Kessler's main pack will be aboard the BTR. I didn't reference it in any posts because I never thought anyone would be taking their main pack across the river with them - I presumed SOP would be those stayed with the vehicles unless specifically stated otherwise. I know that Frank referenced taking food, water, etc but Kessler has those in his butt pack, which is on his person (and has been any time he's wearing his assault vest) - if there was a reference to taking main packs as part of that post I must have missed it (and Kessler would have disregarded it). The only things he has taken that are extra are his spotting scope (which he has left at the OP) and the RPK.

(I did consider having him telling Lines to stay at the OP to maintain its securty, but decided leaving one man on his own wasn't sound tactics).

Sorry, I meant to ask earlier, does Benucci have a clear shot at either of the observers with his M40?

As long as he's at the back doorway observing them. He can see the back of their heads mostly, sometimes just one though.

OK, anyone have any thoughts on best way to clear the unknown OP?

I'm thinking two options (one of which has two variations).

1. Frank uses the M40 to blow at least their heads off. Preferably both of them but we'll settle for one. If we do only get one we yell at the other one to surrender - if they don't we turn the house into swiss cheese.

2. We try and get closer and storm the house,

2A Kessler, Lines, and O'Brien bound to House A and then on to House B. Once they're in position they cover the house whilst Ferro and Benucci storm it, using their supressed MP5's and CS grenades.

2B Kessler, Lines, and O'Brien bound to House A and then on to House B. They then assault the OP whilst Benucci and Ferro cover them.

3. Any other suggestions?

If we want to try and get prisoners I'd favour 2A.

If we want to clear them at minimal risk to ourselves I'd favour 1.

Any thoughts?

If you want swift, #1 would be my vote and having to deal with only one of them watching (hopefully) the other one dead might help getting a prisoner.

If you want the better shot at prisoners, 2A.

In reply to Francis 'Frank' Benucci (msg # 25):

Yeah....that was what I was thinking as well.

Prisoners are a nice to have not a need to have so Kessler wont order Frank and Ferro to go for option 2A, especially as he's not on scene.

What I'd suggest is he tells Frank that they (Frank and Ferro) are the ones with eyes on so it's their call - if they think that storming the house is practical the others will support them, but if they feel the best tactical solution is to go for option 1 they're clear to take the shot - basically he trusts them to use their best judgement to make the call (so in other words what Corkman and Jinny want their pc's to do).

I'm not trying to pass the buck ic or ooc - if we end up wasting two fourteen year olds Kessler will take full ownership - so if you prefer Kessler to make the call I'll have him give the order to take option 1 tomorrow (I'm about to crash for the night).

I'm hesitant about initiating with force since we don't know who they are. 2A would be my first choice... then 2B. Option one last.

IC Ferro will go with whatever is decided though.

OK, I wont be able to get an ic post up until I get home from work, so around seven to eight hours from now, but unless anyone has any objections beforehand this is what I'll go with

Kessler, O'Brien, and Lines will advance in leaps and bounds. We'll head for House A initially, leave Tosh there and Kessler and O'Brien will leap to House B so we will have multiple firing positions.

Once they're in position (and assuming that goes according to plan) Kessler will radio Frank / Ferro advising them they're free to go for option 1 or option 2A based on their judgement of the situation (@Corkman, Jinny, if you're both good with option 2A that's absolutely OK with me - we'll back you up from the houses)

Ok, turn is up. Sorry about the delay, I've been sick, but trying to force myself to still get to work and school, which has left me a wreck.

I meant to allow the PCs to play out how they would deal with the unidentified party, but I handled it in one big turn post to get things moving again. If I stayed the course those PCs at the bridge would have gone another turn with nothing much to go on. The problem is one group is conducting one single task that takes a long time to accomplish and the other needs many smaller ones over a short time... so it's hard to use a time frame that accommodates both. Hopefully what's to come will put everyone on the same track*.

* the NPCs can handle the bridge stuff.

In reply to Michael Kessler (msg # 21):

I misunderstood. In that case Ferro will have left her pack with the Humvee if it's not too late.

All active PCs on my side of the bridge are free to come along, post as you want.

The exception I Reidel who is driving but if you want to come along too get Aleksander to drive.

