-RECEIVE TRANSMISSION- ***Data Set 071120222 upload in progress*** ***Begin Playback*** 15th Special Services AAR Our mission was simple, move into the nearby community of Hadiqat Aljana and rescue the listed civilian family members of the Alfutna science team before they could be captured or killed by an Ariadnan Death Squad reported to be operating the area who were no doubt trying to gain leverage to exchange for research data. We dispatched a reinforced squad to defend the community and ensure the safety of the civilians consisting of the following. Spoiler: Special Services Special Services ────────────────────────────────────────────────── GROUP 1 9 1 1 JANISSARY (Lieutenant) AP Rifle, Light Shotgun / Pistol, Shock CC Weapon. (0 | 34) JANISSARY Heavy Machine Gun / Pistol, Shock CC Weapon. (1.5 | 41) JANISSARY Boarding Shotgun / Pistol, Shock CC Weapon. (0 | 33) HAFZA Heavy Rocket Launcher / Assault Pistol, CC Weapon. (1.5 | 17) HAFZA Rifle, Light Shotgun / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 15) FANOUS REMOTE Flash Pulse / PARA CC Weapon(-3). (0 | 7) FANOUS REMOTE Flash Pulse / PARA CC Weapon(-3). (0 | 7) FANOUS REMOTE Flash Pulse / PARA CC Weapon(-3). (0 | 7) AZRA'IL AP Heavy Machine Gun / Heavy Pistol, CC Weapon. (1.5 | 40) YUAN YUAN Chain Rifle, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, DA CC Weapon. (0 | 8) GROUP 2 3 2 2 DJANBAZAN (BS Attack [Shock]) AP Sniper Rifle / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0.5 | 31) DJANBAZAN (Doctor [+3]) Rifle, Light Shotgun ( | MediKit) / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 29) HAFZA Rifle, Light Shotgun / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 15) YUAN YUAN Chain Rifle, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, DA CC Weapon. (0 | 8) YUAN YUAN Chain Rifle, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, DA CC Weapon. (0 | 8) 5 SWC | 300 Points Known Enemy Contacts are listed below Spoiler: Ariadnan Forces Rescue ────────────────────────────────────────────────── GROUP 1 8 ROKOT (Paramedic) Submachine Gun, Grenades ( | MediKit) / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 11) ROKOT (Forward Observer) Submachine Gun, Grenades, Flash Pulse, D-Charges / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 10) ROKOT Chain Rifle, Light Shotgun / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 8) ROKOT (Lieutenant) Submachine Gun, Grenades, D-Charges / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 9) VOLKOLAK Missile Launcher, Chain-colt(+1B), Grenades / Heavy Pistol, AP CC Weapon. (1.5 | 40) KOSMOSOLDAT (Multispectral Visor L1) Portable Autocannon ( ) / AP Heavy Pistol, CC Weapon. (1.5 | 48) POLARIS TEAM undefined / undefined. (0 | 32) CONTROLLER Light Shotgun / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 9) POLARIS BEARPODE Chain Rifle(+1 Dam, +1B), Grenades, Smoke Grenades / AP CC Weapon, Trench-Hammer. (0 | 23) GROUP 2 7 2 2 VARANGIAN Chain Rifle, Smoke Grenades / Heavy Pistol, AP CC Weapon. (0 | 9) VARANGIAN Chain Rifle, Smoke Grenades / Heavy Pistol, AP CC Weapon. (0 | 9) UNKNOWN RANGER AP Spitfire, Chain-colt / Heavy Pistol, T2 CC Weapon. (1 | 47) UXÍA McNEILL (Specialist Operative) Boarding Shotgun, D-Charges, Smoke Grenades / Assault Pistol(+1B), AP CC Weapon. (0 | 27) S.A.S. (Forward Observer) Chain Rifle, Light Shotgun, Flash Pulse, D-Charges / Pistol, AP + Shock CC Weapon. (0 | 21) TRAKTOR MUL (Total Reaction) Uragan MRL / PARA CC Weapon(-3). (1 | 16) DOZER Rifle, D-Charges ( | GizmoKit) / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 13) MONSTRUCKER (360º Visor) Rifle, Light Shotgun, Akrylat-Kanone, D-Charges ( ) / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 17) 5 SWC | 317 Points Attached was a local transportation specialist who's cargo rig was used to infiltrate and exfiltrate the team. They agreed on the terms that they could search for their spouse. (Free Monstrucker) Spoiler: Zone of Operations As dawn arrived the team moved forward into the settlement with the djanbazans taking up an overwatch position on the right flank on top of a small convenience store supported by the Azra'il in case of armored targets and a Fanous to maintain active link communications. The Yuan Yuans would act as skirmishers