Steamship Troopers 1898

A Wargame

Maj. Gen. Wigan

by Malcolm Wright

Player Briefing:

MAJOR GENERAL J.T. WIGAN VC.

You are hardly a friend of the CinC, General Burns-Mulligrew. None the less, the Viceroy having had a less than wise liaison with your dear Mama many years ago, has always watched over your career with an almost Fatherly interest. He has therefore appointed you as 2nd in Command of this expedition.

BUGIWANISTAN is rumored to be a horrible place full of flies, mosquitoes and ghastly natives. Just the place for a Modern Major General to add more laurels to his already distinguished career. It has been a long time since you spotted the defenders of the fort at Alaawanistanabad had broken for lunch and you led your men in that heroic charge onto the ramparts. By taking the fort you also were fortunate to capture the STAR OF ALWAANISTANABAD which you of course pocketed (as would any Victorian Gentleman in similar circumstances) so that it could not be placed back into the single eye socket of the idol, from which you had prised it with your sword. Later you had sent it wrapped in a silk handkerchief for assessment in London and while it was damn bad luck it got mixed up in the post, at least it had ended up in the hands of the Queen, who naturally insisted you be given the VC for storming the fort. While not setting cash jingling in your pockets, it had at least set you on the path of rapid advancement, and the thanks of the Viceroy.

Before departing on this expedition, you have been informed by the Viceroy (Through intermediaries of course as that sort of thing is….) that the Roman ruins in the area have a legend attached. It is said that beneath the stones of the temple lie buried, the gold of the XXVICXYZ Legion. It is reputed they found it somewhere below the Sultan's Head, but were unable to remove it to Rome. Since no other organized expedition has ever been there since, the Viceroy has suggested you should examine the ruins and the head for signs of the legend. Of course this is strictly between him and yourself. That blasted Burns-Mulligrew and his money grabbing wife are not to be let in on the secret.

YOU ARE PERSONALLY COMMANDING THE 8th BRIGADE, which the Viceroy has made sure, contains at least some useful troops. As second in Command of the expedition you should take every opportunity to use your influence to take command of any other troops that might be useful. Of course you are aware of the main objectives.

    (1) LOCATE and RESCUE the students of Miss Polkinghorne's School…especially the senior prefect (Miss Lucinda Lumley) who is the niece of the Viceroy. The rest are less important but some damn Politician chap back in the old Country has a relative in the LOWER FORM, so you had best make sure to get them back too. Of course it would not do to leave White Women behind in such a place so you will need to get the School staff out as well.

    (2) As you ARE going there anyway… KILL the BUGAWAN of BUGAWANISTAN to teach him a damn good lesson. That will stop him seizing any more blasted steamers and interrupting any more school Science excursions.

    (3) Again since you are going to be there anyway…carry out explorations of this mysterious province for the usual useful things…Gold, Silver, Copper, general loot and so forth. There have been many rumors over the years that there was an old Roman site here and that it conceals a treasure that is worthwhile looking for if you are there anyway…even if not worth looking for if you had to especially go there!

    (4) If the local natives cause too much trouble and wont hand over the students peacefully, send a unit of troops to climb the Sultan's pillar. They are to sit on the Sultan's Head until her Majesties demands are satisfied.

8th BRIGADE. J.T.WIGAN. VC etc.

    4th BATTALION WEST YORKSHIRE REGT. 4 companies under Lt. Col. Morris.
    45th RATTAY'S SIKHS. 4 Companies under Colonel Friend.
    2nd SIKH'S. 4 Companies under Colonel Wall.
    1st Battalion, 1st Ghurka Rifles. 4 Companies under Captain Jack. (Seconded from China)
    1 MAXIM section. Directly under the command of WIGAN.

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