"Oh, wonderful, another suprise!" she thought to herself on seeing the extra unknown body.
"You, what's your name?" she called to the RPK weilding Brit.
"You any good with a heavy machinegun?"
She'd been about to request another one or two militia to flesh out the tugs numbers, but an extra professional soldier might be worth two novices.

"Wait a moment," Anneka said in Polish to the shotgunner Jason was handing some of his equipment to.

"Jason, we don't have enough ammo for the PKMs to split up. Better you take the British LSW and Soviet AGL for the forward position. Alternate fire as necessary. We've still got half a dozen or so spare mags for the rifle, so don't be afraid of firing bursts."

"You, with Sergeant Tucker on the upper deck," she said switching back to the shotgunner.
"You're with Sergeant Tucker on the upper deck."
"Tucker," she switched back to english. "Mark 19, upper rear deck. Use this man to help you shift the weapon around as needed. Might be an idea to set it up centrally on a few cargo crates and just swing it about?"

"You two are with Dawid and Griet up front with the mortar. Do exactly what they say and we'll all be fine."

That left three.

"You two have the port heavy machinegun. One of you will fire and the other assist reloading."
And you can assist him with the other gun." she pointed at Jones.
"Dawid, can you give them a quick rundown on the weapon?"

Griets suggestion of the AGS up forward was certainly a good one on the face of it. With two explosive weapons forward, they should be able to inflict significant damage as they closed.
The problem they faced however was Jason's relative immobility and lack of PK ammo. The good news though was that with the second AGL, the Mark 19, placed further back, they'd have an absolutely devastating broadside.

"Hauptman Bayer, I think you should take both a PKM and M240 and all the ammo you can carry for them. Besides your rifles and grenade launchers they may be all the fire support you'll have."
"Better take all the rockets too, just in case they bring in some vehicles from somewhere."

Four hundred and fourty rounds or so remained for the PKMs - spliting it didn't make a lot of sense to her as it would leave each weapon barely enough for a light skirmish. The loss of the MG-3 a few days before meant that they still had plenty for the M240. It was a shame though that they only had the one automatic weapon to take advantage of it.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:58, Thu 09 Apr 2009.

In reply to Anneka Soleblume (msg #155):

"I certainly can Major, not a problem."

"Griet, please check what kind of ammunition we have available. When we're under way I'll have a look at the Vasilek, keep it under wraps so the Pirates don't know about it. Right now I'm waiting for the Kapitan's answer, and don't want to stick my head under the cover."

After talking to the militia, Mariusz settled the radio he'd been given onto his webbing. He clipped the handset to his yoke and the shifted the strap of his G3 so it didn't interfer with the radio. He unclipped the handset and did a quick radio check.

"Comms are up, Kaptain." he noted.

"I'll check now," she replied to Dawid and ducked under the tarp to look for the ammo storage.

Quyen is somewhat relieved when she is placed into the weapons detachment. She had her fill working with civil militias. The last time she got involved too deep, she would have probably died if her new accomplices didn't show up. She was content to work side by side her own, people she trusted and new from the past that she could rely on.

Sitting in the driver's seat she flicked out a cigarette she was smoking when the Hauptmann and one of militia climbed into the cab. After being the given the word to head out, Quyen drives the Tarpan over to the edge of town.

Once at the assembly point she climbs out and lowers the tailgate, and helps unload the troops. She'll then loiter around the buildings, waiting for the call to deploy.

Once the milita are loaded on the truck and and everything is sorted for deployment, Jan warms up the radio and reports in.
"King One checking in, comms are live. Do you read? Over."

Once the truck arrives at the assembly point Wicks will go through the assembled squad checking weapons and gear as Jan does the radio check. He will give a quick briefing to the assembled men of the squad.

“Stay calm, identify your targets; double tap until they go down, conserve your ammo, no rambos. Seek good cover to clear jams and reload your weapon. Follow our orders and directions and you should be able to go home.”

“This is what you have trained for, it is for your families and your village. We are the first and last line of defense.”

He turns to Jan “Time to earn that regular pay cheque.”


