WW2 Supers d6: SST 11: Mission Four: Snow Patrol & Monte Majo
Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2023 11:25 pm
December 29th, 1943-January 5th, 1944; the area around Monte Cassino and Monte Majo, Italy
The week following Ortona was a crazy one for the exhausted surviving members of SST 11. No sign of the Teleporter Talent Ehrlicmann had been found, but they'd keep a look out. They did their best to get fitful sleep over the 2 day trip back to First Special Service Force, up in the mountains overlooking the Liri Valley, near a famous Monastery called Monte Cassino. Shortly after they arrived, right before New Year's Even, they were given winter gear, including a heavy parka and gloves and thick bedrolls and they soon found themselves sleeping in tents in the snowy foothills of the mountains, near the German lines with artillery in the not-so-distant-distance as they drifted off to sleep....
As 1943 gave way to 1944 they were unexpectedly treated to a surprise visit by Colonel Frederick, Lieutenant Colonel Walker and the ranking Canadian Officer, Leftenant Colonel Gilday. They were thanked profusely for their service at Ortona and every member of the unit was promoted with Phil Heuron now a full Corporal; Tom Nado and John Porcupine both Sergeants, Koda made a Sergeant and the new second in command of the team and SSGT Nahum Chisholm was given a field promotion to 2nd Lieutenant and new Commanding Officer of the team. In addition, they welcomed the return of SGT Mark Battaglia, fresh from having his wounds from 'Million Dollar Mountain' treated.
After a quite rowdy New Year's spent with some 'medicinal' liquor mysteriously having found its way to most of the unit, the following days were mostly light, with just under 20 new 'Weasel' vehicles finally arriving to help out with carrying supplies thru the snow; along with the usual mule teams. Bringing up all the extra ammo, food and warm clothes and blankets could only mean one thing.....they were about to go back into action.....
[imgurl=]https://arsof-history.org/weasel/images ... sel_03.jpg[/imgurl=]
Sure enough, the 3rd and early part of the 4th of January were spent moving into position near Monte Majo; the next enemy held mountain they were assigned to hit. In the late afternoon of the 4th, Colonel Frederick called up SST 11 and they soon found him with LT COLs Walker, Gilday and a trio of NCOs. Walker waves you over and quickly lays it out....
"Okay, Colonel Frederick is giving my 3rd Regiment the task of making the assault on Monte Majo tomorrow at dawn and 1st Battalion under Tom here-" (he nods to the Canadian LT Colonel Tom Gilday, C.O. of 1st Battalion) "-will be the advance force. Now, SGTs Hawkins and Stewart here-", again, he nods to two of the three NCOs, "-have just come back from a patrol and well....tell 'em." Hawkins nods to Walker and then turns to the Talents. "Right...well, the Krauts are dug in tight all over Monte Majo, from top to bottom with pillboxes, rifle pits and machine gun nests....if we advance into that, it'll be hellish and we'll lose a lot of men." Walker nods and then turns to Gilday, "Tom here has an idea about that."
Gilday's accent tells Heuron and Koda that he's from the Quebec area as he replies with, "Quite so...okay, this here is SGT Tommy Prince", and here he nods to the last NCO, a Native American solider. "He's one of the best infiltration men we've got and I think he'd be perfect for leading a small patrol at night to quietly silence some pillboxes and machinegun nests to help with the assault tomorrow morning. I'm thinking you Talents could be quite a help in that department."
Walker nods and says, "I agree whole-heartedly with this plan...which to be clear, is to as-silently-as-possible eliminate several German positions and bring back any intel you can as well....unit insignia, any papers, pay books, maps, that kinda thing. Now, regardless of rank, SGT Prince is in command of this patrol, which is to set out at 9 PM....and be back to our front lines at dawn, which is when we start our assault. This is a Knives only, with Grenades as last-ditch backup option, as it's possible they could be mistaken for the night arty both sides fire to annoy each other...but guns are to be on safety, got it? Okay then, get some rest and then go take out some Hun bastards. It's your patrol Chief", he says in an almost subconsciously condescending way to Prince, who doesn't respond.
Prince just motions once and then moves to some tents while saying in a deep, quiet voice; "Only take what you must....we must keep noise to a minimum and unless you have to, don't use your Talent Powers as I understand any Jerry Talents might be able to sense it.....is that correct?" he asks....
