Heiko's Staff Test [INVITE]

[PuNk! ™]

Scenario:[/b]

Carentan, France - Normandy; 1944.

The German Wehrmacht have dug-in and around the small city of Carentan, in a bid to fend-off the advancing American forces from two main beachheads; Utah beach and Omaha beach. Their main objective, to hold off the advancing US forces long enough for German reinforcements to arrive, in a hope to dislodge the Allied advancements and unhinge their efforts.

The Forces:[/b]
~ The forces have been scaled down, so don’t expect a complete re-enactment of Carentan.

Axis Forces // Defending:
The following forces have been placed upon the map as standard logistics, the Axis member may order these units to move into a different tactical formation if they so wish, but remember the fundamental rule of communication. The member must use their radio-men or rally messengers for such big actions to be taken. You simply just can’t move the units, thinking they’re mind-readers.

When an order is given, it must be heard.

• Infantrymen:
  - Privates: 24
  - Corporals: 3
  - Sergeants: 2
  
  - Radiomen: 2
  
  - Total: 31 (excluding member)
  
  
• Vehicles:
  - Panzer IV: 1 (includes crew)
  
  
• Equipment:
  - MG42s: 2
  - Extra Ammunition: 700 rounds
  (100 rounds per’ green box, the green boxes must be next to each MG in order to use the extra ammo’)
  - Sandbag Bunker: 1
  

---

[/color]

Allied Forces // Attacking:
The following forces have been placed upon the map as standard logistics, the Allied member may order these units to move into a different tactical formation if they so wish, but remember the fundamental rule of communication. The member must use their radio-men or rally messengers for such big actions to be taken. You simply just can’t move the units, thinking they’re mind-readers.

When an order is given, it must be heard.

• Infantrymen:
  - Privates: 11
  - Corporals: 0
  - Sergeants: 2
  
  - Radiomen: 0
  
  - Total: 12 (excluding member)
  
  
• Vehicles:
  - None
  
  
• Equipment:
  - Bazooka/Shot gunner: 1
  - 30 Cal MG: 1
  - Extra Ammunition: 300 rounds
  (100 rounds per’ green box, the green boxes must be next to each MG in order to use the extra ammo’)
  

---

Allied Reinforcements:

** After every two posting rounds, the following reinforcements will arrive from the north **
- 5 Privates
- 1 Corporal

** After the eighth posting round. the following reinforcements will arrive from the north **
- 2 Staghound armoured cars (includes crew)
- 5 Ammo’ Crates (500 rounds)
- 1 Tank buster
- 1 Sergeant
- 2 Privates

** No more reinforcements will arrive after the Eighth post **

Total reinforcements:
--- Every two rounds X3 ---
- 15 Privates
- 3 Corporals

--- By eighth round ---
- 2 Staghound (includes crew)
- 1 Sergeant
- 1 Tank buster
- 2 additional privates. (17 total)
- 500 rounds.
[/color]

---

---

If you wish to take part in this battle, would you please PM me directly and you will be considered. We need one American Volunteer and one German Volunteer.

If possible, may I request those with a higher rank or experience with combat, rather than those of a lesser rank or lesser experience. Thank you!

Once volunteers have been selected, you will be notified as to when you can start posting and what the posting order shall be.
~Danny[/color]

[Mac Bargett]

For Staff Sergeant Mac Bargett, the first week of the Liberation of Europe had been a blur of horrifying violence and aggression. It had been so intense he could not even begin to wrap his mind around everything he had lived through since the start of it all, the night of June 5th. Mac couldn’t even remember how he had ended up on the border of the French city of Carentan. But of the few things he did know, he knew that this was one of the most important objectives of the entire Operation Overlord, and without it the beachheads could not become a united front, and if his consolidated platoon of stragglers and survivors could not take and hold it, the entire invasion would be a total write-off.

Carentan itself must have had no idea how strategically important it was, for it was as quiet as a ghost town as the American platoon paused at it‘s edge. For them there was no hint of the dangers the city held within it’s buildings. This troubled the Staff Sergeant, made him feel like the mouse in this hazardous game of cat and Mac, and it was added discomfort that he didn’t know who the cat was. At best a squad or two of Eastern Front rejects. At worst a platoon of fanatical SS tiger tanks. Whatever was waiting for them, S/Sgt. Bargett knew his men couldn’t just stand around there and wait for the Germans to show themselves, they needed to leap into the unknown fog of war and at the very least snatch a defendable piece of real estate, away from the open and under cover.

With the eyes of the platoon on him, Mac motioned to the sergeant across the road to take three guys and clear their building. As that operation was happening, he turned to the private beside him and gave him his orders,
“Alright private, I want you to go tell the sergeant with the bazooka man these instructions. They’re at a small shack. Clear it. Put on your bayonets and try and do it as quietly as possible. And then bring the squad back here, unless the situation is FUBAR. Understand?”

