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09:50, 28th March 2024 (GMT+0)

Ch. 14: Gora Kalwaria (Part II)

Posted by Cap'n RaeFor group 0
Jan Cerny
player, 311 posts
Czech/French
FFL
Wed 10 Mar 2010
at 14:45
  • msg #752

Re: Evening Before the Recon

Dieter speaking in French made Jan smile.  He hadn’t heard French for a while now and it could be a beautiful language.  Dieter speaking in French though appeared to have confused Thor as far as Jan could see, causing the big Norwegian to assume that Dieter was leaving some equipment behind.

“Don’t worry,” Jan said to Thor in English as he took the entrenching tool and shelter half off Dieter again, “we're taking this gear with us.”

With that he added them to the rest of the equipment in the spare backpack that was going on a bike, while nodding thanks to Thor for carrying an extra 4kgs of food for himself.

That job done he continued on to find Drew and Dawid, taking Tucker, Dieter and Thor with him if they wanted to join them all in discussing how the patrol would be organised.  <OOC - everyone is welcome, it's just that those are the people who've posted being with Jan currently.>

<img src="http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/5118/pm84.jpg"align="right">Jan had his PM-84 submachinegun with him, with its silencer fitted.  “I’ve been thinking about the structure of this patrol.  If we’re planning on moving mainly at night then whoever is on point should be armed with this as I think that it’s our best silenced weapon.  It's a Polish SMG and it means that whoever's on point gets a chance to kill quietly if they need to.”

He then proceeded to demonstrate the weapon's action to those that weren't familiar with it.

"The only disadvantage with it is that it fires nine mil Makarov rounds so it doesn't have much stopping power.  I've got four twenty five round mags and two fifteen round mags though so we've got plenty of ammo."
Thor Halgeirsen
player, 29 posts
Norwegian Kvartermester
Marinejegerkommandoen
Thu 11 Mar 2010
at 05:52
  • msg #753

Re: Evening Before the Recon

In reply to Dieter Brandt (msg #751):

"Leave," he pointed at the heavy manpack radio.
"No need. Have." A dirt stained (but otherwise clean) finger tapped the tactical radio he wore.
"You take dig tool, take skin."
Steven Drew
player, 191 posts
Sergeant
USMC
Thu 11 Mar 2010
at 07:08
  • msg #754

Re: Evening Before the Recon

In reply to Jan Cerny (msg #752):


  At the patrol conversation Drew adds,

"Well, there is another way we can go.  We got overwhites now, so that'll hide our idenity for the most part.  Weapons,  our point people should have pact weapons for heavier firepower.  That way if they gotta lay down some lead it will blend in more with the locals.  I mean, there are more AKs than 16s running around the countryside these days.  So, it isn't as likely to be noticed.  Just a thought."

  Drew sees the others join the group and nods,

"Welcome guys.  We were just talking about the patrol."
  Drew waits for any replies.

  "I notice alot of folks are bringing a whole lotta shit.  We gotta remember it ain't no combat patrol.  We get engaged, we should really break contact and get out of the area.  Also, we should set up liberal rally points along the route.  If we have to disperse due to enemy action, or we encounter a larger force and have to take cover we can all meet up somewhere.  Or, if someone gets lost at night or because weather moves in....Weather, we should all carry a day or twos rations on us too, and maybe a survival kit too, something ta start a fire and maybe fish with or something....Anyhow, those are some thoughts I got."

Sgt Drew
M9
Talking and planning

Dawid Waldus Piotrowski
player, 1633 posts
Ex-Sergeant
Polish Artillerist
Thu 11 Mar 2010
at 07:56
  • msg #755

Re: Evening Before the Recon

In reply to Steven Drew (msg #754):

"I think everyone is carrying as little as they can get away with. Remember, we can't call for any kind of backup. No resupply, no fire support, no extraction. So, everything we're going to need we need to carry with us."

"Drew, I know you have more skill than I, so please excuse me. I can't think of what we could leave behind, other than some of the winter gear, but it's going to get cold out and I think we're going to need everything we can bring!"

Griet Niewiadomska
player, 561 posts
Polish Navy - CPO
Krakow ORMO
Thu 11 Mar 2010
at 18:39
  • msg #756

Re: Evening Before the Recon

Griet watched the rest of the group heading off onto the east bank and she used her binoculars to watch them go. As the Stalwart faded into the distance, she went back into the wheelhouse and set her binoculars onto the chart table.

