"Yes," Seamus replied. "Which nation? Is it one we'd recognise or has someone actually set up the land of Honah Lee?"

This would be an important question, because while the former might pay them better, the latter might have Magic Dragons.

"The government is the US CivGov. The civilian led government of the United States. We will be departing for the southeastern states." He said after considering it for a moment. "Can't really worry about it getting out now. We all might be dead soon."

Tom let out a long breath and looked over at Mike. He had his hear set on Yorkshire, and the States was further away, and across an ocean. But it was better than here. And between here and Yorkshire was a lot of land to cross. HE sipped his coffee and said nothing for now

She smiled at the officer as she had done to a thousand other people she wanted things from. She had no idea what was in store for her and Fedor, and getting a favorable “in” with the highest-ranking NATO commander left on this side of the line could only benefit them. At the very least, if they decided to bail on them in the middle of the night, they might hesitate to shoot them in the back. Time would tell.

Tagging along with the rest of the group, Cecylia kept close to Fedor, her right arm resting on her slung SMG. Looking around the flurry of activity, she couldn't help but feel out of place. Everyone here appeared military, and being the only set of civilian clothes in the entire place made her self-conscious. The whole idea with not wearing one of the various BTU's she'd been offered had been to blend in with the locals... and now she did anything but blend in.

As Seamus, Thomas, and Fedor all pocketed some food and shoved some into their face, Cecylia found herself lacking any sort of appetite. Maybe it was the crash from all the adrenaline, or maybe she'd lost her appetite somewhere between getting shot at, getting shot at, and getting shot at. It would happen to her, every now and then. She'd find herself ignoring her own needs long enough that she'd just forget about them until a hunger headache crept in behind her eyes until she couldn't focus.

Listening to the Colonel, Cecylia decided to keep her emotions on a tight leash; she stopped the frown just behind a few lines across her forehead and the bridge of her nose. But she saw Fedor glance at her, and she knew that he knew, instantly: she wasn't feeling this.

At first, when the Colonel spoke of a “provisional government”, Cecylia thought it was some local fief. Maybe remnants of the Polish state. But then, knowing nothing concrete of the global state of the world, Cecylia wondered if siding with anyone, at this point, was a smart move. The way the Colonel described his deal, they were going to be mercenaries... and when the chips were down, there was nothing to guarantee that the other NATO nations would recognize this new “government”. What if they were all branded as deserters for siding with this new entity? What sort of guarantee would they get? There were enough unknowns to make her feel nauseous.

When, finally, Colonel Hammer revealed what this provisional government was, Cecylia felt her stomach drop. He was offering them to fly out to America. Across the ocean. Away from... everything she knew and had known. Away from her country. Away from what family she might still have alive in the UK, however slim the possibilities were. It felt like... running away. And there was Jules. He was American, granted, but last time they had spoken, he had been somewhere in Western Europe. There was no way of telling if he'd made it back across the ocean.

Any chance to see him again was a chance Cecylia was, ultimately, willing to take.

“Colonel,” said Cecylia, her polish accent thick and heavy on the rank “I have doubt this US government is in need of Polish Doctorate of History who can play violin”. To add to the statement, she parted her hands away from her body, as if showing off she didn't have much to offer. “I do not want to get on plane, fly to South Land and discover I will be Polish maid, yes?”

"Madame, i understand that this endeavor is not for everyone." Hammer said. "the offer was extended to the lot of you simply because of your experience. It would be an asset to me and this unit. But only if you are committed to it. Otherwise you are welcome to load up on the supplies we cannot transport and make your way to wherever you want to call home. The war here is over. The Soviets will soon be fighting each other over local control. It has already begun in Sweden."

Seamus had another question.

"Not sure I want to hang around here. Soviets are So-very-uncool. What further information do you have on this CivGov? Despite having a stupid name, do in fact have a decent leader? Because the last one clearly wasn't any good, considering the state we're in."

Seamus was himself personally unsure about this. He wanted to get back to Ireland... but to be honest, he was in no position to walk across a ruined Europe. If he went to the US, he might be able to get a ship across the Atlantic. Probably not many submarines left that could stop them now.

He took another bite of his food and waited for the response.

Southeastern states was all BHB needed to hear.  He started to whistle 'I wish I was in Dixie' and pulled out his most powerful weapon.  His pen.

"Where do I sign?"

"Ah, yes, the yank sense of humor laugh, laugh, guns, laugh some more." Hammer said without cracking a smile or sounding the least bit amusing. "Please see Captain Dobson at the corner desk in the tent across the lane. He will take of the necessary details. After that tell him your are assigned to the Scouts. They need an officer, you're it. Move out soldier."

it occurred to them that not everyone here was actually going with Hammer. How many would stay? How much of the supplies would they take with them?

