Tarsus para bellum

[Tiglath]

Kit

As per PM and also here's the link back/refresher
viewtopic.php?p=692139#p692139

Kit looks out over the valley that he feels is now definitively "his". The Rangers and his own platoon have laboured furiously to dig themselves into the "fold" in the peak rising behind them.

A fire team of the Greys file back into the now actively manned lines (to eat and rest) and receive good natured abuse from the emplaced SEMC "Skivin' twats! Join the proper infantry and do some ruddy digging!"

Gaughan seems to shadow Kit and opines "Those Greys boys are rare fellas so they are, sir. I knew Isselbacher and his lads were headin' out an' still but rarely I saw them. OP's established on the end of each spur of the valley" He apologizes "I didn't think you'd mind, sir" and then continues obliquely but in good nature "The lads, my lads, are averse to officers... but it's not yerself, sir". He sighs "Fer fek's sake you were on Inchin! The Baron was a mad auld bugger so he was - an' so were all those around him. You know what it was like! In fairness you were the only half decent officer on the staff there". Gaughan gives a slow smile "Now don't go takin' that as a compliment - but you didn't fare too badly in a recent vote!"

Switching gears he states "We should get out of our lines an' recce our own positions while Isselbacher holds the ends of the valley. Two or three more hours of hot sun on the dirt we've turned an' it'll all begin to blend right in. The other advantage of this hot place is that any bushes we cut to use as camo won't change colour as it seems as they're mostly all dried out anyway. I'll get Isselbacher to scope us from his positions too".

[shaidar]

Frank cocks his head and looks at T'lia

"You mean it's likely she'll use us to do her dirty work and then do us in?"

[Tiglath]

Frank cocks his head and looks at T'lia

"You mean it's likely she'll use us to do her dirty work and then do us in?"

T'lia considers her reply and then states "That's one of the options she will consider but only in terms of benefit to her mission goal. All I really know of Executive Outcomes Division is their reputation for laser focus on "outcome" - which is very often the termination of some Corporate's command with extreme prejudice. Collateral damage to Corporate assets is of no concern as SuSAG will have already factored that into the decision to deploy them. Collateral damage to anyone or anything else won't even register. They are the Corporation's weapon of last resort because Corporate civil war is anathema to them - it's incredibly bad for business".

[shaidar]

Frank

"If you'll parden my poor parallel, we would be making a deal with Fenrir wolf and doing our best not to get eaten, although I certainly do not set myself up as Odin in this metaphor. If we would proceed then I would need the agreement of all the officers, here and at the base."

[Tiglath]

Frank

"If you'll parden my poor parallel, we would be making a deal with Fenrir wolf and doing our best not to get eaten, although I certainly do not set myself up as Odin in this metaphor. If we would proceed then I would need the agreement of all the officers, here and at the base."

T'lia replies smoothly "If you wish to return to the base and deal with the matters there we can be back within the hour in our new transport. It seems SuSAG won't actively look for this shuttle since it was commandeered by Sgt Major Turner. Even so we can get it hidden at the Kruger ranch in good time - the sheds there accommodate small orbital craft. As for our passengers we might be better placed to "intern" them at the ranch since we are now potentially allied to SuSAG - or one half of it".

[gurusql]

Couple of questions:

(1) Have we been able to get eyes on the incoming force. I really would like move details to help plan the ambush? I am especially interested on the reserve force the enemy had.
(2) Has the false mayday started to pull them in yet?

[shaidar]

Frank

"Agreed, let us return to the ranch and plan our next moves. We shall have to be very careful how we intern Ms Pestis."

[Tiglath]

Frank

"Agreed, let us return to the ranch and plan our next moves. We shall have to be very careful how we intern Ms Pestis."

T'lia offers "Give her "trusted ally" status so she doesn't start calculating alternative options but try not to let her see anything sensitive. She'll also need a full team of "minders". I'm going to adopt a less visible profile".

[Tiglath]

Couple of questions:

(1) Have we been able to get eyes on the incoming force. I really would like move details to help plan the ambush? I am especially interested on the reserve force the enemy had.
(2) Has the false mayday started to pull them in yet?

Seen and noted - and good instincts!

Going to combo a response to the above in with the return of the "Away Team" and Freya (still in temporary NPC mode) but in happy news BackworldTraveller will be back with us shortlyish!

[Tiglath]

All

The "away team" load up aboard their newly acquired shuttle and lay in a reciprocal course for a return to the Kruger ranch. On safely landing there but an hour plus later (6G is fast!) the shuttle taxis into one of the massive vehicle sheds for the onboard "guests" to be temporarily "interned". T'lia states she "muted" the shuttle's transponder over the ocean to further hamper attempts to locate the craft which would no doubt be difficult enough given Tarsus' "participating democracy" approach to air traffic control. Of course SuSAG may have orbital assets but T'lia reports no active sensor searches during the flight.

