It's been a trying days walk through the Polish countryside. All afternoon you could see the clouds gathering and so you pushed on until after dark to reach the shelter of the small deserted town of Wolbrom.
Settling in for the night after yet another cold meal, the rain starts. first a light drizzle but it steadily builds over the next few hours until around midnight it's not far from a downpour. A few flashes of lightning now and then light up the buildings around the one you'd picked as your home for the night.
Exhaustion has been your constant companion these past few days. With only the two of you, there's barely been enough time to take turns sleeping before dawn breaks and forces you on ever southwards to the promised safety of the reputedly free city of Krakow.
Fighting the stay awake, you almost miss the burst of gunfire from down the street and around the corner. Your tired mind at first mistaking it for yet another peel of thunder...

Sebastian is dog-tired, and therefore, uncannilly quiet. Besides, in this downpour it's difficult to hear much besides rain and the occasional peel of thunder. Then, another sound. Thunder? No, something else... gunfire!

In a throaty whisper, ""Sheist! What was that?!?" (OOC: Imagine his dialogue in a German accent: w = v, s = z, etc. I don't want this to be impossible to read!)

Without looking, he reaches out with his left hand and slaps Brooks on the shoulder.

"Come on!"

He shuffles through the mud towards the nearest wall of the corner building and leans heavily into it with a wet thud. He thumbs the selector switch of his Uzi submachine gun from "safe" to "full auto" and then pauses, trying to filter out the din of the rain, listening for any other man-made sounds: Footsteps (or splashes, rather), voices, the not-so-subtle metalic clack of an AK's selector switch. All he can hear is the rain beating on his steel-pot helmet. He slips it off and tries again. Still nothing. He slides along the wall to the corner, eases down to one knee, sets his helmet gently on the ground, and slowly peeks around the corner...

OOC: Nuked, should I be sending these Group 3 posts "privately" to you and WHB only? Hi everyone!

GM Edit: only you, Will and I have access to this thread.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:45, Fri 14 July 2006.

"That ain't thunder." Brooks says to no one inparticular as he watches Stoeckel move toward a wall. Following suit he slaps against the wall sending a spray of moisture around. He inches toward the corner along with Stoeckel and leans his rifle against the wall before unsnapping his kevlar helmet from its normal resting spot hung on his left canteen.

Exchanging the helmet for his drenched boonie hat before picking his rifle back up he'll inch a bit closer toward Stoeckel and wait for a report of what he sees.

OOC: I misread Nuke's post as "gunfire from around the corner and down the street" when it actually reads "down the street and around the corner". This doesn't really change my original post except that instead of peeking around "the corner", Sebastian will attempt to peer through the darkness and rain ahead for any sign of what may be going on.

IC: Sebastian turns around and and looks searchingly at Doc Brooks.

"What should we do?"

After a brief but expectant pause, Sebastian turns back to face the far end of the road ahead.

Wiping his face he squints down the road, “Let’s go take a look see. Let’s just keep an eye out for cover in case we need to get out of the road fast.” Brooks will adjust the pack on his back then place a hand on one of Stoeckels soldiers, “You want the lead or shall I?”
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:17, Sat 12 Aug 2006.

Physical bravery is not one of Sebastian's virtues. However, Doc Brooks had patched him up, in effect saving his life...

"I will lead?"

It's almost more of a question than an answer. Sebastian pauses a moment, looking into doc's face, then turns abruptly before he has a chance to change his mind. His picks up his helmet and puts it back on, pooled water pouring out and down his neck. He begins walking forward slowly, keeping close to the wall. He cranes his neck around quickly to make sure Brooks is close behind.

"Stay close."

He proceeds methodically towards the end of the road, scanning both sides for any sign of danger and slowing as they inch closer to the end. At the corner, he pauses again to listen, easing down on one knee and removing his helmet once more. He glances back sheepishly at Brooks and shrugs his shoulders as if saying "What next?" Then, very slowly, he peeks around the corner.

Nods at the stay close, then moves slowly forward a few paces behind his companion. When they reach the corner Brooks takes a knee and watches the street forward and glances at the building next to them trying to pay attention to an escape route if they need to beat a hasty retreat back down the street.

After Stoeckel takes his peek Brooks will whisper, "See anything?"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:37, Sun 30 July 2006.

Two long bursts of fire rip through the night air, the flash of the muzzle lighting up an area through the rain at the top of a residential building just a hundred or so metres away.

Sebastian quickly pulls his head safely back in the lee of the building which he and Doc Brooks are hugging. He turns to face brooks while hastily putting his helment back on.

"Shooting from a building... the second level. It is about 100 meters down the road."

Sebastian is clearly flustered. As an afterthought, he pulls the cocking handing on the top of his Uzi back and lets it go with a sharp clack. He cringes. In the rain and with gunfire nearby, it's doubtful that anyone heard, but Sebastian feels like a bug whose rock has just been torn up, revealing it to the world.

"What should we do, Doc?"

  Katka rouses from near slumber, the sound of gunfire so commonplace these days that it barly registered. She pooks her head out of an ajoining room in time to see Dok and Sebastian heading out.

 Nice of them to let me sleep but, dangerous. For me.

  She wills sore muscles back to action, grabs her AK and follows suit. Out the door, rain adding to discomfort, sneaking slowly after her compainions to catch up with them at the corner.

  Hand up, palm out, a reaction to lets them know its her under the camouflage hood. Who else would it be.

  "You are letting me sleep and have all fun for self, Tak?"

Brooks looks for a way into the building they are using as cover, "Let's get out of the rain and into some cover to think."

Once out of the rain and under some cover Doc will take his helmet off and wipe his face.

"Might be friendlies but I don't wanna stick my head out and say howdy while their shooting. And what if they ain't friendly and the guys they shooting at are?"

Shakes his head as he soaks things in for a moment, "How about we try and get into a position to watch the house where the firing is coming from and sit tight 'til we can identify them as friend or foe? Wait 'til things cool down before we make contact if they are friendly. Cool?"

"Ya Doc. Sounds good to me. Let us wait and see who is who."

(Assuming they are now inside the building they'd been using for cover...)

"And perhaps we should make sure no one else is here?" He looks to Brooks and Katka for their approval.

Sebastian looks around the interior of the buidling to make sure that they are the only occupants. Once he's sure the buidling is secure, he moves to find a window or other suitable openning from which he can continue to observe the building from which he'd seen the firing. He will do his best make sure that he can not be seen from outside.

OOC: Nuked, could Sebastian tell by the muzzle flash in which direction the shooter was firing? That would give us a clue as to where the other antagonist may be.

No, Sebastian cannot tell.

After clearing the building with Stoeckel, Brooks will drop his pack. He'll even take off his combat harness and flak jacket before stretching his shoulders. He leaves the flak jacket and harness close by before also trying to find a vantage point to observe the building that the firing is coming from.

  Katka mades her home next to the front door untill the boys secure the building, then pushes the pack's shoulder strapes down and lets it fall to the ground after seeing Dok get comfortable. She leans against the wall for fear of falling asleep if she sits, hugs her rifle to her chest.

  "If there is no more shooting, we should wait hour and take look in building. Enemy will be.. eh un... tired, we can suprise them."
This message was last edited by the player at 08:35, Mon 31 July 2006.

Sebastian sees both Doc Brooks and Katka drop their packs before he realizes that he's still lugging his own around. The adrenaline is still pumping hard enough that he hadn't felt the weight of the pack or the straps digging into his tired shoulders. He is completely awake now. He removes his pack and sets it down within reach.

"Someone should watch the door so that no one else tries to hide in here, eh?"

Sebastian continues to look for a good vantage point from which to safely and stealthily observe the house from which they'd seen the firing.

OOC: Nuked, does "our" building have a second floor? If so, Sebastian will suggest that all move upstairs for better observation and defensibility.

Yes, most buildings have a second story in Wolbrom.



Wolbrom had a prewar population of 9146 people. One of the oldest "cities" in Poland, it had a pre WWII population with a very large percentage of Jews and naturally suffered tremendously under the Nazis. (If anyone actually lived here, you could almost take it for granted that Germans would be shot on sight!) The town has been razed many times over the centuries. As can be seen, there is a town square and buildings are two to three stories high.

  Katka nods at Sebastian's suggestion, "Tak, stairs is good place for defending. I can watch down."

