The Defense of New Charon pt. 3 - Investigating the Enemy

Scouting elements of the New Charon Militia had noticed patterns. Concentrations of these invading forces seemed to be gathering in little explored areas beyond the reaches of any known settlement. Merissa Cantos has sent a detachment of the militia to investigate one such concentration out in the rocky steppes beyond an outlying farm. Unsure what to expect the militia, led by Natalya Phillips cautiously advance in an attempt to avoid ambush. 

Advancing past the farm buildings, Natalya orders her team to stay alert. They split into two forces, one entering the farm, one skirting around the perimeter. 

Almost immediately one infantry unit comes under fire from an advancing tank. Running for cover, it was about to get real.

 In response to this first blood, Natalya advances and takes the enemy tank under fire. The missiles ring true blasting a hole or two in the armour causing some damage. The crew, however remain resolute.

Malcolm Kennett, Natalya's trusted second advances in his CSMP and fires a salvo at another enemy tank. A few strike true and damage the engines. 

Natalya and some infantry support take the tank under fire again. Mysterious infantry advance up behind the tank in order to support it better.

The advancing enemy infantry comes under fire from some militia. This fight is getting more intense, there are more of these mysterious attackers than Natalya originally thought. 

Some of Natalya's men come under fire from the mystery invaders. Trying to get back in touch with central Natalya reports what is going on. Merissa Cantos assures that reinforcements are on the way.

One of the supporting CSMPs launches a spread of rockets at another enemy infantry unit completely obliterating it. The price for not hugging cover is high, especially when facing high explosive missiles from those protecting their homes.

Malcolm Kennett comes under fire, taking damage to his leg servos. He frantically calls for more infantry support.

 Support comes, with infantry lauching their handheld anti armour weapons, further damaging the tank. The engine sputters, the tank falls to the ground. Hopefully it's resistance is over. 

 Caught in the open one militia unit comes under fire and becomes combat ineffective. Severe casualties take them out of the battle.

Finally the militia infantry get that desired hit, blowing up the ammunition storage, causing catastrophic damage.

 Natalya and the infantry support finally end the firefight with the remaining enemy tank, destroying it handily. It looks like those reinforcements might not be needed.

 Combining fire Natalya eradicates another infantry unit. There is little resistance left. The militia might finally be able to get to the bottom of who these people are and what they want.

 Kennett takes more damage to his walker from the remaining enemy infantry, he gets a missile off but misses wildly. His HUD malfunctioning he manages to get a cry for help off to his team.

 The other CSMP walker comes in and finishes off the enemy resistance. Now to investigate what they were doing there.

 Advancing past the rocks, the militia uncover some strange objects. They look like ruins, but the earliest known colonists on New Charon, before it was called New Charon arrived less than a century ago. Could these be evidence of some kind of other civilization? And if so, what do these invaders want with them?

Scum for the Starport part 3

All week I have been dying to highlight these miniatures in order to get them done. I am pleased with the results. I am still scared of the small bases, but think they will be fine. Although, some of them do not stick to the magnetic strip in my containers very well because they have super glue on the underside. I might need to rethink my storage solutions. The individual based figures are all Angel Barracks miniatures, which are now being produced and sold by CP Models. The group based miniatures are a variety of GZG, CinC, and Angel Barracks.

 Vanguard Company is a small group of mercenaries who will hire themselves out to protect colonists. Often forgoing payment, these grizzled veterans have been to the edge of space, seen the chaos that exists, and are determined to keep that chaos away from the innocent. 

 Frontier Law Enforcement. Out on the Fringe, where the UCS reach is very weak, a person with a gun and a desire to protect fellow colonists can be the only form of law enforcement to be found. Hardened by life on the edge, they are all that stand between chaos and the veneer of civilization.

 Protecting yourself is vital. There is no telling what kind of encounter you could have, and with goodness knows whom. Here we see three typical Fringe colonists, and a mysterious masked warrior.

 Living on the edge of space is not safe. Many have stared into the abyss, only to find the abyss staring back into them. Many of those people become part of the problem, realizing their true insignificance, and the insignificance of their existence changes a person. Many cults, clans and groups of beings who have thrown off their humanity spring up in the Fringe. One does not trifle with them. In fact, the first rule when encountering these groups is often "run first, fight second". On the right we see an example of a barely human being, come to wreak havoc among those who are not yet "enlightened." The rest look like sensibly armed colonists, ready to run or fight.

The Coyotes. A pirate gang, feeding off those in the Fringe, who are unable to defend themselves. Occasionally taking a bite of organised militias if desperate enough. This lawless bunch will salvage and re-use any vehicles they can acquire and keep in running order. They strike fast, take what they want, and leave few witnesses.

