Asche, Tanner and Kathleen are sent to find a wounded Colonel.
Brighton Beach
The Grid-----> > > > > THE LOST GENERATION < < <
Coordinates : 1 3
The sand on the narrow beach is rough and hard, small stones are also scattered across the area.
Farther to the south, the beach grows less rocky and slightly easier to navigate. While much of the activity of the encampment has been stationed to the north near the landing site, this stretch of shore is something of a backwater. The water provides many fine coves and places to swim or find a quiet spot for oneself, but less activity by the Anzac forces means it is more prone to incursions from Turkish snipers.
It is currently night time but the light of a flare provides illumination.
Sub-Rooms :
1. Mass Grave
Contents
Tanner
Asche
Kathleen
(Item 1) 2LT Mathews Corpse / 1. Mass Grave
(Item 2) Sgt Hardley Corpse / 1. Mass Grave
(Item 3) Pvt Stein Corpse / 1. Mass Grave
(Item 4) Pvt MacPherson Corpse / 1. Mass Grave
(Item 5) Pvt Cross Corpse / 1. Mass Grave
(Item 6) Shovel Melee Weapon
It only took a day to find a replacement for Lieutenant Mathews. Fresh onto the shore was Lieutenant Callaway. Rumors had already circulated that the Officer's previous position was managing a post office in some remote dark hole of the planet. Some have said he is treated as the Company Commander's door mat, just being walked over at every opertunity. Today would be no exception.
The Lieutenant walks down the beach heading to breif todays detail. He reviews his list, escort, stretcher bearer, and a nurse. While no names were assigned to the list, he sure hoped that all those who were tasked were present at the mustering area. As he shoves his orders into pocket, he catches a wiff of somethough foul from the mass grave. Unsure of what is in the put causing such a godawful smell, he begins to wondering in its direction to investigate, "This cant be sanitary or healthy whatever the small is…" he mutters this out loudly to himself.
Officers shmofficers. Asche knows them as overlords. He is quietly on watch, keeping flares up as he can. The private is nearly dozing, but he knows better. He jerks periodically, peering out.
Kathleen has gotten used to a lot in the aid station tent, but the smell here still gives her reason to frown. It mingles with a curious expression as she wonders why she was asked to come here, but she waits wherever she was told to be.
Tanner is near the gravesite, sleeves rolled up. Perhaps he was aiding with the gathering of the bodies, or the burial. He's got a cigarette between his teeth and is smoking enthusiastically. Kills the smell a bit. He straightens up when he sees the officer approaching, looking ready to salute. Or flee. Officers are fearful things.
Lieutenant catches sight of whats in the hole as a flare passes by over head. The man sharply turns his head away and covers his mouth, "Oh dear god!" This was to much for him to deal with have only been here a short time. Like many of the replacements, he still was not use to the idea of seeing dead bodies. The Lieutenant quickly walks ruffly 15 meters away from the pit and wonders if this was some sort of sick joke when they told him to muster his team at this location. Having taken a few moments to collect himself he calls out, "Those reporting for duty with Lieutenant Callaway, this way please."
Asche is likely the sod responsible for the flare that startles the new Lieutenant. His eyes are a little glazed over, Asche's brain taking refuge somewhere. A pause, seeing the man's reaction. There's a sympathetic look. Asche is quiet, but shuffling over now. "Careful, sir," Is all Asche offers. But it's /sympathetic/. He's following now.
"All right there?" Kathleen asks in concern at his exclamation, giving him a sympathetic look. Studiously avoiding any look into the hole herself. When he identifies himself, she gives a quiet ah comes closer. "What's this about, Lieutenant?"
Tanner puts out his cigarette and trudges 'this way.' He's on the Callaway detail, apparently. He salutes the lieutenant once he's approached. "Sir? Private Tanner here. Aye. What's doing?" He blinks at the sight of Kathleen, a little surprised, but offers her a smile and nod nonetheless.
