Battletech 3025 Badlands Campaign August, Part 1

After a few weeks of fighting the Taurian Forces on Badlands have established a strong position at the Rockhound Mining Company Spaceport.  The various pirate forces have continued to try and secure water resources and supply routs as well as engaging in scouting operation against the Taurian base.   

August 2nd, 3025 Battle of the Survivors Oasis

Tuesday, August 2nd, 3025.  A Desert Foxes recon drone has uncovered a base at an oasis around 200km West of the Rockhound Mining Company Spaceport.  The base includes a repair facility and administration facility.  Enemy mechs identified as; a 70 ton Warhammer, a 70 ton Grasshopper, a 50 ton Trebuchet, and a 50 ton Centurion.  All mechs are suspected as belonging to survivors of the Battle at the Rockhound Spaceport on July 18th, 3025.  The mercenaries have elected to use their Leopard dropship for transport to the base brining; a 75 ton Marauder, a 65 ton Catapult, a 65 ton Thunderbolt, and a 55 ton Griffin.     

The Foxes advanced on the Pirate position cautiously.  Although they had the greater tonnage the Pirate mechs were still quite powerful and they appear to have been fully repaired since their pervious engagement.

As most of the mercenaries move to their left and center the Thunderbolt engages a pirate Grasshopper in a one on one close quarter fight that would last most of the rest of the engagement causing considerable damage to both machines.

The mercenaries first focused their firepower on the Trebuchet while the pirates focused on the Foxes' Marauder.  Although the Marauder was knocked down and suffered significant armor damage the Trebuchet was destroyed when it's ammunition magazine exploded.  The rest of the pirate mechs began to fall back.  

The mercenaries pressed their advantage taking out the pirate Centurion although their Thunderbolt was forced to fall back after taking a cockpit hit that wounded the pilot.  

The pirate Warhammer and Grasshopper managed to escape along with several pirate vehicles.  The mercenaries managed to salvage the Centurion.  

August 8th, 3025.  Battle at the Dome Base

Monday August 8th, 3025.  Following up on rumors the Taurians discovered two pirate bands had allied and built a base at an oasis a short distance south of the Rockhound Mining Company Spaceport.  Drone reconnaissance reveled two lances of mechs defending the facility.  The pirate force consisted of; a 45 ton Phoenixhawk, a 45 ton Blackjack, a 35 to Jenner, and a 20 ton Locust from then Sidewinders pirate band.  The Anarchist pirate band force consisted of; a 75 ton Marauder, a 50 ton Centurion, a 30 ton Javelin, and a 20 ton Locust.  

The Taurians and the Desert Foxes attacked with a joint force with the mercenaries attacking with six mechs from the North of the base while the Taurians used their Leopard dropship to drop a lance of mechs to the South of the oasis to cut off any retreating pirates.  

The Foxes fielded; a 95 ton Banshee, an 80 ton Awesome, a 60 ton Rifleman, a 50 ton Enforcer, and two 20 ton Locust.  

The Taurians fielded; an 80 ton Awesome, a 65 ton Thunderbolt, and two 55 ton Wolverines.

     

The Sidewinders moved to the North to engage the mercenaries wile the Anarchist engaged the Taurians.  Despite being outnumbered the Sidewinders used their superior maneuverability to slow the mercenaries advance.  

The Anarchist were not fairing as well and in a short time their mechs were being worn down.  

Eventually the heavier Desert Foxes mechs began to push the Sidewinders back.  One of the mercenary Locust slipped passed the Sidewinders to support the Taurians.  

The Taurians separated the Anarchist Marauder destroying it's left torso.   

By the end of the battle five of the pirates managed to escape but most had been heavily damaged.  The Anarchist Marauder was captured and the Taurians discovered that the pilot was the commander of the Anarchist pirate band.  

August 11th, 3025 Patrol Interception

Sunday August 11th,3025.  A lance of independent pirates have been probing near the Taurian base at the Rockhound Mining Company Spaceport.  The Taurians decided to intercept the pirate scouts using their Leopard dropship to transport; a 70 ton Warhammer, a 60 ton Quickdraw, a 50 ton Talos, and a 35 ton Jenner attempting to stop; a55 ton Wolverine, a 45 ton Vindicator, a 40 ton Hermes II, and a 25 ton Commando.

The pirates focused on escape using their speed to try to outmaneuver the Taurians.  Unfortunately for the pirate Vindicator his mech did not have the speed to keep up with his allies.  The Taurian Jenner engaged it from behind and did heavy damage.    

The Taurian Quickdraw attempted to use it's jumpjets to cut off the pirate Commando but missed all it's shots and physical attacks.  The Commando was the first pirate mech to escape.

Although the Taurians inflicted heavy damage on the pirate Wolverine blowing off it's right arm the Heavier Concordant mechs just couldn't keep the pirates from escaping.  

The only pirate that didn't escape was the Vindicator who surrendered to the Taurians rather than being destroyed.