Tanya returned the half smile and a nod.  Roger that Ma'am.  Take a few minutes for yourself to finish up.  Who do you want me to check in with, Major Finnegan?

Sergio returns from his morning walk. Foraging a few of the rarer forest goods, will help feed a few people. After his late night guard postings, he always went to enjoy the dew soaked forest, the air being a great electrical buzz and refreshing to wake to. Shaking his hair free of his face he walks back, his mind reeling over the various news Michelle had passed on through the past days since his return.

It seemed life wasn't going to be boring, he just wondered who to talk to about it, if anyone? He used to be religious but, that seemed so long ago in a safer and more solid past. Now he felt on his own, unless he found he could share...

Brown shifts the strap on his AK and pulls up the collar of his battle jacket, trying to stay warm in the morning chill.  He had been on watch since before dawn, watching the edge of town from two corner windows high in the warehouse, and the report from the ambush site had set him on edge, more and more as Kett and company failed to return.  He had been thinking, and his mates back home always told him that was a mistake.

He unslung the russian weapon, and looked it over.  The previous owner hadn't been the most professional in its care- altho' he had cleaned it thoroughly, rust had pocked the barrel and lock here and there, and he scraped experimentally at one spot with a thumbnail.  He thought of his L85, and wondered what Rusky was bragging about it, and if they were cleaning it regularly.

Bloody hell, get a grip!  Gettin' nostalgic over a weapon.  Y'll be havin' wet dreams over M-16's next, lad...

He sighed, and reshouldered the weapon as his replacement came up.

"Quiet enough?", they asked mechanically.

"As a tomb, lad; jus' like a bleedin' royal park on Saturday mornin'."

He went to find Finnegan, and have a word or two.

Bernhard seems distracted the last two days or so. He seems pissed by more than just Kett's team not returning.







After a few moments to collect his thoughts, Bernhard gathers a few people around him and has a quick pow-wow.

Camillia melted into the conversation.. Blending quietly into the meeting with one of those thoughtful expressions.  Distant..  Untouched. Her gaze drifted amongst those that conversed as they spoke, stance stiff as the poorly spoken officer found a nook to browse from.

Michelle seems frustrated and distant over the last few days, hiding beneath her duties of caring for the wounds the best she can. Her conversation with anyone has dropped, and she spends time with the horses when not tending the wounded. Even after looking at the plans and having a bit to eat with Sergio didn't improve too much, at least for a few hours she was content.
  It seems every moment she gets spare is in the company of horses.

Bernhard turns from the small group he has gathered,"All right, everyone listen up! We leave this place at first light. First stop is Zyrardow, We will get these Poles as close to their home as we can. If we can't go all the way to the town itself we will drop them off with the first militia unit we meet. I'd like to show them we are friendly by clearing out any marauders that they know are in the area. Now that doesn't mean we are going on some big offensive, it just means we will make it seem like a well trained military force has moved in to Zyrardow." He pauses to catch a breath, and continues before anyone can interrupt,"Whether they want the help or not we are going to give it to them. Chief Brown seems to think we could use some more supplies, and I agree at least in part with him. If we can stock up a bit it will give us some valuable trade goods to barter with if they do let us in. If they don't want to trade, no skin off my back, we will have more trade goods for our next stop. When we leave Zyrardow we are heading to Krakow, see if we can deliver this paperwork to someone that knows what to do with it." He pauses once again to let his words sink in before continuing,"I know everyone is concerned with what happened to Dettinger and his team, but there is no need to be. They probably just got in a tight spot and had to head west away from us is all. That was the plan we made before they left if anything happened that made it impossible for them to return here. Now, any questions about anything I have just said?"

Brown nods as if in agreement, even though the Major's final decision hadn't been in line with his own suggestions.

"We've got all those horses, Major, and a few folk who can ride them- me, Tanya, Gallin, Camilla, maybe some of the civilians- and we're short on lift as it is.  You happy with the Recon team going out, or you think maybe we should give a try to scout out mounted?  It'd weaken our vehicle mix, but maybe worth it in the long run- just a suggestion.  Or maybe just right now, before it's dark - just pop out for a quick scout-about and then back?"

He waits for the response, then calls out to the rest-

"OK- if there's anything worth taking in this town, now's the time to get it.  Nobody travels alone- groups of 2 or 3 at all times.  Keep on your toes, people- bonus watch tonight- tomorrow we're back in the valley of the shadow, so let's be prepared."
[Private to Major Bernhard Finnegan:
'oo-rah, sah!]

