The two vehicles are soon underway with the BRDM-2 scouting ahead as usual. The terrain quickly changes from flat floodplains covered in what was until just a year or two earlier was productive farmland to rugged, tree covered hills, steep cliffs and ravines - perfect ambush country...

Brooks drives along following any directions from Virgil. Glancing back at the top hatches behind his and the commanders seat he comments, "Hell of a death trap you guys got here. But it beats walking."

A few minutes later another thought enters his mind, so he asks, "We got an immediate action drill for if we take fire? Or is it just drive like a bat outtah hell 'til the shooting stops?"
This message was last edited by the player at 14:33, Mon 11 Dec 2006.

Bernhard looks out his vision block and marvels at the terrain around him. Everywhere he looks he imagines there is an RPG hidden, just waiting for them to come into range for an easy kill. The short way was the hard way, but he still believed it was the right way. The longer route would run them out of fuel. Hell, they may run out this way, if the calculations for milage he had done in his head were off by too much. He clicked the mic for his radio for both vehicles to hear,"This looks like prime ambush country. Keep alert, and if we get hit let's drive through it. Unless one of the vehicles is immobilized. If that happens the other vehicle should assault the ambush. Whether we dismount will be at the discretion of the vehicle commander."

Brown, in his position behind the weapon tried to scan the surrounding area as much as the periscope would allow him to. When he noticed a landmark he recognised from the Estonian stories or pictures he would relay the information back to the rest of the vehicles inhabitants. Especially making sure Doc Brooks stayed on the right track.

Corrigan kept his own counsel for a while, withdrawing into himself for a time though he was alert and observant of the happenings outside the vehicle, as much as the restricted visibility allowed him to be, the big RPK settled in his grasp awaiting it's next use.  His pack remained on his back, just in case he needed to bug out, and he was ready for whatever might occur on the journey.

For now though, he observed...

As soon as they two vechicle convoy moves out of town, Sebastian struggles to his feet in the cramped troop compartment and opens one of the starboard troop roof hatches. Before rising to his full height, exposing his head and shoulders in the open hatch, he addresses his fellow passengers,

"I suggest someone opens the left hatch and keeps watch on that side of the BTR. It's going to be hard to spot threats from inside through these little windows [view ports] and the fresh air will do everyone good. Also, I could use some company up here." He adds with a smile.

Regardless of his companions' reply to his suggestion, Sebastian stands in the open starboard hatch, Uzi in hand and keeps watch on the starboard fore quarter (from approx 0-120 degrees) scanning for threats.

Don mumbles a thanks for the extra room, and tries to lay down ever so little.

The BRDM-2 leads the way deeper and deeper into the rough terrain. Tree covered slopes tower above as the road winds it's way through the ravine and towards what was once the picturesque castle "Pieskowa Skala".
Several kilometres short of this landmark, "Doc" Brooks is forced to bring the vehicle to a halt - a tree has fallen across the road, not an altogether unusal occurance in Poland, or anywhere else really now that regular maintenance of the road networks have ceased.
Normally he would have been able to drive around, even over the obstacle, but with cliff to the left and a several metre drop into a stream to the right....
A quick radio message and the BTR-80 rolls to a halt several hundred metres behind, out of site around a bend.
This message was last updated by the GM at 11:47, Wed 13 Dec 2006.

The moment the BTR-80 rolled to a stop Corrigan was alert, more alert than before with a sense of foreboding that slowly filled him.  Glancing up he saw Sebastien leaning out one of the top hatches and cursed himself softly for not noticing before, with a quick movement he opened the other top hatch and pulled himself up slowly, his RPK at the ready as he cautiously raised himself up to take a look around...

Disliking the fact that they were now, effectively, a large metal coffin-shaped stationary target, he considered slipping out one of the hatches and moving into any available cover at the side of the road, knowing if a fight broke out and the BTR-80 couldn't move, the added mobility of being on foot would outweigh the loss of armor...  He thought about it for a moment, his gaze scanning their surroundings, expecting trouble.

As Brooks rolled the BRDM to a halt he looked at the tree trying to look for man made marks that the tree was there on purpose. After coming to a halt he pushed himself up slighty, to look into the periscope trying to get a look around the front of the vehicle making mental notes of which way to turn and drive if it was an ambush.

At first look from inside the BRDM-2 the tree appears to have received no assistance in falling across the road. A storm perhaps several months ago felled it in a most awkward position. Roughly two feet thick and covered in branches, it's roots are still firmly planted in the soil, it's continued covering in greenery showing it has suffereed little from the fall.

Turning around at this point in the trail would prove difficult, even in a vehicle with proper all round vision. With the cliff hard up against on side (the tree is growing out from a niche is it) and ground dropping away to the other into the stream, the best that could be hoped for is backing up a few hundred feet before turning.

Cam rattled along in the stifling confines of the vehicle, head lolling to-and-fro on their near-oceanic voyage across the back roads through the equivalent of natural murder holes.   She’d remembered some tactics of the sort that they had use back home on convoys.. -And not being able to see the scenery didn’t help as much as she had hoped.  If there was a high path they could get on and mirror the vehicle’s journey from on high, she would have liked to.. but wasn’t really sure about being able to keep up in foreign terrain, or any terrain for that matter.

When the motion came to a halt she made ready to dismount, almost expected it to be called out. Nerves suddenly set on edge, she fidgeted with her rifle, shoulders tensed. “We have trouble?..”, Her words lifted lightly as she peered past Tanya, then looked to her close by friend, then to whomever might be able to view the path behind them.. “How our back?..”

Tanya just sat back with her eyes closed trying to get some rest while they were moving along in the vehicle.  She felt better that they were leaving the area and getting away from the mudpeople who disappeared into the night after their probe into their camps perimeter.  With Cam near, she felt that much more at ease knowing that her friend was beside her if she needed her.

When the vehicle stopped, Tanya sat up and looked around the interior of the APC to try and see what was going on.  She reached own for the forend of the barrel of the RPK auto rifle looking back to Cam,  "I hope not Lootenant.  We just started to get moving and all of a sudden, we stopping?  Let's hope not!"

Bernhard thinks for a few seconds before deciding what they need to do. "Pull this beast up so we can provide better cover fire for the BRDM. Once we get closer, Myself, Lt Ashton, Sgts. Redgrave and Corrigan will dismount and see what can be done with this tree. We have some tools on board, and if that won't work we may try some explosives. I figure if we can get it at least partway off the road then the vehicles will be able to get through. Everyone else can get eyes out and provide cover for us." He starts rummaging through the various equipment inside the BTR to see if he can find anything that will be useful.

Camilla, tilted her head and gave Tanya’s shoulder a light cuffing before leaning forward, her other hand on the rifle. “We use these for cover?..”, Her tone curious, and concerned at the same time, indicating the vehicle they were in with a slight jut of her chin.  Or at least that was what she hoped came across.   Altogether keenly curious if the drop-off of the cliff was far enough away to exit on the other side. Being of little use with her poor English skills, Ashton couldn’t offer much vocally.

“I have AK, Maybe Trade rifle with other before exit? So they use holes?”, Since she couldn’t contribute to the planning process much, she thought it might be okay to offer her weapon for anyone that didn’t have one that could be used in the ports.

When the BRDM came to a halt Brown had already spotted the green obstacle across the road. With the weapon sighting he scanned the surrounding area looking for signs of ambush. Cursing the limited elevation on the heavy gun.

"Someone contact the BTR and and make sure their gun can cover those cliffs right above us. With the elevation on this thing that's surely our blindspot. And when this is an ambush, that's where I'd expect most of the danger from."

Sebastian craned his neck peering at the cliff above them. A pair of 8-year-old school-children up there with a bucket of fragmentation grenades could wipe out the little convoy in their current disposition.

At this distance from the cliff-tops, Sebastian wouldn't be able to do much to answer an attack with his Uzi except make a lot of noise. He looked down into the troop compartment of the BTR and inquired,

"Is there a spare rifle that I could use down there?"

Turning to Corrigan in the roof hatch opposite, he added,

"If there is an obstacle ahead, I have pioneer, er... engineering experience..."

Bernhard hearing Sebastian's comment about engineer work, looks up at him in the hatch,"Well, then you can come along with the rest of us dismounts, we can use all the help you can give us figuring out how to get rid of the tree. Apparently that is what is blocking the road."

With people already moving, Sergio adds his own. "Move out and secure positions for safety, cover and visibility. Seems we've a tree blocking us and so might be delayed. I'll stay but look out with rifle ready for long shots, any with help experience or ideas head off to see about that log. I'd imagine tying it to a vehicle easiest way to move. Radio we're sending a few over for help." He says, trying to take control but not entirely confident in his ability. Special units were capable of actioning on their own, and frankly, this lot fit the bill.

Moving around, he finds a god place to observe with relative protection and awaits to hear any replies, ideas or queries, before starting to use his scopes to check out the surroundings with a snipers view.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:03, Fri 15 Dec 2006.

"I imagine we'll be covering from here but, who knows Lootenant.  If you've got the extra rifle to spare ma'am, go ahead.  I'd like to get a look at the tree since I might be able to assist with the removal if we got the right equipment, like some explosves," Tanya says back to Cam.

"Is there a spare rifle that I could use down there?"

Turning to Corrigan in the roof hatch opposite, he added,

"If there is an obstacle ahead, I have pioneer, er... engineering experience..."

Tanya looked back to Cam, "The new guys got an UZI if he wants to switch.  Hold on a minute though," she says.  "Sebastian!  You've got engineering equipment?  I can give you a hand with the tree if you want?"

As they approached the tree Marcus shook his head and muttered under his breath, _{"Great ambush site, f**kin' Murphy."} He scanned a little harder, if that was at all possible, before they rolled to a stop.  Realizing that any way they sliced it this was going to be a long haul stop, he immediately dismounted with a shout back to any non-essential crew, "Dismount."  Checking the ground for any signs of mines or other nastiness before hitting it he dismounts and moves to the relative protection of the incline to the water on the right.  He takes the opportunity to get a full look at the surrounding area, perhaps they could set up some additional overwatch.

"Yes, that would be grand."

Sebastian pops back into the crowded troop compartment and grabs his demolitions satchel.

"Well, off to work! Looks like I won't be needing that rifle quite yet."

Sebastian hoists himself back up and through the rood hatch, scoots the foot and a half to the edge of the BTR roof, and slides down to the ground.

He walks forward toward the fallen tree, feeling useful for the first time since he entered Wolbrom the evening before.

[Assuming that Tanya is in tow; if not, he's talking to himself...]

"So, I've only got two kilos of plastic explosive; I'd like to conserve as much as possible. Let's get a close look at this tree, shall we?"

As they dismount the vehicle, Tanya moves next to Marcus and raises a hand for Sebastian to wait for her.  "Sebastian's got some silly putty and a demo kit for the tree up ahead.  We'll move up and take a look so we can get the hell out of here ASAP?  Roger that?"

Upon approval, she turns to Sebastian, "Two kilos should be more than enough to get the tree out of the way.  We'll know better when we take a closer look at it."

Somewhat reluctant about the hatch, and a bit lost when it came to how things were transpiring at that moment, Camilla wasn’t about to let Tanya head off without her. -Up with her riffle (maybe catch up an axe or or a spade if there's one to be had?), she shimmied along the line of seats before clambering out the hatch after them..  Though if anything happened to the vehicle, her pack was going to be hard to go get..

She scooted along behind them, tucking in close to the outcropping above, and rounded the corner. Mostly she was back peddling, keeping an eye on their back and up, though occasionally panning out over the drop-off. Ashton wasn’t really fond of being out in the open..  And one of her concerns was for how stable the earth was on the high side. Rockslide wasn’t a fun prospect either.

The bright side was the blessed cool taste of fresh air..  When they got around the bend and closer to where Smith was, she’d probably focus on up  and straight ahead past the fallen obstruction. Though dependant upon the situation those plans might change.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:15, Sat 16 Dec 2006.

Tanya and Sebastian approach the fallen tree with Cam in tow while everyone else takes cover and provides security. A pick and shovel over Cam's shoulder and a fairly extensive demolitions kit weigh the three down a little but it still only takes a couple of minutes to cross the distance between vehicles.

A few minutes later and the three have assessed the problem. At least an hours work would be required to dig out the roots enough to allow the two foot thick tree to be towed out of the way, or a little over a kilo of explosives properly placed and tamped. Option two will take approximately 5-10 minutes to prepare with three working on it.

Either option will still require moving the tree trunk with a vehicle - there's simply not enough plastic explosives available to do the job by itself but certainly enough to sever the trunk.

Although you have a number of shovels, picks and mattocks, there is not one axe, saw or other cutting tool of note amongst your supplies. Times like this a chainsaw would be very handy...

  Katka slowly rises, rubbing the back of her neck with a yawn and a back stretch. She cranks open and close the firing ports on both sides to see whats out there before popping her head out of the port roof hatch to scan the countryside above.

Camilla paused inside the defensive perimeter, glancing to her companions as she eased the tools from her shoulder and stared grimly at their wooden foe..  Her blue eyes trailed the length of the tree, up the wall it was protruding from and then across the ground in front of her.. A glance was spared toward the vehicle that was closest.. before returning her gaze to Sebastian and Tanya..  “What you think?..”, It was a rather lukewarm question, her lips drawn into a small frown..

Exposed as it was, and considering the rain the night before, she doubted her cursory glance would glean any tracks, if there were even any involved..  The Danish Lieutenant didn’t relish the notion of digging in this place, mud as distasteful as it was would have been preferable when compared to the stony patch of earth they were treading upon.. Ironicaly while it might be unfun for digging, it was better for driving over..
This message was last edited by the player at 21:06, Sun 17 Dec 2006.

Don takes the chance stretching out when people rise and walks out.

The painkillers kick in, and he thinks about thanking the dock but doesn't have the time before he falls asleep.

Sebastian was frowing too, thinking about how much of his small stock of explosives would be needed to reduce the large trunk into more manageable chunks. He was loth to part with any of it. With every reduction in his supply of explosives, his usefulness to the party would diminish also. As just one more mouth to feed, he could soon find himself sitting alone on the roadside with his thumb out.

Am I being too paranoid, here? Probably. Still, one way or another, explosives may come in handy further down the road...

"Well, it looks like one kilo of C4 would do the trick; less if we could bore a decent sized hole in the wood for placing the charge. So, it appears to be a question of time. How long do we want to stay here... like this." he said, looking back at the bottleneck on the high, exposed roadway.

Virgil popped open the hatch above his head and surveyed the area. With a cliff rising to the left and stream in the right, it wasn't as if they had many options. Even turning around wouldn't help much, they were short enough on ethanol as it was.
"I don't think it's an ambush or we'd be in the shit by now."
Retrieving his rifle from within the BRDM-2, he sighted up the cliff.
"Anyone able to climb up there and take a look around? We've got some ropes and might be able to find something for spikes."

Corrigan had dismounted when everyone else started moving, and almost knew what Sebastien was thinking, losing some of his precious explosives would enable them to move forward, but reduce their effectiveness, and possibly his usefulness though Corrigan could never allow another member to be left at the mercies of the enemy, further down the line...

Still, combat engineering wasn't his forte', time to start doing what he did best, plain soldiering. Moving with the RPK to whatever cover he could find he heard Matterson's suggestion and nodded silently to himself, that would be a good course of action to take for someone and considering they had been all in the vehicles and sitting targets for a number of moments before everyone dismounted, the thought that it might not be an ambush was also fair, better to hit the vehicles before everyone gets out if you want to eliminate the party...

Although, with us dismounted they can use anti-personnel weapons and leave the vehicles intact... he thought to himself and shook his head slightly, "Don't be too sure on that score, Virgil, maybe they want us dead and the vehicles good to go, what better way than to wait for us all to dismount?"  The thought made him scowl, and after a moment he spoke up again, "Someone take up a rear watch position, make sure there's no one tagging along behind us that can trap us here, I'll scout ahead of the obstacle and see what's further on..." he said and moved forwards with the small group checking out the tree, but rather than stop this side of the obstacle he moved past, checking for traps first he made his way over the tree and continued cautiously, advancing a little ways...

His gaze swept the landscape around them, the RPK following everywhere he looked as he took up an advance watch position, scouting ahead of them, hoping someone had the presence of mind to follow his order and do the same to the rear...

"no forget let Major know..",(only if he isn't already there) Camilla’s attention shifted slightly as Corrigan approached.. Pale, though her gaze was, she did follow his course a moment before her lips began to work again.. “Andy no alone.  One go with.”  Her thoughts on the situation had shifted slightly, especially if this wasn’t an ambush..  Ashton wondered at how far the echo might travel if they had to blow the thing..

