Kelsey lets go of Putsep's leg once Mac has the T on and hustles towards the BTR, an experienced gaze running over the damage to the right side suspension.  If it was just one or two axles that are damaged it is possible to trundle up that side in a fast field expedient repair to get the vehicle mobile again, much like you would short track a continuous tread vehicle.  Her focus is though, quickly, on the moan she heads instead, beelined for that location, leaping up on the vehicle to check on the gunner and driver in an athletic bound, and as she does she receives the transmission on the movement and her eyes go straight to the turret, she might have to make use of that before first aid could be rendered.  The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or some BS like that.


Alpha-One.
Commander BTR-70 & currently of detachment,  checking on the BTR and crew.
C-8 Carbine - 6 spare Mags (5.56 NATO) - round chambered, safe off, ready to fire.
5 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.

In reply to Andrew Montgomery McRae (msg #117):

"Good idea, if I can't see him I can still drop some fuckin' Hotel Echo on him!"

Putting the assault rifle to his shoulder and flipped up the grenade launcher sights. He would try and drop the round on the place where the foliage had moved.


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.

Aiming C7A1/M203A1
Under pipe overpass, behind LAV.

In reply to Robert Duncan Fox (msg #119):

Not satisfied with the results so far, Tremblay continued to fire at the truck and mounted AA gun. He unleashed a stream of 25mm AP at the target.

"On the way!"

Empty brass casings clanged against the front of the hull and then the pavement as they were spit out the front of the turret.


Sgt. Keith Tremblay
Lima 17

Scoped FNC: 6 Spare Magazines
Colt M1911A1: 2 Spare Magazines
x4 M67 Fragmentation Grenades
x1 AN/M8 HC Smoke, White
x1 M7A3, CS Gas

Firing 5x5 rounds bursts, 25mm AP at truck.
LAV Commander's seat
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:26, Tue 20 Sept 2011.

Turn 28:

Unable to see a damn thing where he was located because of the smoke grenade, Seth decided to displace towards the southern building. Picking up his RPK he got up and ran for it around the rear of the LAV. He only made it to the northern guard shack in the time he had.

Fox aimed his grenade launcher where he'd seen the greenery move. Andy in effect spotted for him.

At Andy's direction, Fox aimed his rifle and grenade launcher at where they'd seen the movement. Tremblay ceased fire. The truck was still intact but no longer an apparent threat. Although it had suffered 7.62mm coaxial and 25mm chain gun fire the truck was still intact. Tremblay kept hosing the target down with the autocannon and more 25mm holes appeared in the cab and engine compartment.

He was still aiming using thermal, as Kel's smoke grenade was still burning and releasing smoke to the east, partially obscuring the truck.

Two of the BTR's right side tires were shredded but it looked like it would still be mobile, if slowly. Moving to the BTR, Kel looked in the open left-side hatch into the passenger compartment. The inside was splashed in blood, she could smell the thick scent. Looking forward, she could see the driver slumped into his seat head thrown back, unmoving. The gunner had collapsed off his seat in the small turret onto the floor below. He moaned weakly, bleeding out.

To the east, in the direction of the store, a large black puff of smoke was rapidly bourne before the westerly wind. A column of greyish white smoke started to rise, also streaming east. The black puff was from the rocket explosion, while the white smoke indicated some kind of wood-fed fire, a structural fire.

At the store, Bajorek and DeFazio reloaded. Droz and Chau kept watch (Droz looking north to the road, Chau to the south.). They were all still on the ground but preparing to move on Taras' order. Sheeler covered Taras as he moved forward towards the treeline to his 1 o'clock. He only made it part way. At his urging, the boy changed course to run towards Taras.

They could all hear the crackling of flames and screaming of people trapped in the old store building.

Kelsey called out to Mac "Two men down!  Going in!"  She dove into the open hatch to see if she could stop the bleeding on the Gunner, eyes going to the driver as she does.  She suspects he is already beyond help.  She leaves a bloody hand print on the hatch combing as she enters the BTR, and is right in to get more blood on her hands again.  She tries not to think about the reason these men were hurt is they were obeying her orders.


