3may10

MAY 2003 @ SAC page 10.

Within 2 minutes we met Spectre and I was dissapointed to find our flag had been raided since 6am. The tape had been removed and we knew our opponents had clawed back 10 points. Picking up the flag and popping it in my rod bag, we agreed that we needed to reposition it before 11am (at which time it must remain static for the rest of the day.) I nominated the high ground to the SE of the site as a good bet, espescially if our opponents were still on the Plateau (which I expected). Wraith was pointman, I was second behind me was Satan with Spectre following up as Tail gunner. Cutting into the treeline, we spotted Mantis moving to the TAG ZONE (to rejoin the game) and he saw us too. Wraith carried on moving up towards Sniper Point and the patrol followed.

Capt of 69th came over the radio and informed me that all the rest of his team plus Force Recon, were now ready to go. I told him to break out of the SAFE ZONE quickly and make for a place of his choosing. Once there, form an"All round defence" and radio for further instructions.
Mantis rejoined the game and I radioed him to pick up the TAG ZONE and collect in it�s marker tape. As we were allowed to reposition it (no closer than 75m to our FLAG) although it must be in place by 11am. I checked my watch 10:20am. Mantis came over and joined the patrol behind me. Wraith neared the ridge and spotted 1 man moving along the top fenceline 200m away, pretty much where we had planned to position our camp. We kept low and sat it out for a while, before Wraith moved off using the ridge as cover and we followed him. The bunker was clear and we moved slowly along for another 50m. Wraith stopped and signalled a visual with 2 guys on the top fenceline. We all kept in cover and waited. Spectre came forward and said that he had seen Team 2�s TAG ZONE up there aswell. It seemd that Team 2 had chosen to move their camp to where we had intended to.

I had to rethink and the clock was ticking (20 minutes till everything had to be in place). I decided to stick to the game plan and play defence. We are heading to SCAREY CORNER again today, I told the patrol and we moved off. Firing was then heard through the trees down hill, followed by a familiar cry of �RAZER!� Keeping still for a couple of minutes, I spotted movement and signalled to the team. Someone was heading towards the trenches from Sniper point. Wraith stalked forward and I knew he was going to shoot.
When he opened up, we all pressed down to support him, but it turned out that we were stalking NETE who had been ambushed by Razer and was therefore TAGGED and looking for the TAG ZONE that we were repositioning. I informed him of the whereabouts of our other TAG ZONE (near the Pillbox). He set off to rejoin the game.

Capt radioed to confirm that they had managed to breakout at the cost of 1 tag (Nete) although they had returned fire and tagged Razer in return. I informed him the location of his RV with us in code.

Signalling Wraith to secure the TAG ZONE, we moved off. Nearing the Pillbox, all was quiet and we waited for NETE to rejoin the game. I tasked him with joining the patrol as last man, as we moved past. Time was running out and Wraith moved down to clear Scarey corner and meet up with 69th, while I waved Satan and Nete over and got them to deploy the TAG ZONE inside the FOXHOLE. I worked out on my map that this would still allow me to place the FLAG where I wanted to and not be within 75m. I saw this as a great defensive tactic and would make the �back door� a far stronger position for our team. Mainly as we could shoot from the TAG ZONE or rejoin the game behind any partialy successful attack.

Looking at my watch, I knew there would be no problem with the 11am cut off and strolled down to Scarey corner , where I retrieved the Flag from the rod bag and stood it up behind a tree. Sorting out the defence, we were now upto full strength (11 players) and I tasked Wraith with setting up an OP near Bear�s bunker 100m forward of our defence. He could choose any player to accompany him and he picked me. I laughed, and had to decline, explaining I was playing the CO role. OK, he chose Spectre instead and off they went. I hoped he would be able to spot Team 2�s reinforcements and perhaps follow them.

The Marshals radioed me at 11am and informed me that we would receive NO more reinforcements today. At which I was suprised and when I enquired how many the opponents would get, I was dismayed to hear they would get 4. I transmitted the grid references for our FLAG and Tag Zone as required and was informed the reinforcements (ie. the Cobra Team) were now in the game but not starting at the SAFE ZONE.

We all held our positions and waited to see what would happen. After a brief round up of the scoring so far, we figured that we were well infront and could afford to play a waiting game. The sun climbed higher into the sky and the temperature began to heat up. After a while I radioed the MARSHALS and enquired if a TASK was available. They responded and soon delivered a briefing to me. The TASK was to RECCE the opponents camp and give an accurate grid reference to within 50m of their flag. There would only be an hour maximum to send the grid references, which would be worth 5 points.

My mind began to go to work and I decided that to check out the location that I suspected, would be very hard to do inside an hour. Espescially without taking some risks (ie. moving too fast). So I decided to gamble the 5 points, by going on the information that we had already gathered, after seeing the opponents TAG ZONE being redeployed earlier. I spent 5 minutes checking the map, for a grid reference that included 2 locations that would be favourable in the far corner (that our opponents had used before). Transmitting them to the MARSHALS, there was a long pause while we awaited a result. Finally they came over the radio, �TASK FAILED.�

To Page 11........

Turned out that my guess was only 25m out, but the MARSHALS co-ordinates were not the same as those that our team used. This shows that it is worth checking everything 3 times.

With the TASK finished, I decided that the opponents must be coming on a RECCE and therefore opted to wait it out. Drinking a can of Red bull with Nilz, we sat and observed for any sign of our opponents. After 30 minutes, Mantis offered to move out of the back door and set up an O.P. I agreed with his plan and he set off to collect Soap. I was called forward, via the radio to Wraith�s OP. setting off on the low ground, I cautiously made it to Bear�s bunker and greeted Spectre and Wraith. They were covering the open field and opponent�s TAG ZONE. We had a quick chat and they offered me a cig.