"In Which Stuff Blows Up Real Good"
Who: Colson, Greenwood, Kathleen, Lambert, NPC Lt. Callaway & NPC Turks
Where: Mostly the Lone Pine, Anzac Cove
When: August 1915!
What: A demolition mission goes…pretty well, actually.
Logger: Greenwood
Colson is in the trench, looking out at the Enemy lines, scanning with his rifle.
Greenwood is sitting, quietly writing something. He adjusts his hat and peers- oh! Colson! Greenwood waves a little. "Allo."
Callaway has arrived.
Callaway arrives from the South.
Kathleen and some of the other medical types are on water detail again. Kathleen herself has the ox's reins, leading it up on a path just behind the trench lines.
Lambert is squatting over a makeshift table with a dirty map on it. The Corporal has been staring at it for quite some time. Dirt and dried blood look like they make up little mini continents and islands on the hand-drawn map of the trenches. It is so fussed, with drawing, erasing and redrawing that the map hardly seems useful. Lambert rubs his tired face and takes a look around the trench.
Colson looks over where he's up against the wall of the trench, covering the East with his rifle. Looking out for the enemy. Business as usual. He looks to Greenie and nods, "Allo." He replies, looking back to the.. is that an Ox sound? He glances over. Oh, Sister Kathleen and the Medicos on a water run. He waves. Then he looks back to the enemy lines. he's working after all, and the job is keeping the bad guys over there.
Greenwood is near Colson, sitting with his pen and pa— oh hey. Greenwood smiles and waves to the water detail. Hee. It's Sir Loin! He quirks a smile at that and looks over the edge of the trench reflexively. "Hm." He grunts softly. And Lambert too! The corporal gets a curious glance.
Callaway prowling the trenches, as officers do. That grimness that's hung over him since the Nek hasn't faded. "Men," he says simply, to announce his presence. A nod is offered to Kathleen and a respectful, "Sister." But the soldiers, particularly Lambert and his map, are his main focus.
"G'day, lads," Kathleen offers a wave as her detail comes up near their trench. Callaway gets a sympathetic smile as well. She's seen that grim look before. "Lieutenant." She doesn't interrupt past that.
"Sir." Lambert says. Though he doesn't jump to his feet or offer a salute, not on this part of the line. A sniper could be watching them at this very moment and that sort of business gets men killed.
Colson looks out over the Line, as if the LT is just another grunt. He does, however say, "Sah." In response to the greeting. If a sniper is looking at him, he's not giving away any targets.
Greenwood has no cross or holy water with which to ward off the officer. Not that Green would care to. He seems to have a quiet respect for the man ever since the Nek. "Sir!" He even manages a smile at Callaway. He doesn't salute though, aware that someone always picks the slow ones off.
Callaway is keeping his head low as it is. He nods once to Lambert. Grateful for the lack of saluting. "I spoke to some of the men about this a few days ago, but the time has come to do something about it. The area we've captured, which the lads have taken to calling the Lone Pine, is a near straight-run of trenches the Turks had in place. Which means Johnny Turk can make a clear advance west in that area without ever leaving the trenches. Dangerous situation for us to be in, I trust you can see. A sapper mission has been planned, to blow the connections between the the trenches in that area."
Hearing that they're off on a mission, Kathleen gives them a quiet smile of encouragement, doing a good job at hiding her worry for them. "Good luck, lads." The ox is not to be stopped for a chit-chat, though, so she continues on her way.
"Aye sir, that's been a great concern of mine. They've just walked over on more than one occasion thus far." Lambert nods, and folds up the map to pocket in his blouse.
Colson listens, nodding, "Mother always said I should learn to blow things up. Well, no she didn't, that was me instruction sergeant." He sighs, considering. "Right, how do we fit in, sah?" He's up for it, though he doesn't seem to have any real skill in it. He looks to Kathleen, and nods once more, then looks back to the lines.
Greenwood is quiet, listening at that. "Oh!" Green looks a little happy. "I'm good at that," He smiles. He nods at Kathleen, and looks over towards the others. "It's pretty easy, the har—" He cuts himself off before explaining. He goes silent then.
