The Legion - “Recon 1”

[Whiterook]

U.S. Army “Green Berets” warriors of the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), better known by their nickname, “The Legion” are deployed in country on a reconnaissance mission for a forthcoming general advance by regular U.S. Army forces in a couple days’ time. Sent out to scout, and determine enemy strength and positions, the Legionaries infiltrate a critical area deep behind enemy lines that represents one of several, potential operational trouble spots. The mission of stealth is lead by Captain “Dix” Dixon, leading three Weapons Sargeants: “Coop” Cooper, “Enzo” Edleman, and “Ziggy” Zigarelli.



Moving in through dense jungle, most of the team advances forward, Coop finding hiding cover in jungle, with Capt. Dixon by his side in the open ground; Ziggy to their right. Enzo believes he see’s Charlie beyond a rice paddy farm, and not wanting to get bogged down in the shallow but tricky waters, shifts to cover in his left flank and hides in the jungle as he waits to see what develops.







The Viet Cong are popping up here and there, patrolling the sector, but unawares of the dangers ahead.





…with Charlie popping up so quickly after boots on the ground, looks like there’s there’s a potential for more VC in this sector, and this mission just got Hot!

[Whiterook]

It was stifling hot in the jungles of the ‘Nam, so Coop and the Capt. Dixon were not only glad to advance forward into the huts of a villager, but gain a view of the jungles ahead beyond a vast clearing. Ziggy shifted to his left and took station in the clear, behind Dix and Coop. With jungles and rocky hill terrain to their 3 o’clock and jungles and a village to their forward, they were in a nice position to see what developed.

Meanwhile, Enzo was not in such luck, having become separated and isolated to the far right flank, adjacent to a rice paddy farm to his left and now, seeing a couple VC advancing on his position! Had they seen him; heard him? Though possessing Green Beret nerves of steel, was the advancing days’ sun making him sweat…or Charlie?



But luck changed in Enzo’s favor, as the VC in the Villages ahead shifted: one Charlie moving back, while his comrade moved quickly through the jungles to his right and set up right outside of the village where Coop and Dix are hiding! …thank goodness they are in those huts, holding their respective shits; Ziggy continued to hold out of LOS, but also sweating it out. At least he Charlie Victor way backfield hasn’t moved, thank God.

[Whiterook]

Captain Dixon finds himself in a tough spot… Ziggy is threatened with being overrun and shot by that VC that showed up in front; though he and Coop are safely hidden, he decides to take a shot and kills the VC bearing down on them… safe for the moment, unbeknownst to him, the shot ushered in a Charlie way back in the backfield of the sector, right next to his comrade…double trouble! Coop moves up and slides left outside of the jungle perimeter, having moderate cover to his front, while Ziggy moves up and into cover to Dix’s 9 o’clock. Meanwhile, Enzo stays put (a bad roll count create anything useful, so he stays in cover).

The VC at top left of the battle sector shift to their left, which is a tad less threatening to the three Green Berets left of the hills.



In determining unit sitrep, Captain Dixon has a general idea so far, of a small handful of VC in the jungles ahead of him; but with Ziggy out of sight and unawares of by how far he’s stationed, he’s trying to desperately formulate a strategy based on how to proceed. No Charlie gun fire is good news so, hopefully, Enzo is squared away somewhere, staying frosty.

[Whiterook]

Enzo manages to move up one and hide in the jungle, but the rest of the Legion are holding position, unsure of enemy movement and unable to gain protective ground; while a VC in the far shifts right, and one disappears, only to pop up in the village near Enzo!

[Whiterook]

Coop advances (two tiles) up and hides in the jungle…a good roll! (…it’s a VC activation zone zone, but if one activated there, they wouldn’t see Coop!) Enzo moves forward (1 tile) and hides and has the VC in the open at the village, but chooses not to fire and his cover would be ,blown (he’d become Unhidden). The other Green Berets stay static.

The VC in the village next to Enzo, falls back and shifts to the left, unbeknownst to him, next to Coop. The other two remain static.



The forces are coming less, but fortunately the action is low. Stealth in the Jungle… very little rumbling! …so far!!!

