Cateau Thierry

8/30/2014

06:02 PM

You've retreated a long way now. There's been the occasional holding action where the Huns have been made to pay dearly, but there are a lot of Huns, and the BEF is very small, and compared to the French and the Germans at least seems to be short of just about everything - ammunition, guns, even food. Sheer weight of numbers has therefore had it's effect.

But word goes around camp, times are a'changing. They have to, because if you retreated much further then Paris would fall to the Huns. Apparently the French general commanding the army next to the BEF has been fired for not showing enough offensive spirit. Rumours even go around that John French, commanding the BEF, has been given something of a dressing down by his French colleagues. Either way, you won't be retreating any more.

So that morning, just after dawn breakfast before the late August day grows hot, you are all roused and lined up, parade ground style. The whole regiment is there. The colonel offers a fine speech, something about how it's time to drive the Huns out of France. Eventually the formation disperses a little, and Captain Harris tells you all what is in store for this company specifically.

"We've been falling back a long way, and command feels that the Germans have overextended themselves heavily. To that end the Entente is counterattacking all across the front. Luckily for us, we're at the extreme left flank, and will be having an easier job of it than our French friends. Our task for now is to secure the town of Chateau-Thierry. As far as we're aware, the only Germans present there are a few dismounted cavalry so it should be an easy job.".

Bas is with the rest of the company as Captain Harris delivers the news to the gathered men, having once again left the aid station to come back to join the fighting with the rest of the boys. He nods his head a little at the mission but doesn't pipe up otherwise.

"Oh well, that's alright then," Mountbatten mutters absent-mindedly, adjusting the strap of his Lee-Enfield. He stifles a yawn against his fist; unsurprisingly, the new guy has pulled extra night duty. His gear is still devoid of those tell-tale dents and scratches that tell of life in the field. In short, he looks as green as spring grass.

"How close are we to Paris, do you think?" Davies asks chipperly, seemingly talking to everyone with the question.

Teamann is with the others, listening to the delivered news. He hms, something. He looks to Davies, "I'm not too sure. Hopefully they don't get too much closer. Though, I guess if things are right, it shouldn't be so bad," Teamann hopes. He considers it. He smiles politely at Mountbatten, though Teamann is notably still kind of wiggly.

Doyle drifts towards the others who are chatting about Paris and nods. "Easy job, he said, didn't he?"

"Paris? 50 miles or so?" Harris offers. "It's important we all do our best. This war /can/ be lost, you know. But I am confident. The CO is confident. Compared to the fighting you've already gone through at Mons and Le Cateau, this should be an eminently reasonable task to ask of the company. ".

"I expect there'll only be old men and children there," Mountbatten agrees, setting up the scene for a Monty-farce. He squints with watery eyes at Teamann, brows bunching. "Hello, I'm Mountbatten. Still getting my bearings, you know." His accent is Home Counties British, aristocratic. Rather out of place.

'As far as we're aware.' Ah, the sort of words to inspire men to depths of courage. Henry, of course, adds this to the mental list somewhere after 'we won, RETREAT!' and files it all away. Once they're dismissed from the large formation hubub, he doublechecks all his gear and goes to find Bas for any more squad-relevant orders. "The last batch of cavalry we ran into wasn't much trouble. Hopefully this lot is like those chaps, eh wot?"

"This lot won't be scouting in the dark, they'll be dug in in the city i reckon." Bas says at that, "But they may not have the heavy guns the rest of the Huns might have. We'll take that city though lads, it'll be good to be attacking for a change."

Davies frowns some at Mountbatten. "There's got to be some girls left in Paris," he says, clearly distraught at the idea this might not be so. He doesn't let it get him down too much, though. He looks pretty confident himself. And still very green, despite having fired his gun at something-or-other in the scrum with the cavalry officers.

Teamann blinks, and smiles to Mountbatten. Teamann seems to be … wiggly. He's like a particle, just sort of constantly fidgeting. Maybe in an era much later, they'd dose him up with something to make him sit still. For now, he nods to Mountbatten. "It's always a bit confusing," He admits. "I'm Arthur Teamann. Pleased to meet you, Mountbatten. And yeah, the calvalry wasn't too bad," He offers. Not bad is still somewhat troubling, but hey. Teamann is also decidedly English. Probably somewhere in the middle or south of it. And poor Davies.

"Arthur? Well, um, that's me as well. Arthur, I mean," Arthur Mountbatten manages, squinting at Teamann. "I say, don't put down the cavalry, old boy. Once everyone crawls out of these bloody trenches, I'm sure things will change. Not cricket, aiming an MG at your charger." He sounds offended, even if it is for the /enemy/ cavalry.

Henry perks up and looks over at Davies, catching just a fragment of what he said, but doesn't comment on it. Still, for more or less a peasant, Parisean women are about the most exotic and intriguing thing he can imagine. "I liked defending better," he's not unwilling to point out. "But aye sir, those guns weren't nearly a match for our rifles." He gives a little laugh at Mountbatten's comment. "Tell that to the bloke I picked off his horse, dead in the chest. All he looked like was a big, obvious target up on that thing."

Teamann thinks. "Well, maybe the Germans aren't as good at calvalry," He offers. Teamann looks thoughtful, nodding sagely. "Too bad we've no machine gun. Oh well." He looks around. Fidget.

"I'm called Jack, by my mates!" Davies pipes up in that cheery manner that seems habitual for him. Since others are giving out their first names, and all, even if nobody asked him. "I've reads lots about the cavalry officers. Real grand chaps, leading charges and the like. The Huns weren't much, of course, but they're not English cavalry. I'd like to see our riders tear across a field and bear down on the Huns." He adds, "After we're through with them, that is."

Tompkins frowns. "More cavalry?" You know what that means. He clamps his cigarette between his teeth, and then elbows Davies. "Course there's girls in Paris, Jack!" So many ominous comments flying around have him sucking hard on his cig, the cherry eating up the end in a hurry. Horses, no girls, the possibility the war could be lost? "Cavalry's nothing," he claims, "Infantry like us's the real heroes. They just ride around looking pretty while we do the real work."

