Bernhard walks purposefully to where Sergio has been left standing by Michelle's tantrum. He watches her walk away and waits only a moment before interupting Sergio's reverie,"They tell me you are a mechanic? Let me show you what we found out about at the ambush site. See if you can make any sense of it." Bernhard leads the other officer to where the footlocker of technical papers are in the back of the BTR-80. Upon opening it, and showing Sergio some of the pages Bernhard lets the story sink in as Sergio attempts to decode the writings.

[Private to Major Sergio D'ammond: This is the story we were told by the lone survivor of the ambush. Bernhard will fill you in on it.     “Schaeffer, Frederick L... Lieutenant,” the man manages to say. “Mission ... mission accomplished... almost. Operation ... R-Reset. Got that? Reset. Got to get them through...”

The Lieutenant's story comes out in bits and pieces. His unit is, or rather was, a B team of the US 20th Special Forces Group. At first, all that the characters are able to understand is that Schaeffer's unit was carrying something of vital importance, that their unit immediate destination was Krakow, and that they were ambushed by marauders with the aid of a traitor.

“It was that damned Cutler,” Schaeffer says. “Sergeant Cutler. He ... he led us ... right into a trap. He was with the Captain in the lead Hum-Vee, and they didn't fire on him. He was with them when they rounded up the prisoners. Like he was in charge. He was with them when they marched us over to the woods...”

Schaeffer had been among those captured by the marauders, who he says numbered between 50 and 100. The prisoners had been led to the edge of the woods, herded together, then machinegunned. Schaeffer had been hit, but managed to crawl into the underbrush, his escape concealed by the fall of his comrades. He'd lain hidden in the underbrush while his friends were massacred, stayed hidden while the vehicles were stripped and the bodies looted. He'd lain there, his wounds draining him, until he'd seen the characters' arrival and managed to get their attention.

“Listen to me," he says with a desperate, burning intensity. “This is Operation Reset. Got it? Reset. We were carrying vital plans. Blueprints. Films. All the way from Lodz. They're all there ... I don't think they got them. Can't let them get lost. DIA needs that stuff ... bad ... real bad...”   “Listen, you've got to get the papers. They got the ... the things ... the prototypes ... but I don't think they got the papers. That's what's important ... the papers! Raiders didn't know ... about the papers. Everybody'll want ‘em... DIA ... CIA ... KGB even. Got to get them ... get them to ... they'll pay...”

Searching about reveals one footlocker which is different. It is still aboard one of the trucks, opened and rummaged through, but the contents have not (yet) blown all over the field. These papers include what are obviously electrical wiring diragrams, hundreds of them, in sheaf upon sheaf, all carefully labelled and annotated (in Polish), together with several loose leaf folders crammed with hand written notes. The notes are highly technical, describing modular components for an extremely complex peice of electrical equipment. The papers include a bound volume of blueprints, again of electrical wiring diagrams and curcuitry, and several exposed rolls of 35mm film. A leather Nikon camera case remains in the truck, but the camera has been taken.]
This message was last edited by the player at 05:52, Wed 28 Sept 2005.

Sergio follows to see the papers, wondering about the Polish.

Sergio looks over the papers and uses his brief skills in electronics to see if he can decipher or recognise what this might all be going on about. His total lack of Polish had been a problem in the village and was once more here. He'd have to start learning a bit, but at the moment he was just going to get it confused with his other languages...

He tries to get the gist of the drawings, what they might be pertaining to. His mind wanders a little but he has to concentrate for a while to see what comes of this.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:36, Wed 28 Sept 2005.

Camilla straitened slightly, watching the approach,.. and nodded to the pair that had joined her. “We good..  Back normal..” What was Normal anyway? Ashton saw the majors, caught bits of this and that, odds and ends really.  She wasn’t sure what-was-what at the time, but could feel the tension slip slightly back to a less urgent level.  Brushing the dust from her uniform, Cam rose and crossed into the street.