Wicks
M14K/HK-69 (20/20, 1 HE)
About to deploy

Tucker is glad to see the Queen back again and greets all of the crew members when he sees them happily.  When it is decided that the tug will be used in the defense of the town and that he will now be assigned back on board, that makes him feel a lot better and more useful then sitting back at their COC waiting and feeling useful.

He shoulders his rucksack and heads aboard the Queen for his new assignment and behind the MARK-19 grenade launcher.  Once he checks over the launcher and ammo and then yells down to Dawid, "YO DAWID!  READY UP HERE," giving him a thumbs up.  He also acknowledges Jason when he's ready with his militia person and MG.  Tucker will follow Anneka's suggestion of fixing the weapon on some crates with his militia person.  Tucker will try to explain the best he can as to what the militiaman with him is supposed to do the best he can with simple English (if they even understand him).

Robert slings his M-16 over his shoulder and ties his rucksack to a rail so it doesn't get swept over board and it is near him in case he needs to get to it quickly or leave with it quickly.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:23, Wed 08 Apr 2009.

Bayer acknowledges the radio checks to Jan and Mariusz and approaches Wicks. He hadn't noticed before that the other he was lugging a grenade launcher. "Lieutenant. Is there anything you might think that I would like to know about you? Equipment or skillwise?"

"How many 40 millimeter grenades do you have? I have many if you need some." he adds.

He regretted not asking earlier, instead of while they stood basically on the line of departure. Last night was hectic, and he'd barely got more than an introduction out.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:22, Wed 08 Apr 2009.

"Well Captain I really only have this stumpy M14, the HK-69 and a SIG P226. I should be ok for 40mm grenades as long as it doesn’t get too hairy" he says with a smirk.

"Could probably do with a couple more frag grenades after this if you have anymore spare."

"skill wise I like to thing I was a good all round soldier, good with the grenade launcher here, same with an MG. I did use to shoot for the NZ Army marksman team even won the queens medal a few times, but I’m no sniper. A lot different hitting paper targets on the range."

"My main role was as the range officer for my regiment, the last two years before I moved to the U.K I ran the firearms training program for the NZ Counter Terrorist Tactical Assault Group"

Wicks
M14K/HK-69 (20/20, 1 HE)
About to deploy

To Ann

"I don't know how to fire any of that rubbish. Name's Tom. With the King's Regiment. I do know how to shoot this! Tell me where to go and what's my mission."
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:20, Wed 08 Apr 2009.

On the River

The Queen backs slowly away from the pier and into the main channel of the Vistula. Her boxer's nose of a prow swings downriver to face the oncoming threat and she begins making headway, slowly building up speed (the current aids her in this) as Gryzych and Lubolsaw work furiously to build up a full head of steam in the tug's homemade boilers.

Four small boats- a colorful assortment of various makes and models of basic motor launches, each between 10-20 feet in length- race towards the Queen. The leading pair of boats are each crewed by five or six men and each mounts a general purpose machine gun in the bows. The trailing pair of boats are perilously low in the water, crammed with men, at least a dozen in each. All of the boat crews present an almost comically cliched piratical appearance- face paint, head-scarves, assorted helmets, various bits and pieces of uniform and kit from almost every European belligerent currently involved in The War. The vessels bristle with the barrels of assault rifles and light machine guns. Those looking on through scopes spot an axe or two among the pirate's weapons and one particularly colorful corsair wields what appears to be a broadsword.

The boats come straight for the Queen, moving as quickly as their overworked outboard motors can push them (roughly 45kph). They hold a roughly box-like formation, with two up and two back, only about 50m separating the two pairs. As they swing around a slight curve in the river, they are about 500m away from the tug and closing steadily. There's no subtly to their manouvering. It appears that they mean to board.

On the Ground

The shore group heads back towards the town, cautiously anticipating a simultaneous and coordinated attack by land. None of the militia OPs on the outskirts of town report any signs that would confirm that such an attack is forthcoming.

Next Moves?
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:42, Thu 09 Apr 2009.

In reply to Tom Jones (msg #165):

"That's an automatic rifle right? If you can use that, you can operate a machinegun."
Major Soleblumes small hand pointed at the starboard DShK firmly. With several small boats stuffed with boarders rapidly approaching, now was not the time for argueing.

