"EXCUSE ME, I don't wish to be rude but who the hell are you?..." directed at german attempting to catch up, as Guido takes bead on him, (aimed shot? shoot first avoid questions latter.) "... and what do you think you are up too"
[Private to Nuked: Would this be Dettinger? he is attached to our group and he hasn't posted yet. Just a wild guess.]

Camilla looks around at the others.  Put to the back of the bus, it looks like she has little to do but wait.  Deciding to clean her rifle, she starts making preparations when the vehicle halts suddenly.  Looking around to see the reactions of others, she settles down a little when she doesn't see everyone jumping to action in fear.

Still unsure of her English-speaking skills, she calmly waits to see what the others do.

Gallin will look at the German dressed man and sigh. "Looks like someone got bored of the rustic city life and wants to go see some adventure and excitement with us." She will have her rifle at easy reach, but one hand on it, just oin case.

"Force of habbit" grinning "If I shoot you don't take it personally"

The German paratrooper, a heavily-muscled man who has clearly spent more time in the mud than the village, holds up his empty hand, as if asking the party to hold their fire. "Wartezeit! Halten Sie Ihr Feuer! [Wait! Hold your fire!] Don't shoot! I am friend." He is standing in a non-threatening manner, and looks relieved to have caught-up with the group before it left the town.

He is wearing dirty Bundeswehr paratrooper's coveralls, bearing the rank insignia of an Oberstleutnant, patches for a Bundeswehr unit, and a hastily tacked-on US 256th Brigade insignia. The name DETTINGER is stitched on his chest. Under faded camouflage paint, he appears to be almost painfully archetypically Germanic.

"I am Dettinger, Oberstleutnant, 6th Falschirmjager. Eh...detached, yes? Spricht jemand Deutsches?  Mein Englisch ist nicht fließend." [Does someone speak German? My English is not fluent.] He stands by the gate, clearly waiting expectantly for a response.

[Private to Nuked: Decent for a first post? Think I've worked out the basic conventions and interface. Pls. let me know if I make any mistakes. - J]
This message was last edited by the player at 00:01, Sat 11 Dec 2004.

Tanya looks him over carefully from the cupola of the BTR-80, making sure the others have a bead on him in case Dettinger does anything silly...
(OOC - I have no idea how to reply in German, thus... all the English text in italics will be in 'Deutsche')
She replies "Ya I speak German, who are you and what are you doing here?"
To the others she adds "One of the master race wishes to converse with us... I will find out what he's about, he apparently speaks only a little English" Tanya sighs as she looks at Cam "if this carries on we may have to think about opening a language school..."

Dettinger props the stock of the PSG1 upright at his feet, and pushes his helmet back on his head, idly scratching at an old cut. He seems more curious than concerned at this point.

"Gibt es ein Offiziergeschenk? Ich würde mit dem verantwortlichen Offizier oder Trennungkommandanten, bitte sprechen.[Is there an officer present? I would speak with the officer in charge, or detachment commander, please.]" He continues to regard Redgrave with a degree of curiousity, then turns to Guido. "Ich würde auch dem Herrn danken, Drohungen nicht zu bilden.  Ich berücksichtige meine zustand der gefahr ziemlich. [I would also thank the gentleman to not make threats. I am quite aware of my state of danger.]

[Private to Plt Sgt Tanya Redgrave: I'm shamelessly exploiting Google Language Tools, at least for now. I figure it will start to be annoying after the initial amusement wears off. <g>]

"Für jetzt Oberstleutnant können Sie zu mir sprechen..."(For now Lieutenant colonel, you can address me... )
"Was tun Sie herum hier?" (What are you doing around here?)
Sgt Redgrave indicates the village and surrounding are with a vague gesture
"...Und wo ist der Rest von Ihrer Maßeinheit?"  (... And where is the rest of your unit?)

Dettinger considers Redgrave intently for a moment, then shrugs.

"Bearbeiten meiner Weise zurück zu dem Westen.  Haupt. [Working my way back to the west. Home.]"

