Setup:
The agricultural world of Aerin III is remarkable only for it's food product, Grox. Grox are a large reptile, standing between 12-16m at the shoulder, and weighing in at ~15-20 tonnes. Grox are herbivores, but have developed several defenses against predators, including a central horn, thick skin, and a nasty temper. Many a rancher has been killed by the first defensive measure because of the third.
Raising Grox is a very dangerous proposition. To assist in their control, weapons are permited to the ranchers which are strictly controlled among the general population. These blasters are toned down greatly from military levels, but are still dangerous enough to stun (and possibly kill) an angry Grox. Which leads us into our scenario…
Aerin III is ruled by Planetary Governor Heric Merim'al'Razik. Governor Heric has become concerned that one of the local ranch-owners, Tiber Relis'al'Hasil, has become too strongly involved in politics, especially those favoring the Rebellion. To prevent this sort of thought from spreading to other ranchers, Governor Heric decided that a search of the ranch (as permited under law, due to the armed status of the ranch) was called for. It seemed likely that something could be found amiss to use to keep Rancher Tiber under control or in prison. If not, the search would give Rancher Tiber something to think about. Two squads of Planetary Defense Forces (PDF), supplimented by a Stormtrooper Squad with Light Combat Vehicle (LCV), were dispatched with orders to search the ranch. Little did they know what they would discover.
Recently recruited Lando Calrissian was transferred from the main Rebel Base to a training facility prior to his involvement in the attack on the secondary Death Star. He was given control of the training facility, and directed to recruit locals, train them, and ship them off-planet, all with the assistance of Rancher Tiber, a loyal Rebellion sympathizer. Lando jumped into his new job with both feet, and quickly had things humming along, and a steady supply of new recruits (small in number, but highly skilled due to the environment they grew up in). Things were going along quite well, until scanners picked up two imperial APC's and a LCV bee-lining for the ranch. Lando quickly made a decision, and began scattering his men for an ambush…
Terrain:
The battle was set up on a 4'x6' table, with the entry point for the Imperials being on a 4' edge. Opposite the Imperial edge was the Ranch Proper, consisting of a large (18"x10", two story) building complex, and an outbuilding (5"x5", one story). A roadway lead from the Imperial side to the building (right down the middle of the table), and made a circle in front of the ranch. Inside the circle (about 18" wide x 12" deep) was a large pool, and a large tree. Nominating the side of the table with the ranch complex north, and the Imperial entrance side south, there was a forest on the western edge of the table, and a lawn on the eastern edge. A sparse hedge of trees lined the road up to the building on both sides of the road.
Forces:
The Rebels had three squads, as follow:
Col. Lando Calrissian
Commandos x6
Fireteam (2) w/ Heavy Blaster x1
Cpt. Timor Erraw
Rebel Soldiers x9
Cpt. Aldori Kalroi
Rebel Militia x13
The Imperials had four squads, as follow:
Lt. Noim Sumar'al'Mafi
PDF Trooper x12
Lt. Haqi Dumak'al'Naim
PDF Trooper x12
Sgt. Geran Irilon
Stormtrooper x5
Support Stormtrooper x1
Placement:
The Rebels set up first, with the soldiers and the militia setting up in the forest, and the commandos and fireteam setting up next to a tree near the pond.
The Imperials marched onto the board on the southern boarder, following the road. The LCV was first, followed closely by the Stormtroopers. The PDF were spread out on the eastern and western flanks.
Game:
The Imperials marched onto the board, and began making their catious was towards the building. I used blind setup, so they had no idea where the Rebels were. The LCV lead the way, moving slowly so that the Stormtroopers could keep up with it. The PDF on the eastern flank moved forward quickly, trying to mount a low hill to gain a better vantage. The western PDF broke into two teams, the majority moving with the LCV, a small group of three heading towards the forest to investigate.
The Imperials made some progress towards the ranch complex, covering maybe 1/3 of the distance towards the ranch over 3 rounds. The Rebels in the forest watched the Imperials draw abreast, and were waiting to let them pass when the western PDF exploratory group made an incredible notice roll, and spotted both groups of Rebels in the forest! Following SOP, the PDF demanded that the figures lurking in the forest throw down their weapons. The response was not quite what had been ordered…
With their discovery, the Rebels were slow to respond. The Imperials swung their LCV and Stormtroopers around to face the threat before the Rebels could respond, and the response was less than impressive. A hail of fire from the forest let the Imperials know that they weren't friendly, but did no real damage to their forces. The Imperial response was even more Impressive, with a withering hail of fire from the LCV decimating a lot of forest, but none of the Rebels. The Stormtroopers picked up the slack, however, killing three of the Rebel soldiers outright. The western PDF fired blindly into the forest, but apparently were unable to tell foes from tree limbs. The Commando's held their fire, waiting for a better shot, while the eastern PDF moved around towards the front of the LCV, trying to get a view of the Rebels in the forest.
Combat ensued for another three rounds, with the LCV and the Stormtroopers slowly advancing towards the forest, trying to get the Troopers into assault range. The PDF also moved forward slowly on the western front, and quickly on the eastern, until they were almost abreast. Despite lots of firing, the Imperials had difficulty inflicting wounds on the hidden Rebels. The Rebels, meanwhile, seemed to be having difficulties harming the Imperials thanks to their poor weaponry. Things were fairly equal until the Stormtroopers got close to the Rebels, and then fired off a withering hail of blaster fire that almost completely wiped the Rebel soldiers out. The LCV took some small arms fire from the soldiers, and a lucky shot took out the right steering jet, leaving the LCV able to only make left hand turns. The PDF finally closed to charging range, and piled into the Rebel militia, and started to pick them off in Hand to Hand. The Empire was definately pulling ahead.
Judging the time to be right, the Rebels opened up with their Heavy blaster and their Commandos, and wiped out the LCV and 1/2 the Stormtroopers in two quick rounds of fire! They also managed to wipe out the eastern PDF (who charged into their line of fire trying to close with the remains of the Rebel Soldiers), and basicly routed the Imperials single-handedly (though the Stormtroopers refused to flee). By the end of the battle, the survivors were as followed:
Rebel:
Col. Lando Calrissian
Commandos x6
Fireteam (2) w/ Heavy Blaster x1
Cpt. Timor Erraw (Out of Luck Points)
Rebel Soldiers x2
Cpt. Aldori Kalroi
Rebel Militia x3
The Imperials:
Lt. Noim Sumar'al'Mafi
PDF Trooper x2
Lt. Haqi Dumak'al'Naim
PDF Trooper x7
Stormtrooper x2
Support Stormtrooper x1
The game took about 4 hours to play (including setup and teardown), and went really well. Everybody had fun, and thought it had a good flow throughout the battle. I'm revising the forces used a bit more, and am planning a new battle soon. There should be a new battle report every 2 weeks, if there is interest.
Thanks for reading!
