The few thousand metres or so back to the warehouse doesn't take very long. Spewing diesel fumes it rolls to a comfortable stop inside the building, where it's found that two of the civilians have rigged up a camp shower down in the loading dock. Straws are drawn, soap (from the buildings washroom) is distributed and bodies are cleaned for the first time in weeks (months even for some). Most of the water reserves are used up but it's a price that all are willing to pay. An hours work with a few pack horses and jerrycans in the morning will rectify that anyway.

The evenings exertions highlight the critical need for fuel. Your still at maximum output creates only 35 litres per 24 hours. The BRDM-2 burns over 60 litres of ethanol in only one hour - even more if the more common (and easier to make) methanol is used. At best, that one 24 hours fuel production will move you (conditions being ideal) approximately 30 kilometres - barely a village or two. Obviously this situation is untenable and something must be done.

The fuel position would be much, much worse if the BTR-80 didn't have a supply of Diesel to use but even that will run out sooner than you may wish - only 440 litres remains. A veritible fortune really at over US$40 per litre and if it could be found (compare that with the price we are paying now to fill our cars! An entire 220 litre barrel of crude oil is selling for about US$63).

That 440 litres is enough for most to kill for - a resource like that could get the BTR-80 over 850 kilometres - well into western Europe and possibly even down to Spain! Such a shame that the BRDM-2 cannot use it too...

So what are the choices?
1. Abandon the BRDM-2 and its added firepower and load carrying capacity.
2. Attempt harnessing the horses to pull it (very difficult since you have no harnesses, proper skills to do it and a vehicle that simply isn't designed for it).
3. Sit about and wait the required 8 and a half days for a tankfull (that will only get you 240 kilometres on road or an abysmal 84 kilometres offroad).
4. Find somebody to trade with.
5. Find somebody to take it from. (These last two may be difficult in such a devastated and sparsely populated area as you find yourselves).

Another problem that complicates matters are the civilians who are now reliant on your group for food, shelter and protection. While of some use, they are also a constant drain on your resources - food and medical in particular. The good news is that most want to leave as soon as they can and head back to their home town of Zyardow, around 40km to the southeast.

_{Edited to the correct vehicle and fuel type.}
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:08, Thu 08 Sept 2005.

Now that Michelle is back in the town, she still wants to go to the area school and see if she can scrounge up stuff needed to make antibiotics and makeshift med supplies. There has to be a chemisty/science room there.

Clean and refreshed after his shower, Kett dressed himself in a spare Russian uniform before presenting himself to Major Finnegan.
"Sir, I'd like to discuss the present fuel shortage with you. I think that a week in one place like this is far too long. Perhaps if we were off the beaten track camped in a forest somewhere or had a smaller disciplined group we might get away with it."

"So what I suggest is that I take a small team out for a day or two and see what's out a bit further than Lt Ashtons team. We'll go on foot with some goods to trade with. I know we haven't much to spare besides a few rifles and some 40mmS HE grenades we can't use so acquisition by stealth might be the more productive idea." He shuffled from one foot to the other, looking uncomfortable with the concept of taking what little people had left.

"I was thinking of taking Corrigan as medic, and Miricada as scout with Oberstleutnant Dettinger as commander. I think Zhukov should come along too in case we run up against any of the "local" Soviet units. If we dress in the Russian uniforms and only carry the right gear, we could pass ourselves off as a patrol. All but Corrigan can speak at least a smattering of Russian so should be ok if we strike problems."

"What do you think sir?

[Private to Major Bernhard Finnegan: All five are now NPC's so generally expendable.]

After who knows how long it's been since she's had a real cleansing shower, Tanya goes back and finds a quiet place to clean her weapons and try to get some sack time.

"Sounds like a solid plan. Take as many of our extra rifles as you see fit, and enough ammo for each of them to have at least one magazine. If you feel it wouldn't compromise the nature of the mission, you could take horses. Cover more ground on horseback, at the very least if you take a pack horse you can carry supplies back easier." Bernhard pauses to think for a few seconds,"Also take the radio we recovered from the forward observer earlier. You can use it to radio that you are close, and not to shoot you on your way back. One last item, if things go bad, either for your team, or for us back here, we make our way to Zyardow and rendevous there."

"We've only the four each AK-74's and AKM and they're on loan to the civies. Have to take at least two anyway for Dettinger and I or swap with one of us. I think it would be best to carry AK-74's for ammo commonality. They're a newer weapon too so more likely to be found with regular units."

