The Harvest Report

General Summary

On July 22, the PCs let Soviet Private Fyodorov go with a rifle, some ammo, some food, and some camping supplies, as agreed-to. Close to dinner time, Konstantyn returned from his trip to Kuźnica Trzcińska, having explained the situation Kuźnica Słupska found itself in and successfully negotiated with the mayor there, Daria Fryderyka Jedynak, to consolidate the 2 villages.   If the American soldiers can man the town's guard posts, that will free up villagers to begin packing up and hauling Kuźnica Słupska's goods and supplies to their new home ahead of the harvest. Konstantyn says that they'll begin the harvest on July 27, so before then, they should be able to relocate a lot of supplies and material.   Konstantyn also gathered some news and gossip while he was away. Trade is beginning to increase in central and southern Poland. Krakow is now reportedly capable of manufacturing small quantities of antibiotics and the rabies vaccine in addition to the small arms ammunition, mortars and mortar bombs, and bicycles that have been their mainstay. The Markgraf of Silesia has apparently managed to get some Silesian coal mines working again and is trading coal and food for Krakow's manufactured goods. There is also a merchant's league (Liga Handlowcy) forming among some of the unaligned/independent villages of Silesia. Of particular note to the Americans is that the Markgraf of Silesia has put out word that Silesia is a safe place for American soldiers.   Jade and/or Joseph go hunting nearly every day to ensure a steady food supply for the 9 remaining prisoners and the 3 new American 5th Division stragglers. The group decides to convert their captured BTR-60 to alcohol and reserve the gasoline in its tank for an emergency or for trading. They've also been operating the village's still and their own still all day every day to fuel up.   On July 25, while out hunting, Jade spies another Soviet patrol near where the Americans had ambushed a previous patrol and captured their BTR. This new patrol also has a BTR and Jade notes with concern that this one has a radio antenna. When she returns to the village, the Americans and the mayor discuss the problem. They eventually decide that it would be wisest to try and misdirect the latest patrol if it visits the village rather than ambushing it and attracting even more attention. Their debrief of Private Fyodorov informed them that his unit, the 277th Motor Rifle Regiment, had been stripped down to just 350 men with 8 BTRs and a variety of trucks. Their tanks, their other fighting vehicles, and most of their manpower had been reassigned to the 21st Motor Rifle Division for the assault on Kalisz.   As part of the misdirection, Joe plants some trash and other evidence of Americans' presence at an abandoned farmstead a few kilometers east of Kuźnica Słupska. The team also prepares fighting positions in case the misdirection doesn't work and a fight is necessary at the village.   The Soviet patrol arrives on the 27th, rolling in from the north as the villagers are harvesting the first field of the day. Konstantyn spins a story about some Americans showing up a few days back, digging up some potatoes, but being run off to the east by the armed villagers. The captain in charge of the patrol seems to buy the story and the Soviets climb back into their BTR-60 and head off to the east.   Everyone waits nervously for a couple of days but the Soviet patrol does not reappear. On the 29th, Joe carefully scouts the abandoned homestead to the east that he'd prepared to further the ruse and finds evidence that the Soviets (or at least some Soviets in a BTR) visited it.   During the harvest, 2 of the 3 5th Division stragglers that wandered in on the 21st, First Sergeant Jackson and PFC Queen, tell the group that they'd like to stick with them. Specialist Myers has had enough of fighting and would like to stay with the villagers. He's mechanically inclined and the villagers are happy to have him. Kuźnica Trzcińska had a textile factory before the war and they grow cotton and flax and produce small quantities of textiles now, so Myers can help keep their machines running. And among 80+ villagers, they're confident they can hide 1 American if Soviets or Pact-aligned Polish troops show up.   On the 31st, Jade has some excitement when, returning to the village after killing a boar, she is surprised and attacked by a hungry brown bear. She successfully avoids the bear's claws then nearly empties the magazine of her AK-74 into it, killing it. Before butchering the bear, she also skins it.   The villagers complete their harvest just after sundown on August 3. What would ordinarily be cause for celebration instead prompts only muted cheer, as the villagers need to immediately resume relocating their harvested crops and remaining belongings to their new home. While that resumes on the 4th, Joe and Jade take the opportunity to scout on foot to the south, expecting that the Americans will be headed in that direction soon.   A few kilometers north of Kluczbork, they spot a Soviet patrol on foot that also spots them. They successfully give the Soviets the slip, however and return to Kuźnica Słupska, having not encountered any other troops.   The Americans have begun discussing their next steps and feel like heading South, then either a little west into Silesia or a little east to Krakow is what makes sense, given the Warsaw Pact troop dispositions they're aware of at the moment. The group also decides to keep both the Humvee and the BTR. It means refueling will take longer, but it gives them tactical flexibility, could serve to temporarily confuse both Pact and NATO forces into not immediately shooting at them, and means they don't have all their eggs in 1 basket. Also, Jackson and Queen were part of the 256th Brigade's motor pool, so they're able to help keep the vehicles running and are both decent drivers.   When some of the villagers return on the night of the 4th, they share more news with the Americans. Apparently the Soviet 129th Motor Rifle Division has established a significant base in Wrocław and is also garrisoning Namysłów, Opole, Kluczbork, and Olesno and patrolling between those towns. This means that heading due south is likely to have the Americans running into a significant Soviet presence. After studying the map and what they know at this point, they decide to make for Częstochowa, which is an abandoned ruin. Then they can either swing around the line being held by the 129th and make for Silesia (the Markgraf's capital is Raciborz) or they can continue southeast and head for Krakow.   Konstantyn says goodbye to the Americans on the evening of August 7th. The last of his villagers have departed. The Americans decide to spend the night in the now abandoned village and depart in the morning, freeing their prisoners as they go. They have 98 liters of gasoline in 20L jerrycans, they have a full tank of alcohol in the Humvee, a full tank of alcohol in the BTR, and almost another 140 liters of alcohol in 20L jerrycans. And they have 29 rations of dried meat left over from Jade and Joe's hunting, less whatever they decide to leave for the 9 prisoners of war that will be freed.