As the discussions about going back to the village circulated around the galley he says after Dawid casts his vote, "Ok Dawid, understood. How do the rest of you stand on this?"



"Hmmm, perhaps so... but I'll leave it up to the NCOs to sort out any changes if desired. It was Sergeant Tucker's idea and I'll be happy with whatever you all decide."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:46, Sat 24 Nov 2007.

Minh takes a seat at the table in the galley as the group begins breakfast. Much of the discussion seems to be about the village they visited that night. She doesn't contribute to the conversations though.

When Hauptmann Bayer asks for a vote she adds hers, "There are plenty other towns along the river. I do not wish to return to the one of last night. I will do as ordered, but I hope it will not come to that."

"I can handle a heavy machinegun a little. I won't volunteer if others need it, but am willing to train more otherwise."

"Damn! No wonder you didn't feel like talkin' lastnight.""

As Konrad asks for feedback regarding a possible morning return to the village, Clarence opines,

"Why take the chance, sir? Sure we could bring back some useful salvage- assumin' anything's left after all these years of war- but we could also bring back whatever killed 'em. It aint likely, but it also aint a risk I think we should take right now."

[Private to Konrad Bayer: Seeing an opportunity to take Konrad aside, out of earshot of the others, Clarence adds, "I may have a contact near the bridge, sir: a group of partisans in the woods near Szczucin. If I can contact them- and I have the call-signs, freqs, and ciphers- they may be able to recon and secure the bridge for us. We wouldn't have to risk any of our people in a small boat."]
This message was last edited by the player at 18:25, Sat 24 Nov 2007.

Adam removes one of his many maps from his pocket and, after setting aside some of the dirty breakfast dishes, unfolds it on the breakfast table.

"You are correct. It is just under 25km. At a cautious speed, we should be there in about 4 hours."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:06, Sat 24 Nov 2007.

"...salvage that we can find in the next town while we deal with the bridge." Minh quietly trails after Clarence.

She stares at a piece of bread for nearly two minutes before she decides to eat it.

Noticing the map Adam has unfolded onto the table she adds, "Szczucin is a bigger town than Nowy Kor..c..z..whatever. More chance at finding something."

Looking past a few heads to the Doctor sitting at the table she continues - "Major I'm not saying your idea to salvage is bad. Just we can do it in the next town or something."

To all seated at the table

" I will lead a recon down the river. I could take the Aussie engineer and the customs guy. We would go on foot and it would give you guys about two days to unass yourself here. You could move down stream a few miles and anchor. Then fill sand bags for the forward position. It would take us a day to get there and get back and we could meet you and give you the lowdown. If you like this plan or one more guy wants to come you can meet me outside. I will be out there eating my meal and doing push up's. Going back to the city is a death wish! I will  tell you what, next time you see chem or bio signs radio it in for guidance from here. You dont have the right to put us all in danger here with your selfish acts. Remember that we are a team here and must act as one that means we talk when needed. Like i said i will be out side...."


With that john walks out not giving anyone time to anwser. He will go out to the aft of the tug strip down to his trousers and start to do push ups and star jumpers.....


John
Doing morning PT for the first time in two years
G3

Snowy's not seated at the bench, he's sitting on the floor and leaning up against the bulkhead with his shotgun cradled in his lap. He hasn't had much to add although he says 'Ready to go right now' when Yazzie proposes making a recon downriver.

"For my input, I reckon that there's a lot of dead villes in Poland, we may as well look at somewhere else. I'd get the spooks scavenging through a plague-town. I know it's almost undoubtedly, certainly and assuraedly clean. Almost, that is. I didn't live this long by sticking my appendages in where I didn't need to stick them. What's your call boss?" He says to Bayer.

Bayer doesn't attempt to say anything to Yazzie, he just sits quietly as the Marine makes his exit. He shakes his head in agreement with Snowy as the Australian adds his bit afterwards. Pushing his dish away Bayer says, "Lets not get at each others throats for one thing, ja?."

Looking mostly at Anneka he says, "Look, it seems quite a few of us are for moving on. Lets do the salvage which was suggested downriver. As Snowy and Minh just said there are more villages and towns along the way. This isn't the only stop ve have, but its one that has a couple reasons for avoiding."

Nodding to Adam, "I think we should get moving on to Szczucin, Kaptain. We may have some delay there as it is." Holding up a finger he adds, "We can do our salvage there."