Unless the SAS man selected someone from the detail, she made ready to tag along, or volunteer someone for the task.

He had paused slightly in his movement when Camilla spoke up and with a slight smile he nodded, speaking as he walked "Come along if you want, Cam..." he said, before continuing to the tree, preforming his check for traps, and cautiously making his way a little further up the road...

Having come to her senses at some point.. And realizing that she was close enough to catch part of Virgil’s questioning as well as considering Andy’s invite at her own insistences..  Camilla tilted her head slightly under the weight of the clunky helmet, and  jut a thumb toward herself, managing a mild response.. “know some climb…”, the woman struggled with the words, “I climb.” She left it on the Table at their discretion..

Brooks left the engine on the BRDM running as he climbed out of the drivers seat and stood up looking out of the hatch behind his seat. He glanced about the area and once he figured out they were up to something at the tree and noticing Sebastian digging around his kit bag he checked behind him for room to back up, just in case. Ducking inside he vehicle he reached over and shut the engine down then sat back down in the driver's seat watching the folks at the tree.

Choosing not to snap her neck anytime soon, as she was really an amateur when it came to climbing, Ashton shrugged apologetically and strolled after Corrigan. The Lieutenant was careful to give him space.. and used her rifle to provide whatever meager cover she could afford the soldier.  Cam had some rudimentary tracking skills, if the situation allowed, and  would peer past Andy occasionally for any ground signs..  Though mostly she wanted to free him up to do his thing and act as a second set of eyes.

Tanya sat in a squated position looking at the tree on what would be the easiest and time efficient way to move the tree and get off this road. "C-4's probably the easiest way out of this Sebastian.  I think we've got an AT grenade in there as well that might help in some way but, we're going to have to drill this out and get the charge and or the grenade in there for wither of them to be any good.  You want to check with my Major to see how he wants us to proceed?"

The options are fairly simple.
1) Use explosives to cut the log from it's roots - big loud noise
2) Burn it taking all day and creating a plume of smoke
3) Build up rocks and logs either side of it to allow the vehicles to climb over it - quicker than burning but still time consuming
4) Try cutting through with the unsuited tools you have (mattock, pick, etc)
5) Give up and try another route

If you choose explosives, there are basically two ways of doing it - a simple cutting charge which will need at least half the available explosives or drilling a hole into the trunk somehow which will reduce the required explosives to about half a kilo.
Around the area all seems quiet. Bird chirp and animals scurry through the brush. Beside the road the stream babbles as the clear water runs over smooth rocks. Up ahead where Andy and Cam are heading, no signs of trouble are apparent. Cam does spot horse tracks on the side of the road - a day or two old perhaps and heading back the way you came.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:03, Wed 20 Dec 2006.

Bernhard has been watching back the way they came when he hears his rank mentioned. Turning, he looks at those around him to make sure they see him leaving his position, and heads forward to the obstruction. "I don't care about the specifics, just blow this thing ASAP. I don't like sitting around here. The faster you can blow it out of the ground the sooner we are back on the move. If you're worried about supplies, we can try to get more explosives in Krakow."

"Well, I can do that. OK, let's get to work."

If no one objects (especially Tanya since she also seems to have combat engineering experience) Sebastian fashions a 1 kilo block charge of C4 (he'd kiss it goodbye if he didn't know how toxic it was), fitting the appropriate blasting caps and time fuse, and affixing the resulting device on a part of the tree that appears relatively weak. He's also sure to pick a spot up away from the road. He'd hate to clear the tree only to create a crater obstacle instead. As he's about to finish, he suggests,

"Someone ought to tell Andy and, er, Cam, is it? This thing is going to send wood splinters flying all over."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 01:57, Wed 20 Dec 2006.

With Tanya's expert assistance, the charge is soon placed and covered in mud from the stream. Although the one kilogram charge is relatively tiny, calculations show that it should be sufficient for the job, if only by the barest of margins.
Warnings are issued to take cover and Sebastian lights the fuze. A minute later (minimum time to take cover safely) and a tremendous BOOM fills the valley, right on time down to the second. As the roar dissapates, the sound of small rocks can be heard trickling down form the cliff where they were shaken loose. Dust settles shortly after and shows the log to have been sliced neatly (for explosives) from it's roots and ready to be dragged from the roadway.

  Katka looks around after the explosion, shakes her head and moves to sit back down in her seat.

Don wakes up immediately at the boom goes off.

He tries to sit up, but gets dizzy again, falling down to the seat again. When he understands it is themselves that has nuked the tree, he groans again.

"Marvellous. That should have gotten all ambushers in the valley up and going. I really hope noone drops a grenade into this tin. I'll be toast in my condition. The really bad thing is that we don't have anyone as charming as myself to chat with the blokes that probably shows up."

"On the other hand, they might be friendlier if the girls shows some leg, I guess"

Not even opening his eyes during his monologue he makes a smile after his nice joke.

"I know I would, hehe"

Before the call went out to take cover, Cam reached up tapping Andy on the shoulder angling the barrel of her weapon toward the horse signs..  She imagined they might be tracks from the group that had told them about the pass to begin with, but felt it could be important.

When they set to blast the stubborn trunk from the path, Lieutenant Ashton huddled up tucked in and low.. Against the wall seemed alright to her, even if stones rained down it was preferable to a chance plunge off the other side. She hoped being very tight to the wall would mean that most of the debris went skipping off the various handholds and lumps above her..

Blue- nearly gray eyes blinked open as she peered out over the land they would be crossing.  There was a dull ache in her gut that seemed to tighten with the echoing clap that resounded. It was that or spend more time immobile.. A tough call, and she wasn’t one for second guessing after the fact. For good, or ill, they would be able to move forward without much delay.. And oooh how her head throbbed..

Corrigan had also noticed the horse tracks but having Cam draw his attention to them as well made him feel better about having her with him, whatever trauma she had gone through she was still alert and capable...  At the warning he motioned to Cam to come with him and take cover as best they could at the edge of the roadway, his senses on high alert knowing that even if there weren't anyone waiting to ambush them, the sound of the explosion would draw anyone around like flies to something sweet...  Or rotting...

The controlled explosion seemed to have done the job from what he could see glancing back, but now was the time to be more alert than ever and, moving forwards a little further to try and give the group back at the vehicles as much notice as he could if someone did attack along the road, he settled into cover and watched the roadway and the surrounding area, especially above the group at the vehicles, like a hawk, the RPK tracking the sweep of his gaze...

"Cam, take cover and watch the roadway, I'll watch the cliff, even if there wasn't anyone around before, that explosion will draw company..." he said in a soft whisper, though loud enough for her to hear.  He again hoped that someone was watching behind the vehicles back the way they had come...

Deciding not to leave the vehicles too far, michelle took up a position in the rear of the vehicles, watching the route they had just come from, hand resting lightly on her weapon. deep inside she hoped ot wasn't a trap, and they could at least spend a day not running or fighting for thier lives. Sighing, she winced slightly as the explosives went off. Well, if there was anyone out there that was a surefire way to get there attention. She sighed and kept her attention on the road behind them.

Double checking their calculations, Tanya gives the signal for everyone to take cover and moves back to a safe distance with Sebastian.  She gives him a nod when she's set and let's him have the honors.  "FIRE IN THE HOLE," she yells out before covering her head with her hands and going to the ground prone (or behind an object).

When the blast comes, she waits about five seconds to see the results of a successful detonation.  She smiles and taps Sebastian on the shoulder, "Good work Sebastian!  Let's get the vehicles in here and get this tree off the road and get the hell out of here"  Tanya waves back to the vehicles and gives a 'thumbs up' to those watching.  She begins to walk back to the remains of the tree.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:44, Fri 22 Dec 2006.

Sebastian uncovers his head and peers into the smoke ahead. The charge seemed to have severed the tree quite nicely, with little apparent damage to the roadway. Slinging his demo pack- now a kilo lighter- and his Uzi, he followed Tanya to the remains of the tree. The massive trunk still lay across the road, however, it was now in two more manageable halves. A nice piece of work by any standards.

"Well done, Sgt. Redgrave. A very fine piece of work." He reached out to offer a congratulatory handshake.

"Now, we will need some strong ropes or chains. Shall we begin?"

Tanya reaches down and shakes the hand of the yong man.  "Team work Mr. Stoeckel.  Now let's see if some of our team mates can give a hand getting this shit off the road and getting us movin'!"

Up ahead, Cam and Andy spot something shining in the sunlight by the side of the road. Closer inspection reveal it to be a sign, knocked face down sometime in the past few years and ignored ever since.
Flipping it over shows...

Marcus lays low as the call goes out for 'fire in the hole'.  The subsequent reverberating blast is cause for him to shake his head.  As everyone else realized they had now just announced their presence to the entire valley, of course trooping around in diesel engined vehicles was not exactly the paramount of stealth either.  Watching Andy and Cam checking out the tracks, he surmises himself that they must be fairly recent considering the heavy rains of the last night.  Making sure there are enough people of security detail he moves to assist in clearing the remaining debris.

Tanya turns to the rest of the group and begins to wave them on so they can get the vehicles in and get by the remains of the tree obstruction.  She turns back to Sebastian, "Where'd you learn your demo work Mr. Stoeckel?"
This message was last edited by the player at 20:38, Tue 26 Dec 2006.

"The Bundeswehr trained me in the artful science of demolishing things. I can build things too, but it's not nearly as fun." He adds with a wink.

"And you, Sgt. Redgrave?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:48, Wed 27 Dec 2006.

"So very true Mr. Stoeckel!  Blowing shit up is much more fun than building it.  I learned my craft in the Rangers.  I got put more in a support mode for awhile helping in fortify structres and bridges and what not until there became a greater need for me at the front.  Shit got so bad, they had to bring the women in!" Tanya says back to him in fluent German.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:12, Wed 27 Dec 2006.

Brooks straightens up in his seat and fires up the BRDM and waits for 'the crew' to return before pulling forward ever so slowly.

Taking a brief look at the map he and Cam had found and using it to both try and get his bearings, and to try and confirm that the map was of the surrounding area, Corrigan couldn't understand much of it though he could surmise some...  Better to get this translated by someone who speaks and reads the lingo though... he thought to himself before returning his full attention to his surroundings.

"Cam?  Can you read this map?  If not, let's get it back to the vehicles, see if someone can confirm our location..." he said, intending to send the map back with her while he continued his watch though he was becoming increasingly anxious that they get moving soon, after so blatantly advertising their location...

Clearly impressed, Sebastian lifts his eyebrows in surprise and replies in German, "Hello! My goodness, Sgt. Redgrave, is there anything you can't do? And where, may I ask, did you learn to speak such beautiful German?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:59, Thu 28 Dec 2006.

"There's some things I may be out of practice with Mr. Stoeckel. Tanya says with a smile. "My mother and her parents were German and being around them for so long, I figured what better way get to know a language. German happened to be the easiest since my mom amd grand parents were originally from your once beautiful country!"
This message was last edited by the player at 13:54, Thu 28 Dec 2006.

NPC'd
Cam shook her head. "Can read no?"
If the sign had been Danish there'd be no problem. English and she might have managed a few words - eventually.
"Michelle see?"

Corrigan nodded, "Yes, better take this back and see who can make something of it...  If it's correct it goes someway to helping us get around here..." he said with a smile, gesturing for Cam to take the sign back to the vehicles where hopefully someone could read it...

Returning to his watch, he moved a little further forwards, scouting out ahead of the group and watching the surrounding heights carefully.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:13, Mon 01 Jan 2007.

Bernhard takes cover behind the BTR when the signal is given, and listens as the thunder from the explosion echoes off the cliff wall and throughout the entire park. Well, if the sound of the vehicles hadn't alerted everyone to their presence, that sure as hell did. "Get the rope out and get that damned thing pulled out of our way. Everyone and their brother is sure to have heard the noise, and are bound to come find out what is going on." He shook his head in disbelief. Sure their was no better way to get the tree moved, but he should have had a plan in place to get it blown and moved faster. Bernhard, your getting too old for this $#!t. Slipping up like that could get everyone of us killed.

"Hmmm. Yes, Germany was beautiful..." His voice trails off for a moment and Sebastian appears lost in thought. Then suddenly, he flashes a smile and continues, ".. too beautiful for its own good. So beautiful that the generals of Europe have preferred it as their battleground of choice for millenia. Warlords have never been able to resist despoiling her." Sebastian paused again, a wistful look in his eyes. "Never-the-less, it will be good to have someone to speak the mother-tongue with. Well, let's get these trunks out of the way, yes?"

With that, Sebastian signals the vehicle drivers forward.

OOC: Sebastian will help guide the APC's forward and attach tow-ropes where needed.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:21, Mon 01 Jan 2007.

"I can only imagine what my country looks like now. I'm sure we share the same problems with 'warlords' back in America. Let's get back to the task at hand, shall we?" Tanya says as she begins to check the ground to make sure it is stable before going to remove some of the debris from the road while Sebastian waves the vehicles in.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:23, Mon 01 Jan 2007.

The sign proves to large for one person alone to manage. Designed to be seen at a distance, probably from passing vehicles, it's a wonder nobody has picked it up before for it's metal. A good two metres tall and half that wide, sheet metal in as good a condition as this is hard to come by so long after the destruction of most of the worlds heavy industry. But who knows what resources are available just around the next corner? Perhaps a nearby town possessed more than it's share of material and scavenging for such scraps has been unnecessary?

Ropes are soon tied around the heavy log and the BTR-80 brought up. It's easily apparent to even the untrained eye that the BRDM-2 simply doesn't have the weight to deal with such a heavy load. The signal is given and Michelle eases the heavy machine backwards, dragging the tree out of the way while those not immediately involved keep watch on the surroundings.

NPC'd
Cam looked at the sign dubiously and shook her head at Andy.
"No, come they."
Snuggling into the ditch at the side of the road, she peered over the sights of her rifle at their surroundings, trusting Andy to do the same behind her.
If not for the memories of the past few years and the aching reminder of her injured head, the sound of trickling water and birdsong would be almost restful. The beauty around them could easily lull an observer into dangerous inattention.

Donnachaid wakes up while the truck starts moving to and fro, but he is too dazed to really care about it. Maybe he shouldve stayed in the bed, it had been a lot cosier than this here. Maybe the headache is gone tomorrow. In any case, he dozes off again.

 Katka studies Donnachaidh with a furrowed brow, sets her AK to the side and pulls out a couple empty clips, unties a pouch on her webbing full of loose round to reload.

This message was deleted by the player at 20:14, Sun 14 Jan 2007.

Tanya helps to direct the vehicle in and help Sebastian hook it up to move the tree out of the way so they can get going.

Once the debris has been moved out of the way, Tanya helps to secure the rope(s) and secure them on/in the vehicle.  "Who're we waiting on, Cam?"

"Move it on up Doc" Virgil directed the BRDM driver. "Better stop and pick up Marcus on the way past though and then we'll head off down the road."
Virgil stood with his head and shoulders out of the hatch, rifle cradled firmly in his hands as he scanned the surrounding terrain. With the recent explosion combined with the sound of engines, he expected trouble to strike within moments.

Brown, was pleased to hear they were going to move again. The last couple of minutes he had felt rather exposed. The lines of fire on the big gun were not all that perfect.

Tanya returns to the vehicle with Sebastian and finds her seat again waiting to pick up Cam & Andy.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:17, Sat 13 Jan 2007.

Realizing the sign was too big to move right now, he signalled for Cam to leave it where it was and waited for the vehicles to move up, wanting to draw attention to it as soon as he could so that someone who could speak and read the lingo could glean what they could from it...  "Just a little big, yeah?" he said to Cam with a grin and shrugged, "Fine, let them come and read it, we just need to make sure someone gets out and takes a look..." he said softly, passing on his thought to her as they waited for a moment.

When the vehicles got closer he motioned and, grabbing a corner of the sign and hauling upwards a little to make it more noticeable from the vehicle, he waved for someone to come take a look...  The implications of why the metal had remained unscavenged were not lost on him either, which made him wonder about the road ahead...

Marcus was glad to be leaving this particular area since they had so nicely announced themselves.  When they pulled up to the sign, he checked his gear for a pen or pencil and some paper to sketch out the map as best they could.

Michelle jumps out to take a look at the sign, and knowing perfect polish, translates it to everyone else.

