Author Topic: Cavalli’s Cavaliere  (Read 82235 times)

Nav_Alpha

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 3679
Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #150 on: 14 December 2016, 08:30:24 »
Voice one: ok, so back to it. This officially signifies the hiring of Cavalli's Cavaliere by a body that will continue to remain anonymous. A standard planetary assault contract with discretion given to the hired unit.

Voice two: right. We're all sorted then. The only thing I'm curious about is this clause that states a liaison officer will be with us the whole time.

Voice one: Colonel Cavalli, this was all explained to your Ms Johnston earlier. We require a liaison to be attached your unit prior and during the attack. And if you do agree to the supplementary garrison and security contract afterwards, we expect they will stay attached.

Voice two: a planet desperate to kick off the Toaster Lovers AND secede from the Free Worlds League is hardly in a position to dictate terms, is it though?


"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 #151 on: 14 December 2016, 08:31:37 »
Kyle LaCroix
Age: 41 (born 3030)
Homeworld: Augustine
Position/rank: Force Commander, League Central Coordination And Command / Major Free Savannah Alliance

The LaCroix family have almost no history of military service, instead almost all of their number have taken up the family business on Augustine - grape growing. LaCroix Wines are well know across the League and the family had enjoyed considerable wealth and prestige over the past 100 years.
Kyle LaCroix bucked that trend. At 17 he enlisted in the FWLM over the objections of his family. Determined to be a Mechwarrior he aced the initial testing and seemed on the fast track until Neurohelmet testing discovered a brain anomaly - one of his upper ventricles was enlarged and prevented proper feedback. Additionally, military doctors recommended surgery and a medical discharge.
Somehow talking his way out of both those things, LaCroix instead joined the Army's infantry corps and quickly distinguished himself.
Paratroop School, special forces training, promotion, Officer Candidate School and transfer to the elite Eagle Corps followed and LaCroix served as part of the assault on the Sarna March and later Operation Bulldog.

In 3066 disaster struck - his brain defect finally caught up with him and the extremely fit Captain collapsed during a training exercise. A series of operations followed and LaCroix found himself recovering and effectively semi-retired on his homeworld of Augustine. Declared unfit for active duty, he watched in horror as the Jihad kicked off and his beloved homeland staggered into the conflict - all the while confined to a reservist job riding a desk.
He was approached in 3068 by Alys Marik's people who unofficially asked him to assist their resistance - passing on intelligence, etc. LaCroix had fostered both a hate for the Blakists,  but also for Atreus - the people who effectively tied him to a desk job - and eagerly accepted.
In 3071 he stopped just passively working with the resistance and defected.
Alys Marik was initially unsure what to do with the now diminished former officer, but she had bankrolled and supported an uprising on Savannah and surrounding worlds, seeking to disrupt the Blakists' clutch on the region and decided to personally appointed LaCroix as her liaison to the hired mercenaries leading the attack.


"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 #152 on: 19 December 2016, 01:06:09 »
Excerpt from Jihad: Mistakes and military blunders - New Earth Publishing, 3089

The success enjoyed by Duchess Alys Rousset-Marik when her rebel forces struck Hamilton in September 3071 can be directly attributed to the brutal tactics employed by the Word of Blake on that world just two months earlier. While nominally loyal to the Atreus government (and by an extension, its Blakist overlords) Hamilton had struggled with a small insurgency for decades, based around ethnic identity and clashing landright claims.
This boiled over in early 3071 when several provinces went into open revolt -the collaborator government appealed for help.
In June Blake employed mercenaries Barton's Boozefighters and elements of the FWL based 20th Division burned in for the system, bypassing the capital to land outside the rebel held Kazan City.
An initial assault by the Boozefighters with limited Word support saw the rebels hold strong.
After clearing their casualties out of the tight, narrow Streets, the Blakists pulled back and then unleashed a chemical attack in the city.

Rebel positions were then easily overrun, but the civilian casualties numbered in the tens of thousands. An alarmingly high rate of birth defects continue in the region until this day.

Ironically, while these drastic measures broke the back of the rebellion the action so sickened the planetary militia it began to fracture - triggering a brutal and quick purge of its membership by Word and government forces.

In September, Rouset-Marik's forces had little trouble with the now diminished militia forces.

- from Their Blood Stains This Ground: Hamilton's martyrs.
The text of this book was suppressed by Republic censors in 3101.


