Still sitting in the cab of the Star 6x6, Jason has managed to fall asleep and remains so until someone wakes him.

In reply to Konrad Bayer (msg #25):


He lit another cigarette, having made his point.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:43, Sun 22 Mar 2009.

The Bishop listens thoughtfully and responds to each question and point raised by the well-spoken German officer.

"Your unit obviously has more collective experience than the core of our militia. I will concede operational command to you but retain the right to veto any decision that could threaten the safety of the people of this town. Is this acceptable to you?"

The bishop's young aid return and adds in Polish,

"The Bishop was a parachute infantry officer, before joining the order."

"Yes, well, different paths, similar destinations. Brother Switek was a monk before joining the service, I was a soldier for over a decade before becoming a monk. As for the militia forces, we have about two-hundred ready, willing, and able-bodied people- men and women- who are eager to fight for what they've rebuilt here. Only about a score of them have any military experience. Unfortunately, we have only about two dozen firearms and very little ammunition for most of the guns we do have. Here..."

He slides a sheet of notebook paper across the table, listing the militia's weapons and the supply of ammunition for each one.

7 AKMs                         (7 rounds each)
14 AK-74/Tantal                (2 rounds each)
6 L5A1 SLRs                    (13 rounds per gun)
1 G-3                          (14 rounds)
1 M-16                         (87 rounds)
1 Sterling SMG                 (24 rounds)
2 Uzi SMG                      (23 rounds each)
3 12-gauge shotguns [civilian] (20 shells)
2 Hunting rifles               (16 rounds each)
3 Makarov pistols              (9 rounds each)
1 Browning HP                  (7 rounds)

10 garage-built Crossbows      (100 bolts each)

"As you can see, it is not much. As for vehicles, we have a couple of civilian lorries and a British swimming one- a Stalwart, I believe it is called- but it hardly ever runs properly. And, of course, we have about two dozen horses suitable for military work.

"As for fortifications, we've built several watchtowers and bunkers on the edges of the town. We also keep lookouts on the wreckage of the railway bridge. They can usually give us 5-10 minutes warning of pirate approach. We have a telephone system of sorts and we send out patrols regularly, but not too far afield. We can't risk a group being ambushed and wiped out. I'd like to run a more active defense but we just don't have the means.

"The pirates are an odd bunch. We've seen about a dozen of their boats- not all at once, mind you, they usually operate in groups of two to six or so- but they probably have twice that many. Their base is somewhere north of here and south of Warsaw proper. I'm guessing it is at Otwock, on the east bank of the river.

"The largest vessel we've seen is a torpedo boat mounting a light cannon, like the one on your, and several machine guns. The other boats are smaller but armed with machine guns, grenade launchers, and mortars. Although we can almost match the river pirates in numbers, they outgun us by quite a bit.

"Now, I have something to show you. Come."

The Bishop leads any who follow through one of the doors from the main hall, down a long, dark hallway, and to a locked storage room. Pulling a key on a lanyard from around his neck, he slides it into the old, heavy lock and opens the door. Taking a lantern from the boy he thrusts it into the small room, holding it aloft. It illuminates several crates and boxes, the foremost of which is labelled:


DANGER!
VX
155mm x3

He carefully lifts the lid to reveal three 155mm artillery shells, each likewise stencilled VX.

"We found them in the woods after the British and Americans pulled out, right before the bridges were blown for the last time. There was a battery of self-propelled guns there and it looked as if Soviet counter battery fire had found them before they could displace. These shells must have been left behind in the chaos of the withdrawal. Some of the men wanted to make them into command detonated mines, but fortunately someone recognized the labels. Whatever happens here, the pirates must not be allowed to get their hands on these shells."

He pauses, looking searchingly into Bayer's eyes, before continuing.

"Well, there you have it. All we have and know. I will set you and your people up in one of the buildings nearby. Your people are free to move about the town as they wish. You may reload your weapons if that makes you feel more comfortable. I will be here in the narthex. I ask to be present during all planning sessions. We have very little time to prepare. The pirates will be back for the food and ammunition the day after tomorrow at noon. We should get to work as soon as you are able. Darkness should not prevent us from planning. Any work that must be done should probably wait until first light. The cold can be as big an enemy as the pirates."

