"Why, I'm talking to you, of course!" he said, grinning.  "That's good we are not moving, but we can still provide support even from this range.  Tell you what, I will go below and hand you up a spare clip, then find a spot to get some sleep."

He climbed down into the hold, then located and handed up a clip of 82mm HEDP ammunition, grunting with the strain. Done, he found a spot belowdecks to crash until Clarence woke him.

As everyone starts to file out, Snowy nods an informal salute to Adam and marches out with the rest. Going down the stairs and along the sandbagged rail to the bow, he stops and scans the riverbank again through habit. Everyone seems to be congregating around the Vasilek position, and he frowns at his extempore efforts at a mounting. A little niggling memo is inserted in his subconscious to do something about that sad effort.

Walking up, he releases his M4 and lets it hang from his strap. He takes out a water bottle and lets the conversation envelope him so he can get a feel of the mood. Noting the business-like tone, he waits for a pause and says "we're dropping off a two man team on the bank to check out the locks. I need someone with small boat experience to be part of the boat team in case I get perforated, we can't afford to lose the inflatable. From my dubious memory, the only people I can remember saying they've got small boat experience is Joost and Griet, but some of you others no doubt have hidden talents. We'll be taking the PKM as well, so the other person should be comfortable with that as well. Now, have we got any takers for a nice afternoon's boating?"

Looking up from down in the hold where he was looking for a place to sleep, Dawid rubbed his eyes and said, "I can both handle a boat and of course the machinegun, although I am not very quiet.  I can also ride a horse.  Aside from some experience as a mechanic, I can also handle misfires and dismantling simple explosives and booby traps."

Max offers up
"I could take the PKM, but, i got to see some action last time by going out witht the scrap metal team.  So i can stay back this time, share the glory and all.

Snowy nods to Max and says "Thanks mate, but we're more concerned with boat skills here. If you can pilot the zodiac is the main thing, we should all be able to suppress with the PKM."

"So far we've got Dawid, who else?"

"I don't have a lot of experience with them but, I've handled them on few occasions when we practiced waterborne assaults and what not," Tucker says.

OOC: Small Watercraft Skill: 3/10

Parks studies the maps for a bit then goes ti find Snowy. Catching up to him on the bow parks walks up and gets his attention with a nudge. "Are we Planning on waiting until nightfall. If not, I would suggest it. There is alot of open ground in the area. A daylight insertion would have to be atleast a mile out. Then a long slow crawl to get within easy view range. If we can wait until duck we can insert much closer and I have a starlight scope that should allow observation. I want to get to the point almost due west of the northwestern point of the island. From there we can easily observe the locks and the island side. Once we have gathered what ever intel is offered we can sneak toward the locks from the northern banks. If it's to thick you can extract us before getting there with the tug. If we can sneak thru the area, then you can pick us up where the Locks canal rejoins the river. Daylight insertion should be here." Parks points out an area where a small canal joins the river from the north. "A nighttime insertion can get us within half that range." Parks points at the map. "Any questions so far?" Parks waits for any response.

"Well, it looks like Dawid stays on the gun, Max has his turn on the tug and Tuck comes with me. If you have a moment Tuck, we should look over the zodiac and make sure everything's okay. Gunny's up in the pilthouse working on his insertion, so we'd better saunter back up there and see what the story is."

Snowy screws the lid back on his waterbottle and replaces it on his webbing.

"We should see about getting two radios, one for the recon element and one for the boat element. That means one for a base station on the tug and we're pretty much right. I gotta charge up all my batteries too, come to think of it."

Tuck nods to Snowy, "It would appear that I have the time to look at the boat with you to make sure all is well.  I'm not too sure about using the PKM on the raft if we get into it.  I'd feel more comfortable using the RPK if something happens.

That sounds like a solid plan Gunny.  I'm glad we've got people like you, Yazzie, & Snowy with us and your expert knowledge.  I'm not use to this waterborne ops stuff, not my thing."

Before Snowy and Tuck leave for the pilothouse, Clarence reminds them,

"I've got this Prick-119. At the very least, you oughtta be able to get a hold of us to call down fires if things get hairy. Joost and the German have radios too, but I'm not sure they can handle the range."

