With Konrad's decision, the Wisla Krolowa's security team springs to action. You man your battle station and prep your weapons for combat. Tuck and Joost cart the AGS-17 forward* to support the Vasilek.

Dawid and Clarence send the first 82mm HE round arcing toward the locks, just under 4km distant. The sharp report of the long-barrelled Vasilek echoes into the mist-shrowded morning, announcing the impending break of dawn.

At OP 1, Guns and Yazzie prepare to engage targets with direct fire of their own. Clarence's voice cuts in over the radio to announce the flight of the first mortar round. Several seconds later, the first round impacts directly on top of the lock's control house. There is a flash as roof tiles, wood splinters, and bits of masonry spray out in all directions. An awkwardly cartwheeling human form is momentarily sillouetted against the lightening eastern sky.

Gunny waits for the sentry on the southern end of the lock platform to emerge from the rubble pile behind which he'd ducked with the surprise of the explosion, before taking his first shot. Gunny squeezes the trigger; moments later, the target ducks again, apparently unscathed, as the sound of the shot reaches him.

The battle for the locks has begun...

Actions?

*I need to know exactly where the AGS-17 will be repositioned to. Thanks.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:22, Mon 30 July 2007.

"Tug, this is John, fire for effect...fire for effect."


John
Prone
Calling for fire
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:18, Mon 30 July 2007.

"Roger that, John. On the way."

Clarence finishes loading a 5-round HE clip, as instructed by Dawid.

"Well, D.P., we must have hit somethin'. You heard the man, let's turn this mutha out!"

Clarence Milk
Foward gun tub
AKSU-74
Acting as loader, radio relay person

The sharp smell of cordite and propellant brought a rush of memory and excitement.  He'd wondered if he would ever do this again.  It had been worth the wait.

Grinning at Clarence while flashing a thumb's up, Dawid replied, "We are only as good as our "eyes".  Wait, fragmentation clip is already loaded; just put three more fragmentation down the tube, old-fashioned way."


Dawid Piotrowski
Manning the Vasilek, Gun Tub (Position #1)
With Milk, taking possibly 1 turn for radio comms/verbal interaction, then firing 3 more HE rounds over 3 turns

OOC: Congrats, as everyone are willing participants, according to the T2K v.22 rules all people "observing" this operation now have Heavy Artillery 0, (Rae permitting).
This message was last edited by the player at 03:54, Mon 30 July 2007.

Moving out to the edge of the bridge, he looks down to Sgt Tucker and Joost carting the AGS below him. Looking at the deck for a suitable place he calls out, "How about behind the mortar next to the port* gunwale? I want it to be part of the assault, but if you have a better place so be it."

*OOC - Port or starboard depending on which side of the river the AA guns are on.

Konrad then focuses on the mortar team getting to ready to start the battle. As Dawid makes his final adjustments for the bearing and elevation, the first bead of sweat makes the trip down his face.

SLAP!!!

Konrad raises his radio to his ear and waits as the round makes its flight to the locks. Seconds later a muffled blast is heard, followed by Yazzie's report which comes as a great relief. After the response is given by the mortar team, Konrad takes his turn on the radio, "Guns, this is Sandbag. Report when flak guns are suppressed. We will advance then. Provide fire on flak crews, over."
This message was last edited by the player at 12:41, Mon 30 July 2007.

Clarence precisely mimics Dawid's prior manual loading of the mortar, dropping three more HE rounds down the tube in quick succession.

The Marines at OP 1 observe two dazed, dust-covered men stumble from the lock control building, now sans roof. A second mortar round impacts at the lip of the canal edge about twenty meters to the right and a little short of the lock house, spraying shrapnel and bits of concrete skyward. The survivors from the lock house fall more than dive to the ground, desperate for cover. Approximately three seconds later, the third mortar round detonates just ten meters from the lock control house's front door, instantly blasting the survivors apart with a combination of concussive force and razor sharp shrapnel. The fourth and final round of the fire mission detonates short, out of site in the trees to the northwest of the locks. Gunny and Yazzie can't see this impact but they can feel it. Bits of vegetation rain down through the dust now enveloping the locks. The Russian MGer on the south side of the canal, gathers up his PKM and beats feet for the trees on the island, followed closely by his loader.

It takes a few seconds for the dust to settle enough for the recon team to do a long range BDA on locks. When the smoke clears, there is no observable movement in the kill zone. Nothing. The barrage of four 82mm HE rounds has apparently swept the northern side of the lock control complex clear, leaving the AA truck crewless but largely undamaged. Gunny continues to study the "technical" through his scope, ready to eliminate anyone foolish enough to man the weapon. At least two enemy have abandoned their posts on the southern side of the canal.

Yazzie advises the Vasilek crew of the outstanding success of their first fire mission.

"Tug, this is John- stand by for BDA."

"North side of locks clean."

"No movement and no Tango's in sight."

"Thanks to dave good shooting!"

"John out."
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:09, Wed 01 Aug 2007.

Konrad turns around to face Adam on the bridge. "Ready for this? Next salvo or so and you can get us moving."

Although deeply unhappy at the relatively unprovoked attack, Anneka knew what was required of her. Dashing away from the bridge, she headed directly for the armoury/radio shack and the RPK-74 it contained. Although she'd have prefered to stay in the wardroom ready to tend the wounded, with their numbers as low as they were anyone who could squeeze a trigger might be needed as they forced the narrows of the lock. Stuffing several spare magazines into her webbing pouches as she ran, she headed for the sandbagged position overlooking the forward deck.

"Switch to the AGS when we're within range," she called down. "We need to conserve ammo."

So far the engagement had cost them a sizable proportion of their mortar rounds. With only a few kilometres of river behind them and hundreds to go, they would certainly need every last one, and probably many more, in the days to come.

Dropping her uzi off her shoulder, Anneka jambed several 5.45mm magazines between the sandbags before her, knelt down behind cover and brought the weapons butt to her shoulder while laying the folded bipod atop the protective wall. There was still several kilometres to traverse before the lock and they'd not even begin moving as yet, but with a full head of steam, the assistance of the current and a little luck, they'd be on top of the enemy before they knew it.

Max hears the phump of the mortar, and the likley destruction it wrecks when it lands.

"Hmm, somethings up"


Max
Eyes peeled
Making sure no ones sneeking up on the Queen

Tucker looks up to the bridge where Konrad called down to him for his suggestion on the grenade launcher.  He looked to the spot where he was referring to and then to Joost, "What do you think Joost?  Good right here?"

If Joost concurs, Tucker looks back up to the bridge where the German is and gives him an 'thumbs' up' and yells to him, "Roger that!"  He begins to help Joost set up the AGL and get situated as the fire mission goes out from the forward mortar pit with Clarence and Dawid.  He watches three of the four rounds hit near or around what appears to be the mission called by the Marines.  "Fuckin' A!  Hopefully that makes things easier for us getting through!"

Tuck
Slung M-16A2 w. M-203 Grenade launcher
Helping Joost set up the AGL-17 to support the Vasilek

The first thump of the firing mortar rolled out over the water, echoing off the silent shorelines around them.  The second shot was on the way and the third being lifted up to the tube by Clarence when the rumble of the first faraway detonation reached them 12 seconds after the shell landed.  Like thunder following the flash of distant lighting, it was announced at the speed of sound, travelling 1 kilomtre every 3 seconds.  Down on deck the terrain was in the way of a clear line-of-sight, but up on the bridge they might have a better view.

The radio call came in confirming target destroyed.  Dawid smiled, jubilant.  "Yes, that is why artillery is the master of war!"  When the second fire mission comes in, he hesitated, knowing they were firing at shadows.

"Clarence, can you advise John that we are low on ammunition and request we positively ID any threats?"


Dawid Piotrowski
Bow 82mm Vasilek
Taking 1 turn for communication
This message was last edited by the player at 15:48, Tue 31 July 2007.

OOC - I didn't realize ammo was as limited as it was for the vasilek. Konrad rather would have been aware of this. Sorry.

Upon returning the thumbs up to Sgt Tucker, Konrad notices Dawid's hesitation. That and Anneka's comment on the ammo reminds him of the situation they face. "Adam, lets get moving. Get us there as quickly as you can."

Konrad yells down to the mortar crew's attention. "Stoppen Sie zu schießen... we're moving now... cease fire!"

Captain Konrad Bayer
Slung G-36 w. HK69 Grenade launcher
Observing and trying to coordinate attack
This message was last edited by the player at 17:44, Tue 31 July 2007.

Dawid nodded and gave him the thumbs up.  He said to Clarence, "Okay, inform the spotters they have three more shots coming, corrected to hit South of the canal.  I will fire from the magazine on automatic."  He clicked over the lever to automatic fire, and instead of the ammunition being dropped down the tube it was fed into the breach from the clip of HE in the magazine.  The gun smoothly fired and recoiled three more times as he covered his ears and hit the trigger pedal.


Dawid Piotrowski,
Bow-mounted 82mm Vasilek,
Firing 3 more HE[Private to GM: I agree, there is no point of a fire mission to blow up a single sentry at a disabled AA gun.  That's why he's "interpreting" the fire mission as being corrected South to clear the other side of the locks, as the North side is "clean"  with "no hostiles in sight" (according to the spotters).  BTW, who has a good FO skill asset?]
This message was last edited by the player at 23:21, Tue 31 July 2007.

Once Tucker is done helping Joost get set up and ready to fire, he will give him a tap on the shoulder and move aroundthe ship to the tug's weapon stations to make sure everyone is in place (which I'm sure everyone should be by now).  he will yell out anyway, "BATTLE STATIONS! MAN YOUR POSTS!"

Parks waits for a target to show itself while scanning the locks. Paying special attention to the AA guns for potential crew. He will fire as the impact of the next few rounds hits.

"They heard me. Be ready." Parks says in low tones.


Parks
In cover at OP 1
SVD (10) bipod, optics
Scanning the locks for targets. Paying special attention to the AA positions.

Looking up, Dawid gave him a thumb's up, then said to Milk, "nice work, my friend!  Inform the spotters we're halting fire.  Well, our job is over for the moment as we can't fire on the move, or rather, if we do, our accuracy would be so bad that even Adam has as good a chance as I of hitting anything.  So, I will be having a cigarette... away from the weapon."

Figuring this was close enough to his battle station, he went to the Port side rail and lit up, offered one to anyone else around, nodding as Tucker went by checking up on them.


OOC: Edited to reflect Konrad's orders.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:42, Tue 31 July 2007.

"check your fire no new targets"

"stop fire mission"

"No targets seen"



John will now pull out bino's and scan for targets.....



John
Prone
Scanning for targets

Three more HE rounds from the Vasilek sail through the morning sky. Seconds later, one detonates in a flash of supersonic sparks and dust on the southern platform while the other two explode in the thick vegetation bordering it.



"Yes, Hauptman Bayer. Uller, all ahead full if you please." Adam replies.

Uller pushes the throttle forward and the engines groan to life. At the stern of the Krolowa, the water turns from a relatively still, murky grey to a churning, cloudy brown as the screws spin to action. The tug swings slowly ahead and out into the middle of the river and begins making way towards the lock complex. After a few minutes, the Krolowa has accelerated to a breakneck speed of 15km per hour.

Minutes later, the island separating the canal through the locks from the main channel comes into view. From the the bridge and companionways, the SA-60 gun, with its crooked barrel pointing accusingly at the slate-colored sky, is clearly visible. Alongside the Krolowa, on the northern ban, the large, shark fin-like vertical stabilizer of an RAF Tornado IDS portrudes from a bed of rushes. The anticipation of imminent action makes the cold of the day little more than an niggling abstraction. Your thoughts are elsewhere...

A single figure slowly exposes his torso above the lip of the gun-pit on the spit. He is wearing Polish "Pantera" pattern fatigues. He apprehensively signals the Krolowa to take the left hand (canal) passage before retreating back behind the sandbags surrounding the rim of the emplacement. Moments later, the muzzle of his rifle extends back into view and two measured, evenly spaced shots are fired blindly upwards.

The Krolowa enters the canal, slowly passing the AA pit on the left (gun is on the tug's right), and Adam orders Uller to throttle back. A helmetless head emerges from the AA gun pit and follows your progress through a gap in the sandbags. From the upper decks of the tug, the lock control platform can now be seen about 500 meters ahead. You will arrive in approximately two minutes.

Back at OP 1, the recon team continues to observe the lock control platform. A few minutes after the last mortar impact, three men come into view from the north. All are wearing various patterns of Russian fatigues. Each carries an AK series rifle and one possesses a slung RPG-16. They look around, confused and apprehensive. Two men step gingerly over a few objects on the ground (bodies?) and enter the now roofless and smoking lock control building, while the other examines the AA truck. The two in the building emerge a minute later, each carrying an additional rifle and assorted other gear. The trio reconvenes in a huddle near the back of the truck when two muffled shots eminate from upstream. The men scramble for cover behind the technical. One of them crouches behind one of the gun truck's rear wheel and appears to be shouting across to the southern side of the canal. Another, prone, cranes his kneck from behind some dislodged masonry in an attempt to catch a glimpse of whatever is on its way down the canal.

In just a few seconds, the Krolowa pulls even with the shorebound Recon team.

Actions?
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:34, Wed 01 Aug 2007.

to gunny.....

"guns three targets bye the truck......"

"spot one at 250 meters wind from the north at 10 mph"

"the other two are at 260 meters trying to take cover"

"spotting target one the leader take the shot on you"


to the ship

"Tug this is john we have three tango's outside the twin aa gun"

"taking them out with sniper fire"
This message was last edited by the player at 03:02, Wed 01 Aug 2007.

Konrad takes one of the sets of binoculars Adam has hanging on the wall of the bridge. Scanning downriver he calls out loudly... "Stand by! Watch your arcs of fire."

He hears the snipers report on engaging the enemy by the AA truck, but decides not to respond. Rather than interrupting them with more radio chatter, he'll let them get on with their job.

After taking a quick glimpse of the canal he turns Old Adam and quietly asks... "Do you think there might be a chance obstacles may have been placed in the canal? Possibly underwater? Or would whatever traffic exists here eliminate that possibility?
This message was last edited by the player at 05:37, Wed 01 Aug 2007.

Blue hunkered down, he was waiting for the bullets to start flying.  It was the waiting he hated, when the fight started he was always too busy to worry.  It was moments like this, the slow advance of the tug into the unknown that had him worried.  Without thinking his hand had moved too touch his left hand chest pocket the crinkle of his wife's letter reasuring him as he waited.

And waited.

Finishing his smoke, Dawid saw Tuck and Joost lugging the Plamya auto-grenade launcher up beside him on the Port side, just forward of the Vasilek's sandbagged emplacement.  The Vasilek could only traverse 30 degrees to either side.  Once they were in the canal they would not be able to train the gun on anything not at the edge of either side of the canal without physically moving it.  Still, by leaving the gun pointed forward they could cover both sides at least as they entered.

"Tuck, we can cover the left sector.  Perhaps you'd like to move the Plamya to cover the right side?  Just a suggestion."

As they had 10-15 minutes before they entered the canal and pulled up to approximately where the snipers were hidden, he had time for some morning prayers.   Rosary in hand he crossed himself, said the Our Father, the Hail Mary, and of course the Our Lady of Częstochowa.

Everything was quiet as dawn started to break.  A few birds began to chirp, the rolling thunder of the bombardment fading into memory.  The powerful eungines throbbed, echoing off the riverbanks.

Finished, he crossed himself again, then put on his steel helmet and zipped up his heavy flak jacket.  Clearing the last 2 HE from the Vasilek's magazine he replaced them with 5 rounds of HEDP and pulled the charging handle to load the first round into the breach.  Finally, he picked up his AK and charged it, making sure the safety was on, then out it down beside him.

"Clarence, I believe we are ready."  He stared at the destroyed S-60 anti-aircraft gun as they passed it, 57mm barrels warped by some past airstrike.

They pulled up to where the snipers were hidden.  He kept the Vasilek trained down the canal towards the lock control platform and the column of smoke marking the approximate location of the AA weapons reported earlier.

OOC: if he can actually see the truck-mounted AA guns he will aim at them to cover them.  If Tuck and Joost move the 30mm AGL to cover the starboard side, he and Clarence will turn the Vasilek to cover the port side.  Otherwise, they will leave it pointing forward.


Dawid Piotrowski
82mm Vasilek (5 shots HEDP, AK-74 w/30 rds. and 3 spare magazines)
At the forward gun position, ready for action

Max is awake now, he is surprised that after only a few mortar rounds they are moving forward.

"humph, was that all?"


Max
Scanning his sector
Looking for threats
Coughing out dusk kicked up by the mortar

As Tucker makes his way back to supervise his gun stations, he looks around as the ship pulls up to where the two Marines are in cover so that they can be retrieved.  He looks down to Dawid and Clarence's position, "We've got Tango's by the AA gun right?  OK, Dawid, Clarence, cover the left sector.  Fire only if necessary!  I don't want to waste all of our ammo here if we can help it. C'mon Joost, I'll help you move this bitch again," Tucker says helping to postion the AGL-17 to cover the right side of the ship.

Tucker
M-16A2/M-203
Helping Joost move the AGL-17 to cover the tug's right sector

Dawid helped them lift and move the relatively light Plamya auto-grenade launcher and spare ammunition drum from one side to the other.  That took almost no time to accomplish with 3 men moving the 17-kg tripod-mounted weapon.  Then he motioned Clarence to assist him in re-orienting the Vasilek.  With a lot of grunting and effort, the gun was swiveled on its improvised truck-wheel mount so that it covered the front-left arc of the boat.

He then hunkered down behind the gunshield, ready for whatever threats presented themselves.

"Okay, we're set.  The Plamya will keep 'em off our backs, and with us four (assuming you stay, Tuck) we can reorient this beast in a hurry if need be.  I also have a rocket if need be."  He indicated the disposable RPG-76.

Above and behind them on the Upper Deck below and in front of the bridge, the PKM and RPK-74 SAW were ready to respond to a need for more firepower on either or both sides.  He saw the starboard and port Dushkas were also manned, covering the sides.


Dawid Piotrowski
82mm Vasilek (5 rounds HEDP loaded), AK-74 (30 rounds)
Forward Gun position.

Adam replies, "It is possible that the people controlling the locks have placed obstacles there. Natural obstacles are usually not a problem because the current here is strong. It is downstream where the canal ends and the river slows again that built up debris could be a problem."

"Uller, prepare to back the screws and hold station."

Clarence fastens the chin strap on his helmet and crouches down behind the gunshield/sandbags protecting the mortar. He cocks his AKSU, flicks the selector to automatic and scans the left bank from beside the Krolowa ahead to the lock complex.

He shouts to those manning the MGs up top,

"We got targets on the left side lock platform. Look alive and get ready to engage!"

"An accurate target indication would be greatly appeciated solider!" Major Soleblume yelled down to Milk as she repositioned herself to watch the port side.

"Adam!" she called up to the bridge just abover her, "I suggest not stopping until we're through the lock. It's been far too long since the bombardment for them not to have regrouped."

Anyone with even a basic knowledge of the first world war and the massive loss of life from that little stuff up, knew that a delay between the artillery barrage and commencement of infantry assault was almost always catastrophic. Here they may have killed and injured a few of the defenders, but how many remained and had already recovered from the intial shock?

Stopping, even briefly, before they'd cleared the lock was yet another delay they simply could not afford. Forcing their way through, even at the risk of hitting a submerged barrier, was far preferable to the almost certain loss of life that would result from further delays.

