Copied from Pruszkow thread:
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). Travelling 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 due to their "low tech" approach to hauling their wares by horsecart. After cautiously approaching (your food supplies were getting low again), and establishing 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.
This message was last updated by the GM at 17:19, Sat 30 July 2005.

The past two days since the meeting with the merchants has been harrowing to say the least. First, you were almost ambushed by a group of ragged men in Soviet uniforms. Fortunately they were only armed with rifles and a couple of machineguns. It did however cause Dettinger to dive inside the BTR-80 and nearly break his neck. Who knows why such poorly armed people attacked armoured vehicles? Starvation, desperation, suicide? Whatever their reasons, Major Smythe made the decision to keep on driving, no need to stop admidst a hail of hot lead after all.
Another concern was the sudden appearence of a helicopter! Admittedly it was far off in the distance and couldn't even be recognised as Pact of Nato, but the general stir it caused....
Nobody had seen a helicopter in one peice for over a year, and even those few had been grounded either due to lack of fuel, lack of spare parts, lack of pilots, too high a risk to fly in combat (even if it wasn't shot out of the air, it'd attract just about everybody within a 100km radius) or all of the above. Whoever owned this one had some serious balls and fuel to burn!
The past weeks slow progress (only about 100km) has been mainly due to the need to stop and brew alcohol every day or two. The BTR-80 running on Gasoline has made it doubly frustrating as it's fuel gauge has barely moved - still about 3/4 of a tank left (210 litres left, max cap 290 litres) and theres another 270 litres still in jerrycans!

The morning has dawned with it's usual inevitable slowness over the battered and scarred landscape that is modern day Poland. Anybody who could has been instucting the others in Language skills - specifically English. Camilla is begining to pick up a few words and can even carry on a simple conversation with some people.
The still has been working all night as usual and (since a guard was posted to stop Don syphoning off some for his own collection), another couple of litres produced. Not much, but it may make the difference between escape and reinprisonment (for some).
As usual, Dave leads out in the BRDM as scout vehicle while the BTR hangs back ready to react in case of trouble. Within an hour of slow and cautious travel, Dave calls a halt. [Private to Aaron Winters; Staff Sgt Dave Guido; WO2 Andrew (Andy) Corrigan; WO1 Gary Irwin Herbert Kett: He's spotted some vehicle tracks crossing the dirt path you are presently following. While not unusual in itself, it's the shape and age of them that has attracted his attention. It appears that they were made in the last day or so by a LAV-25 or similar 8 wheeled NATO vehicle. 1st to read this PM please respond.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:43, Mon 20 Dec 2004.

Tanya, when she sees the BRDM come to a stop, will nudge the driver... (OOC: Ket/Don/someone else?) ...to confirm he has noticed (so he may stop too) and then let the rest of the passangers know...

"Eyes and ears peeled boys and girls... Dave's just called a stop, Winters can you see anyone or anything ahead?"

(Tanya will have head and shoulders out of the commander's hatch and be scanning to the left and right of the BRDM with a pair of binoculars she recently added to her belongings...)

"Major Smythe do you want to get on the horn to Sgt Guido, Sir? or just wait 'n see?"
[Private to Plt Sgt Tanya Redgrave: 1st edition rules - 1D10 roll against skill alone. See "rules" thread.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:58, Mon 20 Dec 2004.

Lifting his intensifiers Winters looked around slowly, locking onto Don he focuses untill he can barely make out the tracks "We got a set fo tracks Sarge, look fresh." NOt that he could see all that much from his spot, but the thought of fresh tracks that were not from his group made him tighten his free hand around the grips of the heavey weapon.

Tracks?  Camilla wonders why people are so interested in tracks.  If they wer wanting to go hunting though, she didn't want to be left behind.  Getting her rifle and equipment together, she looks forward to hunting.  Images of her previous life come to mind and feelings of sadness from missing her family cross her mind and her expressions.

Glancing down at Cammilla Aaron grunted "Convoy tracks, not animal, well just a different kind of animal."

Feeling embarassed, the color rises to her cheeks.  "I not know this.  Convoy is enemy?"  Camilla sits back down, and gets quiet.  It wouldn't do to get in the way if there was danger this close.

"Per'aps it's tyme for a quick dismounted recon?" Andy suggests

Slapping the top of the heavy weapon Aaron smirked and shook his head "You go for a walk if ya want, I'mma stay right here with bessy incase soemthing mean and nasty needs a lesson in manners.

Once it becomes apparent that our little convoy is halted, Dettinger will unsling his binoculars and begin observing the surroundings more attentively.

"Was ist es, Tanya?" [What is it, Tanya?]

Andy shakes his head.  "Ach, you Yanks and your reliance on armor.  You canna sneak up an anythin' in this bloody things.  It's about like..." he grins, "goin' t' war in a bright red uniform"

He turns to the Colonel.  "What say you, sah?"

And light blue helmets

Camilla checks all her equipment.  This did not seem to be a regular stop.  There were talks of 'convoy' and 'tracks'.  People seemed to be tense and talking in hushed tones.  It was nervewracking.  Checking her weapons and making sure they were loaded and ready to go, she looked for the nearest hatch.  Keeping her finger on the safety she was prepared for anything.  Only then did her breathing return to normal, when she felt a little control.

Guido picks up the radio, "I'll go and have a look, out", then clambers out of the tank and attempts to move to see the road without being spotted.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:02, Wed 22 Dec 2004.

After Guido radios in, Dettinger seems to consider for a moment. He nods to himself, tightens his helmet straps, and boosts himself out of the troop compartment, on to the roof of the BTR.

"Tanya - ich bin anmaßender taktischer Befehl vorläufig." [Tanya - I am assuming tactical command for the time being.] Quiet, reserved Dettinger is suddenly every bit the combat commander, face hard, demanding obedience. "Ich wünsche Gallin und Ashton mit mir, keine Sätze.  Mein Englisch genügt.  Ich bin im Kontakt über Radio oder Läufer.  Warnen Sie das BRDM, daß wir oben kommen, und bereit sind zu bewegen." [I want Gallin and Ashton with me, no packs. My English will suffice. I will be in contact via radio or runners. Warn the BRDM that we are coming up, and be ready to move.]

With that, he will drop off the deck and onto the ground, readying his rifle, ensuring that his radio is functioning. "Erklären Sie das BRDM, fest zu sitzen." [Tell the BRDM to sit tight.] He nods to Redgrave, and starts off up the track at a slow jog without looking back.

Hearing the relatively new newcomer mention her name, she looks up at Dettinger as he exits.  Looking around quickly, wondering just what is going on, she looks for radio if there is one available, and scurries out of the vehicle.  Looking around, she notices the surroundings, much of which she hasn't seen in the daylight being cooped up in the back most of the time.  Finishing her quick scan of the area, she spies Dett.  She hops down and catches up with him.

She wonders briefly if he meant that she and Gallin were to remain in the vehicle and guard it.  No, that wouldn't have been proper procedure.  He was probably doing recon and was calling his team.  At least no one tried to stop her as she left.

When Ashton catches-up with him, Dettinger turns his head and nods to her, with a tight smile on his face. He doesn't stop jogging, but motions for her to follow back and to his right.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:19, Wed 22 Dec 2004.

Okay, so far, so good.  It looks like I am doing the right thing.  Moving to the intended position, she examines the tracks at a jog.  Then she keeps her eyes and ears open.

Since Gallin is driving the BDRM, she will stay put and keep an eye out to the rear, just in case. rifle is at the ready, and so is the medkit.

Grabbing up a spare headset;
  OK folks, lets move the Scout to the side so the APC can pass if needed.
  Don, lets hold back 50 or 60 yards until we know more.

  Eyes open all, find a viewport.

  PC Clear.

After hearing Smythe's radio message, Dettinger double-clicks the Transmit button on his radio, to acknowledge receipt, and keeps jogging towards the BRDM with Ashton.

Dettinger and Camilla cross the interveneing 100 yards or so fairly quickly and come to the area they saw Dave dissapear into the bushes. In the dirt of the track ahead can be clearly seen what has raised such interest.
Tracks, vehicle tracks, and most probably made in the past 24 hours by a LAV-25!
Not a rare vehicle (at least in NATO service), it never the less raises some important questions. Is it still NATO or has it been pressed into Pact service. If it's NATO, is it from another group of 5th ID survivors? Could it be from another unit? Are they marauders? Is it alone? Are they friendly?
All these thoughts and many more race through your minds.
Are they worth following or should you continue southwards? (They are running from east to west.)

Kett brings his scout car to a stop at Smythe's request,

Cam stays alert for any dangers.  Her senses are on high out in the open after being cooped up for so long.  Feeling a little vulnerable with the difference for not having steel surrounding her all the time and now nothing, she shakes it off and keeps her mind to the tasks at hand.

Dettinger drops to his haunches at the tracks, carefully examining them. After pausing a few moments to consider, he waves to catch Ashton's attention, and using standard military hand signals, details her to follow Dave and bring him back. He waits long enough for her to ask questions or acknowledge, then fishs out his radio and transmits.

"Vehicle tracks, LAV-25. Go to west. No...they go west, yes?" Dettinger stops transmitting, clearly irritated by the language barrier. "Tanya - legen Sie bitte neu.  Tragen Sie das Ü.t.r. zum BRDM vor.  Es gibt neue Schienen von einem Lav-25, Verbindungsunbekanntes.  Halten Sie ein Auge geöffnet;  Ashton und Dave sind auf Fuß in der Bürste.  Wir haben die Sitzung eines Offiziers und stellen unsere Richtung des Spielraums fest." [Tanya - Please relay. Bring the BTR forward to the BRDM. There are recent tracks from an LAV-25, affiliation unknown. Keep an eye open; Ashton and Dave are on foot in the brush. We'll have an officer's meeting and determine our direction of travel.]

He will stow his radio handset, then carefully clamber up the side of the BRDM to the commander's hatch, and knock to get the occupant's attention, if no one is visible. "BTR is coming. Not to move, please."
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:35, Tue 28 Dec 2004.

Hand signals.  Okay, she can follow this.  Follow tracks and bring back. WHAT? BRING BACK LAV? Oh, follow foot tracks and bring back.

She signals back, friend or foe?

Okay, find Dave and bring him back, roger.

And she takes off...
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:36, Tue 28 Dec 2004.

The tracks themselves show to an experienced observer many things. Unfortunately, neither Dettinger nor Cam are sufficiently experienced, in fact, Dettinger actually manages to scuff out some of the tracks with his boot! (rolled a 10 - ouch!)
All that can be read by those on the ground at the moment is that the vehicle was alone and travelling across the roadway from east to west.
[Private to WO2 Andrew (Andy) Corrigan: You are one of the best trackers in the group. You may have a chance of recovering some info from the tracks.]
[Private to Aaron Winters: You are one of the best trackers in the group. You may have a chance of recovering some info from the tracks.]
[Private to Major Richard Smythe: You are one of the better trackers in the group. You may have a chance of recovering some info from the tracks.]

From his spot nice and relitivly safe upon the vehical Aaron watched through his long range glasses as Dettinger scuffed the tracks. Grunting to himself he let the glasses flop against his chest as he grabbed the M249 and climbed from his perch. "Cam, tell Captain Kraut I'm on my way up to take a look at the tracks." Aaron says into his radio.[Private to Nuked: Any info about the tracks I need to know?]

When Winters' message is transmitted, Dettinger stands quickly, and turns an icey stare on the approaching former SEAL. He looks unimpressed, but remains crouched atop the BRDM.

When Dettinger scuffs the track, Andy winces and jumps out of the BDRM.

Passing the Lt Col, the CW2 crouches and expertly examines the tracks
This message was last edited by the player at 16:22, Tue 28 Dec 2004.

Looking around confused slightly she pieces it together as she sees people climbing out of the vehicles and approaching and notices the captain already received the transmission.  He's a captain?  Ohwell, Back to my previous orders then and she starts trailing the tracks.

Kett turns off the engine on the scout car to preserve fuel.  He then climbs out and takes up a sentry position near the cab so he can hear the radio.

"Its still funny hearing german over the radio.  Seems counterintuitive...Captain Kraut.  Hell of a nickname to get saddled with.", he says walking towards Dettinger.  He unrolls the linen around the Elcan sight of his C7 and checks that the optics are undamaged.  He then checks the load to ensure that it is ready to go in case there is trouble.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:37, Tue 28 Dec 2004.

Dettinger grunts deep in his throat. "My English, not so good, but I know this 'Kraut'. Last I see, I am still being Oberstleutnant, not Captain. What you call, Leftenant Colonel, yes?"

He settles on the edge of the BRDM's top deck, rifle propped upright, watching the surroundings. Under his camo paint, he is blushing furiously at his mistake with the tracks, even though he knows there is still more than enough that is pristine for tracking purposes.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:31, Tue 28 Dec 2004.

Moving back to near the BRDM Kett suspends his C7 from it's sling in the ready position, barrel towards the ground, held tight against his combat web, hand in safe-trigger position.

"I speak German as well.  We haven't had much of a chance to talk Dettinger.", he says to the german officer. "I'm Kett. Gary Kett, Warrant Officer, P-Dubs, Princess of Wales Own Regiment, Canada.", he leans out far over his rifle to extend his hand to the german officer.

[Private to Nuked: Whats really funny is that I grew up just outside Kingston Ontario and my 2nd apartment was just around the corner from the Princess of Wales Own Regiment barracks, I had friends in the reserves there.  The more I read about Kett the more I think I must know the player LOL, he has information that only someone who lived in Kingston, Ontario, Canada might have.]
This message was last edited by the player at 20:35, Tue 28 Dec 2004.

And the medic is still behind the wheel, ready to run any enemies over. Or jump out to administer first aid. And getting bored fast. She twiddles her thumbs on the steering mechanism then decides to stick her head out to see what is going on.

Dettinger takes Kett's hand and shakes it firmly, twice, before letting go. "Gefallen, um Sie, Kett zu treffen. My name is Dettinger, Oberstleutnant. I am Falschirmjager." [Pleased to meet you, Kett.]