Nodding to Clarence he says "Take care of it Milk, and let me know as soon as possible please."

Speaking to the rest of the group he says, "Alright, in four hours we shall be nearing the downed bridge. We'll have some work to do there for everyone, and we have no idea how long it will take. Until then I suggest you use your time productively, which may include sleeping, prepping demolitions, weapons familiarization, maintenance and so on." Bayer hoped by everyone getting busy, that they would move on from the potentially heated debate of going to the village. Different viewpoints were good, but he sometimes worried about the team's cohesion... perhaps he worried too much.

Konrad then excuses himself and gets up to proceed to the bridge.

Snowy gets up off the deck with a grunt and follows Bayer up to the Bridge. He gives him a grin and says "Well, it's all happening boss. We're going to have to secure a zone somewhere and check out the bridge anyway, I'd get your away team worked out now. Frankly, it'd be good if we could have you along for the eyes-on-the-ground. If you don't mind me giving my opinion", it looks like Bayer's getting it anyway, "I'd leave your XO on the boat with your support fires, ask Yaz if he wants to set up a close overwatch to dominate the bridge and send in an 'engy party' to scope the structure. I'm not sure where you'd leave the automatic weapon, I guess you ground pounders know all about that. Then, we work out an RZ to fall back on if it all goes south and we're sweet to go."

Quyen gets up and goes about getting busy as they've been told. She makes her way to the munitions locker and begins to sort out the the engineer demolitions kit and the explosives, including her own single kilo of C4. She doesn't add her dynamite though.

She also reviews going over the procedure for rigging. If the job was big and required it, she might be asked to help Thompson and Maddock. After a few dry runs, shes satisfied she could do it quickly and without error.

Once done she takes a break by going back topside and hanging out around the mortar.

Rae, in the last chapter I added...
-Antibiotics X7 Pills
-Sedatives X3 Pills
-Pain Reliever X1 Unopened Bottle
...to the ships medical stores. Could you add it to the "Hold" thread. I know it isn't much but still.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:19, Sun 25 Nov 2007.

The meeting breaks up as members of the security team depart in ones and twos for their stations on board. A course of action* for the next few hours has been decided but no one seems truly satisfied. Konrad can't help but feel the burden of command weighing heavy on his shoulders.

The sun shines pale and white, hanging low in the eastern sky. The glare off of the river makes the water shimmer and dance; it also makes it difficult to see obstacles ahead. It is bitterly cold. At least your belly is full of warm breakfast.

The Krolowa's engines grumble to life and a plume of smoke rises high above you in the still morning air. She's soon making her customary five knots, pushing her barge- now topped by a rather naked ZU-23-2- like a giant monstrosity of a pram.

The ghost town of Nowy Korczyn passes off the port side. It is empty, still, and- even in the daylight- ominous.

About 4km from your evening anchorage, The Krolowa approaches another tributary estuary emerging into the Vistula from its left (north) bank. One again, years of undredged effluent have spilled into the main channel, forcing the Queen to hug the right (south) bank- edging to within 50 meters of the rush covered shore.

Actions?

I need to know precisely where each of your PCs are located on the Queen and what they are doing at approx 0800 hours game time.

*OOC: From what I could piece together, the Queen is going to depart immediately. At some point, further downstream, a small recon team in a zodiac will be sent out ahead to scout the bridge.

Snowy mans the DShKM and watches the bank through his binoculars, scanning for movement or suspicious shapes. Of course, after all these years of war, there's probably hundreds of wrecked fighting positions, vehicles and buildings.
Still, he watches the bank slide past and also keeps the odd look out in the water.

John finishes his morning work out with no one coming to talk to him. I smile and think s amout an old rhyme he one hear. Hey diddle diddle go right up the middle. With no recon being planned or aproved he will collect his gear and move up to the look out position and releave the gunny from watch. "Hey Guns its my turn go and get some rest why dont you. You cant be an Ironman your whole life. " With that John will lie in the prone and set his weapon beside him and start scanning the 360 Deg. view from the lookout with Gunnys binos. He will radio in checks to the bridge every 10 miniutes or on contact.


John
Scanning area
G3

At the Bridge Bayer nods in agreement, "Ja I was thinking something like that. Milk just let loose an option I didn't know about though. I'm not sure if he wants it kept quiet or not so I'd better not say yet. In any case it might mean not having to send a recce... I'll be able to confirm that in under 30 minutes I hope. Although if we do go... it will be pretty much like what you said. And Snowy, of course I don't mind. Danke."

