The main assault force has established a bridgehead on the pirates' side of the tributary without taking a single casualty.

Mariusz trots back to the edge of the bridge and finds the MG-3 still sitting atop the square, concrete railing pylon. A belt of about 50 rounds of 7.62mm N hangs from the receiver. The three pirate sentries are down. Two are clearly dead. The third is leaking blood like a sieve from a dozen or so shrapnel wounds. He's stopped moving; probably gone into shock. Without proper medical attention, he'll likely not make it. Mariusz peeks in the back of the moving van. It's dingy interior is littered with makeshift furniture, clothing, and food containers. Its centerpiece is a small woodburning stove. Mariusz's nostrils are assailed by the overipe melange of unwashed manhood and chared wood.

OOC: Recovered from the bridge sentries are two AKM rifles with 120 rounds between them, the MG-3 w/ 50 belted rounds, one Soviet AT mine, one M-72 LAW, and one Soviet fragmentation grenade.

Wicks and his picked man head south along the road in the direction of the pirate camp. After having gone about 300m, they hear the sound of a relatively small engine, this time growing louder. A UAZ with four men races north up the road, towards the two scouts. It's not entirely clear whether they've seen Wicks and his partner, but their posture and such suggest that they have not.

Across the river from the anchorage, Anneka, Jan, and the mortar team can't see much of what is going on over on the far shore. Thick, black smoke is pouring out of the PT boat's aft deck and the fire appears to be growing in intensity. Even at nearly a kilometer away, Anneka and Jan can actually hear the sustained whoosh of the flames. It's hard to be sure due to the roar of the fire, but Anneka thinks she can hear engine sounds- like the ones they'd heard earlier when the scout boats had emerged from the tributary mouth- coming from across the river.

Jan, sitting a few meters away behind the Mk-19 speaks up,

"Major, I would like to move about 200m to the south to get a better angle and maybe see what's going on over on the other side. Or perhaps you should go with the radio in case there are more targets over there. What do you think, sir?"

On the Vistula, the Krolowa, now moving at close to her full speed of 15kph, gives chase after the pirate scout boat. It's no contest, the pirate boat pulling away at nearly twice the tug's max speed. However, the tug is now just within 4km of the pirate's anchorage.

Next Moves?
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:04, Sat 15 Aug 2009.

Mariusz squatted next to the seriously injured man and frowned, he looked up at his comapnion and handed him the MG-3 the LAW and AT-mine, "Take these to the Captain, tell him I have two AKMs but I have to try to treat an enemy casualty. If any of your men know first aid or medicine, I'd appreciate them coming back to help."

Mariusz bent down and took off his roasar and collection of holy symbols. he wrapped them in teh injured man's left hand and touched them to his lips, "Holy Mother, Blessed Saint Rita and Saint Jude, guide me, your humble blessing as i attempt to help this poor sinner."

He pulled out his meagre first aid kit and began to try to staunch the man's many wounds. Maybe teh blessed Mother, the Saint of healing wounds and the Saint of lost causes were looking down. The poor man had more chance of a miracle working than he had of being healed by Mariusz...

Griet shouted back at the sniper, "You must be slipping, you'll never get to Montana if you keep missing!"

She plotted their position on the chart and grabbed the transmitter, "Captain, we are within range, do you want us to stop and stabalise for firing or push on to close the range?"

Tucker decides to hold his fire on the faster moving craft and save the ammo for another target or targets.  He continues to scan for other targets and ques his radio and calls to Griet, "Griet, Tucker.  No immediate targets.  Do you want me to hold fire on the scout boat or engage.  Over."

The situation wasn't exactly optimum with the smoke billowing out from the fiercely burning torpedo boat. If she stayed where she was she would remain unable to observe the enemy leaving the river mouth, but to move meant loosing touch with their most accurate weapon, the Mark 19.
To move Jan and his assistant would remove them from the fight for several minutes, and again she would loose contact with him.
"We stay, there's no choice."

"Kamil," she called to the mortar crew, pointing at Jan to indicate he was also included in the upcoming orders.
"Shift aimpoint to river mouth."

