poor old Jim and Fred....... :(
05 MAY 2003 / 2040 HOURS (dusk)
(Sherman)
Dropping his coffee and spillings its content on the map and table. Damn.
Sherman started barking out a series of orders to the assembled Duty staff.
"Alert the camp." Seeing Robbo already at the doorway. "Corporal Robbinson
get down to the SW OP and advise me of the situation."
[Robbo]
[Sherman]
Robbo wipes the sweat from his brow and ensures everything is in the
right place as he grabs his webbing. Once he's ready, Robbo carefully
heads down towards the South West OP, careful not to get shot by one
of the scared diggers on the wire.
Sherman ordered the operator to check with the other OP's to see if any had
'contacts'. All OP's to hold fire unless they have confirmed enemy
sightings, we don't want to give our positions away, the enemy might just be
probing our defences.
"Corporal Irvine (in charge of the Guard). Ready the duty defense squad.
Send out runners to the other OP's, they may have already been infiltrated."
"Inform the LT."
[ooc]
[GM]
Lt. Jackson was already up and dressed when the Corporal showed up to
inform him of the situation. Jackson dismissed him to keep doing what he
was doing, then practically ran to the Command Center to talk to Sherman.
"What's the situation?" he asks upon arrival. This is NOT what he needed.
If this really was some sort of attack, which he was hoping it was not, then
Stryfe found them faster then he expected. Either way, this was just a
warning that where they were would not remain safe for long.
[Sherman]
05 MAY 2003 / 2042 HOURS
Wiz and Sherman conferred in the Command Center. Wu frantically requested
via the simple telegraph system that messages
be repeated, and points clarified. Despite everyone's lack of training, and
lack of sleep, it all worked, somehow.
Apparently two intruders had stumbled onto some of the makeshift
anti-personnel devices strung in the trees. One of the
guards paniced, and fired into the night. One of the intruders was killed
outright, the other was wounded. No word on
how badly. The OP regained fire discipline, and was awaiting CPLs Robinson
and Irvine.
A few scattered shots erupted from those inside the camp, firing at shapes
and/or shadows in the night. Within 30 seconds
give or take, the firing quieted down. But the mood of all within the camp
was somewhat jumpy.
On one of the 2 functioning civilian "Bearcat" scanners, Wu picked up some CB
radio traffic. He hurriedly scrawls a few notes should his memory need perked up at a later time....
==========================
"Probably the Guisewhite brothers again."
"Yeah, good buddy. Be a blessing if they shot each other up"
"Amen to that, brother."
======================
"Well next time someone needs to shoot a hootey-owl, I hope they use a bow
and arrow. I just got the baby down, and now
the old man's in there singing frickin' showtunes to her to calm her down.
And you know how I hate "The Music Man"
"Like I said, Rattlesnake Mama, it weren't me..."
=======================
"Grimace, this is Baker 6. Acknowledged.
=======================
"One of em did. The other should still be up there somewhere, but he ain't
in the Ranger Station of course..."
=======================
"Yeah he is crazy, but you better watch. I think Tom's kid is in with him.
Reported Tom's brother for hording 'shine."
"No shit"
"Yeah, the kid is like 16 and turns his own Uncle in... the B@$%@%& ! Those
guys came in, dragged him out and shot him.
And like just yesterday Stryfe was leading those Weekend Warrior types over
at the Lewisburg Armory."
"Yeah, well my old man remembered him from 'Nam, and then from DC. What's
that stuff? PTSD? Well he had it alright.
He used to make my old man sharpen new pencils until they were ground down to
lil ole stubs. No reason, "just do it,
LT..." was all he would say. I'd love to bust a cap on him. I just
reloaded some .300 Winchester."
"My '06 just bit the dust. Firing pin like disintegrated. I'm looking to
replace it if you know anyone with anything to
spare."
"I got a Mauser. Needs restocked, but my Pap used to like it for deer..."
"If you're willing to part with it, being as it was your Pap's, I'll pay cash
or trade."