“Yes boss, take the shack with bayonets, try and keep it quiet, and return.” the private replied, and they both turned around, the private went and to do as he was told while the Staff Sergeant moved to the corner of his building. Through his binoculars, he gave a quick peek around the wall and towards the main crossroad of the city. He didn’t need the binoculars though, all he could see was the front of the two-story building in the center of town and the stonewall blocking view of the bottom story. Still no signs of the Germans, and this continued to frustrate Mac. It felt like they were watching, listening from every window and hiding behind every corner.

“Staff Sergeant! It’s all clear!”

Mac turned to the coarse voice that had called to him. It was the sergeant to the west, waving his arms at the doorway to the building his men had entered.

“Alright,” Mac called out across the road, as quiet as possible while still being heard as he walked closer to the privates guarding the machinegun, although conscious about not exposing himself from fire down the road, “Good job, now move in the MG and the ammo to the building, try and get it to cover the intersection as best as you can. But don’t set it up in any windows just yet. Wait until all hell breaks loose. And that goes for your men too, Sergeant, hold your fire. We don’t know where the Germans are yet, and the longer they know as much about us, the better. Clear?”

The sergeant gave a “yes sir” while the privates showed their understanding by grabbing the machinegun and ammo boxes and as quickly as possible, carrying them into the building. Now with that building under control, and no shots from the other squad must have meant that their small shack was empty, the only building left to check was the one in the middle, right there beside the Staff Sergeant. Although it was probably empty, any German in it would have probably noticed all the Americans running around the back of it, Mac would feel better with it cleared, and without wanting to expose all those men by moving them across the road, it would be the job for the bazooka squad.

As the squad returned from the empty shack, their sergeant gave Mac the all clear and in turn he pointed towards their next objective, “Ok now, last building to clear, then we rest. Crouch and slink along the side, there’s a small wall at the end of the building, hopefully it will cover us from any eagle-eyed Germans. Privates go first, bazooka last.”

The squad nodded and they stacked up along the building’s western wall, private, private, private, sergeant, bazooka, Staff Sergeant. Quickly they slid along the bricks until they came up to the first door. Slowly the first private opened it and the second soldier rushed in and scanned the room.

The private did not lie, “All clear”

“Alright, stay there, watch the Eastern flank,” Mac whispered into the room as the line continued down the wall before the next door was opened and they all rushed in. That room was par for the course, deserted. From everything Mac had seen, the Germans could have left this town weeks ago. But better safe then sorry, and until he had personally checked every room of every building, Carentan would continue to be hostile.

“Sergeant? Mac asked once the squad had filed into the room and made sure it was completely empty. The sergeant turned to him and S/Sergeant Bargett continued. “Come into this room, there’s a table here and I want to show you the map, and tell you my plan.” The Sergeant followed Mac back into the small room and the superior NCO of the two pulled his map of the area from his jacket pocket, unfolded it, and used his handy talkie and capped binoculars as paper weights, holding down onto the small table.

[Heiko Alkema]

Moderation Notes:

[/b]
(These notes are criticism points on Heiko's mod-mark, they do not contribute to moderating the battle)[/center]

[/u]
[li] Long winded, confusing intervals between Allied, Axis, Allied, Axis. Usually wise to break it down into two sections, example: (Allied) First person's modded actions / (Axis) Effect of those actions and any reactions. You can still interval both points of the battlefield in brief summaries, but speak from one standpoint, then the opposite.

[/li][li] Mentioned morale being effected on certain troops. Recently I've discovered it's wise to list a full troop morale or break the force down into squad morales to be recorded at the top of your mod-mark. Let's be honest, will you remember their morale drop by the next time you post? Helps us moderators to remember who's getting nervous and twitchy on the field.

[/li][li] Wounded soldier: It's best to list any wounded NPCs/Members at the top/bottom of the mod-mark, with a very brief description of their injuries, something that would be copied into your next mod-marks for the duration of the battle. Not only so you remember next round, about that wounded soldier, but the member can take action if forgetful as to what has happened to their units halfway through battle.

[/li][li] No map supplied. I don't know who shot at who during your mod-mark?
Didn't see the map, perhaps make it more presentable with or centering it into the middle of the page.
[/li][/ul]

Good points:

• Imaginative and realistic. Very detailed, good quality mod-mark.
  
  
• Impressed with the communication-lines, a lot of moderators can forget to include a communication breakdown on the battlefield.
  

Anything you wish to add Mr-Brennan?
~Danny[/color]

---

---

A few small things got my attention:
#1: As PuNk mentioned, the paragraphing was a bit awkward. You could have merged a few of them together and I felt a bit more detail could have been provided for some parts of the mark, such as the injuries.