As he turns he remembers something. "So, although the mission is not confirmed, it might be a good idea to prep for it anyways. Best use of time and all ja? One inflatable, you, Yazzie, Maddock and Thompson. Mission confirmation in 30 minutes."

At 0800 Bayer gears up and slings his rifle. Its his turn at sentry, having just relieved Anneka. "Milk might have something that could affect the recon. It's on hold until he confirms... which should be soon hopefully. I think he wants it kept quiet. I'll let you and the rest know in a half hour or so."

Before she leaves, he says, "Look, I know we've been at opposing ends of a lot of decisions... but I still always want your ideas and opinions." He then leaves it at that, hoping she understands what he is trying to say.

He positions himself first in front of the bridge, near the PKM. Pulling his field glasses out of its pouch he begins scanning. In fifteen minutes he'll move up to the rooftop and repeat. If Milk doesn't give him an update by then he'll call for him.

Konrad Bayer
G36/Hk-69
PKM Position
Taking his turn at sentry



OOC - The recon is on hold until Clarence gets back to him. But tentatively yes.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:35, Mon 26 Nov 2007.

Snowy nods and locks down the DShKM. He whistles to Bluey. "Mate, take over my gun will you, I've gotta get the rubber duck ready!"

Hustling aft, he makes the lifting lines fast to the duck and swings the port crane aft to lift the zodiac from where it's lying across the rear superstructure. He runs a control line back to the crane so he can stop it swinging around and fouling the tug. Then he goes into the accomodation and grabs his carbine, leaving the shotgun behind. As he rummages through his equipment, he notices all the spare 5.56mm ammo underneath his shotgun shells. "D'oh! I just borrowd some off Tuck! Bloody hell." Arranging his webbing to carry the ammunition pouches for the carbine, he stows the extra ammo in his bumpack and grabs the spare rounds that Tuck gave him. Zipping down to where Tuck is, he grins and says "I just found another six clips worth in my bag! Here's your rounds back mate." He hands back the ammo and goes back to the stern.
After that, he ensures the outboard is filled up and ready to go, and that there is a spare spark plug, tool kit and shear-pin in the kit for the zodiac. That done, he heads back up to his gun to take over from Bluey.

Loitering around the mortar, Quyen sits on the railing of the tug, braced by both hands, her back to the water. She casually watches the opposite bank. Her rifle and webbing lie neatly on the deck next to the mortar. Its not her battle station, but has become her local hangout.

OOC - I know Bayer said to be busy but she is just taking a break - after sorting out the demolitions and dry run practicing.

"Dawid. You think its safe to eat the fish in this river?" she calls over.

At 0800 she notices the sentry change between the Doctor and Hauptmann Bayer. Up above them Yazzie observes, next to Parks.

Calling over again, "That Yazzie is a bit of lone wolf eh? A keeps-to-himself kinda guy. Then again, Parks is pretty much the same. I don't think we've spoke."

Quyen
Sitting on the railing next to the mortar
Taking a break

Dawid chuckled and nodded confidently. "Without a doubt. I've been eating fish caught from it for weeks now!"

"It's probably the cleanest it's been in centuries, or at least after the last German War. The city of Nowy Huta upstream from here, or "New Foundry" in English, was the biggest manufacturing centre in all Europe, with many steel mills, factories and chemical plants. Much, ah, waste(?), er, pollution, yes, that's the right word, all dumped in the river. It made the water very dirty. Even poisons like chemical agents break down quickly in water."

"Now, farms are something I know about. Ah, manure is used to, um, what's the word? fertilise the fields. With no machines to help anymore, all that can do so use also draft animals to aid in farm work, which produce more manure. This... ah wait... there is, ah, bacteria in the manure that rain washes into the river. There might be a small danger of bacterial, ah, contamination should we pass any farms. But we haven't passed any, so far. Except Uscie Solne, where we picked you up. Even then, this is a fast-moving large river. So, a minimal risk."

"If you pardon me? I have to talk to someone. Will return shortly."

He quickly made his way to where Yazzie was working out. "You said you wanted volunteers for a shore reconnaissance patrol. I would be willing to come. You might need someone that can speak the language, yes? If Bayer agrees."
This message was last edited by the player at 05:24, Tue 27 Nov 2007.

