It is October 12th, 1944.

Today marks the beginning of the 27th day of the Battle of Peleliu. The original plans called for the island to be secured in four days.
Every day, the marines and army infantry advance. But some days, it's merely a few dozen yards, every step countered by Japanese.

Right now, you're in a tent close to the original landing site, receiving the orders for the day.

"Puller's boys are still stuck in there on Bloody Nose Ridge, taking heavy casualties. The Japs are grinding them down and we gotta help them. Can't bomb the shit out of them or we'll hit them. So it's another assault."

Major Willard points at the map stuck to the tent "wall".
"Able and Charlie Company will attack here and here. You'll have support from artillery and infantry. Your attack, however, is the diversion. Baker company," - your raise your head as your outfit is mentioned - "will circle around here and take down the fortifications here, here, and here. Once those are down, we'll be able to launch another assault that should enable us to pull the 1st out of the line of fire."

Willard was never known for his motiviatonal speeches, but rarely has he been that bleak about the prospects of a mission. *Should* enable?
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:44, Sun 21 June 2020.

Ralph worryingly looked at the map. The battle had been hell so far with just about everyone being pressed into service as infantrymen. At least here Baker Company would have a chance to blow some stuff up.

As it was Baker Company's diversionary attack was just going to be as bloody as Able's and Charlie's main attack. Taking a sip from his canteen he wet his parched lips and double checked his M1928A1 Thompson sub machine gun before leaving the tent to join what was left of his squad.

Upon reaching his squad (just 6 other Marines) he briefs them real quick, after taking out and unfolding Sgt Kezar's map. The map was permanently stained by the blood of its former owner Sgt. Kezar, who was killed a few days ago, and Ralph still though of it as Kezar's map

"Gather around guys.." Ralph pointed to the areas of the map "...the Japs got themselves some fortifications here, here and here. Our platoon is taking out this one on the far right. What's left of the other squads will lay down a base of fire as we move in to set our explosives."

OOC: Only using the term 'Japs' as it is in character for the time period.

Jenkins, he youngest of the bunch nervously played with his dog tags.
"This is all bullshit, Corporal. The fucking Japs are chewing us up. We should just move out and carpet-bomb the whole place!"

"Shut up, Jenkins." Gallagher was, as usual, straght and to the point.

Spinetti chimed in, too. "You can't occupy an island with bombs, Jenkins." Spinetti would always back up Gallagher.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:52, Tue 23 June 2020.

Ralph sets it straight why they wouldn't be bombing the Japs.

"Listen guys, the Japs are too close to 1st Marines. We bomb the Japs and we bomb 1st Marines too."

18:26, Today: Ralph Jenden rolled 4 using 1d6, rerolling ones with rolls of 4.  Persuasion .
This was the wild die

18:29, Today: Ralph Jenden rolled 4 using 1d4, rerolling ones with rolls of 4.  Persuasion.
This was the skill die

That is met with a few mumbled agreements.
Jenkins raises a hand and opens his mouth as if to say something, but Brown - the only black member of your unit - gently slaps him on the back of the head, flipping his hat off.

You're able to settle the minor scuffle quickly enough. There's just under an hour until the attack is supposed to start.

Brown, currently on loan from the all African American 7th Ammunition Company was fitting in well. Ralph thought it was a shame that after this was all over Brown was going to have go back to his parent unit.

After the scuffle and in preparation for the assault Ralph did the best he could to get more water for his squads empty or nearly empty canteens.

After that he tells everyone to sit or lie down to conserve their strength.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:32, Tue 23 June 2020.

An hour passed within a minute. Then another which lasted a day. Finally, it was Go time. Baker Company scrambled through the brush, taking the long circle route around the ridge.

A month ago, Baker company had consisted of 93 men, led by Captain Skinner. But a week ago, Skinner had bled out in the field hospital after a Japanese sniper hit the artery in his upper leg. It had just taken too damn long to take him there. He had been the 38th casualty. Now, Lieutenant Kraszinsky led the company, still wet behind his Polish ears. The company was lucky to have First Sergeant Barnes, a 40-something-year old veteran of World War I. He still told stories of his time in France.

Now you all tried to simultaneously watch for mines, snipers, snakes and other nasty surprises. Hell, if a samurai came charging at you with a drawn sword you'd probably wouldn't even have blinked.