Alpha-One.
Commander BTR-70 & currently of detachment,  checking on the BTR and crew.
C-8 Carbine - 6 spare Mags (5.56 NATO) - round chambered, safe off, ready to fire.
5 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.

The Canadian Forces standard FFV-551 HEAT round was designed around an explosive shaped charge that used the Munroe effect to create a very high-velocity partial stream of metal in a state of superplasticity to punch up to 400 mm of RHA (a benchmark of Rolled Homogeneous Armor) with ease. Not a chance for the spotter and the structure to take it like a man and live to tell.

Contrary to a widespread misconception, HEAT rounds do not depend in any way on thermal phenomena for their effectiveness neither the speed of impact makes a big difference at all. In particular, the shaped charge jets do not "melt their way" through armor. In this case it was the combination of the high explosive and the remnants of the rocket fuel what assisted in starting the fire in the western side of the building. The sheer dry condition of the wooden frame helping to spread it.

Although only a few seconds had come to pass, the violent impact shaking down the house and the subsequent smoke brought panic to the unexpected tenants. More so if they were kept captives under the militia prerrogatives. One got away, though. Before making a further move and having the young fellow at earshot Taras asked:

How many bad guys are inside?

After watching, targeting and destroying the militia spotter there was the possibility to deal with more of them inside. It will be a matter of seconds to have them bailing out as the situation was developing. By the time that the ukrainian reached the tree he already had unshouldered the heavy General Purpose Machine Gun and made ready the more handy AKS-74U while waiting for the intel. The old store was barely 60 meters away and his position covered an incredibly good angle of view.

Back in the trenches the rest of the Bravo team was left to cover the approaches. The 25 mike-mike going off in the parking lot were reassuring. Somebody was in the receiving end and was getting some extra turpentine from the Lovin' Spoonful.

WHOOOAA!!!Private Sheeler couldn't curb his enthusiasm.


RIB/Maritime Detachment (Bravo)

Staff Sgt. Shevchenko  Bravo 1
Don't sit down under the apple tree (without unfolding an AKSU)
AKS-74U (30/30) +4 mags slung at his back
PKM (75/100) Now slung at Taras back
S&W 5946 (15/15)
RGO handgrenades x6
HC smoke x3
AK bayonet



Pvt. Droz. Sterling C1 (34/34) +2 mags. Slung. C. Gustav (HEAT). Overwatch.
Const. Chau. HK MP-5A2 (30/30) +4mags. 2 HEAT rounds. Overwatch.
Const. Bajorek. Remington 870P (6/7). Box (25 shells). Overwatch.
Troy DeFazio [Comms/PRC-77] Sterling C1 (34/34) +1 mag. Overwatch.
Pvt. Sheeler FN C1A1 (15/20) +4 mags. Overwatch.

Andy called in any directions that were needed for the grenadier and kept covering teh area with his rifle in case anyone broke cover.

Andy, Lima-16
Parker Hale Sniper rifle 4/5
Location Pipes north of BTR
Covering the moving bushes
This message was last edited by the player at 16:20, Wed 21 Sept 2011.

Turn: 29

It looked (and smelled) to Kel like the driver was dead and she only wasted a second on him. His eyes were open, staring at the hatch above his seat/

The gunner (she couldn't recall his name offhand) was still alive, barely. Probably, the steel of the turret had absorbed some of the bullet's kinetic energy on it's way through before striking him. It was also something of a glancing hit, chewing through the side of his abdomen while missing his major organs.

She heard Mac reply from outside, "be there in a sec, tell them to hold on!"

Outside, she heard the "thump!" and explosion of Fox firing the 40mm grenade, then its impact. Andy saw Fox fire, the shot falling 25m long.

In the LAV, Tremblay kept up with the 25mm. He sprayed the truck's cab, echoes from the cannon fire and AP hits continually rebounding off the surrounding hillsides.

