfa twice...

God bless you and your family during this very difficult time. Your son was a blessing to all who knew him especially the men he led. God bless you all.

>>12655692
>>12655705
Goodbye, Jacobs.

>>12656133
was Jacobs our only death in the field? I'm too lazy to read up on it but im not too lazy to write my last respects.

"May God comfort you at this time of loss. May he bring you peace and satisfaction to know that Jacobs is a great man who dearly loves his family, and friends. We fellow mercenaries owe him an unpayable debt, but at least our thanks for keeping us alive and truly blessed. God bless you all and I look forward, if I am lucky, to meet Jacobs some day and thank him in His Heavenly Kingdom. My deepest sympathy and admiration."

bamping

Back to business. Jacobs wouldn't want us to mourn and not look after the rest of our crew. We lost more than just him, too.

I suggest we send the nukes and the pirates to Outreach asap, with a member of Slade's crew to handle sales to MNSB. Nukes on both craft if the pirates try anything, and it means if the Blakists come again they'll leave us alone.

Of course Phalanx and Revenant companies should stay separate for now to avoid contractual difficlties but we can make it easier for them by speaking up for them during Merc company meetings. Heck, we may want to renegotiate if Cain's crew want out with their haul - they've done their object, and I doubt Frenzy will really want 7 months of no action. But that's their call.

So.... how much could we sell any of the nukes for exactly? Because it sounds like something that would go for even more money than an entire Lance of Assault Mechs, given a single nuke's destructive capabilities.

>>12656704
There's a bounty on them, and trade is prohibited as their use is illegal. So not as much as we like but still a haul. Proven is they're Slade's to salvage.

>>12656748
Damn. Guess it was too good to be true.

Ahhh, codeine. Good at keeping you unconcious.

I'm back, everyone.

Salvage operations from the Battle of the Dig Site take two days. The extensive number of wrecked friendly and Blakist 'Mechs and friendly tanks.

After salvage operations are concluded, the CMC commanders convene for another meeting. "Think we should tell Jan about what we found? He has no idea what's been going on since we wrapped up the occupation of Mining Camp Three, and since he's the Corvatti liaison..." Major Rolling of the Shellcrackers leaves that little detail hanging.

"I've got to agree with Rolling on that one. Jan needs to know about the bombs." Argyle looks like he's got a minor injury on his arm, but he's still the manly cigar-chomping motherfucker he was when you met him back on Outreach.

"Yeah, and then get the Star League in here, they take it, and we're left with nothing of importance." The Frenzy Company commander growls as this suggestion is raised.

Noticeably absent from this meeting are the Wardog commander, Cain, the sole surviving Revenant, and the new Phalanx commander.

>>12657312
oh crap.....

>>12656748
That doesn't make them worth less, that makes them worth more.

You can probably sell the nuke for a nominal price to one of the great houses, or comstar. Actually comstar's probably better, they'd likely offer a pretty respectable sum for the nuke just to keep it out of the hands of pirates or never-do-wells.

Better to offer a few hundred million credits for the nuke than to let it actually be used by some terrorist group or warlord.

>>12657312
We need to get the pirates off world before we tell Corvatti anything.

>>12657312
>The extensive number of wrecked friendly and Blakist 'Mechs and friendly tanks.

The extensive number of wrecked friendly and Blakist 'Mechs and friendly tanks.... what? What about them? I think you might've lost your train of thought here OP.

>>12657312
We need to tell them about it. This counts as hazardous, right? For hazard pay? Nukes sound like a big hazard to me....

>>12657386
Derp.

Yes I did. Sorry, it's the painkillers screwin' with my brain.

>cough

They're, eh, really, REALLY messed up. At least one Shellcracker 'Mech is missing both legs, and the 'Mechs on your side that weren't taken down are barely in working order. Frenzy Company may not have lost anyone in the fighting, but that doesn't mean they came out of it without getting some serious damage.

>>12657402
I'm pretty sure we swapped hazard pay for FUCKAWESOME repair coverage. Which is more useful in this case, since we seem to have a few heavily damaged things to fix.

>>12657312
"We've got full salvage rights. That includes all material held by enemy forces, which means it's all ours."

"EXCEPT it's not all ours, it's techincally Slade's since it was his guys who died getting into that bunker."

"Now before the rest of you get up and start shouting, I'd like to remind Slade that this was a join operation, and we all - apart from the Wardogs, 'course - fought for it. And depending on what's in there not even the merc code would stop people from trying to grab it if it's an absolute fortune. Can we work out how much material is in the bunker FIRST, then work out how to split it? I'd vote for Slade gets the majority 50%, and the rest of each armoured company gets an even slice of the rest. And Dead Sky."

>>12657312
Also..where ARE Cain and the other absentees? Wardogs are watching the dropship we came in on, but what about Cain, is he loading the pirates onto the dropships he captured like he said he would?

