”Makes ya think doesn’t it…” Walsh offers to Jake. ”Like, what are all those guys doing now? Assuming they survived that is. Like Springsteen, Billy Joel, guys like that. Billy might have got that one a bit wrong though, we sure as fuck started a fire, a big one."

Turning to Jose when the latter joins the gathering, Walsh just grins. ”Yeah, I’ve been better dude but I guess I’m not dead yet. How about you? You look bit beaten up. I guess us three get to stay behind and look after the Doctors and nurses while everyone else gets to go out again. Well, you two are. I don’t reckon I’m in much state to move far from this cot.”

Turning back to Jake, he can’t help but chuckle. ”Yeah, fucking helluva time to be looking for somewhere to stay man. You should speak to Kessler. Like maybe not right now, but once things have calmed down a bit. Which will probably be around next Thanksgiving.”

He looks over at Rodriguez again. ”What do you think Jose? Jake and his lady could probably bunk down over at the school house.”

"Well if you are volunteering, you can go collect the canned goods Captain Kessler told us to bring. And something to put them in of course." Ferro answers.

Ferro then gives Chris a lazy thumbs up 'see ya' and goes over to her own cot. She finds a spare sock. It'll be used to put the gold bullet in and rolled up. Safer than just going loose in her pocket where it could tumble out easily. She then throws on her combat gear and body armor, and takes the SMG. The bullet is gathered next and put into the sock.

Lastly, Ferro goes outside to round up Aleksandar and Auttenberg. She'll also be sure to speak to Fox or Fischer, whichever of the two is currently supervising the security detail. If Alex or Piotr are on duty then they'll need to be properly replaced before leaving and she'll leave that to the relevant Sergeant. Ferro will also make sure the two Polish fellows are dressed appropriately for the wet weather.

(When everyone is ready and assembled outside:)
"Figure after we go out through the back door we move directly on the Fire Station. Check it. Then cut through the scrap yard to the Calypso factory. The roof is flat and has good elevation, and we know one enemy of ours were once going to use it to ambush us, so that's a definite location we need to clear." Ferro suggests.

"After that we can cut over to the school and take a look. On the way there are some apartment buildings with people probably living in them, but I'd rather skip that for the time being, and just go to the school."

"...and then head home." Ferro concludes. She then pauses to let it sink in and then holds out her hands and asks the group "Good? No good?"

If all is well, Ferro attaches her night vision goggles to her helmet and turns them on. She then removes her radio handset and toggles the button. "Viking. Ferro. Radio check." Once comms are confirmed she makes a mental note to stop at the CP again to tell whoever is on duty to change frequencies.

Ferro then makes for the bridge exit.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:40, Tue 09 May 2023.

"Snipers? Maybe. But they're definitely watching the compound. Someone had to direct that mortar barrage. I'm hoping that they don't have the same night vision capabilities that we have."



The Danish marksman has never targeted civilians before, but other NATO snipers undoubtedly have. Marta's first statement didn't feel accusatory, but saying nothing might leave the wrong impression, so Per explains, "I'm not that kind of sniper. I only shoot bad guys. As for your friend, we could always use another skilled shooter."



"It's pretty simple to operate. I'll show you how." If Marta can work the NODLR, Per can use his SIMRAD scope. Two pairs of technologically-enhanced night eyes is better than one.



"Correct. If we spot someone, we'll let Ferro's patrol know. Cover them while they try to capture a prisoner, probably." Hopefully I don't have to shoot anyone tonight.



"Viking copies, Ferro," Per replies. "Let us know what your patrol route is and we'll sweep the first leg with the NODLR. After that, we'll take a look at the north bank. Over."

-
This message was last edited by the player at 18:16, Wed 10 May 2023.

Jose shakes the offered hand. "East L.A. by way of the 8th." He's fairly certain the other man had already placed him just based on his accent and mannerisms. Not many locales offered a Mexican accent along with colloquialisms like "dude".



