>>39224300
You shuffle to Kreuss' side of the post and have look at the runner, who you recognize as a gopher from the supply runs. There aren't any supply runs scheduled today and he's on foot, so this must be an urgent message from the general or someone equally important.

"Yeah, that's one of ours," you say. "You can relax a little."

"Captain de Velde!" The runner nearly trips as he runs towards you. "There's an emergency at Point 6! The Imperials called in reinforcements and the 33rd is being pushed back. At this rate, they'll take heavy losses. They need support urgently!"

Yep. They caught the Empire's attention all right.

Your orders are to stand by here, but you are authorized to take independent action if necessary and your priority is to maintain the defense line. Either way, you have more than enough to justify your decision.

>"We have to stay here in case the Imperials launch another attack."
>"All right, we'll go support the 33rd. Let's get moving."

>>39224316
>"All right, we'll go support the 33rd. Let's get moving."

>>39224316
>"All right, we'll go support the 33rd. Let's get moving."

Even if they do launch another attack, it's still better backing up to absorb them than getting flanked and cut off.

>>39224316
>>"All right, we'll go support the 33rd. Let's get moving."

Small unit action in a desert front? If we move, I suggest that we move below the profile of any hills/dunes. That'll muffle the sound of the tank at the very least, if not minimize the tank's silhouette.

>>39224316
>>"All right, we'll go support the 33rd. Let's get moving."
If the Imperials go for an attack a single watch post isn't going to do much good anyway, lets pull the 33rd out of the fire

>>39224316
>>"All right, we'll go support the 33rd. Let's get moving."

File: Barious.png (1001 KB, 850x594)

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>>39224316
"All right, we'll go support the 33rd," you say. "Everyone, pack up your things and leave just enough behind to make it look like we're still here. It won't fool anyone for long, but a few minutes might be good enough. It's not that far, but we'll need to ride the tank most of the way. Moeller, what's your condition?"

"The tank is combat-ready, as is my crew, sir," she says. "I can't promise the ride will be comfortable, but there shouldn't be any issues."

"Good," you say. "Kreuss, keep your head on a swivel. Leifstel and Schreiner, keep us under cover just in case. I'll keep track of the map. Everyone else, stay calm and keep an eye out."

"Yes, sir."

You all climb on the tank and put on your desert goggles to protect yourselves against the wind. It's not too bad yet, but an eyefull of sand isn't going to do you any favour. As Moeller said, the ride isn't leisurely, but at least there aren't any bumps and potholes.

"We're almost there." You pound on the top of the tank to tell Moeller to stop. "This… this is going to be a problem."

Per the map, you are now within visual range of two sets of trenches. Both sides are shelling each other with mortars and tank shells, but the Imperials have the Gallian side outnumbered. They lose dozens and hundreds of troops charging at the Gallian trenches, but they can take the losses. Gallian infantry climb out of the trenches to get to the Imperials and keep the offensive going, but they can't get far.

>(1/2)

>>39224872
And that's not the only problem either. You're at an ideal angle to flank the Imperial positions - even a small force can do a lot of damage in this situation - but you're currently downwind from the battlefield. If they start using chemical weapons, it'll be hell for you even with the protective equipment you have.

You also have the option of just joining the Gallian trenches, but then you'd just be throwing yourself into the grinder. It would help to reinforce the Gallian defense, but it wouldn't provide a significant tactical advantage.

Your third option is to take a detour and hit the Imperials from behind where their defense is the thinnest. You can catch them in a pincer manoeuvre, but you'll be completely isolated and it'll be your neck on the chopping block if the Imperials get more reinforcements. The upside is that if you can pull it off, you should be able to cripple their command structure.

>"We're going to flank the Imperials from this position. Put on your chemical suits."
>"We're going to reinforce the Gallian trenches. Keep your heads down and stay behind cover."
>"We're going to hit the Imperials from behind. It'll be dangerous, so stay alert."

