The Red Dragon Incident - a mini wargames campaign

 

 

Hong Long

(The Red Dragon Incident)

A Fallen Angels Science Fiction Mini Campaign

By

Mark

Introduction

Although this is a stand alone campaign, it follows on from the War Plan Red campaign that is included in my Fallen Angels Science Fiction rules set. Although the American invasion of Canada has been stopped, England has no time to rest. The year is 1937 and not only is war in Europe inevitable, Japanese expansion in the Far East posses a serious threat to the safety of the Great British Empire.

History

The background of this campaign is based entirely on historical fact, although the characters and events in each scenario are entirely fictitious. The Japanese invaded China in 1937, without any declaration of war being issued. Chinese casualties totalled more than those of any other country in both world wars added together. 10,000,000 people disappeared into Japanese work camps, never to return to their loved ones. It is estimated that as many as 25,000,000 Chinese civilians and 2,000,000 military personnel died during the Japanese occupation of China.

Yet, despite these unbelievable casualty figures, Japan has never issued an apology for the atrocities it committed, very few Japanese stood trial for their crimes and Japan has never made any offer of reparations to any of the nations it attacked.

Should you wish to learn more of the nightmare the Japanese unleashed on China, I suggest you watch the docu-film Nanjing, Nanjing. It is about the Japanese attack on the Chinese city of Nanjing in 1937, which resulted in the torture and murder of 300,000 civilians, many of them women and children.

The Japanese actually invaded China in two separate events, in 1931 they occupied Manchuria, then progressively wormed their way into control of northern China, until they finally launched full scale military operations in 1937. Their motivation for going to war, was that they wanted an empire and the natural resources that their neighbours possessed. The Japanese assault of China was made easier for them by the fact that China was being torn apart by a civil war, that was being waged between the nationalist government of Chiang Kai-Shek and Mao Zedong's communist party.

The civil war began in 1927, although the Chinese protagonists actually managed to temporarily unite in 1937, in an effort to repel the Japanese. They resumed their hostilities in 1946, the consequences of which are still evident today.

This situation was exacerbated as even under the emperors of old, China had always been a divided country, where warlords held power over most of the provinces. The Japanese exploited this situation, bribing warlords and sowing the seeds of dissent against the KMT and PRC. In fact, although the KMT was the recognised government of China, it actually only had any real control of a small area around the Yangtze river.

The 1937 invasion began as a skirmish in the outskirts of Beijing, but the Japanese quickly exploited the situation to give themselves an excuse to carry out the total occupation of the country. The Japanese never declared war on China, as to do so would have forced the western powers, especially America, to stand with the Chinese and they were not yet ready to escalate matters to that degree.

Campaign Background

No sooner had The George's thwarted the despicable US attempt to assassinate King George, than they were once more called to MI6. The Royal Marines were returned to their unit, but the rest of the team was dispatched to Hong Kong, in an effort to foil Japanese attempts to find the Red Dragon of Genghis Kahn. 

Legend tells that Genghis owed his power to the dragon, a magical ruby beyond compare. The dragon is said to grant its owner power over their known world, for as long as that remains what they truly desire. When the great Kahn died in 1227, a secret sect of monks stole the gem, hiding it beyond the wit of any followers of darkness.

However, word reached MI6 that a junk was bound for the city of Guangzhuo, with a cargo of KMT treasure that included a map showing the whereabouts of the ruby. Archibald and his team were tasked with securing the map before the Japanese could get hold of it.

Heroes and Villains

The George's

(Named after St George)

Archibald Giggles was born in Hong Kong in 1889 and like his birth sign the Ox, is a born leader with something of a temper. His parents drowned when the ship they were sailing in was caught in a typhoon off Kowloon Bay and sank with all hands. Giggles thus moved to England to live with his great aunt, Lady Temperance Chatterley.

He joined No. 5 Royal Flying Corps as a pilot when it was formed in 1913 and is fond of reminiscing about his training: 'training went something like this, 'This is an aeroplane, this is the throttle, this is the bit that makes it go and turn left or right. If you're really lucky, this bit brings you safely back to earth.'