Over by the store, Taras met the boy at the treeline. He was panting from exertion, eyes wide with fear as he took in the other armed people deployed near them. "There are about fifteen of us inside!" The GPMG thumped to the ground beside Taras, shed with a certain amount of haste. He unslung the AK-74SU and made it ready to go.

Taras (and the people with him) heard a small-calibre shot (pistol?) from inside the now-burning store, accompanied by more screams.

Kelsey takes one glance at the BTR driver and dismisses him from her mind as a person for now.  His wide open eyes staring at nothing and the unmistakable smell of death that permeated the interior of the BTR told that story, and bent to concentrate at the man she had a chance of saving.  She rips a out a compression bandage and presses is hard into the hole in the gunner, hoping to cease the bleeding until Mac gets there.  She yells back out to be clear.  "One dead, Gunner wounded!"  The battle would just have to wait until she tended to wounded, damnit.  It better!


Alpha-One.
Commander BTR-70 & currently of detachment,  First aid on the BTR Gunner.
C-8 Carbine - 6 spare Mags (5.56 NATO) - round chambered, safe off, ready to fire.
5 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.

"Long," Andy said to the grenadier, "down ten."

He kept a careful watch, knowing that the shrapnel would probably slow the enemy down even if it didn't cause casualties.

Andy, Lima-16
Parker Hale Sniper rifle 4/5
Location Pipes north of BTR
Covering the moving bushes
This message was last edited by the player at 15:18, Fri 23 Sept 2011.

Taras reached for his handheld radio in the duty belt, a battered Motorola that saw better times with the RCMP but he faithfully put to work:

Alpha 1...Alpha 1...This is Bravo 1. Confirmed 15 civilian hostages in burning house in front of me. Believe shots fired inside. Request armor presence! Over.

The Staff Sargent adopted a prone position with the young boy.Then, looking over his shoulder motioned to his Team Bravo:

Team! Take positions over that house!

There was a single dwelling about 70 meters right from the current position of the maritime element. It was closer to the troubled stored and offered better protection and angle of coverage than the current ambush point by the junction. Taras was able to provide cover by fire if needed while the team would be conducting the maneuver. Hopefully, at the same time he would be getting a response to his back up request or if this was not possible the support element would be in a better location to initiate action.




RIB/Maritime Detachment (Bravo)

Staff Sgt. Shevchenko  Bravo 1
Requesting back up.
AKS-74U (30/30) +4 mags slung at his back
PKM (75/100) By Taras side
S&W 5946 (15/15)
RGO handgrenades x6
HC smoke x3
AK bayonet



Getting ready to move eastwards:
Pvt. Droz. Sterling C1 (34/34) +2 mags. Slung. C. Gustav (HEAT).
Const. Chau. HK MP-5A2 (30/30) +4mags. 2 HEAT rounds.
Const. Bajorek. Remington 870P (6/7). Box (25 shells).
Troy DeFazio [Comms/PRC-77] Sterling C1 (34/34) +1 mag.
Pvt. Sheeler FN C1A1 (15/20) +4 mags.

(Jumping ahead to multiple actions....)

Kelsey stops the bleed out as she waits on Mac, turns over her casualty once he arrives and after snagging and plopping on her Kevlar, the glengary shoved in a pocket quickly as she moves, she checks over the main and coax as she replies to Bravo's request.

Damnit, civvies.  Much like Indiana Jones and Snakes.  Civvies, why did it have to be civvies?

"Roger Bravo, this is Alpha one, understood, we have a Tango Oscar Whiskey on the loose in that area as well, will have to proceed with caution.  Alpha is current deadline, leaving lima as only active Armor.  Liima Three!  Plot a course, to support Bravo but do not execute! Lima One Seven I want that TOW, seek and destroy.  Lima one six and Lima Deltas, I want the North flank covered, keep up the good work.  Any reports?  Alpha One, over."  She is referring to the Dismounts as 'Deltas'.

