"What are you like with an MG?" Andy asked.

"I am trained in support weapons, but happier with a rifle," replied Mac.

"Well," Andy said, "I suck at driving so I'd rather you do it."

"I'm good with that," said Mac, so once they reached the Iltis he hopped into the driving seat without further ado.

"Where to?" he said, starting the engine.

"I'll ask the Boss," Andy said.

"Knight this is Bishop," Andy said over the radio, "we are mobile and able to support from teh south. I advise we try to work our way behind Hotel and cover their evacuation, however I am open to othe rorders given your reading of the situation. What would you have us do, Over?"

It was clear someone was expending a lot of ammunition in the woods to the north.

From out of nowhere, a rocket shot through the cloud of smoke now covering the convoy, whizzing by them. It detonated on the far side of the road, about 100m north (in front of them).
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:51, Sat 25 Jan 2014.

In reply to Andrew Montgomery McRae (msg # 85):

Due to the lack of response, it was clear Andy's transmission somehow wasn't received.

In reply to helbent4 (msg # 87):

There was more firing from the north.

"Do you want to head that way anyway? They may be too busy for radio chit-chat," said Mac.

"It's OK," Andy said, "we have orders now. Turn us around and take us back east about a hundred meters or so. Then find a way to get off road so we can come at Hotel from the south east."

"This is Rook to all stations," Andy said over the radio, "be aware we will be approaching Hotel from the south east."

The last thing he wanted was a blue on blue situation and he hoped someone was monitoring channels."

"Head out Mac."

"Got it," said Mac, putting the Iltis into gear and turning around to head east, beginning to check for somewhere he can get off-road and go across country to approadh Hotel from the south east.

They turned the Iltis around on 54 Ave.

There was no good route north for about 250m. At that point, the stream that Koldan and Tyler were pinned down in meandered SE enough to cross under the street.

At 100m east, they turned north onto someone's driveway, passing the large empty house and extremely large outbuilding with garage doors. Forging through the immense and overgrown back yard, they were confronted by a solid wall of forest screening the streambed. They could make it across, but it would take time.

In reply to helbent4 (msg # 92):

"...is Castle! Say again, does anyone read me?

"Be advised we are fucking pinned down about 75 metres west, correction, east of 248 st in the stream bed, danger close, say again, danger close!"

There was a pause in transmission, and they could hear the almost continuous back and forth crack and popping of M16 and AK fire echoing between the trees and banks of the streambed. The source of the gunfire was located about 100m NNW of their position, but obscured due to the woods. There was the long ripping bursts of fire from what was likely a SAW of some kind, probably an RPK74. But whoever it was, it sounded like they were all almost on top of each other. Then they heard the BOOM of a grenade, followed by another.

"Goddamn it, we are getting lit up here, and are almost out of ammunition. We are going to get...."

A very loud report echoed through the woods, seemingly ending the transmission.

In reply to Tyler Gabriel Hope (msg # 93):

The first really loud gunshot was followed by three more reports, in rapid succession.

"It will be time consuming to get the Iltis across here, or we can dismount and advance on foot... which do you prefer?" asked Mac.

"Let's dismount and head on in," Andy said, his eyes lingered longingly on the Barret in the back of the Iltis, he really wanted to take it but a running battle in the woods really wasn't the best place for it.

He picked up his trusty Parker Hale, waited for Mac to get ready and then headed off toward the shooting.

Mac switched off the engine, pocketed the keys (showing Andy that they were in his right breast pocket), grabbed his rifle and made ready to move out on foot.

It was clear that someone was making good use of a Barrett M82 rifle within the confines of the woods. It was possible that the wall of green foliage was mainly on the outside, where the leaves could catch the sun, and the interior was fairly underbrush-free. It was possible to make shots at some distance within the bounds of the woods if there were not too many tree trunks in the way.

Unfortunately, the shooter was good enough to not make their position completely obvious. The best they could tell, the shots were coming from the NW, probably the direction of the halted column of vehicles (the smoke had dissipated).

https://maps.google.com/maps/m...pn=0.005992,0.009645

Mac pointed out the direction of the sniper's likely position as best he could, then indicated that he would go first...

Andy recognised the hard crack of a Barrett within the woods. As they closed in on the margin of the dense vegetation he looked at Mac and said, "My instincts tell me we're still better off with the parker Hale than breaking out the big artillery. It should be handier and faster to fire and I don't think the greater range of the fifty cal will come into play although the greater penetration might. What do you think?"

"Guess you're right," murmured Mac, preparing to enter the thicker vegetation.

In someone's back yard, a narrow overgrown path led into the wall of greenery. About 25m in, it opened up a little, at least as much as it did under the cover of a West Coast rainforest. The remaining older growth timber along the streambed starved lesser vegetation below of light. However, there were still bushes and tree trunks to block vision and sunlight was severely cut down so vision was still hampered to a degree.

About 100m ahead (north) Andy could see movement across the streambed behind several huge fallen trees. It was a little difficult to make out, but it seemed there was a small group of men gathered around what he believed was Tyler and Koldan's position. The tress had been there for a long time and were little more than massive trunks. Looking NW towards the high ground along the road above where the stream disappeared into a culvert, Mac could see a glint of light, possibly from optics.

Note: visibility under the forest cover is possible but it's difficult due to shadows, tree trunks (generally large) and bushes.

https://maps.google.com/maps/m...pn=0.002996,0.004823

Catching Andy's eye, Mac points out the potential location for the sniper, and then  continues to move stealthily towards the location he thinks the sniper is in...
This message was last edited by the player at 17:00, Mon 10 Feb 2014.

Andy checked his load as he entered the darker environment of the woods and then followed Mac as he headed quietly into the interior.

In reply to Andrew Montgomery McRae (msg # 104):

Deciding to leave the group of men to their north alone, Mac and Andy moved NW towards where Mac thought he saw the gleam of light on rifle optics.