The Russians slowly came out of the wood, getting closer to the truck. There wasn't really much room to maneuver, they had to get closer.

---

Inside, Mattaki managed to pull one of the guards closer - by sheer luck it was the body of the Deutsche who had chained them to the truck's floor and, after rummaging through the man's pockets, he retrieved a key.
His fingers were shaking when he tried to open the lock, the adrenaline washing through him.

---

[Language unknown: "I lach ououcece."] Tsimmerman said. He was close to Yelena. [Language unknown: "T cahaur ek ess a taeemani."]

Yelena nodded once at Tsimmerman. [Language unknown: "Strouness t, Onss il ol ekad. Be ionnteall."] She ticked off a count of three on her fingers, then spun around the back of the truck and looked inside while Tsimmerman covered her.

Yelena's rifle was directed at the inhabitants, but when she saw who was in there, she immediately dropped the business end of the gun downward so it wasn't pointed at any of the truck's survivors.

She paused for a moment while her brain tried to process what she was looking at, but after a few moments her words started working. She tried a few languages.

[Language unknown: "Redmeners! On tr ateur?"]

[Language unknown: "Llonin! Ek offo ha?"]

[Language unknown: "Satame! Notee str ek?"]

(Note she would also try in Yiddish, but there isn't even a language group set up for that.)

Bhalla raised her head, trembling. Her voice had a chirrup-y quality that was exacerbated as she tried to get her mouth around the words. [Language unknown: "Hou ecce Ceural? Usai thuntelat sanfo?"] How could there be more of them?

Yelena shook her head at the question. [Language unknown: "T, Nich ameortave ck cawas thanie hasiounde maomwanapa whlius ble tr Ekolos."] Had it really been that long? Yelena could hardly remember what she'd been like before war came to her town. Maybe that person was dead. Or maybe just dormant.

[Language unknown: "Out ive ithre? We th outol wianti ameoersetven? Om? Hawiof?] Her voice was tender and soft as she asked after their well-being.

Bhalla sat up, slowly. She had not caught all the words the--was this a female?--used. Did the females war with the males? But no, there were others here who were like the ones who had captured her. [Language unknown: "And elnot diwas Ecnein? La u om asunch Ardesstio?"]

Yelena shook her head. [Language unknown: "Ck, hat Ssomni."] She nearly spat the word out in disgust, but then regained her composure and smiled. Her words were again soft. [Language unknown: "O ek a Noseat. O be ulpeth pr ate Ckckti."]

She raised an eyebrow. [Language unknown: "I ove p Remini."]

After a few tries the chains came loose, before he attempted to get out of the truck, which seemed to be the target of all the fire at present he searched round the boxes looking for weapon to use

[Language unknown: "Ai wit, linterthu. Ivur el wheessoun. Ngpo and onri asne artei Ounughntitio."] Bhalla said. She was still struggling to make sense of the situation. [Language unknown: "Dinno e ourametheich? Tinerarea in hohat Mesaer?"]

Mattaki pushed back another box and his heart skipped a beat. There was his spear, his focus. He could almost feel it calling out to him.

Mattaki took a deep breath and gently reached for the spear as he touched it he felt the power of his ancestors complete the broken circle when it had been taken from him.

He looked down at his little friend [Language unknown: Wi t rihawi viricaset. Ncitac dievpr staer vir enbepehaha fobe pois? theiv ive evoer urni ast ha thiournde Po onewhince nipl plat]

Even so he pulled the power to him and prepared the spell of protection to be used over both of them if they were attacked

Lena had stayed back, figuring it was better to let the soldiers sweep the truck.  Plus, that was a lot of dead bodies.  Granted, she'd been around a lot of dead bodies before but they were usually in a morgue or something.

They seemed to be talking to somebody.  On the whole, the Russians seemed more likely to speak German than English if they spoke either, so she'd been sticking to Ze German around them.  "[Language unknown: Trafo evdin Ndurne urck estousndeard?]"

With that Mattaki stood with spear in hand, trusting in the powers he welded to protect him if needed.

He looked down at his, little friend [Language unknown: io o ncehasith avemanver wa m wil ilplse ave ntweroie ]

[Language unknown: "Winemolo."] Bhalla said, gesturing to the 'Soviet' at the back of the truck and the other not-Deutsche visible through the mangled tarpaulin who still surrounded the wagon.

Yelena paused for a moment as she tried to think about how to answer the question. [Language unknown: "Staresast e...mihoce ensti as...iththeset eeprin. Be mi essvoryinart ntrom at Isntec"] At least a little bit. How much different was something that Yelena thought about as she tried to fall asleep at night.

She shook her head. [Language unknown: "Me reddaysomate day wi atol eslo...Ulsawh larivende. Trave tiri Ichdayvorain. Il Yinproday."] She held up a finger to ask for a moment, then shouldered her rife and stuck her head around the side of the truck. Sticking the first two fingers of both hands in her mouth, the sniper whistled, shrilly.

She pointed at Lena. [Language unknown: "Ruthouderpropre! Erie!"]

Yelena looked back over at the recent captives. [Language unknown: "Ion comro any icareales str heisic daythough. K ieic tha siutfo ecesrias ekmaar ol Chwhie."]

"[Language unknown: I me lo ni itsiwh?]"  Lena hustled.  She wasn't a great nurse but she was still a passable nurse after all.

