Defend the Spaceport

Word of the heavily damaged forces carrying valuable intel set off a feeding frenzy among the many small merc groups on planet and several more banded together, hoping to cut off this depleted force prior to its arrival at the spaceport. The last Avenger units on planet, let by Knight Errant Singleton, prepared a line of defense that would allow those damaged units to pass by without danger.

After-Action Report

The command lance using its networked and boosted C3 system was able to able hold off a heavy mech lance on the right flank of the battle. However, on the opposite flank fast moving mechs and hovers posed a greater problem and quickly rolled the Avengers forces, knocking most of the mechs out of comission. Only the timely intervention of Star Colonel Stefan’s lance, which had been held in reserve, held the line. Eventually, after suffering heavy losses, the mercs retreated.

The Avengers quickly salvaged what they could and returned to their dropships to boost off the planet. They had got what they came for, but at a brutal price, as nearly no ground unit had escaped without significant battle damage. Only time would tell if the cost had been worth it.

Flee the Mob

Unfortunately, but perhaps not surprising, some of Engalychev’s contacts were less than scrupulous. Realizing the potential value of the information to be acquired in the planned heist, one of those contacts decided to heist the heisters. Organizing a ragtag group of mercenaries on planet, they planned to intercept the Avenger’s forces enroute to the spaceport and take the information for themselves.

Thankfully, Engalychev trusts no one and had his own surveillance on all of his recent contacts during the mission. Thus he was alerted to the plan in time to intervene. The Avengers sent a second force to intercept the mercenaries before they could reach the heavily damaged Striker Nova. The interceptors were intercepted near the city center.

After-Action Report

Fighting was fierce among the tall buildings and narrow sight lines of the city center. Although outnumbered, the Avengers had more skill and better tech. The mercs lacked coordination between the disparate groups and were able to be picked off piece meal although they did significant damage to many of the Avenger’s mechs before the cost of the battle became too much and they routed.

The information was intact, although the Avengers had lost an Ocelot and a Cizin in the battle and would not have time to salvage the wreckage. The remaining forces limped toward the spaceport.

Frontal Assault

Errai is a planet of movers and shakers and before long Engalychev was back in his element. Within a week, he had the information he sought – the secret location of the Kurita listening station. The front was a research lab slightly out of town, thought to be protected by covert DEST squads, static (but hidden) gun emplacements, and perhaps some other assets hidden underground.

The plan was fairly simple. The mechs of Striker Nova would assault the station from the front to draw fire and a reaction. Once the Kurita forces committed, the Nova’s battle armor assets woiuld converge on the facility from their hidden position and quickly retrieve what was needed, before withdrawing.

After-Action Report

The plan initially went to plan. The hangars contained concealed mech and armor assets which moved to engage the Avengers mechs. The Wendigos of Striker Nova focused first on taking out the static gun turrets before pulling the remaining forces away from the facility.

As cries for help came across the intercom, the DEST forces realized their mistake. Rather than try to withdraw from tight combat, they charged their opposition in a quick attempt to knock them out before returning to the base. However, they were outgunned in the end and all units were destroyed or rendered combat ineffective. Several of the Avenger’s mechs had been heavily damaged in the fight, but all managed to maintain viability.

Meanwhile, the Thunderbird battle armor troops easily made their way into the facility and brushed aside the mostly unarmored defenders. They quickly extracted the required information and joined up with the mechs for extraction back to the spaceport. Although the Avenger’s forces had taken some damage, it was mostly cosmetic and they looked forward to toasting a plan gone to spec when they got back on board the droppers. Little did they know that the plan was about to go all the way to hell.