Conspiracy! Solo Play Campaign Part 5
Introduction
My Solo Play Campaign continues with another playtest of the Solo Play Rules which I recently posted here. As usual, standard text provides battle report information, while text in italics continues the narrative story.
Scenario Background
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| Johnny Alpha by Carlos Ezquerra Copyright Rebellion 2000AD Ltd |
"Looks like you've had a bit of trouble," he says. "You wouldn't be thinking of causing more, would you?"
"Ye might want tae think twice about bammin' us up James," Middenface snaps. "We're no' in the mood fir any backchat."
"We're licenced Search/Destroy Agents," Johnny interrupts, displaying his badge for inspection to the officer. There's three bodies here for collection."
"Do I look like an undertaker to you, mutie," the officer snaps.
"You look like you need to step aside," Johnny says firmly, "and let us get about our law enforcement work."
"Law enforcement," the officer exclaims. "If only my team knew something about that! They're all in Bubba's pocket! I can't get anyone to stand up to them. That's why I'm here. If you were happenin' to to be heading over to deal with that mutie filth, I'd help you...er, men...and women, beggin' your pardon ma'am."
"That explains why no one in this town's challenged Bubba," Red says to Johnny. "They're all corrupt!"
"Or scared to death," the lawman adds.
"Ve don't need help from vorthless voorms like this," Wulf says disapprovingly.
"You got a map of the town?" Johnny asks. "It would be handy to plan our attack."
"Sure have," the officer answers, plucking a device from his pocket. He switches it on and pulls up a map on the screen, highlighting the area where Bubba's bunker is situated.
"Good," Johnny nods. "Then you're in...what's your name?"
"Buell."
"Well Buell, we're going to need to cut off Bubba's escape routes so we can shut him and his so-called 'organisation' down once and for all. That means we're going to spread out around the town..."
Later...
The sun has long since set and the streets are empty...but not in the middle of town. Two Howlers man guard towers above Bubba's bunker and his gang congregate outside. Another Howler, mounted on a mork, patrols the streets. All freeze when they hear Johnny's voice suddenly echo through the streets, issuing a challenge.
"Max Bubba! This is S/D Agent John Alpha! We're here to shut down your little 'organisation'! Surrender now and no one needs to die! Come out with your hands out!"
Max reveals himself at the bunker's mouth, staring into the darkness for a glimpse of Alpha, but he cannot discern anything in the gloom.
"We're just cogs in the machine, Alpha," Bubba replies. "If you think we're in charge of the organisation, you've got it wrong."
"Ach, lyin' wee numpty," Middenface mutters.
"Then you've got no reason not to surrender," Johnny insists.
"The warrants on our heads are reason enough, Alpha! Besides, our employers wouldn't take kindly to just handing ourselves over. Could be a terminal mistake!"
"Then you made your choice! We're taking you all down!"
"You heard him boys! Typical stinkin' Stront, hunting fellow muties for blood money! A traitor to his kind! Hit 'em!"
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| Max Bubba by Carlos Ezquerra Copyright Rebellion 2000AD Ltd |
As his goons take up defensive positions, Max returns to the bunker where Kansyr and Billy Joe are exchanging anxious looks.
"What's the plan?" Billy Joe asks urgently.
"We hang tight. Let the boys deal with Alpha. If we see a chance to make a break for it, we take it. Kansyr, see if you can get in their heads - it wouldn't do our cause any harm to have 'em plugging each other!"
"I'll keep these at the ready," Billy Joe says, activating his las-whips. "Just in case. I'd love to whip that Alpha to within an inch of his life! I figure a traitor like that, preyin' on his own kind? Man's got it comin'!"