"We should steam through, anchor on the far side then send a party back to clean up any survivors and salvage what remains."

The rounds didn't come anywhere close to her, but Griet still felt the cold fist of fear clench her stomach.  It was always like that, at least for the first little bit.  She didn't exactly freeze up, but the ancient reptile part of her brain demanded she scuttle under the nearest rock and hide.

Griet remembered suddenly to breathe, and the fresh air flooding into her lungs helped her unwind the tiniest fraction.  Leaving the obvious targets to the others, she turned away and watched the side opposite of all the action.  Standing watch on ship for hours on end helped.  At sea, a lookout had a very rigidly defined section to cover.  Failure to cover it, or even glancing into another sector, brought down immediate correction; usually a CPO's heavily starched rope starter or a swift jab in the kidneys with a fist holding a short length of lead bar.

She watched and waited.

Griet Niewiadomska
PKM Position
Watching to the Left (Opposite side of AA position)

Parks hears Yazzies call as he watches the targets through the scope.He reaches up and adjusts his windage knob to account for Yazzie's call. Breathing out slowly, he aligns the sights. As they settle due to lack of breath, he slowly squeezes the trigger and awaits the recoil. As the round is fired he checks his recoil and shifts his body slightly to align on a new target. "Find me that RPG carrier Yazz." Parks says in low tones as he shifts.



Parks
In cover at OP 1
SVD(8)Bipod, optics
Firing at called target and adjusting to a new target.

Konrad calls to Foster on the starboard side... "Foster! Spec fire on the center of the trench position! Give us about fifty rounds or so."

Max perks up at Bayers call

A short burst of 5 or so rounds as a sighter, is followed by another 4 or 5 bursts of up to 10 rounds each, making 50 rounds heading down range at the trench position.

If anyone shows themselves, Max will try and walk the burst onto them.


Max
Serving up a couple of bursts on the Dushka

"I'll stay with Joost until we get through this unless something else comes up that I've got to move.  Thanks for the help and get back to your position with Milks.  Small arms unless it gets pretty bad, got it?" Tuck says to Dawid before he goes back with Clarence.

"rpg man trying to hide, but on wrong side of tire, range 240 meters wind now 5 mph"

"He's in the clear facing us...."


John will give a target destroyed if Gunny hit it...or a retarget if he missied on the leader target first shot at and for the rpg gunner.






John
Spotting targets with scope
prone with AK-47 laying beside him
This message was last edited by the player at 17:15, Thu 02 Aug 2007.

He nodded, checking to see his rifle was close to hand, although he stayed seated at the controls, aiming the weapon.  "Good show.  Let me know what needs to die, otherwise Milk will engage with small arms.  If we need to reorient the gun, then I will be counting on you and Milk to aid me."


Dawid Piotrowski
82mm Vasilek (5/5 HEDP), AK-74 (30/30)
Forward Gun position
Looking for targets.

Gunny picks out a target- the man prone behind a few loose bricks, a half-dozen meters from the gun truck- and fires. The target's entire body winces as the round cracks by his head. He crawls frantically backwards and at an angle, rejoining his comrades. Through the scope, Gunny (and Yazzie) see the trio break cover to the north and abandon the lock platfrom. A quick sweep of the southern embankment reveals movement in the heavy vegetation bordering the lock platform.

[Rewind] As the Krolowa passes the tip of the island, Max responds to Konrad's request for supressive fire, unloading 50 rounds on the SA-60 pit. The twin grips of the big "Dushka" HMG vibrate in his hands as fat, green tracers speed downrange, tossing up sand and burlap as they tear up the sandbags lining the bunker. There is no indication of the sentry's status after the barrage; neither is there any return fire.

[Synced] A few minutes later, the Krolowa is less than fifty meters from the entrance to the locks. The current is noticeably stronger here. Small branches float past the Krolowa on their way down the canal. The pitch of the Krolowa's engines change- the props are actually backing now to slow the tug's approach.

Actions?

This is your last chance to stop the tug before passing through the locks/canal. I'm not really clear on the group feeling here. I know Anneka, for one, wants to stop at the far end. Please voice your opinion on the matter, either here or in the OOC. Next GM post will go up Saturday PM.

Anneka was becoming increasingly disgusted at the situation developing around her. Although she'd served most of the war with various American units, she'd never had the misfortune before to be involved in actual combat with them - usually she'd been back with the medical units cleaning up the resultant mess...

"Hauptmann Bayer," she called up to him on the bridge. "A quiet word if you will." Laying the butt of the RPK on the deck, Anneka retrieved her Uzi, scrambled to her feet and made for the bridge doorway.
[Private to Cap'n Rae; Konrad Bayer: The subsequent conversation will be whispered (PM's) IF Konrad responds to her request. No need to let the "troops" know she has reservations about command decisions made so far.]
This message was last edited by the player at 23:51, Thu 02 Aug 2007.

Konrad watches for any response as Max fires several bursts of gunfire into the trench position. Nothing.

Lowering the binos he calls up the snipers... "Guns this is sandbag. Send SITREP over. No targets sighted here."

As Anneka enters the bridge he continues scanning the locks and holding the radio, but says quietly "Of course."


Konrad Bayer
Tug's bridge
G36/40mm GL
Scanning for targets

"tug this is john stand by for salute report"


"3 men,,running away,,north of gun enplacement,,,maurders or russians,,,time is now,,,small arms and 1 rpg"



John
spotting targets
ak-47 beside him

Before Anneka can speak with him, Konrad looks to Adam for direction... "Its your boat, your cargo, and you know how to handle this better than anyone. We holding position to launch a guide? If so I want to secure the lock before putting someone overboard in a rubber raft."

Adam, keeping one eye on the river, responds to Konrad's querry,

"I would prefer to send a pilot boat out but I can't, in good conscience, allow your people to expose themselves so with marauders about. We will all go through together, come what may."

With that, Adam squeezes past Uller to take the wheel himself...

At OP 1, Gunny and Yazzie watch as the Krolowa disappears into the man-made canyon of the locks, leaving them behind, for the time being.

On the boat's bridge, Old Adam crosses himself before placing his gnarled, experienced hands on the Krolowa's controls and easing the tug between the concrete walls at the entrance of the lock canal proper. The tug is moving much faster than it would during a conventional passage of functional locks, the barge caroming noisily from one wall to the other, scraping pale gashes in the filthy concrete. The engines are straining to slow the Krolowa but the current is unaturally powerful here as the already swollen river drops a full three meters in under half a kilometer. Adam does his best to maintain a safe and steady speed but it is clear to all that the Krolowa is moving at a dangerous pace.

There is a slight but noticeable forward cant to the decks as the Krolowa negotiates the passage through the locks. Those on the main deck are overshadowed by the lock walls; there is nothing to see but the damp, grey, algae covered, canyon-like walls. Those on the bridge, however, and the port and starboard gunners can see over them. Snow, on the port Dushka, and Blue on the aft Dushka have a good view of the carnage by the control house. At least half a dozen bodies- some whole, others in pieces- lie sprawled around on the red-splashed pavement. The scene disappears quickly as the Krolowa races along with the current. On the starboard Dushka, Max can glimpse rooftops between the trees on the southern island.

It's hard to tell if it's minutes that pass, or only seconds, before the decks level out and a brown wave breaks over the blunt nose of the barge as the Krolowa emerges from the locks into the last leg of the canal. The Krolowa slows quickly as gravity and the current loosen their grip on the tons of floating metal. Everyone on board can look out and see fields beyond the sparse treelines bordering both sides of the canal.

Ahead, the current has deposited a mass of dead driftwood and other debris against a high point of the right bank. Among the detritus are heeped several bloated corpses, their hands and naked feet standing out starkly pale against their sodden, camoflage fatigues.

On the north bank, the skeletal shape of what remains of an SA-8 Gecko battery's radar unit leans out of large dugout just past the treeline.

On the bridge, Old Adam turns to Konrad and Anneka [anyone within earshot may respond], relief washing over his face, and says, "We are through." He pauses, exhaling heavily, before continuing, "You will want to pick up the scouting team, I am sure. I think I can maintain station here, if you wish."

Actions?
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:57, Sun 05 Aug 2007.

As the tug transits the locks Konrad calls out for Tucker to meet him on the bridge. As we waits, he says to Old Adam. "Well done. While we wait for the scouts, I'd like to land a small party to check the position for anything of value to our mission."

When Tucker enters the bridge Konrad continue to announces his plan, "Sergeant I'd like you to land a small group to check out the position. Yourself, Dawid, and Milk. The snipers will also meet up with you on their way back and lend a hand if you need it. Fuel in that truck, weapons, ammo, the lock building, radios, anything you might think is good to take. Make sure you take a radio. Alright?"

OOC - I choose Dawid and Milk since the mortar is pretty low on ammo and Joost can continue to cover forward with the AGS. Dawid also since he's most familiar with Pact gear. The remainder are high up on the tug and in good all around sentry positions.

If there are no objections from anyone, he'll proceed to tell the snipers the inevitable "Guns this is sandbag. We've just past the locks, move to our position now. Watch for friendlies moving to the enemy position. Over"

OOC - How far are we from the AA truck and the lock building?
This message was last edited by the player at 05:15, Sun 05 Aug 2007.

Looking at the bloated corpses caught up against the driftwood, Dawid lit a cigarete and shivvered in the dawn chill.  "I would guess that's the remains of the ORMO garrison.  I wonder if they stole their boots before killing them, or had them take them off first?" he asked of no one in particular.

"Well, the gun can't be brought to bear on the locks now, I guess I'm free to leave my post and go ask Adam for my pistol back."

He finished his cigarette and with Clarence's leave, left the forward gun position and climbed up to the bridge.

Entering the pilothouse, he saluted Konrad, then asked Adam for the return of his sidearm.


OOC: of course, Dawid is currently unaware of any plans to have him conduct a foot recce, but will respond appropriately when told.

[Private to Cap'n Rae, Konrad Bayer: Psst: This is an excellent time to mention the duty roster to Tuck and have him take care of it.]
This message was last edited by the player at 11:48, Sun 05 Aug 2007.

Tucker watches as 'Old Adam' navigates his tug through the locks next to Joost on the grenade launcher.  He sighs and then smiles taking out a cigar from his pack and lighting it, offering one to Joost in celebration of them getting through.

Before he can get it lit, Tuck here's Bayer call him up to the bridge.  He gets up from his prone position next to the AGL and makes his way up to the bridge.  Tucker gets himself up there fairly quickly and stands in front of Hauptman Bayer, without saluting.  "Nice job getting us through Adam!" he says before addressing Bayer.

"Very good sir," he says to Konrad as he gives him direction on taking the inflatable ashore to assess the damage, scavenge, pick-up the Marines, and then return.  "If I may Konrad?  We're not taking on any POW's or WIA's are we sir?  If that's the case, how should the shore party deal with them?  I don't want another Mexican Standoff like we had before we even got on the boat with Dawid!"

Speaking of Dawid, Tucker sees him coming up to the bridge area and he raises a friendly hand to him not to come closer until he finishes talking to Bayer.  "Just give us a minute or two more please Dawid," he says politely to him until their conversation is completed between himself and Bayer.  When they're done, Tucker will say to Dawid in passing, "Get your stuff, we're going ashore to pick up the sniper team and have a look around.  Bring your RPG with you, just incase.  I'll get Clarence now and meet you on deck in five minutes!"

Tucker makes his way down and forward to Joost's position on the Grenade Launcher.  He yells down first to Clarence and then speaks to Joost.  "Clarence!  Get your shit!  We're going ashore!  Joost, you've got our cover while we're out!"

Tuck
M-16A2/M-203 GL
Getting ready to go ashore with Clarence and Milks

"Avoid it if you can." Konrad says quickly and quietly to Tucker. "You'll know what to do... we just want supplies."

As Tucker is turns to leave Konrad adds, "Don't get stuck in a fight. Radio any contact, and ensure you can extract yourselves from any problems. I don't want anyone hurt salvaging ammo."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:08, Sun 05 Aug 2007.

Aw shit, here we go again... Clarence didn't want to go. He knew his ultimate mission would end in abject failure if he should be killed in some random firefight ashore. But the others on the team couldn't be expected to take any risks on behalf of his mission if he didn't put his butt on the line for them. The recon team was about a half-kilometer away and there were likely still tangos on the ground between them and the tug. It was time for a little investment in the good will bank.

"I'll be right there, Tucker. I'm gonna help Joost manhandle the AGL back to the stern of the boat."

Milk slips his rucksack straps over his shoulders and tucks the radio handset into his web gear for easy access. Slinging his carbine, he approaches Joost and grabs the front leg of the AGS-17's tripod,

"Ya got it, man? Come on, I'll take the lead."

OOC: Is Joost still a PC?

Clarence makes his way aft, avoiding the various ropes, chains, and other sundry deck fixtures under foot. At the stern, he helps Joost situate the grenade launcher to cover the shore party before joining its other members by the inflatable.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:54, Sun 05 Aug 2007.

As the tug entered the lock, the opportunity to speak quietly with Konrad evaporated. The noise of the steam engines reverberating from the concrete walls and water rushing through the narrow channel made all conversation next to impossible.
"Nevermind," she said simply as the noise died down. "But may I suggest that next time, we try smething a little less....aggressive?"
The next orders she heard were quite welcome.
"I'll tag along with the salvage team. There could be wounded and I've more than a little skill at "finding" things."
Ready for combat as they all were, there was little she needed to grab beyond a few extra basic medical supplies. Although equipped to help any wounded, she sincerely hoped there wouldn't be any...
This message was last edited by the player at 05:44, Mon 06 Aug 2007.

Konrad turns to her and tells her with a smile "Don't worry I don't intend on shooting everything that moves on our voyage. However, you should feel at ease knowing those people (jabbing a thumb over his shoulder) ...can only be dealt with one way. Otherwise it would be you floating in the river with no boots on."

With that he heads down to where the inflatable was being prepped for launch. As the men assemble he announces "Ok. We'll hold here, but be as quick as possible. Its just a snatch and grab, we are not in dire need of anything. And, remember, don't get caught in something you can't get out of. Stay sharp and good luck."

Nodding to Tuck, he answered, "very well.  I have to finish getting my sidearm back from Adam, as I'll be packing the PKM."

"Speaking of that, I would suggest Griet accompany us to be my assistant gunner.  She said she can handle a machinegun and she'll be left without a weapon here, anyways.  Also, she'll probably want to verify what happened to her people at the locks.  The Rada will want a report."

Leaving the bridge, he passed Griet.  "I would strongly urge that you come along.  I will need assistance for the gun.  Also, you can least check up on the conditions of the lock and the fate of their men for the Rada.  Be quick!"

Once on the upper deck, he went around to the front and picked up the PKM GPMG by its carry handle, and the ammo can with the spare belt in the other.  Moving down to the main deck, he put his gear down by the inflatable, checking his heavy flack vest and tightening the strap on his steel helmet.  He would leave his AK and RPG here on the boat.

"Okay, I am ready to depart."


Dawid Piotrowski
PKM GPMG (100/100, + spare belt), Tokarev(?) (8/8)
Main deck by boat, getting ready to depart

[Private to Cap'n Rae; Griet Niewiadomska: Dawid whispered to Griet in Polish, "Griet, you REALLY need to come with us.  You must insist!"]
This message was last edited by the player at 13:22, Mon 06 Aug 2007.

Max is relieved when the boat finally finds an even keel.  For a while, Max could see the boat toppling over as it waned over at such an ... un-natural angle as it passed through the lock.

Having regained his equilibrium, he yells out to Snow above him.

"Snow?  You jumping in the tinny to go back and get our lads?

Or are you hoping they do a loot-n-scoot and have them roundavouz with us?"


After getting whatever reply from Snow, Max turns to look at the crew of the Vasilek, gives them a grin, and exagerated nod of respect for their fire.



Max
Scanning his sector for danger
Calling the shots for the recon team

Dawid smiled up and jokingly waved it off, pointing instead to Clarence and giving the thumb's up as if to say, it was all his doing!

Waiting for the inflatable to be readied, he slung the PKM over his shoulder so that is was hanging at his hip.

He said to Tuck, "if that truck is drivable, let's load it up with what we can and drive it back here so we can recover the gun as well as anything else.  Not to mention let's see if that bike is ridable."

He went below to see if there was a tool kit he could borrow.


OOC: Rae, just let me know if Dawid has his sidearm and can bring some tools in a puch, like a wrench and socket set (metric, of course!) duct tape, etc.


Dawid Piotrowski
PKM GPMG (100/100, + spare belt), Tokarev(?) (8/8)
Main deck by boat, getting ready to depart
This message was last edited by the player at 13:21, Mon 06 Aug 2007.

When Dawid went below, Griet picked up the spare belt for the PKM.  It was a heavy steel snake, eager to bite with its single pointed teeth.  She draped it around her neck and spent a moment arranging it to be if not comfortable then not painful.  That done, she set about helping ready the boat.

She'd seen the bloated corpses stuck in the driftwood like human lizards impaled by a cruel shrike.  Distance was too great for Griet to make out whether or not they were ORMO, but she would not be surprised.  The fact their uniforms hadn't been scavenged said a lot to Griet about how those who controlled the locks looked upon the local populace.  There might be a few of them in the mix of bodies too.

Griet Niewiadomska
AKR + 6 Magazines / spare PKM belt
Helping prep the inflatable

Coming back topside, Dawid nodded to her and said, "it's good to see you're going.  You can carry the belt in a can or sling it around your shoulders.  I guess in the Navy you probably never had to actually carry those around in the field."

Dawid Piotrowski
PKM GPMG (100/100, + spare belt), Tokarev(?) (8/8)
Main deck by boat, getting ready to depart
This message was last edited by the player at 15:52, Mon 06 Aug 2007.

Dawid spoke in English, but she replied in their native tongue, not caring if she excluded the others.  "In the Navy, we considered five inch small calibre," she joked, though only the merest lift of her lips suggested a smile.  "You just make sure you don't drown on the way to shore, farm boy."

Griet Niewiadomska
AKR + 6 Magazines / spare PKM belt
Helping prep the inflatable

Konrad gets back on his radio... "Guns this is sandbag, copy my last? Move now over."

"Roger that," Tucker says as he goes and gets his boat and crew ready to go ashore.

Tucker looked at Dawid with a surprised look, asking him quickly, "You still didn't get that damn pistol back from Adam yet?  Get it and don't be long, we've got work to do!  As far as Griet goes, it looks like we've got Anneka going with us now too.  I don't need a circus on the ground out there.  We've got a lot of stuff to do in a little time.  Anneka checks the wounded while we lay cover and pick up the Marines and anything else that may be useful to us.  If she wants to go ut to check on her comrades, she goes through Bayer.  I can assure you though that it looks like they're quite KIA right now and we would try and be respectful as possible in getting their ID's if any were available and to cut them down.  That's her options as I see them right now.  I'm not even sure I'd bring the PKM since we've got the boat to cover us but, I'll leave it up to you. We leave in ten minutes," he says to Dawid moving to get his own stuff ready as well as the rest  of the landing party.

"We'll try to give everything out there a good look before we leave it for the marauders," Tucker says to Dawid.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:37, Mon 06 Aug 2007.

