OOC: written with cake
Tillingham, United Kingdom of Malgrave, 1990's
It was hard to imagine that the entire province of Tillingham had been involved in the heaviest fighting of the Malgravean civil war period, with both the Battle of Pakosc and the Battle of Aria and the subsequent clean-up operations taking place in relatively close proximity. In recent years Tillingham had received a considerable transformation, of course, the area around Pakosc was still dedicated towards industrial concerns but a majority of the factories now churned out consumer goods for the civilian markets, with less focus placed on ammunition and equipment for the armed forces. Tillingham and Aria, however, had received the biggest transformation, the cities had previously been dedicated to directly assisting the war effort of the National Workers' Republic but following the collapse of the Republic and investment from Epping it had been transformed into a hub for tourism, with Malgraveans from across the country travelling to the snow-covered mountains to enjoy some skiing or simply enjoy the fresh mountain air and water.
Despite the dramatic transformation, the region was still under threat of attack by the remnants of the Patriotic Front, and the Territorial Defence Force had been tasked with securing the region via the standard checkpoint arrangement and occasional raids on suspected anti-government hideouts, the soft rumble of a wheeled-armoured vehicle was indicative of at least one of these efforts, the low-profile vehicle travelling through the mountainous roads that covered the region near the Rohanian border with ease.
Inside the vehicle the members of the 4th Platoon, Pakosc Shock Company could be seen preparing for the days action. Technical-Corporal Lena Alessandri led this particular section within the 4th Platoon, the Malgravean neko struck an imposing image despite her relatively short stature compared to other members of the squad.
"We have received fresh information from the Special Investigative Service about a potential series of Patriotic Front outposts operating near the border region," Alessandri said as the vehicle continued to move throughout the mountain roads, the faint outline of Tillingham could be seen to the south, while the vehicle continued to make a somewhat spirally crawl north to the border villages, "I've also been informed by Sub-Colonel Pedrotti that preventing the Patriotic Front from crossing over the border is a key priority, the government wants to maintain its commitment to re-entering the international community by 2000 and I don't want to have to explain why those efforts have been paused." the neko said
"Is this fresh intelligence from the SIS?" Lance Corporal Eva Pesaresi said from her position in the vehicle, the human woman was at a similar height to her neko counterpart but unlike her CO's auburn hair the Lance Corporal hair was a strangely vibrant dark purple.
"I understand your concerns, LC," Alessandri said with a faint smile, several TDF units in the past had often being given old useless information and told to hope for the best, "I have been reliably informed that the intelligence is as fresh as possible."
"Can we rely on artillery and air support during this operation?" Soldato Adam Stawski asked.
"We have ready access to local artillery and air support, Soldato Stawski," Alessandri replied, the neko understood that the Soldato was possibly quite nervous about the current assignment and so she moved to crush these nerves as quickly as possible, "I can say with confidence that we won't require any support during the opening stages of the operation, as for the latter half its quite satisfying to watch a bunker destroying missile or artillery shell hit a PatFront position."
“This is my first mission, so uh, sorry if I’m not the best,” Soldato Aaron Johansen stated, looking slightly embarrassed. “I’ll do my best, though! I went through all the training! I’m ready to fight, I promise!”
The soldato wasn’t lying about one thing- he was ready to fight. In fact, he was likely more ready than anyone else the vehicle, though he wasn’t going to let them know that. This was because Soldato Aaron Johansen, of Epping, Malgrave, was a fake identity, built from the ground up to allow the soldier to infiltrate the TDF specifically to be assigned to the border regions. In reality, the 5’10” man was a Rohanian special operative. His mission was to join the TDF detachment in the border region and ensure they eliminated the dissident groups making strikes into Rohane Alista.
