In reply to Nicolaus von Stahl (msg #77):

"Lock and load, people!"

He pulled back C7A1's cocking handle, chambering a round with a click-clack. Fox also opened the M203A1 grenade launcher and checked that a 40mm HE round was loaded.


Sgt. Robert Fox
Lima 18

C7A1 (30/30) with C79 Optical Sight/Starlight Scope + 6x 5.56mmN Magazines ammo pouches
M203 40mm Grenade Launcher (1 HE) + 10x 40mm HE, 2x 40mm HEDP, 4x 40mm Parachute Flares (Red), 4x 40mm HC Smoke.

Dismounted N (uphill) of LAV
Chambering a round in his rifle, loading a 40mm HE shell.

In reply to Robert Duncan Fox (msg #78):

Seth pulled back the cocking handle on his own weapon, charging the RPK.

"Ready to rock."


Sgt. Seth Delaney
Lima 14

RPK with brass catcher (75/75 rnd drum) - held
 - 1x 75 rnd drum in pouch
 - 8x 40 rnd mags in chest harness

Dismounted by LAV,
Pulling back RPK's cocking handle.

"Wilco, Lima-6." She relays commands to her crew, and without taking her eyes off the approaching vehicles, she chambers a round in her carbine and makes sure it is ready, reflex at this point in her life.  "Lock and load gentlemen, commander, we might have to move, and I might need your English, stay with me."


Alpha-One.
Commander BTR-70, seated in commander seat,  Bunny Suited, popped out of hatch, spotting for turret guns.  Mask off, gloves off.  Scanning East with better optics.
14.5mm KPVT heavy machine gun, turret.  500 - 14.5x114 belt fed.  no round chambered, safety on.
7.62mm PKT machine gun, turret coax.  2000 - 7.62x39 belt fed.  no round chambered, safe on.
C-8 Carbine - 6 spare Mags (5.56 NATO) - round chambered.
(rifle racked near her position, magazine loaded, no round chambered, spare mags in web gear)
6 C-13 Frag Grenades
2 Smoke grenades (Green/white)  (All grenades attached to webgear)
Kevlar helmet stowed with pack, commo headset on.

Lima 6...Lima 6...This is Bravo 2. Understood. We'll be in the water. Over.

The crew hastily prepared to depart. The drill was easier this time as everybody knew their position in the RIB.

Constable Majorek! Lets make a high speed pass to let everybody know that we are here. That will distract the visitors and think twice about their intentions. Keep a safe distance from the shore!

Const. Bajorek, already familiar with the manning of the zodiac would revv-up the engines to bring her up to speed.






RIB/Maritime Detachment (Bravo)

Staff Sgt. Shevchenko  Bravo 1
Boarding the zodiac and ready to move to get a visual from the water
AKS-74U (30/30) +4 mags slung at his back
S&W 5946 (15/15)
RGO handgrenades x6
HC smoke x6
AK bayonet


Pvt. Sheeler manning the Mk-19.
Pvt. Droz at the CG.
Const. Chau by the CG.
Const. Bajorek manning the zodiac.
Troy DeFazio (Comms) assistant gunner for Taras

Andy loaded a round in his rifle and flicked the safety back on before resuming his watch on the area designated to him.

The BTR's assistant commander confirmed Kelsey's instructions, translating them into Russian for the benefit of the rest of the crew.

Up on the hillside, Mac and Andy could cover at least the BTR. It was in their arc of coverage (south), even if they couldn't see much of the parking lot due to the thick woods to their left.

The marine element quickly embarked on the Zodiac, a task made much easier by the calmer water. They roared out into Burrard Inlet, keeping about 200m offshore. From that distance they could just see the edge of the woods where the unknown element that was approaching them would emerge out into the open.

After a few minutes, emerge they did, traveling slowly. It was an enclosed Humvee in woodland pattern with US Army markings, mounting a TOW ATGM (no thermal sight). The gunner was dressed in soaked US Army poncho, BDUs and a bandanna.

From the plumes of black smoke shooting into the air, it looked like there were a couple large vehicles following the Humvee, as yet unseen. They would arrive very shortly.

