Tuesday, October 24th, 2000
1200 hrs.
40F
light clouds; slight breeze from the west
Northern light industrial zone, East Bank Warsaw, Poland


You sit in the smashed remains of what used to be a machine shop. The place has been picked clean by salvagers. Still, the mostly open shop floor is littered with the twisted remains of what must have once been been an assortment of lathes, presses, and drills. The sun is almost directly overhead, shining through a sizable gap in the roof. It's noticeably warmer now as noon approaches. Snowmelt drips down to form shimmering puddles on the pitted concrete floor.

You've had a chance to drink and eat and you're starting to feel better. You lost the enemy a couple of hours ago. For whatever reason, the Baron's men, after following you into the edge of the light industrial area in which you've taken refuge, decided to give up the chase. It might have helped when Dieter dropped one of their scouts with a nifty head-shot shortly after you crossed the main north-south on your way deeper into the beaten-down factory zone on East Bank Warsaw's north side. You've seen neither hide nor hair of the Baron's men since.

With sentries posted at gaps in the walls, you feel relatively safe here. The sunny and relatively warm conditions are rapidly erasing signs of your transit, making tracking you through the rubble much more difficult.

It's time to start plotting your next moves.


Next Moves?


Updated tac-map: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms...7&mid=1288310052
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:57, Thu 28 Oct 2010.

In reply to Cap'n Rae (msg #278):

Dieter scouted the local area, keeping watch but also on the look out for a replacement water bottle. His had been shot and had a big hole in it. If possible he would try to repair it.  He scoured the area, also looking for anything else of use.

Once back with the main group he took the opportunity to go through his gear and refill his magazines. He tried to dry out his clothes as best he could, but remained vigilant in case they needed to move quickly.

The mood in the party seemed pretty low, so he delved into his pocket and withdrew the vodka salvaged earlier. He wasn't a big drinker, but had a nip to help fight off the cold. He then offered it to anyone who wanted some. Eventually he may have to throw the contents out as he needed a water bottle, so it seemed a shame to waste it.

Tucker sits down and takes a much needed rest with the others as he eats the ration bars given out before and will share water from his five-gallon bladder if anyone needs it.  He reaches into his pocket to his empty & partially filled mags and consolidates ammo into one magazine [now has (1) 19/30 mag and (2) empty 30-round mags which he places into and side pouch on his pack].

He fights back the urge to have a smoke with the others since the smell of his cigars would be a lot harsher and noticeable.  If he can get a couple minutes of rest he'll take it if not, Tuck will be looking out an occasional window to look for any signs of trouble.

TUCKER
M-16A2 [22/30] / M-203 [HE] - {BURST-FIRE}
H&K SOCOM Pistol [10/12] (Holstered)
Slung Romanian AK-74 [30/30]
Holstered (Vest) Browning HP-35 [13/13]

Salvaged Gear:
Claymore Mine & Pouch    2.0
Mag Bandoleer [6 MAG 30] 3.0
5 L. Canteen             5.0
Lg Alice Pack
[16] AK-74 Mags
[2] empty MAG 30 in side pouch pocket

This message was last edited by the player at 08:24, Tue 02 Nov 2010.

Bayer glances down at the map tucked into the transparent plastic sleeve on his rifle stock and says, "Ok. We'll move and setup a hide someplace... get some medical attention on our wounded and prepare to further assist the arrival of Warren's allies."

He looks at Jan and jokes slightly, "Does everyone here know somebody in Warsaw except for me?" He then asks, "Who is it, how do you contact them, and what kind of help can they provide?"

After Jan answers, he turns to Mariusz and says, "Where can you take us that's north of here... or northeast, that will be a good place to hold up for a couple hours?"

Following the answers to his questions, Bayer will ready the team and direct Dawid's group to take the lead this time.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:41, Sat 30 Oct 2010.

Once it was clear that they had succeeded in breaking contact with the enemy Jan took the opportunity to attend to a couple of things.  First and most important was some further medical treatment for Craig's wounded leg and his own wounded left arm. 

After that Jan then took the opportunity to reload a couple of magazines and to share around few items of equipment that he had recovered from Alexei, even if only to share out the weight.  He also checked that Jeff still had Alexei's rifle in case someone wanted to start using it.



"Capitaine this is going to sound a little strange.  I think you know that I came to Poland on a mission.  That involved making contact with a local asset and he made a deal with us to extract his wife from Warsaw and then both of them from Poland in return for aiding us.  He died before the mission was complete however and we never extracted his wife.  I do not know her real name and I have obviously never met her but I have a radio frequency and contact procedure for her.  Her husband was some kind of merchant working in Warsaw and other cities so I guess that she is wealthy and still keen to leave Warsaw and Poland.  I do not think that we can help her leave Poland but we can help her leave Warsaw in return for her immediate aid.  I am making a lot of guesses here but it could be worth trying to contact her to make a deal.  The window for radioing her is soon, between two o'clock and three o'clock, and I will try if you would like me to."

