NationStates Jolt Archive

The large transport ships of the Aequatian Civil Marine Service steamed into the harbour of Alstaadt and were tied to the piers. The large cranes began to unload the armoured vehicles of the Aequatian 43rd Infantry Division while others let scores of soldiers off and they assembled into their units before embarking into their armoured carriers for the military base they will be garrisoned.

Captain Brookes was among his company as he hustled them into the back of the APC, "Now remember, no mouthing off to these Pirnians, they won't take to kindly to our loudmouth, Aequatian ways."

"What about our larger than ordinary trouser--" Brookes slapped the young private across the face.

"None of that bullshit, private, that goes for all of you," the Captain sat down at the edge of the truck and looked over the squad, "If I hear any complaints about any of the soldiers in my company, I'll be sending you back to the Palisade in Aequatio!"

The rear entry ramp closed shut as the vehicle jolted as it started up and started to move out from the harbour into the city, the base was just outside the city and it would be quite a drive through the countryside. The vehicle's commander had reached out the hatch and hoisted a small, Aequatian flag on the carrier's radio antenna.

"I have just recieved confirmation that Aequatian troops have departed from Alstaadt Naval Base and will be arriving shortly."

"Thank you, Unteroffizier."

Oberstgruppenfuhrer Hawes smiles, then turns quickly and marches out of the comm room and down the hall. She pushes open the heavy steel door leading outside. She stands there, just beyond the doors, watching as a group of NCOs chatter amongst themselves, and sighs. They were supposed to be a disciplined fighting force, not a group of clucking hens. She strides over to the girls, looking rather angry.

"I hope you're not wasting my time, ladies," Hawes says loudly, drawing the girls' attention. They salute quickly, before any responded.

"No, ma'am. Wouldn't dream of it." One young girl, an Unterfeldwebel, answered, and her friends sniggered a bit. Hawes gave them a dirty look.

"Good. You'll be pleased to know that the men of Aequatio's 43rd Infantry Division will be arriving shortly. I hope you have done as you were ordered and prepared the barracks for them."

"Of course, ma'am, and our CO has inspected them."

"Then you should be preparing to greet our guests."

"Of course, ma'am." The girls salut again, then march off towards their bunks. Although it wasn't an internationally accepted behavior, Hawes had made a point of addressing the lower-ranked women whenever possible. She found it created a better sense of respect between the enlisted and NCOs and their superior officers, and helped build the teamwork and group mentality that was vital to the survival of any military force. She just hoped the men would not see it as a fault.

The column of armoured vehicles and transport trucks rolled down the highway towards the awaiting army base, Captain Brookes climbed up the commander's hatch on the APC and looked around the countryside as they travelled down the roadway. He stretched his arms only to have his hand hit the radio antenna and notice that the vehicle's sergeant had tied the Aequatian flag to it, angerly, he climbed back down into the vehicle and tapped the soldier on the shoulder, "What the hell is that?"

The sergeant looked up at the flag, "Nothing, Sir, just showing a little patrotism... that's all."

"We aren't here as the Aequatian Army, we're here as protectors of Pirna," explains the Captain, "Now get up there and take it down, we don't want to cause an incident with these people."

"Yes Sir," the sergeant climbs up and takes down the flag and puts it away in his jacket pocket.

Just then, the vehicle leaned to the left as the driver turned off the highway and into the army base and up to the front gates, Brookes stood up and looked over to the guardhouse from the carrier's hatch, "Anyone there? We're the first elements of the 43rd Infantry Division coming in from Alstaadt."

The guard in the tower saluted in response, and yelled something to someone else on the ground, who then ran off. A moment later, the gates slid open, leaving a clear path up to the main group of buildings where Pirna's own military vehicles were parked.

"Oberstgruppenfuhrer, The first men of the 43rd Infantry Division have arrived." The woman then saluted.

"Thank you, Obersturmfuhrer. Tell your girls to form up outside the barracks, we've got to show these boys we're not just pretty faces."

"Of course, Ma'am." The woman jogged off towards the barracks. Hawes marched the other way, towards where her jeeps were parked and so where the men would park by default. She stood at ease, watching as the foreign vehicles made their way up towards her.