and scouts in this operation and 2 of them set up to move ahead of the squad. In exchange for their service they would receive a clear criminal record in Haqqislamite space. One of their number was sent skyward via quadrotor drone in case there was a need to violently suppress an enemy flank. A squad of Janissaries took up position in a bodega across the street, the HMG taking point and watching the road from an alley. On the far left of the zone of operations the Monstrucker and a Fanous prepared to fight back any encroaching enemies. Spoiler: Haqqislam Deployment Djanbazan sniper Haris, Yuan Yuan, to the right is the Fanous, and behind the small building on the right is the AP HMG Azra'il Janissaries and Yuan Yuan at the bodega Fanous and Monstrucker SMG on the far left Observation Drones detected hostile Ariadnan forces conducting unwarranted aggression towards the civilian population; they were moving down the main road in a general search pattern. As they detected our presence they took up offensive positions. Spoiler: Ariadna Deployment Rokots and Missile Launcher Volkolak Polaris Bearipode Team (Ratnik Assault Configuration and Handler), Unknown Ranger, 2 Varangians, Dozer, Uragan MLRS, and Monstrucker (unpainted) Kosmosoldat Portable Autocannon Qapu Khalqi Turn 1: Crazy Marcus hefted his HMG, stolen during a recent raid. “Well well, time for us to get paid and plunder! Git goin!” His partners Almira and Johan sounded off over their private comms. Working with DBS was always interesting. Though this unit, operating under DBS auspices, seemed equipped more like a state military.. “Too much thinking never got me anywhere,” he mumbled to himself. At that moment he thought he heard Almira shout something but all he could hear was noise through the headset. No doubt she was riding her monowheel at full speed, always having to be first to find the best loot after all. He looked skyward, and spotted the tiny dot that was Johan and his carrier drone. Why the biggest man he’d ever seen felt he had to be the one flying was beyond him. Marcus almost felt bad for the machine that had to heft him. Well, time to get to it! He rushed to the corner, spied an overturned car and moved into position. —------------- With her faith in Allah and unfettered by fear Sergeant al’Ahmad, Janissary squad support weapon specialist peered down the street, the advanced AR and target acquisition of her power armor noted the armored form of an Ariadnan heavy infantryman toting a massive portable cannon lurking in the doorway of a habitation module, the civilians inside no doubt already dead at the hands of the bearipode that could be heard roaring in the distance. Recon said there was another enemy squad farther down the street, but the ruined hulks of civilian vehicles that lay scattered along the street hid them from view. Lieutenant el’Elamin verified the information relayed by the tactical observation drones and satellite feeds. His people waited on his command, the comms chirped to life in his ear, “Alhamdulillah Lieutenant”. With that he gave the order to engage. Sergeant al’Ahmad hefted her HMG lining up on the Kosmosoldat and loosed a stream of rounds at the doorway they were hiding in. The Kosmosoldat must have panicked as the autocannon round it fired in return exploded through the upper floor of the building. Another accurate burst of fire saw the Kosmosoldat slump against the wall and collapse to the floor. al’Ahmad gave a quick prayer for those taking shelter in the habitation module above. el’Elamin gave the order to move out, and the Janissaries pushed forward onto the street, taking cover in the shadow of the buildings. Hefting his rifle he quickly cycled through recon drone video feeds. “Sergeant, the bear is ahead and to your right, the street looks clear at that location, move left and fire when you have visual confirmation.” She moved left following the direction of her Lieutenant, suit optics scanning for movement.Suddenly she saw it, a hulking armored and furred form, no doubt devouring an innocent. Luckily it was facing away from her as she lined up the shot and fired, a stream of bullets spraying into the alleyway. The beast roared in pain and she allowed herself a moment of satisfaction