The Fall of Fort Edmonton Part 2

A Headless Body Production

All Quiet on the Martian Front After Action Report: The Battle of Fort Edmonton Part 2

Location: Garth's Cave
Game: All Quiet on the Martian Front
Players:  Garth Parker: Mobile forces of Pod 2, Hive 5A (फली 2, हाइव 5A)
                Bruce Potter, replacing Jennifer Parker: Monty's Pythons
                Stephen Turn: The American North West Expeditionary Force.
                Phil Gardocki: Marvin's Martians, The "Illuminaries".(हास्यास्पद कार्टून चरित्र)

The Forces: "Monty’s Pythons", the 2nd Squadron, 12th "Three Rivers” Regiment, 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade and the American North West Expeditionary Force, have been making a desperate effort to fend of a surprise attack by the Martians.  After 5 rounds, they have lost 18 tanks and numerous infantry units.  The Land Ironclad, Nell, has taken a number of critical hits, but otherwise seems to be fully functional, the Martians have been wary of her super heavy guns, and presenting few targets for her to shoot at other than drones.

Mobile elements of Pods कार्टून वर्ण प्रकाश की, 2. 5ए and हास्यास्पद कार्टून चरित्र, 20 tripods, of around 4,000 points.

Scenario:  This is part 2.  To read part 1, now renamed, click here: The Fall of Fort Edmonton Part 1.
Having settled their differences, the Martian Hives unite for a massive attack on the human enclave at Fort Edmonton.  The plucky Canadians, first reinforced by the out right theft of a US Land Ironclad, The Spirit of Detroit, then the arrival of the BEF, have now been further bolstered by American forces.

The Board: Fort Edmonton, 155 acres of recently cleared, but trash strewn area near the center of Alberta, Canada.

Deployment:

The combined Canadian US Army started with about 3,000 points but losses are staggering, their hopes now hang on Nell, American Industrial Might, the hope that the BEF will return from their reconnaissance in force.

The Martians started with about 2,000 points on the board and have lost 5 Tripods, but more keep coming. 

Opening Dialog:
 ===================================================================
Brigadier General Miles screamed "What is wrong with that thing?  It just stands there!  You don't just stand there taking the bombardment, take the fight to them!  Sergeant ...., no, Captain Rouge, get over to the Spirit of Detroit and get them moving!"

With that, Captain Rouge saluted confirmation of the order and started running towards the slow moving behemoth. 

Miles continued to mutter to himself, surveying the battlefield.  From his stand, he could see the double pincer movement developing, and he was in the jaws when it closed.  "We'll show them how an American fights." he thought to himself.

He then saw Captain Rouge picked up and hurled by some invisible hand, thrown 80 feet into the low branches of a Larch tree.

"What the..", and with that his words were blown away by a massive detonation.

 ==================================================================

Turn 5: Update

Nell begins to move out.  Her 12" gun traverses 90 degrees and ...

another Tripod is sent to oblivion.

Nell has 3 critical hits our of 5, but her guns are just fine.

Turn 6:
With two points in their favor, the Humans win the initiative for Turn 6. 

Having received orders from High Command, Nell double times her next move for 8 more inches.

Human reinforcements continue to arrive.  Their fire proved ineffective, only causing minor damage.

And an impressive array of firepower is focused on the right flank  Tons of shells were tossed, and cause mobility problems on the exposed Tripod.

The Infantry rises from their slit trenches.  Hurling epithets and grenades at the invaders, scored a hit.

A Scientist Tripod could not be seen from a distance, but now Nell is closer. 

Nell volleys her 7" gun, then a pair of 5", then the 4" guns.  Trees fall, pine cones fly, cracking timber and flaming the underbrush, and still the Scientist suffers only superficial damage.

In desperation, the Vickers machine gunners riddle the Scientist with some 300 7.7 mm bullets, and one finds a weak-point.

The Scientist Tripod was carrying the seeds of it's own destruction, as unspeakable forces are unleashed.

