Battletech: Riot Control (Black Barracudas)

An In-Character Post-Mission Report of the Black Barracuda's latest mission, provided by Jen, who plays Relay.

Herding Civilians

• Mission Record:
• Date: February 5th 3026

  Location: Ormstown, Lyran Commonwealth

  Contract Registry: LC-OC-01-01

  Objectives: Enforce the magistrate's order for dispersal of the crowds and riot control should the Democracy Now demonstration get out of hand. Property damage should be avoided at all costs and lethal force is not authorised unless civilian lives are threatened by the demonstrators and even then, only as a last resort.

  Summary:

  The green reed which bends in the wind is stronger than the mighty oak which breaks in a storm, but is much easier to crush beneath one’s foot

  Prior to deployment, we accepted the offer of weapons testing from Coventry Metalworks, Corvus-san took the flechette autocannon rounds designed for use against infantry, this one took tear gas SRP missiles also designed for use against infantry. A weapon of low war certainly, but a ronin does what she must.

  Upon the drop in the city of Ormstown, we were made aware of protests by the science centre, myself and Corvus-san moved to engage the protestors there and enforce curfew. The honourless mob were fortunate that their daimyo is merciful, on Luthien they would have been cut down like the dogs they are.

  Using tear gas and laser fire, Corvus-san and I routed the protestors, who broke like an untempered blade against us. Then Akuhito-sama was made aware of further protestors at the city hall, and moved to intercept them with Putzer-san, the mercenary we had engaged to pilot Lana. These unworthy ones had more resolve than their compatriots, and pelted my lancemates with rocks and Molotov cocktails, setting the city hall ablaze. Flame is but a momentary distraction for a mechwarrior though, and my lancemates soon sent them running. Akuhito-sama worked to extinguish the flames overtaking the city hall as per our mission objective to avoid property damage.

  We then received notification that a stolen vehicle had been spotted on one of the main roads of the city and Corvus-san went to intercept it while this one remained to ensure the last of the protestors at the science centre were routed. The stolen vehicle was a bus from the city’s transit network carrying protestors, but this was no match for Corvus-san’s Clint which lifted it from the road and turned it on its back, an effective way of immobilizing it without excessive damage.

  We were then notified of a fire at the city distillery, and as this one had routed the last of the protestors at my location, I went to suppress this disturbance before the fire could spread. Upon arrival at the distillery, this one saw that the protestors were burning an effigy of Katrina Steiner upon a bonfire, an extremely disrespectful act. When this one attempted to scatter them, they pelted Bakeneko with rocks and rotting vegetables, then attempted to defile his paintwork.

  Further notifications came in from the city authorities of armed protestors in the street and an unknown mech with them, we were then given authority to use whatever force we deemed necessary to subdue these rebels. Corvus-san, Akuhito-sama and Putzer-san moved to engage them while this one unleashed Bakeneko’s mighty PPC to cow the protestors at the distillery. At the sight of leashed lightning, the cowardly dogs fled and this one extinguished the fires they had set.
  
  

  

  Patrol

  At this point, Corvus-san had reached the armed protestors first, and discovered that they had been armed with rifles and SRM-launchers. It became obvious that this was no more protest, this was armed rebellion. Someone is clearly arming these dogs, as they could not have sourced such weapons on their own. Corvus-san was fired upon, which dealt him heavy damage, and returned fire with the modified autocannon ammo which proved its worth against infantry foes by reducing the majority of them to red mist.

  Corvus-san then engaged the enemy mech, an Urbanmech normally used for firefighting duty piloted by a wretch calling himself Anarchy, on top of one of the city’s buildings. This Urbanmech was armed with a water cannon rather than the autocannon that it is normally known for, which seemed laughable but carried enough force to topple Corvus-san’s Clint.

  Both Akuhito-sama and Corvus-san then opened fire on the protestors while this one moved to join up with the rest of the lance. Between us, we eliminated the protestors and concentrated fire on the Urbanmech, disabling it by destroying one of the gyros in its leg. The pilot attempted to eject and flee, but was captured by Corvus-san and handed over to the Lyran authorities, a satisfactory end to a most successful mission.

