Aircraft Carriers of the Apocalypse - Part 3

Part Three- Aircraft Carrier of the Apocalypse - Year 100

100 years have passed since the apocalypse - or end on times as it is called now.

The Fleet is now much reduced in circumstances but is the only tribe that can still trace a history back to the apocalypse. The Admiral is now a hereditary position but no one questions this. The carrier still keeps them safe in times of war, mutant hordes and zombie outbreaks.

The people of the Fleet are proud that they still understand the technology of the golden years and their solar arrays keep the corridors, hangers and rooms of the carrier bright. Although the younger ones doubt that there were ever flying machines or that the carrier could move. "How could something this large move?" they ask each other. "It would take ten thousand horses to move it." The old ones disagree and remember when the plane landed on the carriers 40 years ago, sent by a mysterious 2nd Fleet. "It is all true!" they say.

There are no flying vehicles anymore, the last plane to land on the carrier is used as a chicken coop.

But still the marines have firearms, Gatling guns and cannon. They have fast hitting cavalry squadrons and wagons to carry their supplies.

Many of the wastelands peoples envy the luxury of the Fleet and it is often the subject of their attacks.

The flight deck is busy again, but with agriculture. A rickety bridge joins the carrier to the docks. In the past it has been necessary to destroy the bridge to create a moat around the ship.

A dock has been added to the starboard side of the ship. While the control island has been turned into a lookout.

The marine column moves out on a mission to look for supplies and recruits. The dockyard is littered with the burnt out remains of multiple attacks.

The last fighter - now a chicken coop

Solar arrays at each end of the carrier provide power for the lights of the ship. Everything else is done using people or animals.

Aircraft Carriers of the Apocalypse - Part 2

Part Two- Aircraft Carrier of the Apocalypse - Year 50

50 years from the beginning of the Apocalypse things are not going so well. (But don't tell the Admiral that!) The nuclear / alien / mutant / zombies apocalypse has degenerated into a typical post apocalypse scenario of competing warlords, tribes, irradiated areas, mutant hordes, alien complexes, and toxic zones.

In our second aircraft carrier of the apocalypse we see how things are going.

The aircraft carrier has been joined by the rest of what they call "The Fleet". The Fleet is the most powerful force on this part of the continent.

But the resources at the Admiral's command are less than what they once were.

The flight deck is empty expect for three civilian helicopters armed with improvised gun bays. The flight deck is kept clear as they hope other units will join them soon.

All the Ospreys, C47 helicopters and attack helicopters have been lost in various accidents or enemy action.The  three re-purposed civilian choppers make the Fleet the strongest army in reach and are the only known flying craft.

The carriers' fighters are now lined up on the dock, made useless by a lack of parts and maintenance, overgrown like the rest of the dockyard infrastructure.

The marines are a shadow of their former selves. Two generations have past since the apocalypse and equipment is now scavenged from whatever source is available. Still the fuel from the Fleet logistics train keeps them going.

The flight deck is nearly empty, but the marines are still a viable force.

The dockyards are overgrown, the carrier is joined to the docks by a permanent bridge to allow safe storage of the Fleets vehicles.

The arrival of cargo ships with weapons and fuel soon after the apocalypse helped the Fleet. Crew from the submarine and the patrol ship helped form the cadre of a battalion as well as supplying power from their engines. 

Another marine column leaves to raid the desolate lands for food and supplies.

Rusting ship and decaying docks. Victory is just around the corner!

The marine column moves out

A close up of the flight deck.

Aircraft Carriers of the Apocalypse - Part 1

Back in April I wrote of finding an aircraft carrier suitable for 10mm gaming after years of half hearted searching. In June I surprisingly found two more. So for the grand total of $45 I have three aircraft carriers.

I also originally thought I would have to build the waterline up to these models as I thought that they were far too tall. However, spotting a small one in Sydney Harbour I could see that even the small carriers are very high off the water. So, while mine are a little bit too tall they are good enough for me.

So what to do with all these carriers.

As they are all second hand and in different conditions and my intended use of these are for post apocalypse gaming I decided to create - "The three aircraft carriers of the apocalypse."

Part One  - Aircraft Carrier of the Apocalypse Day One

It is the first day of the apocalypse and as far as the Captain of this carrier is concerned, everything is well in hand. Nuclear alien mutant zombies are not going to stop the Navy doing their duty.

Civilians are being saved by daring C47 Helicopter missions

Marine companies are flying off in their Osprey VTOL aircraft.

Fighters are landing and taking off for combat air patrols.

Attack Helicopters are taking off to support the marines.

On land civilians are being marshalled to safety and a heavy Marine column is moving out.

Three Ospreys are ready to take off and deliver their marine company for an urgent mission.

