In reply to Robert A. Conklin (msg #34):

He backtracked through the woods, crossed over the open fields where he'd seen the pig. Not too far was the old Aquarium, and he bypassed it to the north (going near to the Lumberman's Arch statue) to pass through a second belt of woods.

At Objective #3, a small shanty-town of sorts had been built on the field of a small sports stadium. It looked like maybe a dozen rude dwellings had been built from plywood and corrugated plastic and metal siding. Neat and orderly as possible, yet somehow makeshift and certainly not too comfortably, compared to the leadership cadre and their warm park building. Some had smoke drifting from metal smokestacks, but there was no smell of human waste or garbage strewn about.

Rob scanned the buildings trying to gather a rough number of people in the area and to see if there were any defenses set up to watch the area. He will move slowly through the treeline and try to get a 360 view of the area and it's terrain. Once he is confident on the defenses, general number of bodies and the lay of the surrounding land he will head back into the woods and radio in and see if there are  any further instructions.

In reply to Robert A. Conklin (msg #36):

The small stadium had open-sided covered stands over a cinder-block building. It was a relatively open design because of its small size with no real perimeter fencing.

Under the stands were what looked like storerooms and paired mens' and womens' locker rooms, washrooms and showers. (Likely the reason for there being no obvious outdoor latrines, also a good supply of fresh water for drinking, cooking and cleaning.) Depending on the actual size of the population present, pretty much everyone could fit in there and be prevented from leaving either of the two doors (one under the bleachers, one directly outside).

Although the area looked undefended with no defensive improvements to speak of, the stadium was on high ground of sorts. An observer on top of the bleacher roof could cover the immediate area, and even the fields downhill to the east almost to Deadman's Island.

However, there was a small parks building of some sort (which looked like a large renovated house, not an office block) on the SE edge of the field that blocked line of sight in that direction, but he had never observed anyone stationed in the house or in that area. In the other direction, W towards where the building/restaurant and outdoor amphitheatre where the Warriors were supposedly living, there were trees on higher ground that blocked line of sight.

Rob had seen enough to make a good assessment of how the operation should go in his opinion and hopefully Ed would agree. He headed back to the extraction while he milled over the intel he had gathered. He kept his ears and eyes open to sound and movement. Once near the inlet he will pack away his SVD and MP5SD3 in the WP but wait to close it until after he's made his radio call.

"Potsie to Ralph... Potsie to Ralph. Call the taxi now. Kids meals found. Been watching kids practice at football. Be home soon. Out.

Rob puts the radio and it's holster in the bag and secures it closed with air still in it. He again places a condom over the suppressor of his M9 and checks to see if a round is still chambered and that it's on safe. Ready to go for another cold swim Parks slowly moves to the waters edge a hundred yards from his entry. If all looks clear he will use himself as a backdrop and crack an IR chem light and wait a few seconds before heading into the water. he will again use the willie-pete bag as bouyancy as he slowly makes his way off shore.

If they follow his instructions he should be 10 mins out before they start in to retrieve him. If he hasn't seen the boat and he is a good long ways from shore he will hold the chem light up above him and wait to hear the sound of the motor for retrieval.

In reply to Robert A. Conklin (msg #38):

Due to the rain, the pickup boat missed him at first but saw him on the second pass. DeShawn, the lookout, finally saw him with his NVGs, put down his M16A2 and reached down to help him in. A few seconds later he was in the raft, shivering but safe.

Within fifteen minutes, he was back at the compound in the mess. Ed said, handed him a cup of hot chocolate.

"So, what do we have?"

Rob takes a drink of the hot chocolate and savors it's warmth for a few seconds then speaks.
"Get me a map."
Once the map was handed to his he starts his debrief. pointing out areas as he lists them off.

"The fuel is located in the middle of their main area here. Its a M978 HEMTT fuel tanker. There is also a locked movin` van near it that houses god only knows what. I found what looked like the vehicles that got ambushed near here. They had been fire bombed all except one. It looks in working order and is a cherry mercury cougar. Maybe Cyrus's I wonder? Anyway only seen one guard with a dog and they were both asleep. Rather more lax then I expected from them. But they prol`ly protect their borders heavy and their interior light. Good for me, bad for you and the Canucks. Saw a few areas that could hide MGs and cover a nice big area if you want to plant a few against counter attack. Here, here and here.
If they go to the trees this will be a drawn out deal. The trails are overgrown and if I had to guess they know then fairly well by now. So i'd suggest attacking at range from the tree line into the open areas. Their weapon shouldn't be to much of a match if we keep them at range and in the open.

