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Twilight 2000

O’Grady’s Irregulers (Motorized Group)

Turn Six

 

THIS TURN HAD A LOT OF CHANGING AND CONFLICTING ORDERS SENT IN, which makes for some interesting role playing outcomes, and combat resolution. It simulated the confusion of a surprise situation quite well.

MOSCOW MOLLY’s 1900 Broadcast: American troops disguised as Russians ambushed a medical evacuation convoy killing large numbers of helpless Russian troops. These bandits have even attacked and looted local Polish churches. I call upon you Comrads show these fiends from the American Fifth Division no mercy. Soviet National anthem follows.

Schwartz: "Miss Casewell, would you like my hockey puck?” He offered her the fudge nut brownie from his MRE. She declined  and seemed to be picking half-heartedly at her own MRE. “I want you to know that I would take a bullet for you if  I thought it would help get the troops home. I'm sorry about Sandy and if you ever want to talk about it, I'll take myself off duty and we can sit be the still and chat." ....

We'd packed up camp and headed south toward Ostrow. Wilkin's lead the snipers in a bounding overwatch as we pulled the vehicals up slowley behing them. They radioed us they had found a dirt road about 1000 meters from town and we decided to hide the vehicals there.The snipes had a good position above us on a ridgeline, I'd have fealt in
danger had they not been up there. We had a good defensive position, around a corner, with views in both directions. Our lookouts above us had a good view of the surroundings, they should be able to spot movement at least a couple klicks distant.
We gathered around the Captain and Caswell, who gave a brief outline of what they were going to do. "Snowden watch the vehicals, let Ensign Wilkins worry about the overwatch position, we'll be back in a couple hours tops," and the Captain moved off for the village, Caswell had dressed in civilian clothing, although if she was travelling with a US soldier, I couldn't really an enemy buying the civilian get up, she was at least a NATO sympathizer. Quit thinking like that, I had to shake the thought out of my head. She knows what she's doing, damn CIA spooks.
I had Gonderenko move to one end of the trail and the FSV to the other, helped then set up camoflaged lookout positions (OOC RCN 50)Told them to radio check every 15 minutes, and report anyhting. I'd learned from hunting in the forrests of Minnesota that you needed to look at everything, as an interuption in the cycle of nature could be as subtle as not hearing the birds chip, stay alert, no matter how peaceful this place
seems. Heck I hadn't even heard any far off gunshots in awhile.I moved back on top of the 5 tonner and did a quick look over the M2 (OOC GS 50) So reliable the old ma duce, I wonder how long this one had been in service? probably had seen action in the gulf war.
The sun was warm, the birds were singing, they have the same birds overhere in Poland as we do in the states. There were some house sparrows chittering away in a group, and a big blue/black grackel honking that hideous croak of theirs. A couple of huge crows flew over. I could tell there wasn't danger around, everything was peacefull. The boys called in a radio check, and I sent a SITREP to the snipes, who replied the Captain had made the monestary and been escorted inside. I picked up the dog earred copy of FM 21-11 that had been mixed in with the medical supplies. "First aid for soldiers" how many times had I looked it over? FM 21-10 was underneath it "Field Hygiene and sanitation" That was
going to be used next time we had a stopped lagger. I'd pick some points out of it and make sure everyone remembered the basics.

An hour had passed and SITREPs told me everything was okay. Then I looked for the birds, there wern't any around anymore, a deer came bounding up the road, in a hurry as if in flight, "Oh crap, someone's missed something." I grabbed the butterflys on the M2 and swung it back down the dirt road."Snowden Russian convoy moving up behind us, 7 soft skinned and 1 MBT" the accent laded voice of the Ukrainian called from our rear. "Damn our I thought our snipes could see everything from their vantage point. "Two gun
jeeps, 5 troop carriers, lot's of soldiers, I see lot's of wounded, MBT is T55 is damaged" Gondorenko's voice seemed a little more desperate. "Get up here we have got to move"
I barked hoping to evade this threat.
"Snowden we got armor moving out of Ostrow, toward church." Wilkins called down. Great two things at once. There was about 30 seconds of confusion, "good thing we had a proceedure for this" I said aloud sarcastically. The radio lit up with chatter. I dropped from the gunners position and fired the 5 ton, while yelling into the radio. The Captain
asked if we could get him out, the snipes said they could get shots at the BMD moving toward church, I wanted more info.

