MechWarrior 3/Damocles Commando Mission 1

Mission 1

BRIEFING

Commander's Journal – Lieutenant Connor Sinclair reporting.

We got our heroes' welcome after fighting bravely against the Clan invasion – even received medals. Then, after some R&R, we wound up being shipped off to the middle of nowhere. Well, it's not what we expected, but at least our unit is still together. This is our assignment and, politics or not, we'll honor it.

Veil is a barren, meteor-scarred rock, its lower elevations eternally shrouded by poisonous cloud cover. If not for the crater, Madre, and its germanium deposits, no one would ever set foot on this world. At least Corona is a Federated Suns base, still sympathetic to Prince Victor. We won't feel quite so alone on this world. Corona Base has a small stockpile of ore they want to send back up with the DropShip. It will be vulnerable during the loading process, so Epona Rhi and I are staying on location to defend the base and DropShip from any attacks.

Sorenson and his mobile field base vehicles remain with us. I've sent Dominic Paine and Alan Mattila forward to scout the road down to Madre. No sign of any pirate activity, but there is a Rim Collective base to the south that we'll need to keep an eye on as well. So far, they seem more inclined to welcome the extra security in the area than worry about our presence. I'm not certain that makes me feel any better, but…why not be an optimist?

DURING MISSION

Epona: Lovely place! Some reward for busting our humps with those Clanners. I don't even want to know what our retirement party will be like.

Connor: Hmmm. I think this is it.

Pelican Base Commander: Corona Base, we got a Thor comin' in! Looks like he's goin' for the AC turrets.

Connor: Copy that. We're on it.

Pelican Base Commander: He's using an AMS, Our missiles are hitting squat!

Pelican Base Commander: We're under heavy attack!

Pelican Base Commander: Thanks for the assist, Lieutenant. I owe you big.

Connor: I'll put it on your tab, Commander. Stay in touch. I don't think we've seen the last of the pirates.

Pelican Base Commander: Roger, Lieutenant. Pelican Base out!

DropShip: Corona Base, this is Archon's Pride! We've got trouble! Two enemy 'Mechs on an intercept course.

Connor: Ignore all other objectives. Get those 'Mechs! If that ship doesn't take off, we're all in trouble.

Pelican Base Commander: Looks like the last of them, Lieutenant Sinclair, for now, at least.

Connor: The pirates underestimated our defenses.

Pelican Base Commander: Next time, they'll send a stronger force.

Connor: Well, I don't intend to wait! Let's see what these pirates are up to. We can start by equipping our 'Mechs with salvaged jump jets, and use them to explore the other side of the canyon.

AFTERMATH

Connor: Optimist, or opportunist, It's good to have allies. Because of our efforts, the Rim Collective has agreed to work with us against this so-called pirate threat. I wish all factions on Veil were so easily dealt with. The Lyran base on the far side of desolation ridge is yelling for reinforcements. We were "requested" to abandon this base in favor of theirs, followed quickly by a firm order from Corona to remain.

Connor: The representatives here worry that their share of germanium would not reach the Federated Suns, but rather be appropriated by the Lyrans. I've even heard talk about sending the germanium directly to the Prince, wherever he ends up.