[9/28/2141] Operation Spieluhr

[Zanaikin]

[ I figure I continue since Judson doesn't seem to have any particular updates... ]

As the Imperial force approached the Moharan Sky Cruisers, their electronic defenses went into full power. At 9/28 2300, Major Lachina ordered the landship to maximum speed (which is also higher than full speed for many of the brigade's vehicles) to get to the first three Sky Cruisers before they meet up with the second three.

About ten minutes later...
Brigade front units reports they should achieve workable target resolutions with their long range units within another five minutes. Then, at this time, sensors report that hostile air units have been detected coming up behind (eastwards) of the Brigade about 50 miles away. They enemy force is composed of 62 Airskimmers, followed by 18 Assault Corvettes. Their rapid ascent will quickly put them within the Brigade's firing arc, although targetting resolutions may be poor. The fact nothing was noticed when first passing through the area indicates this is definitely a hidden/underground base. Unfortunately, he can't get a location on the precise position of their initial launch from ground, as the active sensor readings are fluctuating heavily, likely the result of hostile jamming.
Major Lachina notes that given the circumstances of the engagement, it is likely that the enemy Assault Corvettes are outfitted with armament modules (heavy rail cannons).

[TheDude51]

Ivan orders the following force to detach from the Brigade and quickly engage the airskimmers and assault corvettes that appeared to the east:
5th Infantry
6th Infantry
3rd Artillery
40 REDEINs
Flag Platoon

The remainder of the 77th will continue on its original course to intercept the Sky Cruisers before they can join together.

EDIT: As the 77th gets within a few minutes of engaging, Ivan begins to carefully study the enemy movements, using Alpha Priority to attempt to negate any enemy Battle Preperation that is active. Knowledge (Tactics) Check: 76

[Zanaikin]

[ As far as you can tell, they don't seem to have anything special tactics prepared. Which isn't surprising, as they have even less information about the Imperium as you do about them ]

The designated units soon turned around, acting as a guard against enemies approaching from the rear. Within a minute of time, the 3rd artillery company had began firing proximity shells into the enemy formation, alongside most of the HVM-armed units. Targeting resolution was still poor due to the low tracking time and long range, but it was rapidly improving by the second as distances closed. The enemy soon started losing units, although slowly, and then their Assault Corvettes' heavy rail cannons returned fire, concentrating on frontal elements of the 5th infantry. A coordinated first salvo breached the shields of a Langskip ADATS, which promptly became the first Imperial vehicle destroyed in the operation. Nevertheless, the fire exchange was overwhelming in the Imperium's favor. Within another few minutes, a third the airskimmers and all but two Assault Corvettes had been destroyed.

The diversion of a good portion of the battle line's rear, combined with the fact that 2nd grenadier, 3rd grenadier, and most of the mage company are still back in near Kochikaze, is leaving the center of the Brigade (command & logistics units) with few close escorts, although they're now shielded on both sides by the main battle line and the detachment against the rear threat.

Then...

A message was broadcasted over the command communication channel by the REDEIN wing commander:
"In range for visual contact... what the... bogeys sighted above the enemy airskimmer force. Radar aren't picking anything up there at all. Wait... THOSE ARE..."

The sensors officer had quickly rerouted incoming data from the REDEINs over the main display. Sure enough, amplified visual and thermal sensors detected nine rather large targets flying about a quarter mile above the main force, none of which are detected by command's long range sensors. They were mechanical vehicles of near humanoid construction, except about three to four times larger than Imperial METAACs. Various railguns, laser turrets, and missile batteries number around a dozen were attached to the head, jaw, arms, shoulders, hips, and legs. Each of them also had four large modules strapped to their backs, two halfway up the shoulder and two near the waist region, as well as two thin and long items that looked suspiciously like sheaths. Currently, only the incarnum engines on its back and legs could be seen glowing, but thermal was detecting active emissions all over the vehicle.

Staring at the display, Major Soissons repeated the same words of the REDEIN commander:
"Incarnum Juggernauts."

[TheDude51]

Ivan: "REDEINs launch everything you have as soon as you're in effective range then return to the command ship."

"I want a second wave of 40 more REDEINs out there to replace them by the time they finish their attack run."




Ahmet: "All long range units, continue to focus fire on the air skimmers and corvettes until we can get better targeting resolutions on those juggernauts"

Ahmet's Auras: Foebane Commander (Machines); Defensive Commander (+5 bonus)
Stance: Eye of the Storm

[Zanaikin]

Major Bayreuth: "Well those could still be an illu..."

