"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.

"Well...Well..who pulled your string...Your rank means shit to me..your a nurse or doctor or whatever the fuck.. your not even nato or allied...I follow the guns here because i want to. I feel he is my best bet to stay alive. I follow the sergeant here because my employer told me too.. I have no ties with you nor do i want any. just keep your mouth shut and dont talk to me.i dont want trouble i only to live and go home and it seems your ideas and comment might stop this."


"gunny what do you want me to do?"


"Miss read the post on rpd thought it was rpk. Sorry it has been corrected"


John
standing next to gunny
AK-47
weapon at alert

Nodding to Adam as he tries to understand, Bayer relays it to Snowy "Snowy, Tug. Adam says don't try close to the locks. Try in slower water and go for it. It might not hold anyways but try. Out."

Insubordination was something Anneka had dealt with on many occasions before. Perhaps it was because she was a woman, perhaps because she was a medic, perhaps it was because she'd been born a Jew, who knew? Usually though it had never been in the field with enemy forces close by. Usually she'd also had a senior NCO who knew that chain of command was vital, even if they didn't agree with her decisions.

There'd been one crusty old Sergeant Major who'd disagreed with just about everthing she'd ever said, but none in the unit had ever known it. In front of the troops he'd backed her to the hilt, keeping his opinions and outright dislike for her for more private "conversations"...

She took a couple of deep breaths, forced her white knuckled hands to relax on the weapon they held and spoke in a calm, measured tone.
"Milk, Tucker, Yazzie, listen in! These oak leaves have been earnt. I may be only a medic to you, but I am part of the US Army just like you."
"I may be only a woman, but I do have some idea on how to run a unit - I managed an entire field hospital for months on end, including overseeing the security of it's personnel and patients."
She took another deep breath.
"Now, we are not under fire at this time. We are not under fire at most times. Does that stop us from putting our heads up from cover and getting on with life?"
"The enemy, and yes, we don't know how many there were, has not fired in this, or any other direction for some time now. Should we be concerned? Should we not try and cross the channel simply because somebody may be watching?"
Another deep breath...
"I am not splitting the unit, simply spreading it out to better secure the area. I do not intend for those who cross to travel any further than is deemed safe by the ranking NCO of that group. If it makes you any happier, then I will lead across whatever makeshift bridge can be found."
It wasn't as if it would really be that dangerous with Griet and Dawid ready to rain death upon anyone who showed their faces. Dawid had already indicated in no uncertain terms that he knew how to use that deadly weapon.

"Sergeant Tucker, would you please be so kind as to ask Hauptman Bayer why additional assistance from us is required? I do indeed have an idea but it hinges on us removing that potential threat over there."

"Now soldier," she said to Milk with a slight emphasis on the word "soldier". "Would you and Yassie please be kind enough to look about for something that might be used as a bridge while Sergeant Tucker calls the tug?"

Clarence shakes his head. This argument is going nowhere- it's actually starting to compromise security- and he's already said too much. He'll look for bridging materials, not because the major's right, but because he needs to distance himself from this situation before he says or does something he really regrets. Besides, it's not likely he'll find anything long enough and strudy enough to bridge the 15m wide canal (OOC: this number is an assumption based on the width of the tug and barge), anyway.

As he gets up to leave the lock house, he makes his closing argument,

"Yes sir, major sir. I know my limits and you are the officer here. But, just because I've put a bandaid on my daughter's boo-boo, don't mean I'm qualified to run a field hospital."

With that he exits the building at a crouch, praying that an enemy sniper isn't looking at him through his scope.

Clarence Milk
Exiting lock house
AK-74 (AKSU-74 slung)
Cautiously looking for bridging materials AND keeping an eye on the opposite bank.

Dawid, manning the ZU-23-2, blasts a fifteen meter long section of the hedge opposite to smoking pieces. If anyone was lurking behind it earlier, they are are either dead or somehow managed to flee the area after the barrage. No bodies, alive or dead, or movement of same can be seen directly across the canal from the lock house.

[OOC: One 33 round canister of 23mm HE was expended.]

Clarence finds several sections of roof timber scattered nearby the control building. Most of them are rather small and either damaged or soft with wet rot (the structure having been previously damaged by the airstrike years earlier, and left to elements ever since). On the north side of the building- the side guarded by the Gunny- he does find a toppled telephone pole. It's long enough to span the canal but it's also extremely heavy. Getting it across will be difficult, to say the least.

The Krolowa continues to swing and bob at anchor, about 400 meters down-river from the eastern end of the lock channel, awaiting Snowy's positioning of the rock grapnel. Adam leaves Uller on the bridge and goes below to check on the repairs (the speaking tube is apparently out of order for the time being). He returns a few minutes later and finds Konrad,

"The damage is not great. It will take about an hour to repair, and another 15-30 minutes to restart the boiler. We must vent more steam before the repairs can begin. Please tell your men to keep clear of the pipes and nozzles along the boat's sides. Grzyech is going to fire the Homar Piec*.

Snow and the two Polish crewmen, meanwhile, continue to shelter in place on the north bank at the eastern edge of the canal mouth.

*OOC: The Homar Piec, or "lobster cooker" is a system of pipes, valves, and nozzles that have been rigged up by the Krolowa's crew to vent steam in the faces of anyone attempting to board the tug.

Actions?

Dawid replaced the empty ammo cans with a fresh pair and kept looking for targets.


Dawid Piotrowski
23mm AA gun ( ? /50x2 Rounds)
Opportunity Fire

Konrad nods an understanding to Adam and goes to find the two Australians. As he walks the radio handset is held close to his ear, awaiting contact from Snowy and Tucker's progress.

"Men, stay clear of the pipes... the lobster cooker thing. The crew will be firing steam. All is quiet ja?"

"This has gone on long enough Major.  As of now, to avoid any further confusion and obvious problems we're having, I'm deferring this command to you Major.  I will not continue to get into this with you.  When I call Hauptman Bayer  about the tug, I will convey my request to him.  I will not have this on my conscience if someone were to be injured or worse killed,  because of my attention being dedicated to this issue.  Once I'm done with the call, I'll be moving to help Milks find a way across."

Rob reaches to his vest where he has the radios handset hanging and keys the mic, "Tug, Tug, Team Tucker calling, over!"  Tucker waits for a response from Bayer before continuing.

"Roger that Tug.  Friendly boat on river.  Have developing situation on ground here Tug.  I have resigned command of this OP to Major Soleblume at the time.  We are currently looking for a way across the locks to sweep the island and secure it.  We have had minimal movement outside our location.  Over."

Tucker
Captured M-16A2 w. [30] round mag
Calling Tug

Max holds his fire, looking for a definate target now

C'mon guys, get back to the freaking boat!  We're all supplied up, and now we've travelled 10 miles and trying to scavange everthing as we go!

Lets go go go - down stream!!!



Max
Opportunity fire as it presents
Muttering to himself

John will collect all the meds he can per the last post. Any room left in his pack he will load it with canned meat and fruit. once this is collected he will move out side and set up a position with gunny.


"Gunny you would not beleave what the fuck  is going on in there. Doc has piped up and now wants to be in charge. I say fuck her i follow you. What side do you want me to cover?"



John
setting up op
Ak-47 ready