Location: Near the Road - 100 meters South of the Captured Duece
Time: 0555 20 July 2000
<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.>
CPT Wolfe keys the mike again: "Rattler 1, this is Cobra 1. I suggest seeking selter at the nearest town.
Break. Let's mount up an' move our asses. Over."
CPT Wolfe, thinking out loud,"where in tha hell is that damn town at any durn way?"
CPT Wolfe then picks his ass up and manuever himself to the Hummer.
CPT Cappanetti calls over the radio: "This is Rattler1 to all snakes. Scratch that last statement. WhatinthehellwasIthinkin'?!
We're being sniped by mortarmites!!! Saddle up, boys... Some blasted mortarmite has got our range and if our butts
were half as smart as I thought they'da been outta here thirty seconds ago! Where the hell're those REMF counter-batmen
when you need 'em???"
"Cobras and Vipers, ignore the ex-con splatter. I want you headed north of my position and rollin' on toward
our bastion o' safety YESTERDAY! Let's ride!!!"
"Vipers on point .. then Rattlers .. then Cobras."
"Cobra1, you have the hummer."
"Cobra2 you have the captured deuce - if it's drivable. If it don't start in three seconds, torch it and hop
in with Cobra1."
"Viper2, keep an eye on Viper1 .. Make sure he don't space out again. Rattler2, that goes ditto for you and
me .. Keep me on my toesies and away from those daisies I smell."
"Everybody keep an eye out for mortar-sign. If we can take 'em in a drive by, we'll do it."
"Let's go, boys! There're villagers' daughters awaitin'."
SGM Martinez heads for the captured duece, dodging the incoming mortar rounds. He opens the door of the truck,
tosses out the dead driver, then jumps in, ignoring the splatter left by SGM Brantley's bullet. He attempts to
start the truck, and it turns over almost instantly. He then pulls out and heads out of the impact zone.
SGM Brantley and SSG Cutter head for the humvee (with the 60) and fire it up, waiting for the rest of the group
to move up.
CPT Wolfe looks for a vehicle to drive, then keys the mike "Rattler 1, this is Cobra 1...where's Big Bertha
over?"
Location: 100 meters Northwest of Captured Duece
Time: 0555 20 July 2000
<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...>
SGM Stewart decides that it's time to get the hell out of dodge. He grabs his prisoner, and as he heads towards
the truck, he sees someone toss a body out of the truck, then jump in. A moment later the truck starts up, and
you can hear the driver shifting gears. SGM Stewart yells "I'm a Yank" as he heads towards the truck
that is beginning to move forward. SGM Stewart jumps up into the bed of the truck and pulls his prisoner into the
bed of the truck, smashing his face (and breaking his nose) on the tailgate in the process. SGM Stewart and his
prisoner are now on the move as stowaways on the truck.
Location: The village of Ladek Stary (15 km West of the Captured Duece)
Time: 0600 20 July 2000
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.>
Lee speaks to Ikeman "Thats exactly what I had in mind. We can head south
for a bit and then work our way west. If I remember correctly, most of the
Soviet heavies are to the north, east and west. We should be able to slip
through somewhere."
Lee then speaks to Josef. "Take us somewhere where we can see the soviet
vehicle. Do you have a bell tower or high building? I hope your militia has
some type of anti-tank weapon or even molotov cocktails."
Lee then looks back to Ikeman "I hope you got some decent AT weapons. All I
got is my M9."
Lee then looks over to VanClete to see if he has anything capable of knocking out an armored vehicle.
SFC Ikeman says "All I have is the 203 sir. Whats the terrain around the vehicle's direction. We might be
able to set up a hasty ambush, but we have to be ready to cut and run afterwords. He's probably not alone."
Ikeman then checks the clip in his weapon and ready the quadrant sight for the M-203. He check his LBV and gets
ready to move out.