The arm-mounted tri-barrels on the Incarnum Juggernauts then opened fire. A hailstorm of shells blew apart two leading REDEINs and answered Major Bayreuth's unfinished question.

At the same time, forty more REDEINs were launched on autopilot from the command landship, while the pilots of the initial flight reformatted their targeting. Their commander called for a focused fire on the leading Incarnum Juggernaut unit of the left wing with all heat-seekers, while radar-guided missiles incapable of detecting those mechs were to seek targets of opportunity amongst the airskimmers. Over a hundred missiles left the attack force and were met by volleys of counter-missiles and laser bursts. The airskimmers also began launching countermeasures as the missiles approached, while additional Incarnum Juggernauts began to appear out of thin air, tripling their numbers as illusory units (unless they have the equivalent of Superior Invisibility) presented fake signatures, drawing off the heat-seekers.

Eleven more airskimmers died against the missiles, bringing the airskimmer force down to only half strength. But before they did they lashed out with their own tri-barrels and air-to-air missiles. The REDEINs were significantly faster than its opponent, but far less shielded, and eight fell against the counter volley. Still decelerating in order to return to the command ship, the REDEIN pilots steered their REDEINs sharped towards the right in order to keep the two forces from interpenetrating where the airskimmers' dogfighting superiority would shine through. In the meantime, long range fire continued to wreck havoc against the Chromian force, as the last corvettes and more airskimmers died against the HVMs.

The Juggernauts units however fared far better, as even with the concentrated fire only half the volley got past the enemy active defenses, and over half of the remainder was drawn off by the decoys, which were obviously illusions as missiles shot into them and exploded against nothingness. Only around a dozen missiles hit the target, and its bubble shield held against repeated hits. However, it soon collapsed and three direct hits shattered its right shoulder and heavily damaged its right leg and upper right module. Amazingly, despite all that, it managed to stay in the air, but was already falling behind its mates due to engine damage. In the meantime, the rest of its mates continued to fire upon the REDEINs...

Another minute later, the METAACs of the Flag Platoon finally gained clear visuals (through many levels of magnification of course) against the Incarnum Juggernauts.

[TheDude51]

Ahmet: "Langskips and artillery, continue to hit the airskimmers until you can see the juggernauts clearly. All Knight squads, concentrate fire on that leading Juggernaut (indicates target) and take him out on my mark. Fire!"

With that, Ahmet opens fire with both HVM launchers on the indicated Incarnum Juggernaut.

Attack Rolls: 83; 80
Damage: 619; 629

Ahmet also designates a different arbitrary Juggernaut near the front of the formation as his Undefeated Legend opponent.

AC: 40
Touch AC: 34
Command Auras: Foebane Commander (Machines); Defensive Commander (+5 on attacks and damage against machines, +5 dodge bonus to AC)
Stance: Eye of the Storm
Ace Pilot Floating Feat: Vehicle Multitasking

(Should I be posting stats like this from here on out?)

[Zanaikin]

[ Yeah that's fine. Although it's your actions as well as other information such as where in the formation is your METAAC that you should work on posting ]

[ Due to the lack of radar sensory data, the effectiveness of the GPT system is halved ]

Sixteen Cataphracts fired against the leading Juggernaut situated in the center of the enemy formation. Being forced to rely upon visual and thermal targetting, two thirds of the shots flew straight through the wrong illusory targets (including both of Ahmet's shots), whose flight path continued to crisscross with one another every few seconds in order to confuse which is the real one. Meanwhile, a few of the remaining shots were evaded by its erratic evasive movements.

Five shots actually struck the target. The first few impacted the shield bubble, causing it to flare up visibly before collapsing under the attack. However, the shots that would have pierced through to hit the hull behind it was surprisingly stopped by a second layer of incarnum shielding. In the light show brought about by the shield flares, the hull of the Juggernaut became fully illuminated, revealing a strange trait for a military machine - it was painted bright red.

The Juggernaut formation then launched a torret of mini-missiles in the direction of the METAACs, releasing smoke and countermeasure flares (vs. heat-seeking) along the path, blurring their presence about while their flight path took them straight towards the METAACs at high speed. A second later, dozens upon dozens of additional heat signatures were detected within the whole mix as the radar picked up a volley of incoming missiles. Meanwhile, their tri-barrels continued to rain down shells upon the turning REDEIN units.

[ as we seem to have entered round-by-round combat. Next time you declare the first attack roll, also roll initiative. I'll give you initiative win this time ]

[TheDude51]

Ahmet: "METAACs, prepare defensive maneuvers and continue to fire. Artillery, you should have a good idea of their location from those missile launches, saturate that entire area with fire. Langskips, take out those missiles."

