Federated Commonwealth vs Clan Smoke Jaguar
This battle represents the first battle of the Great Refusal. The game was played at NJCon08. For this battle, Clan honor rules were in effect.
Federated Commonwealth
- Archon-Prince Victor Steiner-Davion (2/4) – Daishi A
- Danai Centrella (3/4) – FLC-8R Falconer
Clan Smoke Jaguar
- ilKhan Lincoln Osis (2) – Elemental Battle Armor Point
- Star Colonel Kit Furey (1/2) – Masakari C
Turn 1 – Clan Smoke Jaguar wins Initiative
The Falconer jumps up to a high point on the canyon while Victor throttles his Daishi forward. The Masakari drops down into a woods filled depression and disembarks it’s mechanized elementals.
The Falconer issues a challenge to Star Colonel Kit Furey in his Masakari who accepts.
The Masakari opens up with two ERPPCs and two Large Pulse Lasers, all of which hit and melt armor from the Falconer at a quick pace. Danai barely keeps her ‘Mech standing. All of her return fire misses wide.
Turn 2 – Federated Commonwealth wins Initiative
Star Colonel Furey stays put, confident in his superior position. The Falconer jumps toward the Clan position behind cover. Meanwhile, the elementals jump from one side of the canyon towards Victor in his Daishi. Cautious of being swarmed, Victor slows his advance and awaits the outcome of the current challenge.
There is no line of sight for either side.
Turn 3 – Federated Commonwealth wins Initiative
Seizing the initiative, Danai uses her jump jets to power her Falconer over top the stationary Masakari for a rear shot. Victor move up the canyon closer to the evading elementals who again chose not to break cover.
Reaching back with one arm, Star Colonel Furey makes called shots to the center torso with both ERPPCs. Both hit their mark, collapsing the heavy ‘Mech’s armor but without doing critical damage.
The Falconer alpha strikes in return ignoring a rapid spike in heat (+13). The gauss rifle and two medium lasers miss but everything else hits dead center. The rear armor of the Masakari melts away and the ‘Omni’s XL engine and gyro take damage.
Amazingly, all pilots made their rolls to stay upright.
Turn 4 – Clan Smoke Jaguar wins Initiative
Overheating and forced to make a decision, the Falconer stays steadfast in the face of the heavier Clan ‘Omni. Star Colonel Furey turns his Masakari around to face his attacker. All the while, the elementals slowly stalk Victor’s Daishi, staying close but always out of sight.
Without jumping heat to worry about, Danai opens up again, this time hitting with her gauss rifle to the leg. Her ERPPC misses and the rest of her lasers pepper the torso of the Masakari.
Sensing the end, Star Colonel again calls his shots against the already broken center torso of the Falconer. His ERPPC strikes another location but even without the aid of the targeting computer, one of his two large pulse lasers finds the center torso coring the ‘Mech.
Turn 5 – Federated Commonwealth wins Initiative
Victor challenges Star Colonel Furey who accepts. Victor brings his Daishi to the edge of the canyon while Furey turns his ‘Omni to face. Free from the threat of return fire for now, the elementals jump up from hiding and daringly watch the Daishi above them, ready to pounce if needed.
The Masakari is overheating slightly and chooses his fire carefully this turn to cool down. No called shots are made, but ERPPC and pulse lasers scatter across the Daishi’s torso, arms, and legs without much effect.
Victor fires on the Masakari, hitting with all three large pulse lasers, raking the ‘Omni’s torso. The gauss rifle misses but both short range launchers lock on and riddle the Masakari with tiny explosions, including one to the head, rattling Star Colonel Furey.
Turn 6 – Clan Smoke Jaguar wins Initiative
The Masakari maneuvers back, hoping to bring more terrain between him and his opponent next turn. The Daishi, lacking jump jets, cannot close the gap and remains steady despite the elementals seemingly dancing at his feet.
The Masakari pours damage into the Daishi left leg, hitting with both ERPPCs while a lone pulse laser burrows into the center torso armor.
The Daishi critically hits the center torso with his gauss rifle, hitting the engine shielding and spiking the Masakari’s temperature. Another two pulse lasers manage to crit the left torso, damaging two separate double heat sinks.
Turn 7 – Federated Commonwealth wins Initiative
After taking an engine hit and losing two heat sinks, the Masakari is dangerously overheating and cannot move to a better position. The Daishi remains stationary, confident of his range.
Sensing the end again, Star Colonel Furey fires with everything but this time, he calls his ERPPC shots on the Daishi’s left leg. Both ERPPCs and one additional pulse laser hit and tear the leg off.
The Daishi gauss rifle and one pulse laser rips into the Masakari’s center torso, finishing off the engine shielding.
Missing a leg, Victor cannot break his ‘Omni’s fall, and takes damage. He remains conscious and watches as the nearby elementals ready themselves for the kill.
Turn 8 – Federated Commonwealth wins Initiative
With the initiative to the Federated Commonwealth, the elementals chose to pick their fight and dodge behind cover, wary of the still dangerous Daishi armament.
Turn 9 – Clan Smoke Jaguar wins Initiative
With the initiative in their favor, the elementals rush the grounded Daishi, knowing that the Daishi cannot return fire inside his own hex.
The elementals launch their SRMs and pepper the Daishi with small lasers.
In an act of desperation, Victor thrashes his ‘Omni around, striking and killing two elementals outright and damaging two more. (TW pg. 151 ouch!)
Turn 10 to the End
The remaining few turns were a flurry of dice rolling. The elementals needed to stay at the back of the Daishi to avoid weapons fire, but they also could not survive another thrash attack.
Victor decides to force the issue and attempts to stand each of the next few turns at a 9+.
The first attempt fails and Victor takes damage but remains conscious. The elementals stay at his back and spread damage on the Daishi with missiles and lasers, hoping to find the kinks in the armor.
The second attempt to stand fails and Victor takes another hit but makes his roll again for consciousness. The elementals continue their attack with lasers now that their SRMs are depleted. The damage from falling and the elementals is beginning to add up. The left torso armor is gone. The right arm has only two remaining points of armor and center torso only four.
The third attempt happens while Victor has the initiative. The ‘Omni struggles to stand but cannot. He falls again, taking damage again but remains conscious. This time however, the fall lands him directly facing the attacking elementals.
Perching on one arm the Daishi raises up three pulse lasers and both SRM launchers and disintegrates the remaining battle armor. The last volley from ilKhan Osis and his remaining elementals manages to hit the Daishi in the head. The fourth wound to Victor knocks him out.
Victor would awaken three turns later to realize the battle was won.
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After Action Report
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