Author Topic: Cavalli’s Cavaliere  (Read 82296 times)

Nav_Alpha

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Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« on: 10 June 2016, 00:46:25 »
Cavalli’s Cavaliere

A Cavalli has fought in every war that has touched the Free Worlds League, which made it even more disappointing for Felix Cavalli’s father when he vanished from the family’s Andurien estate as a 14-year-old in 3050 and joined the Interstellar Merchant Navy.
The young Cavalli had excelled in every aspect of his family’s mechwarrior training and seemed destined to one day take over the family Marauder. His father, Gustav, had secretly fostered the idea his young scion might one day further the Andurien cause and even help shake off the yoke of Atreus and quickly disowned him after word reached him his heir was now a common spacer.

Cavalli’s spacing career was quickly cut short in FRR space when his employers discovered he was underage and marooned him. But it was there that his mercenary career began – once more concealing his age and drawing on half a decade’s constant training he was easily able to talk his way into an astech position with the Glory Warriors as the Clan Invasion commenced. Seven years spent bouncing between merc units along the Clan border saw the young Andurien rack up the kind of experience some warriors didn’t see in three decades in the military.

Tired of seeing his comrades thrown away for a few kilometres of blackened earth he washed up on Solaris in 3056 and enjoyed a relatively lacklustre year fighting in the lower grades before receiving word his father had died and, despite previously disowning him, had left him his estate and the family mech.
Tired of eking out an existence in the blood pits, Cavalli began recruiting a mercenary unit.

Operational history

Cavalli’s Cavaliere were initially an understrength company but quickly found work as part Operation Guerrero in late 3057. While inexperienced, the Cavaliere assisted in destroying the 3rd NAIS Cadre on Oliver and spent several months sub-contracting for larger mercenary units.
They also briefly worked for the Styk Commonality as the Chaos March formed, before deciding it was time for a change. In mid-3058 the unit accepted a contract with the Magistracy of Canopus to assist against ongoing Marian aggression. After six months of defensive operations against Marian raiders on Thraxa, the Cavaliere were jumping back to Canopus when they experienced a bizarre misjump that effectively marooned them in the middle of nowhere for almost a year.
Those Cavaliere who were marooned in the distant periphery are relatively close lipped about the whole adventure, only revealing that they were eventually rescued by an Interstellar Operations jumpship that chanced upon the forgotten system.
What is obvious, however, is that a great deal of the Cavaliere are natives of that deep periphery world, including most of the unit’s infantry and at least one mechwarrior.
Since returning to the Inner Sphere in mid-3060, the Cavaliere have worked exclusively in the Chaos March – including assisting Lindon’s Battalion on Caph, fighting Capellan forces on Epsilon Indi and assisting Hamal gain its independence from the Federated Suns.
In early 3062 the unit accepted a retainer from the Styk Commonality.

Capabilities:

A substantial inheritance from his father and then a later compensation payment from the Magistracy has allowed the Cavaliere to grow to a full mech company. Salvage taken from Marian raiders (and before that the FedCom) has given them a full two lances of armour with APC support for the unit’s infantry.
While the unit is still burdened with a substantial amount of 3025 era technology, this has so far served them admirably in the Chaos March.
An interesting note is how damaged many of the unit’s machines were after returning from their misjump, suggesting they saw substantial combat on what is believed to be a forgotten or even uncharted world.

Command lance

Marauder MAD-5M
   Force Commander Felix Cavalli
3/3

Anvil ANV-3M
CPT   Capri Francesca Palma
5/5

Victor VTR-9B
   Travis Banerjee
2/3

Shadow Hawk SHD-2H
   Stefan Hostigos
4/5


Fire lance

Caesar CES-3R
LT   Joe Paige
2/3
Merlin MLN-1A
   Evelyn
4/4
Lineholder KW1-LH2
   Asha Akouayn
3/3
Archer ARC-4M
   Eugen Cannavaro
4/5

Pursuit lance

Phoenix Hawk PXH-1
   
LT Aurora Weathers
4/3
Locust LCT-3M
   Jorge Calosso
4/4
Raven RVN-3L
   Ling Hoan
4/4

Armoured lance

Gladius Medium Hover Tank (Standard)
   Mostafa Mirza

Gladius Medium Hover Tank (Standard) #2
   Kellyn Herdman

Pegasus Scout Hover Tank (3058 Upgrade)
   Ipatia Siranosian

Pegasus Scout Hover Tank (3058 Upgrade) #2
   James Timbrell

Savannah Master Hovercraft (Standard)
   Amber Mori

Heavy Hover APC (Standard)
   Tosya Ivaneev

Heavy Hover APC (Standard) #2
   Neema Baya

Maxim (I) Heavy Hover Transport (Standard)

Infantry company
   Cpt Aubrey Ito-Hostigos

Foot Infantry platoon
   Lt Alex Zarco

Foot Infantry platoon #2
   LT Rich Reisenauer
« Last Edit: 05 October 2016, 20:40:15 by Nav_Alpha »


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

Deadborder

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Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #1 on: 10 June 2016, 07:47:26 »
Interesting background you have there. Makes me wonder about that mysterious world. At any rate, the concept is fun and I can't wait to see where you go with it!
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Nav_Alpha

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Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #2 on: 10 June 2016, 10:12:22 »
Thanks! More to come on said world.


