Be my pleasure. He leads Jason back a little, still on the aft dack, but not so close to the Three Amigos. He shrugs the M240 sling off his shoulder and leans it agains a convienent bulkhead, bring careful to keep between it and the IPAT. After unwrapping the hand, he digs around in the strange bag until he finds a small bottle of iodine. He cleans the wound and looks at it critically. I don't think it will need stitches he says, slapping an oversized bandade on it and re-wraping it with a fresh bandage. Let me guess. You cut yourself shaving?

Dave
Aft Deck
M240, 100 round belt close
AK-74, 6 loaded mags,slung across back
BG-15

Hicks reacts by safeing the Mk 19. "That's it then, right? Time to saddle up?"

Griet came by, explaining the situation. Dawid had no opinion other than if a fight were to be started, better they start it first and if so make it happen a little ways from the town's main river defencive zone.

He looked over at his old acquaintance, mulling whether to respond. This was too bad.

It would have been nice to know someone that could actually help them, but the man was standing in front of a comrade who would overhear anything said between them, and if anything started he would likely immediately die, perhaps at Dawid's own hand.

If so, may God forgive me. Again.

Sighing, he left his post (knowing he would probably catch hell for this later) and made his way aft.

Seeing Bones with a grenade launcher attached to his Kalashnikov, he thought does he have any ammunition for that? "Here, you could use this." He split the 40mm ammunition in half, giving him 3 40mm HE and 1 40mm Illumination rounds. "Use them in good health."

"To answer your question Jelen, I guess I'm working on a boat. Come with me, Jelen. I have wodka in my pack. Yes?"

Ignoring any possible protest, once away from the stern he asked Jelen about the town and the leader. If and when they got to his pack, he intended to offer the other a swig of vodka from the opened bottle.

"We have heard some terrible things about this town. It doesn't look so bad, but it is hard to know what is the truth."

"Will the hetman keep his word if he makes a deal?"


Tantal/BG-15 (30/1 HE)
Stechkin (20 + 1)
This message was last edited by the player at 05:15, Fri 21 Mar 2008.

Snowy looks at Konrad and says "Well boss, any orders in the interim?"

The wait was tedious and uncomfortable as Switek observed the action on the river from the western shore.  Occasionally, he would turn to survey their rear approach.  He had seen their chaperone from Krakow's ORMO move to shore and then back to the tug with her escorts.  He could only guess at the content of the meeting she must have had in town.  If they were to have been intercepted by the IPAT, it seemed the fireworks would have erupted by now.  The monk expected that the threat of their shadow had in fact been a bluff or they were already caught in a trap waiting to be sprung by an exceptionally well-disciplined force.  Either way, he was in no hurry.

"Let's hold a few more, Chopper," Switek attempts to persuade the sailor.  "We can not sit out here all day, but it would be imprudent to abandon a position offering such excellent cover of the tug's path of travel.  This should all resolve itself soon enough."

He raises his counterpart out on the river.

Pitchfork, Buddha.
Be advised, we intend to abandon present position.
Will exfil to downriver extract point on your signal.
Over.

He hoped that their relocation would not meet resistance.



[Switek]
On the western berm
RPKM + drum 7.62mmS (75/75)
Preparing to move

"Just buying us some time," Jason states, slipping his knife from his side, to show Stoner. "The plague it was."

"Any idea if it worked?"

After Griet had left the bridge, Anneka spoke again with Konrad.
"I think it may be wise to have Hicks and Stan meet us again at Sandomeriz. My guess is that we'll not be able to stop for anything once the first shots have been fired."
"You want me to pass it on through Milk?"

"Thanks, Chief. I'll let the trike team know. Hey look, remind the major and Bayer that we don't necessarily have to kill these chaperones; we just have to keep them in the dark as long as possible and then disarm them when it's too late for the IPAT on shore to do anything 'bout it."

When Griet leaves on her human telegraph run, Clarence picks up the secure handset of his radio and rings Brother Switek.

Buddha; Pitchfork-
Be advised, we will be proceeding downstream shortly.
We will be moving to an RV with an IPAT ground convoy on the east bank, about 2 klicks from here.
If possible, get there first. Set up a concealed OP and overwatch with quick exfil route.
If compromised, proceed to Sandomierz.
Will advise of next move when underway.
OVER.

When he's done transmitting, Clarence shifts to the sandbagged wall under which Stoner and Kasparov are quietly chatting and power-whispers,

"Jason, I could use some company up here."

