071: Vistula Diaries

Ed's Journal, October 26th, 2000

Made Warsaw by the afternoon.  I'd like to say the locals threw us a huge going away party.  They were more scared that we'd come to stay the winter.  I gather their stores were going to be just enough and another 300 mouths would have been unwelcome.  It was good to get out, walk more than 100 feet in any one direction, and get out of sight of some faces. 

Three more days downstream.

October 27th, 2000

Karl Uller was transferred into custody this morning.  He'll be breaking rock for spring plantings.  I wonder if he'll last that long.  I imagine an accident is heading his way when Rataj isn't looking.

Leo came back a made man.  He sported Captain's insignia, two tan bars trimmed in red with four small stars, very styling.  A present of paperwork recording his field promotion by Major General Koronov of 10th Guards Tank was presented to Cap'n Kat.  I am to file it away under jumped-up BS.

Leo thinks he will be more valuable to the Army as a Captain than a Senior Sergeant.  Might work.

October 28th, 2000

Easy sailing.  Nothing to report.

October 29th, 2000

Best laid plans.  We had intended to dock at Torun to offload the tank and truck before shuttling men and materials to the train.  Not to be.

We spotted a cav patrol along the north river bank some 20 kilometers out.  Two of the men trotted ahead and flagged us.  We could see they were Russian regulars by the uniforms, so Leo and Alphabit took the power boat over to talk. 

Once they realized they were talking with a American unit I am told they became quite strident that we could not continue downstream and under no circumstances would we be allowed to disembark at Torun.

Leo worked his magic with them and their young LT told him that Torun was occupied by a Russian CavD.  They didn't want a fight, too fucking cold and too much bloodshed, but there was no way we'd be allowed into their operational area. 

Eventually our Russian friends broke out their radio.  Their CO and Leo had a long distance heart to heart.  If we wanted to disembark of the south side of the river that was outside is area of operations he didn't give a fuck.  If we headed north he'd have a hot reception waiting.  He'd be maintaining a watch the whole time.  Leo agreed and so his scouts told us of a dock on the south side some two kilometers ahead.

The dock looks sound.  We'll spend the night in the middle of the river.  Walking again come morning.

October 30th, 2000

Tank's off the barge and perimeter secured.  The first truck load of supplies and men piled on top are on the road.  They have a 10 klick drive, unload, and back.  Rinse, repeat.

Truck came back.  Train's there, no crew.  Load and go.

Truck came back.  Signs of fighting reported, bullets no blood, UAZ tracks.  Someone grabbed our engineer.  Cap'n Kat says, "Eddie, you can run a steam engine, right?"  Yeah, right.

Truck came back.  Alphabit found two charges on the train.  One, pretty obvious, on the main drive axle underneath.  The second affixed on the bottom of the boiler.  We also have a "ransom" note instructing us to monitor frequency 50.50.  Joy. 

Five wet Russians on horseback with remounts in tow approached our perimeter.  Our LT from the cavalry and some of his men.  They defect.  Cap'n Kat figures we can use the horse meat and another five won't stretch supplies.  They're in and under watch.

Our group decamps with the last truck load.  I get to tank ride. 

Leo has been broadcasting on the the freq.  Still no reply.

Maybe they're waiting on nightfall.