Ahsking his head he replied, "we'll not be leaving anything for the marauders, if we can help it," he replied. "In my old unit we would demo or booby trap everything we didn't take... we will do the same here.  I have seen what I believe are explosives in the arms locker.  I can't handle them, but hopefully someone here can."
[Private to Cap'n Rae; Robert 'Tuck' Tucker: Dawid whispered to Tuck, "look my friend, there is no point in the medic coming along.  What wounded will she care for?  The marauders?  Do we want to waste time and supplies on them?  Because you know she won't leave them behind, and we're probably not going to want to take them along, if there are any.  You're in command, Clarence has the radio, Griet assists me with the machinegun.  She will be a fifth wheel, literally."]

Dawid Piotrowski
PKM GPMG (100/100), Tokarev(?) (8/8, +2 spare mags)
Main deck by boat, getting ready to depart
This message was last edited by the player at 15:53, Mon 06 Aug 2007.

Snow [NPCed] assists the away team in boarding and launching the inflatable. Clarence, Dawid, Griet, and Anneka hang on for dear life as Tucker fights the surprising strength of the still swollen river. Numbingly cold water sloshes over the rubber gunwhales as the little vessel struggles to maintain enough freeboard to stay afloat. Just a few meters from shore, the boat lurches awkwardly as a large piece of semi-submerged driftwood sideswipes it. Anneka almost tumbles overboard but manages to grab a hold of Clarence's sleeve, thusly avoiding a potentially deadly dunking. One of the boxes of ammunition for the PKM, however, slides into the murky, swift moving water. Fortunately, it is the only object lost to the river during the transit.

The away team arrives on shore after the brief but perilous voyage, shaken and thoroughly wet. Dawid and Clarence pull the boat up on to shore and the team pauses to check their remaining gear and regain their composure. After a few minutes, the group begins moving out towards the locks, a few hundred meters up a shallow and wooded slope. Fifty meters or so to their right, the abandoned SAM radar site sits perpetually  maintaining the charade of scanning long empty skies.

[Private to Dawid Waldus Piotrowski: Tools, yes; pistol, no. Dawid still hasn't made time to talk to Adam about it. ; )= Also, please deduct a can of ammo from the PKM stocks. I'm sorry to have done that but Tuck failed a SBH roll and I didn't want to dunk (and possibly drown) a PC or a weapon.]

Meanwhile, after contacting the tug team*, the Marine recon team prepares to leave their hide and move east to meet the recovery team at the locks.

Team Australia (Max, Snow, and Blue) and Joost continue to man their posts on board the Krolowa, under Konrad's supervision, while the boat's native crew work frenetically to keep the Krolowa on station. The boat's fantail slowly swings a few meters from side to side, reminding everyone aboard of the river's raw power.

Without warning, the rapid pop of automatic weapons fire erupts from the woods on the island about 75 meters to the southwest of the Krolowa. The fire is directed at the tug. Bullets ping sharply off of the tug's hull and superstructure and thud into the sandbags around the rear Dushka mount.

Actions?

GM's note: on the satelite image in the Maps notice, the Krolowa is currently positioned approx 1.5cm from the second set of lock doors, right about where the canal banks seem to get a bit sandy in the picture. The water level is currently higher due to the season and the status of the locks.

*I'm just going to say this happened "offscreen" to keep things moving.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:24, Mon 06 Aug 2007.

Konrad jumps on the radio, "Guns and Group Tucker, this is sandbag. Contact. Under small arms fire. Wait for further info."

--Planned actions--

Staying low he'll make his way to the aft machinegun yelling "Gunners! You see the enemy? Give a target indication."

Swearing under his breath along the way he'll drop an HE round into the HK-69.

Captain Bayer
G36/HK-69 GL
Moving under cover to aft MG from the bridge
This message was last edited by the player at 09:06, Tue 07 Aug 2007.

Trying not to sound disappointed, Dawid said, "well, there goes the spare belt for the PKM.  Maybe those marauders left some behind?  Don't worry, Griet, it's okay." Dawid moved off in the centre of the skirmish line, so that the GPMG's firepower could easily be brought to either flank or ahead.  He seemed to have some trouble getting the MG slung comfortably on his right hip, tool pouch swinging on the other.

He said, "argh, Griet, help me get this beast settled." [Private to Cap'n Rae; Griet Niewiadomska: He whispered in Polish to Griet, "I will make this quick.  The boat is going to Warsaw, not just Sadomierz like the Rada agreed on. If you are opposed to going to Warsaw this is your best chance to leave, otherwise, I can't guarantee your safety. You must decide, quickly."]
After he was done he said to Tuck, "no luck on my pistol. I think Adam wants it for himself or something. The old thief!" He chuckled.

OOC: if anyone has a better idea for a tactical formation other than "line abreast", feel free to share.  Once the shore parties physically RV, we can share information on what threats there are, like the RPG team on shore and the MG in the island.


Dawid Piotrowski
PKM GPMG (100/100)
On shore to the East of the locks
This message was last edited by the player at 06:27, Tue 07 Aug 2007.

OOC - Small groups like this would usually opt for the all-around circular defense with the mg pointed in the direction of most likely enemy contact. Tucker in the middle of the circle as the command element.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:17, Tue 07 Aug 2007.

Max instinctivley ducks when the firing starts.
Regaining his composure, Max will return fire from the direction of the small arms fire concentrated at the tug.

Shorts bursts.

Max
Returning fire
making sure the links are smoothly passing through the firing mechanism

Tucker nodded, "We did the same thing in my unit too but, as long as we got the time and the equipment is good, we're taking as much as we can for ourselves.  The rest we'll scrap what we can't take.  Let's get our guys back and sweep the area.  I don't want to spend too much time here than we have to!"

[Private to Dawid Waldus Piotrowski: [Private to Cap'n Rae: [Private to Cap'n Rae; Robert 'Tuck' Tucker: Dawid whispered to Tuck, "look my friend, there is no point in the medic coming along.  What wounded will she care for?  The marauders?  Do we want to waste time and supplies on them?  Because you know she won't leave them behind, and we're probably not going to want to take them along, if there are any.  You're in command, Clarence has the radio, Griet assists me with the machinegun.  She will be a fifth wheel, literally."

Tucker's Reply; "Listen, Anneka goes! It's Konrad's call and I agree bringing her with us too.  At least she'll be with us in case something goes wrong with one of us.  Your ORMO friend has her own agenda I think but, that's not my main concern right now.  Her people got zapped here by marauders, that's obvious and I understand how she feels losing friends and comrades inthis day and age. However, I don't work or report to her nor do I feel obliged to extend her anything that's not granted to her through Adam or Konrad.  If this bothers you,no hard feelings.  I'm sure If i get to know her, my attitude will change until then, we've got work to do!  I'll speak to Adam about your pistol when we get back.]]]
This message was last edited by the player at 12:55, Tue 07 Aug 2007.

As the rough waters hit the raft, Tucker yells out a warning to "HOLD ON!" in anticipation of someonepossibly going overthe side.  He curses when the spare can of PK ammo goes overboard but, rather something that couldn't be replaced like one of his team mates.  He guides it to the shore and let's Dawid & Clarence beach and secure the craft as they all exit.

Tucker takes the handset from Clarence to reply to Bayer.  Group Tucker copies Sandbag.  Will continue sweep while waiting for your updated SITREP.  We're continuing our sweep.  Copy Sandbag, over?"

Tucker smiles, Like I said Dawid, I'll speak to him when we get back about it.  OK people!  We're going to form a 'Wedge Formation' when we move out.  Clarence, you've got point.  Dawid, you've got the left flank, I've got the right behind Clarence.  Griet, you're behind Dawid on the left flank and Anneka you're behind me on the right flank.  Questions?  If not, let's roll outta here and get this done!"

Nodding, Dawid moved to the left position of the wedge, PKM covering the canal.

As Konrad makes his way past Thompson to the rear machinegun post, random automatic fire continues to smack against the side of the tug. When Tucker's voice comes over the radio he raises the handset to his head but keeps moving aft...



"Sandbag, roger. Keep moving, limited fire as of now." is his reply.

Arriving between White and Thompson he will scan the island. "See anything?" he asks the gunners.

Konrad Bayer
G36/Hk-69
Between White and Thompson's MGs
Looking for source of gunfire
This message was last edited by the player at 17:11, Tue 07 Aug 2007.

"Tucker copies, Out," Robert says as he hands the handset back to Clarence.  "Ships taking some harassment fire.  Eyes and ears open people.  I want 10 meter spacing between us.  Take us in Clarence," Tucker says giving a quick tap on Milk's shoulder for him to head out.

Tuck
M-16A2 [1] MAG 30 (loaded)/M-203 [1] HE (Loaded)
Making way towards impact area of Marauder camp and 'Team Marine'

Chagrined at letting the belted ammunition slide into the water, Griet kept her eyes down as they settled themselves out on land.  Dawid's nonjudgmental acceptance of her mistake only made it worse.  Griet only looked up once the firecracker pops of automatic weapons sounded in the distance.  Immediately she moved where Dawid was and helped him get the PKM settled.  They spoke briefly and quietly in Polish as they worked together.  [Private to Dawid Waldus Piotrowski: Why Warsaw?  Is Adam going to go back to Krakow when he's done?]

Aboard ship, she was the expert.  Here, on the land in an infantry conflict, she deferred to Tucker's commands.  Under his direction she took her assigned place on the far edge of the left flank.  The AKR was in her hands, finger near the trigger as she looked around for anyone wanting to pay them the same attention the tug was receiving.

Griet Niewiadomska
AKR + 6 magazines
Shore Party / assistant PKM gunner

As she did, he chided her in Polish, "this would be so much better if you had not let the ammunition you were carrying go in the water!  Thank you, this will be sufficient."[Private to Cap'n Rae; Griet Niewiadomska: In Polish he whispered in reply, "he goes because of his family and yes, I believe he will return with them."]  He too looked around in worry at the machinegun fire, then was comforted by the heavier return fire.


Dawid Piotrowski
PKM GPMG (100/100)
Covering the left (South) flank
This message was last edited by the player at 15:05, Wed 08 Aug 2007.

"You got it, boss. You better take the radio in case I get popped out front." Clarence says, squirming out of the wet straps of his pack. He hands it to Tuck and, once Tuck has the radio pack secured, leads the shore team out.

Clarence moves cautiously in the direction of the lock platform, angling just a bit to the north away from the river. He doesn't want to give whoever was shooting at the boat another target.

Clarence sweeps the terrain ahead with his eyes, followed in every movement by the barrel of his carbine. He moved deliberately, with a purpose, but tried to set a pace that would get them to their objective quickly. If there were other former members of the Soviet 38th TD out there within earshot of the earlier mortar bombardment, they could be making their way towards the sound of the battle.

Clarence
North shore, moving west
AKSU-74 (full auto)
On point; scanning for danger

Blue ducks down below whatever cover he has available then jumps up onto the Dshk HMG and returns fire.  "Cheeky buggers" he mutters.


Blue
Aft HMG Mount
DSHK
Returning Fire

"tug this is john moving out to link up point...."


"3 tango's moveing to away teams position"

"tell them dont cross our fires"


Heys guns they want us to move and like up with away team>>>>>

Parks gets to a knee and retracts his bipod and slings his SVD. He stand and grabs his AKR and checks the round in the chamber. Once satisfied, he places the folding stock into his shoulder and starts off. "Ok lets move. Keep our distance and check your fire. Keep any eye for that MG team that bugged out. I am guessin' they are the ones firing" Parks starts out toward the shore team.


Parks
OP 1
AKR (30)
Moving to link up with the mop up crew at a slow steady pace.

Blue and Max return fire on the island, sending streams of buzzing green tracers into the trees. Limbs are shattered and ricochets rocket out of the targetted zone at odd angles. It's not clear whether the attackers have taken casualties, but the amount of incoming fire decreases immediately.

Moments later, though, a muddy geyser errupts about 50 meters off the starboard, stern quarter, followed immediately thereafter by the sound of a muffled, soggy explosion. Someone is attempting to shell the tug.

On the north bank, the recovery team begins crossing a field of long grass, uphill towards a patch of woods bordering the canal. To the west, just past the large copse of trees should be the lock complex. Without warning, automatic rifle fire cuts through the rain-scented air around the team. It appears to be emanating from the trees. 75 meters of open ground separates the team from the wooded area. There is no cover, but the long grass offers some concealment to a prone person.

The marine recon team cautiously approaches the lock building from the west, when, from the southern lock platform, a hollow boom echoes out into the morning. Across the canal, the barrel of a mortar can be seen portruding from a large crater in the concrete platform, smoke disipating into the air from a recently fired round. The mortar position is about 75 meters to the recon team's south-east.

Actions

Yazzie will make a v sign with his fingers and point them at his eyes and then at the mortar....he will point at them and then make a slashing movement with his finger accross his throat.....


He will say to Guns


"lets go hunting"

Konrad lets out a loud "Scheiße!" at the sight of the geyser of water erupting from the explosion. Yelling into the radio over the noise of the chattering machineguns... "Guns! Group Tucker! This is Tug! Under artillery bombardment! We must leave now or eliminate das mortar fire quickly! Over!"

Before anyone can respond on the radio he's yelling to the gunners... "I need targets!

Max half cringes as he is showered with water from the mortar round.

He takes a moment to see if he can locate the mortars whereabouts ... he cant.

Max shoots off another short burst to where he has been directed.

"COVER!" Tuck yells out to his team as the automatic fire comes in around them.  He falls to his stomach and begins to reach for the radio when he hears the transmission from Bayer:

Tucker keys the radio to respond to the tug, "Tucker copies Tug!  We're pinned down under fire ourselves.  Wait one mike, We're returning fire, Break!  Tuck to Guns.  Return fire coming out from our location into copse of woods in front of us.  Heads up, Over," He says waiting to see if there's a quick reply from anyone before barking out his own orders.

"OK, listen up.  I'm going to drop an HE on 'em but, I need a suppressive fire to keep'em down long enough for a decent shot.  Ten seconds, light them fuckers up," Tuck says as he gets his sight ready on the M-203 for a shot into the woods where the automatic weapons fire is coming from.  About five seconds after his fire teams suppressive fire starts, he will pop up to his knees and try to get a decent shot off on their opposition's position.

Tucker
M-16A2 [1] MAG 30 (loaded)/M-203 [1] HE (loaded)
Calling for his teams suppressive fire to fire a 40mm HE at the automatic fire coming in at them

As the rounds spitting from the copse of woods to the West screamed around them, Dawid flopped on his stomach in the grass, looking for targets. Whoever was firing at them obviously wasn't compensating for the downhill slope and was therfore firing high, but they would soon correct.

Tucking the wooden buttstock of the PKM into his shoulder with his left hand he squeezed the trigger with his right, executing a well-practiced "immediate action drill", returning fire with 3x 5-rd bursts as Tucker talked on the radio.

He paused to listen to Tuck giving them orders to pour on more suppressive fire, then opened fire again with six more 5-round bursts down the throat of the attackers in the woods.

OOC: 1st Turn reacting by flopping down (a Go Prone Action) and looking for targets as Tuck Goes Prone and opens comms with the Konrad and Gunny. 2nd Turn: firing 3x 5-rd bursts at the woods. 3rd Turn listening to Tuck give orders while Aiming, then firing 3x 5-rd bursts each for Turns 4 and 5 (Opportunity Fire against anything moving, as he aimed the previous Turn).

Cumulative Recoil per burst is 9 vs. STR of 8, so -1 shots per burst automatically miss therefore rolling with a to-hit of 4 (1/4 of an Autogun asset of 16), with 4 rounds per burst. Half of all misses also target anyone in the "Beaten" or "Danger  Zone" 5m on either side of the aim point.

Dawid Piotrowski
PKM GPMG (100/100)
Going Prone and returning fire to the West
East of the Lock buildings
This message was last edited by the player at 13:48, Fri 10 Aug 2007.

Griet knew enough to hit the ground, but her infantry inexperience showed.  She landed hard, butt of the AKR smacking her in the belly with enough force to drive an oof from her lips.  She also stayed where she dropped, instead of rolling to a new position once out of observation.

Nearby, Dawid made the PKM sing it's air-slapping song.  Griet crawled toward him.  She noted with fascinated interest how the bullets left charred crescents in the grass blades they zipped through.  Dawid's first bursts were done on his own, but by the time he was into his latter ones, Griet was by his side ready to do whatever he needed from his assistant gunner.

"I didn't see anyone!" she yelled over the bursts.

Griet Niewiadomska
AKR + 6 Magazines
Going prone and crawling to Dawid's position
East of the Lock buildings

Anneka extended the stock of her uzi, tucked it into her shoulder, and took up her assigned position at the opposite end of the line to Griet. Although privately dreading the coming combat, she knew it to be necessary and trusted in her training to carry her through.
As the bullets began to fly around her, she attempted to keep her nerve and sought decent nearby cover - returning fire with her underpowered uzi would be merely a waste of time and ammo at this range...

Armed with: 1) Uzi - 32 rounds + 4 extra mags
                   2) Harsh language
Going to ground and seeking cover before attempting to locate enemy position.

Realising that Tuck was basically telling them to do what they should be doing anyways, he used the few seconds pause to grunt in reply, "it does not fucking matter! Shoot anyways or else keep a lookout to the left!" He also automatically checked to see that the canvas brass-catcher attached to the left side of the receiver wasn't somehow fouled and was collecting the spent casings and non-disintegrating linked ammo belt.

Resuming firing, he thought to himself, I guess the Navy does not routinely shoot at targets it cannot otherwise see or detect. But for the infantry, much of our battle consists of poorly-aimed bursts of automatic fire. For that matter, we need to get rid of these useless weapons like the AKS-74Us (or "AKR" as the westerners called them), Uzis and shotguns these people had picked up somewhere (probably because no one else wanted them) and give them some rifles.

OOC: this exchange is likely happening around Turn 2, when Dawid paused to hear what Tuck was saying.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:21, Sat 11 Aug 2007.

John will sneak up on the very loud mortar with the gunny ..when within 25 meters they will open up with their auto weapons into the hole with the mortar in it shooting the gunners inside like ducks on a pond....





John
moving to contact
weapon at ready

Clarence threw himself down as the crack of bullets passing close by announced the enemy ambush. He hit the ground on his left side and rolled a few meters in that direction through the tall grass, looking to throw off the enemy's aim.  Dawid's PKM barked out in return almost immediately. The Pole would soon become the ambushers' primary target. Clarence rose up to his knees as Tucker called for covering fire and loosed a long burst at the muzzle flash nearest him in the treeline ahead.

Clarence Milk
In the field
AKSU-74
On his knees; returning fire (full auto)

[NPC'ed]

Gunny signals Yazzie to halt and keep an eye on the area of the lock house before unslinging his SVD and going prone facing the mortar pit. He puts his eye to the scope of his Dragunov and waits for a target to present itself.

As the Russian loader rises up above the lip of the crater, mortar bomb in hand, Gunny squeezes the trigger.

Gunny Parks
Prone on N. side lock platform
SVD
Taking an aimed shot at mortar loader
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:54, Sat 11 Aug 2007.

At the locks, through his narrow, vibrating tunnel of a view, Gunny watches the mortar loader's head jerk back at an odd angle as he- and 82mm mortar round- drops heavily back into the pit. Through the steadied scope, he can see that the just-neutralized loader is not alone. Another enemy is in the pit, keeping low and not presenting much of a target. For the time being, at least, the Marines have succeeded in silencing the mortar.

In the field to the east of the locks, Dawid unleashed several short, tightly grouped bursts at the center-most muzzle flash in the treeline. It does not reappear. Dawid is in the process of adjusting to another target when flashing, swirling red lights completely fill his field of vision, a split second before his world goes black.