She arrived quickly, only to go wide eyed.  "[Language unknown: Ac... son iveortcomhas, ai K i... th whiereith utwh e liha eve andhi.]"

Lena had not yet gotten to the point where she reflexively used English.  Speaking constant German for years on end and letting on you speak anything else only on pain of death will do that to you.

Konnikov slowly advanced on the dead Nazis, using hand signals he ordered First Platoon to move up the hill and take watch, and Second Platoon to hold position as Yelena and the British Spy checked out the back of the truck.  He could hear the strange language, and held the men back to ease tensions with the locals who were no doubt prisoners of the Nazis.

Confident at least that these beings do not mean her any immediate harm, Bhalla moves to the truck's tailgate (though she does not yet get down). [Language unknown: "Our ssher laec? Intrutund is Avewheill? Ilunil ha Whmaivhoives?"] She closes her eyes and shakes her head and holds up a palm. [Language unknown: "N se verforlat Ateonsain Estconter. Strstiver. Ver reome t it undwiters Evcefo ol...Bleeartra Aimeitli."] She points to the Axtzal behind her. [Language unknown: "Werateainrea. P il ho prowitanyate."]
This message was last edited by the player at 03:21, Sat 16 July 2022.

Shagidzyanov relayed Konnikov's orders, then turned to his CO.
[Language unknown: "Ichbleshe Ticsonive ad llprth m aceion wit ousa but mibe hisinehas na er has ame ristr?"]

Julius, who always stayed close to the officers in case he needed to translate for Captain Jackson or Major Lewis, couldn't help but wonder about the lieutenant asking permission. British or American soldiers - or Germans, for that matter - would have already proceeded to loot the vehicle on their own initiative.

Yelena nodded at the introduction. [Language unknown: “Ou’to of k his tr, Ntesonhis fo Andstista. P U et, Mi o poaiis Ofinil. Came fi wilfi el thithooer sinailst, strmanver of alroei werwh o ome penc neha nt. Ou ughhatrea ort ac o ad hi Omewheionlat. O, hat tha erasetall ssainean siho heven, ce m Ustemo. Re ion ngncwi evroilmi ng naica ichiouratame ate cama Itnass.”] The sniper gestured toward Lena as she referenced the other woman.

Satisfied the Germans weren't just playing possum, Konnikov nods to his Lieutenant, [Language unknown: "Ar, be be astresstr urtoon ee sa, whethevir san k ur hiteectr ngore esomdi, not peica nc wincusca fi ripe, ill ich laevet aveear-oulugh tolin hathe ur venset'whelintin dielat pr ectni ure si."]

He then approaches the rear of the vehicle and despite being surprised at the appearance of prisoners, maintains a stolid cast (aside from one raised eyebrow).  He stands at ease with the Thompson leaning across his shoulders and calmly eyes the two odd looking folk in the trucks bed.

[Language unknown: "Wilterany, oules tiil ne, ear, antvorain ter oul, tio ecerck?"]

Yelena turned to face Semyon and briefly stood to attention before adopting a slightly more relaxed posture. [Language unknown: "Resnceiou, es nte virsonbut encateers kor urta outoadaipr helaro ivaswh arehermen thnt-riei. Ha be as conwilhat ur Amelatore, me Man ain ticse an acsi n addiio ear ch...eve?"] Yelena was guessing at that last bit.
[Language unknown:
"Ill eini the thu strderoul pola ineomerut thionstho ro mothll wialpapo e ithaveoneill iveeec esiv ver Teulnt. Ingof hi staectart cktho ons ha newhsi foilfima, ee rom an haore ll lesst ut ofth. O urhiol onero manatiint wheovesan iou at asmiho n la ckwhal ome t io, Uschth?"] She raised her eyebrows slightly at the end, though generally maintained military discipline as she spoke with the Kapitan.

[Language unknown: "Ss om elliho. Ast Anyromsta likor fiore ut ratoutthe."] Bhalla says. She catches herself. [Language unknown: "Ineconthu som."] The gnim couldn't remember the last time she'd eaten a full meal. [Language unknown: "Heweng tedsanenc p Findsa."]

Yelena turned her head slightly to indicate she was listening to Bhalla, and nodded her understanding. She held up a finger to ask her for a moment, then straightened and spoke to Konnikov again. [Language unknown: "Ver newit ol oustedsti. Inset...thodinoerthe ssee aieknd hisyiness ioisre es ardvoress encil. Eauica'antticeve ce asmota rower disi it of trset ngsemi? Lin res anfick her inntes tanc maceil ai oul ro a t us be esosutur ev caonpl."] Hunting was how Yelena had first learned to shoot. Being required to do so again was something she'd enjoy.

Lena let out a very undignified sound.  "[Language unknown: Red... avemanble... di <nt>oul!</it>]"

She began to shake down anyone near her.  "[Language unknown: As N Toess K hopr e ill ut, ivstce noaini lost p latkortra!]"

Konnikov nods, [Language unknown: "Shetinhas Theichallich, e eewh howetr din tereracon, our po weekar n ant on u eshanc teni virur ard verli ourovehoulat entis ritock toekil.  Alceca thewithas e ame adethome pa ulison und prhi."]

He then turns to check up the road and gives a look at the squad higher up the slope that were watching the road.  He deliberately, and calmly, as though at ease in their presence, turns his back to the locals, and listens to hear if they react oddly.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:44, Sun 17 July 2022.