'Ol Fezziwig
Repressed Dissident
End Station Budapest
Russian-backed Romanians! Hard-pressed Hungarians! Panzerfausts! ATMMs! Tactical mistakes! Tactical tours de force! Nimrods, Toldis and Zrinyis! Sweeping Gains! Utter collapses! Heroic stands! Cowardly retreats! A final climactic struggle in the deepest reaches of the train station! …All this and more as age-old enmities converge upon the historic city’s end line…
The few, speaking in terms here of having sufficient force to cover the myriad approaches available to the Romanian horde, Hungarian units are placed mainly to delay the direct approach to the Railhead with but a reinforced platoon off on the right flank to check any moves there. Most men are placed forward with a skeletal secondary line placed so as to form the basis of the next line as the front inevitably approaches. Heavy weapons are placed rearwards to reduce movements later and to assist the fallback to the rail station with covering fire. Just where the hammer will fall is unknown…
With a crash, the hammer falls along the direct route-a veritable tide of green surges forward, absorbing the light Hungarian fires as it laps onward. Fire increases as scouting parties cautiously move forward into the city, paving the way for larger formations and heavier weapons. Squads start to take more effective fire as they move up along the city streets and alleys; the brash portion of the advance is now at an end. Romanian fire starts to target those Hungarians they can see with increasing bases of fire; the wily defenders retreating further into the depths of the city. A chattering Hungarian heavy machinegun is quickly put out of action by a gaggle of Romanian counterparts, freeing up several avenues of approach from observed, directed fire. This allows the quickly arrived assault engineers to help in turning the Hungarian left flank-an isolated pair of squads holding a small, exposed, yet vital corner block. The main line has to begin to follow suit, harried at every exposed turn. The Hungarian defenses attempt to gel and keep the open approaches under fire. The seemingly never-ending swells of Romanians continue to push forward despite the occasional setback. Sporadic spasms of close combat erupt as the combatants close in the dusty gloom of buildings and resolve themselves quickly. The <thump-thump-thump> of a supporting Nimrod heralds the Romanian crest upon the second line of defenses on the left. To the rear, the rumble of a dispatched Toldi is heard even as it crashes over the walls of the rail yard and trundles over the maze of tracks beyond, turret pointing danger forward.
A minor Romanian flanking force is stopped after carefully advancing down the rail line. Stopped, then counterattacked and pushed back across the tracks towards the main force as the Hungarian detail, supported by a machinegun nest to the rear, is able to grant the defense a measure of reprieve for the moment. This proves temporary as a towed AT gun and its escort moves in the lee of the MG nest’s vision along the rail line and avoiding Hungarian potshots as it flits by. With a suddenly-appearing Hungarian tank, a duel looks to be in the offing. Yet, the AT gun inexplicably moves further down the track, apparently headed to the flank of the train station…that is until the Toldi turns its way and charges! Machineguns blazing, the tank immobilises the truck and breaks the crew still in the bed of the truck, finishing them off in close action as it stitches the back of the truck with machinegun fire. The tank now pivots, looking down a long stretch of road that the advancing Romanians have just reached. Pointing its weapons down the street, it does not notice a second truck carrying yet another gun enter the tracks further down. Not until this truck dodges some machinegun and small arms fire does the tank crew take notice…and then it is too late. Immobilised in the first exchange of fire, it is later destroyed by a hail of 37mm shells, removing this vital weapon from the Hungarian arsenal.
The Romanian attack, without having to worry about flanking fire from that quarter, starts to concentrate on the Hungarian defenders across the street. The Hungarian line had been thus far maintained, but now it starts to quiver as squads start to retreat in pairs instead of singly. Where is that blasted heavy machinegun? What happened to the machinegun watching the flank and tracks? The only machine gun in operation is far to the right; too far for effective fire unless the Romanians get bold and start advancing on the tracks or in the open streets. To move it from its perch means losing the most effective firebase the Hungarians have had to this point for several turns as it repositions; leave it as is and it at least deters some moves. So it remains where it is, nipping at the heels of the advance.