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

Sharpnel

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Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #3 on: 10 June 2016, 11:39:03 »
I noticed that the PHawk has no pilot listed.
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Sir Chaos

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Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #4 on: 10 June 2016, 14:19:15 »
I noticed that the PHawk has no pilot listed.

It does. There´s just an extra line break insert. But that lance only seems to have three mechs.
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Dave Talley

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Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #5 on: 10 June 2016, 14:36:00 »
noting 2 folks with the Hostigos surname, no Kalvin around?
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Nav_Alpha

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Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #6 on: 10 June 2016, 18:20:41 »
The Ph-Hawk does have a pilot. But yep, the lance is shy a fourth member


And, I'm glad you got the reference, Dave!


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

snakespinner

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Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #7 on: 10 June 2016, 20:17:57 »
Hostigos, that was from the book about alternate timeline.
Interesting to find out about that world. O0
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Dave Talley

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Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #8 on: 10 June 2016, 21:40:51 »
apparently its back in print, its no longer on Project Gutenberg
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/8301

here is the wiki
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/8301

and a website for the follow on stories
http://www.hostigos.com/the_road.php
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

Nav_Alpha

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Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #9 on: 10 June 2016, 21:48:50 »
I've been desperately trying to track it down for years. Lent my copy to a friend maybe 10'years ago but we lost touch after both of us got out of the army.

In terms of inspiration - this unit stumbled on a scenario that is more When in the Course - another Beam short story with similar theme, etc. Except explorer stumble on medieval era world fighting it out over gunpowder.
More to be revealed shortly


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

Dave Talley

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Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #10 on: 10 June 2016, 22:47:50 »
when I googled it, there were several on ebay and amazon
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

Nav_Alpha

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Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #11 on: 12 June 2016, 01:27:13 »
Post contact report prepared for Precentor Zwick, following encounter on Lontano


While conducting a series of deep space surveys in the area of space known as the Canopus Ruins, the Word of Blake ship Onslow, disguised as an Interstellar Expeditions vessel came across the IND-221-A2 system, knowns to its inhabitants as Lontano.
Settled in the late 2530s by author Terrance Deakin, a British radical who advocated what was generally considered a misogynistic, racist and generally ridiculous manifesto, Lontano slipped from star charts (apart from our own) in the mid 2500s.
Located just Corewood of Helvetica (another missing world), Lontano has regressed to almost medieval era technology, apart from a smattering of Age of War technology, which is lovingly worship by natives even as it decays.
Deakin petitioned Terran Hegemony authorities to establish a colony based around his warped teachings and was eventually given his leave in the 2520s, establishing Lontano with a core of his faithful.

By 2543 a Magistracy of Canopus exploration survey chanced upon the colony which had devolved into a tyrannical dictatorship. Ignoring the posturing of Deakin, the MoC government annexed the world, hung the “great leader” and his henchman and instituted a Canopus style government.
With the outbreak of the succession wars, the MoC pulled back resources from many of its colonies, presumably abandoning Lontano, which quickly slipped from the star charts.
Over the next 250 odd years the planet regressed dramatically. It’s believed the settlers soon fell into civil war, which climaxed in a series of short nuclear and conventional engagements. While some victims of Succession Wars managed to plunge themselves into all out nuclear winter, it appears Lontano simply managed to kill off its best and brightest. All the technicians, scientists, and machinists appear to have died out, effectively leaving society to regress to a dark age level as their grand reminders of their once high tech society crumbled and decayed around them.
Comstar’s Explorer corps kept tabs on the planet over the years, but it was not until the Onslow detected radio and fusion output in 3060 - along with the damaged remains of two Jumpships - that we decided to explore.

On world, our party found a small group of mercenaries (who had allied with one planetary faction) in the process of finishing off a pirate band (who had allied with another).
After restoring order, a small post was established in the hope we can bring the Word to the unbelievers of Lontano (their main beliefs effectively revolve around the deifying of Star League era relics and it’s expected they will be easily assimilated) as well as offering us an additional supply point in the Deep Periphery.
The offworlders were sworn to secrecy and forced to sign a series of non-disclosure clauses before we rendered aid and assisting in the repairs to one of their ancient jumpships. While our cover story of being an IE team was flimsy, we think they believed it.
Life on Lontano is confined to one large continent about the size of North America on Terra. However, it’s only sparsely populated with most settlements centered around a large river delta and plains area in the continent’s south. Further north the climate quickly turns too cold to effectively support life.
The original colony was centered on the southern most tip and originally named Deakinsville. Four other settlements hug the nearby coastline, while smaller settlements were scattered along the nearby temperate plains and forests. Now, these five settlements are rival city states which each control their surrounding lands under feudalistic trappings.
The barren plains are home to barbarian tribes (original settlers who rejected Deakin and fled into the wilderness) that have regressed effectively to the Stone Age but carry out regular raids on their more civilised counterparts. Interestingly, all five major settlements (no one city state has ever managed to decisively beat another because all were built to withstand relatively modern weapons, including tanks and Battlemechs) were built with fusion reactors to provide power. None of the reactors can manage more than a trickle of power that does little more than power a handful of cooling units, meat freezers or water pumps. The Duchy of Tyros is best known for its electric lights that periodically flicker on throughout its temple district, causing waves of religious fervour.

