Oh man, Europe and America against Africa and Asia. The Californian Liberation forces should liberate the Khanate from Japan. With Operation Downfall. Complete control of the Pacific awaits...
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The Komneniad: The Inner Circle
Roman government in the twentieth century is worth an essay in itself. There is the Forum, the assembly of representatives who hold proxies for large numbers of voters. (In principle any voter may show up for Forum meetings and cast his own vote, but in practice this almost never happens.) Then there is the Senate, the small class of men who are eligible to actually serve in the government; technically their hereditary right to do so is not enshrined in law - any voter can stand for election - but the custom that only those whose father or grandfather was a Senator can get elected is as strong as the two-party structure of the OTL US, and much older. Naturally many Senators hold voting proxies and are thus also eligible to vote in the Forum - indeed it's unusual to be elected without holding a large number of proxies. Thus the Senate as an institution does not hold any legal power, indeed legally it is no more than a private club; but in practice the Senate's grasp on executive office is unshakeable. Legislative power, on the other hand, is held by the Forum. Judges are appointed for life by the executive - in peacetime, two Consuls are elected; in this time of war there is a single Dictator - and then serve for life, thus forming a nominal third branch; but in important cases their decisions can be overruled by the decision of the Forum, which is the legal sovereign. The Forum can also withdraw its confidence in a Tribunate, although not in a Dictator (well - at any rate, it's a nice question who the army would obey if this were tried) at any time. Legal sovereignty, tehrefore, rests with the Forum, and the separation of powers is less clear than in most Western countries of OTL.
All this is by way of introduction to my Cabinet, which does not really fit into the OTL-centric (and democratic-centric) model of HoI. They do not have collective responsibility in the manner of a British Cabinet; only the Head of State is elected (for values of 'elected') and he appoints the rest at his pleasure. Some, therefore, are Senators and some aren't; a few are not even Komnenoi.
Konstantin, the Dictator (Head of State, Resigned Generalissimo): The means by which he came to power were certainly technically legal; the Forum had a quorum, by a margin of three proxies. If it was also packed with his supporters, some of his opponents were delayed by carefully-arranged riots in crucial streets, and even so the margin of his election to the Dictatorship was almost the slimmest possible - nu, in view of five years of internal peace following the civil disorders of the early thirties, the Romans are prepared to forgive. Catch phrase: Pour la canaille, la mitrailleuse.
Ioannes, Master of the Knights (Head of Government, Old General): The two-man structure of the Consulate is not formally required of a Dictatorship - but every Dictator has appointed a Master of the Knights, a near-equal in power if not in formal authority. Ioannes is an old army comrade of Konstantin; they both graduated the Penchisky Cadet Corps in the class of 1912, and served together as Centurions and then tribunes in the I Komnenoi in the war against Russia. Catch phrase: Sometimes you gotta triage.
Georgos, Overseer of Barbarian Territories (Foreign Minister, Great Compromiser): The oldest man in the government is of another political generation than his nominal superiors. Leading the pacifist Peace Party is not a route to great popularity in the Khanate, where (apart from the revanchist Komnenoi) only veterans of the Legions have the vote, and the appointment of Georgos to so prestigious a position was unexpected; Konstantin was attempting to demonstrate that he would not rest his rule only on those of his own faction, but would work with all men of good will. Additionally, while the Overseer of Barbarians has great prestige, Konstantin was initially primarily concerned with the internal affairs of the Khanate, restoring the rule of law after the near-anarchy of the early thirties. The Ministry of Barbarians, then, was relatively cheap: Konstantin had no particular foreign-policy initiatives in mind, and indeed thought that if Georgos's omnidirectional peaceful diplomacy could produce peace while Konstantin rebuilt the army, so much the better. Indeed, the appointment has proven very successful, in a sense; two losing wars with Japan has led to nothing worse than the cession of some Chinese cities and worthless Tibetan wastelands. Catch phrase: Of course we don't have mind-control rays. Has also been konwn to mutter "fucking Lysandros" under his breath.
Ts Yesugei, Industrial War Coordinator (Armaments Minister, Administrative Genius): One of the few non-Komnenoi at high levels of government. The laissez-faire Khanate does not have a tradition of governmental interference in industry, and Konstantin's creation of such a ministry is an innovation; but within the constraints of having very limited powers to order people around, Ts Yesugei has done an excellent job of bringing the Legions' industrial support up to date. Catch phrase: Of course it's only a suggestion. I hear Penchisky is very nice at least two days a year.
Arkadios, Chief of the Tenth Bureau (Minister of Intelligence, Industrial Specialist): One of Konstantin's less successful appointments, Arkadios keeps his position by virtue of being a loyal party member, having a large proxy powerbase, and Konstantin not having any better candidates. Under his command the Tenth Bureau failed signally to detect the Japanese intention to attack, and also completely missed the large buildup in Korea preceding the breakout that led to the near-conquest of New Byzantium. On the plus side, he's got a really good network in the Japanese R&D community. Catch phrase: We've recently become aware...
Whew, I was going to write ten 50-word thumbnails and this thing is already a thousand words. I think I'll come back to the rest of the Cabinet some other time.
