Location: 2km northwest of Ostrzeszow
Time: 1745 20 July 2000
<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!!">
Lee listens to the growing argument with concern. He first looks at Sergeant Kartz, then looks at the truck containing
Sergeant Smith and an evil grin crosses his face. "Nah...not yet", he mumbles to himself. Lee then
approaches the arguing men, hand on his holstered M9.
"Awright!!!" he yells. "Enough of this shit!" He glares at the three men. "Stewart,
Gerhardt, stay cool!" He then looks at Kartz, "Listen up soldier, we know you've been following us,
and we know you took some potshots at our recon team. But that's ok, we're all on edge after getting our asses
whupped at Kalisz." Captain Lee's tone changes for the worse, "I've got some wounded men that need medical
attention. One of them, you should be happy to know, I shot myself, after he refused to lower his weapon. So I'd
advise you to
change your attitude, soldier!"
Lee steps next to Gerhardt and speaks at Kartz "Now, why don't you be a good soldier and share any medical
supplies you have?"
Without taking his eyes, or his shotgun, off of Stewart, Kartz answers Mcleod the best he can "First of all
I don't appreciate having weapons held on me by so called "Allies". I am in what used to be the Headquarters
company of the 5th division. As for your questions:
"Who was your CO?
That isnt really relevent as you wouldn't have a clue
Who was the 21st President?
I believe that that would be Chester A. Arthur 1881-85
Name the 6 states of Australia?
I don't know, and more importantly, I don't care.
Who hit the most home runs in a season?
I believe the young man would be Mark Mcguire.
(If you can do all that then I'm convinced.)
I wasn't born to connvince you young'n."
Gerhardt drops to one knee and aims his G36 at Kartzes chest, weapon set on full auto and his finger on trigger.
When Kartz still refuses to drop his weapon he bellows "Gesetzt hinunter die Waffe oder mich schießen
Sie! Dieses ist Ihr letztes Verwarnung! ("Put down the weapon or I shoot! This is your last warning!)"
Kartz gets an exasperated look on his face. "I swear to God, If I am shot, Stewarts guts are gonna be all
over anybody behind him. You want that on your concious? I certainly wouldnt." he takes a deep breath, and
looks carefully at Gerhardt, still pointing the street sweeper at Stewart. "Look, we are all tired, scared,
and on edge. How about this. Lee seems to be the only one with any sense, I say he counts to 3, and we ALL lower
our weapons. If I wanted trouble, I could have ambushed you, I would'nt have ridden right up to you. I am an American,
and I am pretty sure your you are all allies. How does that sound?"
SSG Ingle says, "First, EVERYONE CALM DOWN. Next, I have an idea. I left some stuff about 85 klicks SE of
here, just north of Lublineic. Nice farmhouse, big barn, sweet old couple (Marya and Pioter Karanski) watching
it for me. Some rockets, ammunition, a Jeep Cherokee...what do you think?"
Lee's right eyebrow raises as he hears Ingle's comments. "Why, Sergeant Ingle, you surprise me! Sounds good
to me, we head to your little hidey-hole and rest up a bit." Lee then turns to McLeod "Otter, whats
it like between here and Lublineic?"
Lee rolls his eyes upon hearing how Kartz could have ambushed the group. "Look soldier, I heard that tired
old line about how you could have ambushed us. In fact the last guy that said that to me is sitting in the back
of that deuce truck." He looks back over his shoulder to Sergeant Smith lying unconcious in the truck, then
turns his head back towards Kartz, his eyes briefly stopping at the captain's bars on his shoulders. "By the
way, that's
Captain to you, Sergeant. Ordinarily, I don't care if people fail to recognize rank. It's quite understood these
days with nukes flying everywhere. My men are a bit edgy, considering you were taking potshots at some of them.
Now you can lower the weapon and join up with us or you can watch us leave. Your choice soldier." Lee turns
and heads towards the vehicles.