[Private to Dawid Waldus Piotrowski: Dawid's been knocked unconscious by a head shot. His helmet saved him and the would is only slight (4 damage). He'll come to in a round or when someone rouses him.]

Clarence goes to his knees and begins laying down suppressive fire for Tucker. Griet and Anneka remain safely (a relative term) out of the enemy's sight in the long grass.

On the Krolowa, a second geyser, this one only ten meters away from the tug's rounded stern, showers the boat with mud and water just as Max cycles through the last few 12.7mm rounds in the linked belt of his Dushka. Blue, under the tarp at the aft HMG position, whinces from the near miss but manages to stay relatively dry. Pausing to reacquire a target he notices Joost curled up in a fetal position on the fantail, a large crimson halo spreading on to the deck from under his head.

Max and Konrad are showered by spray from the mortar impact. Everyone half expects a third round to fall, this time on the Krolowa, but the seconds pass with only the sporadic burst of innacurate automatic weapons fire from the woodline indicating the enemy's intentions.

Actions?
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:53, Sat 11 Aug 2007.

Max is relieved no more mortar rounds fall, they were getting close.  Taking advantage of the small arms fire, he takes his time to direct accurate bursts at the enemy, wherever he may be taking cover.

Max
Wiping water off his face
Returning fire at unseen foes.

Griet pulled her AKS-74U around in front of her and began to unfold its buttstock.  When it clicked into place, she looked toward Dawid to get a bearing for her blind fire.

Dawid was down, slumped like a discarded rag doll, the PKM partially underneath him.  "Dawid!"  Weapon forgotten, she crawled towards him as fast as she could.  The AKS-74U dragged itself along on the sling, catching at grass and tearing out tufts of it.  Her fingers spidered over him, pulling Dawid off the weapon and turning his farmboy face up into the sky.  That's where the injury seemed to be.

"Dawid!  Dawid, talk to me.  Dawid!"  She shook his limp form, the tiny amount of first aid she knew useless and forgotten.  Wait, wasn't the small pretty woman a medic?

"Help!  Dawid shot!" she cried out for Anneka.

Griet Niewiadomska
AKS-74U + 6 Magazines
Prone at Dawid's Position mucking up First Aid

"Ahh shit" goes through Tucker's head ashe hears Griet call out that Dawid is hit.  Before he gets to a knee to fire, he yells out, "KEEP UP YOUR FIRE!"

Robert Tucker prepares himself to get up and fire his M-203 towards their attackers, making sure his M-203 sights are up.  He takes a deep breath and then finally yells out, "ROUND OUT!" as he comes to one knee and fires a high explosive round at the enemy position.

TUCK
M-16A2 [1] MAG30 (loadeed)/M-203 [1] HE (loaded)
Coming up to one knee and firing a HE round at the enemy poistion

Knowing that she was little use hiding where she was, Anneka bobbed her head up over the grass for just a moment to see if she could find the enemy. Not daring more than one or two seconds of exposure, she popped back down and began crawling forward.
Well aware of the limitations of her weapon and her own skill, she knew that to make a difference she needed to be closer.[Private to GM: I doubt she would have heard Griet calling from the other end of the line. Even if she had, chances are that she would not immediately understand her words - perhaps if she'd screamed "medic"...
This is where it all gets interesting. Initiative will be important from here on so be careful how you handle things. I suggest you be alert for characters with initiative 1 trying to do everything all at once.]
Conducting repeditive action - crawling
This message was last edited by the player at 02:01, Mon 13 Aug 2007.

Clarence flops on to his belly after firing off his first burst. He rolls a couple of meters back to his right before rising up again and firing another burst at his prior target in the treeline.

"Tucker, get that grenade..." Clarence begins to call out, biting his tongue when he hears the familair bloop of an M203 firing somewhere behind him.

The PKM had stopped firing, though. And he thought he could hear a woman calling out...

Clarence Milk
Field east of locks
AKSU-74

"I need a Medic up here Dutch is hit!" Blue shouted between burts of fire. "Max, Snow keep firing!"

Blue
Rear Deck
Returniing Fire

When then hands touched him, Dawid jerked spasmodically on his back, face a bloody mask. "It's gone dark! I'm blind! Griet, Griet... is that you?

He weakly fended off her attempts at first aid. "For fuck's sake take the PK and keep shooting, woman! Jesus Christ! I'm fine."

Slumping back down, he touched his face and felt that a flap of skin was dangling down. He moaned, "ohhhh... that's bad, better not touch that. Damn, my head is killing me."

[Private to GM: He's not really blind, just blood from a nasty but superficial scalp wound has gotten in his eyses, and he's disoriented and panicked. I figured I'd give Griet a chance to do some shooting!]
Dawid Piotrowski
Feeling like he's in a world of hurt, lying in a field to the East of the locks.

On board the Krolowa, firing from the wooded island shoreline has died down to next to nothing. As Max reloads the starboard Dushka, a bullet impacts square in the superstructure just above and behind his head. Considering the angle of impact, the round would have had to have come from the AA pit on the southern tip of the island, almost 100 meters distant and to the south, south-east of the tug.

[Private to Max Fosters: As per my last GM post, Max would have to spend this round reloading instead of firing. For the current round, he's just completed the reloading process so he's ready to fire again, should he wish.]

In the field to the east of the locks, Tucker's grenade sails high into the trees, detonating long. Despite the miss, fire from the treeline abruptly stops.

At the locks, Gunny keeps his crosshairs on the mortar pit, ready to engage the other occupant should he be foolish enough to expose himself. Yazzie keeps an eye on the shell of the lock control building.

Actions?

"i say we stay here and get the last guy in the bunker...he will get scared and run any second.."

"i will cover the building.."

Tucker ducks back down into the high grass and brings the action of the grenade launcher forward, ejecting the spent 40mm shell to the ground.  He reaches down to his MOLLE vest and digs for another HE round from it and loads it into the M-203.

Looking around in front of him, Tucker calls out, "GIVE ME A STATUS REPORT!  GRIET!  OPEN FIRE NOW!"

Tuck
M-16A2 [1] MAG 30 (loaded)/M-203 Loading [1] HE round
Reloading M-203 with another HE round and trying to get a status reprot on the team
This message was last edited by the player at 12:36, Wed 15 Aug 2007.

"You bellow louder than this," Griet chided as she took the PKM from Dawid.  The barrel was hot even from the brief bursts and she bit back an exclamation as her arm brushed against it.

"Take a nap, farm boy."  And with that Griet rolled away through the tall grass, not stopping until she was several meters away from Dawid's position.  The PKM repeatedly smacked uncomfortably into her belly and hips, but it was better than being shot when she stuck her head up from the same hole like a stupid rabbit.

Cautiously, Griet rose to a crouch, the barrel of the machine gun parting the grass in front of her as she looked for a target.

Griet Niewiadomska
PKM w/ whatever Dawid left in the 100rd box
Looking for a target

Snowy reached up and grabbed the cocking handle, pulling it in a sure semicircle to rotate a round into the breech. Releasing the friction lock, he swung the machinegun older than him across and looked over the sights across the ground on the port side of the tug.

He braced his legs, peered through the slot in the gunshield and scanned for targets.

Snowy
DShKM (port) + M4
Scanning for targets.

Thompson's calls for a medic send Konrad moving to Joost's position. He finds his bloodied body still, and it takes only a brief moment to determine he is dead.

Confused as to why the mortar didn't turn the tug into floating splinters, he takes advantage of the lull and gets back on the radio "Guns, this is Tug. Send SITREP... can you provide support fire to group Tucker over?"

Tapping Joost's lifeless body he moves back to the machinegunner's position as the Marines respond on the radio.

Konrad
Tug upper deck
G36/HK69
Trying to coordinate the teams
This message was last edited by the player at 15:31, Wed 15 Aug 2007.

Parks grins a little at Yazzy's comment. "I can flush him out fast enough if we need." Parks says in low tones while keeping watch on the pit. "In my webbing is a dumb dumb grenade for flushing rabbits out of their holes. Grab it if ya want." parks continues with the same practiced low tones.


Parks
Near mortar pit
SVD (6)
Watching the mortar pit and surrounding area waiting for a target.

After hearing nothing for a few seconds, Dawid enquired, "why am I not hearing the distinctive sounds of a machinegun being fired? Is it broken? Griet! For the love of St. Peter! Don't wait for targets to jump with with signs saying "SHOOT ME!", just point the muzzle in their direction and pull the trigger!"
This message was last edited by the player at 11:17, Wed 15 Aug 2007.

Sounds of battle all around her, Anneka continued forward on her stomach, the cold hardness of the Uzi often more of a hinderance than comfort to her as she made slow but steady progress.

Armed with: 1) Uzi - 32 rounds + 4 extra mags
                   2) Harsh language
Conducting repedative action - crawling
Initiative: 4
This message was last edited by the player at 13:34, Wed 15 Aug 2007.

In the field facing the woodline approach to the locks, silence reigns again. Griet peeks out of the long grass and just manages to catch a glimpse of two figures fleeing deeper into the trees, Clarence's 5.45mm b rounds licking at their heels. Anneka continues her crawl towards the treeline. She is now approx 40 meters away from the positions the enemy appears to be abandoning. Dawid wipes the blood out of his eyes. He's pleased to be able to see throught the red film that remains.

[Private to Dawid Waldus Piotrowski: Dawid can rejoin the fight. His innitiative will be somewhat reduced until he recieves adequate field aid. Basically, a 5.45mm round partically penentrated his helmet, gouging into his forhead and giving him a decent concussion.]

At the locks, Gunny and Yazz continue to lay in wait for the second mortar crewman. He hasn't moved, preferring to play possum in the pit instead of fighting back or making a run for it. Nothing stirs in the lock control building. Yazzie can clearly see half a dozen bodies scattered about on the platform between himself and the severely damaged structure- a testament to the skill (and luck) of the tug spotter-mortar team.

On the Krolowa, fire from the wooded island has ceased. No targets have presented themselves for the last thirty seconds or so. However, a sniper has taken a shot at Max from a gun pit identical to the SA-60 position you passed on the western approaches to the locks. This pit has had its gun removed, but it occupies a similar position facing the eastern approach to the island. Max [NPCed] stops in mid reload and ducks behind the sandbags stacked to waist-height around the companionway railing.

Konrad verifies the unfortunate demise of Joost van den Haas at the aft AGL position before attemtping to contact Team Marine on the radio.

Snowy and Blue can see the woodline from which the recovery team was taking fire. It's a long shot, though, and they can't really be sure what is going on over there at this time. And, there is still posibility of continued incoming fire from the island as well.

Actions?
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:05, Thu 16 Aug 2007.

Clarence, ducks down after his second burst. He reemerges seconds after the enemy fire stops, catching just a glimpse of a pair of figures fleeing into the wood.

It's time to shit or get off the pot... Clarence thinks. The field is a killzone. The team is closer now to the trees than they are to boat and withdrawing under fire is the most difficult of manouvers. If the enemy returns, it's all over- even the cryin'. It's time to strike while the iron is hot, Clarence decides. He thinks back to his first day at OCS as he stands and shouts, "FOLLOW ME!"

Clarence Milk
field to E. of locks
AKSU-74
Assaulting the treeline

This message was last edited by the player at 01:24, Thu 16 Aug 2007.

To the tug

"we have taken out the targets at the house here...no more return fire...one probalble tango left.."

John will reach for the dumb-dumb grenade and pull pin and throw it towards the mortar position.


to guns

"grenade out"

John
Near mortar pit
AK-47
Watching the block house and surrounding area waiting for a target.

Konrad reaches the machinegunners who are squatting low as the sniper continues to harass them. The Marines' response on the radio comes as relief... he probably wouldn't have felt the next mortar round hit. "Roger, Group Tucker ist under fire. Need you to link up to provide precision fire." he calls into the radio, more calm now than before.

"Where's the sniper?" he asks aloud to the gunners. Once a target indication is given back he'll fire a 40mm HE round (OOC: This is assuming the range isn't going to make it near impossible to hit anywhere close.)

Konrad
Tug upper deck
G36/HK69 (HE Loaded)
Attempting to silence the sniper fire
This message was last edited by the player at 08:29, Thu 16 Aug 2007.

Max, having taken cover
"Sniper, Sniper!"

Max is certain his chilling call of "sniper" will have grabbed anyones attention with his shouts.

Max will then yell out his approximation of where the sniper is.

Crouched down behind sandbags, max is uncertain whether to take up his Dushka again, the sniper having zeroed in on him before.

Max loads a HE into the BG-15 on his AK-74.  He slides along the decking of the Queen, and prepares to pop up, take aim, and fire his HE grenade at the suspected sniper position.

OOC:  Cap Rae, can you confirm a distance to the suspected sniper position before i fire my HE grenade?

Max
Taking cover
preparing BG-15 for firing.

Hearing no more return fire from the woods, Tucker takes a knee again and reaches for the handset for the radio now that his M-203 is reloaded with a HE round.  "Tug, Team Tucker calling, over!" (WFR)  "Be advised, I've got one Whiskey India Alpha.  Have element on run from wooded area from where we got hit from.  No sign of team Marine.  Will secure and treat medical at this time, over."

Tucker looks up and hears Clarence moving out and yelling to follow him.  He curses under his breath and yelss out first to Anneka, then to Griet.  "ANNEKA!  Dawid's down, he's all yours!  GRIET!  Grab that machine-gun and follow up with Clarence and give him cover."

Tucker
M-16A2/M-203
Trying to coordinate against a counter attack and have Anneka see to Dawid's injuries.  Also, waiting for reply from Tug and sniper team

Head pounding, Dawid continued rubbing his eyes. As he wiped blood from them, his vision began to clear, although it was still blurry. The underside of his chin was still sore from the chinstrap to his helmet, now gone. A bullet had carried it away, but as his probing fingers determined, without puncturing his skull. There was a long gash in his scalp, still bleeding profusely into his eyes. The gunfire around him continued and then slackened, but without the distinctive chatter of the PKM.

Clarence yelled, "FOLLOW ME!" and Dawid thought that was a pretty good idea. Attacking would be the natural thing to do, plus a lot safer getting out of the kill zone. He staggered to his feet, weaving, then steadying.

"Hey, sergeant, I think I'm okay! Personally, I want to get off this cursed hillside and into cover!" With that, he started taking uneasy steps up the hill, gaining in speed and steadiness as he went.


Dawid Piotrwoski
Trotting West towards the treeline

[Private to Cap'n Rae; Robert 'Tuck' Tucker: Sorry, Dawid's not so much ignoring Tuck as still acting a little confused and disoriented, although it's possible he's not as badly hurt as he first thought.]
This message was last edited by the player at 21:10, Thu 16 Aug 2007.

There, just inside the tree line.  Griet swung the PKM towards the fleeing figures and let loose a long, rolling burst of fire towards them even as Milk ordered her to follow him.  Rising up out of her crouch, the heavy weight of the machine gun pulled it down to waist level.  Griet felt like a total fraud, but she too was caught up in the rush of battle and followed Milk, snapping off bursts as she went.

Griet Niewiadomska
PKM w/ whatever Dawid left in the 100rd box
1 long burst at the figures  then following Milk and firing shorter bursts.
GM please roll for me.

"Follow me!"

The cry went up.

Snapping a glance towards her companions, Anneka observed they were mostly up and charging forward to the treeline. Following their example, she launched her body up and forward in a short spurt before diving groundward once more. Her body vaguely recalling the the method she'd been drilled in years ago as a cadet. Short sharp bursts of action, only exposing oneself to the enemy for the briefest of glimpses - an action specfically designed and tested to prevent effective shots at a fleeting target.

Seeing Dawid up on his feet, albeit with a bloody and helmetless head, reassured her that the call for medical aid could be posponed until after the immediate danger had been dealt with. Stopping now and removing herself from the attack could prove more deadly than any wounds previously inflicted. Besides, weren't all soldiers supposed to see to their own first aid if they were able? Dawid certainly looked capable of wrapping a bandage around his head...

Armed with: 1) Uzi, 32 rounds x5
            2) harsh language
Conducting repedative "fire and movement" towards the treeline
Observing for enemy activity while standing, crawling or rolling several metres when down.

Clarence runs through the long grass and into the treeline followed a few seconds behind by Anneka, then Griet, and, finally, Dawid, wobbly and pumping blood from his head wound down the front of his Polish cammies.

[Private to Dawid Waldus Piotrowski: If he does any more running, he's going to pass out. He needs some aid soon...]

The smell of cordite hangs heavily beneath the sparsely leafed trees. A couple of meters past the treeline, a body lays face down facing the field, the top and back of its head now a red, pulpy cavity. Spent brass lies about nearby. There is no other sign of the ambushers who'd been spotting fleeing the area moments earlier.

Tucker stays put in the field, trying in vain to raise a reply from either the tug or Marine team on the radio, as his squad charges headlong into the treeline.

At the locks, Yazzie watches Gunny's dummy grenade land far short of the mortar pit, the occupant of which probably doesn't even notice- he doesn't react, anyway. The stalemate continues.

[Private to John Yazzie: The pit is approx. 75m away and Yazzie's effective throw range is 28m.]

On the Krolowa, Max and Konrad search for the sniper on the south bank. The AA gun pit, his probable position, is approx 200m to the southwest of the tug. Blue, manning the rear Dushka catches a few brief glimpses of movement in the island woods, but the tug still hasn't taken fire from that direction during the past 2 minutes or so.

Actions?
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:44, Fri 17 Aug 2007.

Konrad will fire at the pit as mentioned with the 40mm.

you seeing he's dumb ass attempt to throw the greande turns to the gunny and says...

"sorry about the greand will recover for you taking back my security position on the door..."


John
AK-47
secuirty on door to block house.

Griet settles onto a knee near the body.  "Sit down before you fall down," she ordered Dawid.  Continuing in English, "Dawid need help?" she asked Anneka.

After looking around to see if anyone wanted to shoot them full of holes, Griet started to examine the body, not yet touching it but looking at its clothing and other gear.

Griet Niewiadomska
PKM w/60 rds
Checking body

Max notices things have quietened down, he rests his AK on the decking of the Queen, stands up and takes his position on the Dushka.

He surveys the scene before him.  Max refrains from any searching fire.

Max is paying particular attention to the AA gun pit.  If he see's any movement, he will start shooting.


Max
Surveying the gun pit and surrounds
Waiting for action, or to break contact.

Clarence enters the wood, breathing hard. It's been a while since he's had to run full tilt. He takes a knee and scans the area for threats. He glances behind him and sees the dazed and bloody Dawid stumbling into the trees.

"Anneka, Dawid's not looking so good. Check him out, would ya."

Before turning his attention back to the tiny perimeter, Clarence notices Griet looking at the enemy corpse.

"Chief, signal Sgt. Tucker to get up here- we need to set up security in case our Russian friends come back."

Clarence continues peering through the trees, looking for threats.

Clarence Milk
In the treeline facing west
AKSU-74
Trying to set up perimeter security

"Tak, yes I tell him."  Greit rose and headed back to the edge of the trees.  Once she was visible to Sergeant Tucker, she let go of the PKM with her left hand and waved him forward to join them.

Griet Niewiadomska
PKM w/60 rds
Signaling Tucker

"Sounds... good... Whoa!" He stumbled over his own feet, falling flat in the scarce shade of the wooded grove. Rolling onto his back he stared at the speckled sunlight above him, panting. Blinking to clear his eyes, he then shut them against the pounding headache which running up the slope had turned into a raging fire behind his eyes. "I think I am needing medical attention. This hurts about as bad as getting hoofed."