>>12657441
Cont.
"Now. I bet you we could sell these things off to the Mercenary Union or the Star League for near premium price. We've also got a bunch of pirates who want offworld at the same time, AND we've got two dropships that are purely Cain's."

"Now, we don't know if the Blakists are going to come back and try again for the nukes. Since we've got full operational control, I say the best way to secure the planet is to ship BOTH the nukes AND the pirates right off to Outreach, where we can dump the pirates and sell the nukes immediately. We can tell Corvatti right after they launch, that we're securing the planet. Blakists won't come after us if the nukes aren't here."

>>12657472
Seconded, provided we call them "colonists." Th Colonel doesnt need us saying he's a pirate any louder than we already have.

blake wont give up the nukes that easy we should be ready for a counter attack

>>12657441
(Note: armoured company in this case includes Phalanx and Revenant and Dead Sky, but excludes Wardog and Cain's crew. The Claws already got two freakin' dropships, which is plenty even without anything else)

>>12657312

Full salvage.

Maruders didn't get much. They should have the right to turn in the bombs for the bounty.

Shouldn't let the rep know of the bombs.

Not until we get someone else outside their organisation to verify that they're all there.

Okay here's the base prices for nukes according to Jihad Hotspots 3070:

[0.5kt] Davy Crockett I [Infantry Model] ~262,500cr
[0.5kt] Davy Crockett M [Artillery Model] ~250,000cr
[5kt] Alamo ~2,375,000cr
[50kt] Santa Ana ~25,000,000cr
[500kt] Peacemaker ~275,000,000cr

"Also, we DO have someone from each company guarding the damn nukes, right? I'm pretty sure I asked my groundpounders to stick some guys to guard the bunker, and hope you did too. Just so we all know we're on the level."

>>12657441
>>12657472
>>12657499
These.

Actually, fa/tg/uys, bad news. Just threw up my lunch, and I'm getting pretty dizzy. I think I need to go and sleep.

Sorry, everyone. Normally I'd keep on trucking, but these painkillers are really messing with me. Next time, promise.

>>12657637

Shit man. You get back to your bed.

Come back when you're better. It's all good.

>>12657637
No problem. Take care of yourself OP. Any idea when you'll be back?

>>12657637
OH WELL IT JUST MEANS I GET A FULL NIGHT'S SLEEP INSTEAD OF STAYING UP UNTIL 3 IN THE MORNING

Seriously OP, you've been doing great even while drugged up, don't push yourself too hard. Come back when you're feeling better!

>>12657642
Like I said, I do this kind of thing right around the weekends, and earlier in the week. At the least, three nights a week, and at most, four.

>>12657703
Okay. I thought you might have had a specific day in mind for the next one.

>>12657738
Nope. I'm very...inconsistent on that matter.

But, hey, at least you know to look for Btech-related artwork.

>>12657738
The guy's ill, so don't worry him too much about a schedule.

(I bet you a 20 tonner he'll turn up the next time Destroyer Quest starts. Seriously. EVERY TIME)

>>12657764
Whoa, really? Never noticed.

>>12657826
Seriously.

I wouldn't mind missing EITHER Destroyer quest OR Mechquest, but how am I supposed to miss both?! That's crazy talk!

>>12657441
>>12657472

Everyone should get a piece, i agree with this sentiment.
If Slade's men adamantly say otherwise, we remind them they only stepped foot near that place because of our gathered intel, got to the door because of our armor and mechs, and was kept safe from being steamrolled over by the freeloaders because of all of us present.

Ok so I'm back as well, lets figure this out, how many mercenary companies are there, and what are we looking at loot wise, it should be simple to figure out a fair share situation, no offense to the wardogs, but their share should be the least considering their involvement was minimal at best, but also remember they were invaluable in the event our home base would have been attacked, so they should get a token of appreciation. Dead Sky was crucial also, as far as results in action, im not sure he got any kills, but as a scout and early warning system, he has saved our figurative bacon time and time again, he deserves a slightly larger token of appreciation.

>>12651606
I'm glad that pic got made. That one guy always bothered me.
Also; survival bump for the thread.

last bump from me this night

>>12660495
See >>12655787
for a force breakdown.
http://archive.easymodo.net/cgi-board.pl/tg/thread/12546242#p12557632
is their initial disposition,
http://archive.easymodo.net/cgi-board.pl/tg/thread/12651509#p12653164
is how much damage they took.

I'm of the mind that everyone but Slade (who gets 50% for being the one who capped the bunker), the Wardogs (no action, tough but they're getting triple pay for nothing) and Cain's Claws (two fucking dropships man) get an even share, which means
50% to Slade
7% to everyone else

7% may not seem like much but either what's in that bunker is so damn expensive it's still a fortune, or it's small enough that the salvage we're making makes up for it.

