Rogue Stars. Doctor, the Mill!

I wanted to fix this campaign in the Victorian period - sort of. I had looked for Mr Holmes, Watson and police constables of the law, but they were busy with the case of Ms Prudence Jurist. To this we may return in the future meanst while.

Instead, I came amongst this plucky party. I'm going to unashamedly mix it with the Trouble 't Mill games. I've just realised what I should have done, but it's too late now. Perhaps it's just the start of the Doctors adventures in the lands around Much Binding and the Frank Muir?

Let's ramble. The Doctors Victorian adventures caused the emergence of Torchwood, probably to the annoyance of a certain M and his famous brother.

The space battle betwix the Martians and the Selinites in low Earth orbit has caused at least some sections of the establishment to become aware of their existence and the British Space Rocket group has obtained samples of Carvorite and are actively looking for more. In one of their searches they also discover the Hollow Earth.

Now let's throw an earlier Doctor into the London fog. He is aware that the time line is veering and joins forces with M in order to correct it.

Here he encounters the Martians. These, he knows, should have evolved into the Ice Warriors that the first British expedition runs into.

It takes working for the Home Office & charities to come up with this layer of connected BS. But even so I get the feeling that this not a sane endeavour for an (over) grown man. But, at least I am not scaring the horses.

The Doctors team have arrived, unremarked, in a Harrods van. A common sight or rural roads.

Doctors party Mobile Inspectorate 2:  Bounty Hunters   

Cool under fire 8 remove Pin (1 per)  Total 200

Doctor  (a meddler) Civilian, Leadership, Tech3 Tough2 Psi Master  28 Total 54
Blink  TN15, 1 stress 2”  6
Bolster target +1 morale rolls   4
Encourage target +1 Activation.  4
Guidance 10+  gives target +1 all reaction rolls.  4
Healing remove wound, temp cripple, staggered within 4” -1 each 4”  8

Captain Plucky (an American) Civilian, Ambidextrous, Fast draw, Fire into melee, Marksman 2  22 Total 32
2x pistol 4 Short range.  5 x2

Whippy Will  (an Archeologist) Civilian, Difficult target, Lucky, Marksman2, Tough, Weapon master  22 Total 31
Pistol 4 Short range.  5 
Neurowhip 1 Long, Stun, Energy 4

Ms Goethe (an amateur detectorist) Civilian, Fire into melee, Marksman2, Weapon master  10 Total 21
Kevlar (corset)  Torso 2.  6
Pistol 4 Short range.  5

Ms Jane (a plucky reporter) Civilian, Alert,  Martial arts, Marksman, Medic, Perceptive3, Stealth  10 Total 21
Kevlar (corset)  Torso 2.  6
Pistol 4 Short range.  5 

Sheela  (a huntress) Chucker2, Reactive, Stealth3, Weapon master  23 Total  41

Light combat dress (mixed leather & bone)  Legs/arms 2  Torso/head3   14 

Sabre 2  Primitive 2

2 Knives 1 Max range 4 Primitive. 1x2

This is the first use of the buildings I'm getting ready for Beach Head. First, the unburned.

Although wagon wheels are on the table, we were mostly eating these cookies.

It should be noted that these are the modern 32mm wheels, thus smaller and different recipe that the older 25mm.

Many, many decades ago when we lived out in the sticks, (late 80's) the local VG store had a stock of the older size that a friend reduced with great gusto. I think sell by dates were viwed as a bit - advisory, back then.

The Game (stop rambling and get on with-) The team de-van and proceed.

A civilian team gets rid of all vestige of you-go-I-go. The Martians advance at the same time using reactions.

Closer -

Sheela checks a house as no-one else is bothering. What is that? Movement by the hedge!

The two intrepid explorers boldly go forth. They are spotted and beads drawn.

He rolls a 5. With no armour his chest explodes in a gout of crimson steam as his giblets boil.

Now it's the turn of Mr Whippy. He's down wounded.

The doctor dashes into danger and removes the wound.

The rest start hugging the hedge.

Carefully the Martians take up positions.