But not all went well, as Nell herself took the brunt of the explosion.  Man and machine were tossed like rag dolls, linkages and steam lines cracked.  Suddenly, Nell was surrounded by a cloud of vapor, and her huge tracks, stopped moving.

But her guns still worked.  And seeing no targets on her starboard side, the 12" rotated and engaged targets on the port.

The train moved off and the assault on the Martian left continued.  The results were catastrophic for the Canadians.  On the right, the immobile Tripod, swept its heat ray on the closest unit of MK III's, and destroyed them all.  Then Marvin swept the 3 remaining, destroying 2, and routing the third.  The third Tripod killed an infantry squad, but missed the Tesla Gun.  A fourth Tripod finished off the tower on the hill.

The Martian left flank has a shortage of targets.

The American North West Expeditionary Force dumps a lot of ammo but fail to score any hits.

The train moves based on house rules.  Mainly it is a mobile obstruction.  For a while it was hanging up the Martian left flank.  But now it is preventing the American North West Expeditionary Force from spreading out.  A Martian War Machine has 6 elements are under the sweep Template.

The view from the Martian right flank.  Note the closest tripod.  In addition to the damage, it has both mobility and fire control problems!

Nell is immobilized and weakened but still very very dangerous.  The Martians have dedicated 3 Grenadier Tripods, 3 Grenadier Drones, 6 regular drones and 3 Scorpion drones to the task of taking her apart. Another critical hit, 4 of 5.  Along with a steering hit and a MG gun hit.

Turn 7:
The Martians have a plus 4 on the initiative roll this turn.  The Humans roll a 10!  But Garth picks up a die, and rolls a 7.  So on a critical time, the Martians regain the initiative, and move again.

There is only so much Nell can take. 

Her heart already ceased beating, it was just a matter of time before all the systems just ceased.  Her hatches opened and men rapidly fled to the dubious safety of the front lines.

The center Tripods clean off another unit of Steam Tanks, and the Field Guns.  Leaving the two Command Stands nearly defenseless.

Both Marvin and friend, take shots at the Tesla gun and miss.

In the last great act of defiance, the Tesla gun fires its last shot, striking Marvin square on.

Which arcs to the closest Tripod.

And arcs again back to the Tesla gun itself, destroying the generator!

Both Tripods roll a 9 for damage, and collapse in ruin, Marvin's wreckage falls upon the Infantry assaulting it.

The MVP of the game.  It has taken 8 hits, including both Fire Control and Mobility malfunctions.

Within the wreckage of a coal car, Brigadier General Miles and Privet-Major Palen huddled in the mud.  The few glances they dared take only reinforced the disaster witnessed this day.  The leaden sky was lit by green flashes, Tripod figures went back and forth without resistance, as no one and nothing was left now to fight them. The Fort Edmonton belonged to the Martians.

Privet-Major Palen reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper and handed it to the General.  "By the way, I have a letter for you."

The General, too shocked to offer a pithy reply, simply opened the missive and read in a low monotone.  "To the Commander of the US forces in Canada, from the Prime Minister of Canada Greetings.  After due consideration of all the issues I have decided to return the vehicle, known as "Nell" to its proper owners, the Government of the United States.  It is with deep regret that this incident has forged a wedge between our two peoples in this time of crisis.  When this state of emergency is over and we have the luxury of a civil discourse, the men responsible will be called to account.  Signed Sir Robert Laird Borden.

The Fall of Fort Edmonton Part 1

A Headless Body Production

All Quiet on the Martian Front After Action Report: The Battle of Fort Edmonton

Location: Garth's Cave
Game: All Quiet on the Martian Front
Players:  Garth Parker: Mobile forces of Pod 2, Hive 5A (फली 2, हाइव 5A)
                Jennifer Parker: Monty's Pythons
                Stephen Turn: The American North West Expeditionary Force.
                Phil Gardocki: Marvin's Martians, The "Illuminaries".(हास्यास्पद कार्टून चरित्र)

The Forces: Following the strategy of reinforcing success, American North West Expeditionary Force arrives at Fort Edmonton.  With them are trained mechanics and a supply of 7 and 12 inch ammunition to support the purloined "Spirit of Detroit", temporarily known as "Nell".