The week following Ortona was a crazy one for the exhausted surviving members of SST 11. No sign of the Teleporter Talent Ehrlicmann had been found, but they'd keep a look out. They did their best to get fitful sleep over the 2 day trip back to First Special Service Force, up in the mountains overlooking the Liri Valley, near a famous Monastery called Monte Cassino. Shortly after they arrived, right before New Year's Even, they were given winter gear, including a heavy parka and gloves and thick bedrolls and they soon found themselves sleeping in tents in the snowy foothills of the mountains, near the German lines with artillery in the not-so-distant-distance as they drifted off to sleep....
As 1943 gave way to 1944 they were unexpectedly treated to a surprise visit by Colonel Frederick, Lieutenant Colonel Walker and the ranking Canadian Officer, Leftenant Colonel Gilday. They were thanked profusely for their service at Ortona and every member of the unit was promoted with Phil Heuron now a full Corporal; Tom Nado and John Porcupine both Sergeants, Koda made a Sergeant and the new second in command of the team and SSGT Nahum Chisholm was given a field promotion to 2nd Lieutenant and new Commanding Officer of the team. In addition, they welcomed the return of SGT Mark Battaglia, fresh from having his wounds from 'Million Dollar Mountain' treated.
After a quite rowdy New Year's spent with some 'medicinal' liquor mysteriously having found its way to most of the unit, the following days were mostly light, with just under 20 new 'Weasel' vehicles finally arriving to help out with carrying supplies thru the snow; along with the usual mule teams. Bringing up all the extra ammo, food and warm clothes and blankets could only mean one thing.....they were about to go back into action.....
[imgurl=]https://arsof-history.org/weasel/images ... sel_03.jpg[/imgurl=]
Sure enough, the 3rd and early part of the 4th of January were spent moving into position near Monte Majo; the next enemy held mountain they were assigned to hit. In the late afternoon of the 4th, Colonel Frederick called up SST 11 and they soon found him with LT COLs Walker, Gilday and a trio of NCOs. Walker waves you over and quickly lays it out....
"Okay, Colonel Frederick is giving my 3rd Regiment the task of making the assault on Monte Majo tomorrow at dawn and 1st Battalion under Tom here-" (he nods to the Canadian LT Colonel Tom Gilday, C.O. of 1st Battalion) "-will be the advance force. Now, SGTs Hawkins and Stewart here-", again, he nods to two of the three NCOs, "-have just come back from a patrol and well....tell 'em." Hawkins nods to Walker and then turns to the Talents. "Right...well, the Krauts are dug in tight all over Monte Majo, from top to bottom with pillboxes, rifle pits and machine gun nests....if we advance into that, it'll be hellish and we'll lose a lot of men." Walker nods and then turns to Gilday, "Tom here has an idea about that."
Gilday's accent tells Heuron and Koda that he's from the Quebec area as he replies with, "Quite so...okay, this here is SGT Tommy Prince", and here he nods to the last NCO, a Native American solider. "He's one of the best infiltration men we've got and I think he'd be perfect for leading a small patrol at night to quietly silence some pillboxes and machinegun nests to help with the assault tomorrow morning. I'm thinking you Talents could be quite a help in that department."
Walker nods and says, "I agree whole-heartedly with this plan...which to be clear, is to as-silently-as-possible eliminate several German positions and bring back any intel you can as well....unit insignia, any papers, pay books, maps, that kinda thing. Now, regardless of rank, SGT Prince is in command of this patrol, which is to set out at 9 PM....and be back to our front lines at dawn, which is when we start our assault. This is a Knives only, with Grenades as last-ditch backup option, as it's possible they could be mistaken for the night arty both sides fire to annoy each other...but guns are to be on safety, got it? Okay then, get some rest and then go take out some Hun bastards. It's your patrol Chief", he says in an almost subconsciously condescending way to Prince, who doesn't respond.
Prince just motions once and then moves to some tents while saying in a deep, quiet voice; "Only take what you must....we must keep noise to a minimum and unless you have to, don't use your Talent Powers as I understand any Jerry Talents might be able to sense it.....is that correct?" he asks....