Having learned that he was being reassigned as an ammo carrier for Dawid, Mariusz went back to his kit and looked at it once more. His weaponry and load were totally inappropriate for his new role and he went about rearranging things.

As he did so he went to the Ship's Armoury and discussed the matter with Griet. He looked at the tiny Petty officer and said, "Griet, I'm going to have to lighten my load on the patrol and this big German cannon is too heavy if I'm to carry ammo for Dawid as well. Is there anything we have in store that I could use instead?"

Griet cast her eyse over the equipment inventory and replied, "The problem we have is a mismatch between weapons and ammo, we have plenty of full magazines for NATO assault rifles but no weapons in store and several PACT weapons with little ammunition."

She sighed and said, "Your best bet is to take the AK-74 we have without a grenade launcher attached and take the two mags we have for that weapon. I'll give you three of my mags to round out the load. How does that sound?"

"That sounds fine, Griet, thanks," Mariusz replied and placed the G3 and its ammunition into the locker. He took the Kalashnikov and checked it thoroughly before reloading all of the magazines and putting one into the well of the rifle. He put the other four magazines into his ammunition pouches.

In reply to Mariusz Tokarski (msg #729):

At that point, Dawid came into the arms locker on the boat.

"Hello, my friends."

He put his Tantal/BG-15 down, and the lifchik ammo harness on top with six Tantal/AK-74 magazines and a half-dozen 40mm HE grenades inside.

"Won't be needing these at the moment. Mariusz, need some more ammunition?"

Dawid saw Mariusz with the old AK-74. "Those magazines will fit, if you need them. I'll lend you the Tantal, I'll take the grenade launcher off if you think you can't carry grenades, too."

"Thanks very much, Dawid," Mariusz said, "I'd appreciate that."

He took the extra magazines and the other equipment that the Polish veteran had offered him.

In reply to Mariusz Tokarski (msg #731):

"It's a pleasure, my friend."

Quickly, Dawid stripped down the Tantal from years of easy practice. He removed the grenade launcher, then cleaned and reassembled the rifle alone, giving the rifle to Mariusz and leaving the grenade launcher for the armouy.

  Drew wanders to the galley of the boat.  He looks around to see who is there.  He then speaks up,

"We need ta start planning how we're gonna do this recon folks.  When we're leaving, where we are headin, where we plan ta stop and a general route of march and marching order ya know?"

Sgt Drew
M9 and Ka-Bar
In galley/Wardroom, trying to get his group to work as a team and devise a plan for the comming patrol.

Mariusz finished rearranging his gear and then went over to Dawid. He sat next to the older Pole and said, "I've lightened my load and I can carry some ammo for you. I reckon I can manage three belts easily, but I'll have to leave one by your side immediately if we get into combat or I'll be seriously slowed. I can carry more in may pack if you need it."

He smiled wryly, "I guess we both wish we had enough ammo to worry about that."

In reply to Mariusz Tokarski (msg #734):

Dawid answered Mariusz, "yeah, I wish we have enough ammo to worry about that. Maybe we'll pick up more?"

He stopped by the galley and dropped off his maps for reference. They were pre-war Polish army issue maps of Warszawa.

After, he went to do some scrounging for snow camouflage and improvised stoves.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:54, Mon 08 Mar 2010.

"Sergeant," Dieter replied to Drew's request. "I am an experienced tracker, and am happy to take point if you wish. I can even do some forward reconnaissance if you wish, if someone else can take this heavy radio and my pack. Do we have a map that I can look at to assess the best possible route."

  "Well son" Drew replies,

  "I'm not the dude running this show, but, if ya wanna run point, then good for you.  I don't recomend it, you being new and all.  But, if you think you have to then go for it." As Drew surveys the new man.

  "If ya don't wanna hump the radio, that's something ya gotta take up with the patrol leader.  But, if ya think ya need help, let me or Mar know and we'll help ya out.  Just remember, its a recon patrol, so we can go light on this one. Okay?"
Sgt Drew
M9
Talking to the new guy

No problem, do you need anything else ?