"Monty’s Pythons", the 2nd Squadron, 12th "Three Rivers” Regiment, 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade, commanded by Captain Palen.  The total human force count is around 4,000 points

Mobile elements of Pods कार्टून वर्ण प्रकाश की, 2. 5ए and हास्यास्पद कार्टून चरित्र, 23 tripods, of around 4,000 points.

Scenario:  Having settled their differences, the Martian Hives unite for a massive attack on the human enclave at Fort Edmonton.  The plucky Canadians, first reinforced by the out right theft of a US Land Ironclad, The Spirit of Detroit, then the arrival of the BEF, have now been further bolstered by American forces.

The Board: Fort Edmonton, 155 acres of recently cleared, but trash strewn area near the center of Alberta, Canada.

Deployment:

The combined Canadian US Army starts with about 3,000 points, the Martians about 2,000 points on the board, the rest arriving over a period of 7 turns.

Opening Dialog:

===================================================================

The staff meeting was tense.  Privet-Major Palen, Canadian Militia and Brigadier General Miles, United States Army, mostly glared at each other over tea and coffee.  Colonel Tracy, OBE, KCB, of the BEF who had enough pomposity, and uniform bling to counter the the shear volume of gold on of the General's uniform wasn't here to balance the inequity of rank that a mere Priveting did not.  But he had taken is his BEF on a wide range reconnaissance somewhere south and hadn't been seen since.

"How goes the preparations," demanded the General?

"All our supplies are more than adequate," replied Privet-Major Palen. 

Then the General asked, "How goes the preparation of," and with heavy sarcasm, "The Spirit of Detroit?"

Privet-Major Palen replied in conversational tone that infuriated the General, "The training of the crew of Nell is going quite well, of course, we had most of her figured out already, it was just a matter of putting enough men together."

"We are going to need her in the coming weeks."

"Yes, about that.  Even if she has 500hp per track, I don't think she will be able to climb a crater wall of the Martian Hive.  And as she towers over most trees by 20 feet, the Martians will know we are coming."

"Yes, that is why we will generate surprise another way," the General's reply was interrupted by alarm bells. "Bloody hell, whats that?"

Privet-Major Palen carefully put down his tea cup in the saucer.  The tea immediately formed ripples indicative of Tripod activity.  Standing up, he gave the General a one eyed stare, "That would be the Martians in yet another surprise attack."

===================================================================

This is to be a dump the box extravaganza.  Two sets of forces showed up and a third may show up later.  I wrote a program to evaluate "Nell"'s combat abilities and rate her worth between 7 and 8 Tripods.  So she counts as 1,500 points, not the 750 that is in the books.

The Martian deployment table.

The combined Canadian US Army table.

The Tripods are deployed to take maximum advantage of the cover from the trees. 

The Martian right flank is covered by 9 steam tanks, and two triple turreted towers.

Just line them up.

The Martian center is dominated by Slavers, Scientist, Bombardiers, Lobototons and drones.  We think that is the most cost effective way to deal with Nell.

The Humans also are taking maximum advantage of cover.  Behind hill, buildings and 4 towers.

The quiet before the storm.

Turn 1:

The only visible targets available are 4 towers and Nell.  The Martians go left and right, taking advantage of trees to avoid being visible.

Advancing on the left.

The forces in the middle are mainly support Tripods and drones.  The two Assault Tripods dive into range to shoot the tower, then duck back out again.

The towers do not have a lot of firepower as each turret only can shoot 90 degrees, but they are hard to kill.  A lucky hit by a Grenadier Tripod causes a critical hit on Nell!