"Come over tomorrow and we'll talk."
"Good nuff. Thanks Bwana"
"No problemo. I appreciate the liniment for the wife's legs. She was
walking pretty good today til she got tired."
Then even the CB traffic on the scanner died down...
05 MAY 2003 / 2045 HOURS
Robbo and CPL Irvine met en route to the SW OP, sprinting part of the way,
but slowing down as they got nearer. The whole
place was still unfamiliar to them, and neither wanted to make undue noise or
wrench an ankle at an inopportune moment.
It was only 200 meters away, yet it was down the side of a mountain, not a
sheer cliff, but steep enough to discourage
running at full bore...
Moans were heard from beyond the wire. A man softly cried for help. He was
lying on his back, 30 meters or so from the
OP. The three men in the OP had him under observation, yet only the oldest
man aimed his rifle at the injured man.
[Bains] (oldest guy in the OP)
Bains pointed with his rifle, still keeping a bead on the wounded man. The
smell of black powder from the improvised
grenades was acrid in the crisp night air. Then more quietly to the two
CPLs.
"I had them stand down so they wouldn't pop the guy too hastily..."
The man's cries became more audible.
[Jim] (wounded intruder)
"C'mon, I'm bleeding to death out here. I know there's someone there...
Help me. I KNOW you can hear me. Aw, shit!
That's my F'n thumb! Aw, &^%#@ #&*^$ $^$^@* &^%#@......."
=====================
05 MAY 2003 / 2045 HOURS
[Sherman]
[Wiz]
Robbo conferred with CPL Irvine and the men who were at the post where all the shooting
erupted.
[Robbo] (quietly)
Robbo and Irvine dragged the wounded man back to the OP, avoiding the remaining
grenade traps, with Irvine directing the afe route. Irvine (frankly) wants to wait for daylight
to check the other man out -- he is apparently hung up on the line to another trap of 3
"chained" grenades... That seemed fine with Sherman's and Wiz's plans.
[prisoner]
"M-m-m-my name is Jim. J-j-j-j-jim Danvers. Can ya h-h-help me?"
The group checked the prisoner over for anything unusual -- hidden
weapons, papers, etc. He had several items of
equipment on his person.
The man has numerous wounds on his person. His left leg hangs at an odd
angle from the shin down, obviously broken.
The same leg is peppered with schrapnel wounds, and are bleeding
moderately. The man's left hand is literally a bloody
mess -- fingers mangled, the thumb is missing entirely. His head and
face likewise are peppered with schrapnel wounds,
and he bleeds profusely from those areas...
He was dressed in woodland fatigues, very muddy/wet, no visible insignia
or markings. He wears an improvised ammo pouch
rig, containing a frag grenade, and 4- 30 round mags 5.56N. His M16 is
abit muddy, but holds another 30 round mag. He
has a hunting knife on his belt, and a section of a civilian AAA map in a
pocket (now quite bloody). A fanny pack
contains a can of spam and a can of spaghetti-o's, camping utensils. 2
canteens of water. A PRC-90 type radio is all
but shredded from the blast. Searching deeper in the pockets turns
up... hurricane matches, odds and ends of a
personal med kit, and $515.00 in cold hard cash.
SPC Yates, and Hannah Mordecai [ooc- yes, Sherman, evidence that she's
still alive, and mostly, looking fine!] showed up
with some first aid stuff, and patched the man up enough that he could be
moved. Soon the man was stable enough, and
was carried back to HQ. He was shock-y, and passed out, but regained
consciouness shortly thereafter...
Robbo checked the perimeter. All was quiet on the western, eastern,
northern, and southern fronts. {ooc- sorry!}
Guards were much more alert than they were previously, and maintained
good noise and light discipline. There were no
further encounters. He encouraged those pulling guard duty to maintain
the vigil, and was satisfied that they would.
