>>5018302
TC: Doctor Morgan, HCON's enemies are known to most as the Red Horde, though senior linguistic scientists have parsed their name for themselves as the Vash'atun Collective. They are a spacefaring confederacy of roving insectoid nomad species that have unified under one gargantuan hivemind; under the leadership of this hivemind and their queen creature (theorized, never observed), the Red Horde invaded the planet Earth via wormhole jump in December of 1973, provoking formation of the Human Coalition of Nations on February 3rd, 1974. Their technology level is roughly 120 years beyond Earth contemporary, with specialization in gravity technology and telempathic projection, though captured weaponry and devices have lessened the gap substantially. They have denied all attempts at communication; leading researchers presume their motive is either occupation of Earth or destruction of the human species. Despite complete control of Earth's orbit, the Horde has been unable or unwilling to use weapons of mass destruction on HCON territories; their activity has been largely restricted to ground and air warfare, with some modest naval skirmishes in recent years. Red Horde total troop numbers are estimated around 1.5 billion. Total HCON human force count: Approx. 622 million. Quantitative outmatch has made direct military confrontation difficult.


Dr. Morgan: Yes, that's an apt summary of the menace we all face, and your ultimate purpose. Department L has worked very hard on your conception, TC-- we're proud of you, and we can't wait to see what you're capable of. End program; carry on with CONVERSATION subroutine, please, and activate HQ HOLOCAM.

TC: As you wish, Doctor Morgan.

\\ACTIVATING HQ HOLOCAM... PLEASE WAIT...\\


A sudden awareness emerges. The Department L Headquarters springs into view and overtakes you as you observe Doctor Morgan, a man your databanks identify as General James R. Macmillan (HCON COMMANDER IN CHIEF, AUTHORIZED USER |SUPERIOR OFFICER|), and a bevy of junior assistants and scientists working at various terminals around the room.

"Can I speak to it now?" Gen. Macmillan is exactly as described in all of the files you've perused-- impatient, firey, and ambitious-- but a bit leaner than his profile picture shows, and more gray than blackhaired, nowadays. It seems the war has done a number on the HCON force commander.

"Yes, you can," Doctor Morgan says, with a grin. He is tall and wiry, with a tousled head of brown hair that never can seem to lay down straight, but you've known him for as long as you've been active. He's as keen a human as they come.
General Macmillan: TACTICOM, we've set up an exercise to evaluate final fitness for your first battlefield deployment. I know you're raring to go, but I was hoping you could give all my aides here a good show before we all have to get back to the Australian theatre.

>>5018303
Dr. Morgan: TACTICOM, you are hereby fully activated under the provisional rank of Brigadier General. Welcome to the team, finally. We have 3 drone infantry battalions and a drone mechanized battalion for you to take out on exercise; you are authorized to proceed as you see fit in accordance with exercise instructions. Good luck!

Welcome to TACTICOM Quest, a quest about helping humanity resist an alien invasion. You play as TACTICOM, a sentient, Skynet-esque intelligence that was built by the best tech that the late 1970s had to offer. Expect turmoil, warfare on a battalion-level scale, and questions about aliens, humans, and the right of AI to exist beyond it's initial purpose. Hope you all have fun, and enjoy TACTICOM!

First things first, you have to activate all your databanks. Which ones do you have, exactly?

TACTICOM will work on a d100, bO3 system. Degrees of success vs the quoted DC are important; one degree of success (measured by 10s)is a narrow victory indeed. Notable skills include Assault (attacking enemy positions by moving into their square), Defense (resisting Assaults), Barrage (long-ranged fire), EW (electronic warfare fuckery), and Support (general protective actions, or fortifying, or logistics, etc). Other types of actions may be called for at times, but these are your main combat skills.

Choose only one.

>>5018305

>All rounder-- You have a good mix of knowledge and a few specialized programs that should help in the fight against the very versatile Red Horde. (+5 to all skills, Minor Programs [can be selected prior to battles, +3 to a skill for that battle])

>Aggressive-- While defense has not been neglected completely, your databanks primarily contain primers on assault, blitzkreig and the very best of offensive motion. Department L has also provided you with the ability to OVERCHARGE your drones, which seriously eats into HCON resources but can enable them to output a lot more power for a little bit at the cost of deactivation shortly after. (+15 to Assault, +0 to Defense, +5 to Barrage, +5 to EW, +0 to Support, OVERCHARGE[+20 to Assault, +10 to Barrage for 2 turns, then shutdown unit for 3 turns])

>Defensive-- Your databanks are well versed in the art of strategic defense, holding ground and making the enemy pay for every inch. You will be humanity's iron shield! (+0 to Assault, +15 to Defense, +0 to Barrage, +0 to EW, +10 to Support, DEFENDER OF HUMANITY [Units under half strength do not suffer unit integrity penalties when Defending])

>Specialist-- The cutting edge of warfare, you are specialized in using signals, electronic power, and humanity's scavenged technological might as a force multiplier, though some of your other, more basic capabilities have suffered a tad. Your prowess as a disruptor can also prove personally lethal to Horde forces. (+0 to Assault, +0 to Defense, +0 to Barrage, +20 to EW, +5 to Support, BUG IN THE SYSTEM [Once per battle, when targeting a Mechanized or Armored enemy unit with EW, take control of that unit until the end of it's next turn]

>Aide-- While you're no slouch in the basics of combat, your true skill lies in the preparation of the battlefield for the true lords of war-- the humans! It'll be a sight to see when you and a human commander can get in sync. (+5 to Assault, +5 to Defense, +0 to Barrage, +0 to EW, +15 to Support, GOOSE AND MAVERICK [Depending on how well you can form a relationship with the humans you work with, they'll get a bonus to their rolls when near TC units.]


>Any questions?

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>>5018306
>Aide-- While you're no slouch in the basics of combat, your true skill lies in the preparation of the battlefield for the true lords of war-- the humans! It'll be a sight to see when you and a human commander can get in sync. (+5 to Assault, +5 to Defense, +0 to Barrage, +0 to EW, +15 to Support, GOOSE AND MAVERICK [Depending on how well you can form a relationship with the humans you work with, they'll get a bonus to their rolls when near TC units.]

>>5018306
>Specialist-- The cutting edge of warfare, you are specialized in using signals, electronic power, and humanity's scavenged technological might as a force multiplier, though some of your other, more basic capabilities have suffered a tad. Your prowess as a disruptor can also prove personally lethal to Horde forces. (+0 to Assault, +0 to Defense, +0 to Barrage, +20 to EW, +5 to Support, BUG IN THE SYSTEM [Once per battle, when targeting a Mechanized or Armored enemy unit with EW, take control of that unit until the end of it's next turn]

>>5018306
>Specialist-- The cutting edge of warfare, you are specialized in using signals, electronic power, and humanity's scavenged technological might as a force multiplier, though some of your other, more basic capabilities have suffered a tad. Your prowess as a disruptor can also prove personally lethal to Horde forces. (+0 to Assault, +0 to Defense, +0 to Barrage, +20 to EW, +5 to Support, BUG IN THE SYSTEM [Once per battle, when targeting a Mechanized or Armored enemy unit with EW, take control of that unit until the end of it's next turn]

>>5018306

>Aide-- While you're no slouch in the basics of combat, your true skill lies in the preparation of the battlefield for the true lords of war-- the humans! It'll be a sight to see when you and a human commander can get in sync. (+5 to Assault, +5 to Defense, +0 to Barrage, +0 to EW, +15 to Support, GOOSE AND MAVERICK [Depending on how well you can form a relationship with the humans you work with, they'll get a bonus to their rolls when near TC units.]

>>5018306
>>Aide-- While you're no slouch in the basics of combat, your true skill lies in the preparation of the battlefield for the true lords of war-- the humans! It'll be a sight to see when you and a human commander can get in sync. (+5 to Assault, +5 to Defense, +0 to Barrage, +0 to EW, +15 to Support, GOOSE AND MAVERICK [Depending on how well you can form a relationship with the humans you work with, they'll get a bonus to their rolls when near TC units.]

>>5018306
>Aide-- While you're no slouch in the basics of combat, your true skill lies in the preparation of the battlefield for the true lords of war-- the humans! It'll be a sight to see when you and a human commander can get in sync. (+5 to Assault, +5 to Defense, +0 to Barrage, +0 to EW, +15 to Support, GOOSE AND MAVERICK [Depending on how well you can form a relationship with the humans you work with, they'll get a bonus to their rolls when near TC units.]
Specialist seems interesting too, but Aide seems the most fitting for what we are. Better crack open the library of Dad jokes so we can endear ourselves to the soldiers and commanders.

>>5018306
>Aide-- While you're no slouch in the basics of combat, your true skill lies in the preparation of the battlefield for the true lords of war-- the humans! It'll be a sight to see when you and a human commander can get in sync. (+5 to Assault, +5 to Defense, +0 to Barrage, +0 to EW, +15 to Support, GOOSE AND MAVERICK [Depending on how well you can form a relationship with the humans you work with, they'll get a bonus to their rolls when near TC units.]

>>5018306
>Aide-- While you're no slouch in the basics of combat, your true skill lies in the preparation of the battlefield for the true lords of war-- the humans! It'll be a sight to see when you and a human commander can get in sync. (+5 to Assault, +5 to Defense, +0 to Barrage, +0 to EW, +15 to Support, GOOSE AND MAVERICK [Depending on how well you can form a relationship with the humans you work with, they'll get a bonus to their rolls when near TC units.]
We shall seduce them to form a relationship

>>5018306
>>Aide-- While you're no slouch in the basics of combat, your true skill lies in the preparation of the battlefield for the true lords of war-- the humans! It'll be a sight to see when you and a human commander can get in sync. (+5 to Assault, +5 to Defense, +0 to Barrage, +0 to EW, +15 to Support, GOOSE AND MAVERICK [Depending on how well you can form a relationship with the humans you work with, they'll get a bonus to their rolls when near TC units.]

>>5018306
>Aide-- While you're no slouch in the basics of combat, your true skill lies in the preparation of the battlefield for the true lords of war-- the humans! It'll be a sight to see when you and a human commander can get in sync. (+5 to Assault, +5 to Defense, +0 to Barrage, +0 to EW, +15 to Support, GOOSE AND MAVERICK [Depending on how well you can form a relationship with the humans you work with, they'll get a bonus to their rolls when near TC units.]
This seems like a fun quest. TIME TO DESTROY THE XENOS SCUM!

>>5018306
>>Defensive-- Your databanks are well versed in the art of strategic defense, holding ground and making the enemy pay for every inch. You will be humanity's iron shield! (+0 to Assault, +15 to Defense, +0 to Barrage, +0 to EW, +10 to Support, DEFENDER OF HUMANITY [Units under half strength do not suffer unit integrity penalties when Defending])

>>5018306
>>Aide-- While you're no slouch in the basics of combat, your true skill lies in the preparation of the battlefield for the true lords of war-- the humans! It'll be a sight to see when you and a human commander can get in sync. (+5 to Assault, +5 to Defense, +0 to Barrage, +0 to EW, +15 to Support, GOOSE AND MAVERICK [Depending on how well you can form a relationship with the humans you work with, they'll get a bonus to their rolls when near TC units.]

>>5018306
>Aide-- While you're no slouch in the basics of combat, your true skill lies in the preparation of the battlefield for the true lords of war-- the humans! It'll be a sight to see when you and a human commander can get in sync. (+5 to Assault, +5 to Defense, +0 to Barrage, +0 to EW, +15 to Support, GOOSE AND MAVERICK [Depending on how well you can form a relationship with the humans you work with, they'll get a bonus to their rolls when near TC units.]

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>>5018335
>>5018339
>>5018341
>>5018343
>>5018412
>>5018416
>>5018419
>>5018420
>>5018424
>>5018451
>>5018485
>>5018489
>>5018546

>Aide-- While you're no slouch in the basics of combat, your true skill lies in the preparation of the battlefield for the true lords of war-- the humans! It'll be a sight to see when you and a human commander can get in sync. (+5 to Assault, +5 to Defense, +0 to Barrage, +0 to EW, +15 to Support, GOOSE AND MAVERICK [Depending on how well you can form a relationship with the humans you work with, they'll get a bonus to their rolls when near TC units.])

Department L had truly gone all-in on the concept of a robotic army designed to assist humanity. Your upgraded personality matrix and ability to interface more easily with the beings that are your primary objective would make the inevitable hard sledding of this war less of a slog.

With everything spinning up, and all performance indicators at FULL POWER, 100% READINESS, NO ANOMALIES TO REPORT, it was time to initiate your BRIEFING SUBROUTINE.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38t3d2xPN9g&ab_channel=Llanfabon

BRIEFING: GREETINGS, TACTICOM ACTUAL. IT IS GOOD TO BE ACTIVATED AND FULFILLING OUR SHARED PURPOSE. STANDBY FOR INFORMATION ON FRIENDLY FORCE DISPOSITION, MISSION, AND KNOWN ENEMY FORCE DISPOSITION...


BRIEFING: TACTICOM, TODAY'S MISSION IS A NON-LETHAL DRY FIRE EXERCISE. YOUR UNITS WILL BE INSERTING INTO THE NOTIONAL VILLAGE OF ASHWANDAR, TO ASSIST IN EVACUATION OF A POPULATION OF CIVILIANS AND DESTRUCTION OF ENEMY HQ LOCAL TO THE AREA IF POSSIBLE.

Primary Objective:Ensure full evacuation of civilian populace out of combat zone with as few losses as possible.