OK folks, any indication of the age of these tracks or their speed? Fuel or oil leaks? Beware of ambush, HE does nasty things to infantry.

OOC: Whilst this is going on I'll "turn-out" and using any bino's handy survey our back-trail.

Andy climbs from his assigned position behind the BRDM guns and inspects the remaining tracks at a closer range. He's just about worked out a few things when Winters saunters up, trips on a rock and nearly obliterates the few marks Dettinger missed the first time round! (got to love those Catastrophic failures! :))
Camilla quickly finds Dave "concealed" at the edge of the road.
This would also be a very very bad time to be attacked. Neither vehicle has anybody manning the guns, The BRDM has only the driver still in it and the BTR's driver is practicing their sniper bait skills....
Fortunately, the world doesn't open up on you and only the usual sounds of a Polish summer day can be heard.[Private to WO2 Andrew (Andy) Corrigan: The only extra info that you gain before Winters ice skating practice is that the vehicle was not heavily loaded. It could either have a full load of passengers without any cargo, be partially loaded with equipment and supplies or a combination of both. Whichever way it is, they are either undermanned or possibly close to a base or some sort.]

Andy grits his teeth and smiling tightly, says, "Whatever it was, 'tweren't 'eavily loaded."

OOC: I assume by now be vehicles are close to each other and we can all talk w/out radios?

He heads back to the CF of vehicles and militiary personal, and repeats himself, adding, "With it's light load, it might be operating close to base, and it likely undermanned.  If friendly, we could use local intel.  If not, we can always use supplies.  I suggest we leave the vehicles here underguard, and send a coupld of us sneaky types ahead to do a quick recon.  If, as you Yanks, say, the fecal matter impacts the rotary oscillator, then we dig in and you lot back here ride to the rescue."
He pauses, and then continues.
"Next time we find tracks, per'aps the experts should take a look first.  sah"

Cam slides in next to him under cover, and continues to keep a lookout.  She signals questioningly, go back, now? though she doesn't put much emphasis in it.  She is just as content to be out of the vehicles for a change and stretching her legs.

"Now officers meet in APC, please." Dettinger hops down off the BRDM, and walks towards the BTR, repeating himself to anyone who couldn't hear him before, and then over the radio, as well.

"Crew vehicles, yes? Gunners and...err...pilots? Drivers? Not all should be exposed.' As he reaches the BTR, he will clamber up onto the top deck, en route to the troop compartment, and speak to Tanya on the way past her hatch. "Halten Sie ein Auge heraus, Tanya.  Wir sortieren unsere folgende Bewegung und erhalten unterwegs kurz." [Keep an eye out, Tanya. We will sort out our next move, and get underway shortly.]

Taking a quick look around before he drops through the troop hatch, Dettinger will wave towards the bush approximately where Ashton disappeared, motioning her to return, and then he enters the BTR.

Andy makes sure all avenues of approach are covered by at least one set of eyes, and suggests the drivers take a minute or two to get out and stretch.  "Since the hofficers are deciding the next move, we might as well water the foliage if needed"

Grunting Aaron dusted himself off and glared at the krauts form as he walked away. "Blasted war, now I have to obey a damn nazi." Ok, true, Aaron did not have any reason to obey the german, but if he didn't he would prolly be shot by the nazi wanna be.

Climbing form the back of the BTR-80, Brown looked around before shaking his head and following the German and the other "we're to good to enlist" types. It may be a meeting of the minds, but only enlisted men knew what they were doing, it might pay off for him to tag along, that way the bloody german didn't march them off a cliff.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:27, Fri 31 Dec 2004.

Dettinger will grab a seat in the BTR's troop compartment, settle his rifle, and wait for the other officers to arrive. When it becomes apparent that Cam will not be in attendance, he will turn to the others.

"First, is issue of command. I am new, yes? I am Oberstleutnant, also. I am not wanting to cause the tension, but must be a single speaker of authority." Dettinger pauses at this point, looking each participant in the eyes for a moment. "I can't command if you don't support. But am not asking, understand, yes? We settle this here, now, and then it is done, yes? Yes. Smythe, you are senior officer. Brown, senior noncom, like Hauptfeldwebel? Will you...ahh...the word is, acknowledge?...my rank?" Again, he looks between the officers and the warrant officer. If they don't contradict him, he will nod and continue.

"I think Corrigan, Ashton and Gallin follow tracks, with radio, see if LAV still near. We wait in reserve, yes? If they not find it today, we pick-up and decide to follow as group or keep on to Krakow. Questions? Ideas?"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:14, Mon 03 Jan 2005.

" 'ey lad. I will NOT support you, thats for sure"

Don, who hasn't said a lot about anything, except for some grumblings about the German, suddenly raises his voice.

"You're talking as if this was some kind of military expedition we are on, but we only want to get home as fast and as unhurt as possible. I object to anything resulting in unnecessary blodshed. Mr Nelson was left behind, and even if he also was somewhat a warmonger, you seem to be even worse! You have hardly gotten into the group before you now try to come here being the big officer-kinda-laddie."

Don's laidback style hardens a lot in the discussion.

"I say we can choose a leader that has military knowledge to command if we should be attacked. I can handle everything else though, if you want me to. I myself would prefer a lassie as leader, they have a much gentler touch with everything. Everything..."

With the last words he gives a smile to the girls, and back is his boyish (bad) humour. He can not be mistaken though, about not wanting the sauerkraut to be the leader for the group.

Nodding his head towards Donnachaidh, William shrugged. "I agree with Don, you have been with us for the least amount of time. I will not support your taking command. The men, and woman do not know you. " It was the true after all. "You come and assume command without so much as a second thought. So no, I will not support your command. If it is forced I will take anyone who will follow and head for home on our own."

Dettinger seems at least mildly taken aback. When Don is speaking, he doesn't react aside from raising one eyebrow derisively. However, during Brown's response, he pays more attention, nodding at points.

"Herr Brown...you raise good points, I think. I am being new to this group, and the situation, it is not so...regular? I respect your opinion. The voice of the ranks, yes?"

Dettinger turns to Donnachaidh at this point, and could scarcely look less impressed. If he reacted to the aforementioned's bluster, it doesn't show in the slightest. "You...were consulted as a...courtesy, for rank you hold, somehow. Your opinion carries no muscle. Your conduct...is what we would call, jugendlich und wie das einer Katze in der Hitze...you...think with your dick. This is not Politik, this is survival. Pretty words won't see us home. I have nothing more for you." He looks like he could spit at this point.

"Major Smythe, Herr Brown, this is a good discussion for us to be having. I will not press issue for myself. There will be a leader, to make the combat decisions - this is not open for discussion. Who is chosen, yes, discuss. I am not having an ego in this. There must be leadership for survival. I...invite?...your debating of this.

At this point, he settles back on the troop compartment's bench, and watches Smythe and Brown.

Shakign his head William sighed. The Kraut was just another no load-shit for brains officer. "If we don't want a leader there will not be one. We have had leadership by experiance from the start mate, no single person was completly in charge, I myself like it that way." Leanign against the side of the Troop carrier he grunted "If you must have leadership, then I would suggest Smythe or myself. The men know us, and they respect us. Not you."
This message was lightly edited by the player at 21:55, Mon 03 Jan 2005.

"You perhaps did not understand me. I am opposed, yes? This is not ideal, but I am pragmatist, is the word. Choose another, is my meaning."

Don can't really hold back a little smear when William bursts into flames on the little torch Don tossed into the fire. Don was aiming on getting Dettinger irritated, and he seemed to achieve that. Funnier yet was that little Willie ignited on all cylinders as well. In any case, things moved in Don's direction. On the other hand, also in the direction that Dettinger wanted. He was just looking for a firm hand to hold on to when the thunder of shells will start sounding sooner or later.

Obviously nothing of this was mentioned to any of the gamepieces of 'Don's game of chess'. He had almost forgot the fun in this kind of politics.

"You can just stuff the rank-part of your discussion. If you are such a marvellous officer, being an Oberst-lieutenant or what the heck you call yourself, where are your troops? You should have at least a couple of hundred bratwursters walking beside you. Lost them in the woods, have you? Hehe"

Don is even going below being Jugend-ish, to push some more pressurepoints on the German.

"You are here just because we are so damn nice and helpful to all human beings. We can probably use your knowledges of sneaking and crawling in dirt though. You have obviously been hiding in the woods for quite some time, afraid of the bad russkies, right?"

Don sits back, waiting to see if he has been able to get the German up and going or if he need more black-powder to blow up.

"NO Kraut breath, you misunderstand me. You said there will be a leader under no uncertain terms. What I'm saying is that unless we decide that, there will not be a leader." Bloody germans, the only good one was one shining your boots. Ok so if they had to split off William knew Don and Winters would be with him, no clue who else though. "You want my honest idea of you Dettinger? Your a worthless-no-load-shit-for-brains-can't-*?%&-commanding-officer, who lost all his men due to the fact that you don't know what your doing and now you want to get us killed."
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:47, Tue 04 Jan 2005.

At this point, there is no doubt: Dettinger is shocked and appalled.

"Herr Brown, I know not what to say. You speak anger, like I had the doing of something terrible to you. I come here as man, to make discussion, yes with determination - you respond with fire. You know not my record, the happenings before here, anything, but judge. Of the Politiker, I expect. Of you, I not. I know men of Warrant rank, though Deutschland not use it - I would expect more of one."

He pauses, clearly considering something unpleasant. He does not appear perturbed by the words being thrown about, so much as the attitudes behind them.

"I say this, then. This," Dettinger gestures towards his rank flash, wrapping his fingers around it, "...is symbol of who was. I earned it, blood and sweat, but you not believe. Okay. Now, I want to go home. I want to see family. That more important than this, I am thinking." At this, Dettinger pulls the flash loose, tearing the last threads. He then tucks the flash into his pocket, gathers up his rifle, and begins to walk away. Then he turns.

"I think you make mistake. Command, mine or other, may save us. I think you make mistake guesses, about me and what I offer, and why. That is your commerce, yes? You have strong feelings. I do not. Consider me a rifleman; I can prove that more easy. Ranks won't get us home. Ich möchte mein Haus noch einmal sehen - nichts sonst Angelegenheiten." With that statement, he again turns, and walks confidently away, looking to sit quietly away from the gathering.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:25, Tue 04 Jan 2005.

Thoroughly confused, Cam watches the discussion.  They'd only been traveling a few days and she could see the tensions building.  It has obviously come to a bursting point.  The best she could make out is that they are seeing who would be in charge.  It seemed more like the bull moose crashing their heads together to be the leader of the pack.  She chuckles and thinks, and they better not think they get the pick of the herd either.

Then the new German rips off his rank?  What happened?  They stripped him of rank?  He must really want to be with the group to accept that.  Or he is really afraid of something out there.  But then again, weren't we all?

"Boys, stop fight.  Enemy shoot us."  Pointing at everyone, she says, "You no help enemy job."  Exasperated she throws up her hands and sits back down.  This English is hard, she thinks.  Standing up she moves away, saying, "I coffee."  And she goes to see if she can find some coffee.

What's this? He did actually rip his marks of rank. Quite a turn.

Don is actually impressed by the way Dettinger handled the situation. He thought him to be a cocky officer as all officers usually are, but there is something that make Don respect the German after all.

But that's for sure something I would never tell him, or the others, Don thinks with a smile to himself.

"I would've told you to rip those off anyway, Dettinger. The enemies are targetting the officers, you know. I guess you never saw that from your trench-crawling"

Don looks around at the people in the group. He wonders who he actually would like to have in charge in military actions.

"So, anyone want to have a jolly little election for bossing?"

Outside, Andy finishes watering a random polish bush.

He heads back to the officer's meeting, passing the German officer.  Sticking his head in, "Lads and Lassies, I'm about as 'appy sitting 'ere in the open as I would be with my bollocks in a vise and my 2nd ex-wife holding the 'andle."

"I'm only a lowly warrent, but seems that a single NATO vehicle is not much of a threat, and might even be an ally.  I'm a fairly sneaky sod, and a few of the lads are as well, we can scurry up the road with some HEDP in case it's 'ostile"

OOC: taking a few liberties with your reactions, hope y'all don't mind.

Andy waits in vain for a replay.  The officers glance at each other, at the floor, none meet Corrigan's eyes.

The SAS soldier looks back and forth, and finally sighs in disgust.  "Royt then, I'll take a couple of lads and follow the trail via LPC.  Should be back in 30 mikes or so."

Shaking his head, he turns back from the officer's meeting.

OOC: Andy would know who has any recon skills or abilities, I assume, who would that be?

[Private to Nuked: I'm thinking of starting a Character Summary thread.  Since there is some player rotation, this would give a place for people to put a quick discription of their character and what their role is.  I don't know what most of the characters can do.
For Andy, it would be something like:
WO2 Andy Corrigan.  British SAS, 16 active service.  Skilled at Tracking, First aid, martial arts, Rifles, and thrown wpns.
Brief and to the point.  Do I have your blessing?]

Ok, now that everyone has said their piece...

I hold a very senior rank BUT I acknowledge that it doesn't necessarily equip me for Leadership in ground combat. My Woodscraft is mostly derived from Bow Hunting, at which I am quite proficient.

I'm willing to accept the position of overall leadership, however, I am grateful for the advice of any person deemed to be the most expert in a given situation. I'm a Combat Aviator and Instructor, Dettinger seems highly experienced in ground combat, Don is expert at non-violent negotiation and so on...

I think I boils down to who the group as a whole is willing to defer to for the strategic decisions.

"Personally mate, I still don't think anything should be defered to just one person, in a spot like this it leads to people gettig killed. I'm all for you being the one making the overall non-combat related choices, but once the bullets start flying, then it's a whole different story. "

Thats fair enough, someone other than myself is probably better qualified to make tactical decisions.

Andy finds Lt Ashton and her companion.  With an ironic bow, he clicks his heels together and says, "Marm.  The other hofficers are, well, ahem.  It's been decided that the three of us will track the tracks and see where they lead.  Shall we?"