He confers briefly with McLeod and Ingle,"Sounds good Ingle. We'll head to your place. Hope you got some
beers! McLeod, any significant Soviets between here and there?"
"Remember, "SIR", that I wasnt the one to pull hardware first, I just don't want my head blown off
by any of your edgie troopies, and I am a little possesive of my wagon, and the equipment that is on it. If you
guys all aggree, we can be one big, mal-adjusted family."
Kartz continues to glare at Gerhardt, while lowering his shotgun, and replacing it in the thigh holster. Taking
a deep relaxing breath, Kartz continues, "We obviously got of on the wrong foot, I am sargent first class
Kartz. I am, or more correctly, was, Senior NCO of maintenance platoon of the 5th division. Your welcome to the
4/5 gallons of gas in the back. I obviously dont need it. What sort of weapons are all equipped with?"
Captain Lee looks at Kartz, "Remember this, sergeant. We had a recon team out at some deserted farm. Somebody
took potshots at them, actually quite a few. And do you remember someone calling for you to come on out, shortly
after that sergeant?" Lee shakes his head and chuckles "Maintenance platoon huh? Good for you, stay
out of trouble. If you're a good mechanic, all is forgiven."
Mcleod pauses for a moment "From memory there shouldn't be much between us and Lublineic, except B Squadron
116th ACav they broke out towards Dobrodzien so we may run into a few of them plus stragglers, marauders,bandits,
bushwhackers and any other bad arse with a gun. Still sounds like a good idea we may meet up with some of my lads."
"OK, look at my map. To the west of the Karanski's is the Soviet 129th MRD. They're pretty disorganized at
this point. Up north, but a pretty good ways, is the remnants of the 9th Soviet Tank Division. They're pretty
much terrorizing the populace at this point. Down south is this crazy Czech general that I was sent to kill at
one point. He's down south, over the border. The Karanskis are here," he points to a green "X"
on the map, "and they're in a pretty safe spot at this point. They're dairy farmers, and sell milk and cheese
to the people in the surrounding countryside. Now when we get there, remember they saved my life, so accord them
some respect. Sir and Ma'am them, and all that."
Captain Lee looks in surprise at Sgt. Ingle. "Alright sounds like a plan. 85 klicks you say? I'm not sure
if we have the fuel to make it. I think we'll have to either rest up and brew some more or hit a Soviet supply
dump." He glances over at his map again and looks to Captain McLeod, "The closest town...Ostrzesow?
You said it's a supply dump? These vehicles are running pretty low on fuel. I'm thinking we hit the town and
take some gas."
He then looks over his shoulder back towards Kartz "Maybe it would release some of the tension going on around
here."
Lee then addresses the group "Alright! Listen up! We may not have enough fuel to make it to Ingle's safe
house. Now, we can try and make it on what we've got. Alternatively, there's a town about 2 klicks southwest of
here called Ostrzesow. It's a Soviet supply dump. If it is not heavily guarded, we will hit the fuel depot.
What do you all think?"
Gerhardt is furious, more angry than he's been in months. He stalks up to within five metres of Kartz and takes
his weapon from his shoulder and holds it pointing at the ground.
"[German] What do you think your doing? Do you think I LIKE shooting people? Are you mad? We're being
pursued by the red's and you waltz in, pointing your weapon and making threats! Have you forgotten how it goes
in the field? Of course you will be covered when your being checked out! It's what anyone would do! You should
know better at your age! Now, is it true you were shooting at the convoy?"
Location: Ostrzeszow
Time: 0115 21 July 2000
<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...>
LTC Star comea up behind the soldier that smith has at knife point to give him a butt stroke from his H&K at
the back of his head hopefully knocking him out so we can do our work
and get out. As he gets closer, he sees that Smith has solved the problem, and heads back to searching the depot.
Smith asks "you need help Star? Or you want me to keep manning the damn vehicle?" Smith asks, eager to
help, but also doesn't want any more screw ups and wants to do what will ultimately lead to success."