Krakow, September 5th and 6th, 2000
"George, the helicopter is off the table. Completely. Stop bringing it up."
"Captian..."
"No, it won't work. You're hanging most of our people out to dry and fucking over anyone else westward leaning in Krakow. We're not doing it. We've got other options, right."
"Two others." He unfolds our map. "One if by land and two if by sea."
--------------
"I had thought my family to be dead. Lost when Warsaw was struck. Last winter I receive a letter from a trader. They write, escaped Warsaw after Pact troops broke the siege. They live in a farming commune in, near, the city. My children and grandchildren are well."
-------------
"Going by land would be the most direct. Maybe even the safest to start. By your account Filipowicz owes you a big favor. That should get your command upriver and through his lands. That would leave you, 200 kilometers to walk to friendly lines. That's the easy part."
"Yes, the hard part is getting through the lines."
"No it isn't. Cap, the men are safe here. We need one vehicle to get there. I can lead us through the lines. That's what I do."
"We're not leaving them here, Moonpie. I'm taking them with me, just like I'm taking you."
"Then give me Leo and those guys from the insertion party. Hell, Ed too. We'll need a mech."
"Thank you, fuck no!"
"Ed, Moon, not happening. George, it's an option. Tell us about the river."
"Old Man Rataj, he has a boat and a mission."
-----------
"This spring I take the River Princess, one of my tugs downstream. I have cargo; bicycles, mortars, other items. I will bring back food for city; and my family. We had sailed for 2 days before we were attacked by an small group of boats."
------------
"The Old Man has a boat and barge. He tried to get the Rada to fund an expedition with ORMO or Warta guard. They refused. Nothing in Warsaw but rubble anyway. He pressed them hard. Made such an obnoxious pain of himself until they banned him from the building. He's not welcome at the Wawel either. Our information says he's been trying to hire mercenaries to make the trip. You've got a company, hell, a tank too."
"Which gets him to Warsaw, how does that help us?"
"You get him to Warsaw. He gets to be with his family. Then you take the barge and follow the river all the way to the Baltic. Last reports put the 50th Armored Division, 2nd Marine Division, and sundry other units, here. That's less than 100 kilometers by land. You can walk our item there. They can use a fishing boat to sail it the rest of the way to friendly lines. Or you could try to trade the tug for something seafaring and deliver it yourself."
------------
"Pirates in this day! I had expected marauders on the shore. Maybe paying bribes or trading to get under guarded bridges, but well organized pirates. These I did not expect. They herded the Princess into shallow water. Dropped mortars on us. If not for the fall of night they would have killed us. By the grace of God, we escaped to the shore and returned to Krakow."
--------------
"And you think he won't have thought of just that happening. What fail safes will he have in place? Damn it, I don't even know if any of us knows how to sail a tug or run the engines!"
"Nearly 400 kilometers to Warsaw by the river. You'd have plenty of time to learn."
"...."
--------------
--------------
"So, that Captain is my tale and why I need you. I have one tug, Wisula Krowola, the Vistula Queen. I have a cargo barge. You have brave, skilled men. Forgive me, soldiers. Together we can break them, retrieve me family, and return here to safety. I will provide you with food and medical care on the trip. You will take payment upon our return in script, food, or other goods."
"Mr. Rataj, I have, effectively, a reinforced company under arms, a tank, and several armored personnel carriers. If we go, I intend to take them all."
"So, 300 men? Good, you have many guns. They will flee or die. I care not which. What do you say to one hundred script or goods per man."
"It is not the..."
"I have pre-war medicinies..."
"Mr. Rataj, I don't want the medicinies.
"What do you want? Gold?"
"My men and I are far from home. I propose a trade. We will guard you and yours to Warsaw and back. In exchange, after your safe return, I want you to take us all the way down river to the Baltic. Naturally, we will provide security on that trip as well."
"....."
"You'll be the man who reopened the Vistula."
"...No, captain, I agree to your offer. This winter though will be as harsh as the last two have been..."
"If the weather prevents our passage this year, I would accept it in the spring. I'm sure you have friends in the city. They can tell you about our activities. We're prepared to stay the season if we have to."
"Then we have a deal; security for passage this winter or spring."
"Mr. Rataj, I'll shake on that."
---------
"George is going to have a fucking fit when he hears you told him you wanted a ride all the way down."
