Kett closes the sight caps on the C7 and then wraps it all in some dark linen, probably ripped from an old shirt, keeping the trigger clear but keeping moisture from the sensitive parts.

He moves over to Winters.

"What do you make of this place? Think there is a chance we can hole up here for a bit?  Rest some.", he says.

"Rest. Rest would be very nice right about now." Gallin will rub the back of her neck and sigh. A comfortable bed and sleep sounded like a long lost dream.

The entire group is welcomed into the village and billeted in some of the empty homes. Lt Col Nelson declares that Major D'ammond, Plt Sgt Redgrave, Sergeant Mills, Serzhant Nikolov and himself will stay on for a week or so to assist in the urgent repairs that the village spokesman mentioned earlier. During the evening Lt Ashton discovers a few members of her own (and Staff Sergeant Guido's) own country and also volunteers to stay.
Since Dimitar is the only person capable of driving the M2 Bradley, it is automatically one of the vehicles to be left behind and perhaps handed over to the village. The UAZ and truck are also seen as useful to them so it is decided to hand them over also.
This leaves only the BRDM and BTR to be taken with the remainder.

After the evening meal Alfred calls to Don and Smythe.
Don, Major Smythe, can I have a quick word? I've been thinking and I'm not too sure that either of you should be in command of the group that will be leaving, at least in regard to military matters anyway. Both of you are pilots and from what I know of you, damn good ones but you don't have the training nor experience for ground combat. As far as the strategic decisions I trust that you will consult with the senior NCO's and allow them to take command during combat operations.
Alfred was honestly sincere with his praise of the men but had to admit their shortcomings. It was not his intention to insult them by reccommending another take command and hoped they would see that.
I suggest that you take the men south. All our intelligence indicates very few pact forces in that direction, at least compared to everywhere else. Once you get far enough, seek out a route back west. We will try and follow as soon as we can but don't wait for us. I want you to take the still and any other equipment you feel the need for. We'll be here long enough to scrounge up or build more before we leave.

Looking at Kett, Winters nodded "That was my thought exactly, nice warm bed, nice hot bath, maybe a little R&R of another kind, ok well that one can wait but a warm bed and shit shower and shave don't sound bad."

"Agree.", Kett says with a grin, rubbing at the stubble on his face.

"What do you think the Lt.Col. wanted with Don and Smythe?"

Gallin catches up with Kett and Winters as they stand talking about Don and Smythe. Probably nothing, Why take them in private to gripe them out when it is so much fun to do it in public." She runs a hand through her dark hair that is definitely getting to be out of the regs. And looks the two over to make sure any wounds are healing well.

OOC, better pic now that I been "Abducted"

"Well, Mr Nelson. I for one will of course not try to take command in any groundcombat. I will keep us OUT of combat. Sweet Mary, why do we have to fight all the time at all. Just let us all live together in a big family."

Not a lot of clans in sweet old Scotland that would agree with me there.

He watches Kett and Smythe to see their reaction, but don't really care how they react. Instead he looks at sweet Michelle.

Hey, that lassie is actually better equipped than Cam, I must say. I guess we need to get her into an even warmer climate, then she'll hopefully take of even more clothes, Don thinks to himself.

He takes a few step closer to the doctor, holding a hand on his chest.

"Ouch. I have a pain in my heart. I'm heartbroken, but you can probably heal me, lassie!"

He gives her a big smile.

 "And I suppose you think that a good bit of menthol rubbed slowly and deeply, with possibly a slight bit of vigor into the chest would help that quite well?" She smiles a coy alluring smile and tosses him an antacid. "Its not broken, just severly strained. You have been overworking it." She turns away and shakes her head. What was she doing?? It has been way too long...

Looking across at Don and Michelle "I think Don need to be gently caressed on the cheek" reaching across grabs a rifle and holds it out for Michelle I think the butt would do nicely, now don't hold back and have fun, you will feel better for it, I know I will.

The remainder of the day passes with everyone settling in to their new "home", conducting maintainence or sorting out various items of equipment.
With such a large gift of skilled labour, equipment and supplies, the villagers are in an almost festive mood.
Although the sentries remain watchful, what can only be called a feast in these troubled times is organised, each household providing what they can to the communal "pot". Dark falls as the meal is ready, stories told, friends made and home made beverages of various strengths and potencies consumed.

After taking a couple of weak jabs at Dons head with the rifle butt, she will rejoin him at the festivities later, hoping to snag a seat between him and Guido, hoping to get both their attentions. She will also want to check on the fields, and see if her old farm raising can offer any ideas to help any crops they might be growing to grow better. Other than that, she will be teasing Don relentlessly, but in a fun way. Hoping to get him to laugh a little.

Guido thinks idly away on what to do next, and looks at the maps to work out which will be the best way to run when the shells start landing, (If you haven?t caught on yet Guido is a Pessimist, he is never disappointed and the only way is up)

At the party, Don is in control. If there is something he CAN do, it is organizing a party. He orders the villagers to put all the vodka, and other spirits they can find on the table, and then he orders everyone to drink until all the bottles and bowls are empty.

"So, we leave all you lads here then, Mr Nelson. You will have a group big enough to get out of here, and the question is if it isn't easier to sneak past the Russkies and the Poles with two small groups instead of one big. If we should have a big group worth fighting against the enemies we probably would need a division, hehe! The only things that bothers me is the leadership when fighting, but I guess I will go on with my non-fighting strategy, to keep us out of problems. The other thing I am thinking about is that you have to do a crash-course in Polish since both I and Michelle are leaving. That might be a problem, but the way you guys handle things I doubt you'll need to talk. Get a compass and more firearms and I guess you will get anywhere you want."

