Don't Cry Wolf!

[∬: Rafael Z. Wolfram]

Some great ideas happening here.
As for the hostile term of things, it wouldn't be an actual hostile role play thread, I think adding this addition to the scheme would completely ruin anything we had planned. Unpredictable outcomes and possible deaths, I don't think the story would take a turn for the best.

So if any fighting did occur, it would strictly be on a basis where everything's kept in line with it being a neutral thread. The known outcome if you may. Although I'm sure no staff member would degrade the use of an Allied member popping into the role play somewhere briefly, if the train was to be tampered with by a Russian party or otherwise. Just adds realism to the whole plot.

Before we make bold assumptions of the endings, I think we need to know whos going to be in this story to begin with. Felix, I would be happy for you to be apart of the guard/force occupying the train, so if Luther is happy, that's our three prime Axis members signed up. I didn't want anymore than three Axis members taking part as the lead roles in this storyline, mainly because anymore than three party members and things become extrememly complicated when posting and attempting to respond to what everyone has to say or do during the thread. Becomes like a ripple, where the lag has to catch up with it's self.

JT your idea is quite interesting too. I think that could work, if you were to lead a rescue or raise the alarm when the train doesn't show up after several hours or more. By then, assuming the battle has finished and possibly the guards have lost to the prisoners, having to flee the train in the middle of no-where in Poland (presumable hostile territories still existing) you could lead the search party and find the train abandoned, with obvious signs of fighting.

During this time, Wolfram, Luther, Felix and a small group of guards that escaped with them maybe (I'd say anywhere between three to four) trek through the rugged terrain, sneaking through any Polish inhabitied areas they find, fearful that the Reich didn't have those allocated areas under any immediate control. For all Wolfram and the gang know, these small villages could be the homes of a rebel resistance and possibly with the escapee slavs on their tails, finding refuge themselves, they wouldn't be able to stop and sleep for long anywhere...

This plot certainly does seem to be forming well. I would like to get as many people involved as possible and incorporate a whole manner of ideas, but respectedly, I would like to take into account those who will be apart of this storyline.

So;
Luther, Felix. The idea sound fine with you right now? Would you guys be happy to jump from a moving train and run like the wind!? LOL!

JT, maybe you could incorporate one other Axis member into the plot to form the search party. We could discuss how Wolfram and the gang would become discovered later, once we get the inital storyline planned...

Heiko, would you be willing to use your Russian character for this plot?
I would be happy for you infiltrate the train during a stop somewhere, we could discuss how this would happen and how your small Russian party (I'm guessing four or so?) would board the train and stir things up. Whether you get repelled from the train or not, I'm not quite sure yet, because I need to know if everyone else on the Axis side would be happy to lose to the prisoners and attempt a flee across Poland. With the clothes on their back and ammunition in their guns.

So whether you wished for your character and men to be "Repelled" from the train or whether you guys manage to remain on the train and yeild a weak force of prisoners against the guards, we'll have to work this out. Depends how the story will go, I don't wish to assume anything right now, without everyone else being happy first, if that's understandable. One thing for sure is, I would be happy for your Russian character to be the "Push" during this prisoner uprising.

Who knows - a new feud between Wolfram and your Russian guy could spark up?
- Raf

[Niamh Dunlevy]

I'm also loving the ideas here. The Russian assault sounds interesting as well.

Dang. We're going to need to add a new episode to the Wiki, possibly, and maybe some Episode T-shirts. ;D

[Heiko Alkema]

The Russians could sneak on board when the train stops for more fuel/coal/whatever makes trains go. Myself plus 4 could be loaded down with rifles, grenades, knives, etc. to be passed out among the prisoners. Not too many, obviously, but definitely enough to get attention.

My men could have stolen uniforms and tie on bright red arm bands which distinguish them from the guards but could cause confusion as I imagine Wolfram, being an SS officer, would have a bright red Nazi one too. Maybe this could lead to Alkeav meeting Wolfram by mistake?

What kind of cars will the prisoners be in? If normal passenger cars, then there could be an interesting car to car firefight on the move. If it's cattle cars, then Alkeav and Co. could sabotage the engine, bringing it to a stop and then break out the prisoners.

Edit: Terribly written. Sorry. Just trying to throw some ideas.