>>39224889
>>"We're going to hit the Imperials from behind. It'll be dangerous, so stay alert."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUmq1cpcglQ

>>39224889
>>"We're going to flank the Imperials from this position. Put on your chemical suits."

>>39224889
>"We're going to hit the Imperials from behind. It'll be dangerous, so stay alert."
One of our big advantages over real WW1 trench warfare, and a source of our small unit survivability, is ragnaid healing. One hole or tear in a chemical suit is lethal. That and the quicker we make a decisive contribution the fast we can get back.

File: Danielle Moeller.jpg (71 KB, 749x628)

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>>39224889
Moeller opens the access hatch and peeks her head out to hear your orders.

"Here's the plan," you say. "We're going to hit the Imperials from behind. Their lines are spread out pretty far, so their commanding officer shouldn't be too heavily protected and as an added bonus, we won't have to worry about breathing chlorine. Moeller, take a detour around the Imperial lines. Try to use the dunes and ruins as cover. This will only work if we get the drop on them."

"Yes, sir." Moeller drops back into her tank.

The tank turns a ways back and then circles wide around the battlefield to reach the back of the Imperial troops. The sound of explosions and gunfire drowns out the tank's engines. Moeller comes out of the tank a few times to survey the area and look for a new path. You trust her to handle her work and she eventually brings you to your destination.

The Imperial command post is in your view. It's not much - just a few guards and other adjutants holding maps - but the sheer number of people running back and forth to give reports and deliver orders makes it clear that this is the command structure. You can't see anything clearly from this distance, but at least you know where to point your guns.

>"Kreuss, we're going to scout the area first."
>"Everyone, we're charging that command post before they realize what's happening."
>"Moeller, I need you to bombard the command post from a distance."

>>39225376
>>"Kreuss, we're going to scout the area first."

>>39225376
>>"Kreuss, we're going to scout the area first."

>>39225376
>>"Kreuss, we're going to scout the area first."

We're going scouting. Roll 4d6!

Rolled 2, 5, 2, 4 = 13 (4d6)

>>39225668

Rolled 1, 2, 5, 2 = 10 (4d6)

>>39225668

Rolled 5, 6, 1, 3 = 15 (4d6)

>>39225668
nin-nin-nin

Rolled 4, 2, 5, 3 = 14 (4d6)

>>39225668

Rolled 4, 4, 2, 3 = 13 (4d6)

>>39225668

File: Vanessa1.jpg (6 KB, 300x168)

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>>39225376
"Kreuss, we're going to scout the area first," you say. "Are you ready?"

"Absolutely, sir." She puts on a desert camouflage coat and gives you one as well. "Lead the way."

You crouch down and slowly walk towards the Imperial command post, making sure to keep your rifle tucked under your cloak so that there's no sunlight reflected by the scope. Your instructors made sure you knew exactly how to hide in any environment, even flat desert. Kreuss follows a little behind you, ready to cover you if necessary.

When you get closer to the command area, you get down lower and start crawling. You set up your rifle, making sure to keep it covered by your cloak, and have a look through the scope.

As you'd hoped, the command area isn't heavily defended. Most of the people there are couriers and support staff. The only combatants you see are the commander - he's the one with the fancy rank insignia and the machine gun - along with two more shocktroopers and two fencers. They're all older-looking men, not inexperienced green troops.

>Take a shot at the commanding officer. You might get lucky.
>You got the intelligence. Time to pull back.

>>39225896
>>You got the intelligence. Time to pull back.

>>39225896
>Take a shot at the commanding officer. You might get lucky.

>>39225896
>>Take a shot at the commanding officer. You might get lucky.

>>39225896
>You got the intelligence. Time to pull back.

>>39225896
>>Take a shot at the commanding officer. You might get lucky.

>>39225896
>>You got the intelligence. Time to pull back.

>>39225896
>You got the intelligence. Time to pull back.

>>39225896
>Take a shot at the commanding officer. You might get lucky.

Rolled 1 (1d2)

I hate it when that happens for decisions that are actually important, but rolling for tiebreaker.

