As the plan was to return the next day to the Pirate camp, Dawid made sure his equipment was ready to go, and he slept as much as he could. At evening prayer, he lit a candle for each companion that perished on the long hard journey.

He especially thought about Wicks, the latest casualty. So much blood spilled in the dark waters of the Vistula, so many lives lost. The journey was almost over, it was true, but it seemed whoever was staying in Warszawa would be facing the toughest challenge yet.

Dawid ended his prayers with a prayer for Wicks, and for their injured, which included those injured perhaps not in body but in spirit.

Exhausted, his leg aching, he fell into a shallow sleep. He dreamed bodies were floating in the Vistula, which had turned the colour of clotted blood.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:11, Wed 25 Nov 2009.

Bayer loitered about the lodging as the sun vanished beyond the horizon. His worsening condition sapped his motivation for getting what needed to be done started. Even if it wasn't a serious physical handicap, the worry was enough to exhaust the mind. He had planned on taking out a patrol downriver tomorrow, but the rapid onset of whatever was ailing him hinted that by tomorrow he mightn't be capable of field operations.

After some brooding, he sought out Dawid and woke him. "Dawid. Wake up. Listen. Warning order. Tomorrow you'll take out a patrol of yourself, Jones, Jan, and Drew. You'll be going back to the pirate camp to assess the enemy situation there and the potential for acquiring lost material." Quyen and Ondar would have been great patrol assets too, but like him weren't in any condition at the moment.

After coughing over his shoulder and not towards Dawid, he continues, "I'll stay here and work with Sergeant Tucker and his team. If the sick aren't too bad off we might sweep the area around town for some leg work with the militia."

Bayer then adds, "We'll talk again before you leave."
This message was last edited by the player at 11:48, Wed 25 Nov 2009.

In reply to Konrad Bayer (msg #120):

Dawid woke up and yawned, lighting the lantern by his pallet.

"Understood, Kapitan. I'll see how Drew is on patrol. He seems like he has a lot of experience, may as well make use of it. I guess we'll take either the launch, or the Queen, if it's available. I'll ask Adam to salvage that patrol boat that sank in shallow water, if he's not doing anything else."

He looked worried, but nodded in acceptance of the warning order.

"Sweet Jesus, Kapitan! Have you been checked out by the Major? I don't know what the symptoms are of that nerve gas, but only those who were in the area seem affected. Is there any antidote?"
This message was last edited by the player at 12:11, Wed 25 Nov 2009.

"Inconclusive at this point." he says. "Mariusz also feels ill... but he wasn't near the detonation area or downwind of it to my knowledge. So I am not sure myself."

He then thinks of something and goes off in search of the doctor.

"I struggle to find suitable words for dire or grievous situations sometimes myself. I find that scripture speaks more eloquently than I could ever hope to. In times such as these, I often turn to the psalms. They contain much wisdom and encouragement. Here, let us find one that speaks to the present circumstances."

He rises and crosses the room to a large lecturn. He opens the oversized bible that rests there and thumbs through a few pages of the book of Psalms.

"Ah, here. Psalm 20. Listen.

"The LORD answer you in the day of trouble!
The name of the God of Jacob protect you!
May he send you help from the sanctuary,
and give you support from Zion.
May he remember all your offerings,
and regard with favor your sacrifices.

May he grant you your heart's desire,
and fulfill all your plans.
May we shout for joy over your victory,
and in the name of our God
set up our banners.
May the LORD fulfill all your petitions.

Now I know that the LORD will help his annointed;
he will answer him from his holy heaven
with mighty victories by his right hand.
Some take pride in chariots, and some in horses,
but our pride is in the name of the LORD our God.
They will collapse and fall,
but we shall rise and stand upright.

Give victory to the king, O LORD;
answer us when we call."

This message was last edited by the GM at 00:24, Thu 26 Nov 2009.

"Thank you, Father," Mariusz said softly, "your words are comforting. I will endeavour to make the others live up to the honour of those that have sacrificed themselves for this community."

Griet was tired and dirty from the battle and the work after it. She walked off the tug and into the town almost in a daze. She brushed her hand against her cheek, oblivious to the greasy oil smudge she left there.

Finally she found teh man she was looking for, Bishop was busy with the militia, but she walked up to him and said, "The Queen is as ready as she can be for combat so I have some spare mechanic capacity, would you like us to have a look at this British swimming vehicle?"