He seems to consider for a moment, then gestures at his unit patch, torn and ragged. "Meine Maßeinheit wurde zerstreut.  Zerstört isoliert, wenn Sie werden.  Gute Männer und Frauen, tot oder gefangengenommen. [My unit was scattered. Destroyed in isolation, if you will. Good men and women, dead or captured.]" Dettinger spits on the dirt, and looks away. His eyes are haunted. "Es gab nicht viele von uns nach links, sogar vorher. [There weren't many of us left, even beforehand.]

"Das 2. Falschirmjager gestorben, die Rückseite halten. [The 2nd Falschirmjager died holding the rear.]"

"This is enough, yes? Enough."

[Private to Plt Sgt Tanya Redgrave: Does Redgrave have any visible rank insignia?]
This message was last edited by the player at 03:25, Sat 11 Dec 2004.

NPC'd
Smythes' smiling (and slightly annoyed) face pokes up next to Tanya inside the BTR-80.
"What's going on out there Sgt Redgrave? What does he want?"

[Private to Dettinger: Yes she is wearing a Polish/Warsaw pact steel helmet and a slightly bloody Polish cavalry jacket with that carries the rank of private... the jacket looks a little big for her]

Tanya nods slowly with, understanding in her eyes
"Ja genug, danke... Sir" (yes enough, thankyou... Sir)
noticing Major Smythe's head appear from another hatch...




"Wartezeit bitte" (wait please) she asks the Oberstleutnant... and then addresses the Major
"Apparently he's lost and his unit is FUBAR. He identified himself as Oberstleutnant Dettinger from the 2nd Falschirmjager and wants to speak with an officer... He appears genuine from what I can tell... Oh yes, and he can speak some English..." Redgrave deliberately ommits finishing her sentence with the correct 'Sir'

NPC'd
Major Smythe nods his acknowledgement to Tanya and ducks back inside.
Don, Time to go work your magic. Gallin, take over as driver.
Although they had only know each other for a few days, Don's reputaion as a negotiator had grown steadily.

OOC: Normally I'd ask Smythe to continue speaking but since the play is having connection issues, the next highest rank is Camilla. Of course, unless somebody radios on to the BRDM, Camilla is unable to communicate which leaves Don as the man on the spot.
As you go along, you, as players, may decide to ignore rank completely and establish your own pecking order - your choice....
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:59, Tue 14 Dec 2004.

Dettinger nods to acknowledge Redgrave, and settles back on his heels. He seems to be a very patient sort of fellow.

Cam settles back and rests her eyes.  This was going to be a long trip.  It has been long already. At least she could catch up on rest.  Leaning back, she naps as the large vehicles rumble out.

Tanya addresses Dettinger with a smile...
"Ich denke, daß Sie an Bord eingeladen worden sind?" (I think you have been invited aboard)
She pauses then adds
"Ah, einer meiner Begleiter" (Ah, one of my companions) She wrinkles her nose distastefully "wünscht Ihnen einige Fragen stellen, ergreifen Sie so Ihr Zahnrad und Willkommen an Bord" (will want to ask you some questions, so grab your gear and welcome aboard)
As the drivers change positions and Dettinger gathers his gear Tanya adds with another smile and a raised eyebrow...
"Oh, Oberst... Sie können mich anrufen Tanya..." (Oh, Colonel... you may call me Tanya...)

(OCC to Cam: Don't worry... I am sure Tanya will have lots to talk about when we stop for the evening... plus there are those language lessons...)

Dettinger nods acknowledgement, and quickly gathers together his gear, slinging his pack. He quickly scans around, then walks towards the BTR.

Beside the nearest hatch, he will pause, sling his pack into the interior, and then look up at Redgrave. "Könnte ich, im Freien oben reiten?  Ich mag nicht Schildkröte spielen." [Could I ride above, in the open air? I don't like to play turtle.] He has a facial expression that could, charitably, be called a smile - he doesn't look the sort that is accustomed to smiling.

"Ich mag den geöffneten Himmel." [I like the open sky.] A pause, as he gathers his rifle up and gets a grip on the chassis. "Bessere Ansicht." [Better view] You'd swear he winked...

