"That is fair enough.  After all, if you had told me before the war that I'd be facing down facist blood sorcerers with nothing but my will to keep me safe, I'd have called you mad" Zholdin replied with a soft chuckle.  His smile fading into a pensive expression, the commisar paused for a moment before adding "It strikes me that you should always consider the person behind anything you read.  You get a far more complete understanding of a given work that way."

Blowing out a heavy sigh, Zholden looked upwards towards the sky for a few moment before turning his attention back to Yelena.  "Religion has been used to control the masses for centuries comrade, thus it is understandable that the Party would be wary, no?  Granted, I'm not saying that all religion is bad, only that if we are to look back throughout history, it seems that we can lay no small amount of trouble and human misery squarely at its feet."

Yelena nodded at Zholdin's comment concerning the use of his will, then tipped her head at his apparent contradiction. "So you love God but hate what man has done in his name?" She smirked. "If religion is used to control the masses, perhaps the Party would be better served by using that tool rather than fighting it, then, comrade."

After a moment of consideration, the field glasses again peered into the distance. "How did you learn to, uh, face down blood sorcerers with your will? Or even know that you could?"

((while we wait for Zholdin's answer - how about a Notice roll at -2 from both of you?))
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:58, Tue 22 Sept 2020.

((OOC: Notice of 4. Alertness cancels -2 penalty.
05:31, Today: Yelena Malkin rolled 4,3 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,3.  Notice (Alertness).))

Glad someone noticed, I bombed it.  -1 and 0!  Totally forgot I needed to reply, will do so after I take the critter to the vet.

"Something like that at any rate" the Politruk chuckled softly.  "And yes, I'm acutely aware of the contradiction comrade, but I don't know a soul who doesn't maintain two separate lists of doctrines; the ones that they believe, and the ones they actually try to live by."

And while I can't speak for the Party in this matter, it strikes me that Russia has always had a storied relationship with the church, and thus, I can understand why the decision was made.  As for fighting the facists, it was training.  Lots of training."  At this, the commisar's rather friendly tone became colder, terse even, as if Yelena was probing at the edge of an old wound.

Yelena turned her head away from the Politruk and cocked it, listening. There was... gunfire, wasn't there? It was still distant, but it seemed to come not from the direction of any Red Army units she was aware of.

Yelena nodded but put a finger to her lips. She had certainly come to learn the sounds of gunfire. She was also aware of where the Red Army should be. She used her field glasses to look in the direction that she'd heard the telltale sounds.

"Gunfire, Politruk. From that direction." She pointed toward where she'd heard it.

Falling silent at the blonde's request, Zholdin listened intently, but couldn't make anything out.  It wasn't until she mentioned the sound of gunfire that he thought he could pick out the sound, albeit faintly.  "Then it seems to me that we should go see what that is all about, eh comrade?"

At this he turned around and caught the gaze of Kapitan Konnikov, the platoon's CO.  "Gunfire Kapitan.  Doesn't sound like it's friendly."

"Have you ever heard friendly gunfire, comrade? I find it to be usually unfriendly."

He looked wistfully into the darkness ahead, muttering something under his breath.

"Malkin, get me the platoon leaders."

He waited for Yelena to return with the three lieutenants: Timofey Yurievich Shagidzyanov of the first platoon and Danya Valentinovich Lyubimtsev of the second.
Her own superior officer, Valentin Andreevich Strelnikov of the third platoon, Valya, as he was informally called, had found the captain on his own initiative. Strelnikov had a blood hound's nose for battle and he relished every opportunity.

"Alright, comrades. We don't know what's going on up there, it might be just a few children going crazy. Or we might come to the rescue of the Americans we're looking for.
Danya, the second takes the lead, Timo, your guys take the long route to the right, cover our flank. Just in case. Valya, you're coming up in the rear. Understood?"

Shagidzyanov and Lyubimtsev nodded, Strelnikov clenched his jaw, then opened to speak: "Comrade Kapitan..." but Konnikov cut him off. "You'll get your battle, Valya, but I don't need you storming in, killing everybody then wonder what questions you should've asked later. You have your orders."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:47, Mon 05 Oct 2020.

Yelena checked her rifle to make sure it was loaded, then looked to the officers for orders.

The soldiers fell into their formations and marched ahead. In the gloom of the late evening it would soon become hard to keep the units apart.

"Malkin! Get your skinny... legs here." Malkin was certain that he had thought of using a different body part first, but Konnikov didn't like it when the men objectified the women under his command.

"Yes, Lieutenant!" Yelena briefly looked down at her legs and realized they were a bit skinnier than before she left. But the entire Red Army could probably say the same thing. The BPO provided a few more calories than most other units, but she certainly hadn't filled back out. Perhaps one day she would again be the proud owner of a nice, round backside. For now, she was mostly interested in shooting fascists.

Once she was within a couple steps, Yelena saluted and then stood at attention waiting for orders.

"You heard Konnikov, yes? Fucking First and Second are up front while we take up the rear.
I don't like being in the back. Especially not when it's dark. You'll move up ahead and make sure we don't shoot our comrades in the back. You're my eyes and ears, comrade. Move!"

As the platoon leaders headed out to follow their captain's orders, Konnikov turned to Zholdin.
"I'll have to keep an eye on Strelnikov. You speak English, don't you, Comrade Politruk? You'll attach to the first platoon, and liase with the Americans if they're up there."

"Of course Kapitan" Zholdin replied simply before saluting and making his way up the line of soldiers to where Shagidzyanov and first platoon were preparing to move out.  Inserting himself wordlessly into their ranks, he couldn't help but be amused by the looks he was getting from the other soldiers when they thought he wasn't paying attention.  Not only was he a commissar, but a psionik to boot?  Naturally, they were more than a little on edge around him.


((GM Edit: Corrected the First Platoon's leader's name.))
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:19, Tue 06 Oct 2020.

Yelena saluted the officer. "Yes, sir!"

The sniper moved forward and spotted Zholdin among those more forward. She slid in next to him. "Gunfire should mean fascists to shoot, yes comrade?"

There are a series of explosions up ahead, some sporadic shots of gunfire. Then just silence.

Yelena again raised her field glasses to her eyes to see if she could find some fascists to shoot.

It's too dark by now to make out a lot, but there's a bridge up ahead, painted white, that stands out in the gloom. Some commotion can be made out, but no details.

"There is a bridge up ahead." Yelena lowered the field glasses. "It seems the commotion is on the other side of the bridge." The junior sergeant was unaware of planned Soviet troop movements, though had thought there were few in the city as of now.

"May I, comrade?" Konnikov stood suddenly beside reaching for her binoculars. He stared through them for a long minute, then handed them back.

"Politruk, take first platoon and scout the bridge. Do not open fire unless fired upon."

"Of course Kapitan" Zholdin replied, giving the man a quick salute before turning to the first platoon and jerking his head slightly towards the bridge in wordless confirmation of their CO's orders.  Glancing at the blonde woman standing just a few feet away, he added "You coming too Malkin? I'd hate for you to miss the fun."

Yelena looked slightly surprised at being included, but nodded after a moment. "Yes, Comrade Politruk. I wouldn't want to miss the...fun." Or a chance to shoot fascists.

The march to the bridge is uncontested. As you reach it, everyone spreads out, no orders necessary. This unit - like the rest of the company - had been through a lot in the last months and years. They wouldn't fall prey to a single grenade, mine or well-aimed Panzerschreck hit.

(This Thread is closed. Proceed on "In the Ruins of Berlin".)