Roman government in the twentieth century is worth an essay in itself. There is the Forum, the assembly of representatives who hold proxies for large numbers of voters. (In principle any voter may show up for Forum meetings and cast his own vote, but in practice this almost never happens.) Then there is the Senate, the small class of men who are eligible to actually serve in the government; technically their hereditary right to do so is not enshrined in law - any voter can stand for election - but the custom that only those whose father or grandfather was a Senator can get elected is as strong as the two-party structure of the OTL US, and much older. Naturally many Senators hold voting proxies and are thus also eligible to vote in the Forum - indeed it's unusual to be elected without holding a large number of proxies. Thus the Senate as an institution does not hold any legal power, indeed legally it is no more than a private club; but in practice the Senate's grasp on executive office is unshakeable. Legislative power, on the other hand, is held by the Forum. Judges are appointed for life by the executive - in peacetime, two Consuls are elected; in this time of war there is a single Dictator - and then serve for life, thus forming a nominal third branch; but in important cases their decisions can be overruled by the decision of the Forum, which is the legal sovereign. The Forum can also withdraw its confidence in a Tribunate, although not in a Dictator (well - at any rate, it's a nice question who the army would obey if this were tried) at any time. Legal sovereignty, tehrefore, rests with the Forum, and the separation of powers is less clear than in most Western countries of OTL.
All this is by way of introduction to my Cabinet, which does not really fit into the OTL-centric (and democratic-centric) model of HoI. They do not have collective responsibility in the manner of a British Cabinet; only the Head of State is elected (for values of 'elected') and he appoints the rest at his pleasure. Some, therefore, are Senators and some aren't; a few are not even Komnenoi.
Konstantin, the Dictator (Head of State, Resigned Generalissimo): The means by which he came to power were certainly technically legal; the Forum had a quorum, by a margin of three proxies. If it was also packed with his supporters, some of his opponents were delayed by carefully-arranged riots in crucial streets, and even so the margin of his election to the Dictatorship was almost the slimmest possible - nu, in view of five years of internal peace following the civil disorders of the early thirties, the Romans are prepared to forgive. Catch phrase: Pour la canaille, la mitrailleuse.
Ioannes, Master of the Knights (Head of Government, Old General): The two-man structure of the Consulate is not formally required of a Dictatorship - but every Dictator has appointed a Master of the Knights, a near-equal in power if not in formal authority. Ioannes is an old army comrade of Konstantin; they both graduated the Penchisky Cadet Corps in the class of 1912, and served together as Centurions and then tribunes in the I Komnenoi in the war against Russia. Catch phrase: Sometimes you gotta triage.
Georgos, Overseer of Barbarian Territories (Foreign Minister, Great Compromiser): The oldest man in the government is of another political generation than his nominal superiors. Leading the pacifist Peace Party is not a route to great popularity in the Khanate, where (apart from the revanchist Komnenoi) only veterans of the Legions have the vote, and the appointment of Georgos to so prestigious a position was unexpected; Konstantin was attempting to demonstrate that he would not rest his rule only on those of his own faction, but would work with all men of good will. Additionally, while the Overseer of Barbarians has great prestige, Konstantin was initially primarily concerned with the internal affairs of the Khanate, restoring the rule of law after the near-anarchy of the early thirties. The Ministry of Barbarians, then, was relatively cheap: Konstantin had no particular foreign-policy initiatives in mind, and indeed thought that if Georgos's omnidirectional peaceful diplomacy could produce peace while Konstantin rebuilt the army, so much the better. Indeed, the appointment has proven very successful, in a sense; two losing wars with Japan has led to nothing worse than the cession of some Chinese cities and worthless Tibetan wastelands. Catch phrase: Of course we don't have mind-control rays. Has also been konwn to mutter "fucking Lysandros" under his breath.
Ts Yesugei, Industrial War Coordinator (Armaments Minister, Administrative Genius): One of the few non-Komnenoi at high levels of government. The laissez-faire Khanate does not have a tradition of governmental interference in industry, and Konstantin's creation of such a ministry is an innovation; but within the constraints of having very limited powers to order people around, Ts Yesugei has done an excellent job of bringing the Legions' industrial support up to date. Catch phrase: Of course it's only a suggestion. I hear Penchisky is very nice at least two days a year.
Arkadios, Chief of the Tenth Bureau (Minister of Intelligence, Industrial Specialist): One of Konstantin's less successful appointments, Arkadios keeps his position by virtue of being a loyal party member, having a large proxy powerbase, and Konstantin not having any better candidates. Under his command the Tenth Bureau failed signally to detect the Japanese intention to attack, and also completely missed the large buildup in Korea preceding the breakout that led to the near-conquest of New Byzantium. On the plus side, he's got a really good network in the Japanese R&D community. Catch phrase: We've recently become aware...
Whew, I was going to write ten 50-word thumbnails and this thing is already a thousand words. I think I'll come back to the rest of the Cabinet some other time.
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The Empire of the Volga – VIII
How very white. The whole world is just one blank canvas... Riko Minami thought to herself. Not for the first time that day she rubbed her eyes, they were strained from the light being reflected off the snow flat on the ground undisturbed seemingly for miles.
She turned her head around to peer at the... The Russian? Was he a cossack? That was driving the horse pulling the carriage along the snow.
This was her first winter in Russia. It wasn't so bad...
She said as much allowed to the rueful laughter of her compatriot.
The Afghan right next to her liked to laugh a lot. She was a queer sort, bright green eyes and dark hair. Minami thought her Russian at first.
Until she spoke.
Her voice was like music, so pure so beautiful... But underneath that... Her words themselves were sharp and sarcastic.
“Not so bad? Not so bad!? Ha ha! What a joke....” She shook her head. “You were not there were you?” She accused.
“Eh? I don't really... Wakarimasen...ka?” The confusion from her words and expression seemed to anger her companion though.
“There! You know? Then! Back in the last winter! When the temperature was so low I thought my blood would freeze! Then!” Pointing at the icicles that hadn't broken off the carriage yet, like little stalagmites lining the side of the carriage as if they were teeth.
