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Contract 1, FedCom Extraction Raid

4 (100%)

Contract 2, Outworlds Alliance Recon Raid

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Contract 3, FedCom Recon Raid #1

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Contract 4, FedCom Recon Raid #2

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None of the above - wait a month and try again (please post to specify acceptable contract criteria)

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Total Members Voted: 4

[EuchreJack]

It was wrecked, and then the techs worked their magic on it and fixed it up again. You've been leading training and combat patrols without incident, until the next update.

So I have contact with the enemy next round?  Yay!

[Hanzoku]

Episode 6 – Brawling Light Mechs

Spoiler: Turn 1 (click to show/hide)

The week is quiet leading up to the battle. On Sunday, the day of the battle, I reroll the terrain, trying for something better then  ‘Cliffs’. I got Hills-craters, which I guess is an improvement.



Our mission is simple, we need to destroy 4 of 8 targets, and can only lose 2 of 4 of our mechs, including our ally.



Looking at the setup, it looks like this version of MekHQ doesn’t set reinforcement deployment times correctly. As a light lance, they should deploy turn 6, and also should deploy opposite our entrance instead of in the center. Corrections made, we’re ready to go.




Despite the name, there’s not a whole lot of variation, the craters are only one hex below the rest of the ground in most cases. Because of the rain, everything is mud, once again.

We deploy in a tight lance opposite the pirates in the center.



The advantage or disadvantage of a small map with light mechs – we’re all in each other’s faces immediately. The FedCom Griffin hangs off in the distance, while we start mixing it up with the opposing lance.

Little Dog fires his medium lasers at the Firestarter in his face, while EuchreJack and Arnaud both fire on the Wasp getting into melee range of our Hornet.

Combat Attack Phase
-------------------
(12th Bay Hammerers) Hornet HNT-152
   Fired 3 times, hit 1 times for 3 damage
   Fired at 0 times, hit 0 times for 2 damage
   Kicked (Pirate) Wasp WSP-1A and missed!
   PRONE

(12th Bay Hammerers) Jenner JR7-F
   Fired 4 times, hit 3 times for 15 damage
   Kicked (Pirate) Firestarter FS9-H for 7 damage

(12th Bay Hammerers) Wolfhound WLF-1
   Fired 3 times, hit 1 times for 5 damage
   Fired at 10 times, hit 1 times for 4 damage

(Pirate) Firestarter FS9-H
   Fired 7 times, hit 1 times for 2 damage
   Fired at 4 times, hit 3 times for 22 damage
   Was punched 0 times and kicked 1 times.

(Pirate) Wasp WSP-1A
   Fired 3 times, hit 0 times for 2 damage
   Fired at 6 times, hit 2 times for 10 damage
   Kicked (12th Bay Hammerers) Jenner JR7-F and missed!
   Punched (12th Bay Hammerers) Jenner JR7-F and missed!
   PRONE

The script works really well, by the way. I think it gets confused a little here because both pirate wasps are named Wasp WSP-1A, something I’ll fix at setup next time I see it happen.

Anyway, Little Dog kicks the Firestarter, but it keeps its feet, while Arnaud wiffs his kick and lands in the mud.

Spoiler: Turn 2 (click to show/hide)

Both the Wasp and our Hornet get back up. Little Dog moves to get right behind one of the Wasps that’s presenting a delicious target, while EuchreJack and Arnaud are set to give the other Wasp a bad day. The Firestarter backed off and will probably spend this round cooling, and the FedCom Griffin gets closer and might contribute this round.