#2: In the body of the Mod-Mark there were a few awkward sentences where you were describing the Germans hearing the Americans, etc. There was a lot of "Eastern Private" and "Western Private" flying around. I know this isn't necessarily your fault, due to names not being provided, but you maybe you could add a bit more description, or maybe even add small shooting/movement lines on your map?

#3: This is more advice, than a complaint: Mac's map was bloody confusing. Remember: it's in your power to reject a map and ask the member to make a new one.


So yeah, I thought it was good for a first try. I'm more nitpicking than anything else.


~Dan

---

---

Moderation Post

So it begins...

Since it was not specified before now, the grey lines protruding from the buildings are walls three feet high and made of stone. They will not be easily penetrated.

Map

Staff Sergeant Bargett

- As the Western section moved to clear their designated building, the Eastern MG caught sight of them out of the corner of his eye. Fortunately for the Americans, by the time he'd brought his full focus, and the MG-42, the Americans had disappeared. He and comrade are now alerted but have no way of communicating the sighting to the rest of the defenders.

- Since the town deserted, all the windows/shutters in the unoccupied buildings have been closed allowing the Western section to clear their building without incident. However, the flipside of this is that fact that there is very little light inside as well. Because of this, one of the privates tripped over a chair left in the middle of a room by a hastily escaping Frenchman. The noise was loud enough to perk up the ears of the Western MG's loader, but he has written it off as nerves and not informed his companions.

- Mac's peek around the corner went unnoticed with only a portion of his helmet visible over the low wall between him and the Germans down the road.

- With their luck starting to run low, the Western Sergeant's shouts to Mac, have now alerted the Western MG team. Coupled with the loader's suspicions, the crew simply had to turn and signal to the Axis commander of the American presence. The Axis commander then utilized his radio to alert the men in the central house. Those in contact with the commander have now been ordered to hold their fire until the American present a "good target".

- With full view of the MG team, the troops in house directly next to the MG are now aware of the enemy presence as well.

- The American MG team and co, followed Mac's orders to the T. They are now waiting... in the dark... for "all hell to break loose".

- Following orders, the American Eastern section began to move down the side of the main road hugging the wall. Unfortunately the wall did not provide nearly as much cover as hoped. The now alerted German Corporal in the Western wing of the central house spotted the Americans as they began to come around the corner and alerted his Sergeant, who then alerted the rest of the house. Just as the third American private rounded the corner, the German Corporal decided that this was a as close to a "good target" as he was going to get.

- The German Corporal levelled his rifle at the second Private's head and fired. It was a good shot but the bullet just barely flew off target skimming across the front of his target's helmet and embedding itself into the wall. The victim instinctive dropped to the ground and is hugging it for dear life.

- The Private in front of the stunned soldier turned out of surprise and in the process exposed himself just enough for the German Private to the on the left side of the main room in the central house to get off one good shot. The bullet hit the Privates shoulder cracking his collar bone and knocking him backwards unto the prone man behind him.

- The Sergeant to the rear kicked in the door right next to him dragged the third Private in line with him inside.

- The rest of the American party quickly scampered back around the corner utterly demoralized. In their haste to get back to safety, no one saw where the shots came from. All they know is that they came from the general vicinity of the central house.

- The American MG team has decided that two shots do not qualify as "all hell breaking loose" and thus have not revealed themselves.

- The German defenders are now solely focused on the main road

Next post: Axis Guy

- Heiko "Rocker of the party that rocks the motherf*ckin piniata" Alkema

[Heiko Alkema]

Moderation Post

In an effort in get this into a more stable and predictable flow, I'm instituting a time limit on posts. From now on both members will have four (4) days from the last mod-mark to post. If you go over this limit your turn will be skipped.

This does not apply to Goethe's current turn. This limit will go into effect with the next mark.

[Joachim von Goethe]

Map: img3.imageshack.us/img3/2511/carentanmod1.png

OOC: Joachim is firing out of the window directly above the one were the Corporal in the main building is.

IC:

Oberleutnant Joachim von Goethe's knee high jackboots thumped neatly against the French soil, tiny flecks of dirt cluttering the black leather. This would be the first real combat he experienced in France since 1941, when he had been part of the first Nazi spearhead into the Eastern half of the country. Now France was once again a battleground, Allied troops spilling onto the beachheads of the channel and breaking through the Atlantic wall, staining the pristine countryside red with blood and gore. Joachim was stationed as part of the armored sections behind the invaded areas, defending the city of Carentan. At first, the tiny scattering of buildings was only a smudge on the map, but was now a major strategic point, held only by a handful of troops and one Panzer IV. Luckily, massive amount of troops were hurrying toward the city, but it could take anywhere from a few days for them to arrive. For now, the defense of Carentan would rest on von Goethe's shoulders.

