Dogfight over the Alps

Today, after my foray into space (!) - we had a couple of games of Wings of Glory WW1 at the club. We decided to leave the familiar Western front and go to the Italian front.
We decided to fight an Austrian bombing mission with an equal number of scout aircraft.

Lawrence, Phil and I ran the Italians, 3 Hanriot HR1's. We started on the enemy's left rear.

 Our enemy, run by my solo rules, a UfaG supported by 2 Aviatiks. 

 These steamed on until they reached the table edge.

 Phil broke right while Lawrence and I continued the chase. 

 Finally, the Austrians turned to make a fight of it!

One Aviatik  moved to engage Lawrence and me.

 The UfaG and the other Aviatik went after Phil.

 I hoped the two Hanriots could kill the Aviatik quickly so we could help Phil.

 We did well, but Lawrence jammed his guns. 

 As we passed, I 'Immelmanned' to try to chase the Aviatik.

Phil, meanwhile, managed to neatly dodge the UfaG and get a shot at its escorting Aviatik... 

What do you know! A 'Bang' card! 

Down in flames! 

Phil then turned after the UfaG, but came under ineffectual fire from its rear gunner.  

 An overview, to show our relative positions.

 Lawrence was just out of range, and I was out of angle, of the Aviatik.

 I turned to engage the UfaG, and damaged it, but the wily Aviatik had followed me and caused a little damage.

Lawrence was just out of range of the Aviatik, but i was glad to have him around to help clear my rear! 

Phil was shadowing the UfaG. 

 As I tried to escape my pursuer, I came under fire from the Aviatik, and the UfaG's rear gunner!

 Not too bad.

Phil re-engaged, chasing the UfaG. 

I tried a sharp right evade, but the Aviatik hit my engine! 

 Lawrence tried to hit the UfaG, but sadly missed.

 At this point, it looked like the 'Indians' were being circled by the 'Wagon train'!

 The UfaG rear gunner was still taking pot shots at us!

 Lawrence peeled off and got on the Aviatik's tail...

...The Aviatik weaved right...

...then sharp left...and escaped! 

 

My plane, with its damaged engine, was falling behind Phil as he chased the UfaG.

 It seemed to be heading for the table edge...

 The rear gunner was keeping us in his sights, but we could not catch the bomber.

I gave up the chase, and turned to help Lawrence with the slippery Aviatik! 

 The Aviatik seemed to have grown tired of the game of cat and mouse, and headed for home.

Phil stayed behind the UfaG, but it, too, headed off table towards home. 

We had broken up the attack, so we declared it an Italian victory.

In the solo rules, the UfaG would only go straight to favour its rear gunner on a 5,6 (D6), it managed to do this for 3 straight turns!, which is why it left the table! Seemed right to us though, as we would have eventually worn the Austrians down.....I think!

Good game! The second was indecisive, as Phil and I fought the 3 Hanriots, and we could not knock each other down, but the Italians were looking a little the worse for wear when we called it a day!

Dogfight over Concord Dawn

Today, I got my newly finished 'Star Wars: Rebels' out for an airing! I think the episode 'The Protector of Concord Dawn' is one of my favourites! - so I was tempted to see if X-Wing would allow me to change the result of the space battle?
PS: (In the following report, I have added stills from the episode)

The scenario is that the Rebel fleet is trying to find a safe hyperspace route to a supply base which doesn't pass through Imperial space.
Sabine Wren, herself a Mandalorian, suggests going via Concord Dawn, a Mandalorian colony, which is independent despite Mandalor itself being occupied by the Empire.
Rather than going in force, the Rebels try a diplomatic solution, to try and get the fierce Mandalorians as allies, so 5 A-Wings of Phoenix squadron are dispatched under the command of Hera Syndulla, accompanied by Sabine Wren. 

Hera: 'So, that's Concord Dawn, sure looks like it's been through a war.'

Sabine: 'This system has endured more than a hundred wars, My people don't need a reason to pick a fight.' 

 Phoenix Squadron, we have visitors....

...Everybody, stay sharp.

Fenn: Attention, unregistered ships, This is Fenn Rau, Protector of Concord Dawn... You are trespassing, Identify yourselves. 

(The protectors set themselves up with Fenn Rau leading, and the other 2 at the formations rear)

Hera: - We come in peace, Protector.

Fenn: - Peace? That's not a word I hear often... State your mission.

Hera: We request safe passage through your system.

Fenn: Well, that depends, Who is asking? 

Hera: Those who would stand with Concord Dawn against the Empire.

Fenn: So, you're the rebels I've heard about. How unfortunate for you.

Hera:You haven't heard what we have to say.

Fenn: I don't need to. Out here, I act in the name of the Empire.

(Fenn's ship slams on the brakes and falls back alongside the other Mandalorians.)

Hera: Hold on, Protector.

The game starts with the Rebels using no defence dice, as the attack is unexpected, the Mandalorians getting a target lock automatically.

  Fenn's first roll is astonishing!

Sabine: I'm hit! Hera, what do we do? What do we do? --I don't think they're interested in talking, Hera.

Hera: Phoenix Squadron, take evasive action, Spectre-5, Phoenix-2, get out of here.

Phoenix-2: There's too much fire, I can't get an opening.

Sabine: He's right, If we attempt to jump, we'll be cut to pieces.

Hera: Go to heading 257, I'll get your opening.

 Sabine:What about you?

Hera: Just follow orders, Sabine.

Sabine: Roger that.

 Phoenix-2 races away under fire, but evades it, Hera and Sabine Koiogran turn to face the pursuing Protectors.

 Fenn breaks right - the others left, apparently anticipating our move.

Phoenix -2 turns also, but the Mandalorian blasts one of his shields away, taking no damage himself. 

Hera and Sabine both fire at 'Old Tolloch', who strips Hera's evade token.

 Hera is blasted, a final critical hit is enough...

As in the episode, Hera allows Sabine and Phoenix-2 to escape. 

Back at the Rebel fleet, Hera joins the remains of the flight, somehow having managed to hit her Hyperdrive....

Kanan: Sabine, what happened? We picked up a distress call.

Sabine: Kanan, we didn't have a chance, These Mandalorians work for the Empire, too.

Sabine: Hera, Hera, can you hear me? I see her, I see her, Kanan, It's bad, You've got to hurry. 

(Back in the medical frigate...)

Sabine: How is she? - Her vital signs have stabilized.

Medical droid: She is going to make it, But she requires rest.

Sabine: This is my fault, I shouldn't have left her.

Sabine: I'm so sorry, Hera, They're going to answer for this.  

Quite amazingly, the scenario played out almost blow for blow with the TV version! Either X-Wing is very good, or the writers of the show must play it!

Saying this though, my Hera (everything else was run solo!) - didn't get to kill a protector,----- next time I will!

If you haven't seen Rebels, its well worth a watch!