Summer Offense

Chapter Four

We made it to Ivanovich's base fairly quick. All we had to do was walk along the stream road until we reached a river. Then we walked along the river to his base, which was right along the river. The base was a small town that had a newly built wall around it. When we walked inside, the place was huge. There was a dirt helipad, houses that were turned sleeping quarters, and a series of houses that were turned into a headquarters. Ivanovich lead us into one of the houses and told us it would be our sleeping quarters. Then he lead us into the headquarters and told us what he was doing. The headquarters had a banner across a wall saying... "109th Rifle Division". Oscar and I must be part of the 109 rifle division, lead by Major General Novikov.

"We are part of Operation Bagration." Ivanovich says as we walk through the door to the headquarters. "Finally Mother Russia has caught up with the rats." Inside the headquarters there was a table with maps layed out over it. Soldiers were gathering all around the table and pointing out areas of the map. Ivanovich pushes some of them aside and talks to the men at the table. "Whats our status?" He says, turning to a soldier wearing full gear and a slinged Nagant. "The 32nd airborne had intercepted a German train carrying soldiers, we think they are heading towards the town just west of us." He says, holding his Nagant at his side. Ivanovich shifts a little, then starts speaking again. "Then we will attack first, when are they expected to attack?" Oscar and I push a couple of soldiers out of the way to get a better view of the map.

"At about twenty two hundred hours." He says. Ivanovich points his finger across the map towards a mountainside. "We need snipers and grenadiers on this ridge, supporting our troops." The soldier nods, then turns around to talk to the battalion. He walks to an RTO and talks through the speaker. "Attention, all units..." He says. His voice crackles through the facility. "Our unit will be on the move to engage hostile forces in eighteen hundered hours, all personnel are expected to be ready at that time."
He turns off the speaker and walks over to Ivanovich, passing Ocsar. The soldier nods to Ivanovich, then Ivanovich looks back at the map. "We will have the snipers and grenadiers watch for hostiles entering our perimeter." He says and walks off. "Im tired, better be ready for tonight my comrades. Get some sleep." He pushes the door open, Oscar and I walking after him. He looked behind him and noticed us following him. "You guys should get some sleep, go." He says and motions for us to stop following him. We stop in our tracks and just look at eachother. "Well, lets get going then." I say and start walking to my sleeping quarters. Oscar soon follows, then when he catches up he talks with me. "So, ready for tonight?" He says
I tilt my head to the side, then to the other. "I dont know, I came right from the desk to the battle." I say. I hold onto my slinged PPD and make my way to the quarters. Oscar and I make it to the quarters, opening the door into the small house. The house had a fireplace, four beds, a table with four chairs, and a chest. Inside there were two soldiers playing cards. One of them was wearing full military gear and had his helmet resting to his side. He had pitch black hair and his eyes were a light green, which were sparkiling in the light. The other person I could not see clearly, but they had long blonde hair that was being abscured by a helmet. The black haired soldier looked over and waved. "Hey." He says.

The woman turned around and stared at me. Oscar waved back at the man and then at the woman when she looked at him. She smiled then said... "Hi." Towards me. I blushed. She was beutiful, but she seemed really shy. I shook my head to get out of the trance. "Hey there, whats your name's?" The man then spoke. "Alexei." He points to the lady. "She is Katerina." Oscar walks into the house. "Im Oscar, hes Yuri." He says, pointing to me. "What are you playing." I say. Alexie picks up the playing cards and shows them to me. "Seven up, want to play?" He says. "Deal me in." Oscar says and runs into the gaming area. "Im getting some sleep." I say and walk to the bed. I close my eyes and try to get some shut-eye. For some reason, I just could'nt. I get out of bed and look at the game Oscar, Alexie, and Katerina are playing.

"Mind if I play?" I say and walk over. "Not at all, deal him in, Alexie." Katerina says. Moments after being dealed in, an announcement crackled over the speakers. "Attention all personel, due to enemy troop movements into the area, we will be attacking earlier tonight at ten hundered hours." Then it stopped. I looked over at the time and it read 9:45. "Shit!" I yelled as i ran to the bed to pack my gear. "We dont have much time!" The others all run to their mats and start packing up their gear as well. Alexie throws his pack over his shoulder and shouts for us to get moving. I put on my winter coat and sling my PPD.
Right when I did that, Ivanovich walks into the room. "Come on! We are leaving!" He says and marches out of the room.  Oscar runs out of the room to follow him, soon followed by Alexie. I run out of the house and out into the open and see the group of soldiers march out of the gateway of the town. Katerina walks out of the room and notices this as well, and starts running to catch up to them. I soon run up to them as well, meeting up with Oscar and Alexie, Katerina not very far behind.