Mariusz continued with the tasks Yazzie had set him whilst Brother Switek took the Marine one side to talk. It must be about him, Mariusz thought, the monk had never done that before, but he trusted the man who had saved him from the slavers implicitly. Whatever he did would have his best interests at heart, he was sure. Mariusz wasn't quite sure what he had landed in on this boat, but there was no point worrying, planning was pointless when your life expectancy was measured in days and months, not years. Mariusz had been counting the dead, life as a partisan didn't last much longer than eight months, the only ones who had lived past that were Switek and Bear, and now Bear was dead. Mariusz had been a partisan for six months, so, he reckoned, he had two months or less to go. Of course, he was young and immortal, but he'd seen children die for years now. One day it would be his turn.

He bent his head and went back to his tasks.

"Mariusz," Anneka called to the young man cheerily. "I think it's your turn on watch up at the ZU."
The small Israeli woman in the US Army uniform gently took him by the elbow and steered him forward.
[Private to Mariusz Tokarski: "I like you," she said quietly in near perfect Polish as they walked.
"So I'll give you a little free advice. Stay clear of Corporal Yazzie for a while. I wouldn't want to see you caught up in something you don't understand."
Although her mouth was smiling, he eyes glittered with a hardness and intensity that rivalled diamonds.
"Dawid, Snowy, even Sergeant Tucker are better suited to help you learn and I'll do everything I can too."]

Mariusz looked at the doctor/Major and nodded, "I'll do as you ask, Sir? Ma'am? Major? And thanks for the pills, I'm feeling much better now. I'll go to my post now."

[Private to Anneka Soleblume: He whispered back to the Major, "I don't know what's going on here but I'll be careful. Yazzie told me not to do women work any more but if you can find me some eggs during a scavenging hunt, let me know, I noticed we had a lot of caster sugar and I can make meringues when Yazzie is asleep."]

Sensing a need to give Yazzie time and space to absorb their conversation, Switek moved to where Piotrowski was standing and bummed a cigarette.  As he lit it with his Zippo, he raised an eyebrow and observed the interaction between Tokarski and the Major.

"I really must have a talk with that woman," the monk sighed and changed the subject as he switched to a Polish whisper.  "We both have the sentry duty that follows twilight muster.  Find me then and we will speak of many important things."

Switek stalled for a moment, pretending to be occupied with Piotrowski, then quietly moved fore to discern what the Major was doing with his scout.



[Switek]
Moving fore along starboard
RPKM + drum 7.62mmS (75/75)
Observing the Major

Mariusz reached the Zoo's position and settled himself down. He was desperate to play with his fine new rifle and the pistol hanging at his side, but he had a duty to do. He peered intently into the water watching for obstructions and snags. This was a strange little world he thought to himself, he felt like a character from a book he'd read when learning English, he was trapped here as the story unfolded, he just hoped that the story didn't eat him. As he watched, he tried to think of ways around T'brzeg. The tug and barge had to pass it, there was no way around that, but the nearest place to buy ammo for their heavy guns was downriver from there. Over, under, around, through, he thought to himself. Could there be a way of bypassing T'brzeg and bringing ammo back here?

As he watched the water go by, a plan formed in his mind. he smiled to himself, he liked what was going on in there.

The more he mulled it over, the more he thought he needed to share his idea with someone. He checked that there was nothing ahead in the river and he yelled back to the bridge, "Can you ask the Major to come and see me at her earliest convenience please?"
This message was last edited by the player at 13:56, Wed 13 Feb 2008.

