Author Topic: AAR 10092013 1345 LT - Village Evac (video, txt)  (Read 2721 times)

Kret69

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AAR 10092013 1345 LT - Village Evac (video, txt)
« on: 20 September 2013, 06:50:29 »
VidRep: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMFigaS0j40
Some photos in "Life in Peripheries" thread.

Thank You all for understanding that this is our first VidRep. Kebab was responsible for it.

Quote
Planet: Unknown. Local name "Abeánaa" (female name "Born on Tuesday")
Position X,Y: Unknown
Is a moon of garden world called Wazimu.
Deep Peripheries. System not charted or mentioned on any galactic map since 2200.
Year (galactic standard): unknown
Gravity: app. 0.9 g
Day: 13 hours
Year: 145 days
Climate: Arid
Avg. temp. range: 25 C - 95C during day, falling to -10 C at night

Situation Report
Southern reaches of Tri-City state border the Dune Sea - a huge sandy desert that covers half of the hemisphere. There are some small villages in that area, primarily producing food (hydroponics, breeding and collecting water, also servicing solar panels, hunting, craftsmanship (mainly leather and wool). Contact with these villages is rare and mainly by trade caravans.
Recently several caravans reported that one of such villages was completely destroyed and all inhabitants disappeared. Investigation that followed suggested that the forces responsible came on sailcars from the Dune Sea. Platoon of motorized infantry, supported by squad of pathfinders, has been sent to recon this nearest village.

Meteo Report
Wind changing, S/E, 40 kmph. Temp 45 C. Humidity 0%.

Available forces
2x UD-4L "Cheyenne" dropship ("01" and "27")
1x M577 APC
1x Infantry Platoon (28) (this includes a pathfinders' squad)

Estimated civilian population
60-100 judging by the number of dwellings

OPFOR
Unknown

Task
Demonstrate presence in the region. Patrol the immediate area around the village. In case of attack, organize village's evacuation to LZ and hold the perimeter until the aerial evacuation is complete.

Support
Both UD-4Ls will be on station as gunships; in case of evacuation necessity, one will remain on station.

Additional rules (home rules)
 Civilian movement: hex with civilians is moved by GM. During the game, player may take over control of that hex if he/she comes into contact with it (occupies the same or adjacent hex) and rolls for crowd control (base value 7 for squad, 4 for platoon). The civilian hex can then be "pushed", at speed 1, by the controlling unit. It can also be "pushed" once and will go to the given location, but any obstacles or disruptions (like taking fire) will automatically make it go panic and run in random direction/stay. Alone, civilian hex will not take any decisions or actions. Civilians are not effectively armed and do no damage, unless stated otherwise in scenario.
 
 Caravan is autonomous unit and is moved by GM. Player controlled unit can contact it and request assistance. Caravan has to be given task that it will fulfill autonomously. This involves the crowd control. Additionally, caravan has lower crowd control base values (6 for half and 4 for the entire caravan). It will take decisions (i.e. route change) and can return fire (full caravan does 1 damage).
 
 Sail powered vessels
 Sailcar can move as follows: 1 hex for close hauled, beam reach or broad reach; 2 hexes for running (note: "running" as in "having a wind directly in the aft"; sailcars cannot choose their speed between flanking and cruise). Every time the wind line is crossed, a piloting skill roll is required. failing means the unit becomes immobile for the next turn; failing critically means falling and being immobile for the next 2 turns.
 
 Wind direction is determined by roll of scatter dice every 3 turns.
 
 



 
Abeánaa
18°32'E 54°32'N (2500 kms from the capital )
1345 LT

Commander - Kebab
Squadron Leader - Albi

Squadron reached the designated position at 1345 LT. A small village was present at that location so both UD-4s performed a careful flyover, counting 20 buildings. Autochtone activity was concentrated primarily around the religious cult's place and the marketplace. Machines flying over the village sparked a vivid activity in school/nursing building. Children were amazed by low passing dropships and teachers were trying to keep them in order. On the south there was a caravan approaching while on the SE there was a small mechanical vehicle departing in SE direction.

After flying over the village, squadron leader broke formation. "27" with APC and platoon on board took a tight turn E, made a circle and landed SE from village. During a turn they detected unidentified activity about 1km ahead on radar, but it immediately faded. "01" remained on station taking turn W, then E after being reported the radar activity. "01" flew over alleged signal source and found nothing.

"27" landed, allowed APC to disembark and took off. APC drove to the village, disembarked the platoon and proceeded to the designated defensive position S from village. Commander designated the lines of defense for squads and headed towards the marketplace. He was approached by local militia men, in force of 3. They subordinated with commanders' authority, informed him about their force (7) and equipment (assault rifles, radios). Platoon's RTO took a look at the radios, established a connection and the player received (limited) control over the 7-men militia group. They were tasked with preparation of the evacuation. 3 of them started searching houses and gather people in the center of the village, the other three headed for the school and the remaining one went with squad to show the reinforced building of militia that also served as arrest and weapon cache. This building was chosen by the commander as a natural point of resistence along E line (the building seemed to have the highest structural integrity).

