Let's play: Battletech via MegaMek

[El Guapo]

[X] Buy the expensive but otherwise difficult-to-acquire double aero heat sinks, 3M
[] Pass


[X] See if we can experimentally incorporate a coolant truck into one of our lances
[] Pass

[X] Put a stop to the Overlord.

[Isgrimnur]

What's the impact of a coolant flamer on infantry?

[Hyena]

What's the impact of a coolant flamer on infantry?

Depends on how fast it's going...

[Leraje]

[x] Buy the expensive but otherwise difficult-to-acquire double aero heat sinks, 3M
[] Pass

Another of our mechwarriors has finally earned their callsign. Leraje, welcome aboard! Feel free to pick one of two:
[] Cpl. Nicolas Dvorak, 2/3, Gamma-Probe (basically medium recon) lance. Drives a slightly modified Vulcan VL-5T.
[x] Lt. JG Demesu Jafar, 3/3, Beta-Hunter (heavy) lance. Drives a Guillotine GLT-4L.

[x] See if we can experimentally incorporate a coolant truck into one of our lances
[] Pass

Use the Aero DHS as a reward for a pilot with the lowest lawn-dart to mission flown ratio.

Definitely opting for the Gulillotine - always found 70-80T to be a sweetspot for IS Mechs requiring the least amount of "after-market modifications".

[NickAragua]

What's the impact of a coolant flamer on infantry?

Spoiler:

"Yes! I am invincible!"

[Isgrimnur]

[El Guapo]

I'm sure the infantry would be fine. Refreshment on a hot day!

[Leraje]

What's the impact of a coolant flamer on infantry?

Spoiler:

"Yes! I am invincible!"

...
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.

[Cylus Maxii]

[X] Buy the expensive but otherwise difficult-to-acquire double aero heat sinks, 3M
[] Pass


[] See if we can experimentally incorporate a coolant truck into one of our lances
[X] Pass

[AWS260]

[X] Buy the expensive but otherwise difficult-to-acquire double aero heat sinks, 3M
[] Pass


[X] See if we can experimentally incorporate a coolant truck into one of our lances
[] Pass

[X] Put a stop to the Overlord.

I endorse the visionary leadership of El Guapo.

[Drazzil]

[X] Buy the expensive but otherwise difficult-to-acquire double aero heat sinks, 3M
[] Pass


[X] See if we can experimentally incorporate a coolant truck into one of our lances
[] Pass

[X] Put a stop to the Overlord.

I endorse the visionary leadership of El Guapo.

I'm with Guapo.

[El Guapo]

#Guapo2020

[Zenn7]

[X] Buy the expensive but otherwise difficult-to-acquire double aero heat sinks, 3M
[] Pass


[X] See if we can experimentally incorporate a coolant truck into one of our lances
[] Pass

[X] Put a stop to the Overlord.

I endorse the visionary leadership of El Guapo.

I'm with Guapo.

Not too sure about that truck, but if it works, we all had a great idea.

If not, curse that fool El Guapo, this is right up there with his PPC Blimp brigade!

Always good to have a scapegoat volunteer.

[$iljanus]

[X] Buy the expensive but otherwise difficult-to-acquire double aero heat sinks, 3M
[] Pass


[X] See if we can experimentally incorporate a coolant truck into one of our lances
[] Pass

[X] Put a stop to the Overlord.

All of what Guapo said.

It's a crazy approach but if the coolant truck survives then it's all good. Would be cool if the truck played music like a neighborhood ice cream truck.

[El Guapo]

[X] Buy the expensive but otherwise difficult-to-acquire double aero heat sinks, 3M
[] Pass


[X] See if we can experimentally incorporate a coolant truck into one of our lances
[] Pass

[X] Put a stop to the Overlord.

All of what Guapo said.

It's a crazy approach but if the coolant truck survives then it's all good. Would be cool if the truck played music like a neighborhood ice cream truck.

I mean, if the truck works, then great, we have a new asset. If it doesn't work, then some desperate underpaid schmuck driver gets killed and we all move on. Well, except for the driver.

[El Guapo]

WAIT - what if we attach coolant blasters to the bottom of our PPC blimps!!!!!!

[Isgrimnur]

If you deflate the blimp while firing the PPCs, it cools itself.

[Leraje]

I mean, if the truck works, then great, we have a new asset. If it doesn't work, then some desperate underpaid schmuck driver gets killed and we all move on. Well, except for the driver.

Well, technically the driver will also move on after a fashion. So win-win situation.

[gbasden]

[X] Buy the expensive but otherwise difficult-to-acquire double aero heat sinks, 3M
[] Pass


[] See if we can experimentally incorporate a coolant truck into one of our lances
[X] Pass

Do you really think you are going to find a lot of volunteers to drive your suicide vehicle?

[$iljanus]

[X] Buy the expensive but otherwise difficult-to-acquire double aero heat sinks, 3M
[] Pass


[] See if we can experimentally incorporate a coolant truck into one of our lances
[X] Pass

Do you really think you are going to find a lot of volunteers to drive your suicide vehicle?

