It started out so well

 

So, here I decide to do a quick skirmish game, solo. 

I even had decided FFL ( that's French Foreign Legion) against generic Arab tribal members.

 For rules,  I chose IHMN ( In Her Majesties Name ) first edition, which can support rifles and hand to hand well enough. Besides, the second edition is not out until March.

I even had the terrain in mind. So why did it take 6 hours over three days to play?

 Where is that little outpost fort? 

Here we go.

......the Legion column passes by a small outpost, newly taken over , drops off a small garrison.  Meanwhile, locals observe the occupation with trepidation. 

One  group of Arabs throws a loose cordon about the outpost, taking care not to be seen. 

 Inside the outpost, the small FFL group ponder why they were here at all. The outpost

 was remote, not really controlling the local tribes nor a route of communications. 

 Why are they here? The French must have short memories, or value these lives low indeed. 

The chieftain looked narrowly at the holy man.  How far back must my men stay?

They are well placed replied the holy man.  It is best not to watch. 

As the shield of the earth started to block the last of the sun's rays, a small flickering in the outpost denoted the prep of the evening meal. As two sentinels watched the gathering doom, the rest of the garrison party drifted toward dinner, 

Soon after darkness swept over the area.

The meal was finished, two legionnaires went out to patrol the wall.  A few minutes later, as the guards passed the blindside of the tower, the remainder of the garrison heard a shout, a shot and a screams that were cut short. 

Merde! muttered the sergeant. He nodded to two legionnaires, the private assigned the automatic and the sapper. They silently followed the nco out into the dark. 

They found the two bodies next to the wall. The wounds were extensive and fatal. Both men were torn apart, as if by a savage animal. 

The nco motioned to the private with the small to cover as the sapper and he drag the remains to the entrance. 

As the nco moves his burden into the entrance, he hears first the burst of the smg, then a guttural snarl, not like any animal he  recollects.  The private does not answer his queries nor respond to directions.  The night has claimed another legionnaire.

In the morning, the sapper and the sentinels, joined by the nco left the outpost. They were shot by the surrounding arabs as they reached a short distance from the fort. As their lifeblood soaked into the sand, they realized they were the lucky ones......