If Apel seems to have all he needs Craig goes in search of a couple of white sheets. He also takes the chance to swap his G3 for one of the militia's AKS-74U and he collects the RPK magazines from Toms equipment.

Craig takes the scope and mounts off the G3 and stows it with the rest of his gear he isn't taking with him on the recce. He then takes his time field stripping the AK making sure everything is functional while giving it a good clean and lube. Lastly he unloads all the magazine and checks the ammunition before reloading them again.

If he is able to locate a couple of sheets he tears one into strips and camouflages the AK he then goes and locates Apel doing the same to his M16. He then fashions a couple of rough ponchos giving the second to Apel.

Mariusz worked carefully on stowing the machine gun ammunition into his pouches. He tried his best to ensure that they would come out smoothly when Dawid needed them.

He loaded his emergency rations and mess kit into the last pouch and then tried it all for manovureability.

In a service attended by several of the team members and a small crowd of pious, grateful villagers, Stoner and Jones are burried in the "new" cemetary on the eastern outskirts of town, with a view of the Vistula and the stranded government helicopter. The orange sun is sinking in the west as flocks of dark gray clouds scud silently overhead, pushed south from the Baltic on a stiff, cold, winter breeze. It looks like the weather's beginning to take a turn for the worse.

Dawid manages to collect 8 homemade white oversuits fashioned out of table linen and bedsheets from the militia. There is also whitewash available for use on helmets and weapons, for those who choose to use it. The Bishop, however, will not part with any more of the militia's dwindling supply of 7.62mm NATO ammunition.

Batteries for the team's radios and optics are checked. Several of the batteries are running low on charge and most of them- even the most recently manufactured rechargeables- probably no longer hold a full charge.

The Bishop's men conduct an interrogation of the recently captured prisoners. They confirm the locations of the Baron's HQ, motor-pool, and remaining D-30. After further vigorous prompting, they also outline some of the most common routes taken by the Baron's mounted and foot patrols. These are marked on the team's maps of the Warsaw area.

There is still much to be done. You look forward to a last full night's sleep in heated accomodations. You leave for Warsaw in the early morning.

Next Moves?
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:56, Mon 08 Mar 2010.

In reply to Cap'n Rae (msg #740):\

Dawid stood with his head bowed during the burials, Papally-blessed rosary clutched in cold hands. He was emotionally affected by the burial of his comrades and appreciated Jan's eulogy, even though as a fellow Catholic he knew this was not a traditional part of the ceremony.

Seeing that the Bishop wanted to hold onto the extra ammunition he was counting on for the G-3, Dawid has no choice but to switch back to the PKM. It's not the end of the world; he likes the GPMG and there will be more ammuition between the M240 and PKM in total if they don't share the same cartridge. If anything, they have a better chance of coming across additional ammunition.

The G-3 went on the Alvis, to protect them. Once it returned the ORMO would be free to use it as they saw fit.

He distributed the snow camouflage suits to everyone so they at least had something (taking one himself) and whitewashed his own helmet, after thanking Drew and whoever helped with scrounging them up.

In reply to Dawid Waldus Piotrowski (msg #741):


  As Drew checked the new overwhite he talks with Dawid,

"Not a bad job, these'll do.  We should work on some mini stoves.  Ya know where we can find some old paint cans, we can rig a couple up.  We can make em so we can have covered fires and not give our position away.  We'll need it out there.  Figure three or four should do it."

  As they set about making the stoves Drew will suggest,

"We need ta make sure we got some e-tools and maybe a couple picks if the ground is frozen, or a hatchet if we hole up in the woods."
  Drew then adds,

"I doubt we'll need complete shelter halves, we could probably get away with just the tentsheets and use cord ta tie em ta trees and cut poles.  In a pinch we can cram three guys in a shelter half which will keep us warm...what do ya think?"