Throw in some hazard pay.
(payable upon completion of the mission of course)

[Drazzil]

#Guapo2020

Now THERES a canidate I can get behind.

[Drazzil]

[X] Buy the expensive but otherwise difficult-to-acquire double aero heat sinks, 3M
[] Pass


[] See if we can experimentally incorporate a coolant truck into one of our lances
[X] Pass

Do you really think you are going to find a lot of volunteers to drive your suicide vehicle?

I'll drive. Just uparmor the tanks as much as possible.

Now'd be a great time to take out a fat life insurance policy for my sim survivors.

[$iljanus]

"If it's all the same to you I'll drive that tanker." (spoken in a close approximation of the accent from the ancient Old Earth nation state of Australia)

[Drazzil]

"If it's all the same to you I'll drive that tanker." (spoken in a close approximation of the accent from the ancient Old Earth nation state of Australia)

"I volunteered first... But..."

*looks at the tanker again*

"You've got seniority... Sir.. !"

*gives one last look at the tanker as he hands the keys to $iljanus*

"Allow me to tag along and guard then sir?"

Drazzil mutters not quite under his breath as he walks away smirking and shaking his head softly.

"Hope you know what you're doing..."

((And by guard I mean tag along in my mech to prevent attacks of opportunity))

.

[Drazzil]

"If it's all the same to you I'll drive that tanker." (spoken in a close approximation of the accent from the ancient Old Earth nation state of Australia)

((Buahahahahahahahaha... ROFL... )))

[Leraje]

What's the tonnage of this truck anyway? May be we are better off strapping the coolant tank as a backpack to one of the Awesomes - ablative back armour AND emergency cooling

[Hyena]

What's the tonnage of this truck anyway? May be we are better off strapping the coolant tank as a backpack to one of the Awesomes - ablative back armour AND emergency cooling

And if it explodes, free coolant for everyone within one hex! ALPHA STRIKES FOR EVERYONE!

[xwraith]

For the coolant truck -- if for anything to have a functional example. I would think we could always implement a more survivable variant based on an armored vehicle ( or various pieces thereof ). We do stomp a lot of Vedettes.

[NickAragua]

Vote Results:

Spoiler:

Buy the fighter with the double heat sinks - unanimous

Incorporate coolant truck - 7
Pass on coolant truck - 4

El Guapo hits the 'buy' button on the Shilone Sl-17R listing. It'll be a few weeks before it gets here, as the jumpship has to go back out, then the seller has to ship the thing over here, but we'll get it eventually.

Despite some misgivings on the part of a few of our mechwarriors, we do manage to find some volunteers to drive the coolant truck - the crew of that Zephyr hovertank hasn't had much to do ever since their hovertank stopped hovering. We'll, uh, try to keep them out of sight, see how it goes. We'll deploy the truck whenever a lance with slow, heat-sensitive mechs is in the field - it's a 30-ton truck with ~1.5 tons of armor plating on each side, so it can take a couple of lasers, but won't be able to stand up to sustained fire of any kind. We'll see how it goes.

-------------------------

"Ok, the Overlord is initiating a de-orbit burn and dropping velocity. That's our best chance to get it, on the way down. Try to stay below it so it can't get you with the nose guns. Beta-Strike will enter the engagement zone first. Focus on the escorts until Alpha-Strike gets there, then get in there and bring the dropship down. Looks like we'll have some help from the corporate garrison guys on this one, they're sending in a couple of conventional fighters." The flight leader finishes up the briefing.

One of the aero jocks rolls his eyes. "Yeah, some help."

"Get to your fighters and let's go. We don't have much time."

Round 1:

Spoiler:

Beta-Strike makes contact when the Overlord is just a few minutes from landing. Once it lands, it'll be able to a) rapidly deploy its mechs and b) bring its substantial nose weaponry to bear against any aircraft. We want to avoid that if at all possible.

Our Chippewa lets rip with its pulse lasers at an approaching Sholagar light fighter, scoring a couple of solid hits as it corkscrews to avoid the rapid-firing lasers. The hostile aero jock winds up dropping a lot of altitude, leveling out just short of the ground.

Round 2:

Spoiler:

In time to slam into a low hill.

Our Chippewa switches targets, mindful to stay clear of the Overlord's weapons batteries for now. A Cheetah light fighter disintegrates under the onslaught from pulse lasers and a salvo of LRMs to finish it off.

Our Lucifer moves up, firing its lasers at another hostile Sholagar, scoring a solid hit on the nose that sends sparks and bits of armor flying. It takes some laser fire in return, but armor holds.

Round 3:

Spoiler:

As the Overlord continues descending, our fighters and the hostiles engage in a close-range furball. Our Chippewa continues its reign of terror, taking huge chunks out of another Cheetah with its pulse lasers, as it targets our Lightning. The aero jock adds some SRMs and a medium laser to the mix due to short range, sending the lightly-armored fighter in a corkscrew into the ground.