  In closing, this one would like to express gratitude to Coventry Metalworks for their provision of the tear gas SRM ammo, this was extremely effective in cutting off routes of escape for the protestors and aided greatly in their dispersal. In any situation where infantry or civilians must be disabled rather than eliminated, these weapons would be greatly effective.

  
  

  - Relay.

  
  

  Comstar Communiqué 89962nr22-SLCOM-02-23-3026

  One cannot reap peace from the seeds of war. -From Collected Short Sayings of Blessed Blake, Edition XXII, ComStar Press, 3015

  Start encrypted message:

  Simon Grantrel, Things went better than planned, thanks to your designs. Kumiko and the rest of the lance approve greatly of the Tear Gas Short Range Missiles… they did wonders with dispersing the civvies. They even allowed us to capture a few of the terrorist pigs that attacked us unscathed. And the Flechette Anti-personnel Autocannon rounds? Well, let’s just say I don’t envy the clean-up crew. The rabble that attacked me personally were spread across the streets like fresh road kill. I’ve attached the Data Logs and Binary Feeds for the testing rounds. Hope this is useful to you. Needless to say, we’re more than happy with what you’ve shown us so far and we’re all eager to see what comes next. Cheers.

  -Dom “Kraken” Corvus.

Battletech Campaign: Inner Sphere News

Got an excellent game in va Skype last week. Very tense all the way. I'll put the battle report up over the course of the next few nights, but for the time being here is more Inner Sphere News.

INNER SPHERE NEWS FLASH JANUARY 10th 3026

+++++++++FEDERATED SUNS ANNOUNCES WAR GAMES+++++++++

First Prince Hanse Davion announced today that an undisclosed number of troops would be involved in a set of wargame exercises dubbed Operation Galahad. The operation is set to begin next month and will involve large numbers of troops in both the Draconis and Capellan marches. The Prince went on to say that he hoped the operation would cast aside the current way of military thinking in the inner sphere. In response DCMS and CCAF regiments have been placed on high alert along the Federated Suns borders.

+++++++++OUTWORLDS ALLIANCE CLOSES BORDERS+++++++++

ISN reporters have learned that the Outworlds Alliance periphery state has placed several of its border worlds under an interdcition and is restricting all traffic into and out of the systems. According to reports, elements of the Alliance Air Wings are enforcing the blockade at system jump points while the 1st and 2nd Armoured divisions have been dispatched to enforce martial law on the ground. 

+++++++++COVENTRY METAL WORKS UNVEILS NEW MISSILE PROTOTYPE+++++++++

Coventry Metal Works has announced a new munition for it's range of SRM launchers - the Inferno. The new Inferno missiles surpass traditional incendiary munitions, combining flammable chemicals with an adhesive compound to shower their targets with a burning gel. This gel is designed to increase a 'Mech's heat levels to the point where the DI computer shuts down the 'Mech's Fusion Engine and is also extremely effective against ground vehicles and infantry. CEO Simon Grantrel has stated that the new round will go through rigorous field testing before general release but that it should be available by the summer.

+++++++++HUSSARS DEFEND CALLOWAY IV+++++++++

Calloway IV became platform for a surprise raid on the 1st Regulan Hussars. Despite high casulaties, Colonel Tomaso Kinchuhara commented on his units “swift and efficient” actions against McCarron's Armored Cavalry, who carried out the raid. The storage facility for a consignment of Pitban 230 Fusion engines came under attack during nightfall at approx. 0130hours. Archibald McCarron was unavailable for comment and is believed to be seriously injured.

Black Barracudas: Mission Report

I've updated the Black Barracudas campaign page (link under the banner) with the mission and contract details and provided a link back to this mission report.

Mission Report

by Tim Stables
(Kraken in the campaign)

Rahne. A horrible little planet without adequate water or growing seasons. Major dust storms, the works. Severe weather conditions, partly from the massive moon and from the planet's one sea, continuously arise on the planet. It has four seasons: Storm, Calm, Cold, and Melting. "Of the four, Melting is the most dangerous, as temperatures rise above 100 degrees Celsius." Each of these seasons last for 21 days. 

