In reply to Taras Vladimirovich Shevchenko (msg #185):

"Andy, an internal breech would work well with plywood and drywall, but these buildings are brick.  It won't be able to just knock a hole in the wall and go through, you'd need to set a charge."

"Other than that, the plan you and Taras are coordinating is sound.  Once the tactical plan is solidified and put into action, then we'll give them the 'Come out with your hands up' spiel."
This message was last edited by the player at 10:05, Wed 04 Mar 2009.

In reply to Taras Vladimirovich Shevchenko (msg #185):

Taking off his CVC helmet and putting on his beret, Fox dismounted from the LAV and walked over.

"Taras, I've been hearing the SITREPs on the radio! Got them penned up like rats, eh?"

"We're basically operational, I loaded the main gun and the coax on the way over. Got the 40mm Mk.19 on the Commander's hatch... we're ready to rock."

He had some input on the plan.

"Put one sniper element on the building across the street from the front: they can control the rooftops and even look down into the room through the one open window. That's where I would stick Andy. Then deploy the other elements to cover the rear. Yeah, these walls look thick, you won't breach without some C4."

In reply to Taras Vladimirovich Shevchenko (msg #185):

"You got it, man!" Tyler responded. He didn't think he and Kelsey would have a problem dismounting and setting up the M2HB to cover the rear. He started off, eager to put the next part of the plan into motion.
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:23, Wed 04 Mar 2009.

The sharpshooter elements deployed front and rear.

Andy and a spotter entered the building across the street, and found it was deserted, or at least no one challenged them. They climbed the fire stairs to the top floor, then found the open door of an abandoned apartment overlooking the restaurant. It was perfect, he could cover the entire rooftops and look down into the front room. Anyone trying to deploy anti-tank weapons from inside or out would be dead before they could get the tube on their shoulder. (Inside wasn't so much of a threat because most AT weapons had a deadly backblast, but the American Armbrust rocket and Canadian ERYX could be fired from inside a room and it was therefore a possibility.)

Other police cleared the building and there was no one home, although there were signs a couple suites had been hastily vacated within the last day or two.

Andy radioed in to report he was in place and he could see and shoot out all the Claymores, front and back.

Kelsey and Tyler set up the Ma-Deuce in the rear alley.

UBC did have an 8-person ERT, 2 tactical elements, and they prepared to breach from the rear, as per Lee's recommendation. Blowing off the door would eliminate the booby-trap Taras had discovered there, and after the Claymores were cleared from the rooftops they would have a clear route, if it was decided to go in the rear.

Teams of RCMP cleared out the buildings on either side of the restaurant, determining there was no one inside and in danger. Also, they checked for hidden entrances and exits breached through the interior walls, amd there were none.

The sound of the LAV's diesel rumbled and echoed through the rain, loud and threatening. Fox used the thermal imager to check the buildings around them, and none seemed to have any kind of heat signature to indicate they were currently occupied.
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:49, Wed 04 Mar 2009.

"Clarke, I suggest you let Sergeant Shevchenko have tactical command of this incident. No offense meant, but if we're using the RCMP's ERT, he's at least worked with them. I would offer my own services, but I've got to play the part of the negotiator."

"Which reminds me, gotta serve notice."

She picked up the bullhorn and pressed the trigger. "Attention, this is the police. You are ordered to cease resistance and immediately exit the building with your hands up!"

The reply was swift and unequivocal:

"HEY! YEAH! WE WANNA SURRENDER! DON'T SHOOT! We want to leave, but the doors downstairs are booby-trapped! We're coming out onto the roof! Don't shoot!"

Two men dressed in civilian clothes climbed out the eastern windows and onto the roof of the building beside them. They stood shivering in the standing pool of rainwater that had collected there, apparently unarmed. They both wore the unofficial "uniform" of street people: dark hoodies.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:26, Thu 05 Mar 2009.

In reply to Tyler Gabriel Hope (msg #188):

"Tyler, you do the gunning, I'll feed."  She settles in on the left side of the big machine gun, then chuckles and pulls out the bolt from her pocket and hands it to him.  "Might want that."

When the sounds of negociation echo around the buildings she smirks and chuckles "And me with no popcorn"

Andy said, "I'm in position, tell me when you want me to fire. I assume you want to debrief the hoodies first. If not, let me know I'm good to go."

He readied himself to take out the first claymore on command.

In reply to Kelsey Sarah Champlain (msg #192):

The ma-deuce squatted on the pavement, mounted on the tripod recovered from the Humvee.

