World On Fire: Shadow Ops [a Fantasy WWII Quest]

Should I make a thread in CD&W for you to make characters and draft nations?

  • Ye

    Votes: 4 40.0%
  • Ne

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Put the system in this thread

    Votes: 6 60.0%

  • Total voters
    10
  • Poll closed .
Voting is open
We'll have a full batallion of US Marines, plus whatever ships the Royal Navy can spare. I'm looking up what ships that would be, but so far the biggest stick you'll be able to get is maybe HMS Rodney. But that's a big stick for a surprise attack in the Med.
If they want us to neutralise a submarine base anything short of a US bomber squadron with fighter escort isn't a particularly big stick. So 1 Battleship would be helpful but still insufficient. What external defences can we expect e.g. Flak cannons, coastal artillery, sea mines? Do the Germans have their own air cover?
 
If they want us to neutralise a submarine base anything short of a US bomber squadron with fighter escort isn't a particularly big stick. So 1 Battleship would be helpful but still insufficient. What external defences can we expect e.g. Flak cannons, coastal artillery, sea mines? Do the Germans have their own air cover?

The base has machine gun emplacements near the ladder entrances, and a few coastal gun emplacements at the main entrance - two 21cms and a handful of older, smaller caliber guns. Nothing meant to deter an aerial attack, as the Germans doubt the Allies have anything capable of destroying it from the air.
 
Expanded on my plan a bit, since I forgot we had a battalion of marines available when needed and didn't know about the RN support.
[X] Plan: Silent Night
-[X] Team 1
--[X] Shizuko Saitou-Williams, Indra Gurung, Simon Bonheur, Doris Tremblay, Marian Kaplani, Liselot Pistorius
-[X] Team 2
--[X] Abigail Savage, Arthur Wood, Harbir Singh, Roy Thompson, Weronika Kumiega, Emmanuelle Hebert
-[X] Team 3
--[X] Ethel Beckett, US Marines
-[X] Teams 1 and 2 will infiltrate the base through the sewer entrances, Team 3 will be at ready near the barracks entrance. Once inside, Team 2 will start setting explosives on the fuel tanks and ammunition stockpiles, if possible. Team 1 will move to secure the HQ for intelligence, to secure an escape route and to set explosive at the powerplant. If the enemy is still unaware of the infiltration, which ever team finishes first is to ascertain what is being held in the dry dock. Afterwards, both teams are to move to extraction through the HQ entrance. If the teams are to be compromised at any point of the mission, or at danger of being compromised, Team 3 is to provide distraction by performing a diversionary assault to the barracks entrance and the main entrance, if possible, to draw enemy's attention. Any Royal Navy presence is to stay out of sight near the main entrance, to engage any u-boats that might try to escape.

Edit:
Also, a thing we should probably discuss. During the mission briefing we were told that taking this place as intact as possible would be preferable, but that we can destroy it.

So, do we want to take the bigger risk of trying to capture the base, or the lesser risk of destroying it, knowing that it won't be usable for some time for our allies?
 
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[X] Plan: Silent Night
-[X] Team 1
--[X] Shizuko Saitou-Williams, Indra Gurung, Simon Bonheur, Doris Tremblay, Marian Kaplani, Liselot Pistorius
-[X] Team 2
--[X] Abigail Savage, Arthur Wood, Harbir Singh, Roy Thompson, Weronika Kumiega, Emmanuelle Hebert
-[X] Team 3
--[X] Ethel Beckett, US Marines
-[X] Teams 1 and 2 will infiltrate the base through the sewer entrances, Team 3 will be at ready near the barracks entrance. Once inside, Team 2 will start setting explosives on the fuel tanks and ammunition stockpiles, if possible. Team 1 will move to secure the HQ for intelligence, to secure an escape route and to set explosive at the powerplant. If the enemy is still unaware of the infiltration, which ever team finishes first is to ascertain what is being held in the dry dock. Afterwards, both teams are to move to extraction through the HQ entrance. If the teams are to be compromised at any point of the mission, or at danger of being compromised, Team 3 is to provide distraction by performing a diversionary assault to the barracks entrance and the main entrance, if possible, to draw enemy's attention. Any Royal Navy presence is to stay out of sight near the main entrance, to engage any u-boats that might try to escape.


