Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Back of Beyond => Topic started by: Ignatieff on 29 July 2015, 11:26:02 AM
-
Just finished our latest epic weekend (alcohol plus the number of games played - 10 in all), so as always, firstly the briefs......
General:
Red Dawn Landing
The threat of all out war in Central Asia has finally forced the arthritic global leadership, under the banner of The League of Nations, to act. The ancient and mysterious city of Samarkand, on the front line between the Bukharans and the Bolsheviks, has been declared a Free City under LoN control. And to back up the political will, a task-force of almost 10,000 men, under French leadership, and also comprising US, Haitian and Austrian troops, is being assembled to keep the peace.
Bukhara and the Bolsheviks appear, on the surface at least, to accept this agreement, but beneath the thin veneer of acceptance, plots and counter plots are being drawn up and prepared for, "just in case".
Other, less stable, rivalries are however being played out against these tensions. Der Baron and his Mongol hordes, fresh from their success in the Ferghana Valley, are keen to press on and re-establish their dark empire. The Gerkushian rebels, emboldened by their recent successes, are equally keen to press for the full recognition of nationhood, and to break both the Bukharan stranglehold on all their ancestral lands as well as escaping from the less than benign 'protection' of Der Baron in the Ferghana Valley. And what of the British, who were after all initially against the LoN intervention into what they still see as the backyard of Imperial India? With nationalist discontent rising in the teeming back-streets of Delhi, Bombay and Calcutta, do they really want the League of Nations raising the hopes of their discontented millions, especially now that a new Afghan King, who seems intent on playing off all the Imperial powers -old and new, has come to the throne of their vicious and backward neighbour?
And meanwhile, high up in the snowy wastes of the Himalayas, various rival expeditions - rumoured to include that existential threat to common decency itself, the mysterious and utterly evil Fu Man Chu, are on the trail of a very dark secret, one so terrible that if it falls into the wrong hands could see the end of civilisation as we know it........
This then Gentlemen, is the background to our latest adventure, Red Dawn Landing!
The Bolsheviks...
Red Dawn Landing - Bolo brief
The three of you had been brought to Moscow under the strictest secrecy. A blacked out armoured train had whisked you from Tashkent straight into the incomplete wedding cake that is Kasansky station. Moscow was greyer than ever, despite the warm Spring sunshine. The much trumpeted improvements in five year plans and industrial production was yet to translate itself into brighter street lighting or cleaner streets. Soldiers and armoured cars were everywhere, much more so than normal. Something big was afoot.
The journey from the station to the Kremlin, in the back of a Red Navy Putilov Garford armoured car was bone juddering. FD The da wrecked cobbled streets of Moscow and the nine ton car making for the most incompatible of transports. In the cramped compartment, the smell of gasoline and cheap cigarettes was almost overpowering (your long sojourn in Central Asia had given you all a taste for, and - more importantly, access to, refined Persian tobacco as well as some of the regions more exotic smoking materials). Your entry through the Trinity Gates brought back good memories of the storming of the Kremlin in 1917, in which all three of you had taken part in those simpler times.
The violent sound of firing squads brought you back to the present. Despite the fact you were obviously being brought back to Moscow to be part of something momentous, one never felt entirely safe this close to the epicentre of the Revolution.
A smartly turned out Latvian Rifles officer and a squad of eager faced riflemen escorted you through the Kremlin Arsenal, the heart of Bolshevik planning for World Communism. You noticed how smartly these young recruits marched - they had obviously never seen action in the dusty far reaches of Mother Russia, like you three had!
Lenin was in ebullient mood. "Comrades, come and see this!". To your surprise he took you straight past the Central Asian room, one you were very familiar with, into a heavily guarded, unmarked ante-chamber, and then through heavy black out curtains. It was pitch dark. Lenin cursed as he fumbled to find the light switches. The arc lights spat into life. The room was empty apart from an enormous table, covered by a linen sheet, under which you make out shapes, like a relief map.
"So comrades, I presume you know why you are here? The invasion of Bukhara, eh?" Lenin had that annoying habit of answering his own questions. "That's what the whole world is talking about, eh? The British, The league of Nations, the Americans, the French, that's what they are all expecting". It was little secret that this war was coming. The Beast of Bukhara had isolated himself so much that he had no friends left. Anywhere. That and a resurgent Russia had made a collision inevitable. "That's why the League of Nations under that sanctimonious hypocrite Wilson has assembled a task force of 10,000 men to send to Samarkand. Samarkand! In Mother Russia! Sweet Rosa Luxembourg, the man's an ass, and a clumsy one at that. That's why the British, pissed off that Wilson and his capitalist stooges are 'playing in our back yard', are assembling a task force of 20,000 men in Persia. 20,000 men! With their best units and modern armour, ready to 'intervene' in case it all kicks off". He paused, hands behind his back, rocking back and forth on the heels of his shoes. "And that's why gentlemen, we are going here!" With a lunge and a violent rip at the sheet covering the table he revealed the most astonishing sight any of you had every seen.
There before you was an enormous relief map of India. Lenin exploded into life. "Comrades, I give you Operation Licorne. India! The jewel in the British Imperial Crown. The beating heart of its commercial empire. India, ready to throw of the Capitalist yoke and join the world Revolution!" It was no secret that unrest was widespread across the subcontinent, and that mutinies had taken place in the native army. "India, now denuded with troops as the British deploy to play Imperial Policemen in Persia. India, the soft underbelly of the decayed and corrupt British oppressors!" He had certainly lost none of his revolutionary fervour and ability to inspire despite the years of overwork and the stress of running the New World Order. "And India with a newly hostile Afghan King on its northwestern border, with a signed treaty with us to provide 100,000 men and safe passage to the largest and best equipped Russian army to take the field since 1914. Comrades, this is where you are heading. Whilst the eyes of the world are fixated on Central Asia you are to lead the most daring and brilliant campaign ever devised! India comrades, that is where you are bound! We have uprisings planned and agents all over the country to make life impossible for the British. And oh, one other thing. We have some scientists and agents looking for something in the Himalayas. It doesn't matter what it is. What matters is that you make contact with them a recover the merchandise. Code name is Siegfried. Trotsky will complete your briefing outside. Needless to say Comrades, only very few people know of this enterprise. And as you also know, the British have spies everywhere, so secrecy and speed are everything. You will have to create the illusion of war with Bukhara, without actually starting one".