Sebastian takes a look at the sign from his vantage point standing in the right forward passenger roof hatch, nodding his head in agreement periodically as Sgt. Gallin translates it for the party.

With the sign sketched and translated all that really remained was whether to actually utilise the information or not...
Not that there was really much choice as to the immediate direction of travel. It was either continue onwards or withdraw back the way you came - the cliffs to either side were a bit hard for vehicles to negotiate normally.

Crew and passengers returned to their respective vehicles and you continue forward. Only a few minutes later and the imposing castle of Pieskowa Skala comes into view up on the cliff top to your left.



Easily seen atop it's wall and windows, men and women train weapons down upon you, some of which appear quite capable of doing significant damage. Readily apparent are heavy machineguns, grenade launchers and what appears to be the business end of an RPG. Who knows what lies out of sight although the potholed condition of the road and surrounds could be an indication of mortars...

Sebastian stares up at the castle from the roof hatch of the BTR and sees various weapon muzzles staring back at him from its parapets. He does the only thing that he can think to do to disarm the situation. He waves.

Marcus can't help but think Well, this is f**kin' great. as all the weaponry seems to be pointed in their direction.  They could only hope that these people were more interested in protecting themselves than taking what they have.  There's only one thing to do in this situation anyway, no matter which way it went down, "Let's keep moving, and fast."

Brown sitting in the turret didn't really have the best line of sight. But he hard the cursed from some of the others. Although he could hardly resist the urge he didn't want to spark things by pointing the big gun at the castle. So he kept his nerves, hand to the levers.

"I'm not going to move this turret and provoke anything, someone give me an update on the preferred target locations"

Virgil resisted the urge to point his rifle up at the castle - Brown had a point.
"RPG gunner, primary target. Heavy machineguns secondary."
By the time the turent swung to face the threat, they'd probably already become home to high explosives and heavy armour peircing slugs. Seemed a bit pointless allocating targets when you thought about it in the cold hard light of reality.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:02, Wed 17 Jan 2007.

"Winters keep steady, we follow the lead cars examplez " He says, taking a look. Maybe a shot to the side of the cliff would cause a distraction or lose sight of the enemy, or them from the enemy. But of course it could also bring down the cliff on them.

(OOC: are they within shouting range? Also does it look like this road leads up TO the castle?)
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:02, Wed 17 Jan 2007.

Tanya will try to get a look out one of the viewports near her but, will not try and poke any kind of weapons through or make one visible.  "We need to pick up those two ASAP!"

  Making sure her ammo pouch is secure and weapon ready, "What is out there?"

Your vehicles continue to roll along the potholed road while numerous weapons track your progress. So far no shots have been fired by either side.
As the BTR-80 comes into sight of the castle, Sebastian waves from the open top hatch he appears to have claimed as his own. Up on the wall, one of the defenders waves hesitantly back before the person beside them slaps them over the back of their helmeted head. Obviously they don't want to appear too inviting...

"Keep moving Doc, it's only another couple o' hundred yards and we're out of their line of sight."
Virgil could see why the castle was located where it was. Commanding the road below and built high up on the steep sloped ridge, any ground attack against it would be next to impossible. Maybe a small team at night sneaking over the walls might have a chance but why bother? So far they'd held their fire, maybe they were no more interested in trouble than the group he'd fallen in with?

Turning to the others in the vehicle, Sergio questions them: "You thinks we roll up, or should a small group go and make friends first? Sure the other car haz ideas, so good to get the vote here first." He says, still not entirely up on the whole army protcol thing at times. And it wasn't as if there might BE any armies anymore.

Tanya looks up to Sergio in the BTR, "With all due respect, if yer askin' for opinions, screw that shit and leave 'em alone!"

  "We need more food, maybe they will trade?"

After muttering a few choice, and heart-felt, British curses under his breath Corrigan spoke, "If they'd have wanted us dead, we'd be dead already, they had a couple of perfect chances for turning us to toast, and they haven't...  The mere fact that one thought to wave back at Sebastien says they aren't really looking for a fight, so don't provoke them and keep moving...  If there's a chance to meet them it'll come soon enough, but trying to climb up to the castle is a sure fire way of getting us all killed..." he said quietly, hoping he was right about the group on the hill...

"Keep moving, slowly, but be prepared to get the hell outta here!" he added, making sure the RPK was ready for action...

Sebastian can barely hear the conversation going on inside the BTR but he catches enough to feel the need to share his opinions with the group. He cocks his chin to his chest in order to project his voice down into the cab but keeps his eyes raised towards the battlements of the castle.

"How badly do we need food? If we can manage, I feel we should move along. If not, we should at least get the convoy out of their sight before we send someone to treat with them. But please, do not mistake my willingness to share my opinion for a willingess to volunteer to be that person."

Sebastian hopes the others "get" him but it's probably too soon...

Bernhard looks up at the castle, "Keep moving. Try not to look like we want to do them harm and hopefully they will leave us alone. We may be low on food, but we can easily make it to Krakow. That is our destination, and I want it to be the next place we stop." The major let out a breath and continued to watch the people on the walls above them. He knew with their high position it would be no problem for them to rain death down on the two APCs his little command were riding in. His mind raced as he tried to form a plan for their defense.

"Keep an eye on them, if they look like they are about to open fire call out. I want the drivers to get us out of here ASAP if that happens. The only thing that can save us if they decide to fire is if we can get out of their killzone fast."

Sebastian is glad to hear that Finnegan -apparently a person of some authority and repute among the group- is of the same mind and wishes to continue on without making a pit-stop at the castle.

"Yes, sir. A wise choice, if I may."

Sebastian continues to stare up at the castle battlements, smiling broadly in the liklihood that they have binnoculars up there. He keeps his hands and weapon on the roof of the BTR.

Brooks keeps driving and picks up the pace just a bit as he watches the road. Every so often he leans forward trying to look out and up toward the threat but not being able to see squat he concentrates on driving and waiting for the word or sign that he should floor it.

Sergio, having heard most the ideas, continues the orders to move on. Admitedly the order was primarily to follow the vehicle infront, but the sight of a potential safe haven, a life outside this crazy warzone of the world, could make anyone think twice about following orders.

Of course they could get shot approaching, so all orders were a bit of a mix!

A little further along the road and in yet another chokepoint, several large barrels sit on the road surface with more off to the sides. Barbed wire is strung between them and it's a fair bet they've been filled with earth to weigh them down. The position of the barrels would force any vehicle to slow to a crawl to negotiate the narrow path weaving through and around them. The whole setup has a look of permanance about it and the weeds growing up and around the obstacles shows that it's been in place for some time.
Three men in typical workman clothes stand in full view. Soviet style webbing holds several magazines for their AK rifles and possibly other munitions. The oldest of them, greying hair poking from underneath a battered cap holds up a hand bent with arthritis inthe universal stop sign. His other hand grips his weapon firmly, ready to swing on it's sling into almost instant action.
As the lead vehicle draws closer, bullet holes can be seen riddling the drums, some of the holes large enough to fit two fingers if they weren't blocked by rock from inside.
Although heavily outgunned and lacking any sort of personal armour, all three appear relaxed and completely unafraid.

Marcus surveys the scene and starts to look around the area rather than the obvious checkpoint itself.  He voices his thoughts to the crew, "They obviously have some sort of overwatch so be careful.  And why the hell would they have this in the middle of no where.  Could be marauders, let's scope out their support if we can."

"Are we in Krakow at last? About time..."

As he gets to know that it's a roadblock 10 minutes away from last stop he gets slightly irritated. But tries do doze off again.

"Give'm whatever they want. They have probably mined the road or have bazookas all over the place, so I don't think there is any use of arguing. Just say that I don't have the time to talk to him..."

Sebastian projects his voice down into the crew compartment of the BTR from his position in the roof hatch.

"We are approaching a road-block. There are two, no, three guards. No uniforms. They don't seem at all alarmed to see us. They probably have friends concealed nearby. Stand by..."

After appraising his fellow passengers of the situation, Sebastian peers into the trees on either side of the road-block searching for HW or other threats of any kind.

"We'll be there soon enough Don.  We'll take care of this just relax, OK?" Tanya says to Don to keep him quiet because of possible trouble that may be coming.  The last thing they needed is someone yelling out and spooking the people outside the vehicles.

  Leaning forward in her seat, Katka tries to peer thru one of the front windows to see whats out there.

Brown tries to see what is happening. He has the gun trailed to the front, although by the looks of it and the observation made by Marcus he fears that’s not spot where the real threath is comming from. If he could only find where it did come from.

“I guess someone will have to talk to these guys?”

Over the radio "Scout to trailers, be advised, we are stopped at a roadblock. Three lightly armed soldiers, reinforcements unknown but quite possible. Intentions unknown. We'll try to comunicate...Scout out"

"We gunna stop and talk to these people or what?"

  "I do not think we have choise"

Bernhard sighed as word made its way back to the BTR as to why they were stopping. All he wanted was to get out of this damned valley and arrive in Krakow. He radioed ahead to the BRDM,"I don't remember who up there speaks the best Russian or Polish, but my guess is they speak one of those. Whoever can talk to them, start. I will be up ASAP."

Bernhard sets the mic down and looks at the small group assembled in the BTR,"Sgt Gallin, I know you speak pretty fluent Polish, and I know a bit of Russian, so I would like you to accompany me to the roadblock. Everyone else keep an eye out for signs they are about to attack us."

The Major slings his rifle muzzle down from his right shoulder, innocuous, but ready if hostile action was needed. Opening the cliffside hatch he makes climbs down the steps and begins making his way forward.

Doc Brooks slows the vehicle down and makes sure its not going anywhere but leaves the engine running. After he hears the radio, he emerges from his hatch hands first. Then with his torso out of the hatch, Brooks waves down to the roadblock folks and waves with as best a smile as he can muster as he speaks, "Howdy, how ya'll doing?" He then continues without pausing, "We got someone coming up to talk, if that's a'ight by you gents."

"Aren't we through yet? I speak both languages. So if you are just standing there mumbling, maybe it's better if i'll speak to them, even if I will probably throw up in the process..."

Don raises and exits the vehicle.

"A couple of you guys better let me rest on your shoulders, keep me from falling. And try to get me one of them bottles of our etanol. I guess noone has any better drink, right?"

With whatever bottle he can get, he stumbles toward the guards with the help of one of the grunts.

Walking in the civilian outfit, he makes a rather odd addition to the military vehicles and the uniforms.

He stretches out the bottle toward the guards with whatever smile he can manage.

"Good day, sirs. Everything good?", he asks in Polish, and if he doesn't get an answer at first, he tries again in Russian.

"Easy Don, I'll take you over there.  You can lean on me for support," Tanya says as she helps Don up and out of the vehicle and grabs him whatever he needs from it to greet the locals.  She let him lean on her for support and stability and she only has a knife on her with no firearms visible (needs to get her PM-63 back from Michelle).

Being a large and imposing form, Sergio awaits inside to prevent further worry on the side of both people. Keeping the rest of the people in the vehicle he warns them, "Keep eye in for ambush and weapons equale, keep weapons out of see. Any see of things, lets us know!"

Sebastian watches Tanya, apparently unarmed, and the still woozy Don stumble towards the roadblock and shakes his head. If anything were to go wrong, they'd be hung out to dry.

Well then, best not to let that happen...

Sebastian does what he can, keeping his eyes on the castle side of the woods along the road, Uzi in hand but resting unthreatenly on the roof of the BTR.

OOC: There's an unnoccupied roof hatch if anyone would care to join Sebastian. The view's a lot wider and the air considerably fresher.
; )

Sebastian starts to feel a little guilty as he watches Tanya and Don shuffle off. Before they get more than a few meters out from the BTR, he calls out to them,

"Er... Sgt. Redgrave, I speak a little Polish. Perhaps, er, Don there should stay here in the BTR and rest. I can go in his place."

Sebastian's Polish is not very good. His most recent experience with the language involved cooing sweet nothings in the forgiving ear of an infatuated young Polish farm girl and Doc Brooks can tell you how well that worked out for him...

But, Don looks about ready to keel over and, in a crisis, the man wouldn't be able to move quickly (if at all) and that might prove to be a liability not only to himself but to entire party as well.

OOC: Taken out the distance pointed out by the GM...

BIC: Tanya stops with Don, "Why don't we wait right here Don and see if they need us?  I'm sure if they do, they'll call for us to come up there.  It's a pretty far walk for you in your condition right now."

"What the heck? Isn't the roadblock here???"

Don is still very dizzy and has to lean a little more on Tanya.

"And here I am, alone with a girl, and I couldn't even perform if I had gotten the chance."

"Let's sit down here on the fallen tree"

He sits down and tries to take advantage of Tanyas shoulder to rest his head.

"Sure Don, sure," Tanya assures him as she walks him over to sit down and let's him rest his head on her shoulder.

The older man appears to be in charge as he points at the BRDM-2 and motions for it's occupants to climb out. Obviously he and the other two are experienced as they stay standing behind the cover of the rock filled barrels.
None of them look around as if to ensure they have backup hidden off to the sides, which could indicate supreme confidence in the strength of their position. On the other hand there may be no support and they know it.
Now just barely a dozen metres away, you can see that there clothing, while patched and worn, is at least clean and well looked after. There is a very good chance that these three are living in what passes in 2000 as a great deal of comfort.
No words have yet been spoken by them, perhaps because they know that they would have little chance of being heard over the sound of the BDRM-2's engine purring away.

Neither Tanya or Don reply to Sebastian's offer. Sebastian watches them shuffle up the road until they are almost out of sight around the bend ahead. Finally, Sebastian's guilt overpowers his sense of self preservation and he decides to join them. Even if his translation skills are surplus to requirements, he can help move Don about. He shouts into the BTR,

"Sgt. Redgrave looks like she could use some help with Mr. Don. I'm going to lend a hand. Someone should probably take my place up here; the view's much better."

With that, Sebastian slings his Uzi, crawls up onto the roof and slides down to the pavement. He jogs to catch up with Tanya and Don.

"Sgt. Redgrave, I believe I may be of assistance..."

OOC: We didn't go anywhere.  We're sitting right outside the vehicle when we were told we're too far back.  Sorry, I thought I made that clearer in my post.

"Any of you three speak the lingo?"
Although bilingual himself, Virgil doubted his ability to communicate effectively without trouble arising. That was the problem with only speaking English and fluent 7.62mmN.
With his head stuck out the open hatch he felt very exposed. The rifle held in one hand atop the roof was little comfort after seeing the barrels full of large holes torn by something far more powerful than he liked.
"Anyone?"
The word was almost a plea.

William remained seated in his gunseat. The barrel of the gun remained focussed on the roadblock.

"Only words of Red I understand is some Estonian I picked up besides that... nothing. I could try, but I don't think it will bring us anything. If they don't speak any English, we better radio back for someone that can understand some soviet or Polish"

Cam seemed to be lost to retrospect for their last leg since the sign, but managed to lean around whichever entrance Don had used to depart their shell with a frown. Blinking at the place beyond, she panned across what could be seen of the scenery for trouble. “Tanya?..  You careful?..”, Worried tones in her butchered English.

Tanya smiles at Cam, "I'm good Lootenant.  Me and Don're just takin' a rest over here.  Seems his head is still a little woosy from the whack he took back at our last camp."
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:47, Wed 21 Feb 2007.

“K O”, She returned forcing a smile to the surface..  still worried, but felt a bit better at the tone of Redgrave’s response.. The air outside the vehicle was inviting too. Lieutenant Ashton bit her bottom lip leaning out further to put a foot to the step,  free hand steadied against the frame before swinging her other foot out and planting the boot onto the weathered stretch that was passing for a road. “No think we move soon?..” She didn’t think they would be, but the possibility remained.

Sebastian raises his hand. "Maybe I could help? I speak a bit of Polish..."

OOC: Even if Tanya and Don are still close to the BTR, Sebastain has exited the BTR and is offering his services as translator.

A little worried that their scouting vehicle didn't hold anyone fluent in the native language, Virgil called down to Marcus and Brown hidden inside the machine.
"See if you can get somebody to come up and translate will you?"
He'd have picked up the mike himself but felt any movement on his part to return inside might provoke a response none of them wanted.

"Sorry lass. I have a slight headache, otherwise we could have had a nice snuggle. Do you think they'll manage up there without me?"

He nods ahead the road toward the other vehicle.

Brown kept the main gun focussed on the roadblock while activating the radio.

"Scout to trailers, we have a little trouble communicating with the natives. They only seem to speak red. Could you sent up someone to translate?, over”

Brooks slowly moves down into his hatch and asks, "Hey, does this turret work if I shut the engine off? Figure we got a hard enough time communicating without this tin can idling nearby."

