Finally my Alpha Strike Scouring Sands campaign begins.
Scouring Sands is a solo/co-op campaign box for the Alpha Strike miniatures game.
Alpha Strike is the faster-playing no-hex rule variant of Battletech.
Some of the text included in this document is straight from the campaign book and is (c) 2026 Catalyst Game Labs.
A little backstory:
I decided that three of the four "named pilots" were originally from the planet that the campaign starts on. They were born on the ruined planet of Apolakkia, in the blasted wasteland of the northern continent that the invading Jade Falcon clan created when they invaded.
In the hundred or so years since the invasion, the Jade Falcons ruled with an iron fist - extracting as much value as they could from the world, and letting the population suffer. Any attempted uprising, or anything even resembling disrespect was dealt with severely.
Akila Donislov Niekelovich, his brother Pavsikakii Rafail Nielelovich, and their friend Asil Den-Bria Jireth, lived in the ruins, scavenging, selling what they found to the few traders that came through. These sales were illegal, and both the traders and the scavengers faced great peril doing it, but to the scavengers, it was survival. And to the traders, it was wealth.
About ten years ago, the three friends traded some very lucrative scrap in exchange for being smuggled off-world. The trader captain agreed, even though he knew the risk.
They were released on the Clan Hell's Horses system of Zoetermeer. While still under the thumb of the clans, the Hell's Horses ruled with a lighter thumb, and allowed the residents reasonable freedoms. The trio survived and learned to fight, and ended up making their way to the Rasalhague Dominion world of Kandis, working as cargo handlers, security, and as "disposable assets". It was on this trip that they met Rex DuMira, a disgraced Jade Falcon freeborn warrior and his friend, Varrek Tor, a Clan Elemental - over 7' tall and could tear you apart with his bare hands. But, unlike most of his type, he was soft spoken and gentle. And a damn fine mechanic.
They turned the skills they had learned into jobs as mercenaries with the Stalking Veyr mercenary group.
After years of mercenary work, including the loss of many friends, Akila became commander of the Stalking Veyr, taking command of their 11 surviving mechs and their rickety Union dropship.
Shortly thereafter, they heard that most of Clan Jade Falcon had abandoned their worlds on a mission to take Terra. Only a small Jade Falcon force remained on Apolakkia. So when the contract to drive off the Jade Falcon remnants came in, offered by the Alyina Mercantile League, the Staling Veyr grabbed it.
And so they returned home.

