twilight2000-digest Wednesday, November 27 1996 Volume 1996 : Number 037
The following topics are covered in this digest:
Pact PBeM Turn 1
Pact PBeM Turn 0
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Date: Wed, 27 Nov 96 09:15:20 PST
From: jono@baltica.UCSD.EDU (Jon Anderson)
Subject: Pact PBeM Turn 1
0630, July 18, 2000.
Somewhere near Kalisz...
0630 hours, July 18, 2000.
The Polish 10th Tank Division had hit Kalisz hard early in
the morning of July 18th. Appoximatly 12:30am to be
precise. By 4:00am, Kalisz had been secured.
Early in the morning just before dawn, Starzy Szeregowiec
Stojan Raschejy of the Polish 10th Tank Division asked for
permission to travel down the Seiradz road to see if he
could scroung any spare parts from any of the vehicles that
had been destroyed. You see, he was their crack mechanic
and the previous day, he had heard reports of the
destruction of almost the entire 124th MRD on the road to
Seiradz. Therefore, he thought with that amongst all of
those vehicles there must be something useful.
It happened in a flash, about an hour outside of Kalisz his
jeep hit a land mine. Before he knew what had happened he
was thrown clear of the burning jeep on the side of the road
and knocked unconscous.
It only seemed like a moment later that someone was standing
over him saying something. After a few moments the figure
took the form of a man talking, wearing black fatigues with
Soviet insignias on the collar, a tactical radio in his ear.
After another moment he realizes the Soviet looks strange
because he is upside down. He is doing something to the
Poles forehead and saying something else to him...
"..y Buddy, you ok?? You there??" He says in Polish
continuing, "You had a pretty bad fall from the looks of
things, and a lucky one at that. Had you not been going so
fast, the mine would have exploded directly under the driver
seat. Those mines cripple tanks, you should see what they
did to your jeep. You sure are a lucky one. Don't move
just yet, I am gonna finish bandaging your forehead, you
have a pretty bad cut there. Must hve happened when you
were thrown clear. Hang in there."
After another moment, Stojan realizes that the soldier was
bandaging his forehead. He also realizes he can taste blood
on his lips and mouth. The Soviet pauses for a moment and
starts talking into the radio in Russian. Stojan can
understand some of it, but not all of it. He is talking too
fast for Stojan to follow in his present state of delerium.
Then he begins talking to Stojan again...
"..ey Buddy, you there...Whats your name?? What unit are
you from? Can you tell me why you are here on this road
anyway?" He says to him in Polish.
Meanwhile, 31st Recon, Blue Team...
The Sun is clearly up now although through the clouds and
trees you can't see it. The woods are damp from the morning
dew while the birds are chirping in their early morning way
as though they were the announcer to the great game of life
crying "Here we go again, the new day is here!"
The trucks are sitting in a pulloff on the side of the small
dirt road running north and south past the groups position.
The Major is over by the good truck, now the lead truck,
monitoring to radio. The newest member of the party, Moses
Keldjian of the 124th MRD, is still a mystery and is hard at
work finishing re-filling the shallow graves for the fallen
Spetsnaz soldiers with Sergei Pavlovnicka helping.
Meanwhile, Zamojski continues his attempts at repairing the
leak on the second truck. All he seems to be doing,
however, is collecting the oil as it spills out and collect
it in the helmets. He was able to identify the second leak
as brake fluid leaking from a ruptured brake line. For the
time being he was able to repair that with a little
inginueity and some electrical tape.. Down the road a ways,
you can see Chernckenko watching for any signs of change,
while in the other direction, Drago is doing the same.
A moment later, Keldjian and Pavlovnicka have finished the
first grave . The Major moves over to Pavlovnicka.
"Pavlovnicka, look at the leasks under the truck and try to
rig up something that can catch the oil as it leaks out. At
leak that will cut down on what we lose permanently."
A few moments later, the radio squalks to life once again.
"Come in Major, Vilenkov reporting in" The Major
acknowledges Vilenkov and listens as he continues. "I
reached the site of the explosion. Looks as though a jeep
ran over a mine. From the looks of things, the driver sure
is lucky. He was thrown clear of the jeep and is just
coming around. Looks as though he is Polish, from a tank
division from the symbols on his fatigues. He had only
minor injuries which I treated. Hang on Major, he is just
coming around." The radio goes silent.
Meanwhile, nearby...
"...I'm Stojan Raschejy ,Starzy Szeregowiec for the Polish
10th Tank division ,I'm a mechanic ... I remember coming
here looking for spare parts ... Who are you ?... "
"I am the guy that is gonna help you to safety, Markus
Vilenkov, Soviet 31st Recon." The Soviet helps Stojan sit
up a little. Stojan is a little stunned when he heres him
say 31st Recon. He had heard stories about the 31st Recon,
Spetsnaz, the elite. Supposedly, they were the guys that
infiltrated Berlin early on in the war and placed the laser
designators on the targets allowing the Warsaw Pact forces
to severly cripple the NATO forces and defenses. He had
heard that they had instrumented the destruction of the
Swedish guns on the Batic coast allowing the Russian Navy to
take control of the Baltic Sea crushing NATO's supply lines
during their drive into Russia. Like the Germans in 1944,
and the French in 1812, the NATO forces had a cold retreat
out of Russia that year.
Vilenkov begins talking on the tactical radio once again.
After he stops talking, Stojan says " ...Do you have a
cigarette?"
Vilenkov hands him a cigarette..."Marlboro Light" (the pack
says in English), "Picked up a crate of 'em back in Seiradz."
A moment later he has a lighter out in front of Stojan and
lights the cigarette.
"Thank you ,comrade..." Stojan says in russian
Stojan gets his tools, quickly looks around for anything
interesting and follows Vilenkov.
31st Recon, Blue Team...
Serzhant Vilenkov:
A few moments later, the radio comes back to life. "Major,
he is a Starzy Szeregowiec Stojan Raschejy of the Polish
10th Tank Division, and Major, he is a mechanic!"
Major Dendenko to Vilenkov over the Radio:
"A Mechanic?" Vilenkov can hear the capital letter from
Dendenko. "Get him here with all possible speed. If he has
anything bulky with him other than tools, toss into the
woods; we'll get it later."
Serzhant Vilenkov:
The radio squalks to life again, "Major, we are on
the way. I expect us to be about thirty minutes to
locate and reach your new position. Vilenkov out."
"Zamojski, you're about to take up Vilenkov's post; up to
the road and then west a few hundred meters until you can
get a decent view. Same rules - keep quiet, and warn of
traffic."
"Leytenant Keldjian, if you are going to be so quiet, at
least dig faster."
Climbing out from under the truck, Zamojski retrieves his
PK, and turns to the Major. "Da, Major, I understand." He
then heads in Vilenkov's direction [keeping an eye out for
landmines or tripwires]. When he arrives at a likely spot,
he'll lay down, cover himself with some leaves, etc. and
set-up his PK on the bipod (pointing towards the road).
Zamojski walks down the access road past Chernchenko and
onto the main road. After walking about 1 klick he reaches
a bend in the road from which he can see west about 200
meters and stay covered.
Keldjian continues shoveling dirt, then stops wipes his brow
and says, "I'll tell you how the 124th was decimated, even
though I radioed to the commander several warnings that a
division of M1's was coming in for the kill, but first I
have one question for you Major Dendenko: Why is it you are
so sure that I, comrade, are yur enemy? If I had been your
enemy I could have picked you off one by one instead of
surrendering to your forces."
Keldjian begins shoveling again, working a little bit
faster.
(he will listen to what Dendenko and the others have to say
to him, quietly, then tell his story of how the 124th was
lost)
Dendenko to Keldjian:
"If I was sure you were an enemy, Leytenant you'd be dead.
Your story as has some holes in it I'd like to hear filled
in: like why you walked toward Kalisz away from your
division HQ rather than toward it."
"Further, you don't consider this from my end. Perhaps I
have things to do and missions to fulfill that do not
include picking up stray hitchhikers."
[Keldjian's tells his story]
Keldjian continues, "On the 16th I was sent out on a deep
recon mission of the area ahead just across the Warta river.
I left the 124th about midnight reached my position, about
15km from where you were. On the morning of the 17th I saw
M1's en route to flank the road from Seiradz. I reported
this to my commander, but that was to no avail, because he
seemed to believe that all the American amored forces had
been previously destroyed. I could only watch as the M1's
took their positions on a hill overlooking the 124th and
begin shelling."
"It couldn't have been more than 20 minutes before the 124th
was turned into black smoke. As the tanks were withdrawing
I tried in vain to contact my division, and see if anyone
was left. That is when the m1's spotted my position and the
treeline I was in came under fire. Several explosions and
then I was out. I should have been dead, but lucky for me
my radio was killed instead. A couple large piees of
shrapnel meant for me took out my radio."
"When I came to there were wrecks all about the road and I
started towards what I thought ot be the direction of
Kalisz. At dawn I reached your position and saw your team
milling about the two trucks. I crept closer and watched to
ascertain whether you were friend or foe, and when I had
enough info that you were freind I approached you, the rest
you know."
Keldjian goes back to shoveling dirt.
[BTW, the grave Dendenko & Keldjian are digging is:
2 meters long x 3 meters wide x 1 meter deep.
A bit shallow and crowded, but it will have to do.]
Meanwhile...
The clouds above the woods have clearly thinkened as the
morning has progressed. There has been no sign of any
activity on the road since Starshiy Serzhant Zamojski had
taken his position approximately a half hour before.
Suddenly, Zamojski hears the friendly voice of Vilenkov
behind him making Zamojski very nearly have a heart
attack. "Zamojski, Boo!" Vilenkov says and starts laughing.
As Zamojski regains his composure he notices the Polish
soldier behind Vilenkov chuckling while holding two
toolboxes that seem more like tool chests. Vilenkov
continues, "I would not think that the Major would put you
on patrol duty...you stick out like a sore thumb in the
woods." Vilenkov continues laughing a little. "Sorry about
scarring you but I had to. Now, which way to the Major?"
Zamojski:
"You might remind the Major of that. I'm not the 'stealthy'
type!"
After receiving the directions, Vilenkov and the Polish
soldier head off towards the base camp. A few moments later
they pass Chernchenko not noticing he is even there until
they were right on top of him. Were they an enemy, he could
have cut them down 40 meters down the road. They continue
down the access road and soon approach the turcks and the
rest of the party.
Vilenkov walks up to Major Dendenko, "Major, this is
mechanic Stojan Raschejy of the 10th Polish Tank Division.
We have brought what tools we could and hurried here at the
fastest possible speed."
"You're late Vilenkov. It's been over half an hour."
(Zamojski in place for half an hour plus the time it took
him to carefully walk most of a klick.) "Neither you nor
our comrade in arms are breathing very hard," says Dendenko
in annoyed sounding Russian, nearly waist deep in a long
hole. "Your turn next. Two meters by three meters by one
meter, where I have it marked out." Dendenko jams his
shovel into the ground an dclambers out of the hole.
Keldjian keeps shoveling resentfully.
"So, you're a mechanic, Mr. Raschevjy?" asks Dendenko in
very passable Polish, slipping back into his tunic,
carefully sliding it under the straps of his combat webbing.
"We have arranged a little test for your benefit." Dendenko
leads Raschejy to a deuce and a half truck notable for
several bullet holes stitched along its side.
"Down here is Leytenant Pavlovnicka. Leytenant, show
Mr. Raschejy our truck, and see how long it takes him to fix
it. Watch him work carefully."
Dendenko adjusts his shirt, lights a cigarette, and
comfortably tucks his RPK under his arm, glancing about at
the woods to either side of the trucks, muttering under his
breath.
Stojan walks behind the Russian ,stops by the truck ,opens
his tools' case and examines the damage . (Can i fix the
damage ? If it is minor damage i say "I can do it
blindfolded..." if it is not i just do the job as good as i
can ...Something else ,you said i'm addicted
to cigarettes,do i have any? I did not knew i was addicted
when i was asked for equipment .)
Vilenkov mutters as he sets down his AKR and pack picking up
the shovel, "I hike back through the woods with a huge
Polish man, locate just where the team is at, luckily I saw
Zamojski, he kind of sticks out in the woods, ya know, then
I bring in the Polish Mechanic, the answers to all of the
problems with the truck, and all I get is, 'your late'
Vilenkov continues to mutter to himself as he starts
digging. "Hey Keldjian...the 124th like this? I should
have drove tanks...you know...the ones with the big plows on
the front. Just drive one of those into some dirt and push
it on top of the dead bodies...instant grave!" Vilenkov
seems proud of his new idea which he just shared with
Keldjian. Then pauses frowning a little, I guess though,
when the tanks get hit by the rockets the guys inside
cook...hmmm...maybe a tanker is a bad idea."