A lucky hit destroys the forward facing gun.  Another off panel takes out the Anti Tripod Gun as well.  A good start for the Martians.

The US Army has mobile artillery taking to the ridge.

Turn 2:

So far, the Martians manage to advance without a lot of effective return fire.  Their first turn reinforcements also are on the board and in effective range.

Marvin and K9 take shots at the tower on the hill.  The other Assault Tripods decide to use the Heat Ray instead of their Black Dust or Green Gas.  But only kill 1 stand of Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

The center Tripods raise their heat rays against the towers again, which shrug off their blasts.  The woods are filling with drones and lobototons

On the Martian right flank, The Tripods take cover behind the woods, deciding that approaching 9 tanks 1 Tripod at a time was better than taking fire from Nell.

The first sweep of the Heat Ray destroys the Command Tank.  Another Grenadier Tripod arrives and joins in on the bombardment of Nell.  A second lucky hit causes a second critical hit on Nell!

The Mounties and the Rough Riders go for the tow cable tangle attack, and immobilize a Tripod!

Rolling down the rails is a fully charged Tesla Gun!  But the strange weapon missed its primary target, and after much consultation with the rule book, and care full measuring, managed to arc from Rough Rider to Rough Rider, melting rubber and flesh, then to nearby Tripod, causing minor discomfort, then continued to arc through the RCMP!  The end result was not enough survivors for a morale check as both units were destroyed!

A Tripod explodes after concentrated fire by the tower, followed by 9 Machine Gun shots.

"Oh deary me, I don't like this, not one bit!", mumbled the Marvin.

Turn 3:

The Martians keep the initiative and press the attack.  Loosing two units of mounted troops was a serious blow to the humans.

One Tripod is tangled up in tow cables, but it is a target rich environment, so it doesn't need to move as yet.

The center, now reinforced by many Assault Tripods and a third Grenadier Tripod decide to stop dancing and will advance.

Nell, now with 2 critical hits, will soon be assaulted by a horde of drones as well.

These small trees are ideal for the Grenadiers to hide behind.

On the right, the Martians don't get a lot of shots, but the humans are so bunched up that every shot has 3 or 4 targets.

Turn 4:

The initiative continues to be Martian.  Sweeping heat rays find man and machine alike.  The minor victories is the movement of the train, which under house rules the Tripods cannot cross, has cut off one Tripod.  K-9 is destroyed by an errant shell from the tower.  And the Tesla Gun has survived but we are not sure which side is happier about that.

Steam Tanks and Heavy Infantry take hits but all pass morale and continue to fight back.  The Martian attempt to flank Nell from the rear is largely foiled, as one Tripod is immobile, and Marvin cannot cross the train track.

The Clamp tank burns, but the US Army Infantry dares challenge the Martian menace. 

The Field Guns on the fence line are assaulted by drones, losing one before the drones pull back to the safety of the woods.

Scorpion drones, armed with spanners, begin to disassemble Nell from underneath.

But Nell proves a hard nut to crack, or maybe the Drones have a metric set and they cause no damage.  On their second move they will hide under the behemoth.  Again the Grenadiers bombard Nell, and a third critical hit is made!

The tower takes another hit, the infantry pulls back.  Reinforcements arrive. 

In the center, more Tanks arrive as well.

On the right, a Tripod explodes, taking out 2 Steamers with it.

In the center, another Tripod explodes, taking with it a Slaver Tripod, and with that, the Lobototons collapse in a heap.

Closing down for the night.  The Human right flank is looking weak, but holding.

The Human Left flank is looking strong.

And the center, is in doubt. 

This is where we called it for the evening.  The raw score is the Humans have lost 9 units out of 24, while the Martians have lost 4 out of 24.  But American Industrial Might is about to be felt as dead units will be revived.  And Nell, who now has 3 critical hits out of 5, is otherwise perfectly fine with all her guns fully functional, and now has targets to shoot at.

See you next week!