"Merde," muttered Jan as he stumbled into the Cathedral and towards Danny.  He took enough paces to get clear of the doorway and, hopefully, out of the LOS of anyone outside before dropping to the ground and lying down.

"Round hit here," he explained to Danny as he started probing around the lower stomach region of his body armour.  He was wearing a Lifchik chest harness with a grenade belt attached to the bottom of it over his Kevlar vest so there was a lot of bulky gear that needed to be pulled up to see whether the bullet had actually penetrated the armour or not.

He probed with his fingers though, trying to find the most painful point.  When he found it he withdrew his fingers and looked to see if there was any blood on his gloves.

As Danny started to examine him, almost certainly pushing away Jan's grimy gloves, Jan called over to his section, still issuing instructions.  "Quyen, cover the entrance we just came through.  Shooter on the top of the castle wall.  Craig, Thijs.  See if the Capitaine wants you to aid the assault."

He then turned to Danny and asked the obvious questions.  "Did it go through?  Is it bad?"


Jan
Checking for a wound and issuing some instructions
AK-74 Assault Rifle (22/30 - 30rnd mag x11) - held
BG-15 Grenade Launcher (0/1 HE - HE x17) - underslung on AK-74
PM-84 SMG with Suppressor (21/25 - 25rnd mag x4) - jammed & slung over shoulder
P226 Pistol (15/15 - 15rnd mag x4) - holster
M72A4 LAW - slung over shoulder
Frag grenade x2 - webbing pouch
Smoke grenade x2 - webbing pouch
AN/PVS-5 NVGs - worn

Jay listened to Jeff and Tuck's instruction and grinned; he'd had much the same idea himself. He used the brief ceasefire to quickly glanced over the rubble and see if he could spot where the speaker was located, as well as estimating the distance to the other end of the cathedral. Ducking back down he quietly shared any information with those around him, before setting his aim. He then waited for further instructions, while listening carefully for a counter-attack.

Jay Biyanjankar
Assault Team 2
On right (south) side, quickly scanning enemy targets
AK74 with BG15 GL, 30/30 + HE
RPG slung over back
Kevlar Vest & Helmet, NVGs
This message was last edited by the player at 14:34, Tue 27 Nov 2012.

"Akkoord," Thijs replied, then turned and moved toward Konrad.  "Do you wish me to assist with the assault, Kapitein?" he asked.

Thijs
Near Konrad, west of rubble
C7A1 LSW [75/90 +(6x30, 1x90)]
Browning HP35 [13/13 +(2x13)]
No night vision
Awaiting Konrad's response

Turning to watch One Section file in through the entrance, Bayer motions with his free hand for Thijs to keep moving past him, "Ja... reinforce Two Section's position ahead." He then gives Jan a glance but doesn't distract himself by investigating, leaving the situation with the potentially wounded NCO to be dealt with by Daniel.

Bayer then calls forward to Tucker, "Sergeant, take Thijs and Lieutenant Sutherland."

Next, while waiting for Jay to climb down and report what is ahead, he asks aloud, "Everyone have a gas mask?"

"The Black Guard never surrenders, Bitch-Queen," Mariusz said in his lowest voice, "your fucking idiot children fired on us first. As for being surrounded watching your brats run around is like watching a retard trying to fuck a door knob. Bring our Boss out now and prove he's alive or we'll fucking burn you and your bunch of virgins."

He cackled manically and readied his rifle for the next round of combat that was almost certain to resume.

Mariusz
Ak-74 30/30
BG-1 1/1 HE
3 ready frags
Ready to open fire

Griet scowled as she saw the Dushka cartwheeling away, kids dying was one thing but that hardware could be used on the Queen, she switched on the intercom and said, "Dawid, if you wish get below and seek treatment. We've done our job, let the children waste their ammunition on the Queens iron hide."

She squinted through the viewports and turned the Queen so that Kellerman's gun faced away from the firing, thus sheltering him behind the superstructure, "Kellerman, let me know when you're ready to fire again."

Quyen silently reacts to her orders. She lies on the floor beside one of the pillars facing the entrance (did Craig manage to shut the doors?) and rests the PKM on its bipod. If anyone opens the door she ensure that they'll get a quick burst of 7.62mm sent their way. Quyen then removes a frag grenade and her pistol, and places them next to her on the sheltered side of the pillar. If the gun jams or things get to hot she can easily shift into cover and rearm herself.

"Entrance covered." she calls over her shoulder as she pulls the machinegun in close and aims towards the door, finger on the trigger.

Quyen
PKM (75/100)
Aiming at door / prone using bipod
One Section
This message was last edited by the player at 21:26, Tue 27 Nov 2012.

Thijs moved forward toward the southern end of the pile of rubble.  In response to Konrad's question, he nodded and patted the gas mask case on his webbing.  Just before reaching the edge of the pile, he went prone and crawled the rest of the way into position.