"Danke, Katka. I will go upstairs. Doc?"

Sebastian leaves his pack with Katka and moves as stealthily as possible up the stairs. He pauses a moment on the landing and then proceeds cautiously clearing the second floor. Once confident no danger lurks within the building, Sebastian finds a window facing the building from which the firing eminated.

Actions: Observing area where shooting was previously observed taking care not to be seen from same.

 OOC: Great pics, Nuked. Thanks for the lowdown on Wolbrum. You definitely do your homework! Brilliant.

Brooks will shrug as he looks at Katka then grabbing his pack and Stoeckels he'll trudge up the stairs. Upon reaching the top he moves to Stoeckel and sets the pack down gently, "She meant she would cover the stairs from the top."

With that he'll give a smile and drop his pack down and use it to lean against, "Let me know when you get tired of staring at that building and I'll watch it for a bit."

  Katka gives William a kind smile as he takes the burden of Sebastian's gear, she grabs a strap on her own pack and drags it upstairs, setting it in place as a rifle rest. sits down and takes aim. Satisfied with the field of fire, she takes two grenades and places them on the pack in arms reach.

  "U polozhennia!" instinctivly before remembering who her new comrades are.

  "I am good here"
This message was last edited by the player at 05:34, Thu 03 Aug 2006.

I need to mention that the two groups are not posting at the same rate of time. So far it's been only about 15-20 seconds since the first burst of fire.
Your actions as posted are still all completely valid however, although naturally you're far ahead timewise. As long as you don't go poking your heads out and waving big glowing flags, etc, all should be well.

OOC: 15-20 seconds? LOL, that puts us back in the confused at the corner of the building looking at the first burst stage... hehe. Time sure does fly when you ain't getting shot at.

OOC: I suppose we'll just sit tight and keep an eye on the building across the way until the other group catches up posting wise.

Sorry for the misunderstanding with the pack, Katka. Sebastian is a bit of a cad sometimes but he's normally more of a gentleman. ; )

OOC: I think were all in our rest positions at the moment anyhow, having settled in for a bit. Light a fire under thier butts, Im having fun lol.

Just as your beginning to settle in, another shorter burst of fire lasting about half a second, probably a machinegun rips through the darkness.

OOC: As a rule of thumb, most machineguns fire at around 600-700 rounds per minute, roughly ten per second. Naturally there are those that fire a lot faster and some substantially slower (the MG-42 of WWII is about 1000rpm while the Vickers can be set down to about 200rpm).

In answer to the shorter, higher burst was a lower, longer burst from something that sounded Russian, there was a brief pause and then a moment later a figure forced his way into cover as rounds impacted where he had last been standing...

Corrigan had gotten separated from the others he had been with, and had followed the sounds of the guns, knowing (or at least hoping) where there was still competitive gunfire meant there were friendlies to hook up with.  There was a brief pause, and he stood and responded with a long, low retort from the RPK he was carrying, hearing a satisfying cry in the distance, before turning to see if there was anyone to address...

"Anyone speak English?" he asked hopefully, his voice strained from the last few weeks travel, the English accent still noticeable as he crouched, half-expecting a volley of fire to answer him...

  The sound of familiar fire, close, got Katka's mind going. The sound of someone moving downstairs got her blood flowing. Grip tightened, finger sliding along the smooth trigger. Mouth open, slow, deep breaths to feed oxygen to weary systems. She leaned forward slightly fealing the round metal of a grenade against her forarm, considered the force of throw after the first burst, just the right angle to bounce it off the far wall and into the room below.

  Then a voice, english but not quite right. For a split second she wanted to answer but no, waited with sole intent for a dark silhouette to show itself at the bottom of the stairs, waiting for the kill.

Brooks snaps out of his day dreaming state of rest when the burst of fire errupts nearby. He quickly glances at each of his companions. Then hearing the voice downstairs he grabs his rifle and medical bag and takes a peek out the nearest window to him before crouching down his heart beating as if it was going to burst out of his chest. The sweat rolling down his face. He takes a deep breath as he tries to think.

Another burst of fire not far off. Sebastian strains to try and spot the location of the shooter. He jumps as a burst of fire blasts into the night directly outside and below their position, much closer this time.

He turns and exchanges worried looks with Doc Brooks. There is a muffled thump downstairs and then a voice- it sounds like someone trying to speak underwater.

"Katka, do you see anything down the stairs?" Sebastian hisses.

He starts fumbling with his webbing for a grenade of his own.  In English they say, shoot first and ask questions later...

  Katka shakes her head twice, slow and deliberate, eyes never leaving their mark. She releases the rifle letting the pack support its weight and points her arm at Dok, waving him over and quite ardently points down the stairs. All done in smooth silence.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:23, Sun 13 Aug 2006.

The lack of immediate response along with what might have been a whisper, though with the background noise it was hard to tell, did not bode well for Corrigan.  He had hoped to hook back up with the group he had gotten separated from a while ago, but it did not seem like his luck was holding he only hoped his luck did not get any worse.

"Corrigan, Andrew, Warrant Officer Class Two, 22nd SAS British Army!  Please respond!" he said, loudly enough to be heard upstairs hoping to ward off a volley of rounds that might be heading in his direction.  Immediately after speaking though, knowing his location would have been easier to determine now, he moved silently to the side, careful of the windows, intent upon putting some distance between himself and the stairs.  His trained eye judged the angles a grenade might come down towards him as he hefted the RPK, covering the stairs as best he could.

Having given another chance to respond to anyone who might be there, he figured it was their turn to either accept his olive branch, or not.  Either way he did not intend to give them an easy target if they chose to fire.

[Private to Nuked: What, if any, cover is available to him?  As he might need it the way things are going...  :-)]

Brooks thought to himself as he stood up, 'British SAS, a shooter, thank God.' If he was russian he was doing a damn good job with the accent.

He thought for a second then spoke up, "William Brooks, Navy Corpsman. I'm coming downstairs."

He'll wait for a response, to make sure the gentleman downstairs knows his coming down, then he'll slowly walk down the stairs. His hand wrapped around the pistol grip began to sweat. He lowered his M16 to point it downward and reduce the threat but keeping the weapon at the ready in case of trouble. He'll stop at the base of the stairs and scan the room.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:02, Mon 14 Aug 2006.

Hearing the greetings from up the stairs he paused in his movement, then, speaking so they could hear he said "Understood, Corpsman, weapons present for both of us I dare say, let's both be careful and maybe this will be a pleasent meeting..."

After speaking he completed another movement, not wanting to give them any ideas where he might be until he was sure they were friendly and, crouching low he covered the stairwell carefully...


The sight of the Navy Corpsman in woodlands camo and holding an M16 gave him hope, though caution told him to be aware...  "Easy, William Brooks, I'm over here...  Let me adjust my aim a moment so neither one of us is pointing a weapon, ok?"  Waiting for an acknowledgement he slowly raised the barrel of the RPK to point towards the roof, mainly because such a heavy barreled weapon was easier to get into position to fire if it's own weight was used to bring it to bear rather than trying to heft it from a downwards pointing position as the Corpsman did with his lighter M16, but also because he figured at this moment there were only potential hostiles above him...

Slowly rising he stood to reveal himself, his senses working overtime to be sure everything was as it should be, "I guess introductions have been made, pleased to meet you and happy to see another friendly!" he said in his noticeable British accent, a grin cracking his face...

Brooks follows the sound of the voice then looks the Brit over, "Definately nice to see more people on our side. Most people call me Doc Brooks or just Doc."

Doc will relax a bit as he continues, "What about you? Regimental Sergeant Major, just Sergeant Major or Warrant Officer? Or is it sir these days? I forget."

With that Doc Brooks will release the pistol grip of his weapon and reach forward grabbing the hand guard to cradle the weapon in his right arm. Wiping the sweat from his face he notices the RPK, "Was that you earlier? Or do we have to worry about other RPKs out there?"

