The two vehicles are soon underway with the BRDM-2 scouting ahead as usual. The terrain quickly changes from flat floodplains covered in what was until just a year or two earlier was productive farmland to rugged, tree covered hills, steep cliffs and ravines - perfect ambush country...

Brooks drives along following any directions from Virgil. Glancing back at the top hatches behind his and the commanders seat he comments, "Hell of a death trap you guys got here. But it beats walking."

A few minutes later another thought enters his mind, so he asks, "We got an immediate action drill for if we take fire? Or is it just drive like a bat outtah hell 'til the shooting stops?"
This message was last edited by the player at 14:33, Mon 11 Dec 2006.

Bernhard looks out his vision block and marvels at the terrain around him. Everywhere he looks he imagines there is an RPG hidden, just waiting for them to come into range for an easy kill. The short way was the hard way, but he still believed it was the right way. The longer route would run them out of fuel. Hell, they may run out this way, if the calculations for milage he had done in his head were off by too much. He clicked the mic for his radio for both vehicles to hear,"This looks like prime ambush country. Keep alert, and if we get hit let's drive through it. Unless one of the vehicles is immobilized. If that happens the other vehicle should assault the ambush. Whether we dismount will be at the discretion of the vehicle commander."

Brown, in his position behind the weapon tried to scan the surrounding area as much as the periscope would allow him to. When he noticed a landmark he recognised from the Estonian stories or pictures he would relay the information back to the rest of the vehicles inhabitants. Especially making sure Doc Brooks stayed on the right track.

Corrigan kept his own counsel for a while, withdrawing into himself for a time though he was alert and observant of the happenings outside the vehicle, as much as the restricted visibility allowed him to be, the big RPK settled in his grasp awaiting it's next use.  His pack remained on his back, just in case he needed to bug out, and he was ready for whatever might occur on the journey.

For now though, he observed...

As soon as they two vechicle convoy moves out of town, Sebastian struggles to his feet in the cramped troop compartment and opens one of the starboard troop roof hatches. Before rising to his full height, exposing his head and shoulders in the open hatch, he addresses his fellow passengers,

"I suggest someone opens the left hatch and keeps watch on that side of the BTR. It's going to be hard to spot threats from inside through these little windows [view ports] and the fresh air will do everyone good. Also, I could use some company up here." He adds with a smile.

Regardless of his companions' reply to his suggestion, Sebastian stands in the open starboard hatch, Uzi in hand and keeps watch on the starboard fore quarter (from approx 0-120 degrees) scanning for threats.

Don mumbles a thanks for the extra room, and tries to lay down ever so little.

The BRDM-2 leads the way deeper and deeper into the rough terrain. Tree covered slopes tower above as the road winds it's way through the ravine and towards what was once the picturesque castle "Pieskowa Skala".
Several kilometres short of this landmark, "Doc" Brooks is forced to bring the vehicle to a halt - a tree has fallen across the road, not an altogether unusal occurance in Poland, or anywhere else really now that regular maintenance of the road networks have ceased.
Normally he would have been able to drive around, even over the obstacle, but with cliff to the left and a several metre drop into a stream to the right....
A quick radio message and the BTR-80 rolls to a halt several hundred metres behind, out of site around a bend.
This message was last updated by the GM at 11:47, Wed 13 Dec 2006.

The moment the BTR-80 rolled to a stop Corrigan was alert, more alert than before with a sense of foreboding that slowly filled him.  Glancing up he saw Sebastien leaning out one of the top hatches and cursed himself softly for not noticing before, with a quick movement he opened the other top hatch and pulled himself up slowly, his RPK at the ready as he cautiously raised himself up to take a look around...

Disliking the fact that they were now, effectively, a large metal coffin-shaped stationary target, he considered slipping out one of the hatches and moving into any available cover at the side of the road, knowing if a fight broke out and the BTR-80 couldn't move, the added mobility of being on foot would outweigh the loss of armor...  He thought about it for a moment, his gaze scanning their surroundings, expecting trouble.

As Brooks rolled the BRDM to a halt he looked at the tree trying to look for man made marks that the tree was there on purpose. After coming to a halt he pushed himself up slighty, to look into the periscope trying to get a look around the front of the vehicle making mental notes of which way to turn and drive if it was an ambush.

At first look from inside the BRDM-2 the tree appears to have received no assistance in falling across the road. A storm perhaps several months ago felled it in a most awkward position. Roughly two feet thick and covered in branches, it's roots are still firmly planted in the soil, it's continued covering in greenery showing it has suffereed little from the fall.

Turning around at this point in the trail would prove difficult, even in a vehicle with proper all round vision. With the cliff hard up against on side (the tree is growing out from a niche is it) and ground dropping away to the other into the stream, the best that could be hoped for is backing up a few hundred feet before turning.

Cam rattled along in the stifling confines of the vehicle, head lolling to-and-fro on their near-oceanic voyage across the back roads through the equivalent of natural murder holes.   She’d remembered some tactics of the sort that they had use back home on convoys.. -And not being able to see the scenery didn’t help as much as she had hoped.  If there was a high path they could get on and mirror the vehicle’s journey from on high, she would have liked to.. but wasn’t really sure about being able to keep up in foreign terrain, or any terrain for that matter.

When the motion came to a halt she made ready to dismount, almost expected it to be called out. Nerves suddenly set on edge, she fidgeted with her rifle, shoulders tensed. “We have trouble?..”, Her words lifted lightly as she peered past Tanya, then looked to her close by friend, then to whomever might be able to view the path behind them.. “How our back?..”

