Dawid sighed and took off his helmet, wiping away some sweat from his forehead even though it was cold out. He sighed.

"I am ready for action, Sergeant."

"To tell you the truth, I am thinking that perhaps the Hetman's offer of ground vehicles was not such a bad idea. This tug is like a small building... one with "Please Shoot at Me!" written on the side, yes?"

He smiled, as if making a joke.

Tucker smiles at Dawid's humor and he knoew that the pole wasn't far off on his assessment.  "Yeah, i think we'll be working on a sign pretty soon Dawid.  Kind of sucks when it seems like you're driving a small building down a two-lane road.  I don't know though, I'm a gound pounder but, it seems harder to get to us on the wter sometimes than on the land if we had the trucks from the Hetman!  Anyway, let me know if you need anything and keep any armor piercing stuff ready in case we need to use it on the tank!"

Mariusz heard the two men speaking and said, "Don't forget, we shoot back too. I'll get dinner ready."

Mariusz popped back into the galley to see the lamb stew with carrots and potatoes thickening nicely, he'd made spicy dumplings to go with them and they were brown and plump. He had an apple pie baking in the oven and he got ready to finish the starters. He'd made some flour tortillas earlier and now he cut them into triangles and began frying them off. The chips could be dipped in the tomato salsa he'd already made, some softened goat's cheese and a guacamole he'd made with peas instead of avacados. The rye bread he'd baked was still warm and he put out a little flavoured oil to go with it.

He called up to the others, "Dinner in twenty minutes!"

"Ja, do so." he says shaking his head. "Check on the anti-tank grenades as well."

Clarence thought that the recon team could probably take out some if not all of the half-dozen men posted at the near end of the bridge without things getting too hot. The tank was going to be a big problem, though. There was probably no way that any of them could fight their way across several hundred meters of open, bullet channelling bridge to get within RPG range of the old warhorse.

A team on the far side would also have quite a time even getting near since over half of the defense force appeared content to remain on that side of the river. And, although they hadn't seen anything of the sort, Clarence was fairly certain that a fixed, garrisoned, strategically important position like this had at least a mortar or two in support.

"Wait one."

He turns and whispers to McCoy and Stoner,

"Suggestions?"

The tug moves at 5kph to safely cover as much distance as possible before nightfall. At dusk, the light rain that had been falling all afternoon turns to snow. Night falls quickly and the tug slows to a crawl. With Jason on the barge acting as a vision-enhanced lookout, the tug creeps into the darkness, those on board praying, each in their own fashion, that she doesn't run headlong into another submerged obstacle. At low speed, the tug's steam engine and machinery noises are surprisingly quiet, even in the stillness of the young night. It would be nearly impossible for a distant observer- even one expecting such a sight- to spot the tug's smoke in the pitch dark and slowly drifting snow.

At around midnight, the tug has crept to within three kilometers of the Annopol crossing, close enough to quickly close the distance and put the bridge into striking range of the Vasilek while remaining far enough away to avoid detection. The tug anchors just behind a slight curve in the river, as close to the east bank as Adam judges prudent, using the terrain as concealment. Danger becomes an almost tangible presence as the the tug settles into her hide just 3000m or so away from around 50* hostile WARPACT soldiers.

Actions?

OOC:*If Clarence's estimate is correct.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:24, Wed 02 July 2008.

Sam will give the hand signal when it gets dark to move out. If Milk agrees, they will move back to the ship to report in.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:31, Sat 05 July 2008.

Minh excuses herself and heads below. Visiting the hold she'll take a quick inventory of the anit-tank rockets and grenades. Next she visits the workshop or any other place where she hopes to find paint.

With the onset of snow, Anneka judged it time to change over to her precious thermal fatigues. Although she'd been living and working with Americans both in the US, Germany and Poland since before the war, she'd still not gotten used to the bitting cold winters this far from the tropics.

Information continued to flood in over the radio from the recon team during the day and it seemed that most of the more important administrative tasks were taking care of themselves. Left with little to do, she busied herself with medical checks, general maintenance and searching through the personal effects of those who'd recently been lost. Tactical planning, while a subject she was familiar with, was something best left to those who'd been living and breathing it for years.