Captain Brookes hopped down from the vehicle and directed the line of armoured carriers to their respective parking zones. He slung his carbine over his shoulder before calling out his company and lining them up into their ranks opposite the Pirnian troops. A platoon sergeant nudged one of the squad leaders and pointed over to the female troops, "I'm glad we're here to protect them, I'd hate to have one of them break a nail out there in the field."

Both men laughed to themselves before Lieutenant Locke turned around and approached the sergeant, as soon as she did, the squad leader slinked away back to his squad and the sergeant looked straight ahead, "What was that, sergeant?"

"Nothing, Ma'am, just joking," replied the sergeant, "I'm sorry, Ma'am."

"You better be, if I hear any shit like that from you assholes, I will personally make sure you don't wake up the next morning," Locke shouldered her rifle before returning to the rank.

The Captain walked over to Hawes, "This is C Company, 3rd Battalion, 1-143rd Infantry Regiment, 43rd Infantry Division reporting for duty, I'd like to report to your commanding officer, if he's here of course."

Hawes eyed the Captain, remaining at ease for a moment. Then without addressing him, she turned towards his men who had formed up with hers.

"Welcome to Pirna," she said loudly. "I am Oberstgruppenfuhrer Hawes. I'm sure that means very little to you men." Hawes turned and smirked at Brookes. "So for you, I am General Hawes of Pirna's First Army.'

Hawes stops speaking then, noticing that more than one of the men had began whispering to someone beside him. She moved back to Captain brookes. "I hope Captain, that this will prevent further assuptions of any sort," she tells him, in her stern-but-not-serious way.

"I'm sure," she continues, walking towards the ranks of men and women. "That you men have heard of the calibur of my women. If not, you will quickly learn that we are some of the finest soldiers you will ever have the chance to work with." She stops speaking, slowly inspecting the men she passes. After a moment, she turns and begins to speak again. "Firstly, I don't know what you've been told by your commanding officers, but while you are stationed here, you are as equally under the command of me and my officers as you are of your own. That means that if any Aequation soldier is caught disrespecting anyone of higher rank, Pirnian or Aequatian, there will be immediate disciplinary action."

Hawes pauses here, watchnig for the reactions. She was fairly certain the soldiers didn't think too much of that particular rule, but knew the next would bring more issues than the first. "Secondly, I'm sure the men and women of the 43rd have noticed a distinct lack of male soldiers. This does not mean, however, that you are free to do as you please. My women already know and understand this, but I will make it very clear: There will be no frateranization amongst troops, enlisted or otherwise. Any Aequatian soldier who is suspected or caught will be immediately returned home, and any one my soldiers will face court martial. I hope I have made myself clear." Hawes allows a moment for her little speech to sink in, then continues.

"Obersturmfuhrer Falke, please have your NCOs fall out so that they can escort the men to their barracks."

"Yes, Ma'am," Falke replies, then shouts out a series of orders as Hawes marches back over to Brookes.

"Now, you wanted to speak with my commanding officer?" she says, smiling a bit.

Embarassed, Brookes nodded and handed the General a schedule as to when the remaining elements of the 43rd Division, "Ma'am, the heavier equipment will be the last to arrive, such as our PAC-3 Patriot missile launchers and our artillery. My apologies as well for the assumption, it won't happen again."

The Captain ordered his company to head off to their repsective barracks, he then turned back to Hawes, "Is there a proper motor pool where we can store our vehicles, as I'm sure if we just park them out here, it'll get fairly cluttered once the rest of the division arrives."

-----

Lieutenant Locke marched off to her platoon's barracks and like the rest of her soldiers, put her things away in their footlockers and were then allowed free time until the remainder of the regiment arrived.

She herself walked about the base, but kept mostly to the rifle range to witness the exercises being performed by the Pirnian troops, impressed by this, the lieutenant walked over to the firing pits and asked the supply sergeant if she could partake in the facilities.

Hawes nodded as she scanned the papers in her hand. She then turned and poined down between two large buildings. "Follow the road that way, and there's a large storage depot we've prepared for your vehicles. Feel free to organize as you see fit. Oh, and when the rest of your troops arrive, please inform them of the regulations."