"Mierda. Shit, man. I feel like shit. Hah!" Jose barks out the laugh, then winces at the accompanying movement of his face. He gingerly presses his palm to the bandaged side, wondering how it's going to look once the bandage comes off. "No more beauty contests for sure now, ehh? But I'll be okay I think." He briefly reflects on his short time with the unit. "I swear, you gringos know how to party. Just in the past few weeks I've been shot, stabbed, and blown up twice. How much longer you got stay put?"



Jose turns back to Jake, "Yeah man, the school house would be a good place for you to shack up. I'd say if you know how to shoot then you should maybe ask the Captain about joining up, but..." Jose uses his hands to present both his face and just all of Walsh, "...but maybe only if you also like to get hurt. Hah!" Another barked laugh and wince.

The meeting having broken up, Kessler finds himself looking at Karolina Schleicher. The West German is torn as to what to do with his countrywoman from the East. He probably should lock her up again. But then what happens if it all kicks off later and they come under attack?

He decides to do nothing for the moment, kick the can down the road so to speak, puts his mug down and gives a signal with his head to indicate that the East German should come with him as he walks through to the radio room, where he nods to Lutz. ”Do machst Hauptmann Woermann darüber informieren, was vor sich geht. Warten du lieber, bis ich mit Nowak gesprochen habe, dann kannst du ihm die ganze Geschichte erzählen” It’s his way of telling Lutz that he’s not trying to hide anything from them. He then looks over at Schleicher. ”Ich bringe dich zurück in dein Zimmer, nachdem ich mit Nowak gesprochen habe. Wenn es am Morgen etwas ruhiger ist, werden wir versuchen, etwas Bequemeres für die Zukunft zu finden, ja?” That way Lutz will be able to talk to Woermann in private.

Sitting down, Kessler then reaches for the handset that will let him speak to the Zorya. ”This is Kessler. I need to speak with Nowak. Urgently.”

Once he’s got the Pirate Captain on the other end of the radio, he’ll get into it with the minimum of preamble. ”A couple of things I need to talk to you about. One, Doctor Tymoshenko has asked for an urgent resupply of medical equipment. I have nothing left here to give her but if you have anything you can spare that would be appreciated.”

Get the little favour out of the way first. Then…”Another thing. I spoke with Brozek of Monolith about half an hour ago. After he dropped a few mortar bombs on our head to get our attention. It’s OK, no one died. Luckily. He wants to do a prisoner exchange. He says that Kowalczyk is holding Piszczek and other high value prisoners. Brozek is willing to trade them for eleven of his troops that you have captured. Monolith men. Some taken at the distillery, some on Olowianka Island. He’s proposing an exchange at dawn at the Cemetery for Soviet Liberators. We can make the trade. Or we can try and out manoeuvre him. But you have the prisoners so I need your buy in. And I don’t have enough men to pick a fight with Brozek. I’d need some help. From either Osprey or Waterloo. Over.”

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
You’ll be wanting to brief Hauptmann Woermann about what’s going on. May as well wait until I’ve spoken with Nowak, that way you can give him the whole story

I’ll take you back to your room after I speak with Nowak. In the morning if things are a bit calmer we’ll try and work out something more comfortable going forward, OK?

---

This message was last edited by the player at 19:11, Wed 10 May 2023.

"You have an idea of how many cans?  A dozen?"
This message was last edited by a game editor at 20:31, Wed 10 May 2023.

"That's probably fine." Ferro answers.

Hank nods, "Roger that Ferro.  Where are we kicking off from?  Back door you said?"  Once he has his answer, he will go to the supply room and pick out (12) different cans of food that they can use to pay for information.  He will stow them in his pack and meet Ferro and Varis.

"This is Zorya, Kessler." a male's voice returns over the speakers. The Hauptmann's request is immediately and sternly denied. "It is not your communications window." Michael notes that, while the submarine's communicator is technically correct, the channel is completely empty of radio chatter. It's also urgent and the request is pressed. "I tell you again, no. Captain Nowak is sleeping."

It goes back and forth like this for a few more bursts of radio transmissions, before the Zoyra's communicator gives in. "Bardzo dobrze, kapitanie." Very well, Kaptain. "Wait. I wake her."