“Eh... Sou desu ne....” Is that so?
Disgusted the Afghan woman shook her head.
“It was so cold bodies where everywhere.... Sometimes we burned them for warmth... if the fire would even start, the barrels certainly were not running... So we used.. fuel sometimes...” Her voice was coming in a little heavier, he tempo slowing, these were clearly difficult memories.
“But the Germans had it worse... Whenever we took a town or trench... So many not prepared for it... Even we from the mountains were not ready for this... How could they live here? Hey! You! How do you live here with this cold?” This last sentence in Russian, her head turned to regard the driver.
“Hrrrm... good question...” He answered back. He was old so his answer was a little slow, it explained why he was here driving this carriage instead of at the front.
“Just used to it I guess.” He answered with finality.
The Afghan shook her head.
“Its better now though...” Her voice was lower now, almost as an aside.
Indeed both of them were just as heavily clothed as the Russian driving the carriage, and they were both wearing valenki.
“Neh, Malika... Sorry... I mean Hekmatyar-san” Her companion's name. “Think we are almost at the front? We've been here an awfully long time since leaving the train...”
Malika Hekmatyar looked at Minami with astonishment. “What.”
“Eh?” Confused, Minami answered back. She thought back to her German she spoke, it should be correct... German was the world's lingua franca next to Russian. Minami and Malika spoke both languages fluently which was convenient as Minami didn't speak Persian and Hekmatyar didn't speak Japanese.
“No I mean... You really think we are anywhere close to the front? Heheheha that's a good one!” She burst out laughing.
“Eeeeeeh!?” Now it was Minami's turn to be astonished.
“We're maybe.... Only halfway!” She pointed out in the distance.
Minami had to squint, she was near sighted and her glasses weren't a fancy expensive pair like her fathers. But she noticed something... Smoke?
“The Germans...” Hekmatyar said helplessly.... “They bombed it. The rails going close to the front, so that is why we here on this... Road?” She glanced around trying to get a look down but gave up with a shrug.
Only half way!?
“Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeh!? How mean!”
“That is war... and that is how it has always been... since the Khans... Since Iskandar....” She gestured again with a graceful sort of resignation. Her musical voice made it sound particularly remorseful.
“War... War never changes...”
Minami thought she might cry at those words.
“How cruel.” Hidoindesu.
*****-------******
The train car shuddered to a stop as the train pulled into Smolensk, or rather I think it is Smolensk. With the Germans bombing everything Russian hands built this may have been a alternate rail depot near by or maybe somewhere entirely else and not for the first time, we were simply lied to.
Fucking disgrace, if you can't trust your own people.
Jumping onto the platform from the train I took a look around, it was chaotic. The train had no more begun to settle in when it was assaulted by logistics teams working to quickly unload the train of its people and cargo... And loading on injured and broken machines to be repaired.
Hoisting my moisin along the back of my shoulders I made my way off the platform passing various throngs of people going about their business with incredibly urgency.
“What happened?” I asked out loud.
Captain no... Major Malinski now stepped beside me and looked around with an gruesome expression.
“Seems like we lost a battle.”
“What!?” I was shocked, how could he tell?
He looked around again and nodded. “Too many damaged machines, too many injured in this one place, normally wounded is a more... Consistent trickle according to studies, plus this happened on a smaller scale back east when I was visiting divisional HQ.”
He took out his pipe and lit it up, with tabacco from that pouch of his, this was troubling indeed if he felt the need to smoke.
“Walk with me.” Moving quickly away and into the town.
“If you examine the wounded you would see that they're mostly able to walk, bandaged or otherwise stable. Meaning that they needed the field beds... It suggests such a large inflow of casualties that they need to move the stable to hospitals deeper behind the lands to free up the beds...” He took in a deep smoke, letting out one... no two no three rings...
“Now that could happen if we were victorious as well, so how do we determine defeat...?” He sounded like a professor, even looking at me with a questioning sort of air about him... He wanted me to try to answer him him.
“Umm... They're running around like panicked chickens...?” I ventured a guess... The major looked up thoughtfully for a moment, he always considered your answers trying to find wisdom even if it was hopelessly wrong.
“Correct in a sense, the psychology of their movements suggests urgency yes, it is not despair though so we can safely rule out a route, but at the same time the situation seems serious, there's a clear tempo for 'victory' and you need to keep up momentum, and there's a tempo for defeat, they are very similar...” He took another puff, and shrugged. “Nichevo” It cannot be helped.
“We definitely not in Smolensk...?” I asked, to confirm, the town was clearly too small to be the city.
“Da, not Smolensk, Katyn, I think you can tell because of those forests over there in the distance.”
“Amazing.” I stared in the direction he was pointing, it was unbelievable.
He was a major in a reconnaissance organization after all, so maybe not so unbelievable. All I ever cared about was putting a bullet between the eyes of some scummy fucking whore smack dab in the middle of my sights...
My breathing quickened, my fists clenched...
I shut my eyes, my left hand now balled tightly into a fist began to “strike” at the air so to speak, I was trying to shake off my anger. Fuck. Control yourself damnit.
“One of these days Kira I would really like to know why you hate the world so much.” He asked quietly.
That stopped me for a moment, I breathed in deeply trying to calm my heart.
“I don't... Hate the world... per se... I just want to see it burn.” I could only stay calm when I was holding the rifle in my hands and “in the zone.” that moment of perfect clarity where I didn't even notice my muscles working the bolt.