Don't our full salvage rights mean that we get to salvage all of our own kills, and them alone, instead of having to forfeit them to Corvatti?

Which really complicates the nuke issue; if Slade doesn't have a similar salvage clause, the bombs would be technically Corvatti property. They might attempt to claim a big slice of everything on the rock anyway, since the planet itself is propably legally their property.

>>12664362

yeah, I think that is what it means

>>12664375
>>12664362
Ah, that's where our TACTICAL BARGAINING came in. We earlier (http://archive.easymodo.net/cgi-board.pl/tg/thread/12546242#p12549783) scored triple pay AND full salvage for everyone. That's not the problem.

The OTHER thing we scored from Corvatti is full command rights to keep the planet and miners safe - which means we're legally bound to get rid of the nukes as fast as possible to ensure more Blakists don't come after us. Even if the nukes are Corvatti's (which it shouldn't be since they were Blakist salvage) we can still sell them at a premium and keep the profit instead of just handing them over to the corporations, not to mention the MRBC code means we are obliged to hand over the nukes to someone safe (and get money off them).

Corvatti should be happy about us saving some of the miners, and whatever mining equipment we can get from the pira- ahem, colonists we can sell on to Corvatti at a cheap price.

>>12664471
True that. Looking back, if Corvatti has any sense in employee management, I'd expect them to be hooking us up on a troubleshooter contract on a fat salary. Mercs going balls-to-the-walls cowboy and solving TWO potential hostile forces on the FIRST DAY ON THE JOB is a serious indicative of go-getter attitude. Plus, who knows, if the origin of the nukes had gotten out, it might have brought some frowns and economical wrist-slaps on Corvatti.

But then again, the corporation is Lyran, so we can also expect them to know Jack about shit, and even Jack's bailed town.

>>12664585
Just sit back and let Ludo "Coolface" Jussi do the talking.

First step, we get Jan (the Corvatti Liason) drunk (no excuses, we ALWAYS only hold debriefings when drunk).

Then we hold him up to be a hero to the miners ("Hey, after seeing a fucktonne of enemy mechs and everyone dead us mercs were ready to pack up and go home, but Jan, Jan here - he literally got down and pleaded for us to come save you guys! This guy's the one you should be thanking, not us!").

Then after (hopefully) getting back into his good books, we ply him with more alcohol before REALLY slipping things past him.

>>12664824
At THAT point:

1: We can let the word out that Corvatti destroyed a Blakist force armed with a nuclear stockpile that they undoubtedly were planning to use on inhabited worlds, at great cost of mercenary life. This should boost Corvatti's reputation (we'll gloss over it makes them Blakist targets)

2: We also suggest to him we announce we gave these nukes to the MRBC or the Star League - this means no-one's more Blakists going to come after Hellhole. Of course we actually DO have to give up the nukes, otherwise the Blakists will realise Corvatti are stockpiling them and try to raid them again. Don't worry, we'll handle that too.

3: There was also another pirate problem, a small group of colonists with an army who set up illegally, woulda taken a full three more companies of heavies to have killed them all. Don't worry, though, we've intimidated them so much they've agreed to be shipped offworld too. You don't even need to worry about the repair costs for fighting them, or the transport costs!

4: I know we got off on the wrong foot, but hey, we've kicked off two groups off your planet for you, rescued your people and even have all the mining equipment mostly intact! Damn well cost us, too.. lost some good folk.

5: Yeah, I know we're paid to die. But hey, you can tell your superiors you didn't have to request more mercenaries to dig out a Blakist base and pirates - now THAT would have cost even more.

6: Ah, well. Long day ahead of us. Let's go get some sleep before you fall over, hey?

>>12664831
I'd say leave out the colonists. If we tell Corvatti, they might want to go after them or look into the issue more deeply, and then find out that they're pirates as well. Even if he is shit faced at the time, you never know what might stay with him when he wakes up.

>>12664934
Unfortunately we can't fully leave out the pirates - for one, the miners know about them (heck I would have left out the fact that the blakist force was after nukes) and two, we need to actually have done more than wipe out the Blakists to make him happy that we're worth three times the pay.

The pirates will be out of reach by then (gone off on the dropships) and Corvatti didn't order us to hunt pirates, only keep the planet safe. He can't really get us on either of those points.

We COULD claim that they were also blakist mech forces that we're selling off, greatly exaggerating the threat of the Wobbies. I'd rather just say we forced the pirates to surrender rather than get caught out in a lie, but that's just me.

>>12664979
Alright, those are good points. I'd just feel bad if, right after managing to get them off the rock and onto a path of crime-free life that they get tracked down and imprisoned because of us reporting, but I guess that's the worst case scenario for them, it's not too likely. I hope. Poor pirates....

