Cell:MFS Impetuous/1st Maquis Light Horse/Operation: Eagle Trident I
OPERATION: Eagle Trident I
On December 10, 11 and 12, 2010 the crew of the M.F.S. Impetuous got together for a 3 day gaming event using Battletechrules for a re-enactment of the Battle of the Alamoa gaming event we've wanted to do for many years.
We're calling this the first "Friendship Games" between the Cardassian Union and the Maquis, similar to the Team Spirit games the US military carried out with the South Korean military.
We pit the 1st Maquis Light Horse against several of the Cardassian Unions toughest regiments for this wargame.
- 1st Cardassian Guards RCT
- 4th Cardassian Guards RCT
- 19th Sword of Cardassia RCT
- 9th Star of Cardassia RCT
- 2nd Sword of Cardassia RCT
M.I.L.E.S. Gearwas used to tally hits, "dead" and "wounded" were beamed off the playing field.
There were three opportunities for the training scenario to become an actual battle.
10% at the beginning
20% if/when the third wave is turned
30% at the end of the scenario if the 1MLH wins or ties the battle
NOTE: The first two waves of the battle were not “played out” due to time constraints.
At the beginning of play, the Game Manager CMDSGTMAJ Bill Absher made the first roll to determine if the "wargame" would turn into a real battle. The die result for this to happen was 91-100, Bill rolled a 38, meaning we were safe for the time being.
Friday 10, December was spent mostly setting things up and "painting the scene" to all involved. Saturday 11, December we got down to business and spent six hours playing out the third wave of the Alamo battle. The opening moments went according to plan with the "Mexican" army advancing in three columns on the fort. Historically all three Mexican columns ended up attacking the North wall of the Alamo where there was a breach in the defensive wall.
This is the point where we deviated from historical accuracy, when the Light Horse beamed onto Regulak, three thousand command detonated mines were beamed into position around the fort. As the Cardassian troops and Mekks approached the North wall of the fort, some of these mines were detonated, ripping through the infantry and crippling many Mekks. To take advantage of the shock of the mines, many of the Marines were equipped with eight centimeter mortar. As the mines began going off the Light Horsemen pounded the approaching enemy with 80mm shells. Between the small arms, mortar, the mines and "canister" rounds fired from the artillery pieces the third wave was turned after four minutes. The Cardassians suffering almost 80% casualties while the Light Horse lost only a few of its Marines.
NOTE:
At this point the Game Manager made the second roll to determine if the "wargame" would turn into a real battle. The die result for this to happen was 81-100, Bill rolled a 79, making it a very close call.
We started playing about 08:00 on Sunday morning. The fourth wave began with over nine thousand of the remaining Cardassian infantry, mekks and armor attacking the fort on the North, East and, West sides. As the "Mexican Army" band played El Deguello, the Colour Guard was ordered to retreat into the mission itself and hold there. For over forty minutes the battle raged with the Alamo defenders pouring artillery and mortar fire on the approaching enemy. Fortunately for us the Cardassians used some of the same approaches from the previous day (thinking the mines had all been expended). The remaining mines wrought havoc on their lines. About twenty minutes into the action, the Light Horse’s remaining tanks and the light mekks (attempting a breakout maneuver) fanned out from the palisades along the South wall. The armor quickly flanked the enemy lines, getting in a few shots before being decimated by the Cardassian mekks. The Cardassian mekks then began fixing our artillery and mekks, concentrating their fire and taking them out one by one.
Throughout the onslaught, cries of "Hold the line!" and "Remember Cambreadth!" could be heard around the fort. After pounding the fort on three sides the Cardassians shifted to the South wall of the fort and breached the palisades. BGEN McBain ordered the remaining Marines to defend the mission and, the units colours in the mission chapel. The final minutes were fierce as the Light Horse fought in the small area around the palisades. Muzzle to muzzle with the Cardassians, bayonets slashed and rifles were used as clubs. McBain and the last of the defenders “died” at the mission doors at 1524 hrs local time. The Colour Guard, rather than allow the units Colours to fall into enemy hands, set off a photon explosion at the chapel doors thereby “killing” themselves and “destroying” the Colours, and no small number of Cardassian infantry (the Colour Guard and the colours being whisked away by transporter as they "died").
NOTE:
With the Light Horse defeated, the Game Manager didn’t need to make the third and final roll to determine if the "wargame" became a real battle.
After things settled, all involved gathered for a stiff drink of Tennessee whiskey (and yes, fish juice) then gave a toast to those who fought the actual battle so long ago on that March morning in 1836.
Remember the Alamo!
Remember those who bought our freedom!
