Hard to get an accurate number of people there since they wouldn't stay
still long enough (like herding cats) but I counted 45 before Ivan and the
last few car loads arrived. Lots of targets, lots of shooters, lots of fun.
Even the weather was decent - a bit chilly when we arrived, but the sun and
shooting warmed us all up and it turned out to be a wonderful day for
shooting.
From the Ghostwalkers we had myself, Matt (B'alrahg), Brent (Preacher), Bill
(Jester), James (Spike), Dan (Steel), New Dave (No Name), Amanda (Also No
Name), and Shane (Silencer). Most of the Ghostwalkers were only able to stay
for the first three games. Silencer and Preacher were the all day players.
Mad Ivan and his group brought their usual excellent referee skills, paint,
and gas passing.
The first game was a basic 20 minute capture the flag, with Ghostwalkers
attacking. Taking a fairly direct route into the bunkered field, B'alrahg
and I lasted only about 5 minutes before taking hits. I think the opposition
won this one. The opposition did an outstanding job of taking up defendable
positions and holding their ground. They continued this for the next two
games as well.
Game two was an hour long resurrection, with either a medic on scene or
return to base for healing. Neither side had the flag, both had to get and
keep it to win. The flag was "free" till the last 10 minutes or so of play
when the opposition took control of the bunkered field. They held ground
till the end, winning the match. I started play trying to flank the bunkered
field from the river side, taking hits twice in the process. I think the
second was friendly fire - not sure - but it required my return to the base
camp as the field medic had also been hit and was no longer at hand. I
continued play on the West field, trying to assist in clearing the nasty
hornets nest around the bridge. Twice. I ended up in my last outing of the
match going straight down the bar ditch with a few others. When my tank ran
out of air, I ditched my rig and continued with my side arm and 20 rounds. I
had more luck this way, shooting out two and calling for surrender on 6
before being  asked to surrender myself.
Game three we took up the defensive in the bunkered field. Steel and Myself
along with a new shooter took up positions on the lake side of the berm,
where the lake and bunkered field first connect. We had some pretty decent
shooting there, after a quiet five minutes. We spotted a couple of
opposition forces coming down the valley and discouraged their forward
movement, then spotted 4 more coming through the grasses along the lake
shore. With the assist of a fourth defender we chased off (and I think took
out at least two, maybe three) of the four attackers in the grasses. We lost
the new shooter in the process. The three of us that remained discovered a
ridge sniper and two teams  trying to sneak back down the valley. We
discouraged their movements for several minutes before I took a round in my
foot and had to leave. Steel and the other remaining defender held the
position for the remainder of the match (I think). In the mean time, our
forces guarding the flag were dwindling - more from empty air and hoppers
than paint hits. Jester was last off the field with about two minutes left
when he ran out of air. Opposition forces had no problems taking the flag
after that, winning with seconds left.
Both sides played well from what I saw. The opposition team leader did a
great job, the opposition forces played hard and aggressively. Our own side
also did well, but just didn't get a win. Them's the breaks. I look forward
to meeting everybody we played with and against back on the field in the
future.

Bill "Bastitch" Burks
Ghostwalker