Fedor tapped BHB on the shoulder and held out a hand.

"Keys to truck? Won't fit on airplane but very useful here."

She weighed her options; surveyed the room briefly. This was going to be it. This was going to be the turning point. It was the fork in the road and as far as she could tell, both roads didn't look drive-able. But at the very least, the one she was about to suggest was on her home turf.

Cecylia pushed her weapon towards her back so her hands would be free and opened in front of her. People always felt more at ease when they saw your hands, even if it was only a subconscious thing. She smiled confidently as she close in the distance with the Colonel; men liked it when she was close to them and gave them her attention. She flashed large blue eyes at him.

“It is very fair offer, Colonel. I am sure I speak for us when I say we appreciate it much,” she said, nodding and looking briefly at the three other soldiers. “These men are very brave,” she continued, motioning to Thomas, Seamus and Mike, “and if they want to help you and your new government, you will be all better for it.”

She pushed a bright red strand of hair away from her face, tucking it behind her ear.

“But I cannot leave. At least, I cannot leave now. I suspect there is much work ahead for you and this new US government. You will need eyes and ears. You will need to know what is going on across ocean. I can tell you that. I can relay messages. I can help you have ear to ground here. Maybe in future you need ally here? Maybe you come back, yes? And you can already have many friends here. I can be your friend and I can make sure my friends are also your friends. That is what we do for you.”

“And friends help each other. You NATO have come here to help us so I return favor. I stay here for you, but you need to help us one last time before you leave,” she added, her voice lowering down and she took a small step towards the Colonel.

"I see. Miss wojcik, was it? That is an intriguing offer. I will send a message the head of foreign relations office. We are dealing with them until we are on the ground in the United States. This unit will not be formal part the government. We are a private contract entity that will be awarded citizenship post contract termination. You would be dealing with their intelligence people and not me or mine, so I'll reach out for you." Hammer said as he signaled to comms nco.

Moments later the coms tech handed Hammer a satellite phone. It looked like a bent brick with a curled pigtail antenna. Though at the moment it was plugged into a larger satellite capable transmitter. His conversation wasn't overheard, and it was brief, so Cycelia wasn't hopeful when he came back to them.

"You need to take the blue comms bundle in connex sixteen. it's just outside." He told them unexpectedly. "I will arrange for a time and code package for you to contact the head of foreign relations for the newly former Federalist States of America. I will include call signs and all pertinent security info in the package. Give me about twenty minutes. By that time you lot should be ready to roll southwest for Germany. The Soviet will be here in about thirty minutes, or less as that commercial goes."

He still didn't smile. He walked over to the old German commando and the two launched into a series of small plans leading towards the larger action that was close at hand.

"Sorry, we've got to go to Germany?" Seamus asked. "Like, where in Germany? It's a pretty big place. Or at least it was."

He was having doubts about this whole thing, but he wasn't sure that staying would be wise.

"It' the nearest area with minimal Soviet forces." Hammer said. "And do not apologize. Each man makes his own path these days. If yours goes a different direction than ours that is a non-issue. All the connexes are at your disposal. Our supplies have been moved already what is here cannot be used or transported. Take all you want."

Tom looked over to the Colonel "I'm with CeCe. Good luck sir." he said and moved over to CeCe "I suggest we load up and dissappear, now. If anyone else is coming they best decide quick. " He looked around at the others, and lingered a bit longer on Mike, adding "Long term, I intend to head for Blighty. How about you?"

When the Colonel answered her approvingly, Cecylia did her best not to show how relieved she was. After all, letting them go on their way was going to be a gamble for the Colonel. They could get captured; reveal intel. They could turn against them in the future. It was a risk, and she had been all too aware of it.

But the gamble was paying off.

The Colonel had barely finished his answer that Seamus had chimed in. Automatically, he had included himself in Cecylia's plan, which quickly made her smile. He was young, and they didn't know much about each other, but she liked him. He was honest, good, and that was all she could really ask in the end. So, Seamus, it seemed, was already in.

Behind her, she felt Fedor stir and heard him speak with the American soldier they had joined up with earlier. They hadn't exchanged a single word, and after what had happened at the checkpoint, she didn't feel entirely safe with him around.

She closed her eyes briefly and took in a deep breath of relief as Thomas took her side as well. Three out of four wasn't a bad number. There was only Mike left to convince. They could hardly go far without him. Along with Fedor, he was their best shot and he commanded a respect from people Cecylia couldn't quite match. And he had a head solidly attached on his shoulders; something they would all need in the near future.

