Rocketman (wargaming blog)

2009-07-12T15:47:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Rocketman blog. On this site are all the various games played thus far, with background information and various character and equipment stats. The site can be navigated by means of the menu bar and the various games can be found in the side bar. To return to this main page, simply click on the Home button.

Rocketman is a skirmish wargame campaign using a set of simple home made rules created by Oleg Zacharov, based on, and scaled up from the fantastic DBA rule system. These rules are not available on this site, but given the information I have posted, any one ought to be able to convert Rocketman using any combat or role playing rules which deal with the twentieth century.

Rocketman is set in the latter half of the 1930's, specifically from the year 1936. The games are inspired by a wide range of sources and idea's, primarily Bulldog Drummond, Indiana Jones and Rocketeer. Most of the settings are historical, or draw on historical events, but the games tend to avoid including actual people or events. Also, I have deliberately toned down the Nazi's, for a number of reasons. Partly because I want to avoid the whole 'Nazi secret weapon' cliché, but also because the Nazi's are absent from the Bulldog Drummond books which were my initial starting point.

This site is designed to be an online resource for the players, but any one who stumbles across the site and likes what they read is welcome to use it. Most everything written on the site is of my own design and creation and as far as possible I have avoided using copyrighted imagery (there may be one or two exceptions but if any one complains then I shall simply remove the offending image).

The blog will be updated as time goes by, but in such a manner that this page will always be foremost.

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Rocketman campaigns, past, present & future

RM1

-ROCKETMAN-

Players: Oleg. Tracey. Palle. Jan.
Rocketman and companions set out to rescue professor Rosenblum from the clutches of Baron von Schöenberg. The adventure takes them from a steamer in the Mediterranean Sea to Egypt and Northern Sudan.

RM1.1 - Death on the High Seas
RM1.2 - Man Hunt
RM1.3 - La Vallee Maudite
RM1.4 - Mad Dogs and Englishmen
RM1.5 - The Divine Light

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RM2

-ICE STATION X-

Players: Oleg. Tracey. Jan.
Rocketman goes to the North Pole to find the evil Doktor Metzger but ends up facing an enemy beyond his wildest fears.

RM2.1 - The Frozen North
RM2.2 - The Ice Station

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RM3

-ARMOURGEDDON-

Players: Oleg. Tracey. Palle. Peter. Jan.
Rocketman journeys to Russia after the mysterious 'Iron Czar' kidnaps Audrey Summers. Events soon lead to pitched battles in Khazakhstan where the Iron Czar is about to unleash a terrifying energy weapon againt Moscow.

RM3.1 - Agent 99 and the Trans-Siberian Express
RM3.2 - 126 Nevksy Road
RM3.3 - Rocketman Attacks!
RM3.4 - The Machine Man
RM3.5 - Child of War

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RM4

-RAIDERS OF THE GOLDEN ANACONDA-

Players: Oleg. Rasmus. Peter. Palle. Jan.
Rocketman is recruited by MI6 and then sent to the Amazon river to find a former agent of Baron von Schöenberg named Moros. A three sided battle ensues when the Barons agents arrive to deal with Moros first.

RM4.1 - Crossfire
RM4.2 - The Lair of Moros

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RM5

-THE ISLAND OF PERDITION-

Players: Jan. Oleg. Rasmus. Palle. Goeg.
Whilst still in Brazil, Rocketman locates a commercial u-boat belonging to the Baron. Soon the game is afoot as papers on board the submarine lead Rocketman to a secret island base in the Seychelles where the Dr Metzger and the Schwartzekreutz bruderschafft have been conducting diabolical scientific experiments.

RM5.1 - Bremen on the Amazon
RM5.2 - Beach Assault
RM5.3 - Denizens of the Wreck
RM5.4 - The Sea Wolves
RM5.5 - The House of Schöenberg

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RM6

-EXTREMIS-

Players: Jan. Palle. Oleg. Goeg. Tracey.
Viktor Korsakov returns and this time he is ready for battle! Things heat up in Afghanistan, anno 1936!

RM6.1 - The Kunduz Affair
RM6.2 - The Battle of Wadi Suhib
RM6.3 - Revenge of the Black Guards
RM6.4 - Blood, Iron and Sand
RM6.5 - Inferno

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RM7

-THE TERROR OF OYSTER BAY-

Players: Jan. Palle. Goeg. Oleg.
A British scientist goes missing when his aeroplane crashes in the Everglades. Rocketman and his friends investigate the disapearance but find more than just alligators!

RM7.1 - Oyster Bay Part 1 'The Mystery of Flight 1091'
RM7.2 - Oyster Bay Part 2 'Something strange is afoot'
RM7.3 - Pier 9 Part 1 'Pier 9'
RM7.4 - Pier 9 Part 2 'The Children of Ag Lata'

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RM8

-THE LAND OF THE WITCH QUEEN-

Players: Jan. Palle. Goeg. Oleg.
A reception in Paris goes horribly wrong when African warriors break in to kidnap noted archeologist Bertie Bambridge. What follows is a series of pitched battles as Rocketman races into the heart of the Congo to rescure his friend from certain doom!

RM8.1 - Heist!
RM8.2 - Shadows in the City of Light
RM8.3 - The King of the Congo
RM8.4 - La Bete Noir
RM8.5 - Dark Heart

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RM9

-SILBERVOGEL-

Players: TBA
A grainy photograph sends Rocketman back into the Amazon jungle in a desperate attempt to stop Baron von Schöenberg from toppling the global order. Things are not what they seem however and time is running out faster than any one knows!

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RM10

-THE ETERNAL MACHINE-

Players: TBA
Facing the prospect of a catastrophic global conflict, Sir Hugh Sinclair initiates Rocketman into a secret order of the British Empire. Its time for a new beginning, but others have had the same idea...

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RM11

-THE CHINA CAMPAIGN-

Players: TBA

A new world order isn't always a good idea. Having saved the world, Rocketman must now deal with the consequences.

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THE CHINA CAMPAIGN

2008-07-14T08:34:00.001-07:00

RM 11.01. The Tangtse Incident.

22nd. December. 1936.
In reaction to reported incidents of border skirmishing between the armed forces of The Princely State of Kashmir and Jammu and unknown armoured elements operating in the district of Aksai Chin. Selected units from 17/21st Lancers and 8th Royal Dragoon Guards have been despatched to assist His Highness Maharaja Hari Singh. Unconfirmed reports indicate Bolshevik forces, possibly remants of the Russian warlord Viktor Korsakov may be operating in Aksai Chin along side Uighur communist forces under the patronage of Sheng Shicai, Warlord of Xinjiang (formerly known as Chinese Turkestan).

Due to his recent experience in campaigning against Bolshevik armoured units in Afghanistan Colonel Sir John Napier has been asked to take command of the British relief force and assess how great a threat the situation in Aksai Chin has become.

7th. January. 1937.
Kashmiri forces are patrolling in coordination with Colonel Sir John Napier when they come under sustained heavy fire in the hills north of Tangtse. Retreating to defensive positions in the ruins of an old village they send a runner back down the valley. Two heavy tanks assisted by secondary vehicles and heavily armed infantry have been sighted moving south west against the Kashmiri position. Sir John immediately sends a relief force of four British tanks to assist but the Kasmhiri’s have almost been destroyed by the time the British arrive.

Forces

Player One. Oleg.
Lt Leftbridge-Smythe
One Vikckers Mk II Medium Tank
One Vickers Mk VI Light Tank
One Infantry support section, with Lewis Light Machine Gun.
Five Kashmiri Rifle’s, and one Vickers Maxim Heavy Machine Gun

Player Two. Goeg.
Sgt Harding
One Vikckers Mk II Medium Tank
One Vickers Mk VI Light Tank
One Infantry support section, with Lewis Light Machine Gun.

Player Three. Palle.
Comrade Sgt Mosolov
One K4 Heavy Tank
One Infantry support section, with Lewis Light Machine Gun.
Seven Uighur Rifles.
One Uighur Austin Putilov Series III Armoured Car.

Player Four. Jan.
Comrade Sgt Kazyansky
One K4 Heavy Tank.
One K1 Light tank
One Infantry support section, with Lewis Light Machine Gun.

Starting

Payer one deploys his Kashmiri’s in their defensive position at the western end of the table whilst player three deploys all his forces at the eastern end. Neither force may intrude on the opposite side of the table. The game begins with all British reinforcements arriving along the road in round one. Players one and two decide their own marching order.

Player four arrives on the eastern edge of the table one d6 rounds after round one.

Victory Conditions

Either side wins by defeating two thirds, or both officers of the opposing force.

Special notes

The idea behind this particular game is to allow the players of RM6 the chance to acquaint themselves with the elements used by their opponents, specifically the tanks.

Due to the speedy nature of this game, there is no preprepared map. All terrain outside the boundary of the village is rough. All terrain within the boundry of the village is difficult. Rocks, burning vehicles and large debris counters are impassable and the road is good. Windows and low walls require a roll against 3 to cross. High walls require a roll against 4 to cross.

Combat has already taken place so the table top will be set up accordingly. Wind direction and smoke will be determined by a spinning pencil at the beginning of the game. Each player may position one smoke cloud.

Conclusion

This game was played on thursday 3oth September 2010.
The players were Oleg & Goeg vs Palle & Jan (moif).

Starting positions

This was a very quick and easy game, set up at short notice, using prepared stats from RM6. The idea was for a simple tank and infantry skirmish without any changes from the last RM6 to allow each player to experience playing with the tanks used by their opponents in RM6.

The game was quickly set up and things would have gone a lot smoother if I hadn't been left with both children to look after (Mette had to go to a parents meeting at Magne's day care centre) and said children hadn't taken it upon themselves to kick up a fuss. Once Magne was in bed however things moved easier.

Sgt Harding (Goeg) advances into the northern half of the village

Lt Leftbridge-Smythe (Oleg) advances into the southern half of the village

Palle, Oleg and Goeg all deployed their forces and the Brits began to move forward into the ruined village. This initial stage of the game was characterized by caution and a long run of 1's on Oleg's dice. Consequently, Sgt Harding and his men managed to get into good positions whilst Lt Leftbridge-Smythe and his forces dithered some what.

Sgt Kazayansky came on in round four, having divided his forces into three groups. One group of infantry and a supporting light tank approached the northern flank of the village and faced Sgt Harding, another infantry group approached the centre of the village and headed for the main road, whilst a K4 heavy tank moved at full speed around the southern flank of the village to engage the British armour concentrated there under Lt Leftbridge-Smythe's command.

Round four and Sgt Kazayansky (Jan) arrives on the table top with a K1 light tank and infantry support to the north...

...and a K4 heavy tank to the south

Comrade Sgt Mosolov and his Uighur communist irregulars remained on the southern half of the village, holding their ground whilst the second K4 sped around to the north of the village. The idea was loosely to trap Lt leftbridge-Smythe between the two heavy tanks, but things didn't go quite to plan. As the K4 sped through the bushes, running over a British soldier along the way, Lt Leftbridge-Smythe moved his Vickers Mk II up the main road, using the smoke from the burning vehicles there to mask his movements. His supporting Vickers MkVI was still a possible target for the K4, but Oleg pulled a daring move and using the lighter tanks greater speed he zoomed past the lumbering Bolshevik behemoth and began to out flank the Bolsheviks in the opposite direction.

Death by K4. One British soldier flee's whilst his mate is crushed by a charging heavy tank

Audacity pays. Lt Leftbridge-Smythe's support tank speed past the K4 which was hunting it

Whilst I was being out-outflanked by Oleg, Goeg was advancing Sgt Harding's Vickers Mk II medium tank against Sgt Kazayansky's K1. Neither tank had the ability to face the other and defeat it without either support or a shot into a lesser armoured area. With the Vickers Mk II this meant the Black Guards had to use grenades on to its upper hull whilst the K1 with its puny 37mmm gun engaged from front. I tried this as Sgt Harding advanced, but the die failed and Sgt Harding responded by annhilating the Black Guard infantry who were supporting the K1, then using the same tactic in reverse to take out the K1. Having advanced parrallel with the Black Guard forward line he also took advantage of the Vickers side mounted machine guns to engage Sgt Mosolov's troops who had been holding the British at bay up until that point.

For a moment, I thought Palle and I had lost the game. With Leftbridge-Smythe's medium tank on the main road. Sgt Harding was now in a position to engage Sgt Mosolov's heavy tank and possibly defeat it whilst Sgt Kazayansky's K4 would have to follow Lt Leftbridge-Smythe up the grenade trap of the main road.

Whilst the Black Guards try to out flank him, Lt Leftbridge-Smythe advances up the main road totry and catch Sgt Mosolov in a pincer

Sgt Harding's support tank and infantry exchange fire with Sgt Mosolov whilst Lt Leftbridge-Smythe advances up the main road

As Lt Leftbridge-Smythe loses his tank on the main road, Sgt Kazyansky's K1 gets knocked out by Sgt Harding.

I need not have worried however. Leftbridge-Smythe didn't survive his impetuous dash up the main road and Mosolov's K4, supported by the Black Guards who were in positions along the main road, defeated the British commander. Sgt Kazayansky's K4 then parked itself at the western edge of the village and engaged those British infantry forces who were hiding there.

Oleg in the meanwhile ran his Vickers Mk VI support tank up around the southern flank eventually and cheekily parked it along side Mosolov's K4 where proximity prevented Palle from engaging it and forced both Bolshevik commanders (who were on foot) to hide. Sgt Mosolov had to jump into a ruin and Sgt Kazayansky had to grovel under a bush.

The game ended at this point however and was declared a draw as neither side had met the victory criteria and both sides had defeated an enemy tank. Personally I think Goeg's moves were the most impressive, especially against my elements on the northern flank which he defeated almost entirely (I had one rifleman left).

The game ends.

A. Lt Leftbridge-Smythe's knocked out Vickers Mk II.
B. Lt Leftbridge-Smythe's support tank
C. Sgt Mosolov's K4 heavy tank
D. Sgt Kazayansky hides in the undergrowth
E. Uighur Austin Putilov Series III Armoured Car.
F. Sgt Harding's support tank and infantry
G. Sgt Harding in his Vickers Mk II.
H. Sgt Kazayansky's knocked out K1 light tank
I. Sgt Kazayansky'sK4 heavy tank.

Aftermath.

FLASH COMMUNICATION FROM COMMAND BOMBAY TO GC&CS.
FORWARDED TO CABINET SECRET SERVICES COMMITTEE. 090137
FORWARDED TO KEW. 090137

9th January. 1937.
Selected units from 17/21st Lancers and 8th Royal Dragoon Guards under the command of Colonel Sir John Napier’s Special Operations Group have engaged in sporadic fighting with hostile forces in the Kashmiri border region west of Aksai Chin. The enemy was identified as Russian bolshevik Black Guards, formerly believed to operate as the military wing of the secret research organisation ONB-7. Intelligence is sketchy, but with the former leader of ONB-7, Viktor Korsakov (rank unknown) believed to have perished at a battle near Qala I Zal in Afghanistan, in 1936, it seems as if the remnants of ONB-7 are indeed now affiliated with the Warlord of Xinjiang Sheng Shicai as our Kashmiri friends had reported. Intelligence assets in northern China have been alerted and we await further information with regards to troop and armour strengths.
To date we have no information regarding a motive for Xinjiang to violate either Aksai Chin or Kashmir. Some prisoners have been taken and debriefed by the Kashmiri’s however. These indicate a build up of forces both in Xinjiang and in Aksai Chin may be under way.

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COMMUNICATION FROM ’BLACK BIRD’ TO GC&CS.
FORWARDED TO CABINET SECRET SERVICES COMMITTEE. 100137
FORWARDED TO KEW. 100137

10th January. 1937.
Intercepted communications from NKVD Okhotsk to NKVD Moscow indicate Viktor Korsakov may be alive. Sheng Shicai has expelled several aides sent to him by Joseph Stalin and all diplomatic relations between Xinjiang and the Soviet Union have been severed. My source in NKVD Moscow indicates Stalin is ’livid’ and has orderd the mobilization of Red Army forces currently stationed in Eastern Kazakhstan, as well as deployment of several tank regiments. Rumours amongst the RA high command in Moscow are talking about a possible invasion of Northern China, but realistically it will take at least several months to build up the logistics required to stage an invasion from Eastern Kazakhstan.

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PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE FROM SIR HUGH SINCLAIR TO SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL

12th January. 1937.
Dear Winston. Please forgive this intrusion, I know you are probbly very busy with the new King but as you can see the matter of Viktor Korsakov requres an urgent response and I am afriad that our previous conclusion may have been some what hasty. I advise a meeting of the Council as soon as possible. We really need to establish just who this man Korsakov is, where exactly did he come from and just how great a threat does he constitute?

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RM11.02. The Snipers!

7-28th. January. 1937.
Through out the last three weeks, British Imperial forces have been patrolling the border district of Aksai Chin and the Princely State of Kashmir and Jammu. During this period, several patrols have come under fire from Uigher Bolshevik snipers. The British troops in the region belong to the 2nd Royal Australian Battalion, a unit which has been hastily assembled to bolster British forces in the region.

STARTING

The game is divided into three or four rounds, depending on how many players are present. In each round, one player assumes the role of the Sniper, one player assumes the role of Referee and the remaining players divide the British patrol amongst themselves. If only one player remains, they run a six man patrol, if there are two remaiing players, they each run a four man ’stick’.

The Sniper and the Referee begin in the room, with the Sniper sharing his element’s hidden location with the Referee. The Sniper is a single element and remains unplaced on the table. This is because the patrol must find and elimate the Sniper before the Sniper can defeat them.

VICTORY CONDITIONS

The Sniper who kills the most enemy soldiers as possible is the winner of the game. Surviving the entire round also counts as a ’kill’. If there is a draw between two Snipers, but both are ultiately defeated then the Sniper who lasted longest, wins.

SPECIAL RULES

All terrain is difficult except the open roads which are rough.

The town has been shelled and there are no inhabitants. Standard rules apply for cover, stealth and perception.

The same terrain lay out is used for each round. This is probably highly unrealistic, but it ensures an equal opportunity for each Sniper.

The sequence of play is determined by die roll, with the highest going first.

CONCLUSION

This game was played on wednesday 17th August 2011.
The players were Oleg, Goeg, Rasmus & Jan (moif).

We forgot to take any photographs for this game.

Score;
Rasmus 3 kills. Rasmus also killed Goeg's sniper.
Goeg 0 kills.
Oleg 2 kills.
Jan 2 kills.

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RM11.03 Artillery is King

29th. January. 1937.
As regional tensions increase, British Imperial forces (Australians) on the border of Aksai Chin and the Princely State of Kashmir and Jammu, encounter a sizable force belonging to the Warlord Sheng Shicai. Initial reports indicate local Chinese forces are equipped with superior Russian equipment, possibly supplied by the remains of ONB7.

STARTING

The game is divided into two seperate arenas. The table top is the main battle ground, where two opposing ground forces meet in open combat. Each side being a mirror of the other. The second arena is the artillery duel with a player from either side controlling an artillery battery. These batteries may fire upon each or on the elements in the valley below. All elements, except the light tanks begin on the table top, starting from the outer edge facing ones own artilelry camp.

VICTORY CONDITIONS

The game is decided by which ever side wins the battle for the valley. Since both sides are equal in strength, the winner is the player who defeats the most enemy elements. Each side has a light tank which is worth two elements.

SPECIAL RULES

All terrain is Rough except the road, which is Good. The ford is Rough and the stream is Difficult.

Each side has a light tank which begins off table and can be brought on at any time during the game, from the direction of ones own artillery base.

The artillery batteries fire with a -1 penalty due to indirect firing.

Each side has a spotter and a light tank. The spotters have a telegraph wire to the communications officer at each artillery base, and the light tanks have radio connections. Loss of either of these elements inflicts a -1 penalty on artillery fire. Loss of the communications officer at the artillery base inflicts an immediate -3 penalty.

Each artillery camp has four guns, a communications officer and an HQ tent. Each element is destroyed by only one hit. Loss of the HQ inflicts a -1 penalty on all artillery fire.

The sequence of play is determined by die roll, with the highest going first.

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No write up was written for this game. It was played on 13st August. 2011.

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RM11.04 'Surprise at Urango'.

Red Lines indicate good roads, orange lines are rough.
White lines indicate acknowledged borders.
Green dots are villages. Blue dots are British army camps.
The direct distance between Leh and Urango is 80km.

15th March. 1937.
With Bolshevik incursions from Aksai Chin now regularly threatening the stability of The Princely State of Kashmir and Jammu, Sir John Napier has established a regional headquarters at Leh and four outlying forward operations camps to pacify and control the region. These are Camp Changlung and Camp Kharu controlling the northern valleys, Camp Saraks controlling the west and Camp Urango to the east. Sir John’s forces are concentrated at Leh, awaiting developments, but in each camp is an armoured platoon from the 2nd Royal Australian Battalion, with assorted infantry support.

The men at Camp Urango are awoken early when general alarm is raised by the camp commander, Captain Hardcastle. A night patrol has been ambushed whilst returning to the camp and one of the platoon’s Vickers Mk II tanks has been damaged, preventing it from returning to the camp. Lt Harding takes a strong group of Sihk’s from his remaining force to rescue the stricken patrol.

STARTING

The patrol is stuck in the ambush site, in the middle of the map, where the survivors are holding out. Of an original force of twenty four infantry, only thirteen remain. The damaged tank has hit an anti armour mine which has blown off its right track and caused damage to the right suspension. The tank is still operational, but cannot move. The Bolsheviks have closed in for the kill, but are having problems bringing their reserve force up as the K1 tank is suffering from engine problems.

Players one, two and three begin on the table in the first round, with player four arriving in round two (see special rules for the K1 tank). Player one begins at the ambush site, with no element placed more than 12 inches from the damaged tank. Player two begins at the southern end of the map (but no more than 12 inches from the table edge). Player three begins in ambush positions around the ambush site, but may not place any elements closer to the ambush than 12 inches, nor any element closer than 12 inches to the southern edge of the table. Player four arrives on the northern edge of the table.

PLAYER ONE
Lt Trevellyn. 11 x Australian Rifles. 2 x Australian Lewis gunners. 1 x Vickers MkIIs tank (immobile)
PLAYER TWO
Captain Hardcastle. 24 x Sihk Rifles. 2 x Vickers Mk VIa tanks.
PLAYER THREE
Comrade Sergeant Li Lau Chang. 8 x Aksai Chin Rifles. 1 x Aksai Chin Maxim gun. 2 x 76mm field guns.

PLAYER FOUR
Comrade Sergeant Golovanov. 15 x Black Guard Rifles. 1 x K1 tank. 1 x Motor Tachanka.

VICTORY CONDITIONS

Who ever controls the table top at the end of the game, is the winner. If neither side has a significant control over the table, then the winning critieria is most elements killed.

SPECIAL RULES

There are no preset sides. Each player rolls a die and the player with the highest roll gets to choose which force they would like to play.

The K1 tank has stalled and can only arrive on table after a roll of 6.

The Bolsheviks assume the British will send a relief force and are probably counting on this. They are allowed to place their elements on the table to anticipate the arrival of Captain Hardcastle.

Each infantry rifleman carries one grenade.

CONCLUSION

This game was played on wednesday 18th January 2012.
The players were Oleg, Goeg, Palle & Jan.

This was the first in a series of four where each player takes a turn creating a game, using the same format and element types. This game was run by Jan.

The dice decided and Palle was player two, with Jan as player one. Goeg was player three and Oleg was player four.

The game was a short and relaxed exercise in attrition with neither side gaining any significant advantage over the other. The field guns did some significant damge in the opening phase of the game, destroying the Australian position in the central ruin and keeping the rest of player one's forces in check.

Captain Hardcastle kept his Sihk Rifles in reserve for most of the game, but sent his two light tanks forward where they supported the medium tank and eventually managed to knock out the Aksai Chin machine gun and field guns. This took a few hours to accomplish and the final hour of the game saw the British forces gradually gaining the upper hand, mostly due to their having started in the advantagous position of holding the central ground from the beginning of the game.

Both sides kept the bulk of the forces in reserve, awaiting a decisive moment, but to little avail as no clear moment of advantage presented itself.

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Pending

-ROCKETMAN-

2008-07-13T05:58:00.001-07:00

-ROCKETMAN-

In Europe and in the east, dark forces are gathering strength for an impending war that will change the course of all human history. France and Italy conclude a pact to respect each other’s colonial territories, Mao Zhedong assumes leadership of the Chinese communist party, in Germany the Luftwaffe is created. Italy invades Ethiopia and Anthony Eden becomes foreign secretary of Great Britain.

It is a time of adventure and invention when Amelia Earhart becomes the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to California, as AC Hardy patents the spectrophotometer and the Hoover dam is finally completed. The first Hawker Hurricane prototype flies at Brooklands.

It is 1935, and as the storm clouds gather over Europe, several cars drive along the rain sodden grass of RAF Brookehurst’s quiet fields. Passing an imposing line of Bristol Bulldogs and a battered old Tigermoth, the four cars pull up at a lone hanger which stands back from the main grounds, partly hidden behind a line of old tree’s. Awaiting the new arrivals are two figures. A pretty young woman and a silver haired gentleman in his late fifties.

From a chauffeur driven Rolls Royce, a tall, expensively dressed gentleman emerges and waving aside an umbrella he strides across the gravel to the hanger smiling with easy confidence at the delightful young lady who stands waiting and deftly kisses her offered hand.
Behind him three other men emerge into the rain and exchanging fond greetings they are about to follow their hosts into the building when the distant roar of a powerful engine arrests their attention. As a man they all turn to regard the brilliant racing green MG C type which hurtles across the air field, past the lines of silver fighters to skid to a stop amidst a shower of gravel before them.

