FfoL Vietnam 3b

 

Mission 3b: Ambush February 6th, 1967

Support Points: 0

  I rolled my d30 to see when the next mission was, and it came up as a 1. So the next day.  That's kind of a problem since most of my squad is dead, missing, or in sickbay.  

  Then I rolled to see what sort of mission it was, and it came up as "follow-up to the last mission."  Since the entire squad was taken down, that seemed unlikely.

  And then it occurred to me; Dusk Bester was still out there, he didn't evac out, and I listed him as AWOL.  But the only figure that could have seen him run away was Yuri, and he's dead, so no one actually knows he ran.  He's just MIA like Oliver and Quartermain as far as they know.

   So there it is. Bester is still in the area, and 2 guys were taken prisoner, so that's the "follow-up" mission, and explains why it's only 1 day later. That works!

    Bester heard the chopper come in, heard the fighting, and heard it leave.  With his panic subsided, he stood alone in the jungle for a while, overcome with remorse and shame for running and leaving his squad.  Moving back to the location of the fight he saw two of his friends still there, being roughly secured by the VC.  This was his chance to redeem himself if he could free the men, but he couldn't do it alone.

   He still had the radio, so he called for help.  But the jungle wasn't letting his signal get far enough for the firebase to hear it.  Still, luck was on his side, and a close by village that had a CDIG unit answered.  

  The locals willingly arrived to help, and more, they knew where the VC were going to be taking the captured men.  A path nearby was commonly used to reach the deeper VC controlled jungle, and that's where they found them. Six VC escorting the two Americans, and a large box. Probably weapons.

    Bester set himself up in the tall grass further along the trail. His (supposed) Sniper skills would be best used from there.

    CDIG fighters arranged themselves in the jungle along the path in groups of three.  They aren't great fighters, but then neither are the VC.  The surprise from the ambush should give them an advantage.

  To simulate the nature of the ambush, I give the attacking force 1d6 actions to use before the normal game begins. In this case I rolled a 3.

    Bester starts things off by firing at the lead VC, causing them to scatter for cover, but not doing any real damage.  At the sound of the shots the CDIG forces take that as their cue, and advance and fire on the VC column from both sides and the front.  A Couple of VC fall to the fire.

    Bester continues his ineffectual, but mildy annoying, sniping.  The CDIG advance on the VC gunning down the rest, while losing a few men of their own.

    Suddenly, Bester isn't alone at the trail end anymore. Three VD have arrived and a closing in on him.  His decision to leave the cover of the tall grass to get closer to the fight now seems like a mistake!

And so it was.  Moments after sighting the Marine, the VC shot him down. Bester is Out of Action on the hillside.

    While things are going badly for Bester, the CDIG has succeeded in freeing the two captured Marines!

    Quartermaine, free from his bonds, runs for the box the VC were carrying. That's where they stowed their weapons, and he wanted his back! A previously unseen VC leaps from the trees as the Marine passed, and was immediately knocked back into the trees, dead, by the very unhappy Marine. 

    Oliver and Quartermain, both Wounded but free, regain their weapons.

The CDIG forces have been continuing the fight, taking down the three VC that came up behind Bester.

    And they were doing well, until one of the CDIG guys stepped on a booby trap. It exploded, killing him, but not wounding anyone else.

    

Oliver and Quartermain run for the hillside.  Quartermain being the Strong one, lifts Bester. Oliver grabs the radio, and from the clear hilltop, is able to reach the base calling for an evac.

Luck is with them again (Oliver rolled really, really well) and there's a chopper there quickly.

    

    Unfortunately, more VC are also arriving very quickly!

    

    There's a running gunfight as the Marines and CDIG soldiers head for the chopper!

Quartermain passes off Bester's body and focuses on gunning down as many of the VC as he can to clear the way for his allies.  He takes special care to lay lead into the VC carrying the RPG!

    They make it! Both freed Marines, Bester, and five of the nine CDIG make it onto the chopper and evac the area! 

Mission: Successful

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After Action

The squad has earned 6RP for this mission.

+5 RP Mission Success

+2 RP 4 Confirmed Kills (out of 12)

-1 RP for out of action marines

-1 RP for the Evac copter

+ 13 RP Existing

18 RP Total

Private Disk Bester - Knocked out. He's fine for action now.

Squad Morale is now at 0. (that's good.)

Campaign Events

    Carter is in an accident and out for 2 days.

    Sargent West picks up an unusual hobby (I don't know what yet)

Bester has gained the Loyal Skill, which means he won't flee the field if any of his squad are still active.  I didn't buy it or roll it, I just feel like he's narratively earned it.

In addition, no one knows Bester fled. As far as everyone knows, he was just knocked out or occupied during the mission, and he couldn't evac with the rest of the squad. But because of that, he was able to go in and rescue two Marines from becoming POWs.  He's kind of a hero now. Only he knows.  That's an interesting bit he'll have to deal with someday.

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