Author Topic: Cavalli’s Cavaliere  (Read 81997 times)

Nav_Alpha

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 3679
Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #60 on: 21 July 2016, 20:52:52 »
Following a series of fruitless skirmishes between Capellan insurgents and their regular support and New Canton mercenaries, authorities made the decision to launch a major offensive.

The entire Stalwart Support regiment, a full regiment of New Cantonese militia and elements of Jotunns' Bastards and Cavalli’s Cavaliere pushed forward in three columns through the Oakes region and into the contested Northwest Coastline.
Densely wooded, cross-crossed with delta rivers feeding into the sea and generally cold and wet, the area had become the playground of Liao insurgents who knew they could easily strike and then fall back to their island holdouts.

Moving in three columns the attackers proceeded to drop off company sized units of infantry, each equipped with a platoon of heavy mortars or in several cases Sniper batteries, every 20km or so.
Within three days the New Cantonese had created a series of inter-connecting fire bases and forced insurgents back.

Cavalli’s Cavaliere and the Jotunns' scored a major victory after trapping a full company of insurgent mechs and vehicles near the Fuc-How Rapids. Rushing to assist their comrades, a Harloc Raider company was forced to run the gauntlet of heavy artillery and even swarms of Conventional Fighters. After repeatedly being bloodied, Zhong-Shao Cho made the decision to fall back and after learning they'd been abandoned by the regulars, the remaining insurgents surrendered - in what would be the first case of a several mass surrenders during the campaign.

The only sour note would come from a case of treachery - believed to be the result of a sizeable Capellan bribe.
 - Military Matters: 3063 Review


"Hold your position, conserve ammo... and wait for the Dragoons to go Feral"
- last words of unknown merc, Harlech, 3067

Nav_Alpha

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 3679
Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #61 on: 21 July 2016, 20:54:28 »
Black Horse Base, North Coast Region
New Canton
3063


"Remind me again why we're doing this, Jorge?"
The giant native of Maxwell chuckled at his lance mate's gripe.
"You mean bribing our lance commander... Can't think why, unless you'd prefer pulling weekend duty again?"
Beside him Ling Hoan let out a chuckle.
The Locust pilot towered over his diminutive Capellan companion - but that wasn't saying much, the high gravity native towered over everyone in the unit.
Easily hoisting the woven straw basket of native fruits, Jorge Calosso reached forward and grabbed the Command and Control bunker's door.
"Anyway, the captain will appreciate this stuff. I hear they don't get stuff like this out in Canopus-"
All idle chattered stopped as his eyes adjusted to the dim light in bunker.
Captain Aurora Weathers law sprawled in the middle of the room - one hand was partially caught up in a tangle of wires and cords and she'd brought down an assortment of computer gear when she fell.
A nimbus of bright red blood fanned out around her head, staining her white blonde hair.

Standing over her was Roberto Singh. The Lynx pilot's eyes flicked from the body, to Calosso to the 9mm TK Pistol sitting on the desk to his right.
"Bobby.... What the-"
Calosso broke off as the door behind him flew open. Stepping to one side the big Locust pilot drew his sidearm and covered Singh, but quickly flicked his eyes toward the open door.
Eugene Cannavaro stood in the doorway a 10mm Eagle auto pistol drawn in one hand while the other clutched a balled up towel.
Everything seemed to happen at once - from the corner of his eye Calosso saw Singh dive forward and begin clawing for this pistol. Without thinking Calosso turned and fired.
The first round took off the top of the Lynx pilot's head in a splatter of gore.
At the same time, another shot rang out - two thunderclaps in such a confined space left Calosso's ears ringing.
As Singh crumpled to the floor, Calosso twisted, desperately bringing his pistol up and around.
Hoan was already falling, a bright red splotch staining his green fatigue shirt.
"Eugene?"
While Hoan was short and lean, the Archer pilot was small and squat - with seemingly no neck, his heavy browed skull seemed to sit in among bullish shoulders.
"You weren't supposed to be here, Jorge. No one was," He said, almost sadly.
Both men fired at the same time - but while Calosso's aim was off, the other man's wasn't.

Pain... So much pain. Outside Calosso could hear the distant thunder grumble of combat. Slowly, carefully despite the ice pick pain in his shoulders he pulled himself arm over arm toward the command panel.
Eugene had fled. Calosso didn't know how long he'd Been out. He'd woke me to explosions somewhere outside.
Finally reaching the commlink, he stretched out for it - fighting off a new sudden wave of pain.
"All units, we've been betrayed-"


"Hold your position, conserve ammo... and wait for the Dragoons to go Feral"
- last words of unknown merc, Harlech, 3067

Nav_Alpha

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 3679
Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #62 on: 25 July 2016, 01:15:36 »
Thanks to Kojak for this scenario!

GAME SET-UP
   CBT: Use a combination of Light Urban and Flatlands maps.

SITUATION:

Two months and the Capellan revolution is about bust.
Badly battered the Harloc Raiders have withdrawn back to their dropships as the insurgents give ground or outright surrender.
Caught out, the Raiders' commander lance has been cone erred in some rathole town.
Felix and his men are sent in to clean up.

While, technically neutral observers a Level II of Word of Blake Militia have moved to support them as a blocking force. While not committed to battle the six mechs do the Word ensure no Capellan forces will escort.