She searched the faces of the people she could spy from there, just silent in her pondering. -The recon team’s absence was disturbing, the chain of command was busy at the moment, so that left her few options.. As far as she knew they were working on it already. A honey coloured lock was tucked behind her ear as she moved toward the church.  “I go to pray…”  Slinging her rifle, she did just that, walking the rest of the way to the religious structure, placing a pale hand to the aged surface of the door frame.  Her words were meant for the team, but could have easily been picked up otherwise.  As long as someone knew where to look if they needed to give orders.

Michelle hears the approach from behind Sergio before she turns and sees Finnegan approaching. Wiping any sign of emotion from her face, she clears her throat a bit, and since she is the one who speaks Polish the best, will help Fill Sergio in on the parts he gets confused or lost on. Her ability in mechanics may help, and between the two of them, maybe they can come up with some Idea what they are looking at.

Tanya begins to collect her gear up from the ground where her, Winters, and Cam had set up whaen the news of a patrol was in bound to their location.  After all is well and good she turns to Winters & Cam, I guess we can secure this shit then right?  All is clear.

NPC'd
Dave already had his feet up and his webbing as a pillow even before sergio had entered their temporary home. Loud snoring reverberated around the metal walls...

Dave is presently in the process of moving house several hundred miles. Should hopefully be back with us once he's settled into his new home - a semi tropical paradise about 4km from the beach in far north coast New South Wales (That's Australia, not the British isles).

With Michelle translating Sergio attempts to decipher the highly technical documents and diagrams but with little success. From time to time a few other people with some skills in mechanics, electronics, computers, engineering, etc come to peer over the mass of papers.

Even Michelles native Polish skill is barely sufficient to decipher most of the documents - the hand written notes are next to impossible with it's small spidery writing crammed onto each page.

What is discovered is that it's extremely complex. Something like this must be more than the plans for a new type of transistor radio or toaster - some of the notations that are understood describe power relays, modular design, transfer speeds, and the like.

When complete, whatever it is would be about the size of a briefcase with various ports and leads coming from it. All the connectors are common types found on many audio/visual devices, computers, and other electronic units. It must be intended to be part of something larger...

"Iz a port-able device, an a thinking back to ze times I watched ze James Bond, I am thinking it might be a weaponz control, iz the only thing I can think of to be worh ze troublz of the last mans breat!" Sergio says, wondering the size of toast it would require if he was wrong.

"So wat are da plans? To be going where from her?" he asks the group. He has many things on his mind and would have to deal with them as they came. He wondered if the group would want some luck?

Out of curiosity, Tanya will walk over to where Sergio and Michell are gathered looking over the papers they found on the ground.  Able to make heads or tails outta any of that stuff Michelle?

First planning to join Cam in the church for some, praying... Instead he decides to go over to the other girls instead. He comes from behind and grabs them over the shoulders, one arm each.

" 'ey, what are you looking at?"

After understanding that they don't really know, he instead grips the chance for a Sean Connery impersonation. A task not very hard for a Scotsman.

"My name is Bond, James Bond. Hehe"

He looks at the girls to see if they appreciate his effort. He takes for granted that they do, so he continues:

"Yeah, but it could be that thing the other guy found. The ATAC. Beautiful scenes from Greece in that one. Beautiful scenes with Carole Bouquet as well. Grrr. Hehehe."

Michelle looks back at Tanya, slightly smiling, slightly distracted. "The language I understand perfectly. It application on the other hand, is of a more scientific bend than I am used to. But I think the Key is just perserverance, and finding an engineeer somewhere who can actually read the technical stuff."

Sergio sighs, shaking his head with a smile.

Turning to Don he straightens up, "Well Misser Bond, now you are eere you can andle the situashion." He gives a salute after a rather bad english accent impression.

Michelle shakes her head at DOns impression. She harrumphs slightly under her breath. Here was a fine situation indeed. One man who would do anything to woo any of the ladies present, and then, right next to him, the one she truly had feelings for, who obviously didn't have feelings for her. Maybe then it was time to move on from her schoolgirl crush.....