"Don't forget you've got the intercom there Sergeant Tucker!" She called out a moment before disappearing into the bridge.

Her RPK-74 sat ready for firing through the windows shatter by an RPG strike over a week ago as she responded to the radio check.
"This is Starlight. Loud and clear. Over."

In reply to Cap'n Rae (msg #166):

Dawid checked the Vasilek, seeing what condition it was in and getting it ready for battle. He was under cover and couldn't see where they were going. He ducked back out when Tucker called and replied, "That is great, my friend!"
Looking in their direction of travel, he stopped and gaped in horror.

"SWEET LORD JESUS CHRIST OUR SAVIOR! Why are we running towards them?" He resisted the temptation to simply stop and pray, instead sprung into action.

He knew Griet was supposed to be in tactical command of the tug, but somehow Anneka decided to put her in the gun crew.

"Griet, if you're in tactical command of the tug, then you should get up on the bridge, yes? If you do, take the PKM with you to fend off boarders, I have my Tantal."

"If you choose to stay here then please get down into the magazine and hand up what anti-armour we have left. I will load it into the Vasilek's magazine, like I showed you ORMO guys. Everyone else, get down behind cover. I'm going to keep the Vasilek under cover as long as possible, spring it on them at around 200m range. When I give the signal, you ORMO remove the cover."

He got on the intercom to the bridge. "Major, I don't know what plan you had in mind, but it looks like we're going to take some punishment here. I will open fire at 200m at the front craft."

Dawid made sure his rifle and sidearm were charged and ready, safety on.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:21, Thu 09 Apr 2009.

"Jason," she called through the missing window after spotting the oncoming boats and realising their intent.
"AGL. Single rounds, slow rate. Fire."

"Adam, swing around to port for a broadside."
The last was spoken directly into the intercom to warn as many crewmembers as she could in the least amount of time.

She then switched to the radio.
"This is Starlight. Under severe threat of boarders. Request King deploy to provide fire support immediately. Over.
Although the militia didn't have many weapons that could make much of a difference at such a range, they did at least have the truck mounted ZU and a machinegun at their disposal as well as rifle mounted grenade launchers. At the very least they could harrass the boat crews with long range fire and reduce their ability to board the Queen.

"Adam, you've still got a few small arms in the radio room I presume? Hope they've been issued."
The crew had started the voyage with little more than a shotgun and half a dozen pistols in addition to the two DShKs and an RPK-74 last seen in Stoners hands. Since then they'd gained much - AK-74s, SMGs, dozens of pistols of various types and more, but she'd not had the chance yet to see what was left after donating to the refugee barge a few days before.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:04, Thu 09 Apr 2009.

Bayer figured it was easier for the tug to come to the ground element than the other way around. Waving his hand to the small platoon to mount back up, he speaks into the radio, "King roger. Moving now. Setting up just south of the the rail bridge. Position yourself to account for the time for us to arrive. Out."

"Quyen, to the rail bridge as fast as you can." he says, climbing into the cab.

On the way he speaks into his tac radio to the squad leaders, "We're setting up a hasty ambush to engage the boats. Linear layout. It doesn't look like there is a landing force. At the rail bridge intersection we'll take the south road and setup along the shore in the treeline."

"Once we dismount I want Wicks to keep going with the trucks and reserve. Setup the flak gun about a 100 meters away with a narrow arc of view to the river." he adds. "Conserve ammo."

OOC - Rae, I hope this is not out of the realm of possibility. I'm trying to visualize where everyone is. Feel free to shoot it down as not possible.

I'm not sure exactly where the tug or the boats are. So this would only apply if there was time to deploy before the boats arrived. If there's not, the position will just have to be further south.

The map is pretty basic, but on the satellite view its a forested shoreline. Is this true for your game? If not, Bayer won't be driving up in two trucks to the riverside as planned.


This message was last edited by the player at 08:28, Thu 09 Apr 2009.

