"When you arrive at a fork in the road, take it."

- Yogi Berra
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:19, Mon 01 Dec 2008.

October 12, 2000
0400hrs.
40F
Scattered clouds; full moon
10km south of Kozienice

No sooner has the last vehicle in the convoy pulled out on to the scarred blacktop to Kozienice that Dawid sees the grainy, green image of vehicles on the road behind them, to the south, through his Soviet-made NVGs. In all likelihood, the party would have heard them first if it hadn't been for the sound of their own engines warming up in the clearing. The unidentified convoy is about 400m away and closing slowy.

The first vehicle is small and boxy, with a small turret- likely an OT-65 or BRDM-2 scout car. The vehicles in line behind the scout car are larger and also wheeled but it's hard to identify them at this distance. There are at least two of them. As the party's vehicles accelerate to a night time cruising speed of 45kmph, the vehicles trailing 350m behind neither close the distance nor fall behind. At this range, it's likely but not certain that the trailers can see the party's vehicles ahead of them.

Actions?

OOC: This assumes that we are going with Dawid's final order of march.

Ondar returns from his stroll along the makeshift encampment's perimeter.  It is not immediately clear to him whether anyone took his hygiene advice to heart, but he figures he'd smell the results soon enough.  Resigned that he is not getting his sidearm or radio back any time soon, he moves to the KAMAZ gun truck he had driven out of Zwolen and retrieves his pack from the cab.  He reaches in to one of the side pockets and produces a box of 7.62x54R ammunition from which he extracts three rounds.  He then places the box back in his pack.  He releases the magazine from his SVU-AS and methodically places each of the three rounds into the magazine's feed and replaces it snugly within the well of his weapon.

After a brief and somewhat one-sided discussion regarding seating assignments and march orders, Ondar climbs aboard the Polish troop carrier and seats himself across from Warrant Officer Milk.  The pre-dawn air is frigid, but the weather conditions seem favorable.  He is pleased that the available moonlight will allow him to spare the batteries on his Nighthawks and it will be dawn again in no time.  Soon the team is again underway.  Ondar closes his eyes and attempts to get some rest.



[Ondar]
Honker Troop Bay
SVU-AS (10/10)
Along for the ride

The ride on the back was cold, uncomfortable. Dressed in a sweater, Dawid pulled his balacalva down from his mouth.

Pulling up his NVGs he looked over at Griet.

"Well, looks like we have company. We'll soon see if they fall for whatever trick is arranged at the Jeep. It shall be impressive, no doubt!*

He looked around at the darkened terrain passing them by. It was overgrown farmland, flat as a board. He knew that they were on the flats between the river to the East and the ridge to the West. No real place for an ambush, except the likely-deserted littel roadside hamlets that dotted the long straight throughfare connecting Koznieice and Zwollen.

Kozieinice was once a thriving agricultrual centre, the County Seat with a large thermal powerplant. It had also been a bustling Jewish community prior to the Nazis.

"Wonderful, just fucking beautiful. Saints and the Black Madonna preserve us. I need to get shit-faced drunk, and soon. If we live long enough."

Sighing he put the handset of the radio near his mouth pressed transmit.

"Sunray this is Eagle calling."

When he got a response, he continued.

"I see two vehicles now in pursuit. Range is three hundred fifty metres. They are keeping pace. Scout cars, Russian BDRM or Polish OT-65. Night-vision capable."

"Ah, my mistake, there is one scout car and at least two vehicles following in convoy. One scout car, two plus vehicled following. Do you understand?"

He turned to speak to Griet, but what could he say? The die would soon be cast. Nowhere to hide, soon nowhere to run if there was a roadblock ahead.

* OOC: It seems somewhat unclear whether the pursuit has cleared the Jeep or not at the point it was spotted. It kind of seems like they haven't, so I'll go with that.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:18, Sat 29 Nov 2008.

Griet frowned as she set up the PKMG and checked the rocket she'd been given. The pursuers were too close, they must have seen them, "I don't think they'll stop at the jeep," she said, "they'll probably just keep coming and chase us down."

She sighed, it had been a long night, "Dawid, I think we need to prepare for action, if you agree, I think we should tell the Captain we need to either try to outrun them or fight back now. My preference would be to fight back, but that might draw more attention from the town."

The truck jounced. He tried to keep it simple so he could be heard over the roar of the truck.

"Yes, action soon enough, and we are as ready as we can be until we have more information. We shall see! It's a stalemate. We can't stop right now in the open. Those heavy machineguns will cut through the tail..." He gestured at the tailgate, "like paper! But they will keep their distance from our guns. Until we are out of ammunition. If we stop the whole group and deploy we'll be outflanked through the fields, hit from the North, from Kozienice."

As he talked he kept an ear on the radio.

"We need to get off this damn road. Do not worry, we will be in the forest soon enough. If we bloody their nose in there, they might call it a day."

Speaking of the day, it seemed like time was flying away from them. The sky wasn't yet light with the autumn pre-dawn, but would be soon enough.

OOC: Edited some dialogue for clarification.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:05, Sun 30 Nov 2008.

Tucker takes whatever gear he had taken with him on the raid and whatever stuff they managed to pick up (and his personal gear of course) and heads over to the squad carrier.  He strips the magazine of the AK-74 he liberated from the garage and clears the chamber of the weapon and safing it while he adds the loose round to the magazine (25 rounds left) and adds it to the groups, now portable, armory.

Robert makes sure that he lends a hand to whatever needs to be done in preparation to helping the small convoy move out of the area and towards Warsaw and their original destination.  Once they're ready to go, he takes his position in the gunner's slot and makes sure the weapon is ready to go.  "We're about to have company real soon if we don't get a move on now!  Estimated range is about Four-Zero-Zero meters!"

Tucker
Gunners mount on squad carrier

Dave hears this and mutters "Aww shit." He quickly stows his bedroll and aid bag on the floorboards of the truck and climbs in.

"Sunray roger. All call signs, keep moving. Increase speed." Bayer replies into his radio. He rises in the back of the squad carrier and looks first at the trailing element then the area ahead of them.

"Quyen, where's that RPG?"

OOC - Rae, can you give a description of the land, mostly ahead of us.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:38, Sun 30 Nov 2008.

Dawid acknowledged Konrad's reply.

Ducking under the tarp over the forward cargo bed, he leaned into through the back window into the sleeping/equipment berth behind the crew cab of the huge truck.

"Adam, keep pace with the others, we're speeding up!"

He motioned Griet over, pulling out the three of the smoke grenades.

"Keep to my left, as we face backwards. I will be on the right side, over here."

"Stay down behind the gun, in case they take potshots."

"When I call "SMOKE!" pull the pin and just drop one, one, over the side. Nice and easy. I will do the same if I need to. This is in case they stop to engage us with a missile or try for some long-range fire."

"When I call "STOP!" then get ready to go over the side. We will not be able to fight from the back of the truck. Go over what side I go over, which will probably be the truck's left one. Head for the ditch. Understand? Not the truck, the ditch."

"You hande all the ammunition for the PKM and the RPK-74, as well as the PRK-74 itself (and your own rifle) and the rockets. I will handle the PKM machinegun and my own weapons."

There was a case of MG ammo plus several cans wtih spare belts. The 12 spare magazines for the RPK-74 SAW were in 2 ammo pouches.

"If we have to run away, then form up on me and we'll head for the forest to the west, then try to get over the ridge by daylight."

"Remember, if we crash, try to get out or over to the forest side of the road. Not the river."

He made sure that the ammunition was piled against one of the drop-down metal side gates on the left side of the KAMAZ, where they would be handy in case of a rapid bailout.

"Dawid," Griet said as she moved things around and grabbed the smoke grenade he'd given her, "if I take all that stuff I won't be able to move, let alone run. I'll take what I can but it won't be much."

In reply to Griet Niewiadomska (msg #12):

He shook his head, smiling at her.

"Dump it out the side into the ditch so we have it if we fight, no need to carry, understand?"

"If you have to priortise, grab the machinegun ammunition in cans. For the RPK-74 and the rest of the ammunition, just know where it is if things happen fast."

"When I give the signal will take some time for us to actually stop, so gather what you can and be ready to go over the side and try for the ditch. I'll try and put down the side gate so it'll be easier."

Dawid looked at her confidently. "You can do it, and if not it's all right, do not worry."

"Believe me, if we run for our lives, then indeed most of it will be left behind, do not worry."

He leaned back in the truck cab, instructing Adam to stop when said, and if so do it on the left side of the road as close to the ditch as possible, and to get out that side as well because that was where there will be. He relayed this to Griet.

"If we stop without actually getting out, then I'll let you both know. But I don't think so."

He made sure Griet had 3 of the 6 smoke grenades, and knew how to use them. You never knew with these Navy types!
This message was last edited by the player at 16:15, Sun 30 Nov 2008.

Mariusz heard the alert on the radio and twisted back in the side car to see what was happening. His heart beat loudly in his chest and his mouth went dry.

He picked up the radio mic and keyed it on, "Sunray," he called, hoping Bayer was listening, "I suggest that my unit picks up speed at the next corner and takes up an ambush position. When our last unit reaches the bend have them drop smoke and then everyone speeds up. Hopefully the pursuers will miss us in the scramble and we can launch a suprise attack, Chef, out."

He got close to Jason's ear, "We're being followed by at least three vehicles. I've suggested that at the next bend we accelerate and find an ambush point."

Griet smiled back at Dawid, "OK, I'll do what I can." she patted the AA gun beside her, "We had 23mm AA guns on our destroyer, they're close range was considered to be 550ms or so with this sort of ammo. If we fire first, we might be able to incapacitate the vehicle in front. It seems a fairly accurate weapon, even I managed to hit what I was aiming at. I'd suggest trying to limit it to 2 round micro bursts if you can, that is, until we have no choice left but to spray and pray. It will be difficult for us to hit them, but it'll be just as hard for them to hit us."

In reply to Griet Niewiadomska (msg #15):

"Yeah, we're probably armed with basically the same weapon. We got the dual 23mm, they got the same 23mms or single 30mm, pretty much the same at this range. Stand off."

"This is a long road, if they get a stretch and have some guided rockets... That could be interesting."

"If they want to trade shots, I think I could snipe them. I'm handy with the 23mm cannon, in burst or single mode. I am very glad to hear the same about you! I was the best shot in my Regiment, no word of lie. With everything, guns, cannon, mortars. I apologise, I do not mean to brag or demean your no-doubt considerable abilities or bravery."

He looked embarrassed, like he didn't want to put her down or anything. That said, he got down so that he was behind the gun as much as possible, looking out with the goggles.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:54, Sun 30 Nov 2008.

Griet shrugged, "I wasn't best at anything. If it is a stand off, it's best to shoot first, after that all hell will break loose. That's why I'm glad you're shooting, not me. Maybe the best time would be just before popping the smoke, as I roll them off, you fire. That way our shot is in the clear and maybe we get lucky and obscure their shot. Good luck if you need to take it."

"Okay, kiddo," Jason calls over the noise of the engine.  "Let me know what Bayer says about your suggestion."  Hearing the other vehicles in the convoy speed up and come closer, he accelerates to maintain interval.  Concentrating primarily on the road ahead, he looks for a suitable curve.

Speaking to Konrad..."Hauptmann! We have two choices here. One is too pull ahead and run. We do this by popping some smoke and taking a road they did not see us go on- it's hard to track at night. Second is to pull ahead and ambush but we will die if we do this- their trucks have armor that will stop small arms and we will have to have a 100% hit with our rockets which is a pipe dream. These guys are their rapid reaction force trained and armed to the teeth. They have more than likely trained with each other for the last few years. They will eat our lunch..."


"Now, I have saved a secret and I'm willing to use it to get us out of this mess. Get on the radio and tell all units to follow and hold weapons tight, then we pop smoke and I send out my two special smoke."


"So, if you're OK with it call and tell all vehicles to follow and then from here we throw two smokes from you and my two special ones. What do you say boss?"

OOC: "Special" smoke is CS gas grenade.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:25, Mon 01 Dec 2008.

In reply to Griet Niewiadomska (msg #17):

He grinned, projecting his usual good-natured confidence, trying to bouy his comrade's spirits.

"Ah but you see, where the positions and weapons are the same, then it all comes down to skill! In that department we certainly have the edge, do not fear. So there is really nothing to worry about, is there?"

"Here, hold these. If you please."

Dawid gave her his night-goggles.

Casually, he took out his cigarette pack, offered her one, and then (with some difficulty) bent down under the cover of the tarp and lit himself a smoke. Fuck it, they already had their pursuers in plain sight, no crafty Indian trick was needed to hide the scent of tobacco over the machine oil and burning alcohol stench spewing of the huge KAMAZ engine.

Laughing, he flipped the chasing hounds the bird and blew smoke in their direction.

"Yeah, go fuck your mothers, hey? Lousy fuckers! See you in Hell or at the point of my cannon! I hope the radiation made your balls fall off!"
This message was last edited by the player at 22:25, Sun 30 Nov 2008.

Griet took a cigarette and after handing back Dawid's night vision goggles, she lit the end. She inhaled deeply and said, "I'll only smoke half of it, the other half I'll finish to celebrate you smoking the bastards behind us."

October 12, 2000
0415hrs.
40F
Scattered clouds; full moon
Approximately 9km south of Kozienice

The chase continues through overgrown fields dotted with scattered trees. The trees grow thicker as the party travels north until, up ahead, a dark wall of them stand before the faint blue glow of the moonlit sky.

The trailers continue to match the speed of the party's own convoy. As the road curves slightly back and forth behind them, Dawid and Griet can make out two more vehicles following them- another large truck and a smaller, Jeep-like one- making the pursuing force five in total.

The forest is about 1km up ahead. About 100m up ahead, Jason and Mariusz make out a dirt road forking to the left, running parallel to the more distant woodline.

Actions?
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:26, Mon 01 Dec 2008.

Hearing they had company, Anneka didn't bother to send a reply over the radio - Walter keeping up with the leading vehicles would do that for her.
Although she was slightly disappointed that the heaviest weapon they had in the truck was her RPK-74, she did at least have the best night vision equipment amongst the entire group. Taking advantage of the technical superiority, she lent carefully out so she could observe behind them and attempted to identify the exact makeup of the pursuing force...

Relaxed and confident-sounding, Dawid relayed the information about the additional vehicles.

Seeing that nothing was going to happen for a moment, he went through his pack and grabbed some food and stuffed it in a bag, enough for a day's rations for the three of them. He stuck his head back inside the cab and made sure that if they bailed out of the truck, Adam would grab these meagre supplies as well.

That done, he looked at the gun and did some figuring based on Griet's suggestion.

"I think I could take some single potshots, even on the run. If we have to stop for whatever reason, then I could take time to improve my aim. There's nothing fundamentally different between this weapon and any other cannon, just because it's usually fired in large bursts, you can fire it singly."

"Now if we hit, well, it depends. Fragmentation rounds might not penetrate into the compartment, but if they are traveling they might be surprised, swerve off the road. We could get lucky, destroy the vision blocks and other optics, lights, their night vision."

He clarified that they could (and probably would be forced to) drop smoke on the run, as he agreed with Griet that stopping might allow for some quick shots. "So, if I say "SMOKE" then just drop a grenade over the side to confuse them. If I say "STOP" get ready to abandon ship. If I say "GET OUT", well, we're walking."
This message was last edited by the player at 06:26, Tue 02 Dec 2008.

Craning her neck to see behind her and past the two larger trucks between the Tarpan-Honker and the enemy pursuit force, Anneka can make out several of the lead vehicles through her modern NVGs. Due to the intervening friendly vehicles and the curvature of the road, Anneka can only see the chasing vehicles intermitently but it is clear that the first vehicle is a small armored reconaissance vehicle- either an OT-65 or BRDM-2- with a turret-mounted machine gun of some kind (it isn't clear whether the weapon is a 14.5mm HMG or 7.62mm LMG). The second vehicle is harder to identify. It has the rough shape, size, and wheel configuration of a large truck but it's smooth, slab-sides, and angular cab suggest that it has been armored to some degree. Several weapon barrels portrude from various apertures in the truck's thick outer hide, most notably the circular tub atop the truck's cab. The third truck is a veritable twin of the second but the last large truck and the Jeep-like trailing vehicle appear to be standard, unarmored variants. Due to their size and number, it is likely that the pursuing trucks are carrying at least a full platoon of the seasoned anti-bandit troops rumoured to have been laying in wait at Pulawy.

Satisfied she'd gained just about as much information as was possible under the conditions, Anneka pulled herself back into the cab and grabbed the radio.
"This is Starlight. Five vehicles. First is lightly armoured with turreted machinegun. Second and third appear to be trucks with juryrigged armour plate, firing ports and possible pintle mounted heavier weapon. Last two are softskin."
"Estimate total manpower at approximately thirty soldiers."
"Advise leading two vehicles pull ahead under cover fire of trailing two and conduct quick ambush with grenades and RPGs."

Sure, they had armour, but it appeared to all be intended to protect mainly against small arms and bolster morale of those inside rather than provide any serious protection.

"They're faster than us and they'll not give up easily."
Three out of the four vehicles they'd acquired could probably keep pace, but the Ural KT-L tow truck was another matter entirely.

on hearing the radio traffic from the major sam speaks to the Hauptmann.." Boss if we stop we will be fucked in the ass. lets throw smoke and fight another day when the odds are on our side."




sam
m25
speaking to konrad

Ondar sits in the troop compartment of the Honker silently gripping his weapon - with his lips slightly pursed and his eyes bugged out.  As he follows the American's conversation with the German, his head swivels back and forth between them like he was watching a game of table tennis.