"He'll be foaming when I tell him he took the deal."
"My Ma always said, 'Honesty's the best policy'"
"Get some rest. I'll need the engineers and a security detail early tomorrow. We need to head out to Nowy Hut and look the craft over."
Monday, November 21, 2011
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
037: Hard Math, Simple Breakdowns, and Other News
Log, Krakow, September 4th, 2000
268 mouths consume a little over 800 kilograms of food a day.
That's 268 in Krakow script or about 1/30th of our gold war chest.
There's not enough to make it through this winter.
---------
Troop morale and health continues to improve with adequate food and rest. Active numbers are up to 207. Doc reports that of the remainder another 27 should be back to duty within the week. That leaves 28 in the physically unfit (4) or heavily traumatized (24) category.
----------
Skill Sets
Support Personnel: 69 Marginalia -- All personnel listed below are employable by Krakow standards
5 Field Medics
3 Medical Assistants
3 Electrical and Electronic System Techs
6 Construction and Civil Engineers
4 Aviation Mechanics
7 Mechanics
6 Armorers
1 Veterinary Health Specialist
Marginalia -- these, only for manual labor
8 Cooks
7 Drivers
6 Logistics
-- 1 described as a "get it all"
5 Admin
8 Farmers Marginalia --keep these for the compound
Line Troops: 137
94 Infantry
-- 8 former Navy personnel
-- 2 former Air Force personnel
9 Combat Enginnering
19 Armor
15 Artillery
----------
Equipment
All the men are carrying a small quantity of personal items looted from the camp, blankets, and food
Armament
Rifles in various calibers for 72
Machine guns, RPK-74, PK, M-60, for 12
Shotguns for 15
Pistols for 26
Support Weapons
10 RPG-16 with limited ammunition (27 rounds total)
120mm Mortar (9 HE, 1 WP, 2 ILLUM)
3 82mm Mortars marked "FabrykaWojo" (no ammunition)
General Equipment
10 soviet style flak jackets
62 soviet style helmets
general kit for 25
------------
Noted in the Log
In addition to his assigned duties, Aron Sawicki organized a thorough inventory and requisition of abandoned materials in the compound area during our absence. Clothes, underwear, footwear, coats (fall and winter) and other cold weather gear, blankets, pillows, kitchen items, and bags were available to the troops upon their arrival.
Several cans of Red and Blue paint were discovered and set aside for tactical markings. A basket of red sheets, towels and rags is available for the making of Red Diamond shoulder insignia.
Out of his personal funds he has obtained a 1000 L water trailer.
268 mouths consume a little over 800 kilograms of food a day.
That's 268 in Krakow script or about 1/30th of our gold war chest.
There's not enough to make it through this winter.
---------
Troop morale and health continues to improve with adequate food and rest. Active numbers are up to 207. Doc reports that of the remainder another 27 should be back to duty within the week. That leaves 28 in the physically unfit (4) or heavily traumatized (24) category.
----------
Skill Sets
Support Personnel: 69 Marginalia -- All personnel listed below are employable by Krakow standards
5 Field Medics
3 Medical Assistants
3 Electrical and Electronic System Techs
6 Construction and Civil Engineers
4 Aviation Mechanics
7 Mechanics
6 Armorers
1 Veterinary Health Specialist
Marginalia -- these, only for manual labor
8 Cooks
7 Drivers
6 Logistics
-- 1 described as a "get it all"
5 Admin
8 Farmers Marginalia --keep these for the compound
Line Troops: 137
94 Infantry
-- 8 former Navy personnel
-- 2 former Air Force personnel
9 Combat Enginnering
19 Armor
15 Artillery
----------
Equipment
All the men are carrying a small quantity of personal items looted from the camp, blankets, and food
Armament
Rifles in various calibers for 72
Machine guns, RPK-74, PK, M-60, for 12
Shotguns for 15
Pistols for 26
Support Weapons
10 RPG-16 with limited ammunition (27 rounds total)
120mm Mortar (9 HE, 1 WP, 2 ILLUM)
3 82mm Mortars marked "FabrykaWojo" (no ammunition)
General Equipment
10 soviet style flak jackets
62 soviet style helmets
general kit for 25
------------
Noted in the Log
In addition to his assigned duties, Aron Sawicki organized a thorough inventory and requisition of abandoned materials in the compound area during our absence. Clothes, underwear, footwear, coats (fall and winter) and other cold weather gear, blankets, pillows, kitchen items, and bags were available to the troops upon their arrival.