Next Moves?
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:28, Sat 21 Mar 2009.

Folowing along with Bayer and the Bishop taking a few notes, Jan is already thinking ahead to what might be done with the resources here. When the Bishop unlocks and opend the door and points at the crates it takes him a minute to realize what he is looking at.


DANGER!
VX
155mm x3

"Ach má bůh!"

Taking an involuntary step back he stops himself and regains control his face locked and emotionless.

"This is very bad, there is almost no one who can be trusted with those, and if a stray round should somehow make it through to one..dieu aider nous!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:13, Sat 21 Mar 2009.

Robert sits down and tries to make himself as comfortable as possible while the food and beer is brought out into the meeting room.  He samples any and all that he can from the plates but, tries not to over do it and be disrepectful and rude to their gracious hosts.

When the meal is finished and there is no one who is complaining, Tucker will take out a cigar and begin to smoke it.  He will continue to sip on the warm, dark beer being served and just try and relax when the others leave to go and look at something in another room.  Depending on who stays and goes, Tucker will ask of one of the people, "So, they've got a torpeedo boat with a light cannon and machine-guns?  The other boats having a mix of MG's, mortars, & grenade launchers?  When the Pirates usually stop by here to collect from you, how many men come ashore and where does this torpeedo boat sit while this is going on?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:05, Sun 22 Mar 2009.

In reply to Alan Wicks (msg #24):

Dawid shook hands with Anneka and Konrad, then rejoined the group for dinner.

He noticed the new man, another Britisher, and introduced himself.

"I am Dawid Piotrowski! I fight for Poland, with the NATO-allied Home Army." He indicated his red-and-white armband, in Poland's colours.

"So tell us, what you are doing here? What is your story?"

He listened with one ear to Tuck.

"Another fight against heavy odds. Well, what is new? I like the "boat trap" idea, although we have little enough time to implement it. I guess we will have to do it like usual: concentrate overwhelming firepower, using surprise and terrain to limit the forces they can bring to bear against us."

Later, he whispered something to him.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:42, Sun 22 Mar 2009.

The remaining townspeople shrug and one of the young ladies replies in broken English,

"No understand. Sorry."

However, when the Bishop returns with the others, the server girl lets the Bishop know that the American has a question. After Tucker repeats himself, the Bishop responds,

"Usually, the torpedo boat stands off midstream with a couple of other smaller boats, one of which, at least, carries a mortar. A couple of smaller motor boats usually make landfall but, so far, they've stayed away from the piers. If they're expecting as much food as they've demanded, however, they'll need to use one of the piers. I expect that they'll bring more boats as well."

In reply to Cap'n Rae (msg #35):

Dawid addressed the de facto leader of the town's defenses, as well everyone gathered.

"Bishop, everyone, what do you think of using some Maskirovka? It's a useful concept widely employed by our Russian friends, as you know."

"As an artillerist, I am of course in favour of dropping explosives onto problems until they go away. Unfortunately, we have little explosives to drop at this time. So we must consider being creative, perhaps using bluff and deception."

"Have they thoroughly recced the town? Do they know how many people you have?"

"We can hand out all the weapons. They won't know we only have two hundred odd rounds between them unless they count the bullets, hey? We can hand out our spare uniforms and kit. They don't know how many people we have, we could fake at least a platoon."

"We have a 23mm twin flak cannon we can dig in, and a 120mm mortar. We can easily conceal the fact that they have little ammunition."

"If possible, we slap some paint onto those destroyed SP guns and the turret for that tank, drag them overand then dig them into "revetments" (bunkers) covering the river from a tactically superior position.  Put ties into the river to deny any close landing zones."

"Our trump can be those 155mm poison gas shells. "If you don't leave us alone, hope your nerve toxin drills and protocols are up to snuff!". As a bluff only, of course, although they won't know the artillery pieces that can use them are just for show."