"All right, Leytenant. Suppose you take a bit of a break
and show me where on the map you think you are, and where
your unit was hit," says Dendenko, taking a map out of his
pocket and unfolding it.
Keldjian looks at the map and points to the position where
he remembers his unit being decimated. "We were along the
Seiradz-Kalisz road about 1/2 off the way right here."
Keldjian pauses looks at the map, "I walked this way and met
up with your group here." Keldjian says as he traces the
path he walked in order to meet up with this unit.
"If I could use your radio I could find out where the
remnants of my unit is."
Dendenko to Keldjian:
"In a while. The situation is a bit fluid; I'd rather
maintain radio silence for anything long distance while we
are stationary. Let's help Vilenkov finish the grave."
Dendenko:
"Drago, Cherchenko, Zamojski, check in," Dendenko says over
the tac radio net.
He takes off his shirt again and takes up a shovel while
listening to the answers.
"By the way, Leytenant, can you drive?"
Keldjian:
Picks up his shovel and begins digging again, "No, never had
much use for it.:"
[Note where Keldjian thinks he is; look on the map for
anything along the road that can confirm the location within
the next 5 kilometers or so when we pass it. If we are
where he thinks we are, who far is it to our rendezvous was
supposed to be? Are we on the right road? We have had two
people working on digging this whole for about an hour. How
close is it to finished?]
The team is on the right road, approximately 15-20 km east
of where you were to meet the 12 Guards Tank Division. 20
km southeast of Kalisz.
Looking at where Keldjian places you on the map and the
position where you were to meet you note that if Keldjian is
correct, you should reach a crossroad after about 8-10k.
One road should run north to Kalisz, the other is the
east-west road you are on.
Cherchenko whispers into his tac radio: "Cherchenko, loud
and clear, over."
"Zamojski here, all quiet to the west. Zamojski clear."
He then places the radio next to his head on the ground with
the volume turned down (just load enough so he can hear it),
and continues scanning the roadway to the west (still from a
prone position).
"Drago checking in Comrade, all is quiet to the South.
Drago out." says Drago as she talks quietly into her tac
radio. Drago continues to scan the area to the south. She
is prone and hiding in the best cover available.
After a few more minutes work, Dendenko looks for the lines
he drew in the dirt to outline the grave, and realizes that
the diggers have just past all the lines. "OK, men, knock
off. Careful with that shovel, Vilenkov! I have only two
ears and do not wish to lose one! Five minute break, then we
move the bodies."
After a cigarette, and a check on Pavlovnicka and Raschejy
working under Truck #2 (progress report, if any, please)
Dendenko calls Vilenkov, Keldjian (and Pavlovnicka &
Raschejy unless they are at an uninteruptible point) over to
the back of the truck. They remove personal effects (papers;
ID) and anything useful (combat webbing; ammo; small
weapons; gasmasks, visual gear; armor, food, canteens,
compasses, etc).
(uh, they are dead, yes? No mistakes on our part? :-)
The bodies are carried to the grave and laid in on their
sides like sardines. Dendenko mutters an apology for the
haste and close quarters to the bodies, "... but we the
living must go on."
Dendenko opens the tac radio net, and says to the assembled,
"In war, as elsewhere in life, there is an element of
chance, that can work for or against an individual. A short
while ago, we had a taste of the vagarities of chance, which
now causes us to leave behind these brave comrades. They
were brave men and women who served the State well and
carried out their duty in a trustworthy fashion. For this,
we will remember them. Let their passing also serve as a
reminder that one does not often get to select the time and
place of one's death.
"As you know, I do not believe in God, nor does our service
officially acknowledge such beliefs. But those of you who
do may take a moment now to offer a silent prayer for your
comrades.
"Perhaps we can return here some day and take these remains
to a burial place more suited to hold heroes of the State.
Until such a day, and beyond then they will always hold a
place within my memory."
After a moment or two of silence, Dendenko gestures to the
shovels. "Vilenkov and Leytenant Keldjian, if you would...
(assuming there is more to be done on the truck) Raschejy,
finish up as quickly as possible. We're late."
Dendenko makes a mark on the map, and jots down a few notes
in his notepad about the exact location of the grave. Then
smokes another cigarette, watching Vilenkov and Keldjian
covering up the grave. He shakes the pack, realizes how few
ciagrettes he has left, and grumbles to himself, putting the
pack back in a pocket.
After the cigarette, he begins rooting in the back of Truck
#2. (if Raschejy is done working on truck 2, we'll mount up
instead)
Following Major Dendenko's speech, Vilenkov reluctantly
begins to shovel dirt onto his fallen comrades. Obviously
Saddened by the whole ordeal, he pauses briefly between
shoveling to looks up to the sky. "Cloudy again" he says
aloud, "Seems like my memories are full of cloudy days these
past few years."
Vilenkov and Keldjian continue shoveling. After about a
half an hour they finished burying their comrades and
rigging makeshift tombstones using some wood and the helmets
of their fallen comrades.
Vilenkov walks over to the Pole, Stojan, working on the
truck and speaks with him for a moment in Polish, then walks
over to the Major. "Major, the Mechanic believes he is
about ready to go. Just a few more minutes to pack up his
gear."
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
If you are interested, check out the websites...
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Arcade/2521 (Pact Team)
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3827 (Nato Team)
or mail me...
jono@baltica.ucsd.edu
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 27 Nov 96 09:14:53 PST
From: jono@baltica.UCSD.EDU (Jon Anderson)
Subject: Pact PBeM Turn 0
Poland June 10, 2000.
31st Recon, Blue Team recieved their orders and Operation Eyeglass
became a reality...
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
Operation Eyeglass:
Date June 10, 2000.
Rendevous with the Soviet 12th Guards Tank Division of the
Soviet 3rd Shock Army in Jelenia Gora, Poland. The 12th
Gaurds is planning to move into a northern blocking position
in the Lodz region along the Warta River to protect the 3rd
Shock Armies northern flank during their drive into Eastern
Germany.
From there, proceed north, ahead of the 12th GTD, on
ulitizing whatever means available to Lodz and the region
north of the Warta River surrounding Lodz.
Intelligence confirms reports that NATO intends to make a
drive into the Lodz region of Poland within the month in an
effort to secure the Baltic Region in the north.
To counter this move, the Soviet 22nd Cavalry Army and the
Polish 1st Tank Army have been deployed to the north. At
the same time, the Soviet 4th Guards Tank Army has been
secretly ordered to move to a position just east of Lodz
while the 3rd Shock Army will maintain its position in the
South.
Your mission is to infiltrate the Lodz region north of the
Warta River. Once there, secure all intelligence
communications directed towards NATO forces. In addition,
commence thorough reconnaissance of the area and report back
to command your findings via satalite up-link.
Objectives:
1. Derive the amount of resistance in the area. If the amount of
resistance in the area is trivial, disregard. However, if it
is substantial then proceed to task resolutions and remove the
threat.
2. Locate any and all enemy positions within the region. Report
day by day findings to command.
3. Locate any foreign operatives in Lodz and terminate their contact
with western forces by any means neccessary.
Terminate with extreme prejudice.
4. Once a thorough recon of the area and Lodz has been secured,
relay the message:
"Eyeglass can see all the way to the horizon."
Once complete, maintain recon operations within the region until
link up with the 12th Guards Tank Division is posible.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
What would come to be known as the Battle of Kalisz began on
July 3rd. By July 10th, the team successfully completed
stage 1 and received orders for stage 2...
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
Operation Eyeglass (stage 2):
Date July 10, 2000.
Objective:
Congratulations on the success of Stage 1 of Operation
Eyeglass. The message, "Eyeglass can see all the way to the
horizon." was recieved at 1800 hours, June 28th. With the
receipt of the message, the Soviet 4th Guards Tank Army was
able to secretly move into Lodz and take the 5th Infantry by
total surprise.
At this point, command is reducing your mission to a
reconassiance role. You are to monitor troop movements
along the Warta River near the Briges of Sieradz, and
Uniejow. It is believed that the U.S. 5th Infantry may
attempt to use these bridges as a possible escape route.
Headquarters.
Lublin, July 10, 2000.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
The Battle of Kalisz has stormed the region of Poland
between Lodz and Kalisz for over a week. Thanks to the
successful completion of the first stage of Operation
Eyeglass,
the Soviet army was able to move the entire 4th Guards Tank
Army, consisting of four rested and heavily equipped Soviet
divisions, into Lodz undetected by any NATO forces. The
NATO forces were quickly overwhelmed and systematically
driven back towards Kalisz on the brink of destruction.
The 31st Recon, Blue Team, Spetsnaz, was called into action
once again and Stage 3 of Operation Eyeglass became a
reality. The team was to take the bridge at Seiradz,
intact.
July 16, 2000, they went into action...
July 16, 2000.
As soon as the orders came in around midnight on the 15th,
the team regouped at their base of operations outside of
Lodz, packed up, and moved out. A position on the edge of
Seiradz was reached before dawn. As soon as the three 2.5
ton trucks were stowed in the barn of an abandoned
farmhouse, the team set out for the bridge on foot and in
three groups leaving two men behind to guard the trucks.
The first group scouted ahead to the bridge and occupied a
building overlooking the bridge while the other two groups
scouted the enemy positions in the town.
Radio reports throughout the night had claimed the town had
been secured by elements of the U.S. 5th Infantry division.
However, there was no sign of any organized defense. In
fact, it seemed as though the only NATO forces in the entire
town was a small demolitions platoon left behind to blow the
bridge upon orders and then regroup with the rest of the
U.S. division.
The team acted swiftly. Serzhant Zamojski set up the PK
machinegun on the rooftop of the overlooking building in
order to provide cover fire while the team moved in.
Starshina deployed as well, presumably to a nearby rooftop
to cover with the PTRS-1. He always had a way of being
somewhere nearby to lend anyone who needed it a hand, you
just never knew where.
Meanwhile, Major Dendenko ordered 1st team to neutralize the
perimeter while 2nd and 3rd team would move in as soon as
the discharge from Starshina's weapon could be heard. It all
happened in a flash. Within ten minutes the bridge had been
secured intact. The NATO troops never knew what hit them.
July 17, 2000.
By evening of the 17th, orders had arrived to return to 12th
Guards Tank Division headquarters to rendevous with some
Kapitan from Moscow. The team packed up and moved out early
in the morning, around 2:00am on the 18th. Earlier in the
day, the word had come in that the Soviet 124th MRD had been
struck extremely hard by what seemed to be an intact
U.S. 70th Armored division. Following the attack, no
reports had come in as to the position of the
U.S. division. As a result, the team decided the middle of
the night would be the best time to try to re-link.
In truth, it was a mistake.
Early AM, July 18th, 2000.
About half way to the rendevous point, out of the dark on
the right hand side of the trucks the lights went on. Huge
White spotlights. In an instant the lead truck carrying 1st
team of six men along with most of the heavy weaponry was a
fireball. The second truck swerved driving in the woods on
the left hand side while the third truck swerved left was
clipped by the second and drove into a tree just beyond the
tree line.
Seconds later, machinegun fire began riddling the second
trucks rear area. The soldiers on board died trying to
escape. The second truck stoped behind some bushes hoping
the dark night, the dense trees and heavy brush would
hide. them. The Major could only watch as the four M1's
rolled onto the road and continued on their way. Within ten
seconds, nearly his entire command had been wiped out.
Immediatly, preparations needed to begin to assess the
damage and regroup. Dawn would arrive soon.
Dawn, July 18, 2000.
The smoke and fire from the first truck burned brightly in
the early pre-dawn darkness. After analysis of the
wreckage, it was determined that nothing could be salvaged.
What was left of the bodies of the men on board made it
difficult to determine who they were. That if the fate of a
soldier. Live every moment to the fullest because just when
things are going perfect, its all over. Only takes an
instant in this day and age.
Serzhant Vilenkov gathered his personal equipment from the
second truck and moved over to where the Major was by the
third truck. "Major, Serzhant Vilenkov reporting. Nothing
useable from the first truck. I gathered the mens dog tags
and am turning them over to you. I collected 12 total.
