Babylon Part IV - A Rude Afternoon

Pre-Game

The invasion of Babylon may have had a temporary hiccup with the destruction of the Battlegroup Florentine, but the war goes on. The Blutzkorp's Battlegroup Sigrid had a faultless landing and has moved into position to join up with the Battlegroup Florentine and the approaching NDaK forces led by Rommel unfortunately; things are not going as the Axis planned. Sigird made it to the rendezvous, but where is everyone else? Those approaching tanks look a little too olive drab to be German.

Machete Mack and Bazooka Joe have removed the possibility of Luftwaffe intervention to this ambush. They are also aware of the approaching NDaK Battlegroup. Some quick-thinking delaying actions have managed to slow down Rommel's advance just long enough to do considerable damage to the true architects of the Allie's woes. If they can remove Sigrid from the war altogether, than surely the Axis Bloc would start to fall apart without the support of the Blutkreuz. 

Sigrid saw the coming battle as inevitable, and she knew that she was going to need to hold on until the NDaK could hit the Allies from behind. Sigird saw the available space for battle and decided she needed to make the best use of the situation to surprise her approaching enemies. It's a good thing that not everyone needed to breath...

"Will you please stop scratching constantly. Scheisse it never changes with you does it?"

The uniformed thing that was once a man just ignored the comment. It continued to scratch the same spot that he always scratched. It didn't even think it registered the feeling of the scratch anymore. It all was just the same dead, numb "feeling." It was simply just a itch that would not go away. "I think the Americans call it the itch that needs to be scratched?" 

The thing "giggled" to itself. It sounded like the noise of gas escaping a decaying, decrepit swamp. His comrade rolled his eyes. They should have been eyes at least. The milky orbs in the skull of his old friend lacked the same green hue they once had when they were alive, but he remembered them all too clearly. "I should join a suicider squad just to get away from you."

The thing that was once Luca made a exaggerated frowning face. "You wound me old friend, you are worse then those marines."

The drawn skin from the frown loosen a maggot that was nestled in the thing's cheek. Luca eagerly grabbed the maggot before it could squirm away and shoved it back into its home. He was quickly running out of friends, and he for sure didn't want to lose his new pet Francis. The shouts of Sigrid's voice could be heard over the hum of her albino tank "Snow Lynx." Thankfully, the zombie grenadiers were already in position half submerged in the sand and were just waiting for her signal. A few silent moments passed by with just the constant sound of Luca's itching.

Luca stopped scratching long enough to finger the bullet hole that put him down the first time a year ago. His comrade's milky eyes watched the movements, and he couldn't stop himself from giving a coy smile. "Stupid Americans don't even use the same caliber as the Bolshiveks. No way they can put you down again."

The crunch of sand behind them made the zombies turn to see who was coming. The tall, imposing form of a German women looked down at them."Enough, get ready, the Americans are coming" Sigrid said to the zombies. 

Even after having faced death itself, Luca always wondered how that one women always managed to make him feel uncomfortable. He tried to take his mind of it by going back to his favorite hobby. When he stopped scratching to start burying his upper half he realized that he had tattered his uniform with his constant itching. That was going to let the sand in while he lay submerged in the sand for who knew how long. Luca cursed his luck. That sand was really going to irritate his skin, and he knew he was going to want to scratch it. 

Game 4 - Bad Jump Part II

Axis 100 vs Allied 135

High on victory, Master Sergeant Kara sent this communique when asked what she was going to be bringing to the 4th part of this increasingly close campaign. 

"When this campaign began, my biggest concern was Commander Kristoff and walkers with laser guns.  In the last two instances, the Axis troops have really scared the s*it out of me and my troops.  I think some of their units are actually reanimated dead men!  Not to mention the crazy arse monkey troops that are jumping around.  This war has gone nuts and my Allies need to be on point at all times to pull out a victory for freedom!"