He looks plaintively across the cargo bed at Milk.

"Is Major crazy?"



[Ondar]
Honker Troop Bay
SVU-AS (10/10)
Wondering

In the darkened cargo bay of the Tarpan, Quyen answers the Hauptmann, "I put the RPG under the seats."

She was seated further in and had no view of the pursuing vehicles. Listening to the radio chatter and Bayer and McCoy in the back, she waits for the word to deploy or keep moving. Couple mines would be nice right about now, she thought.

"No chance of outrunning them?" she asks. Thinking about time and distance she says, "If they are keeping up with our speed and are under 400 meters away, thats not any time to setup an ambush without them driving on top before we're anywhere near in position."

"However, if we can speed up to setup an ambush... then we can speed up to lose them, right?"

In reply to Anneka Soleblume (msg #26):

Hearing that the following vehicle "only" had a heavy machinegun instead of an equivalent autocannon, Dawid focused the NVGs back on the pursuers, cursing that the Russian optics were brighter and less distorted than western gear, the trade off being more granularity.

Not being able to tell any more he gave up. He turned around and looked forward over the cab, then waved.

When he had Anneka's attention, he jerked a thumb back at their pursuers, tapped the side of his helmet, then pointed at her and made a vigorous slashing motion across his throat.

That pointed reminder delivered, he spoke to Griet.

"Risky, but not impossible. As an artilleryman I prefer a straightforward blow people up approach top problem-solving."

"Standard counter-ambush drill would be for them to stop and deploy in a flanking maneuver. Fighting from the march isn't recommended unless they are motor-rifle troops."

"Now, these 23mms clearly outgun and outrange anything they have, if "all" they have are machineguns. If a kill zone is set up where there are ambushers in close, we could be sitting back in support and pick them off with single shots as they deployed or tried to advance on us. It would be like target shooting ducks on the wing. Of course, probably highly fatal for any ambushing party in close. Such is the lot of a soldier."

He sighed. "Of course, having enough time to, say, plant a 120mm shell as an improvised mine, and deploy the mortar, would be nice."

Bayer toggles his radio, "Eagle, Sunray. What's your estimate on how much damage you can do if you slow a little? Have enough ammo to knock out the lead vehicle?"

While he waits for a reply he says to McCoy, "I know. I don't want to lose our any vehicles so soon. I've got a feeling smoke won't do too much. Get some HC ready though. I'd rather smoke cover than gas."

"Mariusz, get ready to jump ahead and setup facing our direction. A defensible position. Wait for my word."

Speaking aloud he says while holding down the transmit switch, "I'm going to take the advice of both of you. Drop HC and see if we can lose them... once the flak and tow trucks get a little closer to us first so they don't get stuck in the smoke."

"If it doesn't work I want the dismounts to ready for a hasty ambush centered around the motorcycle's AGS. Dawid will try to buy us some time with that cannon."

"Bring the RPG if we need to go through with the backup." He thought for a moment... then adds quietly "When."

Griet lowered herself down behind the assortment of boxes piled on the truck. The RPK was ready to use and she had the smoke grenades in her hands. She looked up at Dawid and said, "For what we are about to receive, may the Lord make us truly thankful..."

"Will do," Mariusz aknowledged Bayer's order and turned to shout in Jason's ear.

"We're to speed up a little and see if we can find a good ambush spot facing the way we are coming. If we can, we set up and tell the Kaptain." his eyes probbed the terrain ahead hoping to find a suitable spot soon.

In reply to Konrad Bayer (msg #31):

Dawid rolled his eyes. Weren't they broadcasting on an open channel? Still, the pursuers were well aware of the AA gun, so the options were not unknown to them. None of the following vehicles seemed to be radio vans, maybe no one had discovered their operating frequencies and was listening in.

Taking a second to shoot a sardonic glance over Griet he looked back at the chasers, did some figuring. Lets see, he thought, accuracy stopped and moving vs. survivability up on the open gun vs. ammunition supply vs. penetration of the vehicles' armour, add in others to draw fire and provide cover for more shots...

He wished he knew what Konrad was thinking.

Stopping dead in the road would be a real nail-biting experience, and he knew he would certainly hit the lead vehicle several times as it closed because of the increased accuracy, more hits meant more chance of a kill. In return he would come under withering fire on the open gun, increasing the chance a lucky hit was scored, ending the duel. Shooting while on the run was much less accurate but that went both ways and he probably could take as many pot shots as he liked. Stopping under the cover of other supporting firepower would be best for accuracy, but still not 100%.

"Sunray, while moving at any speed 50%, with 80% survival. Stopping with no support, 60% with 30% survival. Say, 70% across the board with support."

"This shit aint HC boss, that's just thick smoke; this is CS gas. One grenade covers a football field and anyone inside it will shit and puke on themselves. I want to drop two about 2 seconds apart to fuck them up good. They are bound to the road so they can't swerve off or they go into the trees. If they slow or stop then we outrun them. At 55mph we go 80 feet per second. Let's drop the gas. Their trucks aren't sealed and they won't have masks. This shit hangs around for a few miniutes and the effects last until you wash it off."
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:08, Wed 03 Dec 2008.

"OKAY!" Jason shouts over the wind and engine noise.  He then twists the throttle and speeds up to pull away from the other vehicles, looking for a suitable ambush site.

"Roger that boss," Tucker replies back into the radio as he turns his attention to the rear to keep an eye out on what's going on.  "I hope we didn't bite off more than we can chew this time.  Just like Sheen said in 'Apocalypse Now', "Never get off the damn boat!"

Milk frowns and replies,

"Is James Brown the 'Godfather of Soul?'"

Realizing that Ondar probably has no idea who James Brown is he adds,

"Yeah."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:11, Wed 03 Dec 2008.

The Ural motorcycle accelerates and pulls away from the remainder of the convoy, passing the dirt road on the left. The wall of trees up ahead begins looming closer as the bike quickly closes the distance. Jason, concentrating on the road ahead, sees nothing amiss. Mariusz, on the other hand, through his borrowed NVGs, notices something odd under the trees, now just under 400m distant. A rounded object, clearly man-made, reflecting an oblong sliver of moonlight from the edge of the treeline near where the dark strip of road enters the wood*. Mariusz has seen plenty of Polish army helmets in his short life, and he has no doubts that that's what he is seeing right now.

Several hundred meters behind the motorcyle, the party's trio of trucks continues on apace. The pursuit force remains 300 or so meters behind them, matching their speed and keeping their distance.

OOC: *Mariusz recognizes this wood as one of the national wildlife parks nearly surrounding Kozienice.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:14, Wed 03 Dec 2008.

With konrad not answering, Sam smiles, lifts the grenade to his chest, and pulls the pin and drops it over the side of the truck. He counts "one thousand one, one thousand two" then pulls the pin on the second grenade and drops it over the side also. Both grenades were his last bet and now they both bellow thick, blinding smoke to his rear. He smiles and says "Oops, I slipped."

"Boss, now lets take the road to the left and get the fuck out of here; the cycle can take up tail end charlie..."
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:49, Wed 03 Dec 2008.

Anneka's attention was focused behind the small convoy as she attempted to line up her RPK-74 for a few bursts of hopefully effective suppressive fire. Walter, she thought, was certainly trustworthy enough to guide the lumbering vehicle without her unwanted assistance....

Dawid looked between the looming treeline to the north and the pursuers to the south.

If they were going to engage the chasers at range it would have to be damn soon. Better get prepared for that possibility. In the woods, the gun would be useless as it would be unable to fire at anything other than close range, suicide for the operator.

He mounted the gun and adjusted it so the twin barrels were pointed down the road. The big circular cross-hairs were centred on the following scout vehicle. Rushing wind battered the back of his helmet as he concentrated.

"Griet, get down, ADAM, HOLD HER STEADY!"

He pressed and held down the triggers, and the cannons hammered. Glowing green tracers screamed back down the road, seeking their prey. Garish muzzle flashes lit up the back of the truck.

"YEAH, GET SOME YOU MOTHER FUCKERS!"

Empty shell casings spat from the dual receivers, ringing harshly on the metal truck bed. As soon as the breech clanged empty he dove off the gun to the hard metal deck, in case there was any return fire.

2x 23mm Autocannon 49/200 rounds
Mounting ZU-23, Firing 5x 10-rd bursts at lead vehicle
Dismounting
This message was last edited by the player at 14:18, Wed 03 Dec 2008.

Too excited to remember radio protocol, Mariusz spoke frantically, "Kaptain, Kaptain, ambush about 400ms ahead! At least I think so, I advise you take the left fork we just passed. Do you want us to probe the ambush or join your tail?"

He waited for a reply before telling Jason to slow, any move now might trigger an attack.

Griet popped the two smoke grenades she'd been given and then rolled them off the back of the truck. She ducked behind her makeshift barricade and grabbed the RPK.

Bayer forgets all about the gas, the ZU firing, and even the trailing enemy convoy. Leaning over other passengers he bangs his fist against the Tarpan's cab. Then he yells forward - "Jan, take the next left!"

Squeezing the transmit, he says quickly, "Nein. Get back with us. What do you mean, ambush? Report, over."

Mariusz heard Bayer's order and question and yelled at Jason, "Emergency 180 now! Enemy ahead! Follow the trucks!"

After that he used the radio and said, "In the woods, 400m from my location, at least one soldier in a defensive position. Where there's one, there'll be more. Do you want us to fire on the trucks following you as we take the track? I might get lucky and slow them."

Quyen slings her rifle. Pulling the RPG out, she stuffs a reload between the straps of her webbing and holds onto the launcher in anticipation for a rapid dismount.

"What the fuck?  An ambush up ahead?  These guys can't be that good or maybe just a helmet hanging on a tree?  OH SHIT!  There goes the that crazy fucking Pole Dawid opening up on the trucks," Tucker thinks to himself reacting to the call from Mariusz and then seeing and hearing Dawid open up on the vehicles pursuing them.  Tucker turns his attention forward as Bayer calls to Jan to take the left road/path as he begins to scan for another ambush through his own NVG's.

Tucker
Squad Carrier- Gunner spot
Searching for another ambush ahead of their new route

At Konrad's prompting, Jan pushes hard on the brakes and cranks the wheel to the left, steering the Tarpan-Honker off of the blacktop and on to the dirt road paralleling the woodline looming to the north. With the loss of peripheral vision and odd forshortening effect induced by the NVGs he's wearing, the manouver is much more difficult than it otherwise would be, and the squad carrier careens off of the dirt track. Its tires spin for a few revolutions on the wet earth before regaining their purchase, propelling the truck forward witha  sudden lurch. Jan recovers and gets the Tarpan-Honker back on to the dirt road which, upon closer inspection, is actually paved with crushed rock. Everyone in the squad carrier is jostled about violently before it is back on track and heading west.

By the time the Tarpan-Honker makes the abrupt turn, two large, white clouds are forming on the road just south of the turn-off. Through his own borrowed NVGs, Walter, at the wheel of the big Ural tow-truck sees the squad carrier cut sharply left on to the bright green strip of the crushed rock road. The Ural passes through the growing cloud, causing it to swirl and eddy in its wake. Unused to both the goggles and the controls of a large, heavy land vehicle, Walter nevertheless does his best to follow the lead vehicle. The Ural's tires hiss as he slams on the brakes, trying desperately to make the sharp turn. Turning the wheel hard over, he still over-shoots the turn by a few meters, instead bumping over unpaved, uneven ground. The Ural bounces over a small hummock and a painful metalic crashing can be heard coming from behind its cab. Something has come loose.

The KAMAZ, in the tail-gunner position is in a better position to make the turn. In the bed of the gun-truck, Dawid and Griet are preoccupied with giving their pursuers pause to reconsider continuing the chase. Dawid strains to bring the twin barrels of the ZU-23-2 to bear on the nearest enemy vehicle, the OT-65 or BRDM-2. With no stabilization system, accurately firing on the move is a near impossible task. As the distant armored car enters the crosshairs of the gun's open sites, Dawid depresses the foot pedal trigger and the gun thunders into the night. Ten, glowing, tennis ball-sized orbs emerge from the huge starburst muzzle blast of the gun's right barrel and race towards the enemy convoy. Three crash into the armored car, sending massive showers of sparks cascading into the darkness. Two appear to hit the hull while the third hits near the left, front wheel. The armored car shudders, wobbles, and pulls to the left, slowing down abruptly. The trucks following behind it are forced to follow suit. The remaining seven 23mm rounds race off into the night, growing smaller and dimmer every second.

Dawid presses down a second time on the foot pedal to send off a second burst. Nothing happens.

The KAMAZ passes through the white cloud, now taller than the cab of the truck and wider than the four lane road. Adam, at the wheel, is oddly unnaffected. Behind him, in the open cab, Griet and Dawid each get a heavy dose of the gas. Both are too preoccupied with the mixed emotions ellicited by their small victory over the pursuit force and the agony of the apparent feed jam to notice the cloud. However, both are soon overwhelmed by its effects, coughing and wretching uncontrollably, their eyes so filled with stinging tears that their vision is severely impaired.

As the KAMAZ emerges from the gas, Adam almost fails to notice the Tarpan-Honker and the Ural veering off to the left. He skillfully manouvers the big 6x6 onto the crushed-rock road and follows the others, deftly avoiding what appears to be a broken crate lying on the edge of the road. His passengers, however, are too sick to even realize what is happening.

The Ural motorcyle/sidecar, heading towards an apparent ambush in the woodline, slows and pulls a U-turn, heading away from the forrest and back towards the turn off. Through their NVGs, they notice a large, peculiar white curtain drawn across the road south of the turn-off.

Actions?

OOC: Dawid and Griet both passed panic rolls but failed CON checks and will be sick as dogs for about 10 minutes. Adam passed both. All of the above PCs can post IC- I'd love to hear what they're thinking and feeling through all of this- but they can't do much other than cough, retch, and secret copius amounts of mucus.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:19, Fri 05 Dec 2008.

"Hang on, kiddo!"  Jason hits the brakes and whips the motorcycle/sidecar combination to the left through a 180-degree turn.  Back they go to the turn-off, swinging onto the gravel road well behind the line of vehicles.  Jason guns the engine to catch up to the others.

In reply to Jason Kasparov (msg #50):

Dawid lay gasping on the truck bed.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:12, Fri 05 Dec 2008.

"Wow, that shit worked better then the last time! .Holy shit! Well, I guess they won't be following us for a while..."
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:20, Fri 05 Dec 2008.

Holy Mother of Christ, Griet thought as she rolled up into a ball. Her eyes burned and the tears streaming from her eyes drew lines of fiery pain down her cheeks. Her nose and mouth filled with bitter mucus as she coughed and retched, the hot food she'd eaten earlier came up, adding the harsh tang of bile to the chemical cocktail and she coughed and retched more even when her stomach was empty.

She fought for breath and was unable to find any, I'm going to die, she thought, the Americans had used them as bait to draw the enemy to them and then gassed them. She hoped the callous bastards burned in the special ring of hell reserved for traitors and back-stabbers.

Rolled into a ball she coughed more, her eyes unable to open and her throat so constricted that she wondered if she'd asphyxiate first or drown on the thick mucus that streamed from her nose. As a final humiliation, she felt her bowels void and empty themselves into her last clean clothes.

As breath still failed to come, bright lights strobed and lanced across her the back of her eyes.

Mariusz saw the fork in the road and got on the radio again, "Kaptain, we are at the fork, do you want me to loose off some rounds before following?"

He looked around as he awaited orders.

Sitting in the passenger seat of the Honker, Dave listens to the excitment around him, but apparently lost in his own thoughts.

When Jan makes the left turn and everybody gets thrown about the cabin, Dave shoots him a dirty look but says nothing.

Seeing the truck is now the lead vehicle, he automatically starts scanning forward of the truck, taking over "point" duties.

Thrown about as the heavy truck struggles around the sudden corner, Anneka almost lost her grip on the RPK she'd been trying to bring to bear on their pursuers.
Seeing the stream of glowing projectiles impacting on and around the lead vehicle she quickly changed her priorities to simply hanging on and trying to work out just what had caused the sudden change in direction.
Still looking back, she'd changed her focus to trying to look through the cabin rear window in a vain attempt to see into the cargo bed.

"Sunray, roger Mariusz. Fire then link back up with us quick as you can." he replies into the radio mic. With one arm bracing himself on the canvas support bars overhead, he watches to the rear. There was little he could see, but the fact the two rear vehicles were still there suggested to him things were working out. As for where they were heading though.

"We've got no scout at the moment Tuck. Keep a good look out ahead." he says over his shoulder. "Weapons free. You even think it might look like trouble, open fire."

Thinking about the ZU ammo, the team's status, and the enemy pursuers, Bayer toggles the radio once again and says, "Eagle, Sunray. Send Sitrep, over."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:31, Sat 06 Dec 2008.

Mariusz aimed at the end of the strange cloud of smoke and fired the MK-19. He played the rounds around a little and then slapped Kasparov's shoulder and pointed down the dirt track.

Mariusz
Mk-19 50/50
Indirect Autofire

The Tarpan-Honker, now on point, leads the Ural and the KAMAZ westward along the crushed rock road paralleling the woodline. On the column's right, a burst of flame illuminates a patch of the woods for a moment and, from that point, a ball of fire streaks forth towards the tow-truck. It's flight seems to take several seconds although, in reality, it takes a fraction of that.

About ten meters from the back wheel of the Ural, the rocket detonates with a huge crash and brilliant splash of flames. In the passenger seat of the chilly truck cab, Anneka can feel the warmth of the blast as well as hear the patter of shrapnel bouncing off of the vehicle.

