In reply to William Hawke (msg # 144):

"Right, take what you need" Cpl Sochacki said to the medic. "I just meant that any extra vehicle gear should be left behind to make it light and give us enough room inside to do our jobs effectively."

He looked over at the Polish vehicle commander, "That'll be pretty boring for you guys: if you have a better use for the vehicle, chip in."



"If it were up to me, I would use us in a more aggressive role" Darek Sochacki said, speaking to Andy. "I don't give a damn what pre-war borders they think they have. The reality is that we have to deal with their lack of troop presence in the area. To my mond, that means we push south and create more of a buffer zone for us."

"Darek, we are taking a look at the Hell's Angels, not rogue US troops.  I suppose there is a possibility that they are intermingled, though.  But that is what we are going to check out."  Kelsey chides softly.

She seems to think a little and pulls out a map, looking at it a moment.

"Darek, you are a ready reaction force.  Remember that being in an armored vehicle does not provide safety.  In fact, it can be a death trap.  It's better to have you ready to react and be a threat than to provoke reaction.  I assure you they have some form of Anti-tank weaponry.'

She takes a breath and points at the refugee camp on the map "Stay close to here, ready to react.  It will put you pretty close.  Andy, you are better off heading out on foot from there, or the insertion will be too obvious.  They probably have us out-manned and probably out gunned.  I want everyone coming back from this, and that means not asking for trouble.  This is a sneak and peek, not an assualt."

"OK," Andy agreed, "we'll insert on foot and radio in a suitable laager point for the Cougar when we find one. As for the Americans: we'll deal with them if we meet them but we're not going looking for trouble. I want us to maintain a focus on the operation. That doesn't mean we wear blinkers but it does mean that we don't clutter up the OP with a bunch of secondary and tertiary actions. Mac and I will insert stealthily, we'll watch the HA for a few days and gather INTEL and then we'll exfiltrate to the Cougar laager and ride home in style."

Andy smiled, if that was how the OP actually went down he'd be very surprised, but it was sensible not to over-complicate it from the very beginning.

Kelsey nods and then adds

"I want a radio check in from you two every four hours.  More if you wish.  Keep it short and I recommend you move after doing it, if possible."

She looks to Darek and at the others a moment before nodding decisively "I'm going to keep a jeep hot and probably stay at the refugee camp.  I have a radio crew for here.  Can we spare one for an infantry jeep attachment from your crew?  I can see if we can kill two birds and get a jeep ambulance."

The team got loaded up for the recce at the base.

RCMP contacts with the local police provided some information. The biker bar is appropriately known as "Angel's". It is not thought to be an actual HA hangout, it's mainly a gathering place for their "shadow" clubs like the Renegades and Jesters. Now that all the "puppet" clubs have been absorbed in the HA consolidation that started last month, the status of the club has changed.

https://maps.google.com/maps/m...pn=0.065629,0.110378

Additional HA-linked areas include the Jester's old club house near the refugee camp. On the flats by the river, it was flooded out and abandoned. RCMP investigators went through there but were unable to find any evidence or intelligence. It's unknown where they were located now. Other spots included "Angels Motors" and the nearby "Gus's Shop" (both selling motorcycle and motorcycle accessories) on King George. Both had been closed down after the Hells Angels were declared a "Criminal Organisation" at the start of the war. (The Charter of Rights sure took a beating!)

GM Note: Okay, so I've marked the bar. Any particular foot route or drop-off point? You can go up the hill through backyards and forest but you will come to the more developed strip near the top of the hill. As you can see, it's only a klick or so from the refugee camp.

"OK," Andy said after looking at the map, "I'd suggest that Mac and I make a loop to the south west until we pick up the forested ribbon just south of 88th Avenue. From there we'll keep to the undergrowth and work our way east to the Brookside Elementary school. That's within 300-400ms of the target building and it looks as if it is two to three stories tall. We might get decent LOS from there: if not we'll move forward to the woods just in front of the bar. Any observations?"

In reply to Andrew Montgomery McRae (msg # 153):

Hawke picked up his usual bag of supplies and another bag of essentials, such as IV fluids and meds, and found a spot with the Cougar.

In reply to Kelsey Sarah Champlain (msg # 151):

Even though Kelsey was a woman, she was senior. In Darek's experience, that meant doing what you were told and not thinking of the consequences...a very Polish trait.

"As you wish, Sergeant" Cpl Sochacki said with a thich accent.

Wayne looks a bit unsettled at this comment by Kelsey, but keeps his mouth shut.

"We can do the entire op from the Cougar if need.  Andy, it's best if you don't tip off that you were watching them, I have a feeling that riding back in style might not be the best choice.  Also, if we set ourselves in a camp at the refugee area and act like we are not waiting for you, that might be better.  This idea of us laying halfway ignores that there are a lot of folks around here who are probably watching us, whether for the HA or not."


She pulls out the map and indicates the location of the camp "Better the Cougar group acts like were are security and relief, getting to know the populace and spread good will while the sniper team slips out quietly from elsewhere and does the whole game on the hoof.  Of course we will be ready to respond within minutes, but anything else might be too obvious.  What do you think?"

"We'll only use the Cougar for exfiltration if we are in trouble," Andy said, "otherwise we'll leave by foot. We'll also be infiltrating by foot, the initial route will be a loop west hugging the scrub between the built up area and the river margin. From there we'll scout through the city and cross King George so that we put the Scotiabank building between us and the HAs. We'll head to the Scotiabank and set up an OP there."