"Yes Jan. Okay." Bayer answers. "When we get into a secure position, make your call."

Craig sat in the ruined machine shop next to Jan. It had been a hard run the last half an hour of the pursuit had taken its toll on Craig and his wounded leg. He allowed whoever was able to help with his wound and takes another round of meds. He then took the time to eat and get some sleep, he didn't mean to dodge any duty it was just he thought there where others more up to this task at this time.


Once Konrad gives the order to move he readies himself and quickly checks over his gear.

Mariusz sat back and considered the Kaptain's question, his knowledge of the city wasn't encyclopedic but it was better than most, "It's difficult to say, Sir," he replied honestly, "there are a few schools around that would have underground boiler rooms, they'd be good to hole up in. The problem is if we think that, searchers might too. I'd suggest pushing east a bit further to avoid teh northern checkpoints and trying to find something that's good enough for our purposes rather than somewhere that might be obvious to the enemy."

Mariusz sighed heavily, "If I was betting my life on it, I'd head nearly due east for about a kilometer, there's a row of schools there, the big Gymnasium 42 we used to quiz against, that was modern and has probably collapsed, but there were older and smaller schools east of it that might have boiler rooms to hide in. Further on there was a decent library and, if I remember rightly, a synnagogue. I'd head for that but it would mean crossing the rail lines."

Mariusz looked down, the young partisan had inadvertantly revealed a lot about his character before the war, his family had been shy retiring academics, happiest in the zoological garden, libraries and schools of the city. That life had died on the refugee flight from the Allies and now Mariusz tended to live for the moment, good food, companionship and big guns were the best he could hope for now and he looked around at the others, "I hope that helps."

As you are preparing to leave the large machine shop, Dieter spots a lone figure walking down the train tracks just to the east of "your" building. The person is dressed in military garb and has an AK of some sort strapped to his back. In his raised right hand, he holds a white rag, which he periodically waves from side to side.

As the figure draws closer, you suspect that it is not a "he" but rather a "she"- something about the way the hips sway when she takes a step...

Whoever it is is taking a big chance. He, or more likely she, is completely out in the open, approaching an unkown and presumably hostile armed force which, just a couple of hours before, killed or wounded at least two dozen of the Baron's Ukranians. You strain to spot confederates but you see no one besides the lone figure with the flag.

The flag-wielding stranger has approached to about 200m from your position. He/she does not appear to know where you are. A look at your anotated map suggests that this person- assuming he/she is one of the Baron's fighters- has likely come from the roadblock/outpost to the north.

The party spreads out around the machine shop and, through openings in the walls, looks out in all directions, searching for more enemy. You see no one else.

The figure is now about 150m away. The person pauses and looks around. Putting its hands to its mouth, the person instantly reveals her true gender. A woman's voice calls out in accented Polish.

"I'm not with him! I can help you! I just want to talk!"


Next Moves?

As Dieter calls out the approaching member, Jeff continues to scan the north, but takes a look to his right.  He raises an eyebrow, then turns back to the North, saying out loud to no one in particular, "If any of you have reservations against shooting a woman, say it and I'll switch with you."  As she continues to shout and raise noise, he looks to Dawid and Konrad, as if to reinforce his last point.

As Dieter is on guard duty covering the East, he spotted a lone figure approaching. Although the movement wasn't threatening (the white flag was a big hint) he went on full alert just in case. He kept the target in the sights of his PSG-1 and called out to his colleagues, "Contact, East. Looks friendly but keeping him covered."

As the others moved into position he kept an eye on the approaching man. Scratch that... approaching woman!

As she called out he responded in a clear, loud voice. "Halt! Stay still or I will shoot!"

With that he waited for further instructions.

Dieter Brandt
Covering the woman from the East
PSG-1 - 20/20 rounds
AK-74 - 30/30 slung over shoulder
1x Frag 1x Smoke

In reply to Jeff D. Warren (msg #288):

Dawid shook his head. "Any threat should be dealt with accordingly, I only have a problem if anyone panics and shoots without cause. Then there would be problems indeed!"

Sighing, he put down the PKM and ammunition. "This seems a little too subtle for our friend, Baron. There is no point in hiding further now, I'll meet with her before Thor does... anything. Cover me, eh?"

Straightening his uniform he put on his green Polish Army beret.He cautiously moved away from the entrance to the machine shop and then out to the tracks where she could see him. He waved to get her attention.