Defender
     The Defender consists of the Harloc Raiders' command lance.
At least two must be stealth-armored 'Mechs. The Raiders are considered Veteran.
Sang-shao Wu Kang Kuo is an elite warrior and pilots a stealth equipped Pillager
The Defender may deploy anywhere on the Light Urban maps.

WARCHEST
Track Cost: 400 WP
Optional Bonuses (all bonuses cumulative):
+ 150 Minefield: The Defender may pre-designate 2D6 minefields before deployment.
+150 Bodyguards: Half the Defenders may increase their skills to Elite.

Victory Bonuses (bonuses not cumulative):
   +325 Partial Victory: Complete two objectives.
   +550 Total Victory: Complete all objectives.

OBJECTIVES
1. Get your man. Kill was Sang-shao Wu Kang Kuo.
2. More salvage. Render at least one stealth-armored ‘Mech salvageable.
3. Wipe ‘em out. Destroy all defending forces.
« Last Edit: 25 July 2016, 01:19:13 by Nav_Alpha »


"Hold your position, conserve ammo... and wait for the Dragoons to go Feral"
- last words of unknown merc, Harlech, 3067

Nav_Alpha

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 3679
Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #63 on: 25 July 2016, 01:27:35 »
So, that was that...

I took the command and fire lances against the Harloc Raider command lance, which had holed up in a village. Wu Kang's stealth Pillager was most deadly - long range sniping and then shifting targets. But we cut down the two Stealth Thunders pretty quickly

I'd put Paige in the captured Cereberus and Travis in the Tempest to replace his ruined Victor.
Sadly Paige managed to lose his brand new mech taking out one Thunder. Both total loses.
Felix ended up going after the Pillager solo, which proved preeety dicey. Lost a leg and an arm but managed to stand up, shakily on his remaining arm and damaged leg.
As the Pillager trundled back he put an LBX round right down the cockpit
Sang-shao Wu Kang Kuo is dead and the Harloc Raiders are lifting off world


"Hold your position, conserve ammo... and wait for the Dragoons to go Feral"
- last words of unknown merc, Harlech, 3067

Nav_Alpha

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 3679
Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #64 on: 26 July 2016, 19:00:16 »
Contract: IND-5889-11-COR
EMPLOYER: Basantapur Fine Metals
LOCATION: Colorado
DAYS TO JUMP POINT: 4.31 days
TYPE OF ACTION: Security
LENGTH OF CONTRACT: Six months
UNIT TYPE: Any combat
UNIT SIZE: Company
PAY: Good
SUPPORT: Half
TRANSPORT: Half costs to Colorado
SALVAGE RIGHTS: Negotiable
COMMAND: Integrated, with liaison

Colorado is the largest source of terrestrial-based germanium in the Federated Suns and has long provided jump core materials used across the nation. Basantapur Fine Metals remains the number one supplier of germanium but fears forced nationalization or possible damage as the FedCom Civil War heats up and has banded together with several smaller mining firms to hire mercenaries to provide security for various facilities and resources.

SITUATION: Situated in the heart of the Crucis March, Colorado is yet another high pressure point and the Colorado militia has fractured along pro-Victor and pro-Archon-Princess lines. Already there have been several bloody skirmishes around the capital Denver and Basantapur fears its facilities could be damaged or annexed as part of the combat.

OBJECTIVE: The hired unit will provide basic security to the major Basantapur facility at Apache, on the Yuma continent and corporate headquarters on the nearby continent of Montrose. Security will also be required to rotate through several facilities belonging to other smaller mining companies across Yuma and Montrose.
It is expected the hired unit will also safeguard and escort various shipments of rare metals.

CONTRACT: The employer will cover half of the transport from the Chaos March to Colorado and half the costs of supporting the hired unit. Salvage rights are up for negotiation, however Basantapur is seeking to create its own mech-equipped corporate security force and will bargain hard for all captured materials.
Field command will rest with the unit commander, however the unit will fall in overall command of the company's director of security Kyle Branton. A liaison officer will also be assigned to the unit.

TERRAIN:
Centuries of strip mining have turned the once pristine arctic world into an ecological disaster. 
Most of Colorado is cold (never reaching above 20 degrees centigrade) and mainly made up of icy tundra and windswept flat lands.
The main continent of Montrose boasts several impressive mountain ranges and is connected to the neighboring  Yuma continent by a wide isthmus. Yuma is criss-crossed with strip mining operations and several large open pit mines. As such, it's generally considered a complete ecological failure.
Corporate interests on Montrose have gone a long way to rectifying some of the damage done there in recent years, but the continent is also badly ravaged.
Several shanty towns and small cities dot its southern coastline but the main population is situated in the capital of Denver, which is a sprawling ugly scar along the south western coastline. Pre-fab, cheap buildings abound apart from the inner city and corporate enclaves and the biggest collection of people live in "Mine Town" - a stretch of cheap houses, gambling dens, bars, brothels and other places of vice catering to miners.

The Chaffee and Lincoln continents are home to much smaller populations as the mines there have mostly petered out.

Despite its location in the heart of Federated Suns space, Colorado has a frontier, Wild West feel to it.










"Hold your position, conserve ammo... and wait for the Dragoons to go Feral"
- last words of unknown merc, Harlech, 3067

Nav_Alpha

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 3679
Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #65 on: 26 July 2016, 19:42:54 »
Behind the scenes:

The split of the Colorado militia could almost be seen as a metaphor for the greater FedCom Civil War raging around it - a staunch Lyran nationalist appointed to lead the unit to ensure its loyalty, clamp downs on pro-Davion sentiment descending into shots fired and all out war.

