Twilight 2000
By The Dawn’s Early Light Campaign
Game Turn Four Mounted Group
Intercepted Radio Traffic
British/Scottish Accent, “Romeo Delta this is Romeo Sierra Delta Golf request permission enter the perimeter, I am popping smoke” break “I see green smoke come on in,” break “Chaps this isn’t exactly a secure channel” break “let them come, me an Abe are looking for a little payback” break “Out” Weak signal 30-40 klicks away’
American Voice, “ Sierra November Alpha Kilo Echo Four be advised LZ perimeter secure” {gunfire heard automatic weapons far off followed by much louder rifle shots}break “Body Count currently 12” break “Out” Strong signal under 10 klicks
American Voice, “Yoe AL! They want a piece of our action” break “I’m gonna round up some of the boys and put a hit on the Ivan Gang” break Strong signal 10-15 klicks
Russian Voice in Russian, “Complete regroup and refuel move out as planned” Strong signal under 10 klicks
"Will do sir. One last thing, are you planning on linking with us some where? If so, when and where so we can wait for you if need be. "Its possible my Call sign is Watcher 6, but don't wait on us.” [Jess] "Right sir, good luck. See ya in hell!" As the Cap rides off, Jess gets his final grouping together."Jenson, since your number two on this I really hate having you on point, but for now it will do. Anyone have some Nods? If so give them to Sgt Jenson for now." oh well
"Order of march is as follows
1. Sgt Jenson on point
2. Jones, you’ll lead Sergent Jensons horse
3. Myself
4. Bedsada
5. Brown
6. SP Carley
7. Smith
8. Frug
9. SP Drake, you have tail end charlie with the pig. Don't let any of the people get lost in
the woods. Bedsada and Frug are the horse holders for now if need be. Just prior to leaving Jess takes Drakes horse and ties it to Frug's horse with a QR knot ."Sorry I didn't consider that before Drake. That pig can be a handfull by itself, without fighting
a horse too." The group will NOW move along a trail leading through the woods heading west, in the order of march indicated. They are leading their horses for now, at least till they hit open country. Jess leads Forsa with the pack remount tied to her saddle in a quick release knot. He has his M4 loaded, but on safe. He continuously checks the front, right, left and looks back to check on the trailers .They will move to the edge of the woods, then halt and wait for a bit, reconning the open and any cover around before continuing. They will then move in file, mounted, towards the west. A lope is the fastest they will go.. fast
walk is best. Forsa is a fast gaited walker BTW
Ghost riders move west 10 clicks to link with Grey and the snake eater we're to baby sit. We will be mounted once we leave the woods near Omega. Tie the pack horses onto the pack horse I have. I'll lead the pack train for now. All have quick release knots. {ooc I'm not the best knot man, and don't know the names, but know its a type of hitch knot.. it's secure, but a jerk of the loose end and you have the rope in your hand untied. We travel with some speed, but as I said, not more than a lope, then rarely. Keep to tree lines if possible, and off roads. We WILL NOT cross any fields where crops are growing, but move around them <Jess is an agrarian and understands the damage a herd would cause to growing crops>. Once in the vicinity of the 10km range, about three hours I suspect, without encounters, we will try to locate the LT first. Trying to establish radio contact, so we can linkup. Then we sit and wait for Grey.
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Meanwhile back at the firefight
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Krominoski was really pissed now, friggin horse. Not only had it dropped him off rather rudely, then it went and turned traitor on him, damn communist horse. At least the horse was with his kind now. A bullet cracking overhead brought him back to his current situation, and that situation didn't look good. He had been lucky to find cover that fast, not that it was hard to find, just the amount of bullets coming his way made speed an important factor. After putting down 2 mags of 7.62mm to get the enemy to keep his head down, he had a pretty good idea how small this war looked. It was time to even the odds. It seemed the Russkies were trying to get around him so he picked a target from his left flank (R1). He wasn't comfortable having to ignore that sniper he saw but a flank shot seemed more of a threat right now. Well time to take a Red down. Picking the commie that had his head out the furthest from the tree Krominoski took quick aim and let loose a five round burst from his FN-FAL and missed. Ivan got cocky instead of cautious and the two Russians (R1) tried to move up. Jerry’s second burst (5 rounds) dropped them both.
As Airborne signals the danger ahead, the pig squeals at the rear of the column. Several bursts from the LMG cause everybody to seek cover and several random rifle shots go off up and down the column. Jess, making eye contact with Airborne, hand signals he's gonna check out the rear, and for him to hold fast, NOT to move forward. <ooc: this could be tricky, but since both are seasoned vets...GM note both made very good coolness under fire checks>Upon receiving the thumbs up, Jess motions Bedsada forward to hold his horses <actually Forsa, since the pack horses are ties to Forsa>.Once Beds has taken the lead of Forsa, Jess moves rapidly, but cautiously towards the rear of the column. As he passes PVT Brown he motions to follow him "Take Carley's reins." he tells her as he get to Carley. "Any idea what Drakes shooting at?" he asks Carley ‘Though I saw something moving in the bushes back there. "Come on, hope you have something good loaded in
the blooper." HE Top, definitely spoil someones day.’ With out a glance at Carley he moves on towards the sound of battle in his rear. When he's where he can see Drake, he observes the direction of fire from the pig, trying to see what Drake has been shooting at before moving further. SFC Hodges finally got to the rear of the column and could see three dead Russians in a small open area between to trees and what look like a couple of rifle barrels poking out from behind them. Suddenly he heard a high pitch whine and several booms as mortar rounds impacted on the front of the column.
