MechWarrior 2: Mercenaries/Snow Fort

Snow Fort

MechWarrior’s Campaign Journal

April 26, 3047

Despite our victory over the mercenary aerofighters, things are getting worse. We have now spotted that unidentified JumpShip, and it is closing on our position. Clearly, they mean to make a more serious close-range attack. Fortunately, that model of JumpShip carries no capital ship weapons, or so I am told. Captain Byron seemed pretty certain, but I still wonder if the mercenaries might not have customized their JumpShip. Anything is possible.

May 10, 3047

I have been interviewed by several Liezen journalists over the command center radio. It takes a full three minutes for them to ask a question and for me to answer, but they seem pretty eager. According to one journalist, I have become a hero on Liezen. He also said that the ship had been named the “Paradise-Hope” by optimistic Liezen citizens, who think the water will bring a new era of economic prosperity to their planet.

June 8, 3047

The merc JumpShip is ten hours out from our position. We are still several days away from the “Burn-Turn” which will take us out of danger from Liezen’s small sun. If we fail that turn, the Ice Ship will fall into the sun and evaporate in the corona. We have come too far to be stopped now.

Briefing

Tom Byron, Ice Ship Captain: We have been lucky so far, but an unidentified JumpShip has just arrived in our area, and it appears to be hostile. A ‘Mech carrier and other units are also closing on the Ice Ship.

• Codename: Snow Fort
• Location: 0.7 AU from Liezen L4
• Terrain: Space
• Mean Temperature: -120 Celsius
• Mission Pay: 500,000 plus bounty
• Expected Resistance: Unknown Mercenary Unit
• Your Call-Sign: Gold-Eagle

Byron: Patrol the surface of the Ice Ship. Defend the command center and any other targets that may fall under enemy fire. You may experience some difficulty with your targeting systems, as the enemy JumpShip is emitting a powerful radar pulse that will render your radar ineffective.

Objectives

• Target: Defend the Command Center
• Bonus: Destroy All Enemy Boarders

During Mission

Command Center: Gold Eagle, we’ve got a problem. That JumpShip out there is towing us. You’ve got to cut away those boarding harpoons.

MISSION SUCCESSFUL

Aftermath

Debriefing

Tom Byron, Ice Ship Captain: The enemy has been defeated, and the JumpShip has fled our immediate area. The boarding harpoons were destroyed before they could pull us off course and, with minor corrections, we will still make our turns on schedule. Better still, you inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy, and they will have difficulty arming for another mission against us.

Byron: Your success has allowed us to identify our enemy. They are not pirates, as we suspected, but a mercenary unit working for an unknown employer. This doesn’t change the nature of our defense, but at least we know who we’re facing.

Liezen Chronicle – July 11, 3047

The Paradise-Hope has survived another pirate attack. This time, the pirates brought a JumpShip alongside the huge Ice Ship and attempted to drag it off course with two powerful magnetic boarding harpoons. Paradise-Hope’s mercenary defenders were kept occupied with enemy ‘Mechs dropped on the surface and lightning attacks by aerospace fighters.

[Mercenary Unit Name] were up to the challenge, destroying the enemy boarders and harpoons before they could do any serious damage to the ship’s course. The unknown enemy attackers suffered serious casualties and the ship was declared secure only two hours after the fighting began.

Military strategists believe that the enemy was so badly damaged that they may not be able to make a third attack. Others observe that, with such an obviously determined enemy, they may simply be encouraged to try a more desperate plan.

Whatever the next enemy move may be, [Mercenary Unit Name] is prepared to handle it. A small squadron of Free Rasalhague Republic fighters has already lifted off and should intercept the Paradise-Hope within three days, providing the touch and determined mercenaries with valuable reinforcements.