Anneka looked at Konrad as if he'd suddenly grown a second head. As if her slung arm wasn't enough to show her unfitness for duty, the fact that she could barely stay on her feet more than five minutes at a time should have.
"I might be able to manage the RPD, but not a chance with the heavies."
Weapons that size required somebody fully fit and able, neither of which Anneka could be described as being. To be truthful, the only real difference between the severity of her wounds and Griets, was that she could still walk.
"I'm better employed at the moment looking after the radio and co-ordinating everything."
This message was last edited by the player at 10:50, Fri 14 Dec 2007.

Bayer holds up two hands in a defensive posture, "Just asking." he says trying not to laugh.

[Private to Trevor 'Snowy' White: Thanks for the reply and support.]

Dawid thought a bit as he smoked.

"Before the war, Solidarność, or "Solidarity" were known to be CIA stooges. I mean, CIA supported. Still are, I guess. They are no longer a trade union but are civilian partisans now, workers and intelligentsia both. For recognition they wear white-over-red arm bands, those being our national colours and flag. No uniforms, usually."

"They hit us everywhere, it seems like every other fucking countryman of mine was a Solidarność sympathiser! They are like, ah, Viet Cong, during the American War of aggression against the Vietnamese people."

"If Warrant Milk is on a CIA mission, these are likely his friends.

"Military turncoats, like the ones who guided your 5th American Division to its destruction in Kalisz, are part of the Armia Krajowa, or "Home Army" that support the traitor Polish government-in-exile. There are 2 former Border Guard Brigades of these renegades, calling themselves the 1st and 2nd Free Legions. They wear uniforms, NATO or Polish, and also wear red-and-white armbands. They would be professional soldiers like Vietnam People's Army."

He sipped his mug of tea.

[Private to Anneka Soleblume; Cap'n Rae; Konrad Bayer: He said in a low voice to Konrad and Anneka, "I don't think Yazzie is as good an artillery spotter as he thinks. The strike he called in was just damn lucky, that's all."]
This message was last edited by the player at 11:25, Fri 14 Dec 2007.

"Good to know Dawid."

[Private to Dawid Waldus Piotrowski; Anneka Soleblume; Cap'n Rae: "My artillery spotting skills are pretty good."]

"The partisan team is on the east bank, sir. They said the enemy cleared out of Szczucin and abandoned the bridge a while back since it was damaged too badly to use any more. I'll go find out what kind of arms they've got and how long it'll take 'em to get eyes-on the bridge. And I better tell 'em to look out for a pissed-off Indian too in American BDUs, eh?"

Milk leaves for a few minutes before returning with the information requested by the officers.

"OK, they've got small arms only, and one RPG with two rockets. Not much. Their injured is mobile and can fight, though. They're about five clicks from the east side of bridge right now. Szczucin looks empty- a ghost town like the last one. More plague I guess. If you don't need me sir, I'd like to get a refresher on indirect firing of the Vasilek from Dawid before the shore party takes off. I have a feeling we're going to need it."

If that's all, Clarence finds Dawid and asks,

"You mind walkin' me through indirect fire proceedures one last time?"
This message was last edited by the player at 22:28, Sat 15 Dec 2007.

With Tadeuz passed out, Walter is freed up to ferry Yazzie to shore in one of the zodiacs. Using the last bend in the river short of the bridge as concealment, Walter drops the Pima Indian scout off about 3km from the span.
Yazzie moves as quickly towards the north end of the bridge as possible while still maintaining his tribal stealth.

The remainder of the team, meanwhile, manhandles the motorcycle into the assault boat, which is secured tightly to the tug's aft railing. It's an awkward job but one that's accomplished in under 10 minutes. The bike and the assault boat are ready to go as soon as the shore team is.

OOC: If you're ready to go, so am I. Oh, you may want to consider the mortar's max range.

Actions?

Bayer watches from the upper deck Yazzie's departure. He replaces his batteries in his radio with a fresh set that had been recharging and goes down to watch over the loading and preparations of the assault boat. He helps handle the motorcycle but keeps out of Snowy's way so that the Australian can oversee the task.

Once it is complete he asks, "Ok. Based on Milk's information, we will keep with the original concept of this mission. The partisans say the enemy has abandoned the bridge." Bayer then summarizes things just to make sure everyone is clear. "Dawid, Quyen and myself deploy with the motorcycle and move to the meeting point which is 1500 meters north of the bridge. There we will meet Milk's contacts. Then we will move south together to the bridge and Yazzie will have had eyes on the objective by then. If it is secure-able we will move on it. If not, we will return and adjust the plan and utilize the boat's assets for a deliberate attack which means a change in teams and weapons. Once we are in position on the bridge I will call the tug forward. I may also call the tug to come up in increments as well, just to keep them not too far from us in case we need an extraction or mortar fire."

