Asteroid Blues

Upon seeing our forces move into oppose them, the attacking PanOceanians moved into a defensive posture. They look over a building with good angles of fire to most of the area. I had heard of the deadly prowess of the Kamau snipers supported by their fire team. As long as that team survived, it would be difficult if not impossible to stop them. I was still several hours away from the fighting so Foxtrot LT Samuels was in charge. He order his main strike team to hunker get set up in a warehouse to begin their assault. In a stroke of luck, a Shadowshooter was deactivated in the structure. Samuels’ team quickly got it operational and brought into the fight. Meanwhile, two grunts moved into position with their flame throwers to slow the enemy’s approach.

The assault began with a Peacemaker drone attacking Pvt Wilkens with his heavy shotgun. Wilkens let them have it with his heavy flamethrower burning them both to death. The blast hit him in the chest however and while his armor held he was out of the fight. His partner PFC Marks was on his own. After trading a few shots with Kamau fire team, Marks was killed by a round hitting his back plate. It appeared the PanOceanians had a Shadowshooter of their own. Cpl Rogers a foxtrot operative tried to stop him with a pistol shot, but he was also gunned down. The shadowshooter moved up unopposed and set up overwatch on one of the main supply containers. With both grunts down, one of their zulu cobras moved in to open one of the containers.

Lt Samual saw what was happening, but knew as long as the Kamau fireteam held overwatch it would be difficult to deal with. Restraining his desperado teams as best he could, he called in one of my Airborne Rangers. The enemy had left an opening. Sgt Edkins arrived just in time. Using the gap he steathily crept into the rear of the enemies lines and let out a salvo of SMG rounds killing the Fire Team leader. He then moved back and eliminated the Shadowshooter threat opening the door for the Jackson and his squad to do his work.

Unfortunately, disaster then struck. Special Operative Rosie was also accompanying the fire team. Apparently, in some bid to impress her SSgt Jackson said he could kill the Kamau sniper with his off hand. Rosie unimpressed with the idea simply insulted him and told him to get on with it. Instead he then attempted to do so with one hand behind his back. Four attempts later SSgt Jackson was on the ground with a hole in his chest. Doc Roberts threw him a medkit and he got back up to try again, but I guess the drugs were too strong and he succumbed to his wounds. If he hadn't died, I would have busted his ass back to Private for those antics. The moron nearly cost us the mission.

On a side note, the minutemen have been newly integrated into the grunt teams. Commander Yvain has been insulting Minutemen regiments for years. It may have just been karma come back to haunt him. Hopefully they fair better in the future.

Growing impatient on of the desperados rushed forward to try to stop the corba from escaping. He charged forward and unloaded on cobra with his SMG only to miss completely and be gunned down by a hidden Helot.

Lt Samuels cursed into the radio for them all to hold positions to try to gain hold of the situation. Things had quickly turned bad. If the Kamau fire team was able to regroup there would be nothing he could do to stop them and I was still an hour away from the mission area. He then called on one his hardcase augments Jack Burton, a veteran of several conflicts. He ask Burton if he could make something happen. To do so, he would have to face both the Kamau sniper and a hidden target that appeared to be a helot with rocket launcher. It was a risky move, but Jack Burton didn't hesitate. He walked straight out in the open and simply yelled to both "Give me your best shot, pal. I can take it." Then fired an arrow right into the scope of the sniper killing her. Jack passed out from the pain from the return fire. However, we have him in stable condition and I am recommending him for a Silver Star.

With the sniper down the fire team was weakened, but not out. They reformed and consolidated their position. At that time, there was no one defending the area except Sgt Edkins. A zulu cobra move into his rear and put a few rounds into his back taking him down. He then grabbed a second supply container and move back to safety.

Lt Samuels knew he needed to move quickly. The enemy had the advantage and was in position to slip away. He ordered Rosie to take the link team and kick in the door. Once again restraining his desperado, he used smoke to get the team in position and the shadowshooter quickly made short work of the Kamau HRL that has moved into position and Helot obstacles. Then again with more smoke he covered the approve of Sgt Rowe a foxtrot operative who moved up to secure one of the containers.

With two supply contains in their position, the blues moved to leave the area. They continued to retreat backwards to make it harder for Lt Samuels to stop them.

With most of the defenses down, Lt Samuels knew it was finally time to lead his man loose. Chest Rockwell revved the engine of his bike and launch three smoke grenades down to cover all the the remain fire lanes. He charged full speed one of the retreating cobras. Rounding the corner and taking her by surprises, he let lose with both his assault pistols taking her down. He had just run out of fuel on his bike when I managed to arrive in the area. He laid down one more smoke screen and I ran up grabbing the fallen contain before the all clear was sounded.

The remaining blue bugged out. They managed to escape with one container. However, that will hardly cover the cost they paid in lives and equipment. More importantly, we still have enough supplies we need to continue operations here.

All of the credit goes to Lt Samuels his quick thinking turned a bad situation into a victory. That kid has a bright future ahead.

Roger Van Zant
Captain, 6th Airborne Rangers