Look, there they are.

Our heroes hop through the fence & make their way along the field. Ms Goethe shoots the evil leader in the head. That annoys him, a bit.

Ms Jane intrepid reporter, works her way along the back of the field and over the hedge by the wagon wheel plantation.

Without even the Brrrrrm noise the laser cannon stitches the source of the shot. Ms Goethe is hurt, saved by the hedge and corset - but Sheela is gone. That hedge must be smoking!

PJ dashes forward to enprobulate a prisoner. Ms Jane shoots PJ, hits him in the head. He goes "owwww!" and carry on. The leader puts the zap on Ms Jane.

PJ shoots Ms Goethe with his tangler. It wraps around her waist putting her OOA*

Plucky Ms Jane comes to her friends rescue - My Whippy rolls a 1 on morale and, true to form, legs it!

She rolls a 1. A1. The tangler wraps around her kneck, snapping it, twisting her head off in a gout of wire spread wide by the flailing wires. Oooops.

Menaced by the rather intimidating, spinning entangler the doctor surrenders. The leader takes some time to pontificate, plot reveal and gloat.

Game 3 Quick aside. Here's the other half of my Beach Head buildings. Looks good but from a distance, needs smoke & flames. The Martians have fulfilled their brief, causing gratuitous damage to property with no logical reason. Note that Harrods van remains untouched.

The doctor is escorted to the barn.

Right, panic mode. That all ended a bit quick. But fortunately I knew where the Special Aerial Service were bivvied and we'd used them recently so whilst coffee is brewed--

The whooshing of their flight packs

(with, possibly - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUyMpX08xk0)

Smith takes point, up close.

Lackagee, the sniper, leaps in, takes position aims & fire.

Damn, just missed.

But on reaction H's laser rifle retaliates and stitches him like a kipper with a hail of fire!

Manners completes his move, but retreats on foot. Captain politely asks him to reurn. He does, but all that movement gives his position away.

Gordon shows his metal. Quick snap shot at a diminutive target behind cover - H cops it.

Now it's the turn of the cannon. Long range, behind cover but rolling a 2 - Manners is gone.

Now Smith is sneaked up on. Shot at point blank. Have you noticed I'm rolling low?

Now Gordon is alone, flanked and in a quandary. Still, he who strives, achieves. He jumps to the doctors side he quickly ascertains that he is bound. With a manly expletive, he shoots PJ, grabs the doctor and jumps once, twice!

They got out! Doctor is free! Gordon is alive!

* But-- Ms Goethe was Out of Action, not dead. With swift medical attention via the enprobulator the poor girl has been captured and is now heading for Mars!

The SAS* Squad 201 points : Gordon R Captain (With 1 Flasher) Lagagee S. Manners G with

2 Whooshbangs . Medical Specialist Smith A

Star Cops. All equipped with: 

Naval Worksuit Ether (space suit. Plasma proofed) 8

Jump Pack Jump 8” from standing. Free disengage.   Broken ground TN5 or fall. 6

Musket (4) Reload, 2 handed. Fixed Bayonet (2) Primitive. 6

This basic load can be supplemented with:

Whoosh Bangs (stun grenades) 12” range 3” blast TN10 failed

Flashers (plasma grenades 4) 12” range 4” blast 

Armour 1  Retain the initiative. Any attempt at -2.

 

Move Crawl 1” Sneak 2” Walk 2” Run 4” Sprint 6” Jump 8”

 

The Section:

 

Gordon R Captain. Alert. Leader3. Reactive Marksman2. Weaponmaster2. 42 Total 62

 

Lagagee S Corporal Reactive. Marksman 3. 23 Total 48

Match Weapon +1 Called or Aimed shots. 5

 

Manners G Lance Corporal. Reactive. Marksman. Weaponmaster 14 Total 34

 

Smith A Medical Specialist. Medic3. Marksman. Weaponmaster 18 Total 38

 

*Special Aeronautical Services are a hand picked unit of the Royal Engineers who use the new rocket packs to facilitate rapid movement.