Setting Jhamjarhistan Ablaze!

[Vagabond]

It's almost as exciting reading it as it was playing it.

The gunners were so elated with their direct hit on Father Jack that they danced the Basmati jig, but I believe that was the last direct hit they made, although they tried very hard indeed, firing at any target of opportunity.

[Hu Rhu]

It's almost as exciting reading it as it was playing it.

My thoughts exactly. The Mad Lord certainly has a way with words.

As I recall the Grafin's aim was almost as perfect as your mountain gun, at least on the Gentlemen's 15, which was reduced on successive turns to the First Eleven, then the Sevens and then finally a Bridge team. 

[Blackwolf]

Brilliant as always 
Your room looks fascinating, the ravens, floating thistles, et cetera.
And as for the priest, I'll have to tell you about my past occupation at some stage

[Mad Lord Snapcase]

Many thanks, Vaggers and Hu Rhu.

Your room looks fascinating, the ravens, floating thistles, et cetera.

Lady Snapcase's artistic touches there.

And as for the priest, I'll have to tell you about my past occupation at some stage

Blackwolf, I sense a story here, even more dramatic than that of your ancestor, Carl Rossegger! Spill the beans, old boy!   

Chapter 4, A Daring Rescue

The sharp-eyed Honeysuckle Weeks, driving Genevieve had seen movement on a nearby hill and turned to investigate. Against all accepted military doctrine, the Kaiserlicher Stab (part of the Zeppelin Korps) have silhouetted themselves against the skyline. This can be excused on their part, as being staff officers and General rank, they can make their own minds up without being confused by the facts. One old military maxim has it, that the most dangerous combination a common soldier can experience is an officer with a map!

A far more lethal threat is still flying above the battlefield. The Gräfin von Stauffenberg is still threatening Snapforce in the vicinity of Djelibad market. Another Luftballon has also joined the fray. Piloted by Ernst Udet, the Great War ace, he seems to have chosen the Basmachi as a target. The Gentlemen's XV is now reduced to the Gentlemen's IX and they are heading to join up with the mortar platoon. The Jats are entering the market place and the Gurkhas are heading for the Emir's Palace in Djelibad. Bottom left, we can see Snapcase who has inched his painful way towards safety, with a sore arse, full of shrapnel. Chulmleigh, his faithful bulldog accompanies him.

The ever-resourceful LACW Weeks lines up the front-facing HMG in Genevieve, preparatory to potting a few Generals. The Zeppelin Korps troopers in the background are shouting a warning to the Kaiserlicher Stab, but to no avail. "Nimm deine verdammten Köpfe runter!"

In the meantime, our hero Vaggers has managed to reach the dig site. Ducking and weaving his way through a hail of lead, the intrepid Yorkshireman espies Bunty Hamster-Crust, hiding behind a Scythian pillar. "Bunty, uz beauty! Ah'm 'eear ta rescue theur. Gerr thy shapely arse ont' pillion, uz flower!" Perhaps the longest speech the reticent SIS agent has ever made to the alluring Bunty. Without further ado, the object of Vagger's passion is aboard his throbbing machine and ready to ride. Just in time too, as the Krasnyy Sotnya are entering the dig site from one side whilst the Basmachi are flooding in from the other.

The Basmachi have overrun the encampment around the dig site. Some of the dig members are fleeing for their lives. Professor Hilary de Spongepants (Rumpole College’s Chair of Archaeology), Lady Camilla Marsupial-Trout and Arabella Fotheringay-Featherstonhaugh were trapped on the roof of the building on the right. Hilary de Spongepants and Camilla Marsupial-Trout were executed in cold-blood by the vicious Basmachi horde, but for some reason Arabella has been spared this end. Trotsky will no doubt be cursing the fact that his daughter is a prisoner of the Basmachi, but grateful that she is at least, still alive.

Ernst Udet navigates his Luftballon acros the field of conflict, aiming to inflict as much damage as possible on the Basmachi.