Bayer then looks one more time at Snowy's addition to the plan he wrote down earlier and then trashes it.

"Anneka can monitor the tug's radio and co-ordinate things here with the ground elements. I have mine and Yazzie also has comms."

"Dawid, I can carry a belt of ammo if you are loaded down too much. Quyen has all that demo so its only me to help out."

Looking at Anneka, Snowy, and Tucker Bayer adds, "Keep and eye on that Pole... the drunk. Don't need him making any stupid moves ja?"

If the rest are ready, Bayer is.

Dropping her backpack in the assault boat, she replies to Bayer - "Plan is understood. I'm ready boss."

"Since Dawid is driving the bike, and I'm on back with the demo, maybe you should hold his machinegun." she suggests.

Quyen thinks for a moment how to put what she wants to say - "We ought to be careful how we deal with these guys. I trust Milk, but I dunno... CIA and a couple partisans? Who knows what they've been up to, or where their loyalty lies. Just saying thats all."

Quyen
AK-74
Next to boats
Ready to go
This message was last edited by the player at 10:09, Sun 16 Dec 2007.

"Hmm, yeah its probably best isn't it."



Bayer shakes his head in agreement. "Ja, you are not the only one to cast doubt over trusting them. I've heard it from others. But as you said, most of us trust Milk. We will be careful what info we tell them, and remain careful around them."

"It might be better for me to learn your procedure. You are the radio operator, I am only somewhat knowledgeable when it comes to communications."



"Some would say these partisans are consorting with Poland's invaders. After all, NATO invaded us, not the other way around." He spread his hands and shrugged. "Who can say where their loyalties are, any more? If they ever could. If you were to ask, they would say, "Poland!", no doubt."

"Bear in mind, unlike you the CIA are not supporters of the American military regime."

"Regarding the machine gun, the sidecar has a mount for it. So it can be fired by the passenger on the move, although this is very inaccurate."

"I will be happy to carry both spare ammo cans for the machine gun, Herr Bayer. That will be no trouble at all, now that I have a lighter vest!"

He made sure his personal kit was ready to go. The salvaged Kevlar vest was still soaking wet from washing, although the camouflage was still marred with dark stains from where Mad had bled out. Maybe he would take the outer cover off, like Mad's helmet.

Dawid also scavenged the last 11 cartridges of 9x11mm Makarov for the Stechkin, should he need it. They were wrapped in cloth to keep the loose rounds from jingling, and then placed in a waterproof bag to keep them dry.

One thing was for sure, he was looking forward to riding the Ural they'd picked up.

He commented to Mi, "We'll make good time, but people will hear us coming."


Dawid Piotrowski
PKM GPMG (100 rds + 2x ammo cans) Stechkin (21rds + 11 loose)
2 RGD-5 fragmentation grenades (pockets of Kevlar vest).
This message was last edited by the player at 03:08, Wed 19 Dec 2007.

"Ja. With Yazzie out in front ahead of us, we'd best hope he finds any enemy before then."

Konrad Bayer
G36/HK69 (6X Full Mags/20X Mixed 40mm)
2 Smoke Grenades
This message was last edited by the player at 15:34, Sun 16 Dec 2007.

Anneka considered the new information supplied by Milk.
"Hauptman, I feel that a stronger force needs to secure the bridge area before charges can be laid. Up until now I had thought the Partizans were much stronger than just four lightly armed men and would be quite capable of clearing any opposition before we sent in our demolition team."
It was never a good thing to change a plan after it had begun, but then what plan didn't need adjustment after contact with reality?
"I would suggest reorganising the teams something like this..." Pulling her notepad from her breast pocket, she awkwardly retrieved a pen and began jotting down notes.
A few minutes of quiet discussion with Konrad later and she thought they'd covered everything.
"Only thing is that since Yazzie has already left^* then somebody will need to carry that weapon as well as their own."
[Private to Konrad Bayer: Same plan as outlined a few days back. Should work I think. Walter should be able (I hope) to pilot the tug a little closer and into mortar range]
^* assuming he has.

Bayer nods his head. It seems he understanding of the situation was not as clear as he first thought. The threat of combat seemed more possible now... no... imminent. A reorganization of the ground team for a move 'heavy' layout would be as they say, safer than sorry.

"Ja. I believe I may have misunderstood the information given. Stand down."

He looks over the notes Soleblume had offered him. "Ok. I am happy with this. Let Yazzie go though, he'll be fine with his rifle."