If it's ok to shut the engine down Brooks will do so then slowly move back out the hatch with his hands leading the way. He will just smile and watch the folks at the roadblock, ready to duck down if any shooting starts.

Tanya smiles, "Yer head must not be hurtin' that bad Don if yer looking to snuggle!  They might be OK but, I think yer the man when it comes to the local lingo!"

"Aye lass..."

"I guess I am... Harder nowadays though, too little spirits in these days. No whisky, no vodka, no nothing. What is Ethanol to drink? Not very sexy actually"

Don leans over to Tanya again. His head hurts, but he just HAVE to take the chance.

"Not as sexy as you, hehe"
This message was last edited by the player at 22:05, Tue 27 Feb 2007.

Naturally, as was want to happen, Cam popped her head back out after listening..  “They say natives, who only speak in colour…  Red, I think.. Need trans-la “ She shrugged at a slight loss as to what was being said.   Didn’t someone go up to speak with the forward team already?.. She tilted her head back inside and took a head-count.

Sebastian seemed to be on about being able to speak, or something like that earlier, and she looked at him with a curious expression, one honey-coloured brow raised..  “Maybe you  talk radio.. Then go?.. “

Bernhard kept his hands out from his sides just below shoulder level, palms facing forward, in what he hoped was a non-threatening posture as he made his way forward to the roadblock. He hadn't waited at the BTR to see who, if anyone, followed him. The Major glanced back over his shoulder as he walked, noticing Sgt. Redgrave and Don exiting the vehicle but not seeing them sit down. Ahh good, at least someone who speaks a few of the local languages was coming with. Bernhard turned and continued toward the BRDM and the roadblock.

Tanya smiles again at Don and leans close to him where only he can hear her, "Yer lucky yer head's all banged up Don or else I'd do it or you!  Don't push yer luck LADDIE!"


Tanya looks up to Cam as she pops her head out of the vehicle about the radio call.  "A translator Lootenant?  We got two of 'em here.  Ask them if they want Don or Mr. Stoeckel to come up.  Don seems to be feeling much better," she says sarcastically back to her in the vehicle.

The older man points once again at the BRDM-2, motions for the occupants to climb out and them points at the holes chewed into the barrels.
The threat is obvious - get out of the vehicle will end up just as full of rather large holes...

Meanwhile Major Finnegan makes his way forward. He would be completely alone if Sebastian hadn't set out after him hesitantly.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:59, Thu 01 Mar 2007.

Continuing to sit next to Don, Tanya nonchalantly tries to get Cam's attention.  "Keep an eye out for movement Lootenant and be ready to get Don and myself back into the vehicle quickly!  Is my RPK laying close to you?"

~front, -back; Major leave, come with speaker maybe?..~, Cam spoke over the radio after noticing that she had been talking to thin air, blinked, then craned her head out to spy Tanya..  A little curious about the Sergeant's concern over Ashton's state of readiness.. Blue eyes trailed over the seat where Redgrave had been propped up for the trip. -And if she caught sight of the weapon Tanya had been in possession of, she'd take hold of it and walk the thing out to her.. If not, the Danish lieutenant would shake her head grimly and climb up into Sebastion's vacant position.

Sweat stung her eyes as she dabbed the moisture away from her vision, staring out over the ruged terrain.

Major Finnegan turns toward the side of the road and raises his arms a bit further. Looking at the man he realizes no one else can see him, and the Major wants to make sure nobody makes any sudden moves. "Okay buddy, no one wants to get shot today. Least of all me." Switching to Russian, which Bernhard can barely speak, he asks if the man understands Russian.

Brooks leans down a bit and calls out into the vehicle, not remember if anyone was in it or not, "Looks like our guest wants everyone out of the vehicle, I think. That or he wants to know if we caused the wholes in the barrels, hard to tell."

With that he slowly reaches down and grabs his medpack and climbs out of the vehicle.

Jared Ensured that the Oerlikon is ready to rock, and the rest of the forces set incase the people were Soviets. The uniforms he could see were a mix - not enough information to warrant wasteing ammo if not necessary. Stoner issued some quick orders and picked up his RPK, checking the seating of the 75 round drum nestled under the receiver. Moving easily with the terrain he maked his way down to the road block, hearing the man approaching the road block yelling in english and switching to poor russian brought a rare smile flickering across his face. At least one was an Americian.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:44, Sun 04 Mar 2007.

Sebastian stops dead in his tracks and says loudly in Polish'

"Don't shoot. Friends."

He slowly unslings his Uzi and places it gently on the asphalt, then he raises his hands and turns his body to face the bushes by the side of the road. Hopefully someone in the vehicles will notice what's going on and be able to spot the assailants by looking in the direction Sebastian is facing.

"I confirm the Major is comming this way with a translator. We will wait for them to arrive, scout out"

After returning the call Brown confirmes over the intercom everyone has heard the message. After that he returns his full attention to the gun. He can see the soldier signalling for them to get out of the vehicle, but it was not his intention to give up his seat before there was something known about their intentions. For now, making sure this gun was ready to shoot in a second posed some form of reasuring threat.

Marcus chow slings his MP5 to seem non-threatening as he dismounts.  He looks up at Brown with a look to mean you better cover my ass.  He turns and actually smiles to the guards before speaking in what sounds like Russian.

Making way for Marcus, Virgil climbed out of the armoured coffin he'd somehow come to command, still clutching his precious rifle in one hand.
There was little point in him trying to speak with the guards, he wasn't what you could call the best people person - probably why he became a sniper.

Corrigan kept silent, ever watchful of everything going on around him, but for now letting those with more extensive language skills make the decisions, the RPK tracking wherever he looked he was careful not to outwardly threaten anyone, but he wasn't going to let his guard down either.

Even though he is already leaning toward Tanya, Don looks at the ground.

"Gee, lass. That moss really looks cosy. I think I'll have a lay down"

He makes his way down to the ground, where he lies down with the head on a sturdy, smooth rock.

At the sight of Marcus and Brooks climbing from the BRDM-2, the men at the roadblock visibly relax. Still wary, they keep their weapons pointed in their general direction - possibly more at Virgil than the other two in their US uniforms.
As Marcus begins to speak, their weapons whip around to point directly at him, obvious distrust on their faces.
Their next motion is easy to read - put down your weapons and lay fce down on the ground. Do it now or be shot!

As Sebastian lays down his Uzi, the man turns his weapon on Finnegan. The message is clear, do the same or else.

Meanwhile another man dressed in US camoflage, a green beret and carrying an RPK with extended magazine appears form the bushes and approaches the roadblock...

"If that makes you comfy for now Don go right ahead.  I'll be right here keepin' an eye on you and the moss," Tanya says to him as she turns her attention back to Cam in the vehicle.

Seeing the guys hit the ground Tanya says to Cam, "Can ya see what the hell's goin' on up ther Lootenant?  Looks like they got 'em lyin' down on the ground from here!"

Marcus rolls his eyes, mostly to himself as he puts his hands up non-threateningly and slowly starts to get down, going to one knee, then the other, really dragging it out.  He attempts to speak as he gets down, first in Russian.


Then in English, especially after seeing the possible Green Beret appear, "How about English?  Would that work better for you?"  Still not yet proned out, but both knees on the ground Marcus hopes not to get shot.

Camilla broke with her vigil at the sound of Tanya’s request.. The shadows of concern were evident on her face as she leaned up from her perch to crane for a glimpse of what was up past the bend. Her lips tugged into a frown.. “I not know… Not like..  Not happy..” The broken language was typical Cam, though she leaned across the hatch opening to see who was left inside and snatched up the radio.. "You give ask please?.."

  Stoner moved up to the partisans manning the road block, a few words spoken softly to the troops seemed to relax them a bit and one gave a bit of an evil smile.  Looking at the man on his knees, Stoner replies in English, "my friends here don't speak a word of english but fortunately I do". Looking at the two men in fron of him but seeming to focus on the one who had just spoken. "Now lets start off with a few easy questions, Who are you? and why are you here? and who do you work for, Americia or the Russkies?"
  Stoner's eyes are cold, and the RPK is aimed square at the mans' chest, the large drum patently visible.  Smith can readily identify the 10th group flash on the beret, instead of the regular LBE the man wears an assault vest and belt that was becoming so popular with operators prior to things falling apart.

Marcus eyed the 10th SFG flash before he spoke, "A fellow Group man, eh?  We're American's mostly. We're just passin' through.  Are you in charge of these R-Fs?"

_{OOC: RF as in Regional Forces}

The three locals appear to respect the newcomer allowing him to take charge of the situation without arguement. Although a little more comfortable now that the newcomer was conversing easily with Marcus, they remained alert, weapons still pointed and ready for use.

Back at the BTR-80, none of the recent events can be seen. Only Sebastian and Major Finnegan are visible a few dozen metres away with Sebastian evidently speaking with somebody off to the side of the road and at about ground level.

Sebastian and Major Finnegan can see the roadblock with the occasional sidlong glance. Evidently the group you've encountered is well sited and relatively numerous in number. With at least five people now detected, who knows how many more are concealed in the rocks, trees and bushes that line the valley floor and walls.

Brown remained in his seat. When he saw the green beret appear from the bushes and noticed some communication seemed to be established he became a little less tense, still allert though.

Making sure not to make a noice Brown reached for the transmit button for the radio. After that he started talking, while keeping his voice as low as possible.

"Scout to followers, the rest of our crew have left the vehicle and are disarmed. Another oponent has appeared wearing a green beret. There seems to be communication between the new oponent and our people... Situation does not appear hostile, but still tense... Will keep my presence unknown...Scout out."

  "Are there any Ruskies in your group?" His cold eyes revealing nothing, waiting for a moment for an answer, when one is received Coulter will add "No, I am not the leader of these locals but I do have some..influence."

Tanya contiues to look around at their surroundings as the conversation contiues up ahead of them with the people they just ran into.  "Looks like someone else has come down to join the party," Tanya says to Cam as she sees someone else join the conversation with the advanced party.

Marcus regards Stoner coolly before replying, "Does it matter if we do, we're mostly Americans."


Marcus nods believing he understands, but adds, "Can you influence them to lower their weapons. We're just passin' through."

“Mmmm?..” Traces of concern clouded her expression, still trying to see what was going on while keeping an eye on their immediate surroundings.  The transmission from Brown did not provide any comforting assurances what-so-ever.. Her response was a wordless, almost anxious sound.. Definitely followed by an urge to get into a position that would help her to cover their friends ahead.

Mainly.. the terrain, the wounded.. herself included, the unknown positioning of their new threat, and precious little understanding of the situation ahead were highly prohibitive conditions.  With a tilt of her head, Ashton peered down into the gloom of the hull.. Mentally tallying who was still with her at the back.. Possibly formulating an alternative plan should things start to get even more out of hand..

Watching Cam's face, Tanya asks her, "Whataya think Lootenant?  This gunna be ugly or what?"

“Not know…”, Camilla frowned and nervously reached a hand up to trace the small amount of bandage that protruded from her helmet..  “We no good here if yes..  Bad maybe if move..” She didn’t like any of it, but again, what really was there to like?  Where was that portable radio?.. She wondered if Tanya still had one, or if it had migrated over to Sergio.. The man seemed to collect everything.. Sniffers, Geiger counters, what-have-you. “Long,  maybe already watch us.”

NPC'd - waiting too long!

"Don't matter too much to me, s'long as you keep 'em out of sight," he replied to Marcus.
"This lot though, they'll shoot 'em, skin 'em and boil 'em. Not necessarily in that order..."
"Where you all headed anyways? S'pose it's Krakow, not much else down this road."
His casual stance shows he's confident in the superiority of the force he's presently representing. Although the men with him are still aiming their rifles, his is held lightly in the crook of his arm.

"They gotta have eyes all over us by now Lootenant!  We made too much noise and now that we're stopped like this, every swingin' dick with a gun is watchin' over us," Tanya says back to Cam.

Marcus began to be uncertain of this man's allegiances, obviously it wouldn't be hard for a Special Forces trooper to be maligned these days. He replied coolly in regards to keeping any "Russkies" they might have out-of-sight, "We'll take the advice into consideration."  As Stoner continued to speak Marcus wagged his finger at Brown hoping he would get the idea to relay the message to the others to keep their Russian friends under wraps while dealing with this bunch.  At Stoner's last question Marcus simply replied, "Just going for a stroll in the beautiful Polish countryside. No particular destination in mind."

With the engine out Brown could overhear most of the conversation that was going on outside. This mere fact made him even more carefull not to make to much noise. With this in mind he kept all the communication as short as possible with the volume of his voice as low as possible.

Scout to trailers, sounds like our guests have a special dislike to Ruskies. Be advised and act accordingly

Sebastian shuffles his feet restively. There's not much more he can do. Occasionally, he smiles at the men covering them from the bushes.

"This is quite the... situation, is it not, Major?"

Sebastian Stoeckel
Uzi (on ground at feet)
Arms starting to get tired...

Cam blinked at the latest transmission, and peered at the present company in the vehicle’s hull before tossing a quizzical expression toward Tanya.. “Rusties?..  Roosties?..  Brown say people no like Ruskies…”   Shifting in her position, Cam drew one leg out and swung her feet over to plant a boot into a rung then gingerly eased herself to the ground..  The view of  Finnegan and Sebastian, both hands up and certainly not negotiating as she was supposing they were needed for was more than a little disconcerting… “What they want??..” Feeling a bit out of sorts she dipped her head to dab at her brow under the helmet’s lip.. And a frown could be seen tugging at the corner of her lips.

Tanya tries to decipher what Cam just told her and make sense out of it with her broken English.  "Brown means they don't like Russians.  The word is Ruskie Lootenant.  It's a slang word us Americans use for the Russians.  Don't speak any Russian if any of you all know it.  I hope this shit is over soon, I hate being in the middle of someone's crosshairs, knowingly, for this long!"

Ashton nodded to that sentiment.. The place made her skin itch. Or was that more from the heat coupled with sweat and the lost hopes of a hot bath.  At-least the uniform was fresh.. well, fresher than her previous one..

Her feet were heavy, though not from fatigue as she moved around their mobile sweat lodge., then doubled back to offer some water to Tanya and the indomitable Mr. Don..  “Nothing can do..”, She muttered not happy with that fact, or the fact that she said it. “Here..”

Tanya nods in thanks to Cam for the canteen and takes a drink from it and then passes it to Don.  "Yup, looks like we got to just wait this one out.  I hope they know what they're doing!  Ahh, that's pretty stupid thing to say, they've got us this far haven't they?"

Gerhard lay in the undergrowth, the butt of the G8 snuggled into his shoulder and gripped by his left hand in front of his cheek. The wan light slanted through the bushes, leaving dappled shadows sliding across his flecktarn camouflage and the dead leaves on which he lay.

'Looks like some stragglers,' he thought idly. 'Probably as lost as I am.' He watched each in turn through the scope, noting that they were ostentatiously keeping away from weapons and generally acting as peaceful as people in armoured vehicles could be. He was alert, but not the alert you had when wide-eyed conscripts where waving guns about. 'Professionals.'

A soft noise in the dead leaves caused his eyes to slide sideways, and he looked at the Pole who crept up beside him with his AK-74 at the ready. "Professor, go down and see if Mr Stoner needs a hand." Whispered the Pole in German, his tone showing that he was passing on an order and not make an idle suggestion. "I will take over your position."

Gerhard nodded and instinctively put his hand up to his microphone boom, but grinned and just nodded assent. He gathered up the weapon and folded the bipod before exiting his position backwards and moving along the flank to the main blokade unit. He whistled softly to the dour commander and came out of cover. The man nodded towards the APCs and Gerhard nodded in reply. He slung his weapon in a patrol carry and moved down towards the armoured vehicles. 'Odd', he thought, 'they're not as frightening when you're pretty sure they can't see you. Now those weapon muzzles look awfully large.'

