April 19, 2001
1100 Hours
Sunny, 16 C.

The conversation with Captain Astapkovitch having run its course, Fox and McRae returned to the vehicles.

Seth and Rachel made a detailed record, visual and written, of the various watercraft docked at the riverside. Aside from the submarine, all appeared to be privately owned fishing and merchant craft. There was also a police dock, with a half-dozen unarmed large speed boats and two larger patrol craft with machineguns mounted.

The CBC crew were interviewing the various crew, river rats and fishermen gathered on the docks. Kelsey returned as well, with a dozen home-made batteries and contact information for her friend inside the Bridge Troll gang.

Via radio SITREP, Fox was informed by the reaction team that a sizeable armed force had relocated to the intersection they'd passed through earlier in the morning.

Gunny Conklin, the US Marine sniper that was temporarily attached to Taras' command, had observed 8 armed men occupying the abandoned positions. They had various small arms, plus a pickup truck mounting an SPG-9 73mm recoilless rifle. This weapon, while not as sophisticated as a missile or powerful as a tank gun, was still a threat to a light armour vehicle like the Kodiak and of course any SUVs. A foot recce (recon) had determined there were at least two occupied dwellings on either side of Boundary near Marine Way.

At this time, all that remained was a trip along the return route of Main Supply Route (MSR) Kingsway Ave. Also, the reaction force was positioned to provide more direct support along the leg outbound along MSR Marine Way, and should be repositioned northward (possibly to ASR Imperial Ave.) to counter any opposition encountered in the other reported problem area, the intersection of MSR Kingsway and ASR (Alternative Supply Route) Boundary.

"Fox, if that is the route we are planning to take home, we cannot tolerate being under the guns of probable bandits.  Nonetheless, I think we should offer parley under white flag before implementing  military action.  Of course, this doesn't mean we shouldn't have a plan."

Fox nods at Kelsey "I agree we need a plan regardless of what we do. Do we know who they are? " Fox rubs his head for a moment. "The way I see it we can either hit em hard and fast or try to find a diplomatic solution, but somehow I don't think the latter will work. "

"Or we can stick to our planned route, and hope there are no surprises there"

In reply to Kelsey Sarah Champlain (msg #4):

Rachel looked a little dubious at the prospect of diplomacy. "I'm a trained police negotiator, but I can't see the point of negotiating in this case because their priorities are opposite ours. Plus, we have nothing to offer them except a fair trial."

"Before anyone thinks I just want to pick a fight, as an ERT my priority is to preserve all life, even that of the criminals." She smiled at the irony of the situation, how she was trained to act aggressively and even violently yet still avoid taking life if at all possible. "Still protecting innocent life is the highest priority and that's what we have to keep in mind."

She answered Fox's question. "No Sergeant, we don't know who they are or what they want. From the report of new motorcycles, I think it's possible they're affiliated with the HAs. If so, that's bad news."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:02, Fri 06 Aug 2010.

"I'm in favor of the direct approach. You know what I mean, hoo-ah?"

Tyler didn't elaborate, everyone knew he wasn't shy about getting into a fight. The trip to New West and the market were interesting, but frankly he wanted some action. Talking to some criminals seemed like a waste of time to him.

"Let's see if we can get our mitts on that recoilless rifle. That'll make Taras pretty happy!"

"If they're associated with the Angel's, I'm sure talking isn't going to do any good.  Maybe just stick with the planned route and take our chances and deal with whatever comes our way.  If they wanna fight then we give 'em one," Keith says lounging around the vehicles.

Fox nods to Tyler "Agreed if they are associated with the HA's they need to be taken out hard and fast. We should plan an attack."

Seth listened to the discussions and looked at the information they had received, which had now been marked on a map.

"We can't ignore these guys," he commented.  "We're here partly as a show of strength so we've got to do something about them.  My thoughts are to approach them and to attempt to arrest them as they have a military weapon in the recoilless and that's still against the law unless I've got the wrong end of the stick.  You can argue about assault rifles for self defence but a recoilless rifle isn't something that you park up at a crossroads to defend yourself!"

He scratched at his beard, conscious that to many people he looked like a biker in military uniform.

"And if they choose to fight then we give them everything we've got!  Tactically I think that do the following.  Firstly Gunny Conklin infiltrates close enough to get eyes on the crossroads where the checkpoint is set up and continues to report.  He should also be in range in case it kicks off.  I assume that as he's a Marine Sniper that shouldn't be a major issue for him.  Secondly the Hotel element drives West along Marine Way and stops short of the checkpoint and then challenges the men there.  At the same time Lima element cuts South onto North Fraser Way and gets to a position where we can dismount and then set up a flanking position to the South of the crossroads.  Also at the same time Romeo element moves forward to South East Marine Drive, somewhere around Kinross Ravine Park, so that they're good and close and hopefully able to see this building to the North West of the crossroads where three or four armed men were seen."

He indicated several points on the map as he spoke.

"That means that we should have them blocked to the West, East and South and that we can hopefully contain them.  There are three risks that I can see at present.  Firstly our vehicles are going to be heard, and possibly seen, while moving into position.  As the Kodiak is making itself known though hopefully that will be the focus of attention.  Secondly by approaching from three sides like this there is a risk of crossing fields of fire so we need to be cautious with any shots.  The main elements are approaching from the East and the South though so I'd put this risk at an acceptable minimum.  Lastly we need to coordinate this plan over the radio with Romeo element and that's never good.  Oh, and does Gunny Conklin have a personal radio?  If he doesn't then that's a bit of an issue."

He glanced around the other members of the team.  "Any comments, thoughts or questions?" he asked, seemingly not bothered by people's ranks.  "Does this plan sound like a good idea?"

The plan was re-tranmitted via secure radio channel so that Taras and Gunny Conklin could have some say.

Rob listened to the plan and reviewed the locations and streets on the map as it was said. More then once, he looked a bit confused and glanced at Taras. When the relayed message was finally done he took a final look at his map and turned to Taras.


"What's the primary goal here? Take out the position completely? Take out the Recoilless or just scare them off again?"

Rob looks to Taras and awaits his reply or for him to relay the question to Hotel.

"Oh, and let them know. I do have a radio."

Rob looks over the map while he awaits his answers.

"Well, we should obviously set our sights on the recoiless rifle but we should focus on taking them out so they cannot do this again. And it will also send a clear message that we are in control of this city not bandits!"