A tall masculine man in a flying jacket and white scarf steps from the C type and with boyish humour grins at his old friends. Laughing they clap his shoulders as he moves amongst them, and for a moment all four share a quiet greeting before they enter the dark hanger. The new comer is the last to enter. As his friends precede him, he takes a quick calm look about the airfield, then disappears into the darkness of Hanger 19.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

High in the central tower of Schloss Schöenberg the Baron sits in his library, smoking a cigarette and listening to the Tannhäuser overture with closed eyes. By his side lie several grey folders bearing the eagle and swastika emblem of the newly formed Luftwaffe. Each is marked in red, Geheime Kommandosache… Top Secret!

As the music swells, the Baron raises his head and a single hand dances in the air. His enjoyment however is disturbed by a cautious knock at the door, and opening his eyes in irritation he glares in anger for a brief second before calling out, “Yes?”
The Butler, Joseph appears with an apologetic air and passes the Baron a telegram marked Most Urgent!
Swiftly the Baron reads and his eyes narrow as the importance of the message bears itself upon him. For a few seconds he lets the impact wash over him, then waving away the Butler he sets himself to think. With an almost inhuman calm he relaxes and lets the music once again take a hold of his imagination, only now, instead of floating in a sea of sound, his great intellect is brought to bear on the disastrous news from Berlin.

So… Aaron Rosenblum, Professor of archaeology at the University of Berlin has escaped Hausenberg’s clutches. Obviously Professor Rosenblum would try to escape Germany the Baron mused, the Nazi’s would never allow him to remain at liberty, and neither must he. Rosenblum must be brought back to Berlin as soon as possible, but it was imperative that the Nazi’s not get their hands on him. After a few minutes of calm deliberation the tall Prussian aristocrat rose to his feet and removed the needle from the record.
From his comprehensive memory he brought forth the telephone number of his contact in the Jewish pipeline then picked up the telephone receiver. As he waited for the call to go through he formulated the final details of his plan… Rosenberg’s escape was nothing short of a disaster for the Nazi’s. For von Schöenberg though it could quite possibly be an advantage since it meant he would no longer have to deal with the morons of the Geheime Staatspolizei.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“First of all gentlemen, let me thank you all for coming here today. I know the summons was at short notice, but I’m afraid something has happened which makes it necessary for me to discard my plans for further testing and move straight to deployment.”
The five other men in the room sat straighter as they heard the Professors words and saw the look of stern consternation upon his face.
“What exactly has happened” The tall well-dressed gentleman spoke in the clipped accent of the city. The professor paused before he spoke again and it was clear to all that he was mastering great emotions that lay barely concealed beneath his noble English features.
“You have all heard of the monstrosity’s which are taking place in Germany in these bitter times?”
They all nodded, and the tall gentleman raised his head to regard the Professor with concern.
“Well, I’m afraid the rumours are true… this morning I received a letter from an old friend.
Aaron Rosenblum and I both studied at Oxford, though he studied ancient history… I was a year older than he but we both had a love of Opera and we used to ride into London together to see the great works performed… such days!”
From his waistcoat pocket, the Professor brought forth a slip of paper and unfolding it he passed it to the tall gentleman who received it with a worried face.
“Read it” The Professor waved a hand at the letter as if dismissing it then turned his back on the room to regard the rainy summers day and the hazy row of biplane fighters.
The tall gentleman cleared his throat softly and then read aloud…

My dear old friend

Forgive me for not having written sooner. My excuse is the appalling difficulties one has when attempting a communication with the outside world from the uncivilised depths of the African continent, which I assure you are of the most confounding variety!

Unfortunately I write to you in troubled times, and I am most distressed to inform you that I have been summoned back to Berlin where I am now awaiting an interview with the Staatspolizei. My friend, I am not ashamed to admit that I am afraid for my life as I write this letter. Berlin is filled with a cloud of fear the like of which I have never before encountered. I had heard rumours of course, Africa is far away, but the supply plane brought the occasional newspaper from the outside world and I understood what was happening… but the reality far exceeds even my worst fears.
People I once knew and regarded as friends refuse to acknowledge me. My university credentials have been suspended and worst of all, families I knew before I left for Africa have disappeared. Many have taken flight for France or Switzerland or even America and I fear a great violence will soon come to Germany and devour all who stand in its path.

But I must tell you of why I have been recalled back to Berlin. My friend I have discovered something that will make all the world take note! I have made the greatest discovery of this age of men and could I but write what that discovery was you would realise the truth behind these words. But I dare not commit to paper what I have discovered, save that it is vitally important it never falls into the hands of the German government.

I know is a great thing to ask of you, but as you hold our friendship dear, you must help me. The very fate of the world may depend on it.

I am fleeing Germany today. Even as I write this letter I am on a train travelling south and bearing false papers. If they catch me I shall doubtless be taken back to Berlin in chains and I fear I may never see freedom again.

I am making for the house of YBY and I hope to arrive on the fourteenth of next month. If you can, and will, then meet me there.

Your friend AR

The muscular young man who had arrived in the C type interrupted the thoughtful silence, “Where is the house of YBY?”
“In Alexandria… in Egypt” The Professor turned from the window with moist eyes.” Yusef Ben Yechiel is another old friend from Oxford. His family owns a small shipping company and I don’t doubt that he has arranged to smuggle Aaron out of Europe”.
“Alexandria!” the tall Gentleman spoke in surprise. “If you are going to do what I think you are then you are going to need air transport.“
“Yes” The Professor replied, “and I think its also time we introduced our little surprise to the world…

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Project Meteor

In 1926 the American scientist Robert H Goddard wrote a document to the Smithsonian Institute titled ‘A Method of Reaching Extreme Altitudes’ in which he developed the mathematical theories of rocket propulsion. Much scorned in the American daily press for its fanciful notions of a lunar landing, this document was however to have a profound impact in Europe.
In Germany, the Verein fur Raumschiffahrt was formed by Max Valier that same year with the intention to design, develop and build rockets that would eventually be capable of space flight. The VfR began testing Hermann Oberth's rockets outside of Berlin in 1930 and within a year the German military began its Secret Rocket Project with the ultimate aim of producing an intercontinental ballistic missile.

This development did not go unnoticed however. Goddard’s report had also reached British Military Intelligence Dept 6 who passed the information on to a small, secret and under funded department of researchers known as the Meteor group. Established in 1915 by the War Office, the Meteor group had originally been tasked with developing solid fuel rocket artillery for Britain’s armed forces, but in the years following the first world war, the group had been cut down to a mere hand full of technicians under the leadership of Sir Gerald Hesketh and Professor Morgan Summers. Based at RAF Brookehurst in Kent. By 1926, the group of twelve engineers and scientists had moved on from rocket artillery to investigating the possibility of using a rocket as a means of propulsion for a single man. At first this research was geared towards short range paratroopers, using solid fuel rockets to propel soldiers over the enemy front line, and parachutes to land them safely again. The group designed and built several prototypes, but the results were discouraging. The costs were tremendous, and the devices had the uncomfortable habit of exploding upon ignition, or of setting fire to the parachute!

Upon receiving Goddard’s document however the team turned their attention to liquid fuel and very quickly produced two working prototypes. Once again however the costs and the risk to the soldier were very great. The third prototype was built in 1932 as a long-range rocket pack, but by 1934, just as the fourth prototype was nearing completion, the third prototype exploded in mid air, killing the test pilot and bringing unwanted scrutiny from Whitehall. A short audit brought about the swift end to Project Meteor by the late summer of 1934.

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The Official History of the Guardians of the Black Cross

The history of this mysterious secret society begins in the year of 1410CE in the aftermath of the battle of Tannenberg when Lithuanian and Polish forces obliterated the army of the Order of Teutonic Knights. Faced with the loss of so many Christian warriors, a small band of twelve Ritterbruder under the leadership of Lothar von Schöenberg gathered in secret to discuss the implications of the defeat. Ancient documents recently found in the ruins of Schloss Schöenberg indicate that the twelve knights formed a secret inner order, named Die Schwartzekreutz Vachten. Other later documents found at Bern in Switzerland refer to the order as Die Scwartzekreutz Bruderschafft (See also), and this name is also referred to in passing in some of the later Schloss Schöenberg documents (dated 1567CE) Whether or not the order was named The Guardians of the Black Cross, or the Brotherhood of the Black Cross is uncertain. It may be that the order had no official name. Certainly its existence was a well-kept secret from the rest of the Order of Teutonic Knights, and its purpose also remains clouded in mystery.
Recent papers and manuscripts indicate that the Brotherhood intends to create a pure bred Aryan master race however, American and French observers note that the earlier Schloss Schöenberg papers contradicte recent papers in that they describe a purely Christian society created to uphold and maintain Christianity until the final days when God would judge all mankind.

There is no conclusive evidence to the true purpose of the Guardians of the Black Cross, but a compilation of all known existing data, indicates a secret society that was formed for purely religious reasons in 1410CE by twelve Ritterbruder of the Order of Teutonic Knights independent of the existing Teutonic hierarchy. In one badly preserved manuscript, Maximillian von Schöenberg is described as Hochmeister of the secret order and given the find of medieval documents in the library of Schloss Schöenberg, it is safe to assume that the order was originally based there.

After the initial founding of the Guardians of the Black Cross, there is no further documentation regarding membership until the 'Red Book' of 1567CE, which appears to be a ledger of the holdings of the order as well as a history of those holdings. This book is by far, the best information we have regarding the earliest years of the order though several key pages are missing. It details a wealth of accumulated assets, including farms, breweries, mills and even inns and alehouses. The purpose of these assets to the order is unclear, but the book is a tally of resources drawn up with the apparent intention of evaluation. The massed wealth of the order indicated by the book is considerable.

The final chapter of the book deals with money lending and it seems that around 1550CE the order had come under the leadership of one Hochmeister Neuhof who’s devotion to the original Christian purposes did not prohibit him from using the orders assets to lend money to various military and scientific causes with the apparent intention of increasing the orders wealth.

The next document that sheds light on the Guardians of the Black Cross is a personal journal of Baron Mannfred Wilhelm von Schöenberg, dated from 1805 to 1807CE. This remarkable book illustrates the every day life at Schloss Schöenberg as well as the thoughts and feelings of the Baron regarding Prussia’s military adventures and ultimate defeat at the hands of Napoleon Bonaparte. The Baron follows the developments in Europe closely and offers much interesting contemporary observation that undoubtedly would be helpful to scholars of the Napoleonic era, but also reports in several scattered paragraphs to dealings he has with his ‘Brothers’. Since the Baron was an only child, it is therefore possible that he is referring to Die Scwartzekreutz Bruderschafft. At no point in the journal however does the Baron refer to himself as Hochmeister, or even mention the names of his ‘Brothers’. However, as the year 1807CE progresses, the Baron decides the ‘Brothers’ must take steps to remove the French influence from Prussia. It is unfortunately impossible to know what happened after 1807CE because the journal ends, and no other journals were recovered from Schloss Schöenberg. Baron Mannfred Wilhelm von Schöenberg however, is recorded as having died in 1817CE of old age.
At the same time (1815CE), the von Schöenberg family crest adopted the addition of a small black cross in the upper right hand quadrant.

There is no further mention of the order in the Schloss Schöenberg documents, and therefore all our further knowledge of the order comes from the archives of the Neuhof family of Bern in Switzerland. Whether or not the Neuhof family is descended from the1567CE Hochmeister of the Guardians of the Black Cross is unclear since the family refuses to comment on the matter and local records do not show from where the Neuhof family originated from, but it seems a clear likelihood that given the family’s archives this is the case.

The Neuhof archives were left to the University of Bern in 1951CE in the last will of Erik Saksen Neuhof and shed much light on certain events that took place during and immediately after the First World War. Erik Saksen Neuhof was a close personal friend of the last of the Schöenberg barons, Gottfried von Schöenberg and served together with him in Turkey from 1916 to 1918CE. The details of their service are unclear since the Imperial German military archives do not list any official military units commanded by Gottfried von Schöenberg in Turkey in this period, but experts deem Neuhof’s papers authentic none the less.

Erik Saksen Neuhof was a history student when the war broke out, studying at Berlin on a grant paid for by the then Baron of Schloss Schöenberg; Gottfried von Schöenberg’s father Mannfred Alexander von Schöenberg.
Saksen Neuhof was studying medieval history, but aside from his studies he was also being paid by the Baron to look into and compile details of the 1908CE Tunguska incident. According to Saksen Neuhof the Baron had planned an expedition to the Podkamennaya Tunguska River basin but that this had been postponed by the outbreak of the First World War. For the next four years Erik Saksen Neuhof fought in Turkey and the Middle East in numerous unusual encounters under the command of the Baron’s son. Both men were decorated but returned home disillusioned at the outcome of the war. As Germany slid deep into economic collapse, the Baron died leaving Gottfried von Schöenberg as sole heir to Schloss Schöenberg and all the family’s fortune’s. Erik Saksen Neuhof remained with his friend throughout this period and from him we have the details of the amazing expedition that took place to Siberia in 1919CE.

According to Erik Saksen Neuhof, Baron Mannfred Alexander von Schöenberg had commissioned the construction of a Zeppelin in 1914, and that this airship; registered LZ119 had been built in 1915CE but had some how been kept secret from Germany’s government. According to the official records, LZ119 was the first of the L100 class, and therefore the largest design of its kind. The records however do not correspond with Saksen Neuhof’s claims as they state clearly that the LZ119 was never built.
Saksen Neuhof claims it was built, and that upon the death of his father, Baron Gottfried von Schöenberg used this airship to mount a secret expedition across Poland, Russia and Siberia to the Podkamennaya Tunguska River basin from 1919 to 1920CE, arriving exactly one year before the Russian mineralogist Leonid Kulik reached the area.

Erik Saksen Neuhof never states the reason for this expedition, but from his notes it is clear that Baron Gottfried von Schöenberg did not find what he was searching for. The LZ119 returned to Germany and no further mention of it is made in Neuhof’s archives.
After the expedition, Saksen Neuhof notes a change in his old friend. From being a man of relaxed yet noble patriotism it seems the Baron is consumed with some great purpose that he keeps from the world at large. He forms a militia of men with no clear purpose in 1921CE and even asks Saksen Neuhof to join him but Saksen Neuhof politely declines. Germany is rife with armed groups about this time, and rising anti Semitism finally forces Erik Saksen Neuhof to flee the country for Switzerland in 1929CE in order to protect his Jewish wife and children.
He returns only once to Germany, in 1934CE and on this occasion meets with Baron von Schöenberg at Schloss Schöenberg. This is the last time the two friends meet and in a single known letter to his wife, Saksen Neuhof describes Baron von Schöenberg as friendly and polite, but distant. He also describes meeting several Nazi party members at Schloss Schöenberg including Herman Göring and observing a demonstration of paratroopers jumping from a Junkers JU52.

At no point in the Neuhof family archives does Erik Saksen Neuhof mention the Guardians of the Black Cross and it is unclear whether or not the order still existed then. However this author speculates that the order does still exist and has indeed collaborated with the Nazi party for reasons unknown.

Baron Gottfried von Schöenberg disappeared from Germany in 1935.

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Chapter One: Death on the High Sea's

Player One	Player Three
Captain Moshe Harel 8 x crew	Baron Gottfried von Schöenberg Sturmbannfuhrer von Friik 5 x Black Arrow paratroopers
Player Two	Player Four
Mordecai Avshalom Heinrick Avshalom Al Hirsch Marie ‘Belle’ Perlmann Avram Rubenstein + Professor Rosenblum	Helga Doctor Alfred Metzger. 5 x Black Arrow paratroopers

Professor Rosenblum has escaped by means of a secret Jewish underground pipeline. After leaving Germany he travelled by train to Austria, and from Vienna to Budapest, Belgrade and Sofia to the Black sea. Using a fake French passport he managed to evade all scrutiny and at Varna he boarded a steam ship owned by YBY shipping, the SS Diana. Thus far his escape had been a success, or so he thought. Unbeknownst to the Jewish underground, their organisation has been compromised by a traitor working for von Schöenberg.

The Baron however is not interested in Jews, nor is he a Nazi. As the Hochmeister of Die Scwartzekreutz Bruderschafft he is following a far older and much more important agenda and privately considers the Nazi’s to be the very untemenneshe they themselves accuse the Jews of being. For the Baron, all humanity is below the will of God, and the will of God must be obeyed. As a servant of that will he will use any and all means at his disposal to serve God.

Having learned of Professor Rosenblum’s route, the Baron summons his immediate forces and orders the airship LZ119 Graf Frederick to be prepared for immediate departure.
Due to the immediacy of the operation he is unable to summon the full strength of the Black Arrows however so the forces at his disposal number twenty Black Arrow paratroopers and two aircrew. Also on board are Helga, Sturmbannfuhrer von Friik of the Gestapo and Doctor Alfred Metzger.

The LZ119 has tracked the SS Diana to the Aegean Sea and as the sun slowly sinks beneath the horizon, the great air ship looms over the tiny steamer.

Aboard the SS Diana are several other passengers. These are mostly refugee’s fleeing the Nazi’s, none of whom will surrender to the German paratroopers boarding the ship. They will fight with extreme aggression, to the last man if necessary.

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Starting

Von Schöenberg and his men start by landing on the rear deck of the SS Diana. There are two ways they can accomplish this. They can either parachute from a great height or they can swoop closer to the steamer in the Graf Frederick and abseil down onto the deck either way is perilous.
Parachuting will give them the element of surprise, which means that the ships crew must first break out their weapons before they can fight, however it also means that the parachuting element might miss the ship altogether! Roll a D6 for each element to determine whether or not they land in the sea. The roll of a 1 misses the ship and the element is lost. If the Germans parachute, then the ships crew and passengers must start in various cabins and quarters and will not suspect a thing until the alarm is given.
Abseiling down onto the ship is a lot safer, however it means that the Graf Frederick must fly closer to the ship and this will alert the ships crew giving them the chance to arm themselves by the time the Germans have landed.

In the event of a parachute assault, the Ships crew start in three separate locations. Three elements including the Captain start on the bridge. Four start in the main crew quarters, and two start in the engine room. The Passengers start in their cabins. All are unarmed except for the Captain who carries a sidearm. To arm the crew and passengers, they must either go to the ships weapons locker/ strong room, or to the hold where a crew member must be present to hand out weapons.

In the event of an abseil assault, the crew start with weapons, on the bridge. The passengers who are also armed at the beginning of the game, start wherever they wish.

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Victory Conditions

Von Schöenberg wins if he captures Professor Rosenblum. To do this he must capture him by one of the German elements touching bases with the Professor and removing him from any allies he may be with. Once ‘grabbed’ the Professor will resist, but must roll a 6 on a D6 each round to extricate himself from his captor.

The Crew and passengers win if they down eight of the Germans forcing them to retreat. If the Germans are forced to flee, then they only have one way of doing so, by taking a lifeboat and abandoning the ship until the Graf Frederick can pick them up

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Special Notes

Lowering one of the ships life boats takes six rounds, and two people to operate the booms.

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Chapter Two: Man Hunt

Player One	Player Three
Rocketman George Macarthur Professor Summers Marcel Messnier Audrey Summers	Heinz Shultz. Murmar. Ali Hasan Achmet
Player Two	Player Four
Captain Adi Saveer 8 x militia guards	‘Mad Dog’ Mitchell. Salim. Ali Hassan Doctor Basmaji Abu Fouad

After having flown south across Europe, Dan Mansfield and his companions, Professor Summers, Audrey Summers and George Macarthur land at a small air field outside of Alexandria where they are met by Mansfield’s old friend, Marcel Messnier.

Messnier is a dark haired Corsican who sometimes works for the French government. Quite what he’s doing in Egypt is not made clear, but as the plane touches down on the hard dirt airstrip, there he stands by an ancient Bedford truck with a large smile on his tanned Mediterranean face.

Professor Summers immediately makes a telephone call to YBY shipping only to find that the SS Diana has not reached Alexandria, but has instead diverted to Haifa due to vague and only partially explained reasons. Confusion reigns but it appears the steamship was attacked by an airship… of Professor Rosenblum there is no news…

For a while it appears as if the long journey may have been in vain, and as Messnier drives the Bedford into the city the professor slumps in his seat.
“What the Dickens do we do now?” he mutters in despair.
“Fear not Professor” Messnier replies with a Gallic gesture, “I shall make inquires tonight amongst the locals and find out what I can. Meet me at midday tomorrow in the bar at the Hotel Alexander.”
The professor nods wearily. He glances at the Frenchman’s face in the gathering dusk wondering if he might trust this stranger.

In the bar, Messnier arrives looking excited and upon ordering a cup of Turkish coffee he relates his discoveries.
“No one knew where Professor Rosenblum was digging I’m afraid, but it was far far to the south, probably not even in Egypt at all.”
The companions mutter and cast dark looks amongst them selves. The trail seems dead and cold, but Messnier, sipping brightly at his coffee continues.
“Merde! But this is good coffee!” he chuckles. “Do not look so glum my friends. There is a man who can maybe help us, but I fear we must first help him!”
“What do you mean!?” Mansfield and the Professor both exclaim.
“The good professor, he had a guide with him when he went south. An American called Mitchell. According to my contacts, he is a big game hunter and adventurer who lives here in Alexandria and who is known to many as ‘Mad Dog’ ”
“Good heavens! Professor Summers interjects. “And he’s here in Alexandria, right now you say?”
“Indeed he lives here… but I’m afraid all is not well. Mitchell is at his house on the Rue de Alfi Bey but others have been asking about him… “
“What others?” Audrey Summers asks breathlessly, “The Germans?”
“Perhaps… I’m not sure. There are many strange and dangerous people in the Orient my dear. All I know is some one was also making inquiries about the good professor and whom he had dealt with here in the city… The Germans also have contacts in the allies and bazaars!”
“What do you say Marcel?” Mansfield stands abruptly. “Should we get over to the Rue de Alfi Bey right away?”
“I think we may find we are too late, but yes, we must hurry!”
“Then Professor lets get the ‘package’ ready shall we?”
“Oh yes... yes indeed” Professor Summers face lights up with anticipation…

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Meanwhile…

In the darkest stretches of the city’s heaving underworld, Heinz Schultz, a secret agent of the Brotherhood of the Black Cross has received a very short telegram from Antalya in Turkey.

Remove all pawns from the board. Stop.

Schultz nods to himself then reaches up to the top shelf in his study and removes an old shoebox from atop the dusty tomes. Inside is a small black leather book and a Luger automatic pistol. Leafing quickly through the pages, he comes to the first name on his list… the American.

Slipping on his worn jacket and old hat, Schultz slips out the back of the ancient building and makes his way through the warren of small alley ways until he comes to the small smoky den of local crime boss Murmar the Turk.
As he steps into the small crowded room, the assembled men fall silent and several draw away from him.
“Brother Harrison!” Murmar calls out in a false joviality that contradicts the heavy scowls of the dark faces around him. Schultz acknowledges the code name and follows Murmar through a heavy beaded curtain into a small dirty kitchen. Sitting at a table are two other men.
“I need your help” Schultz tells the fat Turk, ignoring the evil look of the two men at the table.
“But of course Brother Harrison” Murmar leers as he eases into a seat. He waves away the two onlookers and motions for the German agent to take one of the vacated seats... “What do you need?”
“The death of this man” he slips a grainy photograph across the table and Murmar squints at it with interest.
“The Big Americano?”
“Yes.”
“No worries Brother. It shall be done.”
“Today. Now.”
“Now?”
“Yes, now. I shall accompany you to the place where Mr Mitchell lives and you and your men will kill him.”
“And his family?”
“You may do with them as you wish. They are no concern of mine”. Schultz stands up and lights a cigarette.
Murmar nods slowly, scratching his unshaven face. Daylight gunfights in the richer suburbs are not exactly in his line of business… but the man who pretends to be English pays extremely well, and it is time for his men to do something useful for once instead of just lounging around smoking all day.
“Ali! Hasan! Achmet!” he calls out.
Three men appear in the doorway, one fingering a large and sharp knife.
“Get the guns…”

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Starting

In this game the players play in a slightly different style than in Chapter One. This is in order to promote a role-playing element to the game. Player 1 and Player 3 will play opposing sides, and players 2 and 4 will play the various independent characters.
Each player has his/ her own agenda and victory conditions.

Rue de Alfi Bey is a long dusty road over looking the distant rail shunting yards. There are only buildings along one side of the road. These are;
Nr1, Ali Hassan the spice merchant’s house. (Medium sized stone house with rear garden)
Nr3, Ali Hassan’s small storage building. (Small square stone building)
Nr5, Doctor Basmaji’s house (Large stone building with central courtyard)
Nr7, Mitchell’s house. (Large stone building with central courtyard)
Nr9, Abu Fouad the tinker’s house. (Small square building)
Only Player 4 should know who lives in which house since the other players must try and find out who lives where before the other players do.

Player 1 starts in round one at the beginning of the street in any order they like.

Player 2 starts exactly three rounds after the first shot is fired.

Player 3 starts in round four at the beginning of the street in any order they like.

Player 4 starts in round one, with each element in his own house. Once any firing starts the neighbours will come to Mitchell’s defence.

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Victory Conditions

Player 1. Rocketman and his companions win if they manage to get into Mitchell’s house and convince him to show them where Professor Rosenblum was working. To do this they will have to incapacitate him and Salim or convince him by role-playing means.

Player 2. Captain Saveer and the militia win if they manage to kill or arrest over ten of the other three players elements.

Player 3. Schultz and Murmar win if they manage to find and kill Mitchell.

Player 4. Wins by preventing all the other players from winning.

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Special Notes

Who ever is running the game should be player 4 and should try to remain as neutral as possible.
Player 2 should also try to be as neutral as possible.

