Paterson, January 2nd, 2001
George joins the command meeting in the wards. Leo's mobile, barely. Alpha's getting around fine, lucky boy. Doc and I share the largest room available with our own comfy beds. A space heater whirls noisily on the corner.
"Damn George, how the hell did we make it to daylight? I expected everything to fall apart once night fell."
He shrugs, "Without the tracks and the gun they'll have to revise their plans. If Leo scored on Jones as well they might not have an overall commander on scene either. If they're like other strongman militia's we've seen, they don't encourage independent action."
"I'll take the time they give me. How are preparations?"
"West side access has been closed. The access doors have been booby trapped and welded shut. It will take some clearing once this is finished, but it should strongly discourage them."
"I admire your confidence," Leo grumbles.
"West side access is very limited. If they do manage to breach, we'll have plenty of time to shift our reserve as they try to advance down those halls. Alpha and his boys have all sorts of nasty surprises waiting for them." George smiles.
Alpha interrupts, "trip-wires, nail bombs, a few claymores. Murder holes down the interior corridors. Stairwells are full of furniture, so they can't get upper floor access without getting deep into the interior. We'll make them pay."
"North and east?" Yeah, we're very clever, and very outnumbered.
"Weaker," George continues, "Too much glass frontage to defend and the ER on the east side was designed for easy access. We'd already emplaced forward and fall back fighting positions when we occupied the facility. The troops know how to fight. We'll make them pay for every room and fall back point. If all goes sour, we preform a fighting retreat to the second floor, south side. The rafts and assault boat are secured and camouflaged by the shore. We have enough capacity to exfiltrate all the troops."
"And our charges?"
"Let's not let it come to that."
"How about we arm them as well," Alpha suggests, "We've seen what this bastard does to his workers. They're as good as dead if we leave them."
I shake my head. "Last resort. I hate to think what would happen to our men, falling back under fire, to a position held by untrained, unsteady civilians. We're looking at enough casualties without inflicting our own. Keep them working on support duties. Call them force multipliers."
----------------------------------------------------------
George and Alpha are back at duties. Leo stays to argue a stronger course of action.
"Major, respectfully, we need to push them while we can."
"Give me options first. I'm not writing a check."
"They have little night vision. We go raiding after dark. Kill some of these scum. Sow some confusion. Maybe find Jones again. Finish it." He mimes a pistol.
"Who's we. You, Alpha? Doc had to be carried here. I hobbled in by burning syringes of pain-killer. Ed and Root still haven't regained conscious. Tell me, who?"
"Me, yes. I take J-boy, maybe a few others. We saw more combat in one month than these fucks have seen all year. We can do this."
"No, you can't. You heard George. We're facing company frontage to the east and south. Even with 'limited' night vision they're only covering a block. You're not stealthing in and out."
He grimaces, "I can."
"When you walk without a stick. I could see the pain when you came into the room. Stuff's still working its way out. Found any in your bedding?"
He looks away. "Yes, and you? Yes, and more coming up. Our busy little friends will get it out. We just need the time. Time that Hizzoner seems to be giving us. Go get some sleep. They'll wake us if anything happens.."
---------------------------------------------------------
Early afternoon, they sent us two men in a HMMWV. White flag, slow approach, up Broadway to the ER lot and wait. I take my time walking up to the third floor. Least I can do, they asked for me by name.
The position is reinforced to chest height. All I've got to do is drop if I come under fire. Fortunately, the elevated train cuts into long line of sights from the east. Still, I feel exposed.
"I'm Major Paterson. You are you."
"Sgt. Cal Younger, assigned to Reconstruction Team 94 under the legal government of the United States. According to Presidential Directive HB-7886, you are to stand down and submit your command to the highest ranking member of the civil administration for further orders. Will you comply?"
Really? Really? Please, ma'am, put up your guns and come along quietly. Who do you think you're fooling. "And that would be you, Sergeant?"
"No, ma'am. Gerald Thornton is acting administrator for the New York Municipal District. I'm to act as escort."
"And these gentlemen surrounding our position?"
"Duly authorized militia for Manhattan."
"And Hizzoner?"
"Recognized as the legitimate governmental authority for NYC."
Recognize this you fucking slaver, rapist, bastard. "Go to hell!"
I drop. From rooms on either side of me Leo's MAG and Squad 3's SAW open up on the soft-skinned Hummer. It gets into reverse, but loses control before it leaves the lot crashing backwards into elevated supports. Sgt. Younger, somehow surviving the fire directed at his transport, pulls himself from the roof hatch and jumps down. Leo's MAG walks over him. He twitches and falls.
I hear the whoompf of leaking fuel catching. The vehicle begins to burn. There's no screams from the cab. His driver must already be dead.
The tense silence that has held over the block breaks as Hizzoner's 'duly constituted militia' fire blindly at our south side positions. I hear the louder crack of our measured replies from firing slits set inside south facing rooms.
Did they actually think that would work?
--------------------------------------------------------
Sporadic fire continued through out the afternoon. We're still in fine shape. One minor injury from a round that improbably passed through a slit and spalled fragments off the far wall. He's back at duty.
They try to keep it up after night falls. That proves to be a poor idea on their part. They're trying to wear us down, but every one of them has to take time to adjust and hunt down a target in a dark building on an overcast night while we can see the ghostly green or their exposed faces. Yeah, as expected. Hurting them, casualties and morale, much more than lack of sleep will hurt us.
That isn't even counting Leo, not resting as ordered, with his SVD and thermal sight. I hear he's getting his jollies by looking for their camouflaged OPs and letting them know.
They stop after losing more than a handful. Leo presses me to send a strike team out now that their observers have pulled back. I tell him no again. They may have pulled back into their building, but they're still there. So, no, no way.
Besides, I can feel something brewing. This isn't all of it for tonight. Not by a long shot.
-----------------------------------------------------
Near on 0300 our fans on the south side make a mass showing. Nearly a hundred small arms firing from the apartments across 218th Street into Allen Pavilion. We reply where we can, but mainly wait for the rush. Probably along the east end once we've shifted south.