>>12665095
Don't feel too bad. Raiders even with codes of honour like "no unnecessary deaths" are STILL Raiders. They HAVE been attacking and stealing stuff which would have gone to others.

A second chance is good enough.

>>12665155
To others? Yes, but did they deserve it? Look at them, the rich, the famous! Sitting in their mansions, counting their money! Do they truly deserve their wealth, deserve such frivolous things? The deaths of a few thousand innocents would be a small price to pay to keep goods out of their hands.


Yeah, I have no idea where i'm going with this.

>>12665209
I'm not here to solve problems like "is it ethical to steal from the greedy rich". That falls under the purview of philosophy.

No, I solve practical problems!

Like how I'm gonna get these 800 or whatever many pirate families off this rock without having to have them tear our company a structurally superfluous be-hind?

The answer? Get them frakking offworld as soon as we can.

And if that don't work? Get them there faster!


...Yeah, that parody didn't really work either. But seriously, the only way they'll get in trouble is if Corvatti goes hunting for them - and there's no profit in hunting pirates that aren't bugging you any more. They can go bother another megacorp, and waste their profits dealing with them. The pirates should be fine, as long as they don't try to jack Cain's dropship (which will have an armed nuke on it just in case).

Dagnabbit, I just can't get enough of this thread. Good quest is good.

Now, we were talking about Yellow Jackets and Hawk Moths earlier, and pretty much concluded that they were dead cheap gauss setups that are very vulnerable against aerospace and AC mechs. Which made me wonder whether the Coolfaces should prepare for the eventuality, and actually acquire a cheap aero wing and maybe something with AA capacity? And well, diversity seems to be all in all a prequisite for survival, which the medium lance before the final battle learned the hard way, so we might want battle armor crews too.

Ah, so much we can imaginably do with the big pile of salvage we're sitting on.

>>12666182
Don't forget, we still have ~8 million C-Bills in debt, plus paying our men. So there is that to keep in mind. I say, wait until this contract is over in 7 months, presuming that nothing else happens once we've dealt with the nukes and Colonists, then see how much money we get in total. Once we've got that, we can decide how much to put towards paying of debts, and how much we have left to spend on new units and hiring more people.

>>12666182
After thinking about it, we're mercs. We don't NEED that much of a diverse force if we pick our missions carefully.
After taking a look at straight up brawling, I can safely say that it sucks and we lose too many good men that way. Getting into fights where we have to stick around and tough it out sucks, and I say we don't stand for it.

Instead of being a line-holder, I vote we change our operational behaviour after this mission into something more like Dead Sky and Cain's Claws role - recon, harrasing and general trolling.

To that end I suggest a medium size force of Hawkmoths to flit around and disrup the fuck out of supply chains and shoot at dropships and generally not give a single fuck about flying off when any sort of defense comes their way, and a couple of heavy and a medium lances for the core unit. The heavy and mediums go and wipe out concentrations of enemy forces while any enemy reinforcements get picked to pieces by the hawkmoths, and get out again fast. We'll be less effective in a defensive role, and anything that needs rapid serious response will be a bit problematic, but we can leave that to other merc groups if we're working with a team.

Besides, nothing says trollface like shooting a dropship full of holes from beyond visual range while the enemy is unable to engage otherwise a heavy lance hits the unguarded dropship or wipes out your attacking force.

>>12666412
Also, during these seven months (assuming nothing else happens) I want to see if Namakura's men can't learn how to hotwire and pilot stolen mechs.

THAT is the biggest trollface I can think of.

>>12666438
We should also look into getting them some basic armor.
If Cain's planing on retiring after this maybe we can buy his armor when they do.

>>12666525
Wasnt there some straight up battle armor we were supposed on the planet already?
We should find it.

>>12666602
I don't think it was power armor more like heavy combat armor if I remember right.

>>12666602
>>12666663
I just looked at the contract it was Armored EVA suits

I know OP's probably unconcious at the moment and doesn't intend to pick the quest up again this week, but, pic related, it's my response when I read 'Blakists want nukes'

I love this quest as well and will bump it till autosage

>>12652857
...
Hmmmm.
'WE' called out on the radio for the remaining mercs to surrender, and 3 or four did.
Does this not count for our Salvage?

>>12668675
well..... id say technically yes, although the ohter merc companies have a point if they choose to refuse since we are not the commander in chief, and would be considered assests like the nukes to be split evenly.....

>>12668722
Maybe we should meet separately with the merc groups who took those mechs (which having surrendered, might be in more intact condition) and the prisoners, asking why they gave up, subtlety dropping the fact we took out the leader. We get a "You took out the boss and gave my the chance to give up, I took it!" or something along those lines, we got concrete statement that they're our prisoners and mechs.

