OTT BE Mission 23, 9 October 1918, Flanders Revisited (Carl Brisgamer)

[Carl_Brisgamer]

PROLOGUE

Evere Airfield, Brussels
8 Oktober 1918
0900hrs



Korvettenkapitän Willi Mattheus looked in wonder at the huge Grossflugzeug standing on the field. The German ace had seen a Gotha in flight once but had never been this close to one of these beasts. Only back at the front for less than a week, Mattheus was at the base of Bogohl 3 to be briefed on a critical mission.

"What do you think of our machine Herr Major?" asked Leutnant der Reserve Friedrich Ketelsen, saluting the superior officer with the Pour le Merite around his neck.

"Impressive," replied Mattheus, "although I would not trade you my Fokker."

Ketelsen nodded with a resigned look, "I used to fly these big birds to England, and now we are reduced to bombing trench lines. Tomorrow perhaps we can strike a telling blow that may do more than cause the Tommies an irritation."

Mattheus turned to the Gotha pilot, "My men are always ready to take the fight to the enemy, I expect you will need us to smooth the way?"

"Step this way Sir," said Ketelsen, "the briefing is about to start."

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Jabbeke Airfield, Flandern
9 Oktober 1918
0500hrs



Willi Mattheus looked into the faces of his men as he finished giving his orders.

"Fragen?" he asked, to give his pilots the opportunity to clear up any doubts about the mission.

"Herr Kapitän, how do we really know the fuel dump will be where HQ says it is," posed a skeptical Vizeflugmeister Alexander Zenzes. "We couldn't get close to Ypres last week to collect any aerial reconnaissance photographs, the Tommies were as thick as flies on a dead horse!"

"Intelligence is sure of their information," repeated Mattheus. "The enemy have stockpiled large quantities of fuel in Ypres. During their last attack they advanced so fast they outran their supply lines," continued the See Adler Gruppenkommandeur with a grimace. "This time the neighbours plan to use these forward stocks to keep their vehicles and tanks going when they launch the next offensive. If we can destroy them we may at least buy 4.Armee some time to better prepare our defences from Ypres to the coast."

"Perhaps some English Lord engaged in pillow-talk with one of those Flemish 'ladies' you were so fond of Alex," suggested Flugmeister Gerhard Hubrich, "they would sell their grandmothers for a Fünf Mark Schein!"

"Hey stop talking that way about about the women I love!" retorted Zenzes with mock indignation. "Besides, for five marks I'd want more than access to their grandmothers.."

Korvettenkapitän Mattheus held up a hand and the men fell silent. "If there are no further RELEVANT questions we have a pressing appointment with a Gotha."

The See Adler pilots mounted their machines, Mattheus and Zenzes in Fokker D.VIIs and Hubrich in one of the last Albatros D.Va's still operated by the See Adler Jagdstaffel. With switches on the ground crew swung their propellers and were rewarded with the throb of their powerful BMW and Mercedes engines. Moments later they were airborne and heading east over Flanders fields towards the city of Ypres.



Before the See Adler Kette had flown ten minutes they made their rendezvous with Ltn. Ketelson's Gotha G.V. Mattheus and his wingmen formed up just above and ahead of the bomber.



Over the battle-scared city of Ypres, at the centre of the many campaigns fought in Flanders over the past four years, flew a diverse and deadly collection of aircraft. A Bristol F.2B piloted by a fairly green RAF pilot 2Lt. Stanley Ray on his first operational sortie, with veteran observer F/Sgt. Irving Gordon DFM aboard, was conducting an area familiarisation flight. Meanwhile two Belgian scouts flown by Lt. Louis Crombez and S-Lt. Emile Boschmans were approaching from the west on a barrier patrol. In addition there was a single French SPAD S.XIII flown by S-Lt. Louis Martin out on a lone hunt. About 8,000 feet below in the ruins of Ypres besides a huge fuel dump protected by two AA guns, a convoy of trucks is already moving vital supplies forward to British and Belgian units.



The Belgians and the experienced F/Sgt. Gordon spot the enemy first and move to intercept the Boche formation.



As Mattheus, Zenzes and Hubrich move to engage the enemy scouts, Ltn. Ketelsen banks the big Gotha to port in preparation for his bombing run. He is flying at 3,500 metres, out of range of the flak guns that he knows will be ringing such a vital asset.



