The Recon
As Adam and Walter try to coax the stranded tug from the suction of the submerged mudbank, the recon team kits up in preparation for their mission. Clarence briefs Konrad on the mission, receiving the final go-ahead.*
With Walter needed on the Krolowa's bridge, Minh is tasked with ferrying the recon team back from its insertion point (Stoner will handle the inbound trip). The infiltration is successful and the team is put ashore. They've forgone the bicycles as there is no road within their infiltration corridor (the road paralleling the river is nearly 5km inshore here). They move swiftly but cautiously, using what little concealment they can find as effectively as they can. They make good time and see only a small party of what appear to be civilians well in the distance, near the road. It does not appear that they are seen. Within a few hours, the recon team is within sight of the bridge. They settle into a suitable hide side with a good view of the western side of the bridge and camoflage themselves amidst the thick underbrush, setting Claymores along the likely avenues of approach. A light rain has begun to fall.
They take turns observing the bridge, noting the number of defenders and the types of their weaponry. The tank, a cold, dappled green sentinal, sits immobile on the opposite bank, just off of the road. It's turret, supplemented with improvised armor consisting of track links and sandbags, is topped by a KPV HMG (light cannon to some).
As expected, the bridge appears to be guarded by a hodge-podge of Polish government troops- undoubtedly conscripts- variously armed with Tantal and AKM rifles. By and large, they look young and inexpert. None sport more than a whisp of facial hair. One particular guard on the near-side appears to be a couple of years younger than the barely post-pubescent deck hand (Luboslaw) back aboard the Krolowa. With his oversized helmet and long, skinny neck, he resembles a long-stemmed mushroom.
On the near side of the bridge, a gaggle of six young guards huddles close together passing around a lit cigarette. A man appears walking quickly towards them from the other side of the bridge. A young, ruddy-faced guard hastily stubs the cigarrette out on the concrete guard-rail and pockets it. The party crasher strides towards the group and begins shouting and gesticulating angrily. The others quickly disperse, one falling to the ground as the older man cuffs him on the side of his head.
The man's appearance stands in stark contrast to the others. He is older and moves with the confidence of a seasoned veteran. He's dressed in the newest model Soviet camoflage. He is followed shortly thereafter by another pair of Soviet troops, younger perhaps, but carrying themselves like expert predators. One carries an ufamiliar weapon- it's about the size of a carbine, scoped, and appears to have an integral silencer. He also has a small radio strapped to his chest harness. He and his comrade begin walking along the shore, heading up-river, soon passing out of sight. The young Poles take their positions and the angry Soviet heads back to the opposite bank.
A head count reveals twice the estimated strength of 24 men on duty at any given time. About half of those on duty appear to be Soviet soldiers. There is a sandbagged machine gun bunker on the near side, and likely another on the far side. The nearside bunker appears to be armed with tripod-mounted PKM. There is also a truck parked under some trees on the far side of the river and a tent pitched nearby that.
Clarence estimates that there are at least 36-50 defenders total, working in split shifts, with another 12-24 stationed in the town a few kilometers to the east. Over half of the defenders are Poles, the remainder are likely Soviets. All are armed with a variety of WARPACT infantry weapons. The Polish force looks to be made up almost exclusively of recent conscripts while the Soviets by and large look to be top-notch soldiers.
All of this information is transmitted by radio to the command element on board the tug.
Actions?
OOC: *Any questions about the plan we can hash out OOC. I didn't want to hold things up.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:49, Tue 01 July 2008.