Remember this: “Setting:
The campaign is set in a remote sector at the fringe of inhabited space, known as the Rimward Frontier. This sector was once a war-torn battleground during a conflict known as the Old War, fought between oppressive interstellar regimes and a coalition of independent planets. Now, in a tenuous peace, the area is a mix of flourishing independent worlds, lawless regions occupied by pirates and mercenaries, and abandoned battlefields littered with the wreckage of colossal war machines. 

The discovery of a long-forgotten research facility on the desolate planet of Tantalus IV sparks a new rush of activity in the sector. This facility is rumored to contain lost technology and archives from the Old War era, which could shift the balance of power in the galaxy if it falls into the wrong hands.

Introduction (Session 1): Boot Camp
Players are raw recruits who have signed up with the Tantalus Recovery and Acquisition Team (T.R.A.T.), a governmental organization of one of the independent planets seeking to secure the facility’s knowledge and technology. The players’ first session serves as a “boot camp” to introduce them to the basics of piloting mechs. They undergo simulations that cover movement, engagement, heat management, electronic warfare, and repair. Simple mechanic checks (like manual override, quick repairs, etc.) will be included to introduce the engineering aspect of gameplay. A mock skirmish at the end of the session tests their skills.

Plot Summary:
The players embark on a series of missions that introduce various aspects of the game while unfolding an intense, overarching narrative.

Act 1: The Frontier Beckons
- Mission 1: The team is dispatched to Tantalus IV, where they must navigate treacherous terrain to reach the facility. This serves as a lesson in environmental hazards and exploration.
- Mission 2: Upon arriving at the facility, players must breach the defenses, providing insight into using systems and hacking in LANCER. They discover that other factions are also vying to gain control, including a morally dubious mercenary group called the Greymalkin Consortium.
- Mission 3: A recon mission uncovers that the Greymalkin Consortium plans to excavate a colossal, pre-collapse mech believed to be buried somewhere within the complex. The players must race against time to locate the mech before the mercenaries do.

Act 2: Shadows of the Past
- Mission 4: The site is attacked by a rival faction, introducing players to large-scale combat. This session focuses on the strategic use of the environment and teamwork.
- Mission 5: Subsequent intel leads the players into a derelict space station orbiting Tantalus IV, teaching them zero-g combat and the perils of fighting in space.
- Mission 6: Tension builds as one of the players’ NPC allies is suspected of being a spy for the Greymalkin Consortium. They must investigate and confront the mole, teaching players about role-playing aspects and non-combat resolutions.

Act 3: The War Machine Awakens
- Mission 7: With the location of the buried mech discovered, the players must navigate a subterranean labyrinth, introducing them to traps, stealth elements, and the importance of scouting.
- Mission 8: The Greymalkin Consortium unleashes the awakened mech in an all-out assault to claim the research facility. This epic showdown teaches players about fighting giant opponents, using teamwork to exploit weaknesses, and making decisive battle choices.
- Mission 9: The campaign culminates in a frantic escape from Tantalus IV as the unstable power source of the buried mech threatens to detonate. The players face a moral dilemma: ensure their own survival or risk their lives to minimize the potential loss of innocent lives.

Throughout the campaign, new mechanics are gradually introduced to the players, allowing them to master each aspect of the game before more complexity is added. Each mission concludes with a debriefing that encourages players to reflect on their performance, consolidate what they’ve learned, and plan for future upgrades and strategies.

The campaign is designed to be both a primer in mech combat and a gripping narrative experience, teaching new players the ropes of LANCER while embroiling them in the high stakes of interstellar conflict and the remnants of ancient wars.”