The battle for Komephoros, 3137-3138

Komephoros, like many of the worlds of the former Prefecture IX, was in a precarious situation by early 3137. Abandoned by the Republic, it was dangerously close to the Falcon Desant, leaving its leaders worried that their world might be the next to face the Falcon’s talons. The result was that it became one of the worlds within the former prefecture that joined the mutual defense coalition headed by Jasek Kelswa-Steiner’s Stomhammers.

However, matters changed for the worse in mid-3137 as the Wolf Clan began their invasion of the former Republic. While Komephoros was outside the thrust of their initial invasion, the world’s leaders suddenly became rather worried by their new situation. With the Wolves on one side and the Falcons on the other, they felt that an invasion of their world by either clan was inevitable. Or, even worse, that it might become a battleground for the two Clans.

With their planetary guard depleted (ironically by defections to the Stormhammers), the Komephoros leadership turned to hiring mercenaries to supplement their forces and provide some degree of protection. The government went on something of a spending spree, hiring up mercenaries as fast as it could, even if many of them were dubious units of questionable quality. Their hope was that they might serve as a discouragement to clan invasion, or at the very least serve to slow down one should it occur.

Blog Updates

In addition to the regular blog posts, there's also new images in the NPC/OpFor Image Gallery. On top of that, there are new pilot portraits and camouflage schemes in the Megamek Gallery to add to your MegaMek games.

From the O5P archives

[I managed to source this from the O5P. While it's over a decade old, there's still some interesting information in here. I'm also forming some conclusions about the significance of this individual to Zhen, and why Stein might bring them up]

Gertz, Joaquim

Date of Birth: 14/04/3110

Homeworld: Van Deimen IV, Republic of the Sphere

Affiliation: Bannson’s Raiders

Rank: Lieutenant

LIC Communications Intercept 6439-3-B/Kamenez

WLF-2H Wolfhound, Carson's Carnivores

Carson: What the hell was that, Major?

Isling: That was a minor setback, admittedly. Things didn't go entirely to plan.

Carson: 'Minor setback' is a nice way of putting it. I lost another one of my already scarce supply of 'Mechs. You lost two tanks and your second. And we got nothing for it beyond beating up a couple of 'Mechs in reply. That's not a 'minor' setback. That's a grade A screw-up.

Isling: Captain Craswell's [EDITOR'S NOTE: Captain Marlene Craswell; see attached dossier] death was unfortunate, yes. However, at the same time, It would be easy to say that my men aren't to blame. Your 'Mechs didn't exactly put up much of a fight either.

Carson: I had a Recon Lance going up against an assault one. What were they meant to do? The heaviest of mine matched the lightest of theirs, and it's not like either of us could have matched that Akuma.

From the personal journal of Eckart Stein

The Halton Gardens

As expected, Magyari wasn't too happy about our delayed drop, but she accepted the reality of the situation. Even though the Halton Gardens is a wreck, it has its uses from time to time; even then, I do want to replace it, and do need to get Royale focused on that goal rather then wasting our money on fast cars, luxury apartments that we never use and the like. On the other hand, we do have a good potential replacement available to us.

Some days it's nice how things line up.

From the personal journal of Irisz Magyari

Section of Saxony Spaceport

Reading her journals, it's pretty clear that Sel Magyari had a number of skills as a commander, and luck was one of the ones that featured prominently in her career. As much as I want to give her skills as a leader and a MechWarrior credit, it does seem that she managed to achieve a lot through sheer dumb luck.

After today, I'm really wondering if it might not have been a hereditary trait.

The Kamenez campaign started with a drop on the Saxony spaceport, one of the rebellion's key assets. On the ground were elements of both the Leipzig Light Guards, a local armour regiment, and Carson's Carnivores, one of the two merc units that are known to be in their employ.

LIC Communications Intercept 6422-543-B/Kamenez

Voice 1 [Major Conner Carson, 98% match]: All units, pull back. We're abandoning the spaceport.

Voice 2 Colonel Helga Strakken, 93% match]: Nein, Major! I forbid you to abandon the port! It is vital to us!

Carson: Listen lady-

Strakken: Colonel!

Carson: Colonel lady, in case you didn't notice, we're getting hammered out there. My men are dying and so are yours. We've lost four 'Mechs and you're down at least a dozen tanks, if not more? We've hammered a few 'Mechs and have one of them down-