Summer Tourney at Liloan

[gands]

Airsoft at Jubay Lilo-an
Organized by EMC
March 18, 2007

First Evolution
Capture the Flag

At 6:00 am of that Sunday March 18, 2006 I had my first text message for the day. “Gan, madayon ta tournament? Unsa imu landline?”, the text message came from Nantoy of ATO wants to combine with NSW8 for the tournament of the day at Lilo-an. I replied with a call and was asking “pila mo diha”. Prompt was the reply, “
“walo”
“okay”, I said, “unom mi ka buok, pero moapas kuno si Marion, si Romy ug si Lord. Mapun-an ta. Kaabot ra ta 15 okay na”
By eight o’clock was already waiting for my brother in law in Shell Mandaue first bridge.
8:15 all smiles from fellow NSW8 memebers greeted us McDonalds Petron Mandaue. Avie, Jojo.Juvy, Francis obviously had already their breakfast by the sheer of look of mess and scramble of cups, plastic sthingys and fork and styrofors on the table.
“Lawgawa, na’ay 6:30 pa mi diri ni Sir Avie. Dugaya ninyo oi” grunted Jovy. 15 minutes after, we were on our way to EMC organized Titay’s Airsoft Tournament at Jubay, Lilo-an. Few talks and we were gearing up for the first evolution.
It was sultry dry and hot day. By 9:30 Nantoy and the rest of the ATO guys were also gearing up and was ready to join us near the organizer’s table. After inquiring Aldrex and Chester of EMC the procedure for the registration, I was referred to the registration table. Got the paper and pen and started listing down the members.
I listed down 6 NSW members, 8 likewise came from ATO. Wha! We need one more to complete the slate.
We scanned the setting of the first scenario. It was a fenced, 30 degree slope with lush of vegetation. Trails were clearly defined. Not much canopy but just the same the upper portion can nevertheless hide the woodland camouflage. I checked at Nantoy and Junjun’s camou. We were wearing the same camou pattern and I cant hide how amused I was at our tri-color camou in a jungle setting. “Hehe Abi naku CQB ni, jungle man diay” Finally I blurted without hiding my embarrassment.
By 10:00 we were on the go. Marion, Lord and Rene finally reinforced us. Though Rene didn’t play, it was good enough we were complete at 15 team members.
I squinted my eyes to view team Diablo entered the game site just across the road. I saw them being briefed by Franklin. A little hush hush and huddle. Then the siren from the megaphone blared. Off they go!!!
25 minutes later the megaphone blared again. It was our turn inside the game site.
“Bai 25 minutes are ato time. 7 flags: 3 ang tag 100 points 4 ang tag 50 points, puntos lang ta never mind ang 5 ka OPFOR, wala nay puntos. Kung 2 minutes na lang pull out ta balik sa LZ. Maniguro ta sa flags. Left flank NSW8, Right flank ATO. Magkita lang ta sa ta-as .Flag ato siguro-on. Puntos ta. Okay.”That was the last briefing we had with the team before submitting our score sheet.
Ceremonial photo ops from Franklin, last second Whoa and the megaphone sounded as if screaming at us to scramble.
Twhooooot!!!! Off we go! Juvy, Jojo, and Francis rushed to the left most trail, Avie, Dennis and I took the center trail which forked to the left from the main road. I saw the ATO guys ran to take the right most portion of the game site.
The trail we took went straight up and we imdmediately engaged the 30-45 degree slope. I was tempted to rush up the trail but my fear of an ambush from the OPFOR held me down to keep pace with Avie and Dennis.
I was tracking the trail, Dennis was making his way through the bushes 5 meters to my right while Avie was supporting me from the back aiming his M-4 at at my forward position. This is a very good photo ops formation.
“Dens, nadala nimu Camera?” I wasn’t candid of my desire for a photops
“Tua sa folding chair sa ubos ” Dennis was whispering.
“Okay””I turned to Avie if he heard me, but he was till covering my rear. Then I remember our briefing “…puntos lang ta…maniguro ta sa flags…” I felt ashamed for asking that camera.