Having napped a little after dinner, Dawid felt better.

He found Jones, Jan and Drew.

"Kapitan Bayer has decided to follow up on your suggestion, Mr. Jones, to have a look at the Pirate base and follow up on the possible effects of our attack."

"Jan, you're handy with a sharpshooter's rifle? Tom, I recall you prefer the RPK-74, is this correct? Drew, are you any good with a grenade launcher."

He explained the basic idea, and that they wouldn't know more until the next day.

Tom was finishing up his meal when Dawid took a seat next to him. After explaining the plan for the next day Tom confirmed he preferred the RPK but he was pretty confident on the rifle and grenade launcher but that was the extent of his small arms skills.

He also added “If we go past the mortar groups old position we should check the dead, Jan said the enemy didn’t have time to collect their equipment”   after finishing his drink Tom added “Also on the way in or out we should check the vehicles we left, from the debrief the attacking group was in no real state to take them. Even if they disabled them I should be able to get one them moving, I was a mechanic in my past life.”

As Dawid gets up to leave Tom asks if he can question the mortar man prisoner tonight and gives the suggestion they take him with them.

"I wouldn't mind tagging along too. Might get the chance to try out this thing," he tapped Steyr and M203 "inherited" from Kasparov.

In reply to Dave 'Bones' Stoner (msg #128):

Dawid grinned.

"Of course! I will consult with the good Kapitan. I would like to see what happened to the vehicles, too."

He thought for a second.

"Okay, we'll try this assuming Bones is coming with us: Jan on point, Me in the centre with a radio, Drew on the right with the M240, Tom on the left with the RPK light machinegun and Bones following with the rifle/grenade launcher. I'm probably the best we have with a machinegun but we don't need any more of those so I'll take my Tantal/BG-15. If Bones isn't coming then Jan in front, Drew on the right, I'll be on the left and Tom in the rear."

Sipping some tea, he continued.

"We are all professionals, of course, but it bears keeping in mind that if we see anyone, we are to avoid engaging. That means if we encounter anyone I may well order something cowardly like withdrawing before contact is made. If anyone decides to fight it out after the order to withdraw is given, well, you may be walking home."
This message was last edited by the player at 06:48, Fri 27 Nov 2009.

Tuesday, Oct. 17th
0800hrs.
39F
Clear skies
Gora Kalwaria, Poland

At 0600 hours, Dawid, Jan, Stoner, and Drew board the Wisla Krolowa and prepare themselves for the now familiar jaunt north to Otwock. (OOC: Anyone else who'd like to come along as tug security/fire support is more than welcome).

Konrad, Minh, and Mariusz all have a restless night's sleep. Their coughing and body aches make it hard to sleep restfully. In the morning, each still has a low fever but, despite the persistent cough, their lungs sound mostly clear. This, at least, means that there's no fluid build-up. In Anneka's professional opinion, the trio is probably suffering from some kind of flu or flu-like virus. Based on their symptoms, it is unlikely that their current ailment is a result of exposure to VX gas.

The trip to Otwock aboard the Krolowa is quiet. The tug anchors out of side of the pirate anchorage. The recon team boards the small motor boat and heads for the mouth of the Swinder. The puttering noise of the small, alchohol-powered outboard seems deafeningly loud in the still of the morning.

As they approach the landing point, the burned-out PT boat greets them. The once powerful vessel is now little more than a gnarled, blackened husk portruding just a couple of feet above the water of the Vistula.

The team lands on the eastern shore just north of where the Swinder meets the Vistula. A water filled crater on the low, muddy bank just a few meters from the river speaks of the successful 120mm mortar barrage two days prior. Further up the bank, almost beneath the barren trees at the edge of the wood that covers the area between the river and the pirate's hamlet, they find four fresh graves. No abandoned gear is found in the area.

Cautiously, the group moves inland in a loose diamond formation, towards the pirate camp. After an hour or so, the first buildings come into view between the trees. The group goes to ground and silently observes the structures. An hour passes (it is now around 0800 hours) without any sign of activity or human occupation.

Back at Gora-Kalwaria, those that remained behind begin another day of training the miltia and preparing the town's defenses.

Next Moves?
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:06, Fri 27 Nov 2009.

Before leaving base camp, Dawid personally inspected everyone to make sure they had sufficient ammunition and at least a day's supplies (including water). He assumed everyone had cleaned their weapons but checked just to be sure.