"Alright lads, enough gossiping. Go and grab your kit, make sure you've got your ammo and let's rally up to wait for the move out order. You can resume the knitting circle once we're waiting for the move order." Bas calls out to the group of brits and such.

"That hasn't turned out too well for us, to be honest," Mountbatten mutters morosely in response to Davies' enthusiasm for the British cavalry. "All this artillery and machine guns in fixed positions. It's not what a chap expects." The trooper squints, as if upset that he's been landed in the /wrong kind of war/. He just shoots a sidelong look at Tompkins at his comment.

Doyle agrees with Bas with a sharp nod. "Let's get this over with in time for tea, shall we?" His expression sours slightly as he crosses his arms over his chest, momentarily contemplating this horrific thought of a womanless France. "Now, I'm with you on that," he chimes in after Tompkins.

«Game» The enemy is near… Chateau Thierry is now a war zone!

Davies frowns again at Mountbatten, though he seems less able to object to this than his firm assertion that there are still girls left in Paris. "It's not much like the books, I'll grant," he admits, as he checks his rifle. Yep, it's loaded. "I just hope I get to see Paris, before it's all done. Everyone's saying we'll be home before autumn's gone on too long, and I've not got many stories yet that'll be much worth telling back home." He does give a nod to Tompkins. They're heroes, right enough.

"Alright lads. Henry, I want you to take Mountbatten, Teamann and Doyle with you to the east. I'll be moving north with Tompkins and Davies and we'll come in to flank the town. We'll reconsolidate once we've swept those buildings and move out again." Bas says, "You lads ready?"

Oh great, Doyle's stuck with the posh one and the twitchy one. He gives them a sideline glance and then checks his gear, looking up once finished and enthusiastically nodding.

Teamann fidgets a little, checking over his kit. Well, to be fair, the twitchy one seems to handle himself pretty well in combat and is friendly. That totally counts for something, right? He grins to the other two. "East it is, mates. Ready when you are." He nods to them.

Henry makes a bit of a face when he's paired with Mr. Fanciful Cavalry charges. But such is life on the front. Teamann he knows at least, and gives a nod as he adjusts the rifle on his shoulder. "I advise against any brave charges. Slow and careful and stick to cover," he advises, turning to start hiking eastward.

Davies beams and nods in a bobbing sort of way to Bas and Tompkins. "Right-to!" He is ready. Enthusiastically so, poor lad.

"We'll move out once you've settled in there, hopefully take the Hun by suprise." Bas adds, "Move out when you've got your detachment ready, Henry."

"Righty-o," Mountbatten murmurs absent-mindedly, squinting east. For what it's worth, he doesn't look like he's about to execute charges of any kind.

Tompkins knocks off a casual salute to acknowledge the pair-offs. "Nice and quick, I hope," he says, "'m sick of all this horsey shit. Time to do some proper soldiering."

«Ground Combat» Mountbatten moves East <E>.

«Ground Combat» Teamann moves East <E>.

«Ground Combat» Doyle moves East <E>.

«Ground Combat» Henry moves East <E>.

«Ground Combat» You are now peeking into Buildings.

Mountbatten dives down onto his buckle after a brief dash, squinting north. "Blighters don't seem to be up there. Are we moving forward, or waiting?" This is addressed to Henry, mostly.

Mountbatten adds: "Still looking empty." He's stopped in a natural dip in the ground under an oak tree, and is waiting for orders.

Doyle darts forward and falls next to Mountbatten, piping up oh-so-helpfully after a peer north, "Don't see anything myself, either…"

"I say we keep moving if we don't take any fire," is Henry's thoughts, although he remains wary. His rifle is out now, and he moves somewhat cautiously, while scanning the houses ahead for any signs of movement, his eyes moving in synch with the sights of his gun.

Mountbatten murmurs, "Righty-o", clambering up from where he had been kissing the dirt, and starting to run laboriously toward the buildings in the distance.

Teamann moves quickly along with the others, his rifle out and peering along towards the buildings. He follows alongside Mountbatten.

«Ground Combat» Mountbatten moves North <N>.

«Ground Combat» You notice Mountbatten arrive at Buildings.

«Ground Combat» Teamann moves North <N>.

«Ground Combat» You notice Teamann arrive at Buildings.

Henry waits a little longer, seeing if there's any contact. "Alright. Lets get ready and then dash for it, altogether. First house, we clear it and take cover.

«Ground Combat» Henry moves North <N>.

«Ground Combat» You notice Doyle arrive at Buildings.

Doyle pops along with the others, if perhaps a bit pointedly delayed. His eyes dart around as he joins the three.

Henry waits a little longer, seeing if there's any contact. "Alright. Lets get ready and then dash for it, altogether. First house, we clear it and take cover." (repose since I'm not sure who was where)

Mountbatten dashes right for one of the houses, rifle held low, bayonet fixed. From the way he's holding it, he's not really expecting close combat, though.

Teamann follows Mountbatten, though he seems concerned. He looks over to Henry and Doyle, nodding.

«Ground Combat» Mountbatten moves into Houses.

«Ground Combat» Henry moves into Houses.

«Ground Combat» Teamann moves into Houses.

«Ground Combat» Doyle moves into Houses.

Mountbatten clambers inside, busting the door open with his shoulder, and sprints upstairs making a terrible racket. Once there, he calls down: "Looks clear!" And hurries to a window, squinting east.

Once they're into the houses, Henry stops his run to catch his breath, and sets up by one of the windows. "Lets get eyes each way. Me and Teamann north, the other two east?"

Doyle blusters through a hallway and a few back rooms in the house, shouting up to the top, "Clear!"

«Ground Combat» You are now peeking into Major road.

"Um, nothing but the river to the east," Mountbatten answers, squinting ferociously at the open water. But it stays stubbornly water-shaped. Oh well. "I suppose it's north or nothing."

«Ground Combat» You notice Bas arrive at Buildings.

«Ground Combat» You notice Davies arrive at Buildings.

Mountbatten turns to the North, looking that way as well. "Looks empty to me. Maybe Jerry is on the East bank?"

