Marcus regarded Cam as she regarded him, unwavering, almost expressionless and straight-faced, except perhaps for something glinting in his eyes, something only Cam could possibly see. What is it? For now, it just seems like a glint. The moment passes as Cam returns her attentions to their meeting. After a few more moments Marcus stands and starts walking unhurriedly towards Cam and her group of officers.

When Marcus comes within normal talking volume distance the usually laconic green beret speaks up in an even unhurried tone much like his stride, "Gentlemen, is there anything I can do to help?"

She tilted her head at his question, eyes on Smith when he walked up. Her last words were drifting to a standstill on the breeze, something about asking someone a question.  “We talk recon plan on Horse..  No many peoples can ride.”  Camilla went quiet then so that anything that needed to be said could be covered. Marcus seemed more sturdy, stable compared to the day of his recovery.

Doing what he can, he spending his time checking his equipment for wear and tear. Looks fine, if dirty. A quick clean later and it could have come straight off the factory floor. He tries to help out where he can, trying to remember his training, so long ago now. He'd never liked giving orders, and in the mechanics there was just the job to do and you did it as needed. That was the easy life. It was the war that shoo everything out of place, hence why he'd taken to the small or solo missions.

He used to be a people person. But things like this, change a person like that.

"Marcus, perfect, we were just finishing up here. You can get with Lt. Don and organize the Poles. We need them to gather materials and make up 8 litters to carry the badly wounded. 5 will be pulled by horses, the other three will be carried by the civilians. I figure with 4 people carrying each litter it won't be too heavy, and the remaining 7 healthy civilians can switch off to keep them from getting too tired."

Bernhard stands from where he was talking to Brown and Ashton,"Everyone listen up. There has been a slight change of plans. We are still leaving tomorrow, but we are going to take the main road south. The newly formed Cav Scout team will sweep down to the crossroads and the rest of us will follow a bit slower. The walking wounded will be riding in the BTR, and the more seriously injured will be carried on litters, some by horse, the rest by hand. Some of you already have tasks, the rest I will be talking to shortly to fill you in on your part in the plan."

[Private to Major Richard Smythe; Marcus L Smith; Sergeant Virgil Matterson: "Gentleman the four of us are going to be flankers for the main group traveling with the BTR. It will be our job to sweep the flanks for possible ambushes. We will be 25-50 meters from the road, but still in site of it. We will stay just ahead of the main body. Matterson and I will be on the east side of the road, Major Smythe and Sgt Smith will be on the west.]


[Private to Donnachaidh (2nd Lt); SSgt Jared Samuels; Staff Sgt Dave Guido: You three are the BRDM crew. Lt Don you will be driving, Sgt Samuels will be the gunner, and Sgt Guido will be commanding. I want you to lead the main force out of here. keep us in site, but I expect you to scout a bit ahead of the Main force, just not too far cuz that thing doesn't hold much fuel.]


[Private to Aaron J Winters; Feldwebel Dieter Lumper; Major Sergio D'ammond: You three are going to be the BTR crew. Lumper you will drive, Winters you will be gunning, and Sergio will be the commander. Your job is too transport the 8 wounded Poles and also support the rest in their task of carrying the badly wounded. I expect you to drive slow, and keep up back with us. We will have two flanker teams sweeping for ambushes to clear the way.]

Marcus nods patiently listening to his officer. After the quick briefing Marcus asks to speak to the Major in private.

[Private to Major Bernhard Finnegan: "Sir, how are the scouts going to move? Foot or horses? I would like to stick with the scouts, if at all possible sir, considering my skill set and my new toy." Marcus emphasizes his new toy by raising his MP5SD3 by the receiver.]

The sniper nods at his assignment, when it is given, and continues to scan the area, while he waits for the actual deployment to come.

PM

[Private to Marcus L Smith: The scout team will be Lt. Ashton, Chief Brown, Sgt. Redrave and Sgt. Gallin. They are going to sweep ahead of us on horseback.]

Marcus nods to the Major and speaks in a flat professional tone, "Rog' sir." and walks off to prep himself for the journey ahead. If much of anything could be registered in the usually stoic face of the green beret you might say he was disappointed.

Cam nodded quietly as well, turning a curious eye to Smith’s departing form.  “Brown, tell team.. I talk Winters”, Her tone was less bark than her words suggested which might leave someone with the impression that it was suggestion.  Her gaze fell to him shortly after with  bob of her head, then she walked to where Aaron was kitting. She had just been getting used to her little team. Maybe Camilla didn’t do the best job, but that didn’t mean she didn’t get nostalgic about it.

With a slow sigh she broke the news.. “They change team for horse.  You back to gun, if you take job..” She indicated the vehicles.

Winters looks up from re-packing his rucksack as Lt Ashton approaches. With a slight smile he gives a nod just before she speaks.


Winters chuckles a little, "So they traded me in f'er a horse huh?" He adds jokingly, "I guess I wouldn' be very good wit' a saddle on my back." He can only smile and shrug, "W'atever the officers say I suppose." He catches himself, "I liked you s' much ma'am I almos' f'ergot y'er an officer too" finishing with a smile to ensure that Lt Ashton understands it as a joke.

