   Date : 02-Jan-91 23:38
   From : Archi Medes
     To : All
Subject : Tactical #1
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 SCENARIO:  The standard survival disaster has come to pass.  Civil authority
has completely broken down or, as is more likely the case, it is still there
and just as stupidly bureaucratic as ever, but it just can't cope with the
magnatude of the disaster.  Firestorms are burning the town and there is no
hope of putting them out before everyone is left homeless.
    A small family of thoughtful survivalists decide now is the time to go. 
They load up their vehicle with everything they can and head for the hills. 
Somehow they manage to avoid the barricades and directions of those with a
genetic imperative to be important by directing traffic, and escape to the
country.  Avoiding traffic and other hazards causes them to take a narrow
paved road leading into the hills.  Eventually the pavement stops and the
dirt track gets worse and worse.  Finally their vehicle is completely bogged,
but at least they haven't seen anyone else for the last few hours.  They are
prepared; they load their backpacks with everything they can and continue on. 
Eventually they arrive at a lake and continue around it on a bridle path they
found.  By this time it is nearly midnight, and the entire family is
exhausted.  Finally the locate a place that will do as a campsite, and they
camp for the night.  There is no energy left for sentry duty; putting up the
tent sapped what little they had left.  They fall asleep in their bags
immediately.
    The next morning they listen to the radio and hear reports of widespread
rioting, looting, and killing.  It is clear the rule of law has ceased to
exist.  They prepare some food and eat, planning to move to a more secure and
defendable site immediately after breakfast.  Their present site is directly
on the bridle path, within 30 ft of the lake's edge, and is surrounded by
rocky outcroppings which, if they do not man them, are likely to be manned by
others who do not have their best interests at heart.
    As they are securing from breakfast and preparing to strike camp, they
observe, along the shoreline, two strangers walking along the bridle path a
few yards up from the edge of the water, but still several hundred yards
away.  Both are male, between 20 and 35 years, wearing camo fatigues and web
belts with canteens and other belt equipment.  One of the men carries a
rifle; the other may have a pistol in a belt holster.  It is clear the
strangers have also spotted them, but do not change their gait or otherwise
give any indication of their intentions, good or bad.
    As the strangers draw closer they disappear from view behind a rocky
outcropping.  The adult male of the family readies his rifle and leans it
against a boulder out of view, but within easy reach. He warns his family to
be careful and stay behind cover.  He awaits the arrival of the pair.

     Finally the stranger without the rifle appears, walking casually and
empty-handed, along the bridle path toward the campsite.  He is now less than
fifty yards away.  He pays no apparent attention to the campers themselves,
but walks directly into their camp and begins rummaging through an open
backpack which obviously contains food.  The adult male of the family says
"Hey! Stop!" but gets no response.  He picks up his rifle and starts toward
the stranger, but immediately catches a rifle round in the chest from the
stranger's partner, now under cover behind a rocky outcropping near the
bridle path.  The family man's wife, seeing him hit, goes to his side and
catches a second round, as it appears to the rifleman she was going for her
husband's weapon.  The child of the family, or children, are now at the mercy
of the two murderers, who may take whatever liberty they wish with them if
they can catch them.
ASSIGNMENT:  Perform a tactical analysis of the above scenario. Place
yourself and your family in the scene as the camper family. Your priorities
are:  1.  Safety of your family.  2.  Safety of yourself.  3.  Safety of your
supplies.  State what preparations you will have made against such a
scenario, what steps you would take to meet your priorities, and the most
likely outcome of the scenario based upon your tactical analysis and
preparation.
Discussion follows.