But standing around? Doing nothing? Even if just talking to the Major? Fuck everything, fuck it all. I don't care, I just want to get back to killing shit that deserves it, but unfortunately, I guess I'll never have that chance to put it to good use, against who truly fucking deserves it.
We were out of the town now, the station no longer in vision, I can't believe we made so much distance just walking... I noticed my squad following us spread out about fifty meters behind. Good on them, an air raid against people bunched up together like at the station is just asking for disaster. With air power making its strength and reach known these days you can never be too careful.
Fucking Germans, first the Mongols who just danced and poked us at the border and then the Punjabi who are out allies now but gave a pretty decent fight, and now the fucking Germans who were our allies but now they're our enemies...
Except that's not what some of the newspapers would put it, “Germany has always been antagonistic to Russian interests, and Russia has always been friendly with African interests” my ass. Politicians, fuck them too.
We approached and entered into a army camp within the trees now outside of town. Barrel forces by the looks of it, dozens of vehicals spread out and hidden under camouflage netting and white washed to protect them from air raids. Maskirovka at its finest. Our army could get something done right.
But otherwise fuck em' the top brass, the Spanish who were fighting us in the baltic, fuck the House of Rurik who still think they own this country just because they won an election and keep dragging us into wars, fuck this war, fuck my good for nothing father who can't do anything right to raise his children and of his children fuck my fucking cunt of a sis-...
-ter.... Right there... in Barrel driver overalls leaning up against one of the machines grinning that fucking smug grin of hers while she just watching two other female soldiers working. Changing treads? Who the fuck knows.
I didn't notice it. My hands begun to move on their own, I had before I even realized it reached out behind my back and pulled my rifle and began to take aim.
But Major Malinski was on the ball, and immediately took it from my hands.
“What are you-!?” He sounded shocked, stunned even barely able to act to remove my rifle.
But I don't hear it.
I let go and stop fighting for the rifle and break away, and I charge into a flat out run, closing the distance between me and her within seconds. I've never run this fast before.
She looks up, as if sensing danger, still with the stupid grin of hers.
It fades as her mouth along with her eyes open in astonishment.
“yob tvoyo ma-” She can barely let out before my fist connects with her jaw.
Thwump
She essentially flies into the ground head first, clearly stunned. If this was a proper fight I might have stayed standing, circling around her to strike at her head while she is on the ground.
But this isn't a proper fight and I'm not collected.
My vision is white with rage. All of my anger is concentrated within my fists now, my boots are too effective at insulation for me to even consider subconsciously or otherwise my feet as weapons.
Screaming I grab her by the lapels of her uniform and bring her back up I eye level.
She blinked dumbly twice before smiling that big smile of hers again.
“Ah.... Long time no see...” She taunted.
I spat at her.
She head butted me.
I fell down onto the ground on my ass, raising my arms up to block the next strike. However while still shaking off my punch my sister clearly has more wits about her and takes a step back and around me to kick at my side.
Eaaargh! I groan. And my arms instinctively close around my sides. She uses her fist as a hammer to now go for my head, but using the leftover momentum from her kick I roll onto my non injured side and get back up to a crouch, springing I go straight for her throat.
The ferocity is too much and she takes a step back, bumping up abruptly with the barrel she forgot was positioned behind her; this surprises her and forces her to look behind her subconsciously.
I reach her get her by the throat, and I start to squeeze.
Up against the barrel she can't leverage herself to headbutt me again but in a surprising move takes both her arms under mine, putting them together in an 'arrow' shape forcefully shoots them up and breaks my hold.
Not even pausing to catch her breath she lunges at me, off balance we both fall to the ground. She started to punch at my exposed head but my hands managed to come up in time to stop her from getting too many hits in....
Bang!
The crack of a sniper rifle fills the air forcing us to stop and look towards the sound.
Together two men stood together, my commanding officer Major Malinski and some other officer wearing barrel overalls I didn't recognize, but he was a full bird Colonel by the looks of it.
“Brother Gunnery Sergeant Ivanova would you like to explain me what in the name of the devil's grandmother is going the fuck on here?” Malinski ordered. It was one of those rare moments in which he swore for effect instead of punctuation.
Fuck.
My cheeks are red in embarrassment and shame, I had no idea how... no... that's not correct. I did know didn't I? I just wish it hadn't happened in front of him.
“That's Brother-Captain Ivanova, Captain Emilia Ivanova Esayeva.... Or did you mean my sister here? You should be more specific.” My sister said from a top of me, fuck you. How dare you speak so disrespectfully to Misha.
“That's Brother-Major Malinski to you Captain, now, get the fuck off my Gunnery Sergeant if you please....?” His tone clearly stated And that's an order.
She looked towards the Colonel, hoping maybe he would say something but he only nodded sternly.
Her stare at the Colonel seemed to say how could you?, and her deamonor seemed to say I was winning! I so fucking hate you so much, but she reluctantly got off from me.
The Colonel spoke first. “And what happened her Brother Captain?”
“She started it.” She pointed at me, “I was just standin' ere' mindin' me own business when she just came in here like the devil's grandmother's cold and just started fucking with me out of the blue sir. She struck a superior officer!”
“Go fuck yourself you shit eating cunt!” I snarled and I almost lunged at her again. Her facial expression clearly saying Come on! I dare ye! but I restrained myself.
“Language Brother Gunnery Sergeant, is this your sister? You've never mentioned her before...” Why he seemed to be asking.
“Never mentioned me? Some sister you are! I'm hurt~” She smirked.
Hur-urk, my breath got caught in my throat, I struggled to hold back tears of rage.
