AAR - The Black Wolf Mercenaries and Chinese Federation versus The Honourable Eclipse Company

"In the wake of the disastrous ambush at the Natuna Archipelago at the hands of the Honourable Eclipse Company, the Chinese Federation redeployed several Battle Groups to scour the islands and rid the South China Sea of these tenacious mercenaries. 

To assist them, the naval commanders of the Federation hired mercenaries from the southern oceans - ships of the Black Company whose loyalty was expensive and motivations unknown. Though unused to using mercenaries and privateers, the advanced technologies of the Black Company would aid them in tracking the hidden bases of the Eclipse Company and bombarding them out of existence.

The Grand Coalition were buoyed by the response of the Chinese Federation - violence would guarantee the service of the Eclipse Company where a more prudent, financial bidding war may have resulted being outbid and losing their contract, but worried at the sight of even more mercenaries being drawn into the chaos of the South China Sea theatre.

At Pulau Salor, Battle Group Hsien would encounter an Eclipse Company Brigade Headquarters, and battle would be joined amid the rocks of the small island, the Black Company leading the initial attack..." 

- The Cauldron: War in the South China Sea

Naval Battles of 1873

AAR - The Honourable Eclipse Company and Federated States of America versus The Chinese Federation

"Typhoon season slowed the War in the South China Sea, but it would not last forever, and both sides had not been idle in preparing for the next offensive. The Grand Coalition had been stretched thin at the end of the last year, forced to employ mercenaries against the immense fleets of the Chinese Federation, and following the success at Labuan, they prepared once more to engage the services of the Honourable Eclipse Company. 

In concordance with the Naval Command of the Federated States of America, the Admiralty of the Brtiannian Royal Navy and the Brigade commanders of the Honourable Eclipse Company formed a plan to mislead and trick the Chinese Federation, drawing one of their fleets into a trap the Eclipse Company would spring. 

After weeks of preparation, everything was in place for the Second Element of the Nanyang Fleet to be drawn into the Natuna Archipelago, where secret fortifications lurked beneath the waves ready to emerge and attack the Chinese fleet. A small American Destroyer group would serve as the bait, while the grand airships and bombers of the Eclipse Company would lurk overhead, to descend from the clouds and destroy the enemy. 

The trap was a fine one, but doubts lurked in the minds of the fleet commanders - would the Chinese Federation fall for the ruse? What if they were aware of the trap, and prepared accordingly? These questions would be answered in the coming hours..." 

- The Cauldron: War in the South China Sea

Naval Battles of 1873

AAR - The Honourable Eclipse Company and Indian Raj versus The Chinese Federation

"The Pearl of Borneo, Labuan had operated as a refuelling station and port for many ships in the World War, but largely avoided the fighting. This was to end as a sizeable flotilla of Chinese warships crested the horizon, looking to damage the infrastructure of the Grand Coalition and cut their supply lines. 

Suspecting such a move, the Admiralty of the Britannian Royal Navy had ordered a Battle Group from the Indian Raj to garrison the port, and even allowed the fleet commander a small bursary to supplement his forces with mercenary troops - an investment quickly used to give the garrison aerial defences in form of the Honourable Eclipse Company. 

As the Chinese fleet began their approach, the Indian fleet appeared from behind the derricks and began their bombardment, using their powerful Howitzers to try and dissuade further attack. It did not work, and it seemed that the battle would be decided in closer quarters..."

- The Cauldron: War in the South China Sea

Naval Battles of 1872

Allies and Mercenaries in Dystopian Wars 2.0

KNEE-JERK REACTIONS TO THE NEW RULES FOR ALLIANCE NATIONS AND MERCENARY COMPANIES

The Greenland Campaign - A Retrospective

NINE GREAT GAMES WERE RECORDED ON THIS BLOG OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS - IN THIS POST, WE TAKE A LOOK BACK OVER THE SUCCESSES AND FAILURES OF THE TWO GREAT POWERS AND THEIR MERCENARY ALLIES IN THE GREENLAND CAMPAIGN

AAR - Greenland Campaign Finale

"..following months of skirmishes, blockade runs, raids and ambushes, proxy wars with entire fleets of mercenaries and the resulting betrayals and subterfuge that followed, the Federated States of America made their final assault down the Davis Strait and into the Prussian port of Holsteinsborg. 

Their fleet was heavy with bombs and ordnance for leveling the port, and bolstered with mercenaries from the Honourable Eclipse Company. The way was open; the defence fleet that had sallied forth to deny the 27th Bomb Group were sitting at the bottom of the ocean or had been dragged back to port in pieces... 

