Event: We all Lift Together (D18, EE, Combat)

[Comstar]

The SRM turret attempted to pivot toward, Felicity, firing a fusillade of missiles, but didn't score any penetrating hits, the shower of missiles trailing behind the jumping mech. The LRM turret scored some blows on the Archer, though cover ate a few hits (Hit RT+LT, 5+5 damage). The PHoenix managed to tag the Archer with a PPC (hit RT, 10 damage), as did the AC/2 Turret (hit LA, 2 damage). The AC/10 turret and Firestarter both lit up the Cyclops, shells and a medium laser digging away armor (Hit LT+RA, 5+10 damage).

In vengeance, the Archer volleys twin salvoes into the LRM bunker, landing 18 missiles and stunning the gun crew, damaging the launcher. (18 damage, crew stunned, LRM crit) The Griffin and Cyclops combined fire on the SRM bunker, chewing up the building, and then twin PPC volleys from the Warhammer blew out the back pylons, sending the entire bunker sagging in on itself (Destroyed SRM Turret)

Alexei swooped into a tight turn over the base, tipping the nose up, and then over, pivoting into a dive and releasing all 8 bombs before leveling out, spiraling away from the base as all 8 bombs split into a cloud of smaller explosives, carpeting the AC/10 bunker and nearby units in a hailstorm of explosives. The thundering detonations rumble across the enemies in a wave of destruction. (Hunter 40, Firestarter LL-5/RA-5/RL-5/LA-10/RTR-5/CTR-10, EisenFaust LL-30/RL-5/RA-5)

The Eisenfaust and Firestarter both fell, thrown off balance by the immense barrage (LT, 5 damage/ RT, 4 damage)

As the dust began to settle, the enemy began to push forward, the two damaged mechs struggling to their feet after several failed attempts, losing more armor as they floundered. Then the sensors picked up a new mech powering up in the admin facility garage, stomping out onto the battlefield. It was a heavy mech of some sort, it looked like, but the targeting computers beeped in confusion, attempting to match it to an existing design and failing. After a few tries it gave up and simply declared it an 'unknown hostile.'

It appeared to be a bird-leg mech like the Marauder, but smaller and lighter, with twin weapon pods that appeared to feature missile launch tubes, rather than energy weapons, but retaining the back mounted autocannon, and the nose, unlike the Marauder, ended in a crescent shape, armored flanges protected a single laser lens of some sort - the entire mech appearing to resemble, as much as anything, some sort of light Marauder.

---- Situation ----

Cyclops --- Minor damage --- 7 Heat
Archer --- Minor damage --- 0 Heat
Warhammer --- Minor damage --- 0 heat -- Engine Crit (+5 heat/turn)
Griffin --- No damage --- 2 Heat

---- Hostile Status ----

Firestarter -- +0
Phoenix -- +0
EisenFaust -- +0
Gladiator -- +0
Hunter -- +0
Striker -- +1
Onikage -- +1

[Gillian Chow]

“Whoa! That’s close enough, Mister Phoenix,” Gillian muttered as she trained her missile launchers on the enemy mech.

-
Hold position. Fire LRMs at Phoenix. Fire both large lasers at LRM turret.

[Felicity]

"Nice pass Captain! Good support." Felicity calls out on their unit frequency, hoping Alexei hears it.

Using the glassed trees as cover, Felicity takes aim at the Firestarter. It was just a little out of range of her secondary weapons. No big deal. She fired those at the bridge underneath the Striker...