5 minutes into the game and I was breathing heavily of anticipation of an encounter.
“Flag, yellow” Dennis said in low but audible voice who found it by a tree .
“Yes! 50 points na Dens” I replied “inaug na nato then hapiton na lang padung nato balik LZ”. I gave a slight sigh after saying it, I know no one wants to bring that flag down and get back to the formation up the slope. So I took it and went a few steps back and hid it by the bushes. Geez! How I wish I didn’t suggest about what to do with the flag, now I might have to do it myself!

Slowly, we crawled through the upper portion of the slope. The shades from the trees and the moving leaves swayed by the gentle breeze made it difficult to point out a camouflaged person.
I made the decision to make probing shots into group of leaves. Pak! Pak! Pak! Pak! Pak!. It was a short burst purposely made to erase my doubts if it was an OPFOR taking an aim at me. My shots harmlessly went through the leaves.
At the dense portion of trail, a shadow was carefully sneaking through the lushes about 10 meters from where I was kneeling. I took my aim and sharply discerned his camouflage. It was not tiger stripe which was OPFOR’s camouflage.
“Romy!” it was voice higher than a whisper.
“Gans!” was the quick reply
“Dikiti ko Roms kay abante ta” I moved in front of him.
I glanced to the left and found Francis and Jojo supporting us and Romy.

A few steps and we Lo! We found one big blue flag with its pole clipped by the branches of a tree.
“Biraha Gans 100 points na” I didn’t look back who was saying it but I just grabbed the flag, spun and rushed back to Avie’s rear. I was expecting a burst from an OPFOR who might have been guarding that flag. But none came.

Just as when I was about to bring the flag down, the battle began!

Tak! Tak! Tak! Tak! Tak! Tak! Tak! Tak! Tak! Tak! Tak!,it seemed endless.
Dennis saw the tiger stripe first aiming at Avie and fired but just as when he was about to completely unleash his AK 47, the OPFOR ducked and transferred to another tree. Avie squeezed his trigger to follow the OPFOR but the OPFOR showed familiarity with the bushes and obviously knew where to hide when trapped.
Pak pak pak pak pak pak pak pak pak pak, The OPFOR was determined to hold us down. Tak tak tak tak tak tak tak tak tak, the reply from Avie was furious. Dennis joined in pinning the OPFOR Tak tak tak tak tak tak tak tak. No clear visuals with the OPFOR. There must be an angle to get a better view of the OPFOR. Pak pak pak pak pak pak pak pak pak, Geez! He want us all to duck.

Prak prak prak prak prak prak prak praaaaakkkk! Came the familiar sound of Romy’s M-4 beating the OPFOR from the lower side of the vegetation.
Then came the red bandana up the head of the OPFOR. Whew someone finally got the OPFOR.

I suspect there were more OPFOR along the trail so I decided to save our points than getting hit at. I brought the two flags down to the LZ and asked the timer of our consumed time.
“17 minutes na bai” I felt like going back up the slope but I was still catching my breath and was feeling dizzy from then 12:00 noon heat.
I decided to check ATO’s at the right flank and moved up the right side of the hill. Just as when I was about to peer through the dense vegetation, bbs were whizzing and hitting the leaves and tree bark 5 meters from me
Tak tak tak tak tak tak tak tak tak tak tak tak. The exchange was more furious than what we had at our skirmish minutes ago.
Three ATO guys were pinned down by the volley of BBs from the OPFOR.

“Bai ka abante mo?” My question was more of an order than a query.
“Gans duha ka OPFOR, lisud mi ”It dawned to me that it was futile to push the assault with at ratio of 3 or 4:2.
I tried to advance to see if I can help the guys out.
I saw them each taking cover from trees. But i couldnt see the OPFOR.
"Asa dapit Jun?" I was helpess so I have to shout.
"Kanang daku kahoy 15 meters 1 o'clock" Junjun retorted but was not peeking out at the OPFOR.
I tried to stand to get a better view of the OPFOr's location.
Pak pak pak pak pak pak. shX@#$%^%^&&tt, I saw the BB's 20 meters away all swooping at my location. I didnt know the OPFOR could be that hostile. I was forced to duck behind the tree. I decided to go for the points than take down the OPFOR
“Flags? Naa?”,I was more worried if there were able to get flags than if they hit the OPFOR.
“Gans kakuha mi usa ka yellow ug usa ka red” came the reply.
“Okay na na bai pull out ta in two minutes” I grabbed the yellow flag and ran back to the LZ. This time I felt the scorching heat filtered through my bonnie hat and was burning my skull, my throat was dry and felt light head from running.
I asked the timer how of our time and was told we have three minutes left.