"Good luck, lad. Take good care of the group, matey, and get them all back home. Take good care about the villagers here too. An act of friendliness will take you anywhere"

"I am fluent in several forms of communications; there are 7.62, 5.56, 5.45, 30 cal, 50 cal and many more, I can?t see a problem unless they wish to surrender."

The night passes relatively uneventfully and dawn reveals a drab, overcast day - fits the hangovers most of you have perfectly.
A few more hours and the two vehicles you will be taking with you are ready for travel. Although the BTR is still unable to swim due to the multiple holes in the armour, all other damage has been repaired.
Now it's a simple matter of assigning the various people to crew stations and loading up your share of the equipment.

OOC: I've done most of the administrative work for you by assigning the most logical characters to various posts.
PO3 Winters - BTR-80 Gunner (due to heavy weapons skill)
SSgt Guido - BRDM Commander/observer (due to observation skill)
WO2 Corrigan - BRDM Gunner (Rifle and Heavy Weapons skills)
WO1 Brown - BTR-80 Commander (Observation skill: 2nd highest in the group)
Sgt Gallin - BTR-80 passenger/medic/infantry
Maj Smythe - BTR-80 passenger/medic/infantry (lack of any real useful skill anywhere else)
2nd Lt Donnachaidh - BTR-80 Driver (Look, the poli is actually useful! and it keeps him out of harms way....)
WO1 Kett - BRDM Driver
Feel free to play about with that, it's only a suggestion.

Spotting the mounted weapon on the BTR aaron grabbed the side and pulled himself up to the gunner's station and began to rapidly go over the weapon. Why ride when you can gun?

Kett climbs into the scout car and familiarizes himself with the controls again.

"Been awhile since I drove one of these.  This Russian tech is tempermental but solid.", he moves the ventral wheels up and down to ensure that they are available in the event they go amphibious.

"Looks good.", Kett says, hands on steering controls.

Noticing the poli heading for the drivers seat, "Just give us a warning do you swing Left or Right? Don't realy care just wish to be out of your way." ;P

"Aye, haha. You'll see, you'll see, my Danish friend. Will be fun trying out this BRDM. Looks quite different to my XJS back home. Hehe!"

Don slips into the driver's seat.

"With a pretty lassie by my side we can cruise some in Warsaw! Haha!"

"Now, where to, then?"
This message was last edited by the player at 23:18, Sat 27 Nov 2004.

"I must concede, you truly are a master of your profession, ready to lead the way and no idea where were going." Guido grins "How about out of range of the mortar, but before we do, have we enough fuel?"

OOC: Lt Col Nelson suggested that you head south. I agree with this assessment as so would any of you who read through the intelligence reports and other information you have gathered (it's all in the Intel thread!)
The BTR has a full tank of Gasoline and the BRDM all the remaining Ethanol (approximately 80 litres). If you wish you may attempt to trade with the locals for more ethanol but remember that you have limited storage capacity (40 litres in the BRDM tank till repaired plus jerrycans).
With the available amount of fuel, you can travel up to 200 kilometres on road or 60 km off road - your choice.
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:24, Sun 19 Dec 2004.

" 'ey laddies. Saddle up. Mr Nelson thought we should go south, so I'll take the lead then. Probably impossible for the others to track us down if we go in any other direction. He didn't say anything about minefields along the way, so I suggest we go by the roads, but keep away from the cities we know nothing about. Let us go, and get back to sweet Scotland!"

Don starts up the engine of the ATV and get some gear in as well, even if the car takes a few jumps before getting the hang on it.

"Michelle! Be prepared to speak some to soldiers we approach. Maybe they also likes your beautiful eyes!"

[Private to GM: Before starting off, Don tries to collect what spirits can be found. He also looks for other goods to use when getting out of problems.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:24, Sun 19 Dec 2004.

 Michelle will give Don a wink and a smile. "You do the driving, I do the charming. What could possibly go wrong?" There is a definite sarcasm in her voice and she smiles again anyway. Maybe now they could get out of this war torn country, allbeit probably into another one torn by war just as badly. She sighs and looks back at her group of companions, wondering if there was anyplace on earth that hadn't been touched in some way by the events of the past years.

The decision is finally made on direction. Engines roar into life, the alchol powered BRDM sounding tinny and weak in comparison to the deep throated growl of the BTR-80.
Your companions of the past few days have gathered to see you off and with you the best of luck as Don and Kett throw their vehicles into gear with the grinding noise that is expected of Soviet built machinery. Lurching forward, the BRDM in the lead, you make your way between the buildings of Pruszkow to the makeshift barrier surrounding the village.
The gate is dragged open as you approach and the vehicles leap forward through the opened gap.
Just as the BTR is about the exit through the gate a man dressed in German uniform jumps out, hurriedly slapping his paratroopers helmet into place on his head, his heavy pack over one shoulder. A PSG1 sniper rifle is gripped in his hand and an MP-5SD3 strapped tightly to his webbing.
[Private to Dettinger: You have just woken from the night before still suffering the after effects of the homebrew that had been handed around. Although you hadn't had a chance to meet any of these people, you believe that they are your best chance of getting back west and perhaps finding your family again. You have been in hiding in this village for the past week after being cut off from your adopted unit, the 256th brigade of the US 5th Infantry Division. You are aware that several of them can speak German.]