[GZG] [Brushfire]Day1.5 [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

Day 1.5 (dusk) - First Contact

***
*Kaboom!* The noise of exploding chemical feul as the truck was raked by RFAC
fire set Sgt Rague's teeth rattling, even through his heavy PA suit. Someone
must have heard FUNK Yelfour when he rocked into the side of the truck and now
it was going to get them killed. "Blow the walls!" The
side walls of the truck shredded in the blast of pre-set spalling
charges,
throwing shrapnel whizzing through the air towards un-expected perimeter
check point. Fist sized shards pinged off brick walls the the *tink* of IFV
armour; at least two connected with the dismounted patrol still placing the
barrier across the road. One trooper died instantly as he leapt into the
stream of RFAC fire, shattering his helmet, another leapt further than
intended as a grenade exploded underfoot, ripping the power supply free of the
suit. Then it was
all flamers and rifle butts and the whining thump of servo-enhanced
muscles as the three surviving PA troopers contacted the six dragoons and
their IFV.

The IFV was first to go as a flamer filled its interior with flaming gel
through the open infantry door. It did not die alone as loose ammo cooked off
and ruptured the PA suit integrity. Another dragoon died before weight of
numbers swarmed the last two PA suits to the ground and knifes sliced into
softer joints to cripple the occupants. As the noise abated, another dragoon
noticed the dripping stump of one hand and collapsed as the adrenaline wore
off.

***

If Col Atkinson ever saw that civilian again, he would be facing a long drop
as a collaborator. From the looks of it, the briefing had been wrong again;
local forces were not friendly, but neutral. If it hadn't been for that
garbage truck trying to "sneak" past the pickets, it could have gotten real
ugly. Initial reports were sketchy, but clear. Major Hudak had set up a
forward defence under the cover of sympathisers and bribed officials.
        The garbage truck had exploded nicely when fired upon, but 5-man
PA squad had made a mess of Cpl Spaniel's Dragoon squad. The PA had been
totalled for the loss of 4 troopers and the IFV, but now reports were pouring
in of light missile fire and PA skirmishers using hit and fade tactics on the
NE edge of town. Cpl Jones IFV lost mobility to a missile hit, but managed to
rip the GMS off the attacker's SUV. They were using civilian vehicles as
mobile missile platforms! Without immediate reinforcement, the Dragoons could
be overrun.

***
Explosions seemed to be the presage of destruction as the canvas roof flipped
off the top of an SUV and a light GMS rotated into firing position. Time
seemed to slow as Cpl Tellif of the Arrows and Sgt Grace of the Hooligans
aimed their weapons in classic western fashion and fired "from
the hip".  Heavy missile passed light missile in mid-flight and the
splash of simultaneous fireballs lit the street through the broadening
twilight. Sgt Grace accelerated his SUV away from the encounter with his
heavily wounded gunner intertwined with the debris of his launcher. Cpl Tellif
cursed as the drive wheels jammed and he noted the flaming wheel rolling down
the street past his cracked windscreen. It was going to be a long night.

Brendan 'Neath Southern Skies
http://home.pacific.net.au/~southernsk/

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> On 9/29/06, Robertson, Brendan <Brendan.Robertson@dva.gov.au> wrote:

> One trooper died instantly as he leapt into the stream of RFAC

1) Get Heavy Troop in here to provide backup.

2) Secure the goddamn radio or TV station, and broadcast an announcement.
Civillian vehicles are off the street, effective
immediately, and there is a dusk-to-dawn curfew for foot traffic, also
effective immediately. Remind these damned civillians that anyone carrying a
weapon will be presumed to be hostile and engaged without warning.

3) ROE is changed to shoot-on-sight for all vehicles effective 2 hours
after the broadcast.

4) Weapons Free, even in the town.

5) I want the mayor and police chief in front of me, time now. I'll take the
HQ element and go looking for them if necessary.

6) Get the Dragoon platoon back together, operating as a whole rather
than in squad-size elements.