Crossed Paths

[Harry Machin]

Time: 16:00hrs.
Location: Somewhere on the Libyan/Egyptian border.
Weather: Baking hot, clear skies.

First posts are neutral.

Corporal Harry Machin cursed as he staggered to the top of another sand dune, only to have the one gust of wind in the entire desert fill his mouth with fine grains. He spat feebly, lack of fluids making his efforts viscous and clingy.

"Bloody hell Corp, get down from there! Every Italian for miles will be able to see you."

Harry wondered if he should reprimand the soldier but didn't want to push his luck. "Blending", they had called this. Patrols to get the new blood mixed in with the old. Harry was fairly sure of his rifle and bayonet drills, but dealing with the heat and the terrain was something else, something no one had really bothered to prepare him for. So he blundered back down the sand dune and brought up the rear of the small patrol.

"If you're thirsty Corp there's a watering hole up ahead. If they haven't pissed in it, that is...We check it every now and again, make sure they're not camping out there."

There were plenty of smallholdings for italian runners to have gone to ground in. Rumour had it there were close to a hundred and twenty thousand of them between here and the far end of Libya. As Harry stared into the arid distance it occured to him that ahead were the only buildings for miles. If there was anyone in this patch of the country, they'd be heading for water too...

<OOC - I've left it to everyone else to place their characters, obviously. Everytime it's my turn I'll rehash the map so it looks consistent. If anyone has any problems editing the image, I used photoshop, so if you PM me with any amendments I'll gladly update the maps for you if its causing any problems.>

*Your image has been turned into a link and a new image is supplied below for the next person to use during their post!*

[PuNk! ™]

Moderation Post

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A moderation post will follow after every post made![/center][/color]

*** NEW MAP! ***

Allied Units:[/b]

Corporal Harry Machin[/b][/color]

(*PM me the names of all your units please!*)
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MORALE:[/b][/color] FINE

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Axis Units:[/b]
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(*PM me the names of all your units please!*)
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MORALE:[/b][/color] FINE

---

Actions & Movements:

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• Corporal Machin has successfully entered the battlefield; unseen, despite standing atop of the nearby sand-dune.
  

NOTES:
I have some irritable flaws with your post Harry. Ideally, you should have entered the map alongside LT. Kane and the NPCs you are going to use, rather than just individually entering, but still communicating with ghost NPCs in your post; but it's no biggie though.

Secondly, I have resized your unit icon the map you supplied, it should be slightly smaller (even smaller than what I resized it too maybe), because you was portraying yourself to be a giant to your surroundings.

Nonetheless, there's nothing much I can moderate from your post, so the next person may post and I'm assuming you guys have spoken about a posting order, unless you want me to pick the next person.

NEXT POST: You guy's must have negotiated a posting order...
~Danny

[Tristan Herman]

One has to be honest with themselves: you don't join the military with the intention to fill your boots with sand. It is doubtful that anyone ever has. Tristan was not the exception to this rule by any stretch of the human mind, as he trudged through the tauntingly dry sands of the desert. In the back of his mind, he cursed himself for joining the military; he felt more like an extra-screw than a necessary cog in the machine. More accurately, he felt like an errand-boy.

The Italian Corporale-Maggoire---Moretti, he believed the man's name was---that Tristan was accompanying on this patrol was his charge for the moment. Perhaps, charge was not best word, as he was not quite directing the man's actions, nor those of him men. Rather, he was assigned to aid and advise the soldier on his patrol. Though, truly, Tristan felt that perhaps the battalion commander felt better having one of his own men report back intelligence than the Italians; not to inflict insult upon them, but the Officer had reason to doubt their abilities in combat thus far. Stabsgefreiter Herman, on the other hand, did not ascribe to this notion. He'd been to France, and it was their commanders and politicians, not their soldiers, that lost them battles.

Having volunteered to scout ahead of the main group, Tristan came upon a sand dune just outside the hamlet he had passed through on several prior occasions. As per the usual routine, he would scramble up the dune on his belly, provided the sand did not entirely give way to him, and poke his head out to observe the terrain, in the hopes of observing any Allied troops. Chances were that, as usual, there would not be a solitary sign of enemy activity, and the men would simply saunter into town, and begin wise-cracking around the small oasis until everyone's canteens were once more filled to the brim, and they moved on.