Leutnant-General Reiner Stauss was appointed head of the Colorado militia in 3062 by the Archon herself, who sensed a need to position loyal commanders across the FedSuns. A career officer Stauss is now Social General - he attended the Naglering on a scholarship - but is very much the prim Lyran soldier. Strauss, a veteran of the 4th Succession War, the War of 3039 and the Clan conflict was due to retire when he was called back into service.
Unfortunately, his rabid pro-Lyran sentiments and a series of crackdowns on dissenters saw the militia fracture.
He and his forces still hold the capital but furious with Basantapur's slow output of precious germanium has started taking convoys "into protective custody" and marching them straight to waiting dropships.

Major (not Kommandant, Major!) Chelsea Kelly served under Strauss during the Clan War and as a native of Colorado was handpicked by him to accompany him back.
Previously loyal to Katherine Steiner-Davion, she grew increasingly hostile as the Civil War raged on but it was the death of her former fiancee Captain Fabius Larsen on Kathil that pushed her to outright insolence. Her mentor and commander came down hard on her and several other dissenters, prompting a large scale mutiny.
Lacking the troops to directly take her former commander down, Kelly has pulled her forces into the rocky hills above Apache on Yuma.

Prior to the Civil War, the Colorado militia boasted a battalion of Battlemechs, with an attached infantry regiment (light infantry with some air mobile capabilities) and a battalion of heavy armour and artillery).
Previously the unit had been much smaller and mainly made up of reservists, but Strauss overhauled the entire outfit, brought in several other recently retired officers and NCOs and even petitioned to Archon Princess for several new mechs.

Now, while much of the armour and support forces remain reservists, the battlemech element has expanded to a full battalion and the infantry has developed its alpine and cold weather effectiveness.

The pro-Steiner faction possess a slight advantage in numbers (all up, a reinforced company of mechs, about a battalion of infantry and most of the armoured troops) but cedes the advantage in training and loyalty.
Kelly managed to rally a mech company and an infantry battalion to her side and knows she can count on her subordinates, while many of Strauss' men stayed with him purely out of not wanting to rock the boat.

Curiously, a full infantry battalion and a handful of armoured crews and even some mechwarriors decided to stay neutral and have pulled back to their training facility in the northern tundra.
At least a full lance of mechwarriors however rejected both sides and struck out for themselves as bandits - they have raided several Basantapur convoys but both sides of the conflict have refused to do anything to stop them.


"Hold your position, conserve ammo... and wait for the Dragoons to go Feral"
- last words of unknown merc, Harlech, 3067

snakespinner

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 2687
Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #66 on: 27 July 2016, 02:44:40 »
If the Lyrans are requisitioning convoys you will probably end up fighting them and the bandits.
Looks like a fun campaign apart from the salvage. O0
I wish I could get a good grip on reality, then I would choke it.
Growing old is inevitable,
Growing up is optional.
Watching TrueToaster create evil genius, priceless...everything else is just sub-par.

Nav_Alpha

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 3679
Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #67 on: 27 July 2016, 20:01:21 »
Three scenarios in as part of the Colorado campaign - and i'd dub them "the good, the bad and the ugly".

First up: the bad.
Fire lance was escorting a convoy of ore containers and mining trucks from the major mine to our employer's primary processing station. As they reached a bridge over a frozen river, Davion troops struck from ambush - firing mainly on the bridge.
That little display of fire power left the Lineholder and one truck stranded on the far side, while the Warhammer, Banshee and most of the trucks were on the other.
In the end we lost two trucks, the Warhammer was victim to an ammo explosion (a total write off) and the Lineholder was gutted and left sprawled out on the ice.
We did manage to down an ancient Blackjack and hole a Sentry, but over all... this was a total loss.
And Joe Paige managed to lose his third bloody mech! First the Caeser, then the brand new Cerebrus and now the Warhammer!

Some deadly shooting from a Davion Rakshasa all around!

The next mission was another classic convoy job - but this time I took the Command lance and some armoured support. We had a brief run in with two Davion scouts (Fireball and a Wasp). Some shots were fired and they fled under Forced Withdrawal.
We took no damage and got the convoy home.

Lastly... the ugly.

Sick of convoys getting ambushed and constant Davion activity, Felix let it be known that a large shipment was being moved. Certain both sides had ears inside the company, his guess was rewarded with large scale troop movement as he rolled out.

But instead of another bunch of ore trucks, the ambushing Davions found Command lance, the Gladius and two Pegasus hovertanks.
As battle was joined in an icy valley, new MAD alerts went off - a full lance of bandits, former Militia warriors who went rogue entered the fray.

This quickly turned into a three way fight, with the Davion light company stuck in the middle of the two forces.
As the battle progressed, Felix reached out to the Davion commander - offering to let the remains of their force retreat un-attacked, if both sides turned on the bandits.
And so it went, the bandits were destroyed and less than half of the Davion company limped away.
Also! I was very glad to kill that damn Davion Rakshasa this time around!