Combat Attack Phase
-------------------

(12th Bay Hammerers) Hornet HNT-152
   Fired 3 times, hit 0 times for 0 damage

(12th Bay Hammerers) Jenner JR7-F
   Fired 4 times, hit 4 times for 20 damage
   Fired at 1 times, hit 0 times for 0 damage

(12th Bay Hammerers) Wolfhound WLF-1
   Fired 4 times, hit 2 times for 13 damage
   Fired at 7 times, hit 1 times for 13 damage
   Kicked (Pirate) Wasp WSP-1A for 7 damage
   Was punched 0 times and kicked 1 times.
   PRONE

(Federated Commonwealth) Griffin GRF-1N
   Fired 2 times, hit 0 times for 0 damage

(Pirate) Firestarter FS9-H
   Fired 1 times, hit 0 times for 0 damage

(Pirate) Stinger STG-3R
   Fired 3 times, hit 0 times for 0 damage

(Pirate) Wasp WSP-1A
   Fired 4 times, hit 1 times for 5 damage
   Fired at 13 times, hit 6 times for 44 damage
   Kicked (12th Bay Hammerers) Wolfhound WLF-1 for 4 damage
   Was punched 0 times and kicked 1 times.
   Crits received: Hand[LA], Shoulder[LA], +Medium Laser[RA], Engine[CT]
   Destroyed parts: RA, RL
   PRONE

It’s getting a little confused due to the two Wasps with the same names. Little Dog’s wasp has lost its right arm and fell due to damage done. EuchreJack’s Wasp managed to knock him down, but he kicked its leg off in return.

Spoiler: Round 3 (click to show/hide)

The Firestarter, Wasp and Stinger all seem to want a piece of EuchreJack’s Wolfhound. He’s running hot, so I’m going to skip firing this turn and just have him kick the downed Wasp. Little Dog gets behind the Firestarter but will fire only two lasers. Arnaud keeps plinging away, this time at the one-armed Wasp, and the FedCom stays at range and tries again with his PPC.

Combat Attack Phase
-------------------

(12th Bay Hammerers) Hornet HNT-152
   Fired 3 times, hit 0 times for 0 damage
   Kicked (Pirate) Wasp WSP-1A and missed!

(12th Bay Hammerers) Jenner JR7-F
   Fired 2 times, hit 1 times for 5 damage
   Fired at 1 times, hit 0 times for 0 damage

(12th Bay Hammerers) Wolfhound WLF-1
   Fired at 8 times, hit 2 times for 7 damage
   Kicked (Pirate) Wasp WSP-1A for 199 damage

(Federated Commonwealth) Griffin GRF-1N
   Fired 1 times, hit 1 times for 10 damage

(Pirate) Firestarter FS9-H
   Fired 4 times, hit 1 times for 5 damage
   Fired at 2 times, hit 1 times for 5 damage

(Pirate) Stinger STG-3R
   Fired 3 times, hit 1 times for 2 damage

(Pirate) Wasp WSP-1A
   Fired 2 times, hit 0 times for 0 damage
   Fired at 4 times, hit 1 times for 209 damage
   Was punched 0 times and kicked 1 times.
   Crits received: Upper Arm[LA], SRM 2 Ammo (48)

   Destroyed parts: LA, LTR, CT
   DESTROYED (ejection)

EuchreJack connects with its SRM storage, and the downed Wasp vanishes. The Wolfhound’s foot is somewhat crispy, but otherwise fine.

Victory: 1 / 4
Defeat: 0 / 2

Spoiler: Round 4 (click to show/hide)

The two 20 tonners move behind the Griffin, and Arnaud goes to help him out. Meanwhile, both EuchreJack and Little Dog are prepared to blow the hell out of the Firestarter’s back armor.

Combat Attack Phase
-------------------

(12th Bay Hammerers) Hornet HNT-152
   Fired 3 times, hit 0 times for 0 damage
   Kicked (Pirate) Wasp WSP-1A and missed!

(12th Bay Hammerers) Jenner JR7-F
   Fired 2 times, hit 1 times for 5 damage
   Kicked (Pirate) Firestarter FS9-H for 7 damage

(12th Bay Hammerers) Wolfhound WLF-1
   Fired 2 times, hit 1 times for 5 damage
   Fired at 5 times, hit 0 times for 0 damage

(Federated Commonwealth) Griffin GRF-1N
   Fired 1 times, hit 0 times for 0 damage
   Fired at 4 times, hit 0 times for 14 damage
   Punched (Pirate) Stinger STG-3R and missed!
   Was punched 0 times and kicked 2 times.
   PRONE

(Pirate) Firestarter FS9-H
   Fired 5 times, hit 0 times for 0 damage
   Fired at 5 times, hit 2 times for 17 damage
   Was punched 0 times and kicked 1 times.