Seeing they've done all they can, his eyes meeting Michelles more than once whilst trying to work out what the words were (to translate, hard enough when you can read them!) He put a hand on Michelles other should and says, "I think we av done all we can, no? It seems we're not much of the use to know this stuff. Wanna eat a grab a bite?" he looks slightly confused at that last part, obviously knowing he's got the saying wrong, but not sure how.

Michelle looks up at Sergio and smiles slightly, and gives the paperwork a last glance. "That sounds wonderful. You are right. Staring at all this tech stuff gives me a headache. Lets go get a bite to eat, and I will catch you up on all the details surrounding the finding of that mess. Maybe that will shed some light somewhere." In truth there were plenty of other things to talk about as well, but somehow she felt a little confused inside about where that discussion would go. After all, her conversation before came rushing out in the heat of the moment of getting the chance to even glance at him again. She hadn't thought if he had had a wife or girlfriend awaiting at home. Like a fool, she had just laid it out, on the line. There was still so much to know, but so much  she couldn't deny. But she decided she wasn't going to bring it up again unless he did.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:50, Fri 30 Sept 2005.

"Well thanks all, I guess Missa Bond is here to look after youl all!" he laughs and follows Michelle. It seemed she was talking about something important before, and private by her eyes, but as it had been interrupted he wasn't sure what. He tries to work out what it might be about, it sounded like a man, and that he was involved. But who was he close to?

Unless it was him? But surely she was just getting him confused with another? He was very confused and hadn't seen this coming, but knew the best thing to do was to talk it out... wasn't it?

Marcus finds himself standing in front of the old wooden doors of the church. He was never particularly religious, but has certainly not found God anywhere out here. He turns with his back to the church to just look around, apparently internally debating something.

Winters glances over his shoulder as SFC Redgrave and LT Ashton part from their position. Always vigilant he continues to cover their six. Hefting his paraSAW easily he moves to head back to their little encampment. At Lt Ashton's statement of going to pray Winters nods. After a moment he seems to decide something himself and moves after the Lt towards the Church.

As he approaches he sees SFC Smith come up to the same doors of the Church. Smiling to himself he approaches his friend. Nodding in greeting he addresses Smith, "Hey bud, what's up? Feeling God today?"

Pacing through the strewn isle amidst the pews and the dust, Ashton approached the altar, only to cross herself and take a knee in the patchy gloom. Clasping her hands, fingers entwined, she bowed her head in silent prayer.  The uniform was coarse to her then, sure its rough material was always that texture, but the misplaced woman was more aware of it.  The lids of her eyes fluttered as she sought guidance, and whispered for the safety of the advance group..   Mingled hopes and despairs were met there in whatever was left of the chapel.  There was much to be thankful for too she decided.  So much fortune had come to them of late..  All of it despite the precarious place they were teetering on the brink within.

The next two days passes without incident. The radio remains silent as far as Kett and his small group are concerned. There isn't even a small clue as to their fate. To begin with it was assumed that they were either out of range or the battery was dead and they we just delayed but as time drags on without word or sign of them, concern grows.
Various theories are floated, the most logical based on information from the radio - a unit of troops was identified as moving between the main camp and Ketts presumed location. Although there were no reports of any prisoners captured, it had been agreed before the party left, that in case it was too dangerous to return, they would proceed in a westerly direction in an attempt to link up with friendly forces last reported to be several hundred kilometres away.
With luck, they might just make it.

Meanwhile, the tasks continue. Vegetation is gathered for the still, food harvested and hunted from the surrounding area and a constant watch mantained from the high points in the village. The wounded continue to mend and should be ready for travel within the next few days at most, right about the time enough methanol has been produced to fill the BRDM's tank (if it didn't have a reduced capacity due to 20mm autocannon holes drilled through it).