"Snipes we gotta go get down here," I said but knew it was too late.Wilkins said he was staying put, and I half heartedly agreed with him

SITUATION CONVOY ELEMENTS MOVE UP BEHIND US. "Enemy to rear am engaging" I heard Carmine bark into his radio, and then the quick jackhammer staccato of
the 25....I floored the 5 tonner....
"Mother Goose this is Grimm Omega. SPOTREP, over...,  SEND IT OVER "...We're going to have company, gentlemen. Six Russian Paras on a BMD moving from Ostrow toward the church and monastery. Range about 800m from my current position and about 500m from the church. Moving slowly in your direction. Requesting orders. Golf Omega out”

Gondorenko watched as one of the soldiers pointed at him. He cursed to himself. Well, he thought, let us see how smart they are. He spotted the jeeps, not one as he had reported but two side by side. He waved to his former comrades. Eastern Europeans wave a little different than Westerners. The guilty always run, at least according to the KGB, so only an innocent man would draw attention to himself on purpose. At least that was the idea. We shall see if it works in real life. He forced himself to smile at the Russians approaching him. If only I had a bottle of Stolichnaya, he thought, the picture would be complete. I will even chat with them, like old friends, if necessary. The convoy kept coming at him, and it looked like they did not believe he was a long lost comrade. He stayed put in the jeep, still grinning like the village simpleton, but his right hand reached down, and caressed the RPG sitting next to him. Come to me, he thought, just a little closer. As they drew near, he was already picking his target. At 75m, he slowly got out of the jeep, and waved again, with the left hand. The right was grasping the pistol-grip of the rocket launcher, now behind him. At 50 m, he pulled the RPG to his shoulder in one fluid motion. He whispered, "For Mila and Gregori", and fired. The rocket propelled grenade cleared the launcher and streaked to the target. The lead jeep has three men: driver, TC with RPK and PK MG on a pintle mount manned. It tried to swerve and only presented a broader target. The resounding explosion destroyed the jeep and peppered the following deuce and half with shrapnel, as it pulled off the road half a dozen AK’s opened fire... Gondorenko fell and his jeep looked like swiss cheese

Snowden manning M2 atop the truck upon hearing about the first convoy and the following explosion swings the M2 toward  their announced direction. Black oily smoke started to rise and Gondorenko was no longer answering his radio. "CAPTAIN CASWELL WE GOT BAD GUYS WITH ARMOR!!! " "3000 METERS CLOSING, OUR POSITION IN 5 MINUTES, FROM NORTH!!!" Seconds later radio message from the scout/sniper team..."ADDITIONAL ARMOR, 500 METERS!!!" Swinging M2 toward new threat "WE GOTTA GO" "Find out if that BMD has AT-5 atop it" "Three troop carriers, 3 trucks, T55 looks like wounded, moving our position from north...1 BMD plus 6 infantry, coming out of Ostrow to our south." "ROAD EAST IS ONLY OPEN ROUTE" "CARMINE POSITION THAT HUMMER TO GIVE US COVER FIRE, WHITHERSPOON GET READY TO KEEP THEIR HEADS DOWN AS WE ESCAPE" Witherspoon said, “You got it Top” finger sticks to the mike for just a second, “Third Platoon prepare to engage, standing by ma’m...” When the situation got tensely hectic with the arrival of the Russian vehicles and the paras, Carmine just did his job, tried to keep his cool, and pay attention to all that was going on around him. Snowden gave him an order to position the FSV for supporting fire, and Carmine complied, communicating his intentions with the gunner before he actually made the move. He would keep the vehicle moving around, in order to hopefully make a harder target to hit, should someone try to jam a wire-guided missile down his throat. At any rate, if there was some light cover to interfere with a missile, yet that would allow the 25mm to slice through, Carmine would be scoping for it, and use it to his best advantage. Should it be necessary, he will lend fire support with the Sweetheart M60E3, but he will not do so at the detriment of his assigned job, and Snowden's orders -- driving the FSV and positioning it in a good firing spot.  "Carmine stick behind me I don't have a gunner, Whitherspoon if the convoy appears behind us shoot first, ask later" Carmine understood the situation well enough. They really couldn't fight, but they
might have to, as a last resort. Even if the enemy was wounded and raggedy, they had the numbers that we didn't. Or they could be bait for some trap of their own.