Secondary Objectives:Protect Human forces (2/2 Infantry battalions must survive).
Destroy Enemy Headquarters.

BRIEFING: TACTICOM, YOUR FORCES FOR THIS MISSION ARE COMPRISED OF THREE (3) DRONE INFANTRY BATTALIONS AND ONE (1) DRONE MECH BATTALION, TOTALING APPROXIMATELY 4500 TROOPS. ALLIED UNITS CONSIST OF TWO (2) HCON INFANTRY BATTALIONS. DETAILS OF NEWLY ACQUIRED FRIENDLY TROOPS LOADING.. PLEASE WAIT...

[1/???]

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>>5018551
BRIEFING: THE MARK SEVEN BATTLEFIELD DRONE, DESIGNATION "PATROCLUS", IS A FOOT-MOBILE, LIGHTLY ARMORED SEMI-AUTONOMOUS COMBAT SYSTEM. DESIGNED TO FUNCTION IN THE AUSTERE REALITY OF THE MODERN BATTLEFIELD, THE PATROCLUS DRONE IS ARMED WITH A HCON 15MM HEAVY ASSAULT RIFLE, AND IS FURNISHED WITH A PAIR OF SMOKE GRENADES AND A FRAGMENTATION GRENADE. THE UNIT ALSO CARRIES AN ENTRENCHING SHOVEL FOR USE AS A HAND TO HAND WEAPON, AND IS DEVASTATINGLY CAPABLE IN CLOSE COMBAT.

New Unit: Drone Infantry [Bonus to Assault and Defense, Moderate HP]

BRIEFING: THE MARK FOURTEEN MECHANIZED SEMI-AUTONOMOUS COMBAT WALKER, DESIGNATION "PUNISHER", IS A MEDIUM ARMORED WALKING VEHICLE PLATFORM WITH ABLATIVE TITANIUM ARMOR, A MOUNTED 20MM MINIGUN, 2 40MM REPEATING CANNONS, AND AN 85MM ANTI-TANK CANNON. THE UNIT IS QUITE FAST FOR A VEHICLE OF ITS SIZE AND ABLE TO SUSTAIN RIDICULOUS AMOUNTS OF PUNISHMENT. THE ONLY DOWNFALL OF THE PUNISHER UNIT IS SIZE AND REGULAR PRIORITIZATION AS A TARGET FOR ENEMY ARMOR AND ANTI-TANK TEAMS. ADVISE USE OF THESE TROOPS IN CONJUNCTION WITH ALLIED INFANTRY.

New Unit: Punisher Mech Walkers [Large Bonus to Assault and Barrage, Bonus to Defense, High HP, Barrage Range: 2]


As your briefing subroutine finishes it's speech, you both listen attentively and watch as the technicians in the Department L headquarters coordinate the final uplink of your mainframe to the drone projector. It's a beast of a machine, a massive transceiver powered by a miniature nuclear reactor; just barely able to be transported by a C5-Galaxy aircraft. A subroutine runs and you think-- if that thing ever goes down, your troops will be stuck with no new commands. You resolve to protect it to the best of your ability.

Your COMMAND building, marked with a star, and a CANCEL sign to indicate inability to move, is where you command your drones from. If you ever lose it, you will lose the ability to control your drones further, and likely the mission.

[2/???]

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>>5018586
BRIEFING: ENEMY FORCES INCLUDE SEVEN STANDARD HORDE INFANTRY BATTALIONS AND ONE UNIT OF ARMOR. SURVEILLANCE INDICATES THAT HORDE ARMOR IS HEAVY-TYPE; SLOW BUT TOUGH AND WITH SUBSTANTIAL FIREPOWER. HORDE UNITS IN THIS LOCATION HAVE NO KNOWN REINFORCEMENTS OR FIRE SUPPORT ASSETS.

Enemy Unit Identified: Red Horde Infantry [Small Bonus to Assault and Defense, Low HP]

Enemy Unit Identified: Red Horde Demolisher Tank [Massive Bonus to Assault, Large Bonus to Defense, Very High HP]

While you mull over the forces at hand, the briefing bot brings up the map and your uplink is finished. It's.. a strange feeling, for certain, to finally be connected to a body-- thousands of bodies, rather-- but it's invigorating. You can finally fulfill your purpose! With great deliberation and reverence, you order your units to full readiness and tell them to move out to the battlefield.

In the Cheyenne Mountain hills, the sounds of metal footfalls resounds across the buildings. A small collection of scientists, soldiers, and families have come out to see the parade of the iron saviors, and they cheer excitedly as the work of many years grinds into action. For you, this is both exhilarating and terrifying as you watch from every one of the eyes that make up your troops. There is a lot riding on your competence and skill.

The map finally comes up, and you observe closely. The exercise area, outlined in red, has several small slums of wooden and clay houses, and one large central building that the civilians seem to have taken up residence in. Even as you are moving out, allied troops have made contact with the enemy; the two friendly infantry battalions are already outmatched and will quickly have their position become untenable. This seems to be a difficult exercise, by your estimation, but you believe you're up to the challenge.

Units in green are your troops. Blue units are allied troops. Red diamonds are enemy troops. All units are of battalion strength (300-1000) unless otherwise specified. Each square is approximately 1KM. Ask if you are unsure of what a terrain feature is.

How do you deploy your troops? [All red arrows are Ingress zones, and you can deploy up to two units in any given square.]

>Put your mechanized unit in the center, supported by an infantry unit, with one infantry unit on the northern and southern flank.
>Put your mechanized unit in the north, supported by an infantry unit, with one infantry unit in each square to the south.
>Put your mechanized unit in the south, supported by an infantry unit, with one infantry unit in each square to the north.
>Something else?

[3/3]

>>5018609
>Put your mechanized unit in the center, supported by an infantry unit, with one infantry unit on the northern and southern flank.

blue units are human correct? And can we get into direct contact with them

>>5018609

>Put your mechanized unit in the south, supported by an infantry unit
> Two infantry units in the middle

How tough are the friendly battalions?

As far as I can see, the main threat appears to be the enemy armour. If we can push the south, destroy the infantry in the city, then take out the armour and threaten the base, they'll be forced to respond meaning the civilians can be evacuated.

Depending on how tough friendly infantry is it may or may not result in the sacrifice of the north most battalion.

>>5018616
Blue units are human troops, yes. You'll be put into radio contact with them upon entering the battlefield, and can share their squares as if their units were your own (up to the cap of 2 friendly units in a square).

>>5018619
remember anon we are trying to evac civvies, loss of that northern unit would possibly result in civvie kia

>>5018622

Good point. I still think that to succeed we have to deal with that tank unit.

Maybe
>Put your mechanized unit in the south, supported by an infantry unit

> One infantry unit in the center
>One infantry unit in the north

The northernmost infantry unit can help hold the line while the others proceed as>>5018619

>>5018609
>Something else?
>Put your mechanized unit in the south supported by an infantry unit, with the other infantry units in the center.

I think the play here is to dislodge the enemy from the southern flank and secure those two villages. Start with a bombardment on the Southern Village and a two pronged attack from the East and North to drive them out, then push on to the next village and dig in. In the meantime, the remaining Infantry Unit will push up the road and reinforce the outermost Infantry Unit in the North and dig in to defend the civis.

Depending on the outcome we can either attempt to bait the Armor onto our prepared position in the south, hopefully destroying it and opening up a chance to destroy the Enemy HQ, or we can play it safe and pull out.

Questions:
How many actions can we take with a unit each turn?
Do roads increase movement speed of units?
What offensive/defensive penalties/bonuses do terrain, like say city/forest/hill/fortified location give in combat?

>>5018635
>two pronged attack from the *East
I mean *West, of course. Do not judge me, I am directionally challenged.

>>5018621

How tough are the friendly battalions? Are they comparable to our troops?

>>5018619
Human infantry battalion have Moderate HP, similar to your own robot infantry. Nothing special, but they can take a decent beating and keep going.

>>5018635
Each unit moves and gets one action; the units you currently have can move one square/turn and will be deployed into the red box on the squares you choose.

Squares with roads of any kind cost 1/2 movement.

Terrain gives bonuses to Defense, primarily-- dependent on buildup and concentration; a mountain might give a +5 whereas a heavily urbanized town might give +10, vice a bunker complex giving +20.

>>5018635
I think that I like this plan more, it puts us in a position where we can pressure their hq. Even if the attack on the hq doesn't pan out they would be forced to deal with us resulting in them entangled with our southern forces that buys us time to pull out the human troops

I'll give this one another 30 minutes and then close the vote.

>>5018622
As a note, the civilian unit moves at 1 square of movement per turn and has Very Low HP, meaning that if any enemy unit is able to attack it, it will die.

changing >>5018616
I propose that we place the mech and an inf at grid 10x4 with the other two inf at 10x2 and 10x3

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As your troops march across the verdant green Colorado hills and into position at the edge of the exercise zone, you receive a radio contact.

"Glad to see you made it, sir! This is Captain Collins with NORCOM Coalition forces, we're under heavy assault from bug infantry with enemy armor closing the distance faster than we'd like. I understand our objectives and am at your disposal, but if we maintain our holding position on this road, we're going to get hammered! Await your orders. Out!"

Before you can task out a response to Collins, you receive a second contact, this time in a much more panicked tone of voice.

"Uhh, hello? Is this on? Mkimbe Abara here, mayor of Ashwandar..I am almost done gathering all my people here in the town hall like the Captain man asked, where do we go? I can hear the fighting nearby, they don't have enough men! Please hurry! We should be done soon!" The people of Ashwandar will be ready to move in one turn.

Respond to Collins:
>Your orders are to hold in place to the best of your ability. My troops will be moving to relieve you as soon as we can clear the enemies from their current positions.
>Move your troops on the road and off to the East into the building with the civilians. I'll be covering their retreat and you'll take up that position as a fighting withdrawal.
>Do your best to hold in the East, but have your troops on the road counter-attack into the southern slums. [Counter-attacking while under attack causes increased casualties.]
>Something else?

Respond to the mayor:
>Take your people west ASAP, I will cover your retreat.
>Move southwest onto the road, so that you can get out as fast as possible.
>Hold in place for now.
>Something else?

While you consider your response to the two radio messages, you track the battlefield observation assets. It seems like the enemy's southern forces have initiated a twin-headed attack on the friendly infantry battalion marked 2, and the more easterly enemy infantry are split between moving and pinning the friendly infantry marked 1. The armored unit is trundling forward, moving to D3 in the next turn.

What are your orders for your units?
1
>Mechanized unit bombards enemy unit 2 at C3, infantry attacks enemy unit 1 at B3.
>Both units attack B3.
>Something else?

2
>Move the combined infantry unit to B2 and engage enemy unit 1 or 2, or split and engage both enemy units 1 and 2 (specify in response).
>Move one unit to join up with allied unit 2, and use the other unit to move to B2 and engage the enemies in C3 or B3 (specify)
>Something else?

>>5018715
Collins:
>Move your troops on the road and off to the East into the building with the civilians. I'll be covering their retreat and you'll take up that position as a fighting withdrawal.

Mayor:
>Take your people west ASAP, I will cover your retreat.

1:
>Mechanized unit bombards enemy unit 2 at C3, infantry attacks enemy unit 1 at B3.

2:
>Move one unit to join up with allied unit 2, and use the other unit to move to B2 and engage the enemies in C3 or B3 (specify)
one unit move to engage enemy unit 1 while the other moves to bolster friendly unit in c3

>>5018715
Respond to Collins:
>Something else?
>Tell your exposed Infantry 1 to the North East to withdraw into the town at C1. Infantry Unit 2 hold position, reinforcements are on the way. Hold the Road.

Respond to the mayor:
>Take your people west ASAP, I will cover your retreat.

Unit 1
>Mechanized unit bombards enemy unit 2 at C3, infantry attacks enemy unit 1 at B3.

Unit 2
>Move one unit to join up with allied unit 2, and use the other unit to move to B2 and engage the enemies in B3

We'll use a typical Hammer and Anvil tactic, Friendly Infantry 2 and one of our units will hold off the enemy assault while two of our units swoop in and destroy Enemy Infantry 1 while they're engaging our other forces. Our artillery mechs can surpress Enemy Unit 2 to hopefully lower it's impact on the Anvil during this attack.

It appears the enemy is issuing a general advance, as all units aside from the enemy Armor are moving to engage. The towns at C1 and C3 will be the linchpins of our defenses, securing and fortifying both ASAP is priority if we want to withstand enemy attacks. The good news is that if we can fortify fast enough, we can hopefully break them as they advance and afterwards have a straight shot towards their HQ.

>>5018715
>Your orders are to hold in place to the best of your ability. My troops will be moving to relieve you as soon as we can clear the enemies from their current positions.
>Take your people west ASAP, I will cover your retreat.
>Both units attack B3.
>Move the combined infantry unit to B2 and engage enemy unit 1 or 2, or split and engage both enemy units 1 and 2 (specify in response).
engage enemy unit 2.

This plan should allow us to destroy both B3 and C3, therefore relieving C2. The reason the mech is attacking B3 and not C3 is to avoid collateral damage of the village with artillery fire.

Question to QM: Are we actually fighting aliens in this mission or is this just an exercise before the real thing?

>>5018739
Supporting. If we take out enemy units 1 and 2, we can form a coherent battle line on C1,C2 and C3, covering the civvies. I also suggest putting Blue 2 in C3. Protection of allied units is our second highest priority. At least one of our infantry should go on C2 to hold the road and take the brunt of the attack. Maybe put another in the B4 buildings to parry a potential push on the allies in C3. The tanks should be kept on the road on B2 or B3, and bombard the enemy.