She looked over at her father and then said, "Father, if everything goes well, you'll soon be reunited with your family. I understand that you want to spend the rest of your life with them, but I'd rather not give up the Queen to a bunch of footless mercenaries."

She cleared her throat, "The tug is too valuable to just give up. Instead of that, I beg you to teach me how to captain the craft on my own. I'll take the Westerners anywhere they want to go and then come back here. What do you say?"
'Old' Adam Rataj
NPC, 79 posts
Polish (NPC)
Captain of the Queen
Thu 11 Mar 2010
at 22:32
  • msg #757

Re: Evening Before the Recon

Griet Niewiadomska:
She looked over at her father and then said, "Father, if everything goes well, you'll soon be reunited with your family. I understand that you want to spend the rest of your life with them, but I'd rather not give up the Queen to a bunch of footless mercenaries."

She cleared her throat, "The tug is too valuable to just give up. Instead of that, I beg you to teach me how to captain the craft on my own. I'll take the Westerners anywhere they want to go and then come back here. What do you say?"


Adam's good eye started to well up with tears. His face took on a pained look. But there was something else there as well- pride.

"Are you sure, sweetheart? We've almost taken them as far as we promised. They've more than fullfilled their part of the bargain. I'm a bit surprised they're still helping us, actually. They are good people.

"Still, you don't owe them anything, though. We've all lost friends along the way- Uller because of those damned RESET papers that Mr. Milk carried with him. They have taken unecessary risks and courted dangers we could have avoided. I hoep this does not sound unfair or ungrateful, but it is true."

"But, daughter, if this is what you want to do... I will gladly give you anything I can- even the Krolowa. What if they want you to take them as far as the Baltic? Or across the Atlantic even? What then? And what will the people of this town say? The tug has proven a formidable ally. Will they just let us go?

"Think about this, please. We don't have to decide now. Promise me you will reconsider?" 

Cap'n Rae
GM, 1683 posts
Long-time T2K Fan
First-time GM
Thu 11 Mar 2010
at 22:44
  • msg #758

Re: Evening Before the Recon


Prior to the recon team's departure, Griet goes through the deceased Clarence Milk's pack and, at first glance, finds nothing particularly helpful or revealing. It looks like someone's already rifled through it, although there's no indication who that person was.

She decides to give the pack one last go before giving up...

... and finds a fabric panel inside the pack itself that seems out of place. Using a penknife, Griet pops the seams and pulls the panel out of the pack. On the inner surface of the panel, someone has penned several series of seemingly random letters. It appears to be a code of some sort.

FCIXCHB

FCCXBHZ

CZAXBBF

This message was last edited by the GM at 00:09, Fri 12 Mar 2010.
Robert 'Tuck' Tucker
player, 788 posts
Platoon Sergeant
10th Mountain Division
Fri 12 Mar 2010
at 02:10
  • msg #759

Re: Evening Before the Recon

Dawid Waldus Piotrowski:
"We should almost make sure someone else has a grenade launcher so it's Konrad plus two others, but I have no idea who would carry it. Really, Ideally, I think Tucker should switch back to his M16/M203 because he's no longer carrying machinegun ammunition and we can use the firepower of another grenade launcher over that rifle."

If Sutherland is around he asks to borrow his tactial radio. If Tucker is around, he asks if he'd consider taking his M16/M203 instead of the M-14K.

Tucker looks to Dawid, "Sure.  If that seems to be the best idea for this recce mission, I'll bring it along and put this back into the stores.  Anything else?"

Tucker will go and turn in the M-14K, the ammo and mags, and the webbing that he was going to use for the mission.  He goes back and outfits his MOLLE Grenadier's vest back to where it was before he was switching off to the M-14.  He makes sure that everything is secured back on it and reports back to Jan when he's done.

OOC: Trying to catch up the best I can.
Dawid Waldus Piotrowski
player, 1638 posts
Ex-Sergeant
Polish Artillerist
Fri 12 Mar 2010
at 03:22
  • msg #760

Re: Evening Before the Recon

In reply to Robert 'Tuck' Tucker (msg #759):

Dawid hesitated, deciding whether to thank Tucker or not. He decided against it, as Tucker was obviously doing this for the sake of the mission, and not out of any like for him, personally.