Hawes eyed Brookes carefully for a moment. "You are a Captain, of course. Do you know if there are plans to assign any higher ranks here? No disrespect, of course; I would just like to know if I need to brief my assistants for such an arrival."

-----

Feldwebel Schroder had watched as the Aequatian Lieutenant inspected her girls who were training with their newly aquired HK PSG-1 sniper rifles. They were in the process of outfitting their girls with newer equipment, and were running tests with all manner of firearms.

"No problem," Schroder told the lieutenant. "All the PSG-1s I have are already out, although I'm sure one of the Grenadiers will be done shortly. Unless of course, you would rather one of your own weapons, or something else." Schroder watched the girl. Although she knew that Aequatian troops were welltrained, she had some difficulty believing it until she actually saw them in action; many of Pirna's troops felt similarly, since their military was quite a bit different than most others. Perhaps they could teach each other something, she though.

"Yes, Ma'am, the next highest rank to arrive will be our regiment's commander, Colonel Giger," Brookes went through his notes, "He is due in sometime at the end of the day with the last elements. If you'll excuse me, I shall get to organizing our vehicles before the next company arrives."

The Captain saluted before heading off to the row of armoured vehicles and briefing the crews, he climbed up top of his squad's carrier as it drive off, followed by the rest of the company's vehicles.

-----

Locke tapped the stock of her own rifle, "I think I'll stick to what I know best, I'd just like to know if there was an extra foxhole I could use on the range."

Just then, a few of the Lieutenant's platoon arrived and the group of men looked over the Pirnian soldiers training with their sniper rifles before one of them nudged a young sergeant with a badge with a crosshair on his uniform's shoulder, "C'mon, Wayne, you aren't going to let them show you up like that, are you?"

"Shut it, will ya? We already know I'm the best shot in the whole damn company," replied the solider, "I don't need to prove anything to you assholes."

"Well yeah, we know you're the best shot," said the staff sergeant as he pointed over at the Pirnian snipers, "But they don't."

"Fine... looks like I'll have to make up for all the class you guys don't have," the sergeant said as he walked back to their humvee and went through his kit to retrieve his rifle, a .338 AI Super Magnum, he walked back over to the supply sergeant and lieutenant, "May I have a go on the range, Ma'am... my squad leader feels we should show our unit's pride in marksmanship through myself."

Locke looked at the supply sergeant, "I don't mind waiting my turn for Sergeant-Specialist Hawkins to show off his skills with his rifle."

Hawes nodded before Brookes moved off, then turned and headed back inside into the main boardroom where her assitants were going over some last-minute logistics for the keeping of the visitors.

"All right, folks, most of the 43rd Division is here, getting settled in. The current CO is Captain Brooks, but when the remnants of their division arrive, so too will Colonel Giger. We will be working closely with him to keep things running smoothly." She pulled out the chair at the head of the table, and sat down.

-----

Falke smirked as the men played smug G.I. Joes. "You are free to go ahead, although I think it's my fair duty to warn you that you're more likely to put yourself in a worse spot with your friends here, than you already are. Some of the best of our sniper teams are out there, and should you need even more challenge, several Unterfeldwebel who command some of our top sniper squads are running around here, I'm sure they'd love to have a chance at you."

Falke laughed a bit, jokingly, then stepped to the edge of thewooden platform where she stood. She raised her hand in a signal, and within a few seconds, all of the girls had stopped firing and had sat up, ear protection in hand. "All right ladies, I think it's time for us to show these G.I. Joes exactly how it's done. They seem to think that as women, we're just not very good. I bet we can show them how it's done, right girls?" She was met with a loud cheer, as the girls stood. "This is SergeantSpecialist Hawkins, who has been described as the best shot in his company. Anyone willing to show him just what the Pirnian sniper forces are made of?"

The girls all looked excited, most a bit smug, but one spoke up before any of the others. "Ma'am, I move that we go and find Feldwebel Wolfe."

Falke smiled, then turned to Hawkins and his friends. "The girls are referring to their squad commander, who I think we would consider to be one of our best. Don't you agree, girls?" She was again met with a resounding cheer. "Would yuo mind if one of the girls went and got her?"