Kit

Kit responds to another whistle and a shout of "Guv'nor!" from his Grunt APC crew which accompanies a signal relayed to his personal comm / faceplate HUD. He notes that this is a real time visual feed. As the Grunt's periscoped optics focus in he sees two Essor recon drones streaking across country at nap of earth. Although one trails smoke the pair of drones clearly have the edge in piloting skill being able to evade the fire from their pursuers which appears to be a group of five or six grav bikes with one or two crew. The bikes fire on the recon drones with forward mounted machine guns or, in the case of double crewed types, with RPGs fired by the pillion passenger.

As the pursuit nears the heights of Spion Kop Kit is able to make out enough detail to identify the drones as from SEMC's Tech/Recon section. Freya leans from her drone's cab and fires her gaussrifle which causes a grav bike to nose into the veldt and cartwheel into complete destruction. In the other drone the distinction of a cerise ascot identifies the onboard rifleman as "Camp Freddy" (Freya's "minder") hanging out of his drone's cab is a local youth whose contribution appears to be hurling abuse and incendiary gestures at the grav bikers. Prompted by Freddy the aggressive tyke pulls the pin from a grenade and drops it in the path of a grav bike whose attempts to evade the blast cause it to clip a rock outcrop and disintegrate. This result is cheered by the stood to and still concealed and camouflaged mercs in their foxholes in the "slot" of Spion Kop.

Freya's voice comes over the comm using a low power low range encrypted radio. He diction is laboured no doubt due to her drone's high G manoeuvres "SEMC units vicinty Spion Kop this is Freya and Freddy inbound with angry company. Plan to overfly your pos so you can swat the flies. They are so cross! We have a full recon package of their entire set up - including the choir and the band! Um... over?"

At the extremity of visual range Kit sees the distinctive strobing flash of rapid pulse plasma main armament immediately followed by four catastrophic explosions and pillars of fire one of which he's sure included a tank turret. It seems that on his extreme right the SEMC cavalry troop are getting into the fight - and winning it!

Gaughan asks Kit "Orders, sir?" He adds "All or nothin' if we're going to open up and reveal our positions, sir. The speed of those things makes 'em nera impossible to hit without advanced fire control but if we can surprise them an' Miss Freya puts them fight above us we might get a few of them. Looks like civvy grav bikes so they could be a recon element or maybe just more mobile raiders?"

[shaidar]

Frank

Frank asks Klaus to make their new guests (prisoners) confortable, and asks the Major if she'd be the SEMC liason for Ms Pestis and find her some suitable quarters.

(He asks the officers to quietly make it clear to the troops that while Ms Pestis is working with us we should be careful what is said in her presence, and she is not to be allowed access to SEMC comms without clearing it with an officer. The prisoners are to be kept comfortable and treated well, although not allowed outside).

Once he is happy that these matters are in hand he will introduce his family to their hosts and make sure they have a chance to settle in.

At that point I think we'll need a meeting to bring everyone up to speed from both sides and work out a plan.

[joertexas]

Frank

Frank asks Klaus to make their new guests (prisoners) confortable, and asks the Major if she'd be the SEMC liason for Ms Pestis and find her some suitable quarters.

(He asks the officers to quietly make it clear to the troops that while Ms Pestis is working with us we should be careful what is said in her presence, and she is not to be allowed access to SEMC comms without clearing it with an officer. The prisoners are to be kept comfortable and treated well, although not allowed outside).

Once he is happy that these matters are in hand he will introduce his family to their hosts and make sure they have a chance to settle in.

At that point I think we'll need a meeting to bring everyone up to speed from both sides and work out a plan.

Prerna finds the most secure room available (a shipping container will suffice if there's nothing else), and takes her to it. She, with T'Lia standing watch, searches the woman thoroughly, gives her an opportunity to take a bathroom break, and then places her in the room with someone guarding the door from the outside. "I don't know who or what you are, and so I'm considering you to be the second most dangerous person I've ever met. Accordingly, if you try to escape, you will be shot dead, no questions asked."

[Tiglath]

Recap for all with the Meeting pending

Kit, of course, is in the midst of fending off an invasion to the north of the Kruger ranch.

Corporate assets:
SuSAG have their main production facility and garrison on Tarsus at Evander which is where their static garrison of high tech infantry is based
viewtopic.php?p=668722#p668722
They clearly also have a "site of special scientific interest" on the moon Rond
"Ice Station Z" is their facility in the Icewald north of Regiment (where the away team just were) but seems to have troubles of its own. The facility may or may not be exactly coincident with the "psi echo" experienced on arrival in orbit which, in turn, may or may not be connected to the issues at this base.