Winters adds his own sigh and comments, "Well, I hate ridin' in those tin cans, but I'll go where ever I'm needed." He tightens the last strap on his rucksack before throwing it over his shoulder and hefting his SAW. He nods to Lt Ashton, "Thank you ma'am, it's been a pleasure", before moving on to prep his position in the vehicle.

The morning dawns warm and cloudless. By 0600, everyone is awake and preparations for the days travel is well underway. Michelle makes a final check of the wounded and inspects the stretchers and litters that have been fabricated during the night. The BRDM-2’s fuel tank is topped off and most of the remaining methanol loaded aboard in jerrycans.
The last task before the crews and passengers take their positions is the dismantling and loading of the still. The need for fuel so great that it was left to run right up to the last minute.

Finally all is ready and the five (Brown, Michelle, Tanya, Camilla plus one civilian) mounted scouts head out along the south road. Shortly after they radio back the all clear, the vehicles start up and follow down the road, the majority of the civilians struggling on foot and by horse behind.

By 0800 it is painfully apparent that it will take far longer than anticipated to travel the distance to Zyradow. The carried stretchers are much slower than was planned – not even a mile an hour, a fraction of what the horses and vehicles are capable of. At this speed and remaining on the more circuitous road route, it will take about 30 hours. Even cutting across country and following tracks, paths and back roads, it would still take more than 20 hours non-stop. There must be a better and more fuel and time efficient way...

(OOC: We can't contruct carts/wagons as trailers on teh back of the vehicles to be towed? That way all the injured can be sped along. Rough riding but then conditions aren't great and better to be alive and safe elsewhere than slowly dying as we trundle along? - I might be misinterpreting what the GM is hinting at though
That or we split. Vehicles taking the ill?)

)OOC: The reason we didn't put the critical in the vehicles was the risk on thier lives of the rough jostling. and room. But its apparent this isn't going to work either. Too bad we couldn't string some of that camo netting between the two vehicles and put the stretchers on it, then set a predetermined speed. The makeshift hammock would have give and sway to it, making a smoother and faster ride, if it could be coordinated between the vehicle drivers to stay on smooth areas and maintain the same speed.)

  Michelle wipes a hand across her forhead in frustration as she sees how slow it is going. Checking on the wounded at the first stop, she Finishes the round and stands thoughtfully looking at the two vehicles, chewing her lower lip in thought. Then she sees Sergio taking a stretch, and watches him just for a moment,then goes back to thinking about her ideas.

Brown throws a leg up on his horse not long after first light, and with self-conciously gives the "move out" signal, as if right out of some old western, binoculars around his neck and a pistol on his hip.

They move East, spreading out a bit, stopping at treelines to scan for movement, smoke, trouble.  Small crossroads are probed on foot, dismounting a safe distance, leaving the horses with the holder, and leapfrogging forward.  After a pre-determined several miles of scouting, they radio back, and wait for the convoy.

And wait.

"What the bloody hell is the holdup?" he wonders aloud, but uses a better chosen vocabulary when making the official radio inquiry.

"First stop my sorry ass- that shouldn't have come for another hour.  This ain't gonna work worth piss."  He's dismounted, waiting in a corner room of a house with a decent view of the crossroads they're waiting at, and scowling back in the direction that the vehicles should be, but aren't speeding out of.

Cam tilted her head listening to Brown’s triad,  curious.. And made a point to keep him in sight as hovered about her mount. She had filtered well enough into the background that morning.  Content to play observer on the trail as she watched the Chief work.  She scanned the earth for tracks, made pauses now and again and kept a light eye out for edible game.

Her chin strap pulled annoyingly, as she looked her mount over when they came to a stop.  Uneven ground could be detrimental and she’d do her best to keep it off the paved areas.  Cool eyes trailed after him a moment analyzing the words that were unfamiliar. She didn’t have a clue, then motioned to Tanya,  “I look  tracks.. You find what happen Vehicle.” She didn’t have much else to do, and Brown would be better at relaying the situation due to her language barrier.  Ashton wasn't going far.

OOC: Just a quick post to get back into the game...

BIC: Tanya nudged her horse forward with Cam, Brown, and the others at 0800.  She kept up a steady pace set by Brown and also stayed near Cam in case she needed a translation to or from somebody.

They maintained a decnt pace and dismounted their horses to take a look around the area of the crossroads for any signs of trouble.  Their horses with the handler, they moved out to snoop around and make contact with the motorized body of their element.  Tanya listened to Brown curse and dismount his horse and walk back to the house(?), obviously very agitated.

Tanya acknowledges Cam with a nood and moves next to her listening to her broken English, Without asking him Lootenant, I think the vehicles are moving to slowly for the Chief's liking!  I can try to get the official word from him but, judging by his reaction and comments, I don't think his answer would be too far off from mine!

OOC #2:  Sorry if I misposted about something that may not be right on the money or off slightly.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:07, Sun 06 Nov 2005.

(OOC: Hope this is alright then? It seems to be the way things are headed I believe?)

