With the day's break, Sam moves to the house wishing they had worked last night on positions or something. But, he must follow orders and he walks to the council meeting. When Sam hears the alarm he will look at Konrad and speak.


"Where do you want me boss?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:34, Sun 29 Mar 2009.

Wicks rises early, dresses and checks his gear. He will then make his way to the new comers billet and then to the council meeting.

On hearing the alarm Wicks will wait for orders before moving out.

Tucker gets himself out of his sleeping bag and gets himself cleaned up and the rest of his gear ready for the day.  The only things he is taking with him is weapons, ammo, water, some food, and medical supplies.  What he has to carry, he empties out the rest of the contents of his rucksack and uses that to carry his gear.  The rest of the items will go into his duffel bag until later (unless someone has a smaller pack he can borrow for now?).  He reports to the Ops Center where everyone is gathered either for breakfast or for a briefing (or both).

His shoulder is still killing him and he knows that it's keeping him from the real action, although, it may be a blessing for him not to be up front for a change.  He knows anything is possible.  He finds Jason, his battle buddy, and stands next to him and awaits any final orders or changes of orders.

Robert Tucker
M-16A2/w. M-203 Slung
Browning HP in/on MOLLE vest
Colt Python in Shoulder rig

In reply to Sam McCoy (msg #78):

As he waited to move, Dawid remembered his own reply to McCoy the previous night:

"It is good to hear you are fully on board, Sergeant McCoy!"

"We are all aware you are very strongly in favour of the ambush option. It looks like we are tuning in for the night so you may feel free to present alternatives as you have been asked, tomorrow morning."

"We will be waiting most eagerly, I assure you!"

After that there wasn't time for a reply as they got ready for the night.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:56, Mon 30 Mar 2009.

"Attention! Everyone assemble!" Bayer calls. He brushed aside any positive possibilities and prepared for the worse - an early arrival from the pirates.

As the team mustered, he says, "Dawid. Get yourself a sniper, a gunner and one of the wounded to act as an assistant. Mount up in one of the trucks. You are support. Deploy into a position where you can observe the arrival. I'll take the rest into a holding position until we know what's happening."

"Once you can see what is going on, report by radio. If necessary you'll be the support base while I move the main body into a favorable position."

To the rest he announces, "All right, lets go." Bayer will then lead the main body on foot (unless it's far, otherwise take the Tarpan) into a position near the outskirts of the town - but out of view to the river and not where they can be force to commit to any action. He'll hold the men there until Dawid can report on the boat.

OOC - Basically he wants Dawid to hurry into an overwatch position with a GMPG and/or AGS team. If combat is going to occur, this team will provide fire support for the main body's counterattack.

As he's setting up, the main body will move into a staging area and wait until the tactical situation is clear enough to know where to start any counterattack.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:47, Mon 30 Mar 2009.

In reply to Konrad Bayer (msg #83):

"Yes sir." He thought for a second. "Kapitan, my radio call sign will still be Eagle."

Assuming Konrad meant grab personnel from their own ranks, he said, "Sergeant McCoy, you're sharpshooter. Minh, assistant gunner. Jan, please accompany us. Let's all get to the Tarpan-Honker, Griet, you drive."

He reflected it was a shame he hadn't previously set up the mortar. Well, too late now and he would be best with the automatic grenade launcher anyways in a direct support role.

"When we get to the vehicles, let's load up the Tarpan-Honker with the Mk.19 plus all the ammunition, Sam, please locate Clarence's backpack radio for yourself, and a hand radio for me. Be swift, everyone!"

The plan was that on the way over Sam (or whoever had the radio) would perform a radio check. They would look for some covered terrain with a good view of the river and the town where the main body waited. Preferably a solid stone house or concrete building, not uncommon in this farming community. Worse come to worse the river was lined with trees and foliage, not quite as good but better than the open. They would park the Honker out of sight and unload the weapon while Sam located a suitable firing position.

When ready to make a report, he planned to take out his binoculars and scan the river, either calling it in himself or passing it off to the radio operator to transmit to Konrad.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:23, Mon 30 Mar 2009.

Griet grabbed her kit and said, "You may want to belay that order, Sergeant, and select someone else, I can't drive anything unless it's a boat, sorry."

She tightened up her gear and buckled on her helmet. She readied her Tantal and waited to see what would happen.

Mariusz readied his rifle and doubled over to Bayer, he looked at the officer eagerly and said, "You want me on the trike, Boss? I'm getting real good with it."
He wondered if he could get himself a leather jacket and one of the old Nazi coal-scuttle helmets...

