Play@YSDC

3 March, 1945. HMS Atlantic Isle, South Atlantic
Sergeant Sanders promised it was going to be a long flight, and he wasn't lying. You spend almost two whole days flying from North to South. Your first stop, in North Africa, is a pleasant respite, despite the hot air and the almost unbearable sun. By the time you stop in Ascension, you're starved for fresh air. The third "jump" almost turns you mad. You're tired of sitting, tired of the fuel smell, tired of the cramped space, even tired of each other. After the C47 lands, you almost run out of the exit, smiling like someone who just won the lottery.
A young man walks towards you, saluting: "Welcome to Job 9. I can see you've had a pleasant journey", he chuckles while looking at your faces, "You'll find the island charming, especially for the weather", a gust of chilling wind impacts on you like a punch, as if making a point. The man smiles and says: "See? The island is welcoming you. We don't get many visitors, after all. I'm Sergeant Craig Dowson-Frost. I'll escort you to Surgeon Lieutenant Commander Woolley, so you can get your mission briefing, and then find a bed to crash on. All right?"

"Sounds good to me, Sergeant," says Oliver, returning the salute. "Lead the way."

Tom offers the best salute he can muster (which isn't very good). "Good to be back on terra firma Sergeant. A real bed sounds splendid!"

Stogie rolls his jaw a bit to try to pop his ears and stretches his arms. He looks around him a bit.

"Where the hell is this? And is there hot food? Or even coffee?"

"Lead on, then, Sergeant," says Laplanche, who didn't sleep very well on the flight - he never could get the hang of flying. "I'm eager to see what this is all about." He looks out over the sea as 'Stogie' speaks. "Some coffee surely does sound fine, though, if there's some 'round here."

Smalls gets out of the plane and the word "coffee" is like music to his frozen ears. "Oh yes, some coffee please!" He says, trying to keep the good mood. "Lead the way, Sergeant. "

Sergeant Dowson-Frost leads you away from the airstrip and towards a small group of buildings: "Not much to see around here, I'm afraid. And no women", he shakes his head regretfully, then heads for a small wooden building, "Here's the camp kitchen. Nothing special, but then again, there's only about one hundred of us here. I'll ask them to prepare some coffee, I'm sure the boss can wait a few minutes". He heads inside, then comes out a few moments later and lights himself a sigarette: "Will be ready in a minute. So, do you know why they sent you to this God-forgotten rock?"

"Something about an abandoned Nazi base," says Oliver. "The details were lacking, though. You probably know more than we do."

Stogie, never one to miss hot food, descends upon the camp kitchen in search of breakfast and coffee. "Gimme two minutes and I'm there," rumbles the dumpster-truck voice.

Amadeus, who has been silent for quite a while finally speaks up. "Great, no vone knows vhat in ze devils we're doing here!" He notices the volume and tone of his voice and quickly looks apologetically at the disciplined military men surrounding him. "My apologies gentlemen. I'm just a tad irritable. I have been wiffout three of my vorst vices for longer than I've ever abstained. I razzer feel like one of those floozy film stars. This must be what it feels like when they send zem off to zose strange resorts after some scandal. Coffee and tobacco, thankfully, can be remedied soon and my humor will improve I'm sure. Ze vomen. Well, I'll just have to deal."

Sergeant Dowson-Frost listens to you talking while he smokes his cigarette. Then, once the coffee is ready and everyone is happily drinking, he starts talking again: "Well, in truth, we were waiting for an infiltration team. You didn't quite... well, you didn't look like a team of specialists, at first glance, but I guess it must be you after all. If so, you're headed for Saxenberg, and after that, you'll be out of here in just a few days. Lucky."

"That's good to hear," says Oliver. "Perhaps we'll be back in Europe in time for victory after all."

"I suppose we're all you're gettin'," Sgt. Laplanche says as he drinks his coffee. "Hopefully, we won't have any problems gettin' done whatever it is needs done."

Stogie squints over a cup of joe. "Where the heck is Saxenberg? Sounds like Germany but seems like we're going the wrong way for that."

Sergeant Dowson-Frost throws on the ground the butt of his cigarette as he says: "Tiny rock just south of here. It wasn't even on the maps until a couple of weeks ago". As you finish to drink your coffee, he gestures for you to follow. "Commander will tell you the details. This way".

You walk across the little camp, while the other soldiers stop and stare at you with curiosity as you pass. Finally you get to a small wooden building, like a cottage, with a worn-out British flag hung right next to the door. The Sergeant knocks; then, after hearing from inside, opens the door and leads you inside.
A tall man in uniform waits you inside, wearing the ranks of a Lieutenant Commander - without a doubt, the highest ranking officer in the base, and possibly all of South Atlantic. He has a serious expression on his face, and his blue eyes show no friendliness as he considers you, his gaze lingering on each of you for a couple of seconds before moving to the next one. After you are all in, and salutes have been exchanged, he begins to talk: "Good afternoon, gentlemen, and welcome to HMS Isle. I am Wilhelm Curtiss Woolley, the commanding officer of this base. I suppose you have many questions, so let's begin immediately".

