Location: 1 km south of the village of Ladek Starey
Time: 1500 20 July 2000
<The smoke is beginning to thin, and Brantley needs to decide quickly. He keys the mike and sends the following
message "This is Viper 1, Rattler 1 zapped, victor is down. OVER!" Brantley readies another smoke grenade
as he kicks the radio bracket apart.>
Lee looks over at CPT Wolfe "Yeah we got a shitload of stuff back there. I guessing it's not yours (inventory
in the admin notes)?
Lee listens to the commotion over the radio. He grabs the handset "Viper 1, fall back to the main position,
remember the safe routes." He then motions to the rest of the group, "Shit! thats damn close. Everybody
in their holes, now! Cutter, get that '60 ready. Sergeant major Martinez, you got the tankbreaker. Other Martinez,
get that M203 ready. Villagers, get into your holes. No firing until Brantley is clear."
Lee confers with Wolfe, "Let's wait and see what Brantley brings back. It doesn't look good right now. We're
already down one man. I'm thinking it's time to pull out and head south. I'm also concerned about our other scouts,
we haven't heard anything from them."
Lee then hunkers down beside Red Star and readies his M249. He will also take 4 of the unclaimed grenades.
While waiting for Brantley to return, Lee grabs the handset of Cutters AN/PRC 77 and radios Brantley "Viper
1, what's your status? If the HMMMV is disabled, take what you can carry and destroy the rest. We will wait 15
minutes for you."
Brantley calls back "Roger! Taking what I can carry and blowing the rest in place!" Brantley tosses his
last smoke grenade, then grabs the '60, the radio, and Cutter's rucksack. He pulls his knife and stabs several
jerry cans full of fuel, piles all the remaining equipment together, and says "damn, wish I could says the
barrett" as he tosses the two grenades into the humvee...then runs like hell. He dives behind cover as the
grenades detonate, spewing fire and shrapnel everywhere.
"Damn, we could have really used that humvee" he says as he heads back towards the rest of the group.
He keys the radio and says "Cobra 1, Viper 1. Scratch the victor. Inbound to your location...ETA 10 mikes,
over"
CPT Wolfe calls back "roger viper 1, ETA 10 mikes. Out."
The rest of the group makes last minute preparations for the coming battle. The villagers prep the weapons they
have, and everyone gets more and more nervous/excited.
The pop, pop, pop of several AKs are heard about 300m north of your position, and are answered by the unmistakeable
bark of the '60. A frantic call comes over the radio "THIS IS VIPER 1! I'M SURROUNDED!!!" Several more
bursts of fire ring out...then silence...
All attempts to raise Brantley fail...
As the tension rises, the wind carries the sound of a short firefight from the south.
1700 meters south of the village of Ladek Starey
Time: 1500 20 July 2000
<Ikeman, scanning the farm, hears movement to his left. He immediately swings his rifle to the left, but it
takes him a few seconds to acquire the source of the noise. He realizes that there is a bush that wasn't there
a few moments ago, a bush with a metallic branch...about 40 meters out.
About 250 meters north of the farm, Ingle freezes as he catches movement about 40 meters to his left. Focusing
on it, he realizes that he's looking down the barrel of a rifle!>
Ikeman slowly lines his rifle with the 'bush', when suddenly it erupts with fire. Jeremy instictively brings the
sights in and lets a three round burst go, leading the target slightly. Jeremy quickly brings the sights back to
the target, ready to fire again or move position in a heartbeat. "I've been in this shit way too long"
he thinks to himself.
Ingle whips out his BM-93R and puts some long bursts in that general direction. He probably won't hit anything
at this range, one-handed and without the stock extended, but it should keep the rifle-owner's head down while
Ingle dives for cover.
Ingle's burst goes high, and he grunts in pain as Ikeman's burst catches him in the right leg as he dives for cover.
Ingle tosses a smoke grenade between him and the shooter, then looks at his leg. It hurts bad, but it doesn't look
to be too serious. Then, he puts his Armbrust back on safe, and takes his rifle off his back.
Ikeman, seeing the smoke (green) and realizing that the target is going to try and flank him, pulls back (using
cover and concealment) and moves to outflank his target.
Ingle shouts through the smoke, "Are you that Green Beret I saw a few minutes ago!"
SGM Stewart, dives for cover at the sound of fire a flicks the safety to burst. Once in some good cover, he hollers
(in english) "IF YOU'RE FRIENDLY, SING OUT!"
Whitedog instictively dives to the floor at the sound of the first burst, then eases back up to where he can see
once he realizes that he wasn't the target. He hears someone yell in english, "if you're friendly, sing out."
He scans for whoever yelled, but can't find him.
Kartz, alerted by the first burst, finds the general direction of the fire fight with the second burst. He spots
a column of green smoke about 300 meters north of his location. He scans a little more intently, as he realizes
that there are at least two unknown targets out there.
Location: 2km East of Highway 43, 14 km Southeast of Ladek Starey
Time: 1300 20 July 2000
<Smith scans for the voice and spots the gaping maw of a shotgun aimed at him, a mere 40 meters away.
"Now, if you would kindly point your weapon away from me, I will do the same and we can converse."
SFC Smith thinks carefully before responding...>
SFC Smith thinks to himself before replying, thinking that if this really is just a field med in question, then
he may have a better chance of getting through this unscathed. Smith also knows that the subject is probably not
alone, and scans the borderlines for any sign of movement. Smith puts his m16 down, barrel faced down and and clicks
it to safe.
Pickett eyes the back of the truck cautiously, poking his head from cover for only moments.
"Come on out son, show your hands" Pickett shouts, as he reaches for a frag grenade.
"Don't worry son, nobody gonna shoot you" as Pickett gingerly starts to pull the pin.
Pickett checks again for movement and sees none (Pickett must be blind)...
"I wonder how I ever got this far doin this shit" Pickett thinks to himself as slowly pulls on the grenade
pin.
"Come on kid show yourself" Pickett thinks as he begins sweating bullets. In his nervous panic he may
just chuck this pineapple into the truck.
"Awwwww forget it" he thinks as he replaces the pins progress, not quite removed. And approaches the
truck.
"Sargeant First Class (E-7) Gary Smith reporting! Please lower your firearm, as you see, I've put down mine.
I know you are probably not alone, having cover right now, so trust me when I say I'm not going to attempt anything
suicidal such as trying to draw a bead on you. Is there somewhere's safer we can converse? Sitting here out in
the open is uncomfortable to say the least" pointing to the back of the truck.
SFC Smith cautiously climbs in the truck, and covers Maj. Pickett as he climbs in as well.
Gunn keeps moving slowly, looking for a position where he can pop Smith if things go wrong.
Once inside, Smith starts asking Pickett a series of questions :"Have you been following me? Does this truck
belong to you? Do you know if its serviceable? I'm sorry for all the questions, but I've been stranded for a while
now, and am in need of fire support and someone to count on, or I fear I won't make it much farther. Are you with
anyone? Or alone? I'm here alone, but if you have friendlies out there, see if you can contact them."
Gary says, looking into Pickett's eyes for any signs of diversion or deceit.