SEMC assets:
A strike force of Aslan from the Teahleikhoi / Regt of the Falling Night. This force is under the personal command of Warlord Ikazuchi “Thunder” and currently staging deep outsystem.
Ally(?) Ms Yersinia Pestis of Executive Outcomes Division, SuSAG AG, LIC, Trin, Trin's Veil
SEMC Patrol Cruiser 400t
Allied Zhodani Zhdits class destroyer escort 400t. Type "S" designation Intruder Leader???
SuSAG shuttle (recent acquisition)
Allied Merc Transport ~1000t trader. Interstellar Transport for SEMC.

Intel brief redux:
Ref: viewtopic.php?p=692827#p692827

[Tiglath]

Prerna

Prerna finds the most secure room available (a shipping container will suffice if there's nothing else), and takes her to it. She, with T'Lia standing watch, searches the woman thoroughly, gives her an opportunity to take a bathroom break, and then places her in the room with someone guarding the door from the outside. "I don't know who or what you are, and so I'm considering you to be the second most dangerous person I've ever met. Accordingly, if you try to escape, you will be shot dead, no questions asked."

Prerna searches Ms Yersinia Pestis and finds clothing and articles consistent with her cover as a "joy girl". She carries no weapons and nothing more than a standard comm. In response to Prerna's dire warning she returns an agreeable smile and replies ""Noted. Thank you Major Nayar".

[dongriffiths]

Klaus

Klaus and team escort our guests to secure area and impress upon them that they will not be harmed if they follow instructions and behave themselves.

Naffo takes up initial guard duty as everyone else checks their weapons and performs basic maintenance before rotating in to allow him to do the same.

[gurusql]

Kit

Sgt Gaughan, "No half measures. Some things can’t be cut in half. You can’t half-love someone. Killing half the scouts will not help us nor will letting them get a lucky shot off on Freya or Freddy. We need that intel so that buzzing flies is not replaced with the beating of war-drums. Scramble their comms when they get near and then tell the men to pull out all the stops to kill them all when then come into the zone. We will re-hide when they are all dead. And I hope if goes without saying no friendly fire at each other or SEMC equipment. The craft will be fast fire at where they will be."

Kit replies back to Freya, "Fly paper and swatter are ready. Lead them right up the valley as low a possible and circle the drain."

Forward Observer Skill [_2d6+4]=(5+2)=7+4=11
Tactics (Tactics-2 +2, Int B +1) [_2d6+3]=(2+4)=6+3=9
Leadership -2, B INT [_2d6+3]=(2+4)=6+3=9

[BackworldTraveller]

Freya

I'm all for no one getting off an accidental shot on me.

And who calls themselves 'Yersinia Pestis'? Is she an assassin or something? Lady 'Black Death' is quite a Monica!

[joertexas]

Prerna

Prerna searches Ms Yersinia Pestis and finds clothing and articles consistent with her cover as a "joy girl". She carries no weapons and nothing more than a standard comm. In response to Prerna's dire warning she returns an agreeable smile and replies ""Noted. Thank you Major Nayar".

Perna takes all of Pestis' possessions and sets them outside her erstwhile cell. "We will return your property when we can talk. For now, please indulge my abundance of caution." After placing her in sort-of-safe storage, Prerna ensures that there is both a guard and a remote camera keyed to her helmet display. Then, she goes to find her wife and her team, in that order.

[Tiglath]

Kit and Freya

Sgt Gaughan, "No half measures. Some things can’t be cut in half. You can’t half-love someone. Killing half the scouts will not help us nor will letting them get a lucky shot off on Freya or Freddy. We need that intel so that buzzing flies is not replaced with the beating of war-drums. Scramble their comms when they get near and then tell the men to pull out all the stops to kill them all when then come into the zone. We will re-hide when they are all dead. And I hope if goes without saying no friendly fire at each other or SEMC equipment. The craft will be fast fire at where they will be."

Kit replies back to Freya, "Fly paper and swatter are ready. Lead them right up the valley as low a possible and circle the drain."

I'm all for no one getting off an accidental shot on me.

Kit advises his command and sets his units into ambush. His squad and their IFV hold the right of the SEMC positions while Gaughan's Rangers hold the left. While The Greys are concealed amongst the arms of rocky terrain at the mouth of the valley all the SEMC infantry units are in camouflaged trenches and fire positions with the IFV both camouflaged and hidden behind the rise of Spion Kop (Tactics (Tactics-2 +2, Int B +1) [_2d6+3]=(2+4)=6+3=9) [Success! ].