A pair of fighters have just returned. One is headed below decks for re-fuel and rearm. Two others are waiting for the Ospreys to take off before they can take off them selves.

An overview of the flight deck. At the rear C47's have landed with their cargo of civilians. I hope none have been bitten!
Attack helicopters are waiting for some space and then they will take off.

On the docks civilians crowd around the edges seeking the safety of the carrier. They have come by car and bus. Trucks are delivering cargo for the carrier and a marine column heads out led by jeeps and light armoured vehicles.

So far the apocalypse seems to be under control.The flight deck is crowded but nothing out of the ordinary.

Hopefully this one will be seen in the future beating off a Martian Landing . Elon Musk doesn't know it yet but Mars might already be occupied!

Part two and three to follow.

40k Dangerous Terrain - Flora

The home world of the Bogan Tribe is called Terror Australis. A world of only one small continent, and bypassed by most colonising expeditions for two reasons. Only the coastal section of the continent is able to be settled by any civilised people and the interior contains many terrifying natural dangers and the crazed remnants of old settlements.


Recently an Ork Roc crashed landed in the middle of the continent but its Ork forces were quickly killed by the flora and fauna of Terror Australis. Only some Grots managed to make it to the eastern coastal cities and towns where they took over. But that is a story for another time.


This post covers the dangerous Flora of Terror Australis.

Banksia Man eating Tree

The Banksia Man eating tree is the worst of the flora on Terror Australis. Its vines can go out and grab its victims and drag them to its waiting mouths to be devoured and turned into fertiliser.

Here the Space Rangers are too late to save one of their brethren from another chapter who moved too close to a waiting Banksia Tree. The Space Rangers  cant get too close as other Banksia trees are to the left and right. The Banksia trees often grow in circular groves where any unfortunate victim can be trapped and passed around from tree to tree.

The Summer Snap Dragon

This is slightly less dangerous than the Banksia tree. With less reach its victims have to be especially unwary. It often grows near Drop Bear ranges and relies on near misses from Drop Bears to send victims running in a panic close to the Snap Dragons so it can grab them.

Like the Banksia tree it crunches on its victims to make a good fertiliser so it can grow. Its victims bones lay around it.

Here the Space Rangers get the measure of this foe.

Un-exploded Ordinance

While not strictly a Floral pest, the bush of Terror Australis hides the remains of thousands of un-exploded bombs, missiles and artillery shells of the millions that have been fired into it with the aim of pacifying the environment. Despite all these bombs, the flora and fauna of the land is still as viscous as ever.

Some say the effect of all these bombs and various chemical attacks have made the situation worse.

Anyway, anyone foolish enough to explore the bush of Terror Australis need to keep a wary eye out for any un-exploded hardware.

Here the Space Rangers check out a missile barrage that did not make its target.

40K Dangerous Terrain - Fauna

The home world of the Bogan Tribe is called Terror Australis. A world of only one small continent, and bypassed by most colonising expeditions for two reasons. Only the coastal section of the continent is able to be settled by any civilised people and the interior contains many terrifying natural dangers and the crazed remnants of old settlements.

Recently an Ork Roc crashed landed in the middle of the continent but its Ork forces were quickly killed by the flora and fauna of Terror Australis. Only some Grots managed to make it to the eastern coastal cities and towns where they took over. But that is a story for another time.

This post covers the dangerous fauna of Terror Australis.

Two headed giant jumping rats.

One of the more feared of the fauna as they are likely to hunt you down and stomp you. They look cute in the distance but when they have just stomped you and both heads are ravenously devouring your body you soon change your mind.

Here some Space Rangers face down these creatures

Jack and Jill a roos and their sheep

Descended from the remnants of ancient stations these tribes drove their sheep from pasture to pasture. They think that anyone near their sheep is a thief and must be killed immediately. Very much of the shoot first ask questions later after checking the bodies for valuables.

They ride rusty old tractors which have a surprising turn of speed and agility in all terrain. They are  able to prosper in this dangerous land and are useful as scouts and guides if you can offer them enough sheep.

Their sheep are crazed by the harsh environment and will crush any threat by swarming and stomping it. Here are a few photos of the Space Rangers in a woolly situation.

Drop Bears

One of the most scary of all the terrors of the bush of Terror Australis. Lurking high in the trees they launch themselves down on unsuspecting passersby, knocking their victims out and then eating them while they are still fresh.

Their trees are surrounded by the bones of their unfortunate victims.

Here the Space Rangers wisely give these Drop Bears a wide berth and move warily past them. On the ground a Drop Bear is not too dangerous but if you see one, there are bound to be plenty more in the trees around.