Whistling softly to Jared as he approached, Gerhard comes onto view. He's an average height, but his armour and equipment make him look bulky. He's wearing German body armour and an unusual kevlar helmet that flares slightly for earphones, but covered in a standard flecktarn cover. His equipment is unusual; handcuffs, ziplok cuffs and a police baton hang from his belt along with grenades and a waterbottle. His weapon, slung across his front, looks to be some sort of HK21 LMG variant with a scope. On his right arm is a camo armband with a white 'BGS' written on it. Bundesgrenzschutz; the German border guards. A paramilitary combination of light infantry and state police. He smiles pleasantly (but a little tiredly, he looks like he doesn't sleep well, but who does?) to the people Jared is talking to and takes in their NATO equipment. Checking for any signs of warning from Jared, he says to him "How are things Feldwebel Stoner? I see you have everything in hand here." To the unknown NATO troops in the WTO vehicles, he says "Gutentag. You may as well lower your arms now, but please refrain from brandishing weapons. My name is Polizeioberkommissar Deitrich, what are yours? Please, relax. You are in no present danger unless you cause it yourself."

Sebastian's companion didn't seem to be in the mood for conversation and neither did the fighters in the bushes just off of the shoulder of the roadway. He turned his head to see what was going on up the road. He could see the BRDM-2 crew chatting with a man wearing a green beret. Then, a man wearing Bundeswher "flecktarn" camouflage and what looked to be a BGS armband entered the picture.

West German border guard? He's a bit lost now isn't he. The border's back west a couple of hundred kilometers. Well, whatever the case, it's nice to see a countryman. I just hope he's friendlier than this lot in the shrubbery.

He spoke to the BRDM team and they slowly lowered their hands. Sebastian did not want to presume that whatever the German had said applied to him as well but his shoulders were killing him.

In broken Polish he implored, "Hello. Can put arms down? Can please put arms down?"

Noting that the people there were busy with Jared, Gerhard had a good look over to ensure that everything was going smoothly and then glanced around again, checking his flanks.
Further away was another German soldier, hands still raised over his head. Gerhard moved over to him and said [German]"You can drop your arms now kamerad, if there was any need to be hesitant they'd have opened up by now. I'm Polizeioberkommissar Deitrich, I'm from 6. Panzergrenadiers, the Bundesgrenzschutz Jägergrüppe in 10. Volksbattalionkommando attached to 6. Panzergrenadier Aufklarungen. Gerhard looks at Sebastian, but can't see if he's wearing his unit insignia like Gerhard does, and adds "Where are you from?"
Gerhard gestures to the roadblock "These people are Partizanen, totally illegal I'm afraid. I've explained to them about the conventions of war and so on, but I haven't had the greatest success. Anyway, I hope you don't have any Whiskey Tango Oscars with you, especially Rus, as they're what can only be called fanatical about them. I'd better see your CO if you have one, otherwise people might get impatient."

Marcus nods in acknowledgment to the newest negotiator in a German uniform, before slowly lowering his arms, he inquires, "May I stand?" as he's still kneeling from going half-way to the ground as originally ordered.

"Ja, stand up Feldwebel. Perhaps you should best come with me as I inspect your convoy. The owners of this roadblock would like to know if you are a Trojan Horse for a Rus panzer division. It appears to me, however, that you are just the most recent owners of these vehicles."

While Gerhard is not pointing his weapon at anyone, he doesn't stand close enough to be grabbed by a sudden rush and used as a shield. He leads the way over to Sebastian and the Major, peering into vehicles and looking under them. He nods and says "Gutentag" to anyone looking out, assuming they don't point something nasty at him.

Once over at the others, Gerhard continues "I should caution you, Ladies and Gentlemen. Your hosts do not take kindly to the neighbours, and if you have any Rus here it would be very good if they were not to appear in their national uniform, or to be carrying their national weapons." He pauses, then nods at the major "Polizeioberkommissar Deitrich reporting sir, from the 10. Volksbattalionkommando of the 6. Panzergrenadiers. I have been seperated from my unit, and have attached myself to this partisan unit. May I ask your present disposition?"
This message was lightly edited by the player at 02:11, Tue 10 Apr 2007.

With a hand on his medical pack Doc Brook leans over watching the little party move toward the rear of the vehicles. Then shrugging he straightens up and goes back to leaning on the front of the lead vehicle. He speaks softly to no one inparticular.

"We got a rag tag group of about four different nationalities in two soviet vehicles that stumbles on a Polish check point with a German liason. Only in this war. Only in this war." He finishes while shaking his head with a laugh.

Marcus rises slowly and complies following Gerhard.  Marcus shakes his head at the idea of being a Trojan horse for the Soviets, "I'm afraid they're greatly mistaken, and yes, we just happen to be using these vehicles for transportation."

At the mention of Russian weapons Marcus scoffs, "Well we obviously have Russian weapons, it's what's available."  He looks to the Major as Gerhard introduces himself.

Sebastian rubs his shoulders as he walks alongside Dietrich.

"Hello, Her Dietrich. Name's Sebastian Stoeckel, formerly of 6.KampfIngenieur. I'm from Munich, you could say. This bunch has my 'unit' for the last couple of days. In spite of appearances, they're mostly Americans. There are a couple of Danes, I believe, and a Frenchman, but no Russians."

Sebastian hesitates to tell the newcomer, who is in some way affiliated with the bunch whose guns are still trained on the convoy, about Katka, the group's Ukrainian. She would emphatically point out that she is not Russian, but these "partisans" might see this matter quite differently.

"I understand your position Feldwebel, but in this confused situation these already suspicious people are making a big effort to be careful. Normally, many of you would be dead now just from the sight of all these uniforms. Let's not make them any more jumpier than they already are. Many of them are not soldiers, after all."



"Well, we'd better have everyone out and a quick introduction. There's some heavy weapons trained on you that'd make short work of these panzerlicht. Perhaps you could quickly tell me why you're using mainly Rus equipment I can get some fingers of triggers here."

Camilla blinked, spotting motion out of the corner of her eye, and straightened from a slightly stooped stance. The grit of the ground crunched under her boots as she shifted,  backing toward the vehicle, pale hand brushing in the direction of the approaching figures.. “people..”

Her Polish fatigues looked as though they’d seen too much of the road.. Blue eyes dim as she narrowed her vision against the light that traveled above.  Her weapon was by no means in a hostile position, but the shoulder strap slipped,  waiting hand catching easy grip on her weapon.. Its barrel was slanted at the earth.

Her heart skipped a beat as they came into focus near the Major and Sebastian, honey colored brows arched slightly.  “Smith?..” The name crossed her lips in a fretful hush, possibly smacking of shock, or concern. The Danish Lieutenant couldn’t tell if they meant to come farther at that point.. What with Finnegan half way to the front, and on the cusp of her visible range at the bend..  She strayed near the hatch to hear if there was anything on the radio..

Sebastian scratches his head in an involuntary symbolic gesture before answering Dietrich.

"Well, I'm not entirely sure. As I said, I've just recently linked up with this outfit. I believe I remember hearing mention, though, of several members of this group having escaped Russian custody at some point earlier this summer. I would assume that they acquired Russian weapons after making good their escape."

Tanya runs her fingers through her hair again as she leans on the APC next to Cam.  She sighs and says to her and those around her, "Who the hell is gunna come out of those woods next, Spider Man?"  She tries to make some light of the situation while they wait to hopefully get past the partisan roadblock.

Gerhard doubles back to the roadbloack and reports to the grizzled commander.

"They're Westerners, they say they're NATO and one is from my old division. Some were prisoners and escaped, which is how they came to own the soviet equipment. They have wounded with them."

  Increased chatter and what little movement she could see from her seat combined with the fact that everyone seemed to be taking a smoking break got Katka's curiosity up. Lacking a headset and unable to clearly make out the conversations outside the hull of the puttering BTR, she had'nt been able to keep up with current events very well. So making her way to the rear of the vehicle, she popped her head out of a hatch and gave a smile to those present.

  "What is happening?"

Sebastian, who had returned to the company of the BTR with Dietrich, replies,

"Dear Katka, we have run into a welcoming committee of sorts. They apparently have a hatred for Russians. I'm not sure that they make any distinctions concerning her former holdings, so you'd better stay out of sight for as long as possible. Hopefully, we'll be able to talk ourselves clear soon."

The few Partisans that can be seen appear to relax as the conversation progresses although they remain uncertain about those dressed in Soviet uniforms and equipped with Pact weapons and webbing. While still aiming in the general direction weapon barrells droop towards the ground and stances relax.

And then Katka appears and speaks with her unmistakable accent....

A loud gasp of supprise escapes from a previously undetected position in bushes just a dozen metres or so from the BTR-80.
Half a breath later and a shout comes from the same location"Руки поднимают! оружия вниз!"
While the words are unknown to those who don't speak the language, the tone certainly is - hostile!

As Katka made her appearance Marcus shook his head with a little _{"Oh shit."} escaped his lips under his breath.  He glanced over at Cam with a look of get ready for the worst.  Sure enough he was right as someone yelled from the bushes in Russian.  He translated for those who didn't know Russian, "Fuck.  They're freakin' out now.  They commanding us to raise our hands and keep our weapons down."  Marcus had never once made any threatening moves to his weapon and just shook his head again as he raised his hands not wanting to be shot by some jumpy partisan with an itchy trigger finger.  He called out to Katka, "Nice going, you might as well as get out on your face."

With a look of shock on her face, Tanya begins to look around as she sees the scene around her begin to take a turn for the worse.  "What the hell's going on here?" she asks as guns go back up and she hears someone yell something out unintelligible looking to Cam.

Unaware that the radio required a headset for those inside to hear, she would have made more of a fuss over the Ruskie comment than she already had. Unfortunately, one persons Ruskie was another persons Ukrainian. But to be perfectly honest, Ashton wasn’t  sure she’d have been able to make the distinction herself, given the same variables in any situation. Marcus’s expression , and the realization of her own mistake, made her mouth go suddenly dry.

Eyes wide, Cam flinched at the shout from the brush, her inaction initially may have indicated her lack of understanding, but the translation was clear enough.  “They think Ruskie..” They were in the open..  Action or inaction could get everyone killed.. Head bowed, she extended her rifle away from her body slowly , clasped awkwardly in her left hand, and lowered it to the ground gently by the strap.

There was a firm reluctance to do so.. She’d been a prisoner once already, and had no desire to go that route again..  Biting down hard Lieutenant Ashton blinked the string from her eyes, suddenly angry.   She also didn’t want to cause the death of Smith, or Tanya, or any of the others.. “We stand down, but no prisoner, no again.. -I die first.”

Brown still in his position was slowly relaxing when things seemed to ease down, until suddenly the attitude of the partisans seemed to change for the worst.

Something must have happened, but Brown could not see what it was.

The partisans knew he was inhere. Well the german knew he was in here. When he had peeked inside Brown had sheepishly raised his hand in a greeting when he had said some german sounding words to him. Probably a greeting. He had not made any move to leave his postion though.
After several seconds of thoughts he pushed the speak button.

"What happened? Why the suddens hostility."

He said into the radio, not knowing if anyone was listening and if they were if they knew what was going on.

At the roadblock, Gerhard hears the warning shout but doesn't understand a word. However, it's obvious the partisans have seen something to him. He throws himself flat on the ground and rolls to the nearest cover.

Forgetting himself, he shouts out "Was ist es? Was ist die Gefahr?". He brings the G8's butt up to his shoulder and prepares to lay down covering fire. Suddenly remembering that few people here speak german, he adds in the only other language he knows "What is it? What is the danger?"

"Amen to that..." Corrigan said softly under his breath as lowered the barrel of the RPK slightly, holding it in his right hand the left came up, palm out, he raised his voice as he spoke, "Stand down, STAND DOWN, friends!" and then in a slightly softer tone, "How can everything go so bloody south, so fuckin' quick?" he muttered...

As he glanced around and tried to replay the series of events in his mind, he wondered what had sparked the hostilities?

Still having the knofe tucked in the back of he pants after she got out to help Don out of the vehicle as a possible translator, Tanya keeps her hands in plain view and makes no sudden movement with them.  "Well, they're gunna have a helluva time gettin' me in some stockade again anytime soon!  I think all of us agree on that one.  I've got a bad feeling about this," Tanya says as she watches helplessly as everything unfolds around them.

  Katka did a suprised glance in the direction of trouble just before ducking her head back into the safety of the hull. She heard Marcus suggest that she come out and surrender as she fell back onto one of the seats, the sling of her rifle falling off her shoulder as she raised the AK, eyes wide. Surrendering for a NATO soldier would mean a prison camp or simple death but, she knew damn well the hell that awaited were she to be catured by Russians. It wouldnt be fast and she wouldnt live thru it.

  Still, trapped in the hull of a group that did'nt owe her the time of day and surrounded by who knows who, did'nt leave too many options. "I am ukrayinets! Tell them I am ally!" She yelled, trying to hold down the sudden wave of panic and staring at one of the closed gunports.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:57, Sat 21 Apr 2007.

Corrigan moved slowly forwards a little, left hand still held palm out while the right held the RPK barrel lowered and, hearing Katka call out he echoed some of her words hoping they had the desired effect, "I say again, STAND DOWN!!  She is ukrayinets!!  Ally!!!  Friend!!!  Ukrayinets!"  There was no way he was not going to relinquish his weapon right now, at least not if he could help it, but he would appear as 'non-threatening' as he could...

He repeated the shout, hoping his next response was not to feel hot lead passing through him at supersonic speeds...
This message was last edited by the player at 02:52, Sat 21 Apr 2007.

Doc Brooks looks around but doesn't move, not wanting to startle the guards at the check point. He let's out a sigh as he mumbles to noone inparticular, "Lovely, just lovely. Surrounded by a bunch of local idiots. We got one deserter among a dozen NATO personnel and they go nuts. And I used to wonder why the Marines just leveled places as they moved through."

'Ahh,' thought Gerhard, 'it's their 'little problem' with Russians again. Now why didn't they tell me when I asked, for goodness' sake?!'

Coming up onto one knee, Gerhard keeps the heavy G8 to his shoulder and strains to lift the ammo can swinging under the weapon. He looks back at the partisans near him and says "I'll see if there's any more."

Scurrying forward, his weapon at the ready should a firefight erupt, Gerhard noted that the strangers were edging up, just like the partisans were. No one was dropping their weapons now. He came up to the most talkative members and barked in English.

"You have Russians here? I asked if you had Russians here! Keep her under cover, or they might shoot her. Keep your weapons down, you're still covered by an autocannon that'll make short work of you - and me - should shooting start. Keep calm, let them calm down. If anyone hits you, don't do anything. They like NATO, so they're confused and angry.

Gerhard goes to the vehicle containing the 'Russian' and says loudly, firmly and calmly to those inside "I am a police officer, do not put your head up or leave the vehicle unless I tell you it is safe to do so. I need to know who you are and how you came to be here right now. I shall ensure that no matter what, your treatment is according to the rules of warfare, you need not be concerned about arbitrary punishments. I have to, however, allay the suspicions of these people, so answer my questions - truthfully -right now. Trust me."
This message was lightly edited by the player at 00:04, Sun 22 Apr 2007.

As the Polizei moved towards the vehicle Katka had dived back into Corrigan moved with him deciding as he was the closer he might as well act in Katka's defense, besides there were few with the group who knew Katka, the RPK drooped towards the ground as he walked listening to the man's words, "Forgive me for saying so, but right now I don't see that there's much reason for us to trust you for anything...  Katka is a freedom fighter, she's been fighting against the same thing as these goddamn partisans for as long as them, if not longer...  Now, I don't personally feel like dying today and I know that the first gunshot that goes off will not be from us, but I guarantee we'll take as many with us as we can should a firefight erupt."

Right now he was pissed off, but he managed to keep the anger from his face and his voice controlled as he spoke, "Most of us escaped the Russians, hence the mix of uniforms and equipment...  Those that didn't are fighting against them as well...  You got any questions for Katka, you can include me because I will not allow her to be just hung out to dry as the token Russkie, got it?"  He truly did not want to fight, being a big man he could be imposing, but he also wasn't going to just stand around and let Katka be victimized by the partisans or this Polizei Officer...

Tanya leans against the vehicle with her hands crossed in front of her in obvious aggravation over what is going on here.  No one really knew Katka all that will except for Sebastian but, Sebastian wasn't Russian!  Tanya will say aloud in German, "This is ridiculous!  She's been with us and we consider one of us!  What kind of Gestapo shit is goin' on here?"

Doc Brooks looks up at the outburst with a big Texas grin, "My kinda Sergeant." Then goes back to watching the minor chaos with his smile, "When this idiocy is over someone remind me why I volunteered to come to this country?"

Sebastian feels a little embarassment at the current situation. Perhaps if he'd mentioned Katka's nationality when Dietrich had first asked, none of this shouting and gun-levelling would be going on again. Sebastian realizes that he will have to repair the damage done by his earlier disingenuosness. He had always been able to defuse a tense situation in front of the press after Bayern had lost a big match...

