-ROCKETMAN III-

We finally got around to starting the third cycle of ROCKETMAN games last night, with the first chapter being a gun fight aboard the Trans Siberian Express. Rocketman was played by my friend Palle and his ally was Tracey playing the (bribed) train guards. Opposing them were the sinister henchmen of the bad guy Korsakov (Oleg) and Agent X of the NKVD (myself).

The game had a long and slightly rambling introduction and then began with the two sides jostling to get into an advantagous position. Most of the principle characters began the meleé in the dining car and these advanced upon each other menacingly. Agent X, who'd qucikl grabbed the only cover by the door to the bar, managed to draw his pistol without being seen to do so but all others were facing each other with guns still concealed. Finally, Agent X took a pot shot at Rocketmen but missed and the fight was on. 'Mad Dog' Mitchell, (an ex US marine from Texas and ally of Rocketman) pulled out his 'concealed BAR' (since we deal in over the top stereotypes, Mitchell always has the largest weapon amongst the hero's) and the Bolsheviks immedietely jumped on him. A classic fist fight broke out and the other passengers began to flee. As more gun fire resounded, the train guards in the post car came hurrying up to see what was happening. Along the way, they were jumped by one of Agent X's subordinates who managed to shoot one of them in the back. For a short while it was looking dire for our hero's!



Mitchell took a knock out blow and went down and Rocketman was out numbered. Being such a hero however, he soon dealt with his enemies, spraying the bar with machine gun fire and narrowly missing Agent X who had taken to cowering with the (near drunk) bartender. Glasses and bottles were shattered and pandemonium reigned. Meanwhile, one of Yuri's henchmen had climbed onto the roof of the dining car and tried to come down behind the two remaining hero's (RM & his side kick George) This move failed miserably however though it did keep the good guys suppressed for a while and led to the second class car becoming a temporary fortress with the hero's at one end the train guards at the other.


Eventually Rocketman beat his opponents senseless, though through it all he kept his gentmanly ways, even going so far as to save one 'baddie' from falling from the train after having knocked him out.
The forces of disorder, tried a last desperate attempt to seize victory. Alas, Agent X, who had also tried to climb along the top of the dining car carriage was nabbed on the ladder by Rocketman and Yuri was taken out in the second class car by the tran guards. The last of Agent X's men was then dispatched with ease as the train pulled into a station and the game was won by the forces of good!

The game took longer than I anticipated, mostly because we were rusty (its been a while since we did any skirmish games) but I'd kept it simple accordingly. The next chapter involves a more traditional battle with slightly more options, and if all goes according to plan, we should play it in a fortnight.

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