Josef motions for you to follow him. He leads you to a barn, and says "from here you should be able to see
the vehicle." He then leads you up into the hay loft, pulls up a pair of binoculars and scans to the north,
until he locates the vehicle. He then hands the binocs to CPT Lee.
CPT Lee locates the vehicle at an estimated range of about 1500 meters. He gets a quick glance before it disappears
behind a small rise in the ground, and identifies it as a BTR-60. He also spots a UAZ-469 about a 100 meters ahead
of the BTR-60.
He hands the binocs to SFC Ikeman, points out the last known location of the vehicle, then tells Ikeman that there
is a UAZ-469 about a 100 meters ahead of it. SFC Ikeman spots the BTR-60 and says "correction. BTR-80, range
is 1100 meters. Should be here in about 4 minutes. The UAZ-469 has a machine gun mounted on top." Ikeman looks
at the terrain and sees that it's pretty open, with rolling terrain. There are few locations to set up an ambush
outside of the village. The village itself, however, has several prepared positions. (MAP)
CPT Lee turns to SGT VanClete to ask him for his ideas, and realizes he's not there.
Location: 5 km south of Ladek Starey
Time: 0600 20 July 2000
<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 artillery
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.">
Kartz, stooping down to start working on a fire, gave the Capt a half-salute as the latter went to go retrieve
his belongings. "Not a problem Capt."
Kartz gets back up on his feet as the Capt leads his horse into the impromptu campsite, and helps him unload his
gear into the cart. After the transfer of gear, Kartz went over the horse with a finetooth comb. checking his hoofs
for foreign objects, putting the saddle and bags onto the cart, and brushing him down. Finally stopping after he
had a feed bag over the horses head.
Kartz, considers the offer of CPT Whitedog with a chuckle, pats his .357 at his shoulder holster. "Naw Cap,
I can't hit sit with anything other than this, the gauge i don't have to aim, and if anyone gets in front of me
with the "pig", well i hope he's made his peace with whatever god he worships."
Grabbing the extra weapons that he brought with him, Whitedog brings them over to sit down
near Kartz' fire. Whitedog begins cleaning the weapons. "I've got a map here of the area but we seem to be
in the western section just south of a town. If we keep moving west we'll move off the map in about ten klicks.
I don't know the affiliation of that town to the north but it might be worth a look." After checking on all
the gear Whitedog grabs an MRE from his saddle bag and sits by the cart, removing his ghille suit and hangs it
over the cart's side.
Kartz looks over the map and nods, "Hell yeah Cap, West is as good as any direction, at least its towrds the
french coast." He offers a canteen to Whitedog as he eats the mre. Man those really blow, Want a can of Chef
Boyardee Instread? I only have about a case left. But your welcome to it." Any of your weapons have any problems??
let me take a look at 'em."
Location: 7 km south-southwest of Ladek Starey
Time: 0600 20 July 2000
<Both Major Pickett and Major Gunn seem to be waiting for the other guy to make the first move...>
As the shock wears off, MAJ Ron Pickett utters "Please don't make me see if this thing works" as he hefts
the gun just slightly, desperately trying not antagonize this individual.
Major Gunn lowers his rifle and steps toward the individual, looking around to see if he can spot any more... he
calls out to the person "American, right? Lost? or are there more of you lurking about?"
Picket replies too the Major, "No Major just me, a land mine made this a solo flight for me", stepping
forward to offering his hand and reluctantly lowering the CAW, "Ron Pickett, Doctor Ron Pickett. You? Where's
the rest of your mates? "
"Right, nice to meet you in this happy land," shaking the offered hand, "Michael Gunn, British Royal
Intelligence Corps. It's just myself here and I'm trying to meet up with elements of the 5th ID, probably over
there where all the bloody action is going on at the
moment." Pointing to where all the arty is going off in the distance... "I suggest we travel together
for the time being, strength in numbers and all that, and quietly see what all the commotion is." Pulls out
a pack of cigarettes and lights one of them, "Bloody good day for a walk, don't you agree?"
