[Private to GM: Griet will sleep with her pistol in her hand, the SMG tucked under the blanket near her feet.]It was the time of night when old people died and babies whimpered for their mother's calming touch.  Griet slept on the deck near one of the forward DshK mounts.  The recon team had taken the PKM so she just moved her position.  Likely she could have commandeered quarters, at least on a hot bunk basis, below in the crew's sheltered cabins but the ORMO woman hadn't.  A bit of folded heavy tarpaulin provided enough of a shelter and wrapped in a blanket she hardly felt any chill.  There was no sign of where about her nest she'd stashed her SMG.

Every so often she drifted awake enough to hear the low murmur of voices or footsteps, but it was nothing approaching true consciousness.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:15, Wed 25 July 2007.

Tuck nods grabbing the radio.  "Milks, Tuck.  Be advised, motor out.  Using hand power to get out of op area.  May be late for dinner, Over," Tucker calls to the boat.

Tuck
RPK
Calling the ship on their current FUBAR SITREP

Adam thinks for a moment, kindly regarding the petit Israeli medic.

"It would not be difficult if it weren't for the barge. With it, we would jut too far out into the channel where the current is faster. The anchors would probably hold, but it is not a certainty. And floating debris would be more of a danger. In the daytime, I might try it but at night, not."

After what seems like hours of hard rowing, the insertion team returned to the Krolow, arms sore and clothes soaked with sweat from exertion. Those keeping watch on the bow could hear the insertion team's splashing and grunting before they could see them.
[Private to Griet Niewiadomska: The PKM is still in place. I believe the insertion team took the RPK instead.]

Snowy and Tuck are helped aboard and the inflatable* is hoisted on deck at the stern of the tug. The pair give their report and then retreat to their posts for some much needed rest.

On shore, Yazzie begins his long crawl closer to the lock. Gunny watches the Pima Indian dissappear into the darkness before calling in a SITREP. Those monitoring the radio back on the Krolowa follow the recon team's progress from afar.

It takes Yazzie about four hours to cover the distance between OP1 and the locks. Once within 50 meters of the lock's defenses, he settles in to wait. He can see more now. The gun in the back of the truck is definitely a twin 23mm AA weapon. He still can't identify the flag and he's not quite close enough to make out the language spoken by those on guard.

There is a rustling nearby, increasing steadily in intensity, then the sharp snap of a breaking branch. A man strides out of the trees to within ten meters of Yazzie, prone in the underbrush. The man unfastens his fly and begins to urinate, eyes following the urine stream into the bushes in front of him. He leans his head back and breathes out heavily in relief before looking back down to admire his marksmanship. After a few shakes and a satisfied grunt, the man stuffs his equipment back into his trousers, turns around, and heads back from whence he came. He never noticed the American Marine lying silently still just a few meters away in the bushes.

False dawn begins to creep up along the eastern skyline. For the third straight day, a light fog clings to the river and its low, green-clad banks.

Actions?

It is now approximately 0515hrs. Back on the Krolowa, the crew has begun to stoke the boiler in preparation for the tug's planned dawn departure. The entire security team is now awake or in the advanced stages of waking.

*Someone will need to check the inflatable's outboard and conduct any necessary maintainance or repairs before it can be used again.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:45, Thu 26 July 2007.

When Gunny's report came through, he woke up Clarence to answer it, then found Konrad and informed him.  Listening to the information, he muttered, "Oh well, it will have to do."



On the boat, Dawid acknowledged the insertion party's radio call on Clarence's PRC-119 radio set.  "Piotrowski here.  Acknowledged."

After helping them aboard, he fixed the exhausted and chilled men some tea, adding wodka if they assented by holding up his flask and raising his eyebrows questioningly.

Then grabbing a tool kit and a trouble light he pulled the Zodiac's outboard "donk" and went to work on it, making sure the fuel line was clear, the most likely culprit on a petrol engine converted to burn alcohol.  Also, converted engines tended to burn a lot hotter than normal, leading to problems with the manifold like vapour-lock.  Leaning out the gas-fuel mixture should do the trick.

OOC: Mechanic Asset: 12

Then he tried to see what he could do to fix the outboard motor, accepting whatever help anyone else wanted to give him.  "I only know tractors and trucks. Still, an engine's an engine.  I hope."