Several cans of Red and Blue paint were discovered and set aside for tactical markings. A basket of red sheets, towels and rags is available for the making of Red Diamond shoulder insignia.
Out of his personal funds he has obtained a 1000 L water trailer.
Monday, November 14, 2011
036: Hi's & Low's
Ed's Journal, August 30th, 2000
Five days to Krakow.
Hey kids, I hope all the little Eds I've had since I came back home forgive me not writing. It has been a very busy week with ups and more ups! Here's the tale for the history books. Marginalia -brag much
Game plans completely changed. Instead of raiding the camp and using it as bait to take the POW column, we ambushed the column and used those guys to take the camp. Both ops went off like we actually knew what we were doing.
The column ambush occurred on August 23rd. There were minimal casualties among the prisoners, we captured 5 guards, and 2 ran off to live another day. Doc pulled another screaming charge with gun blazing. She took a few rounds and decided to pass out. Otherwise, no one on our team was hurt.
The ranker in the column is an old friend of Llyellan's. Gunnery Sergent Walters and him served back in Sarajevo. The Gunny ran mortar tubes for the marines before getting shuffled to the 5th. He's also done his duty by keeping the men in the column organized and disciplined.
I'm not trying to minimize their condition. Most of the men were in sad shape from hard work, ill treatment, and little food. But given the chance, those who were capable of fighting shook out into squads and fire teams with minimal oversight from us.
Of the two hundred in the column, about fifty were combat troops and capable. Another fifty were rear-echelon types. They'd had their Basic and then some since the war started, but they weren't solid. The remaining ninety or so were wounded or shell-shocked.
We took the 24th to lay plans for the camp and let the men rest and get some decent food in them.
On the 25th, we loaded the worst of the casualties into the OT's, wagons, and truck. and made our way to the camp. We made a large loop around it to the north, to avoid their OPs and patrols, and traveled late into the night.
I waited with the main assault force while Leo, Llywellan, and ten picked men, all heavily armed with M203s and light machine guns, infiltrated the camp. They eliminated the watch tower guards on the north side, cut their way through the fence, and used the deep shadows on the east side to get to the center of camp. They signaled Gunny when their charges were placed. Marginalia - always put 2 men in a watch tower
Gunny's team dropped two 120 Mortar shells into the barracks #1, walked it south into barracks #2, and dropped two more. Marginalia -120's make a big crater The infiltrators blew the mortar pit to hell with a satchel charge and Leo rocketed the parked BMPs in case they had crews. The other member of their team put 40mm HE into the other guard towers and engaged the standing guard on top of the bunker. Once the bunker was suppressed, the grenadiers eliminated their fighting position.
There wasn't much to do when the main force arrived. Almost all of the camp guards inside the wire were killed when their barracks blew, we took two prisoners out of the roving guard. The men outside the wire decided not to come back..I figure some took a look and decided they had pressing business elsewhere. The camp commandant, inside the bunker, was the last hold-out. We gave them a choice, come out in the next five minutes or we'd burn them out with their own fuel stocks. The commandant took his own life. His second in command and their women came out.
Cap had all the prisoners, including the women, stuffed into the camp's punishment cells for their own safety.
I wish I could write that we all then went back to Krakow and were happy
Marginalia - this is in the logs, I don't need to do it
There were only about 100 prisoners in the camp, we had been told there should be around 300, our missing 200 had been sold. The commandants records showed he'd been paid a hefty price; gold, tank parts, and luxuries, by a Col. Czarny. The men had been marched off to Warsaw as slaves less than two weeks ago. Two fuckin' weeks. Marginalia -they'd planned to restock by taking the column and killing the guards "restocking" he called it
While Cap was chasing that down, several fights had to be broken up among the newly freed prisoners. Many of the prisoners were accused of collaboration with the enemy, having betrayed escape attempts, and other crimes against the rest of the prisoners. Cap had the men separated and those accused put under guard. After giving us instructions to loot the camp and strip the fields, she began questioning the men, accusers and accused both, and combing through the records with Leo.
