<Russian>"First Platoon, north side of road, Second Platton, south! Move into buildings now!"</Russian>  His order sending the platoons into the areas nearest them.

<Russian>"Third Platoon, with me, down the middle, hug the rubble, keep moving till we find the bastard!"</Russian> Sacrificing his ability to readily spot the sniper, Kapitan Konnikov moves from one spot of cover to another, When facing a sniper, movement is life.



((OOC:  22:31, Today: Semyon Yegorovich Konnikov rolled 2,2 using 1d6+1,1d6+1, rerolling max with rolls of 1,1.
/sadtrombone.mp3))

The men and women scramble to follow your orders. An instant later, Captain Jackson bellows a similar order. Another shot, barely audible over the constant noise of the artillery barrage raining down on the city further east, another yell of pain, this time in English.

((Alright, I figure running this round by round will get kinda boring and take needlessly long to resolve. So let's turn this into a Dramatic Task!

You need to collect Six task tokens. Draw an action card for each round and make a Battle roll each round. These are not combat rounds, but task rounds, so multiple things can happen.
For each success and raise, you get a Task token. Once you've reached six, you've located the sniper.
Any round you fail the Battle roll, you take a casualty. When you draw any cards of Clubs, you take two casualties.

At least a success on the roll means you managed to organize your soldiers well enough that you don't take casualties that round.))

The platoons spread out, the sniper hunkers down, watching their erratic movements, no soldiers take any shoots the first few minutes...

((13:08, Today: Semyon Yegorovich Konnikov rolled 3,4 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,4.  Battle Roll, Turn 1
13:10, Today: Semyon Yegorovich Konnikov drew the single card: 6S using a deck of 54 cards.  Card Draw, Turn 1.))

... only for the sniper to unleash a pair of deadly shoots in rapid succession, seemingly taking out two soldiers from different angles.

((13:27, Today: Semyon Yegorovich Konnikov rolled 3,3 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max.  Battle Roll, Turn 2
13:27, Today: Semyon Yegorovich Konnikov rolled 1,1 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max.  Battle Roll, Turn 2, Bennie ReRoll.
13:32, Today: Semyon Yegorovich Konnikov drew the single card: 7C using a deck of 54 cards.  Card Draw, Turn 2.))


The platoon having mostly moved into the rubble begins to narrow down at least which side of the street the sniper, or snipers, are on...

((13:28, Today: Semyon Yegorovich Konnikov rolled 7,5 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max.  Battle Roll, Turn 3.
13:32, Today: Semyon Yegorovich Konnikov drew the single card: 4D using a deck of 54 cards.  Card Draw, Turn 3.))

((13:28, Today: Semyon Yegorovich Konnikov rolled 1,9 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max.  Battle Roll, Turn 4.
13:32, Today: Semyon Yegorovich Konnikov drew the single card: 4H using a deck of 54 cards.  Card Draw, Turn 4.))

((13:28, Today: Semyon Yegorovich Konnikov rolled 1,3 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max.  Battle Roll, Turn 5.
13:29, Today: Semyon Yegorovich Konnikov rolled 7,9 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max.  Battle Roll, Turn 5, Bennie ReRoll.
13:33, Today: Semyon Yegorovich Konnikov drew the single card: 7H using a deck of 54 cards.  Card Draw, Turn 5.))

((13:30, Today: Semyon Yegorovich Konnikov rolled 5,2 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max.  Battle Roll, Turn 6.
13:33, Today: Semyon Yegorovich Konnikov drew the single card: 6D using a deck of 54 cards.  Card Draw, Turn 6.))

((I wasn't sure if you wanted me to just keep rolling until I get 6 Tokens, or what...))

At your command, one of Second Platoon dashes across the street, screaming in defiance of death. And there's a glint of the light reflecting off the sniper's scope!
Before the bastard can kill the decoy, a rifle grenade detonates just inside the window frame.

After the smoke clears, relative silence falls over the street. An idle thought crosses your mind: Behind most, if not every one of those windows, there are German civilians hiding, cowering in fear of the Red Army coming for them. If they were to open fire behind each of these windows, the streets would run red with Soviet blood.

You push the thought away, nothing to be done about it anyway.

