MechWarrior 4: Vengeance/Base Defense

Base Defense[edit]

BRIEFING[edit]

Ian: Yeah?

Casey: Nice moves out there, today, Ian. I guess Steiner forces will be doing a lot of walking now, right? Heh. Anyway, welcome to the team. Since we’re going to be fighting together, there’s something that I have to tell you. I can juggle. Once you’re a duke, will you be accepting auditions for court jester?

Ian: Ha ha. I’ll keep you in mind, Casey.

Casey: I do look good in one of those funny hat things. Think it over.

Peter: Ian, we intercepted an important communication. I wanted you to see it. This is the face of our enemy, Lord Marcus Roland, the planetary governor appointed by Archon Katherine. We intercepted this message about an hour ago:

Major Vanda Castro: I’ve already assembled the techs, but I will not send up this DropShip without a military presence. I don’t think it’s a technical problem we’re facing.

Lord Marcus Roland: Don’t think, Major! Just do it.

Peter: Next is Major Vanda Castro, Roland’s adjutant. We don’t know much about her, yet. Castro was apparently appointed to Roland’s staff only a few months ago. I can tell you this: she’s dangerous.

Castro: I’ve seen the reports. Organized resistance has steadily increased since our occupation, not diminished. We have to consider the possibility that communications were cut off in preparation for additional strikes.

Roland: You can’t seriously believe that our resources on the moon are in any danger. Scattered thefts and minor acts of sabotage are hardly organized resistance.

Castro: Look, just call one of your attack dogs and have a Lance released to my authority.

Roland: Very well. I’ll pass your request down to Burke and Kulin. Perhaps one of them is in a charitable mood.

Peter: Interesting transmission. Apparently Roland and Castro are not working together very well. We may be able to exploit that. The intercept also gives us a new deadline. Steiner has an additional DropShip somewhere. If Castro gets troops, she can get them here in a matter of hours. We need to secure our supplies and move the operation to Kentares IV ahead of schedule.

Ian: So, what’s the plan?

Peter: I’ll take Gonzales and lift off in DropShip One, and see if I can slow down Castro. I’m giving you Casey and Jen McQuarrie, who’s one of our best. You take the supplies in DropShip Two, and establish a beachhead in the arctic. Elise Rathburn, my tactical officer, will go with you. She’s the brains behind this operation, Ian, so rely on her for your operational planning. I’ll talk to you soon.

Elise Rathburn: All right, you’ve proven yourself an able ‘Mech pilot and gunner, with a solid grasp of tactics. Now, you get a chance to test your resolve. I’ve ordered support personnel to begin loading up our ship as quickly as possible, in prep for liftoff. However, it will take some time before we’re ready to get underway. If Castro is able to get a DropShip and troops, she’ll have located us already. So far, scans are negative, but she may have set down some distance away. We should be prepared to repel an inbound enemy Lance at any time. If you can handle defending the ship until we power up, I’ll see to the final preparations for departure. Rathburn out.

OPERATIONAL OVERVIEW[edit]

Defend Landing Facilities: Steiner has taken an increased interest in our activities. We must escape, and you need to provide cover until we can power up our DropShip and escape. Make sure the APUs that are powering up the DropShips survive. Enemy forces may be heavy, and will include ‘Mech assets.

DURING MISSION[edit]

Rathburn: Omega Lance, we’re getting cargo secured. As soon as we’re ready for lift, you need to get on board as quickly as possible. We’re tracking multiple targets inbound.

Ian: We’ve got ‘em on radar, Control. Moving to intercept.

Rathburn: Roger, Omega One. Remember, protect the DropShip APUs, or we’re dead on the ground.

Casey: Roger that, Control. We’ll keep ‘em off ya.

McQuarrie: This is McQuarrie. We’re on ‘em.

Casey: There goes the Colonel’s ship.

McQuarrie: I hope he intercepts that Steiner DropShip.

Rathburn: Omega, we’re showing a clear scope. Looks like you’ve got them all.

Ian: Roger that, Control. Good work everybody.

Casey: Hey, I just wanted a ride. Seemed like the only way to be sure I got one.

Ian: Right.

McQuarrie: I’m just glad that’s the last of them. I was beginning to think they’d just keep coming.

Rathburn: This is Control. We’ve almost got full power. Omega Support, get all personnel to ship. Omega Lance, return to ship and prepare for lift.

Ian: Roger, Control. Preparing for ingress.