Hawkins smirked, "I wouldn't mind at all, feel free to bring out whomever you like, I'm only doing this because my staff sergeant was about to pull rank for me to do it."

The sergeant sat on the ground with his rifle as he waited for the Feldwebel to arrive, he cleaned the lens on the telescope with his thumb to make sure his sights were clear. His rifle had been handpainted in woodland camouflage with bits of underbrush attached, the standard issue bipod was missing from just underneath the foregrip, Hawkins felt it threw off his shooting having to depend on little metal legs instead of his own nerves.

Lieutenant Locke walked over to the group of soldiers waiting for the little competition that had arisen and addressed the staff sergeant, "What are you doing, putting Hawkins in this kind of position?"

The staff sergeant pointed at the Pirnian snipers, "They think they're so high and mighty, we felt that we should at least show them up in some way, just to knock them off their high horse."

"Well, I can admit they do have an air of superiority about them," Locke paused as she took a quick glance at Hawkins and turned back to the staff sergeant, "I'm only going to allow this once, since we can't turn it down now."

"Glad to see that you're looking at things our way, Lieutenant, I'm sure that he'll do just fine," replied the sergeant.

As soon as Hawkins had okay'd it, one of Falke's Grenadiers ran off, and returned a few minutes later with Wolfe. The woman seemed a bit perturbed at being dragged from whatever it was she was doing, but smiled as she approached Hawkins.

"Hello there, Sergeant. Let me just get my rifle and we'll get this underway, as i'm sure you've got better things to do, as I have." She didn't seem arrogant or pushy towards him, just a bit busy. Her rifle, an MSG-1, was slung over her shoulder, and was clean and obviously well cared-for. She turned to Falke. "Get a couple of the girls to go and replace the targets." Falke nodded.

"Let's make this quick. There's ten targets, so what we'll do is take up a position, Feldwebel Falke will give a signal, we'll fire. We'll then get up and move down one target. Five shots each, one per dummy. Whomever gets closest to the center of the high-point area most often, wins. Sound fair?"

"Sounds all right to me," replied the young sergeant as he stood up and loaded a five-round magazine from his tactical vest's pocket into his rifle, he chambered a round into the rifle with the distinctive sound of the bolt action before walking over to the firing pits and looking down the range, "What positions will we be firing from?"

Locke and the group of soldiers walked over to watch the events closer, they stood beside the group of Pirnian soldiers who were watching as well. The staff sergeant grabbed the lieutenant's attention, "Ma'am, this shouldn't be a problem for Hawkins, I've been to the Sniper School in Aurunca and this is similar to the first week's training."

"I hope you're right, sergeant, I'd hate to see Hawkins hurt by a poor performance here," replied Locke, "Still, I have confidence in him."

Wolfe seemed to ignore the rather uncouth commentary going on around her, answering quickly that they would work in prone. She then moved to take position for the first shot. She went prone, inspecting the visuals through her scope, then quickly sat up and made an adjustment before checking again, then settling back down. She was quite at ease, either very confident in her skills or not caring the least about some silly competition just so some boys can try to prove they're better than the girls; hopelessly silly and childish. Falke, on the other hand, shook her head at the really overt arrogance,then moved on to her position on the edge of the wooden platform.

"All right, Hawkins, Wolfe, raise your hand when you're prepared, and I'll drop mine, signalling that you may take your shot. Ready?"

Hawkins laid in prone position beside Wolfe and sighted the target through his telescope, he checked range and adjusted the scope for the proper distance before turning to Falke and giving a thumbs up.

Wolfe lay ready in prone for several seconds, although what she was doing seemed a mystery to those watching, except maybe Falke who'd watched her shoot since they were new recruits. She eventually raised her hand, although she didn't move her head, continuing to look down her sight.

"Alrighty, folks," Falks said, then dropped her hand.

The first shot was rather slow. Wolfe heard Hawkins' go off before hers, but she seemed uncaring of this, and took her time. She kenw that most others didnt understand why she took so long when she was only shooting targets, but she was set in her ways and would not rush, no matter what anyone told her. After her shot, Falkes raised her hand again, signalling that the pair could move to the next target. This continued down the line as each took their shots, Wolfe taking her time in each and every shot, very methodical about the whole thing.