OOC: FYI, italics in Dawid's posts indicate talking in Polish.

[Private to Cap'n Rae: Not that this is strictly important, I'm assuming that the gash was caused not by the bullet but  by steel fragments sprayed from the helmet where the bullet punctured it.]

Seeing the rest of his squad rush up, including Dawid, Tucker gets himself up on both feet and moving towards the treeline where the ambushers just vacated.  He moves next to Clarence, "Sorry Clarence, I was trying to get the tug or Gunny on the horn to give or get a SITREP.  What do we have hear?  ANNEKA!  See to Dawid.  GRIET!  Set up the PK right there where you are to cover their route out in case they return fire!"

Tuck
M-16A2/M-203
Moving next to Clarence, scanning the woods for targets and, securing the position against a counter attack
This message was last edited by the player at 21:59, Sat 18 Aug 2007.

Clarence waits for Tuck to finish giving orders before responding.

"No problem, sarge. Aint seen nothin' up here. Probably just three men- the two that took off and their dead friend over there. My guess is we put up enough of a fight for 'em to think twice. Any word from the tug?"

C.M.
Kneeling behind the thickest nearby tree
AKSU-74
Perimeter security

"Negative, nothing yet.  I'm going to try again.  Cover me and I'll try again then, go and check out the body," Tucker says to Milks and reaches for the radio handset.  Keying the mike, "Sandbag, Sandbag, Teamn Tucker calling, Copy?"

Tuck
M-16A2/M-203
Trying to reach the tug via radio

Konrad decides to get back on the radio to Tucker before reloading his HK-69. "Roger. Hold your position. Do not pursue. We're getting stretched too thin. Secure your casualty and anything you can quickly grab. Tug is down one man and no teams can provide mutual support immediately to one another. I say again, grab what you can and withdraw."

Konrad spots movement indicating the sniper's position in the otherwise empty AA pit. He brings his G-36 to his shoulder and looks through the flip-up sights for his HK-69 grenade launcher. With a satisfying bloop, a 40mm HE grenade arcs gracefully towards the position. It detonates short, mowing down grass in a neat little circle about a dozen meters from the position. The sniper probably avoided injury from the explosion but at least he's on notice. Max keeps an eye on the pit from the starboard Dushka position (OOC: Max is currently using his personal weapon- an uninterupted turn is still needed to finish reloading the HMG.). Blue and Snow continue to keep watch on the island to the southwest. [Private to Bruce 'Bluey' Thompson; Trevor 'Snowy' White: You've been awfully quiet lately. Are you guys still playing?]

In the treeline, Griet's cursory examination reveals little about the dead man other than that he's garbed in faded Russian cammies and very much deceased. As Clarence and Tucker provide perimeter security. Anneka (NPCed) slings her Uzi and crouches down to examine Dawid's head word. It turns out to be a deep, jagged gash, about an inch long but cutting down to the bone. Apparently, most of the bullet that struck his helmet was stopped by the balistic material. But, a sizeable fragment still managed to penetrate, slowing on its passage through the helmet but stopping only once it had bounced unceremoniously off of Dawid's skull. She leans Dawid against a tree and uncaps her canteen, pouring water over his face and wiping it off with a towel. She pulls a field dressing out of her shoulder pack. Firmly, but gently, she applies a lump of gauze, wrapping it tightly around his head. "There, now rest for a little bit. I'll have to stitch you up once we get back to the boat, but you should be fine."

At the locks, Gunny continues to watch and wait for the pinned-down occupant of the mortar pit on the other side of the canal. It's been several minutes now, and the risk of tunnel vision is increasing. Yazzie, nearby, continues to pull security on the north flank. From his vantage, he can see little past the lock control house and the large "technical" parked a few meters away. From his belly, he does note that all of the truck's tires are pancake flat.

Actions?

Unceremoniously, Anneka jabs the antibiotic from the first aid pouch into Dawid's arm.
"Come on then soldiers, you heard the man!"
"Griet, hand the PK back to Dawid, I want everyone on watch while Tucker gathers up the spent brass."
Just a few short years before, she wouldn't have bothered with something as trivial as brass collection but since the nukes had flown the world was a very different place. Now factory loaded ammo was nearly as rare as cigarettes and hot showers. Her own ammo had been through the reloaders press three or four times, and she was simply a medic.
"We will then move as a group back towards the lock and police up everything we can find. Somebody please relay to the sniper team that I want to link up with them there."
"Griet, you and Dawid will keep watch of the approaches while the rest of us do the work." A medic she may be, but she was also an officer who knew just a little about scrounging and post battle reorg*.
Packing the few supplies she'd used on Dawid away in her webbing, Anneka followed her own orders and kept her weapon and eyes covering her quadrant, trusting others to cover theirs.


* Reorganisation - tending to the wounded, resupply of ammo, reassigning unit weapons as necessary, processing prisoners for transport up the chain of command, etc.

After finishing relaying his instructions to Team Tucker, Konrad slides open his grenade launcher and places a new 40mm HE round into it. Taking aim and adjusting the sights to compensate for the initial missed shot, he'll fire a second round at the sniper in the AA pit.

"Ah, thank you for the medical attention!" he said to Anneka in English, standing up a little woozily, then steadying. "Your aid is appreciated."

Picking up his PKM, Dawid gave a smile to Griet. "Good work back there, soldier. You reacted well. Not many can do the right thing to do when the bullets are flying around. You can't go wrong if you go to ground and fire back!"


To Anneka he said in English, "begging your pardon Madam, but shouldn't our immediate priority be to link up with the observation team? After all, where they're located there might be unfired ammunition. I know it seems like a waste of brass, but the minutes we spend here could be minutes they don't have! Besides, we can always come back this way."

He lay down, MG in front of his sitting on its bipod. If any target showed itself, he would be ready.


Dawid Piotrowski
PKM GPMG (60/100 Rounds)
Keeping watch, E of the locks.
Ready to conduct Opportunity Fire
This message was last edited by the player at 17:15, Mon 20 Aug 2007.

Konrad thinks for a moment and calls up the shore party once again... "Group Tucker, Tug... cancel my last. Once you've consolidated, advance to the locks as per mission. If wounded are out of action, have them return to the raft. Meet up with Guns already in position. Is this possible for you? Over."

He pauses for a response and then follows up with further clarification to the Marines... "Gun, Tug. Hold position. Group Tucker moving to your location for linkup and to continue the mission. Over."

Konrad stares at pile of spent shell casings from the DSHK. As a veteran company commander, he's used to maneuvering units about the battlefield. This time however, with such a small crew, it's different. He feels useless on the tug. Konrad is confident Sgt Tucker can handle things, it's more of a sergeant's job anyways... but a bit of guilt creeps in that he isn't there to help out. He'll also wait until they return to let them know the details of the tug's casualty.

OOC - Added this after the map was provided for clarification. Still fired the 40mm a second time at the sniper position though.

Clarence, having listened in on Anneka's suggestions, Dawid's rebuttle, and Konrad's revised orders (clearly audible over the radio) pipes in with his opinion,

"Meaning no disrespect, miss, I think we should head out now and link up with the Marines at the lock. We can police up the brass on the way back to the landing, as long as no one starts shootin' at us again."

He pauses, sweeping the woods with an intense gaze before adding,

"I'll take point again- less chance of mistakin' my black ass for a Ruskie. Tuck, call it in and tell 'em (team marine) that we're comin' in. Try to get a confirmation."

As soon as the group is ready to move, Clarence will lead them towards the lock complex, moving cautiously but as quickly as is prudent under the circumstances.

Clarence Milk
Woodline
AKSU-74
Taking point

Blue seeing Konrad take another shot with his Grenades turns his HMG onto the snipers location and starts to lay down short bursts of suppressive fire.  "Max, Snow keep watch on our flanks.  Snow, a case of Crownies says I get the sniper before the Cap'n does."

"Just what's here with the body, the rest will have to wait."
Gathering a few empty rounds shouldn't take very long but searching through the grass for their own? Now that would be a nightmare.
"You've got one minute before we move, I suggest you use it."
Until now Anneka had been realtively soft spoken, observing the people she'd found herself with and assessing their various strengths and weaknesses.
Now though the need for a leader was clear. She knew she was not tactician but she knew people. More importantly, she knew how not to get those same people killed....
This message was last edited by the player at 01:34, Tue 21 Aug 2007.

"Fuck!  One man down?" went through Tucker's head as Konrad relayed his orders abck to him over the radio.  Hey keyed the handset once more, "Team Tucker copies Tug.  Policing and securing the area.  Scrounge what we can and then withdraw.  What of Team Marine, over?" he replies back and waits for a response.

Before he can relay any orders from Bayer, Tucker watches as Anneka takes over and starts issuing her own orders to everyone on the sweep team.  He looks confused for a second due to the fact that the orders she gave were right on the money and that she knew what the hell she was doing.  However, their original mission is to link up with the Marines and get them out along with themselves and anything slavagable.  Besides that, Bayer put him in charge of this team, not Anneka.  He does take time to yell out, "Belay that!  I just got some word from the tug.  Police the area, take what we can, and then di-di back to our insertion point.  How're we doin' for ammo on the PKM you two?"

Tucker holds up his hand to everyone again as the radio comes to life, Tug, Team Tucker copies your last.  Belay last order.  Have wounded only return to raft and stand fast there.  Rest of team will move to link up with Team Marine at locks after quick search of one Tango KIA for Intel.  That is a can do Tug, copy?" Tucker says acknowledging Bayer on the radio.

He turns to the rest of the team in the woods.  "OK,here's the deal.  Dawid, report back to the inflatable and hold there until we return.  With a head wound, we don't need to be carrying you back if we don't have to and not before Anneka can stitch you up.  Everyone else, we're heading towards Gunny and Yazzie to link up with them and get them out.  Clarence, check the D.O.A. for any Intel and then we move out.  Anneka, a moment of your time please," he asked of her stepping away from the others in the group.  When out of earshot of the others, he says to her in a calm voice, "With all due respect ma'am, I may have only been a Sergeant when this war went to shit but, the orders you gave deviated from our original mission that was assigned to us.  I do not have a problem taking orders from a superior, even one that is a female but, we've got two of our own out there that we've got to get out.  We can always snoop around and make time for that if all is well with them.  You may very well be suited for a command position ma'am however, if this goes wrong, it's on me.  I want to do what's best for our bunch right now and we've got some work to do, it's only been two days we've been together.  If it's a problem, we can take it up with Bayer when we get back on the tug.  Right now, let's get our people out."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:58, Tue 21 Aug 2007.

After Tuck was finished talking with Anneka, Dawid motioned for the Sergeant. "Sergeant, really, it is only a scratch, what you would call a "scalp wound". I will be fine to function. Ask the Doctor."

He patted the tool bag. "We will need this if we want to salvage anything where we are going. Please don't send me back. What do you say?"


Dawid Piotrowski
PKM GPMG (60/100 Rounds)
East of the Locks

The sergeant might be good at what he did, but Anneka thought he was missing the big picture.
"Griet, gather that brass while I chat with Tucker please."
Standing up from her position in the defence, Anneka catiously followed Tucker away from the group, halting  a few dozen metres away just out of earshot.
"I believe you need to rethink that soldier," Anneka spoke softly but with steel in her voice.
"The mission is recovery of stores, weapons and ammo. Do you believe that has been accomplished?"
Near enough to a belt and a half of machinegun ammo, dozens of small arms rounds and a medkit had been expended so far, and what had they collected? One small head wound....
"The sniper element is more than capable of joining us at the lock or do you doubt their ability? Dawid is only lightly wounded and well able to handle the PK with Griet as his assistant - we don't have the manpower to send everyone with a splinter in their finger back for three weeks recuperation. Save the purple hearts until later..."
The willingness of Americans to cut and run with things got tough always infuriated her. Back home in Israel you had little more than the people around you. You either got on with the job or soon found yourself breathing through six feet of dirt.
"Are the "enemy", whoever they were, still a serious threat or have enough of them been killed, wounded or run off to make you feel safe?"
Not usually a sarcastic woman, the past few days had been trying to say the least.
"We will move directly to the lock area and clear it of hostiles, set up roughly half our number as sentries, wait for the sniper team to come to us and in the meantime see what goodies have been left behind."
"Then, and only then will we gather what we can and move back to the tug."
The small brown oak leaf was clearly evident on Anneka's BDU's at such close range, testament to her US rank.
""Is that clear enough for you Sergeant."

Dammit!

Max drops down behind cover, puts his personal weapon down.  He reaches into the tub (?) of linked HMG ammo and prepares to reload it.

If anyone is nearby, he'll ask for Cover! while he gets the Dushka reloaded.

Stupid bloody mistake that, can cost a man his life

Max
reloading starboard Dushka

Tucker's face began to go red when Anneka began to 'dress him down' over what the team's mission was out here.  He waits for her to say her peace and then asks, "Oh, it's crystal fucking clear Major!  And by the way, no ma'am, we haven't accurately recovered much, if any equipment as of yet.  My main concern is the recovery of two of our people in the field first and then we can go and pick up brass and weapons to your liking.  Clearly, you've got a problem with me being in charge of this mission, that's fine with me.  You can take that up with Bayer when we get back to the tug.  But for right now, you may be the ranking officer on this group ma'am but, that don't mean shit right now to me!  I'm following orders like a good soldier would ma'am.  If you don't like how shit is being run well then you can deal with it later on.  We're moving the fuck out towards the locks to recover the Gunny and Yazzie and Dawid is heading back to the raft.  When we're able to extract the Marines, we'll be in a better position to take a look around for suplies that are still servicable and in good repair.  Once we've accomplished that, we'll extract with those stores to the tug where the mission will then be accoimplished.  If that's 'Unsat' for you, then I suggest that you call someone who gives a shit about arguing this point in the middle of a hot area with unspecified number of hostiles running about.  Is that clear to you ma'am?" Tucker says to Anneka trying to keep his voice as low as possible but, still get his point across to the Israeli officer.  He grabs the handset for the radio extending it out to her.

Tuck
M-16A2/M-203
Trying to tactfully argue with Anneka

Dawid looked away, embarrassed at the display of anger and emotion over such a trivial matter.

He looked back after a moment and said, "Tucker, I assure you that I am fine, my friend. But I can see it would be best if I go."

To Griet he said, "Here, I will trade you your AKSU for the machinegun. You will make better use out of it. If someone should come upon me while I'm waiting alone, at least they won't get a machinegun out of the deal."

Holding out the bag of tools he said regretfully, "does anyone else here have the skills of a mechanic? They should take these, then. Actually, take them anyways. Where I am going they are useless."

OOC: Any helmet by the body? How about belt pouch with a medical dressing? Was the poor fellow so thoroughly looted that they took even that?

Dawid Piotrowski
PM GPMG (60/100 rounds)
Reluctantly getting ready to di di mao
This message was last edited by the player at 16:54, Tue 21 Aug 2007.

While Tucker and Anneka struggle verbally for the burden of command, Clarence searches the enemy body, finding two fully loaded 5.45mmb magazines, a half-pack of Polish cigarettes, and a bayonet in the corpse's webbing. The man's comrades must have taken his weapon with them when they withdrew. Meanwhile, Dawid exchanges the PKM for Griet's AKSU and reluctantly heads back to the dingy. He takes it slow, stopping periodically when he gets light-headed. After Dawid heads back across the field, Griet stoops to collect spent brass, pocketing exactly twenty empty cartridges before the command dispute is resolved.

Clarence leads the four through the small wood to the lock platform. Emerging from the trees, the group can clearly see the damaged lock control building ahead of them. Some sort of military wheeled utility vehicle is parked along the buidling's east wall. It is partially covered by a tarp, upon which some of the roof rubble has fallen. The lock control building itself is still standing but most of its roof has collapsed or been blown away.

Yazzie is the first to spot the recovery team. Gunny is still completely focused on the mortar pit on the opposite bank. Its occupant still has not moved.

On the tug, Max completes reloading the Dushka while Konrad (with his HK GL) and Blue (on the aft Dushka) open up on "sniper's pit". They succeed in throughly tearing up the ground around the pit, but there's no way to tell if the sniper was affected by the barrage. As he releases the twin butterfly triggers of the Dushka, a bullet snaps past Blue's head. The enemy seen previously lurking in the wooded area to the southwest continue to harass the tug with periodic bursts of fire.

Actions?
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:51, Wed 22 Aug 2007.

Tucker quickly turns at Dawid's comments about being OK to go on with the group and almost goes ballistic before he let's him finish by saying he'll return to the dingy.  "Roger that.  Be careful headingback and keep your eyes and ears open!"

Once Dawid switches weapons with Griet, he give Clarence a wave of his hand to move out and he quickly follows up behind him, back about ten yards.  When they get closer to the locks, Tucker will reach for the handset of the radio and call out to the two Marines (switching frequencies if necessary).  "Guns this is Tuck, do you copy?  Over."

Parks cusses slightly to himself. "Ok the rabbits not runnin' Yazz. Lets move to the control house." Parks folds his bipod and goes to a knee. Raises the scope one last time and checks for a reaction from the mortar pit. If nothing is to be seen he will sling his SVD and grab his AKR and head out.



Parks
OP 2, moving toward the control house.
AKR (30)
Moving and observing.

Konrad, not entirely satisfied with his grenade attack sits down on the deck with his back against the wall... he doesn't bother to load another 40mm round.

"Not worth the ammo boys. They are ineffective, as much as we 'might' be. No threat. Stay low and wait this out. We'll take take turns on sentry just to keep watch and an eye on those people on the island. But everyone else just lay low until the shore party returns. 15 minute shifts is fine I think."

He looks over at Blue and smiles... "Sorry about your Crownies... I got him for you." he jokes.

Returning his gaze back to the spent link and casings rolling on the floor with the shifting deck he adds... "No damage? Not much ammo spent? No casualties ja?"

Konrad freezes. Shit, he'd forgot. "Whoever is not on watch go take care of Joost. Wrap him in a poncho or something and move him somewhere. Ask Adam for a place. Stay low."

Konrad
Tug's Machinegun Deck
Sitting under cover and maintaining radio watch / monitoring sentry duty
This message was last edited by the player at 06:42, Wed 22 Aug 2007.

Max see's the other gunners stand down, and shifts begin.

I got first watch then boys, since i've just put a new belt in.

Max giggles, shamlessly

And it seems they have Blue for a target, hey!  Take it easy blue.  Let him relocate, find another target and use the time to get reloaded and your barrel time to cool.

Max
On shift
Starboard Dushka

Konrad nods to the other two Australians... "Can you two take care of Joost?"

[Assuming Clarence sees Team Marine] Clarence goes down to one knee and signals those following to halt. He then signals the marines that there are four friendlies coming out of the woodline behind him. Once the Marines have signalled acknowledgement, he leads the recovery team out of the woods and towards the lock control building, taking careful note of any salvageable gear strewn about along the way. When he links up with Gunny, he gives the sniper a brief sitrep,

"Glad to see you again. We got hit on the way here. We fought through but a couple of 'em got away. We had one WIA; not too bad. We need to grab what we can and the di-di out of here. Anything to report?"

Clarence
lock control building
AKSU-74
conferring with marines

Without taking his eyes off his section of watch, Max calls out to Blue.
Blue, huh, you any good with the first aid, to look after Joost here?"

Konrad speaks in a low voice, "You won't need first aid Mr. Fosters. Joost is already dead." Maybe it was Konrad's error in translation, but did the Australian think the man was injured?