Forces
Player Band
Johnny Alpha (hero mode) 19 Notoriety (Leader)
Wulf Sternhammer 15 Notoriety
Middenface McNulty 13 Notoriety
Durham Red 13 Notoriety
Blubberlips 5 Notoriety
Total: 65 Notoriety
Total: 65 Notoriety
Enemy Band
Max Bubba 18 Notoriety
Impetigo Jones 6 Notoriety
Brute Mosley 6 Notoriety
Low-Down O'Phee 5 Notoriety
Skull 5 Notoriety
Kansyr 10 Notoriety
Billy Joe 16 Notoriety
2 x Howler 12 Notoriety
Total: 78 Notoriety
Game Notes
Job: Headhunt
Encounter: Bushwhack
Collateral: 100,000 for Player Band (100K spent on local guide), 100,000 for Enemy Band, spent on 2 extra Chicanery Cards.
Special Rules:
1. Each side of the board will be assigned one or more models from the Player Band. While these models remain in play, none of Bubba's gang can escape on those "protected" edges of the board.
2. When activated, models can change which board edge they are covering. When a change is declared, it must be the closest board edge which they will be covering. The previous board edge will open up as an escape route unless another model is still assigned to covering it.
3. Max Bubba, Kansyr and Billy Joe will attempt to exit the board once an escape route is opened up. Max regards his men as fodder so instructs them to take down Johnny and the gang no matter what, to fight to the death!
1. Each side of the board will be assigned one or more models from the Player Band. While these models remain in play, none of Bubba's gang can escape on those "protected" edges of the board.
2. When activated, models can change which board edge they are covering. When a change is declared, it must be the closest board edge which they will be covering. The previous board edge will open up as an escape route unless another model is still assigned to covering it.
3. Max Bubba, Kansyr and Billy Joe will attempt to exit the board once an escape route is opened up. Max regards his men as fodder so instructs them to take down Johnny and the gang no matter what, to fight to the death!
The Encounter
Set Up: Confirmation of the band. Note that the Dredd figure represents Buell, the guide & law enforcement agent.
The Armoury and Chicanery Cards aren't the greatest I've ever had, but Playing Dead is always a good card to have!
Bubba's gang.
An overview of the battlefield. Bubba's bunker is in the centre of the board.
Johnny and Blubberlips will attempt to hold this side of the board.
"Blubberlips! We can't allow anyone to get past us," Johnny waves to his fellow agent.
"We won't," his friend replies stoically..
Wulf and Buell are tasked with holding this side of the board.
"I hope your mutie friends are as good as you say they are," Buell says. "I've no plans on dyin' yet. Beats me why an honest law abiding norm like yourself is hanging around the likes of them."
"Best you don't speak voorm," Wulf replies, pulling an old sock from one of his pockets. "Der Sternhammer silencer vill deal vith you if need be."
"Eh?"
"Put der sock in it," Wulf scowls. "Or I vill. Ve vill stop anyone escaping this way."
The Armoury and Chicanery Cards aren't the greatest I've ever had, but Playing Dead is always a good card to have!
Bubba's gang.
An overview of the battlefield. Bubba's bunker is in the centre of the board.
Johnny and Blubberlips will attempt to hold this side of the board.
"Blubberlips! We can't allow anyone to get past us," Johnny waves to his fellow agent.
"We won't," his friend replies stoically..
Wulf and Buell are tasked with holding this side of the board.
"I hope your mutie friends are as good as you say they are," Buell says. "I've no plans on dyin' yet. Beats me why an honest law abiding norm like yourself is hanging around the likes of them."
"Best you don't speak voorm," Wulf replies, pulling an old sock from one of his pockets. "Der Sternhammer silencer vill deal vith you if need be."
"Eh?"
"Put der sock in it," Wulf scowls. "Or I vill. Ve vill stop anyone escaping this way."
Middenface is covering the rear.
"Ah've got the bunker bahookie covered," Middenface whispers over his comms.
And Durham Red has this flank to cover.
"And I've got the other flank covered," Durham Red adds. "You gotta a Howler patrolling on morkback coming your way, Middenface."
Meanwhile Bubba is firmly ensconced within his base!
"Aye, an ah kin see a pair o' Howlers oan those towers!"
Turn 1
Skull is put on overwatch."Can't see a thing," Skull mutters, aiming his stormer into the darkness. "Show yourself, Alpha!"
Johnny Alpha activates.
"Happy to oblige," Johnny shouts, raising his Westinghouse blaster...
