Robert walks up to the Gurka soldier and extends his hand to him and says, "Hey.  Names Robert Tucker, foremerly of the U.S. 10th Mountain.  Mostly everyone calls me Tuck, Jay.  If you're interested, I got a Romanian AK folder and some mags if that Nagant & knife is all you got.  Even got a pistol if you want?"

    After a wonderful night of sleep and the meager fare for breakfast, Monika found a quiet corner away from prying eyes where she inventoried her medical supplies.  The only thing she was running low on was bandages.  She sought out the Captain to tell him of this.

    Moniks waited until the Captain has a free moment, then tried to speak to him in English.  She held up her Doctor's bag.  "Have droogs.  Need..."  Monika couldn't think of the words, so she dug in the medical bag and pulled some wrapped gauze pads and a roll of white bandaging tape.  She displayed them for the Captain to see.  "...More"
This message was last edited by the player at 21:22, Mon 21 Feb 2011.

"Polish is fine, but my Russian is better. I am happy to help but I won't do anything without at least my pistol. This camp is full of men- Red Army men- and Kazakhs at that, and I will not go about alone and unarmed. I do not mean to be difficult but if you had seen what I have seen, you would ask for the same."

Dawid waited for Piotr to continue at his leisure, smiling a little as he lit a cigarette, then offered the pack in a comradely fashion.



He smiled in return, obviously amused by the subtext of Piotr's words.

"Ah! So it all "depends" on if I "listen to recommendations", now, does it?"

Dawid casually waved away any response, his question being meant rhetorically.

"You did not look pleased with how I handled Vita's punishment. Please understand, unit discipline is my responsibility, no matter who it is. Vita and the rest of "your" people get no special treatment with regards to discipline, no option to follow orders or not if they feel like it. I trust you understand there cannot be two chains of command in the same unit, and that trust and a voice is not merely granted but must be earned, even by you."

"If that is not acceptable, then I'm sure something more suitable can be arranged."

Dawid saw Vita out of the corner of his eye and said to Piotr, "please pardon me, my friend, I must continue my discussion with our mechanic." He switched from Polish to Russian to talk to Vita, wondering if Piotr could follow the conversation and guessing he could.



"Fine, I understand, Vita, and do not wish to be difficult in return. If this isn't acceptable and you wish to remain armed then of course you can see if the Russians will have need of your services, or I can have you dropped off somewhere convenient, like a community where you can find work and earn shelter."

Apparently, letting Vita keep her pistol wasn't on the table. He looked at Piotr, then back to Vita. "Your being disarmed is not just done out of spite, it's a symbol of our lack of trust you. If you want to earn back that trust then you'll abide by Konrad's decision. If not, there are other choices."


OOC: There were two interesting but parallel lines of conversation between Dawid and Piotr, and Dawid and Vita. I took the liberty of joining them. Please forgive me if it feels clumsy or forced!

This message was last edited by the player at 08:29, Tue 22 Feb 2011.

Jay smiled at the warm welcome he received. Certainly more friendly than the Russians. He took the proferred hand and shook it vigourously. "Subha prabhat Tuck-ji. Yes please to new gun please." He dropped the old Mosin Nagant off his shoulder and held it up for inspection. "This is good gun, but as old as my grandfather, and just as slow! Also, I think Russian want it back if I leave. I take anything you offer. I very good shot with gun. Also good with rocket. Good tank killer! I kill many!" Realising he was getting a bit too excited, he quietened down. "What pistol you have?"

Rob nodded.
"Ah, the 9x18. A bit uncommon I think. But I am not a weapon specialist. I will ask the quartermaster later on."

He took a nip from his tea-mug and started searching for cigaretts.

Matias was depressed.  Losing two in such a minor scuffle, and then the surprise of Thor's dismissal had taken it out of him.  Janek's death hit him especially hard.  He'd always liked the man, and had thought of him as an older brother of sorts.  Janek had given Matias the 'bird & the bees' talk about a year earlier, because Matias never got one from his own parents.  Janek's version was more explicit than his father's would have been, to be sure, but Matias had been 18 at the time, and needed to know.

Other than quickly introducing himself to the newcomers with "I am Matias," and a quick handshake, he kept to himself for now.

Mariusz listened to Dawid's talk with Vita and said, "If Vita is worried about our Allies, I'll accompany her wherever she needs to go. I'll make sure no one takes advantage of her."