(Hold position. Fire ERPPC at the Firestarter. Fire both SRM6s at the bridge underneath the Striker, hopefully collapsing it. If not possible, fire them at the Striker)

[Comstar]

The defense seemed to be crumbling, somewhat, as may of the guns either didn't fire thanks to injured crew, or damaged equipment. Still, fire arced out from, much failing to score lasting damage. The Eisenfaust clipped the Griffin with autocannon rounds, but they bounced off to impact on distant earth, while the mystery mech behind it also leveled its cannon and fired, slamming a volley into the Griffin's arm. (Hit RA, 5 damage)

The turrets attempted to punish the mechs to the east, but only the AC/10 turret had any luck, cracking away armor plating from the Warhammer (hit CT, 10 damage), while the Striker fired at the Griffin and missed wide, while the Phoenix missed the Archer, but did crack a few SRMs into the Cyclops, follwed up by a medium laser from the Gladiator. (Hit LA+RA+LL+RA, 2+2+2+5 damage) In return, the Cyclops pivoted and fired the chest mounted cannon, sending a high caliber shell into the Gladiator's right arm, impacting and then rupturing the limb in a roar of fire and metal fragments, nearly tearing the entire thing off (Hit RA, 20 damage, crit shoulder+hand)

Maja pivoted from behind the cliff, tracking the Firestarter and melting away leg structure, leaving the limb barely attached (Hit RL, 10 damage, crit hip), then she pivoted to target the bridge under the striker, but the energy beam only knocked out a cross strut, doing no meaningful damage.

The Griffin split fire, Felicty putting a PPC blast into the chest of the Firestarter (hit CT, 10 damage) and then a spiral volley of SRMs into the bridge supports (12 damage). Gillian targeted the approaching Phoenix, raining LRMs onto it in a shower of flame and thunder (hit LT+LA+RT, 9+5+4 damage), and then pivoting to spear the LRM bunker with both azure beams, sending her heat monitors spiking into the red and setting off alerts in the cockpit. Gillian slapped the overrides to keep the engine from shutting down, sweat beading on her forehead. (Piloting roll to avoid shutdown, passed) The twin beams scythed into the strucutre and melted the LRM gunnery compartment, killing the crew. (LRM turret disabled)

The bridge, after taking heavy fire, crumbled, sending the striker on a slow fall through a series of support beams until hit struck the earth hard, bouncing on the suspension and losing a tire with a crunch of metal (Hit FR, motive system damage)

The Firestarter, severely damaged, fell once again, shaking the earth as it landed on it side, more armor crumpling (hit RT, 4 damage), while the Gladiator, thrown off balance by the massive impact and sudden loss of weight, pitched onto the right side, landing on its outthrust left arm and then scraping the right torso (hit LA+RT, 5+1 damage, pilot injured)

The light mech attempted to rise, tripped again, and fell, the leg simply snapping out from beneath it. A few moments later, the canopy blew as the pilot ejected. The Gladiator also attempted to rise, skidding along the ground and ripping off the mangled right arm before it got its footing (Fall, RA destroyed)

The Hunter, it's LRM launcher wrecked by the bombing, attempted to turn and flee, but skidded, spinning out and making no progress whatsoever.

The mystery mech moved to reinforce that side while the Cyclops stomped uphill, ready to face it.

---- Situation ----

Cyclops --- Minor damage --- 3 Heat
Archer --- Minor damage --- 14 Heat
Warhammer --- Minor damage --- 0 heat -- Engine Crit (+5 heat/turn)
Griffin --- Minor damage --- 3 Heat

---- Hostile Status ----

Firestarter -- +0
Phoenix -- +0
EisenFaust -- +0
Gladiator -- +0
Hunter -- +2
Striker -- +0
Onikage -- +1

[Felicity]

"Moving up to support Miss Pirate. She's outnumbered." She hoped Eklund would do likewise, but she wasn't sure.

Firing up her jump jets, Felicity's Griffin leaped as far as it could to end up flanking the Striker. She fired at it before trying to punch a hole in it. After this she could get closer to the action.

(Jump to 0606 facing SE. Torso twist to fire SRMs at the Striker. Double punch the Striker!)

[Gillian Chow]

As the heat alarms screamed, Gillian mopped sweat from her brow and punched in a solution for counter battery fire. A partial salvo of LRMs whooshed from the Archer on the hill.

-
Hold position. Fire 1 LRM at AC/10 turret. Hold back other weapons in deference to heat problems.