Those looking left, away from the woodline, and back towards the pursuit force, can see the lead vehicle- clearly a BRDM-2- still moving north up the main road, albeit at a much slower pace. The left, front tire is shredding and smoldering but it rolls on, leading the other four trucks of the pursuit force.

Jason successfully reverses course and heads back towards the turn-off. As they near the towering smoke cloud, Mariusz fires a suppressive burst high into the smoke, hoping to at least deter the enemy convoy from continuing the chase. Five grenades leave the barrel and hurl towards where Mariusz hopes the enemy will be. Usually, the recoil of the Mk-19 is manageable, but this time, the bucking automatic grenade launcher seems to break loose from its mounting, almost landing in the startled young man's lap. The last round of the five-round burst flies well wide, detonating in full view off to the right, past the edge of the smoke cloud.

Those among the convoy looking back towards the pursuit force can see a ripple of four flashes around the armored car as the grenades from the Mk-19 nearly find their target.

As Jason turns right on to the track to pull in behind his friends, now several hundred meters ahead of him, both he and Mariuz taste the bitter, stinging bite of the CS gas. Their noses run and their eyes water and both can feel it in their lungs but, fortunately, it was very minor dose and neither man is incapacitated. Somewhat preoccupied, both Jason and Mariusz don't see the smashed crate of three 120mm rounds thrown from the tow-truck near the turn.

The BRDM, wounded and assailed, slows further as it nears the white cloud. The gun in its turret turns towards the fleeing vehicles and hammers out a series of parting shots. Large tracers follow the Ural, and at least two 14.5mm rounds tear into its left, rear tire, instantly tearing it apart.

Walter screams at Anneka, "I'm doing the best I can! Shit! I think we're hit!" He struggles with the wheel as it pulls to the left.

A few muzzle flashes flicker from the darkness under the woods to the north but the convoy is well out of effective small arms range and no harm is done. The firing quickly peters out as the frustrated ambushers realize that they are wasting ammunition. Similarly, the pursuit force remains disciplined and holds their fire. It is now stopped on the road, about 150 meters from the turn.

The party has avoided being ambushed and caught between two enemy forces. Furthermore they have increased their lead over their pursuers. On the other hand, the wounded Ural tow-truck is forced to slow down, cutting the group's speed to an agonizingly slow 25kmph.

Actions?
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:49, Sat 06 Dec 2008.

Dave twists in his seat. trying to swing the M240 to bear to the right at the incoming fire, but before he can twist around, the truck is past the point of origin. He shrugs to himslef, and faces forward again, concentrating on wathing forward.

"Kaptain, this is Mariusz," Mariusz called down the radio, "be advised, my vehicle's main weapon is now usless. From what I can see, the enemy armoured car is still going," he paused to look at the gun truck, "I can't see Dawid or Griet on their gun. Assume it's U/S at present. What are your orders?"

As he waited for a reply he tried to see what had happened to his fellow Poles on the gun truck.

Even doubled up in pain and trying to draw in enough breath to keep alive for a few more seconds, Griet could hear the roar of incoming fire. As she writhed and wretched, she rubbed her eyes to see if she could see Dawid.

Her vision cleared momentarily and she saw Dawid doubled up in agony too. Then the pain in her eyes redoubled and she retreated into her own personal world of misery.

In the back of her mind the mantra of hatred for the ones who had betrayed them continued, stupid Americans, not only did their sly little trick fail to stop their pursuit, it had incapacitated the one weapon capable of evening the fight out. She wondered how these impulsive morons had managed to become the leaders of the free world.

  "Roger that boss!  I'm on it now," Tucker replies back Bayer as he concentrates his full attention forward since they're now the lead vehicle.

Tucker continues to scan the areas to the front and sides sweeping the AGS-17 covering the firing arcs as he searches for targets.

Tucker
AGS-17
Scanning for targets/threats

"SHIT!" Jason yells as the grenade launcher's mount fails and the weapon falls into the sidecar.  "You OK, buddy?" he calls to Mariusz.  Then they pass by the fringe of the gas cloud and catch a bit of the CS.  "*koff* Damn! *koff, koff*"

Blinking his watery eyes in order to clear them, Jason continues following the column at a distance.  Once the wind of passage has blown the effects of the gas out of his eyes and he can see fairly clearly again, he speeds up and passes by the left of the trucks, giving the wavering Ural as wide a berth as possible without running off the side of the road.

Shrapnel bounced from metalwork and tore through canvas, driving home just how exposed and vulnerable the unarmoured truck really was. And then heavy machinegun fire ripped into the rear, somehow missing the hundreds of litres of flammable fuel and tearing apart one of the trucks heavy steelbelted tyres.
Biting back a number of harsh words in multple languages, Anneka nursed her growing collection of bruises and snatched up the radio handset.

"Sunray this is Starlight. Vehicle damaged and must abandon. Over."

Now it was up to others to arrange for the defence of the area while the fuel reserves and anything else they could scavenge quickly were transfered...

In reply to Griet Niewiadomska (msg #62):

Dawid hacked his lungs out, gasping curses.

"Stupid... motherfucking... cock-sucking... imbeciles..."

He tore off his helmet and balaclava, then washed his streaming eyes out with his canteen, trying to douse the flames.

"Griet... water... use it..."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:24, Sun 07 Dec 2008.

Quyen hangs on, clutching the RPG and her rifle. Over the excitement she had forgotten how cold she was. She wondered if everyone was ok, but kept her mouth shut about the events in the squad carrier.

Mariusz blinked the tears away and coughed harshly, "Balls still intact, thanks. The gun's mount is broken though, I'm calling it in in more detail, get us level with the Honker if you can."

"Kaptain," he said on the radio, "the weapon appears intact, only the mounting is U/S. We can use it if we dismount." he checked the gun truck again, "Dawid is trying to wash his face, I still can't see Griet. We're going to pull up parrallel to you. Is that OK?"

Bayer replies to Anneka into the radio, "Sunray, roger. Keep moving until we find cover to inspect the damage and setup a tank hunting party for security. Out."

Looking back towards the rest of the team's vehicles and says, "Roger Mariusz. She didn't fall off did she?" After he said it he wondered if she could have been hit instead, but he left his question as it was.

Aloud he asks, "Where's the heavy tripod?"

Then banging on the cab again to get the driver's attention, he says, "Jan, find us some cover and pull over. Like trees or a farm."

"I didn't see her on the road, Sir, but my eyes were smarting from the gas, must have been an interesting SNAFU, there." he said, mistaking gas grenades for smoke was pretty amateur after all, "I'll pull up by the guntruck and see if she's hiding somewhere. If not, do I have permission to go back and look for her?"

Jan shouts over the sound of the Honker's engine and the crunch of the gravel under its tires.

"It looks like the road curves to the right up ahead! We'll be headed into the woods soon!"

(NPCed)
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:21, Sun 07 Dec 2008.

"Keep it going Walter," Anneka said calmly to the Pole behind the wheel, glad the darkness hid her deeply furrowed brow from view.
"You're doing great, just a bit further."
The slow progress greatly concerned her, if they didn't pick up speed soon, somehow, the enemy were certain to catch up.
Once again she lent out the window, this time not to seek their pursuers but in an attempt to see just how much damage to trucks suspension had suffered.

October 12, 2000
0430 hrs.
40F
Scattered clouds; full moon
Approximately 8km southwest of Kozienice

The convoy continues down the crushed-rock road, following it as it curves towards the northwest. The road appears to be intended for touring. Seemingly without purpose, it winds its way through copses of bare-limbed trees, around small hills, past a quaint little pond, and over a stream by way of a picturesque stone bridge. Mariusz recognizes this as part of the system of national "wilderness" parks which more or less surround the small city of Kozienice.

When last anyone saw the pursuit force, it was stopped south of the road turn off. Men were struggling to replace the tire of the armored scout car. The lingering cloud of tear gas and colored smoke seemed to be making their task more difficult, buying the party more time.

As the western sky grows brighter, the party enters the wood proper. The trees here grow thicker but there is very little underbrush. Visibility with NVGs is good and the sun will be up in a couple of hours or so. The road continues north-northwest and will likely bypass Kozienice to its west.

Up ahead, off the track to the right and down a small path is a small, solitary cottage. It is the only man-made structure anyone has seen since Zwolen. A small eastern-european car is parked beside it. Various other odds and ends in the "yard" suggest that the cottage is currently occupied although there are no obvious signs of life.

Both Dawid and Griet are recovering their sight and the retching has stopped. It is easier now to breath, but still uncomfortable.

Actions?
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:56, Wed 24 Dec 2008.

Tucker maintains his watch at the front of the convoy as it crosses the stone bridge and approaching the small cottage with a car parked out in front of it.  He keys his mike for the radio, "Knife, all radio units.  We got a structure and a small civilian vehicle ahead of us.  Possibly occupied.  Copy?" Robert swings the AGS-17 to cover the cottage and vehicle as the convoy approaches.

Tucker
AGS-17
Squad Carrier covering cottage and vehicle

Bayer bangs on the cab for Jan to stop. He then climbs over the tailgate and jumps down.

"McCoy, Tucker, Ondar... check the home. Don't kick the door in yet."

"Drivers... inspect your vehicles and report in 5 minutes. Jason, get your ride outfitted with a new weapon."

"Quyen, Mariusz, Milk... go back down the road and setup an OP."

"Doctor... check on the flak gunners, Dawid and Griet."

"Stoner... help where you can."

Bayer loads an HEDP round into his HK69. He'll then collect one of the disposable RPGs and wait around the vehicles. In less than three minutes he figured they'd know their next move - stay and ambush, or leave without the damaged truck.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:26, Tue 09 Dec 2008.

Anneka sprang from the cabin like a coiled spring, leaving the RPK-74 behind and only taking her medical bag. Glancing at the rear of the Kt-I as she passed, she was soon attending to Griet, Dawid and Adam.

"Looks like some idiot gassed you but fortunately you'll all be ok."

Until that moment she hadn't known the cloud was anything more than smoke. Now she was begining to have suspicions that perhaps there was another traitor in their midst - why else would gas have been used to eliminate their most potent defensive weapon?
Of course it could have been purely incompetence, but after Maddock's recent exposure as an enemy agent and Hicks before that, it seemed rather unlikely.

"Is the weapon ok?"

Although occupied with calming Walter while they were underfire, she had noted the short burst of fire from the ZU. There were only two reasons why Dawid would have ceased firing before the targets were destroyed - he'd been overcome by the gas at the first sniff, or the weapon itself had failed somehow.

"Odnar take rear man if you please? Tucker take cover man if you please? I will take entry."

Sam slings his rifle to his back and draws the trust H&K Pistol.
Sam also hands his RPG-18 to Konrad.

"On you mark Hauptman we will enter. Tucker I will take the right and the corner then shift to middle. You do the same but on the left. Odnar you come in get out of the funnel and take left center! this good guys???"

Sam
Stacking Up!
H&K
This message was last edited by the player at 05:02, Tue 09 Dec 2008.

Ondar crawls out of the Honker and looks to Milk.

"Let me guess," he shrugs, "Still no pistol?"

The deserter shoulders his rifle and moves out.  He quietly circles around to the north side of the structure, looking for any signs of life or recent occupancy.



[Ondar]
North of the cottage
SVU-AS (10/10)
Sweeping the area

In reply to Anneka Soleblume (msg #76):

Eyes still streaming freely, Dawid blew out strings of mucus from his nose.

"Ah... how pleasant."

He wiped his face on a clean cloth that Anneka passed to him. With some effort he gathered his thoughts.

"The gun? Got a few nice hits on the lead vehicle. Don't know if it stopped or not. Piece of shit gun jammed. I'll have a look at it later. Then some fucker let off riot gas and.... Fuck. Could have been a canister launched from one of our pursers, I suppose."

"Still, we are alive, always a commendable state! No rest for the wicked."

Mustering a weak chuckle he looked around, noted the figures moving towards the farmhouse. He raised his eyebrows quizzically, but said nothing. If the people there weren't halfway to Poznań by now, they certainly wouldn't open the door for love nor money.

As the effects of the gas had primarily worn off, through sheer force of will Dawid got his ass in gear moved down the line of vehicles, visually checking to see what was going on, if there was damage. Curious about the condition of the mortar he looked at the bullet holes and shredded tires on the Ural and clucked disappointedly at the lost mortar shells, then quickly moved on to the sheared bracket on the Motorcycle. He smiled and shook his head, but didn't say anything.

With a grunt he lifted the Mk. 19 to his shoulder and staggered back to the Kazan.

Wheezing as he reached the truck he put the Mk. 19 in the back. Then grabbed the RPK-74 and ammo pouches, transferring them to the motorcycle. On his way back to the Kazan he pulled the mount for the Mk. 19 to set up the grenade launcher to fire to the rear.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:00, Wed 10 Dec 2008.

"Hey man, lets go." Quyen says to Mariusz in the darkness. "I've got a RPG here and a reload." Letting Mariusz and Milk take the lead, Quyen follows behind with the launcher resting on her shoulder.

"OK," Mariusz agreed, he unslung his G3 and trotted forward, using the night vision goggles he still wore to search out a suitable OP.

Griet finally managed to breath again when the gun truck rumbled to a halt. She looked up and saw the vomit coating her jacket and felt the cold wetness in her pants. She couldn't smell anything yet. That, she decided, was probably a good thing.

She looked in her pack and brought out the last of her clothes, there wasn't much left now after getting through her second set of the night. All that was left was her PT kit and an old navy sweater. She stripped off her soiled clothing and shivered violently as she put on the running shorts and T-shirt. The man's sweater came nearly to her knees and she hitched it up slightly with her combat webbing, she spent a few moments scraping the last vestiges of sick from her webbing and then pulled her boots back on.

She looked around blearily and saw Dawid moving off to inspect the other vehicles. She turned around and checked her AKSU, she rested it on her lap and waited for her vision to clear some more. The Americans obviously thought she was expendable so stuff their vehicles.

She blinked more tears away and hugged herself, trying to ease the horrible ache of her ribs and chest. She was tired, gassed and bitter and reaching the limits of her mental endurance, her physical limits had been reached so long ago that she couldn't remember when she'd last felt rested.

As she saw Anneka approaching she said snappily, "Do you have any idea who's brilliant plan it was to gas us?"

Tucker hops down from the squad carrier and draws his Browning HP from it's holster on his MOLLE rig.  "On it boss," Robert moves away from the vehicle and advances towards the structure with Sam and Ondar.

Setting himself to the left of the door opposite Sam. He nods to Sam that he understands his orders and brings his Browning pistol to a low-ready keeping the safety on just until before he enters behind Sam.

Tucker
Browniung HP [13/13]
Stacking at door {left side entry}

Jason examines the weapon mount on the sidecar.  If the damage is limited to whatever addition Hicks had made, he might be able remove said addition, leaving the original mount able to support a smaller weapon as designed.  If, however, the original mount is damaged as well, someone with more skill as a machinist than he would have to see about fixing it.

Hearing Dawid wheezing as he takes the Mk-19, Jason says, "Sounds like you caught more of that tear gas than I did.  You feeling okay?  How's everybody else?"

The look of disgust on her face showed she shared Griets anger.
"Had to be somebody in the Honker. I'll have a word with the Hauptman as soon as I can."

She mentally ran down the list of possibilities. Her first choice was Ondar, the Russian, but he'd been thoughly searched and nothing of the sort found on him.
Jan was also high up on the list, but as he'd been busy driving at the time and as he didn't possess a couple of extra hands (though some ladies might disagree), she felt confident she could rule him out.
Stoner for some reason she trusted implictly. He'd done far more than was required of him to keep them all safe, risking his own life in the freezing water to destroy the tank back on the river.

Likewise Tucker seemed an unlikely candidate. As one of the few original members of the unit, he'd had plenty of opportunities to betray them all. His performance at critical times however had shown him to be trustworthy.
Milk had Reset to keep safe so she could eliminate him and Minh, like Tucker, had proven herself time and again.

That left just McCoy, the surly sniper so very recently come into their company (but vouched for by Milk) and Hauptman Bayer himself.
A week ago she'd have considered him a prime candidate. The only people following the honker were four Poles and a Jew and it was common knowledge there was no love lost between them and Germans, but his actions and leadership indicated that was perhaps a view held by his grandparents generation. Bayer himself seemed fair minded and compassionate, not to mention aware of just how much the unit as a whole needed the skills of those gassed...

"You'd better get my spare trousers from my pack. They'll probably be a bit short, but have to be better than those things."
Gym clothes were all well and good in the summer, but with snow falling regularly Griet would soon be suffering from exposure.
"Your blanket or sleeping bag should help too once we're moving again."

" Hauptmann Did the pole boy tell us this was hostile or good guy area...what I 'm try to get to is do you want me too do a knock and talk or a kick a clear here on this house."

"what do you want me too do"


Sam
H&K
Talking
This message was last edited by the player at 06:52, Wed 10 Dec 2008.

Bayer wanders over a few meters towards the house. "No. He didn't." he replies to McCoy. "See if there is a response... if anyone is home. If not, then try the door and go in." He was mostly concerned about any potential threat that may be inside while the group sorted themselves and the vehicles out - without kicking in the door and forcing a frightened civilian (if it wasn't abandoned) into a shootout.

"Going in Hauptmann.... Ok Team Here we go."

In Polish sam in a calm voice calls out from the side of the house; not in front of the door.

" We come in peace...we are hurt and need help. We will trade for your help."

Sam will say this three times and await a response.....




Sam
H&K
Talking
This message was last edited by the player at 06:53, Wed 10 Dec 2008.