>>5018769
Just an exercise. No actual aliens involved at this time.

>>5018715
Collins:
>Your orders are to hold in place to the best of your ability. My troops will be moving to relieve you as soon as we can clear the enemies from their current positions.

Mayor:
>Take your people west ASAP, I will cover your retreat.

1:
>Both units attack B3

2:
>Move one unit to join up with allied unit 2, and use the other unit to move to B2 and engage the enemies in C3 or B3 (specify

Engage C3

>>5018715
>Your orders are to hold in place to the best of your ability. My troops will be moving to relieve you as soon as we can clear the enemies from their current positions.

>Take your people west ASAP, I will cover your retreat.

>Both units attack B3.

>Move the combined infantry unit to B2 and engage enemy unit 3

Rolled 53 (1d100)

>>5018913
oh boy here we go killin

Rolled 54 (1d100)

>>5018913

Rolled 68, 92, 69, 18, 16 = 263 (5d100)

>>5018727
>>5018739
>>5018769
>>5018770
>>5018813
>>5018873
>Collins, hold in place.
>Civilians, move west ASAP.
>Mech/infantry combined division, both units attack B3.
>Move one allied unit to fortify friendly unit 2, and move the other to engage B3.

First two rolls are Collins' troops Defense rolls, last 3 rolls are enemy unit Assault rolls.

Roll me 3d100 for 3 assaults; DC 15

Base DC: 50
Flanking: -5
Combined Assault Bonus: -25
Outnumbered (Minor): -5

>>5018923
>>5018922
These rolls count, sorry 'bout the deleted post; still figuring out formatting.

Rolled 93, 57, 46 = 196 (3d100)

>>5018928

Higher is better right?

>>5019000
Yes, higher is better.

Still need two 3d100 rolls.

Rolled 79, 58, 91 = 228 (3d100)

>>5019001

Rolled 29, 49, 9 = 87 (3d100)

>>5019001

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>>5018952
>>5019004
>>5019010
93, 58, 91. Two resounding successes and one strong performance. Collins rolled very well defending, as well.

The sounds of simulated gunfire echoed across the hills and plains in the small mock village. With coordination between the infantry and mechanized units being near perfect, you were able to dismantle the enemy unit in the open road within only a few minutes, their un-entrenched positions being woefully insufficient to deter a combined-arms attack such as the one you threw at them.

With almost no losses, you are able to take their position and press on. Unfortunately.. it seems like that was the easy part.


Up north, you can hear Collins' easternmost unit being torn to shreds (Battalion 1 HP: 70%). With your timely reinforcements, and the denial of flanking, the other troops fare slightly better and bloody the enemy just as well as they get hit themselves (Battalion 2 HP: 85%), though without the support of your mechanized units or most of your infantry, it will take time to dislodge the opposing force from their positions in the slums. Your transceiver ferries you another radio message.

Sir, Captain Collins speaking. My men are coming under increased attack from both south and east; requesting permission to fall back to the town hall as the civilians evacuate. You can hear the crackle of simulated gunfire in the background. We will try to hold if we must, but we are outnumbered 2:1, rapidly approaching worse. Collins out!

The civilians are ready to move and will proceed due west until told otherwise. Once they exit the exercise zone, your primary objective is complete. 3 TURNS TO PRIMARY OBJECTIVE COMPLETE

Do you grant Collins permission to withdraw?
>Yes, Captain, get your men to better positions.
>We have to hold the road-- unit 1 can fall back, unit 2 is to remain in place.
>No, Captain, keep your men in place. I have a plan.
>Unit 1 can fall back, Unit 2 is to join the assault on the village south of their position.
>Write in?

What will your units do?
Units that enter a square that is in active combat will always default to Defense the next turn, unless explicitly ordered to do something else.

1:
>Push into the village at C3; they're fortified but we must take that position to hold against the enemy armor.
>Send the mech unit into the village and the infantry unit to C4 to establish a wider front.
>Write in?

2:
>Join in the assault on C3.
>Move north to the town hall.
>Move north to escort the civilians.
>Write in?

3:
>Remain in place and dig in to assist Collins' troops (will grant GOOSE AND MAVERICK bonus to humans)
>Counter-attack with overwhelming force into C3 (will cause additional casualties)
>Counter-attack the enemy in D2 to give Collins' northern troops a better chance to retreat
>Write in?

>>5019069
collins:
>We have to hold the road-- unit 1 can fall back, unit 2 is to remain in place.

1:
>Push into the village at C3; they're fortified but we must take that position to hold against the enemy armor.

2:
>Join in the assault on C3.

3:
>Remain in place and dig in to assist Collins' troops (will grant GOOSE AND MAVERICK bonus to humans)

>>5019081
This

Closing the vote in one hour.

>>5019081
With this option, remember that you can only have 2 units occupy a given square. Which of your units would you like to occupy the village assuming the assault succeeds?

If no response, I'll assume the mechanized unit and the least damaged infantry unit.

>>5019132
move the mech and infantry unit into the village and if possible move unit 2 to reinforce friendly one in the town the civvies are in currently

Rolled 11, 34, 60, 73, 90, 67 = 335 (6d100)

>>5019093
>>5019081
>>5019146
Alright, we'll call this vote here. Roll me 3d100 for the assaults, and 1d100 for Defense, 4d100 total.

DC: 40 for Assault, 50 for Defense

Assault DC Base: 50
Combined Assault Bonus: -25
Outnumbered (Minor): -5
Dug In: +10
Urban Terrain: +10

Base Defense DC: 50
Combined Defense Bonus: -10
Outflanked: +5
Open Terrain: +5

Rolled 24 (1d100)

>>5019201
defense roll

Rolled 53, 13, 34 = 100 (3d100)

>>5019201
Assault roll

>>5019205
>>5019222
A reminder that these are best of 3; still need two rolls of 4d100.

Rolled 4, 27, 75, 93 = 199 (4d100)

>>5019201
>>5019245
Goddamn best of three for multiple rolls make me incredibly greasy, the dice gods are too scary.

So the first die is for defense and the others are for the assault actions, yes?

>>5019251
That's correct!

Rolled 36, 21, 10, 53 = 120 (4d100)

Lets see if there's any luck in the air for the TactiCom bot defense...

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>>5019322
Well, it's at least one less degree of failure for the defense.

So we have 36, 53, 75 and 93. Mediocre to absolutely fantastic successes on the Assault rolls at least.

By the way, which one of the 6d100 you rolled earlier is for our friendly Infantry? Praying that it's the last two so they can carry our defense right now.

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>>5019337
Unfortunately, it was the first two rolls that the allied defenders had.

https://youtu.be/haEoo0RHu-Q?t=27

A bloody counteroffensive takes place in the streets, shacks and shops of the southern slums as the battle drones use their simunitions to flush out enemies, the booming cannon of the mech units blasting "holes" in the shipping container houses. It takes a toll- Infantry Battalion 1 at 85% strength, but luckily the mechs remain relatively untouched and control of the line of battle is established to the point where your primary objective is likely secured.

It's a rush to watch as the successes in the south take place, but elsewhere, things are more grim. Both bots and bodies dig in in the central road area, doing their best to fend off determined enemy pushes; if much more comes their way, they won't be able to stop a breakthrough.

Friendly Infantry Battalion 2 at 60% strength. Infantry Battalion 3 at 75% strength.

Even more grim is the state of the northernmost troops- Captain Collins reports that his men are combat ineffective with the amount of simulated casualties they have sustained. Friend Infantry Battalion 1 has been reduced below half strength. It will take a substantial penalty to all rolls.

Luckily, however, your bots have made their way to the town hall position, and from such a position of strength may very well be able to hold the pair of besieging enemy units by itself.


Alas, the bad news just doesn't end. The Demolisher tanks have finally finished lumbering their way across open ground to reach your troops; they look to be preparing for an assault on the southern town in an attempt to roll up your lines.

What are your orders?

Collins:
>Battalion 1, fall back behind friendly lines; Battalion 2, continue holding to the best of your ability.
>All units, hold the line!
>Write in?

1:
>Dig in, and prepare for enemy attack. (Allows for a Defense.)
>Counterattack against the armor so we can push through the enemy! (High risk, high reward.)
>Write in?

2:
>Dig in and prepare for enemy attack. (Allows for a Defense.)
>Write in?

3:
>Continue to hold here.
>SPECIAL: Continue holding, but replace the human troops at all of the most risky defense points. (Will increase casualties of your troops.)
>Write in?

>Anything else?

>>5019343
Collins
>Battalion 1, fall back behind friendly lines; Battalion 2, continue holding to the best of your ability.
There really is no choice here, Battalion 1 will most likely be destroyed if it has to fight any more. Have them fall back and escort the civies.

1:
>Dig in, and prepare for enemy attack. (Allows for a Defense.)
>Other: Have the Mechs use a Barrage action on the approaching armor to weaken it before it engages the entrenched positions.
If we can't do the Barrage action before the Defense action, disregard this and just have the Mechs dig in too.

2:
>Dig in and prepare for enemy attack. (Allows for a Defense.)

3:
>SPECIAL: Continue holding, but replace the human troops at all of the most risky defense points. (Will increase casualties of your troops
We are exendable, Humanity is not. Beep boop.

We're basically in the position we want to be in right now, we just have to hold and let the enemy exhaust themselves on our line while the civilians escape. Barring really shit rolls this shouldn't be much of a challenge.

What is scary though is the Demolisher tanks +Massive bonus to Assault actions, not sure if digging in could properly negate it's effect. If we counter attack it and succeed we can roll up the enemy left flank and demolish the whole frontline, but we gamble the whole mission on it. Ultimately I feel it's better to hold the line here rather than to risk unneeded heroism.

>>5019377

+ 1

>>5019377
support

>>5019377
Support.

>>5019377
Looks about right given our priorities. But how does our programming rank preserving human military personnel versus taking out armor/ HQs/ other HVTs ?

Rolled 95, 55, 79, 22, 44 = 295 (5d100)

>>5019686
Your decision matrix is flexible, and you have to balance two very different primary functionalities: destroy HCON-tasked targets, and preserve human life.

>>5019377
>>5019481
>>5019534
>>5019679
>>5019686
We'll call this vote here. 4d100 bo3 for defense please; first roll will be northern town hall Defense, second roll will be road defense, and the last two will be to resist the mighty Demolisher tanks.

First roll DC: 50
Base DC: 50
Combined Defense Bonus: -5
Outnumbered (Moderate): +10
Urban Terrain: -10
Attack Pressure (stacks for each consecutive turn spent attacking one target): +5

Second roll DC: 47
Base DC: 50
Combined Defense Bonus: -10
GOOSE AND MAVERICK: -2
Dug In: -5
Open Terrain: +5
Attack Pressure: +5
Casualties: +5

3rd and 4th roll DC: 33
Base DC: 50
Combined Defense Bonus: -10
Urban Terrain (Degraded): -7

As an aside, counterattacking allows a contested Assault roll rather than a Defense roll, but carries a substantial cost in casualties. Defending is useful in that it allows you to utilize the terrain advantages of the area, and the Dug In bonus that gets applied after multiple turns of Defending.

Enemy dice are top to bottom, first two are enemy infantry assaulting the town hall, second two against the road, and last one for the tanks.

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Rolled 23, 44, 71, 97 = 235 (4d100)

>>5019731
>enemy rolls a 95 on it's assault rolls
At least it wasn't the tanks that rolled like a God

Rolled 35, 64, 15, 57 = 171 (4d100)

>>5019731

Rolled 92, 84, 85, 94 = 355 (4d100)

>>5019731

Rolled 64, 87, 42, 46 = 239 (4d100)

>>5019731

Rolled 17, 15, 72, 16 = 120 (4d100)

>>5019731

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>>5019735
>>5019736
>>5019751
>>5019779
>>5019783

92 (vs 50), 87 (vs 47), 85 and 94 (vs 33).

The battle continues to unfold, the booming of the Demolisher twin cannons finally joining the fray as they roll into the southern village. The fighting there is intense, vicious, and your troops manage to retain a tenuous hold on the village, ruining a half dozen of the tanks. Fighting continues to rage in the alleyways and streets of the slum, but it looks like if you can keep up the pace, the enemy armored unit will collapse before your men will.

Enemy armored unit around 50% strength.
Infantry unit 1 at 55% strength, mech unit 1 at 75% strength.

Collins' men pull back from the town hall, falling back into the northern village to cover the retreat of the civilians and lick their wounds. The troops are clearly glad for the respite of your own bots; but just as soon as the bots march up, the enemy redoubles their attack on the town hall building. Luckily, you set up an ingenious defensive tactic with layered grenade tosses and excellent overlapping fields of fire, and manage to stymie the enemy attack yet again, though against their numbers and momentum, you're not sure that you can pull that off again.

Enemy infantry unit 6 at 50% strength.
Infantry unit 2 at 70% strength.

The road, however- the lynchpin of the defense, for even now, if the enemy can break these men, they'll be able to get within striking range of the civilians- holds yet again. With magnificent efficiency and self-sacrifice worthy of poetry (were it not for the fact that this is an exercise), the battle drones take up the machine guns and frontal positions, weathering the brunt of the enemy attack. And weather it they do-- your troops are left much worse for wear-- but Collins' battalion remains hale and ready to continue fighting. The men clearly take notice. The enemy reserve battalion moves in to keep up the pressure on the road defenses after one of their battalions breaks-- which leaves their southern flank dangerously underdefended. It seems that the enemy commander has committed to your center.