"Come on then, bloody get over here! Make it quick!" Aside from his beret, he was dressed in stained Polish army fatigues (although relatively new quality) and armed only with a sidearm.

As the woman approached their position and then called out, Jan started scanning the predetermined escape routes, ready to make a break for it if they needed to escape quickly.

Becoming aware at what was going on Craig moved to one of the sentry posts and aimed his AK at the chest of the male new comer.

He also took a quick scan of the surrounding area trying to identify any other movement.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:14, Wed 03 Nov 2010.

Vita was beginning to have reservations about what she was about to attempt, especially since she was standing out in the open.  She hoped the relatively large white flag she was waving would be an indicator for those that she sought that she had no ill intentions.  The thought crossed her mind that if it were the Baron's other troops they probably would have dropped her by now.  But that's why she was seeking out this particular group, because they wouldn't do that...or at least she was hoping.  Although her training was limited being a conscript she recalled a saying by a senior trainer once, 'hope is not a plan'; except maybe this time...

Her heavy grey-green winter coat and her many layers underneath was barely keeping her warm on this little road trip out in the open.  Her legs were the most exposed with only a couple of layers, any more and it would be impossible to run.  On the outer lower she still wore her old Soviet camouflage pants.  Her boots needed an upgrade as they were still the standard leather combat boots, and only a couple of layers of winter socks helped that situation.  She probably looked like some hulking man with her webbed gear chest rig under her winter coat and the faux fur lined hood obscured her face.  A wool watch cap covered her long hair tied in a bun currently and out of sight.  Military winter mittens (i.e., articulate trigger fingers) masked the relatively petite size of her hands.  She was not a small woman, but all her winter clothes masked her true gender until someone got close or was more observant.  Slung across her back chow-style as it was a non-threatening casual posture was an AK-74.

She took another big leap of faith, something she had nearly forgotten about so long ago.  Putting her gloved hands to her mouth to project a bit more she called out in Polish, "I'm not with him! I can help you! I just want to talk!"


Vita froze in her tracks.  She apparently understood enough English to know to stop or something bad was going to happen.  Her hands were still at shoulder level, but raised up in front of her palms out - hopefully a universal sign of non-aggression.  English she thought, that was a good sign, maybe.


Seeing Dawid only confused Vita, but then again she thought to herself the Baron's troops were a mish-mash of different soldiers from different nationalities.  He was relatively non-threatening in that he only had a sidearm on his person.  She paused wondering if the voice that called out and this apparent Polish soldier were one and the same or at least on the same team.  She called back in Polish, "I move without being shot? Yes?"  Then deciding that it was worth the risk at least to get out of the open space, so without waiting for an actual reply she started walking briskly to follow Dawid.

Hope, not a plan, but it sure was refreshing when hope was realized.

In reply to Viktorya Nowak (msg #293):

"Yes, yes, you have my permission to proceed. Come on, then."

Realising she was probably unsure of his allegience, Dawid fixed his red-and-white arm band so it was a little more visible. This indicated he was part of the Polish Armija Krajowa or "Home Army", the NATO-supported anti-communist resistance forces of the democratic Free Polish government.




"I am a free Pole, not one of the Barons' men nor a stooge of the communists or their Russian masters."

He led her back to where they were out of the open, not on the tracks. Not where the others were getting ready to leave, but close.

"Okay, who are you, and what would you like to talk about?" I speak Russian if that makes you feel more comfortable.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:02, Wed 03 Nov 2010.

Vita was already moving before or at least during his reply.  She didn't get shot, that was a good sign.


She looked at the arm band recognizing it instantly.  Of course a bit of her survival skepticism kicked in thinking that anyone could wear it.  However, when Dawid spoke he had a convincing conviction in his voice.  She almost laughed if her face wasn't so damn frozen about the comment about 'Russian masters'.  She was ethnically Polish, and a non-practicing Jew, but she had grown up Russian.  Of course being more a farm girl she didn't care too much for the political leanings of communism or anything else for that matter.  Although she did value freedom, as it meant surviving might be just a tad easier.


Following the stranger she still kept her wits about her looking for signs of a potential ambush.  Glad to be out of the open she let out a sigh that was literally visible as the steam of her breath swirled and thickened for that moment.  The questions, as expected, started.

She started in slightly accented Polish, "My name is Anzhela Viktorya Nowak, but many call me Vita.  I'm a displaced Pole myself."  Switching then to Russian, which seemed more natural and definitely native, "[My family was Polish anyway, but I am from Russia.  I was a conscript in the Soviet Army, but I have been a part of the Baron's troops as a matter of necessity.]"  At that point she raised her hands up again in the same non-threatening gesture she made before as to say what she just said was in no way a threat.  Continuing in Russian she said, "[I wish to leave the Baron, and I have some friends that wish to do the same.]"  She again paused, perhaps to gauge a reaction from Dawid.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:15, Thu 04 Nov 2010.