1= Shoot
2= Return

File: could have prevented.jpg (111 KB, 512x342)

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>>39226152

>>39226152
And the dice gods have spoken. Roll 4d6!

Rolled 4, 3, 2, 3 = 12 (4d6)

>>39226173

Rolled 2, 2, 6, 5 = 15 (4d6)

>>39226173
boom!

Rolled 4, 6, 2, 2 = 14 (4d6)

>>39226173

File: Imperial Shocktrooper.jpg (22 KB, 391x350)

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>>39225896
You take aim at the officer. You don't have a good angle on his head, but his chest is wide open. You aim your shot to his left and pull the trigger.

The officer stumbles back a little and a red stream flows from the hole in his chest. You didn't quite get him in the heart, but you got it close. The officer falls to his knees, then keels over completely, dead.

The other Imperial soldiers are confused for a moment, but they quickly realize what's happening. The two fencers plant their shields to provide cover, while the shocktroopers aim their machine gun in your general direction.

>Time to retreat! You need to get back to your time.
>Time to hide! They won't see you here.

>>39226304
>>Time to retreat! You need to get back to your time.
And maybe to our team, too.

>>39226304
>Time to retreat! You need to get back to your time.

>>39226304
>Time to retreat! You need to get back to your time.

>>39226304
>Time to hide! They won't see you here.

>>39226304
>Time to retreat! You need to get back to your time.

>>39226304
> your time
No Snake! You'll cause a time paradox!

Going back to the team wins. Roll 4d6.

Rolled 3, 2, 3, 2 = 10 (4d6)

>>39226566

Rolled 3, 6, 1, 5 = 15 (4d6)

>>39226566

Rolled 1, 1, 2, 6 = 10 (4d6)

>>39226566

Rolled 2, 4, 1, 6 = 13 (4d6)

>>39226566

File: Renard.jpg (58 KB, 1024x576)

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>>39226304
"Fall back!" You yell. "Fall back!"

Kreuss easily disengages and runs back towards your team. Her scout training and the experience she gained during the war really shows.

Your performance is after less impressive.

You get up and run, but you're caught in the shocktroopers' suppressive fire. You keep your head down and weave left and right to try and get them off you, but there's only so much you can do to avoid an unending stream of lead.

One bullet goes right through your leg and you stumble forward and fall. It wasn't a fatal shot, but it does leave you in a precarious position. Fortunately for you, the shocktroopers have to momentarily halt their fire in order to reload - they didn't think about coordinating their fire.

>Shoot one of the shocktroopers. That'll get at least one of them off your back.
>Shoot one of the fencers. It'll deny the shocktroopers cover.
>Hide somewhere and wait for backup.

>>39226769
>Shoot one of the fencers. It'll deny the shocktroopers cover.

>>39226769
>Hide somewhere and wait for backup.
You guys are dumb. Hiding was the obvious right choice in the last vote

>>39226769
>Shoot one of the fencers. It'll deny the shocktroopers cover.

>>39226769
>>Shoot one of the shocktroopers. That'll get at least one of them off your back.

>>39226769
>>Shoot one of the fencers. It'll deny the shocktroopers cover.

Going for the fencers. Roll 4d6!

Rolled 3, 5, 3, 6 = 17 (4d6)

>>39227043

Rolled 4, 4, 2, 2 = 12 (4d6)

>>39227043
Die, dirty imp!

Rolled 3, 5, 6, 6 = 20 (4d6)

>>39227043

>>39227087
Nice roll anon

>>39227087
The bullet ricochets and kills half of their forces.

>>39227099
I'm going give credit to the Darcsen doll, that thing is saving our butt.

>>39227171
We'll have to requisition for a second doll. That'll give us unrivalled luck on the battlefield.

File: Renard1.jpg (28 KB, 225x350)

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>>39226769
It's not like you can go much farther with a useless leg. Sometimes, the best defense really is a good offense.