Later, Wu conversed with Robbo as to Wiz's $10,000 Challenge -- finding a
way to trace the radio signals. The two came
up with some ideas, but would have to wait for daylight to put anything
in place. The first step would be a better,
directional antenna, and optimally, 3 positions from which to get a
bearing. It was do-able, but it was a long-term
project.
Wiz had had a long ass day, and he was sick of giving orders and
commanding people. He couldn't even get a nights rest, because things kept
happening. Everyone seemed to be handling things alright, and he left them to it.
Finding his sleeping bag and his quarters he laid his head down. He was
asleep instantly, only to be haunted by nightmares of leading everyone to
death, over and over again...
06 MAY 2003 / 0100 HOURS
Halfway Dam Recreation Area
[Sherman]
With the camp now quite, hopefully it would stay that way till morning.
Sherman returned back to the rec centre and his desk which was now piled
high with the belongings of the man wounded on the perimeter. Whoever Mr
Danvers was, he is certainly well equipped and well financed. Sherman
noted the AAA map still covered in the mans blood. Sherman was not sure if
Danvers would pull through to be questioned in the morning. Even if his wounds
were not to serious, there was a good chance they still might get infected.
Just like in the civil war thought Sherman, more men dying of disease than
bullets or was it the other way around? Sherman decided to wash the blood
off the map and left it on the back of a stuffed beaver to dry.
Sitting back at his desk Sherman went over the guard roster. Twenty of
the militia were currently on duty. Three in each of the four op's which left
CPL Larry Irvine and the duty squad of seven to watch over the two
prisoners and carry out random patrols of the camp and sentries.
Sherman had Larry post a guard over Danvers and made sure he had some
note paper and a pencil just in case Danvers said something in his sleep. Also
Sherman remarked we don't want Danvers doing anything crazy if he wakes
up. We don't have many pain killers and who knows how the man is thinking? I
don't want Yates or Hannah being harmed by him. Sherman also made it VERY
clear to Irvine that if in doubt about something wake him.
Sherman checked his watch, it was zero one fifty. Adjusting the tilt on
the chair, Sherman made himself comfortable and put his feet on the desk and
thought about how Danvers could have got so much money, before finally
drifting off to sleep.
by midnight Robbo would be staking out his sleeping spot again, and
hoping that his shift had passed during the ruckus caused by the
blundering scouts.
Next morning (barring another contact) Robbo will begin to scrounge
around the base area for the items he wants.
06 MAY 2003 / 0800 HOURS
Halfway Dam Recreation Area
Command Center
A new day dawned on the few loyal remnants of the 3/103rd Armored, 28th
Division US Army. A new day with promise of hope, as well as the possibility of new
challenges. At least most people had gotten a decent night's rest. [OOC -- at
least you PCs...]
A few new bits of information concerning the prisoners became evident.
Sherman was quick to wonder whether the pieces were related to the men, and their unit's
situation, or if they were simply a matter of coincidence. Yates and Hannah
had examined Jim Danvers more closely upon returning to Camp, and
reported he had a severe case of poison ivy.
[ooc -- not to patronize you Aussies, but do you know what poison ivy is?
I know it's not common in England or Europe, but if you need info, just do a search on
WebMD. Basically, it's a severe skin allergic reaction from a local plant's
leaves/vines/roots. Nuff said]
The remains of a second man, Fred Nelson, were carefully retrieved
without incident. His equipment included an improvised ammo pouch rig, containing a
frag grenade, 2 smoke grenades, an old-style flare gun with several (12+) colored flares,
and 4 smoke projectiles for the flare gun. There are 4- 30 round mags 5.56N. His M16
was shattered, but holds another 30 round mag. He has a bayonet on his calf, and a set of
colored pencils, and several pieces of paper, bearing various markings. There is an army
messkit, and 2 canteens of water. $588.00 in cold hard cash. All items are liberally
covered in blood and hunks of Fred...
With minimal inspection, Robbo and Sherman determine that the papers are
some sort of map overlay.