There is a hollow thump from the direction of the initial firing and a few seconds later the area is bathed in a bright white glare from several hundred metres above. Shadows flicker and move as the flare slowly begins it's parachute supported return to earth.
Squinting into the unexpected brightness, two vehicles are immediately seen positioned close to a three story house. Both are Pact in origin with one being a BRDM-2 wheeled scout and the other a larger BTR-80 APC. There is presently no movement from the smaller BRDM although the turret of the BTR is sweeping the area covering likely enemy positions - including your building.
[Private to WO2 Andy Corrigan: Both are strangely familiar...]
Hugging the wall on the other side of the building to the vehicles is a what looks to be a man of approximately six feet carrying another, smaller person across their shoulders. A small weapon, probably an SMG, is carried slung and their right hand grips the unmistakable outline of an AK assault rifle.

Sebastian, peering through the second story window, is startled by the ignition of the parachute flare above. The harsh, white, pulsating light temporarily blinds him and he blinks furiously trying to restore his vision. Once his eyesight has adjusted to the new, brighter lighting, he notices the distinctive outline of the BRDM and BTR parked nearby, next to a three story building- one in relatively good shape.

"I see two Russian vehicles, armored cars. There are two men, too. They have Russian arms. They are all by a large building across the way. Three levels."

He raises his Uzi SMG and tracks the fleeing figures. He knows he has little to no chance of hitting them, but the gesture makes him feel safer, nonetheless.

  "Introdukton is over, come up" Katka calls down below, grabbing up her grenades and stuffing them back into a webbing pouch. She squat walks just close enough to the window to get a view down to the troops Sebastian pointed out, raises the AK and looks down the scope to get a better eye.

 [Private to GM: Using my scope to get a better view, I would first like to take a look at the persons to see who they are and then at the vehicals to see if I can make out any markings.]
This message was last edited by the player at 18:12, Thu 17 Aug 2006.

As Sebastian Peers carefully out the window, a loud gunshot is heard from the direction of the building. Simultaneously, or so it seems, a bullet impacts on the bricks just a few inches from Sebastian's head.
It's a fair bet that he's been spotted.

Brooks stops in mid-sentence when he hears the thump, then he quickly squats and moves away from a window when the flare goes off. The hissing noise of the flare burning and the flickering light caused his senses to play tricks on him. Brooks readies his weapon and thumbs the safety off as he looks toward the Brit, "Friends of yours?"

He instinctively flenches when the shot goes off and strikes the building.  "Guess not." he states to no one in particular.

Sliding across the floor in a crouch trying to get a view outside he'll yell upstairs, "Everyone ok up there?"

The grin disappeared the moment the thump was heard and Corrigan was already moving to cover, keeping away from the windows he was against an exterior wall even before the flare ignited, moving swiftly and fluidly...  He was facing away when the initial explosion of light flooded the area, training and instinct taking over without even realizing it, and as the light bathed the area he cautiously peered around the edge keeping as low a profile as possible...

"Bloody 'ell..." he breathed softly as he observed the vehicles, though something seemed strangely familiar about them, something he couldn't quite place though most of those vehicles looked alike, he couldn't be sure of what he was seeing...  The call from above was dismissed for the moment, though he was aware there were more than just the friendly Corpsman in the building he didn't yet feel comfortable just wandering idly up the stairs to whoever waited there.  It took him a moment to realize that it was a woman's voice that called out, but before he could hypothesize further on that fact William spoke and he chuckled softly to the question… Before he could respond the gunshot cracked and almost instantly impacted the floor above, answering as well as anything for him.

While William was calling out above Corrigan's eyes raked the building over the way and the vehicles, cautious to keep as covered as possible, as he tried to ascertain the location of the shooter, his hands gripped the RPK firmly, any sign of mirth dissipating from his face as grim determination took over...

[Private to Nuked: In what way are they familiar?  Is there a roll he can make to try and remember details?  Also, what luck does he have determining the location of the shooter?]

  Katka didnt think twice, "They have our polozhennia, perestavliaty!" She slaped Sabastian on the back before dashing to slip a free arm into her packs armstrap and hoist it on her back. "Move!"

Sebastian hurls himself at the floor, his cheek stinging from concrete fragments. He hits the bare cement so hard that his helmet pops off and skids across the floor with a metallic scraping noise. He scrambles on all fours away from the window, grabbing his K-pot along the way.  "Katka, wait!"

  She stops for a moment to kneel down and take a look at his face with a smile, "You OK." Then helping him up, yelling down again, "Dok! You see way out back, away from building across street? Door, window, anything."

Moments after the first, a second shot smashed through the window and impacts on the rear wall. If Sebastian hadn't already been moving...
The slightly different sound as the shot was fired identifies a second weapon, but probably of the same, or very similar calibre.

Doc scrambles to the foot of the stairs and yells as he hears the second shot, "Stoeckel you a'ight?" He'll then wait, crouching at the base of the stairs as he scans the room they are in for a way out. His mind started to race as his heart rate sky rocketed and the sweat began to build on his forehead.

"Ya, I am OK." Pants Sebastian as he scurries into the stairwell, out of view of the sniper -or snipers- targetting him from somewhere in the darkness outside."They know we are here." The statement is painfully obvious to everyone within earshot, but he's pretty rattled. His mind is racing, "If we can't see outside, they will be able to assault the building easily." It's not clear yet who "they" are, but the German's got a point...
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:31, Wed 23 Aug 2006.

  Following right behind, Katka squeezes past Sebastian on the stairwell and hurries down, "Tak, we go now!" At the bottom of the stairs she only marginally recognizes the new boys presence, concerned with more pressing matters. A hand on Dok's shoulder, "Are you seeing way out?" but not waiting for an answer, moving to look herself.

Doc tries to grab Katka's shoulder but misses, "Slow down Katka, we don't have a clue what is going on outside. You don't want to rush into an ambush do you?"

"Katka, look for an escape route but wait til everyone is ready to go before we rush outside." Then turning toward Stoeckel, "Pick a window or door and cover it, please. Be ready to follow Katka just in case though."

With that he'll sling his medbag around his waste to his back and slide toward a window facing the fire, weapon in tow, and ask the newcomer as he passes him, "Who were you firing at earlier? And do we need to move out?". After asking his questions he'll take a quick peek trying to get an idea if people were moving on their little building.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:24, Thu 24 Aug 2006.

"The bloody enemy o' course..." he said softly, if a little abruptly, then turned and smiled at the Corpsman, "Sorry, didn't mean it like that...  Been a lil stressed, you know?" he added the last with a grin before turning his attention to what he could see outside, the grin disappearing as determination and concentration took over.  His eyes raked the area outside, being careful not to show himself as a target, the big RPK ready to fire if someone showed themselves...

Now why in hell do those vehicles look so bloody familiar? he added as an aside to himself, watching for any sign of the apparent sniper who was taking potshots at them from across the way...  Turning his head slightly to look back at the Corpsman he added in a subdued voice, "Let me know as soon as you find a way outta here, I can cover the exit, not many want to stick their heads out when this old beaut is firing!" he said with a grin, patting the side of the RPK to make his point...

[Private to Nuked: Nuked, where does he remember the vehicles from?  Enemy?  Ally?  Has no recollection?  Also, let me know if he gets a shot at the sniper...  :-)]

  OOC: Didnt check the place out when I first got in so, looking for way out back, something away from the direction of fire, window, door, wall thickness if it comes to me having to knock a hole in it. If a door or window, poke my head out to take a look about to find out what cover I can head to once I get around to leaving the building.

Sebastian is hesitant, to say the least, to approach any openning to the world outside their dank concrete womb (or tomb) after being the target of two snipers' bullets just seconds previously. But, he respects Doc Brooks too much to refuse outright. After a brief hesitation, he moves to the edge of an interior wall of a room openning to a window facing the side of the house from which the fire had come. He peers through the window from a distance of at least 10 feet. The angle is bad and his view is limited but he is not getting any closer. If anyone tries to assault their buidling from that side, he should see them coming at least a few seconds before they get there.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:27, Sat 26 Aug 2006.

  The building was a store, furniture, the kind hand made in a workshop upstairs. just one in a strip of rowhouses, this one right at the end. The connecting wall was solid brick face but, not too thick from the sound of her bangin on it. Still there had to be a better way out and a small window faceing the opposite street provided the answer. She pulled away a desk, broke out old painted over glass and the frame with the butt of her AK, poked a head out and looked up and down the street. The building seen from upstairs was out of view from this side and the streets seemed clear of anything glaringly nasty but, she figured the angle from the upper floors would allow a clean view of the opposite side of the road, running across would be risky. They would have to hump it back up the same direction they came from but, at least this time they would be on the opposite side of the row and in the rain and darkness, they might just be far enough down by the time they hit a crossroad to run across to a new row without being spotted. At the vary least it was away from where she knew they could hit.