At first, Giggles flew the Avro 504 but he grew bored of doing nothing more than spotting for artillery and transferred to 3 Squadron, then 45 Squadron. In all, Giggles accounted for 36 confirmed enemy kills, most of them while he was flying his Sopwith Camel.

With the end of the war in 1918, Giggles became something of an adventurer, travelling extensively in China, where he was recruited by MI6 to provide information on the budding communist party.

Archibald Giggles – 100 points + weapons, equipment and skills

M	FS	SS	S	T	W	A	R
6	3	3	4	4	3	3	9

Leader of The George's

May add 1 point to 2 stats. EG you could give him an extra attack and a R of 10

May have a single handed close combat weapon and a pistol.

May also have grenades

Has the following skills:

Born Leader – 5 points

Gains +1 R

Dodge – 20 points

Has a 4+ Invulnerable Save

Charlie Challenge is the inventor of the rocket powered jet pack that can be worn on a figure's back. Charlie also test piloted his creation, which led to his making several visits to the local hospital. However, by model 13, Charlie had perfected his creation, more or less anyway and has handed over the blueprints to MI6.
 

Charlie Challenge – 10 points + weapons and equipment
 

M	FS	SS	S	T	W	A	R
6	4	4	3	3	1	1	7

May swap a single stat from 1 column to another. EG you could make the SS 5 and the R 8

Rocket Pack -

Move - May fly 12” in any direction.

Laser Pistol – 1 point

range – 9” strength – 3

Ms Caroline Sheppard is something of a sleuth who has assisted the police and MI6 on numerous occasions. She was born in the quaint village of Ashton-Under-Hill in 1901 and attributes her success to her gypsy mother. Caroline became something of a celebrity when tabloids linked her to solving the notorious Slipper Murders, that had the East End of London living in a state of terror from 1929 – 1931, when she personally apprehended Lord Travis Tee.
 

Ms Caroline Sheppard– 250 points + weapons, equipment and skills
 

M	FS	SS	S	T	W	A	R
6	4	4	3	3	3	3	9

May have armour with a total save of no more than 6. EG a flak jacket.

May have a pistol

May use psychic powers from the Fallen Angels rules and the psychic powers cards

Caroline has the following skill - Lucky – 10 points

May re-roll one set of dice once per game, or make the enemy re-roll a set.

Pitbull Mc Dubhgall is the son of a Scottish laird whose family hails from the Isle of Skye. Like his father before him, Pitbull served in the 1st Regiment of the Skye Highland Infantry, gaining the DSC and MC for his service fighting the Hun in the Great War. He put the skills he learnt on his family's grouse moors to good use during his time in the trenches, where he became renowned for his stealth and marksmanship.

After the war, Pitbull felt at something of a loss and travelled far and wide in search of adventure. He became an accomplished martial artist during a prolonged stay in Hunan, China and learnt the skills of the majhong tables during a visit to the Portuguese colony of Macau, where he also became acquainted with Giggles.

Although Pitbull has become a top agent in MI6 and his patriotism is considered beyond question, his handler is still concerned that he may suffer from the little understood condition of post traumatic stress, due to his experiences during the war. His file thus bears the note that he is something of a loose cannon.
 

Pitbull Mc Dubhgall – 30 points + any equipment and extra weapons.

M	FS	SS	S	T	W	A	R
6	4	3	3	3	1	1	8

Has a sniper rifle and a telescopic sight (included in points cost)

May have a close combat weapon and grenades

May have armour with a total save of no more than 6. EG a flak jacket.

He may not have a shield.

Pitbull ignores SS penalties for being at over ½ range

If he can see any part of a target, he may fire at it without any cover saves applying.

Pitbull has the following skills:

Close Combat Expert – 5 points

+1 FS

Sneak – 5 points

As long as he doesn't come within 3” of any enemy, Pitbull may move through any type of cover without being seen. If he hides, enemy cannot see him unless they come within 3”.

Kara Loft is more formally known as the Lady Bikley, although she has little interest in her title, or the responsibilities it carries. Kara's mother died during her birth in 1906 and her father went missing ten years later, during an expedition to China to find Shangri-la.

Kara claims she learnt more from her gamekeeper, than the expensive school she attended. Since coming into her inheritance, Kara has undertaken several expeditions to the Chinese Himalayas, where she was recruited by MI6.