Herman, as per plan, dropped down on his stomach, and climbed the dune to its apex. He had wisely layered himself in appropriately colored garment, so as to prevent easy identification at a distance by opposing forces. The young German pushed his goggles up onto his helmet, giving him a clearer view as he peeked up over the dune.

As he scanned, there was little to be seen, and nothing particularly out of the ordinary.

[[Error removed. Apologies to all. It will not happen again.]]

MAP: i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab138/Irc_Ryshan/Thisisamap.png

[PuNk! ™]

Moderation Post

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A moderation post will follow after every post made![/center][/color]

*** NO CHANGES MADE TO THE MAP ***

Allied Units:[/b] (All units are British)

Lieutenant Augustus Kane
Corporal Harry Machin

NPC: SAS Heavy Oscar Bright

NPC: Sld. Nathanial Price
NPC: Sld. William Wiccum
NPC: Sld. Beaven Buckely

MORALE:[/b][/color] FINE

---

Axis Units:[/b]

Stabsgefreiter Tristan Herman (German)
Corporale Maggoire Christoph Morreti (Italian)

NPC: Sld. Abele Cariati (Italian)
NPC: Sld. Camillo Adami (Italian)
NPC: Sld. Cesare D'Arco (Italian)
NPC: Sld. Pietro Maletta (Italian)
NPC: Sld. Dante Capriotti (Italian)


MORALE:[/b][/color] FINE

---

Actions & Movements:

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• Stabsgefreiter Tristan Herman cautiously climbed up a neighboring sand-dune within a prone position; peering over the top and downward to the small oasis settlement, he didn't spot anything out of the ordinary.
  
  
• Sliding back down behind the sand-dune and into appropriate cover, Stabsgefreiter Tristan Herman has also remained unseen to the enemy.
  

NOTES:
Did you even read my last moderation post Tristan? I advise all to read each moderation post carefully, if they're long and complicated than I understand the consequence of minor mistakes that may occur in people's posts, but the last moderation was perhaps one of the smallest I've done (and one action/move moderated) and yet it was neglected to be read - Tristan.

So please guys, I know a few of you are new here, but I'm just nipping any flaws in the bud early-on so we can continue to get better and avoid any costly mishaps in the future.

Had this been a larger battle and your actions were privy to victory or defeat, a small mistake such as neglecting to read part of a moderation post could have your post (or part of your post) voided.

I'm not reprimanding you Tristan, but as a message to everyone, please read the moderation posts and pay attention, thank you.

NEXT POST: Augustus Kane
~Danny

[Deleted]

Map

(Don't worry guys, take this all as a learning experience.)



It was going to be a good day, the wind wasn’t whipping them with waves of sand, the heat wasn’t too overly unbearable and the hot air felt quite good in Kanes lungs. Looking around he could see that he was probably the only one enjoying himself. Having been couped up in an office for a few weeks straight had had him on edge, he had decided to jump on the next patrol that left and tag along, if only to get out of doing the boring pile of paperwork that had been slowly growing on his desk.

Still looking at his men he chalked off their names in his head and tried to remember what their service files had said about them. Nathanial Price and William Wiccum had both joined at the same time and had seen little action. They had held off a small raid by a group of unorganised deserters a few months back and probably considered themselves to be experienced soldiers.
Beaven Buckely had only just joined up a week ago and had seen nothing but sand dunes. Kane watched as the other two bragged and exaggerated on their first and only contact to little Beaven.

The only other man here who seemed experienced was the SAS gunner Corporal Oscar Bright. The bulky soldier was standing a little way apart from the rest and after a brief introduction back at the base had said nothing more. Kane didn’t blame him, the poor bugger was an elite solider who had been shafted down to a patrol with regular country hicks. Bright met Kane’s eye and held it for a moment before looking back around and scanning the sand dunes. He looked angrily at the two soldiers bragging about how many men they had killed and Kane guessed he would love to gun down the two down.