Here's the remains left on the battlefield:
Graveyard contains:
Pegasus Scout Hover Tank (3058 Upgrade) (Cavalli's Cavaliere)
Driver : Ipatia [4/5]
Kills : 1
Destroyed by Drillson Heavy Hover Tank (Standard) #2 (Renagade Davions)

Condor Heavy Hover Tank (Standard) (Renagade Davions)
Driver : Ilinian Holzer [4/5]
Kills : 0
Destroyed by Pegasus Scout Hover Tank (3058 Upgrade) (Cavalli's Cavaliere)

Rakshasa MDG-1A (Renagade Davions)
Pilot : Olivier Armand [4/5] ( 6 hit(s)   )
Kills : 0
Destroyed by pilot error.

Centurion CN9-AH (Bandits)
Pilot : Zenawi Kamzee [4/5]
Kills : 0
Destroyed by Drillson Heavy Hover Tank (Standard) #2 (Renagade Davions)

Nightsky NGS-4S (Bandits)
Pilot : Melchior Hodyl [4/5] ( 3 hit(s) )
Kills : 0
Destroyed by Marauder MAD-5M (Cavalli's Cavaliere)

Centurion CN9-AH #2 (Bandits)
Pilot : Isabela Rodríguez [4/5]
Kills : 0
Destroyed by Lynx LNX-9Q (Cavalli's Cavaliere)

Rifleman RFL-3N (Bandits)
Pilot : Arzik Arikan [4/5] ( 6 hit(s)   )
Kills : 0
Destroyed by Gladius Medium Hover Tank (Standard) (Cavalli's Cavaliere)


"Hold your position, conserve ammo... and wait for the Dragoons to go Feral"
- last words of unknown merc, Harlech, 3067

Nav_Alpha

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 3679
Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #68 on: 27 July 2016, 20:12:00 »
Colorado Mountain News - December 20, 3063

Militia CO denounces 'Davion rebels'

Leutnant-General Reiner Stauss today issued a fiery diatribe, denouncing his former comrade Major Chelsea Kelly and caling for rogue elements of the Colorado Militia to lay down their arms.
"For the good of the planet and your own sake, I'm calling on all loyal soldiers to come in peacefully -  I respect all of you, but should i face you across a battlefield in the coming storm, I will cut you down," he said, via a planet-wide recording.
The militia general is reportedly planning a major offensive and it's believed he means to strike out from Denver and deep across into the Yuma continent.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE y/n

Personal message - Force Commander Felix Cavalli.
Commander,
By now you've guessed it was me in the Gallowglas during the last engagement.
While this is highly unusual, I'm reaching out to you to say thanks.
Thanks for allowing my men to walk away from what was obviously going to be a bloody engagement.
And thanks for helping us take down those bandits. I guess, what I'm trying to say is thankyou for looking above petty politics and a contract and working together to take down a greater threat.

I wish more people on this planet could do that.

Unfortunately, next time we see each other it will probably in similar circumstances. I'd much rather it was around the mess and I'd buy you a drink.
I could also implore you to join us and help take Strauss down, but from everything I've heard you're an honourable man with a contract, so i won't bother.
Until then.

Major Chelsea Kelly, AFFS



"Hold your position, conserve ammo... and wait for the Dragoons to go Feral"
- last words of unknown merc, Harlech, 3067

Nav_Alpha

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 3679
Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #69 on: 01 August 2016, 20:32:01 »
Well, the Colorado contract is done - the fourth scenario saw the Cavaliere defending a sprawling Basantapur Fine Metals complex as a company of Steiner troops took on a pair of pro-Davion troops.
Both sides decided the huge ore refinery looked like good cover and tried to incorporate it into their little feud.

We were having none of it.

Command lance and the reformed pursuit lance, along with infantry and the Savannah Master had the three objective buildings secured and were covering the surrounds when the Steiner troops decided to rush a mixed lance of light armour in. Pursuit lance did a great job of killing all four tanks and then sallying forward to push the two sides off our front lawn.

All up, we did well but it unfortunately came at the cost of Ling, the Raven pilot. A Steiner Bushwacker put a full burst of LBX rounds into his cockpit.


"Hold your position, conserve ammo... and wait for the Dragoons to go Feral"
- last words of unknown merc, Harlech, 3067

Nav_Alpha

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 3679
Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #70 on: 01 August 2016, 20:42:49 »
Contract: IND-1190-11-FEDSU
EMPLOYER: Federated Suns
LOCATION: Gulkana
DAYS TO JUMP POINT: 33 days
TYPE OF ACTION: Raid
LENGTH OF CONTRACT: One month
UNIT TYPE: Any combat
UNIT SIZE: Company
PAY: Poor
SUPPORT: Half
TRANSPORT: None
SALVAGE RIGHTS: Special, see below
COMMAND: Independent

Since the start of the Civil War production levels at the Gulkana plant of Yeffters Weapons have dropped significantly. The plant is currently suffering from near constant stop work sessions and wildcat strikes as workers vent resistance to the rightful Archon-Princess.
High Command is seeking a small mercenary outfit to slip into Gulkana via a pirate point and strike at the plant in an effort to remind workers and management of their need for a strong government.
Emphasis will be put on knocking out non essential facilities in the plant, including worker housing, commissaries and office facilities.
High Command would prefer none of the manufacturing facilities were damaged.

While only a moderate fee will be provided, the hired force may help its self to Yeffters equipment and ammunition. The primary plant manufacturers a variety of autocannons and specialist munitions at its Kanpur site.

Additionally, any hired units would need to operate as a deniable asset.


"Hold your position, conserve ammo... and wait for the Dragoons to go Feral"
- last words of unknown merc, Harlech, 3067

Nav_Alpha

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 3679
Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #71 on: 01 August 2016, 20:53:39 »
STRIKE!