Although they couldn't see the boats, they knew exactly where they had to go to reach the main river. By a little luck and estimation, they'd be able to drop mortar bombs and grenades around them, hopefully inflicting injuries and damage.

"Two rounds HE," her free hand flashed twice to Jan indicating 10.
"Fire!"

"This is Starlight. Enemy boats heard entering main channel. Vison obscured. Likely destination upstream. Out."

Anneka
RPK-74
Shifting mortar and '19 to mouth of the Swinder
Ordering fire when/if she estimates enemy are at the mouth (allowing for flight time of the mortar and grenades)
If already past the mouth, hold the mortar and direct Jan to fire at will

Note!: Anneka's radio does not have the range to reach the tug

"Hold your fire, Tucker," she said, "we'll save the ammo."

Realising that caution is the better part of valour, Wicks and his companion lay down and move deeper into the cover they where using to move along the side of the road.

Once the UAZ had passed Wicks will radio in the visitors to the main attack force and continue towards the pirate camp.


Alan Wicks
M14K (20/20) HK-69 (1/1 HEDP)
Moving towards pirate camp
Point, scout patrol
This message was last edited by the player at 08:19, Mon 17 Aug 2009.

Quyen locates the ORMO assigned to hauling the 3 gas rounds and brings them over to where the AGS is positioned. Gently unwrapping each one from the bedsheets she covered them with, she inspects the explosive charge and the additional anti-tampering charge she added on as a secondary failsafe.

Once she was satisfied they were ready, she had them spaced out a few dozen meters each, with the fuses laid along a central detonating site near the bridge. Here, the last man to vacate the platoon's position (likely Bayer or herself) would be able to detonate all three, be out of the immediate blast zone and able to withdraw back across the bridge into cover.

Her task done, she returns to the AGS, and calls over, "Sir. Everything is in place and rigged to go."

Quyen then motions for her assistants to keep watch to the front and stay low.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:40, Sun 16 Aug 2009.

"Roger that Griet.  Standing fast here," Tucker replies to Greit as he searches the surrounding area with his binoculars for any more threats to the tug.

Fire Support Team

Anneka hears the distinctive sound of the mortar belching out another HE bomb, then, where there should be a second report, nothing. Kamil's voice cuts in over the FS frequency.

"We've got a dud! It'll take at least five minutes to clear it safely."

As Kamil delivers his report, the basso boom of the third mortar bomb detonating carries over the water. Due to the thick, dark smoke already hangng in the air over the pirate anchorage, there's no way to tell where the round landed or how much damage, if any, it's managed to inflict.

Following Anneka's orders, Jan thumps five more of the dwindling supply of HVHEDP grenades downrange. Five sharp but faint blasts follow. Once again, there's no way, in their current position, to determine the efficacy of the fire.

In their current position, all the FSG can do is fire blind and hope for the best.

Almost lost amid the echoes of the various explosions and the rush of the flames aboard the burning PT boat, the sound of a small outboard engine grows louder. From the south, the small picket boat returns, racing back towards the chaos of the anchorage.

Assault Group

Wicks and his companion slide into the thick underbrush bordering the road along which caroms a northbound pirate UAZ. The four pirates race by where the scouting duo are hiding, apparently none the wiser as to their presence. As the UAZ races towards the bridge, Wicks and his militia partner continue south towards the hamlet where the pirates are encamped.

After about five minutes, the hamlet comes into view up ahead. Pirates mill about in confusion, moving about seemingly without much evident cohesion or clear purpose. The sound of outboard engines being yanked to life suggest that at least two or three of the pirates' remaining small boats are preparing for departure.

Not quite meanwhile... (a few minutes before the scouts get close enough to the camp to see anything) Konrad, forewarned, passes the news of the of the oncoming pirate quartet along to his section leaders. In a few seconds, the UAZ appears, racing towards the bridgehead. The vehicle crew does not seem particularly concerned or vigilant as they approach the bridge at high speed.

