050: Intermission - Scattered Voices

September 20th, 2000

"Cap, Cap, get up!  Did you hear that?"

I rub the sleep from my eyes.  "I heard it.  Anything else?"

"Chinese fire drill.  Run about, scream and shout.  I didn't hear any shots."

"Look, it is too soon for Leo to be back and Filip will let us know, 'k.  Go back to sleep."

"Yes, ma'am."

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J-boy finished his shift before doing a fade.  We caught up in the rubble outside his 'town'.

"Mr. Black brought us out.  After a days march north he had us gathered and gave us the big talk.  He's split from the national government.  He needed soldiers, disciplined soldiers, rather than the untrained men and banditos he had now.  Over the winter, once Warsaw had settled, we'd assist him it training up his army.  We'd be a terrible thorn in the Red's side and a safe haven for any future NATO pushes.  If we didn't want in, he was willing to let us try to head west on our own."

"How'd that work out."

"Major Emowitz sat down with the senior officers.  They chewed it over.  They accepted.

"No dissent?"

Sure as hell was.  Didn't matter, we could all see this was a solid bet.  We could try to head west with winter coming.  Or we could hunker down under this guy.  Food, shelter, and no slave labor over the winter.  Hell, yeah."  He spits.

"Guessing you aren't thrilled."

No, Moonie, not a bit.  These fuckers are just as bad as the camp commandant.  We're a step up from prisoners, more like trustees.  We got guns, bolt-action rifles mostly, but they got assault rifles, MGs, and more.  We're trustees.  I'm damn glad to see you live.  You'd better keep moving though."

"Nah, J-boy, I'm not running solo.  My crazy captain hit your POW camp about 2 weeks too late.  She wants to shake the rest of you loose and take down any bastards along the way.  She's got a real attitude."

flash - BOOM!

J-boy and I turn towards the center of Warsaw doing it's best impression of a kicked ant-hill.

"That's... that's Black's HQ."

"Yeah, she's got a bad attitude."

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 September 21st, 2000

Headman Filip, Captain Rataj, Doc, the excitable LT twins, anyone who could wrangle their way loose, and me; we're waiting.  Word came back 30 minutes ago that 'our man' had reached the perimeter.  We got together, fast, and waited.

Leo came in under his own power.  The twins snapped to and offered crisp salutes.  Leo gave them a goggle eyed stare, ducked his head, and attempted to wave them down.  Andrejz, the big lug, grabbed Leo in a bear hug, lifting him off his feet, twirling in a circle while shouting, "God, I love you, I love you!"

Eddie leaned in to me, "Cap, I'm going to have to follow him around whispering, 'Caesar is  mortal.'"

"I don't think that's quite the quote.  Close enough."

Filip shouts out, "Order, order.  Let the man breath.  Andrejz, put him down."

Leo gets his well deserved seat.  Food and water is brought.  The rubber neckers are chased out.  We grill him.  Troops, emplacements, security, routines, vehicles, and anything else he noted.  Four hours.

Four hours that was bested summed up in three lines;
They don't know each other.  They aren't well integrated.  And their security sucks.

Here be opportunities.

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J-boy's major has listened to all I've been willing to say.  Between all the ships that didn't return to Praga port, the stories of a big surface warship heading down from Krakow, and a Ker-Boom at the right moment, he knows I'm not spinning any old tale.

He's quiet for a loooong time.  Has me eyeballing the exit he doe.

"Son, you're asking me to take a lot on the faith of your CO's good intentions.  I need a solid plan and my own pair of eyes checking out your tale before we budge.  You take Sgt Schmidtz and show him everything.  Then you'll get my decision."


"Begging your pardon Major, but wouldn't it be better to have one of the officers go."


"No," he sighs.  "Best not to let anyone else know what might happen.  You know some of them are starting to enjoy their privileges."  He grimaces and spits on the floor.


"No, son, you don't want to know."


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Eddie's Journal, September 21st, 2000

We're taking the Wisula Krowola into Warsaw.  With the big gun gone it should be safe.  For certain measures of safe!

Everyone is happy and relived, but Cap's got her poker face on.  I know that look, Cap's got a plan.  She ain't sharing.  Yet.

I think she wants to wait for tomorrow.  The Russkies big men are coming over.  Along with maybe fifty rifles.   I think she wants to see if they're bringing anything else to the party.

Me, I'm looking forward to a hot shower.