Natives lack the ability to maintain or repair these wonders and as such believe they’re gifts from the old gods who marooned them on the world.
What made our visit so curious was the discovery that the Confederation of Kas (who control the southernmost tip, including the original colony’s landing site) had allied itself with a pirate band know as the Bloody Brotherhood prior to our arrival. The Brotherhood had fled justice following a string of violent raids across Marian and Canopus space and managed to make their way to Lontano before their ancient jumpship gave out. Once on world they carried out a murderous campaign of violence before deciding to settle in Kas, where they were able to use the colony’s old but still usable repair facilities. These pirates could have easily set themselves up as planetary rulers had a mercenary unit known as Cavelli's Cavalierebnot accidently misjumped into the system. After landing (and initially avoiding contact with locals), Cavalli and his men assisted the Duchy of Frac beat back the pirates, even pressuring the Duke into his first ever alliance with several neighbouring kingdoms in an effort to combat the new threat together. By the time of our arrival the Brotherhood had been destroyed, with some parts impressed into the mercenaries, and the world was well on its way to reunification under Frac control.


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

Nav_Alpha

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Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #12 on: 12 June 2016, 01:33:04 »
Command lance

Marauder MAD-5M
Force Commander Felix Cavalli blends experience on the Clan front, the arenas of Solaris and corporate infighting with a traditional FWL noble upbringing. He's adept at moving in high society but just as home in the company of his troops. His experiences in the Deep Periphery has left him shaken and determined to stay in the Inner Sphere - mainly because after announcing his departure the young daughter of the Duke of Frac (who Cavalli effectively crowned king of Lontano) responded that she was pregnant with his child. Cavalli quickly beat a hasty retreat to the Dropship.


Anvil ANV-3M
CPT  Capri Francesca Palma is the unit XO and a childhood friend of Cavalli. Their families have been interlinked for generations and it was highly likely the pair would have even been married in yet another inter-house joining if Felix had not disgraced himself. Back on Andurien, Palma was forced to endure the endless round of parties, dresses and match making opportunities until she eventually broke down and told her parents her one true desire - to become a mechwarrior. A graduate of Princefield, her family were less than pleased when she ran off to join Cavalli.


Victor VTR-9B
Travis Banerjee is Cavalli's elderly retainer. Originally natives of the Regulan Fiefs, the Banerjees have served the Cavalli family for generations and as Felix grew, it was Travis that watched over him. He was secretly pleased when his young charge struck out on his own and was the first to approach him on Solaris when the young noble let it know he was forming his own unit.


Shadow Hawk SHD-2H
Stefan Hostigos is another native of Lontano and the youngest son of one of the planet's most powerful noblemen. As a child he discovered a simulator hidden deep inside his father's palace - a trickle of power from the city's reactor kept it ticking over. He trained almost daily, until the arrival of Cavalli and his men and presented himself as a replacement mechwarrior. At the controls of a former pirate Shadow Hawk he leaves much to be desired, but he's fearless and a dab hand with a blade. A romance quickly blossomed with the commander of the unit's infantry and the pair married in a traditional Duchy ceremony.

Fire lance

Caesar CES-3R
LT Joe Paige is clearly a FedSuns defector but remains tight lipped about his origins. He simply showed up, with his pristine mech and asked for a job as they entered the Chaos March and is probably the unit's most talented mechwarrior. Several months after joining the unit he married Amber, the Savannah Master pilot.

Merlin MLN-1A
Evelyn is a warrior woman born, although only recently introduced to Battlemechs. A native of Lontano's barbarian nomads she cut a deal with Cavalli as he attempted to unite forces against the Brotherhood - I'll bring my clan to fight for you, but you teach me how to command one of your giant metal men. Many of her clan now serve as the unit's infantry and she brought her two wives with her: Layla has turned into a talented combat medic, while Taya is pregnant with the couple's second child and runs the unit's creche.

Lineholder KW1-LH2
 Asha Akouayn was captured by Cavalli during their time on Lontano. A former pirate who had grown tired of the constant bloodshed and life of crime she was ready to break with the Brotherhood when her Lineholder was shot out from under her and readily swapped sides.Akouayn was actually born a slave in the Deep Periphery and spent years as a slaver's concubine before slitting his throat and escaping. Coldly competent and stand-offish, she barely speaks with her comrades and only seems to live for combat.

