Thursday 19 April 2001
Game Time: 0600 Lima

Just before 0500 the starry night sky began to barely lighten over the eastern end of the Fraser Valley.

Many of the Faculty (as the community at UBC was called) were already stirring, as it was time for another day in the fields. The few Stickmen prisoners that hadn't been released still slept.

The personnel of the DRI detachment known as URIEL were already up and going, having gotten breakfast and showered (hot water being available at their billet), then making a final check on the vehicles, their weapons, going for a jog, or whatever was their personal bent.

Team muster was at 0600, departure from the start line was 0645. In the CF considerable pride was taken in never jumping off late, and there was no reason to this time.

Meeting them in the briefing room was CDR Clarke-Sullivan, Provost Belanger, the 2 Militia that were coming along (Privates Sheeler and Droz), the 2 RCMP Auxiliaries they'd been assigned (Constables Chau and Bajorek). As well, the technician from the detachment's signals section, Private Mahanadi, was also there.

Under the circumstances, everyone was dressed for the upcoming mission (combats for the Militia, RCMP patrol dress for the Mounties). Heads were bare and everyone was unarmed except for sidearms (on the Mounties).

Chris woke late, showered and shaved.

After dressing, he grabbed some breakfast, joking around with Master McRae, Sergeant Fox, the yanks (Tyler, Keith and Gunny Conklin).

At the meeting, he yawned and tried to look focused. He was actually interested in the mission, but it'd been a long time since he'd needed to get up so early!

As per usual, Rachel was up at 0500.

She went for her morning run, cajoling Kelsey and anyone else who wanted to into joining her. When done, she showered and dressed.

At breakfast she sat with Inspector Kham Khandola, the local RCMP detachment commander, and the other Mounties. Khandola was a fierce-looking middle-aged Sikh man with dark skin, a neatly-kept long grey beard and RCMP blue turban. As usual, his uniform was spotless.

In the meeting, she was dressed differently than the RCMP Auxiliaries. She was wearing her dark ERT assault jumpsuit (with RCMP/GRC on the back) and body armour, with a black ERT helmet sitting on the table in front of her.

Rob seemed a little uncomfortable, but for once hadn't shown up to breakfast fully strapped other than his sidearm.

He was tasked for airport surveillance today, but he would follow the team partway down SW Marine and would form part of the reaction element that would be supporting them. So it was important that he attend the pre-mission team meeting to be fully in the loop.

 Following his normal routine he had done his jog and then shower and shave, before setting his rifle into the apc. With a quick stop at the mess hall for chow, he found he was back at the vechicles with 10 minutes to spare.

 Spotting Kelsey, he smiles at her, Good day for a drive, isnt it?.

Seth slept deeply, the result of a comfortable bed and being able to relax for once while someone else provided security.  He awoke with an alarm going off, feeling slightly groggy and initially confused as to exactly where he was.  After a few moments of uncertainty he woke up enough to remember where he was, why he was there and what he was supposed to be doing that day.  Now fully compos mentis Seth started getting himself ready for the operation, dragging himself out of bed and into the shower.

A short time later he joined the others for breakfast before returning to his room to gather his final bits of equipment and to clean the firearms he was taking one last time.  He arrived at the briefing room shortly before 06:00, fully armed and looking like a soldier preparing for an extended combat mission rather than a day's patrol.

Seth was dressed in an US Army issue woodland pattern BDU and combat boots with CF body armour over the top and Soviet green tiger camouflage chest harness on top of the body armour.  The chest harness looked to contain a few grenades and a number of curved mags for the RPK he carried, though the RPK was currently fitted with a drum magazine and Seth appeared to have a second drum mag in a pouch strapped on his back.  He was also wearing his webbing belt with his pistol on his right hip, his radio and canteen on the left and a butt pack to round it all out.

His appearance was completed by a couple of affectations.  He wore the same green Keffiyeh he had been dressed in when he had arrived the previous day, had a pair of goggles on his forehead ready to pull down should they be necessary and had a set of knee and elbow pads to protect him a little when diving around.  Finally the strap of his kevlar helmet was hooked over his radio, ready for when they set out and it was time to put it on.

Seth took a seat next to Mac in the briefing room and nudged him when his old friend yawned.  "You're getting soft!" he commented with a grin, before clouting Mac round the shoulder in a friendly manner.

He was looking forward to the opportunity to prove his worth to the DRI leadership and those in the patrol he hadn't known prior to his arrival.  The patrol sounded like it was going to encounter criminal elements who were extorting taxes for passage past certain points and the question was simply whether those criminals would decide to engage the patrol or melt away at the threat the patrol represented.  Only time would tell but Seth was half hoping that the criminals would try something stupid!

Kelsey is up the same time as Rachel, a fanatic herself about morning runs, turning it into a bit of playtime with exercise with her antics at times during the run.  She lays on the floor of the main room in the female apartment afterwards, cooling down, and showers after Rachel, also headed to breakfast, lagging several minutes behind Rachel.

She was dressed in her combats, body armor over that, and her glengary carried, her kevlar hanging off her kit.



Kelsey detours with her food and sits across from Tyler with a big smile on her face, the gregarious Canadian Master Corporal looking fresh and healthy, carrying a clean scent as well.  Her kevlar ends up upside down on the table between them, her glengary dropped inside it. "Tyler!  Morning!  It's a bit chilly to just be sitting in the wind, but at least it's clear."