«Ground Combat» You notice Tompkins arrive at Buildings.

"Road up there looks clear," Henry reports, looking out one of the windows to north. "Well, if they're over the river…" From inside one of the buildings, he spots Bas' squad making their way in. "Looks clear here sir, which way we going?"

Bas comes in with his group of troops, "Henry." He says, making a little gesture as he starts towards the building the rest of the squad has hunkered down in. "I want to cross the road further east. Damn certain Fritz's on the bridge, I don't want them to push in from the North of us if we're taking fire from the bridge though."

«Announcement from Death!» for the curious, the river offers more cover than the road… but neither is very appealing

Davies slips in close behind Bas. The lad is reasonably quiet when he wants to be, at least. He tips his nose up, like he's sniffing for Huns. There is not indication that he smells them.

"Move your squad out when you're ready. If we take fire your squad hold ground and return fire, we'll move around to the North." He says, "Back the way we came, lads, then across the road."

Teamann looks about, uncertain. The river seems more covery, but it's definitely soggier. He grunts softly. He nods at the new way to go. Well, then.

Koenig looks to be very on edge, like he's lost a couple hours of sleep at least. He salutes Bas after orders are given and reloads his rifle.

«Game» Koenig wields his Lee Enfield SMLE!

«Ground Combat» Bas moves West <W>.

«Ground Combat» Tompkins moves East <E>.

Mountbatten squints at Henry. "Where we headed to, then? We're not much use here, I reckon."

"Up the road I guess," Henry answers, not sounding thrilled about it. "Lets go."

Teamann blinks. "I hear rifles from -" Wait. Was that "East?" He's trying to orient himself.

«Ground Combat» Teamann moves out of Houses.

Mountbatten looks up at the sound of gunfire, adding: "Looks like they're firing from the bridge."

«Ground Combat» Henry moves out of Houses.

«Ground Combat» Mountbatten moves out of Houses.

Doyle stiffens at the gunfire. "Maybe wherever that was?"

«Ground Combat» Doyle moves out of Houses.

Mountbatten adds to Henry: "What's the plan, old man? Are we digging in on the road or assaulting them?"

Doyle says "Toward the river, I think."

Davies looks momentarily confused as to what he's supposed to be doing, though he does seem to be sticking to following the sergeant.

Davies does head east at the sound of rifles, to help his mate!

«Ground Combat» Davies moves East <E>.

«Ground Combat» Henry moves North <N>.

«Ground Combat» You notice Doyle arrive at Major road.

«Ground Combat» You notice Mountbatten arrive at Major road.

«Ground Combat» You notice Koenig arrive at Major road.

«Ground Combat» You notice Teamann arrive at Major road.

Mountbatten calls out: "Are we digging in here, or continuing to assault the bridge?"

«Ground Combat» Latimer fires his Kar98k at Doyle but misses!

Mountbatten adds: "…bugger, they're to the north of us."

From Buildings, a male voice shouts, "WEST!".

Doyle leaps slightly as a bullet zings by his ear.

«Ground Combat» You are now peeking into Buildings.

That answers that. "Take cover," Henry grunts as a bullet comes flying in. "They're in the houses across the bridge. We got em outnumbered, so lets lay down some fire."

«Ground Combat» You fail to line up successfully on your target. Try again!

«Ground Combat» Latimer fires his Kar98k at Koenig but misses!

«Ground Combat» Von Stroheim fires his Kar98k at Doyle but misses!

«Ground Combat» Riedel fires his Kar98k at Koenig and hits!

Koenig suffers 7 wound damage to his left leg.

Doyle says "Wherever they are, they're damn well shooting at us!" Doyle grumbles, finding a little cluster of rocks to fling himself behind as another bullet whizzes past."

«Ground Combat» You have successfully drawn a bead on Von Stroheim! Do not move, change fire mode or unwield, or you will lose the bonus!

"Cover where, sir?" Koenig dodges enemy fire by ducking right after that question, closing his eyes and breathing out hard after the close call. And then he is hurt.

«Ground Combat» Teamann fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Riedel and hits!

Riedel suffers 2 wound damage to his left leg.

«Ground Combat» Bittner fires his Kar98k at Teamann but misses!

Henry is no sir! Which is why his giving orders is shady at best.

«Ground Combat» Mountbatten fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Riedel and hits!

Riedel suffers 5 wound damage to his left hand.

Teamann suspects 'duck and fire back' is sort of a universal good idea. Teamann is hefting his rifle to do his thing, fidgeting out of the way of a bullet.

Doyle slides his head eye level over the rocks and squints east just in time to see blood spurt out of Riedel's hand. "Nice one, mate." he hasn't noticed poor Koenig.

«Ground Combat» You attempt to snipe Von Stroheim but you think you'll miss, and hold your fire a moment waiting for a better shot. Try +snipe again to set yourself up once more.

«Ground Combat» Von Stroheim fires his Kar98k at Mountbatten but misses!

Mountbatten shouts, "Jolly good!" And settles into a crater on the road, aiming his rifle at the germans in the buildings. And by the grace of God, actually hits.

«Ground Combat» Doyle fires its Lee Enfield SMLE at Von Stroheim but misses!

Von Stroheim and the rest of his men are holed up in a house on the rather wide bridge over the Marne. There's soon a proper firefight going on, but surely the Germans will have the best of it given they got the cover…

«Ground Combat» You have successfully drawn a bead on Von Stroheim! Do not move, change fire mode or unwield, or you will lose the bonus!

«Ground Combat» Latimer fires his Kar98k at Mountbatten and hits!

Mountbatten suffers 7 wound damage to his abdomen.

«Ground Combat» Mountbatten has been mortally wounded!

«Ground Combat» Koenig fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Latimer and hits!

Latimer suffers 5 wound damage to his head.

«Ground Combat» Teamann fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Riedel but misses!

«Ground Combat» Bittner fires his Kar98k at Koenig but misses!

Henry lays down on the road with the rest of his men, and scans the houses. Bullets are flying back and forth, and he's just trying to line up a shot, cursing as he hears someone get hit. "Keep firing."