"Well Priest I have been here killing men of all races since the summer of 97. I have no mental problems that I feel.I have felt some pain due to the loss of parks but thats why I went head long into training another.It's something else to think about. I'm a team player and if you asked my friends they would say I go above and beyond. I have the Silver Star for swiming 2 miles dragging a wounded comrad off the coast of this country. I carried my Corps man on a pull liter for two days before I decided to goto Krakow. He was a dear friend and Sailor. I came here with the best intentions of just trying to go home. Thats all I want, my war is over. I kill now to save my own life. But on the other hand if people get into my area I will defend myself. I wont harm a hair on anyones head here Its not worth my time. I need them to get home. I follow there commands because I signed on to do that. My only friend here died yesterday because of poor leadership thats why I'm pist off. Thats why I'm mad! I wont take the boy.What a silly though that is . He is untrained and would only slow me down. I did not know you were his boss. If I knew that I would have came and asked you permission to train him. He came to me for training only and that is what I will give him.I'm trying to set up a team because no one is organised here and I know Orginization saves lives. I set my gear up after every mission to withdraw. I'm recon thats what we do on heavy contact.Just like a partisan. Only trying to teach a class Ann needs not to worry. The sailor does not know me or what I'm capable of. I could kill him before his mind knows whats going on. But thats murder and I'm not a murderer. I will tolerate his crap to me and he will do the same he is a pro. You can tell the Major I wont go crazy and I wont hurt her little small body. I also will play with the team.I though I had been I have saved quite a few asses here in the last few days. Tell milk I know what he has. I was doing Prep for the DIA own operation for the same shit.I hit a command Post in Lodz and killed some political and Military tergets there to divert some attention from the main effort. I guess his guys got there first oh well. But since he has it its his. Like I said my war is over. I wont fuck up his mission. Trust me.I'm trying to pay debts now to my soul. Helping the boy coving the rest of the americans until we get to the coast. Not hurting ths country anymore. Yes Yazzie is my Surname.I come from a reservation in New Mexico. Stay safe priest. You can trust I will."

John
Training
SVD/1911
This message was last edited by the player at 01:39, Thu 14 Feb 2008.

The Krolowa pulls even with the ruins of Glawowice. A small troop of feral pigs passing through appear to be the only- albeit temporary- inhabitants.

A shout from Clarence breaks the ebbing tension on the deck below.

"Company on the way! Look sharp people!"

From astern, a small boat is approaching at closing speed, trailing a cloud of thin white smoke. It's almost instantly recognizable to all but the newly arrived partisan team (including Kasparov)...

Damien the River Pimp is back.

Actions?
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:16, Thu 14 Feb 2008.

Pushing other matters aside for the moment, Bayer calls from the bridge, "Stand to, stand to! Riverboat approaching!" He picks up his webbing and helmet and puts them on quickly. Yelling down again he calls to Tuck, "Sergeant Tucker, action front."

Looking at the helmsman he imitates a slashing (stopping) motion across his throat. "Stop the boat." he says slowly. He'll watch the man to ensure he understood him.

Digging out his binos he will look at the approaching boat for any thing of interest.

Bayer
G36/Hk69
Bridge
Observing with the pimp boat with binos

Clarences call spurs Anneka to head for her assigned position. As she moved she observed how quickly others reacted to the warning, hoping that a sense of urgency existed within them.
[Private to Konrad Bayer: Pausing for a moment as she passed Konrad, she spoke quickly in German.
"This could be an opportunity to deal with Corporal Yazzie. Perhaps he should be invited to join Damiens crew?"]

HP-35
Heading for Starboard PK position forward of Bridge

Hicks appears at the stern of rear of the superstructure carrying a shotgun with his rifle slung over his back. He quickly moves to the Mk 19, setting the shotgun down and fastening his K-pot on his head. With efficient motion, he quickly checks to make sure that HVHE is loaded and unsafes the weapon, then takes up a good sight picture on the approaching vessel. "Hick's up!", he yells to let the rest of the crew know he was ready.


Hicks
Mk 19 50rd HVHE
Stern mount

This message was last edited by the player at 02:03, Thu 14 Feb 2008.

Quyen already armed and in gear, runs forward to the mortar. "Dawid, which one are we manning for this one, mortar or AGS?"

Whatever the reply, she will take up her position as a number #2 gunner/assistant. Her rifle placed next to her for quick access.

Minh Quyen
AK-74 (28 rounds)
Mortar/AGS Station
Ready for action
This message was last edited by the player at 02:00, Thu 14 Feb 2008.

In honor of Chopper, Yazzie yells out.

"General Quarters,General Quarters.All hands man your battle stations. Ports side for forward and up and starboard side for down and stern. Set condition zebra on all hatches this is General Quarters."