(Pirate) Stinger STG-3R
   Fired 3 times, hit 0 times for 0 damage
   Kicked (Federated Commonwealth) Griffin GRF-1N for 4 damage

(Pirate) Wasp WSP-1A
   Fired 1 times, hit 0 times for 0 damage
   Fired at 3 times, hit 0 times for 0 damage
   Kicked (Federated Commonwealth) Griffin GRF-1N for 4 damage

Spoiler: Round 5 (click to show/hide)

Our initiative wasn’t as good this round, which is how one of the pirates got behind Little Dog. Luckily Arnaud managed to get behind the pirate in turn, hopefully giving him something else to worry about.

Combat Attack Phase
-------------------

(12th Bay Hammerers) Hornet HNT-152
   Fired 3 times, hit 0 times for 0 damage

(12th Bay Hammerers) Jenner JR7-F
   Fired 4 times, hit 2 times for 10 damage
   Fired at 4 times, hit 0 times for 0 damage

(12th Bay Hammerers) Wolfhound WLF-1
   Fired 1 times, hit 0 times for 0 damage

(Federated Commonwealth) Griffin GRF-1N
   Fired 1 times, hit 1 times for 10 damage
   Fired at 4 times, hit 2 times for 17 damage
   Kicked (Pirate) Firestarter FS9-H and missed!
   Was punched 0 times and kicked 1 times.
   PRONE

(Pirate) Firestarter FS9-H
   Fired 4 times, hit 2 times for 4 damage
   Fired at 1 times, hit 0 times for 0 damage
   Kicked (Federated Commonwealth) Griffin GRF-1N for 7 damage

(Pirate) Stinger STG-3R
   Fired 3 times, hit 0 times for 0 damage
   Fired at 3 times, hit 0 times for 0 damage
   Kicked (12th Bay Hammerers) Jenner JR7-F and missed!

(Pirate) Wasp WSP-1A
   Fired 1 times, hit 0 times for 0 damage
   Fired at 5 times, hit 3 times for 22 damage
   Crits received: Jump Jet[LT]
   Destroyed parts: RL
   PRONE

The Griffin shot off the Wasp’s leg, but got knocked down by the Firestarter’s kick. We have the enemy lance close to the critical point, but their reinforcements deploy this coming turn, including a Centurion.

Spoiler: Round 6 (click to show/hide)

In the movement round, the Wasp pilot ejects, the two reinforcement vehicles move into the scrum, and the FedCom pilot is an idiot and gives everyone his back. We focus our firepower on the Firestarter and Stinger from the original lance, hoping for some quick damage and kills.

Combat Attack Phase
-------------------

(12th Bay Hammerers) Hornet HNT-152
   Fired 2 times, hit 1 times for 9 damage
   Kicked (Pirate) Stinger STG-3R for 4 damage

(12th Bay Hammerers) Jenner JR7-F
   Fired 4 times, hit 2 times for 10 damage

(12th Bay Hammerers) Wolfhound WLF-1
   Fired 3 times, hit 2 times for 10 damage

(Federated Commonwealth) Griffin GRF-1N
   Fired 1 times, hit 0 times for 0 damage
   Fired at 14 times, hit 4 times for 14 damage
   Punched (Pirate) Stinger STG-3R and missed!

(Pirate) Firestarter FS9-H
   Fired 4 times, hit 2 times for 7 damage
   Fired at 3 times, hit 2 times for 10 damage
   Kicked (Federated Commonwealth) Griffin GRF-1N and missed!

