To snow  "roger on the exfill plan we will cover you back and forth and atleast give you an extra set of eyes"



John
scanning area
AK_47 ready position

Bayer is relieved when Snowy's voice breaks over the radio. "Tug, roger. Make best use of whatever vehicle transport, can be used in shortest amount of time. Consider using current to bring assault boat downriver, your call. Out."

Bayer leaves the bridge and exits outside to the machinegun positions. They will be most vulnerable during the extraction and he hopes thats not what any enemy have been waiting for. While he waits for the shore parties to radio in any further updates he begins scanning, starting with the sides that haven't been under observation by the two Australians.

Looking aggrieved, Dawid pulled his head out from under the bonnet where he was fixing the engine. He said in Polish,

"I agree that meeting up by land would be dangerous. So that is not acceptable, and I understand that. But, there are other ways of getting this vehicle aboard the raft or tug."

"There is literally a ton of wood on the barge. There may be material to build a ramp from the shore to the barge if it's grounded. If there are steel drums, we can build a raft and float it out, then winch it up. Or, we could even float it out using some attached tire inner tubes as "lift bags". They have all these materials back on the tug."

"At the least, we will be able to salvage most of the Rada's goods here. Even the gun, if we like."

Griet lays her hands on the edge of the engine compartment and looks at it somewhat dissapprovingly. Even she, with little ground mechanic experience, can tell that this war beast is on its last legs. In Polish, she responds,

"We have already stayed here too long. I'd like to take the goods as well but not for the price of a dead crewmate. We are too spread out. Even I can see that. There is much tension in the group, as well. People would never behave this way aboard ship. Anneka is a strong woman, but she has chosen a most innopportune time to exert her authority. We must leave soon. You have an hour. We will start loading the jeep immediately. If it can't be fixed in an hour, we will burn all of it and leave. I'm not abandoning Krakow property to filthy bandits and murderers. If you can fix it, we'll try to move across country, within sight of the river. If we find a spot where we can beach the barge, we shift the gear across. If not, we'll try for the bridge. If we get stuck, or break down, we carry what we can and burn the rest."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:12, Sat 08 Sept 2007.

An hour has passed. The teenaged deckhand, Luboslaw, emerges from the bowels of the tug and informs Adam that the damaged steam line has been repaired before immediately returning below to fire the boiler. In a half-an-hour, she will have built up enough steam to make way. Adam passes this news along to Konrad and adds,

"It will be difficult to weigh anchor without Walter and Tadeuz. What is the status of Mr. Snowy?"

On the island, Clarence and Tuck push out a dozen meters while Snowy assesses the assault boat. It appears that it was propelled across the river either by paddle or by hauling on a rope attached to both banks (the rope was likely severed by the Krolowa's unexptected passage through the locks). Tucker finds the crumpled corpse of a Russian, the shoulders of his cammies dark with blood from being peppered by shrapnel from Blue's innadvertent grenade airbusts earlier. His comrades took flight without having stripped him of his gear*. A few meters further inland, Tuck can see the pieces of another Russian, the victim of Max's HMG fire. From a distance, his weapon appears badly damaged.

At the lock, Dawid manages to get the UAZ running. But, from the way it shudders and coughs, it's a tenuous success at best**. Griet and Anneka have loaded aboard all of the weapons, the ammunition (including the remaining rounds for the 23mm) the crates of food and spirits, and the bags of women's clothing. Now, it remains to dismount the ZU-23-2 from the Ural (it will take everyone, including the sniper team, to do so).

Maddock has seen nothing troubling from over on the other side of the canal. He can just make out a few distant structures- modest homes- through the gap blasted by Dawid's 23mm barrage. It's likely that the remaining enemy on the island have holed up there.

The sniper team has seen little of interest over the past hour. Fortunately, both men are accustomed to stalking prey, lying in wait for hours, and their vigilance is not diminished.

*An AK-74 with a partial mag of 15 rounds and two full 30-round mags, a pair of binoculars, one fragmentation grenade, and a flashlight.

**The wear value for the UAZ is 8.

Actions?
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:07, Sat 08 Sept 2007.

Upon being informed by Adam, Bayer proceeds to get the group moving on with their mission. "All units, the is Tug, send SITREP and ETA. Tug will be leaving this location in less then three zero minutes, over."

Before any one can respond he add a quick confirmation to Adam... "They'll be here. Before we have to raise the anchor."

"in position to cover everyones with drawl...i was told i was to be the last out but dont know how we will get back to boat????will stay in place until told to move..we ahve seen nothing here in the past hour...

Wiping his hands on a rag in satisfaction, Dawid said to Anneka, Griet and Maddock "well, she will run! Enough for our purposes, at least. We'll top up the fuel for both the UAZ and the bike from the truck's petrol (well, alcohol) tank, and see if there are any other containers to take as much as we can with us. Then get the ZU-23-2 (it will take all 4 of us) and we'll be away. We can mount the PKM on the sidecar."

