Slowly and carefully the village is searched. As time passes and more and more buildings found uninhabited, the feeling of beeing totally alone grows.
You're almost through to the other side of the abandoned settlement when Sergio spots something slightly out of place. Horse dung, fresh by the look of it, no more than half an hour old. A little closer and the marks made by shod horses can clearly be seen in the dirt that's blown from a nearby garden bed over the bitumen of the road. With several of you onsite and able to track, it's evident that they came from the south and are heading north. As fresh as the dung appears to be, there's little doubt that they would have heard your arrival on the other side of the village.

You're now about 400 metres from the vehicles - well within range of Winters loaned radio. I'll assume that Finnegan is carrying it unless told otherwise.
I'll also assume that due to your cautious movement, you are all in cover with Matterson either on a rooftop or other well chosen snipers nest.
This message was last updated by the GM at 03:35, Wed 22 Nov 2006.

Sergio immediately signals the others to keep an eye out, then to the nearest, points he's heading up to get a better view and look around.

Then heading to the nearest building (back if need be) he'll check it out inside before looking around and taking his time surveying the area for more signs. Trying to find a spot where he can see Matterson, at least one of the otehrs and have good cover, whilst the freedom to see what he needs to to be able to tell others, or provide cover.

Heading upwards as much as possible.

A honey coloured brow rose slowly, glancing from D’ammond ‘s departing form to Finnegan, then to Smith and back with a troubled frown;  She inclined her head to Tanya wordlessly.  Camilla huddled down into the haphazard line of rubble, covering the group’s six, until they were ready to move again. She considered trying her hand at a little tracking, but waited to see where the Major, or  Marcus was going to direct things as he had point.

At the sight of tracks Marcus gives the hand signal to security halt with hand up palm open.  Crotching down himself behind some cover and concealment, most likely rubble, Marcus scans all the nearby structures that the team hasn't yet checked out, looking for signs of occupation.  He waves back the way they came, the signal for attention to Matterson on overwatch at their first foothold building with a bird's eye view or the best approximation thereof over the village.  Using hand and arm sginals he signals to Matterson to scan the tracks and follow them as far as he can through his sniper's scope.  Meanwhile the team should be holding in a line security formation while they attempt to quickly investigate the tracks and immediate area.

Tanya holds fast on the outside of their security line and keeps an eye out to their right/left fronts and sides for any kind of movement or tracks.

Bernhard lowers his large frame to one knee and covers his zone with his rifle. Glancing at Sgt. Smith he watches for any sign of where the tracks may lead, or that whoever made the tracks has doubled back to ambush them.

With everyone watching their assigned sectors (otherwise known as "arc of fire"), Marcus scoots forward for a closer look at the horse droppings. Knowing shit when he sees it, it's fairly obvious from the heat it still contains that it has been there no more than about ten minutes.
Matterson scans the tracks through the PSG-1's high powered scope, following them as far as he can through the buildings. They appear to be headed in roughly the direction you came from albeit by a different route.

Marcus tosses the dung onto the ground and curses under his breath at their faux pax stumbling past a contact. As an afterthought, it's probably better that they're focused on the armored vehicles anyway. He looks back to the Major expectantly, probably concerning answering the radio.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:06, Tue 20 Dec 2005.

Bernhard shakes his head at the mention of horsemen at the vehicles,"Finnegan to Brown, We will return to your position ASAP. Which direction did they come from?"


The Major motions to Marcus first then everyone else in the dismounted team to get their attention, then indicates the radio and that they have 4 visitors at the vehicles. He motions they will move in bounding overwatch, Marcus and himself, followed by the other three.

Marcus scoots over to the Major, "Sir, we need to survey this area before we head back. The horsemen came from here," emphasizing with a swirl of his finger at the tracks originating from the garden. He adds, "I think they can handle themselves for a few more moments, we don't want something behind us."