Nowak sounds like she just woke up. It also sounds like she's annoyed for being roused over a supply request. "I will send, yes. And, but..." the coup leader answers, before letting a pause follow. Kessler can probably imagine her dictating the request to whichever underling is next to her. Halina then continues, "No boats out right now. No one on land ready. In the daylight, yes. I will send someone to you with supplies... and wounded. Take both."

Kessler moves on to his second issue, regarding Brozek and the enemy's proposal, and a request for manpower.

"We only have ten now." Nowak replies, referring to the number of Monolith prisoners. She sounds more awake and less agitated with the late night call. No explanation is given as to why there is one less prisoner than before. "Maybe nine by morning." No explanation as to what that means is offered either.

Halina keeps the transmission button depressed on her end. Kessler can hear the Polish woman breathing and then a solid moment where she holds it in. There's little background noise, except for the hum of electrical machinery, which is probably submarine related. Nowak then continues, revealing what she wanted the Mad Dogs for next. "I am moving into the city at daybreak, by land. I wanted your unit to give me road escort."

Kessler hears the airwaves break, as Nowak gives him a chance to respond before saying anything more.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:07, Thu 11 May 2023.

The red flag that just waved in Michael Kessler’s head is about as large as the one that the Soviets had hoisted over the Reichstag in 1945. That had been a fake of course, done by the Red Army propagandists after the fighting was over.

”You plan to come in to the City at the same time that Monolith want to do the prisoner exchange. That can’t be a coincidence Halina. Maybe you should wait a few hours. This could be a ruse by the Merchants. How many people know your plans?” Worst case scenario there’s an ambush at the cemetery and Nowak is attacked as she comes in to the City.

Varis kits up for the patrol. His winter fatigues aren't quite dry yet, so he's stuck with the lighter summer weight Soviet cammies for a few hours more, at least. On the bright side, the patrol will be sticking close to home, FOB McCarthy's hearth fires stoked and awaiting his return.

Varis puts a pair of freshly charged AA batteries into the Chinese handheld, presses the transmit button.

"This is Emperor to all callsigns. The report from the hospital just arrived. The doctors found the source of the Merchant Union's Herpes outbreak. It is Brozek's mother! That woman is so classless, she is Marxist utopia! Emperor OUT."

Giggling to himself, Varis changes the channel to the new team net frequency and clips the radio to his chest rig. Next, he does a quick function check on his Kalinka NVGs. For this op, the Latvian straps the RPG-18 to his butt pack- better to have and not need than to need and not have.

Everything in order, he rendezvous with Ferro and Voight near the "back gate". Varis feels safer whenever he's working with the Italian- she's hyper competent and always switched on, a true warrior for whom Varis has the utmost respect. For some reason, though, Varis doesn't think Ferro likes him, despite the pair being the longest tenured Mad Dogs. It's probably something he said.

-
This message was last edited by a game editor at 02:14, Fri 12 May 2023.

"The "back door" is the ledge that goes under the bridge at the rear of the compound." Ferro explains. "I also saw some burlap sacks in the pantry. If you use one of those you can leave your pack. We might get find enemy contact out there." she offers as a suggestion. "Your call though."

Ferro then looks on silently as Varis transmits useless immature radio chatter. She doesn't say anything though because it is on the old frequency. And also because actually kinda funny. A half smirk of amusement is concealed by turning towards the riverside and starting to walk on.

As they trudge through the wet slush, Ferro looks over her shoulder to Alex walking behind her. "Hey. Good work getting Nowak's man to Osprey. Real nice."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:32, Thu 11 May 2023.

After retrieving the NODLR from the storeroom, Per Kolstrup and Marta lug it upstairs and then up the balcony ladder (to the rooftop). It's no easy matter, with the cumbersome device being over twenty-five kilograms and the two having to haul up a wet ladder in pitch darkness. The effort is rather time consuming. Then, to make things worse, after switching on the NODLR and waiting for it warm up, the power dies before any sort of thermal picture is revealed in the eyepiece. The device is either damaged or the battery was never charged.

