DAY 15 – MAY 2nd 2000
SW of LUBLINIEC, POLAND – NIGHT
MEANWHILE, OUTSIDE THE FENCE
“We got Ivan and Dimitri approaching, straight ahead; sure you wanna sit this one out doc?” asks NASCAR.
Prone on the ground in his prepared position, he is observing the Russian patrol over the barrel of his M249; his trigger finger resting on the side of the LMG.
DONNA glances at the two approaching torches, then sets behind a large tree, unable to see and to be seen “I told you I’m no ninja. I don’t want to blow everything because they can see a reflection on my rifle or something”
“Look at them doc, they’re one trigger pull away from oblivion: heads low, eyes to the ground, torches moving up and down, left and right, I bet they can barely see in front of them. I could walk right up to them, and they wouldn’t notice me until I was right in their face”
“Walk up to them and what?” asks DONNA “ask them to surrender?”
“Sorry, I don’t speak no Russian” answers NASCAR “but I could tell them to f**k off”
“How? You just said you don’t speak Russian”
“Let’s just say that I can speak sign language”
WITH the EYES of the REFEREE [click to expand]
The enemy patrol is now within visual range of NASCAR and DONNA (or rather, the other way around). An opposite RECON roll is in order. NASCAR and DONNA are well outside of the light cast by the torches, therefore penalties for low illumination are applied.
Also, it’s been over an hour since NASCAR and DONNA have taken their position, so I’m assuming they have had time to properly conceal themselves. Just to be on the safe side, I had DONNA completely hide herself until the patrol has passed, so NASCAR will be the one rolling for the players.
In order to determine how effective NASCAR’s prepared position is at hiding him, I’ll use the rules for a Waylaying ambush (Player’s Manual, page 61), with these considerations:
- NASCAR spent at least a stretch preparing his position, granting himself a +2 modifier
- The shortest distance between the patrol and NASCAR is roughly 50 meters, which grants no modifier (see table on page 61 of the Player’s Manual)
- NASCAR wears fatigues, granting him another +1 modifier
Also, important, enough time has passed for NASCAR to try and make a prepared position multiple times:
- NASCAR rolls RECON [D12+D10] = 1 SUCCESS (rolled 9 and 2)
He sets in another spot and tries again:
- NASCAR rolls RECON [D12+D10] = 2 SUCCESSES (rolled double 7)
He is comfortable with his new effort.
The PATROL rolls with -2 on account of the limited visibility (starlit night). Both soldiers in the patrol have INT C and RECON C:
- PATROL rolls RECON [D6+D6] = 0 SUCCESSES (rolled double 4)
They see nothing. This roll was pretty much a formality.
The PATROL [click to expand]
Finally, a roll for the patrol to see if they linger somewhere along the fence:
- Roll [D10] = 10 -> the patrol proceeds
PHASE 12
LED and ALEX both look at the stairs: squared, blocky, Soviet-era concrete stairs. That means no risk of wooden planks screeching under their weight, and as the stairs are obviously in use, no rubble on the steps.
WITH the EYES of the REFEREE [click to expand]
There is one enemy on this floor, and he is the one in charge of security for this night. I house-ruled a 25% chance (1-25 on a D100) he is the de-facto leader of the Russian deserters, Captain SMIRNOV, and a 75% chance he is a Sergeant.
- Roll [D100] = 19 -> he is the leader himself
LED and ALEX will get to the top of the stairs and look around from there. They won’t be in sight, but pretty close nonetheless. This is yet another RECON roll.
I’m aware in the two previous instances I have treated rolls to remain silent not as opposite rolls, but here, given the circumstances, I’d say it’s an opposite roll. Darkness and NVGs won’t affect the roll. ALEX and LED have the same combination of INT and RECON: I’ll have ALEX roll as he is leading the duo:
- ALEX rolls RECON [D10+D8] = 0 SUCCESSES (rolled 4 and 3)
He needs more successes than Captain SMIRNOV to remain undetected: he has to push.
- ALEX push-rolls RECON [D10+D8] = 1 SUCCESS (rolled 3 and 6)
Could have done better, but you can only push once…
I need to flesh out Captain SMIRNOV a bit:
- His stats are as a Soviet Officer from the table at page 37 of the Referee’s Manual
- He is wearing Russian fatigues, has an AK-74 with three reloads right next to him, and a PM pistol in his side holster
- He is not wearing a helmet, and has a 75% chance of not wearing a flak vest either (roll[D100] = 83 -> he is wearing one)
He has INT B and RECON C, and rolls with no modifiers:
- SMIRNOV rolls RECON [D10+D8] = 1 success (rolled 7 and 2)
He hears something, and he will be curious about it…
I haven’t thought about the personality of this man, but LTC BRANIECKI of the 1st SOC told LED and ALEX he cannot be trusted, so I’ll say he is ruthless, and use the NPC motivation table in the Solo Rules chapter of the Referee’s Manual (page 105) to draw a card:
- 4♣ = WEAK
He has to project strength in order to hide his weakness, and the only life that he values on this basis is his own.