Sgt Drew
M9
Talking w/ Dawid

In reply to Steven Drew (msg #742):

Dawid thought about this.

"The stoves are a great idea. Usually, we'd just make a fire, but I agree, let's get on that. I think I know where we can get some containers."

"Most people have folding shovels, er, Entrenching-Tools, most with picks. A favourite close-combat weapon! We still should have some kit like that available if you don't have one."

He looked at the sky. "Hmmm... I don't know about this weather, the farm boy in me says it's going to be a bad winter. If we can carry cold weather gear like shelter-halfs and sleeping bags for everyong, I say lets do it. In the Polish Army we never had stuff like you NATO types, but we also lost many men to frostbite and exposure! If it slows us down to much, we can cache it along the way and come back later."

Remembering what was bandied about earlier he said, "here, let's take a minute to work on these "SOPs" you mentioned, and help me look at the section organisation, if you can." They worked on the organisation a little more, getting it more towards a NATO standard, and discussed SOPs.

Craig is solemn through out the the service for their fallen team members, it is not the first service he has attended and it wouldn't be the last. They are just becoming harder to deal with. He had not really even introduced himself to the Welshman and the skills of the SEAL would be missed. He tries to clear his head and in the end he salutes the grave at the end of the service then utters the words:

”Per Mare, Per Terram. Nec Aspera Terrent”

Before moving back towards the village and a couple of last tasks. Craig begins a search for is a few old corks, apart from that he is done. He starts to run through the up coming op in his head and moves towards the planning area to study the maps the group has.

Dieter stood quietly during the funeral service. He wasn't particularly religious, much to his mother's annoyance. Sundays were best spent hunting in the woods with his Dad, not sitting in a stuffy old church singing stupid songs and listening to a fat, white-haired old man ramble on about sins and heaven and all that stuff. However, he was always respectful of funerals. People found them useful - the Americans had a word for it - Closure. So he stood respectfully and joined in when appropriate.

After the service he re-arranged his kit, again. The radio he had been given was very heavy, but he didn't want to complain. After finally moving around some kit he managed to get his carried items to a manageable level, and the pack was okay too.

Dawid had given him some whitewash and snow camouflage (actually just some torn up bedsheets, but they would do). He busied himself camouflaging his kit, especially his rifle. Once done he volunteered to assist Drew with manufacturing some makeshift stoves.

Once all was done he tried again to strike up a conversation with Thor. He was a strange character. Dieter had seen a movie called 'Die Wikinger' as a child, with Kirk Douglas and Tony Curtis, and Thor reminded him of the movie. "People deal with the stresses of war in different ways, I suppose," he thought to himself. "Although this guy may have been crazy all along!"

"Thank you for the loan of your image intensifier," he said to Thor, speaking slowly in English, indicated the borrowed bit of kit at the same time. He wasn't sure how good Thor's English was, but needed to build a relationship with him. At the same time, he didn't want to appear patronising.

Robert also attends the services for his two fallen comrades and stays silent as the euology is well done and resepctful.  HE does the sign of the cross when the service is completed and then steps up to the graves and gives a slow salute to the fallen warriors.  He wish he could've done more to see them pull through the ambush and realizes that he can't save or protect everyone.  He leaves the services and goes back to toy around with his gear for the recon mission.  He will go back and catch up with Jan, "Hey.  If you need any rounds for the 40mm, let me know.  I was also thining of getting with Drew to hear what kind of ideas he has.  Dude's prety sharp!"

“Yea,” replied Jan, “I was just going to talk to Drew and Dawid.  They seem to be working out how to best organise this recce mission.”

He scratched at the stubble on his chin as they walked.  Maybe it was time to start growing a beard.

“I can’t decide how much cold weather gear to take.  It all depends on how bad the weather is going to be and that’s all guess work now.  I was planning on limiting my gear to what I can carry easily but I’m not so sure now.  Maybe we should load ourselves or the bikes up and just take it slow.  I can’t decide to be honest.”

