Asteroid Blues

Power Pack.

RTF versus YJ – YJ takes first turn.

The Monkish skirmishers emerged, and although the RTF had set up some Mukhtar in good vantage points to take them down they all forgot how to hit the broad side of a barn. One Mukhtar on the left flank even copped a wound from a chain rifle. A few smoke clouds then emerged in strategic places.

The Yan Huo moved and rained fire on the red fury Mukhtar, with a critical head shot and shot to the chest she went down, no cover or mimetic abilities proving useful. The Traitor Lunah emerged from the shadows, taking out a poorly positioned Ghulam HMG then getting a critical head shot on Carmen leaving Batard to drool uselessly.

Out of nowhere a Ninja moved up to claim the right flank antenna – then using the RTF’s own drone support blew out the brains of Leila from the other side of the board. The monk on the left flank had another go at the Mukhtar, who again forgot how to either kill things or stay alive. Some lanes of suppressive fire were set up and centre of the board was now in YJ hands.

Things were looking dire already, but there was no time for hesitation. The viral rifle Mukhtar advanced and executed the Ninja, Krakot, and Major Lunah with exceeding efficiency. He then set up a position suppressing the advance on the left flank. Meanwhile the Naffatun roasted a monk attempting to move up the left.

However there were no resources available to secure antenna at this time. Some Ghulam moved into overwatch positions in preparation. Some robots switched their programming to support the larger force.

The monks advanced again, missiles flying but to no avail. More smoke filled the battlefield. In the centre, a Guilang appeared, sneaked and claimed another antenna. A Pheasant Rank advanced to pressure the final antenna. A Monstrucker was seen wildly throwing dangerous objects around.

The Yan Huo strode out, guns blazing, but quickly found itself on the losing side of a firepower war with the viral rifle Mukhtar. He went down bleeding but would later be patched up by a local YaoZao.

The last Mukhtar shouldered his boarding shotgun and moved up the centre. He managed to put down the Monstrucker at long range and flip the central antenna into friendly control. Having taken a wound on the way though from a sneaky Libertos, he put some shot back then waited for it to bleed out. With his damage, he attempted to self-heal but forgot whatever was in his medical textbook. After some token command efforts he was later successful.

However the consumption of command resources left the Nahab isolated with few abilities to commit to the battle – despite being in a good position.

The YJ forces moved up, with the Guilang setting up some minefields and claiming the enemy console. Yan Huo went down again, for good this time. Both side were hurting now. The RTF attempted one final push however the Naffatun failed to clear the last remaining monk from the left flank antenna. With the main objective out of reach, the viral rifle Mukhtar fell back and melted the Guilang.

While the mission was not a victory, some claimed hope that the traitor Lunah was at least gone. Or was she…?

Results were:
YJ 6 OP and 109 VP
RTF 2 OP and 123 VP