The Lieutenant is a little cought off guard by Tanner's salute and returns the salute. Apperently no snipers are in the area as no shots ring out. Looking next towards Kathleen, Lt Callaway nods, "I'll be alright." He doesn't sound to sure about that, though he tries to play it off as it had not bothered him as badly as it did. The Lieutenant counts out three soldiers and assumes these are the three. Reguritating what was told to him earlier, "As you may or may not have known, yesterday morning the Pern's 5th Regiment advanced onto enemy positions. To make a long story short, they were repelled and their commander is missing presumed dead." He pauses a moment trying to add his own two cents, "I guess this is something that happens a lot down here…but with this being a Lieutenant Colonel, he had maps of various advances, time tables and other intelligence that can't fall into enemy hands. One of the sergeants in his unit said they saw him still alive and crawling northward into our area of operations. Since he is within our boundries, command wants us to find him and bring him back. They believe he is at grid 0,3." The Lieutenant pulls out his map and looks confused as he tries to orientate it. "I'm sorry, he was at 3,0." He then points a section of desert on the map.
Asche is shuffling along behind, listening quietly. He nods. He tries not to giggle at the officer's trouble with the map. He knows that feeling. For now, the Kiwi is processing things. He kind of likes this one perhaps. A pause. The man still alive… he seems hopeful now.
Kathleen brightens a little when she sees Tanner and Asche coming over as well. She gives them both a brief smile but then returns her attention to the Lieutenant, head tilting slightly as she takes that all in. "So he's in our lines, but nobody's found him?" She sounds confused, and manages to restrain herself to just a flicker of amusement at the map orientation.
Tanner lowers his hand, shifting a look around the friendly beach, then bends forward to have a look a the map. If he's amused by the lieutenant's orienteering, he manages to conceal any smirks or chuckles. He nods to that. "We just have to bring the body back, then? Aye, sir. Shall we bring a stretcher for him, since he's in friendly territory?"
The Lieutenant continues to leave his finger pointing at the area, "Well the Battalion Commander likes to think it belongs to us…but then again the Ottoman Commander over there thinks it his land as well. So its disputed. It isn't as fortified down there as your…our trench lines up here, but there is still a threat. 5th Regiment searched their area, so they believe him to be on our area and this is the first try at trying to locate the Colonel." He hopes that clears things up, but he has no idea if he is helping or confusing. When presented with the question from Tanner he replies, "Use your best judgement Private." Probably not a very good Officer answer, but he worked at a military postal office prior to here and the worst threat you faced was a paper cut.
And they're taking the sister with them or - Asche just furrows his brows. He nods at the plan. Tanner seems to be in charge of this one, so Asche seems content. The Lieutenant's answer makes him blink a few times though. "Might make him easier to carry," The second Kiwi points out. And it's probably politer than *dragging* him.
Kathleen nods slightly to the Lieutenant's explanation, but then she stops, brow furling to mirror Asche's. "We're meant to go out after him? All of us?" She tries to keep the alarm out of her voice but doesn't succeed.
"Ah…" Tanner mutters, his expression falling a good deal. 'Disputed' does not sound like 'theirs.' He also looks alarmed at the prospect of taking a nurse into such territory. "Sir…you quite sure you got this straight?" It's a tentative protest. As for the stretcher, he does. "Aye. Easier to carry, and we can distribute the weight between two. Makes the job go faster. I can fetch one to take along."
The Lieutenant tries to figure out how to convert the 'shut up and color' responce he recieved from the same question when he presented it to the Commany Commander to something a little more friendly for Nurse Kathleen. Not coming up with anything he says, "Well its far enough from enemy trenches where you shouldn't see them. I guess if you see one, its time to come back because you've gone to far." Looking to Tanner he nods to the man aggreeing with the stretcher comment but doesn't touch the 'did you get this straight'. "Nurse Kathleen is coming along incase the Colonel is still alive, which he might be." He doesn't mention the idea of sending a nurse might cause the Turks to not shoot at the recovery detail, but that was all a gamble. No one would know for sure.