>>12668778
Yeah but im sure that well have a helluva fight trying to swipe those mechs under that understanding.....hell i wouldnt be surprised if someone pulls a gun and we reinact the scene with solo and greedo

>>12668837
If they were light mechs and Frenzy Company took them, maybe?
Being that they want more assault and ded killy mechs.
(although they could argue that they surrendered because of them being so goddamn scary in that case we squeel and run i mean say ok and leave.)
We'll try to get the Pillager working enough to stand in front of the building (they dont know we dont have any other mechwarriors)

>>12668890
yeah that tug is pretty damn alpha, I wonder if the berzerkers are impressed if at all?

pic related its Henry Jan, what our corporate liaison looks like

>>12668837
And maybe Slade's men will want to bargain for that Hunchback they took out, as they seem an all foot group, maybe they'd like to take an Ostscout, seeing how it is fast as hell and can outmaneuver most everything.

>>12668837
Awesome. So you mean, we take out someone who's in our way with no consequences at all? I mean, think about it. Nothing bad ever came of shooting Greedo.

>>12668924
I mean pillager....why am I thinking thug?

>>12668926
It's also so damaged that it'll take at least 2 million C-Bills to fix....

>>12668930
thats cuz no one cared, now if lets say it was han with 3 guys backing him and same amount if more backing greedo , shit would hit the fan

>>12668943
The Ostscout or the Hunchback?
And we might be able to argue that Mech that we Own rather then Salvage (because we didnt salvage that mech we bought it) should be repaired no cost.

I think its funny cuz it looks like Mechwarrior quest has now evolved into Mechaccountant/Mechlawyer quest......

>>12668890
The salvage in that case is an equal split for everyone, I'd say. But we could probably get it for ourselves if we persuade everyone to go along with the plan and succeed in selling off the nukes - by being the go-to guy to broker deals we should be able to say "we're doing all the talking, so we get to get SOME kind of bonus" and take the captured mercs.

Those guys we can ransom back to their merc companies at standard rates and their mechs if we need the cash, or if they're the company leaders we get them to give us a premium for letting them go free.

I'm adamant about getting Jan and the remainders of Phalanx and Revenant's sole guy left totally drunk.

How's this, the more friends you lost, the more you drink? That means of course Frenzy get to cap the bill, which shows how well they made out.

>>12669021
On the bright side I'm sure Frenzy knows how to throw a party

>>12669020
I have to face it, I'm a MUCH better smooth-talker than force leader.

As such, I'm going to try NOT to get everyone killed, since that is bad and you should feel bad for doing it. If you want to kill Frenzy we're going to poison their drinks.

>>12669057
are you the same guy who made it a part of the deal to make Jan sing a lady gaga tune?

>>12669098
I missed that, but I was the one who came up with the plot to ship out the pirates as bondslaves and getting them a place on the dropship out.

Well... I was having a gander at the values of everything, and I still am not sure what we plan on doing...
Yellowjacket/no
what the hell are we doing with the mechs...

etc. etc.

Well, we need to focus on paying off our initial debt...

To that end, I suggest selling the firestarter, ostscout, and the assassin.

Then trading the pillager in for a Nova Cat.

Depending on how we deal with things, we may have plenty of money to spend on a number of other things.

Does anyone care to hear why I want the Yellow-Jackets?
(Heavily modified, of course.)

>>12669629
Personally, no, but that's because I've already read your posts about them and know why you want them already :P

I agree on trying to sell all the mechs. If we can get a better price for them by fixing them up first, then we should try that, but in the end I'd say sell them all except the Pillager. As for what to spend the money on, after debts and paychecks for the men, I'd say getting a few of those higher-performance Yellowjackets sounds nice, even if they do cost over 2 million each. Maybe get a squadron of 3. Then get a couple of Von Luckners, maybe the K75N variant, which apparently is second only to Gauss Rifles. Personally, I'm for keeping the Pillager over a Nova Cat, especially with all your talk of how godly the Gauss Rifles are.

^my 2 cents

>>12669860
Best performance Yellow-Jackets?
8 mill.
2nd Best (No targeting computer, no Jet Boosters) 1 million.

And do you know what the Nova-Cat runs?

As amazing as the Gauss Rifle is, the ERPPC is even better.
(right now thats what I am basing several builds off of.)

So yeah, As amazing as the builds are that most like, the ErPPC is what I am playing with in the games... now I need to find a way to upload them into megamek.

>>12669935
Ah, if the Nova Cat's PPCs are better, then I can see why you chose it. Also, if they're going to cost THAT much, then I say don't upgrade them so much. The long range of the Gauss weaponry means that if they hand back they don't need to move and fire, so they won't take penalties for that an a targeting computer won't be needed. Honestly, unless you're thinking of only getting 1, then we should go for the non-boosted, non-targeting computer ones.

What you guys are failing to get is that the 'Mechs are inherently more capable of survival than VTOLs and tanks.

