Thread by @LetsPlayHistory

Let's play another session of "Arc of the Kaiser's Last Raider" (Joe Miranda, One Small Step, 2018).

It's a #solitaire narrative #rpg #wargame, but I invite you to take part via this thread! The player is "writing" a #pulpfiction novel series about a German raider during #WW1.

Needing to keep the readers engaged by a somewhat believable storyline of a daring captain and their crew, trying to change the course of the Great War in Europe. The story is driven forward by a randomized deck of cards, containing incidents, enemies and special abilities.

First choice to be made: the ship our crew will sail on into the Indian Ocean to disrupt the Entente's commerce and ... very secretly try to acquire objectives that could change the course of the war.

Comment, share or like a post in the thread to become part of the crew.

📝 Episode One: Relief
"15. August 1916. Steady breeze."
Kapitän zur See (captain at sea) @hexandcountdown closed the ship's log and went out of the bridge to gaze the horizon. The sun stood high above the Mozambique Channel. To the east appeared the shadow of Madagascar's shore.

Screening with his Zeiss binoculars, Cpt Jon thought about the journey the ship had made and the one that lay before them. They had cruised around the Cape without being detected. The crew was newly assembled and still cheerful, the cargo holds filled with rations and coal.

What most of the crew did not know, however, was the special mission they had been assigned to directly by the Imperial Ministry of Naval Affairs and the Abteilung III b, the Empire's military secret service.

Peering at the ship's First Officer @OberstWKlink, Cpt Jon knew the ship was prepared for its mission. The "Wolf" was a Hilfskreuzer, an armed merchant ship with disguised cannons and torpedo tubes, stuffed with equipment to remain at sea, living off seized enemy ships.

Heading for Abyssinia to receive intel on this cruise's secret mission, the captain's order to sail full speed ahead echoed through the speaking tubes into the engine room where the Wolf's Engineering Officer @Hethwill_Khan drove the crew to get the boiler going with extra coal.

Right off the coast of British East Africa, Cpt and "Eins-O" (short for 1st Officer) spotted a merchant, sounded the alarm and closed in. After firing the usual warning shot, however, it turned out to be a Q-Ship, an equally disguised armed merchant, designed to fool submarines!

At bright daylight and with tons of coal to spend, Cpt Jon steered the Wolf to engage. All stations were manned by the crew and Officer @Johkmil of whom nobody really knew what his function was, but who apparently held authority by the captain's orders, took command of a gun.

Upon the order the gunners fired away, rapidly reloading. The atmosphere tensened. The Wolf was indeed armed, but in no way a warship. The ship's doctor @Caesar_X prepared to treat crew members who might become wounded during the ensuing firefight.

Two rounds hit the enemy's bridge and smokestack, but they weren't ready to strike the colors, yet. A British grenade hit the mast, destroying the ship's searchlights.
However, after another few exchanges, the British crew surrendered their ship and were taken into captivity.

After the tense but short engagement, the Wolf encountered a more troublesome enemy, by the judgment of the crew at least. The ship was hit by a heavy storm, pushing, mangling, wrenching ship and crew. The captain's binoculars were shattered to pieces, some ammo drenched.

After the storm calmed, the Wolf reached the Red Sea's mouth. Cpt @hexandcountdown, 1-O @OberstWKlink and @Johkmil were constantly on the lookout, these were dangerous waters, passing lanes and patrol zones of Entente merchants and warships. The raider sailed under false flag.

Around afternoon, the Friedrichshafen FF 33, the Wolf's small sea-plane, spotted a squadron of cruisers bearing to rapidly intercept the raider. The alarm was given. A nervous calm befell the crew. Every hand acted in absolute silence. Only the engine stomped without pause.

The Wolf could now try to evade the enemy, however, running to port is no option, as Admiral Sturdee could blockade entry and the Wolf compromise the Empire's agent network in Abyssinia. It could now ...

Sorry to all who voted for the Emden. I missed setting the timer and decided to start the game with the Wolf, when it still had a majority. I'll make sure to pick the Emden, should the Wolf go down.