By this point, the foot patrol has already departed. They exit through the gap which is under the bridge. It's barely two feet wide, with nothing to hold onto, and the Martwa Wisla river steadily and silently flowing by directly below the ledge. The water looks icy and black, and is probably quite deep even here by the shore. The weather hasn't changed from snowing one minute and drizzling rain the next minute. Everyone is bound to finish the circuit of the neighborhood soaked. Visibility is terrible too, whether a NOD is being utilized or not.

Back on the rooftop, Kolstrup observes the northern shoreline across the river with his scope. The weather reduces its usual effectiveness. The Danish NCO scans the grey and blocky looking residential buildings, pausing now and then at the many windows. He knows a good spotter wouldn't be at the windowsill, but further back inside the room. His scope is then angled upwards and a scan of the various rooftops is undertaken. This is easier than the windows, and he's confident the top of the buildings are clear. Marta is given a try. Neither observer spots anything of concern.

Soon, Ferro's whispered voice comes across the radio sets tuned into the new frequency. It's a request for Kolstrup to give the fire station a visual check. At this distance, with the weather how it is, and without the NODLR now, unfortunately there is almost no point.

The patrol quietly visits the fire station. It starts with a walk around the property and then slipping inside. There doesn't seem to be any indication that anyone has been here since the Mad Dogs fought it out with the East German "Pine Tree Detachment". The patrol then exits again and begins walking south, zig zagging a little through the old junkyard. They note that the once snowy ground, which is good for leaving footprints, has melted and turned into slush to the point of erasing such signs. Ahead, the big Calypso Ice Cream factory slowly looms into view. It's faded and mostly flaked away, but one can almost make out the giant walrus logo painted on the side of the building. The patrol walks around the external office and warehouse, and then moves into the big concrete factory itself. Several minutes are spent around giant vats, machinery, freezers, and conveyor belts. The patrol even finds access to the roof.

While standing up on the Calypso's expansive and high-up rooftop, the patrol hears the sound of a motor vehicle. It's somewhere south(ish) but there's no line of sight. There are either buildings blocking the view or it's simply the weather concealing the source. The sound indicates that the vehicle is moving but you can't tell in which direction. Sometimes the engine revs, sometimes a lot as if it's tires are struggling with the slush. The sound then quiets down to the point of the gentle wind masking it altogether. Perhaps the vehicle stopped and is idling, or turned off its engine, you can't tell which. Lastly, whatever or whoever it is, the unseen vehicle is well outside of the patrol's expected route.

Ferro glances down to make sure she is not too close to the edge. She doesn't want a bit of ice or water to cause a slip that sends her to the ground. Her head then rises again and she peers southward for a moment before turning to her teammates. "What do you want to do?" Ferro asks. Her head then pivots back towards the desolate neighborhood to the south, but she turns it a little in an effort to hear better. "I'm inclined to think that a spotter or surveillance team isn't out there driving around." Ferro says of her own opinion. She's curious but maybe not enough to risk a firefight over something that's probably outside of their purpose for being out here.

While Ferro gives her teammates a chance to voice interest in investigating or not, she radios it in. "Viking. Ferro. We just cleared the ice cream factory. All clear so far but we heard a vehicle to the south. Not close. We're deciding on next action so I will get back to you in a minute. Over."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:45, Thu 11 May 2023.

After getting some dry clothing, batteries for his radio, and the canned goods. Hank moves out with Ferro and Varis into the night.  When they stop and hear the vehicle, he will respond, "I'd agree with that.  They might be dropping off or picking up spotters or security."

While Marta takes a turn on the SIMRAD scope, Per flashes a scowl at the troublesome NODLR. He's angry at himself more than with the inanimate device. If he'd thought to check the battery before taking it out of the storeroom, he wouldn't have to lug the cumbersome device back down the rain-slicked ladder when the job was done.

"Dumt stykke lort."



"Viking copies. Standing by," Per replies. For Marta's benefit (being as the Dane's WTO-issued radio is plugged into a set of earphones), he relays the patrol SITREP.

"That was Ferro. They heard a vehicle away to the south, past the ice cream factory. Let's take another look."