[Comstar]

The fight was still hanging in the balance as a massive exchange of fire continued. The stranded Striker rotated its turret and emptied 5 SRMs into the Griffin point blank (hit LT+RA+CT+LT+RA, 2+2+2+2+2 damage), the AC/2 Turret unloaded into the Cyclops, clipping it with three salvos (hit CT+LL+LT, 2+2+2 damage) while the mystery mech followed up by raising both arm weapon pods and firing 4 SRMs from each, and the chest mounted laser spitting an emerald beam - though at least the autocannon failed to penetrate (Hit LT+RT+CT+CT+LT+CT, 2+2+2+2+2+5 damage).

The AC/10 turret pivoted and savaged the Warhammer with twin salvos, ripping away chunks of armor (hit RA+RT, 10+10 damage), followed by the Eisenfaust's back mounted cannon (Hit CT, 10 damage). The Gladiator scored an emerald beam on the Cyclops(hit RT, 5 damage), and the Phoenix backed it up with 4 SRMs, 2 of them chipping armor (hit RL, 4 damage), and a PPC blast at the Archer which was absorbed by the earth en-route to the mech's leg.

In vengeance, the Cyclops opened fire with the AC/20 at point blank, blowing away the chest armor of the Gladiator and cracking the engine casing (Hit CT, 20 damage, engine critical) followed by 4 missiles, three of them cracking additional plates (Hit LT+RT, 2+4 damage) The Archer, attempting to bleed heat, fired a single salvo, further chipping away the AC/10 bunker's defenses (6 damage). The Warhammer, after being rather brutally savaged, fired both PPCs, a medium laser, and 6 SRMs. The PPCs flayed the chest of the enemy mech, the laser following on, and then the missiles detonated up the left leg, blowing away the remaining struts holding it together and sending the hostile mech to the ground. (hit RT+CT+LT+LL+LL+LT+RA+LT+RA, 10+10+5+2+1+1+2+2+2 damage)

The Griffin unloaded 12 missiles, and while 5 failed to arm, 7 slammed home, shattered armor and rendering the striker completely immobile as the engine ruptured. (14 damage, engine destroyed, turret locked, crew stunned)

The Cyclops, battered though it was, managed to stay standing, but Maja, fighting the controls, couldn't keep her mech steady and it keeled over, and though she twisted the mech to avoid smashing an ammunition store into the ground (Edge spent to avoid ammo explosion), the engine took the brunt of the hit (CT hit, 7 damage, armor destroyed, Engine crit, Engine crit, CT hit 2 damage, Engine crit, Engine destroyed. Warhammer disabled by Engine destruction) The status on her mech flickered red, and then off, as power was suddenly cut, and then backup power flickered on the emergency lights in her now earthbound cockpit, leaving her out of the fight.

Thee Eisenfaust, without a leg, fell onto its front, crushing the chest armor and knocking the pilot out cold, the machine going limp. (Hit CT, 5 damage, Pilot injured, pilot blacks out)

Felicity, taking the opportunity, then punched the Striker with both hands, slapping away more armor and another wheel (hit, 12 damage, motive system damage) The phoenix bounded on twin plumes of flame to cross the gap andattack the Archer point blank, while the Onikage and Gladiator squared off with the cyclops, and the Hunter attempted to fly, damaged engine struggling to get up to speed.

---- Situation ----

Cyclops --- Moderate damage --- 2 Heat
Archer --- Minor damage --- 7 Heat
Warhammer --- ENGINE DESTROYED
Griffin --- Minor damage --- 0 Heat

---- Hostile Status ----

Firestarter -- DESTROYED
Phoenix -- +3
EisenFaust -- Blacked Out -- Immobile
Gladiator -- +0
Hunter -- +0
Striker -- +0
Onikage -- +0

[Felicity]

"Good hits!" Felicity called over comms before briefly turning on the loudspeaker. "Exit that Striker and you will not be harmed." Only when she turned it off did she notice the Warhammer toppling over and the heavy mech's heat level dropping. Had it shut down? She swore angrily in Spanish. Quickly, she reassessed the situation, making use of the cover she was behind to give herself a moment to think. The Cyclops was taking a beating. Meanwhile Gillian's Archer had some damage, but she thought it should be able to handle the Phoenix one versus one if necessary. She had to start shielding the pirate, drawing attention away from the collapsed Warhammer to ensure Eklund would be okay, as well as clearing the field as much as possible.