He Moves then Snap Fires through the gap in cover at Brute!
BLAAM!
"Damn, missed," Johnny thinks.
It takes Brute a moment to realise someone shot at him! He then spots Johnny and takes an Aimed Shot!
Brute stares at the dirt where Johnny's bullet kicked up dirt beside him. He looks back up and spots Johnny in the distance. Taking his time, he steadies his aim and fires!
The cover helps protect Johnny, minimising the damage to a stun!
"Ugh!"
Impetigo Jones activates next...
"You bit off more'n you can chew this time, Alpha," Impetigo Jones says, raising his stormer.
He also fires an Aimed Shot at Johnny!
BAKUUM!
And wounds Johnny!
"Argh," Johnny cries. "They're better shots than I gave 'em credit for! Gotta tread carefully!"
Blubberlips is next...
"Hold on Johnny," Blubberlips reassures. "I got you covered!"
And takes a Snap Shot but misses!
Zaddow!
And Blubberlips suffers a GFBF!
"Sneck," Blubberlips curses. "Missed him!"
Kansyr activates and opens his mind to probe an enemy...
"Can you sense 'em," Bubba asks.
"Yes," Kansyr replies. "There's five Stronts...and a local...lawman."
"Can you take control of their minds?" Billy Joe questions.
"If the pair of you'll shut up, maybe..."
He senses the wounded Alpha and takes full advantage, overwhelming his mind while he is distracted with pain! Johnny fires a Snap Shot at Blubberlips...
Kansyr reaches out with his mind, unseen tendrils probing the dark.
"Alpha," he says, eyes widening with excitement. "You're pointing your gun at the wrong guy. Point it the other way..."
With disbelieving eyes, Johnny feels compelled to aim his gun at Blubberlips! He squeezes the trigger...
BOOM!
Inflicting two injury markers!
"Argh," Blubberlips cries in surprise. "You shot me! What the sneck?"
Mercifully, Kansyr has a GFBF!
The trio of Kansyr, Max Bubba ad Billy Joe cackle at Blubberlip's distress!
Max Bubba is next to activate.
"Time to put that fat-lipped mutt down," Max sneers.
He moves and then takes a Snap Shot at Blubberlips!
"Keep out outta the way Brute," Bubba shouts from the safety of the bunker. "I'm tryin' to bullseye that sucker!"
He inflicts a stun - but it is enough to incapacitate Blubberlips!
Bubba's shot merely clips Blubberlips but knocks him off-balance! He spins, falls and cracks his head off the metal cogs of the generator, knocking him unconscious!
And he returns his Star Chip to the bag.
"Got him," Bubba congratulates himself.
Buell sprints forward to close in on the enemy.
"Let's hit those creeps," Buell says, rushing forward.
Stupidly, he suffers a GFBF (with Cool of 2, I shouldn't have gambled)!
"I've got a visual on a Bad Boy patrolling on morkback," he says.
Realising Billy Joe won't be needing his Star Chip this turn, I give it to a Howler on one of the guard towers. He spots Buell and raises his Stormer!
"Tss," a Howler grins, training his stormer upon Buell. "Lawman warned. Keep out of our business. Now die."
Buell is fortunate to only suffer a stun!
"Drokk, perps in the towers have long range weapons!"
GFBF!
"Tss, lucky lawman!"
Durham Red takes a move action...
"You want a job done properly," Red sighs, "you gotta get a woman to do it."
Silently she moves through the desert streets, closing in on the bunker.
It's doesn't look like it from this camera angle but Red is out of sight from Skull (who is on Overwatch). She can see Brute though!
"Got a visual on Brute," she says, raising her pistol.
And back-shoots him with a Snap Shot, inflicting two wounds!
"Arghh," Brute cries. "Some sneaky snecker back-shot me!"
Red's Star Chip is returned to the bag and comes straight back out! She takes another Snap Shot at Brute!
"That's right Brute, this sneaky snecker back-shot you! Have another!"
And incapacitates him!
"Durham Reddddd..." Brute wheezes as he crashes into the sand, incapacitated by Red's second volley.