as it ducked further behind the buildings. Lieutenant el’Elamin sent over a recon image showing an Ariadnan fireteam at the far end of the street, using the burned out remains of some civilian vehicles as cover for their missile launcher. The weapon had to be eliminated. “Lieutenant, can the djanbazan get a clear shot?” “Negative Sergeant, they say their view of the target is obscured by the walkways.” al’Ahmad cursed silently, standing in front of an anti-armor missile had not been part of her plan today. With a quick prayer she moved up behind some wreckage, checked her weapon, and leaned out to take the shot. —------------ The Volkolak sniffed the air, ears twitching. He had seen the stream of automatic weapon fire as the enemy engaged his comrades. He stood still, watching the street, missile launcher primed and ready. Reports said the Qapu Khalqi ground forces were to blame, no doubt looking to snatch or silence the targets before his unit could exfiltrate them for interrogation. Suddenly a power armored trooper appeared from behind the wreckage of some vehicles, no doubt obscured from his view originally by the smoke and debris. It opened fire and a stream of heavy caliber rounds found their target. He fired the missile but was already falling backwards. He saw it explode against a raised walkway as everything went dark. —------------- “Target is down, I repeat the target is down,” al’Ahmad spoke into her mic. Across the zone of operations the djanbazan sniper kept a watchful eye. The Azra’il, duty bound to support and protect the small spotter team hunkered down behind a barricade and began a suppressive fire subroutine in their armor. The heavy armor platform settled, routing computing power to target acquisition and the electric motor of the HMG to increase the rate of fire. While this would reduce accuracy due to recoil the spray of armor piercing rounds would hopefully dissuade the Ariadnans from advancing their mission on the right flank, and allowing the 15th Khadamat Kasa to complete their mission. At this point the Yuan Yuan hovering above decided he was late to the party, and dropped into enemy territory landing behind the remains of the Rokot squad, chuckling heartily his belly rippled on landing. The Fat Yuan Yuan ran up to the corner of the building and into sight of 4 enemy troopers. He fired his chain rifle relying on his armored weave shirt to protect him. It did not. However his precision chain rifle shooting managed to down the only medic in the Ariadnan force, meaning they had nobody to distribute the dangerous cocktail of stims used to get an injured soldier back up and fighting. “Oh well Johan”, thought to himself, “at least the Haqqs were good doctors…” Then everything went dark. (Everything besides the Djanbazan and Azra’il moved up. The Janissary link took out the Kosmosoldat autocannon and volkolak missile launcher, and put a wound on the bearipode. A yuan yuan dropped in and stuck the landing, then moved and shot it’s chain rifle hitting 4 rodoks. 3 survived but the paramedic dropped. No losses to AROs) Kosmoflot Turn 1: “Shit”, spat Lt. Volenkav. Both his big guns were down with injuries, completely combat ineffective. The report they had received of Druze Bayram Security forces had utterly failed to state that they seemed to be Qapu Khalqi heavy infantry. With both the autocannon and missile out of action and no medic, they would have to rely on damned “American” aka The Unknown Ranger, and Gorsky, the bearipode. While their regular rifles might find a weak spot in the enemy armor his personnel lacked the sophisticated heads up displays of powered armor. He quickly ordered the Polaris team to move up and deploy smoke, which the injured Gorsky did even under heavy fire from the Janissaries. On the left side the Unknown Ranger and his Varangian handlers, no doubt here as some sort of O-12 oversight, moved up the field staying out of sight of the djanbazan team that was reported towards the rear of the enemy force. Their smoke grenades wouldn’t be of any use against the djanbazans multispectral visors. Filling the alleyway with smoke to block the Janissaries line of sight they avoided the short bursts of inaccurate fire. The Unknown Ranger taking up a