Hands raised once more, Sebastian addresses his Polezei countryman in polite but emphatic German.

"Her Dietrich, I must apologize for the misunderstanding. You aksed if there were any "Russians" among us, not Soviets. It is a fine distinction, to be sure, but an important one. I was, I must admit, hoping that she stay put and avoid the issue entirely but that was not to be. But, the fact remains, she is NOT Russian; in fact, she's been fighting them. Please, clarify this for your...er, friends... in the bushes. I think I speak for my comrades when I say that we will not turn her over to be hung."

Or worse... He thinks.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:55, Sat 21 Apr 2007.

"Bloody right we won't..." Corrigan muttered to Sebastien's words, nodding thanks to the man for speaking up as well, not to mention Tanya who he hoped trusted his own judgement...  The RPK remained pointing down in a 'non-threatening' gesture, but he'd be damned if he was going to drop it right now...

Gerhard has his hands off his weapon, and he says in exasperation "First off, oberfeldwebel, I am a NATO officer and I don't want to see a blue-on-blue. Second off, I'm in front of the artillery here with you so I'm just as concerned about getting killed, and lastly if you have listened to me you can see I'm trying to difuse this situation! Enough with the childish suspicion and follow orders."



Gerhard shoots her a venomous look. [German] "SILENCE! Keep your GeStaPo comments to yourself."




" Thank you Gefrieter Stoeckel. Let's start again, shall we?. As I was saying, keep your friend under wraps, I will try and explain to the irregulars what the situation is. I honestly don't think they'll fire if they know the situation with all the NATO troops around the vehicles, but  I cannot understate how much this particular group loathes anything remotely Rus. At all times, keep an obvious NATO soldier with your friend. Try and speak only Western languages, preferably English."
"I know it is a hard thing to do, but if you lay down your weapons this will go more smoothly."
"I tell you all, I am committed to the law, I will try my utmost to maintain it. Your friend has done nothing wrong and should have no need for fear, but we must take as many precautions as possible when dealing with unsupervised irregulars. Let's try and calm everything down."

Gerhard takes off his helmet and runs his hand through the bristle that covers his skull, and sighs wearily.

"You," he points to Stoeckel and Corrigan, "and you, come with me - without weapons - to the roadbloack and we'll try and sort this out."

Gerhard unslings his G8 and lowers it to the ground, disarming himself as well.

"Follow orders?  From you?  Hate to say this mate, but in the enlightened days of this war, and the fact that once allies can be just as much your enemies, and once enemies can be allies, you have to earn the trust of the troops before being able to command anyone, and right now you ain't got no currency in my book..." he said softly, keeping his tone and expression carefully neutral...



After the Polizei finishes speaking Corrigan stared back at him, "Start again?  First useful thing you've said...  But I will give you that our friend may appear to be an enemy to some, but I cannot and will not ask her to walk around your friends unarmed, 'cause I foresee many accidents being planned for her with a group who loathes anything remotely Rus to use your own words...  If she doesn't mind I will volunteer to remain with her whenever possible, and perhaps Sebastien will volunteer as well, just to make sure there's no misunderstandings between your group and her, shall we say..." he said, speaking softly once again...


It took Corrigan a moment to consider relinquishing his own weapon, for he had vowed never again to surrender his weapons to anyone, not after his capture, not after what they had done...  He glared and scowled for a moment, and then finally spoke, his expression becoming carefully neutral once more, "To resolve this situation I'll do it, not because of anything you say, or any order you feel you have the authority to give, but because she, and everyone else here, is my friend...  I hope, for your sake, you're not setting us up..." he said, the look in his eye saying more than words what he might do to someone who crosses him or his friends, but then he turned slowly and laid the big RPK in the vehicle, purposefully placing it on the line of seats near Katka...

"Katka, stay hidden, don't do anything, but defend yourself if anything happens...  I'll be back in a few to claim my gun...." he said softly to her, before turning back to Gerhard his hands open, "Lead on, let's get this dealt with, shall we?  Getting kind of tired of feeling the itch between my shoulder blades, you know?" he said with a slight smile and waited for Gerhard to move...

  Katka was so completely taken aback by what had just conspired that she could only manage a slight "Yes." and a nod when Corrigan lowered his weapon into the BTR. Up to ths point the entire team had been nothing but a ticket back east. Not even Dok and Sebastian rated higher than accuaintences. She had been playing everyone for the advantages they could provide and yet here they were, damn near comming under the gun in her name. And who was she to them?

  It had been years since she thought anyone looked to her as one of their own. The image of Reza's face made her sick to her stomache, or was it the shame of having grown so cold that she could'nt see those around her for what they might have been. It had'nt been enough to just rip the markings off her old uniform, she was still Serzhant Valechzev in her head. Just surviving was'nt going to be enough anymore.

Plt Sgt Tanya Redgrave typed:
[German] "This is ridiculous!  She's been with us and we consider one of us!  What kind of Gestapo shit is goin' on here?"

Gerhard shoots her a venomous look. [German] "SILENCE! Keep your GeStaPo comments to yourself."
================================================================================

Tanya returns the look back to Gerhard, "Silence?  If you are in some kind of authoiity here, make something happen!  When this madness is over, then I'll be quiet, not before!" she repeats back to him in German not appearing to back down.

Corrigan didn't understand the exchange between Tanya and Gerhard but he could see the look that passed between them and, after a pause, he glanced at Tanya, "Tanya, easy, enough for now...  Trust me and let's see what we can get figured out, just look out for Katka for a moment...  I don't trust the bastards in the bushes not to try something while Herr Polizei and I are otherwise engaged..." he said in his characteristic soft tone, a slight smile softening what might have been felt as a rebuke.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:17, Sun 22 Apr 2007.

"Well, I've had all I can take for now." Brooks slowly adjusts his medical bag as he begins to walk down the line from the lead vehicle towards the back.

Holding his hands up, palms out to any of the locals that look at him, "I've got injured to look after." That being more of a statement than asking permission.

As he nears Redgrave he hears the comment and smiles. Then as he passes her he quietly says in German, "Gestapo, netter Sergeant. Über Summen diese lage oben."

Then he continues on to find Don to check on his condition and maybe give him something to help him rise to assist in dealing with this situation.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:56, Sun 22 Apr 2007.

Arron was glad he'd stayed put in the BTR gunners seat. Although his feild of vison was rather restricted he could hear what was happening outside and feel the tension in the air.
He kept his fingers hovering over the machinegun triggers, prepared to obliterate any fool partisan who was stupid enough to reveal themselves. Even so, he kept the turret still - there was no point provoking them while that had that autocannon concealed somewhere in the bushes of the surrounding hills.
"Can you see anything Major?" he asked Sergio. The vehicle commander should have a better veiw of their surrounding than him and perhaps have already picked out a target or three.

Tanya gives a poor effort to laugh and nods to Andy, "For you and Katka, I'll shut my yap!  Not for that jerk-off though!  Thinks who he is," she says to Andy trying to calm herself down after talking to Gerhard.



Tanya gives a smile to Brooks after what he said in German to her in passing.   "Ja," she says to him not trying to get into it with the German cop.

OOC: What was it you said back to her?

Brown, still behind his gun was getting a bit worried. No one was answering his call over the radio. What he did see and hear were several anxious shouts. He felt like any minute now things could turn really ugly. He felt the urge to turn the turret around to, maybe, get a look, but that, of course was the worst thing to do right now.

"Anyone, please respond. What's the situation?"

As Gerhard leaves with Corrigan and Stoeckel, he says quietly to them.

"Oberstabsfeldwebel, Gefreiter, you are surrounded by a platoon of irregulars with heavy weapons - who range from experienced Polish soldiers to fanatics with no fire discipline. It is essential you keep your people calm. Appoint someone back there to keep a lid on this, it sounds like your people are losing it."

Gerhard looks over at both of them and you can see the real fear in his eyes.

"I'm not in charge here, they barely listen to me. As just another NATO straggler, they'll not think twice about any of us being in the line of fire. I don't want to get my guts splattered all over this stupid road because someone can't keep their mouth shut or makes a sudden move, this is not the time for brinkmanship."
This message was lightly edited by the player at 22:25, Sun 22 Apr 2007.

Sebastians shoulders are beginning to ache again. He's anxious to restore the situation to some semblance of normalcy but he hates to leave Katka. Although he'd only known the girl a day or two, he felt a bond had developed between her, Brooks, Corrigan, and himself. Perhaps it was because he'd been on his own so long and they'd all survived the surreally hellish night in Wolbrom together. Besides, Katka still owed him a sausage breakfast.

Sebastian waits for Corrigan to say his piece [or peace?] before interjecting (in English)

 "Please, let's all try and be friends. Her Dietrich, Her Corrigan, the safety of everyone on this road is in our hands. Let's save the rash words for our true enemies and work together. I'll come with you, Hauptman. I may only be a humble Gefreiter, but I do have some skill in resolving conflict. And, perhaps, there are some football fans amongst the partisans." He adds with a cryptic smile.

"Hey Doc, you might want to rethink that," Virgil called as Brooks began to move off.
"There's three pissed off Poles here with weapons pointed at you right now."
Virgil's own weapon had been laid carefully on the ground at the front of the BRDM-2 the moment he'd seen these people were serious. He'd been set to be chewing the dirt too except for that German who'd showed up all chummy. It was times like this he regretted wearing the scavenged Soviet uniform - who knew you'd run into a bunch of anti-communist guerillas in the middle of Red Poland? A few days back after the slavers it had seemed like a good idea...

Gerhard's appearence by the BTR-80 had surely prevented a bloodbath, the Polish partisan in the bushes mere heartbeats from firing upon a group he thought of as Communist infiltrators. Although the situation is extremely tense, fortunately for the group, no shots are fired. If they were, it's readily apparent that even with armoured vehicles in support many casualties would result.

Up ahead, "Doc" decides to head back. Fortunately for him, the three poles at the roadblock are a little more relaxed than those surrounding the BTR-80. Although a little annoyed that they were losing control of the situation somewhat, they do nothing to stop him walking off. Perhaps because Stoner, a man they obviously trust, shakes his head slowly from side to side...

Minutes tick past while negotiations are carried on. A short while later and some sort of agreement is hit upon - both vehicles will be emptied and thoroughly searched. While this is going on, most of the party members are to lay their weapons on the ground and move a dozen metres or so away. Two are allowed to keep their weapons and will hold two of the Poles as hostages.
After the search of the vehicles, each member of the group will also be searched for evidence of their true identies. Any identification papers would be perfect although it is acknowledged that few people still possess such documents. Any without such papers will be subject to an interrogation to ascertain their origins and political affiliation.

Even though the proceedure is rightly seen as a gross voilation of privacy and personal liberty, the carrot is very juicy. If enough proof is presented to outweigh any thoughts of communist sympathies, assistance will be freely and happily given in the form of fuel, food, shelter and perhaps most importantly, information.

  If I am going to be questioned, I must insist on having one of the other team members present.

Brooks waves a hand dismissively at Mattersons comment, "If these morons want to shoot a medic in the back so be it. Maybe it will get me out of this idiotic hell."

As he reaches the rear vehicle he looks around for the head wound. Then seeing the trail they came up, he half wished he had his rifle from the vehicle so he could just keep on walking and get away from the madness.

"Bloody hell! What's going on???"

Don rises with help. He walks over to Brooks and whoever are outside the vehicle.

"Co piekło kontynuuje tutaj? Co jest kwestia?"
(What the hell is going on here? What's the problem? - in Polish)

He looks to see whatever opposition is here. His plain suit should as least be rather non-threatening to the new bunch. If they weren't gonna think about him as an infiltrator that is.

He is thankful to Tanya who help him stand straight, sorta...

Not getting an answer over the radio, hearing some of his companions grumbling outside and feeling more and more useless sitting idle behind the weapon Brown makes up his mind and abandons the vehicle.

Leaving his weapon in the vehicle and raising his hands out of the hatch before revealing the rest of his body Brown makes sure he takes on his least hostile posture sitting on top of the vehicle. While comming out of the hatch he makes sure to take the commanders radio headset out of the vehicle. Giving the partisans at the checkpoint a professional, but friendly nod.

He turns towards Brooks and Matterson.

"Doc, I'm sure there are enough officers to take care of the situation back at the transport. Maybe you better stay here with me and Virgil just in case we need someone to drive this sardine can out of the way."

After that he looks over at the poles at the checkpoint.

"Doc, Virgil, any of you got some sweets or cigs on you we might use to get them to settle down a bit?"

"Not a thing sir," Virgil replied from the ground. "Slavers cleaned me out last week and we haven't found much since. Don might have a bottle or two of something stashed away though."
That damn Scot always seems to have a bit of moonshine tucked away for negotiations.

Marcus would only leave his weapon hanging slung down on his chest rather than give it up completely.  Besides, he was one of the lucky ones wearing a US military uniform and had established himself as US Special Forces with Stoner earlier.  As most of the yelling occurred around the BTR-80 in German and what not, he just leaned up against it's outer hull with his elbow and head in hand as he just shook it in disbelief at the Charlie Foxtrot.  He didn't have that same suicidal tendency he once had, but he didn't really care much either that they would shoot.  He only complied partially with the partisans demands to save the others.  It seemed that his job as go-between had been transferred to others, which suited him fine, he never did like talking a whole lot.

Aaron took more than a few moments to divest himself of his weapons. Once done there was a neat pile that easily rivalled any two others. M249 SAW, a couple of M72 LAWs, M79 Grenade launcher, grenades, knife, even a sharpened toothpick...
"Don't worry me none Sarge," he commented as Marcus resisted. "It's not like they're all that far away, and we got us some hostages."
Nobody had ever accused Aaron of being overly smart but he did have a point. All his weapons were within a quick dive of where he sat by the side of the road and from what he'd seen of the Poles so far, he had no doubt he could take them down with one punch. It helped that he was 6'10" and well over 210 lbs naked.

"There'a a whole lot of bullshit goin' on here Don.  Just take it easy with your head.  I think they've come to some sort of agreement that we can deal with for now," she tells him after she carefully helps him up from his resting spot.

As the negotiations come to a close, Sebastian addresses Dietrich and Corrigan,

"Well gentlemen, I suppose that was the best we could do. I hope the partisans care for their own, otherwise those hostages won't do us much more good than slowing down a few of their friends' bullets. Someone- preferably armed- should stay with Katka at all times. I would be happy to oblige but she might be more comfortable with Redgrave instead. And Dietrich, I mean no offense, but the group might take the news better if Corrigan is the one to do most of the talking."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:20, Wed 25 Apr 2007.

Gerhard smiles for the first time.

"That, Mr Stoeckel, is an understatement."

He replaces his helmet and looks at the two vehicles and the angry faces.

"We'd best get this over with, there's too much that can go wrong with this situation, on both sides. You'd best have a reasonable person with good Polish skills when it comes to your Russian friend. I think once they realise that nearly all of you, well I hope nearly all of you, are NATO that they will moderate their behaviour. They honestly admire NATO troops, but this is backed by a loathing of anything faintly Russian. I don't like this at all. let me recommend the hostages they give you, I can ensure that they're the two worst hotheads and that will take them out of the equation."

Standing near Tanya and Don, Brooks adds, "You ain't lieing, bunch of bullshit we got ourselves into. Was just starting to tolerate this country then we stroll into these Polish idiots. Now I am back to hating the whole country again."

Brooks shakes his had realizing he was ranting then gets back to the reason he headed back here, "How you holding up sir? Need anything for the discomfort or pain?"

"I'm not so sure if that's a good idea right now Sebastian.  It's not that I wouldn't do it but, I don't speak their lingo and they seem to have a set mindframe towards Katka anyway.  It might be best if someone who spoke Polish went with her," Tanya tries to tell Sebastian in humble tone.

"Stand in line Doc, stand in line," Tanya says quietly to Brooks before he goes to see if Don needs any more assistance.

  Katka calls out from the open hatch, "I do not mind who is gaurd for me."

NPC'd
"I'll stay wiith her," Michelle said quietly. "Don, you'd better sit yourself back down or you're liable to fall! Head wounds aren't to be taken lightly!"
Her own wounds had stiffened up over night and nearly her entire body was covered in bruising from the metal pipes. At least Don had only been hit the once...
"I don't mind translating if needed," she said in perfect Polish.

"Yeah, all right. No problem. I'll stay here with Tanya"

He is having an headache, it is worse than he thought. He doesn't even feel an urge to grab Tanya's behind for the time being.