Callaway nods to Lambert. "Time we did something about it. Get that where we can all see it, will you, Corporal?" He indicates Lambert's map. "The plan is to collapse the connections, east and west, at coordinates 4-0. The area that's currently become our No Man's Land on the southern line. That will stop the Turks from waltzing onto our line as they please, and allow us to shore up a proper defense of the area." Another nod is offered to Greenwood. "That's why you're being plucked for it, Private. Your service record lists training in demolitions that will be vital. Corporal Lambert and…" A glance at Colson. The man's name does not immediately come to mind. So he doesn't try to guess. "…you, Private, will support as needed."
Lambert looks between the two men plucked for the mission and he sets the map back down. A dirty finger taps the map at the location, a big X has been drawn over it — also a number. It's a rather larger number, and its not certain what it means. Though a good guess may be a casualty count.
Colson nods, "Colson, Sah. Private Colson." He has a grim readiness about him. He came here like an Outback Steakhouse steak. Pre seasoned.
Greenwood realizes- OH! Oh … oh. Greenwood's expression twists. Plucked? That sounds kind of ominous, like someone might be about to make a down pillow of him. His bright green eyes seem to reflect his puzzled worriedness. On one hand, he's good at explosives. On the OTHER, Turks hate explosives. It's quite a dilemma. He nods to Callaway. He is trained! "Righto."
"Righto, Private," Callaway replies to Greenwood, lips twitching in something near a smile. He can't quite manage it, though. About to send men out and all. To that area Lambert's aptly marked with the 'X.' "Satchell charges have already been provided at coordinates 3-0 for you to make use of. You're ordered to report there post-haste." That ends his bit, then. He looks behind him to where Kathleen is still gathering water. Perhaps hoping the aid station is well-prepared to handle casualites.
And Vaughn is still broken, so he's out of this one"
Lambert nods, "Aye sir. We'll get it done." He looks to Greenwood and Colson. "You lads prepare however you need to. We'll meet at 3,0 in five minutes and prepare from there."
Colson nods and pulls off the line, then starts to the Op zone, Hup Hup.
Kathleen casts an occasional glance back down the trenchline as her crew loads up Sir Loin with water, and then heads back to the aid station.
Greenwood notices the twitch and brightens a bit. Daw. He just nods at that, quietly understanding. After all, poor Greenwood was one of the last to get hit in that horrible incident. "Well, if there's charges there, I should … go there!" Yeah! Logic! Go Team Green!
Colson moves to the Trench, thinking, "Right.." He looks out at the Area, "So, Crew here on the Hotchkiss." He looks to greenwood, "You and me, out there, with the charges, me watching your back. Whasha think?"
Greenwood is quietly tucking away charges into his kit. He checks fuses, and nods at each one. He looks to Colson, "If you think so. I'll be okay, but I think you two are wiser at tactics than I. Just be sure to leave before I blow the west end up so you can get home."
Colson nods, "Point is, we sneak for this, if bullets come anywhere close to you, bloody hide."
Lambert is at the trench checking his gear, making sure all his grenades are attached and his rifle isn't broken. Also loaded. That's always a good thing. "This is primarily a stealth operation, lads. With any luck we can sneak into the trenches and blow them before they know what's going on. So when we're out there, no talking. Stay low, and move quickly. Colson, I want you assisting Greenwood with the charges." Lambert will be there for moral support. Also an extra target. Wee.
Greenwood nods a few time at that. He takes a deep breath and hefts his kit up. He seems to quietly blend into his cloud of dirt.
«Ground Combat» Greenwood tries to hide!
«Ground Combat» Lambert tries to hide!
Colson nods to Lambert, "Right, who's on the longshot, covering us with fire if things go hot?
Lambert shakes his head sullenly, "We haven't got the ammo unless they start trying to rush the trench. If things get hot, just stay low and remembering your training. Get the task done and then get back to the lines. I'll cover you lads until you're back safely and then follow."
