ScrapYard Armory

Mark of the Jaguar is a scenario I’ve envisioned for some time now.  Ever since I read through the Unique Mech Record Sheets PDF (available as a FREE download at Battlecorps) I knew I wanted to spread the story of Cernunnos.

Do yourself a favor and add this PDF to your own collection.  There are many great stories inside.

I hope you enjoy this scenario.  I had a lot of fun making it!

MARK OF THE JAGUAR

“I wish I could have seen the look on that poor fool Drac pilot when he got visual.  I bet he dumped a load when he saw those damn spots we painted our ‘Mechs in.”

“Yea, I know.” Jacobs chuckled.  “The way he turned tail, he damn near tripped up getting out of his own way.”

The four men around the campfire laughed as the fading sunlight cast a fiery sheet of light on the horizon.  The wind was picking up.  No doubt a storm was heading their way.  Shame they wouldn’t get to enjoy the fire much longer.  The provisions and extra water from their last raid into the Draconis Combine would hold them off for some time no matter how bad the weather got.

“So what’s our next target Jacobs?” One of the other men asked after the laughter had died down.

Jacobs shot to his feet, his face twisting into a scowl.  “That’s Captain Jacobs you twit!”

The rest of the startled pirate lance glanced around uncomfortably, obviously waiting for the other to step in and attempt to calm the fuming lance leader.

“I run this lance and the lot of you should show some respect!”  Jacobs scanned the three seated men back and forth still irate over the apparent insult.

“Hey hey, calm down… Captain Jacobs,” Ryan said after a short silence trying to sound as sincere as possible. “Everybody knows you’re the boss.”

“You’re damn right I am!  It was my idea to paint up our ‘Mechs wasn’t it?!  You know how many times those chicken shit militia have gone walkabout when we showed up!”

A low and almost imperceptible rumble began underneath the four pirates.

“That may have been the best damn idea I’ve ever had!”  Jacobs stopped, suddenly aware of the rhythmic vibrations under his feet. “Hey, what the hell is that noise?”

SITUATION

Pirate forces in the Periphery have taken to painting their ‘Mechs in Clan Smoke Jaguar colors in order to intimidate those who would resist them during raids.  The tactic has proven very successful in striking fear in the hearts of their victims especially as reports of rogue Smoke Jaguar remnants begin to swirl around the Periphery.

Rezak’s Hole, a well known Pirate staging planet was recently the scene of a battle involving what is believed to be rogue elements from Clan Smoke Jaguar that managed to evade destruction on Huntress.  The alleged Smoke Jaguar force ambushed an isolated pirate raiding lance near a badlands oasis.

Hard facts from the encounter are hard to come by.  Operatives have been sent to access the situation and determine if any risk exists to our blessed order.

GAME SETUP

Arrange two Classic Battletech maps as shown below.  The east map is Open Terrain #2.  The west map is the standard Classic Battletech.

DEFENDER

The defenders consist of elements of a pirate raiding force known for painting their Battlemechs in Smoke Jaguar colors in order to intimidate their victims.

Mechwarriors

Battlemechs

DEPLOYMENT

The defender’s ‘Mechs begin the game on the West mapsheet in the locations shown below.  The Pirate player may choose which pilot goes in which ‘Mech and where each ‘Mech will be placed including facing.

ATTACKER

The attackers consists of elements from a renegade Smoke Jaguar Trinary led by a Clan Mechwarrior known only as Cernunnos.

DEPLOYMENT

The attacker enters the game on turn 1 from the east map edge.

SPECIAL CASE RULES

Caught With Their Pants Down

The Pirates are caught unprepared and need time to get all of their Battlemechs started up.

The Pirate player must nominate two of his ‘Mechs to start the game shutdown and immobile.  Before the game begins, the Pirate player writes down in secret one ‘Mech to start up on turn 3.  The remaining ‘Mech will start up on turn 6.

Dusk

Cernunnos often attacks at night in order to catch his prey off guard and out of their Battlemechs.

Apply a +1 to-hit modifier to all weapon attacks (not physical attacks).  For every 25 points of heat apply a -1 modifier  to all weapon attacks on that unit.

Moderate Gale

A brewing storm is the perfect opportunity to further disorient Cerunnos’ opponents.

Apply a +1 to-hit modifier to all missile weapon attacks.

VICTORY CONDITIONS

None Shall Live

These Dezgra will pay for their insult.  The Jaguar will show them no honor, no mercy!

The Smoke Jaguar player achieves a complete victory if all of the pirate ‘Mechs are crippled or destroyed.  A partial victory can be achieved by destroying three of the pirates and exiting Cernunnos off any map edge.

Escape!

Save who we can and get the hell out of here!

The Pirate player must exit at least half of his force through the Attacker’s home edge on turn seven or later to achieve a complete victory.  A partial victory can be achieved by destroying Cernunnos and escaping at least one ‘Mech off the Attacker’s home edge.

AFTERMATH

Another lance of Pirates were ambushed in the Periphery last week.  Investigators from the Explorer Corps once again are late to the show and found only a cold trail.  The local population remains uncooperative with media attempts to identify the source of the attack.  Rumors have been flying across the Periphery concerning the continued presence of these mysterious Clan forces and their ability to attack and evade capture seemingly at will.

No civilian casualties or collateral damage were reported.

The real question remains, what’s so bad about a few jittery Pirates anyhow?