Sergio looks around, the talking, the slow pace, the neccessary, but seemingly unneccessary scouting. Either way the pace was too slow. Speaking to the others in the car he asks "Anyone else thinking this izzna working? Maybe we should we-evaluation this... setup." Sergio was beginning to remember why he'd left at the last village. The constant protecting of anyone they came long was a slow and dangerous mission.

His own stealth way meant he saw no one and so wasn't abandoning people as, he never found them. True he couldn't just leave them but, the chances were there wasn't going to be adequate medical supplies or personnel to fix this lot up. They might just die anyway, let alone from bandits.

As the large main body takes it's break Marcus makes sure to find MAJ Finnegan before settling into his position in the defense.  "Sir, respectfully this is a charlie foxtrot.  We need to break down our size so we could all move a little faster.  Or..." pausing for effect, "Drop our dead weight and move on." As an afterthought, "These people aren't Rangers, there's no dishonor in letting them find their own way, and it would not be without means." This must be something Marcus feels strongly about, or the Major might take note of that since he's usually not very vocal.

Bernhard nods his head,"I always could count on you to tell me want I didn't want to admit too. We just don't have the resources to help these people. Keep an eye out, I got to go find Don to translate."

Bernhard trots over to where the BRDM has stopped,"Don, I need your translation services. You get to break the bad news to these people, we aren't babysitting anymore. They can take the horses we have here, and some food, but then they are on their own. And if any of our people want to go with them because they disagree with the decision, they are free to go, I won't hold it against them."

"Sir," Samuels calls from his position behind the guns of the BRDM-2, "I think I'll stay on with the civilians. I can speak a little Polish and have gotten to know a few of them in the past few days. I'd feel terrible if I didn't help them out as best I can."
He climbed out of the vehicle as he spoke, motioning Dave to slide in to replace him in case trouble chose just that moment to strike. Crossing to Major Finnegan and Marcus, he looked down at his feet and kicked a stone absently.
"You'd better take Ketts weapon, he's more likely to catch up with you than find me in the middle of Poland somewhere." And a lovely weapon it was too, one that Major Finnegan was fairly familiar with as it was a half brother to the M16 he usually carried. The M203 grenade launcher attached underneath it only added to it's lethality.
"If you don't mind, I'll take that AKM you've got in exchange and I can catch up with you in Krakow later."

Feldwebel Dieter Lumper hadn't really felt like he fitted in ever since catching up with this group. There was only a couple its members he could even talk to properly since his english was barely better than Camillas. German and Russian were his strongpoints.
"I too will leave you," he said skipping between the three languages as he struggled to find words.

"Aye, Mr Finnegan. I'll help ya out."

Don jumps out of his vehicle with a pair of helmets and approaches the civilians with Finnegan, Lumper and Samuels.

"Keep the weapons down, lads. I'm afraid that they might get the wrong impression if we jump down there with enough firepower to gun them all down. A big thanks to you both, Dieter and Jared. If you hadn't had the guts to help the poor guys out, I had left with them myself."

"If needed, kill a horse for food, but try to keep the people away from the horses as long as possible. The horses are able to help you out in other ways than food. Even if the best way for a horse of course is to become a hamburger, hehe."

Don gathers the civilians around a small rock and steps up on it, with the hands he shows the people to be quiet. In Polish he begins to talk, in a loud voice about what Finnegan has said. Even for those who doesn't speak Polish, you understand that he starts his monologue with the word "Comrades!"

He says everything he knows, and points at Samuels and Lumper while speaking of protection for the group. During his speech, he does everything he can to make them trust him and have faith that this is the best solution for everyone. He makes clear to them that they will get the opportunity to live as free people in their fatherland, and then he explains that the girls and the other soldiers want to get back home as well. The only difference is that our trail is much longer, and more dangerous. After finishing, he looks at Finnegan to see if he wants anything more said.

Bernhard watches Samuels solemnly as the younger man makes his decision, Then nods and hands over the AKM and its ammo. "We've been through a lot, I pray God will watch out for you while you help these folks out."

He nods as Don finishes his speech,"Sounds good to me. How much food do you think we should give them? I was thinking 2 days or so food for each of them should last until they get close to home."

Sergio will watch the goings on. He'd done his "community service" with the last lot. He was ready to protect those near him. Don and Michelle came immediately to mind, as did the others he knew from before. He was even making new friends. And these folk were to be moving off to allow them more speed on their own journey. He could wish them the best of luck, but best in his own language.

Which wasn't going to be too easy to translate.

(OOC: Does anyone else speak french? Or am I the only one? I mean character-wise. Parle-vous francais?)

Winters scanned from his position in the gun, a bit nervously for the long stop. It seemed as if the big wigs were making decisions. He kept his eyes on the surrounding areas and horizon.  Whatever was going on was above his level, he just wanted to be ready for any surprises not wanting to end up like the last convoy they had seen.  He manages to overhear someone mention something about cutting the civilians loose.  Without poking his head down he calls into the main compartment to no one in particular, "We cuttin' the civies loose? They gonna be alrigh'?" with a slight hint of concern.  He is afterall a familyman at heart.