Lieutenant Kuznets replayed his orders – ascend the valley side to the small wooded hill south west of the 3rd companies position, securing it and then reporting on any activity observed to the west.
Hill 91 was more than wooded – there was “fight” in it. Lieutenant Kuznets cursed – ripe for ambush.
It seems there was concern about the presence of the enemy. So far the loose talk was that the Azorians were to the south east, so who or what else could be to the west? Rugians?
Meanwhile Lieutenant Grabern looked at his watch, then the sky and finally signalled Sergeant White forward. Grabern thought about his objective – escort the observer to hill 91, wait and protect him/them until they pull out.
The climb to hill 90 was far too wooded for Lieutenant Grabern’s taste. Ambush country….
Straightforward orders though. The whispers were that the enemy were in the valley beyond and that the hill was probably occupied already. It felt like trouble.
Grabern did not like the open ground east beyond Hill 90 – the most direct route to Hill 91.Grabern having crested hill 90 directs his platoon south east to the building enclosure – here was some cover he could useSergeant White secured the buildings and then followed by Sergeant Donovan pushed onDonovan’s Section held the enclosureAll was quiet and Grabern did not like it – the mist was not lifting which was good and bad – bad not least because the observer would have little to see – surely this mission would be a waste of time!The observer team moved through the enclosure. Sergeant Bird looked at the sky or rather the mist – this was going to be a pointless task. But orders are orders and he needed to look into that valley.White was now on top of Hill 91 and the valley drop would begin soonSergeant Bird had crested Hill 91 and without any trouble. Maybe this would be a quiet day all round after all? Sergeant Donovan circled round to the left of Whites section moving on the clearing near the very hill top. White then moved through a copse to the open clearing and some swampy ground……….Too late White saw some furtive movement ahead, followed by a harsh sound of a machine gun opening up. Damn, the Vossackians really were here already………An LMG team of Kuznets platoon commenced firing on the advancing AzoriansHaving broken cover by the clearing both Donovan’s and White’s sections were an easy target. They returned fire as best they could but the target was difficult. At least there was only one of them……..To their right the Azorians now received new fire from another Vossackian fire team. Donovan’s Section finished off the Vossackian LMG to their front.To compound matters another LMG opened up to the north – this time on Sergeant Bird himself. Runners were everywhere as Bird told Grabern, Donovan and White he was pulling out. White and Donovan were already locked in an unequal firefightGrabern had just arrived on the hill 91 and quickly agreed with Bird that withdrawl was in order – the mission was now pointless as the fire fight heated upHis own section immediately took casualties from LMG fireWhite was losing men fast as wellWhite and Donovan’s sections withdrew, firing as they wentThe Vossackians now moved into the clearing to get better fire positions but they also took casualtiesThe Vossackian southern fire team took casualties as well………..Reluctantly Grabern pulled back to cover the observer team and get relief from the Vossackian LMG to the north. In the copse by the clearing White and Donovan were only slowly withdrawing. Grabern wanted them out faster.It was then apparent that the remnants of White and Donovan’s sections were being overwhelmed.The observer team had now retired to the enclosure closely followed by some of Grabern’s section sent to hold the enclosure itself. Grabern stayed on the edge of the woodland to give what cover he could to what was left of White and Donovan’s sectionsThen as Grabern made it to the enclosure White and Donovan’s survivors broke clear of the woodland and retreated across the open ground for the safety of the enclosure.Now though, the Vossackian firing died away – fortunately the Vossackians either lacked confidence in numbers, were wary of getting caught in the open themselves or had orders simply to hold the hill.
Lieutenant Grabern continued his retreat back to Hill 90 protecting his charge – the Observer. His platoon had suffered many casualties yet performed well under fire.
Later Lieutenant Kuznets crept amongst his men praising them and checking their condition. He was still wary of what the Azorian intentions were. He had already sent back a runner to report his success at clearing Hill 91. Also he had seen firsthand that these Azorians were well armed and disciplined under fire. Unlike in some of their previous encounters.
The Wargaming Erratic 