Crazy Bear and Ragged Staff - Scenario 1 - Outpost 13
No report had been received from Output 13 for the last three days. No-one was surprised or particularly worried as Old Jack pretty much did what he wanted. The station provided ore analysis and weather monitoring for settlements further out from Shen Nung so if Old Jack decided that he wanted to close up and go hunting for a couple of days he would do just that. District Supervisor (D-Sup) Proctor had been meaning to assign another person to the station as technically it was meant to have three crew at all times but getting hold of good staff was difficult, hell getting hold of bad staff was tricky, so it never happened.
Now what would he do, there was a major storm coming in over Heaven Mountains and according to Ch'ang-o station it was heading his way. On top of that Shang-Ti had started the predicted solar flares bang on time and as a result most of the intra-system comms traffic was patchy at best. Jack had early warning systems located in the mountains connected via old fashioned fibre cables and moreover the natives of Lao-Tien-Yeh hadn’t objected to them despite the mountains being ‘sacred’, he needed that data and he needed it now.
However who could he send, again there was a real lack of staff around here. M. Lasc d’Armand had got one of the three VTOLs just coming out of its regular fortnightly check so he had transport. He was on the verge of going himself, at least it meant he could delay the huge stack of screen-work on his desk, when who walked in but Clement.
Clement McCall, or Mac as he tried to get people to call him, was a pretty typical third generation immigrant, work-shy and self-important. He had served a single tour with the Star Marines in an effort to get off "this damn backwards sucking world" then returned with an Honourable Discharge and nothing to do. Well he got drunk a fair bit and failed to farm and mine. He had even turned down a job with the Government of Eternal Prosperity as a Junior Supervisor (Grade IV), showed he had some standards. Then two months ago whilst chatting with Sage Li-Una-Jaq he had discovered that they were meant to have a Glorious Citizen’s Militia for Defence of the State and Welfare of the Common Sentient. Now Mac and his two teams were running about in their off hours playing soldier.
"Clem, sorry Mac, am I glad to see you" Proctor purred. "You and your boys are just what I need."
"Listen Proctor why won’t you release those suppo..., what did ya say there?"
"No time for screen-work, requisitions and so on now Mac, I have a problem and you are just the man to sort it out for me. Can you get a team together?"
"Sir, Fire-Team Yi are on scramble, sir!" Mac appeared to have suddenly grown three inches and his heels were perfectly together, and he appeared to have saluted.
"Should be easy enough Mac, ah Captain McCall isn’t it? Well Captain should be easy enough O-Sup Jackson’s not reported in and what with the weather closing in I need someone to find out what’s going on there."
Mac slumped a good two inches "Ah D-Sup Old Jack’s just drunk again, he’ll report in once he’s sober."
"Listen up and listen good soldier, if it was twenty two hours I’d agree but at nearly sixty six that’s pushing it, plus we have reports of large bodies of natives in the area and a storm coming in over Heaven’s Edge, Old Jack’s a key man in those parts and we always take care of our own, got it."
"Sir, yes sir." Mac was almost on tip toes. "And those support weapons sir? They are just sitting in storage?"
"Listen we haven’t a moment to lose d’Armand’s waiting for you on the pad." To his own disbelief Proctor found himself standing up and saluting. "For the Welfare of the Common Sentient, Captain."
"For the Welfare of the Common Sentient, D-Sup, Sir!"
As he watched Mac and his four pals hurl themselves into the VTOL wearing those absurd ripnii shell jackets with the Shang-Ti logo on the back Proctor couldn’t help but congratulate himself on another problem well handled. Grabbing a bulb of synthicaf he settled down to the large stack of screen-work awaiting him.
Briefing - Glorious Citizen’s Militia for Defence of the State and Welfare of the Common Sentient
It’s a simple mission your five man team lands at the VTOL pad near Outpost 13 and must proceed on foot to the outpost, determine what has happened to Outpost Supervisor (O-Seq) Jackson and then return to the VTOL.
| Name | Rep | Att | Effect | Weapon | Rng | Tar | Imp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Captain C McCall | 4 | Shirker | Always Outgunned | TN-FAR | 48" | 3 | 2 |
| Trooper JB Higgs | 3 | Brawler | 3 Dice in melee | TN-FAR | 48" | 3 | 2 |
| Trooper T Magwa | 3 | Agile | No Fast Move Penalty | TN-FAR | 48" | 3 | 2 |
| Trooper N Jamm | 4 | Nerves of Steel | No Duck Back | TN-FAR | 48" | 3 | 2 |
| Trooper D Unwin | 2 | Runt | -1 REP in melee | TN-FAR | 48" | 3 | 2 |
Briefing - Spugs
What brave new world is this that has such creatures in it? As the Tertiary Sub-leader of the Third Wave of Brachaaat this planet has potential as a colony world. You are examining what may be a primitive dwelling when your Communications Specialist alerts you to an incoming alien craft.