The women and children I found here. In this old stadium. They've created a shanty town on the field. We can't hold them there though unless we want to dedicate a lot of manpower to it. My suggestion is to put them into the basement building under the stands here. It will keep them contained and out of harms way until this thing is over. I'd suggest bringing some food stuffs and water in case this goes longer then expected. Let your men know now. I want no playing with these people. If they fight, fire warnings then shot to wound, otherwise let them be. They are not really a part of this unless they want to fight with their men. But I'd guess, if treated decent and taken care of, they will be willing to avoid the dieing parts."

Rob takes another Drink and examines the map again.

"These buildings seem to be occupied. Depending on when you want to start this, before or after the Canucks make their move, they might be used by the stick men as makeshift forts or we can occupy them. If we go in after the shit hits the fan then I am worried about the women and children moving locations. If that happens our job gets a whole lot harder. If we can get a 5-10 man team inside just before the Canucks it will give us a big advantage on holding the stadium from the get go. Any vehicles we take needs to be fire proofed before hand. Foam extinguishers might work, if we have any, otherwise wet blankets should work. Pass that on to Tyler and the Canucks aswell.

As far as the fuel truck is concerned that will be tough depending on how the Stick men react to who ever attacks first. If they rush men to the area great if they are disciplined and hold there ground then bad. Overall i would suggest we hit our gate guards here just before the Canucks make themselves known. Hopefully this will drawn atleast some of their men toward us and away from their main defenses. While they are moving to us we secure the stadium or get close. Once the main attack happens, we can only hope, they move to the bigger threat. We secure the stadium and send out a party for the fuel truck and if we have the folks the moving van too. I'm thinking the guns are in there since it's locked and Cyrus and his cronies shun them but who the hell knows. Once the trucks are safely back in our camp we can help the Canucks if they need it. We have to prepare for retaliation though whether they win or lose this fight the stickies are gonna want to get back at us and they know where we are and that we are all held up on this rock. Hose down the buildings and set up some defensive positions to hold them off. Out biggest threat from them is numbers and fire unless they get over their aversion of tech when facing total defeat.

I personally would like to take out the gate guards here then move to an over watch on top of the stadium. Once that is secure I can go with the group to get the trucks then be static defense again once they are safely home."

Rob finishes up the hot chocolate and looks around for the source to get himself some more and lets Ed mill over the ideas he offered. While he's getting himself a fresh cup he offers one more piece of advise.

"If nothing else goes right we have to coordinate well with the Canucks or we can be in deep shit and fast."

Conklin sits back down and looks at Ed waiting for a response and wonders to himself if Cherie and his sister knew he was back yet. With that in mind he starts putting his gear back in order and takes off the rest of his ghillie and starts looking over his gear for any damage. He starts breaking down his M9 on the spot on top of his now empty WP bag while he waits.

In reply to Robert A. Conklin (msg #40):

Ed nodded.

"I'm going to see if I can get Ty back here to coordinate tomorrow. See what the Canucks have up their sleeve."

"Awright man, you take it easy now!"

Rob was rather confused at Eds response but shrugged it off for the time being to the time of night. With that in mind he'd better get some shut eye before the coming day. He reassembles his M9 and holsters it.

"Send for me if we learn more. I gotta get some sleep before this shit kicks off. Time to face the music with Cherie, she didn't buy the fishing story at all i don't think."

With that, Rob heads back to get some sleep, humping his gear with him. Once home he will explain the happenings to Cherie behind closed doors while he rinses and cleans his weapons and gear. he wipes and wrings them dry as best he can before draping them next to the fireplace to dry further. He asked Cherie to talk to his sister and let her know what to expect. She'd probably take it better from her then  from Rob. he then cuddles up to Cherie and tries to get some sleep.

In reply to Robert A. Conklin (msg #42):

Ed took the next while to debrief Rob before he went to bed on what he saw and his plan, marking his map and taking notes.

"Outstanding, Rob. We now have a great idea as to what the Stickies deployment is in our sector. I concur with your plan. Once Tyler gets here we can maybe plan a little better, but that covers all our likely objectives. One thing I don't like is if the trucks are outside in the rain, the engines may have trouble starting without some maintenance. I'll have to think on that a little."