After she took her last shot, she sat up but didn't actualyl stand. She remained sitting, putting the saftey on her gun then beginning to wipe various parts of it clean, but focusing on the scope and where her hands had been. She didn't even glance over at Falke, or even Hawkins.

Hawkins focused in on the first target, he scanned the dummy's red body before drawing the crosshair on where its heart would be, he laughed to himself in his head, wondering about how confused he'd be about where he'd shoot a Pirnian soldier if he had to. He squeezed the trigger and the rifle's firing was almost deafening, he racked the bolt before looking over at Falke and rising to move to the next target.

He did the same as before, but this time keeping his attention on shooting rather than jokes, he centered the crosshair and fired once again. He continued to stick to the same routine down the line until he reached the last target, he dropped to prone position again and took aim on the dummy, he remembered an old trick from the Sniper School and envision your drill sergeant in place of the dummy, he smiled before letting off the final round from the rifle.

After taking the last shot, Hawkins stood up and pulled the empty magazine out of his rifle and putting it away in his tactical vest. Now he just waited for the results of the shooting to come back.

Wolfe remained seated as Falke sent a couple of her girls to retrieve the dummy targets. She methodically wiped down her weapon, and once she found it to be satisfactory, removed the cartidge, cleaned it, then tucked it away. She then stood and slung her rifle back over her should as the girls returned.

Falke looked impressed. "Well you two, looks like this here battle's a draw, at least to me." She had her girls stand the dummies up, allowing Wolfe, Hawkins, and the others to inspect them. Although each shooter had aimed for different areas of the body, each had done a spectacular job of managing near-perfect kill shots. "I'd have to say yuo two are no better or worse than each other... or at least, on a range you are."

Wolf smiled, but didn't speak. Falke, pointing out the obvious, said: "I guess this means we're just as good as you, eh Sergeant?"

"Well I wasn't in this to prove anything, just to shut my squadmates up," said Hawkins as he slung his rifle over his shoulder and picked up the casings from the shooting, "I don't even think I'm that good, but I'm glad to know that if something happens, I've got some nice shots to watch my back in the field."

Locke gathered up the group of her soldiers and ordered them back to their barracks, she walked back over to Falke, "Mind if I have a go on the range now that the idiots are gone?"

Wolfe smiled at Hawkins. "Well, I bet my girls are just as happy to know they've got good, reliable allies to help them out, too." She salutes him quickly, out of respect, then marched back off towards the building she had been dragged from earlier.

Falke watched her go, wondering about her and her strange behavior, then shrugged and turned to Locke. "Sure, go for it. I'm not expecting anyone else this afternoon, so you should be able to work uninterrupted for awhile."

Hawkins walked off to rejoin his squadmates as they continued about the base. Locke thanked the supply sergeant and walked over to the firing pits, she unslung her rifle and loaded a magazine before sighting downrange and firing in semi-automatic groupings of two or three rounds.

-----

The remainder of the 43rd Division's combat and logistics units had been unloaded from the transport ships in Alstaadt harbour and began the trip towards the base, the column was long and filled with all ranges of vehicles from armoured personnel carriers to heavy-lift transport trucks to the clearly-marked medical ambulances.

--Aequatian ComSat System Transmission--

To: Oberstgruppenfuhrer Adolpha Hawes, Pirna High Command
From: Chief of Staff Arnold Saltzman, ARCENTCOM
Subject: Reorganization of Aequatian Expeditionary Force - Pirna Deployment

Due to the growth of your nation and the increased needs for defence, Aequatian Central Command will be deploying a Corps-sized strength force in Pirna to increase the AEF-Pirna forward presence in your nation, reorganization will be as follows:

Alstaadt Army Base
43rd Infantry Division
44th Armoured Division

Alleinrath Army Base
41st Infantry Division

Betratfurt Army Base
42nd Infantry Division
45th Armoured Division

Aachenburg Air Force Base
66th Fighter Group
67th Fighter Group

Primakastel Air Force Base
68th Fighter Group

--Transmission Ended---

Hawes sat at her desk, memo in hand. She read it over carefully, then set it down in front of her, sighing.