Somehow, someone in the Humvee (probably the gunner) immediately saw the BTR parked hull-down behind the guard shack. The Humvee slewed to a stop in the muddy lot around 170m away (near the East end of the parking lot). Taras judged the Humvee was about 400m away and at least partially hull-down to incoming fire from the water because of the lip of the parking lot. From this distance, Taras couldn't tell if they saw the zodiac yet or not in return. (They obviously had more immediate concerns!)

http://tinyurl.com/3u9ppxt

Kelsey keys the mic and routes through the PA system in her BTR.


"This is Warrant Kelsey Champlain with the Canadian Armed Forces, on a joint operation with the Canadian Mounted Police.  Please identify and parlay, United States forces."

She had to admit to herself that the TOW made her damn nervous, and tried to tell herself that the big things behind the hardshell HMMWV were likely cargo trucks and not tanks, she tried to perk her ears for the distinctive sound of the turbo whine to the standard US cargo truck (The M35A2 2.5 Ton Cargo Truck, or 'Deuce and a Half").  She knew the 'armor' on the HMMWV wasn't even up to properly protecting it's crew from her coax, let alone her main gun, which would make swiss cheese of that little jeep.

"Commander, casually target that truck, I'll try to ID the rest"

She toggles transmit to her radio.

"This is Alpha one.  I have identified the lead vehicle as a US Army Humm-Vee, that's Hotel Victor.  I see US, Uniform Sierra, Uniforms.  Other, larger vehicles as yet not Identified.  I have broadcast ID and Parlay."

The silhouette  was now too familiar for Taras. After the bloody episode in Chinatown the profile of the utility vehicle in US Army markings was easy to recognise. Only the elongated tube of the TOW instead of the machine gun brought a difference to notice. And what a difference at that! Nobody liked to see the threat of such a powerful weapon aimed against the armor element of the Government forces.

Move closer to the shore!

The swerving zodiac will surely send a plume of spraying foam in the air and the sound of the engines getting closer would probably call the attention of the new arrivals as Taras was looking to buy some time for the ground element.


RIB/Maritime Detachment (Bravo)

Staff Sgt. Shevchenko  Bravo 1
Getting closer to the shore
AKS-74U (30/30) +4 mags slung at his back
S&W 5946 (15/15)
RGO handgrenades x6
HC smoke x6
AK bayonet


Pvt. Sheeler manning the Mk-19.
Pvt. Droz at the CG.
Const. Chau by the CG.
Const. Bajorek manning the zodiac.
Troy DeFazio (Comms) assistant gunner for Taras

In reply to Taras Vladimirovich Shevchenko (msg #85):

"Understood, keep me informed. Out."

He walked over to beside the driver's compartment to the LAV to talk to Lee.

"Corporal, get ready to move down the hill. When I give the signal, back up and turn to face south. Drop the ramp. Ah, Fox and Delaney and I will mount up. Then we proceed down the hill to support Kelsey."

Major Nic v. Stahl Lima-6

HP-35 + 2 Mag
C8A1 + 5 Mag
3 fragmentation granades
1 smoke grenade (white)
bayonet

Dismounted by LAV (To east)
Covering Bezhov, giving orders to Rachel

In reply to Nicolaus von Stahl (msg #86):

"Got it, Major. I'll leave the engine off for now so they don't hear us."

"Also, let me drop the ramp now. You mount up, then I go. Less chance of running someone over."

In reply to Zhang Rachel Lee (msg #87):

"Ya, better plan. Safer that way."

He walked over and spoke to the paired element of Fox/Delaney. "Sergeants, when I give the order you will accompany me in the LAV down the hill to support the BTR. We will stop short to allow us to deploy. If and when that happens, or we get stopped for any reason, take cover in the woods."

Von Stahl then spoke to Andy/Mac.

"If we have to support the BTR, you two will stay here and support Capt. Bezhov. and the other elements with long-range precision fire. If I leave, Master McRae, you are in command here."

Once done, he positioned himself to the east of the LAV, watching the forest flank.

In reply to Nicolaus von Stahl (msg #88):

At the LAV, Lee dropped the ramp. Fox and Delaney got prepared to mount up if ordered to do so by the Major. Pvt. Arif Mahanadi (remember him?), the team's signals technician, scanned the radio waves for some kind of useful intelligence or information.

