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Lieutenant George Thayer (American)
Colour Sergeant John Majors (British)
Private William Danvers (American)
Private Sean Perrin (British)
Private Gabriel Tangiers (American)
...and the PCs:
Private Michael Bartholomew Abbey
Ryadovoi Aleksei Yarovich
Soldat de deuxieme classe Jacques Corbett
Private Wilbur Morrison
Private Daniel Morgan
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Brits are armed with a Lee-Enfield Mk. III .303 (Range 24/48/96, Dmg 2d8, RoF 1, AP 1, Shots 10M, Wt. 9; Snapfire, Min Str d6) and two Mills Bombs (Range 5/10/20, Dmg 3d6, Wt. 2, Burst Med).
Frenchmen are armed with a Lebel Model 1886 8mm (Range 24/48/96, Dmg 2d8, RoF 1, AP 1, Shots 10, Wt. 10; Snapfire, Min Str d6) and two No. 1 grenades (Range 5/10/20, Dmg 3d6, Wt. 2, Burst Med; fails to explode on 1 on 1d6).
Alexsei (and other Russians) is/are armed with a Mosin-Nagant 7.62mm (Range 24/48/96, Dmg 2d8+1, RoF 1, AP 2, Shots 5, Wt. 9; Snapfire, Min Str d6) and two M1914 grenades (Range 5/10/20, Dmg 3d6, Wt. 2, Burst Med).
Americans are equipped with a M1903 Springfield .30-06 (Range 24/48/96, Dmg 2d8, RoF 1, Shots 5, Wt. 8.5) and two Mk. 1 grenades (Range 5/10/20, Dmg 3d6, Wt. 2, Burst Med).
For an example of the subtext let's go with:
Female Human Agl d6 Smt d6 Spt d6 Str d6 Vgr d6 || Pace 6 Parry 5 Tough 5 Cha 0
Dot
An averaged height, corn fed nebraska boy awaits the rest of his unit near the dying embers of a fire. He lights up a hand rolled cigarette and rereads a letter he has read every night since joining with the company.
A scrawny, tallish Frenchman, lazily shaven with deep bags over his eyes pushes up his glasses. He picks up his medical equipment, neatly laid out on a tray a little ways from the fire, a piece at a time and places it in his doctor's bag. His maintenance and inspection done, he stares into the embers, softly humming under his breath.
Aleksei watched as his new troop settled themselves for another camp. The ever-present cigar glowed red-hot as he took a long drag of it. Allowing the smoke to billow forth into the slight wind, he kicked his feet up near the fire and leaned back onto his rucksack. Somehow he had gotten separated from his unit. Somehow he survived an attack by... what the hell were those? Somehow he ended up with this group and didn't get shot. He was sure the American lieutenant was going to have it in for him, but so far, nothing. Instead they have been trudging through the muddiest part of France, together, and surviving. "Corbett. You need stronger song. Try Kalinka.. Is good song for sleep." He smiles as he takes another pull on his cigar, brushing a spat of mud out of his short-cropped dark hair.
Jacques glanced up at the Russian. "Ah, I am not sure if I recall, Yarovich." He pushed up his glasses again. "♪~Kalinka, Kalinka, Kalinka moya, v sada magoda, kalinka moya.~♪" he sang tunelessly. "Zat ees ze one, no? Forgeeve me, my Russian, it is poor."
The nebraskan looks over at what could be considered a waifish man, next to him. He inhales one last drag before flicking the cigarette into the dying embers a letter to my father from my brother. The sole reason I am in this god forsaken war.
Aleksei listened at the Frenchman's attempt at Russian, smiling the whole time. "Is not bad." He falls into line with the song. "Kalinka, Kalinka moya..."
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The time is 4:30 AM, just prior to sunrise. You are entrenched to the south across from a small village. You have been here for six hours while the sergeant and the lieutenant studied your position and the lay of the land.
Nearby, the sergeant and the lieutenant pore over charts and maps, while having a coffee (tea for the sergeant). Private Perrin takes a catnap, while Private Tangiers keeps watch and Danvers cleans his weapon. At length, the lieutenant looks up.
"Alright, men. Here is the situation." He nudges Perrin with his foot. "The Hun are occupying that village just across No Man's Land. Best I can tell, they've set up a machine gun emplacement on the north side. We need to sneak across NML, into the village, and take out the machine gun nest."
"Right, boys," Sergeant Majors speaks up, "You have your orders. We'll go two by two until we hit the buildings. Choose your partners."
"I fully expect that they have a sniper or watches posted to this side, so be vigilant and careful," Lt. Thayer admonishes.
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Daniel speaks up. "Does anyone have any wire cutters? If so then we could snip the wire and remove it as an obstacle."
As the leadership ponders that, he turns to the other soldiers. "Okay, guys, we need a backup plan if things go belly-up. If someone starts to get shot at, I'll stop what I'm doing and start to return fire, thus taking his attention off you and on to me. That way you lads can rush the wire and take out the now-active gun.