He had, in fact, been through the TDF’s basic training regimine, to shore up his records. It was largely a waste of time, as he’d been trained extensively with Malgravian equipment acquired by the Department of Defense in Rohane before being deployed, but some things couldn’t be taught there. He’d gained a slight reputation as something of a minor oddball in boot camp, but most of his “fellow” trainees had also been odd, at least by Rohanian standards, so it had proved to be a minor boon.
“Just remember your basic training and you’ll do just fine, Soldato Johansen,” Alessandri said with a warm smile, she remembered her earlier days as a fresh conscript and it was her job to get the newbies settled in, “We are currently heading towards Deralya, a small village on the outskirts of Tillingham, and the location of a suspected Patriotic Font outpost,” the neko said as the armoured vehicle began to level off, “It is of vital importance that we gather as much intelligence as possible, and knock out these outposts as quickly as possible.”
“Do we have any intelligence on the outpost that we’re heading towards?” Soldato Poplawski asked, the neko somewhat awkwardly shuffling his glasses around as he spoke.
“It’s just a small apartment block that was recently constructed on the outskirts of the village, Soldato,” Alessandri replied, “The SIS believe that it should contain 4 to 6 Patriotic Front operatives, and they won’t all be combat proficient. The SIS suspect that its used for coordinating attacks across the region, including cross border raids and that's why it must be eliminated as quickly as possible.”
“Johansen!” Poplawski said with a smile, “You have Rohanian heritage, yes? I know quite a few with ancestors that remained behind as well, and no offence but you tend to stick out because you tend to be quite tall.”
“It seems rather early to be asking questions about someone's ancestors. Did you even introduce yourself?” Lance Corporal Eva Pesaresi asked, “Soldato Johansen. I’m Lance Corporal Eva Pesaresi . I recently transferred from Omsk to lend my assistance to the anti-terrorism efforts in the region.”
“Oh,” Poplawski said rubbing his neck, “I’m Tobiasz Poplawski, and I am from Pakosc so I got assigned her after basic training. I didn’t mean to offend anyone I just noticed that Rohanians tend to be taller.”
“I didn’t mean to be overtly aggressive earlier,” Eva said with a slight blush, “I just think that is great that we’ve properly introduced ourselves now. I have also noticed that people with Rohanians tend to be a bit taller compared to other Malgraveans, amongst other traits but they make good citizens.”
“Nice to meet you, ah, Soldato Poplawski, Corporal Pesaresi. I do have some Rohanian heritage, on my dad’s side. They, ah, stayed behind because they didn’t want to give up the farm, apparently. Though the very next generation moved to Epping so I guess that was kind of pointless. That’s where I’m from, actually, Epping. Mom insisted I request to be assigned to the border region, ‘cause ‘it’s safer!’” Johansen did a rather poor impression of a female voice, clearly meant to be his mother. “Sis was assigned to the north and she didn’t want us to be in the same place, cause what if she lost us both at once, I guess? Anyways, I’m blabbering, sorry. Just kind of nervous.”
“It’s nice to meet you as well, Soldato Johansen,” Poplawski said, “I was training to become an engineer before I was called to serve in the Territorial Defence Force. I could’ve used my ongoing education to put the call on hold for a while but I think it's best to sign-up early,” the Soldato said before adding, “I hope to get a decent job at the Malgravean State Owned Rail Transportation, Infrastructure and Research Corporation after I have finished my tour.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you both, Soldatos.” Pesaresi said in a rather cheerful tone, “I expect that your mother is rather displeased that you got sent to this region of the border area. It’s much safer near Rensk and the population centres that used to belong to the Socialist Republic, but the Tillingham province is perhaps one of the most dangerous places in the country outside of Epping itself.” she said before adding, “I hope that your sister in serving in a far safer area in the North. I’ve heard that Omsk is essentially at peace, so the conscripts in that region get an incredibly easy time.”