Not being 100% sure of the Brit looking fellow, Pickett is left with few options other than too accept the Major
at face value and hope he's not a wolf wearing a sheep's BDU's and carrying the sheep's rifle.
"Good Idea, but that sure sounds like a good ways off ta me" looking off in the direction of the distant
thunder. Besides after what I saw last night Im going to suppose that what ever elements of the 5th Mech. we run
into will be like us, scattered. We sure got damn well schalacked." Taking out an MRE and offers to share
with the Major. "Sure hope we can get back this way, I sure have alot of gear cached back there by my two
peices of a HUMVEE." After taking a long pull at his canteen, he motions with his head " You wanna take
point?, but ya gotta remember if the shit hit's the fan Im packing a scatter gun. And as your new unit physician,
I should tell you those things'll kill ya." Then smiles and offers the lead.
MAJ Gunn says "Not to sound untrusting, but I am a bit. And I would rather offend you slightly, than become
quite dead. Understand, old chap? We shall walk together to this salvage heep of yours, side by bloody side. I
would have been far more untrusting, if you hadn't offered me part of that thing you call a MRE, anyone willing
to poison themselves gains a little respect from me." Gunn grins as he takes a drag off his cig and starts
moving. "Now tell me, what unit were you with? Myself, was with the 1st Para when this bloody thing broke
out, before that spent some time with the Scots Guard. Then on loan with your intel lads, mainly because I can
speak a dozen languages and know the customs, thought I would help tension and all. Ended up sticking me with one
of your interrogation units, you Yanks can be quite unsportsmanlike at times." Gunn grins a bit more this
time, his cig hanging out of his mouth as he continously glances all around.
MAJ Pickett says "I was attached sort of to the 5th Mech. Division Field Hospital, but things got so bad a
few of us started riding shotgun too render immediate aid on scene. I had just dropped off my medic who was holding
a severed artery. When I came under fire from some of the Ruskies that penetrated to the rear area, so I headed
off with everyone else that was coming south. I hope the kids alright, he was an EMT from Ohio or Indiana someplace
there abouts." Ron takes out his 2km hand radio and starts flipping through the channels after he turns the
volume down real low. "I think we should hold off on
fetchin' my stash of food and such till we can secure transport of some kind. It's easily an extra 100 kilos of
gear, no sense killing ourselves just yet. There is a slight chance things could get worse. How are you set for
food and water? Do you have any addition equipment you'd like too recover? Did you happen across a water source
in your travels couldn't hurt too fill up if it wasn't too far." Checking his map, "I figure were 'bout
2
hours from Highway 43 too the East there" pointing off that direction "and it's probably a NATO moving
violation that's causing the ruckus. Lets say we make our way there and if we're lucky enough too find a ride of
some sort then we come back for the gear. It's only 10-12 miles no sweat in a jeep or by mount." Putting his
map away, "Why don't we fan out a bit 40m spacing?"
"How are you set for food and water? Do you have any addition equipment you'd like too recover? Did you happen
across a water source in your travels couldn't hurt too fill up if it wasn't too far." Good lets keep it at
about 30m after all, walking abreast me North. If we lose contact the we'll meet on this common freq' (points too
his radio, on second thought do you have one?) I'll be Papa7Tango you'll be Gulf4November. Should we establish
a counter sign, in case the brush gets thick? We'll go East, joining every hour just too break the monotony. Do
you know hand signals (if so can you gen up a table? I know fist is stop and open is take cover.) Keep your ears
and eyes open for water because we're not near any big or running water and we should fill up when opportumity
presents itself."
MAJ Gunn says "No radio, lost mine a few days back trying to shake some marauders." He then says "Sounds
like a plan to me, let's get moving." Gunn puts out his cig on the bottom of his boot, then puts the butt
into one of his ammo pouches. He looks around and then heads off in an easterly direction.