"Aaah… Well, maybe she can walk a bit behind us and keep the flares going?" Asche offers helpfully, quietly to the others. Keep her out of the line on fire and light makes people feel better! "We can bring the fellow back on a stretcher and she can work along the way. No sense standing still out there," Asche frowns faintly. It seems the dorky shephard is growing into something of a tactician.
"You mean we're to go out of the trenches?" Kathleen looks at the Lieutenant with an expression that mixes confusion - she can't possibly have heard him right - with horror - but what if she did? She says flatly, "That's mad." Opting to believe the first part. She gives Asche a grateful look at his suggestion.
Tanner eyes Calloway uncertainly, clearly not liking this affair, but he can't argue with the officer. "Aye, sir. Let's get this over and done, then." A rather apologetic shrug is offered to Kathleen. Asche's suggestion earns a firm nod. "Aye. That sounds right proper."
The Officer looks towards Kathleen feeling sorry that someone had volenteered her name for this but he had orders to pass down and he wasn't really about to go back to HQ with out a mission results. "Well technically, your not leaving the trenches. There really hasn't been many fortifications built down there." He looks to his map again, "It looks like there is at least kilometer between here and their line, so I wouldn't expect to encounter any of them." The Lieutenant did remember this from his Officer schooling, not to stick around and argue. "I wish you all the best of luck." He says to the three and begins to wonder northward avoiding the large grave.
Asche even helpfully passes his satchel over. It's got the Kiwi's playing cards, a picture or two and a healthy stock of flares. Not very heavy though, as most of his ammunition is kept close at hand. "Just pull that bit and it launches up…" He explains the flares to Kathleen, so she can do her thing. "You can stay a bit behind, just keep our light going," He adds. With that, the man straightens. He is just too used to following orders, even lethal ones.
Kathleen seems mollified by the Lieutenant's explanation. She hears 'not leaving the trenches' and somehow misses the bit about BECAUSE THERE ARE NONE. Some part of her refuses to believe that they would deliberately send a nurse out to somewhere too terribly dangerous. Still a bit nervous though. She nods to Asche's explanation about the flares, pulling the satchel over her shoulder. "Right, I can do that."
Tanner goes to ready the stretcher. He can haul it on his own, folded and not currently bearing a body as it is. He gives a little shake of his head to Kathleen once he's done. "Don't worry, Sister. Can't be anything too hot up there if they'd send a woman into it." Still, he makes sure his pistol is loaded.
Asche nods, as the nurse takes his satchel. He seems a bit puzzled by their decision to send a nurse, but c'est la vie. "I agree," He sounds /hopeful/, but wary. Hope is often swiftly crushed out here. The Kiwi shuffles his rifle and prepares to start off.
"Aye, thanks lads," Kathleen says, reassured by their words. She keeps a tight grip on the satchel and follows along behind them.
The Grid-----> > > > > THE LOST GENERATION < < <
Coordinates : 1 0
The sands of the desert grow rougher, and the terrain rockier, as one moves away from the beach. Patches of shrubbery and other scrub plants break up the monotony of sand and rock, though nothing here could be called lush.
It is currently night time.
Asche is trundling south, apparently being the poor sod stuck in front. He winces as he stubs his toe on a stone. A soft mumbled sort of ow noise. His dark eyes squint out. He must be used to this. Cept instead of sheep there's disgruntled and gruntled Turks.
Tanner hangs behind Asche, lugging the stretcher as he is. And he's trying to keep a close watch on Kathleen. He tries to appear casual enough about wandering out to look for a body in suspect territory. But his pistol is kept very close at hand.
The sands and shrubs. Asche has grown to consider them akin to a forest. The Kiwi keeps squinting into the darkness. Familiar. "Poor sod," He sighs. With a headshake, he tiptoes his way along. His rifle is kept shouldered, just in case as well.