The defense is otherwise bolstered by yet another eclectic armored vehicle when a hefty 105mm-armed Zrinyi rolls into the fray. Quickly, it moves to the left and joins the Nimrod as the anchors on this flank. As the defense has now fallen back to the large building just ahead of the train station, the defense must hold here to allow stragglers time to filter back and shaken troops to rally. Romanians start to pile up across the streets in numbers and probes inch forward, testing the defenses. They are not as numerous now as before, as each advance wicks off a few squads from the main force, a green cloud in the wake of the advance, growing with every turn.
Still, returning Romanians increase the velocity of the advance, particularly the specialists and their potent weaponry. The battle is now joined in the penultimate building; the defenders briefly coalesce, then completely collapse, streaming en masse to the rail station beyond. While occupied by large clusters of Romanians across the street, the Hungarian armour does not notice the rout of its infantry support. The Zrinyi, hurling large caliber shells fruitlessly at a large firebase, does not notice a pair of Romanian squads trying to buck up the courage to assault it. One squad, emboldened by the anti-tank magnetic mine they carry, leaps over the stone wall and announce their presence with a crushing explosion-the first, brief and last sign to the crew that they were in danger. The Nimrod, stunned by the loss of its more potent cousin, quickly reacts and scoots away, shrugging off the pelting small arms fire in its wake. Despite the collapse, the Hungarians are able to get a decent force into the rail station, with more on the way. They must yet fend off the attackers for a bit more time, but with more bodies, may just fend off the attack. Attempting to help buy this additional time, the Nimrod, too, falls, fighting, engulfed by the advancing Romanian tide outside the station.
Romanian actions help, oddly enough, as a platoon of broken Hungarians are herded by advancing Romanians back towards the rail station! If they can make it to the station, they may yet hold the key to the defense!
Finally, the Hungarians are holed up in the final positions they must hold, forced back by the inexorable attack. The final attack must cross open ground and the defense has depth provided by the nature of the station itself. Much blood will spill in the final assaults.
The assault comes as assault engineers follow line troops across the rail yard, providing suppressive fire even as the first wave is beaten back. Panzerfausts now slam into the facade of the station as a second attempt is made and fended off as well. More defenders return to the fight as the wayward platoon makes it to an outlying building, met there by a sharp-eyed corporal, who corrals the errant troops. The flank is thus strengthened, and reserves are able to be detached to the rear of the station to backstop the main defense. It can come no later, as a renewed assault hits the front of the station in force, sending part of the defenders reeling. A breach in the defenses occurs; Romanians enter the station itself! The fight now becomes a more intimate one as the range decreases to arms length. The flood of Romanians outside the station is largely unmolested now, as attention turns to evicting the intruders from the station proper. Many a soldier on both sides dies with his enemies’ throat in hand as the violence escalates in the swirling darkness. More and more men are fed to the beast as he feeds hungrily and orgiastically.
The defenders are being slowly whittled down and begin to become unresponsive to their leaders’ forceful entreaties. Some filter away from the station into the further depths of the embattled city, merely prolonging their ultimate fate. Only heroes remain in the dim halls. The climactic end draws nigh as the defense is pushed into one corner of the station. Some 90 men, all that remain, cling precariously to their precious section of the capital. Shredding Romanian fire throws back some 50 of these; the last hurl themselves selflessly into the midst of the attackers, looking to extract their pound of flesh. Grappling viciously, if inconclusively, they do not…
Taken to the final turn, the final close combat roll, the scenario ends with a Romanian victory as a large melee rages in the darkness of the train station. Of the 12 Hungarian squads that made it to the rail station, but 3 remain unbroken, if held in melee; another 6 squads (broken) litter the area around the station. The Romanians have perhaps 10 squads in the station at game’s end with perhaps another 4 to 6 outside in varying states.
Good, bloody fun.