“You... You... Yoooou...” Hrrgnggh. I couldn't breath, tears were welling up now. So many years of bitter memories coming back to the surface.
I couldn't hold back much long, all tension was leaving me, soon I wouldn't be able to stand.
“What? Crying? Really? How weak.” 'Emilia' scolded. “I can't believe your my sister? I do what I could to protect you and you fucking run off to join the army? Where's my thanks? Instead I get a sucker punch to the jaw.” She pointed at the bruise that was now swelling up, forcing her to begin to slur her words together.
That did it.
With my last bit of strength I lunge.
“Ivanova!” Malinski yelled out.
“You! Fucking! Whore! I'll fucking kill you!” She was more ready this time and held my arms apart, we struggled futilily against each other.
“He wasn't good for you anyways!” She said.
Aayargh!
“How dare you!” I growled. “He was my HUSBAND and you FUCKED him!?”
“So!?” She jeered. “I did it for yer own good!”
Screaming I tried to against to get her on the ground but before I could even begin to struggle numberous hands grabbed at both of us, pulling us apart.
“I'll kill you! I will fucking kill you even if its the last thing I do!” Freeing a hand I gestured at my forehead. “Right there! You see!? Right there right between the eyes like you fucking deserve! You got that bitch!?” I kept screaming, I was becoming incomprehensible in my hysteria even to my own words but I just had to keep screaming, to keep hoisting all of my rage verbally at her, wishing for her to die on the spot.
“Bring it! I got my barrel! I'm protected by a nice steel shell what you got eh!?” She said laughing as I was dragged away by my squadmates...
And the Major was looking down at me, as I was being dragged with deep sadness and concern.
Seeing that, just as I finally made it out of sight from my unperson of a sibling, I finally collapsed and broke down crying at the unfairness of it all.
I will no longer eat my pride. I've made too many sacrifices already, too many times I've run away from this, from her.
She ruins my marriage and I run off.
She ruins my entire life and I continue to run.
Not again, not here, this time I draw the line here and no farther!
I will make her pay for what she's done.
You know what they say about snipers...
One shot.
One kill.
How very white. The whole world is just one blank canvas... Riko Minami thought to herself. Not for the first time that day she rubbed her eyes, they were strained from the light being reflected off the snow flat on the ground undisturbed seemingly for miles.
She turned her head around to peer at the... The Russian? Was he a cossack? That was driving the horse pulling the carriage along the snow.
This was her first winter in Russia. It wasn't so bad...
She said as much allowed to the rueful laughter of her compatriot.
The Afghan right next to her liked to laugh a lot. She was a queer sort, bright green eyes and dark hair. Minami thought her Russian at first.
Until she spoke.
Her voice was like music, so pure so beautiful... But underneath that... Her words themselves were sharp and sarcastic.
“Not so bad? Not so bad!? Ha ha! What a joke....” She shook her head. “You were not there were you?” She accused.
“Eh? I don't really... Wakarimasen...ka?” The confusion from her words and expression seemed to anger her companion though.
“There! You know? Then! Back in the last winter! When the temperature was so low I thought my blood would freeze! Then!” Pointing at the icicles that hadn't broken off the carriage yet, like little stalagmites lining the side of the carriage as if they were teeth.
“Eh... Sou desu ne....” Is that so?
Disgusted the Afghan woman shook her head.
“It was so cold bodies where everywhere.... Sometimes we burned them for warmth... if the fire would even start, the barrels certainly were not running... So we used.. fuel sometimes...” Her voice was coming in a little heavier, he tempo slowing, these were clearly difficult memories.
“But the Germans had it worse... Whenever we took a town or trench... So many not prepared for it... Even we from the mountains were not ready for this... How could they live here? Hey! You! How do you live here with this cold?” This last sentence in Russian, her head turned to regard the driver.
“Hrrrm... good question...” He answered back. He was old so his answer was a little slow, it explained why he was here driving this carriage instead of at the front.
“Just used to it I guess.” He answered with finality.
The Afghan shook her head.
“Its better now though...” Her voice was lower now, almost as an aside.
Indeed both of them were just as heavily clothed as the Russian driving the carriage, and they were both wearing valenki.
“Neh, Malika... Sorry... I mean Hekmatyar-san” Her companion's name. “Think we are almost at the front? We've been here an awfully long time since leaving the train...”
Malika Hekmatyar looked at Minami with astonishment. “What.”
“Eh?” Confused, Minami answered back. She thought back to her German she spoke, it should be correct... German was the world's lingua franca next to Russian. Minami and Malika spoke both languages fluently which was convenient as Minami didn't speak Persian and Hekmatyar didn't speak Japanese.
“No I mean... You really think we are anywhere close to the front? Heheheha that's a good one!” She burst out laughing.
“Eeeeeeh!?” Now it was Minami's turn to be astonished.
“We're maybe.... Only halfway!” She pointed out in the distance.
Minami had to squint, she was near sighted and her glasses weren't a fancy expensive pair like her fathers. But she noticed something... Smoke?
“The Germans...” Hekmatyar said helplessly.... “They bombed it. The rails going close to the front, so that is why we here on this... Road?” She glanced around trying to get a look down but gave up with a shrug.
Only half way!?
“Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeh!? How mean!”
“That is war... and that is how it has always been... since the Khans... Since Iskandar....” She gestured again with a graceful sort of resignation. Her musical voice made it sound particularly remorseful.
“War... War never changes...”
Minami thought she might cry at those words.
“How cruel.” Hidoindesu.