[X] Plan: Holy Night
-[X] Team 1
--[X] Shizuko Saitou-Williams, Indra Gurung, Simon Bonheur, Doris Tremblay, Marian Kaplani, Liselot Pistorius
-[X] Team 2
--[X] Abigail Savage, Arthur Wood, Harbir Singh, Roy Thompson, Weronika Kumiega, Emmanuelle Hebert
-[X] Team 3
--[X] Ethel Beckett, US Marines
-[X] Teams 1 and 2 will infiltrate the base through the sewer entrances, while Team 3 will spread out to all of the entrances. Once inside, Team 2 will head to dry dock to ascertain what is being held there, while Team 1 moves to capture HQ. Afterwards, both teams will head to the surface from their respective points and eliminate the guards there to let Team 3 inside. Then, all forces are to head towards barracks and officer barracks, hopefully managing to take majority of the enemies by surprise and take over the armories to deny the enemies their armaments. If the teams are compromised at any point of the mission before managing to let Team 3 inside, Team 3 is to provide distraction by performing a diversionary assault against all of the entrances, if possible, to draw enemy's attention, while Teams 1 and 2 move to set explosives at fuel storage and powerplant before escaping. Any Royal Navy presence is to stay out of sight near the main entrance, to engage any u-boats that might try to escape.


So, after thinking I'd like to offer people two plans, my old plan which aims to destroy the base from the start, and another one where the goal is to capture it.
 
Vote lock, tentatively, in 48 hours. I do want people to have some more time to either choose between @Icipall 's plans or come up with their own.
 
Adhoc vote count started by Zoosmell on Nov 9, 2020 at 1:14 PM, finished with 15 posts and 4 votes.
  • 5

    [X] Plan: Holy Night
    -[X] Team 1
    --[X] Shizuko Saitou-Williams, Indra Gurung, Simon Bonheur, Doris Tremblay, Marian Kaplani, Liselot Pistorius
    -[X] Team 2
    --[X] Abigail Savage, Arthur Wood, Harbir Singh, Roy Thompson, Weronika Kumiega, Emmanuelle Hebert
    -[X] Team 3
    --[X] Ethel Beckett, US Marines
    -[X] Teams 1 and 2 will infiltrate the base through the sewer entrances, while Team 3 will spread out to all of the entrances. Once inside, Team 2 will head to dry dock to ascertain what is being held there, while Team 1 moves to capture HQ. Afterwards, both teams will head to the surface from their respective points and eliminate the guards there to let Team 3 inside. Then, all forces are to head towards barracks and officer barracks, hopefully managing to take majority of the enemies by surprise and take over the armories to deny the enemies their armaments. If the teams are compromised at any point of the mission before managing to let Team 3 inside, Team 3 is to provide distraction by performing a diversionary assault against all of the entrances, if possible, to draw enemy's attention, while Teams 1 and 2 move to set explosives at fuel storage and powerplant before escaping. Any Royal Navy presence is to stay out of sight near the main entrance, to engage any u-boats that might try to escape.
    [X] Plan: Silent Night
    -[X] Team 1
    --[X] Shizuko Saitou-Williams, Indra Gurung, Simon Bonheur, Doris Tremblay, Marian Kaplani, Liselot Pistorius
    -[X] Team 2
    --[X] Abigail Savage, Arthur Wood, Harbir Singh, Roy Thompson, Weronika Kumiega, Emmanuelle Hebert
    -[X] Team 3
    --[X] Ethel Beckett, US Marines
    -[X] Teams 1 and 2 will infiltrate the base through the sewer entrances, Team 3 will be at ready near the barracks entrance. Once inside, Team 2 will start setting explosives on the fuel tanks and ammunition stockpiles, if possible. Team 1 will move to secure the HQ for intelligence, to secure an escape route and to set explosive at the powerplant. If the enemy is still unaware of the infiltration, which ever team finishes first is to ascertain what is being held in the dry dock. Afterwards, both teams are to move to extraction through the HQ entrance. If the teams are to be compromised at any point of the mission, or at danger of being compromised, Team 3 is to provide distraction by performing a diversionary assault to the barracks entrance and the main entrance, if possible, to draw enemy's attention. Any Royal Navy presence is to stay out of sight near the main entrance, to engage any u-boats that might try to escape.
    [X] Plan Alpha
 