You roll onto your stomach and look at the two fencers. One of them happens to be looking through the slot in his shield. Too bad for him.

Before the fencer realizes what's happening, you aim your rifle at the slot and fire. Blood and eye fluid spray out of the fencer's skull and he falls back onto the shocktrooper he was protecting. The shocktrooper, for his part, immediately realizes that his position is not very good and makes a dash for the other fencer, who now needs to cover three people behind his shield. It must be getting crowded in there - the shocktroopers won't be able to aim easily.

Better yet, you hear the sound of a tank engine coming up from behind you. Your team has arrived to back you up.

>Hide while the Imperials are distracted.
>Keep firing at the Imperials to keep them pinned down.

>>39227209
>>Keep firing at the Imperials to keep them pinned down.

>>39227209
>Keep firing at the Imperials to keep them pinned down.

>>39227209
>>Keep firing at the Imperials to keep them pinned down.

>>39227209
>Keep firing at the Imperials to keep them pinned down.

>>39227209
>>Keep firing at the Imperials to keep them pinned down.

>>39227209
>>>Keep firing at the Imperials to keep them pinned down.
For Gallia!

Suppressive fire it is. Roll 4d6.

Rolled 3, 1, 3, 3 = 10 (4d6)

>>39227404

Rolled 1, 6, 1, 3 = 11 (4d6)

>>39227404

Rolled 2, 1, 3, 3 = 9 (4d6)

>>39227209
roll

>>39227404

Rolled 2, 6, 1, 3 = 12 (4d6)

>>39227404

>>39227449
-1
>>39227450
-1
>>39227459
-2
>>39227493
-1

Not the best of our streaks...

>>39227449
>>39227450
>>39227459
RIP Renard

>>39227554
It's our own fault, we had a tank we could have been using this entire time

>>39227209
You level your rifle at the fencer's shield and fire. You know you won't hit anything, but the bullets are at least enough to keep the shocktroopers from shooting at you. You'll be reasonably safe so long as you can force them to stay behind cover. You don't have many bullets left, but you don't need many either.

Moeller's tank rolls into the area. Schreiner and Leifstel immediately disembark and rush towards you, with Stroheim following behind them with her first aid kit. She does not look pleased at the bleeding hole in your leg. Meanwhile, Kreuss and Garcia take up flanking positions to keep the Imperials pinned, while Nelson stays on the tank to relay the situation to Moeller. There no Imperial tanks in the area, so there's not much else for him to do.

"Captain, are you alright?" Leifstel asks.

"Yeah, I've had worse," you say. "Stroheim, patch me up."

"Yeah, yeah, I'm on it," Stroheim mumbles. "A-fucking-gain."

"Oh, don't be that way," you say. "This isn't nearly as bad as the last one."

"Shut up and let me work." Stroheim starts digging into your leg to fish out the bullet. Now that the battle is slowing down, you can start to fully appreciate how much it fucking hurts to get shot in the leg.

"Sir, what are your orders?" Schreiner asks.

You look at the three neatly clustered Imperials.

>"Take the machine gun emplacement on the tank and point it at those Imperials."
>"Stroheim, my leg can wait. Go lob a grenade at those Imperials."
>"Surround the Imperials and finish them off."

>>39227770
>"Stroheim, my leg can wait. Go lob a grenade at those Imperials."
Have the machine gun ready to take out any runners

>>39227770
>"Take the machine gun emplacement on the tank and point it at those Imperials."

>>39227770
>"Stroheim, my leg can wait. Go lob a grenade at those Imperials."

>>39227770
>"Take the machine gun emplacement on the tank and point it at those Imperials."

>>39227770
>>"Take the machine gun emplacement on the tank and point it at those Imperials."

>>39227770
>>"Take the machine gun emplacement on the tank and point it at those Imperials."

"They shot me in my leg. Let's return the favor, eh?"

>>39227770
>>"Take the machine gun emplacement on the tank and point it at those Imperials."

