Robotech - Southern Cross Adventure

[Psychie]

With a smile, the LT says, "It sounds like you have things well under control, there, Sergeant. I want to get you underway as soon as possible. Get to your mecha and start your checklists, and I'll make sure that all of you have access to what you need. Just get some hustle going on. I don't want to learn that the High Lord was there and we missed her because we didn't act soon enough on this tip. If there are no other questions, you are dismissed with my prayers for good hunting and good luck."

Heading for your mecha, the team sees that the hangar is a wash with activity, getting your rides ready to go. For those in the hover tanks with the older cannons, please list your ammo selection for your rounds. For the two in the Ajax, you have four wing points for mounting missiles or ECM pods. Please let me know what you want there.

 

[D. Rex]

Marlon quickly got himself armored up and made sure the trusty LP-9 was at his hip. With helmet in hands he approached his mecha.

He had been so focused on the mecha these past weeks, it was a bit of an odd feeling seeing crews get their mecha ready for them.

He went to the cargo compartment and made sure it was organized and would fit the twelve count case of D-40 limpet mines he put in a request for. Aside from standard equipment, he would have a tool kit and an Mk. 25 grenade launcher with the 96 round belt. Though if there was still not enough room for the case he would switch it for the 48 round belt.

Once the equipment was settled, he climbed in the cockpit and began running preflight checks, and doing a double check on the new secondary generator that replaced the Tri-laser.

Once everything was in order and looked as they should. He would put on his helmet and announce. "This is Sergeant Marlon McKinney, I am ready to go."

 

[Rykon]

Alan was relieved to don his environmentally controlled armor. Such blessed technology to keep climates reminiscent of a lobster pot from being at their peak of insufferability.

Alongside his usual attire was his usual IPP-5H Plasma Pistol, a case of D-40 mines, and the Mk.25 Grenade Launcher as heavily loaded as he could fit. "Normally I'd want a rifle or shotgun for possible closed quarters encounters... but these are Zeek's closed quarters... I reckon we'll have plenty of room to detonate whatever we want, assuming we get drawn in. Sergeant Samuel McGregor, ready to rain hell."

Spoiler

MDC:
Main Body: 475
Right Shield: 500
Left Shield: 500

Payload:
APFSDS - 25 - 3d6x10 - Spent: 0
MPAT - 10 - 2d6x10 - Spent: 0
Plasma - 10 - 2d8x10: Spent: 0
Smoke: 3 - Spent: 0

In the Spartas:
Number of Attacks: 8 (6Base +2MECT)
Strike: +9 with Cannons, +10 to HtH, +11 with EU-11 (+2 Ranged, +3 HtH, +2Eu-11 Stacked with Ranged)
Parry: +14 (MECT +4)
Dodge: +12 (MECT +3)
Roll: +9 (MECT+3)
Perception: +8
Initiative: +3

On Foot:
Number of Attacks: 6
Strike: +7 (+5PP +2Martial Arts)
Parry: +10 (+5PP +2Boxing +3Martial Arts)
Dodge: +9 (+5PP +1Boxing +3Martial Arts)
Roll: +6 (+3HTH +1Boxing +2Gymnastics)
Perception: +9 (+8IQ +1Demolitions)
Initiative: +1
Damage: +12 (+12PS)
Horror Save: +3 (+3OCC)

 

[Purr]

Spoiler: Tamacun

Boy, can they play! "Tamacun" by Rodrigo y Gabriela (no relation to Gabi. Heh.) =)

Gabi put together her standard gear (as listed on her character sheet) and then made a requisition for the following missile payload:
12 Plasma/Napalm short-range missiles - 2d6x10 M.D., 3 mile range, 15 foot radius, 5 M.D.C.
3 Fragmentation short-range missiles - 2d4x10 M.D. at a 3 mile range and 20 foot radius. 5 M.D.C.
Electronic Warfare Pod with 12 additional Chaff/Flare bundles.

