In reply to Andrew Montgomery McRae (msg # 154):

The nimble little jeep started to nose down the steep, brush-covered slope. Almost at once they began to slide due to the muddy soil deposited by the recent rains that had caused much of the flooding along the Fraser river.

http://goo.gl/maps/G194s

OOC: May as well get another Drive check to avoid a crackup at the bottom of the slope.

In reply to helbent4 (msg # 157):

Andy lined the little jeep up so it was facing directly down the slope and then engaged the four wheel drive and ensured that the free-wheel hubs were engaged. He locked up all the differentials and then selected the low-gear second as it was the best to use of potentially muddy slopes. He made sure his feet were off the pedals to ensure he didn't go instinctively messing with the clutch and then let the handbrake go.

As the Iltis inched down the slope he monitored its progress, gently applying a touch of the brakes if it wenttoo fast and using his steering and a tiny bit of acceleration if he felt the tires lose traction and if any sliding started he steered into the direction of the slide to keep the vehicle straight. He was careful to use short taps of the brakes if he needed them at all to avoid cadence locking if it was extremely slippery he would keep brake use to a minimum.

Slowly the vehicle crawled down the slope.

Kelsey motions non drivers.

"Dismount and cover!"

She gets the M21 and deploys in a position to cover as the vehicles make their way.

Thomas dismounts from the Humvee and finds some cover as he deploys the Carl Gustav to cover the approaches along the road. Once in position he loads the rocket launcher and waits, with failing light he was not sure how effective he could be.

By the skin of his teeth, Andy brought the nimble little Iltis down the slope. Getting to the bottom he managed to not roll it!

People dismount to cover the different approaches: south, and both directions on the divided highway. (The V-100 was covering north.)

In reply to helbent4 (msg # 161):

In the tank, Darek tried his hand next. He eased the beast over the top lip of the slope. With a small amount of slipping and sliding they made it to the bottom without flipping over. The steel tracks churned vegetation and mud in its wake, and struck sparks as it clawed its way onto the roadbed.

"OK, I am down. Safely, I think?"

"Nice work, Andy," said Mac, and jumped out to maintain overwatch.

"Close," Andy said, "damn, close. I'll take the other sector."

Andy drew his rifle and set up watch to cover the other vehicles' descent.

Finally, a reply from the relief column came back.

"Biship from Whiskey Nine. We read you Lima Charlie. A bit of a minor miracle, eh?

"Be advised, we are bogged down on MSR Tango Charlie Hotel at ASR Golf 1. Our lead vehicle was hit by an IED about twenty mikes ago. There are a couple casualties, no Kilo India Alphas. We are just finishing clearing the area now. what's your location? Over."

It seemed the relief column had been ambushed as it was en route to them. This explained their unexpected tardiness. This also put their position about 5.5km back up the Trans-Canada, at the Glover Rd. Overpass. More to the point, Glover Rd led straight to Ft. Langley, although the actual off-ramp was at Highway 10, about 1.5 km further down. The IED was obviously a newly placed one, because the team had been right through that area and not encountered any ambush.

The sound of relief is obvious in her voice.  "Good to hear from you Whisky nine, This is Bishop One.  Advise we have about two zero prisoners and that India Echo Delta is new, repeat that IED is new.  Our Element is getting on Tango Charlie Hotel, the Highway at Two Four Eight street.  Standby please."<pink>

She looks up to the tank, then pulls up and jogs to it.  <pink>"Taras!  Want to have them meet us at Langley?"  She will update him on what she just got over the radio, and see what he thinks, relay where the relief column is at and that they had a (new) IED.

"Might have been meant for us on a return trip, not sure."

In reply to Kelsey Sarah Champlain (msg # 166):

Seeing that they were next, Tremblay started positioning the V-100 to where they could manoeuvre down the slope at the far end of the 248 St overpass. "Hold on! Might want to button up in case we roll."

He transmitted on the team channel, "we're goin' down now." There was a bit of slipping and sliding but they made it to the bottom of the slope without losing control. Tremblay easily powered through the bushes in the ditch, then they were on the Trans-Canada. "We're down. But we're in the westbound lanes, opposite you. The highway's divided here with trees and everything, it's impossible to cross at this point."

"Copy that.  Gimme a sec." Abbot slipped downinto the hull and strapped in behind Tremblay.  "Start your move."




Abbot took his place in the turret again.

"Sgt Tremblay, Head to the the west side of the overpass. Let's find a good spot on set up security."

[team net]"Knight, Queen.  We're setting up an OP to cover the western approach on the highway. When you're ready, we'll parallel the column until we find a crossover point. Over"

In reply to Stanley Alistair Abbot (msg # 168):

"Roger that. Moving.

The V-100 moved a little ways. The overpass was behind them, wooded embankment were both to the right and left.

Yeah, Kel. Tell them that we'll meet at the Fort.

In reply to Taras Vladimirovich Shevchenko (msg # 170):

"Whisky Niner, This is Bishop one.  Advise that Knight one wishes to meet at Fort Langley.  Repeat Fort Langley.  We have Hotel, hotel is wounded but alive for now.  Copy?  Look out for Unfriendlies."

In reply to Kelsey Sarah Champlain (msg # 171):

"Bishop from Whiskey Miner, roger that. Have good copy. Will Romeo Victor at the fort. Over."

In reply to helbent4 (msg # 172):

"Good copy Romeo, Bishop is over or out."

The Humvee made it down the slope easily. Then it was the Cougar's turn. This would be a little more difficult due to the armoured vehicle's greater weight and top-heavy nature. Again, a little slipping and sliding, with judicious use of brakes and steering, they made it down in one piece.

They were all down in one piece. This was a good thing, as the sun had gone down completely and there was nothing more than a fading glow on the western horizon behind the trees.

In reply to helbent4 (msg # 174):

Sticking his head up out of the turret, Tyler asked Taras, "so.... boss, are we moving now? Let's get this show on the road! We got a post-holocaust fort to get to, and everything!"

Kelsey calls the dismounts back into their posts, hands NVGs to the driver.  She detaches her own nvgs, keeping a look out.

"I need a few of us without Night sight just in case."

In reply to Kelsey Sarah Champlain (msg # 176):

Thomas unloads the Carl Gustav and returns to the Humvee. Taking the slope slowly in the half light darkness he keeps an eye out along the highway.

Very well. Off we go. On to the Fort!

Mac jumps back into the Iltis.

Andy returned to the Iltis and followed the rag tag convoy down the road.

In reply to Andrew Montgomery McRae (msg # 180):

In reply to Christopher Little Hawk MacDonald (msg # 179):

Hawke goes with the patients.