Griet heard Anneka's preparatory order to swing into a broadside, she picked up the intercom reciever and said, "Negative to that order, Captain. Keep her going forward and with as much speed as possible. If we turn broadside we lose all manouverability and make it easier for them to board us. Engine room, prepare the lobster boiler, Captain, if one of the boarding parties gets close enough, I want you to ram it."

She bent down quickly and picked up the last full clip of HE ammunition, "Dawid, we only have one HEDP round left as far as I can see. We should save that for the torpedo boat when we encounter it."

In reply to Griet Niewiadomska (msg #171):

"Good thinking, now get up on the bridge!"

He helped her out.

"I talked with Konrad and he seemed to think setting a shore ambush was a good idea. See if Adam has any input on where to put it. I say why not turn around and lead them somewhere they don't want to go, eh?"

"You!" He grabbed an ORMO. "Get down there into the ammo stowage, hand me up a clip of fragmentation. Be quick!"

OOC: How much ammo do we have for the Vasilek? As well, are the ORMO armed?

Hearing the change in orders Wicks mounts up into the truck carrying the ZU-23.
He asks Mariusz to act as loader.

“I will fire at any boats carrying heavy weapons first and then any that look like they are carrying landing troops. If you have a radio, relay any changes in orders or the tactical situation to me.”

He sees his error as Minh comes running towards the cab.

Once at the assigned area he will give the order to disperse the trucks off the road into the trees away from the river, quickly indicating where the militia should setup.

"You may have the range to hit these guys so single aimed shots, pilots of the boats first, heavy weapons crew next. Use the trees as cover for jams and loading. Good luck"

He will climb into the Gunners chair, loads the autocannon and orientates the barrels towards the river where the Captain indicated.

He then waits for the first boats to enter his line of fire.


Alan Wicks
23mm Flak (32/100 HEI)
Covering the river
Back of the Star
This message was last edited by the player at 13:30, Thu 09 Apr 2009.

"Roger that," Mariusz replied, he contacted Bayer, "the gun truck is setting up to take the attackers in enfilading fire. We intend to take out heavy weapons first and then boarding parties unless you have differing priorities for us."

As Quyen pulled the Honker to a stop by the new position, she says, "Hauptmann. I'm probably not going to be using the rockets against the boats, and the same goes with the demo charges. I don't really have a need to be in weapons squad at the moment. Do you want me to assist Wicks?"

Bayer gives Quyen a thumbs up as he jumps out of the cab.

Mariusz looked over as he saw Mihn, coming toward the guntruck, he looked at Wicks and said, "Looks like you've a hot date coming. I'll get back to the squad and leave you two kids alone!"

he leapt from the truck bed and resumed his place next to his squad leader.

Tom looks at the small female with disbelief.

"I said I don't know how to run that rubbish. I can shoot some NATO weapons but I have never been trained on Russian heavy machineguns. I'm a line infantryman in the Queens Army. I only use this due to it being so simple and it's the only thing they had. I don't think I have the time to learn so I will start killing now if you don't mind?"

Tom will take up a position on the bow and set his bipod legs down. He will begin to fire at 400 meters into the packed boats. Could they be this stupid? I can't miss at this range, he thinks. Tom will fire 3 round bursts as the gun was designed to do with 2 second pauses in between burts. He will change mags when he needs to and will concentrate on the closest boat and fire on it until all are dead. Ducks in a barrel, he thinks. He will stay covered as best he can behind the ship's front area.

Tom will use autogun skill.

Tom
Bows of the Krolowa
firing 3-round bursts starting at 400m
RPK-74 (40/40)
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:54, Thu 09 Apr 2009.

Once the truck is in position Jan sets about getting the milita men into position and under cover.
"We will be setting up here. You three stay with me and you three stay with Wicks here. We will be getting under cover,  find a tree or such to get behind and stay out of sight. They  probably expect  us to try and stop them, but cover is your friend. Better a bullet in the tree than in you. We will be firing single aimed shots. I do not want to see anyone spraying. The Bishope said you were his best, steady and able to follow orders. Do as Wicks and I say and we will stop these bastards. Aimed shots, and hold your fire  until Wicks or I tell you to fire."


Jan
AK-74/BG-15 30/30 1/1
Setting up militia and watching for  pirates