The first soldiers slowly raise their helmets on their rifles over their cover, but no bullets come flying.
You have taken out the sniper.

Danila Bogomazov of your command squad walks over and salutes.
"Comrade Kapitan! Reporting Boldyrev and Siyalov have taken minor wounds, but can continue. But Teterev, Bok and... and Comrade Kruglikova have fallen."
All three had been in 3rd Platoon, 2nd squad. When the day had started, it had been one of the company's only full squad. Now they were down to six. Of the three, Kruglikova was the biggest loss, she had had the heart of a Russian bear, absolutely fearless.

Bogomazov leaned in a little. "The Americans have lost an officer. The lieutenant."

<Russian>"We don't have time for speeches, put them inside a building, mark the map, and prepare to move out."</Russian>  While giving a moment for word to pass among the company, he stomps over to the American Captain, <Russian>"Balakin, attend.  Tell the Captain, we mourn their loss, but we are pressing on.  The target is within spitting distance."</Russian>

Konnikov stomps back off, <Russian>"First platoon, vangaurd, second platoon rear.  Third platoon you are with me.</Russian>  Konnikov waits for Leytenant Shagidzyanov's platoon to move out, then takes the middle of the company with remains of the Third Platoon.

The closer you get to the city center, the slower the going gets. More rubble covers the road and you have to evade several fortified positions to avoid getting drawn into a confrontation. Everybody is on edge, and you expect another sniper attack every time you turn a corner.

You need to cross the channel that runs through Berlin, the "Landwehrkanal", but all the bridges are heavily guarded and fortified.

Eventually, you find a small, narrow pedestrian bridge across the channel that is unguarded. Unguarded, because it is woefully inadequate for a crossing. But it's the best choice you have right now.

Squad by squad, the company crosses the maybe 35 meter (100 feet) long bridge. On the other side waits a small park - just a few bushes, trees and picknick tables that is pock-marked with rubble. It's a good enough gathering place and provides some cover for everybody to gather again.

Your radio operator, Urbanovsky, gets closer to you. "Kapitan, I got Politruk Zholdin, as requested"

You take the receiver and hear Zholdin's report: "I believe we have located the target of the Americans, they're inside a building. We don't have any idea of how many enemies are in there. There's a squad of Germans outside, we can take them. The spy woman thinks that time's running out. How far behind are you, Comrade Kapitan?"

You respond: "We are a short walk from the target area, presuming there are no vermin between us.  If you wish to wait, we will plan a joint attack on arrival.  If you feel you must push now, we will join the battle when we arrive.  I leave it at your discretion comrade Politruk."

Zholdin comes back with "Thank you, Tovarish Kapitan."

Then the radio falls silent again.
You consult the maps. Urbanovsky points to where Zholdin had indicated they were and you run the finger to your position. Less than a kilometer away. With the opposition in between, might as well be as far as Moscow.
Silently, you curse yourself for agreeing to such a foolhardy plan like splitting up. STAVKA will have your hide for this.

Then you have an idea.

These maps were drawn by Communist sympathizers in the 20ies and 30ies and while not the most recent, are extremely accurate. From where you are right now, you could either follow Dessauer Street, then turn left into Stresemann Street and make your way to the position of the spearhead.

Or you could go through the ruins of the building to your left and go down into the Berlin Metro, then walk a straight line in the dark and emerge just where the rest of your troops are.

You tap your fingers on the map as you ponder your options.

((And that places you both location and time-wise))

<Russian>"Starshiy Shagidzyanov, send a squad to search what's left of that building, if we can turn up materials to make torches, it's a short jog through the metro.  Otherwise it's a long walk down these roads."</Russian>

He turns, <Russian>"Balakin.  Ask the American if any in his troop has those electric torches their 'special forces' are so fond of, we may be going down into the dark in a few moments."</Russian>
This message was lightly edited by the player at 16:35, Tue 19 Oct 2021.

The British and Americans have torches or flashlights - depending on if they serve their King or a president, and there is enough timber in the ruins to create a few torches for the Soviets.

The company arrives at the entrance to the metro unopposed and you descend down into the Berlin Underground. Just a few stairs down, then a tight corner, a metal railing separating those who would go down from those who would emerge out into the open.