He shook his head. "Seems funny, the Canucks have a lot of information about the Stickies. They must have an inside source of information."

Thankfully, Cherie was asleep when he finally lugged himself to bed. He was exhausted but oddly satisfied. He had done something he was good at and missed doing, and it was needed. Needed by him, or for the tiny community, he couldn't say as he fell asleep to the sound of the rain.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:25, Sat 21 Mar 2009.

Rob wakes to the sound of a closing door. Cherie was gone so he assumed it had been her. Sitting up he looked around the room in a slight daze. Wake up calls had always been hard for him outside the bush. he tended to sleep pretty hard when he had the chance. In the bush he only half slept, if at all, which made him all the    more tired when he could actually sleep well. Rob stands and puts on a new set of fatigues and heads over to the fire to check his gear. the weapons and smaller gear had dried nicely and he started CLPing them and reassembling. With that done he gathered a few new logs for the fire and turned his Ghillie and some of the other gear that was still damp to finish drying. As he was about to leave to go get some breakfast and maybe something warm to drink Cherie came back into the room with a   tray of some sort with some decent smelling food. After eating and watching Cherie straighten up after his weapon cleaning in total silence, he asked her to sit down for a second.

"Stop for a second and come sit down. I know you have something bothering you or you'd have already asked me about last night. Sorry I had to lie to you but it was better that way, not to mention safer for me. We are gonna be getting into some crazy shit in the coming days and we really needed to know what was out there. That is what I do. I don't mean to be rude but on issues like this I am going to have to lie or simply  say nothing at all which will probably worry you even more. I love you but that is just the way it has to be."

Rob put his hand on her leg and looked into her eyes for some sign of understanding or forgiveness.

In reply to Robert A. Conklin (msg #44):

She looked at him for a moment, then sighed and smiled sadly.

"Robert... Rob, it's hard to know what this is. Us, and for that matter all the people here. We're not "back home", this is our home, in a way. I love and support you, you know that. The front line isn't a thousand miles away, separating you as a soldier and the rest of us as civilians, it's a hundred yards outside my front door. I would like Ed to consult the people here more, not just the soldiers but the womenfolk, it's our lives, too."

In fact, three women were actually former soldiers. Two had been conscripted by he draft lottery that had been reintroduced in 1996, and one had volunteered to fight in the infantry in Alaska. Although the restrictions on women in combat positions had been officially eased in 1997 when the US entered the war in Europe a combination of tradition within the military and cultural elements without had kept women in combat positions to down to around 5% in most units.
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:46, Tue 24 Mar 2009.

Rob smiles slightly and puts his arm around Cherie.

"I won't try to speak for Ed. You need to talk to him on some of these issues but for me, I understand the wolves are at the door and this is anything but a typical situation. One of the reasons we are doing the things we are doing is to change that situation. Some of us excluding the civilians in our chats is the fact that we want to shelter you from as much of this as possible.  The other, I think, is just simply old habits dieing hard. We know you are just as much involved and at risk as the rest of us. But if I can, through my experience and skills, secure even the slightest edge for this community I will. I'm not much for throwing my bones in the fire unless it's absolutely needed but sometimes that need does arise. I didn't bring my sister's family here just to get run over or run off. I have her, the kids and you to think of, not to mention the rest of this community. I think Eds a good man.Iv'e known him since I was a teen, talk to him frankly and he will at least hear you out."

Rob pauses a second and wraps an arm around Cherie and looks her in the eyes.

"As far as us... I am just very glad I could find an understanding women to love and care for and be cared for by. You are my companion. Its still a bit early to call it more. I am not much on the idea of normal marriage. To me it's just a piece of paper that says what two people already know within themselves. I don't need a judge or especially a priest or holy man to validate how I feel about you. But If that is your wish then let us get a decent home established and a more stable situation and we will can pursue that if its something you strongly believe in. We haven't know each other long enough to have a accurate picture of the other person and this situation doesn't make it any easier. You haven't even seen my bad side yet."

Rob adds a joking smirk to the last part but never breaks eye contact.

In reply to Robert A. Conklin (msg #47):

He returned his smile.

"I've lived with you on an island the size of a trailer park for over four months now, I wonder what kind of bad side I haven't seen yet? I think we should maybe think about getting married, but it can wait until after whatever is going to happen next, you know, happens. One thing, though, I'm an old-fashioned girl, I'm not going to ask you!"