"What do you think the reaction would be? We will buy time. With this we can scout their base, hit them when they're not on the river. Perhaps see if there are others willing to assist us against them. Plus, we could always call... the valiant Wisla Krolowa! If the communist government is no longer interested in intercepting us, then they may have eased up on river traffic. Perhaps other matters are occupying them. The Queen... what I wouldn't give to see here again."

"We can always ambush them, yes."

"But where would you like to set the trap? On our front door right now, or their front door, later? Rain mortar shells onto their barracks, shoot them down like dogs as they run down their own dock to their boats?"

Feeling full, he smoked a cigarette, having laid out his idea.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:01, Mon 23 Mar 2009.

"well this is my humble opinion"


"We arm the milita with exp; with the ak-47/74 weapons they know. we get them ammo from our stores. thats about 12. we take them and our heavy weapons and set them by the river in a ambush dug in. we dig in and cammo the 23mm to take out the torpedo boat. we have some anti-tank weapons left the are the second shot at the boat if the gun does not get it. me,odnar and the polish boy set up in sniper hides coming from 3 differnt ways. we take a local hunter with us thats not military trained as or spotter and security. so now we catch them from 4 ways with fire. our last trick is the dyno. we set it in bundles on the shore up stream to us to close the door if they run. we fire at them before they know whats going on. the confusion and limited manuver for boats will slow them and they will be exposed in open unarmored boats most of them. the remaining guns goto the untrained. ann,doc and the wounded can do some basic training now for them and be the reserve and the last line in the fight.ann and doc will want to set up and man a med center while we are in the fight so there is hope to the wounded."

"Thats about our best hope, we save the gas and fuck we dont have a gun for it.but we dont send untrained to go fight pirates. 18 of us with heavy weapons will kill 18 of them in the first few seconds. the they are confused,afraid and the we hit them again and again until the water is red. we must keep this simple. we have little time and simple plans work better."


Sam
Talking
m25

Turning back to the assembled group

“My story is not much different from your own I’d expect. I was on a junior officer exchange programme with 2nd Green Jackets King's Royal Rifle Corps. I had no real way of returning back to New Zealand so I deployed to Europe with them. I fought in all the major campaigns they where involved in up until the last major surprise push by pact forces.”

“My unit was overrun and I along with a few of my men where captured and interned in a Polish POW camp. It’s hard to call it that as that place had nothing to do with the Geneva Convention or the articles of war.”

“We survived as best we could in that place. Up until the unit responsible for the camp just up and left in the night. Strangest thing they ended up just going home. We decided to do the same but where hit by marauder or regular army units. With no weapons we where easily scattered.”

“Luck was with me that night as one of the guys I had shared a tent with had been a helicopter pilot with the German Special Forces. On the night he was caught he had been flying in a mixed SF unit for a LRRP patrol. Just outside of the landing zone, while they where coming in low they had lost a gear pod from the helicopter skid in some trees. The landing was hot and the unit was massacred. His Blackhawk was hit by a MANPAD and he was captured. He made three of us maps of the site and that was to be the rally point if we got separated, they never arrived.”

“Thankfully the pod was still in those trees, it had ruptured and all the electronic items where a write off from the weather but my weapon, some clothes and food where fine. After a few days travelling I arrived here and that’s pretty much it.”

Alan takes off his watch cap and runs his hand through his hair.

“Maybe I should introduce myself to your CO “

He begins to move towards the building.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:19, Mon 23 Mar 2009.

"Acceptable." Bayer replies.



"Good to know." he acknowledges.

Bayer follows the Bishop listening, but remains mostly quiet. Laster when the meeting had conluded he approaches Dawid and McCoy, "Collect the men. Get them and our vehicles over to our billet. McCoy get them sorting out our weaponry and ammunition which will be issued to the militia... as per your plan... the AK series rifles. Have Quyen prep the demo gear as well. Dawid, speak to whomever and ask for exactly two dozen of their most capable troops to report to our billet... no cannon fodder. Men who are have the willpower and enough of a background to do what their told and not anything that will get them killed unnesesarily."

