Turn 7
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Red and Orange forces continued to fight for each other's HQ's. And once again, the detailed plans of General Matt0088 were thrown into confusion, as Orange reinforcements appeared and unexpected moves were made. Red's artillery barrages partly missed their intended targets as Orange units moved out, and were also a little less accurate due to firing at maximum range.
The Orange StuG vehicles were a major distraction as they managed to escape Red's light tanks, which had been closing in on all sides, although the StuGs did take losses and were unable to inflict any real damage themselves. Red's tanks were then left facing Orange infantry positions in the hills and mountains at C4, against which the extra supplies of armour-piercing rounds were of little use.
Orange troopers were ordered to abandon the airfield at C5, but only after coming under fire from Red forces, and took casualties in their retreat to C4.
The improvised light tanks near Orange HQ were backed up by a newly-arrived unit of Armored Cars, and with infantry support in the mountains, they were able to evict Matt0088's elite tanks from Orange HQ. But the fighting was tough and Red forces were only pushed back as far as B3, where Charles Li's flakkers were already waiting in support.
Popcornlord's men bravely fought on alone in their attempt to capture Red HQ. But while they proved capable of fighting heroically, they were unable to achieve a miracle victory. They had already suffered casualties in previous fighting. The trooper unit simply disintegrated as red units closed in on all sides. Orange reinforcements attempted to reach the battle, but were too late to alter the outcome. It was a blow to the morale of the Orange forces. Although, it is rumoured that Popcornlord himself managed to escape to Orange-held positions.
Both sides had now cleared the immediate threat to their HQ's, their central command bunkers having both withstood the brief sieges, although Orange HQ is still far from safe.
Meanwhile Red's commanders are attempting to inspire their men with a new 'religion', worshipping the mysterious UFO that was sighted recently as being a divine messenger from God. It has yet to be seen how Red's troopers and the local population will react to this.
A Red combat engineer unit has arrived as reinforcements near Red HQ (can support other units in various ways).
*Popcornlord: you can choose a new unit for your commander/hero, but it will lose the extra experience (will start again with just 1 star).
*Matt0088: the irregular infantry at HQ can be disbanded to speed up the recovery of the HQ (regain guaranteed $2 income, instead of it being random).
A strange incident occurred at G3, the site of the crashed Anarchist transport jet, where crates of supplies were still waiting to be salvaged. It seems that Red and Gold forces agreed to stop fighting and share the spoils. Gold's supply trucks managed to drive away, but Red's were caught in the crossfire as other parties arrived on the scene - first the mysterious battle robots began to attack the crash site, soon followed by troopers and snipers belonging to a mysterious new faction, codenamed 'Brown' army. The mercenaries hired by Orange army may also have been involved. It isn't clear exactly what happened, but in the confusion Red's troops were able to escape with at least a quarter of the crates, leaving another quarter still at the crash site.
Nothing is yet known about the mysterious Brown faction, apart from vague rumours of something called the 'Confederation of Sciuridae'…
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Once again, the battle between Aqua and Green armies was much bloodier than the fighting in the north. The damaged and exhausted units on both sides were pushed onwards without rest. It seems the earlier losses only increased the desperation of commanders on both sides to achieve a breakthrough. The result was a massacre.
In response to Green's violation of the SOLDIAN no-fly-zone, Aqua (Nationalist) forces launched their own airstrike from a distant airbase against Green positions at G9, wiping out the surviving APC's. Aqua heavy artillery was also in action and piled further misery on the Green soldiers. Aqua forces again attempted to link up with occupied Green HQ, but Green commandos fought on heroically and prevented Aqua heavy tanks from closing in. A trickle of reinforcements broke through from the south after fleeing Gold forces to aid the defence. At great cost, Green army managed to hold G9 and keep pressure on the isolated Aqua troops occupying Green HQ - who also took heavy losses, especially after the sudden appearance of Green sniper units.
However, rumours began to spread of MooseWarrior's death in the ruins of G9 - either killed by the Aqua airstrike, or when he sacrificed himself to destroy an Aqua heavy tank using a hand-held demolition charge, depending on the story. In any case MooseWarrior's body has not been found and some claim he is still alive.
