Lina dug around in the Ranger and returned with a couple of sleeping mats and a tarp.  She wrapped the mats in the tarp to form a flexible litter.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:48, Wed 14 June 2017.

Andy nodded at the quick introductions.  At the questions from the others, he keyed his '68, "Get ready for help down there El.  You get any ID on the kid?  There is a perimeter set up and we are sending down a litter to help extract."

At Captain Kim's declaration, Andy tilts his head slightly.  "I've got my long arm and a starlight scope.  If you are expecting trouble, we'll want to get ready."

Andy smiles at Alice, "Ma'am.  Elliot has made sure the kid is not dangerous. He sounded more scared than angry to me."

From his position in the ravine, Elliot radios a reply to Andy.

"Roger that, Andy. Help has arrived. The patient gave me two names, Logan Whitestar and Bert Monroe. The first seems like a made-up name, so I'm calling him Bert. He has one good leg, and I can get him to stand, I think. He is pretty medicated. Keep eyes on us while I help him stand and move to the winch cable. Switching off NVG and using flashlight power. Over."

El removes his HP-35, his goggles and his grenadier vest, then sets them aside safely on a stone. He moves back to the wounded man and shakes him gently to rouse him from his opioid rest. "Bert, it's time to get off the ground. Come on, buddy, let's get you to your feet."

He wraps his arm around the young man's shoulders and helps him stand. "I know it's going to hurt, but we have to do it," El reassures the patient. "Lean on me, my friend, and we'll get you out of here in short order." He uses the flashlight to help wake the man and to guide him across the ravine bottom.

In reply to Elliot Charles Pendergrass (msg # 575):

Standing was not a good idea with a broken leg, so El put a splint on him and waited for the improvised stretcher to come down.

Using the tarp and the foam mats, reinforced by the spine board, Lina was able to fashion a makeshift stretcher. Using the winch cable as a guideline, Daniel, Alice, Lina and Dylan made their way down into the wooded ravine. The top of the small ravine was densely overgrown by Douglas fir with dirt and muddy sides, with boulders down below and a stream gushed along the bottom through them.

They were able to get the unconscious boy onto the stretcher and lift him out of the ravine with little trouble. Once out they took stock and began to reorganise. Above them the trees swayed, moved by a breeze in the chill damp night air.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:25, Thu 22 June 2017.

In reply to Project Director (msg # 577):

"All right, good work," said the cowboy-trucker in Project coveralls. "We're hours behind schedule. But getting back is important enough I think we ought to risk a night run. Nobody will be setting any ambushes at this time, on account of no one travels after dark.

"The dead guy's in a body bag. Let's stow him on the rear deck of the "three-eleven". Instead, let's put Bert here in the Ranger. Keep him alive until we can get him to the Project clinic in the Maryville outpost. I don't like not letting his folks know he's ok but we can send a messenger tomorrow. We gotta keep rolling tonight. Anyone have anything to add?"

After muddy greetings down in the ravine, Elliot was happy for the help in rescuing the patient. He recovered all his gear. Once on top he shook hands with everyone and greeted them.

"He knows things about the group he was in, and should be debriefed," El comments, when the discussion ran to what to do with the injured young man. "Heading back to the base sounds good. In what order do you want the vehicles?"
This message was last edited by the player at 11:47, Wed 21 June 2017.

In reply to Elliot Charles Pendergrass (msg # 579):

The injured man got squared away in the Ranger and the dead man was put in a body bag. The body bag was stowed on the rear deck of the XR311. Once debriefed, it was clear this was the missing "Bert". His family close by in Bellingham would probably be missing him, but it wasn't clear if there was time to inform them.

Tim provided over watch on the MG, everyone did the job they were trained for so they needed no input or guidence from him. He surmised that the danger from an attack far out weighted any help he could give if he had stepped down from the APC so he remained in place ready should his input be needed or asked for.

In reply to Elliot Charles Pendergrass (msg # 579):

"Good job on his leg, Elliot. I think he's going to make it. So this is Bert, huh? Ok. We should still take him down to the Maryville clinic for observation.

"Jenna, it will take about a half hour for you to make it back up to Bellingham, check in with his family, and make it back. Are you up for it? We can wait here or start now and you can catch up en route. Or we can send a messenger up from Maryville to let them know tomorrow."

Capt'n Kim ponders  "Does Jenna have room for one parent to come back with her?"

Lina helped load up the new patient and get him strapped down.