For her RL-6 mini-missile launcher, she requested:
12 Plasma/Napalm mini-missiles - 1d6x10 M.D., 1 mile, 15 foot radius, 1 M.D.C.

Finally, a case of D-40 Cobalt Limpet Mines identical to Marlon's.

(EDIT: Ajax payload adjusted per Sherwood's find and Psychie's alert to me.)

 

[Sherwood]

Once in the mecha bay, Deunan spends her time going over the two new weapons that have been installed in her tank with detail. If there is anything wrong, best find out about it here and now, instead of in the middle of a hearty firefight. As far as her personal gear, she gathers up her pistol, rifle, a half dozen Cobalt grenades, four Cobalt mines, and will ask for a portable laser designator to be able to 'paint' targets for the artillery unit to hammer with their big guns.

 

[Gundam Watcher 27]

During this course of time, Ryuko was looking at her Ajax, before she went to talk to Gabi about her trouble.

She found her friend placing orders on what her Ajax should get equipped with, as Ryuko waved and approached.

"Hey, Gabi, can I get a minute? I'm needing some help."

 

[Purr]

Gabi "Chrome Shaman" De la Rosa
Tac Corp Special Forces Recon Patrol​

Spoiler: Payload and Combat Details

VHT-10A Ajax mode: Helicopter.

Missile Payload:
12 Plasma/Napalm short-range missiles - 2d6x10 M.D., 3 mile range, 15 foot radius, 5 M.D.C.
3 Fragmentation short-range missiles - 2d4x10 M.D. at a 3 mile range, 20 foot radius. 5 M.D.C.
Electronic Warfare Pod
16 chaff/flare bundles (4 in Ajax/12 in EW Pod)

With requisitions filled, Gabriela did a slow walk-around her entire jungle-camouflaged veritech in helicopter mode. She pre-flight-checked everything twice, asking herself questions that challenged her complete understanding of the Ajax. What did one do if there was a hydraulic malfunction during transformation? How did you handle a flat spin in jet mode if transforming were not an option? And what in the heck did that little green button on the far right of her instrumentation do? It was unmarked, not in the manual, and nobody in the entire hangar seemed to know. She wondered if it were some tech's idea of a prank.

Though she had spent hundreds of hours around Ajaxes, Gabriela could not help but admire its lines and shape. For Gabi, this mecha was the finest veritech humanity had ever created. Part-battloid, part-helicopter, and part-space fighter, an Ajax pilot had to be able to proficiently handle the versatile machine from the ground beneath her feet all the way into the darkness of space. That meant being a grunt, a helicopter pilot, a jet pilot, and an astronaut! For this, Gabi really admired the hardcore T.A.S.C. pilots for their incredible understanding of the Ajax, for they were the better pilots than Gabi's own Tactical Corps.

She thought a moment about their mission. A Zentraedi High Lord. And something about a bounty on the existing members of Third Heavy Recon. She realized she felt envy. She wanted to anger her enemies to the point they would put a bounty on her too! What did she have to do to earn that?

She climbed into her cockpit and finished her ready-checks, clicking off the list one by one. Finally ready, she sat back into the chair, took hold of the cyclic and collective controls while her feet touched down on the familiar pedals. Now that she had two ion cannons and an electronic warfare pod mounted on her vehicle, she felt she was as ready as she could be for the task ahead.

And who knew? Maybe she would earn herself a bounty today...

When she noticed Ryuko approaching, she waved out of the canopy and grinned. "Heya, chica! What's on your mind?"

Image credit: www.limetown.com.br

STATUS

Location: Inside Anton-17.
Statblock: VHT-10A Ajax (400/400 M.D.). CBR Mk 2E Armor (105/105 M.D.). Heavy Shield (55/55 M.D.).
Effects Active: None.

 

[Psychie]

As the squad begins their various inspections of the vehicles, the various requests for special equipment are granted and supplies are brought out of the armory. All the vehicles appear to have no issues with them; the new equipment that has been installed on the hover tanks checks out.

