Rhine Dale Raid (even longer)

Hi folks,

just thought Karl Heinz's very biased ( ;-) ) report on the skirmih we
played should be put in perspective....

Minor details:  - Umpire was Dick, other player was Marc
                - Marksmen, in addition to what was mentioned by Karl,
could EITHER double range band OR choose target, not both.

Briefing:

After reports on suspicious activities in the Rhine Dale system, a detachment
of the New Anglican Royal Marine Corps is sent to covertly investigate. A
section of King's Own Ghurka Rifles has been attached as scouts.

Rules of engagement were restricted. We were to covertly gather information.
If contact is made and a firefight inevitable, escalation should be prevented,
we do not want to start a war. Thus, heavy weapons fire was prohibited as
first use. It was clarified that SAW were NOT heavy weapons.

Marine Lieutenant:      D8 armour, AAR+GL, Elite 1 (LUCKY!), D8 sensors
                        D6 move

Marine Assault Group: D8 armour, D6 sensors, D6 move Regular 2
                        3 squadies with Gauss AR + GL
                        1 squadie with Gauss MG + GL
                        1 squadie with GMS/P
1 sniper with Gauss sniping rifle and D8 sensors

Both assault group and lieutenant Denizen figures in full body armour.

2 sections royal marine light infantry: D6 armour, D56 sensors, D6 move

First section: Regular 2
                        5 squadies with AAR+GL
                        1 PIG
                        1 SAW
1 marksman (D10FP, D10 impact)

Second section: Regular 2
                        6 squadies with AAR+GL
                        1 GMS/P
                        1 SAW

1 section King's Own Ghurka Rifles: D4 armour, D8 move, D6 sensors

Ghurka NCO              Veteran 1, AAR+GL

Ghurka Fireteam 1 Veteran 2
                        3 squadies with AAR+GL
1 squadie with marksman rifle (D10FP, D10 imp)

Ghurka Fireteam 2 Veteran 2
                        4 squadies with AAR+GL

N.B: When drawing classifications, I could return green chicks if drawn for
the ghurka's. I drew many a green chit for the ghurka's, and none after, for
the other units. Lucky!

When about to deploy onto the table, at our chosen edge, the Ghurka's
reported another unknown force  to our front - we then redeployed to the
side, keeping an eye on them as we did so. hence, the presence of Karl's
bushrangers was known, but did delay our advance.

The ghurka's advanced onto the table first, sneakily occupying two bits of
harmless wood, and observed Karl's troops dissect a scientific drone. It saved
the marksmen a charge on the laser's capacitor, as he was jsut drawing a bead
on the annoying thing.

Thus freed from observation, they awaited the arrival of the assault troop's
sniper, before advancing one section to the spiky woods at the foot of the
hill in front of them. Quickly covering the open ground in front of them, and
covered by the other Ghurka section, they ducked for cover by the spikey
plants. It took them completely by surprise, when a large vine swung around
the spikey bush, entangled a ghurka, and planted him right atop a good many
large wooden spikes.

Dice rolls were made for the noise dicipline of the unfortunate Ghurka. A
brilliant roll determined the poor sap kept his noise dicipline all through
the unfortunate incident.

The other squadies in his fireteam promptly responded. We decided there were a
number of possible responses: a) keep on advancing b) laugh their head off at
the unfortunate sap c) panic d) fall back to their last position and regroup.
They elected option d.

Much to the ridicule of the Ghurka NCO and the other Ghurka rifles, the
fireteam fell back into harmless cover, so far unnoticed by any of the other
forces. This ridicule so disturbed them, that they decided to seek vengeance.
They drew their Kukri and assaulted the harmful terrain in
hand-to-vine combat. Needless to say, the vine lost.

Unfortunately, their noise discipline did not prevent them from thoroughly
intimidating the vine with a proper Ghurka scream, as they charged. Much to
the plant's shock, of course. But also hard to miss to anybody else on the
table. The NAC forces suddenly became a known presence.

As their presence was known, the lieutenant sent forward both marine
sections to take up positions in the harmless woods - #2 squad observing
Karl's bushrangers advancing on their right.

After clearing the other spikey plants in their immediate vicinity, the
Ghurka's advanced to the base of the hill in front of them. In order to
observe, #1 Ghurka fireteam crept up to the top of the hill. They immediately
took fire from Marc's forces who had been waiting to their front. #2 fireteam
rushed up the hill in order to suppress the enemy so both fireteams could fall
back. The #2 marine section advanced to the base of the hill in case shit
really hit the fan.

Which, of course, it did. Both Ghurka fireteams exchanged fore with the enemy,
taking some suppression as a result. But also managing to suppress the enemy.
#1 Ghurka fireteam had interpreted their orders as allowing the
underbarrel GL's to be sued - this was later discovered to be incorrect.

Since a prolongued firefight was not going to be to the NAC advantage, the NAC
lieutenant decided to take the inititive. The #2 marine squad was ordered to
assault over the hill. Unfortunately, disastrous rolls for combat movement got
their assault stuck inches to the front of the Ghurka's. This would not have
been disastrous, had it not been for the bushrangers choosing this opportunity
to join in the fight, shooting in
enfilade across ghurka's and marines - killing one of his majesty's
citizens, and 2 ghurka's as well.

The position had obviously become untenable. Firing at the bushes in front of
them to keep the enemy's head down, both Ghurka's and marines fell back
behind the hill - one ghurka team deploying to the flank to cover.

Advoce from higher HQ was then sought - should we press an advance, or
should we retire? It was pointed out to the lieutenant that if heh had
understood his roders, the word 'covert' should lend a clue here. As further
information gathering seemed impossible without taking further fire and
attention, he reached his decision.

Hence, an orderly pull-out was ordered. Not without recovering the
bodies of course. The assault squad was ordered into covering positions, and
the tactical withdrawal was prepared.

As both Ghurka's and marines were about to once again advance up the huill for
their fallen ones, the enemy decided to attack. The attack faltered on top of
the hill, taking hits from both the assault team
sniper, #2 ghurka fireteam and the bushranger's amazons (I think - not
sure). The ghurka's and marines gratefully used this opportunity to retrieve
the bodies, and fell back into the harmless woods. In a staged withdrawal,
they then vanished off the table.

The ghurka's afterwards felt very indignified at being told off for using
heavy weapons. After all, hadn't they refrained from using their LAW's to
clear the opposition? Even though this might be true, unfortunately higher HQ
had included underbarrel GL's in their definition of 'heavy weapons'.

Unfortunately the mission had to be reporte d afaillure, as no useful
information, other than the presence oftwo unknown forces could be reported.
Funnily enough, the communications of Karl's force never did show up on the
Ghurka ESM operator's displays. Additionally, they seemed remarkable well at
home in this alien wildlife. This was filed for further reference in the
mission report.

As you can tell, this completely contradicts the biased reporting in Karl's
report;)

Thanks for a fun game, Karl!

Cheers,