“The Edge” – Bono

• Bono
• “The Edge”
• Draconis Combine Space
• July 15 3029

Operation GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG

On May 28 the First Lyran Regulars arrived on the world of “The Edge” to reinforce the LCAF 10th Donegal Guards under the command of Colonel George Donaldson.

The 10th Donegal had secured positions on high ground, locals called One Tree Hill, to the south east of the capital city of Bono, known to the locals as The City of Lights. During this time the 25th Rasalhague Regulars had laid a series of minefields, trenches and pit traps around the city. The 10th Donegal probed the defences for a way in, but the General was quoted as saying “I still haven’t found what I’m looking for”.

The 1st Lyran Regulars, commanded by Colonel Adam “Yahweh” Clayton, advanced towards Bono from the northwest through the Red Hill Mining Town, pushing aside the Militia forces in their path through weight of numbers, despite the “self-denial tactics” of General Uchi Tikidomo, involving suicide charges and booby traps, and even whole flatbed tracks loaded with surplus ammo. When the 1st Lyran arrived their CO made an open transmission to raise the spirits of the 10th Donegal, saying “Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own“. The Lyran forces were now One Step Closer to victory.

Major Hoang “Roller” Doan, CO of the Morning Star Mercenary Group were ordered to approach the city from the North East along one of the main highways. At one point the The streets had no names causing the force become lost as the DCMS forces had removed all sign posts. The Battalion’s Boomerang Spotter plane soared like a Kite in the sky and was able to direct them, so Major Dian commanded the company to Walk On.

The newly promoted Morning Star XO, Captain Sameh “Feedback” Ndadare was piloting his newly arrived Stalker, after his Dervish was destroyed in a skirmish with the 25th Rasalhague 3rd Striker Company, although he was still suffering from Vertigo from his sudden ejection after an ammo explosion. Sameh had wanted to paint the new Stalker Silver and Gold but was forced to use the copies blue and white paint scheme. Sameh was still haunted by the voice of the DCMS 2 Bat 3rd Recon Company Chu-I Danijela van Mer, in her Javelin JVN-10N, shouting “I will hunt you Until the End of the World” before shooting his Dervish in the back and detonating its ammo. Sameh managed to eject but as e descended on his parachute he was left falling into the Endless Deep as he almost blacked out. The jolt has he landed woke him, and he had to Walk to the Water where the SAR Maxim hovered with its port access Exit open, waiting to pick him.

General Donaldson radioed to Major Doan, berating his late arrival, telling him “Peace on Earth hasn’t been declared yet! We go now, With Or Without You“. Major Hoans response was simply “The isn’t The First Time we’ve done this, we’ll be there In a Little While.”.

On the morning of July 15 3029 the attack began, after the previous night Electrical Storm it was actually a Beautiful Day with all signs of lasts night bad weather Gone. All three forces advanced towards Bono, on a day that became known to the 1st Lyran as Sunday Bloody Sunday. The Donegal and Morning Star headed for the minefields, planing to use converted Manticore Minesweeper Tanks to clear a path through the defences without having to face the static gun emplacements either side of the main road.

The 10th Lyran attacked from the west, using the main road and heading into the cities industrial park through a series of hills and ditches that barred their progress, but they made the best of a Bad situation, and trying to pick a new route as best they could on The Fly.

As the Morning Star approached the city the 25th Rasalhague 2 Bat. 3rd Striker Company sallied forth to meet them in the rolling hills, showing no Desire to surrender the city they had so much Pride in without a fight. The Morning Star left a small security detachment to Stay with the companies Long Tom adjusted to the correct Elevation and opened up to Bullet the Blue Sky with its 600mm shells, the crew having written When Love Comes to Town on the side. After a brief skirmish, the 3rd Striker fell back, one of their ‘Mech and Phoenix Hawk left on the ground with a destroyed Gyro after the Morning Stars two Hunchback HBK-4P’s, known as the Discotheque boys, downed it with medium laser fire, leaving the DCMS pilot Numb after ejecting, and was left on her back Staring at the Sun. Sergeant Yaeko “Fox” Miyake One of the Huchback MechWarriors, claimed the shot was The Sweetest Thing. Miyake had been clocking extra hours in the companies new simulator saying that it’s Even Better Than The Real thing. Captain Ndadare removed the leg of an Assassin that jumped into his path, leaving the ‘Mech Stuck In A Moment You Can’t Get Out Of.

Major Hoan’s Stalker’s Mysterious Ways apparently gave him the unerring accuracy to hit Tai-i Thu-Lan Toai’s Wolverine in the right arm “Luch-box” AC/5 ammo bid blowing the ‘Mech to pieces in The Unforgettable Fire of an ammo explosion. Thu-Lan ejected and was glad when she landed to fell The Ground Beneath Her Feet. When the Morning Stars SAR Maxim recovered her, the trooper Ivan McCormick was quite overcome by her, saying she was more beautiful than the Miss Sarajevo poster he had in his DropShip bunk…

It the distance lay the minefields, bunkers, raised spotting platforms and 3 Bat 2nd Heavy Company or then 25th Rasalhague. Major Hoang “Roller” Doan sighed as he cast his gaze All Along The Watchtower.