Cpl Sochacki listened to the group as they decided the best way to use the Cougar. To his Polish mind, it seemed a waste to use the vehicle as a glorified pick up truck. However he knew he was an outsider, and he didn't really know how to say what was in his mind, so he kept quiet and said nothing.

Soon, the team deployed the Cougar to the refugee camp. As well, a section of militia was now redeployed there, the most that the Vancouver Garrison could spare at this time.

They took the Humvee (as they couldn't all fit comfortably inside on the way there) and left it parked it by the Skytrain station. It was armed with the M240, and the RCMP or militia there to guard the camp could borrow it if needed.

Mac and Andy headed for their OP on the Scotiabank building.

GM Note: Andy, give me an Easy (+2) Stealth to move in unobserved, then an AWA check on the target at 375m.

Andy and Mac moved quietly through the undergrowth and deserted buildings. The stole through the ruins of the city and headed toward the building they had selected for their OP.


10:47, Today: Andrew Montgomery McRae rolled 4 using 2d20, keeping the lowest dice only with rolls of 19,4. Awareness roll TN9.
10:47, Today: Andrew Montgomery McRae rolled 12 using 4d20, keeping the lowest dice only with rolls of 12,19,18,12. Stealth roll TN 12.

Kelsey got everyone together before they readied to deploy.

"Ok Here we go.  Me and Hawke will standby with the hummer.

Hawke, can you use the 240?


We will be the ambulance and support.


Darek, you will command the Cougar team element.  Here are our call signs."


Andy - Juliet One
Mac - Juliet Two

Darek - Romeo One
Wayne - Romeo Two
Tremblay - Romeo Three
Kelsey - Romeo Six
Hawke - Romeo Seven

In reply to Kelsey Sarah Champlain (msg # 162):

"I can figure it out."

"I have some experience with that sort of weapon, do you?"

In reply to Kelsey Sarah Champlain (msg # 164):

It turned out that Hawke was familiar enough with the M240, also known as the C6 in Canadian service or L7 GPMG in British Service. Not an expert but familiar enough as a gunner.

Mac and Andy made it to their OP without being seen. For the rest of the day they stayed and observed the comings and going. They saw many bikers, but no patches. (A log was prepared, photographs taken via telephoto lens.) These were hangers-on, the formerly independent clubs that had been recently absorbed into the Angels. It was odd that they weren't wearing the 2 patches of new recruits (the logo, plus the HELLS ANGELS name, but no location).

Rachel had explained that the 3rd and last patch would be awarded only when they became full members. (Lesser clubs weren't allowed to have 3 patches themselves, that was a right that the HAs reserved for themselves. Shadow or puppet clubs could have a logo, or a logo and name for close allies, but not a logo, name and location.

Overall, about forty bikers came and went from the club, and it seemed about ten or so were staying at the Flamingo Motor Hotel above the club. Smoking and drinking on the balconies. About fifty or so other people came and went, several looked like dealers or prostitutes. The former didn't stay too long. Vehicles were mostly bikes but there were vans, SUVs, pickups and one luxury car.

Just after dark, a couple bikers peeled out of the parking lot. Instead of heading up King George, or off into the surrounding neighborhoods, they roared down the hill towards the refugee camp.

"This is Juliet One to Romeo Six," And spoke into the radio as he saw the bikers leaving, "Be advised there are two bikers leaving the target and heading in your direction. Destination not confirmed but I'm guessing they're heading for you."

Kelsey did some work around camp, but tried to get some rest as the team was scouting, there were some loose ends for her to tie up, some rather literally when it came to camp electricity.

She heard the radio and did a quick reply "This is Romeo Six.  I copy two Hotel Alphas inbound."

She quickly informed the whole base team, making sure Darek wasn't going to be pointing the turret gun at the HA's.  She made herself visible near their HMMWV, doing a regular maintenance inspection.

"Try to act casual folks, though by all means watch them.  Hawke let Sergeant Lee know as well, please.  Darek, you can be in the turret if you wish, I just ask you don't point that gun around right now."

In reply to Kelsey Sarah Champlain (msg # 164):

"Feel free, I'll drive, then."

"Hawke, do you or do you not know what you are doing on that 240?"

In reply to Kelsey Sarah Champlain (msg # 169):

"I have used one before."

OOC:  I don't know a 240 from a letter opener, I haven't even had the chance to look it up on google today.  I have no military experience.  That's why I didn't pop right up and say what I know and what I don't know.  I'm an IT guy who's a fireman/EMT, in the US.  I'm flailing away at pretending to be a Special Boats Squadron equivalent of a ParaJumper.  Hell, I know more about parajumpers because I read about them on the internet than I do about SBS guys.

--Jim R

Kelsey watches Hawke for a few long moments, thinking about the last mission and how hollow Hawke has been since it went down.  He wasn't fooling any of the vets, she knew he was walking wounded of a pyschological kind.

She smiles then says softly "Sorry Bill.  Let me do the shooting, if it comes to that.  You do some driving, and I will take over if we have to haul wounded.  The back deck of the Humvee should be good space for wounded, right?  Why don't you make it as ready as you can, ok?"

She offers her right hand, outstretched, for a shake."You worry about fixing folks, I'll worry about hurting them.  Deal?"

"And if you ever want to talk, come find me, ok?  I'm the reigning queen of shell shock."