Schwartzenkempf: "Roger Mother Goose. Will look for AT5 and report back. Holding tight. Golf Omega out." Several minutes later: "Mother Goose this is Grimm Omega... ...No repeat no AT5 launcher on BDM. It'll be there soon boys. Move it or lose it...Golf Omega out" SSG Snowden yelled over the radio to the Captain, “Sir get out of there.” NOT HAPPENING FIRST SERGEANT DEAL WITH  IT UNTIL I GET THERE WHICH MAY BE AWHILE.” "Gondorenko, how far, from what direction? ...Static... "Ensign Wilkins asked, getting no response he keyed the mike again for the scout/sniper OP “BMD south of our position, is that correct?" “Little further than that sir and other side of the hill not with the convoy!” Ok convoy then, Gondorenko answered in a garbled straining  voice, “How many are carrying weapons?”  ‘Nearly all’  “How many are riding vs walking? ‘All riding none dismounting’ Those in slings I will pass over. He was looking for the most mobile, most active, least wounded Russian. Rifle is silenced and scoped. Second gun jeep has four men: Driver, TC with RPK, AGS-17 GL manned and fourth troop also in back with AK-47 with BG-15

Snowden, gave a hasty SITREP to the Captain via radio. "MOVE MOVE MOVE!!!" "CAPTAIN, WE GOT BAD GUYS, WE GOTTA GO!!!" "CARMINE REAR GUARD!!!"  "DOWN THE OPEN ROAD!!!" Hand pointing direction " TO EAST!!!"
"WHITHERSPOON CONVOY, FIRE AT TARGET OF OPPORTUNITY!!!"SSG  on the auto cannon replied “No target in site top but avenue of approach covered” We only have 25 API and 25 APFSDS for the 25 he thought and a couple hundred HE spit wads. Staff Sergeant Witherspoon straightened up in the gunners seat and keyed the radio for a short low powered squirt, "Gents we only got a few AP rounds, can't guarantee HE will punch even his thin hide but might k'o a track, so I'm going to wait till the last minute and make everyone count...he thought he had released the mike button but it stuck just long enough for everyone to hear...Yes ma'm, 3rd Platoon you heard the L-Tee Lock and Load!”

 {OOC}I took a good study of the map guys...That BMD is 300m away from Captain and moving...Assuming it's moving 'cruise speed' 20m/turn we have 15 turns till it's in front of the church Our closest vehicle is about 1300m (by road) away Let's say it's the FSV and it immediately rushes, at top speed in 15 turns it's (70mx15)1050 meters down the road (that's with WVD rolls made for turn onto main road) I'M USING FIRST ED. COMBAT MOVEMENTS, SECOND ED. IS SLIGHTLY SLOWER BUT THE RATIOS WILL BE APROX THE SAME
The BMD get's there first so the FSV will have to confront it. We have to move due to convoy behind us. It's gonna take 10 to 15 turns for those snipes to get off the hill.
under current plan FSV will have to slug it out with BMD, while jeep and 5 tonner picks up snipes.10 turns BMD and FSV have opportunity to exchange fire 500m
5 tonner/jeep in position to retrieve snipes 15 turns BMD seeks cover monestary/church FSV is still in open fire exchanged at 300m Russian convoy is at Gondorenko's previous position.17-18 turns either BMD or FSV is cooking snipes loaded onto vehicals Russian convoy has line of sight on 5 ton and jeep 3-400m 19 turns Russian convoy takes up defensive positions 5 ton/jeep take off M2 (if UAZs have DsHKs trade fire at med/long, PK long) 25 turns we reach 'T' if FSV is cooking we turn right (away) return north the way we came. If BMD is cooking turn left (toward) 35 turns we've reached monestary
If UAZs come after us we will be in the open. 40-45 turns we are either on dirt road (not)pursued by UAZs BMD destroyed, as a complete group, OR the FSV is out of action 5 ton and jeep are in burned village 'A' and we need to look for fire from our right rear flank as Russian convoy if they took up defensive positions aprox 0206 when they saw
us, may have LOS at 500m, we would have cover in village.