As the Belgians and S-Lt. Martin make head on approaches to the Boche formation, 2Lt. Ray banks his Brisfit around to flank the Hun scouts.



At long range the See Adler pilots and their Belgian opponents open fire, with both sides taking damage. While Mattheus is cursing himself at electing for a head on attack profile, S-Lt. Boschmans is happy he added a second Vickers gun to his Hanriot, welcoming the additional firepower.



As the Brisfit lines up the big Gotha, Boschmans in the blue Hanriot puts another burst into Zenzes' Fokker but jams his twin guns in the process. Fm. Hubrich banks hard to starboard bring his Maxims to bear on the SPAD. Making a high deflection shot the German NCO manages to hole the French scout's fuel tank which starts trailing vapour.



As Mattheus and the Belgians reverse course to make another head on pass the Marineflieger ace is fortunate to only face two Vickers guns instead of four as Boschmans is busy clearing his stoppage. Despite Lt. Crombez scoring several more hits on Mattheus' Fokker with a long burst jamming a Vickers gun in the process, the German's marksmanship is superb. Mattheus' burst strikes the engine of the Camel knocking off several cylinders and severs a fuel line igniting the flammable liquid that spills over the damaged motor. 2Lt. Ray trades shots with the Gotha observer Ltn. Döbrick, shooting up the Gotha's port wing and damaging control lines. Stanley Ray and his observer Irving Gordon are horrified however as the German officer's return fire tears a hole in the Bristol's reserve tank, sending flames running up the side of the aircraft.



As Mattheus glances backwards to follow the progress of the burning Camel his attention is rudely drawn to the Bristol Fighter closing on his three o'clock as the Tommy pilot hits the German's yellow Fokker with a solid burst from his synchronised Vickers and over-wing Lewis Guns. At the same time the Gotha observer puts a well aimed burst into the blue Hanriot as it passes overhead.



Below the dog-fight, Ltn. Friedrich Ketelsen releases his first bombs (2 points) targeting the fuel dump. Meanwhile 2Lt Ray in the Brisfit manages to keep the fire away from the fuselage, but Lt. Louis Crombez is not so fortunate.



The flames tear through the Sopwith Camel, stripping away the fabric from wings and fuselage, sending the Belgian pilot's badly damaged machine down to a fiery crash amongst the ruin buildings of Ypres. Not an inspiring sight for the British Army drivers as they negotiate streets only recently cleared of rubble. So falls the twenty-seventh victim of Korvettenkapitän Willi Mattheus.



Despite his victory things are not all plain sailing for the German Navy's top ace. His Fokker has been badly shot up in the cross-fire and is barely clinging to the sky. Not wanting to risk being shot down behind enemy lines and captured, Mattheus enters a shallow dive to the east. The burning F.2B is in no position to pursue, taking fire from Gerhard Hubrich as he flies back into the fray. The Brisfit observer F/Sgt. Gordon takes a long range pot shot at the lozenge Fokker and scores a bulls eye, grazing the right arm of Vzfm. Alexander Zenzes with a .303 bullet. Ltn. Döbrick also finds his target, putting another long range burst into the fuselage of the Hanriot as Ltn. Ketelsen yanks the controls of the Gotha over, banking the big machine to starboard.



2Lt. Stanley Ray screams out to his observer to 'Hang on!" as he puts the burning Bristol Fighter into a steep dive hoping to suppress the films. Even as the F.2B noses over F/Sgt. Irving Gordon swings his scarff mounted Lewis Gun around and sends a wild burst off after the retreating yellow Fokker to no effect.



Ltn. Döbrick squeezes off a burst from his Parabellum MG at the over-diving Bristol Fighter, but the rapidly descending English machine proves a difficult a target and the German officer empties his magazine for little effect.



S-Lt. Boschmans and Fm. Hubrich exchange bursts as they swing back into each other, the Belgian shooting very well inflicting heavy damage on the Albatros while the German misses completely. Far below the Gothas bombs reach the end of their deadly journey .....



..... scoring a direct hit on the fuel dump which erupts in a sheet o flame and plume of smoke! Above the dogfight continues with the Belgian Boschmans again hammering Zenzes' Fokker and Hubrich trading shots with Martin's SPAD



Unfortunately for Stanley Ray and his observer, his desperate overdive does not extinguish the flames.