The men ahead have experience in city fighting, some of them even back in Stalingrad and with quiet routine they check every corner before turning.

The torches are not necessary, at least not yet. There are still lights down here, although some of the bulbs have gone out, allowing you to see enough to not trip over the stairs and break your neck.

At the bottom of the stairs is a small platform, splitting up the traffic to the two directions - one going to "Warschauer Brücke", the other to "Zoologischer Garten".
The tunnel will obviously lead in both directions, so there's little difference in which to choose.

Down here, the constant cacophony of the artillery is dampened to the point where it sounds like kids jumping up and down in the room upstairs.

((Want to split the troops or does everybody go down the same flight of stairs?))

Seeing no real advantage to further splitting up, and potential disadvantage to doing so, Konnikov has the BPO Company cautiously file down the stairs to the "Zoologischer Garten".

The stairs and corridors are generally wide enough for four people walking next to each other.

Shapovalov pulls Krayevsky by the arm and the two head off to the other direction. They are two of your most experienced men and you have learned to trust them. They set about to push a few trash cans into the way of the stairway, then set up a handful of grenades on a wire.

If anybody were to sneak up on you from behind, they'd run into a nice - and noisy! - surprise, giving you at least some warning.

Just a few more steps now and the first of your men are on the platform. You're a few rows behind but you can hear the sounds of alarm and screaming. Somebody fires a gun, apparently one of your men, but there seems to be no firefight.

The squad ahead you bullies forward and then you follow and emerge onto the platform. It's dimly lit, but there is enough light to see it's filled with people.
Civilians, it seems, women, children, men, all shouting and crying, trying to get away from the soldiers, pressing themselves into the walls...

<Russian>"Hold fire, HOLD FIRE!  Company halt.  Give the civilians some room.  BALAKIN!"</Russian> Then he switches to his terrible, terrible German, <German>"Go against wall, you will stay safe!"</German>

Konnikov waits a minute for the Sergeant to press through the platoon and join him.  <Russian>"Find Jackson, have him explain to these civilians that if they stay on this platform they will be safe.  If they leave the platform before we tell them to, they will be shot.  Understood?  Go."</Russian>

<Russian>Leytenant Shagidzyanov!  Leytenant Lyubimtsev!</Russian>  He waits even less time as his Lieutenants had already been moving to join him at the head of the stairs.

<Russian>"Leytenant Shagidzyanov, send your platoon forward, find us the tunnel and secure it while we move through this crowd.  Lyubimtsev, your squad is rear guard, keep an eye on the Germans, never know who might be a partisan, ready to die for the city."</Russian>  He claps Strelnikov on the shoulder, <Russian>"Again you are with me, we follow first platoon once we're clear of all these civilians.  Remain wary Leytenant."</Russian>


As long as nothing untoward happens... BPO company moves into the tunnel towards gardens.

More cries erupt from the crowd as you take a few steps forward, not even pushing through the crowd, just making room for the rest of your company to find a place.
There are more cries now on the other side of the platform, across the rails at the bottom. In the gloom, you can see people jumping down onto the rails and running away. One person lands awkwardly, and ends up lying across the rails, a small bundle flying from their arms as they stumble and fall.

The crowd moves, as if it was made of water, people pushing each other forward and backward, trying to get away from you.

Konnikov and the remains of Third Platoon remain on the platform until First Platoon is cleared and securing the tunnels, then they join them.

<Russian>"Balakin, have Captain Jackson's people make sure these Germans know, they should remain on the platform, and have them return these few down here on the tracks to the platform.  We will wait for them briefly.  Also have his men with their electric torches split between first and second platoon.  I do not like the idea of partisans creeping up on us from behind in the dark."</Russian>

Once they've all cleared the platform, and are waiting for the few Germans to be sent back to the platform, <Russian>"Leytenant Lyubimtsev, no traps.  We may be returning this way in a hurry."</Russian>

Once Captain Jackson and his British troops have made their presence more widely known, the crowd slowly starts to calm down. Their fear is still palpable, but it's more subdued now.

Germans always yield to authority. You think to yourself.