Dettinger would be leaving his PSG1 Sniper rifle and MP-5SD3 silenced submachinegun along with the HK-69 grenade launcher. Kett's Diemaco C7 (Canadian M16) with M203 grenade launcher would also stay behind. All very nice weapons but would stick out like a red flag if they intended to pass themselves off as Russians.

"All the ammo for the AK-74's has been distributed too so probably need to pass the hat around for "donations". Still 13 mags of 7.62mmS in stores though plus a few loose rounds."

"We'll leave the horses, none of us can ride. I'll carry the radio myself and Dettinger has his short range unit as backup."

"We'll leave as soon as possible and head west. Might be able to find out a bit on the units that way for an eventual return to friendly lines."

Once the plan was confirmed by Major Finnegan and the various minor details (callsigns, radio frequencies, etc) worked out, Kett headed over to Major Smythe.
"Sir, look after this while I'm gone will you." He handed over his cherished Walther P-38 pistol. "My grandfather picked this up in the last war. I don't want anything to happen to it." Tone indicated that bodies would be littering the landscape if it had even one small scratch when he came back...

Staff Samuels! Got a present for you." A C7 assault rifle with M203 grenade launcher and Lietz-Elcan sight (telescopic) was thrust into the marines hands - a weapon he was far more familiar with than the AK-74 he was carrying (licenced and slightly modified M16A2). Seven magazines and five rounds of 40mm HEDP went with it. "I'll take that AK from you if you like. Look after my toy there won't you."

A few more changes in equipment (including swapping his Canadian issue webbing and pack with captured Russian rubbish) and he was right to go.

Kett's fellow Canadian listened intently to the patrol orders and then went back to sentry duty. There was little he needed to do to be ready - just pick up his share of the food and trade goods on the way out.

"Smith?" a heavily German accented voice called quietly from behind, "You take, yes?" Dettinger stood holding his HK-69 and MP-5SD3 out towards him.
A collection of four magazines and almost a dozen grenades of various types accompanied the offer although the sniper rifle remained firmly slung over his shoulder.
"You use yes?"

After approaching the American Special Forces soldier, Dettinger headed for Matterson. "You give AK for this?" The PSG1 was held in offer to the marine sniper. Out of all the people in the village, surely Virgil was by far the best suited to the precision weapon....
[Private to Sergeant Virgil Matterson: As mentioned previously, the PSG1 is a highly refined G3. I might even let you use it as if specialised with it because of the "family resemblance". It's the same weapon Billy Zanes' character used in the movie "Sniper" with Tom Berrenger.]

Once the patrol "O" group broke up, Andy swapped his Polish fatigues for a set of Russian ones. Then he headed to the makeshift "hospital" and rummaged through the pitifully meagre medical supplies.
"Doc, I'm grabbing a couple of personal medikits for the patrol, alright?. I'd like a full doctors kit but I think you've more need here."
Personal kits were no more than a shell dressing and a unit of antibiotics in an autoinjector with a couple of safety pins for good measure, but even such minimal equipment could save a person's life. If they ran into real trouble, a quick call on the radio and the "cavalry" could roll out in the BTR-80 to meet them - a little like one of the helicopter evacs of only a couple of years before.

Some felt the forced grounding of aircraft was a bad thing, but in Andy's eyes anything that took away the enemies ability to rain down high explosive rockets, missiles and shells was nothing short of mana from heaven. Back with "the regiment", Andy had been part of mobility troop usually assigned as medic there too. The light attack vehicles and landrovers he'd usually driven had been a pain to camoflague from the air.

Looking up with a surprised expression Samuels gladly accepts the weapon and relinquinshes his AK without so much as a pause.  Quickly checking the weapon he appears like a kid at Christmas with a new toy.  A smile played about his lips as he checked the clip and aimed the weapon at the nearest inanimate object.

"Will do!"

Gallin looks up as the remaining antibiotics are rationed out. "Keep your eyes open for anything that may help replace this. Supplies are running extremely stretched out." She looks over at the men preparing to go out, and looks back at Corrigan. "Please be careful, sir. The BTR is out of fuel, and we may end up having to come get you on horses. Just don't get too banged up, keep your head down, and make it back safe."

"Looks like its back to the moldy bread and oranges."

Taking the offered PSG-1, Matterson hands over his AK and says, "Thanks slim," giving the man a smirk as he considers the weapon.

Marcus nods to Dettinger as he accepts the various weapons and accessories.

(taking a while to get back into step  hehe)
Camilla drew the wealth of damp locks back pulling with a tight twist, before a thin strip of cloth was used to bind it all. (providing there was one-if not count her as in the same-ole-same-ole) She’d have also taken up one of the fresh uniforms, picking a quiet place to watch the others. Her old Polish uniform was folded beneath her, the wall of the warehouse at her back and the weapon draped across her lap.  She’d clean it, if anyone had some oil to spare.