Still sitting with his back to the wall on the upper deck, he looks at his watch. It's been a while since he's last heard from the rest of the crew. Raising the handset he calls to the shore parties to check the comms and how things were working out... "Team Tucker and Team Guns, this ist Tug. Send SITREP over. What ist your ETA to mission com-plete over?"

"I'll take a squiz, I'm not much chop though." Blue crawls over to check Joost out and see what he can do.

"You really need to calm down Seargeant," Anneka replied quietly and calmly once the storm of words subsided.
"If you'd been paying attention, we are working for the essentially the same outcome. The only difference is that I'm not about to send a wounded man off alone when they are still quite able to contribute to the task at hand."
American men! Why did they always feel threatened by female officers?

"I believe that Parks and Yazzie are unwounded? They are still capable of walking a few hundred metres are they not?" she asked rhetorically. "The intelligent thing to do would be set up near the lock to provide fire support should they need it."

Infantry she may not be, but she knew that keeping "one foot on the ground" as they said, was good practise in any situation. Moving the entire team to meet up with the snipers, and then back across the same terrain without direct support was at the very least unwise.

"Dawid will be staying with us. He's still the best able to handle the PK and with Griet's assistance should have no problems."
"Now, if you've finished with you burst of testosterone can you please lead the team off towards the lock?"

"Dawid," Anneka called with the voice of authority before the man had moved very far. "You are to stay close to either myself or Griet. I will not have you passing out un-noticed. Do you understand?"

OOC: I'm guessing this is still before Clarence moves out?

BIC: Robert Tucker exhaled loudly and closed his eyes for a few seconds before opening them, trying to calm himself down before he had a coronary dealing with Anneka.  He simply smiled at her as he began to speak, "For the record Major, if you don't like my handling of the mission so far then I strongly suggest that, since you are the ranking officer in the field right now, you relieve me of this command ASAP.  I was under the direction of Hauptman Bayer's orders for this mission and if you have a difference of opinion on how this OP should've gone, then we should be taking that up after the OP is over, not in the middle of it.  If you're not willing to do call Bayer on the radio and let him know of your decision, then I suggest that we continue this later on and fall in place so we can finish out sweep!

Dawid!  Belay the Major's last order to fall in with us.  You will report back to the raft and secure that position until we return with Team Marine and any supplies we can scrounge up.  Griet!  You've got the PK for the time being.  Consider this on the job trianing.  You won't be able to say after today that you're not familiar with the weapon!  Clarence, carry on!"

Tucker reaches for the radios handset and listens to Bayer's transmission.  He looks to Anneka holding it out to Anneka, "Do you want to take this call Major or should I?"

Snowy stayed at his post, watching the situation impassively. He nodded to Blue when he called out to him but otherwise remained silent, watching the treeline.

[Private to Dawid Waldus Piotrowski: I've rejoined Dawid with the rest of the shore party. Didn't want you bored IRL and vulnerable IG. Hope you're cool with that.]
The recovery team and the marine scouts reunite on the eastern side of the lock control house, near the tarp-covered, rubble sprinkled, jeep-type vehicle parked alongside. As they confer, the occupant of the mortar position on the opposite side of the canal scrambles out of his pit and bolts for the tall hedge that borders the platform on the south bank. He hurls himself through the thick, unkempt foliage before any of you can set up a half-way hopeful shot.

The combined landing team sets up a hasty perimeter around the lock house and begins policing the area for useable equipment. Seven corpses in Russian cammies lie sprawled about in unnaturally contorted, prostrate poses. Some are missing limbs; all are thoroughy perforated by sundry shrapnel. Their blood has pooled and mingled, already beginning to congeal on the cold, bare concrete. The smell of it hangs in the damp morning air.

An element of the team enters the lock house. Pale sunlight filters through a gaping hole in the roof, illuminating countless floating dust particles. Piles of assorted military gear and looted civilian goods are scattered around the large room, all of it coated with a thick layer of dust. Four more bodies, partially burried by roof and ceiling debris, lie on the floor. One of the corpses seems oddly out of place. Instead of the Russian cammies covering the lifeless husks of the other lock defenders, this one sports the British DPM pattern. As you stare, bemused, the corpse begins moving it's legs...

[Private to A. 'Mad' John Maddock: You're in play. Your hands are tied tightly behind your back. You are conscious but a bit dazed and confused. Have at it!]

OOC: I'll leave it to the reunited shore party to decide who is doing what at the locks. There's plenty to be done (security, looting, nosing about, etc.). This is a chance to really put your scrounging skills to good use. Remember that a mostly undamaged ZU-23-2 gun is parked in a Ural "technical" nearby (but all of the truck's tires have been flattened by shrapnel).

On board the Krolowa, you hear a unusually lound grown from the tug's engines, followed by a brief but alarming shudder. The boat begins moving downriver with the current and the engine noise to which you've become accustomed dies down abruptly. The young Polish deckhand, filthy with coal dust, emerges from a hatch in the lower superstructure and calls out something in Poland. From the urgency in his voice, you don't need to be able to speak Polish to know that he's not bringing good news.

[Private to Bruce 'Bluey' Thompson; Konrad Bayer; Max Fosters; Trevor 'Snowy' White: Alright, lads, I wasn't planning on this but I sensed some restlessness on board. Hopefully, this get's you back in the posting mood. ; )]

Actions?
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:32, Fri 24 Aug 2007.

The corpse kicks both it's legs like an upside down turtle, bits of rubble and detritus going flying. One racking cough after another erupts from his barrel chest, interrupting his stream of carry-on with each explosion. "Oi! Jesus suffering Christ! You effing Ivans, can't keep your house in order, dropping bits of it on my bloody head when I'm trying for forty winks. Think I'm going to come down with the screaming abdabs just because you make a rattle? Someone cut these bleeding ropes and I'll have the bloody lot of you, son, I will have the lot of you snot rag arse-bandits."

Despite a fairly thick English accent, each curse is precisely enunciated in the fashion of drill sergeants everywhere. After the worst of it has left his system, he blinks owlishly up at anyone who had entered the lock house, taken aback.

"'Ang on, you lot are the queerest bunch of Ivans I've laid eyes on. Fess-up, then, enough pratting about. Who's who?" He is clearly off of his balance, and a trickle of blood runs out of one ear to complement his oozing nose.

Anneka glared at the sergeant with the intensity only a woman could draw upon.
"Just lead off Sergeant," she sighed, knowing full well that this wasn't over. It wasn't the first time she'd butted heads with stubborn, sexist NCO's who felt women had no right to command them, and it probably wouldn't be the last either.

As the team moved back towards the lock, Anneka reclaimed her position on the flank although this time ensuring she was near Dawid. If the Polish artilleryman went down, she needed to be close by.

"Sergeant Tucker," she called once they'd linked up with the snipers and been around the lock for a while. "What's your opinion on the uniforms? Worth taking for future use?" Torn and bloodied they may be, but they had the potential for the group to avoid trouble further along their journey - might have to impersonate Soviet troops at some point.

"Dawid, remember I want you to stick close to Griet," she'd ordered before continuing, "Look after them." Although she was apparently speaking to Dawid, her words were aimed at Griet.

"Who besides Dawid knows much about that thing?" Her free hand waved at the truck mounted ZU-23-2. The weapon system could prove invaluable if only they could get it onboard the tug. Even if it had been damaged, the threat value alone would probably be worth the effort.

This message was deleted by the player at 02:17, Fri 24 Aug 2007.

Tucker let's Clarence handle the hook-up between the two elements and then moves in when everyone is together.  He gives the two Marines a big smile and trhen a handshake, happy to see the both of them are in good shape.  "Good to see you two guys are doing good.  Clarence has filled you in already?  Good.  What can you guys tell us?"  He waits for their input and then gathers everyone together.  "We don't have a lot of time.  Griet, Yazzie, you've got security.  Yazzie, find a good spot where you can support each other if necessary.  The rest of us are out on  scrounging detail.  If you find something and you don't know what it is, leave it and ask someone who might.  Dawid, you got the ZSU and any other heavy weapons with the Major."

Tucker turns to face Anneka to answer her question.  "I'd say yeah if it looks serviceable enough.  We could wash them out and sew 'em up if needed in case we wanted to use 'em or sell 'em.  Look, I need Griet on security with Yazzie to watch our backs while we snoop around.  I thought putting Dawid with you would let you keep an eye on him while we're here.  He's the best one we got when it comes to the big guns around here.  Fair enough Major?"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:41, Fri 24 Aug 2007.

"I can live with that although I would prefer Dawid limit his movements. I'll be roaming around a fair bit scrounging so once he's done checking over the ZSU, he should be put on security."
At last they were working together, exactly the way they should have to begin with!
"Lets leave the uniforms for now though and grab them if time allows. I'm fairly sure we'll find plenty else to fill the dinghy."
The ZSU would be a valuable addition to their armoury but it would take one hell of a lot of work getting it aboard. Even the small arms, food, parts and other items they were sure to find would probably take more than one or two trips to ferry across.
"Can you put in a call to Adam and see what he thinks about re-entering the lock? If he leaves the barge moored downstream a little way he should be able to tie off against one side while we load."
If not for the current, the lock channel would have been a perfect dock. Solid vertical sides that ran right up to the edge would almost have enabled driving vehicles directly on and off a vessel's decking - provided the water level had been adjusted.
"Better let Bayer know we could be a little while too," she said almost as an afterthought and indicating the radio Tucker carried.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:27, Fri 24 Aug 2007.

Konrad sits upright with a concerned look on his face, "What's that?" he asks to no one in particular.

Staying low he moves towards the bridge on a search for Adam. On the way he brings up his radio handset again... whats going on out there? "Team Tucker this is Tug. Send SITREP. What is you ETA to return to my position, over." He takes a quick glance to make sure the radio's frequency didn't get switched by accident and speaks louder this time just in case its a matter of poor comms.

Arriving at the bridge he gets Adam's immediate attention, "What is it? Engine failure?"
This message was last edited by the player at 05:05, Fri 24 Aug 2007.

Snowy gets his weapon ready and ducks into the pilothouse, moving with a purpose.

"Sounds bad boss, let's get moving and drop the rear pick or we'll drift downstream and further into Indian Country." He says to the gathered personnel there. "Do you need help dropping the anchor?"

HIgnoring his pounding head Dawid said to Anneka, "my apologies for not recognising your rank, Major. I do not have much experience with identifying NATO insignia!" His face looked terrible, literally caked in blood, but some colour was returning to his cheeks.

He said to Clarence, "my friend, if I may borrow those ammunition magazines you found, I would greatly appreciate it." Regardless of the answer, he stripped off the dead Russian's 4-cell "Lifchiki" (brassier) chest ammo-harness and put it on.

OOC: I assume that if the "webbing" with ammo was an older-style shoulder pouch his comrades would have simply taken it. Plus, laying face-down would have concealed any magazines in the harness, explaining why they were missed.

At the docks, he looked at the wreckage and bodies. It was unusual to see his handiwork up close and personal. There was a disconnect there, like this was someone else's doing and not his. Although Clarence's hands had physically dropped the shells down the barrel, it was his aiming that had allowed them to seek their target with deadly precision. With John's aid.

Sighing, he lit a cigarette. It was good the Major had stood up for herself, although her timing could have been far better. It was awkward when an officer who under the situation could be considered a nominal "observer" (that is, of a superior rank but technically not in command) decided to pull rank on a mission leader. Both looked like they had mastered their emotions and were working together effectively. His estimation of the abilities of both had gone up as a result.

"Now then, I will examine the gun and determine a way to recover it if possible. This will probably require getting one or both vehicles running. As we are probably not taking the truck with us, that will be that smaller utility vehicle. Which will do nicely if it runs," he said, motioning towards the half-covered UAZ or other small truck stored under the debris-littered tarpaulin. He patted the tool pouch and smiled.

"There was also a motorcycle that we saw. If it is still here."

"That gun will have wheels that are retracted when set up, if not removed for some reason. Worse comes to worse we could simply wheel it by hand, or use the smaller truck to help tow the larger on on it's wheel rims, which will wreck them, but that is no great consequence. We could even run the truck on its rims, if need be."

"Where there is a mortar, there is ammunition!" He pointed towards the mortar pit on the far side of the canal. "They had to have a way of getting across. There's no bridge, and the locks are gone. Therefore there will be boats, likely more than one, to allow access to the island."

"In my opinion recovering any such 82mm ammunition is our most important find here, as it enhances a weapon we already have. We could drive it back, float it down the current on a raft or boat, if there is one. Whichever."

When finished, he went over and carefully checked the gun its 23mm ammunition to see if they were booby-trapped, and the gun for functionality, test firing a round. After that, he quickly checked for spare tires for the truck in the looted goods. Then on to the other vehicle and the motorcycle to see if they were in running condition.

Trying not to aggravate his wound, he tried to take it easy physically, pointing out any useful salvage but not attempting to lift anything or exert himself.

Someone else could deal with freeing prisoner, he had his priorities and not a lot of time. Plus, in Polish army "Puma" cammies he would just as likely be taken as an enemy than a liberator by the freed man!


Dawid Piotrowski
AKS-74U (30/30)
Salvaging the gun and vehicles
[Private to Cap'n Rae: Honestly, I'm glad you kind of rewound it a little. I was happy with Dawid going back and it made sense in the situation. But I also felt that the RP was kind of abruptly halted, as Dawid only said he was going, not that he was actually going! - Tony]
This message was last edited by the player at 12:19, Fri 24 Aug 2007.

Tucker begins to address Anneka when he hears Bayer calling on the radio.  "Hold on a second Major,"

  Tucker says bringing the radio handset to his ear.  Tug, this is Tucker.  Be advised, we're at the locks right now beginning a sweep of the area for supplies and Intel.  We estimate at least zero-one hours for proper search and seizure.  Will advise again at the end of that time if we're not ready to extract.  Also, any chance of tying off to lock or re-entering, Over?"

Rob turns his attention back to Anneka when Bayer gives his instructions.  "I think the best course right now is to find everything we can, gather it all up, and then see what we can reasonably bring back, or get back to the tug.  Obviously heavy weapons and ammo is going to be a priority, followed by other small arms and ammo, fuel, lubricants, food, water, etc..  We'll have to see if we can get the tug close enough to dock or we'll just have to use the raft to ferry the stuff back and forth.  If it weren't for the big stuff the marauders had lying around here, Dawid would've been immeidately put on security."

Tucker
M-16A2/M-203
Tyring to get the scrounge set up and finally get to the new Brit PC

Konrad enters the bridge to witness a rapid-fire exchange in Polish between Adam and the young, sooty deck hand. The discussion ends abruptly and the boy brushes past Konrad as Adam turns to reply to Konrad's inquiry.

"She has, er, exploded a major steam line. We're losing pressure and we can't hold against the current. I've sent for Tadeuz and Walter to drop the stern anchor. Any help you can give them..."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:17, Sat 25 Aug 2007.

Tucker bring his rifle/grenade launcher combo up to his shoulder as he sees someone struggling in the rubble of the building that was destroyed by the auto-mortar.  "That's two strikes against you already 'mate!'  we ain't no Ivan's and we ain't queer.  Now just who the fuck are you lying in a building that once was full of  marauders?  To slow to get up and take a couple of pot-shots at us?" Tucker says to the obvious Englishman coming out of the haze.

Tuck
M-16A2/M-203
Finding the English soldier in the rubble

Parks smiles slightly as the other join them near the control house but keeps and eye on the mortar pit he's been watching for a good while now. Just as he stops to shake Tucker's hand he looks back to see his "rabbit" hopping into the safety of the  underbrush. "God damn it! That little bastard got away!" His anger seems to fade quickly as he turns back to listen to the team.
  After hearing most of the discussion and wondering what he was missing in the conversation he chimes in. " If you got no problems with it Tuck, I will help cover the teams. Yazz can nose around and see if he can find tracks outside the blast area to guess how they got across. We haven't seen any boats from our snoop but who knows." With that Parks motions Yazz to hand over his radio and once he has it reports in to the tug. " Sandbag this is guns. With tuck. We have 1 WIA and no KIA.  Starting to snoop about now. Will advise. Over" Parks slides the radio back into his harness not waiting for a response, knowing if the radio didn't work it really didn't matter.
   Upon hearing the bluster and cussing of the, sounds like, english trooper, Parks smiles and turns to Tuck. "What tha' fuck are we tha new UN? Don't we have a Brit already?" Shaking his head and laughing a little he steps off to go inspect Dawid.
  "You ok bud? Ya look like shit and don't smell no different." Parks says light heartedly.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:27, Sat 25 Aug 2007.

Still more or less turtled in the rubble, the irate Englishman stares at Tucker. "Whithefeck are you talking about? Did being trussed-up like a market pig not give it away, or do most Ivans you trot across out here normally tie themselves up before makin' their cunning attacks?"

He struggles around onto his side, kicks his legs spasmodically until he reaches something resembling a sitting position, and spits bloody saliva onto the ground. "Ach, don't mind me. Kind of stroppy after this whole affair with yon Ivans. Warrant Officer Maddock, His Majesty's Royal Marines, at your service. Yanks, is it, then? Somehow, it just had to be Yanks. At least tell me some of ye are Leathernecks."

Konrad gives an affirming nod to Adam and hurries to find the rest of his crew. "Mr. White! This is your show, you are in command. Grab whoever you need and drop the stern anchor... and whatever else needs getting done! See to Adam for additional instructions!"

Remembering what Sgt Tucker asked on the radio he doubles back to Adam. "Can we return to the locks Adam? If not now, after we've dealt with our problem?"

From where he was, Dawid smiled and replied, "Guns, you go fornicate with my mother right now! No, wait, your mother. Ah, no, no. That came out all wrong." He touched a couple of fingertips to his face and they came away tacky with blood. Wiping them on his tunic he said, "I guess I do look like shit, after all. It is only a graze, a cut scalp. We ran into a few pickets, got one. I guess you didn't see the others and thought they may be coming your way, we should keep an eye out for them."


Dawid Piotrowski
AKS-74U (30/30 rounds)
Salvaging the AA gun, looking over the vehicles
This message was last edited by the player at 14:39, Sat 25 Aug 2007.

Anneka nodded along in agreement.
"Might be best to leave all the heavier equipment where it lies for the moment and just take note. Don't yet know how we're go"
The twin barreled gun Dawid was checking over looked like it weighed a good tonne or more. Mortar ammo she knew from helping load it aboard the tug was also fairly heavy and bulky to carry any distance.

A disturbance cut short any further discussions for the moment.
"You'd better sort that out. I'll look around with Milk and see what's worth taking." She hoped the Sergeant had the sense to disperse the troops a little. With everone apparently congregating in or around the collapsed building, it didn't leave too many on watch.

"Milk! With me," she called as Tucker ran off.
"Shall we go shopping?" she said, uzi cradled in the crook of one arm.

Heading off to scrounge for weapons, ammo, food, fuel, etc. Noting the position of anything heavier than a few kilograms or moving them into full view if feasible/logical

Milk, surprised by the medic's recent onset of assertiveness, falls in.

"You got it, major. But, with all due respect sir, aint no way I'm strippin' no dead bodies."

Clarence, keeps a weary eye out for trouble as he squats to examine the various pieces of equipment scattered about. His first priority is to pick up a long-barreled AK-74. His carbine is handy in tight spaces, but in the last two firefights, he's really felt its lack of range.

Clarence
On the lock platform
AKSU-74
One eye out for serviceable weapons, the other for trouble

with no talking john will set out to search and loot any body's he finds he will turn over any information privatly to gunny..he will be very through about this and not talk or tell anyone what he is doing..he will search the bodys outside then inside...once that task is done he will search the inside of te building for anything of value.


