A View from the Ice 10
Michal felt a bit cold as he watched the display on the holo tank as it projected a view of the Command Centre on Nowy Gdansk as the various officers of his staff and the Armia Krajowa assisted with the excersie.
The chatter of the Ground side command bunker beneath Fort Mocny Michal stood in the chaos as the watchstanders watched the incoming dracs. A sea of calm amongst the chaos since the Dracs came into the system the Armia Krajowa had prepared even though they were heading towards Griffins Roost if they tried to spilt and put some forces on Nowa Gdansk they would get a bloody nose.
He thought to Misha and felt a stab of worry she and her agents were moving heaven and earth to help Old Leopold, Katlyn and Young Leopold in getting people who couldn't fight to the shelters the old, young and infirmed. Misha was among going to go with the infirmed she was six months pregnant after all but she would work to keep the people in the shelters calm.
The Armia Krajowa and by extension Michal were doing what they always did stand there ground. The Armia Krajowa was setting up in the City with the elements of 2nd Armoured to force the dracs to fight on their own ground bring them into the city and make them relive their worst nightmares that the Armia Krajowa brought to them. the 2nd RRF and the Winged Hussars were preparing getting ready to harras any dracs they could make them bleed.
He closed his eyes and he could almost see his soldiers digging in all over the city checking their weapons, preparing their support weapons saying their prayers and performing other rituals. The Verdun crews tended to paint the name of their old tanks on the back he could almost see then downing the last shot before mounting up.
He opened his eyes and looked to Rowecki who was stood stoically nearby as was Park who had been made his point of contact with 2nd Armoured.
"This is it," Michal said, "They are back and they are going straight for the kill like a Mężczyzna Wilk that has seen an unguarded flok of sheep."
"Tak sir," said Rowecki, "Wish we could do more to help the Grifs."
"As do I," Michal said.
"Still if they divert to land some forces here we will give them a bloody nose," said Rowecki, "Show the Dracs we can't be pushed by the again."
"Tak," said Michal, "Still wish we could send some more support their way."
"As do I," said Park, "This is frustrating my wife is still on the Roost I hope she does as well."
"As do we all my friend," said Michal looking to his friend, "I'm sure she will be safe."
"Sir," said one of the watch officers, "Old Leopold is making his speech to the planet."
They moved to a screen there they saw the old man wearing a simple suit behind a podium with the flag of the Giffins Empire behind him and a small one of there world next to it.
"Citizens of Griffins Empire, People of Nowy Gdansk, Brothers and Sisters," said Old Leopold looking out, "we came to this system slaves who gain their freedom through treaty and after they left we thought that we had traded one master for another when the Griffs landed, however, they bound our wounds and welcomed us into there home and called us family and treated us as such we have become brothers and sisters with them in all but blood."
Michal could see the old man's hands tighten on the podium and he continued in a voice of chipped ice, "Now the slavers have come back lead by a so-called son of a dragon I spit in his face and call him what he is a murderer, a rapist, a slaver and dishonourable self-entitled scum he is a gangster worthy of no respect but we Poles have a long memory and our wrath shall be swift."
The old man brought his fist down on the podium, "The people of Nowy Gdansk shall stand by their brothers on Griffins Roost, we shall shed our blood with them they who we call our brothers and sisters! We shall Drive the Dragon back and this little man will pay for his transgressions against all the people he has wronged! WE SHALL PUSH INTO THE FOUL PIT HE COMES FROM AND THE SINGLE SPARK OF COURAGE HERe WILL LIGHT THE FIRES OF HOPE WHICH WILL LIGHT OUR WAY TO VICTORY!"
There was a rumble as people in the command centre began to cheer and clap and the old man said, "WE WILL STAND BY OUR BROTHERS AND SISTER ON GRIFFINS ROOST AND MARCH ONTO THE END WITH THEM! FOR GRIFFINS EMPIRE, FOR THE MEMORY OF NOWA WARSZAWA!"
Michal could hear the cheering echoing from down the corridor then the song began to play an old one from the old homeworld.
Michal shook his head and turned from the holo tank to his fellow officers of the Armia Krajowa, “Did we really have to let Old Leopold put in an appearance doing that speech I know he is saving for when the dracs do come back.”
Jan shrugs, “tak,” Jan said with a grin, “it was his request as was it was Misha’s to remind you that you need to be back home soon.”
”I know my friend,” Michal said with a tired smile, “the baby is both a blessing and a curse in all her odd food requests and late and early food runs.”
That made everyone laugh.