She takes a risk, deciding to switch cover to get into position to fire at Skull.
"Gotta chance breaking cover to get into a better position," she thinks.
This exposes her to overwatch fire...
As she does so, Skull spots her and unleashes his Stormer.
"You're no Dog," Skull roars, "but I'll put you down...bitch!"
But he misses! Once again, her Star Chip goes back in the bag.
Skull's shots kick up the sand all around Red as she leaps to safety!
"Gotta shoot straight, Skull," Red taunts. "Here, let me show you!"
And she reactivates, taking an Aimed Shot at Skull...
She rolls to her feet and takes aim at Skull...
Inflicting two wounds! Her Star Chip goes back in the bag again!
"Ugh," Skull cries as a bullet punctures his armour, shattering his shoulder!
Low-Down O'Phee spins around...
"I'll deal with her," Low-Down hisses.
...and, spotting Red from afar, returns an Aimed Shot with his Stormer (24" range as per errata).
"Chew on this Red," Low-Down shouts.
Hitting her and inflicting two wounds!
"Argh," Red cries. "Typical short man syndrome - overcompensating with that hand!"
She activates again and decides to take cover and Hunker Down.
Red crouches against a wall and, repurposing a belt as a tourniquet, tries to stem the blood.
She fails to heal a wound (she would have been only able to heal one wound as you always carry at least one injury marker after you've suffered a hit)! I decide not to attempt to return the Star Chip as her wounds have dramatically decreased the odds of success and I want to be certain of being able to have a double action available to Hunker Down again next turn.
She succeeds in stemming the flow of blood but she is badly wounded!
Middenface joins the fray!
"Haud oan Buell, ya daftie" Middenface exclaims. "You're going tae get yersel' killed!"
He Sprints to close in on the Howlers in the watchtowers and the Bad Boy who is circling the compound. GFBF!
Middenface sprints forward and closes in on the patrolling mounted Howler.
Wulf Sprints also.
"You're both going to get yourselves killed old cucumbers," Wulf says. "but faithful Wulf vill follow where you go!"
...getting close to the Bad Boy but also suffers a GFBF, leaving him exposed!
"Ve be der three little ducks now, eh Middenface?" Wulf grins.
"Er, aye, whitever you say big yin."
A Howler tries to take advantage of the situation...
"Die," A Howler snarls as he has Middenface in his sights...
...but its Aimed Shot goes astray.
...but misses!
The Bad Boy Charges Wulf and stuns him! End of Turn 1.
The Howler on the mork hisses and charges Wulf, the beast head-butting his arm. Wulf grimaces as his arm is deadened - but thankfully no bones are broken!
Turn 2
Before any chips can be drawn, I play Adrenaline Surge to clear Johnny's Stun and Pinned markers. The wound remains in place. He attempts a snap shot at Impetigo Jones...
Johnny Alpha targets Impetigo Jones...
And inflicts a wound!
...and clips the outlaw!
Impetigo Moves fires a Snap Shot but the cover saves Johnny! Impetigo then moves behind some crates.
Spitting curses, Impetigo Jones returns fire before taking cover.
Johnny fires a No. 4 Cartridge!
Johnny ignores Impetigo's stormer shots as they riddle the machinery around him, loading a special cartridge into his blaster.
"No.4 Cartridge," he says, squeezing the trigger.
Bullseye! The Cartridge explodes in between Low-Down and Skull!
The shot fizzes through the air before striking the bunker, exploding spectacularly! Skull and Low-Down wail as they are engulfed in flame!
Skull is incapacitated and Low-Down wounded twice!
Skull falls to the ground and lies still. Although badly wounded, Low-Down pulls himself up to rest upon a crate.
GFBF for Johnny!
Johnny takes no satisfaction from killing Skull, but neither does he feel regret. Skull would happily kill him and his friends.
Kansyr attempts to take control of Johnny, but the S/D Agent's guard is up after his earlier failure. Kansyr then suffers a GFBF!
Kansyr tries to take control of Johnny's mind once again but this time Johnny's mental defences are up, defences which Kansyr cannot penetrate!