The few people who got injured are treated by the British, with the Americans handing out some pieces of chocolate to calm down the children.

Jackson approaches you with a few women following behind him.
"Hm, Captain, there's someone you should respond to."

The first woman, a stern-looking figure in her early 40ies composes herself and steps forward. She says, in rather stilted Russian:
<Russian>"We are volunteers so that you do not have to hurt the girls."</Russian>
The women behind her look pale, but determined, their eyes scanning the Russian soldiers.

Konnikov he shakes his head, <Russian>"Madam, that will not be happening here.  These men are disciplined soldiers, not brigands.  Further, I will ensure the Americans know to treat you with respect."</Russian>

He looks to Captain Jackson and his face betrays disgust, he speaks loudly in his halting English, "Is not time for you lose self to lust, we are in mission!  Have you no shame?" and he turns and stomps off leaving the American hopefully confused and embarrassed.



((OOC:  Yes, I'm sure there are times Konnikov has turned a blind eye to some horrors of war, but give up a perfect moment to make the Americans feel embarrassed and question their own propaganda?  Not to be missed!))

Captain Jackson looks at you with a raised eyebrow. And you spot at least two of your men looking decidedly disappointed.

But the company presses on through the dark tunnel. After the light of the platform fades, you rely on what little light the British and Americans can provide and the going is slow as you stumble through the dark.

Something in your mind keeps naggily pointing out that the lights are an excellent target in the dark, but you push the fought down.

Leytenant Lyubimtsev finds you in the dark and walks next to you.
"Comrade Kapitan, should we not have left some men behind to stand guard? I know some of them are nervous having so many Germans at our back."

"We are nearing our prize and it will be guarded, heavily.  I feel the squeeze of the few men we've left behind already, we'll need every soldier for the target.  Yes, I too worry a bit about partisans in that crowd of civilians, but they will not risk crawling into the dark after us.  No, I more fear an attack upon our return if we must come this way."

"But we won't, Comrade Kapitan? Surely we will continue East, to meet up with the rest of the Red Army and deliver Ke..." he caught himself, "this man they are looking for to our own people?"

"Ideally yes.  But I like to keep options open in my plans, flexibility is often the key to victory Leytenant.  Should we be forced to adapt, and go a different route, any men we leave behind may be left behind for a long time."

The going is slow, the only noise is soon the stomp of the marching feet with an occasional curse in Russian or English when someone stubbed their toe.

But there are no traps, no explosions, no sudden gunshot followed by a cry of anguish or alarm. You are alone in the dark.

And then you come to a fork in the road. Apparently, the Berlin U-Bahn splits off. Luckily, the Germans like to label things, and with the flashlights, it's easy enough to find the tunnel leading to Potsdamer Platz, where the BPO spearhead last was.

You wonder what's going on with them. But down here, in the tunnel, it's unlikely that you'll be able to get a radio signal out to them.

After what feels like hours, but couldn't have been more than 20 minutes, you see light in the distance. Another platform, another exit up into Berlin.

The Kapitan passes word quietly to the front to halt, and the the rear to form up closer.

"Come Valya, we need to take the front, our eyes on this platform."

When Kapitan Konnikov and the remnants Third Platoon reach the front of the advance, "Leytenant Shagidzyanov, hold here but remain prepared to reinforce Third Platoon.  Third platoon will scout the platform.  I have suspicions..." he trails off leaving it at that.

"Strelnikov, we are reconing in force, but with caution.  If we have partisans with actual weapons, or traps, it will be here."

He lets the Leytenant relay the orders and when Third Platoon moves out, he falls in a step behind Strelnikov.

As you get closer, you notice to things:
There are more lights still functioning here. And there are no crowds of civilians huddled on the platform or the tracks. At the far end in the tunnel beyond the platforms, you see the vague outline of a metro car standing on the tracks.

Once they've checked over the platform (quickly) and have First Platoon moving onto it, securing it, "Strelnikov, check that metro car.  Shagidzyanov send a squad topside to scout close, I want to know if our Spearhead is still there and what is going on."

The platforms seems to be empty. The metro car seems to be abandoned as well.


In the interest of bringing the band back together, your Shagidzyanov's squad will be topside in two rounds. I'll close this thread.