Mariusz tries to dress the surviving pirate's most severe wound- a jagged gash in his belly which is pulsing blood- with his personal medkit. Mari quickly realizes that his efforts are not going to make much of a difference. Within seconds the bandage is soaked through with blood and half a dozen other wounds are leaking as well. The man is unresponsive and pale as a sheet. Mariusz concedes that not even a trained trauma surgeon is going to be able to save this man.

Wisla Krolowa

Having pulled within 4km of the pirate anchorage, Adam slows the Queen but continues moving forward in the absense of direction from Konrad. Slowly but surely, the Queen is moving steadily towards the unfolding battle at just over 5kph.

Actions?
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:05, Wed 19 Aug 2009.

Bayer speaks into the radio, "Queen, Sunray. Things are going to get hot. Confirm you are in mortar support range? ETA to your arrival on this position? Over."

In the few seconds he had to make up his mind, Bayer decided to engage the UAZ. While it meant compromising the raiding party's general position, the potential consequences of what the UAZ was up to made up his mind. As long as they stayed low, any investigating troops would still be surprised by the first shots - he hoped. He was relieved however, that Wicks had held his fire and thus was still providing him with early warning as to whenever the bulk of the enemy came looking for a fight.

In an effort to control the firing and maintain the a smart economy of resources, Bayer delegates a part of the team, "Mariusz! Your squad and MG. Vehicle to the front. Fire!"

Bayer
G36/HK69 (HE)
Middle of raiding platoon
Communicating

Mariusz had done his best for the injured man, with no one returning to aid him it was probably a fruitless effort. He mane the man as comfortable as he could and said a prayer to Saint Peter to look sympathetically at the injured man's deeds.

He returned to his unit just in time to relay Bayer's orders to the group. He resisted the tempation to fire himself and directed his team instead, "Machineguns, vehicle to front open fire, rifles, aimed shots, same target!"

  Drew:  runs his fingers over his machinegun, he waits,  knowing the training, never open an ambush with an open bolt weapon, once the firing begins he joins in racking the area with short accurate bursts of the machinegun, sweeping back and forth at the greatest threats.

Drew
Manning supporting M240

Griet checked the charts and calculated distances, "Captain, be advised, we are still six kilometers from your position, in order to get to a position to provide you with fire support we'll need another twleve minutes minimum. Moving now."

Griet looked over at Adam and said, "Take her back up to ten kilometers an hour, we need to move into a position to support the ground forces."

Quyen readied the AGS and activated the safety. Her rifle was laid on the ground within arms reach of her position. Gripping the cold metal of the launcher with gloved hands she felt her body heat being drained away through the thin layers of clothing between her and the frozen ground.

While waiting, she began quietly estimating ranges out to various reference points in front of her and the platoon's position.

Beside her were her two militia assistants. Having already served their usefulness by manpacking the AGS and ammo into position, she pushed them out her mind. It was just her, the gun, and lots of people out there wanting to kill her and her friends. Oh, and some nasty gas.

When the shooting started with the UAZ, Quyen mutters, "Stay cool." to the ORMO, indifferent whether they actually understood her or not.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:51, Thu 20 Aug 2009.

As the pirate camp comes into view Wicks begans mentally noting where the largest concentration of personnel and equipment are. He takes out his field glasses and gives the camp a quick sweep from the cover they found.

He then picks up the radio.

“Starlight this is Sunray1, IMMEDIATE SUPPRESSION, Grid NK458693.”

“Troops and equipment in assembly area.”

“Infantry company, vehicles and mortar in the open.”

“Precision fire, Danger close, Mark.”

“Two rounds, 120mm HE, Impact, Over.”


At this point Wicks lays flat on the ground holding his helmet and makes sure the militia member is doing the same.

OCC: Wicks is tring to call the two rounds across the open area of the camp left to right and evenly space between the buildings.



Alan Wicks
M14K (20/20) HK-69 (1/1 HEDP)
Calling in Fire
Two man Squad
This message was last edited by the player at 09:16, Thu 20 Aug 2009.