Corrigan frowned and almost growled with animosity at the situation, true they were armed and had two vehicles and could no doubt put up a fight considering many had escaped from the enemy, a brutal fight it would be, and yet here were a bunch of irregulars without proper training but with all the aces where cover and firepower were concerned ready to blow them all to hell...

He was not happy, not in the slightest, and if he thought he might not get shot by a trigger happy partisan he might have punched out the German Polizei...  No, it wasn't his fault, truly it wasn't, but right at that moment he seemed like a likely scapegoat for Corrigan's frustrations...

Muttering softly under his breath he spoke to Gerhard, "I guess we don't have much choice but to agree to their terms...  But, may I remind you that many here escaped the Russians, including myself...  If it seems for one moment that the partisans start to treat us like those bastards did, then I cannot, and will not, speak for the actions of either myself or those of my companions...  All I can say is a good many people will die this day, yourself and any other of the cowardly partisans I can lay my hands on, understood?" he said, honest in his words, truth in his gaze...

He was not about to have his friends mistreated just because of some jumpy partisans who didn't know how to keep their trigger fingers away from their triggers...  Pausing he stepped closer to Gerhard...

"You know what?  Let's start with me..  I offer myself as a    Warrant Officer 2nd Class, 22nd Regiment Special Air Service, unarmed, for their initial interrogation...  I'm NATO, and British through and through...  I am also the main contact as of this moment, you need to make everyone stand down until the partisans have had a chance to speak with me directly...  Once they are satisfied, I will arm myself as a 'trusted ally', and watch over Katka, while the next goes for their interrogation.  I want your partisan friends to 'vet' the two people who will be armed throughout the rest of the proceedings, this way there can be no misunderstanding when they begin to search the vehicles, and I can ensure Katka gets fair treatment...  Fair enough?" he said, speaking in his best 'British Officers voice' as he had heard others speak as he turned to Gerhard...

"Negotiate that little point while I break the news to the rest of the group...  You said they revere NATO, well let's let them prove it...  Otherwise I cannot trust your friends as far as I could spit them out..." he said, turning to walk down the line and break the news to everyone of what needed to be done...
This message was last edited by the player at 03:30, Sat 28 Apr 2007.

"They wanna do what?!?!" shaking his head to the news. "I swear to God if one of these Polish Nazi's contaminates anything in my medical kit."

Pacing a bit as he goes on, "These fuckers hate the Russians so much, yet they want to act like them? Idiots want to interrogate us but they can't tell the difference between Russian and NATO troops."

Then he stands their practicing, "Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class William H. Brooks. United States Navy. Four, six, seven, one, three, four two two four. Hospital Corpsman..."

"William...  William...  BROOKS...  Stand down, for fucks sake..." he said, softly at first, and then more insistant as the Corpsman started pacing, inviting anyone around him to shoot him...

"Brooks, I don't like this any better than you do, which is why I'm offering myself first...  Anything happens to me, you guys can fight your way out or make a break for it...  Got it?  But if I come back unharmed, we need to follow their stipulations...  Got it?" he sounded remarkably calm considering what he had suggested, and yet his main concern was now to prevent any blood shed among his friends...

Gerhard stares at them in shock.
"You know, for a bunch of people looking at imminent death, you're remarkably insensitive. Calling a group of Polish nationalists 'NaZis' within their earshot is possibly the rashest thing I've ever seen. So far you've bellowed out 'GeStaPo', 'NaZi' and compared them to the Russians. I speak to them in English, which means they're quite well able to understand you, so I suppose they're more than a little pissed off than they were when this whole thing started."

Gerhard lowers his voice to a hiss.

"For God's sake, look at it from their viewpoint. They don't fight under a flag and don't wear a uniform, if they're caught by the soviets or the Poles, they're legally liable to be shot. Suspicion is a matter of life and death with them. Everyone one of these people is of military age, they're also violating the draft laws as well as carrying arms against their government. Cut them some slack, you look suspicious and they're being VERY tolerant!"

"Most of us here have been staring at death for years in this hell hole. And if we get caught by the Russians what do you think will happen to us? A feast and shelter with a warm fire place... no, we are just as likely to get executed. I've watched countless number of Marines die fighting in this country. So you'll excuse me if I listen to the way they act at this check point and equate them to Nazi's, Gestapo or Russians. If you act like one then don't be suprised to get called one."

Then he walks up to the lead vehicle and unsecures his pack from it, "If they want to shoot a medic in the back so be it I am fucking done with this bullshit. They are too stupid or paranoid to know the difference between Russians and NATO then they obviously can careless if we become allies. And I for one would rather not have their 'hospitality'."

He points to the lead vehicle as he puts the pack on, "There's an M16 inside, belonged to a damn good Marine once. I'd get it but they would gun me down, even if I came out with it broken down in two pieces. Fuck it I'm a Corpsman anyway, not supposed to use one."

He slowly walks toward the back of the formation waiting for the shot to ring out to end the misery. To end the hell that is Poland and it's 'wonderful' people. Go ahead, he thinks, shoot me... should do wonders for your reputation. Some young Polish kid can chaulk up one dead medic to his credit. Praying it doesn't come but seeing the likes of the militia at the checkpoint, figures it will.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:02, Sat 28 Apr 2007.

"Goddamnit..." Corrigan said softly as he watched the scene unfold between Gerhard and Brooks, and after a moment to let Brooks walk away he spoke up again...  "We need to finish this, NOW, before this shit blows up into something no one will be able to handle...  Gerhard, I offer myself AGAIN...  Let them deal with a good old fashioned NATO SAS trooper...  Let them gain some kind of solace from that so we can move on, got it?  Negotiate, use your words for fucks sake, shit you can hold a gun to me if it'll make 'em feel better...  But no one else moves...  Let them find an ally in a NATO Warrant Officer of the SAS, and from there we'll get everyone else and the vehicles checked...  Slowly..." he said, desperate to get past this situation...  He really didn't feel like dying today...

Gerhard nods and takes Corrigan to the partisan leader again, hoping that a firefight will not erupt behind his back.

"Tadeusz, this is Oberstabsfeldwebel Corrigan, he is of the elite British SAS - like the German GSG-9*. He wishes to allow you to inspect his paperwork and identity materials, and explain his group's make-up and personnel. They also have an anti-soviet irregular with them from over the border, and her accent has startled your men."

 (*OOC: Yes, I know this utterly untrue, but it is in Gerhard's eyes.)

Tanya sat near Don and watches the heated 'discussion' betwween this new Gerhard guy, Corigan, and Doc Brooks.  She smiled as Doc smart-assed his way with Andy and the German but, finally got up when Corrigan made a good point about getting this over with and moving on.

Tanya gets up from Don and touches him lightly on his arm, "I'll be right back Don before someone steps on someone else's dick over there!"  She gets up and grabs onto Doc Brooks' arm trying to get his attention away from the verbal melee going on.  "C'mon Doc.  I need you to check on Don for me," Tanya says to him looking him into his eyes with the 'You made yer point asshole, now let's move on!' look and of course, smile!

Brooks looks down to the ground as the Sergeant grabs his arm and mentions Don. He quietly says, "Fine, I'll take a look. But it doesn't change the fact that I am leaving. With this type of hospitality I can only imagine the Nazi like conditions inside."

He stops at Don and goes back through the same routine he did a few minutes ago. Checks his pulse, feels for a temperature and checks his pupils, "Again, would you like something for the pain or discomfort sir?"

Sebastian stood there quietly, periodically shaking his head, as Corrigan, Brooks, and Dietrich had engaged in a pissing contest of epic proportions. The young German's entreaties for cooler heads and softer words had fallen on deaf ears and nothing he said could change the course of the heated discussion. Sebastian had learned on the playing pitch that stepping into a fight- even if only to stop it- often ended up in the peacemaker getting popped by both sides for his troubles. Luckily, the impasse had been broken as Dietrich had taken Corrigan to meet once again with the partisan leaders.

Dietrich's right. The partisans have the advantage. If they didn't mean to give us a fair chance, we'd be little more than sausage filling right now... What happened to these people that has made them so... fearfull and so angry?

Sebastian walked the short distance to the BTR, peaked into the side entry door, and filled the occupants in on the results of the "negotiations".

"So there you have it. I suggest we all just stay calm and cooperate with them. If they only meant to herd us into captivity, it would be done already- or, we'd all be dead."

Sebastian paused for a moment to let it all sink in. Then, his curiosity got the best of him.

"Perhaps this isn't the best time but... what happened when you were... er, prisoners before?"

Tanya looks at Brooks while he checks out Don, again, "There's no change in his condition Doc.  I didn't wanna see ya get'n all worked up over this stupid shit with the German cop and Andy.  Ain't no use of bitchin' about it now, we are where we are and have to deal with it, no matter how shitty we may think it is!  It don't mean nothin' Doc, notta thing," she says to him with a smile.

Tanya looks to Sebastian, "Drop it for now Sebastian!"

Sebastian is somewhat taken aback by Tanya's curt reply before realizing that, under the current circumstances, it may not be such a good idea for the obviously on-edge group to be re-living their obviosuly unpleasant experiences as prisoners.

Somewhat sheepishly, he replies, "Er, sorry. Just sit tight. This will all be over soon..."

...I hope.

Sebastian makes a mental note to ask again under more "relaxed" circumstances.

  Cursing under breath and laying her rifle down, Katka moves to the front and takes off her webbing, stuffing it half into her pack. "I think it is safe to shut off engine now."

Don makes his way and has no objections on being searched. He holds his bottle of peaceoffering in the right hand. He isnt sure if it is interesting to give it away. That all depends if the Poles treat him with respect.

ooc. I guess we agreed to agree, right?

Brown remains seated on the front vehicle a little annoyed by the Doc did not even pay attention to what he had said. His eyes are now facing the group over at the other vehicle. He does not know exactly what happens over at the other vehicle but body language and gestures made indicate people are not happy.

When word comes about the deal that's been made Brown slides down the side of the vehicle taking a non threatening stance. After that he makes sure the vehicle is as accesible as possible for the partisans to inspect.

"Sergeant, you heard the man, the officers have made the decision we are to comply with their request for interrogation. I think we better get this over with asap, otherwise we better start camping here tonight."

He sais with obvious sarcasm in his voice. After that he moves over to Virgil and with a softer tone, not to be overheard he adds.

"When they search the vehicle I want one of us to be close at all times. If they take anything out, and we can't stop them, at least I want to know.

Gerhard went over and collected his G8, safeing and clearing it. Then he collapsed the bipod and slung it over his shoulder. He sighed, looking along the the motley caravan and internally wondering why he tried. The tired faces, pinched expressions and surly distrust. These people had been beyond the imaginable length of time a soldier could go through. He decided he might be able to help. Straightening himself up, he walked down the line and spoke to each person individually, trying to reach them as a person and not as a vague, threatening authority figure. At least he'd had his flash hood down, otherwise the distrust would have been worse. No one likes talking to a balaclava.

To Donnachaidh he said "That looks like a bad wound there, but you've been in good hands. Don't worry, we'll get through this and get you to a bunk where you can recuperate. I think some hot food and warm clothes would probably be in order." Don is in civvies, so Gerhard is unaware of what rank he is.

As he approaches Katka, he says "There shouldn't be anything to fear now, once people get talking they're less likely to start shooting, in my experience at least. Still, if it's all right with you, we might get a NATO uniform for you to avoid this sort of thing in the future. You handled that well, I thought. Many people would have gone to pieces. Well done."

He says to Camilla "Are you Polish? No? Looks like we'll have to try and scrounge up as many clean NATO BDUs as possible, you people have really had to make do. I think we'll be able to prevail on our Polish friends here for a hot bath and hot food, then some rest for you people. They may ask for some help, but they are actually friendly once they trust you. I'm sure everyone will feel better after some rest, food and upkeep."

"Well, with that accent you're not a Russian," he says to Finnegan. "Major Finnegan? I apologise sir, I didn't know. Well sir, I will tender my report when things calm down a bit."

"I'm fairly sure that you, at least, Mr Smith, are an Amerikan. Thank you for your help there. Thank goodness you were able to keep a hold of your uniform, although I suppose if these were pro-soviet partisans the situation would have been different. Once we get settled in, I'll see about your needs, you may want to compile a list."

He stops and looks at Tanya, raising an eyebrow. "Ahh, another one of our 'Polish' allies." He says, alluding to her Polish uniform. "I suppose now we can try and start again, let's not let this tense situation colour the future, shall we? Does your friend here," he gestures to Don, "need a stretcher?"

When he looks at Winters, he says "You know soldier, I've never seen so many devices designed to kill, maim or emotionally upset - carried by just one man. Are the rest of these people your logistical tail?" He smiles and adds in friendly manner "no offence, it's just that I thought I was a packrat for weapons. I've been shamed. Anyway, am I to assume you are navy? I am formerly of the BGS-See; the Bundeswehr coast guard, I only came ashore when our flotilla was finally disbanded. I often think my ticket out of here would be a ship; Poland is positively lousy with canals and rivers. Anyway, I'll stop chattering and let you get on with this. I don't suppose it'll hurt in the least if my partisn friends see me being friendly with the newcomers."

"Mr Stoeckel, I'm sure I know you from somewhere. Where were you in 6. Panzers again? No, that's not it. Ahh, it'll come to me eventually. Thank you for your calming influence back there. That was kind of 'exciting', wasn't it? My plan was to hit the deck if the shooting started and then crawl rapidly in the direction of Travemünde and not stop until I got there. It's good to see that things have calmed down a bit. Are you only armed with the uzi? I have a G3 I've been carrying about in case I needed parts for my G8 that you could use if you want something with a little bit more range."

"I guess you are a medic, by what you've been saying? Brooks, is it?" He looks about the group. "Do any of your charges need immediate aid? I don't think they have any stretchers, but we could demount a door to carry someone."

"I haven't met you yet, who are you? Brown? I'm sorry this turn out this way, but things should be on more of an even keel now. I have limited means here, but is there anything you need? I'll try and organise some NATO uniforms, the Poles here might trade for your Polish ones."

Finally, he says to Corrigan "I think it should be all right now, Mr Corrigan. I haven't heard from any of your officers yet, so I'm assuming that you're in defacto command here, allthough they seem like an independent lot so 'command' may not be the right term. While I have NATO rank and am a soldier myself, I'm paramilitary and not military. This is an important distinction to me, and I'm not going to give orders to anyone." He smiles. "Especially when I can bet they'll be ignored. But, if you'd like to prepare a list of urgently needed supplies and services, I'll take them to the partisans with you. I was attached to an HQ unit to lead them out of Kalisz, so I ended up with piles of junk that should be useful to people without access to some of the support expected after you get out of the field. Anyway, thanks for your help in straightening this thing out. I think some of your people may have misinterpreted what I said to your Russian friend, but they're tired and I'm sure they'll realise I was trying to save her skin when they can think on it."

Tanya shakes her lip and shakes her head about the 'Polish' comment from the German police officer.  She loosens her jaw and let's her teeth ease up on her bottom lip as she tries to force a smile, "Yeah, let's start over again, huh?  But first, let's cut out the cute little looks 'n remarks, deal?  My name's Tanya and as long as my friend here, Don, isn't gunna be moved too far from here, he won't need a stretcher.  If we've got a way's to go, he's gunna need one.  He's gotta head wound and he's a little bit out of it right now.  Anything else?"

OOC: 'Anything else' is in Perfect German.

"Already on it boss."
There was no way Virgil was going to let himself be led too far from the BRDM. It contained everything he owned...
"Don't know why everyones all uptight, it's not like we've been clapped in irons or anything!"
As far as he could see, the partisans were bending over backwards for the group. It was well within their power to have every last one of them stripped, bound and shot if they wished but all they'd done was ask for everyone to lay down their arms and step away for a while. Sure there was tension in the air, but why couldn't everyone just chill and get it over with?
Slipping his webbing off, he laid down a few metres from the vehicle. Hands behind his head, he looked as if he hadn't a care in the world.

Aaron smiled viciously from over a foot above Gerhard.
"Thanks for noticing. Picked most of it up as my team fell around me. That was before linking up with this lot though..." His smile slipped for just a moment.
"Yeah, US Navy back when there was one. Haven't seen water in a good six months now though."

Brooks stands up, "I'm not sticking around to enjoy the hospitality of a bunch of idiots that are acting like the very people they seem to loathe."

Then he heads back off toward the way they drove up. "Like I said, they want to shoot a medic in the back let 'em. But either way I am better off; either on my own or dead.