In the BTR, Tanase cranked up the engine. The dieseld immediately sputtered to life, shooting out clear exhaust instead of black petroleum fumes. It might make hearing a little more difficult, but it gave the vehicle tactical mobility. Petrovitch centred the reticule on the chest of the TOW gunner. The TOW was a deadly weapon at this range but it was not faster than a speeding 14.5mm bullet.

Pütsep, the Estonian assistant commander, opened a roof hatch into the passenger compartment. He showed Kelsey he had a smoke grenade ready to cover their retreat if needed. The updated BTR-70 turret was similar to the one mounted on the BTR-80 but lacked the smoke grenade launchers. A strong wind was still blowing, but it was from west to east so any cloud would go from the BTR and carried directly towards the Humvee.

Nothing happened for moment (a minute or so) as the Humvee's occupants seemed to be having an animated conversation amongst themselves punctuated by glaces in the BTR's direction. She could also see one of them talking into a radio handset. (The vehicle did have a radio aerial tied forward down onto the hood.) Meanwhile, most of the truck noises (and smoke plumes) behind the Humvee down the road halted. She thought one might belong to a deuce (which was common enough in the Canadian Forces) but the others to larger vehicles. Thankfully she didn't hear the squeaking and squalling of tank or APC treads.

Arif called over the radio, "Bravo, correction Alpha One. this is Lima One, over."

"I have picked up back-and-forth comms chatter. The bearings says it's probably your boy and one or two others close by, from the signal strengths. It's encrypted, I can't tell what they're saying. Do you copy? Over."

Then, two of the men inside (one dressed in Canadian Fatigues, one in US BDUs) got out the right (driver's) side of the vehicle (as it was facing her). Both were bundled up enough in the inclement weather to make further identification impossible. The "Canadian" handed the "American" a C9 SAW (M249 with Elcan scope) and pointed towards the water and the zodiac. The SAW gunner nodded and started running across the parking lot towards the water side where he could presumably get a better view of (and bead on) the zodiac in the water below.

The other man (armed only with a sidearm) took out a white cloth and started waving it. the stiff breeze snatched at it and he almost dropped it. Then he began to walk slowly and carefully towards the BTR, avoiding the worst of the massive puddles and potholes riddling the dirt lot. Kel noted he was wearing a distinctive "airborne" camouflage smock (issued only to commandos of the Canadian Airborne Regiment) over his CF combats, like McRae and Fox. Kel was unable to further decipher the markings on the Humvee at this angle so she could not tell the parent unit (battalion or division).

Out on the water, the zodiac turned towards shore, sending up a nice rooster-tail. They got to about 100m out from the rocks, 300m from the Humvee. Any closer and the hill would cut them off from viewing the vehicle. As it was, the hillside and lip of the parking lot partially obscured the target. Taras could see the SAW gunner running across the lot towards them.

She watches the action carefully, then radios.  "Roger, Lima six.  Wilco.  I copy Lima One,good work, out." Seeing the men exit she watches a moment, then radios again.  "Lima Six, this is Alpha One, I have one Canadian Commando with a white flag, and one Sierra Alpha Whiskey advancing on our Bravo element.  Our Hummer has a Tango Oscar Whiskey, I hear at least one deuce and a half truck, no track squeeks.  I think we have a wheel convoy.  Parlay forward is a Charlie Alpha Foxtrot Commando. I propose myself on Parlay, since I got the best English." Humor comes across on the last bit.
She flips over to PA and broadcasts "Unknown element, standby on parlay, and stop advance of you machine gunner on my seaborne elements alpha sierra alpha papa."

She gives Putsep a nod and smile at his quick thinking  "Get me a portable radio, and my glengary out of the side pouch on my pack"

She awaits orders from Vic.





Alpha-One.
Commander BTR-70, seated in commander seat,  Bunny Suited, popped out of hatch, spotting for turret guns.  Mask off, gloves off.  Awaiting orders.
14.5mm KPVT heavy machine gun, turret.  500 - 14.5x114 belt fed.  no round chambered, safety on.
7.62mm PKT machine gun, turret coax.  2000 - 7.62x39 belt fed.  no round chambered, safe on.
C-8 Carbine - 6 spare Mags (5.56 NATO) - round chambered.
(rifle racked near her position, magazine loaded, no round chambered, spare mags in web gear)
6 C-13 Frag Grenades
2 Smoke grenades (Green/white)  (All grenades attached to webgear)
Kevlar helmet stowed with pack, commo headset on.