Russian-backed Romanians! Hard-pressed Hungarians! Panzerfausts! ATMMs! Tactical mistakes! Tactical tours de force! Nimrods, Toldis and Zrinyis! Sweeping Gains! Utter collapses! Heroic stands! Cowardly retreats! A final climactic struggle in the deepest reaches of the train station! …All this and more as age-old enmities converge upon the historic city’s end line…
The few, speaking in terms here of having sufficient force to cover the myriad approaches available to the Romanian horde, Hungarian units are placed mainly to delay the direct approach to the Railhead with but a reinforced platoon off on the right flank to check any moves there. Most men are placed forward with a skeletal secondary line placed so as to form the basis of the next line as the front inevitably approaches. Heavy weapons are placed rearwards to reduce movements later and to assist the fallback to the rail station with covering fire. Just where the hammer will fall is unknown…
With a crash, the hammer falls along the direct route-a veritable tide of green surges forward, absorbing the light Hungarian fires as it laps onward. Fire increases as scouting parties cautiously move forward into the city, paving the way for larger formations and heavier weapons. Squads start to take more effective fire as they move up along the city streets and alleys; the brash portion of the advance is now at an end. Romanian fire starts to target those Hungarians they can see with increasing bases of fire; the wily defenders retreating further into the depths of the city. A chattering Hungarian heavy machinegun is quickly put out of action by a gaggle of Romanian counterparts, freeing up several avenues of approach from observed, directed fire. This allows the quickly arrived assault engineers to help in turning the Hungarian left flank-an isolated pair of squads holding a small, exposed, yet vital corner block. The main line has to begin to follow suit, harried at every exposed turn. The Hungarian defenses attempt to gel and keep the open approaches under fire. The seemingly never-ending swells of Romanians continue to push forward despite the occasional setback. Sporadic spasms of close combat erupt as the combatants close in the dusty gloom of buildings and resolve themselves quickly. The <thump-thump-thump> of a supporting Nimrod heralds the Romanian crest upon the second line of defenses on the left. To the rear, the rumble of a dispatched Toldi is heard even as it crashes over the walls of the rail yard and trundles over the maze of tracks beyond, turret pointing danger forward.
A minor Romanian flanking force is stopped after carefully advancing down the rail line. Stopped, then counterattacked and pushed back across the tracks towards the main force as the Hungarian detail, supported by a machinegun nest to the rear, is able to grant the defense a measure of reprieve for the moment. This proves temporary as a towed AT gun and its escort moves in the lee of the MG nest’s vision along the rail line and avoiding Hungarian potshots as it flits by. With a suddenly-appearing Hungarian tank, a duel looks to be in the offing. Yet, the AT gun inexplicably moves further down the track, apparently headed to the flank of the train station…that is until the Toldi turns its way and charges! Machineguns blazing, the tank immobilises the truck and breaks the crew still in the bed of the truck, finishing them off in close action as it stitches the back of the truck with machinegun fire. The tank now pivots, looking down a long stretch of road that the advancing Romanians have just reached. Pointing its weapons down the street, it does not notice a second truck carrying yet another gun enter the tracks further down. Not until this truck dodges some machinegun and small arms fire does the tank crew take notice…and then it is too late. Immobilised in the first exchange of fire, it is later destroyed by a hail of 37mm shells, removing this vital weapon from the Hungarian arsenal.
The Romanian attack, without having to worry about flanking fire from that quarter, starts to concentrate on the Hungarian defenders across the street. The Hungarian line had been thus far maintained, but now it starts to quiver as squads start to retreat in pairs instead of singly. Where is that blasted heavy machinegun? What happened to the machinegun watching the flank and tracks? The only machine gun in operation is far to the right; too far for effective fire unless the Romanians get bold and start advancing on the tracks or in the open streets. To move it from its perch means losing the most effective firebase the Hungarians have had to this point for several turns as it repositions; leave it as is and it at least deters some moves. So it remains where it is, nipping at the heels of the advance.