In the meantime, commander has decided to interview the caravan. He received confirmation that they indeed saw another similar village completely burned out, a week of travel from there. They have refused to join evacuation and said they can do on their own. Commander then asked the "sheriff" (head of militia force) about the mechanical vehicles in the village. He received information that there is one, half-tracked motorcycle that is used for courier purposes. Asked by whom, leader answered that by a relatively new person in the village (came from the desert couple of weeks prior to the interview). When commander said he saw this vehicle leaving the head of militia was surprised saying, that only 20 minutes ago he left some larger backpack with food in the militia's station. Commander immediately radioed the squad out of the building, but for 3 of them it was too late - a large explosion was heard in the entire area and the building was immediately destroyed. 

The explosion was apparently a signal for the attackers. On the east 12 sail-powered, wheeled vehicles showed up, as well as platoon of unidentified infantry. They fired a volley of LRM's (each car fired one) but did not deal any significant damage. They then broke into two groups, one assaulting from SE and the other, smaller - from E. To their misluck, at this very moment the wind calmed down to zero and the attack lost the speed and surprise element. Each sailcar was manned by two people - helmsman and gunner. Helmsmen stayed on cars trying to adjust the sails while gunners dismounted and rushed as assaulting infantry.

APC commander opened fire with two Medium Lasers, destroying two enemy vehicles. In the meantime, the survivors from the squad holding the eastern line were entering buildings in the east side of the village, but did not open fire to advancing infantry. Enemy was armed in LRM's that could do more damage once their position was discovered.

"01" went into tight turn and landed next to an APC in difficult maneuver (piloting test passed).

The explosion and shots alarmed the civilians who started to run away from the danger. Commander has ordered an evacuation to "01". Militia men escorting school group had passed the crowd control (probably because the teachers were helpful and more cold-blooded), but the adult group ran blindly, chased by another militia team who failed the first control roll. The caravan also started to flee, passing next to the commander's hex. Reflex roll passed allowed the commander to pass the request to the caravan to help with directing the adult civilian group to "01". In the next turn combined forces of militiamen and caravan passed the crowd control test and the civilians started to move towards the LZ.

At that time the enemy began shelling the village with mortar fire. The first rounds landed surprisingly accurately in the marketplace and the well area. Observers from all squads began to look for the spotter.

In the meantime, "01" - using the fact that it was not yet approached by any evacuated group - supported the APC with missile fire. It was so precise that the group of gunners did not make it even 70 meters on foot. When the wind started to blow again - convenient for the enemy - the entire group of sailcars advancing from SE had no gunners. The group advancing from E also had losses, with only enemy infantry platoon remaining untouched.

Second round of mortar fire was placed much closer to the LZ, the moment when the group of children was boarding "01". No deaths were reported but numerous injuries ranging from light to severe. One of the shells hit the "01" but did no greater damage. At this point "01" was not able to conduct fire support role as firing missiles next to embarking people is not safe for them.

Observers from the severed infantry squad reported that a potential spotter - probably a woman - is situated on the elevated building above the village. "27" entered the AO from SE and fired missiles at the building, destroying it completely. Right after that it changed course and landed on the NW corner of the village, reporting readiness to pick the APC up. Next round of mortar fire was much less accurate, though still caused minor injuries to the adult group.

All units were given orders to fall back to the marketplace. APC rammed the last remaining sailcar and turned back to the village to collect the infantry. Soon after ramming, another - bigger group of sailcars occured on the east - at least 15. As soon as the last group of evacuees was secured inside "01"s hold, the aerodyne took off, flying over new advancing wave and destroying one more sailcar with MG.

APC collected the platoon from the village and headed to NW, where it embarked onto the "27". At this point the enemy forces began to penetrate the village from the E. "27" took off and headed north, closing formation with "01" about 1km later.

Deceased and not recovered from the field:
szer. Dolo Ranna SN E40938
szer. Tang How SN E50390
kpr. Gil Rey SN D22089 - stayed to make sure others left the building.

Casualties in children group were not recorded by flight crew medic. For complete statistic hospitals in capital have to be consulted, providing information about patients with prehospital care cards' numbers starting with WM-0/. 25 cards were issued on board of "01".
« Last Edit: 20 September 2013, 08:50:02 by Kret69 »

vinlander

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Re: AAR 10092013 1345 LT - Village Evac (video, txt)
« Reply #1 on: 21 September 2013, 11:13:55 »
Very cool batrep!!!!

Very refreshing to see a game with all "conventional" forces for a change. The scenario is quite interesting as well, great stuff!

 O0


Kret69

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Re: AAR 10092013 1345 LT - Village Evac (video, txt)
« Reply #2 on: 21 September 2013, 20:34:29 »
Thanks vinlander. We were practising the use of aerial support, hence the focus on dropships.

Also, for mature players (aka old nerds :-) ) I prefer to present the entire idea of war a little more seriously than just chess with calculations  of highest potential outcome. Maybe this is not RPG (as then I would have them write letters to the families of their lost imaginary subordinates :-) ), but I limited time for decision, blocked communication between two players if not conducted properly and within 10 sec turn or had them sort out the evacuation plan themselves. In the future I plan to add some more elements via home rules, especially first aid and triage.


Saint

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Re: AAR 10092013 1345 LT - Village Evac (video, txt)
« Reply #3 on: 21 September 2013, 21:04:46 »
Well done O0
"Our eyes lie on Glory, Honor, Strength. Burned worlds will declare our name as cause."


Ouchies

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Re: AAR 10092013 1345 LT - Village Evac (video, txt)
« Reply #4 on: 01 October 2013, 15:42:07 »
Nice  O0