John
searching bodys
ak-47

With Griet pulling security on the south side of the lock, and Gunny on the north, the rest of the team gets to work.

Dawid inspects the Ural and finds it badly damaged. In addition to the six flat tires, the engine block appears to have taken some shrapnel as well. It's leaking all manner of fluids and, in Dawid's assessment, if it could be repaired, it would take at least a couple of hours to do so. The ZU-23-2, however, facing away from the blast and shielded, to a degree, by the sidewalls of the truck bed, appears to be in functioning condition. Dawid shifts from the Ural to the smaller utility vehicle parked along the east wall of the lock control building. On the way, he notes a motorcycle- likely the one seen on the bridge the day before- propped against the west wall. He circles the structure to the "jeep". Pulling the tarp off of it takes some work, sprinkled, as it is, with debris from the buildings shattered roof. Dawid manages to remove most of it, but one corner is pinned fast. He climbs up on the sideboard of the vehicle to find the source of the problem. A mangled body, apparently hurled from the roof along with the other blast debris, wedges the tarp between the side of the building and the side of the vehicle. Aside from a smashed windshield, the vehicle (a Polish military UAZ) appears relatively intact. It'll take some doing, but the tarp can be moved out of the way, allowing for a more thorough inspection of the UAZ.

Anneka, Clarence, and Yazzie quickly ammass a pile of weapons from the lock platform, sorting them into three piles: write-off, spare parts, and serviceable.

In the lock house, Tuck and the Royal Marine face off across the chaos of the room.

As yet, no one has had a chance to inspect the interior of the lock control house, but, at first glance, Tucker notes that it is littered with piles of all kinds of military and civilian goods- the amassed plunder of the marauders' week-and-a-half in charge of the river passage.

[OOC: The following weapons were found on the lock platform.
Write-off: 1 RPK-74 with scope, 2 AK-74, 1 BG-15
Spare parts: 2 AK-74
Serviceable: 2 AK-74, 1 Makarov, 1 Stetchkin, 1 HP-35

Ammunition: 23 full magazines of 5.45mm b, 4 mags of 9mm M, 3 mags of 9mm P, 5 fragmentation grenades, 1 box magazine of 23mm HE, 1 box magazine of 23mm API (33 rounds each)]

Landing Team Actions?
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:26, Sun 26 Aug 2007.

As the land-bound teams link up and begin their scavenging, the Krolowa drifts along with the powerful current. It drifts about 200 meters downriver before Tadeuz, Walter, and the boy can drop the stern anchor. When the tug finally slows to a stop, it is out of effective small arms fire range from the island. It's stern HMG (and the currently unmanned AGS-17), however, can still reach out and touch the island, should the need arise.

Blue makes his way from the aft Dushka- kicking spent brass across the deck as he goes- to the stern AGS position. He carefully rolls Joost on to his side and immediately notices large entry and exit holes in the South African's neck. From the amount of blood on the deck adn the palor of Joost's face, Blue is certain the man is dead but he checks for a pulse anyway. Nothing.

On the Bridge, Adam responds to Konrad's querry. "I doubt we can sail back up the channel now, even without the barge. I must go below. Excuse me."

Konrad stays on the bridge with the sour-faced Uller, monitoring the team's radio net while Snowy accompanies Adam to the engine room. There, they find Gryzech, hand on his hips. Streams of sweat have cut rivulets into the coal dust coating his face. He shakes his head at Adam, and rattles off in Polish too fast and dirty for Snowy to understand. Adam turns to Snow and sumarizes,

"The engine was working to hard trying to stop the combined weight of the tug and barge from floating with the strong current flowing out of the canal. A steam pipe blew- thank God that no one was hurt- and we lost pressure. It can be fixed, but the boiler will have to be shut down before he starts repairs. This will take some time. If you or your team can assist him, it may go more quickly."

Meanwhile, back on the bridge, Uller glances at Konrad and says, "Well, we are fucked now. If Russians come, we are sitting duck, no? Good plan, herr German, good plan." The sarcasm is thick enough to be cut with a knife.

Tug Team Actions?
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:37, Sun 26 Aug 2007.

"Well Boss," Says Snowy, frowning at the engine, "we don't have any time to lose. Let's drop the sand anchor right here. Then we'll swap the rock pick onto the haulage lines and put it into the rubber duck. We can run that back up the channel to where the guys are, drop it in the drink, and winch us back up there. Then we can load up and get the hell out. We'll be safer with the island on one flank and can man the weapons pits the Sovs made to defend the landward flank. While the current's bad, the picks should hold us and the steam plant won't go crazy spinning the prop against the current." He fixes Adam with a steady gaze. "It puts us back in the present firing line, but we should support the grunts with our guns and it's the only place we know that is secure on the whole river. We'll tie off to the bollards on the lockside which will hold us against the current, and we'll tie on safety lines there as well while we're hauling back up there on the winch. So, what do you say? Do we do it?"

Tucker smiles at the tied up Brit, "We gotta couple of 'Leathernecks' with us right now.  We're running security and scrounging for shit right now.  Are you gunna to sit there all day and babble at me Warrant Officer Maddock or you wanna be cut loose?  So, how long have they had you captive here and what kind of Intel can you give me on the Ivan's operations here?" Tucker asks him when he come closer to him as he takes out his knife.  Tuck looks around the room at the stuff lying around everywhere.

Tuck
M-16A2/M-203
Cutting loose Maddock and looking around the room at the supplies about the place

john will move from the bodys to search the inside of the lock house for any personal goods or things of value he can scrounge up...






John
searching lock house goods
ak-47
This message was last edited by the player at 02:04, Sun 26 Aug 2007.

Maddock works some feeling back into his hands, shifting his way from a sit to a stand. "Bloody decent of you. A Private fresh from Commando would tie better knots than that lot. Doing a lot of them doesn't make it better." His tone is rich with disapproval for shoddy rope-work, as if the Russians had insulted him by not providing better handiwork.

"I've been running around the heather by my onesome for bleeding months. Would you believe it, I wander up to this bunch fat and happy, thinking I've finally had a spot of luck and met some damned decent Poles. They've turned out some good lots; the Marines did landings and jumps with them in the last war. Neither here nor there. I don't know a blessed thing, other than that there is apparently a much greater divide between a Pole speaking bad Russian, and a Russian speaking bad Polish - a lesson I don't plan on repeating."

The barrel-chest Marine noncom looks about the rubble, nodding approvingly at the results of the shelling. He seems to have taken it all in stride, now that he's untied and breathing rubble-free. "Not entirely sure where on God's green earth I am right now, actually." He turns a vaguely hopeful look on the American, as if knowledge of their geographic location would be a welcome, but not realistically expected, boon.

"You're about a day or so from Krakow.  This here's the Vistula River and the old lock system that used to control it.  You see much traffic that went through here at all since they had you as their guest?"

Bayer listens to Adam's reply but offers little more than a simple "OK" as the old tug captain disappears out of the bridge.

He's about to speak on the radio when Uller's sarcastic and unnecessary comment interrupts him. Caught right before he was about to speak Bayer slowly lowers the radio handset. He looks for a moment at the man... sizing him up and trying to determine his motive. He already knew Uller was a dick, but he wasn't use to people blatantly trashing his abilities. Bayer quickly decides it isn't worth the effort to defend the plan to Uller... nor is that someone Bayer feels he needs to explain himself to.

"I have no time for you Mr. Uller. Please make yourself useful if that's possible. And don't worry about Russians. If they come I will ensure you are the first to jump overboard to safety."

Turning his back to him in an attempt to show complete disinterest in any further comments from the man, Bayer contacts Tucker. "Tucker, Tug. Negatif on returning to the lock. Have mechanical problems. Will be needing shore party to return ASAP. You may have to make a decision on what to do bring back and what to leave. Over."
This message was last edited by the player at 06:53, Sun 26 Aug 2007.

Dawid pulled at the tarp, then gave up as he began to feel dizzy. Lighting a cigarette he walked over to where Anneka, Clarence and John were piling salvaged weapons and ammunition and liberated 4 AK-74 magazines, placing them in his Russian chest-harness so he had spare ammunition for the carbine.

He wondered, where are the grenades? Russians love those, always have some around. That, and hand-fired flares for signalling or perimeter warning. 23mm and 82mm shells?

Aloud he said, "The gun seems serviceable. There should be ammunition for it somewhere. The truck is a write-off except for parts. The UAZ over there looks promising, as does that motorcycle. We could easily tow the gun with the UAZ if it runs."

"I would like a hand removing a body from the... ah, what would you call it? Sheet? Waterproof covering? Whatever, I need someone who can help me move a body to look at the UAZ better. Any more exertion and I will pass out!"

OOC: any fuel in the vehicles' tanks? (He looks in the UAZ's tank too when he gets the chance.) What kind?

Dawid Piotrowski
AKS-74U (30/30 rounds, 4 spare magazines)
Getting some help to look at the UAZ and grabbing some spare ammo
This message was last edited by the player at 11:36, Mon 27 Aug 2007.

Adam's English is good, and although he's not quite familiar with all of the nautical terms Snow throws at him, he knows enough to understand his plan. After a few thoughtful moments, punctuated by Grzyech's stacatto Polish curses, Adam responds,

"A good plan Mr. Snow. I will put you in charge of the kedging operation. See to it, if you will. I would like to consult with Mr. Bayer before landing any more people, though."

Adam checks in with Grzyech once more before heading back to the bridge to ask Konrad about the possibility of another landing. [Private to Trevor 'Snowy' White: If you have any more questions or suggestions for Adam, go ahead and shoot. We can assume Adam leaves as soon as the two are done with the discussion.]

Back on the bridge, Adam addresses Konrad,

"Mr. Bayer, Mr. Snow is going to supervise kedging- dragging- the Krolowa back towards where we were so that we can continue to support the shore party while we repair the broken steam main. He also suggested that we land more of your people on the island to occupy the gun pit and provide security. There are only four of you, no? What do you think?"
This message was last edited by the player at 19:58, Sun 26 Aug 2007.

Clarence kneels over the pile of salvaged weapons. Folding the stock of his carbine and slinging it behind his back, he removes a long-barreled AK-74 from the pile, checks it's action carefully and, satisfied that it will operate when needed, volunteers to assit Dawid.

[I assume the AK is fully loaded. If not, Clarence will grab a fresh mag for it. He only used 1 full mag in the recent firefight, I believe.]

"Major Soleblume, if you don't mind?"

Assuming Anneka doesn't have any problem with allowing him to help the Pole, he follows Dawid to the UAZ and works with him to remove the remains of the tarp.


Clarence
lock platform
AK-74 (AKSU-74 slung)
helping Dawid examine the Russian jeep

Konrad thinks for minute in between communicating between the shore party. "Hmm, good idea... but I think we need more men. If some return from the shore party, ja. Otherwise I'd like to leave what we have on board. If we need to withdraw, we won't be able to extract everyone off the land to the tug easily."


Bayer then moves outside to find Bluey. "Excuse me sergeant. I realize I skipped the chain of command in the rush of things. So you are aware, I have detached Mr. White to lead some crew in securing the boat from the drift. Once done, he'll report back to you. No problems ja?"

Realizing the tug was now without a sentry watch*, Bayer places himself between two of the DSHKs and watches for enemy activity.

*White has been detached to assist the crew - and Thompson and Fosters were either taking care of Joost's body or helping White as well.

GM, you posted that his body was still on the deck (in the way of the crew). Have the two Aussies not removed it?

Bayer
Tug upper deck
G36/HK-69
Sentry
This message was last edited by the player at 22:07, Sun 26 Aug 2007.

"Right Boss, I'm on it."
Snowy bounds up the companionway and onto deck. Catching sight of the deckhand who's name escapes him, he gives him a whistle and says in broken polish "You. Me. Work. Anchor. Speed." He points over to the sand anchor on the rear deck, and waves the man over with him. Standing well clear from the chain running into the chain locker, he gets the man to watch the feed as he hauls the lever to drop the anchor with a rattling roar.
Looking back to the deckhand, Snowy points to the rock anchor and says "Forward." Together they carry the heavy anchor forward to the gunwale besides the weapon mount and leave it there, then return to the aft deck and unceremoniously dump the zodiac into the water. Snowy curses the job and promises himself he'll set up the aft boom next time there's some quiet sailing.

Getting the zodiac and its frankly dubious outboard going, he runs the inflateable along the hull to where the anchor is. Unless the deckhand is an utter moron, he'll have worked out the deal and have the anchor ready to be lifted by the boom. If not, Snowy calls him a dopey bastard and does it himself after making the zodiac fast to a cleat. He gives Blue a piercing whistle and shout out to his mate "Bluey! I'm running the pick back upstream to the lock. I'll need someone to help me get it out of the rubber duck and into the drink. Then we'll have to shorten the the second line off a bollard while the tug hauls up. I'll need another, maybe two guys."

Bayer finds Bluey dragging Joosts body out of the way.  "No worries Boss, technically me an the boys are auxillaries to the Bundeswehr anyway.  Joost is dead, bullet through the neck so it would have been quick at least.  I'm putting the body out of teh way until we get out of the shit."  then hearing Snow whistle he nods his head.  "Max you want to help Snowy or stay on board and keep watch.  If your staying then I'll help Snowy."

Tucker raises a hand to Maddock, "Excues me please.  Got a call from the boss," he says to him in a calm voice.  He takes a few steps back from the Brit and notices that Yazzie is now inside the building scrounging around.  "Tug this is Tuck.  Be advised, have liberated zero-one friendly POW's from marauders.  We are still searching the area nad have found neumerous small arms and ammunition.  Will raft we have make it through locks, over?"

Maddock nods as Tucker stands back to take the radio call. He begins kicking aside debris, prodding at the downed Russians, and muttering about "bloody cheek" and "take all the jam". He does seem to be looking for something in particular, as opposed to scavenging in general.

"If I lugged that pig around the hinterlands for a year and they've gone and ruddy lost it...bloody Ivans..."

[Private to Cap'n Rae: Maddock is looking for his kit, in part or in full, first inside the lock house, and then expanding outwards.]

Tucker peels the phone a little away from his ear and addresses Maddock who appears to be looking for something, "Looking for something in particuliar?"

Agh, i hate this freaking boat.  What the hell happened?  It felt like we broke free and were drifing away?

Nah, i'd love to help, but if i get off this boat now i may not get back on.  I'll stay um, how did they say it in Flight of the Intruder?  I'll stay "feet wet" and stay on watch here on the queen.

Max shoulders his AK-74, he will do any clean up jobs (bodies or brass), then keep watch by patrolling around the queen with his pesonal weapon.  He will use different crew weapons as his turn points, walking from one weapon to the next, keeping an eye out.

[Private to Bruce 'Bluey' Thompson: OOC i'm not posting enough, so i'll stay on watch where i'm hopefully not called into action!]



Max
waving absently at Blue.
On watch on the queen

"Tug. Roger your last. Yes, rafts will be the method of transport. Our is in use now to help anchor us back to original position... we are at... currently 200 meters downriver from original position. We plan on returning as soon as possible. I'll dispatch out raft to help with your extraction soon."

Bayer mentally kicks himself for not relaying their change in location earlier...

"In addition. I need your team to speed things up. Engine problem on the tug has changed... and complicated our situation. Over."

Bayer
G36/HK69
Tug MG Deck
Sentry / Communicating
This message was last edited by the player at 11:16, Tue 28 Aug 2007.

Shame the RPK didn't survive," Anneka said mournfully as he toe nudged the damaged weapon. "Would have been a nice addition."
Scoped as it was, there was little doubt that it would have complemented Parks' sniper rifle well.

"Go for it, someone's got to carry it back to the tug."
She was tempted for a moment by the pistols, especially the fully automatic Stechkin, but common sense quickly won out. Already carrying close to her limit, the added weight, not to mention nearly useless nature of such small arms, made it pointless.
"Well, lets get on and help Dawid out shall we? Need to relieve the sentries too soon."
Gathering her gear, she left the assembled small arms and ammunition and followed Dawid and Milk to the vehicle...

"Major, Clarence, I am glad for your help," said Dawid. He lit up a cigarette as they walked, and on the way over to the covered jeep offered one to the freed Britisher by waving the pack and lifting an eyebrow.

He asked of his companions, "I wonder if anyone has found a boat, or some other means of easily crossing the canal? It's almost worth tying a rope around a good swimmer and letting them go across if we knew there was a boat or raft there. Worse comes to worse, we could go back and get the raft we left back on the bank."


Dawid Piotrowski
AKS-74U (30/30rds + 4 spare mags)
Checking the UAZ

Maddock continues digging about in the detritus. "My firearm and kit ought to be around here somewhere, unless the Ivans went and lost it all."

He takes Dawid up on his offer of the cigarette, smiling somewhat dolefully. Mention of needing a swimmer perks him up, though. "I'm a fair swimmer, as luck would have it, if you've a need to float a line across."

It is now midmorning. The recovery team has swept the platform clean of viable items. Yazzie enters the lock control house to find Tuck and Maddock. The first thing anyone who enters the structure notices is the odd cocktail of aromas- the sikly sweet smell of blood, the stench of loosed bowels, and the stinging smell of strong spirits. Dozens of other wooden boxes, most marked with either the coat of arms of Krakow, or the stencilled acronyms of post-exchange Krakow businesses, lie stacked in towers around the dimly lit room. Many of the crates are damaged, their contents spilling onto the dusty floor. Others are empty, their contents having been consumed by the late occupants.

The following is a list of useable items found in the lock control house:
1 crate of locally produced antibiotics
2 crates- 12 jars pickled vegetables
1 crate- 12 cans canned fruit
2 crates- 24 cans tinned meats
1 crate- 12 bottles distilled spirits
5 sacks of pre-owned women's civilian clothing (dresses, blouses, skirts, shoes, undergarments, etc.

Searching through the mess for his kit, Maddock comes across a small arsenal of weapons laying against the base of the far wall and covered in light rubble and plaster dust. Among the veritable Jane's catalogue of Cold War small arms, he finds his well-loved L86A1. It needs a good cleaning, but it appears functional.  Stacked nearby are several crates of reloaded loose 7.62mm S rounds. Among them are 7 empty Tantal magazines.

The following is a list of weapons that appear fuctional:
2 Polish Tantal (locally produced, product-improved version of the AK-74) ARs
6 AKM ARs- w/10 magazines
1 RPD SAW w/ 1 drum magazine
2 G-3 BRs w/4 magazines
1 G-3 LMG
1 M-16A2 w/ 1 magazine
1 MP-5 SMG w/1 magazine

[Private to A. 'Mad' John Maddock: Your HP-35 was found outside on one of the corpses. Assume that the rest of your kit is also found in the vicinity. Your handheld radio's batteries, however, are kaput]

[Private to Anneka Soleblume: The RPK scope is shattered. It was one of two weapons blown off of the roof of the lock control house when the mortar shell hit.]

Dawid, Clarence, and Anneka succeed in tugging the tarp free from the UAZ. Dawid unscrews the gas cap and probes around in the tank with a stick. Removing it, he judges the tank to be about 1/4 full of methanol. Attempts to start the old warhorse, however, are futile. The engine sputters, a few puffs of blue smoke emerge from the exhaust pipe, but the beast refuses to start properly. On the third or fourth go, the motor ceases to respond at all.