Nodding in confirmation, Dawid added, "we shall be able to provide fire support upon request.  Sargeant Tucker, if we are waiting until nightfall, then perhaps we should have some kind of sleep schedule so that some of us can nap while the others keep watch."

"I'm not sure if mine will handle the range either.  We'll figure it out by the time we leave.  As far as sleeping goes, I waqnted to see when the landing party would be out.  Since they're not going until nightfall Dawid, I want you and Joost to take the first four hours and get some sleep.  Myself and Clarence will man the auto-mortar and grenade launchers first.  We'll split it four on, four off for now.  Once everyone's had a chance to sleep some, I want to get myself and Clarence up to speed on our weapons stations so we're not throwing shitty rounds down  range."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:01, Sun 22 July 2007.

After consultation with Parks, Konrad agrees that the benefits of a night insertion of the recon team outweigh the potential costs. The balance of the day is spent getting up to speed on the operation of the various heavy weapons and catching up on sleep. The team works in shifts with one half keeping watch while the other rests. By nightfall, everyone feels significantly more rested and alert and those staying behind can look forward to even more sleep.

As the sun sets, Snowy and Tuck man the inflatable and fire the sputtering alcohol powered outboard motor. Gunny and Yazzie, equipped for a short, nightime recon, board the small rubber boat and the group heads off downriver.

A couple of hundred meters from the insertion point, Snowy cuts the engines and lets the current take them towards shore. The inflatable slides up to the north bank and the recon team debarks, stopping to look and listen for five minutes before moving out. They make radio contact with Milk back on board the Krolowa. As Snowy and Tuck paddle back into the channel, Gunny and Yazzie move out into a treeline parallelling the river. The night is growing colder but they barely notice. The make their way east along the treeline, stopping periodically to check for signs of enemy pursuit or impending ambush. The only sound they hear is the sharp coughing of the inflatable's engine, carrying through the almost oppressive silence. After three or four barks of the motor, the silence descends again.

Having paddled upriver a hundred meters or so from the insertion point, Snowy attempts to restart the outboard. After several yanks at the starter cord, he gives up and he and Tuck begin the long, laborious, paddle-powered return to the tug.

After two hours of deliberate, cautious movement, the recon team pulls roughly parallel with the westernmost point of the island. Gunny studies the island through the starlight scope, the grainy green image revealing the long, slightly bent barrel of an SA-60 AA gun pointing skyward from an old prepared position just a couple dozen meters from the tip of the spit. Gunny catches sight of movement in the pit. A few minutes patient waiting reveals the torso of a man dressed in camoflage fatigues, the origin of which is hard to determine through the false light image of the scope. At least one man seems to be manning the position but there may be others asleep in the pit.

After studying the position for thirty minutes, the Marines continue eastward along the treeline towards the locks themselves. After two more hours of stealthy movement, they settle into their first OP and begin watching and waiting. With their optics, they can make out the ragged, backlit outline of the lock's damaged control building on the north side of the lock complex. Leaning against the buidling appears to be a motorcycle. A campfire burns within or nearby, casting undulating shadows around the area. Caught periodically by the firelight is the shape of a large truck. After careful study, it is determined that a large, double barrelled gun (probably a ZPU-23-2) protrudes from the back of its bed, pointing roughly upriver. A pile of rubble at the far (south) side of the lock acts as an MG nest (probably a PK). There is some movement aound the locks from time to time. You count five men. As the hours pass, you notice several more but it's hard to keep an accurate count. You estimate that at least a platoon holds the locks. In the dark, there's no way to tell if they are ORMO or Russian marauders. A tattered and limp flag of some sort hangs from a makeshift pole leaning at about a five degree angle near the control house but it's impossible to make out anything else about it.

OOC: It is now about 2am. Actions?
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:06, Sun 22 July 2007.

"No problem mate, I'll take the first watch I caught a bit of kip on the way here." Blue replies cheerfully. "Dutch go catch some Z's"

Waking up from his not-so-refreshing nap in the afternoon, Dawid splashed some river water on his face, then urinated off the stern.  After a smoke and some chow, he was up and ready to go.