Looking a bit confused, but then Cam responds, "We track? yes, we track."  Cam steps up ready to track, but willing to let the another to take the lead.  Keeping a lookout and a defensive position, she gets ready to move.

Andy takes point, following the tracks aren't that hard, he's mostly trying to stay out of site, and keep his eyes and ears open.

Watching the others head off William looked form Richard to Don. "How about this mates, during peace time , Don and you" The you reffering to Richard "are in charge, that way we get the political side and the military side, during combat Captain Kraut and myself are in charge, but we will defer to specialist on certain things? That sound agreeable?"

Cam follows up Andy, still enjoying being out of the big moving box.  Even if there might be a bullet or two flying by, she didn't like being cooped up for too long.  Stretching her legs she keeps her eyes and ears open with her AK-47 at the ready with her finger on the safety.

The scout team thrown together and led by Andy follows the vehicle tracks for about twenty minutes (Approximately 1500 metres) until they loose it at a small river. The obviously amphibious vehicle entered the water with only minimal preparation and scouting indicating a possible familiarity with the area.
Rather than spend time finding a way across on foot (or by swimming with far too much equipment to prevent sinking), Andy makes the decision to return to the vehicles.

Meanwhile, the others have been keeping watch while Michelle conducts some simple running maintainence.

As Medic, she will also make sure no one is dehydrated, ill or showing any signs of ill effects or infections.
   OOC: Would it be possible for Michelle to carry a pistol instead of a rifle when she is doing duties? I personally have tried to do other duties carrying an M16 and it is hard to do. A pistol would be so much easier, then keep the rifle in reach.

Andy reports to the officer conference.

"Sars.  The bloody thing forded itself a river.  Ah dinna feel like goin' fer a swim.  They dinna scout before they crossed so either they were in a rush, or they know the area."  Andy waits for any questions.

Standing to the side, Cam says, "Yes, vehicle swim water. 1500 meters.  They home."  Cam hopes her limited English supports whatever the heavily accented Andy said.

Thankyou, Sgt Maj. Leutenant. <nods to each>


Anyone care to recomend a course of action??? Or even present a summation?

Thinking it over William sighed "If we follow them they may be friendlies, or they may be hostiles, 10 years ago I would have said lets chase them down mates, now, I just want to get home." Rubbing his chin he looked around. "I say we just keep along our current path. But we send 3-5 of our best after them, with a radio, and see who they are." THinking over who was still around William decided on 3 " I say we send Winters, becasue he has enough ordinace to level a town, Dettinger for leadership and cover fire, and shit I'll go, no sense in leading from the back."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:53, Tue 11 Jan 2005.

Cam asks, "Mines ahead?  They go," she shoots her hand out in the direction of the tracks, "enemy go", she shoots her other hand down the road they are traveling, "Boom!"

Shrugging her shoulders, she points the direction of the tracks and says, "Or they go secret home."

[Private to Nuked: am I playing a 1 english skill okay?]

And what friendlies do you know who drive about the middle of Poland as if they own the place? Tanya called back from her position in the commanders seat of the BTR.
I mean, they didn't even take the time to scout out the crossing point, right? And there was no sign that they were under fire, so why would they rush straight across unless they knew the area intimately?
That all screams locals to me. We should just get on south I say, see what we can find down at this "free city" of Krakow.

"If you follow them, how you going to cross the river?" Andy asks.  "And riding shank's mare, you might them a wee bit faster in a vehicle"

OOC: what time of day is it?  what's the weather like?

"'tis a nice day for a swim, it is," Andy continues, "but hiking in a wet uniform is less fun.  If we have to split up, I'd say the scout group takes one of vehicles.  The rest stays by the river doing laundry and working the stills.  Or we send a group up stream and a group down, looking for a ford or bridge.  Or we continue to Krakow.  This lot might have nothing to do with us."

[Private to Nuked: It was a "small river"  int check to figure out the odds of finding a shallow enough area to ford?]

From what your scout saw of the river, no ford is likely to be found within a reasonable distance either up or downstream. Swimming the vehicles across is probably the only option unless a bridge is found.

Cam speaks up, obviously a little perturbed, and maybe a little nervous as she continuously looks around, "Vehicle no swim.  We no walk catch vehicle.  We stay trap.  I vote no good.  Or we go, keep eye for we know vehicle.  We squatting goose here."  Camilla finishes and keeps looking around.

Dettinger, having followed the recce party back to the gathering, speaks up: "Perhaps, I suggest, yes? We move APC off road, to near river, swimming scout car across with small party. They have Westerner vehicle, and know area. Maybe they NATO, maybe they not...but they know area, and would be in our behind. Maybe we need to know who are they, what they do. This is my thought. I will go or stay - it not matter."

He nods, as if the emphasize his point, and squats on his heels, rifle upright beside him.

Looking back at Dett, when he mentions behind, ready to give him the evil eye, she realizes he was talking about something else and shrugs a little embarrassed.  Continuing to watch out, she insists, "Someone make decide."

Andy looks from face to face in the silence.  Finally he says, "The danish lassie has the right of it.  'Someone make decide'.  I assume you hooficers dinna pick a head honcho?"
<pause>
"Royt then.  The lassie," Andy nods at Camilla, "thinks we should get off our duffs and move out.  An' watch our for mines, maybe that's why the vehicle didn't take the road south.  The kr..," Andy pauses, and indicates Dettinger, "Airborn suggests we not leave unknowns in our 6.  The snake eater," points to Tanya, "things they are locals and that we should head south.  Brown thinks we should split up, most of us continue south and sent a small group after them"

"I think if we split up, them as stays should find a definsible area and dig in.  Relinking with a moving group can be a right chuffer.  And splitting up invites defeat in detail.  So I say we should stick together, which mean not crossing the river"

"That's... two for following the tracks, and three for heading south.  The rest of this shower doesn't seem to care."  Andy concludes.  "So let's head south"

OOC: yes, as you can tell, I found a english slang dictionary on-line

Dettinger eyes Corrigan thoughtfully, looks around the gathering, and shrugs. He has clearly said all that he intends to say.

Camilla was thankful that someone was listening and making a decision.  Unfotunately she grew more and more cofused as Andy spoke.  When he gets to the part of 'soooo let's head south', she grins.  She says in perfect English, "Yes, let's head south."  She heads back to the vehicle to take her familiar perch.  To those left in her wake, one might think that she finally got one right.

As soon as Camila remounts the rehicle, Andy takes his place as well.  "Lads and Lassies, let's mount up, we're burning daylight, like you Yanks say"

The BRDM leads the way south once again with Dave as Commander (Obs:9), Andy the Gunner (HW:1, rifle:8) and Kett the Driver (WVD:3).
The BTR soon follows with Tanya commanding (Obs:4), Winters as Gunner (HW:4, rifle:3) and Don? as Driver (WVD:3).

The road soon deteriorates as you pass into the area of a major battle a few years before (The Battle of Czestochowa, May 1997). Some of you begin to spot vaguely familiar landmarks as the US 5thID had been involved in the offensive.
To the east, the rubble that was once Czestochowa lays with it's radioactive pall. (when the Nato troops pulled out they left a 10 kilotonne nuclear demolition charge behind in the industrial area. A few months latter in October 1997, the city was targeted by a 150 kilotonne cruise missile. The destruction was complete....Czestochowa was turned into smoking rubble.
Due to the fear of radiation, very few people choose to live in this area. You journey southward encounters nobody besides a few scraggly peasants using this fear for protection. Their crops barely seem to struggle from the soil.
Nightfall soon comes with the two vehicles approaching the remains of a small village that looks to have been abandoned. Once it was probably home to several hundred people, today, only weeds and the occasional wild animal frequent it's dusty streets and collapsing buildings.

OOC: If anybody wants to change the vehicle crews, please feel free. With a few new players since the positions were assigned, there may be better qualified characters now available.

Don, now beginning to have control of the BTR still feel that the vehicle is not at all as his cars back home.

When seeing the mayhem of the nuclear bombs he shakes his head, while having a cloth before his mouth. He definately doesn't want to get any radioactive dust in his system.

"This is what I hate. What good are these radioactive areas now? The peasants will die in the matter of years, everything will just die. These plains are even more deserted than the moors back home. You can just forget that I would drink a whisky made by the peat from this area."

Don is actually disturbed by these land of death. Even his wits falls to the ground when looking at the destruction.

"Let's keep away from the radiation, as much as possible." Don lets the BTR go where as little dust as possible appears. Preferably on the streets, and in any case, not directly after the BRDM.

Finding a hole to stick her head out of, she looks on in shocked amazement.  She asks to no one in particular, "Is safe?"  After staring for a little while longer, her eyes tear up and she moves back inside the vehicle.  She sits back down in her seat and closes her eyes in sadness.

Having pulled his gas mask on, Aaron looked at the ruble, he onjly had one thing to say to it. "poor bastards."

Dettinger, having been through the area before, shakes his head, eyes cold and bleak.

This scene is repeated many times across Poland and the rest of the world according to rumour. Of course, you've learnt to disregard 95% of rumours as untrue and the other 10% as outright lies.
Most of the major cities and and many of the minor ones have sustained hits from nuclear weapons. Some due to there geographical position and strategic value, others because of their industrial capabilities, and more just because they had the bad luck of having a military unit passing through at the time.
In addition to the strikes on cities many tactical warheads have been used in the feild. Blast craters are something you have learnt to keep an eye out for. In fact, those of you with more than a few dozen rads have either been in the area of a strike or had the bad luck of passing through a crater after one, sometimes a year or two later.

"Keep the hatch closed while we are in these areas or we will not need a flashlight to read maps at night." though Guido attempts to be light hearted there is a grim undertone to it.

Looking up at the hatch, Camilla gets up wiping her eyes and moves to close and lock the hatch.  Speaking quietly, she says "Sorry."

No one happens to have a Geiger Counter hidden in their kit by any chance?

The abandoned village of Stara Huta originally was a small rural community of 100 to 200 people but has been deserted for several months. Its streets are overgrown, and all the wood frame buildings have burned or fallen down.
Only brick and stone buildings are left, and all these are very heavily damaged. No glass remains in the windows; most roofs have fallen in or at least have large holes in them; and there are numerous signs of battle damage, particularly shell holes.

A map of the village can be found in the "Maps" thread.

Usually sarcastic and laughing at least some on the trip, Gallin, when she recognizes where she is, wil get a pained look on her face, and turn the driving over to someone else. She will then curl into a ball and hug her knees into her chest and slowly begin rocking, looking out into space and trying not to strike out in violence.

[Private to Nuked: I will be on the lookout as we pass by for the black Madonna, and if I see it, you better believe I'm going to fight tooth and nail to get to it. It would be a sign of hope for her, because in her blood there is polish blood, even though she is American.]

Dettinger's widened eyes are fixed on the far wall of the BTR's troop compartment, as if he could stare through the metal and across the ruins in the distance. He seems pale under what is left of his camo paint, and his right hand refexively tightens and relaxs around the barrel of his rifle. He is a man in Hell, it seems.

Those plugged into the radio net or intercom would hear this: "Es war Hölle. Sie würden nicht erbringen. Wir jagten sie heraus, Raum durch Raum.  Getötet ihnen, wo sie standen. Sie starben auf ihren Füßen und ertranken in ihrem eigenen Blut, für die schwarze Jungfrau. Ich wurde im Blut...für Tage... könnte nicht es weg von erhalten...bedeckt...so much blood." [It was hell. They would not yield. We chased them out, room by room. Killed them where they stood. They died on their feet, drowning in their own blood, for the Black Virgin. I was covered in blood...for days...couldn't get it off...]

He inhales heavily, noisely, pulling himself together. "Madonna forgive us for what we have done."

Camilla, with a sad look on her face, reaches down to place a consoling hand on her back.

"Schwartze??? Madonna???!"

The BTR suddenly comes to a halt, with no thoughts of the passengers.

"Dettinger! What on earth are you saying? Did you destroy the monastary of Jasna Gora?!"

Don's voice over the radio is almost panicing.

"Let's make a camp in the middle of the village ahead, I want to hear everything you know, Dettinger. And tomorrow, I'll might force you to repend your wrongdoings!"

After that he gets everything on the way again.

Shaken from his reverie by Donnachaidh's exclamations, Dettinger shakes his head, as if to clear.

"Is nothing, Politiker. If you not there, you not know. My, eh, falsche Briefe, they are mine. Dettinger, off." He strips the communications headset from his head, replacing it with his helmet, and slumps back into his set, quiet again.

At the mention of Black mary, Michelle looks blankly at Don. "The asshole blew it up. It was his answer to the cease fire treaty, he blew it up and leveled his own ground. A Pole, and he blew it all up." SHe will begin rocking again and trying not to remember the hell she witnessed here.

"Well where ever we camp we should do a large perimiter search to check for craters and dying plants, and wait to dusk and see if there is a glow."
As an after thought
"If were unlucky we will not have to light a camp fire, and Don can attempt snuggle up to someone watching the gentle green glow over the hill."
Mental note: If Don comes anywhere near me with the idea of a snuggle I will but-stroke, bayonet, shoot, and bury him regardless if he is still alive or not.
[Private to Nuked: With rads at 33 I should be a little more aware, plus I was reading in first ed it will disapate after 2 years]
This message was last edited by the player at 07:11, Mon 17 Jan 2005.

"What do you mean, Michelle? Have you also been there?"

Don looks very surprised.

"In any case I think we really should see if there is a possibility to recover her, for the Poles. It is our job as christians to do it. We can probably find help here in the village."

Don pays attention to Dave's remarks.

"I'm not very keen on spending too much time in radioactive places. I thought we were rather far away from the epicentrum?"

