In reply to Konrad Bayer (msg #222):

"Yes sir."

He called out in Polish,

"Piotr, Lech, Teo, Woj. On me!"

"Woj, you're my assistant with the PKM so grab the ammo. Teo, you're on the RPK-74. Piotr, you're our spotter."

After a short jog they got into position where they could pour flanking fire on any dismounts, but that didn't appear to be necessary. Dawid debated checking in on the radio but decided against it, instead locating himself close to Konrad so the support element could be more easily directed by the Kaptain.

As the cry went out Jay quickly stuffed the magazines into his webbing, even though they were an awkward fit for his British PLCE, and stowed the rest of his new kit as best he could. Hearing the Kapitan's order he joined up with Jan, Craig and Warren, with his new weapon ready.

Finding good cover he scanned for signs of activity, first with his eyes then using his newly acquired binoculars. He spotted the tank in question. As the loudspeaker belched forth it's propaganda, he listened to the translated version, and did his best to follow it.

The message seemed to be the usual rhetoric, stay and you will die, desert and you will live. Not subtle or clever, but could be effective. Turning to his team, he said, "he lie! He bandar ko chaak!"

OOC - Rae, any chance of a new map?
This message was last edited by the player at 08:29, Fri 25 Feb 2011.

Craig rose from his chair and cast a glance towards the supply officer. He made a move towards the man then turned and followed the other members of the team. He muttered under his breath "Never enough bloody time."

He made a gimace when he saw what the "tank" was;

"You know what my friends I will at some soon stage take great joy in blowing that bloody thing off it tracks."

"It looks like we are going to have to make a move sooner then later. That is bloody convincing even though it is untrue. The new recruit probably has a gun to his head and the rest of his fellow traitors are in a heap behind him."

He raises his field glasses and tries to spot any other personnel.



Without lowering his glasses he says:

"In the land of mad people, there are insane rituals."
This message was last edited by the player at 09:31, Fri 25 Feb 2011.

Mariusz joined Tucker, his team leader and said, "So, looks like the Baron's come to us. Nice of him to save us the walk. How do you think this will go down? I presume we're going to wait til dark and mount a fighting recce patrol. Find out what the Baron's got and cause as much carnage as we can. Damn, I love it when a plan comes together."

Turning to the others, Jeff says worriedly "His argument although false is very convincing.  We need to address the 10th and keep them from deserting.  You who've fought with him need to tell them of the horrors you've seen, which you have seen whether you like it or not.  We need to convince them that they will be treated like garbage if they join the Baron, whereas if we liberate the city we will be treated as heroes.

Additionally, we have been promised an air drop once the city is secure.  I'm not sure what will be on it, but we can sort that out after the fight."

Jeff tells the General "Sir, you need to address your troops.  The NATO unit I've been with has some deserters from the Baron's forces.  They will back up the tails of his horrors."

The men of the 10th are rounded up by their Russian officers and senior NCOs and brought to the village square. With some help, the General climbs atop a permanently parked car and addresses all of those within earshot. His speech, although somewhat long-winded, is rousing. Although you have yet to see him lead his men in battle, you appreciate Koronev's motivational speaking as top-notch.

The defectors from the Baron's army are introduced, and a few of them share a a couple of choice low-lights from their experience in his service. The part about the primacy of the veteran Poles and Ukranians in the Black Legion seems particularly persuasive. By the end of the impromptu rally, most of the Kazakhs seem molified, if not convinced. From the rally, you proceed to the modest town hall. The General is there, along with his senior officers. Johnstone is there too- he looks like he's got a bad case of the mumps.

"We must attack today. We can't wait for this tug of yours. Hell, we can't wait until tomorrow. I don't know how much good our little dog and pony show did. I'm afraid we'll lose even more men tonight to desertion. We must give them something to do, something to fight for. We must take the fight to the enemy. I want you to scout ahead and find targets for the 120mm mortars. According to our intelligence, there is a toll station south of here on the main highway. We'll start there. If the Baron really is preparing an attack for tomorrow, it's likely that his forces are beginning to mass there. Once the Baron's forces have been softened up, we will attack in force. We'll start there and continue to fight until we've taken Warsaw or been killed trying.