Her expression was lacking much character,  dimly distant as her eyes fell on Smith a moment.  Cam was thoughtful, and turned her attentions to locating any of her group, from where she sat.  She wanted to be sure they were getting the rest they needed.    And with a slow sigh Ashton pulled herself up, slinging the rifle in preparation to look in on them.

Of course she’d listen in on the conversation between Kett and the Major, if she happened to brush by,  what she understood of it anyway.  Kett seemed to be saying a great deal… And fast.  Wordlessly she watched as they concluded,  Turning back to locating the people she’d been scouting with, in order to be sure they were -at least -taking a break.

Either before or after Tanya is cleaning her weapons/sleeping, she'll say something to Cam,  Everything good Lootenant?

“Yes,..”, She said slowly with an uneven smile.. “Just see if all resting..  Had big day.”  Ashton’s gaze traveled toward the exit.

“Kett take next group, think we stay with Main.. maybe head to village soon.” She motioned toward the survivors.

The five members of the long range scouting team were ready to go. A few last words here and there and they were gone. The sentry on the roof the last to see them as they dissappeared between the buildings headed westward.

The remainder of the second full day in the village passed with the usual camp duties, food and water foraging parties and a little hunting. While enough food was gathered to support everyone, there wasn't much left over to add to the stores.

Every scrap of vegetable matter left over from the "kitchen" quickly found it's way into the mash pots for distilling into fuel. Unfortunately there simply wasn't enough grain available to produce ethanol - the majority of fuel production would be the less efficient methanol.

That night passed uneventfully except for the death (not really unexpected) of one of the more critically wounded. Infection had set in and despite Michelles best efforts, they had succumbed. A short search of the ruined school nearby had yeilded some usable equipment but Michelle had been unable as yet to produce much more than a furry mold that had little resemblance to the desired antibiotics.

The following morning (about 60 hours or so after the slavers bloodbath) and the day the long range patrol was due to return, the sentry spotted a group of five people approaching on foot from the north. The last radio message from Dettingers group, a few hours before, placed them at least thirty kilometres away - this group could not possibly be them...

Going to his sniper's nest at word of five unexplained travellers, Matterson lays down on his stomach in the darkness of his little nest and scopes in on the five people.

Tanya is woken up from her most restful night of sleep in a long time when there are reports of men appraiching the camp that aren't from our camp.  She puts on her web gear, body armor, and picks up her Russian SAW and goes to look for Cam.  Lootenant!  Lootenant Ashton!  Where do ya want me ma'am?

Gallin is just finishing the days initial rounds when she hears about the sighted patrol. sighing, she mutters to herself something about no rest for the wicked and finishes her rounds, keeping an extra close ear on the radio, making notes on who could be moved in a hurry and who could not.

Having doned her flack, and tugging at the chin strap of her helmet absently, Cam glanced toward the demolished store building, little more than a few walls and rubble, and motioned toward it, “Get Winters and set cover there.. Church probably have cover already... No know if radio up there... Dave float anyway..”  She’d move over there with them to help, kneeling down behind one rickety wall amidst the chips of paving and brick, sliding her rifle over to train on the street.




(Possibly to be eddited)

The voice on the radio seems familiar to some of you. The heavily french accented english sounds suspiciously like Sergio, one of the men left behind in a small village about ten days ago along with Dimitar and Lt Col Nelson. Their use of one of the same frequencies you commonly use as well as a few code words from that period go a long way to confirming their identity.

Bernhard nods to himself when he sees Lt. Ashton's response to the news of five unknowns inbound. "Lt. Don, with me, lets go meet the newcomers, find out who they are and what they want. Smith, you and Feldwebel Lumper find a spot in the ruin northeast of here, (building L) give us some cover fire if we need it. Mister Brown, take Samuels across the east road and do the same in the rubble there (building K). Or if they are far enough out, get into the woods and flank them. Everyone else prep to load into the BTR as fire-support if things go bad or its a trap."



Bernhard pauses when he hears the voice on the radio, "Anyone know who that was? They seem to know us, or at least know of us."

"Aye, Finnegan. I know. That's Sergio! I wonder what he is up to?"

Don smiles after hearing the frenchie.

"I'll follow you. It will be hard to have to fight for the women with a Frenchman again. But, of course they will still stick to me, hehe"

OOC: Could've snatched post no 3000, but thought one of you active could get it. ;) Will try to be here a little more often from now on :)
And of course the only one less active than myself got it :)
This message was last edited by the player at 15:46, Sat 17 Sept 2005.