As the crew got the tug ready to sail by building up a head of steam, Dawid said to Konrad, "Captain Bayer, I suggest we untie the barge and leave it anchored here in mid-stream.  That way we may manoeuver freely in support of the party on shore, and move to engage those possible targets directly.  Re-securing the barge later will be relatively easy, if we do the job properly now."

Edit: I took out the radio conversation.  It's probably not something he would want to field at this time and he's not familiar enough with NATO-style radio protocols to field such an important call and thus would be out-of-character.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:15, Thu 26 July 2007.

Konrad makes his way to the railing to welcome and help aboard the insertion team. After helping Snowy and Tuck out of their inflatable boat he listens to their report, nodding quietly. Once finished he responds to them both with a simple "Alright, well done.". The pair then leave him to get some short rest.

Nearing 0600 Konrad finds Piotrowski working on the inflatable boat. "No problems ja?" He glances over the work in progress... a matter of simple interest really as motors are something he's unfamiliar with.

Looking at his watch he listens to Dawid's suggestion about the barge. "Hmmm, pros and cons either way, but I agree with you. I'll speak with the Captain. (he pauses and looks at his watch one more time) Ensure everyone is awake and ready would you? We will stand too in 20 minutes."

Bayer then heads off to find the Captain...

As he's helped over the rail, Snowy whispers to Tuck. "Another paddle like that and we'd look like Arnold Schwarzenegger."

Dawid has made Snowy a mug of tea, possibly the only thing that could penetrate Snowy's lingering distrust. He waves off the offer of vodka and stirs in some of his precious powdered milk. He smiles at Dawid tiredly, his flash hood pulled up over his face into a strange looking beanie, and says "You want some milk in yours mate? This is my special stash." He has an introspective sip of his tea and settles on the deckplates, his M4 on his lap.
As the night drags on, Snowy goes down onto the main deck, his precious cuppa still in his hand, and settles down near the forward mount. He crosses his legs and resettles his helmet and its NVGs on his head. He listens to the quiet and the soft movements of the combat crew. He'll lend a hand with the outboard, although that's likely to have been taken into the engineering room and its better light, but otherwise he'll just relax after the long paddle and recoup his strength.

"Konrad!" Anneka called as she spotted the man ducking past the doorway.
"I think we should move the grenade launcher so it can cover the lock. I asked Adam if he could reposition the tug but it's a bit of a job it seems."
Anneka waited with one hand against the doorway and the other resting on her slung Uzi.

Dawid gratefully accepted the offer.  Sipping his steaming tea he said, "thank you.  Milk, even powdered, is difficult to come by.  Wodka is easy!"

"If you care to, I need some assistance on the small boat motor.  I know we have another raft, but no point in putting off repairs.  I am no expert in mechanical repair, but I know my way around an engine.  It's over at the forward gun," he gestured forward.

Hesistating, he added, "I know this is probably a bad time to bring this up, but I believe you were right about what happened yesterday.  If Poland is to become a strong nation once more, we need to act from the strength of our convictions and fairness.  Not relying on the power that comes from the barrel of a gun but from laws and justice."

After 0515 or so there was enough light on the forward deck to work on the outboard, so that's where the engine was, surrounded by tools.



After wiping his hands with a grease rag, Dawid saluted and replied, "yes, sir, immediately."  With that he trotted off to wake Tuck and the others so that the crew of the boat was awake and at action stations in good time.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:38, Thu 26 July 2007.

John on, the near miss on contact, will move back in the same slow sniper crawl, staying in the brush and shadows of the sun coming up. He  will move back to  100 meters away from the camp. Once there, he will find a way to move back to the insertion point with speed and get ready for extract. John feels good that he was not spotted but knows that Guns has him covered with the sniper rifle and that makes him comfortable in his actions. Once at the insertion point, he will stay in cover and set up a security posture.


John
moving away from camp
weapon slung
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:06, Thu 26 July 2007.

On his way to find Adam, Konrad is intercepted by Anneka...


"I'm on my way to see him now. We may be leaving the barge, so he'll be able to maneuver."

He doesn't mean to shrug her off, but he's upset with himself that the plan and preparations are occurring so late.

With that he rushes up to the bridge or wherever Adam is...