The current season is Melting (Dust Storms will add +2 to all ranged targeting difficulties. Current season is 'Melting' - battlemechs will generate an additional 2 heat per turn.) 

Coventry Metal Works sensor relay required a garrison [The Black Barracudas] to keep the site secure while the Skye Rangers took point and guarded the courier with the Prototype Hunchback Scans on board. It came to light that the Gryphons were planning a raid. 

Kraken Mech, "Charybdis" a CLNT-2-3T "Clint"

The Black Barracudas set up a perimeter around the relay station and straight away picked up the 4 blips of the enemy lance, each mech coming from a different angle. Splinter and Gannicus kicked their mechs into gear and raced towards the first attacker, picking him up on the scanners through the storms as a Wasp WSP-1A. We would later discover there were two Wasp WSP-1A. Goryo and Kraken did the same, discovering a Wolverine and Stinger. The Wasps and Stinger were running havoc in these conditions and kept pounding the Relay Station before darting off for cover and to cool down. The ‘Cudas struggled to hit anything and realised that the only way they’re going to cause damage is by getting close and start throwing punches and kicks. Kraken, in frustration, kicked his Jump Jets into gear and attempted a Death From Above on the closest Wasp. Obviously, due to the conditions, he missed, and he ended up face down in the dirt. 

Each mech began exchanging blows with lasers and fists… Kraken, recovering from his fall, approached the Wolverine with bravado, but after missing with both punches, took a blow to the chest causing his AC ammo to explode and critically damaging his Clint ‘Charybdis’ CLNT-2-3T. He had no option but to bug out. 

Running hot, Splinter and Gannicus made short work of one of the Wasps and made the Stinger run for the hills. The Wolverine was targeted next and the pilot was soon forced to eject. With quick thinking and desperation, as the relay station would fall with another salvo, Goryo hailed the last Wasp pilot, making him withdraw from the field, failing his mission to destroy the building, but he had his life. The ‘Cudas were successful. They captured the Wolverine pilot and recovered the Critically Damaged Wasp, a good addition to their forces. 

Kraken, upon finding his lance mates had caught the Wolverine pilot, who turned out to be Colonel Martha Zuritas, strode into her cell and floored the officer with a blow to the stomach. His lance mates quickly pulled him off so as not to risk their chances of ransoming the Colonel. 

Col. Zuritas' Wolverine

Contract written by (I believe) Dougal Cochrane.

 Contract Details:

Contract Registry: LC-OC-01-02
Unit Assigned: COMPLETED
Working for the: Coventry Metal Works
In the: Lyran Commonwealth
To complete the following: Garrison
System: Rahne
Forces Recommended: 1 Lance
Contract Duration: 1 Month (15 Days in REAL TIME)
Employer Contact: Coventry Metal Works CEO Simon Grantrel
Jump/Drop Fees: 75 WP
Pay Rate: 200 WP
Support: None
Salvage Rights: Low
Command: Independent

Kali Yama ain't letting us get away lightly with the Hunchback scans you secured for us. We're transferring the data back to Coventry via courier rather than trusting Comstar with it. Trouble is, it looks like we were spotted when we passed through the Solaris system and our courier may get hit at the staging point on Rahne.

Rahne's a real eyesore of a planet - dust storms and rock - most folk live underground in mining colonies. Normally we'd never set foot on it but word over the HPG is a Jumpship carrying a couple FWLM Leopard dropships and a swarm of aerotech glued to its belly passed through Solaris a short while ago. Chances are it's the Gryphons planning a quick raid. So now we've got a short window to get deeper into the LC where they can't follow us. We're transferring fusion bottles from Rahne up to the Jump Ship Pequod using the courier drop ship which should speed up the recharge time considerably. Unfortunately, we're almost blind during the dust storms and we're totally reliant on a nearby sensor relay to keep the site secure. The Skye Rangers have loaned us a heavy lance to guard the courier, but we'll need the sensor station guarded as well. Lose that and we'll be utterly blind and vulnerable to aerospace assault.

Can I count on you to keep the sensors uplink alive? 

Inner Sphere News: 3025 in Summary

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