Somewhere on an airstrip in Central America

[Westbury]

The 'Regulars' hadn't played a Cartel game in a couple of years so time to roll out the forces of law enforcement and the forces of 'entrepreneurism'
In this scenario one group has flown in a load of contraband and the other has met it with bags of money - no BACCS transfer for these guys 
A tip off has led a trio of DEA agents (Kate Macer, Gina Calabrese & Matt Weston) to persuade local police and army units to accompany them into the jungle.
The two cartel players could place their figures (10 each) anywhere along and around the airstrip, the only restrictions were where the bosses started and how and where the loading of the contraband would take place.
The two law players could start anywhere on the edge of the jungle either side of the strip with a percentage chance of them actually deploying in that spot; the further away from the plane they deployed the easier the die roll.

[Westbury]

Both groups of lawmen deployed successfully, one at the far end of the strip and one about half way up opposite the barn, and moved out from the jungle.
The gangs went about their tasks which was the driving up of the truck to take on the contraband and Orlando Calderon & his bagman making his way over from his gazebo to pay off Oswaldo Guzman.
Things started to get exciting when Don Eladio, Calderon's marksman on overwatch, spotted the army appearing from the jungle and fired  He missed but that was the signal to start slinging lead and the first casualty was one of Guzman's soldados

[Westbury]

From here on it in became a race to unload and scatter before the lawmen could get too close and the game devolved into tow separate gunfights either side of the airstrip.

[Westbury]

In the Federales side of the gunfight the lawmen kept to a tight formation and advanced determinedly up the landing area trading shots as they went. Unfortunately the tight formation meant that not all of the group could get a shot in which rather reduced their effectiveness; this didn't prevent them downing Ernesto Guerro & Sergio Clemente but when they lost Pvt Obregon, Weston and crucially, Sgt Rodriguez, their cohesion failed and they fell back to one of the abandoned silos and sat there pinned at the end of the game.

[Westbury]

The army took a more tactical approach, sprinting behind the barn after the first shot so as to be hidden from view and then a four person team (Macer, Calabrese, Ramos & Manzano) opening up the double doors to go through and then out the double doors on other side to surprise the gangs as they were loading up. The rest of the group used the corners of the barn and a nearby truck to give support fire.
At first this worked well, the cartel were having to deal with two lots of fire, exchange the money and load the merchandise and they lost several more soldados and spent a fair amount of time suppressed which slowed the loading time. Particularly effective was the army opening fire on the plane which killed the pilot and put it out of action.
Unfortunately in the gun battle that erupted when the double barn doors were thrown open Kate Macer was killed.

[Westbury]

With the plane now out of action the Cartel realised they had to press the law back so they could complete their business so they closed in on the barn guns blazing - Paco Hermosa even let fly with an RPG but he literally couldn't hit a barn door   
Faced with superior fire and the Federales pinned down the army did the only thing they could, throw smoke and retreat, dragging the grieving Calabrese with them.

[Westbury]

That was it. The rules (Spectre V2) played well - I see no point in buying the new set when these are perfectly ok and it was good to get the figures out after a long hibernation.
Thanks to Bob, Dave, Pete and JC for playing.

[flatpack]

Nearly a bad day at the office for myself, Oswaldo Guzman, and my boys.
We flew in the contraband safely to the airstrip.
We set the boys up to cover any nosy Parker’s that might be around.


We had all avenues covered.


Then the pesky police came calling.


My boys tried to see them off, as we started doing the deal, with the contraband and the money.


My boys started falling.


Then gunfire ripped thro my brand new plane, destroying it.
Well that’s just not on, I thought.


Time to give the police, a taste of their own medicine.


Even the DEA weren’t bulletproof.


Then the army turn up on the other side of the strip.
Time to sort them out too.



Time to cover the barn, as the army are about the spring out of it.


Looking back to my right, I can see the police are playing hide and seek with me 


Looking left of the strip, time for the two gangs to combine and flush out these amateur army types.


You can try defending yourself, but it won’t help.


So in conclusion, police team severely dented.
DEA agents downed, and the army about to get a blooded nose.

So what started off as a bad day at the office, finished quite nicely I’d say. 

Fun game, played in the right spirit.
Thanks to Ian for the game, his hospitality and Lynn’s cake 

[CPT Shanks]

Excellent. Love the layout and the scenario, looks like the entire game was a fun shoot out. What miniature is the Agent Westen, great looking mini but don't think I've seen that one before.

Great game.

[Mad Lord Snapcase]

Looks like a really great game.   

[AKULA]

That is a great looking game 

Unfortunately my own foray into cartel games ended in defeat as Oshiro may recall...think I got a record worst result with my DEA team 

[flatpack]

From playing this game and reading the comments…..I wouldn’t use this as a recruitment advert for the DEA  !

[bluewillow]

Great stuff

[CapnJim]

I guess you don't mess with your local pharmaceutical reps.  But they're gonna need a new plane...

[Lord Raglan]

Looking good and an enjoyable read mate