Kathleen follows along close behind the other two, figuring that when they get into dangerous territory they'll tell her to start hanging back. "So strange to not see anyone." she mumbles, after the bustle of the beach.
"Righto, a bit more and you can fire off that flare," Asche nods. "We're almost there," He comments quietly. "Just a bit more east for light, then we'll nab our man and come home."
Tanner tries to move as quietly as possible. The farmboy has, at least, gained the ability not to lumber in his time on Gallipoli. One must take what accomplishments one can. He peers eastward. "I don't see anything, bodies or Mehmets…" He whispers. Not that that's any guarantee eithere aren't there.
Asche prefers moving. He's a natural in the wilds, it seems. He moves easily, for once. He stops and crouches. "I see… two bodies," He grunts and points to them. The shephard might have a leg up. After all, eaten sheep bring no profit! "You can set the flare when you're ready."
"Or … hm, maybe not." Asche looks to Tanner.
Tanner tilts his head at Asche, squinting and shrugging. "I ain't got the best eyes, mate. Just tell me where you've spotted 'em." He shrugs. "Ready, anyhow. Just hope we don't attract Mehmet's attention with the light."
Kathleen is really not all that stealthy. Or even trying, particularly. She opens her mouth to say something right when Asche does, then nods. "Aye, I see them as well. Don't seem to be moving any. You want the flare now?" Kathleen seems confused, since they've already spotted the bodies.
"Right, just hold onto it then. Cancel that, my fault. If we get shot at, we might need it…" Asche finally shuffles. AT least he's flexible. "I can just show him where. Just keep your eyes open I think."
«Illumination» A Very light goes off over the battlefield!
"Righto… here goes." Asche scoots East.
Kathleen blanches a little at the blase mention of getting shot at, but nods. "I'll keep it ready, aye." She settles in beside a rock to wait, anxiously watching the east.
It dawns on Asche suddenly. Did Kathleen light that flare. His jaw opens and closes. Oh hell. Nevertheless, he scampers towards the fallen men.
Tanner steps nearly on top of Segem. He really does not have particularly good eyes.
«Equipment» Tanner picks up LTC Rollins.
«Equipment» Asche picks up Cpl York.
«Ground Combat» Segem fires his Gewehr 88 at Tanner but misses!
«Ground Combat» You hear the sound of Rifles from Desert (3 0)!
Tanner scrambles over to wear he sees the bodies laying, hurridly setting up the stretcher and dragging the lieutenant colonel onto it. He doesn't exactly due the man the dignity his rank commands. There's a lot of tugging and shoving to get him settled. But he can pay respects when he's back in friendly territory.
Segem fires off what he thought would be a lethal blow to the soldier, but he pulled to hard on the trigger sending the round high and right over Tanner's shoulder. The soldier raises to a knee to take better aim at the ANZAC trooper!
Kathleen about jumps out of her skin when the rifle starts shooting, letting out a startled yelp. She ducks down behind a boulder or something handy, and fires off the flare. Never mind there's already one there.
«Illumination» Kathleen launches a flare into the night sky!
«Illumination» A Very light goes off over the battlefield!
Asche actually nearly bumps into the Turk. "Oh excuse me ma— EEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" Asche squeals like a girl, while helping load the bodies onto the stretcher. A Turk! It's a Turk! He hurries it up. The officer is hurridly rolled on. The Kiwi thoughtfully grabs the corporal too, although the soldier is slung over his shoulder.
«Ground Combat» Segem fires his Gewehr 88 at Kathleen but misses!
«Ground Combat» You hear the sound of Rifles from Desert (3 0)!
Segem has trouble lining up on Tanner and quickly shifts to a different target spotted in the distance. He lets a shot fire off. Not taking time to properly aim the shot is a miss. He growls at his misfortinue. This will have to change quickly in order his position not to be over run.