Star Captain Conrad Sender of the Eighteenth Falcon Regulars stands between Apolokkia and the Alyna Mercantile League. The contract was simple. Wipe them out.
The Stalking Veyr landed their dropship far from the Jade Falcons stronghold, but not far from a village that Akila remembered from her youth. They turned out in six of their eleven mechs - enough to show their might, but not enough to leave their dropship undefended.
Akila led the six mechs into the town, stopping in the city center. The small town was apparently vacant - the citizens were hiding in fear.
Akila, Pav and Asil climbed down from their mechs, and Akila walked forward about ten paces, his arms held up in the air. A young man, well tanned from living on Apolakkia, left one of the buildings and walked towards Akila. Akila heard Rex' voice in his headset "Commander, looks like there's a sniper in the building he came from."
"If they were going to shoot me, they would have already. Keep on the scanners. No matter what, don't take any action against these people."
"Copy that, Commander. If they get you, we'll mop your brains in a bucket and get out without hurting anyone."
The man came within twenty feet of Akila, and announced himself. "I am Agapito Galanis, mayor of the town. I insist you tell my why you are endangering us with your presence."
"Mayor Galanis, I am Akila Niekelovich, Commander of the Stalking Veyr. I was born on Apolakkia, grew up in the wastelands that the Jade Falcons made of our home, and now that most of the Falcons have left the planet, we are here to kick the rest of them off and liberate Apolakkia."
"And who will replace the Jade Falcons? You certainly aren't doing this just out of a sense of justice."
Akila smiled. "Of course not. We are being financed by the Alyina Mercantile League. And yes, they will expect some compensation, but we have seen what they have done on worlds the Falcons have abandoned, and the people of those worlds are prospering. They can help Apolokkia rebuild."
The Mayor seemed content with the answer. Had Akila claimed it was just being done out of the goodness of his heart, he would not have been believed.
"You were really born here?"
"In the ruins of Exogi. The Librarian adopted us after our parents were killed by the Falcons."
The Librarian was one of Apolakkia's best known secrets - a former military academy instructor who arrived in secret to try to set up a resistance. He ended up rescuing orphans left in the wastes to die, and with a few others ran a school for the orphans. Off-worlders would not know about him.
The Mayor nodded. "Sadly, the Librarian was caught five years ago, and was executed."
Anger clouded Akila's face, while Asil let out a quiet "No!". Akila shook his head. "He always knew that was a possibility. It's something else the Falcons will answer for."
"We have some supplies to give you - simple things that you may need." Akila continued, "We won't be in the town long- we just have a few questions about the Jade Falcon's remnant force."
But before the Mayor could reply, Rex was on the comms. "Akila, incoming Jade Falcon force."
The three leaders of the Stalking Veyr went on alert. Akila quickly said "Mayor - a scouting force of Falcons are incoming. Get all your people to shelters. We'll deal with them."
The Mayor bowed his head, then moved quickly back to the building, calling out an alarm, while Akila, Pav and Asil returned to their Mechs.

  • Primary Objective: Get close to each of the Jade Falcon force, and scan them. The sortie fails if an unscanned Falcon vehicle is destroyed.

  • Secondary Objective: Destroy or immobilize at least three enemy units

  • The sortie ends after six turns, or when one side has no more remaining units in play.
The Stalking Veyr forces:
Thunder Hawk TDK-7Z, piloted by Asil
Phoenix Hawk PXH-9, piloted by Akila (Commander)
Wraith TR1, piloted by Pav
Dasher-A, piloted by Rex
Black Hawk-L, piloted by Summer Nune
Blackjack BJ-3, piloted by Brett Etinos
The Jade Falcons
Rifleman C 2 (Commander)
Locust IIC
Howler 6
2 Fulcrum Heavy Hovertanks
The Jade Falcon mechs and tanks arrived in a wide formation - a Rifleman on their left, a Locust and Howler in the middle, and two hovertanks on their right. The presence of the tanks, which are usually despised by the Clans, confirmed in Akila's mind that the Falcons did not consider these remnants worthy. But, they are still Clan warriors.



"We need intel on their condition. Scan them all - I want scans on everything before we blow them to hell."
The Rifleman fired at the Brett's Blackjack. Its weapons damaged the mech's armor, but Akila's display showed no penetration. The Howler fired at Pav's Wraith, again just damaging armor. One of the tanks fired at Asil's Thunder Hawk - missing, but the other targeted Akila's Phoenix Hawk, scraping armor.
The Dasher, moved at full normal speed and scanned the Rifleman. The pilot of the Rifleman laughed at the Stalking Veyr, "You mighty mercenaries are scanning when you should be shooting. We will drive you under our heels as our Mongol Doctrine dictates."
The Jade Falcons were adherents to the Clan "Mongol Doctrine". If someone insults you, kill ten of them. Salt the earth. Leave no survivors. Most of the other Clans, as foul as they were, didn't even follow that doctrine anymore. But, the Jade Falcons were monsters.
And, Akila thought, we're the ones who fight monsters.
Pav's Wraith got behind the Rifleman, and fired - some armor damage, but even that would infuriate the pilot.