"We'll setup a command post there and get ourselves sorted out. Dawid, I'll speak to the men there at that time."

OOC - I'd have posted more, but my time here is limited.

Mariusz nodded at Bayer, "A good plan, Sir, if we have the opportunity to strike a decisive blow, we should take it."

He looked over at MCoy and said, "So, Big American Soldier, I'm to be a sniper? I've got the gun it's true, but if the locals have a better shot, I might be better used translating for one of our units. If they haven't, I'd be honoured to join your team."

Griet said, "I don't have the tactical knowledge to contribute much to this discussion, but may I suggest I take Adam to have a good look at this section of river. No one knows the Wistula like he does and his experience might offer us an insight into what the pirates might do. Killing the pirates is our priority, each dead one strengthens us by another gun, but if we can deprive them of some of their boats too, that would be a real coup. If Adam's survey, should it be sanctioned, prove fruitless then I'll assist with the heavy weapons. May I also suggest that those of us who will be primarily be using heavy weapons or serving as crew for them give up our rifles to any militia capable of using them? That would serve to maximise our firepower even more."

Dawid listened to Wick's story, but shook his head in either disbelief or sorrow.

"I have never heard of Poles mistreating NATO troops, never. We Poles like westerners, a lot more than the Russians, let me assure you! Er, no offence, Ondar."

"Must have been some ZOMO traitors. Communist Party police. Motherless atheist cocksuckers, we called them the "beating" heart of the party. In the end, even the communist government didn't trust them! They were disbanded and so they just joined up with the Russians. Explains why they were such bastards to you, and then just walked away from camp like they didn't give a shit."

"You are from New Zealand? You sound like an Australian! And all Australians sound like Britishers to me, who kind of sound like the French. So what do I know, hey? We had a few of those on the boat we came down the river on from Kracowia. Some died, one stayed in Tarnobrzeg I think."

He listened to McCoy's input.

"No, the 23mm will not work against the torpedo boat because it only has fragmentation shells, see? No armour penetration, and only a handful of them. The only weapon that has a chance is the 40mm grenade machine gun, the Mk.19, loaded with the light anti-armour rounds."

When Konrad spoke he looked at him and replied, "yes sir. You heard the Kapitan, let's get things together."

He took out a map and said to the Bishop, "we stayed in a town about 30 kilometres to the south of here, on the main road. I will show you on the map. There were four bandits there, they had murdered travelers, left their bodies along the road to be eaten by the dogs. If you don't want patrols to be ambushed that's sensible, but if I were you I would take at least a section and go clear them out. You will certainly have more people coming through to trade here, afterwards. If we take down the Pirates, you may have the weapons to deal with them. If we don't win, well, let me point out that the ambush is going to happen on your doorstep, so if we don't succeed there won't be much of a town left here for people to trade with, anyways." He showed him where the bandits were on the map, their reported weapons and likely positions (either the building on the outskirts of town or the municipal building).
This message was last edited by the player at 07:16, Tue 24 Mar 2009.

The bishop listens intently as Dawid makes his recommendations. He is quiet for a moment before responding.

"Maskirovka is a compelling idea. If we could drive off the pirates without bloodshed, I would be all for it, of course. Father Andre would certainly prefer such a course. Unfortunately, the marauders probably know enough about the town's defenses to call our bluff.

"The wreckage around the town has been here for some time- since the end of the siege of Warsaw in '97- and some of it is visible from the river. Such an audacious attempt at deception would probably beggar belief.

"I'm pained to admit this, but a few of our people may have 'defected' to the pirates. I'm sure they've told all they know. And I'm sure that some of the smaller, independent bandit groups we've managed to chase off have been absorbed by the pirates. Anything they might have learned will likely have been passed on.

"For obvious reasons, I'd prefer to face the pirates on the shore, away from the town. They will expect a delegation from the town to meet them at the pier. If no one is there, they'll expect a trap. If we send people to bait the trap, they will effectively become hostages. Either way, they will take pains to be ready for an ambush.

