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Part 9
The two men moved forwarded and got into an observation point overlooking the field. It was a perfect spot for observation and protection of Mr. Hansen's herd. It was a wooded area overlooking a vast field, slightly raised from the surrounding area. It overlooked one of Mr. Hansen's pasture areas and 500 yards beyond, a paved county road. To the East and North were hundreds of acres of pine forest. To the West also lay pine forest, interrupted by a dirt road here and there. Their were other spots for an observation point, but this one was clearly the best.
"What'cha think?" Todd asked Rusty.
"It's good, almost too good." Rusty replied.
"I know what you mean, but where else can we see this whole area?" Todd said.
"I agree, all I'm saying is that I would expect this area to be used as an observation point, it's an obvious place for it." Rusty replied.
"Well then, let's keep looking." Todd said.
They eventually settled on two spots, approximately 100 yards apart. It worked out well because both spots had certain blind areas, and having two spots would allow full coverage.
Entrance and exit points were reconned both visually and via topographic map and aerial photographs. Jim had previously purchased aerial photographs of the whole county from the local tax ***essors office just for situations like this. Seeing as the last topographical map made for this area was produced in 1979, this info was crucial to show residences and buildings built since that time, areas that had been deforested or planted, slight changes in waterways, etc.
Sketches of the observation area were made by both Rusty and Todd. In addition, Jim's Sony digital camera was brought along and a dozen photos of the area were put on disk to correspond with the sketches. Locations were noted for seismic detectors to be emplaced at. A rally point was designated 400 yards from the positions. More work would begin that night, actually fleshing out the positions and beginning the work. Before exiting the area, the two men put IR lightsticks at each of the designated positions. At dark, nothing would be visible to the normal eye. With a night vision device, the area around each lightstick would glow greatly, marking the area for the first team coming in tonight to begin security.
As Rusty and Todd got up and began to move out of the area, Rusty paused, placed his hand on his hand and raised and lowered it three times. Two seconds later the radio cracked twice.
"They got it, let's get the hell out of here." Todd said, denoting that their two cover men had gotten Rusty's message that they were good and leaving out.
"They tailing us back?" Rusty asked Todd.
"I don't think so, I think they are staying and watching the area till the first team arrives." Todd said in a low voice.
The distance back to the retreat was a little under 5 miles which both men could have easily walked in a little over an hour, instead it took well over 3 hours to cover that distance making sure they were not being followed and counter-tracking.
Jim gathered everyone together from the 3 rotations of men that would be regularly going out on the observation ops for a briefing.
"Alright, Rusty and Todd found us two good sites to cover the North field. Mr. Hansen generally rotates pasture every few weeks, but he's currently using this area for about a month at a time since this area has a good supply of hay stockpiled in it. I don't know a lot about raising cows and pasture, so I asked him to let us know at least 3 days before he plans to rotate pasture so we can get set up to cover different fields." Todd said.
"I want everyone to study these aerial photographs, the topo as well as the sketches and pictures they brought back. Tonight I will go out with the first team in and help to get the area set up. "
"General SOP's are as usual. More basic stuff, but worth saying again- Weapons are to be cleaned before going on the OP's, we will keep a few sleeping mats and bags at the site along with a few days rations and water. This way we save time on the normal camp setup and take down as well as lessening the load that needs to be carried in each time. We will have two people out of each four carry a ruck, mainly to bring in a few days worth of water and food and to carry out trash and excrement when leaving. So what I'm saying is you shouldn't need a lot of comfort type items, just your standard "fighting" load. Specific items like listening devices, Night vision devices, seismic sets, etc. will be carried in tonight and left for use by each team. Same will be for the two distance rifles that will be brought in. As needed we will bring in additional equipment." Jim said.
"So we are going to be sleeping in the rain?" Todd asked.
"Yes, but you act like we've never done that before. We will likely be able to string up a poncho or camo tarp for rain protection and then cover it with netting. On to the next." Jim went on.
"No bug sprays, no scents. If you have foo foo scents in your soap now, quit using it and use the hunter's soap we have for that purpose at least a day prior to an OP your going on. Each team will be fully camoflaged and inspected for the same prior to leaving the retreat. That means face paint also, not just face nets. Everything needs to be dulled down, including your weapons, you can do it or I can do it, doesn't matter to me. Camoflage, light and noise discipline must be kept at all times until you return here.
"Seven magazines MINIMUM for the AK's to include one in the weapon. That's seven Thirty round mags, you'll need more if you have 20's. Two canteens of water or 1 canteen plus a Camelbak, comp*** and knife, the rest is standard **** we always carry. We will emplace a J pole antenna and leave a radio there at the site but I want the Team Leader and ***istant team leaders both to carry radios as well. Absolutely no fires or lights used, day or night. That's a no brainer but I figured I'd say it anyways. Keep radio transmissions to a minimum. Every man is to carry a small notepad and pencil. Just like when we practiced observation skills, note everything with time, full SALUTE report, all that. Any potential threats to the retreat are to be reported immediately with the code words "Sound and Fury" and verified by comm here at the retreat. Each team will have a briefing and inspection before leaving and a debriefing upon arrival. No one leaves the observation point unless they are in severe medical difficulty. Hell guys, it's only 2 days at a go, we can stand in mud for 2 days if we really want to. And steak tastes a helluva lot better than mud eh?" Jim said.
The briefing went on another 2 minutes and then questions were asked, possible scenarios thrown out and discussed and then the meeting ended. 3 men went about the business of packing and preparing for the OP.
