Location: 2km northwest of Ostrzeszow
Time: 1745 20 July 2000
< After this, Gerhardt clambers across the bouncing and swaying truck to SGT Smith "Kann ich receive you
everything? Are you hungry or thirsty?">
SGT Smith is obviously in too much pain to answer and SGM Stewart seems too concerned with what's following as
well. Gerhardt is at a bit of a loss and looks about nervously. After a few minutes he hunkers down again and carfully
cradles his carbine in his lap, taking out his pen he begins to write on the MRE carton whenever the road has a
flat section.
<The vehicles roll up, and a soldier dismounts and walks over to CPT McLeod.>
Macleod watches him cautiously until he is about 10 yards away, he then speaks "Identify yerself soldier!"
CPT Lee answers " I'm Captain Jarrod Lee, United States Marines, the one you have been talking to on the radio."
Satisfied, he moves back towards the rest of the group putting up his LMG as he approaches "Captain McLeod,
former CO of McLeod Raiders, 5th US Div. Welcome chaps I have a campsite
setup a ways back, if you would care to join me."
Stewart, Ingle, and Gerhardt continue to watch the backtrail, waiting for any sign of approaching trouble.
Stewart catches a glance of something moving in the woods, and taps Ingle. He points to his eyes, then points into
the woods in the direction of the movement.
Ingle, Stewart, and Gerhardt all tense up, waiting for the unknown contact to show itself again.
Suddenly, a bush about 100 meters out begins to speak, or more accurately, there is a voice coming from behind
the bush. The voice calls out in German "Hello in the convoy!! I am Sergeant Firsrt Class Kartz, US army.
5th div. I am tired of traveling alone, and wish to join your group..."
Before anyone can say anything, the voice repeats the same thing in Russian, then in english...
100 meters north of the main group
Time: 1745 20 July 2000
CPT Whitedog stops, heads back to Kartz and says "I just spent the last few months trying to get out from
behind enemy lines, the last place I'm heading is deeper into enemy held territory! If you want, you can come with
me, but I'm heading north by northwest back to Germany." Whitedog then waits a moment before turning back
north.
Kartz responds "I would love to head back to Germany, but personally, I'm too damn old to be E&E'n (escape
and evading) through a russian infantry division. Besides, I don't want to lose my horses and wagon, I worked to
hard to get these." Kartz dismounts his cart, walks over to Whitedog and shakes his hand "good luck,
maybe I'll see you in Krautland."
After Whitedog is gone for a few minutes, Kartz mounts one of his horses, and heads towards the convoy.
About a 100 meters short of the convoy, Kartz calls out in german "Hello in the convoy!! I am Sergeant Firsrt
Class Kartz, US army. 5th div. I am tired of traveling alone, and wish to join your group..." He waits a moment
before repeating himself in russian, then english. He awaits a response without dismounting...
Location: Ostrzeszow
Time: 0115 21 July 2000
<They spot a UAZ parked close to the supply depot. Smith sneaks over to the UAZ, while Star begins looking around
the supply depot. Most of the supplies seem to be mostly small arms ammo, grenades, and mortar ammo. Smith reaches
the UAZ and glances in, there are some blankets in the backseat, but it looks clear. Suddenly, the blanket mutters
something, then begins to sit up!>
Smith panics for a split-second but instincts take over and he whips his
combat knife out of his boot, and grabs the figure by the throat forcible
and mutters,"Bitch, do more than whisper and I slit your throat.
Understood?" Smith says, convincingly and without a doubt, meaning it. He
knew what was at stake if things should go to shit, and he couldn't risk it.
If the figure gives a struggle, Smith does his best to end resistance with a
quick jab of the k-bar.
The soldier's eyes bug out, then return to his head. The soldier offers no resistance...