The relative peace at the lock platform is interrupted by a short burst from the PKM manned by Griet, followed by her hoarse cry,

"Moving! I see moving!"

Meanwhile, Snow, Tadeuz, and Walter load the anchor into the pitching inflatable and head upstream. The going is slow, what with the current and the weight of the anchor. Snowy skillfully handles the small boat so that it doesn't ship too much water but it's a close run thing. The boat approaches the tug's previous position when fire from the island starts kicking up spray directly ahead. Had the enemy gunner been more patient, the inflatable- and its occupants- would have been shredded with the fist fusilade. As luck would have it, the fire is about a dozen meters short. It won't be long, however, until the shooter finds the range. Max and Blue look on from the stern of the Krolowal as the rounds stitching the water creep closer to the small boat...

Actions?
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:28, Wed 29 Aug 2007.

To all...

"i dont know about you fuckers but we need to gather up the best shit into our packs and be ready to foot move to an extract point..my pack is light due to me not having shit to start with...i want to load up on the meds here...we can trade them later for anything...they will help our group out the most..so if you dont have anycomplaints i will load up..."


"i would tell you what to grab but you are your own person...once i grab my shit i'm going out side to set security...if i see anything i will shout out..."


john will take as much of theese items into his mountian ruck that will fit...
1 crate of locally produced antibiotics


he will also take a tin of meat to eat outside...


John
outside lock building using cover and concealment
ak-47 at alert on sling
eating meat looking around trying to hide
This message was last edited by the player at 14:45, Thu 30 Aug 2007.

"Aww FUCK! Get down guys!" Snowy reaches up and triggers his mike while fighting the bucking current, hoping like hell that the outboard doesn't decide to pack it in now.
"Break. Break. Snowy to any unit. We're taking fire from the island and can not manouvre. We need suppressive fire on those bastards Right NOW! Snowy out!"
Crouching down, Snowy puts his hand off hand on his M4 but gives it up as a bad joke given that the current and the boat are a double handfull as it is. He shouts back to the Poles in the boat "If we start getting hit, bail out and ride the current back to the barge."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:08, Wed 29 Aug 2007.

"Max! Suppress the Island ASAP!" Blue shouts as he starts to prepare the AGS-17 to fire. "Hang in there little buddy." he mutters as he prepares to fire.

"Fucking idiots wouldn't take no for an answer Max.  Should have just left our boys alone."  he shouts as he begins to fire.

Blue
AGS-17
Get some!

<Before all hell starts breaking loose on land at the lock building>:

"Well Mr. Maddock, seems like you kits pretty much intact.  Gear up and we'll try to make you useful," Tucker says to Maddock watching him dust off his equipment in the building.

When more of the group enter the lock building where the supplies are, he turns to all within, "Antibiotics are the primary followed by the canned goods and the liquor.  No offense Major but, if you were looking for something other than BDU's, you might want to go through that pile of clothing if you chosse.  At least two of us are going to have to go back and get the raft we came in on.  The boats got some mechanical troubles and is about 200 meters upstream from us now.  If we get company, looks like we've got plenty of weapons and ammo here to use against any counter attacks rather than waste our own shit.  Questions or suggestions?"

OOC: I'll post more on Wednesday when I have more time and to answer Bayer.  I foreshadowed some by posting that the tug was in repair before responding back.

Slinging his borrowed AKS-74U and picking up a Tantal, Dawid said, "if the boat's not going anywhere then we have the time to try and get the UAZ running. I can try and salvage parts from the truck."

He filled the rest of his chest harness cells with AK-74 magazines, as they were interchangeable with that of the Tantal. He pulled back the rifle's bolt to see if the weapon was loaded and checked how well-maintained it was. While he was at it, he placed a couple of hand grenades in the chest harness grenade pouches.

"If we can get the UAZ-69 running that was the prime mover for this weapon. If not, we can push and use the motorcycle. At any rate, the motorcycle will be able to carry many of these weapons and some cargo in the sidecar, although I can't vouch as to whether the jars will stay intact!"

"It is annoying that we can't find how Ivan got across the channel. While I'm working on the vehicles, someone can take my binoculars and search the South platform, looking for a boat or some other way of getting across."

Dawid intended checking to see if the truck's engine parts could be swapped to make the jeep run. The latter's engine had turned over, which was a good sign as it indicated it hadn't seized up, so it was likely a blocked carburator hose, fuel line, or something like that.

He was happy at least the motorcycle was functional. It had a mount for the PKM, and could even carry the AGS-17 if needed.


Dawid Piotrowski
Wz.88 Tantal (30/30, 8 spare magazines)
Talking a bit in the lock building
This message was last edited by the player at 18:37, Wed 29 Aug 2007.

Snowy's call on the radio gets Bayer moving at the double back out to the upper gun deck's gunners where he was just moments before. "Ziel... I mean... target the island! Rapid Fire!"

Bayer then raises his binos to observe the impact area looking for an actual target... and to prepare to direct the fire onto whatever he sees. There's no need to reply to Snowy, he'll know we got the message we the DSHK and AGS begin firing.

"Rapid fire... but don't go all out crazy." he says, this time more calm as he scans the island.

OOC - I'll assume Bayer got Tucker's radio response here.

Bayer
G36/HK-69
Tug MG Deck
Observing/Directing Fire
This message was last edited by the player at 10:46, Wed 29 Aug 2007.

Max runs to the nearest HMG, cocks it, and begins firing ...

Noooo!!!

While Max attempts to locate the new shooter, he loosens off short bursts.  Once he locates their position, he will unleash a long burst of sustained fire, hoping to keep their heads down and buy Snows dingy time to dis-engage.

Na, wouldnt take no for a fucking answer.  We had this Queen half way down the river and we decide to go back up-stream???



Max
Shaking his head
Returning fire (on his Dushka if LOS permits)

Maddock seems quite satisfied to have found his own kit, inspecting the pack, harness pouches and rifle with a careful eye. A test-fire of his hand radio causes a fatalistic shrug, as if to say, "Well, of course, why not?". He begins settling the gear about his person, chambering a round in the L86.

When Griet opens fire, he goes through an instinctive duck, surmises that he isn't in the line of fire, and continues about his work with calm, unhurried hands. "The hurrier I go, the behinder I get," he murmurs to himself. Once he has himself kitted-out and settled, he makes his way to the lock-house's door in a crouch, and takes measure of what is happening outside before slipping into the open.



Maddock
L86
Kitting-out & Observing

This message was last edited by the player at 14:36, Wed 29 Aug 2007.

Tucker gets the message from Bayer and confirms it with him.  "Team Tuck copies.  Rafts to be used as transport back to base.  Current location is two-zero-zero meters downstream of insertion.  Making best speed now on search of area.  We have found useful supplies for our journey.  Recommend extract with supplies ASAP given tug's current condition.  Over."

The burst of automatic wea"ons fire makes Tuck's head turn in that direction and for the door to see what is going on.  He hear's Griet call out to everyone that there is movement out away from the lock area.  Tuck turns to the others inside the building, "Somebody grab that RPD and back up Griet with the PK.  Word from the tug is that we're going to need the rafts to get us and the supplies back to the tug since it's got some mechanical problems.  Yazzie, find the Gunny and do your thing!  Major, how do youwant to handle retrieving our raft?"  Tucker slings his personal M-16A2 and grabs the one from the pile of weapons they just found.  He first checks drops the magazine and checks it before reinserting it into the weapon after he checks the bolt and the chamber.

Tuck
Captrured M-16A2 w. [1] 30 round mag
Checking weapon and trying to get people out on the perimeter
This message was last edited by the player at 15:16, Wed 29 Aug 2007.

Remembering John had already taken the drum magazine, Dawid pointed out, "Mr. Yazzie has taken the RPD's ammunition for his own use. Do not worry, I can think of something a lot better than that!"

Dropping the borrowed AKS-74U carbine and grabbing a box of 50 23mm HEI rounds, he ran outside to the truck, intending on climbing onto the bed and manning the ZU-23-2. Using the ground target aiming scope, he would look for targets to engage.

OOC: This post is to break up the previous "pre-combat" post and to make his intentions clear. Whether he carries them out or not is up to the GM. Dawid spends a turn talking to Tuck, 1 Turn running to the truck, 1 turn to mount the gun, another to Aim. He will then conduct Opportunity Fire against any targets he sees, or thinks he sees.


Dawid Piotrowski
Wz.88 Tantal AR (30/30, + 8 spare mags, 2 frags)
Manning the ZSU-23-2, conducting Opportunity Fire.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:22, Wed 29 Aug 2007.

After helping Dawid uncover the UAZ, Clarence heads back to the lock house to check out the cornucopia of weapons and supplies he's caught wind are inside.

He steps into the chaotic interior and surveys the loot. To anyone listening he says,

"Well, Yazzie's got the meds. We can each take a tin or two of food. The weapons we can use or trade. Each of us could grab one of those. That MG-3 is an outstanding light machine gun but there aint no ammo for it. I don't think we have no 7.62mm NATO on the tug either. Now, do we try and move that AA gun back to the boat? We can probably drag it back to the inflatable but how the hell we gonna get it on board the tug?"

When Griet opens fire, Clarence moves to one of the windows and peeks over the bottom sill to locate and assess the threat. He will engage with his "new" AK-74 if a clear target presents itself (single shot).

Clarence Milk
In the lock house
AK-74 (AKSU-74 slung)
Looking for a target to engage (semi-auto)
This message was last edited by the player at 23:46, Wed 29 Aug 2007.

"Yazzie! What are you doing? That drum is full of belted ammo and entirely useless to you in it's present state. Leave it with the weapon..." Anneka shook her head. Sometimes people amazed her. Did Yazzie think the drum could be used with his AK?

"Where? What do you see?" she yelled out as she rushed to pick up a more effective weapon than her uzi.

"Parks! Push up and find them! Call in AGS fire from the boat!"
Although Anneka didn't have a lot of knowledge about the individual team members skills, she assumed that the sniper could at least do that much. Wasn't scouting, observing and calling fire part of the job?

"Tucker, why don't you take Milk and Yazzie and find a way across. I don't care if you have to build a bridge to do it but I'm not leaving this stuff for those assholes there!" With the destruction wrought by the mortars earlier there should be a few planks lying about. Hell, if all else failed they could push the truck into the lock and climb across it couldn't they? As for retrieving the raft, Anneka had a few ideas about that which could wait until they'd dealt with the gnat across the stream.
"The rest of us will provide cover for you."

The unexpected appearence of an armed British marine from a partially collapsed building momentarily stunned her.
"Who the hell is that?" she said, annoyed that somebody had been found and she'd not been informed about it. At the very least she should have been asked to check the man over for injuries.
"Never mind," she said seeing that Tucker had obviously already met the man and assessed him as friendly. "Take him with you."

Without waiting for a reply from Tucker, she scooped up her chosen weapon from the pile and hurried to find cover. At least Dawid was thinking straight, heading for the most effective weapon available.

Yelling "suggestions" while moving to the weapons pile.
If Yazzie has returned the drum, she grabs the RPD, if not, the M16A2 before seeking nearby cover.

"Tug. Roger. Make best speed as possible. Tug requires assistance. Out."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:30, Thu 30 Aug 2007.

"This bitch just keeps getting better and better with time," Tucker thinks to himself as Anneka tries to take over the situation.  Shaking his head, "OK, fuck it!  Let's see if we can't find a way across here to the other side of the lock to that sniper.  Who knows what's on the other side anyway besides him.  I'm sure he's got some more buddies over there that would love to see us right about now!  However, I'd like to avoid going over there because Ithink it's going to waste too much time and energy right now, especially since we've got Tango's inbound.  Thinking caps on gentlemen," he says to Milks, Yazzie, and Maddock about how to get across the locks to the small island.

OOC: Tucker took the M-16 and spare mag with him.

Tuck
Captured M-16 w. [1] Mag 30
Trying to find a way across the locks
This message was last edited by the player at 00:09, Fri 31 Aug 2007.

Clarence looks at the major with an expression that clearly conveys the message,
Are you out of your mind?

"That's it! Look major, it aint a good idea to try crossing a home-made plank bridge under enemy fire. All of us combat veterans are alive because we know this. There ain't no point in crossing to the island anyway. We should grab what we can from the warehouse and torch the rest. Sgt. Tucker, you're the mission commander here..."

Clarence looks to Tuck to back him up.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:12, Fri 31 Aug 2007.

Konrad watches through his field glasses as Blue unleashes a short barrage from the AGS-17. Five 30mm grenades burst in smoky blossoms among the tree tops. He's firing high, but the effect of the airbursting grenade rounds is nonetheless devastating. Konrad pans to see a stream of fat, green tracers from Max's Dushka intersect with a running enemy soldier. The man literally falls apart in mid-stride as the giant slugs cut through flesh, sinew, and bone. In a manner of a few seconds, the tug crew has silenced all enemy fire from the eastern end of the island. Konrad studies the impact zone and sees what he thinks are three bodies under the edge of the barren canopy. As he shifts his view to Snowy's zodiac, he spots a boxy shape under the trees, only a few meters from the low river bank.

Snowy, peering over the edge of the inflatable's rubber gunwhale, spots it too. It appears to be a river assault boat of some sort- the kind used by combat engineers for river crossings and to serve as pontoons for makeshift bridges.

At the locks, you peer across the canal, trying to find the target Griet engaged moments ago. You see nothing. She's stopped firing. A minute passes and still nothing. Every so often, you think you see movement on the other side of the canal, but it's hard to tell because of the thick, unkempt hedge that borders the lock platform there. Anyway, you're not taking any fire at the moment. You can, however, hear a cacophany of fire from further down-river. The tug crew is apparently quite busy.

Actions?

With barely restrained fury, Anneka explodes.
"Ignoring the fact that I am actually a superior officer for the moment, do you see ANY incoming fire soldier? For that matter, has ANYONE here on the ground received ANY fire in the past ten minutes?"

If the man had been paying attention to what was going on around him instead of drooling over their spoils, then he wouldn't be in such a rush to leave.
So far all that had happened was a brief burst of fire from the island followed by another from Griet. Moments later those near a radio had heard Snowy call in almost a panic of suppressive fire. Immdediately after a short few bursts from a heavy machinegun and handful of grenades from the AGS, a scream was cut short.

"Now, if you're finished wanting to run away I suggest you get on with the job at hand and assist the good sergeant there!"
[Private to GM: Please alter my summary of events if I've got it wrong]

Snowy looks at Tadeuz and Walter and says "I dunno about you guys, but I nearly crapped myself! Let's run up to the side of the lock and find out what the boss wants to do."

He keeps the bouncing zodiac heading upstream, angling over to the friendly shore to try and stay in the slower water. When he finds a sheltered place near the lock channel to pull up in, he'll tie up to the side and get Tadeuz and Walter ashore and in cover. There he'll take up a covering position and hit the radio again.

"Snowy to Sunray. Boss, we've come ashore near the lock. The channel is running really fast, we're not sure if the tug and barge wouldn't be swamped if we tie up in the lock-race. I can look about for another solution, but I'll hold here until I get your instructions. Snowy, over."

"Stop shooting! Cease fire!" Konrad calls out as he lowers his field glasses. "Watch for targets of opportunity." He nods to Max "Got a couple."



I know Adam is the boss... but I am assuming as tactical commander that Bayer is the 'Sunray' you are referring to. Let me know if I am wrong.

"Roger, wait out." is Bayer response as he simultaneously moves into the bridge. Infantry tactics and command are his trade, not tug boats or barges, or rivers or whatever. Finding Adam at the wheel he tries his best to explain what Snowy told him just a second before. "Adam, the inflatable is near the lock. They say the current is strong and might sink the tug... or cause problems. What should they do? I need more direction on how to handle this."

Once told by Adam he will relay the message immediately to Snowy. After that Bayer makes another call to the shore party... "Tucker. Tug. What is your progress? Also, watch for friendly boat on the river. Over"
This message was last edited by the player at 10:35, Fri 31 Aug 2007.

Max
Firing hap-hazard down range
"covering firrrrrrre"

Maddock watches the rapid-fire exchange between the American non-com and the Israeli officer, with an expression that starts at surprise and rapidly flips over to close-faced disgust. He spits a stream of dust-darkened spittle onto the lock apron, tightens up on his rifle, and ambles off to find Griet.

He parks himself in a low crouch near her, and without preamble, inquires, "What did ye see, hen? I'm thinkin' ye saw something worth shooting at, sure and fine, but I'd like to hear what you thought."


Squatting beside Griet
L86A1 LSW (30rnd Mag)
Observing & Enquiring

This message was last edited by the player at 15:47, Fri 31 Aug 2007.

Tucker sighs loudly, lettinghis head fall back in frustration.

"This has gone on long enough!  Major Soleblume, there has been no other person in this patrol that has questioned that you are the ranking officer with us right now.  However, I must insist that you cease trying to run this unit as if you're in charge of it.  Once again, Hauptman Bayer has chosen me to lead this sweep, not you, even though you are the ranking officer.  Clarence, Yazzie, and Maddock, belay the Major's order to find a way across the locks to the island.  We're going to consolidate what we've found, retrieve our raft, and get as much of the supplies back to the tug as we can.  Mr. Maddock, if you'd like to make yourself useful, see if you can give our Polish ally with the PK a hand at her position.

Now, I've also got Bayer calling me telling us to expedite and get back to the tug because she's stuck in the water.  So, here's what we're going to do.  We need a plan to get our raft back to our position and work on getting back to the tug once we've done that.  The rest of us not needed there, will stay here and hold this position until the eraft is back and we're ready to go.  We will scrap any supplies we don't take with us.  Major, if you've got an idea about how we can do that, I'll be glad to hear it right now."

Tuck
Captured M-16 w. [30] round mag
Going around it again with Anneka

"Has he dropped the kedging anchor yet? We need to try and drop it in slower water. Closer to the locks, the current is stronger. The anchor may not hold the tug and barge."

OOC: I'm not sure from Snowy's post whether he dropped the anchor in the spot where the Krolowa had previously been holding station as originally planned (I thought...).
This message was last edited by the player at 22:48, Fri 31 Aug 2007.

Griet, PKM tucked securely in the wedge formed by her right shoulder and neck, points towards the hedge with her left hand.

"Two men, looking through... bush. I don't think I shoot them."

Griet's whole body speaks of fear and determination. She is clearly terrified- and out of her element- but, like any good soldier, she stands to her duty with an unshakeable will.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:53, Fri 31 Aug 2007.

Looking where Griet was pointing, Dawid put a bust of twin 23mm HEI into that bush, and the ones on either side of it, and the ones on either side of those. He hunched down low over the gun, protected by the ammo magazines and the gun itself. Rounds slashed into the bushes and exploded; some of the green tracers hit rocks and richocheted up into the air.


Dawid Piotrowski
23mm AA gun
Firing 5 5-rd. bursts

Clarence glares at Anneka, his dark brown face actually blanching.

"I'm guessin' You got those oak leaves for being good at what you do. Well, Sgt. Tucker got his stripes for being good at what he do. But, like you said, let's ignore rank for a minute here. We aint taken no fire but the Chief musta seen something to shoot at over there. You want to cross a canal on a plank bridge under direct enemy observation? For what? We don't know how many of them are still over there. There's what, seven of us here? You want to split a force of seven to attack and secure a bridgehead on the island? Splitting us in half and putting a river in between is gonna make us safer somehow? Look, major, you start talkin' sense, I'll follow. You're first across that pole, I'll follow. But I aint lettin' you get these people killed so that you can play field officer."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:55, Sat 01 Sept 2007.