The tower OP reports movement on the thin strip of land to our north. I commit our reserve. The floods we've shifted from Baker's Field get lit. It isn't even close.
Thirty-odd dements and a hose-head trying to sneak in. Sure, I see the rational. Get crazy suicide mobs into our positions from the rear and we'll be too busy to repel the frontal rush. Except the ground floor doors are welded shut and they don't have ladders. I almost feel sorry for the dements, almost. I'm really sorry that the hose-head got away into the river.
I'm not sorry at all for the men who rushed us at the sound of fire from the far side of Allen. Their assault was haphazard and soon petered out. We accounted for another 25 or so?
No casualties on my part. We can do this all day. All day.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Monday, October 22, 2012
096: New Year's Day
Paterson, January 1st, 2001
We need Moon-Pie back, the Serious Six plowing down Broadway doesn't have the same ring as the Magnificent Seven. Hizzoner had some serious strength blocking the road. Twenty men behind impromptu barricades and two squads of mech infantry in tin box M113s. They're all dead or run.
Root's down, his body looks half-flayed, but the little buggers in his bloodstream have already stopped the leaking. Doc's running on adrenalin and morphine. Only Leo doesn't bear any marks. Tac-nets full of voices. Sounds like a platoon or so of the mayor's men are swinging down 218th Street to cut off our retreat. 1st and 3rd squads are moving down with the Hummer and trucks to chew them over.
We stash Root's unconscious body away in a maintenance closet and push on.
------------------------------------------------
Jones
He stares in disbelief at the twin columns of smoke rising on Broadway. Sgt Devlon, the track commander, ratchets the slide on his Mk-19. "Those are catastrophic kills, Major." His voice growls, "My men are dead."
Jones shakes the fugue away. He works the track's radio, contacting the blocking forces on Seaman and Park Terrace. "Move up to 218 and swing towards Broadway. We'll box them between you and the positions in Isham." He cranes around to the Sgt standing on the M577s roof. "Pound them hard."
"Our FO is good. He'll call, I'll kill."
Survivors of the fighting up Broadway trickle into the park. Their panicked flight takes them right into and through Jones' infantry reserve. Whatever they say, it catches, and the mass of men begin to stream away south. The blocking force on 50th, another 10 men, notice the retreat and, one by one, pull a fade to the west.
Jones climbs from the track, screaming and waving his pistol, but the men won't be stopped. As he points it at their fleeing backs, Sgt Devlon intervenes. "Major, deal with them later! Carl reports contact in Broadway."
Grenade explosions and small arms fire sound from the corner of Isham. Jones sprints back to the track. "I'll kill them all!"
"MILGOV's in line first." Sgt Devlon keys his mike, "Talk to me Carl."
-------------------------------------------------
Note: Mike volunteered to write this raw POV from Leonid. Thank him for me! More later this in you already read it.
Leonid
We need Moon-Pie back, the Serious Six plowing down Broadway doesn't have the same ring as the Magnificent Seven. Hizzoner had some serious strength blocking the road. Twenty men behind impromptu barricades and two squads of mech infantry in tin box M113s. They're all dead or run.
Root's down, his body looks half-flayed, but the little buggers in his bloodstream have already stopped the leaking. Doc's running on adrenalin and morphine. Only Leo doesn't bear any marks. Tac-nets full of voices. Sounds like a platoon or so of the mayor's men are swinging down 218th Street to cut off our retreat. 1st and 3rd squads are moving down with the Hummer and trucks to chew them over.
We stash Root's unconscious body away in a maintenance closet and push on.
------------------------------------------------
Jones
He stares in disbelief at the twin columns of smoke rising on Broadway. Sgt Devlon, the track commander, ratchets the slide on his Mk-19. "Those are catastrophic kills, Major." His voice growls, "My men are dead."
Jones shakes the fugue away. He works the track's radio, contacting the blocking forces on Seaman and Park Terrace. "Move up to 218 and swing towards Broadway. We'll box them between you and the positions in Isham." He cranes around to the Sgt standing on the M577s roof. "Pound them hard."
"Our FO is good. He'll call, I'll kill."
Survivors of the fighting up Broadway trickle into the park. Their panicked flight takes them right into and through Jones' infantry reserve. Whatever they say, it catches, and the mass of men begin to stream away south. The blocking force on 50th, another 10 men, notice the retreat and, one by one, pull a fade to the west.
Jones climbs from the track, screaming and waving his pistol, but the men won't be stopped. As he points it at their fleeing backs, Sgt Devlon intervenes. "Major, deal with them later! Carl reports contact in Broadway."
Grenade explosions and small arms fire sound from the corner of Isham. Jones sprints back to the track. "I'll kill them all!"
"MILGOV's in line first." Sgt Devlon keys his mike, "Talk to me Carl."
-------------------------------------------------
Note: Mike volunteered to write this raw POV from Leonid. Thank him for me! More later this in you already read it.
Leonid
I expect heavy fighting for this engagement, not much of a stealth mission this time, I grab my MAG machine gun. We advance up Broadway, I instruct on bounding overwatch, the Major and I take turns covering the team's advance with our machine guns. She is a solid commander and a quick study, but I could fill volumes with what she doesn't know about combat.
We near the park, they have made a little bunker with stacked cars. Hose it with fire keep their heads down, Alpha hits them with a couple grenades. I advance to mop up. Shit! Claymores, I back off a bit, command detonated no tripwires so we must have got them all. A single grenade impacts near the bunker. Moments later, thump thump thump in the distance, that sounds like... "GET DOWN!" they have an automatic grenade launcher. Rounds impact around the team. I yell move to cover get out of the kill zone! I head in the direction of the fire. A couple more bursts of fire as I make it to the corner. I take a quick peek and down about 100m is an APC of some sort with a pintle mounted Mark 19 automatic grenade launcher. I prep a LAW rocket. These things are light and handy but pack nowhere near the range or punch of an RPG. I check one more time then pop around the corner for a quick shot. I see instantly that I hit a track. The APC spins about like a waterbug. The driver abandons it. It is too close to the wall for anymore indirect fire. Mission kill.