...but the Prussian port was not defenceless - the mighty Stiglitz still sat in anchor at Holsteinsborg, attended by an entire flotilla of support craft and escorts. Commander Jürgen Grönemeyer was present with his Sturmbringer-class Submarine and elements of his Wolf Pack, and finally, after weeks of preparation, commander Karl-Ehrhart Grunner reclaimed his flag aboard the Emperor-class Battleship Hetzer. 

Battle would be joined in the shallow waters of the port itself, and the siege broken... one way or another..."

- The Blockade of Greenland

Naval Battles of 1872

Battered and broken, the Sachsen is dragged back into port, pursued by the American fleet

AAR - Prussian Empire versus the Federated States of America and Eclipse Company Mercenaries

"...after weeks of stalemate around the Davis Strait, the Federated States of America made their move and began the attack on Holsteinsborg. The 27^th Bomb Group were to lead a preliminary bombing run that would cripple the outer defences of the port, defences where the Americans had been stalled some months previously at the outset of the conflict. 

With the American fleet already stretched across innumerable theatres and oceans, their numbers were bolstered with mercenaries from the Honourable Eclipse Company. This contract would be their undoing, however, as spies within the Company quickly revealed for any pertinent information on fleet movements, dispositions and weaknesses to their Prussian paymasters. 

As the 27^th Bomb Group made their way under the cover of darkness, a small Prussian fleet was hurriedly assembled and sallied forth - at dawn the two fleets spotted one another and battle was joined...

- The Blockade of Greenland

Naval Battles of 1872

AAR - Prussian Empire versus the Eclipse Company

"The Prussian and Danish salvage fleet returned from Nanortalik in tatters, bringing word of well equipped and well trained mercenaries operating in the interests of the Grand Coalition - not the violent and unpredictable Black Company but a more ostentatious force - the Honourable Eclipse Company. 

Eager to learn the capabilities of this new foe, Prussian fleet commander Karl-Ehrhart Grunner despatched scout ships across the southern coast of Greenland to discover their base of operations. At the same time, he reviewed the intelligence gathered for a raid despatched against the Canadian outpost at St. Anthony - according to his spies, the station was guarded by airships matching descriptions of the Eclipse Company. If the Grand Coalition using these mercenaries to defend their outposts and refuelling stations, were their fleets massing for a grand attack on Greenland? 

Nearly a thousand miles away, the attack was about to begin, and Grunner would soon have his answer..." 

- The Blockade of Greenland

Naval Battles of 1872

Atlas-class Assault Craft pursue a Prussian Scout Airship

Total Eclipse

FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF GAMING WITH THE HONOURABLE ECLIPSE COMPANY

The Eclipse Company have made their entrance to the Dystopian world and fought their first Battle Report, but how do they feel as a faction? In this article, I look a bit closer at some of their statistics and give my opinion on the new Mercenaries.

The Honourable Eclipse Company

A SHOWCASE FOR THE LATEST MERCENARIES TO OFFER THEIR SERVICES IN THE DYSTOPIAN WAR 

As you may have seen in the recent Battle Report, the Eclipse Company (first seen built but unpainted here) are now finished! Almost two weeks after their finishing touches, I must admit, but here are the pictures. Better late than never...

AAR - Eclipse Company vs Kingdom of Denmark and Prussian Empire

"The Argo may have been destroyed by the Black Company, but its legacy remained - the debris from the wreck had spread over a large area in the time since the attack. From these pieces, Prussian fleet commander Karl-Ehrhart Grunner reasoned, some rather valuable technology or information could be secured. 

Grunner despatched his best hunter, commander Jürgen Grönemeyer, and his recently refitted Sturmbringer-class Submarine with a small fleet of fast ships to track down the pieces of the Argo and  recover anything valuable. The Wolf Pack rendezvoused with a Danish patrol out of Daneborg some days later. 

Tracking some interesting readings, the Prussian scientists attached to Grönemeyer's fleet directed them south of Nanortalik, an area rarely travelled by Prussian fleets due to the iceberg floes prevalent in the spring months. There, they discovered more than just the remains of the Argo..."

- The Blockade of Greenland

Naval Battles of 1872

Unveiling the Eclipse

UNBOXING THE LATEST FLEET FOR DYSTOPIAN WARS - THE HONOURABLE ECLIPSE COMPANY

With their incredibly detailed airships, intriguing undersea bases and awesome giant gatling guns, the Eclipse Company looked too good to miss out. In an attempt to keep up with George and rule the skies, Good Friend Ben has invested in the Honourable Eclipse Company. Here, we look through the boxes and discuss some of the new models.