Taras woke up and after a quick breakfast contacted the University for a meeting with the hydrologists. Dressed in his RCMP uniform he also contacted McRae in order to prepare the response team. The BTR was ready for inspection since early morning. He will "introduce" the peculiarities of this vehicle to the Master Sniper.

Andy got his team ready to go and then followed Taras over to the BTR.

"OK," he said, "talk me through what this monster can do."

In reply to Andrew Montgomery McRae (msg #9):

Rob came out to get Andy.

"Sorry to break this up, chums! Master McRae here's going along with the recon, I'm going to be the one with the snipers setting up an OP overlooking the Arthur Liang, tomorrow."

He shook hands hello with the men.

"Andy, they want you inside for a bit before ya'all take off. Have a good trip now, y'hear?"

Kelsey will shakes hands as well.  She has a very firm grip.

After Andy went inside, Taras went into the ins and outs of the BTR. The wheeled carrier was impressive in many ways, fast and maneuverable. The rebuilt diesel truck engine was more reliable then the BTR-70's original petrol engines, a noted weakness of the design.

This old girl had 300 rounds remaining for the main KPVT 14.5mm gun, plus the full 2000 round compliment for the coaxial PKT. For the recent operation this carried had also been modified to include a "people catcher" on the front, water cannon on the turret and flexible rubber skirts to prevent tire punctures or accidentally running over people.

In reply to Kelsey Sarah Champlain (msg #11):

"Morning, Ma'am," he said in his soft Texan accent.

The Marine wasn't by nature a gregarious man and he was uncomfortable with women soldiers, although the US had relaxed it's rules when the draft was reintroduced during the start of the war in Europe.

Rob addressed Andy and Kelsey, "we should all be getting along now, briefing's gonna start soon."
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:44, Sat 29 May 2010.

Kelsey grins at the soft accent and nods.  She was well comfortable with male soldiers, fitting in well with the boys for the most part, even when setting herself apart from them at times.

 "Roger that... and that's Corporal, Master Corporal, Kelsey, or Champlain or some such thing, but not ma'm.  I work for a living, so don't forget that." 

she winks at Rob, then turns to Chris "Mac", throwing an arm over his shoulders and weighing him down with herself, kit, and armor.

 "Hey Mac, how's my favorite guy this morning?"

Maybe Kelsey is getting the rest of her goofing off out of the way, showing off to the new guys.. or something.

Andy got out after the tour of the BTR, "That's neat, so when are we getting this show on the road?"

Jokingly, Gunny Conklin sketched a salute towards Kelsey, smiling a little. "Yes sir, Master Corporal, sir!" This was as close to humour as he got, apparently.

After the kibbitzing was done, they were ready to mount up.

The only instructions they had was not to wear battle helmets unless they were getting into combat. The idea was to project a less combative image. So berets, boonie hats, kheffiyahs, glengarries and so on were recommended.

Aside from the LAV and the Jeep (both with Canadian flags flying from the aerials, which Fox/McRae/Delaney all found very familiar from UN and MF Peacekeeping missions) there was a white TV van parked outside as well.

Standing beside the van was Tricia, the local CBC reporter (red-headed and gorgeous). In front of her, framing the vehicles behind her in the shot, was her driver/cameraman Terry, a black man with shaved head. They were doing the standard "intro" part of a segment.

From past experience, this meant that they were going to have company along in the form of the Fifth Estate.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:04, Sat 29 May 2010.

Very good, then! This is where we going and what we are going to do, gentlemen!

This was the patrol order moment for Taras and the response team:

One of our response jeep of the militia will be going with the negotiations team, escorting them at the rear end of the convoy.

They will proceed from the University grounds and all the way to Connaught Heights at the Queensborough Bridge.

The Sgt. was pointing at the map the different locationsto both Conklin and the selected drivers of the ERT fleet.

They will stop there and backtrack using the Northern branch of S.E. Marine Drive instead, they will recon this route, see if its clear and will wait for us at the junction of S.E. Marine Drive and Kerr St. That will be our Rally Point (RP); Everett Crowley Park. We will locate our reaction force there as a forward operation provisional base.

In the event of any emergency we will proceed at top speed using the chosen part of Marine Drive and into our next RP: 6th Av. and 18th St. in New Westminster. Further instructions will be given depending on the situation development to fit our approach.

Every man on the team should remember the Rules of Engagement. I highly recommend to carry as much as non-lethal help as possible. We'll need CS and other crowd control. Don't forget your masks.

I'll be the leading element of the response but I will stay always with the vehicle. If dismounting takes place Mr. Conklin will be in charge and will direct the rest of the militia on the ground as well.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:23, Sun 30 May 2010.

In reply to Kelsey Sarah Champlain (msg #14):

"Just fine! Man, it's too early. Fuckin' jogging? Shit. No fuckin' way, Kel."

She knew this was bullshit, Mac had grown up on a farm, so early mornings were no stranger to him at all. If anything, war broke down his usual habits.

Mac was dressed in his combats, Kevlar vest, with FN and sidearm. Shaggy scrim-covered helmet attached to the back of his webbing.

Andy listened carefully to the Sergeant's briefing, taking notes as he did.

In reply to Andrew Montgomery McRae (msg #19):

This was the planned outbound route of the main body.

http://tinyurl.com/36huykb

The only real instructions was to wear non-helmet headgear, and that there would be a government TV crew accompanying them on their trip.

Andy nodded as he took notes, everything was clear and the opening moves of the mission should be reasonably straightforward. He briefed his team and got them ready to roll. He strapped his helmet to his webbing and pulled on a floppy bush hat. He loaded his rifle on the jeep and readied his carbine.