  "This is looking good, Lets move." She threw her pack out first and climbing up, slipping feet first on the sidewalk below, crouching against the wall for cover.

He heard what sounded like glass shattering somewhere in the back, though his gaze never strayed for watching out front in case someone tried to storm the building, and he hissed softly behind him to find out what was going on, "What's going on back there?  Ya found a way outta this bloody rat trap?" he asked softly and urgently.

Glancing to his side he saw the friendly Corpsman and smiled thinly at him, "Go see if we're ready to move, will ya?  Me and my friend here'll cover the front for the moment!" he said, patting the RPK once more before glancing back outside the window, watching for the sniper and being careful not to show himself.  He recognized the vehicles somewhat from before, but then again those types of vehicles all looked alike and he didn't feel like getting shot up at this moment...

He tensed slightly, watching for any movement, while waiting for the word back from the rear of the building...

Doc nods and slides across the floor trying to keep low. Seeing the busted glass but no Katka he moves over and takes a quick peek outside. After making sure she was outside he quickly moves back to the other room and states, "We have an exit, Katka is covering the outside waiting for us."

Keeping his gaze fixed outside Corrigan smiled thinly at the news, "Good..  Get everyone moving, I'll be last out..." he said softly, not knowing anyone else's skills he knew he could rely on his own to provide cover.  He waited for the others to start moving, watching carefully for any signs of enemy...

Sebastian flinches at the sound of breaking glass. The sniper again? He risks a glance over his shoulder. He sees Brooks moving towards another room on the far side of the building.

"What his happening?"

Brooks returns and Sebastian overhears the corpsman and the Englishman discussing an exit strategy. No need to wait for a personal invitation...

He takes one more look outside, sees nothing, considers loosing a burst from his Uzi to dissuade any would-be pursuers, decides against wasting the ammo, turns and heads towards the back room hot on the heels of Brooks, snagging his pack from the floor along the way.

Nods with a smile as he sees Stoeckel moving on his own. He'll motion Stoeckel out the window in the back then as Stoeckel exits a realization will set in, my pack! With a muffled curse Doc moves at a crouch back to the stairs then bolts upstairs to retrieve his pack. As he throws it over one shoulder curiosity gets the best of him and he can't help but take a quick peek trying to look out a window toward the vehicles.

  A few feet down the sidewalk was a square brick planter with a sickly looking tree that had seen better days. They doted the street all the way down, beutification for what must have been a nice avenue at one time. She made her way over, it would provide more direct cover from down the street and at the vary least it was peace of mind.

Outside a curtain of heavy rain falls over the area reducing visiblity to barely a few dozen metres. In such a downpour you could walk almost up to touching range without being spotted.

The flare drifts groundward, it's radiance virtually swallowed by the teeming rain and the constant thrumming on just about every surface making hearing even normal conversation difficult.

Surely the storm cannot last much longer at this intensity?

No more shots are fired, perhaps because of the drastically reduced visibilty and you find your way into a relatively "safe" haven for the remainder of the night. Dry and fairly dust free (the town has been abandoned for about a year) the building you chose even has proper beds with sheets, blankets and all! A quick search finds towels and the four of you are soon settled in. Watches are organised and you get what rest you can.

The rain continues to pour with visibilty rarely increasing to more than about 50 metres, even with all the high tech gear at your disposal. Finally at around 4am, it reduces to little more than drizzle and by dawn is gone completely.

As dawn finally breaks, Corrigan finds himself on watch and, as the rays of sunlight filter through the thinning clouds he glances around at his new companions.  After their escape they hadn't had much chance to get acquainted, more concerned with escaping from the unfriendlies and then finding a shelter from the storm, as such he still wasn't sure how much he could trust either of them though the Corpsman was friendly enough, he knew they probably felt the same way about him as well though...

Either way, they had all managed to get some sleep and felt at least a little refreshed, and Corrigan silently picked himself and the heavy RPK up from his watch position, careful not to reveal himself to any snipers that might be outside, and moved quietly to take a better look around the area and the building they were in considering visibility had been virtually nil when they arrived...

He also wanted to see what other supplies might be around, considering the beds and linens they had found told him that this building had escaped the worst of the looting...

Sebastian lined up over the ball, preparing to take a free kick. He launched his boot through the ball, striking it well. He watched it, as if in slow motion, curling around the wall of defenders, past the outstretched hand of the diving goalkeeper, and spinning into the upper left corner of the net. As he turned to run his celebratory lap around the edge of the pitch he noticed that he was alone on the field. The stadium was silent and empty as well. He looked up...

Blinking his eyes he saw, not blue sky, but mold-speckled, peeling plaster.

Sheist. Poland. Why can't this be a dream...

He crawled groggily out of bed. After the adrenaline from his near death experiences the night before had worn-off, he'd crashed. He hadn't slept that well for weeks. However, now he was left with a lingering sense of dissappoinment in the realization that the dream of his former life had only been just that.

He put on his boots, picked up his Uzi and stumbled downstairs where he ran into the British warrant officer.

"Guten Morgen, her...?" He waited for the Englishman to introduce himself.

Brooks stares at the mold speckled ceiling, deep in thought. His mind racing over the past few years and just when his thoughts turned to the present he forced himself out of the fog. Shaking his head he rolls out of bed and pulls his boots off. After changing his socks he grabs his weapon and medkit before proceding to take a look around their new found shelter.

Corrigan had heard the beginnings of movement above him so had at least a little warning before the other man appeared before him, something that was beneficial for Sebastian as it meant he wasn't shot, though thankfully Corrigan was hardly the jumpy type.

He smiled at the introduction and, holding the RPK cradled in his left arm, he extended his right hand as he spoke, "Mornin'...  Corrigan, Andrew Corrigan though most call me Andy...  British Army, SAS...  And you are?" he asked politely as they shook hands, noting the other didn't exactly seem the rugged, life in the military type that he himself was...

Sebastian runs his hand through his non-regulation length, greasy, blond hair, wild from sleeping on a real pillow for the last four hours.

"Sebastian Stoeckel... Bayern Mu... er, I mean Bundeswher... pioneer Gefreiter. Pleased to meet you."

He looks around, surveying the room in which they now stand. He hadn't seen too much of it in the dark the night before.

"Have you seen anything...anyone else outside since...?"

  Dok had found a catch of towels in a linen closet and she was greatfull for it. The two and a half block jog in the rain had soaked her to the bone and she wasnt looking forward to yet anouther night in wet clothes. The house wasnt large but well attended by its previous occupants, whoever they had been, an older couple by the looks of the place. No sign of a childrens room.

  She had taken second watch but spent the better part of first awake, converting an upstairs craft room into a place where she could sleep and hang her clothes to dry. A closet contained a few items of clothing, simple dresses for the most part and not her style. She put on a nice V-neck sweater and pulled a loose, sleevless brown dress over that, tied at the waist by her leather pants belt. It wouldnt win any contests but, it would keep her warm and dry while she stood watch. Dinner that evening was stale, rain soaked bread and the remaining goats cheese she had, the last of her homemade foods stolen from her old unit.

  The night had gone by uneventfull, save for a few phantom gunshots that kept rousing her to half conciousness. Now the sun shown thru the curtains, lighting up the room in a warm glow. Snuggled in thick blankets and sheets, a real pillow under head, She couldnt think of a single good reason to get up or didnt want to.

So whats the plan? Any of you wishing to step up and take a leadership role over your small group?
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:32, Wed 22 Nov 2006.

OOC: My plan is to sleep the day away unless someone wants to wake me up. lol

OOC:  I'm easy either way, though would like to get a description of the building we're in, surrounding area, and any other supplies we can find in the bulding...

As far as Leadership goes, some would say it would be best for the most experienced to be leader, now I'm not sure whether this would be Corrigan since I haven't taken a close look at the others, but it would be difficult for him to take such a position considering he only just met everyone here, and was already almost blown to bits!  :-)

Anyone else have any preferences?  ;-)

OOC: Sebastian isn't much of a soldier. He'd prefer everyone have a say in the decision making under "normal" circumstances but he understands that democracy doesn't work very well when the lead starts flying. He'd nominate Brooks for a leadership role because he knows him and trusts him. Based on rank, experience, and NATO affiliation, either Brooks or Corrigan appear qualified to lead.

