Human Edge

Situation: The forces of the Black Dragon have just arrived and are pushing out from under the umbrella of their dropship's guns. As they enter engagement range, the order goes out to power up - the power on signatures of the Fortunate Ones giving the Dragon a half second of pause, and then spurring them into action. Already the enemy forces are splitting out by lance and racing toward the defenders. It was time to hit them as hard as possible and slip away before the full enemy force could engage on either lance - taking a pitched battle here would be suicide, so hit and fade was the order of the day.

Participants: Vanguard Lance, Fire Support Lance.

Rules: This is a combat thread. There is a very real chance of injury, dispossession, or death.

The Fortunate Ones want to achieve whatever damage they can and withdraw in good order - the Fire Support Lance to the east, and the Vanguard lance to the south. The escape zone is the edge where the road leaves, and up to 3 hexes along the border away from that point.

If they achieve the goal of withdrawing with all forces while inflicting at least a single casualty, the mission is a success.

If they lose more mechs than they destroy, it is a failure.

Any character forced to eject will have to attempt to escape on foot, get picked up by a friendly mech, or hide until the battle has moved on in order to escape capture and possible execution.

This battle will have immediate follow-up engagements, so no repairs or ammo re-stocks will be possible before the next engagement.

"Here they come. Computer's still identifying OpFor units."

Felicity would have taken whatever elevation she could get, preferably in cover. Of course there was little time now to change their deployment. Hopefully they'll all be okay. Just need take one or two down and bug out.

"Abs here, standby."

Marik gripped his pistol tightly within the cockpit. The mech was one he wasn't used to, but he understood it was a slower, more powerful unit. He would have to move more strategically with this unit, it seemed.

The first two lances cleared the pad quickly, another four mechs pressing in behind.

The target recognition systems blinked, pulling up a series of mech models in quick succession. Jagermech-Sniper, Dragon-Brawler, Panther-Light Sniper, Jenner-Light Brawler, Phoenix Hawk-Medium Brawler, Spider-Light Recon.

As they pushed forward, Yuri took a firing position and gave the order "Weapons free! Light em up!"

---- Situation ----

Grand Dragon -- 0 damage -- 0 heat
Firefly (Bruun) -- 0 damage -- 0 heat
Ostsol (Andrea) -- 0 damage -- 0 heat
Cicada (Gillian) -- 0 damage -- 0 heat
Falcon (Ryougi) -- 0 damage -- 0 heat
Wyvern (Maja) -- 0 damage -- 0 heat
Crab (Marik) -- 0 damage -- 0 heat
Phoenix (Felicity) -- 0 damage -- 0 heat
Hussar (Snorri) -- 0 damage -- 0 heat

---- Hostile Status ----

Jagermech -- Moved 2 -- +0
Dragon -- Moved 3 -- +1
Phoenix Hawk -- Moved 6 -- +3
Jenner -- Moved 4 -- +1
Jenner #2 -- Moved 7 -- +3
Panther -- Moved 4 -- +2
Panther #2 -- Moved 4 -- +2
Spider -- Moved 8 -- +4

"Copy that!" Felicity searched for a good shot on one of the nearer targets. There wasn't one. Maybe the Spider?

Deciding it would be better to give the enemy something to think about, and put her in a better position for some kind of crossfire, Felicity ignited her jump jets. She'd heard a Jagermech had crap armour, as well as being slow. She'd put it to the test!

(Jump to 1907 facing SW. Fire PPC at Jagermech)

"This is DJ Snorri sending one out to all you guys and gals and N.B. pals. We have a full disco tonight, can't even get a head count yet." Snorri fiddles with his comms and twigs on his holomap.

"They're too scattered for any concerted fire from me, or to hit a flank hard. I'm going to take cover and keep the engine revving for out first overly eager contestant"

Snorri pushes the Hussar into a run, heading south and into the heavy woods by Maja's last position.

"Fire Support Leader, there is going to be an angel over your shoulder if you like"

______
Hussar runs to 2406 facing NW
Firing at Spider is Maja/Wyern moves, holding fire if not

Bruun's been itching to get back into the fight and wants to close the range and light up these bastards, but he knows he has to be cool for the others, not get cocky. The long game, he tells himself. It's not just this fight right now.

"Andrea, Chow, cover that open field to the west, but don't get north of the heavy trees. We ain't standing out here to rochambeau, it's shoot and scoot mode right now."

"Chick," he calls out to the newbie in the Falcon. Dammit, I gotta work on remembering names. "Er, you in the Falcon, I'm holding this position. Stay between me and Chow's Cicada, and take a shot if you've got one."

---------------
Holding position
LRM at the walking Jenner at 0605

"Understood Lance Leader," Andrea smiled, "Moving and taking a shot at the Jager." She pushed the mech forward, moving northward and into the tree line. The cover should be enough, "If they aim for me I can take a few hits...and I will move back into the woods."

---------------------------
Move to hex 0215, facing 0214

Fire LLs into Jager!

“Copy that DJ, I am thinking they are planning to rush. Let’s see if they can be made mad.”
Maja hits her jets and Wurm surges forward, firing a few speculative shots at the distant Jenner

((Jump to 1904, LRM and large laser on Jenner#2))

“Taking cover and engaging,” Gillian reported, as she nudged the Cicada into the woods. Rangefinding radars played over the enemy mechs as she tried to get a good targeting lock through the trees.

-
Start 0718 facing NW. Forward, right, forward (heavy woods), 5 MPs. End in 0616 facing N. Take a long shot with PPC at either JagerMech, Jenner #2 or Jenner #1, whichever I have the best chance to hit (the Jenners are in medium range, but I’m not sure I have LOS).