"Ok... What do you have to say if I said we leave the barge until the lock is secured? We'd like the grenade launcher to be able to fire, and we need to be maneuverable... especially if things go to shit and we need to bug out."

He waits for an answer - then adds "Second question. I'm not familiar with these locks. To transit this vessel through - do we sail on through? Or must we actually need to secure it?"
This message was last edited by the player at 17:50, Thu 26 July 2007.

Tuck gladly accepts the help from the crew in getting back to the tug.  He falls to the deck exhausted next to Snowy and breathing heavy.  He exhales loudly and then sits up accepting the mug from Daiwd.  Rob also shakes off the offer of vodka for his drink but, gladly accepts the powdered milk from his raft-mate.  "Yeah, we'd look pretty good walking around decks looking like Arnie in his 'Commando' days.  And thanks for the creamer, mate!'

After a few more minutes, Tucker will get himself up and return the RPK and mags to the armory for the time being and go to his bunk area to get some well needed rest.  He will clean up quickly and change into some clean, dry clothing before heading off into sleep.

Clarence watches the eastern skyline transition from black to a dark grey as the phenomenon known as false dawn unfolds. He stretches out, trying to loosen up his aching joints. The combination of cold, damp, and sleeping on a hard, steel deck have really wrought havoc on his fit but aging body.

I'm getting too old for this shit.

At least he's not dog tired anymore.

Clarence looks up and sees movement on the bridge. Pocketting a small, tattered note-pad with the Recon teams last SITREP, he climbs the ladders to the pilothouse.

Pulling out his notepad, Clarence addresses the folks assembled on the bridge, "Good morning people. We haven't heard anything from the recon team for a few hours. At last report, they'd counted about a platoon of men with at least one MG and what looks like a mobile AA gun. They hadn't been able to identify the nationality of the troops there. Chief [Griet], did the ORMO stationed there have anything like a large calibre, mobile AA gun with 'em?"
This message was last edited by the player at 15:23, Thu 26 July 2007.

"I suppose we could leave the barge temporarily." he looks questioningly at Griet before continuing, "As you know, it contains all of our merchandise- a significant investment. We cannot afford to lose it."

"As for the locks, with all of the recent rains, the river is running higher than normal. There is about a 3 meter difference in elevation between this end of the canal, where the Island separates the main channel, and the opposite end of it. We should be able to sail through the locks without problems unless we are opposed. I haven't taken this tug through before, but if I remember correctly, the upper machine guns should be able to fire over the lock walls- at least for the first half of the canal, including the control building."

Blue had grabbed as much sleep as he could and felt much better.  He had risen before the dawn as usual and headed up on deck.  Unsure where his duty station was he sought on of the other NCO's who might know.

"G'day mate, I missed the pow wow where am I supposed to go?" he says after finding Tucker or Milk.

Konrad nods silently to Adams comments, but his facial expression clearly betray his feelings of concern and worry. He speaks slowly, not just for Adam, but for himself to think things out as he goes. "I see. Based on our manpower, the opposition, and our situation... I must tell you this will not be easy. I understand the cargo's value... however, besides the possible difficulty in navigating through the narrow lock with it, it can be boarded easily ja? It will not be good to be fighting close quarters on your barge and boat."

Holding up a single finger for Adam to wait a moment to respond, he moves over to the open door of the bridge. "Sergeant Tucker... Piotrowski... Niewiadomska... come to the bridge." (OOC actually open invitation to all)

As he waits he returns his attention for Adam to speak.

As the bridge becomes more populated, Konrad continues... "Gentlemen, I regret that our plan is not yet established for transiting the locks. I would like full input on... One - whether we keep the barge in place and secure the lock first, before coming back to collect it. This is for its protection from fire, boarding, and for maneuvering. And... Two - shore party volunteers. We may need to land a section to secure the locks."

Konrad looks at his watch before opening up the floor for comments.

Dawid replied, "First, have Gunny report if there is a motorcycle parked there.  Those Russian cocksuckers there were eying us from shore were riding one.  If it's there, then we're dealing with those Russian deserters and we probably have a fight on our hands."

"If we're going to fight, now is a good time, before it gets light.  The crew can stoke up the boilers without worrying about the smoke being silhouetted because as we all know the sun rises in the West, and we are fortunately to the East."