Our Von Luckner had some of our heaviest guns, and the Pillager took it out in the OPENING SHOTS of our battle with the Blakists. We lost Jacobs because we had the lack of foresight to stick him in a tank, rather than a 'Mech. Our Vindicator, easily the most powerful unit we're packing, is powerful BECAUSE it's a 'Mech.

So, we should get all the 'Mechs fixed up, re-train our tank crews to drive them, and then sell the tanks.

>>12670092
*hang back

>>12669935
http://www.sarna.net/wiki/DI_Morgan

This looks promising. Comes in PPC and Gauss rifle flavors.

>>12670092
Im still working on getting costs down...

Looks like I may be able to get it to be waaay cheaper than I thought.

ANd there is a reason to move... its more effective than armor... Its much harder for our enemy to hit us.

Also, the range on the ERPPC is actually increased in comparison to the Gauss Rifle.

Hmm. I'm still finding a lot of suggestions about what to get with our shiny loot rather unrealistic. Selling the Ostscout and the Sentinel bits and using that money to repair the Firestarter, Crab and Assassin, plus hiring pilots for them, sounds something we could afford, with perhaps a few replacement tanks for the Luckner and Gobbo we lost. Beyond that, we'd likely be covering debts and forming a nestegg for future forays.

I'm rather on the fence about the Pillager though. Sell or keep. Even if the 'mech wasn't totally obliterated, I'm afraid the repairs alone will cost more than our Vindicator did straight off the assembly line.

>>12669935
yeah...
1,380,000 C-bills, with the Targeting computer.
With some decent armor too.

>>12670202
Repairs are being covered.

>>12670229
That changes a lot, then. Assuming the repair clause applies to salvage, at least. I do think we should hang on to enough chassi to form a full lance of 'mechs, but even beyond that we have enough to sell to make new acquisitions.

Exciting times, exciting times. I can't wait for the next thread.

>>12670185
>>12670217
I meant that, if it hangs back, then it has no need for armor or speed because it can remain out of enemy weapon ranges. But if we can get it for 1.3 mill with the targeting computer, than that's much more reasonable than 8 mill.

>>12670435
I think we shouldn't even consider VTOL.

Ridiculously easy to kill with a lucky shot or two. 'Mechs, 'Mechs, and more 'Mechs. Stick Church and Caboose and the others in 'Mechs, let's see how that works out.

>>12670435
Yeah.. the diffrence is that no Jet boosters, and only a small fusion engine.
its actually cheaper than our goblins...

And its one of the greatest troll vehicles of all time.

Due to: Back up.

>>12670464
mechs alone wont win battles down the road we need tanks also

>>12670464
>stick two people with no training at all in a mech

How about no.

>>12670464
The to hit is so high that its not even funny how often you will miss the VTOL. And, they are cheap... They can take on some pretty heavy guys...

>>12670507
And they need so little training to be effective....
Its pretty crazy.

>>12670558
>>12670507
THIS!!!!

>>12670507
So. A trio of Yellowjackets. Any ideas on what else to get? Not necessarily as soon as the mission is over, but for the future. I still think that we should get some more tanks as well as VTOLs.

>>12670580
>>12670580
Lets trade in the assault for a (clan tech) Nova Cat (prime)

ANd then pay off our bills, and then ill see about the rest of the cash.

What about that pair of Blakist Mechwarriors we picked up? They're freelancers, aren't they? Offer them a shot offworld, money, and amnesty from getting busted for wanting to salvage a fuckton of nukes for the Wobblies in return for working for us. Bam, two Mechwarriors right there.

>>12670580
Ferret, 5 tons.
VTOL
Its got a machinegun, and if we drop that a maximum speed of 24.

Thats a +6 to hit, I believe (for the enemies...)
It costs...43k.

Use a couple as scouts, or scoop up a couple of drones...

>>12670345
What's wrong with Hawk moths? I like light gauss.

>>12670733
Expensive, only 6/9, gonna get shot down with StingerLRM really fast.

>>12670733
modified it...
Now it costs 200,000 more, with 8 rounds for a normal gauss, and runs a normal gauss. Moves... 1 less maybe.

>>12670464
>>12670435
It really is funny how hard some people work to forget the fact that the situation on the battlefield isn't something you can waltz through at leisure. Remember what happened with the vedettes? What if one of those lightweighters would, after dancing past our main combat assets, just casually pump a single salvo of LRM's into each of our VTOL's?

We should fix up those mechs as first priority, and see what the bargaining opportunities look like. The other companies must have all kinds of stuff we might be able to barter for, considering the enemy force totalled out at 24 mechs.

>>12670484
I'm against getting more tanks, myself. They get killed too easily, even if they are cheap. We need stuff that can survive an initial engagement and retreat, or not get into an engagement at all.