After moments more thought he addresses the members next to him. "The possibility of enemy located at the objective has not yet been confirmed by our scout. However, we will organize for a deliberate attack to assault and hold the bridge."

Glancing down at the list he reads out a new updated warning order.

"Myself, Tucker, Snowy, and Milk will be the assault element. We will deploy and link up with the partisans as previous planned, and attack together. Snowy, please draw the PKM machinegun and sufficient ammo. Milk, draw an LMG, perhaps the L86 or the RPK. Tucker, keep you rifle but also draw that disposable rocket."

He hands back the organization and weapons plan to Anneka, and addresses the boat team.

"Dawid. I know you were looking forward to driving the bike, but it'll have to be next time. We need you where you are best, on the heavy weapons. Mortar, perhaps move up the AGS to use as a secondary... so we don't expend too much 82mm?"

"Quyen. You'll still clear the bridge. But you won't deploy until the occupation phase of the operation. I need you to assist Dawid and use a DSHK as a secondary."

"Parks is topside for usual precision fire."

"Major Soleblume is in command of the support element. She will man the radio and coordinate between myself and the tug for support fire and with the helm."

"I don't like last minute changes like this, so I apologize. Lets focus on the new plan and prepare. I would have preferred that H-hour is at night but I don't think Walter can maneuver up the river in blackout conditions safely. Without him moving the boat we wont have the fire support I'd like to have. That means lets get ready quickly. We leave in 45 minutes."

OOC - Is this okay with everyone. Please consider your IC to reflect on the changes not being Bayer's fault. I made the mistake IRL ok? Regardless, let me know if you are fine with you position in the attack.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:07, Mon 17 Dec 2007.

Quyen sits down on the deck as Hauptmann Bayer alters the plan. She isn't discouraged by the changes, and the more she thought about it, the more she was glad he made the decision to. Perhaps it was a little of combat stress or fatigue... they could all probably do with some lengthy rest, well except Yazzie.

"Understood sir. I'm weapons on the tug and go ashore once you secure the bridge and call us up to the position. Set."

Pointing at the boats she adds - "Snowy is on the ground. But I can handle a boat like these. Do I ferry myself across?"

"Once the bridge is secure, I think we should move the tug up to it. Ferrying and so on can be worked out once there."

"Yes. That part of the original plan remains unchanged. I will radio the tug to advance in increments as we advance. This means one side, the left, will be clear of enemy if you are not too far behind. Keeping the tug a set distance behind us also allows the mortar to be in range, as well as having it close for extraction if absolutely necessary."

"Ja, once the tug is brought up completely to the objective. We can sort out things then. We may have casualties to ferry as well."

Dawid nodded. "I understand. It makes the best sense to have me here. Plus, I can instruct Minh a little bit while I'm at it."

"The Mortar's range firing from defilade is four kilometres. The grenade launcher's range is less than one kilometre."

"Therefore I suggest we rely on the mortar for indirect fire support. Especially as we have a high degree of certainty we might have heavy contact. This is as good a reason as any to expend some munitions!"

"This time, if we come across any 82mm ammunition, we may be able to recover it. That would be of great aid!

Still awaiting Yazzie's first report, the assault element of Konrad, Tucker, Snowy, and Milk are ferried to shore by the recently ubiquitous Walter. The man's never had so much responsibility before, but he seems to be taking it all in stride. As soon as he returns to the tug, he will steer it to within maximum mortar range of the bridge (approx. 4km), from where indirect fire support can be provided should it be needed.

As the shore party begins moving along the east bank towards the bridge, the tug follows along just behind it. If the enemy can see its smoke from their [suspected] positions, they will no doubt be expecting contact...

Actions?

With little else to do, or capable of actually doing in her wounded state, Anneka kept vigil over the opposing bank to the assault group. The tear gas launcher dangled from her good hand, and MP-5 drawn from their weapon stores hung by her side. Although she knew she had little hope of hitting much with only one hand, grenades didn't need to be accurate, tear gas even less so, and she would have felt naked without some sort of firearm hanging by her side.

Strolling casually about the deck as she watched the shoreline drift past, she found herself on the foreward deck with Minh and Dawid.
"Dawid, when either White or Yazzie are back aboard, would you please get them to transfer the BG-1 to your rifle?" She'd meant to ask them to do if before they'd left but in the rush to re-requip and deploy, it had completely slipped her mind.

Once John swims to shore, he Unasses his gear and cammo's himself,weapon and gear with fresh foilage from the area. He will then move out to a position 1 kilometer away from the bridge and wait 30 some miniutes to make sure he was not followed and to detirmine the best route to his hide position. Once he figures the route. He will move very slow in to the hide position. 400 some meters from the bridge.The hide will afford good observation and fields of fire and wiil make sure he is not seen from any angle. He will then scan the area with the gunny's spotting scope and start the repot on the radio.