Joachim idly rolled up the sleeves of his officer's tunic, his dirty hands folding the wool. Below the tunic his white officers shirt peeked out from under his collar, soiled from several days of hard work. After airing out his arms the soldier removed his peaked cap and swept back his golden-brown hair, untamed by his lack of hair oil. Joachim watched as Radioman Krueger adjusted the straps of his equipment and checking the action of his G43 before lighting a cigarette, smoke curling around the lip of his Stahlhelm. There was no way to cure nerves before the battle, for all of them knew that the Americans would hit hard and without remorse. Von Goethe glanced at the humming Panzer VI next to him, looking at the black uniformed tanker sitting in the turret hatch. He was the only soldier that Joachim had seen yet that looked genuinely unafraid, casually fiddling with the action of his P38. Beyond the tank three private's helmets bobbed, ready for battle. The whole area was enclosed in a scrubby line of forestry, out of place in the middle of the city. Beyond, a few blocks of buildings lay, most of them filled with German troops ready for the immanent American attack.

***

Private Amsel sat nervously behind the barrel of his MG-42, fierce blue eyes darting out the window. Beside him, Private Faust held the belt of ammo for the machine gun, Kar98k slung over his shoulder. "Schiesse! Americans!" Amsel yelled, catching a glimpse of troops entering a small building. The German soldier brought the stock of his MG into his shoulder and gazed down the sight, but by the time he had swung the barrel, the Americans were gone. "And it begins..." the philosophy student muttered under his breath.

***

Three soldiers manned the MG position in the middle of the street, protected by a crescent of sandbags. Private Konrad was behind the machine gun, Hickelmann loaded, and Sergeant Dobelmann commanded and covered them with his MP-40. Something unseen thumped in the house across from them, catching in the alert ears of Hickelmann. For a moment, the private was about to alert his comrades but instead shrugged it off as just nervous paranoia. But Hickelmann's suspicions were confirmed when a shout in American was heard by all three of them, alerting both the MGers and the soldiers in the house to the left. Sergeant Dobelmann swung around and started motioning his hands at Oberleutnant von Goethe.

***

Joachim had just unshouldered his scoped rifle before he happened to glance up and see the Sergeant posted on the street to the north signaling that Americans had been spotted but no hostile actions had commenced. Von Goethe gestured back that he understood. Joachim tapped radioman Krueger, who had been watching the whole time, and told him to bring the other radioman on the line. "Tell him to tell the rest of the boys that Americans have been spotted, but no hostile actions have been taken. Order them to hold their fire until a good target presents itself, and then fire as accurate as a hawk and as hard as Krupp steel. Germany will be proud. I will report to the same building, do not fire when you here someone entering through the back door. I will be setting up a firing positon in the upstairs, so I will have a better vantage point and a better commanding point. Stand by for my arrival." He said coldy, and the radioman condensed his speech and entered it into the radio, before receiving a conformation and nodding to Joachim.

Von Goethe made sure his Mauser had a full clip in it before giving his radioman a nod and jogging around the front of the tank, out through a gap in the foliage and into a small shack, making sure the cost was clear before exiting. He heard two shots go off to the north and cursed under his breath, following a small dirt path up to the back door of the building with the largest concentration of troops. Joachim came through the back door to see soldiers ready at the windows, rifles poised out the window. A Stabsgefrieter turned and whispered energetically at him "Two Americans spotted, one down. Unknown condition, sir." Joachim nodded and headed up the stairs, clutching his Karbiner close to his chest. Floorboards creaked under his feet as the officer made his way to the north window, directly above were the Corporal was downstairs. Slowly, Joachim dropped to one knee, trying not to make any unnecessary movements or sounds. He raised the Mauser to his shoulder, the butt plate fitting firmly into the crook of his arm. Joachim lowered his eye to to the scope, the leather of his cap's brim rubbing on the metal. He layed the barrel on the windowsill and positioned his hands as firmly as he could on the grip and underbarrel, dragging the scope along the right side of the building before finding two prone soldiers clinging the ground for their life. Joachim's lips curled into a sinister smile, the cross hairs shifting over the wide overhead target of the prone, uninjured American. He aimed for the torso, inhaling deeply, his finger flicking off the safe and hovering over the trigger. Joachim then exhaled slowly, waiting for the half-a-second that his lungs were still and unmoving between breaths. As soon as the moment struck the Oberleutnant's finger slowly put pressure on the trigger, the recoil coming as a surprise to his tranquil as the bullet left the barrel and spun toward its target. Joachim swung back behind cover, his barrel smoking as he rammed another bullet into the action, the casing from the last shot clinking on the floor. It had started.

[Heiko Alkema]

Another Note Time:

• First major flaw, Goethe. Where the hell is he on the map!? Goethe didn't place himself on the map and neither have you in the modified version of the map.
  
