MechWarrior 2: Mercenaries/Dawn Watch

NEWSFEED

SPACE CUBE

Fifteen billion tons of ice, all for a glass of water? That’s just what the inhabitants on the water-poor world of Liezen are getting. Located in the Free Rasalhague Republic, Liezen supports a population of over six million with only an estimated 10 million gallons of water on the entire planet.

Now, with the help of the Republic, the people of Liezen can hope for a shower. Within the next six months, a giant chunk of ice found free-floating in the Liezen system will be dragged over 150 million kilometers by two of the largest engines created since the days of the Star League. Representatives of Hydrodynamics, the corporation which currently imports all of Liezen’s water, expressed the concern that the ice chunk could break up upon entering Liezen’s atmosphere, threatening the lives of the planet’s citizens. 

Free Rasalhague Republic Garrison Campaign

The Free Rasalhague Republic needs a small mercenary unit to escort an ice-ship to the tiny, water-poor world of Liezen. Once at Liezen, the ice-ship will be cut into chunks and delivered to the world’s cities. The Mercenary unit should contain at least one ‘Mech of 45 tons or heavier. Contract is for six months and pays 2,500,000 C-Bills. The Republic will pay for all reasonable ammunition expenses.

ComStar Contract Evaluation

• World: Liezen
• Duty: Escort Duty
• Begin Date: March 1, 3047
• End Date: August 15, 3047
• Maximum Pay: 2,500,000 C-Bills plus bounty and bonus
• Minimum Pay: Bounty
• Salvage Rights: Poor

Dawn Watch

MechWarrior’s Campaign Journal

March 27, 3047

I am still getting used to maneuvering in space. My heat sinks aren’t really designed to work in space, but the near absolute zero temperatures keep the ‘Mech pretty cool. We are pretty far from the sun, so at least I don’t have to worry about the ‘Mech heating up from solar radiation.

April 4, 3047

Some signs of disturbance today. Apparently, an unknown JumpShip followed us into the Liezen system. We were put on full alert. We are only days from one of our turns. The ship has to turn several times in order to navigate safely past various planets and meteor clouds. Captain Tom Byron told me today that if the command center was destroyed, the ship wouldn’t be able to make any of its turns. We wouldn’t be unable to maneuver and would eventually spiral into the sun.

April 7, 3047

We spotted the aerofighters today. They are less than twelve hours away. I will have to defend the surface of the ship and, particularly, the command center. I received an encouraging message today from an FRR representative on Liezen. The Republic is counting on me, as are the thousands of Liezen citizens who will benefit from the water the Ice Ship brings. No pressure.

Briefing

Tom Byron, Ice Ship Captain: The Ice Ship is headed for Liezen’s Lagrange-4 point, where the ice will be cut up into manageable chunks for transport to the water-poor surface below.

Byron: Unfortunately, it appears that not everyone approves of this mission of mercy. We have already detected a large squadron of mercenary aerospace fighters whose intentions we must assume are hostile. The key to our mission is the Command Center. If we lose it, we won’t be able to steer the Ice Ship.

Byron: Your ‘Mech has been equipped with special thrusters on the shoulders which will allow you to fight on the Ice Ship’s surface without floating into space.

• Codename: Dawn Watch
• Location: 1 UA from Liezen L4
• Terrain: Space
• Mean Temperature: -120 Celsius
• Mission Pay: 500,000 plus bounty
• Expected Resistance: Mercenary Aerofighters
• 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.

Objectives

• Target: Defend the Command Center

During Mission

Command Center: Gold Eagle – enemy fighters are inbound. Protect the command center.

Command Center: Gold Eagle – they’re after the engines. Get back there!

MISSION SUCCESSFUL

Aftermath

Debriefing

Tom Byron, Ice Ship Captain: Well done, merc. That aerofighter attack was pretty heavy. I was sure the Command Center was doomed. The citizens of Liezen are already calling you a hero. I don’t think we could have made it without you, [Player Name].

Byron: The enemy, whoever they are, have fallen back and seem to be regrouping. We have detected a large JumpShip in the area, which must have been the source of the attacks. This JumpShip has refused to identify itself, even after several attempted communications. We must assume that they are hostile. You will have a limited time for repairs, and then we need you on the surface, patrolling for enemies.

Liezen Chronicle – April 8, 3047

The Ice Ship, now known to most on Liezen as “Paradise-Hope,” fell under attack late yesterday evening. A swarm of well over twenty aerospace fighters attacked the vessel, their target the fragile Command Center that controls Paradise-Hope and directs the ship’s engines during the several key turnings that will put the Ice Ship in orbit around Liezen.

Key to the ship’s survival were [Mercenary Unit Name], a small unit of mercenaries who held off the pirate aerofighters, inflicting heavy casualties. [Player Name], the [Mercenary Unit Name] commander, told reporters in a brief interview that the Paradise-Hope was fortunate to survive the onslaught, and downplayed the number of enemy aerofighters, saying that there were no more than eight.

While this kind of humility is not common among mercenaries, it is appreciated by the citizens of Liezen, who have made [Player Name] a planetary hero.