As well, everyone was to have some kind of protection against chemical contamination, including masks and gloves. The fatigues everyone was wearing were all captured ones, stripped from the dead bodies of the pirates who had attacked GK before. These were to be discarded if they encountered chemical contamination. They used the time in transit to sew up any holes or rents in the fabric.

Lastly, and most important, everyone carried an empty sack of cloth or burlap. They were there to collect weapons and ammunition, and anything else worth grabbing, so they would need something to carry salvage. The bags could be dipped in the river as a kind of quick-and-dirty decontamination prior to returning to GK for a more thorough cleaning.

Personally, he divested himself of all extra weight, deciding not to take extra items like the RPG-76, Geiger counter or NVGs. He did take a spare set of fatigues (to be left on the boat) so he could change into them if need be.

At their first objective, Dawid gave a SITREP to the Queen for relay back to GK.

"Okay, everyone up, let's advance. Weapons ready."

Standing up, he let the binoculars hang by their straps around his neck. Shivering in the cold autumn air he charged the Tantal and loaded a 40mm HE grenade. His helmet was on but the mask was off for now.


Dawid Piotrowski
Tantal BG-25 (30/30 + 4 spare magazines, 3 spare 40mm HE)
Stechkin/21 rounds, + 2 spare magazines
1 RGD-5 Grenade, 2 Smoke, 2 Flares
Moving out cautiously.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:22, Sat 28 Nov 2009.

  Drew is on alert more so after finding the fresh graves.  And when the sun begins to break he is almost on edge.  He studys the building they are hiding in for signs of recent occupation and activity.  With the rising sun he studies the ground outside and in the ruined hamlet.  He looks for signs of clean up after the battle, fresh graves and boot prints and paths or avenues of travel that groups of men working would make.

  Drew will also make note of avenues of attack and fields of fire should they have to fight it out.  He will also make it a point to have a couple lines of retreat as well.

Drew
Studying the landscape
M240

In reply to Steven Drew (msg #132):

Noticing Drew was studying the landscape, Dawid paused the patrol and had them get down. He asked them, "so, what do you think? Someone has obviously been here, we'll probably find nothing. If we're lucky, the camp may be deserted. Let me know if you see any escape routes."

"Everyone listen, if we have to retreat, Drew and I will provide covering fire while the rest of you (Tom, Jan and Bones) withdraw to a position where you can cover our retreat. We'll move in bounds, covering each other. Understood"

"Lastly, if we do withdraw, go West and make for the launch we came in. If that's not possible or you get separated, go either West to the launch or Northwest and try to make the river and a pickup by the Queen. G-K is to the Aouth and the river cuts us off to the South and East, so we are not in the best position if we get into trouble."

To make sure he had his directions straight, he pulled out his compass and map and showed everyone what he meant.

Dawid Piotrowski
Tantal BG-25 (30/30 + 4 spare magazines, 3 spare 40mm HE)
Stechkin/21 rounds, + 2 spare magazines
1 RGD-5 Grenade, 2 Smoke, 2 Flares
Having a quick pow-wow before moving out.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:54, Sat 28 Nov 2009.

<quote Dawid Waldus Piotrowski>
In reply to Steven Drew (msg #132):

Noticing Drew was studying the landscape, Dawid paused the patrol and had them get down. He asked them, "so, what do you think? Someone has obviously been here, we'll probably find nothing. If we're lucky, the camp may be deserted. Let me know if you see any escape routes."

"Right....unless they see us first." Drew whispers.

"Everyone listen, if we have to retreat, Drew and I will provide covering fire while the rest of you (Tom, Jan and Bones) withdraw to a position where you can cover our retreat. We'll move in bounds, covering each other. Understood"

"Thanks for volunteering me" Drew flashes a grin.  "I'll light em up with a burst, you<nodding to Dawid> take up a position and send a GL round at em as our break contact.  Everyone else get the hell outa dodge, Dawid and I will do that all the way ta the river."  Drew looks at Dawid for confirmation.

"Lastly, if we do withdraw, go West and make for the launch we came in. If that's not possible or you get separated, go either West to the launch or Northwest and try to make the river and a pickup by the Queen. G-K is to the Aouth and the river cuts us off to the South and East, so we are not in the best position if we get into trouble."

Drew adds "So, the launch is our primary rally point.  Launch to the West is secondary.  Anything else make to the river...gotcha." Drew nodds.