Of course that was nothing compared to the other Corporal, Harry Machin, who had just been told off about climbing to the top of a sand dune. If there had of been any enemy forces in the area, Harry would have been a perfect target. How he made it to Corporal was anyone’s guess. Maybe it was just the heat getting to him? In either case Kane had to take charge now, this was a good place with clean water, one of the only places in many miles that had water suitable for drinking. He didn’t know why a base hadn’t been built around it yet.

“Alright lads, the Italians know about this place just as we do, so cut the chatter and keep your heads on a swivel. Clear the place out first and then we’ll resupply.”

[PuNk! ™]

Moderation Post

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A moderation post will follow after every post made![/center][/color]

*** NO CHANGES MADE TO THE MAP ***

Allied Units:[/b] (All units are British)

Lieutenant Augustus Kane
Corporal Harry Machin

NPC: SAS Heavy Oscar Bright

NPC: Sld. Nathanial Price
NPC: Sld. William Wiccum
NPC: Sld. Beaven Buckely

MORALE:[/b][/color] FINE

---

Axis Units:[/b]

Stabsgefreiter Tristan Herman (German)
Corporale Maggoire Christoph Morreti (Italian)

NPC: Sld. Abele Cariati (Italian)
NPC: Sld. Camillo Adami (Italian)
NPC: Sld. Cesare D'Arco (Italian)
NPC: Sld. Pietro Maletta (Italian)
NPC: Sld. Dante Capriotti (Italian)


MORALE:[/b][/color] FINE

---

Actions & Movements:

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• Lieutenant Augustus Kane had a direct impact upon the forming British squad, whom were slightly inexperienced amongst a few of the soldiers.
  
  Successfully maintaining morale within the hot dessert climate and outlaying their plan of action, the men beneath Lieutenant Augustus Kane's command are confident and ready for the task/s ahead.
  

NOTES:
Not much to moderate... Yet.

NEXT POST: C. Moretti
~Danny

[Christoph Morreti]

Map

Edit: Map is blurry, sorry about that.
Though names and locations are still distinguishable.

"Come on, there's supposed to be an oasis somewhere up-ahead." Christoph said to his squad. The patrol had been walking for awhile now and all were running low on water in their canteens. One thing that slightly annoyed Christoph was the addition of a German "advisor" to keep an eye the Italians. Not only were these men elite paratroopers who had all proven themselves in combat, but they also needed no stuck-up German to assist them on this small patrol. But this one seemed to be different, not treating them as inferior fighters, but rather treating them normally. Unlike other Germans they had met. Communication however, was another problem. Fortunately Soldato Abele spoke fluent German, unlike the rest of the men who could for the most part speak only in a few phrases here and there. Christoph himself could only speak survival German words and phrases he had picked-up from the Germans in the Afrika Korps. Christoph nudged Abele and nodded to the German. "Abele, tell him what I just said." Abele nodded and did as he was told. "Up there." Christoph pointed up-ahead to a few palm-trees. Behind a sand-dune. As he said this the German, whom he had been introduced to as Stabsgefreiter Herman, darted off to scout ahead of the group. When he returned and reported he had seen nothing, Christoph wasn't sure if he should feel nervous, or glad.

When the squad reached the sand-dune Moretti gave them their orders. "Dante," he whispered. "There should be a building to the behind the left of this sand-dune, take Camilo and check for any enemy activity. Abele, Pietro, and Herman, you three go to the top of the sand-dune and if anyone makes contact with the British, open fire when you get a clear shot and make the Tommies regret it. Stay low and out-of sight if you can. Cesare, and I will will secure the building that's on the right after Abele and Herman have cleared the one to the left. Christoph looked around at the men. They all appeared slightly dismayed at having to wait to get the water. Then he spoke again, still in a whisper so as not to alert any enemy soldiers that may have been near-by. "I don't want to wait any longer for the water either, and there may not be any British soldiers here, but if there, we need to be ready for them. After we clear the area, then we can drink the water. And we drink it alive. Now go!" The soldiers rushed off to do their tasks, they were determined to drink of the water, and "drink it alive".