"Of course, if you can come up with solutions to these problems, I could be persuaded. The safety of this town and its people are my ultimate concern. But under no circumstances will I condone the use of the gas shells anywhere within 50km of the town."
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:12, Tue 24 Mar 2009.

In reply to Cap'n Rae (msg #43):

Dawid had clearly thought about this, and replied with confidence.

"The tanks were just icing on the cake. If they can't be used, that's all well and good."

"If some people have defected, that is also of less concern. Their information will not be current to when we arrived, eh?"

"The main idea (which is essentially true) is that a unit of well-equipped experienced soldiers has moved into town and is willing to fight to defend it."

"The Pirates still won't know how many we number, and for all they know we brought with us 10,000 rounds of ammunition for the rifles, plus have plenty of shells for the autocannon and the mortar."

"If we build a dozen bunkers, how will they know which ones are manned? How many have machine guns inside them? RPGs? They can suspect.... but they won't know for sure! That uncertainty is our ally. Like I said, they arem not like us soldiers, tasked to take the town at all costs. They will take their time to consider before attacking, if they attack at all. We can and should use such time to our advantage."

"You don't have to send them away empty-handed and risk insulting them, sure, give them some food. If they are smart they will realise that half a loaf is better than nothing. Criminals always prefer to take the path of least resistence, and we can offer them a choice between getting what they want the hard way or the easy way."

"You make some very good points, Sergeant Piotrowski. Your plan could work. My only fear is that they will return, in larger numbers, and prepared for a hard fight. They must be desperate for food. Winter has arrived and these villains haven't been spending their time plowing, sowing, and reaping. My hope is to catch them unawares and hurt them badly. Hopefully, this creates a tanglible deterent.

"Why don't you all give your minds a bit of a rest. Wash up, relax a little, and then we can resume planning with a fresh perspective. Tomasz will take your rooms."
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:39, Tue 24 Mar 2009.

After generous servings of food and drink, the party is escorted to a building on the church grounds*, taking with them a map of the town and its environs provided by the Bishop. The sun is well on its way below the western horizon, its diffused, orange light reflecting off of the snow still dusting the town.

The accomodations are spartan, but relatively luxurious compared to the last couple of night's lodgings. Two adjoining rooms with a fireplace in the center of the shared wall so that it can be accessed from either side. There is little in the way of furniture- a simple table and two chairs in one room, a twin-sized bed and a small night table and a single armchair in the other. Each room is furnished with a small oil lamp. A washbasin and a mismatched collection of hand towels sits upon the night table. The building appears to be at least a century old, evidenced in part by the addition of a half-bathroom, which can be entered only from the outside. The exterior of the red brink building is scarred by shell fragments and the roof appears to have been extensively patched but it appears sound, structurally.

The main building, where the party met the Bishop, is only a hundred meters away.

*The vehicles may be moved closer to the party guest house, if you wish, or they may be left in front of the main building.

Next Moves?
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:03, Tue 24 Mar 2009.

"These are the forces I want, David. I want you to man the MK-19 and have a PKM in support of you. Take 4 of the local men to help you armed with AK's. One to be your loader and security and the other three to be an MG team. Go to the river and pick a spot. You will be the focus of effort for the ambush."

"Jason, you stay and man the COC. You are wounded and we don't want to lose you.
Tucker, your arm is fucked. Please man the COC with Jason until you heal.

Ondar, pick a man to go with you on the sniper team. Make sure he is a hunter with a hunting rifle. You will set up on the heavy side of the ambush.

Minh, set up the demo with some help from 2 villagers. Then set up on the river bank as a fire team in support of David,if you have any rockets left or the group has any you will employ them with your group.

"Stoner, take the 240 and 3 guys and set up a position on the river to support the AGS-17. Make sure they are armed with AKs.

Cerny, you are supporting effort one. You will man the AGS and have 3 men in support as ammo men and security.

