Battletech CYOA – Ghostrider Revenants
Based in the Fitzgerald's CYOA but with some changes.
Hardware selected using Sarna.net and TRO 3028 (yes, I know is not cannon)
This universe also include the locations and actions / history of the HBS game Battletech – Restoration.
Initial locations changed because I get ones already displayed by other CYOA's.
Awaking with a tremendous headache – is this another infarct? - the look in the mirror is a nightmare – that's not me!!!
Then the new memories – memories of another life – arrive. I'm a 20 year old male (thank god no sex changed) living in New Vandenberg, recently expelled from the Taurian Defense Forces because a scandal with the daughter of the major, presently unemployed, orphan. And then the fxxxg phone start ringing.
- Yes?
- Mister Jean-Luc? This is deVilliers from the Law Office of deVilliers, Macron and Giraud.
-Yes, it's me. Great – lawyers in the morning, perfect.
- We are the executors of the will and state of the late Ron Jeremy, from the Jeremy's Consortium.
-The Magnate?
-Yes, sir. Because you are included in is will, we hope you visit our office to discuss maters in more detail.
The provided address is in the same city, so after breakfast and changing I go to the location.
Great – now I'm an SI in one of the more crazy universes know. My youngest one knows the date is January 1, 3015. If I'm not wrong I'm in one of the CYOA that are the latest fade in BT fiction – if I get a military unit and a lot of cash I know the type I'm in. Otherwise, I'm screwed – in both universes. Pity my extensive collection of sourcebooks and novels don't come with me – memory is not so good after all.
The offices of V, M & G compromise an entire building in the richest area of New Vandenberg Capital. Soon I said my name at the reception I'm directed to the personal office of one of the senior partners, in this case deVilliers.
After the initial pleasantries, and a quick DNA test to confirm I'm really me, I'm informed that my late father have an affair with my mother in the past, but because is already married at the time, it doesn't evolve. Only years later we know of my existence, and my late mother informed him that she doesn't want nothing with is fortune. After she dies, we can do what we pleases.
A very successful investor, with participation's in all the big Concordat business, is hobby – that very few knew – is searching and restore old 1SW and 2SW military hardware all around the human sphere (not only the Inner Sphere).
My old self is right, my inheritance is the product of that hobby – plus a big amount of cash. But exist problems.
The lawyers informed me that in a matter of weeks, four months at max, the Concordat Government is going to know about it and they are most certainly confiscating it.
The people that worked for my later father on this 'hobby' is thankfully available (Vandenberg Research Unlimited), and they include technicians, researchers and a small group of ex-military for security during operations.
After signing a lot of papers to take control of the assets, the money – 280 million in C-Bills in a Comstar bank account – accessible any place in the human universe and buying VRU, I departed the layers office to start my new life.
First stop – VRU, and then the place the hardware is hidden.
The VRU team is a pleasant surprise – The big group are technicians that normally repair / refit the various finds and also maintain the equipment of the company. Then you get the research team, the ones that follow the clues and get the directions to said finds. In last, a mixed arms force of experienced ex-military, commanded by former TDF Major Rufus Gauchet. They also include enough personnel to crew one jumpship and one dropshipBased in the Fitzgerald's CYOA but with some changes.
Hardware selected using Sarna.net and TRO 3028 (yes, I know is not cannon)
This universe also include the locations and actions / history of the HBS game Battletech – Restoration.
Initial locations changed because I get ones already displayed by other CYOA's.
Awaking with a tremendous headache – is this another infarct? - the look in the mirror is a nightmare – that's not me!!!
Then the new memories – memories of another life – arrive. I'm a 20 year old male (thank god no sex changed) living in New Vandenberg, recently expelled from the Taurian Defense Forces because a scandal with the daughter of the major, presently unemployed, orphan. And then the fxxxg phone start ringing.
- Yes?
- Mister Jean-Luc? This is deVilliers from the Law Office of deVilliers, Macron and Giraud.
-Yes, it's me. Great – lawyers in the morning, perfect.
- We are the executors of the will and state of the late Ron Jeremy, from the Jeremy's Consortium.
-The Magnate?
-Yes, sir. Because you are included in is will, we hope you visit our office to discuss maters in more detail.
The provided address is in the same city, so after breakfast and changing I go to the location.
Great – now I'm an SI in one of the more crazy universes know. My youngest one knows the date is January 1, 3015. If I'm not wrong I'm in one of the CYOA that are the latest fade in BT fiction – if I get a military unit and a lot of cash I know the type I'm in. Otherwise, I'm screwed – in both universes. Pity my extensive collection of sourcebooks and novels don't come with me – memory is not so good after all.
The offices of V, M & G compromise an entire building in the richest area of New Vandenberg Capital. Soon I said my name at the reception I'm directed to the personal office of one of the senior partners, in this case deVilliers.