Kara is described by virtually every man (and quite a few women) who meet her as being 'drop dead gorgeous.' Anyone attacking her suffers -1 FS and -1 SS. Kara always fights first if in base contact with a male enemy.

Kara Loft – 10 points + weapons and equipment
 

M	FS	SS	S	T	W	A	R
6	4	4	3	3	1	1	7

 

May swap a single stat from 1 column to another. EG you could make the SS 5 and the R 8

May have armour with a total save of no more than 6. EG a flak jacket

May not have a shield.

May have a pistol and a shotgun

Kara has the sneak skill - As long as she doesn't come within 3” of any enemy, Kara may move through any type of cover without being seen. If she hides, enemy cannot see her unless they come within 3”.

Shaolin Monk – 15 points + weapons, equipment and skills

M	FS	SS	S	T	W	A	R
6	3	4	3	3	1	1	8

You may add 1 to a single stat EG you could give them an extra attack.

Nunchucks – Free. Close combat weapon with a range of 1”

May have a spear, or a halberd.

Has the following skills:

Close Combat Expert – 5 points

+1 FS

Dodge – 20 points

Has a 4+ Invulnerable Save

The Japanese And Their Treacherous Allies

General Mitsu Harakiri – 100 points + weapons, equipment and skills

M	FS	SS	S	T	W	A	R
6	3	3	4	4	3	3	9

Leader of the villains

May add 1 point to 2 stats. EG you could give him an extra attack and a R of 10

May have a single handed close combat weapon and a pistol.

May have grenades

Has the following skills:

Spite – 5 points

Enemy in base contact suffer -1 FS

Dodge – 20 points

Has a 4+ Invulnerable Save

Tojo Yakamosto – 15 points + weapons, equipment and skills

M	FS	SS	S	T	W	A	R
6	3	4	3	3	1	1	8

Has a katana

May have a pistol

May have grenades

May have armour with a total save of no more than 6. EG a flak jacket.

Has the following skills:

Intuition – 5 points

Gets a 5+ 'duck' save against ranged attacks. This is in addition to any armour save.

Sneak – 5 points

As long as he doesn't come within 3” of any enemy, Pitbull may move through any type of cover without being seen. If he hides, enemy cannot see him unless they come within 3”.

Shiori Geisha – 15 points + weapons, equipment and skills

M	FS	SS	S	T	W	A	R
6	3	4	3	3	1	1	8

Has a katana

May have a pistol

May have shurikens – 5 points (These are a new weapon.)

ranges – 3” use SS to hit and their strength is that of the figure throwing them.

May have armour with a total save of no more than 6. EG a flak jacket.

Has the following skills:

Lucky – 10 points

May re-roll one set of dice once per game, or make the enemy re-roll a set. If this skill is taken by a unit, the unit only gets to use the skill once per game.

Femme Fatale – 5 points

Any man attacking her suffers a -1 FS

Japanese Soldier – 10 points per figure + weapons and equipment
 

M	FS	SS	S	T	W	A	R
6	4	4	3	3	1	1	7

May swap a single stat from 1 column to another. EG you could make the SS 5 and the R 8

May have armour with a total save of no more than 6. EG a flak jacket

Has a katana

May have a pistol

May have a rifle

May have grenades

Chinese warlord, Xiao Niao – 50 points + weapons, equipment and skills

M	FS	SS	S	T	W	A	R
6	3	3	4	4	2	2	8

May add 1 point to 2 stats. EG you could give them an extra attack and a R of 9

May have armour with a total save of no more than 6. EG a flak jacket

Has a sword

May have a pistol

Has the following skills:

Close Combat Expert – 5 points

+1 FS

Dodge – 20 points

Has a 4+ Invulnerable Save

Feng Pi – 15 points + weapons, equipment and skills

M	FS	SS	S	T	W	A	R
6	3	4	3	3	1	1	8

May have armour with a total save of no more than 6. EG a flak jacket

Has a single handed close combat weapon

May have a pistol

May have grenades

Has the following skills:

Spite – 5 points

Enemy in base contact suffer -1 FS

Sneak – 5 points

As long as the figure/unit doesn't come within 3” of any enemy, they may move through any type of cover without being seen. If they hide, enemy cannot see them unless they come within 3”.