"Here we come!" Freya grunts through a high G manoeuvre "Kit, you have six targets inbound. One is flying south along the western ridgeline". "Have that. Targetting" comes from the hidden IFV crew. (See very accomplished Air Spotting by Freya in OOC below ).

Looking forwards Kit hears Able calling his squad's targets "Nuts wiv my crew - one on the left, everyone else the on on the right. Inky 'old back there's annuver fekker out there...". Kit spots the "missing" grav bike weaving among the jumbled rocks and asssigns it to Gaughan's squad. (OOC: Here used as Recon: Forward Observer Skill [_2d6+4]=(5+2)=7+4=11 Success! )

The grav bikes speed up the valley taking long range shots at the evading Essor drones which fly defensively. Nevertheless Kit sees sparks fly from the hulls of both drones as the grav bikers' long range fire finds its mark! (OOC: ) Nevertheless, after a few anxious seconds the drones fly on apparently unscathed.

"Steady... steady..." Able controls his team's fire until the grav bikes get to within 300 meters. As they do he gets a nod from Gaughan who brings his LAG to the aim and Able calls " 'Ave it!"

The grav bike flying the western ridge begins a violent evasive dive as it sights a what appears to be a grav tank rising from the dead ground to its front. It never completes the manoeuvre and disappears in a strobing flash of actinic light. The IFV confirms "K kill". The SEMC positions flare with bursts of 9mm autofire as fire teams of riflemen and individual support weapons open fire on the grav bikers. It soon becomes apparent that the grav bikers synthetic "leathers" are no defence against DS rounds and that their machines are unarmoured. One bike and both crew are immolated in the catastrophic destruction of their machine by a hit from Nuts' PGMP 12. Ink stands up to track fire from her SAW at a biker below her in the valley and pitches the rider lifeless from his saddle. The Rangers cease firing. To their front one grav bike smolders where it crashed and another hangs static in mid air with its dead rider hanging below it by a safety strap. Down amongst the jumbled rocks Kit sees that the last bike has been "disassembled" by small arms fire - as has its rider.

Victory and the field goes to the SEMC!

(OOC:

Engagement at ~ 300m

Spotting by SEMC ground units:
2d6: (2 + 1) = 3
2d6: (5 + 1) = 6
2d6: (4 + 2) = 6
2d6: (1 + 2) = 3
2d6: (5 + 6) = 11
2d6: (3 + 4) = 7

Air Spotting by Tech Wing (Freya):
2d6 + 3: (6 + 1) + 3 = 10 Sensor Ops (Success)
2d6 + 1: (6 + 3) + 1 = 10 Comms (Sucess)

Spotting by Insurgent Scouts:
Kit's Squad 2d6: (4 + 1) = 5 (Fail) You jammy gits!
Gaughan's Rangers 2d6 − 1: (4 + 6) − 1 = 9 (Fail - but only just!)
Greys Squad 2d6 − 2: (3 + 6) − 2 = 7 (Fail)
SEMC Grunt III IFV = NA (Hidden: would be +1 for vehicle -1 for camo but No Line of Sight).

DMs To Hit (10+ Long range for ACRs):
Grav Vehs flying Nap of Earth at ~150kph -1
Targetting grav bikes vs human sized/infantry +1/+2
Targetting IFV +4
Targetting concealed units -1).

Insurgents LMG fire:
2d6 + 2: (6 + 6) + 2 = 14 Ruddy hell! Three hits!
LMG Pen at long range + 2 Essor AV=4 Net -2 to Pen
1d6: 2 = 2 Score = 0 No Effect
1d6: 2 = 2 Score = 0 No Effect
1d6: 6 = 6 Score = 4 Surface Hit
Surface Hit Location 2d6: (4 + 6) = 10 Launch Rail - which you don't have!

2d6 + 2: (5 + 5) + 2 = 12 Have they read the script??? Two hits!
1d6: 5 = 5 Score = 3 No Effect
1d6: 5 = 5 Score = 3 No Effect
Good job those hits were on the worst (KEAP) table!

Highlights of SEMC fire from ambush:
Nuts: 2d6 + 2: (4 + 4) + 2 = 10 Hit with PGMP 12
Major Penetration = 1d6: 5 = 5 Catastrophic Hit (vehicle destroyed all crew KIA).

[gurusql]

Kit

"The bikers are the first wave and soon to be the bait. Freya please confirm that we can come out of hiding to reset the trap and give us fair warning when we have to get back in the holes."

Assuming that Freya confirms

"Sgt Gaughan, as quickly as we can we want to move the majority of wreckage, there.", point to a spot on the hill, "So that when the next unit comes to check out what happened to their friends, we will have them in the kill box. Once the wreckage is moved have the men reset the positions and be re-hidden"