I look around, Doc had moved this way when the shelling started, I motion her to me. Come on let's see if we can circle around and finish that thing off. We sprint across the street and luckily for us the gunner on the APC had either abandoned it or didn't see us. There are people in the buildings. This is much bigger than we thought. This is an all out frontal assault.
We are alongside the church, there are bad guys around the corner, we trade shots. Someone throws a grenade. It lands close enough to be deafening. I catch a couple fragments in the vest, Doc is not so lucky. She says she can get through a window in the front, I cover for her. I see a man round the corner with a pistol in hand, and before I can react he fires. FUCK I'm hit, punched through my vest. What the hell is that? I feel blood inside my vest, it feels like it broke a rib or two. Arms numb, my weapon feels like it weighs 200 kilos. I can't bring it up. He fires again the world spins around me. The sharp crack of an M-16 from above my head snaps me out of it. Doc is in the window. She hits him square but it seems to have little effect beyond taking his attention off me. Rounds whiz by me from behind and I hear the familiar staccato bark of an M-60. I use this opportunity to get my ass around the corner. The window! I heave myself through it. Shout for Doc, don't want to get myself shot by her trigger happy ass now. No answer. I move into the room where she was and she's down, bleeding bad. I struggle to remain conscious and drag her to cover. They'll be looking for us soon. I find a large closet get us inside and close the door. Pull out a first aid kit and stop her bleeding. She's lost a lot of blood.
Shouts from outside, they are looking for us. I recognize that voice, now I know why that fuck with the pistol looked familiar. Jones. He is using his mind tricks, he tells them where we are hiding. He wants us alive if possible. That's not going to happen. I have got to take the edge off this pain clear my head. Let's see what the good doctor has in her bag of tricks. The pain is so distracting that I'm having trouble reading this damn Roman alphabet. I think one of these is morphine, shit I just jab both into my leg and wait.
I feel the morphine wash over me, I can think now. I'm sorry Doc, but being his prisoner would be bad, very bad. And ten times worse for you being a woman. I have seen how women POWs are treated. Maybe I can bluff our way out but if not, this will finish us for sure. I hope you can forgive me. I get out a couple grenades, pull the pins on both and hold the spoons down, and wait.
Someone is moving outside the door. He calls me by name. Tells me to open the door and come out. I tell him I can't my hands are full, you open the door. He does, slowly. He's young, practically a kid. I tell him go on shoot me bitch and we will all die. I'm not sure if he even heard me, he was fixated on the grenades in my hands. Finally he calls out grenade and closed the door. I think they are going to wait for me to get tired and drop them. Or from the way I probably look, wait for me to bleed out.
We now have a chance to get out. I carefully put the pin back in one grenade and secure it. This is a good heavy wooden door. No sheep's wool or children's tears here. I let the spoon go, open the door a crack and toss the grenade out. It cooked long enough that it may have gone off in the air. The blast rattles the hinges on the door. I open it, two men down. Good. I throw Doc over my shoulder and head for the window. I drop her through and follow. They must have manned that grenade launcher again, a burst of grenades goes right over my head, impacting harmlessly somewhere down the block. I see Kat and Eddie down the street, they are trying to get to us. Eddie starts my way before I can wave him off and a single shot rings out and his helmet goes flying. Eddie is down. Kat directs fire where she thinks the shot came from while I move as best as I can while carrying the doctor. We make it to cover.
I tell Kat, we need to pull back, there are at least fifty more back there. And Jones is there leading.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Paterson
Ed's body jerks one more time as the thrown smoke pops. Damned sniper's making sure of his kill. I make my way to him and haul is limp form, fireman's carry, onto my back. I can feel the shrapnel shifting inside me through the morphine. I'm dead if it works it's way into an artery. Or maybe not.
The sound of heavy combat echoes from the north. My men are vets. They'll be chewing up these half-trained bully boys of Hizzoner's. We need to extract ourselves.
Leo's hauling Doc. I've got Ed. Alphabit takes point. I think he's the only one of us not running on opiates. We're a block away when we hear the trucks and another track.
I order us off the road into the shattered frontage of an office building. "Leo, is that the track from the park?"
"Nyet, LAW took the track and forward wheel. It's not moving."
"Great, they got fucking more. Alpha, shift Doc and Ed to the back of this building. Leo, up top, we're going to improvise."
I've had the joy of emplacing my share of mines. Wish I had a few of the big bastards now. We've got four of the M72 LAWs between us. We'll ambush from the roof, four painful floors up, where's my elevator.
From the roof we can hear two sources of diesel engines coughing their way north. Sounds as if they split their convoy into two lines of approach. One's way west, probably on Seaman or Indian road, the others pushing up Broadway accompanied by the squeal of tracks.
I feel like long hours pass, but it can't be more than minutes, before the first truck lurch into view. Another follows no more than 30 feet behind. Then a tank, a fucking tank, big gun, turret, and everything. "Leo, I don't want it anymore." We prep our tubes and set them beside us. "We'll fire when the tank is right below. It's your target. I'll take the lead truck. Then I'll get the second. Your call with the last LAW. Hit the tank again if it needs it or get the truck behind."
"And then?"
"Frags down the line. Then we run."
He shares a grim pained grin.
The trucks, as expected, are packed with troops. Hizzoner must not have enough functioning transport to haul all the men for this op at once. I don't have any pity left in me as I stand and fire. The LAW spears down through the cab killing the driver and shattering the fuel tanks below him. Flaming fuel splashes everywhere. The men, now torches, flail wildly. The slap of concussion and as the tank's turret lifts away tells me Leo's down his duty. The second truck has swerved and stopped as I bring the second LAW on target. It strikes the bed of the cargo area, or maybe one of the men, turning the troop carriage into a shrapnel filled hell. A handful of survivors stagger out and eat the first grenade.