Our Lightning inflicts heavy damaage on a Sholagar, but the armor loss from the Cheetah's attack causes our fighter to lose altitude. Our pilot is able to keep his aircraft from eating dirt, however.

Round 4:

Spoiler:

A damaged Sholagar peels off, burning for distance from the furball, as our Lightning pilot struggles to right his descending aircraft. Our Chippewa "peels off" another Sholagar, cutting into its engine with the pulse lasers and sparing a brief glance as the hostile aircraft turns into a lawn dart after said engine cuts out.

Round 5:

Spoiler:

Weapons fire lances out from the Overlord as it sends LRMs, autocannon rounds and bigger lasers our way, disrupting our formation and preventing us from finishing off that last Sparrowhawk.

Round 6:

Spoiler:

"Alpha-Strike is on station. Attack the dropship, go go go!"

The corporate fighters arrive as well, one getting blown out of the sky immediately by the Overlords gunners. Despite having closer targets, the Overlord targets the Chippewa, taking a good chunk out of its left wing. The Overlord takes a good amount of damage from our craft, but its armor is thick enough to withstand a beating and then some.

Beta-Strike's Lightning finishes off the remaining Sparrowhawk, an AC/20 burst raking over the cockpit, which stuns the pilot long enough that he embeds his aircraft in a hillside below.

Round 7:

Spoiler:

Our fighters begin making coordinated runs on the Overlord. Alpha-Strike's Lightning takes a beating from the gunners, the medium fighter shaking as armor is peeled off and a laser goes out, along with the fire control system. The dropship just ignores all the incoming fire, continuing its descent.

Round 8:

Spoiler:

"Good effect on target... hey, what the...." our Chippewa pilot reports right before his aerospace fighter is blown out of the sky.

However, the Overlord pays the price. Our fighters focus on its starboard side, blasting through the armor with autocannons, lasers and LRMs. Its right side thrusters die down one by one, and it begins tumbling. It's not easy to control a spheroid dropship in atmosphere in general, and having half your hull missing from fighter attacks doesn't help - the Overlord crashes into the ground, sending up a breathtaking cloud of dust.

Our salvage crews are kept out of the area by blistering fire from the surviving mechs, and by the time we are able to move sufficient force into the area to overcome resistance, the hostiles have vacated the area.

Losing the second Chippewa sucks, it was a very solid fighter. Best we can do now is pull off the two small pulse lasers and the remaining large, then sell the rest for scrap. Likewise, the Overlord isn't good for much else other than scrap, but at least it's 7M C-Bills worth of scrap.

How concerned are we with tracking down the mechs that escaped from the Overlord wreck?
[] Not concerned about it, not really our job
[] Dedicate a lance or two and maybe some aerospace support to it, but that's kind of a token effort unlikely to actually succeed
[] Dedicate a company plus aerospace support to it, but risk the possibility they sneak around and hit one of our guarded facilities

[Leraje]

Do we have any idea about the composition of the escaped force?

[El Guapo]

[X] Not concerned about it, not really our job
[] Dedicate a lance or two and maybe some aerospace support to it, but that's kind of a token effort unlikely to actually succeed
[] Dedicate a company plus aerospace support to it, but risk the possibility they sneak around and hit one of our guarded facilities

I mean, if our employers want to pay us to track them down, that's all well and good, but I don't see much reason to make this an extracurricular.

And good job, pilots.

[$iljanus]

Is it worth keeping tabs on them in case they want to hit us or do we think we're not in their contract? I'd only send a small recon force if any since I like knowing where all the armed forces are on a planet.

[gbasden]

How concerned are we with tracking down the mechs that escaped from the Overlord wreck?
[] Not concerned about it, not really our job
[X] Dedicate a lance or two and maybe some aerospace support to it, but that's kind of a token effort unlikely to actually succeed
[] Dedicate a company plus aerospace support to it, but risk the possibility they sneak around and hit one of our guarded facilities

We should give it a try in case we get lucky, but our primary job is guarding those facilities.

[Stefan Stirzaker]

Dedicate a lance.

[NickAragua]

Do we have any idea about the composition of the escaped force?

Our aero jocks reported at least two lances of medium mechs, plus "some kind of anti-aircraft units that kept us away from the area". Not much to go on.

[Leraje]

Do we have any idea about the composition of the escaped force?

Our aero jocks reported at least two lances of medium mechs, plus "some kind of anti-aircraft units that kept us away from the area". Not much to go on.

In that case, I'd support sending a couple of lances to look for them, last thing we want is for their mobile AA to take potshots at our flights while those are inbound for a sortie.

[El Guapo]

I don't get why we would choose an option that's explicitly labeled "token effort that's unlikely to succeed." I tend to favor actions that, you know, are likely to succeed.

[Freyland]

Like blimps!

[El Guapo]

Blimps are a lock.

[Zenn7]

Blimps are a lock.

And the Guap's the key?

On topic, let's not waste time with a lance or two and not go full force and risking an end-run on one of the facilities we are supposed to be guarding when we have no idea if these guys are our problem or not (other than if they get a chance for payback, I'm sure they'd be our problem).