"No, not that I can think of. That will be a big help."

To the rest of them he said, "let's leave the roster the way it is. We have all the pieces in place, now. We can reassemble and reorganise in the field. We could well adopt your suggestion, Jan, so don't lose hope! It depends on what Konrad says, of course."

"Sergeant Drew, as we come up with SOPs, we'll make sure everyone knows about them. Thanks for your help, I have a lot to learn about NATO ways, of course," he conceded. These NATO types seemed to think they knew everything. Dawid knew that as individuals they were, on average, far superiour tactically and better trained than most WP and former WP soldiers like him and there was much of value to learn, if he kept an open mind.

After the meeting, he got his gear together. The MGs that were coming along (PKM for him, G3 for the Stalwart) were cleaned and stripped already. Drew would certainly have seen to his own kit and weapons.

With little else to do, he sought out the girl who'd looked at him the day earlier. He just wanted to say "hi", ask her name and see if she was married or had a boyfriend. If she was single, then if she wanted to see him some time after he got back. Also, if her parents were alive. He didn't want to seem too forward and wasn't looking for a quick screw. He was just thinking of settling down, and wanted to know if she was, too. Some people were born warriors, but he still thought of himself as a farmer it didn't seem right that he was already a mature man of 27 and without a family to call his own. The boy, Mariusz, inspired a paternal feeling in him and he was aware of his own mortality all too much.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:30, Fri 12 Mar 2010.
Thor Halgeirsen
player, 30 posts
Norwegian Kvartermester
Marinejegerkommandoen
Fri 12 Mar 2010
at 04:06
  • msg #761

Re: Evening Before the Recon

In reply to Steven Drew (msg #754):

Thor nodded and a thumb jerked at the bicycles.
"Should leave sykkel. Or take one sykkel only. One enough carry."

"Dellingr good tankegangen. All have food. All shelter. Not leave on sykkel. Not safe."

Thor's webbing, rifle and pack all amounted to almost as much as the man himself weighed. As he'd said earlier, he didn't do light....

"Thunder always after lightning. Bragi and Thor follow all."
Steven Drew
player, 193 posts
Sergeant
USMC
Fri 12 Mar 2010
at 06:38
  • msg #762

Re: Evening Before the Recon

In reply to Dawid Waldus Piotrowski (msg #755):

"Dawid, see, that's the thing man.  We shouldn't be carrying an armory, we ain't supposed ta get inta contact.  We get inta a fire fight, we should just break contact and withdraw.  That's the point of a recon man.  We get inta a fight, we open up, toss smoke and run away.  That way we don't get casaulties, we don't let em fully deploy where we are gonna need any heavy stuff.  I mean, if we face armor, I'm gonna do one of two things bro.  I'm gonna be real still and quiet, or I'm gonna do like they did in that Monty Python flick,  "Search For the Holly Grail" and "RUN AWAAAAAAAAAY! hahahaha."
  Drew chuckles for a moment,

"I hope we won't need more than a days worth of ammo per man.  Remember, what our mission is, get info, not engage."
  Drew pauses for a moment as he ponders the winter gear question.

"Well, if we run into real bad weather we hunker down.  But, on the move, we could probably get away with lighter gear.  Remember, we're gonna be hauling balls, so we'll be sweting up a storm moving.  We'll only need alot of the warm stuff when we sit tight.  And if we dig trenches and have heaters, well, we'll have our sleeping gear and them stoves ta keep us warm.  Otherwise, screw it man, just leave all the other crap at home.  No spare camies, no extra boots, we can get by with one radio, hell even with helmets and vests...shit at Bridgeport <the Marine Corps Mountain/Arctic Warfare Center> we never hauled that shit when we did the cold weather package, it just made ya overheat and then freeze when ya stopped.  So, we leave that shit at home.  Really man, feildjackets or parkas, a wool sweater and the overwhites we made maybe some long johns and we should manage pretty good."

  Drew pauses as he lets what he has said sink it hoping that the idea of this op being non combat gets across.