The situation was very stressful. However, it was also strangely exciting. This really was life or death. With adrenaline racing Felicity turned up the throttle and jumped forward. Time to try this again. Come on Griffin. Hunt them down. She flicked on her comms mid-air. "I'm coming in hot. Lighting up the Gladiator then we should focus the other two." She landed and turned her mech, preparing to fire. Her target was the Gladiator. "We can pull back to take out the turrets."

After firing a full barrage at the other trooper mech she strides forward, careful on the controls, to attempt a kick against the unknown mech's upper body. If they really were the Fortunes Ones she'd hit a bullseye.

(Jump to 1009 facing South. Torso twist and fire ERPPC and both SRM6s against the Gladiator. Attempt to kick the Onikage)

[Gillian Chow]

Gillian hastily turned her weapons towards the Phoenix that had jumped right in front of her.

--
No movement. 1 large laser and attempt to punch the Phoenix.

[Comstar]

Combat continued hard and fast, and though the vehicles seemed to be largely out of action, the remaining mechs gave their best shots, with mixed results. The Phoenix fired everything, but only dealt a solid blow with a single missile, the rest deflecting away or failing to arm at point blank range. (Hit CT, 2 damage).

The mystery mech fired another 8 missiles, and 6 penetrated, chewing up the Cyclops, followed by a medium laser. (Hit LT+CT+CT+LA+RA+LT+RT, 2+2+2+2+2+2+5 damage). Distracted by the leaping Griffin, the Gladiator attempted to defend itself with its remaining twin lasers, one of them carving some armor off the torso (hit RT, 5 damage). The twin turrets then both opened up, the AC/2 landing twin hits on the cyclops and its rapidly thinning torso armor (hit RT+LT, 2+2 damage), and the AC/10 catching the leaping griffin with twin streams of high-explosive shells, tearing away massive chunks of armor plating (hit CT+CT, 10+10 damage)

The Cyclop, at point blank, easily fired another cannon shell into the mystery mech, again catching the arm and shattering all of the armor plating on it into shrapnel, followed by a pair of missiles and twin lasers (hit RA+RA+RT+LT+RL, 20+2+2+5+5 damage). The Griffin unloaded on the Gladiator with everything, PPC shearing away structure and melting supports in the chest, while the SRM volleys leapt from her mech's shoulders to rain down, 9 of the 12 penetrating in a wave of destruction. (hit CT+RT+RT+RT+LT+CT+RT+RT+LA+LT, 10+2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2 damage, engine crit)

The onslaught staggered both allied mechs, but they kept their standing, as did the mystery mech, but the Gladiator lost balance and fell, crashing down hard (hit LT+LL, 5+1 damage, pilot injured)

With the Phoenix leaping up into her face, Gillian fired her large laser, but it didn't manage a solid blow and dealt no lasting damage.

The melee got physical as the Phoenix kicked the chest of the Archer (hit CT, 10 damage), and then suffered a revenge punch to the leg. (hit LL, 7 damage). The mystery mech kicked the cyclops in the ankle (hit LL, 13 damage), shattering armor, and then suffered a double blow from Griffin and cyclops both. (hit CT+LL, 11+19 damage)

Shockingly, all combatants kept their balance after that.

The Gladiator stumbled to its feet while the Hunter continued to squeal away, tires smoking, and the mystery mech staggered back into the woods for cover. Radar beeped as it picked up the Vulcan, apparently Alexei felt confident to make another run.

---- Situation ----

Cyclops --- Heavy damage --- 6 Heat
Archer --- Moderate damage --- 3 Heat
Warhammer --- ENGINE DESTROYED
Griffin --- Moderate damage --- 6 Heat

---- Hostile Status ----

Firestarter -- DESTROYED
Phoenix -- +1
EisenFaust -- Blacked Out -- Immobile
Gladiator -- +0
Hunter -- -- Disarmed - Running -- +1
Striker -- -- Immobile
Onikage -- +1