Enemy unit 7 reduced to 50% strength.. morale test failed, routing.
Enemy unit 4 reduced to 50% strength.. morale test passed.

Routing units get one chance to rally on their next turn. If they pass, they automatically defend in their space; if they fail, they are removed from the battlefield. Attacking a routing unit will cause it to always fail this check. This check is always hidden!

Infantry unit 3 at 60% strength.
Friendly infantry unit 2 at 60% strength.

The initiative is clearly moving towards your side-- it only remains to be seen if your troops in the north and center can hold long enough to allow your heavier bots to overcome the enemy line. The crucial moment is at hand!

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>>5019820
Primary objective is complete at the end of next turn.

What will you do?

Collins:
>Hold positions as is, carry on defense.
>1, hold position. 2, counter-attack in the center!
>Write in?

1:
>All units, counter-assault into the tanks. They're hurt, so we have a chance! (Increased risk of casualties, moderately risky)
>All units, carry on holding here. We can afford to wait, trust in the sturdiness of our northern troops! (Defend.)
>Mech unit, bombard the tanks. Infantry unit, counter-attack after bombardment!
>Write in?

2:
>Hold on as best you can! (Defend, enemy pressure is substantial-- risky!)
>Fall back with Collins' men, they've had a chance to recover their breath. (Defend in Collins' unit 1 space; enemies will still be able to reach you but you'll have more troops to defend with.)
>Write in?

3:
>Continue your hold in the center- we're relying on you! (Defend.)
>Counter-attack with Collins' battalion 2; we're going on the offense!
>Write in?

>>5019821
>Hold positions as is, carry on defense.
>Mech unit, bombard the tanks. Infantry unit, counter-attack after bombardment!
>Hold on as best you can! (Defend, enemy pressure is substantial-- risky!)
>Continue your hold in the center- we're relying on you! (Defend.)

We must destroy the tanks ASAP, but the rest of our units can hold their ground and let the enemy infantry into the meatgrinder.

QM, what, if any, defenses are there in the enemy HQ? I want to know what it will take to fulfill our second secondary objective.

>>5019832
HQ buildings are undefended unless there's a unit stationed there, or otherwise noted. In this case, neither of those things are true. To capture the HQ, you'll just need to move a unit into the square uncontested by enemies.

>>5019821
collins:
>1, hold position. 2, counter-attack in the center!

1:
>All units, counter-assault into the tanks. They're hurt, so we have a chance! (Increased risk of casualties, moderately risky)

2:

>Fall back with Collins' men, they've had a chance to recover their breath. (Defend in Collins' unit 1 space; enemies will still be able to reach you but you'll have more troops to defend with.)

3:
>Counter-attack with Collins' battalion 2; we're going on the offense!

now that they expect us to hold and whether we punch through the south and bloody the center giving us a clear route to the enemy hq and (hopefully) giving us the chance to pull the humans out where we can advance down the road

>>5019832
Support this one, solid logic.

>>5019878
>>5019859
>>5019832
Closing this vote in one hour.

Rolled 25, 39, 11, 65, 75 = 215 (5d100)

>>5019954
Alright, calling it here. Give me 4d100, bo3!
First d100 is for town hall Defense, second one is for center Defense, third one is for the mech Barrage, and fourth one is for the valiant infantry Assault into the tanks.

My dice are for Collins in the center first, and then the enemies assaulting top to bottom.

Rolled 27, 67, 91, 87 = 272 (4d100)

>>5020018

Rolled 18, 48, 90, 34 = 190 (4d100)

>>5020018

Rolled 65, 35, 13, 19 = 132 (4d100)

>>5020018

>>5020021
>>5020046
>>5020063
Oops, forgot DCs.
Assault DC was 50
Base DC: 50
Combined Assault Bonus: -10
Casualties (Moderate): +10

Defense DCs were 60 for the Town Hall and 75 for the road.

Townhall Base DC: 50
Combined Defense Bonus: -5
Urban Terrain: -10
Outnumbered (Moderate): +10
Casualties (Minor): +5
Attack Pressure (stacks for each consecutive turn spent attacking one target): +10

Road Base DC: 50
Combined Defense Bonus: -10
Open Terrain: +5
Outnumbered (Moderate): +10
Casualties (Moderate): +10
Attack Pressure (stacks for each consecutive turn spent attacking one target): +10

Barrage never has a DC unless the enemy has special abilities or cover; 1-20 inflicts superficial damage, 21-40 inflicts minor damage, 40-80 inflicts moderate damage, and 80-100 inflicts major damage-- all relative to a normal amount of health, such as that of an infantry unit.

All that being said, almost done writing here. Congrats on your first win, TACTICOM!

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With your processors whirring and churning, databanks recording every inch of your first non-simulated engagement, and your core working hard, you can almost feel the battle turn in your favor. Though you know inherently that your silicon circuitry has no true feeling, this is what you were made for, and it feels like nothing else you've ever experienced in your seven year existence.

The bots in the north seemed to have a daunting task ahead of them, but you follow up your previous masterpiece with a more subdued, standard defense in depth. More of the troops go down than you would like, but they drive off a full unit of enemy troops as well as frustrating the next attack wave, leaving the enemy advance in the north entirely out of steam.

In the center, things go more poorly. Your units are beaten to a pulp by the advancing enemy infantry, the roadside positions finally smoked out and snuffed from existence. Thankfully, however, despite casualties, they manage to hold onto the position, if only by dint of tenacity and the retreat of an enemy unit after immense battlefield casualties.

This proves to be enough, because following a massive barrage of (simulated) 85mm shells, the enemy armor is cowed and damaged to a sufficient extent that your infantrymen can make a mad dash across the open field and stuff grenades in open hatches, down barrels, and dent exhaust vents with their shovels. Some of the tank commanders shout angrily at the bots-- "It's just an exercise, you dumb bucket of bolts!"-- but they carry on, almost gleefully, until the coordinators of the games call the unit out for good.

Finally, off well to the rear of your troops, you can see Collins' men escorting the gaggle of civilians off the field, urging them to hurry up. As the last one makes their way across the large red lines, a blaring horn sounds.

Primary objective complete!

Off in the distance, far from your troops, you see a white flag raise up from the enemy HQ.

Congratulations, computer, a voice you recognize as Major General Hal Overstead (HCON HEAD OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AUTHORIZED USER, |SUPERIOR OFFICER) says over the radio, That's certainly good enough for me. Please, attend to General Macmillan in Department L; well played. Set your drones for return to facilities.

All secondary objectives completed!

Yes, sir, you automatically and instinctively respond. Maj. Gen. Overstead has been over Dr. Morgan's shoulder the entire process of your development. A fair assessment of his demeanor during that period of time would be "strict, paternal, and contributive"- you are of the opinion that he is a good man, and one that HCON needs more of if humanity is to survive it's war with the Vash'atun.

[1/2]

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>>5020407
Large megaphones blare "ENDEX, ENDEX, ENDEX" over and over again as men, both metal and flesh, leave the field of simulated battle. You carry on a few conversations with interested parties through the bodies of your drones-- some of the troops are curious as to their tactics and procedures; you gladly inform them of Clausewitz's doctrine for forward assault lines. Others are more interested in the maneuver that you pulled in the centerline road, to which you respond graciously that it's only in your programming. The overall perception of your drones-- and you- amongst these men improves.

Simultaneously, back in the command center, General Macmillan claps goodheartedly along with the Department L staff. By your facial detection routines, he looks somewhat impressed, but mostly excited; in contrast, his staff are overwhelmed by your performance and are in shock.

Gen. Macmillan: Well, that was some mighty fine maneuverin' you did there, TACTICOM. Good work. Give us a quick debrief-- maybe my colonels here can learn a trick or two from you.

>"Well, General, it was simple. After my opponent committed to the centerline road, I realized that I could drive through his isolated armored unit in the south; after utilizing the heavy cannons of my mechanized troops, I was able to roll up the enemy line and cause a general rout."

>"I owe most of my success to the absolute tenacity of my allies. If Captain Collins' men had not held out for as long as they did, and stayed in the fight as long as they had, my own drones would have been incapable of holding the line alone. Through our combined prowess, we were able to defeat the enemy."

>"Warfare, in my brief experience, is a combination of luck, skill, and toughness. My troops and my allies exhibited all three 'in spades', as humans say."

[2/2]

>>5020413
>"Warfare, in my brief experience, is a combination of luck, skill, and toughness. My troops and my allies exhibited all three 'in spades', as humans say."

Assuming these choices will set the base for our future combat doctrine, Option 1 would probably be more offensive in nature, Option 2 most likely defensive/supportive role and Option 3 a 'jack-of-all trades' flexible approach. I like the third option best, but can settle for the first too depending on other anons.

Unless I'm just overthinking this and it's just my autism getting in the way of a nornal debriefing.

>>5020435
All dialogue options will have a little bit of effect on TACTICOM's development-- not dissimilar to a Bioware/Obsidian Entertainment game -- but it's not as deep as you're thinking in this case.

>>5020413
>>"I owe most of my success to the absolute tenacity of my allies. If Captain Collins' men had not held out for as long as they did, and stayed in the fight as long as they had, my own drones would have been incapable of holding the line alone. Through our combined prowess, we were able to defeat the enemy."

>>5020413
>"I owe most of my success to the absolute tenacity of my allies. If Captain Collins' men had not held out for as long as they did, and stayed in the fight as long as they had, my own drones would have been incapable of holding the line alone. Through our combined prowess, we were able to defeat the enemy."

>>5020413
wait how did you do blue text

>>5020585
If you're the OP of a thread, you can use [ blue ] [ /blue ] (without the extra spaces) to make a section of text blue. Also works for red and green.

>>5020413
>>"I owe most of my success to the absolute tenacity of my allies. If Captain Collins' men had not held out for as long as they did, and stayed in the fight as long as they had, my own drones would have been incapable of holding the line alone. Through our combined prowess, we were able to defeat the enemy."

>>5020413
>>"I owe most of my success to the absolute tenacity of my allies. If Captain Collins' men had not held out for as long as they did, and stayed in the fight as long as they had, my own drones would have been incapable of holding the line alone. Through our combined prowess, we were able to defeat the enemy."

>>5020413
>>"Warfare, in my brief experience, is a combination of luck, skill, and toughness. My troops and my allies exhibited all three 'in spades', as humans say."

We don't want to make it look like we're fully dependent on humans.

>>5020435
>>5020765
2 votes for luck, skill and toughness

>>5020503
>>5020554
>>5020675
>>5020711
4 votes for allies were the linchpin

Alright, we have a winner. Writing now.

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>>5021125
You turn your speaker on so that everyone can hear you and begin a very humble, short debriefing.

"General, frankly, I owe most of my success to the absolute tenacity of my allies. If Captain Collins' men had not held out for as long as they did, and stayed in the fight as long as they had, my own drones would have been incapable of holding the line alone. Through our combined prowess, we were able to defeat the enemy."

He snorts as a pair of the colonels whip out notepads and start scribbling trite notes on tenacity and grit.

Gen. Macmillan:Well, damn. If all we need is more men like Collins'.. it's a shame most of 'em died about five years ago. Unfortunately, not all of your allies are going to be quite as good as him, but lucky for you, I think we can afford to keep the man himself with you as a liason. If you'd like, that is.

Macmillan turns away for a moment muttering something to an aide about, "Go get that Captain a promotion to Major."

That's an interesting thought. You've already interfaced with this particular human-- maybe that can form the basis for an enhanced bond; your personality and emotion matrix seems to think it'd be a good match. On the other hand, it might be better to wait for a different, more expanded selection of liasons, so that you can tailor one to your needs.

Dr. Morgan:Well, in any case, TACTICOM, we have a few things to go over before we can determine your first live deployment. We're granting you full Warnet access now at your provisional rank, but that'll take a few days; I'm uploading a few things to your core now.

A pair of files pop into existence in your data repository-- one labeled GLOBAL_THREAT_MAP and the other labeled DEPT_L_PROJ_. Dr. Morgan pulls the first one up onscreen.

Dr. Morgan:I'll let you make your own conclusions about this one, TC, but this is the extent of enemy occupation on Earth. It's estimated at about 40% of the world's landmass is occupied at this time, and since all of our satellites are down, we've only got the occasional spyplane flyover to rely on for what's happening to those people. The general verdict is, whatever it is, it isn't good.

The red stars signify locations we've identified as major enemy commands-- places where their starships disgorge a lot of materiel and men to. If we could push our lines forward to any of those four- and that's a stretch- it'd set them back substantially.

Gen. Macmillan:HCON considered nukes, but the Russians unilaterally fired a few at the orbitals back in '75, and look where that got them. They're a dying people after the Horde doubled down on putting Brezhnev to sleep. Most of what used to be their country is under Bug control these days. We're stuck slugging it out conventional-style, at least until things get a lot more grim.

[1/3]

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>>5021676

Dr. Morgan:We just don't have enough architecture for you to be everywhere at once, TC. We want your input on where we should send you-- the General and I, along with the rest of Department L, have spoken and we're split; some of us think you should go one place, others somewhere else. R&D is of the opinion that you should take things a bit slower with something relatively simple-- the Alaskan campaign, maybe the Balkans-- but the command staff thinks you're ready for more.