*****-------******
The train car shuddered to a stop as the train pulled into Smolensk, or rather I think it is Smolensk. With the Germans bombing everything Russian hands built this may have been a alternate rail depot near by or maybe somewhere entirely else and not for the first time, we were simply lied to.
Fucking disgrace, if you can't trust your own people.
Jumping onto the platform from the train I took a look around, it was chaotic. The train had no more begun to settle in when it was assaulted by logistics teams working to quickly unload the train of its people and cargo... And loading on injured and broken machines to be repaired.
Hoisting my moisin along the back of my shoulders I made my way off the platform passing various throngs of people going about their business with incredibly urgency.
“What happened?” I asked out loud.
Captain no... Major Malinski now stepped beside me and looked around with an gruesome expression.
“Seems like we lost a battle.”
“What!?” I was shocked, how could he tell?
He looked around again and nodded. “Too many damaged machines, too many injured in this one place, normally wounded is a more... Consistent trickle according to studies, plus this happened on a smaller scale back east when I was visiting divisional HQ.”
He took out his pipe and lit it up, with tabacco from that pouch of his, this was troubling indeed if he felt the need to smoke.
“Walk with me.” Moving quickly away and into the town.
“If you examine the wounded you would see that they're mostly able to walk, bandaged or otherwise stable. Meaning that they needed the field beds... It suggests such a large inflow of casualties that they need to move the stable to hospitals deeper behind the lands to free up the beds...” He took in a deep smoke, letting out one... no two no three rings...
“Now that could happen if we were victorious as well, so how do we determine defeat...?” He sounded like a professor, even looking at me with a questioning sort of air about him... He wanted me to try to answer him him.
“Umm... They're running around like panicked chickens...?” I ventured a guess... The major looked up thoughtfully for a moment, he always considered your answers trying to find wisdom even if it was hopelessly wrong.
“Correct in a sense, the psychology of their movements suggests urgency yes, it is not despair though so we can safely rule out a route, but at the same time the situation seems serious, there's a clear tempo for 'victory' and you need to keep up momentum, and there's a tempo for defeat, they are very similar...” He took another puff, and shrugged. “Nichevo” It cannot be helped.
“We definitely not in Smolensk...?” I asked, to confirm, the town was clearly too small to be the city.
“Da, not Smolensk, Katyn, I think you can tell because of those forests over there in the distance.”
“Amazing.” I stared in the direction he was pointing, it was unbelievable.
He was a major in a reconnaissance organization after all, so maybe not so unbelievable. All I ever cared about was putting a bullet between the eyes of some scummy fucking whore smack dab in the middle of my sights...
My breathing quickened, my fists clenched...
I shut my eyes, my left hand now balled tightly into a fist began to “strike” at the air so to speak, I was trying to shake off my anger. Fuck. Control yourself damnit.
“One of these days Kira I would really like to know why you hate the world so much.” He asked quietly.
That stopped me for a moment, I breathed in deeply trying to calm my heart.
“I don't... Hate the world... per se... I just want to see it burn.” I could only stay calm when I was holding the rifle in my hands and “in the zone.” that moment of perfect clarity where I didn't even notice my muscles working the bolt.
But standing around? Doing nothing? Even if just talking to the Major? Fuck everything, fuck it all. I don't care, I just want to get back to killing shit that deserves it, but unfortunately, I guess I'll never have that chance to put it to good use, against who truly fucking deserves it.
We were out of the town now, the station no longer in vision, I can't believe we made so much distance just walking... I noticed my squad following us spread out about fifty meters behind. Good on them, an air raid against people bunched up together like at the station is just asking for disaster. With air power making its strength and reach known these days you can never be too careful.
Fucking Germans, first the Mongols who just danced and poked us at the border and then the Punjabi who are out allies now but gave a pretty decent fight, and now the fucking Germans who were our allies but now they're our enemies...
Except that's not what some of the newspapers would put it, “Germany has always been antagonistic to Russian interests, and Russia has always been friendly with African interests” my ass. Politicians, fuck them too.
We approached and entered into a army camp within the trees now outside of town. Barrel forces by the looks of it, dozens of vehicals spread out and hidden under camouflage netting and white washed to protect them from air raids. Maskirovka at its finest. Our army could get something done right.
But otherwise fuck em' the top brass, the Spanish who were fighting us in the baltic, fuck the House of Rurik who still think they own this country just because they won an election and keep dragging us into wars, fuck this war, fuck my good for nothing father who can't do anything right to raise his children and of his children fuck my fucking cunt of a sis-...
-ter.... Right there... in Barrel driver overalls leaning up against one of the machines grinning that fucking smug grin of hers while she just watching two other female soldiers working. Changing treads? Who the fuck knows.
I didn't notice it. My hands begun to move on their own, I had before I even realized it reached out behind my back and pulled my rifle and began to take aim.
But Major Malinski was on the ball, and immediately took it from my hands.
“What are you-!?” He sounded shocked, stunned even barely able to act to remove my rifle.
But I don't hear it.
I let go and stop fighting for the rifle and break away, and I charge into a flat out run, closing the distance between me and her within seconds. I've never run this fast before.
She looks up, as if sensing danger, still with the stupid grin of hers.
It fades as her mouth along with her eyes open in astonishment.
“yob tvoyo ma-” She can barely let out before my fist connects with her jaw.
Thwump
She essentially flies into the ground head first, clearly stunned. If this was a proper fight I might have stayed standing, circling around her to strike at her head while she is on the ground.
But this isn't a proper fight and I'm not collected.