GAME SETUP: The defender will place four medium sized buildings in the centre of the battlefield. The attacker may commit up to 50 per cent of its force.

ATTACKER: Rakshasa MDG-1A, Tempest TMP-3G, Merlin MLN-1A, Lineholder KW1-LH2, Savannah Master (standard)
The attacker enters half its force from its home edge. The remainder arrive from an adjacent edge 1D6+1 turns later
All attacker pilots receives one hit as s result of a hard 2G burn to reach the planet after slipping in via a Pirate Point.

DEFENDER: The defender places its entire force inside the complex. At least 25 per cent must deploy within five hexes of the target buildings.
Enforcer ENF-4R, Enforcer ENF-4R, Cestus CTS-6Y, Nightstar NSR-9J, Infantry mechanised platoon, infantry foot platoon, infantry foot platoon.

TRACK COST: +200
+75 "they're shooting back!" Place two additional buildings within five hexes of the target buildings.
Both are fortresses with weapons turrets. Each turret mounts an AC/5, two medium lasers and two machine guns.
Gunnery skill = 5.
+100 mines! The defender deploys a minefield.

OBJECTIVES:
Find and kill: Locate and scan each target building, before destroying them.
Seek and destroy: Find and and destroy/cripple the attacker
Rough them up: destroy 50 per cent of the defenders

Salvage: Salvage applies if Rough them Up is completed.


"Hold your position, conserve ammo... and wait for the Dragoons to go Feral"
- last words of unknown merc, Harlech, 3067

Nav_Alpha

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 3679
Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #72 on: 03 August 2016, 19:13:19 »
Trivid recording: MercTalk, Outreach Public Broadcasting

Scene opens on the show's set - it's very tacky. The background props are clunky, cheap and plastic looking, the show's name is lit up in harsh lights and the two over-stuffed lounges are about three years out of date.
The host is a beautiful woman with dark skin and her black hair done up in an elaborate series of rolls and waves. She's wearing a bright red power suit.
Facing her is a tall man with sandy blonde hair cut in a brush cut. He's wearing the slate grey and maroon dress uniform of the Cavaliere.

"ACTION!"

A boom mic is hastily pulled out of shot.

Host: "Welcome back to MercTalk, I'm your host Angelina Lima and with me now is Lieutenant Joe Paige of Cavalli’s Cavaliere, who have just recently made such a splash in the so-called Chaos March."

Paige: "Pleasure to be here Angelina."

Host: "Now, Joe. The Cavaliere have just returned, having played part in the ongoing FedCom Civil War. Does this mean your unit has picked a side?""

Paige: "I'd not say that at all, Angelina. In fact, I'd just say we're mercenaries."

Audience applause. It's clearly a laugh track.
Paige looks around nervously.

Host: "And Joe, you've recently admitted to the public that you're a former members of he Armed Forces of the Federated Commonwealth. Why'd you hide that and how does this Civil War make you feel?"

Paige: "That's right, Angelina. I spent 10 years as an officer with the AFFC and my last posting was on Sarna. I decided to get away from all of that following Sarna's fall. Frankly, it's a sensitive area.
"In relation to the Civil War, I guess you could say that I'm now looking at it purely as a mercenary - that means, there's profit to be made and we'll keep on doing that."

Again, canned applause. Paige looks almost distressed now as he looks around wide eyed.

Host: "Great, great. That's great. Now, your unit is back on Outreach - and I understand your CO, Felix Cavalli has just got married!"

The screen behind the pair shifts to a 2D shot of a man with dark curly hair and a short clipped beard in a similar uniform to Paige. He and an attractive woman in her mid-20s with long brown hair are jointly holding a cavalry sabre over a giant wedding cake, ready to cut it.
The woman is wearing an elaborate wedding dress in ivory and the pair are both smiling.

Host: "That's Force Commander Cavalli and his new bride Captain Kym Caine, owner-operator of the merchant Jumpship Portland."

Paige: "That's right, we're all very happy for the boss and Kym. We'll be taking a few months off here on Outreach."

Host: "Great, that's great, just great. Now, will there be any difficult issues - a married couple working together?"

Paige: "Well, Captain Caine is still an independent trader. She's not actually employed by the Cavaliere-"

Host: "That's great, just great. Great. And next up, we speak with Doctor Mathias Zootman about the ongoing situation in the Capellan March."

Cut to music.


"Hold your position, conserve ammo... and wait for the Dragoons to go Feral"
- last words of unknown merc, Harlech, 3067

Nav_Alpha

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 3679
Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #73 on: 04 August 2016, 19:59:01 »
The Gulkana raid went off without a hitch - our jumpers went over the wall while I led the other half of the strike team through the main gate. The security force was small and inexperienced and quickly worked out they were outmatched. I made sure Travis broadcast over his external speakers what we were doing and most of the workers got out before we tore up the admin and barracks section.
This was not a clean job - I didn't feel great "punishing" workers purely because they pissed off Katherine Steiner. But we got paid.
And now for a serious couple months of rest.
- journal entry, Felix Cavalli
March 20, 3064


WolfNet report - August 5, 3064
Positive ID has been established for Subject One. Background checks and facial recognition software has established the mercenary broker calling himself Gustav Shiro is one Precentor Hiram Limdon of the Word of Blake. Limdon has been approaching several smaller mercenary outfits struggling to find work on Outreach and offering them short term contracts in the Chaos March. Most appear to be objective raids against corporate targets, but some appear to be more extensive insurgency operations.
We believe the Word is attempting to further destabilise the region and is making use of deniable assets under the guise of a broker working for various corporate backers.

