A roar of aerial and ironclad artillery signalled the commencement of the French attack upon the Martian Trading Outpost, and the dying on both sides began.
Somewhat unimaginatively, the French attack focused on the Martian Legions on the plains, and attriting the Red Legion holding the outpost, before unleashing the Guards to steal all the wine. Of course, the French could bombard the place to oblivion at leisure but that was the way of the hated Prussians or scorned Belgians, and General Escargot was under orders to capture the location for French use.
And so the Martian sepoys were thrown in to lead the attack while the regulars stayed back to provide covering fire (a very Earthman approach, a cynic might suggest)
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| Martian view of the French left flank attack |
Focusing fire on the left flank with Le Epee supporting, the French advanced steadily with aerial fires sweeping away the Martian artillery quickly (some good rolling for hits, AND some bad rolling for pin checks!). One unit of sepoy infantry made an early dash to secure the ruins (and the cover they invited). Centrally the clanker landcruisers focused on counter battery fire, the sharpshooters sniped and the Grenadiers sipped champagne and patiently waited their turn.
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| "These snazzy rouge pantalons will make us invincibles Mon Ami!" |
Far out of the right wing, the Martian Gashants advanced and General Escargot deployed his own cavalry Regiment to counter (yes that is indeed 52 gashant models on the table at the same time!)
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| "Mon Dieu! Ennemie Cavalrie!" |
Meanwhile the Legionaries advanced into a firing positions, and nobody really cared what they thought of things. It is the way of things in la Legion.
Back on the left flank crossfire whittled down the Martian Black legion, but Le Epee's fire - pinpoint at the start of the battle, rapidly became ineffective and a Hill Martian sharpshooter unit took the sepoys under fire, bogging down their advance. Spying his chance for gloire, Prince Imperial Louis-Napoléon (on secondment to the training cadre in Ideaus Fons) took command of the closest Sepoy unit - storming the hill, throwing back the Hill Martians and blasting them with panache and a dash of fusilade! For his actions that day he was subsequently gazetted with the award of the Légion d'honneur.
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| "Avant! Hommes en avant!" |
The French Cavalerie had fully deployed by now and a standoff had evolved with both forces just outside of charge range (and looking magnificent, naturellmont!)
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| The Final Insult: The Martian Cavalry Commander, resplendent in his fine armour, is slain by the jubilant Cuirassier commander |
With that action done, it was time to embrace the spirit of "L'audace, encore l'audace, toujours l'audace!" and commit my Guards Battalion to the assault! Rolling to unpin the only Guard unit sporting a pin marker - snake eyes, and it routed off the table to investigate rumours that the Mess tent had opened early for pre dinner drinks. Perhaps more pummelling of the defenders was the better part of valour...
Nevertheless, French had momentum on both flanks though the Martians had some untouched Defenders that needed routing out at the tip of the bayonet. It would be bloody work. Of course the French could stand off and pound the settlement to destruction but that would somewhat sour the view of the Martians that they sought to be allies. Time to encircle, besiege, and offer terms from a position of strength while saving precious French lives.
VP tally
The French had captured the Ruins (1), had Prince Louis engage in Close Combat and survive (1), and destroyed 3 legions (9) for 11 points. Meanwhile the Martians retained control of the Trading Post (5) and had eliminated one French unit (the Guards unit that routed, to the chagrin of all) for a total of 6. A Victory for France!
And so, my French Army was most reluctantly not returned back into their usual place of honour in Gav's figure cabinet, but placed into a new figure case bought just for them for long term storage. Rest and recover well mes hommes!
la Fin!
Epilogue: With a grand total of 52 Gashants on the table, Gav has proclaimed that this game was the winner of the World Record number of Gashants simultaneously fielded in a Space 1889 wargame. Post your accolades or provide evidence to the contrary!