The defense is otherwise bolstered by yet another eclectic armored vehicle when a hefty 105mm-armed Zrinyi rolls into the fray. Quickly, it moves to the left and joins the Nimrod as the anchors on this flank. As the defense has now fallen back to the large building just ahead of the train station, the defense must hold here to allow stragglers time to filter back and shaken troops to rally. Romanians start to pile up across the streets in numbers and probes inch forward, testing the defenses. They are not as numerous now as before, as each advance wicks off a few squads from the main force, a green cloud in the wake of the advance, growing with every turn.
Still, returning Romanians increase the velocity of the advance, particularly the specialists and their potent weaponry. The battle is now joined in the penultimate building; the defenders briefly coalesce, then completely collapse, streaming en masse to the rail station beyond. While occupied by large clusters of Romanians across the street, the Hungarian armour does not notice the rout of its infantry support. The Zrinyi, hurling large caliber shells fruitlessly at a large firebase, does not notice a pair of Romanian squads trying to buck up the courage to assault it. One squad, emboldened by the anti-tank magnetic mine they carry, leaps over the stone wall and announce their presence with a crushing explosion-the first, brief and last sign to the crew that they were in danger. The Nimrod, stunned by the loss of its more potent cousin, quickly reacts and scoots away, shrugging off the pelting small arms fire in its wake. Despite the collapse, the Hungarians are able to get a decent force into the rail station, with more on the way. They must yet fend off the attackers for a bit more time, but with more bodies, may just fend off the attack. Attempting to help buy this additional time, the Nimrod, too, falls, fighting, engulfed by the advancing Romanian tide outside the station.
Romanian actions help, oddly enough, as a platoon of broken Hungarians are herded by advancing Romanians back towards the rail station! If they can make it to the station, they may yet hold the key to the defense!
Finally, the Hungarians are holed up in the final positions they must hold, forced back by the inexorable attack. The final attack must cross open ground and the defense has depth provided by the nature of the station itself. Much blood will spill in the final assaults.
The assault comes as assault engineers follow line troops across the rail yard, providing suppressive fire even as the first wave is beaten back. Panzerfausts now slam into the facade of the station as a second attempt is made and fended off as well. More defenders return to the fight as the wayward platoon makes it to an outlying building, met there by a sharp-eyed corporal, who corrals the errant troops. The flank is thus strengthened, and reserves are able to be detached to the rear of the station to backstop the main defense. It can come no later, as a renewed assault hits the front of the station in force, sending part of the defenders reeling. A breach in the defenses occurs; Romanians enter the station itself! The fight now becomes a more intimate one as the range decreases to arms length. The flood of Romanians outside the station is largely unmolested now, as attention turns to evicting the intruders from the station proper. Many a soldier on both sides dies with his enemies’ throat in hand as the violence escalates in the swirling darkness. More and more men are fed to the beast as he feeds hungrily and orgiastically.
The defenders are being slowly whittled down and begin to become unresponsive to their leaders’ forceful entreaties. Some filter away from the station into the further depths of the embattled city, merely prolonging their ultimate fate. Only heroes remain in the dim halls. The climactic end draws nigh as the defense is pushed into one corner of the station. Some 90 men, all that remain, cling precariously to their precious section of the capital. Shredding Romanian fire throws back some 50 of these; the last hurl themselves selflessly into the midst of the attackers, looking to extract their pound of flesh. Grappling viciously, if inconclusively, they do not…
Taken to the final turn, the final close combat roll, the scenario ends with a Romanian victory as a large melee rages in the darkness of the train station. Of the 12 Hungarian squads that made it to the rail station, but 3 remain unbroken, if held in melee; another 6 squads (broken) litter the area around the station. The Romanians have perhaps 10 squads in the station at game’s end with perhaps another 4 to 6 outside in varying states.
Good, bloody fun.
As the Romanian: Brian "Dr. Death" Sullivan
As the Hungarian: c'est moi
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