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Chapter Three: La Vallee Maudite

Player One	Player Three
Baron Gottfried von Schöenberg Sturmbannfuhrer von Friik 5 x Black Arrow paratroopers	1 x Female bug 2 x Male bug 12 x medium drones + numerous giant Caterpillers
Player Two	Player Four
Helga Doctor Alfred Metzger. 5 x Black Arrow paratroopers	Gutaale Madoowbe Wiil Waal Raage Laba sacle

“It is no good!” Metzger declares. “Rosenblum refuses to talk! Not even the sodium pentabarbathol has had the desired effect… perhaps I should begin physical torture?”
Baron von Schöenberg, a careless cigarette smoking from his fingers, shakes his head sadly.
“It will be a great loss for archaeology I am sure.”
Strapped to the dentist’s chair with crude straps, Rosenblum’s eyes widen as the Baron rises to his feet.
“You should not have tried to escape us Professor” he smiles coldly. “Co-operation brings rewards, but defiance merits no mercy I’m afraid.”
Aaron Rosenblum shivers as the tall Prussian stands over him. He recalls how easily the Germans had tracked him down. How they’re airship had found the SS Diana, and how his brief flight through the back alleys of Haifa had ended in swift capture at the hands of local bounty hunters.
“I’ll tell you nothing!” he cries.

The door opens and the blonde woman with the cold eyes enters the room followed swiftly by the eager faced Gestapo man.
“Look!” he cries. He holds out a piece of paper and Rosenblum’s heart sinks within him. It is the letter he had written last night to Morgan Summers.

Baron von Schöenberg takes the letter and reads it swiftly. As he reads his lips slowly draw back into a triumphant smile.
“Ah, Professor. How fortunate for us both!”
“What does it say?” Metzger asks.
“Why, the good professor has provided us with the location of his archaeological discovery and in doing so has preserved the use of his hands” the Baron replies. He turns to the soldier who has stood silently by the door.
“Tell the others to be ready to depart within the hour!”
“Jawohl!” the paratrooper salutes and leaves the room and the blonde woman calmly takes the Barons coat from its peg by the door and holds it open for him.
“Thank you my dear”
“What shall we do with him?” von Friik points at Rosenblum with an appalling eagerness.
“Bring him with us”

Three days later, the Graf Frederick passes over the Egyptian Sudanese border to arrive above Lake Nubia. Then it turns westward and heads out across the wastelands of Ash Shamaliyah. In all directions the broken landscape stretches away to the horizon, but five hundred kilometres due west are a series of broken hills and sharp valleys and it is towards these that the Graf Frederick makes its ponderous way. Within hours the Germans find themselves looking down on a long slender valley. Like a rip in the barren and inhospitable landscape its edges appear as if torn from the earth itself but within its confines are trees, vegetation and water

Looking through binoculars, Baron von Schöenberg spies a small village just beyond the valley and points it out to the helmsman. Slowly the airship turns and passes over the mud huts and as the villagers flee in terror fourteen parachutes drop from the floating leviathan.

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Starting

This game is in two parts.
Part one is the role-playing aspect and requires no map.
Part two is the entry into La Vallée Maudite.
Who ever is running the game should be player 4.

During the first part, the Germans must negotiate a price with the locals. The Baron requires several guides, but none of the locals have any wish to enter the valley. They shake their heads in fear. The valley may look green and fecund they say, but it is inhabited by vile demons and hideous monsters.

The Germans must pay a considerable amount of money, or force the locals to show them the way. The difference is crucial for if the Germans choose to pay, then the locals will stand by them and fight, but if they are forced into showing the way then they will desert the Germans at the first chance they get.

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The Valley

Life in the valley appears to have undergone some kind of strange metamorphosis. This becomes apparent as the group enters the valley by means of the slender northern pass. What appeared at first to be tree’s are in fact giant bushes which have taken on the stature of tree’s though they retain their original leaf sizes. The grass on the other hand is very strange for it appears to have been scaled up four or five times and in all directions it rises from the ground in steadily swaying dagger like blades. Every where, there are giant caterpillars. Some are dark and hairy, others are banded, but they are all huge, easily as long as a man’s arm!
Floating lazily in the breeze are pollen spores as large as cabbages and in the shadows are spiders webs that span twenty feet or more.
The locals explain that they have never been into the valley because awful monsters live there and those that venture into the giant bushes never return.

The Germans of course snort in derision and check their weapons are loaded. The valley stretches away for many kilometers, growing ever wider, but a mere two hundred paces away is a cave entrance, besides which stand several cratesand digging tools. Obviously the archeological dig is in that cave it is decided…

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Victory Conditions

In order to win the Germans must cross the map and enter the cave. The Baron and at least one other named character must survive. It is also important that the German players understand that they will only be able to play game 5 with those elements that survive this game!

The Bugs will win if they manage to prevent the Germans from reaching the cave, or simply by killing and eating them all.

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Special notes

Player Fours characters, are local Sudanese tribes men whose names mean:
Madoowbe (very black),
Raage (he who delayed at birth),
Wiil Waal (crazy boy).
Laba sacle (the man with only two cows)
Gutaale (Leader of armies)
Bahdoon (The one who looks for his clan)

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The bugs

The bugs are a strange amalgamation of insects that defy any rational scientific descriptions. They resemble large ant like beetles in that they have a carapace, six legs, mandibles and so forth, but they move rather slower than an insect would. Indeed the larger bugs are quite cumbersome. They should not be played in the manner of ‘Starship Troopers’ type Arachnids since -ROCKETMAN- is based on 1920’s pulp literature, so they ought really to be more like men in rubber suits than actual monsters.

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LZ 119 'Graf Frederick'

Named after a founding member of the Order of the Teutonic Knights, the Graf Frederick is a rigid dirigible airship, built secretly by Zeppelin on the request of Baron Mannfred Alexander von Schöenberg in 1915. Officially the LZ 119 was never built, but in fact it was secretly constructed at a hidden aerodrome in the extensive Prussian woodland estate of Schloss Schöenberg.

The airship was built for a clandestine expedition to distant Siberia to investigate the story of the Tunguska incident but the First World War intervened and the airship first fulfilled its purpose in 1919. However, the mission failed to find what it had set out for and in 1920 the Graf Frederick was put away in ‘storage’ in its hidden hanger, deep in the forests.

Now, the Graf Frederick is being used again since it is the only vessel available to Baron von Schöenberg with the range needed to reach central Africa at any speed. This means risking detection by the Luftwaffe, but the Baron has deemed it necessary. Fortunately the airship has been well maintained.

The LZ 119 is a L100 class airship, indeed it was the prototype for the class, however the cost of building it were so heavy that its sister ships the LZ 120, Bodensee and LZ 121 Nordstern/ Esperia were much smaller constructions.

The Graf Frederick has a hydrogen gas capacity of 35,220 m3 in 18 separate gas cells. It is 208m long and has a diameter of 26m. Typical gross lift is 40,000 kg. There is cabin space for 26 people.
Maximum range is 10,700km.
Power is provided by 4 Maybach MB IVa engines providing 980 CV. The airship carries no fixed weaponry.

It should be noted that the airship itself does not feature in any of the games as a direct element. Its purpose is strictly as a background prop.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter Four: Mad Dogs and Englishmen

Player One	Player Three
Rocketman George Macarthur Professor Summers Audrey Summers	Ali Baba 4 x Tea thieves
Player Two	Player Four
‘Mad Dog’ Mitchell Omran Mehdi Bassam	Mu'awiyah ‘The Mad Fox’ 4 x Tea thieves

Upon hearing of Professor Rosenblum’s fate, Mitchell immedietely agree’s to take Rocketman and his friends to the site of the archeological dig. “It’s a long way” he cautions, “Far out across the Sudanese desert, to a barren wasteland called Ash Shamaliyah.”
“I know it well” Marcel Messnier says. “I know a man who trades there, along the old camel roads.”
“Maybe he can help us?” Professor Summers asks.
“I’m sure he can, if the price is right,” Messnier laughs. “I shall telegraph his office at once and have him ready for us at Lake Nubia”
“Lake Nubia!” Audrey Summers laughs, “oh how very exciting!”
Professor Summers turns to Mitchell and fixes him with a curious eye.
“Do you know what it was Aaron found out there in the sand?”
Mad Dog Mitchell regards the astute Englishman and nods.
“That I do sir. That I do”
“What was it?” Mansfield and Messnier both ask eagerly.
“Well, it was a tomb of sorts, I don’t rightly know the whole story, but here is what Professor Rosenblum told me. A good few years ago, Rosenblum was working on a dig at Thebes when a fellow archaeologist there discovered an onyx stele which contained the story of a great power stolen from the gods at kept at Abu Simbel… apparently this other archaeologist had read of this from some old Aramaic parchment he’d found and he’d been trying to track this mysterious power down for a good couple of years but he couldn’t decipher the Egyptian writing that had been used. He said it made no sense at all. So, he asked Rosenblum for help since he’d heard the Professor was a great one for ancient Egyptian writing and…”
“Just a moment” Professor Summers interjects, can you remember the name of this other archaeologist?”
Mitchell scratches his chin thoughtfully… “Not quite… He was a rusky I believe… Kaminskov? Kaminski? Something like that… anyways, he was a bad lot it turned out and he was always drunk. Not long after he’d spoken to the Professor he was found with his throat cut in some brothel or other.
The Professor still had the stele though but he’d not had time to examine it properly. Not long after the Russian was murdered he came to me and told me to pack for a long journey into the Sudan. I asked him why of course, but he wouldn’t say much. He made a reference to the strange script though… said he’d figured it out or some such thing. I didn’t ask.
Well, we set out with camels and trucks from Lake Nubia and sure enough we came to Ash Shamaliyah, and a more deserted, God forsaken place I’d never seen. All desert and strange rocks as far as the eye could see.
Then eventually we came to a long line of large hills that stretched right across the horizon and following his notes, Professor Rosenblum led us to a small cave in a cliff face where we found ancient steps leading down into a series of underground tombs. The Professor, well he got mighty encouraged by them tombs, and as I recall we were all pretty excited. The whole place seemed to be full of… a strange happiness that sort of gripped you when ever you went in there… you could feel it straight away…
Well, any way. Some of the passageways were collapsed and we set to digging them free again. Everything seemed to be going just fine until about two weeks into the dig when another guy turned up… some friend of Rosenblum’s or other... a kraut. This fella, he made a sort of inspection of the site and the next day Rosenblum pulled us all out. He said something about funding or we needed more money or something and he had to return to Berlin.
So we sealed the cave up and I went back to Alexandria to wait for the Professor, and that’s all I know. I was still waiting when you folks came by and shot up my house”

For the next three days the party travels south on the Nile express railway, finally reaching Lake Nubia on a glaringly hot morning.
Outside the station, two vehicles, an old citreon sedan and a patched up GMC stand awaiting. Messnier gives a gallic cry and embraces a large fat arab with an emourmous moustache.
“Omran, mon ami!”
“Ah Monsiour Marcel!”
The two men embrace laughing and Omran turns to regard the sunburnt English adventurers.
“Welcome to the desert my friends! Please put your baggage in the back of my truck and climb aboard, This is Bassam, he will drive the car and the fellow with the rifle is Mehdi.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Starting

The party leaves Lake Nubia at 11 o’clock and by 2 o’clock they are well out into the desert heading west. At first the roads are pretty bad but then they cease to exist and Omran drives out across the sands using the terrain as best as he can.

Suddenly as the vehicles drive along a dried out valley, a shot rings out and the Citroen comes to an abrupt halt.
“By the prophet!” Omran shouts as he reaches for a revolver, “it is that filthy dog Ali Baba!”
“Ali Baba?” Professor Summers exclaims in some confusion “The chap from the story?”
“Oh no… this is Ali Baba the tea thief. For two years now he has been stealing spices and tea and other exotic goods from the lake people and selling them to the tribesmen of the desert”
Several more shots ring out and a small hole appears in the windshield.
“Good God their firing at us!”

Players 1 and 2 start in the vehicles in the centre of the road at the bottom right hand corner of the map (south east)
The players can decide for themselves which members of their groups they wish to have in which vehicles, but Omram is driving the truck, and Professor Summers is next to him in the cabin, and Bessam is driving the Citroen.

Player 3 (Ali Baba and his 4 tea thieves) starts on the ridge and amongst the rocks to the north of the road.

Player 4 (Ali Baba’s second in command: the Mad Fox) starts on the ridge and amongst the rocks to the south of the road.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Victory Conditions

Rocketman and his companions will win by defeating the bandits, and/ or by crossing the map in the truck.
It is important to note however that any casualties will not be able to participate in Chapter 5

The bandits will win by capturing the truck, intact.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Special Notes

The truck is a 1930 GMC. It can accomidate 2 people in the cabin and four on the bed (with the various goods and spices)
It offers some protection but is not armoured. It will be able to drive until it has sustained four direct hits, there upon it will stall. Both sides however want the truck intact.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Map

Click on map to enlarge

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter Five: The Divine Light

Player One	Player Three
Rocketman George Macarthur Professor Summers Audrey Summers ‘Mad Dog’ Mitchell Marcel Messnier + Any Surviving Arab guides from Chapter 4	Baron Gottfried von Schöenberg + any surviving Black Arrow paratroopers & African guides from Chapter 4
Player Two	Player Four
1 x Female bug 2 x Male bug 12 x medium drones + Sturmbannfuhrer von Friik	Helga Doctor Alfred Metzger. + any surviving Black Arrow paratroopers & African guides from Chapter 4

“Into the cave Verdamt!”
The Germans scrabble past the last quivering corpses and dash from the undergrowth where the sounds of more approaching feet can be heard. Behind them, the last soldier fires wildly scattering the giant terror bugs.
“Mein Gott!” von Friik forgets his nazi tendencies as he mops his sweaty brow, “What were they!”
Baron von Schöenberg smiles coldly at the Gestapo man and lights a Juno. Several of the survivors also light up cigarettes nervously.
“What ever they were, they show that we are very close to our prize!”
“You mean, to the Fuhrers prize!?” von Friik’s voice halts all movement in the cave and the Schwartzepfeile all turn to regard him with mildly amused eyes.
“Mein herr?”
“My dear Sturmbannfuhrer, I’m afraid your glorious Fuhrer won’t be receiving any prize from this expedition.”
Von Friik stares at the Baron with eyes pale with anger but the Baron’s strength of character overwhelms him and he falls back in consternation.
“Nein! It shall not be” he cries and pulls out his Luger only to find Helga holding the muzzle of her automatic Mauser to the back of his head.
“What treachery is this?” he cries.
“I’m afraid your services are no longer required Sturmbannfuhrer”
The Baron gives a brief nod and Helga knocks Von Friik out with deft blow to the back of his head. The Gestapo officer drops to the ground without a sound, and the Baron, pausing to blow smoke from his lips, regards the motionless figure.
“Did you kill him?”
“No. He’ll live” Helga notes with clinical detachment.
“Excellent” The Baron turns to examine the cave, “Tie him up and lets be on our way”
Helga nods to one of the paratroopers who immediately begins to tie the unfortunate man’s arms and legs.
“Shnell!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Meanwhile, a few miles to the east, Rocketman and his companions arrive at the entrance to Professor Rosenblum’s dig. Here they find the remains of the original camp still intact, and Mitchell points to a jagged tear in the nearby cliffs.
“That there’s the tomb”
“All the way out here?” Audrey Summers looks about at the harsh unforgiving landscape. “What a strange place to bury any one! I’ve never heard of the Egyptians having buried anyone so far from the Nile before. Are we sure this is an Egyptian tomb?”
“Well the professor was sure” Mitchell replies.
“Hey you” Rocketman prods their local guide.
“Yes?”
The guide leers at Audrey Summers as if it were she who had poked his arm.
“Pay attention by Gad, or I’ll teach you some manners!” Rocketman pushes the man towards the cave. “Now lead the way!”
“But of course, as sir wishes…”

Inside the cave, the party is met by the unmistakable signs of Egyptian hieroglyphs.
“Oh look!” Audrey Summers points to a large partly covered mural.
“What does it say?” the others ask.
“Well.. all sorts of things really. It seems to be quite a long story and I can’t quite decipher it all, but it seems to be about a pilgrimage to visit, the holy light of Ra!”
“The What?” Rocketman blinks in confusion.
“The holy light of Ra!” The Mad Fox sighs to himself.
“That’s all it says.. this last piece has been damaged.. but this bit here appears to be saying that the holy light or Ra is to be found at Mocoscus? Moscus? …Its hard to translate.”
“Could it mean here?”
“I suppose so… it’s a bit ambiguous. I’d need to go over the entire text and translate it all, and that might take some time.”
“Never mind Miss Summers” Marcel Messnier shrugs, “let us see what is afoot inside this tomb.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Deep beneath the earth, the queen trembles in fear and anger. Never before has the nest suffered such an intrusion. Swiftly she sends out messages, pheromones that move along the drafts of the tunnels calling her remaining males to her.
Intruders are approaching the egg chamber!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Starting

Each side starts at either end of the map. The Germans approaching from the west, Rocketman and his friends from the east.
The Terror bugs are already in place, so they can start anywhere they wish.

Round 1 begins with the Germans entering the caverns from the western cave. They leave Von Friik tied up behind them and proceed into the depths.

Round 4 begins with Rocketman and his friends entering the caverns from the Egyptian tomb.

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Victory Conditions

The Germans or Rocketman win if they reach the egg chamber and touch the divine light first.
At that point the epilogue should be read out loud to finish the game.

The terror bugs will win by destroying all the other elements.

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Special notes: the map of the caverns

Click on map to enlarge

Each square of the map represents an A3 sheet of paper.

1. Cave chamber. Filled with stalagmites and stalagtites.
2. Cave chamber.
3. Cave chamber.
4. Cave chamber.
5. Light chamber. A warm light emanates from this chamber and heats up the egg chamber.
6. Cave chamber.
7. Cave chamber.
8. Egg chamber. Filled with hundreds of football sized eggs.
9. Cave chamber.
10. Egyptian tomb.
11. Cave chamber.
12. Cave chamber.
13. Egyptian tomb.
14. Egyptian tomb.
15. Egyptian tomb.
16. Egyptian tomb.
17. Egyptian tomb.

The Egg chamber and the Holy Light

The Egg chamber is a large unusual cavern that contains many eggs. These are round milky white spheres with a surface texture like dried slime. They are dotted about chamber nr 8 and are about the size of foot balls.
The floor of the cavern however appears to made of metal, and jutting from the walls are the remains of some sort of metallic support struts that give the entire chamber a ribbed appearance. (In fact Chamber nr 8 is the heart of a UFO crashed on Earth many millions of years since, when Ash Shamaliyah was the sea bed of a long forgotten ocean. Chamber nr 8 is all that is left of that long dead spacecraft and the ‘holy light’ is in fact an ancient power source designed to maintain itself and all things around it.)
The whole of cavern nr 8 is bathed in the warm radiance that emanates from chamber nr 5 where a sphere of pure light hangs suspended, by no visible means, in the air. This is the ‘holy light’ and if any one touches it, the game ends as described by the epilogue.

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Epilogue

If some one touches the holy light, it will flare up and send a warm pulse of heat through the room. Every one will freeze in place and be unable to move for a few seconds. Then gradually the light will fade and who ever is touching the light will feel a surge of power throughout their body.

If that Person is the Baron, then he will begin to laugh in a strong and rejuvenated voice. The lines of his face will fade away and his chest will expand slightly. His monocle will drop from his eye and his hair will change colour from iron grey to blonde.

If that Person is Helga, she will feel nothing but a sense of satisfaction at a job well done.

If that Person is Metzger, he will feel an overwhelming pressure on his brain, and with a sudden cry will drop to his knees, clutching at his head. For a few long moments he will stare at the cavern ceiling screaming “Mein Gott, its full of Stars!” * before dropping dead. The light will then resume its previous position.

If that Person is Rocketman or one his friends or an Arab / African guide, they will feel a sense of strength and tranquillity lay a hold of their mind. Suddenly they will see their surroundings with a clear mind and they will feel the presence of another mind close to theirs. They will understand how important the holy light is to the Terror Bugs and they will know that to take the light will destroy the giant insects. Its up to the play to decide whether or not to keep the power of the light, but should they do so they will see the eggs in the chamber fading even as they watch.

* Sorry. I couldn’t resist.

-ICE STATION X-

2008-07-13T05:57:00.002-07:00

Ice station X

In January 1930, Dr. Hugo Eckener of the Graf Zeppelin Company and elected head of the Arctic exploration organisation known as the International Association for Exploring the Arctic by Means of Airships (Aeroarctic) was contacted by the famed Arctic explorer Sir Hubert Wilkins. Wilkins was planning to embark on a submarine expedition known as the Wilkins-Ellsworth Trans-Arctic Submarine Expedition that would see a submarine travel under the ice of the North Pole and then drill its way to the surface.
Dr Eckener had already approached the German government with the idea of a German airship expedition across the Arctic, but although Berlin had shown some interest, the fate of the Italian airship Italia two years previously meant the German government declined to forward any funding for any such attempt.
Wilkins presented to Eckener a plan for a rendezvous and exchange of mail and passengers at the North Pole between the Graf Zeppelin and Wilkins's submarine, the Nautilus which Eckener then took to American newspaper magnate, William Randolph Hearst who agreed to finance the expedition in return for reporting rights.

Unfortunately for Sir Hubert Wilkins, his submarine had serious mechanical failings and as 1932 progressed it became apparent that the Nautilus would never be ready in time. Wilkins was forced to pull out of the venture though his companion Lincoln Ellsworth joined the German airship crew along with the Russian arctic scientist Professor Samoilovich. A Russian icebreaker, the Malygin was commissioned to take the place of the Nautilus for the rendezvous and on the 24th of July 1932, the Graf Zeppelin departed its home base at Friedrichshafen and set course towards the North Pole via Berlin, St Petersburg and Archangel. With a 15 strong scientific crew it flew across the White Sea toward Franz Josef Land and Hooker Island where the meeting and exchange of mail with the icebreaker Malygin took place at the site of the world's northernmost weather station in Tikhaya Bay.
After the ceremonial exchange had taken place, the Graf Zeppelin turned east and flew along the 81st parallel until it reached Severnaya Zemlya where cartographical surveys indicated that Severnaya Zemlya was not one island has had been understood, but rather two.
After a brief stay at Severnaya Zemlya the Graf Zeppelin returned to Franz Josef Land to carry out one of the main objectives of the flight, the aerial survey and mapping of the island groups. It was there that they reached the northernmost point of the trip, Rudolf Island, roughly 500 miles from the North Pole. Then turning south, the Graf Zeppelin flew over the Taimyr Peninsula past Dikson Island and across Novaya Zemlya to complete a first-ever air mapping of the Russian Arctic. Eckener then set a course for Archangel, Leningrad, a brief stop in Berlin and then home.

Although the islands of Franz Josef Land were taken over by the Soviet Union in 1926, many of them are desolated and uninhabited. The year after the Graf Zeppelin expedition, a German ship arrived, unnoticed, at Rudolf Island and established a small secret base.
This installation was completed over the course of the winter and by 1934 it was a fully operational, military and scientific installation providing a secret logistical foot hold in the north for the Germans as well as encrypted weather reports.

23rd February 1936. London.
MI6’s Section VIII intercepts a strange radio transmission from the secret German base whose existance has been discovered but whose location is still a mystery. The transmission is heavily encrypted in an unusual unknown code which defies MI6 but two days later Norwegian government officials pass the information to the British Foreign Office that several suspected German agents have recently broken cover to charter passage on a Norwegian ship originally bound for Spitzbergen. At least one of these agents is known to be working for the German Abwehr and two are connected to the German Sicherheitsdienst chief Reinhard Heydrich.
MI6 immediately swings into full gear and just days before the SS Kristianna Maria is due to leave British agents have infiltrated the ships crew. During this operation two of the German agents are overheard discussing their mission and the name ‘Alfred Metzger’ is noted. MI6 learns the Germans intend to sail to the Polar ice pack and travel north to the ice bound Franz Josef Land islands by means of a special insulated ice crawler.
Back in London, this name raises some concern for it was assumed Doctor Alfred Metzger, a scientific genius of ill repute, was dead, killed in 1935 in the wastelands of northern Sudan.

29th February 1936. Tromsø.
The SS Kristianna Maria leaves Norway and heads north for the polar ice pack. On board are five German agents with numerous Norwegian conspirators and hidden amongst the crew, several British agents. It takes approx ten days to reach the Ice Station by ship and ice crawler.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter One: The Frozen North

Player One	Player Three
Dan Mansfield. Professor Summers	Sturmbannfuhrer Schröeder Karl Otto 3 x German agents
Player Two	Player Four
Audrey Summers George Macarthur	Captain Hans Olafsson + Any crew who join the German side

SS Kristianna Maria
The Kristianna Maria is a Norwegian freighter whose usual run is from Norway to Spitzbergen with supplies. Several members of her crew, including her Captain; Hans Olafsson are in the pay of the Abwehr and will fight along side the German agents. Some of the other crewmembers however, will fight against the Germans and the Norwegian collaborators if a gunfight breaks out. Most will remain puzzled by the violence and will hide from the gunfire. There are Nineteen crew members, including Captain Olafsson, they are armed with assorted pistols and hunting rifles and are distributed evenly about the ship. The Captain and 2 random crewmembers are on the bridge when the game begins.
In order to discover who will fight for whom and who will hide, roll a d6 for each crewmember encountered. Note that only a total of four crewmembers will fight for the Germans.
1. Will join on the German side, armed with a rifle.
2 - 4. Will run and hide.
5. Will join against the Germans armed with a pistol.
6. Will join against the Germans armed with a hunting rifle.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter Two: The Ice Station

Player One	Player Three
Dan Mansfield. Professor Summers	1 d6 Zombies
Player Two	Player Four
Audrey Summers George Macarthur	1 d6 Zombies

Constructed in 1933/4 the Ice Station houses twenty-four scientific personnel, eight auxiliary personnel and a compliment of twelve German Kriegsmarine soldiers under the command of Kapitänleutnant Meyer. Overall command of the Ice Station lies with Doctor Heidinger of the University of Berlin. Visiting the Ice Station are three outsiders; two Meteorologists from Berlin and Doctor Alfred Metzger. All are now dead, except for Metzger who is trapped.