That means there are six of eighteen men left. Attempts to
communicate with the 12th Guards TD have failed, as well as,
any communications with other Soviet units. There is also
not any radio traffic from NATO forces. It is as though
everyone just ceased to exist over the last few hours."
"Major, were they planning a tacticle strike on the region?"
Everyone knew what Vilenkov meant, tacticle nuclear strike
would blackout communications for kilometers as well as
knockout any working electronics.
Vilenkov had always been the quick one with the
communications gear. It always seemed that he could gather
even the weakest signal and make it audible. Although he
was a pretty terrible shot, he was a great recon guy. Could
sneak anywhere and radio back coordinates. When the Laser
Strikes on Berlin were occuring early on in the war, it was
Vilenkov sighting the targets with the Laser Range Finder.
The smart bombs would just home in on those signitures.
Like clockwork.
"Major, may I suggest we regroup while I prep to scout to
the south of us while Starshina Cherchenko scouts to the
north? This may give us an idea of where exactly we are and
what lies around us. My thought are that we are about an
hour south of Kalisz and two hours out of Seiradz but I can't
be sure."
Starshina Cherchenko:
"Major, I agree with the Sierzant. We are compromised and
unsure of our exact location. We need to find out what is
around us. I would like to take Drago with me, with you
permission, sir. We won't be long, only a couple of hours.
We will try to cover the ground to our north and determine
if there is any enemy out there. We will travel light,"
Cherchenko comments to the Major.
"Also sir, we should set up a patrol base ASAP, until the
recce elements return. We should agree on passwords and
radio frequencies. Unless you object Major, I will take a
few minutes to prepare for my recce and then depart with
Drago."
Major Dendenko:
"No. That will leave me with too few people to operate and
defend the vehicles. More importantly, we need not be
surprised in the rest of the night. Obviously, the
situation is more fluid than we thought. As you know, the
US 5th is boxed in and in bad shape. This morning, we are
to close the box. It seems some jacks are jumping early.
There will probably be others..."
[I will assume we passed SOME better stopping site in the
last few klicks: either a crossroad or track, or simply
somewhere where we can drive the trucks at least 100 m off
the road into the tree-line. If not, please advise.]
"We will pull back to (spot described) off the road and back
into the trees. We'll set up a better position there."
Major Dendenko to Vilenkov:
"Vilenkov to the north and Cherchenko to the south of the
road, wend you way back toward us. Vilenkov, stop a klick on
this side of us and watch the road. Report any traffic.
You should be able to see anyone who stops to examine the
(ex-)truck. Cherchenko, same assignment about a klick
further down the road from us. Come in at dawn, and we'll
continue on our way when we can see better."
After collecting his personal gear, and checking his
weapons, Serzhant Zamojski approaches the Major.
Serzhant Zamojski:
"Comrad Major, Sierzant Zamojski reporting! May I suggest,
sir, that we check to see if this truck (truck 2) is still
operational, and if so, move both vehicles as far off the
road as possible? Considering that the lead truck is
completely unusable, and is in plain sight, we may want to
move further up or down the road."
"May I also suggest setting up a lookout near the road to
watch for any enemy vehicles that might be using this road?"
Major Dendenko:
"Vilenkov, arrange with Pavlovnicka a few quick recognition
signals and codes for you and Cherchenko. I've lost too
many men tonight to want to lose more."
Assuming the damage to the truck is minor, load the rest of
the team into the vehicles.
(Put the better shot between Yvonna and Zamojski on the PK
in the lead vehicle; put best man available with RPG in back
of 2nd truck; other two drive.)
Vilenkov moves overs to the second truck and starts to grab
some gear for his recce when he notices some dripping
underneath.
"Major" Vilenkov signals to the Major, "You will want to
take a look at this." Vilenkov motions underneat the truck.
"This truck is leaking oil. Also, should we do something
about the bodies in this truck?"
Major Dendenko to Zamojski:
"Zamojski! Grab a funnel and an empty jerry can and catch
this before it disappears!"
Major Dendenko to Vilenkov:
About the dead bodies: "Not until we can clarify the
situation and can verify we are not in immediate danger.
They will sleep for a long time, Serzhant. A few hours
above ground will make little difference to them."
"Yes sir!" Zamojski runs to get together a funnel and jerry
can. [If there's no funnel, he will make due with a helmet
or two from the dead.]
Zamojski runs over to the truck, jumps into the back a
quickly reemmerges carring two helmets. He jumps down,
slides under the front of the truck and places the first
helmet beneath the dripping oil.
Yvonna Drago:
Yvonna moves toward Chercenko as he puts his map on the
floor. She has been with the team for awhile and is a
dedicated member who is respected by her peers. She has
seemed Ice cold( even to the touch) and has had no problem
with killing. Yvonna has taken point on every mission so far
and you all value her as an accomplished Tracker. Yvonna is
also a highly skilled marksman and martial artist. She seems
to be nonsense and always business. She wants to survive
and will stop at nothing to do so. She can fend for herself
rather well but does like the company of the other
Spestnaz. As the weeks have gone on, Yvonna has finally
started to warm up.
A small smile creases the pretty face of Yvonna. Her flowing
dark brown hair and and ice cold blue eyes grab any and all
who look at her. She is has an athletic build that is not
very well hidden by her uniform however the big combat knife
attached to her thigh shows she means business. "Comrade,
we have mission yes?" asks Drago as she leans down to look
at the map with Chercenko. "What do you need Comrade?"
Hearing Dendenko's commands, Vilenkov, a little uncomfotable
seeing his dead friends sprawled all over the back of the
truck, gladly continues gearing up. He lightens his pack a
little to allow him to move a little faster, preps his
tactical radio, and makes sure he has enough ammo for his
AKR and straps on his RPG-18 (Just in case, a light
disposible rocket launcher is nice to have).
Vilenkov looks up at the sky for a second as everyone had
seen him do before. He was always superstitous abou that.
Thought that if you did not take a look while you could, you
were assured to regret it later. This time, the sky was
partly cloudy. A little dim still this early in the
morning. Soon, it would be daylight.
"Serzhant Vilenkov ready to go, Sir. I will make a sweep
out circle and radio in my report, awaiting further orders."
Major Dendenko:
"We will pull back to that spot, where [closest of either
the last turn off we saw or where we could pull more than
100m of the road into the trees] and clean ourselves up.
And take care of... our comrades."
Dendenko seems quite testy, and shorter than usual - but
then 2/3rd of his command was just wiped out in less than a
minute.
"Vilenkov, get in a position here and watch the road. Let
us know of any traffic."
"Cherchenko, when we turn off the road, you take a position
about half a klick down to where you can watch the road in
the other direction. The rest of us will clean things up."
Serzhant Zamojski retrieves his PK, slaps a belt of ammo
into it, and primes the weapon. "Sure wish I had my MM-1" he
says to no one in particular. Everyone knows of Zamojski's
afinity for the heavier weapons (something he learned when
he was a tanker), but his true favorite is his MM-1 grenade
launcher that he can use to devastating effect (firing 5
grenades at a time). He is usually quiet and reserved
(which is unusual for an ex-tanker), and follows his orders
to the letter (sometimes taking extreme measures to do
so...). In his last eight years with the Spetsnaz team, he
has provided cover for his teammates on innumerable
assignments.
Keeping half an eye on the slowly filling helmet [when the
helmet fills up, he switches it with the empty one, and
dumps it into the jerrycan, repeating as necessary], and
trying to scan the perimeter for trouble, he decides to let
the brass figure out what they want to do next.
Serzhant Vilenkov:
Before moving into position, Vilenkov says to the Major,
"Sir, I Vlad, the teams best mechanic was driving the first
truck. I think Zamojski, who was driving our truck knows
the most about them."
Vilenkov moves down the road, crouching by the side. Once
in position, he preps his night vision goggles to get a
better view of the road.
Dendenko crouches under the truck with Zamojski."Zamojski,
Vlad is dead, like everyone else in the other two trucks.
Among other issues that raises, it leaves you as our best
truck man. How bad is the leak? Can you fix it or stop the
leak quickly?"
"If not, will it hold up for a few minutes while we drive
somewhere safer?"
"Best guess, of course."
Meanwhile...
Starshiy Leytenant Moses Keldjian reflected on his past few
days while he moved through the woods silently...
July 16th, 2000.
As the Soviet 124th Motorized Rifle Division continued to
advance past Seiradz and across the Warta River Starshiy
Leytenant Moses Keldjian was sent out on a deep recon of the
region ahead.
He left Seiradz around midnight and set out on the road
towards Kalisz reporing all of the NATO troop movements back
to 124th MRD command.
July 17th, 2000.
By early morning on the 17th of July, Keldjian reported
movement of a large force of U.S. M1 tanks en route to flank
the road from Seiradz. The Soviet commander, however, was
convinced this was impossible and that all of the
U.S. armored forces had been eleminated. Keldjian could
only watch as the M1's took position on an overlooking hill
and started shelling the line of vehicles which lay below
them on the road.
Within 20 minutes the 124th MRD, his division was a dense
column of black smoke. His repeated attempts to radio
command had failed. The M1's must have knocked out the
vehicles containing the 124th MRD commanders.
As the U.S. forces began withdrawing, Keldjian was detected
and his position along a nearby tree line came under fire.
This was the last thing he remembered until he woke up in
the dark no sounds or people within sight. On the road, the
burnt wrecks of the vehicles of the 124th still burned but
there was no sign of any life. The 124th MRD must have
pushed onward towards Kalisz. Attemps to use the radio were
hopeless as it had three huge peices of shrapnel laced
through it. If it weren't for that radio, Keldjian would be
dead right now.
Keldjian, then proceeded in the direction he believed to be
towards Kalisz. There must be Soviet forces there or in the
region.
July 18th, 2000.
By dawn, he had reached the sight of what was clearly a
firefight between U.S. and Soviet forces. From the looks of
the tracks it was probably those same M1's from the previous
day. All that remained of the Soviet forces was a burning
truck and several other troops mulling about trying to fix a
second truck.
From the looks of them, dressed in black fatigues, and armed
with what appears to be AKR submachineguns, but you are not
sure from this distance. If they are Soviet troops, then
they would probably have some way of communicating with
124th MRD, otherwise friendly forces are better than
none.
31st Recon, BLue Team...
Serzhant Zamojski to Major Dendenko:
"Sir, I can do my best. I think I may be able to slow the
leak somewhat, but I cannot guarantee how long the truck
will run. Give me a few minutes with it. Also, I need to
open up the hood and make sure that this is the only
problem. I will make it as fast as possible, but it will
take me a few minutes. Vlad would have been able to tell
you more.... I am no mechanic. I'm sorry sir."
Zamojski attempts to fix the leak as fast as possible. He
then will pop the hood on the truck and make a fast
inspection of the engine, trying to determine if there are
any other potential problems. He also drains the oil from
the helmets back into the engine as best as possible. He
then closes the hood, picks up his PK, and other equipment,
and approaches the Major.
"Comrad Major, I have slowed the leak as much as I could. I
also checked the rest of the engine, and could find nothing
obviously wrong. I think she's driveable, but I don't know
for how long, or how far. If we're going to go, I'd say go
right away, and we can all hope for the best."
Sergei Pavlovnicka moves over to see the Major
" Major, should I Camouflage the trucks and try to fortify
this position or are we going to be moving out soon."
Mladshiy Leytenant Pavlovnicka was known as a genius when it
came to demolitions and had a passion for computers. When a
Spetsnaz team needs a Combat Engineer for a mission, they
always ask for Sergei.
Vilenkov suddenly raises his hand signaling he has spotted
something. He motions immediatly to the left in the trees.
A lone figure rises slowly about 25 meters away from his
cover overlooking the team. At first glance he looks for
the most part as a fellow comrade. He is a tall figure, but
not very imposing, and at this moment he seems a little
burnt around the edges. He approaches the small group of
soldiers around the two trucks slowly and consistently.
Cherchenko falls to a prone position. He makes a quick
appraisal of the surrounding terrain, and tries to spot a
likely escape route. He also scans the terrain around him,
wary of a possible raid with this man serving as a
distraction. After his visual survey, he brings the massive
PTRS into his shoulder, and begins aiming at the man
(assuming a clear line of fire to him, of course).
Sergei readies his AK-74 and takes cover when Vilenkov
signals that someones approching.
