Coming Aboard?

Lt. Vanderbolt leads a small gunboat towards the rendezvous point with Gunny Schaefer’s squad, but as they cruise towards the landing point, a dhow slides up behind them, ignoring their hails.

A band of Zanzibari Pirates have been patrolling the area and are aware that their glorious leader has raised the ire of the Americans. They will attempt to prevent any interference by taking control of the boat.

Grant goes aft to challenge the approaching dhow

But the pirates have taken positions ashore as well

In fact, they've set up a small gun overlooking the jetty - it opens fire on the gunboat and Warner, manning the Lewis Gun near the bridge takes a direct hit

Other Zanzibaris converge on the jetty

As Seaman Black and Lieutenant Vanderbolt seek to take control of the prow gun, they are hit by a fusilade of musket fire from the shore

Harper and Carpenter jump to the jetty (avoiding the crocodile lurking below) and open fire on the group nearest - driving them off

Meanwhile, the dhow starts its approach and the pirate aboard open fire, killing Grant - though taking serious return fire from Kennedy's tommy gun

Harper and Carpenter have wiped out the gun crew and turn it on the dhow

Kennedy has been hit by the pirates (dropping his sub-machine gun overboard) and one of the pirates makes it across in an attempt to finish him off

The other group of pirates rush down the jetty and jump aboard

Harper, now hobbling with a gammy leg, rushes towards the shore - he spots that the gunboat is in serious trouble of being taken!

Thankfully he spots that Kennedy has gotten back to his feet, and he points his shotgun back at the remaining crew of the dhow

Kennedy has more than that to contend with - with just a pistol left, he leaps up to the top deck and runs for the bridge

Somehow, Cook and Kennedy defend the bridge against both groups of pirates with just their pistols!

The leader of the Zanzibari pirates run back to his ship

So, it looks like the navy will be able to make the rendezvous with Schaefer after all...

No Time for Invitations

The marines have found the Pirate camp, a small fortified village at the edge of a knoll, descending to a winding stream bed below. Almost 20 men, dressed in the flowing robes of Zanzibari pirates and armed with a mixture of muskets and rifles move around the camp. A small field gun guards the entrance to the camp.
A sudden cry from one building at the edge of the camp grabs their attention. The door flies open as an American hostage staggers through. A pirate leader approaches the beaten man, raising him to his knees. With one swift motion he draws a sword and beheads him. He strides quickly back into the house, closing the door behind him.

Schaefer gathers the squad together in a huddle and whispers angrily: “They just killed one of the prisoners.  No time for invitations. We take them, now.”

With Schaefer directing Blain's fire on the pirates gathered outside the fort, Billy leads his team down to rescue the remaining hostage.

Quicker than anyone anticipated, Hamid rushes out of his lair with the hostage in tow. Azzan leads his men past them to see off the attacking marines

Malik's crew prepare the gun for action. Anyone coming through those gates will get a faceful

Hawkins and Eliot take cover behind some crates to give Billy covering fire

Billy leads Dillon around the back of the fort, and they exchange fire with Hamid - missing the hostage (even with the shotgun!). Billy does manage to wound the pirate leader in his leg

Billy advances on the old pirate, as Hamid drop his rifle to draw his sword - somehow he escapes any harm

Just as Billy reloads his shotgun to make sure of Hamid, Omar reaches the stream to open fire on the marines.
Though just as they prepare to do so, Hawkins and Eliot let rip with a deadly fusillade of fire and wipe out the entire group of pirates!

In the confusion, Hamid slips away and crosses the stream at an unknown ford. The marines have failed in their mission, but there'll be hell to pay!

Having advanced up to the wall of the fort, Blain spots a westerner running from the scene - having no time to ask questions he opens up with his Lewis Gun, dropping the man in an instant

Billy leads his team up to the parapet of the fort and their concerted fire wiped out the gun team. But the return fire from the other group inside the fort hits Hawkins and Eliot as they crouch exposed on the walls.

Billy and Dillon are rushes by Rashid's men and Dillon falls to their clubbing. Billy fights them off (though he's wounded) and Rashid races out of the fort and into the jungle

Billy spots movement in the trees beyond, but Schaefer orders them to move out pronto. They need to catch up with Hamid to rescue the hostage and make that rendezvous with the navy's gunboat.

Something is out there, in the trees, waiting, watching.

Post-Gaelcon

Just coming to the end of my post-Gaelcon recovery day. Had a blast, running and playing several games, as well as catching up with all and sundry over a few drinks.

Friday Night:
Kicked off with a one-shot of Apocalypse World - continuing the double-barrelled game I had started at Hobocon in August. Great session with Jo, Alan, Red Phil and Rob.

Saturday:
Started my Perilous Trail campaign off with Mick, Ger and Colin, and then played some Little Wars on the floor, ran ably by my comrade-in-arms Conrad. Ran a quick pick-up game of Perilous Trail for John and then finished off with a play-test of Ronan's promising new boardgame Fifth Column.

Sunday:
Continued adventures on the Perilous Trail with Mick, Conrad, Kaari and Fiachra, defended a fort to the last round in another game of Little Wars in the afternoon and played an interesting hack of Contenders by Gregor based on GTA called 'Drive it like you stole it' with Alan and Red Phil.

I also picked up a great-looking and useful piece from DramaScape - their Warehouse map, not in the usual 8"x10" card format, but in full-blown poster mode. Expect to see some Rainbow Six action take place in that space soon...

Monday:
Finished off with the climactic scenario of Perilous Trail with Gregor, Shevy, Brian and Graham, and then ran another quick pick-up game for Jo and Red Phil. Unfortunately I was stuck for time so I had to run before the closing ceremony and had no time for a wind-down pint or two.



Game reports will follow.