Before any chips can be drawn, I play Adrenaline Surge to clear Johnny's Stun and Pinned markers. The wound remains in place. He attempts a snap shot at Impetigo Jones...
Johnny Alpha targets Impetigo Jones...
And inflicts a wound!
...and clips the outlaw!
Impetigo Moves fires a Snap Shot but the cover saves Johnny! Impetigo then moves behind some crates.
Spitting curses, Impetigo Jones returns fire before taking cover.
Johnny fires a No. 4 Cartridge!
Johnny ignores Impetigo's stormer shots as they riddle the machinery around him, loading a special cartridge into his blaster.
"No.4 Cartridge," he says, squeezing the trigger.
Bullseye! The Cartridge explodes in between Low-Down and Skull!
The shot fizzes through the air before striking the bunker, exploding spectacularly! Skull and Low-Down wail as they are engulfed in flame!
Skull is incapacitated and Low-Down wounded twice!
Skull falls to the ground and lies still. Although badly wounded, Low-Down pulls himself up to rest upon a crate.
GFBF for Johnny!
Johnny takes no satisfaction from killing Skull, but neither does he feel regret. Skull would happily kill him and his friends.
Kansyr attempts to take control of Johnny, but the S/D Agent's guard is up after his earlier failure. Kansyr then suffers a GFBF!
Kansyr tries to take control of Johnny's mind once again but this time Johnny's mental defences are up, defences which Kansyr cannot penetrate!
Wulf has a Pinned marker which requires a Shake it Off! action to clear. He opts to use the other action to Fight rather than use Shake it Off! to clear the stun.
"Wulf vill make you pay," the Viking grimaces, swinging der Happy Stick.
...but Wulf's swing is wayward and the mork easily evades the attack!
"Haud oan big yin," Middenface yells. "Ah'll help ye take that hairy Howler doon!"
Chicanery comes to the rescue again and Middenface has a GFBF!
Middenface attempts to deliver a Glesgae Kiss to the mork but misses by the merest of fractions!
"No' again," Middenface bemoans. "It's no' as if mork's backsides urnae big enough tae hit!"
A Howler fires at Middenface but misses!
The Howler targets Middenface but misses by some margin!
Buell has to use Shake it Off for his Pinned marker and Moves.
Buell somewhat cautiously pushes forward...
But suffers a GFBF.
"Creeps are tough," Buell observes.
Middenface is targeted by the Howler on the other guard tower. Due to having a Pinned marker to clear, the Howler can only fire a Snap Shot!
"Gi'e's a break," Middenface shouts as he spots another Howler targeting him!
Which is just as well for Middenface as the additional power would have likely done more than just stun him!
The shot cracks off of his armour, but still puts Middenface off-balance!
Low-Down opts to Hunker Down.
Shaken and wounded by the No.4 Cartridge, Low-Down beats a hasty retreat to safety behind the bunker walls.
But he fails to heal any wounds!
"I need a med-pack," he moans.
"You need a backbone," Bubba rages. "Billy Joe, Alpha's on the rack! Finish him with those las-whips of yours."
Max orders Billy-Joe to finish Johnny! Billy-Joe Sprints and rolling a 6...
"Happy to oblige," Billy Joe replies and sprints out of the bunker...
...covers a lot of ground (and passes Cool tests for negating cover while Sprinting)! He returns the Star Chip to the bag...
...and closes in on Johnny!
Reactivating immediately, he Moves again...
Billy Joe realises that the cover Alpha has will entangle his las-whips so he moves again...
And then Fights - inflicting another wound on Johnny!
"I'm gonna flay the skin from your body, boy," Billy cackles, his las-whip lashing out!
GFBF for Billy-Joe.
"Don't hog all the fun," Billy orders, distracting his brother.
Bubba goes on to Overwatch.
"...once Billy Joe finishes Alpha, we can make a run for it," Bubba says, aiming his blaster into pitch blackness.
Red Hunkers Down.
Red bandages up her leg wound.
This time she can remove one wounded marker. I decide not to Go For Broke!