While evading the angry giant octopus, the Green-controlled submarine managed to torpedo the Aqua transport ship, causing heavy damage and putting it in danger of sinking. The sub has also managed to evade sporadic fire from Aqua forces along the shore.
Just as Green army seemed close to collapse, Green reinforcements appeared at H10, led by their brave new commander Tuxedohamm. The area has become a magnet for the remnants of Green army, still within striking distance of their former HQ as well as Gold-controlled territory.
The Nationalists also received reinforcements of a new trooper unit, and a wing of light fighters that are using the roadways outside Aqua HQ as an airstrip.
Meanwhile Gold (COBRA) units ploughed northwards. The damaged and disorganised Green units in their path were unable to offer much resistance. After securing the airfield at H9, NAO Stormtroopers and newly-arrived medium tanks have apparently disposed of the all the strange crab-egg-things in the jungle.
Lord_Iggy's elite gunship wing was attempting to help the surviving civilians in the city at G7, when it was forced to evacuate by the hostile arrival of Aqua forces, including the personal trooper unit of Neverwonagame, who is now acting as sole commander of Aqua army after the disappearance of Besthot9. The Gold gunships easily destroyed the remnants of an Aqua humvee unit before retreating over the ruined western bridge.
Gold infantry reinforcements arrived near Gold HQ and have fired at giant octopus creatures along the shore, after coming under tenticular attack. Dozens of troopers have already been reported missing.
There are unconfirmed rumours that Gold army is now fielding strange creatures of its own, engineered by scientists under Lord_Iggy's command.
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Anarchist forces remained quiet. The cease-fires with Red, Gold and Aqua armies are still being honoured.
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Another mercenary group has arrived in Soldia. Unlike the others employed by Orange army, the SturmSöldner Free Company does not do things subtly. It consists of one custom heavy tank unit, modified for extra terrain handling, and one custom flakker unit with extra rapid firepower. They are open to negotiations but will require at least $1 a turn in payment.
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WEATHER REPORT:
Most of the waterlogged areas have dried out and the skies have cleared for now. However there is a warning of heavy fog to come in the next few days.
INCOME:
Reminder: the 'chevrons' on the ownership-flags on the map each represent $1 income from that location (some have more than one). If they are faded, it means the area is damaged/disrupted and will only give $ randomly, roughly 50% of the time. This also means that enemy cities etc can be bombarded from a distance to disrupt their $ income. This will recover in a turn or two if things remain peaceful at that location.
Red received $3 out of a maximum of $4.
Orange received $2 out of 2.
Gold received $6 out of 6.
Green received $1 out of 1 (HQ lost!).
Aqua received $6 out of 8.
NOTES:
Tuxedohamm has joined!
Lurkers join NAO!
@Popcornlord, you were right about that $ income discrepancy, and thankyou for your honesty!
Reminder: repairing takes a whole turn, with no moving or firing allowed. Same for digging in. This is done on purpose. The idea is that it's not possible to keep fighting all the time without ruining your army in the process, so there is more room for manoeuvring and scheming. Aggressive attacks can work, but it may be better to try to preserve your forces, make defended areas were units can retreat to regroup in safety over a couple of turns, and then return to the fight, instead of being totally destroyed forever.
Again, the yellow/orange/red 'sparkles' are there to represent damage. If this is hard to see then I'm open to suggestions about how to represent damage levels and etc…
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FINAL CHANGE/SIMPLIFICATION TO UNIT PLACEMENT RULES
LAND UNITS -> start at HQ or any adjacent square.
SEA UNITS -> start at any water tile adjacent to HQ, or any friendly-controlled port that can trace an unobstructed line of supply back to HQ.
AEROPLANE UNITS -> start at any friendly-controlled airbase that isn't cut off from HQ. Light fighters can also start at HQ and can then rebase to anywhere without terrain icons such as the forests, hills, mountains etc. They can also rebase to cities and ports, using main roadways to takeoff and land.