Cherchenko brings the PTRS up to aim, looking through the
scope you gain a clearer picture of the man. Although it is
still too dark to see his face, you recognize from the shape
of his helmet, and the type of weapon he is holding he is
russian.
Vilenkov dodges behind a tree, lock and loads his weapon,
then scans the area with the night vision goggles. Less
than 30 meters, how did he get so close, Vilenkov wonders.
Seeing nothing, he signals an "all clear" to the rest of the
team.
Dendenko flattens out beneath the truck, sliding the RPK in
front of him. He silently cursed Vilenkov for not spotting
him further off. "Kiev!" he shouts, giving the code word
for all around watch. The others galnce around the team to
see that Vilenkov and Cherchenko are looking up the road
toward the visitor and spread their attention to cover other
directions.
In Russian, Dendenko calls out in the booming voice he uses
only for field operations, "Stop right there! Slowly raise
empty hands over your head if you want to live!". Repeat in
Polish.
If whoever it is does anything else, especially having to do
with raising or tracking his weapon, Dendenko will open fire
with the RPK. (As I said before, Dendenko is a bit shorter
this morning than usual, but losing 2/3 of your command will
do that.)
Seeing the hustle of activity created by his sudden
appearance and the quick aim of a PTRS at him from one of
the soldiers, the figure stops, and raises his arms in
surrender. In good russian he says, "Moses Keldjian of the
124th Soviet Motorized Rifle Division"
Seeing the figure place his hands in the air and call out in
Russian, Vilenkov quickly removes his pack, gets up and
circles around to the side of the approaching figure.
Cautiously, he approaches the figure AKR ready.
Serzhant Vilenkov:
"Hands on your head." Seeing the figure do this and state
his name and unit, Vilenkov quickly seizes his weapon.
"Down to the road, slowly. The Major's in a bad mood right
now."
Major Dendenko:
"Remove his weapon and hustle him over here!"
Dendenko shouts to the Team: "We're going to move. Vilenkov,
go back to position; same plan as before. Zamojski and
Drago, you'll ride shotgun. Pavlovnicka & I will drive."
Assuming the newcomer surrenders his weapon and does not
give anyone covering half a reason to shoot while he is
brought over at gun point, Dendenko gets out from under the
truck and says: "Can you give me a reason not to shoot a
deserter out of hand, Moses Keldjian of the 124th Soviet
Motorized Rifle Division?" The barrel of the RPK seems much
larger than 5.45 mm right now, less than a meter from Moses'
nose.
Vilenkov proceeds down the hill with Moses directly in front
of him covered the entire time by the AKR. "Major, prisoner
and weapon secured." Vilenkov says.
Complying with the soldier. The man marches down to the
road as instructed.
It is light enough now that you can clearly make out the
area around you as well as the uniform and Soviet insignia
on Moses' arm.
The area around you is lightly wooded with alot of brush
between the trees. There are track marks cutting through
the brush to the north, turning onto the road and proceeding
west around a bend. Obviously, the tracks from the M1's.
You can see about fifty meters down the road to the east
after which the road bends to the north slightly. To the
west the road bends to the south. The sky is lightly
clouded. Does not look like it will rain. But you never
know what might happen around the next bend.
Starshiy Leytenant Keldjian:
Growling slightly at the insinuation, Moses looks Dendenko
in the eye and says, "Sir. Starshiy Leytenant Keldjian
reporting. I was on recon about 15 km from here when the
124th came under heavy enemy fire and was destroyed. Soon
afterwards my position came under fire and I was knocked
out. When I spotted your unit I observed to see if it was
freind or foe, then after determining that you were
freindlies I approached. I figure you have a radio, as mine
was knocked out in the shelling, and I could use it to
contact HQ and relay the news of the 124th."
Vilenkov moves around Keldjian to the Majors side and speaks
to him softly. "Major, I was listening to the radio
yesterday, you know the way I love to play with the thing.
Well, I am pretty sure that the 124th MRD was wiped out
yesterday. From the sounds of things, they were going
ape-sh9^t because they were pinned down from an elevated
position by an entire armored battalion."
Dendenko whispers back:
"I am as aware of that as you are, since you updated me
throughout the afternoon. But I don't believe they are all
dead. That makes him a deserter. I do not particularly
care if he is or not. I do care about moving this team out
of immediate danger. Anything in the way of that is an
obstacle. Fear sharpens the wits, yes?" If he does
anything but speak quickly, I will shoot Keldijian. [I
presume we were travelling west, Sieradz toward Kalisz when
we were struck?] (Traveling west towards Kalisz but not to
Kalisz. Traveling west to meet up with the 12th Guards Tank
Div. southwest of Kalisz.)
Vilenkov hands the Major Keldjian's weapon and moves off to
his previous position, were he gathers his gear and resumes
his watch.
Major Dendenko to Keldjian:
"I see. They all died with their boots on, with you as
their only survivor. You were knocked out and magically
came to 15 km from wherever it was, and thought you could
borrow our radio, eh? A cup to tea, too? I don't suppose
you heard the tank engines a few minutes ago? The machine
guns?"
"Chernchenko, accompany the good Leytenant here to the back
of truck 2, and keep him company while we move. Leytenant,
Cherenko has been known to over-adjust the triggers on his
weapons for sensitivity. Sit quietly, move slowly, and
don't startle him."
Dendenko keeps Keldijian's weapon for the moment, an SVD
sniper rifle. "Load up everyone!" (except Vilenkov).
Zamojski climbs up into the back of truck 2 and sets up his
PK (bipod on roof of driver's compartment). [This should
give him maximum range and line-of-sight]. "Ready!"
Cherchenko gives the Leytenant a quick once over, with the
contempt that elite forces have for rest of the armed
services. "Sierzant Drago, would you be so kind as to get
on the truck first? Cover the good Leytenant with a pistol,
as I don't want a rifle slug over-pentrating and hitting me,
should he try anything foolish."
After Drago boards the truck, Starshina Cherchenko turns to
his 'prisoner' and speaks: "Please Leytenant, board the
truck." he asks cordially. He slings his rifle, pull out
his pistol, and then looks at Moses, waiting for him to
move.
Drago pulls her pistol from its leg holster, cocks and locks
it in plain view of the Leytenant and boards the truck. An
ice cold grin appearing on her face. "Try something funny
Leytenant, and you die!", she says as she is boarding the
truck.
After Drago boards the truck, Starshina Cherchenko turns to
his 'prisoner' and speaks: "Please Leytenant, board the
truck." he asks cordially. He slings his rifle, pull out
his pistol, and then looks at Moses, waiting for him to
move.
After Moses boards the truck, Cherchenko follow, sitting
opposite him. Once seated, he holsters the pistol, and gets
out the AKR, laying it on his lap, handy and convient if the
new member of the group tries to pull something
After Moses boards the truck, Cherchenko follow, sitting
opposite him. Once seated, he holsters the pistol, and gets
out the AKR, laying it on his lap, handy and convient if the
new member of the group tries to pull something. "Thank you
Sierzant, for your assistance."
Chernchenko to Keldjian:
"So tell me Leytenant, how did you come to be in the woods
in the middle of nowhere when your entire command was
destroyed? This to me seems a good story".
Major Dendenko:
"We're going back down the road (east) to [GM tell us
whichever is closest: - the last turn off from this road -
the last spot where the woods were at least 100m from the
woods.]"
"Vilenkov, keep watch here. If anything comes by, alert us
and keep out of sight."
"Drago and Zamojski, you two ride shot gun in the trucks on
the PKs." (Zamojski's and the group's). "Pavlovnicka
[assuming he has any Wheeled vehicle skill; seom info on
this character would be nice...] and I will drive.
Cherenko, see that the good Leytenant remains polite."
"Let's get out of this target zone.!"
The remnants of the team load up into the trucks. The
engines start and the trucks are turned around. A few
moments later they pass by Vilenkov on the side of the road
moving a little deeper into cover.
The trucks travel slowly for about two minutes before
reaching a small turn off in the trees. Figuring from the
speed the trucks were traveling, you are about 1.5 kms from
your previous location. The turn off is to the south while
the main road was running to the east.
Pause briefly at the turn; if neither I nor whichever is
riding shotgun for me (Zam or Drago) sees anything
wrong-looking (people, things, smoke, movement) down that
turning (however much we can see), the lead truck turns off
south.
The trucks pull off onto the turn off and follow it through
the trees approximately 1/4 km from the main road. There is
a small clearing with enough room to pull both trucks off
the road. The small road looks little used and pretty worn.
It continues into the trees to the south bending after about
30 meters. The woods here are pretty dense.
The major mutters to Pavlovnika "If the Leytenant tries
anything silly or tries to run, kill him. But I don't think
he will."
Dendenko turns on the radio to monitor Vilenkov and
addresses the team, "Cherchenko to head east along the road
until he can get a decent view (more than 100 m) and then
take cover and warn us of any traffic."
"Drago 100-200 m south of our trucks (does the turn off end?
or continue?)"
"Pavlovnicka on local watch."
"Zamojski, check on that oil leak. Tell me if it has gotten worse."
"Get two digging utensils from the truck. Give one to Keldijian."
"Come, Leytenant, start being useful. We have a truckload
of dead men to bury. And tell me in some more detail how you
came to be the last survivor from the 124th MRD." Begin to
prepare a shallow grave for 6 men in teh growing light of a
summer morning.
Shouldering his PK, Zamojski says "Da, Major", and climbs
down to look at the leak. Alex tries to fix it as best as
possible. He then grabs one of the helmets used previously
to catch the leaking oil, and places it underneath.
Serzhant Zamojski to Major Dendenko:
"The leak is worse, there is also another leak coming from
near the front of the engine. We might want to move it
along quickly sir. The truck is leaking pretty badly. I
tried to stem the tide as best I could, but...... (shrugging
his shoulders). If we're going to be here for awhile, I'll
go up the road north about 100m to make sure no one is
coming from that direction sir." Zamojski quietly awaits
your orders (keeping an eye on the unknown lieutenant).
Major Dendenko to Zamojski:
"As long as you catch what leaks out, we can put it back in,
at least. Something to think about would be to rig some
kind of catch basin under the leaks, so we can keep some of
it while we are driving."
Starshina I.V. Cherchenko:
"Zamojski", says Cherchenk, "I think that your PKMG is put
to better use with one of us on sentry. Why don't you hang
on to my AKR, and I will take your machine gun, just for the
time being?"
If Zamojski agrees, leave behind PTRS in the working truck
and take the MG and an ample supply of ammo. Give AKR with
ammo to Zamojski.
If he doesn't agree, then go on merry with PTRS.
Find a position that will provide a good field of view,
75-100m. Not more that 200m away from current encampment.
Fall prone, and camoflagued self and weapon. Enjoy the day.
Zamojski to Cherchenko:
"No offense, but I'm better with this (motioning to the PK)
than almost anyone! And I'm guarding the trucks and the
Major here.... Besides, I couldn't begin to match your
ability with that cannon!"
Major Dendenko to Zamojski:
"That won't be necessary Sgt. Cherchenko is headed up that
way. Hang on a moment."
"Very well sir. If you need me (giving a meaningful look at
the unknown lieutenant), I'll be back ny the trucks." He
then walks to the trucks, and climbs up as high as possible
[to get as good a view to the north and south as
possible]. He also keeps an eye on the Major and the Lt.
Drago:
"Yes, Comrade. I go as ordered", comes the voice of Yvonna
Drago. Yvonna unslings her AKR and heads off as stealthily
as possible. Yvonna Drago does as orders and
The radio breaks its silence, a moment later Vilenkov's
voice becomes recognizable.
"Vilenkov checking in" he says, "No sogn of movement or
activity on the road. Beginning my recce west 1km and
around to the north to return to my present position in
approximately 30 minutes unless otherwise directed."
The radio goes silent for a moment then gargles back to
life, "Wait a second...Major! I just heard an explosion
approximately 1/2km or so west of my position. It was not
large and very brief. I suspect a mine, should I
investigate?"
"Be advised Major, if that was a mine, then we will need to
exercise some additional caution when driving."
Major Dendenko over the radio to Vilenkov:
"Very well Serzhant. Keep in touch."
The radio squalks to life again, "I will investigate and
report, Vilenkov out." The radio goes silent once again.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
If you are interested, check out the websites...
