Laura Lambert was re-united with her friend Lady Penelope and survivors of the geographical expedition at Nbisi (after their harrowing experience in their attempt to reach Ngongoloo). (see here for game report)
They decided to take the geological samples down the Umpopo river to Lukolela.
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Laura Lambert, Lady Penelope, Robert Odd and his valet (servant) Harry Fitzroy (Fitz); embark on a fast launch from one of wharf at Nbisi on the river Umpopo. Fitz takes the tiller, while Robert Odd keeps a look at out the front. On board is a small crate with the geological sample; plus another box Laura Lambert brought with her; Laura also has her favourite machine gun too.
They passed a group of hippos about a quarter of an hour later...
A bit later on the sound of motors behind them attracted their attention, two launches heading towards them ...
They rounded the next bend in the river, the launches were closer - they could see they were armed; then the lead launch opened fire with their machine gun...
Some shots hammered into the side of the their launch; Laura fired back with her machine gun. Then she opened up the smaller box she had bought with her - hand grenades - she threw one at the nearest launch - missed !
They rounded the next bend, exchanging fire. Laura with her small SMG and the launch behind them with the twin machine gun.
Laura picked up another grenade and threw it ... by luck (?) it landed and exploded in the back corner of the attacking launch...
The lead attacking launch drifted towards the bank ... all was not so well on their launch as Fitz had been hit and was badly wounded. Robert Odd moved him into the bow of the launch and took control of the tiller, Laura opened fire again...
The attacking lead launch was nearing the river bank but the second one was now moving up quickly...
The second launch started to catch up to them and opened fire, Laura fired back and lobbed a hand grenade that missed. A shot creased Robert Odd's left arm, but he would be ok for a while - able to work the tiller.
They approached the Matadi rapids, Odd steered the lauch through...
it bounced off a large rock but everyone managed to keep their feet; Odd just steered it way from the next large rock
and out the other side of the rapids...
Odd let the launch drift slighty (but held position). As Penelope bandaged Odd's arm; Laura kept a watch to see if their pursuers passed through the rapids... The lead launch started through ,,,,
The cross current caught it and pushed it up onto a large rock ripping out the bottom of the hull and the launch was stuck ...
The second launch came up and tried to pick up the men of the stranded launch, two of them fell in as they tried to get across, one succeeded..
the second launch now tried to pass through...
and it ran up onto a rock; seeing it stuck Laura threw a grenade - dead hit on the front deck ..
the launch then slipped off and drifted over towards the bank taking water...
Their pursuers out of the way, they carried on down stream, before they knew it they were on top of some hippos...
who weren't too pleased to be disturbed and rocked the launch about...
luckily nobody fell in but the launch was damaged, a small leak appeared near the bow...not enough to sink the launch - some bailing was needed..
They limped into to the trading post at Lukolela, where they saw to Fitz's wound.
there was a Colonial Police post nearby so they made their way there for further assistance; lugging the box of rock samples with them.. it seemed they were now safe.