He walks towards a large map on the wall, where some red circles and lines have been drawn. "This here is HMS, where we are now. North of here, the closest friendly base is in Ascension - as I'm sure you already know. To the southeast there's Gough Island, a small volcanic island with no interest to anyone except the birds. And that should have been it. But unfortunately, just a few days ago I had to add this to the map", he points to a red circle to the southweast, with Saxemberg Island written next to it. "A phantom island if there ever was one. Spotted first in 1670, then again in 1755 and 1883. After that, it was believed to be lost to volcanic activity. Except it wasn't, and guess who set up camp there? The Jerrys. A submarine refueling and maintenance base, or at least that's what HQ says. I would have sent some of my men inside, but our allies insisted on assembling a multi-national team, and that's why you are here, half of the world away from home." He pauses for a couple of seconds, then continues: "Now, on to the important stuff. Your mission is simple. Head there, infiltrate and secure the base, gather up intelligence on their operations in the area, and if you can bring back some prisoners, that would be just perfect. Any questions?"

Successful Military Doctrine Skil Check,It's clear the Lieutenant Commander is considered at least partly responsible for not spotting an enemy base so close to his own. It's just as clear this must have been a serious embarrassment for the British government and army higher-ups, and the americans must have pressed on the matter. That's why Woolley is not happy to see you here, and while he won't directly intefere with your mission, he's unlikely to provide much assistance either.

"Have there been any wireless transmissions intercepted from or to Saxenberg?" asks Oliver.

OOC,Military Doctrine roll (5% base skill) looking at the map: [dice]0[/dice]

Stogie considers from his limited experience. "First, Commander, will this be a parachute drop or a boat landing? Second, how much kit can you supply us with besides what we've brought along ourselves? Finally, how many of your men are coming with us?"

"No trace of activity inside the base, at least from what we could get from the outside. We have been looking for submarine activity, too, but everything's been quiet", Woolley says, then turns towards Stogie and adds: "The mission will start at night, to give you the advantage of surprise. Therefore, we have ruled out the option of an air drop - simply too risky, considering the size of the island. The HMS Spearhead, one of our submarines, will get you there, then stand-by to provide backup and monitor any U-boat activity. The trip is expected to last about 16 hours, so you will set out at dawn, tomorrow, to get there at nightfall. Once you are near Saxemberg, you'll land the island on a LCRS. Sergeant Dowson-Frost will accompany you and complete the team. You can also ask him about any equipment you believe you might need".

OOC:   LCRS stands for Landing Craft Rubber Small, it's a small boat with a capability of seven men.

"Do you have any information on enemy size and concentration Sir?" asks Tom. "The more inforrmation we have, the better. Who discovered their presence at Saxemburg?"

"Assuming the base is still fully operational, you can expect to find 30-40 jerrys inside, most of them non-fighting personnel. We are almost sure there is no submarine currently docked inside at the moment, so no crew to deal with. Regarding the source of the intelligence, HQ likes to keep secrets, but from what I got, it comes from a raid behind enemy lines. I don't know much more than this".

"Do we have any information about whoever's in command of the base?" asks Oliver.

Stogie chomps on a cigar. "Well, gimme ten minutes in the head and I'm good to go. Beats driving a cab."

Lieutenant Commander Woolley walks towards a desk and picks up some documents, takes a look, then says: "According to our intelligence, officer in command should be Obersturmbannführer Hermann Beyersdorf", he speaks the words slowly, with the expression of someone eating something particularly sour, "Departure is tomorrow at dawn. You can eat if you want, look at your equipment, and get a few hours of sleep".

"Yes, Sir! Excuse me." Smalls gives the Lieutenant Commander a formal salute and leaves the room, excited by the idea of having a hot meal and a proper bed.

"Sounds like a plan," says Oliver. "Some food and some shuteye would hit the spot. Do we know anything about this Beyersdorf beyond his name and rank?"

Tom wonders if he's come across the name Beyersdorf before..

Spoiler:

Stogie nods politely and heads back to the mess hall for more food before cleaning and double checking his kit.

Amadeus nods and furrows his brow as the military men discuss their military things. He hopes his acting is good enough not to betray his utter bewildered state of mind.

After the conversation dies down and people begin to leave, he yells, "Vile I'm alvays grateful for a free trip haff vay around ze vorld, I don't see my need here. Zis mission seems a quick smash and gather intel. Vy do you need my expertise?"

