Kelsey paused, then called for movement.

"Right. Let's go west a bit, then cut south into the woods so we can come in up behind them, along the creek."

As they rolled down 248 st, the Coyote's 76mm cannon boomed, firing another hail of steel shot, this time blindly into the smoke screen.

Behind them, Kel and Abbot trotted west down 56 ave. They could see Andrews and Tremblay clearing a parked Humvee, then getting inside. Kel and Abbot then turned south, cutting through someone's yard and then across a cul-de-sac to reach the woods bordering the stream, although this time to the west of the road.

The Humvee roared through the intersection, stopping in front of the now-partially-destroyed market. Hawke was standing in front of the tank, Russalka the dog beside him. She was barking.

A pair of hands came out of the driver's hatch. "Don't shoot! I am unarmed! I give up!" It was a Russian-accented voice.

Hawke brought his rifle to bear on where the driver's body will be when he climbs out, and steps out of line of any front-end weapons or the line of travel of the vehicle.

"STRIP!  TAKE OFF YOUR WEAPONS AND CLOTHING!  EVERYTHING!  THEN OUT OF THE VEHICLE!  SLOWLY!  YOU DO ANYTHING THAT STARTLES ME AND YOU'RE DEAD.  I CAN BOUNCE A GRENADE IN YOUR HATCH.  YOU DON'T WANT TO MAKE THE DOG ANGRY."

COMM:
"Bishop-3.  We have another live one, the driver of the Tank.  Russalka found him."

Hawke (Bishop-3)
L119A1 (27/30 + 6 spare mags)
M203A1 (1/1 40mm fragmentation)
Pistol in vest w/magazines
Backpack with first aid kit on back
Helmet on
This message was last edited by the player at 14:15, Wed 19 Feb 2014.

One more, Darek, and prepare to move back to the hull down position!

By the time the smoke screen would be perfectly deployed but also useless to the onslaught of the modern rendition of a grapeshot. Due to the terrain, the smoke curtain was well defined and contained by the sides of the road and the vehicles weren't going anywhere so it was easy for Taras to try another shot.

Strike the iron while still hot! Said the Ukrainian while reloading a high explosive shell with a grin.

The Staff SSargent used the parallel lines of the road and trees as a reference to line up the gun but seemengly no further correction was needed. The previous aiming was still good as it was dead centered in the middle of the road. An extra explosive round would bring further destruction to the column as well as the surroundings and while doing so, it will prevent movement or the raw thought of getting closer and return fire. The continuation of the barrage would also put a premium stress on the enemy actions.


Staff Sargent Taras V. Shevchenko - Knight element
Cougar's turret. Reloading HE.
C-6 GPMG (100/100)
AKS-74U (30/30) +4 mags
S&W 5946 (15/15) +2 mags
Handgrenade RG-5 (6)
RPO-A (x1)
POMZ-2 (x8)


76 ammo:
(3/5) HESH-T (+10 in the reserve)
(7/9) Canister
(5/7) Smoke
(3/5) HE-T
(3/3) Illumination

Andrews parked up and made his way to Hawke:

"Transport if you need it, I would get the wounded in it just in case."

He looked at the driver emerging from the tank and a silly thought crossed his mind.

"If we get this guy to move the tank we could use the MG on top to eviscerate the column."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:36, Wed 19 Feb 2014.

In reply to Thomas Matthew Andrews (msg # 399):

"Let's get control of it first.  Also, what else is in there?"

Aiming for bad guy.

Hawke (Bishop-3)
L119A1 (27/30 + 6 spare mags)
M203A1 (1/1 40mm fragmentation)
Pistol in vest w/magazines
Backpack with first aid kit on back
Helmet on

"Alright, Sergeant.  You lead, I'll follow. You're faster than me.", Abbot replied.  He fell in behind Champlain and maintained a trail position about 5 meters behind her. If she made contact, he planned to flank towards their weak side and lay down fire.

-------------------------

C9A1 w/Elcan scope, 191/200rd soft feed bag, sling, bipod
Sig Sauer P226 9mm (pistol belt)
Kevlar helmet (CADPAT cover, scrim)
Kevlar vest, w/Lvl 3 plates
Web Gear (200rds 5.56mm, 2 P226 mags, 2 frags, 2 smoke)

She flashed a grin at Abbot.  "Let's show them, Corporal."
She moves off as silently as an experienced infanteer, leading the way.




Bishop-1.
Flanking through the woods
*C-8 Carbine - 4 spare Mags (5.56 NATO) - round chambered, safe off. - 6/30 rounds spent.
*3 C-13 Frag Grenades  (Attached to webgear)
*2 Smoke grenades (Green/white) (pockets)
*Kevlar body armor.
*Kevlar helmet
*AN/PRC-152 Radio
*Sidearm:  Browning Hi-Power, 2 spare mags

In reply to William Hawke (msg # 400):

"You cover him and I will have a look."