The next day, in the office of Trotsky, Supreme Red Army Commander....
"Comrades, the plan is as follows..." Trotsky had a magnetic charisma that made the impossible seem matter of fact and easy, irresistible even.
"You will need to organise a series of believable feints on the northern borders of Bukhara. Try not to draw the Beast into or near Samarkand. It is important that we are seen to be the injured party here. Once the British deploy, or begin to deploy in Persia, the main army is to cut a corridor through eastern Bukhara, south from Tashkent, through Samarkand and into Afghanistan at Termez, and thence onto Kabul and India. We will send you the signal to start. The new King, Amaullah Khan, is a mad bastard, but he is our mad bastard, and he is joining us with 100,000 Mohammedans. We've promised him a worthless chunk of India, which he seems happy with. That and a train load of gold, a troupe of dancing boys, and some almost modern weaponery. Chácun a son goût". Trotsky was a snob who enjoyed showing off how educated he was. "Only two things matter at this stage. Firstly speed. You have over 700miles to cover between Tashkent and Kabul. This will need to be done quickly. The good news is that we do already have nearly 10,000 men in Afghanistan, mostly cossacks and specialists. However almost all of the heavy weapons, tanks and supplies need to be railed and roaded there. Secondly, you will need to figure out how to hold the Tashkent to Termez corridor open, at least until you secure a supply base in India. We don't think the Beast will be the issue, not unless the expedition is a disaster, in which case he will turn up like the spineless carrion he is. No, it will be from Der Baron on your eastern flank. We estimate he has some 10,000 men ready to mobilise in the Ferghana Valley. And then there is that traitorous bastard Ted and his boy scouts of the Gerkushian rebels. That's probably another 5,000. The good news is that Der Baron and the rebels are at each others throats. With a bit of effort we may be able to turn that to our advantage. Let's hope so".
The rest of the week was orders of march, logistics, and details of the planned uprisings in India.
Saturday night saw you board the Tashkent train. You all had plenty to talk about on the way back south......
Objective
Invade British India and raise the country in revolt. If Delhi, Calcutta and Bombay fall to either your forces or local insurgents then you will have won a decisive victory.
Forces
Force Marx: 60,000 well equipped and trained troops for the invasion of India. Includes 100 tanks (including the new super dreadnought class!), heavy artillery and 60 aircraft, including about a dozen heavy bombers. Start in disguised camps north of Tashkent and along rail depots the length and breadth of Central Asia
Force Engels: 15,000 badly equipped and ill trained levies, enthusiastic Red Guards and militia units, based along the northern border of Bukhara by the banks of the Aral Sea. Your principal deception force.
The Army of God: 5,000 Indian volunteers under the command of that idealist Manabendra Nath Roy. Well motivated if not potentially effective fighters. Disguised as students at the University of Central Asia in Tashkent. Roy is in contact with the Communist cells and their Nationalist allies in India. Lenin trusts him, but you think he is flakey.
Force Kronstadt: A dozen heavily armed 'Q' ships and three modern German built diesel submarines, currently operating far out in the Bay of Bengal. The umpire will operate these for you, at your ordering.
Intelligence
Why Operation 'Licorne'? Named after the 18/19th century Russian howitzer. A big shell that you never see coming.
British Intervention Force starts in and around Delhi cantonments. It is essential that these guys embark and get shipped to Persia as soon as possible. This is our trigger to get going. There is about 20,000 of their best troops and equipment in so-called 'Linn Force'.
The Beast of Bukhara has an estimated 30,000 regular troops and 30,000 irregulars/militia. Regular army is holding the main cities, towns and ports (on the Caspian Sea), with the elite units in and around Bukhara. Most of the border positions are being patrolled by irregulars and militia units. He is estimated to have 40 modern tanks, a heap of outmoded junk and about 24 WWI era aircraft.
Der Baron has about 8,000 men in Kashgar and 2,000 ' German auxiliaries' supporting the Gerkushian rebels in the Ferghana Valley.
Gerkushians are spread throughout the Ferghana valley. 5,000 well motivated but mostly lightly armed troops.
League of Nations are sea-bound from various ports on the west coast of the USA, North Africa (French & Austrians), Whites (Vladivostock) and the Caribbean (Haitians). Destination unknown. About 18,000 in all.
Keeping King Amaullah Khan of Afghanistan and his 100,000 men on side is critical. He is known to be volatile, so play a steady hand here comrades. He sees plots in every corner and believes that Der Baron is coming after him as the rightful King of Afghanistan due to his claimed direct descent from Alexander the great and Ghangis Khan.
We have a strong agent network in India, stirring up trouble at every turn. Key to this is our senior agent, Mahatma Ghandi. All coded messages to go through 'Carla', Head of Bolshevik Counter Intelligence.
....more later once this one has been 'digested'.
Thanks for reading...
-
Meanwhile in sweaty Delhi (with apologies to Francis Ford Coppola...)
Red Dawn Landing - British Brief
The map of Central Asia covered the entire length of the billiard table. The April night was hot and sticky. Delhi was deuced uncomfortable, hotting up even earlier than usual this year.
"It's been decided to put an end to this nonsense in the region". Dick Ellis was a rangy Australian Intelligence officer who had accompanied Malleson to TransCaspia in 1919. He was generally regarded as having had a good war, but there were those in power who didn't like him, partly because of his colonial manners (even though he was born in England), and partly because he was always so damned sure of himself. The fact was however, he knew the region like no other 'politico', especially when something big was in the offing' "This is, as the PM say's, 'our back yard', and we've let it fester for far too long. Now that the League of Nations and the blasted Yanks are involved, we need to move fast and decisively.
