MAIN EVENT VI! Red Devil vs. [hirr]Leto

[Der Kuenstler]

I'm glad for all the discussion and comments, guys - it just helps me know you're interested. Next we have minute four, and we open with Red Devil's first losses of the battle. Here in the South, he runs his two lead engineer squads to the edge of some brush and then starts walking them towards Leto's German setup zone. Not sure why he didn't use "move to contact." Both squads come under enemy fire from town. A green tracer can be seen in the air. It is a MG 34 HMG - too far away for them to see - but a man gets killed in each squad. Caught walking and out of command, both squads immediately pin. Their HQ unit is coming up the road over 200 meters to the rear, and by the time he gets here these men could well be routed.



Meanwhile to the North, RD's truck column gradually restores order and two lead trucks pull up at the Northwest 100 point flag. But they can plainly see the Germans are aleady in the Oasis and are sunning under the umbrellas at the hotel, sipping lemonade. There's no way Red Devil will get any farther with just one platoon on trucks against a platoon in cover.



Red Devil is going to need some support to get that Oasis, but the only support coming is wearing swastikas. Leto's high plains column is speeding towards the Oasis loaded with HE and two more infantry platoons. RD's trucks and men would be smart to try to hide at this point.



Leto splits off part of his central force on the high plateau and turns them to face Red Devil's Southern threat. A platoon of Marders, a 75mm ATG, and an 81mm mortar set up a defense. Leto's IIIJ(Late) is still trying to unbog at the bottom of the hill.



To the West, Leto uses caution at Randy's British holding town. Two of his green IIIJs start shelling an empty building downtown (out of view) while these other two tanks deftly sidestep RD's deadly AT minefield.
We see Leto's small infantry force working their way around the cliffs also.



To the East, Randy leaves some AFVs on watch while he sends his Stuarts back towards his setup zone. This move seems to confuse Leto. He writes: "Interesting turn of events. RD now seems predisposed to link his forces and move against me… but where. Very chess match style game so far."

But personally, I think he is just sending those Stewarts back to pick up some men.



RADIO CHATTER
RANDY: "excellent decision to come across that plateau, we have a pleasant outing for you planned there that ATR is Rambo... be careful where you tread next mister..."
PETE: "Actually, that British delaying flag is the only one I don’t plan on taking. My boys are just there to ensure your boys are stuck sitting on their teapots and are setting up a perimeter. No worries, we shant upset your mines for you. : ) The ATR fellow you are referring to with the soiled knickers is Sgt Clifford Wamsley Rambo III esquire, I presume… Graduated from Oxford in 1939 with an honors degree in ancient Sumerian philosophy with his studies concentrating on identifying the links to the foot fetishes of the gentry class in the Uruk period and its relationships to pottery that is shaped like the phallic shaped big toes of dingir-dingir deities. Right. I do not think he is any relationship to the Rambo from the movies, and since he has now lost his glasses and shat himself, I suspect very little disturbance from him, outside of a need to collect him up as he begins frantically waving around his snotty white handkerchief in surrender."
RANDY: "too much dust other wise you'd be in some serious shat yourself :)"
PETE: "I’m like an evil being that moves around concealed by shadow…. But instead of fog of murky darkness, I am protected by a pig-pennish cloud of dust that smells like sauerkraut and stale pee. : )
Hey! Beating a path back to Egypt so soon? You must have heard that a fresh shipment of kumkwats just arrived at the port of Cairo and just can’t help yourself… right?"

All of this chatter can have an effect on the mindset of those playing the game. I've never used it much, but I admit it can have a psychological impact. Chatter can be used to mislead, intimidate, confuse, or frustrate an opponent.

From the positions of their forces, it seems both players have pretty much committed themselves now - Leto must go and win the Oasis to the North. And it looks like Red Devil must give up on that possibility and try to take everything else.