(Joint Post with SocDyl)
Urgia-Nova, Alksearia
5th November, 2020
30th Scithe, 40 BA
2nd Tolbakdukarmyet, 105 AR
Vitaly Fletcher sighed as the Durakan Ship came to port. It was finally time. The Dwelf grabbed his belongings and headed up towards the top deck, where he would be meeting with the Knife Brigade of the Durakan Volunteer Corps, and then the Meagharians. “Knife Brigade.” He wasn’t too pleased with that name, but if it at least got some morale in his men, he would accept it. It had been a long boat ride, and cleaning up after seasick volunteers was not what he was hoping for when he took this job. But, he wouldn’t complain. The Dwelf took a deep breath and headed up to the top deck.
Colonel Brigid Aodha got out of bed, her legs still a bit wobbly from three days of sea travel. She had never been at sea before, the first day or so was mostly Meagharian Volunteers rotating through being allowed at the railing to vomit over the side. Fortunately her and all her soldiers had managed to get mostly used to things after the first day. She had been laying in bed, hoping to get some extra rest before she would need to leave the ship. She hadn’t gotten any sleep unfortunately. But the time had come to leave the ship. Grabbing the microphone attached to the ship’s PA system she announced that all soldiers must immediately get into full uniform, before putting her full uniform on herself. Brigid pulled her Overcoat over her casual uniform, sliding her Green, White, and Orange armband onto her arm, placing her brimmed cap on her forehead, and finally she attached her Machete Belt, machete included, to her left side. With that, she strode confidently, if slightly unstably, to the top deck of her ship. She would need to speak with the Durakans soon.
Vitaly took a deep inhale as he opened the door, letting the sea air from the top deck into his lungs.
“Morning Brigadier-General!” called a soldier.
“Morning comrade, has roll call been taken?”
“Yeah, just waitin’ on Private Novik.”
A 19 year old dwarf, upon hearing his name, walked over to stand with the rest of his troops, holding his head after having a bit too much of the vodka he had smuggled with him, upon seeing Vitaly, he stood to attention. “Oh fuck, Knifey’s awake-”
“…That’s Brigadier-General Knifey to you, private.” Vitaly replied, getting a laugh from his men. He sighed, trying to hide his annoyance.
“Right, is everyone ready and accounted for now?” He asked a Lt. Colonel, getting a nod. "Right. Well, please don’t embarrass us in front of our Meagharian guests, they should be arriving shortly for a joint briefing.’
The Meagharian ship was running smoothly. Most of the Soldiers were already fully dressed, some even had their guns slung over their backs already. As things seemed to be forming alright in the lower chain of command, Brigid gathered her immediate lower officers. Lieutenant Colonels Brendan, and Nuala. They should have been colonels, and she should have been a Major-General, but the government had given them the ranks, and they would be sticking to them. As her soldiers continuted to organize, she walked off her ship, touching Dry Land for the first time in days. Rather than doing something childish like kissing the ground, she immediately began marching towards the Durakan ship, her lower officers following lockstep with each other just behind. Finding the gangplank to the Durakan vessel she gave a quick salute to the solider gaurding the gangplank before walking right onto the ship. Seeing the Durakan General she called out. Giving a quick salute as she said so.
“Hail Comrade-Soldier! I’ve heard that there’s a war on!”
Vitaly nodded, calling back: “I’m not sure why we’d be here otherwise! Welcome Aboard, Comrade!”
The Durakan Troops stood in their platoons, saluting the Meagharians as they came aboard. They wore their grey uniforms, some with the tricolour armbands that had become a common accessory for volunteers to show they had fought in the Meagharian Civil War. The Durakan Force, while certainly less in numbers than the Meagharians, were well armed and well known as an elite volunteer force.
The Meagharians were signalled towards where they would be expected to stand, taking an equal place on the ship to the Durakan Troops, the two nations’ brotherhood being shown symbolically by standing side by side.
The higher ranking Meagharians were escorted towards a small meeting room, to ensure everything was ready for the briefing. There were some quiet murmuring among the Durakan Troops on the age of these Officers, with the eldest still looking 3 years under the age requirement to join the Durakan Volunteer Corps, but the Durakan Officers kept them in line and respectful, with Brigadier-General Fletcher and his three Lt. Colonels following the Meagharian Officers into the pre briefing room.
The Pre Briefing Room seemed quite comfortable, with plush chairs around a large wooden table.
“Would any of the commanders like any food or drink?” asked a crew member as they entered.
Brigid spoke first, “I’ll take a Gin, on the weaker side if you will, I’m not a lightweight, but I want to make sure I dont go overboard you understand.” Brendan ordered about the same as his commander but Nuala piped up.
“Vodka please.” Brigid glared at the younger soldier, before adding to that order.
“With Ice.” With that Brigid and her other officers found seats around the tabele. Brigid in the center with her fellow meagharians to either side.
“40 or 90% on that Vodka?” the crewmate asked as he noted down the order, by now he knew the Durakan Orders: Beer for Vitaly, 90% Vodka for Oleksy, and Yorsh for Alexandra and Katerina.
Nuala was about to speak but before she had a chance Brigid spoke. “40%. I’m not letting you get drunk before the campaign even starts.”
“Fair enough, means more of the 90 for crew.” The crewmate smiled, “You can get started, I’ll get the drinks out while you’re talking. Anything else?”
“Thank you Moltkey, that will be all.” Alexandra nodded to the crewmate and he left. She then turned to the Meagharians. The age difference was certainly hard to ignore, as the 32 year old was faced with Officers that she could only assume to be 16 and under. Still, unlike the other two Lt. Colonels, she was almost impossible to read. “I think we should get down to business as soon as possible, don’t want the troops getting bored out there.”