"The Beast has isolated himself to such an extent that he has no friends left anywhere. He should have been our natural ally, and we even forced our oil companies to put up a deal to work with him, but all to no avail. He has gradually withdrawn from public life, rarely being seen in daylight. He lives in a series of safe houses in and around Bukhara, employs a battalion of body doubles, and is always surrounded by elite guards. He has also taken to religion in a big way, and has the Imams in his mosques proclaiming him as one of the prophets messengers. When you read the stuff, its straight out of Buchan's Greenmantle. In fact we've translated passages that ARE straight out of Greenmantle. The problem with this is that it's stirring up our natives as well. We used to think this was Bolo sponsored. Now we are not so sure". It was true that a cocktail of nationalism, pan-islamism and Hindu self-determination was turning India into a powder keg. There had been riots in all the major cities, and rumours, in fact more than rumours - though this had been suppressed, of mutiny in some of the more excitable native regiments.
Ellis stood back from the table. At the other end, General Sir John Stuart Mackenzie Shea, GCB KCMG DSO, the man who accepted the keys of Jerusalem in 1917, took his trade mark monocle from his right eye, and spoke slowly and very deliberately, whilst staring out into the distance beyond the veranda and into the hot Indian night. Al Jolson's 'April Showers' warbled on a badly wound gramophone somewhere out in the darkness.
"Well, you see Brigadier Linn......in this war, things get confused out there, power, ideals, the old morality, practical military necessity. But out there with these natives, it must be a temptation to be God. Because there's a conflict in every human heart, between the rational and the irrational, between good and evil....And good does not always triumph. Sometimes, the dark side overcomes what Lincoln called the better angels of our nature. Every man has got a breaking point. You and I have one. The Beast of Bukhara has reached his. And very obviously, he has gone insane".
Ellis picked up the conversation. "You are to proceed with Linn Force to Meshed. There you are to await the arrival of Lord Grey from his current hill climbing expedition". Grey had told you of his excitement at joining Mallory and Irvine on their Everest attempt. "You are then to find a way to insert Grey into the nest of The Beast, Bukhara, where his to infiltrate his command and terminate him"
"Terminate The Beast?" You were stunned.
Shea looked straight at you. "He's operating out there without any decent restraint, totally beyond pale of any acceptable human conduct. And he is still in the field commanding troops and threatening the stability of the Empire".
"Terminate with extreme prejudice" added Ellis. "And you understand, Brigadier, that this mission does not exist, nor will it ever exist".
Your wits were returning. "If it's a secret mission, why on earth are you sending me half way round the continent with the cream of the Indian Army? Isn't it going to draw just a bit of attention to what we're upto?"
Ellis didn't think so. "On the contrary Linn. We are going to hide the mission in plain sight. The Bukharans and the Bolos will be fixated on your formations. They wont expect a single dagger thrust. We also want the plans of the Beasts Super tanks before the Bolos arrive in Bukhara. A top agent like Grey, working alone, can make that happen. Plus we believe that if, or rather should I say when, the Bolos defeat the Bukharans, we think they will try and push on to the Persian oil fields. We know they are upto something more than just Bukhara. Something big. Operation Licorne, whatever that is, but Persian oil is the obvious one and our intelligence backs this up. Your armour will dissuade them , especially if as we hope, the Bukharans tear lumps out of the Bolo army in the final last stand".
"Use your discretion Linn" added Shea. Discretion? Before the war this meant - at most - which tie knot a chap chose. Now in this new world, who knew?
Objectives
1. Terminate the Beast with extreme prejudice
2. Ensure the Bolos do not threaten the Empires strategic interests in Persia.
Forces
Two Brigades of Infantry, one armoured brigade, one cavalry brigade, one air wing, all camped around Delhi. Sufficient ships to transport Linn Force await at the relevant ports. About 20,000 men all in. c.10,000 infantry, 2,000 cavalry, 36 field guns, 24 heavy guns, 24 tanks, 36 armoured cars and 18 aircraft. The cream of the British Indian Army.
Linn Force
Divisional Troops
1 sqdn 1st Lancers
Nos. 263 and 265 Machine Gun Companies (Vickers)
1/12th Pioneers
No.3 Armoured motor battery (12 Lanchesters and Rolls Royces)
4th, 17th and 38th batteries RFA (18pdrs)
No.1 Kashmir and 33rd (Reserve) Mountain Batteries
13th & 15th Heavy battery RGA (60pdrs)
1st & 3rd howitzers RGA (8" guns)
1st Brigade
4/1st Argylls
1/11th Gukhas
110th Mahratta LI
2nd Brigade
1st South Lancs
2/33rd Punjabis
2/8th Gurkhas
3rd Brigade
1st Gordons
2/54th Sikhs
3/39th Gharwal Rifles
12th Mounted Brigade
27th Cavalry
13th Bengal Lancers
Royal Glos Hussars
3rd NZ mounted rifles
No.22 Machine gun squadron
No.7 Armoured motor battery (12 Rolls Royces)
17th battery RHA (13pdrs)
3rd Armoured Brigade
1 squadron of Whippets (6)
2 x squadrons of Vickers Medium Mark II tanks (12)
1 squadron of Vickers Medium Mark III tanks (6)
No 23 Armoured motor battery (12 Rolls Royce armoured cars)
Attached air wing
6 Bristol fighters
6 Bristol Bullets
6 DH10s
Intelligence
- Bolo forces ranged against north west Bukhara estimated to be c.45,000 men. Mostly old equipment and poorly trained levies
- Tashkent has a concentration of around 10,000 more modern Bolo troops with armour, etc.
- Bukharan army estimated to be c.20,000 modern troops with armour and heavy weaponry (including modern tanks) and 40,000 reservists and irregular levies. Mostly concentrated in and around the capital.
- Bolos also trying to recruit an Indian Army with promises of liberating India after vanquishing Bukhara. A few thousand enthusiastic student types have signed up under Manabendra Nath Roy, mostly from the University of Central Asia in Tashkent. Roy himself is still thought to be in Moscow
- Lord Grey attempting an assault on Everest with Mallory and Irvine. Due back in about six weeks.
- Der Baron in Kashgar, numbers unknown.
-Ferghana Valley tense. The former Red Commander 'Ted' has been appointed Gerkushian Defence minister. Relationships with occupying German troops (under Von Stauffenberg) said to be 'difficult'. Could be a chance for mischief.
-
Meanwhile in downtown Bukhara......
(http://rs256.pbsrc.com/albums/hh164/defoix/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsqknbuffu.jpg~320x480?t=1438091070)
Amazing Bukaran city walls by the God that is Gary Chalk
-
Fantastic....nuff said
-
Terminate the Beast with extreme prejudice! lol. Cracking set up on that table. Look forward to seeing more.