WolfNet report - August 7, 3064
Limdon, using his Shiro identity, has approached Cavalli’s Cavaliere about a contract - curiously, the target does not appear to be in the Chaos March.
The Cavaliere have worked exclusively with mercenary agent and broker Reyda Johnston for the past three years, however Limdon has reportedly offered the unit very favourable terms.

WolfNet report - August 8, 3064
Have confirmed the Cavaliere's target - Bennet III in the FedSuns. Very curious. Limdon has sold it as a purely corporate gig - one company has learned Johnston Industries is establishing a small complex on Bennet for research purposes. They want it razed.
What is the Word's motivation for this?

Look, I'll admit it. I took this job because I was bored. Four months of downtime had been getting to all of us. The honeymoon is over, baby.
We're off to blow some stuff up
journal entry, Felix Cavalli
August 10, 3064


"Hold your position, conserve ammo... and wait for the Dragoons to go Feral"
- last words of unknown merc, Harlech, 3067

Nav_Alpha

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 3679
Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #74 on: 14 August 2016, 20:22:48 »
Sooooo.... It's been a big week. I did my last Cavaliere's post on the Thursday. On the Monday I got a call from my mother's work to say she had not shown up.
I drove out there and unfortunately found her dead.

All around its been one of the hardest weeks ever. Between dealing with her death, I've been handling all the funeral arrangements, cleaning up her house (and repairing the glass door I smashed to gain entry) and we've inherited her two cats!
My wife has been amazing and all my friends and family have also been great.... But tough week.

Anyway, before all this happened I did manage to play through the Bennet III contract - Pursuit lance attacked a power plant as a distraction and to knock out the primary power source for the objective.
They tangled with some 4th Donegal Guards but got off easily.

Command lance easily destroyed the half finished factory complex and bloodied the hired goons defending. They were falling back with the armoured lance when they chanced upon a Avalon Hussars lance.
The fighting was going our way when a mech lance of Donegal GuArds  supported by a double flight of Yellow Jacket VTOLs and Cavalry (infantry) choppers turned up.
Three way slugging match saw all of us get out (minus a pair of hovercraft) and smack both forces around.

 
 The unit will be sitting tight on Outreach for a bit as I deal with RL stuff - but don't worry, they're still around. My next step was to have members of the far flung periphery planet that started this whole crazy unit reach out.
You may remember Felix left something and someone behind all those years ago


"Hold your position, conserve ammo... and wait for the Dragoons to go Feral"
- last words of unknown merc, Harlech, 3067

Dave Talley

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 3600
Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #75 on: 14 August 2016, 23:07:49 »
my condolences dude,
real life takes precedence, we can wait
a  buddy just buried his dad, granted he was 93
my mom is in the hospital in tulsa but my bro and his family are local
and my sis is up for the duration so all I need is to wait on diagnosis
and visit if its critical

good luck
Resident Smartass since 1998
“Toe jam in training”

Because while the other Great Houses of the Star League thought they were playing chess, House Cameron was playing Paradox-Billiards-Vostroyan-Roulette-Fourth Dimensional-Hypercube-Chess-Strip Poker the entire time.
JA Baker

snakespinner

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 2687
Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #76 on: 15 August 2016, 02:45:03 »
Sorry to hear about your mother.
RL can be a very painful and uncomfortable experience sometimes.
Thoughts are with you, and take your time and sort out your problems.
I wish I could get a good grip on reality, then I would choke it.
Growing old is inevitable,
Growing up is optional.
Watching TrueToaster create evil genius, priceless...everything else is just sub-par.

Nav_Alpha

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 3679
Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #77 on: 15 August 2016, 02:50:27 »
Thanks guys, means a lot. And yeh, I'm coping. Doing ok and keeping busy


"Hold your position, conserve ammo... and wait for the Dragoons to go Feral"
- last words of unknown merc, Harlech, 3067

Sir Chaos

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 3083
  • Artillery Fanboy
Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #78 on: 15 August 2016, 06:14:04 »
My condolences as well.

And, please, take all the time you need for yourself. You´re the first priority now. We can wait.
"Artillery adds dignity to what would otherwise be a vulgar brawl."
-Frederick the Great

"Ultima Ratio Regis" ("The Last Resort of the King")
- Inscription on cannon barrel, 18th century

Deadborder

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 7881
  • Technical Victory!
    • Elmer Studios Blog
Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #79 on: 17 August 2016, 02:18:41 »
My condolances mate. Do take care, and take your time. Don't feel like you need to do anything for us right now
Author of BattleCorps stories Grand Theft Agro and Zero Signal



How to Draw MegaMek Icons the Deadborder Way. Over 9000 so far. Determination or madness?

Nav_Alpha

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 3679
Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #80 on: 18 August 2016, 19:47:02 »
Thanks guys, means a lot. With a bit of time up my sleeve today, I got in another MM game.

In  late 3065, Cavalli’s Cavaliere are hired by the Pro-Free Skye governor of Eaton - a dry, arid world in the Isle of Skye. While Free Skye has thrown some limited resources at helping the world throw off the Steiner yoke, the on world insurgency still needs outside help.
Especially since Tharkad has thrown a light battle group from the 3rd Donegal Guards at it to suppress the uprising.