Seeing Bayer and company were occupied and thinking that wasn't such a bad thing, Dawid hopped up into the cab of the idling Kazan.

Making sure Adam wasn't beneath the undercarriage, he engaged the clutch and put it into gear, carefully moving it up beside the Ural to more easily transfer weapons and gear.

Getting out he asked Adam and Walter to assist him in moving the mortar, ammunition and other supplies from the Ural to the Kazan. It should be easy to accomplish, as the beds were more or less even, and the side panels of the KAZAN folded down for easier access.

"Adam, Walter, please help me transfer over everything we can."

He then got Anneka and Griet, speaking earnestly.

"Major, Griet, if you please, transfer the fuel from the Ural's tank to the trailer. We have little time, so let's make the best use of it."

He gave them a length of hose, explaining how to steal gas, if they didn't already know how. The then climbed up on he Ural's tailgate to begin transferring over the mortar tube, bipod, base and carriage.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:59, Wed 10 Dec 2008.

Her medical duties complete, Anneka nodded acknowledgement to Dawid and proceeded with draining the Urals tank back into the trailer. Although it was unlikely they'd be able to get it all, every litre they salvaged was another half mile down the road.
"We'll hook the trailer behind the gun truck I think."
It only made sense since the T-H was far more likely to get in harm way.

In reply to Anneka Soleblume (msg #90):

"Thank you, Major. Also, perhaps see if you can rig a quick-release we can pull from inside the bed? If we leave the trailer behind and then shoot it with the grenade launcher or incendiary rounds or a rocket..."

Dawid gave her a feral grin, then looked over at Griet, noticing how fagged-out she seemed.

"My friend, have strength. I think we Poles have suffered more than others in this war we didn't start, yet somehow we must all find the strength to carry on, to fight. Never surrender, even if it's only to yourself, yes? Do it for your father and mother, do it for the freedom of the people of Warszawa or the people of Poland, even do it so that Mariusz grows up with a book in his hand, and not a gun. Whatever works, just do it, because in the end that's all we can do."

He clapped her on the shoulder, then when he hopped up in the bed of the truck tossed down his spare pair of fatigue pants to put on over her shorts. "Here, wear these in good health!"
This message was last edited by the player at 12:17, Wed 10 Dec 2008.

Before the house nreakers set up, Dave approaches McCoy. I'll cover the back door. Yell if you come out that way". He hurries arounf the cottage to the back yard and kneels. He picks a spot where if he has to fire, any missed rounds will head awayfrom the house and any friendlies.

"Thanks," Griet said quietly to both Anneka and Griet, she was too tired to respond much even to the kindness of her companions, "I'll layer them if you don't mind, I'm freezing."

She pulled the two pairs of trousers on and then secured them so she wouldn't get tangled. She shambled over to the URAL and got out her rubber hose, "I'll do the siphoning, a mouthful of fuel might be better than the taste in my mouth right now."

She started siphoning the fuel from the URAL's tank and into the trailer.

"Got it brother you take up rear entry"



Sam
H&K
Talking

"If there is no reply, go inside McCoy. If there happens to be someone in there just make sure they aren't a threat."

Bayer turns from the security team and calls over, "Drivers. Where's that vehicle report? What is the transportation situation?"

"got you Boss"



Sam
H&K
Talking

Milk follows Minh and Mariusz towards a suitable OP overlooking the road on which they'd just come down. He helps find a good spot, one with maximum cover and concealment and with a good view down the road. The sooner they spotted a pursuit force, the more time they'd have to respond.

Hunkering down, he whispers to Mariusz- the only one among them equipped with NVGs,

"What do you see, soldier?"

The muffled voice of a man filters through the closed door in response to Sam's querry.

"I can't help you. Go away! I have a gun and I know how to use it. There's a still in the back. Take as much meth as you like and bugger off! Set one foot inside and I'll send you straight to hell! That's your only warning! Now get lost!"

Stoner, covering the back of the cottage, can't hear the occupants' reply but he can clearly see a small still among various other odds and ends- a truck axle, an old refrigerator, a wheelbarrow, and some other things unidentifiable in the darkness- littering a small clearing that passes for the cottage's back yard.

Dawid, weezing after loading the Mk-19 (now on its tripod) into the bed of the KAMAZ, supervises the transfer of the mortar, its ammunition, and the fuel trailer from the damaged Ural to the gun-truck. The big 6x6 is capable of carrying it all but at a price. It will be difficult, if not impossible to employ any of the heavy-hitting weapons with the bed so loaded. They crew will have to rely on small arms for their protection now.

Jason, meanwhile, examines the mount on the sidecar to ascertain the cause of the AGL "malfunction" back at the road junction. On closer inspection, it appears that the mount's welded brackets have been badly bent- almost sheared off- by the large AGL's recoil. I can be repaired but it will require materials and welding equipment not currently available. In the interim, a PKM or similar weapon can be used by the passenger by resting it on the nose of the sidecar via its bipod.

A couple of hundred meters to the south, the OP team hears the thrum of truck engines in the distance. Slowly but surely, the sound grows louder. It appears the pursuit force is more dogged than hoped for and is continuing the chase.

Actions?
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:34, Sat 13 Dec 2008.

To Villager:
"(in Polish) I respect you and your area; I will leave now my Polish friend. Thanks. I leave as I came- in peace."


To Konrad
"Boss we got a still here! Going to check on if its on a trailer. Get the tire off the truck; don't worry about ditching the truck it will run at speed without it. Just get the tire off. Also, get the squad carrier ready so we can run the fuck out of here."

As Sam moves he talks

To Group
"Let's hurry people! We are on a time line. Stoner, do a still check and tell me if it's on a trailer. Tucker, you an Ondar get the tire off and get the truck ready. It will unbolt easy with it blown. Just ditch it and get ready to move."

To David
"David, get the gun ready and post the gun truck over (pointing toward the side of the road in cover) there ready to move in a ambush position. Have the ass facing the way we came to give them some love. I need you, Pole. If you and me are to get to the free Polish you will now have to move and fight like a tiger for Poland."

To Walter
"Walter, help get the tire off and then, if I call, get the truck over here. We might have a still for you to tow."

To Jason
"Hey, we need you to get the motorcycle on point ready to get us out of here. Cover our front 180 with your MG. Get the PKM mounted and ready to roll."<Blue>


To Ann and Konrad
<Blue>"Hey, I have been selfish in not being the Platoon Sergeant and SF team leader I have been in the past. I did not know you and did not want to give out love but now that I 'm  with you I will give 100% to the group now, not just as a sniper out for myself but foe the group."

"The truck you have Major will run just fine missing the tire. Let's not unhook shit yet. It will take a long time and also leave us with our tits out. Let's get the trucks in formation minus the gun truck so it can cover our ambush team and get ready to roll. The tire rip off takes 60 seconds these tires are made to come off quick for shit just like this."

"We must work fast and you need a platoon sergeant to get the little shit done  while you make bigger plans. I would counsel now for you, Hauptmann, and you, Major, to get off to the side and make a plan while I take care of this and we can get the fuck out of here."
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:16, Sat 13 Dec 2008.

Dave rises to his feet and looks around the smallish back yard with his borrowed NVGs. Seeing the truck axel gives him an idea, he makes a quick search of the yard for a wheel that might fit the tow truck. He also checks out the still, looking for any containers with ready made alchohol.

"No trailer for the still. It's just a rinky dink thing any way, checkeing for alcohol now."

"Roger Stoner. When done, come and help David with the gun truck. Konrad has my RPG-18. Take it and post up with David- he will need your help, warrior."
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:10, Sat 13 Dec 2008.

After draining the URAL of fuel and loading the equipment onto the back of the gun truck, Griet picked up the RPK and settled herself into a position between the kit where she could fire backward and to the side. She listened to McCoy's orders and looked confusedly at the Major and Dawid, "Major, Dawid, do you want us to transfer everything back to the URAL and set up an ambush before the pursuit comes,or do we just run?"

Mariusz scanned the area and replied, "I can't see anything but I hear heavy truck engines not too far off. I think we need to, how do you Americans say it? Di di mau?"

In reply to Sam McCoy (msg #99):

Dawid looked bemused at Sam's suggestion.

"Well, thank you for volunteering to man the 23mm guns! Excellent! Very brave of you! To warn you, they jammed just before some syphilitic mother and uncle fucker gassed us back there. And they are a death trap in a stand-up fight. Poor Wiktor got shot off them, he was before your time, brave man, didn't end well, take my word for it. It is good you have decided to fight for Poland, there is hope yet! Just when I think all foreigners want to either fuck us over or use us as cannon fodder, you know, fight the enemy to the last Polish life..."

He clapped Sam on the shoulder in camaraderie, then looked at Konrad and Anneka.

" We should fight. They won't give up if they haven't already, we have no fucking lead, and they know what road we are on so there will be road blocks ahead. I will unship the mortar, it is the best weapon we have. Will take a minute to set up. Or the 40mm machine grenade gun."

"If we don't fight, I am fucking leaving in the Kamaz in about 10 seconds from now. Anyone wants to come along, that is great! We are ready to move now.

He checked his watch, obviously timing the answers.

"Either way, lets warn people to have their gas masks handy because I think those cocksuckers nailed us with a riot gas canister, could be bad if they have another."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:16, Sat 13 Dec 2008.

As Mariusz started to back up toward the vehicles, he said to Milk, "It might be time to use an old trick we used in the Partisans, Brother Switek said we stole it from the Germans in WW2. Give Minh one of the disposable RPGs and her engineer's kit. Send her to find a good spot somewhere down the track, as we catch her up, she wires the RPG to a tree pointing it across the track about one and a half meters up. After we've passed, she can rig up a trip wire across the track. With luck, the RPG will get a side shot on the armoured car. If not, it might slow them down."

Mariusz looked into the dark and continued, "Further up the track we lay down some of our tin plates. If they spot them, it'll delay them as they find out it's a trick. The second time, Minh will have had time to set up dynamite charges on booby trap fuses, if they ignore them, we might get a tire or two, or kill the odd soldier. The more we can hurt them, the more we buy ourselves time to escape. Is the plan worth suggesting to the Kaptien?"

Clarence listened to Mariusz's ideas with interest. The young partisan was wise beyond his years and his tactical sense matched well with that of the seasoned Green Beret warrant officer.

"Yeah, I like it. I've never seen the RPG trick work but it's worth a shot. As for the fake mines, I think Minh may have a real one too. Stay put. I'm going to go tell Konrad that we're going to be having company soon. I'll be right back."

Clarence cursed himself for not having grabbed one of the hand-held tac radios on the way to the OP. He'd make sure to take one on the way back.

On the way back, he stopped by Minh's position, just a few meters away.

"Minh, you got an AT mine? We might want to leave a couple surprises for our new friends."

After Minh responds, Milk runs back to the traffic jam on the road in front of the cottage. Finding Konrad and Anneka (and anyone else close enough to hear), he briefs them on the situation.

"We got company. Engine noises headin' this way. Are we runnin' or fightin'? I'd recommend the former but it's your call. They deploy their infantry in these woods, we're gonna have a hell of a time holdin' 'em off. We have just time to rig a couple booby traps and beat feet. Orders?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:08, Thu 02 July 2009.

"I'm with you, Milk. We should beat feet but we need to set local security and support Milk in the delay. That's why I wanted you to post David- not to fight to the death but be local security. Konrad, issue the order. I will unfuck the convoy and Milk can set your delay."
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:53, Sat 13 Dec 2008.

Remembering what Clarence said, Dawid corrected McCoy, not unkindly.

"No my friend, our friend Clarence here recommended fighting, not running, and I agree."

"We will not outrun them now. We had 2 chances already to increase our lead and we blew it. Acknowledge reality. Remember, we don't have to kill them all, just destroy their transportation."

The last part was addressed to the group, not just McCoy.

"Okay, time's about up. Clarence is for fighting, so am I."

He also called over to Jason, "McCoy didn't know this, but you already have the RPK-74 light machinegun, so don't worry about the PKM."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:36, Sun 14 Dec 2008.

Tucker safes and holsters up his Browning HP and moves over with Ondar to get the tire off the truck so they can move out of here quickly.  "Ditch it and get ready to move, roger that McCoy," Tucker tells him as he waves over to Ondar so they can get started on their task.

Tucker
Holstered Browning HP
Removing tire from truck with Ondar

"Well, Milk, I say run- we don't have the strength to fight and we must flow like water."

"But it's up to the boss. You have my opinion, now I must go work."

Sam moves to help with tire.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:29, Sun 14 Dec 2008.

"Running like frightened rabbits won't solve our problems, Sam, not this time."

He turned back to Anneka and Konrad.

"Like I said thats your opinion. Now I must work."
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:30, Sun 14 Dec 2008.

In reply to Sam McCoy (msg #112):

Dawid laughed, clearly amused.

"Ha ha! Yes! It is gratifying you take my opinion so seriously, I shall respect yours in the same manner!"

"And as for whether you yourself are willing to fight not just for America but for Poland too, well, I guess no answer is still an answer, yes? Thank you! You are an honest man and that is a rare thing these days, Sam."

It was a rhetorical question, he understood where the other man's interests really lay.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:46, Sun 14 Dec 2008.

Griet worked the nuts on the wrecked tire loose and then worked them off. That done she pulled the tire and rim off the axel and quickly replaced the nuts.

Once she'd finished she moved back over to the gun truck.

Seeing the mount needs more extensive repairs than can be accomplished here and now, Jason picks up the RPK-74 left behind by Dawid and unfolds the bipod.  He sets the machine gun down on the front of the sidecar with the stock and trigger group extending over the seat opening.  It will be a little awkward for Mariusz to use the weapon, but having some use from it is much better than none.

"Remember, David, I was fighting for a free Poland before the war started when you were still in school and I was behind the lines for the last 4 years forming the Free Polish units and fighting with them; they know and respect me well."
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:31, Sun 14 Dec 2008.

Clarence waves his hand.

"No, no. I didn't make myself clear. I recommend we run. Let us set up a couple of booby traps and then get the hell outta here. They probably have 50 or 60 infantry and if they have a chance to deploy before we get movin', we'll be in a world of shit.

Listen people, we're fightin' for our lives right now. Bickerin' about whose cause is more noble is a waste of time and we ain't got much time to waste. We need to work together, not play 'my cock is bigger than yours'. Come on, people!"

Turning to Bayer, he adds,

"You have my recommendation, Hauptman. Your orders, sir?"
This message was last edited by the player at 01:47, Tue 16 Dec 2008.

Mariusz walked slowly backward toward the vehicles, he kept his ears alert for the pursuit and used the goggles to look for any nasty little surprises the Communist lackeys might be trying to hatch.

Beat to the punch by Griet, Ondar stands overwatch at the rear of the KAMAZ while Tucker and the Captain's daughter work their magic with the lug wrench.



[Ondar]
At the rear of the KAMAZ
SVU-AS (10/10)
Guarding
This message was last edited by the player at 21:50, Sun 14 Dec 2008.

In reply to Clarence Milk (msg #117):

Dawid looked impressed by McCoy's claim.

"How impressive! Whatever you have done for us is deeply appreciated by the Polish people,  I'm sure. No doubt you will get a medal for your service, while I deserve only an unmarked grave."

"No one bickers here, Clarence."

"The facts are the force from Kozienice is ahead of us, they know we are on this road. They have already set one ambush, but are they not capable of setting another ambush, this time with felled trees across the road and whatnot? Then we will have to deal with the dismounted infantry flanking from behind, never fear.  I still say we should at least shoot up the transports, then take off before we are flanked by infantry. Take the still, leave whatever we have in trade for it. I have some gold, cigarettes, probably not enough on my own."

He laughed in a self-depreciating manner.

"But, I too often rely on blind luck. Whichever, I have things to do to get ready."

Dawid went over to the Tarpan-Honker and pulled out the metal ammo box containing the 40mm HVHEDP. He walked over to the STAR and reloaded the Mk.19 with anti-armour. While there he tried to clear at least one barrel of the 23mm for action. Although the Mk.19 was superior for anti-armour, it never hurt to prepare for contingencies.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:50, Mon 15 Dec 2008.

"Pull out. Withdraw. Forget the still." Bayer replies. "If that truck will slow us, leave it. Rip out some wires... don't waste explosives"

 "Jason... Mariusz, you will screen the main body. Engage them, try to get them to stop and deploy, then catch up with us. We'll stop at a bottleneck and set up a proper ambush to cut the pursuit then."

"Milk, if you and Quyen have a mine, set it up. Don't need to be buried. But we leave now."

Motioning to the vehicles, Bayer says to everyone else "Mount up now. Quickly."

Anneka threw her medical bag into the cab of the Star then ran back to her previous ride to collect her RPK-74 and pack. Fortunately she didn't need to carry it very far, just down to ground level to wait for Adam to come alongside.
"Oh, one more moment!" she exclaimed, clambering back into the tow trucks cab after heaving her pack aboard the Star.
"Nearly forgot the radio!"

Hearing Konrad's recommendation, Dawid looked concerned.

"Kapitan, please, we can't send the boy to help delay the pursuit. We need a real soldier, one of the best. Someone who knows his stuff! I am not talking through my hat, you know as a Motor Rifleman and machinegun won't evev slow them down, we will need an RPG to do the job. McCoy is probably a lot skilled with an RPG than I or even Mariusz. We also need another experienced gunner in the rear truck."