"I just want you to know, I'm not judging you or somehow condemning you for being what you are or doing what you have to do. For us, for everyone here. It's not some abstract concept now, where you fight for the flag or for your country or honour or all that. The wolves really are at our door, and for that matter, I might have to shoot one myself! I hope not, but I would. I think. If you have to talk about it, or anything, I promise I will listen. I may not understand, but then, who but someone else who's been there too, could?"

"As for Ed, I was hoping to do the womanly thing and manipulate my man into passing on my concerns, but I'll be happy to do my own dirty work."
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:43, Wed 25 Mar 2009.

Rob listens to Cherie then speaks.
"We will see how things turn out after this and the coming months. If the Canucks are really serious about reinstituting law and order then I can see myself getting involved if needed. But I am just an old Marine. My skills and ideas are not usually suited to the civilian ways of things. As far as us.. When the time is right I will be doing the asking. I am not one to rush things as I'm sure you've noticed but once I act, I act with knowledge and conviction. It's my way."

Rob stands to turn his ghillie near the fire then turns back to her.

"I agree that this concerns everyone and all should have their say in the matter but I wouldn't put it past the stickies to have an informant among us. But I can talk to Ed about it. Depending on the time we have available, I would like to train some of the folks staying behind to help defend the building and grounds. I hope it won't be necessary but who knows.
As far as judging me, whether you do or don't doesn't make much difference to me. I've learned to get used to it... and used to solitude. You've open my eyes a bit to what I have missed out on. I hate the fact that it has to be in this place and in this time but then that's life I guess."

In reply to Robert A. Conklin (msg #49):

She looked a little dubiously at the idea of an informant.

"Really? Informants? We've all known each other from back in the States, except for a couple folks that Ed met in the city and have joined us here. Anything's possible I guess, but I think I would trust everyone."

"Anyhow, wait here!"

She brought in his breakfast. Usually breakfast was powdered preserved foodstuffs they (well, really, Rob personally) had salvaged from the cargo hold of the nearby half-sunken hulk.

Today there were fresh eggs and bacon they had traded the Stickmen for. Also, Jam and bread that Ed traded for in the city with the group in the downtown known as the "Undergrounders". He didn't know too much about them, other than when he covered Ed on his trips they seemed to live, well, underground, in the underground shopping complexes and transit tunnels that honeycombed the downtown area.

"Tah-dah!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:56, Sun 29 Mar 2009.

Rob lets out a rare open grin.
"Wow where did you happen upon this stuff? Don't think I have aite this good in months."

In reply to Robert A. Conklin (msg #51):

"Courtesy of the Stickmen, I think. It's good to eat something fresher than those MREs! There's fresh-baked bread, too, but that's from us, not the Stickies."

They had breakfast, then Cherie cleaned up. "I want to go talk to Ed, want to come with?"

Outside, the rain if anything was heavier than it was the night before, with gusts of wind blowing the rain sideways at points.

"Sure. I am hoping he has more information for me."
Rob grabs some of his dry gear and suits up before turning the gear that is still damp and stirring the coals in the fireplace. Still savoring the nice breakfast, he follows Cherie to see Ed.

In reply to Robert A. Conklin (msg #53):

Ed didn't seem surprised to see them.

Apparently, other members of the community had sensed something in the air, whether it had been noticing the increased traffic across to the Downtown, more trade with the Stickmen, even possibly observing or hearing about the activities last night. (Not the actual operation itself, but the fact people were up and around and coming and going at an odd hour.) Even the non-combatants had wanted to be better informed.

"Okay, let's have a, well, "town hall" meeting tonight. I think maybe people should be better informed as to what's going on around here, within reason. We should maybe talk more about the future, and that's something that affects us all."

Cherie was happy that there would be more open discussion now, although she was less than pleased when she sensed that Ed was still holding back from full disclosure about everything that was going on. As they were leaving, Ed stopped Rob.

"Rob, I gotta go pick up Tyler over in the downtown. Mind riding shotgun in the Zodiac? He'll be able to bring us up to speed on what the Canucks are doing and how that will affect us."

Rob nodded to Ed.
"Let me get some gear together and i'll meet you at the docks."