Sorry to get technical, I would rather roleplay but...I'm a novice wargammer, I know Gunther is not, most of his gaming stuff seems to be wargame oriented, so he's paying attention to details like these. Is everyone still okay with the plan? Since my character is NOT in the FSV I am okay with the plan. If the FSV gets cooked, and Snowden is
driving the 5 ton I will NOT turn toward the church/BMD, 5 ton vs BMD ain't good.

{Good assessment and accurate observation. I often use miniature rules to resolve combat situations based on character actions. I feel role playing and war gaming can mix to provide a more interesting result than either by itself. Some players rely on number crunching of war games to get out of a jam others favor BSing through role play, to

survive in this campaign you need to master both.} BACK TO THE WAR

main road
> []
> ambush spot[*] Gonderenko RPG
> []
> []jeep
> []
> 5 ton [] FSV
> []
> []
> []

Corporal Carmine used what little cover and time was available to take up a rearguard position as the convoy popped into view. Despite losing their lead vehicle the Russians had opted to plow through and get out of the ambush kill zone they believed they had triggered. The range was almost point blank do to just enough foliage along the twisting road. Rather than stay and shoot it out Ivan had chosen speed over tactical deployment.. SSG Witherspoon cut loose with a long raking burst from the auto cannon that shreaded the first two deuce and halfs. Carmine’s M-60 in short controlled bursts dropped the two or three Russians who had escaped the carnage of the burning trucks. The third deuce in line towing a HMMWV screeched to a halt as the half dozen Russians on board bailed out. Witherspoon hammered the truck and the Hummer twice, forward and back. Yet two more vehicles started burning. The second gun Jeep started firing its grenade launcher and put a couple close to the FSV.

 "All units, this is O'Grady. Get that convoy moving ASAP! Head for the church, there is a dirt trail heading due west, try to make for it. Pick up the scouts on the way. Schwartz, get off that hill, and make for the road, the bus is enroute!" "YOU HEARD THE CAPTAIN BOYS" shouting into the radio "WILKINS YOUR PEOPLE BETTER BE MOVING" not expecting an answer "GONDERENKO, CARMINE STOP AT THE RALLY POINT TO PICK UP THE SNIPES" "PULL UP NEXT TO THE BREWERY FOR VERBAL ORDERS" WHEN WE GET TO PICK UP POINT I SHOUT CARMINE, TO MAKE SURE NO ONE CAN HEAR US OVER THE RADIO."WE ARE GOING BACK TO LAST ENCAMPMENT, KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED, BREWERY NEXT, FIRST KEEP A WATCH ON THE REAR, THERE'S ELEVATION BETWEEN US AND THE BMD, THEY CAN'T SEE US, WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO KEEP THE TREE BUNCH BETWEEN US AND THAT RUSSIAN CONVOY, DON'T GO RACING AWAY, 20 - 30KPH FOR ABOUT 100M THEN PUNCH IT FOR THAT BURNED OUT VILLAGE, IF THERE'S COVER THERE WELL HIDE SO THAT CONVOY DOSN'T SEE US FLEEING, IF NOT TOP SPEED, MEET LAST RALLY POINT"
"KEEP EYES RIGHT IN CASE ELEMENTS OF THAT CONVOY SEE US BEYOND THE TREE LINE."
Staff Sergeant Snowden dropped from the gunners position and fired the motor for the 5 tonner, she gargled to life thank god, and I prepared to follow the captains orders. I grabbed the mike to the radio in the truck "Whitherspoon keep us covered, I'll get the snipers, jeep you get the Captain." OOC WVD 50 jeep and FSV flat out to get captain, 5er picks snipes, FSV supports until 5er has rendevoued and we flee dirt road

Schwartz: "Roger Mother Goose. Bugging out!"[Schwartz and Szymas quickly collect their gear, ready their weapons and get ready to bug out of their position. Szymas loads an anti personel 40mm into his 203 and Schwartz readies his rifle and pulls out his pistol. "Match grade ammo is scarer than good coffee these days," he thinks. .