My vision is white with rage. All of my anger is concentrated within my fists now, my boots are too effective at insulation for me to even consider subconsciously or otherwise my feet as weapons.
Screaming I grab her by the lapels of her uniform and bring her back up I eye level.
She blinked dumbly twice before smiling that big smile of hers again.
“Ah.... Long time no see...” She taunted.
I spat at her.
She head butted me.
I fell down onto the ground on my ass, raising my arms up to block the next strike. However while still shaking off my punch my sister clearly has more wits about her and takes a step back and around me to kick at my side.
Eaaargh! I groan. And my arms instinctively close around my sides. She uses her fist as a hammer to now go for my head, but using the leftover momentum from her kick I roll onto my non injured side and get back up to a crouch, springing I go straight for her throat.
The ferocity is too much and she takes a step back, bumping up abruptly with the barrel she forgot was positioned behind her; this surprises her and forces her to look behind her subconsciously.
I reach her get her by the throat, and I start to squeeze.
Up against the barrel she can't leverage herself to headbutt me again but in a surprising move takes both her arms under mine, putting them together in an 'arrow' shape forcefully shoots them up and breaks my hold.
Not even pausing to catch her breath she lunges at me, off balance we both fall to the ground. She started to punch at my exposed head but my hands managed to come up in time to stop her from getting too many hits in....
Bang!
The crack of a sniper rifle fills the air forcing us to stop and look towards the sound.
Together two men stood together, my commanding officer Major Malinski and some other officer wearing barrel overalls I didn't recognize, but he was a full bird Colonel by the looks of it.
“Brother Gunnery Sergeant Ivanova would you like to explain me what in the name of the devil's grandmother is going the fuck on here?” Malinski ordered. It was one of those rare moments in which he swore for effect instead of punctuation.
Fuck.
My cheeks are red in embarrassment and shame, I had no idea how... no... that's not correct. I did know didn't I? I just wish it hadn't happened in front of him.
“That's Brother-Captain Ivanova, Captain Emilia Ivanova Esayeva.... Or did you mean my sister here? You should be more specific.” My sister said from a top of me, fuck you. How dare you speak so disrespectfully to Misha.
“That's Brother-Major Malinski to you Captain, now, get the fuck off my Gunnery Sergeant if you please....?” His tone clearly stated And that's an order.
She looked towards the Colonel, hoping maybe he would say something but he only nodded sternly.
Her stare at the Colonel seemed to say how could you?, and her deamonor seemed to say I was winning! I so fucking hate you so much, but she reluctantly got off from me.
The Colonel spoke first. “And what happened her Brother Captain?”
“She started it.” She pointed at me, “I was just standin' ere' mindin' me own business when she just came in here like the devil's grandmother's cold and just started fucking with me out of the blue sir. She struck a superior officer!”
“Go fuck yourself you shit eating cunt!” I snarled and I almost lunged at her again. Her facial expression clearly saying Come on! I dare ye! but I restrained myself.
“Language Brother Gunnery Sergeant, is this your sister? You've never mentioned her before...” Why he seemed to be asking.
“Never mentioned me? Some sister you are! I'm hurt~” She smirked.
Hur-urk, my breath got caught in my throat, I struggled to hold back tears of rage.
“You... You... Yoooou...” Hrrgnggh. I couldn't breath, tears were welling up now. So many years of bitter memories coming back to the surface.
I couldn't hold back much long, all tension was leaving me, soon I wouldn't be able to stand.
“What? Crying? Really? How weak.” 'Emilia' scolded. “I can't believe your my sister? I do what I could to protect you and you fucking run off to join the army? Where's my thanks? Instead I get a sucker punch to the jaw.” She pointed at the bruise that was now swelling up, forcing her to begin to slur her words together.
That did it.
With my last bit of strength I lunge.
“Ivanova!” Malinski yelled out.
“You! Fucking! Whore! I'll fucking kill you!” She was more ready this time and held my arms apart, we struggled futilily against each other.
“He wasn't good for you anyways!” She said.
Aayargh!
“How dare you!” I growled. “He was my HUSBAND and you FUCKED him!?”
“So!?” She jeered. “I did it for yer own good!”
Screaming I tried to against to get her on the ground but before I could even begin to struggle numberous hands grabbed at both of us, pulling us apart.
“I'll kill you! I will fucking kill you even if its the last thing I do!” Freeing a hand I gestured at my forehead. “Right there! You see!? Right there right between the eyes like you fucking deserve! You got that bitch!?” I kept screaming, I was becoming incomprehensible in my hysteria even to my own words but I just had to keep screaming, to keep hoisting all of my rage verbally at her, wishing for her to die on the spot.
“Bring it! I got my barrel! I'm protected by a nice steel shell what you got eh!?” She said laughing as I was dragged away by my squadmates...
And the Major was looking down at me, as I was being dragged with deep sadness and concern.
Seeing that, just as I finally made it out of sight from my unperson of a sibling, I finally collapsed and broke down crying at the unfairness of it all.
I will no longer eat my pride. I've made too many sacrifices already, too many times I've run away from this, from her.
She ruins my marriage and I run off.
She ruins my entire life and I continue to run.
Not again, not here, this time I draw the line here and no farther!
I will make her pay for what she's done.
You know what they say about snipers...
One shot.
One kill.
An exciting session. The Khanate exited the forced alliance with Africa and invaded Japanese China, which was mainly ungarrisoned. A few Japanese beachheads are being held to the last man by hastily scraped-together militia; it remains to be seen whether Falador can find any actual troops before I wipe out the militia. Meanwhile, the Africans invaded Italy through ungarrisoned (!) Venice (!!), and are currently slightly north of the Alps. There is a German fighting line in place; I'm not sure if it's stable.