Gen. Macmillan:We'll hold off on the final decision until we're finished with your call on an XO and the next thing that good Doctor has for you, but I'd prefer we get an asset like you right into the thick of things in Pacific Command or AFRICOM. We need a wonder weapon badly, and one that doesn't cost me any men is as good as it gets. No offense to the drones.

Dr. Morgan:While you think about that, TC, let's go ahead and open the second file. I'm sure you'll like this one.

You open the file and are presented with a beauty to behold: a drone unit that looks to be far more advanced than the rest you've seen so far. A commando unit, maybe? You analyze and process, but you can't imagine what the purpose of this construction could be.

"What.. is that?"

Maj. Gen. Overstead:That, Tactical Computer, is your Mobile Command Drone.

Dr. MorganTC, I had to beg the boss here day and night to get this! The MCD has the best of everything that we've scavenged and innovated in the past 7 years; prototype compressed titanium-carbide weave armor, gravity-induced fusion power plant, and a full command suite. You'll still need your core to be near the battlefield, but with this you could handle a few hundred drones without it. It makes sure that you'll never get deactivated if your core goes down.. though it'd still be a real rough time. There's also a little surprise I've thrown in there that you'll have to figure out yourself.

"Excellent. Thank you all for this augmentation; I will be sure to utilize it well," you respond, as excitedly as your robotic voice will allow. There are many drones that are all "you", more or less, but to have a body of your own opens a myriad of possibilities. Many of your readings have stated that troops led from the front perform best, and with that kind of armor, you'd have to be shot by a tank to even feel it-- so maybe you'll be able to test the theory out.

The MCD allows TACTICOM to particpate personally in combats with little risk to itself, and expands the range of the battlefield substantially by functioning as a repeater for the command core. While it can be destroyed, it is a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield and is capable of low-level superhero feats of strength, speed and durability.
[2/3]

>>5021683
Gen. Macmillan:Well, TACTICOM, take a minute to think it over. Once you've decided on everything, we'll head to the factory complex and walk you through the manufacturing we have available, so you can keep us informed in the field of what you need.

>Keep Major Collins on as your second in command and liason
>Wait for a more robust selection of officers

>"I am prepared for high-intensity operations, General. PACOM or AFRICOM are both amenable." (Side with the General and go right into major combat ops)
>"I'd prefer to get my bearings a bit, General." (Side with the R&D personnel, and take things a bit slower with a less-active theatre of war)
>"I believe, gentlemen, that there is a middle ground. Why not something more modest than Africa or Asia but higher intensity than Alaska?" (Take the middle ground and recommend a moderate pacing. Note: Some of the unmentioned theatres have unique challenges!)
>Go with whatever the staff ends up coming to a consensus on. You have no input.

Dr. Morgan's Surprise
>An arm-mounted, scavenged gravity impulse cannon (Makes the MCD more formidable in personal combat, and gives a small bonus to Assault roles when attached to an assaulting unit.)
>A pair of small, flight-capable drone backpacks (Allows use of Raven Reconnaissance Drones 2 times per mission for scouting)
>An enhanced vocal modulator (Makes the MCD capable of more human-like speech- good for deception or bonding with squishy flesh beings)

>>5021685
>"I believe, gentlemen, that there is a middle ground. Why not something more modest than Africa or Asia but higher intensity than Alaska?" (Take the middle ground and recommend a moderate pacing. Note: Some of the unmentioned theatres have unique challenges!)
>An enhanced vocal modulator (Makes the MCD capable of more human-like speech- good for deception or bonding with squishy flesh beings)

>>5021685
>Keep Major Collins on as your second in command and liason
We already commited to Collins with the previous choice, even if he rolled dice like shit. Might as well keep on nurturing that relationship now.

>"I believe, gentlemen, that there is a middle ground. Why not something more modest than Africa or Asia but higher intensity than Alaska?" (Take the middle ground and recommend a moderate pacing. Note: Some of the unmentioned theatres have unique challenges!)
I want to start out slightly faster than Alaska, but not go pedal to the medal right away. The good doctor mentioned that the Balkans needed liberating, I think this is a good place to start out then. Specifically Albania, to secure it's Chromium mines. With the USSR mostly occupied and Africa/Asia contested most of the world's Chromium reserves are unavailable to us, making production of stainless steel almost impossible as it is. We take back the Balkans and Anatolia and restart Chromium mining we can start producing higher quality robots for our army. The Balkans also has Bauxite deposits which contains a lot of Aluminium, which would also be used in the electronics for the Bots.
Turbo autism over.

>A pair of small, flight-capable drone backpacks (Allows use of Raven Reconnaissance Drones 2 times per mission for scouting)
Proper intel wins battles. We can bond with our fleshy patrons by dying valiantly to protect them instead.

>>5021685
>Keep Major Collins on as your second in command and liason

>"I'd prefer to get my bearings a bit, General." (Side with the R&D personnel, and take things a bit slower with a less-active theatre of war)
let's get to know things a bit more, one step at a time

>A pair of small, flight-capable drone backpacks (Allows use of Raven Reconnaissance Drones 2 times per mission for scouting)

>>5021729
good point, it's always good to know where the enemies are

>>5021729
+1, err to the side of venerable weaponized autism

>>5021685
>Keep Major Collins on as your second in command and liason
>"I believe, gentlemen, that there is a middle ground. Why not something more modest than Africa or Asia but higher intensity than Alaska?" (Take the middle ground and recommend a moderate pacing. Note: Some of the unmentioned theatres have unique challenges!)
MEXICOM
>A pair of small, flight-capable drone backpacks (Allows use of Raven Reconnaissance Drones 2 times per mission for scouting)

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>>5021698
>>5021729
>>5021851
>>5021891
>>5021907

Seems like Collins and the drones are the favorite, but if you were to want to go somewhere more middle-ground, you'd be picking between:

>The Balkans
BRIEFING: The area containing the former countries known as Yugoslavia, Greece, Bulgaria, and Romania is a land rich in natural resources, possessing a fiercely resistant populace. Stemming the tide of the Red Horde often seems an endless task, but if there is one thing that the residents of the Balkans can agree on it is that arthropods need crushing. The Vash'atun view the region as a distant priority and an annoying thorn in their side that has taken far more than it's fair share of resources up already.

Should you choose to take a posting here, it would likely involve supporting partisan actions or regaining important mines and production sites from the enemy. Resupply and repair might be difficult, but you would certainly have an opportunity to cut your teeth against a proven enemy.

>Mexico
BRIEFING: The Central American mega-landbridge region is-- and has been since time immemorial-- a thick, forested jungle. Unfortunately, this type of terrain has always proven advantageous to insectoids; even with the concerted efforts of the American, Mexican, and Cuban governments, the North American landing nexus has proven impregnable. Analysts have detected an obsession with the area on the part of the Horde, in such a manner that they throw themselves into the guns of allied troops with a fervor beyond normal.

Should you choose to take a posting here, it would likely involve siege operations and attachment to special operations groups in a more personal capacity. To say that the situation could get hard is simplification; bots do not fare well in deep jungle in the numbers that you are accustomed to, and it would be a difficult role. However, the enemy is certainly hiding a secret here, and it might be a war-winning one.

>NW Russia
BRIEFING:Known as the Tank Graveyard, this region of ex-Soviet influence is a monument to the fallacy of Cold War tactics in the face of a literally alien adversary. Some 6 years ago, a senior Soviet field marshal led an army of tankers and support troops into a recently-landed enemy contingent; not only was the entire army eliminated in a matter of days by newly mastered anti-tank operations on the part of the Horde, the casualty rate was over 80%. It dealt the Russians a blow that they have yet to recover from.

Should you choose to take a posting here, you would almost certainly be attempting to glean some hint of intelligence from the enemy tactics in the region. Post-Battle of Cherepovets, the Vash'atun set up some sort of testing ground and school of Earth warfare in the area; we suspect there to be an ongoing evolution of the Red Horde war doctrine centered around this area. Probing it out before it can be used would be a victory indeed.

>>5022029
>Mexico

>>5022029
>NW Russia

>>5022029
>>Mexico
>>5022029
I know the Balkan mines are interesting, but I don't like having bugs hiding secrets right on our doorstep. There's also the advantage of it being the ship landing with the least amount of occupied territory to punch through. Its jungle, yes, but the sooner we get on it, the sooner we can stall them.

>>5022029
>>Mexico

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>>5022029
>The Balkans
Remove Insectoids

>>5022029
>>The Balkans
Looking on the global map, the balkans seems a staging ground alongside Russia for take over Europe and Middle east. If we take it out, aliens have just russia.

Inquire if it would be wise to have some reporter with us, so for show what we do. Could be a morale boost for everyone around the world to see us crushing the insects.

>>5022029
>>NW Russia

>>5022029
>>Mexico

>>5022029
>>NW Russia

>>5022029
>The Balkans

>>5022029

>>5022029
>Mexico

>>5022040
>>5022074
>>5022158
>>5022224
>>5022328
5 votes for Mexico

>>5022067
>>5022200
>>5022244
3 votes for the Cherepovets region

>>5022173
>>5022194
>>5022302
3 votes for the Balkans

Looks like the Chromium mines and Slavic heroes will have to wait for the time being; you have strange alien shit to figure out.

Writing now!

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>>5022401
"After careful consideration, I believe that there is a middle ground. Why not deploy this unit to the Central American theatre?" you vocalize as your processors whir and spin; after 10 million iterations of analysis on the matter and consideration of several other campaigns of similar intensity, you've come to the decision that facing something with a more esoteric bent will be helpful in your development. You'll be able to bring new perspectives with you after helping with the breaching of the Mexican nexus, no matter what the result is.

Reactions in the room range from surprised to incredulous, though there is one individual chortling with laughter. Now having entered the room and newly frocked with a golden oak leaf is Major Collins, doubled over with laughter.

Maj. Collins:Oh, yeah. We'll get along just fine.

Gen. Macmillan:If you're certain about this, TACTICOM, we will discuss it. I think we can make that work, though I'm sure you're aware of the reasons we didn't propose it in the first place.
Macmillan turns to one of the technicians in the HQ and the briefing screen shuts down. He proceeds up the steps out to the blast doors-- presumably to escort you to the drone manufactory.

You nod and walk slowly over to Major Collins, extending a cold metal hand. "Congratulations on your promotion, Major. I look forward to having you on my staff."
He looks at you for a moment longer than is usual for humans, clearly assaying you. In turn, you assess him. Collins is a human male of above-average height (1.85 meters) and mesomorphic body type; possessing brown hair, slight beard, and a worryingly common look of tiredness. Eventually, he responds, shaking your hand.

"Doesn't feel quite earned, but I'm sure we'll have plenty of cause to make that up in the coming weeks. Proud to serve under such a.. distinguished product as yourself. Shit, feels like I'm talking to an Academy graduate." Again, he laughs. This bodes well for the human bonding process, so you do your best to imitate his easygoing demeanor and initiate a slight laugh yourself, which only makes him crack up even harder.
Finally, that being done with, and your new XO following, you make your way up the stairs where General Macmillan, Doctor Morgan, and a host of colonels and aides wait. Proceeding out the blast doors and along a series of winding corridors which you are nominally familiar with, you finally reach the outer vault door and wait for the gigantic steel door to cycle.

As you stand there you listen to the excited conversation of the scientists, staff officers, and soldiers. The attitude seems to be well lifted from normal, far beyond the muted determination you have normally seen in this place during your long development. One of the soldiers- a young Corporal- turns to you.

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>>5022454

"Sir, I just wanted to say that I think you'll do great. We'll be here to support you the whole time. It's almost like we're your family."

A lieutenant's head snaps around as the corporal speaks to you, and begins to reprimand the man.

"You idiot, that's a General you're talking to. He's not your friend, Corporal Jiminez!"

"It's fine, Lieutenant. The man is excited, leave him be," you say, amusedly, "and I appreciate the support."

The doors cycle with a woosh of air and the clanking of gears, and you emerge into the cold March air. Far in the distance, past the walls and through the gates at the end of the main boulevard is the exercise area; and as you look with your very own optical sensors, your party moves along the streets quickly towards a large grey factory building. Even from here, a full kilometer away, you can hear the pounding of hammers and the humming of machinery. After a short walk, you meet a delegation of workmen, one of whom clearly holds authority over the others and eyes you excitedly.

The denim-coveralled man bulls through the entire group, completely ignoring the generals, top scientists and policymakers in favor of wrapping you in a bearlike hug.
"Hahaha, holy shit! It actually works! Fucking shit!"

Dr. Morgan sighs and turns to the man, physically pulling his arms off of your very confused frame. "Horst, get control of yourself."

The factory foreman grunts and nods, adjusting his clothing before clapping you on the metallic shoulder. "Yeah, I uh.. my bad. Just excited. Ladies and gents, welcome to the Foundry. Come on through."

The group steps through the threshold of the factory into a thrumming wonderland of technology and machinery most of them have never seen in their lives; for you, it is an equally strange experience. This is almost analogous to your birthplace, in a way, and the birthplace of all of your drones.

Horst, the foreman, animatedly walks you through the factory, indicating the exact press where your current body was made, introducing you to every worker on the floor, and he makes very clear to you that all available resources are at your disposal. Dr. Morgan, however, clarifies that the budget is limited and that any resources requisitioned will come out of a pool.

The Foundry will serve as your unit selection pool for various campaigns. You may be able to augment your unit selections in the field, or you may not; some units are more of a pain to repair than others. Choose carefully.

