From: Robertson, Brendan <Brendan.Robertson@d...>
Date: Thu, 5 Oct 2006 17:34:28 +1000
Subject: [GZG] [brushfire] Day 2.5 - day cycle [long] [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]
Looks like I was overeager in using 1 day per post to cover the action. Further reports will be day/night split for the moment. Also, looks like I've made some subtle mistakes about who is attacker/defender (most of you probably didn't notice) but I'll clean those up as it becomes possible. **** The emergency department overflowed from the night's action. The steady flow of civilians from stray fire and scattered artillery was only interrupted when a wounded soldier (from either side) was brought in and triaged to surgery. There was a sudden influx at dawn as the curfew was lifted and then the doctors got some sleep... The heavy platoon continued its combat sweep in the dawning light; without the cover of darkness, the Hooligans seemed dis-inclined to duel with tanks. After half hour of sweeping, it appeared they had gone to ground; at least until the road erupted from a shaped charge in the stormwater system. The second tank in line flipped lazily through the air before landing turtle-like upon its back, while the first came under sustained missile, IAVR and plasma fire. "Engage! Engage! Fire order Alpha!" Lt Rider activated his contact plan and mortars began raining in a preset fire pattern around his position. This barely slowed down the PA that launched itself from shallow ground scoops to flank the tank platoon while it was disorganised. The effect unarmoured infantry supporting the ambush was like a meat grinder. The other two tanks powered through the light buildings on either side of the road, catching one squad of PA in a surprised pincer move before rotating fire from its HKP/3 picked off anything that stopped moving long enough to target. Meanwhile bits kept flying off Lt Rider's tank as the impacting fire began to toll upon its armour. Wheels popped and the hull sagged as low richochets searched for its weak underbelly, while rifle fire ripped at aerials and the exposed SAW. Firing as fast as the weapon could load, Lt Rider traversed his turret until an arching IAVR got through the APFC belt and jammed it. Holding his foot on the firing pedal while performing damage assessment, he was surprised to see something explode at the far end of the tunnel burnt through an entire block of buildings. Then he ceased to be surprised at all as his world went white. Lt Paulus cursed the integrity of tank armour as he spat orders to the his PA squads and the platoon and a half of light infantry. The first tank had been surprising easy with the amount of explosive detonated under it, but the second refused to die and now the other two had bypassed the blockage and brought him under fire. The speed with which artillery had started falling indicated a prepared fire mission, although it was not accurate enough to cause heavy casualties, yet. Sgt Rachel had led her assault team around the flank of the tanks, but her luck had run out when the third tank of the platoon had careened through a building and run her down. Casualties were starting to mount and with no sign of Arrow infantry, it was time to withdraw for a later assault. "First platoon, second platoon, scarper. Assault platoon & support, cover them and bog those tanks!" With the orders out, thermal smoke from the remaining Hooligan mortar began falling to cover the retreat. A brave (or foolhardy) private from the second Assault squad physically assaulted the battered lead tank, tearing a hatch open to fill it with death when a friendly GMS ricocheted off the turret, detonating square on his power supply, filling the turret with light. *** Sgt Grace was peeved off. Having lost his GMS, being reduced to a taxi service was galling for a "hero". Take this here, take that squad there, pickup that cannister marked with nasty symbols. Drop off cannister with nasty symbols. Now he was assigned to road recon. Arrow AFVs had been spotted behind the lines and he was supposed to find them. Not very exciting and potentially lethal. Far behind him the sound of explosions and supersonic cracks showed the intensity of the fighting. Stopping at one of the small villages in the area Sgt Grace paid for some refreshments and fell into the casual mode of "tourist". Within half an hour a tanker jogged up the road to meet. "Grace, good to see you." Lt Tunde was not the fittest of officers, but then, when you were a tanker, physical fitness wasn't high on your list of priorities. "Got ourselves a squad of three AFVs somewhere back of us. Couldn't get a shot as they came from the northwest, but I reckon you'll see them before long. When you do, punch up a flare and we'll come clean them out." "Sure thing, Lt. I could appreciate more than just me doing recon though." "Not going to happen. According to reports we'll be falling back soon, so we need to get the road clear. We've got a few toys to play with, so see you later." With that Lt Tunde headed back. Hitting the road again, Grace continued northeast, scanning for signs of ambush before becoming another statistic. "Sabre Two to Sabre One. SUV sighted with battledamage." "Sabre Two, hold and do not engage. We're after richer pickings." "Affirmative." Sgt Grace pulled over by the roadblock and looked over the security detail. "Clear road all the way. No enemy encountered." A sigh escaped from Lt Arpad, "Means we'll have to sweep on foot. They must have gone to ground somewhere." With that he hitched his combat pack and swept out of town at a lope. *** "Hudak, this is Atkinson. I know about the nerve gas. If you use it, all you'll get is a bunch of dead civilians; our vehicles are gasproofed. Use of chem weapons will just bring in a NAC PA brigade. They want this ground relatively intact, but if there's no-one left alive, collateral damage won't be a restraining issue." "Atkinson, Hudak. We have no such thing. You must be talking of some dastardly plot cooked up by the NAC to hold the town hostage, you savages! By the way, I've filed complaints with the Mercenary Board and Red Cross Interstellar about your treatment of the mayor of Queztatol. See you in Kimpo." "Mr Money? So nice to hear from you. You know, you really shouldn't have tried to sneak your family out of town. There are all sorts of dispicable types around. What? No, I'm afraid we had to detain them for their own protection. I'm sure for a suitable donation, we would be able to clear up this... Problem. Maybe even get you clear of the fighting, or at least put you on the winning side. Ours of course." *** No special contacts or results notified to each side at this time. Brendan 'Neath Southern Skies http://home.pacific.net.au/~southernsk/ IMPORTANT 1. 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