Leo and I lob the remaining frags down the street where the few trucks left have pulled over and begun deploying their squads. We don't stay to look for results. Down the stairs, shoulder our wounded and out the back. It'll take them time to reorganize their survivors and even more to get the courage to advance. We take advantage of it.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Hizzoner's men are packing more than small arms. On the corner of 218 and Broadway one of our 3/4 ton trucks burns. The stench of burning flesh is strong again.
There's four men down in the triage with Sgt Ross and Jana working at a fever pitch. "Doc's out," I tell him before he can ask.
"Is she stable!"
"Yes!" He points to a corner, never taking his eyes from his work.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
George is coordinating from my HQ with Aron manning the 'switchboard'. He's got our map of the local area set up and markers placed all along our perimeter.
"Damn," I take in the situation at a glance, "they've got men all along Broadway and 218. Numbers?"
"Unknown, but lots. Prisoner we took says they had 12 trucks carrying ten men each, three M113s, and a tank."
"Scratch their armor. Two of the tin-cans and the tank are confirmed kills. Leo got a mobility kill on the last one. It's not moving without a wrecker. They made two trips with the trucks."
George winces doing the number in his head. "Reinforced company."
"We whittled them down a bit." And I let him know just how many.
We near the park, they have made a little bunker with stacked cars. Hose it with fire keep their heads down, Alpha hits them with a couple grenades. I advance to mop up. Shit! Claymores, I back off a bit, command detonated no tripwires so we must have got them all. A single grenade impacts near the bunker. Moments later, thump thump thump in the distance, that sounds like... "GET DOWN!" they have an automatic grenade launcher. Rounds impact around the team. I yell move to cover get out of the kill zone! I head in the direction of the fire. A couple more bursts of fire as I make it to the corner. I take a quick peek and down about 100m is an APC of some sort with a pintle mounted Mark 19 automatic grenade launcher. I prep a LAW rocket. These things are light and handy but pack nowhere near the range or punch of an RPG. I check one more time then pop around the corner for a quick shot. I see instantly that I hit a track. The APC spins about like a waterbug. The driver abandons it. It is too close to the wall for anymore indirect fire. Mission kill.
I look around, Doc had moved this way when the shelling started, I motion her to me. Come on let's see if we can circle around and finish that thing off. We sprint across the street and luckily for us the gunner on the APC had either abandoned it or didn't see us. There are people in the buildings. This is much bigger than we thought. This is an all out frontal assault.
We are alongside the church, there are bad guys around the corner, we trade shots. Someone throws a grenade. It lands close enough to be deafening. I catch a couple fragments in the vest, Doc is not so lucky. She says she can get through a window in the front, I cover for her. I see a man round the corner with a pistol in hand, and before I can react he fires. FUCK I'm hit, punched through my vest. What the hell is that? I feel blood inside my vest, it feels like it broke a rib or two. Arms numb, my weapon feels like it weighs 200 kilos. I can't bring it up. He fires again the world spins around me. The sharp crack of an M-16 from above my head snaps me out of it. Doc is in the window. She hits him square but it seems to have little effect beyond taking his attention off me. Rounds whiz by me from behind and I hear the familiar staccato bark of an M-60. I use this opportunity to get my ass around the corner. The window! I heave myself through it. Shout for Doc, don't want to get myself shot by her trigger happy ass now. No answer. I move into the room where she was and she's down, bleeding bad. I struggle to remain conscious and drag her to cover. They'll be looking for us soon. I find a large closet get us inside and close the door. Pull out a first aid kit and stop her bleeding. She's lost a lot of blood.
Shouts from outside, they are looking for us. I recognize that voice, now I know why that fuck with the pistol looked familiar. Jones. He is using his mind tricks, he tells them where we are hiding. He wants us alive if possible. That's not going to happen. I have got to take the edge off this pain clear my head. Let's see what the good doctor has in her bag of tricks. The pain is so distracting that I'm having trouble reading this damn Roman alphabet. I think one of these is morphine, shit I just jab both into my leg and wait.
I feel the morphine wash over me, I can think now. I'm sorry Doc, but being his prisoner would be bad, very bad. And ten times worse for you being a woman. I have seen how women POWs are treated. Maybe I can bluff our way out but if not, this will finish us for sure. I hope you can forgive me. I get out a couple grenades, pull the pins on both and hold the spoons down, and wait.
Someone is moving outside the door. He calls me by name. Tells me to open the door and come out. I tell him I can't my hands are full, you open the door. He does, slowly. He's young, practically a kid. I tell him go on shoot me bitch and we will all die. I'm not sure if he even heard me, he was fixated on the grenades in my hands. Finally he calls out grenade and closed the door. I think they are going to wait for me to get tired and drop them. Or from the way I probably look, wait for me to bleed out.
We now have a chance to get out. I carefully put the pin back in one grenade and secure it. This is a good heavy wooden door. No sheep's wool or children's tears here. I let the spoon go, open the door a crack and toss the grenade out. It cooked long enough that it may have gone off in the air. The blast rattles the hinges on the door. I open it, two men down. Good. I throw Doc over my shoulder and head for the window. I drop her through and follow. They must have manned that grenade launcher again, a burst of grenades goes right over my head, impacting harmlessly somewhere down the block. I see Kat and Eddie down the street, they are trying to get to us. Eddie starts my way before I can wave him off and a single shot rings out and his helmet goes flying. Eddie is down. Kat directs fire where she thinks the shot came from while I move as best as I can while carrying the doctor. We make it to cover.
I tell Kat, we need to pull back, there are at least fifty more back there. And Jones is there leading.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Paterson
Ed's body jerks one more time as the thrown smoke pops. Damned sniper's making sure of his kill. I make my way to him and haul is limp form, fireman's carry, onto my back. I can feel the shrapnel shifting inside me through the morphine. I'm dead if it works it's way into an artery. Or maybe not.
The sound of heavy combat echoes from the north. My men are vets. They'll be chewing up these half-trained bully boys of Hizzoner's. We need to extract ourselves.
Leo's hauling Doc. I've got Ed. Alphabit takes point. I think he's the only one of us not running on opiates. We're a block away when we hear the trucks and another track.
