Sunday, April 7, 2019

The Ride - Scene 2: Leaving Town


Leaving Town

Lieutenant Christophe found Sergent Josué checking the privates' job of packing supplies for the journey, and asked "How soon before we're ready?"  Without looking up, Josué replied that everything would be prepared once he'd secured one last item from possibly making noise.  Stanley and Oliver, the two privates, looked on silently, their faces a mix of apprehension and determination.  After a moment, the Sergent stood to attention, saluted, and said "All is secure, Mon Lieutenant".  Christophe replied "Good, let's go" and lead his tiny unit towards the garrison exit.

The Legion at the west end and the PEFs at the east end.
Leaving the garrison and entering town proper was an unnerving experience.  Old, familiar streets now had an aspect of menace - Christophe wondered what Vichy spy or band of thugs lurked around every corner.

Turn 1 - Legion exits the garrison and the PEFs all advance.
Knowing that shepherds kept their herds of goats among the treeline north of the city overnight, Christophe reasoned that any threat would be detected by the animals.

Turn 2 - PEFs fail to activate.

Turn 3 - PEFs still don't activate, the Legion swings wide to avoid two of the PEFs.

Turn 4 - The legion gets into the woods while the PEF's dice refused to cooperate.  Turn 5 saw both sides sit immobile.
Coming to a gap in the treeline, the Legionnaires were hesitant, being unsure as to whether something lurked in the bushes ahead.  Knowing that they needed to make good time, Christophe decided that the need for rapid movement outweighed the possible danger in the bushes.

Some gaming trivia:  My dice have both a tremendous love of the dramatic, and a deep hatred of me.  Figuring that if I can get past this one PEF (please let it be nothing) the game's in the bag.  Naturally, my dice had other plans.

Crossing the open ground, noise and motion erupted from the bushes in the form of three of the Raisouli's men - mounted and charging the Legionnaires.

Turn 6 - Hoping the PEF would be "just a case of nerves", the Legion emerges from the woods and gets a nasty surprise.
As quickly as Lieutenant Christophe could give two orders, "Fire!" and "Retreat!", the Legionnaires acted in unison.  Two of the three Berber horsemen went down even as the soldiers sought shelter from the charge.  The third Berber chose to press the attack regardless, but four fixed bayonets brought him down.

The initial Test of Wills saw the active Legionnaires fire while the inactive Berbers charged.
A horseman is formidable, but not so much when facing four bayonets.
Short of breath, Christophe was relieved to find that his soldiers were all unharmed.  This relief was short lived as figures emerged from the shadows, but came back quickly when the new potential threat was merely merchants and the journey was renewed.

Turn 7 - the PEFs close in while the Legion fails to activate.  Luckily, the PEFs resolved as civillians and "just a case of nerves".






The Ride - Introduction and Opening Scene

I'm currently at my Dad's place near Ocala, Florida, and 99 percent of my gaming stuff is up in Athens, Georgia, so my gaming has been nearly non-existent.  I did bring my French Foreign Legion and Berbers with me, and found some spare time.

I've been fascinated with the USMC legend of Billy Port's Ride ever since reading Warning of War by James Brady nearly twenty years ago, so that's the inspiration for this little campaign.  USMC legend has it that back in 1941, Captain William Port was tasked with retrieving Marines scattered across much of China because the 4th Marine Regiment was pulling out of the Shanghai legation before the Japanese got there.

Due to the minis and terrain I have with me, this campaign will be the story of Lieutenant Christophe of the Legion Etrange retrieving Legionnaires scattered across French West Africa because the Berbers are being encouraged by Deutsch Afrika Corps and the Vichy French to kill or capture them.  This is entirely fictional, so real world geography, especially distance, will be gleefully ignored, as will historical troop types and strength.  This is all about the story.

Because this is a solo campaign, I'm going to use the combat system from Two Hour Wargames' Colonial Adventures 2e and the campaign system from Larger than Life 2e, because that seems to tell the story the best way.  Both games are now owned / sold by Rebel Miniatures. 

Leiutenant Christophe, Sergent Josué, a Corporel bugler and a Legionnaire, in front of an "in process" terrain project.
My starting troops:

Leiutenant Christophe, Rep 5, Logical
Sergent Josué, Rep 4, Nerves of Steel
Private Oliver, Rep 4, Unlucky
Private Stanley, Rep 4, Resilient

Opening Scene

The afternoon was hot, just like every other day in Dakar.  The sea breeze was mostly blocked by the garrison walls; tiny eddies of air stirred dust as Christophe purposefully crossed the sandy courtyard filled with Legionnaires packing gear and supplies for the sea journey north, away from Vichy territory.  Pausing briefly to ensure his uniform was correct and free of dust, he entered Colonel Donall's office.

"Leiutenant Christophe reporting as ordered Mon Colonel!"

Colonel Donall returned the Leiutenant's crisp salute while thinking to himself, "yes, Christophe is both precise and a patriot.  He's the right man for this dirty, difficult job", then he spoke aloud.

"As you know Leuitenant, the armistice with the Hun has divided France.  We of Free France are but islands in the midst of a sea of Vichy, and to survive we must consolidate ourselves for mutual support.  To that end, our purpose as officers is to bring together Legionnaires scattered across the continent, and you're the best I have at such a task.

Your mission is to gather those Legionnaires scattered across the desert and deliver a cohesive fighting force to the Free French garrison at Tangier.  Do so by speed and stealth; avoid contact as much as possible and keep careful note of enemy activities.  With a bit of luck, I'll be waiting there for your arrival.

I've instructed Sergent Josué to accompany you along with two Privates.  He's chosen Stanley and Oliver.  You need to leave tonight under the cover of darkness, avoiding Vichy observation.  Your first destination is the trade mission at Nouakchott.  From there, travel north via the caravan route to the legation at Marrakesh and then quietly seek out any Legionnaires near Fes who've avoided the Vichy and the Raisouli.  After that, report to Tangier with your force."