"I couldn't agree more with you sergeant, though I don't really know what's happening over there, but I'd say the fact that we're still alive vouches for these partisans"

While still waiting at the BRDM, Brown sees the German, what was it, borderguard come over to their vehicle.



"We did meet, but I was still over in the vehicle over there, remember, I greeted.
You're correct. My name is Brown, Warrant Officer first Class, William Brown, British Special Air Services...
Not much we need, although some of us need some medical attention, some rest would definately be much apreciated and all...the...

It does not seem the German is really interested in what he had to say as her already moved away from him. Brown had a short flash back reminding him of a customs officer that searched his luggage at the airport when he got back from his holliday...ages ago. Somehow Brown followed the German when he walked over to WO2 Corrigan.



"Sorry to interrupt this conversation, but as highest ranked NCO I probably should asume.. what do you call it.. defacto command... Like I was saying what we need most at the moment is some security and rest, something most of us haven't had since... well since ages. Any other support, medical supplies, food and the likes would be usefull, but rest seems to be the major issue now."

Brown looked at the German border guard, trying to measure him before continuing.

"Something else we might be interested in is intell, but I will first try and talk to one of the offers, see what they think.

Gerhard suddenly looks really, really tired. While his kit is neat and cared for, it looks lived in, as does he. He turns back and says "I apologise Oberfeldwebel Braun," lapsing back into half-German, "I'm not being rude, just stupid. I guess I'm not used to such hostility from our own people. I'm just a little bewildered.

Somehow Brown followed the German when he walked over to WO2 Corrigan.





Gerhard looks at the sky and winces, "I'm doing it again. I'm sorry gentlemen, I guess I'm just tired - it's been a difficult time since Posen and Kalisz has really knocked it out of me. I don't mean to be rude, please just humour me."

"As to intel . . . we'll, we're pretty much all unknowns to each other. I can see where you'd want to keep your information to yourselves, and I think you'll understand if I stay close mouthed to the time being. I'm trying to rig an antenna so I can contact higher command, if there is any, and get sorted out just who is who. Don't forget, our hosts may not be fighting the same war as us, so keep your people quiet when talking to them until I can found out what HQ thinks about them. But you're right, priorities are food and rest. Let's get everyone out of this roadblock, all we need is Russian patrol to wander up while we stand around."

Brown looked at the german border guard and noticed the sincerity in his voice. With a conforting voice he adds.

"It seems we are not the only ones in need of rest over here, you to seem to need some as well, so I agree we better move out to a more secure location if you and your friends can provide this, mister...uuhm, what do I call you? I didn't seem to get your name and unit before?"

It only seems fair that, having let Gerhard see their documents, that Gerhard should show them his ID. He takes them out of his breast pocket and shows them.

"Polizeioberkommissar Gerhard Deitrich, of the Bundespolizeiamt See  - Bundesgrenzschutz. It's a bit of a mouthful if you're not German, but I'm a Leutnant in the Border Guard, Coastal Command. I spent the first part of the war in the Baltic with 1. Flotilla, 7. Warnemünde before coming ashore and back into the Sonderwagenen. Since then I've been with BGS jägergrüppe of the 10. Volksbattalionkommando, 17 Panzergrenadierbrigade. We hit a mine at Kepno and had to abandon the Sonderwagen, and my replacement unimog died from advanced old age about six kilometres from here."

Katka keeps her mouth shut and nods when Gerhard speaks to her. It was nice to get out of the BTR but, she was stating to feel uneasy out in the open with so many eyes on her. The fact that she was totally unarmed was highlighted by a slight breaze that cooled the sweat soaked into her dress. She tried to keep her eyes low and not look about too much.

Sebastian stands quietly bemused as Dietrich makes his way down the reception line. The man reminded him a bit of the chairman of his first football club- neat, formal, and garrulous.

At last, someone who like to talk as much as...

Doc Brooks' outburst breaks his train of thought.

"Her Dietrich, I'll take you up on your offer of the rifle." Sebastian calls in German, as he turns to catch up with the departing Brooks.

Sebastian walks quickly, raising his hands in the hopes that jumpy partisans don't panic and fill them both full of holes. After a few long strides he catches up with the Corpsman.

"Doc, wait! I know you are upset. This situation is, how do you say... fucked up, to be sure. But, you stand a much better chance with us than you do alone. And, we need you. You saved my life once. Now it's my turn to return the favor, in part. Please, don't go."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:02, Sat 05 May 2007.

Tanya watches as Brooks walks away, "C'mon Doc, it'll work out!  We need you," she calls out to him to come back.


OOC: Why can't I get the color or bold to work?
This message was last edited by the player at 03:48, Sun 06 May 2007.

The searches and following "interrogations" are conducted quickly and relatively efficiently - obviously somebody has been training the largely civilian partisans.
Finally satisfied that everyone in the group was who they said they were, the entire mood of the encounter changed. Where before weapons had been kept trained firmly on those the partisans thought mightbe trouble, now there was laughter and jokes.
"Welcome liberators!" the old man at the roadblock declared. "Please accept our appologies for the treatment, these are dangerous times. I'm sure you understand."
Weapons were handed back to their owners with smiles as the hillside seems to almost erupt with several dozen men and women who pour down to the roadside. Bottles of wine and even a few prewar cigarettes are handed about as what can only be described as a celebration begins.
"Please follow us into our village and accept our hospitality. We have food and shelter for you all!"

"Man, ain't this a bitch how quickly things turn in the world today," Tanya says aloud as the partisans come out of the woodwork with their wine and smokes.  Tanya will accpet some of the wine that they're offering along with a cigarette.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:27, Mon 07 May 2007.

William accepts the weapon when it is returned to him by the partisans. When a smoke is offered to him he accepts politely but tries to make it disappear in one of his pockets.

While the atmosphere starts to become festive Brown walks down the line looking for the BRDM driver, Brooks. While he is walking he keeps an eye out for the other team members advising them to be ready to move out with the partisans while passing them.

Soon he finds out Brooks is no where to be found.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:11, Tue 08 May 2007.

"Doc's bailed boss." Virgil stated from his reclined position. Even while being interrogated, he'd stayed laying comfortably on the ground with his head propped up on his webbing and feet on a conveniant rock.
"Saw him disappearing down the road a few minutes back with all his gear on his back. Don't think he likes the locals."
Strangely, the man had been all uptight the entire short time he'd known him. Maybe he'd run out of morphine or something...
"Better get Sgt Smith to drive I think sir, he's the backup."
Almost reluctantly Virgil climbed to his feet and reclaimed his precious sniper rifle.

  Katka smiles sheepishly at all the folks and tries to blend into the background, staying out of everyones way. At one moment she took a breath to ask about vodka but, caught herself and just let it out. It made her a might peeved, she seemed to have been the only one who had wanted to make contact and now she was a leaper.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:10, Sat 19 May 2007.

Gerhard leads the old partisan leader over to Katka and says loudly "This woman is a partisan from over the border, and has joined you in your struggle against the soviets. According to the other soldiers, she is fighting for a free country of her own. She is lucky to have found her brothers in arms in you my friend, otherwise her brave struggle may have well ended here."

Having settled Katka's status, Gerhard slings his weapon and walks over to the BTR.

"Mind if I catch a ride into the village? I'll guide you in."

"Hey, Sergeant Smith! I think Brown needs you up at the BRDM." Aaron called out of the BTR. He'd climbed back aboard, taken his seat and donned the radio headset the moment he'd been allowed. Aaron hadn't felt too secure once the partisans came down from the hills - what if some unknown enemy chose just that moment to strike?

Brown is a little annoyed. Mostly at himself for letting Brooks slip out of it. The man looked a little uptight, yes but he had not expected him to just bail.

His temper changed, he starts to look for Sgt. Smith.

"Smith, report to the BRDM, you are the driver !!"

 He calls out when he sees the sgt.

Sebastian, unable to convince Brooks to stay, watches the Marine round the corner until he is blocked by the woods from view.

Lebewohl', mein freunde...*

Sebastian feels like he's failed personally. He turns dejectedly and returns to where he'd left his Uzi lying in the road, halfway between the BRDM and the BTR. He picks it up, dusts it off and slings it before heading back the way he came, returning at last to the BTR.

Well, at least I got a bit of fitness training in today...

"Herr Dietrich, I'll take that rifle now, if you please."

Seeing the Ukranian girl has survived the ordeal unmolested, he addresses her with a sarcastic,

"That was fun now, wasn't it Katka?"

Once back on board, Sebastian will return to his spot: standing in the right, forward roof hatch, keeping a lookout on the right flank of the BTR.

(*"Godspeed, my friend...")
This message was last edited by the player at 01:03, Wed 09 May 2007.

Gerhard swings himself up in front of the turret of the BTR where he can help con in the vehicle, holding his hand down to anyone who wants a hand up.

"It's at the village, we'll get everyone settled first, and get you some food as well. My, this BTR has had a few knocks! It looks like Swiss cheese."

  Katka grins at Sebastian's comment, "Standing in firing line? Yes, fun." She climbs into the BTR thru the side entrance she came out of and shuts the lower half. Maybe with her out of the way all those people out there can loosen up a bit. In the mean time she can clean up after the search and make sure everythings back in place.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:37, Wed 09 May 2007.

Tanya looks up at the hand being offered by the German cop and hesitates for a moment before accpeting it and climbs back into the BTR so they can get to the village.  "We like to call it home," she says to Dietrich in perfect German.
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:26, Wed 09 May 2007.

Brown looked as he noticed people starting to board the BTR he himself turned around and started moving towards the leading vehicle, hoping Smith had heard him as he had still not spotted the sergeant. After a second he seemed to hesitate and looked around seemingly lost.

"Anyone, that feels he can drive the lead vehicle into town with these people come with me."

He calls out, before starting to walk.

As no one seems to have volunteered, Gerhard leaves the BTR and climbs into the BRDM, handing down his G8 and lowering himself into the left hand hatch. Once inside, here he lifts the forward flap and starts the motor up.

He can't read a word of Russian, but he scans the gauges and notes what's what, then engages first gear and lets out the clutch. Turning the nonpower assisted wheel with a grunt and heads the BRDM out past the roadblock and towards the village.

(OOC: I've got line drawings of the inside of the BRDM if anyone's interested.)

Brown looks along the little convoy, to make sure everyone was boarding the vehicles. He notices the German borderguard get into the drivers seat of the scout vehicle. He gave the man a welcoming smile.

When satisfied the convoy was ready to move Brown lowered himself into the commanders hatch and crawled to his assigned seat behind the main gun.

Soon after the vehicle was on the move.

Marcus understands the idea of establishing trust and good relations, but that doesn't mean he has to like it. Deferring to his 'Green Beret' counterpart with the partisans he relinquishes his weapon and allows himself to be subjected to the minor interrogation. With everything established and the start of a trust Marcus gladly accepts his weapons back. Always a man of few words, he decides that since the German borderguard would rather speak to other offices he'll keep his mouth shut for now.

Hopping into the lead vehicle again he shrugs as Dietrich takes control of the wheel. Afterall, he should know which way they need to get through everything.

Gerhard guides the BRDM-2 through the road block, only scrapping the side against a concrete and rock filled barrel once as he does so. Stopping the vehicle a few dozen metres past, they wait until the BTR-80 negotiates the tight turns through the expertly designed obstacle.
A dozen or so partisans climb up on top of both vehicles before Gerhard eases the machine back into motion with a grinding of gears. Tilled fields come into view very soon after followed by Ojcow few minutes later.


Smoke rises from several chimneys indicating the small hamlet is still inhabited and freshly laundered clothes flutter in the light breeze blowing through the valley. Children peer nervously around corners until they realise that many of those on the vehicles are locals. Very soon both vehicles are surrounded with a small throng of children of all ages.

Gerhard curses the gearshift under his breath and pulls the BRDM up near a wall where the overhanging eaves will allow for some concealment. Hauling on the handbrake, he lets the engine wind down before turning it off. The engine gallops on a bit with post ignition and then falls silent.

"Here we are. Don't forget these are a proud people, they respond well to courtesy. They are not under NATO command, and I'm not sure of their longterm goals, but they are friendly and helpful after their suspicions are allayed."

Gerhard  settles his weapon on the seat and climbs out the roof hatch, before leaning back in and grabbing the LMG. He nods and smiles at various people among the crowd, then clambers down the battered hull.

Sebastian smiles and joins the partisans clumped together on the roof behind him in waving at the children as the BTR enters the village.

Perhaps I can get a game of football going...

He calls into the interior of the APC,

"We're at the village. These people seem much friendlier!"

  Katka makes sure her pack is secure before putting that and her webbing on. She slings her rifle and opens the side hatch again, stepping out amongst the crowd of excited children. The fact that their parents let them come out is most reassuring. She kneels down, puts on a smile, and greets them with an open hand. "Vitayu. Hello."

Tanya climbs back in the vehicle and enjoys the short ride to the partisans base area.  When they stop, Tanya opens one of the hatches and takes in the area as they appraoch taking in the surrounding area and how it is defended and just in general, just how nice and serene it is.

Tanya looks to Cam, "Looks like we'll finally get a chance to try out some of those civvie close we picked up Lootenant!"

"Clothes in the wind, this place is something that looks more like Scotland in a loong time.

Maybe even cushions to lie down on here?"

Marcus was always wary of things in general, and it was no different when they arrived in the partisan village.  He dismounted only because he hated being trapped in that metal coffin they called a vehicle.  He did his best to scan the village for signs of anything from how many men, woman, and children there were to possible defensive positions for the villagers and for his team should they need to move that way, as well as ambush points.  Most people thought that people would not attack when there were children around, though most had not seen action in the Middle East where it often seemed as if they deliberately killed woman and children in their actions.  You could never fully understand the thinking of another culture.  Then again maybe it was because Marcus would've sacrificed the women and children himself if need be too.  He wasn't a psychotic killer, just a realist, and maybe a little on the paranoid side.

Tanya looks to Don and gives him a quick smile, "Yeah Don, maybe to lay yer head down for a little bit to get those cobwebs out you had knocked loose!  C'mon now, grab onto my arm and I'll help you outta here and get you somewhere comfy to rest!"

After the vehicles stopped Brown was last to exit the metal casket. Not that he liked it inside, more because his spot behind the weapon was the farthest from the hatch.
With his weapon in his hand he crawled out and stayed on top of the BRDM. Sitting on the small cupola.

From his high spot he scans the surrounding area for defensive position, strongholds and moreover a good spot for the vehicles to be out of sight.

In his head he starts to think of things that need be done. He looks to see if he can spot one of the officers, when he sees one he calls out.

"OK Don, time to get you outta here!  Sebastian, would you give me a hand getting Don out of the vehicle and somewhere more relaxed?  Would you mind grabbing my RPK Lootenant while we get him out?"

If Sebastian will help her, she gets next to or behind Don and begins to get him out of the vehicle and on to the ground where he could spread out a little and be more comfortable laying down out there.

  Katka stands and looks to Gerhard, "Do you have guest house?"
This message was last edited by the player at 21:11, Sat 19 May 2007.

"Of course, Sgt."

Sebastian ducks back into the troop compartment, and, as gently as possible, helps lift and manouver Don to the ground outside.

"No offense, Don, but I wish you were an actual sack of potatoes right now." He says with a wink.

"Gee, I'm not dead yet!"

Don trots out of the vehicle, but is almost falling as the blood of his head is emptied after rising too fast. Tanya feels the weight of him when he falls.

"Cheers, lass. Good you have a hand open for me!"

"So, lets see if there is someone nice in the village, should we?"

Don sits on the ground in his suit. Looking around for people to talk to, or benches to sit on.

The next few hours pass with increasing speed as you get to know the locals. At first it's just the children crowding around looking for chocolates and treats, but soon everyone else drops the task at hand to take a look at these strange newcomers.
Verified as Nato, yet armed and equipped for the most part with Pact items, the word "Spetznaz" is often heard whispered from one to another. It's obvious that most believe the group to be special forces on a longe range mission deep into enemy terrority.
Don finds himself stretchered into a nearby residence with Michelle tagging along keeping a close watch as gifts of home made clothing, jars of preserves, and offers of marriage to eligable sons/daughters are made. Although by far the majority of the inhabitants of Ojcow are native Poles there are a handful of other nationalities represented although these tend to keep to the back of the crowd. A smattering of military clothing hi-lights the predominately homespun cloth most wear.

Marcus eyes the ones in military clothing and thinks to himself how many of them are military and in civilian clothing.  He just nods and smiles as people try to offer things to him, he does his best to turn them down politely, no need in offending potential allies.