Ali Singh-Mohammed let out a shriek of pure joy, thrusting his autorifle in the air he triggered a long burst. Around him, his fellow fighters were doing the same.
In the distance, past the charred and shattered hulks of Kazan City's building a, the Word mechs were pulling back.
Ali could see they were Leaving several downed machines.
Prince Farzor had been right - the worshippers of false gods had no fight in them.
Around him, his men celebrated. Wild whoops and sporadic gunfire aimed at the sky surrounds him.
"Tell the captain we have prisoners - the infidels abandoned many of their men."
As the last of the mechs fell back behind a screen of hills - Ali had noticed they were mostly painted tan and black, suggesting their were mercs taking the Word's coin, not actual Blakist - hush descends on the position.

Then the first shell landed.
"INCOMING!"
There was a dull explosion and then Instead of the booming secondary blast there was a low hiss and smoke began billowing from crater.
Ali saw several more dirty grey flowers explode to his front.
"Ali, they're dropping a smokescreen as they flee! It's a smokescreen!" One of his men yelled, shouldering his weapon.

But Ali knew the truth. In seconds troops were dropping to the ground, clawing at their throats.
Next to him, the soldier who had yelled about the smokescreen suddenly crumpled - his weapon clattering to the ground.
Through tear streamed eyes and a pounding head, Ali rolled the young man over only to find his dark features already blotchy and red.
Struggling to his feet Ali was dimly aware he couldn't breath.


"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 #153 on: 19 December 2016, 01:07:31 »
We just killed an entire city. No excuses. Nothing else to be said.
We knew the rebels were dug in lie tics - I took two lances through the northern approach and sent my recon lance around to flank. Barton's command lance and the bulk of our armour and infantry came in from the west.
We brushed aside a lance of older rebel mechs and were pushing their armour back slowly - every house seemed to be riddled with rebel infantry and every rooftop had an SRM team.
Barton's Word attachment ran straight into a big scale ambush - command detonated mines, suicide bombers and houses filled with gunmen. I ward they lost a full
level II of Chevaliers in that death trap.
After three hours we'd linked up and established a loose perimeter but no one was moving.
That's when we got the call to gather the wounded and fall back.

At first I just thought they were shelling the enemy positions, the. I saw the gas. They just kept firing - and not just on the enemy. Everywhere.
Afterward we supported a Word infantry push: squad armed with man portable flamers who just cleared out building after building, regardless of who was inside.
- journal of Captain Francis Duggan, Barton's Boozefighters

All points fugitive warning - Word of Blake Protectorate, September 29, 3071
Be advised, one Francs "Frank" Duggan has deserted from his Protectorate posting. Formerly a captain in a WoB affiliated Mercenary command, Duggan deserted his post as the unit was shifted off world from Terra.
WoB authorities urges any law enforcement to use extreme caution In apprehending the deserter.

So, I ran a little Blakist counter insurgency. And after taking a real pounding going in, it got me thinking - how would the Word actually take care of a revolting city? Poisonous gas is probably the likeliest outcome.


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

Deadborder

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 7881
  • Technical Victory!
    • Elmer Studios Blog
Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #154 on: 19 December 2016, 07:15:53 »
My, that's some familiar fluff on an otherwise undeveloped planet...

But yes, it's the logical end of an insurgency under the Word's hand. They're such nice guys. Hopefully things will go a bit better for all involved next time
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 #155 on: 19 December 2016, 07:35:06 »
Well, yeah... you may have inspired me here a little. Was originally keen on Hamilton purely because I wanted to have a play through the Rousset-Marik attack but then remembered your QLF write up and did some reading. Hope you don't mind.


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

Deadborder

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 7881
  • Technical Victory!
    • Elmer Studios Blog
Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #156 on: 19 December 2016, 17:13:36 »
Not at all. I picked it initially because it was a FWL planet that wound up as a part of the Republic and then back again and because it had no substantial fluff on it otherwise. I'm glad that you chose to run with it!
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?

truetanker

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 9901
  • Clan Hells Horses 666th Mech. Assualt Cluster
Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #157 on: 23 December 2016, 20:45:41 »
I got a few ideas.... >:D

TT
Khan, Clan Iron Dolphin
Azeroth Pocketverse
That is, if true tanker doesn't beat me to it. He makes truly evil units.Col.Hengist on 31 May 2013
TT, we know you are the master of nasty  O0 ~ Fletch on 22 June 2013
If I'm attacking you, conventional wisom says to bring 3x your force.  I want extra insurance, so I'll bring 4 for every 1 of what you have :D ~ Tai Dai Cultist on 21 April 2016
Me: Would you rather fight my Epithymía Thanátou from the Whispers of Blake?
Nav_Alpha: That THING... that is horrid
~ Nav_Alpha on 10 October 2016

Nav_Alpha

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 3679
Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #158 on: 23 December 2016, 21:32:19 »
I got a few ideas.... >:D

TT

Oh no....


