Tanya was very releived when the Major said that she would still be with Cam when broken into dismounts for the more mobile convoy of two vehicles.  Sgt. Redgrave grabbed her pack and her Russian SAW and moved to BTR, stored her pack, and then went in and got a seat, more than likely next to Cam.  She looked at her, Not a long walk Lootenant and, we should be there in no time!

(OOC: Is it too much to ask for a list of who is left? I'm sure I've seen one somewhere, but here would be good)

Taking the ride, Sergio manages to survey the surroundings whilst thinking of France in it's better days. When there was peace, and good food. He did miss the cheeses and dressings. It seemed a thing no other country in the world took seriously food. He rubbed his stomach, even he couldn't get a good enough meal out of the food they could scavenge.

Rumbling his stomach replied, "I noticed."

Bernhard shakes hands with Dave and Smythe before seeing them off,"Well we will  miss the two of you, but I understand the need to help the civilians." He stows his gear in the BTR and looks at the dismounts loading up with him,"One more change of plans. I think with Matterson taking over as BRDM commander we only have enough to have one team of dismounts. Although if we do need to split up it would be best if Sgt. Redgrave, and Lt. Ashton stick as one fireteam, and Sgt. Smith and I as the second team." He pops his head back out the door before taking his seat for the trip,"Lt. Don! Lead us to Krakow if you would sir." Once seated back inside he checks his weapon and ammo loadout.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:24, Sat 26 Nov 2005.

Matterson, with a foot up and his eyes alert, scans the area passively, doing his duty.

After seeing to that the civilians will have it as good as possible, Don says his g'byes to the other soldiers, helping them out.

"You are doing a big job ofr humanity. Take care, and don't be strangers come see me on my castlie in Scotland, you hear!"

After Bernhard gives his orders, Don starts up the engine and rolls out on the road.

The departure of Dave was disconcerting, sure he was somewhat psychotic, but he was a countryman, someone who spoke her language.  Camilla waved, with a bit more trepidation in her expression than what might have been called for..  -what was he planning?-   That, would be an outcome she’d probably never know of.

Ashton put her thoughts toward the there and then, climbing into her place on the vehicle and managed a mildly troubled smile. Most of the people had been referring to these things as coffins of late.  “ This I hope Tanya, very much..  I not like no seeing..” She hiked a thumb to indicate the hull wall.  The Danish Lieutenant’s attention was captured by the Major’s mentioning of her name and she nodded a firm agreement.

A canted glance from the corner of her eye was cast over Smith, and with an uneven breath she resolved to spend as much time as she could finding something to focus on for the mobile journey.

Tanya nodded that she understands and tries to find the most comfortable place to sit and catch a nap when they move out towards Krakow.  Our lucks got to change sometime Lootenant, is all Tanya says before trying to get some sleep.  She couldn't help thinking to herself, God, I hope that is true!  I don't know how much more of this I can take, is the last thing she remembers before slipping into sleep.

Your chosen path is liberally littered with the burnt out and stripped husks of military vehicles probably destroyed back in '98 in the aftermath of the battle of Czestochowa. Weeds grow out of the heavily cracked pavement, and craters and potholes pockmark the terrain, some from time and weather, others more obviously artillery rounds.

The two vehicle convoy makes good time down the battered road towards Krakow until you reach a crossroads. Do you go left (east) towards Zyrardow and Miechow with the reports of marauders and thieves, or do you turn right (south) and head through the radioactive rubble of Sosnowiec?

One small consolation if you choose the southern road is that both vehicles are radiologically shielded - very little would affect the occupants provided you drive completely closed down. Might need decontaminating afterwards though....
There are also a total of 9 NBC suits including Winters own. Gas masks alone would do little.

The east road avoids this major hazard but replaces it with the likelyhood of ambush and the known hostility of the township of Zyrardow. Normally you might risk speaking to the locals for information but the only group you've seen since leaving the ex-slaves behind were a hunting party that fled at first sight of your vehicles.

Of course driving cross country could also be an option - if you want to risk becoming lost without a guide in the hills and ravines of this part of Poland...
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:04, Mon 28 Nov 2005.

Bernhard clicks his mic so everyone can hear him,"Lt. Don, lead out towards Zyrardow, but don't get to close to town. I don't want to alarm the folks there. When we get close try to find a way to go around the town and continue towards Krakow. If we run into any armed marauders I want to take them out. As long as the group isn't too well armed we should be able to mop them up and get some trade goods for when we reach Krakow."