"Let's please try this:"

---

Scout Motorcycle...
Driver - Kasparov (Vehicle Commander, NVGs)
Passenger/Gunner - McCoy (NVGs/Radio/RPK-74)
(RPG-16 or 2x RPG-18 and RPG-76)

Squad Carrier...Nothing towed
Driver - Cerny (NVGs)
Passenger/GP Gunner - Stoner (Light Duty) (NVGs)
Gunner Standing- Tucker (Vehicle Commander, NVGs/Radio)
Dismounts - Tokarski, Milk, Nguyen, Bayer (Unit 2IC, Dismount Leader, NVGs/Radio)
(AGS-17 on roll bar pintle mount, M240 GPMG on bonnet.)


Tow Truck...With Fuel Trailer
Driver - Walter (NVGs)
Passengers Front - Solleblume (Unit OC, 20x Night Glasses/Radio)


23mm Flak Truck...Nothing towed
Driver - Adam (NVGs)
Gunner Rear - Piotrowski (Vehicle Commander, NVGs/Radio)
Assistant Gunner/Spotters- Griet, Ondar
(PKM GPMG, Mk.19/HVHEDP)

---

"Major, Kapitan, somebody! I beg you, let's not stand and argue, let's just do this and get moving."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:53, Mon 15 Dec 2008.

Mariusz was confused by the discussions going on and decided to do as the Kapiten had instructed him until he recieved countermanding orders from Bayer himself.

Quickly he grabbed a few spare magazines for the RPK-74 and put them into the ammunition box, he carried a spare can of 40mm ammo to the gun truck and picked up the two Soviet Airborne rocket launchers.

He returned to the motorbike and strapped one to the sidecar, keeping the other handy. He waited at the sidecar and said, "Kapiten, I'm ready to go if you want me to, are Kasparov and I clear to start the screening operation?"


Mariusz
Loading Motorbike
RPK-74 40/40 (1 spare 40 round mag and 2 spare 30 round)
RPG-18 x 2
Personal weapons

Griet jumped back onto the bed of the Star and looked at the Zoo-2. She looked for the quickest wat to unjam the gun.

With Konrad's orders deciding the various points of debate, Clarence, carrying Minh's heavy AT mine*, runs back towards Minh, standing guard alone near the road a couple of hundred meters to the south. Milk quickly clears crushed rock from one of the compacted wheel tracks in the road and lays the mine in place. Arming it, he burshes rocks and dust over the mine, doing his best to camoflage it. The sound of the approaching enemy force is much louder now. Running in to the woods, Clarence collects Minh and the pair hustle back to the waiting vehicles.

With an RPK-74 replacing the Mk-19 that had been mounted on the sidecar, Jason and Mariusz mount the trike and drive about 100m back down the road in order to set up an ambush.

Griet, having removed the Ural's shredded tire with Adam's help, is dismayed to learn that the truck is to be abandoned. She dutifully opens the truck's bonnet, finds a handful of important electrical wires, and is about to start tearing them out when Sam stops her.

"We're taking this truck."

He slides behind the wheel and fires up the engine, falling into formation behind the Tarpan-Honker.

Leaving the small still and its meager contents, the rest of the team- including the recently arrived Milk and Minh- take their places in the three vehicles and the convoy heads out to the north, no doubt to the cottage occupant's great relief.

Through their NVGs, Mariusz and Jason can see the enemy convoy, led by the BRDM, enter the wood and continue towards the mine, placed just over 100m away. Hopefully, in a few seconds, the lead enemy vehicle will drive right over it, triggering a short but violent two-man ambush designed to delay the enemy force and buy more time for the others. If it works, the party just might shake their pursuers. If it doesn't, the party may lose two of its own...

Actions?

OOC: *On his way back to warn the others of the approaching enemy force, Minh (whose player is MIA) had told Clarence where to find the AT mine she'd been lugging around for weeks.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:42, Tue 16 Dec 2008.

At the edge of the trees with the motorcycle pointed up the road and idling between his legs, Jason swaps an HEDP grenade for the HE loaded in his M203.  He raises the Austeyr to aim the underslung grenade launcher at the BRDM and waits for the armored car to hit the mine.  Unless something else happens first...

"All set, młodszy brat?" he says to Mariusz.  "Wait for it...  Wait for it..."

"Now that we dont have a trailer we will maintain speed and at the next stop put on the spare!"

"Odnar ride with me and the and grab the PKM. You and Walter can use it to cover our ass. Its in the Gun truck it will free up space for the Pole and his toy. Walter grab the ammo for it you can a-gun for him."


"Lets move fuckers we dont wont to get lost and left here."

"Well Major you get to ride with me . Now I can tell you storys and half truths about what I can and cannot do. You can get that interview you always wanted."




OOC


Scout Motorcycle...
Driver - Kasparov (NVGs)
Passenger/Gunner - Tokarski (NVGs/Radio/RPK-74)
(2x RPG-18)


Squad Carrier...Nothing towed
Driver - Cerny (NVGs)
Bayer(NVGs/Radio)(Rear Passanger side)
Passenger/GP Gunner/Shotgun -Stoner (Light Duty) (NVGs) M240 GPMG on bonnet
Gunner Standing- Tucker (NVGs/Radio)(AGS-17 on roll bar pintle mount)
Dismount - Milk (Rear Driver side) RPG-76


Tow Truck...Nothing towed
Driver - Sam McCoy (NVGs)
Passengers Front - Solleblume (20x Night Glasses/Radio)
Passanger Rear/Loader- Walter
Passanger Rear/Gunner- Ondar (PKM GPMG)


23mm Flak Truck...With Fuel Trailer
Driver - Adam (NVGs)
Shotgun- Nguyen  RPG-16
Gunner Rear - Piotrowski (Vehicle Commander, NVGs/Radio)
Assistant Gunner Griet,(Mk.19 MOD3)
This message was last edited by the player at 07:15, Tue 16 Dec 2008.

Looking at Jason and Mariusz riding off to their deaths, he shook his head and unhitched the tank trailer from the Star 266.

"Sending the helicopter pilot and the untrained boy to delay a motor platoon with hand rockets, bloody typical."

Dawid stopped Ondar from taking his PKM. "Sorry, if McCoy wants my machinegun he can ask me himself, we've been together a long time."

Getting in the truck, Dawid set up the PKM opposite the Mk.19 AGL. The 23mm was likely fucked until they could disassemble it, no need to waste time.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:57, Fri 19 Dec 2008.

"Nobody rides on the tow truck!" Major Anneka Soleblume bellowed as conflicting orders were given putting the lives of everyone at risk.
"If McCoy wants to try driving a vehicle without fuel, then he's doing it alone!"
Having spent a large proportion of her time at this halt draining the fuel back into the tank now hooked onto the back of the Star, she was extremely confident that anyone foolish enough to ride on the Kt-I would very quickly be caught as the fuel starved truck ground to a halt.

"God dammit!" Bayer curses angrily.

Waving to Adam he says, "Follow close behind." Grabbing hold of Jan he says, "We're gone. Anyone staying to argue can to it with the enemy."

After ensuring he is the last needing to load up, he closes the tailgate of the squad carrier and climbs aboard. "Tuck... Stoner... shoot at anything that moves."

"Jan!"

Tucker's head goes back and forth with while listening to the arguing between everyone.  When he hears that Konrad has had enough, he gets back into his original position in the squad carrier behind the AGS-17.  "What a cluster fuck," he says as he gets into the vehicle and waits to pull out and away from their pursuers.

Tucker
Holstered HP-35
Getting into squad carrier and manning the AGS-17

Hearing the vehicles start up, Dave leaves off his scavenging in the back yard and jogs around to the front. Seeing everyone piling into the trucks, he climbs into his seat.

As he watches the motorcycle and the big truck jockey around to face the way they just came from, Dave leans over and asks Jan "Do they know they're going the wrong way? There's a bunch of pissed off dudes down that way."

"Roger that, Herr Capitan" he replies to Konrads orders to shoot anything that moves.

"Hey Tuck" he says over his shoulder. "You ever notice there's a lot of similarities between gun slang and booze slang? A shooter is a glass of booze you swallow quickly, and a shooter is also...guys like us. If you get shot, you can be wasted, and if you drink too many shots, you can also be wasted. And then there's that whole Don't shoot until you see the whites of thier eyes. Were the Brits hungover?"


Dave
Front passenger seat of Honker
M240
running mouth

Ondar nods in agreement at McCoy.  His direction to grab the PKM and mount the Ural seems reasonable.  Piotrowski expresses a contrary opinion regarding ownership of the machinegun and, though the men lock eyes long enough for the ex-Reydoviki to silently communicate that he knows more ways to kill Piotrowski than the Pole knows how to die, Ondar shrugs and lets it go.  He moves to climb over the tailgate of the Ural when the Major starts screaming what appears to be another countermanding order.  He looks down the road in the direction of the approaching opposition column and rolls his eyes.  He then jumps down off the tailgate and approaches the Major with his rifle slung across his back.

"Maybe you give back pistol now," Ondar demands.  "This a three ring goat fuck, lady.  I walk to Montana from here."



[Ondar]
Amidst the vehicles
SVU-AS (10/10)
Waiting for the situation to unfuck itself

"Just hurry up and get back on the Honker," she rolled her eyes in the darkness, agreeing silently with the Russian.

"you win major i will get in the squad carrier sit in the back and not talk again. Your the best i'm the worst. Sam walks up to milk and wispers somthing into his ear then gets into the Squad carrier."


Sam
M25
Sitting

Anneka just gives McCoy a "what the hell are you talking about" look and shrugs, putting the strange man out of her mind for now.

Ondar engages the safety on his rifle, crawls into the Honker and finds a seat.  He rests the butt of the SVU-AS between his feet and clasps his hands around the barrel and bipod at the weapon's forestock.  Once situated, he looks at Sam and shrugs.

"Seem OK plan to me."



[Ondar]
Honker cargo bay
SVU-AS (10/10)
Standing by to move out

As he rode, Dawid grinned as he recalled his own reaction to Ondar's "if looks could kill" stare.

He had laughed in Ondar's face, saying in Russian, "HA! Very scary! I am impressed! Now run along, "Ivan", my American-in-training comrade. Go! Shoo, shoo!"

Making brushing motions as Ondar turned and walked away, he had then climbed in the cab, chuckling.

Still, thinking of him shooing away his former "master" brought a smile to his lips. If you couldn't laugh at life, you were already dead!
This message was last edited by the player at 08:30, Sat 20 Dec 2008.

Sam holds out his hand to alex

"Sam McCoy. Tenth Special Forces. I was your enemy up to about 3 miniutes ago. Benn doing SF work since about 89. Doing stuff here in europe since the start of the war mostlty deep insertion training and leading partisn bands. Did not do any direct action stuff the other two Battalions did that. So my polish is good and i have some broken russian. Caught up with this band a few days ago at a little port city that went bad. Where did you train with the Long gun? I have always wanted to talk shop with the other side. never though you guys were bad just doing your duty like we are doing ours. I have a M25 here a little plus up job on a old M14. They do have National match barrels though. I hear you keep asking for your pistol? what do you Carry. I have a H&K here. lost the suppurssor at the bridge. stoner lost it on the MP-5. Well good talking with you.If you see that i like to lead I have been in charge of myself since 97. Its hard going back being with the rear area types."


Sam
M25
talking to alex
This message was last edited by the player at 06:12, Wed 17 Dec 2008.

Robert looks at Stoner with amazement when he tells him about the relationship between gun slang and alcohol.  He laughs at him after a few seconds, "Damn Bones, you come up with some really off the wall shit sometimes!  You sure your head's feeln OK?"

Dave laughs along with Tuck and replies " Actually I think I'm feeling better, at least more like my normal self. Two near misses with death in as many days made me get all introspective. I finally decided I didn't like it, life's too short to be all moody."
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:59, Fri 19 Dec 2008.

Quyen is relieved to have departed with the heavy mine. Her back will thank her as well. Its only unfortunate that she won't be able to see the outcome of her effort. She still had her POMZ-2 and Claymore however.

Climbing into the Honker she quickly secures the RPG under the bench. Overhearing the Hauptmann mentioning setting up an ambush at a bottleneck she makes sure her gear is still ready to go and she is prepared for action. She reminded herself that sitting in the back of the truck didn't mean it was time to relax too much.

"Nice meet." Ondar reaches out to shake McCoy's hand. "I Ondar. Alexei Russian name. Ondar family name.  From Tuvan Autonomous Region in Far East.  Was 4th Guards Tank Army, Independent 'Special Purpose Forces' Brigade.  Under Western TVD General Staff.  Senior Contract Warrant.  Reydoviki.  For making raid.  Is like ... um ... American Rangers.  Conscript in 1977.  Engineer first, then Master Parachutist."

He motions toward his rifle.

"Learn shoot formal in regiment school, but practical get most in Afghanistan.  Then Sarajevo.  Some Chechnya.  Also, Manchuria and Norway.  Not sniper.  More like ... um ... designation of marksman.  Is SVU.  Like Drugunov, made short.  Good for urban.  OK six maybe eight hundred meter for accurate.  Pistol is 6P9. Call it Pistolet Besshumnyj.  Like Makarov, made silent.  Is still confiscate so not kill you all in sleep."

He sneaks a sideways smirk at the Major then nods at McCoy's rifle.

"M25 see in Norway.  Nice weapon when not aim at you.  You call 'white feather' from Carlos Hathcock.  We study Henderson and read Marine Sniper.  One shot. One kill.  Warrior same around world - other idealogy, same duty.  Speak Russian OK.  Some Polish.  English OK.  Chinese better.  We talk in shop when you want."

After a few moments pass, Ondar leans forward.

"You ever been Montana?"



[Ondar]
Honker troop bay
SVU-AS (10/10)
Talking shop

" Well i once fucked a girl from Montana. Real big tits and she liked to suck cock. So I guess its a great place if she is what the state is about. I know they have big horse and cattle ranches there but thats about it. I dont think any nukes hit there not much too hit. Yea the rifle goes to about 1 klick (1000m) Its good for longer range and short also. Puts a big hole in ya. The sight was made in Oregon. Its near Montana. I went to Sniper school a while ago at Ft. Benning. Part of my training. Yea If you wanted to kill us I'm sure you would have found a way with out the pistol. I'm sure your just like me; I wrestled In school when I was young and did Boxing when I was older. You guys do Sombo or sambo right? Great shit! More than one guy has been killed by that stuff. You carry a knife? I went to a school in the Phillipines a long time ago to learn how to fight with one. Great people; army paid for it. Lots of whores. Great time. You Know what Odie I fucking miss Ice cream. I was just thinking about that. I miss Ice cream."


Sam
M25
Talking to Odie

Waiting for the pursuing force to appear and hopefully set off the mine, Jason reflected on why -- in addition to following orders -- he was doing this.  For one thing, he loved riding the powerful Ural, and he was quite good at it.  Among other things, he was looking to prove to Bayer that he was indeed a real soldier.  He would not have minded having one of the special-forces types or even Dawid along with him rather than putting Mariusz at risk, but there was no time left to switch.  Besides, he was used to working with the young partisan; they made a pretty good team.  "Here they come!  Steady..."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:55, Fri 19 Dec 2008.

Griet was too engrossed in trying to clear the jam in the Zoo-2 breech to notice the discussions ranging around her.


Griet
STAR
Clearing jam
This message was last edited by the player at 19:01, Fri 19 Dec 2008.

With Jason ready to take out the armoured car if the mine didn't do the job, Mariusz shifted his aim to prepare to hit the truck behind the BDRM. He checked his six to ensure that no one would be cooked by the back-blast and readied himself, he would wait until the truck filled the aiming recticule before firing.

Mariusz
RPG-18, one spare
G3 20/20
Preparing for opportunity fire on the second vehicle of the convoy
This message was last edited by the player at 19:00, Fri 19 Dec 2008.

As he was riding away on the back of the Star, Dawid silently wished Mariusz and Jason luck.

"Here, let me help." He started to help Griet clear the jammed Zu-23.

"No the choice I would have made, I would have volunteered myself if I wasn't needed here."
This message was last edited by the player at 08:59, Sat 20 Dec 2008.

Tucker continues to laugh after Stoner's reply to him like he was a little kid.  "Yeah, I would say so!  Life is indeed too short my friend!"

Ambush Team

Through the green tint of their night vision goggles, Jason and Mariusz watch as the BRDM steadily approaches the trigger point of their planned ambush. The armored scout car moves awkwardly, pulling to its left and wobbling on a wheel that is obviously somewhat smaller than the other three.

Mariusz is about to switch his aim from one of the trailing armored trucks to the BRDM when the scout car’s right front tire rolls over the AT mine. The mine detonates in a thunderous explosion, lifting the BRDM at least a meter off of the ground. After what seems like several seconds, it crashes back to earth in a cloud of smoke and flames, careening into a tree on the west side of the road. There it stops, flames licking out from beneath its undercarriage. The trucks following in trail pull to an abrupt halt about 50m behind the battered and burning wreck. Through the smoke and the flickering light of the flames, Jason and Mariusz can just barely make out the shadowy forms of infantry spilling out of the trucks and into the trees on either side of the road, 150m south of blazing BRDM. The lead armored truck hammers away with its cupola mounted PKM, sending tracers weaving into the woods ahead of and on boths sides of the mortally wounded BRDM. The fire is high and appears to be unaimed and suppressive in nature.

Mariusz is unable to engage the armored trucks because the burning wreck of the BRDM is now blocking his line of sight. In order to line up a shot, he will have to cross the road or move out wider to his right, deeper into the woods, where the many trees between him and the target will present similar problems. Jason faces a similar conundrum. The ambush team now faces off against about 50 or 60 persistent and angry enemy infantrymen, deploying into the woods only 250m away.