Koenig aims the rifle at Latimer, breathes in, breathes out, and down is a German. "Shit, Mountbatten's down!"

«Ground Combat» Von Stroheim fires his Kar98k at Teamann and hits!

Teamann suffers 8 wound damage to his left hand.

Mountbatten readies his rifle for another shot, and… promptly gets plugged in the belly. He lets out a squeal like a stuck pig, and doubles over the wound, writhing in the blood-encrusted dirt. "Medic… I… Medic!" He wheezes, blood pumping out.

«Ground Combat» You successfully snipe Von Stroheim! Your accuracy is 48!

«Ground Combat» Henry snipes Von Stroheim and hits!

Von Stroheim suffers 3 wound damage to his left arm.

«Ground Combat» Doyle fires its Lee Enfield SMLE at Von Stroheim and hits!

Von Stroheim suffers 2 wound damage to his right leg.

«Ground Combat» You have successfully drawn a bead on Bittner! Do not move, change fire mode or unwield, or you will lose the bonus!

Von Stroheim adjusts monocle, he can't abandon his post, what with his men around him, counting on him!

Henry finally finds his target in one of the buildings and fires, pegging him in the arm. "How are we doing?" he shouts back at the rest of his comrades, not willing to look back from his sights to check visually.

«Ground Combat» You attempt to snipe Bittner but you think you'll miss, and hold your fire a moment waiting for a better shot. Try +snipe again to set yourself up once more.

«Ground Combat» Riedel fires his Kar98k at Henry but misses!

Doyle lets out a grunt of annoyance as he fires and manages to hit a Jerry. That's not enough reward for poor Mounty, squealing over there. He winces, helplessly.

«Ground Combat» Von Stroheim reloads his Kar98k!

«Ground Combat» Bittner fires his Kar98k at Doyle but misses!

«Ground Combat» Teamann fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Bittner but misses!

«Ground Combat» You notice Sharpe arrive at Major road.

"I took one out! Fritz to the east!" Koenig calls out, "And west, it looks like! Someone give Mountbatten some help!"

«Ground Combat» Koenig fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Riedel and hits!

Riedel suffers 8 wound damage to his left hand.

«Ground Combat» Riedel has been mortally wounded!

«Ground Combat» Henry fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Von Stroheim but misses!

«Ground Combat» You shoot at Von Stroheim with your Lee Enfield SMLE! Your accuracy is 16 percent!

"West too? We got any confirmation? Yes on them?" Henry shouts back, firing off another shot and ducking down as a bullet whizzes by his head.

«Ground Combat» Von Stroheim fires his Kar98k at Koenig and hits!

Koenig suffers 8 wound damage to his left chest.

«Ground Combat» Koenig has been mortally wounded!

«Ground Combat» Bittner fires his Kar98k at Henry but misses!

Doyle wriggles his way over to the blood soaked Mounty and tries to remember his first aid training.

Koenig was about to answer that when his chest is blasted with a LOT of bullets, and he falls like crumpled paper.

Von Stroheim takes aim on the impudent Tommies who are seeking cover on the bare dirt of the road. And tags one of them good!

«Ground Combat» Henry fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Bittner but misses!

«Ground Combat» You shoot at Bittner with your Lee Enfield SMLE! Your accuracy is 16 percent!

«Announcement from Death!» I wouldnt stay out on that road, they got cover, you dont

«Ground Combat» Doyle fires its Lee Enfield SMLE at Von Stroheim but misses!

«Ground Combat» Von Stroheim fires his Kar98k at Sharpe and hits!

Sharpe suffers 2 wound damage to his right leg.

«Ground Combat» Bittner fires his Kar98k at Henry but misses!

«Ground Combat» Teamann fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Bittner but misses!

"Medic…" Mountbatten wheezes, before letting out another unmanly scream. No sucking chest wound, so he has the breath to cry for help.

«Ground Combat» Henry fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Bittner but misses!

«Ground Combat» You shoot at Bittner with your Lee Enfield SMLE! Your accuracy is 16 percent!

Sharpe just managed to drop in with the others and he takes a shot in the leg. "Damned Huns!" He shouts.

«Ground Combat» Sharpe fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Von Stroheim but misses!

Henry is still being shot at, so, well, he stays where he is, firing back and trying to suppress the guy as much as he can - or find an opening for a good shot.

«Ground Combat» Henry fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Bittner but misses!

«Ground Combat» You shoot at Bittner with your Lee Enfield SMLE! Your accuracy is 16 percent!

Teamann yelps as his hand is hit. Tragically, it's the same hand as his injured arm. Poor guy is gonna be half the Teamann he used to be at this rate. But he can at least prop his rifle and be a right bother.

«Ground Combat» Teamann fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Bittner but misses!

«Ground Combat» Von Stroheim fires his Kar98k at Doyle but misses!

«Ground Combat» Bittner reloads his Kar98k!

«Ground Combat» Doyle fires its Lee Enfield SMLE at Von Stroheim but misses!

«Ground Combat» You notice Bethmann arrive at Buildings.

«Ground Combat» You have successfully drawn a bead on Bethmann! Do not move, change fire mode or unwield, or you will lose the bonus!

Bethmann comes sprinting in. Reinforcements! Running towards the sound of the guns. "Von Stroheim sir, I am here!".

«Medic Code» Bittner attempts to stabilise Riedel but fails and Riedel expires…

Doyle gets to Mounty but seems to have forgotten any first aid training he ever received! He pats the guy's shoulder, "Medic'll be here presently!" he promises, and wriggles back to his rock. Helpful!

«Ground Combat» Teamann fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Von Stroheim but misses!

Bittner spends a moment to deal with his comrade, who is lying on the floor choking out his life. But… it seems he should have attended to him earlier.

«Ground Combat» Doyle fires its Lee Enfield SMLE at Von Stroheim but misses!

«Ground Combat» You try and snipe Bethmann but miss! Your accuracy was 44 percent!

«Ground Combat» Henry snipes Bethmann with his Lee Enfield SMLE but misses!

«Ground Combat» Von Stroheim fires his Kar98k at Doyle but misses!

«Ground Combat» Bethmann moves into Houses.

