Location: Near the Road - 100 meters South of the Captured Duece
Time: 0555 20 July 2000
<The prisoner opens his mouth to say something and just as he begins to speak, a tree about 100 meters east
of your location EXPLODES! Several explosions erupt in the area of the first. SGM Martinez yells "INCOMING!"
then dives for cover.
Everyone instinctively dives for cover. A round lands near CPT Wolfe and the prisoner, and when the dust settles,
the prisoner is gone! There is a small crater near where he last was...>
CPT Wolfe shakes his head, trying to clear the cobwebs. Once he regains his senses, he checks himself over...no
extra holes, but he can feel the effects of the concussion. Checking his equipment, he finds that nothing is missing.
CPT Wolfe then keys the mike:
"Rattler1, this is Cobra 1. Sitrep as follows. One DEAD prisoner, nuthin' left but bootstrings. Can you tell
which direction the attack is coming from?"
"SGM Martinez, you still in one piece? Where the hell is that SH*t coming from?"
CPT Wolfe then take out his binocs and scouts the horizon, Looking for mortars and other means of indirect fire.
(Otherwise known as "WHO IN THA HELL IS SHOOTING AT MY CRAP!!!")
SGM Martinez responds "UP! Negative on the arty!"
SGM Brantley finds better cover, then after seeing and hearing CPT Wolfe, attempts to locate the prisoner's escape
route.
SSG Martinez takes the humvee off the road under the cover of the trees. He calls back on the radio "Cobra
1 this is Rattler 1, roger that. Negative on the arty"
The rounds are continuing to fall upon your position.
Location: 100 meters Northwest of Captured Duece
Time: 0555 20 July 2000
<SGM Stewart continues to hold tight and wait. He begins to look over the duece, and determines that the duece
is in pretty good condition, though he can't see any markings on it. Suddenly, there is a series of explosions
to your southwest, followed by a yell (in english) of "INCOMING!">
SGM Stewart tries to make himself less of a target, then tries to locate the source of the artillery fire, to no
avail. His prisioner is getting nervous...
Location: The village of Ladek Stary (15 km West of the Captured Duece)
Time: 0600 20 July 2000
<SFC Ikeman looks at CPT Lee: "I don't think heading North is what we want to do, I still think West to
southwest is our best bet. I also think we should start moving again soon. The lines are moving fast and we don't
want to get swept up."
Josef says "I do not know the situation in Ostrow, other than there are rumors that there was a major battle
in the area. Based on that, the information I have is useless. As for the surrounding villages, my scouts are checking
on the current situation as we speak. I have little up to date of the towns to the west or the south, as I have
kept my scouts close to home since the start of the U.S. offensive. I will see what information my scouts return
with, as that was part of their mission."
Everyone sits tight waiting for the scouts to return.>
SFC Ikeman turns to the Captain: "Sir, all of my intel is weeks old, other that what
I've seen on my way back from Sieradz, I can't rely on S-2 info. The latest intel I've got is from Ostrzeszow,
I scouted it out 2 days ago. Looks like a field hospital is set up there. Lots of trucks heading from the north
and northeast. This pretty much means we're in the soviets backfields. West and south is are only real choice sir.
We could cut south and then begin moving west after a ways."
CPT Lee says "hmmm. How are you for equipment, Ikeman?" Lee asks. "I don't have much, just my M-9,
3 magazines and the rest of my survival kit."
Suddenly, a young man runs in and starts talking to Josef very excitedly. Josef asks him a few questions, then
mutters something. He turns to CPT Lee and says "I suggest that you and the others hide. The guards have spotted
a mechanized patrol coming this way. My guards are not sure what the vehicle is, but it is definitely soviet.
Location: 5 km south of Ladek Starey
Time: 0600 20 July 2000
<Kartz extends his well worn and gun-oil covered hand for a handshake. Capt. Whitedog sees in Kartz a man of
about 50 years old and well worn and ruddy face. It also belays a deep set of narrow and intelligent set of eyes.
"Well Captain, what do we do now?" Looking around, Captain Whitedog sees a 4 wheel cart, with a mound
of equipment, and a .60 on a pintle, lashed to the floor boards of the cart and 4 well taken care of horses hobbled
and grazing on some grass.>
After shaking the sgts hand Whitedog looks around, "Got anybody else with you sarg?"
"I'll go get my horse and bring him in so don't tag me when I walk back in."
Cpt Whitedog quickly moves off to retrieve his horse, holding his weapon at the ready.
Returning a minute later with his horse SFC Kartz can see extra weapons strapped to the back of the saddle, plus
a radio pack. Once back at the cart, Cpt Whitedog unloads some of the gear off the horse.
CPT Whitedog then says "I hope you don't mind me giving my horse a rest, I've been moving northwest hoping
to link up with the american line but have lost radio contact with my command. My team was sapped by a light artilery
or heavy mortar strike on the refinery we were to take. Do you have any idea where the lines are?"
"I've got some less vocal gear then that shotgun if you need it. I also got some rations if you are short
of food."
Location: 7 km south-southwest of Ladek Starey
Time: 0600 20 July 2000
The last few years have been hard for Major Ron Pickett. First losing his family in the nuclear destruction of
Norfolk, then being drafted into the Army, then being shipped to Germany, combined with the devastation of war,
have all taken their toll on him. Then came that last radio transmission "good luck your on your own..."
Major Pickett was lucky enough to be in an FLA (Four Litter Ambulance) when the transmission came. He headed south,
and was doing okay, until he hit a mine. The FLA didn't explode, but Major Pickett wrapped it around a tree, totalling
the FLA. Somehow Major Pickett was uninjured. Caching the gear he couldn't carry (and marking the location on his
map), he headed south into the forest.
Stepping into a small clearing, he is shocked by the sudden appearance of another individual (soldier by the looks
of him) a mere 20 meters away.
The soldier seems to be as shocked to see you as you are to see him. Neither one of you move, just look at each
other. The soldier is wearing British uniform, and is carrying a British rifle, what kind, you can't tell (weapons
aren't your strong point). The soldier is wearing an american style patrol (soft) cap with the rank of major on
it.
Being behind enemy lines was nothing new for Major Michael Gunn. Sometimes he swears he's spent more time behind
enemy lines than behind friendly lines. So when he got the order to link up with local guerrilla forces, it was
nothing new. He got the order to head back towards friendly lines and link up with the U.S. 5th Infantry Division
a week ago. Moving north, he has been out of contact with both his command and the american division.
Major Gunn was moving along, going over his report in his mind, when he stepped into the clearing. The sudden appearance
of another individual in the clearing caused him to freeze. The individual, who looked like a soldier, also seemed
shocked to see someone in the clearing too.
A quick glance at the soldier makes you think he possibly a guerrilla. He is wearing a german style field jacket,
and an american baseball cap. He is carrying an H&K CAW shotgun at the ready. He has a kevlar (american) helmet
hanging off one of his canteens. You can't see any rank on him, though you notice a subdued red cross on the front
of his helmet.
Both Major Pickett and Major Gunn seem to be waiting for the other guy to make the first move...