"To answer your question, leave the barge; if we drop a couple of mortar rounds onto the camp and then use the tug to land a party to secure the locks, we can come back and pick it up.  On any case I will be happy to stay here to man the Vasilek.  Gunny can spot for us, as well as shoot anyone with his Dragunov."

He sipped some more tea.


OOC: FYI, the tug was spotted by a pair of Russian soldiers on a motorcyle.  They did not seem friendly.  This part of the countryside is crawling with deserters from a Russian Division that mutinied.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:49, Fri 27 July 2007.

"Yeah, I'll give you a hand with the rotten thing, but I reckon there's nothing wrong with it apart from spite. Outboards are like that, they're spitefull buggers mate. That's why we call 'em 'clip ons', because when they act up you just unclip 'em and turn them into an anchor." Snowy grins and sips his tea, leaning back against the gunwale and letting the ache from the long paddle, crouched over in the dark and waiting for a PKM to open up, ebb out of his limbs. Wierdly enough, for the first time in what seems years he feels peaceful. Even knowing his crewmates are out in the weeds, probing an enemy position and risking everything, doesn't seem to dent his serenity. Still, he doesn't let go of his weapon or let his vigilance down; one of the reasons his head is below the level of the gunwale.



Snowy smiles and says "Gawd I miss a good cuppa, it's the cure for all ills. Blue, on the other hand, would prefer a nice beer and I can't say I wouldn't say no to that either." He shifts over to make room and adds "I hope the boys in the weeds are okay, with that bloody outboard acting up we're limited in the ways we can help them out apart from that beastie" he gestures to the Vasilek.



Snowy is suprised that his anger doesn't return, yesterday seems so far away.
"I think what got me offside so much was that he was my prisoner, in my 'duty of care'. I let him down, even if he was a dirtbag. Really mate, and no offence, but if I'd had my head on right I would have had my weapon out long before you got close. I shoulda' known that taking a prisoner into a strange area is risky, and I should have been on top of it." He pauses and takes another thoughtful sip. "ZOMO. Political Police. I know you guys don't like 'em for what they were before the war, and from what I hear all the good men were transfered out into the Border Guards and MPs and just scumbag militia psychos brought in to make up the numbers, so now they're far worse. Still, we have to not drop down to the level where we are the animals. They're our benchmark, we have to stay above them, or nobody'll be safe. I'm sorry to say but I think the days of nation states is long gone, we may get something very different after this 'age of war', but the basic situation of the weak being abused by the strong must still be resisted by good men and women. Anyway, that's the plan. And we all know what they says about plans and reality."



"Bluey, siddown mate, we're having smoke-o. You just missed the 'Olympic five click paddle-like-hell event' in which Tuck n' me came about bloody last. We dropped off the lads onshore and they seemed okay, dunno if they've checked in since then."

Snowy's still resting when the call to the pilothouse comes up.

"I reckon we all better go hear this, we can get to the guns quick enough should we need to. Come along fellas, let's hear what the boss has to say."
This message was last edited by the player at 07:19, Fri 27 July 2007.

Dawid speaks first and when he finished, Konrad once again holds up a finger towards the team to pause the discussion. Looking back to Dawid he asks him "Raise the recce team on the radio would you? Ask for an updated SITREP on the locks."

He then returns his attention to Sgt Tucker and the other men who wished to join the impromptu meeting. "Next."

Tucker smiles, "I sure do know what you mean there!  I'd like a nice shot of scotch or whiskey on some ice right now myself so don't feel bad!  I don't know the working of the motors that well so I don't think I'll be much use to you and Dawid.  You need anything else though and if I can help, give me a holler!





(Tucker)"It could've been worse Blue, we could've been the dead part!  I'll take last over dead any day!  The Gunny and Yazzie will be fine.  Those two Marines are god at what they do, they won't disappoint!"



Tucker gets up with Snowy and heads out with him.  "Better get up there before the yelling starts!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:09, Fri 27 July 2007.