Ahmet turns Synchronized Evasion to full power and uses Vehicle Multitasking to take the following actions with each weapon:
Right HVM Launcher: Fire
Attack Roll: 66
Damage: 652
Left HVM Launcher: Fire
Attack Roll: 66
Damage: 608
Plasma Carbine: Ready action to fire at any missiles that come within range

Ahmet is in about the center of the METAAC formation.

AC: 50
Touch AC: 44
Command Auras: Foebane Commander (Machines); Defensive Commander (+5 attack and damage against machines, +5 dodge bonus to AC)
Stance: Eye of the Storm

(Can we estimate the distance, or guess at the time before they reach us?)

[Zanaikin]

[ If they maintain their previous speed, around 3~5 more turns to reach ]

The affirmatives came immediately, although it took a bit longer for the vehicular commanders to modifying targeting and fire. ADATS units aren't optimized against targets as small as conventional missiles, thus their performance was far below that or norm. The howitzers soon started firing plasma burst and shrapnel shells into the new area, while the MLRS were still in the midst of their reload process (which takes over a minute) since their last volley. The fire from the artillery however caught only the Incarnum Juggernaut that fell behind, as their predictions were obviously off from their actual speed (which probably isn't quite constant either, if the enemy was smart). The explosions added to the smoke and cut out all visibility against the crippled Juggernaut completely.

(forgot this part): The smoke and series of heat flares also seem to be rapidly spreading forward, likely the result of additional chaff/countermeasure missiles being launched.

More shield flares came from the center of the enemy formation as additional HVMs seems to have crashed into it, then a single explosion seems to have come from the Juggernaut itself (although you're not completely sure, but it seems like it went through). But before any more slugs could follow through, the shield flares started repeating themselves once again as the bubble shields seems to have been reset, or more appropriately reinvested.

Nearly a hundred heavy missiles then burst out of the smokescreen and flares into the METAACs' visual displays. Defensive lasers and counter-missile batteries immediately locked on and started firing, although it was questionable the active defenses alone could stop them.

The first group of REDEINs finally turned about and headed back at full speed. Just over half of the initial forty made it back out. The wing commander ordered their pilots to switch to the new wave still en route against only 24 remaining airskimmers of their opposition.

[ Roll your Carbine readied action results next round ]

[TheDude51]

Ahmet opens fire on the missiles as soon as they come within range of his plasma carbine:
Readied Carbine:
Attack Roll: 86 (before range penalties)
Damage: 117

Ahmet: "METAACs, deploy chaff and flares, put EW to full power, and try to blast those missiles before they reach us. Everyone else, focus everything on those Juggernauts."

As he speaks, Ahmet continues to fire with his Plasma Carbine, tracing an arc of blazing fire across the front missiles.
Initiating Storm Volley, targeting the 15 nearest missiles.
Attack Rolls (Damage):
86 (115)
85 (102)
80 (124)
77 (102)
88 (131)

81 (113)
88 (114)
88 (123)
77 (102)
87 (82)

75 (116)
80 (103)
79 (97)
83 (95)
87 (104)

(These include full GPT bonus, since i'm assuming the missiles are out of the anti-radio-wave field by now, but does not include any range penalties)

Synchronized Evasion still set to full, deploying chaff and flares if possible after taking a full-round action.
AC: 50
Touch AC: 44
Command Auras: Foebane Commander (Machines); Defensive Commander (+5 attack and damage against machines, +5 dodge bonus to AC)
Stance: Eye of the Storm

[Zanaikin]

Ahmet's volley successfully destroys all of the remaining missiles nearing him, and fire from the rest of the squad clears away most of the wave. Only 2 stragglers manage to break through on the left flank of the formation, smashing into the shields of two separate METAACs, but their defenses held.

The brigade battle line was preparing to make final targetting adjustments before commencing fire on the Sky Cruisers.

The 3rd artillery continued to fire against the Juggernauts, although with no more missile launches to give their position the bombardment accuracy was straying further away by the second. Even their spotters, the METAACs, could not identify the enemy's exact location due to the obscuring smoke...

A moment later, eight Juggernauts charged out of the smokescreen towards the Imperials at over twice the speed of sound, faster than even the full-throttle speed intelligence estimated of Juggernauts (they'll be upon the flag squads in another round). Each of them, as it seems, were currently propelled not only by their engines but an additional pair of thruster modules on their back. Six of the Juggernauts had already jettisoned their shoulder modules, probably racks for the earlier missile barrage.