The two vehicles and their occupants continue on their way taking the east road. Every so often signs of destruction are seen, most often in the form of plumes of smoke rising from what can be assumed to be farms and small settlements. Occasionally bodies are spotted laying where they were recently killed. Mutilated almost beyond recognition, sometimes hanging from trees or impaled on stakes, it's evident to even the most unobservant that those responsible are no longer following any rules of decency or morality. Freshly torn up ground gives evidence that there is at least one heavy tracked vehicle in the area, probably a tank.
Sounds of distant gunfire is heard from time to time when the engines are stopped for refueling. This is approximately every half hour due to the BRDM-2's damaged fuel tank. Once a large explosion rocks the landscape but experienced as most of you are, you realise it's located several kilometres away and of little immediate threat.
All in all, transit of this region of Poland is nothing short of disturbing. Everyones nerves are on edge and all fully expect an ambush at almost any moment. Despite all the signs of destruction and wanton carnage, your movement is not interrupted by hostiles. No signs of the living are seen - anyone still alive most likely taking to cover at the first sound of your vehicles.

Four hours after leaving the civilians and as close to midday as any of you can agree on, you find yourselves nearly out of fuel for the BRDM-2. Up ahead, your scout vehicle spots a village. A battered and bullet holed sign declares it as the village of Wolbrum. Refering to your assorted maps places you approximately 20 kilometres to the east of Zyrardow and 40 kilometres to the northwest of your destination, Krakow.
There is no signs of life - no movement, no smoke, no crops growing in the fallow fields, nothing... It seems the place has been abandoned for reasons unknown and the marauders either not bothered or not reached this far, yet. From the condition of the buildings and the substantial growth of weeds from the cracked pavement, nobody has lived here for about a year, perhaps more.

At hearing there's a possible deserted village up ahead, Tanya knows with all the years in the Army what that means, foot patrol to assess the situation.  She picks up her RPK SAW and waits for the eventual order to dismount.

Bernhard checks his weapon and ammo loadout for the umpteenth time before giving any orders,"OK Dismounts, lets check this place out before bringing the vehicles in." He opens the door on his side and climbs out,"Major D'ammond, Sgt. Matterson, if you would join us I would like that. Once we do a preliminary sweep we can split up in teams and check every nook and cranny of this place."

Tanya smiles as she stands to move out the back of the APC.  'I hate it when I'm right,' she thinks to herself as she pairs up with Cam.

Ashton’s vision drifted over the occupants of the BTR that she could see with a curious slant to one honey colored brow. “Rads?”.

Cam’s features went slack as she gave herself the once over,  slipping the rifle to a more manageable position to debark.  The world outside the hatch beckoned to her with the scent on the breeze beyond. It was a passing  moment, the sort that brought with it a shiver.  Camilla couldn‘t figure out if she was shocked or just not seeing things strait when the Major jumped out first.  A half smile came and went before she motioned to RedGrave and parted quietly with the confines of the vehicle.

Immediately she put herself, and Tanya, between the objective and the major, though it could have just been the way she filed out.. A cool gaze, picked through their surroundings.. -At least the sun was high, but then that could just lead to a greater contrast between the outside world and the shadey gloom within the structures.    She sought high points, window accesses facing their general direction, things of that sort as she waited for the plan.  “How we go?" .

Nodding, Sergio dismounts and checks his gear before cracking the crink in his neck as he stretches and a smile grows on his face. This is what he was here for. His eyes look to the group as they ready for the move, lingering on Michelle a moment longer, hoping she'll be alright.

Maybe he wasn't going to be back home and find that girl from the other village, but maybe he didn't need to anymore?!

It's often hard to tell what Marcus might be thinking, but the psuedo-grin on his face at the mention of dismount might be an indication this time.  An unconscious cursory glance of his weapons and gear preceeds his exit from the hulking metal deathtrap.

Hopping down the short distance to the ground there's a slight spring in his step as he walks up beside the Major.  A quick, casual glance in the direction of the other paired dismount team and Marcus kneels to address the Major briefly, "Sir, I think what the good lieutenant there has in mind could be a possibility.  What else can we see?  Foothold sir?"

Sergio rummages through his bag (OOC: Not at all from a gentle prodding reminder of the GM, sorry I meant to check but I forgot, so thank him) and takes out an object wrapped in an old shirt.

"This is somezin I've been working on ever since I stoppeded a la village, seems I got it working last night and as everyone was azeep I did not be wanting to wake you all. Iz good, worked a long time, but when I was last in a fight a lil swapnel hit it and it didn't work. But now it iz." He grins unwrapping the geiger counter.

"I was thinking it best if the scouting wagon az it? As they move more. Unless I keep it on foot for now, as we have more time to check? Woz you lot be thinking?"

(OOC: Hope the post tries to fill in the gap lol!)