I decided it was time to call off the game.
I took a few steps to the green bushes at the left of the main road, took a deep breath and shouted at Dennis and Avie’s group “Pull back, two minutes na, pull back!!!
I dashed again to the ATOs about fifty meters to the right and yelled the same order “Pull back, two minutes na, pull back”
“Okay, naog na mi” The reply from the jungle was almost simultaneous.
One by one the brave members of NSW and ATO started to emerge from the lushes.
When Bryan from ATO who was proud his big red flag, finally descended to the LZ, I tapped the timer to stop the our time.
At the end of the game, 5 of our members were hit. Ten remained, but none was missing in action. All were able to get back to the LZ within the regulation time.
We had our last photo ops from Franklin after the game. Beside us were two big flags and two small flags we seized from the respectable and determined OPFOR. At the end of the game, we garnered only 275 points after 25 which was the equivalent of the 5 hits were deducted from the 300 points we initially earned.
We feasted on lechon manok and puso for our lunch where the battle of the day was endlessly retold by still adrenalized airsofters.

Half an hour of rest and we were gearing up for the next evolution which was bomb rertrieval.

(to be continued

[kamatay]

nice nice war story...

[charlie]

Good reportage!!!! Gands......... keeping us on track

[francis]

Part 2, CQB!

[gands]

nsw 8

brainstorming

more brainstorming

pre ops briefing

[gands]

TOURNEY II

Second Evolution
Bomb Retrieval

The bomb retrieval game site was located about 300 hundred meters south west where we had our first evolution. Unlike in the first evolution the second one was on plain ground. The ground likewise soft and grassy and it was well covered with shades of rows of mango trees. Playing on it will not be as difficult as it was in the Capture the Flag evolution.

One very good thing about the tournament is that the organizers provided participating teams sufficient information about scenario for each game which included the objectives, the points to be attained, the number of OPFORS and the rules of the game. What was even more impressive is that we were given a map, which covered both sites. Somehow, this map made the game fair and even to all players who are not familiar with the sites.

Added to it was the absence of marshals to tag hit players, thus leaving the more important aspect of the game which is the honor system, largely on the players. The game was given to the players as how airsoft should be, as the saying goes.

At 1:30 PM, all fifteen of us were circling around Aldrex intent on comprehending all instructions.