(Pirate) Stinger STG-3R
   Fired 3 times, hit 1 times for 2 damage
   Fired at 7 times, hit 3 times for 23 damage
   Was punched 0 times and kicked 1 times.
   Crits received: Upper Arm[LA], +Machine Gun[LA]
   Destroyed parts: RA

(Pirate (Reinforcements) Centurion CN9-A
   Fired 2 times, hit 0 times for 0 damage

(Standard) Harasser Missile Platform
   Fired 2 times, hit 0 times for 0 damage

(Standard) J. Edgar Light Hover Tank
   Fired 3 times, hit 1 times for 5 damage

A good round for us, not so much for the Stinger pilot, who lost his right arm and his left-arm weapon, leaving him defenseless.

Spoiler: Round 7 (click to show/hide)

The Stinger decides he doesn’t want to play any longer and runs for it. We insist he stays. Jack made sure to spin back around and good thing to, as the Firestarter and both tanks move in on him.

Jack focuses on the Firestarter, while Little Dog and Arnaud work on bringing the Stinger down.

Combat Attack Phase
-------------------

(12th Bay Hammerers) Hornet HNT-152
   Fired 2 times, hit 0 times for 0 damage
   Kicked (Pirate) Stinger STG-3R and missed!

(12th Bay Hammerers) Jenner JR7-F
   Kicked (Pirate) Stinger STG-3R and missed!

(12th Bay Hammerers) Wolfhound WLF-1
   Fired 3 times, hit 0 times for 0 damage
   Fired at 9 times, hit 2 times for 31 damage
   Kicked (Pirate) Firestarter FS9-H and missed!
   Was punched 0 times and kicked 1 times.

(Pirate) Firestarter FS9-H
   Fired 5 times, hit 1 times for 5 damage
   Fired at 3 times, hit 0 times for 0 damage
   Kicked (12th Bay Hammerers) Wolfhound WLF-1 for 7 damage

(Pirate) Stinger STG-3R
   Fired at 2 times, hit 0 times for 0 damage

(Pirate (Reinforcements) Centurion CN9-A
   Fired 1 times, hit 0 times for 0 damage

(Standard) Harasser Missile Platform
   Fired 1 times, hit 0 times for 12 damage

(Standard) J. Edgar Light Hover Tank
   Fired 2 times, hit 1 times for 7 damage

Our luck is starting to turn here. We need to get two more kills, and nothing is cooperating.

Spoiler: Round 8 (click to show/hide)

In the movement phase, the Stinger escapes offboard, which counts as a ‘kill’ as far as I’m concerned.

Combat Attack Phase
------------------


The script did run into a bug this round. I’ve uploaded the round combat information here. The error was:

Code: [Select]

File "C:\MekHQ\Battle_Results\Results.py", line 144, in <module>
targetUnit.damageTaken += int(r.group(3))
AttributeError: 'NoneType' object has no attribute 'damageTaken'
To summarize the results:

Jack destroys the Firestarter’s left arm and torso, but loses his left arm and torso in return as the Firestarter and Harasser missile platform chew on him. Little Dog extracts revenge by destroying the Harasser with a well-placed turret shot, and we win the battle.

Spoiler: Cleanup (click to show/hide)

So, after all that, we deal with the cleanup. Jack’s Recon Lance is out of the rotation, but we reorganize with Zhou’s Recon Lance to pick up the slack.


Jack’s Recon Lance is down for more than a week, mostly because that new torso section will be delivered next Sunday.


On the other hand, the Hornet barely has any damage, and Konrad didn’t take a single hit during the battle.

The techs have all the damage outside the left torso and arm fixed within the day.

For the next week, Command lance is on Training duty while Battle and Zhou’s Recon Lance are on Battle duty.

The rolled mission for the next week is Zhou’s recon lance chasing a reinforced company of light and medium vehicles. Another Chase mission, joy. I roll for reinforcements… and get a six. Things just started looking up!

The rules are: “Player reinforcements always deploy in 12 – walking speed (slowest unit) turns from the start of the battle.” Battle Lance all has a walk speed of 5, so will be able to deploy on turn 7.