Main Body

The remainder of the party, split between the Tarpan-Honker and the STAR 6x6 gun-truck, races northwest along the touring/access road through the national forrest just southwest of Kozienice. The sound of a distant explosion reverberates through the trees, indicating that Mariusz and Jason have executed their ambush/delaying action.

In the bed of the STAR, Dawid successfully clears the large, damaged 23mm HEI-T round from the chamber of the autocannon, effectively unjamming it.

Jan, at the wheel of the T-H, decelerates and points towards a large tree laying across the road about 100m ahead.

Actions?
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:08, Sat 20 Dec 2008.

As soon as he's finished with joking around with Stoner, Tucker's face goes from happy to worried when he sees the large tree across the road in front of them.  He immediately calls back to Konrad and the others, "TREE IN THE FUCKING ROAD!  THERE'S A TREE IN THE FUCKING ROAD AHEAD!"

Tucker
AGS-17
T-H gunner calling out obstruction in the road

"Who put that there? WATCH FOR AMBUSH!" Dave yells out. He braces his feet in the floorboard wishing he'd put on the seatbelt. Dave also grabs tight to the M240 with one hand and slips the other arm through the sling of his AK. Just in case they have to bail out from the truck, he wants to make sure his AK/BG comes with him, even if he's using the SAW.

"Dismount dismount dismount!" Bayer yells. "Milk, Ondar, left side security... McCoy, Quyen, right side."

"Stoner lets go." he says. Jumping from the tailgate, Bayer (and Stoner) will assess the obstacle. "Don't touch it... may be mined." he says before they get close.

OOC - GM, once we get a look can we know the size and reason for it being felled (cut or broken)?

Grunting in satisfaction as the round hit the deck, Dawid wasn't entirely suprised that they were stopped.

What did surprise him was that they weren't immediately being hammered by one side or the other, as a proper ambush would have a firing line paralleling the road and waiting for them to stop.

"Griet, take the PKM and cover the right side, fire if anything moves. Adam, get down on the floor, everyone get ready to dismount!"

Swinging the 23mm around to cover the left side and peering through his NVGs, he considered spraying the woods to suppress any attackers before they opened fire (do unto others before they do unto you) but decided his low ammunition supply didn't warrant this.

"Perhaps this is just a tree down?" He sounded hopeful although he really didn't believe in coincidences.

Worried about what might be coming from behind, he kept an ear open for their back trail. If he heard the sound of large vehicles approaching instead of a motorcycle approaching, he would shift to the Mk.19 and pray he got the first shot off.

"Adam, wait a second, back us up about 50 metres!"

That way if they had to desperately engage any pursuit it wouldn't be in close proximity to the main body.


Bed of the truck
23mm AA gun (38/100 rounds)
Tantal/GL, 40mm HE
Aiming to Cover left side
This message was last edited by the player at 14:20, Sat 20 Dec 2008.

Mariusz swore to himself as he saw infantry spilling out into the woods and !the burning vehicle blocking his firing line.

He swiftly turned and started moving back to the trike. As he ran he yelled, "Let's get out of here, fast!"

Mariusz
No ready weapon
Running for the trike

Griet grabbed the PKM and moved to cover the right flank. She strained her eyes to try to penetrate the darkness and see what the woods held for them.

Sam will conduct 5's and 25"s and then hit the deck 25M away from the truck,  facing in his assigned sector with his weapon at the ready.

Sam
M25
SOP
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:14, Sat 20 Dec 2008.

Dave hops out of the truck and approaches the downed tree with Konrad. He takes a second to sling his AK across the front of his body and carries the M240.

As the truck slowed in reponse to the fallen tree, Anneka popped open the hatch in the cabin letting in a decidedly unwelcome flood of cold air. A moment or two later and her RPK-74 was resting atop the roof, the light intensifying binoculars that had somehow been assigned to her assisting her in surveying the surroundings.
"Sunray this is Starlight. Is a detour possible?"
Her gut was saying it was nothing more than an inconveinantly fallen tree, not suprising really since it was really just a backroad through a relatively heavily forested area. A few years before and it'd probably have been cleared within hours of falling, no though with road maintenance a distant memory and regular traffic virtually non-existant, it might well have been across the road for months.

Jason shifts aim from the burning BRDM to the closest large group of infantry he is able to target.  He takes aim and lets fly with the HEDP round in his M203.  As Mariusz returns to the trike, he replaces the spent casing with the CS round in his webbing and lobs it into the road ahead of the blazing vehicle, ignoring any return fire as he does so.  He then transfers the F88 to the sidecar, leaning it inside the compartment next to the boy and gets the Ural moving, swinging around and speeding back up the road, calling, "Hang on!"
This message was last edited by the player at 13:44, Sat 20 Dec 2008.

Mariusz stowed the RPGs and settled behind the RPK. He got on the radio and said, "Kaptain, this is the ambush unit. The armoured car is destroyed. We couldn't get LOS on the other vehicles and the woods were swarming with dismounts. In my opinion, we couldn't trade our lives for theirs efficiently so we bugged out. Do you have any further orders?"

As Bayer approaches the downed tree Mariusz's voice comes over the radio. Clicking on the transmit button he replies, "Roger. Well done lad. Link up. We are halted on the road... setup security on our 6 o'clock just before you reach us, over."

"Roger that." Mariusz replied and then shouted to Jason, "The convoy has met an obstacle, we're to set up a rearguard just before we reach them."

Quyen leaps out of the Honker, AK in hand. She gives a glance towards the tree but lacking night vision, she can see little. If it was too big to move, she may be called to blast it like she had to do in the engineers. As she took up a prone position a few meters from McCoy she tried to remember if she had any of her explosives still rigged and ready for quick usage.

Clarence deploys on the left (southwest) side of the road, going to one knee behind a thick-boled tree. He scans his slice of the pie, trusting Ondar to do the same. Without the benefit of NVGs, he can't see that far into the trees but the sky is steadily growing lighter and soon, he won't really be needing them.

"OK, my boy!", Adam yells from the cab. The big STAR slowly backs up about 50m, putting about 100m between it and the lead element in the Tarpan-Honker.

Upon the Honker's sudden deceleration, Ondar cuts short his chat wih McCoy.  When the Hauptmann barks the dismount order, Ondar leaps over the tailgate and moves out to cover the vehicle's left flank.   Holding his rifle snug into this shoulder, he looks to the north for any sign of activity in the direction of the felled tree.  Then, crouching low in the pre-dawn, he scans to the left as far into the forest as he can see looking for signs of infantry ambush or other traps.



[Ondar]
Honker's left flank
SVU-AS (10/10)
Checking for ambush

Ambush Team

As Mariusz and Jason scan for targets among the trees, the driver’s hatch of the BRDM opens with a clang and the driver, his face a mask of blood, struggles to lift himself out of the burning vehicle.

Jason spots some movement among the trees directly opposite, to the south, and takes aim with his M203. He launches the HEDP round and watches with some satisfaction as it explodes just a few meters short of his intended target. The enemy, however, take notice and several of them begin to fire at the ambush team. Fortunately, the fire of the armored truck’s cupola-mounted PKM is blocked by the immobilized BRDM.

Nevertheless, rounds buzz and crack overhead, thudding into nearby tree trunks and kicking up little spurts of earth and leaf litter all around Mari and Jason.
As Jason empties the breach of the M203 and reaches into a pouch for a 40mm HE grenade, he feels a sharp, jarring jolt about six inches below his right hip. He know's instantly that he's been hit but he has no idea how badly. The pain is severe but tempered somewhat by the adrenaline pumping through Jason's arteries. Mariusz, meanwhile, desperately waits for Jason to start the bike, wishing to leave the area posthaste.


Main Body

Konrad and Stoner cautiously approach the fallen tree blocking the forrest road, covered by their comrades. If this is an ambush, the ambushers must be spectres or wraiths because no human forms are seen among the trees. A thin, cold, grey light begins to appear overhead, not quite filtering down among the trees, and only adding to the impression that supernatural forces, as well as the Polish army bandit hunters, are conspiring to stop the party from escaping the confines of the dark wood. Perhaps the ambushers are the trees themselves, waiting to fall upon the stopped convoy.

Upon closer inspection, it appears that the tree has fallen due to natural causes. The base of the tree, laying a dozen meters or so on the west side of the road, is a mass of jagged splinters but there is no sign that axe or explosives are to blame. In peace time, the dead tree would have been cleared away by now. But the national park's rangers are all long since fled, dead, or holed up in their little cottages, neglecting the woods so as to attend to their own survival.

Actions?
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:03, Sun 21 Dec 2008.

Sam will hold his position until told too do otherwise. he will not speak unless spoken too by the command element.




Sam
M25
Holding position

Satisfied wih an absence of any immediate danger from his sector of coverage, Ondar diverts his attention toward the felled tree blocking their path.

"Clear this side!"

Ondar turns to Milk

"Need move that tree," he urges.  "We got chainsaw? Or winch?"

He shrugs and returns to cover his sector.

"Wish had Ural now, I bet."



[Ondar]
Honker's left flank
SVU-AS (10/10)
Covering

"AAAAHH!"  Jason yelps in pain and surprise.  He leans the F88 AGL in the sidecar next to Mariusz, grabs the handlebars, and pulls out, turning up the road to speed away, weaving from side to side to spoil the shooters' aim.  "Hang on!" he shouts.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:04, Sun 21 Dec 2008.

We got a rope in the truck? Anybody? McFly? Dave asks aloud to anybody who can hear him.

OOC: Disregard this post if the tree is small enough to move by hand.

As Mariusz bouunced along in the trike's sidecar he twisted his body so that the RPK was facing backward. He scanned the area behind him, hoping that he'd find no viable targets as that would mean that they'd broken contact successfully.

Greit relaxed slightly as the tree turned out not to be the prelude to a bloody ambush. There was still an urgency to their actions however as their pursuers were not far away.

She walked up to the Honker and said to Bayer, "Sir, the Star has a winch, it should be able to pull the tree off the road enough for us to get past. With your permission, I'll get Adam to drive up here and then get on to it." she looked at him for a moment and said, "Sir, might I also suggest that you ask Mihn to use the delay to prepare some demolition charges using the dynamite, four sticks wired to a tree trunk and then detonated should cause a roadblock behind us. Every delay we can put on the pursuit is another reason for them to abandon the chase. We've hurt them badly but they might still come on, this trick might slow them even more."
She nervously checked the surroundings as she awaited Bayer's decisions.

In reply to Griet Niewiadomska (msg #176):

After the stopped, Dawid hopped off the AA gun and manned the Mk. 19.

Not seeing Griet get off, he was puzzled for a moment. He had no easy way to contact her as she lacked a radio, nor did he wish to shout.  Looking around he saw her walking away down the road towards the other vehicle.

Various pops and bangs echoed through the woods, a familiar-enough sound. Not hearing any more radio messages from the stay-behind element, looked back down the road the way they came, worried.

"Eagle calling Sunray, our position is 100m away now."

Adam could probably use some reassurance. "Adam, so far so good, all clear back here. But do get ready to drive, eh?"

He continued peering back down the road, knowing he would likely get off the first shot, and hoped that would be enough.


Rear bed of Star 266
40mm Mk.19 AGL (50/50 HVHEDP)
Aiming to rear (Covering)
This message was last edited by the player at 16:59, Sun 21 Dec 2008.

"Yes, we are ready." While they wait for a decision to be made regarding the tree, Adam speaks privately with Dawid.


Walter sits behind the wheel looking nervously impatient with the entire situation.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:30, Sun 21 Dec 2008.

Spying the situation through the image intensifiers, and spurred on by the sounds behind them, Anneka made a snap decision and called down into the cabin.
"Adam, move the truck into position to use the winch."
"Walter, I want you on the ground to connect the cable."
"Don't bother using the winch motor to begin with, it's probably too slow."
Next she informed those with a radio what was happening.
"Sunray this is Starlight. Moving into position to use winch. Suggest redeploying to watch this arc."
And then, as the truck bumped along in the diminishing light, called back to the cargo bed.
"Dawid, have you seen an axe anywhere?"

Dawid finished his conversation with, "Adam, do not worry my friend, I am sure we will make it all right to Warszawa. God will guide us."

When Anneka asked about an axe, he replied apologetically, "I do not see an axe here, maybe try the tool bin between the cab and the bed? I would gladly do it, but I regret that I am covering the rear. We could have company, quite soon..."

As they drove back he called to Walter when they were still about 25-30m away, "Stop right here! Send Griet back when you can."

He quickly unloaded the Mk.19 plus the spare ammo can where he could cover the road behind them. He looked for something like a deep pothole in the road, or log or ditch on the side off to the side with a clear field of fire down the lane.

Once set up, he took out his Rosary and started to pray, then crossed himself when done.


40mm Mk. 19 (50 HVHEDP + 50 HVHE)
Road 30m behind the vehicles
Aiming and Covering the road.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:44, Mon 22 Dec 2008.

While everyone else dismounts, Tucker will stay behind the AGS-17 and cover the group in case there is some kind of ambush set for them.  He still uses the NVG's to continue scanning the area around the forward element looking at the downed tree and what they're going to do.

OOC; Unless Konrad wants me out to help?

Tucker
AGS-17
T-H squad carrier covering ground team(s)

Once Griet saw that the tree was in hand she looked at Bayer and said, "Sir, I think Dawid wants me back with him. Do you concur or is there somewhere else you want me?"

"Hauptman!" Anneka called as the truck moved into position.
"Do you need Minh to blast the stump free?"
While setting the charge to complete the servering of the trunk might take a few minutes, they may also waste time attempting to shift it as it was. A tough decision with no time to make it, and one she was glad wasn't hers to make.
"Stoner," she continued in more of a lecturing "school teacher" tone, "What do you think you're doing running about with that head wound?"

Bayer replies over the radio, "Send her up for inspection."

To everyone else he says, "Tucker, put two or three rounds into the tree with the AGS." It looked natural, but he decided to go with caution before anyone started messing around with it with tow cables. "Jan, back the truck up a little to keep it safe, everyone else, stay in cover."

"It's just a scratch" he says in his best English accent. "I'm not dead yet".

Jason, his hip throbbing badly, stradles the Ural motorcycle and attempts to manhandle the bike/sidecar combo back up on to the road and pointing north. Bullets whip-crack around them, one thwacking into the sidecar just a few inches below Mariusz's back (fortunately it does not penetrate and Mariusz in unhurt). After what seems like an eternity, the bike is back on the path and, spitting gravel, accelerates after the rest of the friendly convoy.

Jason can feel the warm stickiness of blood running down his leg and soaking into his Nomex flyers' coverals.

Up ahead, out of site of the returning ambush team, the T-H and the STAR almost collide, as the squad carrier backs away from the log in order to "test" it with 30mm HE grenade fire and the STAR pulls forward to use its winch to drag the tree out of the way. Fortunately, both drivers (Jan and Adam respectively) are alert, and the mishap is avoided.

Having pulled back 50m, or so, Tucker looses a burst of AGL fire at the tree lying stubbornly across the road. Three grenades detonate close enough to the tree to shower it with shrapnel. The barrage produces no further effects and it is judged safe to move. Walter runs forward with the hook and cable from the STAR's winch and secures it around a sturdy-looking section of the dead- and now mutilated- tree, close to one end. The STAR backs up and drags the tree so that it no longer obstructs the entire path. Enough of a lane has been created that the STAR, as well as the convoy's smaller vehicles, should be able to work themselves around the remainder of the large tree without much trouble.

Minh, meanwhile looks through her stock of explosives, judging whether to spare any of the party's dwindling supply to quickly blast down a few more trees, creating a formidable obstacle behind them for their pursuers. Dawid searches for an axe and finds one, as well as a full-sized shovel, a pickaxe, and a sledge hammer clipped to a panel in the STAR's side.

Jason and Mariusz arrive and flip another U-turn to face south once again, providing the party with rear security. Jason is starting to feel a bit woozy but he managest to load an HEDP round into his M203.

Actions?

Tucker looses the trio of grenades at the tre once Jan safely backs the truck up far enough away to give them a safety buffer and to minimize the shrapnel.  He shakes his fist up and down and lets out a loud "WHOOO" as he sees that the tactic worked on breaking up the tree enough to move and probably get by.  "That's what I'm talking about!  That's the shit," he says aloud as the clearing of the road begins.

Jason is beginning to feel the blood loss.  "Mariusz," he says, "I'm hit.  Keep an eye out for Ivan.  I've gotta..." he takes a heavy breath, then continues, "stop this bleeding."  Leaning his rifle inside the sidecar again, he takes one of his canteens and the personal medical kit from his webbing.  He sits on the saddle and props his right foot on the body of the sidecar.  He pours water from the canteen to rinse the wound, then uses the supplies from the medkit to bind it.  That task done, he picks up the Austeyr again to wait for the enemy to reappear, or for the signal to move on.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:19, Tue 23 Dec 2008.

In reply to Jason Kasparov (msg #188):

Dawid heard the bangs from the grenades hitting the tree, and turned around to look. It seemed they were checking for booby traps prior to winching the tree.

From behind the Mk.19 covering the rear from the brush just off the road, Dawid was overjoyed to see Jason and Mariusz.

They stopped nearby and he saw Jason was woozy and wounded.

"It is great to see you both! Hey Jason, go get treated by the doctor. I am covering the rear. Griet should be here soon, and Mariusz can stay or not, but I would like to hear how it went back there."

He continued watching the road behind them.


40mm Mk.19 (50 HVHEDP
Aiming to Cover the rear.
25m behind the vehicles
This message was last edited by the player at 09:54, Tue 23 Dec 2008.

when sam hear's that they are going to use the AGS; he moves back and covers the same side of the truck; just back from the target.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:54, Tue 23 Dec 2008.

