Durgama Takeover

The panda watches….

Research Park Skirmish – Unmasking

Reports had reached the ears of the Himaat Alsahra’ (Protectors of the Desert) that Biotech Scientists associated with biowarfare atrocities of recent years had been spotted in the Gekidan Research Park. Not afraid to tread on the toes of the Aleph that had taken control of the Yukimara Center, a team of Haqqislam irregulars, hackers and REMs infiltrated the area to chop the head off a dangerous snake. What they did not anticipate was Yu Jing’s Imperial Service moving in with a similar objective…

The Battlefield

Three terminals along the centre line would reveal the identity of the Designated Target, one of the scientists whose work on biological weapons could not be allowed to continue. Disguised amongst civilian decoys, these bringers of death would not prove easy to find.

Deployment
The fighters of the Himaat Alsahra’ deployed first, avoiding the exclusion zone in the centre of the Research Park, so as to remain covert. Camouflaged Daylami warriors and Hunzakut irregulars were given free reign to push themselves into advantageous positions in anticipation of the strike. Under the watchful eyes of Zhayedan Lieutenant Inteyeden Ag Ablil, Mukhtar Elham Shakiri and Al Hawwa Afdal Ayyubid placed themselves at the front of the spearhead. Fanous and Shaytaniyah Remotes were deployed behind the front line, to deliver the latter’s explosive payload when the time came.
“This is Alhabib,” the Hunzakut sniper spoke into his headset. He paused, catching his breath; to scale the Research Center tower had not been a cakewalk. Acknowledged by command, he continued, “I see movement, one click North. Heavy Infantry, moving so loud I can almost hear them from up here.” A pause. A question. “No, I can’t tell.” Another pause, a tension on the breeze. “Copy that.”
Ibrahim Ag Alhabib raised the rifle to his shoulder, scoped in, and exhaled.

1:1

The Mukhtar Active Response Unit lived up to her name, wasting no time in getting to the first terminal. Under the watchful eye of her fireteam, she revealed the identity of a civilian decoy hidden behind the tower to her left. Through the pagoda she moved towards another available computer. The sniper bullet hit her like a freight train, knocking her off her feet and into cover. Confusion on the comms as Major Lunah revealed herself, tucked away on the roof of a building to the north. A precision strike was about to become messy. Gritting her teeth in cover, the Mukhtar bypassed the next terminal’s firewalls and revealed the location of Dr. Ernesto Blas, the Sword of Allah’s designated target. Seemingly aware of the possibility that he might elude his fate with the help of the heavily armoured combatants now arriving from the north, Dr Blas hunkered down further along the street.

Aware that they were going to need to respond, the camouflaged irregulars pushed up on the flanks, taking up readied positions for the coming fight. The Asawira Raheem Al-Fawedi, ever-ready to unleash Allah’s wrath, pushed forward to suppress any movement with his Spitfire. From a rooftop, a Hunzakut sniper let off a shot that ricocheted off Wu Ming armour.
The battle had begun.

1:2
Having now also removed the Fanous Remote without a problem Major Lunah looked to do further damage, stepping out to spot the rooftop sniper. Whether it was luck or by the grace of a benevolent protector, the bullet buried itself in the underside of Alhabib’s vantage point. As a Pheasant Rank Agent moved towards Haqqislam’s intended target, the Hunzakut’s rifle found its mark again. The mighty roar of a Daylami panzerfaust saw to the end of the agent’s service.
The sniper needed dealing with. With the Wu Ming fireteam now in position, a heavy rocket was launched at the Research Center Roof. When the dust finally settled, the sniper lay unconscious. Cleared for engagement, the Hsien near Major Lunah pushed towards the nearest terminal. After vaulting the last obstacle a shadow seemed to shift, materialising into a Hassassin Nadhir seeking to protect the mission. The Hsien dodged their shot, and Major Lunah sent the Nadhir to a (not-so) glorious death. As the Hsien accessed the terminal Al Hawwa Afdal Ayyubid unleashed an immobilising hack, locking the Yu Jing trooper’s armour in place.

2:1

Aiming to place a repeater near their intended target, their eyes solely on the mission handed down from command, the Barid on the right flank was ordered to fire her pitcher towards the centre. Her movements allowed the Hsien to reset his armour, and her efforts were for nothing as the device failed to activate. Still camouflaged, and ready to give her life for the cause, Hunzakut Aaliyah Erdogan brushed past the Mukhtar hacker and straight into the firing line of Major Lunah and the Wu Ming, who had now deployed a Heavy Machine Gun to cover the road on which the doctor hid. A prayer brushed her lips as her hand activated the repeater, before falling slack beside it. The Mukhtar, now pinned by Yu Jing’s firepower, placed a target on Dr Blas’s precise location and called in the remote strike.

The first missile, somehow, went wide raining rubble over the cowering form of the bioweapon scientist. A moment passed. Could he still escape?

The second missile ended his life in a short, sharp shock.

The Asawira, braving incoming fire, once again took up a position from which to suppress the attackers. It was time to go.

[There were only two numbers on which the Missilebot would… miss.]

2:2

The next phases of combat were a blur, as Yu Jing forces lay down fire on every moving target. The missile strike had not been intended for them, but there was no way they could know it. A civilian decoy was removed, the Al Hawwa felt to the Hsien that threatened to rampage across the table. Thanks to the Mukhtar’s lightning-fast reflexes, however, the trooper once again found his armour unresponsive. In between all this, the Wu Ming fireteam and the lone Asawira in the centre traded volley after volley, expending a ludicrous amount of ammunition. Their armour held, and kept holding until, at last, Raheem Al-Fawedi took a knee, his weapon falling from his grasp, his eyes to the sky as the blood flowed from his wounds. No longer able to support his vital functions, his armour shut down, and his body with it.

The End

A hasty retreat was imperative [the store was closing…] and under the covering fire of the still-camouflaged Daylami, the Zhayedan opening up with his HMG, and the Farzan that had pushed up the left structure, the Haqqislam forces survived to fight another day. With Yu Jing unable to reveal their target, they took solace in the removal of two decoys before the skirmish concluded.

The lives lost this day will be mourned by many, but the lives saved are far, far more than anyone can anticipate.

Allah yusallmak.

Final score: 8-2

Himaat Alsahra’ (Protectors of the Desert)

Missile REM – Altahakum XV09 (will have to finish painting this hero – still WIP!)
Al Hawwa – Afdal Ayyubid – RIP
Mukhtar Active Response Unit – Elham Shakiri
Hunzakut Sniper – Ibrahim Ag Alhabib
Hunzakut with Device – Aaliyah Erdogan – RIP
Asawira – Raheem Al-Fawedi – RIP