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Arcade/2521 (Pact Team)
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3827 (Nato Team)
or mail me...
jono@baltica.ucsd.edu
------------------------------
End of twilight2000-digest V1996 #37
************************************
twilight2000-digest Wednesday, November 27 1996 Volume 1996 : Number 037
The following topics are covered in this digest:
Pact PBeM Turn 1
Pact PBeM Turn 0
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 27 Nov 96 09:15:20 PST
From: jono@baltica.UCSD.EDU (Jon Anderson)
Subject: Pact PBeM Turn 1
0630, July 18, 2000.
Somewhere near Kalisz...
0630 hours, July 18, 2000.
The Polish 10th Tank Division had hit Kalisz hard early in
the morning of July 18th. Appoximatly 12:30am to be
precise. By 4:00am, Kalisz had been secured.
Early in the morning just before dawn, Starzy Szeregowiec
Stojan Raschejy of the Polish 10th Tank Division asked for
permission to travel down the Seiradz road to see if he
could scroung any spare parts from any of the vehicles that
had been destroyed. You see, he was their crack mechanic
and the previous day, he had heard reports of the
destruction of almost the entire 124th MRD on the road to
Seiradz. Therefore, he thought with that amongst all of
those vehicles there must be something useful.
It happened in a flash, about an hour outside of Kalisz his
jeep hit a land mine. Before he knew what had happened he
was thrown clear of the burning jeep on the side of the road
and knocked unconscous.
It only seemed like a moment later that someone was standing
over him saying something. After a few moments the figure
took the form of a man talking, wearing black fatigues with
Soviet insignias on the collar, a tactical radio in his ear.
After another moment he realizes the Soviet looks strange
because he is upside down. He is doing something to the
Poles forehead and saying something else to him...
"..y Buddy, you ok?? You there??" He says in Polish
continuing, "You had a pretty bad fall from the looks of
things, and a lucky one at that. Had you not been going so
fast, the mine would have exploded directly under the driver
seat. Those mines cripple tanks, you should see what they
did to your jeep. You sure are a lucky one. Don't move
just yet, I am gonna finish bandaging your forehead, you
have a pretty bad cut there. Must hve happened when you
were thrown clear. Hang in there."
After another moment, Stojan realizes that the soldier was
bandaging his forehead. He also realizes he can taste blood
on his lips and mouth. The Soviet pauses for a moment and
starts talking into the radio in Russian. Stojan can
understand some of it, but not all of it. He is talking too
fast for Stojan to follow in his present state of delerium.
Then he begins talking to Stojan again...
"..ey Buddy, you there...Whats your name?? What unit are
you from? Can you tell me why you are here on this road
anyway?" He says to him in Polish.
Meanwhile, 31st Recon, Blue Team...
The Sun is clearly up now although through the clouds and
trees you can't see it. The woods are damp from the morning
dew while the birds are chirping in their early morning way
as though they were the announcer to the great game of life
crying "Here we go again, the new day is here!"
The trucks are sitting in a pulloff on the side of the small
dirt road running north and south past the groups position.
The Major is over by the good truck, now the lead truck,
monitoring to radio. The newest member of the party, Moses
Keldjian of the 124th MRD, is still a mystery and is hard at
work finishing re-filling the shallow graves for the fallen
Spetsnaz soldiers with Sergei Pavlovnicka helping.
Meanwhile, Zamojski continues his attempts at repairing the
leak on the second truck. All he seems to be doing,
however, is collecting the oil as it spills out and collect
it in the helmets. He was able to identify the second leak
as brake fluid leaking from a ruptured brake line. For the
time being he was able to repair that with a little
inginueity and some electrical tape.. Down the road a ways,
you can see Chernckenko watching for any signs of change,
while in the other direction, Drago is doing the same.
A moment later, Keldjian and Pavlovnicka have finished the
first grave . The Major moves over to Pavlovnicka.
"Pavlovnicka, look at the leasks under the truck and try to
rig up something that can catch the oil as it leaks out. At
leak that will cut down on what we lose permanently."
A few moments later, the radio squalks to life once again.
"Come in Major, Vilenkov reporting in" The Major
acknowledges Vilenkov and listens as he continues. "I
reached the site of the explosion. Looks as though a jeep
ran over a mine. From the looks of things, the driver sure
is lucky. He was thrown clear of the jeep and is just
coming around. Looks as though he is Polish, from a tank
division from the symbols on his fatigues. He had only
minor injuries which I treated. Hang on Major, he is just
coming around." The radio goes silent.
Meanwhile, nearby...
"...I'm Stojan Raschejy ,Starzy Szeregowiec for the Polish
10th Tank division ,I'm a mechanic ... I remember coming
here looking for spare parts ... Who are you ?... "
"I am the guy that is gonna help you to safety, Markus
Vilenkov, Soviet 31st Recon." The Soviet helps Stojan sit
up a little. Stojan is a little stunned when he heres him
say 31st Recon. He had heard stories about the 31st Recon,
Spetsnaz, the elite. Supposedly, they were the guys that
infiltrated Berlin early on in the war and placed the laser
designators on the targets allowing the Warsaw Pact forces
to severly cripple the NATO forces and defenses. He had
heard that they had instrumented the destruction of the
Swedish guns on the Batic coast allowing the Russian Navy to
take control of the Baltic Sea crushing NATO's supply lines
during their drive into Russia. Like the Germans in 1944,
and the French in 1812, the NATO forces had a cold retreat
out of Russia that year.
Vilenkov begins talking on the tactical radio once again.
After he stops talking, Stojan says " ...Do you have a
cigarette?"
Vilenkov hands him a cigarette..."Marlboro Light" (the pack
says in English), "Picked up a crate of 'em back in Seiradz."
A moment later he has a lighter out in front of Stojan and
lights the cigarette.
"Thank you ,comrade..." Stojan says in russian
Stojan gets his tools, quickly looks around for anything
interesting and follows Vilenkov.
31st Recon, Blue Team...
Serzhant Vilenkov:
A few moments later, the radio comes back to life. "Major,
he is a Starzy Szeregowiec Stojan Raschejy of the Polish
10th Tank Division, and Major, he is a mechanic!"
Major Dendenko to Vilenkov over the Radio:
"A Mechanic?" Vilenkov can hear the capital letter from
Dendenko. "Get him here with all possible speed. If he has
anything bulky with him other than tools, toss into the
woods; we'll get it later."
Serzhant Vilenkov:
The radio squalks to life again, "Major, we are on
the way. I expect us to be about thirty minutes to
locate and reach your new position. Vilenkov out."
"Zamojski, you're about to take up Vilenkov's post; up to
the road and then west a few hundred meters until you can
get a decent view. Same rules - keep quiet, and warn of
traffic."
"Leytenant Keldjian, if you are going to be so quiet, at
least dig faster."
Climbing out from under the truck, Zamojski retrieves his
PK, and turns to the Major. "Da, Major, I understand." He
then heads in Vilenkov's direction [keeping an eye out for
landmines or tripwires]. When he arrives at a likely spot,
he'll lay down, cover himself with some leaves, etc. and
set-up his PK on the bipod (pointing towards the road).
Zamojski walks down the access road past Chernchenko and
onto the main road. After walking about 1 klick he reaches
a bend in the road from which he can see west about 200
meters and stay covered.
Keldjian continues shoveling dirt, then stops wipes his brow
and says, "I'll tell you how the 124th was decimated, even
though I radioed to the commander several warnings that a
division of M1's was coming in for the kill, but first I
have one question for you Major Dendenko: Why is it you are
so sure that I, comrade, are yur enemy? If I had been your
enemy I could have picked you off one by one instead of
surrendering to your forces."
Keldjian begins shoveling again, working a little bit
faster.
(he will listen to what Dendenko and the others have to say
to him, quietly, then tell his story of how the 124th was
lost)
Dendenko to Keldjian:
"If I was sure you were an enemy, Leytenant you'd be dead.
Your story as has some holes in it I'd like to hear filled
in: like why you walked toward Kalisz away from your
division HQ rather than toward it."
"Further, you don't consider this from my end. Perhaps I
have things to do and missions to fulfill that do not
include picking up stray hitchhikers."
[Keldjian's tells his story]
Keldjian continues, "On the 16th I was sent out on a deep
recon mission of the area ahead just across the Warta river.
I left the 124th about midnight reached my position, about
15km from where you were. On the morning of the 17th I saw
M1's en route to flank the road from Seiradz. I reported
this to my commander, but that was to no avail, because he
seemed to believe that all the American amored forces had
been previously destroyed. I could only watch as the M1's
took their positions on a hill overlooking the 124th and
begin shelling."
"It couldn't have been more than 20 minutes before the 124th
was turned into black smoke. As the tanks were withdrawing
I tried in vain to contact my division, and see if anyone
was left. That is when the m1's spotted my position and the
treeline I was in came under fire. Several explosions and
then I was out. I should have been dead, but lucky for me
my radio was killed instead. A couple large piees of
shrapnel meant for me took out my radio."
"When I came to there were wrecks all about the road and I
started towards what I thought ot be the direction of
Kalisz. At dawn I reached your position and saw your team
milling about the two trucks. I crept closer and watched to
ascertain whether you were friend or foe, and when I had
enough info that you were freind I approached you, the rest
you know."
Keldjian goes back to shoveling dirt.
[BTW, the grave Dendenko & Keldjian are digging is:
2 meters long x 3 meters wide x 1 meter deep.
A bit shallow and crowded, but it will have to do.]
Meanwhile...
The clouds above the woods have clearly thinkened as the
morning has progressed. There has been no sign of any
activity on the road since Starshiy Serzhant Zamojski had
taken his position approximately a half hour before.
Suddenly, Zamojski hears the friendly voice of Vilenkov
behind him making Zamojski very nearly have a heart
attack. "Zamojski, Boo!" Vilenkov says and starts laughing.
As Zamojski regains his composure he notices the Polish
soldier behind Vilenkov chuckling while holding two
toolboxes that seem more like tool chests. Vilenkov
continues, "I would not think that the Major would put you
on patrol duty...you stick out like a sore thumb in the
woods." Vilenkov continues laughing a little. "Sorry about
scarring you but I had to. Now, which way to the Major?"
Zamojski:
"You might remind the Major of that. I'm not the 'stealthy'
type!"
After receiving the directions, Vilenkov and the Polish
soldier head off towards the base camp. A few moments later
they pass Chernchenko not noticing he is even there until
they were right on top of him. Were they an enemy, he could
have cut them down 40 meters down the road. They continue
down the access road and soon approach the turcks and the
rest of the party.
Vilenkov walks up to Major Dendenko, "Major, this is
mechanic Stojan Raschejy of the 10th Polish Tank Division.
We have brought what tools we could and hurried here at the
fastest possible speed."
"You're late Vilenkov. It's been over half an hour."
(Zamojski in place for half an hour plus the time it took
him to carefully walk most of a klick.) "Neither you nor
our comrade in arms are breathing very hard," says Dendenko
in annoyed sounding Russian, nearly waist deep in a long
hole. "Your turn next. Two meters by three meters by one
meter, where I have it marked out." Dendenko jams his
shovel into the ground an dclambers out of the hole.
Keldjian keeps shoveling resentfully.
"So, you're a mechanic, Mr. Raschevjy?" asks Dendenko in
very passable Polish, slipping back into his tunic,
carefully sliding it under the straps of his combat webbing.
"We have arranged a little test for your benefit." Dendenko
leads Raschejy to a deuce and a half truck notable for
several bullet holes stitched along its side.
"Down here is Leytenant Pavlovnicka. Leytenant, show
Mr. Raschejy our truck, and see how long it takes him to fix
it. Watch him work carefully."
Dendenko adjusts his shirt, lights a cigarette, and
comfortably tucks his RPK under his arm, glancing about at
the woods to either side of the trucks, muttering under his
breath.
Stojan walks behind the Russian ,stops by the truck ,opens
his tools' case and examines the damage . (Can i fix the
damage ? If it is minor damage i say "I can do it
blindfolded..." if it is not i just do the job as good as i
can ...Something else ,you said i'm addicted
to cigarettes,do i have any? I did not knew i was addicted
when i was asked for equipment .)
Vilenkov mutters as he sets down his AKR and pack picking up
the shovel, "I hike back through the woods with a huge
Polish man, locate just where the team is at, luckily I saw
Zamojski, he kind of sticks out in the woods, ya know, then
I bring in the Polish Mechanic, the answers to all of the
problems with the truck, and all I get is, 'your late'
Vilenkov continues to mutter to himself as he starts
digging. "Hey Keldjian...the 124th like this? I should
have drove tanks...you know...the ones with the big plows on
the front. Just drive one of those into some dirt and push
it on top of the dead bodies...instant grave!" Vilenkov
seems proud of his new idea which he just shared with
Keldjian. Then pauses frowning a little, I guess though,
when the tanks get hit by the rockets the guys inside
cook...hmmm...maybe a tanker is a bad idea."