She had paused asking a question about the route as the confrence broke, quiet gaze flickering over the group, and at the mention of horses Cam blinked. Quietly looping her thumb through the strap of her rifle, Ashton took a casual stance.. “I ride..” Her expression was open as she nodded her agreement,  motioning to Winters if she caught sight of him.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:41, Fri 14 Oct 2005.

Never walk, when you can ride is what I always say.  Horses sound like a good option for a scouting party since it seems a lot are switching over to more 'fuel efficient' transportation these days.  As long as you can feed 'em and water 'em down, they won't let you down.  Bad thing is they don't hold up very well against small arms fire!

"We head cross country. I believe it will be safer for the civilians, and won't add too much time to the trip."



"Find out how comfortable they would be riding, and if any of the civilians can ride, and put the team together. For this trip we can give the recon team a break, and send out a cav screen instead. Lt. Ashton, get with Chief brown and set up a mounted scout team.



"Look for some white cloth, we may need to parley with the town, and will need a white truce flag to hang off a vehicle or carry so that hopefully they won't shoot on site."

Tanya goes back to where she was bedding down for the evenings and packs what little belongings she has up and stows them in her pack near her horse.

Sergio finishes off packing his stuff. Used to living out of a bag, so this isn't much of a change for him. Home cooking is something he misses, but the foraging can come up with some familiar tastes and flavours.

He looks for Michelle again, even with all this time, it still seems nothing has really been sorted yet. Maybe it was time to get down to the details of it all? As for the rest, he'd met most of them now. He defered his role to the other major happily.

Michelle finishes her rounds with the wounded, then goes and checks on the soundness of the horses, and that is where she can be found when Sergio catches up with her. She gets a sudden lurch in her throat finding herself all alone with him, but smiles politely and pats a horses neck for reassurance, and approaches casually.

"Good evening Sir. Something I can do for you?" Her tone is not formal, but she knows what is coming and is trying to steel herself for a great letdown.

"I was just coming to umm, look at de horses" he says, trying to scratch for words as his mind seemed to go blank. It was that problem to be solved when he didn't know the problem feeling. "I was, you, I umm, you know how ta ride? I was, when a boy, a little with the animals, and learnt how to ride, but now I can just remember the basics, but the practice, ha well that is something to study up on!" he gives a wink. Sometimes changing the subject was the easier thing to do, and occasionally the way things were said could say a lot.

"On it, Major.  Right then.  Leutnant Ashton, if you would...", he gestures aside, so they can discuss the idea.

"Oh, and Doc- if you could ask around the civilians, see if any of them ride- and try to get a feel for those, if you can- if you think we can trust them on a horse, and not have them take off on their own once they get one.  Just a gut feeling- whatever you can find out."
[Private to Sergeant Michelle Gallin: "Doc"- that's you, btw.]

He waits for the Danish Lieutenant, and begins thinking what changes will be needed for the effort.
[Private to Leutenant Camilla Ashton:
Talk about this in the OOC thread?  IC or OOC?  Either way, good by me]
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:56, Tue 18 Oct 2005.

“Yes sir.”, With a stiff nod of acknowledgement to the Major, Cam walked off a short distance and stepped into time with Brown.. As the warrant officer sought Michel’s attention, Ashton’s gaze traveled over the camp toward the horses then to the areas the Team had come to haunt. It was slightly reassuring to see that Tanya was prepping despite the possibility that the group might not be used. Though she had a horse it seemed.

Camilla’s gaze traveled to the animals again, then to her co-conspirator assigned to the horse recon roster to be.. “This your idea.. Good Idea. My English no good.. “ She extended her hand lightly as if striking a bargain. “Getting better.. We speak you.. Eer thinkings.. Ideas.”

[Private to WO1 William Brown: Ko we can discuss in another thread so as not to confuse the rest of the team. Probably should stay IC though, becuase Cam's english is riddled with holes.]

Michelle smiles at sergio and pats the horse again. She had already gone and asked about civilians who knew how to ride, and now had to only get that information sorted out and figure out who knew how to ride and who knew how to simply "Stay on."
 "Sometimes its the basics that all you need. Some things can only come with practice. The most important is understanding your horse. But if you are willing to learn, then I am willing to help as much as I can." She Eases an arm up over the horses neck, and rubs the horses brow line and behind the ears. Glancing around for a bridle, she casts a glance back at Sergio and recognizes that nervous stance and change of subject. So, he had been thinking about things that had been said. Running her hands over the horse carefully, her eyes are still studying Sergio. "I must be nuts" she thought to herself. "What is it about this guy that I can't breathe when I am around im, yet when he is not here I feel I can't live?" She stares hard at Sergio a moment, then takes his hand in hers, gauging his reaction for just a moment.