Tucker enters the bridge area and gives everyone a 'good morning' nod before finding a place to lean for the meeting.  "Well sir, I know there's been some talk about leaving the barge behind us while we engage targets and pick up the recon team.  Personally speaking, I don't know if it is such a good idea to leave the barge, fight, and then come back for it, if we're able to and the boat isn't too FUBAR'd from the fight.  We'd then have to make repairs and then hook up the barge and then go through the locks if I'm still understanding the plan properly?  Boarders are going to be a problem if we havethe barge with us but, we're going to have to work that out.  We're stretched pretty thin but, if it needs to be addressed, I'll personally volunteer to repel boarders on the barge.  I just don't think it would bea god idea to leave it and then come back for it if we're able," Tucker says leaning on one of the walls in the pilot house.

"No gun big," she answered Milk.  "Only small arms like this," she patted her always slung behind her AKR.

"We keep barge," she interjected firmly.  "Is mission.  Mission will not fault."

Griet looked at the Captain, Dawid then at the German Konrad.  She seemed to lean forward, like a boxer readying themself for a conflict.  Her tone was noticable sharper and stricter when specifically addressing Konrad.  "We fight barge and tug through.  No fight tug, come back, find barge, then maybeso fight tug and barge through second twice.  Is waste of time and ammo."

"We go no more than two hour now."

Parks waits for Yazzies return or something to report. He continues to scan the locks and wait.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:46, Fri 27 July 2007.

Clarence nods as Griet confirms that the ORMO detachment didn't have a "technical" (HMG or AA gun on a truck).

"Sounds like the ORMO been run off. We gotta assume the people holding the locks are hostile."

Clarence consults his note pad again before continuing,

"In their last transmission, Gunny reported at least a platoon around the locks. I'm not sure we should split up the team in the face of a dug-in force with superior numbers. Our greatest asset is the firepower on this boat and I think we should use it: lob in a couple HE shells from the mortar- maybe some smoke- then steam through with guns blazin'. Just something to think about. I'm going to try to raise the recon team; then I'll be back."

[Clarence waits for any direct response before heading out to the companionway to call the recon team.]

Clarence steps out into the chilly darkness on the companionway and fires up the radio.

"Guns; Sandbag. Request updated SITREP, over."

Tuesday, October 3rd, 2000 -0530hrs.
Moored near the south bank of the Vistula river, approx. 4km upriver from the locks
49 F
Scattered light fog, Visibility 50-200m

Gunny lies still, observing the locks through his image intensifier. After years of doing just this sort of thing- the last few in Poland- he's learned to distinguish between Polish and Russian troops. One particular sentry wears a soft, black leather Russian tanker's winter helmet; the Poles use a hard, green helmet similar to tankers in most Western armies. This and other subtle visual clues strongly suggest that the men currently in possession of the locks are Russian marauders formerly of the 38th TD that the Polish ORMO woman mentioned the day before. No loyal Russian units are known to be operating in this AO.

John Yazzie arrives noiselessly back at OP 1, having made surpirsingly good time- the return trip taking only a third as long (roughly an hour) as the innitial infiltration did. As far as he can determine, he hasn't been detected or followed.

On the Wislaw Krolowa, the impromptu planning session continues. On the bridge, an old-fashioned speaking tube coughs to life. Gryzyech reports from the engine room that a full head of steam is available at a moments notice.

Griet has made it clear that leaving the barge and it's cargo of Krakow manufactured bicycles and sewing machines (both foot-powered, by the way)- even temporarily- is not an acceptable option, at least as far as the Krakow Rada is concerned. Adam appears to defer to her "recommendation", albeit somewhat unhappily. Anyone who studies his face can tell that it rankles him to have to relinquish any degree of control of his beloved vessel. Uller is more vocal in his opposition, muttering something about "Rada whores" loud enough for all to hear.

Joost dozes fitfully by the aft Plamya mount. Max listens in on the bridge conference from the starboard Dushka mount. Clarence stands nearby attempting to contact the recon team on the radio. Blue is up an about at last and feeling almost as fit as before leaving Krakow (and getting shot in the head). Others have gravitated towards the bridge as well, either desiring to give their input to the plan for the morning's run to- and, hopefully, through- the locks or just to listen in. The rest of the native deck crew shuffles about, preparing to make way.

OOC: Yazzie has reunited with Gunny. If your PC is on the tug, please remember that you can't see what the recon team has seen, so no metagaming, right? Ya'll have to wait for the recon team to report back. But, in the meantime, you can (and should) hash out a plan for passing through the locks. The Krolowa departs at the next GM post, regardless.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:06, Fri 27 July 2007.