"In any case, I think that a lot of the radiation is on the ground, or in the dust following our vehicles, so I suggest that we don't leave the vehicles unless completely necessary. The tyres though, will probably be rather "

There is no need to worry about fallout at this time. The geiger counter located in the BRDM-2 (see the Equipment thread as well as the spreadsheet in the Yahoo site), has remained fairly silent all day. Silent for Poland anyway.
The village appears to be still habitable, at least in places and it's hard to imagine why it's deserted. Until you see the bullet holes, shell craters and blast damage that is.
Obviously at some time a few months ago, a small battle was waged through the village. The Police station (D) and school (F) appear to have been used as impromptu strongpoints and so have suffered heavily. The bank (C) vault has been blasted open, presumably after the battle, and is empty. Other buildings have also suffered, but none as much as the Police station and School.
Your vehicles tyres stirr up the dust in the empty streets, the sounds of the engines echo from the barren walls. Nothing moves besides a few small birds as they flit about looking for morsels of food.

Where will you stop? A fuller description of the village is in the "Map" thread.

Recovered from his earlier bout, Dettinger is again his normally controlled self.

"Genug von dem." He sits forward on the troop compartment bench, and looks around at his fellow passengers. "Perhaps we stop here the night. Shelter, yes? Cover for vehicles, and we recce town. See what is to see?" One eyebrow raised, he looks specifically to Brown and Smythe.

"The warehouse (M) looks good, as soon as we are parked and harboured up I'll be getting some" cough "communal wine port prefered and heading for the church."
If I can get a good lookout with obs 9 I should see anything scratching about town, spare binoculars and a hand held radio would help.
"though probably couldn't hit anything with an AK-47 form there," [Small Arms (Rifle) 8], "but would draw a lot of fire."
[Private to Nuked: You did say you wanted someone to make a suicidal move.]

 Michelle will answer Dons question with a hollow look in her eyes. "I was here, with the 5th ID when it all went down. He had no reason, he was beaten. He knew it, yet he hurt us the most when he blew up the monestary himself as a last act of defiance."

 (( OCC Nuked, please correct me if I misunderstood what happened there.))

E. Church: The entire roof of the church has collapsed, although the stone walls are still solid, and the steeple still overlooks the town. The rectory is a burnt-out brick shell.
If I can climb I can find a place that would be above everything, may need rope depending on the level of damage.

Cam quietly follows securing her items about her body.  She doesn't say anything but looks around at the damage.  She doesn't seem to be searching for hideouts as she looks at rubble, broken glass, and even once stopping to look at a brick in the street.  Her expression is unreadable.

Michelle will follow quietly, trying to put the memories of the place behind her and concentrate on providing med attention if need be.

Andy addresses Sgt Guide.  "If you are in the church, and we put another person in that apartment building (G), that should cover your blind spot, and give us one person on each side of the square, whic is probably where we should leave our vehicles."

Andy will check each of the five roads into town, looking to see which, if any, have been travelled the most, or most recently, and which were before the war primary roads.

Camilla points to herself, and then to the apartment building, "I person."

If it's poosible I would like the vehicles reversed into cover inside one of the more solid buildings, put some old roof iron over the fronts to conceal them.

This is probably very much bandit territory now.

Fan out and do a quick search of our surroundings. Obs/Snipers I like. Keep our eyes open for the same.

Once we're settled the Foragers and Scroungers can get to work, I might skip the Language School tonight.

I am surprised refugees from other areas haven't decided to call this place home, it has been months…

"Just thought of the same thing, Mr Smythe. Booby-traps, poisoned water, radioactivity?"

Good point. Don't drink the water until Sgt. Gallin clears it.
Even then I think boiling would be a wise precaution. It may not be poisoned intentionally but there's been no one around to do maint' and there was a lot of killing.

Before bailing out of the BTR with the other groundpounders, Dettinger will sling his rifle in favour of the submachine gun normally strapped to his chest, and straighten his helmet. Prepared now, he signals his intentions to Smythe, assuming he catchs the other's attention for a moment. He then sprints from where the vehicles have been parked, around the edge of the town square, to the dilepitated town hall, taking advantage of cover or partial cover to stop and search windows and roof lines.

He will quickly and proficiently clear the building room by room, with an eye for booby traps or live ordnance, prepared for action at each entry. [Private to Nuked: Assuming that I don't find anything; let me know if I stumble onto something unfortunate a/or bang-y, please. ]

Kett takes his C7 out of the scout car and unwraps the linen from around the sight.

"I will stay with the vehicles.  Not much for observing.  Will need to work on it.", he says with a grin as he hunkers down next to the vehicles to keep watch.

All your actions only confirm that this village is deserted. Not a lot is alive here besides the weeds and a few small animals.
The day is wearing on, sunset is only an hour or two away and you will very soon have to finally decide exactly where you will set up camp.

"You lads and lassies that wants to choose where we should stay the night, can do so. Since there isn't any pub here, I'll just lay back and planning to say a word or two to Dettinger and the others, about the madonna!"

Staying where the vehicles are at right now would be the best Probably.

Seeing no one confirm or deny her volunteering to keep watch, Camilla moved to the apartment building.  She carefully moved to an area of height that would let her see as much as possible and did her duty.  She kept watch.

Her mind wandered as whe watched the people move through the town examining and checking thing out.  Somewhere around here there was once the Madonna.  It may be lost.  Thinking more, she realized that the people who had lived in these very walls may have seen it at one time.  Living peacefully and happy, children playing in the streets, she tried to imagine what this town would have been like full of life.

Shaking her head to try and clear her thoughts, she gets back to her lonely vigil.  Her mind wanders once again following the people through their daily lives in this once happy town.

Your two vehicles entered by the north road and, along with the east-west road, this is the busiest thoroughfare. The two roads leading to the south are smaller and obviously built to cater for the local traffic.

Are the vehicles to be left out in the open of the village square? [Private to Major Richard Smythe: Inside the Warehouse (M) might be a better location. Out of sight and with a couple of people up on the roof, easier to defend. Dave has already mentioned it as a possible spot.]
[Private to Oberstleutnant Dettinger: Inside the Warehouse (M) might be a better location. Out of sight and with a couple of people up on the roof, easier to defend. Dave has already mentioned it as a possible spot.]
[Private to WO1 Gary Irwin Herbert Kett: Inside the Warehouse (M) might be a better location. Out of sight and with a couple of people up on the roof, easier to defend. Dave has already mentioned it as a possible spot.]
[Private to WO1 William Brown: Inside the Warehouse (M) might be a better location. Out of sight and with a couple of people up on the roof, easier to defend. Dave has already mentioned it as a possible spot.]
[Private to WO2 Andrew (Andy) Corrigan: Inside the Warehouse (M) might be a better location. Out of sight and with a couple of people up on the roof, easier to defend. Dave has already mentioned it as a possible spot.]

[Private to Nuked: Thanks for the heads-up! I'll see if I can effect that deployment. ]

After clearing the Town Hall himself, Dettinger exits and jogs back to where the vehicles have been stopped. Once there, he tries to find Brown & Smythe, to speak with them.

"Herren, ein Moment, bitte. I make a suggestion, yes? If we move vehicles to warehouse, under cover and away from eyes, posting of watchers on the roof, easy to defend, not as easy to see us. We can move in freedom, inside, and not be in exposure. A thought, yes? Sitting in square not best tactics, nein." He looks back and forth between them while he is speaking, calmly and quietly. Afterwards, he nods slightly, and walks towards the BTR, re-strapping his MP-5SD3 to his chest harness.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:39, Tue 25 Jan 2005.

Sure. indoors sounds good!

I thought we had the vehicles inside with a piece of something covering the door. Sorry if I was confused....

OK, the warehouse it is.

We may as well set up the Still while we're here and do some maintanence. It may be a good chance to take a day or two and get ahead of the curve.

Set triplines in the alleyways?

Is the recon complete? Find any Good Obs over the aproaches to town or the warehouse? Once we're settled I'll turn the scroungers loose, including myself.

Lt. Dettinger, this is your domain. Deploy us as you see fit.

"I will take the roof, my long gun is infinitely better than my house-to-house if you catch my meaning.", Kett says.

"And coming from Canada being outdoors doesn't but me much.  We have blackflies that will strip a dog to the bone in less than a minute.", he chuckles.

Turning in mild surprise at Smythe's words, Dettinger pauses, takes a moment to collect his thoughts, and walks back to Brown and Smythe. He stops very close between the two older men, and speaks quietly, so as not to make his voice carry.

"Deployments? This I am thinking. Herr Brown takes Herr Kett, Redgrave and myself, sweep warehouse like broom. Herr Corrigan, Winters stay with turrets, yes, until we give words to Don and Gallin, to bring forward vehicles. Bring them inside, placed front to doors, you understand. Herr Smythe looks over set-up of still and maintaining, as 'Garage'. Herr Kett on roof with long rifle, and Herr Corrigan; I am being next on his watch. We will be 'Overwatch' for radio. The Danelanders to church tower for observation, in turns; they have most good viewing there. You are making sure they have radio, politely from Winters, and telling them they are 'OP', yes? I keep hands on rooftop and church tower, Herr Brown keeps the order in warehouse, Herr Smythe makes the vehicles and 'scroungers' his duty, yes? Redgrave can keep ears to vehicle radio. These are my thoughts. Do you suggest other things? If not, please be relaying to others, Herr Brown. Not so much the arguing if you pass down directions, I am thinking."

His words are measured and calm, but respectful. He seems to be asking for agreement as much as delivering orders. Dettinger clearly well remembers the confrontation that occurred between Pruzskow and here.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:04, Thu 27 Jan 2005.

Don drives the car to the building directed. He then jumps out and looks over the place. Another village deserted. Yet a long line of lives that has ended here. Don watches them all set up for the night. Seeing Dettinger on the rooftop Don understands that there will not be a lot of talking with him the next few hours. Let him have his fun...

"So, lassies, what to do now? Find ourselves a bed for the night?"

Don claps his hands and smiles a big smile when confronting Michelle and the other women.

 Michelle climbs out of the drivers seat of her vehicle and absentmindedly gives DOn a half smile as she rubs her shoulders. Almost as an afterthought, or as if thinking aloud, she speaks. "But where are all the bodies? And if they are buried, who buried them and where are they now?"

Guido climbs up to the steeple with the aid of a rope and grapling hook, pulling it up behind him looking around unable to see any movement, upon spying Don aims him up and wonders if he can hit him from this range "I could use the practice".
This message was last edited by the player at 15:51, Wed 26 Jan 2005.

The vehicles are soon driven in through the large doors at the front of the building and parked in the tight confines facing the exit.
A guard is set on the roof and the two other access points while the rest of the group get to work setting up the still and organising the interior of the warehouse. Defenses are fashioned by shifting the cartons and crates to provide firing positions.
Dave and Camilla remain in the church tower where they maintain a fairly good watch over the village.
[Private to Leutenant Camilla Ashton; Staff Sgt Dave Guido: In the late afternoon, no more than about half an hour before sundown, another group enters the village from the south. A group of about 100 people are chained together in a large shabling mob.
They are filthy; their clothes are nothing more than gray rags and they are obviously suffering from hunger, exposure, and in many cases, beatings.
They guarded by 10 mounted men, fairly well armed and well fed, who have several pack horses with them.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:08, Sat 06 Aug 2005.

Guido continues watching for any targets.
Guido suggest to Cam to take aim and prepare to fire but attempt to stay low and hopefully out of sight, if Guido can he attempts to signal to the main party, if anyone is watching.
(I will discribe signals for entertainment) thumb down, index finger then turned down, point off to the south with a flat palm.
follow with thumb up, hand then shaken under chin, then cross wrist.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:05, Thu 27 Jan 2005.

Andy goes along with the plan of sweeping the building, if that's what happens

Cam takes aim and prepares to fire but attempts to stay low and hopefully out of sight.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:07, Thu 27 Jan 2005.

Once we're settled the Mechanics amongst us could try and salvage a fuel tank or two from these derelicts and any other parts they think might come in handy later.

We'd better see about getting some meals organised for those on watch, any volunteers?

Appart from myself are there any Scroungers amongst us?

Kett keeps watch, chewing on a piece of old c-ration chocolate he had been saving since they left the last town.

"All right mates, you heard the Kraut. Lets get our arses to work." Time to find out if they really were all alone in this nice little warehouse.

The preparations go smoothly until a little before dusk the Danes report in via radio.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:10, Thu 27 Jan 2005.

Base this is Dane
We have a large group heading from the south.
10 mounted a hundered prisoners on foot.
Will soon pass church, have grenades.
Waiting orders
out

Hearing only the last part concerning prisnors and grenades Brown grunted. "Alright people form up a defensive perimiter but keep yourselfs out of site. Someone relay the message to our guys on the roof."

Cam continues to keep watch and aim.  SHe tries to determine all that she can from the group while waiting.

Since none of the girls took on his invitation to go to bed, Don has been sitting in the car, working out what all the pedals and stuff actually can do.

When hearing the information from Dave he jumps out of the car looking for the others. If they seem to have heard he looks around on the others. He makes a gesture with his hand to show the roofpeople that there is enemies and then points in what direction they are coming from.

"We really should free the prisoners, even if 100 people is rather hard to take with us. That is problems for the future, how do we convince the riders that they are doing a bad thing, taking prisoners?"

Don just asks the question to the first person he sees on the ground.

Michelle is under a truck checking out a gas tank. somebody better go get me. don't want to not be able to find me when you need patched up.
.

Shaking his head William growled quietly at Don "We don't have time mto sit and argue polotics with them, they have prisnors and grenades, thats enough for me to declare them a threat that we need to take care of."

"I too know that there are different ways of convincing!"

"I just mean that we should act"
This message was last edited by the player at 16:31, Thu 27 Jan 2005.

OOC: the vehicles are in the warehouse M, right, with Andy and Kett on the roof (2 stories up)?  Our view to the south is blocked the the 3 story Bank (C) and the 2 story police station (D)
We have the Danes about 200 m south of M in the church E.  Everyone else was scrounging or around the warehouse.
GM edit: Correct! give yourself a gold star! :)
Andy hunkers down, and suggests to Kett, "If you keep an eye out between those two buildings, I'll watch our flanks"
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:48, Thu 27 Jan 2005.