Enver Pasha and his bodyguard of riders enter the dig site. We can see Carl Rossegger the archaeologist and Charlie Chan, a police detective on holiday from Honolulu. They are about to duck into that doorway behind them to try and avoid the inevitable carnage.

"The infidel camp is ours", cry the Basmachi as Ibrahim Bek leads them forward.

Ernst Udet is still struggling to aim his bombs, obviously somewhat lacking the skill of his Luftballon colleague, the Gräfin von Stauffenberg.

Speaking of the Gräfin von Stauffenberg, having seen the Gentleman's IX disperse to avoid the bombing, she makes anothe bombing run towards the Mooltan Battalion, not caring one iota for the traders and customers in Djelibad's busy market place. A few desultory rifle shots are fired at the Luftballon, but to no effect. The She-Wolf of the Zeppelin Korps scores another hit and five Jats are down out of an original force of eleven. No problem with the morale of this elite regiment though. "Jat Balwan, Jai Bhagwan!" they shout their battle-cry.

In the intervening period, the small vodka-fuelled unit of P'yanyy Kazaks are now busy looting the campsite area of the girls of Hilda Rumpole College Archaeological Society. Rifling through the scattered luggage, it was inescapable that they would discover many items of women's unmentionables. Even the Cheka pass by, registering their disgust at their Cossack compatriots dancing around a wrecked camp site with frilly knickers on their head, consuming even more vodka as they dance the Troika!

To be continued...

[Doug ex-em4]

Many dastardly deeds are uncovered here. The Basmachi will attract the righteous opprobrium of all right thinking people as will the cowardly aerial attacks of the Luftballoneers apart from their entirely justified attack on the Basmachi, of course; that’s the way to teach those murderous savages a lesson.

I’m amazed at the reported drunkenness of the Cossacks. They’re decent lads, a bit boisterous, a bit rough round the edges perhaps but drunks? Never! How could this have happened? I think rather they were overcome with grief at the fate of the young ladies and this extravagant mourning was misinterpreted by onlookers not familiar with their homely ways.

Splendid work, m’lord; I’m on the edge of my seat. Can’t wait for more.

Doug

[Bravo Six]

Lovely stuff Martin! As always! 

[Hu Rhu]

I might add that the Germans refused to fire at Vaggers, astounded as they were by his audacious driving right across their front. 

Or was it that I did fire but missed the blaggard?  I can't seem to remember especially as the game finally finished at about 2.45 in the morning. 

[Mad Lord Snapcase]

I think rather they were overcome with grief at the fate of the young ladies and this extravagant mourning was misinterpreted by onlookers not familiar with their homely ways.

Sounds like BS to me, Trotsky!

Thanks Bravo Six.

Or was it that I did fire but missed the blaggard?

A senior moment, I think. Vaggers seemed to be invulnerable, on the day. True love will out, bai 'eck.

Chapter 5, The Dig Site Overrun

After facing down a volley from the Krasnyy Sotnya, the Gentlemen's IX becomes the Gentlemen's IV! Aggers has taken over from Snappers and is still standing, with Lord Flashers, Sergeant Archibald Cutter and Billy Fish. Aggers decides to join forces with the mortar platoon.

As Vaggers roars past on the Enfield, with Bunty still firmly attached to the pillion, the Kaiserlicher Stab decide to charge Honeysuckle and her crew in Genevieve.

Over to the south-west the Tachanka brews-up after the Basmachi get in range.

The P'yanyy Kazaks have got their dander up now! With bloomers and camiknickers adorning their papakhas, the boys are feeling ready for a bit of a dust-up. The small four-man unit decide to charge the Basmachi horde...

...with a rather sad and predictable end to their alcohol-fuelled berserker rage.