"That is, unless you have a better plan?"


Next Moves?

Luckily Piotr didn't get much time to think about Vita's outburst as it only angered him.

When Bayer came back he had already picked up his rifle and gear. Listening to the Captain's orders he quickly fell in at Dawid's side. As by the pluto's orders Piotr quickly searched for the best observation spot to set up. Soon he put his eye to the scope, scanning for possible other movement, inwardly wishing the ugly vehicle to come just a little closer.

Although his Russian was not that strong the combination of the words honorable and Baron so close in the same sentence forced a moment of sarcasm to surface.

“Yeah, I'm sure he'll honorably put a bullet in your back the moment you take him up on that offer.” he voiced to no one in particular.

Tucker takes out one of his cigars and lights it, drawing on it until the whole thing is fully lit.  He turns to Mariusz, "It's been coming Mari.  We've been messing with him for long enough now, and I guess he's had enough.  Can't blame him really, we did do a number on his troops in a short amount of time.  Now, we're faced with either shitting or getting off the pot as they say.

I think that the leader of the 10th is going to try and talk to everyone because we're almost out of food and the desertions are going to continue if we don't act now.  He's just forcing our hand a little earlier than we would've liked.  We might be up for reecein' some of his areas for targets of opportunity.  I don't think our anti-tank capacity is all that great either."

Rob got his new SMG and was then interrupted by the loud alarm "Tanks Tanks".
Is he attacking right now? was his first thought.
Everybody knew what to do, except Rob. Finaly he had a radio and was standing next to the German Captain. He looked at the radio and smilied because of this odd and old communication-"thing".

The words from the loudspeacker were clear for him. Therefore he didn't listened to the quartermaster. "Nice man, the baron." he said more to himself than to anyother.

In the town hall Rob listened carefully to Jeff and the General.
Then, a small flash of inspiration appeared. He turned to Jeff and whispered. "Sir, I have got some pictures of mass graves. I collected them on a recce mission a few months ago. Well, it's not a problem to say that these are deflectors, killed by the baron. Isn't it a good argument?

After the rallying call from the General, things seemed to settle, for a while at least. Jay quickly returned to his original billet and gathered the last of his belongings, which didn't exactly take long. Once back with the squad heapproached approached Jan, wondering if the shopping trip to the village was still going to happen. "We go village now?"

Seeing Jan Craig walks over and asks:

"Mind if I tag along on your shopping trip ?"

If there are no objections Craig will join Jan and Jay as they go to the village.

In reply to Cap'n Rae (msg #231):

“Yeah, I'm sure he'll honorably put a bullet in your back the moment you take him up on that offer.” he voiced to no one in particular.

Dawid replied, "too right, I doubt the Baron has much use for foreigners any more!"

When the situation looked like it wasn't going to explode, he sighed with relief. "Okay, let's get back. We've got work to do. Piotr, please stay on Vita, it's important we get those batteries charged, and the truck gets any maintenance it needs."

He finds the Kaptain talking with the General at the town hall. He translates, as necessary.

"This is an empty country, we could merely move out of the way of his blow. But you know? I think the time is right to strike. I'll organise the team with that in mind.

"Also, General, I offer my expertise as an artillerist. I'm one of the best there are, and I'm an expert with the 120mm mortar."

Mariusz nodded at Tuck's assessment, "Well, I'm ready to go. I have one 40mm grenade left, a few grenades and plenty of ammo. I wonder if the 10th have any AT mines? They might be useful if we can get in close."

As requested by Dawid Piotr, followed by both Lech and Teo,  accompanied Vita back to the Ural. He still didn’t feel like talking to the Russian girl who, according to him, had crossed the line when she’d started to question and argue every single decision made by both of them.  He was sure she’d do it again if he gave her that opportunity.

Half way there though, a messenger reached up to the group. The captain needed someone to convey the true nature of the Baron to the men of the 10th. The three poles quickly decided Piotr’s storytelling and motivational skills were probably best suited for this.