[∬: Rafael Z. Wolfram]

Not terribly written at all Heiko.
Hmm.. My inital plan was to have the prisoners in cattle carts, but now I think about it, in order for the prisoners to be able to make a heist, they would need to be in conjoined and accessible carriages whilst moving. Cattle carts obviously didn't have that luxury.

So I'm debating on changing the story here a little, so the use of joint carriages enables a really moving and advancing/defending scene of role play that moved through the entire train, that could possibly end up to the engine room and front of the train. I know the only way to access the front of the train would be to climb over a large coal pit, but desperate times call for desperate measures and I think it would be rather thrilling, having Wolfram and the last dwindling men alive, climb their way to very end of the train (ironically the front).

This could be where Wolfram and Co' maybe jam the engine controls to keep the train moving, whilst they abandoned the moving train, knowing there was no other way to escape the onslaught of the prisoners and the next thread would begin.

Back on topic; I mentioned I would possibly change the story to fit the bill of having passenger carriages, rather than cattle carts. So I was thinking, instead of a thousand slavic prisoners, perhaps a smaller number -- 500 Russian Soldiers, were being shipped to a labour camp out in Poland. Obviously this would give reason to your character being there Heiko and make the realism of passenger carriages seem a little more plausible.

The prisoners could be bound by chains or a chain, within their seats, under reasonable guard. So their ankles could be locked in by one long chain, filing down row by row of each passenger carriage. I know you're thinking something like; "Oh great, how am I going to free chained prisoners!?" well, it would give you guys a better purpose and mission in freeing the prisoners, rather than tossing spare weapons and grenades at them to fight.

You could take heist of one single carriage and lock it down, whilst a key or two was passed around between the prisoners to unlock their shackles. If you haven't been spotted or ratted out, you could progress secretly to the next carriage until the alarm is raised.

Sound like a plan?
Also, I really like the idea of Wolfram and Alkeav bumping into one another, sharing a few words maybe, Wolfram completely unaware...

Would be fantastic for future threads, because Wolfram would have a face to go on.
- Raf

[Heiko Alkema]

This is starting to sound very exciting.

Alkeav, who conveniently is a translator, could board the train in disguise with his troops, possibly also translators, at a stop somewhere in Poland. Later that night they could all move in into one car, put out the lights for a moment as they knock out the German guards taking the keys and unlocking the prisoners. A few prisoners who could speak German would trade uniforms with the guards and pretend nothing has happened. Alkeav and co. move on to the next car and repeat only this time Wolfram (and Luther?) walk through chat with Alkeav and move along into the already-freed car and maybe get a funny feeling?

[∬: Felix Odegaard]

Alright, I would love to be a guard. I am free to be used for you will, Raf

[Nathan Whyte]

Wow, this is pretty intense.

I love all of the ideas above, but I especially like the idea of Wolfram, Luther and Felix trekking over Poland. If we're feeling especially audacious, we could throw a small hostile battle in there. 3v. X would be interesting, indeed.

The 500 Ruskie prisoners idea would probably work best, and I have images now of Luther and Raf stood on top of this coal cart, firing off their StG44's, the muzzle fire illuminating their faces in the dark night as Felix tries to get to the engine.

This could be EPIC!

[∬: Rafael Z. Wolfram]

Sure Heiko, sounds like a rather fetching idea.
I'm happy both Felix and Nathan agree with the storyline so far, shall be great fun to role play and as for the battle idea Nathan, I'm a little unsure on that note at the moment. Three of us, handful of men, opposed against a bigger and most probably a few/couple of members isn't really my cup of tea. Unlike some, I have a lot to lose and I don't plan on making that any easier for the enemy.......

Glad everyones in agreement with the current storyline so far, JT, you happy to recruit someone else to role play in a thread with for being our rescue. Lol. I'm not sure how this part of the story will play out properly yet, but maybe we could tackle that later on, when the story is flowing and more ideas emerge.
- Raf

[∬: Erhard Strumfelder]

Wow, this does look pretty good.

I was wondering if I could occupy a small side role, at some point in the story? I'm working on other things at the moment, but all these Russian prisoners sound pretty juicy, certainly Strumfelder would enjoy carving into. You mentioned earlier about the leader of an Axis search party? Maybe after you escaped, and you fought your way through Poland you come across an old Wehrmacht supply depot. The place has been blasted by the Red Airforce, but you get hold of food, supplies and a radio. You have a word with HQ but the battered radio cuts out mid way through your plea. I assume you dead, and go after the train and its occupants, murdering off a handful, before me Alkeav have a shoot out, (by this time the train has stopped, simply running out of fuel). Alkeav saves who he can and escapes, while I finish off the rest.