[PuNk! ™]

Moderation Post

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A moderation post will follow after every post made![/center][/color]

*** CLEAN MAP! USE! ***
*** MOVEMENT/HOSTILE MAP! DON'T USE! ***

Allied Units:[/b] (All units are British)

Lieutenant Augustus Kane
Corporal Harry Machin

NPC: SAS Heavy Oscar Bright

NPC: Sld. Nathanial Price
NPC: Sld. William Wiccum
NPC: Sld. Beaven Buckely

MORALE:[/b][/color] FINE

---

Axis Units:[/b]

Stabsgefreiter Tristan Herman (German)
Corporale Maggoire Christoph Morreti (Italian)

NPC: Sld. Abele Cariati (Italian)
NPC: Sld. Camillo Adami (Italian)
NPC: Sld. Cesare D'Arco (Italian)
NPC: Sld. Pietro Maletta (Italian)
NPC: Sld. Dante Capriotti (Italian) *UNARMED*


MORALE:[/b][/color] FINE

---

Actions & Movements:

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• Corporale Maggoire Moretti gained the men's respect and pulled rank within the small Axis outfit, outlaying their plan of action and strategy; even to their German advisor.
  
  
• Descending the sand-dune quickly having given everyone their role to play, Dante Capriotti was the first over the top of the dune and the first to lose his footing within the soft sinking sand.
  
  Toppling forwards, Dante Capriotti rolled down the side of the steep sand-dune and kicked up mounds of sand within his wake. Losing his rifle in the process, he swore uncontrollably as his kit jabbed and jerked into his body with every sodden roll he made as he toppled downward.
  
  Eventually landing at the bottom of the sand-dune - feeling disorientated and dazed, he scurried around frantically for his rifle.
  
  
• The noise of Dante's fall has alerted the British forces across the opposite side of the oasis, whom gingerly peeked over from their position, watching as the Italians continued to descend into the small town.
  
  British Private Buckley leveled his Lee-Enfield rifle for a shot, but was soon met with a sharp suppressing shot from Italian Private Abele Cariati.
  
  
• The rest of the Italians descended into the town quickly and without much of a hitch, although the others did find it difficult to not lose their footing during the descent; immediately all of the men within the town took cover as soon as Abele opened up fire, having spotted the British.
  

NOTES:
Only one shot has been made by PVT. Abele Cariati who spotted one of the British on the other side of the Oasis. No injuries or casualties have been sustained and both sides are now aware of one another's presence.

Dante has lost his rifle... If you attempt to search for it, you may find it.

Lastly, your initial placements have now been changed, because the squad within the Oasis have immediately taken cover after hearing the rifle shot, rather than stay out in the open, which a few of your units were during your last map. I took the liberity of also making a better looking map.

NEXT POST: HARRY
~Danny

[Harry Machin]

Harry had just descended from the crest of the dune and opened his mouth to ask their Leftenant how to proceed when one of the men cursed under his breath. Turning, Machin watched Buckley flap for his rifle - then a shot rang out and he instinctively hit the dirt. Harry was worried the man had been hit, but then Buckley spat sand from his mouth and cursed.

Machin was partly relieved that he was not the only man who had jumped and crouched nervously, though behind them the steely sergeant merely seemed curious about the noise and amused by their reaction to it. Harry noted the officer was watching his every move with some derision, and he felt as small as a doormouse under that gaze.

The men were looking around, trying to determine where the shot had come from, but Harry had seen where Buckley was looking and knew the enemy were somewhere over the crest of the dune to their left and front. To his direct left there was an unassuming building with a doorway on their side. While he had no doubt he would be exposed to view in the gap between their current shelter and the building's nearest corner, he also remembered what happened in Dunkirk whenever their squad had frozen in place.

Harry looked around him and saw that the other soldiers - with the obvious exception of the Sergeant and Leftenant - were equally clueless. They weren't going to move without supervision. Or perhaps a good example. He knew that he would have moved by now if someone else had run for the building before him. But he was closest to it. It was his responsibility to move first. He could feel the Leftenant's glare burning the back of his head even as the men dared each other to move or shoot in hissed whispers.