On the 27th, she called us together with NCOs from the liberated troops. She told us of the statements she had gathered and the records that collaborated it. She told us of other statements that she had received and what wasn't collaborated by the camp records. Forty-two of the man we had just freed were guilty of collaborating with the enemy, willful treason, and had received special compensation for it. Eight others were guilty of serious infractions or abuse against other prisoners. Four men of the column had committed similar crimes.
Her face was tight when she told us. Stress, anger, grief? Probably all three. We didn't have the means or the manpower to bring such a group to proper authority. The sergeants were to have the men draw lots and form firing squads. The forty-two were to be executed. The other twelve would be dishonorably discharged and abandoned with the soviets we had captured. The results of her summary courts-martial were entered in the unit log. Sentence would be carried out immediately.
We marched them out of the camp into the southern fields, already stripped by us solider locusts, and formed them into a line. All of the men not required for base security were formed up. The charges wee read, shots fired, and men fell. We left hem there, unburied and unforgiven
Marginalia -fuck them all for making us do it
The soviet prisoners and their twelve friends were loaded into a truck. The OTs escorted them an hours drive west. They were abandoned in a small nameless village. They get to live. I hope never to see them again.
We finished inventory and requisition on the afternoon of the 28th. Cached what we could in the surrounding woods and spillt the rest. Our column, 268 strong, marched out of the morning of the 29th.
Five days to Krakow.
Hey kids, I hope all the little Eds I've had since I came back home forgive me not writing. It has been a very busy week with ups and more ups! Here's the tale for the history books. Marginalia -brag much
Game plans completely changed. Instead of raiding the camp and using it as bait to take the POW column, we ambushed the column and used those guys to take the camp. Both ops went off like we actually knew what we were doing.
The column ambush occurred on August 23rd. There were minimal casualties among the prisoners, we captured 5 guards, and 2 ran off to live another day. Doc pulled another screaming charge with gun blazing. She took a few rounds and decided to pass out. Otherwise, no one on our team was hurt.
The ranker in the column is an old friend of Llyellan's. Gunnery Sergent Walters and him served back in Sarajevo. The Gunny ran mortar tubes for the marines before getting shuffled to the 5th. He's also done his duty by keeping the men in the column organized and disciplined.
I'm not trying to minimize their condition. Most of the men were in sad shape from hard work, ill treatment, and little food. But given the chance, those who were capable of fighting shook out into squads and fire teams with minimal oversight from us.
Of the two hundred in the column, about fifty were combat troops and capable. Another fifty were rear-echelon types. They'd had their Basic and then some since the war started, but they weren't solid. The remaining ninety or so were wounded or shell-shocked.
We took the 24th to lay plans for the camp and let the men rest and get some decent food in them.
On the 25th, we loaded the worst of the casualties into the OT's, wagons, and truck. and made our way to the camp. We made a large loop around it to the north, to avoid their OPs and patrols, and traveled late into the night.
I waited with the main assault force while Leo, Llywellan, and ten picked men, all heavily armed with M203s and light machine guns, infiltrated the camp. They eliminated the watch tower guards on the north side, cut their way through the fence, and used the deep shadows on the east side to get to the center of camp. They signaled Gunny when their charges were placed. Marginalia - always put 2 men in a watch tower
Gunny's team dropped two 120 Mortar shells into the barracks #1, walked it south into barracks #2, and dropped two more. Marginalia -120's make a big crater The infiltrators blew the mortar pit to hell with a satchel charge and Leo rocketed the parked BMPs in case they had crews. The other member of their team put 40mm HE into the other guard towers and engaged the standing guard on top of the bunker. Once the bunker was suppressed, the grenadiers eliminated their fighting position.
There wasn't much to do when the main force arrived. Almost all of the camp guards inside the wire were killed when their barracks blew, we took two prisoners out of the roving guard. The men outside the wire decided not to come back..I figure some took a look and decided they had pressing business elsewhere. The camp commandant, inside the bunker, was the last hold-out. We gave them a choice, come out in the next five minutes or we'd burn them out with their own fuel stocks. The commandant took his own life. His second in command and their women came out.
Cap had all the prisoners, including the women, stuffed into the camp's punishment cells for their own safety.
