Operation Reset - Part 2

The river crossing south of Kolo - July 17th 2000

Strike Zulus convoy approached the Soviet rocket batteries at speed, the exhaust fumes from the recently fired rocket batteries obscuring their approach. Hatches were opened and weapons readied. By the time the Russians realized they were under attack it was too late, artillery crews snatched up weapons and began to fire at what they could see of the convoy though the smoke. Strike Zulu lay down a withering wall of return fire.

As they sped out of the exhaust fumes Strike Zulu found themselves rapidly approaching the bridge over the river Warta. An old T-55 tank blocked the left hand carriageway. The convoy mounted the bridge and passed the stationary tank as the crew desperately tried to get it running. On the other side of the river the convoy passed through the rocket batteries HQ and the crews tented encampment.

While the Russian tank crew were still trying to get their T-55 started, the antiaircraft crew had fared a lot better. They had managed to get their ZSU-23-4 Shilka up and running and as the allied convoy passed through the tented encampment they engaged them with their 23mm antiaircraft guns. as Strike Zulu came under fire they pulled of the road and down the embankment towards the river taking them below the enemies guns and to safety.

Finding themselves between the enemies support elements and their front lines, travelling through areas filled with abandonned vehicles and equipment the convoy comes to a halt to discuss their next step and scavenge for arms and ammunition. As they are gathered around the command hmmwv studying the few maps they have, they recieve news over the radio of the defeat of 5ht division and the fall of Kalisz.

Hearing the news that Kalisz has fallen to the enemy they decide to head south with the aim of reaching Krakow and liasing with known DIA agents operating there. Skirting around the enemy occupied town of Turek they move onto the back roads skirting the forest. After an hours travel through overgrown and neglected farmland the strike force stops at an abandoned farm house for rest and repairs. 

Rested and with night approaching they push further south using the back roads and the cover of darkness to mask their movements. Around midnight as the convoy approaches the main road east out of Kalisz they decide to send out scouts to recon the road and descern whether it is afe to cross. As the scouts approach the road they notice a small amount of watch fires around the town of Sieradz. Cautiously the scouts skirt the town and make contact with the civilian militia guarding it. They learn more about Krakow and the rumours of its independance.
2 hours later, having negotiated passage throught the town of Sieradz, Strike Zulu finds itself back again on back roads heading south in the darkness. At this point their only pair of night vission goggles fails.......

to be continued.