Specialist Edward Cutter, two days out from Bremerhaven.
Snow hisses against the fabric of our tent in these evening hours. Most of the men have bedded down only the guard and the troubled are still about. The six of us, the survivors of the Kalisz Breakout, George, and Major Emowitz are having a final set of talks to plan out our arrival.
Cap'n Kat and Emowitz have a show planned. We're not coming in as beggars and refugees. For all we've been through we're still soldiers and will show it. They're not asking for much from the troops, assembly to observe the lowering of the flag, the transfer of the train to our British friends, and a semblance of a march to wherever they need us to complete processing. Both our officers have their paperwork to turn over, mostly penned by myself, listing names, ranks, serial numbers, MOS, other skills, and any physical or mental health problems. Given what the Brits said we're going to be a happy surprise in more ways than one.
Finally we get down to the last, but most important bits. I wonder why we always save the hard shit for the end like someones just going to wave their hands and make it go away.
"George, Major," the Captain begins, "I expect we'll be receiving extensive debriefing once command receives the box. It'll be an even harder grilling for us if Col. Stark got a report in. There's some things I'd like for us to get straight before that happens."
"I don't plan on telling any lies," Emowitz answers, "Your methods are unorthodox and inventive, but they've accomplished the goals and saved more lives than I thought possible. That's all I'm going to say on the matter."
George follows, "I wouldn't worry too much. I'll run the best interference I know how."
"Don't make it too good," interjects Leo, "we want out. Don't make them keep us."
Before George can respond Cap blurts out, "Keep us in pieces. I don't plan on spending the rest of my life as a research subject."
Emowtiz leans forward. "I don't have the faintest idea what you're talking about."
Cap, disturbed, starts in again. Emowitz cuts her off. "No. Idea."
George, "You're some of the luckiest soldiers in this war. Walk through fire and storm with not a scratch to show for it. No reason to keep you in a hospital."
"Maybe a touch of battle fatigue?" ventures Emowitz, "heard a story about a guy who thought he was immortal because he kept surviving what killed all those around him. He ended up falling on a grenade. Don't do it."
Cap has the decency to look embarrassed, "Well, that's that then."
"Not quite," Emowitz again, "What about Rutkowski?"
"He's been on my mind as well. Any suggestions."
"Two in the head. Dump him in front of the train or let Irish take him apart."
"Not quite what I had in mind." Kat tells him. She's clearly uncomfortable with the option.
"He's your prisoner. You've made that very clear. You've got four options." He ticks them off. "Kill him, free him, hand him over, or co-opt him. I've told you what I'd do."
George squirms. I think he'd rather not be admitting to what he really knows. "You hand him over and they'll know the first time he has an accident on work detail or tries to escape. I wouldn't trust him on his own either." He shrugs helplessly.
"Me neither."
"I've been talking to him."
"Yes, Leo?"
"I've been talking to him about things," he puts special emphasis on the word. "He thinks we're his last chance. We killed the demon. We let him make confession and are offering a way for him to make contrition. More, I've been watching what he does. Once he was well he threw in on barge and camp tasks. At the ambush he jumped out and hauled rails. He's had several chances to make try to escape and he hasn't. I've watched. We can use him."
I find myself nodding with Alphabit and Doc.
George shakes a vigorous no. "I'm biased. I know more than you what they're willing to do. What happens the next time he sees God?"
"He's going to be much more skeptical."
"Hope so. For all our sakes."
"George, I'm surprised you're willing to let him and us go. We've got mind clouding mutants infiltrating the ruins and only we can reliably see them." Oh, when will I learn not to open my mouth. "They could be anywhere. They could be at home too. Shouldn't we be on a tight leash?"
Cap's going to have a kitten. Leo's gone all cold. Alpha and Doc look like it's the first they've thought of it. I'm going to be cleaning toilets for weeks.