12th March 1936. Rudolf Island.
The long polar night has just ended, so visibility is high, but a storm is brewing and the weather is closing in fast. After having left the ship, and arranged for it to wait ten days, the ice crawler makes its way north.
Ice Station X appears as a short squat tower rising from two small garage buildings. Everywhere appears to be deserted and covered in frozen snow. Both the garage’s doors are wide open and inside both are empty. There are several frozen dogs lying about the compound. One of them has been mutilated.
The ground floor entrance to the tower is blocked from within, but the roof hatch has been damaged and can be opened by two men. Inside the tower the power is still up and the radio transmitter has been destroyed although there are signs that some one has tried to repair it. There are other signs of violence everywhere with bullet holes in the walls and doors and dried blood stains on the floors and walls.

The guardroom at the base of the tower has been completely destroyed with burn marks indicating a fire. The doors to the outside and the lower levels of the station have been barricaded and welded shut. To gain access to the lower levels takes several hours of hammering with a fire axe, or the use of two grenades to blow open the door…

-ROCKETMAN ARMOURGEDDON-

2008-07-13T05:57:00.001-07:00

It is the spring of 1936 and Dan Mansfield and Miss Audrey Summers are with friends in the Aegean enjoying a well earned holiday after the horrors of the Arctic winter. Reclining casually on the stern of Sir Percy de Havilland’s pleasure yacht Starling, they contemplate the view of the turquoise sea stretched out before them with the complacency of the wealthy. All is still, the ship barely moving in the azure tranquillity, the gentle tinkle of iced drinks emphasising the comfortable silence.
“Darling?” Audrey Summers glances across at Mansfield’s reclining form.
“Mmmm?” Dan Mansfield’s athletic body lies stretched in the shade of an awning.
“What’s that boat doing out there?”
Mansfield cracks open an eye and peers into the distance.
“Which boat?”
Out in the hazy, sunlit distance a small motor boat surges along with a line of white water churning in its wake. Several dark figures hunch against the sped of the boat.
“Joy riding?” Mansfield shrugs and settles back into his lazy contemplation of oblivion.
“I think they’re coming this way” Audrey Summers muses as she helps herself to another glass of the chilled champagne.
This observation soon proves correct as the small but powerful boat surges forward to come along side the Starling. Audrey rises to her feet and wanders to the rail to gaze down into the boat only to meet with the strange and discomforting sight of several bearded faces brandishing rifles.
“Oh my…Pirates?! She exclaims
“Pirates?” Mansfield’s eyes snap open instantly and within a second he is beside her at the rail in time to see the swarthy gang forcing their way past the steward an onto the Starling’s after deck.
“What the deuce?” he cries as a small rat faced man brandishes a pistol.
“Audrey Summers I presume?” one of the men steps forward to smirk at her. He is a slender man with pale skin and dark, almost hypnotic eyes.
“Yes?” Audrey Summers can’t but help reply.
“Who the hell are you and what do you mean by this intolerable intrusion?” Sir Percy shouts from below. There is the sound of a scuffle, a gun shot , then a female scream.
Dan Mansfield starts forward but the rat faced man raises the pistol to his face and sneers.
“Dan, don’t” Audrey pulls at his arm and the stout Englishman‘s face works with anguish and anger. The slender man chuckle’s at the sight then motions the rat faced man to step back.
“My name is Yuri,” he says as his face contorts into an unusually unpleasant attitude. “I’m afraid I must insistent you come with us… or I shall be forced to shoot your friends”
“You fiend!” Audrey gasps.
“Do you expect me to…” Mansfield lunges forward but a burly fellow standing behind him raises his rifle and clubs him in the back of the head. Audrey screams as Dan collapses into an insensible heap.
“I’ll never go with you!” she tells the slender man, but he is already walking back to the small boat and his compatriots grab her arms and hurry her away. Her last glimpse of Dan Mansfield shows him lifting his head and shaking it as the small boat speeds away from the Starling.
“DAAAAAAAAAAAAN!” she screams but her voice is drowned in the thunder of the powerful engine and the throaty voices of the laughing men around her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Several hours later, the back of his head still tender, Dan Mansfield steps from the Starling with a grim visage. Behind him the crew carries Sir Percy from the yacht on a stretcher. Around him, the port of Moudros sleeps in the midday sun but along the docks he spies George Macarthur and another familiar figure hurrying along to meet him.
“What is it?” George calls out as he and Mitchell hurry closer.
“The damned Bolsheviks have snatched Audrey!” Mansfield cries in a passion.
“Bolshevik’s?” ‘Mad Dog’ Mitchell exclaims “What would they want with Miss Summers?”
“They left this with Percy” Mansfield pulls a slip of paper from his pocket and Mitchell reads the short message in amazement.

Professor Summers. You will only see your daughter again if you bring the rocket to 126 Nevsky Road in Omsk before the summer is out. Do not attempt to notify the British government or any one else or else I must be forced to a desperate act.

“What do you make of that?” Mansfield asks. Mitchell shrugs.
“How’d they know about the rocket pack?” he replies. Neither man has an answer. Mansfield runs his hand through his hair.
“Why are you here?” he suddenly asks.
“Well, as to that, I was in the neighbourhood on business you might say and I bumped into George not more than an hour or so ago.”
“He was brawling in a bar I passed by” George mutters.
Mansfield, well knowing the sort of shady deals Mitchell might get up to simply nods.
“I’m going to need your help”
Mitchell nods.
“I’ll go and fetch mah Browning…”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter One:
Agent 99 and the Trans Siberian Express

Player One	Player Three
Rocketman George Macarthur ‘Mad Dog’ Mitchell	Yuri 3 x Bolshevik henchmen
Player Two	Player Four
Ivan the Conductor 2 x Railway company guards	Agent 99 2 x NKVD henchmen

It takes twenty two days to get from Istanbul to Moscow by train, and from Moscow the Trans Siberian railway goes straight to Omsk and beyond. Upon their arrival in Istanbul however, Mansfield, Mitchell and Macarthur hurry to a local arms dealer known to Mitchell as ‘Teddy the Turk’ who has extensive contacts in the region and for a small fee agrees to smuggle them into Russia as a part of a convoy.
“But be careful” he warns ”Comrade Beria has spies every where doing Uncle Joe’s dirty work! No where is safe. My friends over there tell me that the land is full of empty villages and in the south there is famine and marauding gangs of Bolsheviks fighting tooth and nail for control.”
Mansfield and the others thank Teddy and make their way north east into the heart of Stalin’s darkness. By road through Turkey and up along the western coast of the Caspian Sea, then over land for ten days, they finally arrive at Yekaterinburg in time to catch the express train to Omsk….

Omsk is situated on the banks of the north-flowing Irtysh river, at its confluence with the Om and on both branches of the Trans-Siberian railway.
2,700 km east of Moscow, it is the cross-junction of highways in the central part of Russia. Passenger and freight boats along the Irtysh and the Ob Rivers provide connection from coal and mineral-mining towns in Kazakhstan, as well as oil, natural gas and lumber-rich northern Siberia. It is an important gateway to the east and is currently in the throes of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic’s expansion into Kazakhstan.

It is in Yekaterinburg that things begin to come together though. Standing in the train station, a Russian phrase book in one hand a Cyrillic time table in the other, George Macarthur feels Mansfield’s iron grip on his arm.
“Did you send the telegram to London?”
“Yes, I was just….”
“That’s him by God!”
“Who?” George turns to see a man in a strange green uniform far across the open station, boarding a train.
“That train!” he points to the distant engine. “What train is that?”
The myopic ticket seller replies in a babble of incomprehensible Russian and ‘Mad Dog’ Mitchell growls in frustration.
“God damn it all, that trains a fixin’ to leave already!”
“Lets go!” Mansfield rushes off leaving George at the ticket sellers booth…
“But we don’t have tickets!” George turns to the ticket seller in frustration. “Can we buy tickets on the train?”
“Da” the ticket seller shrugs.
“Da?” George looks back at the old man as Mitchell drags him away
“Come on George dammit! We’ll just bribe the conductor…”

Yuri relaxes in his cabin with a Turkish cigarette as the train pulls out of the station. On his face is a smile of satisfaction since things are going according to plan. The English lady has already been sent on her way and now he is set to meet Beria’s man, the mysterious Agent 99. Nikolai, a goon with a gun enters the apartment and sits opposite him.
“The NKVD are with us on the train Comrade.”
“Good.”
The time to make Moscow aware of their strength is finally upon them at last. After years of preparation and diligent work, the rewards are finally in sight. He stands up and buttons his uniform coat across his athletic form.
“Stay in sight” he tells his men, then passing back into the dining car he spies the man from Moscow in the middle of the wagon.

Agent 99 is a dark, swarthy man, obviously a Georgian by his heavy accent and no doubt a close confident of Stalin and Beria given his occupation.
“What is this ultimatum?” he demands before Yuri has even sat down. Yuri raises and eye brow and sits with deliberate insolence, nonchalantly lighting up another Turkish cigarette. Agent 99 is a large and powerful man with a brooding and dangerous face, easily twice as big as Yuri whose slender form lounges deceptively at ease, ignoring the Georgians insistent glare.
“Let us rather speak of Khalnikov…” he smiles.
“Khalnikov?” It is obvious only for a brief moment that the Georgian is off balanced. “What of him?”
“How long has he been missing now?”
“What do you know of Khalnikov?”
Yuri’s smile broadens.
“More than a year… nyet?”

Agent 99 sits back in his chair and fishes in his coat pocket for his own cigarettes. At either end of the carriage, guests from the rest of the train are beginning to arrive and the mood at the table lightens.
“Da, more than a year. I presume you have him and now you want to do a deal for his return?”
“Not quite”.
Agent 99 lights his cigarette and glances about the dining car. He’d like use the bayonet he has tucked into his jacket on this Russian upstart and get it over with, but there are too many witnesses and anyway, he’s curious now. Khalnikov is a scientist who went missing nineteen months ago.
A waiter approaches their table but they wave him away. Yuri speaks in a low voice that hardly contains his triumph.
“As you no doubt guess, Korsakov has Khalnikov hidden away some where very secure”
“Of course”
“..yes, but there is more. Khalnikov has been allowed to work for his keep and now the fruits of his labour are ready to be plucked… Perhaps you are not aware of the details surrounding Khalnikov’s work?”

The Georgian shrugs as if it were of no consequence, but deep inside he is troubled. There is a confidence in Yuri’s manner that indicates much below the surface. No one who understood who he was would speak to him like this unless they felt very sure of themselves and he has never felt such a chill as he does now at the sight of that diabolical smile. It is clear that a possible threat to the chairman has arisen from the depths of Kazakhstan, but he is out of his own depth here. He must speak with Comrade Beria as fast as possible. Yuri is still speaking.
“So, I suggest you return to your masters in Moscow and…”
A scuffle in the door way behind him causes Yuri to pause and look up. Agent 99 follows his gaze and see’s a tall, broad chested man standing in the doorway of the diner, others stand behind him, one of whom carries a huge machine gun.
“The Englishman!” Yuri exclaims in pale faced astonishment…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Starting

Rocketman and his friends start which ever end of dining car they wish. Only Rocketman starts inside the actual dining car doorway. Mitchell and George start any where in car behind Rocketman (either first or second class). First and second class have much the same lay out.

Yuri and Agent 99 are seated in the centre of the dining car. Yuri’s henchmen are in first class and Agent 99’s men are in second class. Players 3 & 4 may decide where abouts there elements stand, but they must not be within 4 inches of player 1’s elements.

Ivan the conductor and the four railway company guards are in the post car. Having been bribed by the ‘polite English gentleman’ they will defend him and his friends against what they perceive to be ‘foreign militia’s’.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Map

Click on map to enlarge

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Victory Conditions

Either side wins by defeating all the elements of their opponents. The winner is the last man standing. As usual a named character cannot actually be killed, only ‘downed’ so that they may appear in the subsequent games.

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Special Notes

Every where on the train is rough going, except the carriage roof tops which is difficult, due to the wind. The roof tops can be reached by scaling the railings between the carriages. The train has open access between each carriage, but for the sake of the game, the engine is off limits. The post car is at the rear of the train and has no windows.
There are 1 d6 civilian passengers in each wagon except third class which contains 3 d6 passengers.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter Two: 126 Nevsky Road

Player One	Player Three
Rocketman George McArthur ’Mad Dog’ Mitchell	Yuri 4 x Iron Guard riflemen 1 Iron guard machine gunner
Player Two	Player Four
The Colonel Sgt Sternov 10 x Kazakhstani Bolshevik soldiers	Olga 10 x Kazakh tribesmen

Having finally reached Omsk, Dan Mansfield and his friends find a telegram from Professor Summers in London awaiting them at the local post office.

+++ HAVE RECEIVED YOUR REQUEST STOP PACKET IN TRANSIT STOP STRONGLY URGE YOU FIND LADY P CARFAX IN OMSK STOP WILL WIRE FUNDS ASAP STOP. +++

“Who in tarnation is Lady P Carfax?” Mitchell, his Browning wrapped in a blanket under his arm, wonders in his Texan drawl.
“That was dated nearly two weeks ago” George Macarthur points out.
“I’m blessed if I know who the old girl is, but if the Prof tells us to find her, then I suppose she must be our next port of call!” Mansfield replies. “George, how long do you suppose it will take before the package gets here?”
“I couldn’t say, but if the trains run on time here, then maybe a week or so…”
“Maybe she’s a doozie” Mitchell ponders as he gazes about the dusty street. Around them trudge weary down trodden people. “This place sure looks like the ass end of no where!”

The friends finally track down the ‘English Lady’ by asking at the local museum, where the name of Carfax produces a wide selection of toothy smiles.
“She stays with the comrade Colonel” a diminutive old soul tells them as his face lights up.
“She sure is popular in these parts!” Mitchell observes, “And this sure is a handsome fine house!”
Having followed the directions from the museum, the three adventurers find themselves standing at the door step of a grand old town house, its gables decorated with large red flags.
“Let’s hope they’re friendly!” Mansfield pulls the bell chain and almost at once the door is opened by a bullet headed man in a brown suit. He glares at them with a surly frown.
“Excuse me” Mansfield adopts his most charming and winning smile, “but do you by any chance speak English?”
“Yer, wot?” the man replies. “Course I speaks it, ain’t I from Wapping?”
“Wapping?” Mitchell asks.
“Who is it?” a delicate female voice asks from within.”
“We’re friends of Professor Summers, come from London to see Lady Carfax” Mansfield replies. The man looks down at the trio’s well worn and travel stained clothing.
“You’d better come in then” he says with a sniff.

Lady Penelope Carfax is a handsome woman in her late fifties. Slight of figure she retains the air and charm of a younger woman but her eyes betray her wisdom and she soon has the whole story from Dan Mansfield.
“Well, this is all very romantic I dare say” she says once the tale is told, but how will you rescue Miss Summers with just the three of you?”
Mitchell, his Browning still concealed by the blanket, chuckles. “Oh, we can manage I reckon”
“It will take more than a Browning Automatic Rifle to rescue young Miss Summers” Lady Carfax replies in an amused voice.
“Well, blow me down lady!” Mitchell slaps his thigh in appreciation. “You know yer guns!”
Mansfield looks up, deadly serious. “We have more than just the Browning. In about a weeks time we’ll have the help of Rocketman!”
“Rocketman?”
“It’s what the scoundrels want. A rocket pack that enables a chap to fly, but how the deuce they knew about it I have no idea!”
“Nor have I,” Lady Carfax replies, “...and who is this Rocket person exactly?”
The friends exchange worried glances and the tall English Lady smiles to her self.
“It’s just…” Mansfield begins.
“No, don’t tell me, I think I can guess.”

Later, sitting around a table consulting maps, Lady Carfax introduces a tall man in a green Bolshevik uniform with an aristocratic bearing.
“This is my good friend The Colonel. “
“Just ‘the Colonel’?” Mitchell interrupts.
“Da” the man replies removing his cap to reveal tightly cropped hair. “You do not need to know my name. Few do anyway. My rank will suffice for the mission we must undertake.”
“I’m sorry” Mansfield holds up a hand, “I’m sure a friend of Lady Cafax’s means well, but what mission are you talking about?”
The Colonel, lighting a cigar and puffing out a cloud of smoke, gazes at the stout Englishman with hooded eyes.
“Your young friend was being held at the criminal’s safe house as of nine o’clock this morning.”
“The criminal?”
“Da, The Russian dog Korsakov.”
The friends exchange surprised looks and Lady Carfax leans forward into the smoky lamp light.
“You must understand” she explains, “that Korsakov is not well liked by the Kazakhstani’s. His reign of terror in the east has not made much of an impact in the outside world but in Kazakhstan his cruelty is well known…. The Colonel is from Kazakhstan and is… shall we say, an opponent of Viktor Korsakov.”
“That’s all well and good Ma’am, but who is this Korsakov fella anyway?” Mitchell asks impatiently.
“Korsakov is the Devil in human form!” The Colonel snarls. “For the last few years he has been building a private army in Eastern Kazakhstan. They call it a Bolshevik army, but they are outcasts from Moscow, shunned by the party and the chairman. We have attempted to annihilate them but they are strong and have amazing weaponry the like of which we have never seen or heard of before.”
“What sort of weapons?” Mitchell asks with interest.
“They have armoured vehicles, tanks and superior rifles…”
Mitchell sniffs with disdain.
“…and when we tried to attack them with our own armoured cars, they were melted and destroyed by an invisible wall of heat!”
Silence follows this last statement until Mitchell, leanings forward.
“A whut?”
“From his lair, this demon from the north is able to send out invisible rays of death that burn men into ashes and cause trucks and armoured cars to explode into balls of fire. Anything that is caught by this invisible weapon is immediately destroyed. We are powerless against it. Our only consolation so far has been the weapons apparent range for it seems it is never moved.”
“A defensive weapon then” Mansfield muses.
“A fixed position?” George wonders.
“Da.” The Colonel nods, apparently satisfied to have impressed them, yet with air of a man with more to relate. Mansfield cocks his head and regards the ramrod straight officer whose steely eyes betray some inner struggle.
“What is it?”
“Korsakov himself.”
“What of him?”
“He is a machine!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Starting

126 Nevsky Road is a large house that stands in an over grown garden, well back from the main road. It is surrounded by a crumbling old stone wall and patrolled by armed guards. There is only one way in for a vehicle, the front gate way. To the rear of the building is a garage and parked outside it is a car and a small truck. Rocketman and his allies arrive in two trucks by the front gate where The Colonel will order the guards to admit him. Obviously Rocketman can arrive any where he pleases should he choose to use his rockets though!

In the house, Yuri and several of his guards have met up with Korsakov’s female side kick, the hot tempered Olga whose Kazakh tribesmen guard the house. Olga is known to the Colonel as a dangerous mad woman, wanted for various murders in the southern districts. The Kazakh’s have one sandbag emplacement which they may deploy anywhere upon the table. The defenders may conceal their forces prior to the game, but Yuri, Olga and the Iron Guards must begin directly to the rear of the house.

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Map

Click on map to enlarge

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Victory conditions

This game is a regular fire fight, so either side wins by defeating two thirds of the combined elements of the opposing side. The usual points system applies. Each standard element gives 1 point and each named character gives 5 points. Rocketman gives 10 points

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Special Notes

Every where is rough going except the road, paths and the interior of the house. The surrounding wall is low and easily climbed over

For vehicle information, see the bottom of this page

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter Three: Rocketman attacks!

Player One	Player Three
Rocketman George McArthur ’Mad Dog’ Mitchell Lady Carfax. Lady Carfax’s driver: Meadows 1 touring car 1 truck 1 armoured car with HMG	Yuri 10 x Iron Guard riflemen 1 Iron guard machine gunner 1 staff car 1 supply truck
Player Two	Player Four
The Colonel Sgt Sternov. 10 x Kazakhstani Bolshevik soldiers (with HMG) 1 truck 1 armoured car with HMG	Olga 10 x Kazakh tribesmen. 1 Light tank with 37mm gun

Having secured the house at 126 Nevsky Road, Dan Mansfield and his new found allies ransack the property for Miss Summers. To their dismay however, they find no sign of the girl and turn to the few surviving prisoners…
“Ask them where Audrey is” Mansfield points at the four dour faced survivors.
Sgt Sternov frowns then looks to the Colonel who merely nods as he lights yet another cigar.
“Da”
A series of sharp commands is given and each prisoner is dragged into the house by the Colonels victorious troops. Presently a scream rings out and Mansfield’s face takes on the desperate look of a man torn by indecision. He turns to George who gazes back at him sympathetically.
“Those fella’s don’ waste any time” Mitchell remarks with approval.
“Colonel, is this really necessary?” George ventures to ask. “Surely there must be a more humane way. Could we not offer them leniency in return for the information?”
The Colonel regards the two Englishmen with a cool eye.
“Nyet”

Later, at Lady Penelope Carfax’s house, Mansfield sits with a stiff G&T and regards the maps laid out on the table by the Colonel.
“This is Eastern Kazakhstan” he jabs a slender dagger like finger at the map as if it were mortal enemy. “Here is Semipalatinsk and here is Vostochno-Kazakhstanskaya.”
“Whassat?” Mitchell asks bluntly.
“The eastern Oblast of Kazakhstan. Although the Bolsheviks have long since occupied the land of Kazakh, up until now the land has remained an autonomous region under the Kyrghyz Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic and their Chairmen of the Central Executive Committee, Kulumbetov, but this authority is challenged by the Kazakh uprising which rebels against Rusian rule. Korsakov is using this treacherous rebellion as a cover to hide his nefarious designs and some where in this wild region is where he has built his main base but its actual location is a well guarded secret. This is where they have taken Miss Audrey Summers and where we must go to root out his evil.”
“Dash it all!” Mansfield cries out
“Calm yourself my hot blooded young friend.” The Colonel regards the map with a cold eye. “Our distasteful methods of gathering information have revealed to us, a way to locate this hidden base for although we do not have its current location, we have managed to obtain… a clue to it shall we say?”
“A clue?” the three friends all look up.
“Indeed, for whilst Korsakov’s men were not aware of the location of the secret base, they did know of the road which leads to it.”
“By Jove!” George laughs. “So, if we follow the road then we will eventually come to the secret base?”
“Exactly, but I am afraid it is not so easy. The road is of course guarded. Furthermore, it is a well used road, a conduit by which Korsakov supplies his secret army from Semipalatinsk… according to our dearly departed friend, there should be a check point… here!”
Every one stares at the map where a faint dotted line meanders through an endless forest.
“It looks peaceful enough” Mitchell remarks with a smile.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

One Week Later…

“So, tell me again…” Mitchell swats a mosquito on the back of his neck. “Goddam these bugs! …tell me again, just why did we bring Lady Carfax with us?”
Sitting beside him in the back of a truck filled with tired Bolshevik riflemen, Mansfield shrugs.
“The old girl demanded to come along, said she had her reasons.”
“What reasons?”
“Something to do with this missing scientist fellow, Khalnikov”
“What about him?”
Mansfield shrugs. He stares out the back of the truck at the endless pine forests and over cast skies. Behind them a drab green armoured car brings up the rear of their small convoy.
“I think she might want to rescue him or something. Apparently he’s some big wig with a head piece that Korsakov kidnapped to make this death ray of his”
“Yeah, do you believe that shit?” Mitchell coughs up a throat full of dust and spits it out the back of the truck with the ease of practice. “A dooms day device! I mean, seriously, who does this fella think he’s a kidding anyways?”
Mansfield does not answer. Having seen the serious light in Lady Carfax’s eye he thinks back to the meeting between Yuri and the strange dark faced man on the train. Just before Yuri had seen him, he’d overheard the slender officer bragging to the stranger.
“…the fruits of his labour are ready to be plucked… Perhaps you are not aware of the details surrounding Khalnikov’s work?”
Just what were the details of Khalnikov’s work he wondered? What ever they were, it seemed Lady Penelope Carfax understood them enough to appreciate some horrendous danger they threatened and was prepared to risk her life in order to prevent it. Since it was only by Her ladyships help that he’d managed to find allies in this strange land, he’d been obliged to remain silent when she’d stated her intentions to accompany them to attack Korsakov’s lair. Now however, he regretted bringing a lady on such a dangerous mission.
“Hey” Mitchell interrupts him. “We’re stopping. Are we there?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Starting

Players one and two start in a convoy from the edge of the table, on the upper road, facing south and players three and four start at the check point in random order except for the light tank which is parked besides the building, covering the road. There should be at least two Kazakh tribesmen in the watch tower. Yuri and Olga begin inside the guard house.

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Map

Click on map to enlarge

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Victory Conditions

Either side wins by killing two thirds of their opponents. Furthermore, each side will suffer a penalty in future games if they lose their ‘Vulnerable Element’. For players one & two this is Lady Carfax and for players three & four it is the supply truck.

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Special Notes

Every rifleman automatically carries one grenade, though these can be shared between elements. Players one and two can exchange all items and weapons as they see fit but players three and four cannot (they have not had the time to properly co-ordinate.
Also, each of the trucks available to players one and two carries a satchel charge, but these must last for the next three games, so must be used prudently as they may be vital later on.