Truth was, Milk had been trying to get an extra set of hands posted to the quarterdeck for a couple of days now. The quarterdeck offered an elevated platform with good, raised fields of fire to starboard, port, and aft, and an extra body there meant that the aft Dushka could be brought back into a fight quickly if Clarence went down.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:39, Thu 20 Mar 2008.

"Tell me what you need." Jason states to Milk, thanking Stoner for the fix. "Any word on our status? No is telling me squat."

"Not yet Snowy." Bayer replies. "Not until we find out why exactly we have guests on board at very least. Lets just continue on with normal routine for the moment. Help me pass it along to the men to stand down, except for routine posted sentries ok?" He thinks for a minute and then continues, "Also... perhaps get a few of the men to make it look as if we plan on giving up the tug... ahh taking down shelters and packing up personal gear or something. Something like that ok?"



Konrad nods, "Ja. At least on the outskirts of Sandomeriz perhaps. But, yes, a pickup may be difficult with the new plan, ve should expect that."

Bayer then excuses himself and goes down to the main deck. Heading to the aft he walks up to the guests and the posted guards. Noticing one of the men absent he looks to Stoner and Quyen, "Where is the third man? Instructions were clear ja?"

After their reply he looks at the remaining two IPAT guests, "What is this then? Huh? Why are aboard this vessel?"

"You got it boss."
Snowy nods and leaves the deckhouse, moving down the starboard side and as he goes past each person he claps them on the shoulder and says "When you get off watch, pack up your stuff and police up your gear. The boss wants us to be able to go ashore with all our gear."
If no one is about, he adds "it's just for show, to make the people at T-Burg think we're leaving. Look busy like you're packing up to leave."
If the boarding party is in earshot, Snowy will see if he can get someone to momentarily take over the guard duty (or whatever it was that they were doing) to clear matters up before letting a wild rumour grow.
If he sees the Czech, he growls at him "you can have this fuckin' rusty rocket-magnet, we've lost half our people getting this far."

When Jason emerges, Quyen responds to his smile with an upwards nod. She then shoots a quick glance in the direction of the IPAT guys and gives a smile - watching these clowns.

A little while later Quyen is taking in the smoke Dawid spared to her with long inhales, starring at the IPAT guys. Konrad approaches and she's about to tell him one of them wanted to go to the bridge...



"Dawid's supervising him. He took him for something... I think they were comrades." Quyen replies quickly. She then takes the smoke from her mouth and vainly holds it half hidden from sight.

After a moment she says quietly, "Instructions were clear Hauptmann. I should have mentioned it to Dawid."
This message was last edited by the player at 11:30, Thu 20 Mar 2008.

Nodding in affirmation Anneka left the bridge and passed on the instructions for Milk to transmit to the shore party.
"Looks like the local chief wants the tug pretty bad. Offered up half a dozen clapped out soft skins for it and an armoured car," she informed him.
"We're going along with them for the moment," she continued as she guided him away from where the "guests" could overhear and closer to Mariusz and Snowy.
"But once we're past the town and it's fixed defences, we're reneging on the deal and making a break for it. Chances are they'll be trying the same so it's likely there'll be a fight."
"Now it's not set in stone yet, everyone is going to have input into what we do since it's going to radically change things. It's quite likely that if shots are fired, we're going to take casualties."

When he's done his corpsman duties with Jason, Dave picks up the M240. They seem to take it seriously refering to theatrics

As Dawid gives Dave the grenades, Dave nods and says Thanks, man. Good health to me, bad health to someone else.

After the fruitless attempt to stop Dawid from walking off with one of the Amigos, Dave looks over at Minh and shruggs.I wonder what that was about? My Polish is pretty much limited to "Drop your weapons and raise your hands". You might as well pack your gear, I'm pretty much carrying all I have.


Dawid and the third Amigo apparantly know each other, Boss. They rattled some Pole back and forth, and went thataway, nodding in the direction the two Poles left. It was either let them go, or shoot both of them. Dave replies to Konrad

Dave
Aft Deck
M240, 100 round belt close
AK-74, 6 loaded mags,slung across back
BG-15, 3 HE, 1 IllUM

Artur seems to relax considerably as he gratefully savors a deep drag on the gifted cigarrette.

"Damn, this is some good shit! German? I'll trade you a whole carton of Russian cigs for a pack of these. Seriously.

He takes another long pull and the floodgates open.

"Of course the Hetman will keep his word! That's why we'd follow him to hell and back. Sure he's merciless when it comes to bandits, but those motherfuckers reap what they sow, know what I mean? Terror is a useful tool. The Hetman says it's the only language bandits and communists understand. I mean, they use terror to get what they want, right? And the people 'round here- the civilians- they seem to appreciate a good show. They fucking cheer their throats raw when the Hetman puts on one of his 'circusses'. They eat that stuff up- even the women and kids! Maybe they're just glad it's not them...