Crocodiles

One of the terrors that would be recognised on other worlds, these crocodiles differ only in their more aggressive behaviour and the ability to hunt in packs.

Here the Space Rangers form a firing line to blast the crocodiles - hopefully they have not let them get too close as the crocodiles are as fast on land as in the water.

The next instalment will cover some of the more dangerous flora.

Episode Six - Mad Mary and her Mechanical Minions

Captain James T Cook and the HMSS Endeavour - VSF 1770

“Space the new frontier.  These are the voyages of the Her Majesty’s Star Ship Endeavour.  Its five year mission: to explore strange new worlds; to seek out new life and new civilisations; to boldly go where no Englishman has gone before.”- Captain James T Cook

Captain’s Log: 15 June 1895 – Europa - moon of Jupiter!

After leaving Mars Cook received new orders from the Admiralty by aethergram "The daughter of Lord Backstabber has been reported missing. You are to look for her on the moons of Jupiter. We believe she is on Europa setting up some sort of weird suffragette community against her fathers wishes. Nonetheless, her father has lost contact with her and is yelling at the PM to find her. So act promptly."

"What do you think Captain" said my trusty man Cheerful Rodgers.

"Well, the Lord Backstabber is famous for being a complete idiot and I certainly would get as far as away as possible if I was related to him. Nonetheless, we have our orders. Ship Commander Robert Molyneux, please set course for Europa, moon of Jupiter."

Just as they reach Europa a further signal was received from the Admiralty. "We have received information that the Prussians will be looking for her as well. Apparently she has made some mad mechanical minions using some Martian Technology that the Prussians want for soldiers. You must find her first and secure any valuable mechanical items. We know it is unlikely that a woman can invent anything but she is British so you never know. Watch out for the Prussians!"

After searching Europa for a while the Endeavour found the settlement, unfortunately there was also a Prussian ship landing at the same time. It was Kapitan Jacob T Koch of the KISS Bemühen.

The landing ship of the Endeavour has landed closer to the settlement but the Prussians are already on their way.

The opening situation. Mad Mary's settlement to the bottom left, Prussians from the bottom right and our British hero's at the top left. Across the board, infestations of mushroom forests and giant carnivorous lady beetles. 

The Prussian column

The Endeavour's landing team. 

Lady Mary's Settlement. Well organised with power supplied by wind generators. Her Factories and staff have been busy and she has already produced a number of her mechanical servants. Some she has armed to keep the beetles away but her main project is her butlers. 

The Prussian column comes under attack from some beetles from the nearby Mushroom forests.

The Endeavour's crew moves out but the beetles also come out to attack them.

Prussians lose some men but kill the beetles

Cook's men also blast the beetles and lose some men

The Prussian column comes under further attack! Beetles to the left, beetles to the right.

Cook sends the Marines into the mushroom forest to clean out the beetles while he and the crew march forward through the gap destroying beetles as they go. When the marines get through they will be able to protect his flank from the Prussians.

Lady Mary moves her mechanical soldiers towards the gun fire she hears in the distance.

The Prussian column is under heavy attack but destroys all but one beetle for the loss of two men.

The British marines have cleared the mushroom forest for the loss of two men while the crew have forced through the gap for the loss of two men. A further marine squad comes up in support.

An over view of the battlefield. Cook is closer but Koch is not far away and has more men.

Cook meets Mary while holding off the beetles. No beetles dare attack Mary and her mechanical soldiers.

Koch and his Prussians suffer a further attack and lose two more men, slowing their advance.

Eventually the Prussians make it through and Mary addresses both companies.

Mary made it quite clear that she had no interest in helping either of them. "You and your commanders are all fools. There is no money in mechanical soldiers! I am going to give every housewife her own mechanical butler, mechanical maid and gardener. Women will finally be free of tedious house work!"

But said Koch "we will pay you plenty for your mechanical soldiers, and then the husbands can stay home and help with the house work."

Cook looked concerned and said "Well the husbands can stay home, I am not sure about house work!" His men nodded in agreement, as did some of the Prussian soldiers.

Mary just sighed and said "Go away. Tell my father that he is an idiot. A revolution is coming!"

Just before Cook and Koch wandered back to their respective space ships with their crews they held a short discussion. "We could try and take them by force but those mechanical men looked nasty! And of course it is rude to attack a woman." "I think we should just say we found her and she was safe but there was nothing else here, the mechanical men are clumsy and only do women's work." "Good idea!".

Both Captains made similar reports, and as Victoria and Wilhelm both agreed, Mary was left alone.

Cook on the Endeavour woke to the usual shouts from Cheerful Rodgers, "Orders from the Admiralty. A base has been over run by alien monsters and we have to go and save them!"

"Oh great" thought Cook, "another adventure".