Schwartz and Szymas had watched the drama unfold below when it hit them how spread out those monks were, almost in a skirmish line moving very slowly through the field toward the chapel as the BMD pulled up in front
Meanwhile back at the main body engine noises could be heard behind them someone was getting close and their were a lot of conflicting orders

Don't seem to be paying much attention. BMD has stopped four paras have
dismounted, appear to be clearing and slinging their AK-74's prior to
entering the Chapel, one para leaning against the BMD loosely holdng his
weapon, talking to another para who's head and shoulders are exposed through
the hatch

"Snow to Irish, Snow to Irish, it will be a trick to arrive your position, suggest you sit tight, we pull back to previous position recover you on tonight, snow out. "Schwartz: "#$%&*! and I was acting unprofessional?", he thinks to himself. He signals to Szymas to lock and load his 203 and Szymas loads an Anti-personel round. He will not fire until the BMD is as close as it can before the crew of six Paras dismount. Schwartz keys the radio, "Mother Goose bug out! Bug out! Repeat Bug out! Engaging target! Omega out!"

{The snipers are going to start engaging the Paras and Schwartz has the radio turned down so low that he wouldn't even be able to hear O'Grady or anyone else}

Schwartz adjusts his scope to range in on the driver's vision block on the BMD. "Just
try to drive blind, you SOB!"   I’ll try to take out the driver first. Then whatever other threats. He will not fire until Szymas fires the 203. The 203 went off with a short thud and dropped short of the BMD but took out one Paras talking beside it. Schwartz’s shot struck right on the vision block as the driver was attempting to drop down in the hatch and button up. He jerked backwards disapearing from view and dropped from site with the hatch open. The next actions the snipers take will be to pin the surviving Paras down with steady aimed shots. Schwartz second shot dropped another Para as the remaining’ three raced in the chapel. Szymas to used his 203 to lob one more HE round onto the rear deck of the BMD. This one was on the money and a small explosion resulted and thick oily smoke started pouring from the light Russian APC "Maybe I can hit the air intake and knock her out", he thinks. [OOC hell, it worked in Grozny]. If the Paras return fire, let's hope their cover is good. Suddenly the monks, who had hit the dirt during all of this, shed their robes to reveal themselves as Polish Infantry. They whipped out AK-47s and started putting out some heavy fire on the snipers position. The distance was long and the Marine cover was good, unfortunately the volume of fire was heavy on the snipers' position. They realized that the enemy might spot the frantic movement, but their ride is in route and they don't want to miss it. Using the cover available, they head for the rendezvous with the convoy with all speed As they attempted to disengage down the hill Szymas dropped dead in his tracks. It only took Schwartz a second to realize the bright red frothy blood was from a punctured lung / chest wound and Szymas was dead. Grabbing the 203 he realized the Poles would be up the slope in minutes as he muttered a silent prayer for his friend as he unassed the A.O. and  E &E to a point further down the dirt road.

Captain O'Grady stood in the old chapel, listening to Father Gankowitz. His hopes for obtaining fuel here had fallen apart, Oh well, he thought, it was a long shot anyway. At least he's given us some good Intel and a contact in Kluczbork. That was the best he could hope for, given the circumstances. His thoughts were interrupted by a loud clanking sound. A track, he realised, and coming this way. Oh Crap. He ran to the nearest window, and peered out. A BMD was slowly moving up the road towards the monastery. An instant later, his radio crackled to life. "CAPTAIN, CASWELL, WE'VE GOT BAD GUYS WITH ARMOR COMING UP FROM THE REAR!" A splt second later, the snipers radioed back, "ENEMY ARMOR 800 METERS DUE SOUTH!"
And we're caught in between. When it rains it pours, Damn, Damn, DAMN! He keyed the mike" Mother Goose Bug out! Bug out! Repeat Bug out! Engaging target. Omega out." He turned to Caswell, "We're moving out NOW!", as he chambered a round in his M-16 and flicked off the safety. He made for the door, and out into the churchyard. He told Caswell, "We've got to make a break for it!"

