Asteroid Blues

After action report, Joint Task Force 122, assigned to the AEC in support of O-12 on Novyy Bangkok.

The team under the command of Vassily Plushenko was deployed as a security detail on the Xaraks battery. O-12 liason officer, Wilma Grey, was conducting a routine inspection. The Battery was showing the signs of the the heavy fighting, buildings damaged by multiple weapon impacts, the ground cratered by ordinance (no doubt in violation of the Concilum Convention). However the control console and transmission antennas were still functional.

Lt. Vassily Plushenko: "Ms. Grey, there are reports for the outer picquets of a large force approaching, for your safety I advise you to withdraw.
Wilma Grey: "Very well lieutenant, I have completed my inspection in any case."
Cpl. Anatoli: "Lt. I have movement, sector 3!"
Lt. Plushenko: "All troops stand to! We have a job to do, hold this position! Maxim, keep Ms. Grey safe and report anything out of the ordinary to O-12 strategic command, Yuri, keep those codes safe."

The approaching enemy had the initiative so we had to deploy to counter them. The Domovoi and Lucas the Irmandinos were ready to counter the enemy on the left transmitter, while the Strelok observers were ready to back them up, or make a push for the center. The K-9 units were ready to cover the center and the right flank. Lieutenant Vassily took an aggressive overwatch position on the right flank, while the veteran Marko and the Frontoviks held the center. Finally Pavel took up position to cover the approaches to the left and central zones.

Anatoli reported the sound of a very loud motorbike rushing towards his position, there was the crump-shish of a smoke grenade detonating and obscuring the antenna from sight. Anatoli also reported that his decoy had been discovered by what sounded like an Antipode, but that made no sense as we had confirmed that the enemy was Haqqislam. Meanwhile Cpl. Yuri Fedorov reported that the left transmitter had come online as was preparing to transmit.

Suddenly, both Anatoli and Maxim reported that their positions had been revealed by some kind of EM pulse. No sooner had this been reported than a soldier made a suicidal charge on Maxim. He was stopped in his tracks by well placed shots from Pavel, Maxim, Lucas, Domovoi and Anatoli.

On the right flank Natasha reported additional deployment of smoke cover. Moments later Pavel reported muzzle flashes in the smoke that somehow were able to sight in on him. He attempted to return fire but was forced to take cover behind the parapet after two rounds impacted directly in front of him.

Seeing an opportunity Domovoi rushed from cover towards the Antenna, throwing smoke cover as he went. Apparently this antenna was very responsive to Irmandino style "repair" (I swear all he did was hit it with a wrench). Lucas also ran along to back up his comrade. Domovoi then proceed to try and "repair" the mech sitting on the antenna, but even though his blades repeated pierced the carapace, nothing vital seemed to be hit.

On the right flank, Marko attempted to clear the way to the objective by engaging the snipers. He engaged the sniper covering the center objective and quickly removed the threat, he then shifted and attempted to remove the right sniper, but misjudged the range and took two rounds in a gap in his armor.

With Marko taken out of the picture, our best bet to stop the enemy on the right was Natasha and her Antipode Boris. Natasha moved but trying to keep to cover, but Boris smelled the enemy and couldn't be contained, he leaped on top of the nearby building and hurled his hammer at the enemy. Unfortunately the enemy survived the hammer strike, and Boris was stopped by multiple return shots. Natasha withdrew, leaving a surprise for the enemy.

The enemy, seeing our disarray on the right flank tried to follow up on the left. Another of the mechanical bugs attempted to move on the team, Lucas covered his partner in crime, I mean engineering, knocking the second remote out of action.

The enemy on the left seemed, at least temporarily, halted on the left so they turned their attention to exploiting their advantage on the right. The enemy pushed forward and was knocked out by the mine, but whatever drug cocktail the enemy "doktor" injected did the trick and the soldier was soon back in action. He proceeded forward to engage Natasha, she held her own briefly but was eventually overwhelmed. The way now clear, the enemy moved towards the objective.

Embolded by their success on the right the enemy again pressed forward on the left. Domovoi was knocked out by a hammer hurled with unerring accuracy, Lucas was able to wound his attacker, but sheer blood-lust keep the killing machine moving. Seeking to protect its compatriot on the ground the smaller chicken bot blinded Lucas. The antipode moved in for the kill, Lucas tried to dodge but was unsuccessful. Finally sated the antipode succumbed to its wounds.

The battle was starting to look grim, but we had a duty to defend the Battery. To that end Pavel crawled until he could see the enemy approach the central area. He lined up his trusty Ojotnik, but was mercilessly cut down by a miraculously accurate shot from the enemy.

In a risky move Maxim broke full cover and engaged the enemy mechanical bug. With incredible marksmanship he not only knocked out the remote, but also the biker sheltering around the corner. In return the same 'bot that had blinded Lucas, got the better of Maxim.

Seeing an opportunity on the right Tatiana sent in the hounds. They made short work of the the Khawarij that had been so trouble some so far, and were able to injure the Namurr, but sadly Volk and Susi lost consciousnes and without his packmates Varg just froze up.

Unfortunately the valiant efforts of the antipodes would once again be undone by the enemy "doktor" and whatever was in that syringe. The Namurr was healed up and the Khawarij was broght back once more from the brink of death. The enemy then moved up and secured the center and the right flank.

Seeing no other recourse Natalya and Král moved in to attack the Namurr in an attempt to clear the center. Král was able to wound the Namurr but both he and Natalya were felled by return fire.

Seeing her comrades fall, Cpl Kara Milovy took up that banner and attempted to neutralize the enemy holding the center. Her rockets seemed to hit their mark, but must have been glancing blows as the enemy dropped prone. Seeing no other alternative Maxim moved on the center. He engaged the enemy, but while his shots took out the soldier around the corner, the just glanced off the Namurr.

Attempting to salvage something, Vassily leaves cover to try and see if the third time would be the charm and finally finish that pesky Khawarij. It did not go well.

It was not the best day for the task force, the survivors were forced to retreat and try and get medical attention for their fallen comrades, leaving Haqqislam in control of the field.

In the aftermath the doctors worked tireless to treat the wounded. Sadly Natasha Badenov and Boris, as well as Lucas Cova were Killed in Action. Pavel was seriously wounded and ti would be some time before he was well enough to take to the battlefield again. Never the less, Task Force 122 will be ready to serve Dawn once more!

Current Roster: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1LN1GOBWg92vAPy77M3yIbTzZRITc0wes7M26SVw6do4/edit?usp=sharing