“Ain’t these kids a little young to be Officers?” Oleksy asked. The 34 year old Dwarf was against a 25 year old leading the Durakans, nevermind these teenagers.
“Yes, yes they are. Your point?” Alexandra replied, coldly.
“…Right. Let’s just get this over with.” Oleksy said, a little quieter as Alexandra stared through him.
Looking directly at Olensky, with a perfectly serene look on her face she spoke. “The last person who talked to me like that is lying in a ditch somewhere with his guts torn out by a Machete. Keep that in mind and I am sure we will be fast friends.” She placed her hand on the hilt of the Machete at her side before talking.
“Anyway, the war against Balistria has begun. Our side certainly has a glut of allies, but I am certain that we will be able to make a good impact upon this splendid little war. Our first step will of course be repelling the Balistrian invasion into Alksearian territory.”
"Er, don’t mind him…he’s just a bit…"Katerina tried to think of a way to say it without being rude, but was cut off by Alexandra.
“Lieutenant Colonel Oleksy has about the charisma and tact of a corpse left in a ditch to rot, however I suggest you refrain from drawing your weapon. I took this job to be relieved of my sentencing after some…unsavoury affairs. Bottom line is if you so much as touch an officer with that thing, your body shall be dumped in the ocean. Now, Brigadier-General you may speak, and I ask my fellow Lieutenant Colonels to only speak when spoken to from now on unless they too wish to be found washed up on some Arcturian shore, now proceed.”
As Alexandra was speaking, the crewmate placed the drinks down quietly, giving a look of sympathy to the other commanders.
Vitaly cleared his throat. “Now, back to the topic at hand. Repelling the current invasion must be a priority. as with Vakarastan, the Balistrian force must rely on gaining the starting momentum to defeat their enemy before international forces arrive and outnumber them, we cannot let this happen.”
“Of course. The first major priority must be to stop their initial advance, after that goal is accomplished, it will only be a matter of time before they are pushed back, and crumble beneath their own arrogance. Of course we are not the only players involved, but we have enough forces to ensure that it does happen in the regions that we will be present in.” After her statement, Brigid took a sip of her gin.”This war will inevitably go against these bastards, our job is to ensure that happens as soon as possible.”
“Definitely. We must at the very least hold the lime and pin them. Once we are secure in that we can begin striking them decisively back with the reinforcements from the other nations involved. My main concern shall be how they take the defensive. The DVC have been
trained for this rainforest climate, but not all forces can say the same, and the enemy will sti have the advantage of knowledge back on Balistrian soil.” Vitaly sipped his beer, not much of a drinker but would rather have something light than complain. Well, as light as Durakan Beer was.
“Well this war will have two major aspects as I see it. There will be taking the cities, and eliminating the Balistrian government as a Functional state, that will likely be the main focus of our armies, and what makes it to the Broadcasts. An aspect that might be overlooked, will be the more rural areas, places where the remnants of the shattered Balistria might be able to escape to continue fighting. I believe that this would be something my soldiers would be particularly skilled at, for obvious reasons.” While Brigid was talking Nuala was quietly taking notes between small sips of vodka.
“Your reputation is not unearned, Lieutenant Colonel Katerina can attest to that.” Vitaly nodded to the 28 year old human.
Katerina smiled, and showed her grey, white and orange armband as well as her copper star medal, proudly. “You can call me Kat if you like, got my medal here for strangling a theist when they tried to take my rifle. And yeah, you got that right Fletcher, I can confidently say these troops’ll be experts, even if they ain’t as old as our usual comrades.” She smiled and took a swig of Yorsh.
Brigid gave Katerina a smile. “Your confidence is reassuring. I know for a fact it will not be misplaced. Upon meeting with the Alksearians we will also be requesting topographic maps of Balistria. That will allow us to know the places that such clandestine forces will likely hide. And upon the discovery of such forces, we will ensure their Total Elimination, with prejudice.” With that final vague statement Brigid took another drink of Gin, a much larger one this time, but she still showed no outward sign of intoxication.
“While I am inclined to ignore the suggestion of total elimination for moral reasons, the DVC are not set to the same standards of the MRA. Prisoners are…not always the tactical solution. Either way, we will be sure to conflate any data we receive with you, as well as the UCA-NSTO Armies, however we shall be a bit more…careful what we tell them.” He took another sip, before sighing and sliding the glass towards Oleksy, who finished it effortlessly after practically downing his vodka.
Brigid briefly made a face of disapproval towards Olensky, and made a mental note of his…affinity towards drink. Very Undisciplined of him. She regained her composure before speaking again. “Of Course. As long as we are able to get the job done, why is it their business what the methods involved were?” With that question the Colonel took a brief look at her watch, and took one more sip of the now half filled Gin. “I believe I will need to go now. My Soldiers Should be finished Assembling themselves. Olensky may finish my drink if he wishes.”
“I’m sure he does. Kat and I shall assist with the joint briefing, Vitaly. We may leave Olensky to…clean up, as it were. Make use of him for once” Alexandra said, “You two may talk out of line for now, do not make me regret that.”
Kat nodded, “Yes, Ma’m!” she slides over her ¼ full Yorsh to an eager Olensky and stands to attention cheerfully.
Vitaly nodded to the two women, and then to the Meagharians. “Let’s see our comrades ready to fight the Balistrians, then.”
“I will take my leave then.” Brigid and the other two officers stood up and saluted. “Aindiachas Victeoiriach!”. And with that the officers left the room, as lockstep as they had been when they entered, though with Nuala a bit less perfect than she had been when she entered.
