Location: 15km East of Ladek Starey
Time: 0600 20 July 2000
<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?">
CPT Wolfe sprints towards his humvee, diving for cover as another round impacts a few dozen meters away. He gets
to his humvee about the same time SGM Brantley does, and sees SSG Cutter moving towards the humvee...and realizes
that noone is driving Big Bertha.
SSG Cutter realizes it about the same time and begins heading towards the trail humvee. SSG Cutter yells something,
but all that CPT Cappanetti can hear over the explosion of the mortar round is "Bertha" as SSG Cutter
races beyond the humvee.
CPT Wolfe slides into the driver's seat, grabs the mike and says "All stations this is Cobra 1. Y'all ready
to go, or would you like to catch motar rounds with yer teeth. Out."
A few quick radio transmissions later, and the the convoy is moved out of the impact zone.
About 4 minutes later, SSG Cutter comes flying up the road, with little regard for anyone or anything in his way.
Luckily, the mortar attack has ended, with the recklessness of SSG Cutter's driving. SSG Cutter keys the mike "All
snakes,This is Viper 2, WE GOT INFANTRY TO OUR REAR! AND THEY AIN'T HAPPY!"
CPT Wolfe keys the mike and says "Rattler 1, lead the way!"
The convoy moves out with due haste, led by the Mk19 humvee (SSG Martinez driver, CPT Cappanetti gunner), the captured
Duece (SGM Martinez driver), Big Bertha (SSG Cutter driver) and followed by the M60 Humvee (CPT Wolfe driver, SGM
Brantley gunner).
Location: 14km East of Ladek Starey, Back of the captured Duece
Time: 0610 20 July 2000
<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.>
SGM Stewart decides he'll enjoy the ride to where ever the truck is headed. He checks out his prisoner, decides
his prisoner is okay, then keeps an eye out for any criminally dumb and felony stupid bad guys that want to show
their faces along the road to wherever it is he's headed.
SGM Stewart decides to inform the driver of the truck that he has passengers...He moves forward to the cab, and
takes a peek. He then draws his 45 and readies it, but keeps it out of sight (just in case the driver has a attitude
like a new york cabbie).
Then, in his best english, and with a smile says "Hey Mac dosent this thing go any faster? I SGM Stewart Who
the Hell are you guys?"
SGM Martinez looks back in shock, temporarily letting go of the steering wheel! The truck drifts towards the edge
of the road, but SGM Martinez recovers before he crashes.
SGM Martinez turns back and says "YOU STUPID SOB! ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL ME?!?!" He then calms down and
says "who are you again?" He then slowly and deliberately reaches for the radio, watching for a hostile
response from SGM Stewart.
Location: The village of Ladek Stary
Time: 0605 20 July 2000
<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.>
"Where's your militia Josef? I'm assuming these are those marauders you mentioned before. If the militia isn't
at their positions, get them there. If you got any anti tank weapons, get them ready. I'd advise not to fire until
those guys close to town, say 100 meters or so. And get me a long arm if you got one to spare!" Lee yells
to Josef.
Lee then looks over to Ikeman "Ikeman, can your 203 take out the BTR? Once it gets close fire a HEDP round,
if you got one. Wait till they get close. If you got any suggestions now's the time!"
Lee then works the slide on his M9 and keeps it handy.
Josef nods to CPT Lee and heads out of the barn. He quickly runs to the armory and grabs several rifles. He tosses
CPT Lee an old well worn bolt action mauser and a small bag containing ammo. Josef then starts shouting in polish
at his militiamen who are scurrying around the village.
SFC Ikeman pops an HEDP round into his 203 and quickly heads for a location that'll give him a flank shot.
Josef heads to the gate, where several of his troops are manning a PK machinegun. CPT Lee follows, attempting to
get a better feel of the situation.
Glancing around, CPT Lee notices about 15 or 20 militiamen to his left and right, most armed with hunting rifles,
and a few AKs. CPT Lee can't see SFC Ikeman, who he hopes knows what he's doing...
SFC Ikeman finds a covered position where he can get a flank shot at the BTR. He settles in just as the BTR slows
to a creep at a range of about 300 meters. The BTR continues forward and is about 250 meters from the main gate.
(Range of about 350 meters from SFC Ikeman). Ikeman spots a large red star on the troop door between the 2nd and
3rd axles.
CPT Lee watches as the vehicles slow to a creep, with the UAZ-469 about 150 meters out and the BTR 250 meters out...
He sees antennas protruding from vehicles, as well as a red star on the front of the BTR.
Location: 5 km south of Ladek Starey
Time: 0620 20 July 2000
<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.">
Kartz looks at Whitedog pensivley after the latter takes the offered can of 'Boy-ar-dee "So , Capt. Where
you from in the real world?" He puts his can of beef-o-roni on the fire and lets it start simmering, "How
did a green beenie get caught with his pants down?" "What do you think our chances are? of, well, you
know?" He takes the warmed can of 'boy-ar-de, adds a few dashes of Tobasco sauce, and slowly eats it savoring
every bite. "How many people do you know that are still in-country?" As Kartz finishes his better than
average dinner, he retreives his '60 off the pintl, and proceeds to strip it down, wipe it down and put it back
together before Whitedof even finished his can-o-spahgetti. After mounting it back on the wagon, Kartz put out
3 of his claymores, making sure that Whitedog saw where he put them......
CPT Whitedog says "My team was caught the only way they could be caught. The refinery was
allready full of petrolium, the first rounds insinerated the whole place. My team was already securing the place
and I was bringing in the extra gear when we were hit." White dog puts his can next to the SFC's on the fire.
Checking his psg-1 rifle and the scope on it, Whitedog shrugs "I don't have any info on anyone else over here.
You hear that?" Tilting his head to the side, Whitedog listens to what sounds like a distant storm. Somebody
is lobbin' rounds."
Tomorrow we'll head north to that town. Grab what info we can and head out to the west. Let's get what rest we
can and move out at dawn. Then getting up the CPT sets up four grenades in some of the blind spots of the clamores.
"Don't forget these are out here Kartz. We can grab them when we leave."
Location: 7 km south-southwest of Ladek Starey
Time: 0615 20 July 2000
"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?">
MAJ Gunn heads off in an easterly direction, keeping an eye out for the enemy, as well as an eye on his new companion.
MAJ Pickett follows about 30m to the north, keeping an eye out for the enemy, as well as on his new companion...who
he isn't quite sure if he can trust...
After about an hour, they stop for a quick break, compare map locations then head out again. After about another
hour or so, they both freeze as the hear several vehicles approaching from the north...
MAJ Gunn quickly steps behind a tree and crouches, watching to the north. He quickly checks his map, and realizes
that they are closer to Highway 43 than he thought. Through the brush he sees a BRDM-2 and a half dozen trucks
of various sizes moving south, followed by two UAZ-469s. He glances over to MAJ Pickett, then begins to slither
back from his position.