Thijs
Reinforcing 2 Section
C7A1 LSW [75/90 +(6x30, 1x90)] on bipod
Browning HP35 [13/13 +(2x13)]
No night vision
Going prone at south end of rubble

In reply to Konrad Bayer (msg # 780):

Jay nodded and tapped his gas mask case.

In reply to Mrityunjay Byanjankar (msg # 785):

Tucker taps his gas mask and pouch and gives a 'thumbs up' to Konrad.

The woman responds, "You are in no position to make demands! Turn on your radio, idiot. Your Baron's been trying to reach you for the last half-an-hour. Surrender now, or die, and your Baron dies with you. You have twenty seconds!"

Craig tries to spot the speaker but she's at the far end of the sanctuary, behind some kind of cover where the alter used to be (K). Anyone peeking out around the rubble pile can spot small, dark, AK-wielding sillouettes partially portruding from behind many of the pillars which support the porticos that stretch down both sides of the long central chamber (From D back).

Jan is relieved to learn that the bullet that struck him did not penetrate his kevlar vest. He finds the scrunched up lead bullet (9mm by the look of it) wedged between the vest and his LBE belt. He'll probably get a bruise, but that is likely the limit of his injury.

Thijs confirms that the Queen's bodyguards, the Athenas, are not equipped with gas masks, although this may have changed recently due to the rumor of nerve agent shells aboard the tug.

The cathedral's famous bronze doors were blown off of their hinges years ago, and they haven't been replaced. Minh can only cover the gaping wound where the doors used to be. Fortunately, the east wall of the ruined castle across the way partially shields the cathedral entrance from direct fire, but a shooter firing along the castles southern wall could probably squeeze some rounds through the cathedral entrance and into the narthex (A). The waste-high barricade right outside the cathedral steps provides some cover, if the cathedral occupants stay low. It might also be possible for the enemy to creep up along the walls outside the cathedral entrance and toss hand grenades into the narthex. The west end of the cathedral is not an ideal spot, defensively. The Kommandos have bloodied the two reaction forces that have appeared so far, delaying such an attack, but what the Queen said earlier rings true- the Kommando is more or less surrounded.



Wisla Krolowa

Griet spins the tug around so that Kellerman will have the protection of her entire superstructure to work behind while he endeavours to reload the starboard Dishka. Dawid remains ensconsed behind the Vasilek's thinly armored gunshield, marvelling at his remarkably good luck. A couple of centemeters to the left, the bullet that removed his ear lobe would have punched through his nose and deep into his head.


Next Moves?
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:32, Wed 28 Nov 2012.

Danny finishes a hurried examination of Jan and punches him lightly him on the armor.  "All good.  What are you waiting for?  Cowboy up!"

In response to Konrad's query, he nods and pats the gas mask carrier clipped to his own armor, then taps his smoke grenades.  "HC smoke isn't tear gas but it's still no fun in a confined space.  Let me know if you want me to add it to the mix."  He then resumes his prone position behind Grilkov's body, covering the door and watching a different arc than Minh.

Danny
Winona [29/30 + 5 magazines] - ready, on SEMI
CZ 75 [15/15 + 2 magazines] - holstered, cocked and locked
AN-M8 HC smoke grenade x2 - on vest
AN-M18 red smoke grenade x1 - on vest
AN/PVS-7 NVGs - helmet-mounted, in use

medical check, then covering the door
This message was last edited by the player at 14:18, Thu 29 Nov 2012.

Dawid felt the tug dance and swerve underneath his buttocks. He sank down a little lower so that he was sheltering behind the sandbags as well as the gunshield. He thought as he looked up, that's some pretty sky. I give thanks to the Black Madonna for protecting me in my hour of need. I wonder when the birds will sing again? He shook his head to clear it, then reached up to the intercom.

"No, I will be all right. Just need to slap a bandage on there. I will be ready in a minute."

He gave her a thumb's up, then searched Gunther's battle dress for a first aid kit and pressure bandage. The German wouldn't be needing it!

Dawid (Light Wound, head)
82mm Vasilek (4/5 HE)
Bow Cupola, Vistula Queen
Taking cover behind gunshield, sandbags, etc. Treating his wound.

This message was last edited by the player at 06:18, Wed 28 Nov 2012.

With his rifle pointing just past the pillars he was hugging Craig continued to scan the area he heard the voice coming from. Once the fire fight resumed Craig would target any bodies that protruded from the alter area or any closer targets that presented them selves.

His gas mask was ready should he need it.


Assault Element
Scanning for targets from cover


HK G3SG/1 (w/ Zeiss 1.5-6 x 42 mm Telescopic Sight)[20/20] w/14 magazines
Browning HP-35 (w/ silencer) [20/20] w/2 magazines
Kukri

Jan was extremely relieved when he couldn't find any blood from a wound and Danny confirmed that he was ok, for which Jan was obviously grateful.  Well ok apart from the pain of what would probably turn out to be a hell of a welt on his belly.  The sort of thing that would be funny over a Pastis if they could ever get to civilization.