Here is my lineup: 

USMC Rifle Platoon:

Command: Machete Mack

Combat 1: USMC Fire Squad

Combat 2:  USMC Demolition Squad

Combat 3:  USMC Rifle Squad

Combat 4:  USMC Heavy Engineer Squad

USMC Taskforce Diver Platoon:

Command: Diver (USMC)

Combat 1:  USMC Close Assault Squad

Combat 2:  Bushmaster

Allied Medium Combat Walker Platoon:

Command:  Mickey (Light)

Combat 1:  Barking Dog (Light)

Combat 2:  Barking Dog (Light)

Separately:

Bazooka Joe

Blackhawk

Ranger Attack Squad

USMC Heavy Machinegun Squad x2

Long Tom II

So, for this list I decided to theme around the idea that Sigrid is clearly in Babylon, and she must have helped with the invasion at some level. She was not going to be able to dig artifacts out of the ground without the help of the Axis military. I have continued to read that Blutkreuz are not very good or competitive. Its a real shame due to the fact that having intelligent zombie grenadiers charging a line of machine guns is just a really cool visual in my mind. I haven't played Blutkreuz since the Dust Tactics days so I knew I needed to give them a chance. The units don't seem completely overpriced, but my army did feel unusually small for 100 points. 

Axis Forces:

Blutkreuz Korps Platoon:

Command: Sigrid

Combat 1: Laser Grenadier Squad

Combat 2:  Zombie Grenadier Squad

Combat 3:  Zombie Suicide Squad

Support: Grenadier X, Gorilla Squad, Zombie Squad, Snow Lynx, Moskito, Heavy Laser Grenadier Squad, Markus, Gregor (The Not Defector)

I finally managed to get my hands on the new Paradise expansion book, and the new Blutkreuz platoon would help deal with the more difficult morale phase due to heat since it makes them fearless as long as Sigrid is alive. Lets see how it all plays out shall we?

I am sure this group smells real pleasant.

The scenario is for the Axis forces to hold out until they can be relieved by approaching NDaK forces. The Allies have laid a perfect ambush and will be coming from the north and south. The Axis are on the middle islands without much cover, but concentrated for mutual support. Moderate weather was an issue, so I was praying that it would let me use my plane for a turn to help alleviate some of the armored pressure. I knew this was going to be a tough one, but I tried to take durable units. Lets see if the gamble pays off.

The Table and Game

Turn 1

Axis starts on the table and have to hold out for 4 turns. Axis get first turn, but give it to the Allies since they got no one to shoot at. The sandstorm kicks up as if to specifically spite me. The sand forces the plane to pull up to prevent a terrible crash. He maintains radio contact and reassures Sigird that he will dive bomb back in once the weather clears. 

Allies start with a Barking Dog coming in from the north to shoot at the Zombie Suicider squad. The zombies are too tough and laugh as the bullets pass harmlessly through their bodies. Axis pass, looking for the perfect moment to jump out of cover. The bushmasters come in from the south to shoot at the massive form of Gregor and the laser grenadiers for little effect.  Gregory shoots back at the bushmaster hoping for an easy kill with a salvo shot, but with mostly misses and a single save, the machine keeps going without hinderance.

The Allies bring another Barking Dog from the south to shoot at the Lynx, They know the danger posed by the crazed German in her hyped-up killing machine! They put the main guns into her and the machine guns into the nearby Heavy Laser grenadiers. After the dust clears, only 1 heavy grenadier is laying on the ground. The heavy grenadiers hope to capitalize on the lack of significant damage and remove the B. Dog with a sustained attack, but leave a single wound left on the Barking Dog!

Everyone is disappointed in you both.

Mack sees an opening and charges in from the South to remove the Zombie Grenadier squad before they have a chance to unleash their machine guns. They charge forward and manage to catch the nightmares in the open and obliterate the undead before they even have a chance to realise what is happening. Their bodies squirm around on the ground, but they are out of the fight for good. The firestorm of bullets and screamed curses lets the smol laser grenadiers line up a reactive shot, which are all saved by the trees. Sigrid decides that the Snow Lynx's firepower is needed to remove Mack before he continues to press into the line. She squints through the sand on her lenses and sustain fires into Mack's marines. The shot severely wounds Mack and kills 2 marines in the process.

Big Boom

The marine's Heavy Machinegun team moves from the south flank and gets behind some trees for cover. Markus and his monkey friends want to remove the heavy gun before it has a chance to fire on them next turn. They charge across the canal and swing from the trees to slam into the gun killing the marines easily. Markus sprains his ankle in the superhero landing and takes a wound. The Blackhawk advances from the south edge to fill the hole left by the machinegun team, and blasts the treeline with the cheering monkeys. They use the cover of the trees to their advantage to avoid all damage.

Did you get it?

A whole lot of MONKEYING around!!!

