Author Notes:
Yeah, I think Stalin is gonna have a fit.
Kehum, sorry about the late RM chapter! If you have been following OBOM, then you must have realized that I am on the path to overhaul the benefit system for that story and more. Do check those out at your leisure!
Now then, enjoy your chapter! And a great many thanks to all of you lovely reader!
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https://www.webnovel.com/book/in-the-grimdark-sector-with-a-system_31596105108346205
https://www.webnovel.com/book/my-soul.-occupied-body---please-the-other-me...!_35377211308783905
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Thomas the Armored Train pulls up to Warsaw once again. For the first time in months, it has returned to the place that has left an indelible mark on its eventful service life, leaving Thomas's crew with mixed feelings. The younger, more hot-blooded crew members and officers, like Adam and Lukas, find themselves curling their fists in shimmering anger, eyes frowning as they look at the scorched ground outside the vision ports. The more experienced, even jaded among them, like Surbella, exhales a meaningful sigh as they're reminded of the losses they've suffered in a memory that's as fresh as yesterday's.
The crew of the Thomas doesn't know whether it's a conscious decision or one made out of convenience, but the Belkan delegation to Warsaw has chosen the very station Adam and his band of survivors escaped from in the past as a staging area for their stay in the Rusviet-controlled city. Even after so long, the place still bears the bullet holes covering entire wall sections, bomb craters, burned-down buildings, and scorched marks blackening entire streets... Evidence of the Polanian Revolutionary Command Council's atrocities and the heroic escape of the combined Belkan-Rusviet force seems to have been immortalized here by time, since the Polanians hadn't been able to decide what to do with the ruin of an entire district, nor did they have the chance to. Upon seeing the hell they fought through, a few who participated directly in the escape feel their eyes moisten, earning comforting pats on the back from their comrades as they share a moment of silence before the order to unload Thomas is given.
"How are you feeling, Lieutenant?" The voice comes as a surprise to Adam Kemper, who has just sent his friends and officers out to perform the required tasks.
Pivoting in his small office, Adam salutes the person by the doorway.
"Hail, Marshal!"
"At ease, Lieutenant." Yuki returns an easy salute, moving to a corner of the small office to view a display cabinet with various well-built and beautifully painted train models. "Nice pieces."
Adam replies as he sees the Marshal's appreciative look on her face as she views the various steam locomotive models.
"They're gifts from my fiancée over the years, Ma'am. All of which were chosen after careful screening, according to her."
"Yes, but these aren't pre-built models. You must have built them by hand, and I know for certain because I know from a certain model enthusiast back home that some of these finer details and grubby bits aren't present in the original model boxes. It takes passion and dedication to make such lifelike models; the only thing missing here is a suitable backdrop for each of the model locomotives." Yuki says as she leans in near the glass pane for a closer look at the exquisite detailing. "Such feelings have translated well to your current job posting, Lieutenant Kemper. The ceaseless efforts you have put into yourself, your crew, this very train, and each mission and campaign, well, they deserve the finest recognition the Reich can offer you."
"It is my honor, Marshal." Adam stands tall, prim and proper, as the Marshal fixes him with a look while wearing a small, confident smile.
"Still, you haven't replied to my first question, Lieutenant."
"... Marshal, it is indeed a very emotionally provoking experience to be here, at this very station, after the trouble you had pulled us through back then. Many innocent lives were lost that day, and a hero gave up his future for others' sake. To this day, I ponder if there's something I, we could have done better to save more lives, Marshal."
Looking at the tall, broad shoulders, Lieutenant Yuki nods imperceptibly, feeling proud to have such a good officer holding up the backbone of the Reich.
"From my experience, Lieutenant," Yuki says, her hands behind her back as she comes to the vision port to see Bryn directing the delegation outside to receive the Rusviet welcoming committee. "There are no perfect answers to love, life, and war, and that's coming from someone who's being hailed as a War Goddess these days."
Yuki lets out a wry chuckle, as if still coming to terms with the noble title that Adam knows for sure is well-circulated among the ranks and files of the Reich's armed services.
"More often than not, it's boiled down to careful compromises, foolhardy bravery, and even luck. Had you not made those tactical decisions, were you to even falter a step,... Even if I could fly here sooner, I may not make it in time. For better or for worse, what happened back then is already the most miraculous result the crew of the Thomas could have ever achieved, and you should be proud of that, Lieutenant." Yuki then glances at Adam. "At the very least, do not torment yourself over 'what-ifs'. It will be a disgrace to those who served alongside you, and the futures you helped save, if you slowly succumb to melancholy."
"I understand, Marshal. I am honored and grateful for your words." Adam salutes, taking the reminder to heart. It's not every day you have the nation's totem pillar giving you her version of psychological counseling. That's an honor beyond compare.
"Now, I believe there's a General Rokossovsky out there who's very eager to meet his pen pal and comrade, come hell or high water, waiting out there for you, Lieutenant." Yuki smiles. "There's still some time before the bulk of the work arrives, and we will have to prep for the agreed-upon parade, so why don't you head outside and receive the chosen liaison between Stalin and us? Call it catching up for old times' sake. It will also excuse the Brigadier General, making her available for other tasks."
"Yes, Marshal! Please, excuse me." Giving one final salute, Adam is then given the go-ahead from Yuki to disembark the train.
As expected, Bryn easily delegates the task of receiving the Rusviet party to Adam, who's familiar with the shot-caller and a few others among the present Rusviets. The fact that they give each other bear hugs is quite telling of their good relationship as brothers-in-arms, albeit answering to different flags still. Soon enough, the welcoming committee is led by Adam to go on a meet-and-greet, allowing comrades to once again reacquaint themselves with one another. Bryn, who is now free of the measly task of receiving the Rusviets, focuses her attention on turning the abandoned train station into a proper staging area and temporary residence of the Reich Marshal.