«Ground Combat» You fail to line up successfully on your target. Try again!

Bethmann runs into a house. Not the same house as the others, the bridge has a terrace along it though which offers many juicy windows to fire from.

«Ground Combat» Teamann fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Von Stroheim but misses!

«Ground Combat» Sharpe fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Bittner and hits!

Bittner suffers 5 wound damage to his left hand.

«Ground Combat» Bittner fires his Kar98k at Sharpe and hits!

Sharpe suffers 3 wound damage to his right arm.

«Ground Combat» You fail to line up successfully on your target. Try again!

«Ground Combat» Doyle fires its Lee Enfield SMLE at Bethmann and hits!

Bethmann suffers 3 wound damage to his right leg.

«Ground Combat» You notice Davies arrive at Major road.

«Ground Combat» You notice Tompkins arrive at Major road.

Sharpe isn't very caring on whom is whom over there. The medic is as legit as the rifleman. Of course, he gets shot. Again.

Bittner returns to the window, takes aim - gets shot through the wrist. On the other hand, his own bullet shot the other guy who hit him!

«Ground Combat» You fail to line up successfully on your target. Try again!

«Ground Combat» Von Stroheim fires his Kar98k at Doyle but misses!

Davies managed to get entirely lost after going to aid Tompkins, so he races toward the sight of any familiar soldiers. They don't include his sergeant, but that's a detail he'll sort out later.

«Ground Combat» You have successfully drawn a bead on Bethmann! Do not move, change fire mode or unwield, or you will lose the bonus!

«Game» Your combat stress is currently 0.

«Ground Combat» Teamann reloads his Lee Enfield SMLE!

«Ground Combat» Bittner fires his Kar98k at Davies but misses!

Koenig is just lying around, dying. Along Mountbatten. Except his mortal wound doesn't quite let himbreathe, so he's lying there, making some silent prayers.

Tompkins is following Davies more or less blindly, far more concerned with his own injuries (the right shoulder and hand, from the looks of it) than anything else. He's whinging about that under his breath as he runs towards familiar uniforms.

«Ground Combat» Von Stroheim reloads his Kar98k!

«Ground Combat» You attempt to snipe Bethmann but you think you'll miss, and hold your fire a moment waiting for a better shot. Try +snipe again to set yourself up once more.

«Ground Combat» Bethmann fires his Kar98k at Henry but misses!

Doyle shoots the trotting Jerry right in the kneecap and ducks behind the rock to reload, throwing another 'how's it going guys' look towards Mounty and Koenig.

«Game» Your combat stress is currently 0.

«Ground Combat» Sharpe fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Bittner but misses!

«Ground Combat» Doyle reloads its Lee Enfield SMLE!

«Ground Combat» Bittner fires his Kar98k at Davies but misses!

Mountbatten is not doing too well, really. Mostly rolling around on the blood-streaked ground, clutching his gut(wound) and crying for mommy and a medic. So much for dignity.

«Ground Combat» Teamann fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Von Stroheim but misses!

«Ground Combat» Henry fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Bethmann and hits!

Bethmann suffers 7 wound damage to his right arm.

«Ground Combat» You shoot at Bethmann with your Lee Enfield SMLE! Your accuracy is 35 percent!

Teamann has a badly mangled hand. He's trying to shoot, but he's probably just giving the German joke fodder.

Davies hits the ground, sending a flurry of dirty and pebbles flying into the air as he tries to hide. Not that there's much to hide in, on the road itself.

Bethmann gahs, his arm ruined. Won't be hitting anybody with that. In fact… he eyes eastwards.

«Ground Combat» Sharpe fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Bittner but misses!

«Ground Combat» Bethmann moves out of Houses.

«Ground Combat» Doyle fires its Lee Enfield SMLE at Bethmann but misses!

«Ground Combat» Davies fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Bethmann but misses!

Henry finally gets a bead on Bethmann, who he is in the process of exchanging fire with. The German is popping in and out of the window, and his shoulder appears just enough to - BLAM.

«Ground Combat» Von Stroheim fires his Kar98k at Doyle and hits!

Doyle suffers 6 wound damage to its left leg.

«Ground Combat» Teamann fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Bethmann but misses!

Davies takes a shot at the German he sees leaving the houses. It's all he can think to do at this moment, really.

«Ground Combat» Henry fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Von Stroheim but misses!

«Ground Combat» You shoot at Von Stroheim with your Lee Enfield SMLE! Your accuracy is 16 percent!

«Ground Combat» Bittner fires his Kar98k at Davies but misses!

Doyle hrms as he notices Bethmann starting to move, despite the blood on his arm. As he's squinting he gets nailed in the leg and lets out a howl of his own.

«Ground Combat» Doyle fires its Lee Enfield SMLE at Von Stroheim but misses!

«Ground Combat» Davies fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Bethmann but misses!

Tompkins flops to the ground beside Davies. While he fumbles with his rifle he looks over his shoulder at Mountbatten and the others writhing in pain and goes even paler than before.

«Ground Combat» Henry fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Bethmann but misses!

«Ground Combat» You shoot at Bethmann with your Lee Enfield SMLE! Your accuracy is 35 percent!

«Ground Combat» Von Stroheim fires his Kar98k at Doyle but misses!

«Ground Combat» Bittner fires his Kar98k at Henry but misses!

«Ground Combat» Doyle fires its Lee Enfield SMLE at Von Stroheim but misses!

«Ground Combat» Sharpe fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Bethmann but misses!

«Ground Combat» Davies fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Von Stroheim but misses!

«Ground Combat» Henry fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Bethmann but misses!

«Ground Combat» You shoot at Bethmann with your Lee Enfield SMLE! Your accuracy is 35 percent!

Bethmann is running off east as best he can, but with a bleeding leg, it's not so easy.

«AngelOfDeath» Koenig breathes his last…

Sharpe gestures, feeling the searing pain from his arm as he does. "The Bastard is in the open!" He says, gesturing towards the poor Bathman.

Doyle squirms in pain but grits his teeth and fires again. Nothing!! "Damned Jerry's heading east!"