Upon hearing the radio transmission, Dettinger carefully slides himself back from the edge of the warehouse roof, back to where Corrigan and Kett are hunkered-down, and fishes-out his hand radio.

Radio: "Danes, Overwatch. Acknowledge; stand-by. Garage, Overwatch. Find Brown, schnell. Holding." He turns to the warrant officers, "Herr Corrigan, Herr Kett, what would suggestion be, if we act?"
This message was last edited by the player at 20:38, Thu 27 Jan 2005.

Acknowledge; stand-by  Cam clicks her radio twice.  She flips the safety off and continues to aim, keeping her head low and her movements slow.

"The Danes's arses are swinging in the breeze that far from the rest of us, so have them turtle until the shooting starts.  Best ambush site would be the central square, but we'd have to be bloody fast to get there."  Andy shrugges.  "Depends how far out the scavengers are.  Either have everyone rally around the square for a hasty ambush, or fall back here to the vehicles."

"Or fall back here and send in an anvoy.  WHo knows, maybe the prisoners are bandits and other wankers who are getting what they deserve."

Camilla shivers as a cool breeze blows up her back side.  Her ears start itching a little, but she ignores the distractions.

Dettinger closes his eyes, concentrating, and then looks back at Corrigan suddenly. "Scheiße! Herr Brown can bitch me later. To the ground, now, schnell. I meet there, main doors."

Again activating his radio. "Danes, Overwatch. Keep down, contact nein. Garage, Overwatch. Herrs Brown, Winters, Gallin, armed, ready outside main door. Don, too - maybe talk, not fight, ja? Herr Smythe, hold the fortress, as you say. We talk on ground; maybe do nothing. Overwatch out."

With that, Dettinger scrambles to the point they had used to reach the roof, hoping that Corrigan and Kett were already moving.

Danes, keep down contact nine?  nine what?  Nevermind, she thinks to herself.  She will keep down and wait for the talking to begin.  Once again she kicks herself for not paying attention in school and learning American.

Andy, with one last glance to the south, get's up and heads for the stairs/ladder/way down, reflexivly checking the safety on his AK.  "Bloody russian pile of dung.  I miss my SA-80" he mutters to himself

"Who wants to talk? Dettinger?? That wasn't the first thing I thought..."

Platoon Sergeant Tanya Redgrave sat by monitoring the radio and eating her ration meal for the evening when she heard about the group of horsemen escorting a group of about one-hundred or so people (soldiers or otherwise).  She takes one last scoop of her meal and puts the plate down next to the APC grabbing her RPK and moving up to the German Lieutenant, "What to you need me to do Lieutenant?"

Kett hauls ass to get to the central square so he can set up for the potential ambush.

Camilla's stomach rumbles as she realizes she hasn't eaten yet.  She hungry enough to eat a horse.  Maybe if this works out alright she might get a chance.

As soon as Dettinger has hit the ground, he hustles to the main entrance of the warehouse, into where the vehicles are parked, in search of his pack. A quick rifle through that, and he snatches the grenade launcher, a fragmentation round, and a smoke round.

Stuffing the reloads in his web gear and carrying the GL in his off hand, Dettinger returns to the door, to meet with the others, and hopefully decide upon a quick course of action.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:53, Sat 29 Jan 2005.

Guido attempt to set up so his attack will assist the bulk of the group.
[Private to Leutenant Camilla Ashton: "Mama we could hit them as they go past and when they take cover the others will have a clear shot ath their backs, awaiting intructions"]

Tanya looks to the Lieutenant, "We should leave a small team here with the vehicles , just in case.  How many of them are there anyways?"

Camilla continues to aim.
[Private to Staff Sgt Dave Guido: I will not fire first.  Is there anything that says they are friendly with enemy captures or enemy with friendly captures?]

Busily adjusting his webgear, Dettinger looks up at Redgrave. "Ah, Tanya. Ja. You keep others together, yes?"

Tanya nods an 'affirmative' to the Lieutenant.  "Understood sir!"

OOC: Who else is in the barn with me and the vehicles?

OOC: Andy, and (I assume) Kett came down shortly before Dettinger.

After Dettinger grabs his grenades, Andy asks, "We three reserves, or ?"

OOC: Dettinger has suggested? Ordered? that Brown, Winters, Gallin and Don accompany him on whatever you decide to do about the new group in town.
That leaves Dave and Cam still up the tower and Andy, Tanya, Smythe and Kett with the vehicles.
[Private to Leutenant Camilla Ashton; Staff Sgt Dave Guido: Although some buidings hide most of the following activity, you make out quite a lot of activity between them.
The guards herd the prisoners into the eastern enclosed courtyard (N) where they collapse in exhaustion as soon as they are allowed to stop. Once all are inside the area, one of the guards takes two large metal spikes from a pack hourse, and pounds them into the ground with a sledge, one at each end of the chain of prisoners. The spike probably once served as part of a truck axle. While he does this, the other nine watch both the surrounding area but most of their attention is on the prisoners.
Once each spike is in place, he locks the prisoners chain to the anchor - nothing short of a bulldozer is likely to shift it. The guards then turn most of their attention outward. This area has obviously been used by them before as is evidenced by the rolls of barbed wire that they pull from the nearby buildings to block off the space between them. A couple of directional antipersonel mines (Claymores or similar) are emplaced facing inwards towards the prisoners and guards placed in the three large buidings surrounding the courtyard (C, G, and the large southern I).
So far you have observed them to be armed with at least one RPK and the remainder with AK's of an indeterminate model.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:05, Sat 06 Aug 2005.

Radio click... "Action...  prisoners secured axle...  Barb wires... claymores two... RPK one... AK's many... east yard." click click.

"Maam may I?" taking the radio off Camilla
"They have Bunked down in a courtyard" N "and have secured the perimiter with wire and mines, prisoners chain have been staked to the ground. over"

Tanya will move back towards one side of the vehicles, extend the bipod on her RPK, and cover the main entrance with it.  She lays an extra 30 round magazine right next to her on the ground and charges a round into the chamber (if it hasn't been done already) putting the SAW to 'safe' mode.

Lifting his bag from the ground Winters smiled, the heavy weight made him feel more secure, but then who wouldn't with all the weapontry he had in it. With his free hand the SEAL grabbed his M249.

 Gallin will offer to go with the troops for med support, but fully expects th be one of the ones to guard the vehicles, She grabs her rifle and a small arms, and makes sure she has as much ammo as they can hold, then waits to hear what she will be needed to do. She lived through this hellacious place once, by God she was going to do it again.

OOC: does the warehouse have a back entrance, windows etc.?  of so,
Andy will check each of them to see how easy they would be to approach

Looking around the gathering, Dettinger is focused calm personified. As he speaks, he makes eye contact with each person.

Brown: "Herr Brown, the Danelanders say 10 riding men with many prisoners have how you would say 'hunkered-down' in courtyard, here," Dettinger gestures to their rough map of the town, and then to the church where the Danes are stationed, "while Danelanders are here. Wire and mining of entrance, is an obstacle. Suggestions? Do we involve even our selfs, do you think?" With that last, Dettinger also looks up at Smythe.

Corrigan & Kett: "Herr Corrigan, Herr Kett, please to approach, but not be seen. Find cover here," Dettinger points at L, just south of the warehouse, "where can look straight across. This is okay?"

Donnachaidh: "Don, we maybe talk, not make trouble. If yes, you speak good and fast for us, yes? Enough blood here, I am having the thought."

Gallin: "Unterofizier Gallin, pleased to stay with us for the now, and then assist Herr Smythe if we leave, yes? Be ready with the hopping, to come if we call for the medic."

Radio: "Danes, Overwatch. Three, repeat, three friendlies on foot, recon. Watch for them, and no friendly shooting. Confirming, please."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:18, Thu 03 Feb 2005.

"roger over" and passing the info onto Cam, suggests to prepare to take aimed shoots at the slave drivers if Don can't convince them we would not make good slaves.

"Sure Mr Dettinger, I can have a chat with them. I'm not very keen on you using me as a sitting duck for them though. If I AM to negociate, I don't want you to have it as an excuse to get them off guard and then being able to have THEM as sitting targets. So if I should negociate, I WILL negociate. Would they be totally deranged, though, THEN you can help me out."

I commend of your planned course of action, Lt. Col. Dettinger. <smile>

We need to make contact and feel out their veiwpoint, sooner or later they are going to want to send out scouts of their own and I'd rather the meeting be of a time and circumstance of our choosing.

With your indulgence I'd like to make one ammendment to your plan. I'd like to prep the BTR for action but not fire the engine yet, save it to back up our words should things get hostile. We could also use it to extract our people under fire if need be.

Dettinger double clicks the Transmit key on his radio, to acknowledge Guido's message, and turns back to Smythe. "Ja, is good idea. Gallin can drive and Redgrave command. Do you need Winters for the gunnery, or can Redgrave and you do?"

Another moment for Donnachaidh: "Don, I am not understanding where you are thinking from. If we talk, we talk. If we fight, we fight. Why use first to prepare second? Am not, how you say, total bastardy? We need good position to make decision, and be ready. If we not fight, I am with the happiness."

To the group at large: "We must be moving, then, ja? Herr Corrigan, Herr Kett, when you are being ready. Verlust Redgrave, verlust Gallin, please to prepare BTR, but not fire engine. Herr Smythe, Herr Brown, Don, Winters, please to wait a moment - I am going on to roof here, to be seeing more better." Dettinger pats the binoculars on his webgear, slings his rifle, and heads back for the roof, taking care to keep hidden as best he can, and stay very low once he is on the roof.

"royt, we'll move out" Andy makes sure Kett is ready, and heads out to the position indicated, going for cover and speed

Kett sticks close to Andy.

Andy leads Kett south to the ruined building (L).  He keeps as low to the ground, trying to keep the building to the south (L, K, D, J, and C) between him and any observers in the Town Square (A).  He also keeps a shart eye out tothe South, SW, and SE, looking to see if the newcomers have sent any scouts out of their own.

Once they reach the building...

OOC: what kind of shape is it in?  any walls still up?
OOC: Kett carries, as I recall, a grenade launcher?

Andy and Kett reach the first Building (L) in mere moments. Casting their eyes southeast, they spot the large group of prisoners and their guards in the courtyard (N). So far, it seems that the prisoners (who are chained in one long line) have been secured to the ground by two large metal stakes that probably once served as truck axles. They are not spread out in a line but are gathered together in a large mass towards the middle of the yard.
A dozen or more horses are picketed in the far end of the yard (south eastern corner between L, J and I) and several armed men are roaming abou the area setting up various defences largely consisting of barbed wire that was obviously stored in the the surrounding buildings, and directional antipersonnel mines (claymores or copies of) that are facing inwards towards the prisoners.
A voice calls out to you from above in a language neither of you can understand. The meaning though is clear - stop or be shot!

OOC: crud.

OOC: from above?  is L more than one story?  I assume that we are still north of L

Reflexivly, Andy hit's the ground and rolls for cover (or ducks into L, if it provides overhead cover), looking towards the sound trying to spot who ever it was.

10:56, Today: WO2 Andrew (Andy) Corrigan rolled 9 using 1d10. Observation check.


OOC: well, that sucked

Tanya nods in understanding and motions to Gallin to mount up.  "Understood sir.  We're on it."  Tanya rises from the ground, closing the legs of the RPK's bipod, and enters the BTR with Gallin.  She takes up the commanders spot waiting to get the order to start it up and move out.

Gallin jumps in the seat and mentally preps herself for anything that may go down next. She looks up at Tanya and awaits the orders, once again checking the guns to make sure she had the ammo she needed.

Kett drops down into any nearby cover and looks around for where the voice is coming from, he doesn't immediately move to point a weapon, just take in his surroundings.

[Private to Nuked: Been a long time since I did anything with this game, what is the rolling convention again for skill checks?][Private to WO1 Gary Irwin Herbert Kett: Basically roll a D10 and if it's lower than your skill, it's a sucess. Above and it's a fail. Skill is moddified depending on the task attemtped though, but I'll let you know if and when that happens.]
[Private to Nuked: Well since I have no Observation skill at all I assume I failed with a 4 hehe WO1 Gary Irwin Herbert Kett rolled 4 using 1d10. Observation]
[Private to WO1 Gary Irwin Herbert Kett: Yes, it's a fail. The good news is that you still get to roll as I usually use Intelligence as a default although at a much harder level (still a fail though in this case).]
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:12, Fri 04 Feb 2005.

I will assume the Gunners position on the BTR after making sure all the ports are closed. Check the ammo load etc. Headset on and wait for the shit to fly.

After Tanya makes sure that Gallin is all set in the driver's position, she turns back to Major Smythe, "We're ready to go up here Major!  You OK behind that machinegun sir?"

Change of plan.

Fit that RPK of yours up front then come back here and operate the big MG's through the Periscope. Since you're the better Rifleman I'd rather have you where you've 360deg arc of fire.

I'll sit behind the RPK in the Cmd seat and we'll take it from there.

As soon as we're called for or we know things are bad we'll roll.

"Eh, what's up? Should we really fight? Isn't it easier to speak to them instead?"

Dettinger makes it back to the roof and attempts to see what is about.
[Private to Oberstleutnant Dettinger: Besides what has already been posted publicly, you see nothing.]

"You got it Major!"   Tanya adjusts her seat so she can get the RPK set up for the Major and leaves the rest of the magazines for it next to the seat so they're in easy reach if need be.  When he moves past her, Tanya gets up into the gun well and rechecks to make sure that the KPV heavy MG is ready to go and then finally settle in behind the PK MG (figuring that the PK won't be as much overkill as the KPV with the amount of possible non-combatants about).  When she is set, she will call down, "Ready to rock up top Major!"
This message was last edited by the player at 13:54, Sat 05 Feb 2005.