Scenario – “The Edge”, Bono – Mine Games

The final mission in the full Campaign Operations game I’ve been running with Neil in our Operation GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG, Fourth Succession Wars campaign.

One of our latest games yet with the Morning Star Security Consulting Group’s Battalion of 37 units (16 Mechs, 19 vehicles, +2 Aerospace) units plus off board artillery and Infantry vs the 25th Rasalhague Regulars (and Bono Militia) 54 units (18 Mechs, 17 vehicles and infantry) – mostly made up of survivors from prior scenarios.

The scenario objectives were to move towards the DCMS minefield and push back opposition to allow the 2 Manticore MineSweepers to clear a path through the mines.

Deployment

The remaining five ‘Mechs from the 3 Bat, 2nd Heavy Company, set up behind the minefield, alongside 4 Manticore’s and 4 Flatbed Trucks which had been equipped with LRM launchers salvaged from the prior battles. The defensive line also included 4 CF150 Hardened Bunkers manned by DCMS MilitiaFoot SRM Platoons, next to 15CF Watchtowers.

The surviving Wasps, Stinger LAM and Locust from the 2 Bat, 3rd Recon Company acted as spotters for indirect fire, taking position high on the roof tops.

The 9 remaining ‘Mechs of the 2 Bat. 3rd Striker Company had fallen back from their prior position and formed a skirmish line ready to re-engage with the Morning Star Security Consulting Group (MSSCG) forces.

The Morning Star formed a broad line with their heaviest Command Lance (Stalker, Stalker, Thunderbolt, Black Knight) and Armoured Cavalry (Manticore, 2 x Partisan AC/5) on their left flank, protecting the Manticore Mine Sweepers on their advance to the minefield.

The MSSCG’s four Warrior VTOL’s hovered outside weapon range ready to call in indirect fire from the Battalions Partisan (LRM15 Carrier).

Turn 1

The Morning Star advanced an were met by LRM fire from the 25RR twin Dervish’s, Whitworth and Wyvern. The MSSCG’s Rifleman was struck twice in the head by missile fire, but it didn’t breach the armour.

Turn 2

The 25RR skirmish line pivoted to the MSSCG’s right flank. The 25RR Trebuchet 7K managed to put a PPC through the head of the MSSCG’s Rifleman, killing newly hired Private Lisa “Batfish” Wajeeh. The curse of the Rifleman continues…

The MSSCG launched a daring deep strike with their Lightning AeroSpace Fighter. It took severe anti-air fire as it pass over the 25RR defensive line but survived and dropped 5 HE and 5 cluster bombs onto the enemy Long Tom leaving nothing but a smoking crater, before it boosted into space having lost its landing gear.

[So much action we forgot photos!]

Turn 3

The 25RR attempted to flank to the right at get into the MSSCG’s rear. The MSSCG pivoted their right flank into the skirmish line to engage them while the Command Lance and Armoured Cavalry Tank Lance moved through the foothills, only to be targeted but indirect LRM fire from the defensive line, although it was mostly ineffective.

A 25RR Shadow Hawk 2K hit one of the MSSCG’s spotter VTOL’s with a long range PPC shot, blasting through it.

The 25RR force of 2 Vedettes and 5 Goblins started a Thunder rush straight down the main road to high the MSSCG’s right flank and back up the 3rd Strikers Skirmish line.

Turn 4

The MSSCG’s line of Warrior VTOL spotters broke and started to move to avoid fire.

A MSSCG Maxim moved in on the Trebuchet 7K that has killed the Rifleman and hit it with an SRM4 and SRM6 worth of Inferno SRM’s, pushing its heat to 17!

Turn 5

A lucky artillery shell, aimed at the defensive bunkers scattered and killed 4 Mechanised Wheeled Platoons (2 Rile, 2 SRM) on the road.

The 25RR light armour Thunder Rush continued landing hits on a MSSCG’s Griffin.

The 25RR Trebuchet 7K was now a Walk 2 Run 3, so was easy prey as the MSSCG’s Wolfhound, Grasshopper, Trebuchet and Locust all dog piled it, knocking it down, but amazingly it was still functional.

A 25RR Thunderbolt on the defence line managed to hit the MSSCG Locust form the rear, blasting through its central torso and coring it (No stockpole).

The 25RR Shadow Hawk took to a hill to get a better shot but was shot to the ground by the two Hunchback 4P’s, the Partisan LRM Carrier and ThunderBold TDR-5SS taking 67 damage. The adjacent Javelin then pulled off the downed Shadow Hawks arm with a punch!

To be continued!

Scenery from Thunder Head Studios printed on an Ender-5 PLA filament printer.

Mat from DeepCut Studio 33mm Hexed Badlands 6×4.

Morning Star BattleMechs are CGL miniatures painted by Neil “Commissar” Harris, DukeHarris-Sealand (Discord).

25th Rasalhague are 3D prints form a resin Saturn 2 (I do own all those ‘Mechs as CGL’s but wanted to paint them all in the right colours over the campaign). All Mech STL’s were free downloads and not purchased.