Asteroid Blues

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DO IT!!! DO IT NOW!!!

Thats basically the synopsis of what you are about to read.

Second match of the day versus Steve and his Tohaa.

We wanted to play something differen and opted for Countermeasures, which is currently my favourite ITS mission.

Steve wanted to try his LI list while I just switched my Q-Drone for an HMG and basically now played three games in a row with the same choice of troops.

Again I lost the Initiative and again was damned going second. So I tool the other side of the tabel this time...and one thing was true: it was even worse. *sigh*

So he fielded a Gorgos, which wasn't really a surprise. The central Triad in the roof was certain to be a pain in the arse, while the Triad beneath couls fulfill ALL classifieds...wow. The third Triad was more or less a backup...again a decent list and well positioned.

For my part I went defensive...trying to spread my troops as much as possible while retaining some capacity to do objectives. Actually I was awaiting a Gorgos alpha strike. Notifer, Q-Drone and Speculo went open, especially Bost...ähm...the Speculo managed to get on the rooftop, which abviously made Steve a little nervous, especially as the mine threatened his central Traid. StillI didn't feel very confident at that point.

Turn 1 started quite nicely...it took Steve 4 orders to get rid of that mine...kudos to that little bugger. It took him another 5 orders to get rid og the Q-Drone...kudos again as the mate was gone as well. Then he tried to deny me Test Run, but couldn't get the drone as the Noctifer popped up and threatened the Sukeul...at times triads are nice for multiple aros. At least (from his perspective, he gained LoS to Bostr...ähm...the Speculo and uncovered him twice. So last but not least the Gorgos advanced. That went pretty well for me...let's see what I could do.

First turn started really well. Little worm fixed the Q-Drone but in turn died. First Classified done.

The FO Shrouded invested 3 orders and marked the HVT near the pagoda. Second Classified done.

The Caliban Eng moved up but was discovered...so the Sniper hat to go. Time for the Q-Drone...which failed and went down. I figured that a waste basket was close enough and would do, so the Caliban went suicidal and close combatted the trash can. Died in turn, but thrid Classified done.

As I had three orders left I took a shot at the Gao Rael with my second Caliban...everything perfect, rolled an 11 and a 10...Gao Rael crits on a 9...damn it.

So the last two orders went into the FO, dropping a mine and recamoing.

Some severe losses but still maximum objectives.

So it was Steves turn again and he definitely felt some pressure. So his central Triad moved up and covered the Sukeul in Eclipse to cover him from my Noctifer. The Gao Rael took a shot at Noctifer, but went down...YEAH! This messed up Steve's plans quite a bit as he had to move his Kumotail on top on the building and toss another Eclipse. Sukeul then needed two orders to take down the Speculo with his ridiculous arsenal of weaponry...RIDICULOUS! Gao Rael got back up and eliminated the Noctifer for good.

A Coup de Grace on Bostri...Speculo made his first Classified and so his Gorgos advanced further.

So as Steve could only accomplish a maximum of 4 in this game, I desperatly needed objectives...no photos unfortunately. Draw something with Elite troops...couldn't do any...dropped one...couldn't do the next either. Damn it.

So...with 6 orders left, I coordinated a bit, pulled my troops into position for turn 3, placed some mines and recamoed. Thaiga on the lfet died, the one on the right got a little too optimistic and killed the Chaksa Aux...that should prove a more than stupid idea. Noticed that at that point, Steve had no other casualties? Me too...made me nervous.

Steve switched a card and was able to do all three...spoiler alert: he did. But one step at a time.

The Gorgos picked up his little fellow: second classified done.

The central Triad moved up and left the Kumatail behind. The Sukeul picked up my HVT. Third Classified done.

Then he went in for the kill of my Caliban. Fourth Classified done...plus Datatracker. Which I had previously claimed by my Dr. Worm...so I thought. The inclined reader might have noticed some severe errors at this point. But the game was tense, so let's finish it as we did!

I pulled cards and could only achieve Mapping...ok...fingers getting sweatty. Discarded one and drew...Data Scan. Thank godness...there was still a chance. I calculated my options and wet for it.

Shroude AHD tried to scan a Makaul, who was in REPEATER range (should have read the card), but that dude resetted. So the Shrouded FO went for a run, in sight of the Gorgos. Steve opted not to discover to keep his supressive fire (should have read the card), so my frog was able to pass the Sniper inCamo and reach the building, where he succeeded his Wip-roll. fourth classified done.

Right now Steve would have won (we thought) as one of his card gave an extra point for something I can't remember. So with my last order, the Shrouded AHD had to succeed. Rolled a 9, Reset was a 1...fifth classified done...so we thought.

That was a hell of a close game...final score:

Steve: 4 objectives and his Datatracker
Me: 5 objectives and my Datatracker plus one extra point

That would have been a 10-7 for Shasvastii. Then another dude came by and reminded me, that Data Scan needs to be made in ZoC...which made a slight difference. But as I could have reached the Makaul in my first order, Steve was so kind, to give me this point and therefore the win.

What a fucking intense game...

afterMATH...

The next morning I went to check the forum if a G:synch can accomplish an objective for the Datatracker...it can't. So 2 points less for me. At that point I texted Steve that I would not count my Data Scan as it felt fishy. Felt hard, but fair. That would have made it a 6-9 and a win for Tohaa.

Then while writing the report I realized that a Gao Rael Crit would insta-kill my Caliban...so there would only have been two classifieds for him to make in turn 3...That would have made it an 8-7 and a win for Shas.

If Steve would have declared a discover against my Shrouded (which was successful...we rolled for it afterwards), I would not have made the fourth objective, making it a 5-8 and a win for Tohaa.

Considering that I would have placed Dr. Worm differently at the start, that Steve would have played turn 3 totally differently and that I would have played my turn 3 differntly as well...there is just no way of resolving all the bullshit we made.

So we decided to count it in as we played it.

It was really intense and I really enjoy this mission a lot. Probably my favourite ITS mission of all.

KUDOS @Steve for being such a good sport and such a fun opponent!