This wasn't to say she didn't speak up when she needed to. If she saw something that seemed wrong somehow she spoke her mind. Sometimes she was wrong, and she gracefully admitted her mistake or misunderstanding of a fine tactical point, but often her sharp mind spotted a detail that more militaristic brains had overlooked.

"I don't like it," she'd said often that afternoon.
"But what choice do we have?"
Only two really as she saw it. Sail up and try to bargain their way through with possibly fake papers, or attack. Going back was less of an option than going around.

Griet looked at the positions as they were marked on the map and shook her head, "I agree with you Major, this really doesn't look good, but we have limited options, I'm going to suggest a highly risky strategy which may be impossible to actually do, it is an option however." she paused, "Would it be possible for our stealthy troops to set up some pre-prepared demolitions? If we could set up a series of timed munitions ready to go off, we could then steam up to the bridge right at dawn and try to bluff our way through. If it looks to be going bad, we try to stall for time until the explosives go off and then try to fight our way out. Timers are a problem I know, but I don't see how we could command detonate such a ruse, the plunger we have can set off up to ten charges, but having all that wire running to one point would be a recipe for disaster even if we had the wire to do it. Do we have remote command detonators? That would be best, but even if we could take out the tank and heavy bunkers and sow some confusion elsewhere it might be worth it, if MCoy's as good as he says he is, he might just be able to do it. Anyway, it's just a suggestion, if we can use part of it, it's a bonus, if it's stupid, I'm just a sea-dog sticking my nose into land lubbers' affairs."

"Its the tank though, Chief." Bayer says. "One shot on the tug and its all over for half on board."

"Now we could approach peacfully and it won't be able to directly engage... probably. T55s can't depress their guns low. But trying to sail away and they just wait until we enter their sights and thats it."

"I think the key to getting through is knocking out the tank's armament. We could survive machinegun fire." he says.

"If we could get to the center of the bridge, from the west side before the warning is given we'd have a shot at hitting it and holding off the superior force. They'd be channeled onto the bridge if they'd want to assault. But getting to the bunkers... I don't know how."

After napping a while, Dawid awoke and slipped on his NVGs. He scanned the darkness, looking for anyone. They were quite a ways away from the target and the Vasilek's accuracy would suffer. If that was what God willed, then that was what it would be.

Back on the tug, Dave grabs a bowl of stew and a chunk of bread. He goes to the bridge with his supper. "Why are we so sure we'll have to fight our way past these guys?" he asks no one in particular. "We should try to use that pass we picked up, maybe disembark the ones who are obviously NATO or American and have them move downriver on the west bank to rondevous with the tug later." I can't believe I'm about to say this he thinks to himself, "I can swim in ahead of the tug and land close as I can to the tank, and if we have to fight it out, I'll be prepositioned to take it out. Just leave a long line trailing off the tug for me." He takes a bite of stew and continues "Maybe have the American squad positioned to take out the bunker on the west side of the river, and work on the east side bunker while the tug is making it's escape."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:04, Fri 04 July 2008.

Meeting the returning recce group, Bayer offers a reply to Stoner's questions. "The presence of the Soviets, armed with special weapons indicates to me they have a high probability in being Spetsnaz. Before you came aboard we have had problems with this. A passenger is wanted by the Soviets for documents he is carrying... they have had Spetsnaz units in pursuit of us and we have lost a few of our number to them. It isn't just the people, they are very aware of the tug. It was actively searched for an attacked on sight by a helicopter. If they are who I think they are, they will not let the tug go."

"You can't swim. It was snowing a little earlier. Without a wetsuit at the least I don't think you can make it." he adds.

Looking at the rest of those who had eyes on the objective, he asks "Other tactical options... how else can the tank be knocked out?"

"If the tug were to approach under the guise of a peaceful crossing, could the RPG hit it from close range? Close... as in under the barrel depression level of the tank? Sail up and when the tank can not engage we knock it out." he asks. Bayer preferred the use of a dedicated tank-hunting party moving in after the sentries were eliminated by the special forces. However, from Clarence's description of the ground, that idea was fading.

