Episode Four: "Clear the Pass!" A Mr. Babbage Adventure

Mr. Amir Saiad Akbar Babbage

Recap: Well sometimes we pull Defeat out the jaws of Victory - at least that is what happened at the end of Turn 5 with the brave Highlanders of the Gordons were reduced to just their command element (okay, only the officer survived). But with a Leadership of Brave, they are not going to give up! The Subedar Major of the 20th Punjabis, though isolated, has fought a great action in the rear of the British Column. And let's not forget the Bengal Lancers, even though the leader has the Leadership Trait of "Unlucky" (increases his chances of being a casualty) the lancers have been putting out one fire after another. But Mr. Amir Saiad Akbar Babbage and his tribesmen are far from defeated.

The situation does not look good. Tribesmen everywhere, the Gordons have been virtually wiped out, and the 20th Punjabis are isolated though in Close Order.

In the finest traditions of Hollywood, the 10th Bengal Lancers charge the Tribesmen who happen to be caught out in the open.

"Run Away!" In addition they are pinned.

And the lancers continue to follow up . . .

. . . putting a world of hurt, and another pin marker on the enemy.

"Volley Fire!"

The Volley Fire proves effective against the shooters in hard cover.

Now the Gordons. The Leader (Bless his heart) has the Leadership of Brave which allows the unit (of one figure!) two remove a pin marker for free.

And our officer in kilt decides to get the heck out of there and get closer to the 1st Madras Sappers (which conveniently decide not to move).

And now what will the Tribesmen do?

"We are out of here!"

The shooters on the high ground must also attempt to rally. Keeping Mr. Babbages' tribesmen pinned takes away their flexibility since they must attempt to rally.

And they successfully rally.

The tribesmen on the left flank that had overrun the Gordons Goes to Ground. I use moveable "rough terrain and rocks" to show when a unit goes to ground.

"Hmmm . . . even thought they have gone to ground and are hard to see, they are still within Short Range our our modern rifles allowing us to target and fire at them.

"Okay we missed - where the heck did that other group come from!!!"

"Oh bloody crayola."

"All right men, you know the drill: Volley Fire!!!'

That's what I'm talking about.

And the tribesmen with the Red Flag do nothing (whew!).

The shooters with the Black Flag also go to ground . . .

. . . while the last shooter holding up the 20th Punjabis also goes to ground.

Could this be mission success?

Next: No. It's not mission success . . .