Of course, it is said that the best hotel in Warsaw is reserved for the Yuki and her retinue, but given that not even Stalin himself is staying in a hotel in Warsaw, instead opting to stay at a Rusviet Army encampment, why would the Reich take up on the offer? Bryn knows for a fact that Warsaw is only recently pacified; unrest and daggers are hidden in each and every dark corner that the Rusviets are too lazy to check. There's also the chance that Rusviet agents may play dirty to smear the Marshal's dignity. It is, in fact, safer for the Belkan Reich to construct their own hotel to host the Marshal, and it will even have all of the amenities befitting of Yuki's stature as well. One can't be too careful these days.
As for what Yuki is supposed to do while Bryn and the others are hard at work setting up her accomodations, well, this particular Yuki is quite free, as Bryn effectively grounded her after their impromptu restaurant date. It's why Yuki had the time to wander and check on the mental health of her subordinates, garnering no small amount of admiration and respect from them. This doesn't mean their loyalty hasn't already gone off the charts.
Being put on the bench and lacking things to do, Yuki decides to really kick back and chill with her bodyguards, Erika and Lola, as they all take turns sipping coffee while watching what can only be described as a time-lapse of a modular base being constructed in real time. The base, utilizing prefabricated parts from the many cargo cars of the Thomas, takes less than a day to come online in the awe of the spectating Rusviets and cowering Warsaw citizens. We are talking about robust bunkers and guardhouses, walls that can tank a direct artillery shell or two, and checkpoints aplenty that will make even the most experienced infiltrators of the Rusviets suffer from brain hemorrhage trying to plan through all of them.
To further deter any potential threat, and to facilitate the future parade, more armored trains come to a stop in the refurbished station, bringing with them enough war materials to stage yet another blitz out of Warsaw if needed. Only this time, if shits really hits the fan, Warsaw in its entirety may actually be razed, not just one outlier district. Obviously, the swift military build-up raises a few eyebrows from the Rusviets. But given that most of them don't have the full picture of what the Belkan Reich is capable of, there are no protests or warnings. The majority of Rusviet command, even Stalin, think themselves invincible now that the Belkans are on their home turf. Only Rokossovsky, who has witnessed what a minute portion of Belka in serious action back then, feels deeply troubled over the apparent disparity in the might of the two nations.
Alas, Rokossovsky is but one General, and Stalin is not easily advised by many men, much less by him alone. Knowing that, Rokossovsky says no word of caution in his report back to Stalin. The decorated General silently swears to himself to seek ways to better the state of the Rusviet military when he is back in the Union, else the disparity will be irreconcilable. From the words Rokossovsky hears in the backline, it seems the Ural Manufacturing Plant is recruiting partners with on-hand field experience to better make their weapons in Stalin's name. That place seems like it will be a good start for Rokossovsky. Still, that's for him to worry about in the future.
Right now, Rokossovsky is more concerned about the heavy rumbling of tracks and steel coming down the ramp of the armored trains. From his spot at the front of Thomas, Rokossovsky gazes with scrutiny and wariness at the very machines that kickstarted the Rusviets' craze for multi-turreted tank designs, the Leman Russes. Unlike before, when the Belkan multi-turreted tanks were still coated in factory gray. The Leman Russes in front of Rokossovsky are now painted in proper field camouflage, predominantly in a dizzying three-tone woodland scheme. Most notably, they all bear various amounts of kill tallies and battle scars. The former can be a bit exaggerated, but the latter is quite telling of their actual combat effectiveness. Rokossovsky can't even count the number of scratches and small dents present on the once pristine camouflage of the Leman Russes, for there are too many of them.
Being a Rusviet advocate of combined arms warfare, General Rokossovsky is quite familiar with vehicular battle damage, and he can say with certainty that these Leman Russes have suffered from even direct artillery fire, but still remain rolling and seemingly quite capable of continuing whatever fight that requires them in the future. Rokossovsky highly doubts the T-28 and T-35 tanks of the Union can survive a howitzer shot to the face; at the very least, they will be rendered mission-killed, if they survive.
"I see you are quite taken by our new Tank Platoon, General." Adam comments from the side.
"Yeah, I saw them once before, but to see this many at once... It sure hits different. Feels like an earthquake all the way over here." Rokossovsky replies before tilting his head in Adam's direction, asking while crossing his arms. "Say, can you tell me more about them?"
"Yeah, well, I am not much of a tank head, but from what I do know..." Adam replies, citing what he knows and is allowed to say. "That tank in the front, the one with the word Roughneck on the turret."
"Yeah, what about it?" Rokossovsky is obviously interested in the upcoming information.
"It's a munition pit, I'll give you that." Adam replies. "Been hauling supplies for that one tank alone at least a couple of times. Word has it the Roughneck went through one battle after another, the crew of which lived, ate, and fought inside the tank for days to great success. It's the most decorated Leman Russ, managing to smash three Polanian bases on its own, hence the three square-and-a-flag tallies on the side. They only got pulled back because they finally overdid it; their barrels had to be replaced in the rear line."
Adam says with clear appreciation in his voice. "The tank commander is slated for a Knight's Cross."
Hearing that, Rokossovsky is silent for a few seconds before finally saying.
"If I had vodka right now, I would drink to that. Another one joins your Knight's Cross Holders' Club, eh?"
"Yeah, it's indeed something worth cheering for. What about you, got any new shiny on your chest yet, General?"
"Soon, I think."
"I will drink to that then."