Harry girded himself for a moment, gripped his rifle carefully, then sprinted across the open ground as fast as he could manage in the sand toward the shelter of the building. He had no idea if he was doing the right thing, the smart thing. There was no telling how many I-ties were out there or where they had gotten to. He could only hope that they were not already surrounded and that by securing this building he could provide the lads with some room to move into.

After thundering down the dune clumsily, he considered the door for a moment, then tentatively approached the window further along, listening out for any signs of movement within. Quietly, he fixed his bayonet and prepared himself to enter.

Map - i74.photobucket.com/albums/i264/Waco475/HarryTurn2.png

[PuNk! ™]

Moderation Post

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A moderation post will follow after every post made![/center][/color]

*** CLEAN MAP! USE! ***

Allied Units:[/b] (All units are British)

Lieutenant Augustus Kane[/color]
Corporal Harry Machin *WOUNDED/ANKLE*
~ A bullet has lodged and splintered it's self into the ankle-bone of the left-leg. Harry cannot stand/walk/run unaided and the pain will decrease his accuracy and ability to fight effectively.[/COLOR][/size]

NPC: SAS Heavy Oscar Bright

NPC: Sld. Nathanial Price
NPC: Sld. William Wiccum
NPC: Sld. Beaven Buckely

MORALE:[/b][/color] MEDIUM

---

Axis Units:[/b]

Stabsgefreiter Tristan Herman (German)
Corporale Maggoire Christoph Morreti (Italian)

NPC: Sld. Abele Cariati (Italian)
NPC: Sld. Camillo Adami (Italian)
NPC: Sld. Cesare D'Arco (Italian)
NPC: Sld. Pietro Maletta (Italian)
NPC: Sld. Dante Capriotti (Italian) *UNARMED*
~ Has dropped his rifle, but still retains a shovel & bayonet.


MORALE:[/b][/color] FINE

---

Actions & Movements:

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• Corporal Harry Machin within the heat of the moment decidedly spurted from his covered position atop of the crested sand dune and sprinted vigorously - like a madman - towards a nearby building.
  
  
• Corporal Machin's attempt to spur the squad's movement, without even consulting them or ordering them, left the British soldiers looking bewildered and lost as they watched one of their NCOs run wildly from out of his position.
  
  This didn't boost the men's morale much, but rather the opposite as they watched one of their NCOs decidedly take matters into his own hands and run-away? It seemed that way to the men for the briefest of moments.
  
  
• With a stretch of open ground to run across (upon soft deep sand) with full infantryman gear to carry, Corporal Machin ran slower than he anticipated, even though he was headed downhill towards the building.
  
  Private Abele Cariati, Private Pietro Maletta and Stabsgefreiter Tristan Herman upon their prime positions up-high had superior view of the dangling figure in the open for several seconds and took their initiative of the situation.
  
  
• All three men began popping off shots from their rifles towards Corporal Machin, their bullets kicking up sprays of sand from around Corporal Machin's feet as he bobbed evasively to the gunfire, until a lucky shot made by Stabsgefreiter Tristan Herman cut through Corporal Machin's left ankle and sent him reeling to the ground in agony as the bullet knocked him off his feet.
  
  Bullets continued to fly around Corporal Machin's body on the ground, but a small retaliation fire from the British soldiers suppressed any real means of accuracy.
  
  
• Corporal Machin dragged himself into the shade and cover behind the building he was heading for; the wound upon his ankle isn't life-threatening, but has inhibited his ability to stand/walk/run and the pain will have a direct impact upon Corporal Machin's accuracy with any weaponry.
  

NOTES:
Sorry Harry, but your bold move didn't pay off. The enemy are watching the British position inattentively (if you hadn't noticed from the last mod) and your attempt to run without covering fire or even consulting your commanding-officer/subordinates has landed you a fine souvenir.

Due to this mod, parts of your post have been voided. You haven't made it to the building as you aforementioned in your post and you are now wounded. You are still able to fight, but with limitations.

I strongly suggest as a new player, you communicate with your teammates closely during battle and discuss your moves together, opposed to making bold rash decisions that could land you dead.

Great post, but again, sorry it didn't pay off.

