BARD PAPER: MARI0005 | Home | Traveller | BARD | MARI |
BARD PAPER: MARI0005 | Home | Traveller | BARD | MARI |
A mercenary contract is up for grabs. It looks like a boring garrison job on the planet Nova Ryll(0330). The players should be a mercenary unit of at least 2 companies and it is recommended to be a full battalion. You may use a pre-designed unit "Harrel's Marauders" or bring in your own unit if you if the players wish. If the Players bring in a unit from scatch it should not exceed 100MCr-120 MCr in value. It is suggested you look at Nova Ryll in the Path of Tears sourcebook.
Referee's infomation (Optional for roleplaying) As expected Ling Standard is not telling all. The mine is actually a buried miltary depot for Imperial marines. The actually make-up and usability is up to the referee ,but rememeber even one grav tank can shift the balance of power.
Background: The mercenary group just finished a tour in the country of Eastmark, Nova Ryll. They are approached by Mr. Clossar for a security operation of about 6 months. They travel by ship to the port city of Bastinque (city near starport) which is the capital. As the mercenaries unload it is noticed by Southmark spies who report back the mercenaries arrival. The Southmark decide to send in a raid to take the mines' fissionables and high-tech mining equipment. As a diversion they will also raid several nearby towns and destroy the local garrisons. As the raid starts the mercenary commander gets a frantic call from Mr Clossar who insists they must move out and protect the base at all costs. Information available to the players(if they look for it) will be :
Referee's notes. Scenario one is basically a meeting engagement. The fog of war is vital to get a proper "feel" for this battle. Xerox a copy of the map and tape it to cardboard. Put stickpins on the map for the mercenaries and for contacts/enemy forces as they come in. Only show the players the reports they give. Do not show them all of the enemy units. You may use the following chart to help determine what to show them: Assuming they have put scout forces out ahead of the main effort: (Give scout forces 50% greater movement speed-except for aircraft/helos which will use normal speed)
1D6
1 Unit will be greatly underestimated (50 to 100%)
(battalions become companies or platoons)
2- Unit will be underestimated by 10-30%
3-4 Truth of unit spotted
5 Unit will be overestimated by 10-30%
6 Unit will be greatly overestimated by 50 to 100%
(platoons become battalions)
The Ref should have his own map with all the forces listed and
should update them every movement cycle.
Small unit encounters: (scout forces) Most small unit encounters will be recon forces. They will probably not be played out on the table top, but use the following charts to resolve the encounter:
D6 D1 - force is ambushed roll 4+ to survive D2-D3- meeting engagement roll higher than ref to survive D4-D5 Enemy sighted without giving away position D6- Enemy ambushed-ref should roll 5+ to survive and pull back enemy forces
Political background: After the raid by Southmark (which they will call a border dispute)they will pull back their forces to give the illusion of complying with the LOM wishes.
Refs notes: The players will have several weeks to prepare their base. Unless the players are clueless they will realize the future threat of Southmark military. If you wish to have a role playing aspect give the PC's some stories about saber rattling and tensions between the 2 countries and the League of Mark's attempt to solve them diplomatically. The Southmark realizing the panic and weak resistance of The Mark will decide to take over the Mark will a lightening strike of military might. Political figures from Southmark will secretly bribe Mr. Clossar to keep the mercenaries out of the upcoming battle. The Southmark will strike just north of the mine heading for the starport and capital. A full division of 13 battalions of tank/inf and 4 batts of arty. Southmark will enjoy air superiority as well. Although they have a "deal" with Mr. Clossar they will not trust the mercenary group and will surround the mining operation with a battalion of troops and arty delivered mines.
The invasion:
Southmark division
The assault
The Plea After 2 days a plea on the radio will be heard from the prime minister of the Mark. He will plea with the mercs that unless he has their help his country will fall. He will offer 10MC and a 10,000 acre land grant if the mercs can break out of the siege and destroy the division hqts discovered to be about 30 km north of the mine.
Ref Notes
Deployment of enemy forces:
The Southmark will have a inf batt. with a towed arty
battery to hold the siege forces. In addition one company
of tanks will be in reserve to deal with breakouts.
Within 5 mins. a flight of 3 attack helos will arrive and
2 additional batteries of arty will come on call. If the
players coordinate it with the Mark forces they may be
able to make the reserve forces committed for a battle
elsewhere. Roll a d6 for the helos- a 4,5,6 for success
and roll a d6 for the general support arty for each turn.
a 5 or 6 means they will have the support. Note that this
assumes that the attack it coordinated with a attack by
the Mark forces. If the players do not do that then the
forces will be dedicated to the attack. The infantry batt.
will be dug in and will have minefields scattered to the
front. There will be cleared lanes that are hidden from
the players. (possible chance of discovery/or info from
a prisoner). As the merc group travels north they should
run into rear area forces and some security platoons.
Just south of the headquarters they will run into
a ambush set up for them.
Ambush:
a 5 or 6 on a D6.
1-2 - A tank company of parire fire tanks (6 tanks)
3-4 A antitank battery of 4 lancer missle carriers
5- A motorized inf. company- 6 plts
6- A extra artillery battery of 4 150mm howizters
If the mercs defeat this force the headquaters will be
5 KM up the road. There is little resistance and the
Southmark attack will soon fold. If the referee desires
you could set up one last battle of the now retreating
Southmark forces trying to break thru the merc forces
on their way home.