OOC: Thanks Sebastian but I am just a Corpsman. I think Corrigan should lead cause he's SAS for one, a Warrant Officer (equivalent to Sergeant Major in the US) and he has the bigger gun. :) I think he is fully qualified to lead our little NATO peace keeping force. LOL

OOC:  Why do I get the feeling everyone stepped back two paces when I wasn't looking???


*grins*

It makes sense - he's got the rank, he's got the training and if anyone argues, he's got the big gun! ;)

OOC:  thanks for re-affirming my appointment, chief...


*grins*

Now, can we get a descriptive of the area, the building and any supplies we turn up????  :-)

OOC: WHAT!? you want ME to describe it? Well, you picked it... ;)

Essentially it's just like almost any other residential building in wolbrom. Take a look at the pics I posted a while back (this thread I think and OCC). Two or three stories high and close to it's neighbours, it's not the most defensive of places but it did provide shelter for the night. Since you'll probably be moving along in the near future, that should just about suffice.

OOC:  LOL, thanks for that!!  :-)


"Pleased to meet you as well, I only wish it were under better circumstances... he said with a soft smile before continuing, his gaze taking in the area around the building they were in, "Nothing, not a bloody thing, and thankfully not a bloody soul...  But we can't stay here forever...  So, do you or any of the other two know where we can hook up with friendlies?  Any intel about where we could head, anything?" he asked hopefully.

Out of the couple he'd met, Corrigan himself seemed by far the most experienced, certainly in combat, and that weighed heavily upon him knowing three others would be looking to him for guidance...  "We need to get out of here, though nightfall might be the best, but if that's what we need to do we do need to figure out who's leadin' us out of the four of us, and where we're going..." he said, hoping the woman who still seemed to be sleeping on the floor above had combat experience as well, more so than the two he'd met...

Sebastien seemed nice enough, though he wouldn't know for sure until he saw him in combat.  He did know he'd been shot at by a sniper and had somewhat held his shit together which was a good point.  William, as a Corpsman, was a boon to the group, anyone who could deal with wounds was a benefit nowadays, but the woman was still an anomaly...  "See if you can get the other two moving, will you?  You've known them longer than I, but warn them not to show themselves, that sniper might still be around...  I'm going to get a better look a round..." he said, intending to carefully get an impression of everything around them and to try and make sure the sniper hadn't followed, though as heavy as the rain was that was unlikely...  As he watched Sebastien start to move he felt his stomach growl softly, and realized it had been a while since he had a decent meal, though SAS training had taught him to go for a long while with minimal sustenance, he was starting to get to the end of his endurance...

"Ya, OK."

Corrigan seemed like a decent fellow, by far the most "soldierly" the group. That could be a good thing. Real soldiers were becoming, very literally, a dying breed, and his combat experience and skill could potentially help keep them all alive. On the other hand, it was often those "soldierly" types that would leap up and charge machinegun nests yelling "Follow me!" That was often the last thing they, or their men, ever did.

He went back upstairs and found Katka, racked out and sofly snoring. He wondered for a moment about how he should wake her. A hand on the shoulder could illicit a reflexive response that Sebastian would probably not enjoy. Very loudly, he said,

"Katka. Katka! Wake up, frauline. It is time to... do something. And, stay away from the windows. The sniper may still be nearby."

Sebastian wasn't quite sure what Corrigan had in mind, yet he was doing what the Englishman had asked without question. Hmmm, he'd just met the SAS man and he was already following orders. The product, he supposed, of years of obeying coaches' and, more recently, officers' directives.

He turned to leave the room and ran into Brooks.

"Doc, the Englishman wanted me to get the two of you moving. Do you know what he has in mind?"

Brooks shakes his head, "No clue what he has planned, just as long as it doesn't get any of us killed I am good with it." He swings the medkit around to his back then grabs his pack and rifle. Brooks drags the pack down the stairs to the first floor and sets it down before taking a crouching position near the center of the room.

  Eyes popping open at the sound of her name, she thru off the covers and leapt to a standing position, mumbling something in ukranian and then english, "I am up."

  Still half asleep she went for her boots, dressed only in panties and the new found sweater tho, it became quickly evident that she should put on the rest of her clothes first. Cleaning the mucus out of her eyes she checked on the condition of her uniform, still a little wet. Her bare legs showed evidence past hardship, burns and potmarked scars ran down the back of one leg, wounds that might have healed cleaner had they been tended to properly.

  She slid into one of the dresses found last night, buttoned down the front tho she only bothered to go as far as her waist, room to move. Looked to the AK but decided against carting it around the house, why bother. Shruged off the rest of her stuff and made her way downstairs behind Sebastian.

  The Brit and her had been like ships in the night and this was the first real decent chance she had to take a moment and get a good look at him.

  "Katka Valechzev." With a nod.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:41, Sun 17 Sept 2006.

Corrigan did a cautious circuit of the ground floor, taking a good look out of every vantage point he could as he heard the three upstairs moving and starting to come down, having seen nothing so far he made his way to the rough center of the building and settled down on an old stool left there who knew how many months ago.

Although they had found linens and towels upstairs there seemed to be little downstairs, perhaps the looters had been scared off before they could search the building properly, either way it had meant a dry bed for most of them though Corrigan had spent colder and wetter nights than last night, and though the other three had seemed to take to the comforts he had found it difficult to accept them.  It wasn't that he couldn't accept them, he'd just spent too long in the military to want to be caught unprepared, and so he'd slept in the polish fatigues he was wearing, bundled up as best he could the theory being if he got warm enough it would somewhat dry out his fatigues.

Hadn't worked as effectively as he'd hoped, but then it had been a cold night, either way he'd survive, he always did, at least he'd have been ready for action if needed which was better than being dead...  As the group came together above him he slowly settled the RPK near his feet and grabbed the dry towel he'd left for himself, rubbing his face a little to help with the moisture from the cool morning air before dropping it to the side and waiting, smiling as the Corpsman, William, came down first, followed by Sebastien.  Then came the woman...

She was something of a surprise though he hid it well, he'd been sure he'd seen her in fatigues of some kind before, but now she was in a dress she'd apparently found, though he noticed it was left open enough to allow ease of movement which told him something of her skills, and obviously she'd left her weapon upstairs which was fair enough as well.  He stood as she introduced herself, standing at his 6' 3" he could be imposing, particularly when carrying the huge RPK, yet the softly spoken words belied the power of his form, "Andy Corrigan, pleased to meet you..." he said with a smile before asking the question that was nagging him considering the other two he knew, "Combat experience?  Unit?" he asked, shorter than he would have preferred but he was hoping she had some combat experience as well...

"Forgive, all of you, I'm not trying to give orders, I'm just trying to find out something about you all to give us the best chance to survive...  I'm also hoping one of you has an idea of where we can hook up with friendlies?" he asked the last, turning to all three.  He knew the approximate direction to where he had been assuming they hadn't moved on, and could judge the correct direction by the sun if the clouds ever let up, but that was all hoping his friends were still around, and so hoped there might be someone closer...

Sebastian looked sidelong at Brooks and then spoke,

"We have seen plenty of Russians and Poles but I cannot recall seeing any 'friendlies' for some time. We have been drifting south, dodging enemy patrols and following rumors that Krakow is a free city, open to anyone. According to our maps, we are close. Considering our current position, I doubt there are any NATO units around here. If you pardon my asking, how did you come to be here?"

  Katka leaned against a wall and scratched her head. "Ukrayinets, no unit. Pointy end towards enemy, tak?" She looked to the others with a whimsical smile. "Any of you have soap?"
This message was last edited by the player at 01:25, Mon 18 Sept 2006.

Now that it's daylight you can see that the building you are in appears to have been missed entirely by looting. There are also many signs that whoever had lived here before left in a hurry - decayed food remains in the kitchen, some still half eaten and sitting on plates. Thoughts of such ghost ships as the Mary Celeste spring to mind...
You could almost believe they had left just days before if the occasional broken window and damage from the elements didn't say otherwise...