Andrew's climbs on to the rear deck and unholstering his pistol checks the inside of the turret with the torch in his other hand.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:22, Thu 20 Feb 2014.

In reply to Thomas Matthew Andrews (msg # 403):

"Wait for him to come out, first.  No nasty surprises for you."

Firing now!

After the loud report the breech recoiled and remained open as usual. The main gun was not equipped with a gas extractor and that made difficult the life inside the tiny turret. It would be impossible to operate in a NBC environment with hatch closed and all. Luckily this was not the case.

Without removing his gaze from the sight while waiting from some clue about the shot, Taras indicated Darek to move:

Back to the initial position!

Then he switched the main fire control switch to COAX.


Staff Sargent Taras V. Shevchenko - Knight element
Cougar's turret. Shooting HE.
C-6 GPMG (100/100)
AKS-74U (30/30) +4 mags
S&W 5946 (15/15) +2 mags
Handgrenade RG-5 (6)
RPO-A (x1)
POMZ-2 (x8)


76 ammo:
(3/5) HESH-T (+10 in the reserve)
(7/9) Canister
(5/7) Smoke
(3/5) HE-T
(3/3) Illumination

The Cougar fired again into the smoke screen. This time the round found a target, and there was a blossom of fire and crash of metal as something on the receiving end blew sky high.

At the verge of the woods, Kel and Abbot pierced the outer barrier of vegetation and passed into the clearer interior of the west coast rain forest. The streambed was in a small wooded ravine, and there was a cloud of smoke over to the left where the road passed through the woods. An HE shell exploded, then the flaming chassis of a car crashed down into the stream with a hiss of steam and cloud of sparks.

Both of them saw the bushes whipped by the force of the explosion and impact of the falling car. However, they both caught a glimpse of a bush that moved wrong, a bush that was really a man in a Ghillie suit carrying a Barrett M82 sniper rifle, about 45m to their SSE.

Meanwhile, back at the market, a burned and bloody (and naked) man climbed out. "Am not driver, an gunner. Could not drive tank, am so am surrendering. Other tank crew is being dead, am thinking." Tremblay moved in support of Hawke and Andrews as the man slowly and unsteadily made his way outnonto the front glacis.

To merc:
"Come on down here.  What's your name?"

To Andrews:
"Get us a driver, loader and a gunner?  I'm no armor guy."

The round found its target of opportunity. While the Cougar was returning to a less exposed position, Taras noticed through the sights that the powerful explosion was also helping to clear the smoke still surrounding the enemy vehicles. He will wait a little bit more to get yet another shell up the main gun. In the meantime and in order to keep the pressure up, with the sights still lined up, the man from Odessa fired a burst from the coaxial machine gun.

The belt fed weapon was expertly provided with the proper ratio of ball/tracer ammo making easy to imagine where the bullets were landing


Staff Sargent Taras V. Shevchenko - Knight element
Cougar's turret. Firing COAX.
C-6 GPMG (100/100)
AKS-74U (30/30) +4 mags
S&W 5946 (15/15) +2 mags
Handgrenade RG-5 (6)
RPO-A (x1)
POMZ-2 (x8)


76 ammo:
(3/5) HESH-T (+10 in the reserve)
(7/9) Canister
(5/7) Smoke
(2/5) HE-T
(3/3) Illumination

In reply to Taras Vladimirovich Shevchenko (msg # 408):

"Reversing!"

As tracers shot over his head and spent shell casings spat out of the turret to ring on the hull and roadway, Darek began backing the Cougar up. He was trying to withdraw back to the intersection. He tried to be careful, looking at the mirrors mounted on the sides. It was not easy, but they made it back without more than a little rearward zig-zagging.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:22, Mon 24 Feb 2014.

Taking cover, Kelsey fires 2 snap shots using her C-8 on the sniper she knows is not on her team, not bothering to radio it in, her blue eyes taking on a steely look.



Bishop-1.
Shooting at a sniper
*C-8 Carbine - 4 spare Mags (5.56 NATO) - round chambered, safe off. - 6/30 rounds spent.
*3 C-13 Frag Grenades  (Attached to webgear)
*2 Smoke grenades (Green/white) (pockets)
*Kevlar body armor.
*Kevlar helmet
*AN/PRC-152 Radio
*Sidearm:  Browning Hi-Power, 2 spare mags

This message was last edited by the GM at 08:12, Tue 25 Feb 2014.

Abbot saw the sniper at the same time as Champlain.  He took a step to the left and raised the SAW.  After getting a quick sight picture, he let loose with a long burst of fire.