In reply to Griet Niewiadomska (msg #86):

"Oh! Yes, that's fine. Minh can drive, then."

He stopped, turned to the relative newcomer.

"That reminds me. Before we depart, Leftenant Wicks, kindly let us know, well, what you are good at, or at least capable of. In general terms only. Can you drive? Are you a sharpshooter? Can you spot for artillery? and so on. Please let the good Major know, for I must leave immediately."

The provisional organisation of the team was thus:

Dawid - Gunner/commander
Minh - Assistant Gunner/Vehicle Driver
Jan - Ammo handler/Security
Griet - Ammo handler/Security
Sam - Sniper/Spotter

With that, he prepared the support element to depart.

OOC: I've edited my previous post to be more hypothetical to reflect they're not out of the start gate, but still allow Rae to move the action along when appropriate.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:54, Mon 30 Mar 2009.

On hearing his name Wicks turns to Dawid.

"Of course Sergeant, I'll do it ASAP."

If the chance arises he will give the Major a very brief summary of his skills

"Above average with a rifle, pretty good with other small arms and light support weapons. No Artillery spotting skills, but I can drive."

He fastens his helmet, takes off his jacket and leaves it in the billet. He then follows the Captain towards the river.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:08, Mon 30 Mar 2009.

Snapping off an off-handed salute as he grabs up his rifle and heads towards the truck Jan replies to Dawid,
"Of course mon general. We live to serve, no?"
Laughing to himself Jan makes his way towards the truck as quickly as possible.

Quyen doesn't say much as she climbs aboard the Tarpan. After everyone is aboard she drives it quickly over to the edge of town. Stopping where it is out of line of sight to the river she climbs out, "Out." she says.

As everyone jumps down from the back, Quyen readies her rifle.

The reaction squad, led by newly minted team sergeant Dawid Piotrowski, races toward the river. Once outside the outer edge of the town proper, there is very little cover available. Outbuildings which used to dot the relatively flat, open ground between the town and the river have long ago been flattened by artillery fire. Likewise, the trees that used to line the near bank of the river have also been pulverized by shell fire during the fighting which raged back and forth across the Vistula at the crossing here. The snow-covered craterscape resembles an icy Saturnine moon.

Griet parks the Honker behind a hull-down Challenger 2, destroyed years ago where it stood watch over the slow-flowing river. The groups dismounts in the shadow of the blackened steel carcass and waits for the unidentified boat to hove into view.

Her smoke is clearly visible before the vessel's superstructure draws into view. When it does, its shape is instantly familiar. Her topsides resemble the Wisla Krolowa down to the heavy machine guns mounted a little below and to either side of the tall bridge. A broad but shaky red band wraps around the dirty white superstructure below the companionways- a marking that Adam's tug didn't sport. And, this boat lacks the HMG position on the raised quarterdeck aft of the bridge. Like the Krolowa, however, the mystery ship's tire-draped hull is black. A conspicuously lumpy tarp covers something just forward of the superstructure where the Vasilek mortar had been mounted on the Queen. Perhaps the biggest difference between this tug and the Queen is, in this instance, the lack of a barge. At this vessel's mast, there flutters a small blue and white ensign.

The foot-bound force, led by Konrad, arrives at the scene just as the tug is about to pull even with the derelict tank.

Next Moves?
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:46, Tue 31 Mar 2009.

Bayer peers around a corner of a small shop, eying the boat. Without taking his eyes off he toggles his radio and says, "Eagle, Sunray. Are you in position yet? Do you have eyes on the boat? Stand by. Engage on self defense only at this point. I'm leaving this channel for a minute. Over."

Speaking quietly to those behind him, Bayer says, "Similar to Adam's boat. Maybe the same... but can't say who's aboard."

Thumbing the frequency dial on his radio he changes it back to the one they'd used while on board. Passing the handset to Mariusz (Polish speaker), he says, "Make contact. ID yourself as the local militia... don't let on we belong to Adam. Find out what they want and push for trade. I want to get close."

Leaving it in the boy's hands he says to his assault group, "Need a runner. Someone get Adam up here."
This message was last edited by the player at 11:26, Tue 31 Mar 2009.

In reply to Cap'n Rae (msg #92):

He laughed at Jan's comment and replied, "for a free Poland, my friend! I forgot to check, you're wounded, right? If not, I could take care of that, would you like one in the leg or arm?"

When they stopped, he nodded at Minh's instructions. "Thank you. Okay, let's get moving!"