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

truetanker

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 9901
  • Clan Hells Horses 666th Mech. Assualt Cluster
Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #159 on: 24 December 2016, 13:46:56 »
Last message in my sigbar pertaining to you....

TT
Khan, Clan Iron Dolphin
Azeroth Pocketverse
That is, if true tanker doesn't beat me to it. He makes truly evil units.Col.Hengist on 31 May 2013
TT, we know you are the master of nasty  O0 ~ Fletch on 22 June 2013
If I'm attacking you, conventional wisom says to bring 3x your force.  I want extra insurance, so I'll bring 4 for every 1 of what you have :D ~ Tai Dai Cultist on 21 April 2016
Me: Would you rather fight my Epithymía Thanátou from the Whispers of Blake?
Nav_Alpha: That THING... that is horrid
~ Nav_Alpha on 10 October 2016

Nav_Alpha

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 3679
Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #160 on: 08 January 2017, 18:04:54 »
The September coup - LinkNet Wiki entry
BACKGROUND:
Savannah's planetary Senate andadvisory council  has effectively been co-opted by 3071 by a Blakist puppet organ that did little more than rubber stamp any demands from Atreus.
While technically still serving the FWL government, planetary leaders had little autonomy and easily went along with increasingly harsh demands from their overlords - including cracking down on civil liberties and mass arrests.

With funding and prompting from the pro-Alys Marik resistance, a small cadre of officials and Military officers began hatching an insurrection. After discreet approaches to several mercenaries came back in the positive, they opened talks with like minded figures on several neighbouring worlds.

THE COUPE:
On September 13, 3071 the plotters struck. Determined to keep neutral militia officers (who were only nominally loyal to Atreus since the '68 interruption) on side, Major General Antonia Greene had invited senior commanders to a secret briefing at the Santa Fe Military Reserve. Once there, officers were informed a take over was now occurring and they would be detained until further notice.
At 0700, as the meeting commenced, militia special forces seized several key targets across the Atlanta-Augusta sprawl: the main government run Tri-Vid station, the Janos Marik Memorial Hospital and main Planetary Police Command compound.
A battalion of armour and infantry loyal to the plotters then closed the downtown streets around the planetary government building. As they formed a cordon, Councillor  Adielle Swerringen took to the air announcing Savannah had severed its ties to the Free Worlds League and she was now "planetary governor".

Rebel forces then assaulted the government buildings and arrested most of the senate and advisory council. Seven government ministers were slain during the attack.

So far, OPERATION SEVERANCE had proceeded without a hitch. One militia Major tried to March his combined arms battalion on the government buildings in an effort to end the coup but found himself detained by his own men. Similar incidents occurred across the planet as militia commands turned on themselves, but for the most part the leaderless militia stayed put.

At 0830, Mercenary forces jumped in system - a full fighter squadron swept WoB and militia fighters from the zenith jump point and escorted in several shuttles worth of mercenary infantrymen who assaulted the Olympus class recharge station. The station fell after a brutal six hour fight.

Meanwhile, two dropships of Mercenary forces had descended from a closer Pirate Point and dropped just outside the capital under the guise of regularly scheduled merchantmen.
After forming up, this combined arms battalion appeared to march on the capital - but they really took up a position in the badlands outside the Word of Blake HPG and garrison at Fort Loudon.

Reacting to the unfolding chaos in the capital, Word commander Precentor Norris Anderson sallied forth - and ran straight into a Mercenary ambush.
Mercenaries - mostly drawn from Cavalli's Cavaliere easily dispatched the two Level IIs of Blakist forces and then wheeled on the capital.
With the arrival of more Battlemech, resistance effectively stopped.

It's done. They're dead.
When the Wobbies came boiling out of their compound we were waiting, dug in across two hills. After we opened up I sent Fire lance and Saladin's tanks rolling around their flanks. About a company of Word mechs, some tanks and BA wandered in. And they didn't stand a chance.