She absently wipes the fresh blood off on her fatigues as she checks the guns, if they are operational she'll turn them to cover their 'backs', if not she will prepare to abandon the BTR.  She calls down into the vehicle.  "Mac, once you have Petrovich stable, see if you can drive this big bitch, mind her listing right on those two bad tires!"



Alpha-One.
Commander BTR-70 & currently of detachment,  First aid on the BTR Gunner, then communications, readying to use turret.
C-8 Carbine - 6 spare Mags (5.56 NATO) - round chambered, safe off, ready to fire.
5 C-13 Frag Grenades
2 Smoke grenades (Green/white)  (All grenades attached to webgear)
Kevlar helmet ON!, commo headset on and plugged into a portable PRC, Glengary stuffed in pocket.

Understood. Bravo team taking positions. We'll wait for you! Over.

Sargent Shevchenko at this point was covering the yomp of the team from the current position until they would settle by the house. After putting down the Motorola he deployed the folding stock, racked the bolt and aimed at the store with the AKS-74U. The boy was looking in amazement at the actions of the ukrainian warrior.

Tell me boy; who's inside that building? How many people with guns?

Trying to extract information from a stressed out 10 years old was not an easy task but Taras was hoping to get some extra intel about the hostage situation using simple words. By now the scared to death boy would be more confident after lying down next to a well armed trooper willing to help using his radio and deploying his assault weapon.


RIB/Maritime Detachment (Bravo)

Staff Sgt. Shevchenko  Bravo 1
Covering Bravo team maneuver/Comms.
AKS-74U (30/30) +4 mags. Aimed at burning house.
PKM (75/100) By Taras side
S&W 5946 (15/15)
RGO handgrenades x6
HC smoke x3
AK bayonet



Moving and taking position at the house:
Pvt. Droz. Sterling C1 (34/34) +2 mags. Slung. C. Gustav (HEAT).
Const. Chau. HK MP-5A2 (30/30) +4mags. 2 HEAT rounds.
Const. Bajorek. Remington 870P (6/7). Box (25 shells).
Troy DeFazio [Comms/PRC-77] Sterling C1 (34/34) +1 mag.
Pvt. Sheeler FN C1A1 (15/20) +4 mags.

"Roger that," Andy said in reply to the transmission.

He kept an eye on the area to his front and north and said to the dismounts, "Hold position, we're covering the rear and our flank."

Andy, Lima-16
Parker Hale Sniper rifle 4/5
Location Pipes north of BTR
Covering the north and flank
This message was last edited by the player at 08:32, Sun 25 Sept 2011.

In reply to Andrew Montgomery McRae (msg #131):

Fox reloaded the grenade launcher. He then aimed and fired at the location with Andy's assistance, then loaded it again.

"Master McRae, we know the TOW isn't in the immediate area. If I may suggest, maybe push our foot recce out a bit, locate the Humvee before it locates the LAV?"


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) + 9x 40mm HE, 2x 40mm HEDP, 4x 40mm Parachute Flares (Red), 4x 40mm HC Smoke.

Aiming and firing M203
Under N side of pipe overpass, behind LAV.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:40, Mon 26 Sept 2011.

Turns 30-32

The guns looked to Kel to be functional. The bullet had avoided the weapon or turret mechanical systems. She manually turned the turret to cover the rear.

Up the hill, Fox's second grenade missed the target completely. He swore and reloaded. Delaney moved to McRae and Fox's position. Their job, as they understood it, was to protect the northern flank and they currently had it under watch as best they could. Fox and Delaney waited for an order from McRae to move out if needed.

Sticking her head out the hatch, Rachel yelled aver to Kel, "we have hostages trapped in a burning building! Jesus fuck we have to move NOW!" There wasn't anything complicated for her to do in terms of route planning, other than drive around the guard shack, through the parking lot past the truck and down the hill to the store.

To save time, Rachel started the LAV and pulled it around the front of the guard shack, gunning the engine. Ceasing his punishment of the flak truck, Tremblay rogered his instructions. Although he would kill the TOW if he saw it he was, after all, inside the LAV and would go where it went.