After grounding the Cavaliere were tasked with harrasing the recently arrived Guards - while the Loyalist troops had taken the major port city of Newcastle and were incircling the capital, there was still hope.

First up, Felix and his men were tasked with stopping a convoy of munitions bound for a forward operating base. It came off without a hitch (almost). Command lance and the vehicle lance ambushed the convoy and its lance escort.
And we got some sweet salvage.... Travis' Tempest was downed but is repairable.

Salvage:
Blitzkrieg BTZ-3F (Donegal Guards)
Pilot : Pedro Rodríguez [4/5] ( 2 hit(s) )
Kills : 1
Destroyed by Gladius (Cavalli's Cavaliere)

Night Hawk NTK-2Q (Donegal Guards)
Pilot : Håkon Stabler [4/5] ( 1 hit(s) )
Kills : 0
Destroyed by Rakshasa MDG-1A (Cavalli's Cavaliere)

Wolfhound WLF-2 (Donegal Guards)
Pilot : Atheer Musa [4/5] ( 6 hit(s)   )
Kills : 0
« Last Edit: 18 August 2016, 19:48:35 by Nav_Alpha »


"Hold your position, conserve ammo... and wait for the Dragoons to go Feral"
- last words of unknown merc, Harlech, 3067

DOC_Agren

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 4908
Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #81 on: 18 August 2016, 19:56:14 »
Sorry
"For the Angel of Death spread his wings on the blast, And breathed in the face of the foe as he passed:And the eyes of the sleepers waxed deadly and chill, And their hearts but once heaved, and for ever grew still!"

Nav_Alpha

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 3679
Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #82 on: 20 September 2016, 00:08:45 »
And... we're back!
Thanks for all the kind words.

Bryant Evening News
March, 17 3066
Bryant

And for those of you just joining us, Bryant is under attack. Late this evening Aerospace fighters struck the planetary capital Brein. Laser guided bombs and Arrow IV missiles hit the Viscount's palace, the main police headquarters and several Bryant Regulars barracks and command facilities.
The attacks follow a series of strikes carried out by what appeared to be small special forces units over the past few days.
Bryant is officially at war.

So, I'm taking my other unit - Barton's Boozefighters (they're featured back a page or two) in as part of the Word of Blake invasion of Bryant.
Operating as the third company of Jacob's Juggenauts as the mercs take part in the attack, the Boozefighters are charging hard as part of the Word's attack.

The Boozefighter's security lance (Warhammer, Archer, Phoenix Hawk, Firestarter) along with three Juggenaut Von Luckners were tasked with smashing through Regulars' lines in the south and taking a strategic bridge and its adjacent town.
They encountered a demi company of mechs.


"Hold your position, conserve ammo... and wait for the Dragoons to go Feral"
- last words of unknown merc, Harlech, 3067

Nav_Alpha

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 3679
Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #83 on: 20 September 2016, 20:45:13 »
"Zero Charlie, we are taking a hell of a lot of fire from up ahead."
What the hell are they defending Lieutenant Brenton Duggan mused as his Warhammer stepped forward across the four lane bridge.
In the distance he could see a flicker of tracers as his lancemate engaged the enemy.

Backed by three of the Juggenaut tanks, his lance had easily smashed through the demi company of renegade troops deployed around the tiny little village.
The only opposition had started when they'd pushed across the river. But he couldn't work out why.
Suddenly, a concrete bunker at the edge of the bridge lit up as tracers began flying at him. As the line of tracers slammed into his Warhammer, the whole machine rocked.
Illuminated by the hiss and crack of shots, Duggan easily spotted the gunners and let off a long squeeze from his torso mounted machine gun.
The shooting stopped.

"Lead, you'd better see this."

Half an hour later the Lieutenant had dismounted and was striding across the muddy field to the collection of ramshackle buildings.
Three of his mechs stood looming over the buildings like giant metal totems. Closer, a Juggernaut Von Luckner sat idling - it had crashed through a chain link fence and now its crew stood or sat atop the heavy tank, sidearms and light SMGs drawn.
Passing the tank, Duggan let out a hiss of shock - his subordinate had warned him but he was totally unprepared for... this.
Dozens of skeletal thin men and women stood, clad in rotting rags, stood or wandered around the camp.
A handful had mobbed one of his mechwarriors, desperately pulling at his cooling vest, begging for food.

"What  kind of hell hole is this?"

THE VOICE OF TRUTH - March 19, 3066

"Heroic mercenaries in the employ of the Word of Blake today uncovered shocking evidence of the years of abuse and totalitarian Bryant regime, after liberating a prison camp.
With this latest victory, the Word is one step closer to finally freeing the world of Bryant from its years of corrupt rule and finally bringing it into the light.
Fighting continues around the capital, with elements of the Ninth Division and Burr's Black Cobras today smashing through the lines of the Bryant Regulars-"


"Hold your position, conserve ammo... and wait for the Dragoons to go Feral"
- last words of unknown merc, Harlech, 3067

Nav_Alpha

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 3679
Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #84 on: 20 September 2016, 21:03:51 »
Meanwhile, on the other half of the Inner Sphere Cavalli’s Cavaliere have finished up their contract in the Isle of Skye and as the Civil War draws to a close have accepted a contract with the ARDC as Morgan Kell and his Hounds head to Tharkad.
The garrison contract will give them a chance to repair, train and rearm.