"I would like to recover that mortar and ammunition across the canal on the island. At the least so no one can use it on us or anyone else. It would help if someone were on the island, they could just walk over. I wonder if anyone's there?" he asked rhetorically. If they had a hand radio, it might reach the tug, but either way he didn't know at this point there were people there.


OOC: I'm not sure if anyone grabbed the bike/sidecar and took it away. If they have, it doesn't change the context of his comment about topping up it's tank significantly.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:59, Mon 10 Sept 2007.

"Tug, roger. Still waiting on update for transportation availability. Just hold firm until then ja?"

"got you loud and clear boss will hold tight until the word from you and only you......not much action here..."





John
holding position
AK-47
This message was last edited by the player at 19:43, Sat 08 Sept 2007.

Robert will kneel down next to the fallen Russian corpse and begin to search him for anything useful.  He first checks the AK-74 laying on the ground to see if it is at least functional by checking the slide and charging handle, working the action after removing the magazine and letting the chambered round fly out.  He picks up the loose round and adds it to the partially spent magazine and puts it back into the AK and making it safe (and did not charge a round into the chamber).  Tucker is satisfied when he finds two more full magaiznes for the assault rifle, a pair of binoculars, a flashlight, and a fragmentation grenade.  He begins to put these items into spare pockets until they get back to the raft and head out.

Tucker hears the call come over the radio from Bayer onthe tug.  He listens to the message and says, "Bayer says the tug is repaired and ready to go in about one-half hour.  We still got to get our raft we came in on and make sure the others are underway from the lockhouse.  I found an AK with a couple of spare mags, bino's, frag, and a flashlight.  Sweep complete or you want to push for more?  I can leave right now and be a happy man!"

Tucker
M-16A2
Talking to Clarence & Snowy
This message was last edited by the player at 13:55, Sun 09 Sept 2007.

Snowy looks at the assault boat* and starts untying it. He works quickly, then takes the dead Russian soldier's helmet with a blackly humourous "thanks mate" and starts bailing. He checks below the waterline for holing or spalling, then heads back to the rubber duck. There, he gets a line and brings it forward to the assault boat and makes it fast.

"Well shove this off and then fend her away from the zodiac, letting her hang down on the current. I've made her fast to the aft of the rubber duck so she'll pull our nose up into the channel where we want it. It should be okay but it'll make things a little difficult to steer, but hopefully not too bad. When we get back to the pick we'll load the pick, Tadeusz and Walter into the boat and they can steer it with the paddles while the tug hauls them back using the winch - they'll have a better trip than us. Otherwise, kemosabes, it's up to you guys to do what you wanna."

(*OOC: What sort of assault boat is it? NATO or WTO? How big is it?)

Crouched in the shadows of the lock house, Maddock idly scratches at his scruffy beard, and crushs an unfortunate louse with blunt fingers.

"Two Poles and a Zionist, a whole pot full o' Yanks, a fine Herman over the radio. Quite the mix you've fallen into, John my boy," he muses to himself. He looks over at the two Poles discussing, from what little he understood, canned goods and bonfires, and then returns to sweeping his attention around.


Lock House
L86A1 LSW
On watch

Griet, sweaty and sore with exertion from having a hand in the loading of the run-down UAZ, returns to where Maddock keeps watch on the far side of the canal. She eases down to the pavement a couple of feet away from him and raises her binnoculars to her eyes.

"Have you seen something?"

After Maddock responds, she continues,

"We will need you help to move the big gun. We will go soon. You are ready?"

Taking a short smoke break, Dawid wandered over to Mad and Griet and introduced himself, if he hadn't already done so. "It is good to finally meet a Britisher in person. Our little company includes a couple of Australians, and I have heard some of my people moved there after the war, but they have not been friends to my people like the British." He offered his pack of cigarettes, although it was almost out.

While he was there, he splashed some water on his face, trying to take off some of the caked-on blood.  That done, he followed when they went to help roll the gun off the back of the truck bed.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:21, Mon 10 Sept 2007.

Bayer satisfied there isn't any enemy near the tug, puts away his binos and goes to update Bluey and Fosters. "Adam says the tug will be ready to depart in 30 minutes, the shore parties are finishing up and will be back by then. We must be extra... vigilant when they approach the boat, they'll be vulnerable in those rafts. If there is enemy nearby, they may likely wait until then to strike."

Tucker nods his head in approval, "Sounds good to me Snowy.  Let's do it!"

Max nods at Konrad, relieved they'll be ready to leave soon.  Wiping his brow with his sleave, socks off drying nearby
We should never have stopped, shoulda just picked up our guys and left.  We've got a whole river to run - we cant be looting every layup point.

Do any of the deckhands need a hand, if you keep watch i'll help out where i can.  I'm not familiar with the boat at all.  I could use the time to find out a bit more about it.

Bayer silently nods to Fosters' comments on the raid, but then adds "Sure, its no problem. Stand down and head below." He then moves over to relieve him at his post but leaves the heavy machinegun as it is. Undoing his helmet he runs a hand through his hair. He wonders about the next obstacle they may face down the river.