Piotr silently listens how Dawid makes his point. He knows when to keep quiet.



Giving the Polish partisan an appreciative smile he talks “Thanks Mariusz, I think that's a very good idea,... assuming you agree of course” he completed after a short pause, while looking at Dawid.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:04, Tue 22 Feb 2011.

Tuck nods and smiles, "Maybe old and slow but reliable to get you this far huh?"  He takes the Russian rifle from the Gurka and inspects it and then hands it back to him.  "You keep it for now unless someone tells you otherwise OK?  It's an American Colt forty-five with only the magazine in it but, it's full," he says as he waves him over to his rucksack where he's keeping the weapons.

Vita looks from Dawid to Mariusz, weighing her options. The young man looked earnest but you could never be sure with boys of that age...

"I made a mistake. I got scared and I didn't want to sit in a kill zone. I panicked. You're going to leave me defenseless for that? After I found you and brought you to the Spider? I could have saved your lives and this is how you repay me?"

She looks pointedly at Piotr, expecting his backing.

"Well?"

As you finish up your meager breakfast, the 10th TD's supply officer arrives. He's a thin, balding man, anywhere between 25-45 years of age. He introduces himself as Sergei Krinkov. Despite the prominent dark bags underneath his yellowed eyes, he is almost annoyingly jovial. His cheerful demeanor stands in stark contrast to his sickly visage. The stereotype of the Vodka-sodden manic depressive Russian comes instantly to mind.

"I hear that you have some weapons for us? This is most excellent. I suppose you have some needs as well?"

Someone informs him of your need for packs to replace those lost when you quite literally went underground in Warsaw.

"Packs? Of course we have packs! There's nothing in them, of course- hasn't been for weeks- so you are welcome to have a few. How many do you need? Blankets and winter gear, though, we don't even have enough for our own men. We chose the wrong time of year to defect. If we'd waited a couple of weeks, we might have gotten our winter clothing issue but I have my doubts. We've had to scrounge most of the cold weather gear we do have. The medical officer will tell you that several of our men are suffering from frostbight. Can't help you there."

When batteries are mentioned, Krinkov laughs for a good minute before composing himself enough to answer.

"Batteries? Are you serious? No, the recon team and the general have the last pair and they are both running low on power. Johnstone's 'Blackbird' dropped a few for his fancy satellite radio but that was, oh, about two months ago. We have no motor vehicles with which to charge them. Our batteries aren't as good as your NATO ones."

Jan lit a cigarette and offered Flemming a drag.  Just one, enough to take the edge off the nicotine craving.  He smoked the rest himself.

He smiled at the American's comment.  "You are not a weapon specialist as you say.  That round is the round fired by the Makarov pistol amongst others and the SMG I have is often called the Polish Uzi.  Therefore it is not uncommon in Poland, though the mags I need may be rare amongst the 10th."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:44, Tue 22 Feb 2011.

Craig studied the Russian supply officer before asking:

"We have an RPG-7 but no grenades. Apart from that I'll take one of the packs even though I have shit all to put in it."

Krinkov adds that, as far as he knows, there are no PM-84 mags among the men of the 10th. He suggests that perhaps one of the Polish townspeople is hiding one somewhere but it's plainly a shot in the dark.

To Craig, Krinkov explains,

"We have only two RPG launchers and a handful of rockets between them. Are you a good shot, because my men are not."

Jeff only shrugs at Konrad's reception of Byanjankar.  As the Gurkha wanders about the unit, he says to Konrad "I'm only the delivery boy.  Talk to the General if you don't want him.  Flemming is agency as well, but he's not like me.  Paperwork and analysis side of things.  Probe him if you want some more intel of the big picture.

I'm going to speak with Johnstone now to see if he's come up with anything."

With that, Jeff departs, first nodding farewell to Flemming.  With that he seeks out the General and Johnstone.

First seeking the General asks "Sir I hope your wounds are recovering well.  It is a shame about those Kazakh traitors.  I'm sure after this battle it won't be an issue again.  Anyway, the unit I came with is eager to learn their place in the battle plan.  If you want to pass this on to me so I can pass it onto the unit, they would appreciate it.  Or if you are up to it I'm sure they have many questions.  They are very impatient"  After speaking with the General, Jeff looks for Johnstone.

Upon finding him with the Doctor, Jeff asks for a moment of privacy away from the Doctor and medics.  "How's the face?  You look absurd with those bandages.