To make sure he had his directions straight, he pulled out his compass and map and showed everyone what he meant.

 Drew sticks his head over to confirm the directions as well as get an idea of what is in what direction.  He will orientate the river and the town for use as reference points.


Sgt Drew
M240
Getting the plan and direction

Tom kept his mind on the task, he indicated to Dawid where the last of the pirates had retreated to prior to their egress from the area. He suggested they should move towards the bridge where the anti-gun was stationed as the German prisoner mentioned a fortified position with a MG, clearing buildings as they go.

He knew that Dawid had the map supplied by the prisoner and all the heavy weapons positions where indicated on it.


RPK-74 (45/45) + 6 spare magazines
Sig Sauer P226 (15/15) + 3 spare magazines
RKG-3 ANTI-TANK grenades x 3
F1 FRAG grenades x 6
Covering left flank
This message was last edited by the player at 08:48, Sat 28 Nov 2009.

Dawid laughed.

"Of course, I would like to be near you, Sergeant Drew! Always learn from the best. As well, I am an excellent machinegunner and if you die, well, I can recover the weapon and fight on! It's the Soviet way, so I've been told." He finished, more than a little tongue-in-cheek.

He looked down at the map he'd been given, then checked the directions with the compass.

"Confirm, primary rally point is the launch, off to the Southwest. Secondary is the bank of the Vistula to the West to Northwest for pickup by the Queen. That way and that way."

"I concur, Mister Jones, we shall check the bridge first. We will have a look-see at the house. Too bad I wasn't able to use that AT gun to take it out, that would have been something!"

With that out of the way, he signaled the patrol to continue on.

Dawid Piotrowski
Tantal BG-25 (30/30 + 4 spare magazines, 3 spare 40mm HE)
Stechkin/21 rounds, + 2 spare magazines
1 RGD-5 Grenade, 2 Smoke, 2 Flares
Moving Out, centre position.

After ensuring a radio watch was established for communications with the recce patrol, Bayer assembled the group staying behind in the town. Although he wasn't much happier that he and the others weren't suffering from nerve gas poisoning, at least he knew what they were dealing with... probably.

Pulling aside Quyen and Mariusz he says, "We can't infect the others. Its our duty to ensure we use preventative measures. We'll see about getting some filter masks from the town. In the meantime, be aware and vigilante about your contact with other people."

Then returning his attention back to the small group he says, "This morning we'll continue with our compressed training program. Tucker, Ondar, Quyen... carry on with small unit tactics, weapons, and improvised fortifications & obstacles respectively. We'll split the ORMO into three groups and rotate them through your stands."

"I'll continue with the militia commanders as I did yesterday." Roll for leadership?

Motioning to Mariusz, he says, "You're a floater. We could use you moving between the different stands to translate when there is a problem."

Glancing at his watch he says, "Around noon... we'll assemble the ORMO for a field exercise. For us it will be to recce and sweep that armored graveyard. For them, it'll be a chance for some footwork under supervision. Two things done concurrently."

After answering any questions, Bayer will dismiss the training cadre and move off to continue yesterday's lessons with the ORMO commanders. Lacking actual troops as a training aid, Bayer will create some miniatures using rubbish, stones and small pieces of wood with labels on them to represent squads, enemies, and support weapons. Later at noon, the commanders could practice leading and maneuvering real squads of men. Until then, he'll focus on concepts of reserves, where and how to setup OPs, mutual support between units, and how to conduct a basic fighting withdraw.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:30, Sat 28 Nov 2009.

Quyen nods, and answers, "Understood. Will do." She then asks, "Are we the only sick? Or are there townspeople infected too?"



"Right." he answers enthusiastically, doing her best to conceal her sickness and exhaustion. "See you at lunch then."

Already prepared from last night, Quyen had her notes with her. Scribbled on them, were labeled diagrams of two man split trenches, bunkers, and every sort of obstacle and booby trap that she could remember.

Her training plan was to teach each group that came through her class a different aspect. Then, when all three groups were done, they could inspect the other group's completed demo and learn from them later.

Heading (limping) to her teaching area, indicated by a pile of simple tools she requested the night before, Quyen began to instruct the first group of militia students.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:01, Sat 28 Nov 2009.

Mariusz spent the morning flitting between the groups and clearing up any glitches in translation. He was careful to try not to spread whatever he had to others.

Griet waited on the bridge by the radio once more. She had ensured that the weapons were crewed and that the militiaman who'd been berated for the friendly fire incident was secure in his role.