Archer ARC-4M
Eugen Cannavaro and Felix Cavalli's father were lancemates in the old Defenders of Andurien. A native of Promised Land, Eugen is short, squat and resembles a Hobgoblin due to his homeworld's unusually heavy pressure. He's also bitter that he's not leading the fire lance. Or leading his own merc company. And that his wife left him.
He's known for dropping his LRMs just a little to close for his lancemates' comfort.


Pursuit lance

Phoenix Hawk PXH-1
LT Aurora Weathers - A native of Canopus, Weathers worked closely with the Cavalliere during their initial months fighting Marian raiders. Keen to see more of the universe she decided to branch out and joined them as they returned to the Inner Sphere. Cavalli is aware she's obviously an agent for MoC intelligence determined to find out what actually happened during their misjump, but he prefers his spies to be obvious. It doesn't hurt that she's heartbreakingly beautiful.

Locust LCT-3M
Jorge Calosso is a giant, a native of Kendall where gravity generally breeds seven foot tall, heavy set humans. Jovial and always read with a joke, Jorge brought his wife and two young daughters with him when he signed up recently. His wife Krystal is a talented tech and has been well received by the unit's tech pool.
It's a constant joke among his lance that no one knows how Jorge is able to fit inside his Locust's tiny cockpit.

Raven RVN-3L
 Ling Hoan is the newest member, but is no stranger to the military. Hoan spent 30 years in the CCAF's Home Guard, bouncing from unit to unit until deciding to go freelance in the wake of the Chaos March collapse. He's driving a Raven, captured from pro-CapCon troops on Epsilon Indi.


Cpt Aubrey Ito-Hostigos commands the attached infantry company - a tough as nails former hand to hand instructor with the FWL military, she's served as a merc in the Chaos March since 3057 and hooked up with Cavalliere just before they headed to Canopus space.
While Locato is a patriarchal society, she impressed the warriors of the Hostigos clan with her skill in close combat. She married Stefan Hostigos, the duke's youngest son, prior to the unit returning to the Inner Sphere.

Mostafa Mirza - a career merc who has mostly made his living working corporate security jobs. He and his crew of vehicle operators signed up on Solaris, keen to finally see some action.

Amber Mori pilots the unit's sole Savannah Master. An excellent scout - both at the controls of her hovercraft or on foot, she's saved the unit several times by sniffing out ambushes or alternative routes.
A native of Caph, she was fighting for one of the numerous ethnic militias in the wake of the planet's collapse of government. A berth with the Cavalleri seemed ideal after that hell hole.
She's recently married lieutenant Paige.


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

Nav_Alpha

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Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #13 on: 12 June 2016, 04:12:08 »
Cavalli’s Cavaliere
MRBC Update 15-06-62
Regular/reliable


Force strength:

The Cavaliere boast just shy of a full mech company, supported by an armoured lance and a full foot infantry company equipped with hover APCs.
This infantry company appears to be heavily drawn from deep periphery sources as well as boasting several known pirates. As such, this element is know for its take no prisoners approach, close quarters ability and irregular operations.

The unit lacks any form of aerospace air support but is trained in working with close air support.
Force Commander Cavalli has tried to recruit air support several times since arriving in the Chaos March with success.

Support:
The Cavaliere are blessed with a good corps of trained technicians, mainly recruited off Solaris. Using his stable contacts, Cavalli was able to lure away several high level techs. Interestingly, their platoon of astechs seem to be mainly drawn from the Deep periphery, including several that apparently don't speak English or any other recognised language. While this has been an issue with outsiders, it appears numerous unit members are able to communicate with them.
Lieutenant Adolfo-Gustav Haigh is a former senior tech with the Lynch Stable. He was rumoured to be on a six figure contract according to the Solaris Tattler, but for unknown reasons gave it all up for life as a merc. His predilection for high stakes poker and Four Card Drax is well known however.

Transport:
In contrary to their small size, Cavalli's unit boast a Union class dropship and a Fortress. Both are ancient, barely space worthy vessels apparently salvaged in the periphery.
The origin of the Fortress, Spada, is unknown but it bore numerous scars when it appeared With the mercenaries several years ago. Much of the ship's weapons have been deactivated due to age, disrepair and a lack of crew.

The Union, the Damnthing, is well known for its membership among the Bloody Brotherhood pirate band. In better repair but still aged, it's understood this dropper was taken as a prize.

Insignia and colour:
The Cavaliere paint their mechs in maroon and grey in a checkerboard patterns, reminisce of a knight's surcoat. This led to some confusion on epsilon Indi when they faced the Lannendorf Lancers.
Cavaliere also typically use a golden trim for effect, picking out mech cockpits.
These colour reflect the Cavalli family crest.

The unit's insignia is a dark grey horse with a golden mane, rampant and set on a triangular maroon shield.
This is actually the crest of the Cavalli family. An interesting irony, seeing as the young commander spent much of his adult life estranged from his family.

Until recently the Cavaliere avoided having a uniform, instead relying on whatever kit each member had brought with them from their last posting. However, in 3062 the unit embraced a dress uniform consisting of tight fitting pants in a slate grey and a Marik style jacket (also in grey). The uniform is completed by tall jack boots, maroon kepi
and maroon piping for jacket and pants.

