Above: "Storm grenadiers attack!"
Uncredited photograph first published in the Dunhold Guardian and later widely recirculated in postcard form.
Uncredited photograph first published in the Dunhold Guardian and later widely recirculated in postcard form.
Allied high command learned that the enemy had built a forward aerodrome near the village of Beteneb. Although small and only able to accommodate a single aircraft, it was in a strategically sensitive area and presented a serious threat to the defence of Dunhold. Additionally, it was known that the codebook from the surveillance dirigible Khazad, shot down a week before by ground fire, had not been destroyed when the airship crashed in flames; it was being held at the airstrip along with other items salvaged from the wreckage. The enemy had not yet realised the value of the codebook and it was imperative it be recovered before its worth was recognised.
A small squad of assault troops was airlifted by stealth dirigible (artist's impression below) to the area and, having slipped through the cordon of enemy outposts around the airfield, launched their attack. The airfield was lightly guarded but once the attack began goblin reinforcements began to pour in from the outlying outposts in all directions.
Daring Raid at Beteneb
The enemy airfield at Beteneb was the scene of an audacious assault this AM by a squad from the SRDG (Short Range Dirigible Group). The early morning attack, aimed at retrieving a code book from the recently downed surveillance airship Khazad, was led by Sgt. Ingmarrson and consisted of himself, two grenadiers and three SRDG troopers. Acting on information received, the squad attacked the central redoubt where an Airfield Defence Squad led by Lt. Zolpe lay in wait.
The initial advance by the dwarves along the perimeter wall was halted when a goblin sentry opened fire downing Grenadier Nali. Simultaneously, Lt. Zolpe set off the Intruder Alert Siren. Undeterred by this, Sgt. Ingmarrson urged his squad forward into grenade range and a well thrown projectile by Grenadier Kili landed directly in the centre of the goblin defenders. The resultant explosion took two of the defenders out and knocked down the remainder.
While this was happening Snr. Cpl. Blakh and two other goblins appeared in response to the ululating howl of the siren. The dwarves advanced to the walls of the redoubt and a brisk firefight ensued resulting in the demise of another two goblins. Further defensive reinforcements appeared and Cpl. Blakh moved them forward into rifle range of the dwarves besieging the redoubt and opened fire.
This had an immediate effect as Trooper Thorgrim was hit and mortally wounded. Seeing this and realising the situation was becoming very critical (a second group of goblin reinforcements were seen to be advancing through the trees towards the redoubt) Ingmarrson led his remaining three dwarves in a charge into the redoubt.
The one remaining defender was killed and Lt. Zolpe knocked to the ground but as Trooper Drufik seized the code book Zolpe raised himself on his elbow and emptied his magazine into the unfortunate dwarf. Sgt. Ingmarrson and his two comrades fired back at Zolpe, killing him outright. Despite a severe check to their morale, the squad being down to half strength, Ingmarrson quickly secured the code book and mounted the fire step to review the situation.
From this viewpoint he was able to see a squad of goblins advancing on him more or less led by Cpl. Blakh while to his left further goblin reinforcements were starting to appear at the edge of the woods and to his right a third group were making their way towards the redoubt. As an importunate goblin advanced well in advance of his fellows and came within close range of the redoubt the combined fire of the three remaining dwarves hit him; the sight of the mangled corpse caused Cpl. Blakh's group to suffer a crisis of confidence which halted their progress temporarily and gave Ingmarrson a chance to extricate his remaining squad members and the code book. Despite the slow progress of the waddling dwarves and the hail of incoming fire from the goblin reinforcements Ingmarrson and the squad were able to escape into the woods and reach the clearing from which they were evacuated by air without further loss.
Postscript -
Ingmarrson's bold attack to retrieve the code book was successful, and he was gazetted Staff Sergeant earlier this evening. However sources close to HQ are hinting at disquiet over the kill ratios in recent dwarf - goblin skirmishes. Whereas previously a dwarf unit would expect to be downing five or six goblins for every casualty the latest assessments are hovering at between two and three. In the airfield attack the goblins had eight casualties but the dwarves lost three highly trained soldiers. In addition Ingmarrson was unable to destroy the control tower or grounded shuttle.
Unconfirmed rumours from the Goblin forces are of a complete tactical rethink in small unit actions. Whereas previously a group of goblins sighting an enemy would simply run screaming at them until they were shot down or came into hand-to-hand combat with them, the present emphasis is to move at the speed of the slowest goblin under command of an officer or NCO, arrive as a group and engage from long range with their assault rifles. This tactical innovation seems to have originated with Under-Brigade Leader Zhukoff who was able to force this through despite opposition from Goblin traditionalists. Other dark rumours of Goblin 'fighting machines' under a Lt. Col. Boney-Fulla have also been circulating but no confirmation of this has been received.
Dunhold pages:
Introduction:
http://www.spodilicious.com/dunhold.html
A detachment of the dwarf 33rd Infantry Regiment clashes with a goblin patrol:
http://www.spodilicious.com/dunhold-i---the-raid.html
Dwarves & goblins vie to recover an important piece of technology:
http://www.spodilicious.com/dunhold-ii---the-guffinsson-device.html
Halfling snipers of the 3rd Bywater Sharpshooters encounter a goblin patrol:
http://www.spodilicious.com/dunhold-iii---a-walk-in-the-country.html
The 3rd Bywater Sharpshooters escort a picked sniper to assassinate an enemy staff officer:
http://www.spodilicious.com/dunhold-iv---assassins-greed.html
A desperate defence of an outpost:
http://www.spodilicious.com/dunhold-v---assault-on-precinct-xiii.html
The 3rd Bywater Sharpshooters search for a downed dwarf aeronaut:
http://www.spodilicious.com/dunhold-vi---hostage--rescue.html
A dwarf engineer has to examine an abandoned enemy wonder-weapon:
http://www.spodilicious.com/dunhold-vii---the-gun.html
The goblins deploy armoured vehicles, much to their enemies' dismay:
http://www.spodilicious.com/dunhold-viii---tank-shock.html
A dwarf squad attacks an enemy aerodrome:
http://www.spodilicious.com/dunhold-ix---raid-on-beteneb.html
The enemy make a determined attack on the defences around Dunhold:
http://www.spodilicious.com/dunhold-x---firebase-ragnhild.html
An elite sniper makes his kill and must escape his target's guards.
http://www.spodilicious.com/dunhold-xi---hit-and-run.html
A daring raid by the dwarves on enemy supply lines.
http://www.spodilicious.com/dunhold-xii---just-in-time-logistics.html
The enemy employ a new strategy, attempting to infiltrate raiders through porous areas of the front:
http://www.spodilicious.com/dunhold-xiii---infiltration.html
Halfling deserters are hunted down by their comrades:
http://www.spodilicious.com/dunhold-xiv---applewhite--nettles.html
The enemy deploy new and fearsome infantry recruited from the ethnic minorities of Dunholm:
http://www.spodilicious.com/dunhold-xv---theyve-got-a-cave-troll.html