Also, ask Stroheim if the leg wound is in the Moderate or Severe consequence slot.

Going for the dakka. Roll 4d6!

Rolled 3, 1, 5, 2 = 11 (4d6)

>>39228079

Rolled 4, 6, 6, 4 = 20 (4d6)

>>39228079

Rollin'!

Rolled 1, 3, 6, 3 = 13 (4d6)

>>39228079

File: Dakkadakkadakka.gif (995 KB, 464x257)

995 KB GIF

>>39228097

DAKKA DAKKA DAKKA

File: William Nelson.jpg (71 KB, 600x900)

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>>39227770
"Take the machine gun emplacement on the tank and point it at those Imperials," you yell.

"Yes, sir!" Nelson says. He pounds on the tank a few times to relay your orders and Moeller comes out to man the machine gun.

Moeller unleashes a steady stream of bullets from the machine gun, which is much bigger and much more powerful than the standard infantry models. To his credit, the Imperial fencer does a damn good job of hanging on. He withstands the onslaught, only step back a little, and even manages to deflect some of the shots by angling the shield just right.

It's not enough. The barrage takes its toll and the fencer loses his grip on the shield. Without the shield's protection, his body is ripped apart by the machine gun turret. Blood pours out of his body from a hundred wounds, but he stays standing long enough to give the two shocktroopers some time to get away… and aim their own machine guns at you.

>"Everyone, take cover!"
>"Everyone, suppress those shocktroopers!"

>>39228275
>"Everyone, take cover!"

>>39228275
>"Everyone, suppress those shocktroopers!"

>>39228275
>>"Everyone, take cover!"

>>39228275
>"Everyone, take cover!"

>>39228275
>>"Everyone, suppress those shocktroopers!"

Going for cover. Roll 4d6.

Rolled 3, 3, 1, 1 = 8 (4d6)

>>39228532

Rolled 5, 3, 6, 4 = 18 (4d6)

>>39228532

Rolled 6, 3, 3, 3 = 15 (4d6)

>>39228532

File: Jetje3.jpg (7 KB, 300x168)

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>>39228275
"Everyone, take cover!"

Leifstel stands up to cover you and Stroheim, while just about everyone else hits the sand.

The shocktroopers fire at your positions with surprising accuracy, but none of the shots hit you or anyone else on your team. The most you have to deal with is ricochet from the bullets and even then, you barely get more than a sting. It's almost embarrassing, really.

However, the fight isn't over and now that the shocktroopers are well and truly cornered, they'll get even more desperate - and dangerous. You can't let your guard down. You need to act fast before the shocktroopers can solidify their position and become a significant threat.

>"Leifstel, Schreiner, use your shields to charge the shocktroopers and finish them."
>"Garcia, Kreuss, finish off those shocktroopers!"
>"Nelson, I need you to give me a distraction to keep these shocktroopers busy!"

>>39228691
>>"Garcia, Kreuss, finish off those shocktroopers!"

>>39228691
>>"Garcia, Kreuss, finish off those shocktroopers!"

>>39228691
>"Leifstel, Schreiner, use your shields to charge the shocktroopers and finish them."

Garcia and Kreuss are getting this one. Roll 4d6!

Rolled 5, 6, 6, 2 = 19 (4d6)

>>39228895

Rolled 3, 3, 6, 3 = 15 (4d6)

>>39228895
thunder

Rolled 5, 4, 4, 3 = 16 (4d6)

>>39228895

We've been lucky, rolled +3 twice so far and the lowest roll has been -2.

File: Karl.jpg (55 KB, 547x640)

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>>39228691
"Garcia! Kreuss!" You yell. "Finish off those shocktroopers!"

The two women look at each other once and nod. They aim at different shocktroopers and fire. The shocktrooper on the receiving end of Kreuss' shot gets to keep most of his head intact, but the one Garcia was gunning for seems to just… disappear above the waist from the hail of bullets. The sand mixes into a bloody mud.

"Thank you," you say. "Stroheim, how's my leg?"