Pausing to take breaths in the middle of phrases, Jason replies, "BRDM hit the mine and was burning last we saw.  A whole shitload of infantry dismounted from a couple of trucks.  I popped a grenade among some of them before we boogied.  As long as you have the rear covered, I can go see the doc.  I think I am going to have to ride up; I'm not going to be able to walk that far.  Mariusz, it's your choice.  Stay here to cover the back trail, or come with me."  With or without his young friend, Jason turns the motorcycle around and slowly makes his way to the Star and Tarpan-Honker.  "Major," he says to Soleblume when he gets there, "I need your help..."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:46, Tue 23 Dec 2008.

In reply to Jason Kasparov (msg #191):

"Well that's good, very impressive! I am glad you both made it. We should thank God for your miraculous deliverance."

40mm Mk.19 (50 HVHEDP
Aiming to Cover the rear.
25m behind the vehicles
This message was last edited by the player at 09:56, Tue 23 Dec 2008.

"You get treated," Mariusz said to Kasparov, "I'll wait here."



He took the radio with him and found a nice deppression next to the track to set up in.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:31, Tue 23 Dec 2008.

Griet walked back down the track until she found Mariusz and Dawid, she noted that they had the track directly covered and said, "I'll go into the tree line a little bit and see if I can find a position to use enfilading fire, if I can't, I'll come back here."

She started to move into the trees.

Dawid welcomed Griet back.

"Good to see you, I'll make sure not to hit your position. Just so you know the plan is I will try and engage them at as long a range as possible with the machine grenade launcher. I'm probably not going to wait until they are beside you (because if they bail out you will be overrun), unless we get more people here to help set up a proper ambush."

"From what Jason says, not much chance of immediate pursuit, which is good! I hear he got that damned BDRM. Might as well finish that smoke."

He handed her the RPK-74 and spare ammunition as she passed.

"Jason, you are not fit to ride! Allow me."

He easily caught up to and helped the wounded pilot into the sidecar, then hopped onto the saddle and started the bike with a kick on the starter pedal. The warm machine caught immediately, and he put it into gear while letting out the clutch and twisting the throttle. After delivering his injured charge to where Anneka waited, he drove back.

"Mariusz, would you kindly help me man the machine grenade launcher? We will fire off the Mk.19 from here, then load it up and use the bike to escape behind some smoke grenades. But I suspect we'll be going before that happens."

"I hope!"

He rolled the bike back off the road, but made sure it was pointed back up the road so it could be quickly started and driven away. In doing so he noted the bullet holes and reflected how narrow their escape must have been.


40mm Mk.19 (50 HVHEDP
Moving the bike, then back to Aim and Cover
25m behind the vehicles
This message was last edited by the player at 09:48, Wed 24 Dec 2008.

Before Dawid left to see to rear security and the recently arrived ambush team, Adam replies quietly to Dawid's rhetorical querry.


He gives Dawid a conspiratorial wink. It appears that the old man is not above enaging in a little subtle manipulation himself.

When their private conversation ends, the old man assists in the shifting of the large tree from the roadway.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:31, Tue 23 Dec 2008.

Quyen takes cover as Tucker attempts to trigger any boobytraps or mines in the tree. She preferred that than having to rustle through it in the dark. Afterwards she helps with the winch and the obstacle clearance.

Loading up, she makes a quick check of her own explosives, some dynamite sticks, a kilo of C4, and two anti-pers mines. Not much left, but hopefully enough to make a difference sometime in the future.

Now a ways away, Dawid remembered returning the smile and Adam's words of a few minutes ago. In return he had nodded in understanding of the truth in what Adam sald, then had moved to his position.

Currently, he was waiting for the pursuers to catch up, although it would likely take a long time to get themselves sorted out. He thanked God again for Jason and Mariusz's deliverance.


40mm Mk.19 (50 HVHEDP
Moving the bike, then back to Aim and Cover
25m behind the vehicles

OOC: In case there is any confusion in reading this post, Dawid is reflecting on the prior conversation that has ended a few minutes prior, not beginning a new one.

Griet looked at the RPK and ammunition that Dawid had handed her. As he drove off with Jason, she wondered why he wanted her to carry both the RPK and the PKM into her position. She shrugged and left the RPK with Mariusz as she headed out to find a suitable flanking position.

Mariusz moved from his position, gave up the RPK to Dawid, received it back from Griet and then set himself up next to the Mk-19 ready to assist Dawid as he'd been told.

In reply to Griet Niewiadomska (msg #199):

Noting her hesitation over weapons, Dawid suggested, "the plan is simply to hit and run. Use whichever weapon you like, put the other in the sidecar, but I would think the RPK-74 is easier to run with!"


40mm Mk.19 (50 HVHEDP
Aiming to Cover the back trail
25m behind the vehicles

OOC: Sorry, I didn't see a weapon posted and didn't realise Griet was packing around the PKM, which makes sense.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:39, Wed 24 Dec 2008.

October 12, 2000
0530 hrs.
40F
Scattered clouds
Approximately 5km west of Kozienice

The fallen tree no longer an impediment to their escape, the party reboard the vehicles* and once again get under way. The road cuts fairly straight through the trees, angling gradually northwest. So far, there has been no sign of the pursuit force. Perhaps the loss of the BRDM succeeded in breaking their spirit. Perhaps they have seen the folley of wheeled pursuit through a heavily wooded area. Whatever the cause of this respite, it is welcome indeed. But the members of the party are no less vigilant. The same trees that may have disuaded their pursuers could still contain dangers unseen for the party.

Moving at an expeditious but careful 55kph, the party continues to travel through the wood. Despite the lack of regular upkeep over the last few years, the forrest floor is remarkably free from undergrowth, making visibility less of an issue. The warm, loamy aroma of the composting leaf litter permeates the cold air which seems to have less of an edge in the cradle-like confines of the wood. Also contributing to the improved visibility is the newly risen sun, still low on the eastern horizon, whose beams now illuminate the tall spires of the mostly bare trees.

Stoner, in the Tarpan-Honker’s passenger seat, perchance looks off to his right(east), and is surprised by what he sees. For a split second, he suspects that his head wound was flaring up, causing him to halucinate a strange, disembodied, mirror image of their own convoy as it would be seen from afar. Then, others notice the rolling dopplegangers, traveling on a near parallel course to the convoy but slowly merging with their own. The first vehicle is a Tarpan-Honker squad carrier congfigured very nearly like the party's. The second is a STAR 4x4, smaller than their own STAR and, unlike those of the pursuit force, unarmored. Neither have canvas tops and their occupants can be clearly seen: four men in the T-H, and at least a dozen in lining the bed of the STAR. All are armed. The twin T-H appears to have a pintle-mounted PKM.

The vehicles, now only a little over 100m apart, continue to converge on the same, unseen intersection up ahead. The road here forms a lower case y, with the party’s convoy on the straighter, longer road, heading towards the tail. The other vehicles are on the shorter track, also heading for the tail. The two courses will undoubtedly soon merge.

Soon after Stoner and the others notice the shadowing force, the shadowing force notices them. The PKM on the hostile T-H swings towards the party’s T-H and the passengers in the hostile STAR crane their necks to see what is going on ahead and across from them.

Actions?

*I'll let ya'll sort out the order of march and vehicle assignments in the OOC.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:18, Sun 28 Dec 2008.

Dave flips the NVGs up and rubs his eyes, then flips them back down for a second look. "Hey! Ya'll see that shit?" he asks no one in particular. He shifts around in the seat to bring the M240 to bear.

Pre contact:
"Yes, of course."
After looking at the injury with the help of her surgical kits penlight, she quickly stiched the wound.
"No more bike riding for you," she said, directing Jason towards the trucks cargo bed.
"Not for a day or two anyway. Climb up and I'll bandage it while we move."
With Jason out of action as the motorcycle driver, Anneka mentally ran down ther list to come up with a replacement.
"Jan better do it," she stated.
"Dawid's needed too much here with with big guns."
Which of course meant a new driver was required for the T-H...

"I can ride, if that means anything..."

This message was last edited by the GM at 20:55, Fri 26 Dec 2008.

In reply to Cap'n Rae (msg #202):

After they got moving, Dawid made sure the Mk.19 and his PKM were in the bed of the STAR. Then he consolidated the remaining 23mm HEI ammunition into one magazine. If one barrel was functioning and the other wasn't, then it was just as well.

Spotting the other vehicles with his NVGs, Dawid knew there were hostile forces nearby to the East, in Kozienice. They would well have patrols out to spot and, if possible, head them off. It looked like a patrol had just managed to cut them off.  Riding in Polish Army vehicles and coming from the direction of known hostiles, he didn't need someone to draw him a picture as to who these clowns were.  He hoped it wasn't a friendly, but there was no way to tell and he who shot first lived to regret their mistakes.

He called out the fire order to the other gunners in the the vehicle, which mainly included Griet, "targets: two vehicles azimuth 100 degrees at 100m!"

Dawid swung the AA gun around and lowered the barrels down (as they had been pointed up to clear the breeches), training it on them. When the rear vehicle slid into his sight he pressed the trigger for the remaining 23mm autocannon, raking it.


23mm AA gun (39/100 HEI)
Firing 5x Bursts (x5 shots each) into the Star truck at close range
On AA gun, bed of Star

OOC: for the sake of argument, I'm assuming that the vehicles are about even and off to the side, a little to the rear, so the 23mm can train on them. If they are more to the rear the 23mm cannot target them but then the Mk.19 can and that's what he'd use. Also, as one 23mm barrel is inoperative then it would seem the ZU-23's ROF is cut in half from 10 to 5, comparing different 23mm autocannons in the T2K v2.2 Heavy Weapons Handbook. (Or, if we're going from Paul Mulcahy's site then the ROF of 20 goes down to 10, it would therefore be 3 bursts x10 and 1 Burst x9.) If any of these assumptions are incorrect please clarify so I can correct my post.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:40, Fri 26 Dec 2008.

Anneka's head snapped up, "How well?"
An extra rider amongst the combat troops would be very useful and take the load off Dawid and the now wounded Jason.

"How well can I ride? Well, I have never had any complaints. Ha. No, I have had a bike my entire adult life. In Virginia, only the rich had cars- the people who worked had dirt bikes and the poor and lazy walked."

"I rode a 92' Road King back at Bragg. I assume it's now radiation or is being used by someone. Well, God bless them if they can."

This message was last edited by the GM at 20:54, Fri 26 Dec 2008.

Blinking away fatigue, Griet slowly responded to the threat beside them by bringing the PKM to bear on the right side to engage the enemy.

Mariusz's chin drifted even more solidly onto his chest and his eyelids felt heavy. In the back of his mind he could hear the buzz of more engine noise. That meant something, probably something important, but he was just too tired to make the connections needed.

The firing took Quyen by surprise. She had allowed herself to relax a little and exhaustion had begun to wear her down. Sitting in the darkened back, listening to the monotonous engine sounds, she was nearly unconscious.

He rifle was leaning towards her with the but on the floor. Alarmed she raised it and looked around to find out what was happening and to be ready to react to any orders forthcoming.

Back aboard the Honker, Ondar let his eyes grow heavy and close.  Sleep was not realistic given conditions of the road and the vehicle's suspension, but rest would suffice.  A little rest was certainly better than no rest at all.

Initially, he had been reluctant to allow himself the luxury of relaxation, but from his position in the troop carrier he would have to rely on the skill of others manning the lookout posts.  His head drooped and he had just slipped into a pseudo dream-state recalling his youth in the rolling hills of Tuva when he was startled awake by he sound of heavy weapons fire.

"What that !?!" the paratooper demands.

Tucker seemed to get a little comfortable on the pintle mount of the AGS-17 on the T-H as they roll down the trail in the park.  He started to relax finally from the action in the town and felt his eyes getting heavy from the lack of decent sleep the past couple of days.  Robert is startled when he hears a call from either in front of him or from behind him in the troop carrier and then sees another T-H vehicle is mirroring them.

At that point the reality sets in when he sees the PKM on the squad carrier turning towards them and he sweeps the AGS-17 grenade launcher and fires a string of grenades at the vehicle(s).  "CONTACT!  FUCKING CONTACT!"

Tucker
AGS-17
Firing string of rounds at the T-H
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:08, Tue 30 Dec 2008.

75m to the party's right, the unidentified Tarpan-Honker motors on, its gunner hastily lining up its counterpart. For some reason, the gunner does not fire. Instead, he starts screaming at his driver who abruptly speeds up, gradually pulling ahead of the party's vehicles in a race for the y-shaped road junction which must be coming up soon. The 4x4 star is slow to react to its leader's sudden and apparently unexpected acceleration. After a couple of seconds, the STAR's driver attempts to follow suit.

As soon as he saw the shadowing force, Dawid cranks the ZU-23-2's traverse and elevation wheels until the big gun is pointing at the 4x4 STAR. Just as it begins to pull ahead of the gun-truck, Dawid presses the foot pedal and sends a 6-round burst its way. HEI-T rounds scream downrange in a just a few fractions of a second. One round blasts apart the 4x4's rear, left tire. Two more tear through its cargo bed, shredding wood, metal, and flesh. A third would have hit the bed, but instead explodes against a tree that just happened to have interposed itself between the cannon and its target.

The smaller STAR shudders under the impact and slews left, running off the dirt track and smashing headlong into a tree. The impact throws the passenger seat occupant through the windshield and the survivors in the bed into the back of the cab (one tumbles out over the low guardrail. The tree doesn't survive the impact, falling down towards the anticipated crossroads up ahead.

Meanwhile, the shadow T-H's gunner works desperately on his PKM, which must have suffered a stoppage or misfire. The racing T-H is now about three or four car-lengths ahead of the party's foremost vehicle, about 50m off to the right, and angling towards a junction somewhere up ahead.

Tucker sends a flurry of 30mm HE grenades towards the hostile T-H. The projectiles explode puffs of smoke just behind the accelerating Polish jeep. It's possible that the vehicle and/or its occupants have taken some fragments but there are no clear signs of any hits.

Actions?
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:07, Sun 28 Dec 2008.

In reply to Sam McCoy (msg #208):

Relief flooded across her face as the difficult task of finding a replacement driver evaporated.
"Good, you're it then. Saddle up and lead us out."

A short while later....
Anneka had settled herself in the Star's cabin and almost drifted off into a fitful nap when the roar of 23mm round ripped through the air from behind. With a hand on Jason in an unspoken directive to stay seated, she lifted the top hatch, climbed up and rested her RPK-74 on the roof.

To Ann

"Well then you have a rider."

When Sam gets to the bike, he will address the boy.

"Well when we stop we can try to get the PKM from David and set it up on the trike. But, until then, try to keep your burst to 3 round bursts. It will keep your muzzle rise down and will keep you on target. I have experience in this."


"I will drive hard but I will need your help when we turn. I will need you to lean in the direction of the turn, this will help me drive. Also, I will yell when we turn or brake and this will help you in your duties of the gunner and spotter. Got any questions? If not, then let's roll."

Sam will do a quick once over of the bike, doing a quick pre combat check. He will then do the same for his gear now strapped to the bike and his personal gear.

"When's the last time you did a pre-combat check?"

Sam will start the bike and head out. He will go about 250 Meters in front of the convoy doing recon.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:31, Sun 28 Dec 2008.

"OK," Mariusz replied to McCoy's orders.

Griet flinched as the autocannon roared. She blinked hard, fighting the fatigue that threatened to overwhelm her and continued to settle the PKMG where she could fire at the enemy.

In the half light of the pre-dawn, Anneka examines Jason's lower hip wound. About five inches below the pilot's hip joint, on the outside of his upper thigh, Anneka finds a small, neat hole. She reaches into the hole she's torn in Jason's Nomex flight suit and feels around the circumferance of his thigh, searching for an exit wound. There is none. The wound isn't bleeding enough to suggest a severed artery and, although it is painful, Jason still has decent range of motion, suggesting that there has been no significant damage to hip joint, pelvis, or femur. Based on the damage and the reported range of the engagement, there is probably a 5.45mm bullet lodged deeply in Jason's upper leg. It would take some heavy duty probing in order to remove it. Aware that she has neither the time nor tools at the moment to do so, she leaves the bullet in place and quickly sutures the wound (it takes only three stitches), bandages it, and returns to the STAR's cab.

In great discomfort, Jason is left to sit/lie atop the M43 mortar.

OOC: Jason is still mobile but modest movement rate penalties will apply. The pain might aslo add small penalties to certain skill checks. Without the administering of antibiotics, the threat of a serious, potentially fatal infection exists.

On hearing the Anti-Aircraft gone go off Sam yells

"what the fuck was that look to the rear and get  me a sit rep. We are going to turn off the road and set up in a covered position until we know whats going on."


Sam will look left or right for a covered area. when he find ones he will yell to the pole that they are turning.


Sam
riding

'What the fuck was that look to the rear?' Mariusz looked confused at the soldier's harsh words. He hadn't looked to the rear...

Slowly he realised that the statement hadn't been a question, it had been an order. He turned around and looked blearily back down the dirt track, he buck and snapped around as McCoy performed his wild manouvres.

He squinted to see if he could see anything.


"I don't have a visual yet, but from the sound I'd say an AA gun just fired and hit a target in the woods." Mariusz said, "I'd guess it's ours as the chances of another Zoo-2 armed gun truck being just here is minimal. That's merely an assumption however. Would you like me to radio back and ask?"

"Try to get a radio report if you can. I will hide here and wait for there orders."