Vzfm. Zenzes pulls the stick over to port to evade the blue Hanriot on his six o'clock, but the Belgian pilot is tailing his opponent and easily anticipates the German's manoeuvre. Following the Fokker in the turn the Belgian fires another close range burst, putting paid to the Boche scout.



Sous Lieutenant Emile Boschmans watches with satisfaction as his first victory spirals away and crashes east of Ypres.



Reversing back into the fight Gerhard Hubrich watches his comrade fall to the guns of the Belgian .....



..... while Willi Mattheus withdraws from the battle not knowing one of his men has been shot out of the sky.



Back over Ypres the Gotha's rear gunner Flinger Heinrich Lessmann spies the convoy of trucks crossing open ground east of the city and advises Ltn. Ketelsen. The Gotha pilot starts bringing the aircraft about to make an attack run on the enemy vehicles.



By a mix of good luck and talented flying 2Lt. Stanley Ray brings the fire aboard his Brisfit under control without the aircraft suffering any further damage .....



..... although his dive has left him a good thousand feet below the rest of the action.



Seeing the Gotha swinging around for another pass, the last See Adler still in action Flugmeister Gerhard Hubrich makes the decision to stick with his charge and provide what cover he can.



Approaching from the Gotha's two o'clock low, Stanley Ray manoeuvres the Brisfit to give his observer F/SAgt. Gordon a shot at the bomber's belly. Gordon empties his Lewis mag into the big beast to no effect. The return fire from Ltn. Werner Döbrick in the Gotha's forward cupola spatters the RAF two-seater's fuselage and the NCO observer is lightly wounded when wood splinters pepper his face.



Meanwhile Hubrich and Boschmans make another head to head pass, but this time it is the German that gets the better of the exchange putting a bullet through the leg of the Belgian. The damage sustained by the Albatros is now substantial however, presenting Hubrich with the pressing need to break off the engagement.



Wiping away the blood from his facial wounds, F/Sgt. Gordon is unable to defend himself as Döbrick puts another burst into the Tommy machine.



With Boschmans and the Brisfit's observer wounded and S-Lt. Louis Martin's SPAD out of position, Ketelsen at the controls of the Gotha is free to focus on his bombing run.



The Gotha pilot drops another stick of bombs as Fm. Hubrich banks for home. Judging Gordon's wounds to be light, 2Lt. Ray reverse course to have another crack at the Gotha .....



..... while S-Lt. Martin does the same.



Boschmans considers returning to the fight despite the battered state of his aircraft and the blood slowly filling his flying boot.



Dropping his last bombs Friedrich Ketelsen watches with satisfaction as the first stick strikes the convoy, destroying the lead two trucks and throwing up a cloud of debris.



His bomb bay empty, Leutnant Ketelsen also opens the throttle and heads for Evere, Hubrich still on his wing.



Flying over the devastated scene, 2Lt. Ray is determined to catch his quarry.



Lessmann fires off a whole drum of ammunition at long range to discourage pursuit ....



..... but an undeterred Stanley Ray closes and opens fire. He scores some hits but after a few rounds his over-wing Lewis Gun falls silent.



The Gotha takes one more burst from Stanley Ray's Vickers before the bomber and his Albatros escort slip back across the lines.


VICTORY CONDITIONS - CENTRAL POWERS



Destroy fuel dump (1) - 11 VP
Destroy supply trucks (2) - 8 VP

Total = 19 VP

[Carl_Brisgamer]

CASUALTY REPORT (AKA THE BUTCHER'S BILL)

CENTRAL POWERS



Korvettenkapitän Willi Mattheus, Gruppenkommandeur, See Adler Gruppe (Jagdflieger, yellow & black Fokker D.VII)
RTB (13 damage) / 1 kill (Belgian Sopwith Camel shot down in flames over enemy territory, twenty-seventh confirmed victory).


Flugmeister Gerhard Hubrich, See Adler Jagdstaffel (Jagdflieger, yellow Albatros D.Va with red & blue fuselage bands)
RTB (13 damage) / 0 kills


Leutnant der Reserve Friedrich Ketelsen, Bogohl 3 (Flugzeugführer - Gotha G.V)
RTB (7 damage) / 0 kills (bombed fuel dump & two trucks).