By 0200 Lima (local time), he was at his action station sitting at the gun, Russian NVGs on his helmet but flipped up.  He wore his flack vest, and after he checked Clarence he had the other man check him to make sure there were no holes or gaps.

For this little excursion, the gun was loaded with one clip of 5 HE rounds, with one spare HE clip and another of WP beside the weapon.

"The burning of the Phosphor rounds provides a useful smokescreen," he said to Clarence.  "Although there is little value in this at night, it will be useful during the day."

"This weapon can also be fired like a conventional mortar, by dropping a shell down the tube.  Notice how the carriage is designed to hold the weapon hight enough to allow for the tube to recoil almost straight down.  But for right now, we have a shell in the breach, so don't drop one down or we will be sorry!"  He laughed at his own not-very-funny joke.  More seriously he said, "it's true, I have seen it happen in battle."

While waiting, he lit another cigarette.  He was careful to shelter the coal by cupping his hand expertly around it, so that no orange light escaped.


Dawid Piotrowski
Vasilek (5HE/5)
Gun Position #1
This message was last edited by the player at 11:36, Tue 24 July 2007.

It's pitch black on the river, and Snowy is dressed head to toe in his tactical gear. You can't make out his face in the gloom, but his posture is unmistakeable.

"Tuck, the bloody motor won't start."

Crouched over the outboard in the dark, he looks back at Tuck with his AN/PVS-9 and gives the motor another chug. Nothing.

"Damn. We checked this bloody thing. We both checked the bloody thing. Start, bugger you."

He hauled on the lanyard again, wincing at the loud sound carrying over the dark water.

"Bloody hell, we might get killed because this stupid thing won't start."

Almost twelve solid hours later Anneka finally awoke refreshed and able to function as a human being once more.
"Coffee, need coffee," she muttered, pulling on her boots, picking up her Uzi and stumbling towards the wardroom.
Peering through a porthole showed it was dark outside - she never intended to sleep so long, and she felt guilty for it. But, her body had needed it even if her mind had been screaming to stay awake and share the workload.

The following few hours saw Anneka checking wounds, pulling guard duty and listening closely to the recon plans.

As he was already awake, Max was happy to take the night shift, letting others catch some kip (sleep).

By 2am though, others are starting to wake from their slumber, and Max will turn in, hoping the next 6 or so hours are as uneventful as his watch was, allowing him uninterupted sleep.

Tomorrows a new day.


Max
On watch till 2am
Sleeping from 2am - 8am or so
This message was last edited by the player at 11:47, Tue 24 July 2007.

Clarence tugged his poncho up around his neck to ward off the night-time cold while he pulled his watch shift on deck near the Vasilek mount. He kept a close eye on the near bank being as that was the most likely enemy approach. Nothing had come across the radio in hours- from either the recon team or the insertion team. It wasn't a good sign but then, he hadn't heard any gunfire either.

He felt better after sleeping during the day. He was also feeling more confident in his ability to operate the Vasilek should something happen to Dawid. The kid was a good teacher.

When his shift on guard ended, Clarence moved aft first to check on Blue and Joost. After chatting a bit with the man on guard on the stern quarter, he headed back to the bow.

"Wake up D.P. It's your shift, kid. Nothing on the radio so far. Everything is quiet. I'm going to stock up on some more shut-eye. Wake me up if you hear anything."

Clarence removed his poncho and and crawled into his sleeping bag on deck. After almost a decade and a half in the army, Clarence could fall asleep nearly anywhere at any time. He slept lightly but soundly, senses on alert, ready to spring to action if need be.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:32, Tue 24 July 2007.

Robert comes out after long needed sleep and begins preparing for the insertion of Parks and Yazzie for their recon mission on the banks of the river.  He doesn't bring much with him except for his body armor, a pair of IR goggles and a worn shoulder holster that carries a Colt Python and two speed loaders on his right side.  He picks up the RPK from the armory and grabs about ten magazines for it and puts them in a bag or bandoleer (whatever is available).  He will darken his face and exposed skin with whatever is available (probably from the engine room) and get into the raft with the others and push off to start their drop.