“She got posted to Aurora, though, not Omsk,” Soldato Johansen clarified. “Mom’s constantly worrying she’s going to get caught up in an attack on the Navy HQ, that’s why she wanted us apart, as far as I could tell. But I doubt she was pleased when she learned I was getting posted here. Guess it explains why my drill sergeant seemed a bit… pleased, when I requested a southern posting. Sis is almost done with her tour, she’s a good year and a half older than me. Kind of wish I’d ignored mom right now, actually,” Aaron chuckled nervously. “Does uh, anyone else need to introductions so I can stop making a fool of myself?”
“It’s certainly more dangerous in Aurora compared to Omsk,” Pesaresi said with a nod, “I don’t know why they are so interested in attacking the headquarters of the Royal Navy when it plays an incredibly small part in the ongoing counter-terrorism campaign, and it is protected by members of the SIS,” the Lance Corporal said with a shrug.
“I guess they thought that the older design of the city would make it an easier target. I mean the HQ of the TDF and the Royal Air Force is in a rather secure zone in the central of Epping, while the HQ of the Royal Navy is near the coast,” Poplawski said, “I hope your sister is safe in Aurora though, especially since she only has a few months to go before she can join the Reserve and return to civilian life.”
As Poplawski finished speaking the armoured vehicle came to a gradual halt, the gentle crunch of gravel just audible over the hissing of the vehicle's brakes. In short order, the two rear-facing hatches were opened and the TDF section quickly excited the MalDef platform, the conscripts spreading out in a defensive pattern to ensure that the entire unit wouldn’t get wiped out if their arrival had been detected by the suspected PatFront operations.
Soldato Johansen would see that the apartment complex was a rather simple two-storey affair, with the second floor reached by a short staircase that went up to a small wooden balcony, a stark comparison to the high-rise apartment blocks and terraced buildings that made up the residential sectors of other Malgravean cities.
"Apartment 203, standard breaching technique," Technical-Corporal Lena Alessandri said, with Lance Corporal Pesaresi and a few Soldato's already following behind. In a few moments, the TDF conscripts had got themselves into position around the target apartment front door, a quick breaching charge placed against the door.
"Go! Go!" Alessandri shouted, the Malgravean and her fellow conscripts following into the living room of the apartment complex moments after the successful detonation of the charge. It appeared that the earlier SIS intelligence was correct, as the three Patriotic Front operatives inside were completely unprepared for the arrival of the TDF and found themselves eliminated without even being able to fire a shot in response, in fact, the terrorists seemed to be more interested in the contents of a series of MalTec PDC's
"Soldato Johansen! Soldato Lowwe! Soldato Poplawski! I want this area secured immediately," Alessandri, "Soldato Fermi, Soldato Oshiro. I need you to talk to the local residents and assure them that this is an official counter-terrorism operation," the Technical-Corporal said before adding, "Corporal Pesaresi. I want to know the contents of those computers, immediately."
“Affirmative Corporal!” Johansen replied, lifting his rifle to his shoulder and moving to the hallway out of the living room. The soldato headed to the immediate right, heading towards an open room of uncertain use. He waited for Soldatos Lowwe and Poplawski to join up with him and began sweeping rooms. “Breach!” he informed his squadmates, taking a moment to scan for immediate threats, seeing none, and entered the room, clearing the blind corner. He indicated for his partners to follow with hand signals, quickly clearing the room, leaving one civilian confused and likely slightly shaken behind.
The room was revealed to be a fairly standard kitchen, with the fairly standard amount of terrorists for a kitchen- none. After clearing the room and ensuring there were no mines or other traps, Johansen headed to a closed door. He repeated the procedure he had performed with the kitchen when the other soldatos were in position, breaching the door to what happened to be a bathroom. An empty one.