Per crab-walks, crawls, executes whatever motive function necessary to reach a relatively safe vantage point from which he can survey the southern arc with the SIMRAD scope. Once settled, he starts a slow sweep from southwest to southeast, looking for any sign of a functioning vehicle, or any sign of a potential observation and/or mortar team.

-
This message was last edited by the player at 02:43, Fri 12 May 2023.

"Voight makes good point. Who has working car this days? It's probably not local couple out for drive to make baby go to sleep. Maybe vehicle is bringing Monolith OP midnight snack." Remembering a so-annoying-you-can't-help-but-remember-it ad he'd seen on a black market VHS cassette of a couple of movies videotaped off of American Cable TV, Varis adds, "Avoid the Noid! Domino's Pizza delivers."

He leans over the ledge, spits, imagines slipping, following it down, breaking his neck. He takes a big step back, shivers.

"Anyways, it's too fucking cold for ice cream," Varis muses, trying to break the tension a bit. "We could try talking to the neighbors, but even Varis wouldn't open the door if we three showed up at his door in the middle of the night without invitation."

-
This message was last edited by a game editor at 05:05, Fri 12 May 2023.

"I still think it's unrelated." Ferro reiterates quietly. The Mad Dogs wouldn't normally use a vehicle that way with a covert team so she didn't think Monolith would. And how did they get it across the river? But it was two for and only one against so she was entirely amenable with investigating. "We're moving south." Ferro reports over the radio, getting back to the dialogue she had with Kolstrup.

"We better move fast." Ferro says. She leaves the edge of the roof and hurries to get back inside (and then outside again). To speed things along she digs her flashlight out of her webbing and hands it to Aleksandar. Without night vision they won't be able to see their hands in front of their face without it so it makes sense to let them use it. At least until the patrol leaves the factory building.

When the patrol gets out Ferro will suggest going due south and keeping between familiar Siennicka Road and whatever side road is to the west of it. She's open to alternative routes though. Ferro will also move quickly at an easy jog or thereabouts.

Kessler hears the airwaves crackle and the hiss of static is replaced with the gentler hum of the unseen machinery which surrounds Nowak. She's depressing the transmit button without speaking. It lasts for a solid moment before something is spoken. "Some." is the coup leader's monotoned answer.

There's another pause filled with an unspoken transmission. This time there's also the scratch of a lighter sparking up a cigarette and one or two people in the background murmuring quietly. "A ruse. You think there is no prisoner trade?" Halina eventually asks. Michael can tell from her voice that she herself probably doubts it.

"Muszę szybko jechać do Gdańska." I need to get into Gdansk soon. Her tone stresses the words.

"If you say ruse, what do you think we do?" Nowak transmits next. "Mam na myśli nic nie robienie?" I mean apart from doing nothing.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:30, Fri 12 May 2023.

Hank stifles a laugh at Varis' Domino's comment.  "Shit, I haven't heard that in years.  You have them over here too Varis?"

Hank refocuses on the patrol and follows Ferro and the others out.
This message was last edited by a game editor at 15:50, Sat 13 May 2023.

The pause at Kessler’s end is a match for the one that came from the Zorya a few moments ago as the German Captain contemplates different options before replying.

”That depends.” he says after a moment. ”On what we can find out about Brozek’s plans. We’re working on that at the moment.”

That’s only part of an answer though. The over riding feeling seems to be that the exchange is a set up. Several of the Mad Dogs have said as much. The tone of Nowak’s voice indicates the same. For his part Kessler finds it hard to believe that the fact that Brozek has suggested the transfer take place at more or less the same time that Nowak plans to enter the City can be a coincidence.

Putting two and two together would seem to suggest that the mercenary commander wants the Mad Dogs - and any other Nowak loyalists that might be drafted in to support them - out of the way so that they can’t interfere if Nowak’s column comes under attack.

”For now we should tell Brozek that we agree to the trade.” He sits back, the microphone held in one hand, looking straight ahead as he thinks. ”We’ll come to you at zero four hundred. Brozek will be expecting that. I’ll tell him that we need to collect the prisoners from you. That gives us a couple of hours to work out how to turn this on its head so that we ambush Monolith instead of the other way around. Take one of the MU’s last pieces off the board. When dawn comes they’ll be too busy trying to save themselves to notice that no one turned up at the Cemetery.”