  If so, I honestly can't see him!?
  
  
• Goethe/Corporal combo? What's all this about? Another thing that has confused me. Perhaps I'm missing something, but I didn't read Goethe change into a corporal's outfit...
  
  Been explained.
  
  
• That major flaw aside (perhaps I'm missing something), your mod-mark was small and straight to the point. Pretty good.
  
  I didn't state first posts had to be neutral, so well spotted on allowing the actions to be modded.
  

~Danny



Moderation Post

To make it more clear, I've made the Goethe/Corporal combo more visible by adding a black dot to the corporal's marker. Please mark every unit on the map clearly. They don't have to be perfect but I do need a rough estimate of where everyone's at in a battle this big.

**New Map**

Oberleutnant Goethe

- As the lieutenant's scope settled onto the uninjured private, the wounded one's head moved in front just as Goethe pulled the trigger. The bullet pierced the wounded man's helmet, entered his skull, but didn't quite make it all the way through impacting the back of the helmet and denting it. Needless to say, the soldier is now dead.

- The uninjured man, after wetting himself in fear with his comrade's lifeless body laying on him, has decided that the best course of action is to play possum. He pressed himself into the pavement and is too afraid to move a muscle. Goethe has counted himself lucky and now believes both men to be dead.

Staff Sergeant Bargett

- The single additional shot has not convinced the western section of Americans to reveal themselves, but they are starting to worry about their comrades to the east and are uncertain of their own safety. Nothing a few words of encouragement can't fix.

---

Allies

Eastern Americans:
- generally low morale
- no injuries; 1 dead

Western Americans:
- small drop in morale
- no injuries

---

Axis

Germans:
- average morale
- no injuries

---

Next post: Mac
You have four days to post.


- Heiko

[Heiko Alkema]

Which timezone?


Moderation Post[/u]

I'm cutting you a little slack and giving you an extra day, Mac, but we need to get this puppy rolling.

You have until midnight (11:59pm) EST on September 17th to get a post up. If you do not post by that time, your turn will be skipped.

- Heiko[/colour]

[Mac Bargett]

“Well, now we know where the Germans are.” Staff Sergeant Bargett commented to the Tank Buster as he decided on the best plan of action. There wasn’t much else to say, his men were split in the middle by a road that gave the Germans a clear shot, and if he isn’t able to communicate, especially with the much larger force with the machine gun, the situation would be FUBAR, at best. Mac knew what he had to do, and he could only pray he did it the best way possible.

S/Sgt. Bargett groped at his pack as he slowly walked over to the edge of the familiar wall and once again, peeked over the side. But this time, instead of going for his binoculars, Mac instead grabbed a smoke canister, pulled the pin and armed it, and tossed it down the street. The grenade landed right before the mouth of the alley and started to spew it‘s cloud of white smoke and it was then when the Staff Sergeant noticed the two dead bodies laying in the street. Unfamiliar rage built up inside Mac and he shouted at his deceased comrades, “Don’t worry boys! You shall have your vengeance!” and like when Jesus called Lazarus out of his tomb, the smoke grenade’s insidious hissing and Mac’s exclamation had a similar effect. One of the privates suddenly jumped up and scurried into the nearest door. Before Mac could compute what had just happened, or try it with the other one, the bazooka man asked him what were they going to do, and Mac simply told him to follow.

And he did. They both ran towards the other side of the road as quickly as possible with their added weight, Mac’s handy talkie, plus his Thompson, and the Private’s bazooka and ammo. It seemed like a mile to Mac, like everything had slowed down around him. But they finally reached the other side with no harm and now he was there, once again, he crouched at the left corner of a building and peered out with his binoculars. The first thing he saw was also the most dangerous, an MG nest, protected with a sandbag. Quickly Mac ducked back under cover and with the bazooka man, entered the dark building.

“Private, is that bazooka safe to use indoors?” Mac whispered as they walked over to the sergeant and one of the privates.
“Yes sir, as long as there’s no one or nothing flammable behind it.”
“Good,” replied Mac, before pointing the sergeant towards one of the small rooms at the front of the building, “Sergeant, take him into that room and make sure he’s ready to fire it on my signal. When I give the go ahead, I need you to open his window to let him fire, and have the other privates open as many other windows to fire out the southside as well. There’s an MG outside that we need to take out, otherwise this entire flank is compromised. And get our browning set up too, but keep the windows closed until I say Go. Now again, the plan is, I say go, the windows are opened, the privates distract the machine gun, the bazooka takes out the machinegun, and the browning covers the house.”

While his subordinates did as they were told, Mac entered one of the side room and found just what he was looking for, privates. Two battle tested soldiers who were ready to do what they could to destroy the Nazi regime of terror.