After the initial pleasantries, and a quick DNA test to confirm I'm really me, I'm informed that my late father have an affair with my mother in the past, but because is already married at the time, it doesn't evolve. Only years later we know of my existence, and my late mother informed him that she doesn't want nothing with is fortune. After she dies, we can do what we pleases.
A very successful investor, with participation's in all the big Concordat business, is hobby – that very few knew – is searching and restore old 1SW and 2SW military hardware all around the human sphere (not only the Inner Sphere).
My old self is right, my inheritance is the product of that hobby – plus a big amount of cash. But exist problems.
The lawyers informed me that in a matter of weeks, four months at max, the Concordat Government is going to know about it and they are most certainly confiscating it.
The people that worked for my later father on this 'hobby' is thankfully available (Vandenberg Research Unlimited), and they include technicians, researchers and a small group of ex-military for security during operations.
After signing a lot of papers to take control of the assets, the money – 280 million in C-Bills in a Comstar bank account – accessible any place in the human universe and buying VRU, I departed the layers office to start my new life.
First stop – VRU, and then the place the hardware is hidden.
After the death of Ron Jeremy, they are suddenly without a job and very agreeable to accept the younger parent of they former boss as a new master – provided that he pay then well.
Equipment used by VRU teams.:
A Merchant jumpship and one Triumph class dropship, both in perfect condition.
2 heavy VLC-5N Vulcan ASF
4 medium TLS-1B Talos mech's
6 Tracked APC + 1 Mech Recovery Vehicle
6 VTOL Karnov + 4 Planetlifter
4 Skulker wheeled scout tank
The jumpship and dropship are both part of the inheritance, the rest not so, but with Jean-Luc buying the company they are all theirs.
The problem is – with the Taurian government soon moving to confiscate the inheritance (and probably also the goodies of VRU), they need to move fast to outside Taurian territory. But, while the old me don't have any problem going to Fed Suns territory, the new me and many of the new employees take exception of that. So, tentatively, Galatea is selected for first destiny, and later deciding about future.
The good services of V, M&G and the contacts of Major Gauchet provide access to enough space jocks to crew the other jumpship, and access to enough parts to do all the fast repairs to put it operational before the deadline.
TO&E - * already reported
Jumpships
1 Merchant *
1 Invader – need some small repairs (estimated 4 million)
Dropships
1 Excalibur
1 Mule
1 Vengeance
1 Triumph *
With the exception of the Triumph, the others need several repairs – estimated 36 million
Mechs
Assault
1 NSR-10C Nightstar
1 AWS-8T Awesome
1 STK-3F Stalker
1 THG-10E Thug
Heavy
4 MAD-3R Marauder
2 WMR-6R Warhammer
3 ARC-2R Archer
3QKD-4G Quickdraw
Medium
6 WVR-6R Wolverine
1 KTO-18 Kintaro
3 GRF-1N Griffin
2 PXH-1 Phoenix Hawk
4 TLS-1B Talos *
Light
2 FS9-H Firestarter
4 UM-R60 UrbanMech
2 JVN-10N Javelin
4 STG-3R Stinger
Total – 44 mechs – a reinforced mech battalion
Aerospace fighters (ASF)
Heavy
2 VLC-5N Vulcan *
Medium
2 HCT 213 Hellcat
2 HCT-213D Hellcat
Light
6 SB-27 Sabre
6 SPR-H5 Sparrowhawk
4 F-10 Cheetah
Total – 22 ASF
AFV
Assault
4 Schrek
4 Ontos
6 Partisan
6 Demolisher
Heavy
8 LRM Carrier
8 SRM Carrier
12 Manticore
Medium
12 Goblin
12 Bulldog
Light
8 Galleon
4 Skulker wheeled scout tank*
Motor Pool
3 Wheeled APC (Heavy)
3 Hoover Heavy APC
4 tracked Heavy APC
1 battalion Jump Infantry gear with SRM manpacks (10 platoons)
1 Field HQ
1 MASH truck
1 Mech Recovery Vehicle
12 engineering Vehicles
40 trucks (10 tons)
6 Tracked APC *
1 Mech Recovery Vehicle *
6 VTOL Karnov *
4 Planetlifter *
6 Towed Long Tom
12 Towed Sniper
10 J-27 Ordnance Transport
6 135-K Coolant Truck
Everything in good condition with decent number of spare parts and ammo, but without people to operate then.
In other words – a small but decent force to equip a combined arms regiment with the means to travels independently.
The people in VRU are all single without family – my father selected then that way – and ready to move in a hurry.
The operation / hobby worked for years because my father is very rich / powerful and sold the bits of lostech that found to the Concordat. With in dead, the sweet deal is dead also and so they need to move in a hurry – plans already exist and the people as been prepared for that.
By the time we arrived to Galatea, I' m in full control of my body, the young one presence confined to a small and mostly silent part of my conscience.
Thanks to the research done, we have full sets of SL era star-maps and many data on all the active players.
Unlike many units that arrive to Galatea to rebuild, we are more interested in dispossessed mechwarriors and other type of soldiers – we have already more hardware than can use / deploy – Mule is not exactly a military dropship and much of our hardware is tightly packed on it.
