It's 1966, and Blair's Badgers have been hired again. This time, the US CIA has
asked the Badgers to recover a satellite payload that went down in Antartica.
Unfortunately, the Soviets want the same payload. Besides the internation intrigue
and some of the most challenging weather on Earth, the last recon over the general
area of impact showed evidence of cyclopean structures of unknown origin. It
probably means nothing. Played using the FGU Merc rules.
1966, Antarctic, Ross Ice Shelf
Just a little bit about the gaming system. MERC, Shadow Wars, was released by
Fantasy Games Unlimited (FGU) in 1979. This was at the height of the Cold War,
and mercenaries were an everyday part of life in some parts of the world including
Africa and Central and South America. Both legitimate governments and non-state
actors hired various mercenary companies, and the lifestyle was a bit glamorized.
There were full time, glossy publications like "Soldiers of Fortune" that acted as
clearinghouses for advertising and hiring paid paramilitary troops.
The system only uses D6s. We will spend a couple of minutes discussing the system
at the beginning of the session.
There are three tests: stress, dexterity, and command and control (C2). C2 is rolled
by the team leader when the team is first confronted with a challenging situation.
For example, there would be no need for a C2 roll for a routine patrol, but, when the
team comes under fire, the team leader would make the roll. Stress is the reaction of
the player characters (or NPCs) when they are personally confronted with specific
circumstances. For example, if the team lead *failed* the C2 roll, the rest of the team
members would be obliged to make stress tests. Finally, a dexterity test is used to
determine whether the character is able to successfully navigate a life and death
scenario, such as running through a minefield or Indiana Jones attempting to outrun
that boulder in Raiders.
Skill checks are more common, and these cover things like:
Detection Evasion Pathfinder Stealth Intercept Messages Decipher
Concealment Set/Disarm Explosives Set/Disarm Non-Explos
Hand-to-Hand Small Arms Grenade Archery Equestrian Hotwire Vehicle.
That is enough to get you going.
If you have a favorite set of D6s of different colors then please feel free to bring
them. (If you don't have any, I will provide.)
Orientation:
Your mission takes place in Antarctica.
See Map 1 (below).
It is the least populous, harshest, most unforgiving climate on the Earth.
There are no native, indigenous people living in the polar zone. The nations shown on Map 1 have a sporadic, scientific presence.
By tradition, no country claims Antarctica.
There are some species of penguins that live on and around the Ross Ice shelf, the location for Ice Station Zebu. See Maps 2 and 3
(below).
Situation: Approximately three weeks ago a clandestine services satellite failed in its orbit and made an unscheduled reentry into
the atmosphere. The original splashdown point was situated off the Eastern US seaboard, but the malfunctioning satellite burned
down into Antarctica.
The satellite contains high fidelity film of both US and Soviet military and industrial facilities. For two weeks, the satellite’s radio
transponder transmitted a ping every 10 minutes. After ten days, the signal became significantly weaker. That change in signal
strength led us to believe that this was because the satellite was moved as the change was sudden rather than the gradual
decrease that a weakening battery would demonstrate. Then, the pings abruptly stopped. The nature of the failure would indicate
sudden catastrophic failure. The cause of this failure is unknown.
Enemy Forces: intelligence indicates that the Soviets have dispatched a highly trained group of Spetnatz (5-10 PAX) to
recover the satellite. They were aware of the location of the satellite from the pings. They do not appear responsible for the
relocation or failure of the satellite. The satellite contents are as valuable to the Soviets as to the US. We believe that they
dispatched their team approximately ten days ago from a base in the Black Sea. Their current whereabouts are unknown.
Friendly Forces: The clandestine base, Ice Station Zebu, is located on the Nimrod Glacier. An ad hoc team was dispatched as
soon as the reentry was verified. According to communications from the Station, the satellite fell further inland. Weather has
prevented additional reconnaissance. The Station personnel are not equipped or trained to counter a Spetnatz team.
There are no reserve or auxiliary forces.
Mission: Blair’s Badgers will find and recover the film from satellite TR-TK-7691-R (coded Brass Ball). Mission success levels are:
(Optimal) Recover the film, avoid contact with the Soviets; (Nominal) Recover the film, neutralize the Soviets; (Minimal) Ensure the
Soviets do not recover the film.
Execution: Blair’s Badgers will be inserted to the Ross Ice Shelf via the Franklin’s Folly cutter. The team will make its way to Ice
Station Zebu for resupply and to gain additional information on the precise location of the satellite. Blair’s Badgers will proceed
with all due haste to the location of the satellite, recover the film, and return to the insertion point for recovery. The team will
avoid contact with the Soviet team if possible. If contact occurs or is unavoidable, the Blair’s Badgers will ensure that the Soviets
do not recover the film.
Admin and Logistics: The Blair’s Badgers will receive initial equipment issue and supplies from the Franklin’s Folly. Additional
supplies and equipment will be provided by Ice Station Zebu. There is no contingency for medical emergencies or evacuation.
Command and Signal:
Signal: The team will communicate with base and support using Freq 6.812 MHz MYSTIC STAR. Team is designated as Green
Polarbear. HICON is Ice Witch.
Command: The team reports only to HICON.