-
Ohhhh, I am going to be watching this thread!
-
Red Dawn Landing - League of Nations Brief
The League of Nations Secretary General, James Eric Drummond, son of the 16th Earl of Perth, and scion of a long line of relatively undistinguished British diplomats, addressed the assembled military in the Great Chamber of the League of Nations Assembly in Geneva.
"Gentlemen and officers of the League of Nations Task Force". He sounded like he was, a small unimpressive man, overlooked by the British Civil Service before being foisted as second (or third) pick, on this relatively new global quango. "You have been selected to be here as the best of your generation, to carry out the League's most important mission, in its as yet brief history". He spoke like he was about to announce the imminent arrival of the 9.14 from Blairgowrie. "I am particularly pleased to welcome the contingent leaders from the United States, who despite not being full members of The League, are hear to support us in our peaceful mission due to the good offices of President Woodrow Wilson, who as you know, was a passionate and vocal advocate of the foundation of this important body". It was a bit like the shipping forecast, on benzedrine..."Also joining us in our mission are contributions from the exotic island of Haiti, who will fall under the command of the Americans and Colonel Mulligan; an experienced Austrian Brigade under the command of much decorated war-hero, Colonel Schneiber; a White Russian contingent under the command of my dear fried Grand Duke Dimitri Pavlovich, and of course, all under the wise overall command of our French 'ami', Count General Pierre Smirnoff". He rarely stopped for breath, which was an impressive feat, but the overall effect was like a slow drilling sensation inside your head. He droned on... "As you are aware, France has long been a leading supporter of the League's ambitions, and in particular of a strong armed response. This is such a response to a peril so great it threatens the peace and stability of the world order".
The mission was simple. Insert yourselves in the recently declared League of Nations free city of Samarkand, stop the Bolsheviks and Bukharans from tearing each other apart and threatening to kick off a new regional war. As peacekeepers you must respond to events and not dictate them. However you are entitled to use the full force of the mission if you believe it will help you achieve your overarching goal of preventing a general war in the region
You start in your national assembly ports of Norfolk Virginia (USA & Haiti); Oran (France); Vienna (Austria) and Vladivostok (Whites). The first task is to negotiate a suitable assembly point with a friendly (preferably League) power, close enough to the zone of operations. Mooted assembly points include north-west India (the British are amenable and the new King of Afghanistan has indicated he will allow the force through for a suitable bribe and consideration for membership of The League of Nations); the white enclave of Vladivostok (a long way away and would require a similarly long and possibly disputed transit) or Baku (The Beast has been silent on this, which means it could go wither way). The most obvious insertion points into Samarkand are either through Persia (via negotiations with the British and the Persians); through Afghanistan (see above); through China (more difficult because of the long running civil war there), or through Bolshevik Russia (harder still for all the usual reasons). Such negotiations should be conducted by the Mission Leader (Smirnoff) via the Umpire.
League of Nations Peace Keeping Force: c.18,000 in all. 11,000 infantry, 1,000 cavalry, 18 armoured cars, 30 field guns, 12 heavy guns, 66 HMGs and 12 aircraft.
CinC: Count Pierre Smirnoff
Divisional Troops
1 sqdn Legion Etranger Cavalry
3 sqdns of French White Armoured cars (18)
Nos. 4 and 17 French machine gun batteries (12 guns)
1 coy Legion Etranger Pioneers.
2 x batteries of French 75mm field guns (12 guns)
2 x batteries French 150mm howitzers (12 guns)
1 sqdn of French aircraft - 6 Spad XIII's and 6 Breguet light bombers.
1st French Brigade
3/1st FFL
1/5th FFL
2/5th FFL
1st FFL cavalry
2 & 6th HMG attachments (12 guns)
4th USMC Brigade
1/5th Marine Regt
1/6th Marine Regt
1/9th Marine Regt
1 coy of Marine Engineers
1 battery of 75mm field guns (6 guns)
6th Marine MG battalion (24 guns)
Grand Duke Pavlovich Volunteer Brigade
1/Kornilov Shock Infantry Regt
1/Drozdovsky Rifle Regt
1/Samursky Rifle Regt
19th Regt Don Cossacks
135th St.Basil's field battery (6 x 77m guns)
37th St.Katherine MG battalion (12 guns)
123rd Austrian Field Brigade
1/3rd Assault Grenadiers
1/12th Rifle Regiment
2/47th Rifle Regiment
142nd Special Pioneer battalion
13th field gun battery (6 guns)
3rd HMG battery (6guns)
Intelligence
- Bolo forces ranged against north west Bukhara estimated to be c.45,000 men. Mostly old equipment and poorly trained levies
- Tashkent has a concentration of around 10,000 more modern Bolo troops with armour, etc.
- Bukharan army estimated to be c.20,000 modern troops with armour and heavy weaponry (including modern tanks) and 40,000 reservists and irregular levies. Mostly concentrated in and around the capital.
- Samarkand is due to be handed over to you by a joint Bolo and Bukharan delegation. expect trouble however.
- Ferghana Valley notionally independent, though de facto control rests with Der Baron's German proxies under Von Stauffenberg. He has about 3,000 well trained troops in the Valley. Gerkushians have about 5,000, mostly irregulars.
- Maps when I get all the briefs out.
French Side brief:
From the Eleysee Palace: "Count General Smirnoff. You are to execute the League's mandate to the best of your ability. However if in the circumstances you can undermine perfidious Albion's sneering superiority in the region, then this would be good for France. We cannot be more specific in this brief, but we are sure that circumstances will present themselves in which you can act in this manner".
There was also the small personal matter of the fabled riches of Samarkand, Tamerlane's tomb being foremost (but not alone) amongst them. As yet unexcavated you believe, and rumoured to be replete with his personal treasures.. Legends abound of a maze of secret tunnels under the city.
US side brief:
From the State Department: " This is going to be a hot mission Colonel Mulligan. All the Imperial powers, old and new, are trying to establish themselves as top dog in the region. The British have most to lose we believe, and despite our traditional suspicions of their motives we believe it is imperative that they are not undermined in any way. What could come after them might well be much worse.
