Brokenwood: A Bug Hunt Sci-Fi Mission

The planet Rigel IV again witnessed a Bug Hunt rules scenario at Northfields Community Centre on 7 November. Jonathan was hosting Sci-Fi with his very nice figures as the elite Black Cats and militia again had to fulfil their mission objectives in Brokenwood City while facing a horde of mutants.

The force in Brokenwood was given 3 Objectives:

1). The Warehouse/Industrial sector has an entrance leading to the Military Base in Sector 5 of Midsummer – establish if the route to the Military base is still open and accessible.

2). Send a squad of Combat Engineers to place an explosive device on a set of barrels containing lethal Toxic gas. The explosion will release highly toxic gas into this sector hopefully killing any Mutants in the area – set the timer to allow time for your forces to escape as the gas is lethal but it decays in a relatively short period of time leaving a semi-lethal residue on the ground

3). Reprogram the main Maintenance Droid in the sector so it will clear the area of any lethal residue left behind after the gas decays/settles

Additional instructions – clear the area before the explosive charge goes off. Also look out for any survivors and badly needed supplies

Richard P. was the Major with Combat Engineers tasked with blowing up the barrels. Doug was the Lieutenant with the Fire Team, and had to reset the droid. Paul was the Padre with the Militia team, acting as fire support. Richard G. (our guest) was the Sergeant with the Recon Team, tasked with recceing the military base. Finally, Rob (then Patrick) was the Battle Suit (a character in power armour with two machine guns), also acting as fire support.

Turn 1

The players deployed, and eight mutants soon appeared by the droid. Doug killed one.

The Padre and the militia advanced, as did Richard G. with the Recce team to the wall of the military base. Meanwhile, Rob’s battle-suit advanced and despatched one mutant.

Doug’s Lieutenant also wounded and stunned two mutants respectively with his shotgun. Five mutants remained, including one stunned.

Turn 2

Richard G.’s recon team near the grey crate hit the second arriving group of mutants twice – 2 stuns. Paul’s militia killed another of the mutants from the second group. Doug’s fire team killed three mutants from group 1

Both groups of mutants charged forwards against Paul’s militia and Doug’s fire team. Paul stunned one and killed one from the second group of mutants

Three more mutants appeared behind the green tanker – Richard P. killed two, and Doug killed one. Richard’s three figures (Major and combat engineers) moved up to the tanker and killed a mutant, then found a female cadet on the tanker

Paul’s militia killed 2 and stunned 1 from the second mutant group, with the Padre adding a further stun. Richard G.’s recon team killed one and stunned a further mutant from group two. They then located the data stick on the crates, marked by a green hex. A mutant charged the fire team, but Doug killed it.. splat!

Turn 3

Alas, more new mutants appeared near Richard G.’s recon team! But his recon team retrieved the data stick, and killed another mutant into the bargain. 

Just two mutants were left in the second group, after Patrick’s power suit killed one of them. Unfortunately one of his machine guns jammed. All the mutants in group 1 had been reduced to viscous residue. As Richard P.’s Major approached the tanker, Doug’s recon team approached the droid…

The droid randomly moved behind the Green building and Doug’s Lieutenant followed. Doug eventually obtained and programed the droid. A beacon was visible near the fireteam, depicted as a green hex (it was the means to call in the chopper)

Paul’s militia fired onto the new (fourth) group of mutants, killing one. As Richard G.’s Sergeant won a melee against a mutant, stunning it, another mutant killed one of Paul’s militiamen. Drat!

Meanwhile Richard P.’s Major rescued the girl cadet, coopting her into his squad. As more mutants appeared near Richard P., he eviscerated six of them!

Soon after, a waif-nerd exited Patrick’s power suit and managed to unjam the machine gun (good show, young man!)

Turn 4

As the militia retired and fired, they killed two mutants from group 4. The chopper was expected to arrive soon to extract the survivors. Richard G.’s Sergeant continued to perform heroics and killed two and stunned one mutants from group 4…

However, a mutant attacked Richard P.’s group and stunned a combat engineer, so the Major and the girl cadet wounded two more mutants

Two recon soldiers from Richard G.’s team now approached the gated base, which they soon entered – fulfilling their objective. Patrick’s suit fired on a mutant threatening the militia, and the Padre killed another one. Holy smokes!

Turn 5

But yet more tactically resolute mutants now appeared near Richard P.’s team of combat engineers. Would the demolition expert get to the toxic barrels in time? Regardless, the girl cadet shot and splattered a mutant!

Doug’s Lieutenant found supplies on the truck… but nothing useful. But more mutants appeared nearby on cue. His team killed two mutants approaching them and stunned another, while the team moved back towards the droid. But the mutants there continued to pursue them. However, Paul’s militia moved right in support and killed a mutant near Doug’s team. Awesome!

Richard P. finally got a combat engineer to approach the toxic barrels.

The four remaining militia and the Padre moved toward Richard’s combat engineers to assist. Unfortunately three more unknown groups of entities were approaching Richard’s team through the park…

Two more groups approached the recon team and Doug’s fire team. 8 soon materialised as mutants. The recon team having fulfilled their mission, fell back in the face of more aggressive lumbering mutants, aiming for the green building where the chopper was expected to land…

Richard P.’s men got to the barrels, however, and set the explosives for three turns, all the while stunning four mutants approaching them… All the teams were now converging around the green cylindrical building awaiting the dropship’s arrival.

The militia and power-suit held off a late charge by the newly emerging mutants. 14 more mutants appeared and surged against Richard P.’s men, but three were swiftly killed by them, and four more were eviscerated by the militia. Richard’s team fell back to the green building…

The dropship arrived but with space for only ten people. As the teams scrambled to get on, the fire team, Lieutenant, Padre, Major, girl cadet and combat engineers got on, but the power-suit, militia, recce team, and sergeant fled the scene. Would they escape?

Mission result

The Mission had been a success the route to the Military base was open, the toxic gas cleared the area of Mutants and some supplies had been found but not everyone survived.

Unfortunately the Major had allowed an untreated wounded Combat engineer onto the skimmer -this unfortunate man quickly transformed into a mutant attacking and killing his fellow Combat engineer before being put down by a shot from the Major.

As for the forces who left the area on foot –

Cadet Rob protected by his Power suit from the toxic gas made it back to base

The Senior Sergeant was overcome by toxic gas and declared MIA.

One member of the fast moving recon team made it back alive the other twisted his ankle and was done for by toxic gas.

Two members of the Militia Team running as if their lives depended upon it made it back the other 2 were declared MIA.

Conclusion

All in all only one death suffered during the mission itself – a militiaman, with countless mutants reduced by weaponary inferno to bloody chargrilled mush. An action-packed and manic-to-umpire game (and blog), well handled by Jonathan, as usual. Thanks to Jonathan for a fun game, and to all the players. We hope to see Richard G. again soon. The adventures of the Black Cats on Rigel IV are set to continue! A change of mutant tactics… not so much!

Thanks to Jonathan for additional text. 

Next mission: The Military base… what will they find?