Dawid reported their deployment and related his observations to Konrad. He avoided speculation, in the absence of any hard facts. He trained his binoculars at the wheelhouse and identify the helmsman, or indeed anyone onboard. The weapon was down out of sight, but in a few seconds they could move it into position with as much cover as much as the hulk and terrain allowed.

"Minh, load 40 milimetre anti-armour." He pulled back the charging handle to load a grenade into the weapon. "Everyone, keep out of sight! Jan, Griet, make sure no one comes in our back door!"
This message was last edited by the player at 10:03, Tue 31 Mar 2009.

Selecting a case of HVHEDP, she hauls it into place next to the Mk19. Pulling out a string of the belted grenades she places the first one of the tray and slams the cover shut. Next to her and the weapon was also a case of HVHE. "Forty rounds remaining." she said, suggesting conservative usage.

Pulling out her broken binoculars she closed one eye and peered through the good side. Superimposing the reticle image on the approaching tug she judged its distance. "Make it *** meters." she reported quietly.

Wicks finds some sort of solid cover and waits for the out come of any negotiations with the tug.

Griet took up a guarding position on the Honker's rear and waited to see what was happening.

"Unidentified craft moving North. You are now entering the Gora Kawvaria Protection Zone. Please identify yourselves and your purpose of travel and be prepared for a request to heave too for inspection, Over." he said over the radio.

Robert reports to the C.O.C. with Jason and he begins to set up their post and lay out his ammo and supplies to within easy reach or if they have to retreat, easily portable.  When Jason and him are set, Tucker calls on the radio to Konrad.  "Sunray, Knife.  C.O.C. manned and ready.  All call signs, good luck.  Knife out!"

After a few seconds, a gruff but strangely familiar voice emerges from the radio handset,

"This is the Siostra Rzeka Ksiezna, bound for Warsaw. That's all you really need to know."
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:17, Wed 01 Apr 2009.

In reply to Minh Quyen (msg #95):

"Thank you, Corporal."

Sitting back down he said, "okay everyone, let's get out of sight until we're called upon for action."

Noting without otherwise comment on Sam's absence, he transmitted, "Eagle calling Knife, Please keep an eye on our Queen."

He wondered who the new masters were. What had they done with the former crew? Was there a way they could, perhaps, borrow the Queen?
This message was last edited by the player at 13:00, Wed 01 Apr 2009.

Sam is nowhere near the others, as they move in the open toward the boat with no cover or concealment in a big truck. Sam moves through the city with skill and stealh to a covered and concealed position near the edge of town where he can cover the water from attackers or the boat. Sam will settle in as fast as he can and make sure his improvised hide site is somewhat up to snuff. Sam will call in hot.

"Sunray, this is Sam in position. Will call out targets and bodies on your mark. Please respond."

Sam hopes the radio he has works and can reach Konrad. He will take out his hand scope and start to go from the bridge to the crew-served weapons, taking notes in his head on people, weapons, and positions. He will assess the positions and deem them protected or not and look for easy shots.

Sam is mad at himself for not being a better leader of men. How could he be so lazy and sit around last night and not even make one position just to make a point- how many hours wasted? How many will die due to him not being able to influence others.

What a failure I have become in life. What shame I have.

Due to him and his inaction, they could all die today over petty fights. Sam continues to scan the ship. Maybe one last ride here. Getting so tired with winter coming in. Thinking about all the dead and all the people he had to kill. How many had he sent to their deaths for nothing but a shit-stained country that will never know he was here nor alive. How many sons, brothers, and husbands had he killed for nothing. How many women for that matter. All had been fair game for him.

Not even God will settle my evil soul he thinks. Well, I'm off strait to hell and the fire. How will they torture me. Will all that I have killed come to play with me? Boy, will this all suck when it ends. Virginia my ole Virgina...

Sam
setting in and doing the scout in scout sniper
M25/spotting scope.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:09, Thu 02 Apr 2009.

Mariusz looked over at Bayer, "I know the voice, Sir, but I can't put a name to it. They identify themselves as the Sister of the River Princess and say they are on their way to Warsaw."

He replied over the radio, "Message recieved, 'Sister of the River Princess', please be advised of heavy pirate activity in this region. You are welcome to heave to and you may find people here willing to act as security for you. Some of them also cook..."
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:02, Thu 02 Apr 2009.

"Knife copies Eagle," Tucker replies to Dawid.  He turns to Jason, "If you got a pair of eyes Jason, break them out.  We gotta watch the tug passing by."  Robert goes into his pack and digs out his binoculars and begins to observe the tug.

Robert Tucker
Slung M-16A2/M-203
Observing the tug through 4x binoculars