For vehicle information, see the bottom of this page

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter Four: The Machine Man

Player One	Player Three
Rocketman George McArthur ’Mad Dog’ Mitchell Lady Carfax. Lady Carfax’s driver: Meadows 1 touring car 1 truck 1 armoured car with HMG 1 Ilyushin DB-3 bomber	Korsakov Yuri 10 x Iron Guard riflemen 2 x Iron guard machine gunner 1 staff car 1 Heavy tank with multiple weapons. (Note this element only functions if Yuri’s supply truck survived chapter three)
Player Two	Player Four
The Colonel Sgt Sternov. 10 x Kazakhstani Bolshevik soldiers (with HMG) 1 truck 1 armoured car with HMG 1 off table mortar crew (Spotter on table must be in line of sight of target)	Olga 10 x Kazakh tribesmen. 1 supply truck 1 Light tank with 37mm gun

Having discovered the hidden road to Korsakov’s secret base, Rocketman and his allies stop to take their bearings. Around them the forest is filled with the smell of cordite and smoke.
“Boy that was close!” Mitchell gasps as he heaves for breath.
“I’ll say” George nods. “I thought I ‘d bought the ticket for a while there”
Rocketman nods solemnly.
“We certainly gave them a good pasting, but I’m afraid they know we’re coming now. We’d best push on as hard as we can”
“Nyet” The Colonel approaches with a stern look. “We must call in reinforcements”
“But there isn’t time!” Rocketman interjects.
The Colonel holds up a calm hand.
“Patience my young English warrior. There must be enough time for we cannot hope to catch Korsakov by surprise now. Our only hope is to hit him as hard as we can before he has time to muster a more fitting defence and to do that we must bring on more troops”
“More troops eh?” Mitchell nods, “well, Hells teeth man, what’re we waiting for?”
Rocketman regards the iron jaw of the ex marine and nods slowly.
“I suppose your right though it goes against the grain for a chap to stand about with his hands in his pockets whilst his wife to be is in the hands of such villains”. His friends regard Mansfield with sympathy and Lady Carfax touches his shoulder.
“Rest assured Daniel, we will do all in our power to recover Audrey”

Having left the others the Colonel finds Sergeant Sternov and takes him to one side. “Find a telephone at once!”
Sternov looks around the endless trees on all sides
“Out here?”
“Da, we passed several villages along the way. Take the car and get word back to the others, tell them our location and to follow this road.”
Sternov nods and turns to leave at once
“Wait” The Colonel’s voice cracks out like a pistol shot and stops him in his tracks.
“Contact Air Marshall Petrovkski as well and tell him to send his best aircraft out here also. With luck they can hit the dogs before we attack and give us some cover.”
“Anything else?” Sternov asks with a business as usual expression.
“Da. Bring me some more cigars!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Starting

Players one and two begin at the western edge of the table as the aircraft attack the base, though player one’s bomber starts off table to the east. Due to the size of the airfield, the game concentrates itself around one particular gate way; a rear entrance to the tank workshops so whilst the air raid takes place off table, only one bomber is available to attack this particular part of the airfield. In the back ground, the forces of good can see a vast metal tower capped by a strange glittering dome wreathed in a lurid green glow. According to Lady Carfax this must be the secret weapon of Korsakov itself (and will be the object of the fifth chapter).
Players three and four start where ever they like, but the tanks start inside a workshop and the gate must be manned by at least four guards. Players three and four also have two sand bag emplacements. One of which is on top of the air field control tower.

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Map

Click on map to enlarge

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Victory Conditions

Either side wins by defeating two thirds of their opponent’s forces, or by defeating both their generals.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Special Notes

Every rifleman automatically carries one grenade, though these can be shared between elements. Also, each of the trucks available to players one and two carries a satchel charge, unless these have already been used in chapter three.

The aeroplane only has enough fuel to remain on site for ten rounds. During this time it can employ multiple modes of attack. It can strafe, which takes three rounds (one to approach, one to pass over head and one to withdraw) strafing takes place immediately prior to passing over head, and bombing takes place immediately prior to withdrawing. The aeroplane can withdraw in any direction it chooses, but it must first approach in a straight line for the first two rounds. Alternatively the aeroplane can circle the table firing its rear machine gun down as it passes. By this method the aeroplane attacks from each table edge per turn as it moves around the table. This gives it the advantage of firing every round, but denies the use of bombs. The aeroplane only has enough bombs for two attacks.

The Mortar requires a spotter to be on the table in order to hit its targets. This figure has a field telephone by which he can communicate with the mortar. The line for the field telephone extends 14 inches from that point on the western edge of the table where the spotter arrives.

For vehicle information, see the bottom of this page

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Chapter Five: Child of War

Player One	Player Three
Rocketman George McArthur ’Mad Dog’ Mitchell Lady Carfax. Lady Carfax’s driver: Meadows 1 touring car (unless destroyed in game 4) 1 truck (unless destroyed in game 4) 1 armoured car with HMG (unless destroyed in game 4)	Korsakov Yuri 10 x Iron Guard riflemen 2 x Iron guard machine gunner 1 Light tank with 37mm gun
Player Two	Player Four
The Colonel Sgt Sternov. 10 x Kazakhstani Bolshevik soldiers (with HMG) 1 truck (unless destroyed in game 4) 1 armoured car with HMG (unless destroyed in game 4) 1 off table mortar crew (unless destroyed in game 4)	Olga 10 x Kazakh tribesmen. 1 supply truck 1 Heavy tank with multiple weapons. (Note this element is only functional if Olga’s men manage to roll a 6 to start its engine.)

The battle rages. Smoke billows across the aerodrome and above it all stands the eerily glowing tripod tower. About its domed top, energy crackles and snaps with ever increasing urgency.
“That thing looks like it’s about to blow” George mutters.
“It’s worse than that” Lady Carfax responds in alarm. That’s Khalnikov’s death ray and it appears to be operational!
“So that’s the dreadful secret weapon they were discussing on the train” Mansfield muses as he accepts a water canteen from Mitchell. He takes a long pull at the cool water then wipes the grease and ash from his face as examines the distant tower.
“We’ll have to stop them from using it”
The Colonel turns to Sergeant Sternov.
“How many explosives devices do we have left?”
“I’ll go and find out”
Sternov hurries away and the allies crowd about the bonnet of Lady Carfax’s car where George has spread a sheet of paper upon which is a hastily drawn map of the aerodrome.
“Look here you chaps” he sketches a map hastily. “This is the tower, and I count at least two more tank workshops up ahead. Just past the control tower and I think I spy some sort of wooden buildings.”
“It is detention centre” the Colonel adds.
“I say” Mansfield looks up with a steely glint in his eye. You don’t suppose that’s where they’ve hidden Audrey do you?”
“I would say it is highly probable” the Colonel replies. “Da. Most highly probable“
Mitchell jabs his finger at the rough map.
“They have at least one more tank up ahead; I caught a glimpse of it through the smoke!”
“Damn!” Mansfield cries. “We’ll have to knock it out as soon as we can.”

Lady Carfax pulls on her gloves purposefully.
“What are you doing my love?” The Colonel asks.
“What does it look like?” the English lady replies. “I’m going to rescue Khalnikov and don’t you dare try to stop me”
“No I don’t suppose there’s much use” the Colonel replies doubtfully as he eyes the Walther PPK in Lady Penelope’s hand

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Starting

Players one and two begin any where within 6 inches of the western edge of the map. Rocketman may start airborne if he so chooses.

Player three begins in which ever defensive positions he wishes, but Korsakov has ordered Yuri to take control of the death ray so Yuri starts the game on the death rays manual control platform.

Player four begins in which ever defensive positions he wishes but the heavy tank starts outside the tank workshops where it has sustained damage from the air raid. At least two engineers are working on it from outside which means these are on its back and exposed. In order to get the heavy tank started, at least one engineer must be present and a die roll of 6 is required. If both engineers are killed, others can take their place. Climbing onto the back of the tank takes one round.

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Map

Click on map to enlarge

Click here to see maps 4 &5 together

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Victory Conditions

Players one and two have three victory criteria and win by fulfilling any two of them. First: destroy the tower. Second: kill Korsakov. Third: Rescue Audrey and Khalnikov from the detention centre.

Players three and four win either by destroying two thirds of their enemy’s forces or by preventing players one and two from fulfilling their success criteria.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Special Notes

Every rifleman automatically carries one grenade, though these can be shared between elements. Also, each of the trucks available to players one and two carries a satchel charge, unless these have already been used in chapter three.

Player two has a mortar team but these must move forwards to set up within range of the tower. This takes ten rounds, there after the mortar may commence firing unless it has been destroyed.

The death ray is being powered up as the game starts and will reach a sufficient power level to open fire at its lowest setting by round nine. There after it can sustain fire every fourth round. The death ray is so powerful that anything successfully targeted is immediately destroyed along with anything else in a three inch radius. The level of energy being unleashed is so great that the weapon vaporizes anything but named characters (who are defeated but make miraculous and highly improbable escapes). In order for the death ray to hit a target, Yuri must be in line of sight. If the death ray is used to target the off table mortar crew, Yuri must succeed in a perception roll against the mortar crew who receive a +2 bonus for being hidden.

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Vehicles

Rolls Royce armoured car
Top speed: 96 km/h
Range: 240 km
Crew: 3 or 4
Length: 5 metres
Width: 1.9 metres
Weight: 3.4 tons
Turret: Yes
Armaments: 1 x .303 MG
Power plant: 40/50hp Rolls Royce
Armour: 9 mm
Info: Introduced in 1915, phased out of service in 1922, though some continued in India.

Renault FT 17 light tank
Top speed: 8 km/h
Range: 35 km (65 km on road)
Crew: 2
Length: 5 metres
Width: 1.6 metres
Weight: 6.7 tons
Turret: Yes
Armaments: 37mm gun or 8mm Hotchkiss MG
Power plant: 35hp Renault four cylinder
Armour: 16mm
Info: The first tank ever to have a fully revolving turret. Introduced in 1918.

Converted International Mark VIII ‘Liberty’ heavy tank
Top speed: 10 km/h
Range: 68 km
Crew: 10
Length: 10.36 metres
Width: 3.65 metres
Weight: 43.5 tons
Turret: Yes
Armaments: 3 x 60mm guns. 2 x HMG. 1 LMG
Power plant: V12 1,649ci 338hp
Armour: 70 – 190 mm
Info: 100 were built in the USA, and 12 in Britain. Korsakov's tanks are made at a secret factory in Siberia and based on stolen blue prints

Renault AG /Crossley light truck
Top speed: 40 km/h
Range: 200 km
Crew: 1+7
Length: 6 metres
Width: 2 metres
Weight: Under five tons
Turret: No
Armaments: No fixed armaments
Power plant: Under 50 hp
Armour: None

Ilyushin DB-3 long range bomber
Top speed: 439 km/h
Range: 3,800 km
Crew: 3
Length: 14.2 metres
Wingspan: 21.4 metres
Weight (max loaded): 9,450 kg
Turret: No
Armaments: 3x MG. 2,500kg bomb load.
Power plant: 2× Nazarov 950hp engines
Armour: None

RAIDERS OF THE GOLDEN ANACONDA

2008-07-13T05:55:00.001-07:00

Part One: Crossfire

After rescuing Audrey Summers from the Iron Tsar, Daniel Mansfield returns to London on the first of August, 1936 to find Project Meteor has been reactivated. He meets with Sir Hugh Sinclair, head of MI6 who informs him that the rocket built by Prof. Summers is now once again the property of the British government.
“We’re very impressed with what you did in Kazakhstan” Sir Hugh says over a glass of sherry in a wood panelled office, “and we’d like you to do it again, this time for us, if you don’t mind.”
Mansfield, never one for hesitation, swiftly replies.
“By us, I take it you mean MI6?”
Sinclair hesitates.
“Not quite... actually, espionage is rather a dirty business and you never know just who is working for whom. The thing is, we just can’t risk this invention falling into the wrong hands, do you see? We have to be absolutely sure that no one even suspects, who or what Rocketman is.”
“Rocketman?”
“Yes, rather a fetching idea don’t you think? My personal secretary Miss Jennings thought of it. This way, if any one does see you or catch wind of your exploits, we can put the word about that your some kind of phantom... a figment of the imagination rather than an actual agent of his majesty’s government”
“It sounds rather jolly when you put it that way”.
The spy master regards the handsome pilot with a raised eye brow. He’d been warned not to be fooled by Mansfield’s boyish manner and now he see’s why. His long experience with evaluating agents for dangerous missions recognizes the ruthless man of steel hidden beneath the smiling charm and old school tie. Mansfield is the perfect man for the job he realises. Too bad he’s married though...
“So what’s the game then?”
Sinclair pulls out a slim brown dossier and hands it over.
”We had this a few days ago and I’ve been mulling it over. Its a stroke of luck you returned when you did because its right up your alley. I believe you even know the man...”
Curiousity hooks Mansfield and he opens the folder to reveal a map, some type written papers and a telegram...

PACKAGE+ARRIVES+24TH+STOP+MESSNIER+NO+LONGER+NEEDED+STOP
+INITIATE+PLAN+C+STOP+LIQUIDATE+ALL+ASSETS+STOP

”Messnier?” Mansfield looks up sharply. ”Marcel Messnier?”
”The same, Sinclair replies as he lights his pipe.
”Whats the old chap got himself into now?”
”Its a curious affair really. Some time last year Messnier came back from a clandestine operation in North Africa with some kind of animal no one had ever seen before. A giant spider or so I’m led to believe. Maybe you’ve heard of this? Well anyway, he showed this thing to some boffins in Paris and it didn’t take long before the French had a secret project in the works to examine this thing. Trouble is, they weren’t the only ones who were interested. One of their science boys, a biologist called...”
Sir Hugh peers at the type written papers myopically,
”...Eduardo Lopez, a Peruvian, sold the French out to some very dubious types in south America. Its all written in this report if you care to read it, but I’ll just give you the bare facts. Lopez passed on a lot of technical information to a character known as Moros, we have a whole file on him which I’ll let you read in due course. Suffice to say we’ve had our eye on him for some time. He was recently in Paris posing as an historian. He bought a famous statuette known as the Golden Anaconda, apparently to return it to its ancient home in Brazil. We think this was when he made contact with Lopez. We can’t be sure, because Lopez was found dead not long after that, killed by an unknown toxin.”
”Moros...” Mansfield frowns, ”Doesn’t that mean something?”
”Yes, it means ’fate’, or ’doom’, depending on which historian you ask. Its obviously an alias and we don’t know who he really is. What we do know is that he has connections to a lot of strange and otherwise unrelated people, not least one of whom you’ve already had dealings with.”
”Oh?”
”Indeed. I’m informed you are familiar with a certain Prussian aristocrat?”
”Do you mean the Baron von Schöenberg?”
”The very same.”
”But it was Schöenberg who discovered the valley with the giant spiders!”
”Indeed. Clearly there is a connection, but we haven’t been able to clarify it as yet. Before he quit Germany Schöenberg used to supply weapons to Moros, but we never saw any reason why. Moros is deeply involved with local Amazonian tribal groups and may be involved in some kind of secret organisation, possibly a rebel faction which wishes to set up its own state, or something more obscure. We can’t see any possible reason why Schöenberg was supplying these people with weapons.
What we do know is that Moros has already departed France with the Golden Anaconda and is set to arrive at Macapá on the 19th. We believe that Eduardo Lopez gave him something important, soomething to do with this giant spider the French are busy studying. ”
” Macapá?”
”Its a city at the mouth of the Amazon. A mining town mostly. We have an agent there, Sancho Gutiérrez, he’ll be your contact when you arrive. He’s well connected with the people who run the Amazon, officially and unofficially.”
”What about Messnier, shouldn’t I take him along?”
”We considered it but thought it might be risky, he is after all a French agent with unscrutable connections of his own but it turns out he went missing shortly after his arrival in Paris and no one knows where he is”
Mansfield looks down at the telegram
”You don’t think...?”
Sir Hugh smiles around his pipe.
”I don’t have to. I’m sending you to find out.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Meanwhile, off the east coast of Africa...

At a casual glance the steamer resembles any other ship of its kind. Old, rusting gently, its age is apparent in its tall funnel and upright bow. The Santa Maria is obviously an old ship, built before the turn of the century, probably in northern Europe though she now bears a Cuban registry, ’Havana’ painted almost illegibly across her broad stern.

A closer inspection by an experienced sailor might note a few unusal aspects of the ship however. Old and rusty as she might appear to the eye, her engines sound deep and powerful, she carries more radio masts than a ship her size needs and her some what large crew, all of whom are European, walk briskly and with great purpose. Only one man appears to be taking his leisure aboard this ship. Standing at the stern and contemplating the ships wake is a tall, iron grey haired gentleman dressed in an impecable ivory suit and smoking an expensive cigarette.

Otto Lübke is the ships radio man. Sitting in his cabin to the rear of the ships bridge he listens to the incoming radio message intently ignoring the noise from the mess below where several of the ships crew are listening intently to a another radio broadcast, this one from Berlin where Adolf Hitler is opening the Olympic games. The list of numbers is long and precise and he writes down the ciphered message with care and precision on a note pad. A single error could result in a garbeld message so he requests a repeat broadcast and double checks through the list of numbers just in case. The list is intact and so he breaks radio contact. A button operates a distant bell below and not long after the message is being decyphered by Oberleutnant Weiskirchner.

Weiskirchner reads through the message and then makes his way aft to the stern where Baron Gottfried von Schöenberg having finished his cigarette is standing with his hands clasped behind him.
“Yes?”
“A message from Brazil mein Herr”
The Baron regards the message with cold hard eyes.

Moros is demanding triple original fee. He threatens to sell the formula to HH if demands not met by 25th. What are your orders?

“A renegotiation of an agreement is always possible.” The Barons words startle Oberleutnant Weiskirchner who is not used to such blatent introspection from the Baron.
”Indeed mein Herr” he manages to reply.
Von Schöenberg regards him with something akin to benevolence.
“But a threat? That we will not tolerate. Reply to the message at once. Tell Helga to execute plan E.”
“Jawohl mein Herr!”
Oberleutnant Weiskirchner returns at a brisk pace to the radio room and the Baron turns to regard the distant horizon with a cold chilling smile.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Arriving by a specially chartered empire flying boat in Macapá Daniel Mansfield steps up onto the dock and regards the busy dockyards. Behind him Mad Dog Mitchell passes several cases up to George McArthur from the small boat which has ferried them to land.
“Well, hell, here we go again” The Texan mutters to himself. “Another mad caper in some Gawd forsaken hell hole.”
“Isn’t that why your called Mad Dog?” George replies with a broad grin.
Mitchell pauses in mid toss.
“You watch your manners boy! People gotta earn the right to call me by that name”
George laughs and catches the heavy suit case Mitchell throws at him.
“By heaven! What do you have in here? It weighs a ton.”
Just the usual” Mitchell shrugs. “Mah Browning, a few grenades, some salami... I don’ know why I keep going on these crazy missions with you limey’s anyway. I oughtta be settlin’ down back in Texas, ‘cept there’s a few folks still sore at me there ah reckon.”
“Come off it. You love every minute of it.”
Mansfield lights a cigarette and turns to his two companions.
“You chaps stay here whilst I go find this Gutiérrez fellow”
“And do what?” Mitchell replies
Mansfield notices a hotel sign.
“Take a room at the hotel there and keep an eye open for me. I’ll return as soon as I can.” He makes his way through the crowded dockside and disappears amongst the mass of busy workers. Out in the bay a ships steam whistle cuts across Mitchells reply.

Sancho Gutiérrez is a small, stocky man in a seedy brown suit with a pock marked face. At first Mansfield is sure there is some mistake, but seeing the intelligence in Gutiérrez’s eyes he quickly understands that the Brazilian is far more than meets the eye. He sits down opposite the man in a small water front tavern, unperturbed by the man’s candid gaze.
“Sir Sinclair has given me strict orders to assist you” Gutiérrez says as he holds out a packet of unfamiliar cigarettes. Mansfield waves them aside and sits at the table. Gutiérrez, his back to the wall lights his cigarette and then blows the smoke up to the ceiling.
“I was not sure I understood the message so I asked for a clarification. I think London was a bit surprised. They’re not used to agents questioning their orders I suppose but I had to be sure. The man you seek, this Moros, he is a very dangerous man and he operates far from Macapá. We will have to travel several days up the river to find him and he will probably know we are coming. His people own the river up there. It will be very dangerous.”
“Can’t you bring some men?”
“Certainly I can bring some men, but I can’t bring an army, not without drawing attention from quarters we do not wish to know what we are about.”
“How many?”
”Maybe four or five militia men, I don’t know, I’m well connected, but I’m not the army”
”Thats not enough. If we’re to face Moros on his own ground we’ll need more than that
”Ten then?”
Mansfield frowns and Gutiérrez sighs
“...and a machine gun?” he adds
”It’ll have to do. When do we leave?”
”Tomorrow morning. I shall go and see Captain Ortiz now” he drains his coffee and starts to get up but Mansfield holds his elbow, restraining the smaller man with ease.
”Captain Ortiz?”
”He is a friend of mine, don’t worry, he will cooperate, and anyway, we can’t do this without his men. You want ten men and a machine gun at such short notice, then I must meet with my friend and pay him some money to make him extra friendly”
Mansfield releases the small Brazilian and watches him leave the taverna. The job is on, can he trust Gutiérrez? He ponders this for a while, thankful that he has Mitchell and McArthur along to back him up. He sighs gently, finishes his tea and leaves a tip tucked under the plate. Seeing this, the waitress smiles at him as he tips his hat and leaves.
Its time to get the rocket out...

Player One	Player Three
Rocketman George McArthur ’Mad Dog’ Mitchell Sancho Gutiérrez Captain Ortiz 10 x militia infantry (9 rifles +1 LMG) (Marcel Messnier if freed) + 1 d6 grenades	Helga 8 x Schwartzepfele paratroopers (rifles) 2 x Schwartzepfele paratroopers (smg) +12 grenades
Player Two
Moros Angelica Marco (pistol) Ernesto (SMG) 10 x River rats 3 x Indian scouts 1 truck 2 d6 grenades

Starting

The trip up the Amazon takes several days. Mansfield, George McArthur and Mitchell travel with Captain Ortiz and his men on a small steam boat. On the fourth day as they they reach a long curving bed, the steamer cuts its power and drifts back in towards the river side where the trees conceal a small lagoon. Captain Ortiz walks to the fore deck where Dan Mansfield and Sancho Gutiérrez warily eye the great mass of trees which steam slightly in the early morning light.
“According to the information you gave us” he tells Gutiérrez, “The bandit has some kind of base just around this bend. I suggest we put into land here where the boat can be hidden and cut across. They way we can surprise him”
“Excellent idea” Mansfield interjects.
Gutiérrez nods and pulls out a .45 automatic.
“It shall be as you...”
“Capitan!” the pilot calls down from his small windowless cabin, his finger outstretched towards the lagoon. All eyes peer through the tree’s to where another river boat can now be seen.
“It looks as if some one has had a similar idea” Captain Ortiz mutters to himself. He motions to two of his men; “Pedro, Alfonso, go over and take a look!”
The two militia men make their way across the lagoon, the water coming to their chests, their rifles held high. Mitchell peers down into the water.
“Ain’t there no piranha’s in this river?”
“Yes, there are, but they are rare in this stretch. The leeches are the biggest problem here, and of course the anacondas”
Mitchell swallows audibly and fingers his automatic rifle nervously.
“Senior, the boat is empty” Pedro shouts, “but it looks like who ever left it here hasn’t been gone for too long.”
“Do you have any idea who they might be?” Captain Ortiz asks Gutiérrez.
“None, do you?” he asks Mansfield.
“No.”
Capitan! Look at this” Alfonso is holding up a small dark object. Captain Ortiz motions to him and the rifleman throws it across. Mansfield regards the object with a sudden sense of dread. It is only a water bottle, but on the cap is the unmistakable insignia of the Brotherhood of the Black Cross.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Map

Click on map to enlarge

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Victory Conditions

Rocketman and his allies win the game by recovering the Golden Anaconda.

Moros and his river rats win by defending the Golden Anaconda to the end of the game, or by defeating their opponents.

Helga and the Schwartze pfele win the game by recovering the Golden Anaconda.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Special notes

Visibility in the forest is very low, within the trees and in the swampy area the undergrowth is considerable. All going is difficult except in the compound, on the road and inside the buildings where it is rough. There is no good gooing any where on the table.

Player two decides where the Golden Anaconda and Marcel Messnier are hidden. They do mot have to be hidden in the same location. If he is freed, Messnier may pick up a rifle and join the fight for player One.

The two buildings to the east are both dilapidated and in an advanced state of decay, as such they offer only +1 in protection, no matter what the consequences. All other buildings, including the guard tower are roughly made but solid and offer the usual +2.

Helga and the Schwartze pfele arrive 1 d6 rounds after round three. They may come from any direction, excpet the river.

There are two small river boats moored at the jetty. Both are operable, and offer +1 in protection to any one aboard. Both are powered by small diesel engines.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Conclusion

We played the game as a three way skirmish, which with hindsight might have been a bit too ambitious given Peter’s lack of experience. We also started too late and we just didn’t have the time to finish the game to my satisfaction.

Rocketman and his companions (as played by Peter) approached the camp of Moros (played by Oleg) from across the swamp. Already here we got bogged down because although Peter was the only player moving, he was moving at combat speed which meant it took him almost an hour to get into position. Moros and his goons naturally opened fire and Oleg had put his three native trackers out in the forest (where they were pretty good). This meant Peter got into hot water as soon as contact was made. Helga and the Germans (played by me) arrived in round eight (just as Peter had gotten to the tree line) and immediately engaged the four guards Moros had placed in the watch tower. These were soon eliminated (one ran away, the rest were gunned down) and under a normal game this would have been the prelude to Helga’s advance into the base moving along the rear of the buildings to where I suspected Moros and the Golden Anaconda were concealed (and I was right). Unfortunately, that never happened. Moros’s trackers were almost in my path and slowed me down to a standstill as they were very difficult to kill. Rocketman and his allies were scattered all over and largely suppressed by Moro’s people hiding in the buildings. The good guys had a Machine gun and a Browning Automatic Rifle, but these were out in the open, thus drawing heavy fire and utterly useless as a consequence.
Rocketman made a desperate dash with his rockets. He flew out over the river, using the buildings and tree’s as cover when he could have been hit, and bring himself to the rear of the building where in Moros was hiding. Everything went well and Peter might have won the game if only he’d been less rushed for time. He made a classic mistake of not checking the upstairs window and Moros dropped two grenades on him as he approached the back door. Thus ended the game.