It appears that my backstab was not unexpected, which kind of makes me wonder why the devil Falador had so few troops in China.
It appears that my backstab was not unexpected, which kind of makes me wonder why the devil Falador had so few troops in China.
tide has turned... there some serious afroboogie going on Italy and Austria
Oh, and we found the Evil nazi-reactor and evidences of WMD's !!!! Our alliance sure is on holy cause.
And also, since Blayne was away, and Absent, suddenly the front begun to move favorably for our cause Hats of for Migthy G
Oh, and we found the Evil nazi-reactor and evidences of WMD's !!!! Our alliance sure is on holy cause.
And also, since Blayne was away, and Absent, suddenly the front begun to move favorably for our cause
Hats of for Migthy G
The evidence was ambiguous, so I limited myself to mere obfuscation ("England", "Pendragon";which didn't work, but you didn't tell them regardless, which is a little baffling.)
Also despite KoM betrayed us (suprise!), he actually knew about this operation "England", but hats of for him not betraying us
Exciting indeed.
For the first time in recorded history, a successful aerial landing assault was carried out. A full corps of Catalan paratroopers, embarking from the Californian airbase at Madura, landed on the southern shores of urban Borneo, making it the first time anyone invaded that particular isle. Shortly after, a transport fleet bearing supplies and reinforcements (INF '41 with self-propelled artillery) landed in the recently secured harbour.
Additionally, combined efforts of Californian and Catalan marine forces are slowly taking over all of Japanese Oceania.
We are in no particular hurry to take anything Ethiopian, though. It is a sad thing the European theatre pits us against one another, but historically, Ethiopian-Catalan relations have always been excellent, and we hope to continue that trend in the long term.
Maybe it was not expected throughout the entire enemy camp; maybe they did not particularly want Falador to expect anything.
For the first time in recorded history, a successful aerial landing assault was carried out. A full corps of Catalan paratroopers, embarking from the Californian airbase at Madura, landed on the southern shores of urban Borneo, making it the first time anyone invaded that particular isle. Shortly after, a transport fleet bearing supplies and reinforcements (INF '41 with self-propelled artillery) landed in the recently secured harbour.
Additionally, combined efforts of Californian and Catalan marine forces are slowly taking over all of Japanese Oceania.
We are in no particular hurry to take anything Ethiopian, though. It is a sad thing the European theatre pits us against one another, but historically, Ethiopian-Catalan relations have always been excellent, and we hope to continue that trend in the long term.
It appears that my backstab was not unexpected, which kind of makes me wonder why the devil Falador had so few troops in China.
Maybe it was not expected throughout the entire enemy camp; maybe they did not particularly want Falador to expect anything.
It is true that the Japanese Imperium has not made itself popular in any alliance with its switching into and out of wars.
i did give him a fair warning Punjab holds no grudges. only many many private Mongol bank accounts evading tax's.
Punjab holds no grudges. only many many private Mongol bank accounts evading tax's.
They're not evading taxes, they're avoiding taxes. The State which may, at any moment, require the citizen to give up his life for its continuance, may not in justice interfere with his merely monetary affairs.
Additionally, at the moment I, personally, would be highly reluctant to lend the Punjabi state so much as a dollar at less than 20% interest. As for default insurance on Punjabi banks, it's not even being sold anymore; nobody believes anyone has enough money to cover that sort of bet at any rate.
Additionally, at the moment I, personally, would be highly reluctant to lend the Punjabi state so much as a dollar at less than 20% interest. As for default insurance on Punjabi banks, it's not even being sold anymore; nobody believes anyone has enough money to cover that sort of bet at any rate.
Indeed, Australia is secure after obliterating the remaining Japanese divisions (15 maybe?), along with countless more landings all across the pacific successfully seizing high value ports and airfields.
On the high seas, Californian subs continue to strangle the life out of Japanese shipping, as hundreds more confirmed kills are recorded.
California does morn its brave navy men and women who lost their lives in bold maneuvers to save the German surface fleet however.
But as always, the elite forces California continue their push towards Japan, and ever closer towards total victory against the Japanese aggressors in the pacific!
As minor side note, heres a pic of one of Californias most skilled and popular commanders in the pacific... One can only wonder what sort of future is in store for him if he continues his streak of victories against the Japanese!
On the high seas, Californian subs continue to strangle the life out of Japanese shipping, as hundreds more confirmed kills are recorded.
California does morn its brave navy men and women who lost their lives in bold maneuvers to save the German surface fleet however.
But as always, the elite forces California continue their push towards Japan, and ever closer towards total victory against the Japanese aggressors in the pacific!
As minor side note, heres a pic of one of Californias most skilled and popular commanders in the pacific... One can only wonder what sort of future is in store for him if he continues his streak of victories against the Japanese!
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All hail the the liberators of South East Asia.
Its a good thing we have this man to lead us to victory. Persian necromancy is strong in this one.
Its a good thing we have this man to lead us to victory. Persian necromancy is strong in this one.
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All hail the the liberators of South East Asia.
No see thats all wrong... this alot more accurate...
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i think someones mad we researched color photos before them what kind of technologically backwards nation doesn't have color in there photos.
what kind of technologically backwards nation doesn't have color in there photos.
Much like the risk of getting killed in a car crash on your way to work, getting backstabbed by KoM is one of those risks that are so ever-present you simply stop thinking much about them and grow complacent.
Also; how long are do you guys have left playing? CK II and EU IV have me contemplating another megacampaign.