Within the hour of getting the news of the possible location of the High Lord, the Third Heavy is on the move, heading down the road to the location of the wrecked destroyer. Moving at top speed of the tanks, it takes the squad two hours of travel time before you get close enough to your destination to start considering a stealthy approach. At the moment, you are in the middle of moderately heavy jungle that reduces your visual range to less than one hundred feet, about 5 miles out from the ruined ship.

How do you approach the target area? On foot, or in your mecha?

 

[Rykon]

Alan will volunteer to prowl around on foot. Sneaking and tracking are his realm of expertise.

"I can poke around and look for signs of tracks, or disturbances from boosters and other equipment. How would you like to proceed boss?"

 

[Sherwood]

Pulling up to a stop, Deunan shifts into her mecha's Battloid mode and hefts the modified Eu-11. "Alan, your sneak on foot is approved. Take along your jump pack to be able to get out of there quickly, and keep your comms open to the rest of us. Gabi, can you send out one of your small drones to give us an aerial view of the area?"

 

[Rykon]

Alan exits his Spartas in guardian mode, taking along his jump pack, side arm, and grenade launcher.

 

[Purr]

Gabi stepped forward, literally, her jungle-camouflaged Ajax crouched and watchful in Battloid mode. "You got it. May I recommend we all stay in Battloid mode? It's our best shot at a stealthy approach without all the hover-jets and helicopter blades giving us away, you know?"

The Chrome Shaman went into action. She popped up out of her Ajax and released Dragonfly into the air. "Spirit's up," she relayed quietly over the radio. Then she disappeared back into the protection of her veritech and donned her Virtual Reality headset. Gabi linked her video/audio feed to Conway and the others so they could see and hear exactly what she was experiencing.

Dragonfly first scouted the area ahead of Alan. Gabi briefly gave Alan a sitrep of what he could expect there (especially in regards to terrain), then cautiously Dragonfly rose up out of the trees to get a blanket view of the area. Gabriela switched between optical enhancements and kept the microphone cranked up to hear all that was to be heard. Gabi tried to get a feel of the jungle and any animal or bird sounds out there, because anything unusual was just that - unusual.

 

[Psychie]

With Gabi's drone taking point, Alan begins to hike his way through the trees on the way to take a look at the wrecked ship. There is no easy path to get there, and it is slow going. At first, neither one of you see anything of interest, but that changes as Alan crosses over the ridge. Up ahead of you, roughly 500 feet out, you spot several Zentraedi mecha standing under the heavy canopy of the trees. There is a Recon Pod, a Officer's Pod, and six regular Battle Pods, all scattered about, forming a line in the trees roughly 100 feet apart from one another. They all show signs of damage.

 

[Rykon]

Alan clicks on his radio to the squad band. "I have visual on 8 damaged battle pods, including a recon and battle pod. They are under the tree canopy. I'm going to take a closer peek to verify they are active."

Assuming Alan has binoculars, does it look like they are powered up?

 

[Psychie]

From where you are, Alan believes that they are on a low power mode, ready to move at a moment's notice.

 

[Rykon]

"They appear to be improvised watch towers. I expect they are conserving power, but ready to respond to intrusions. What're your orders boss?"

 

[Sherwood]

Deunan frowns. "Copy that, eight mecha, all in rough condition. If we have to hit them, the Glaug and the Recon Pod take priority. Is there a way that we can get around them without detection? Any safe path that you can see?"

 

[Rykon]

"Not in mecha, I don't. The Spartas is good, it ain't that good. On foot is a different matter, but that's a totally different realm of risk."

 

[Purr]

Gabi "Chrome Shaman" De la Rosa
Tac Corp Special Forces Recon Patrol​

Spoiler: Ajax Payload

Missile Payload:
12 Plasma/Napalm short-range missiles - 2d6x10 M.D., 3 mile range, 15 foot radius, 5 M.D.C.
3 Fragmentation short-range missiles - 2d4x10 M.D. at a 3 mile range, 20 foot radius. 5 M.D.C.
Electronic Warfare Pod
16 chaff/flare bundles (4 in Ajax/12 in EW Pod)

"Let me see what I can find from above." Show me, Dragonfly, she thought.