"Putsep's stable, I dragged him out of the way behind the south guard shack. I'll get to any wounded in here when I can." Mac said as he climbed inside the BTR. Pulling the driver's body out of his seat he sat down and was able to start it up immediately. "We're good to go!"

Down by the store, the boy answered the question as best he could. "Yes sir, there were five of them with us inside. I think two outside?" They were hidden in the woods near where the road crossed the train tracks (one branch heading down to a small abandoned marina). Taras could hear more shots and screams from the direction of the store. It wasn't yet engulfed in flame but the fire was spreading through the roof.

The Bravo detachment moved out, heading to a small building 70m to the east. It was some kind of pre-war utility structure, possibly a pump house dating back to the Ioco settlement. The team skirted the rusted chain-link fence and deployed in the NW corner of the surrounding hedge. Once they arrived, they began establishing direct observation of the store.

Alpha 1 this is Bravo 2...We have at least 5 armed tangos and I'm hearing shots inside. We need you to bring the armor and make a hole. Over.

Taras indicated the boy to get up and go to the utility structure secured by the rest of the Bravo team as it offered better protection. The flames were spreading over the rooftop steadily and only hampered by the recent rain. Were the hostages being executed at this point? Shevchenko wouldn't want to think so. The boy had escaped and his action probably triggered a chain of reactions including shots being fired by the hostage takers to regain control of the situation. In any case there was a sense of urgency punctuated by the building catching fire. Without support the situation could turn out into a bloodbath and Taras could only think "in Russian".


RIB/Maritime Detachment (Bravo)

Staff Sgt. Shevchenko  Bravo 1
Covering Bravo team maneuver/Comms.
AKS-74U (30/30) +4 mags. Aimed at burning house.
PKM (75/100) By Taras side
S&W 5946 (15/15)
RGO handgrenades x6
HC smoke x3
AK bayonet



Moving and taking position at the house:
Pvt. Droz. Sterling C1 (34/34) +2 mags. Slung. C. Gustav (HEAT).
Const. Chau. HK MP-5A2 (30/30) +4mags. 2 HEAT rounds.
Const. Bajorek. Remington 870P (6/7). Box (25 shells).
Troy DeFazio [Comms/PRC-77] Sterling C1 (34/34) +1 mag.
Pvt. Sheeler FN C1A1 (15/20) +4 mags.

Andy nodded to Fox, "You're right, move out, I'll take overwatch."

He covered the first bound and spoke over the radio, "All stations, this is Lima Dismounts, moving to sweep north."

"Lee!  I am NOT feeding you to an ambush!"  Not feeding another armor and more of her people to one, like hell.

She hits the radio  "This is Alpha One.  We do this by the numbers, this is almost certainly a trap!  Alpha is covering the North, Lima Three sweep right and try to get behind Bravo.  Lima Deltas, Lima One-Six and Company, find that TOW, sweep left.  Bravo give lima a minute so we don't step in it, if you can.

She yells down to Mac  "Mac, fire her up and give me power!  We'll be following everyone else, got it?"

She judges around where the infantry was firing and starts laying into the area with her coax, adding the main gun to it in short bursts.  She's hoping that main gun will make some 'puckering' occur.  Her mouth tightens into a rather grim grin as she starts firing.



Alpha-One.
Commander BTR-70 & currently of detachment,  Gunner of BTR.
C-8 Carbine - 6 spare Mags (5.56 NATO) - round chambered, safe on, to one side or in knee rack.
5 C-13 Frag Grenades
2 Smoke grenades (Green/white)  (All grenades attached to webgear)
Kevlar helmet ON!, commo headset on and plugged into a portable PRC, Glengary stuffed in pocket.

This message was last edited by the player at 15:49, Mon 26 Sept 2011.