I wish I could write that we all then went back to Krakow and were happy
Marginalia - this is in the logs, I don't need to do it
There were only about 100 prisoners in the camp, we had been told there should be around 300, our missing 200 had been sold. The commandants records showed he'd been paid a hefty price; gold, tank parts, and luxuries, by a Col. Czarny. The men had been marched off to Warsaw as slaves less than two weeks ago. Two fuckin' weeks. Marginalia -they'd planned to restock by taking the column and killing the guards "restocking" he called it
While Cap was chasing that down, several fights had to be broken up among the newly freed prisoners. Many of the prisoners were accused of collaboration with the enemy, having betrayed escape attempts, and other crimes against the rest of the prisoners. Cap had the men separated and those accused put under guard. After giving us instructions to loot the camp and strip the fields, she began questioning the men, accusers and accused both, and combing through the records with Leo.
On the 27th, she called us together with NCOs from the liberated troops. She told us of the statements she had gathered and the records that collaborated it. She told us of other statements that she had received and what wasn't collaborated by the camp records. Forty-two of the man we had just freed were guilty of collaborating with the enemy, willful treason, and had received special compensation for it. Eight others were guilty of serious infractions or abuse against other prisoners. Four men of the column had committed similar crimes.
Her face was tight when she told us. Stress, anger, grief? Probably all three. We didn't have the means or the manpower to bring such a group to proper authority. The sergeants were to have the men draw lots and form firing squads. The forty-two were to be executed. The other twelve would be dishonorably discharged and abandoned with the soviets we had captured. The results of her summary courts-martial were entered in the unit log. Sentence would be carried out immediately.
We marched them out of the camp into the southern fields, already stripped by us solider locusts, and formed them into a line. All of the men not required for base security were formed up. The charges wee read, shots fired, and men fell. We left hem there, unburied and unforgiven
Marginalia -fuck them all for making us do it
The soviet prisoners and their twelve friends were loaded into a truck. The OTs escorted them an hours drive west. They were abandoned in a small nameless village. They get to live. I hope never to see them again.
We finished inventory and requisition on the afternoon of the 28th. Cached what we could in the surrounding woods and spillt the rest. Our column, 268 strong, marched out of the morning of the 29th.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
035: Debrief
Mid-thirties, maybe. His face is loose with the hanging flesh left after sudden weight lose. A ragged, half-healed scar start above his right eye before moving off to his hair line. His fatigues are ragged and dirty with large tear down the right leg. On his left foot is a over-large boot stuffed with rags. On the right a sneaker. Despite the wear he still carries himself with strength.
"Thank you, ma'am. Gunnery Sergeant Larry Walters. I'm ranking NCO.
Could you repeat that, ma'am? My hearing isn't what it was. Too much time with the arty.
Yes, after the encirclement we fell back into Kalisz. We held them for three long days. By the night of the third we were out of everything; food, ammo, hell, hope too. We were surrounded on three sides by Russians and the Poles were to our north. We weren't getting out and they tightened the ring every day.
The Major decided it was time to talk to one of them. He went out to the Poles and negotiated our surrender. Reckon it kept us all from being killed. They seperated out the officers and the women. I didn't see any of them after that. Didn't hear anything either.
They took what fancied them off of us. I doubt more than one in ten still has their issue boots. The Poles, at least, dumped their rejects back on us so almost everyone is shod.
We've been worked hard ever since, ma'am. Graves detail first. Then farms around Kalisz and Lodz.
A few men tried to escape. There were reprisals for that. Mostly beatings or food held back for a day, not that we were getting much. A few men were shot out of hand as warnings. Any escapees they caught were hung, if they hadn't already been shot.
No, ma'am, I counciled them not to try. I know it is our duty to try to escape. To continue the fight by any means possible, but not there. Too many enemies on the ground and we're too closely watched.
About five days ago they moved us east. They penny packeted work teams on the way. Ten here, ten there, we're down fifty. If you have a map, I can show you were. We learned we were being taken to Lublin, more work details and harvest.
Combat status? About half of us would be ready with a day's rest, good food and a weapon. I would only count about half of those as experienced troops. The rest were support; logistics, drivers, cooks, mechs and techs. The rest of the group needs more than a day. We've got casualties; both physical and head cases.
You'll want to watch the drivers of the wagons closely. They're trustees. ***Spits*** Except for Joachim and Rodriguez. I told them to volunteer. It was as inside as I could get."