She feels more comfortable but won't feel back to full strength until she has seen the Gronk again!
The Bad Boy activates and Charges Wulf!
The Bad Boy bares his teeth and lunges at Wulf as he attacks again from his mork.
...wounding him!
He tears a chunk of flesh from Wulf's shoulder!
"By der Gotts," Wulf cries.
...and an overview from the opposite end of the battlefield. End of Turn 2.
Turn 3
Billy Joe is the first to activate! He charges Johnny!
"Eat lash doggie," Joe laughs, wounding Johnny a second time!"
Wounding him again! Billy Joe returns his Star Chip to the bag!
"I told you not to hog all the action," Billy sulks.
Impetigo Jones cannot see Johnny for the cover so he opts to go on Overwatch.
"If Alpha sticks his head out, I'll pop it off," Impetigo thinks.
Billy Joe is the first to activate! He charges Johnny!
"Eat lash doggie," Joe laughs, wounding Johnny a second time!"
Wounding him again! Billy Joe returns his Star Chip to the bag!
"I told you not to hog all the action," Billy sulks.
Impetigo Jones cannot see Johnny for the cover so he opts to go on Overwatch.
"If Alpha sticks his head out, I'll pop it off," Impetigo thinks.
The Bad Boy activates and charges Wulf again!
The Bad Boy strikes at Wulf again!
The Bad Boy strikes at Wulf again!
And inflicts another wound!
The alien's vicious claws tear at Wulf's face, wounding him further.
"Big yin," Middenface says helplessly as he stares on in horror at Wulf's injuries.
The Howler on the tower has a clear bead on Wulf!
"Tss, now I have you," a Howler above hisses, it's gun trained directly on Wulf!
And takes him down!
Crrrackkk! The shot puts Wulf down!
The other Howler fires at Middenface!
"Naaaaaaawwwwww," Middenface cries.
Stunning him again! It could easily have been worse though!
A second shot hammers Middenface's shoulder armour, stunning him!
Billy Joe spins around as he lashes Johnny again!
Billy spins to the front and, eyes filled with hate, lashes Johnny!
And Johnny Alpha is felled! Not only that, but this opens up this edge of the board for Max Bubba and his goons to exit!
Johnny howls in pain before falling backwards and losing consciousness. Billy's eyes widen in delight!
Billy Joe sends the Star Chip back to the bag.
"Alpha's down," Billy shouts. "The coast is clear, Max!"
Middenface is limited to using Shake It Off! twice, removing a Pinned marker and one Stunned Marker.
"Scunners," Middenface weeps. "Ah'll kill ye all!"
I forget that he can ignore the first Stun/Injury Marker and instead play it safe by not attempting to return the Star Chip to the bag.
"Kill us?" the Bad Boy mocks. "You can barely stand!"
Max Bubba activates and Sprints.
Now that he has a route out of the battle, Max sprints from cover...
He is tantalisingly close to exiting the board. His Star Chip goes back into the bag.
...safety is so close now!
Low-Down Hunkers down again, but once again has no success in healing his wounds!
"Help a mutie out here, will ya?" Low-Down pleads to Kansyr as he fumbles with a med-pack.
Max is able to activate and Move off the board, escaping the Strontium Dogs!
"Keep fighting lads," Max orders his men as he runs off into darkness. "You've got 'em on the rocks! Finish 'em for me!"
Red activates and Moves...
"Got to stop more scum escaping," Red grimaces, pulling herself back on to her feet.
...and has Billy Joe in her sights. She fires a Snap Shot!
She strides out of cover, guns blazing!
Wounding Billy Joe twice! Red returns her Star Chip to the bag.
"Argh," Joe wails involuntarily as two bullets find their mark. "Durham Red! She'll blow us to pieces before we can get close enough to lash her!"
But as she reloads her guns, Billy-Joe runs to safety (off-board)!
"Let's git while we still can," Billy agrees and they too run off into the night!
Buell activates, but has to use Shake it Off! for his Pinned marker before moving forward...
"Hold on mutie," Buell says to Middenface. "I'm coming!"