Turns 33-38

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms...spn=0.005828,0.01089

As Kel hosed down the trees where the dismounts had spotted movement, Andy moved the dismounts up the pipeline. Mac backed the BTR up so she had direct LOS on the area. She couldn't see anything in her sights but anyone in the area would be good and suppressed by the 14.5mm main gun. As she fired, Mac took the opportunity to stabilise the gunner as he lay on the deck of the APC, bleeding out as the hot spent brass clanged down around him. Mac dragged him out of the way, further into the rear.

Mac said, "hold on, man, you're going to make it!

"Good news Kel, he's looking good! Abdominal wound, lost a lot of blood but no major organs damaged."

Pushing up the left side of the pipe (the right side being in the line of fire from the BTR's MG fire) the dismounts (McRae, Fox, Delaney) ran into trouble almost immediately. A shot from someone hidden in the trees (further north of where Kel was shooting) felled Delaney. He had been hit in the head and it didn't look good, but McRae spotted where the shot came from. There was no time to grieve or even render First Aid as Fox opened up on McRae's orders. Fox's 40mm HE grenades went wild but McRae spotted movement through a break in the woods. The Ghillie-suited enemy sniper had displaced yet again and was lining up another shot, but McRae had seen him break cover and was ready. He lined him up and fired, the sniper went down out of sight.

At was at that time Fox and McRae found the TOW armed Humvee. It had been waiting in ambush to the north. Using the back roads it had circled up and around, using the slope of the land to find a hull-down spot in the refinery where it could fire first at the approaching LAV. It was probable that the sniper had been deployed to make some noise and movement, used as a distraction to draw the LAV northwards into an ambush. However, the deployment and movement of the dismounts had forced the sniper to engage early.

The Humvee broke cover, presumably trying to escape north and then east, perhaps intending to set an ambush at the store. This time it was Fox's turn to shine and he loaded and fired a 40mm HEDP at the Humvee as it peeled out. It hit the Humvee squarely in the rear and the vehicle exploded, the sound echoing off the mountains.

Bravo and Taras reported the TOW wasn't in the store area. Under Tremblay's direction the LAV took the most direct route. This was a little contrary to orders, but time was of the essence and the chance of ambush was low (but not non-existant).

Bravo reported to Taras that they spotted a group of hostages under guard moving north up 3rd Ave. 2 had rifles, 2 armed with SMGs (Uzis) but no anti-tank weapons. Probably they were being moved from the burning structure to the one immediately north. There were only 12-13 hostages, so some remained behind in the store. As the boy waited to the south for the LAV to arrive, Taras moved to where he could see up the road. The hostages (a mixed group of men, women and children of different races) were moving northwards under direct threat of death by their armed captors, if slowly.

Rescuing the hostages was important but to Taras' "Russian" way of thinking the first priority was to neutralise the guards and let the chips fall where they may. The LAV roared down towards the intersection of Ioco and 4th Ave (where the truck was parked) so Taras directed it to tern left up 4th, catching the hostiles in a pincer movement that would put them in a crossfire from the west (LAV), south (Taras) and southeast (Bravo). The guards had a moment of panic when the LAV came into view off to their immediate west and Taras' shouted warning convinced them that further struggle was hopeless. They surrendered, dropping their weapons and laying on the ground per Lee's shouted instructions as the relieved hostages were directed out of the line of fire (to the SW).
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:10, Mon 26 Sept 2011.

Kelsey didn't have time to worry about what way the LAV went when the HMMWV broke cover and exploded after the sniper also broke cover.  She wasn't too sure where the bastard in the ghillie suit was, but she could hose the general area her people shot in, and at least keep him ducking until feet could get in that area.  With that in mind, and the hostage situation firmly in Taras command, she was free to concentrate on the guns for now.

"Good work Mac....."  The sharp rapport and a secondary ammo explosion pull a loud WHOOP! from her  "I sure hope that was that bastard Jagelis that just became the star of that Bar-B-Que!  She hits the radio  "This is Alpha One, Lima Deltas just bagged a TOW, out!


She gripped the spanners of the main and coax on the BTR with bloody hands not quite delicate enough for a woman's and  walked coax fire up to around where she thought the sniper was and started defoliating there too, mixing in short bursts of the KPV with the coax.  Maybe she was in a needy mood and wanted attention.  She figured that would get some attention.