I order us off the road into the shattered frontage of an office building. "Leo, is that the track from the park?"
"Nyet, LAW took the track and forward wheel. It's not moving."
"Great, they got fucking more. Alpha, shift Doc and Ed to the back of this building. Leo, up top, we're going to improvise."
I've had the joy of emplacing my share of mines. Wish I had a few of the big bastards now. We've got four of the M72 LAWs between us. We'll ambush from the roof, four painful floors up, where's my elevator.
From the roof we can hear two sources of diesel engines coughing their way north. Sounds as if they split their convoy into two lines of approach. One's way west, probably on Seaman or Indian road, the others pushing up Broadway accompanied by the squeal of tracks.
I feel like long hours pass, but it can't be more than minutes, before the first truck lurch into view. Another follows no more than 30 feet behind. Then a tank, a fucking tank, big gun, turret, and everything. "Leo, I don't want it anymore." We prep our tubes and set them beside us. "We'll fire when the tank is right below. It's your target. I'll take the lead truck. Then I'll get the second. Your call with the last LAW. Hit the tank again if it needs it or get the truck behind."
"And then?"
"Frags down the line. Then we run."
He shares a grim pained grin.
The trucks, as expected, are packed with troops. Hizzoner must not have enough functioning transport to haul all the men for this op at once. I don't have any pity left in me as I stand and fire. The LAW spears down through the cab killing the driver and shattering the fuel tanks below him. Flaming fuel splashes everywhere. The men, now torches, flail wildly. The slap of concussion and as the tank's turret lifts away tells me Leo's down his duty. The second truck has swerved and stopped as I bring the second LAW on target. It strikes the bed of the cargo area, or maybe one of the men, turning the troop carriage into a shrapnel filled hell. A handful of survivors stagger out and eat the first grenade.
Leo and I lob the remaining frags down the street where the few trucks left have pulled over and begun deploying their squads. We don't stay to look for results. Down the stairs, shoulder our wounded and out the back. It'll take them time to reorganize their survivors and even more to get the courage to advance. We take advantage of it.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Hizzoner's men are packing more than small arms. On the corner of 218 and Broadway one of our 3/4 ton trucks burns. The stench of burning flesh is strong again.
There's four men down in the triage with Sgt Ross and Jana working at a fever pitch. "Doc's out," I tell him before he can ask.
"Is she stable!"
"Yes!" He points to a corner, never taking his eyes from his work.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
George is coordinating from my HQ with Aron manning the 'switchboard'. He's got our map of the local area set up and markers placed all along our perimeter.
"Damn," I take in the situation at a glance, "they've got men all along Broadway and 218. Numbers?"
"Unknown, but lots. Prisoner we took says they had 12 trucks carrying ten men each, three M113s, and a tank."
"Scratch their armor. Two of the tin-cans and the tank are confirmed kills. Leo got a mobility kill on the last one. It's not moving without a wrecker. They made two trips with the trucks."
George winces doing the number in his head. "Reinforced company."
"We whittled them down a bit." And I let him know just how many.
Saturday, October 13, 2012
095: The Other Side
December 30th, 2000
"I, spoke, with the 'kin. They are wroght."
"Do they blame us?"
"No, they have the scent of your prey. Those who will talk want our participation as a gesture of good-will."
"More like a distraction."
"Does it matter?"
"No, no. What of my men?"
"Hizzoner is in a agreement with the CIVGOV representatives. A MILGOV presence on the island is undesireable. Hizzoner will get the recognition he craves once they are removed."
"Naturally, it is as you command."
"Clumsy to rely on command overmuch. Better to get them to acknowledge your desires as their own. Minimize dissonance. Something you should work on."
"..."
"You have two-hundred released to your command. In support you'll receive ten of the trucks, two M113s, a M577 command post, and one of the two Stingrays. If we had artillery, it would be tasked to you as well. Is it enough?"
"And the 'kin?"
"Two are headed to the north, along with their herds. You'll have to find your own way to work with them. They are independently minded."
"More than enough."
December 31st, 2000
"I'm Major Jones. Hizzoner says you call me 'Boss'. Our target is the Allen Pavilion of Columbia Hospital. There's a platoon, twenty to thirty, of MILGOV soldiers and a handful of support, occupying the structure. As part of Hizzoner's regocnition as the leader ofMmanhattan, and eventually all of New York City, by the legitimate government of the United States these traitors will be removed."
"Our intelligence indicates they are armed with rifles, medium machineguns, and a handful of grenade launchers. We'll be moving the first wave of troops up in the trucks to here, Isham Park. You'll secure the approaches along these streets and a screen along Inhill Park. Pay particular attention to Broadway. They have a number of trucks that could lead an assault force while you're setting up."
"The remaining troops and our tank will proceed up Broadway and marshall in the Sub Yards, here. They're the hammer. You'll form the anvil. Once they're in position you move up to 128th street. Occupy the buildings across from Baker Field and provide a strong base of fire. Under your fire, the tank and mobile infantry elements will proceed to assault Allen."
"The assult force outnumbers the defenders 3:1. Once they get inside, it'll all be over. Advance to Baker Field and look to pick off any survivors escaping to the west."
"Tell your men to be on the lookout for these individuals. Major Katriona Paterson is a big, strapping bitch who favors an M60 for a sidearm. She's in charge. Capturing her would be an intelligence coup and Hizzoner is offering 6 months easy living for her alive. Her second is Captain Leonid Padgorny, a Russian defector and Special Forces operative, blonde, scarred, and incredibly deadly. He may know as much as she does, but will be harder to take alive. Four months for the man or team that brings him in. Now, I do have a personal interest in the Ivan and ten gold eagles for the man who brings me him alive. That'll buy you many more months if you want it."
"These remaining individuals; "Doc" Miller, "Alphabet" McGillifry, Lt George, and Eddie Cutter, are all part of the inner circle. They're not as skilled as the Bitch or Ivan, but they're all European vets. Take them if you can, but Hizoneer isn't offering nearly as much."
"As for the rest, fuck'em or kill'em. Questions?"