There was also the small personal matter of the fabled riches of Samarkand, Tamerlane's tomb being foremost (but not alone) amongst them. As yet unexcavated you believe, and rumoured to be replete with his personal treasures..Legends abound of a maze of secret tunnels under the city.
White side brief:
This was a chance to raise the flag of Romanov rebellion in this ancient and mysterious far province of Mother Russia. The League of Nations might be the excuse, but the mission was a holy and sacred one: raise the tribes to re-establish the Old Order, and secure Samarkand as your capital. Respect the history of the city, its monuments and its tombs, respect the religion of its inhabitants, but throw of the shackles of the Bukharans, the Bolsheviks, and - if need be - The League of Nations. Huzzah!
Austrian side brief:
Your 'other' mission is to experiment with a varied batch of unidentified poison gasses left over from WWI with a view to understanding what they are, and how they work. Due to the strict parameters of the Treaty of Versailles, it has not been possible to even admit to the existence of these weapons, never mind test them safely. The wide open spaces of Central Asia, far from prying eyes, and with only a few unwashed savages in the vicinity, offers up a perfect opportunity for a spot of chemistry classes.
-
Steve,
We will be needing more pictures of the walls of Bukhara :-*
Lon
-
Your wish is my command, oh great Fu....
(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh164/defoix/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsqpfkenoc.jpg)
The Ark, or citadel
(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh164/defoix/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsr4g1ljza.jpg)
The mosque where the Beast allegedly attends Friday prayers...
(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh164/defoix/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsdhykvltu.jpg)
the exterior of the walls. The big tower piece is actually in Khiva, but it was too good to leave out. The towers, if I recall correctly, were made out of Yogurt pots.
-
Red Dawn Landing - Fu Machu brief
"Master. What do you think are the long term consequences of the French Revolution?" The young apprentice was eager for knowledge.
"It is still too soon to tell young apprentice. The Revolution lead to the fall of monarchies, which led to counter revolutions, which led to the rise of the proletariat in Russia, which is as yet....unresolved. And so the ripples of the waves continue. Anyway, begone young one. I have a Pasadoble to master.."
And with that Fu Manchu was back on the dance floor of the Shanghai Mansion Hotel, which in addition to perfecting his ballroom dancing, was from where he controlled some 40% of the worlds opium trade.
The International Celestial Empire was on high alert these last few months. There is war and rumour of war in central Asia. There is discontent in the Indian nation as they seek to throw off the shackles of the British. But all is not as it seems in the world of global geo-politics. Your spies in Afghanistan have noted increased Bolshevik activity there. Ostensibly on 'road building and humanitarian support', it seems that all roads are leading to Delhi. The Bolsheviks are playing a wonderfully complicated game which may well be beyond their powers of execution. The British are confused. Despite this evidence they take their best army and send it to Persia, to stop what? Ghosts? All of this means there will be chaos soon, and in chaos ICE thrives.
Of more interest to you is what is happening high in the mountains of Central Tibet. Your men tell of strange apparitions that the normally organised Tibetans can make no clue of. The weather has not turned from winter, and grain is spoiled, and the people unhappy. Your spies tell you more. Of silver disks flying across the noon day sun, of rumours of sliver men and technology beyond knowing. Of the chance to control the world without the need for armies and conventional weapons. This is your chance. This is your game.
Objectives
1. find out what is happening in Tibet and profit from it
2. Stir the chicken feet broth of chaos in Central Asia to best long term advantage to ICE
Forces
As usual, we are dealing with forces beyond our comprehension, most of which are under your control....
Intelligence
- Bolo forces ranged against north west Bukhara estimated to be c.45,000 men. Mostly old equipment and poorly trained levies
- Tashkent has a concentration of around 10,000 more modern Bolo troops with armour, etc.
- Bukharan army estimated to be c.20,000 modern troops with armour and heavy weaponry (including modern tanks) and 40,000 reservists and irregular levies. Mostly concentrated in and around the capital.
- Bolos also trying to recruit an Indian Army with promises of liberating India after vanquishing Bukhara. A few thousand enthusiastic student types have signed up under Manabendra Nath Roy, mostly from the University of Central Asia in Tashkent. Roy himself is still thought to be in Moscow
- Lord Grey attempting an assault on Everest with Mallory and Irvine. Due back in about six weeks.
- Der Baron in Kashgar, numbers unknown.
-Ferghana Valley tense. The former Red Commander 'Ted' has been appointed Gerkushian Defence minister. Relationships with occupying German troops (under Von Stauffenberg) said to be 'difficult'.
- Bolos also trying to recruit an Indian Army with promises of liberating India after vanquishing Bukhara. A few thousand enthusiastic student types have signed up under Manabendra Nath Roy, mostly from the University of Central Asia in Tashkent. Roy himself is still thought to be in Moscow
- Amaullah Khan is the cousin of The Beast of Bukhara, though they are said to loathe each other
- Der Baron claiming crown of Afghanistan due to his claimed direct descent from Alexander the Great and Ghengis Khan
- The Beast is said to be taking to dressing up in disguise as a women for fear of assassination
- The League of Nations is assembling a force of c.18,000 men to be inserted between the warring factions in Samarkand. Led by the French, the assembly ports of Norfolk Virginia (USA); Oran (France); Vienna (Austria) and Vladivostok (Whites) are being used for this genuinely multi-national force.
One of your men was at the League of Nations meeting in Geneva, where he reported this speech:
The League of Nations Secretary General, James Eric Drummond, son of the 16th Earl of Perth, and scion of a long line of relatively undistinguished British diplomats, addressed the assembled military in the Great Chamber of the League of Nations Assembly in Geneva.