This fucking island.


The company reached the staging point. Kraszinsky at the helm, Barnes next to him. Everybody looked at their watch. Then everybody checked their guns for the 100th time today. Kraszinsky turned towards the rest of the company and shot a brief glance at Barnes, who gave him a sligh, encouraging nod.
"Alright, men", the Lieutenant started. "Just a few more minutes to the artillery barage. Once it starts, I'll count to 100. We're just under that bunker. On my signal, first platoon goes up and takes it out. Second platoon follows me, and we hit the second bunker.  All clear?"

He nodded and waited for the response from the men. "Jenden - make sure the charges are primed. Once the satchels go in they must go off in an instant. Can't give them time to throw them out again. Then move in and occupy with your squad, if the Japs retake that bunker, they'll cut off our line of retreat from the third target."

Ralph hung his issued satchel charge over his neck so it hung in front of his chest, made sure the rest of his squad was squared away, and got ready to move out.

The artillery was right on time, like clockwork. Jenkins was the only one who flinched when the noise started, everybody else had long gotten used to the noise.
The Lieutenant had his eyes closed in concentration, quietly moving his lips as he counted. An avalanche of pebbles came down the hill, raining down on you from an uncomfortably close hit and Kraszinsky shakes his head, seemingly confused, then grinds his teeth.

The distraction had made him lose count. He muttered something under his breath and slapped the lead man behind him on the shoulder, yelling "GO!" over the cacophony.

(Give me an Athletics roll for you and a group roll for your 6 folks. They all got d6 Athletics, so that's d6 and d6. I generally assume the second d6 to be the wild die, so you can roll them together.) Failure means you get some bumps and bruises, snake eyes are... not good.

When the LT's order to move out is made Ralph makes sure he's the first one up and out from the squads position of cover.

"FOLLOW ME!!!"

Ralph ran towards the objective without much trouble. Looking back he sees that one of the men, Jenkins has fallen. Whether he was shot or had tripped Ralph couldn't tell, but he couldn't go back for the man, the rest of the squad was still up and moving.

Ralph avoided going into the freshly made craters, and any un-exploded artillery shells sticking out of the ground.

Everything narrowed down into a tunnel. Left, right, no longer existed, there was just a slippery slope up ahead. Behind any of the rocks a japanese soldier could jump up and shoot, throw a grenade or charge down in a mad BANZAAAIIIII rush, skewering Ralph or his fellow marines on their bayonets.

Somewhere below, Jenkins howled in pain. Had he tripped on a mine? Broken something? Impossible to tell, impossible to stop and look.

Onward, forward, was the only way.

An eternity later, their lungs burning the small group reached the top of the hill, the concrete bunker set into the walls. There was the enemy, and their backs were turned.

(You get one free action, then draw for initiave. Roll for you and a group roll for your squad.

Next round:
Japanese Infantry: QC

)

Upon seeing the Japs with their backs turned, Ralph readies one of his grenades, pulling the pin and getting ready to toss it.

18:48, Today: Ralph Jenden rolled 5,3 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,3.  cook grenade.
Success? (enemy can't throw grenade back)

18:45, Today: Ralph Jenden drew the single card: 7S using the Deadlands system.  squad init.
Ralph's Squad: 7S

18:45, Today: Ralph Jenden drew the single card: 10D using the Deadlands system.  Ralph init.
Ralph init: 10D

Init Order
Japanese Infantry: QC (how many are there?)
Ralph: 10D
Ralph's Squad: 7S

There are six japanese soldiers, including their NCO in the bunker, all with their backs to the Americans. One machine gunner keeps firing at an unseen target, a second crouching next to him looking for binoculars.

The NCO yells commands at the other three who fire their rifles in single shots at distinct targets.

Then the NCO turns around and sees Ralph, grenade at the ready. He raises his own rifle and charges forward, trying to push the marine off the ledge, but Ralph manages to deflect the blow.

The three soldiers crouch and take aim, waiting for more marines to pop into view...


((19:04, Today: Warmaster, for the NPC Japanese NCO, rolled 4 using 1d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 2.  Wild Attack

So, Ralph is lucky, but now has a Japanese NCO adjacent to him who will get a free attack when he moves away
The others take the aim maneuver. The machine gunners keep machine gunnering.

