Callison, July 25, 3029 MechWarrior Daniel Rolman, Wasp pilot, Marik Guard interviewed by Anders Craig, BattleTechnology Weekly News BT: I understand that the attack came as a surprise? Rolman: When you're trying to play a game of King of the Hill, waiting for 'Mechs to come over the edge; yes, infantry is a bit of a surprise. BT: Where did the encounter take place? Rolman: A bit south of the spaceport there. It was on top of a hill - actually, more of a cliff. Another surprise - we walked into fire from lasers and SRMs. Those Hsiens know how to equip their troops! BT: What sort of tactics do you use against infantry? Rolman: Are you talking physical attack or long range combat? We have the advantage always in long range combat. Take out lots of them where they can't get at us. Of course they have the advantage - or they think they have the advantage - when they get you down, say prone. BT: Are you saying that a'Mech is not at a disadvantage when it's caught in a fallen position? Rolman: No, it's not - if the pilot has been trained in street fighting. Have you ever seen a baby when it throws a tantrum, how it thrashes about? Well, think of all those wonderful infantry guys swarming around your 'Mech for the perfect shot - and you throw a tantrum! Just like a fish out of water. Think of what happens to all the little grunts. Just like the guy in the story who killed seven at one blow. Just mind your 'Mech. You could damage it doing them in. Background The Hsien Hotheads were moving in on the spaceport when elements of the Marik Guard encountered them. The first contact was between a Recon Lance of the Guard and a company of Foot Infantry. Battle was joined immediately. Game Set Up Set two boards end to end. The terrain is Rough, spotted with light woods. The North and South edges of the board are small cliffs which are Level 3. If a 'Mech goes off one of these edges it will take two levels of damage as per falling damage in the BattleTech Manual, p 27. Defenders Recon Lance of Marik Guard Lt David Zdlik, Whitworth Piloting 3, Gunnery 4 Sara Sommerson, Stinger LAM Piloting 2, Gunnery 5 Daniel Rolman, Wasp Piloting 4, Gunnery 3 Lisa Guntherson, Stinger Piloting 5, Gunnery 4 Attacker Infantry Company from Hsien Hotheads 2 platoons, lasers 1 platoon SRM Victory Conditions Defender goal: Eliminate opposition. Attacker goal: Eliminate opposition Reprinted from the Arcadia Bee Martin Abel interviewing Corporal Nate "Deadeye" McBain, Hsien's Hotheads Bee: How did you get the name "Deadeye?" McBain: Because I always aim for one of two parts of a 'Mech - either the head or the back. And I never miss. Each shot only does a little damage but I never miss. Bee: How did you happen to be there? McBain: I was paid to be there. Bee: Why was your unit there, then? McBain: We'd heard that the Marik Guard was there with a load of LAM parts. You know how scarce those are. So we wanted them. Makes a nice raid. Funny. They were leaving. We were coming. Bee: You knew they were moving out... McBain: No, it was a surprise. More of a surprise to them than to us. I mean, with three aerospace fighters from the oh-so-powerful LAM Marik Guard coming up to meet you for battle there must be something wrong. Bee: Something wrong? McBain: Yeah, down on the planet. Either they've all come down with some sort of disease or they're leaving. Of course we knew they were already there. They hadn't just arrived. Bee: What kind of tactics does infantry use against 'Mechs? McBain: Well, I'm part of a foot company myself. So we have the advantage of not having vehicles to inform 'Mechs of our presence, or of using jump packs to reveal our position with an IR signature. We have the advantage of being able to move in just about any direction without being detected. And of course, with lasers and SRMs we can stay out in the field a long time, and do some good damage. And hurt those tin-plated overbearing MechWarriors right in their delusions of Godhood. Back to BattleTechnology 9 Table of Contents Back to BattleTechnology List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 1990 by Pacific Rim Publishing. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com