Axis pass to hope for a more opportunistic target, but the pressure is on. It is going to come down to the every activation being able to achieve something. Another heavy machine gun team comes running in from the north to setup the gun behind some ruin walls. Trained on the middle island to keep them trapped. The mindless zombie squad decides its time for action.....and a TIME FOR BRAAAAIIINZZZ!! It charges across the canal into Mack's team. Thankfully their charge ability lets them cartwheel into the marines after marching for MAXIMUM PAIN! Mack is driven off the battlefield covered in saliva and the blood of his fellow marines.

 

    

Diver decides he is the hero that Australia needs and hits off his infantry ace ability. This lets him and his close assault squad march up the field and shoot everything into the monkeys. To their disappointment, all their flamethrowers and guns do is 3 wounds to Markus. A huge whiff and the prayer for the Axis player is heard!

Those monkeys are laughing at you Diver. Hows that feel?

Grenadier X, a zombie of few words, compels his suicider team to charge at the barking dog across the canal to ensure that Sigrid can continue to fight unhindered. The gaggle of zombies charge across the canal hoping for a glorious death, and only manage to hit the barking dog with a single mine after some real abysmal rolls. This was the absolute worst thing that could happen since they were now out in the open and didn't even remove anything. They would have to hope their tough zombie hides could withstand the return hit. Their retribution came in the form of Heavy Engineer marines who manage to burninate and punch 2 zombies down after wounding Grenadier X. Grenadier is clearly upset from this and doesn't manage to hit a single thing yet again. His zombie friends manage to kill 2 of the heavy marines. 
 

Bazooka Joe and his BBQ boys move from the south and get ready for the big push in the center. Bazooka Joe shouts at the Blackhawk to tell it to reload, but the smell of monkey has forced the Blackhawk to shut its hatches and they don't hear anything.  

The Axis is out of units to activate so the Allies come pouring in the battle looking for targets. The Marine Fire squad comes in from the north and lights up the mindless zombonies. 3 of them drop down dead for reals this time. The Marine Rifle squad does the same further east and shoot at the suicider squad with the help of the move and fire ability. Enter the sandman rule stops their sustain action from taking effect, but normal shooting is enough to wipe out the rest of the smelly dead people. 

"And I thought they smell bad on the outside."

 


The Allied Micky advances and shoots a howitzer shell at the remaining Laser grenadiers. Their lives are ended by the massive explosion. Their delicate laser rifles likely destroyed in the blast. The huge cockroach-like form of the Long Tom II advances from the north to blast Sigrid's Walker into a million billion pieces. Thankfully, the shot goes wide, and Sigrid has a chance to do some damage next turn. 

Turn 2

Its not looking too good for the Axis at this point just due to the crazy amount of units that the marines have over the Axis. No matter what happens or who goes first, the marines are going to be able to hit something hard, and where it hurts. Every dice roll is going to matter for the Axis, and they need to do some real damage to be able to hold on for the next 2 turns. 

Axis get first turn, and the sandstorm ends. Everything is coming up Millhouse for the Axis so far. Markus activates, and sustain melee attacks into Diver's unit. This is such a key activation that it is likely going to determine the direction of the game. Markus has to be able to kill the marines and withstand some pain from the nearby allied units. Just like Sun Tzu said, "the die is cast." Dice are rolled, rerolls are made, butts are clentched......................and when the dust is cleared Markus and friends were only able to do 5 wounds to the unit that were absorbed by Diver and a monkey is lost in the melee. Disappointment was the byword of the day for the Axis. Diver then activates to wipe the monkeys off the face of the earth with his hale and healthy team of killers. The Heavy Laser grenadiers attempt to make up for their failure by finally melting down the nearby barking dog, even with a failed enter sandman roll that ruined their sustained shots. 

After a long period of deliberation due to the knowledge that Axis air support is inbound, the Allied Blackhawk loads and stays in place for a more effective attack next turn. Sigrid decides to continue to lead from the front by blasting the Long Tom for 4 damage and killing 3 more marines from the fire team with some sustained shots. The presence of Gregor starts to bother Allied command due to the fact that he is an infantry 4 and dug into a canal for cover. Master Sargent Kara decides to start pounding his position with the Micky's Howitzer and machine guns and manages to do 3 damage to the metal monkey man. Gregor returns the favor by managing to take 3 wounds off of the bushmaster in an attempt to mitigate return fire, but its just 1 wound short of the necessary kill. Axis can't make a difference in the number of activations for the next turn. The very much alive Bushmaster shoots back and pings Gregory for another wound. 