"We've been told by our Intelligence people and the person most familiar with Sandomierz that the pass is a trap." Griet replied, "Trying to bluff our way through or putting our neck in the noose may be the only way to go if we are to try to get through, but we'll take massive casualties even if we succeed. If we were fighting shakey conscripts, we could chance most things, but if there are steady troops, especially Spetsnaz there, it's near suicide. Their snipers are likely to take out personnel if nothing else. I strongly suggest we think a lot about this. We have lost a lot of good people on this mission so far, I'm sure my father wouldn't allow you to sacrifice your lives for no good reason."

She paused, "Another option would be for us to drop off all foreign personnel and let you bypass the position, if the Soviets search us and we have no Americans or Reset, they may let us go, especially if we give up where you have gone. If we get through, we can meet up again, if not, you can judge if a rescue op is feasible. Whatever we do, we need to discuss it more, I'll support whatever decision is made."

Quyen rigs up a 3 kilogram explosive charge while the recce party and the officers discuss the plans. With the RPGs she doubted they'd need it, especially with the info coming in regarding the difficulty of getting close to the tank. But, back up and always nice no matter how small. She had other ideas too how to limit the tank's operational capabilities, but let them slide for the time.

After her task she emerges from below and hangs out in the galley.

Clarence listens thoughtfully as Stoner, Konrad, and Griet share their assessments of the situation and critiques of the rudimentary plans offered so far. He's not happy with any of it, but he admits to himself that he's unable to come up with anything any more promising. The rest of the team has been strangely quiet on the matter. As soon as Clarence has weighed all of the available options and performed a quick mental cost/benefit analysis, he shares his thoughts with the others.

"The bridge defenders have got to be waiting for us. There's no other reason for the Soviets to post first line troops on guard detail. It's possible the bridge's been hit by marauders and that the reinforcements are just a precaution but I doubt that. My gut tells me they're looking for RESET.

"We could try offloading the NATO people and bypassing the town while the skeleton crew bluffs their way through. It might work. But, if we take that tack, we've got to be prepared for the worst. Dawid's a deserter and I don't think Lublin recongnizes the legitimacy of the Krakow government so that puts the chief [Griet] here in the same boat. Worst case, they call our bluff and take the whole crew to Lublin for interrogation. If we take Dawid and Griet off too, that leaves like five people to crew the tug. I doubt the Russians are going to buy that only five crewmen can both sail and fight the tug.

So, if we go with the bluff, the NATO group should head east and then north to bypass the town and set up an ambush on the road to Lublin. If the tug makes it through, we head for a rendezvouz downriver. If they don't we wait and try for a rescue. I don't like it, but it may be all we got.

If we're going to attack, we've got to cook something up quick. When day breaks, we'll lose the element of surprise. We also need time to get a force back to the hide under the cover of darkness. I believe that we can eliminate the west bank squad and we may be able to knock out the positions on the bridge itself. With mortar fire support, we may be able to confuse or distract the defenders enough to get the tug close enough to hit the T-55 with a couple of HEDP rounds. That ought to do the trick. If nothing else, when the tug's close enough to the bridge, the tank may not be able to lower its main gun enough to hit her. That may give us another shot at taking it out. But, it's going to be a slugfest and we'll probably be taking the worst of it.

"Either way, bluff, or straight up fight, we're gonna lose people. There's no easy way to say it."

Clarence lets his last words settle in and hopes someone speaks up with another option.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:29, Sat 05 July 2008.

"Well, I see why we have lost so many. Not too many ideas here. I willing to go along with any plan; that's cool with me. If you want to win, then I will talk and lead this. No exceptions. It's up to you."
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:30, Sat 05 July 2008.

McCoy just came on board a few hours ago- and he didn't exactly make a very good first impression on the others. Who in their right mind would agree to placing their lives into the hands of an almost complete stranger?

Clarence turns to Sam with a look of utter exasperation.

"Sam, that kind of ultimatum's not gonna help us here. If you've got any bright ideas, now's the time to share 'em."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:32, Sat 05 July 2008.

"We lost many from a well prepared ambush. Not a lack of ideas. Those men died due to chance and luck which anyone could have succumbed to." Bayer replies. "And nobody in the group gets special treatment."