The two remaining Juggernauts then raised their shoulder-modules into position, jettisoning the armor cover to reveal massive energy-weapon barrels that look slight like that of PSLs. They fired a second later, sending a linear stream of white energy across the skies with several miles of range.

The red Juggernaut aimed straight at Ahmet's METAAC [Reflex save], the twin beams then went past and slashed into the 5th Infantry's and then 3rd artillery's position over a mile away. A shallow-arcing (no more than a few degrees) sweep caused it to make contact with a Dragoon IFV for a fraction of a second, enough to overwhelm the vehicle's shields and destroying it almost instantaneously. Further away, a Katyusha MLRS and a supply vehicle currently reloading it met the same fate.

The other two beams went against a METAAC to your right, which the pilot evaded. However the slower vehicles behind him were not so lucky, as two Zamburak howitzers were caught by the fire and destroyed.

Their tri-barrels, supplemented by those of the remaining airskimmers, continued their fire against the METAACs. A concentrated volley against a METAAC on the right flank hammered through its shields and destroyed it, but not before its cockpit jettisoned from the main body.

The second wave of REDEINs are almost here...


On the command bridge:

Major Soissons: "Those are ion cannons!"

Major Bayreuth: "Or maybe some other particle? Either way it doesn't matter right now how they work, we still need to fight it."


[ Also, if you're wondering why, flanks are where ECM effects are weakest as less units contributed, especially in comparison to a formation's center ]

[TheDude51]

Reflex Save: 36 (evasion)

Ahmet: "Sword-equipped METAACs to the front, prepare to engage in melee. All units, concentrate fire at those energy weapons."

He then drops Synchronized Evasion to its normal level and opens fire with his HVM launchers at the red juggernaut.

Right HVM: Fire
Attack Roll: 75
Damage: 648

Left HVM: Fire
Attack Roll: 65
Damage: 611

Plasma Carbine: Ready action to double-fire at the first juggernaut that comes within range.

AC: 40
Touch AC: 34
Command Auras: Foebane Commander (Machines); Defensive Commander (+5 attack and damage against machines, +5 dodge bonus to AC)
Stance: Eye of the Storm
Pilot Bonus: +33
Designating the red mech as my Undefeated Legend opponent.

Ivan: "Armored companies, prepare to go into full throttle to advance into Plasma Shock Lance range. Infantry companies will follow while REDEINs screen the advancing force. Artillery companies, as soon as you get in range focus all firepower on that central cruiser."

[Zanaikin]

Eight of the most adaptively armed METAACs moved to the front of the line. The HVM volley that came from the METAAC squads focused upon the red Juggernaut once again, and any forward units of the 5th and 6th infantry with visual targeting also contributed their fire. And once again, about two-thirds of the shots went after the wrong targets completely. Two mini-missiles launched and spread explosive chaff across the front of the mech, causing several more HVM slugs to hit objects preemptively, while a few others missed outright. Of those that hit, the first four (including Ahmet's second shot, his first was evaded) collapsed the first shield, while another five collapsed the second shield. The last three (probably from light HVM launchers too) managed to score hits on the mech's left hip, right leg, and right shoulder, destroying a laser cluster, a CM battery, and one of the energy beam weapons, as well as damaging one of its leg maneuver engines. One thing was evident from the damage inflicted - the Juggernauts' armor was incredibly tough, probably made of magically-reinforced Incarnum Steel.

The red Juggernauts' two wingman advanced forward, forming a loose V-formation with the leader in the back in order to try shield the red from further attacks. At the same time, the eight Juggernauts each drew a pair of massive swords from those sheath-like components and activated them, wrapping the Incarnum Steel with a layer of what seems like condensed light. They then charged straight into the METAAC formation. The METAACs then opened fire with their plasma carbines, but the damage simply splashed off the enemy's shields.

[ roll stuff for your readied action on your next round so I can keep track ]

Blows were exchanged at lightning-fast speeds as the two sides interpenetrated. Both sides managed their share of hits, but where the eight readying METAACs scored only light and moderately damaging hits (not actually downing a single one) against the Juggernauts' armor, at most cutting off a limb or shattering a module, the Juggernauts' massive blades easily cleaved any target it met apart. 3 METAACs of the first line and 4 METAACs of the second line (Ahmet's dodged the one slash that came his way) were cut through the center and destroyed within seconds. Another 2 METAACs of the first line had been crippled as a single slash cut off both their legs (and severing the maneuvering engines attached). Two of the METAACs had been cut straight through the cockpit, with one more exploding before its cockpit could eject, and three elite Imperial pilots died with their frames.