Sgt Drew
M9
Talking w/ Dawid and whomever else is around get the point

Steven Drew
player, 194 posts
Sergeant
USMC
Fri 12 Mar 2010
at 06:45
  • msg #763

Re: Evening Before the Recon

Dawid Waldus Piotrowski:
"Sergeant Drew, as we come up with SOPs, we'll make sure everyone knows about them. Thanks for your help, I have a lot to learn about NATO ways, of course," he conceded. These NATO types seemed to think they knew everything. Dawid knew that as individuals they were, on average, far superiour tactically and better trained than most WP and former WP soldiers like him and there was much of value to learn, if he kept an open mind.


  "Well Dawid, I've learned alot from you folks the last couple years....and I guess you woulda learned a bit from us too.  Just remember, we're Marines,<as he smiles> we are alot different than the Army."
Sgt Drew
M9
Talking to Dawid

Steven Drew
player, 195 posts
Sergeant
USMC
Fri 12 Mar 2010
at 06:50
  • msg #764

Re: Evening Before the Recon

In reply to Thor Halgeirsen (msg #761):

Drew paused as he contemplate what the strange stranger had said before smiling,

"OLAF's right!  Them bikes can be a problem.  We loose em, we loose alot of our gear.  We should all spreadload it, so all our eggs aren't in one basket."

  Drew pauses as he looks at the new guy.  He remembers his time operating in the Norway operation and doesn't remember seeing anyone like him.  Then again he can't think of anywhere the man would fit in other than a comic book or some old movie on the late late show.

Drew then asks Thor,

"Do you like beer?"

Sgt Drew
M9
Talking to Thor

Dawid Waldus Piotrowski
player, 1641 posts
Ex-Sergeant
Polish Artillerist
Fri 12 Mar 2010
at 07:06
  • msg #765

Re: Evening Before the Recon

In reply to Steven Drew (msg #764):

"I see what you mean. But that's not the way it always is in this world. If we get into trouble, we will probably have to get ourselves out. We have to be more self-sustaining than NATO units ever had to be during the war. No one wants to fight tanks, but we have to face the reality we may have no other choice."

Dawid shrugged, unhappy with the options.

"I don't want to split the group into "light" and "heavy" factions, and get into endless debate. Konrad is okay with the "heavy" nature of this patrol. We're going with that. If you think this is a mistake, then no one is forced to come along. I don't mean to put it in those terms, but we can't do a major reorganisation of the patrol at this point without at least Konrad's blessing."

"As for the bikes, so far all I've got for them is 120kg of food. It's important, but I'm assuming everyone also has 2 days of supplies carried in their packs."

"Please accept my apologies, Sergeant Drew, but let's go with what we have at the moment."

Thor Halgeirsen
player, 32 posts
Norwegian Kvartermester
Marinejegerkommandoen
Fri 12 Mar 2010
at 13:54
  • msg #766

Re: Evening Before the Recon

Steven Drew:
"Do you like beer?"

"Beer good. Akevitt good."
Steven Drew
player, 197 posts
Sergeant
USMC
Fri 12 Mar 2010
at 15:53
  • msg #767

Re: Evening Before the Recon

In reply to Dawid Waldus Piotrowski (msg #765):



  "Right..." Drew replies in a more somber and serious tone.  He returns to his duties muttering,


"Gonna have ta talk ta that fuckin Kraut...."

Sgt Drew
M240, M9
Hammering out details

Steven Drew
player, 198 posts
Sergeant
USMC
Fri 12 Mar 2010
at 15:58
  • msg #768

Re: Evening Before the Recon

In reply to Thor Halgeirsen (msg #766):

"I thought so....well, lets see what we can do about finding some."  As Drew can't help but imagine the stranger drinking out of a large animal horn of some kind.

Sgt Drew
M240 and M9
Talking to Thor
Griet Niewiadomska
player, 562 posts
Polish Navy - CPO
Krakow ORMO
Sat 13 Mar 2010
at 10:29
  • msg #769

Re: Evening Before the Recon

"I'll think on it, father," Griet replied, "but whatever happens I would be reluctant to give up the tug. Without it we will be scraping in the ground for a living and that's a one way ride to misery and poverty."

