Meanwhile the OKA officers came to the realisation that they simply did not have the numbers to turn the tide of this little war, even with such victories like the one at Sodden Rump. They were in need of allies... and fast.
This hopefully brings us up to speed. If you missed the last post it is here .
_____________________________________________________________________________________
For those of you that spend your time doodling or ogling the girls in the front row during you misadventures in the Ducal School of Geography, the establishment of Noxdown may sound unfamiliar. It was, in past times that we shall no longer dwell on, a logging camp for those deranged fools who decided to make chopping wood in Sodden Rump Forest their profession (the wood is mostly rotted due to the strange damp conditions that permeate the area). After suffering several years of abandonment by the locals, the place was semi-refurbished by the (New) Duchy of Kalitzfornia as a forward base for the KNB and as a barracks for the askaris.
As it was, the establishment was freshly stocked up on ammunitions, not to mention all sorts of interesting and potentially useful information. It also just so happened to be the temporary HQ of the KNB! In all, this place seems just too good of a raiding opportunity for OKA to pass down.
 |
| Aerial view of Noxdown (colourised circa. 8120 Merchants Calendar ). |
The presence of the OKA camp nearby at Sodden Rump was in fact not there by accident. OKA had caught wind of a raid being scheduled by a shady organisation called the "Pale Hand" on the facility. They of course offered any support they could, even going so far as to suggest a joint operation. Although OKA had its reservations as to the long term feasibility of such an alliance with what appeared to be common bandits, they soon put aside those feelings after meeting with the "Hand" himself. Lo and behold the Pale Hand was run by none other than Alskandr De Chemy!
 |
| Old picture of De Chemy with a sidekick from the good old days of grim darkness. |
This was an alliance that could possibly work!
The skirmish at Sodden Rump proved a good (if unplanned) diversion as two squads of KNB were sent out on a patrol from Noxdown to recover what they could from the battlefield as soon as the news arrived. This lead to the Noxdown garrison being woefully undermanned.
 |
| The Noxdown garrison forces comprised of an askari squad, an askari light support team and none other than the KNB's commander in chief, the Master and Commander himself, Mr Veladaunt! |
 |
| De Chemy's raiding force included a squad of Pale Hand henchmen (left) and a frognaught light support team (right). |
A quick note on different races native to the planet of Phobia. In addition to humans, there is a dwindling race of amphibious beings known as frognaughts by the authorities. They have largely been oppressed and driven out of their ancestral ponds. This would lead to them developing a race-wide oppositional defiance disorder against the human government often leading them to join illegal organisations such as the Pale Hand.
(A quick side note to the side note. The organisation of the Pale Hand had been banned in the Old Kalitzfornia and classed as a terrorist organisation therefore giving some logic behind OKA's initial misgivings. In the new Kalitzfornia they continue on with their usual behaviour leading to them again being banned. But that is all, as one says, history.)
 |
| Askaris at Noxdown on watch after news of the debacle at Sodden Rump. |
 |
| Master and Commander Veladaunt brooding on the defeat. |
MnC Veladaunt: (moping around and grumbling) Damn it! I want to shoot something!
Noxdown Engineer: Be careful what you wish for...
MnC Veladaunt: (glowering and muttering under his breath) I'll even settle for shooting you...
Noxdown Engineer: Yeah, hold off on that urge for now. I've just received word from the Central Ducal Security Agency. Some blathering fool from OKA got drunk celebrating their victory at Sodden Rump and spilled the beans.
MnC Veladaunt: (not in the mood for games) Well did he clean them up?
Noxdown Engineer: (now confused) Sir... We are about to be attacked...
MnC Veladaunt: (grinning) Excellent! You there askari! Redeploy that Laser Light Support weapon!
Askari: LLS redeploying, Sir!
 |
| Askaris quickly redeploy to face the Pale Hand operatives. |
 |
| Pale Hand operatives deploy behind cover. |
Both sides are expecting reinforcements yet no one seems keen on a drawn out engagement. The Pale Hand forces want to claim their objectives and get out before the enemy receives reinforcements and the KNB want revenge!
 |
| As the frognaught support team move up they come under fire from a plucky unit of askari. De Chemy who is busy sprinting past from one piece of cover to another is momentarily distracted by the firefight and stubs his toe painfully against a rock. |
___________________________________________________________________________________
"Shit! Ow!" - Alskandr De Chemy, Hand of the Pale... Hand, circa. 8120.
___________________________________________________________________________________
 |
| The gods must be smiling down on the (New) Duchy of Kalitzfornia as a squad of KNB turns up unexpectedly. |
MnC Veladaunt: Already back from patrol? Blimey, time flies when you are having fun! (slumps back morosely, a hard round whizzing by where his head used to be a moment earlier) You know what else flies? Spaceships... If only we had any...
 |
| Frognaughts prepare to return fire after taking a hit! |
 |
| A hit! |
 |
| The Pale Hand henchmen advance while they begin to size up the foe. |
 |
| An OKA assault team arrive to support their newfound allies. |
 |
| Finally! The charge hits home as Pale Hand henchmen overwhelm the askaris defences! |
 |
| Pale Hand troops cut a wedge between the Ducal forces, the way seems clear and its about time to begin moving up on the objectives! |
 |
| But they had forgotten about MnC Veladaunt and his KNB troopers who with shouts of "Remember Sodden Rump!" launched themselves at the henchmen. Needless to say that the fight was short and brutal leaving the KNB victorious but not unscathed. |
 | |
| The frognaughts acquire a new target as KNB troopers look to regroup. Alas, this was not to be and they were cut down in a shower of laser fire. |
 |
| The askari light support team spots a swathe of pale hair bobbing around in the bushes. They open fire, laser fire tearing into the shrubs. There is a yelp, then a muffled curse... Drat! Hit the bastard but De Chemy still lives! |
 |
| Mostly unnoticed, the second squad of KNB finally arrives on the scene. |
 |
| As the frognaughts move up in a bid to seize an objective they come under heavy fire from the askari LLS emplacement. |
 |
| MnC Veladaunt feels no remorse as he butchers the frognaughts. Funny... he had always fancied himself a pair of frogs legs! |
 |
| In desperation, De Chemy charges the askari light support team. He is in for a nasty surprise as the well drilled crew draw their sidearms stopping him in his tracks. |
With De Chemy wounded and most of the Pale Hand forces in disarray they were forced to withdraw... Although OKA did finally come to the table (quite literally... hehe -ed) in the form of much needed reinforcements, it was the Pale Hand operatives that did most of the fighting (and dying)... Suspicious...
___________________________________________________________________________________
DUCAL FORCES VICTORIOUS! OKA IN DISARRAY! PALE HAND ENTERS THE FRAY, GETS NOSE BLOODIED! READ ALL ABOUT IT!
___________________________________________________________________________________
 |
| "Remember Sodden Rump!" |
Meanwhile at the nearby farm of "New Argentina"...
 |
| De Chemy discusses tactics while receiving medical aid (he stubbed his toe pretty bad). |
OKA Lieutenant: That defeat was humiliating...
De Chemy: Oh don't worry! We have fortified the farm and with our forces combined we can almost match them man for man! Besides...
OKA Lieutenant: Besides what?
De Chemy: Besides... I've invited some friends... they should be arriving aaany moment now...
To Be Continued... (Hopefully by next Monday :) )
___________________________________________________________________________________
So again this was a long one... and the next one will hopefully be long as well, however I am promising nothing... haha *insert nervous laughter
Again, any thoughts or suggestions are welcome!
Regards,
Joshua
No comments:
Post a Comment