"It might be sore for a few days, but it'll be fine," she says. "You should be able to walk around now."

You pull yourself up and have a look around. It's only then that you can finally take stock of the broader battlefield.

After you disrupted their command structure, the Imperials lost ground and were forced back. The momentum of the battle shifted in Gallia's favour in a second and the deadlock is completely broken. All around you, Imperials are running away, desperately trying to reform their ranks. None of them can spare the time to even glance at you.

"Looks like we won," Schreiner says. "What do we do now, capain?"

>"Let's just go back to our post."
>"Let's check in with the 33rd's commander in case they need something else."

>>39229056
>>"Let's just go back to our post."

>>39229056
>"Let's just go back to our post."

>>39229056
>>"Let's check in with the 33rd's commander in case they need something else."

>>39229056
>Gun down retreating imps

>>39229056
>>"Let's check in with the 33rd's commander in case they need something else."

>>39229056
>"Let's check in with the 33rd's commander in case they need something else."

>>39229056
>"Let's just go back to our post."
Lets go back and guard that break we just left in our lines, what could we give em that they don't already have? Supplies? Support? We're a small unit and just made a valuable contribution. Lets no be too irresponsible.

>>39229056
>>"Let's check in with the 33rd's commander in case they need something else."

>>39229056
>>"Let's just go back to our post."

>>39229056
>>"Let's just go back to our post."

>>39229056
>Barious Desert Rescue - Combat Report
>Three Shocktroopers, Two Fencers
>5670XP, 3375DCT

"Let's check in with the 33rd's commander in case they need something else," you say. "It shouldn't be hard to find directions."

You walk towards the Gallian force, looking for someone who can give you directions. All around you, Imperials are getting gunned down as they flee. Parts of the trenches look like they're piled up so high with corpses that your tank could drive over them.

"You guys lost?" One of the soldiers asks you.

"We're with General Gunther," you say. "We heard you needed some support. I'd like to speak with General Konrad before we leave."

"Oh, that was you guys?" The soldier smiles. "You'll find the general over there."

"Thanks," you say.

The soldier points you to the middle of the Gallian army. It's close enough to the front line that the general can command the situation personally, but far enough that he can still get a good overview of the battlefield.

You casually walk up to the temporary command post, a convenient pile of rocks covered in maps and various objects representing troops. The troops look at you a little oddly, but they let you through when you tell them you're looking for the general.

You and your team snap to attention and salute.

>(1/2)

File: General John Konrad.jpg (250 KB, 1680x1050)

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>>39229571
"Sir, Captain Renard de Velde reporting to render assistance."

General John Konrad is a middle-aged man, but he carries himself as a soldier, not like the rear echelon generals of the nobility who got their positions because of their breeding. He stands in the middle of the battlefield in his undershirt, covered in sweat, dust and blood.

"Captain de Velde," the general calls out your name without looking away from his maps. "My scouts told me about you're work. Very impressive. It's unfortunate you were assigned to Gunther. Very unfortunate." He turns to look at you and return your salute. "Still, I won't forget what you did for the Damned 33rd. If you hadn't intervened, our losses would have been… significant. As it is, we can use this victory to strain the Imperials. It'll take them time to reassemble their forces, especially if we harass them in the meantime. Things are looking good for us."

"We'll be at our post if you require any further assistance, sir," you say.

"Duly noted, captain," General Konrad says. "You're dismissed for now."

>>39229586
>General Konrad.

I knew this was going to happen. The 33rd is not a very common unit number.

>>39229586
And that's all for today. I will see you all next Wednesday at 7PM EST.

Good night and thanks for playing.

>>39229609
Thanks for the thread.

>>39229586
We're so dead.

>>39229586
Thanks.
>>39229606
"I didn't mean to hurt anybody." "No one ever does."

>>39229606
Aw hell naw, of all the Generals from military science fiction to pull, he just had to throw in the loony from Spec Ops.

>>39230140
But Anon
It's not Konrad that's the loon...