Build up
11th April 1899 - 15th July 1899
The month starts quiet and continues in that vein. Punch is currently running a cartoon that indicates that the Martians grand strategy is to wait until our frontline units die of old age. At this moment in time I am inclined to agree with them.
More industries are built and a Construction Vehicle is diagnosed with Fighting Machine Syndrome. Now, a little word on this disease...it was first diagnosed in a Martian Fighting Machine in this game several years ago, the symptoms are a random desire to walk or drive around in circles on the spot. The cause of the disease is said by physicians to be due to the terrible path-finding coded into the game.
The disease can be transmitted and has been found in other games:
Once diagnosed the disease can be resolved by kicking the offending unit until it goes somewhere else or resetting the map.
Meanwhile on the 30th April, HMS Bulwark is launched from Portsmouth and heads out to Whitby to support the defences there, hopefully without exploding. More Armoured Track Layers have been built and sent to the frontline.
Here is the view of the front at the end of April:
HMS Venerable is launched two days later and heads up the other coast to the Lake District.
As May draws to a close plans are drawn up to take the war to the Martians, since they seem so unwilling to bring it to us. The targets are Newcastle and Northumberland:
Newcastle will be taken first for its oil resources, and then Northumberland will be taken next because it has been researched by our scientists that there is a significant amount of resources available to the Martians in Northumberland, Copper, Blood and Heavy Metals are what they need and Northumberland is apparently the best place for them.
Of course, once we have attacked the Martians will begin their counterattacks, which means we'll need to keep a small force in Whitby to repel any attack from Northumberland. One of our Ironclads and some Armoured Cars should do the trick. As for our attacking force, our armoured track layers, ironclads, armoured cars and the soon to be put into service Self-Propelled Gun unit should provide enough firepower to overwhelm any defences.
The date for the attack is tentatively set for July. HMS London is dispatched to join Irresistable, Implacable and Bulwark, London will be the rearguard, keeping station off Whitby whilst her other three sister ships support the offensive in Newcastle. As I pull forces out from the Lake District and the Pennines to prepare for the offensive in Whitby, I must confess I experience a few moments of concern...are there enough units left in those two sectors to defend against a determined Martian offensive? Are they waiting for me to launch an offensive so that they can counterattack on the other side of the coast where I'm weaker. Should I wait until I have more Self-Propelled Guns? All questions that run through my mind as the days tick down towards July.
In early June I give orders for a new Sappers Lorry to be built, it and a Construction Vehicle will ride with the offensive but stay near the retreat point. If the offensive is successful then the construction vehicle will immediately begin work on a Command Center.
On the 25th June research into Shipyard level 2 is completed, and orders to research the Warrior class Ironclad are given. Meanwhile HMS London is taking her own time, just rounding East Anglia...the offensive may have to be delayed slightly whilst she gets into position. Don't want the Martians attacking from Northumberland before she gets there to help defend Whitby.
Finally on the 14th July HMS London arrives on station off Whitby, quite the force is gathered there waiting for the off. Two new Ironclads, HMS Queen and HMS Prince of Wales are built in Liverpool and Portsmouth and head out to the Lake District and Whitby respectively.
On the 15th July, the orders are given. Operation Byker is go. The units will arrive in Newcastle at 9am on the 17th July 1899. The day we take the fight to the Martians...