Tucker flattens out in the raft as much as he can to keep his profile low while they insert the two Marines on the shore.  As they try to get back out, Tucker watches as Snowy has problems with starting the motor up.  Keeping the RPK up and looking back to him, he says in a whispered/hushed voice, "OK, relax for a second.  Let's give it a minute and try it again.  I don't have much training on this stuff so, if you got any better ideas, I'm open for 'em!  We can try to row out some more in the mean time."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:00, Tue 24 July 2007.

John points at the camp and then his eyes and shows a crawling motion with his hand. He has decided to recon up farther and check out who we are dealing with. He will make a signal to the gunny to cover him. Using max stealth and observation, he will crawl to within 50 meters to check uniforms and voices. He will move slow and stay in a low crawl in the vegetation and the shadows. He will stop every few feet and look smell and listen to ensure he has not been spotted. The actions will be like a sniper stalk taught to him in the nation. This could take hours but he is not willing to take chances. Once in place he will stay there unitl he has enough information to move away.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:04, Thu 26 July 2007.

It was cold and damp on the river.  The radio was quiet, no urgent calls for fire missions.  Dawid took off his helmet and put his beret back on, then wrapped himself in his blanket to ward off the chill.  The metal gunner's seat was cold and hard beneath him.

Behind him on the deck, Clarence slept under the connected shelter-halfs that were strung up over the cargo boom in a make-shift awning.  It wasn't much, but it was more than enough to keep off the dew and the rain.  Unlike the field, at least here there was hot water with which to wash and shave.  He felt if not like a real soldier again, at least less of a deserter and rabble.

He looked out over the water without the NVGs on to spoil his night-vision.  If a call for fire support did come, he would use them because the muzzle flash from the mortar would blind him anyways.

The man's face still wouldn't leave him, like it had haunted his earlier dreams.  Sighing, he finished his cigarette and stood up, stretching.  It was tempting to take off his flack jacket in the absence of any threat, but at least it was keeping him warm and the moment you let down your guard was when you would need it the most.

Trying not to disturb anyone, he got up and made his way across the dimly-lit deck to the galley, brewing up a pot of tea.  With some added Wodka, it would do nicely to ward off the night chill.  Around him, the boat creaked and swayed in the river current.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:01, Wed 25 July 2007.

Parks acknowledges Yazzies hand signal and removes his radio slowly from his webbing. Double checking the Freq and volume, he keys the mic while covering the reciever with his hand to muffle the sound. "Sandbag this is Guns over. At position one. Eyes in target. Platoon or larger sized outfit. AA emplacements, MG nests and possible mobile AA spotted. Plan fire for the control house area. Taking a closer look. Will advise. Guns out." Parks replaces his radio and settles in behind his weapon and scans the locks area for any reaction due to possible intercept. He takes note of the water level within the locks to see how high or low the tug will ride within it's walls.




Parks
OP-1
SVD-scoped-bipod(10)(Starlight)
Slowly scanning the Locks area for any sign or activity or intel. Covering Yazzies approach.

Snowy seems to be taking this as a personal affront, he stares at the engine venomously and gives the lanyard another savage wrench. Nothing. Again.

"Bugger it, this is making too much noise. We'll have to paddle out as you say. You'd better get on Milky's PRC-1119 and tell them we may be late home. It's going to be a bitch quietly paddling this beastie against the current, but if the moon comes up we'll be lit up like a wharfside brothel at knock off time, so we'd better get to it."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:47, Wed 25 July 2007.

Cradling a mug of hot something or other (she just couldn't bring herself to call the mud "coffee"), Anneka found her way up to the bridge.
"Adam, how much trouble would it be to swing the tug around sideways? No engines of course, just the current."
Shouldn't be too hard really. Simply a matter of dropping a second anchor in the right place and letting out more line on the other.
"I'd like to be able to use both the mortar and grenade launcher if they run into trouble."
Made sense really to present as many weapons as possible to the "enemy". Besides, it wasn't as if they were likely to make a run for it, or even capable for that matter.