Assault Group

100m short of the south end of the small bridge, the fierce chatter of two automatic weapons (the militia's RPD and Stoner's PKM) echoes out as two of the militia machine-gunners open up on the rapidly approaching UAZ. Bullets smack into its windshield, radiator grill, and front tires forcing the squad carrier to shudder and swerve. The vehicle suddenly leaves the paved of the road, cutting sharply to its left and smashing through the dead underbrush until it comes to an abrupt stop in a large, dry bush just 50m away from the militiamen on the west side of the road. The occupants quickly unass their battered mount and begin to disperse. Two of the pirates are limping, one badly, and another clutches his wounded right arm. The fourth backpedals while spraying automatic towards the bridge but it is wild, high fire, and the bullets pass harmlessly over the heads of the assault group. The militia RPD gunner squeezes off a second long burst, cutting down the shooter. The remaining three survivors continue to flee back the way they came, keeping the lightly smoking UAZ between themselves and their ambushers.

OOC: -10 rounds for the PKM; -20 rounds for the RPD.

Wicks hears the gunfire and the pirates in the hamlet seem to as well. It only seems to add to their confusion. A couple of officers are shouting orders and trying to direct the pirates' actions but most of the rank and file seem to be largely ignoring them. Some pirates are disappearing between or into houses, several others are moving quickly on foot along the road towards the southern bridge. From the changing pitch and volume of the engine sounds, it appears that at least a couple of boats moored in the Swinder near the hamlet are heading away towards the Vistula. The pirates are dispersing their numerically superior forces, squandering their quantitative advantage but also making a less concentrated target for a potential gas attack.

OOC: Assuming Konrad has one of the team's two medium-range manpack radios(Anneka has the other), Wicks' fire mission request will have to be relayed to the FSG by Konrad. No need to write dialogue for this unless you want to but it does need to be posted as an IC action or it won't happen.

Fire Support Group

Jan, spotting the returning scout boat moving from right to left, takes aim and fires a third five-round burst, leading the fast moving target and trying to take it out before it reaches the cover of the island. Water and sand explode around the motorboat but the barrage of AGL fire fails to stop or slow the boat and it is soon out of sight behind the island. The PT boat continues to burn fiercely. The fire has spread forward from the aft engine hatches and flames lick at the bridge superstructure.

Kamil's tinny, static-sprinkled voice comes over the radio.

"Major, we've cleared the dud round but it'll take another two minutes to get the mortar ready to fire. Targets, sir?" (OOC: Kamil didn't hear Wick's fire mission request.)

Wisla Krolowa

Adam brings the tug's speed back up to 10kph, trying to get her into mortar range of the main pirate encampment. It's difficult for those aboard the tug to wait in light of the knowledge that the rest of their comrades are in the midst of a stiff fight with the bulk of the pirate force. Those on board the bridge are kept busy, though, avoiding an increasing number of sand and mudbanks in the tug's path. They are tempting fate and they know it, but until the tug can get to within 4km of the hamlet on the Swinder, they're out of the fight anyway.

Next Moves?
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:38, Sat 22 Aug 2009.

Wicks grabs the radio again and gives the Captain a brief SITREP outlining the dispersion, make up and numbers of the pirate forces. He will outline any heavy weapons he can see and the lack of cohesion and compulsion of the pirate force. He also asks

“Sunray, ETA on the fire support enemy forces dispersing out of target area. Over”

The cold of the frost covered ground begins to creep into Wicks body. His chest still heavily bruised, has begin to ache but at least his breathing is not as shallow as yesterday.

Any survivors from the jeep would likely be returning along the road, but the cover they have found should screen them and they probably will have other things on their minds he surmises.


Alan Wicks
M14K (20/20) HK-69 (1/1 HEDP)
Waiting for the fury
Two man Squad
This message was last edited by the player at 14:26, Sat 22 Aug 2009.

Griet scanned the river ahead intently, desperate to find a way of threading the Krowola through the myriad of snags and sandbanks. As she did, the deep thrum of the engines and the intese atmosphere of the crew took her back to the day when she was running the engine room of a torpedo cutter tasked with trying to attack Allied landing ships. The crew had known they were unlikely to survive but faced their death stoically, as they'd put out to sea, their twenty year old officer had sung them a song, reminding them why they were fighting.

The same young man was greiviously injured in the fight, dying only afte rhe was assured that his boat was back safe in Gdansk.