«Ground Combat» Teamann fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Bethmann but misses!

Koenig dies quietly after a final breath, his prayesr done. Requiescat in pace.

«Ground Combat» Von Stroheim fires his Kar98k at Davies and hits!

Davies suffers 2 wound damage to his left chest.

«Ground Combat» Doyle fires its Lee Enfield SMLE at Bethmann but misses!

"That one house is clear, how about everyone with a healthy leg runs for it?" Henry wonders. "Injured can cover us with fire."

«Ground Combat» Sharpe fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Bethmann but misses!

Davies just gets on the ground and starts popping off shots, with more than a hint of desperation. His earlier cheer is gone. His mates are down on the ground bleeding all around him, he's lost track of his sergeant, there are Germans looming. It has dampened his good spirits. And then he gets shot, which doesn't help. "AHGH!"

«Ground Combat» Tompkins fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Bittner but misses!

Von Stroheim is a Hun killing machine. Adjusting his monocle, bleeding from multiple wounds, armed with but a carbine, he's taking the entire BEF on! "Steady!".

Mountbatten has no such easy luck. He's too hardy for his own good, hanging onto life despite the excruciating gut wound.

«Ground Combat» Davies fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Von Stroheim but misses!

«Ground Combat» Bittner reloads his Kar98k!

«Ground Combat» Henry reloads his Lee Enfield SMLE!

Teamann secretly suspects Von gets his powers from that monocle and a moustache.

«Ground Combat» Teamann fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Bethmann but misses!

«Ground Combat» Fritz fires his Kar98k at Davies but misses!

Von Stroheim has a moustache to die for.

«Ground Combat» Doyle fires its Lee Enfield SMLE at Bethmann but misses!

«Ground Combat» Sharpe fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Bethmann but misses!

«Ground Combat» Tompkins fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Von Stroheim but misses!

I don't see that here.

Davies blinks at Henry. Who's healthy right now?

«Ground Combat» Von Stroheim fires his Kar98k at Henry but misses!

Von Stroheim spreads the love.

«Ground Combat» Henry fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Von Stroheim but misses!

«Ground Combat» You shoot at Von Stroheim with your Lee Enfield SMLE! Your accuracy is 16 percent!

«Ground Combat» Teamann fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Bethmann and hits!

Bethmann suffers 6 wound damage to his head.

«Ground Combat» *boom* Headshot!!! Bethmann has been taken out!

«Ground Combat» Sharpe fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Bittner but misses!

"Run.. run away!" Mountbatten manages to gasp, staring with rolling eyes at the mostly mangled BEF soldiers holding on the road.

«Ground Combat» Doyle fires its Lee Enfield SMLE at Von Stroheim but misses!

Bethmann dies total recall style, running away, when suddenly BOOM, his head is fine red mist. Luckily, none of his companions were looking eastwards when it happened, as that might be bad for morale.

Teamann is not shot in the legs, but he is shooting as best as he can with one hand and a serious case of moustache envy. Seriously. Could put a bike under those handlebars. Nevertheless, he's going to stay near Mountbatten. "We'll take you with us when we start moving." No man left behind if he can help it.

Davies groans. He does, at least, still have working legs, so he'll charge if there's charging to be done.

«Ground Combat» Henry fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Von Stroheim but misses!

«Ground Combat» You shoot at Von Stroheim with your Lee Enfield SMLE! Your accuracy is 16 percent!

«Ground Combat» You notice Bas arrive at Buildings.

Sharpe looks like he might crawl towards Koenig, in case he begins to run low on ammo. It may be needed to take his munitions after all! "No Retreat! We need to take these houses!"

«Ground Combat» Teamann fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Von Stroheim but misses!

«Ground Combat» Bittner fires his Kar98k at Bas and hits!

Bas suffers 2 wound damage to his right chest.

«Ground Combat» Davies fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Von Stroheim but misses!

Doyle squirms around while hissing in pain, trying to get another shot to cover for Henry and - well, whoever isn't leg injured. That could include Mounty, but he's not looking so well.

Tompkins is barely even hitting the houses at this point, his shots are so wild. He makes a noise as Davies shouts, like it's him being shot instead. When people are talking about running, he chimes in with a, "Back to the forest!"

Bittner was aiming at Henry but then, he spots a Tommy up real close! "Uh, Sir?". And aerates him a bit.

«Ground Combat» Sharpe fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Bittner but misses!

«Ground Combat» Von Stroheim fires his Kar98k at Bas but misses!

«Ground Combat» Fritz fires his Kar98k at Henry but misses!

"FRIENDLIES COMING IN. NO ONE SHOOT THE CORPORAL," Henry calls out as he notices them moving in.

«Ground Combat» Henry fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Von Stroheim but misses!

«Ground Combat» You shoot at Von Stroheim with your Lee Enfield SMLE! Your accuracy is 14 percent!

«Ground Combat» Teamann fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Von Stroheim but misses!

Sharpe actually moves to stand up when he sees Bas up there. "Rally! Up and at them!"

«Ground Combat» Doyle fires its Lee Enfield SMLE at Bittner but misses!

«Ground Combat» Bittner fires his Kar98k at Bas but misses!

Davies grins. "It's the sergeant!" Like he's just found the missing piece of a puzzle, or something. The grin doesn't last long, though. He's still bleeding, and people are trying to kill him and his fellows.

«Ground Combat» Tompkins fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Bittner but misses!

«Ground Combat» Davies fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Von Stroheim but misses!

Bas is up over the bridge, shotgun held by the strap in his teeth as he climbs up out of the water, then into hands. He does take a shot to his chest, but isn't hurt by it as he charges at the building the krauts are holed up in!

«Ground Combat» Henry fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Von Stroheim but misses!

«Ground Combat» You shoot at Von Stroheim with your Lee Enfield SMLE! Your accuracy is 14 percent!

«Ground Combat» Doyle fires its Lee Enfield SMLE at Bittner and hits!

Bittner suffers 1 wound damage to his left chest.

"He's crazy!" Bittner calls out to his commander. As Rambo climbs over the bridge coming his way.

Bas still has his slouch hat on, of course. And it's wierdly not even wet.