This uniform is only worn on parade and for formal occasions.

Officers typically carry a basket hilt cavalry sword and wear a Sam Browne leather scabbard with plated brass mouthpiece for service wear.

The Cavaliere lack a field uniform, instead wearing whatever they have. The infantry company is particularly terrifying and mix matched, complete with grisly trophies, plumed hats and swords, daggers, axes and pikes, along side standard fatigues and modern body armour.


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

snakespinner

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Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #14 on: 12 June 2016, 19:17:25 »
I have a copy of Lord Kalvan of otherwhen and also a sequel the Great Kings War by Roland Green.
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Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #15 on: 16 June 2016, 22:54:35 »
I've never read the "Lord Kalvan" books, but look forward to hearing more about this unit!
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Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #16 on: 17 June 2016, 00:39:37 »
August 29, 3062
The Great White Plains, Hamal,
The Chaos March


With a shudder Force Commander Felix Cavalli heaved his Marauder’s rear hatch open, exposing himself to the full effect of the icy winds.
Even encased in a heavy duty FWL issue parka, a scarf pulled tight around his face and bulky googles the biting cold child him to the bone as he scrambled a good 11m down to the chin.
His command lance had parked less than half an hour ago but already the four machines were partially covered by thick white snow.
“Good natural camouflage, at least,” the young mercenary leader mused as he reached the ground, his boots crunching against the snow.
“Whazzat, sair?” a gruff voice said.
From the darkness a hulking figure moved forward. Wrapped so heavily in equipment, armour and clothing Sergeant Garth looked almost like a small bear raised on its hind legs.
Apart from the sleek AX-22 Autorifle slung over his shoulder.
“Just thinking that if the snow doesn’t cover our tracks after that last raid, nothing will Sergeant.”
The big native of Lontano grunted and shifted his rifle.
The pair rushed through the driving snow until they reached the far bubble tent. All the way Cavalli cursed himself for agreeing to this meeting rather than just returning to the Dropships and boosting.
“I’ll leave you ‘er, zur. Check de other sentries,” Garth muttered. And with a final nod vanished into the night.
Damn people probably enjoy this weather
Pushing aside the heavy plastic curtain into the tent was trading one world for another - while outside was freezing and cold, inside heat and sense of dozens of bodies packed in too close was almost overwhelming.
At least 40 people - locals and mercenaries alike - sat crossed legged or squatted in long rows facings three huge fires that turned the entire tent hazy with their smoke.
Serving girls, almost nude apart from jewellery and shifting, silken veils and shashes, moved above dispensing food and the sickly sweet fermented milk the locals seemed to relish.
Handing off his gear so that he was now wearing nothing more than his Cooling Suit Cavalli entered the tent’s main floor and was assaulted by the wail of sound from some sort of automated music maker, accompanied by several men on drums.
“The lord would like a word with you, Commander,” a soft voice beckoned.

After extending their contract with the desert nomads of Hamal, the Cavaliere the spent the first half of 3062 fighting FedSuns forces on that icy world.
In mid-June the unit departure Hamal for the Styk Commonality after accepting a generous defensive contract to help push back encroaching CapCon forces.
Earlier that year, Chancellor Liao had installed his own troops as “peacekeepers” and effectively taken over Styk’s Tao Mechworks without firing a shot. However the Commonality was determined to push his forces offworld.
Facing a well funded and highly effective pro-Liao insurgency, the planetary government was already hard pressed when in August 3062 elements of Warrior House Lu Sann and Kamakura’s Hussars. Fortunately, the planetary government had recently hired mercenary unit Lindon’s Battalion, and several weeks later the Cavaliere.
Cavalli and his unit would drop directly into combat on June 15 - the situation had turned dire in the four weeks it took them to leave their last duty station and arrive at Styk’s Nadir jump point.
Delighted to once again see Lindon’s Battalion (after working with them on Caph) the Cavaliere begun a hard burn for atmosphere.


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

Nav_Alpha

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Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #17 on: 17 June 2016, 00:41:48 »
Unit briefing:
June 15, 3062
Dropship Damnthing
Nadir jump point, Styk
Styk Commonality

Cavalli: “Alright people, Goddamit, shut up and listen in. We are now burning for Styk where we will assist throwing off Capellan invaders, like the gallant knights we are.”

General groans and jeers.

Cavalli: “Yeah, i know. I know. We’re vectoring for the a placed called Fire Island down south on the Burtnik continent. The Cappies have thrown up a big push there. Looks like the native militia has packed it in and our good friends from Lindon’s Battalion are desperate for support. That would be us. We’ll wait until we see the ground truth, but at this stage it looks like the Command and Fire lances coming down right on top of the situation and Weathers - your guys will secure our six.

“Now, one thing to note is that the latest intel report has Warrior House Lu Sann also on world-“

Groans and a sudden yelling.