"You behave or I'll push your butt out the back door myself.", she warned Bert.

She waited until the rest of the team loaded up and then moved to take her spot up front on the radio.

After helping to secure the body on the 311, Andy walked over to the others discussing Jenna's quick run up and back.  "We could wait here in the 311 for Jenna, then catch up to you all when she gets back.  Keep us all in radio range and puts us close for help."

He looks over to his teammate, "You good with that El?"

Elliott nods. "I am up for anything, but I think it's best to not send anyone alone in the dark. Night creatures and travel hazards are bad enough, but this is a hostile area, we've been told. We could pull an escort for the bike, but arriving with a DB on the back rack isn't a very good first impression.

"Otherwise, they can wait another 12 hours to get the news. I like what Daniel Black Feather said- send a runner up from Maryville tomorrow."

Thoroughly chastised, and sailing on Morphine, Bert could only manage a nod and a "yes m'am. Whatever you say."

In reply to Mahalina Rae Powell (msg # 584):

Alice smiled grimly at Lina's instructions and Bert's meek reply. Then she sighed as she cleared away the debris of the last patient. The makeshift pallet they'd set up for the luckless casualty was still warm. Not that Bert would notice.

"Ok, looks like this banage is good here. No need to change it, blood loss is minimal. LOC was minimal. Vitals are good. Help me prep an IV for insertion and I'll put it in. I think considering he's related to our "friendlies" up in Bellingham we can risk a transfusion from me to him. (I'm O-Positive.)"

In reply to Alice Maura McCloud (msg # 588):

"If he's stable, why not hold off on the transfusion until we get to the base? Just in case something happens on the way.", Lina suggested.

"By the way, let's pat him down for weapons and such.  Don't forget who he was riding with earlier."

Jimmy will ensure the MPVs are fully covered while they wallow out of their spots and back on the open road before resuming his place inside the Ranger.

"Kid got a name?  He going to be OK?"

In reply to Mahalina Rae Powell (msg # 589):

Alice listened to Lina, then shoot her head. "I say let's rig the transfusion, even if it means I am literally tied to him. Much better chance of survival.

"Jimmy, it's Bert. The missing Monroe kid. That's why we were thinking of sending Jenna up to Bellingham, to inform his family. But while they're maybe going to worry a little they won't die if they don't know tonight, and it could be there's some kind of danger if we split up."


Alice got the IV prepped for her own arm. "Tim, it's your call. Think you can spare me for a half hour or so to get a unit into the lad?"

"Ah, his folks will be glad to hear that.  Why aren't we heading back to their place?"

A frown.  "I think they can spare me more than you, I'm Oh pos, as you know.  We got a type on Bert?  As long as he got the RH, he can handle my blood."

In reply to James (Jimmy) Gerrold MacGuire (msg # 592):

Alice checked the Medkit's computer readout on Bert's blood type.

"He's B+. That means he can receive B Positive and Negative, and Oh Positive and Negative. But I'm the medic here, I think I should still do it.

"I think from what Daniel and El said, we don't want to split the team in case there's a problem. The kid will survive if take him to the Morrow clinic and it just means his family won't know until tomorrow. But maybe let's not have a big discussion about it, if that's what the chain of command decides then that's what it's there for."


PD Note: Insofar as there's a strict chain of command here, Daniel as Local Project Liaison probably has the most pull as he's on the Project's command council. But his is technically an advisory role in the field. Tim is the actual team leader for Recon KR-P44 and all other personnel (El, Andy, Fliat, Kim, Dylan) are attached to this team for the present. This may change once you get back to Maryville.

"Oki-Doki Alice.  I'm not arguin' no more about who gets to give him blood.  Hate needles."

He grins at her, winks, and looks out a port hole at the dark forest.

Capt'n Kim looks in the direction of where Bert came from. "Keep an eye out for  his shooters...if any that might be giving chase"

In reply to Alice Maura McCloud (msg # 591):

"Yes half an hour is fine we can remain in place and conduct security while you do it. As to letting the family know that can wait until tomorrow, I don't think we can risk someone going out now."

In reply to Tim Charles White (msg # 596):

Alice pointed out, "I can give the transfusion en route to Maryville, we don't need to wait a half-hour. Besides, a transfusion will take one-and-a-half to two hours. Tim, let's just go?"

At this point a well-practiced and experienced Alice had found a vein in her arm and inserted the IV needle. It was hooked up to a pump for drawing blood that was included in the surgical kit. The pump began to silently work, drawing out her blood.