The Juggernauts then sped straight past the remaining METAACs and towards the infantry and artillery force about a mile behind them...



The commander of the REDEIN wave did the same as before: launched all his heat-seekers against the Incarnum Juggernauts while sending his radar-guided missiles down towards the airskimmers lagging behind them. The volley halved the remaining airskimmer force again, and dealt enough damage to one Juggernaut that already took a leg hit from the METAACs, causing it to fall behind with the loss of multiple maneuvering engines.

The last eleven airskimmers then maneuvered towards the remaining METAACs and opened fire, and managed to barely break through the shields of one METAAC and dealt light damage to it.



On the eastern side, the artillery and Langskips opened fire first against the central Sky Cruiser, which did its best to attempt to stop the high-speed shots with its lasers and tri-barrels. However three solid hits managed to quickly pour through, inflicting damage (although relatively light) to the engine. The three Cruisers promptly began to turn around in order to bring most of its guns into action. Six available twin-turrets retaliated, and managed to score a few direct hits on a MBT, but the defenses held.



Major Soissons: "Forty of our pilots are managing the REDEINs launched against the eastern force. Launch the remaining twenty against the western Sky Cruisers." (you notice this was given as both an order and a request for confirmation).

Major Bayreuth: "I'd suggest taking out one of the side Cruisers first. EW is hurting us pretty bad given the range and the central unit is receiving boosts from its flanking cruisers. Furthermore I doubt there's anything too special about the center one except being the squad leader."

[TheDude51]

Ahmet fires his Plasma Carbine into the oncoming Juggernauts.
Attacks (damage):
71 (104)
76 (101)

Ahmet: "METAACs, shift fire to those airskimmers, finish them off. Langskips and Artillery, continue to fire at the Juggernauts. Ivan, reinforcements would be appreciated."

Ahmet shifts his fire to the incoming airskimmer formation, spreading his fire among multiple targets.

Right HVM: Fire
Attack: 91
Damage: 612

Left HVM: Fire
Attack: 73
Damage: 657

Plasma Carbine: Strafe
Reflex DC: 71
Damage: 214

Ivan: "Launch the remaining 20 REDEINs as a screen and shift fire focus to the right side cruiser. 5th and 6th Armored Companies, break off the attack and head at full speed to reinforce the 5th and 6th infantry (Note: 5th and 6th are on the left side of our formation at the moment). All other units, full speed forward!"

[Zanaikin]

The remaining METAACs' fire against the airskimmers destroyed 6 more and damaged another 2. Ahmet also noticed that it takes more than a single HVM to break through the airskimmers shields AND damage its hull.

The few remaining airskimmers then retaliated with their tri-barrels, but their numbers were getting too low to break through the defenses. The two damaged plus a third then dove straight towards a single METAAC (in the first line) in a suicidal attack run. Two of them were evaded successfully, but one of them made a hit. Although the pilot managed to block it with his shield, the sheer force broke the METAAC left arm and crashed it into the torso. The shield's cover managed to keep the main body from being heavily damaged by the explosion, but all four limbs were heavily damaged or lost. The pilot ejected, the METAAC itself didn't actually explode, but it was rapidly descending towards the ground below...

[ 4 airskimmers left, all quite spread out around the METAACs ]


Seven juggernauts continued forward towards the Infantry front, although they decelerated as several of them had received some engine damage from the METAACs. The two crippled ones however flew down towards the ground below, releasing a smokescreen in the process to obscure themselves. The advancing Juggernauts then focused their tri-barrels upon two Langskip ADATs, crippling one (which began plummeting towards the ground, the crew began bailing out) while damaging the other.

The weapons of the 5th Infantry, 6th Infantry, and 3rd artillery then responded in kind. With a mostly clear line of sight against the enemy this time, they completely blew apart the left wingman of the red Juggernaut with a focused volley of HVMs, and another Juggernaut on the leftmost flank suffered a similar fate. A number of hits were also scored on the red Juggernaut, but not enough to penetrate its two shield bubbles.

The 5th and 6th armor acknowledged before decelerating from the speed they had just picked up (order to go to full-throttle) in order to turn around...

Meanwhile, the pounding match against the Sky Cruisers (whom were still turning) continued. The switching the targets (as well as closer proximity) showed a calculated increase in number of hits. The focused fire was breaching the shields before they could be reset, but each time only dealing regional damage to the tough armor on those aerial ships.

Halfway through the turn, Major Bayreuth orders:
"All units focus fire on their front rail turrets if you can."