George takes his time. "I thought about it. The whole trip upriver and back down. They're going to have a hard enough time believing our pickled head and samples. The rest of it reads like bad fiction any way you put it. And let's say I did put it in and it worked up the chain. If one of those things is in a position of power, then it will know and you won't. So, no, I'm not including any of that."
"Thank you," Cap.
Emowitz stands and dusts himself off, "If that's it, I'm off to bed." At Cap's acknowledgement he wishes us good night.
"Ed, go wake Rutkowski."
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He knows a tribunal when he sees it. Rutkowski braces to attention.
"Rutkowski, we're nearly home. I've come to a decision regarding your disposition." She holds a hand out. Leo slaps the barrel of an AK into it. "What was your rank?"
"Lieutenant."
"You're a rifleman now." She holds the weapon out. He gingerly takes it. He can't quite believe it. "My reports are going to state you joined us in Warsaw. I've decided to make it official. You're in my squad."
She reaches into her pocket and pulls out a curved magazine. "Any questions."
"Will we be killing demons?"
"As we find them." She hands over the magazine. He looks it over and pockets it. "You're dismissed."
He turns, hesitates, and returns to attention.
"Yes?"
"Have the others been told? About this?" Cap shakes her head, no. "Then, I'd like for someone to accompany me. They see prisoner with rifle," shrugs, "lead to accidents."
The crew chuckles. Cap orders me out with him. Let the watch know. Get the word out. They're off to bed. Toilets still in the future.
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Specialist Edward Cutter, Bremerhaven
The man on the other end of the radio keeps making his save. "Yes, we are elements of the 5th Infantry Division, Mechanized. We number three hundred. We are approaching from your south on a train. We have one train, one T-80 tank, one deuce and a half, and two UAZs. Our estimated time of arrival is four hours. Do you have a functional rail yard? Or just a spur we can reverse on? Over."
Murmur, murmur, murmur. I wink at Cap.
"Yes, we need to turn around. Elements of BAOR are taking the train back to Hamburg. We negotiated an agreement. They're going to shuttle back and forth picking up troops until the task force leaves. Over."
Listen. "Cap, I think it got through to him." Back on the radio, "Acknowledged, out."
"They think the terminal will accommodate us. We'll have a two klick walk. Thye're sending out some armor to meet us. Got twenty says they think its all a trick."
"No bet."
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Greeting party looks like a company of motor infantry and a pair of M1s. Glad to be trusted. Cap hops down first, talks, signals us to dismount. The men move smartly, bags and arms slung, out into the railyard to form ranks. It isn't drill yard perfect, not close, but it is disciplined. We salute as the flag is lowered. Emowitz takes the colors in hand and calls out directions. We march.
Cap stayed behind to supervise the unloading of our wounded, prisoner transfer, and formally hand over the train. She has plenty of time to catch back up at the base's gates. The guards, and there's a whole bunch, check that we've secured our weapons, hand over all medicines, food, and remaining heavy equipment. I half expected scales for our allotted 100 kilograms of personal baggage, but no, they do a lift test and wave almost everyone inside.
George, the gurney carrying the box, our samples, including the pickled head, and a flying squad of intel types quickly disappear. Cap and Emowitz get told they'll be talking to them once the men are squared away. Glad to see they know our priorities.
Alphabit and the mighty Rex got waylaid. No pets allowed. He's no pet, he's our mouser. No animals, orders. He earns his own keep. I know son, but we're not to allow any inside the perimeter. Alpha takes Rex away to say goodbye, for about five minutes. Doc has a kitty sized dose of sedative ready and Rex gets handed off to Griffith. Alphabit comes back and his whole kit gets searched. Griffith gives him a thumbs up on the other side. Op Cat Nap is a success.
We've been allocated two warehouses for barracks. Cap and Emo split the command along the expected lines. I can smell something hot cooking. Thank God, a night behind safe walls with the fricking Army between us and the world. Safe.
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Situation developing within USAEUR - Bremerhaven. Taking matters into hand. Detailed report to follow.
-J.
Sic Omnia Pati
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