"Gentlemen and officers of the League of Nations Task Force". He sounded like he was, a small unimpressive man, overlooked by the British Civil Service before being foisted as second (or third) pick, on this relatively new global quango. "You have been selected to be here as the best of your generation, to carry out the League's most important mission, in its as yet brief history". He spoke like he was about to announce the imminent arrival of the 9.14 from Blairgowrie. "I am particularly pleased to welcome the contingent leaders from the United States, who despite not being full members of The League, are hear to support us in our peaceful mission due to the good offices of President Woodrow Wilson, who as you know, was a passionate and vocal advocate of the foundation of this important body". It was a bit like the shipping forecast, on benzedrine..."Also joining us in our mission are contributions from the exotic island of Haiti, who will fall under the command of the Americans and Colonel Mulligan; an experienced Austrian Brigade under the command of much decorated war-hero, Colonel Schneiber; a White Russian contingent under the command of my dear fried Grand Duke Dimitri Pavlovich, and of course, all under the wise overall command of our French 'ami', Count General Pierre Smirnoff". He rarely stopped for breath, which was an impressive feat, but the overall effect was like a slow drilling sensation inside your head. He droned on... "As you are aware, France has long been a leading supporter of the League's ambitions, and in particular of a strong armed response. This is such a response to a peril so great it threatens the peace and stability of the world order".
-
Red Dawn Landing - Der Baron & Von Stauffenberg's brief
The meteor showers, running from west to east, had lit up the night skies above Kashgar for weeks now. You had never seen anything like it. You knew it had to mean something portentous, and Psychic Evans, your new Chief Shaman, concurred.....
"Now then Boyo". He had bestowed upon you the title of 'Boyo', claiming it was the inner secret manifestation of Buddha's Karmic Essence. "Now then. What we are seeing above us is a sign like. It's a sign that you, Boyo, you are the chosen one. Chosen to rule over the five celestial kingdoms, chosen to be the one true successor to the Romanovs, and..." he swayed like no other human being you had ever met could sway, appearing to have a spine of India rubber.."..and that in the East, high up in the mountains of Tibet, there is a sign that when revealed will make the world bow down at your feet. It is the same sign that Ghengis Khan received before he became ruler of the entire known world. How else do you think a bow legged monkey with the build of a Pontypridd prop forward could have been sooo successful?". You had asked him about 'Pontypridd'. He said it was one of the seven circles of hell, and that it was locked in an eternal struggle with another, more enlightened magical kingdom called 'Swansea' that he had descended from. The war of these kingdoms had been rolling on since the beginning of time. Apparently. When it thundered, he said, the 15 Gods of Swansea were said to be charging at the Gates of Pontypridd. The story changed from time to time, depending on how many mushrooms he had eaten...
You therefore have a dilemma.
To the west is your protectorate of Gerkush. Young, dynamic, ambitious and therefore ripe for repression. Their self appointed 'Defence Minister' is a red defector by the name of Ted, who stinks of gin and constantly stokes the fires on effete nationalism. The combination of a former Red who preaches modern self-determination you think is a very dangerous creed indeed. Farther west, and rumoured to be denuded of troops as the Bolsheviks massed in the far west for the invasion of Bukhara, was Tashkent. A proper civilised capital. With railways and roads and running water. Could you take it in time? But what of all this activity in the Himalayas. And the meteor showers. And the voices in your head saying 'cheese' all the time...
Added to all of this was the fact that you felt that the men were getting bored. Teapot had started sucking his thumb again, a sure sign. And the Kipper of Destiny had started glowing that odd blue glow from inside its box. Something was happening, somewhere....
Objectives:
1. Expand your resurgent empire to the best of your capability, taking advantage of the chaos all around you.
2. Get to the bottom of Psychic Evans's visions of the Himalayas.
Forces:
- 15,000 men of the Asiatic Cavalry Division, in and around Kashgar.
- 1,500 German military 'advisors' under Von Stauffenberg garrisoned in the Ferghana Valley
- 5,000 willing Gerkushians, under your command via Defence Minister Ted and the 'man on the ground' Von Stauffenberg.
- 6 U-Boats plus supply ships in the Bay of Bengal.
Intelligence
...in addition to what is in your core brief....
- The new King of Afghanistan, Amaullah Khan is said to be a British puppet
- India is in forment, with the nationalists organising daily strikes and mass demonstrations
- Linn has been ordered out of the country in case there is a repeat of that unfortunate Amritsar incident
- Secret Allied missions are rumoured to be being organised into the Himalayas, without the knowledge of the Tibetans.
- maps when I get all the briefs out
Good luck!
-
Simply...... Wow!
-
Magnificent briefing material and lovely scenery.
Looking forward very much to reading how this all pans out.
-
Brilliant as always! Can't wait for more ...
-
Red Dawn Landing - Gerkushian brief
Freedom surely was not meant to be this way. After the thrill of the liberation of the Ferghana Valley late last year, the rout of the Beast, and the establishment of popular plebiscites all around Northern Gerkush (as it had been re-christened), the intervening eight months had been very hard on your nascent state.
Der Baron's protectorate, overseen by Von Stuaffenberg, had seen the stalling of legitimate democratic reform and the continuing repression of your nationalist aspirations. It felt like you had exchanged one dictator for another one, this time a jackboot wearing sausage eating one. The 'Germanification' of Northern Gerkush was part of a purposeful repression of the people of Gerkush, or so you beleived. Sausage stalls on every street corner, compulsory oompah band lessons in every school, and German as the semi-official language of government.
It was time to act. And the great drama being played out all around the region means that where there is chaos, there is also opportunity.
To the west, the Beast is alone, friendless and paranoid. He is rarely seen in public, and is in constant fear of his life. His entire army of 60,000 is concentrated in and around Bukhara to protect his person.
The British are rumoured to be sending a large army, 'Linn Force', into Persia to stop the chaos reaching the Persian oilfields
India is in chaos. Nationalists everywhere are trying to throw of the yoke of Imperial serfdom, under their charismatic leader, Mahatma Ghandi. He may be of some help for you.
The Bolsheviks are massing huge numbers of troops on the Bukharan border, ready to finally crush The Beast.
Der Baron's main army is some 15,000 strong, but is camped around Kashgar. Only 1,500 German mercenaries are holding the Ferghana Valley against your militia of 5,000 and a nation of patriots.
There are rumours of strange sickness all through Tibet, and weird meteor showers, more than you've ever seen in your life, light up the night sky, coming from the west and falling in the east.
Objectives
- throw off the yoke of Der Baron and his German lackeys, by any means, fair or foul
- establish Northern Gerkush as a genuinely independent state
Forces
5,000 well motivated but lightly armed militia men
upto 20,000 patriots, ready to help in a campaign of civil disobedience
Maps will be sent out when I've done all the briefs.
Good luck!