Over in Djelibad, the Royal palace is in chaos. Under the command of Jonners, the Gurkhas have moved forward uttering their immortal battle-dry, ‘Ayo Gorkhali!’. Coming under fire from the Emir's court, the Gurkhas return fire with a vengeance. More than half of the Emir's fawning court are down, before the Emir (a notable fence-sitter) panics and decides to surrender. Turning to his former prisoner, Chippy, the Emir pleads for terms. Chippy, sensing his moment of glory has come, leads the Emir and his family down into the courtyard of the Palace and calls to Jonners and his men, who are forcing the gate. "I say old boy, Minton here of the Felpersham Peculiars. I have taken the Emir, Emira and Emirzade into my custody. Be a good chap and stop shooting, would you?", "Good show old stick", replied Jonners, "Gurkhas, cease fire!". This was the secondary objective achieved for Snapforce, the rescue of Chippy Minton. However, it effectively removed the Gurkhas from the game as they were needed to garrison the Djeli Palace in case of insurrection.

So, as we had seen previously, the Kaiserlicher Stab had elected to charge into Snappers' Roller to try and remove the HMG threat to the Zeppelin Korps. On the left can be seen the three men of the Geier Geschwader; Rittmeister Rikard D’Astardly accompanied by Hauptmann Herman von Klunk and Oberleutnant Albrecht Zilly. During the first exchange, the generals are going down like nine-pins and the Gräfin can be seen, trying to recall her errant staff.

As the last of the Kaiserlicher Stab fall to the blood-spattered plain they manage a Parthian shot. Genevieve, after travelling overland from Peshawar, through Kashgar and into Jhamjarhistan catches fire. Honeysuckle and her crew are forced to bale out to avoid the flames. A regretful end to one of Henry Royce and Charles Rolls finest creations. Snappers, nursing his shredded buttocks, watches from afar and cannot stop a tear or two rolling down his dusty cheeks (on his face, that is!).

The slaughter in the Mission Station is finally over. The Zhlobinski Penal battalion have cut down the last of the Warrior Nuns of the Ordo de quod Crucis Gladio.

In the overrun camp site, the Basmachi are getting to grips with the Bolos HMG, supplied by the Red Navy.

The boys from the Penal battalion reform in order to rescue their HMG.

However, the Traktor HMG is surrounded by snarling tribesmen, wielding blood-stained talwars. It looks like curtains for the Krasnyy Flot moryaki.

The Zhlobinskis take casualties as they advance, but the presence of the Bolo 2nd in command, Mikhail Borodin steadies them.

Enver Pasha heads through the dig site, looking for clues as to the location of the Golden Jhamjarh of the Sticky Gods. Carl Rosegger and Charlie Chan really do need to get out of the way!

It's the end for the HMG and the Cheka run as fast as they can for the entrance to the underground workings.

Enver Pasha and his bodyguard are desperate to cut down the Cheka before they reach the safety of the entrance. Will they make it?

Exciting news in Djelibad, as Vaggers and Bunty tear through the market place scattering cows and market produce, left, right and centre. "By 'eck lass, 'a' wor close. Alreight r e?". Bunty looks at Vaggers in adoration and manages to reply in the vernacular "Ah'm gran', me duck!". It looks as if they have made it to safety. The tertiary objective for Snapforce is complete.

Only one more chapter remains now of our thrilling tale. Various forces of the protagonists are entering the entrance to Lord Creosote's underground workings. Who will prevail? Stay tuned.

To be continued...

[Doug ex-em4]

Great stuff - really looking forward to next episode which I believe will be a bit of a change in terrain.

Doug

[Vagabond]

We've heard a lot about the drunken Russians, dressed up in ladies underwear, the rather ineffectual German staff officers and the public school XV who became  the badminton duo but the hero's are obviously the underdog Basmatchi Tribesmen led by that Napoleon of Stan Emver Pasha.

The only other hero on the field of battle is of course Vaggers the intrepid Yorkshireman but the discerning reader will have grasped that fact immediately.

I'm looking forward to the last instalment because, and I quote from many a Congressional Hearing " I have no memory of that incident your honour"

[FramFramson]

For an event so hyped and built up, it's still paying off very well!