Turn 2 began with a revolt in the Western Sudan. Dara was undefended and El Obeid fell to a surprise attack, but the two companies at El Fasher held out. The situation in the east remained tensely quiet.
The 1/8 continued moving up the Atbara to Adarama while the 1/7 hastened to the safety of Suakin, creating a very strong garrison. The 2/7 moved upriver into the fort at Wadi Halfa.
Meanwhile, out in Darfur, Slatin Pasha decided that there could be no better time than now to break out. His coordinated attack against one unit of fanatics and one cavalry easily broke the siege with no losses (this was resolved with the quick battle rules).
Flushed with victory, he decided to press his luck and march toward El Obeid, believing his force would there find shelter and welcoming friends. At the first stop east of El Fasher the force encountered a single ansar unit, dug in across the route. It, too, was easily dispatched, but not before the handful of dervish riflemen managed to wound one Sudanese soldier, who died shortly after the battle. Worst of all, wounded ansar captured in the rifle pits broke the news that El Obeid had fallen and was now serving as the Mahdi's main base!
But the truly grim situation faced the garrison at Berber. They had only two more turns worth of supplies. The road from Suakin was open, but relief coming from that direction would take at least four turns to arrive. The garrison at Wadi Halfa was even further away with howling dervishes all along the river. The 1/8 moving up from Kassala could reach the town in two turns, but only if it makes it past Atbara, which appeared unlikely. The only hope would seem to be the steamers stationed at Khartoum; with a bit of luck, one or both could reach Berber with additional supplies in two turns. With just a bit more luck, they could return to the beleagured capital just before its supplies were exhausted in four turns. But would the Governor-General order such a risky move?
Of course he would! Both gunboats stocked up with fuel, and Safieh cabled on a barge to bring along the 2/2 Egyptian infantry in addition to the two sections of sailors attached to the boats.
For a detailed account of their harrowing journey, click here.
The outcome of the boats' endeavors left Safieh just below the 6th cataract and Bordein still struggling to get past. Both suffered slight hull damage, Bordein's gatling gun was knocked out of commission, and Safieh had a wounded (but recovering) sailor.
Finally, the roll for reinforcements was even worse than before -- no units whatsoever showed up at Aswan. There is still great hope in both Cairo and Whitehall that this whole affair will simply blow over.
The revolt indices increased by one in both the Western Sudan (three garrison towns captured, two battles lost) and the Northern Sudan (reacting to victories in the southwest). The Eastern Sudan remains balanced on the dagger's edge at 3. The Mahdi picked up 50 victory points, making his total 79 -- 20% of the way to victory.
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