"thanks for the quick work young brother."



Sam
riding to hide

"Boss," Mariusz said over the radio, "this is Scout, what's going on, we're hiding up and waiting on your orders, Over."

"Let's hang low young brother; we don't need to get killed being heroes for no reason. Now, being a hero for a reason- that's what you get killed for. Haha. Now brace up that RPK and I will get my rifle out."

Sam and the boy will hide the best they can in the trees and turn off the motor. He will set local secuirty while he instructs the youth to set up a PDF going down the road to cover the area they just came from.

"Cover back down the road with that gun and don't fire until I tell you to. No need killing our own guys."
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:59, Wed 31 Dec 2008.

It was gratifying to see the enemy Star take some hits and wipe out. However, he guessed that he couldn't swing the Flak gun around to engage the surviving vehicle because of the mortar crammed in behind it on the truck bed.

"Griet, shoot at the other vehicle, if you can!"

Besides, those may not be the only threats out there! He kept the AA Gun trained on the crashed vehicle, keeping an eye on the rear in case more attackers showed from that direction.


23mm ZU-23-2 (29/100 rounds HEI)
On AA gun
Covering the rear

"Left side rapid fire! RAPID!" Bayer yells to his fellow dismounts. Firing from a moving vehicle would have to be made up with a high volume of fire to compensate for the lack of accuracy.

Into his radio he says, "Go go go. Don't stop."

Hearing Mariusz's query, he replies, "Close range contact... soft skin transport." Not expecting (or hoping) anything was ahead, he adds, "Need you back here."

"Tell him to gun battle past us and we will ambush them with the RPK and the M25."

"Moving back to a friendly unit in a fight is bad game; it will get us killed."

"Tell him we are on the left side of the road in the trees, 250 meters ahead; we will open up when they go by."


Sam will unsling his rifle and get ready.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:00, Wed 31 Dec 2008.

"Sir," Mariusz replied, "sub-unit commander adviises we are left of you and 250m forward. He advises you continue to our position and bypass us and we engage the enemy from ambush, Over?"

Mariusz struggled slowly to find a firing position and kept the radio handy.

"Thanks for the work brother now steady 3 round bursts"



Sam
ambush

Tucker quickly slews the AGS-17 around, trying to track the accelerating Tarpan-Honker. He fires another burst and watches again as rounds explode all around the vehicle. The passengers in the back cower as shrapnel slices through the air all around them but, once again, Tucker can't be sure what- if any- damage he's been able to do. To top it all off, the Plamya has jammed.

In the back of the party's 6x6 STAR, Dawid attempts to traverse the ZU-23-2 forward in order to engage the speeding enemy squad carrier. Due to the stowed 120mm mortar and the STAR's own cab, he's unable to establish LOS to his desired target. Griet wisely decides not to fire the PKM at the same target. To hit it, she would have to fire very near to the party's own T-H and she knows that her skill is probably not up to the task, especially doing so from the lurching bed of a moving truck. The chances of raking her own T-H are just to great.

Looking back, from his seat atop the mortar tube, Jason sees the smashed cab of the crashed STAR 4x4 burst into flames.

Mariusz and Sam, lying in wait on the west side of the road and facing their backtrail, can see the y-shaped intersection just 50m ahead. They first hear, then see, the enemy T-H racing towards them. It must be doing about 60-70 kph, a reckless speed on a dirt track through a thick wood. Off to the right, and at least 100m from the intersection, they see their own T-H coming towards them.

OOC: To clarify, the enemy T-H is now between the trike and the rest of the convoy. Once again, imagine a Y. The trike is now near the base of the stem, on the tail. The enemy T-H is on the left side, closer to the base, and the party is on the right, a little further away.

Actions?
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:25, Mon 29 Dec 2008.

Mariusz tried to focus blearily through the sights and squeezed off a series of three round bursts at the squad carrier heading toward them. He hoped the light rounds would hit, and that they would do some damage if and when they did.


Mariusz
4 3 round bursts at the Tarpan Honker (the enemy one)
RPK-74 40/40
Sitting in the sidecar at the junction of the Y...
This message was last edited by the player at 22:04, Mon 29 Dec 2008.

Swinging the AA gun around, Dawid covered the rear and rear-right sectors. There may well be others coming from the same direction, especially if either vehicle was in radio contact with their HQ when they were spotted.


23mm Flak (29/100 HEI)
Covering the rear and rear-right sectors
Back of the Star

"That's it brother, 3-round bursts on the target. Keep up the fire right into the grill..."

Sam will now fire hammered pairs into the trucks grill until he is bingo on ammo. He will fire one magazine or until the truck passes. If the truck passes he will then fire into the bed from the rear. Once his mag is gone he will reload and cease fire.

Sam
hammered pairs
M25
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:07, Tue 30 Dec 2008.

Seated on the mortar tube with the F88 resting on the floorboards of the bed and its barrel (and that of the M-203, as well) pointing up over his shoulder, Jason watches the enemy Star burst into flames.  "Whoo-ee!  Look at that sucker burn!" he says to nobody in particular.  He then directly addresses Dawid, "Nice shooting, Tex."

In reply to Jason Kasparov (msg #234):

Dawid glanced back and grinned. "Same here, you had some nice shooting yourself not too long ago. Now, let us trust our comrades will do the same!"


23mm Flak (29/100 HEI)
Covering the rear and rear-right sectors
Back of the Star

Hearing the call for a high volume of fire from the Hauptmann, Quyen turns and faces the vehicles. Kneeling on the bench she steadies the rifle as best she could, considering the fast and bumpy ride. Doing he best to keep the center of the truck in her sights, she fires off 5 shots.

Quyen
AK74 (30/30)
Honker Rear
Firing max semiautomatic at nearest truck in LOS

Without a safe target, Griet kept the PKMG trained toward the threat and did her best to blink back the sleep that threatened to envelope her.

As the enemy T-H pulls ahead of the main body of the party's convoy, Minh hefts the long barrel of her RPK-47 over the heads of the front seat occupants and fires off a burst. Between the movement of the two vehicles, the weapon's muzzle blast, and the wind rushing through the open cab, she can't tell if she hit anything.

As the unfriendly Tarpan-Honker barrels towards them, Mariusz rips off a couple of bursts at its engine compartment. The first burst sails over the heads of the terrified looking pair in the front seats; the second skips off the road beneath the speeding jeep.

Sam, meanwhile, fixes his sights on the grille of the engine and squeezes off a double-tap. Both rounds impact with a lound CLANG. A second double tap results in a another pair of hits. White smoke or steam begins leaking out of the engine compartment.

And then, just like that, the enemy Tarpan-Honker is upon them, swerving wildly onto the main road. It races past uncomfortably close, without slowing- if anything, it's sped up even more- and showering the ambushing pair with dust and small stones. The front passenger squeezes off a long automatic burst from his AKM, attemtping to rake the ambushers. Fortunately, his fire his high and wild. By the time Sam and Mariusz reacquire sight of the fleeing T-H, it is well past 200m away and passing out of sight around a slight northeast curve in the road, leaving a trail of white smoke (or steam) behind it.

The rest of the convoy arrives at the crossroads at about the same time as the dust begins to settle and is soon upon the scout/ambush team.

Actions?

"We should chase it down," Anneka yelled as the truck she was in drew closer. Out of their three vehicles, only the motorbike really had a chance of success though.
"We'll check over the other truck." A gesture indicated she only meant the Star, leaving Konrad and the T-H to do whatever the tactical commander thought best.
The cold early morning air had reminded her of the perils they faced. Without adequate shelter, or even just a few tents, the'd soon be seeing cases of exposure. Once the snows really began they'd all be in very big trouble.

In reply to Anneka Soleblume (msg #239):

Hearing Anneka's shout about checking out the other Start Dawid pointed out, "the other truck is on fire."

He continued his watch to the rear.

"If you hurry, Major, you might be able to get some personal gear and some shit out the back. If the Major wants me to, I can chase down the truck. I hit them in the engine with a couple of pairs of 7.62mm. If I hit the radiator, they can't go but a few klicks and then their engine will seize. If the squad carrier follows me, then I can stop them; the carrier can kill them. We need the gear for Warsaw! The flame won't jump to the back of the truck- it's too cold and there is nothing to burn. That's just my guess. But we must hurry, please order."

"Good job brother with the RPK. But see why I want to mount the PKM. We won't hit shit until the gun is mounted."
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:02, Wed 31 Dec 2008.

"Go, then. Hurry!" she urged McCoy, including Jan (the T-H driver) in her directive.
"We'll be right behind you," she yelled to Konrad before motioning Adam (or whoever is driving the Star) to make for the burning truck.

"Just grab what you can quickly and we'll go," she called back to Dawid, Jason, Griet and Walter^*.
"Watch out for enemy survivors though."
"Jason, you take over the grenade launcher while we're stopped and keep watch."
"Adam, I want the engine running and pointed back this way."
Brief orders given, she climbed back into the cab and prepared to debark for their brief salvage effort.

Chances were that the crashed truck contained little of use, but better to check now while they could than regret it later.


^* I think that's all on the Star.

With the majors orders sam takes off.

"We will follow but not too fast- we do not want to become the hunted ourselves".

"Off we go brother, spot and shot."

Sam will pull out onto the road tracking the truck. He will ensure that he will not follow too close and let the truck die on its own. Once he sees the truck they will hold back 100 meters and cover the truck waiting for the dismounts; if he see's targets he will engage with his rifle.

Before Sam leaves, he will look to the ground for water or other leaking fluids. If he see's some he will follow that track.

Sam
Tracking prey
M25
This message was last edited by the player at 09:19, Wed 31 Dec 2008.

Mariusz pulled the automatic rifle to his shoulder and waited until he was in range to fire.

When he was he began to fire evenly spaced shots at the truck.


Mariusz
5 Quick shots at the truck
RPK-74 28/40
Trike

Griet grabbed the radio and said to Bayer, "Sir, I hope we're not stopping to loot, we had to at the town but picked up the pursuit, then we stopped and nearly got caught, then we did it again. I strongly advie we push on now until we can be sure of having broken contact."

"Two minutes. That's all."
Just enough time to get a quick look at who it was chasing them and grab anything not nailed down.
Besides, it kept most of the non-combatants out of the firing line in the chase after the damaged Honker.

Jason winces in pain as he sits down behind the Mk-19 with the F88 on the bed at his side.  He keeps the big grenade launcher's barrel elevated and clear as the others climb down from the 6x6 Star.  Once everyone is on the ground, he brings the muzzle down to a ready position and covers what he can of both roads.

Jason K.
Star bed
Mk-19 [50/50 HVHEDP]
Covering
This message was last edited by the player at 01:41, Wed 31 Dec 2008.

Realising that he hadn't elaborated enough, Dawid explained, "we have enough guns and ammunition. The only thing we really need if fuel... which is what is burning."

"What we also really need is time. Too bad the other vehicle got away."

His eyes met Griet's, agreeing with her, then he looked away.

"Okay Major, we're going," he said without noticeable enthusiasm.

He unslung the Tantal and checked to make sure the safety was off and that it was set to single shot, then flipped his NVGs down. The grenade launcher was loaded with a round of 40mm HE.

"Maybe we'll find a jerry can with petrol. Or some cigarettes. Or the Black Madonna."

"Griet, you take the PKM, I'll be in the lead."

He waited util they backtracked down the other road to the burning Star. Getting out, he led Griet and Walter there to find whatever was worth takikng. It was likely that not everyone had died, so he was ready to encounter resistance.


5.45mm Tantal/BG-15 (30/1 HE)
Moving and Aiming to Cover
Approaching the burning truck along the side of the road
This message was last edited by the player at 02:42, Wed 31 Dec 2008.

"Food and shelter are important too."
Fuel would have been nice, but as they could all see, that was unlikely. At the very least they would gain some valuable intel and perhaps a tent, sleeping bags and other camping equipment, vital if they were to last out in the open.

Dawid looked back and nodded.

"Yes of course, they certainly have food and shelter... back at Kozienice. This is probably a patrol from the Kozienice garrison sent to intercept us."

"Jason, I am glad you are covering us, right?"

He looked back at the burning truck and sighed.

"Come on, time is fucking wasting."

Closer to the wreck he yelled in Polish, "HEY! Is anyone there, are you hurt?"

Tantal/BG-15 (30/1HE)
Approaching Truck
Near the side of the road
This message was last edited by the player at 03:10, Wed 31 Dec 2008.

Quyen will remain at her position, on the Honker's bench watching over the railing.

Griet eased herself off the truck and dragged the PKM off the bed. Slowly she slung the weapon across her body and readied it for standing fire. She staggered, her knees buckling under the weight and her back aching. She could barely keep her eyes open as she came around the truck.

She slipped as she moved off the dirt track and cursed, the muzzle had dug itself into the earth. She paused to unclog it, everything appeared in blurred slow motion. She stood again and moved toward the burning truck.

In reply to Griet Niewiadomska (msg #252):

Dawid stopped to let Griet get it together. He was tired as well, but at the moment adrenaline was pumping through his veins, keeping everything clear (if a little jumpy).

"Do not take this as an insult: if you are too tired to concentrate then by all means stay here at the truck, I don't want you to get hurt."

When she was ready, he checked his watch and they proceeded.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:34, Wed 31 Dec 2008.

Tucker yells out and curses when the grenade launcher jams up on him.  "JAM!  I GOT A FUCKIN' JAM!"  He works the charging handle on the AGS-17 to try and clear the stoppage the quickest he can and get back on target.  When he sees the oterh T-H speed off and his rounds don't look like they did much to slow it down and is pissed that he couldn't stop it.  Now, McCoy has to go out with Mariusz and finish off what he could've.

Tucker
AGS-17 [23/33]
Clearing jam in weapon

Griet rubbed her eyes and said slowly, "It's alright, we keep following orders and there'll be plenty of time to sleep when I'm dead. Let's get this done, before something else catches us up, again."

In reply to Griet Niewiadomska (msg #255):

"Ha! That's the spirit."

He called back, "Anneka, have Adam disengage the trailer and back down the other road."
This message was last edited by the player at 07:20, Thu 01 Jan 2009.

Seeing that turing around with the tailer hitched was likely to be problematic, Anneka made the tough decision to leave it at the crossroads, although in position to quickly reattach on the way back past. Leaving the fuel trailer, even just a few hundred metres away, was painful but ultimately necessary. Their vehicles tanks had been topped off recently so if they had to move fast and couldnt' recover it, the loss shouldn't be too disasterous.

"Reverse down," she directed the driver, and provided what assistance she could observing through the roof hatch.

Unable to get a clear shot at either vehicle, Dave watches the action. As the unknown Honker pulls out in front of them, Dave holds his fire, afraid of hitting McCoy or Mariusz.

With the Tarpan-Honker holding the cross-roads, the Ural trike heads out in pursuit of the wounded enemy squad carrier while the STAR 6x6, leaving the tanker trailer behind, backs up along the dirt track towards the wreck of its smaller cousin.

Scout Team

About 500m north of the crossroads, Sam and Mariusz spot the enemy T-H, parked on the right side of the road, thick smoke or steam billowing out from its open bonnet. Amid the white clouds, they see several of its crew who, almost simultaneously spot them. One of them raises his rifle to fire, while several others scatter in search of cover. The two groups are about 150m apart.

Gun-Truck

From the bed of the reversing gun-truck, Jason, Griet, and Dawid can see the brightly burning STAR 4x4 through the trees. The cab is fully engulfed in flames and thick, black smoke filters up through the canopy into the pale blue sky. As they get closer, they see several figures lying supine on the ground about 50m away from the truck on the dirt track. A standing soldier, dragging an injured comrade towards the rest of the group, spots the gun-truck. He hesitates, seemingly at a loss for what to do next- fight, run, or surrender. Laying his comrade down gently, he opts for the latter, throwing himself on the mercy of the approaching bandit force. He raises his hands and appears to advise his companions- those still able to do so, at any rate- to do the same. He wears the older, threadbare, splinter pattern combat fatigues and appears to be no more than 18 years of age. Tears stream down his grimy face.

With Jason providing overwatch with the Mk-19, Dawid, Walter, and Griet dismount and proceed towards the burning wreck. The bed just aft of the cab is also on fire and as they get closer, small arms ammunition starts cooking off. The frightened conscripts flinch and one of them, unable to withstand the fear of the unknown, breaks away, running with a pronounced limp down the track towards the southeast. Five remain- the standing teenager and four of his injured comrades, laying helplessly on the ground. The acrid smell of burning rubber is tinged with a nauseating odor that resembles overcooked bacon.

For what seems like minutes, the two groups stare uneasily at one another, the roar of the fire and the popping of the ammunition providing a grim sonic backdrop. Suddenly, Walter's voice cuts in as he shouts,

"My God, they've found us!"

He points towards the south, down the branching road (the same one they'd originally come down). Looking in the direction indicated, the rest of the dismount group sees the first of the two armored troop-carrying trucks held up by Jason and Mariusz's ambush rumbling in their general direction. After a significant delay, the pursuit force has arrived on the scene and they've no doubt spotted the burning STAR (they may not be able to see the party's gun-truck though, due to the smoke- this cuts both ways). They stop about 200m away and begin disgorging their infantry.

Actions?
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:11, Thu 01 Jan 2009.

Sam Yells
"going right hard into the trees."

Sam will pull into the trees about 25 meters and he will dismount and prep to fire.

"Take out the active shooter. I will set up to take out the other targets."

Sam will get off the bike seek cover and start to fire with his sniper rifle at the bad guys. he will fire single aimed shots with his scoped rifle.


Sam
Action
M25