Corrigan smiled slightly as he spoke, "Was part of a larger group out doing a patrol I guess you could call it, and we got ambushed...  Lost a few and then we got separated.  We originally came from another group, I was on my way to find them when I ran into you guys...  I have an idea which direction to go assuming they haven't already moved on, but other than that..." he shrugged slightly trying to make light though the stress was evident on his face.


Pointy end towards enemy, yeah sure, bet she's a freedom fighter of some sort, it would be handy to have more combat experience in this group... he said to himself silently though to be fair everyone these days had at least some combat experience, if you didn't you generally didn't survive long...  "Tak, pointy end towards enemy..." he said with a grin, a little levity going a long way right now.  "Well, I guess we should rest up here for a little while, see what food we can find, just keep out of sight as much as possible and keep extraneous noise to a minimum.  We don't need to advertise we're here..." he said, stepping into the leadership role without even thinking about it as a group without direction would quickly become fodder for someone else...

At Katka's comment about soap he grinned, "And I guess it wouldn't hurt to clean up a little as well...  Doc, as we're getting settled can you give everyone a once over, make sure we're about as healthy as we can be?  Also, at least one of us on duty at all times, I'd prefer two, to cover as much area as possible, but we'll figure something out...  If no one else wants it I'll take first..." he said with a shrug, though it was at that moment his stomach decided to give it's opinion of the whole matter...


Glancing around and getting a feel for the building, having noted the remains of food left in a hurry he began to wonder what the cabinets might still hold, any canned goods would be very welcome, fresh stuff would be even better though he doubted any such stuff would be found.  "Well, let's try and find some food, get ourselves checked up, get some rest and perhaps dry clothes, or at the very least our clothes dried, and from there we can figure what our next step will be.  Sound ok?" he asked, still not happy about stepping into the leadership role, not after what had happened before...

He shook his head to stop the thought from completing itself, it was an ambush, no one could have foreseen it...  "Keep your weapon handy at all times, no saying who else is going to stumble upon us, but for the moment let's rest and eat a little..." he said, stooping to pick up the RPK before moving slowly towards on of the windows to start his watch, being very careful not to reveal himself...

Doc Brooks nods, "I'll get right on that... um, what do you go by? Sergeant Major or Sir?"

With his answer he go upstairs and rumages through his pack for dry or dryer clothes and socks. After changing Doc lays the wet clothes on a bed to dry and makes his way to the kitchen trying to find a bag to toss the nasty spoiled and rotted food into to get it away from everyone.

As he moves through the house he will stop briefly with each person and ask, "Got any injury or ailments you want me to take a look at?" All the while doing his own mental evaluation and looking over each person out of a force of habit dealing with Marines that rarely admit to hurting or feeling bad.

"Just a broken heart." Sebastian smiles and indicates the pitchfork wound in his left shoulder. It appears to be healing quite nicely. "You did a fine job, Doc."

Encouraged by Katka's apparent lack of modesty, Sebastian strips off his damp uniform and socks. Much of the imbedded moisture had been transferred to the sheets on the bed upstairs during his long slumber but they could still do with some drying. Wearing only his undershorts, combat boots, and Uzi, he begins to rumage through every cabinet and draw working his way from the kitchen, upward but always keeping away from the windows.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:58, Tue 19 Sept 2006.

Doc Brooks unzips his medical bag and sets it on the table in the kitchen, "Well Sebastian, while I got yah half naked, take a seat and let me take a look at that wound and make sure it's not infected. Plus I need to put a new dressing on it." He'll to a chair as he pulls one out from the table in front of him.

Corrigan sighed softly and shook his head, "A title like either of those is only befitting a commissioned or non-commissioned officer of a powerful military...  Corrigan's fine, Andy, Andrew, 'hey you', whatever..." he said, lightening his tone at the end to further lighten their spirits a little before turning to continue his watch, catching Doc's movements out of the corner of his eye he smiled slightly, he had at least one ally here it seemed...

When he caught Sebastien, stripped to the waist to allow his clothes to dry and carefully and methodically going through the house, while doing his best to remain clear of the windows, he couldn't help but smile again, another ally it seemed...  They all needed to be allies if they were to survive, and giving them the ability to dry out their clothes, rest and find what food they could would help with their disposition towards himself...  Not that he minded if someone disliked him, they needed each other, and he had been on his own when he found these three so if worst came to light he would bow out as he had arrived, and leave them be, no hard feelings.  But, they all must know their chances were far better together...

He continued his watch carefully and silently, moving periodically to watch as much territory as he could while the others settled a little, letting them decide who would take next watch and hoping some decent food was found...

Peering out the window you see a column of smoke rising from the direction of the incident during the night. Not a building burning, more likely a cooking fire...
Many items of value are easily found although no food besides a few old containers of herbs and spices. Apparently whoever lived here had cleaned the pantry out, obviously not in a panic but certainly not waiting about to clean up the remains of their last meal.
All evidence you find shows that nobody has lived there for at least a year. A calender on the wall still shows March of 1999 - It's now mid August 2000.

When he first saw it he made careful and mental note of it's position, calculating direction and approximate distance as best he could before moving off on the rest of his 'round', assuming it was probably nothing.  Upon his return to that spot he noted the smoke a little more and, considering he had seen enough building's and vehicles burning in his more recent life, knew it was neither of those...  Which meant...  A cooking fire?

He scowled and tried to picture in his mind whereabouts it might be, but as dark and as rainy as it was it made it difficult, after a few moments he turned back inside and went to relay the news...  "Doc, Sebastien, Katka!" he called softly, not loud enough to be heard outside and yet loud enough to carry within the walls...  "We may have friends, or an unsuspecting enemy ripe for picking up supplies, just across the way...  What do you guys want to do?" he asked, knowing he would himself at the very least go and scout out who it was, but not wanting to make the decisions for the four of them just yet...

  Having no luck at aquirring a fresh bar of soap from the boys, she gave the bathrooms a once over again. It had been dark when she searched the house before and perhaps something had been overlooked, no luck. Only a flacky, half used clump of what was once a disk of soap was left and that was dried from the ages. So it was down and to the back ally where she had deposited a large pot the night before, situated strategicly as to catch the vast amount of rainwater that poured off the roofs. The ally was a tiny little back road used for garbage collection and the like, no garbageman was likely to be by for a long time tho.

  She brought the pot in to the back hall near the kitchen. It seemed clear enough and tasted like water so she retrived a canteen and filled it up. The rest she used to take a sponge bath, a couple towels and some vigerous scrubbing would go a long way despite the lack of soap or a sponge, and according to the towel, she had been suprisingly dirty. It was refreashing to finally take some time to take care of herself.

  All cleaned up, it was time to join Dok and Sebastian in the kitchen. She jumped up on the table, having been cleaned since the last time she saw, and unbuttoned. Dok looked like he was about finished patching up Sebatian's wound. He was in nice shape otherwise.

  "My turn now? My feet are hurting and I am hungry all the time, got pill for that?" Smilling and letting her dress fall back. "I have few cans of food upstairs. Meat, that is what they tell us. I could maybe mix food and make something good for us, if you like." She tugged at the bottom or her sweater, "You want me undressed also?"

  Hearing the brit call their way she replied, "We want to eat!" She smiled and lean into the others, whispering "What is his name?"
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 19:33, Tue 19 Sept 2006.

Yes, please. Sebastian thought. This girl was certainly not shy. But, that sort of thing had gotten him in trouble recently. Doc wouldn't have to be patching me up right now if only I could think more clearly around attractive women... Think of something else... football... food!





"Andy. I believe his name is Andy. Does anyone else think it might not be such a good idea to 'investigate'? Especially considering the welcome we received last night. I'd best get back into some clothes, either way..."

Doc shakes his head as he takes a look at Katka's feet, "Nah, you can keep your nice pretty dress on. Unless you got some other injury you want me to take a look at." He'll then tend to the blisters and nod at Sebastians comments.

"Yah I hear yah. Though taking a look might not be such a bad idea, I might go with the Sergeant Major if he heads out to take a look." He'll pause from his treatment of Katka's feet to look at Sebastian, "The two of you going to be ok if I head out with him? If he goes that is."

What does he mean? Is it that obvious?

"Ya, we will be fine."

