5 Parsecs - recovering the shard

The Hermes crew's adventures continued over the Christmas break with two more missions on the prison moon of Tybos. As well as picking up ad hoc work there are two stories running alongside; the ongoing pursuit of an old smuggler buddy (Q'narr) for his sneaky ambush and the current Quest to recover a data shard that the Ossian Veil assassins are seeking to weaponize. Games 13 and 14 are one of each.

Game 13 - Disrupting the plans

A source tipped the crew that Q'narr was using the prison as a transhipping location and had a fortified warehouse with numerous goons on guard. So a plan was hatched to storm the place and seek to disrupt this operation. 

Q'narr's compound

The mission aim was to penetrate the compound and secure data from a terminal that would allow the shipments to be intercepted. Feeling confident in their gear and training, a frontal assault was settled on. 

Waiting goons

Assault team ready

Bursting in the enemy turned-out to be more numerous that expected and the crew had to handle some heavy fire. The armour did its job though and and they were able to clear the compound. Captain Strake was wounded but it turned out to be only minor, so only 1 turn missed.   

 

Terminal secured

Game 14 - Recover the shard finale

On the last phase of the Quest the crew recovered a tracking programme that allowed them to locate the data shard containing Captain Strakes digital twin. To prevent its weaponization they planned to infiltrate the Ossian Veils secret lab that was located right against the outside of the main prison wall. The lab was staffed by financial followers of the Veil so resistance would be fierce.

Ossian Veil lab nestles against the prison wall 

In this game the enemy had hidden deployment so would appear in groups, every 2 turns, at random locations. They were also Elite so had higher combat skill. Needing to clear the area quickly before reinforcements could arrive the crew split into two teams. More enemy would arrive from turn 7 onwards.  

Melee is joined

Things were tough from the start with a group appearing in charge distance of Team 2 and quickly charged them. After a tussle the attackers fell back. Meanwhile Team1 were lining-up to enter the lab when they found themselves under flank attack.    

 

Flanked

After a firefight around the lab entrance Team 1 were able to storm inside and grab the data shard on turn 6.  As Team2  moved to join them they were ambushed again with trusty Bot PDP-11 being damaged. With the shard secured the crew quickly withdrew having succeeded in their Quest, after a nice tough fight.    

Sneaky ambush

  

     

Battle of Kliszow - 1702. A game of Beneath the Lilly Banners

The action takes place in Poland during the Great North War and starts in typical fashion with the Swedes looking to attack the flank of  a larger and well dug-in Saxon army. As they manoeuvred to attack a large contingent of Polish-Lithuanian troops arrived to support the Saxons. This meant the Swedes had to reposition and adopt a defensive posture. We begin our battle as the Saxon and Polish cavalry starts its attack on both flanks of the Swedes. 

Polish with Hussars to the fore 

Saxon's well dug-in on a hill

Saxon Cuirassiers and Dragoon

Swedish opposite the Poles

Swedish opposite the Saxons

Swedish centre behind a stream, facing the Saxon centre 

The action began with the Saxon / Polish horse advancing towards the waiting Swedes. The Polish moved more rapidly as they were not hindered by marshy ground to their front.   

 

View from the Polish flank

View from the Saxon flank

On their left the Swedes were able to contain and push back the Polish attack. The Hussars died gloriously, leaving it to the Pancerni to carry the fight to the Swedes. Things were tougher on the other side as the Swedes were out numbered nearly 3-1 and so were gradually pushed back by the Saxon Cuirassier.      

 

With the Poles beaten back, the Swedes were able to move around the flank and launch an attack on the Saxon foot's dug-in position. The defences hampered the attack and so they were unable to break into the position before the end of the game.      

  

So likely a partial victory for the Swedes. They were just about hanging on on their right against the Saxon horse and had beaten off the Polish attack on their left. They had been able to mount an attack on the Saxon foot but had been unable to make much headway.

As some bonus content my latest effort from the painting table, some Russian foot. Even after Peter the Greats  military reforms not everyone fought in the familiar green/red uniforms. This unit is the Perm Regiment from early in the Great North Wars. They were it seems issued a yellow uniform at one point. Its not clear if they saw action in it but its good enough for me as its a nice bright look.      

 

Italian Wars Finale

Over the Christmas break we played the finale of the Italian Wars campaign with a grand battle over a days play, involving the East (Montegrifone / Roccamurata) vs West (Virezza vs Taverno). It was a hybrid scenario:

• Points awarded for destroying enemy units with these units recycled as reserves. 
• Points for holding the large hill and bridge from turn 5 onward

Taverno / Virezza at the top and Montegrifone / Roccamurata at the bottom

We lined-up with Virezza opposite Montegrifone facing the hill and Taverno opposite Roccamurata facing the bridge. The river was Difficult and impassable to artillery.  

Taverno horse

Taverno foot

Montegrifone horse

Montegrifone foot

Roccamurata foot

Both sides advanced looking to capture the objectives and get into range of the enemy. The first action was Taverno vs Roccamurata horse, which favoured the Roccamurtaians who pushed their opponents back.   

Centrally Taverno managed to capture the bridge but that unit was destroyed by fire allowing Roccamurta to get into a stronger position to hold it. The Montegrifone vs Virezza infatry clashed was more of a stalemate.      

Virezza attacks through the corn field

Around the strategically important hill there was a swirling melee with both sides getting troops behind the enemy but neither able to claim the hill. The Taverno infatry made good progress, throwing back the Roccamurata foot but crucially not managing to destroy them and claim the points.   

Taverno pushes Roccamurata back

After 7 turns of play kills were pretty even and the hill was contested. Roccamurata had though been able to hold the bridge for a few turns and so the Eastern alliance run out winners after a closely fought contest.   

The hill is contested

The bridge is secured

   

Italian Wars - the final battles

This week is the final round of games before a season ending grand battle, which we will play over Christmas. The scenario for was Unexpected Attack - the defender finds themselves surrounded in their camp with their generals starting off table as the attack was, well, unexpected! 

Game 1 -  Fiorento / Roccamurata vs San Barzano

The San Barzano forces deployed with a field square in each corner and a cavalry reserve in the centre. The attackers chose to focus their energies on the front of the camp with attacks at each corner.  

San Barzano defenders

The initial attacks were quite deliberate as they sought to weaken the defenders with artillery fire whilst moving a charge position. First into action were the Roccamurata infantry, who assault the eastern corner and pushed back the San Barzano troops.    

 

Defenders stand ready

Roccamurata shot

Slightly slower into action were the Fiorento Hussars, who eventually attacked and broke into the camp before being thrown back. After 5 turns there was 1 point in it. A further round of combat saw the defenders losing more units and the attackers winning by 6.     

 

The decisive attack

Game 2 - Taverno vs Montegrifone

This game had some additional jeopardy as the winner would place second and so be one of the commanders for the campaign finale. The defenders massed their infantry in the front of the camp, with horse holding the rest.     

Taverno infantry ready to attack 

Montegrifone defenders

The attackers surged forward, looking to exploit the absence if the defenders generals, and met with initial success as they broke into the camp. Some strong counter attacks pushed them back with the results in the balance.  

Eventually the Montegrifone army was able to eject the Taverno forces from their camp and claim the win. 

Defenders break out of the camp

Campaign Results

This final game left Roccamurata (8.5),  Montegrifone (8) and Taverno (7) in the top 3 spots. Fiorento (5) were just clear of the pack who were mostly on (3) to (3.5) points. So the final battle will be Red vs Blue.