Women of War - A Band of Brothers Story

Preparations

A/N: Hey guys, another rather short chapter, but it's the last one for the first episode! Our boys and girls are going to war.

I initially wanted to hold off posting it until tomorrow, but as I'm terribly nervous because it's my concert band's end-of-year concert tonight, I thought I might as well post this now and distract my over-active brain.

Anyways, I hope you enjoy the chapter :)

On June 4, they were briefed on what had been dubbed Operation Overlord. It was a massive endeavour. Lieutenant Meehan detailed the Airborne's objective, pointed out the significant points on the map and finished by telling them: "Each trooper will learn this operation by heart, and know his and every other outfits' mission to the detail."

Dukeman stood up, asking: "Lt Meehan?"

"Yes, Dukeman?"

"Sir, are we dropping tonight?", he posed the question that was burning in everybody's minds.

Their CO responded: "When it's time for you to know, we'll let you know."

Scoffing quietly, Elizabeth leant over to Jessica and whispered: "So, either that's a cryptic 'no' or a definitive 'I don't know'."

Her friend smirked and they returned their attention to the lieutenant.

"In the meantime, study these sand tables, maps and recon photos until you can draw a map of the area by memory", he said, looking at them to emphasise the importance and gravity of the situation.

"Now, we will drop behind this Atlantic Wall five hours before the 4th Infantry lands at Utah", he continued, gesturing to the large map. "Between our assembly area and the Battalion's objective, there's a German garrison, right here in this area. Sainte-Marie-du-Mont. Easy Company will destroy that garrison."

The heavy silence lingered after Meehan had finished speaking. By now at the latest, every last trooper had realised that this was serious. This wasn't a training exercise or a staged field problem. This was the biggest invasion in military history.

***

"Ugh, if I see that map one more time", Kathleen groaned, "I swear, I'm going to lose it." She tossed down the offending thing and gave it a glare.

Frances rubbed her eyes and set down her notepad, which was filled with several incomplete or aborted sketches of the Cotentin peninsula. "Yeah, I hear ya", she sighed.

Theresa yawned and arched her back, leaning back from the clutter of papers she had been poring over. "Well, I need a break", she declared. "Anyone wanna come grab some coffee in the mess hall?"

"Yeah."

"Sure."

They ambled through the staging area and were soon joined by Catherine and Irene.

"Fed up?", the athletic squad sergeant asked with a smile.

The three women chorused an affirmative.

In another tent, Ana María let her head drop backwards. It hit the edge of her bunk with a quiet thump. She had been trying to write a letter to her family for almost an hour now, but somehow, the right words just wouldn't come. Normally, the sentences would flow from her pen, but tonight, she couldn't get past the greetings.

Queridos mamá y papá, queridos Julia y Joaquín

The words stared back at her accusingly from the otherwise blank page, the loops of her handwriting lacking their usual energy, the accents sharp and harsh in contrast.