Alliance in the Ice - The Guardians of Noindaith

Camp Eisensturm - Soldier Paul

We huddled on our stomachs on the hill and looked down through our binoculars at Camp Eisensturm. Cold and wetness penetrated through my coat to my skin. The moon hung over the camp, bathing the collection of twenty or so barracks and other tents down there in a silvery light. In addition, the glare of lanterns fell on the streets and building walls. The camp was surrounded by a barbed wire fence flanked by watchtowers.

Lars knew Eisensturm, he had often worked here as a radio operator. He lay to my right, Emil and Annuk to my left in a half-ruined trench - according to Lars, this military exclusion zone had been used for training purposes.

Although it must be around midnight, there were many soldiers walking around in groups or individually, patrols, some poor bastards who now had to practice with their superiors. Their orders came muffled up to us. The figures moved between the buildings like toy figures, and now and again their helmets flashed in the light.

I carefully studied the movements of the guards who marched around the camp at regular intervals. They carried rifles and led dogs on a leash.

I pointed to one of the barracks at the back of the camp, to the right of the watchtower closest to us. "I assume Tikaani is in there. There are two soldiers posted there and the windows are barred."

"So, what's the plan now?" asked Emil.

I put down the binoculars. "Annuk has to distract the soldiers so we can get into the camp unseen. The main entrance is too conspicuous. We have to make our way through the barbed wire at the side."

"I can light a fire. The wooden barracks are good for that. That way, the soldiers will run to another part of the camp and you can get Tikaani out of the hut," said Annuk.

"That sounds good," I replied. "Can you do it on your own?"

"Of course!" replied Annuk energetically.

I nodded. "Good, because we'll have to deal with the guards outside Tikaani's barracks too. I doubt they'll help put out the fire unless their lives are at stake."

"I can distract the guards with a mirror, with whistles or, if necessary, with a smoke bomb," Emil immediately agreed.

"Lars knows the camp. He should take care of it," I suggested. "So Emil and I will get Tikaani out of the hut and then we'll make a run for it. Meanwhile, Annuk must continue to make sure there's a big commotion in the camp. Lars, make sure you catch up with us or catch up with us here on the hill at the latest."

"And if you get caught with Tikaani?" asked Lars cautiously.

"Then it's all over anyway," Emil replied. "We don't have a backup plan."

"I trust in Annuk's abilities," I confirmed. "How many soldiers will be in the camp?"

"Around a hundred?" Lars estimated.

I was trembling with excitement. The plan sounded simple. But the implementation would be much more difficult. I took a deep breath and tried to prepare myself for what was about to happen.

"Annuk, are you ready and do you know how to distract the soldiers?" I asked him and gave him my binoculars so that he could get a more detailed picture.

He was silent for a moment as he explored the area. "I'll lure them to the southern part of the camp," he then said, pointing to the huts to the left of the watchtower. "Then you should get through all right. If there are still a few soldiers around after the fire breaks out, can you deal with them?"

"That should be easy," Emil said cockily.

I cleared my throat and tried to make my voice sound firm as I gave the command to set off. "Get yourselves ready. We're stalking. We have to be quiet and quick. No noise, no unnecessary movements. We'll use the darkness."