Leutnant Werner Döbrick, Bogohl 3 (Beobachter - Gotha G.V)
RTB (7 damage) / 0 kills

Flieger Heinrich Lessmann, Bogohl 3 (Bordschutze - Gotha G.V)
RTB (7 damage) / 0 kills




Vizeflugmeister Alexander Zenzes, See Adler Jagdstaffel (Jagdflieger, Fokker D.VII with black heart on fuselage)
SD EXP WIA ET / 0 kills
BAIL OUT rolled 5 - lands OK - On a 5 bruised - skip 3 scenarios
C&W rolled 6 - 1 WIA = 5 - Injured - Skip 1D3 Scenarios, rolled 1 skip 1 scenario
E&E rolled 5 - 1 WIA - 1 EXP - 1 BEL = 2 Captured! The war ended for this pilot...

Vzfm. Alexander Zenzes bailed out of his stricken machine just before the Fokker it exploded. Although the parachute deployed effectively, Zenzes had already been wounded in the air and suffered further injury when he landed heavily. Given the large numbers of British and Belgian troops in the area it was not surprising that the wounded pilot was captured within minutes of landing. After receiving rudimentary medical treatment at a regimental aid post, Zenzes was taken under guard to a military hospital in Dunkerque. He was released two weeks later and sent to a PoW camp in the Pas de Calais area. By the time Vizeflugmeister Alexander Zenzes was fully recovered from his injuries the war was over.


ENTENTE FORCES



Lieutenant Louis Crombez, 1 ere Escadrille de Chasse (scout pilot, Belgian Sopwith Camel)
SD FLM FT / 0 kills
C&W rolled 9 - 2 FLM = 7 - Injured - Skip 1D2 Scenario, rolled 4 skip 2 scenarios.

Lt. Crombez was fortunate to survive the crash of his flaming Camel, walking away from the wreck despite his a head wound. After some initial treatment Crombez returned to his base where that evening his Escadrille celebrated his survival and his comrade Emile Boschman's first victory. The following day however Crombez was struck by a severe headache (not from the champagne!) and reported to the doctor. He was found to have a concussion and was sent to a hospital for treatment. Although not severe, his injuries were enough to keep him out of the action until the very last days of the war.



Sous Lieutenant Emile Boschmans, 1 ere Escadrille de Chasse (scout pilot, blue Hanriot HD.1)
RTB (10 damage) / WIA / 1 kill (Fokker D.VII with black heart on the fuselage shot down behind Allied lines)
C&W rolled 11 - 1 WIA + 3 RTB = 13 - All's well when you land well.

S-Lt. Boschmans made it back to base where it was found the German bullet had only grazed his leg. A few stitches were required to sew up the wound and the Belgian pilot was cleared fit for duty. That evening Boschmans did not have to buy a drink in the mess as his brother officers congratulated him on his victory over the Fokker.


Sous Lieutenant Louis Martin, SPA3 Aéronautique Militaire Francais (pilot, SPAD S.XIII)
RTB (7 damage) / 0 kills


Second Lieutenant Stanley Ray, No. 22 Squadron RAF (pilot, Bristol Fighter)
RTB (8 damage) / 0 kills

Flight Sergeant Irving Gordon, No. 22 Squadron RAF (observer, Bristol Fighter)
RTB (8 damage) / 0 kills
C&W rolled 12 -1 WIA + 3 RTB = 14 All's well when you land well.

Flight Sergeant Gordon's wounds were treated by the MO at the airfield on his return to base. His goggles having protected his eyes, the doctor removed a number of wood splinters from the exposed parts of his face and within a few days Gordon was back in the air.

[Carl_Brisgamer]

I have run out of time tonight, AAR will be posted on the morrow.

[flash]

Another splendid foray over the trenches Carl, loads of action, sorry you lost Zenzes but at least he'll survive the war.

Onkel says:

Well done men, that will slow Tommy down but it came at a cost, I have made enquiries an it would seem Zenzes managed to use his parachute & make it down but it appears that he was taken prisoner. At least he'll have a chance to make it home one day. Come, let us celebrate his survival and another victory for Willi !