Tanner books it as quick as he can, which isn't too fast with the weight of the colonel. Dead brass is still dead weight. "Wonder if they'd make such a fuss for the privates who get cut on the lines everyday…" he mutters to himself, ducking to avoid Turk bullets.
Asche is hoofing it out of here!
«Ground Combat» Segem fires his Gewehr 88 at Asche but misses!
«Ground Combat» You hear the sound of Rifles from Desert (3 0)!
Tanner makes it back, bearing the dead colonel. He looks…gray. And rather swollen. Not particularly impressive.
Segem takes aim at the two fleeing popping off shots back and forth. He'll have to take out one of them. He almost looks relieved that this wasn't an attack on his post, but rather what appears a lost ANZAC formation.
Asche looks like he's just seen a dozen pantsless officers on parade chasing him with the scariest things imagineable. He's /spooked/ and helping hoof it. "Righto mates, time to go home!"
Kathleen shrieks again when a bullet comes her way, making a puff of dust in the dirt. Harmless but terrifying. She clings to her rock until the other boys get closer.
«Ground Combat» Segem fires his Gewehr 88 at Tanner and hits!
Tanner suffers 8 wound damage to his right hand.
«Ground Combat» You hear the sound of Rifles from Desert (3 0)!
«Ground Combat» Segem tries to fire his Gewehr 88 at Kathleen but his weapon is jammed!
Segem weapon becomes jammed. Good luck for the ANZAC troops, bad for him.
Tanner is lugging, so he doesn't even notice Segem taking aim at him. Or hitting. He stumbles, but keeps on going. Best get out of here before that gets any worse
Segem continues to struggle to unjam his weapon while the soldiers are still within range.
«Game» Segem unjams his Gewehr 88!
Kathleen doesn't even seem to notice that Tanner's been hit. She starts running when Asche comes close enough for her to hear his remark, and doesn't look back. Afraid of getting lost, she sticks close by the other two even though she just wants to run full tilt for home.
Tanner dumps the colonel body on the ground with a sharp cry of pain. He managed to keep himself from shouting while still in enemy territory but…ow. "Bloody hell!" He tries to apply pressure to his wound to stem the fairly massive bleeding.
They hoof it and sometime later, Asche might help Tanner. Or at least /try/. He offers some gauze. "Looks like he got cha good mate," Asche frowns. He's wheezing hard. York isn't exactly a dainty ballet dancer. "Might want to see the Doctor about that one, but we're back at our own lines…"
Kathleen is out of breath as well, though it's as much from fear as exertion. She also doesn't have dead bodies to carry. When they pause, she sinks down to her knees to catch her breath and composure. Only after Tanner's cry and Asche's remark does she realize he's hurt. "Oh, God, Tanner - are you all right?" Back on her feet in an instant, she rushes over to have a look.
Tanner blinks when Asche has a go at his hand, biting his lip. Perhaps he's been hoping the nurse would take a crack at it. That'll need a doctor anyway, though. He nods and mutters, "Aye…" as to the hand. He's not all right, no, but he tries not to squeal too much in front of the nurse.
Asche is looking guilty now. "Right, sorry…" He keeps his head down. Coughcough. "Habit. I am not used to having nurses about right away." Stupid trench habits. Either way, the Kiwi is scampering back to return bodies and reports.
"I'm sorry, I didn't…" Kathleen mumbles a breathless apology. Actually it might be better that Asche had a go first, given how her hands are shaking. Still she tries to rearrange the bandages and also get a better look at the wound. She draws in a hiss of breath. No comforting words are offered, not right now.
"Alright, mate, alright," Tanner hisses between clenched teeth. That really, really hurts. He offers a little nod to Kathleen. "Thanks, Sister. It'll heal just fine, I'm sure…" But it /hurts/ now. "Hope that lieutenant colonel's grateful."
"Aye, let's get you back." Kathleen is not much for conversation, clearly shaken up, but will get Tanner back to the aid station.