-------------------------

C9A1 w/Elcan scope, 191/200rd soft feed bag, sling, bipod
Sig Sauer P226 9mm (pistol belt)
Kevlar helmet (CADPAT cover, scrim)
Kevlar vest, w/Lvl 3 plates
Web Gear (200rds 5.56mm, 2 P226 mags, 2 frags, 2 smoke)

Taras used the power of the optics to try to get a visual among the now less consistent smoke screen. As soon as he would get a vehicle in his sights he will restart the targeting process with the main gun.


Staff Sargent Taras V. Shevchenko - Knight element
Cougar's turret. Looking for targets.
C-6 GPMG (100/100)
AKS-74U (30/30) +4 mags
S&W 5946 (15/15) +2 mags
Handgrenade RG-5 (6)
RPO-A (x1)
POMZ-2 (x8)


76 ammo:
(3/5) HESH-T (+10 in the reserve)
(7/9) Canister
(5/7) Smoke
(2/5) HE-T
(3/3) Illumination

The now-naked man gingerly climbed his way down the tank's front glacis. "Am Yuri Gavrilov. Sure, am happy to assist if possible. But main gunsight is being destroyed by second shot. Can still be firing main gun, is not really accurate, though." He looked a little woozy and held onto the tracks to stand up. Barely.

Unlike the movies, unconsciousness wasn't like a nap, it was a sign of brain trauma. It had only been 10 minutes or so since the T-54 had been last hit he may avoid the worst effects of the trauma but still, super-bad for you.

The crashing down of the burning auto was a stroke of luck for Kel and Abbot. It spooked the sniper that had been covering the rear escape route for the remaining tangos into giving away his position. Almost instinctively, both opened up on the sniper in the Ghillie suit. He staggered under the impact of several rounds, then stumbled and collapsed forward to lie across his massive rifle.

On the road, the smoke was starting to clear. Having dropped down in the turret to use the gunsight optics, Taras could see several small fires were burning in the trees along the roadside, caused no doubt by an exploding fuel tank. The V-100 came back into view and for some reason it seemed unscathed, although the side doors and hatches were all opened and it appeared abandoned. There were several other vehicles there as well, minus windscreens, headlights and sitting on flat tires thanks to the 2 rounds of cannister they'd been served.

Hawke stepped up to Yuri.  "I don't think you're going to be helping anybody right now.  Close your eyes, I want to see your pupils in a moment.  On five, I want you to open them."

He counted up to five, and when Yuri opened his eyes, he carefully compared their reactions.


To Andrews:  "What do you want to do?"

Once the thick smoke cloud had cleared, the daunting image of the mauled enemy vehicles revealed the amount of destruction brought upon by the Cougar. The battle was still ranging. A series of shots could be heard in the forested area. The battle was still on.

Not having a present threat at the front, the Staff Sargent was able to reload calmly a "fr HESH" round and center the sights on the angular front glacis of the Cadillac product. After adjusting the shot he will resume the firing.

Firing now!


Staff Sargent Taras V. Shevchenko - Knight element
Cougar's turret. Reloading HESH.
C-6 GPMG (100/100)
AKS-74U (30/30) +4 mags
S&W 5946 (15/15) +2 mags
Handgrenade RG-5 (6)
RPO-A (x1)
POMZ-2 (x8)


76 ammo:
(3/5) HESH-T (+10 in the reserve)
(7/9) Canister
(5/7) Smoke
(2/5) HE-T
(3/3) Illumination

Kelsey calls out to Abbot.  "Corporal, cover me, I'll check him and look for the spotter."  She rises from the ground, rifle at ready, and moves in to check out the position.  She's not taking this for granted, and usually a sniper works with a spotter.


Bishop-1.
Looking for Spotter, checking on sniper.
*C-8 Carbine - 4 spare Mags (5.56 NATO) - round chambered, safe off. - 10/30 rounds spent.
*3 C-13 Frag Grenades  (Attached to webgear)
*2 Smoke grenades (Green/white) (pockets)
*Kevlar body armor.
*Kevlar helmet
*AN/PRC-152 Radio
*Sidearm:  Browning Hi-Power, 2 spare mags

This message was last edited by the GM at 07:33, Fri 28 Feb 2014.

In reply to Kelsey warah Champlain (msg # 417):
"I'm on it.", Abbot replied.   He took up an overwatch position a few meters to her right and followed her through the trees, keeping an eye out for the spotter or any other possibile adversaries..

Andrews covered the man as he left the tank and then gave the interior of the turret a scan looking for any other hold outs.




"Looks clear. Can anyone move this thing ? Otherwise Tremblay and I should catch up with the rest of Bishop"
This message was last edited by the player at 21:22, Sat 01 Mar 2014.