Lieutenant Commander Woolley looks at Amadeus with poorly hidden distaste and answers him: "You must be Doctor Galishoff. Well, once you get back, you can ask that same question at the bright minds back at HQ. For the moment, as you've flown half the globe to get there, wasting precious fuel, you might as well try to make yourself useful, right?"

Mister Ginge,You do remember seeing the name [b]Beyersdorf[/b] in the report you got before the mission. There were not many information, except for a very brief personal history - only that he was captain of the [b]U-122[/b] in the early days of the war, and he is believed to have sinked around 15 ships. The report stated he's of no particular importance for Section M, although he might have useful "standard" military intelligence.

"Sounds easy enough," Nick says, even while he thinks silently to himself, That means it won't be... "Just point me to the chow line. I could do with some grub."

Amadeus notices the scowl on Woolley's face. Considering his position, in the middle of nowhere with no way of reaching home, Amadeus forces himself to swallow his pride. "My apologies, Lieutenant Commander," he coughs a bit choking on the unfamiliar words. "I meant no offense. I'm just trying to find my place amongst you fine, decorated officers. I know my accent iz not a pleazing one in zese times, but, I assure you,
I seek to eradicate the Nazi zreat az much az anyone."

Tom pats Amadeus on the back. "Don't worry old chap, he winks. I'm sure you'll more than prove your worth on this trip." He then proceeds to the mess in search of tea.

Amadeus flinches at the unfamiliar gesture of familiarity. He thinks: How odd... izzis a ritual of initiation of sorts? A symbol of acceptance into their testosterone laden pack? Am I 'von of ze guys'? He felt slight condescension for the primitiveness of it all. However, Amadeus felt far more pride than would have openly admitted.

He slowly followed Tom towards the mess hall as a wolf might follow an alpha.

You walk outside the building under the severe gaze of the Lieutenant Commander. The fresh air is welcome, after the tense atmosphere that quickly established itself inside. Sergeant Dowson-Frost doesn't make any comment on it, and simply says: "Give me a list of any equipment you think we might need inside, apart from the usual stuff, and I'll see if I can find it around the camp. Then I'll take you to your beds".

"I'm pretty well kitted out," says Oliver. "Some extra morphine wouldn't go amiss, and some sedatives in case we have the opportunity to take prisoners who are less than cooperative. We should also bring mine detectors, just in case the blighters have mined the island."

"Same," says Sgt. Laplanche, who has gulped down the rest of his dinner and hurried outside with the others. "Can't think of much of anything else I need, except maybe a little more ammunition if you can scrounge any up."

"I second ze call for ammunition," Amadeus calls from the other end of the room. "I shoot a shotgun. I doubt zere's much call for such an inefficient veapon in the field but it's vhat I'm used to."

"Well,", Stogie rumbles, "A bag of grenades wouldn't go astray."

Sergeant Dowson-Frost nods to Amadeus as he lits up another cigarette: "The shotgun will work just fine inside the base. Might get a bit messy for an amateur, though", he chuckles, without sounding too amused. "I'll get the ammo, and the grenades. I'm not sure we have a mine detector easily available here, but the island is practically a rock, I don't think mines will be a problem". He guides you to the barracks, where you'll be sleeping along with the rest of the soldiers in the island, then leaves you to make the last preparations for the mission.

OOC:   I'll leave you some time to make comments or discuss the mission, then I'll move things forward.

"Well I'm off to get some shut-eye. Early start and all that.."

Tom gives his kit the once over, before settling down to some much needed rest.

"Kippers for breakfast would be nice."

Oliver checks over his medical supplies and other equipment thoroughly before going to sleep.

Stogie is pretty happy his equipment is clean and good to go. Food and sleep beckon.

Though Amadeus has always been a nightowl, he can't deny the callings of severe jetlag. However, he's not going to bed before his final cigar of the day. He pours himself a vodka and returns to the group, many of whom have left for bed by the time he gets back. He shoots a questioning look at all those still awake. Vhere can I go to indulge my vvices?
I'd hate to disturb my new comrades."

Smalls Kemp

"Vell, zoctor..." Smalls chuckles at his failed attempt to imitate Amadeus' accent and gives the man a friendly tap on the back as a way to lighten the mood. "My equipment is all set so, If you don't mind the cold, I can have a smoke before sleep."

Amadeus shudders at the prospect of entering frosted wasteland outside, but addiction calls. "Vell I suppose ve better get used to zis type of veather." He holds out a cigar to Smalls. "Zat vas pretty good by ze vay." He smiles and nods his approval... though Amadeus has never been a particularly good actor.

Some of you take one last smoke outside, some others double check their equipment, the rest lay on their beds, thinking about tomorrow, and your mission. But soon tiredness kicks in, and you welcome sleep as you try to regain as much energy as possible in the few hours you have.

OOC:   Continues here: viewtopic.php?f=409&t=6062