I would like to thank Mosin, Troub, Marshy ebn Shaqashakeazulamahamke, and the rest of the Bastards for hosting an amazing and memorable game. It was truly worth it's weight in goats. Gold! I meant gold...
Anyway, the first half of the game was quite the whooping for JSOC. Task Force Phalanx was the Alpha 1/3 of Bulldog 1 which was tasked with swinging around the west of the field, taking West Point and the Hellicopter and striking the village from the North while the Ranger elements and Bulldog 2, the rest of MARSOC, assaulted the village from the South. My thanks to Kurt (Charlie squad) for helping me with locations and communication... I've only been to Hells Survivors a couple times. Bulldog encountered zero resistance on its trek to the North of the village, taking spawns as we went. Upon reaching the outskirts of the AJA-held village, Phalanx (Bulldog 1-Alpha) encountered light resistance, which quickly turned into heavy resistance and after I'd say 10-20 minutes of fighting had decimated Bulldog 1 with perhaps 4 survivors. The 4 survivors took Area 51 to provide Bulldog 1 with a spawn. Upon exiting spawn, we learned that the Rangers and Bulldog 2 had pushed AJA from the city. We were ordered to move through the city (which was about to be designated out-of-play and spawn at the entrance.
After spawning, Bulldog 1 took Area 51 and held it for an unknown amount of time while the Rangers were fighting up along Tobacco road to the north and to the east. The bridge acted as a bottle-neck, keeping AJA from taking Area 51. I sent a scout to report the Ranger's positions and received contact from Mosin asking to speak with the Rangers. I sent my scout back and told him to get the Rangers to contact Mosin, I'm unsure if they did or not. The Rangers captain then came to me at 51 and reported that they were stretched out in a thin line along the road and were being heavily assaulted by AJA. We decided to attempt to relieve them, leaving five shooters at Area 51.
On the road, we quickly met mid-high resistance and had to take cover. Then, over a hill, I spotted 6-7 heads pop over the edge and open fire upon Bulldog 1 from just on the other side of the road... Bulldog 1 was combat ineffective after less than a minute. I applaud AJA for an amazing job of stealth. We then were ordered to redcon back to the staging area (crossing through the city, witnessing the deadly effect of the oh-so-deadly suicide bombers!) for a secret squirrel mission: the mortar strike on area 51.
Most of Bulldog 1 and the Ranger elements accompanying us were exhausted and extremely low on ammo. Half of Phalanx made it back to staging late and we weren't able to move for at least fifteen minutes. The Rangers were sent first carrying the first mortar to West Point. Bulldog 1 then followed with the last two and made it successfully to West Point without contact.
Apparently, the mortars are what caused JSOC to take down Area 51, but to us, we were merely babysitting a pointless objective. I dispersed Bulldog 1 and the Ranger elements with us along the road, creating a defensive line. After some time of stalemate, the AJA then came down the road at West Point, slowly gaining momentum, pushing us out and back to the main building. In confusion, someone said we were allowed to move the mortars... we found out later it was against the rules, but at the time, their was no choice but to go with what other were telling me was allowed. I ordered the mortars moved back about 50 yards from their original position. With the mortars pulling out, the entire force was retreating in chaos with them. I was able to gain their attention and ordered Phalanx on the flanks and center and the rest of Bulldog 1 and the Ranger elements spread out along with us. I then received the call and confirmed that at 1400 I was to remove my forces to the staging area for lunch. Ten minutes. We decided this was the line in the sand, and held for ten minutes, despite the Rangers asking their troops to withdraw, an order I asked them to rescind. In the last 30 seconds, the remainder of my men were killed, but the game was over before the mortar tubes could be taken. 1400, lunch and a well needed break.
I felt the break was very well managed with most of Bulldog 1 and 2 being assembled and ready at 1500 to go, but the Rangers were still loading up. The Rangers were ordered to move up and around to the extreme West and Bulldog 1 was ordered to go along Tobacco road the Helicopter. The whole IED rules for that game were not very well explained, I'm sorry to say. I still didn't understand them after being told twice... Maybe it was just me. We Upon entrance of the field, Bulldog 1's Bravo squad (our scouts) ran into contact. All elements of Bulldog 1 and 2 were eliminated within ten minutes of entrance. We decided, then to move up and around to the top of the hill and take the fortress and trenches around it. This position we held, despite the AJA's attempt to flank around our positions, and a foothold was created. We then began a sweep down the hill and destroyed the enemy as we went, quickly ending all resistance. On the road, we captured four prisoners which Mosin was cool enough to let us have a hostage battle with... While Troub interrogated them (doing a fine job of it) we discovered that their favorite color was "blue- no, yellow!" and other valuable intel... We held them despite deadly resistance (not really any at all) and heavy losses (we didn't have any casualties...). Let's face it, they didn't care about those hostages. But that's ok, because Troub had already executed one after interrogating him. That patriot!
The rest of the was ended up as a routing of the AJA all the way back to the Hellicopter where resistance became heavier. Mosin said he would come and help us and bring a division, "I'll do my best," and was requested to bring beer, "That I can do." But after some time, we found that for the final four minutes or so we were friendly firing with Charlie squad of Bulldog 1... oops... Oh well. Kurt had captured Marshy (ebn Shaqashakeazulamahamke) and our new objective was to extract him to the staging area. A job we were honored to do! That was honestly one of the funnest times I've ever had... With Marshy "fighting back", grabbing onto trees (which we simply spun him around on till the bark became too painful... sorry Marshwiggle), pushing back, even pulling a 226 on us and killing three shooters. We dragged him successfully to the staging area. A great success and rousing victory. I had a great time and plan on attending the next Bastards' event. Thanks for a good one, guys!