Our new personnel for this week is a Green Admin/Logistical paper pusher. Well, the more the merrier. One of our administrators improves from Green to Regular, and that wraps up the changes before the next battle.

[Neonivek]

Why do we have negative reputation?

[Hanzoku]

A combination of things:

Under InterstellarOps Beta:
Experience: Veteran (+10)
Command: 2 (+2)
Transportation: 0/13 (-5)
Support: 11/13 Mech Teams, 4/11 Admin support (-10)
Financial: In debt (-10)

Which is how we end up in -13.

Under FM: Mercenaries, we're D-ranked
Experience: Regular (+10)
Command: 2 (+2)
Support: Tech: 100%, Medical: 100%, HR: 100% (+34)
Financial: In debt (-10)

For a total rank of 34.

If we win our first campaign, we'll gain 5 points in either of the two equations, which moves our reputation under the InterstellarOps metric to 0. Clearing our debt will move our Dragoon rating to C, as well.

Basically, a negative rating isn't unexpected, we're a brand new unit with debt and no reputation. Once we've had a chance to solve the debt and build a reputation, we'll start being better ranked.

[Neonivek]

So we were basically only hired... because we were in the area and likely banged on pots and pans until they turned their heads and noticed we existed.

[Hanzoku]

That and the nobility here were throwing cash at anything that might be a solution for their little pirate problem, yes. We did come with a company of Mechs, after all, and if we could be Company Store'd into a permanent contract, those are worth a lot of C-Bills...

[Neonivek]

That and the nobility here were throwing cash at anything that might be a solution for their little pirate problem, yes. We did come with a company of Mechs, after all, and if we could be Company Store'd into a permanent contract, those are worth a lot of C-Bills...

That and if we just lost entirely and blew ourselves up, then they didn't really lose anything.

I better check how big our debt is.

[Rince Wind]

Isn't it ten million spacebucks?

[Neonivek]

Isn't it ten million spacebucks?

Owww it is... and we haven't even got room to really pay it off.

In fact we barely have earned any money since we started... but I should wait until we deal with these pirates first.

[Hanzoku]

Our debt is currently 9,158,634, and we have 10,805,775 in cash on hand. We could potentially pay it off right now, but we'd really be lacking in liquid cash at that point.

Our monthly contract payments are 1,515,108 after monthly expenses, and we've salvaged 4,157,580 over the last four missions. Our quarterly payments (3 left) are 3,052,878, so we cover each quarterly payment in two months.

Overall, our liquid assets has increased by 2 million C-Bills, and our fixed (Mech) assets have decreased by 2,000,000 C-Bills. (Losing the Guillotine and Shadow Hawk hurt, and the Stinger and Locust don't really balance against those.)

[EuchreJack]

We also just got a Wasp!  We can fix it up and lose a competent mechwarrior with it!

[Rince Wind]

Maybe we can sell 2 20t mechs and get something half decent for it. Even if it is just a firestarter. The flammers seem mostly useless for the heat they produce, but I will try the Mirage version soon.

[Neonivek]

The flammers seem mostly useless for the heat they produce

Ignoring their special uses.

That heat production is exactly what you want with the right build. Lets just say there are mechs specialized in running off of metric tons of heat and are all the better for doing so.

[Rince Wind]

I know you can turn them to heat mode. And I tried using it a couple of times. But iirc they produce more heat than they apply, the Firestarter is already running quite hot and some of their benefits are not really in the game (I think?), as burning down forests to create smoke cover for example. I'd totally use the standard Firestarter if the enemy was fielding infantry.

[Neonivek]

I know you can turn them to heat mode. And I tried using it a couple of times. But iirc they produce more heat than they apply, the Firestarter is already running quite hot and some of their benefits are not really in the game (I think?), as burning down forests to create smoke cover for example. I'd totally use the standard Firestarter if the enemy was fielding infantry.

I mean there is a mechanism where a mech can turn their heat production into direct buffs.