Rob turns and walks Cherie back to their room. Once he's done gathering his gear he kisses Cherie and gives her a weak grin.
"I'll be back with Tyler and Ed in a bit. Mind the fort while we are gone."

Rob then starts toward the docks checking his weapons and making preperations as he goes.

In reply to Robert A. Conklin (msg #55):

She smiled, obviously pleased at being let into the know about Rob's activities, at least a little. "See you later, honey... take an umbrella, it's wet out."

They laughed, it was almost a bloody monsoon outside. "Seriously though," she paused, torn between saying something obvious and unneeded like "stay safe" or "be careful". "I'll see you soon," was what she finished with.

The violent windstorm whipped the normally docile and sheltered waters of Burrard Inlet into waves into at least a couple feet high. Nothing really serious compared to the open ocean and within the Zodiac's capability (given constant bailing), but at least it meant that no one would expect someone sane to be out in the water.

Rob met Ed at the dock and they cast off in the Zodiac, rain pelting on their Gore-Tex rain gear. The small "lagoon" or inlet of Coal Harbour where Deadman's Island was located had also been the site of a couple large marinas before the war, and several float-plane companies had operated from wharfs across the water next to the downtown providing commuter service to Vancouver Island and many isolated communities up the coast and in the Interiour of the province.

They motored east past the now-empty wharfs and slips where dozens of planes and hundreds of private sail and power boats had once tied up, then past the burned-out Chevron gas station barge still anchored near the mouth of Coal Harbour. The small barge sometimes leaked an little bit of an oily sheen as it slowly settled into the water, still partially afloat due to intact floatation cells.

The massive Canada Place convention centre/cruise ship dock jutted into Burrard Inlet, its tattered fabric sails tattered and drooping in the rain. Swinging out past it into the middle of Burrard Inlet on a northerly heading, they were most likely hidden by the rain from all but the most diligent telescope-equipped surveillance on the south shore, and Ed kept going north across the Inlet until they were relatively near North Vancouver. They were increasingly buffeted by the winds and rain crossing the inlet and Rob used the hand pump a little, but it was nothing serious.

After continuing east along the North Shore for a while Ed steered them back south towards the Port of Vancouver (on the south shore to the east of the downtown) at moderate speed. Their destination was just short of the abandoned container port, at a small park. Ed received radio contact that Tyler would be waiting at "Portside Park" and he confirmed that the area was clear. They put in at a small wooden wharf and Tyler jogged out of the cover of some bushed by a small house-like Parks building. He stepped aboard the Zodiac and greeted his dad in a curt manner, setting his CAR-15 Commando beside him.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:20, Tue 07 Apr 2009.

"Hey, Dad. Rob. Good to see you again."

He was dressed in US BDUs and a rain poncho.

Rob nods as Tyler gets in and continues scanning the shoreline until they are safely away from the beach.

"Nice to see you as well Tyler. Hope the trip was fruitful but we can discuss that once we are home and in better surroundings."

Rob goes back to looking into the haze of rain for threats.

In reply to Robert A. Conklin (msg #58):

On a nice day, it would be a ten-minute round trip. In this weather, detouring to practically the North Shore, going west, then back south to Coal Harbour, it took over an hour and a half.

They finally tied up, soaked and exhausted. It was around 1700 hours, and the community meeting would be starting in an hour.

"Well, this is different. In the war," he meant the Vietnam war, of course, "we either didn't trust or like the civilians too much. Either they were surly and hostile, or friendly and therefore Vietcong spies. This is going to be different."

They walked towards the main building, where Ed kept an office of sorts.

"Ty, what do you got for me, son?"

Once they were inside and drying off, Tyler reported what he knew.

"The plan for us is the same, we secure the non-combatants."

He used the map in Ed's office to show them the plan.

"The Canucks have their act together, they have a mole in the Stickies feeding them information. Their plan is to arrest the leader when he visits the Biker's brothel downtown, off his turf. Then go in and arrest everyone because there's no replacement for the "Dear Leader", Cyrus. They don't want to kill him, that might just disperse his followers in the city, make him a martyr."

Tyler sipped some powdered hot chocolate.

"Should work, they've been practicing. If surprise doesn't work they got the firepower to go in and clean the floor with the Stickies. Over a hundred Militia and cops, a few armoured vehicles including a LAV-25, and a BMP and BTR coming across the bridge from the North Shore."

"They think they can do this with minimal casualties, maybe none."