CRUZ CHRONICLES #007 - OPERATION MIDAS PART 2-A

My next game was against King, an Axis Player, and his Skull Squad. We had two matches scheduled, both Warfare, and I decided to make a separate report for them. This covers our first match. Enjoy!

ACT 2: The Skull Squad

Zero Division: 300 AP

Heroes (46)

Rhino (22)

Action Jackson (24)

Elite Platoon (60)

Upgrade: Extra Hero (5)

Command Section: Ozz 117 (23, Hero)

1st Section: Grim Reapers (30) + Battlefield Engineers (2)

Elite Platoon (194)

Upgrade: Air Drop (5)

Command Section: Corps Officers (30) + Rat Fighters (1)

1st Section: The Hammers (28)

2nd Section: Red Devils (32) + Rat Fighters (1)

3rd Section: Grim Reapers (30)

Support: Mobile HQ (40)

Support: Legio Patria Nostra (27) + Rat Fighters (1)

The Skull Squad: 297 AP

Heroes (57)

Lara (29)                                                                               

Totenmeister (28)

Sturmgrenadiere Platoon (159)

Upgrade: Defenses (5)

Command Section: Kommandotrupp (25)                      

1st Section: Heavy Flak Grenadiers (26)                         

3rd Section: Heavy Laser Grenadiers (35)     

4th Section: Heavy Laser Grenadiers (35)     

Support: Hans (25)                                             

Support: Beobachter Team (8)

                                               

Blutkreuz Platoon (81)

Upgrade: Defenses (5)

Command Section: Sturmpioniere (25)                          

1st Section: Axis Zombies (19)                                         

2nd Section: Panzerkiller Grenadiers (20)     

Support: Sniper Grenadier Team (12)

1^st Game

Location 13, SW Residential B

Format: Dust Warfare

Army Total: 300

Objective: Key Location

Deployment: The Long March

Condition: None

Special Mission: None

TURN 1:

“So it’s confirmed, then? Totenmeister is in the vicinity?” Rhino tried to validate the information they received with Ozz. After the short encounter with The Basterds, Zero Division rushed to the residential area where Priority Target #2 was last seen.

But even before Ozz can utter a single word, he and his squad of Grim Reapers were welcomed with a barrage of Grenetwerfer. “Look out!” yelled the NCO commander. The warning was a split second late as Ozz was hit by the shrapnels from the Hans’ dreaded artillery.

 

“It’s a flesh wound. Nothing fatal.” Rhino and the rest of the platoon breathed a sigh of relief after hearing the field medic’s assessment of Ozz’ wounds.

“Beobachter scum!” cursed one of the Hammers following Rhino as they were taking cover in a nearby building. “Better safe than sorry, men. I’ll bet a year’s worth of my pay, they have a sniper somewhere there too.” Rhino turned to Ozz, “they knew we were coming!”

Ozz threw a devilish grin as response to Rhino’s predicament, “I’d be terribly disappointed if they didn’t.”

“They’re here, sir!” warned one of the Hammers. Even from the window where they’re peeping from, the silhouette of the marching Blutkreuz and Sturmgrenadieres towards them can be seen.

 

TURN 2:

The legion led by Totenmeister continued to march forward towards the location of the building where Ozz and his men camped. In addition to a full squad of freshly risen zombies, several squads of Grenadiers follow her almost as mindlessly as the ubertotens.

“I sure hope you have a plan for this, Ozz. Honestly, I’m not sold on leaving those pencil butt-heads behind,” Rhino snarled, referring to Action Jackson and his Red Devil’s red berets. “My Hammers can take care of those walking corpses, and your Reapers can certainly take out a squad or two of those Grenadiers.” assessed Rhino, “but we’ll be open targets to those snipers and radio heads out there!”

Ozz took a while before he responded, as if calculating all the variables and possible outcome of their actions. Do they charge ahead? Do they gang up on Totenmeister and her zombies? How do they make sure they’ll take out as many enemies as possible with the least casualty on their side?

After a couple of precious minutes gone, Ozz decided it’s time. He turned to the NCO field officer, “Drop, now!” The officer just nodded, and without further hesitation dials through his radio, “Cargo 1 you are on, repeat, you are on!”

Several clicks away, behind the marching Axis force, another building houses a small group of heavily armored soldiers, and among them was Lara. “Wappen auf der bereit!” she commanded the Heavy Laser Grenadiers she’s leading. “Augen auf das Ziel!” she followed, this time ordering the two snipers perched in the nearby window. “Take the bait, amerikanischen Ratten!”

Lara’s cadence was interrupted by the sound of large turbines from way above. She didn’t had the time to screen the skies, as a massive ‘thud’ shocked them from behind. They can’t believe what their eyes were seeing: an Allied Mobile HQ just airdropped out of nowhere!

Almost immediately after the heavy walker landed, a squad of French Legionnaires stormed out, followed by another squad of the dreaded Grim Reapers. “Verdammt!” cried Lara as she witnessed how her observer teams got vaporized by the explosion from the Kill Squad’s phaser weapons.

Shortly after, another surprise came from above, and it’s none other than the British Para Brigade led by Action Jackson!

“Did you miss me?” radioed Jackson to Rhino. “Show off!” replied the latter, with a hidden smile of relief on his face.

Ozz exploited the ensuing turmoil amongst the ranks of the Axis. “Light ‘em up!” as he directed his squad’s fire towards Totenmeister and her fellow undead.

TURN 3:

Chaos followed, as the two warring parties clash in full force.

Ozz and his Reapers boldly Jumped all the way from the upper level of the building they were in down to the middle of the battlefield, in front of the ubertotens. Without hesitation, they showered the undead with all the firepower they got in store!

On the other end of the battlefield though, the airdropped Kill Squad and Grim Reapers met their demise at the vengeful hands of Lara and the Heavy Laser Grenadiers accompanying her.

The Mobile HQ drove further into enemy lines, preventing the remaining Axis troops from reaching Action Jackson and his men. Taking heavy fire, the walker ended up with its hull covered in fire.

The British troops took hold of the nearby temple where the fallen Totenmeister supposedly raised her zombies from.

To further secure the ground, Rhino and his Hammers followed Ozz, standing tall despite suffering some wounds from the reactive fire thrown by the opposition.

(Since the game was timed, we only got to finish Turn 3)

RESULT:

The Skull Squad’s Key Locations were the Stone Yard in the middle and the building to the west side.

Zero Division declared the Stone Yard too, as well as the Temple south of the building.

Both forces were able to send squads to control their Key Locations but the Axis suffered more loss in terms of units completely lost.

Zero Division gained control of the location!

Grey = Skull Squad; Green = Zero Division

AFTERMATH:

The battle ended in a stalemate. Even though the surviving forces of the Axis were driven out of the area, Ozz and his Zero Division know they haven’t seen the last of the mysterious Totenmeister and the warmongering Lara.

(To be continued…)