It was a short affair and some what unsatisfactory. We should have started earlier and I should have played along side Peter against Oleg. I was seduced by the thought of bringing back Helga and the game suffered as a consequence of my weakness for that character. Poor Peter never really had a chance, but he did well with what he had. If we’d had more time, and he hadn’t rushed to enter the last building, I think he might have won. Oleg had spotters covering most angles so it was impossible for Rocketman (two great jets of fire erupting from his back) to sneak up on the bad guys. Had we been playing together, I could have warned him.

I decided afterwards (and with a hint or two from Peter) that Rocketman himself isn’t quite ‘up to the job’. Looking at his stats, I have to agree. RM is the hero of the piece and thus should be better than most every one else. So I’ve upgraded him, I’m adding an armoured suit and giving him a more powerful weapon; a Czech Zk 383 Heavy SMG (instead of the fake ‘prototype Lanchester‘ he had before). This will mean RM is tougher, hits harder and can absorb more damage in future games.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Part Two: The Lair

”Can you fix it?” Daniel Mansfield watches as George Macarthur examines the damaged rocket pack.
”I can, but it will take an hour” George replies.
They are standing with Marcel Messnier, Sancho Gutiérrez and Captain Ortiz in the abandoned office of Moros’s river side hide away. Gutiérrez is examining a large map of the river tacked to a wall.
“We can’t let them escape” Messnier turns to Captain Ortiz, but the captain shrugs his shoulders.
“They have a truck senior and we have a boat. To follow them inland on foot would be difficult as we have no idea where they have gone”
“Do not be so sure my friend” Sancho Gutiérrez turns from the map with a broad grin. “See here, only a few miles from where we stand now is a second camp... an old airfield.”
”By Jove! Thats got to be it!” Mansfield examines at the map. ”Look, theres no where else for them to hide. The road doesn’t even go any where else.”
”Very well” Captain Ortiz nods. ”We shall bring up the boat crew to bolster our numbers and trek out to examine this airfield. You senior, you fix your contraption and follow when you can.. and you senior Gutiérrez?”
Gutiérrez slides a fresh magazine into his.45 automatic, “I shall come with you Capitano.”
“As will I” Messnier picks up a rifle left behind by the bandits, “but what of the boche?”
Mad Dog Mitchell enters the room with a bandage wrapped about his forehead and slumps into a chair.
“They’ve bailed out. I found some tracks and it looks like they headed down that road... what’s the deal?”
Mansfield looks about the room, taking each man’s measure carefully. “We’ll go after them. Captain Ortiz, you take Sancho, Mad Dog, Marcel and your men and make your way along the road and I’ll be along as soon as George fixes the rocket. And for God’s sake, be careful of ambushes!!
“Si senior!” Captain Ortiz nods and leaves the room. He can be heard shouting at his men as the others regard each other in silence.
“Once more into the breach my friends” Mansfield smiles.
“What about me?” George protests. If you go rocketing off, I’ll be left here.”
“There’s nothing to be done about it old bean” Mansfield shrugs. “You’ll have to stay here and guard the boat.”
“And make damned sure we can get the hell outta here if things go bad” Mitchell adds.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Otto Lübke listens to the wireless head phones intently. Behind him, the ships Captain lurks nervously.
“What does she say?”
“The attacked failed” Lübke replies shortly. “The British rocket man was already there, but Moros escaped. She says...“ he pauses, then asks for clarification.
“Well?” the Captain demands.
“She says she is going to mount a second attack, and she will need the assistance of the air craft”
“Very well... I shall inform the Baron.”
The Captain leaves and Lübke shuts down the radio transmitter, thankful that is not he who is to be the bearer of bad news.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Player One	Player Three
Rocketman ’Mad Dog’ Mitchell Sancho Gutiérrez Captain Ortiz Marcel Messnier 10 x militia infantry (inc 1 LMG) + 3 grenades	Helga 8 x Schwartzepfele paratroopers (rifles) 2 x Schwartzepfele paratroopers (smg) +6 grenades
Player Two
Moros Angelica Marco (pistol) Ernesto (SMG) 12 x Bandits (rifles) 1 truck 1 home made tank 2 d6 grenades

Starting

Moros and his men start in defensive positions inside their camp. The home made tank starts inside the main hanger building

Captain Ortiz and his men arrive in round one at the end of the road. They are on foot and moving in column. They can just about make out the airfield through the trees and need not follow the road to the bend in order to discover it.

Rocketman arrives in round 3 +1d6.

Helga and the Schwartzepfele start from a secret location in round one but which must be written down prior to the game beginning (I shall add this detail to the comclusion write up)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Map

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Victory Conditions

Rocketman and his allies win the game by recovering the Golden Anaconda.

Moros and his river rats win by defending their camp to the end of the game, or by defeating their opponents.

Helga and the Schwartzepfele win the game by recovering the Golden Anaconda.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Special notes

The home made tank is actually a logging tractor with steel sheets bolted to its sides. It has only weapon, a light machine gun which can only fire forwards (45 degrees from centre line).

Booby traps are possible. Player two may roll 1 d6 + 4 to establish how many booby traps Moros and his men have laid. The location of these must be indicated on a secret map prior to round one. The booby traps are anti personnel land mines and count as grenades.

Inside the camp is good going, as is the road. The forest area is rough and the water way is difficult. The river is less than a metre deep but filled with leaches.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Renault AG /Crossley light truck
Top speed: 40 km/h
Range: 200 km
Crew: 1+7
Length: 6 metres
Width: 2 metres
Weight: Under five tons
Turret: No
Armaments: No fixed armaments
Power plant: Under 50 hp
Armour: None

Home made tank
Top speed: 10 km/h
Range: 30 km (60 km on road)
Crew: 2
Length: 5 metres
Width: 1.6 metres
Weight: 8 tons
Turret: No.
Armaments: 7.92mm Maxim LMG
Power plant: 50hp four cylinder
Armour: 10mm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Conclusion

We played this game as another three way skirmish, just to be consistent. Rasmus played Moros, defending the camp, Palle played Rocketman (now with a better weapon and an additional +1 for his armoured jacket) and I played Helga.

Rocketman won this game, largely by virtue of having to cover the distance to the camp whilst Helga and her Germans having penetrated from the rear, engaged Moros and his men in a surprise attack. This almost worked, but then Rasmus turned his home made tank on Helga and my force was wiped out. By the time Captain Ortiz and his men reached firing range, quite a significant proportion of Moros's force had been engaged, and were facing the wrong direction. Essentially Palle had to play a similar situation to Peter in the previous game, but having more experience of playing Rocketman he managed to take advantage of the chaos Helga was creating by her sneak attack.

Considering he was hemmed in, and facing two fronts, Rasmus played extremely well. Eventually the home made tank got taken out by Rocketman, but by then time was fast running out any way and he'd already blown Helga away. The Germans were completely marginalised in a hanger and their attrition rate was horrendous. I had four elements left at the end of the game. Palle played Rocketman very well, having learned from past mistakes not to land where he could be shot at by multiple elements, and even managed to role play the character some what (refusing to shoot a lady in the back)

The three way game system meant that each player fought with an advantage against one of the other players, but a disadvantage over the third. I hadn't actually realised this until Rasmus moved the tank to face Helga and she couldn't move away before it was his turn to fire.

Palle - moves
Rasmus - shoots
Jan - moves
Palle - shoots
Rasmus - moves
Jan - shoots

I doubt we'll do many three way games in the future. The additional time needed for a third player to move and shoot slows the game down too much, though having fewer elements might work better. Tonights game moved at a fairly decent pace, and we almost accomplished the game within the alloted four hours, but had we played two sides instead of three, I think we'd have finished and with time to spare.

Rocketman takes out the home made tank

THE ISLAND OF PERDITION-

2008-07-13T05:54:00.000-07:00

It is late 1936 and Sir Hugh Sinclair studies a typed dispatch with a puzzled frown. ”This can’t be right” he mutters to himself. Striding across his plush office floor he pulls open a concealed door to reveal several young secretary’s all busily typing and one young man waiting in a corner with owl like glasses perched on a long slender nose.
”Cartwright. Get in here and explain the meaning of this!”

Harold Cartwright is a young, slender man with pale skin and poor eyesight. For the past several months, Sir Hugh has had him working down in the basement, listening to intercepted radio transmissions, specifically transmissions of a non national nature. Broadcasts whose sources are obscure, whose messages are clandestine and which almost certainly originate from international criminal organisations.
Sinclair holds up the most recent Brazilian dispatch.
”An explanation if you please.”
Cartwright swallows nervously, he knows full well how unlikely his conclusion will sound but he is duty bound to do his utmost.
”Sir, I believe the recipient is in possession of a submarine called the Bremen, a German U boat to be specific.”
”A U boat?”
”Yes sir.”
”Your telling me that some one in Brazil, who isn’t a German naval commander, has a fully operational German U boat?”
”I’m afraid that is my conclusion based on the evidence sir”
Sinclair examines the paper in his hand for a few moments then sits behind his desk and reaches for a bright red telephone.
”Records? This is number one, put me through to Fanshaw...Thank you Cartwright, that will be all”.
Harold Cartwright breathes a sigh of relief and leaves, it seems as if his outlandish theory might not have been so far fetched after all.
Sir Hugh lights his pipe whilst he waits for the connection to go through. He is not surprised to learn that Baron von Schöenberg might be in possession of a submarine. An elderly voice cuts through the crackling line.
”This is Fanshaw speaking...”
”Fanshaw. What do we have on German U Boats?”
”A lot sir” The voice replies.
”I’m specifically interested in a boat called the Bremen. Ring any bells?”
”Just a second sir and I’ll look her up...”
The voice is replaced by shuffling footsteps, a hollow cough and a creaking floor board, then, after a few minutes of the old archivist muttering to himself, Sir Hugh finds himself listening to pure gold.
”The Bremen. Yes, here we are. Built in 1917 by the Deutsche Ozean-Reederei, a subsidiary company of the North German Lloyd shipping company as a merchant U boat at the Atlas werke in Bremen, she went missing on her maiden voyage, presumed lost to mines some where along the Northern Passage.”
”North German Lloyd shipping company? Are they any relation to our Lloyds of London?”
”Oh yes, very much so sir, let me see... The idea for building a submarine merchant ship is said to have emanated from one Alfred Lohmann, the then President of the Bremen Chamber of Commerce we don’t know too much about him I’m afraid. A company was formed under the name of Deutsche Ozean Rhederei G. M. B. H., and the Germaniawerft at Kiel, was awarded the job of building both the Bremen and her sister ship Deutschland. The German national bank provided a share of the costs”.
”Very interesting indeed.” Sir Hugh murmurs. ”What do we know about her capabilities?”
”Well, the U 151 class to which she appears to have belonged were originally built with merchant trading in mind though they later became war ships of course. Officially they could sail upwards of twenty five thousand nautical miles and carry some seven hundred tons of cargo. The remaining boats were all converted to cruiser type U boats and armed with two one hundred and five millimetre main guns, two eighty eight millimetre guns and carried eighteen torpedo’s. According to what it says here Bremen was probably not armed for she went missing before the refitting. She never even received a U number.”
”There’s no chance the Germans have built a new submarine called Bremen?”
”I doubt it, Germany has begun rebuilding U boats on the sly, but there has been nothing to suggest they’ve built anything similar to the original Bremen and she’s the only such submarine listed here under that name.”
”What happened to the Deutschland?”
”Ummm... she was surrendered and we scrapped her in ’21”
”Thank you Fanshaw”. Sir Hugh puts down the receiver of the red phone and gazes into the middle distance, after a while he picks up the phone again.
”Brazil again Margret. Yes, same number as last time”

”A U Boat?”
”That's what he said.”
Dan Mansfield sips his whiskey and waits as Marcel Messnier digests this latest news.
“It must be hidden some where along the river. Maybe we could take a few boats out and look for it?” Arthur suggests.
Messnier shakes his head.
“The river is too big. We could search for weeks and never find it. No, I think I must ask around amongst the native tribes. They are the only people who might have seen such a thing were it truly hidden on the river. Give me a few days and we’ll see what they say.”
“It has to be the Baron” Mansfield muses.
“Von Schöenberg?” Arthur replies. “What makes you so sure? It could be that the Nazi’s are after the Golden Anaconda too”.
“Perhaps, but I have a feeling our paths are going to cross soon. I’m almost certain that blond woman was at the air field.”
Messnier sitting in a rocking chair, nods slowly. He’d also heard the unmistakable chatter of an automatic Mauser interspersed with the heavier roar of a Bergman.
“Not many blond German women running around the jungle toting a pair of machine guns eh? still we could be mistaken. How long are we going to wait in this mosquito infested country anyway?”
“I don’t know. Until we find the Golden Anaconda maybe or until Sir Hugh tells us to go some where else”
Arthur nods wearily. So far Brazil has been a disappointment to him. Hot, humid and full of the most amazing insects, he catches Marcel's eye and they both sigh in resignation.

‘Mad Dog’ Mitchell stumbles out onto the veranda. “What’s that I heard about a U boat?”
“London thinks there might be one hiding some where up the Amazon”
Mitchell helps himself to a whiskey and soda.
“Is that so? Well I dare say we’ll be asked to go and put her out of business”
“It’s a funny thing though” George interrupts.
“What’s so funny old man?” Mansfield asks.
George shrugs. “I’m no expert, but it’s been almost twenty years since the U boat menace. Where did he get one?”
“Who?” Mitchell looks blankly from George to Mansfield.
“The Baron of course” George replies
“The Baron?” Mitchell gapes. “Why I was sure we’d seen the last of that Kraut varmint. You mean to tell me he’s here in Brazil too?”
Daniel Mansfield stands up and straightens his jacket over his muscular frame as a car pulls up and Sancho Gutiérrez steps out wearing a happy smile.
“I think that’s we’re about to find out old boy. Sancho...?”
"Good news my friends" the Brazilian accepts a whiskey and soda from George. "Capitano Ortiz and his men found the Golden Anaconda in a bush and I have your missing papers here in my car..."
"That's jolly good news old boy" Mansfield puts a conspiratorial arm about Sancho Gutiérrez's shoulders, "...but now we're interested in something a little larger."
"Larger?" Gutiérrez looks from face to face.
"Much larger"
Gutiérrez sighs with resignation.
"Very well, what is it?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"The submarine is here..." Captain Ortiz points at a large map of the Amazon pinned to the wall.
Two days have passed and Mansfield and his friends are gathered in Sancho Gutiérrez's house. In a room cluttered with weapons and ammunition they listen as the Captain explains how local tribesmen reported the submarine earlier in the week, but no one took their tales seriously.
"...and as far as we can tell, the vessel is still moored in this tributary to the main river channel."
Ortiz glances about the attentive faces. "Gentlemen, it is but five hours sailing from here.
"Five hours?" Mitchell exclaims, "why then, what are we waiting for?"
Daniel Mansfield stands up and turns to Captain Ortiz.
"Can you get us there faster?"
Ortiz thinks for a second but shakes his head doubtfully.
"If you leave now, yes, but then I won't have time to gather my men..."
"Never mind that, I have a feeling that speed is of the essence here. Any delay and the U boat may slip away. We must strike now. That U boat is a key to the Barons entire operation!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Starting

Rocketman and his companions, approaching the Bremen from upstream, start at the north western corner of the game table (see map) in Government patrol boat Nr 17. Anticipating trouble Rocketman and the soldiers are below deck or concealed.

Despite observing the approaching vessel as soon as it comes into view, the U boat crew do not anticipate trouble as they have been approached by several similar vessels in the past few days, all proving to be river traders intent on selling merchandise. Since the Bremen is currently being stocked with local foods for a long journey, the crew are lulled into a false sense of security which directly translates to a -2 penalty on any percpetion rolls against the approaching boat.

Kapitan Bruch and his men are inside the Bremen, clustered around the command compartment.

Hauptman Fernando and his men are on the hull deck.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Player One

Rocketman (SMG & grenades)
George Macarthur (Handgun & explosive charge x 2)
’Mad Dog’ Mitchell (LMG)
Marcel Messnier (Rifle)
Sancho Gutiérrez (Handgun & explosive charge)

Player Two

Captain Ortiz (Handgun & explosive charge)
6 x militia infantry (Rifles & grenades)

Player Three

Captain Armando (Handgun)
Marcel the river pilot (Handgun)
4 x River police officers (Rifles & grenades)

Player Four

Kapitan Bruch (Handgun)
5 x German sailers (5 rifles & grenades + 1 LMG)

+ 6 Schwarztepfeile reinforcements (Rifles & grenades)

Player Five

Hauptman Franz Fernando (Handgun)
5 x German sailers (5 rifles & grenades)
2 x Schwarztepfeile guard (SMG)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Map

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Victory conditions

Either side wins by defeating two thirds of the opposing force. The German reinforcements do not count until they are on the table.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Special notes

Once firing starts, six members of the U boat crew who are nearby loading food onto the ships boat are alerted. They immediately grab their rifles and make for the submarine. They arrive on the south eastern corner of the game table in the tenth round after firing has begun.

The U-boat’s internal bulkheads are very strong, but if the water tight doors are locked and must be breached, then explosives must be employed. This gives rise to a serious risk of breaching the inner hull. If this happens, the U-boat will begin to sink. A maximum die roll against the hatches will result in a hull breach. From that point onwards the U-boat will begin to take on water. A die roll (1d6+3) determines how many rounds remain until the apartment adjacent to the rupture, and any subsequent exposed apartments are flooded.
To destroy the lock on a hatch, one must employ an explosive device and roll against 12.

There are two large native fishing boats moored along side the Bremen. These have been used by the crew for loading cargo but are currently not in use. They give +1 in protection.

The river runs from south to north, this means Boat Nr 17 is moving against the current (rough) when the game begins.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Vehicles

'Bremen'
An un-armoured merchant submarine that can provide +1 when used as effective cover and +2 to any occupant of the conning tower. There are two large native fishing boats moored along side the Bremen. These have been used by the crew for loading cargo but are currently not in use. They give +1 in protection and have the same movement stats as the ships boat.
Top speed: 15 knots (7 knots submerged).
Range: 20,330km
Crew: 26
Length: 65m
Width:8.9m
Disp:2,272 2.8t
Turret: No
Armaments: None
Power plant: 800 hp
Armour: None

Boat Nr 17
An un-armoured military vessel that can provide +1 to occupants if used as effective cover.
Top speed: 9 knots. Boat Nr 17 cannot be sunk by grenades. It is simply too big and absorbs the damage.
Range: 600km
Crew: 2
Length: 22m
Width: 5.2m
Displacement: 21t
Turret: No
Armaments: None
Power plant: 120 hp Diesel
Armour: None
Speed is Good 12
Rough 8
Difficult 4

Ships boat
An un-armoured military vehicle that can provide +1 to occupants if used as effective cover. The ships boat can be sunk by grenades.
Top speed: n/a
Range: n/a
Capacity:6
Length: 3.4m
Width: 1.2m
Weight: 0.2t
Turret: No
Armaments: None
Power plant: n/a.
Armour: None
Speed is Good 4
Rough 2
Difficult 1

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Conclusion

The players, sans Oleg who played paparazzi

It felt good to get back into the Rocketman vibe, and what better way to start than with ships? Earlier campaigns have featured gun fights on merchant ship deck plans, but RM5 takes this a step further with combined models and deck plans to further enhance the visual ambience of the game.

'Bremen on the Amazon', was rather imbalanced, and though the imbalance was a deliberate factor in the game, with two players facing three, a real problem lay in the rules for hand grenades which I had misunderstood, and which were more powerful than I'd realised. This didn't hasten the pace of the game however. I'd expected the game to take about two hours and instead it took three hours and forty minutes. As it was Goeg's first time, there was some hesitation and explanation along the way, but nothing that dragged the flow of the game down.

We began with Rocketman & his companions (Rasmus) , Captain Ortiz (Oleg) and Captain Armando (Goeg) approaching the submarine in Government patrol boat Nr 17, but their pretence at being innocent traders was blown when the U boat captain made a successful perception roll and the Germans (Palle and myself) opened fire from the conning tower. The Brazilians returned fire, with Oleg using the first of his grenades to successfully supress the Germans. This opening salvo set the tone for the rest of the game, as I'd not given the Germans any grenades (they being relaxed, caught by surprise and not having any weapons to hand but their immediate hand guns).

With the Germans in the conning tower taking grenades, the Brazilian boat could come along side almost unopposed. Once this happened, the Germans attempted to withdraw into and secure the submarine.

Rocketman lends a hand

The Bremen had five hatches which had to be secured, but the Germans failed to secure one of the rear hatches, with Captain Ortiz firing down into the hatchway to suppress the crew member who attempted to reach up and shut the hatch door. More Brazilians leapt onto the U boat and the remaining Germans took up positions inside the sub. At this point I was reminded of the opening scene of Star Wars where the Rebels wait for the Imperial Storm Troopers to breach their hull. It didn't take long for a grenade to drop down into the submarine, killing the two Germans who were directly below, and quickly followed by the macho Captain Ortiz.

On the surface, a rowing boat of six German reinforcements was approaching the submarine, and as these came onto the table, Rocketman's engineer side kick, George Macarthur, set a demolition charge to crack opn one of the forward hatches. The fire fight inside the submarine continued with more Brazilians following Capt Ortiz into the submarine.

New models included the 'leather U boat', the cardboard river boat and a new improved Rocketman, and Rocketman-in-flight

Rocketman took to the air (see image above) and George Macarthur blew open the hatch. The Germans in their rowing boat began to take fire and return it, failing to down Rocketman who was hovering in the air above the submarine. There was some contention regarding Rocketman's ability to fire a submachine gun, whilst firing, the question being whether or not the recoil from his weapon would spin him around. It probably would, but such niggling details ring hollow once you've already accepted the premise of a man wearing a rocketpack...

Gov Health Warning; Grenades in confined spaces are bad for your health

Rocketman survived intact and dropped back down in to the comming tower and the fight continued with the Germans gradually being cut to pieces. In the end it was something of a blood bath, 14-3 to the heroes.

Given this game was originally designed for three players, and had been 'adapted' in order to allow for continuity, and a new player, then it was okay. The Germans couldn't really have won, but this was as much due to accident as design. On the whole I enjoyed it imbalanced though it was.

Aging disgracefully

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

”Take a seat” Sir Hugh Sinclair motions towards a plush armchair and Daniel Mansfield eases his tired body into its welcome embrace. The older man smiles sympathetically. ”How was your flight?”
Mansfield casts his mind back over the last three days. ”Strenuous” he replies.
Sir Hugh nods, then pulling out a thin brown folder, his face takes on a serious demeanour. He pulls out a map and places it on the low table between them. Mansfield picks it up and regards it.
”Farquhar Island” Sir Hugh says. ”One of our islands in the Southern Seychelles group. It features prominently in the log you recovered from Brazil.”
”Do we know why?”
Sir Hugh shakes his head. ”No. The island is controlled by a British corporation called Imperial Sea Foods. It maintains a large sea food farm on the island, along with an extensive research facility”
Mansfield looks up sharply. ”Researching what?”
”Officially, sea food. Unofficially, who knows?”
“I doubt the Brotherhood of the Black Cross are interested in sea food”
Sir Hugh shrugs then slides a second sheet of paper across the table. This is Imperial Sea Foods... As you can see, it’s connected right up to the very top. Two MP’s, one a former minister, and Lord Shaftsbury“
“The King’s cousin?”
“The same.”
“Do you suppose they are in league with Baron Schöenberg?”
“Probably not, at least not directly, but we must consider it a possibility and act accordingly. Any official investigation of the island will be noticed... and sending the Royal Navy in, which I would love to do mind you, is very much out of the question at this stage.”
Daniel Mansfield grins and Sir Hugh nods.
“Exactly. You will have to investigate using unconventional means.”
Mansfield ponders the problem for a long moment as he regards the map.
“What do we know about the island? How many people live on it?”
“There are no updated records, but we know it has seen considerable development in the last twenty years. Imperial have built a small harbour facility and a large research station on top of this peak. It’s possible the island contains several hundred people... perhaps even an armed force.”
Mansfield stretches his legs and yawns.
“If I feel I need to use force of arms...?”
“Then do so.”