He pulled his greatcoat round him, trying to block out the cutting wind.  He didn’t say it but he wasn’t as used to operating in severe cold conditions as many of the men he was now serving with.  Much of his pre War service had been in Africa and since the War had started he had been involved in Western European operations.  It had certainly been cold at points but he suspected that a Polish winter was going to be a new experience and one that he wouldn’t enjoy!

“I don’t think that I need any more forty mil rounds.  I was planning on taking four HEDP, ten HE and a couple of lume.  If I need any more than that then we’ve really screwed up the recon element of the mission.  I gather that neither you nor Mariusz are taking their GLs so that just leaves Konrad and me with NATO forty mils.  It might be worth checking if Konrad needs some more rounds though.”

Dieter went to see Jan, who had been sorting out kit on the bicycles.

IN FRENCH: "Could you please add these to the kit for the bicycle, as I do not have room for all of it." With that he hands Jan an entrenching tool and a shelter half, as well as a couple of frag grenades. "If anyone needs the grenades then they can help themselves."

Dieter also collects 2 days worth of rations and ads them to his pack.

OOC-please add the following to kit for bikes:
 2x Frag grenade [1.0kg]
 Shelter Half [1.0kg]
 Entrenching tool [0.5kg]

In reply to Jan Cerny (msg #747):

Dawid sighed in frustration.

"The Bishop won't give up his NATO 7.62mm ammunition, so I guess I'm back to taking the PKM. Which is fine, I like them, but it would be nice to have common ammunition. Even so, I'll see if he can lend us 40 rounds of 7.62mm Rimmed (R) so we can top up a belt. Another option is the good old RPD, but we only have 80 rounds for it and I can't see the Bishop giving up 320 rounds to make 4 full belts."

"As for changing the patrol order, it seems like we're basically ready to go and this complicates things, although I understand why you want something more like what you're used to in NATO. I'll check with Konrad if he needs any more NATO 40mm ammunition, although he's usually good at looking after his own kit."

In answer to Jan's question on winter gear he replied, "I think everyone should carry their own winter gear, if it gets really cold out we could be in trouble. But if you really think this is a good idea I'll designate who leaves and takes their sleeping bags/shelter halves."

He looked thoughtful.

"We should almost make sure someone else has a grenade launcher so it's Konrad plus two others, but I have no idea who would carry it. Really, Ideally, I think Tucker should switch back to his M16/M203 because he's no longer carrying machinegun ammunition and we can use the firepower of another grenade launcher over that rifle."

If Sutherland is around he asks to borrow his tactial radio. If Tucker is around, he asks if he'd consider taking his M16/M203 instead of the M-14K.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:35, Wed 10 Mar 2010.

"We pair. Kill many giganten."

Thor scowled.
"Is Mjollnir!" he stated as if that alone was enough of a response. "I Thor!"


"Not intensifier. Just telescope^*. Found in farmhouse."

Thor was taking almost everything he owned with him. Only the ZKK-601 hunting rifle, collection of gold coins and half a litre of rifle bore cleaner would remain behind, barely reducing his load by a meagre four kilograms. When it came time to pack everything up ready to move, he refused to add anything to the bicycle, instead taking some of the food from it and adding it to his already heavy pack^**.

"No take," he shook his bearded head.
"Who push? No take."

"No!" Thor intervened, his hand extended to stop the transfer of equipment.
"Bragi you take. Leave grenoble. Take dig tool. Take skin. You need!"
He thrust the entrenching tool and shelter back into the German's chest.


^* 25x Spotters scope - 1kg
^** 4 kgs removed

"I am sorry my friend," Dieter replied to Thor. "I cannot carry all of this equipment as I am not strong like you." With that he tried to give the kit back to Jan for the bicycles.

If Thor persists Dieter will pretend to pack the kit for himself, then give it back to Jan later when Thor isn't looking. The weight of this extra kit would be too much for Dieter, and he would really struggle to keep up with the patrol.