Tanya grins...
"Sie konnten herauf Oberseite neben mir reiten, wenn Sie wünschen?" (you could ride up top beside me if you want?)
She pats the roof beside her with a raised eyebrow...
"Start 'her' up, Michelle, roads a long one today... and Don, if you don't mind I will, ahhh..." (another smile) "...'interogate' our prisoner. You keep your eyes on the road."
She looks over her shoulder toward the gun hatch where 'Winters' should be
"Winters, get on the horn and whistle up Sergeant Guido and let them know we are lagging behind and have picked up a hitch-hiker who has joined the family... let them know he knows how to 'play' and has brought his own instrument"
This message was last edited by the player at 01:01, Thu 16 Dec 2004.

As Dettinger scrambles on to the top deck of the BTR, he looks around, and spots the top hatches for the troop compartment.

"Ich reite hier, ich denke." [I will ride here, I think.] Dettinger positions himself to be sitting on the lip of the troop compartment hatch, gripping the hatch coaming in one hand and the PSG1 in the other. "Danke, Tanya.  Sollen wir fortfahren?" [Thank you, Tanya. Shall we proceed?]

"So, I 'm to make the saurkraut feel happy then? They'll started this mess in 1914 and again 1939. And now, here they are again, making war, not love. Sad, I had just gotten used to the seat down there"

Don unstraps himself and tries to push himself up beside Tanya, just to give her some bodily contact. Since the hole isn't big enough for two, Don waits for her to move away before he actually starts speaking to the german.

"Hi there! I'm Cináed Donnachaidh. I heard you wanted to speak to an officer. How crazy it might seem, someone actually put an officer's tag on me, a long time ago."

Don smiles and puts his hand up to great Dettinger.

"Well, suit yourself. I think you will have one real ass-ache if you try to sit there. If you ask Tanya in a nice way, she probably will let you use her hole, if you want to see the whereabouts"

It's hard to tell if Don actually is joking or not. This comment was rather low, even for his standards.

"Choose whatever, we'll try to get back in time for the octoberfeast"

Of course Don isn't changing any language. He is a German, and he'd better learn English if he want to speak to Don.

Dettinger seems not to react, scanning the surroundings steadily. He isn't seen to notice Donnachaidh until after the Briton has dropped back inside the vehicle.

"Ist das ein von Ihren Offizieren, Tanya?" [Is that one of your officers, Tanya?] Dettinger shakes his head, still watching the horizon. "Ich folge englisches besseres, als ich es spreche." [I follow English better than I can speak it.]

"Möglicherweise spreche ich gerade mit Ihnen, Tanya." [Maybe I just talk to you, Tanya.] He nods in the direction the BRDM left in. "Möglicherweise sollten wir dem BRDM folgen?" [Perhaps we should follow the BRDM?"

Dettinger slings his PSG1, gets a better grip on the hatch coaming, and resumes watching the area around the vehicle.

Tanya thinks for a moment...

"Ahh... nur in seinem eigenen Verstand... ist er wirklich ein kleiner Politiker... läßt ihn nicht Sie täuschen, wenn er Ihnen erklärt, daß er ein Offizier im Airforce ist.  Für einen Anfang zählen sie, nicht plus mich hörten, daß er nur ein ' Wochenendenwarrior ' mit den Reserven ist" (Ahh... only in his own mind... he is actually a minor politician... don't let him fool you when he tells you he is an officer in the Airforce. For a start they don't count, plus I heard he's only a 'weekend warrior' with the reserves...)

Tanya pauses from yelling to Dettinger over the increasing roar of the engine and grinding of gears, she speaks into the headset

“Roll out Michelle, see if we can catch up to the BRDM... Winters have you managed to get hold of Sergeant Guido yet?”

Yelling back over her shoulder to Dettinger as the vehicle starts with a lurch and begins to rumble forward...