She looked at the scrap of paper she had found in Milk's pack and tried to work out what it meant. It could be some sort of co-ordinates, but she couldn't make it out for herself. She took it to the others at supper and hoped that someone else might have an idea.
Jan Cerny
player, 322 posts
Czech/French
FFL
Sat 13 Mar 2010
at 12:51
  • msg #770

Re: Evening Before the Recon

"Hum," mused Jan while he looked at the piece of fabric with letters written on it.

FCIXCHB

FCCXBHZ

CZAXBBF

"Could they be map coordinates?  Or a radio frequency?" he asked aloud.

He took out a note pad and started making some notes.

"A straight swap to numbers gives us

6,3,9,24,3,8,2

6,3,3,24,2,8,26

3,26,1,24,2,2,6

or

63924382

633242826

326124226

None of that looks like a map coordinate to me.  Or at least not around here.  Anyone got any other thoughts?"


He offered the fabric panel to anyone who wanted to have a look.
Dawid Waldus Piotrowski
player, 1646 posts
Ex-Sergeant
Polish Artillerist
Sat 13 Mar 2010
at 14:54
  • msg #771

Re: Evening Before the Recon

In reply to Jan Cerny (msg #770):

"We would sometimes substitute one letter for another, as a simple code. At least for unimportant traffic. Perhaps this is the same thing, but in English?"

Dawid was puzzled, such abstract thinking was usually beyond him.
Griet Niewiadomska
player, 564 posts
Polish Navy - CPO
Krakow ORMO
Sat 20 Mar 2010
at 14:28
  • msg #772

Meanwhile, back at the ranch...

Griet and the tugboat pulled up beside the Gora Kalwaria jetty after a short patrol. She ensured that the craft was tied up securely and checked that the engineers were OK to do the maintainence.

She walked back up to Adam and said, "I'm going to speak with Bishop about the prisoners we have, we're short of mortar men and I know that at least one of the prisoners has skill in that area."

She walked down the street to The G-K militia HQ and had some of the ubiquitous herbal tea whilst she waited for the commander to become available.

When the Bishop finally found some free time she said, "I'm sorry to add to your burdens, but I'd like to talk about the prisoners that have been captured. If possible, I'd like to talk to teh East German mortarman and offer him a form of parole, work with us for five years and earn his freedom, if he did anything to break this parole then he'd suffer whatever punishment you have in mind for him. As for the others, I think at least one, they guy they trusted as a messenger is a die hard bandit that deserves death. The others," she shrugged, "we could do with more labour, but it's a balance of risks, justice and benefits. Of course, if you have other plans for them I'll accept whatever you suggest, it's something to think about at least."
Anneka Soleblume
player, 1352 posts
Major
Israeli Medical Officer
Sat 20 Mar 2010
at 14:42
  • msg #773

Re: Meanwhile, back at the ranch...

"I think that's a fine idea," Anneka said, lending her voice to the cause.
"He'd probably fit right in too. Seems just about everyone around here comes from some place else."
Griet Niewiadomska
player, 565 posts
Polish Navy - CPO
Krakow ORMO
Sat 20 Mar 2010
at 14:57
  • msg #774

Re: Meanwhile, back at the ranch...

Griet smiled, "That's true, we're a United Nations in miniature. We certainly argue enough for that."

She looked at the Israeli Major, "If Bishop allows us to talk to him I'd appreciate you coming along, offering medical aid might help him decide to join us."
Anneka Soleblume
player, 1359 posts
Major
Israeli Medical Officer
Fri 26 Mar 2010
at 13:50
  • msg #775

Re: Meanwhile, back at the ranch...

"He's been here, what, about a week? I'd say he'd received all the medical attention he needs for now."
"I'll come along anyway though. It's something to do besides change dressings and bedpans."

Anneka Soleblume
player, 1412 posts
Major
Israeli Medical Officer
Wed 8 Sep 2010
at 03:34
  • msg #776

Re: Meanwhile, back at the ranch...

More than a little concerned about the lack of radio reply from the ground team, Anneka sought out Griet and Adam.
"I think we should move the Wisla Krolowa downstream a few miles to be in a better position should radio contact be re-established. The Hauptman's team may need assistance quickly."
The occasional dull thud of distant explosions punctuated her suggestion, and although it was impossible to say they were related to the radio silence, they did give cause for concern.
"We should try and borrow half a dozen or so of the militia to man the guns too, just in case."
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