---------------------------------------------------------------
January 1st, 2000
By my god of shadows and pain, this morning is glorious!
The air has just the right sting to it. I can already scent blood biting into the wind. The rich swirl of emotions, desperation, fear, and a levening of determination, add to the pleasure as the monkey's make their way to a little war. It feeds the parts of me mere food could never hope to.
By this time tomorrow I'll have her and, maybe, the others. Kilpatrick and I will see what's inside thier muddled heads. Father will have his due. Indeed.
"I, spoke, with the 'kin. They are wroght."
"Do they blame us?"
"No, they have the scent of your prey. Those who will talk want our participation as a gesture of good-will."
"More like a distraction."
"Does it matter?"
"No, no. What of my men?"
"Hizzoner is in a agreement with the CIVGOV representatives. A MILGOV presence on the island is undesireable. Hizzoner will get the recognition he craves once they are removed."
"Naturally, it is as you command."
"Clumsy to rely on command overmuch. Better to get them to acknowledge your desires as their own. Minimize dissonance. Something you should work on."
"..."
"You have two-hundred released to your command. In support you'll receive ten of the trucks, two M113s, a M577 command post, and one of the two Stingrays. If we had artillery, it would be tasked to you as well. Is it enough?"
"And the 'kin?"
"Two are headed to the north, along with their herds. You'll have to find your own way to work with them. They are independently minded."
"More than enough."
December 31st, 2000
"I'm Major Jones. Hizzoner says you call me 'Boss'. Our target is the Allen Pavilion of Columbia Hospital. There's a platoon, twenty to thirty, of MILGOV soldiers and a handful of support, occupying the structure. As part of Hizzoner's regocnition as the leader ofMmanhattan, and eventually all of New York City, by the legitimate government of the United States these traitors will be removed."
"Our intelligence indicates they are armed with rifles, medium machineguns, and a handful of grenade launchers. We'll be moving the first wave of troops up in the trucks to here, Isham Park. You'll secure the approaches along these streets and a screen along Inhill Park. Pay particular attention to Broadway. They have a number of trucks that could lead an assault force while you're setting up."
"The remaining troops and our tank will proceed up Broadway and marshall in the Sub Yards, here. They're the hammer. You'll form the anvil. Once they're in position you move up to 128th street. Occupy the buildings across from Baker Field and provide a strong base of fire. Under your fire, the tank and mobile infantry elements will proceed to assault Allen."
"The assult force outnumbers the defenders 3:1. Once they get inside, it'll all be over. Advance to Baker Field and look to pick off any survivors escaping to the west."
"Tell your men to be on the lookout for these individuals. Major Katriona Paterson is a big, strapping bitch who favors an M60 for a sidearm. She's in charge. Capturing her would be an intelligence coup and Hizzoner is offering 6 months easy living for her alive. Her second is Captain Leonid Padgorny, a Russian defector and Special Forces operative, blonde, scarred, and incredibly deadly. He may know as much as she does, but will be harder to take alive. Four months for the man or team that brings him in. Now, I do have a personal interest in the Ivan and ten gold eagles for the man who brings me him alive. That'll buy you many more months if you want it."
"These remaining individuals; "Doc" Miller, "Alphabet" McGillifry, Lt George, and Eddie Cutter, are all part of the inner circle. They're not as skilled as the Bitch or Ivan, but they're all European vets. Take them if you can, but Hizoneer isn't offering nearly as much."
"As for the rest, fuck'em or kill'em. Questions?"
---------------------------------------------------------------
January 1st, 2000
By my god of shadows and pain, this morning is glorious!
The air has just the right sting to it. I can already scent blood biting into the wind. The rich swirl of emotions, desperation, fear, and a levening of determination, add to the pleasure as the monkey's make their way to a little war. It feeds the parts of me mere food could never hope to.
By this time tomorrow I'll have her and, maybe, the others. Kilpatrick and I will see what's inside thier muddled heads. Father will have his due. Indeed.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
094: Shorts
Note: Been on hiatus for a time. The game is still going, between illnesses and family events! I hope to get to a twice weekely posting schedule. Thanks.
December 25th, 2000
(George) What is that!
(Doc) Don't be such a baby, George. Taking your blood didn't hurt, did it? I'm just taking some skin...
(George) Yeah, ok. OUCH! What the fuck!
(Doc) ...and dermis and subcutaneous fat. Hey, you got any moles or polyps I can take? George. George. Come back here.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Kat) Eatees, Ed, where'd you pull that from?
(Ed) I'm a regular nerd. David Brin, Startide Rising, fine book.
(Kat) I vaguely remember it.
(Ed) Yeah, we need to raid a library and save some books before the climate kills them. Both reference materials and recreational. Can't let ourselves forget our dreams.
(Kat) I'll get you right on it after we conquer Manhattan.
(Ed) Damn, never thought I'd be staring in Budrys' Some Will Not Die.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
December 26th, 2000 - early
(Alpha) Why here, Leo? I can't see much.
(Leo) We see into their cantonment from this street. View is narrow, but we get to see a good chunk of that wall. From other corner we see main administrative building, log their coming and going.
(Alpha) But there's this other building in the way. Why don't we go up that one and get a good look down on the campus?
(Leo) Here we're far enough away that if we do get spotted we have time to go down and get out. Over there, if they see us they can get to the ground floor before we do. Do you want to be their guest?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
December 27th, 2000
Doc! Doc! ER now!
(Doc) What's ha... Oh, Shit! Get him on the table. Jana! Get the working tray. Ross cut the pants off. Whoever tied off this leg did a good job. Lets see what we got.
----
(Kat) Report.
(George) Major, Delgado was shot inside Baker Field. He was working on the floods and went up to the box to see about disassembling the controls. Hostile had a shotgun. We engaged three men as they attempted to flee. We wounded one, but they got off the field and into the city. Our response squad is on hand and we're pulling the workers back in.
(Kat) Good, hold the fort. I'll take the active squad and see if we can track them down.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(Alpha) I've got movement on street level. Corner 3.