Soldato Johansen approached the final closed door in the hallway, presumably a bedroom, and waited for his partners to get in position. Ensuring everyone was ready, the Soldato quickly shouted “Breach!” and bashed open the door. The immediate area in the room was empty, and after a quick scan he entered, when he noticed the room bent back around to the left towards the external wall. Pivoting around the corner, Johansen had only a half second to notice a man with a revolver turning and lifting his gun, and immediately opened fire. His rifle spat fire and bullets for mere moments before going silent. The shooter slumped over almost immediately, dead. After a deep breath, the soldato spoke again, his voice surprisingly steady for someone apparently getting their first combat kill. “Enemy Down! Room Clear!”
Soldato Lowwe and Soldato Poplawski quickly sprang into action, their training automatically kicking in before they could acknowledge the fact that one of their colleagues had just ended the life of another human being, after checking that the room was secure Lowwe secured her radio and sent a short message to the Technical-Corporal informing her that they had eliminated another PatFront operative, the short reply acknowledging the statement and informing them that she was on her way to inspect the situation.
“..I guess he was catching a quick nap,” Poplawski said with a cough, the Soldato hadn’t seen much action since entering the TDF and this the first time he had ever witnessed a fellow conscript kill someone, “Thanks Johansen,” the Malgravean said, “I don’t know if I would’ve been quick enough and I don’t think I would’ve survived a revolver at point blank range.”
“It feels good knowing that one less PatFront terrorist is out on the streets,” Soldato Lowwe said with a smile, “If we can stop another terrorist attack from happening thats just great.”
“It’s why we’re here, Soldato,” Alessandri said as she walked into the bedroom, “I have spoken to regional command and they are dispatching a medical unit to analyse the bodies for evidence before sending them off to a burial unit,” the neko said before adding, “You did good work here, Soldato’s. It’s never pleasant to kill another human being but its incredibly important that we eliminate anyone that wishes to return us to the days of the civil war.”
“Let’s just hope we don’t have to do it too often,” Johansen replied, doing a breathing exercise. “I mean I don’t think it’s set in yet, but I just killed a person. I guess I’m glad I got them before they could get any of us, though. I’m pretty sure Poplawski is right, that revolver looks decidedly dangerous.”
“We need to get that revolver to the folks over at the Special Investigative Service,’ Alessandri said putting on a pair of latex medical gloves, “It’s got a unit dedicated to tracking down weapons found on PatFont operatives. It looks familiar to something I have seen that used to be used by the NWR but it could be linked to a Malgravean citizen...or a foreign interest,” the neko said before adding, “Although I don’t know how the SIS is able to secure such a vast array of foreign weaponry”
“It looks like an old AriaDef Revolver from the late 40’s,” Poplawski said before clarifying, “I saw one in the resistance remembrance museum that they’ve got in Pakosc, apparently the student division secured quite a few after executing the last of the PatFront officers in the city.”
“In any case the people over at the SIS will be the one to determine that, at least officially,” Alessandri said before turning to Soldato Johansen, “Why don’t you see how Technical-Corporal Pesaresi is doing with the computer.”
“By your leave, Corporal,” Johansen replied, turning and leaving the room, putting the safety on his gun, making sure it was as unlikely to go off on accident as possible. He headed back down the hallway to the living room, finding the Technical-Corporal working on the computer.
“Hello Corporal Pesaresi,” he greeted his superior with a quick salute before relaxing. “I was asked to see how you were doing. Do you need any help? Made any significant progress?”
Corporal Pesaresi seemed to be surprised by Johansen’s entrance, the small Malgravean making a rather undignified meeping sound as she struggled to keep ahold of the papers that she had hastily organised near the computer.
“I don’t need any assistance, Soldato,” Eva said correcting her voice with the assistance of a small cough, “I’ve managed to break into the Personal Computing Device utilised by the PatFront operatives and I have found a wealth of information about their activities, apparently they’ve been establishing outposts in territory outside of the United Kingdom,” she said pointing to a series of maps that displayed construction plans for the past few months, “It would be quite troublesome if these outposts ever struck out against foreign targets, but I imagine that they are trying to goad some foreign power into invading our homeland and causing enough chaos to make the atmosphere good for another coup attempt,” the Malgravean said before adding, “I have also managed to gain a look into how these terrorist cells communicate. It’s quite possible that they are gearing towards a major terrorist action and if thats the case we need to stop them....and I just realised that I have been rambling for the past few minutes, sorry. I tend to do that whenever I get interested in a new web of information...so how are you doing?”