John
Hide position
G3/1911
This message was last edited by the player at 12:58, Tue 18 Dec 2007.

On the shore Bayer takes his compass out of its pouch and sets the bearing to get them to the meeting point north of the bridge. Next he does a quick comms check with Soleblume back aboard the tug. "Everyone ready?" he asks after they help shove Walter's boat back into the river.

As they head south he periodically calls Anneka on his radio to have the tug advance slowly, still a few hundred meters behind them (it only needs to be in mortar range of the team).

Bayer
G36/Hk69
Shore Party
Advancing slowly to the meeting point
This message was last edited by the player at 03:42, Tue 18 Dec 2007.

Dawid loaded the mortar with a clip of 82mm HE, and got a second on deck. Beside that he placed a third clip, this one loaded with WP (in case a smoke screen was needed). He showed Minh how to safely load the weapon and make sure a round was in the chamber. The 82mm auto-mortar's barrel was cranked up high, so that it could fire indirect.

"We will fire the Vasilek from the magazine, like an autocannon. However, it can also be fired by dropping a shell down the tube, like other mortars. Please make sure there is no shell already in the barrel when you drop another down, it will be very uncomfortable! There is a safety lever here that should prevent this from happening, but one never knows."

Annkea suggested attaching a grenade-launcher to his rifle. "Hmmm... it should work. I never thought of myself as being a grenadier, but why not? Be reminded, I have little skill and less practice. I will remember to ask Mr. Yazzie to accomplish this when he returns."

"I have a suggestion of my own: you might want to go back to your Uzi. The Machinepistole-5 only has one magazine available, while your other weapon looks like it can be used one-handed. Also, with the Uzi we can weld a couple of magazines together in an "L" shape so you can reload one-handed.

"Be that as it may, I realise that we should be a lot closer, 2000m from the target as opposed to 4000m. Our accuracy will suffer at this range, and at any rate standard practice would be to position ourselves 2000m away when using Vasileks." (OOC: See OOC thread for reasons why we should do this.)


Dawid Piotrowski
82mm Vasilek (5 HE loaded, 5 HE + 5 WP on deck)
This message was last edited by the player at 04:25, Tue 18 Dec 2007.

Minh gives a wave to the shore party as they motor across to the riverbank. She watches them unload and head off. Once they are out of sight she makes her way forward to the mortar.

As Dawid prep'ed the mortar for action she listened as he talked her through the loading procedure. It seemed simple enough that with Dawid operating it, she would have no trouble standing in as the no.2 crewman.

"I would like to have been on the ground for this, but I know the boss is right to have me stationed here. I hope things work out well for them." she says offhandedly.

While Anneka started talking to Dawid, Minh put her attention towards watching the right hand river bank. If they got hit, she figured it be on the uncleared side. She glanced down at her AK74 which she had placed on the deck, out of the way of the mortar's operating space, but close at hand.

Clarence signals the others to halt while he answers an incoming call on the radio. He presses the handset to his hear and listens intently before whispering addressing the rest of the team.

"The rebels are proposing a night-time, back-door approach to the bridge. If there's Reds up there, they're likely to be waiting for an approach from this side. If they're starin' at our smoke, the partisans may be able to sneak up on 'em. We could hit 'em from both sides. On the other hand, with our elements separated, it's gonna be risky to call in any indirect fire. You want to swing inland and try to link up with the partisans on the other side, or do you want us makin' pincers and comin' at it from both sides?"

OOC: Snow and Tuck, feel free to pipe in too. Do all of you guys have NVGs? Milk doesn't.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:27, Tue 18 Dec 2007.

In response to Clarence's call for a halt, Bayer places Snowy covering forward and Tucker to the rear. He moves into the center where Milk is. All are close enough for quiet discussion.

Bayer wasn't very happy with the news. "I'm for a night attack if the tug is close enough for support... but not without getting a view of the position by light first. I don't support a separated attack at this point... we haven't even met them, seen them, or anything... too much chance of battlefield confusion and us killing each other attacking from different sides, especially at night. We also have Yazzie out there too."

He shakes his head. A couple of the team members had expressed their distrust in these guys, and now they were trying to dictate or manipulate the plan. "If they didn't like the meet point why didn't they tell us when you first radioed them?" he asks... but more of a statement than a question.

Bayer checks his radio and calls a SITREP to Soleblume. "Boys? Anything?" he asks Tucker and Snowy.

OOC - Bayer has NVGs and Illum
This message was last edited by the player at 00:35, Wed 19 Dec 2007.