Mumbles to self "…now where did I leave my Wagner tape? Damn, lost it at  Kalisz"

A single shot rings out and a puff of dust is bursts up near Andy's feet.
A few more words, some of them the same as before comes from above and to the east.
[Private to Leutenant Camilla Ashton; Staff Sgt Dave Guido: The top of a building (I) to the north of you conceals the shooter but you can just see Andy and Kett around the corner of the bank building.
Ok, on second look at the above line, I can see how it could be misunderstood. The shooter is not on I, but possibly on G on the other side of the courtyard (N). I is between you and them.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:23, Wed 09 Feb 2005.

OOC: where did the shot come from?

Poking Brown in the side with the butt of the M249 Aaron looked down at his bag. "I got a aint-tank surprize in here for them, if ya want I can go up high and get a good line of sight to rock their world if the need should arise." Ok, so all he wanted to do was blow something up , but who could blame him.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:00, Wed 09 Feb 2005.

Having heard the gunshot, and seen the impact near where the advance team had been sent, Dettinger drops, places his rifle near to hand, and fishes out his binoculars, scanning the buildings overlooking where he believies Corrigan and Kett should be.

Cam picks up the radio and says, "Shooter.  Across from big, how you say, store.  Big, Red, apartment, probably."  She awaits a reply.

OOC: building 'G'.  It is the one north of 'N'.[Private to Leutenant Camilla Ashton: I've edited my last post.]

Updated
This message was last edited by the player at 20:38, Wed 09 Feb 2005.

Dettinger drops the binoculars, double-clicks his hand radio, and sets about finding the appropriate building with his rifle.

"Holy Shit!  They're firing!  Someone's firing already!  Get ready to start her up!"  Tanya grabs hold of the grip of the MG as they wait to be called out.

"Bugger I wanted to start blasting, good thing he was a bad shot", I will have to see if I can spot and pick him off, can't have idiots running around with guns it just wouldn't be safe.

Obs roll: 6
[Private to Staff Sgt Dave Guido: As I mentioned to Cam, there is a bloody great building in between them and you. You can estimate the location of the shooter but no chance in hell of hitting them from your present location.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:50, Thu 10 Feb 2005.

At hearing the shot ring out, Don turns to Brown.

"I've never met people as trigger-happy as the lads in our group. Strange though, that they only shot one shot. I really hope it WAS they..."

Don walks over towards the vehicles to get some protection.

Kett just scrambles for whatever cover he can find, if they had wanted him dead they would have shot him.  That first shot was a warning.  He takes no overt action with his weapon.

He wishes he had taken the time to learn more languages instead of military history.

Infoming Cam "We can't get a shot from here, we had better get down and save them."

Cam shrugs, puts the safety back on, and follows Dave to the hot area.

[Private to Nuked: 10:41, Today: Leutenant Camilla Ashton rolled 4 using 1d10. sneaky stuff. and my stealth skill as a Danish special forces op is hmmm, a 0.  hehe]

The lack of anybody within earshot of the speaker that can understand them could soon become fatal. For those who are in position to see, activity inside the courtyard has gone from making preparations for the night to preparing to fight. The prisoners are forced to their feet, sometimes by brutal beatings to those who either aren't quick enough or are simply in the wrong place.
The captors take up positions where they can both cover the approaches as well as keep a close eye on their prisoners. In addition, their locations close to the prisoners, almost guarentees that any bullets that miss will hit the prisoners. Any explosive weapons (such as grenades) are sure to injure or even kill many of the defenceless people.
It is gutwrenchingly apparent that these armed people will sacrifice the prisoners without a second thought, the inwards facing claymore mines show that to even the most naive of observers.

they may have already been more firing

After dropping, rolling, and scanning towards the sound of the shot, Andy has no idea where the shooter is.  Looking around quickly, he scrambles for cover, specifically cover from above and east.

Seeing the activity to the south, Andy curses under his breath.  "Shite.  This it going in the pot soon, I'll warrent"

Perhaps we should loose our "Ghost who Kills", Billy Brown?

The ball is now in your court. A threat has been made, those on the ground have no idea of where the shooter is. Those who have some idea do not have a clear line of sight and everyone else seems to be sitting on their hands....

Assming that Andy makes it to cover from the direction of the shot, he's going to low crawl to someplace where he can peek out, and try to find the shooter.
[Private to WO2 Andrew (Andy) Corrigan: There is no chance of you spotting the shooter. The previous Observation skill roll will stand until something happens to allow another chance.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:49, Wed 16 Feb 2005.

Don waits to see if anything more happens, or if anything else can be heard, either in English, or in any other language...

Kett stays low and looks around for the best cover he can find.  He is getting ready to run for nearest building.

[Private to Nuked: Nearest cover is in one of the derelict housing blocks right?  If so I will beat feet for there then I can start looking around for the enemy and our boys]

Sitting in the driver seat, hand hovering near the ignition switch....

Andy and Kett have gained what cover they can find from where they think the shooter is but neither of them can even identify the language he yelled out in. A stand off is slowly developing with neither side seemingly able or willing to take the next step. This could be because neither side has the capacity, or perhaps the willingness.

Cam pauses at the bottom and thinks, strangers.  She starts straightening her hair and tries to get any telltale smudges off.  She tucks in her shirt and then heads on out with Dave.

Dettinger continues sweeping the buildings floor by floor, window by window, trying to catch a glimpse of the shooter.

At the same time, he is scrabbling around with his momentarily-free hand in search of his hand radio. "Overwatch. Forward party is pinned in place, not seeing shooter. Not shooting now. Maybe warning. Maybe talk, not have to fight. Start BTR, ready to move. Overwatch out."

"Start 'em up Gallin!"  Tanya says as she gets ready leans into the MG ready to head out of the barn.

Rather anoyed with the way things are going, first his peaceful watch was interupted and now they are shooting.
"I am going to kill someone for this" as he barrels around to a nearby building so he can get a good shot with cover.
[Private to Nuked Leutenant Camilla Ashton: My Obs should have at least told me which building it came from and I can locate in a building on the opposite side to return fire or even enter via a back door looking for traps or ambushes]


Think what you want.

Orange smoke begins to billow up from close by Andy and Kets last position. There is little wind at the present time so the cloud remains fairly stationary, blocking the line of sight for for those who would wish to look through it.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:00, Fri 18 Feb 2005.

Gallin kicks the BTR's engines to life and kicks it into gear and takes a deep breath. "Hold on to your butts, this could get rough!" With that she gets ready to rock.

Poping the commanders hatch and sticking my head out, "How about someone open the door?"

The smoke cloud increases in thickness till it's impossible to see through it. Up on the roof, Dettinger finally spots something worth seeing - Andy and Kett taking advantage of the cloud and withdrawing westwards towards building G.
Dave and Camilla use the distraction of the ac tion to their north to sprint over the street and take cover in the ruined northwestern corner of the school (F).
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:00, Sat 06 Aug 2005.

After reaching their destination, Cam turns to Dave and says, "Cover me."  As she unbuttons the top couple of buttons on her shirt, she steps out and waves to the bad guys before Dave can say anything.

"Hi, boys!" She calls out.

Depending on cover I can get with the info from the obs roll before, I will set myself in a possition that I can move quickly from like the side of a building to cover Cam.

Guido talks loud enough for Cam to hear "Do you relise that they are already shooting?."

I could hide behind a tree, only kidding Andrew.

Cam steps out of cover just as the BTR-80 fires up it's engine from the opposite direction. Rifles are pointed at her and incomprehensable words (for some) are yelled at her.
Another couple of the "guards" pull items from their webbing.
[Private to Staff Sgt Dave Guido: One looks like a wine bottle with a paper envelope taped to the outside, the second appears to be some sort of homemade shaped charge, probably meant to be thrown.]
[Private to Leutenant Camilla Ashton; Staff Sgt Dave Guido: You are both just out of effective throwing range (you hope).] The prisoners barely even notice the activity around them, so exhausted they are.

"Nothing like a freindly gathering with cocktails, I think we will start with some shooters" Seeing one of them pull out something that looks like a molotov cocktail and the other pulling something like a homemade grenade.
Seeing Cam attempting to distract the soldiers "Maam with all due respect, start shooting, there will be time for that afterwards."
To Hit: 6
To Hit: 9
To Hit: 5

Three shots ring out and moments later, three screams of pain.
[Private to Staff Sgt Dave Guido:
To hit: 6, 9, 5
Location: 7, 7, 7
Damage: 14, 8, 15
I'm assuming each shot at a different target. Regardless, ...]
[Private to Leutenant Camilla Ashton; Staff Sgt Dave Guido: The second shot misses it's intended target and hits a prisoner. Each shot hits in the leg and each shot brings the person down. All the guards that you can see are armed with AK assault rifles but you cannot make out exactly what model they are.]

All players please familiarise yourselves with at least the beginning of the combat rules, specifically "Combat turn", "Actions" and "Sequence" before posting your characters actions (if directly involved in combat). At this point, only characters with an intiative of six may act. Characters of a lower initiative may act on the simple directions of a higher initiative character.[Private to Leutenant Camilla Ashton: At this point, you may only take cover, presumably within the rubble near Dave, just a few metres away behind and to the side of you.]

At the present time only Dave and Camilla have a visual on the situation in the courtyard. This means that nobody else may fire unless it's with an indirect fire weapon like a mortar or grenade launcher. They may move to a better position of course.
[Private to Staff Sgt Dave Guido: next round and you're up again. They haven't been able to respond as yet. Better name your target too as you fire.]
[Private to Leutenant Camilla Ashton; Staff Sgt Dave Guido: In addition to the prisoners, you can see 7 men armed with AK's, two of which are on the ground after taking hits to their leg. Only 2 others can be hit from where you are at the moment as the rest are on the far side of the prisoners and only seen through the crowd in fleeting moments.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:02, Sat 06 Aug 2005.

"Do you want a personal invitation Cam?"
Guido drops to the ground so that most of his body is behind the wall and fires two more rounds.
To Hit: 9
Location:4
To Hit: 7
Location:1
[Private to Nuked: I am guessing dropping to the ground is an action?][Private to Staff Sgt Dave Guido: Already there as far as I'm concerned. What self respecting soldier who is supposed to have the experience of your character would not already be in cover if given the chance?]
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:52, Fri 04 Mar 2005.

"What is happening? It's cloudier than Cuillin Hills over there? And a lot of shooting, I guess that isn't very good for us either"

Don looks at those close by.

"I guess we have to get there, one way or the other."

He looks to see that his gear is alright.

"Maybe I should get into the Silver Shadow over there?"

He trots toward his vehicle while looking at the others. He definately doesn't want to get into any more gunplaying.

Two more single shots ring out.
[Private to Leutenant Camilla Ashton; Staff Sgt Dave Guido: The first misses but hits a prisoner square in the chest, bowling him over. The second is dead on target and those around him are covered in the mans blood, scalp and brains. (head shots are nasty!]

Followed a heartbeat later by another.
[Private to WO1 Gary Irwin Herbert Kett; WO2 Andrew (Andy) Corrigan: Andy runs south from the cover of the smoke cloud in an attempt to reach building K directly south of you. As he crosses the street, a shot hits him square in the side, staggering him, but he retains his feet.]
[Private to WO2 Andrew (Andy) Corrigan: Hit in your abdomen for 5 points of damage after penetrating your flak jacket. It's enough to wind you but not knock you over - just. It's a "scratch wound". (see the rules for the effect).]
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:53, Sat 06 Aug 2005.

OCC: Since nobody is posting
Phase 4
To Hit: 9
To Hit: 1
Critical: 3
To Hit: 6
Location: 9

"Major!  We still going to hold and wait for Dettinger's order to move or what?"

Nodding to the vehical Brown grunted. "We move, pile in." No need to wait around any longer. Brown climbed in after Winters had.

Two more shots ring out.
[Private to Leutenant Camilla Ashton; Staff Sgt Dave Guido: Your first shot hits a prisoner square in the head, killing them instantly, the second shot knocks your intended targets leg out from under him.
Damage: 8
Damage: 12

The one remaining guard that is still able to be hit by (or fire at) you, squeezes of a burst directly at the most visible target - Camilla. Bullets fly from his AKM but fortunately all miss. Dave though, is unfortunate enough to be inside the danger zone of the burst and is showered in fragments of brick and mortar (no damage just covered in brick dust).]
This is followed almost immediately by a short burst of automatic fire, probably from an AK assault rifle.

Will one of the folks just standing about open the Goddamn warehouse door, or are we just to crash through it?

Don opens up the warehousedoors before getting seated in his BRDM.

Okay, Now Michelle can kick into gear, with one more warning to hold on to your butts, and heading towards wherever the dear officer tells her to. probably the last known position being fired upon.

Don hauls the protesting metal door open wide enough for the BTR to exit through before climbing into the BRDM. Sitting there in the drivers seat, he wonders if that was such a great idea since there is nobody else to crew the weapons.....

Another couple of shots ring out from the south.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:55, Sat 06 Aug 2005.

"Punch it!"

To Hit: 8
To Hit: 4
Location: 5
Dam: 13
To Hit: 9

"Now who is shooting from the South?, as if I don't have better thing to do than to kill people all day" surely I have done my quota? nearly time for a brew*.
*rat pack coffee that tastes like ground mud with lots of sugar and milk to hide the taste
This message was last edited by the player at 03:06, Fri 18 Mar 2005.

Michelle, as soon as the folks here are set Move out. Head out cautiously to the last known location of the foot patrol.
When we arive put us between them and the hostiles, we'll provide cover while they manovour.

Tanya, Hold fire until they start on us. We'll put the fear of God into this lot.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:29, Fri 18 Mar 2005.

"Roger that Major.  Fire only when fired upon!"    Tanya gets herself ready to fire and keeps the safety 'on' on the machinegun.