The two men moved forwarded and got into an observation point overlooking the field. It was a perfect spot for observation and protection of Mr. Hansen's herd. It was a wooded area overlooking a vast field, slightly raised from the surrounding area. It overlooked one of Mr. Hansen's pasture areas and 500 yards beyond, a paved county road. To the East and North were hundreds of acres of pine forest. To the West also lay pine forest, interrupted by a dirt road here and there. Their were other spots for an observation point, but this one was clearly the best.
"What'cha think?" Todd asked Rusty.
"It's good, almost too good." Rusty replied.
"I know what you mean, but where else can we see this whole area?" Todd said.
"I agree, all I'm saying is that I would expect this area to be used as an observation point, it's an obvious place for it." Rusty replied.
"Well then, let's keep looking." Todd said.
They eventually settled on two spots, approximately 100 yards apart. It worked out well because both spots had certain blind areas, and having two spots would allow full coverage.
Entrance and exit points were reconned both visually and via topographic map and aerial photographs. Jim had previously purchased aerial photographs of the whole county from the local tax ***essors office just for situations like this. Seeing as the last topographical map made for this area was produced in 1979, this info was crucial to show residences and buildings built since that time, areas that had been deforested or planted, slight changes in waterways, etc.
Sketches of the observation area were made by both Rusty and Todd. In addition, Jim's Sony digital camera was brought along and a dozen photos of the area were put on disk to correspond with the sketches. Locations were noted for seismic detectors to be emplaced at. A rally point was designated 400 yards from the positions. More work would begin that night, actually fleshing out the positions and beginning the work. Before exiting the area, the two men put IR lightsticks at each of the designated positions. At dark, nothing would be visible to the normal eye. With a night vision device, the area around each lightstick would glow greatly, marking the area for the first team coming in tonight to begin security.
As Rusty and Todd got up and began to move out of the area, Rusty paused, placed his hand on his hand and raised and lowered it three times. Two seconds later the radio cracked twice.
"They got it, let's get the hell out of here." Todd said, denoting that their two cover men had gotten Rusty's message that they were good and leaving out.
"They tailing us back?" Rusty asked Todd.
"I don't think so, I think they are staying and watching the area till the first team arrives." Todd said in a low voice.
The distance back to the retreat was a little under 5 miles which both men could have easily walked in a little over an hour, instead it took well over 3 hours to cover that distance making sure they were not being followed and counter-tracking.
Jim gathered everyone together from the 3 rotations of men that would be regularly going out on the observation ops for a briefing.
"Alright, Rusty and Todd found us two good sites to cover the North field. Mr. Hansen generally rotates pasture every few weeks, but he's currently using this area for about a month at a time since this area has a good supply of hay stockpiled in it. I don't know a lot about raising cows and pasture, so I asked him to let us know at least 3 days before he plans to rotate pasture so we can get set up to cover different fields." Todd said.
"I want everyone to study these aerial photographs, the topo as well as the sketches and pictures they brought back. Tonight I will go out with the first team in and help to get the area set up. "
"General SOP's are as usual. More basic stuff, but worth saying again- Weapons are to be cleaned before going on the OP's, we will keep a few sleeping mats and bags at the site along with a few days rations and water. This way we save time on the normal camp setup and take down as well as lessening the load that needs to be carried in each time. We will have two people out of each four carry a ruck, mainly to bring in a few days worth of water and food and to carry out trash and excrement when leaving. So what I'm saying is you shouldn't need a lot of comfort type items, just your standard "fighting" load. Specific items like listening devices, Night vision devices, seismic sets, etc. will be carried in tonight and left for use by each team. Same will be for the two distance rifles that will be brought in. As needed we will bring in additional equipment." Jim said.
"So we are going to be sleeping in the rain?" Todd asked.
"Yes, but you act like we've never done that before. We will likely be able to string up a poncho or camo tarp for rain protection and then cover it with netting. On to the next." Jim went on.
"No bug sprays, no scents. If you have foo foo scents in your soap now, quit using it and use the hunter's soap we have for that purpose at least a day prior to an OP your going on. Each team will be fully camoflaged and inspected for the same prior to leaving the retreat. That means face paint also, not just face nets. Everything needs to be dulled down, including your weapons, you can do it or I can do it, doesn't matter to me. Camoflage, light and noise discipline must be kept at all times until you return here.
"Seven magazines MINIMUM for the AK's to include one in the weapon. That's seven Thirty round mags, you'll need more if you have 20's. Two canteens of water or 1 canteen plus a Camelbak, comp*** and knife, the rest is standard **** we always carry. We will emplace a J pole antenna and leave a radio there at the site but I want the Team Leader and ***istant team leaders both to carry radios as well. Absolutely no fires or lights used, day or night. That's a no brainer but I figured I'd say it anyways. Keep radio transmissions to a minimum. Every man is to carry a small notepad and pencil. Just like when we practiced observation skills, note everything with time, full SALUTE report, all that. Any potential threats to the retreat are to be reported immediately with the code words "Sound and Fury" and verified by comm here at the retreat. Each team will have a briefing and inspection before leaving and a debriefing upon arrival. No one leaves the observation point unless they are in severe medical difficulty. Hell guys, it's only 2 days at a go, we can stand in mud for 2 days if we really want to. And steak tastes a helluva lot better than mud eh?" Jim said.
The briefing went on another 2 minutes and then questions were asked, possible scenarios thrown out and discussed and then the meeting ended. 3 men went about the business of packing and preparing for the OP.
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