(Leo) Show me.
(Alpha) See there.
(Leo) Da. What you think?
(Alpha) Blacks, ragged, no guns visible, improvised weapons. Look like refugees.
(Leo) They're headed north-west. We'll have to step careful when we exfiltrate. Don't want to trip over them.
(Alpha) We should snatch one on the way out. Find out what's moving them.
(Leo) Nyet. No, be like stirring an anthill. Don't need to get bit. Besides, I already know.
(Alpha) And?
(Leo) They come from east, Harlem. Other gangs finally finish Disciples. These were their people. Keep the food, kick out the workers you don't need.
(Alpha) Damn, that's cold.
(Leo) Yes. Get used to it. Fuck up and it is all our futures.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
(Kat) What's the situation?
(Doc) Delgado is stable. Won't loose the leg. Ross and Jana are treating Smith. Minor wounds, he'll be find so long as we keep it clean.
(George) Perimeter is secure. All work parties in and accounted for.
(Kat) Good. We nailed all three. You two look over this paperwork we captured. I need to clean the stink off of me.
------
(George) They were sent to that specific location and been on station for a day. Logged our work parties and two of the sentry posts.
(Kat) You're sure it was an assigned spot.
(George) Yes.
(Kat) Damn, there's others, aren't there.
(George) That would be my conclusion. You want recon teams to go to specific sectors so you get a total picture of base activities.
(Kat) I want another observation team on third. They're to conduct a careful survey of the surrounding building this evening... Damn, Leo took the thermal with him. We'll make do.
(George) I recommend we step up patrols in the surrounding blocks. Look for signs of habitation. If we're lucky they dumped their chamberpot over the side.
(Kat) Do it.
-----------------------------------------------------------
December 29th, 2000
(Kat) Welcome back. It's good to see you both. Tell me some good news.
(Leo) Our prisoner from our first trip was not telling tales. I logged the movement of hundreds over two days. Worse, Alpha and I confirmed the presence of two armored vehicles. One positive ID of a M113. Not a worry. The other was a tank, but I couldn't ID it. Angular turret, so it is a modern design, but smaller than a Abrams.
(George) Could be a Stingray. I remember a few being shipped over in '97.
(Leo) What matter is big gun. This is not a bunker.
(Kat) Yeah, we got worries here, let me tell you about our visitors.
-----
late
(Leo) I love this sight. That building there, top floor. Rat's nest.
(Kat) Damn we went right by it tracking the first team.
(Leo) So they disciplined. Or they've staggered the arrival and departure of their teams.
(Kat) Let's clean them up.
-------
much later
(Leo, wearily) They down, here's their logs.
(Kat) Leo, you three OK? You look like hell.
(Leo) Nothing rest won't fix.
(Root) Friendly fire... Leo threw a grenade.
(Alpha) In a stairwell, against a fire door.
(Leo) They're nothing but sheet metal and fiber! It should have blown through.
(Alpha) This is America not Soviet Russia! Fire doors are made from more than sheep's wool and children's tears.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
December 30th, 2000
(Leo) We need to get out of this corner of Manhattan. Central Park is too tough a target for us to take without help. Look at our intell. They're strong.
(George) Not like we can send back to Ft. Dix for reinforcements. We're a shoe-string mission.
(Kat) I think he has another idea.
(Leo) Too right. We know too little about the parties here. But one name we've heard from the gangs and Hizzoner's men is 'Duke'. They both agree he's down here, Battery park. I propose a diplomatic mission. Enemy of my enemy.
(Kat) You're right, we don't know anything. How do we do this without getting killed.
(Leo) We take the Zodiac downriver. We can monitor for radio transmissions. If we like what we hear we contact.
(George) And if they're not using radio?
(Leo) Miles of shoreline. We hide the boat. Move in and reconnoiter. Just seeing their civilian and troops will tell much. We decide then; contact or motor back.
(Kat) Who'd you pick.
(Leo) Primary team, you, me, Alpha, Doc, and Root. George can hold down the base. Ed's busy with technical tasks. We need to keep him on it.
(Doc) Root and Alphabit aren't cleared for duty yet. Give them two days.
(Kat) Alright, two days. After the New Year.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 1st, 2000
(Ed) All posts report manned and ready!
(Kat) Cut the alarm bell. Tell all posts to maintain battle ready. Kaade, what's the watch report?
(Kaade) Just listen. Hear that? Diesel and tracks.
(Kat) Yeah. Leo, get the LAWs from the armory.
(Kat) Sounds like they've stopped.
(Kaade) Yes, ma'am.
(Kat) Isham Park?
(Kaade) Likely, it's the only cleared zone on that bearing.
(Kat) George, why'd we let them take our mortars again?
(George) Because the German's needed them.
(Kat) Get me some Germans. I need them back! Leo pass those out, two each.
(Leo) We hunting?
(Kat) Get them before they get here. We'll take the group. Head down Broadway, hit the corner of Isham, roll them up before they know what's happening. And Leo?
(Leo) Yes, Kat?
(Kat) How about you get me another tank?
(Leo) ***Grin***
December 25th, 2000
(George) What is that!
(Doc) Don't be such a baby, George. Taking your blood didn't hurt, did it? I'm just taking some skin...
(George) Yeah, ok. OUCH! What the fuck!
(Doc) ...and dermis and subcutaneous fat. Hey, you got any moles or polyps I can take? George. George. Come back here.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Kat) Eatees, Ed, where'd you pull that from?
(Ed) I'm a regular nerd. David Brin, Startide Rising, fine book.
(Kat) I vaguely remember it.
(Ed) Yeah, we need to raid a library and save some books before the climate kills them. Both reference materials and recreational. Can't let ourselves forget our dreams.
(Kat) I'll get you right on it after we conquer Manhattan.
(Ed) Damn, never thought I'd be staring in Budrys' Some Will Not Die.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
December 26th, 2000 - early
(Alpha) Why here, Leo? I can't see much.
(Leo) We see into their cantonment from this street. View is narrow, but we get to see a good chunk of that wall. From other corner we see main administrative building, log their coming and going.