Bernhard nods at the sage advice given by the noncom,"Your right of course, we can check around here real quick for any others, then follow their tracks to the vehicles, catch any who are hiding from behind. Lead us out of here"
This message was last edited by the player at 04:28, Tue 20 Dec 2005.

Bernhard shakes his head at the mention of where the horsemen came from. How the hell did that happen? Damn I need my eyes checked. He motions to Marcus to lead on.

Marcus motions to the two in the trail to stay put, using his index and middle fingers in a "V" he points to his eyes indicating he needs security and points to the elements rear (where they came from) and towards the area that they'll be investigating, namely the garden. Satisfied the message was passed correctly he looks around and barring any contact he'll bound quickly to the garden area and start poking around, hopefully with at least the Major and one other in tow.

From his newly elevated view he looks around. Sadly not seeing much he checks his position and then heads back down to cover the others rear as well as remain to see of other back attack.

Camilla had been monitoring their six, doubly so since they hunkered down, nodding silently as Sergio returned.  Ashton did as was expected, holding down that spot until otherwise indicated. She wished the others good fortune wordlessly, a tight frown on her lips as she scanned the area.  There wasn’t much to say, or even much that could be said..  Such sentiment would complicate matters, and ultimately it would have been a wasted action.

Bernhard scans ahead of where Marcus bounds, covering him in case anyone wishing to do them harm should suddenly appear. As soon as Marcus stops Bernhard also bounds to the garden and starts looking around for any signs of the horsemen and anything they may have left.

Moving rapidly but with care, the four hundred metres or so back to the vehicles is eaten up in a few short minutes. Stopping and propping (taking cover) at the edge of the buidlings (vehicles are in the open just outside the township), you observe the two vehicles have their weapons pointed in the general direction of four horsemen. Don is standing well out of the way with his weapon (PM-63 smg popgun) slung over his back, while Michelle has approached, disarmed the riders (all soviet small arms) and managed to persuade them to dismount.
As you watch, the gunners hatch on the BTR-80 lifts open and reveals Browns head....

As the team moves back to their original start point, he makes sure not to take the same route, and also makes sure not to end up in the direct line of fire of their comrades. He manuvers to the "left" flank of the vehicles and the "right" flank of the horsemen and themselves. He looks back to Major Finnegan as they move and whispers tersely, _{"Radio we're moving to their left flank."}

Upon arriving at the flank, he notices them unarmed and dismounted already with our lovely medic standing unarmed herself in the midst of it all. He can only shake his head in wonder as he crouches down behind some cover and concealment overwatching the scene. Waving his non-shooting arm and hand down the line across a pile of rubble he indicates a line formation best for support fire or pre-assault, whichever they may become. He indicates to SFC Redgrave with his two fingers to his eyes and out to their six indicating security to the rear. It should be given that those on the ends provide their own flank security.

Once the nod was given, Cam filtered down the indicated line of rubble, settling in low behind a bit of concrete and rebar providing there was enough of it around to accommodate, and took up position.  Her rifle was held tight in to her body at that point,  tilting a glance around the debris.

She didn’t want to cause any unfortunate misunderstandings either,  but would rather be, prepared if there was any kind of escalation.  Her gaze drifted upwards and over the buildings that might lend support to the strangers, just to see if maybe they had some help waiting up there.

(This is all providing there’s any such-said cover to be had in the area.)

As they trot back to the vehicles Bernhard nods to Marcus and radios back,"We will be approaching your position from your left flak. I say again Your left flank." No need to have them shooting at us, that would make a bad situation even worse.

When they arrive in position Bernhard takes a position on Marcus right side, about 7 meters away from him. Scanning the group of horsemen and his sector over the sites of his C7.

Tanya replies with a nod and a 'thumbs up' to Smith as she repositions herself for rear security of their scouting team.  She tries to find a decent spot with good cover allowing her to maintain optimal security.

Following up a little later than the rest, he used all his surveillance skills to see any signs of ambush.

He keeps in eye contact with the last person and goes once more to investigate the tracks on the way.