In reply to Kelsey Sarah Champlain (msg # 429):

The front door of the weather radar station was locked and of reinforced steel. There were windows of tempered safety glass reinforced by wire mesh on either side of the doors, and small windows of the same material in the doors.

A set of metal stairs behind a locked gate led up the radar tower to a door in the base housing the radar mechanism.
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:39, Sun 27 Nov 2016.

"Looks like they locked up when they left.  Not sure it's a great idea to break in now."

She looks up to the radar, then sees if she can easily get around that gate to get on the stairs to the roof.

"Might it be possible to climb over the gate?" speculated Mac aloud, looking at the angles.

Seems intact, that's good. At least we know that noboby broke into. Perhaps ee still can find some "intel" inside. I will have to make sure next time we go on a mission we bring a locksmith with us!

Taras pointed at the  radome,

Yes, how about we take a look from up there?

In reply to Christopher Little Hawk MacDonald (msg # 434):

Driving a vehicle up beside the stairs, it was possible to climb over onto the stairs from the side, or over the gate itself.

Mac will do that, then.

Kelsey will be glad to go up the stairs to investigate.

Well, ladies first, then. Steady foot my friends, it can be slippery!

The Cougar was a little big to maneuver easily into the parking area. Instead, Andy brought in the Iltis. The Cougar and Humvee remained parked out on the empty road.

Using the Iltis' bonnet as a stepladder of sorts Mac and Kel climbed over the side of the stairs and then made their way to the top. The base of the radar was a small room with a couple tiny dark windows. They tried the door, it was locked.

After Kel and Mac, Taras will follow to take a look of the surroundings from the commanding view of the tower.

Kel looks over the lock, and the door, gives forcing it a shot.

They were standing on a narrow metal platform with railing that went around the base of the radar.

The door into the radar mechanism space (that the dome sat on) was metal and the lock solid. To be expected for an installation that was regularly unmanned but contained valuable equipment.

As they were at about the height of the treetops at this point, Taras was able to see a little. They were on a low wooded ridge surrounded by overgrown farmland and patches of forest. To the east was a medium-sized heavily wooded area.

Mac scanned the area, enjoying being up high with a good view.

"This place is pretty secure.  Any reason we need to break in it right this moment?  I'd hate to expose it to looting and weather at this point if it has remained untouched all this time."

In reply to Kelsey Sarah Champlain (msg # 445):

The view wasn't completely unobstructed, due to the surrounding treetops, but at least they could see a ways off. Taras noticed that to the east, on the ridge, were scorched areas indicating many different burns over a wide area.

Thomas decides to walk the base of the building looking for anything interesting or out of the ordinary.

Arrested by an unexpected silence, he paused at the corner and looked up the dome. The smooth handrail swept squarely in an unbroken curve at each landing, forming an inclined plane from the top to the bottom of the structure. The contemplative attitude towards the bucolic landscape, whether we call it mindfulness, awareness, enlightenment, concentration or contemplation, brought the Ukrainian warrior to a different time and place. The remembrance of a few written verses of his ancestor returned to his troubled soul:


Day dawns, then comes the twilight grey,
The limit of the live-long day;
For weary people sleep seems best
And all God's creatures go to rest.
I, only, grieve like one accursed,
Through all the hours both last and first,
Sad at the crossroads, day and night,
With no one there to see my plight.

In reply to Thomas Matthew Andrews (msg # 447):

Not having been given orders, Hawke remains at the wheel of the Hummer, looking around for surprises.

Hawke (Bishop-3)
L119A1 (30/30 + 6 spare mags)
M203A1 (1/1 40mm fragmentation)
Pistol in vest w/magazines
Driver's Seat of the Hummer, driving
Helmet on

In reply to William Hawke (msg # 449):

Andy dismounted the Iltis, rifle in hand.

He found a bush to hide in where he could cover their back track and the intersection they left behind.

Kelsey notes Taras.. thinking.. or something.. waits a bit before speaking again.

"Taras... what is the objective?"

Open the doors. See what is inside, any intel we can gather. Then, turn the facilities to the previous and legit owner, the Government.

"It's locked up pretty well by the previous.. and honestly current owner, the government, as far as I can tell.  Breaking in might lead to damage of what is within, not just from the break-in, but from the exposure to the outside since it is unlikely we can secure it again.  I think it is best we just leave it alone."

No. This radar is an strategic place and is going back to activity. We investigate it and then turned over to Capt. Bezhov and the scientist at UBC.

"Agreed.  Then we proceed carefully and methodically?  Anyone that can pick a lock here?  No No judgement.  We will want to take a look without causing harm... I wonder if we might can find the keys somewhere..."

In reply to Kelsey Sarah Champlain (msg # 455):

Having dismounted, Keith walked over to the base of the tower.

"Hey, don't forget we need to meet with Tyler and Koldan in Surrey in an hour or two."