[Whiterook]

Ziggy flies up from the village on a sprint (3 tiles) into the open on a heavy jungle area… Dix is pissed at Zigs mad dash without orders, but he had any needed covering fire from him and Coop had it been necessary. Dix had to admit that though Ziggy is exposed, he’s near the exfil zone now. The rest of the Green Berets remain static.

The VC next to Coop moves away to join his comrade to the right, while the rear guard VC redeploys to the village in front of his two comrades.

[Whiterook]

Dix moves forward (1 tile) and hides in a hut. Coop moves up (1 tile) and hides in the jungle. Ziggy and Enzo are stuck in place for the time being; after his mad dash, Ziggy just can’t make cover.

One of the Victor Charlie’s moves just outside the jungle line next to Enzo and thinks he hears something, firing his rifle into the trees, missing Enzo… he doesn’t see our hear anything so he lowers his rifle . Enzo releases his breath… slowly! The other two VC are in a heavy jungle hex north of the rocky hill.



The Green Berets are passed the VC in the area, except for Enzo. They’ve almost cleared their assigned sector.

[Whiterook]

Capt. Dixon shifts to his right and jumps into the jungle cover, closer to his men and in better position to advance forward. (He’s also in a VC activation tile so I’d a VC activates there, he can kill him in hand to hand without alerting the enemy (no activation for the kill). Everyone else is stuck in place.

A VC in the heavy jungle moves back and into Dix’s area…lucky Dix is hidden in the jungle. The VC in Enzo’s zone moves away and fires at the jungle again…jumpy little fella.

[Whiterook]

Ziggy moves forward (2 tiles) and hides in the far left corner exfil row, effectively clearing the left flank. Coop shifts left and hides in the jungle there now adjacent to the swamp and clearing g more territory, and in position for exfiltration hopefully next turn. Capt. Dixon remains stuck in place…as is Enzo.

One VC moves towards the swamp; while the other two shift away, one redeploying to the rear, right of the swamp.

[Whiterook]

The Green Berets are stuck in place, with VC just too darned close, but then a couple VC start advancing forward, away from the Legionaries. Same thing next turn.

Moving on to the next turn, Dix moves up (1 tile) and hides, while the rest remain in place. The VC at far forward shifts into the rice paddy for some unknown reason…maybe he’s hot? The VC above Enzo shifts away to the left, clearing a path for Enzo to run if he can manage a 2-dice move order!

[Whiterook]

Coop makes it to the exfil row, but is currently exposed in the open. Enzo takes a chance and moves up just shy of the exfil row; even though horribly exposed and in a VC activation zone, he’s felt behind the 8 Ball all mission and just wants to get the hell moving… hopefully it works out for him! Dix is stuck.

The VC in the rice paddy makes it out ok and is on the far forward line of battle (row); the VC in the heavy jungle shifts all the way over to the left side of the battlefield; and the other one also shifts lef ( tiles) right below Dix!

[Whiterook]

Dix makes it to the exfil area, as does Enzo, though both are in the open. The VC continue to move away, except for Crazy Charlie, who jumps back into the rice paddy! Crazy Charlie!!!



Crazy Charlie…



…and friends…



Mission completion parameters were to make it to the exfil row at the top of the map (into tiles with no VC present in them), which the Green Berets did, thereby securing a victory!



This is truly a game of stealth. I remember my first try at the game, using RISK pieces for troops… I was firing and chucking grenades all over the place, and activating so many Viet Cong, it became an un-winnable blood bath. In the next two games (including this one), I stayed hidden and quiet, and worked my way through the map, reacting as necessary. It ground the game down for sure, but that’s the design. Oddly enough, the rolls for End Turn Events did not activate one new VC… that’s just luck on the dice for the Green Berets! …and the other rolls were “All Quiet” results, meaning nothing happened on Charlie’s side. So all game, I faced the same number of VC I started the game with… I don’t think that’s typical.

There was a lot of luck for the Green Berets too, in not running into any firefights… there was the one VC killed early on, by Dix… and a subsequent replacement VC for his shot fired, so there were never more than three VC on the battlefield.

In admission terms: The Green Berets cleared their assigned combat sector and found extremely light Viet Cong forces in the form of a small foot patrol. The main element about to roar through should face minimal to no resistance. Mission Accomplished!