His thoughts turn to Lukasz Piszcek. If Brozek is on the level Kessler might be signing the Polish Priest’s death warrant. But if it’s a double cross they could all end up dead. But Brozek wasn’t an idiot. He had an end game in mind. The question was what? Did he think that killing Nowak would end the coup? Cut the head of the serpent. A stray thought crosses his mind, something he remembered from the time he met Brozek at Monolith’s HQ. ”Brozek was an engineer before he deserted from the Polish Army. If they are planning something there’s a good chance it could involve IED’s.”

“Let’s leave it at that for now. If anything comes up to change the plans I’ll let you know. Otherwise we’ll work up a plan and talk in person in a few hours. Over.”

Marta nods her head, tries to copy the way that Per is moving, keeping as low as she can she she moves across the roof to the southern side. Lacking any vision aid, she can only use her eyes to try and pick out anything that seems out of the ordinary, which feels like a forlorn hope as she looks out into the darkness.

”So yeah…” Walsh nods when Rodriguez finishes rattling off the list of injuries that he’s sustained while with the Mad Dogs. ”The moral of the story is if things do get a bt crazy, make sure you’re not standing close to Jose. Dude is a genuine bullet magnet."

“Anyways, looks like you’re confined to barracks until zero four hundred hours buddy. Although not sure I could actually stop ya from doing anything.” Walsh chuckles darkly, his own bruised and battered state pretty much matching Jose’s. ”I got shot by some Germans. Bad Germans.”

There’s another laugh, which causes his face to contort into a wince ”I mean, there’s a lot of Germans here. These ones were East Germans. They shot me after I climbed through a window. Doc Cassidy - that’s the Irish chick, you seen her? - she assures me that I’ll live. But I'll have worse scars than him.” He points to Rodriguez.

Things have quieted back down at the compound. With the threat of shelling seemingly over for the time being, people start getting back to sleep. It sounds empty and silent out in the main hallway. In the gymnasium, the main lights are turned out, leaving just a table lamp over in the infirmary's corner to illuminate the Mad Dogs' bunk spaces from afar.

Heavy-set Tomasz Andropov is sitting on his cot, not too far from his fellow teammates and Jake Ward, and stuffs some newly laundered clothing into his pack. He chuckles quietly as they talk about scars and wounds. Quietly, but enough to make sure they hear him. He even glances over to see if they're looking. Andropov then zips up the pack, as best as he can with his prosthetic hand, still chuckling. Next, Tomasz stands and starts undressing, getting ready to climb into his sleeping bag. Down to his boxers and undershirt, the big Azeri-German defector pulls up the latter and displays it to the others. The lighting isn't the greatest, but it looks like he has a big elongated scar across his midsection, which resembles a tire track. It might even be from a tank tread. Then without saying more Andropov gets into his sleeping bag and rolls over, with his body weight causing the cot to creak loudly under the strain.

Minutes later, Anna Kowalska, enters the gymnasium. She's small, but a rough looking girl with dark set eyes. If one wanted to insult her and call her 'rat-face' or something to that effect, it wouldn't be far off the mark. She also looks like the type that might also do something about it. Jerzy Brzęczek's 'Number Two' then finds the cot that she's been assigned and sits down. It's a few rows away from the present Mad Dogs and Ward. She's wet from being outside on sentry duty. Then after looking around, her eyes set on Rodriguez. "Why did your commander free that man from before?" Kowalska asks him. She's referring to Zuev, the Siberian in Filip's unit, who was allowed to go his own way once everyone had gotten out of the sewer system. "Everyone know what he do."
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:33, Sat 13 May 2023.

"Domino's? Varis wishes. Only commercial on black market American movie tape. But Varis could really go for pizza right now."

Talking about American food is making Varis hungry, and a little sad. He wonders if any Domino's Pizza stores survived nuclear Armageddon. He refocuses on the task at hand: finding the Monolith mortar team/OP.

-
This message was last edited by a game editor at 17:25, Sat 13 May 2023.