Taming Cerberus [Starmada vs. CA]

With the test-run of my Mindwipe-list turned out quite well, I started confidently into the first round of the 'Quadratekämpfe Rauhnächte' tournament, organised by Tristan228. My opponent for the first round was Locustron, a pretty skilled player from southern Germany. This should be a really tough start and I already planned for a loss.

 Rauhnächte Mindwipe V2
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GROUP 1  10  
 ANDROMEDA (Infiltration [+6]) Submachine Gun, Zapper, Flash Pulse, D-Charges / Breaker Pistol, DA CC Weapon. (0 | 33)
 HECTOR (Lieutenant [+1 Order]) Spitfire, Nanopulser, Grenades ( | TinBot: Firewall [-3]) / Heavy Pistol, EXP CC Weapon. (0.5 | 67)
 BLUECOAT Adhesive Launcher(+1B), Heavy Riotstopper / Pistol, Shock CC Weapon, PARA CC Weapon(-6). (0 | 13)
 BLUECOAT Adhesive Launcher(+1B), Heavy Riotstopper / Pistol, Shock CC Weapon, PARA CC Weapon(-6). (0 | 13)
 KAPPA Missile Launcher / Pistol, CC Weapon. (1.5 | 17)
 KAPPA Combi Rifle / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 12)
 KAPPA (Paramedic) Combi Rifle ( | MediKit) / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 14)
 CRUSHER (Forward Deployment [+8"]) Submachine Gun, Nanopulser, D-Charges / Pistol, E/M CC Weapon. (0 | 29)
 FUZZBOT (Minesweeper, Repeater)  ( ) / PARA CC Weapon(-3). (0 | 8)
 KYTTÄ Flash Pulse / PARA CC Weapon(-3). (0 | 7)

GROUP 25  / 2
 VARANGIAN Submachine Gun, Chain Rifle, Smoke Grenades / Heavy Pistol, AP CC Weapon. (0 | 12)
 VARANGIAN Submachine Gun, Chain Rifle, Smoke Grenades / Heavy Pistol, AP CC Weapon. (0 | 12)
 CHO (Chain of Command) Combi Rifle, Nanopulser / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 20)
 FUZZBOT (Minesweeper, Repeater)  ( ) / PARA CC Weapon(-3). (0 | 8)
 CRUSHER (Forward Deployment [+8"]) Submachine Gun, Light Rocket Launcher, Nanopulser, D-Charges / Pistol, E/M CC Weapon. (1 | 35)

 3 SWC | 300 Points

[url=https://infinitytheuniverse.com/army/list/g+oIc3Rhcm1hZGEYIFJhdWhuw6RjaHRlIE1pbmR3aXBlIFYygSwCAQoAgxQBBQAAgvIBBAAAhfkBAwAAhfkBAwAAhacBBAAAhacBAQAAhacBBwAAhegBAgAAhb0BAQAAhbsBAQACBQCFtQEEAACFtQEEAACF7QEBAACFvQEBAACF6AEDAA==]Open in Infinity Army

As planned, I chose the designated Mindwipe-list as it was discussed in the report against Commoner1.

 
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GROUP 1  10  
 SHROUDED (Forward Observer) Combi Rifle, Flash Pulse, Shock Mines / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 23)
 SPECULO KILLER Combi Rifle, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, Monofilament CC Weapon. (1 | 32)
 MED-TECH OBSIDON MEDCHANOID Combi Rifle, D-Charges ( | GizmoKit, MediKit) / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 22)
 Q-DRONE Heavy Machine Gun / PARA CC Weapon(-3). (1 | 25)
 R-DRONE Flash Pulse / PARA CC Weapon(-3). (0 | 7)
 R-DRONE Flash Pulse / PARA CC Weapon(-3). (0 | 7)
 SLAVE DRONE PARA CC Weapon(-3). (0 | 3)
 SHESKIIN (Lieutenant) Red Fury, Pulzar, D-Charges / Pistol, DA CC Weapon. (1 | 54)
 CALIBAN (Chain of Command) Submachine Gun, Pulzar, D-Charges / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 29)
 ÍMETRON . (0 | 4)
 IKADRON (Baggage, Repeater) Light Flamethrower(+1B), Flash Pulse / Pistol, PARA CC Weapon(-3). (0 | 9)

GROUP 23  / 1  
 RASYAT (Specialist Operative) Combi Rifle, E/Mitter, D-Charges, Eclipse Grenades / Heavy Pistol. (0 | 34)
 LIBERTO (Minelayer) Light Shotgun, Shock Mines / Pistol, CC Weapon. (1 | 8)
 IKADRON (Baggage, Repeater) Light Flamethrower(+1B), Flash Pulse / Pistol, PARA CC Weapon(-3). (0 | 9)
 NOCTIFER Missile Launcher / Assault Pistol, CC Weapon. (1.5 | 32)