Anyway, have you had any word from higher lately?  Do we have any assets in place to help us out in regards to equipment for us, or strikes against Warsaw?  I've got good coordinates on several targets, although I suspect that our allies have some heavier firepower of their own.  Any more FROGs lying around, like that one we used outside of Pisz?"
This message was last edited by the player at 14:58, Wed 23 Feb 2011.

In reply to Jeff D. Warren (msg #191):

"I didn't say I didn't want him." Bayer replies. "Just hesitant and skeptical about the motives when any unit tries to unload someone onto another."

Bayer then changes the topic and says, "Find out what the Division plans on doing so my team can figure out how we can fit into things."

Turning to watch Jay for a moment, Bayer quickly gets the impression that the man is quiet friendly and open. The man seemed like a decent fellow all around actually. When Jay looks in his direction, Bayer nods to the Gurkha and says simply, "I am Kaptain Bayer." and waits to see what the man has to say - if anything.

Taking the Mosin Nagant back from Tucker, Jay replied, "I only use few time since I come here one month ago with my friend. Before, I have just this for many month in wood." He gestured toward the kukri knife on his belt. "I live in wood since my mission end, many month now. Enemy no find me, I sneaky!" He grinned and tapped the side of his nose.



Hearing the German officer's greeting, Jay turned to face him. He snapped a formal salute, holding it as he spoke. "Namaste Kapitanbayer-ji. I Mrityunjay Byanjankar, Corporal, Firs Battalion, Seven Duke of Edinburgh Own Gurkha Rifle. I loyal British soldier, I fight good, I kill many enemy, I fight for you army now, help all friend go home." He held the salute until it was returned, and waited for the man's response. Hopefully he would be allowed to join the new team and leave the Russian's behind.

Craig shrugs his shoulders:

"I tagged two of the BTR's and missed two shots on the BMP, so I guess OK."

He seems to be deep in thought for a moment then adds:

"Could of been worse."

Craig is not smiling as he adjusts his position in his chair to favour his unwounded leg.

In reply to Viktorya Nowak (msg #186):

Dawid didn't respond directly to Piotr.

Nevertheless, with Piotr's response about Vita's situation, Dawid's body language subtly changed. The tension between the two men ebbing away as some kind of non-verbal communication passed between them.

"See? Your boyfriend here thinks Maruisz's offer is a solid one." Dawid smiled at Piotr, then back to Vita. Piotr could tell this was more of a friendly jab, not a barbed comment meant to get under his skin.

"There's nothing I wouldn't like more than to get into a debate with you, Vita. Suffice to say, without the factors you mention it could be a lot worse."

"For the third and final time, no gun until we say so. What's it going to be?"
This message was last edited by the player at 10:05, Wed 23 Feb 2011.

Bayer returned the salute, a gesture that suddenly felt strange and forgotten. He couldn't remember the last time he saluted somebody, having been on the go and in the field for so long now. But then again, considering how the past was blurring together, it might have been just yesterday.

"Right." Bayer replies finally. Then instead of giving the man "the new guy talk" like he had planned, Bayer suddenly changes his mind and simply offers the man his hand and says, "Welcome aboard."

Jay grasped the Kapitan's hand and shook it firmly, a wide grin spreading across his face. He bowed in head in a gesture of respect to the man who has just become his new commanding officer.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:27, Wed 23 Feb 2011.

"Hmm, field dressings, yes?" Bayer says while looking at the bandages. "I'm sure those are at least easier to come by than medicine." he adds, before realizing she probably didn't understand him.

Nodding slowly, he says, "Yes. Okay." and scratched a memo in his field message pad.

Following this, Bayer turns to Jan and says, "It's redundant to go chasing after supplies before we know of our mission, but once we do, I want you to deal with it. Alright?" He then passes him the scrap of paper. "You are now in charge of administrative requests."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:55, Wed 23 Feb 2011.

"Thanks!" Jan replied a little sourly.  "How much time do you think we have before we need to move out?"

He took a deep drag. "Lord, those bloody Polish cigaretts." But he smiled and took another nip of his tea. "Yeah, you're right." he said to Jan. "The good old Polish Uzi. I meant it could uncommon here among the 10th."

When the supply officer arrived, Rob turned to him with a small sheet of paper from his writing pad. "Good to see you sir. I've got a short list what Mr. Warren needs. And we need some ammo 9x18. 120 rounds, if possible."