Wing and Sword: Chat et Souris (Prologue)

[The Shaman]

Staying low behind the rocky outcrop, Neumann moves over to Normand. “I gave Fortier my aid kit,” the German says, examining the wound on Normand’s calf. “It’s not bleeding too bad right now. Drink some water.”

Gonzalez looks none the worse for wear to Pyotr’s eyes – his breathing is still short and fast, but the tremor in his hands is gone and his rifle is pointed in the right direction. “Pyotr, do you think they’re gone?” the Spaniard asks, watching the rest of the legionnaires coming up the gully.

As Dinter and Berg pause briefly to readjust their hold on Martinez, Marcel places his fingers over the wounded man’s carotid artery – the pulse is fast and thready but steady. “Is he going to make it?” Dinter asks as they resume the retreat.

 

[Barak]

Normand simply nods to Neumann, and grabbing his still-full canteen, takes a long swallow before rehooking it to his belt.

 

[Bobitron]

As Dinter and Berg pause briefly to readjust their hold on Martinez, Marcel places his fingers over the wounded man’s carotid artery – the pulse is fast and thready but steady. “Is he going to make it?” Dinter asks as they resume the retreat.

"It's too difficult to tell right now. We need to get him into cover and on the ground, any more jostling might worsen his condition. It might take a few hours of surgery to really get him back on his feet. I can do it, but we need some calm. If I start and we are interupted, it could get very bad very quickly."

Marcel carefully raises his canteen to Martinez's lips, hoping he can hear his voice.

"Martinez? Can you hear me? You need to keep hydrated."

OOC: Shaman, there is nothing in the rules regarding making a Treat Injury check to determine someone's condition. I'll leave it up to you as to how much Marcel can determine.

 

[shadowbloodmoon]

Pyotr eyes Gonzalez curiously. He seemed to slowly be getting the hang of this. Whether that is good or bad, he would leave to the morals of civilian life. Right now they were soldiers, and getting used to this was a good thing.

"Considering the numbers I saw earlier, I think we just scared them off for now. They'll be back. Right now they are probably regrouping and preparing for a counter attack. I'm just hoping those planes get here before those fellaghas decide they are ready." Pyotr pauses for a moment. "You did good Gonzalez. Keep it up and you'll be as good as me and Ekaterina here."

 

[The Shaman]

Gonzalez nods again, swallows nervously a couple of times. “It’s different than I expected.” He ponders a moment. “Shooting paper targets...” – he trails off a moment, then continues – “I don’t want to let anyone down.”

A short distance away Neumann claps Normand on his good leg. “You’re tough. Good man.” The sergeant peeks over the rocks toward the fellaghas, then says to Pyotr, “You were a hunter?”
____

Martinez doesn’t respond as Marcel lifts the canteen to the wounded man’s lips, his head hanging limply. He is pale and his breathing is shallow but regular, and the bandages seem to be stopping the blood flow for the moment.

Marcel: Make an “Assessment” Treat Injury skill check – the DC is 10 + 1 for each point Martinez’s hit points are below zero (e.g., if he’s at -4, the DC is 14). Make the DC and I’ll let you know how badly off he is. Take a -2 circumstance penalty due to the jostling from being carried. You can also make a Treat Injury check (DC 15) to revive him from unconsciousness per the RAW – it’s an attack action so either you’ll have to wait until the four of you stop moving or you’ll have to delay your retreat a round.
____

Duval is watching the fellaghas closely as he and Vidal withdraw. “Any word on those aircraft, Gaspard?”

 

[Bobitron]

Martinez doesn’t respond as Marcel lifts the canteen to the wounded man’s lips, his head hanging limply. He is pale and his breathing is shallow but regular, and the bandages seem to be stopping the blood flow for the moment.

Marcel: Make an “Assessment” Treat Injury skill check – the DC is 10 + 1 for each point Martinez’s hit points are below zero (e.g., if he’s at -4, the DC is 14). Make the DC and I’ll let you know how badly off he is. Take a -2 circumstance penalty due to the jostling from being carried. You can also make a Treat Injury check (DC 15) to revive him from unconsciousness per the RAW – it’s an attack action so either you’ll have to wait until the four of you stop moving or you’ll have to delay your retreat a round.

Marcel thinks hard back to his training.

OK. Seems he is in hypovolemic shock from blood loss. I need to get him down on the ground. I think I could rig up a basic transfusion if needed, but I don't want to do it unless I have to. If only I had some IV fluid. What I really need is some plasma.

I know I have Sulfa powder, he thought, taking a mental inventory of his first aid kit, and a couple morphine syrettes. There's a hypodermic in there, but I didn't see anything that would help. The ammonia should wake him up quickly.

Moving alongside the moving men, Marcel left the privacy of his mind and spoke out. "Here's what I need to do. Once we get him settled, I will wake him and get some water in his system. He will be in shock from the loss of so much blood, so I need to keep him hydrated. I'll keep him as stable as possible until we have some time when I can look at those wounds closer."

OOC: Assessment check is an 8. That's another one to add to my list of poor rolls. I'm taking ten on every check possible from now on.

 

[The Shaman]

OOC: Assessment check is an 8. That's another one to add to my list of poor rolls. I'm taking ten on every check possible from now on.

You can re-check when the four of you stop, at which point you can take 10 on the assessment roll.

 

[Barak]

Normand grins at Neumann, starting to like the guy despite his teutonic origins.

"Slap the other leg, mon ami, and I'll show you I can scream like a little girl too, not unlike some krauts I've known, eh?"

While exchanging the banter, Normand uses the apparent lull in the fighting to recharge his weapon, wanting to have a full magazine in case another charge does materialize.

 

[shadowbloodmoon]

Pyotr half smiled at Gonzalez. "I think you'll do just fine. Just remember, they're paper targets that shoot back." He then winked at Gonzalez.

A moment later he heard Neumann's comment. Hunter? Of a sort, I suppose.

Yeah, I guess you could say that. I've hunted, in a manner of speaking. Why do you ask?

 

[The Shaman]

Neumann ignores Normand’s jibe as Pyotr replies, "Yeah, I guess you could say that. I've hunted, in a manner of speaking. Why do you ask?"

The German looks carefully at Pyotr for a moment. “Sniper company, yes?” he asks. He glances toward the oued. “If they come again, you hide and wait. We fire and displace, draw them off. Could you pick out an officer?”
____

Lavareaux listens to Marcel’s prognosis, limping slightly as the legionnaires retreat. “We’re not stopping until we get to those rocks. Martinez will have to hold on until then, as will we all.” The pain and the determination are clearly evident in the senior corporal’s voice.