More dinosaurs and police

He next three dinosaurs are done.  As are my police vehicles and an MLRS. Productive night. I am not massively happy about the picture quality though.

Dinosaurs and civilian vehicles

Last night I finished off the dinosaurs and exploratory vehicles. Also some rock formations. I habe some quite light highlights on the rocks which really make them stand out. I think these are my best yet. 

I also based a few stands of pirates ready for my school event, and a few individual figures on 9mm washers. I was dubious of the size when they arrived on my doorstep, but I am sold on them right now. 

They are magnetic,  small, and the hole in the centre helps the figure stand straight even if I messed up cutting them fro the sprue. This is a definite win.

Bank holiday painting

Here we go. A few more projects nearing completion. 

Some rocks...can't have enough of those. Some civilian vehicles...can't have enough of those to litter the board. Dinosaurs...amazing. I have never painted those and for £1 it was a bargain.

The Defense of New Charon pt. 2 - One Year Later

Months ago the engagement in the Western Reaches of New Charon that took place about a year ago had  been written off as pirate action. Such skirmishes, while not common, happened often enough that it didn't seem out of place. 

Mining had been continuing smoothly and the stakeholders at Sunspoke Mining were happy with the steady stream of profit coming in from the New Charon operation. Originally a Sunspoke self contained mining colony, it had been steadily profitable for roughly 10 years now, and the bosses at Sunspoke had long since moved on to newer, more lucrative mining ventures, happy to turn New Charon over to the colonists and simply take their cut of the profits.

 Isaac Forgrave was staring through the HUD of his CSMP as he approached the unidentified landing zone. Out here in the Western Reaches of New Charon there wasn't much other than a few farming communities who were aiming for an even quieter life than the already quiet life out on the edges of known space. 

"Probably pirates again, or someone looking to keep a low profile for a short time to avoid the authorities", he thought to himself. Keying the comm system he checked in with his small detachment and received the all clear from everyone. "Eyes peeled and check scanners as we pass through this rocky outcrop, people."

AMBUSH! Unknown assailants open fire on the Forgrave's partner mech, causing significant damage. Shaken, the column begins to disperse as infantry seek out cover and Forgrave's partner tries to get out of dodge!

Fire rains down on the militia, now caught in a deadly crossfire. Casualties mount. "Find cover, I'm calling this in to Central!" Forgrave calls over the comms.

In an attempt to steady his team Forgrave charges forward, unloading a volley of missiles on a unit of enemy infantry, utterly destroying it! While this happened a unit of militia holed up in one of the enclave buildings.

In response to the destruction of their comrades a squad of attackers opens withering fire on the militia, killing an entire unit.

Taking the initiative the unknown mech fires a round of missiles at the damaged militia mech blowing it into pieces! Forgrave's partner, gone. Things were looking grim for the militia, and Forgrave hadn't been able to get a message over to Central. He commed the militia unit garrisoning the enclave. 

"Harrison, it is up to you, get a message to Central, they need to know what is going on! These don't seem like ordinary pirates!"

"Affirmative, sir. Wilco!"

 As if to underline the precariousness of the situation another militia squad gets blown away by the unknown attackers!

 In the intense firefight casualties are taken by infantry on both sides. The air hot with high velocity pulse rounds, the worst of the casualties get taken by the attackers, their squad getting wiped out. Forgrave takes this as his moment...

Advancing into the trees he engages a squad of infantry at close range. Bodies fly, armour shreds, and there is not much left to hint at there having been a battle.

 "On your six, sir!" the message screams through Forgrave's comm. Rounding quickly he manages to engage the enemy mech. Rockets explode, damage is caused, Forgrave is getting the better of the exchange until a squad of infantry join the fray. His mech collapses and Ian Forgrave struggles to breathe, his vision goes black and he drifts off. "Get... message... Central..."

Unsettled by the loss of most of the militia force, one of the remaining squads gets caught under heavy tank fire, going down. Rifle fire joins and then stops. There is no-one left to fight back. 

Back at Central Command there is a buzz. Merissa Cantos has lost contact with three militia units, all investigating unscheduled landings. Something is going on, this is more coordinated than mere pirate raids. Something more sinister is at play here and Cantos will be damned if she was going to let the colonists bear the brunt of something like this. It was time to call in the big guns. It was time to fully mobilize the militia.

Morale Chits

I knocked these rough and ready morale chits up for wargaming. They are to be used with Horizon Wars as my house rule of morale in order to make the game more interesting to me. I used this system last year once and thought I would actually make some more permanent chits for it.

After the destruction of a unit the commander draws a random chit. If at any point the total on the chits exceeds the army's P value, then they break and withdraw. There are also a few that have random events on them, which may bring something cool to the game. 

I am toying with this system for my Activities Week event this year. Four days of wargaming.