position near a damaged vehicle and the Varangians flanking. There wasn’t a lot of cover here but it was all they could do. Firing his AP Spitfire at the Janissary HMG the Unknown Ranger wasn’t able to find a chink in the power armor before return fire forced him into cover. A shadowy figure moved quietly behind them, an SAS Operative that they needed to clear a route for so they could complete their objective and exfiltrate the civilian family members of the Alfutna research staff. They had to remove the djanbazan team that was on overwatch. “Lt., we need indirect fire support on the djanbazan team, we’re pinned down here,” McDonald said into the mic. The Varangian wasn’t enthused about his mission here. But they would get Ariadna into the fight against the Durgama Defense Coalition. “Confirmed, Uragan online. Controller, fire at will.” A shrieking sound could be heard as a shower of rockets flew into the air. Then they heard the explosions as the rounds exploded into the shop one street over and the cries of panic. McDonald allowed himself a self satisfied smirk. That would show those filthy Haqqis. Gorsky shrugged his massive furry shoulders and gave a big “harrumph''. The bearipode had already been shot once today, and while nothing more than a flesh wound didn’t relish having it happen again. On the other hand the rest of his team were getting shot up and he wasn’t sure he liked that either. Sighing, he peeked around the corner before ducking back from a burst of machine gun fire that took chunks out of the building he was using as shelter. Today was not a good day. —------------ Sergeant al’Din shook his head, his ears ringing as he looked around. His men were scattered around the rooftop. The rockets had exploded just above them, thermobaric weapons sucking the very air from their lungs after knocking them to the ground. His enhancements allowed for a quick recovery, and he checked his medical bag. Their Hafza advisor was alive and moving, though shaken. He looked over towards the unit marksman al’Yacoub, he was bleeding from multiple wounds and unconscious. The doctor moved over to his friend carefully and administered the drugs. al’Yacoub coughed and opened his eyes, the wounds already healing. Between his enhancements and the drug cocktail he would be alright. “Good to see you’re alive my friend,” said al’Din. “Could you not have left me in paradise?” smirked al’Yacoub. “Not today, we have work to do.” —------------ (Stuff shuffled around, nobody wanted to try shooting the Janissaries, Unknown Ranger and friends moved up my right flank, he used a lot of orders firing speculative shots from Uragan to dislodge the Djan team) Qapu Khalqi Turn 2: “al’Ahmad, we have an Ariadnan assault element nearing our position. They are taking cover in a nearby alleyway. Can you provide assistance?” “Always looking for my help, Aamir? Drinks are on you when we get back.” “Fair enough Aisha, maybe a walk afterwards?” “You know that isn’t allowed until I finish my service” “Will the two of you clear the comms!” barked el’Elamin. “al’Ahmad, clear the Ariadnans from the alley. El’Islam, drop out of suppression duty and move to the main road, we have some sort of ariadnan bear monster to deal with here.” “Yes sir,” replied el’Islam, the heavy Azra’il routed power back to default, vaulted the barricade, and moved off to lend support to the Janissaries engaged on the main road. —------------ McDonald and his partner served in the Varangian guard, and part of that was handling things that might be distasteful. This was one of those things. A burst of gunfire shot past him as he prepped the smoke grenades. Almost time. The Haqq forces just needed to be a little more accurate. The Unknown Ranger was caught in the open, the Varangian bodyguards up against the walls of the alley. He used his shield to deflect a number of shots but the weight of fire was too much. The constant stream of bullets battered the shield away and tore through his body armor. He was dead before he hit the ground. “The asset is down, video capture completed, throw smoke”, McDonald said over their secure comms. The two Varangians tossed their grenades and filled the alleyway again. The first step was completed, next was securing their