This is an after-action report for a solo game I played over
the weekend. The setting is the badly damaged city of Birmingham (Brummiegrad)
during the Intifada. The Islamic State (IS) forces have three prisoners and are
interrogating them (re: torture) at a ruined factory in the Ward End section of
the city. A drone identified the location and a small mixed section of UK
soldiers infiltrate the area to attempt a rescue.
The IS forces (the solo side) consisted of a Veteran, two Average fighters, and six novices. Their objective is to defend a position and prevent the UK soldiers from rescuing the prisoners.
- Veteran - Muhammed w/ AK
- Average + Sniper Training - Elam w/ AK
- Average - Hussein w/ RPG-7
- Novice - Saqqaff w/ AK
- Novice - Saab w/ RPK
- Novice - Albaf w/ AK
- Novice - Alfarsi w/ AK
- Novice - Abdulla w/ AK
- Novice - Sultan w/ AK
The UK mixed section consists of three Royal Marines and two members of the West Midlands
Police. The West Midlands Police have a deep knowledge of the area and are armed like
soldiers, a role they’ve played ever since the beginning of the Intifada.
- Elite - Sgt. Brady w/ SA80 + UGL
- Veteran - Pvt. Entovich w/ SAW
- Veteran - Pvt. Dooney w SLR
- Average - Patrolman Karchee w/ SA80
- Average - Patrolman Foster w/ SA80
The scenario takes place in the late autumn at dusk (–25 to
Spot).
The UK soldiers approach from the south and initially attempt
to get past a guard post by stealth.
Note on my action counting: The first number is the turn, the second
number is the combat phase, and the third number is the rolled order of action.
For example, 2.1.6 is turn two, combat phase one, and the character rolled a 6
on a d10 (house rule).
1.1 No Action
1.2
No Action
1.3 Sgt. Brady crawls across an open section to
another position
1.4
Sultan fails to spot the crawling Brady (roll of
91)
1.4.5 Pvt. Dooney craws across the same open section
and is spotted by Sultan. Sultan snap fires (04), hits Dooney for 7 damage, but
Dooney’s armor absorbs the damage. Dooney swears prolifically but affirms that
he’s all right.
1.5.5 Sgt. Brady aims
and shoots Sultan, causing a Serious wound. Sultan is knocked unconscious.
1.6.1 Elam, in the
ruined factory turns and runs 12m.
1.6.2 Patrolman
Karchee runs 18m across the road to the car blocking the entrance to the
alleyway.
1.6.4 Hussein, also
in the factory, turns and runs toward the shooting.
1.6.6 Patrolman
Foster runs 18m across the road toward the entrance of the ruined building.
1.6.8 Alfarsi emerges
from the building adjacent to the factory and looks around, seeing nothing
(failed spot).
1.6.9 Sultan begins
to bleed out.
1.7.2 Brady runs 12m
and stops at the car.
1.7.2 Muhammed orders
Saqqaff to guard the prisoners and then runs outside to direct the fighting.
1.7.3 Pvt. Entovich
grabs his SAW, lurches off the ground, and makes a run for the fighting.
1.7.4 Abdulla, full
of piss and vinegar, runs outside and makes a beeline toward the sounds of
fighting (18m)
1.7.5 Saab takes a
position near the overturned truck and attempts to see what is going on and
fails.
1.7.6 Albaf emerges
from the building and takes up a position nearby.
1.7.10 Dooney passes
his Morale test, curses in several languages, stands, and runs across the
street toward his fellow soldiers.
1.8.1 Hussein picks
up his RPG-7 and walks to a position he can peer down the alley but fails to
see anything.
1.8.3 Patrolman
Karchee takes a knee at the front of the car and tries to see what’s going on
at the other end of the alley and fails.
1.8.6 Alfarsi
continues to try and see what is going on and fails every time.
1.8.7 Foster reaches
the building and takes a position flanking an opening in the building.
1.8.8 Sultan remains unconscious
and continues to bleed out.