The BTR exits the warehouse in a cloud of diesel fumes and heads south towards the crossroads Andy and Kett had last been reported at less than thirty seconds before.
Up on the roof, Dettinger is having difficulty seeing the end of his rifle barrel let alone anything hapening in the courtyard beyond. Somehow he'd managed to tangle the binocular straps in his webbing and has spent his time attempting to untangle it.
[Private to Leutenant Camilla Ashton; Staff Sgt Dave Guido: Camilla finally starts moving. Dropping to the ground, she brings her rifle up and aims in the direction of the courtyard.
Dave jumps to his feet seconds after Camilla finally starts to react. Charging past her, his bayonet leading, he lets out a brutal, animalistic scream of rage and murder.
He's brought up short before he can even come close to his intended victims by the barbed concertina wire spread between the buildings. (Cat 2 for those who know.)]
[Private to WO1 Gary Irwin Herbert Kett; WO2 Andrew (Andy) Corrigan: Andy makes the cover of the small shop without further incident (building K adjoining D) Any further movement through the buildings will be serverely hampered by walls and rubble.
Kett points his weapon in the general direction the shots have come from but is unable to pinpoint a target - even for the grenade launchers area effect.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:56, Sat 06 Aug 2005.

Don sits all alone in his rugged little car... Engines on, but not knowing what to do. He should be in the frontline speaking to the opponent, but all the other warmongers has once again gotten there before him.

He stops the engine, and jumps out to see if anyone is still around.[Private to GM: IS there anyone around???]

The three remaining guards that can be seen by Dave and Camilla are looking rather worried. Their bluff has been called before they were even able to declare it. Now, backed into a corner and apparently surrounded and outgunned, it's the appearence of the BTR rolling south towards them that breaks the camels back as it were.
They start firing bursts into the crowd of prisoners around them moments before the claymore mines detonate.

Several thousand 1 gram steel ball bearings fly through the air.....

The carnage is immense.....

Blood flows freely....

Bodies fall like wheat before a scythe.

Seemingly out of nowhere Dave is hit. His left leg is smashed out from under him as a bullet impacts just above the knee.
[Private to Staff Sgt Dave Guido: 12 points to left leg. Smile :) Thought you had them didn't you......]
Meanwhile, Andy and Kett are working their way slowly through the rubble and ruins of building K heading for D.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:58, Sat 06 Aug 2005.

Looking through the MG's viewport, Tanya winces and calls out, "Ooof!  Claymore's just went off and it ain't pretty!"

Looking at Brown Aaron smiled and hefted the M79. "Can't wait to put this to use. " Nodding to the M249 which sat at his feet "Feel free to use that if ya want Willie, beats that damn AK of yours."

The BTR is rocked by the multiple explosions - the sound is deafening, loud enough to wake the dead at this close range. Even Don, "safe" in the protection of the BRDM feels the force of the shockwave as the sound reverberates through the steel and concrete building.
Dave is pummeled by the shockwave, his much closer location almost causing his eardrums to burst and Camilla, if she wasn't already laying on the ground in cover, may well have been forced there by the shockwave.

Bluff?? I thought they wanted to die.
Return fire, hitting the ground.
To hit:9
To hit:3
To hit:6

OCC: Am I dead yet or is that next round?
[Private to Staff Sgt Dave Guido: How about just hitting the ground. The damage was greater than your Agility so you get knocked over. Secondly, you have no idea where that shot came from. Could have been from inside the wire, could have been from outside....]
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:50, Fri 25 Mar 2005.

"Too many to kill - not enough fire power."
I would know the general direction, trying to home in on my next victim.
Obs: 3 (9)

Weapons Free

If it's not one of us and it's armed, Kill it!

AS driver of the Masive vehicle, Michelle winces as the vibrations of the explosions rock the BTR. "Sweet Jesus, I knew it would be rough, but not this rough." She fights hard at the controls looking through her tiny window, looking for a target. "Captian, tell me where to aim and I'll run the bastards over.!"

Tanya will try to cal out targets of opportunity to Michelle while she looks for her own targets to shoot at.

OOC: What, if any, targets does Tanya see for her to engage with the MG or call out for Michelle to run over if necessary?

The courtyard is filled with screaming people trying to take cover from the flying bullets behind whatever cover the metre or so of freedom is allowed to them by the chains. The wounded and dead have become nothing more than improvised "sandbags" to those still capable of movement as the few remaining "guard" pour burst after burst of hot steel jacketed lead into the crowd. Blood and gore fills the air, competing with the cries of the wounded and dying.
Through all the chaos it is next to impossible to find any of the the shooters and fire at them without the almost one hundred percent certainty of hitting at least one of the prisoners. Only an expert marksman firing from above would have any chance of sucess.....
Meanwhile, the shooter who wounded Andy and fired the original shot is still somewhere up in the buildings, perhaps in company with others....
[Private to Staff Sgt Dave Guido: As you hit the ground you twist around and spot the shooter who had the gall to fire at you. He's up on the third floor of the building to your left (I. Store building). The pain of the injury to your left leg is begining to be felt as you realise he's "cowering" behind the "safety" of an RPK automatic rifle. You imagine you can hear the "click" of the weapons selector moments before he squeezes the trigger again and the air around you becomes a lethal zone full of lead and bitumen chips flying about.
You are hit again, this time not by a single shot but by two bullets out of a ten round burst.
Location: 8 and 5 (Right leg and Abdomen
Damage: 11 to your leg, 9 to abdomen
Lose one point of initiative until all injuries healed (and your next action :D)]
[Private to Leutenant Camilla Ashton: You can't remember what it was that made you carry the radio but it may have been the action that leads to you being able to save Dave's life.
Twisting about as he falls, the look on his face tells you he has spotted his attacker up in the building to your left (I. Store building). He hits the ground hard, blood already flowing freely from the wound to his left leg when it seems he is chased by yet more of the lethal pellets of hot lead.
Bitumen chips fly all around him as he it hit again - this time in his other leg and abdomen.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:48, Sat 06 Aug 2005.

OCC: What happened to my 3 shots in phase one, I could see him therefore I could shoot him.
while attempting to roll for cover, if not start aiming the gunner.
[Private to Nuked: How far is the gunner away? cany you edit that in, I made up the window as you didn't fill the gap, edit it if you have other ideas.
and can you kill guido already?]

^{Edited actions to what is possible.}[Private to Staff Sgt Dave Guido: They SHOT YOU before you could act! It's all in the rules - lower initiative characters and NPC's get to act first in the lower initiative phases. Balances everything out, otherwise, one single initiative six character could take out an army before they could even blink!.
You can do NOTHING until at least phase 5 of NEXT round - and that's if you don't get hit again. You didn't spot them till after they shot you, in fact, you weren't even aware of them till then. I've been lenient even with letting you spot them while falling (and in a hell of a lot of pain - ever been shot? Must hurt, just ask all those roos from a few years ago....)
Guido's best hope for survival at the moment is if Cam can spot them, he runs out of ammo before hitting you again, or the extremely unlikely event of the building he is in falling down!
;) have a nice day!]
[Private to Nuked: Then kill him already an I can give this slot to another game :P]
This message was last edited by the player at 01:35, Fri 08 Apr 2005.

PM
[Private to Plt Sgt Tanya Redgrave: There is no possible way for you to have that information at the moment - nobody has radioed it to you and there is far, far too much noise to hear anything even inside the BTR without use of the intercom.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:02, Thu 31 Mar 2005.

The radio sparks to life and Camilla's broken english can be just heard over yelling over the gunfire.
Dave down bleeding. Help. Sni...
The transmission is cut abruptly.

"I can't hit those clowns without hitting any innocents there!  I'm a lot of things but, not innicent people like this," Tanya thinks to herself as the mass chaos unfolds in front of her.  She continues desperately to try and locate any other 'clear' target(s) in the area.  "Can anyone see anything?  I see lots of people running around and nothing good to target with this MG," she calls out to the people in her vehicle.

In about thirty seconds, there appears to be no movement by most in the large groups of prone, dying and dead, people all in front and around the APC.  Tanya just shakes her head in disbelief and calls into the vehicle radio, "What do you think Major?  Should we have a look around to see if we can help anyone out?"

Radio: "Don, haul ass and get the scout vehicle down to the southern Patrol. Pull them out if they're in trouble."

Intercomm/voice: "I think this calls for Infantry Action lads, same ROE. The wounded here will have to wait until we secure the area." To Michelle: "Driver, Stop. Deploying Infantry"
This message was last updated by the player at 04:52, Thu 07 Apr 2005.

Michelle brings the vehicle to a stop and grabs her med gear on the way out the back door.

"Do you want me to stay on station with the MG Major or you need me out there with you?"

Michelle brings the heavy armoured vehicle to a screeching halt between buildings J and K at the northwestern end of the courtyard where Winters, Smythe and Brown, quickly debuss from the side doors of the BTR. They immediately run into trouble in the form of the barbed wire blocking the openings between buildings.
As soon as they hit the ground, another problem presents itself - sniper!
Winters goes down like a sack of potatoes as a bullet hits him in the left leg. [Private to Aaron Winters: 9 points damage. You hit the ground hard and can't act until next round - approximately 20 seconds when phase six comes around again - smile! you're a target!]
Meanwhile, Andy and Kett are making slow but steady progress through the buildings (K and then D) towards the town square.
[Private to Leutenant Camilla Ashton; Staff Sgt Dave Guido: Dave is the recipient of yet another burst of fire and is hit in his chest and right leg.]
[Private to Staff Sgt Dave Guido: Chest takes 7, right leg a further 9. Character sheet has been updated.]

The radio again comes to life with desperation in Camilla's voice, "HELP!"

Dropping next to Aaron William turns and fires off a 5 round burst from the M249 toward the direction Aaron was shot from.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:57, Sun 10 Apr 2005.

Tanya will survery the area looking for targets that still might be hostile or, anything else out of the ordinary above and beyond what is going on in front of them.

11:20, Today: Plt Sgt Tanya Redgrave rolled 8 using 1d10. Observation Roll.

OOC: Oops, my bad. Forgot to announce the next phase....
_{was wondering why nobody was posting :/}

IC: Bullets continue to fly. It seems strange that the "guards" are still concentrating on murdering their prisoners when there is a much more deadly threat just outside the barbed wire perimeter fence.
As Winters hits the ground, Brown fires off a short burst in the general direction he thinks the shot came from hitting nothing but brick and concrete.
Tanya strains to see anything informative through the small "peephole" at her position in the BTR but is unsucessful.
And Camilla sends another, more desperate radio message....
Phase four, have fun ;)

Another shot hits, this time near to Brown's left hand. Peering upwards, he spots the shooter!
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:16, Mon 11 Apr 2005.

Scanning the best she can from behind the machine-gun, Tanya yells out to those near and around her, "I GOT NOTHING!  CALL OUT IF YOU SEE SOMETHING!"

When William saw the shooter some deep, dar sadistic part of himself awoke as he raised the AK-74 and fired off a slow aimed 3 shot burst at the shooter "Found him."[Private to WO1 William Brown: Brown is armed with an AK-74 - Arron has the M249. Also, are you aware that the three round burst requires a full phase (5 seconds) of aiming first?]
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:57, Tue 12 Apr 2005.

[Private to GM: 20:59, Today: Secret Roll: Donnachaidh rolled 4 using 1d10. ouch, again.
20:59, Today: Secret Roll: Donnachaidh rolled 10 using 1d10. BRDM driving.]


"Sweet Mary. What is going on here? Few people kan have survived that explosion."

Hearing Smythe's orders over the radio, Don makes his best trying to start the huge vehicle. After taking a short glimpse of the controls he decides to trust his luck of getting the right gear in. Crash... Backwards...

He decides to take a closer look on where the 'Drive Forward'-button is...

Michelle climbs from the drivers seat and heads out her drivers door, medical bag snagged on the way.
Aaron writhes about in pain and shock.
Brown spots the shooter, calls a warning and aims with Aaron's M249.
Tanya strains to make out where Brown is aiming at while Smythe is still heading for cover.
[Private to Staff Sgt Dave Guido: Another burst of hot lead hits you and the ground around you.
3 hits
head (hits helmet): 8
right arm: 7
left arm: 9
Roll 1D6 + 8. The number in excess of your Con, is the number of combat turns (30 seconds) that you are unconscious.]
[Private to Leutenant Camilla Ashton: Another burst spatters around Dave but several of the bullets hit him yet again. His body jerks, spasms and then lays still, blood now oozeing from every part of his body, including from under his helmet.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:51, Sat 06 Aug 2005.

The "guards" seem to have finished with the prisoners for now and duck down behind the many piles of bodies using them for cover as they search out new, deadlier targets......

PM[Private to Staff Sgt Dave Guido:

Nuked:

Roll 1D6 + 8. The number in excess of your Con, is the number of combat turns (30 seconds) that you are unconscious.

I fail, email me when I am dead.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:52, Fri 15 Apr 2005.

Realizing that it would be certain suicide to leave the safety of the vehicle, Michelle gets very aggrivated at the situation,. She throws the medic bag back down on the floor and jumps into the drivers seat. Hold on to your potatoes, we're going for a little trip over some wire!" SHe then slams the BTR into gear immediately and charges the barbwire and heads for the first poor jerk who is using a dead body for cover.
This message was last updated by the GM at 17:53, Fri 15 Apr 2005.

As Michelle drives the heavy vehicle over the wire, she begins to notice a lot of the "dead" are still twitching, rolling about and screaming in agony........

Seeing them move, Michelle will try to go around them and hopes someone will man the guns to take the idiots out who dare use human shields. Or at least hope the prisoners have enough sense to get out of the way and exopose the bad guys...

"Damn people are too close together!  I'll do more harm than good to those prisoners if I fire," Tanya thinks to herself.  A brief moment later, she catches where Brown is aiming at and opens up on that position with the KPV.
"I'M GOIN' HOT!"

OOC: I don't have access to my books at this time.  Need to know the fire rate of the KPV, mounted so I can roll to hit please.

As things seemed to settle in, Cam cut a glance toward her fallen compatriot with a sharp exhale. They’d been raining down punishment on him and all she could do at the time was clutch at the radio. Shame crept in churning up a sickening sensation that played companion to the icy feeling that held sway over the pit of her stomach. The temporary reprieve provided a window, but for what?.

The position she was in left much to be desired, and Ashton doubted she’d get far trying to drag Dave any distance. Options-options. Her lips drew into a thin line, considering the building that held the sniper carefully,  as well as giving thought toward scurrying to the school house behind her.