"All right, Leytenant. Suppose you take a bit of a break
and show me where on the map you think you are, and where
your unit was hit," says Dendenko, taking a map out of his
pocket and unfolding it.
Keldjian looks at the map and points to the position where
he remembers his unit being decimated. "We were along the
Seiradz-Kalisz road about 1/2 off the way right here."
Keldjian pauses looks at the map, "I walked this way and met
up with your group here." Keldjian says as he traces the
path he walked in order to meet up with this unit.
"If I could use your radio I could find out where the
remnants of my unit is."
Dendenko to Keldjian:
"In a while. The situation is a bit fluid; I'd rather
maintain radio silence for anything long distance while we
are stationary. Let's help Vilenkov finish the grave."
Dendenko:
"Drago, Cherchenko, Zamojski, check in," Dendenko says over
the tac radio net.
He takes off his shirt again and takes up a shovel while
listening to the answers.
"By the way, Leytenant, can you drive?"
Keldjian:
Picks up his shovel and begins digging again, "No, never had
much use for it.:"
[Note where Keldjian thinks he is; look on the map for
anything along the road that can confirm the location within
the next 5 kilometers or so when we pass it. If we are
where he thinks we are, who far is it to our rendezvous was
supposed to be? Are we on the right road? We have had two
people working on digging this whole for about an hour. How
close is it to finished?]
The team is on the right road, approximately 15-20 km east
of where you were to meet the 12 Guards Tank Division. 20
km southeast of Kalisz.
Looking at where Keldjian places you on the map and the
position where you were to meet you note that if Keldjian is
correct, you should reach a crossroad after about 8-10k.
One road should run north to Kalisz, the other is the
east-west road you are on.
Cherchenko whispers into his tac radio: "Cherchenko, loud
and clear, over."
"Zamojski here, all quiet to the west. Zamojski clear."
He then places the radio next to his head on the ground with
the volume turned down (just load enough so he can hear it),
and continues scanning the roadway to the west (still from a
prone position).
"Drago checking in Comrade, all is quiet to the South.
Drago out." says Drago as she talks quietly into her tac
radio. Drago continues to scan the area to the south. She
is prone and hiding in the best cover available.
After a few more minutes work, Dendenko looks for the lines
he drew in the dirt to outline the grave, and realizes that
the diggers have just past all the lines. "OK, men, knock
off. Careful with that shovel, Vilenkov! I have only two
ears and do not wish to lose one! Five minute break, then we
move the bodies."
After a cigarette, and a check on Pavlovnicka and Raschejy
working under Truck #2 (progress report, if any, please)
Dendenko calls Vilenkov, Keldjian (and Pavlovnicka &
Raschejy unless they are at an uninteruptible point) over to
the back of the truck. They remove personal effects (papers;
ID) and anything useful (combat webbing; ammo; small
weapons; gasmasks, visual gear; armor, food, canteens,
compasses, etc).
(uh, they are dead, yes? No mistakes on our part? :-)
The bodies are carried to the grave and laid in on their
sides like sardines. Dendenko mutters an apology for the
haste and close quarters to the bodies, "... but we the
living must go on."
Dendenko opens the tac radio net, and says to the assembled,
"In war, as elsewhere in life, there is an element of
chance, that can work for or against an individual. A short
while ago, we had a taste of the vagarities of chance, which
now causes us to leave behind these brave comrades. They
were brave men and women who served the State well and
carried out their duty in a trustworthy fashion. For this,
we will remember them. Let their passing also serve as a
reminder that one does not often get to select the time and
place of one's death.
"As you know, I do not believe in God, nor does our service
officially acknowledge such beliefs. But those of you who
do may take a moment now to offer a silent prayer for your
comrades.
"Perhaps we can return here some day and take these remains
to a burial place more suited to hold heroes of the State.
Until such a day, and beyond then they will always hold a
place within my memory."
After a moment or two of silence, Dendenko gestures to the
shovels. "Vilenkov and Leytenant Keldjian, if you would...
(assuming there is more to be done on the truck) Raschejy,
finish up as quickly as possible. We're late."
Dendenko makes a mark on the map, and jots down a few notes
in his notepad about the exact location of the grave. Then
smokes another cigarette, watching Vilenkov and Keldjian
covering up the grave. He shakes the pack, realizes how few
ciagrettes he has left, and grumbles to himself, putting the
pack back in a pocket.
After the cigarette, he begins rooting in the back of Truck
#2. (if Raschejy is done working on truck 2, we'll mount up
instead)
Following Major Dendenko's speech, Vilenkov reluctantly
begins to shovel dirt onto his fallen comrades. Obviously
Saddened by the whole ordeal, he pauses briefly between
shoveling to looks up to the sky. "Cloudy again" he says
aloud, "Seems like my memories are full of cloudy days these
past few years."
Vilenkov and Keldjian continue shoveling. After about a
half an hour they finished burying their comrades and
rigging makeshift tombstones using some wood and the helmets
of their fallen comrades.
Vilenkov walks over to the Pole, Stojan, working on the
truck and speaks with him for a moment in Polish, then walks
over to the Major. "Major, the Mechanic believes he is
about ready to go. Just a few more minutes to pack up his
gear."
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
If you are interested, check out the websites...
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Arcade/2521 (Pact Team)
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3827 (Nato Team)
or mail me...
jono@baltica.ucsd.edu
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 27 Nov 96 09:14:53 PST
From: jono@baltica.UCSD.EDU (Jon Anderson)
Subject: Pact PBeM Turn 0
Poland June 10, 2000.
31st Recon, Blue Team recieved their orders and Operation Eyeglass
became a reality...
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
Operation Eyeglass:
Date June 10, 2000.
Rendevous with the Soviet 12th Guards Tank Division of the
Soviet 3rd Shock Army in Jelenia Gora, Poland. The 12th
Gaurds is planning to move into a northern blocking position
in the Lodz region along the Warta River to protect the 3rd
Shock Armies northern flank during their drive into Eastern
Germany.
From there, proceed north, ahead of the 12th GTD, on
ulitizing whatever means available to Lodz and the region
north of the Warta River surrounding Lodz.
Intelligence confirms reports that NATO intends to make a
drive into the Lodz region of Poland within the month in an
effort to secure the Baltic Region in the north.
To counter this move, the Soviet 22nd Cavalry Army and the
Polish 1st Tank Army have been deployed to the north. At
the same time, the Soviet 4th Guards Tank Army has been
secretly ordered to move to a position just east of Lodz
while the 3rd Shock Army will maintain its position in the
South.
Your mission is to infiltrate the Lodz region north of the
Warta River. Once there, secure all intelligence
communications directed towards NATO forces. In addition,
commence thorough reconnaissance of the area and report back
to command your findings via satalite up-link.
Objectives:
1. Derive the amount of resistance in the area. If the amount of
resistance in the area is trivial, disregard. However, if it
is substantial then proceed to task resolutions and remove the
threat.
2. Locate any and all enemy positions within the region. Report
day by day findings to command.
3. Locate any foreign operatives in Lodz and terminate their contact
with western forces by any means neccessary.
Terminate with extreme prejudice.
4. Once a thorough recon of the area and Lodz has been secured,
relay the message:
"Eyeglass can see all the way to the horizon."
Once complete, maintain recon operations within the region until
link up with the 12th Guards Tank Division is posible.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
What would come to be known as the Battle of Kalisz began on
July 3rd. By July 10th, the team successfully completed
stage 1 and received orders for stage 2...
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
Operation Eyeglass (stage 2):
Date July 10, 2000.
Objective:
Congratulations on the success of Stage 1 of Operation
Eyeglass. The message, "Eyeglass can see all the way to the
horizon." was recieved at 1800 hours, June 28th. With the
receipt of the message, the Soviet 4th Guards Tank Army was
able to secretly move into Lodz and take the 5th Infantry by
total surprise.
At this point, command is reducing your mission to a
reconassiance role. You are to monitor troop movements
along the Warta River near the Briges of Sieradz, and
Uniejow. It is believed that the U.S. 5th Infantry may
attempt to use these bridges as a possible escape route.
Headquarters.
Lublin, July 10, 2000.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
The Battle of Kalisz has stormed the region of Poland
between Lodz and Kalisz for over a week. Thanks to the
successful completion of the first stage of Operation
Eyeglass,
the Soviet army was able to move the entire 4th Guards Tank
Army, consisting of four rested and heavily equipped Soviet
divisions, into Lodz undetected by any NATO forces. The
NATO forces were quickly overwhelmed and systematically
driven back towards Kalisz on the brink of destruction.
The 31st Recon, Blue Team, Spetsnaz, was called into action
once again and Stage 3 of Operation Eyeglass became a
reality. The team was to take the bridge at Seiradz,
intact.
July 16, 2000, they went into action...
July 16, 2000.
As soon as the orders came in around midnight on the 15th,
the team regouped at their base of operations outside of
Lodz, packed up, and moved out. A position on the edge of
Seiradz was reached before dawn. As soon as the three 2.5
ton trucks were stowed in the barn of an abandoned
farmhouse, the team set out for the bridge on foot and in
three groups leaving two men behind to guard the trucks.
The first group scouted ahead to the bridge and occupied a
building overlooking the bridge while the other two groups
scouted the enemy positions in the town.
Radio reports throughout the night had claimed the town had
been secured by elements of the U.S. 5th Infantry division.
However, there was no sign of any organized defense. In
fact, it seemed as though the only NATO forces in the entire
town was a small demolitions platoon left behind to blow the
bridge upon orders and then regroup with the rest of the
U.S. division.
The team acted swiftly. Serzhant Zamojski set up the PK
machinegun on the rooftop of the overlooking building in
order to provide cover fire while the team moved in.
Starshina deployed as well, presumably to a nearby rooftop
to cover with the PTRS-1. He always had a way of being
somewhere nearby to lend anyone who needed it a hand, you
just never knew where.
Meanwhile, Major Dendenko ordered 1st team to neutralize the
perimeter while 2nd and 3rd team would move in as soon as
the discharge from Starshina's weapon could be heard. It all
happened in a flash. Within ten minutes the bridge had been
secured intact. The NATO troops never knew what hit them.
July 17, 2000.
By evening of the 17th, orders had arrived to return to 12th
Guards Tank Division headquarters to rendevous with some
Kapitan from Moscow. The team packed up and moved out early
in the morning, around 2:00am on the 18th. Earlier in the
day, the word had come in that the Soviet 124th MRD had been
struck extremely hard by what seemed to be an intact
U.S. 70th Armored division. Following the attack, no
reports had come in as to the position of the
U.S. division. As a result, the team decided the middle of
the night would be the best time to try to re-link.
In truth, it was a mistake.
Early AM, July 18th, 2000.
About half way to the rendevous point, out of the dark on
the right hand side of the trucks the lights went on. Huge
White spotlights. In an instant the lead truck carrying 1st
team of six men along with most of the heavy weaponry was a
fireball. The second truck swerved driving in the woods on
the left hand side while the third truck swerved left was
clipped by the second and drove into a tree just beyond the
tree line.
Seconds later, machinegun fire began riddling the second
trucks rear area. The soldiers on board died trying to
escape. The second truck stoped behind some bushes hoping
the dark night, the dense trees and heavy brush would
hide. them. The Major could only watch as the four M1's
rolled onto the road and continued on their way. Within ten
seconds, nearly his entire command had been wiped out.
Immediatly, preparations needed to begin to assess the
damage and regroup. Dawn would arrive soon.
Dawn, July 18, 2000.
The smoke and fire from the first truck burned brightly in
the early pre-dawn darkness. After analysis of the
wreckage, it was determined that nothing could be salvaged.
What was left of the bodies of the men on board made it
difficult to determine who they were. That if the fate of a
soldier. Live every moment to the fullest because just when
things are going perfect, its all over. Only takes an
instant in this day and age.
Serzhant Vilenkov gathered his personal equipment from the
second truck and moved over to where the Major was by the
third truck. "Major, Serzhant Vilenkov reporting. Nothing
useable from the first truck. I gathered the mens dog tags
and am turning them over to you. I collected 12 total.