Looking up at the Hauptmann
"Boss were do you want me? I dont have a battle station? Do you want me to post up to take out HVT's or OCS's? What is your Commanders intent on this?"



John
Asking for Instruction
SVD/1911
This message was last edited by the player at 03:02, Thu 14 Feb 2008.

Switek listens actively, nodding and grunting as he takes in the Marine's response to his concerns.  He truly feels that the two have reached an agreement in the context of Tokarski's tutoring, and also achieved a deeper understanding on a variety of other topics.

"Yazzie, I am glad we had this chance to - "

His comments are cut short by the call for general quarters.  The monk has not spent much time aboard maritime vessels, but he knows his port from his starboard (as "port" and "left" share the same number of letters).  According to the orders bellowed by the Indian scout, Switek ascertains that he is expected to move "fore and up" on the left side of the craft even though his station is located on the right side.  And he is expected to move with haste.

"We will talk later."

Momentarily baffled by the amount of specificity demanded in the order, he quickly processes the need for flow control during a crisis.

Oh. Of course.

Switek muses that all the naval parlance will certainly take some getting used to as he scurries along the port side of the tug and across the quarterdeck to his station at the starboard Daishka mount.  He checks the action and swivels the monstrosity into action.

Did somebody really say ... pimp?

Indeed that is what he thought he heard.  His skin crawls and his brow draws to a taught scowl at the thought of the approaching flesh-peddler.



[Switek]
Starboard Gun Mount
RPKM + drum 7.62mmS (75/75) - slung
Manning his post

"Let's man the Plamya."

After they got the grenade launcher into position, he handed her his binoculars.

"I will cover Damien, but I believe he is not a threat."

"Please check the shore around us. Also, You can use one of the RPK automatic rifles."

This filth must be quite used to people pointing weapons at him. Still, it's not nice.

Dawid pulled back the weapon's wooden charging handle, the chain making a rasping sound as it engaged the action. He then grasped the shovel handles of the AGS-17, but kept it pointed away from the coming boat.

Mariusz saw the river boat heading toward them and swiftly jumped into the gunner's seat of the ZOO-TWO, he ensured that the safeties were off and that the traverse was working but deliberately didn't start tracing the target. He stood by waiting for the others to get to the position or for orders to fire.

Mariusz
Front of Barge
Manning ZOO-2

To the Hauptmann...

"Well Sir I cant stand here in the open all day? Orders?...Something?"


When the tug comes with 250 meters if no orders are issued John will seek cover and cover the bank of the river reverse of the river pimp.



John
seeking guidance
SVD/1911

Minh responds to Dawid - "Right." and quickly helps maneuver the AGS into a suitable position. She then drags over her rifle so its resting on the deck within arms reach.

Taking his binos she gave a quick look to the approaching boat. She'll begin listing off to Dawid, the locations and weaponry of anyone she sees. After the brief look, she will scan the shore.

She had forgotten about the RPK-74s which had recently been positioned there. Leaning over, Quyen grabs one of the RPKs - "Ready."

"Wager a bet? He's got good news or bad. I'll bet you two smokes for whatever you want. I say its bad news."

Minh Quyen
RPK-74
AGS Position
Scanning boat and then shore
This message was last edited by the player at 13:32, Thu 14 Feb 2008.

Mariusz tracked the riverboat visually but left the guns stationary, mention had been made of opening fire before finding out if a target was hostile so he deliberately waited. As Karparov came up to the position, Mariusz began:

"Listen, I've been thinking, Yazzie mentioned laying up for a few days in the next village and fixing up the tug. He also suggested trading the spare weapons we have for ammo for the big guns. That's a brilliant ide in my opinion. Getting the ammo is another matter, after this emergency, why don't we suggest two people taking that motorcycle I've seen, getting on the left bank and heading for Sandionmierz? That way they would miss the bandits at T'brzeg and get to a place where we might be able to buy ammo. If the price we get for the guns is good enough, we could hire a truck to bring it back here or, use the guns as a sweetner with the mercants to transport their stuff up here and then trade some of the bicycles for the ammo. That way we could be tooled up before scouting the enemy town out. Taking out the heavy weapons using indirect fire would be safer than having to get up close and personal. What do you think?"

