The following is made in humorous light, I have absolutely zero knowledge of the IlClan publication.
Any and all phrasings here do not contribute to any canonicity of Battletech, save for the personal headcanon I may construct.
Believe me, it is a very empty head. I could create a whole universe there.Priority Message Incoming...Date: 2300 Hours June 26, 3250
Source: Plains of Heroes, Solaris VII, Clan Supremacy Territory
Sender: Prime Trainer Thomas
Star Colonel Joanna Roshak,
Hail to you and the Clans. You requested that I present my findings for the latest batch of
Uplifts.This After Action Report will detail such events from the past couple of training sessions.
Before I continue, please allow me this indulgence to state my feeling about Project
Enkidu.
This idea of uplifting lower caste barbarians is inviting danger.
Most of the people you selected have genetic legacies linking back to the very soldiers we fought against during the Great Unification.
With Houseman barbarians at our gates, we now invite their cousins into our ranks?
I hope that the sainted Banacek is not rolling in his grave.
Still with that out of the way I shall report my current findings.
Even though some knew they were facing possible defeat, they fought viciously.
The set up was simple enough, one Dropship with a Mech and vehicle company holding off two Mech companies set on destroying the Dropship.
We purposely chose older models from the 3025 - 3039 era because, though they be
Uplifts, I believe that Supreme technology is still too much for them at the moment.
We styled the designs after two old units that are long dead: Sorenson's Sabres and the Fox's Teeth.
The Fox's Teeth met the enemy just outside the hills. Hoping to push them back enough, giving the Dropship time to start up.
Yes even the Dropship crew had an objective. They had 10 turns to get the engines warmed up and if they survived to 10 turns, they won the match. Sadly this was a Union, one of the more obsolete models. Compared to what we have now, they are no more powerful than a small shuttle.
Excuse my digression, I shall continue.
Things were looking decent enough for the Fox's Teeth team. However the Sabres used their lighter elements to flank the enemy and try to harass the Dropship. Those pilot names will be attached in my weekly report, they deserve to have extra eyes on them.
Meanwhile the rest of the Sabres offered themselves as big, meaty, targets of distraction. The plan worked rather well, because the vehicles provided did not have the ability to maneuver and deal with the lighter elements.
Yes this may sound like the plan was tilted in favor of one force, but combat is never fair. True Clan warriors fight and make the odds theirs.
To molly coddle them, offer a "fair" fight would accuse me and my team of being Guardians. Worse than that we could be accused of being those long dead Wardens. I shudder at such a thought.
By the fourth turn things started to look chaotic.
It was rather beautiful really the clash of metal, the screams of autocannons, and the heat of lasers. I almost wanted to strap into a Mech and take someone on, but I had to be content with watching these play warriors beat each other down.
Around this turn and Turn Five,
we had elements dropping like flies. It seemed that Fox's Teeth were losing Mechs like Hornets, but were taking out bigger targets like Longbows and Hatamoto-Chis.
However, despite their tenacity it was over by Turn Six
Sabre elements started closing in on the Dropship. Firing upon the now neutered egg shell, they pounded it into scrap, inadvertently injuring the Dropship crews that were being tested.
Assessments: 1. A Union has poor weaponry for the sides. With a 2/3/2 damage bracket, it did not offer much, especially with a damage threshold of 2.
Literally nearly every shot followed with the crit check, thus causing extra internal damage.
2. Vehicle companies did not offer much punch compared to a Mech.
I have no idea if a Stone Horses commander put you up to this, but here in Clan Phoenix we use lighting fast Mechs to approach the enemy.
Had the defending Fox's Teeth had Mechs, or even supplementary infantry, the fight could have lasted longer.
3. Oh dear Kerensky Unions are eggshells! Use a stronger Dropship if this is going to be used in the future.
Damage thresholds should not be anywhere near 2! Even the lowest stravag Spheroid designs can match that damage profile.
With Houseman barbarians nibbling on our borders, I know we are stretched for time. In fact there's a great Convention of Warriors coming soon. That's why I was tasked with such an..."honor" but if such a training regimen is used in the future we need to adjust some things.
Always of service, Long Live the Clans
Prime Trainer Thomas
Okay even though my side was pasted during certain turns, I did enjoy this and writing this up.
I think we'll tweak it a bit for our group, but it won't serve well as is. If anyone is interested in the units I used, I'll post them later.