Father Gankowitz looked at Captain O'Grady and Agent Caswell; "you two must hide, Harriet you remember where the trap door is?" Caswell replied, "Yes, but I...we can't do that, Father. I won't draw a weapon in this building but once I'm outside I think I can divert a few of them for a couple of minutes and gain us some surprise." She adjusted her skirt waist band to make drawing the concealed Walther PPK holstered in the small of her back easier to draw, "Captain cover me, your Sergeant Gondorenko said I was to pretty to shoot lets hope these paras agree...

"Cpt. O'Grady watched as the BMD drew closer. Too close, he thought, we'll be caught out in the open. His radio squawked again, "Snow to Irish, suggest you sit tight until dark, will contact you again at 1900. Snow out." He keyed the mike, "Roger that, Snow. Protect the convoy at all costs. If necessary, move to the rally point to avoid
detection. Will keep you posted. Irish out."He turned back to Harriet Caswell and Father Gankowitz, "Ms.Caswell, the two of us going up against that BMD is suicide, especially
when we have other options. Father, you mentioned something about a trap door. I suggest we go find it, and quickly."
{OOC: O'Grady's main concern is that the rest of the team not get themselves killed trying to rescue him.}

 "Ms.Caswell, the two of us going up against that BMD is suicide, especially when we have other options. Father, you mentioned something about a trapdoor. I suggest we go find it, and quickly."
{OOC: He will physically drag Caswell if necessary to the hiding place in the hopes of escaping later with none of the Russians even knowing they were there.}
O'Grady looked down at the unconcious pilot. Where the hell did this guy come from? He hadn't seen a plane or helicopter since...this morning. No way, it couldn't have been this Barker flying that old Russian Hip chopper, could it? When this guy wakes up, I'm definately going to have to talk to him. He turned to the CIA agent, "Ms. Caswell, I apologize for grabbing you upstairs like that. You seemed all ready to play John Wayne with that BMD, and after last night, well, I felt it might be the quickest way to change your mind. If we're both dead, the odds that those codes get recovered by the good guys go down dramatically." Caswell replied, “Captain the only reason you don’t have a broken arm is I saw the reason of your logic even if I didn’t agree with it.” He unslung his M-16 off his shoulder, and leaned it against the wall, but still in arms reach. "Let's take a look at this guy. I was a second-year Med student, before I switched majors and went into
Linguistics." He kneeled down next to the cot. He felt his forehead, and checked his leg to see how badly injured it was. He kneeled down next to the cot. He felt his forehead, and Feels hot but dry checked his leg to see how badly injured it was.