This is not ideal, but I had a plan in mind for LED and ALEX; time to execute it, and fast.
Once again, ALEX takes point, with LED right behind him. Slowly and methodically, the duo reaches the landing on the first floor. With slow movements of his head, ALEX peeks left and right, revealing respectively a dead end with debris and a window, and an open door leading to a tiled room where a toilet is visible.
The artificial light is coming from somewhere further up to the right.
Suddenly, a screeching wood noise comes from the right, then a thump, like something has been placed on the ground.
“Vy uzhe zavershili patrulirovaniye?” asks a male voice, a hint of aggressiveness in its tone “vy probezhali po perimetru?” [Russian: Have you already completed the patrol? Did you run around the perimeter?”]
ALEX and LED both freeze, and in a split second the Lieutenant takes charge. He taps ALEX’s shoulder and starts to remove his helmet. “Mne zhal’” he says “my… nashli chto-to” he climbs the last steps and places his helmet on the ground, to the left of the stairs. [Russian: I’m sorry, we… found something]
“Chto?” asks the Russian raising his voice “chto ty, chert voz’mi, nesesh’?” [Russian: What? What the hell are you talking about?]
LED hands ALEX his M4 carbine and takes the comrade’s AK-74. ALEX just accepts the rifle switch.
“My tol’ko chto proyekhali depo…” says LED pausing briefly “…I, ahm…” he looks at ALEX while touching his knife twice, then points at the bathroom. [Russian: we just passed the depot, and…]
“Govori, idiot!” says the Russian. [Russian: speak, idiot!]
ALEX enters the bathroom, puts down the carbine against the wall, and grabs his knife.
LED arrives at the corner and a room opens to his left. He sees metal desks and shelves full of boxes, a small table with a battery-powered lamp emanating a yellow light. Another step and he sees two windows partially closed, the red light of the fire outside barely visible in between the shutters.
Finally, one last half-step brings the remaining side of the room into view: a wooden desk with some papers on it aligned against the wall. Next to it, a man sitting on a chair, by his posture LED can tell he had his feet on the desk until a moment ago. He is wearing Russian fatigues, with a captain’s shoulder badge, a flack vest, and a Makarov pistol by his side. Next to him, an AK-74 is propped up against the desk’s drawers, and three mags on top of the table.
The captain has an unkept dark beard and short hair; his skin appears pale in the dim yellow light. He is not wearing a helmet. Even in the relative darkness, LED can see the frowned brows and slightly tilted head, like a sergeant major used to have back in his time in the US Army, right before a chew-up.
He stays in the shadow as much as possible, and as soon as he is in sight of the Russian, he slings the AK on his back, hoping the gesture qualifies him as not a threat.
LED’s mind is quickly at work: he is facing an angry superior with an ease for yelling. He lowers his eyes and scratches his head, another effort to conceal his face. “Mne zhal’, ser” he says faking unease “chto-to sluchilos’” [Russian: I’m sorry, sir. Something happened]
The Russian straightens his posture “Chto vy, idioty, natvorili na etot raz?” he says with a rigid jaw. [Russian: what have you idiots done this time?]
LED shifts his weight from one leg to the other, apparently looking for words “ser…” he pauses with his mouth open “budet proshche, yesli vy priyedete i uvidite” he adds with anguish. [Russian: sir, it will be easier if you come and see]
WITH the EYES of the REFEREE – PERSUASION [click to expand]
I think LED has earned himself an opposite PERSUASION roll. He hasn’t talked much so far, so the Persuasion roll is not for determining whether he can pass for a Russian, rather to see if he can convince SMIRNOV to come with him.
Side note: LED wears a brown/olive hunting jacket, and we have seen other Russian soldiers in the base wearing civilian clothes. He took the AK because he thought the US-made M4 could raise suspicion, and took off his helmet (which is US Army standard issue) for the same reason. He has pale skin and is light-haired, and in the dim light he can certainly pass for a Russian native. SMIRNOV doesn’t strike me as someone who really knows his soldiers or can notice a new face, especially in poor light conditions.
I’ll give LED a +1 to his roll, on account of the theatrics, and he gets another +1 for his Psy Ops specialty (+1 on PERSUASION rolls to change someone’s mind, which I think applies). SMIRNOV (EMP C, PERSUASION C) rolls with no modifiers. Stakes are high, odds are good:
- LED rolls PERSUASION [D12+D12] = 4 SUCCESSES (!!!) (rolled 12 and 10)
- SMIRNOV rolls PERSUASION [D8+D6] = 1 SUCCESS (rolled 6 and 5)
SMIRNOV is convinced: better if he sees what happened with his own eyes, and punish the idiot standing in front of him later. Also, no need the get the AK…
Captain SMIRNOV stands and snorts from his nose. “Kogda my zakonchim, tebya zhdet nakazaniye vsey tvoyey zhizni” he says through his teeth. [Russian: you are in for the punishment of your life when we are done]
LED keeps his eyes down and turns towards the stairs “da, ser” he mumbles. [Russian: yes, sir]
The PATROL [click to expand]
A roll for the patrol:
- Roll [D10] = 3 -> the patrol proceeds