Griet kept looking out and monitoring the radio, but at the same time, she began to sing.
"Poland has not died yet
So long as we still live
That which alien force has seized
We at sabrepoint shall retrieve

March, march, Dąbrowski
To Poland from Italy
Under thy command
Let us now rejoin the nation
Like Czarniecki to Poznań
Returned across the sea
To free our fatherland from chains
Fighting with the Swede

Cross the Vistula and Warta
And Poles we shall be
We've been shown by Bonaparte
Ways to victory

March, march,Dąbrowski
To Poland from Italy
Under thy command
Let us now rejoin the nation
Like Czarniecki to Poznań
Returned across the sea
To free our fatherland from chains
Fighting with the Swede

Germans, Muscovites will not rest
When, backsword in hand
"Concord" will be our watchword
And the fatherland will be ours

March, march,Dąbrowski
To Poland from Italy
Under thy command
Let us now rejoin the nation
Like Czarniecki to Poznań
Returned across the sea
To free our fatherland from chains
Fighting with the Swede

Father, in tears
Says to his Basia
Just listen, it seems that our people
Are beating the drums

March, march,Dąbrowski
To Poland from Italy
Under thy command
Let us now rejoin the nation
Like Czarniecki to Poznań
Returned across the sea
To free our fatherland from chains
Fighting with the Swede

All exclaim in unison
Enough of this bondage
We've got scythes from Racławice
God will give us Kościuszko"

Mariusz clapped the RPD gunner on the shoulder, "Good shooting man! Check your ammo, count your rounds in the next exchange and once your down to about fifty rounds you and your assistant move back to there," Mariusz pointed to a piece of cover about halfway back to the bridge, he'd checked that there was a reasonably safe route back to it as he'd returned with the loot, "then get ready to cover us as we retreat. When you're covering, use up all the ammo, we'll stop and cover you as you pull back. Once you pass us, keep going until you reach the Star, we'll cover you and follow up. Understood?"

He waited for the team to confirm his instructions or ask for clarification. As he did, he kept his eyes to teh front and stroked his beautiful rifle ruefully. Command sucked, what was the point of having a big damend gun when all you did was tell others what to do?

After Bayer listens to Wick's sitrep and mortar request, he relays the exact given details to the mortar team. Glancing down at his rifle stock, where his map showing the mission area was in an attached laminated pouch, he took note of the enemy's general dispositions.

Bayer was furious those in the UAZ were able to escape. Now the enemy not only heard them, but possibly knew quite well where they were. He nearly contemplated telling Wicks and his man to finish the running men off - but silent observers was what he figured was best at this time.

"Fire mission underway." he informs his other section commanders. He knew this waiting was almost worse for them than being in the thick of combat.

Bayer
G36/HK69
Relaying Wick's fire mission
This message was last edited by the player at 06:32, Sun 23 Aug 2009.

Quyen kept silent, watching to her front, and trying to keep her mind off of the cold, frozen ground. She dreaded the thought of the approaching winter. They'd have to rustle up some better clothing by then and... she shook her head, and focused on the area out to her front again.

Quyen studied the ground again, and the markers which indicated the different range bands she had estimated. Flipping up the AGS sight, she set the range for the furthest out range band in front of her.

Quyen
AK74 / AGS17
NO Radio
Holding her position

Quickly switching from PKM to AK-74/BG-15, Stoner let loose with a high explosive grenade in an arc over the top of the enemy vehicle.

Stoner
PKM (90) 3x100 belts
AK-74/BG-15 (30/30) + 5 spare mags, 5x40mmS HE, 1 40mmS ILLUM
Firing grenade at fleeing enemy
This message was last edited by the player at 23:37, Sun 23 Aug 2009.

Catching a glimpse of the three retreating pirates clustered together in a knot, Stoner loops a 40mm HE grenade over the bullet-riddled carcass of the pirate UAZ and directly into their midst, knocking all three down in a burst of smoke and sparks. It is quite simply an amazing shot. All four pirates and their ride have been neutralized in the matter of just over 30 seconds.

