A Target Of Opportunity

After the last mission, the squad needed a boost.

They acquired two new members:

Cpl Vikenti Novikoff has joined the army straight out of school, and was a fresh-faced youngster of 19. Despite this he'd already been in a few fights and was a corporal; his unwavering enthusiasm for Stalin had obviously made him a few friends in high places. Vikenti was armed with a rifle.

Pvt Vova Pavlov was another accountant, who had been called up recently. Lonely in his job, he saw the army as a chance to make friends and comrades. He was armed with an SMG.

A few days after the last mission, the squad were on patrol again. Sgt Petrov led the way, of course, along with Oleg and the two new members, Vikenti and Vova. It was Oleg, sent on ahead to scout for the enemy, who rushed back with exciting news. Just over the next rise was a road, and on the road was a broken-down German staff-car. There was an officer sat in it who was a colonel at the very least. And the escort was mostly nowhere to be see; they'd obviously rushed off to get help, leaving a coupleof soldiers on guard.

Quickly the Russians moved into position; killing a senior German officer would more than make up for the mess that was their last outing. 

Alexsei and Oleg approached the car along the cover of a wall. Meanwhile Vova and Vikenti moved into some trees on each side of the road. There was no time for a stealthy approach, and the Germans were quickly aware that they were in danger.

One of the sentries lost his nerve straight away and ducked into cover. But another soldier came running back along the road; obviously there were still some other Germans nearby.

Vova and Vikenti popped out of hiding, but the German response saw them both fall back in panic; for Vova this was the first time anyone had shot at him!

The Germans pressed forward aggressively, and even Alexsei found himself having to seek the protection of a wall.

Oleg wasn't having any of the Germans'  nonsense, though, and ignoring the bullets flying around him, he dropped the lead sentry. He them moved up to the car, providing covering fire which allowed Alexsei to move up as well.

In the background Vikenti was working his way back into the fight. The two sides exchanged fire over teh car, whose occupant wisely kept his head down.

(I treated the officer as a mostly non-combatant target, hidden in hard-cover in the car. If the Russians got within a couple of inches, or lobbed grenades, then they could attack him. But he would become an active fighter - armed with a pistol - if there were insufficient Germans to activate around the vehicle at any stage.)

Oleg threw a grenade towards the car, but misjudged the distance. It bounced past and instead took one of the sentries out of the fight.

Vikenti's fire caused the other sentry to seek better cover. The German officer, now basically unguarded, was forced to fight for his life, firing his pistol at Alexsei.

He got off a couple of rounds before Vikenti shot him in the back.

With the target killed Alexsei ordered the squad to fall back. This had been a good patrol and would help the squad's morale. Sadly Vova, who had cowered in fear through most of the action, departed the field somewhat faster than Alexsei would have liked. It would go into his report.

Vikenti crept away as the Germans fired a few half-hearted shots at him.

The squad has achieved their mission with no casualties, which gave them a welcome morale boost.

Vova's precipitous departure didn't attract any censure. And still down to four men the squad got the promise of two new members. Vikento acquired the Motivator skill, whilst the squad were given a freshly stocked medical kit. And it turned out that the officer they'd killed was very important indeed, and his death had severely dented German morale in this sector of the front. Finally, the day after the mission, Evgenii returned to the squad, recovered from his minor wound.

So all in all a good mission for our heroes. Who knows what adventures they will see next.