Sergeant Jenson saw the Green Beanie was pinned down and he also knew Hodges wanted to avoid a serious firefight if possible. Fortunately the incoming mortar fire was detonating up in the trees. Fragments from the air bursts couldn’t be ignored but at least they were coming down right on top of them.
Corporal Grey {thoughts} Ok got the horses squared away . Swapped out 4 mags of .50 API for standard BMG. Got me feed & cleaned up , clean uniform , fresh undies &socks Damn things just might be looking up . finish swapping out 2 mags of .50 BMG from web gear for 3 mags of .223 from my satchel .I remember to get my radio Jesse should be here soon ,pat Amber (rifle) & got everything camouflaged again . Now I can Settle back & relax for a just a little while. Settled down for a rest with my M117SS on my lap . When all of a sudden I hear a horse freak out & I see it bolt past me . Quickly looking around I see some russian . I use my M117SS to quickly scope the situation out I see a Soviet Sniper & an RTO with an officer when they start shooting . I draw a bead, move the safety to single shot, & shoot the Russian Sniper in the chest . BAM the Russian Sniper drops like a ton of bricks. The Russian standing next to the RTO looks in the general direction the shot came from and starts talking excitedly to the RTO. I roll away from my position , then stalk around to the back of the Russian ambush and place a local call ." Lone Ranger calling Mr. Ford , Lone Ranger calling Mr. Ford over ." ‘standby, Tonto and the rest of the Indians are a little busy over’ " I can see almost every body , don't go forward you will be caught in an ambush, over." Roger that somebody’s trying to kick us in butt as well over " I hope I took out the sniper am going to circle to the rear and shoot targets of opportunity , over ." ‘ good luck meet at the alternate site over " Roger OUT."
(sick thought popped in) Be very very quiet I'm hunting wabbit HaaHHaaa !, Shit Focus !! Keeping eyes and ears open & looking around for targets & friendlies , shooting the targets & NOT GETTING SHOT !! Working around slowly to the Russian rear but positioning himself at a 3-4 o’clock position relative to hopefully avoid friendly fire. Grey spots two 82mm Wojo Combo Mortars in a small clearing chuncking out shells as quick as the crews can Hang and Fire...Moving the selector to automatic, two three round bursts dropped both two man gun crews. Return fire from the gun crews napping Security Squad was inaccurate but if you spray enough lead into an area you might get lucky. A light wound to the left arm was enough to motivate Grey to beat feet out of there. Jess has positioned his people as best he could to avoid being ambushed. He takes his radio and changes to the freq given him for the yearling LT. Using the call sign given "Watcher 5 this is FORD over" Jess pauses and listens, then repeats the call, ‘Watcher Five here, pinned down but Ivan can’t advance either. Break Jensen here, Looie I’m going chuck smoke, if you’ve got any pull the pins and move 180 degrees from your current facing NOW. Hodges heard all this and told everybody else, “we’re breaking off, move to the secondary link up site.” Lieutenant Krominoski pulled the pins on his two smoke grenades as the Sergeant threw his. He had a small covered lane for a few minutes and he made the most of them hauling butt straight to the rear. It was then it happened, a sharp sting to his butt. Suddenly as everyone was unassing the A.O. they noticed the mortar fire had stopped.
{OOC while the firefight itself took only about 10-15 minutes time spent approaching and breaking contact consumed the balance of this four hour block}
>>The next four hours<< Everyone slowly and carefully moved to the alternate link up point. Corporal Grey had slapped a quick pressure dressing on his arm while Lieutenant Krominoski needed a little help bandaging his butt {Light Wound}. The Russians having gotton a bloody nose for their troubles didn’t pursue very hard, if at all, apparently being more concerned with checking their dead and wounded. Everyone finally checked in by 1400.
{OOC From ASL map 3, we will move south west <grrrr> skirting the bad guys, and head for the hills on the west side of the road and the west slope, to find a temporary hide and rest the stock and ourselves. After linkup we will extract ourselves from the immediate area and find a hide somewhere within 5km of our present location.
Two more hours saw the group at Grid Coordinates E9 which still provided woods for cover and apparently the few trails hadn’t seen any recent patrol activity. Everyone rested and tended to their mounts
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Next Turn is due 12 Noon 5 November the time is 2000 and you are on Squad Leader Map Three posted at Wild Geese location on my web site. Weather is warm and the sky overcast without stars or moon visible.