...Positioning himself to fire upon the Bad Boy or the Howlers in the guard towers above.
"Anytime a'fore dawn wid be helpful," Middenface responds.
Red Moves forward looking for other prey.
Red is furious that Billy Joes has escaped and limps forward, searching for more enemies.
She fires a Snap Shot at Impetigo Jones.
She spots Impetigo and opens fire!
Inflicting a wound!
She finds her mark and wounds him!
GFBF!
Red ejects another clip as she takes cover behind a beaten-up generator.
Playing Dead Chicanery Card resurrects Johnny! I could have used this sooner to stop both Max Bubba and Billy Joe escaping but it would have opened a situation that wasn't covered in my scenario rules. I decided that once Johnny was defeated, the escape route was opened for Bubba & co and that it would have been too gamey for it to have been closed down again because of a Chicanery card.
Johnny passes a Cool test to remove the Pinned Marker, and makes a Shake It Off! single action to clear the stun...
Johnny Alpha suddenly climbs back on to his feet...he had been playing dead!
And then, in a somewhat uncharacteristic move for me, he uses his Johnny Weird-Eyes and his variable blaster to finish Impetigo Jones but his shot fails to harm him! GFBF!
His Alpha-rays penetrate the cover and, using his Westinghouse variable blaster, he fires at Impetigo Jones through cover! He miscalculates the variable shot however, and it embeds itself in a crate beside Impetigo!
Kansyr seizes his chance and Moves twice (Low-Down was in his way and therefore blocked a Sprint). He returns the Star Chip to the bag...
"It's every mutie for theselves," Kansyr grunts as he pushes past the badly wounded Low-Down.
And when he reactivates, he is able to Sprint and exit the board.
And he too sprints off into the night!
The gang's three most-wanted have escaped and will now join the forces in the next scenario!
Johnny sighs as he realises that the three most dangerous members of the enemy band have escaped!
An overview of the battlefield at the end of turn 3.
A second view...
And a final view of the state of play behind the bunker. End of Turn 3.
Turn 4
Middenface charges the Bad Boy.
"So ah can barely stand, eh?" Middenface angrily addresses the Bad Boy. "We'll see about that! Here's yer lumps!"
And takes him down with one Glesgae Kiss!
Middenface grabs the howler by the fur and headbutts the alien, his lumps caving its face in, instantly incapacitating it!
"How d'ye like that?"
He is targeted by a Howler!
The first Howler on the guard post takes an aimed shot at Middenface...
But only inflcicts a stun!
...but once again Middenface is only stunned!
The other Howler also takes aim at Middenface...
"Tss...now you die!"
And inflicts a wound...but Middenface is still standing!
"Argh," Middenface yells as he suffers another wound. "Is that the best ye can dae? It takes mair than that tae put a McNulty doon!"
Durham Red spots Low-Down O'Phee skulking in the archway to the bunker and fires an Aimed Shot.
"I owe you this," Red hisses as she trains her guns on Low-Down.
Taking Low-Down down! Her Star Chip goes back in the bag!
Scratch Low-Down O'Phee!
Impetigo Jones Hunkers Down and removes one of the two Injury Markers he has.
"How the hell did Alpha fool us," Impetigo whimpers, pulling bandages from his face to tend to his wounds.
Middenface charges the Bad Boy.
"So ah can barely stand, eh?" Middenface angrily addresses the Bad Boy. "We'll see about that! Here's yer lumps!"
And takes him down with one Glesgae Kiss!
Middenface grabs the howler by the fur and headbutts the alien, his lumps caving its face in, instantly incapacitating it!
"How d'ye like that?"
He is targeted by a Howler!
The first Howler on the guard post takes an aimed shot at Middenface...
But only inflcicts a stun!
...but once again Middenface is only stunned!
The other Howler also takes aim at Middenface...
"Tss...now you die!"
And inflicts a wound...but Middenface is still standing!
"Argh," Middenface yells as he suffers another wound. "Is that the best ye can dae? It takes mair than that tae put a McNulty doon!"