[Private to Cap'n Rae: If kasparov doesn't come to his post for some reason, I'll delete this.]

The call to arms broke Jason from his much needed rest. Jumping up quickly, he collects his AK-74 from beside his sleeping bag, and dashes to Mariusz's side.

"What the hell is going on?" he asks the boy, spitting some dredged up phlegm into the water.

"Listen, I've been thinking, Yazzie mentioned laying up for a few days in the next village and fixing up the tug. He also suggested trading the spare weapons we have for ammo for the big guns. That's a brilliant ide in my opinion. Getting the ammo is another matter, after this emergency, why don't we suggest two people taking that motorcycle I've seen, getting on the left bank and heading for Sandionmierz? That way they would miss the bandits at T'brzeg and get to a place where we might be able to buy ammo. If the price we get for the guns is good enough, we could hire a truck to bring it back here or, use the guns as a sweetner with the mercants to transport their stuff up here and then trade some of the bicycles for the ammo. That way we could be tooled up before scouting the enemy town out. Taking out the heavy weapons using indirect fire would be safer than having to get up close and personal. What do you think?"

"I don't think we take orders from Yazzie, my friend. Stanislaw is our leader, so we should mind his lead. Besides, from what you just said thats an awful lot of permissions to get, from a person who's rank is lower than mine. Yazzie may have some good ideas, but he needs to follow the system of rank, if he wants to implement them. You do as Stanislaw tells you, boy. Do not be swayed by idealists or war mongers, including myself. I too must answer to those who have earned the rank they bear."
 

Seeing the boat, Jason prepares his weapon. "From the looks of it, this guy ain't friendly."

Jason kasparov
groggy
aiming AK-74

"I didn't say he was giving orders or that I was reacting to them. I just mentioned the he suggested something that I thought was a good idea and was trying to refine it. These guys, I don't now yet, do you think I should fire on them?" asked Mariusz, his foot hovering ove the traverse pedal ready to bring the twin barrels to bare.

"I understand your feelings on the matter. Just be wary, is all I ask. Some people use suggestions as influence to corrupt the naive."

Jason looked over at John, who was now scrambling for orders. "I think he's been under fire too long. In the field too long, young one. He doesn't seem totally stable. We have been on board for less than a day, and we know our assigned stations. That one is lost till the bullets start to fly. Learn from him, but take no action without consulting Stanislaw. I've seen anger, pride and arrogance tear a man apart. Its only in the field he will shine. Be wary, is all I  ask."

Turning back to the boat, he rests his hand on the barrels. "Don't fire. Await the order."

"I was going to consult Stanislaw and the officers before trying to do anything. From what I see, people are taing themselves off into corners and whispering too much. Still, its better than being dead and the kitchen is nice. Shame about firing," he said as he slapped the AA gun, "I'd love to give her a go. As to Yazzie not knowing his position, I believe he has a point, he was assigned the crow's nest but then there was a debate about whether that post was needed as the life expectancy up there is very short. I'd be confused too."
This message was last edited by the player at 09:27, Fri 15 Feb 2008.

"I have been sleeping so I must have missed the whispers. I can't speak of what I don't know. I will try to find out though."


He pats the boy on the shoulder. "Wait for orders. I'll find Stanislaw."

He runs across the deck, slipping along the way trying to find Stanislaw.

Tucker stops what he was doing when he hears the call for an approaching ship.  He heads up to the main deck (if he wasn't already there and hears Bayers' instruction to him to get into ready position.  Unslinging his rifle/grneade launcher combo, Robert calls out, "Roger that Konrad, I'm on it!" as he moves to his fire position.  When he gets there he will call out to those around him, "STATUS!  WHAT DO WE GOT HERE?"

Tucker
M-16A2 [27/30]/M-203 [HE]
Reporting to his assigned battle station
This message was last edited by the player at 14:40, Fri 15 Feb 2008.

"Mister Tucker! It is that parasite, Damien!"

"I do not believe it's a threat!"


AGS-17
Tantal/BG-15
This message was last edited by the player at 18:35, Thu 14 Feb 2008.