Either choice required movement, crawl.. Run.. Crawl..  Grrrrr..  She ground her teeth in frustration. After what seemed an eternity, the choice was made, Camilla gathered herself, coiling up to spring into motion, which would likely be a suicidal head-long dash for the Store building that’s he had seen fire coming from.. Scooping a hand full of stones she’d  (if at all possible) toss them out in the direction of the court yard entrance, before kicking off her little charge. (If not possible, she’ll just run for it.)

(Or that's what she'll be trying to do when it comes time for her to be doing anything  O.o )

You rolled 109 using 25d6 [1,6,5,4,1,3,5,4,3,6,6,3,6,3,6,5,3,4,6,4,6,6,6,4,3]

Frustrated from what was going on and all of the presumed innocents being killed, Tanya fires a full burst from the KPV at where Brown was aiming.

OOC: Let me know If that's how you wanted the rolls.  If memory serves, you can fire a MAX of Five[5] bursts per round for any weapons times the weapons ROF?

The "guards" duck down behind the many piles of bodies using them for cover.
The BTR-80 drives over the wire knocking a section of it down and creating access for those on foot.
Not having a lot of options as to where to go, Michelle brings the machine to a halt a dozen yards or so inside.
Camilla dashes for the large store building after tossing a few stones as a diversion.
The KPV ROARS as Tanya fires 20% of the BTR-80's heavy ammunition. Masonry chunks fall to the ground from the roof of the apartment building to the east (G) (not even going to bother rolling location or damage - he's toast after a potential 108d6 damage!)
[Private to Plt Sgt Tanya Redgrave: That's perfect! and yes, a maximum of 5 single shots or bursts per phase.]

NPC'd
PM[Private to WO1 Gary Irwin Herbert Kett; WO2 Andrew (Andy) Corrigan: Kett races after Andy, his C7/M203 combination held ready to fire at whatever threat pokes it's head up.]

"If there was something there Major, I doubt it's there anymore," Tanya says as she watches the building partially disintegrate from the massive rounds of the heavy machinegun.  She now swings the turret around to look for more targets that might still be combat effective.

"Shit, I'll bet everyone in town heard that. They'll think twice before sticking their necks out now."
"Lets try shorter bursts from here to save ammo..."

...now, is there a PA switch anywhere here?
This message was last edited by the player at 05:44, Fri 22 Apr 2005.

Tanya just smiles to herself after getting some payback, "Roger that Major.  Short bursts from here on out."

All shooting seems to have ceased at least for now when a single shot cracks over the heads of those gathered near the BTR. One of the shooters taking cover behind the wounded and dying, jerks and then lays still......

Winters continues to lay stunned on the ground.
Don barely misses driving the BRDM into the side of the open door of the warehouse.
Camilla makes the relative safety of the lower floor of the store building. She is surrounded by the broken glass of the windows and display cases. A flight of stairs leading upwards is about 20 metres away from her present position.
Smythe fumbles about in vain for the non-existant PA switch as he requests tanya to conserve ammo.
Dettinger is still struggling with the binocular strap.....
Tanya sucessfully creats a red mist at the top of the building she has partially demolished.
Gallin drives over the wire and creates a gap for infantry to follow on foot.
Dave lies bleeding......
Kett races to keep up.
Brown has his target disappear....
and Andy reaches his objective (details in PM).

That's the PC's out of the way, now on to NPC's
The majority of the prisoners lay on the ground, some very very still, others not so much...
There is a confirmed enemy in the building Camilla just entered who is not heard from this phase.
There are two more using the bodies for cover in the middle of the courtyard. One is hit by a bullet that cracks over the heads of those near the BTR-80. He stops moving.....

And now it's phase one.

NPC'd
Seeing Camilla in the adjacent building, Kett continues his sprint and dives through the broken glass of the window to join up with her. Neither he nor Andy had heard any news from them since leaving the warehouse so he had no idea of the present precarious position Dave was in.

Andy fires a burst over the head of the guy in the field o' bodies, then follows Kett to link up with Cam.

"What th' 'ell 'appened, lassie?"

Camilla managed to keep from jumping out of her skin at the sudden arrival of Gary and Andy. Turning the weapon away from them and lowering it slightly, Cam motioned toward Dave’s prone position beyond the store-front from the direction she had come. “Dave… down..” , She reported and swept her indicating hand toward the stairs, “Sniper.. Maybe more.. Up. More crawl.”

Camilla made a gesture toward the pile of bodies.

She frowned, probably in frustration about the language barrier, “Need Dave here.. Need get sniper too..” Their arrival had changed the balance of her thoughts on the equation. “We clear top then get Dave?, Or get Dave and Get sniper same time? -You choose?” Still somewhat shaken by events, but in a better position, she was determined to make up for the earlier trouble.


A smudged streak of dirt was drawn through the sweat of her brow by a the back of her hand as she glanced to both for their choice, though her attention was mostly on the stairs. Just in case.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:49, Fri 29 Apr 2005.

Tanya will continue to scan around the field around the lone person left with a weapon to see if there is anyone else that might be hostile towards them.
"Can you get us a little closer Major?  We got to snuff out this asshole and tend to some of these people who aren't to bad off."

10:10, Today: Plt Sgt Tanya Redgrave rolled 8 using 1d10. Obervation Roll.

Andy makes a quick decsion.  "Clear top first.  Can't help Dave if sniper shoots us."  He scans the room, seeing only one set of stairs.  "Doubt poles would have have fire escapes.  Only one way up.  Might be able to get him to give it up, he's dead otherwise."  He moves towards the stairs, moving as quietly as possible and keeping an eye out for booby traps.

A slow nod followed Andrew’s words, gaze flickering between the two soldiers momentarily. Ashton took another moment to consider the lonely looking doorway beyond the shattered remains of display cases and shelves. She hadn't understood all of the man’s words, but the important part seemed clear enough. Being not too terribly stealthy, Camilla hung back as Andy moved forward. Her attention swept between the stairs,  the exposed side of the building (the window-sections in the direction of courtyard) and the doorway.  If Gary followed strait away,  Camilla would tuck in behind him, about four to five paces back on his left, (if not, then she would trail in behind Andrew about six paces back on the right.)

[Private to Nuked:   If out of turn I apologise.  Wasn't sure if I could do anything. but wanted to post intent. ~.< ]

Two more bullets crack overhead before impacting amongst the piles of bodies in the courtyard. [Private to WO1 William Brown; WO2 Andrew (Andy) Corrigan: Sounds like a 7.62N weapon - NATO not Warsaw Pact!]
Andy led the way to the stairs with Kett and then Cam following behind. The stairs had a fair amount of dust and debris covering them and showed recent scuff marks from a pair of Polish para boots heading upwards.

In the courtyard, all resistance seems to have ceased and only moans and screams for help can be heard. The carnage is mind-boggling.

Andy whispers, "Kett, you are a right sneaky bastard.  You want point?"

"Nah, you can do it," he whispers back. "I'm more likely to trip over my boot laces."

OOC: oh, I thought you had more than 1 point in stealth

Andy sneaks up the stairs

"Does anyone know if that sniper is one of ours or theirs?"

Cam followed after Kett, four paces behind one pace to the left.  Just in case the Radio was still buzzing and crackling, she’d turn it off, so as not to have any inopportune chatter popping up. Then, weapon tucked in at the ready, she continued with the pair, keeping an eye out for trouble as best she could.

Andy sneaks up the stairs taking care to avoid any broken glass and other rubble that may crunch underfoot.
The floor above appears to have once been mainly office space. Desks, office chairs, file cabinets, photocopiers, computers and other general junk has been pushed aside and piled to create an open space that covers most of the floor. Another flight of stairs continues upwards to the top floor of the building. The footprints continue up.
Outside the sounds of combat fade and are replaced by the screams and cries of the wounded. In the distance the panicked sound of horses is heard. Dust and smoke fill the air.

OOC: The sniper was up on the roof?

Andy continues up, as quietly as possible

WHen the other two are up, he points back at them, raises a single finger, points two fingers at his eyes, and makes a circular motion around the floor with that hand.

With a tilt of her head, Cam made an uncertain half-nod to Andy before begining a slow clockwise walk from the stair. Her intention was to make a sweep of the floor,  Junk-pile by junk-pile, (if it should come to that) walking  as quietly as she could for being so unskilled. If she should prove too noisy perhaps the tension might flush her quarry out into the open.  Providing there was a target to be had on this floor. (unless of course she's stopped. ^.^)

[Private to Nuked: (Brain was barely working, so went back re-read and re-thought. she'll just do a clock-wise sweep. I take it the office equipment is all flush with the walls, so not much looking I guess, Hopefully the other two will move forward while Cam's doing this. O.o]
This message was last edited by the player at 09:23, Mon 16 May 2005.

"What the hell's going on Major?  Are we still under fire?" Tanya asks ass she begins to spin the turret looking for more targets.

Hold steady, Tanya. We're fire support for the infantry folks if they call for us. Keep eyeballing the windows and rooftops, I'm not convinced we're finished yet.

Michelle, once the Infantry have finished their sweep I'll turn you loose on the wounded, do you have everything you need?
I don't want to put either of you at risk unnessesarily.

I'll ask everyone to report in shortly.

Michelle already is feeling ancy at just leaving the wounded there so long, but she totally understands her superiors point of view, and does not exactly relish the thought of being shot. She grips the Medic kit at her side and loks out the drivers view windiw and mentally just tells the gods that are above to let the live ones hang on just a bit longer.

When the first body had hit him, he was happy that it was him being hit by a body, not a claymore. And when the second one fell on top of that one, taken down by gunfire, he was happy to be alive, and that now he had some cover. But after several seconds of laying under the malnourished bodies, he began to get angry. He wanted to get out, he wanted to kill the men who'd killed these people, he didn't even care that they'd misfed and mistreated him.

In his blindness, he doesn't care if a sniper saw him, he just struggled to get out, he wanted his revenge. Grabbing at the mud, he digs his fingers in as best as they can, but they shake as they move. His adrenaline has kept him going against days of eatting little to nothing, bugs off the ground and whatever else he could muster.

"Let me out!" he screams, but the scream is horse and raw and desperately crying to be watered. He rolls and struggles, and claws, his hands trying to push away his meat shields and get him out. If he can just get to the woods, he'll be OK.

If he can just make it that far.

"You're the boss Major!  Call 'em if you see 'em sir," she replies as she begins to swing the turret around the area checking out any buildings, rooftops, doorways, etc. which might hold another sniper.

23:22, Today: Plt Sgt Tanya Redgrave rolled 3 using 1d10. Tanya's Observation roll/check. <Finally an OBS roll that wasn't an 8!>

Finally unable to stand it any longer, Michelle stands up and grabs the medkits. She turns to the Major on her way out.
  "I'm going out there. I will stay close to the vehicle, work my way out. If there is a sniper out there, I will be too hard to resist. take him out when he fires, If I get wounded I'll crawl back toards here. take cover under the vehicle.
 I can't in good conscience just sit here any longer." With that she steps out and as wuick as she can takes cover along the opposite side of the vehicle from where the sniper was. And begins to look for signs of life.

"Goddamnit Michelle!  Wait until I can...," is all Tanya can get out before Gallin makes it out of their vehicle to the outside.  Tanya now knows that if there is a sniper or shooter(s) out there, she's got to find them fast or Michelle is going to be a casualty herself.

Tanya has difficulty seeing much with the restricted field of view afforded her from the gunners position.
The piles of bodies heavy and twitch in the courtyard - the must be scores of them! The sound of their cries and moans drown out most other sounds in the area and it is readily apparent that your limited medical stores will be nowhere near enough to cope.

In the building, Kett keeps watch from the cover of the stairwell as Cam creeps around the floor searching for the sniper. There are many places they could be - the piles of furniture have created a great many perfect places for concealment.

Andy proceeds up to the top floor. It was once the stockroom for the store on the ground floor. Evidence of packaging and broken goods lay about. Obviously the area has been picked over many times before - nothing of use or trade value is still there. Over by a broken window in the eastern wall is scattered a few dozen empty brass casings.[Private to WO2 Andrew (Andy) Corrigan: 5.45mm - warsaw pact round, same as your RPK-74] The smell of cordite still hangs heavily in the air and a pack of soviet manufacture lays against the wall to the side of the window. There is no sign of it's owner.
The stairs continue up to a door that probably leads to the machinery for the lift and the building air conditioning.

Can Andy (try to) track, is there enough dust?

There are tracks all over the area, mostly from what appears to be military boots. They lead maily from (and to) the stairs and window although a few sets continue up the stairs.

Andy moves to where the pack is, swiftly checking it for a name.

Michelle looks helplessly around at the bodoes around her, and combat training tries to kick in. using cloth off the bodies themselves, she will tie tourniquets, slow bleeding and generally try to assess the situation other than absolute Carnage and despair. There has to be someone somewhere she can save. But the more she looks around, the more she loses hope. That combined with the former horror she witnessed not far from here, threatens to break her spirit yet again.

OOC you need me to roll anything?

There is a name on the pack but Andy cannot read it - probably Russian though.
Something causes Andy to spin around, his weapon held ready. The door at the top of the stairs is slightly open - he could have sworn that moments before it was closed.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:35, Fri 20 May 2005.

OK, OK.

Tanya, for the sniper to have fired into the bodies he's above us somewhere, probably not the rooftop, wouldn't want to be skylined, especially now he's seen what you can do.
I'm going to see what help I can give Michelle.

If the situation changes or I'm needed on Comms give me a yell.

(OOC: Medic 3)

Plt Sgt Tanya Redgrave rolled 8 using 1d10. Observation roll for Sniper.

OOC: Back to the same old thing again!

BIC: Tanya nods and returns with, "Roger that Major.  I'm on it!"  She begins to scan the windows of the building look for any kind of activity in a 360^ pattern.

Andy moves slowly toward it, ready to lay some some suppressive fire.

The end of a barrel that looks exactly like Andy's own weapon pokes through the gap.

OOC: I assume that andy will fire.....?