Broken, but a closed fracture, looks like he took some shrapnel as well. Splint and stiches were done by someone who knew what he was doing. Best guess the injuries are a 2-3 days old. During your exam he regained consciousness made a grab for his pistol, but relaxed upon seeing a US Army Uniform. "CWO2 Barker XI Corps Air Cav, Sir. Who's your girlfriend?" O'Grady replied to the wounded pilot, "I'm Capt. O'Grady, 5th Mechanized Division, and this is Harriet Caswell. You might want to keep your voice down, we've got bad guys right outside. What's your story, Chief, and how did you end up here?"In a lower voice, "Point taken sir, man you grunts do ok," seeing Caswell's frown he quickly changed subjects, "XI Corps HQ wanted some info on 5th Division. No radio contact in over 36 hours. They actually risked 1 of our two Ultralights on a recon flight. Hey its not a gunship but it was a chance to fly again so I took it. I scouted Kalisz, man what a mess, got a little froggy over Ostrow. Hey its not like anybody keeps an air guard any more or has ack-ack, anyway a ZSU-23 punched a couple of holes in my wing and I crashed not far from here; was found by some Polish Guerillas, who patched me and brought me here. Capt. O'Grady replied to the pilot, "You could have saved yourself the trouble, 5th Mech no longer exists. We've been running from Ivan for the last two days. Where is Corps HQ located at? And did you spot anything interesting on your recon flight? When I first saw you, I couldn't help but wonder if you were the pilot of the Hip chopper that buzzed us this morning.” Capt. O'Grady replied to the pilot,
Two days ago it was at Poznan but word was they were bugging out leaving only a small rearguard to collect stragglers
And did you spot anything interesting on your recon flight? Yeh a Hip was at Kalisz but it didn't look like it was in flying condition "Then I wasn't hallucinating I did hear a chopper, stares off into space for a couple of minutes] been a long time sir" [am I able to hear any of the radio traffic still going on with the rest of the group? You have a servicable 2km radio with you, there were 4 in the Hummer]As they sat in the basement, O'Grady thought to himself, All we
need now is a deck of cards. He looked around the room, peering into corners and behind barrels, seeing what he could find. After searching out the room, he spoke, "Chief, we are part of a small convoy heading
east. You are welcome to join us, but if you'd rather stay put and mend, I understand. We'll be moving out after dark, to link up with the rest of our unit." He took the CIA agent aside, "I had no idea that your partner was also your sister. I can't begin to imagine how you must feel. If there's anything I can do..."
Caswell looked off for a second, half sister actually, my dad remarried, even the agency didn’t know or we never would have....” She was interrupted
As they sat in the basement, suddenly noises came from the chapel above. Heavy boots and shouting, and suddenly the sound of the pew being moved. O 'Grady hissed, "Blow out that lamp, and take cover!" He moved behind the ladder, and pulled his K-Bar from it's scabbard. Hopefully they won't see us, if they do, I'll try to sever the windpipe, he thought, he shouldn't make a sound as he drops. If there is someone else upstairs, maybe I can bluff him into thinking his partner is still alive by answering back in Russian. That might buy us a few seconds, enough time to get the drop on him.

The grenade dropped down into the cellar bounced once between Caswell and the pilot. O’Grady tried to stop her as she threw her body on it and absorbed the explosion. The first Russian dropped down without even using the ladder, pistol in hand and O’Grady grappled with him. The second shined a flashlight and got a 38 slug for his troubles from Barker. The next Russian fired a burst from his assault rifle which finished Barker but missed everyone else. O’Grady finally slipped his blade into the big Russian and gutted him like a fish. His partner up above asked if he had got him, O’Grady replied in garbled Russian “Da, Da, give me a hand,” and when a face appeared pearing down he emptied the Russian’s pistol into it. O’Grady saw the Russian and Barker were dead, Caswell was critically injured. As he tried to see how badly she was hurt the priest called out from above in a weak voice, “they are all dead but you m...” Caswell looked up at O’Grady and said, “Get those codes to CIVGOV these are my contacts...”she died handing him her PPK and holster.

Schwartz saw the Five Ton head up the dirt road as he was hauling butt down the slope. Snowden didn’t need to slow down as the Marine jumped aboard with a flying leap and swung the 50 cal around just in time.

Carmine quickly put down Sweetheart (M-60E3) and gunned the Fire Support Hummer to keep up with the rapidly disappearing Five Ton. The Russian jeep mounted grenade launcher had been starting to put rounds a lot closer when the crew of the jeep started dropping. A second machine gun armed jeep had pulled clear of the one Gondorenko had toasted and spraying bullets rather ineffectively all over the place. Ignoring them, Ensign Wilkens had gotten into position, sighted in and dropped the four man Russian crew in as many seconds. His silenced weapon had clearly had the remaining Russians baffled as to where the fire was coming from and they were a lot more cautious. The HMMWV Ambulance had also halted and a Russian Officer was waving a white cloth, the T-55 had rolled on past and was gaining ground. It was clear the tanks main gun wasn’t servicable but the machine guns were full of life. Carmine floored the Hummer but its acceleration on alcahaul just wasn’t very impressive compared to a diesel  fueled tank. Witherspoon fired away with the few remaining 25mm rounds he had left hoping to disable a track but despite several hits the T-55 kept rolling. Suddenly from the shreaded American Jeep that all the Soviets had passed without a thought after their initial burst had cut the RPG gunner down. A badly bleeding figure rose leaned against the jeep with a reloaded RPG and fired at the tanks rear armor. The already badly damaged section parted like tin foil and the charging juggernaut ground to a hault. At the same time a burst of rifle fire finished the valiant Ukranian who had been living on borrowed time. Ensign Wilkins decided not to press his luck either as he mounted up and headed for rendezvous point.