Steve
-
Red Dawn Landing - Tibetan brief
The sickness amongst the monks had lasted for months. The winter crops rotted inexplicably in the great warehouses. And the snows had not melted in the high passes of the Nyainqentanglha Shan, leaving the people cut off and starving. Questions were being asked about The Great Buddha's will, and what the people of Tibet had done to offend him. Prayers and more prayers were offered, the wheels spun unendingly, but still the Great Sickness rode the land. There were rumours of great rays of light appearing and disappearing suddenly, deep in the mountains north of Ngamring, but the terrible storms that had lasted for months meant that no zeppelin could come close and no foot expedition could dare to try. This would normally be a time of looking inward, of ignoring all the Foreign Devils and only healing the people, but Tibet's increased international these last ten years meant that this was not possible anymore.
For there was war and rumour of war in the western lands. The heathen Bolsheviks had massed against Bukhara. The British had responded and are arming a great expedition to send to eastern Persia. The new King of Afghanistan, Amaullah Khan, whose name means 'snake', was said to harbour great violence against all. And all through India, on your southern border, great civil strife had erupted against the King Emperor's rule. Then there was strange new state, which was not a state, the so-called 'League of Nations', who was planning to pour more guns and soldiers into the region to 'keep the peace'.
These were worrying times, and Tibet must play its part. As well as healing its people you must choose sides in the coming strife. Your central role as peace keepr in the region demands it.
Objectives
1. Work out what is happening up in the mountains north of Ngamring, and heal the sickness amongst the people of Tibet that it is causing
2. Play your part in the International drama playing out in Central Asia.
Forces
2,000 elite monks
5,000 British trained regulars
20,000 militia
support weaponry (field guns, machine guns, mortars, etc)
2 super zeppelins
6 transport zeppelins
and in extremis, the 12 commercial zeppelins of 'Yak Air'.
Intelligence
- Bolo forces ranged against north west Bukhara estimated to be c.45,000 men. Mostly old equipment and poorly trained levies
- Tashkent has a concentration of around 10,000 more modern Bolo troops with armour, etc.
- Bukharan army estimated to be c.20,000 modern troops with armour and heavy weaponry (including modern tanks) and 40,000 reservists and irregular levies. Mostly concentrated in and around the capital.
- Bolos also trying to recruit an Indian Army with promises of liberating India after vanquishing Bukhara. A few thousand enthusiastic student types have signed up under Manabendra Nath Roy, mostly from the University of Central Asia in Tashkent. Roy himself is still thought to be in Moscow
- Amaullah Khan is the cousin of The Beast of Bukhara, though they are said to loathe each other
- Der Baron claiming crown of Afghanistan due to his claimed direct descent from Alexander the Great and Ghengis Khan
- The Beast is said to be taking to dressing up in disguise as a women for fear of assassination
- Gerkushians increasingly frustrated by Der Baron's 'benign' protectorate in the Ferghana Valley, and in particular his proxy, Von Stauffenberg, 'Germanification' policies
-
Red Dawn Landing - Afghan Brief
It was, without a shadow of a doubt, good to be King.
The palaces, the wealth, the Rolls Royce Phantom car in Islamic green, the dancing girls, the page boys, and the marching bands at the daily executions. Rows of modern Afghan soldiers in smart Russian uniforms going 'left right, left right' all day long. And people cheering, everywhere, with little green flags. There is no doubt, this is what being a proper King means. Not like that paranoid cousin of yours, The Beast of Bukhara, skulking in his capital, too scared to go out in daylight, completely and utterly friendless, and seeing plots in every corner and bazaar. Rumour had it he had taken to dressing as a women, and employed dozens of body doubles. Oh how you laughed.
You on the other hand had friends, lots of them. The British liked you, and paid you huge bounties to avoid pillaging their frontier towns. Which you mostly complied with, until that incident. The Red heathens loved you, and supplied you with guns and bombs and aircraft and artillery and bayonets, and even more money, especially after that insult. And The League of Nations loved you, especially after you had lied about letting their silly little frontier force march through the Khyber Pass en route for Samarkand.
You had never met the new British Resident Lord Grey before. You had expected the usual deferential English inbreed, all narrow shouldered and long nosed loquacious charm and false flattery. No this one was different. Especially when he asked for an initial private audience. You should have suspected something, but never this. You had acceded to his request, and he met you on the battlement walls of the Kabul fortress under a warm moonlit autumn night. If you recalled, before you lost your temper and tried to throw him straight off the wallls, the conversation went something like this. Says he: "You know Amaulluh Khan, we've grown bored with your stone age ways, your lying and your treachery. Britain has a new friend in the region, and his name is Adrian Enver Pasha, your enlightened and progressive cousin". "Really?" says I, utterly taken aback at this affront. "Yes!" says he, all haughty and English. "And the money stops here. No more bribes, no more flattery, no more baksheesh. His Majesty's Government has had enough. You are yesterday's man, so get used to it". With that, he lit up a cheroot and farted. Very loudly, and with a curious trumpet voluntary arrangement. You lunged for him, but he ran off, just like that. Well, that was it. A telegram the following day confirmed what the bastard had said. And then he was recalled back to Delhi. Gone. And therefore how all the sweeter the very next day when you received a telegram from the Red heathens in Moscow, asking to open a 'trade mission'. Well you would show them. Turns out the 'trade mission' was after your help in a little bit of border raiding into India. 100,000 jihadi warriors worth of help. With gold to pay for them and the assistance of over 60,000 Bolshevik troops, tanks, aircraft and heavy guns. And the Rolls Royce Phantom. In Islamic green. That sealed it. That and the promise of all of north west India and the title of 'Emperor of the Punjab' Grey would rue the day when he insulted The Lion of Allah! All this talk in the west of a Bolshevik invasion of Bukhara was a bluff! But how you would enjoy frightening that loathsome cousin of yours all the same!
Objective:
The Big One. Work in top-secret concert with the Bolsheviks to invade India and overthrow the British Empire, extracting as much reward from all sides whilst you are at it.
Forces:
70,000 fanatical Afghan tribesmen, horse and foot, armed with a mixture of modern and obsolete rifles.
30,000 regular Afghan army. Modern weaponry, field guns, machine guns, armoured cars, and some obsolete WWI aircraft. Split 25,000 infantry and 5,000 cavalry.