Via Dragonfly, Gabi marked all 8 of the targets numbers 1 through 8 with the Officers Pod being number 4 and the Recon Pod being number 5. She was sure to zoom in and examine damage to each of the mecha so that everyone and her team (save Alan) could see it via the link. Gabi then panned back and examined the rest of the jungle and terrain. Was there a way around?

"Sergeant Conway, if we have to hit them, we can try this Recon-style if you like?"

Image credit: www.limetown.com.br

STATUS

Location: 5 miles away from Zentraedi Hideout.
Statblock: VHT-10A Ajax (400/400 M.D.). CBR Mk 2E Armor (105/105 M.D.). Heavy Shield (55/55 M.D.).
Effects Active: None. Ajax mode: Battloid. Dragonfly slot: Cobalt mine.

 

[Psychie]

The terrain is very rough here, the flat earth broken up by jagged peaks. By looking from above, Gabi can see that it might be possible for mecha to bypass the guard line of Zentraedi mecha, but it will be a slow go of it, and if you are spotted, you will be very vulnerable to attack. Proceeding on foot would be easier to slip past the Malcontents, but it would also have its own share of danger.

 

[Purr]

Gabriela immediately relayed this information to her squad.

"Sure, we might bypass them easier if we dismount, but then we're going to get our butts kicked if we're spotted. Plus, what would they do if they found our recently-upgraded machines if we're not in them, you know? We're still 5 mikes out from our objective. I recommend we get Alan back with us and snipe these guys, starting with the targets 4 and 5. If we are on our game, they might not get a call back to their base, and we don't have to worry about dealing with them on our way out of here. What do you think?"

 

[Sherwood]

Deunan replies, "I agree. We hit these guys hard, then we move forward to get eyes on the objective. Alan, come on back. I don't want you out of your mecha when it all hits the fan. Once we are all mounted up, we'll slide forward until we can get at least a sensor lock on them, then we hammer their asses."

 

[D. Rex]

"As loathe as I am to going in on foot, tanks arent exactly quite when sniping either. And aside from the noise, any report they make or missed check in, will put this theoretical base on higher alert. Making it more difficult to proceed under their notice. If this be the 'watch towers', it means it's also their early warning system. And all it takes is a second on the radio to confirm they are under attack."

"Easy picking, aye, but wont be the case when they send the good stuff at us. Or worse, might poke them into fleeing, hiding, or lockdown, if they there."

"Basically, Sergeant, if we engage now, it will probably become run and gun from here on. They will no we are here."

"Our rides our camouflaged, and we can camo them further if we wanted in on foot. One or two of us can stay behind in case of emergency. If something happens we step in, or bring another mech in tow. Me n' Alan have the Mk. 25, it's a very potent ground weapon if we run into problems, and Gabi has her drones. Vulnerable but not helpless." Marlon suggested. Dont get him wrong, he wasnt exactly keen on leaving the safety of the tank. Wading through five miles of battle pods if a call went out sounded less fun.

"Heh, you know, or we could just hack amd take one of the pods over, we climb inside and pretend to be a giant and just waltz on into the base." He joked.

 

[Purr]

"And all it takes is a second on the radio to confirm they are under attack."

Gabi knew there will be differences of opinion given the she was the only one from Recon Patrol. "Marlon, they are 5 miles away. We have electronic warfare pods. How are they going to call their fellow gigantes ("giants") if we jam their radios and take out that Recon Pod first?"

 

[D. Rex]

"If I was on watch duty, and I didnt report on the hour, what should you assume?" Marlon asked in explanation.
"Couple that with the sound of cannon fire was echoed through the area. Even they can put two and two together."

Now, Marlon wasnt arguing. In his mind he was Just pointing things out that were worth considering.