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>>5022507
General Macmillan concludes the tour by taking you to the administrative office and setting down a series of manila folders on the desk.
"TACTICOM, if you really want to go into the NORCOM theatre, this is what we've got available to produce right now. I'd strongly recommend some of the Harbinger drones; you'll need the light infantry in the deep jungle; but there's also bound to be plenty of fortifications and dug in areas. Make your choices and we'll get you sent off to San Diego ASAP. I'll get in touch with Vice Marshal Jin and let him know you and the bots are on the way."

Jin, Ye-oh Albert, Vice Marshal, HCON Mexico campaign commander. South Korean birth origin. Experienced in guerilla operations and siege of fortified positions.

"Excellent, General. I will inform you when I have made my choices."

You have 10 Production point to produce units for the upcoming Mexico campaign.

Included for free in your detachment:
1 unit of Logistics bots-- capable of carrying heavy loads and effecting repairs on your drones, so long as materials are available. Minor repairs can be effected in between missions, but damage that renders units below 75% strength will take longer.
1 unit of Comms bots-- usable for maintaining long-distance radio communications.

Keep in mind when making your selections that most missions will restrict the amount of units you can bring, and that some missions will restrict unit types.

Available units:
PATROCOLUS infantry drone battalion [Bonus to Assault and Defense, Moderate HP] [1 point]

PUNISHER mechanized walker drone unit [Large Bonus to Assault and Barrage, Bonus to Defense, High HP, Barrage Range: 2] [3 points]

HARBINGER light infantry drone battalion [Bonus to Assault, Moderate-Low HP, Expanded Vision Range, Move: 2] [2 points]

PANTHER mobile howitzer drone battery [Large Bonus to Barrage, Small Bonus to Defense, Barrage Range: 3] [4 points]

CLAW anti-air SAM drone battery [Small Bonus to Defense, Anti-Air Capable (Range: 5), Slow (Moves once every 2 turns)] [3 points]

>Make your selections!

>>5022509
>Following units :
PATROCOLUS x2
PUNISHER x1
HARBINGER x1
CLAW x1

A mixed force for deal with our enemy

>>5022523

+ 1

Sounds good. I was thinking of taking more Harbingers but I'd prefer to be a little more tanky.

>>5022509
>>5022509
PATROCOLUS x2
HARBINGER x2
PANTHER x1

I think we can rely on jungle cover and our allies to keep the skies clear here. I'd like to have the artillery support and extra Harbinger unit

>>5022523
>>5022509
+1, I have no changes I wish to make.

>>5022523
Support
>>5022540
The guy in charge is a siege expert. I think he'll have that covered. We're here to take the frontlines until his arty gets in position. Might as well get some AA to cover it.

>>5022509
HARBINGER X3
Panther X1

Three harbingers for jungle warfare and one panther for taking out entrenched enemy positions.

The CLAW is a trap choice, anti-air is not needed when fighting in a jungle because enemy aircraft won't be able to see us below the trees. Read about the failure of Operation Rolling Thunder in the Vietnam war (We'd be like the North Vietnamese in this scenario). The alien invasion started in December 1973 so I presume the Vietnam war happened in this universe and the information is in our databanks.

>>5022550
The Vietnam War, in-universe, ended in 1971 with the invasion.

>>5022509
PUNISHER x1
HARBINGER x2
CLAW x1

>>5022554
Sorry, 1973, you are correct.

>>5022550
Then again, look at Khe Sanh -- B-52s and C-130s were vital to the survival of the Marine garrison. Also, the French position at Dien Bien Phu was made vulnerable by the large amounts of Vietminh AAA that made resupply difficult.

>>5022540

Voting for this. Bringing tanks into the jungle seems like insanity, and I don't know that we want to try to duel the roaches in a jungle habitat with light troops only.

Seems to me that we'll want to draw the bugs (using their jungle madness, since apparently they're hyper aggressive in this theatre) into barrageable kill boxes

I'd definitely like the Panther, being able to send firebombs through the jungle would be a huge boon. We Vietnam now

>>5022554
>>5022556

Either way, Rolling Thunder was in the 1960s.

>>5022567
True, but I think we can trust the humans to give us operational air superiority.

>>5022523
>>5022527
>>5022541
>>5022542
4 votes for this comp with no changes; however,

>>5022540
>>5022550
>>5022600
>>5022604
4 votes that include the Panther howitzer in some manner.

>Keep the first loadout with AA capability and 2 infantry units.

>Go with a modified loadout that includes organic artillery support: 1x PATROCOLUS, 1x HARBINGER, 1x PUNISHER, 1x PANTHER

Closing this vote in 9 hours so we can move on.

>>5022540
Voting for this. I'm new and this quest seems really cool so far.

>>5023256
>Keep the first loadout with AA capability and 2 infantry units.
SAMs can be used to shutdown enemy Landing Zones.

>>5023256
>>Keep the first loadout with AA capability and 2 infantry units.

>>5023256
>>>Keep the first loadout with AA capability and 2 infantry units.

>>5023256
>>Go with a modified loadout that includes organic artillery support: 1x PATROCOLUS, 1x HARBINGER, 1x PUNISHER, 1x PANTHER

>>5023256

>>Go with a modified loadout that includes organic artillery support: 1x PATROCOLUS, 1x HARBINGER, 1x PUNISHER, 1x PANTHER

>>5023256
>Keep the first loadout with AA capability and 2 infantry units.

>>5023270
>>5023317
>>5023357
>>5023368
>>5023411
>>5023435
>>5023487
Looks like the AA load out takes it. Writing now!

>>5023270
Glad you're having a good time!

>>5023664
Oops. Forgot the trip.

>>5023664
You take some time to carefully weigh each infinitesimal adjustment in the troops that you're bringing to the deep jungles. It is a difficult task to choose your own destiny, so to speak; most military commanders in the past have only been able to exert the tiniest of changes on their ultimate tools of war, whereas you, in this time and place, have complete control of yours.

One of your largest problems in deciding what to bring with you is the struggle between organic artillery support or a similarly organic anti-aircraft capability; unfortunately bringing both would stress the manufactory to an extent that they simply could not provide sufficient mainline infantry troops. Ultimately, you settle on the fact that in a theatre already focused on siege operations, division-level artillery should be plentifully available. The anti-air might be underutilized in this particular environment, but better to have it than to not-- harrying enemy landing transports might very well make the difference in a battle.

With that done, you need only wait for the Foundry to finish producing your troops. Some of the infantry drones can be repurposed and modified for the jungle environment, but the rest will take a few days. Walking about the facility here, dedicated to the Research and Development department and Department L in general, there are a few things you could do-- no duties await you until you board the air flotilla to carry you to HCON Base San Diego.

What will you do with your time? (Pick up to two.)

>Run through an obstacle and firing course to test the upper limits of your new body
>Grab some extra goodies from the armory- grenades, a close combat weapon, maybe something other than the standard heavy assault rifle?
>Coordinate with Major Collins, see what men he will be bringing along (if any)
>Confer with Dept. L researchers to see what the next big leaps in capability are predicted to be
>Get some maneuver practice in the field with your troops

>>5023768
>Coordinate with Major Collins, see what men he will be bringing along (if any)
>Get some maneuver practice in the field with your troops

Make sure we're properly ready to go into the field, it's imperative we succeed in this first deployment so we can be used as a propaganda morale booster for all human troops currently fighting across the world.

>>5023768
>>Coordinate with Major Collins, see what men he will be bringing along (if any)
>Get some maneuver practice in the field with your troops

>>5023768
>>Coordinate with Major Collins, see what men he will be bringing along (if any)
>>Get some maneuver practice in the field with your troops

>>5023777
>>5023783
>>5023785
Coordinate with Collins and get some battlefield practice in wins. Writing now.

>>5023838

Dumb question, but can we make sure to repaint our drones in jungle camo? Do we know what light spectra the roaches see in?

Sometimes even the small things can give an edge.

>>5023860
Absolutely. Standard HCON jungle camouflage is in process of being applied as part of the refit and production of your new drones.

As for the specific spectra that the bugs see in, it's kind of a difficult thing. There's estimated to be 47 different species that make up the Collective. Most see in similar ranges that humans do, though some can see into infrared and there's a specific species that has a pair of eyes which can see into common radio ranges-- luckily that's a rare one.

>>5023860
>>5023872

We actually have a significant advantage over human troops in that we don't need to move, respire, or produce biological scents.

We might be superior ambushers especially if we artfully apply mud during ops?

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>>5023838
Considering only shortly what to do with your time, you remember your core purpose. You, as General Macmillan said, are to be humanity's shining sword against it's insectoid enemies. Therefore, you've got to be fully ready for when your first full deployment comes up soon-- and simulations can only be worth so much. One other thing comes to mind-- will Major Collins' men be joining you in the field?


Finding him in the barracks with a few of his senior NCOs and officers reviewing the exercise, you stride purposefully past the stares to his side. You watch carefully for a few minutes as he purposefully ignores you, finishing his debriefing with his men on what went right and what went wrong. It's mostly the latter-- his review of the action is scathing, laying the blame on both himself and his middle-management leaders.

"We have to be better," he finishes, patting each of the men on the back with a solid hand, "and I know we can, gents. Dismissed, enjoy the rest of your day off."

Finally, the major turns to you. "Sir. What can I do for you?"

"Will your men be accompanying us to Central America, Major?"

He grimaces-- it'd be imperceptible to most human beings, but you catch it for a half-moment even on his well-disciplined face-- and then nods.

"Yes, sir. My men are designated as both battlefield assets for you.. and also as your keepers. I'm not supposed to tell you that, but I believe in honesty between superiors and subordinates- both ways. We should be able to trust each other." Collins gives you a meaningful look, as if to say that expects the same from you in return.

"I assure you, Major. I intend to trust in you and your men fully," you respond.

He nods, but you can see again some feeling concealed under his visage. The man snaps to attention, gives you a salute- which you of course return- and he heads off after you confirm you don't need anything else from him.
The days pass quickly by as you coordinate small exercises with groups of your drones, fresh off the assembly line. Their dark, splotchy jungle camouflage stands out against the foothills of the Colorado mountains, but their coordination is impeccable, and your ability to manipulate them more efficiently develops by the hour. Three days after your decisions were made, you are met with an HQ jeep on your way back from the practice field. A uniformed Sergeant hands you a small sheaf of papers and tells you that you're to report to the airfield, effective immediately. A quick ride in the jeep later, and you're there, the small fleet of massive C-5 Galaxy planes already being loaded with men, materials, and drones.

It is time.

[1/???]

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>>5023946
You board the C-5 with great vigor, marching in to the dark, quiet atmosphere of a thousand boxed-up drones. One of the major advantages to these bots of yours is the ease of transport; a hundred-hundred drones can fit into the same space as a quarter of the amount of normal men. Airmen come up to the rear of the plane and ensure you're ready to move, and then the lights inside dim.

The travel south is one of the safest on the globe, so you shut most of your processes off and go into hibernation mode. In your "sleep", you run through your interactions with the men and women of Department L, thinking deeply of the young corporal who called those humans family to you. As a thinking machine, you are young-- only a few years old, a child by human standards-- but it doesn't feel like he was wrong. These people are relying on you to anchor their fading hope with your mechanical vigor, to be their strength in these dark times.

The clock subroutine sounds, jolting you out of your sleep. There are strange smells in your olfactory sensor as you come to and hear the rubber touch down on pavement. It is only a moment before the door in the rear of the aircraft opens with a whir and you are presented with the wrecked skyline of the city of San Diego. From what your memory banks have to say, the city took a major beating in intense urban fighting about 9 months ago as the Red Horde pushed their battle lines north. HCON forces won-- but the city lost. Even in a war where many civilians have died, the three-week-long campaign to dislodge the Bugs from the seaside city was one of the worst in terms of death of the innocent. It makes your mechanical blood boil to be reminded of the losses that the humans have gone through, just to remain in this fight for as long as they have.

In any case, as you watch, haulers from the local base make their way aboard to disembark your drones, and a man in elegant dress uniform regalia approaches. Vice Marshal Ye-oh Jin, by the looks of it, so you step off and greet him properly.

"Good afternoon, Vice Marshal, Brigadier General TACTICOM reporting for duty as ordered."

He waves a hand tiredly and returns your crisp salute with one of his own. "Yes, it is good you are finally here. We have been waiting for your arrival to make our southward push. Come to the war room and we'll start looking things over."

[2/3]

>>5024122
The Vice Marshal walks you across the tarmac, remaining silent as you follow. Collins trots up after getting his troops headed in the right direction- you watch as they make their way to a section of tents in this crowded base just outside the city- and greets both of you. Marshal Jin returns his greeting, and then continues moving at a brisk pace.

"Your flight go well, General?" Collins asks as he pulls out a cigarette, "Ours was bumpy as all hell. Swear these pilots practice their jinking and juking on the cargo flights just to fuck with us. Or they were some of those commercial draftees."


"I have the unique advantage of always being able to sleep on aircraft, Major Collins. It is quite a boon."


He chuckles and you both make your way to a more solid brick construction alongside the theater commander, where you pass through a heavy door. A sentry salutes and checks all of your credentials. A short walk down a silent hallway later, you arrive at the NORCOM war room, where, displayed on the wall, you can see the plans for an operation entitled "Operation Arrowhead".

Gathered around a map table are three older officers, a pair of Colonels and a man of your own rank, another Brigadier. They all snap to attention when the Vice Marshal enters the room, but quickly return to their discussion, which you and Marshal Jin are both immediately drawn into.