Konrad, freed from worrying about this particular enemy group gets back on the radio and relays Wicks' fire mission to the mortar group. Kamil, having cleared the dud mortar bomb and relaid the heavy tube, receives the transmission loud, if not quite clear, and sets the mortar as per the map coordinates innitially given by Wicks. Two of the party's last three 120mm mortar bombs arc skyward, one after the other.

Anneka hears Kamil's voice over the radio.

"One bomb remaining. Ready for final fire mission."

Wicks meanwhile, hidden in some foliage a few hundred meters from the pirate camp, can only watch and wait for the "splash" of the requested mortar fire. Almost all of the pirates who had been in the open when he first called for a fire mission have disappeared. Several of them must have been aboard the boats that he'd had heard leaving a couple of minutes earlier. At least a dozen had run off toward the southern bridge over the Swinder and at least a score had entered various hamlet buildings. He can see a couple of them peering through north-facing windows. They've heard the gunfire at the northern bridge and are no doubt expecting an attack from that direction. It looks as though they are going to attempt to defend the hamlet.

Wicks hears a thunderous explosion. Dust and smoke rise from behind one of the far buildings, the impact of the round well long of the intended target. Two seconds later the same building, a modest two-story residence, is blasted apart by the second half of the fire mission. Shattered roof tiles rain down through the dark smoke of the shattered second level. Wicks had seen at least two pirates in the upper windows of that building moments before the blast.

The Krolowa rounds a bend in the Vistula and the burning PT boat is clearly visible just over a kilometer away. She's bow-on, her main gun turret pointing menacingly at the approaching tug. However, it does not fire. The bright orange flames tower over her squat bridge superstructure, her elegant lines framed in the black of the smoke. As the tug continues to close, Ondar spots four smallish boats leaving the mouth of the Swinder. Three of them swing south towards the Krolowa and Ondar calls out his sighting over the ship's intercom. They are joined by the just-returned scout boat, apparently heartened by the appearance of the others. The four small boats come at the Krolowa head-on. A fifth boat, a one-ton Border Police river patrol boat turns right upon leaving the Swinder and heads north.

Back at the eastern end of the northern Swinder bridge, Angel, assigned to guard the assault group's trucks, hears the the high-pitched growl of a motorcyle engine approaching. The sound bounces back and forth off of the walls and buildings of the gutted town and it's hard to tell which direction its coming from. And then, a few seconds later, it's there, winding its way around the debris on the street off which the trucks are parked. One rider and his passenger are approaching, both clad in military garb, with weapons slung across their chests. The trucks are parked off of the main road, around the corner at an intersection and the riders don't appear to have spotted the diminutive naval officer peaking around the corner of a pockmarked brick wall. The rest of the assault group is several hundred meters to the west, on the other side of the bridge.

Next Moves?
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:38, Sun 30 Aug 2009.

As bits of wood, masonry and roof tile rain around their position Wicks gives the polish militiaman a sly smile and wink. While the mortar barrage had not been that successful militarily, seeing an occupied house to the rear of you defensive line blown to bits would probably give you pause.

Wicks had only on a handful of occasions has to call in artillery support and subsequently lack any real skill in it. During his officer training course it was covered in the radio and comms module but as the New Zealand Army only possessed a handful of ex British pack howitzers and a few mortars it was not a priority. Any other time in his period of service it was usually due to the FO officer being killed and it being a matter of it happening or not. If he had the ammunition or skill he would have just dropped a bomb on each house in turn, but he had neither.

Wicks glanced down to his map of the hamlet and using the directions given by the German pirate tried to locate the 120mm mortar, he assumed it would be dug in, but there was probably going to be movement as the pirates tried to give some counter fire. He also studied each of the building in turn trying to determine if they where occupied, by how many men and whether they had heavy automatic weapons, marking the Intel on his map as he went.

Wicks again raises the Captain on the radio and give a SITREP post mortar strike with the additional Intel about the occupied buildings. He also adds that he feels they are going to defend the hamlet and not investigate the bridge. Finally he asks:

“Additional orders Captain ?”


Alan Wicks
M14K (20/20) HK-69 (1/1 HEDP)
Gathering Intel
Two man Squad