NEXT POST: HERMAN!
~Danny

[Tristan Herman]

COMBAT MAP: i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab138/Irc_Ryshan/Map.jpg
CLEAN MAP: i42.tinypic.com/2vdp64k.png


As the Tommy tumbled down into the heated Egyptian sand, Smiles felt a pang of satisfaction; the kind any man feels in the heat of combat from a successful dispatch. Naturally, it was not a lasting emotion. Not because the man was still alive. On the contrary, the Stabsgefreiter could not care less that the man had survived at that particular moment; the simple, fleeting notion that he had been disabled to some degree was enough. The feeling dissolved, more so on the basis that he still had to concern himself with not getting shot, minding either man at his left and right, and the advancing other half of the detail in the building; a grenade would certainly ruin their day if placed well, so vigilance was key.

Noting the movement of the now injured Englishman, and the return fire from the English troops, meant there was a considerable number of men on the far face opposing sand dune. Considering that Morreti and the others were liable to get pinned down if they were spotted, Smiles turned to the Italian, Abele.

”We should suppress their position, Abele. I know we’re not in the same army, but I feel like dying just about as much as you do, and your corporale in that building will need to move some time, I’d imagine. Tell your buddy for me, would you?”Tristan was going off the hope that the only other speaker of his native language in the detail would heed his polite suggestion. He acknowledged that there wasn’t a great liking for the German advisors that had been distributed throughout their ranks, but he hoped that his relative manner would spur the two to action for the time being.

There was a brief exchange of unintelligible words between Pierto and Abele, before he got a nod from Abele. Thank God. He would need them on his side for this, and it was a comforting notion that MoRreti had the forethought to leave their translator with him; it would make all the difference in the next few minutes.

”When we open up, holler to your squad leader what we’re doing. I don’t want him to be in the dark. And try to keep an eye on that house to your right. I don’t want that Tommy trying to flank us,” he instructed to Abele.

Smiles turned to Pierto, and gave a questioning thumbs-up, receiving one in turn, and then double checked to ensure that Abele’s eyes were on him. He then raised his hand, just enough that both men could notice it, but not enough to expose it to enemy line of sight. He extended three fingers, and slowly but surely took them away.

Three.

Two.

One.

Remaining prone, Tristan opened up on the dune, firing off a round every one or two seconds, but keeping in mind to conserve his ammunition to some degree. With every shot, small puffs of sand rose from the surface of the landscape. Abele shouted, as per instruction, between his second and third shot to Morreti. Hopes were that he could hear it. The man seemed loud enough.



[[Terribly sorry I took so long. My computer went down on Tuesday night last week, and I basically had to spend the better part of the week gutting and reassembling it so I could put in a new PSU.

The “house to the right” is the building that Machin crawled behind in the last Moderation post; right is relative the men, not the map.]]

[PuNk! ™]

Important Notice:

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I understand my inactivity during the period of this battle may have caused it to go inactive and since such time, we've lost the activity from a lot of members upon the forum - included in this battle too. So I hereby offer two options to be voted upon by those still active within this battle:

• 1.) We can close this battle and declare it a draw. If a majority of this thread's members agree upon such action, a contribution of CP will be given to all members of this battle equally.
  
  
• 2.) The battle continues, but with new members to requisition the inactive places. A less favorable move, but an option all the same.
  

I could wrong and everyone is still active upon the forum within this battle, but if not, then please select your preferred methods above and we'll adhere to a judgment for this inactive battle. My apologies again.
~Danny [/color]

[Tristan Herman]

I am still active, as you are aware, but in the event everyone else has more or less disappeared, the first option would likely be the best; we don't know how many people are active as is aside from those not present here, and it is unknown when exactly things will pick up again. It could be a week, or it could be another month.

That's my two [pence].

[☭ Joseph Petrov]

I'm willing to go with either option.

[PuNk! ™]

Moderation Post:

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Just a quick note, this battle will be closed officially in the next 24hrs. All members of this battle are free to begin conducting plans for another battle and CP handouts will be announced soon.

I just need to tally up people's posts and performance before issuing; those who've shown inactivity will probably get nothing - sorry, it's your own fault I'm afraid to say.

--------------- CP will be issued soon ----------------

~Danny[/color]