Tanya just sat back with her eyes closed trying to get some rest while they were moving along in the vehicle.  She felt better that they were leaving the area and getting away from the mudpeople who disappeared into the night after their probe into their camps perimeter.  With Cam near, she felt that much more at ease knowing that her friend was beside her if she needed her.

When the vehicle stopped, Tanya sat up and looked around the interior of the APC to try and see what was going on.  She reached own for the forend of the barrel of the RPK auto rifle looking back to Cam,  "I hope not Lootenant.  We just started to get moving and all of a sudden, we stopping?  Let's hope not!"

Bernhard thinks for a few seconds before deciding what they need to do. "Pull this beast up so we can provide better cover fire for the BRDM. Once we get closer, Myself, Lt Ashton, Sgts. Redgrave and Corrigan will dismount and see what can be done with this tree. We have some tools on board, and if that won't work we may try some explosives. I figure if we can get it at least partway off the road then the vehicles will be able to get through. Everyone else can get eyes out and provide cover for us." He starts rummaging through the various equipment inside the BTR to see if he can find anything that will be useful.

Camilla, tilted her head and gave Tanya’s shoulder a light cuffing before leaning forward, her other hand on the rifle. “We use these for cover?..”, Her tone curious, and concerned at the same time, indicating the vehicle they were in with a slight jut of her chin.  Or at least that was what she hoped came across.   Altogether keenly curious if the drop-off of the cliff was far enough away to exit on the other side. Being of little use with her poor English skills, Ashton couldn’t offer much vocally.

“I have AK, Maybe Trade rifle with other before exit? So they use holes?”, Since she couldn’t contribute to the planning process much, she thought it might be okay to offer her weapon for anyone that didn’t have one that could be used in the ports.

When the BRDM came to a halt Brown had already spotted the green obstacle across the road. With the weapon sighting he scanned the surrounding area looking for signs of ambush. Cursing the limited elevation on the heavy gun.

"Someone contact the BTR and and make sure their gun can cover those cliffs right above us. With the elevation on this thing that's surely our blindspot. And when this is an ambush, that's where I'd expect most of the danger from."

Sebastian craned his neck peering at the cliff above them. A pair of 8-year-old school-children up there with a bucket of fragmentation grenades could wipe out the little convoy in their current disposition.

At this distance from the cliff-tops, Sebastian wouldn't be able to do much to answer an attack with his Uzi except make a lot of noise. He looked down into the troop compartment of the BTR and inquired,

"Is there a spare rifle that I could use down there?"

Turning to Corrigan in the roof hatch opposite, he added,

"If there is an obstacle ahead, I have pioneer, er... engineering experience..."

Bernhard hearing Sebastian's comment about engineer work, looks up at him in the hatch,"Well, then you can come along with the rest of us dismounts, we can use all the help you can give us figuring out how to get rid of the tree. Apparently that is what is blocking the road."

With people already moving, Sergio adds his own. "Move out and secure positions for safety, cover and visibility. Seems we've a tree blocking us and so might be delayed. I'll stay but look out with rifle ready for long shots, any with help experience or ideas head off to see about that log. I'd imagine tying it to a vehicle easiest way to move. Radio we're sending a few over for help." He says, trying to take control but not entirely confident in his ability. Special units were capable of actioning on their own, and frankly, this lot fit the bill.

Moving around, he finds a god place to observe with relative protection and awaits to hear any replies, ideas or queries, before starting to use his scopes to check out the surroundings with a snipers view.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:03, Fri 15 Dec 2006.

"I imagine we'll be covering from here but, who knows Lootenant.  If you've got the extra rifle to spare ma'am, go ahead.  I'd like to get a look at the tree since I might be able to assist with the removal if we got the right equipment, like some explosves," Tanya says back to Cam.

"Is there a spare rifle that I could use down there?"

Turning to Corrigan in the roof hatch opposite, he added,

"If there is an obstacle ahead, I have pioneer, er... engineering experience..."

Tanya looked back to Cam, "The new guys got an UZI if he wants to switch.  Hold on a minute though," she says.  "Sebastian!  You've got engineering equipment?  I can give you a hand with the tree if you want?"

As they approached the tree Marcus shook his head and muttered under his breath, _{"Great ambush site, f**kin' Murphy."} He scanned a little harder, if that was at all possible, before they rolled to a stop.  Realizing that any way they sliced it this was going to be a long haul stop, he immediately dismounted with a shout back to any non-essential crew, "Dismount."  Checking the ground for any signs of mines or other nastiness before hitting it he dismounts and moves to the relative protection of the incline to the water on the right.  He takes the opportunity to get a full look at the surrounding area, perhaps they could set up some additional overwatch.

"Yes, that would be grand."

Sebastian pops back into the crowded troop compartment and grabs his demolitions satchel.

"Well, off to work! Looks like I won't be needing that rifle quite yet."

Sebastian hoists himself back up and through the rood hatch, scoots the foot and a half to the edge of the BTR roof, and slides down to the ground.

He walks forward toward the fallen tree, feeling useful for the first time since he entered Wolbrom the evening before.

[Assuming that Tanya is in tow; if not, he's talking to himself...]

"So, I've only got two kilos of plastic explosive; I'd like to conserve as much as possible. Let's get a close look at this tree, shall we?"

As they dismount the vehicle, Tanya moves next to Marcus and raises a hand for Sebastian to wait for her.  "Sebastian's got some silly putty and a demo kit for the tree up ahead.  We'll move up and take a look so we can get the hell out of here ASAP?  Roger that?"

Upon approval, she turns to Sebastian, "Two kilos should be more than enough to get the tree out of the way.  We'll know better when we take a closer look at it."