*******
He could be someone's grandfather. Thinning gray hair in a widow's peak. Neat beard, recently trimmed back. What could be laugh lines around his eyes. If they weren't such sad blue things. Probably the pain from his arm. Doc tells me he broke his Clavicle and Humerus after he fell from his horse during the ambush. This, then, was their commanding officer. Doesn't speak a lick of English. I need Leo to translate.
"Jasha Gurin, Mladshiy leytenant (2nd Lt, he's a butterbar -- Leo)
I was in command of the detachment. Please, Kapitan, how are my boys?
Yes, most of them were, boys, and a few old men. All they could spare to take the Americans back east.
No, I think no else wanted to do it, so it was given to us. We're all remnants or replacements.
Yes, I was a carpenter before my unit got called up. It was a mobilization-only division. Long gone now. We're replacements now.
Yes, we're expected in two days at Camp 4-4. At least I've been told we're expected. There was a radio and truck battery in one of the wagons. I was instructed to make contact well clear of their perimeter. I was to leave as many of my prisoners as required, pick-up any prisoners as required, and head to Lublin the next day.
We were issued sufficient food to get there and take a hundred prisoners on to Lublin in the next four days. I was not authorized to requisition additional food from the camp. I have no details on the camp personnel or security arrangements.
I understand. If you have any questions about Kalisz or Lodz you just have to ask.
Thank you. Kapitan, may I see my boys now?"
"Thank you, ma'am. Gunnery Sergeant Larry Walters. I'm ranking NCO.
Could you repeat that, ma'am? My hearing isn't what it was. Too much time with the arty.
Yes, after the encirclement we fell back into Kalisz. We held them for three long days. By the night of the third we were out of everything; food, ammo, hell, hope too. We were surrounded on three sides by Russians and the Poles were to our north. We weren't getting out and they tightened the ring every day.
The Major decided it was time to talk to one of them. He went out to the Poles and negotiated our surrender. Reckon it kept us all from being killed. They seperated out the officers and the women. I didn't see any of them after that. Didn't hear anything either.
They took what fancied them off of us. I doubt more than one in ten still has their issue boots. The Poles, at least, dumped their rejects back on us so almost everyone is shod.
We've been worked hard ever since, ma'am. Graves detail first. Then farms around Kalisz and Lodz.
A few men tried to escape. There were reprisals for that. Mostly beatings or food held back for a day, not that we were getting much. A few men were shot out of hand as warnings. Any escapees they caught were hung, if they hadn't already been shot.
No, ma'am, I counciled them not to try. I know it is our duty to try to escape. To continue the fight by any means possible, but not there. Too many enemies on the ground and we're too closely watched.
About five days ago they moved us east. They penny packeted work teams on the way. Ten here, ten there, we're down fifty. If you have a map, I can show you were. We learned we were being taken to Lublin, more work details and harvest.
Combat status? About half of us would be ready with a day's rest, good food and a weapon. I would only count about half of those as experienced troops. The rest were support; logistics, drivers, cooks, mechs and techs. The rest of the group needs more than a day. We've got casualties; both physical and head cases.
You'll want to watch the drivers of the wagons closely. They're trustees. ***Spits*** Except for Joachim and Rodriguez. I told them to volunteer. It was as inside as I could get."
*******
He could be someone's grandfather. Thinning gray hair in a widow's peak. Neat beard, recently trimmed back. What could be laugh lines around his eyes. If they weren't such sad blue things. Probably the pain from his arm. Doc tells me he broke his Clavicle and Humerus after he fell from his horse during the ambush. This, then, was their commanding officer. Doesn't speak a lick of English. I need Leo to translate.
"Jasha Gurin, Mladshiy leytenant (2nd Lt, he's a butterbar -- Leo)
I was in command of the detachment. Please, Kapitan, how are my boys?
Yes, most of them were, boys, and a few old men. All they could spare to take the Americans back east.
No, I think no else wanted to do it, so it was given to us. We're all remnants or replacements.
Yes, I was a carpenter before my unit got called up. It was a mobilization-only division. Long gone now. We're replacements now.
Yes, we're expected in two days at Camp 4-4. At least I've been told we're expected. There was a radio and truck battery in one of the wagons. I was instructed to make contact well clear of their perimeter. I was to leave as many of my prisoners as required, pick-up any prisoners as required, and head to Lublin the next day.