| Name | Rep | Weapon | Rng | Tar | Imp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tertiary Sub Leader Jjaag | 3 | Exo-Claw Side Arm |
x 24" |
1 2 |
3 2 |
| Communications Specialist Krack | 2 | Side Arm | 24" | 2 | 2 |
| Spug Cackl | 1 | ShockRifle | 36" | 2 | 3 |
| Spug Tragg | 1 | ShockRifle | 36" | 2 | 3 | Spug Klugg | 1 | ShockRifle | 36" | 2 | 3 | Spug Prik | 1 | ShockRifle | 36" | 2 | 3 | Spug Grug | 1 | ShockRifle | 36" | 2 | 3 | Spug Tagg | 1 | ShockRifle | 36" | 2 | 3 |
Designer’s Notes
This scenario should be played straight. As neither side can talk to each other due to no common language just let the First Sight Checks cause people to fire – it’ll turn into a blood bath and hence propel the subsequent scenarios.
The Spug force has to cope with very low Reps and if the comms Spug blows his communicate roll then this can cripple them but if they can advance without too many losses then their inate Spug on the Table bonus should see them through.
The Glorius Citizen's Milita are onto a bad thing here, the odds are strongly stacked against them. This is intentional. The next scenario gives them access to better troops and heavier weapons. Remember these are not hardened troops, except Trooper N Jamm who would appear to have prior military service, all they need to do ius figure out what's happened and get the hell out of there.
Historical Outcome
The scenario was played on an 8' by 4' table with the landing site at one end and the outpost at the other, between the two were many rock piles that interrupted vision.
Turn 1
The VTOL touched down and then nothing happened. The GPM were busy debating what to do (rolled a 6 for Initiative). The Spugs started by blowing the comms check completely so decided to hunker down and do nothing (REP 1 figures are not that useful).
Turn 2
Still no luck for Captain Mac as his elegant plan required more debate and high fives before they set off (rolled a 6 for initiative) The Spugs did better advancing the left flank to see what was going on at the landing pad.
Turn 3
The Comms Spug still failed to get solid comms back to the hive but regardless the Hive Leader decided that things looked safe enough to move slightly forward. Just then Trooper N Jamm spotted movement on his right and spun and fired off a nervous shot. The Spugs didn't hesitate but bathed the landing pad in shock bolts, killing Captain Mac immediately and after a brief exchange putting Trooper Unwin down and screaming. However Trooper Jamm stood untouched through hail of fire and calmly placing aimed shots at these bizarre creatures crunched one and forced the other to hide behind a pile of rocks.
Turn 4
The Leader chittered in annoyance as once again comms to the hive were lost and threatened the Comms Spug with dismemberment and crunching. Just then Trooper N Jamm spotted movement on his right and spun and fired off a nervous shot. The Spugs didn't hesitate but bathed the landing pad in shock bolts, killing Captain Mac immediately and after a brief exchange putting Trooper Unwin down and screaming. However Trooper Jamm stood untouched through hail of fire and calmly placing aimed shots at these bizarre creatures crucnhing one before being shot in the face and killed instantly by a shock bolt.
Turn 5
Finally comms with the hive are established and everybug surges forward. Trooper Magwa does heroic duty holding off two Spugs with shock rifles forcing them into cover and then pinning down the Spug with the large muzzled and dangerous looking gun, which leaks a sickly blue ichor. Meanwhile JB grabs Unwin and starts hauling him back into the VTOL screaming at Magwa to get his "Ass on the plane".
Turn 6
Trooper Magwa manages to crunch one of the Spugs who popped its head up but then the Spug on the left flank who had hidden behind the rocks ruxhes forward firing as he goes. Magwa never even saw him but was blown apart in a hail of fire. JB drops Unwin and starts swearing.
Turn 7
As the Leader surges forward and the Spugs close in JB thinks to himself "What would Mac have done?" He knows the answer "Bug (sic) Out, Screaming!" but he can leave no man behind and hauls Unwin into VTOL as d'Armand guns the engines.