Bittner winged. He doesn't even notice. He will later on - if there is a later on.

«Ground Combat» Bas moves into Houses.

«Ground Combat» Tompkins fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Bittner but misses!

«Ground Combat» Bittner fires his Kar98k at Bas but misses!

«Ground Combat» Davies fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Von Stroheim but misses!

«Ground Combat» Teamann fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Von Stroheim but misses!

«Ground Combat» Fritz fires his Kar98k at Henry and hits!

Henry suffers 7 wound damage to his right hand.

Davies tries to lay down covering fire. It's not helpful as much else, as he's not hitting anything.

Mountbatten is still dying by inches, too hardy for his own good.

Tompkins has no idea what's going on and also is lucky he didn't shoot Bas, so wild is his aim right now.

«Ground Combat» Bas fires his Civilian Shotgun at Von Stroheim but misses!

«Ground Combat» Von Stroheim reloads his Kar98k!

Henry is firing, firing at the houses across the river, noticing a couple bullets go over his head… from the south? Then one tags him in the hand. "Bollocks."

«Ground Combat» You are now peeking into Buildings.

«Ground Combat» Doyle fires its Lee Enfield SMLE at Von Stroheim but misses!

«Ground Combat» Davies fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Von Stroheim but misses!

«Ground Combat» Sharpe moves East <E>.

Davies sees Sharpe head East, and takes a deep breath, screwing up his courage.

«Ground Combat» Henry fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Fritz and hits!

Fritz suffers 8 wound damage to his abdomen.

«Ground Combat» You shoot at Fritz with your Lee Enfield SMLE! Your accuracy is 17 percent!

«Ground Combat» Fritz has been mortally wounded!

«Ground Combat» Doyle fires its Lee Enfield SMLE at Bittner but misses!

Announcement: Afterlife shouts, "Koenig has been revived!"

Doyle is grumbling under his breath as he continues to shoot whichever Jerry the lottery number lands on. Or whichever Jerry is left standing, as the case may be.

Fritz was having a great time having ninja'd up like Bas did, shooting at Britisher scum. But damn. Someone at least is paying attention after all, as he falls back with a gut wound.

«Ground Combat» Doyle reloads its Lee Enfield SMLE!

«AngelOfDeath» Fritz breathes his last…

Teamann is kind of in awe as Bas takes out the stache'd German. He lays down covering fire s he can.

«Ground Combat» Teamann fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Bittner but misses!

Henry manages to spot the guy who has moved around to the south, and despite the fact that his hand is BLEEDING PROFUSELY, manages to line up a shot on the would-be backstabber, and peg him dead center in the gut. "Lets get out of here."

Davies prepares to leg it to rejoin Bas. Which was where he was supposed to be in the first place, so he can at least be in a tidy row if this kills him.

«Ground Combat» Davies moves East <E>.

«Ground Combat» Teamann fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Bittner but misses!

«Ground Combat» Tompkins moves East <E>.

«Ground Combat» Doyle fires its Lee Enfield SMLE at Bittner and hits!

Bittner suffers 7 wound damage to his right chest.

Mountbatten is left lying in the dust as his mates prepare to move out. Oh woe is he.

«Ground Combat» Henry moves East <E>.

Davies races in. "Sergeant! Sergeant! I found you!" He will take whatever small triumphs he can get.

Tompkins scrambles to his feet as Davies takes off and sprints after him. There is no excited shouting at Bas as they find him, but he does almost trip over Von Stroheim's mustache.

Bittner falls to one of the many high velocity pieces of lead that have been flying around. Just as Sharpe's charge draws near to him.

"Bloody brits! I clearly said west!" Bas says, of course with his god awful south african Boer accent who knows what he says half the time. "Did you lads have any more across the river or should we push on through?" he asks as he drops two more shells into the breach of the shotgun.

Sharpe was intending to run through the Kraut no matter what, even if he is slumping over, there's a chance his bayonet will ram home by momentum alone.

«Ground Combat» Davies moves into Houses.

«Ground Combat» Sharpe moves to engage Bittner in close quarters combat, but fails.

«Game» Bas unwields his Civilian Shotgun!

«Game» Bas wields his Lee Enfield SMLE!

«Ground Combat» Henry moves into Houses.

«Ground Combat» Tompkins moves into Houses.

Henry jogs across the bridge and into town, with his one hand tucked under his arm, hoping his uniform will stop… some of the blood. He stumbles into the house just to get some cover, not sure what is going on where. "West, sir? I took 'em up the road, like you said."

Davies dives into the cover the houses provide, panting. He does look briefly confused at Bas. "East is what I heard, but it don't matter much now. There was some when Tompkins went eastward. They shot him a bit." Tompkins might say it's more than 'a bit,' "But we got back alright."

«Ground Combat» Sharpe moves to engage Bittner in close quarters combat, and succeeds!

«AngelOfDeath» Bittner breathes his last…

«Ground Combat» Sharpe reloads his Lee Enfield SMLE!

Tompkins will definitely take issue with that. "A bit!? I'm bloody well dying!" He's clearly not. "There was a dozen of them! I'm lucky I escaped at all!"

«Ground Combat» Henry reloads his Lee Enfield SMLE!

"Meant the road to the west so you weren't in a crossfire on the road." Bas says as he shoulders the shotgun and readies his Enfield once again. "Alright. Let's push on down the road. We'll continue on through into the houses to the south once we're over. Keep up the pace lads, let's clear the town before sundown and maybe we'll have warm beds to sleep in for a change."

Well, that's a dead Hun, Sharpe even toes the body a bit to make sure it isn't a trick of some sort. "At least hot food perhaps." Sharpe adds in.

"Alright, move out!" Bas says, checking his rifle to make sure it didn't get too wet in his trek along the river's edge.

Davies grins at Tompkins. "You're not dying. Well, you might've, but now you're not." He grunts. He does have a chest wound, albeit not a gaping one, and it's not comfortable. But he manages to readjust his rifle into a position where he might theoretical be able to fire it when the occasion demands. And he preps to move out.

«Ground Combat» Bas moves out of Houses.

