"Gentlemen, in two hours we we will mount a denile raid on the N.S.F Mining Facility on the planet below. As you know, LV669 is a darn cold little fella so wrap up warm and take ya thermals!
Two dropships will land our forces behind the forest to the north of the facility. From here, Sgt. Moraz will lead his sections and the ICAU into a main attack on the facility, while Gunny Highway will lead in his sections and the demolition team. I want a clean sharp operation, no heriocs and no ass-hatting around. Understand?
Now, suit up, grab ya gear and lets give those Sovs a wake up call!"
- Major Lance 'Tiger' Tanner, 2d Marine Battalion 'Timber Wolves, UNMC
"Comrade Commander, Satellitte 22 was picking up an unknown object in high orbit. Since sending back an initial alert all systems on the module have gone offline... and I cant get it back up."
"Ensign Markov... You better get it back up and running... Now."
"Comrade Commander, Satellitte 17 in low orbit has detected two small craft entering the atmosphere over the Gregori land mass. Radar is failing to pick them up, looks like they may have dropped right down to a very low altitude..."
"Very interesting Ensign Rueben... Markov any luck with that satellite?"
"Yes Comrade Commander, I should have the onboard camera working... Now... Relaying feed direct to the command monitor Sir... Feed up."
"Well now that is interesting. Major Valkyre, is that what I think it is?"
"Looks like a UNMC fast assault vessel Sir, probably of the Tarawa Class by the look of the gun decks. Likely to have a contingent of Marines onboard and several dropships."
"Thats what I thought. Major, put the base on full alert, get your PDF troops out of their hovels and ready for action. Tell Kapitan Barsov I want the 'Lenin' ready for action... It looks like we may have some visitors, lets give them a warm welcome..."
Transcript from Commander Cheniko's Central Command Post Log, Evraz Mining Facility LV669, New Soviet Federation.
LV669 is a cold planet, often always covered in snow and ice, but highly rich in resources. The planet currently comes under the sphere of influence of the New Soviet Federation. For the last six months Mining Facility Evraz has been working drawing Iridium from below the planets surface.
However, U.N.S.C intelligence services intercepted comms traffic between LV669 and one of the NSF passing 'Stalin' Class Battle Cruisers, the
Gargarin. The decoded message mention the construction of a planet based defence weapon for testing at LV669. The weapon has been codenamed 'Lenin' by the NSF.
Not knowing exactly what this weapon is, the UNSC decides to launch a pre-emptive attack on this remote planet. A platoon of UNMC marines is sped into the area aboard a 'Tarawa' class fast assault vessel - UNSS Sousa. Not long after making orbit the marines drop to the planets surface aboard two Kestrel dropships. The Marines land behind a forest and begin to move into the attack.
However the Soviet base is alerted. The Miners are given weapons and formed in ad-hoc units ready to defend the facility. These are backed up by an under-strength platoon of PDF troops. Finally the defence is stiffened by the presence of a team of Directorate Combat Troops.
The UNMC Marines comprise two platoons in their standard four team set-up. With them are a sniper team, an M1011 Rocket Team and a Medical Team. Finally they are backed up by a unit of ACIDs (Artificial Combat Intelligence Droid), nicknamed 'Sids' by the Marines. The Marine objective where to secure the Comms Building and stop any off-planet communication and to also seize the Research Building and find any information on the 'Lenin'.
Evraz Mining Facility
The Marine attack began with a determined advance. However all the NSF troops remained hidden and only one of the units of Miners opened fire with their old weapons from the roof of the Communications building. Despite this they managed to hold the advance up for a few moments and the Marine line began to fix along the long stone wall. While this was happening other NSF units moved into better firing positions.
NSF Troops in defence...
The UNMC attack begins...
As the Marines dealt with the troublesome Miners they then came under fire from other NSF units. The entire Marine right flank began a long range gun battle with PDF units and the NSF Directorate soldiers. Sadly things didnt go well for the Marines and within minutes the Medical Team were tended an ever growing number of casualties. With no where to go, three of the Marine fireteams became pinned down behind the stone wall with little opportunity to advance.
Marines shelter behind the thick stone wall...
PDF troops begin firing RPG-40s at the Marine positions...
However, the ACIDs made some headway and after virtually wiping out the second group of Miners they began a battle with PDF troops on the roof-tops, supported by the Marines on the left flank who set-up a base of fire. The gun battle now raged along the entrance of the facility and as one unit of Marines prepared to storm the Communication building, the M1011 Team put an anti-personnel round into the remaining Miners on the roof-top.
ACIDs make it to the ruins...
The NSF Commandant checks his line of sight...
Marine Denny clears the Comms Building...
As this was taking place the ACIDs continued to advance. One PDF unit attempted to ambush them but the ACIDs onboard sensor array picked up the troops and as they appeared to fire, they were all shot down. Things looked good for the Marines. The ACIDs continued to advance deeper into the facility and the Marines stormed the Communication Building and secured it.
Marines pinned down among the rocks...
Marines take the Comms Building...
However things began to change. The NSF sniper dropped two of the ACIDs in quick succession, neither got back up, and the remaining two continued to push towards the Research building. More gunfire continued to add to the work load of the Marine Medics. As the ACIDs made a dash for the Research building the NSF Directorate troops caught them in an alley, and under a barrage of gunfire the remaining two went down.
PDF troops pour fire at the attackers...
The ACIDs walk through the fire...
But the PDF Sniper takes aim...
With casualties mounting the UNMC commander decided to pull out. Destroying the Comms equipment and remotely arming the ACIDs self destruction systems the Marines began to pull back through the forest and their awaiting dropships. The NSF units, with many casualties did not attempt to follow them, secure that the plans of the 'Lenin' were safe...
UNMC Casualties - 6 KIA, 10 WIA
NSF Casualties - 10 KIA, 7 WIA
The game was played with first playtest copy of '
Tomorrows War', the Sci-Fi rules based upon the
Force-on-Force game engine - They are a bit good.