Snowy grins at Tuck and Clarence and adds "Now watch something screw all this up. Being sure of success guarantees failure, as me old dad used to say."

Snowy heads off to do the described above actions.

The relief on Tadeuz and Walter's faces is apparent as Snowy pantomimes his instructions for departing the island in the assault boat. Being on the ground and under fire has removed them doubly from their native element. Their bug-eyed apprehension during the course of the mission stands in stark counterpoint to the calm professionalism of the career soldiers. It is obvious that they can't get away from the island fast enough.

Snow and Walter board the inflatable and head back to the opposite shore to recover the rock anchor while Tucker, Milk, and Tadeuz remain behind with the assault boat. The rock anchor is successfully recovered and returned to the island, but the tricky operation is not without a number of white-knuckle moments. Once loaded with the anchor, and crewed by the two Poles, the assault boat is shoved off from the shore and left to drift downstream to the Krolowa. The three NATO soldiers re-board the inflatable and follow in the wake of the assault boat. Travelling with the current is much easier than fighting against it. Snow uses the outboard to provide just enough steerage to maintain course; the current does the rest.

At the lock, the loading of the UAZ is complete. Griet, Maddock, Anneka, and Dawid successfully manhandle the ZU-23-2 from the bed of the Ural and make it fast to the rear of the jeep. It and the jeep and driven to the eastern edge of the lock platfrom, a safe distance from the lock house. Griet shoves a meth-soaked rag into the fuel tank of the Ural. SHe lights it, then jogs to the lock building. Inside, she douses the piles of flamable debris with the powerful home-brewed spirits from one of the many cracked bottles. With a whistful expression, she strikes a match and ignites the impromptu pyre, exitting the building quickly, midful of the loose ammunition sure to be littering the floor. The vehicles move out, winding their way through the narrow wood, stopping long enough for Yazzie and Guns to load on board. Under the trees, the ground is relatively hard- hard enough for the overloaded jeep to manage fairly easily. Dawid leads the way on the motorbike, picking out a path for the tiny and disproportionately armed convoy.

They roll downhill through the field, the jeep picking up too much speed, its tires slipping through the wet earth more than rolling over it. It starts to gain on the motorcycle, fish-tailing as it barrels towards the two riders. It's more of a controlled fall than a powered descent. Just as the jeep threatens to roll, the terrain begins to level out and the motorcyle forges ahead. The jeep slows and its driver regains control, continuing cautiously towards the location of the beached zodiac. The drainage here, over the low-lying terrain, is poor, though, and the jeep begins having troubling following the bike over the thicker, softer, wetter soil. As it approaches the shore (about 50m from the landing point), the tires begin to spin without gaining purchase and, after a few more meters, it becomes stuck, its spinning wheels churning the sodden soil into soupy mud. The exertion is just too much for the old beast and smoke begins pouring from underneath its dented bonnet. No amount of coaxing, shoving, or rocking will budge it. The UAZ is dead.

Actions?

[Private to A. 'Mad' John Maddock: Losing interest already?]
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:21, Wed 12 Sept 2007.

Snowy points over to the stricken soviet jeep and says grimly "Ooh, black smoke. Not good. That poor old thing is eating itself. If Bluey was there, he'd shoot it to put it out of its misery. I'd say we're looking at a busted top end. Give it a few minutes and it'll seize solid."

Cursing, Dawid dismounted the bike and stalked over to the jeep. He popped the hood and coughed as he got a face full of smoke.

Looking at the completely seized engine he said with some disgust. "This vehicle was not in that bad shape. Yet here it is, dead. It is as if God himself has decided we shall not drive this vehicle any further."

[Private to GM: Well, God or some other "higher power", that is!  ;)]
This message was last edited by the player at 06:17, Thu 13 Sept 2007.

Tucker holds on and helps out where he can as theyh bring the watercraft back to where the tug is still sitting and finishing repairs.  Rob remembers the hellacious time he and Snowy had their first time out in the raft and has no problem helping out to get everyone back in one piece.

As they approach closer to the tug, Tucker smiles as he sees the UAZ in the area and belching smoke from it's engine.  "Well whattaya know!  Dawid got the shit fixed enough to move.  Hopefully, they got the bulk of the supplies back from the lockhouse.  I'd hate to see some of that shit we found go to waste, right Clarence?  We found quite a haul there.  Those ORMO troops who were there were pretty well set up before the marauders came in on them!  The bike will make a nice compliment to any scouting party we send out too," Tucker says to Snowy.

Maddock hops off the now-dead UAZ, heavy boots sinking into the softened turf as he regains his balance. He doesn't spare a look for the utility vehicle, but instead splits his attention between the tug and his new surroundings.

His wary stance and tight shoulders telegraph his unease with being that exposed.


Standing beside UAZ
L86A1 LSW
Looking about


[Private to Cap'n Rae: Absolutely not! I didn't see a good spot to post, and was then otherwise occupied with work and home for day. I'm here and happy.]