Northwind Highlanders

from the Northwind Highlanders Scenario Pack, as posted at www.fasa.com under "Sneak Peeks"

BACK

SCENARIO 3: FALL FROM GLORY

12 December 2766
It is only a matter of time. The dark cloud that rose with the death of our beloved Star Lord has grown into a towering thunderhead following the departure of General Kerensky and most of the SLDF to fight the war against the rebellious Periphery realms. I have tried repeatedly to speak with our young Lord Richard about my fears and mistrust of this self-styled "Lord Amaris" from the Rim Worlds Republic, but he refuses to listen. No one but that snake-charmer has his ear any more. I once considered this posting the highlight of my career, an honor dearer than anything else life might bestow upon me. But no more-not since witnessing the slow slide downward these past fifteen years. Am I the only one who sees what is happening? Or am I the only one who cares? I sometimes wonder whether two hundred years of peace and enlightenment is simply too much for warlike humans to handle. Five thousand-odd years of warfare instilled in us the instinctive response of raising our fists instead of our open hands. Only the charismatic leadership of the Cameron family kept these greedy states of the Inner Sphere from each other's throats all this time. And as much as it pains me to admit to weakness in the person I have sworn my life to protect, it is only natural that someday a bumbling fool like poor Lord Richard would slip through the cracks and sit on the Star League's throne. Is it any wonder that all hell is breaking loose? The worst affront happened today, when I once again sought audience with my lord to speak with him about the snake-charmer. This time I had real hopes of success. I had convinced several of my fellow officers, as well as several influential nobles-all of whom worry about the increasing number of Republican troops on Terra-to join me. But he scoffed at us. All of us. He mocked our fears and said he would tell Amaris that his name was being besmirched. Our lord then had us forcibly removed from his chamber.

It's a cold night. I feel in my bones that the end is near. I pray I have the strength to face it.

-Excerpt from the diary of Colonel Hanni Schmitt, found after the liberation of Unity City

SITUATION

Gorst Flats, Terra
Terran Hegemony
27 December 2766

On December 27, 2766, Stefan Amaris of the Rim Worlds Republic brutally murdered First Lord Richard Cameron and launched a massive invasion from within of the Terran Hegemony. Caught by surprise, the few remaining SLDF forces fought valiantly to stave off the avalanche. The few units still on Terra included the Star Lord's personal guard unit, the Royal Black Watch Regiment, of which every member was a graduate of the elite Gunslinger program. Knowing of this unit's reputation for fierceness and loyalty, Amaris set an ambush with massive numbers of troops to destroy the Black Watch. Nine MechWarriors of the Black Watch survived the trap and made their stand against the lead elements of the Fourth Amaris Dragoons at Gorst Flats. Forced to face their opponent along a very narrow front, the Dragoons ran headlong into the meat grinder of the Black Watch. Though hopelessly outnumbered, the Black Watch simply would not die; against all odds, they systematically destroyed wave after wave of enemy forces. Finally, refusing to squander more of his units in a failed attempt to obliterate the Black Watch, Amaris resorted to nuclear weapons to wipe out every trace of this proud unit.

GAME SET-UP

Lay out the BattleTech maps as shown. Use the Standard BattleTech map (from the BattleTech boxed set or BattleTech Map Set 2), the Lake Area and Desert Hills maps from BattleTech Map Set 2 and the River Delta/Drainage Basin #1 map from BattleTech Map Set 4. The half-river hex at the seam between the Desert Hills and the River Delta/Drainage Basin #1 maps is considered Clear terrain.

ATTACKER

The attacker consists of the forward elements of the Fourth Amaris Dragoons.

1st Company
Command Lance

Major John Dollard (Piloting 3, Gunnery 3), MAD-5D Marauder*
Lieutenant Brian Gilmartin (Piloting 4, Gunnery 3), CP-11-A Cyclops
Joseph Lyons (Piloting 4, Gunnery 4), GRF-3M Griffin
Timothy Haydon (Piloting 5, Gunnery 4), ON1-M Orion

Assault Lance

Lieutenant Denise English (Piloting 4, Gunnery 4), STK-4M Stalker
Lieutenant Bernard Spiller (Piloting 4, Gunnery 4), TDR-7M Thunderbolt
Sherman Peace (Piloting 4, Gunnery 4), WHM-7M Warhammer*
Catherine Henigan (Piloting 5, Gunnery 4), OSR-2D Ostroc

Recon Lance

Lieutenant Jorge Beebe (Piloting 4, Gunnery 3), CLNT-2-3U Clint
Walter Morris (Piloting 5, Gunnery 4), COM-5S Commando
Sally Hohler (Piloting 5, Gunnery 4), COM-5S Commando
Joseph Chmielik (Piloting 3, Gunnery 4), FS9-S Firestarter

2nd Company
Command Lance

Captain Linda McDonald (Piloting 4, Gunnery 3),VTR-9K Victor
Lieutenant Lee Ann Conti (Piloting 4, Gunnery 4), RFL-5M Rifleman*
Rosie Davis (Piloting 5, Gunnery 4), ZEU-9S Zeus
Gladys Holland (Piloting 5, Gunnery 4), HBK-5M Hunchback

Fire Lance

Lieutenant Richard Markley (Piloting 4, Gunnery 4), ARC-4M Archer
Chester Idzik (Piloting 4, Gunnery 4), DV-7D Dervish
Theo Kakavas (Piloting 4, Gunnery 4), DV-7D Dervish
Millard Ensworth (Piloting 5, Gunnery 4), ARC-5W Archer

Recon Lance

Lieutenant Bogdan Lata (Piloting 4, Gunnery 3), SHD-5M Shadow Hawk*
Courtney Green (Piloting 3, Gunnery 4), OTL-4M Ostsol
Zuleam Speith (Piloting 4, Gunnery 4), CLNT-2-3U Clint
Carrie Becker (Piloting 5, Gunnery 4), SDR-7M Spider

Deployment

The attacker enters from the south edge of the map during the Movement Phase of Turn 1.

DEFENDER

The defender consists of the surviving elements of the Royal Black Watch Regiment.

Elements of the Black Watch Regiment

Colonel Hanni Schmitt (Piloting 0, Gunnery 0), AS7-S Atlas
Major Colleen McFadden (Piloting 0, Gunnery 0), HGN-732 Highlander
Major Bryn Campell (Piloting 1, Gunnery 0), HGN-732 Highlander
Lieutenant Jennifer Suarez (Piloting 0, Gunnery 1), GLT-3N Guillotine*
Lieutenant Frank Yanez (Piloting 1, Gunnery 1), BL-6-KNT Black Knight
Jewels Ferrel (Piloting 1, Gunnery 1), CRK-5003-1 Crockett
Charles Southorn (Piloting 2, Gunnery 1), FLS-8K Flashman
Jefferson Hinks (Piloting 1, Gunnery 0), CRK-5003-1 Crockett
Nathan Carlson (Piloting 2, Gunnery 1), THG-11E Thug

Deployment

The defender sets up anywhere on the River Delta/Drainage Basin and Desert Hills maps.

VICTORY CONDITIONS

The scenario ends at the end of Turn 19 or when all defending units have been destroyed, whichever comes first. The defender automatically wins if he has an operational unit on the board at the end of Turn 19.

The attacker wins by destroying all defending units. The defender wins by holding out as long as possible, while destroying as many attacking units as possible. To determine the level of victory, calculate each side's total points and consult the Victory Table.

VICTORY TABLE

SPECIAL RULES

The special-case rule Night Combat (p. 94, BTC:RoW) applies during this scenario. Units listed with an asterisk (*) are equipped with searchlights.

BACK