Post Christmas game update

So the Christmas game was one heck of a tiring day out.

Up early, drive to work to pick-up Nightwolf who had just completed a Night Shift (00:00 > 08:00), rush to the ferry port, travel to the island (Isle of Wight), drive across the island, get geared up, play game.
I thought I had it bad. Poor Nightwolf proceeded to stay awake for the entire day and run/marshal a game AFTER an 8 hour shift. THEN he endured the drive/boat ride home for about 7pm, to then go on shift again at 0:00. Madness.

Anyway.

The trip to Island Recon was the first time at the site for both Darkie and myself.
We started with the usual fare. Turn up, gear up, sign on and pay, safety brief, start the first game.

We were briefed on the scenario for the day, Santa vs. Elfs. Luckily we happened to be on the "Santa" team. Even more lucky, it was a defence game. That early in the morning I didn't much fancy running, even more so that the M249 was actually heavier than I had expected once all geared up.
The objective was for the "Elfs" to get to the Santa fortress and blow the gates allowing them to over-run us. All we had to do, was hold them off.

The 249 proved most worthy at laying down long, sustained bursts of fire, with a not bad range and accuracy either. Looks like my re-build after purchase was really worth the effort. Darkie managed to empty several G36 mags to the point of actually running out of ammo.
I managed to stay alive for most of the game purely due to the medic (who was running around everywhere and eventually gave up his gun in return for manoeuvrability) reviving me. Eventually he died leaving us unable to revive and most of the rest of us falling to the overwhelming numbers (respawns) of the Elfs.
After what seemed like forever the elves finally managed to get to our base and detonate their bomb. It was all over however we managed to hold out for quite some time.

The second game saw us turn the scenario around. The Santa team had to attempt to recapture our base from the naughty Elfs, in a quicker time than they had taken it from us.
A quick ammo-up (as quick as filling 4 G36 mags and a box mag can be) and we were back out into the field.
Assaulting the base actually proved to be easier than defending due to the extra elevation afforded from that direction. It was a constant push that eventually gave us the edge with the final assault resulting in someone yelling to me "gunner, we need covering fire, hit that complex", and me holding down the trigger and pelting the entire solid structure that we were attacking. As our team flanked both sides with me keeping the heads down in front, the enemy was eliminated securing us a victory.

We proceeded onto the final game before lunch with yet another victory scored for the Santa team.

Everyone stopped for lunch which was laid on (as it always is) by the fine staff at Island Recon. Hot dog and onions was very much welcome on the otherwise incredibly cold day, and Darkie and I had a cup of tea from the urn as well.
Another ammo refill (number 2), and we were out again.

Another couple of games and the Santa team had again won (clearly Red is better camo in the woods?).

The finale of the day saw the Santa team assaulting the Elves strong hold. Luckily for us this was again, down hill. The Elfs really didn't stand much of a chance against us though they were able to call artillery which took out a few of our team and slowed the advance.
Kaiser, being the crazy pyro that he is, fired up the home-made smokes giving a nice thick cover across the enemy base and adding to the already intense atmosphere, but that didn't stop us. We kept pushing until every last Elf was out of the game.
At the end of the day we gathered round for the spectacle that was the Santa bombardment of the Elf base by way of several detonations my Kaiser.
The games ended and we started our return to base to pack-up and go home.

Far too much ammo was expended by me (a bag at least to myself), and Darkie managed to damage a hop-up unit. But a good day was had by all.

Thanks goes out to all the players and staff at Island Recon. Without you (every one of you) the day wouldn't have been what it was. It really goes to show that it's the players that make our sport what it is.