That means there are six of eighteen men left. Attempts to
communicate with the 12th Guards TD have failed, as well as,
any communications with other Soviet units. There is also
not any radio traffic from NATO forces. It is as though
everyone just ceased to exist over the last few hours."
"Major, were they planning a tacticle strike on the region?"
Everyone knew what Vilenkov meant, tacticle nuclear strike
would blackout communications for kilometers as well as
knockout any working electronics.
Vilenkov had always been the quick one with the
communications gear. It always seemed that he could gather
even the weakest signal and make it audible. Although he
was a pretty terrible shot, he was a great recon guy. Could
sneak anywhere and radio back coordinates. When the Laser
Strikes on Berlin were occuring early on in the war, it was
Vilenkov sighting the targets with the Laser Range Finder.
The smart bombs would just home in on those signitures.
Like clockwork.
"Major, may I suggest we regroup while I prep to scout to
the south of us while Starshina Cherchenko scouts to the
north? This may give us an idea of where exactly we are and
what lies around us. My thought are that we are about an
hour south of Kalisz and two hours out of Seiradz but I can't
be sure."
Starshina Cherchenko:
"Major, I agree with the Sierzant. We are compromised and
unsure of our exact location. We need to find out what is
around us. I would like to take Drago with me, with you
permission, sir. We won't be long, only a couple of hours.
We will try to cover the ground to our north and determine
if there is any enemy out there. We will travel light,"
Cherchenko comments to the Major.
"Also sir, we should set up a patrol base ASAP, until the
recce elements return. We should agree on passwords and
radio frequencies. Unless you object Major, I will take a
few minutes to prepare for my recce and then depart with
Drago."
Major Dendenko:
"No. That will leave me with too few people to operate and
defend the vehicles. More importantly, we need not be
surprised in the rest of the night. Obviously, the
situation is more fluid than we thought. As you know, the
US 5th is boxed in and in bad shape. This morning, we are
to close the box. It seems some jacks are jumping early.
There will probably be others..."
[I will assume we passed SOME better stopping site in the
last few klicks: either a crossroad or track, or simply
somewhere where we can drive the trucks at least 100 m off
the road into the tree-line. If not, please advise.]
"We will pull back to (spot described) off the road and back
into the trees. We'll set up a better position there."
Major Dendenko to Vilenkov:
"Vilenkov to the north and Cherchenko to the south of the
road, wend you way back toward us. Vilenkov, stop a klick on
this side of us and watch the road. Report any traffic.
You should be able to see anyone who stops to examine the
(ex-)truck. Cherchenko, same assignment about a klick
further down the road from us. Come in at dawn, and we'll
continue on our way when we can see better."
After collecting his personal gear, and checking his
weapons, Serzhant Zamojski approaches the Major.
Serzhant Zamojski:
"Comrad Major, Sierzant Zamojski reporting! May I suggest,
sir, that we check to see if this truck (truck 2) is still
operational, and if so, move both vehicles as far off the
road as possible? Considering that the lead truck is
completely unusable, and is in plain sight, we may want to
move further up or down the road."
"May I also suggest setting up a lookout near the road to
watch for any enemy vehicles that might be using this road?"
Major Dendenko:
"Vilenkov, arrange with Pavlovnicka a few quick recognition
signals and codes for you and Cherchenko. I've lost too
many men tonight to want to lose more."
Assuming the damage to the truck is minor, load the rest of
the team into the vehicles.
(Put the better shot between Yvonna and Zamojski on the PK
in the lead vehicle; put best man available with RPG in back
of 2nd truck; other two drive.)
Vilenkov moves overs to the second truck and starts to grab
some gear for his recce when he notices some dripping
underneath.
"Major" Vilenkov signals to the Major, "You will want to
take a look at this." Vilenkov motions underneat the truck.
"This truck is leaking oil. Also, should we do something
about the bodies in this truck?"
Major Dendenko to Zamojski:
"Zamojski! Grab a funnel and an empty jerry can and catch
this before it disappears!"
Major Dendenko to Vilenkov:
About the dead bodies: "Not until we can clarify the
situation and can verify we are not in immediate danger.
They will sleep for a long time, Serzhant. A few hours
above ground will make little difference to them."
"Yes sir!" Zamojski runs to get together a funnel and jerry
can. [If there's no funnel, he will make due with a helmet
or two from the dead.]
Zamojski runs over to the truck, jumps into the back a
quickly reemmerges carring two helmets. He jumps down,
slides under the front of the truck and places the first
helmet beneath the dripping oil.
Yvonna Drago:
Yvonna moves toward Chercenko as he puts his map on the
floor. She has been with the team for awhile and is a
dedicated member who is respected by her peers. She has
seemed Ice cold( even to the touch) and has had no problem
with killing. Yvonna has taken point on every mission so far
and you all value her as an accomplished Tracker. Yvonna is
also a highly skilled marksman and martial artist. She seems
to be nonsense and always business. She wants to survive
and will stop at nothing to do so. She can fend for herself
rather well but does like the company of the other
Spestnaz. As the weeks have gone on, Yvonna has finally
started to warm up.
A small smile creases the pretty face of Yvonna. Her flowing
dark brown hair and and ice cold blue eyes grab any and all
who look at her. She is has an athletic build that is not
very well hidden by her uniform however the big combat knife
attached to her thigh shows she means business. "Comrade,
we have mission yes?" asks Drago as she leans down to look
at the map with Chercenko. "What do you need Comrade?"
Hearing Dendenko's commands, Vilenkov, a little uncomfotable
seeing his dead friends sprawled all over the back of the
truck, gladly continues gearing up. He lightens his pack a
little to allow him to move a little faster, preps his
tactical radio, and makes sure he has enough ammo for his
AKR and straps on his RPG-18 (Just in case, a light
disposible rocket launcher is nice to have).
Vilenkov looks up at the sky for a second as everyone had
seen him do before. He was always superstitous abou that.
Thought that if you did not take a look while you could, you
were assured to regret it later. This time, the sky was
partly cloudy. A little dim still this early in the
morning. Soon, it would be daylight.
"Serzhant Vilenkov ready to go, Sir. I will make a sweep
out circle and radio in my report, awaiting further orders."
Major Dendenko:
"We will pull back to that spot, where [closest of either
the last turn off we saw or where we could pull more than
100m of the road into the trees] and clean ourselves up.
And take care of... our comrades."
Dendenko seems quite testy, and shorter than usual - but
then 2/3rd of his command was just wiped out in less than a
minute.
"Vilenkov, get in a position here and watch the road. Let
us know of any traffic."
"Cherchenko, when we turn off the road, you take a position
about half a klick down to where you can watch the road in
the other direction. The rest of us will clean things up."
Serzhant Zamojski retrieves his PK, slaps a belt of ammo
into it, and primes the weapon. "Sure wish I had my MM-1" he
says to no one in particular. Everyone knows of Zamojski's
afinity for the heavier weapons (something he learned when
he was a tanker), but his true favorite is his MM-1 grenade
launcher that he can use to devastating effect (firing 5
grenades at a time). He is usually quiet and reserved
(which is unusual for an ex-tanker), and follows his orders
to the letter (sometimes taking extreme measures to do
so...). In his last eight years with the Spetsnaz team, he
has provided cover for his teammates on innumerable
assignments.
Keeping half an eye on the slowly filling helmet [when the
helmet fills up, he switches it with the empty one, and
dumps it into the jerrycan, repeating as necessary], and
trying to scan the perimeter for trouble, he decides to let
the brass figure out what they want to do next.
Serzhant Vilenkov:
Before moving into position, Vilenkov says to the Major,
"Sir, I Vlad, the teams best mechanic was driving the first
truck. I think Zamojski, who was driving our truck knows
the most about them."
Vilenkov moves down the road, crouching by the side. Once
in position, he preps his night vision goggles to get a
better view of the road.
Dendenko crouches under the truck with Zamojski."Zamojski,
Vlad is dead, like everyone else in the other two trucks.
Among other issues that raises, it leaves you as our best
truck man. How bad is the leak? Can you fix it or stop the
leak quickly?"
"If not, will it hold up for a few minutes while we drive
somewhere safer?"
"Best guess, of course."
Meanwhile...
Starshiy Leytenant Moses Keldjian reflected on his past few
days while he moved through the woods silently...
July 16th, 2000.
As the Soviet 124th Motorized Rifle Division continued to
advance past Seiradz and across the Warta River Starshiy
Leytenant Moses Keldjian was sent out on a deep recon of the
region ahead.
He left Seiradz around midnight and set out on the road
towards Kalisz reporing all of the NATO troop movements back
to 124th MRD command.
July 17th, 2000.
By early morning on the 17th of July, Keldjian reported
movement of a large force of U.S. M1 tanks en route to flank
the road from Seiradz. The Soviet commander, however, was
convinced this was impossible and that all of the
U.S. armored forces had been eleminated. Keldjian could
only watch as the M1's took position on an overlooking hill
and started shelling the line of vehicles which lay below
them on the road.
Within 20 minutes the 124th MRD, his division was a dense
column of black smoke. His repeated attempts to radio
command had failed. The M1's must have knocked out the
vehicles containing the 124th MRD commanders.
As the U.S. forces began withdrawing, Keldjian was detected
and his position along a nearby tree line came under fire.
This was the last thing he remembered until he woke up in
the dark no sounds or people within sight. On the road, the
burnt wrecks of the vehicles of the 124th still burned but
there was no sign of any life. The 124th MRD must have
pushed onward towards Kalisz. Attemps to use the radio were
hopeless as it had three huge peices of shrapnel laced
through it. If it weren't for that radio, Keldjian would be
dead right now.
Keldjian, then proceeded in the direction he believed to be
towards Kalisz. There must be Soviet forces there or in the
region.
July 18th, 2000.
By dawn, he had reached the sight of what was clearly a
firefight between U.S. and Soviet forces. From the looks of
the tracks it was probably those same M1's from the previous
day. All that remained of the Soviet forces was a burning
truck and several other troops mulling about trying to fix a
second truck.
From the looks of them, dressed in black fatigues, and armed
with what appears to be AKR submachineguns, but you are not
sure from this distance. If they are Soviet troops, then
they would probably have some way of communicating with
124th MRD, otherwise friendly forces are better than
none.
31st Recon, BLue Team...
Serzhant Zamojski to Major Dendenko:
"Sir, I can do my best. I think I may be able to slow the
leak somewhat, but I cannot guarantee how long the truck
will run. Give me a few minutes with it. Also, I need to
open up the hood and make sure that this is the only
problem. I will make it as fast as possible, but it will
take me a few minutes. Vlad would have been able to tell
you more.... I am no mechanic. I'm sorry sir."
Zamojski attempts to fix the leak as fast as possible. He
then will pop the hood on the truck and make a fast
inspection of the engine, trying to determine if there are
any other potential problems. He also drains the oil from
the helmets back into the engine as best as possible. He
then closes the hood, picks up his PK, and other equipment,
and approaches the Major.
"Comrad Major, I have slowed the leak as much as I could. I
also checked the rest of the engine, and could find nothing
obviously wrong. I think she's driveable, but I don't know
for how long, or how far. If we're going to go, I'd say go
right away, and we can all hope for the best."
Sergei Pavlovnicka moves over to see the Major
" Major, should I Camouflage the trucks and try to fortify
this position or are we going to be moving out soon."
Mladshiy Leytenant Pavlovnicka was known as a genius when it
came to demolitions and had a passion for computers. When a
Spetsnaz team needs a Combat Engineer for a mission, they
always ask for Sergei.
Vilenkov suddenly raises his hand signaling he has spotted
something. He motions immediatly to the left in the trees.
A lone figure rises slowly about 25 meters away from his
cover overlooking the team. At first glance he looks for
the most part as a fellow comrade. He is a tall figure, but
not very imposing, and at this moment he seems a little
burnt around the edges. He approaches the small group of
soldiers around the two trucks slowly and consistently.
Cherchenko falls to a prone position. He makes a quick
appraisal of the surrounding terrain, and tries to spot a
likely escape route. He also scans the terrain around him,
wary of a possible raid with this man serving as a
distraction. After his visual survey, he brings the massive
PTRS into his shoulder, and begins aiming at the man
(assuming a clear line of fire to him, of course).
Sergei readies his AK-74 and takes cover when Vilenkov
signals that someones approching.