Clarence runs up to the bridge for a quick, private word with Bayer, before returning to the forward gun tub.

[Private to Konrad Bayer: "It's a done-deal Hauptman. My contact was right on the money. I got a confirmation on the bridge recon- these people are using all the right codes so it looks legit. They've got a ways to go 'til they get there so we'll have to drop anchor a few klicks up-river while they catch up and do the deed. Please keep this on the down-low 'til we get a little closer. I can't be sure about the Krakow lady- or the trigger-happy Polish kid- we got on board right now. I'd hate to return a favor by getting these people shot up."]

Settling down against the lumpy cushions of the sandbagged barbette wall, he says in a playful tone,

"Minh, right? You may want to get off the gunwhale there. We hit something and you're flying ass over teakettle into the drink."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:52, Tue 27 Nov 2007.

Looking at david he will respond.


 "Do you have any skill in recon? You seem to me to be an arty guy that will not help me in a recon. I speak enough pole to keep my ass safe. I think that your skills would be better suited here running the weapons on the tug and keeping our base secure."


John
bridge scanning 360 DEG.
G3

Dawid lit another harsh cigarette, offered the pack to John (lighting it, if accepted). "From what I've seen, I'm comparable to everyone except perhaps you and Gunny when it comes to moving about unheard or unseen. Certainly their equal when it comes to a fight or noticing things."

"Without a doubt I can be of considerable use here." He smiled, acknowledging the truth of this. "However, I'm also willing to be of help to you in this endeavor. Not to say others wouldn't be willing as well, but they're not coming forward right now."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:32, Tue 27 Nov 2007.

John will pull the pole close and talk to him in private....

After finishing his talk, Dawid nodded to Yazzie in understanding. He climbed down the ladder and then made his way down the stairs to the main deck. After reaching the mortar, he nodded to Clarence and Minh.

"My friends, I think today we will begin lessons on how to fire a mortar and other weapons like the 23mm autocannon and the machineguns. It is dangerous to start while we are underway, but we may begin after we lay anchor for the night, yes? Plus, anyone else who sees us may be motivated to attend as well."

At 0800 he was at the mortar, scanning the passing banks with his binoculars. His rifle lay unloaded but nearby under the awning.

"The Nidia," Anneka declared to nobody in particular as the river mouth came into view.
"We crossed that last night."
It was more a stream than a true river - the tug wouldn't have a hope of navigating it, even the small boats they carried would need to be careful lest they hit a snag hidden within it's narrow width.

She'd had some trouble falling to sleep after the stress of their reconnisance. Villages populated by the dead, while not uncommon in Europe lately, stillmanaged to unsettle even the toughest, most jaded of people. At least those who hadn't yet sold their soul for just one more hot meal.
From her perch before the bridge she kept watch as the dual barrelled cannon she'd fought hard to have brought with them was transferred onto the barge. If she'd been thinking straight back when it's had first been brought aboard, she'd have had it placed up front to begin with.
Still, what was done was done.

Milks confessed allegiance to the CIA both concerned and comforted her. The CIA had a well deserved reputation for poking their noses into other peoples business and creating trouble. On the other hand, they still managed to provide certain....resources that often proved quite beneficial to those with access to them.
Milk was probably using his communications skills to contact a local "asset" who'd probably have knowledge of what lay ahead. But, whatever was going on, they'd know soon enough.

"It's fine. I tend to loose sight of some of the security issues from time to time. Must be because I focus so much on trying to see to the needs of the unit."
Her last command had been a combination of unit commander and scrounger. Almost every peice of equipment, every consumable needed to be "requisitioned" from the support eschelons without the delays formal requests and paperwork imposed. A quick dash under cover of darkness to acquire that crate of badly needed medical supplies, or a case of beer offered to the right guard - it all helped grease the wheels of bureaucracy.

"I do have a couple of ideas," she said as Konrad settled in for his watch.
"I think we can reorganise ourselves to take advantage of skills a little better. For example, did you realise that Griet can operate that gun nearly as well as Dawid?" she pointed at the ZSU sitting out at the bow of the barge.
"I'd suggest teaming her up with," she consulted her notes, "say Maddock and shifting them out there. Both of them are trained observers with waterborne experience. They should be able to watch for snags much more effectively than anyone up on top of the bridge."
"Once there's a bit of protection, we could shift one of these lighter machineguns up there too, for general use."

She had a few more suggestions to make regarding a reshuffle, but they could wait until she'd caught up with Max and Bluey.