That's why I like the idea of moths or yellowjackets, due to their range we can use them as artillery and scouts and harrassers and have them fall back too.

>>12670750
what is with you and your anti vtol bullshit! we want one

>>12670752
severe penalties to shooting more tham one target.

>>12670778
Not to mention a single mech that does this can get focus fired on, AND moving and firing can't be good for accuracy, AND has now got his back to our main assets ready to be hulled three times over.

ANYWAY. If we're dead set on getting VTOLS, our first priority in any further campaign is to hit enemy aerospace fighters as it's hard to stop them taking out our VTOL craft in one turn.

After that our own craft should be able to operate with impunity as long as they shoot at max range and lure other mechs into ambushes.

>>12670904
agree thats why we need some anti air tanks/mechs

>>12670605
Highlander, you're cool and all, but 'getting a clan 'mech' is your stupidest idea ever.
You realize that aside from the impossibility of getting spare parts ever, it's difficult and expensive as he'll for the great houses to get even one or two clan 'mechs, let alone an indebted Podunk merc like us. It's 3059, not 'everyone-has-clantech dark age'.

>>12670914
No, you miss my point. We literally LAND on the enemy airfields, and wreck them before they can do anything, then run away to a preplanned LZ (or ambush site). Tanks can't get across all the terrain needed, and can't hot-drop - thus a fully mechanized (heh) force.

Or steal them! I'm telling you, we need to get our pilots to train with Namakara's men to infiltrate and hijack. Nothing is more trolltastic than stealing entire aerospace squadrons.

>>12670940
In 3059 the WOB were a helluva lot less active than they are right now.

>>12670956
See, now thats the kind of thinking I like!

What better way than beating an airforce than stealing it and claiming it for salvage?

>>12671079
... What on earth does that have to do with the availability of Clantech? Game right now is 3059. Wobbles are around, clanstuff is still fucking rare in the IS.

>>12671110
>>12671110
Thats why we put out the requisition on market right now...
They have half a year to get paid top-dollar for it, with an extra 5 million c-bills.

>>12671178
...perhaps I should clarify. Until the mid-3060s, when Clan Diamond Shark start some *very* clandestine and exorbitantly- prices sales of *some* clantech, there is literally no way to get the stuff other than going out, killing some Clanners and salvaging their gear.

If, by some miracle you could find even a Clan light 'mech for sale right now, odds are it's a) already been sold, and b) as expensive as an entire company of IS mechs.

Seems we can't avoid getting the Yellers at this point, so we should invest effort on a general strategy built around them. Aeros and anti-air equipment seem to be the minimum prequisite. Then how about gearing our mechs toward CQC? Big AC's and the like; make the VTOL's a tempting target for the enemy force, but arm the frontliners especially to expect breakthrough attempts?

Thinking back, didn't the Von Luckner score 3 kills or so before getting toasted? AC/20's make me all hot and bothered.

>>12671255
We can still put it out onto the market.

And request.

Someone may pull through.

>>12671274
3 kills... then you guys got him killed.
Oh, I wish I wish that I didn't have to get up early on Tuesday nor Wednesday...

>>12671274
ya it did thats why I want HEAVY! tanks along with the vtol's

>>12671274
Indeed. And we can get more Von Luckners.

>>12671324
>then you guys got him killed.

lolwut? I'm sorry, how did WE get him killed? By deploying him? By that logic, no one should ever be deployed so that no one chances getting hurt. He got shot at very close range, there was nothing we could do. Dice gods are like that. And I'd bet that if we'd been hit we'd have been toast too. The VL is supposedly for dealing with light mechs and other tanks, I'd say it did a damn fine job and would have continued if we hadn't had the misfortune to come across that Pillager.

>>12671366
Never a trip without the fag. Shame it had to appear here, of all Quests.

>>12671366
...And I saw how you deployed him...

It made me sad. Extremely so. The battle Armor should have screened your guys, and engaged the battlemechs at close combat.

>>12671274
Pretty much. Heavy and medium force geared to close range gives us mobility and decent speed with a big punch. Assault is too slow, light is too weak. Anything else yellowjackets handle.

>>12671414
>>12671366
I apoligize... I wish I could have remained later to help with that battle...

I hope not to abandon you all like that again.

>>12671421
Give it a rest, Highlander. We needed to engage a fully mech force with an equal number of tankard, without knowing reinforcements were coming. There wasn't a way to engage WITHOUT taking losses. Swarming them was the best way t keep the Pillager's gauss coming into play.

>>12671531
I never thought there was going to be re-enforcements.

I would have assumed that you guys had my resources... Such as knowing exactly what the other mechs were equipped with, and then being able to target whatever was being the largest threat, then shooting that with everything you had.

>>12671560
Slade's guys had the other 'Mechs under control. The Pillager was closer to our unit anyways.

