The destination for the day's battle: the island of Crete.

Game headquarters in Pleasanton. The modest exterior conceals an entire Mediterranean island within.

The map sector containing Maleme and surrounding towns at the west end of Crete.

Allied field hospital near Maleme.

Maleme's modest airfield facilities.

The map sector containing Retimo and the northern coastal road in central Crete.

A closer view of the airfield at Retimo.

The eastern section of Crete, featuring Heraklion and its airfield.

The far eastern tip of Crete where the town of St. Lia meets the sea.

Comestibles courtesy of our generous host! These birds will fly no more.

A big cheese for which any armchair soldier would gladly fight and die.

Carbohydrates laced with salt and fat (and the occasional pureed vegetable) kept us on our feet.

But the soul of any gamers is best eaten pickled. The vodka bottle was mysteriously empty by the end of the day.

Planning--in perhaps too much detail. (That's a real map of Crete?!)

Allies discuss the merits of morning coffee.

The kitchen was a hive of delicious activity.

A preview of things to come: German Ju 52 towing a glider carrying Luftlande infantry.

The battle opens at Retimo with the Axis bombing and conducting aerial reconnaissance in preparation for the major airborne assault.

German bomber blasts pre-designated ground targets.

A German Ju 88 swoops in as part of the air effort.

Ju 88 "Stuka" dive-bomber hits spotted fortifications as Commonwealth aircraft are engaged.

German Bf 109 fighter patrols the skies above Retimo.

Down go the Tommy flyboys! The Luftwaffe are confident in the air, but uncertain of what awaits their charges on the ground.

Meanwhile, the skies above Maleme are patrolled by Commonwealth fighters like this Hurricane.

And this venerable biplane guards Maleme's air strips.

Commonwealth officers discuss the merits of killing Germans. Is that water in that plastic cup?

Gathering around the action at the Retimo table.

The Luftwaffe air effort at Retimo is based at a location code named "mantlepiece."

A Commonwealth player anxiously consults with the referee as a Springbok hooligan (behind) waits to crush some Kiwi skulls.

Planning the drops by the German Falshirmjäger near Retimo's airfield.

Groups of "Tante Ju's" drop stick after stick of Falschirmjäger beside enemy emplacements.

True to form, the German commander-in-chief just can't resist a beer before lunch.

Citizens of Crete are armed and dangerous! Retimo apparently has a garrison.

Defenders in Retimo face Falshirmjägers landing on the runways.

Two Falshirmjäger battalions set about securing the perimeter of the airfield.

An overview of the Retimo battlefield at the end of the paradrops.

Greek troops to the east of Retimo hold to their trenches while under attack from the air.

Greek soldiers appear in Retimo spoiling for a fight.

German gliders silently approach Retimo airfield and disgorge Luftlande troops.

The first Luftlande battalion hits the tarmac near an abandoned Italian AA gun formerly captured and used by the Allied defenders.

The fat is in the fire: a full German Luftlande regiment has taken possesion of the airfield, and begins to assault Retimo itself.

3rd Luftlande Battalion having just disembarked from its Ju 52 transports.

Holy land battleships! Commonwealth armor begins a counter-attack towards Retimo from the southwest.

German paratroops take cover in any suitable terrain available. The captured airfield must be protected!

Australian infantry counter-attack beside Retimo. The Allied tankers move up behind them.

Stolid, aloof German commanders politely ignore the enemy.

The Allies, in contrast, seem a bit more jovial.

Luftwaffe attacks continue as the Commonwealth launched their armoured counter-attack on the airfield.

The town itself is now contested, but the Cretan militia will soon be forced to flee.

Axis troops--mainly the Luftlande infantry--face the brunt of the Commonwealth armour and infantry counter-attack.

Generals, generals...

...and still more generals. And one Game Master with handy reference sheet.

Who says war can't be a social event?

Vicious hand-to-tank fighting. German troops take shelter in recently-vacated entrenchments.

This antitank battalion was air-landed behind the British tanks in an attempt to whack them in the flank.

Falschirmjäger protect the captured airfield from marauding Australians.

Retimo is taken by a swarm of painted Teutons!

5th Gebirgsjäger Division is landed at Retimo's busy airstrip.

The Allied armour is wiped out by attacks from Luftlande infantry, Gebirgsjäger, and combat engineers.

Commonwealth troops enter the Retimo map and attack the enemy antitank battalion.

The antitank crews are taking fire from both sides now, and decide that running away is the better part of valor.

German motorized elements are landed from the sea along Letimo's beaches.

Artillery and a panzer battalion are now added to the German assault force.

The town is, well, lousy with Germans. There, I've said it. Lousy with 'em.

Allied troops--including a couple of Greek infantry battalions--pour in from the direction of Maleme to bottle up the Germans.

German light artillery comes into action.

A closer look at the German panzer battalion deployed on the road beside the airfield. They were soon to move west towards Maleme.

Gebirgsjäger infantry advance in waves in the direction of Maleme.

Meanwhile, exhausted Luftlande infantry to the east of Letimo will face a counter-attack by the garrison of Heraklion.

A Fallschirmjäger battalion has driven off a unit of Greek infantry, and now holds the high ground to face the Allied counter-attack.