Cavalli: “I know, i know, i know. Ok, keep it together people. Yes, our employers didn’t mention we’d be facing a Warrior House in addition to Cappie regulars… but it’s a pay day. Anyone who wants to sit out this contract can remain on the dropships without pay for the duration.
“Any questions?”

June 17, 3062
Little Creek, Fire Island
Styk
Styk Commonality


“Zero Alpha, this is One Hammer. Dammit, guys I need support here!”
“You need to hold Hammer, support it en route.”
“C’mon lads, if that support doesn’t get here right now we’re dead. My board’s lit up like Luthien at New Year’s and Morrow and Lee and gone. Hurry the hell up-“
“Hammer, this is Knight Six. We’re inbound, hold tight.”
“Who the hell is this?! Buddy, you had sure as hell better be coming in hot because these Cappies are now letting up.”
“Hammer, Knight Six - we’re the Cavaliere and you had better believe we’re coming in hot!”


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

Nav_Alpha

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Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #18 on: 17 June 2016, 03:40:07 »
MISSION: Defend

Attacker: elements of Kamakura’s Hussars 1st battalion and pro-Liao irregulars

Defender: players + additional elements of Lindon's Battalion

WARCHEST:
+ 400 Surprise! (The Defender rolls Initiative with a –4 modifier for the first 5 turns.)
+ 100 Heavy rain
+ 200 Off field support: The Cavaliere' Fortress class dropship is parked offmap and can utilise its Long Tom. However, the unit only has five rounds for the cannon. It has a regular gunnery skill.

OBJECTIVES
Turn the tide. Destroy/Cripple at least 75% of the Attacker’s force. [400]
Cut off the head. Destroy/Cripple the enemy commander’s unit. [150]

SPECIAL RULES
The following rules are in effect for this track:

Commander
Use the Commander rules for the Attacker (p. 13). Forced Withdrawal
Both sides operate under Forced Withdrawal rules (see p. 258, TW).

Salvage
The Salvage rule (p. 13) applies only if the Turn the tide objective is achieved.

Opfor:

Hussars' 1st battalion, Alpha company Battle lance
THR-1LThunder - Sang-wei Aiden Lee *
HUR-W0-R4L Huron Warrior
CTF-3L Cataphract
VND-3L Vindicator

Po tank
Po tank
Brutus
Brutus
x2 Mechanised infantry squads

Elements of Lindon's Battalion (Hammer lance)
NGS-5T Nightsky
SPR-5F Spector

Both Lindon's Battalion mechs have been damaged. As such they take 15 points of damage randomly determined across their front three torso locations and 10 scattered randomly across their rear.

The Cavaliere brought their command lance.


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

Nav_Alpha

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Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #19 on: 18 June 2016, 21:50:04 »
As first fights go, this was a doozy.
The Lindon's Battalion pair started well ahead of us and right in the teeth of the Cappie advance.
I positioned Felix's lance along ridge line off to the west, hoping we'd be able to flank the Cappies as they raced after the bait....err... Our friends.

By the time the Nightsky and Spector were in range they'd been chewed up nastily and I dropped two rounds from the Long Tom to break up their pursuers.
Amazingly, both shots were on target and took out an infantry squad and charred the Cataphract a bit.

Then the shooting started. Capri and the CO put all the laser hurt down on the Huron Warrior but in exchange thenThunder let loose back.
Capri's Anvil went down as did the Warrior.

And our Shadow Hawk decided now was the time to jump forward and drop into the middle of opposing tank formation.

The Cappies had effective found themselves in an L-shaped shooting gallery and another exchange of gunfire saw my Marauder blow the Huron Warrior to tiny pieces, while the pair of Lindon's Battalion mechs leapt forward to assist the Sh-Hawk. All three tore up the armoured lance.

In typical Capellan fashion, the lance the charges desperate to get to grips with us.
Unfortunately, that giant arse AC/20 on that Thunder ripped the heart out of our Anvil and even knocked the pilot around as she rode the machine to the ground.

But it was all pretty much over after that - the Cappies lost the Vindy as well and three tanks were knocked out.
They wisely retreated after that.

My Mercs lost both the Anvil and the Shadow Hawk (late in the game I dropped some more Long Tom round in on the fleeing Liao lance, missed and chewed up my own mech!)

Based on the objectives - we managed to salvage a pair of Brutus assault tanks, a Po and bits of the Vindicator


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

snakespinner

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Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #20 on: 20 June 2016, 01:37:47 »
Dropping the Arty on your own Shadow Hawk, that is what I'm famous for.
Are you trying to copy my style. :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.

Nav_Alpha

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Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #21 on: 20 June 2016, 02:16:08 »
If you're not taking casualties from your own artillery you're not advancing fast enough!