Tyler smirked back at Kelsey. "I remember you taking that, and I was hoping I wouldn't have to remind you. That was a good idea, making sure this was rendered safe. Good thinking."

He took the bolt, inserted it back into the receiver, then closed the cover and pulled the charging handle slowly in one steady motion, and assuring the bolt latch was released. That done, Tyler pulled back on the charging handle a second time with earnest.  With a metallic "clack-CLACK!" the first round on the belt slid up into the feed slot as the bolt slid home, and they were ready to go.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:54, Sun 26 Apr 2009.

Rachel lowered the bullhorn and commented to Clarke, "it doesn't always go that easy, but I figured in this case it might. These guys were outta options, and I figured with the trained soldiers annihilated and the biker down they wouldn't want to get zapped themselves."

She raised the bullhorn back up.

"ARE YOU UNARMED? IS THERE ANYONE ELSE INSIDE? ARE THERE ANY MORE HOSTAGES? ARE YOU INJURED?"

The two guys looked at each other, then the unofficial spokesman called back, "No, no, no, no one else is inside! My buddy's hurt, he got shot!"

As if on queue, the other guy slumped a little, and with some help from his companion sat down. He sat there cross-legged, head on knees, sitting in the freezing puddle of rainwater.

In reply to Tyler Gabriel Hope (msg #194):

"Why thankie, Tyler!"  She grins, then, laying prone, she holds up the belt of ammo to help feed the big machinegun, eyes downrange and looking for movement.

"I'd like to think this is that easy.. not that it has been that easy in this alley.  But.. keep sharp, bud."

Taras was trying to make some mental numbers. Remembering the wounded woman statements that they were seven of them. Many things could be wrong and there was always the possibility to have some nasty surprise. His first thought was to remove the surrendering suspects away for the building as soon as possible:

Ok, Rachel. Tell the guys that we are willing to pick them up through the front window and insist asking if there is anybody else inside. Human or demon.

Then he directed his attention to Sgt. Fox. At that time slowly approaching along the street:

Sgt.: Stop where you are. Before reaching the front part of the house use the thermal camera to determine any people inside. We are going to extract those punks but before we will remove the directional mines on the rooftop. We are not counting with more than 2 guys. If anything else, please, give me a report.

While Rachel was already readying the loudspeaker towards the tenderness of her lips...Taras continued to issue instructions.

Andy: As soon as the mines can be removed without the risk of collateral proceed with confidence and at your own discretion.

Then, resting the radio for a while, said to Clarke:

We have the rear well covered. I have trust in Kelsey and Tyler and they have enough firepower to deal with any problem. As soon as the Claynores are removed and we are sure that no more suspects are inside the building we'll be safe to evacuate the suspects and get more information on the booby traps.

In reply to Taras Vladimirovich Shevchenko (msg #198):

"Sounds good, Taras.  If the hummer had a full load, that would be four men.  The biker makes five.  These two would be the last ones left.  Unfortunately, the hummer was such a mess we can't confirm how many were in it for sure, but we seem to have accounted for everyone.  If the thermal imaging shows the place is clear, blow the booby traps.  Get those two out of there and let's go home."

"Once we get those two into custody, I want this place cordoned off until it has been thoroughly checked.  There may be more surprises inside that building that we aren't aware of, and I don't want in civilians wandering into this area until it has been cleared."
This message was last edited by the player at 10:56, Thu 05 Mar 2009.

In reply to Taras Vladimirovich Shevchenko (msg #198):

"Andy, do us a favor and make sure you are not raining ball bearings on us?  Thanks bud."  She'll confirm her and Tyler's position.

She nodded to Taras.

"They're outside on the adjoining roof now, no need to get them to go back inside to come out the window, then can climb down easily enough where they are. I will also warn them we are clearing the mines."

Picking up the bullhorn she said again, "PLACE YOUR HANDS ON YOUR HEAD NOW. ARE YOU ONE HUNDRED PERCENT SURE THERE IS NO ONE INSIDE? ALSO, BE AWARE THERE WILL BE SHOOTING AS WE CLEAR THE MINES FROM THE ROOF.

"We also brought a ladder in case we had to assault the second story, we'll load that on the LAV."

In reply to Taras Vladimirovich Shevchenko (msg #198):

"Roger that, Sergeant. Too easy!"

After grabbing the ladder from an ERT member, Fox mounted up. He sat down in the commander's seat, putting on his CVC helmet.

He also had access to the main weapon sights and Thermal Imaging System (TIS) and could even direct the weapon from his position with a repeater joystick. As there were no trained gunners onboard he decided to assume both VC/VG duties, counting on the situation to be limited enough in scope to allow this doubling-up. He selected the co-axial machinegun using the toggle switch at the base of the joystick.