Cherchenko brings the PTRS up to aim, looking through the
scope you gain a clearer picture of the man. Although it is
still too dark to see his face, you recognize from the shape
of his helmet, and the type of weapon he is holding he is
russian.
Vilenkov dodges behind a tree, lock and loads his weapon,
then scans the area with the night vision goggles. Less
than 30 meters, how did he get so close, Vilenkov wonders.
Seeing nothing, he signals an "all clear" to the rest of the
team.
Dendenko flattens out beneath the truck, sliding the RPK in
front of him. He silently cursed Vilenkov for not spotting
him further off. "Kiev!" he shouts, giving the code word
for all around watch. The others galnce around the team to
see that Vilenkov and Cherchenko are looking up the road
toward the visitor and spread their attention to cover other
directions.
In Russian, Dendenko calls out in the booming voice he uses
only for field operations, "Stop right there! Slowly raise
empty hands over your head if you want to live!". Repeat in
Polish.
If whoever it is does anything else, especially having to do
with raising or tracking his weapon, Dendenko will open fire
with the RPK. (As I said before, Dendenko is a bit shorter
this morning than usual, but losing 2/3 of your command will
do that.)
Seeing the hustle of activity created by his sudden
appearance and the quick aim of a PTRS at him from one of
the soldiers, the figure stops, and raises his arms in
surrender. In good russian he says, "Moses Keldjian of the
124th Soviet Motorized Rifle Division"
Seeing the figure place his hands in the air and call out in
Russian, Vilenkov quickly removes his pack, gets up and
circles around to the side of the approaching figure.
Cautiously, he approaches the figure AKR ready.
Serzhant Vilenkov:
"Hands on your head." Seeing the figure do this and state
his name and unit, Vilenkov quickly seizes his weapon.
"Down to the road, slowly. The Major's in a bad mood right
now."
Major Dendenko:
"Remove his weapon and hustle him over here!"
Dendenko shouts to the Team: "We're going to move. Vilenkov,
go back to position; same plan as before. Zamojski and
Drago, you'll ride shotgun. Pavlovnicka & I will drive."
Assuming the newcomer surrenders his weapon and does not
give anyone covering half a reason to shoot while he is
brought over at gun point, Dendenko gets out from under the
truck and says: "Can you give me a reason not to shoot a
deserter out of hand, Moses Keldjian of the 124th Soviet
Motorized Rifle Division?" The barrel of the RPK seems much
larger than 5.45 mm right now, less than a meter from Moses'
nose.
Vilenkov proceeds down the hill with Moses directly in front
of him covered the entire time by the AKR. "Major, prisoner
and weapon secured." Vilenkov says.
Complying with the soldier. The man marches down to the
road as instructed.
It is light enough now that you can clearly make out the
area around you as well as the uniform and Soviet insignia
on Moses' arm.
The area around you is lightly wooded with alot of brush
between the trees. There are track marks cutting through
the brush to the north, turning onto the road and proceeding
west around a bend. Obviously, the tracks from the M1's.
You can see about fifty meters down the road to the east
after which the road bends to the north slightly. To the
west the road bends to the south. The sky is lightly
clouded. Does not look like it will rain. But you never
know what might happen around the next bend.
Starshiy Leytenant Keldjian:
Growling slightly at the insinuation, Moses looks Dendenko
in the eye and says, "Sir. Starshiy Leytenant Keldjian
reporting. I was on recon about 15 km from here when the
124th came under heavy enemy fire and was destroyed. Soon
afterwards my position came under fire and I was knocked
out. When I spotted your unit I observed to see if it was
freind or foe, then after determining that you were
freindlies I approached. I figure you have a radio, as mine
was knocked out in the shelling, and I could use it to
contact HQ and relay the news of the 124th."
Vilenkov moves around Keldjian to the Majors side and speaks
to him softly. "Major, I was listening to the radio
yesterday, you know the way I love to play with the thing.
Well, I am pretty sure that the 124th MRD was wiped out
yesterday. From the sounds of things, they were going
ape-sh9^t because they were pinned down from an elevated
position by an entire armored battalion."
Dendenko whispers back:
"I am as aware of that as you are, since you updated me
throughout the afternoon. But I don't believe they are all
dead. That makes him a deserter. I do not particularly
care if he is or not. I do care about moving this team out
of immediate danger. Anything in the way of that is an
obstacle. Fear sharpens the wits, yes?" If he does
anything but speak quickly, I will shoot Keldijian. [I
presume we were travelling west, Sieradz toward Kalisz when
we were struck?] (Traveling west towards Kalisz but not to
Kalisz. Traveling west to meet up with the 12th Guards Tank
Div. southwest of Kalisz.)
Vilenkov hands the Major Keldjian's weapon and moves off to
his previous position, were he gathers his gear and resumes
his watch.
Major Dendenko to Keldjian:
"I see. They all died with their boots on, with you as
their only survivor. You were knocked out and magically
came to 15 km from wherever it was, and thought you could
borrow our radio, eh? A cup to tea, too? I don't suppose
you heard the tank engines a few minutes ago? The machine
guns?"
"Chernchenko, accompany the good Leytenant here to the back
of truck 2, and keep him company while we move. Leytenant,
Cherenko has been known to over-adjust the triggers on his
weapons for sensitivity. Sit quietly, move slowly, and
don't startle him."
Dendenko keeps Keldijian's weapon for the moment, an SVD
sniper rifle. "Load up everyone!" (except Vilenkov).
Zamojski climbs up into the back of truck 2 and sets up his
PK (bipod on roof of driver's compartment). [This should
give him maximum range and line-of-sight]. "Ready!"
Cherchenko gives the Leytenant a quick once over, with the
contempt that elite forces have for rest of the armed
services. "Sierzant Drago, would you be so kind as to get
on the truck first? Cover the good Leytenant with a pistol,
as I don't want a rifle slug over-pentrating and hitting me,
should he try anything foolish."
After Drago boards the truck, Starshina Cherchenko turns to
his 'prisoner' and speaks: "Please Leytenant, board the
truck." he asks cordially. He slings his rifle, pull out
his pistol, and then looks at Moses, waiting for him to
move.
Drago pulls her pistol from its leg holster, cocks and locks
it in plain view of the Leytenant and boards the truck. An
ice cold grin appearing on her face. "Try something funny
Leytenant, and you die!", she says as she is boarding the
truck.
After Drago boards the truck, Starshina Cherchenko turns to
his 'prisoner' and speaks: "Please Leytenant, board the
truck." he asks cordially. He slings his rifle, pull out
his pistol, and then looks at Moses, waiting for him to
move.
After Moses boards the truck, Cherchenko follow, sitting
opposite him. Once seated, he holsters the pistol, and gets
out the AKR, laying it on his lap, handy and convient if the
new member of the group tries to pull something
After Moses boards the truck, Cherchenko follow, sitting
opposite him. Once seated, he holsters the pistol, and gets
out the AKR, laying it on his lap, handy and convient if the
new member of the group tries to pull something. "Thank you
Sierzant, for your assistance."
Chernchenko to Keldjian:
"So tell me Leytenant, how did you come to be in the woods
in the middle of nowhere when your entire command was
destroyed? This to me seems a good story".
Major Dendenko:
"We're going back down the road (east) to [GM tell us
whichever is closest: - the last turn off from this road -
the last spot where the woods were at least 100m from the
woods.]"
"Vilenkov, keep watch here. If anything comes by, alert us
and keep out of sight."
"Drago and Zamojski, you two ride shot gun in the trucks on
the PKs." (Zamojski's and the group's). "Pavlovnicka
[assuming he has any Wheeled vehicle skill; seom info on
this character would be nice...] and I will drive.
Cherenko, see that the good Leytenant remains polite."
"Let's get out of this target zone.!"
The remnants of the team load up into the trucks. The
engines start and the trucks are turned around. A few
moments later they pass by Vilenkov on the side of the road
moving a little deeper into cover.
The trucks travel slowly for about two minutes before
reaching a small turn off in the trees. Figuring from the
speed the trucks were traveling, you are about 1.5 kms from
your previous location. The turn off is to the south while
the main road was running to the east.
Pause briefly at the turn; if neither I nor whichever is
riding shotgun for me (Zam or Drago) sees anything
wrong-looking (people, things, smoke, movement) down that
turning (however much we can see), the lead truck turns off
south.
The trucks pull off onto the turn off and follow it through
the trees approximately 1/4 km from the main road. There is
a small clearing with enough room to pull both trucks off
the road. The small road looks little used and pretty worn.
It continues into the trees to the south bending after about
30 meters. The woods here are pretty dense.
The major mutters to Pavlovnika "If the Leytenant tries
anything silly or tries to run, kill him. But I don't think
he will."
Dendenko turns on the radio to monitor Vilenkov and
addresses the team, "Cherchenko to head east along the road
until he can get a decent view (more than 100 m) and then
take cover and warn us of any traffic."
"Drago 100-200 m south of our trucks (does the turn off end?
or continue?)"
"Pavlovnicka on local watch."
"Zamojski, check on that oil leak. Tell me if it has gotten worse."
"Get two digging utensils from the truck. Give one to Keldijian."
"Come, Leytenant, start being useful. We have a truckload
of dead men to bury. And tell me in some more detail how you
came to be the last survivor from the 124th MRD." Begin to
prepare a shallow grave for 6 men in teh growing light of a
summer morning.
Shouldering his PK, Zamojski says "Da, Major", and climbs
down to look at the leak. Alex tries to fix it as best as
possible. He then grabs one of the helmets used previously
to catch the leaking oil, and places it underneath.
Serzhant Zamojski to Major Dendenko:
"The leak is worse, there is also another leak coming from
near the front of the engine. We might want to move it
along quickly sir. The truck is leaking pretty badly. I
tried to stem the tide as best I could, but...... (shrugging
his shoulders). If we're going to be here for awhile, I'll
go up the road north about 100m to make sure no one is
coming from that direction sir." Zamojski quietly awaits
your orders (keeping an eye on the unknown lieutenant).
Major Dendenko to Zamojski:
"As long as you catch what leaks out, we can put it back in,
at least. Something to think about would be to rig some
kind of catch basin under the leaks, so we can keep some of
it while we are driving."
Starshina I.V. Cherchenko:
"Zamojski", says Cherchenk, "I think that your PKMG is put
to better use with one of us on sentry. Why don't you hang
on to my AKR, and I will take your machine gun, just for the
time being?"
If Zamojski agrees, leave behind PTRS in the working truck
and take the MG and an ample supply of ammo. Give AKR with
ammo to Zamojski.
If he doesn't agree, then go on merry with PTRS.
Find a position that will provide a good field of view,
75-100m. Not more that 200m away from current encampment.
Fall prone, and camoflagued self and weapon. Enjoy the day.
Zamojski to Cherchenko:
"No offense, but I'm better with this (motioning to the PK)
than almost anyone! And I'm guarding the trucks and the
Major here.... Besides, I couldn't begin to match your
ability with that cannon!"
Major Dendenko to Zamojski:
"That won't be necessary Sgt. Cherchenko is headed up that
way. Hang on a moment."
"Very well sir. If you need me (giving a meaningful look at
the unknown lieutenant), I'll be back ny the trucks." He
then walks to the trucks, and climbs up as high as possible
[to get as good a view to the north and south as
possible]. He also keeps an eye on the Major and the Lt.
Drago:
"Yes, Comrade. I go as ordered", comes the voice of Yvonna
Drago. Yvonna unslings her AKR and heads off as stealthily
as possible. Yvonna Drago does as orders and
The radio breaks its silence, a moment later Vilenkov's
voice becomes recognizable.
"Vilenkov checking in" he says, "No sogn of movement or
activity on the road. Beginning my recce west 1km and
around to the north to return to my present position in
approximately 30 minutes unless otherwise directed."
The radio goes silent for a moment then gargles back to
life, "Wait a second...Major! I just heard an explosion
approximately 1/2km or so west of my position. It was not
large and very brief. I suspect a mine, should I
investigate?"
"Be advised Major, if that was a mine, then we will need to
exercise some additional caution when driving."
Major Dendenko over the radio to Vilenkov:
"Very well Serzhant. Keep in touch."
The radio squalks to life again, "I will investigate and
report, Vilenkov out." The radio goes silent once again.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
If you are interested, check out the websites...
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Arcade/2521 (Pact Team)
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3827 (Nato Team)
or mail me...
jono@baltica.ucsd.edu
------------------------------
End of twilight2000-digest V1996 #37
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