Women of War - A Band of Brothers Story

Frustrations

A/N: Gosh, I can't believe it's already been three weeks since I last got around to posting a chapter! Well, it certainly has been an eventful time. I have to work from home, which is more tedious than it is convenient, and being stuck at home with my family pretty much day in, day out is not what I call having a good time.

And now I can't even go outside for a walk because I somehow managed to catch the virus, meaning I'm officially in quarantine. So now it's 10 days of not leaving the house at all for my entire family. Yay. I can already see the drama approaching.

Anyways, I should stop bothering you with my self-pity and whining and let you get on with the story :)

Every once in a while, Maxine felt a surge of gratitude for her prestigious upbringing. It had given her the invaluable skill of enduring inane prattle, filtering out the important bits and letting the rest roll off her like water on a duck's back.

Still, despite her talent, the sheer pointlessness of Lt Norman Dike as a whole was slowly driving her to despair.

"And I want tight security around the company, Lt Shames", the man in question said, frowning at the beleaguered platoon leader. "Is that understood?"

Shames looked like he had a hard time containing the urge to either shrug or roll his eyes. Possibly both. "Alright."

The CO didn't seem to notice, instead continuing: "Now, Battalion S3 is planning a move, so I will probably be called away regularly."

As opposed to just gallivanting off to heaven knows where? My, what a difference that would make. Maxine was sorely tempted to giggle, but clamped down on the sarcasm bubbling inside her.

"Any questions?"

Oblivious as he was, Dike didn't realise that every single person present stared at him in that particularly dumbfounded and vaguely desperate way that just begged 'Please tell me you're joking'.

"Uh, yeah", Buck spoke up, tone dripping with incredulity. "What's the formation you want us to go for?"

If Maxine had been one to bet, she would have wagered an entire year's pay that Dike had no idea whatsoever.

He blinked, brain obviously stalling for a moment as he was caught by surprise. "At present, as per usual, but I'll clarify that with you at a later time, Lieutenant Compton", he then replied and Maxine had to applaud them all for their restraint because good God, how could anyone think this man was suited for command? And why the fuck is he always yawning?!

"Alright, I gotta make a call." With that abrupt announcement, Dike ended the meeting and strode past Lipton.

Maxine traded a look with Foley and sneezed. "So much for that."

He just offered a micro-shrug, lips pressing together. They were all thinking the same.

Sighing and sneezing again, she tucked her hands under her armpits and blinked snowflakes from her lashes.

***

They split up after a few yards, everyone heading for where they needed to be. Their platoon's foxholes, OPs, the CP.

Maxine started making her way towards 2nd platoon, wanting to speak to Louise, when she heard Buck calling her name.

"Lloyd."

She turned and waited for him to catch up to her. "What is it, sir?"

He looked tense, anxious in a way she would never associate with the charismatic, boisterous man she'd first met in Aldbourne last year. "Can you believe that man?", he asked, fretful urgency flittering in his tone.