“Alright guys, I hope you’re had your rest, it’s time for you to get into the war.” They smiled at his lie, and he continued while also point their path on his map of the area, “Alright, I need you to leave this building from the north and be prepared to cross this road once we start shooting covering fire. I had also thrown a smoke grenade, and that should cover you as well. Then I need you to meet the squad here, and get them out of there. Then tell the sarge to wait 60 seconds here, if there is still machine gun fire coming from our area, continue onto here, and once again, hold it. Do you understand what I just shown you?”
“Yes sir” was their simple reply of agreement before heading out to do their duty, and Mac entered the next room, which he was pleasantly surprised to find contained their browning machine gun, ready to be swung into action once the window was opened.

“Everything ready here? Be ready to for one of you to open the window and the other to suppress the main building on the left. The go word is… Go, or if you‘re deaf, once everyone in the other room starts firing.” Mac quietly barked the orders “Yes sir, lock and loaded and ready to fire,” came the reply, and once again, Mac left his privates to prepare for the go ahead.

Mac entered the last room and inspected the privates and the sergeant, made sure there were in the right place, two men per window and a spare private for fire support, before giving the signal by shouting at the top of his lungs, ”Goooooo!”

Quickly the privates went into action, easily sliding the windows up and throwing open the shutters. The moment the shot to the sandbags right outside was clear, the second private emptied his clip his clip at the machine gunner and ducked down to reload. Mac took his place and with his Thompson’s safety switched off and on full auto he blindly fired from the safety of the brick building, not trying to hit anyone so much as to distract them while the sergeant moved out of the room to give the Tank Buster room to fire. The bazooka man steadied his aim, blocked out all the noise of the guns and fired it into the machinegun nest. With his job done Mac gave him a job well done pat on the back as the Staff Sergeant reloaded his Thompson and they quickly left the room, letting space for the other privates and the sergeant to fill in with their bullets. Now that the squad didn’t need Mac’s guidance, and their training had kicked in, telling them to continue shooting until everything shooting back was dead, Mac decided to check on the machine gunner. Just like the other room, the plan had went off without a hitch, one private opened the windows and busted the shutters, he used his rifle butt to pop them out. Then he stepped back and worked ammo while the other private fired his tracer rounds towards every opening he saw on his target, the two story building at the center of town.

Finally, Mac did the last thing in his little plan, something unimportant, just to tell himself that the small operation was finished, he stepped into the dark, relatively quiet and gave a prayer of thanks.

--

The moment the rata-tat-tat of the machineguns echoed through the buildings, the overeager privates waiting at the north of the main building sped across the smoked road like two bats out of hell and into the first door.

“Sergeant! The Staff Sergeant told us to tell you the plan, first you need to get out of here!” the men shouted in unison, and once again so he could understand them. But the second time was the charm, and the newly formed squad moved out under the cover of smoke and suppressive machinegun fire back to the relative safety of the familiar north eastern shack, preparing to perform the next part of the plan.

[Heiko Alkema]

Moderation Post

Could have been much worse.

**New Map**
- Forgot the smoke, fixed.

Staff Sergeant Bargett[/b]

- The smoke did reach it's intended destination, but Bargett did not give it enough time to fully deploy. Adding to that, the Bargett's shouts prepped the German defenders for some kind of move.

- So, when the staff sergeant and the bazooka man attempted to cross the road Lieutenant Goethe was ready and waiting. Goethe's first shot at the slightly faster Bargett missed by a large margin. Bargett escaped unscathed but the much heavier-loaded bazooka man was an easy target for the would-be sniper, his second shot went a bit wild and hit the slow soldier in the thigh dropping him sprawled out just inches from safety. Goethe finally zeroed in with the third shot which hit the fallen soldier in the side of the rib cage. The smoke came just a little too late obscuring a fourth shot. The wounded man has a ruptured artery in his thigh and a punctured lung, he's not quite dead but will be in a few minutes from massive blood loss.

- Without the bazooka, the plan continued exactly the same, the only change being the sergeant's Thompson replacing the bazooka . The Americans threw open the windows having only seconds before retaliation. In those precious few seconds, the private charged with firing on the machinegun did just that but only had time for two hasty shots, one of which hit the MG's loader, Grenadier Hicklemann, in the hand blowing a hole clean through.

- The American MG opened fire simultaneously, firing on the window directly in front of it and managing to catch the corporal therein off guard with one round to the chest, cracking a rib before passing though without further damage.

Oberleutnant Goethe

- Only surprised for a moment, Grenadier Konrad at the machinegun returned fire. One quick burst easily dispatched the American that had wounded his loader. As the second American threw open the other window, Konrad raked the front of the building, bullets tearing through the door and window. The sergeant behind the door took one round the shoulder and another skimmed his neck searing the flesh but not causing much damage. The private was not so lucky and took three rounds to the chest and one to the face killing him before he hit the floor.