There was no word yet from Sean and Berger. They have had ample time to
have reached Scranton by now...
Several men spread out parts for the hot air balloon, which looks to be
nearly completed. There is some mold/mildew from being stored while damp, but that can
be scrubbed off.
It appears that food seems to be running short, particularly vegetables
and carbo items. The woods is full of game and streams are full of fish for meat. Fresh
Water supply is excellent. It appears that the stills are eating up wood
nearly as fast as it can be processed, and that various vehicles, generators, and other needs
are sapping up every drop of alcohol.
There are no contacts with outside forces, nor any radio contacts during
this period...
06 MAY 2003 / 0800 HOURS
Halfway Dam Recreation Area
Command Center
[Sherman]
Once awake will sh$t, shower and shave. Sherman will then report to Wiz
and discuss some of the various mundane but necessary operations of the camp.
The first priority will be to finish up the camp roster detailing those
on guard, work details, watching the prisoners etc. Sherman will ensure as
best he can that everybody is getting some sleep and free time off, including
the command staff (though we all seem to be doing well :)
Sherman and Wiz will also have to interrogate the three persons who are
now prisoners of the 3/103rd. Also they could be set to doing tasks rather
than just being extra mouths to feed excepting the wounded man of course. We
also have the various captured maps to look at and see what we can garner from
them
Sherman will make a number of other recommendations to Wiz.
The volunteers that wished to join us should we let them?
That a foray be made into one of the closer towns with the GMC 6 ton dump
truck. It could be led by Brooke Whittaker accompanied by mostly workers
and some militia to ride shotgun. They could then collect wood and other
materials from ruined buildings i.e. stripping down fences, collecting
corrugated iron. This might save some time rather than collecting
firewood or the effort involved in chopping down trees. Sherman has heard Brooke
has been having troubles with the work crews. Should we do something about it
now or let it go a bit to see how she handles it.
That James De La Croix be used as an ambassador by the unit to meet the
locals and go about seeing who they are, what they know and what they
need. One of the previous nights radio intercepts mentioned needing a new
firing pin. Maybe we could barter for food or offer an exchange of services the
locals might need. This could save a few bodies to other duties rather
than hunting or fishing. Sherman has a few doubts on the trustworthiness of
Big Jim but he would be well suited to the task.
Weather or not we will remain here. We will have to start making plans
for when winter comes (whenever that is in PA).
The last issue of business. To organize a rescue (!?!) mission to go and
find out what happened to Sean, Berger and HQ.
[GM]
Sherman is on the ball to be thinking ahead. Any of you -- outline your
plans, put them into practice, and you'll get experience points.
Winter in PA typically is December thru March. Our first few snows in
Nov and Dec are just dustings. Jan and Feb and sometimes March we get the heaviest
snowfall, several inches to perhaps a foot or two. Ponds freeze solid enough to
skate by late Jan or Feb.
There are exceptions -- we had a blizzard once on Halloween, I went
running (comfortably) in shorts and no shirt on a 70 degree New Years Day,
we had a bad blizzard March 17 of the year I was married where snowfall
was measured in feet, and the roads looked like huge WWI trenches when they were finally
cleared. We later had snow in the mountains the week before I was married (May
1st).
Common sense says that atop a windy mountain, even summer can feel
chilly.
I don't want to belabor the point, I have mentioned it before, but it's
been awhile. The EMP pulse from WWIII has effected weather worldwide, making all
conditions abit more extreme. Here are but a few.
The "nuclear winter" effects seen in such movies as "The Day After" et
al (overcast, rain, snow, general drop in temps, dreary), were in effect from mid 1999 thru
earlier in 2003, (when it was tough to distinguish from "normal" winter. So
you are only recently coming out of the effects in MAY of 2003.