Fei Hua – 15 points + weapons, equipment and skills

M	FS	SS	S	T	W	A	R
6	3	4	3	3	1	1	8

May have armour with a total save of no more than 6. EG a flak jacket

Has a single handed close combat weapon

May have a pistol

May have grenades

Has the following skills:

Spite – 5 points

Enemy in base contact suffer -1 FS

Close Combat Expert – 5 points

+1 FS

Chinese Thugs – 10 points per figure + weapons and equipment

M	FS	SS	S	T	W	A	R
6	4	4	3	3	1	1	7

 

May swap a single stat from 1 column to another. EG you could make the SS 5 and the R 8

May have armour with a total save of no more than 6. EG a flak jacket.

May have a single handed close combat weapon

May have a rifle if allowed in a scenario

Scenarios

The first scenario takes place in the city of Guangzhuo, where a junk has recently arrived, supposedly in secret. The ship is carrying artefacts that were rescued from the Japanese assault on Beijing, including a map that reportedly reveals the hiding place of the Red Dragon.

The heroes have only just begun to search the cargo that is still on the wharf, when a gang of Chinese in the service of the treacherous warlord, Xiao Niao arrives on the scene.

The heroes may deploy within 12” of their start edge and have first turn. The villains start at their edge. The Chinese are led by Feng Pi and there are 9 rebels with him, 5 of whom may have rifles.

Setting

The wharf is littered with piles of crates that have been unloaded from the junk that is moored on one side of the board. Opposite the junk is a line of warehouses, where the KMT guards are drinking baijiu and playing mah-jong.

There are 6+2xD6 crates that are all roughly positioned in the centre of the wharf. Any figure can search them if they are in base contact. It costs 2AP's to search and they cannot perform any other actions. Roll a D6 each time a crate is searched, on a 4+ the map is found, although it turns out that only half the map is in the crate, along with a clue to where the other part is.

If any figure is wounded or stunned within 1” of the dock's edge, they must test to see if they fall into the water as usual. (See the rules for falling.)

The force that finds the map wins.

The second scenario is set in a ruined monastery in Hunan Province, where the other half of the map is hidden. The heroes are joined by 3 Shaolin monks who have acted as their guides. Whichever side won the last scenario may deploy within 12” of their start edge and has the first turn. The other side deploys at their start edge.

The Chinese are led by Xiao Niao in person, with his henchman Fei Hua. There are 20 thugs with them, 5 of whom may have rifles. 5 thugs start with Xiao Niao and Fei Hua, the others arrive on a 4+, roll each turn per figure. They deploy from their starting table edge.

Setting

The board is covered with ruined walls and piles of rubble. In the centre is a marble coffin that holds the second half of the map. The coffin is on a raised plinth beside the sacred Black Dragon Pool. Anyone that enters the pool for any reason, must instantly roll a D6, on a 4+ they take an automatic wound without any armour saves. 3 figures must be in base contact with the coffin to remove its lid, they must pass a Reliability test to be successful and may not take any other actions while they are opening the coffin.
 

The force that opens the coffin wins.

The last scenario takes place near the fishing village of Yangshuo, that is set on the banks of the Li Jiang, in Guangxi Province. The map has revealed that the Red Dragon was placed in the hands of a statue of the Goddess Quan Yin, in a shrine that has been carved out of a karst.

Both forces deploy at their start edge, but the side that won the last scenario may have the first turn. The Japanese do not trust the Chinese with the Dragon, so general Mitsu Harakiri has taken personal control of the situation. His force comprises his lover Shiori Geisha, Tojo Yakamosto, 3 Chinese guides and 5 Japanese soldiers.

Setting

The board is covered with karsts, (rounded hills) piles of boulders and a few hovels. In the centre is the shrine of Quan Yin, with a statue of the Goddess. Any figure can retrieve the Red Dragon as long as they spend a whole turn in base contact with the statue without taking any other actions.
 

The force that finds the ruby wins.

All of the rules necessary for this scenario are available from www.1poundrules.website for £1 each