Oh they fought back. Elton will never walk again and his Ph-Hawk is gone. We've made an agreement with the local government to take care of his treatment until he can be transported to his homeworld. And we took care of his pension and severance.
Everyone was banged up. Especially me. That bastard Precentor in his Legacy put a burst of AC fire through my cockpit - one shell shattered the command consul right in front of me and a bit of shrapnel tore off the top of my left shoulder. More artificial parts and the stitches are aching. I'm beginning to feel like one of those bloody bionic Master's Hands were fighting! I guess I'm more widely travelled than most Leaugers but it still gives me the creeps!

I took care of Anderson personally. Despite the wound I was able to close and keep putting gauss slugs into his Legacy. When it keeled over I put one last round through his cockpit before passing out.

Savannah is free from the Blakists. For now. Lord knows how they'll stay that way - I don't see Atreus buying it for long.

December 3071
And just like that, we've officially passed the "Broadsword Enema". We had a discreet feeler put out by someone asking about our experience in planetary assaults and experience against the Word. Oddly, now after weeks of background checks we got an advance and orders to meet in an uninhabited system in Lyran space, where we'll be further transported.
Strange - the bank transfer is Lyran, but the cash looks like it's coming from ComStar.
Either way, they want us to fight Wobbies.
We used the extended rest on Savannah to purchase a full lance straight off the line at Technicron - another two Awesomes and a pair of Quickdraws, combined with close to a full lance of Blakist salvage and another lance of tanks we picked up. That has beefed us up (although we are lacking pilots for most of it)


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

Deadborder

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 7881
  • Technical Victory!
    • Elmer Studios Blog
Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #161 on: 09 January 2017, 17:18:56 »
I think by this point Cavalli is about as machine as some of the Toasters he's fighting
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 #162 on: 09 January 2017, 17:40:42 »
Pretty much. He's had two incidents of having to burn "edge" after taking cockpit hits, which I've translated to critical damage resulting in the need for prosthetics


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

truetanker

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 9901
  • Clan Hells Horses 666th Mech. Assualt Cluster
Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #163 on: 10 January 2017, 14:43:51 »
If you need I can come up with some " Cyberwear " for him to try out...  O:-)

Might improve on his charming good looks... as a FWL anti-Cyborg poster boy!

TT
Khan, Clan Iron Dolphin
Azeroth Pocketverse
That is, if true tanker doesn't beat me to it. He makes truly evil units.Col.Hengist on 31 May 2013
TT, we know you are the master of nasty  O0 ~ Fletch on 22 June 2013
If I'm attacking you, conventional wisom says to bring 3x your force.  I want extra insurance, so I'll bring 4 for every 1 of what you have :D ~ Tai Dai Cultist on 21 April 2016
Me: Would you rather fight my Epithymía Thanátou from the Whispers of Blake?
Nav_Alpha: That THING... that is horrid
~ Nav_Alpha on 10 October 2016

snakespinner

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 2688
Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #164 on: 10 January 2017, 18:05:19 »
When I hear TT wanting to design some Cyberware for you, I just get the thought that it would not be pleasant.
Your commander will probably end up looking like an MD but with extra firepower. ;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 #165 on: 10 January 2017, 20:09:52 »
If you need I can come up with some " Cyberwear " for him to try out...  O:-)

Might improve on his charming good looks... as a FWL anti-Cyborg poster boy!

TT

Oh God... dare I say yes? Sure! Why not!

I fluffed it as losing his left hand back in 3068 facing pirates/WOB stand ins and then much of his left shoulder facing the Word on Savannah


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

DOC_Agren

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 4910
Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #166 on: 15 January 2017, 20:52:20 »
Well at least he getting it all on the Left Arm... ;D
"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!"

truetanker

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 9901
  • Clan Hells Horses 666th Mech. Assualt Cluster
Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #167 on: 15 January 2017, 22:05:58 »
Oh God... dare I say yes? Sure! Why not!

You asked for it...

Type IV Improved Advanced Prosthesis, Left Arm
Enhancements : Sternsnacht Python Auto-Pistol ( 12 round clip ), Lockpick, Latex PlastiFlesh Sheathing

Stolen or more likely ripped off a dead Manei Domini soldier that probable didn't need it any more. Felix tries to conceal the medical scars on his back and front torso, preferring elbow length shirts. It becomes a surprise to many when they see the barrel of his concealed Python, as not many would see such a powerful weapon up close. The lockpick allows him to sneak around and gather information without having to stash his equipment incase of discovery.

