July 22th, 2000
Small run-in with locals. Sgt Sauerkraut and his merry men tried hi-jacking our 'cargo' on the way to delivery. Captain and Leo took care of things. I looked down the barrel of a KPV for too long a time. Fun times all round.
When we arrived his men wanted to hold them back until they'd secured us and the vehicles. He was having none of it. Rode roughshod over all their safety precautions. Leo told me later that the Margaf had told his men, "If they wanted to kill me they'd come up with a much less convoluted plan." I was worried he was going to be pissed with his brother's condition and that would be the end of us. He spent ten tense minutes in the truck before jumping back out and embracing the Cap. Tried to pick her up and jump up and down! Took us all inside and plied us with wine and food until the sun came back up. Had the Cap tell the story about a dozen times, all the while grinning and shaking his head, with an occasional, "That's my brother!" thrown in for good measure.
His doc and our doc had a get together while we were drinking and talking. They went over Fabian while we talked. Doc says they have plenty of meds and there were no signs of infection. His chances are excellent.
July 23rd, 2000
Fuel wagon came by in the morning. Topped off all our vehicles with M. Dropped off a big pot of stew and loaves of bread for us. We tried to get back to sleep.
Cap got called up to the castle that afternoon for our reward. She took Leo, Donald and I along. They had three vehicles for us to look over. Their tread-head told us the BMP was a depot dud and I concurred. Thing would need an overhaul half-way to the front, but that 73 was a nice big gun. We were left with a choice between a Polish OT-64 and Sgt Sauerkraut's BTR-70. Both were in pretty good condition, but Leo and the tread-head swore up and down that the OT got better mileage (Kiloage?). With a wider wheelbase and more interior room we took the OT. The major told us through Leo that papers and uniforms for us would be ready by Saturday.
July 26th, 2000
Captain went up to the castle by herself today.
DO NOT WRITE ABOUT THIS --Kat.
--page missing--
July 31, 2000
Ran into a recruiting party today. About half-a-dozen mounted men and 40 terrified civilians. They mistook us for a Pact unit, presented their orders and expected us to get out of the way. Our friends greased the guy with a grenade launcher. Fuck, their KPV chopped him and his horse into little bits.
The ones that tried to get away didn't make it. Twenty angry Margraf soldiers and us made sure of that. The one who'd presented his orders lasted the longest. He talked and when he was done both the Cap and the Polish Lt gave Leo the nod. One to the chest and one to the head.
Technically, this constitutes a war crime. I don't care.
The Poles rode topside and put the civvies inside the OTs. We took them all back into the Margraf.
August 2nd, 2000
Surprise! We got "orders", fuel requisition tickets, new papers and uniforms. We're part of the 6th Para. I think this is Margraf Filipowicz's idea of a joke. And instead of trying to sneak through the lines we're going to Krakow! You know east of here. Deeper into god-damned Poland. WTF.
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DIA, fookin' sheet
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Krakow sure looks nice from the bridge. Moon and I got left behind to watch the OT. Cap and the rest went into town. Brought us back some cheesy pierogi and a can of soda!
August 3rd, 2000
Someone from the Wawel came down to tell us the OT was ruining their view of the river and could we please move it? Also, would you expendable out of town folks like a job? Just check out some train stations for marauders if you don't mind. Drive up and get a headcount, eh? No problem.
Cap says the guys hiring us are the leader of Krakow's personal guards, the Warta. These marauders have been hitting convoys moving food and goods through the river valley and neighboring hills. Cutting into Krakow's trade. They don't grow enough food in the city to be independent and if this doesn't stop it will be a lean winter. Now, they're too well known to look things over without getting noticed. The local militia, ORMO, is too corrupt to do this. Word would get back to the raiders and they'd move. So time to hire some outside talent.
August 4th, 2000
Got a bit of liberty. Visited the old town square. One hell of a market and spent some time at "To Your Heath!" a local bar/restaurant/nightclub. Does everyone know we got our asses wiped at Kalisz? Strangely, it makes us look like bad-asses. We're still here.
City isn't the right word for Krakow anymore. The buildings are here, but the people aren't. Those that are crowd into the "Old City". It has what's left of a medieval wall around about a fourth and newly made rubble wall the rest of the way around. The place is tight at night with regular ORMO patrols and checkpoints. Stinks though. Saw a few honey carts moving around. Sewers don't work right so they collect the night soil for the fields.
To the south is another actual castle, the Wawel, between the Old City and the river bluff. The old man of Krakow lives there; Josephmaly, the Dowadka (leader), of Krakow. People actually like him. -maly is an affectionate diminutive. Seems he was some sort of war hero. Kicked major raider butt back in February and rallied the factions of the city. Started getting things organized. Old Joe runs the civvie side of things and has about a 50 man guard.
The head of the ORMO has his place there as well; Sigmund Bozo-something. He's not as well liked. He's got the tanks, APCs and raw man-power. Keeps order inside and the Reds outside. that's the good thing people say about him. I would have thought he'd just take over from the bad things said. But Jo'Maly still is in charge. What dirt has he got?
Welcome news, Cap found another member of the 5th. Cav scout named Randolph Cutler. Got lucky getting out and headed straightish to Krakow. Goes by Randy. Full of jokes. Some of them are good. Think is, we keep getting confused... Cutter/Cutler, (Ran)die/Eddie.
August 5th, 2000
Cap's got new friends in low places. She's recruited locals to do some preliminary scouting. If they prove well, she'll have them hire some friends, and so on.
Talked to some fella in an even lower place. He's going to see if they can find us a way out of this place.
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