From his position out on the water, the maritime element had a different and useful perspective on the new elements parked out of Kelsey's sight along Ioco Rd.

Through the trees, back towards the intersection of Ioco Rd. and 4th Ave, were parked what looked to be at least 2 large vehicles, trucks. Although the trees made it difficult to make any exact ID, the looked to be at least one 5-ton and a flatbed 10-ton, both with canvas covers on the back.

Inside the BTR, Pütsep handed a hand radio up to Kelsey and, after some confusion, her glengarry hat. "Here you are! Funny hat!" he said. Seeming to ignore her, the SAW gunner disappeared into a clump of trees bordering the edge of the parking lot, presumably to get a bead on the Zodiac from cover.

Meanwhile, the man approaching her pulled down his bandanna and goggles, and pulled back his hood. She recognised him as her old OC: Lt. Benjamin John Jagelis. He stopped, trying to get a better look at her. Jagelis called out,

"Hey, who are you with? Do you have permission to be here? I'm represent the Canadian Forces and you'd better point that gun somewhere else!"

http://tinyurl.com/3r5uawe

(Recap on this character: Lieut. Jagelis was in the Canadian Airborne Regiment like Fox and McRae, although not personally known to them as he joined the Airborne when it expanded during the war, not before like them. Jagelis had also been the original commander of Team URIEL when it was first sent to Vancouver by the DRI. He was not especially liked even though he was a competent commando, and had moved on after leading a disastrous patrol into Stanley Park, not finding the team's somewhat passive role to his liking or temperament. He then led a CF team against Soviet remnants in different areas of BC, and last heard from was back in town and possibly captured a technical that bandits were using to menace Kingsway. He wanted to meet up with the team but didn't have a chance.)
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:40, Fri 22 July 2011.

In reply to Kelsey Sarah Champlain (msg #90):

"Ya, Lima Six out."

When she updated him he merely added, "I don't like this much. Warrant, the decision to engage is yours, use your discretion. Do you have any ID yet?"

A short bark of a laugh as she DOES ID him.  She radios.  "Ya, ID is Positive, he's ours, ELTEE Jagelis, our old Cee Oh.  I am moving forward to Parlay."

She slips on her Glengarry and pulls herself out of her hatch, moving forward with a wave.  She does a last broadcast on her PA forward, and brings her rifle, slung not readied, with her.  "Lieutenant Jagelis, did you forget me already?  It's Kelsey Champlain, from UBC Vancouver? " She almost mentions the op in Stanley Park, but she holds that back with a little effort.

She waves and moves to get down and go meet up with him, Jacking her headset into a portable PRC. When around the building with her hands in clear view, rifle slung over her shoulder.  "Funny to meet you round here.  I heard you were still operating in this area.  Might wanna call off your man on the SAW before your old team mates in the Zodiac get the wrong idea, kay?"  She tries her best disarming grin.  She never much really disliked the man, just didn't like how he nearly got her killed.  Much more impressed with her current CO did not mean she wanted her old one dead.  "Fuckin nice weather we got here.  For ducks."  And a reuse of a joke on a new audience and waiting for the Lt to notice she is in NBC gear.


Alpha-One.
Commander BTR-70, currently moving on foot to meet Lt Jagelis,  Bunny Suited, Mask off, gloves off.  Rifle slung.
C-8 Carbine - 6 spare Mags (5.56 NATO) - round chambered, slung.
6 C-13 Frag Grenades
2 Smoke grenades (Green/white)  (All grenades attached to webgear)
Kevlar helmet stowed with pack, commo headset on and plugged into a portable PRC, Glengary on.

This message was last edited by the player at 14:15, Sat 23 July 2011.

Taras was about to indicate Troy to report the intel regarding the trucks when the name of "Jagelis"  was brought over to the crew as it was retransmitted over the loudspeaker.