Fourteen days later, Daniel Mansfield steps out of the fuselage of a Boeing 247 and regards the small sun baked airport of Port Victoria. Behind him, ‘Mad Dog’ Mitchell fusses with a long heavy case.
“Can you see him?” Marcel Messnier asks from within the plane. The Frenchman pushes past his American companion and hops lightly onto the concrete. He gazes about; shading his eyes, and then gives a short Gallic exclamation of satisfaction.
“There he is!”
Mansfield follows Messnier’s gaze and sees a tall European man in a white shirt approaching them, flanking him are two hard faced Africans in gaudy clothes.
“Monsieur Lavarre I presume?” Messnier steps forward to meet the European. “Who are your friends?”
“Ship mates” the other replies with an unmistakable French accent. “You are Messnier?”
“Oui, and this is Mister Mansfield.”
“Mad Dog?” one of the Africans suddenly exclaims in a thick voice.
“Eh?” Mitchell looks down from the fuselage door. “Jo Jo Bouché? Is that you? Goddamn boy, where’s your Pa?”
“Do you know every one?” Mansfield asks the burly Texan
“Every cut throat, gun runner and smuggler from Athens to Jo’burg” Mitchell grins as he steps down from the plane. ”I’ve known Jo Jo’s old man since about 1927 or so. Haven’t seen this kid since he was fourteen, but I’d recognise that smile any where”
Daniel Mansfield regards the scarred face of the African, his chipped front teeth and the slightly manic gleam in his eyes and decides to remain silent”
“Papa is on the boat” Jo Jo grins. “He’ll be mighty pleased to see you again I bet”
The Frenchman, Lavarre, looks from face to face sneering slightly. “So we’re all good friends eh... Perhaps we can go some where and talk some business?”
“Time is a factor for us; perhaps we should go straight to your ship and look her over?”
“Certainly Monsieur, I shall arrange a car for you whilst you retrieve your luggage”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Le Mollusc is an old French tramp steamer, long since fallen into decay and disrepute. Abandoned by her original owners in Indochine, then bought, sold and gambled from owner to owner she has come into the hands of a motley band of disreputable characters under the leadership of an aging Kenyan Captain named Wangai. Described by some as mere pirates, the gang have used their ship to great effect, usually to move weapons and supplies for many a local warlord or regional government, but just as often to engage other seaborne or coastal targets. Wangai himself is an ambiguous character, frowned upon by the British authorities and effectively banished from Kenya but still tolerated in the Seychelles.
“What a rust bucket” George Macarthur mutters to himself as he regards the ancient ship.
“You got that right” Mitchell says as he casts an eye over the bows. “What do you suppose that big wooden box is for?”
Jo Jo leans closer. “thats the big gun boss” he whispers as he widens his eyes theatrically.
“Oh?” Mitchell’s interest is immediately peaked. “What ya got under there?”
Dominique Lavarre turns with a frown, glancing disapprovingly at Jo Jo who ignores him. “A Schneider” he says in a low voice.
“A French 75mm gun” Mitchell tells George Macarthur who nods sagely.
A tall dark faced man appears at the gangway and nods to Dominique Lavarre.
“Captain Wangai” the Frenchman introduces the man with a broad hand gesture as the man steps from his ship.
“Pleased to meet you Sir” Daniel Mansfield says with an outstretched hand. “I’m Daniel Mansfield.”
“Greetings Mr Manfield. Welcome to our ship. I understand you are in need of some assistance. Come aboard and tell me all about it.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“What do you know about Farquhar Island?”
Wangai and Lavarre exchange a glance.
“It has... a reputation” The Frenchman replies. “Fishing boats from here and Madagascar have... disappeared while fishing in its vicinity. The locals here have taken to calling it accursed.”
“That is interesting” Mansfield says. “I’d like to take a closer look”
“Why?” Captain Wangai asks abruptly.
Mansfield hesitates only slightly before replying, but the hesitation is enough to convey a sense of absolute caution.
“I believe the island is being used by a secret German organisation, an organisation which has high level connections in many countries, including in the United Kingdom.”
Captain Wangai’s eyes regard the Englishman’s face. He nods slowly then pulls out a cigar and then lights it.
“And you are an Englishman, investigating this mysterious German organisation... very well. It is none of our business, and we do not like the German, not after his misdeeds in Africa these last many years. You have your ship”.
“How large is your crew?”
Wangai looks to Lavarre who frowns before answering “...half a dozen. Why?”
“I need more than passage. I need to get on that island and possibly seize control of it.”
“Now wait a minute!” Lavarre begins, but when Wangai raises his hand he falls silent.
“If you want to land on the island, then yes, we can do that too Mr Mansfield... but we will need more men, a lot more, and the price will be higher, much higher.”
“How many men can you get by tonight?” Mansfield asks. The mercenaries’ eyes widen in surprise and Wangai laughs suddenly. “By tonight, I can have thirty men, maybe forty or so if Iron fist Chung is available.”
“I have myself and these three men” Mansfield indicates his companions, Mad Dog Mitchell, George Macarthur and Marcel Messnier.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Three days later, le Mollusc reaches her destination. Having carefully planned his approach, Captain Wangai has cunningly approached the island during the hours of darkness, and the small merchant ship slips into the northern lagoon as the first light of dawn touches the horizon.
On the bridge, Daniel Mansfield scans the early morning darkness through a pair of binoculars.
“I see an aircraft on the water” he reports.
“Where?” Wangai lifts his own glasses.
“Two points off the starboard bow” Mansfield replies. “A biplane... looks like a fighter, I suppose that explains the missing fishing boats...”
“There is a building just by” Wangai turns to Juan Luis Ortega who stands near by. “Ready a line. We’re going as close as we can”
“I see movement” Mansfield says. “Several men... “
Mitchell enters the bridge holding his Browning automatic rifle in one hand, and strange contraption of tubes and nozzles in the other. “Are you ready? They’re putting the boats over the side.”
“I’ll be right with you... Captain Wangai. Good luck sir. I think today you may see something you’ve never seen before.”
He grins happily then leaves the bridge leaving Captain Wangai to wonder what he meant...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Klaus Kreusser sits in his watch tower, shivering slightly. The dawn is the coolest part of the day on the island and after a long shift on guard duty he feels ready for a cup of coffee and then to his bed. Below him he can hear the sounds of early risers. Laughing voices, the unmistakable rattle of a safety razor in a cup of water, some one in the communications bunker fiddling with a wireless. Best of all comes that blessed aroma of coffee wafting faintly in the still air.
“Klaus!” the voice of Hauptman Krebs reaches him. “Come on down now. Scherber will be ready in a few minutes.”
Kreusser stands up and stretches his legs. He takes one last look about the lagoon before he turns to towards the ladder, then freezes and looks back. To the west of him, coming around the island is a smudge of smoke and below it a large dark shape. A ship is coming into the lagoon! For a moment he stares at it, amazed and uncertain, then his training takes over and he grabs the alarm handle and pulls it down hard.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Starting

The Germans are caught completely off guard. Having approached by night, le Mollusc is able to get as close as the lagoon allows before they are even in position. The game begins with le Mollusc to the north of the beach with both her boats in the water, sheltered behind her (these are not shown on the map as they are not static elements).
All elements of players one, two and three begin on le Mollusc or in the boats behind her.

Kampfgruppen Rot of the Schattentroppen are in position, in and around the bunker and along the beach. The two pilots are in their hut.

Kampfgruppen Gelb of the Schattentroppen begins off map. Unaware of the approach of the ship, they are caught by surprise and come running to reinforce Kampfgruppen Rot. They enter the game in small groups of three, beginning in round two.

Both sides want the aeroplane. The object of the game is to capture and hold it. In order to do this, at least one element should be in base contact with the end of the jetty at the end of the game. Alternatively a pilot could take possession of the aeroplane, start it up and taxi off map. In order to do this, the two mooring lines must be cut.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Player One

Rocketman (SMG)
George Macarthur (Handgun)
'Mad Dog' Mitchell (LMG)
Marcel Messnier (Rifle)
plus one group from le Mollusc

Players two & three

Divide the remaining four groups from le Mollusc between them.
See below for character details

Player Four: Kampfgruppen Rot

Hauptman Krebs (Handgun)
11 x Schattensoldater (5 x rifles, 2 x grenades, 2 x SMG, 1 LMG & 1 flamethrower)
Luftschutzobertruppmann Schultz (Handgun)
Luftschutztruppmann Klengel (Handgun)

Player Five: Kampfgruppen Gelb

Hauptman Seitz (Handgun)
11 x Schattensoldater (5 x rifles, 2 x grenades, 2 x SMG, 1 LMG & 1 flamethrower)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Map

Note. The three boats in the game are not included on the map

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Victory conditions

Either side wins by holding the sea plane at the end of the game, or by default if defeating two thirds of the opposing force. If one side should destroy the seaplane, the other side wins automatically.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Special notes

The seaplane is cold but fuelled and ready to go. It takes six rounds to start up the engine and a further three rounds to rev up sufficiently to taxi off map. The mooring lines which secure the plane to the jetty run from fore and aft of the land side pontoon and must be cut. Cutting these takes a single round.
Unmooring and starting the speedboat takes two rounds.

Rocketman has six hero points in this game

The beach path and the pier are Good. The beach itself is Rough and the breakwater is Rough. Inside the buildings, boats and on board the ship is Rough. The sea is calm and there is very little surf. The sea is good going for boats and impassable for all other elements. The surf is Difficult for all elements.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Characters

The crew of Le Mollusc

First group

Captain Wangai. A well built Kenyan approximately fifty five years old. Wangai was once a rebel of some notoriety who eventually left Kenya after several run ins with the British authorities who regarded him as little better than a terrorist. Inspired to sail for Europe, Wangai signed on to a Portuguese merchant ship but after a great many years roaming the high sea’s and never reaching his destination, Wangai gave up his dreams and concentrated on his own advancement. He was eventually made an officer on a French ship, but soon troubles in Indochine, saw him forced to take up arms again and fight to defend his shipmates. After this return to violence, Wangai turned to mercenary work, hiring himself out, at first to the French, but later to any one who could afford his services. He became Captain of Le Mollusc when he took the ship with his men during a coastal skirmish in 1931. Since then he has worked for a number of employers providing services which no government can be seen to touch. By 1937 he is based in the Seychelles and operating along the western coast of Africa, mostly in the pay of private British interests. In combat Captain Wangai is cool, cautious and calculating. He never takes unecessary risks being the perfect mercenary. Wangai means ‘Child of God’ in the Kikuyu language of Kenya.
Edith Flavien. A French woman who fell in love with Captain Wangai in Shangai and now sails as his lover. A hot headed woman who gets ‘excited’ when the bullets start to fly.
Murphy. An Irish engineer and former terrorist. Murphy is an expert on explosives, but due to years of opium and cheap whiskey he is also utterly mad. Murphy tends the engines on the ship, and is possesive of them.
Lester. A former Australian soldier who never managed to find his way home and who is drunk most of the time. Lester is the ships cook.
Fernando D’Alessio. A Spanish communist forced to flee Spain after the defeat of the civil war. D’Allesio is a fearless ideolog who regards men like Baron Schöenberg as imperialist swine who must be destroyed forthwith. He is probably the most fervent of all the crew and this shows in his desperate actions.
Juan Luis Ortega. A Brazillian communist who fled Spain with Fernado D’Alessio. Something of an alcoholic, he is less enthusiastic about his ideals, but due to his being drunk all the time he is more or less fearless.Ortega has no dreams nor hopes and he regards communism as merely the best cause to die for.
Ivan Kopylov. A huge Russian who cannot speak a word of English. Kopylov was a sailor who got left behind in the Seychelles by accident and who now works as a hired thug for local criminal gangs because he is a alcohol fuelled murdering machine who shrugs off bullet wounds. Kopylov can speak some of the local pidgin but not much.
Pierre San Uté. A French criminal who escaped frm prison and who has drifted about the harbours and ports of Asia ever since, drinking, gambling and longing to return to France.
Zoë. A French woman with attitude. Pierre San Uté’s lover. Nothing much is known about her except that she has a Chinese mark branded into her shoulder

Second group

Dominique Lavarre. Second in command of the ship, Lavarre is a former Gendarme from Morocco who was forced to flee the law after he seduced the wife of his superior and was charged with rape. After several years in the West African underworld, he sought new pastures and found himself in Hong Kong where he worked for a while as a bar tender. Eventually he grew bored with the passive life and began peddling drugs. This put him in the way of the Golden Dragon Tong who chased him out of town. Lavarre left, but only after he murdered one of the leaders of the Tong to assist his lover Vixen. In battle Lavarre is brave, perhaps even foolhardy, but never stupid. He always takes good care of his men.
Jean-Francois Laguna. A Frenchman who fled Indochine when he murdered another man over a local girl.
Ganz. A South African mercenary, born in Germany. Ganz is a despicable criminal whose hard life of villainy and misfortune has left him with a hook instead of a right hand. A true pirate at heart, Ganz is a murderer and rapist with a reward on his head. He fights hard and gives no mercy.
Vixen & Vesper. Twin sisters, born in Rhodesia, their father a British diplomat they grew up in South East Asia and studied Eastern mystic arts. When their parents were killed by a Chinese gangster family in Hong Kong, they took revenge and became outlaws. Both are deadly in close combat.
Coxley. A Rhodesian mercenary who just happened to be in a bar drinking his last shilling away when he heard a job was going down.
Boston. An American adventurer who gets into trouble every where he goes in his never ending quest to find some treasure and get rich.
Jack Marley. Boston’s partner in recent years, Marley is amongst other things, an explosives expert.
Maputo Diogo. A Mozambiquan Adventurer who has recently been in several scrapes along side Boston and Jack marley.

Third group

‘Butcher’ Bouché. A former French soldier from Senegal who left his home to fight in France in 1914. Unable to cope with returning to Senegal after the slaughter of WW1, Bouché eventually became a mercenary. He is an experienced machine gunner, professional and calm when under fire.
Jo Jo. The son of Bouché by a Maseille prostitute. Jo Jo is a popular member of the crew for his happy go lucky nature, and lewd stories. Following his fathers example he appears unconcerned by danger in combat.
10 x East African riflemen. Captain Wangai's gang.

Fourth group

Mehmet Ilchet. A middle aged Turkish engineer. Mehmet was formerly a gun running smuggler who left his homeland to seek his fortune, but ended up on Le Mollusc instead. A practical man, he maintains the ship, though he doesn’t touch the engines which are Murphy’s pride and joy
Mustapha . Mehmet Ilchet’s older cousin. Mustapha is a studious man who studied medicine with the intention of becoming a surgeon. An unfortunate incident involving the daughter of a village elder forced him to flee Turkey and join his cousin .
Ali. A young Turk with stars in his eyes. Ali ran away from home because he was the youngest son of seven and faced dim prospects. Saved by Mehmet Ilchet, he now plays the part of side kick.
Zebedee. A Malawian healer, much loved by the crew for his potent remedies, who took it upon himself to see the world and who ended up n board le Mollusc.
Usama Ibn Fadel. A Saudi gentlemen of some means, apparently from a high standing family. Forced to flee his home after murdering a cleric over a religious dispute.
Mohammed Al Jar. A Yemeni mule trader who was forced by a family feud to leave his country. A dark and passionate soul who takes his revenge on the world at large, Mohammed is prone to murder but a reluctant soldier.
‘Mad’ Abdul. A Palestinian Arab, Abdul was raised in a wealthy family with western tendencies. He went to school in Paris and learned to fly. He returned to Egypt in 1932 and was employed for a time as a pilot in the service of the Ottomans, After an unsuccessful uprising amongst the officer corps, Abdul fled to south and met Captain Wangai in Ethiopia. Wangai recognised Abdul’s potential and persuaded him to join the crew. In combat Abdul is as cool as ice. His nick name is the result of the crew’s misapprehensions regarding human flight.
Ali Al Zebid. An Arabian Beduin. A devout Muslim, Ali became a pirate after his sister brought shame upon his house and he was forced to kill her. Alas the damage was irrecersable and his clan ousted him. Ali accepted his fate and feels no remorse about his life. He refuses to kill Muslims but will happily slaughter infidels.

Fifth group

‘Iron fist’ Chung. A large, heavily muscled Chinese man, Chung is the leader of the ‘Asian group’.
Soo Suk Wang. Iron fist Chung’s Korean girlfriend.
10 x South east Asian riflemen. 'Iron fist' Chung's gang.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Vehicles

Boat
An un-armoured military vehicle that can provide +1 to occupants if used as effective cover. The boat can be sunk by grenades.
Top speed: n/a
Range: n/a
Capacity:6
Length: 3.4m
Width: 1.2m
Weight: 0.2t
Turret: No
Armaments: None
Power plant: n/a. Armour: None
Speed is Good 4
Rough 2
Difficult 1

Ships motor boats
An un-armoured military vehicle that can provide +1 to occupants if used as effective cover. The ships motor boats can be sunk by grenades.
Top speed: 24km/h
Range: 40km
Capacity:8
Length: 4.4m
Width: 1.4m
Weight: 0.36t
Turret: No
Armaments: None
Power plant: 70hp.
Armour: None
Speed is Good 12
Rough 8
Difficult 4

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Despite being let down by Rasmus, 'Beach Assault' was quite a success, though no actual beach assault took place, unless you count Goeg's heroic effort to bring his HMG closer. Both sides had moments of glory and bloodshed and in the end, the result was satisfactory.

The players, sans Rasmus who never turned up

The game began with the Germans scrambling to get into position whilst the good guys, who were dubbed 'the pirates' for convenience, brought their two ships boats into position. Both sides used their long range weapons to engage, but found rifles to be at a distinct disadvantage and smaller weapons were useless. The range from the bunker to the ships bow was exactly 72 inches, and a rifle has an effective range of 36 inches in our rules.

Rocketman took one look at the Heinkel and decided to grab it. He flew off table to avoid being an airborne target (Which he is allowed to do, given the nature of his rocket pack) then flew back on to land on the jetty. The Germans immediately opened fire and suppressed him, but he was about to cut the tethers any way due to being crouched on the seaplane's pontoons. Meanwhile Oleg brought his ships boat, loaded with pirates closer in order to tow the Heinkel away and thus win the game. I have to admit, I didn't see this possibility. For a long time this game was designed as a straight up battle and the winning criteria were very different. I changed the nature of the game to save time (as we only have four hours or so) and because the plot cannot depend on one side winning. A consequence of this was I hadn't given too much thought to the jetty. Ah well, c'est la guerre.

Le Mollusc under fire.

Whilst Oleg was performing small miracle's, Goeg was still learning. Having lined up his pirates on Le Mollusc's superstructure (see image above), he had the most perfect firing squad I've ever seen. Unfortunately he was out of range, so his men were firing with a -3 and -4 penalty for the whole game). Given that my Germans were chemically enhanced (thanks to mad Dr Meztger), and out of range, the best he could hope for was to keep them pinned down. Goeg also had his African MG crew, with their Vickers Maxim. A dangerous weapon, but old and some what unreliable. In our rule system, its classed as a Machine Gun (as opposed to a heavy machine gun like a .50) which means it has a 36 inch range equivalent to a rifle, or an LMG. It does however do slightly more damage if it hits.

Goeg stuck his Vickers Maxim gun in the second ships boat and used the boat like a sort of seaborne 'technical', chugging closer in an attempt to do more damage. Unfortunately what happened was he became a priority target and spent most of his time suppressed (the MG gunners cowering for cover on a wooden boat). What Goeg, and Oleg didn't know, is that the Germans had some secrets up their sleeves. Palle had a second Heinkel, returning from patrol and able to attack with twin MG-17's and six 10 kilo bombs, and I had a sniper with an anti-materiel rifle; a 13.2mm M1918 Mauser.

Once Rocketman had secured the biplane, the game was nearing its end, but it hadn't ended yet. I couldn't see how the Germans could grab the plane back unless the German pilots risked a dash to grab the speed boat (which can be seen moored to the jetty in the image above). A risky move, but better than not doing anything. Palle however had other idea's. The second Heinkel came down from the north and hardly any one noticed it until it was strafing Le Mollusc's deck, clearing away pirates like a broom. At the same time, I used my sniper against Geog's commanding officer (Iron Fist Chung) and he then stopped commanding. I also used my grenade launcher (A non historical weapon developed exlusively by the Schattentroppen's gunsmith) to put Goeg's seaborne MG out of commission.

The Field of Mars.
In the foreground the Germans, watch in disbelief as Rocketman and his allies steal the Heinkel

For a moment, I thought we might have a chance, especially as the next round would see the second Heinkel deploy its bombs. Alas, I had counted my velociraptors before they were hatched, and Oleg put Rocketman into the air and used his rocket plumes (and 4 hero points) as a flame thrower to set fire to the speedng fighter as it passed below him (hence the title image). The burning aircraft hurtled over head and crashed behind the German line, probably landing on their camp.

Oleg was definately 'Man of the Match'. He was forced to contend with twice as many elements as usual, and they were all named characters (meaning a set of individual stats for about forty elements), he played Rocketman to perfection, bringing down the second Heinkel and he won the game by using Rocketman to quickly secure the first Heinkel whilst a boat chugged out to tow it away. A well deserved win.

Faced with such unbelievable heroism, the Germans fell back to better positions, and to salvage what they could from their burning camp.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Danke, danke mein damer und herrer...

I thank you for this honour from the bottom of mein heart. I cannot tell you how much it means to a scientist, to have his work recognized... to have my work recognized! You must understand the brilliance of my work, to appreciate what I have done. What I have done!

So few people appreciate my work, understand what I have tried to do, where I have succeeded. The sacrifices I have had to make. Mein Gott! The things I have had to do in the name of our glorious quest! ...I must thank the Baron, for though he has only a limited understanding of my work, he has ensured its success with his support... if only he would see the limitless potential... The potential for a New World Order! A Higher World Order! A world where my work is not hidden away in the shadows but understood and appreciated... It is I who should win the Nobel, not this man Otto Loewi and his acetylcholine. What is acetylcholine compared to the mysteries of life itself?

It is I who has defeated death, I who have Mastered the Very Secret of Life Itself. I Alone Who Have Done What Other Men only Dare To Dream About! It Is I who.... Ja?”
A knock at the door interrupts Herr Doktor Metzger in mid sentence, and scowling he turns to admit the intruder to the washroom.
“What is it?” he demands in a sullen voice.
Oberst Doktor Holst stands in the door, towering above the short deformed body of his civilian superior.
“Who were you talking to?” Holst looks about the room suspiciously. His inquisitive eyes rest upon the mirror over the sink at which Metzger is standing.
“No one... I was rehearsing a speech” Metzger mutters.
Holst drops the matter.
“The Island is under attack.”
“What?” Metzger convulses with a start, then pushes past Holst, begins to limp rapidly along the corridor before coming to halt. He turns to look back at the taller man.
“The British?”
Holst shrugs. “Reports indicate an armed ship full of Africans, possibly some Chinese and Europeans too. I do not know who they are yet”
“It is him! It is Mansfield!”
“How do you know?”
“Do You Question Me?”
Holst takes a deep breath and follows Metzger to the operations room, where the staff nervously move aside and Metzger glares at a map of the island.
“Where have they landed?”
“Here at the northern anchorage”
“Ach so....” Metzger examines at the map, his nose mere inches from it. A bead of sweat drips from his forehead and lands conspicuously on the paper.
“They will either take the road, or attempt to push inland” he decides. Have the road blocked, and then activate Johan!”
“Johan? ...ahh, is that prudent?”
“Do Not Presume To Question Me!
I Am The Ultimate Authority On This Island!
You Will Obey My Orders!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Starting

Players one, two and three begin at the northern end of the table, on the northern bank of the ‘lagoon’.

Player four begins in secret positions upon the table (see secret notes)

Player five begins on the southern edge of the table.

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Player One

Rocketman (SMG & grenades)
George Macarthur (Handgun & grenades)
'Mad Dog' Mitchell (LMG & grenades)
Marcel Messnier (Rifle & grenades)

Players two & three

Each of the players takes one pirate group of their choice (see list above) but Captain Wangai and his group stay with the ship.
Note. No non named characters who were defeated in the previous game participate in this game.

Player Four: Johan's garden

Johan (Flamethrower)
Spore field
Flesh eating plants
Mutant bee’s

Player Five: Kampfgruppen Grün

Oberst Doktor Holst (Handgun)
4 x Schattensoldater (Rifles and grenades)
2 x Schattensoldater scharfenshutzen (Rifles with telescopic sights)

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Map

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Victory conditions

Players one, two and three win by moving two thirds of their surviving elements across the table.

Players four and five win by preventing players one, two and three.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Special notes

All terrain is Rough, except the waterways which are Difficult and the rocky area’s which are impassable. The tree’s, rocks and bushes give the usual defence bonuses. The mushrooms offer little protection, but the large clusters (those bigger than two mushrooms per base) offer enough cover to conceal any one hiding behind them (equal to 2 inches of ordinary bushes). Shooting the mushrooms makes no difference to the spore cloud.

The lagoon is loaded with large leeches; up to several inches in length and any one crossing it must roll a die. A roll of 1 results in a serious leech attack, roll against a CF of 2. Any defeated elements stagger from the lagoon cursing and retching and find themselves incapacitated on the shore as downed elements.

A roll of 2 results in a lesser attack, but the element must pause for 2 rounds once they reach the far back, to remove leeches.

The hut is very solid and cannot be destroyed by grenades. It offers standard protection.

The aeroplane fuselage offers +1 protection, regardless of direction.

Rocketman has two hero points in this game.

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Secret notes

Crossing the game table is very difficult and most probably cannot be done in under four hours. In order for Rocketman to reach his destination in the event of the game bogging down, only the the six foremost elements of players two and three survive to participate in chapter 5.
All of Player One's elements survive regardless of whether or not they've been defeated in this chapter.

Johan is an old experiment which has been turned loose by Metzger, an amalgamation of reanimated dead body parts; he lives in the wooden hut. He has no free will as such, but is capable of picking his targets carefully once he has been ‘activated’ by a chemical compound released into his blood stream. Johan has multiple back up organs and armoured skin. This makes him very hard to kill, especially since he is technically already dead. A curious by product of his life support system is a highly flammable urine which is siphoned into a flame thrower unit that has been grafted onto his left arm. Johan’s right arm and legs are incredibly strong and his endurance is far beyond that of a normal human being. Johan is not intelligent enough to adapt quickly to new weapons.

The spore field extends three inches from any given mushroom

The flesh eating plants are concealed amongst the other tubular vegetation. They have a one inch range.

The mutant bee’s have a ten inch range, but will only attack one element at a time, and only that element which is closest to their hive.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Conclusion

wearing my oldest 'gaming t shirt' to look the part
I bought it in 1988 and it shows

This game took a very long time to 'incubate', I've been fiddling it since 2007 and the map turns up quite a few times in older sketch books, usually as a consequence of having watched an episode of 'Lost'.

The game began with a few notable changes due to Rasmus having cancelled and so the leeches got removed and I shortened the map by 20 inches or so. Even this didn't make it possible for Oleg and Goeg to fulfill their winning critieria, but this didn't matter too much as the emphasis of the game was surviving the strange and terrible dangers left lying around as a consequence of Dokter Metzger's diabolical experiments.