"Ma'am?" Her secretary noticed her shift in mood, and looke concerned.

"It appears our guests feel the need to increase their presence here... I sure hope they don't think they'll gain any control over my women, or any other area of our government," Hawes was becoming suspicious of Aequatio's actions, although this was the first she mentioned of it out loud.

"I'm sure it's nothing like that, Ma'am. They probably just want to make sure they're fully capable of protecting us should we need it."

"We are not as defensless as they seem to believe," she said curtly, cutting off their conversation.

"Of course, M'am," the secretary said, stepping out of the room. The door closed with a soft click behind him.

Hawes leaned back in her chair, folding her hands in her lap. Her suspicion was leading her down a road of thoughts she probably shouldn't have been on, but for the moment, she kept them to herself, instead preparing to brief her staff on the new arrangements.

Aachenburg Air Force Base, Pirna

The first of the Aequatian Air Force F-15C/A Iron Eagles began landing on the tarmac and clearing the runway for the much larger C-5 Galaxy transport planes delivering the support vehicles and equipment necessary for the maintainance and function of the fighters.

The fighters were a newly-developed variant of the air superiority F-15C with strike fighter capabilities added without the addition of a second weapons officer. They were painted a mix of grey camouflage on top with a light blue painted underneath the fighter with the only insignia showing the Aequatian Air Force symbol and the aircraft's identification number in bold red font.

Officer's Club, Alstaadt Army Base, Pirna

Captain Brookes and two of his platoon commanders, Lieutenants Locke and Donner walked into the club and claimed a table for themselves before ordering. Brookes and Lieutenant Locke ordered as Donner got up to go to the washroom, the other platoon commanders were sure to show up, as they would have just finished the evening's rifle range exercises at that time. The Captain looked over at Locke, "How have you been adjusting to this country?"

Locke smiled, "I rather like it actually, if only it were legal to beat your husband here... I might just move here!" The lieutenant laughed as they recieved their drinks.

"Of course you like it, the only thing I've heard of any of the men liking it here are how the women look," said Brookes as he took a drink and gulped it down, "These Pirnans have this mood of superiority, makes me feel quite unwelcome."

"Well, I'm sure it just takes men longer to warm up to this country and the way things should be," replied Locke as she sipped her drink.

Work on the base was begining to slow as evening set in, leaving many of the officers free to do as they pleased, within reason. Sturmbannfuhrer Corinna Reinard entered the club, followed by several of her associates. Being on their own time, they had all changed from their uniforms into civilian wear. High-end designer dresses, heels, make-up, these women barely resembled the hardened soldiers that were seen outside.

Reinard ordered a drink at the bar, as did her friends. They chatted casually amongst themselves, although her attention was somewhat diverted as she watched the Aequatian soliders. She seemed rather interested in their presence, and leaned over to whisper something to one of her friends. They laughed, and one shook her head.

Brookes had watched the group come in and had been eyeing the young major as she stood at the bar with the group, just then he felt a firm slap from Locke across the table, "They're out of your league, sir, and they outrank you too!"

The captain gave a stern look to the lieutenant before looking over at Reinard and the group again, "A man can look on and dream, can't he?"

"Maybe, but I have to duck out early tonight, my platoon's got a march to do tomorrow morning," Locke finished her drink before getting up and saluting, "See you at 0500 tomorrow, Captain."

Brookes returned the salute as the young lieutenant left and Donner returned to the table, looking at the Pirnan women all the way from the bathroom, "When did they get here?"

"During the war you missed while you were in the can," snapped Brookes as he ordered another drink, "You are slow, it's a good thing your a crack shot or you'd be useless in the army."

"I can't believe they're allowed to dress like that off duty, it's almost unfair, isn't it?" asked Donner as he pointed at one of the officers wearing a tight crimson dress with high heels, "I mean, they don't want us going after them, but then they go and wear stuff like that."

"It's all part of the game, Donner," said Brookes, "You just gotta learn how to play."