In reply to Taras Vladimirovich Shevchenko (msg # 277):

The other zodiac bobbing at the makeshift wharf was similar to the one they were using. It had an outboard motor, one oar but no life jackets.

Kelsey moves to cover Taras as he checks out the little pier, then takes up a position next to the Sentry's body in lieu of a sandbag, giving an overwatch of that position.  She will do a cursory check of him for anything interesting.

"Sure Taras, I'm thinking we need eyes in this direction.  Should we send the relief this way?"

She shakes a little from the adrenaline, and it keeps her focused, in a way.

"Wayne really saved me back there."

In reply to Kelsey Sarah Champlain (msg # 279):

There was nothing to see on the southern approach. As well, Andy and Mac covered the northern sector. The LAV was to the West. There was a flooded golf course to the east, behind a screen of trees, so a boat approaching from that direction would either have to swing around to the north or south.

In reply to Taras Vladimirovich Shevchenko (msg # 273):

Kelsey isn't the only one that feels shaken after the action; Wayne seems a bit awkward during his trip down the berm to the boat.  To any onlooker, he seems to be involved in a wrestling match with his slung rifle, which he has to keep pushing back to his side only to have it slide back amongst his arms.

After he reaches the boat, Wayne will double-check the map to ensure that he can navigate to Lougheed highway without getting lost.  Once he has the engine idling steadily, he will report via radio, "Bravo-three and guest outbound to Alpha.  Over."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:09, Sun 17 June 2012.

In reply to helbent4 (msg # 276):

"Roger.  Any patient details?"

In reply to William Hawke (msg # 282):

The Zod with Wayne and the freed victim seemed to be navigating fine using the old road grid hinted at by flooded rooftops and drowned trees. There was always the danger of running over some unseen obstacle hidden by the water.

Soon, he saw the LAV waiting down the highway, still in about a metre of water.

In the LAV, Hawke spotted a large black-and-white police/fire vehicle leading a camouflaged Cougar light armoured vehicle and an abmbulance. They were approaching along Lougheed Highway from the west. These were obviously from the New West police and Militia garrison. The Cougar had applique chain-link anti-HEAT protection installed.


Cougar AVGP


Police SUV


BC Ambulance Service ambulance

Soon, the police boat approached the farm, having navigated the same gap in the dike that the team's Zodiac had used to get into the flooded area around the former farm.

In reply to helbent4 (msg # 283):

Hawke popped his head up in the turret again, and checked the IV on the LT.

"LT, let's meet the Zod with the ambulance.  It will make turnover easier, and we're still in water."

Kelsey spots the inbound boat and radios.

"This is Bravo Two to Kilo Four, I have visual on a river vessel, flash visual to confirm Idenity.  Over.

Kelsey grins to herself when the police boat does a quick flash of it's lights to ID itself.

"Roger that, welcome aboard!  We have three guests for you.  Over."

She looked down over to Taras.  "I don't trust the spare boat, personally, let's back up Kilo and wait for Wayne."

We are taking the boat anyways. We can tow it away.

With the enemy fled, captured or dead, the battle was about over. Rain was falling again, hissing as it hit the flames of the burning barn.

The police boat came up to the wharf. The ground reinforcements met with the LAV, where Hawke was tending to the patient. She seemed to be in good shape, passed out but had come around. She was grateful for being rescued, even if her hearing was blown by the explosion. Rusalka was also glad to be rescued!

Police and militia secured the compound, searching for evidence and taking prisoners. There were 2 Neo-Nazi militiamen and the notorious "pig farmer" himself. More units were diverted to assist, and would be on the way (mostly by road).

In the aftermath the team was reunited. Those who came by boat left by boat (including the dog). The LAV left as well. Both trips were quick and uneventful, which was just as well as it kept raining steadily.

By 1300, the team was back at the base in the damaged high school. Time for the debriefing.

In reply to helbent4 (msg # 287):

Looking exhausted, Stone brewed a pot of coffee.

"Good work, guys. Sorry we couldn't do more in the LAV. Terrain was against us."