1.8.10 Elam edges
between the overturned truck and the BMW and attempts to get a bead on the
soldiers at the end of the alley and fails.
1.9.4 Muhammed takes
a position right behind Elam and spots Sgt. Brady behind the car.
1.9.5 Entovich, always
the last to the party, reaches the car and gets his SAW ready for action.
1.9.6 Brady spots
Elam and gets off a quick shot. It hits but only grazes Elam, causing a Light
wound.
1.9.8 Abdullah, races
through the rubble, nearing a flanking position.
1.9.10 Dooney reaches
the doorway of the building and looks into the ruined center, seeing nothing.
1.10.6 Karchee,
unable to see anything at the end of the alley in the dim light, struggles to
get a target.
1.10.7 Sultan remains
unconscious and enters Critical stage from blood loss.
1.10.8 Hussein takes
a knee near the edge of the overturned truck and sees the three soldiers behind
the car at the end of the alley. He brings his RPG-7 to bear.
2.1.3 Saqqaff continues
to guard the prisoners.
2.1.6 Saab runs and
stops and successfully spots the UK soldiers.
2.2.1 Alfarsi runs to
cover and stops.
2.2.2 Foster peers
over the damaged wall, sees Abdulla running toward him and shoots him. Abdullah
takes a Serious wound and skids to the ground.
2.2.10 Karchee
finally gets a bead on Hussein and fires, but misses.
2.3.2 Albaf carefully
walks forward and spots Foster.
2.3.4 Saqqaff
continues to guard the prisoners.
2.3.5 Saab rips off a
long burst with his RPK but the novice fails to hit a target (although all
three soldiers have to make a Morale test)
2.3.6 Entovich passes
his Morale and shoots at Saab, missing.
2.3.7 Dooney enters
the building and fails to see the fighter on the other side of the wall.
2.3.8 Abdullah, his
body stitched with bullets, remains unconscious and begins to bleed out.
2.3.9 Brady brings
his underbarrel grenade launcher up and fires. The explosive lands within a few
meters of Elam, Hussein, and Muhammed, who have no cover from that direction. All
three are killed ugly (37, 30, and 18 damage).
2.4.1 Sultan remains unconscious
as his lifeblood pools around him.
2.4.3 Foster sees
Albaf and gets a quick shot off, but misses.
2.4.5 Karchee watches
for Saab to step around the corner with the RPK and fires a burst into his
chest, killing him.
2.4.6 Alfarsi makes
his Morale check (Alluha Ackbar!) and takes an aimed shot at Foster but still
misses.
2.5.3 Saqqaff,
overcome with curiosity, looks outside and sees the gory remains of Elam,
Hussain, and his leader Muhammed. The smell of ammonia follows him as he runs
away.
2.5.4 Dooney realizes
that there is a fighter on the other side of the wall, yells “Frag Out” and
tosses a grenade. Unfortunately, it lands on the other side of the low wall.
When it detonates, it shreds the unconscious Abdullah and does enough damage to
kill Alfarsi. However, it also does 10 damage to Foster, although his armor
absorbs most of it, leaving him with a light wound and burning desire to put
his boot up Dooney’s arse.
2.5.9 Brady advances
around the car and up the alleyway.
2.5.10 Entovich
follows behind Brady.
2.6.3 Karchee stands
from his position and runs to follow Brady and Entovich.
2.6.4 Albaff, having
just seen his friends killed and hearing no returning fire from his side, fails
his Morale check and runs like a demon between the buildings and down the road
toward safety.
2.6.8 Foster passes
his Morale.
At that point there were no remaining intifada forces on the
table, with seven killed and two forced to retire. The combined patrol rescued
the three prisoners and called for medical evac. The victors suffered only a
light wound, ironically caused by Dooney’s poor application of a grenade. Later, Foster
kindly suggests that the next time Donney gets the urge to “Frag Out”, Foster
will place the aforementioned frag firmly in Dooney’s rectum.