Mari, you will take the hunter with the G-3 so you have similar weapons and ammo. Set up on the opposite bank from the main ambush at a 45 degree angle so you are not in their gun target lines. I will do the same but to the left as we look at the river and be confadent .you have the skills just use them I beleave in you and so does the group.

"Griet, Anneka, Adam, and Walter will set up the aid station and do security for the town. Your force can also be used as a QRF. This QRF will be led by Griet.

Konrad and Mr. Wicks: Konrad will be OIC and have free run on the battlefield; he needs a battle buddy so you are it Wicks. You two will fight wherever the fight needs the most help."

"Me and Ondar will start the ambush with silneced rifles. We will target the leadership of the Pirates. Once they fall the enemy will be in confusion; they will then be hit by the two auto grenade launchers and their supporting MG teams. We will target the heavy boats first with these weapons.

The rifle men will take on the unarmored boats with their rifles and our three rifle grenade launchers. We will fire until they are dead or we are dead. All of our positions must be dug in and cammoed. We will have a big advantage in this as our weapons will be stable and theirs will be in a rocking small boats. They will be unarmored and we will be dug in. they are in the open and we are concealed."

"To get them to the dock we will put out some crates of food with a large sign that says 'take and please go'. Make the food very obvious- spilling out of the crates. This is a combined arms ambush. We will need everyone to play their part in harmony."




Forces Used

12 military trained villagers with AK rifles (set up in ambush)
3 hunters with rifles to support snipers (two with hunting rifles one with G-3)
17 untrained villagers with (7 AKMs,2 AK-74s,6 SLRs,1 M-16)= Camp security/QRF

These are the weapons left for the reserve. These are close-in weapons that won't be of much help in this fight. Also light in the caliber punch at 100 meters.

1 Sterling SMG                 (24 rounds)
2 Uzi SMG                      (23 rounds each)
3 12-gauge shotguns [civilian] (20 shells)
3 Makarov pistols              (9 rounds each)
1 Browning HP                  (7 rounds)
10 garage-built Crossbows      (100 bolts each)

This message was last edited by the player at 04:30, Tue 24 Mar 2009.

He rubbed his chin in thought.

"I think real deterrence is when they don't attack out of uncertainty or fear."

"Either way, I think the die is already cast for a showdown in your front yard. We have done this many times and be assured, most times it goes our way, but some times it doesn't, as God wills. So better ask God that the fight goes our way, hey? I tell you honestly, there will be no deterrence for them because if we are successful we should pursue and destroy them utterly. No mercy."

"So, you're clear on where the other bandits are?"

"Oh trust me David, if this works we will kill them all... one way or another."
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:27, Wed 25 Mar 2009.

In reply to Sam McCoy (msg #49):

"Absolutely, Poland needs to be rid of filth like them. Rats, feeding off the misery of the people."

"I should think we'd want to work into the night if we could. How long until these jackals come? As for the location for the grenade machine gun, too bad here at "Mount Cavalry" (Gora Kalavria) there isn't a real mountain. It would be nice to have some plunging fire onto the lightly armoured deck of the boats."

"Plunging fire would be good, I agree," Griet replied, "I haven't seen the river here yet but the piles supporting the ols railway bridge may still be some way above the river surface."

"Hooyah", Dave replies to McCoy's orders. "I need to make sure at least one of them speaks English or Spanish. You want me to give my BG grenade launcher to someone else for this engagement?"

Dave addresses the assembled civilians "Anybody speak English? Espaniol?"

"Don't worry David, our grenades go through 2 inches of steel. No boat has that much here. And Stoner, you task your team as you see fit. I'm sure you will set him up well with your gun. If there are any questions, ask now, if not, we must work into the night. All hands will dig primary holes for the force on the river and cammo them, then we dig alternate holes just in case the QRF needs a hole or yours becomes fucked. The only people not digging are the Bishop, Konrad, Ann and Adam . All else, we have work too do. Any questions, please come and ask- there are none too small."
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:26, Wed 25 Mar 2009.