Alright, so I jumped back into Gray Zone Warfare today. Had this task, something simple, just needed to check out a spot near the old sawmill. Easy peasy, right? Or so I thought.
Got myself geared up, nothing too fancy, just the usual stuff. Figured I’d be in and out, maybe pop a few AI scavs along the way. Landed at the LZ, started moving towards the objective marker. It was pretty quiet, almost too quiet. You know that feeling you get?
The First Sign of Trouble
I was maybe halfway there, cutting through some thick bushes to stay off the main path, when I heard it. Gunfire. Not AI stuff, sounded heavier, more deliberate. Definitely player weapons. And close. Too close for comfort.
Instinct kicked in. Dropped prone immediately. Listened hard. More shots, single taps mostly, then a burst. Coming from just over the ridge, right where I needed to go basically. Great.
So, here’s the thing. My mission wasn’t exactly high-priority loot-wise. But curiosity, man, it gets you. Had to see what was up. Decided to creep up, get eyes on the situation without sticking my neck out.
Observing the ‘Neighbors’
Took me a good five minutes, moving slow, checking corners, using every bit of cover. Finally got to the top of the ridge, peered through some dense foliage. And there they were. Two guys, kitted out way better than me. Looked like they were setting up shop in one of the small shacks near the sawmill. Definitely players.
They weren’t shooting anymore. One was watching the approach from the road, the other seemed to be sorting gear inside the shack. Looked like they just cleared out the AI or maybe another player. They seemed organized, communicating. My gut told me these weren’t random solos bumping into each other.
- Option 1: Engage. Risky. Two of them, better gear maybe? Plus, where I was going was right past them.
- Option 2: Sneak past. Also risky. Lots of open ground between me and my objective marker once I left the ridge.
- Option 3: Pull back, try another route, or just bail. Safest bet, but annoying.
Making the Call
Sat there for another minute, watching them. They seemed settled in. Like they planned on staying awhile. My little recon task suddenly felt way less important than keeping my gear intact. Didn’t feel like testing my luck against a dug-in duo.
So, I chose option three. Backed away slowly, the same way I came. Made sure not to make a sound. Felt a bit like a chicken, maybe? But honestly, surviving to fight another day feels smarter sometimes. Especially when the odds look stacked.
Got back towards the LZ, called for extraction. Task incomplete. Bit frustrating, yeah. But bumping into these new ‘neighbors’ definitely changed my plans. The area felt different now, knowing they were there. Gonna have to be more careful around the sawmill next time. Or maybe bring a friend.