"Griet... to respect your suggestion, if half of the crew wish to chance a bluff, I will go with your plan. Otherwise the plan will be to attack." he says.

"Milk, your recce party will be required to eliminate the western group without raising the alarm. Secure the western span and prepare to hold it against counterattack. You said you can get to the center bunker ja?"

"Tucker and Quyen will be tasked with knocking out the tank... once Milk's objective has been cleared. Rendered unable to use its armaments in any way. Based on the alertness of the enemy, do you think in the dark two soldiers can walk along the bridge and approach the tank? It would be easier to eliminate than firing RPGs from a distance."

"The mortar needs to concentrate on soft targets... infantry and bunkers. It won't be effective enough against the MBT. The limitation in ammo, suggests to me that Dawid should employ the AGS instead."

"Critiques?" he asks.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:21, Sat 05 July 2008.

"OK, let's go with the German's plan. Tell me where I need to go and what I need to do. I will be outside prepping gear and getting a bite to eat. I like all this food. Great times."


With that, Sam walks outside and starts to prep gear.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:30, Sat 05 July 2008.

Mariusz made sure everyone got on the outside of a good meal as he moved around the boat. He was glad everyone was staying together but worried about the dangers they would face. As he ladled some stew out for Griet, he listened to MCoy speak. He frowned a little, the newcomer's constant criticism and denigration of the team grated a little on him, the man would be an asset to them for sure, but not if all he did was laugh up his sleeve at everyone else.

Griet looked at Bayer and said, "No need to apologise, Kaptain. I suggested the plan in case people felt that this was one potential sacrifice too many. The banks of the Vistula seem painted with the blood of our crew and lined with their graves. We haven't even found a resting place for two and now it looks like we're risking our lives again. If people are willing to stay, I'm proud to stand by them and in that case, your plan is a much better one than mine." she looked around at the others, noting MCoy's comments and watching him leave the conference, "I thank you all for your courage and support. Now, if that's the basics of the plan, how do we make it work? As I see it, we have a basic plan to deal with the tank, but what about the Spetznatz? The gun described might be a sniper rifle of some sort, how are we going to deal with that bearing in mind most of our casualties have been to snipers?"

"Regarding the sniper asset. What is the distance from one bank to the next Milk? What would you expect the shooting distance to be at. Its a night shoot so I am counting on the distance and environment to lessen the effects a sniper may have. It will be the tug's task to keep sustained fire on the east bank and hopefully keep any attacking force back." Bayer answers.

"I envisioned something like this... Stage One - The recce team make a close approach and eliminate the western ground positions silently. They are followed close behind by the tank hunter group.

Stage Two - the bunker on the center of the bridge is assaulted and secured... silently again. Whether they get close by stealth and concealment or acting as friendly troops in the dark is their call.

Stage Three - The tank hunter group either approaches the tank or knocks it out from the secured bunker. I would rather a close up job and use of the RPGs only if the element of surprise has been lost.

Stage Four - The tug approaches and as it sails under the bridge provides sustained fire onto the eastern position (now alerted) and takes the heat off of the ground element who extract at this stage.

Stage Five - Linkup downriver."

"I think everyone is in agreement that we need the element of surprise on this one. Therefore we'll have to abort if the alarm is prematurely raised. We can't win in a slug fest against the tank. One wire guided missile took out the bridge... the tank will be able to fire much more rapidly than a missile group. We can't win against a tank."

"Question. The point the tug makes its approach. Should it do so after the tank is knocked out or... Shall it approach close enough for the tank to be alerted by the OP? This way it will likely traverse and be concentrating on the river. This may make the tank hunters able to approach easier. Suggestions?"
This message was last edited by the player at 15:23, Sat 05 July 2008.

Tucker shifts his bowl to his left hand and stands to give his input.  ""I kind of like the plan of taking the NATO off the boat and moving around but, that leaves the rest of the crew way understaffed in case the Russians decide to confiscate the tug.  I'm thinking we go with Clarence and his guys kick it off with me and Minh trailing as the tank hunter team.  We'll try to get as close as we can to knock it out by whatever we have to do.  Hook up with Clarence again downriver and back to you guys."