Location: 2km northwest of Ostrzeszow
Time: 1745 20 July 2000
<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...">
SSG Ingle removes his telescopic sight from his rifle and carefully places it in a case he takes from his buttpack,
then, with his IR Goggles, he checks that he can sight through his iron sights and returns to watching the rear.
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.
Macleod head of towards his campsite "Glad to see a fellow Marine" he says to Lee, then hearing the commotion
from the back of the party he darts off to a set of bushes hauling Lee behind him. "Seems we got another
visitor, anyone you know?"
"It's a pleasure to meet you Captain McLeod. So tell me, what happened to the rest of McLeod's Raiders?"
Lee then motions for the rest of the group to follow, then notices that Stewart, Ingle and Gerhardt are watching
the back trail. "Uhhh, good job soldiers, keep an eye on the rear. The Captain and I will discuss matters
at his camp. If anything happens, give me a holler."
Then Kartz voice rings out from the brush. Lee responds "Come on out Sergeant, we're friendly."
"Well after the bugout orders came from Div HQ I told em to make for Krakow & I would meet them there,
15 decided to stick with me but we got bounced by some russki's about 5 Klicks out and I lost a few good lads,
(McLeods eyes glaze over and he looks of into the distance) I stuck with the wounded & cut the rest of the
boys loose, I lost the last one yesterday, nothing I could do for him a ukrainian lad named Yuri, gut wound,
it was bad, I buried him about 3 klicks from here. Poor bugger just wanted to go home." After a few seconds
he seems to snap back, "so Lee where are you boys heading?"
Lee looks around at the rag tag convoy for a bit then speaks "No where in particular, Captain, just trying
to get out of the way. Most of us are from different units. We just happened to run into each other after Kalisz.
Currently, we're trying to evade a Soviet mechanized patrol which got the better of us at a village called Ladek
Stary. The two villagers are from there" Lee points to the two villagers who have tagged along with the group.
"Some of the guys want to fight it out, but I'm not inclined to tangle with a
tank and mechanized infantry."
Lee then looks at McLeod, "Krakow, eh? I think I'd like to head there. Most of the Russian and Polish forces
are to the north and west of us, if I remember correctly. It might be best to head south and regroup. What's
the word on Ostrzeszow?" Lee points on his map to the town nearest to them.
Mcleod replies, "Seems to me it is filled with rear area stuff probably a divisional HQ, Hospital unit and
supply dump. Personally I would steer clear of it unless you are looking for fuel and ammo. If so you could probably
get away with a raid but it may get a little hot afterwards. No best to stay well away I say, I take it your
chaps are OK for ammo?"
Lee grins for a bit and thinks. "Hmmm..." The thought of diesel gasoline and ammo appeals to him, as
does the age old sport of hunting enemy generals. Then he returns to reality. "Yeah, best stay away from
it. We have enough problems as it is. If any of these guys want to go raid it, I'll cut them loose. We're ok
for ammo but we could use some fuel."
"What are the conditions between here and Krakow?" Lee looks to McLeod.
Mcleaod "Well, last I heard it should be pretty clear. I heard a troop of the 116th ACav that punched through
the Russki's line. As long as we steer clear of Silesia we should be OK, maybe a few marauders but not much from
my last intel report, but then again the russki's who hit us were supposed to be in Rumania last I heard. Gotta
love them intel types. Near enough is good enough I guess."
Kartz eases his horse around the foliage, he has reigns in one hand and has a double barrelled sawed off shotgun
lazilly resting across his shoulder. He is about 6' tall has dark brown hair, that is graying around the temple.
He is easily 40+ years old. He has a ruddy complexion, with crows feet around his eyes. He has combat webbing drapped
over his shoulders, like a well worn freind, and a floppy hat upon his head. He nods to Lee, Thank you for your
hospitalty, Let me go back and get my wagon, and we can get to know each
other better.With that he turns his horse around and bolts towards his wagon, he then leads the 4 horses/wagon
back to the convoy. The wagon, amazingly, has an M-60 on a pintle mounting on the deck. the horses look well taken
care of, and there seems to be 8-10 sacks that appear to have grain/feed in them. There also appears to be 4 gas
cans strapped in the back.
He doesnt seem to move to quickly, nor appear to be in a hurry. As He sits back down on the wagon, facing everyone
"Well, Where is everyone from?"
Gerhardt stuffs his writing into his pack and snatches up his carbine, hopping over the side of the truck (Oof!)
and moves down the side of the truck past SGM Stewart, he whispers up "Could you überwachen me and do
see doing not to receive shot?" and proceeds over to Kartz with his weapon ready, making sure that he is not
between the truck and the wagon.
{In German} "Hello there, do you mind if I check out your wagon before you come up? We don't want any surprises.
I'm Feldwebel Dietricht, can you please keep your hands were they can be seen? It's not that I don't trust you
but, everyone feels safer if your a 'known quantity'. What unit did you say you were with?" He looks through
the wagon and finds no surprises, turning to Kartz he holds out his hand to shake. "Good to see you made it
out Felwebel, nice horses."
SGM Stewart, having been around way too long, draws up his weapon and holds a solid bead un the new comers heart,
ready to fire a burst of 3 rounds into his chest. He then hollers to Gerhardt to look to see if the new guy has
any med supplies in his wagon.
Kartz gives Stewert a half grin,which quickly degenerates into a scowl, levels his shotgun at him, and replies,
"Sonny boy, If you don't get that Fucking weapon outta my face I'm gonna spatter your innards all over your
partners, and that goes for anyone thinking to board my wagon WITHOUT my permission!!"
Macleod turns to Lee "I say, some of your chaps are getting a little exciteed I think we should go get things
sorted out don't you." With that he heads over to the back of the truck, his LSW slung in front of him.
When he gets there "Kartz what unit are you from in the 5th? Who was your CO? Who was the 21st President?
Name the 6 states of Australia? Who hit the most home runs in a season? (If you can do all that then I'm convinced.)
Everyone turns toward Macleod and give him a look like he's not quite right in the head (only someone insane would
ask for the names of the Australian states). They also use the chance to get their first good look at him...
Macleod is a tall slim man with short cropped sandy brown hair and moustache. He is wearing a worn British uniform
with US & UK rank insignia & non regulation webbing that seems to be a mix from several different countries.
His face is worn and he has a twitch in his left eye every now and then. His voice is carries a clear crisp
English accent and he seems to have an air of command about him.
Location: Ostrzeszow
Time: 0115 21 July 2000
<The soldier's eyes bug out, then return to his head. The soldier offers no resistance...>
Smith knows what sort of problem he's got himself into and dispatches the enemy. He thinks to himself,"If
I have to think to shoot again, I'm hanging myself. We're in war, and there are lives besides mine on the line.
I'm got to stop questioning myself." After the thoughts fly through his head, another K-bar flies through
the man's. He throws his crumpled body out of the vehicle and checks the rest of the vehicle and nearby surroundings
for any other trouble. He will also see if he can see his partner and if he's having trouble rounding up equipment
or not. Smith waits...firearm ready...