Rocketman and his allies set off up into the forested sides of the Islands extinct volcano, atop which is the curious building assumed to be a research station. In order to reach the building before nightfall, the group had to press on with all haste, but the Germans were aware of their approach and had activated a local asset; Johan. Oleg played Rocketman and the second group from Le Mollusc under the command of Dominique Lavarre. Goeg played the fifth group from Le Mollusc under the command of 'Iron fist' Chung. The remaining groups from the mercenary ship remained to guard the vessel from any possible German counter attack.

The red det marks the location of the game

One day, if I ever get a room I can devote to wargaming,
I'll build regular 3d table tops with better scenary and vegetation!

Rocketman, his friends and the mercenaries, crossed the lagoon and began to climb onto the far bank, but as they did so, they disturbed the first of the islands many surprises, a swarm of mutant killer bee's, each insect as long as three inches and with a terrible sting. Rocketman immediately tried to use his rockets to blast the bee's, but only partly succeeded. Curiously, he then used his machine pistol and the bee's fled in disarray, presumably having had enough of the commotion and disturbed by the weapons shock wave. What ever the reason, the hero's pleasure was short lived as the mutant plants which were growing on the northern bank of the lagoon, revealed another surprise. Some of the plants had mutated to the point where they were both carniverous and had flexible truncks which were activatd by pressure on the roots. Since the plants were all over the northern bank, it was impossible to spot the dangerous ones and the threat was only revealed when a Chinese rifleman suddenly had his head bitten off.

Chaos ensued.

Whilst the invaders were floundering in disarray, the Germans were quietly taking positions further up the slope. Due to the nature of our table top skirmish games, building a sloping battleground in my living room is a no no, so we make do with contour lines and fevered imagination (thankfully we have enough of the latter to compensate for any mistakes I might make drawing the contour lines).

I used my scratch built triffids for the carniverous plants

Oberst Dokter Holst and his small team of sharp shooters took up their positions around the crashed aeroplane, where exotic mushrooms had grown suspiciously tall and deadly. Fortunately for the Germans, they had gasmasks and could not be effected by the dangerous psychodelic spores which floated gradually from the underside of the mushrooms. Had any element not wearing a gas mask approached the mushrooms they would have suffered a chemical/biological attack and if defeated they would have gone mad; player four would then be in control of that element, allowing the mad person to be used against their own side. Alas, Rocketman and his friends never got that far up the table as once the snipers opened fire, the emphasis of the game changed from moving to surviving.

Johan makes his warm and lovable personality felt

Survival became all the more difficult when Johan sneaked down the gully to the lagoon and snuck up under the surface of the murky water. At the last moment, his presence was detected but by then it was already too late and the great mutant zombie arose from the water with his flamethrower arm spouting a great plume of fire towards Vesper and Ganz who were guarding the rear. Amazingly they survived this encounter but only by fleeing (see image above). Johann then turned his attention to a nearby group of four mercenaries and incinerated the lot.

The carnage wrought by Johann and Kampfgruppen Grün

We ran out of time not long after this and the game was a victory for the German side. Of Rocketman and his allies, only the fore most six of each side make it up hill to fight in chapter five.

These include;
Player one; Rocketman, George Macarthur, 'Mad Dog' Mitchell, Marcel Messnier
Player two; Dominique Lavarre, Jean-Francois Laguna and Vixen,
Player three; 'Iron Fist' Chung, Soo Suk Wang and three generic Chinese riflemen.

(All the photo's were taken by Oleg as usual)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As the day passes into twilight, Captain Wangai moves his ship out into the lagoon. He’d prefer to be away for he knows full well the Germans, having put up such a fight on the beach, will be back sooner rather than later. The sea is calm and the first stars are coming out. The sporadic crackle of gunfire from the Island’s interior has stopped now, but no red flare has been launched to warn le Mollusc to flee, so the mercenary ship must stay and wait out the night. Edith Flavien steps onto the bridge holding a steaming mug of tea. He thanks her and she stands close.
“Is it not dangerous to stay here?” she whispers.
“Very” he nods, “But our people need us to wait, so we must wait. I shall tell the others to expect an attack, but hopefully the Germans will be preoccupied with the others”
Edith nods vaguely.
Ivan Kopylov looms from the inky shadows and Captain Wangai regards the mute Russian. Since they cannot speak a word to each other, he merely points to the top of the ship, to the anti aircraft gun battery that sits atop the bridge.
“Da.” Kopylov grunts. He climbs the rusty stairs and disappears leaving only the strong smell of cheap alcohol and stale sweat behind him.
“Don’t worry” Wangai tells Edith.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Out on the open sea, two large boats cut through the water like knives. The first has the appearance of a fishing boat, but its speed and the throaty roar of its engine belay that impression. On her after deck, several men in rubber suits prepare weaponry. The second boat is different entirely, almost invisible in its dark colours, its fore deck boasts a 20mm auto-cannon and cluttered behind a forward cabin are more guns, and men in dark uniforms. A light flickers from its bridge, and the first boat veers off onto a separate course. Her Captain turns to his superior and salutes briskly.
“We are approaching the Northern Lagoon now My Lord”
Baron Von Schöenberg nods briefly, his attention on the dark silhouette of Farquhar Island. Like its demented master, it served a purpose, useful for a while, but now obsolete, a dead end. Metzger’s promises of superiority came to nothing but horrendous monsters and freaks. If mankind’s supreme form is to be found, then the search must continue along other avenues. He shakes his head sadly, aware now that the great discovery will probably not happen in his life time as he’d once hoped. Now he must prepare for the future. He turns to the communications officer.
“Inform Helga we will return to Neu-Prußen as soon as we have taken the enemy ship.”
“Jawohl!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Starting

Le Mollusc is at anchor in the middle of the Northern Lagoon (see red dot on image above). Several hours of darkness have passed before the Germans mount their counter attack, and the mercenary ship has been lulled into a sense of near complacency. Only Ivan Kopylov and Captain Wangai are still suspicious. Both remain at their posts, despite the late hour. Two other sentries have also been posted. Unfortunately for the mercenaries, the Germans have employed a team of divers, and these approach the ship, unseen.

Captain Wangai begins on the bridge with one other member of the crew to be chosen by player one. Ivan Kopylov is alone on the Observation deck and wide awake, note he can only look in one direction (perception) per round and he is hampered by ignorance of divers. This counters his attention, but does not affect his perception roll. Player one may specify two other sentries, to be placed any where on the ship; however these suffer a -1 penalty for boredom and inattention.

Players two and three begin the game in their cabins, mostly asleep. They may begin to deploy, one element at a time once the alarm bell rings or loud firing begins.

Player four begins off table. Once firing begins, the patrol boat moves to board the ship. The patrol boat can engage with its 20mm auto-cannon from off table any time it wishes to do so, but Le Mollusc’s twin .50’s can match the gun boat for range and destructive capability. The gun boat takes 4 rounds to get on table once it starts up its engines.

The game begins when player five’s divers reach the ships side. The rest of player fives elements begin off table, waiting to board the ship from a different direction. As it is not dark hulled, the dive boat is further away. It will therefore take longer for it to arrive on table.

Note. This chapter takes place simultaneously as chapter five

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Player one

Captain Wangai (pistol)
& group one from Le Mollusc

Players two & three:

Each of the players takes one of the remaining groups from Le Mollusc (see list above)

Player four:

Baron Von Schöenberg (Handgun)
Kapitan Michael Lerner (Handgun)
2 x Crew
8 x Schattentroppen assault team (6 rifles & 2 SMG’s & grenades)

Player five:

Kapitan Hans Orff (Handgun)
2 x Crew
(Diver commander) Hauptman Horst Steinhof (SMG & grenades)
4 x Kampfschwimmer (SMG & grenades)
8 x Schattentroppen assault team (6 rifles & 2 SMG’s & grenades)

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Map

1. Foredeck, with 75mm gun.
2. Main deck, with a hatch, down
3. Command cabin
4. Common room (currently being used to bunk Iron Fist Chung's gang)
5. Stairwell, up and down.
6. Captain Wangai's cabin.
7. Afterdeck, with stair well, up and down.
8. Bridge.
9. Stairwell, down.
10. Upper deck, stairs up and down.
11. Observation deck, with twin .50 AA gun, stairs down.

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Victory conditions

Players four and five win by taking control of the ship. They can do this by fulfilling two of three criteria; capture the radio communications equipment on the bridge and hold it by the end of the game, defeat Captain Wangai and/or defeat two thirds of the enemy force.

Players one, two and three win the game by preventing players four and five from fulfilling two of their victory criteria.
Note. Removing Captain Wangai from the game, hiding him in the hull for example, counts as a defeat.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Starting

All exterior areas of Le Mollusc are rough. All interior areas of Le Mollusc are difficult.

All areas on the smaller vessels count as difficult. The sea is impaasable except for the divers, for whom it is difficult.

Climbing the ships sides requires a rope with grapnel (all the divers each have such an article). To attach the rope and grapnel, a stealth roll must be passed. To climb aboard requires the diver rolls above 7 on a d6 + H/H. If a sentry is within 6 inches of the rope and grapnel when the diver attempts to climb aboard, a further stealth skill must be passed against discovery. Once a grapnel has been attached it is imossible to dislodge it from the sea.

The Heinkel He-51 which was captured in Chapter two is moored along the starboard side of Le Mollusc in preperation for being winched aboard at first light. Tethered on either side of it are the two ships boats. Due to cables attached to the aircraft, it cannot be movd during the game. It can however be used for cover (+1) and destroyed (roll against 4)

This game takes place during the night so all visibility below 12 inches is impared so perception skills suffer by -1 and stealth benefits by +1.

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Vehicles

Patrol boat Hela
Top speed: 32 knots/ 60km/h.
Range: 1,600km.
Crew: 10.
Length: 24m.
Width: 5.8m.
Displacement: 38t.
Turret: No.
Armaments: 20mm MG FF auto-cannon & 7.92mm MG34.
Power plant: 2x Daimler Benz twenty-cylinder diesel engines; 2,200 hp.
Armour: None.

Dive boat Arcona
Top speed: 14 knots/ 26km/h.
Range: 1,200km.
Crew: 3+4.
Length: 22m.
Width: 5.2m.
Displacement: 21t.
Turret: No.
Armaments: None
Power plant: MAN twelve-cylinder diesel engine 400 hp.
Armour: None.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Conclusion

The game table at the begining of the game

As Le Mollusc lay in the placid waters of the northern lagoon, five German combat divers approached her. Captain Wangai and a few of his men were keeping watch, but as the hours passed, their attention faded. Suddenly there was a muffled clang as Diver Nr 5 failed to get his grappeling hook attached quietly. Slowly he pulled himself up out of the water, but suddenly he realised there was some one on the ship peering over the side. It was a young Turk with wide eyes, and unsure what to do, Diver Nr 5 took a shot at the sentry with his silenced submachine gun. He missed, the bullets scattering wildly along the ships side, and then he dropped back into the sea. Captain Wangai peered over the side and saw the ring of disturbed water in the darkness.
"Alarm! Attack!" The young Turk cried out, and one by one the sleepy crew began to crew began to pour out onto the deck.

Far out in the darkness, Baron von Shöenberg and his men waited for a signal, the sound of gun fire perhaps, or a flare. But neither the sounds of alarm, nor the noise of the silenced weapon carried across the sea.

As the crew of the small freighter clustered about the super structure, they became aware that several divers had climbed onto the front of the ship and were attempting to turn the 75mm gun to face the bridge. They were immediatly met with a hail of gunfire as Captain Wangai looked on. The divers, under the commander of Hauptman Horst Steinhof soon found themselves pinned down and in an impossible position. Even loading the gun proved impossible as the amount of ammunition richocheting about their ears created a lethal killing zone around them. Eventually, a 75mm shell was dropped on its nose and began to hiss ominously so the three divers manning the gun paniked and jumped over board leaving Hauptman Steinhof by himself. Steinhof didn't have time to shout orders though because the hatch he was guarding suddenly opened and a fat Turk tried to emerge from within the ship.

Hauptmann Steinhof and his men attempt to seize the 75mm gun

All this gunfire had since alerted the lurking patrol boats and Kapitan Michael Lerner gave the order to attack. The patrol boat 'Hela' switched on her searchlight for a few seconds, just long enough to spot Le Mollusc and give the Heinkel a burst of gunfire from its main gun, a 20mm MG FF autocannon, firing high explosive rounds. The seaplane was destroyed but didn't catch fire, as Kapitan Lerner had hoped (his idea had been to illuminate the freighter with the burning aircraft).

Hela

Hauptman Steinhof, still fighting on the bow of Le Mollusc sent the fat Turk back down the hatch with a vicious chop to the back of his head, but even as the shame faced divers attempted to crawl back up the bows to help him, a mad Irishman wearing a fire helmet, greasy underpants and nothing else, climbed up the hatch clutching a fire axe! Hauptman Steinhof knocked him back down, but failed to kill him, and a few moments later the grinning Celt was back for a second try. This time, thanks to Diver Nr 3 having clamboured back to the bow, Hauptman Steinhof managed to make the first kill of the game and the Irish man went down for good (a post game die roll established his death).

THWACK!

Diver Nr 5 takes a pot shot at Captain Wangai

Whilst all these shenanigans were taking place, Hela was fast approaching, zig zagging to bring all her guns to bear, and spraying the rear of Le Mollusc with gun fire. The pirates weren't shy though, and returned fire with gusto. Alas, every one opened fire at extreme range so no one was doing any significant damage, though a lot of people spent their time suppressed.

Diver Nr 5 was still treading water, looking up at the ship he'd failed to climb aboard. He'd tried to climb aboard the Heinkel, but the 20mm gunfire from Hela had almost take his head off so he was left aiming his sub machine gun up at Captain Wangai* and naturally he took the shot, with a die roll of 1. Wangai noticed some one was firing at him, but didn't pay it much attention (thus passed my last decent opportunity to meet at least one victory criteria).

Time was running out and neither of the German boats was going to make it in time and when the sands ran out, we ended the game with an unsatisfatory victory for Le Mollusc and her crew. Curious to see whether they could make a dash for it, two of the divers on the bow started for the ships super-structure, only to be instantly cut down. At the same time, Ivan on the twin .50's took a tentative long range shot at the approaching dive boat and polished off a rifleman.

The game was unfortunately something of a failed attempt. The original idea had been to have a gunfight on board the ship, but what we end up with was two long range duels which took so long that we ran out of time, and as a consequence of the last few games I've come to the conclusion that narrative skirmish games can't function properly within the constraints imposed by our current system BAYONET.

Our solution will be to adapt the rules to this kind of game by increasing the length of time allocated to each round. Essentially what this means is that an unencumbered human running across good terrain will move twelve inches per round, instead of three. Oleg suggests automatic gun fire becomes more effective as a counter to the different time frame and I think this is probably a really good idea given that people will be moving much faster whilst the effective gunfire rate will be cut by a third. Its a compromise, but I can't see how else this type of game can function if each round only represents one second in game time.

Chapter Five will continue to use BAYONET, but after Christmas, RM6 will be played using BAYONET+. Oleg also has plans on putting all of our various rule systems online sometime next year, so any one curious will be able to see how the system works.

* Silenced sub machine guns were available in 1936, but I'm less sure about submachines which would function when fired from the sea... it is a historical ambiguity, I'll admit, but hardly a sticking point in a game like Rocketman.

Captain Wangai on the bridge

Edith Flavien

Le Mollusc returns fire against Hela

The dive boat, shown here prior to the game beginning, never even made it into the fight

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the darkness of the fecund forest, Daniel Mansfield watches the building up above whilst down in the valley behind him come screams and the crackle of sporadic gunfire. Water drips all around, pattering against his shoulders and ringing softly on his helmet. He turns to ‘Mad Dog’ Mitchell who is busy swatting mosquitoes.
“What do you think?”
“I think we better haul it before that thing gets here.”
A burst of fire erupts from barely two hundred yards away followed by an all too brief yet horrifying scream
“Good God!” Mansfield exclaims. Several of his retinue press closer, muttering insistently and George Macarthur finds his elbow.
“For heavens sake Daniel, let’s get out of this jungle before that creature finds us!”
“I don’t know, it could be a trap, the creature driving us forward”
Even as he speaks, the undergrowth along the path behind them erupts into a ball of fire.
“Forget it, I’m not waiting here to die” one of the mercenaries pushes past them and runs for the building. Nothing happens.
“Well I’ll be...” Mitchell chuckles, “And here we’ve been sitting for half an hour letting that thing get closer all this time! Come on, let’s go and find the Baron”
As Mitchell and the mercenaries run past, Mansfield grabs George’s arm.
“Wait... Are you carrying any explosives?”
George nods and holds up two fingers.
“Good... I think we might need them, that building looks like a bunker”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In a dim room, lit only by a desk lamp and the softly glowing dials of communications gear, Herr Doktor Metzger peers out of a window. Down below he can see several fires burning.
“Johann is coming” he mutters, “but where is Holst?”
A door opens behind him and he glances back over his shoulder. Hauptmann Seitz enters the room, his uniform wet and dirty.
“What did you find out?”
“The Baron’s ship left the harbour an hour ago. Both the patrol boats are gone also”
Metzger stares at the soldier in disbelief.
“Gone? Without me?”
Seitz regards the scientist bitterly; I’d have gone too if I was a bit faster he thinks.
“But... I don’t understand... they need me... my work...”
Metzger slumps onto a stool, his armoured fist clenching spasmodically, sweat upon his brow. Seitz peers out the window.
“What are your orders?”
“Mein orders?” Metzger shrugs despondently. He looks about the room, noticing for the first time the three guards who are standing behind Seitz awaiting his command. Suddenly aware of the pitiful figure he has allowed himself to become, he straightens up and smoothes down his tunic coat.
“Mein orders... Mein orders are to defend the laboratory at all costs!” he barks. He stands up and pushes his hair back from his forehead. “I don’t know what’s going on, but my work must not be allowed to fall into the wrong hands!”
Seitz nods to the guards and together they rush from the room.
Metzger pulls a small automatic from his belt.
“No one will take my work from me” he mutters.

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Starting

Players one, two and three begin any where on the northern terrace.

Players four and five begin anywhere inside the building, except for Johann who begins off table, to the north.

Player one

Daniel Mansfield (HSMG)
George (Handgun & explosives)
'Mad Dog' Michell (LMG)

Players two and three

The survivors of the two groups chosen from Le Mollusc’s crew in Chapter three;

Player two; Dominique Lavarre, Jean-Francois Laguna and Vixen,
Player three; 'Iron Fist' Chung, Soo Suk Wang and three generic Chinese riflemen.

Player four

Dokter Metzger (Handgun)
Johann (Flamethrower)
5 x Schattentroppen (3 rifles + 2 SMGs)

Player five

Hauptmann Seitz
5 x Schattentroppen (3 rifles + 2 SMGs)

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Victory conditions

Either side wins by defeating 75% of the opposing force. Defeating Metzger or Rocketman is an automatic win.

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Special notes

Every where inside the building is Rough going unless otherwise marked on the model. The terrace and balconies are Good and the forest and undergrowth are Rough unless otherwise marked.

Johann is still some way off the map, Player Four must roll each round until he rolls a 6 in order for Johann to appear along the northern pathway. Note that Johann is phyiscally too big to fit through most doorways, but he is strong enough to rip down the walls if he is chasing some one, though this reduces his speed to Difficult.

The building looks impressive but is in fact only made of concrete blocks which are easy to demolish. In order to destroy a wall, a die roll must succeed against 7. Effectively this means George Macarthur can blow two holes

Each player has one d6 grenades. These can be pooled by the player and used at will. The Schattentroppen may use toxic gas grenades.

Rocketman has 4 hero points in this game.

There is no map for this game because the game takes place inside a building and players one, two and three may have no idea of what is awaiting them. See below for images.

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And so we finally got to finish the fifth Rocketman campaign. Sorry about the quality of the pictures, but I haven't read the manual for my new camera yet and I probably won't for a while as I have other more interesting things to do. Oleg didn't have his camera with him (though he did have his triffid flash assembly) so we made do.

The game began with the usual introduction text being read aloud, then each side pondering what would be the best tactic. This is always an interesting part of the game as each side goes off into a huddle and tries to come up with a winning strategy. Palle and I hummed and hawed but in the end we went with a straight forward plan of covering as many entrances as we could. we expected multiple entries though so we kinda, sorta had a plan where by we could fall back into the Main Hall in the middle of the building.

Oleg, Rasmus and Goeg went off into the kitchen and we heard them talking. Apparently there was a plan laid, but this wasn't apparent when they returned to deploy their forces. It had been specified that the 'good guys', having fled up the northern path, were positioned on the northern terrace, and this was their start position. The Germans could deploy any where inside the building and thus the tables were set for some classic urban combat/sneaking around.

For some as yet unexplained reason however, Rasmus and Goeg deployed in a congregated fashion, directly in line of fire of the Science Wing and Conservatory (see images below) rather than spread out along the terrace and to the rear of the Main Hall (where there was a convenient blind spot). Palle was guarding that side of the building and had laid a trap. The game literally began with Rocketman and friends charging into the building and Palle dropping his grenade (his die roll at the beginning of the game gave him only one grenade) onto Goeg's Asian mercenaries, downing both Iron Fisted Chung and his girl friend Soo Suk Wang in the first round.

The Heros line up for the slaughter

A grenade is dropped, the black marker indicates the epicentre of the explosion

As Goeg removes his commander, I drop a grenade on Dominic Lavarre
(note the black counter directly below the figure in the lower left hand corner)

Oleg in the mean time had deployed at the other end of the terrace, to the rear of the Barracks Block, which I was guarding. He spaced his three elements apart so I was only able to drop a grenade from the window above, onto Dominic Lavarre. Nothing happened (1). Dominic survived the blast with a laid back Gallic shrug.

Palle, Goeg and Rasmus now got into a strange and protracting mini slaughter which I found hard to follow. George Macarthur almost immediately ran into a laboratory and met a German soldier who automatically downed him, apparently with the butt of his rifle, and then took his two satchel charges (I'd expected them to be used to blow a hole in a wall, or set a counter ambush). Rocketman and Mitchell retreated into the Conservatory, only to discover it housed flesh eating plants.

Dominic Lavarre in the mean time kicked in the back door of the Barracks Block (which had suffered damage from my grenade) and jumped inside. He was immediately shot at by two Schattentroppen guards, one with a submachine gun, the other with a rifle. Nothing happened (2). Vixen in the mean while began crawling along the wall towards the Communications Tower and Jean-Francois Laguna covered her from the back wall of the Main Hall.

Once inside the Barracks Block, Dominic Lavarre then threw a grenade at the Schattentroppen guard with the rifle and Hauptman Seitz who had come forward to take a pot shot at Lavarre. The Schattentroppen with the SMG had withdrawn to cover the window under which Vixen was crawling. Lavarre's grenade landed right between the other two Germans ...and nothing happened (3). Some what disheartened, Lavarre fled back outside and both Germans tried to shoot him in the back, but nothing happened (4). Perhaps they were stunned by the concussion?

Kill that triffid!

Whilst a lot of spectacular nothing was going on between Lavarre and the Germans in the Barracks Block, Rocketman, Mitchell and Goeg's two remaining Asian merc's were still blasting away and throwing grenades about. There were two flesh-eating plants in the Conservatory and both were quickly shredded.

Meanwhile Hauptmann Seitz threw a grenade out the broken rear door of the Barracks Block at Jean-Francois Laguna, who was still in his original starting position, and killed him out right. Dominic Lavarre retreated to a dark nook whilst Vixen climbed on to the roof with the intention of scaling the communications tower. The Schattentroppen with the SMG who had first fired at Lavarre, followed him outside and found him in his dark corner. Fisticuffs ensued as the German attempted to take the Frenchman prisoner.

Dominic Lavarre takes cover whilst Vixen climbs onto the roof

Peekaboo!

It was at this point (I think) that Palle rolled a six and Johann stormed up the Northern Path, moaning angrily and venting flammable napalm-urine. Troubled by the probable danger posed by an insane, giant flamethrower-toting, zombie-amalgamation of reanimated body parts, with no means of controlling it, the Schattentroppen who were guarding the Science Wing (most of whom had climbed out of the windows so as to engage Rocketman and friends from outside), fled. Johann thus saw Rocketman inside the Conservatory and rapidly moved to attack him.

The Schattentroppen prudently flee before the wrath of Johann

Johann goes through the Conservatory wall as if it were made of cardboard

Whilst Johann was running amok, the Schattentroppen with the SMG managed to knock Dominic Lavarre for six on the far end of the Northern Terrace and Hauptmann Seitz came out to see what was happening and clap his man on the back for a job well done.

Neither German saw Vixen failing to climb the Communications Tower. She eventually did manage to do this, but only in time for the game to end...

Rocketman and Mitchell fled from Johann by climbing out of a window at the far end of the Conservatory, with Goeg's last Chinese mercenary doing the same thing through a different window. Unfortunately for him, Rocketman and Mitchell stumbled on a Schattentroppen guard who was sneaking around the back of the building and quickly blew him away, but then Metzger dropped a satchel charge on Mitchell and the last Chinese merc from an upstairs window and blew them to kingdom come. This effectively ended the game with the good guys having lost 75% their force. Rocketman had launched himself into the air in a last desperate attempt to do something heroic but it was too late and his progress through the air was noticed by both Hauptmann Seitz and the Schattentroppen with the SMG, both of whom fled back inside.

So, it was a decisive victory for the Germans, mostly due to a poor beginning by the forces of law and order, and Goeg and Rasmus's curious decision to attack the building in one large group. It was a fun game I think, with the scarcity of elements doing little to prevent mayhem and every one seemed to be enjoying themselves whilst Oleg and I had the additional pleasure of watching the others making a right mess of things. There was an imbalance of forces, given the Germans were better troops in a defensive position, but the size of the building meant the Germans couldn't cover all of it. This it transpired didn't really matter though.

Rocketman takes to the air

Mad German Scientist drops infernal device from high window... does it get any better than this?

The usual suspects

Note there is no aftermath to this game, because RM6 takes place immediately afterwards.