Hope you like.

TT
Khan, Clan Iron Dolphin
Azeroth Pocketverse
That is, if true tanker doesn't beat me to it. He makes truly evil units.Col.Hengist on 31 May 2013
TT, we know you are the master of nasty  O0 ~ Fletch on 22 June 2013
If I'm attacking you, conventional wisom says to bring 3x your force.  I want extra insurance, so I'll bring 4 for every 1 of what you have :D ~ Tai Dai Cultist on 21 April 2016
Me: Would you rather fight my Epithymía Thanátou from the Whispers of Blake?
Nav_Alpha: That THING... that is horrid
~ Nav_Alpha on 10 October 2016

Nav_Alpha

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 3679
Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #168 on: 16 January 2017, 01:30:56 »
I like it! The guys are off to Donegal next - so a dead MD would work easily.

That said - he's only missing a hand at this point, so he might need some more wounds before needing the whole arm


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

Sir Chaos

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 3085
  • Artillery Fanboy
Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #169 on: 16 January 2017, 09:45:47 »
Stolen or more likely ripped off a dead Manei Domini soldier that probable didn't need it any more.

Using salvage to rebuild? Can´t go wrong with honored tradition, I say!
"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

snakespinner

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 2688
Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #170 on: 17 January 2017, 00:12:19 »
Mercs now salvaging Manei Domini.
TT has really been busy starting all the latest trends. ;D :D 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.

truetanker

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 9901
  • Clan Hells Horses 666th Mech. Assualt Cluster
Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #171 on: 17 January 2017, 14:23:12 »
 ::)

 >:D
TT
Khan, Clan Iron Dolphin
Azeroth Pocketverse
That is, if true tanker doesn't beat me to it. He makes truly evil units.Col.Hengist on 31 May 2013
TT, we know you are the master of nasty  O0 ~ Fletch on 22 June 2013
If I'm attacking you, conventional wisom says to bring 3x your force.  I want extra insurance, so I'll bring 4 for every 1 of what you have :D ~ Tai Dai Cultist on 21 April 2016
Me: Would you rather fight my Epithymía Thanátou from the Whispers of Blake?
Nav_Alpha: That THING... that is horrid
~ Nav_Alpha on 10 October 2016

Nav_Alpha

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 3679
Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #172 on: 30 January 2017, 20:23:23 »
"Tomorrow we shall drop onto the enemy and do battle - but we also begin the fight back against the darkness that has engulfed the Inner Sphere. Tomorrow we begin to take back our destiny!"
- message beamed to all ships taking part on OPERATION TYCHO (Attack on Donegal) from Precentor Martial Victor Steiner-Davion, 31st January 3072


"A Clan Warship - an actual Clan. Freaking. Warship. And the Ulric Kerensky at that! We're inbound for Donegal as part of the Wolf-in-Exile/ComGuard/Lyran counter attack, along with about a regiment of various mercs they have pulled together. We were all gathered at some uncharted star system just a jump from the target (turns out ComStar has ALL kinds of uncharted spots stashed away and not even the Lyrans knew about them... although, oddly the Word didn't appear to either) when we got shuttled across to the Ulric for a war council.

The Colonel did damn well - he might be a total pants man and a bit of a drinker, but he's actually good at this stuff - coralling all the various mercs. With Joe actually running the unit while the boss was at conference, I got to come across with the Colonel as his aide and meet the Wolves' Loremaster (Daphne Vickers is running their contingent), the whole gaggle of Lyran staffers and even Victor Davion. It was pretty cool!

Once the Wolves stopped growling and the Lyrans stopped strutting like peacocks, the plan was nutted out: The 6th Lyran Guards will handle the advance assault and set up beachheads, along with most of the mercs, while the Wolves' Naval Star and ComGuards will clear the system. Slight problem - the Robes have a Essex-class warship in system.

Oh, and a special gig for the Cavaliere - Vic Davion was so impressed with word of our fierce infantry contingent, we're going to assault and take the Zenith jump point Olympus recharge station while the Wolves/ComGuards and Word duke it out.

- diary entry, Amber Mori-Paige
31st January, 3072


"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 #173 on: 30 January 2017, 20:45:45 »
Lights flicker, an alarm klaxon blares.

Voice one: Precentor, we are losing oxygen across decks four and five, there's a breach on the grav deck and that last hit opened up one of our bays.
Precentor? Precentor!?