“Lech, make sure Nowak  gets those batteries charged and the truck going. I’ll come and check in as soon as I’m finished.” He said while looking from Lech to Vita. “Lech and I go back a few years so don’t even think of arguing. Get the bateries charged and I'll put in a good word for you” He completed sternly before the Russian girl could interrupt.

After that he was off to the village square to inform the Kazakhs of the Baron’s true nature.

     Monika was as ready as she could be for what the unit was going to do.  She stayed near the Captain, following him around as he did what he was doing.

Jan nodded to Jay's question and then to Craig's request to join any trip to the village.  "I am not sure," he replied.  "It depends on when we are setting out."

He walked over to Konrad.  "Capitane.  What is the plan?  Are we leaving now or in a little while?"

Noticing Monika standing near to Konrad Jan slipped the medic bag that Anneka had given him from over his shoulder and passed it over to her.  Switching to Polish he explained.  "You are a much better medic than I.  I hope that you do not need to use the contents!"

He whispers back to Rob "Excellent idea.  Show them to any you can, and let them know precisely what the costs are."

Next overhearing Craig and Jan, he says
"You're not going to find anything in the village that the 10th hasn't already scavenged.  We're leaving soon anyway.  As for the batteries, I may be able to rig something up, but we're best using the Comms officer if he's free.  I can help you translate."

As Johnstone, the General, Konrad and the others discuss plans, Jeff asks in English and Russian "It is a good plan, and I agree that we must leave immediately.  Am I to assume I will accompany the NATO unit? Or do you want me with some of the men?[the 10th]".
This message was last edited by the player at 23:41, Sat 26 Feb 2011.

"Very true, but we can have a snoop around if we have the time. We also need to swing by the supply officers place to see if we can pick up some of the RPG grenades and anything else he has lying around."

After briefly conferring with the General, Bayer answers Warren's question, "I need you with us. I'm already down a man with Vita, as she will be staying behind."

"We will be conducting two recce patrols to the north of the city. I just need something else answered before I issue orders."

Bayer then adds, "We still have a couple hours before departure though. We need things like the battery situation dealt with first. See if you can use your influence would you? Perhaps even a RPG on loan?"

In reply to Konrad Bayer (msg #244):

Dawid added, "I should say that Mister Fleming's idea of counteracting the Baron's message among the troops with our own is a valuable one."

"Also, do not fear, the batteries are being dealt with."

     Monika recognized the bag for what it was.  She took a quick look at the contents.  Tears welled up in her eyes as she spoke in Polish, "Thank you for this.  I will use this to help others.  It will not go to waste.  Again, thank you."

     After Jan left, Monika discretely placed two items of hers in the space left by the already used medical supplies.  There was plenty of remaining room in the bag, since a kilo of medical supplies takes up a lot more space than a PB/6P9 pistol and a full spare magazine.

Before he started to leave for his tiny "propaganda-mission" he stayed and listened to the plan of recce mission.

"Captain," Rob interrupts "Does the 10th have no batteries or is their price to high?"

Mariusz thought about the issue of the armour that they might be facing and realised that their chances of getting anything useful from the stupid Russians was something near to fuck all squared. He spoke to Tuck and said, "Something we might think about is draining some of the fuel from the truck into glass bottles and adding some of the liquid soap from Dieter's wash kit. That way we'll have fire bombs to use if we get in a tight spot."

"If you want to see to that Mari and can find the containers, I'm all for it," Tucker says to Mariusz.  "The new guy, Jay the Gurka, said he was good at AT weapons I'm sure if we could get our hands on some, he might be one to give one too, if they're in a trustn' mood like that already!"

"On it," Mariusz said.

He walked over to Jay and said, "Hello, my name is Mariusz and I've been with this outfit for a while. I am pleased to meet you, I've only ever met one other person from your part of the world. His name was Sanjay and he worked on steam trains. Did you know him? He left us for a bunch of nubile young widows," he paused and thought about it, "in fact he was probably the biggest winner we've had so far. Anyway, I hope our time together is long, fruitful and lead free. I'm looking for glass bottles, seeing as this lot are Russsian they've probably been guzzling anything remotely related to booze so there should be no shortage of empties. Do you know where they might be kept or dumped?"