WW2

Chapter 7: Coalition

As the gentle rays of the sun crept through the cracks in the peaceful clouds, painting the sky with hues of golden and pink, a symphony of bird songs filled the air. The morning dew sparkled on the blades of grass, and the scent of fresh blossoms embraced the surrounding landscape. Nature awakened from its blissful slumber, but for the individuals who had spent the entire day confined indoors, their awakening was accompanied by hunger and a sense of confusion.

The room slowly filled with the warm glow of sunlight, casting gentle shadows on the worn-out sofas where they had sought solace throughout the day. The sound of birdsong penetrated the heavy silence, their melodies serving as a reminder that life outside was thriving.

The humans, their bodies still groggy and minds slightly fogged from a restless night, stirred from their slumber. They had spent hours waiting, anxiously anticipating the return of the mysterious figure -The Man. Their meagre sustenance of tea and biscuits, consumed earlier in the day, had done little to fill their empty stomachs, made expertly clear by the grumbles of hunger that echoed through the room as they stretched and groaned, their bodies longing for movement and nourishment.

John approached the window to gaze outside. As he peered through the glass, his eyes captured a view of the outskirts of a decent-sized town. A single road stretched before them, connecting their secluded abode to the rest of civilisation.

"Any particular reason why he said he was late, then proceeded to leave?" John asked.

For a few seconds, there was silence, and then Oliver responded, "We already went over this last night."

John looked at him. He pondered for a bit before asking another question, "What's with his secrecy?"

"That's a question no one asked," He sat upright as Juels answered.

"Secret group, secret man."

Oliver further asked, "Anything else?"

Juels sighed as he lit his first cigarette from his pack, "Belgium, Poland, Denmark, Norway became increasingly worried after the invo... invacion-"

"Invasion"

"Yes, invasion of the Sudetenland, 1938. There was already group before, but now... more money."

John sat back down.

"When Czechoslovakia was fully annexed at 1939, France joined. Secretly... more money."

John helped, "France funded the group."

"Yes."

Oliver questioned, "So what happened to it when Poland got invaded?"

"It was still not funded-"

"Underfunded."

"Thank you, it was still not underfunded by September. Politics," He chuckled, "The men were split apart, separated. It did not have a big impact on the invasions of Europe." Juels began to tear up, his voice softened, "They are either hiding, dead, or prisoner"

Oliver tried to reassure, "We'll get them out, one wa-"

"Are we‽ The Germans are killing everyone, France, your country is... is... FUCKED!"

There was a long period of silence, complete silence.

"I'm surprised this country surrender."

Oliver muttered, "Didn't"

Juels kissed his teeth.

A car was driving by on the road. It slowed down and pulled over beside the building. The Man stepped outside with one other man.

Juels fixed his clothes up, looking presentable. The men entered the room, and The Man spoke. "This is Ruth, your pilot. Come with me."

The small group walked to an operations room, their footsteps echoing throughout the aging building. Once inside, the made placed pictures on the oak wood table.

Before taking a seat, Juels looked at them, "Tenslotte."

The Man started speaking as a couple soldiers pulled brought out a detailed map of North Africa.

"Mers-El-Kébir, a French port in North Africa. Warships, a lot of them, are in harbour there. France will fall, and Churchill does not want the Kriegsmarine to further challenge the Royal Navy."

John looked at an area photograph over a German port.

"That is Hafenommandant Genua, where you will be going. There is radio chatter, Churchill wants two things from this mission. The first being, proof that you lot are worth funding. The second, is to confirm the likelihood of Germany commandeering the French fleet there."

"Wouldn't they have to destroy the ships though?" John asked.

"That is what you are going to confirm. If the French will serve the Germans after their defeat."

Oliver asked, "What if France doesn't fall? I mean, the entire French empire, capitulating in months?!"

The Man spoke to Oliver directly, "Your country, and its vast empire is going to be defeated. And if the Germans get a hold on this port and its ships..."

John spoke his mind, "The British empire could be next."

"Alright, how do you say we get there?"

The Man pointed to Ruth, "He will fly you from Gibraltar, you will make a parachute jump over the Italian radar, and deploy your parachutes under it."

The brief meeting was over as the group stepped outside to crisp and clear air. Glad to be outside once again.

"You guys ready to go to Gibraltar?" John asked sarcastically.

Oliver chuckled, "Ride should be fun."

"Je kunt maar beter je gewicht trekken," Juels muttered as he walked ahead.

"You know no one understands you right?"

Juels smiled, "That's the point."