In reply to Matthew Stone (msg # 288):

"I'd take it easy on that.  You can prop yourself up with that stuff for so long, and then you're done.  The crash that happens after that is harder.  You need sleep and food, and something approaching R&R.  Uppers to get you going, and downers so you can sleep aren't the answer."

Hawke brought water with him and drank that, rather than have coffee.

Kelsey checks in on the girl they rescued, and with a little trepidation, checks out the purse they found before turning it in to the RCMP.

"Glad to see you pulled through miss.  Just want to see your face to know I am doing good, you know?"

The ordeal was, frankly, a little shocking.  All she could do was hope that the people that died in the barn, if there were people, had died fast.  She hoped they deserved it too, and there were no captives there too.  Better than being sawed alive, though.

She checked in the the LAV crew and the Spoonful herself.

"No issue, we got by.  Maybe we can snag that Zodiac we captured and double our little fleet?  Good shooting Andy and Mac, really saved our buns, but Wayne is my personal hero today.  Took down a Nazi that had me and the girl in his sights, just in the nick of time.  Beer is on me tonight, Wayne."

She shook his hand, then hugged him.  "Thanks buddy."

She will show up to the debriefing with the dog 'Rusalka', and her team, spoiling the dog as rotten as she possibly can.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:20, Tue 19 June 2012.

Andy kept a careful watch until they were picked up and then returned with the others to the base. He watched the cops deal with the evidence with interest and then headed for debriefing.

Taras walked into the briefing room, his steps heavy and weary. He hung up his wet clothes on the hook by the door and crossed the room, slumping down on the couch with a sigh.

He was not in the mood to talk much. Things are not always going to be as planned but this was a little too much. Granted, he stormed a castle and reduced it to ashes while saving the hostage and bagging the bad guys but he felt no hero.

Wayne looks down as the praise is heaped upon him.  "That was insane..." is all the commentary he can muster at the moment.  "I'm just glad we all made it back."

"I'll keep that in mind. Sleep when I'm dead." Stone's answer was curt and almost dismissive, although he did nod thanks to Hawke for the water.

In reply to Wayne Lo (msg # 293):

The rest of the day was spent regrouping, recovering and cleaning weapons. Kel popped down to the Royal Columbian hospital. Grace, the person they'd rescued, was a native woman in her 30's, a drug user and prostitute. She was cooperating with police and giving her statement, so Kel wasn't able to do more than say "hi" and check up on her.

Grace spoke loudly due to the damage to her hearing. "Thanks, sister. I still can't hear too good, but they were going to kill me. The Doctors tell me my hearing is going to return. Good luck, and God Bless you!" After, Kel returned to the gymnasium base.

Eventually, Belanger showed up to the debriefing. He congratulated the team for their actions, praising everyone. He was a little perturbed by the use of a high explosive thermobaric weapon in a hostage rescue, but conceded that under the circumstances it had a desirable outcome and the team didn't have any good options considering the lack of information on possible hostiles, a hostage life at stake, little chance of support etc. (You know, try to avoid civilian casualties at all costs is how police in Canada operate!)

The suspects they'd detained were not talking, being either fanatical neo-Nazis or a crazy serial-killer, but they were working on them.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:10, Sat 23 June 2012.

"Those assholes are, basically, claiming they didn't hurt anyone. They're not otherwise talking. Nothing about any girls, not about the HAs (Hells Angels), anyone else who may have been involved, nothing.

"Don't worry, we'll them to talk, eventually. It doesn't help their hearing is shot. Maybe permanently. We also have a ton of evidence to go through in the motor home and surviving buildings. Maybe we can get a line on their HQ or base of operations."

"In the mean time, get some rest, you've earned it!"

In reply to Alain Belanger (msg # 296):

When Hawke was released, he headed to his bunk in the barracks.

Kelsey heads to her area in the barracks, changing into clothes that hadn't been bled on, dunked in floodwaters, ect, and with her sidearm and laundry in hand started looking for a place to wash things and get her bearings in their new billets.