Colson adds it up in his head, sapper job, no cover, sneak all the way. He smiles, "Love it." He then looks to the flare, "When the light goes out then?"
Lambert nods.
Greenwood takes a deep breath. No pressure Greenie. Be the mole. You are the mole. Mole with EXPLOSIVES. He can do this. He quietly closes then opens his eyes. A little smile. Yeah, he can do it! "Fair 'nough."
Colson sets himself, sneak, creep, move silent. mindset ready.
Colson creeps along in the Trench, moving through the wire and dead ducks and all the other spots of crap that tend to accumulate around here.
Lambert crawls up to the trench carefully and gazes east. He looks to the others and holds up two fingers and then covers his eyes. Lambert nods at Greenwood and indicates for them to do the east connection first, to prevent any kind of quick enemy reinforcements.
Greenwood is creeping along with Colson. He nods at Lambert and sets to work.
Colson nods and creeps with Greenwood, helping with the work. He holds thing he does NOT cut any red wires.
«Entrenchment» Greenwood demolishes the route between Desert-Slit Trench and Desert-Slit Trench with explosives!
«Ground Combat» You hear the sound of explosives from Desert!
Colson immediately notices the bullet coming for him and dives to the left and starts creeping for hiddenness.
Greenwood smiles at Colson then winces as a bullet goes pinging by. He hisses softly under his breath and sets the first to blow. "Move away," He nudges his friend and moves away. Kaboom! Dirt everywhere!
Lambert curses when the shot cracks out. He flinches and indicates that Colson try hiding again. The dirt and dust fill the air and visibilty becomes difficult. Maybe that'll help save them.
Colson is hiding, as much as he can, sneak, hide, sneak hide.
Greenwood pauses, "If you want to get back, you'll have to climb out at some point," Greenwood points out, moving to lay the second charge.
Colson moves to a good hiding position and tests to see if he did it, that mostly encompasses waiting to see if he gets shot at again.
Lambert motions for Colson to head back west. Lambert has a habit of making sure he's the last to return home. And what a home that trench can be.
Greenwood shakes his head at Lambert, "I'll be fine," He promises quietly. "Just go. The charge'll go off soon and the west will be cut off."
Colson notices the call to return, and nods, he then gestures as he starts moving, pointing to himself, then the signal to fall back and provide cover fire once out of the soup.
«Entrenchment» Greenwood demolishes the route between Desert-Slit Trench and Desert-Front Line Trench with explosives!
«Ground Combat» You hear the sound of explosives from Desert!
"
Greenwood sets the second charge off then, as Lambert does not seem to be leaving. Dirt clods and god knows what else flies into the air. Greenwood looks relieved and glances over. Time to start scooting out.
Lambert gives the thumbs up as he takes a few deep breaths before climbing out of the trench. He may not know it, but the enemy just spotted him. Despite his meta-gaming attempt at hiding. Maybe the Turk cursed real loud about his jam.
Greenwood seems unaware of any Turkish activity towards Lambert. He's using his Linus-esque cloud of dust for cover. Dirt everywhere! It suits him just fine.
Lambert looks confused when he hears machine guns from the west .. but .. no bullets in this direction. That doesn't seem good. Not at all. He glances a eye towards Greenwood and starts to pick up the pace.
Greenwood seems to be moving along okay. He winces at the sound of the machine guns from the west. Hm, how odd. His green eyes narrow in confusion and he nods at Lambert. Keep movin'!
Colson is on the bloody Hotchkiss, deployed, pumping rounds at the Turks, keep your damn heads down, Turks.<re>
Greenwood is creeping back. Greenwood moves faster than a kid going at a free cake buffet.
Lambert slides into the trench and pats Colson on the shoulder. Turks only got one shot off, they never saw Lambert and Greenwood. At least, not to Lambert's knowledge. Good thing the both of them are pretty sneaky.
Colson looks over at the pat, seeing the boys back in the Trench, "Permission to cease fire." He says.
Lambert says "Aye."