We were issued sufficient food to get there and take a hundred prisoners on to Lublin in the next four days. I was not authorized to requisition additional food from the camp. I have no details on the camp personnel or security arrangements.
I understand. If you have any questions about Kalisz or Lodz you just have to ask.
Thank you. Kapitan, may I see my boys now?"
034: A Well Laid Ambush
Captain Paterson, August 23rd, 2000
A well laid ambush is a thing of beauty. We found a spot where the road rose up to meet a slanting ridgeline in the forest. With two days we had plenty of time to dig in the OTs so only their turrets cleared the ridge and camoflage them as well as prepare and camoflage fihting positions for all the dismounts. Leo, I placed forward in an OP near the edge of the forest, to give us a good warning once the column appeared. Alphabit placed charges on trees to block the road at the ridgeline as well as about 200 meters further back. The plan would be to let the vanguard slip through our net and drop the trees to block the column. Everyone was warned to be sure of their shots. Wild fire would get many of our own men killed. Then we waited.
The column was spotted towards the end of the second day. They were pushing their charges hard up the road. I expect they wanted to make the woods before nightfall for the shelter it would provide against the wind and rain. Leo reported there were onlt about 20 guards riding horseback and 6 wagons piled high as well as the expected prisoners. It looked as if they were roped or chained to prevent their escape. I gave my troop last minute instructions and settled behind my M60.
The van, 3 men on horseback, were only paying cursory attention. They trotted right through our positions without a second glance. We should give thanks it was the end of a day of hard travel and not a fresh start for them.
The column followed them a hundred meters back. As per our plans the troop sighted on their sectors, prioritizing primary and secondary targets. Doc, Alphabit and Moon-pie would start with the forward guard and work their way down the right side. One of George's men and I would work our way down the right. The KPVs, manned by Eddie and another of George's men, would take priority targets, anyone armed with an RPG or a wagon with a heavy weapon mounted on it. They weren't to go full auto unless things went to shit.
Just as the forward edge of the column was about to crest the ridge, I dropped the trees on them. Gunfire erupted, taking the lead elements down quickly. The sharp krak of the KPV ripping men from horseback. They tried to fight back, dropping to the ground and returning blind fire, but it did them little good. Soon, all the near targets were cleared and we had worked our way to the limits of visibility. That's when we began to improvise and people got hurt.
There was a lull in the firing. Doc gave a bloodcurdling yell, rose, and ran right at the column. Alphabit, cursing her soundly, followed. She must have caught half a dozen rounds in that wild charge before collapsing. Alphabit, took cover behind a stump and returned fire.
Meanwhile, I had to shift further down the ridge, engaging a few men trying to flank the ridge. I didn't have the time to set up good aimed shots. Instead I let the M60 roar, swept their position with automatic fire, and let the consequences hang. More than one fell limp and the few survivors went to ground. Short bursts sawed through the brush claiming another while their fire pounded the dirt and sky.
Moon-Pie was the only one of us thinking clearly by that point. He threw out smoke grenades to cover the prisoners before advancing among them. A quick tap on the shoulder and shouted commands got the forward groups moving back to safety. With the rest of us running around he took charge of the immediate mission. Another grenade flew out of the cloud as he repeated his orders to the next group.
This was all too much for the guards. Those at the back of the column remounted or just ran down the road. All I know was there was a bunch of nothing by the time Moonie and I got to the rear of the column.
Later, Leo told me that he accounted for another six with the SVD. Only two escaped, on foot, because they'd dropped their weapons as they ran. He didn't think it was sporting.
Alphabit helped a shaken Doc over to us. Her face was awash with blood. Her helmet sporting a few new holes. I could have chewed her out then, but cries of "Medic" were rising in the air, so I set her off to do her job.
Amazingly, Doc was the worst hurt in the squad. The rest of us escaped largely unscathed. Casualties were also light among the column, one man crushed by a supply wagon, another three dead of gunshot, and about half a dozen injured. One of the guards I'd chased down had surrendered after his comrades fell. Another five were still breathing after we treated our own. More importantly, only two of the cavalry mounts had to be put down and none of the draft horses.
I've got to get these soldiers off the road into shelter, fed, and organized. Busy night ahead, busy night.