I bought the most complete C* mercenary database – with all the updates and extra services – a thing that normally only Houses or big units can afford – thanks for the money, dad.
One of the things I also bought is three extra simulator pods – VRU already have one – to let my people working / training better. Expensive toys, but indispensable at this time. Also booked as much time in several available as I can.
Myself, I'm partially trained in the Talos mech, never terminated the curse because of been expelled. Right now, I'm also training in the Marauder and Nightstar ones. One good thing, VRU have all the data for program the simulators with the capabilities of our hardware.
Take a lot of effort, but I convince the rest to be open to accept contracts from Davion – if one clause to not be used against the Concordat or placed in the territory near our home nation.
Because I'm not interested in accept contracts from Liao, Kurita or Marik, that let us Davion – with limitations – Steiner and all the periphery realms except the concordat – you can't go work for the people that want to confiscate your gear.
Been busy writing everything I remember about several 'interesting' places and later passing the info to the research team saying that data is part of the package my father send me.
List of places to look
Helm – Memory Core – not enough lift capability nor get the key (need an infiltration team)
New Dallas – Hegemony Core – danger radiation + C* detection system
Karbala – Nighthawks (Kurita until late 3028) very little data
Artru – castle Nautilus / SLDF mechs / SLDF Royal Mechs – danger – automated drones / Locura
Ruins of Gabriel / Odessa – danger C*
Camelot Command / Dark Nebula – danger Automated defense drones
Kwangjong-ni – underwater automated mech factory – hidden in Lost Sea (Steiner)
While contracting infantry and mechanized personnel is relatively easy, mech jocks and fighter pilots are another story – too many have stories that don't check, are not good enough or have too much ego to be admitted in a brand new unit. Support personnel outside of qualified technicians is also easy – techs, are very expensive, few and also too many are caught lying about they qualifications. My team pass a lot of time checking and re-checking qualifications / stories and many times detecting lies or embellishments.
My idea is to continue the change the search for more lostech oriented – with a particular interest in above cited places if enough data / means are provided / obtained, and at same time using the mercenary unit that we are busy creating right now to provide the necessary funds to operate.
Unlike many CYOA's / SI's we don't have access to royal players, so we can't get external help nor influence the story (for now).
The initial group have 5 mech pilots (me and 4 others that operate the VRU Talos) and 2 ASF pilots.
We contracted twelve more mech jocks and ten fighter pilots.
With some difficulty, we also contract enough personnel to operate all of our dropships.
With that, The Ghostrider's Revenants are born – name that I used in the HBS game and 'imported' to this new life.
After that, start looking for contracts that satisfy our needs.
The Ghostrider's Revenants military forces are by late 3015 composed by
1 Jumpship – Invader
3 dropships – 1 Excalibur, 1 Triumph and 1 Vengeance
17 mechs
12 ASF
1 infantry battalion
2 mechanized battalions
The Merchant jumpship and the Mule dropship transporting the rest of our hardware and personnel are not available for military operations.
Addendum
The jumpships received new names (older ones not provided)
Invader – Ghost of Victory
Merchant – Phantom of Battle
17 mechs
Heavy
2 Marauders – Jean-Luc use one – call-sign Ghostrider
2 Archers
Medium
4 Wolverine
2 Phoenix Hawk
Light
1 Firestarter
2 Javelin
4 Stinger
12 ASF
Heavy
2 Vulcan
Medium
4 Hellcat
Light
6 Sabre
Because they are brand new, without references, no-one propose interesting contracts. At best they receive some for garrison duty or piracy protection (almost the same). And the pay is nothing to talk about.
Because the proposal from House Centrella places then in New Abilene, a world relatively near Artru, they accept it. Because of the region, they also included the clause to not be used aggressively against the Concordat. If a Concordat raid hit the planet they defend it.
The Triumph dropship have been modified long ago. The primary dropship of the go away team of the VRU, as been equipped with high resolution cameras and ground penetrating radar. These are instrumental for they to find they objectives from orbit.
Note..: The Triumph have been heavily modified while still under my father control, and apart the modern military grade search sensor suit, and can carry 2 ASF, 4 mechs and up to 12 vehicles.
By mid 3016, while the rest of the Revenants are busy in Abilene, the Triumph and the research team are occupied mapping / looking in detail at the possible locations for the elusive Nautilus Castle. At this time not loaded with mechs or ASF's, just the research people and their 'toys'.
The reason for not using / deploying the assault mechs by this time is because they don't have any mechwarrior trained / experienced using then. So, for a while, they are using Heavies, mediums and lights. The best mechwarriors – if they want – are going to start training in the assaults, and with luck, in the next expansion they can get some assault jocks.
In September, 7 an unscheduled jumpship appear at a pirate jump point, barely 8 hours from the planet. Moments later, three dropships detach – 1 Leopard-CV and two old Jumbo.