A few spare parts are found at the abandoned repair yard discovered by Lt Ashtons scouts on the first day - not a lot but enough to keep the vehicles running without resorting to yet more fencing wire and chewing gum.

Next morning, the foraging team returns with bad news. The food they have loaded on the horses is the last to be found. Somebody has taken the rest within a hours walk of the village, almost as if a plague of locusts had desended during the night. There are a few footprints in the dirt but no vehicle tracks to be found. Also, the footprints were not heavy - the makers were not burdened and probably civilian refugees foraging. Regardless, they could become a problem.

Time to move on it seems but in which direction and to what destination? Your present fuel supply (methanol supply) will get you approximately 200km on road or 60km off road. You also have a number of horses and around a score of civilians wishing to return to their village of Zyrardow about 30km to the southeast as the crow flies. (At least one of these people have expressed a desire to travel all the way to Romania to gain employment in the Soviet controled oil fields there.)

A complicating factor if you choose to escort the civilian ex-slaves to their home is that military forces of any nationality are not welcome there. The towns ORMO (militia) has been known to attack any armed parties approaching within a dozen miles...

Cam walked to the warehouse,  she’d been able to hunt some, probably cooked a few meals now and again.. Each day was an ashen silhouette of the next, tasteful as chalk to the pallet and probably just as murky when mixed with emotion.  Blue eyes cut across the gloom as they adjusted from the light of the day, course bringing Ashton to where-ever she might find the Major. At least that was her destination. Thoughts didn’t quite make it to her tired gaze, a dim reflection of the world before her barely registering.

“Orders sir?..” Camilla had gotten into the habit of checking in with the major recently, -sort of a routine to an extent..  When not occupied with a duty, she’d tend her gear, check on the few she’d been traveling with and practicing her English with Tanya when the woman was available. Naturally she’d pray.. There wasn’t much time for formality, so..  Just a little bit of personal religion for the moment.

Tanya was more than happy to help the Lieutenant out with practicing her English.  Too make it easier on her, Tanya asked if she would just teach her basic/simple one and two word commands like, 'Stop', 'Shoot', 'Cease Fire, along those grounds so there was a common understanding.

While during one of their tutoring sessions, Tanya asks a simple question of Cam,  Why do you still pray mam'am?  Do you still have hope in something?

“Hope?.. Yes much hope..”  She answered quite glibly despite her previous expression.  It was a break in the storm-front that was her features recently, though brief..  “No hope is no life..  No god?.. No point to live or die.. Matters not yes?..”

“So I choose yes God, even if god is no there.. I could always choose die..” The colour almost left Camilla’s gaze grey and dim at the end, but she was weary.. Not broken. They used to say if you wanted to be found, stay where you were… It probably depended upon the circumstances… “Believe in something... Maybe pray to say thing you can not say mmm?” A quiet shrug was offered and a blink..

“You have hope Tanya?..”

Tanya sighs, Yes ma'am I do.  Just not sure who to ask for it anymore!  I've been around a long time Lootenant, over 22 years of service I've given to the United States military, 22 years.  Do I want to live?  You bet!  Do I beleive there is a God?  I beleive that there's someone or something that watches over us whether it's Jesus, Muhammed, Buddah, Yahweh, I don't think any of us will know for sure.

Tanya pauses and takes a swig from her canteen and continues, I've had to do things in my life that I regret to this day but, a good soldier follows orders to the letter, do they not ma'am?  Maybe I'm still alive during all of this because of some of those things I had to do is now a punishment for me.  Or, maybe I'm just to stubborn to die yet ma'am.  I beleive in what we're doing right now, it's the right thing to do when everything has gone so wrong in this world.  As far as hope Lootenant, I just hope when it's my time, it's quick and painless!

“Mmm.” She nodded in response with one of those half smiles..“Hope lives..” Of course it had to be humour, Ashton’s gaze turned inward for another moment of reflection before she continued..  “Find what we do next hmm?..”