Star Wars Chain Of Command - Evacuation Of Endor

The Empire is steadily advancing towards the Rebel base on Endor. 

Accepting eventual defeat, the Rebels have started to evacuate the base. There is much to evacuate and time is running out as the Empire’s force is getting closer. To buy more time, a small Rebel force has been deployed to try and intercept and delay the Empire.

To win a victory the attacker (Empire) must capture the Rebel Landing Pad and hold it until the end of the Turn. Any other result is a victory for the defender (Rebels). 

Phil and Dave took the role of the awesome Empire. Mal & Steve played the snivelling Rebels.

The Patrol Phase didn’t go too well for the Rebels, with the Empire managing to place a JoP in the woods to the north of the Rebel base. The Umpire (a totally unbiased Rob) was expecting this to be very a quick game.

The Empire activated first, deploying a squad of Stormtroopers behind some handy Cargo pods, within sight and 24” of their objective. No Rebels in sight. It must be an easy Empire victory.

Unfortunately not! The Rebels responded by deploying a squad of Troopers and Luke behind hard cover on the elevating platform of the Landing Pad. These were placed on Overwatch to try and deter the Empire from charging in. The Empire’s objective has suddenly got a bit harder.

To strengthen their attack, the Empire deployed another squad of Stormtroopers in the woods near their first squad.

Followed by their AT-ST at the West end of the table. The Rebels were starting to look considerably out-gunned.

Having got a double activation, the Empire deployed another squad to the West of the woods, and Darth Vader plus his Comms Officer in the woods. Taking the Comms Officer as a support option allowed Darth to remotely activate the AT-ST, significantly increasing its effectiveness. A Forward Observer also arrived on the scene, and a barrage was requested.

Feeling distinctly outnumbered, the Rebels deployed a squad of Troopers in the cacti grove West of the Landing Pad, on Overwatch, and their Rebel Pathfinder Special Forces, with its anti-armour capability, into the woods to their South.

On the Empire’s turn the barrage started, with a direct hit on the troops on the Landing Pad, pinning them in place, and providing a smoke screen for the Empire to advance a squad towards the Rebels troops in the cacti grove, and another squad towards the Landing Pad.

The Stormtroopers charged into melee with the Rebels in the cacti, but unfortunately came off worst, taking heavy casualties and being forced to retreat. But Stormtroopers are expendable!

Meanwhile the AT-ST steadily advanced into line of sight of the Rebels.

The Rebels raised the Landing Pad’s loading platform, giving Luke and hid squad of Rebels an elevated view over the base, albeit partially obscured by smoke. If only the barrage would end!

The Rebels also deployed an additional squad of Troopers to reinforce those in the cacti, and its RPS-6 Rocket Launcher team to try, unsuccessfully, to stop the advancing AT-ST.

In response, the Empire deployed a replacement squad and an HH-12 Rocket Launcher team into the now congested woods, and opened fire with the AT-ST’s 16 dice firepower. The Rebels in the cacti started to take heavy losses and shock.

The barrage continued to cause shock, but no kills, on the squad on the Landing Pad, and obscure their LoS, reducing their effectiveness at delaying the Empire’s advance.

The Rebels eventually managed to accumulate a CoC Dice and end the turn and barrage.

This brought the troops on the Landing Pad back into action, and from their elevated firing position, rained fire on the now exposed Stormtroopers, further stalling the Empire’s advance.

The Rebel Pathfinder Special Forces, which had been picnicking in the wood, slowly advanced towards its edge and targeted the AT-ST with anti-tank fire, but with no effect.

 
The Stormtrooper squad, now under fire from the Landing Pad, diverted to engage the Rebels in the cacti, and gain some cover. The ensuing melee causing small losses to the Empire, with the Rebel squad being wiped out. The Rebel force morale was now on five, with the Empire still holding strong.

With gaming time having run out, and with the Rebels still having two intact squads on the table and one squad left to deploy, a draw was called. Although the AT-ST could still have brought victory to the Empire.

Rob