I can then pop back in later, and try and pick the three of you up after you've moved across Poland, back towards Germany.

One quick thought I've had for ending it is that you three are picked up by the Polish resistance in a small village. I can't imagine three lone SS men walking across Poland will be well taken to. You get knocked around a bit, but say little to the Poles. They decide to execute you in the main street and film it, sending the film to the Reichstag. They invite people form the local farms to watch the affair, however a few spies report the affair to the Gestapo, who decide to leave you to your fate. It comes to my knowledge, and I rush to your with a nice compliment of men. After a short fire fight, you three are freed, and you kill off the resistance leader and his lieutenants, as well as most of the village, showing a message to the rest of the occupied world.

Just some ideas.

[laukkenan]

Damn, Strum, you are one vicious bastard, but I think those are great, and Raf, maybe I could have a small role in this to, either with you on the train or with Strumfelder.

[Aksel Bavenn]

This looks set to be one epic episode, my children. Wolfram II.

Shamelessly jumping on the bandwagon, if Aksel/Llyr could muscle in in this thread or any future threads following this storyline then I'd be much appreciative.

[PuNk! ™]

I was wondering; Wouldn't Wolfram be demoted for this incident of allowing five-hundred Russian prisoners to escape? Then to be captured by a resistance and humiliated in the name of the Reich?

Just wondering...
Otherwise, sounds like a sound storyline you're pulling together. Not that it should effect your status or rank, if the story was to be played in this manner, but for realism sake, the Nazis weren't forgiving to failure and you would openly be making a failure of allowing these prisoners to escape. Then to be captured and possibly squeezed for information, with the Gestapo knowing your situation.

In my eyes, this whole plot would call for Wolfram to be stripped off his title. I fail to see how a Major with one big mess-up would be able to keep his shoulder boards. I'm not ruining the storyline, I'm just concerned you're digging a hole for your character Wolfram and could maybe face being demoted or worse perhaps.
~Danny

[Nicholas Ealing]

Then incorporate that into a plot. Wolfram suffers a humiliation and redeems himself massively somehow?

[∬: Erhard Strumfelder]

Maybe he does not loose his rank, but maybe a little of his rep. This then could lead further, revenge and mass murder?

[PuNk! ™]

Feb 26, 2009 18:56:04 GMT ∬: Erhard Strumfelder said:

Maybe he does not loose his rank, but maybe a little of his rep. This then could lead further, revenge and mass murder?

Lmao, you really make me laugh sometimes, everything's mass murder, torture and killing with you Strumfelder. But yes, that could be one other possibility.

The only reason I raised the problem of maybe Wolfram being seen as being demoted or losing his title, was because - all in fairness - the Nazis didn't accept failure and from what I've read, the failure of losing five hundred prisoners, allowing a group to infiltrate the train (surpass the guards) and then further on, Wolfram and everyone is caught and strung up for execution. It all seems a bit far fetched, that when Wolfram returns home, he wouldn't face some penalties for the complete mess up.

Wolfram has no "Superior" on this website, in regards to him having a commanding officer in the form of a member, where they could contribute their say on the matter and their view on his reputation or loss of title. So this where I stand in. With any commanding officer of a division, their promotions primarily fall down to the staff in general, but with Wolfram being the current highest ranked member here, I would hate to see him throw it all away and being realistic here - I'm not quite sure something of this magnitude could be covered up as such.

I don't want to demote or tarnish Wolfram's hard-work, but it could affect his promotional well being. You have to see this from a stand point of my own; The Reich wouldn't promote someone with a failure on their case.

Whereas yourself Strumfelder, you answer unto' Wolfram, he is your commanding officer. Wolfram answers unto' me or the staff when it comes to promotions or demotions and I don't want to squat the realism, when in reality, Wolfram would suffer a dent to his ego and title over this storyline being spoken about.

I would be happy to completely ignore any wrong-doing, but what worries me, is how Wolfram will settle back into things AFTER this scenario has been played out. I'm pretty sure, when speaking on behalf of the staff, we wouldn't really be thinking about promoting the poor guy when he's just had one big "Failure" storyline be accomplished. So it could affect his promotional wellbeing. That's all I'm saying really... It's hard to explain.
~Danny