Alpha-One.
Commander BTR-70 & currently of detachment,  Gunner of BTR - throwing some lead around where the sniper might be.
C-8 Carbine - 6 spare Mags (5.56 NATO) - round chambered, safe on, to one side or in knee rack.
5 C-13 Frag Grenades
2 Smoke grenades (Green/white)  (All grenades attached to webgear)
Kevlar helmet ON!, commo headset on and plugged into a portable PRC, Glengary stuffed in pocket.

The bandits were quickly taken care of with the presence of the LAV and Bravo team. Rachel Lee Zhang was leading the arresting procedures of the gang of four suspects. Staff Sargent Taras took Pvt Sheeler with him and kicked open the door of the "Groceteria" and yelled:

Anybody there?

He knew some people could be missing if the boy count was right. The thoughts about the previous shots inside the store sent a chill down his spine...




RIB/Maritime Detachment (Bravo)

Staff Sgt. Shevchenko  Bravo 1
Investigating the "Groceteria"
AKS-74U (30/30) +4 mags. At ready.
S&W 5946 (15/15)
RGO handgrenades x6
HC smoke x3
AK bayonet

In reply to Taras Vladimirovich Shevchenko (msg #139):

As he entered, Taras could see Rachel zap-strapping the prone militiamen to secure their hands. Pvt. Mahanandi emerged from the rear to talk to the 13 freed hostages, who seemed to be mainly Indian, like himself.

Smoke wasn't yet pouring out the front door of the Grocerateria, but it was leaking out the upper windows. It was a white from the water-logged wooden roof and structure. The main room was dark and mostly empty except for bits of trash and piles of disassembled shelving lining the near wall. What light there was came through the boarded up window where the cover had come loose, allowing the boy to escape.

There was a body of a man near by the window lying on his face. Obviously shot trying to escape as the boy had done. Taras could see no other bodies. From what the boy said, that might mean everyone was accounted for. he'd said there were 15 hostages: the boy, the corpse, plus 13. He couldn't be sure, as English wasn't his native language.

With the help of Private Sheeler, Shevchenko obtained a fire extinguiser from the LAV and proceeded to investigate the body and the status of the second floor where the spotter was neutralized looking for ID evidence, weapons, etc.

In reply to Taras Vladimirovich Shevchenko (msg #141):

Even with Sheeler's help there wasn't much they could do. Although moisture from the severe rain retarded the fire's progress to a degree, the result would be the inevitable destruction of the building within 5-10 minutes. The main area and 1st floor was filling up with smoke and they found it hard to breathe or see, even with gas masks and flashlights. The stairwell leading up to the second floor was solid with white smoke and would likely lead to quick asphyxiation if an ascent was braved.

Soon it was impossible to see, even on the 1st floor. Although the fire was still largely confined to the roof and crawlspace it was slowly spreading to other 2nd floor areas. Using the fire extinguisher would be a waste of CO2. Controlling and eliminating the fire would take the effort of at least one or two fire engines and crews using high-pressure water pumped in by hose.

As it was, Taras and Sheeler found themselves coughing as they dragged the single corpse outside. The body was of a male of East Indian descent, in his early 40s. There was some pre-mortem bruising and a lack of body fat, indicating some abuse and starvation. There was no ID on the body. He was shot in the back and where he fell indicated he'd tried to escape out the window and been killed for his effort. There were no other bodies inside, and the boy and other freed hostages confirmed there were only 15 of them, now all accounted for.

The spotter's body was found lying on his back on the bed of the HEMMT truck. He had been blown out the window, and was burned over most of his body, minus any clothing.

Away from them, they heard the deep chattering bark of the BTR's 14.5mm main MG as Kel continued to spray suppressive fire on the sniper's last known location. Behind her in the BTR, Mac finished working on the gunner, satisfied he'd done all he could to ensure he made it back to hospital for surgery and treatment.