"Er verbringt vermutlich seine Zeit, die seinen Schreibtisch fliegt, beim Bilden des Flugzeugs noises mit seinen Händen fest auf seinem ' Steuerknüppel '...  Ich würde ihn gerade wie der Rest von uns ignorieren zu tun... Hängen Sie am festen geehrten Herrn, Hölle des Sergeant Gallins ein des Treibers mit einem guten Ziel..., das es, daß sie alle mögliche potholes vermißt, tatsächlich sie bekannt, um Over plötzlich aufzuheben einige von den besseren... selten ist" (...He probably spends his time flying his desk while making aeroplane noises with his hands firmly on his 'joy stick'... I would just ignore him like the rest of us do... Hang on tight Sir, Sergeant Gallin's one hell of driver with a good aim... it is rare that she misses any potholes, in fact she's been known to reverse suddenly over some of the better ones...)

Tanya no longer looks so stern and bitter, she wonders to herself why she feels more alive...  and strangly... happy?

"Shit" She mutters to herself "1000 miles behind enemy lines, us against the whole warsaw pact army, no idea where we are heading and what is going to be there... and I feel like a school girl on an outing" Tanya sighs and then laughs out loud, she glances guiltily around and makes sure the intercom was not on transmit... "oops" she mutters and tries hard to regain that 'look of Eagles' and ignore the reddening of her cheeks...
This message was last edited by the player at 01:12, Thu 16 Dec 2004.

"Any one for Chinese whispers?" Guido shakes his head and goes back to what he was doing (nothing).

In the BDRM in the lead, Andy shifts uncomfortable.  "An here I thought the bloody Hummers had uncomfortable seats" he mutters to himself.  "Me arse is numb already."

Dettinger is holding firmly to the hatch coaming, apparently enjoying the ride. "Ich entfaltete mit einer Maßeinheit Panzergrendier, letztes Jahr;  gute Erfahrung für das rauhe Reisen." [I deployed with a Panzergrendier unit, last year; good experience for rough traveling.] He has to shout above the sound of the engine.

"Gibt es eine arbeitende Richtfunkstrecke hier, Tanya? Ich habe ein bewegliches - ich sollte es abstimmen." [Is there a functioning radio link here, Tanya? I have a portable - I should tune it.] Dettinger carefully removes a hand radio from his combat webbing with his off hand.

"Ein politischer Offizier? Und ein Flieger an dem? Ich respektiere die Bustreiber - ihre Aufgabe soll uns vollständig an den Tropfen liefern, und die erwirbt ihnen Respekt. Aber Bodentruppen beherrschen? Spricht dieses 'Tommy' für Ihre Maßeinheit?" [A political officer? And a flyer at that? I respect the bus drivers - their duty is to deliver us whole to the drop, and that earns them respect. But to command a ground force? Does this 'Tommy' speak for your unit?]

OOC:
I'm going to assume that everyone is happy (enough anyway) with Dettinger joining and move the story along a bit...
...Well, maybe more than a bit, say a week or more?

IC:
The past week has past with the two vehicles playing cat and mouse with searching Pact forces. A couple of tight scrapes have taught you the tremendous value of never letting your fuel tanks go dry and keeping as much as possible loaded up (to enable a quick escape). Traveling in a generally southerly direction, you have skirted around most of the towns and villages but travelled by road during the night as much as possible. Winters' image intensifiers and the IR goggles carried by Dave, Andy, Tanya and Dettinger aid greatly in avoiding trouble, their batteries charged by the vehicles electical system in turn.
Two days ago, as you were skirting around the western side of the radioactive remains of Czestochowa, Sgt Guido called a halt. He had spotted a caravan of merchant wagons. If if wasn't for the rifles they were carrying, you'd almost have sworn you were back in the middle ages. After cautiously approaching (your food supplies were getting low again), and estanlishing contact, you heard a strange but interesting story.
Apparently back in '99, the city of Krakow declared itself a soveriegn state and a free city. The war did not exist within it's borders. Everyone was welcome, no matter what side they had fought on just as long as they could support themselves.
You'd heard similar tales before of cities, towns and even whole provinces declaring themselves "neutral" but none of them survived a few weeks or a month or two before on side or the other decided they needed the areas resources too much and invaded. Krakow should have suffered the same fate except for one thing - the ORMO consisted mainly of the Polish 8th Motorised Division!
The choice was fairly easy to make. Either struggle to survive until you found a break in the lines to allow you to slip westward, or keep heading south to Krakow and ride out the forseeable future in relative saftey and comfort.
Naturally, Krakow won out.