"Anyway, this place used to be crawling with bandits- mostly Russians. Now it's almost safe enough for kids to play hide and seek in the woods by themselves. And the Red government in Lublin won't come anywhere near us. They're too fucking afraid! Damn, it's good to see you Piotrowski. You should stay with us. There's a 120mm mortar in town and we could really use some experienced artillerists like you."

*I changed the NPC's name back to what I originally posted. I'll save the new one for future use in my "Polish name bank".

With the outline of a plan in place, the Czech is informed of the boat captain's agreeing to the deal. He radios town to inform them of the tug's decision and asks to be taken the bridge. He stations one of his men at the poop and instructs the other, Jelen, to stay put near the Vasilek.

On his way up to the bridge, the Czech bumps lightly against Tadeuz, busy trying to raise the stern anchor. The chief deck hand nearly falls over before turning unsteadily and confronting the interloper,

"Come back 'ere and let me teach you some fucking manners, you son of a bitch!"

The Czech starts to reach for his pistol as Bones and Minh both restrain the wobbly Tadeuz, who thoroughly reeks of cheap vodka. It's only 0900 hrs.

The Czech turns on his heel and continues up to the bridge, entering from the port side. Once in place he radios a quick SITREP to his superiors. By now, the tug is starting to make way. Walter stands at the wheel, Adam at his right hand, leaning wearily against the forward bank of dials and controls.

As the tug builds speed, those with a view to the starboard side watch the town slide slowly by. They notice no less than three HMGs (Dushkas or NSVs) in prepared positions along the bank; on rooftops overlooking the river, an AGS-17 and a least of pair of RPKs. A machine gun team on the bank is beginning to break down a tripod-mounted PKM. Dawid knows well that the garrison's 120mm mortar alone, emplaced somewhere out of sight, could have turned the Krolowa into a flaming funeral boat. On the port side, the heavily decomposed corpse of a bandit, hanging from the anchored dredge crane, nearly brushes against the tug's superstructure. Everyone on board the Krolowa gets the feeling that they've just cheated death.

Meanwhile, on the west bank, Switek makes the call to displace forward. He and Chopper wrestle/ride the trike back across the slick ground to the northbound road to Sandomierz. Once back on the cracked and weed infested blacktop, they make good time, bits of mud and gravel flung from the tires ricochetting noisily from the mudguards. Switek looks across the river and sees periodic puffs of oily black smoke drift skyward from what appears to be a small convoy heading in the same direction. At one point, when the roads on both sides converge on the Vistula, Switek can see a few of the vehicles (it's still too far to get an accurate count or note all of the makes and models). Presumably, an eagle-eyed member of the convoy could likewise see the upgunned motorcycle/sidecar and its riders. The trike is moving faster than the convoy and Switek has to bang Chopper on the arm to slow down when he notices the convoy pull of the road a couple of hundred meters behind them. The trike team have overshot the rendezvouz. With fairly flat, open terrain between the road and the bank, it's unlikely that the trike team will be able to get to within firing range of the halted IPAT convoy without being seen by them.

The tug is now cruising near its encumbered top speed of 15 kmph. In just under 15 minutes (during which the Czech transmits three brief SITREPS at 5 minute intervals), Tarnobrzeg has been left behind and the rendezvouz in within sight up ahead. Set approximately 500m back from the bank are parked a brown and black painted HEMTT 10-tonne truck, a olive drab Ural4320 cargo truck, two bare-bones UAZ "jeeps", and a weathered gray OT65 armored scout car, as promised. Nearer the shore is posted a BTR-80 in a two-tone green cammo scheme, an olive green UAZ "technical", and a dark green, open topped, SF-style Humvee festooned with big guns. At least a squad of infantry is visible along the bank, although it's likely there's at least a platoon deployed in the vicinity to provide cover and "supervise" the exchange.

On the Krolowa's bridge, the Czech suggests somewhat alarmed,

"You should probably slow down..."

Actions?

OOC: The tug is about 300m from the IPAT folks and closing fast.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:56, Fri 21 Mar 2008.

Dave moves over to where Minh is leaning aganst the rail, making sure not to cross he line of fire. In a low voice he says I think the fat's about to hit the fire. Can you use this hog? glancing down at the M240 in his hands. We'll take out the clown first, then if you can handle ole Betsy here, you take it, and I'll punch some of these grenades downrange. That little bit of extra firepower might help.