Voice two (positive match as Precentor XI Colin Ulr, commander of Righteous Honor) : It's as Blake wills it, Thomas.

Voice three: Vampires! Vampires! That Cameron has got more fish in the water!

Voice one: Sir, we're in serious trouble here. What do you want to do?

Ulr: Re-open that channel with Elgios on the surface.

Voice three: Brace for impact!

THUMP! There is a tremendous crash and then a deep groaning of metal.

Voice four (It's oddly grating and inhuman: Ulr, what is your status.

Ulr: Precentor, we're hulled and leaking oxygen. The unbelievers have beaten us. In a minute I will order the ship abandoned but continue to fight on my own for as long as I can. They will be upon you shortly.
I'm sorry, I've failed.

Voice four: Understood, the peace of Blake be upon you.

Transmission ends

Voice three: Incoming! Incoming!

Ulr: XO, give the abandon ship order. I will remain behind and delay these Wolf bastards as long as possible. Everyone out.

Voice one: With all due respect, sir. We'd like to stay.

- Black box records from WBS Righteous Honor, above Donegal, 1st February 3072



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

Deadborder

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 7881
  • Technical Victory!
    • Elmer Studios Blog
Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #174 on: 30 January 2017, 22:53:44 »
To quote Wizzo the Clown, "Now I got this to worry about"
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 #175 on: 31 January 2017, 04:13:02 »
So I actually had to play the space battle out twice. First time, the bit tried to ram my warship with the Essex. Stuffed it and ends up just stuck in dead space getting shot at by everyone!

Second time around the Shadows' fighters ripped up the Wolf fighters but we had the advantage and the Cameron managed to provide fire support.
For some reason, I managed to stuff up the thrust of ALL the ComGuard fighters and their two Leopard CVs and they just sorta puttered along.
Eventually the two warships met and while the Wolf Cameron suffered horrific damage she tore threw the Essex and left her for dead. Eventually killed by structural collapse.

The Word got away with a couple Strigas and a battle taxi.
From a warship, a star of Clan fighters, two Level IIs of Comguards and two Leopard CVs, we came out with a bit over half of that.

The Essex's supporting Union PWS were the real killers!


"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 #176 on: 31 January 2017, 19:53:21 »
I have never seen a hotdrop go so utterly wrong in my entire career.
While the fighter screen managed to punch a hole through the Word'd blockade and clear the way, the Robes didn't let up - fighters and Surface to Air missiles hammered us the whole way down and blew the whole assault force well off target.
I heard the Lyrans got down easy enough, but we were ripped apart - I saw at least two Droppers blown up after they kicked my T-Bolt out of the ship.

When we landed we quickly realised we were in the wrong spot. Not even close to our DZ - and I could only link up the Command Lance with Fire and some of our BA. We couldn't raise Recon and the infantry and armour seemed to have come down a good 100 klicks away and were now fighting for their lives against the 18th.

Somehow we had been dropped into the ComGuards' rear - all the roads were fouled up and we were in the middle of bridging units, an engineering battalion and other rear area and supply forces. Meanwhile, someone was fighting a nasty little artillery battle nearby, occasionally dropping short rounds right on top of us.
I knew we needed to advance and after a half hour or so i managed to find where the hell we were and organise a fighting force- elements of the 118th Division's Divisional Recon element had become mixed in with the support staff and we moved forward.

We hit some scattered opposition from the Word's Militia troops but managed to brush it aside before linking up with the rear of the Wolf in Exile forces.
But they'd had an even harder time. Turns out the 50th Division had been pulling back as part of a ploy - and as soon as the Clanners moved in, they pounced. Whole Trianries had been reduced to a couple of battered mechs, many missing limbs and wandering around with no armour.

That's when we got the word - high command wanted us to move forward and take out the Donegal HPG - just outside Marsdenville. The Wolves were in no shape, so I volunteered my scratch force (Adept Johansen from the recon troops was keen as mustard, the poor dumb bastard) and we advanced forward through the dense forest.

Half way there we got assistance from an unusual source - the WiE Loremaster Daphne Vickers and a Star from her Command Keshik (why can't these Clanners use normal bloody names?!) would take the left flank.

And that was it - we enveloped the HPG compound (just a giant spire-like building for the actual dish, some outbuildings and a low wall sitting up on a hill) and smashed through those Shadows.
I'd say three Level IIIs of them were dug in around the hill, giving us the slight numbers advantage, but they made us pay for every step of the way.
We'd finally managed to get a hold of that ComGuard arty and worked it up and down the hill, as we charged in danger close.

