Location: 2km northwest of Ostrzeszow
Time: 1845 20 July 2000
<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.">
Kartz gets a grin on his face. "Damn straight I'm a good mechanic Son...I mean Sir. Now, How about I start
converting those vehicles to deisel for you, I'll send you a bill later." "Now, what tools do you have,
and who is going to assist me? We can begin as soon as I'm done caring for my horses."
SSG Ingle says, "Here's a thought. Don't you guys think that all the enemy forces around us can HEAR YOU ARGUING!"
Kartz walks past the furious Gerhardt as if he's not even there and joins in another conversation, it's like he
didn't hear a word. Gerhardt stares at the mans back and, shaking his head, walks over to SGM Stewart with his
carbine across his shoulder. He looks at the wounded man and says "Do you think he's insane?" It's obvious
that everyone doesn't mind so
Gerhardt decides he's not about to make any bigger issues out of this, but starts thinking about parting ways with
the strange convoy. With a grunt he climbs onto the back of the truck and settles his equipment.
Captain Lee glares at Kartz with a stern look on his face "Save it granpa. Right now, I would like Stewart
and Ikeman to recon the nearest town. We need a vehicle to find a vehicle with a large gas tank so we can make
our escape. If they can locate one, we will take it tonight. And don't get comfy Kartz, you're going with Stewart
and Ikeman. I expect you boys to be professionals, whatever disagreements you have, settle them later. Gerhardt,
Ingle, Captain McLeod, Captain Wolfe and I will prepare and await your report. Anyone have any suggestions?"
SGM Stewart says "sounds good to me, wake me at dusk and I'll be ready."
SFC. Kartz Shrugs, "Whatever, your the boss, I am better off at fixing things, but if you wanna send me out
there, lets do it right...I am sure we can procure some more saddles from the farms around here. I have 5 horses,
that are all taken care of, why don't we ride them, instead of walking. We might draw LESS attention to ourselves.
Any civilian clothes among our group?? We could go as either German locals, or whatever. By the way, can anyone
speak German besides me and Gerhardt? Or even Russian?" Kartz then goes, muttering something about too many
chiefs, and secures his ruck, and either secures its contents into his saddle bags, or prepares it for the foot
patrol.
Macleod looks curiously at Kartz, "German, the locals here are all Polish, German won't do you much good,
the Poles aren't very keen on our NATO Allies so it might be better to speak Polish. We are about 2km from the
town so I think a foot Patrol would be more in order. What do you say Captain Lee, your in command of our Merry
Little band." Mcleod Begins to clear away leaves from a patch on the ground to bear the earth. "Now Here
is a map of what I saw yesterday. " He squats down and with a stick draws a quick map of the town & the
positions of the supply dumps & the hospital, I would expect between a company sized force of security assets
so the raid will have to be quick. We would be best moving our vehicles a little further away as well."
Captain Lee replies, "My intention is for our patrol; Ikeman, Stewart and Kartz to check out the town and
find a working vehicle with a large fuel capacity. We're going to need to gas up somewhere, I don't think we have
enough time to make our own fuel. They will also check out any defenses and troops. Once said vehicle has been
located we'll return in force to take it under cover of darkness. I think it best to leave our vehicles here, the
Mk-19 has an indirect fire range of about 2 or 3 klicks, so if we move, it will be out of range. If it looks ok,
we'll return around 0400 hours. Ikeman, Stewart and Kartz with Captain Mcleod will take the vehicle. Myself, Gerhardt,
Ingle will provide overwatch and covering fire if necessary. Captain Wolfe will man the Mk-19 and provide fire
support."
"By the way, Otter, how much gas do you have in your vehicle? If this doesn't work out, we may have to siphon
some off yours for the other Hummer." Capt. Lee then turns back to the rest of the group "Anyone have
any other ideas? If not, lets get moving."
Mcleod pauses for a moment & says, "I can spare about 100 litres of ethanol in jerrycans I can spare plus
an almost full tank, I also have another MK19 and a GPMG both with tripods. A Carl Gustav with about 15 rounds.
Also a few cases of grenades, frag, smoke & concussion. 14 cases for the MK19, 10 cases for the GPMG. I have
enough food for 20 man days I can spare as well. 60 litres of clean water a still & generator plus a heater
and a 10 man tent. Most of it's all in the HV trailor I got on the Hummer I picked up. Anything else you want to
know about?"
Captain Lee asks, "Yeah, more info on the town, if you got any. And thoughts about taking a vehicle."
Kartz, While preparing, reiterates, "I have 4 20 liter cans of deisel in the back of his wagon...You are welcome
to use it...just return the cans...also, I have 6000 rounds of '60 ammo to dispense. Although I am good, I couldn't
possibly use all of that."
Lee states "We'll see how good you are in the coming future, Sergeant." Lee then thinks to himself, "Maybe
we did see how good he really is."
SSG Ingle rummages around in the group's gear until he finds what he's looking for: an A/N PVS-4 Starlight Scope.
He turns it on to see whether it works. Seeing that it does, he takes out his small arms toolkit from his buttpack
and, mounts the PVS-4 on his sniper rifle. "I hope I don't have to use too much Kentucky windage," he
says to no one in particular, "though the mounts on the M-24 meet STANAG requirements." He then begins
to pick out possible targets in the enemy position.
Having finished with the PVS-4 mounting, SSG Ingle turns to CPT Lee and says, "Sir, I'll need to move closer
to the target if I expect to hit anything with a rifle with a starlight scope (especially if I want to tell our
guys apart from the enemy). That will take me a while to do without getting caught, especially with this damn limp.
Permission to move?"
Location: Ostrzeszow
Time: 0235 21 July 2000
<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.">
LTC Star point to several cases of grenades, and says "put those in the UAZ." Star looks around for a
mortar to requisition, but seeing none, he returns to keeping an ear out and eyes out for any other soldiers in
the area.
Smith nods and heads over to the cases and quickly loads them into the UAZ. He then helps with any other heavy
work before reverting back to guard and watching out for trouble. Smith steels himself, as he will not hesitate
to fire a three round burst this time.
Just as Smith finishes throwing the grenades into the UAZ, Star spots another soldier nearing where he waxed the
first soldier on the way in.