(Alpha) But there's this other building in the way. Why don't we go up that one and get a good look down on the campus?
(Leo) Here we're far enough away that if we do get spotted we have time to go down and get out. Over there, if they see us they can get to the ground floor before we do. Do you want to be their guest?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
December 27th, 2000
Doc! Doc! ER now!
(Doc) What's ha... Oh, Shit! Get him on the table. Jana! Get the working tray. Ross cut the pants off. Whoever tied off this leg did a good job. Lets see what we got.
----
(Kat) Report.
(George) Major, Delgado was shot inside Baker Field. He was working on the floods and went up to the box to see about disassembling the controls. Hostile had a shotgun. We engaged three men as they attempted to flee. We wounded one, but they got off the field and into the city. Our response squad is on hand and we're pulling the workers back in.
(Kat) Good, hold the fort. I'll take the active squad and see if we can track them down.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(Alpha) I've got movement on street level. Corner 3.
(Leo) Show me.
(Alpha) See there.
(Leo) Da. What you think?
(Alpha) Blacks, ragged, no guns visible, improvised weapons. Look like refugees.
(Leo) They're headed north-west. We'll have to step careful when we exfiltrate. Don't want to trip over them.
(Alpha) We should snatch one on the way out. Find out what's moving them.
(Leo) Nyet. No, be like stirring an anthill. Don't need to get bit. Besides, I already know.
(Alpha) And?
(Leo) They come from east, Harlem. Other gangs finally finish Disciples. These were their people. Keep the food, kick out the workers you don't need.
(Alpha) Damn, that's cold.
(Leo) Yes. Get used to it. Fuck up and it is all our futures.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
(Kat) What's the situation?
(Doc) Delgado is stable. Won't loose the leg. Ross and Jana are treating Smith. Minor wounds, he'll be find so long as we keep it clean.
(George) Perimeter is secure. All work parties in and accounted for.
(Kat) Good. We nailed all three. You two look over this paperwork we captured. I need to clean the stink off of me.
------
(George) They were sent to that specific location and been on station for a day. Logged our work parties and two of the sentry posts.
(Kat) You're sure it was an assigned spot.
(George) Yes.
(Kat) Damn, there's others, aren't there.
(George) That would be my conclusion. You want recon teams to go to specific sectors so you get a total picture of base activities.
(Kat) I want another observation team on third. They're to conduct a careful survey of the surrounding building this evening... Damn, Leo took the thermal with him. We'll make do.
(George) I recommend we step up patrols in the surrounding blocks. Look for signs of habitation. If we're lucky they dumped their chamberpot over the side.
(Kat) Do it.
-----------------------------------------------------------
December 29th, 2000
(Kat) Welcome back. It's good to see you both. Tell me some good news.
(Leo) Our prisoner from our first trip was not telling tales. I logged the movement of hundreds over two days. Worse, Alpha and I confirmed the presence of two armored vehicles. One positive ID of a M113. Not a worry. The other was a tank, but I couldn't ID it. Angular turret, so it is a modern design, but smaller than a Abrams.
(George) Could be a Stingray. I remember a few being shipped over in '97.
(Leo) What matter is big gun. This is not a bunker.
(Kat) Yeah, we got worries here, let me tell you about our visitors.
-----
late
(Leo) I love this sight. That building there, top floor. Rat's nest.
(Kat) Damn we went right by it tracking the first team.
(Leo) So they disciplined. Or they've staggered the arrival and departure of their teams.
(Kat) Let's clean them up.
-------
much later
(Leo, wearily) They down, here's their logs.
(Kat) Leo, you three OK? You look like hell.
(Leo) Nothing rest won't fix.
(Root) Friendly fire... Leo threw a grenade.
(Alpha) In a stairwell, against a fire door.
(Leo) They're nothing but sheet metal and fiber! It should have blown through.
(Alpha) This is America not Soviet Russia! Fire doors are made from more than sheep's wool and children's tears.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
December 30th, 2000
(Leo) We need to get out of this corner of Manhattan. Central Park is too tough a target for us to take without help. Look at our intell. They're strong.
(George) Not like we can send back to Ft. Dix for reinforcements. We're a shoe-string mission.
(Kat) I think he has another idea.
(Leo) Too right. We know too little about the parties here. But one name we've heard from the gangs and Hizzoner's men is 'Duke'. They both agree he's down here, Battery park. I propose a diplomatic mission. Enemy of my enemy.
(Kat) You're right, we don't know anything. How do we do this without getting killed.
(Leo) We take the Zodiac downriver. We can monitor for radio transmissions. If we like what we hear we contact.
(George) And if they're not using radio?
(Leo) Miles of shoreline. We hide the boat. Move in and reconnoiter. Just seeing their civilian and troops will tell much. We decide then; contact or motor back.
(Kat) Who'd you pick.
(Leo) Primary team, you, me, Alpha, Doc, and Root. George can hold down the base. Ed's busy with technical tasks. We need to keep him on it.
(Doc) Root and Alphabit aren't cleared for duty yet. Give them two days.
(Kat) Alright, two days. After the New Year.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 1st, 2000
(Ed) All posts report manned and ready!
(Kat) Cut the alarm bell. Tell all posts to maintain battle ready. Kaade, what's the watch report?
(Kaade) Just listen. Hear that? Diesel and tracks.
(Kat) Yeah. Leo, get the LAWs from the armory.
(Kat) Sounds like they've stopped.
(Kaade) Yes, ma'am.
(Kat) Isham Park?
(Kaade) Likely, it's the only cleared zone on that bearing.
(Kat) George, why'd we let them take our mortars again?
(George) Because the German's needed them.
(Kat) Get me some Germans. I need them back! Leo pass those out, two each.
(Leo) We hunting?
(Kat) Get them before they get here. We'll take the group. Head down Broadway, hit the corner of Isham, roll them up before they know what's happening. And Leo?
(Leo) Yes, Kat?
(Kat) How about you get me another tank?
(Leo) ***Grin***
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