As the convoy pulled clear a dozen Polish Infantry crested the hill and began firing. Schwartz swung the fifty cal around and hammered away at stupid grunts who didn’t have the sense to take cover, as the belt ran dry he just looked at the bodies of the men who had killed his friend; as they disappeared into the distance.

Captain O’Grady pocketed Caswell’s PPK and viewed the carnage of the Chapel. He was the only one still alive. The BMD was a burned out wreck, apparently one grenade had landed amongst a bunch of Jerry Cans filled with diesel. He knew it was a risk but he took the time to bury Caswell and Barker. It just didn’t seem right to do otherwise. A quick check of the bodies turned up 4 servicable AK-74’s and and 15 clips but no useful intell. They were from the 14th Air Assault Brigade.

   Eventually most of them made back to their original camp site by 1900. Ensign Wilkens came in on foot, his horse wounded by grenade fragments had come up lame and had to be put down., First Sergeant Snowden and Sergeant Schwartz in the Five Ton, Corporal Carmine and Sergeant Witherspoon in the FSV Hummer all arrived together. Schwartz told of Szymas being killed in action and Witherspoon told the Captain how bravely Sergeant Gondorenko had died. That night as the skies darkened and everyone caught some rest, took care of personal matters after checking the weapons and vehicles.

 

   The sky was strangely alive that night with blue lightning from midnight to almost oh one hundred....SSG Witherspoon seemed be talking to himself as checked over the Hummer “yes ma’m two casualties, ammo low, everyone performed exceptionally well, yes ma’m I’ll pass that on to the men….”

.We had  travelled back the way we came, eventually reaching our last position. SSG Snowden hearded us in and recommended some defensive positions. “Whiterspoon stay with the FSV, Carmine take that pig of yours up front aways and set up a left flank attack on an enemy following us, I'll stay back with the 5tonner and the M2. Wait and stay vigilent boys. "When dusk comes we'll try to radio the captain. Everyone remember our challenge?...good I assume we'll have team moving back into our positions sometime after dark. SITUATION TEAM MEMBERS ARRIVE AT CAMP. That was a hairey one, but we'd secured our objective, safe passage, at least for a little ways toward our goal. "Everyone needed rest, unfortunatly not everyone could get it "Sniper, Captain, you're wired on adreneline right now but you need rest after that trek. You guys catch the early night sleep, well wake you in a while so my team can catch some Z's"  I went forward to Carmine to explain the situation to them"Carmine you hanging in there? We are going to pull a watch then we'll catch some rest later, thanks for watching my butt today, that was pretty hairey but you guys did well" I'd make sure I give the same thanks to Witherspoon, and I returned to my place on the 5 ton.

"So nigh is granduer to our dust,
So near is God to man,
When duty whispered low thow must,
O'Grady replied I can..."
 "He gave not just for country...but for all of us here. The lord needed a good soldier, he wanted the best up with him, that's why they were chosen"

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Ammo Expended Auto Cannon 90%, Machine Guns 50%, Assault Rifles 33%, Sniper Rifles 10%, not every shot or encounter got documented in this write up

Fuel Expended 50% to include the tank trailer

Next turn will cover from midnight till 12 noon weather is warm, sky is clear

TURN SEVEN DUE 12 Noon EST Sunday December 10, 2000
RIP

Sergeant Alexi Gondorenko  Ukrainian Army / Attached US Army 5th INF DIV (M)
Corporal Josef Allen Szymas USMC /Attached US Army 5th INF DIV (M)