Fox had a couple C8-armed RCMP mount up as well in the back with the ladder. "Okay, we're set. Waiting on the "go" signal. We're looking for 2 guys on the roof, no one else expected at this time. Keep the rear hatches closed until I say. Let's go."

He had the driver get ready to roll on his signal.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:42, Thu 05 Mar 2009.

"Okay! My buddy looks bad, I don't know if he can put his hands on his head but I'll see if I can get him to do that. There's no one inside. There was just us, the Army guys and the biker. Guess they didn't get too far, eh?" He put his hands on his head, looking worriedly at his companion.

After giving an affirmative, Andy sighted through the starlight scope and cleared all the mines on the rooftop, 2 front, 2 back, with 5 careful shots (1 missed). The man standing in the rain flinched at the gunshots, while his companion lay motionless.

Fox checked the thermal as he got ready to move into position, and the recently-occupied portions of the building seemed warm enough compared to the surroundings. Thermal could not, of course, magically see through walls, but the TIS was sensitive enough that he could see hot spots if someone was leaning against the wall long enough for the heat to diffuse through thin plywood and even bricks (if they remained there long enough). He could check for thermal plumes like venting from fires or poorly-insulated windows. Glass and water would block thermal completely but he wouldn't have to worry about long-gone windows or groundwater from this angle. If anyone looked through a loophole or any other gap, they would show up like a flare compared to the brick.

If someone were hidden inside, using the thick brick to shield themselves, he wouldn't see them. That said, there was no one actively looking out at him, and he drove up.

In the rear, it was all quiet for Kelsey and Tyler, manning the MG. Andy could see no other movement inside the building across the street or on the rooftops opposite (and still beneath him).

After they stopped in front of the building, the Mounties in the back of the LAV opened up the 2 rear hatches on Fox's command. Using the ladder, the still-standing suspect helped lower his unconscious buddy down to the arms of the Mounties standing below on the LAV's rear deck. Then the man climbed down as well and was cuffed on the deck of the LAV. Once they were safely inside the LAv's rear passenger compartment, Fox had the driver back away from the building and transported down the street to where Taras, Clarke, Lee and the medical personnel waited near the command post.

The LAV stopped in front of them and the rear ramp lowered, met by 2 paramedics in rain gear, carrying medical bags. As the mounties inside led their handcuffed prisoner out to Taras, Lee and Clarke, the paramedics went in and started working on the wounded man right away.

He was a young man, in his 20's, with a scruffy beard and unkempt hair that stood up in patches once his hood was pulled down. He shivered, breath steaming in the chill rain, eyes downcast. Pocks and blemishes dotted his patchily-bearded face.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:09, Fri 06 Mar 2009.

In reply to helbent4 (msg #203):

"I wonder who gets the great pleasure of clearing that building, eh?"
Kelsey sighs, alert, wet, cold.. and barely reacting as Andy's shots take out the mines.  Though she is a bit thankful for the rain, it keeps down the smell of burned american deserter in the alley.

Andy finished his EOD and frowned, five shots for four targets, he'd need to give himself more trigger time and some attitude readjustment. He carefully packed his rifle away and radioed in, "Do you want me to clear the building? I'll do a careful sweep with a few ERT guys and then the experts can scan the place for INTEL."

In reply to Andrew Montgomery McRae (msg #205):

"Yes, proceed.  It is better done by experienced people.  Once it's clear, let's bag this and head back to UBC."

Tyler shifted his grip on the Ma-Deuce, smiled at Kelsey. He heard over the radio everything had gone smoothly. "Almost over. Let's not get sloppy. You know how it is on an op, soon as you figure that you're home free, that's when you make a mistake, get sloppy." He favored his sore him, still smarting from where the Humvee glanced it on it's break for freedom.

"Very good, Ma'am," Andy replied and headed over to the ERT team. He switched back to his C8 and then spoke to the leader, "The boss wants us to clear and secure the house. You guys are the experts at this kind of thing. Do you have someone who's good with booby traps? If you don't, I'll go first and try to find any little surprises left for us."

Lee took custody of the uninjured suspect. She placed him in the SUV.

"Okay Taras, I think he's willing to talk."

In reply to Tyler Gabriel Hope (msg #207):

"Right, so get back to your job of covering the alley with that big piece of pig iron you got there, mister"  She laughs, and after a moment of looking around is back on mission again herself.  "Can't wait to get dry again, you know?"