Asteroid Blues

Sgt. Aurora Simpson shakily walked down the lane, refusing Doc Scarlett’s proffered hand. The field hospital was fairly quiet for once; the mercenaries’ forces assaulting the PanOceanian enclave had pulled back to regroup, leaving the various medical teams time to assess the damage and treat less-severe wounds for the first time in days. The two recovering Indigo Task Force soldiers had taken advantage of the short break to get outside and stretch their muscles, having been cooped up in prefabricated buildings for a week. “Look! Over there!” The parka-clad Trauma-Doc pointed at a nearby bar, where a few other soldiers sat- some of whom Aurora recognised as fellow members of her team. The excited medic ran off ahead as Aurora stretched her recently reconstructed spine and tried to keep up. The run represented such an effort for her sleepy legs that she didn’t notice the field hospital’s Director and his guards crossing the path ahead of her until she hit them, sending the four men sprawling. Most of her squad cackled at her misfortune as the scowling Hospital Director climbed to his feet and his Hacker assistant made a few brusque gestures over his AR controls. Lt. Jackman just crossed her arms and glowered through her helmet. The egotistical officer still blamed Aurora for the loss of most of Striga-2’s expensive mechanised assets and Aspects in their last battle, and a scandal with the kindly, well-liked Hospital Director Bradman would not improve her attitude. “Sorry Mr. Bradman, I was trying to build up my muscles after the bed rest. It won’t happen again.” Bradman picked up his large spectacles and dusted himself off. “Sgt. Simpson, I presume? I was informed that you weren’t yet cleared to be moving about.” The elderly man cracked a grin. “But it is a fine day out here indeed. Go speak with your friends and enjoy the clear air, but do take your time when moving about. As a favour to me.” Aurora exhaled, releasing a breath she hadn’t known she’d been holding, as the Director waved for his attendants to follow him towards one of the main buildings. It seemed that there wouldn’t be any problems today after all. Then the perimeter alarms began blaring with the sound of an old air raid siren. AR windows opened on everyone’s comlog, depicting a Yu Jing strike team advancing on the field hospital across the Spaceport’s runways.

Lt. Jackman earned some credit in the eyes of everyone present by immediately assuming command of the defence and ordering a pre-emptive strike on the intruders, before they could establish a foothold in the hospital. W.O. Keusen, who rarely left home without her sophisticated Swiss Guard Armour, took up a position on the hospital’s landing area with a Fugazi Dronbot used as a courier by the hospital. The Director took cover on the roof of the nearest building while his CSU and Hacker guards occupied the right flank under the Doc’s watchful gaze. Lt. Jackman and Pvt. Nevin took up central chokepoints with their Auxbots, ready to repel an assault. Aurora herself climbed up onto a roof to protect her squad’s healer, and to get away from any responsibilities involving lifting or running. “I’m in position. Keusen should be ready to go on your mark, L.T.” The officer’s response was quick. “Go now. They’ve got a Guijia with them. We need to pin it down, and fast.”

Keusen broke her cover immediately, gunning down a surprised Guilang Skirmisher who dropped a mine at her feet. Keusen simply walked through the mine’s blast, relying on her armour to keep her safe. Pvt. Nevin also moved up, watching Keusen’s back with his Auxbot, until another Guilang appeared with more mines set up around her. The mines gutted the Auxbot, but Keusen managed to mark the Guilang for Nevin to take down with his Combi Rifle. Aurora winced as the young soldier missed the prepared snow trooper, then swore as both Keusen and Lt. Jackman poured fire into the Guilang and completely failed to hit as she took cover behind a building. Keusen announced that she would suppress the Guijia. Apparently, she was worried about the wrong enemy.

The Kuang Shi supporting the advance ran in first, one of them downing Nevin with its rifle. This left the Guilang an opening to climb up onto the landing pad behind Keusen, lay a mine and empty a magazine into the unsuspecting Swiss Guard’s poorly armoured lower back. The white-clad agent then walked up and jammed a monofilament knife into the back of the groaning soldier, ending any hope of reviving her soon. Aurora could only watch through the hospital’s cameras as the massive enemy TAG roared to life, sprinting into the central courtyard and suppressing almost every angle of approach with its massive machine gun.

Lt. Jackman sighed irritably over the radio. “I’m getting that TAG off Security’s back. Someone make sure I get a medal for this, and make that bitch in the mech suit suffer.” Her helmet camera recorded Lt. Jackman rounding the corner of the building the TAG was using as cover, put down a Kuang Shi that fired back pitifully with a pistol, and then opening fire directly into the Guijia’s head while two flamethrowers engulfed both combatants and the feed cut to static. The Security team followed their instructions to the letter, advancing and firing a Haqqislamic rifle loaded with some decidedly unconventional ammunition into the staggering, sooty TAG. With a thud, the war machine fell to the ground, and another long burst of gunfire ensured it wouldn’t rise again.

Suddenly, Aurora heard a rush of confused Mandarin as the Security team’s Hacker cracked into the enemy communications channel. Apparently the TAG pilot had also been in charge of the strike force and only an angry interruption by High Command restored enough order to coordinate a charge by one of the Kuang Shi. It ran directly at the Security team, firing its Chain Rifle into one of the soldiers who responded by emptying his shotgun into the brainwashed prisoner. Both fell to the ground as a wave of shrapnel tore through their armour, and the enemy frequency cut with a squawk of white noise as they re-established the chain of command.

Aurora was about to recall the Security force, but the wounded soldier rose almost immediately. Apparently he’d had some potent regeneration treatments as part of his training. The restored team charged forwards into battle, reaching the enemy backline and gunning down a Celestial Guard while forcing another into better cover. The team were about to demand a surrender when the soldier they had forced back emerged again, rifle ready, and shot down the whole Security team in sequence before retreating with his team.

Aurora sighed in frustration. Without the Security team they didn’t have enough soldiers left to hold the hospital and chase down the Yu Jing soldiers for arrest and questioning. Lt. Jackman would be furious when she was lucid again. Fortunately, the Director was safe and sound and the hospital was still functioning and under uncontested PanOceanian control. She keyed her radio. “Everyone left, get out there and start treating the wounded. I’ll check the perimeter, and take a look at that downed Guijia while I’m at it…”

[OOC: Another rough game, I officially hate Guilang Skirmishers now. Both me and NickyTT scored points for a living Datatracker and the 2-OP bracket of kills and survivors. Neither of us had much chance to bring down the Datatrackers; they were both hiding on hard-to-reach rooftops. Definitely bringing a Squalo HGL or something similar next time I have to hunt specific enemy troops. 200pt games like this are a challenge for NCA since they lack things like cheap Camo or Warbands to effectively slow down an alpha strike, but I was pleasantly surprised by the power of the CSU Breaker Rifle in a link. It’s a surprisingly viable anti-TAG gun!]