Danny's last comment had rather confused Jan however.  "Cowboy up?" he enquired with confusion in his voice as he adjusted his body armour and webbing and the pushed himself up into a crouch.  Danny was preoccupied with other things however so Jan moved over to join Quyen in her defensive position.

Dropping down beside her he started to reload his grenade launcher, his hands working reflexively while he scanned back through the hole that had once been the Cathedral entrance.  "So there are the remains of two groups at least," he commented to Quyen.  "The group who were chasing after us and the group over by the castle wall.  I hit them with a grenade so that will hopefully slow them down.  The boy who shot me was on top of the castle wall."

He kept watch back the way they had come, shouldering his rifle and ready to fire a stream of single shots at any target he spotted.


Jan
Joining Quyen, reloading his BG-15 and keeping watch back through the Cathedral entrance - he will fire 4x single shot at any target he spots.
AK-74 Assault Rifle (22/30 - 30rnd mag x11) - held
BG-15 Grenade Launcher (1/1 HE - HE x17) - underslung on AK-74
PM-84 SMG with Suppressor (21/25 - 25rnd mag x4) - jammed & slung over shoulder
P226 Pistol (15/15 - 15rnd mag x4) - holster
M72A4 LAW - slung over shoulder
Frag grenade x2 - webbing pouch
Smoke grenade x2 - webbing pouch
AN/PVS-5 NVGs - worn

"You know.  Chicks dig scars.  Get back on the horse."  Danny shakes his head sadly.  "Y'all are screwed if none of my motivational material works in your cultures."

Tucker toggles his mic to Konrad for a quick transmission, "Boss, you still want us to fire or you have something else in mind?"

Bayer moves up beside Robert and quietly answers, "One minute. Going to use gas to try to break them up first." Even if Thijs' information was already out of date and the children had access to masks, ones that fit anyway, he hoped the burn felt by exposed skin from the CS gas would sow some panic. If it meant incapacitating and not having to kill them too, then all the better.

Bayer then motions for Robert and his men to mask up while he explains, "Twenty seconds after I fire, get your men up on the obstacle. Shoot anything that is a threat... the Baron is a threat regardless if he is armed or not. Try to minimalize collateral, if there is any, and that includes the Queen since she might be our ticket out."

"No advance until I give the word. Then it's your section moving forward along with Thijs and Craig. Split up and keep to the flanks where the collumns provide cover. Have each half of your men covering to the front of the other group - mutual support."

Bayer then looks back at Daniel and says, "I'll call for smoke before the assault. Throw far."

Once everyone is masked up and adjusted their NODs, Bayer fires a CS cannister over the rubble towards the back of the cathedral.

Sequence:
Gas fired - wait 20 to take effect
Assault fires at visible threats from obstacle
Bayer signals advance and Daniel smokes off end of cathedral
Assault moves forward
This message was last edited by the player at 15:35, Thu 29 Nov 2012.

"Roger that. Masking up and waiting for smoke. Was going to throw zero-two forty Mike-Mike rounds at end of cathedral where voices are coming from, then have elements engage closer threats. Advise."  Tucker turns to his team and gives the silent hand signals to 'mask up' for gas.

Less than a minute ago Bayer would have told Tuck to use maximum firepower available to him, but now with the realization that they might need the Queen to help their escape, he answers instead, "Try to use small arms fire only... at this point anyway. If you can take the Queen alive, it will be ahh... one more tool in our toolbox."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:05, Thu 29 Nov 2012.

"Ah, I like cheval but is better for eating than riding," replied Jan with a mischievous grin, responding with a little bit of French culture.  He knew very well that most Americans and British found eating horse a hideous idea, but then times were much harder now and food was scarcer.

Thijs put on his mask and peered into the darkness of the cathedral, trying to spot any potential targets.  Once the gas and smoke were deployed, it would be even more difficult to do so without the night vision goggles languishing in his rucksack.  They would not be any use right now, anyway.  Not until I could get the batteries recharged.

Thijs
Assault element, prone at south end of rubble
(covering behind some of it)
C7A1 LSW [75.90 +(6x30, 1x90)]
Browning HP35 [13/13 +(2x13)]
No night vision
Masked up and waiting

Reaching for his gas mask, Tucker replies to Konrad,"Copy Boss. Small arms only, Out."  He turns to the rest of the team for the final time, "Small arms only!  We get a chance for capturing Queen, exercise that.  Baron is still shoot on sight."

Robert clears the barrel of his M-203 launcher and takes out the HE round and replaces it with a Buckshot round, the HE round back into his vest.  He then affixes his gas mask and assures there is a proper seal before fixing his helmet and readies for the signal to assault.

Jay retrieved his mask and quickly put it on, adjusting the straps under his helmet and repositioning his NVGs. He then crouched low, held his weapon ready and prepared to advance.

With the confirmation this was now a capture operation Craig would take a shot at any targets that presented themselves. Especially the Barons identifiable bodyguards.