 5.5 SWC | 298 Points

[url=https://infinitytheuniverse.com/army/list/glkNY29tYmluZWQtYXJteQEggSwCAQsAgfUBBQAAgfcBAQAAgfsBAQAAgf0BAQAAgf8BAQAAgf8BAQAAgg4BAQAAghUBBAAAghABAwAAgg8BAQAAghQBAQACBACCBwEEAACE+wEEAACCFAEBAACCBAEDAA==]Open in Infinity Army

As always, I don't remember the list correctly. What I could extract from my notes comes down to something like that. One piece is missing and the groups are not 100% accurate, but the important stuff is there. Sheskin to murder things and maybe even my server after the Shrouded has activated the console. The defense is is build by the REMs and the hidden Noctifer, who we all love. Plan B is the Rasyat, ready to do whatever it takes to win the game.

I probably lose the LT roll and start in the south.

One Varangian start on the left behind the building where both Fuzzbots are liyng on. This time I plan to send the real Hector along that flank, so Cho goes to the opposite flank. The Kytta reinforces that side together with the LRL Crusher, this time a bit advanced, The core-team is scattered on the mid right, while the ML again covers the right firelanes. The last Crusher takes the same positions on the right together with the second Varangian as in the previous game on this map.

The Q-drone awaits me on the central building, the other one is taken by a flasbot. The other flasbot secures the left flank together with an Ikadron. Dr. Wurm sits in the back and four camo-markers are scattered in front of the DZ. Sheskin starts on the right side and one impersonator tries to engage me on the street behind the bus.

Hector starts on the left, even with some concerns to the flashbots LoF. Andromeda finds no place to engage the Q-drone unharmed by the other flashbot, so she should be the reinforcement on the left. Something is placed in hidden deployment.

Starmada 1: Two orders go missing from group one. I set up some smoke on the left console, while te Speculo does not take the bait. So the Crusher there tries to activate it but fails. Hector advances on the left until a Noctifer appears. Two shootouts later it goes dogged and Hector takes safety next to Andromeda. The attack here is stopped. The other Crusher fails two times on the right console and enters suppressive fire with Hector.

CA 1: Sheskin starts directly, taking out both Varangians. She gets LoF to Hectors back, shooting him two wounds until he critically dodges out of her LoF. She advances further to reach his back again, crossing LoF with the Kytta and gets stunned. The Libertos takes out Andromeda with a dirty mine-trick and a coordinated order lets the left Ikadron shoot Hector down with its pistol. Over the course, a Shrouded is revealed in the midfield.

Starmada 2: In the second try the right Crusher activates the console and forces the Shrouded into cover. The AI sits in a server the Crusher probably won't reach, but he pushes further. While taking one wound, he manages to get a position on the right, unseen by the Q-drone but in LoF of the last camo-marker and the right flashbot. First the flashbot dies to the SMG in 10", then the CoC Caliban dies to the nanopulsar, taking the Crusher out in return. The core-team shifts towards the center. First the ML outranges the Q-drone, dropping it, then Sheskin is shot unconscious by the ML.

CA 2: In LoL and with several slots blocked in group one, not much happens. The Shrouded approaches the left console, while the Speculo takes down the Kytta.

Starmada 3: Only the Kappa-team is alive, so I go on full denial and advance into the center. One Kappa climbs the building to shoot the Speculo, but gets blasted away. Leaving one Gluecoat behind to have something on my servers, three guys approach, shooting the Liberto dogged and overwatching the console after the Shrouded is blasted.

CA 3: Dr. Wurm is shot on his way towards the console, then a Rasyat drops next to it. While activating it, it is blasted, too. Now the Speculo seeks some revenge but doesn't manage to take out the last two Kappas. 

No server is touched and no classifieds are done, so it ends in a 4-4 tie. Both sides have less than 100 points left on the field. Dice on both sides were not that favourable over the course, while I got more luck in the second half and Locustron loses his rolls from there on. I probably misplayed Hector a bit while forcing him boneheaded over the left side, since a Noctifer was more or less foreseen. On the other hand I had no thrill on attacking Sheskin, covered by the Q-drone and a flashbot. Maybe that should have been the better plan with Hector.
Since I am not used to use core-links in any active way, the performance of the line trooper team was more than impressive and saved the game for me. Once the units are a bit scattered and single targets can be picked, a full linked ML is a real thread.

Nevertheless, a tie against Locustron is a very good result for me. Even if one TP in the actual scoring system is not much, it was an important boost to the morale and boosted my confidence with the aggressive style of Starmada, too.