Sebastian glances at Katka and nods, intending, somewhat awkwardly, to both reassure and solicit her feedback. Uncharacteristically embarrassed- and perhaps even a little ashamed- by his own thoughts and Doc's apparent ability to see right through him, he leaves the room without waiting for a reply and heads upstairs to get dressed. After putting on his fatigues, now only slightly damp around the junctions were the panels and pockets are fastened, he walks back downstairs. Pausing to take a deep breath and run his hand through his hair, he reenters the kitchen, composure restored, ego slightly bruised but intact.

He smiles, making eye contact with both Brooks and Katka, "Well?"

Nods a greeting as he zips up his medical kit and moves off to find Corrigan, stopping to add before he leaves the kitchen, "Katka, you should cook something. Who knows when the next time we get a chance to eat a hot meal."

When he finds Corrigan he'll kneel nearby, "You going to take a look? Mind if I come with yah? I'm sure Sebastian and Katka will be ok here as long as they keep an eye out for trouble."

Corrigan smiled slightly at Katka's mention of food, but Doc's question raised his own, he dearly wanted some food, but professionalism took over and the need to check out the 'neighbors' over-rode everything else...  With Doc knelt by he smiled thinly, "Yes, I'm gonna check everything out...  You're welcome along, just keep your head down and do as I say..." he said, trying to keep it light, though he meant what he said, hefting the RPK as he spoke...

Then, after a glance and a smile at Doc, moved towards the door opening and, after a glance outside he moved quickly and silently towards the next piece of cover.  After checking to be sure he was safe, he motioned for Doc to accompany him and, working on cover by cover, they made their way towards their new 'neighbors'....

Andy and Brooks head out the door and work their way towards the smoke rising into the air. Leapfrogging each other, their weapons follow their eyes as they scan for trouble.

Meanwhile Sebastian and Katka keep themselves busy preparing for the day ahead.

Brooks soon proves to be fairly competant with his feild craft, but, understandably for a medic, still not in the same class as Andy. Several minutes out they arrive in the area of the previous nights events. One more corner and the location will be in full view...

  Katka's eyebrows pop up as Sebastian takes his leave of the kitchen. She slowly pulls the dress on and buttons up, folding her arms in as she leans in on Dok. Soft tones so the sound wont travel, "It is bad idea." Knowing he will go anyways, "Be carefull."

  When Sebastian finally comes down from upstairs, Dok having finished with her, she jumps off the table and smiles. "They go. We cook! What food you have?" And so the hunt begins for a tasty stew, pots, pans, spices, canned foods and MREs. Untill their two comrades leave thru the front door that is, "Duren! They can have gone out back door!" She watches them move down the street then rushes upstairs to don her webbing and bring her rifle down to the kitchen.

  "I do not trust this Andy." She knifes open an unmarked can of meatlike substaince, something recently handbacked with a pop off lid that might have been a paint can at one time. "It is good they leave spice for us."

Corrigan re-evaluates his first impression of Brooks, and smiles slightly as he see him in action, competent to say the least which makes him feel a little better about things..  And soon they are approaching the last corner, Corrigan motions for Brooks to slow down and spread out a little so they're not grouped together, and then slowly approaches the corner careful not to show himself while watching for anyone who might be on watch, mindful of the sniper from the previous evening.

Using hand signals he motions Brooks into cover and tells him to watch for the sniper, as Corrigan carefully looked around the edge of the wall...
This message was last edited by the player at 15:24, Tue 26 Sept 2006.

Andy carefully peered around the corner taking great pains to remain as much in cover as possible. Beyond the building and across the street two armoured vehicles sat menacingly. One a BRDM-2 scout vehicle in Soviet colours and the other a BTR-80 similarly painted. The three story building all the action occured at the night before sits just past the vehicles, smoke rising lazily from the chimmney.
Looking upwards towards the roof three stories above, Andy finds himself peering down the barrel of a scoped, high powered rifle. Although about 150 metres distant, he's in no doubt that if the owner chose to squeeze their finger just slightly, he'd find himself in a great deal of pain...
[Private to WO2 Andy Corrigan: Hard to see at this range, but you think you might know who it is. Got any binoculars, etc?]

"Well, he seems to be a decent chap but we shouldn't be splitting up like this. I may not be a commando, but I know better than that..."

Sebastian moves over to where his pack leans against the wall."We don't have much in the way of food, just some tinned rations and, er, a sausage..."

Sebastian winks at Katka as he removes a battered sausage from his pack."Courtesy of a friendly Polish farmer." Sebastian tosses the sausage to Katka. "Let's save the tinned rations.I think they can wait a little longer."

Sebastian shifts his weight from foot to foot nervously."If you don't mind, I think one of us should probably keep watch just in case our sniper friend decides to stop in for breakfast."

Brooks kneels a few feet back along the wall from Corrigan. He sweeps his rifle and gaze across the building tops and windows behind their position and across the street. As he watches their backs the seconds it takes for Corrigan to peak around the corner drag on like minutes. The sweat beads up on his forehead then runs down his face.

  "He is hungry for war." She shakes her head and laughs a little, "You see way he holds rifle? Like little malia." Imitating a mother craddling her child. "Peh, let him fight, I am tire... tiring of it."

  She sniffs the meatstuff but drops it on the table when Sebatian pulls out the sausage. Her eyes go wide, taking deep delight in its oder when he tosses it her way. Rattling off excitedly in Ukrainian, she take a bite off the end and groans at the extacy of real food, "Is so good! Sebastian, you are saint!" Hammers the lid back on, "No dog food today!"

  Looking around the kitchen, Katka waves off Sebastian when he mentions gaurd duty. "Stay away from window this time and keep drapes way they are when we come in."

Sebastian laughs soflty, "I've been called many things before, but never saint!"

He points to the sausage, "I look forward to sampling your cooking. Save some for the rest of us, eh?"

"I'd love to stay but..." He points towards the front of the house. He'd really rather sit and chat with Katka, but the idea of some heavily armed and unfriendly types just waltzing in through the unguarded front door will not allow him relax. He enters the front room/foyer, staying well back from the window. He thumbs the selector switch on his Uzi to full auto then inches closer to the window, until he can peer out from behind the tattered drapes. He quickly surveys the street outside, then, seeing nothing of interest, backs away and returns to far side of the room. He finds a chair and props it up against the wall, opposite a window facing the street. He feels that he is deep enough in the shadows to avoid being seen from outside, save by someone standing right outside the window. His view of the outside is subsequently quite limited, but he can also cover the front door from his seat. I hope Andy and Doc knock when they return...

He had to fight not to lose his cool as something about the manner in which the person was training the rifle on him sparked some recollection in him, added to the fact that he wasn't dead yet meant that maybe, just maybe, that person knew who he was as well...  He swallowed and slipped back behind cover to take a deep breath, taking a moment to ease his nerves as he glanced towards Brooks, "You got any binocs?  The sniper is there but the good news is they didn't shoot me even though they had the shot, and I'd swear I knew them, even at this range..." he briefly considered stepping out a little more from the cover so the sniper could get a better view, hoping if his hunch was right he wouldn't just get blown away but he wasn't sure he wanted to test out the theory just yet.

If Brooks had some binoculars or a scope, he could at least get a better feel for who it was and if he did, in fact, remember them...  He swallowed again, waiting for a response...

Brooks shook his head, "Nope. We going to have to move closer?" Lowering his rifle but scanning their six Brooks grew a tad more nervous.

Corrigan scowled at the prospect of just stepping out and hoping the sniper was a friend before sighing softly, "Yeah, we need to move closer without making ourselves an easy target, I'm not ready for the possibility of a pine box just yet..." he said, knowing in one sense they had the advantage of knowing where the sniper was as long as there wasn't another around...

He turned and briefly described the position of the sniper to Brooks, so that the Corpsman knew where to avoid, and then began to move, heading around the back of the building they were at to find a way to get closer so that he could perhaps identify some of the other party at the campfire, or even get a closer look at the sniper...

Just as you're about to move, you hear the distinctive sound of running boots and the subtle jingle of equipment aproaching through the buildings...

Reacting quickly Corrigan motioned Brooks to move to cover as quickly as possible, pressing a finger to his lips to indicate silence, as he prepared the RPK for action.  If they were close enough he could hear such details then they didn't have much time at all.  Where they were didn't offer much in the way of cover but the corner would help, finding themselves backed against a solid wall was also good though hardly as bullet-proof as some might think.