This is why I'm suggesting building a 'Mech-heavy force with all our salvage, and retraining our tankers. Keeps the payroll costs low while bulking up our unit.

>>12671560
Don't forget we were TRYING to draw fire from Slade's crew, who were the nuke disarmers. Had the enemy pillager taken them out we would be facing possible nuking.


But we can't do anything now about him. Next time, stick around if you can.

>>12671657
Will do.

And I concede that we need more mechs and such.

>>12671675
'Mechs in Battletech are like dakka.

YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ENUFF.

>>12671421
>>12671560
Oh, I'm sorry. You mean the battle armor that we had no control over whatesoever? Yeah, we'll get right on that. And not all of us have encyclopedic knowledge of all things Mechwarrior.

so much hate? What the hell happened? As for Vtols, later, they are atmospheric based if we end up in a atmosphere thin or non existant planetoid they are useless..... we need a good combined force, infantry, tanks, wheeled and hovers with mechs and aerospace. but right now lets just get things squared and eliminate our debt, we aint the good ole USA now

>>12672331
Well, for right now, we have a solid shot at a fairly 'Mech heavy force for a unit our size.

>>12672474
Indeed, from what I care, I like to let go of the Ostscout, under armed, slow and under armored for an effective scout. Keep the firestarter for garrison duty, base assault fry up some peeps. Definitely keep the crab, awesome medium, Pillager may also be a keeper, a 100 tonner commands respect.... our assassin is in the same shape as the ostscout and, I doubt we will drop our vindicator....

>>12672610
>Pillager IS a keeper

FTFY

>>12671675
We didnt really get to deploy them ourselves, since nobody had megamek at the time. not being able to see the board in real time is quite the crippler.

Is it bad that I want to get our Vedette crews retrained as Mechwarriors? I mean, we were fighting a light lance, and both of the Vedettes were crippled. We fought heavier units and our Von Luckner and one of our Goblins were totally destroyed. If we want Church and the others to live, we need to upgrade them to something better.

>>12672610
Nmh, sell the Ost and the Assassin. They're both shite.

Pillager + Vindie + Crab + Firestarter is a solid, albeit extremely hodgepodge Lance

>>12672825
Thats the risk of vehicles, they can and will go boom easily. Battletech fluff makes it hard for ordinary joes to become mechwarriors, you need the right set of skills, and reflexes and stamina for the job. You are better off hiring pilots for your mechs than creating a roster or pool of trainees

>>12672825
It'd be better to just get them nicer tanks. Mechs are one-man hobbies and very different controls to tanks. Also we wnt up against an assault and 3 heavies with a handful of medium tanks. If we had heavier tanks like Rommella or a lance of Von lLuxkners, we would have taken far less damage.

>>12672899
The Luckner died in the opening shots, though, and the Goblin barely stood a chance. A few more shots, and our second Goblin would've bit it too.

>>12672913
He's got a point. Our entire tank force is pretty much out of commission.

I think we SHOULD work towards getting our tank crews re-trained. If nothing else, it'll give the more popular characters in our crew some more screen-time in the future, and let's face it, what are the chances Caboose is going to be any good no matter WHAT we put him in?

>>12672964
NOT true! If we fix up the Vedettes and our Goblin, we'll still have our Condor. Four tanks, ready to rock.

>>12672913
The opening shots from two of the second-strongest guns in the game, not counting arty. It's not a good indicator of overall toughness. Von Luckners and other Heavy tanks are damn fine machines.

>>12672964
Mechs are one-man jobs. We do that, we're going to be splitting up and dispossessing a lot of tight-knit crews, which will piss them off immensely. Also mechwarrior training is expensive.

>>12673307
>expensive

Did you not see the metric ton of nuclear warheads we're handing over to the Star League for a cash bounty?

We'll have more money than we'll know what to do with, assuming Corvatti covers salvage repair fees.

>>12672997
I'd be inclined to sell our vedettes for an extra pair of condors If we can, once we get back to outreach. That is, if our tankers will let us.

>>12673287
>>12673395
These.

>>12673361
Do you not realize just how ludicrously fucking expensive 'mechs, training and transport costs are in this setting? And that's assuming we even get a profit from the nukes once the Star League catches wind of it. You're being way too damn optimistic.

>>12673472
Is it that bad that I want to stick Caboose in a 'Mech and let him loose on the bad guys?

Come on, that'd be hilarious.

>>12673508

He's not 'mech trained though, and we are subject to the whims of Megamek.

He'd be like a 6/5, maybe 6/4. Srsly.

>>12674077
Hey, a Mechwarrior is a Mechwarrior.

ANYBODY in those tin cans is better than another tank on the field. Who knows? Maybe he'll get a lucky shot. Judging from what OP had our stats for, Jussi himself is only a 4/5.