Colson slumps, "Good, you bloody well don't want to know how few rounds I got left."
Lambert chuckles, "All is as well, the Tuks didn't spot us after you headed back here. Good job, lads. Bloody fine job." Another succesfull stealth mission. That's Lambert's second, maybe he's becoming a good luck charm.
Greenwood falls headfirst into the trench, too intent on creeping. WHUMP! There goes Green! He's sneaky and awesome with explosives, but the man's attention span could use some work. He flails and lands, then scrambles up. He smiles and nods. "Thank you."
Colson lets out a sigh and reaches for the ammo box.
Colson clears, and checks the Hotchkiss, after prepping it for grab and fire readiness. He then sets it down, picks up someones Lee, checks it, reloads it. It's not the rifle he started with but he can work on that.
Greenwood brushes himself off then smiles at Colson. "Thanks for that, both of you." He seems rather grateful, in his dorky way.
Colson nods, "No one bled, and the Turks were never the wiser. Well, the explosions likely tipped them off, but the bullets took their minds off it." He nods, "A good mission."
Greenwood seems to agree. "And I didn't go up in a fireball from being shot or tipped over," He laughs softly. "Either way," He rolls his shoulders. "Hm…" What now? He looks around and shuffles over.
Colson shrugs to Greenwood, "Let's go see."
Colson moves up with Greenwood, rifle in hand, "Yeah, I never got much training on MG's but when you're just pumping out ammo in a general direction, you don't need a lot."
Greenwood follows Colson along, rifle and kit over his back. Most visibly, his lucky shovel! He bobs his head at Colson. "Yeah, that's the nice thing I think. Although that means they can do it too… still…" He beams at Colson. "It was a good call."
Colson nods, "Well, I wasn't going to just head back and not help as much as I could. throwing some lead at the Turks was the best I could come up with."
Greenwood smiles at that. "That's good of you," Greenwood considers after a moment. "You're a good guy," He finally considers. "To think that way. So, where ya from?" He finally steers the conversation a bit.
Colson nods, "London, Whitechapel specificly." He shrugs, "I just knew that the run back was going to be tough with the trenches blown, made sense. Teamwork is the important thing in this insanity."
Greenwood shrugs at that himself. "London? Really?" Greenwood headtilts. "And yeah, kinda," He grins. "But I've not met someone from London yet. That's neat."
Colson nods, looking to the East, "It's home." He trails off, looking east, planting the butt of his rifle, watching the Eastern horizion. "Strange, seeing the dawn from here. Over a battlefield. I've seen it a lot lately, and it never feels any less strange."
Greenwood follows Colson's gaze quietly. "Suppose that's true," He sets his own rifle down. "I imagine because this whole war is strange. The world's never plunged into it like this you know? And seeing it here… in places that don't normally exist, is strange itself," He considers.
Colson nods, "Very true." He then laughs suddenly. "Well, now that it's light, I'm sure the Turks are looking out over the battlefield going, "Blimey! What happened to our Trench?!" He chuckles, "Course, I doubt they'd say 'Blimey'."
Greenwood pauses, then laughs at that. "I imagine something to that effect! How weird it would be to wake up and find your favorite tunnel gone or that you can't go this way or that," He tilts his head. The mole ponders this. "I'm surprised the explosions didn't wake them up, honestly. Must've been a hard day's work chasing camels I guess."
Colson nods, "something like that, well, with the shelling they might have thought it was that. though they likely did wake up and just not been able to find you two." He looks over, "I think I'm going to go get some sleep, this was a hard nights work."
"Could be too," Green agrees quietly. He looks a little tired though. "I guess I should too. I work with them a lot, but I always get worried doing work like that. People count on it…" He furrows his eyebrows and nods, "But I'll keep an eye out while you sleep," He promises. "And I think all the dirt I am covered in hides me."
Colson nods to Green, "right, but don't worry, I've had too many holes and trenches take bullets meant for me to doubt the skill of a professional digger." He smirks and heads off, lifting his rifle.
