MechWarrior 2: Mercenaries/Training Mission

Mercenary Training Campaign – Hansen’s Roughriders

The mercenary unit Hansen’s Roughriders is searching for a few inexperienced MechWarriors that already own their own ‘Mechs to supplement Hansen’s Roughriders in a Draconis contract. While the job is for the Draconis Combine, the ideal candidate will be reporting to Roughrider command. You will be watched over and guarded by an experienced MechWarrior throughout the two month campaign. Job pays 300,000 C-Bills upon completion. The Combine will pay for all reasonable ammunition expenses.

COMSTAR CONTRACT EVALUATION

• World: Venaria
• Duty: Training
• Begin Date: June 1, 3044
• End Date: July 15, 3044
• Maximum Pay: 300,000 C-Bills, plus bounty and bonus
• Minimum Pay: Bounty
• Salvage Rights: Poor

Training Mission

MechWarrior’s Campaign Journal

Left Outreach today, bound for Venaria. I’m still not used to space travel, and we were under a 2-G burn for over an hour. Not very comfortable. I hear things are pretty hot on Venaria. The Draconis Combine has told Hansen’s Roughriders to move up their scheduled arrival by a full two weeks. I thought this was supposed to be an easy mission.

Came out of jump at 12:34. Our DropShip was out by 1:30 and we were met by a couple of pirate aerospace fighters by 6:00. What a day. The pirates weren’t really interested in fighting. They were much more interested in getting us to go away. I overheard one MechWarrior saying they tried to bribe Hansen’s Roughriders into breaking their contract with the Combine. The Roughriders refused.

We just pulled into orbit over Venaria. I have been told that my trainer is to be Sergeant Unther. I don’t know anything about him, but several MechWarriors rolled their eyes and laughed when I mentioned it to them. They chuckled for a minute about the “McComb Incident,” but refused to give me any details. One wished me luck before he left. I hope this “Sergeant Unther” isn’t a loser.

Briefing

Claire Salstrom, DropShip Captain: We’re setting down in a hot landing zone. We suspect that there are pirate ‘Mechs in the area. You and your drill instructor, Sergeant Unther, will patrol the area around the DropShip, searching for signs of enemy activity.

• Codename: Training Mission
• Planet: Venaria
• Terrain: Rolling Hills
• Time: Day
• Mean Temperature: 15 Celsius
• Mission Pay: None
• Expected Resistance: Pirates
• Your Call-Sign: “Kid” or “Hey-You”

Claire Salstrom, DropShip Captain: Listen to your instructor’s commands. He will not repeat himself. After giving you simple instructions in the operation of your ‘Mech, you must go to all the NAV points, and finally return to the DropShip Wild-Ride.

Objectives

• Target: Go to NAV ALPHA
• Target: Go to NAV BETA
• Target: Go to NAV GAMMA
• Target: Go to NAV DELTA
• Return: DropShip Wild-Ride

During Mission

Unther: Welcome to the front lines, Kid. My name’s Sergeant Unther, but you can call me “Deadeye.” I’ll be your babysitter for the next couple’a days, so don’t get killed. I hate it when my guys get killed.

Unther: I’m in the big ‘Mech in front of you. Shoot me even once, and I’ll tear that beer can you call a ‘Mech into scrap.

Unther: Today, you and I are going on a short patrol. I don’t think we’ll meet any hostiles, but stay alert. If we get into a fight, you just watch my back and let me kill everybody. I love having an audience.

Unther: Keep your speed up. In real combat, speed is life. You go slow…you die.

Unther: DropShip Wild-Ride, this is Deadeye. Me and Freshmeat here have finished our sweep and are headin’ back home. Area is secure.

Unther: Not a bad day, Kid. Get back to the DropShip. It’s at the return NAV point.

MISSION SUCCESSFUL

Aftermath

Well, you made the patrol. Good thing there wasn’t anyone around.

ComStar News Service

Fierce fighting continues on Venaria as Draconis forces, including the mercenary unit Hansen’s Roughriders, met pirate raiders in several pitched battles on that world’s fertile northern continent. Draconis Command claims to have destroyed nearly a company of pirate ‘Mechs, while the Roughriders encountered and destroyed only a lance at one of their DropShip landing zones.

While the total losses on the Draconis side remain hidden to ComStar, the pirates claim to have destroyed two full lances of Draconis ‘Mechs, including an Assault Lance that was thought too powerful for the pirates to ever face in open battle. The pirates claim that Hansen’s Roughriders fought better than the DCMS (Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery). The pirates claim no kills against the Roughriders.