VSF - Martian Assault - London Falling

 The Martians had broken through the fortress line on the outskirts of London and have advanced into its centre! The Army scraped together a final force to hold Westminster Cathedral and Westminster Palace. The Department of Dirty Deeds sent their three best (or is that worst) disreputable gentlemen to assist. 

A scratch force of parliamentarians was formed from the younger MPs and went into battle in their top hats. The City formed a company of bankrupted bankers who were itching for revenge on the Martians who had destroyed their portfolios. 

The rest of the infantry force was two companies of regulars and one of irregulars. Artillery was two large fortress guns, supported by some old muzzle loading cannons dragged from the depths of the Navy stores and a few pieces of field artillery and Gatling guns. The Household Guards supplied two squadrons of cavalry. The Navy also supplied a river monitor to guard against any assault over the Thames.

The Martian force was the familiar three large tripods supported by five of the smaller ones but this time with two supporting flying saucers and some ground troops.

London under attack

Westminster Palace

Westminster Cathedral

Department of Dirty Deeds and their bomb barrels

Parliamentarian Company defends the doors of Parliament

The Company of Bankrupt Bankers in their bowler hats

Mars advances

A Dirty Deeds explosion destroys a low flying saucer and a small tripod.

The Household guards charge in! But a disreputable gentleman has lit his barrels! (red marker)
Bottom left the Bankrupt Bankers have been destroyed. Only two remain to run away.

The Disreputable Gentleman's Bomb Barrels explode and two more small tripods are destroyed along with the Household Guards - oops!

The remaining Martian saucer flies over the city picking off the defenders! Safe except for the occasional fire from a Gatling gun.

The Parliamentarians charge out only to be devoured by a large tripod and end up in its blood tank! The large fortress guns have been destroyed. The muzzle loaders bravely continue firing.

Westminster Cathedral falls to the Martians

All is lost! The British defenders killed or routed. The Martian saucer lands.

Martians take over Westminster Palace! Now nothing stands in their way. Britain must fall unless there is a miracle.

Epilogue.

Before the Great Marvin could be crowned King of England in the Cathedral and elected Prime Minister in the Palace, all the Martians finally succumbed to the  germs of Earth. Britain was saved!

The history books would be filled with stories of valour and bravery against insurmountable odds and the defeat of the evil Martian Colonisers.

This is the last part of my Mars vs Britain Campaign. Fun to plan and play. Now I have a proper Victorian London town to fight over. 

VSF - Martian Assault - HMLS Ogre in action

 The HMLS Ogre went from her first shake down cruise straight to the front to stop the Martian advance on Newcastle. The Ogre was accompanied by a fast attack group of cavalry and Battle Balls.

On the rail line going past Pity Me (yes there is such a place) the Ogre met the Martians.

The Martian force consisted of three large tripods and five of the smaller ones.

Contact!

Move to battle

First blood to the Martians with a Battle Ball exploding and Cavalry cut down. One of the secondary guns on the Ogre is destroyed (red marker)

The Ogre pushes on and destroys one of the large Tripods. The Martians finish off the cavalry squadron on the right and destroy another of the secondary guns.

A small Martian Tripod is destroyed by a broadside from the Ogre. The Ogre pushes forward into the Martian battle line to get both broadsides into action. The Martians smash the second cavalry squadron - will they ever learn? 

The Ogre is taking more hits (I track hits against it by removing crew figures from the guns and bridge area) but the Martians are also taking hits as well. They decide to retreat as the centre Tripod has only one hit remaining. The smaller tripods have also taken hits and one is in danger of being run over!

The small Martian Tripod eyeing off the Ogre

The small tripod makes a run for it! The large Tripod is destroyed - the Ogre managed to activate first. Another small tripod is destroyed by Battle Balls and the rest of the Martians run from this monstrosity.

A great first battle for the Ogre! The Martians have been defeated. But the Ogre has taken a fearful amount of damage. Both main guns at the front are badly damaged while the crew of the Bridge has been decimated. 

The telegraph runs hot and the defenders of London are cheered by this victory as the Martians close in on Westminster Cathedral and Westminster Palace.

A great success and no doubt more Ogre Class vehicles will be built. Hopefully it wont end up as a great arms race devastating the Earth. (Apologies to Mr Jackson and co.)