Most experts agree the movie portrayed the *best case scenario*.
http://www.oism.org/nwss/
The ozone layer is shot from EMP and the puncturing of the layer by
literally 1000s of ICBMs from all of the combatants. So when the sun breaks thru the
cloud layer from nuclear winter, it might not necessarily be hot, but the
sun's rays are more likely to cause skin and retinal damage. I tan
easily (Saxon blood...), but this situation would be like the unexpected scorching I got in
early April one year -- not normally tanning season in PA.
Lightning storms are more frequent and more severe/violent, due to EMP
residual effects. This may have an effect on radios and other electronic devices.
Other environmental effects have been felt in PA. The Susquehanna River,
(which means "very wide river" in Indian) normally is quite shallow (can wade across at
various points when dry in summer). However, due to lack of flood control
upriver (Scranton / Wilkes Barre, hmmm?), and industrial accidents in the
same area, the river is even wider and deeper, which was why it was such an obstacle
earlier in the game. Plus some industrious person blew 2 of the bridges in the
Central Susquehanna Region to provide additional barriers against enemies. (Name the
person, and get some experience points!)
Similarly, PA is not generally a place where earthquakes occur, at least not like California,
India, Nicaragua, China etc. Three times in my lifetime I've felt minor tremors, and it was
scarier than anything I've ever experienced. After doing some research, I found out PA is
along a major fault line which roughly follows the Appalachian Mountain Chain. The
tremors and quakes in CA tend to relieve the stress on the fault line. PA's tremors haven't
had that relief, and maybe not soon, but someday...
I will try to give a little more in my posts about the weather and
atmospheric conditions, so that everyone has a better
picture as to what's going on.
Enough already!
Wiz agrees, the prisoners could work some sort of detail building and
fortifying houses. As for interrogating them, where, why, how's, etc
would be helpful. Ohh, and Wiz is pissed off after last night and after having
to run away, his life barely intact. So his agression is going to be spent
somewhere, most likely on these prisoners if they don't answer him to his
full satisfication.
Definately, the more men we have, the better. Let them know that we
can't pay a lot, if any, but we provide protection, somewhat, and a community.
Plus, remind them of the great USA, the cause that they are fighting to
rebuild.
Let her handle it for now, maybe an inspirational speech from Sherman
will give her the power to exert authority over them. If anything more
arises, Sherman has full authority to step in and put those guys in line. It
would be better, however, to not have to step in...it sort of undermines
Brooke's power on the men if she can't handle them herself..
Again, agreed. But De La Croix is an businessman, he'll have to get
something out of it. Maybe letting him be the middle man in the
exchanges will make him happier...something.
If we stay or not all depends on if there appear to be any good spots
around. Personally, Wiz would like a farther away spot, not one likely
to attack again. But if nothing looks promising, its about time to settle
in and build fortifications..
Wiz wakens and takes care of a few mudane matters before meeting Sherman
in the HQ. They discuss Sherman's ideas and Wiz gives his thoughts on the
matter, then leaves Sherman to carry them out. That done, Wiz checks
with Robbo and Wu, seeing what they have turned up with the radio. Probably
nothing, so he moves on to his fallen project, the balloon. Wiz
questions the men that unpacked it as to the man with the most technical experience
here, engineering wise. He needs someone to take over the part he played
of army engineer, and someone has to have the knowledge. (GM - feel free to
introduce a new npc if one exists.) Not wanting to hand his baby over to
someone else, he does anyway, wanting it up and flying as quickly as
possible.
The rest of his afternoon is spent getting some of the men to weave nets
that can be used to catch fish and trying to think of a way to build
traps to catch deer. Or better yet, why don't they just domesticate them?
Decisions, decisions.
[Sherman]
Concerned that Danvers may be waiting for something to happen. Sherman
will order some of the militia to take the pick up and head a few hours east.
They will find a good place to observe the road and report back via radio
should they see any unusual traffic, heading our way. This will be
discussed with Wiz, if something is coming, some early warning would sure be
useful.
Sherman will then continue with the interrogation of all three prisoners.