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

DOC_Agren

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Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #22 on: 23 June 2016, 14:57:01 »
Dropping the Arty on your own Shadow Hawk, that is what I'm famous for.
Are you trying to copy my style. :D O0

Suddenly I don't feel so alone..  but I've hit a Phoenix Hawk in my own ammo depot that was being over run..  Long Delays for the Long Tom to arrive..  Still barely functioning Phoenix Hawk that had driven off or destroyed most of an attacking the Recon Lance. 
"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

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Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #23 on: 23 June 2016, 19:06:57 »
Suddenly I don't feel so alone..  but I've hit a Phoenix Hawk in my own ammo depot that was being over run..  Long Delays for the Long Tom to arrive..  Still barely functioning Phoenix Hawk that had driven off or destroyed most of an attacking the Recon Lance. 

Oh yeah, I've got history in this regard. In another campaign years ago my RAF Purifier spotter squad called in some danger close Arrow IV. It missed but incidentally still hit another enemy unit. That was right next door to them. Killed both the enemy squad and my Purifiers - who had actually called the shot in on themselves


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

Nav_Alpha

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Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #24 on: 23 June 2016, 20:08:15 »
Personal log -  Felix Cavalli,
June 28, 3062

Just got orders to pull back to the capital - apparently the Cappies are making a major push there out of the Tao MeckWorks they're already occupying.
Hopefully the orders are legit this time - conflicting orders seem to come and go almost hourly. The Styk high command is a joke - chaotic, self serving and almost certainly infiltrated by Liao moles.
Lindon's Battalion is holding the Warrior House to the east, guess we're got to go save Lorelei.
Only Fire Lance is back there - hopefully they don't run into too much trouble.

Later.
Damn. There's not much else to say. Hours before we could make our way back to Lorelei those Hussars hit the city hard. Fire Lance under Joe Paige was about all they had defending the northside. I got one garbled comm call fro Paige as they took up position - at least one lance, all brand new Cappie designs, coming in hard.

And then I got further word.
Evelyn's dead - one of those damn Huron Warriors puts a gauss slug through her cockpit. Joe's Ceaser is gone - the same bastard managed to shoot him out of it.
Asha and Eugene managed to see off the rest of the Cappies but they're both in bad shape.
I don't know how I'm going to break it to Evelyn's wives. Damn.
We'll get our pay back.

......

So, this was a bloody lance on lance tangle in heavy urban. Like i said, i lost two mechs - including one pilot. In return we destroyed two Liao mechs (Eugen even stomped on one pilot!) and left a Men Shen crippled (busted gyro and missing a leg).
The bastard Huron Warrior pilot was insanely good and under Forced Withdrawal fled after blowing up the Caesar- the pair opedn up on each other and pretty much ruined each other, but I got the worst of it.

This was... bloody. Technically we won, but I'm going to be struggling to repair and re-arm. And I'm down two mechs!


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

Deadborder

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Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #25 on: 23 June 2016, 23:08:48 »
One of my friends is a huge Huron Warrior fan. He'd be proud of that guy.
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

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Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #26 on: 23 June 2016, 23:41:33 »
One of my friends is a huge Huron Warrior fan. He'd be proud of that guy.

Nasty piece of kit.

After he killed the Merlin pilot I was pretty determined to waste him. And lost the Casear because of it. Instead of playing it safe I went all out and got myself shot to pieces.
Don't let your emotions intrude on the battlefield, kids!

Meanwhile, I played through another scenario. A follow on - Archer and Lineholders fleeing the city with Cappies hot on their heels and run into Felix's lance.
Actually worked out damn well for us this time


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

Nav_Alpha

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Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #27 on: 27 June 2016, 23:23:03 »
A bit of friend... Or maybe foe?
Some of you guys may have seen Barton's Boozefighters over in my Republic era Heist campaign.
Anyway, here they are.

MRBC Report - JUNE-3062
Barton's Boozefighters

OVERVIEW:
The mercenary unit known as Barton's Boozefighters (technically registered as Barton's Broncos with the MRBC) is closely linked to three prominent families from Australia in the Lyran Alliance's Bucklands Theatre.
The Duggan, Barton and Kerr families can all trace their ancestry back to Australia's original settlers who emigrated to the far flung world from Terra's sparsely populated Australia continent during the early Star League.

The scions of all three families passed through recruit training and were initially assigned to the Australia-based 11th Lyran Regulars before being transferred to the 15th Regulars just in time for the 4th Succession War where they saw action against the Draconis Combine. Newly blooded and full of fire, Hauptmanns Brenton Duggan,  Andrew Barton and Marisa Kerr decided to muster out for mercenary service along with a cadre of their former comrades. The original charter decided unit command would be voted on and rotated through the various three founding families. All three managed to enlist several Australian relatives and by 3031 with now Major Duggan at their head, Brenton's Broncos boasted a full combined arms battalion.

The Broncos spent the next years working exclusively for the Lyran half of the FedCom or Steiner space based companies. In 3039, FedCom command transferred the unit to Davion space as part of the massive assault on The Dragon.
In support of the Six FedCom RCT the Broncos burnt in for Ancha during the early war of '39, but a Shin Legion Slayer had other plans. Following a brutal fight the last remaining Kuritan fighter rammed the Bronco Union class dropship Bucking Stallion, destroying the bridge and sending the ship plummeting to the surface. Major Duggan and most of 1st company was killed while Captain Marisa Kerr suffered critical injuries that would prevent her from ever using a mech again.