At that point the whole arsenal of the "Little Potemkin" was trained on the lonely figure threatening the zodiac with the squad automatic weapon. There wasn't a real option other than the Western style stand-off. The strong wind prevented the creation of an effective smoke screen and moving around would challenge the aim of the crewed weapons giving the advantage to the Tango. Finally, sailing fast South would left the ground team without the possibility of support.

Relieved that the situation was quickly defusing, the ukrainian Sargent ordered forward to the beach.

Jagelis! Almost fucking things around again! Ha! I wonder what the heck is he doing here and why HQ wouldn't let us know of his presence in our Area of Operations...Lets meet the cowboy, folks!

The bitter memories of the deadly mission in Stanley Park still fresh in Taras mind but the mission was priority number one and before getting to close to the shore he radioed the Team leader Commander von Stahl:

...This is Bravo 2...we'll be going to meet you unless you have different orders...Over!




RIB/Maritime Detachment (Bravo)

Staff Sgt. Shevchenko  Bravo 1
Getting closer to the shore
AKS-74U (30/30) +4 mags slung at his back
S&W 5946 (15/15)
RGO handgrenades x6
HC smoke x6
AK bayonet


Pvt. Sheeler manning the Mk-19.
Pvt. Droz at the CG.
Const. Chau by the CG.
Const. Bajorek manning the zodiac.
Troy DeFazio (Comms) assistant gunner for Taras

Andy kept a careful watch, Jagelis' presence was a sign that things were probably OK, but if there was a chance of two units meeting at just this position, there was always a chance that there might be another arrival.

In reply to Kelsey Sarah Champlain (msg #93):

"Ha ha, very funny, Master Corporal. I remember you. Nice job on the promotion, by the way." Jagelis seemed a little insencere, but then again he always did to her (and most people).

He put on his red airborne beret and continued walking forward to meet her by the edge of the guard buildings. He didn't have on an NBC suit, just his combats, camo smock, webbing and a shoulder pouch. He was armed with his sidearm, no rifle.

Jagelis transmitted on his own radio (scrambled, with earpiece), "this is Jericho. All units give me your status." It wasn't exactly the same as standing his people down, but he was kind of a dick.

"All right, Kelsey, who's in charge here? Let's get things organised. I have people, equipment and of course security."

In the BTR, Pütsep took over the commander's position, flashing Kelsey a thumb's-up as he popped up in the hatch. He mostly kept an eye on the northern flank, as the trees were a natural route to get close to the BTR unseen.

The sound of a deuce truck engine approached from somewhere down the road past the Humvee, but stopped just out of sight of Kelsey.

Down on the water, Taras had the zodiac steer into shore. They swiftly disembarked on the shore. The water seemed a little oily, with a sheen, and the area had a faint smell of petrochemicals.

Up the hill, the dismounts (Mac, Andy, Delaney and Fox) kept scanning the area, looking for threats. Looking through the x10 spotting scope, Mac saw movement in the woods just north of the BTR. "I see at least 2 Tangos in the woods, 183 metres range downhill at our 11 o'clock. One RPG-7 and possibly a sniper, flanking Kelsey in the BTR."

Pütsep also spotted the movement, off to the left (facing back) of the BTR. He grabbed his rifle and transmitted over the team net, "Man with RPG, on left flank!"

http://tinyurl.com/3pjkjjs

Not to Scale (see above link)

                                          *
                                         *
                                         * U
                                         *
                                          *
                                          *     Woods, slightly uphill
                                         *
                                         *
                                         *
                                          *
                                            *         * * *
                                              * * * *      * *





                           ____________
         _______________  |            |
        / C _           | |    North   |
   <-- |   (G)--  BTR   | |    Guard   |        Humvee with TOW 190m -->
        \_D_____________| |    Shack   |
                          |____________|

                                     K

                                 ____________  J
                                |            |
                                |    South   |
                                |    Guard   |
                                |    Shack   |
                                |____________|

K = Kelsey (out hatch, looking E, N.)
D = Driver (out hatch, looking W.
G = Gunner (in turret, facing E.)
C = Commander (inside passenger compartment, looking south)

J = Jagelis
U = Movement to BTR's left flank
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:24, Wed 27 July 2011.

"Alpha One. Very well, they are not supposed to be here at all. I will check with UBC to verify their presence is legitimate. Keep your guard up. Out."