The Bolsheviks have already deployed some 10,000 of their best troops in Afghanistan involved in training, reconnaissance and logistics (road and river crossing improvements). They have another 50,000 spread out across Central Asia ready to converge on Afghanistan.
Intelligence
- India is in forment! Your agents and those of the heathen Reds have bribed every ne'er-do-well and their cousins to put spanners in every possible works.
- Brigadier Linn is being sent out the country with a large army (20,000 of their best troops) to protect the Persian oil fields. India is therefore almost defenceless apart from a few police battalions and reservists.
- There are strange meteor showers running from west to east and said to be landing high up in the Himalayas. Hopefully some of them will fall on the head of that bastard Grey who is trying to climb Everest with two other swines called Mallory and Irvine.
- The League of Nations has agreed to send an 18,000 strong field force to sit in-between the Bolos and Bukharans in Samarkand. It is under the command of Smirnoff and comprises French, Austrian, American and White Russian contingents. It needs to be able to pass through either Persia or Afghanistan to get there. Maybe a chance for some mischief in the Khyber passes?
- Der Baron is claiming that he is the rightful King of Afghanistan due to his 'direct line' descent from Alexander the Great and Ghengis Khan.
- The three Bolo Commanders are Dave Ryan, Iain Blackwood and Paul Eaglestone. 'Red' Ted has defected to the Gerkushians and is now a puppet of Der Baron. There is a very large price on his head from Moscow, not surprisingly...
- Maps when I get all the briefs out.
Good luck!
Steve
-
Right. That's all the briefs. Next up, what happened in the four moves leading up to the weekend. Apologies for the lack of photos at this stage. I'm travelling a lot and the plates are at the chemists being developed!
Plus I am flying with my two lads to Tashkent tomorrow for some further recon there and in Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand. Before popping into Tajikistan for a few days next weekend 'in the footsteps of Alexander' Moo-ha-ha! Moo-ha-ha! On a serious note, anyone know where the Sogdian Rock actually is???
-
Soghdian Rock, right? Ah Roxanne...sigh. So are you planning on fording the Amu Darya via inflated goat bladders? It is the only way don't you know! Best if under arrow fire from the opposite bank. So says Arrian or was it Quintus Curtius?
Lon
-
Soghdian Rock, right? Ah Roxanne...sigh. So are you planning on fording the Amu Darya via inflated goat bladders? It is the only way don't you know! Best if under arrow fire from the opposite bank. So says Arrian or was it Quintus Curtius?
Lon
Think it was both Lon. Though wait till you see the picture of Roxanne from the campaign. You'll not be sighing then matey!
-
I long ago ran out of words for the League's exploits. Glad to see them back in action.
Bring on the plot twists and pictures!
-
(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh164/defoix/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpslkamyztp.jpg)
The shadowy figure on the veranda of the main gate to the Ark is reported to be the last image of the Beast prior to.....
-
Fascinating! :o :-*
...as usual. :D ;)
-
I keep hitting 'refresh'...
-
And gentlemen in France then -a-field in Agincourt
Shall think themselves accurs’d they were not there ;)
Lovely Lovely Lead and buildings :-* :-* :-*
-
Shush Adrian Pasha......you're supposed to be dead lol
-
Bloody Marvellous as always. Just had a stint in hospital and been recovering at home (although i'm back in tomorrow!) catching up and what do I find to lift the spirits but some pictures and info on the last 'League' game. What joy, can't wait to see more and more and more pictures.
Cheers
Richard P
-
apologies for the delay. Currently 'up country' in Uzbekistan. Normal service will be resumed at the end of next week.
-
Ha ha! Two in a day!!!
And here are the pics....buggered if I can recall all the amazing detail (too many games/too much alcohol/old age. Take you pick..), but in summary, the Brits were hoodwinked into sending their main army to Persia, The Bolos stormed the passes and got as far as the walls of Delhi. They also tried a spectacular, but unsuccessful raid on Bombay (it was good to welcome back The Potemkin). The Reds also had this campaigns secret weapon - the super tank!. Meanehile in Tibet a mysterious flying saucer was the object of much shooting and rocks falling on folks heads. It was, as I hope you will agree from the pics, a cracker....
and oh the Red's lost. Badly. And are high tailing it back to Russia. And they lost Tashkent to Der Baron. And check out The Dalai's new zeppelin in here!!! Woo hoo!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/leagueextraordinarykriegspielers/albums/72157658746902750
-
Fantastic (and I mean that in all senses of the word !) as ever, Gentlemen. Quite enjoyed the pictures - wonderful collections of well-painted figures. Austrians posed an interesting choice of post-war peace keepers.
-
.... Austrians posed an interesting choice of post-war peace keepers.
thank you. Especially under 'Psycho' Schneiber....
-
Steve,
Mind boggling photos as usual :o :o :o Something amazing to see every time I go through them! The Dali's zep and that entire mountain board really stand out to me. Who has the "Captain Nemo" sub? Please let me know if my away team has had a chance to report. I know that the slopes and the beautiful surroundings beckon (not to mention the torte mit shlagsahne and the Asbach) but Fu is going to have to start "severely questioning" his subordinates soon over their untimely reports lol lol lol
Lon
-
Stupendous! How many extra properties do you have to rent to store all that stuff?
-
Stupendous! How many extra properties do you have to rent to store all that stuff?
it all packs down under the floorboards.....
-
What a cracking looking game - must have been fun. Very evocative write ups and terrain.
-
Absolutely brilliant. :o
-
Shush Adrian Pasha......you're supposed to be dead lol
Recovering in Switzerland was just what was needed
All work and no play...
Lake Audi was tranquillity itself
-
...with drink and cigar in hand too! Quite the lay in :D :D
-
Cool.
-
Delighted to see the League's latest foray.
-
Metternich,
This is last years madness. The Beast of Bokhara was just confirming what we all suspected that he had not really been assassinated and was "not quite dead". I only wonder what medal he is going to award himself for this "adventure". Perhaps, the "Spa Star" or "Great Golden Cross of Recovery"? lol lol
Lon
-
Incredible. Insane amount of work going into a project of that scale. Impressive to say the least.
-
Brilliant work!