The moment we have all waited for finally arrives. The clouds part and the scream of the Moskito's engine can be heard like the siren call of the gods giving salvation to their chosen sons. It comes in hot and manages to do an WHOLE 2 WOUNDS TO THE BLAWKHAWK! F*$&! To add to the disappointment from the Axis side, Bazooka Joe pushes east and manages to eliminate Gregory in a manic display of gun-based violence. 

It only took an entire army to eliminate this monkey

The mindless zombie does what it does best and charges the unit of marines to seek vengeance, he manages to kill a marine, but gets his head smashed in on the return swing. The Axis run out of steam, and the onslaught of unactivated marines begins. The rifle team move and fires into the heavy grenadiers, thankfully they are unharmed by the bullets, but the melee sees a heavy grenadier and a marine go down.  

The Long Tom waddles into position to shoot at Sigrid with its main cannon and the Plane with all of its heavy machine guns. The plane can't take the heat and dove tails into the ground while Sigrid takes a glancing hit for 1 damage. The turn ends with the heavy marines marching into position for the final desperate struggle.

Turn 3

So its looking desperate for the Axis, but victory is still a slim marginal thing if you squint hard enough. To add salt to the wound, Allies go first and the storm kicks back up. The Blackhawk surges forward to give the boom boom to Sigrid, and manages to rip a chunk out of the tank for 5 wounds. The Snow Lynx desperately holds onto life, but with the walker on shaky legs and sand getting into uncomfortable places, her sustained shots into the Long Tom and the marines is ruined by the enter sandman rule. The Long Tom turns into a cataclysmic explosion from her shots, but the marines are unphased. Moral victory indeed.

Sigird just keeps kicking ass even with everything going wrong.

The southern Barking Dog moves into position for the shot on the Snow Lynx, and manages to finally put the poor beast out of commission. Sigrid bangs her head on the dashboard on the way out and takes a wound. As the firestorm descends on them, the heavy grenadier trys to remove the blackhawk, but only manages to melt the rear view mirrors for 2 damage. 

The rifle marines put the heavy grenadier out of his misery with some well placed shots. The Heavy Engineer marine advances in an attempt to burn out Sigrid, but fails most likely due to the amazonian's beauty. The heavy mortar team grab their packs and charge to the front to shoot all their submachine guns into Sigrid. They manage to glace her with a bullet. The game ends when Diver, who isn't impressed with Sigird's hottness level, orders his flamethrower to burn her alive. 

End of the Game

And that is all she wrote. The Axis is completely wiped off the table, and plenty of Allies occupy the area. Sigird has been wounded, but the approaching NDaK forces must have been hot on their heels since they couldn't grab her in time. Her black latex suit might be a bit more crispy, but she is ready to deliver vengeance when she shows up again. 

Axis 2 - Allies 2

Conclusion and Thoughts

I find the scenarios that have unequal amounts of points are fun since they tend to add tension. They are much harder to win, but if you manage to get the W then you just feel like a Bada$$. Thankfully, I have never managed to do it so I don't know what that feels like. The question that comes to my mind is, is it the points or is it the fact that the person that is outnumbered also has to start on the table to get shot before they can do anything about it. I think that when I make up campaigns in the future it would be prudent to make it so the disadvantage isn't so bad. Either the forces have some kind of being dug in bonus similar to 40K, or not everything can be immediately shot. 

A transmission from Allied High Command at the Octagon came in with this from Master Sergeant Kara.

"My boys made me proud today.  They did not let up on the Axis troops for a single moment. 

It was not an easy fight at all. With the sand in our teeth, we pushed through to victory slaying every 

single dirty Axis in our path!

Special thanks to Stabsfeldwebel Dylan for the kind gift of the Bawiddaman Allies Pinup Tee shirt..  A fine adversary and a true gentleman."

 Kara and I's birthdays are within a month to each other so I decided to order her a Bawiddaman pinup shirt. I am a huge fan of the shirts and the quality of his pinup stuff. Thankfully, when I ordered the shirt I was lucky enough to receive a free shirt from the ebay seller. I was totally stoked and what a awesome birthday gift for both of us. A great shirt for a great lady.

 Talk about a good day. Alright guys, make sure to follow the blog and leave a comment about anything. Want to chat us up? Want to tell me how much I smell? Want to help make the blog a better place? Well thankfully it isn't too hard since all you have to do is leave a message at the bottom of the screen.

 Keep giving the boom boom guys and cya again soon.