Belanger, that filthy hell-hole needs to be kept under surveillance. Sooner or later somebody of interest will be coming back. I guess the New Westmister Police can do that. We have that boat that went away...Also there are some issues that should be addressed for future operations. I don't know exactly what happened with the new commander but it seems that he was out of it and nobody reported anything during the mission. I have problems with discipline in the ranks and the current information that we have of the terrain is completely outdated due to the flood.

Taras paused for a cigarette.

Also we have to rethink about the LAV III. That vehicle has some awesome cameras and firepower put we are having the hell of a time to move it around. Cannot swim...weighs too much...And if it cannot provide all the support that we need is good as dead. I was thinking about getting some help from Bulat in that respect. "Our" combat vehicles can offer more mobility around. We need also better water transportation. Some sort of a tugboat or decent fishing wessel although I'd prefer to have the hovercraft up and running. If the current water levels are similar in other areas we are going to have serious problems to reach other communities by ground.

An old tuna can was attending the faithful duties of a missing ashtray.

Without support I didn't have other option than blow up the barn, damn it. There was an arsenal inside and God knows what else. Disgusting. We were lucky enough that the scum wasn't expecting us. The same way we didn't expect them. Same nightmare as in Chinatown: A bunch of bastards and a screaming woman about to get killed! This time was close...Where is that dog, by the way...?

He produced a 30 rounder matte plum magazine from the chest rig. He flipped it in the air and tapped it against the top of his head a couple of times. it was made of polymer with metal lip reinforcement, rear locking lug and floorplate. Shade was near black, with a nonreflective satin finish. The small horizontal reinforcing ribs running down both sides of the magazine body near the front. The Izhmash arsenal mark was visible on right side. After the unsuspected circus act, Taras returned it to the lifchik.

Oh shit! I forgot my handcuffs!

Andy listened to Taras' assessment and said, "Taras has a point, we've been using the LAV as a force multipler and it's allowed us to work very light handed. If we're going to be doing a lot of work in the flooded area we need to rethink our MO. I'd actually prefer boats to an armoured vehicle, I know Soviet kit can swim but I'd rather not have an armoured vehicle acting more like a boat."

He paused for breath and continued, "As far as I see it, we either need to go in with more personnel or, as Taras has suggested, we rig up a boat for fire support, a hovercraft would be perfect but I believe that those beasts suck up fuel."

"Nothing was wrong with me that a little rest and a t-bone steak can't fix. I got a little dizzy at one point but didn't pass out and I'm fine now. If I couldn't hack it I would have let you know, there was no danger of command being disrupted. You ran the show because you are capable, were on the scene and we couldn't do anything to influence the situation anyways. You don't want me to be as hand-off in the future? Can do."

"I can't help you with information on the terrain, although we are recon so that could be something we can help out with. As for discipline in the ranks, I'll leave that to you but we can still discuss that later."

In reply to Taras Vladimirovich Shevchenko (msg # 299):

Belanger looked at Stone for a moment.

"I guess we should talk in a bit, Lt. Stone. You've been burning the candle at both ends. Not good if you're incapacitated."

"It's clear these bastards don't seem to like women much! Once again, some timely intel brought us to the right place and time to prevail. I'm a little worried about that speed boat that got away upriver, plus this Pig Farmer seems to have a brother that got away, one with Hells Angels ties.

"Perhaps gathering intelligence is the best use we can put you to for now, while things are getting organised. Intel on locations and conditions up-valley is crucial for when we try to link up with forces in the interiour, like the Thompson-Okanagan. If you recall, that's on the slate for later in the summer."

He pondered something for a moment, then sighed.

"I can't promise that we'll be able to release any of Bulat's vehicles. There are other plans and priorities. All other watercraft are busy right now, we're lucky to get you a Zodiac! Tell you what, we might be able to swap the LAV for one of the New West garrison's Cougar AVGPs. Smaller, amphibious. Might be more what you need?"

"As for personnel, I'll see what we can shake loose. Everyone else is spoken for, transferred or seconded to assist the local forces until the worst of the floods recede, at least."