I've left Riedel where she is as she's not really the type that would go acting on her own initiative without a specific order (it's that East German upbringing!)

Just to give some visual perspective, this is the view McCarthy & Co have looking in the direction of West Kepki (where Ortega's guys are). Note the stretch of open ground separating the two communities. You are hard pressed to see the other Mad Dogs, especially if they are in the middle of a firefight, and likely using cover to stay alive. You can just make out the Stobna road on the top right, which leads into West Kepki and then turns off and follows the river to East Kepki (bridge).

Please consult the map for the location of you, your teammates, enemy units, and other things that are going to be very important over the next turns.


This message was last edited by the GM at 07:53, Sun 27 Sept 2015.

@Corkman, Cymon, Jinny if McCarthy gives a sit rep on what's going on do you want to stay on this side of the river or cross back over and  rejoin the others?

In reply to Michael Kessler (msg # 34):

I will vote to rejoin.

Let the trimming of NPCs and abandoned PCs begin...



In reply to Michael Kessler (msg # 34):

I am wondering if it is a good idea to give up our foothold on the other side of the river.

Sorry, my last post was a phone post hence the relative brevity

I'm also making a few assumptions

1. As noted, that we're brought up to speed with what McCarthy knows about the situation on the other side

2. We're not ordered back by McCarthy. If we are the rest of this post is a moot point

3. The approaching vehicle is nothing to do with the partisans so will turn out to be hostile

Whilst it gives us one strong(er) force rather than two weak(er) forces if we cross back I'm happy to stay where we are.

To my mind if we cross back over we run the risk of the approaching force being able to establish themselves on this side. They will know that we are here (I would imagine the firefight will give away the fact that the Mad Dogs are in the area) so they will be able to

A. Call in reinforcements
B. Establish defendable positions, making a future crossing much more difficult (as Jinny has referenced)
C. Get involved in the firefight on the other bank (which could be potentially catastrophic if they have something like a mortar)

If we stay we can possibly prevent at least some of the above. If we can "recruit" the two Polish partisans we can attempt to observe / ambush the approaching vehicle. Hopefully we would have the advantage of surprise.

Also, if we hold both banks we can continue to work on the bridge. Clearly this will be challenging whilst there is at least one firefight going on, however, if we can complete even some sort of crossing that would then give McCarthy's group the option to make a tactical withdrawal to our side if necessary, after which we can drop the bridge again and prevent pursuit (I know much of that is not a great option, but it is an option - if we lose the bridgehead on this side we could end up pinned against the river with hostile forces on both banks).

Therefore I'm voting to stay.

Jinny, am I understanding that your view is similar to mine?

EDIT
If we do stay I'm in two minds about whether O'Brien and Lines should stay in situ at the other OP (and keep watch in that direction) or rejoin Kessler, Ferro, and Benucci (I'm trying to avoid splitting the force, but am conscious of the need to keep watching other directions and also the amount of to'ing and fro'ing that will entail, so if we stay I'd welcome opinions)
This message was last edited by the player at 07:59, Sun 27 Sept 2015.

I agree, unless they need us or we're bugging out, I think we stay

In reply to Francis 'Frank' Benucci (msg # 38):

OK, I'm taking it that the majority view ooc (plus McCarthy's orders ic) was to stay so orders are issued accordingly.

@Cymon, if you still want O'Brien to rejoin the main body he can take the zodiac back to the other side - that way it will be there if they need to bug out across the river before the bridge repairs are complete.

In reply to Michael Kessler (msg # 39):

I am happy to go with what everyone else wants. He can probably make good use of the mine the partisans have and he has a claymore if he was able to get onto the other side at some point during the evac.

Yeah it was.

We may need the two former prisoners if the Major has to bug out since the majoirty of our gear is with them!

In reply to Francis 'Frank' Benucci (msg # 42):

Yeah, Kessler is trying to keep them onside in case we end up having to ask them to take us in but I didn't feel like he could "order" them to stay and fight so he gave them the option of leaving if they want. Hopefully they'll stay - the extra manpower will be handy for the firefight.

Agreed and we may just need a place to stay soon too...

Hey guys,

I tried, but I won't be able to add in the last part (for Ferro/Frank) until tomorrow some time (not sure when). I also won't be able to update the map until then either.