Arc Royal Inquirer

The arrival of Cavalli’s Cavaliere has brought a little bit of colour to Arc Royal after several dreary months. While only a small time unit, the Cavaliere have been making off battlefield headlines of late and the planet is abuzz with their actions.

Since their triumph over Loyalist forces on Eaton in the Isle of SKye (and Force Commander Cavalli's elevation to a knighthood on that planet) the unit and its commander has racked up a colourful reputation across the Lyran Alliance.
Most recently was the departure of Cavalli's wife, freelance Jumpship captain Kym Caine, accusing the mercenary of infidelity.

Prior to that incident (which was heard well across the spaceport, by all accounts), Cavalli had been reunited with his long lost twin sons - Moses and Octavian. The Inquirer understands they were the product of a relationship the young mercenary had with a woman on a distant periphery world in 3058.

While the exotic mother disappeared soon afterwards, we understand the new arrivals caused some serious tension in the Cavalli-Caine household.
Force Commander Cavalli has most recently been linked to premier Outreach hiring agent Reyda Johnston.

Both 10-year-old boys are now taking part in formal mechwarrior apprenticeship programs in the Cavaliere, under the watchful eye of Weapons Master Jorge Calosso.


"Hold your position, conserve ammo... and wait for the Dragoons to go Feral"
- last words of unknown merc, Harlech, 3067

Nav_Alpha

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 3679
Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #85 on: 20 September 2016, 21:19:40 »
So, this is how the unit looks as of mid/late 3066. And they'll look much like this going into the Jihad.

Command lance

Rakasha
Tempest
Anvil
Lynx

Battle lance

Marauder
Banshee
Vindicator

Pursuit lance

Merlin
Lineholder
+ Panther
+ Wolfhound

Armoured lance

Savannah Master
Harasser
Harasser
Gladius

Infantry company (four platoons)

Aero lance
+ Centurion ASF
+ Centurion ASF


+ indicates a new addition to the unit

New additions:
Jinpachi Nezu is a ronin.
His unit, the 22nd Benjamin Regulars were crushed on Marduk by Davion raiders as part of the Sandoval's unauthorised attack into the DC.
It's defeat and his refusal to commit ritual suicide left him an outcast and saw him cast out of the DCMS. He bears a Japanese name and looks almost pure blood Japanese (the hulking man maintains a full beard in addition to his samurai topknot) but the Nezu clan are Rasulgahian stock and keep their Lutheran traditions - as such, Nezu refused to commit seppeku with his other remaining comrades.
Almost 200 years ago, Ragnar Ingramssen changed his name to Nezu and set his clan on the way of Bushido.
Jinpachi Nezu tried to adhere to that path as much as he could but his refusal to die by his own hands has set him on a bitter path.
Somehow he managed to smuggle his Panther out of the Combine and now offers himself as a mercenary.

Connor McBride - a former Skye Guardsman who was committed to the Free Skye cause until repeated defeats saw him disenchanted with the bloodshed and waste.
A veteran of the rebellion on Hesperus II (where he accounted for three Grey Death Legion mechs) he now offers himself as a merc.
He is a top notch tech and as a dispossessed warrior made ends meet as a grease monkey. He's been assigned the unit's salvages Wolfhound.

Mira Fowler-Jenkins and Morgan Jenkins are a husband and wife team of Eagle pilots hailing from the Davion Outback who both served as part of the Islamabad CrMM during the early FedCom Civil War.
Following their unit's destruction at the hands of Victor's rebels the pair deserted and turned merc.
Mira is by far the superior aerospace fighter but Morgan is an excellent scrounger and  tech who regularly assists the technical staff.
However the pair are infamous for their loud and public domestic arguments and break ups. They're also well know for their equally loud and occasionally public ... Err... Reunions.
« Last Edit: 05 October 2016, 18:52:37 by Nav_Alpha »


"Hold your position, conserve ammo... and wait for the Dragoons to go Feral"
- last words of unknown merc, Harlech, 3067

snakespinner

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 2687
Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #86 on: 21 September 2016, 01:54:19 »
A mercenary playing up behind his wife's back.
That would never happen(unless he got caught). :D
I wish I could get a good grip on reality, then I would choke it.
Growing old is inevitable,
Growing up is optional.
Watching TrueToaster create evil genius, priceless...everything else is just sub-par.

Nav_Alpha

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 3679
Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #87 on: 21 September 2016, 02:41:31 »
Next you'll suggest Mercs gamble and drink!


"Hold your position, conserve ammo... and wait for the Dragoons to go Feral"
- last words of unknown merc, Harlech, 3067

Sir Chaos

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 3083
  • Artillery Fanboy
Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #88 on: 21 September 2016, 14:09:16 »
An affair in 3058, and the resulting twins are 10 years old in 3066? That was one serious quick pregnancy, lasting minus 24 months...

And proper German for the Wolfhound´s name would be "Der Hund".
"Artillery adds dignity to what would otherwise be a vulgar brawl."
-Frederick the Great

"Ultima Ratio Regis" ("The Last Resort of the King")
- Inscription on cannon barrel, 18th century

Nav_Alpha

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 3679
Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #89 on: 21 September 2016, 15:41:58 »
Ah, you're right! That should have been eight, not 10.
And the damn auto correct changed the German!


"Hold your position, conserve ammo... and wait for the Dragoons to go Feral"
- last words of unknown merc, Harlech, 3067