She monitored the channels and made sure taht someone was keeping an eye on the skies...

Tuesday, Oct. 17th
0900hrs.
40F
Clear skies
2km Southwest of Otwock, Poland

The recon team moves stealthily towards the bridge at the southern end of the hamlet. They arrive unhindered, having seen no signs of the living. One small boat remains moored at the base of the bridge, but it has been stripped of its outboard motor. An inch of so of brackish water covers the bottom of the little boat.

Before leaving Gora-Kalwaria, Tom learned from the captured pirate mortarman that the pirate's second (and last) 82mm mortar and all of its remaining ammunition (just a handful of HE rounds) was mounted on a small harbor pilot boat- quite probably the one that escaped from the Wisla Krolowa during the later phases of the battle for the hamlet. After further questioning, the prisoner also admitted that his earlier mention of a 120mm mortar had been a bluff.

The recon team moves north into the hamlet. The place appears to have been completely abandoned. The pirates look to have done a pretty good job taking everything of value with them. As the group sneaks through the southern end of the hamlet, they come upon the remains of the pirates' motor pool. The Zil cargo truck is completely burnt out. The workshop/garage is a pile of blackened corrugated tin and steel. The house next door apparently also caught on fire and has burned down to the foundation. A good third of the hamlet has been reduced to ash and cinder. Some of the rubble is still warm. The pirate's only other ground vehicles, according to the prisoners, were a UAZ (shot up at the northern bridge by the assault group) and a motorcycle used to ferry orders and information between the Baron in Warsaw and the pirates in their camp.

Leaving the hamlet at its northern edge, the group finds something odd. At first, they'd thought that the papers they'd seen scattered about had blown away from one of the damaged hamlet buildings. Now, it becomes apparent that the papers have come from someplace else. Picking one up, Tom hands it to Dawid. It reads (in Polish):

BREAD OR BULLETS?

GENERAL AMNESTY

BREAD:

Until October 21st, approach any Polish Army position with your weapons unloaded and this flyer in hand. You will be well treated and processed back into the armed forces of the Socialist Republic of Poland. The grateful people of Poland await your return to her noble service. You will be provided with food, shelter, and medical services.

BULLETS:

The legitimate national government in Lublin is preparing a great offensive, including armor, heavy artillery, and airpower, to retake the area around Warsaw and clean it of armed foreign, reactionary, and bandit elements. Once the offensive begins, no quarter will be given.

Act now, all will be forgiven. Hesitation will be your death sentence.

The team moves north parallel to the main road until they reach the rise past which the Tarpan-Honker had run into the advancing elements of a group of reinforcments from the Baron. The sickly-sweet smell of death lingers here. The recon team put on their gas masks and rubber gloves provided by the town (in addition to any other NBC gear each may possess). Cresting the small rise, the group surveys the field ahead through binnoculars. The T-H sits in the middle of the road, surrounded by several bloated bodies.

Meanwhile, back in town, the trainers prepare the militia for the afternoon exercise. The militia seem more confident and enthusiastic today. It is clear that the party's efforts are starting to bear fruit. There is one unfortunate incident when a young militiaman recently issued with a 9mm Sterling submachinegun accidently discharges his weapon. Fortunately, no one is injured.

Next Moves?
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:46, Sat 28 Nov 2009.

Sgt Drew;

  Upon learning the content of the flier his pulse began to race as if he were under fire.  He knows enough to read between the lines of the message.  And what it means to their crew.  He is on alert even more so now.

  Upon reaching the hill and seeing the bodies and burnt wreck he doesn't expect to find anything else of value here, it has been scrubbed clean.

Sgt Drew
M240
Scouting and eager to get back and pass the new intel on.

The sight of the Tarpan brings both relief and apprehension. Tom takes a knee and scans the left flank of their little group as Dawid surveys the battle site. The paper was interesting so the plane was these Lubin guys as was the group that the Captain and Wicks had encountered.

As they move off towards the Tarpan Tom is careful not to scrape his feet on the road or to kick up dust. The grenade launcher should be along here somewhere where the Captain dropped it off.


RPK-74 (45/45) + 6 spare magazines
Sig Sauer P226 (15/15) + 3 spare magazines
RKG-3 x 3 grenades
F1 FRAG grenades x 6
Covering left flank
This message was last edited by the player at 22:45, Sun 29 Nov 2009.