Dave
Aft Deck
M240, 100 round belt
AK-74, 6 loaded mags,slung across back
BG-15, 3 HE, 1 IllUM

Dawid nodded in agreement. He felt the hetman's rule had some flaws and that his own chickens would come home to roost one day, but now was not the time to get into a serious discussion on politics or society.

"That's good to know, about the hetman and his word. Not a lot that's stable around here. "

"I'm on my way downriver to Warszawa, find my sister Urzula. After that, I think there are a lot of worse places in Poland than here, for sure. The area controlled by the Communist, for one."

"Look, I've been told we're giving up the boat. I've got to get things packed up, around here. Hey, do me a favour and stand over there, help me with the cover."

He started pulling down the tarp. Coincidentally, Artur was between him and the rail.


Tantal/BG-15 (30/1HE)
Stechkin (21)
This message was last edited by the player at 16:51, Fri 21 Mar 2008.

Mariusz still wasn't sure if there was going to be a fight or not but deciding that it was better to be ready than not, moved slightly forward to ensure that he was covering the IPAT man on the poop deck. He stood, ready for action.

Mariusz
G3 on auto (20/20)
M1911A1 (7/7)

Once Greit had relayed her message to everyone on the boat, she went to her possesions and put on her webbing and packed her gear. She carried her pack in her left hand and her Tantal was slung across her body with the pistol grip in easy reach of her right hand should she need it. She dumped her pack near the gangway on the deck and returned to the bridge. She said to the Kaptain, "I'm all packed and ready for the transfer Kaptain. Do you have any orders?"

The Czech looks at Konrad quizzically and replies,

"To make sure that you do not go back on the deal, of course- Hetman's orders. Is this a problem?"

OOC: This occurs early in the current continuity, before the Czech heads to the bridge. Please see my note in the OOC regarding this post.

Snowy looked around, checking the situation. He looked over at Dawid and saw him chatting familiarly with the IPAT man and thought for a moment about the ramifications of the situation. He looked over at Griet nearby, waited until the Czech wasn't looking and tapped the pepper spray on his harness with a raised eyebrow.

Griet caught Snowy's gesture and nodded and winked. The pepper sprsy would be a much better option in the confines of the bridge than simple pumping multiple rounds from her Tantal into him. She moved slightly to watch what Dawid was doing. She hoped he would remember what side he was on.

During the brief trip down stream...Vikotr moved to the Hold and retrieved the RPG and the two grenades for it. He also secured another 200 rounds of 7.62N from the large pile that was left there. He moves without a word back forward to his small Alamo that he is building up. He will place the weapans around him for easy control and move the gun barrels to cover the shore line. He has not been briefed by anyone and feels that this is right due to him being a newcomer to the boat. He is alone an unafraid at his forward post waiting for action.




Viktor
Many weapons
Preping to leave or goto war

When the uninvited guests begin to deploy about the tug, Bayer says for all in a casual tone "Return to your stations." A nonchalant way of saying Stand to, without drawing worry from the three IPAT men.

Bayer then quickly goes about visiting each of the team members. If IPAT soldiers are nearby he masks his true intentions by asking their abilities such as driving an OT-65 or engine maintenance.

Known only to the security team members he allocates individuals to "take care" of the three IPAT aboard. "Any means." is all he says regarding how. Shot, stabbed, beat, gassed, or threatened to jump overboard... he didn't care, as long as it was quick. They were likely under surveillance from the shore and the gig would be up the second they made any moves. Too early and the shore group would just have more time to shoot at the tug. "Make your move thirty seconds* after Adam blows the whistle."

*OOC - 30 seconds in case they are alarmed by the whistle... gives a little time for them to relax again.

Czech (in bridge) dealt with by Snowy (backed up by Bayer if necessary)
Jelen (by mortar) dealt with by Quyen (backed up by Dawid if necessary)
Other (on poop deck) dealt with by Stoner (backed up by Milk if necessary)

The rest of the team, be prepared to shoot at about the same time... 30 seconds after the whistle blast. They will probably see their three men on board go down, so better we be the ones to fire first.

In the bridge Bayer watches the meeting point approach. At 300 meters he asks Adam to give a short whistle blast.

Distracting the Czech for Snowy, Bayer turns and says to him, "Don't worry. The Captain knows what he is doing. He can stop this thing on a dime. Your people have men who know how to work the engines? Its complicated ja?"

OOC - Bayer can't give targets before hand, and once the meeting point is in place their is no time to run to each of the heavy weapons and allocate targets. Use your judgement ok?
This message was last edited by the player at 10:24, Sat 22 Mar 2008.