Akila scanned one of the tanks - his scan indicated that a section of its armor was scoured by the desert, and poorly maintained. Fitting - the Falcons considered tanks beneath them - suitable only for the lowest tier warriors.
Summer's Black Hawk scanned the other tank. As she was scanning, she called out "Damnit! I'm getting weapon drift - All lights show green - must have a sensor issue. Fuck!
Varrek Tor, their primary Mech mechanic, called out over their private channel, "I told you, little Summer, that the Black Hawk needed more work before taking it out again."
"I didn't have much option, did I?"
"You could have declined, and let Rand, or Slip take your spot."
"Fuck you, Varrek."
"I love you too, little Summer."
"Knock off the chatter" Akila said, "Summer - take out your frustrations on the Falcons."
Asil's Thunder Hawk - the heaviest mech they've deployed today, and the biggest threat, fired at one of the tanks, causing fairly significant armor damage.
Brett fired at the Rifleman, but his shots didn't land.


The Jade Falcons seemed to turn the tide a bit, but Akila's tactical skills, which the Librarian taught him, and solidified while he was a mercenary, let them continue to keep the upper hand.
He was able to gain even more of an advantage over the Rifleman, jumping at it and firing, but so far they were still just whittling away at its armor. Pav's Wraith was able to sneak in an early shot at the damaged Fulcrum hover tank, penetrating the armor and damaging its weaponry.
One of the tanks fired at Rex's Dasher, but missed. The other fired at the Wraith, scraping armor. The Rifleman could only target the Black Hawk, damaging its armor. The Locust fired at Pav's Wraith, and the Howler fired at the Black Hawk and both missed. "Asil! Your shot?" "Didn't have one, boss - these guys are quick." "Well, get back in the fight. We're getting shot up."
As the Dasher scanned the Howler, another round of shots came at it from the tank. Now it was the Dasher's turn to have some mechanical issues, and its critical movement system started to throw errors. "Varrek! Now the Dasher is acting up!"
"Ah, my little friend, we took quite a beating last fight. We need another two mechanics."

Brett continued to fire at the Rifleman, but could not land a shot.
Asil finally was able to line up a shot on the Rifleman, blowing through its armor and damaging one of its weapons.
Summer scanned the enemy Locust, noting that the Locust was not in great repair, and one of its weapons was already damaged. "Commander, they're as bad at keeping up their mechs as we are."
"Knock it off. Focus on the fight."


They picked up some chatter from the Jade Falcons, and realized that they were about to start a retreat. "Whatever you can - stop them from leaving. We don't want them to report back."
"Commander, we can't stop all of them."
"Focus on the Rifleman then."
The Jade Falcon Locust, Howler and one of the hovertanks made their escape.
The Rifleman fired at the Black Hawk, but missed.
Pav's Wraith, however, did not miss, and destroyed the Jade Falcon Rifleman.
Akila tried to get an extra shot off at the remaining hover tank, but missed.

The remaining tank then was able to escape.
"Varrek, get every hand that can hold a wrench - we need to get our mechs fixed up. And quickly. The Jade Falcons won't be gone long."
"And they will target the townsfolk."

What's left of the enemy probe falls back. Picking through the rubble, the mercenaries find out some information about the Jade Falcons. The civilians also offer a few bits of info, although they are still terrified of the Jade Falcons, especially since many of their scouts were able to escape.
They reveal that there's a nearby depot where the Falcons store ammunition. A bold strike, while they are still reeling, coud hamper their supply chain and weaken them in the long run - but since the depot is located inside a moutain, this might also be dangerous.
They also let the mercs know that the warriors sometimes raid the factories and cities for supplies, so we could play it more defensively and establish a perimiter. This would show the people of Apolakkia that their safety is the Stalking Veyr's primary concern.
And of those two choices, Akila knew which he would choose. They came here to kick the Jade Falcons off the world, but they weren't going to sacrifice the people of Apolakkia to do it.
"Give us the most likely settlements - the Falcons will be doing more than raiding - they'll be trying to make a statement. And I want us to be there to make ours.