Bernhard nods to Marcus and Sergio in order as their questions and the geiger counter come out. "Just figured this was a good place to stop and fuel up the BRDM. We need to check and make sure no one is skulking around that would want to do us harm." He indicates the geiger counter,"And that's not such a bad idea either. Sgt. Smith has the silenced weapon, so he will lead out. Then Sgt. Redgrave, Myself, Major D'ammond, and finally Lt. Ashton." Bernhard looks over at the vehicles,"Last call Sgt Matterson, if you want to come on this quick little foot patrol, better hurry." Looking back to Marcus he nods to the NCO,"Lead us out whichever direction you see fit. I just want us to clear the main route through town. Might send the recon team out to sweep the whole place while the rest of us refuel the BRDM." He looks over at the big Frenchman,"You got that little radio of yours in case we need the vehicles to come bail us out?"

Camilla, smiled a pale smile and filed in to take rear-guard. Her gaze traveled over Tanya then settled on Smith for a moment. The smile would fade slowly as she jostled the helmet once with an annoyed expression. Sweat had stung her vision. Clearing it as best she could, Ashton coiled the shoulder-strap around her wrist, the rifle lowered slightly at the moment. Naturaly the Lieutenant's eyes drifting to the point-man, again as if she might be able to tell which way he was planning to go from just a glance.

-But it wouldn't be good to get shot while not paying attention so the wonder didn't last too long. Of course she was also emensely greatful to have a radcounter around, especially with the locust mentality of the peoples around here, and this villiage seeming so... Hmmm

Sergio flicks the power switch of the recently repaired geiger counter while all observers wait unconsciously holding their breath. A few seconds warming up and it's reading the radiation levels.
All is safe, at least within tolerable levels. You might not want to live here but at least it would take a few years before the cancers and other tumours began to show. So radiation can be ruled out as the reason the village is deserted but of course, not everyone has a geiger counter to check for themselves. Perhaps the nearby blasts to the southwest a few years before drove the inhabitants away and fear has kept them there?

Marcus leads the way into the deserted village. A window shutter slams, presumably blown by the sudden gust of wind that stirs the dust around you feet. Signs of animal inhabitation are seen scattered about - the entrance of a rabbit warren is noticable tucked amongst the foundations of a house, an old game trail snakes through an overgrown garden, etc.
But no humans are found on the streets. Maybe you'd find something more interesting if you entered a building or two?

Back with the vehicles, the drivers busy themselves with refueling while the gunners (Brown and Winters?) keep careful watch on the hills and fields surrounding your position.

Tanya strip sthe drum magazine from her RPK auto rifle and her Polish PM, checks the chamber and magazines, then replaces them and racks a round into each of their chambers.  She nods to Major Finnegan as she is assigned the overwatch for Sgt. Smith.  Tanya falls in and begins the tedious task of checking every nook and cranny for movement or signs of an ambush by, these days, whoever had the most to lose or the most ammo to waste.

Marcus habitually quietly flicks the tip of his boonie hat so that it's just a little propped up and out of the way.  He looks back to the hastily assembled patrol and with a nod and a forward arcing wave of his arm he gives the signal to 'move out', occasionally looking back as he scans and moves to make sure everyone is in line and the Major isn't calling for him.  He picks a path that seems slow, but provides the best cover and concealmet.  Being that it's sparse in these parts it actually turns out to be rather direct.

As they approach the actual buildings of the town and take notice of all the various signs of wildlife he takes notice of the nearest corner building.  If it appears clear he passes the hand-and-arm signal for a patrol base and indicates the nearest corner structure with good overwatch of the main thru-fare and as much else as possible that appears mostly intact.  As if automatic, probably from years of training, he points to MAJ D'ammond and LT Ashton to pull-security at the corners of the building near the closest entrance with the hand-and-arm signal two fingers pointing at his eyes and then each position.  He then points to SFC Redgrave and MAJ Finnegan to follow him on the breach.

Once MAJ D'ammmond and LT Ashton have their security positions set he looks to the assault element to see if they're ready.

Winters scans his sector of fire assigned by the vehicle commander silently hoping everyone is ok and wishing he could get out of the tin can and walk a little himself.  SEALs weren't meant to be cooped up in a metal box like this, he quietly curses to himself expressing his uneasy feeling at the ghost town, "F**k."

Cam’s gaze followed the roof line initially on the approach,  though made sure to keep her eyes moving, letting them linger too long might be detrimental..  As the set up was outlined… so much as it could be.. Camilla tilted her head, with the slightest of nods, before moving into position. Braced for action she Crossed checking the angle with intent to settle into an acceptable, accommodating, firing arc. Naturally mindful to try and avoid any ground-floor windows on the building if she ends up having to pass them to get into place.

Tanya nods to Marcus that she understands and quickly moves thtough the opening before them.  She quickly looks for a good spot to set up in quickly and signals to Smith, by hand, when she does find one.