I felt a tad guilty levelling the whole Word compound with artillery, but it certainly worked.

My condolences to the ComGuard troops - they gave a good account of themelves, but the Shadows seemed fixed or obsessed on their light scout vehicles. That did of course give us the ability to pour on the fire, while the Wolves skirted around and then took them in the rear.

All up, the Shadows pulled out maybe a lance of mechs - meanwhile, we were hurting. My T-Bolt was missing an arm and most of us were down to just shreds of armour. The Wolves fared a little better. But the ComGuards... yeah, i think maybe a handful of them survived that bloodbath.

- statement given by Colonel Felix Cavalli to Coalition command following the battle of Hill 258


"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 #177 on: 01 February 2017, 18:58:50 »
Marsdenville South, Donegal 4th February 3072

Hauptmann Hans Schneider flinched as a ricochet clanged off the building directly in front of him.
"Damn it, someone get a base of fire down this street!"
Around him, a platoon of his elite Alpine troops crouched among the ruins of a former terrace house as tracers flashed past.
The day before his unit - attached to the 6th Lyran Guards' 333rd Light Infantry has slipped past the Blakist pickets and entered Donegal's capital. Schneider's troops were trained especially for work in high alpine ranges in Tharkad's arctic reaches, but also made decent recon troops.

Schneider was now regretting that decision. He was down maybe 30 effectives, pinned down amid the twisted, ruined buildings as the Robes surrounded them.

Around them the gunfire suddenly slackened, leaving an odd stillness.

"Sir! Mercenary recon elements are on their way," he radioman shouted, his voice still raised to carry over the wave of gunshots and explosions.

"Excellent Otto - now we might actually get out of here alive."

Journal entry of Lieutenant Asha Akouayn, Cavalli’s Cavaliere 

Detached command and all that comes with it, eh? Wonder if that includes writing letters to the families of the dead kids you accumulate?
With the Colonel and most of the Cavaliere out on the other side of the city with the Wolves and the ComGuards, we fell under Lyran command as they bump into the 18th Word Militia Division. They've been steadily squeezing the Robes for the past few days but one of their recon elements got cut off and pinned down on the outskirts of the city. We got tasked with linking back up with them.

My lance and our hovers faced a mixed Level II as pushed through the shattered streets - those Lyran PBIs were being hammered and we quickly tried to break through. Georgia Calosso bought it when a Kintaro punched in her cockpit.
She had just turned 22.
Her father Jorge is back with out non-combatants off world. I have no idea what I'm going to tell him.

One thing i can tell him is that we burned that Kintaro down - along with all of his comrades.


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

truetanker

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 9901
  • Clan Hells Horses 666th Mech. Assualt Cluster
Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #178 on: 05 February 2017, 18:16:03 »
How much longer do I have to wait for Felix to go full 'Borg?  O:-)

I do just happen to have a Clan Cluster ready for battle circa 3050. 2 Broadswords, a Union-C, a Sassanid, a Confederate and a pair of Carriers. You can swap the Confederate for a Lion Wolf Dragoons variant. I got a nice Tank Star with a Rouge Artillery Support Point! Also Included is a pair of Jumpers.

2 Odyssey:
7 Droppers:
35 Omni
20 Aero
75 Toads
10 Tanks
2 Artillery Tanks

TT
( If you just so happen to need a OpFor to play with.  O:-)
In case you want to run a clan force against the Word, can upgrade to the timeline as needed. )  >:D
Khan, Clan Iron Dolphin
Azeroth Pocketverse
That is, if true tanker doesn't beat me to it. He makes truly evil units.Col.Hengist on 31 May 2013
TT, we know you are the master of nasty  O0 ~ Fletch on 22 June 2013
If I'm attacking you, conventional wisom says to bring 3x your force.  I want extra insurance, so I'll bring 4 for every 1 of what you have :D ~ Tai Dai Cultist on 21 April 2016
Me: Would you rather fight my Epithymía Thanátou from the Whispers of Blake?
Nav_Alpha: That THING... that is horrid
~ Nav_Alpha on 10 October 2016

Nav_Alpha

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 3679
Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #179 on: 05 February 2017, 18:19:27 »
Very soon, I expect! Somehow he's managed to come through going toe to toe with Robes without losing any more limbs!

I like the look of those Clanners.


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

 

Register