Turn OneWe diced for Initiative on the first turn, and the Machines handily won the roll. I had already started worrying in my head that this was a bad start for the UNE when Pif told me to go first.
Hunh?
That was not what I was expecting. I'd played the scenario before, and I knew that a mad rush for the Computer Terminals was crucial to avoid being overwhelmed by superior Machine numbers. Anything the Machines could do to get into position to slow the UNE down was helpful. To be fair, I think Pif was thinking along the same lines as I had been the last time we played: let my enemy commit to a plan before I have to.
As it stood, my Commando
Section split into two groups. The left flank had a Commando, followed by a Heavy Weapon Commando, then another Commando, with the Corporal bringing up the rear. The right flank was similarly organized, with the Sergeant followed by a Commando bringing up the rear.
...or so I thought...
Both groups hoofed it, advancing as quickly as they could out of the deployment room. I helped out the Commandos taking point with Leadership for the doors and in a corner. As I did this, I realised that I'd mixed up my Corporal and Sergeant miniatures, thinking each was the other. Pif very graciously allowed me to swap the miniatures when I explained what I'd done, and this positioned them to match my description above.
The Machines, seeing the fact that the UNE troops were dividing to attack both Computer Terminals, moved forward at a run, with two
G1 Nightmares headed for the Commandos' right flank (where the Sergeant was, bottom of image), and the
Assault Fiend and another G1 cutting towards the Commandos' left flank (where the Corporal was, top of image). The final G1 that had moved forward attempted to shoot out the door to the long rectangular room (hereafter referred to as the Main Room) after running but failed to get the required 6.
A new G1
Nightmare entered the board at the Machine's rear from Machine Entry 1, and ran towards the middle of the map.
The two remaining G1 Nightmares were in the Terminal rooms; on the Commandos' left, the G1 advanced and opened the door to the room, then tried to shoot out the visible door to the Main Room (failing, with a 3, visible on the Scenario Book in the image). After the poor luck shooting at doors, Pif decided the remaining G1 on the Commandos' right flank would leave the door closed, and instead Covered 0.