With map laid down on the ground, the location of the “bomb”, which was actually a ‘termos’, was pointed out in the map. It was located approximately a hundred yards from where we were standing which was also the LZ / EP. Mechanics of the detonation which was the insertion of a fuse into its housing, was likewise explained. A radio was given to a team member to call out the code to controller Aldrex for him to reveal the specific location of the fuse.
Earning the points was not hard to understand: 100 points were earned if the code was relayed to controller, another 100 points of the fuse is inserted into the housing and 300 points if the bomb was successfully brought back to the EP. 5 points were also to be deducted for each team member hit.
“Bai, lima ra na ka OPFOR, dili ta mag-spread out. Concentrate ato firepower. ATO dikit sa paril bai straight padung sa tumoy,. NSW diretso sa balay ayaw na’g lipot. Ang bomb naa ra diha about 200 meters from the lz. Pas pas ta kay mag reinforcement na sila’g 10 more OPFOR 10 minutes into the game. Once contact is made tabangan nato tanan ang OPFOR.” Bryan volunteered to take the radio, I took the backpack that will contain the ‘bomb’ back to the EP. We came up with the simplest plan available: No flanking to the rear, no decoys, no faking, just plain frontal assault. Everyone was in for a suicide mission.
Then the countdown started. “3…2….1….and Go!!!” curt was the send off given to us when the game started. All members darted off towards the potential location of the ‘bomb’.
ATO rushed straight to edge of the concrete fence as instructed, while NSW8 cautiously hopped from one position to another underneath the shades of mango trees. I stayed in the middle of the two packs to see which one lagged behind. I motioned the slower guys to move faster since the lead man of ATO was about to reach the edge of the concrete fence. They begin to move swiftly.
It didn’t take long before I heard the familiar crackling sound of airsoft guns filling the air. ATO made the first contact. Somebody from the forward position cried, “NAA SA LUBI DUOL PARIL!!!”. No one cared who gave the order and from whom it came from, everyone’s attention veered towards the direction pointed and in that instance six or seven players were emptying their magazines at the OPFOR’s location…all at the same time. Pak pak pak pak pak pak pak pak!!!! The exchange of bb’s was furious. The OPFOR chose his position well. Except for persons in the left most flank, none had visual of him.
Tak tak tak tak tak tak tak. Another OPFOR opened up just as soon as the NSW guys maneuvered to the right of the ATO guys. “Naa ubos sa gemelina !!!” warned Romy. Soon Francis and Lord were assaulting the 2nd OPFOR’s position. The third OPFOR, didn’t fired at us till we were able get near the 2nd OPFOR and when he did, it surprised us.
Now we were up against three OPFORS.
“Tua ra ang bomb!”, Bryan pointed at the bomb inside a cage like gazebo..
“Aysa sud la wa pa ma clear!” I was hesitant to rush at retrieving the bomb since a firefight was still raging at my right flank.
“Kuhaa ang naa sa lubi!” I decided to make sure the nearest OPFOR is taken down before we get inside the structure to seize the bomb.
The first OPFOR must have felt that he was about to be flanked, and he moved back from his entrenchment. That was the time that we view him unobstructed. All four from my group, shoot at the same time. It was raining whites on his position. Tak tak tak tak, tak tak tak. Soon the red bandana was raised. We got our first obstacle.
I look at my watch, we were still three minutes into the game. There’s enough time to take the bomb before the reinforcement comes.
Now everyone was engaging all four remaining OPFORs. Fifteen against four…We had a good chance we can flank and take them down…Tak tak tak tak tak tak tak tak….Everyone was maneuvering and taking good shots at the OPFORs.
Unlike in the first scenario where vegetation covered the OPFORs well, this time, we could point them out from a distance.
it was minutes of endless and furious firefight. Soon I saw the OPFOr’s raised their red bandana’s one by one.
“Cleared na lagi, sudla na ang bomb” Someome shouted persistently, so Brian and Me rushed inside the structure. I covered Brian for a possible concealed OPFOR nearby while he pulled out the radio. Excitedly he called the EP and gave the code for instruction to locate the fuse. “Ang fuse naa sa blue nga pvc pipe ibabaw sa tangkal sa manok” swift was the reply from Aldrex from the EP.
I glanced at the area mentioned and immediately picked up the pvc pipe containing the fuse. In matter of seconds the fuse was already in placed in its housing inside the ‘termos’. Apprehensive that the reinforcement will catch at us when the ten minute is up, we hurriedly placed the “bomb” inside the back pack and swung it to my back. Now we were ready for the extraction.
Eight minutes into the game and we were on our way to the EP.
It was seconds past ten minutes that all fifteen of us were able to reach the EP without deduction. It was then that we learned that we got the best time among other teams. It pleased us all. Speed was the key factor to the team’s success. We couldn’t hide our smile while walking back to our “barracks”.
The sun went down, our bodies cooled down, the gears unpacked but the memories of the game lingered among the members.

[drinox]

NICE READ. Mura man ko ga basa ug Ludlum. haha
Even if I am just reading your story gands, I can feel the excitement and the adrenalin rush you guys have experienced. The fact that i was there watching, had some goose bumps when you made your run made me more relate to the story you posted. :-)

The scenario was simple, thus the execution must be simple too, RETRIEVE the BOMB. I was just wondering why some teams opted to take the long route while they were informed too that there are more opfors on that area and they will engage when fired upon even before the 10 minute grace period is over. Wipe out hinoon ang uban Team, hehehehe.

More Power Guys.

[gands]

Thanks drex, till next tournament. There's one to be held this 16th and 17th of June hope you guys can participate