In reply to Viktorya Nowak (msg #295):

Dawid switched to Russian. "You sound like a very complicated person, Vita! I am Dawid, and you are welcome to join us. We are glad to hear others want to as well. Come, please. Keep your hands away from your weapon, of course."

He led her back towards the rest of the group, switching back to English.

"This is Vita, she wishes to defect from the Baron, as do others."

Dieter watched as the stranger approached. He caught glimpses of what she said in Russian and Polish, enough to get the gist anyway. He kept his rifle on her at all times, just in case. That Baron was a sneaky bastard, and he wasn't beyond using a honeytrap to expose an enemies weakness.

Covered by Dieter and Craig, Dawid ushers the woman calling herself Vita into the machine shop. As she enters the building, she can't see much beyond shadows. It takes a while for her eyes to get used to the relative darkness of the interior of the building. She sees that she is surrounded by several fighters, clad in a wide array of NATO and WTO military uniforms. One of the men is dressed from head to toe in Soviet fatigues and LBE. Are they Free Polish partisans? Mercenaries? Bandits? There's at least one woman among them- a diminutive Asian woman dressed in American camouflage pants and an athletic track top. The presence of another woman was somewhat of a relief to Vita- she felt the chances of falling victim to a sexual assault at the hands of these people drop off considerably. One of the men looks a little familiar. Vita thinks that he may have also been part of the Baron's army at one time.

The sentries spot no one following the lone woman and the southern approaches are still clear as well. She appears to have come alone. They remain vigilant, however, suspecting a trap of some sort.


Next Moves?
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:09, Thu 04 Nov 2010.

Vita was visibly relieved as another sigh was evident by a thick swirl of breath vapor.  She continued in Russian, obviously more comfortable with the language, or you could say native, "It's a pleasure to meet you Dawid.  Thank you so much for not killing or hurting me." so she hoped would still be the case.  She nodded at being told to keep her hands away from her weapon.


Vita walked in, somewhat tentatively, especially since it took a bit of time for her eyes to adjust to the darkness and she feel guns on her.  She held up her hands in the now familiar sign of non-aggression she displayed earlier.  To help she pulled her hood back moving slowly to do it of course.  If things were going to go badly she was neck high in it now.

Her clothing is a bit bulky being layered for the cold weather, but you can still tell now that she's closer that it's definitely all woman.  Her long hair is stuffed under a black wool watch cap at the moment.  Her beautiful chiseled face glows with a charisma all of its own.  Even without make up she’s stunning, and with a light application she would be a Greek goddess.  Pouty rouge full lips and a petite nose give her a final touch of sensual beauty.  If you stare into her Grey-blue eyes for too long they seem to hypnotize you, swallowing your soul into their deep swirling irises.

With her eyes adjusted she takes in her surroundings and her apparently friendly personnel gathered.  She wonders in particular what unit the Russian dressed soldier is from and where exactly did she see the one who might be formerly of the Baron's troops.  Seeing the female soldier she is relieved that it's less likely now she's going to have to defend her honor, one of the big reasons she was leaving the Baron and his troops.  The fact that English was spoken to the group as a whole was a good sign that Americans or Brits were among them.  She attempted to ply her English, "'Allo, my name iz Vita.  I am no harm.  I come in pieces." and didn't really fair too well, adding a sheepish smile and an attempt at a peace sign that also fails considering she's wearing a mitten even with the articulate trigger finger.

Lowering his AK off his shoulder Craig keeps the girl covered from the hip as she enters the building.



The comment sounded plausible if he was to open up she would probably be in pieces. It took him a couple of seconds to register it as just bad English.

"Someone pat her down and remove her weapons".

In reply to Viktorya Nowak (msg #299):

"Sister, be reassured I am your brother no one will harm you, I give my word." Dawid figured that she would be reassured by his using terminology that signaled a fraternal connection, something not taken lightly. Although he smelled somewhat unpleasant and dank, Dawid wasn't too bad looking either in a "farm boy" kind of way.

Speaking to the Asian woman in English he said, "Minh, if you would please check Vita, we can be on our way."

Vita was only slightly put at ease, as the enormous amount of faith and risk she was already putting into this group weighed on her mind.  She simply nodded, trusting the roughly handsome Polish Freedom Fighter for the time being.


She had pretty much understood what Craig had said, but wasn't too sure at all what Dawid has said to Minh.  This was mostly because she couldn't help but be distracted by the weapons still trained on her or the fact that everyone must be now staring at her.  For the moment she simply stood unmoving with hands up at shoulder level.  She did not like the idea of giving up all her weapons, but waited to see what was to happen next.