He settled himself and waited, motioning for Brooks to cover the other direction, the RPK ready to rock 'n' roll as he prayed silently that these were friendlies...

Upon hearing the foot steps Brooks swings his rifle up covering the corner of the building he's near. Not having to move the rifle far since he was already scanning the opposite side of the street to the rear of their little formation. He wipes a sweaty hand on his trousers before realizing and correcting a minor mistake. He thumbs the safety off and clicks once to place his weapon in semi-auto mode. He grimaces as the sound of the simple click thundering like a lightning strike to his ears.

  Katka leans into the front room a little while later, hesitently, "Ehh, I have little, problem. I can cook sausage vary good, tak, that is not problem! Only, I can not find anything to burn that will not make smoke. I am thinking I can use alkohol but, I have no or I would be drinking it but, emm.. I need some way to make heat. Can you help?"

"Er, well, I don't know. I have a little C4; It burns very quickly and very hot with little smoke, but it is very precious. My old commander used to curse like a lunatic every time he caught us using it to brew up. But, I suppose we could spare a pinch- it's not every day we get to enjoy special Ukrainian style sausage stew, eh?"

OOC: Nuked, can we spare a pinch of C4 without depleting our stock? Apparently, C4 burns like mad when exposed to flame but does not explode. LRRP's during 'Nam used to roll up little balls of it to heat water for their dehydrated rations while in the field.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:56, Sat 07 Oct 2006.

Andy and William move quickly towards cover but not quite fast enough. Caught just short, the first person to appear is a very fit middle aged woman dressed in civilian clothing and expertly hold an RPK to her shoulder. A few strands of blonde hair poke from underneath a steel helmet. Polish combat webbing is worn about her body.
The moment she appears she begins to yell in American accented English, "DROP YER WEAPONS! DROP YER WEAPONS NOW!"
Several other people can be heard very close by.
[Private to WO2 Andy Corrigan: It's Tanya Redgrave]
[Private to Sebastian Stoeckel:

Sebastian Stoeckel:

Apparently, C4 burns like mad when exposed to flame but does not explode. LRRP's during 'Nam used to roll up little balls of it to heat water for their dehydrated rations while in the field.

fas.org:

"their detonation or burning produces poisonous fumes"

Still want to try cooking with it?]
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:12, Sat 07 Oct 2006.

A second figure appears, this one a large solid man pointing what at first glance appears to be a scoped M16 with M203 grenade launcher. He is dressed in Soviet camoflage and webbing. A russian helmet sits above a face that only a mother could love.
As the woman yells her order to disarm, so does the man, but in a language neither of you can understand. The intent is clear enough though...
[Private to WO2 Andy Corrigan: Major Bernard Finnegan]
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:20, Sat 07 Oct 2006.

Just as Brooks lowers his weapon the first figure appeared screaming. His grip tightens on his weapon as the sweat builds, he glances back and forth between the two. Without taking his eyes off the two he'll ask questioningly toward Corrigan, not really sure what he'd be able to do about the situation. "Sergeant Major?"

Ignoring Brooks for just a moment Corrigan couldn't help but feel a huge sense of relief at the sight of the two, though in the excitement he also didn't want to spark a misfire, intentional or otherwise so, as he slowly and purposefully lowered his weapon he spoke, softly so as to not agitate fraid nerves, and yet clearly enough to be heard.  "Well, this is quite a reception!  Thanks for the several gun salute, Tanya...  And did you forget I couldn't understand that language Bernard?" he said, a grin breaking out on his face as he let the bareel of the RPK lower further while speaking again, this time to Brooks, "William, meet Tanya Redgrave with whom I escaped from a terrible situation a looong time ago, and Bernard Finnegan who we rescued from slavers...  Tanya, Bernard, this William Brooks, a newly found friend of mine who would much prefer to not have to patch anyone up any time soon..."  He emphasized the word intending to make them realize Brooks was a Corpsman, a valuable person to have these days and further hoping to distill the situation...

  Much releived, "Diakuyu! You see, you are saint."

  "Now?" Tapping her chin in thought, "If only you can wave hand around and come up with potatos and vegitables, we can have big meal!" Shrugs and holds out an open hand expectingly.

"Well, you know, perhaps we should not use C4. I seem to remember my instructors saying it was, er... poisonous. If we cook inside, the fumes may harm us. Let us break up one of these chairs instead. We can make a, er... platform out of bricks to burn the wood on top of. If we cook at the bottom of the stairs, most of the smoke should spread out as it finds it's way upstairs and out of the building."

Sebastian gets up, makes his way across the room, picks an already wobbly dining chair, lifts it up, and smashes it against the door jamb.

Holding up a shattered leg, he says,  "Here we go. Let's get cooking."

OOC: Most of the buildings have fireplaces or coal burning stoves.

  Katka shakes her head, "I do not like it. It is taking large chance in town full of enemy. We can always wait untill we get out of town to fix hot meal? I would like it today but, not worth danger of loosing umm.. cover?"

"Yes, I suppose you are right. I am sorry, Katka. I would like a hot meal too, but it looks like it will have to be cold tinned rations and a few slices of the sausage for breakfast today."

Feeling somewhat dejected, Sebastian tosses aside the chair legs he was left holding. With a wink, he adds, "Do we really have to wait for the others?"

OOC: Nuked, is there access to the rear of the building? Perhaps the residents planted a "victory garden" out back...

The sound of about half a dozen set of booted feet is heard approaching from the direction Andy and the Doc had gone. A few moments later their familiar voices are heard calling to you warning of their approach and asking you not to fire. They have found friendlies!

Booted feet approach. Corrigan calls out.

After a few tense moments, sebastian eases his white-knuckle grip on the Uzi and moves cautiously towards the front door.

"Well, hello gentlemen. Who have you got there?"

With a wink and a smile he adds, "I'm afraid we've only got place settings for four."

  Katka waits, crouched behind the kitchen door frame, AK scanning the front door. Bad angle to see much from where shes at but, the sounds of things are promissing.

Corrigan, in the lead with Marcus, moved slowly closer to the resting point they had left their friends and, after checking to make sure he wasn't already being covered by a firearm, he called out to those within...

"Sebastien!  Katka!  It's Andy Corrigan!!  We found friends!  Let us approach!" he said, loudly enough and clearly enough for them to hear, and yet not so loud as to draw attention from an enemy in the vicinity...
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:20, Tue 17 Oct 2006.

After a few tense moments, Sebastian eases his white-knuckle grip on the Uzi and moves cautiously towards the front door. He peeks out the door, Uzi at the ready. He sees Corrigan, Doc Brooks, and two unexpected newcomers.

"Well, hello gentlemen. Who have you got there?"

With a wink and a smile he adds, "I'm afraid we've only got place settings for four."

Corrigan grinned at Sebastien's remark, raising the barrel of the RPK to point skywards as he approached, "Friends of mine, Sebastien, and I'm sure we could combine all our resources and come up with place settings for us all!" he said with a grin before turning and gesturing for the others to approach...

  Katka gets up and jogs over to the door, poking her head out to give everyone the once-over. "Come in!" Nodding inside.

Corrigan was thankful for Marcus' vigilance, but with Katka's welcome he knew it would be good to get everyone under cover if even for only a short time...  Turning to Marcus he signed to him to cover everyone as they approached the building his new found friends had taken, knowing he could trust Marcus to bring up the rear, while also knowing he needed to be first through the line of fire for Sebastien and Katka to trust them.

With his RPK aimed upwards, though ready to drop level at a moment's notice if anything occurred, he led the group towards Sebastien and Katka, purposefully putting himself between the two groups until they got a feel for each other...

[OOC]  Time to combine threads, oh mighty Narrator? :-)  [/OOC]

Sebastian keeps his Uzi trained on Corrigan until he sees Doc Brooks, still armed and looking well, close behind. With a sense of relief and an increased trust in the Englishman, Sebastian lowers the barrel of his Uzi and smiles.

"You didn't tell us we were having company over!"

OOC: Ready to merge.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:22, Sun 22 Oct 2006.

OOC: May I suggest eating AFTER moving into the main groups area? More eyes to keep you safe and all that. Besides, they already have a fire burning...