The St. John Affair

A few days later...

Princess reports mech activity against her screening and scout elements. B lance of 5th Company (Electra) lost one of its two SH-Ks and its Whitworth in an ambush. The rest of the lance suffered damage and was in danger of being overwhelmed, but Lance Commander Evelyn "Primetime" Burnett (SH-K) was able to decapitate one of the attackers (using a blade wrested from a Kuritan mech) and cripple the leg of another, causing the attacking DEST forces to pause their assault. This gave elements of 4th Company time to respond, and the remaining Kuritans quit the field, leaving their damaged comrade to cover their retreat. 4th Company pursued until fire from Kuritan reinforcements forced them to fall back.

Lancer losses: SH-K (KIA) + WW (Ejected safely)
Enemy Losses: Quickdraw + PH-K
Salvage: Quickdraw (lacking cockpit and various minor damage)

Other enemy forces: 5-6 units seen in the field, SH-K, T-bolt, PH-K, GDragon, Assassin or Marauder (conflicting reports), Crusader-K (probably, could be another PH-K). Could be more, maybe a third lance. There is a possibility of conventional forces as well, but if so in limited numbers /capabilities.

Princess is currently regrouping to pursue, while 4th Coy scouts and ASF assets maintain contact with enemy mechs. Opfor has withdrawn to a mountain(glacier area some 150 clicks NW of landing site. Her intent is to pursue the enemy with mobile forces, then pin them in place using airlift of heavier elements, but opfor current location makes this a difficult prospect.

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Katana Chief Intel Officer (technically Fishbait, but compiled by Lt. Max Norwell, the de facto Intel Officer for the Katanas) reports that liberated prisoners confirm the existence of a "secret" max security facility separate from the main internment camps. It is located about 195 klicks from the aerospace base currently serving as a forward operating base for the Katanas.

The area has very rugged terrain, unsuitable for landing with Union-class dropships. Airdrops could be an option, but intel indicates the presence of aerospace defenses, possibly including capital class PPCs. There is only one real road leading to the facility, and its very well defended. It's estimated that a full assault battalion would be required to take it without unacceptable losses. A lighter, more mobile force could get in, but losses would be high. Alternatively a smaller group of very mobile jump mechs could be sent through the mountains (Siri could maybe also be suitable, given Takari's exceptional piloting skillz), but without local knowledge it seems a venture with a low chance of success.

Mech's destroyed at the aerodrome have makings from two different companies, leading intel to suspect that the prison facility may be guarded by as many as a full company of mechs, and an unknown number of conventional forces and fixed emplacements. Reports from freed prisoners indicate that the leader of the DEST force is Major Allison Hada, piloting a Hatamoto-Chi. Her command lance consists of a missile-armed Awesome and two Marauders. Remaining enemy mech forces unknown.

Taking the prison facility would be beneficial. Both for destroying enemy mechs, but also because many of the prisoners on the liberation manifest are thought to be located there. It is imperative that no more time be lost if the attack is to take place - and that it be executed with great speed and ferocity - lest the Kuritans start executing the prisoners rather than see them freed.