PM me with a replacement pilot please Carl

[Flying Officer Kyte]

I love these cliff hanger missions.
Rob.

[Carl_Brisgamer]

I love these cliff hanger missions.
Rob.

Sorry Rob, local internet outage yesterday and work today, looks like tomorrow night at the earliest

[Flying Officer Kyte]

No seriously Carl. I love the suspense of having to wait for the plot to unravel.
Rob.

[Vagabond]

I'm more into instant gratification.

[Carl_Brisgamer]

AAR complete, just the Butcher's Bill to come.

[Carl_Brisgamer]

I'm more into instant gratification.

I would love to be able to get the AAR's posted in one go but I'm afraid I just can't spare that much time in one hit at the moment

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Bonus rep to anyone who can identify the source of the fuel dump and the truck counters

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Butcher's Bill done Dave, ready for your perusal. It was my first use of the parachute, hope I reported it correctly.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

I'm more into instant gratification.

That's because you are a young man John.
Kyte.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Nice conclusion to the Mission Carl and again a good outcome. no casualties as this war draws towards its inevitable end.
Rob.

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Nice conclusion to the Mission Carl and again a good outcome. no casualties as this war draws towards its inevitable end.
Rob.

Thanks Rob. Too bad to lose Zenzes on 4 kills, hoping he would be the next See Adler Ace.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Sorry Carl I missed seeing Zenzes, but am having a bit of eye trouble at the moment, and it is making seeing the words a bit more difficult than usual.
Rob.

[flash]

Butcher's Bill done Dave, ready for your perusal. It was my first use of the parachute, hope I reported it correctly.

All done Carl - chute was good

[Stumptonian]

Good result for our side, Carl, albeit at the cost of a near-ace.

All done Carl - chute was good

I am confused why the C&W in addition to the 'chute ?


I had meant to try the parachute for Wolfram in mission 26, seeing as it was his last mission, but totally forgot about it when it came time for the die rolls.

[Stumptonian]

Good result for our side, Carl, albeit at the cost of a near-ace.

All done Carl - chute was good

I had meant to try the parachute for Wolfram in mission 26, seeing as it was his last mission, but totally forgot about it when it came time for the die rolls.

[Carl_Brisgamer]

I am confused why the C&W in addition to the 'chute ?
.

Zenzes was wounded in the air prior to being shot down so that also had to be resolved.

[Stumptonian]

Zenzes was wounded in the air prior to being shot down so that alps had to be sorted.

Went and reread the rules right after I posted and was about to edit my original post but your "Itchy Trigger Finger" beat me to it.

[flash]

See, told you it was good chute

[mikeemagnus]

Good fight that one Carl. Sorry about Zenzes but as has already been pointed out, at least he'll survive the war. That was a pretty close call on Willi Mattheus too I bet that had you worried! 23 down 3 to go. Reckon you're catching up fast. No wonder time is short

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Good fight that one Carl. Sorry about Zenzes but as has already been pointed out, at least he'll survive the war. That was a pretty close call on Willi Mattheus too I bet that had you worried! 23 down 3 to go. Reckon you're catching up fast. No wonder time is short

Thanks Mike, I usually try to avoid head on passes but having the bomber to look after there was little choice.

Mission 24 is set up ready to go - Mattheus, Bastian, Meyer and Hubrich vs the RAF.

Poor Tommies!

[Vagabond]

That's because you are a young man John.
Kyte.

Sorry to hear about your eyes, hope it's not serious.

Nice report again Carl, I do like the way you round it off with the news how the pilots fared after being shot down etc. I must remember that for next year.
Having the parachutes is a bit of an ace in the hole as well.

[Stumptonian]

Having the parachutes a bit of an ace in the hole as well.

Won't be an issue for the next campaign.
From The Bitter End rules page:
Parachutes are in from April 1918

[Vagabond]

Won't be an issue for the next campaign.
From The Bitter End rules page:
Parachutes are in from April 1918

Ah but not for us Brits. We have moral fibre don't you know. Or was it we don't have moral fibre and that's why they didn't issue them.

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Ah but not for us Brits. We have moral fibre don't you know. Or was it we don't have moral fibre and that's why they didn't issue them.

Probably the same people who made the decision the RFC did not need engines above 80hp in 1914 because it would make the aircraft too fast to control or use as effective observation platforms.