A well laid ambush is a thing of beauty. We found a spot where the road rose up to meet a slanting ridgeline in the forest. With two days we had plenty of time to dig in the OTs so only their turrets cleared the ridge and camoflage them as well as prepare and camoflage fihting positions for all the dismounts. Leo, I placed forward in an OP near the edge of the forest, to give us a good warning once the column appeared. Alphabit placed charges on trees to block the road at the ridgeline as well as about 200 meters further back. The plan would be to let the vanguard slip through our net and drop the trees to block the column. Everyone was warned to be sure of their shots. Wild fire would get many of our own men killed. Then we waited.
The column was spotted towards the end of the second day. They were pushing their charges hard up the road. I expect they wanted to make the woods before nightfall for the shelter it would provide against the wind and rain. Leo reported there were onlt about 20 guards riding horseback and 6 wagons piled high as well as the expected prisoners. It looked as if they were roped or chained to prevent their escape. I gave my troop last minute instructions and settled behind my M60.
The van, 3 men on horseback, were only paying cursory attention. They trotted right through our positions without a second glance. We should give thanks it was the end of a day of hard travel and not a fresh start for them.
The column followed them a hundred meters back. As per our plans the troop sighted on their sectors, prioritizing primary and secondary targets. Doc, Alphabit and Moon-pie would start with the forward guard and work their way down the right side. One of George's men and I would work our way down the right. The KPVs, manned by Eddie and another of George's men, would take priority targets, anyone armed with an RPG or a wagon with a heavy weapon mounted on it. They weren't to go full auto unless things went to shit.
Just as the forward edge of the column was about to crest the ridge, I dropped the trees on them. Gunfire erupted, taking the lead elements down quickly. The sharp krak of the KPV ripping men from horseback. They tried to fight back, dropping to the ground and returning blind fire, but it did them little good. Soon, all the near targets were cleared and we had worked our way to the limits of visibility. That's when we began to improvise and people got hurt.
There was a lull in the firing. Doc gave a bloodcurdling yell, rose, and ran right at the column. Alphabit, cursing her soundly, followed. She must have caught half a dozen rounds in that wild charge before collapsing. Alphabit, took cover behind a stump and returned fire.
Meanwhile, I had to shift further down the ridge, engaging a few men trying to flank the ridge. I didn't have the time to set up good aimed shots. Instead I let the M60 roar, swept their position with automatic fire, and let the consequences hang. More than one fell limp and the few survivors went to ground. Short bursts sawed through the brush claiming another while their fire pounded the dirt and sky.
Moon-Pie was the only one of us thinking clearly by that point. He threw out smoke grenades to cover the prisoners before advancing among them. A quick tap on the shoulder and shouted commands got the forward groups moving back to safety. With the rest of us running around he took charge of the immediate mission. Another grenade flew out of the cloud as he repeated his orders to the next group.
This was all too much for the guards. Those at the back of the column remounted or just ran down the road. All I know was there was a bunch of nothing by the time Moonie and I got to the rear of the column.
Later, Leo told me that he accounted for another six with the SVD. Only two escaped, on foot, because they'd dropped their weapons as they ran. He didn't think it was sporting.
Alphabit helped a shaken Doc over to us. Her face was awash with blood. Her helmet sporting a few new holes. I could have chewed her out then, but cries of "Medic" were rising in the air, so I set her off to do her job.
Amazingly, Doc was the worst hurt in the squad. The rest of us escaped largely unscathed. Casualties were also light among the column, one man crushed by a supply wagon, another three dead of gunshot, and about half a dozen injured. One of the guards I'd chased down had surrendered after his comrades fell. Another five were still breathing after we treated our own. More importantly, only two of the cavalry mounts had to be put down and none of the draft horses.
I've got to get these soldiers off the road into shelter, fed, and organized. Busy night ahead, busy night.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Admin Posting
I shall now redirect your attention to here; Twilight 2000: Transmissions in the Clear
Player have been given authorial access and can post in character thoughts, discussions and other items as they please. Anyone reading who would like to post a story or Twilight bit of background contact Chris through the comments section.
Later Days
Player have been given authorial access and can post in character thoughts, discussions and other items as they please. Anyone reading who would like to post a story or Twilight bit of background contact Chris through the comments section.
Later Days
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