Especially with Jim Danvers who seems to be cracking first. Sherman will
discuss with Hannah if she would be willing to act 'sympathetic' towards
Danvers, Hannah isn't a soldier so Danvers might not be as careful around
her. Maybe she could let slip something (that Danvers has actually been
with us a few days and has only just regained consciousness).
Halfway Dam Recreation Area
Command Center
Sherman was enjoying a cup of coffee in the Command Centre as he went over
maps of the local area. This was suddenly interrupted when the Duty
telegraph operator advised him of a contact on the south west OP. This was
followed shortly by the sounds of explosions and weapons fire.
"Understood Staff, on my way. Whats the Password again?"
"It's 'Olympic' (or whatever makes a suitable password). We'll tell 'em
you're on the way."
Is there any sort of field telephone (can on a string even?) to the sentry posts?
3 of the 5 phones that were set up in Lewisburg are not working, so wire was
strung, and a simple telegraph key and relay system was used (this was what was in place
before the phones, in Lewisburg.) Morse code is not used, but there are pre-arranged
signals for various events. So if you want to ask anything, the stuff is in place, only the
messages back and forth had better be very simple....
"We're under attack sir. SouthWest OP reports a contact. Corporal Robinson
is on his way down there now. I'm checking with the other OP's and Corporal
Irvine is readying the guard."
By the concerned look on his face. Sherman did not need to tell Wiz that
Stryfe may have already found them.
Halfway Dam Recreation Area
Command Center
"Yeah, coupla pops, then a few shots up on the mountain."
"No, swear to Jesus, Jethro, and George Jefferson, it wasn't me. Hell, I was
asleep. Drank the last-a my apple wine and passed out at supper."
"Baker 6, this is Grimace -- 5 5 at 18. 2 K. Over...
"Yeah I heard it. I didn't know anyone was up there anymore. Didn't the
Ranger get shot last winter?"
"Was prolly that Crazy Colonel Stryfe. Haven't you seen his posters -- "Join
or Die" I say Hey M-----F-----, join THIS!"
Halfway Dam Recreation Area
SW Observation Post
"CPL Irvine, CPL Robinson, our contact is out there -- I confirm two men, one
now dead, the other now wounded. They had
poor noise discipline -- we heard them crashing around in the brush, and
arguing, before we even saw them. They ran into
the grenade traps 30 meters out, about 3-4 minutes ago. Unknown unit. They
were armed with rifles, type not known, no
other equipment seen."
Halfway Dam Recreation Area
SW Observation Post
As quickly as it started the current camp emergency seemed to be almost be
over. Sherman thought about some of the radio traffic scanned. Most of it
sounded like the neighbours, some of the transmissions might be worth
further investigation though. The ranger one sounded intriguing.....
Sherman was worried about the Baker 6 to Grimmace call. It was succinct and
to the point, obviously a coded military transmission. Not much could be
done about it now. No doubt Wiz and Wu will figure out where it came from.
Depending on any additional orders from Wiz, Sherman will make his way down
to the SW OP. And talk with the two Corporals. CPL Irvine will be tasked to
get the wounded man and take him back up to the camp so he can receive some
medical attention. The dead man can be recovered in the morning. Sherman
will get Robbo to lead a clearing patrol out to sweep the perimeter.
Wiz gives no new orders to Sherman. Once the situation was under
control, he knew that everything else could be handled the next day. The
transmissions where, interesting however...its a shame that he didn't have
the equipment, time, or manpower to triangulate the signals. "Just make
sure that we have scouts on patrol all night. I don't want this happening
again if there is someone else out there." That said, he dismisses Sherman
to take care of it all. "Wu, start racking your mind, I'd like a way to
trace those signals, think about it." Wiz left the building and for the
next hour or two, he basically assures everyone else that everything is just
fine, then attempts to get some sleep before morning. It was going to be a
long ass day when he woke up.
"Irv, I say we drag his sorry butt back in, and get him to the Boss. I'll grab him, you cover.
And we'll get one of these guys to escort us out. I don't want to run into any of our
boobytraps."