Turn 1: Stalking Veyr win initiative.
Jade Falcons in command mode A

  • All mechs and vehicles maneuver

  • The Jade Falcons fire first

  • One of the Fulcrum tanks finally sees the Thunder Hawk and fires - missing

  • The other Fulcrum fires at the Phoenix Hawk, does 1 point armor damage

  • Baboon fires at Wraith - does 1 point armor damage

  • Locust fires at Wraith - misses

  • Rifleman targets Blackjack - does 2 points armor damage

  • --

  • And now it's time for the Stalking Veyr to return the favor

  • Dasher scans Rifleman - Waypoint B: The Stalking Veyr already knew about the Jade Falcon's tyranny in their use of the Clan "Mongol Doctrine", but now, the mercs were able to see it up close. Gain +1 Initiative next turn.

  • Wraith fires at Rifleman from the rear - 2 points armor damage.

  • Phoenix Hawk scans one Fulcrum tank - Waypoint C: Seeing this unit up close, a section of its armor appears scoured by the unforgiving desert environment and poorly-maintained. Since the unit had armor remaining, it lost 1 point.

  • Black Hawk scans other Fulcrum tank - Waypoint E - The enemy's last shot just have landed more precisely than you thought - some of your weapons are non-responsive. Unit takes a Weapon Hit critical.

  • Thunder Hawk fires at a Fulcrum tank - 4 points armor damage

  • Blackjack fires at Rifleman - misses
End Phase - nothing
Turn 2: Stalking Veyr lose initiative, but Asil uses Tactical Genius to reroll, and that gives the Stalking Veyr the initiative.
Jade Falcons change to command mode D
  • All mechs and vehicles move

  • Phoenix Hawk uses Combat Intuition after jumping to fire at Rifleman, causing 2 points armor damage.

  • Wraith uses Combat Intuition to fire during movement phase, targeting the damaged Fulcrum tank - one hit, damages weaponry.

  • Fulcrum "A" fires at Dasher - misses

  • Fulcru "B" fires at Wraith - 1 point armor damage

  • Rifleman fires at Black Hawk, causing 2 points armor damage

  • Locust fires at Wraith - misses

  • Baboon fires at Black Hawk - misses.

  • --

  • Dasher scans Baboon - waypoint D: The enemy fires a volley of weapons fire in your direction. As you maneuver to return fire, your controls seize up, making your mech slow to respond. Unit suffers the MP Hit critical.

  • Blackjack fires at Rifleman - misses.

  • Thunder Hawk fires at Rifleman - one hit, Weapon critical.

  • Black Hawk scans Locust - Waypoint A: The enemy unit isn't in great repair, and one of this unit's weapons doesn't appear to be working at full capacity - enemy unit gains a "Weapon Hit" critical hit.
End Phase: Waypoint F: The Jade Falcons have had enough of probing your forces, and begin to withdraw: Set the Command Deck to card E; they gain Forced Retreat.
Turn 3: Stalking Veyr win initiative.
  • Fulcrum "A", Locust and Baboon successfully escape.

  • Other mechs and vehicles move.

  • Rifleman fires at Black Hawk, misses.

  • Fulcrum "B" sprinted to flee, so it takes no action.

  • Blackjack fires at Rifleman - missed.

  • Black Hawk fires at rifleman - 3 misses.

  • Wraith firees at Rifleman - 2 hits - DESTROYED!

  • Phoenix Hawk fires at Fulcrum, missed.
End Phase: n/a
Turn 4: Initiative doesn't matter - Fulcrum tank escapes.
Primary Objective: Met
Secondary Objective: Failed
After expenses, earned 840SP
Each Named Pilot gains 80SP
Turn Options:
  • Strike underground supply depot: Sortie 04

  • Defensive Perimeter: Sortie 05

I'm sure I made some errors while playing my first turn, but found it quite enjoyable. Since I'm playing on a 36" table instead of the recommended 48" table, the hills felt too large, so I'm 3D printing ones that are scaled down (only on the X and Y axis) to match. I also plan to 3D print replacements for the buildings.