plausible deniability. It was going to hurt, it always did. But their cubes would be recovered. He sighed. —------------ Al’Ahmad turned her weapon back towards the bear monster. She couldn’t see anything down the alley now that it was filled with smoke, but she was sure the Ariadnan with the spitfire had dropped. She dropped back from her position in a well organized drill as the breacher, Safar, took her place. His boarding shotgun was a lot more reliable at short ranges. The Lieutenant took cover behind them and to the right behind a ruined car. His rifle and under barrel shotgun would act as support for Safar. She knew the Lt. and Sergeant Safar al’Wakim were veterans, well versed in assault. In fact, they were nearing the end of their terms. They had to reach those civilians before time ran out. (Not a ton of movement, the Djan doctor picked the sniper up and link reformed, Azra’il hoofed it to the center and dropped into suppression to dissuade anything from approaching. The Janissary link took out the Unknown Ranger but the Varangian smoke prevented any further shooting there. The rest of the Ariadnan forces were well hidden. The Janissaries moved up and reshuffled in preparation for a bear attack. Monstrucker threw out some drop bears to try and lock down a suspicious camo marker. I hoped he could make a run on the nearby civilians next turn, it was not to be) Kosmoflot Turn 2: Lt. Volenkav was at a loss. The Unknown Ranger, hero of Ariadna, was down. His big guns were lying injured on the ground and the enemy had moved up and concentrated a heavy infantry force directly in front of his position. Things were not going well. The Varangians prepared themselves, they would cover the SAS Operative as best they could before dying. They moved up the alley and threw smoke, though slightly delayed, before armor piercing incendiary rounds tore through them. “At least it would look good for the vids”, McDonald thought as he faded away into the nothingness of death. Lt. Volenkav had to get moving. He ordered Gorsky to cover the area in smoke and he and his men started running across the open ground hoping to reach cover on the other side so they could flank the Janissaries. —------------ Al’Yacoub marked the enemy movement, his visor allowing him to see through their smoke screen. The enemy was making a run for it, and finally he could get an unfettered view of his target. He gently squeezed the trigger, repeating his personal prayer as his finger slowly drew back. —------------ A single shot rang out and Pvt. Giorgiy watched his Lieutenant’s head explode. He kept running. Another shot and his friend Ilyushkin fell to the ground, wounded and bleeding. He kept running and made it to cover. They were all going to die here. What was the point? —------------ Roaring Gorsky charged through his own smoke, spraying some sort of space pirate with his chain rifle, ignoring any wounds that made their way past his thick armor. He saw the green and yellow armor of the Janissaries and a bloody haze took him. He charged without regard for his own wellbeing, massive trench hammer at the ready. Dozens of shots rang out as a multitude of weapons opened up. As he swung his hammer at the shotgun wielding figure in front of him his head was pierced by a burst of rifle fire. The blow turned slightly but it was enough. —------------ Safar shook his head, that hammer hurt even if it wasn’t a direct hit. Luckily the armor had taken the brunt of it. “Thank Allah,” he mumbled, “and thank you L-T. The thing almost had me.” —------------ Operator McConnell moved past the bodies, and up the stairs towards the djanbazan position and the civilians he was to exfiltrate. As he climbed to the top of the fire escape the djanbazan team fired on him, the embedded hafza taking cover behind a billboard. Quickly he tagged their location for directed fire, and slunk back down the stairs. Once they were knocked out by the Uragan he would make his move. “Well,” he thought to himself, “No officers, no oversight” —------------ A shadow detached itself from in front of the monstrucker. Luckily he was read for just such a thing, having tossed out some friendly explosives. BOOM was the only thing that was heard from around the corner. —------------ Pvt. Giorgiy, saying a final prayer over the body of the dead infiltrator prepared to move, the enemy irregular was right around the corner. He moved quickly engaging the trucker in melee. (My opponent was low on orders and missing all his big guns, the bear moved up and tossed smoke to cover the rokot link, took a shot at my YY and killed it, but took a wound in return putting it on dogged. Then berserked at my shotgun Janissary as it was closest. Everyone failed to do damage (Azra’il in suppression, Janissary HMG, Janissary shotgun, Hafza HRL, etc, until the Lt. put it down with the AP Rifle. The rokots made a run for it but didn’t quite make it, so got shot. Then they had to activate again out of cover, taking another shot. Varangians tried to smoke across the alley to get close to the civilians on that side but failed and got blasted. Tried to discover the SAS. The SAS managed to dodge across and FO’d the doctor. Uragan missed. He was planning to make a run next turn, things were getting desperate. Not really a notable part of the story but Uxia tried to jump my Monstrucker and died. It’s enough that one Ariadnan hero go down in this one. The remaining rokot dodged into melee around the corner to tie me up) Qapu Khalqi Turn 3: With the enemy in disarray, Lt. el’Elamin gave the order to spread out and search for civilians. Safar moved down the alleyway, shotgun at the ready. Out of the corner of his eye he spotted movement. A balaclava wearing operative was on a fire escape, back to the Safar. He raised his shotgun and fired two quick and accurate shots and the target dropped. —------------ al’Ahmad approached one of the rescue targets, they were huddling behind some wreckage and curled in a ball. “It’s going to be ok, we’re here to rescue you,” she said. The civilian raised her head toward her, they were dirty and ragged looking. They stood up. “Oh thank Allah, please get us out of here. The Ariadnans were trying to take us!”, she said. Just then al’Din spoke up over the comm net. “Lieutenant, I think you need to see this.” “Out with it al’Din, what is it?” barked Lt. el’Elamin. “Sir, we found the bodies, the civvies we were supposed to rescue. Something isn’t right here.” al’Ahmad looked up as she heard that. “Who are you?” she asked. The woman’s face split open. “Shasvastii!!” she screamed into her comms as she swung the machine gun around, nearly cutting it in half with gunfire. Across the zone of operations she could hear panicked yells and gunfire. Soon it was over. “Sound off, is everyone ok?” After confirming that everyone besides the hired pirates was still alive they verified their findings. Shasvastii infiltrators had killed the targets and assumed their identities. At least the Ariadnans wouldn’t have any leverage to blackmail the researchers now. el’Elamin sighed, “And today was going so well.” He did not look forward to writing this report. —------------ Unknown Location O-12 Intelligence Offices: “I think that went well, send in a team to recover the cubes of our people as well as the asset’s body, we don’t want anyone looking into them too much. Pull the operatives and strike all records of them from the Varangian roster. Make sure you use the best footage of the Unknown Ranger being killed and distribute it on Ariadnan Maya channels. This should get them riled up.”, she said. “Roger that sir, we’ll see it done.” —------------ (Post Battle Report Report? QK forces won with a completed classified Net Undermine, I got to the civilians but they ended up Hostile. No losses to QK other than the YYs.The Ariadnan forces lost everything besides the Polaris handler, rokot, and uragan. We called the game at the beginning of his turn 3 as neither of us was going to get a civilian back to our table side. It was a fun game with a good friend, he’s getting back in and this was his first run with Kosmoflot. Bears are scary, and do not die easy. Janissary full links are scary as well. Both of us were disappointed in the Kosmosoldat and Volkolak, mostly because they got bad rolls and dropped early. We got really into it and had a blast, but I forgot to take pictures as we really got into playing. 10/10 had a good time on both sides) Hopefully this isn’t awful, my first batrep.