Winters was helping SFC Redgrave prep their gear for another possible recon mission. He felt someone look at him and looked up at Lt Ashton, but before she could call him over, or so he thought, she was pulled aside with Chief Brown. He returns to his preparations while keeping an eye out to see if Lt Ashton would still require his services.

Brown and Ashton sat against a burned out and stripped shell of a vehicle, talking and exchanging ideas, occasionally gesturing toward the horses, the civilians, the vehicles, the horizon, or one of the personell specifically.

Whether they were making progress or not was unclear to any out of earshot, but there was more nodding going on than shaking of heads, and after about a quarter hour they got up, stretched, and headed toward where the Major was sitting...

"Major, we think we got an acceptable solution for ya..."
[Private to Leutenant Camilla Ashton; Major Bernhard Finnegan:
OK, Major- you may have gleaned some of it from the Cav Options PM thread, but the Ltnt and Brown have come up with what we think is a workable proposal.  We've taken all the factors into consideration, and made some changes and concessions - do you want that here in public, or a PM? (I'd recommend the latter).  And IC or OOC? (Might as well be IC- more fun that way, esp w/ this whacky Dame Dane.)  ;)

If PM, you go ahead and start it with whoever you want in on the discussion- or we could just use the current OOC with the 4 riders and yourself, IF you want to include them.

Gallin still needs to interview the civies, and some other details, but... I think we're good to go, or at least take it out for a test drive.]
[Private to Leutenant Camilla Ashton:
Didn't start talking in case Ashton had more to say in the PM thread.  Post there and/or here as you prefer, I'll follow your lead.]

Bernhard looks up from where he was double-checking his loadout, nodding to the two would be cav-scouts. "OK, fill me in on what you have figured out for a cav screen." The ex-linebacker stands as he begins a second meeting with the two.

[Private to Leutenant Camilla Ashton; WO1 William Brown: OK continue this conversation in the previous cav scout thread]

Marcus assists Michelle here and there on checking on the wounded. He takes a moment to crouch against one of the building walls and take a breather. His 'borrowed' HK MP5SD3 casually laid across his lap he scans the area. The little 'command group meeting' catches his eye and he watches for a bit. He shakes his head slightly as the thought of officers taking such a long time to make decisions pops into his mind. His thoughts move onto other things as he watches the trio of his old PL, MAJ Finnegan, with Chief Brown, and Cam huddled for more discussions.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:53, Thu 20 Oct 2005.

Cam had been mostly listening after the exchange began, attention pinned to Major Finnegan, and Brown as they spoke. She found her fingers lightly rubbing at the shoulder-strap of her rifle. Maybe a nervous tell, or one of those actions indicative of thought.  Her eyes wavered between those at the mini-conference then oddly enough found Smith.  A brow rose slightly in one of those delicate arcs, but she didn’t look away..  At least for that moment and the next she regarded the soldier openly.. Then, a mild twitch tugging at the corner of her lips,  Ashton tucked back into the discussion.  During which she seemed to indicate the warehouse with a bob of her head beneath those sun streaked locks.

As michelle take Sergios hand, he can suddenly feel parts of his body line them selves with sweat. It was like being at school. A redness followed the heat and he could tell he was beginning to blush. He obviously felt something, for such electricity to pass through a touch, and decided this was the time to do something about it. Whether his mouth could convey the words bulging through his mind was an age old question... He opened his mouth, and for a second or two it looked much like a gaping fish, as his mind worked through thousands of possibilities and all sounding like "Urrmmm", finally he manages, "Michelle, look I..." before being interrupted by Marcus.

Immediately dropping her hand, geting back to 'checking' the horses he felt the cool breeze blow around him, whilst an unfortunate feeling of another missed chance, and when would the next be. Then he had to just work out one thing, was it going to be a good thing or a bad thing... he wasn't sure if he wanted a chance now or in many days time, if ever? Ah to be back in his village where he had less things to worry about.

Shuffling his feet a little he nods to Marcus and moves off to his own chores,
"Michelle I'll, err catch up wiz you later if that iz okay? I am having much to be do." he managed to steal a glance to her eyes, but otherwise stares anywhere but. The moment has obviously flustered him somewhat. He even moves off with a stumble, wondering if his obvious unease is going to cause any amusement for her. The army never taught this sort of thing, well not officially anyways.

Michelles eyes meets Sergios for a second, and as he drops her hand, her gaze drops too. With a nod of her head, she looks more like she's been kicked than anything else. "Yeah. Later. Whatever." Was all she manages to say and abruptly turns her back on him and ducks beneath the neck of the nearest horse. She grabs a bridle and absentmindedly begins checking it for needed repairs.