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From:  Warlord #1 @1 VirtualNET
Title: Dogs
Date:  Sun Oct 20, 1996 18:08:28

A couple of Winters ago, the Alpha Group was out in the wilds doing some
training from our mountain top retreat.  It was VERY cold and had been for
some time.  All of the first night we heard dogs barking in the distance, and
we had known for some time that there were several large packs of stray, wild
dogs in the area... but they generally left us alone. 

In my opinion, "Strays" are THE most dangerous form of wild Canines,
surpassing even wolves. They are used to humans and are, therefore, not afraid
of them.  Most strays were mistreated before they were abandoned or "went to
wild"... making them even more distrustful of humans.

The Afternoon of our second day brought us to a compass course.  Using our
Topography Maps of the area, I layed out a grueling course for the more
experienced of the group to navagate... crossing a mountain, cliffs, dense
growth and cold swampy areas.  I was to stay behind on our plateu retreat and
serve as a reference point for minor course adjustments the main team must
make, and to serve as communications.  We routinely carry several forms of
communications into the wilds with us, and this day we were using hand held 40
channel CB radios.  

I watched as our team clambered down the steep cliff sides of our
mountain top retreat, and crossed the cold, swampy valley below.  They scaled
the cliffs on the next mountain over just as a BIG pack of dogs broke cover on 
the valley floor... The team radioed back to warn me, but I had seen them
already and was not particularly worried since our camp sat atop a pretty high
Mountain surrounded by cliffs, except for one small place where a rock slide
had made a dirt ramp up to within 10 feet from the top.  I did not think a dog 
could navagate that one weak spot.  Mistake number one.  I underestimated the
will of the starving animals.  The team proceeded across the next mountain top 
and as they crossed the peak they turned and waved back at me, knowing that
communications would be temporarily out untill they got out from directly
under the shielding shadow of the mountain it'self.  Meanwhile the Dogs had
picked up the teams scent and were following it backwards...right to me.  

We make it a rule to always keep our weapons with us, even in camp.  that is
what probably kept me from getting torn to shreds.  I looked over the cliff
side and saw that one dog was in a crack in the cliffside and doing a very
fair job of "chimneying" up it!  I watched in fascination as the dog climbed 
and suddenly I decided that I had better stand up and check the low spot...
as I turned around, there stood two mangy looking curs with their fur
bristling. I do not know how they got up the cliff side, much less how they
did it so quickly... but I decided the time for Awe was over and the time for
action begun...  I thumbed the safety off my MAK-90 and sent several quick
rounds of hollow points into both dogs.  One fell immediately and the other
made it about 5 steps from me before collapsing.  I leaned over the edge and
dispatched "The climbing wonder dog" and then sprayed the valley floor with a
fresh 30 round mag, sending the rest to flight.

My ears were still ringing when I heard the radio, "Alpha-3 to Alpha-1"  I
replied "Alpha-3 this is Alpha-1, go ahead"    "Alpha-1, What the hell are you
doing over there?  Sounds like Vietnam!  Do you need us?"

The compass course was cut short and the team dead recconned back to our 
position... just in case.  We got a fresh dose of respect for the rules we
follow and why it is important to follow them always.  When we are in the wild 
it is ONLY our skill, knowledge, and equipment that keep us safe. WE are the
only ones we can depend on to come to our rescue.

6Origin: 7The (/\)astelands of Alpha-1 BBS!