- The American MG suppressed most defenders in the central building, but drew the wrath of the MG-42 once it had dealt with the Americans threatening it. A hail of gunfire poured into one window and out the other. Annoyed with the lack of effect, the gunner fired through the closed door tearing it to pieces.

- The German forces are feeling extremely confident and morale is high despite a few casualties.

Staff Sergeant Bargett

- The gunner got the hint when the 42's rounds flew by him, he pulled himself and the MG back from the window and retreated out of the room before the door was destroyed. The loader followed suit.

- The Americans on both side of the road are now seriously doubting their ability to take the town and morale is near the breaking point.

---

Allies

Eastern Americans:
- generally low morale
- no injuries; 1 dead

Western Americans:
- extremely low morale
- 2 dead: two privates

- BTB (Unnamed)
Severed artery, collapsed lung, massive bleeding; fatal

- Sergeant (Unnamed)
Wounded shoulder; not fatal
Lower accuracy

---

Axis

Germans:
- high morale

- Grenadier Hicklemann
Hole in his hand; Painful and distracting
Lower accuracy and slower loading

- Corporal (Unnamed)
Broken rib, moderate bleeding; Painful but not fatal
Lower accuracy and mobility

---

Next post: Felix
You have 4 days to post

- Heiko "Nice Guy" Alkema[/color]

[Heiko Alkema]

Moderation Post[/u]

Since MaC was allowed an extended deadline, Felix/Goethe will also be given an extra day to get a post up before his turn is skipped. This is the last time I'll be giving away extensions without extenuating circumstances.

Goethe, you now have until 11:59 pm (EST) on Sept. 23 to post.

- Heiko[/color]

[Joachim von Goethe]

Just as von Goethe's finger pulled the trigger the other American's head swayed into his cross hairs, the bullet slicing through his green helmet and causing a great bloody mass to drip down from under its brim. The officer smiled at his luck as he worked the cool metal bolt of his sniper rifle, the spent casing plinking across the floor lightly. Joachim scanned the road again, looking for a American to hunt. "Damn it..." He cursed under his breath as a shout in English and a deploying smoke canister were thrown around the corner. Oberleutnant von Goethe moved his scope up to the climax of the road, seeking the man who had thrown the smoke grenade. Almost as if by Gift of God, two American soldiers darted out from behind the building. Thinking quickly the Lieutenant pulled the trigger and missed the Thompson-toting bastard by a long shot, scorning himself mentally as he rammed another cartridge into the action.

The second American was not so lucky, slightly bogged down by a anti-tank weapon and shotgun. Joachim swiftly brought his scope over the unfortunate man's abdomen and fired, twitching at the last second and sending the shot into his muscled thigh, squirting blood from the Olive Drab uniform and splattering the poor soldier just a hair's breadth from cover. The Oberleutnant almost pitied the American as he attempted to put him out of his misery with a clean shot to the heart. It was slightly off kilter and hit his rib, and von Goethe shrugged it off, the American would just have to suffer in his last moments of his pathetic life.

***

Konrad, Hickelmann and Dobelmann watched with growing glee as their commander took down a lumbering American, but kept an uneasy focus on the building in front of their position. Suddenly, and seemingly without warning, shutters burst open and rifles pointed out, pricking their position with bullets as small amounts of sand splashed from the sandbags. Hickelmann cursed loudly when a rifle bullet sliced through his palm, splattering Konrad's uniform with red droplets of blood. Back in the German-occupied building to their left an American machine gun smacked, a shriek of pain coming from one of the windows. Konrad quickly overcame the initial surprise and squeezed down the trigger of his MG-42, raking the front of the building with fiery rounds and taking a the bloody prey of a poor American who was torn apart by Konrad's angry bullets. He then took to the MG and smashed rounds into the window, but was moderately agitated when no screams were heard. The sadistic young machine-gunner then frustratingly pounded in the door, letting out a cry of exasperation as he did. In the momentary lull of the fight Dobelmann grabbed Hickelmann and withdrew a standard issue bandage from inside his tunic and wrapped it tightly around the wound, hopefully stopping the blood loss and preventing any bacteria from invading the hole. Surprisingly the whole emplacement was almost drunk with moral, as this was going better than anyone would expected. Lets hope it would stay that way.