«Ground Combat» Henry moves out of Houses.

«Ground Combat» Davies moves out of Houses.

«Ground Combat» Tompkins moves out of Houses.

Henry happily just falls in after Bas, keeping his hand as comfortably tucked away as he can.

Davies follows Bas this time. F that listening nonsense, with the language drift from South African to proper English.

"We'll probably have Fritz to the north, and the south, though they didn't see me when I came down the river. Don't stop to engage on the roads. Move down the road and to the south as fast as you lot can."

«Ground Combat» Sharpe moves East <E>.

«Ground Combat» Davies moves East <E>.

«Ground Combat» Bas moves East <E>.

«Ground Combat» Henry moves East <E>.

«Ground Combat» You notice Tompkins arrive at Major road.

«Ground Combat» You notice Bethmann arrive at Major road.

«Ground Combat» You notice Latimer arrive at Major road.

«Ground Combat» You notice Riedel arrive at Major road.

Riedel is the reinforcements! some more cavalry, this time they brought the horses. And… people out in the street??? CHAAAAARGE!

«Ground Combat» Henry tries to fire his Lee Enfield SMLE at Riedel but his weapon is jammed!

«Ground Combat» Bas fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Riedel and hits!

Riedel suffers 5 wound damage to his head.

«Ground Combat» *boom* Headshot!!! Riedel has been taken out!

Davies gasps in a startled whisper, "The Hun…!"

Tompkins groans. From pain but also because oh god why more horses this is just what his day needs.

«Ground Combat» Davies moves to engage Latimer in close quarters combat, and succeeds!

«Ground Combat» Tompkins fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Latimer and hits!

Latimer suffers 5 wound damage to his right arm.

Bas is quick to respond to the charging Cavalryman…… with a quick shot to the head of the lead reinforcement. BLAM!

Henry joins the immediate round of opening fire as the Germans charge in… or he tries. His gun clicks. "Oh bugger, not this again."

«Ground Combat» Davies attacks Latimer in melee combat with his Lee Enfield SMLE but Latimer blocks it!

«Ground Combat» Bethmann moves to engage Davies in close quarters combat, but fails.

«Ground Combat» Sharpe fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Bethmann and hits!

Bethmann suffers 3 wound damage to his right chest.

«Ground Combat» You notice Doyle arrive at Major road.

«Game» Bethmann unwields his Kar98k!

«Ground Combat» Bas fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Bethmann and hits!

Bethmann suffers 8 wound damage to his right leg.

«Ground Combat» Bethmann is thrown from his horse!

Bethmann suffers 4 bruise damage to his left hand.

«Game» Latimer unwields his Kar98k!

«Game» Henry unjams his Lee Enfield SMLE!

Davies lunges at the nearest German-shaped thing with his bayonet. This particular German turns out to have been wounded by Tompkins, which is lucky for Davies.

«Game» Latimer wields his Sabre!

«Ground Combat» Davies attacks Latimer in melee combat with his Lee Enfield SMLE and hits! Latimer suffers 1 wound damage to his abdomen.

Bas shifts his aim just a little towards the next one, sending one of those powerful rifle slugs right through his leg, and straight down to the ground!!

«Ground Combat» Doyle fires its Lee Enfield SMLE at Bethmann and hits!

Bethmann suffers 6 wound damage to his left chest.

«Ground Combat» Bethmann has been mortally wounded!

«Ground Combat» Sharpe fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Latimer and hits!

Latimer suffers 6 wound damage to his left leg.

«Ground Combat» Latimer is thrown from his horse!

Latimer suffers 6 bruise damage to his left arm.

Bethmann draws his sabre, looking dashing - and is promptly shot down.

«Ground Combat» Henry fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Latimer and hits!

Latimer suffers 3 wound damage to his left leg.

«Ground Combat» You shoot at Latimer with your Lee Enfield SMLE! Your accuracy is 71 percent!

«Ground Combat» Bas fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Latimer and hits!

Latimer suffers 5 wound damage to his head.

Tompkins somehow manages to wing one of the charging Germans, though he comes dangerously near to hitting Davies instead with his reflexive shot. If he's honest he was actually trying to hit the horse.

«Ground Combat» *boom* Headshot!!! Latimer has been taken out!

Davies closes his eyes and just starts blindly and wildly stabbing the cultured German cavalry officer, with his sabre. Wrong war, indeed.

Latimer was about to cut Davies' head off and then he's shot, a lot, falls off his horse, and for good measure is shot some more.

Doyle was caught daydreaming. Or something. He dashes after the others and nearly bumps noses with Bethmann. Kablam.

«Ground Combat» Tompkins fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Bethmann but misses!

Sharpe would rather not face a calvary sabre in melee, it means he'll shoot Latimer also.

Henry finally gets his gun working and puts a bullet into a guy as he lands on the ground from his horse. Sporting, right? Well, it's war.

Davies scrambles back from the horse, and the fallen German, falling on the ground again and panting. He looks about, still wide-eyed, for more of them.

«Ground Combat» Henry reloads his Lee Enfield SMLE!

Bas works the action of his rifle as he watches the Cavalry get cleaned up relatively quickly. "Alright. I suspect we're at a good spot… Henry, Tompkins, Davies north, Sharpe and Doyle south with me. We'll button up this town!"

Sharpe is ever so helpful. "South looks rather clear!"

Davies repeats, "North north north" to himself, nodding along.

«Announcement from Death!» Its official… cavalry are obsolete

Doyle limps towards Bas, yet grinning as he goes south.

Tompkins is not grinning, because everything is corpses and horses. He heads south, eager to get away from the road.

"North?" Henry doublechecks. Because obviously there's a language issue of some sort! "It looks pretty clear, guess we'll go sweep the buildings.

«Announcement from Death!» The shooting continues at Chateau-Thierry for a while. But eventually slackens off. Turns out the Captain was right, it was 'only' dismounted cavalry in the town. Turns out even attacking fairly light forces in a good position is, however, not easy.

«Game» Chateau Thierry is no longer a war zone!

«Announcement from Death!» You may now bask in the glory of victory…

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