Shizuko Satou-Williams (1941) (Commissioned Art)


An other art I commissioned, from someone not on this site to my knowledge. Shizuko as of shortly after the prologue. Was supposed to have her with the Distinguished Flying Cross (UK), but considering how many problems with other commissions the artist had while making this, I decided to let it slide.

Also going to re-open voting for 24 hours.​
 
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An other art I commissioned, from someone not on this site to my knowledge. Shizuko as of shortly after the prologue. Was supposed to have her with the Distinguished Flying Cross (UK), but considering how many problems with other commissions the artist had while making this, I decided to let it slide.

Also going to re-open voting for 24 hours.​
Nice artwork. She's more tanned than I thought. Also, you haven't changed her picture link in the Dramatis Personae yet.
 
Earlier version had her even more tan. And to be fair, living and working at high altitude means you get more UV rays, and since most of Shizuko's missions so far in the war have been bomber interception and bomber escort, she's at high altitudes a lot.
 
Il Gran Soccorso Pt. XIII
Kept you waiting, huh? Sorry about that - to be honest, I was burned out on this Quest for a while, but not enough to truly abandon it to the graveyard. I got interested in resuming it earlier this week, but decided to save actually updating until Christmas, for obvious reasons. For the future, I don't really have too many plans, but I may end up making this chapter shorter than I may have had planned, simply because I'm much more interested in what happens after it - that being said, the next chapter will possibly be even shorter than what has been done now.



[><] Plan: Holy Night

And so, you and Elias begin to plan, with Ethel, Abigail, and the Marines' CO, a lieutenant colonel by the name of Thomas Flynn, joining in as you work. The captain of the HMS Rodney is also on call, but he doesn't seem like he expects his own ship to arrive in time. You all take your time - partly because this is the first mission in a while, arguably ever, you specifically have had total control over how it played out, and partly because of the sheer strategic importance of Malta. Up to that point, with a handful of exceptions, most of your operations had been little more than sabotage hit-and-runs in situations where a more magical touch was needed. And none of those, besides said exceptions, required the entire team.

Over the hours, as you work and debate, your plans narrow down to two, and eventually, down to one. There had been a great deal of debate, which was mostly you, Abigail, and Elias against Ethel and Flynn, about what to ultimately do with the fortress. Ethel and the LC wanted to destroy it (though Flynn was a bit more ambivalent), and you, Abigail, and Elias wanted to at least try and save it, with Abigail (of course) being the most vocal about it.

Ultimately, your plan is a compromise - the goal overall is to control the base as long as possible to gain as much intel (and possible prisoners) as you can, with plan B being blowing it to Kingdom Come.

You, Indra, Simon, Doris, Marian, and Liselot will be Team Affirm. Team Baker will be Abigail, Arthur, Harbir, Roy, Weronika, and Emmanuelle. Ethel will work with the Marines and be Team Cast, though obviously a few hundred Marines is not a mere team.

Affirm and Baker will go through the sewers, taking separate routes of course, while Cast is to arrive near, but not at, the entrances. Obviously this means the plan will have to take place in the dead of night. Once inside, your team will head to the HQ, while Baker heads for the drydock where Abigail will try and figure out what's what. Once you capture what useful things - documents, materiel, or people - you can manage, Affirm and Baker will proceed to take out the guards to let in Cast, take the barracks and the armory, and hold out for the British to send in reinforcements should it be necessary - you're expecting Marines, though the chances of a proper troopship arriving in a timely manner are even lower than the Rodney doing so. Any other Royal Navy ships in the area will also remain on station once they arrive, to prevent any ships from escaping. Should it not be necessary, well, the captain of the Rodney says he'll send them anyway to expediate their arrival, and because if the base is successfully captured, it will be given to the Submarine Service.