[Carl_Brisgamer]

I had meant to try the parachute for Wolfram in mission 26, seeing as it was his last mission, but totally forgot about it when it came time for the die rolls.

Also the first time I remembered to use a parachute! Having said that it is a high risk option.

[Carl_Brisgamer]

EPILOGUE

Jabbeke Airfield, Flandern
18 October 1918
0630hrs



Korvettenkapitän Willi Mattheus was in his office packing a sheaf of files into a leather satchel which he tucked under his arm. All around him open cabinets and drawers stood empty, their contents hastily removed for transport or destruction. In the once orderly duty hut, papers and other debris now littered the floor. For hours now the rumble of the enemy guns had been rolling across the airfield, a portent of the coming storm.

The Gotha raid of the previous week that cost Mattheus a valuable pilot had merely delayed an inexorable Allied advance. Their renewed offensive had begun with an attack across the Lys River two days ago. By nightfall on that first day Belgian troops captured Iseghem and Cortemarck, the French had surrounded Roulers, and the British Army had taken Moorslede. The following day Roulers had fallen and overnight the enemy was reported to be advancing on Thourout, Ostend, Lille and Douai. The Belgians were pressing forward towards Bruges, and there was little the 4.Armee could do to stem the tide.

Outside the roar of aircraft engines now drowned out the sounds of heavy gunfire as the ground crew ran up the remaining See Adler machines. Besides Mattheus the only other man left in the duty hut was Oberbootsmann Heinz Knapp. He was standing on a chair, screwdriver in hand trying to remove the blackboard on which was scribed the victories awarded to each man in the See Adler Gruppe. As it had been since the first days of operations, Mattheus' name was at the top with twenty-seven hand drawn aircraft images lined up across the board.

"What are you doing man?" asked an exasperated Mattheus.

"HERR KAPITÄN, THE OBERBOOTSMANN IS RETRIEVING THE VICTORY BOARD!" replied the NCO in his characteristic booming parade ground voice, as he did his best to stand his large frame to attention whilst perched precariously on the folding chair.

"Leave it Knapp," said Mattheus quietly. "Given the current situation it is no longer of any importance."

"But Herr Kapitän, I just updated the names ...." Knapp trailed off, gesturing at the newest entry, Vizeflugmeister Karl Sharon posted to the unit only days earlier. It was the first time since Mattheus had taken command of the See Adlers he had witnessed his chief clerk at a loss for words.

"I don't need that as much as I need you Knapp, if you are taken by the Tommies who will I have to run things on the ground when I am in the air?" said Mattheus, in his most sincere tone.

Knapp took a moment to process his Kommandeurs reply before leaving the board and climbing down. Straightening his cap he saluted Mattheus, the compliment accompanied by a full throated "JAWOHL HERR KAPITÄN!"

"There is one truck left Knapp," said Mattheus reassuringly, passing the satchel of files to the NCO, "make sure you get yourself and your typewriter away with the last of the ground crew, and I will see you in Brussels."

As the Oberbootsmann beat a hasty retreat Mattheus took one last look around the Jabbeke duty hut. His eyes were drawn back to the large victory board, one corner now hanging free of the wall following Knapp's salvage attempt.

"Lost victories," thought Mattheus, struck by the symbolism of the moment. Donning his flying helmet Willi Mattheus left the building, not even bothering to close the door as he strode purposefully towards his waiting Fokker.

[mikeemagnus]

Nice ending Carl.

[Stumptonian]

As I think I mentioned before, you could make a very interesting book of your exploits in this series, Carl.
"Eskapaden der Seeadler"

[Teaticket]

Ah, a much needed victory for the Fatherland. Slowing down the enemy ground efforts may give us better conditions when negotiating begins.

Mattheus scores again. A lightening bolt this one is!

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Mattheus scores again. A lightening bolt this one is!

Mattheus was a bloody lucky fellow not to get himself shot down this time out. Silly getting into a series of head on passes, won't be doing that again anytime soon!

[gully_raker]

Exciting set too in that one Carl!
A good victory to your chaps but at a cost.
The Game was actually quite close except for the accurate bombing of the Gotha & your scouts did a good job keeping the Allies at arms length.

Rep Inbound.

P.S. Loved the Epilogue!