***

Joachim watched as all hell broke loose and heard a quick scream from downstairs. The officer trotted down the steps and saw Corporal Clause kneeling, clutching his chest. Von Goethe, at loss at what to do with this wound, knelt down next to the wounded German and put a comforting hand on his back. "Keep it up soldier, your going to be fine. As long as you can breath normally, just apply pressure to the wound and attempt to cough. It's going to hurt, but it'll stop any secretions from getting in your lungs, alright?" Right after he said that the officer grabbed an empty burlap sack that used to hold potatoes and stuffed it with his own spare service shirt and undergarments before unclipping the wounded man's own belt. "It looks like this bulge is the shape of a broken rib. Nothing major, just it might be a little sore. This is going to keep that rib from moving around. Put up your arms for a second..." Joachim tied the padded sack around Clause's chest with the belt and made sure it was snug, but not restricting breathing.

After tending to the wounded man he stood up and tapped the radioman on the shoulder, who was already standing by. "Alert radioman Krueger, get the tank on standby. We might need it soon to smoke out these American pigs." When his job commanding was done Joachim grabbed up his sniper rifle and headed back upstairs, kneeling back at his window and regaining his shooting position. He regained his guise on the road, ready for the next American assault. Or maybe the bastard's moral had already broken and they had turned on their heels. Whatever the case, Joachim felt more blood needed to be spilled to fully fight off this American sweep.

OOC: No movements were made, I do not think a map is necessary.

[Heiko Alkema]

Moderation Post

Short, easy mod. Woo.

**New Map**

Oberleutnant Goethe

- The bandages to Grenadier Hicklemann's hand will indeed prevent infection and the lot, but his battlefield performance will still be hampered.

- Stabsgefreiter Clause's makeshift splint has his wound under control with the pressure on the wound both supporting the rib and helping to stop bleeding a little. Being personally tended to by his commander has dispelled any panic the man might have had building up. All said, the wound is still painful and the addition of the splint will make movement without a stretcher a very bad idea.

Staff Sergeant Bargett

- Reinforcements have a arrived from the north. The force consists of one (1) corporal and five (5) privates. The billowing smoke and corpse of the tank buster have them a bit worried.

---

Allies

Eastern Americans:
- low morale
- 1 dead: 1 private
- no injuries

Western Americans:
- extremely low morale
- 3 dead: 2 privates, 1 BTB

- Sergeant (Unnamed)
Wounded shoulder; not fatal
Lower accuracy

Reinforcements:
- worried
- no injuries

---

Axis

Germans:
- high morale

- Grenadier Hicklemann
Hole in his hand; Painful and distracting
Lower accuracy and slower loading

- Stabsgefreiter Clause
Broken rib, light bleeding; Painful but not fatal
Lower accuracy and immobile

---

Next post: Mac
You have 4 days to post

- Heiko "Nice Guy" Alkema

[Heiko Alkema]

Moderation Post[/b]

It's well past the four day limit. Mac, you have until 11:59 pm EST todayto post before your turn is skipped.[/colour]

[Mac Bargett]

“Alright, alright, there has been more resistance then expected, but we can still take this town. Sergeant, make sure that wound stays clean and keep low, all your men need to do is keep the Germans from taking this building. We can’t have them flank our other position, while I am going to check it out, so this sector is under your command.”

After Mac told the wounded Sergeant what he needed to know, the Staff Sergeant rushed straight out of the building and only paused to check to see if the smoke grenade was still giving an adequate smoke screen before running over to the tree line that he knew well. There he met up with a corporal lead squad of startled men, who kept staring at the Tank Buster’s dead body. Mac explained as the newly formed squad walked cautiously towards the small shack, “There was more resistance then expected, but as long as you don’t put yourself out into the open, you should be fine.

“Sergeant? Mac asked once his squad had filed into the room and met with the sergeant‘s men. The sergeant turned to him and S/Sergeant Bargett continued. “Come over here, I want to show you the map, and tell you my plan.” The Sergeant walked over to Mac and the superior NCO of the two pulled his map of the area from his jacket pocket, unfolded it, and allowed the two squads to see the aerial view of the maze of buildings and alleys they were in.

[Heiko Alkema]

Moderation Post

Just in the nick of time.

**New Map**

Staff Sergeant Bargett

- The sudden departure of their commander did nothing to boost the morale of the Western Allies and it remains dangerously low. The machinegun team tried to follow but stopped short at the sight of the dead tank buster.

- Things are a little better in the east, however, as the reinforcements and seeing their commander calm and collected have bouyed morale.

---

Allies

Eastern Americans:
- moderate low morale
- 1 dead: 1 private
- no injuries

Western Americans:
- extremely low morale
- 3 dead: 2 privates, 1 BTB

- Sergeant (Unnamed)
Wounded shoulder; not fatal
Lower accuracy

---

Axis

Germans:
- high morale

- Grenadier Hicklemann
Hole in his hand; Painful and distracting
Lower accuracy and slower loading

- Stabsgefreiter Clause
Broken rib, light bleeding; Painful but not fatal
Lower accuracy and immobile

---

Next post: Felix
You have until 11:59pm EST on September 3rd.

- Heiko "Nice Guy" Alkema