2325 Hours, September 9, 3050, Hill 3490, Twycross Well so far this mission has left much to be desired. Not only did we come in hot, but bloody O'Rorke puked his guts out the whole trip. Then we dropped right into a sand storm, at least I thought it was a sand storm. Peterson, he'd been on Twycross before, said that what we felt was just a light summer's breeze compared to a full blown Twycross hurricane, known locally as a Diablolos, or something like that. He said that the dark shape we could see out over the desert the locals call the Plain of Curtains was one of them forming. It all means I sit and try to keep sand out of my slit trench, my rifle, my clothes, and especially the food. The food is the worst; not only does it taste I ike something a Quaseter lived in, but anything with moisture in it gets coated with sand before you can eat it! It's times like this that make me wish I had stayed a Tanker, at least we could button up the old Vedette to keep the sand out. I sure will be glad when this mission is over and I can get off this dust ball. At least the Sarge says he doesn't expect the enemy to sho... --Entry from the diary of an unknown Pathfinder, found on Hill 3490, Twycross, October 3050 Game Set Up Three BattleTroops or ClanTroops mapsheets should be laid out with their long sides touching. It is advised that fairly clear maps be used as all the printed terrain and features are ignored. Instead, draw out an oval that is 9 north-south dots long, and 10 east-west dots wide. This represents the hilltop where the F-C platoon is dug in. At the next set of dots around that oval, draw another two contour lines. Clear plastic film can be used to avoid permanently marking the paper map. Attacker The attackers are a star of second line Jade Falcon Elementals: Command Point (5 Elementals) Point leader: Star Commander Robert Leadership skill rating: 3 Experience level: Veteran Equipment: Small laser, SMG, no SRMs Points 2 thru 5 (5 Elementals each) Leadership skill rating: 2, Experience level: Reqular Equipment: Small laser, SMG (points 20), MG (point 4), Flamer (point 5) no Elementals are carrying SRM packs The Attacker may begin the battle anywhere on the North edge of the maps. Defender The defenders are Charlie platoon, A Company, 1022th Pathfinder Battalion and one BattleMech from the 1 Oth Lyran Guards: First Squad (7 men) Squad Leader: Leftenant Andrea Fuller Leadership Skill Rating: 3, Experience level: Elite Equipment: 4 laser rifles, 1 blazer rifle, 1 auto grenade launcher, 4 LAWs, 3 laser pistols, 2 Vibroblades Second and Third Squads (7 men each) Leadership Skill Rating: 3, Experience level: Veteran Equipment for Each Squad: 2 laser rifles, 2 blazer rifles, 2 autogrenade launcers, 1 heavy SRM launder, 4 LAWs Fourth Squad (7 men) Leadership skill rating: 3, Experience level: Veteran Equipment: 2 M-PPCs, 3 laser rifles, 1 blazer rifle, 1 auto grenade launcher, 3 LAWs, 2 laser pistols, 2 vibroblades MechWarrior Gary Miller, Griffin Piloting: 2, Gunnery: 3 All defenders are equipped with flak vests. The squads are set up within the top contour line of the hill. See the Special Rules section for the Griffin's entry, and how the hilltop fortifications modify combat. The attacker was sent over the Wind Break Mountains to investigate a possible enemy landing, and to eliminate any landed troops before any reinforcements can arrive. The Jade Falcon player gets 5 victory points for each Elemental destroyed and 5 victory points for each soldier alive (conscious or unconscious) when the players agree to end the game. Special Rules Historically the Clan Elemental commander won the bid to attack the hill with his and one other Point. After they discovered that the enemy force on the hill was stronger than expected, the rest of the Star attacked the position. Players can play the scenario this way, or use an alternate method to determine the winning bid. Roll 1 D6 (reroll 6s) to see how many Points take part in the first charge. To determine when the Lyran Guard 'Mech unit will arrive in the valley, start with a target number of 0 for turn 1, add one to the total for each turn of the game. Then roll 2D6 at the beginning of the turn to see if the reinforcements arrive. Thus it will be impossible for the 'Mech to arrive on the first or second turn (to-hit number of 0 and 1). Once the roll is successful, the game can be ended there, or with the Griffin placed anywhere on the board at the Defender's discretion, the battle can continue until one side is completely destroyed. The platoon had plenty of time to dig hilltop fortifications before the Clan Elementals arrived. To reflect this, all of the dots within the top contour line are treated as partial cover, and any soldier that spends no MP for movement that turn automatically gets the prone bonus. The defender also has two bunkers to place anywhere on the top of the hill. 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