Don't worry about me, I'll be okay. I'll just catch his eye for a single dance. You guys just give 'im a nice package with our names on it an' everything will be smooth.
How'sat sound?"
got it. Run, and take out the nest. How many on the other side, sir? Michael says with a half hearted salute. He then tucks the letter in his boot, secures his knife, and loads his gun.
Jacques briefly and awkwardly returns Aleksei's smile before the briefing begins. He shoulders his bag with medical equipment, checking a few pieces for a second time before grabbing his gun and checking it as well. His hands seem a lot less sure on the bolt-action than they did on his scalpel a moment earlier.
"Eet zounds like a good plan, Morgan. Do try not to go and geet zhot, zoh," He pushes up his glasses and then, irritated, twists the wire-frame so they stop sliding. "I only 'ave zo much anesthetic." Gripping his rifle, the Frenchman stands next to Aleksei.
"Just need get close enough for this. " Aleksei pats the grenade hanging at his belt. He eyes the area ahead for any more cover he can duck behind should that nest wake up. Shouldering his rifle, he gets ready to make the run.
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Daniel takes his mark on the Starting Line, checking his equipment, especially making sure that his wire cutters are are accessible in his pouch.
He motions at Jacques. "Alright, let's go. Just stay near me, and we should be okay."
As soon as the Sergeant gives the order, Dan sprints over no-man's land.
He merges with the night, he footsteps gliding soundlessly over the broken ground.
Aleksei bounds after Morgan, taking care to keep low and watch for any sign of being seen.
Jacques closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, and opens them, his feet already moving, one hand clutching his bag and the other holding his rifle by the barrel.
Ah ha! A race! I love you guys!
Seeing an opportunity, Aleksei makes a run for the next bit of cover. Taking a cue from Morgan, he imagines himself a shadow in the night.
Result = 7, a Success
Just as the team is about to head out, a thin young man rushes into camp, out of breath.
"Robert (pant) Northbrook (pant) reporting for duty, sir! (pant) (pant) I'm with British Intelligence, and have been assigned to this...er...group. What's the mission, sir?"
After being briefed, he introduces himself to everyone else as "Bobby", with a friendly grin and a hearty handshake.
Jacques stops short of starting his run, backpedalling for a moment. "Anuzzer new one? We 'aven't got time for zis. Colour Sergeant Majors over zere will get 'oo up to speed. He's anuzzer Brit, 'ou'll be right at 'ome I'm sure. Welcome to ze cultural melting pot, Private."
After pausing behind a bit of debris, Bobby makes another move :
Result = 7, Success
Round 2
Round 3
The cover of night provides just enough aid to the rowdy Nebraskan.
Round 2
Round 3
Jacques puts his head down, trying to keep ranks with Aleksei, his lips moving in a choice series of multilingual but entirely silent curses. Even though he's not truly sprinting and exerting himself to the extent of the others, his brow is already beading with sweat.
Round 3
Result = 6, Success
Bobby follows the others, managing to keep his head down.
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The rest of the troops file out over the trench and into No Man's Land., the Lt and Sergeant Majors following behind.
Danvers makes it to the wire with no difficulty.
Perrin makes it to the wire without being spotted.
Tangiers makes it without being spotted.
As Lt. Thayer makes his way across No Man's Land, a shot rings out. The Lt. is fortunate, however, and the bullet whizzes by his head as he moves swiftly across the field.
Majors makes it to the wire without incident.
Round 4:
Round 5:
Jacques tucks his head down, focusing on putting one foot in front of the other without tripping. Veins begin to pop out in his forehead as he strains not to breath too loudly.
Round 4:
Round 5:
Bobby catches up to the others already at the wire.
Round 4
Round 5
Making a notice check on the sniper
Head down and scampering through the field Michael makes it to the barb wire without a problem.
Jacques grips his gun tightly and sprints to catch up. He's not a good enough shot to get that sniper, but Private Morgan might be able to do it if he had a spotter telling him where to look.
Aleksei reflexively ducks as he hears the shot rings out. He then sees a glint off the rifle's scope and points towards it.
Keeping his head down, he keeps in mind the location of the sniper as he runs across the field.
When he reaches the other side, he whispers to his comrades. "Just over there, sniper watching the field. Good bet they know we're coming."
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Daniel low-crawls the last few feet to the wire, and gets out his trusty wire-cutters. He carefully and slowly snips the wire, then moves it out of the way so the rest of the soldiers can follow.
He carefully rolls the wire back, in on itself, then motions the troopers forward. He himself stays prone and watching the fields until the last man is through, then gets up and follows.
Aleksei looks at their surroundings and then at his comrades in arms. "Won't take long to figure out where we are. We should keep moving," He looks to Lt. Thayer. "Sir."