This is the latest battle report of our group's monthly pulp session. For previous month's reports, check the links below:
August "Boneyard Blues" TMP link
July "Chichen Congo, Jungle of Terror" TMP link
June "Devastation in Berlin" TMP link
In a previous practice session, an eccentric inventor had fled the States to Canada, along with a brief case containing plans for a "secret weapon" which he had been developing for US military. Several different factions were attempting to locate the fellow and obtain these secret plans. In the end, a small group middle eastern gentlemen had been able to make off with the briefcase in exchange for a few prostitutes. Now all the middle eastern faction had to do is sneak the plans out of Canada….
In the current session, we assumed that the Royal Canadian Mounties had been able to lock down the borders tight. In desperation, the Mustapha's had hidden in some rum barrels in Windsor, and been bootlegged across the border into Detroit. Federal officials had gotten wind of the plan, and had made it clear to the mayor of Detroit that he was to capture the Mustapha's if possible. Pending that, he was to make absolutely sure that they did not leave the city.
Meanwhile, the Zamboni Gang, having moved up a notch or two after last month's successes, had decided to move into Detroit and take over some of the Bootlegging turf from the local Purple Gang. They are approached by the mayor of Detroit, with an offer they couldn't refuse: Capture the Mustapha gang (or at least get the briefcase from them), and the mayor would give the Zamboni's police protection in their bootlegging endeavors.
In addition, someone (feds, inventor, or anonymous informant) had let slip what the plans were for. Rocket Suits! The Director had been eyeing the rocketeer figures from Bob Mulch, and planning on picking some up soon…
The playing field was a 4 foot by 6 foot table, roughly divided into three 4 foot by 2 foot sections: Two separate city block sections divided by a large city park.
The Mustapha's were headquarted on one end of the table and had to leave via one of two points on the opposite end of the table. Their faction consisted of 2 squads of six "soldiers" and 1 squad of "elites." One squad had to be secretly designated as possessing the briefcase, and up to one squad could begin the game hidded in a nearby building.
The Zamboni's were headquartered on the opposite end of the table from the Mustapha's, near the potential exit points. Their faction consited on one squad of soldiers beefed up with a couple elites, one squad of soldiers without special leadership, and 1 independent character (Venzetti Zamboni). The Zamboni's were also given the option of setting up one squad could be hidden in a building near their HQ.
Finally, a full faction of Keystone cops were deployed about the playing field as NPC's, and several capable, but un-allied, pedestrians scattered about for flavor.
The Mustapha's initial moves were to send one squad to obtain rooftop access for sniping purposes, and another squad to waylay/misdirect the cops. Their elite squad remained hidden early in the game.
The Zamboni's charged pell-mell into the park with their entire faction, meeting up in the center of the park (beyond police detection) in the shadow of the centerpiece hill. Their initial attempts at taking the hill were slightly delayed by Cassandra, the bellydancing spy, who began he world famous "dance of the thousand veils," and managed to temporarily mesmerise the entire group!
Taking advantage of the Zamboni's distraction, the Mustapha elites rushed out of hiding, stole a car and took off zooming around the park. However, this blatatly criminal act attracted the attention of a patrolling motorcylce police unit who gave chase. The officer in the sidecar squeezed off a lucky shotgun blast, and slightly damaged the Mustapha's getaway vehicle.
Meanwhile, the Zamboni's finally cleared Cassandra from the hilltop, and revealed their secret plan. On top of the hill was a memorial, with an old Spanish-American War cannon. Venzetti Zamboni cashed in his "privilege token" (taking advantage of his actor status to slightly change the script) in order for the Director to allow the cannon to be fully operational for one single shot. He pointed the cannon at the fleeing Mustapha vehicle and FIRED! Unfortunately, his aim was slightly off, though he did manage to destroy a nearby Bugatti.
With the entire Zamboni squad poorly positioned to do much else, the Mustapha's only obstacle to success was a makeshift police barricade. The brave elite troops gunned their damaged auto, partially hopped the curb, rode with two wheels on the road and two wheels up against the park wall, in order to bypass the cops and get away cleanly.
In the post session wrap-up the Director let it be known that there will have to be another session in this storyline eventually, because he just cannot see a middle eastern splinter group fielding rocketeers. It was decided that the Zamboni's were foiled in their attempts at establishing operations in Detroit. Furthermore, the Mustapha's will be able to leave the States with the plans fairly easily, and will probably decide to set up an auction of sorts, in order to sell the plans to the highest bidders. If we put the auction in Algeria, there are plenty of options for Spikey-Helmeted German, Conniving Belgians, Bitter French, Condescending Brits, Resurgent Meso-American, or any other national favorites to compete for the prize….
adds punch to his Amazons – with panthers!