Still at the PKM, Bayer lowers his binos to listen and reply, "I don't really have any issues to where anyone is stationed. If you've noticed an ability in the crew like that its fine with me."

Hushing his voice just a little he adds, "Of course thats going to mean asking Griet to base herself further from the bridge... I'm not sure she is going to go for that easily. She doesn't trust us, and placing her further from the Adam, the bridge and HQ, might... I don't know... ahh cause her to think we are trying to isolate her more. She's getting paranoid."

Nodding back to the AGS, "If Maddock goes forward, who mans the grenade launcher?"



Before he leaves he says, "Well done. I'll inform Adam after my watch that we'd like to stop a few kilometers from the bridge. Can you give me an update then?"

Bayer
PKM Position
Sentry Duty
This message was last edited by the player at 17:21, Tue 27 Nov 2007.

The Krolowa slows noticeably as it skirts the sandbank jutting from the left (north) bank.

Max is the first to see it: A fireball corkscrewing away from the south bank before leveling off and racing straight at the Queen. Max hardly has time to shout a warning of “Rocket!” and squeeze off a quick burst of hopeful return fire from his big Dushka before the missile strikes the bridge in a spray of flame and supersonic debris above his head. It is the last thing that Max ever sees and it all takes less than four seconds from start to finish.

OOC Note: Max’s Dushka is knocked askew on its mount by the blast, but appears intact. Max’s crumpled body lies smoking behind the sandbagged railing at its base.

Konrad and Anneka, on the forward companionway just below the bridge, are almost knocked down by the sheer, sudden violence of the thunderclap of the detonating missile. The abrupt change in pressure from the nearby blast causes their ears to pop uncomfortably but neither officer is otherwise hurt by the explosion.

Above the bridge, the marine sniper team is similarly jostled by the detonating missile immediately below them but, almost miraculously, no shrapnel penetrates the roof on which they lie.

Snow, on the other side of the bridge, hears and feels the jolt of the missile strike but is shielded from its more harmful effects by the superstructure and is uninjured, if a bit taken aback.

Almost simultaneous with the launch of the missile, a tongue of green tracers licks out from a cluster of thick underbrush on the right bank, fifty meters ahead of the Krolowa. The first burst is low, ricocheting off of the tug’s metal hull and kicking up a spray of water alongside her. Minh instinctively tumbles behind the thick steel gunwhale, unwittingly shielding herself from further incoming fire.  The second burst is closer to the mark, showering the Vasilek crew with earth and bits of burlap as the 7.62mm R rounds tear into the sandbagged barbette.

Meanwhile, from a line just aft of the passing tug, a single shot (indistinct in the general din of the initial fusilade) rings out. The sniper’s bullet strikes Blue just under his left eye, tears through his mid-brain and exits the back of his skull, killing him instantly. His helmet, knocked free by the impact of the exiting bullet, lands, spinning like a top, on the deck nearby. His luck has just run out.

Maddock, startled into action by the opening barrage, swings the AGS-17 towards the suddenly hostile shore, searching desperately for a target.

The enemy sniper coolly switches targets…

Griet comes to on the floor of the bridge, ears ringing, and assailed by the bitter aromatic cocktail of burning paint and flesh.  Blinking away specks of blood that temporarily cloud her vision, she sees a leg, separated from its owner, lying not far away. Acrid smoke hangs in the air. The bridge as a whole is not burning but various flammables- the papers on the map table, the leather seat of the now empty captain’s chair- are, and vigorously so. She slowly regain command of her body. Instinctively, she pats herself down, checking for wounds. Her hands are pricked by tiny bits of shrapnel protruding from her arms. As she reaches down, she finds her legs (both of them are still there) similarly pincushion-like. But, thankfully, there are no serious wounds; she can still move everything. Nothing seems too perforated. She can still fight…

The Wisla Krolowa, out of control for at least the time being, somewhat miraculously continues on her course. Unfortunately, in about three hundred meters or so, this will lead her directly into the north bank.

Incoming fire buzzes and cracks all around you. War is truly a game of inches...

[Private to Konrad Bayer: Griet's fate was originally going to be Konrad's, word for word. Luckily for him, you have him on the forward companionway. Konrad would have been bloodied but OK and he would have lost a turn due to his unconscious state. Talk about luck!]

Actions?
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:28, Wed 28 Nov 2007.