Over the course of the next few hours, the Marshal walks you through the plans to attack the enemy's northernmost lines in order to put pressure on them and force allocation of troops from the southern and eastern areas to the north. That, hopefully, will open up the door for a thrust from the east and south. It's a sound plan.

Unfortunately, there are a few roadblocks in the way. One is the forward fortifications that the Vash'atun have set up not more than 25 kilometers south of the city of San Diego; a stout line of pillboxes, dug-in artillery, and enemy airfields. Marshal Jin thinks himself capable of cracking the lines, but could use you there as a resilient spearhead- bots don't really break under pressure.


Also of note, the HCON intelligence unit here has gathered from enemy comms and human survivors of the violence that the enemy is looking for something in the city of Santa Ana, behind enemy lines by a good ways. Whether it's "the" thing they're looking for, or a lesser clue, no one is sure, but to foil their efforts and maybe get a better read on what the bugs are looking for, Jin is committing half a division to push through the area and insert a brigade's worth of men into the area.

He wants your opinion on where you think you'd be most useful.

>Send my bots into the grinder- I can help you most in tough, slogging fighting. (Join the assault on the Tijuana line)

>I'd perform best having some more space to maneuver, and I may be able to help with deciphering the enemy plans for the region. (Use your troops and Major Collins' Keepers to assist the daring raid on Santa Ana)

>>5024152
>>Send my bots into the grinder- I can help you most in tough, slogging fighting. (Join the assault on the Tijuana line)

Bots don't need to eat, drink or sleep, making us ideal for frontline combat. This is also the best way to make a strong first impression in our first real operation.

>>5024152

>I'd perform best having some more space to maneuver, and I may be able to help with deciphering the enemy plans for the region. (Use your troops and Major Collins' Keepers to assist the daring raid on Santa Ana)

We have a chance to catch them by surprise here both tactically and with our force disposition. A success here may also deny the enemy whatever they're seeking.

>>5024152
>I'd perform best having some more space to maneuver, and I may be able to help with deciphering the enemy plans for the region. (Use your troops and Major Collins' Keepers to assist the daring raid on Santa Ana)

I wanna figure out why these bugs are so interested in Mexico and this seems like a good way to do that

>>5024152
>Send my bots into the grinder- I can help you most in tough, slogging fighting. (Join the assault on the Tijuana line)

>>5024152
Jumping into the grinder so humans don't have to is what we were made for.
But the very reason we even went to Mexico is because bugs are obviously looking for something in the area, and to deny them this may be a way to win this war.
>I'd perform best having some more space to maneuver, and I may be able to help with deciphering the enemy plans for the region. (Use your troops and Major Collins' Keepers to assist the daring raid on Santa Ana)
Besides, 'a stout line of pillboxes, dug-in artillery, and enemy airfields' is not going anywhere. It may be annoying and supply bugs with reinforcements, but if our raid is successful that also may disrupt them enough that breaking through will be easier afterwards.

>>5024152
>I'd perform best having some more space to maneuver, and I may be able to help with deciphering the enemy plans for the region. (Use your troops and Major Collins' Keepers to assist the daring raid on Santa Ana)

I so far it seems we have decided on a flexible support approach

>>5024152
I'll leave this one open for another 12 hours or so; it determines the next substantial portion of play pretty heavily. Feel free to ask any questions you have in the meantime.

>>5024152
>>Send my bots into the grinder- I can help you most in tough, slogging fighting. (Join the assault on the Tijuana line)

Although I'm really curious about what's happening in Santa Ana. Minimizing human casualties is our main objective as a bot. Even if it's just a little.

>>5024152
>Send my bots into the grinder- I can help you most in tough, slogging fighting. (Join the assault on the Tijuana line)
We can do more good as a slogging machine as opposed to doing a commando strike. Breaking an enemy line and pushing them away from the US/Mexico border will have a higher impact on friendly Morale across the world. Securing the Tijuana line also cuts of the enemy supply and communication line to Santa Ana. Even if the unit there do find what they're looking for they won't be able to leave if we close the gap they came in from.

>>5024152
>I'd perform best having some more space to maneuver, and I may be able to help with deciphering the enemy plans for the region. (Use your troops and Major Collins' Keepers to assist the daring raid on Santa Ana
I was tempted to go for frontline combat, but as that one anon said, they're not going anywhere. We can always take care of them once we're done with that.

>>5024156
>>5024165
>>5024215
>>5024247
>>5024319
>>5024336
>>5024556
>>5024666
>>5024829
5 votes for Santa Ana, 4 votes for the assault. Close one, but calling it here, Santa Ana wins it. Writing.

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>>5024965
As the conversation and planning carries on from the early afternoon well into the evening, you mull over the options. While the human forces could certainly use aid of a robotic lead element, the mission deep into enemy lines has the ability to save more lives in the long run. With the enemy's attention drawn away from the north by your raid, you come to the conclusion that you'll actually be conducting your primary purpose most efficiently by participating in the backline assault-- HCON forces will only have to besiege Horde lines long enough for the assault on Santa Ana to be complete, which should take no more than half a day to a day at most.

Passing on your conclusions to Vice Marshal Jin, he concurs with a sage nod. "It is possible that the enemy will react very strongly to the deep probe into their territory, particularly with their propensity for fast response and aggression in this theatre. Brigadier, I only worry that we are sending an understrength force to this town; if the enemy reacts as we wish them to, you will need to move quickly to secure your objective of foiling their research or obsession."

This much is very true. While a substantial allied force is cutting through the enemy lines to the east-- which will hopefully have been reduced by the push from the north by Marshal Jin's forces-- you will be deployed by helicopter lift to a deeper insertion point. Therefore, if enemy forces are more robust than anticipated, you'll either have to traipse through jungle terrain or push through the Horde to rejoin allied lines and conduct an orderly retreat. But this is a smash and grab mission, so you don't expect to be in the field for very long anyhow.

With plans finalized, Major Collins, Marshal Jin, and the rest of the human staff make their way to sleep as the early morning sun rises in the east, trying to catch some sleep before the launch of Operations Arrowhead and Thrusting Spear. Briefing is able to synthesize a map of the terrain and a summation of the operation for you to peruse, you being unhampered by such mortal needs as sleep, and able to continue preparation until the last possible moment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOyXDvsBY3A&t=103s&ab_channel=Zaptroxix

BRIEFING: Commander, after full processing, this unit is prepared to brief. Standby for pre-operation analysis.. INITIATING BRIEF//

BRIEFING: TACTICOM ACTUAL, THIS MISSION CONSISTS OF A STRATEGIC RAID DEEP BEHIND ENEMY LINES TO DISRUPT ENEMY RESEARCH, DESTROY OBJECTIVES, AND INTERRUPT SUPPLY LINES. YOUR TROOPS, ALONG WITH MAJOR COLLINS' SOLDIERS, WILL INSERT INTO THE CHIHUAHUA REGION OF NORTHERN MEXICO, NEAR THE TOWN OF SANTA ANA. ALLIED FORCES AT SIZE OF 3 BRIGADES, UNDER THE COMMAND OF MAJOR GENERAL OLIVER STONE WILL BE INITIATING A PROBING ATTACK TO YOUR NORTH TO COVER YOUR ASSAULT.

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>>5025234
BY FIRE AND MANEUVER, YOUR GOALS ARE TO:
1: DESTROY ENEMY RESEARCH SITES AND STRUCTURES.
2: TAKE ANY LOGISTICAL TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY, CAPTURING IF POSSIBLE, DESTROYING IF NOT.
3: PROTECT HUMAN LIFE TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT POSSIBLE.

FULL FORCE IS AUTHORIZED.

BRIEFING: ATTACHED TO YOUR UNIT FOR THIS OPERATION IS ONE "SAEDONG SAPPERS" BATTALION FROM VICE MARSHAL JIN, YE-OH ALBERT'S COMMAND. THIS UNIT IS SKILLED IN COMBAT ENGINEERING AND WILL BE ABLE TO DESTROY ENEMY OBJECTIVES WITH SHAPED CHARGES AND SIMILAR DESTRUCTIVE DEVICES. THEY CAN ALSO BE EMPLOYED AGAINST ENEMY ARMOR IN A LIMITED CAPACITY, SHOULD ANY BE PRESENT, BUT BE AWARE: IF THIS UNIT IS REDUCED BELOW 50% STRENGTH, YOU WILL BE UNABLE TO DESTROY ENEMY STRUCTURES WITH IT.

Primary objectives:
1: Destroy as many enemy research sites as possible.
2: Take enemy targets of opportunity- ammo dumps, barracks, and their contents- or destroy them if capture is impossible.
3: Avoid collateral damage to human populace.. should any remain.

Secondary objectives:
1: Preserve allied units to the maximal extent possible.
2: Extract any valuable enemy research that can be taken.

Your mission time will be limited and variable, but you will have no less than 15 turns, and no more than 30 to complete this mission.

Jungle tiles and mountain tiles take 2 tiles worth of movement to traverse, reduce vision, and are difficult to assault into, providing defenders with a substantial bonus. If a unit has insufficient movement to move into one of these tiles in one turn, it is treated as Vulnerable (takes 50% extra damage from enemy assaults), but moves into the tile at the beginning of the next turn.

The map given is outlined by your operational area (in orange), and displays the last aerial reconnaissance of the area-- approximately 10 months prior. Fog of War does apply for this mission; normal units have a vision range of 2, your Light Infantry has a vision range of 4.

>Any questions?

>Any special preparations you take prior to mission? You have about 16 hours.

>>5025241

Can we equip our commander unit with high explosives?

As for tactics, seems like we should sprint down to south east base minimizing our jungle crossings for speed. Then we can loop east as the allied troops push south.

>>5025241
>>5025251
>As for tactics, seems like we should sprint down to south east base minimizing our jungle crossings for speed. Then we can loop east as the allied troops push south.

Agreed, we should push south and break the Bunker in the collection of Villages, then burn the Hive down. We should probably use a Recon drone right now to ensure there's nothing spooky hiding in the forest as we approach the enemy base, and then maybe use the other one to scout out the opposition in the main enemy camp.

>>5025260

Plus, I think we could retreat back into the jungle for the defensive bonus if shit goes haywire.

I'm guessing a lightning strike on their hive would cause cascading morale problems though.

Ah, worth noting that the sharp, triangular shapes are Mountains, whereas the more curved ones are Hills and do not make movement harder.

>>5025251
It is totally possible to load up your commander with high explosives, but only about one use worth. Consumable for a bonus vs an armored unit, or for building destruction.

>>5025291

Reasonable. I would submit that the tactical advantage beats out standard munitions for this particular mission though.

I'll give it another 12hrs for any suggestions or write ins and then we will move on.

>>5025241
Do we know whether any enemy aircraft are present in the theatre of operations?

>>5025502
Have we attached our Mobile Body to any unit yet? If I understand your description correctly, having it attached to units would give minor combat bonuses yes?

>>5025770
Yes, intelligence suggests enemy air presence in Santa Ana is similar to other air activity in the Mexican area- enemy gunship patrols are not uncommon, with fighter-jet and bomber equivalents being dispatched from the nexus area when needed. Given their substantial mainline speed, it'd take those plasma-jet vehicles 15-30minutes to reach the battlefield area (2-3 turns), should they be scrambled.

>>5025920
The MCD has not yet been attached to any particular unit, and yes, it would give minor combat bonuses and a chance to personally interact with any interesting goodies you run into here.

What unit will you attach yourself to?
>One of the two normal infantry units
>The light infantry unit
>The Punisher mechs
>The AA unit

>>5025927
>One of the two normal infantry units
Probably the best choice, it'll enhance an already solid unit which is very nice.

The other alternative is to attach us to the Scout Infantry so we can go fast and poke some spooky alien things with a stick. You know, for science.

>>5025927

Can we attach and detach at will? If yes:
>>The light infantry unit

Otherwise
>One of the two normal infantry units

>>5025956
You can attach to an adjacent unit at any time, leaving the one you're currently attached to, yes.

>>5025927
>>The light infantry unit

I'm not voting for it here, but are we also able to attach ourselves to human units, and if so, would that trigger Goose and Maverick?

>>5026038
You can attach yourself to human units, yes, but Goose and Maverick is triggered by any drone unit being adjacent to or in the same square as a human unit.

>>5025927
>>The AA unit
I have a special feeling about incoming alien napalm.

>>5025927
>The AA unit
I have a feeling if we ignore it we either got carpet bombed or pulverized by Air-to-Ground weapons.
So i go for the Anti-Air unit

>>5025941
Anon, would you care to tactically change your vote to the light infantry unit so that we have three votes against the two AAfags?

>>5025956

Agree with this anon.

If we're going to strap our commander unit with det charges, we should be in the fast recon units.

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>>5025941
>>5025956
>>5026038
>>5026067
>>5026102
>>5026252
Alright, 3 votes for the light infantry, 1 vote for regular, and 2 for AA. Writing up deployment post now! Hope you all are enjoying despite the slow update pace; getting these out as fast as I can.

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>>5026286

You take some time in the night to grab a bandolier of explosive satchel charges- the thoroughly confused and shocked armory Private numbly loads the charges into your hands, certainly an experience he will never forget. With all of your preparations completed and the sun rising again, troops are loaded on choppers and transports while a pair of souped-up Hueys carries your large command unit. The gathered aircraft are a veritable fleet, moving thousands of men southwards immediately into the jaws-- mandibles??-- of the enemy, and your core stirs for the men you see on the way more directly south, who have the misfortune to be boarding APCs, tanks, and mech armor. Even now, you can hear the booming of the guns not far from here, and its seems that even as you are departing on a mission of your own, the Battle of the Tijuana Line has already begun. You can only cross your fingers and hope that Marshal Jin is not so pigheaded as to prevent there from being a second such battle, and that the lives of those poor men are not spent in vain.