Shattered in the subsequent 18th Dieron Regulars counter attack the Broncos retreated and a new leadership vote was held. Andrew Barton was voted into command and after the unit's contracted lapsed, the newly christened Barton's Broncos headed for House Marik space.
Under Barton the unit shrank to a company as several long term members left due to the Broncos' new direction. The unit developed a reputation for effective but brutal counter insurgency work in the FWL and Confederation.
Old members were replaced with new merc more suited to the new direction but the unit soon gained a reputation for drunken off duty incidents, poor discipline and low morales that saw others dub them "Boozefighters" rather than Broncos.

In 3057 Barton survived a heart attack and elected to retire and hand command over to his son Brett. While this shocked the remaining "old guard" who had expected a vote, the move was not challenged. Later that year Lieutenant Adam Duggan's Awesome was destroyed as by a misguided friendly artillery strike.
Since then, all opposition to the Barton rule  has effectively disappeared.

FORCE STRENGTH:
The Boozefighters boast a full company of battlemechs, supported by a mixed company of light armour, towed artillery and infantry.
1st company includes a heavy/assault command lance, a light pursuit lance and mixed Security lance commanded by Brenton Duggan's 23-year-old son Frank. Only one when his father died he had shown no desire to supplant Barton, and the CO is very keen to keep him on side.

The 2nd company is commanded by Jayne Kerr-Barton, a cousin of the CO.

SUPPORT: Never a rich unit, the Boozefighters can barely maintain their equipment and many mechwarriors pull double duty as techs. Original unit member Marisa Kerr's daughter Hazel is the talented chief tech but she is forced to work with bare bones resources.

TRANSPORT: The Boozefighters were unable to save the wrecked Stallion and now rely solely on the ancient and poorly maintained Erskineville King, an Overlord class dropper that has been crudely modified to support combined ops.

COLOURS AND INSIGNIA:
The unit insignia didn't help things during their transition in names: it depicts a bucking bronco with rider in silhouette against a tan background. The rider is wearing a broad brimmed hat and is wildly waving around a bottle in one hand.

The Boozefighters typically paint their machines in a dark tan with black highlights. Many however just sport an olive drab scheme, with plenty of primer.
Rust is a common issue with many machines.

KEY PERSONNEL:

Major Brett Barton is a formidable warrior and decent tactician. A born and raised merc he learnt everything he knew as a self confessed "merc brat". As such he has nothing but scorn for the "pretty boy academy grads".
While his Stalker is made for stand off work he prefers the shock and awe of charging at his enemies.
Always keen on the heavy drinking, hard charging culture of the Boozefighters, a replacement arm following a bad ejection during a pirate hunting operation in Taurian space in 3054 saw him develop a painkiller addiction as he learned to live with his prosthetic.

Lieutenant Frank Duggan commands the security lance from the cockpit of his Warhammer and displays much of the competence and leadership ability of his father. While Brenton was reserved and a little frosty, Frank is a good ole boy who fits in well with the leadership and other mercs. He has however been making increased inquiries into the exact nature of the friendly fire incident that killed his brother and he's quickly beginning to suspect his CO.

Captain Adrianna King is the Boozefighters' XO and serves as the Command Lance number two in her Grasshopper. A former Crucis Lancer she was cashiered for I know reasons after the war of '39 and spent several years as a bounty hunter and bodyguard for rich celebs, while making a sideline as a glamour model for several various merc oriented Tri-vid shows before being hired by the Boozefighters.
When her looks started to fade she invested heavily in cosmetic surgery. But it became apparent her modelling career was over - and those surgeries were expensive, requiring her to go merc.
Barton is besotted with her and she knows how to play him.


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

Deadborder

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Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #28 on: 28 June 2016, 20:22:09 »
And we know how well it worked out for all involved. Though I love the theme naming
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

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Re: Cavalli’s Cavaliere
« Reply #29 on: 28 June 2016, 21:37:10 »
March 3074 update - Word of Blake Mercenary Liaison Command

Since accepting employment with us in early 3066 the Boozefighters have expanded to a full combined arms battalion with attached aerospace support. Colonel Barton has  made extensive use of our Credit opportunities to purchase a platoon of battle armour and has borrowed several sizeable sums from Word lenders.

The Boozefighters initially enjoyed a string of successes for us: putting down insurrections, counter insurgency work and pirate hunting across the Protectorate and it seemed they may have finally turned a corner after years of bad reputation, contract breaches and defeats.
In late 3073 High Command shifted the Boozefighters from Terra to the Circinus Federation where they took up cadre and training duty for the new units we're training there. Following their arrival in the periphery the unit appears to have fallen back on its old habits of poor discipline.

Worryingly, 1st company's commander Captain Frank Duggan deserted as the unit readied for its shift out of the Protectorate. He was last spotted outbound for Federated Suns space.
« Last Edit: 31 January 2017, 20:14:13 by Nav_Alpha »


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