His Teutonic sense of order seemed offended by the unknown element and it bothered him. Shaking his head and muttering, von Stahl walked over to the rear of the LAV and picked up the intercom handset and spoke to Arif, the team's signaller.

"Private, get me on the long-range net to UBC. See if they have authorised any other units in our area. Specifically Lieutenant Jagelis, the former team commander."


Major Nic v. Stahl Lima-6

HP-35 + 2 Mag
C8A1 + 5 Mag
3 fragmentation granades
1 smoke grenade (white)
bayonet

Dismounted behind LAV
Making call to UBC to verify Jagelis' presence.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:04, Wed 27 July 2011.

Andy swung his rifle around to cover the movement, "Call it in Mac, we need confirmation on these Tangos, if we don't establish if they are friendlies soon, I'm going to start shooting."

He focused on getting a good shot on one of the Tangos and then waited for confirmation on whether the troops were friendlies or not.

Kelsey stops where she is with cover left and right, unslings her rifle and drops it to a loose ready, looks towards where the RPG would be and shakes her head slightly, and gives a slight smile to the vehicle commander before looking back to Jagelis.

A slight smile on the congratulations and a nod to him in reply.

"Jagelis, you'll be dealing with me, no offense.  I'm not giving you any further intel until you stop deploying your troops against us.  Now I have a SAW, an RPG, and a sniper.  You are headed fast to an incident if you keep deploying on friendlies, lieutenant."  She gives a firm tone and meets his eyes, not looking very friendly herself.  "No one told us about you being here, so you understand why we might not be welcoming?  I need you to stand down, right now, Jagelis, without delay.  This is our op, and we don't like it going Charlie Foxtrot."

She keys her mic to broadcast "This is Alpha One, all elements, hold your fire, these should be friendlies, but watch em until verified."

She eyes Jagelis  "And mind telling me what you are doing here?  Right now, of all times, and not in your NBC gear?"



Alpha-One.
Commander BTR-70, between the buildings meeting with Jagelis,  Bunny Suited, Mask off, gloves off.  Rifle at ready.
C-8 Carbine - 6 spare Mags (5.56 NATO) - round chambered, safe on, ready.
6 C-13 Frag Grenades
2 Smoke grenades (Green/white)  (All grenades attached to webgear)
Kevlar helmet stowed with pack, commo headset on and plugged into a portable PRC, Glengary on.

You just don't show up from nowhere and take the candy from the kids... The thoughts were shared for most of the members of the team. Taras was thankful that the German Offizier already raised the flag. Now there was the dilemma of what to do next with the Bravo element. A hasty defense arrangement was the first idea that sprung in the Ukrainian fighter's mind. Instead of using the radio, Shevchenko motioned with his arms signalling the Major that his crew would be moving towards the building nearby.

Team! Get under cover and weapons ready at the South Shack! Droz and Chau get the bazooka trained on the humvee. The rest keep watch on the tangos uphill!

Taras was using both corners of the building as a cover and projecting two angles of fire. One of them was the "bazooka" of Carl Gustav aiming towards the TOW anti-tank system and Taras with the PKM in case the dismounts started deploying from the trucks aggresively. The rest of the crew (Sheeler, Bajorek and Troy) using his persanal weapons were covering the approach of the identified tangos.







RIB/Maritime Detachment (Bravo)

Staff Sgt. Shevchenko  Bravo 1
Deploying team at South Shack
PKM (100/100)
AKS-74U (30/30) +4 mags slung at his back
S&W 5946 (15/15)
RGO handgrenades x6
HC smoke x6
AK bayonet


Pvt. Sheeler  Bravo 14 FN C1A1 (20/20) +4 mags.
Pvt. Droz Bravo 15 Sterling C1 (34/34) +2 mags.
Const. Chau  Bravo 16 HK MP-5A2 (30/30) +4mags
Const. Bajorek  Bravo 17 Remington 870P (7/7) +1 box (25 shells).
Troy DeFazio (Comms) Bravo 18 Sterling C1 (34/34) +2 mags

Andy kept his aim on the RPG gunner, it left him exposed to danger from the potential sniper but the RPG represented the greatest threat to the unit so it was his duty to eliminate him should he turn out to be a threat.

He held his fire but kept his gun trained on his target.