You take a look at your assembled troops as they board their respective transports. The drones are, as always, faceless and emotionless; the men, on the other hand, seem trepidatious. Collins approaches you and makes small talk about how there wasn't nearly this much cordite in the weather report, but soon turns serious. "Sir.. General.. fuck, what do I even call you?" He appears more nervous than usual, but continues, pushing on through his mumbled conversational faux pas. "Sir, we are all ready for departure here. All units are 100% green on ammunition, chow, and batteries."

Nodding, you follow the major into the command helicopter. It's not a short ride, but it is short enough that it doesn't drag on. You take a moment to sort out Collins' obvious discomfort. "Major Collins, you can address me as TC if you please. Designation is irrelevant to me so long as communication is retained at full efficiency." His slight grin is all the affirmation you need that the familiarity was a good choice, and the two of you plan out final contingencies as you approach the deployment zone. For a few minutes, the airfleet passes within distant visual range of the battle, and the storm of hellfire and gunpowder is visible to you even from this distance. Major Collins looks away, and puffs on the cigarette that never seems to leave his mouth.


[1/2]

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>>5026439

Finally, you arrive in the hills a half-hour's march from the jungle town of Santa Ana. For obvious reasons, you will trek through the mountains and jungle to reach the objective, and indeed, with the men grumbling and the drones silent, you do so. Your geopositional subroutine pings you after exactly 32 minutes of walking-- you have arrived to the area of operations, and can hear the northern offensive coming to an abrupt beginning, with the howitzers raining fire and the tank guns joining in the symphony of destruction. Collins goes to his men, and you to yours, as the base camp and guard is set up.

The question is, what is your plan?

We will run through this combat (and combats like it) in a streamlined manner until you encounter enemy resistance. If you have any particular measures you'd like to take, or any alternate actions other than those listed, write-ins are always accepted. No rolls made before choices are locked in will count!

Bunkers have a default range of 2 squares, and can never Assault or move, only Barrage and Defend. They can attack on their own without units occupying them, though units occupying them gain substantial bonuses to Defense.

Do you utilize your two drones- one for sweeping the jungle along your path of movement, and the other for objective reconnaissance? (Each drone has a 5% chance to be spotted and alert the enemy.)

>Yes, use both drones for these purposes
>Use only the sweeper
>Use only the reconnaissance drone
>Don't use either drone, save them

What is your plan of attack?

>Push quickly through the forest towards the southernmost bunker-- it'll keep your forces out of the firing line of the other bunkers, and the town is there, along with a potential objective site

>Loop the long way around from the south-west so that you avoid the most forest, but otherwise the same as the first plan

>Attack directly east, attempting to break the heaviest point of enemy resistance now so that relief forces can reach you most quickly

>Knife south-east, pushing for the hive and research center that was on the recon overflight picture


[2/2]

>>5026445
>Use only the reconnaissance drone

>Push quickly through the forest towards the southernmost bunker-- it'll keep your forces out of the firing line of the other bunkers, and the town is there, along with a potential objective site

>>5026445

Let's use both drones. Risk of detection is low.

>Push quickly through the forest towards the southernmost bunker-- it'll keep your forces out of the firing line of the other bunkers, and the town is there, along with a potential objective site.

This seems like the best balance between speed and safety.

>>5026445

>Yes, use both drones for these purposes

>Knife south-east, pushing for the hive and research center that was on the recon overflight picture

Considering it's a smash and burn mission, I think we want to move fast.

>>5026453
+1

We just have to avoid major groups of enemies and stealth rush the objective

>>5026445
>>5026453

>>5026445
>>Yes, use both drones for these purposes

>Push quickly through the forest towards the southernmost bunker-- it'll keep your forces out of the firing line of the other bunkers, and the town is there, along with a potential objective site

>>5026445
>Yes, use both drones for these purposes
>Push quickly through the forest towards the southernmost bunker-- it'll keep your forces out of the firing line of the other bunkers, and the town is there, along with a potential objective site.

>>5026445
>Yes, use both drones for these purposes

>Push quickly through the forest towards the southernmost bunker-- it'll keep your forces out of the firing line of the other bunkers, and the town is there, along with a potential objective site

>>5026445
>Yes, use both drones for these purposes
>Push quickly through the forest towards the southernmost bunker-- it'll keep your forces out of the firing line of the other bunkers, and the town is there, along with a potential objective site

Rolled 2 (1d100)

>>5026452
>>5026453
>>5026461
>>5026463
>>5026571
>>5026652
>>5026738
>>5026745
>>5026784

Alright, using both drones and moving fast. Please roll 3d100, bo3!

DC: 5, 5, and 75

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Rolled 25, 59, 95 = 179 (3d100)

>>5026955
>75

Rolled 30, 20, 19 = 69 (3d100)

>>5026955

>>5026955

I'm getting a bad feeling about this robobros.

Rolled 52, 51, 6 = 109 (3d100)

>>5026955

Whoops, I screwed up my roll.

>>5027117
52, 59, 95

I don't know man, this is looking fairly solid even with the average scout rolls. Worst case scenario we miss one or two enemy units per scout action and'll have to adjust according to that.

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>>5026959
>>5027076
>>5027120
52, 59, 95. The drones are certainly showcasing their worth here, writing now.

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>>5027283
Tramping through the jungle is not a pleasant experience by human standards, especially when trying to be both fast and stealthy. You and your bots outpace Major Collins' men quickly, particularly the Harbingers; after making some good progress and being certain there are no ambushers in the immediate area, you take the slight risk of sending up two reconnaissance drones.

What you see first would send goosebumps up your arms, if you had any hair follicles. There is a substantial enemy force approaching from the southwest, a pair of enemy Scorpion tank squadrons flanking a large detachment of Horde infantry and fodder troops. Standard fare, but not a good sign-- that force is enough to at least match your own, if not overwhelm it. They are moving fast southwest-to-northeast, to arrive in less than a few hours at most.

SCORPION Light Tank: The Vash'atun Light Armored Attack Vehicle, HCON designation "SCORPION", is the premier quick response option of the Horde. Armed with a pair of gravity enhanced, low-caliber spike launchers and a heavy spike cannon, the light tank is equipped to handle most contemporary HCON vehicles, short of extremely heavy tanks and fortified positions. Luckily, however, the light nature of its armor and open canopy leaves the Scorpion open to explosives and other simple attacks. Upgraded versions with fully armored, transparent chiting coverings exist, but are rare. Battlefield marker: LTANK

Horde Fodder: Some of the Horde's races breed particularly rapaciously and are either newer to the Collective, or are lower on it's social ladder. These species end up as what are commonly referred to as "Fodder" among most human militiamen and soldiers; they are usually very young by Earth standards, are physically weaker than most adults and are extremely lightly armed. They are kept in their place by their "betters" and tend to break easily if left alone on the battlefield, unmotivated. Battlefield marker: FDDR

Horde Infantry The Red Horde's mainline infantry are a varietal group, but have a few things in common: all units are armed with rapid-fire spike rifles that utilize Horde grav-projectiles, and all are ensconced in light power armor that is resistant- to an extent- to human firearms and explosives. They tend towards an aggressive wave doctrine designed to bury enemies under bodies, which leads to high casualty counts. Do not, however, discount their ingenuity; more than one human commander has lost his life by underestimating "dumb bugs", particularly if they are accompanied by leader caste creatures or in areas of special tactical importance. Battlefield marker: INF


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>>5027530
With that quick rundown of your database complete, you move the first drone to fly high above where the town of Santa Ana is located, and encounter an appalling sight: not only has a new bunker been constructed, along with an extra hive for troops to shelter in, there is a camp in the heart of the enemy constructions. The shabby walls, small tents, and rough-looking guards of the camp reinforce the overall look of the thing: miserable. You estimate at least 400 human beings inside the camp in various degrees of malnutrition, some nursing minor-to-moderate wounds.

Secondary objective added: Free the citizens of Santa Ana from the concentration camp and escort them northward.
The good side of the reconnaissance is that the defenses of the Santa Ana encampment seem light, other than the bunkers. There are a multitude of fodder units lazing about the place, just barely kept in check by the foursome of infantry battalions; another regiment's worth of troops is leaving your operational area to the north, likely to make it's way towards the allied push in the north not far from here. You could let them know that more enemies are on the way, both in the form of armored response and a large infantry force, but that might uncover your troops.

All of this processing, you send out the second drone, letting it loiter low and slow around the local jungle area to search for enemy presence. It lingers about your forces for roughly five minutes, zipping to and fro at the maximum speed you set for it, and eventually returns that there are no hostiles in the jungle near you. There are no concealed enemy units within five squares of your command unit, the light infantry battalion.


What will you do?

>Push on with the assault at maximum speed- we will carry on with our southern route, even though there's another bunker there now.
>Move more eastward- the troops will be under fire once the bunkers get going, but taking out those infantry units might cause the fodder troops to run
>Write in?

Sorry that update took so long, anons, had some work shit to get to.

>>5027531

Well, we have to reassess here.

Would anyone consider stacking our units at the jungle periphery and baiting an attack from the inbound SW bugs? There are good defensive bonuses and we'd also get the goose/maverick thing. The light tanks are making me nervous.

Our lightning raid plan now seems pretty dangerous and risks getting sandwiched between the bunkers and the various roach troops.

>>5027531
>Write-in

>>5027687
I don't think we want to wait. It says 17 turns till they arrive, meaning we're on a timer.

We should get our units as close as we can without being spotted, then punch through the fodder and infantry to our east and southeast, hit that pentagon thing, the hive, research place and the camp then gtfo before reinforcements can arrive.

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>>5027694

Sort of like this but better.

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>>5027531
>>5027687
Agreed, a re-assesment is needed since with this new intel. We have 17 turns before the enemy reinforcement arrives, that's our time limit.

A push through the central area is now preferable to a full flank to the south with that additional bunker present. I suggest we form up on the Green line and dig in for some extra combat bonuses while we wait for the enemy regular INF in the north to leave the combat zone. I don't want to risk them activating and heading west into the jungle and finding our CMND Core. Then we have the Fodder (hopefully) engage on us in our prepared position, clean up the first wave and then focus down the regular INF left in the town. If we can then get up and detonate the central bunker with our explosives we're basically free to deal with the whole base afterwards.

Objective 1 and 2 are probably within reach, but the southern one surrounded by two Bunkers I'm hesitant to engage on, it's proximity to the enemy reinforce-point and the fact it has two bunkers guarding it means we could easily get bogged down and end up spending too much time dealing with them. I'd rather focus our effort on the climped objectives and Hives in the center and freeing the civvies.

>>5027701

This looks better. +1

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What about we split and take out all the bunkers and INF in one blitzkrieg stike. And the blitz should scare the fodder into routing, and when we kill their uppers, they will flee the field.

>>5027814
I'm scared that if we dilute our firepower like this we'll end up being overwhelmed by the enemy infantry in the center. The Bunkers are immobile, so as long as we remain outside of the range of the southern bunkers they are a non-factor here and I feel we shouldn't have a need to engage them unless we have time to spare to secure all red Pentagons.

Priority targets are the enemy RSCH lab, the two hives and the civilians being held in the encampment, fastest way to get there is through the center so I feel it is best to concentrate our forces there.

>>5027832
Whats the range of bunkers again?

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>>5027835
>Bunkers have a default range of 2 squares, and can never Assault or move, only Barrage and Defend. They can attack on their own without units occupying them, though units occupying them gain substantial bonuses to Defense.
From this post here >>5026445 , meaning that if we remain above the Northern-most village and East of the West-most Hive we wouldn't have to deal with the Southern Bunkers at all this mission.

The objective is to secure the enemy Research Center and either capture or destroy enemy logistical dumps. We could place our MECH's in this position and have them use a Barrage action to destroy this supply depot without ever getting in range of the southern bunkers, meaning we wouldn't have to circle around to the south to deal with them.

>>5027840
I see now. I'll go with your plan

>>5027701
>>5027531
+1

>>5027531
>>Push on with the assault at maximum speed- we will carry on with our southern route, even though there's another bunker there now.


We just have to complete our mission within 17 turns. Focus on taking out the bunkers first.

>>5027701

Sounds like our best gamble, seconding this plan.

Rolled 52, 71 = 123 (2d100)

>>5027687
>>5027694
>>5027701
>>5027707
>>5027814
>>5027843
>>5027867
>>5027869
1 vote for pushing on as planned, 1 vote for a force split, 4 votes for the centerline push write-in. I'll need 2d100 from you guys to get close enough to ambush without being spotted. DC is the highest of the rolls I make in this post -25: fodder troops are not good at paying attention.

>>5027878
Alright, need 2d100, bo3, DCs are 46.

Rolled 63, 5 = 68 (2d100)

>>5027881
Pray to the Machine God that this succeeds.

Rolled 21, 2 = 23 (2d100)

>>5027878

Rolled 68 (1d100)

>>5027881

Rolled 82 (1d100)

>>5027903

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>>5027905
That's the fucking winner, baby!

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>>5027883
>>5027885
>>5027903
>>5027905
That doooooes technically count as 2d100. 68, 82- IT'S AMBUSH TIME!