19:07, Today: Warmaster, for the NPC Japanese Infantry, drew the single card: 7D using the Deadlands system.  Japanese Infantry initiative))

With a live grenade in his hand that's primed to go off Ralph decides to toss/roll it at the group of Japanese soldiers to try and kill as many of them as possible.

10:42, Today: Ralph Jenden rolled 2,1 using 1d6,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,1.  Athletics (toss/roll cooked grenade).
Got a two

Spending a benny

14:08, Today: Ralph Jenden rolled 4,2 using 1d6,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,2.  Athletics (toss/roll cooked grenade) benny re-roll.
4 Success?

14:10, Today: Ralph Jenden rolled 11 using 3d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,5,4.  grenade dmg.
11 dmg LBT

The detonation pushed shredded the troops in the bunker and threw the Japanese NCO towarsds Jenden, both of them tumbling down the hill, as the rest of the squad rushed forward, securing the bunker.

Jenden and the NCO came to rest at the foot of the hill, in a rather awkward position - head down, legs showing upwards, the NCO lying on top of Jenden like a heavy blanket.

The marine cursed his bad luck, but at least the bunker was secure. That Jap seemed to get heavier by the second and he tried wiggling out under him.
Jenden pushed his arm under the dead man's chin, liftign up the head... and froze.

They eyes of the dead japanese solder were solid black, but there was a glimmer of life in them. He saw the jaw slowly broaden, the teeth growing, the lower and upper canines elongating. The shoulders and arms seemed to swell up and the skin took on a grey-greenish tint.

Spirit roll against fear!

Whatever was wrong with this Jap’s eyes worried Ralph, it wasn’t normal. The Marine attempts to push the black eyed opponent off of him.

19:45, Today: Ralph Jenden rolled 4,3 using 1d6,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,3.  Athletics
Four
This message was last edited by the player at 02:53, Thu 09 July 2020.

5:00, Today: Warmaster, for the NPC Japanese NCO, rolled 5 using 1d8, rerolling max ((5))

The... thing's finger elongated into claws, digging into Ralph's shoulders. Spittle mixed with blood dropped down on the marine's face from the creature's teeth.

"What the..." There was Jenkins, pale-faced, crawling toward Jenden. The young marine brought up his M1 and squeezed off two quick rounds that slammed into the creature's side.

In one quick lap it was upon the young marine, grabbing the rifle and tearing it from his grip, pinning him down under its weight.

As soon as the black eyed Jap was off of him and attacking Jenkins, Ralph gets up, and looks for any threats before moving to help Jenkins.

16:36, Today: Ralph Jenden rolled 3,4 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,4.  notice check for more threats.
FOUR

((Nothing else jumps at you. It's just you, Jenkins and the creature.))

Not wanting to accidentally shoot Jenkins, Ralph draws his K-Bar and proceeds to stab whatever it is that’s attacking Jenkins in the back.


19:35, Today: Ralph Jenden rolled 5,1 using 1d6,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,1.  Stab thing in back.
FOUR to hit


19:37, Today: Ralph Jenden rolled 5,3 using 1d6,1d4+1, rerolling max with rolls of 5,2.  Dmg w/KBAR.
SEVEN dmg

The blade sunk in deep between the thing's shoulder blades, and it screamed and twisted in rage and pain. With one arm, it slaps Ralph across the chest and it feels as if a brick wall hit him.
The marine flew back a few feet until his back hit a rock, driving the air from his lungs. The blade still stuck in the creature's back.
Dazed, Ralph could see Jenkins, pinned down under the beast. The claws had dug in deeply into the man's shoulder and neck and the uniform was soaked with blood. With his left hand, Jenkins pulled a grenade from his belt and pulled the pin.

Ralph tried to speak, to get up, but there was no strenght left in him.
The black-eyed-former-jap seemed to literally unhinge its jaw, and turned its attention back to Jenkins - who thrust the hand wth the grenade deep into the creatures' mouth.
The jaws shut closed, snapping Jenkins' arm right off and more blood was spraying from the young marine.

And then the grenade exploded, spluttering the side of the mountain top, including Ralph with blood, guts and gore.

Ralph wiped the blood and gore from his face to see if there was anything left of the creature or Jenkins.

The thing is pretty much just a pile of goo and bone splitters.

Jenkins has taken some of the blast, too, and the blood loss from his other wounds have done the rest. Your fellow marine is dead.