Durham Red spots Low-Down O'Phee skulking in the archway to the bunker and fires an Aimed Shot.
"I owe you this," Red hisses as she trains her guns on Low-Down.
Taking Low-Down down! Her Star Chip goes back in the bag!
Scratch Low-Down O'Phee!
Impetigo Jones Hunkers Down and removes one of the two Injury Markers he has.
"How the hell did Alpha fool us," Impetigo whimpers, pulling bandages from his face to tend to his wounds.
Red trains her guns on him and takes a Snap Shot!
Red squeezes off another shot at Impetigo!
A Chicanery Card saves Impetigo from harm...
...but only shoots up a crate next to him...
Red fires a second Snap Shot.
...so fires again...
But another Chicanery Card nullifies this attack as well!
...but again, she only shoots up his cover!
GFBF!
"This one's got more lives than a cat, Johnny," she shouts.
Johnny activates and Shakes Off the Pinned marker. He Moves forward...
"Sooner or later he's going to run out of luck," Johnny answers as he gathers his composure.
...returns the Star Chip to the bag...
He strides out into the open, face to face with the wounded Impetigo.
...then reactivates and fires two Snap Shots.
Johnny fires twice at Impetigo...
...And puts him down! His Star Chip goes back in...
....finally defeating the mutant!
He moves up, shooting a Howler in the back but does no damage. The Star Chip is returned once more - and then again!
Johnny isn't finished though. He strides forward, guns blazing...
Peppering the platform with shot after shot, the Howler has two Chicanery Cards save him until finally he is felled! Johnny suffers a GFBF, but what a run of activations!
...shot after shot peppering the closest guard tower and Howler with blaster fire! Wailing, the Howler falls form the tower!
Buell is last to activate.
"Can't let these muties get all the glory," Buell thinks, raising his blaster to target the last Howler...
He takes an Aimed Shot...
...and shoots...
...and shoots the alien from it's perch, incapacitating it!
...and hits it clean between the eyes, killing it instantly!
A final look at the field of play at the end of the scenario.
Aftermath
"Bubba, Kansyr and Billy Joe escaped," Johnny says. "I'm going after them. They'll die for what they did to Wulf."
"Haud oan Johnny," Middenface waves. "Wulf is still alive, we need tae get him tae the Gronk."
"Blubberlips is still alive too - barely," Red adds, joining the group.
"Blubberlips is still alive too - barely," Red adds, joining the group.
"You muties helped our town, allow me to return the favour," Buell says. "We can go to my place to get you attended to, it isn't far."
Johnny hesitates momentarily as he is still enraged by the price that his friends have been paying for taking on the 'organisation'. More than anything, he wants to finish the job...but seeing Wulf in a bad way, his wounds bleeding into the sands, somewhat tempers his mood and he concedes that they need to regroup.
Carrying Wulf between them, they head to Buell's house where they are met by the Gronk and Kid Knee.
"I couldn't leave," Kid says. "You got my help until this thing is over."
"You're a real hero, Kid," Red says.
The band pour inside Buell's small and spartan abode and set Wulf and Blubberlips out on a table. The Gronk tends to Wulf through tears.
"P-poor Mr Wulfses," it weeps.
"If anyone can get him back on his feet, it's you little fella," Johnny says grimly. "Give it your all."
"Whit's the next move Johnny?"
"Bubba's a coward. He'll already be on a shuttle off Alzir. I've messed up our chance to shut his little 'organisation' down...it's over."
NEXT PROG: Showdown in the sand!
Closing Reflections
What a battle! The first turn went particularly badly for my S/D Agents with Blubberlips being taken out of the action and a number of failures to return Star Chips didn't help! Things improved in Turn 2 but when Johnny and Wulf were both incapacitated in Turn 3, things looked really grim! The Playing Dead! Chicanery Card may well have proven vital when it resurrected Johnny, without it, it was quite possible that Bubba's remaining goons may have been able to finish off the party. The fact that the three most-wanted members of the enemy band escaped will make the next and final scenario more difficult as they will bolster the band facing Johnny and his friends!
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