“Oh, fine, fine,” Johansen replied, nodding and noting the information he had been told for later. “Just shot a man, a little jumped up on adrenaline at the moment, all good. It’s great you could break into that computer, the Lance-Corporal should be pleased. Probably going to have to send it to the SIS with the revolver, huh?” the soldato finished, nodding in a slightly jumpy manner.
“It’s a shame that you can’t keep that thing but it is quite important to track down the history of any weapon we capture,” Pesaresi said before adding, “If it was manufactured by MalDef then we can see if it was stolen during the manufacturing and distribution process or if it was transferred by a private individual, if it was produced in the NWR then another unit will most likely be tasked with raiding any storehouse the SIS detect in the future, the real issue is if its a foreign weapon,” the Malgravean said with a frown as she continued to type away on the computer, “so do you have anything planned for when you leave national service? I plan on working for MalTec. I hear they are trying to develop a successor to the MalTec Puffin, although I heard they are having a whole host of issues with the new interface.”
“I’m not entirely sure, but I do have one fairly clear idea,” Johansen replied, taking a seat on the other side of the table the Corporal was working on. “My dad is an accountant for a small company that manufactures calculators. I think they actually have a contract with MalTec to produce some of theirs. I’ll probably follow him into the… family business, so to say. It’s not exactly exciting work but it is actually pretty important, you know? Gotta make sure everything's on the level. Sounds like you’re looking to become some kind of computer tech then?”
“I imagine they don’t just produce calculators,” Pesaresi said with a light giggle, “I know that our scientists and engineers love a good calculator but I don’t think you’d be able to survive as a business just supplying those eggheads and the national educational system,” she said before adding, “Yep. I hope to get involved in one of the MalTec development teams, although the company is so vast I could get assigned everything from work on the new MalTec communication device to something to do with the electronics on upcoming trains or naval vessels.”
“Soldato Johansen,” Technical-Corporal Alessandri said, her tone and posture a mixture between authority and light teasing, “I asked you to get an update on Corporal Pesaresi’s progress not try and flirt with a superior officer,”
“Technical-Corporal,” Pesaresi said quietly, “I was just informing Soldato Johansen that I have managed obtain information on the construction of several PatFront facilities outside of the United Kingdom, and I believe that intelligence was correct earlier when they suggested that the PatFront could be organising another large-scale terrorist action.”
Alessandri’s eyes narrowed for a few seconds before they returned to their usual size, “In that case I believe that the importance of the successful completion of the raids just increased, good work Corporal. Just don’t flirt with every Soldato I send your way in the future, especially the new ones.”
“I have to protest, Technical-Corporal Alessandri. I was only attempting to understand my squadmates better to increase our performance as a unit. No undue fraternization was intended, or I believe recognized by either party,” Johansen responded, standing up straight at parade rest out of respect for a commanding officer. “However, I will certainly take your words under advisement and be more careful in the future.” The soldato finished with a sharp salute.
“I understand, Soldato. Just report back to the vehicle and prepare to move out again,” Alessandri said sighing briefly before returning the salute, the Technical-Corporal had heard rumours about the humourless nature of certain conscripts from the Epping region but it was something entirely to see it personally, “Corporal Pesaresi, load up the information from that PDC before reporting back to the vehicle,” the Technical-Corporal said waiting until Soldato Johansen had left ear shot before adding, “...and for the love of the ancestors please ensure that Soldato Johansen gets a sense of humour before the mission ends, he’s not going to survive long in the TDF if maintains that upper class sensibility.”