If, however, any of the three teams were compromised, at too great a risk of compromise, before Cast can be let inside, Affirm and Baker would then instead plant explosives at the powerplant and the fuel silos before leaving. Should reinforcements not arrive in time...

[ ] The bombs would be planted all the same, with Cast assisting, and you would escape via...
- [ ] The sewers
- [ ] The underwater entrance
- [ ] The main entrance
- [ ] The top of the island
[ ] All three teams would retreat via (option) and the British Navy would bombard the base's entrance until it is blocked
- [ ] The sewers
- [ ] The underwater entrance
- [ ] The main entrance
- [ ] The top of the island


Ethel shakes her head. "I still don't like it, but..."

She meets your eyes.

[ ] It's our best option.
[ ] It's all we had time to come up with.
[ ] Other

Gonna need two rolls, one for the weather, and one for how much firepower the Royal Navy is able to bring.
 
The captain of the HMS Rodney is also on call, but he doesn't seem like he expects his own ship to arrive in time.
Good to know.
Affirm and Baker will go through the sewers, taking separate routes of course, while Cast is to arrive near, but not at, the entrances. Obviously this means the plan will have to take place in the dead of night. Once inside, your team will head to the HQ, while Baker heads for the drydock where Abigail will try and figure out what's what. Once you capture what useful things - documents, materiel, or people - you can manage, Affirm and Baker will proceed to take out the guards to let in Cast, take the barracks and the armory, and hold out for the British to send in reinforcements should it be necessary - you're expecting Marines, though the chances of a proper troopship arriving in a timely manner are even lower than the Rodney doing so. Any other Royal Navy ships in the area will also remain on station once they arrive, to prevent any ships from escaping. Should it not be necessary, well, the captain of the Rodney says he'll send them anyway to expediate their arrival, and because if the base is successfully captured, it will be given to the Submarine Service.
Place your bets, at what point will our plan not survive the contact with the enemy.

[X] The bombs would be planted all the same, with Cast assisting, and you would escape via...
- [X] The top of the island

[X] It's our best option.


If it goes tits up, we should try to escape from the top of the island. Aside from the protected entrances they don't have lot of defenses there, especially from attack from behind, Cast is there ready to support us and I don't want to be below the base when it blows.

Edit.
Well, damn.
Icipall threw 1 20-faced dice. Reason: Weather Total: 2
2 2
 
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[X] The bombs would be planted all the same, with Cast assisting, and you would escape via...
- [X] The top of the island

[X] It's our best option.
 
[X] The bombs would be planted all the same, with Cast assisting, and you would escape via...
- [X] The top of the island


[x] It's all we had time to come up with.
 
[X] The bombs would be planted all the same, with Cast assisting, and you would escape via...
- [X] The underwater entrance


Come on, you leave secret bases from the underwater entrance, that's just how it's done. (Also you dive into the water at the last second to dodge the horrendous tide of bullets chasing you)

[X] It's our best option.


edit: LOL
Spectrum threw 1 20-faced dice. Reason: Second roll Total: 2
2 2
 
You know, it's a good thing you're getting these terrible rolls out of your systems now and not in combat.
 
This must be the work of the Wil Wheaton -curse.
 
[X] The bombs would be planted all the same, with Cast assisting, and you would escape via...
- [X] The underwater entrance


[x] It's all we had time to come up with.
 
[X] The bombs would be planted all the same, with Cast assisting, and you would escape via...
- [X] The top of the island

[X] It's all we had time to come up with.
Brainarius threw 2 20-faced dice. Reason: Weather Total: 29
11 11 18 18
Brainarius threw 1 20-faced dice. Reason: Naval Fire support Total: 2
2 2
 
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[X] The bombs would be planted all the same, with Cast assisting, and you would escape via...
- [X] The top of the island
[X] All three teams would retreat via (option) and the British Navy would bombard the base's entrance until it is blocked
- [X] The main entrance
You need to pick one option for what happens if we're compromised. And rolls have already been done.
 
Voting is open
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