Already, with Thomas coming along, Cecylia felt their odds of survival grow tenfolds. Out of all of them, he was the only one who really knew his way around a first aid kit, and to think they could possibly reach the coast someday without taking a few hits was ludicrous. Even if they did everything perfectly, sooner or later, someone would get hurt.

As she saw Thomas move towards Mike, she hoped the medic could do what she hadn't yet; get the man on their side. In the meantime, they were pressed for time and had to squeeze every single second they could.

She nodded to Colonel Hammer. "Thank you very much Sir," she said, extending a hand towards him. "I guess we will have to take rain check on that tea, yes? Next time," she added, somewhat bittersweetly.

"Seamus," she said, turning towards the young soldier, "you and Fedor find us a way to get out of here. We need to get on the move. Our HUMVEes might still be ours... Two vehicles might be too much drain on fuel, so we might have to all pile up in one. We could also switch to a truck. Slower, but better cargo I guess."

She clasped him on the shoulders. "I trust your judgment. Whatever you need, Fedor will make it happen."

She turned her attention to Thomas, who was still with Mike.

"Thomas, I need you to gather what medical supplies you think might be useful. Think long-term. And think barter," she said, nodding to him.

Her blue eyes left the medic's and fell on Mike.

"Sergeant, there's a spot for you in this. You got us this far, but you don't have to stick around if you don't want to. You don't owe us anything... but we sure could use you."

She gave the man a nod and smile, looked at Thomas briefly, her eyes saying I'm counting on you.

"I'm going to go get the comm gear. We meet back out there in five."

Nothing in the big Russians make up allowed him to say aloud that he hoped Mike stuck with them but he gave the man a significant look that communicated it fairly well.

He took the keys to the 5 Ton from BHB (unless he balks for some reason) and headed out to see what they could load up in 20 minutes of professional level looting.

In the crews he had worked with along the Ukrainian border he had been known as Mr. Takyostov [Pronounced Mister Take Yo Stuff] and he was about to show everyone here why.

In the supply area, a rifleman in a Belgian uniform was filling his pack with STANAG magazines and frag grenades.  When he noticed a few newcommers doing the same with other gear, he walked over.

"Bonjour, no, Hallo.." he said, correcting himself to something that resembled English.  "Do you not go to America as well?" he asked.

Tom gave CeCe a mock salute and a grin "Yes Ma'am" He tugged at Mikes sleeve "Even if youre not coming, help us load up ok?" he asked, hoping he could persuade Mike as they worked.

HE took Mike to the Med store, and looked around. He concentrated on things that needed to be sterile and were sealed (dressings, syringe packs ) and things that couldn't be manufactured easily (saline drips, drugs - lots of drugs), as well as any sort of surgical kit he could pick up and things that would allow him to sterilise. For now he didn't count. He looked for bags of any sort to put stuff in - daysacs, old respirator bags, sandbags - and just shovelled it in for now. He had his personal kit set up to deal with anything immediate. He would sort this later.

AS he worked he chatted to Mike "So you gonna go back to America, or come with us? Blighty's where your heart is right?"

Bryce gave them a thumbs up after handing the keys to Fedor, "Deuces guys, thanks for the assist. Colonel thanks for a new job and a ride home."

Bryce left to go get his new assignment.

"There are considerable reserves. You are welcome to what you can carry." Said the Colonel.

"No."

Fedor wasn't the social type at the best of times and he was currently busy.

He looked over the available trailers and then moved the CUCV and connected it to what he felt to be the best one and then drove the whole thing to the munitions area where the ammo and weapons were stored.

Unless someone else did it first he would repeat these actions connecting the Armored Humvee to a mobile workshop and pulling it over by the Blazer.

Seamus asked another question.

"If we're heading for Germany, we're going to need some maps. A road atlas or something. Won't help with whopping great craters, but it's better than nothing."

He wasn't sure how decent the autobahns were in what was left of the place - they would need multiple options and an atlas would do that. Also, if needed, they could use the pages for kindling.

"Is good idea."

Stabsfeldwebel Brandenburger stepped forward and placed an overstuffed map case on the table near them. He nodded and looked from one to the other of the little group for a few seconds before he spoke.

"The roads are bad. Take all the fuel you can haul." He began. "Tell that Russian to keep an ear to the radio. There are number of Soviet units between here and western European safely. Many of those units are now operating on their own. And most of them are former Russian category A troops isolated by the circumstances of war."

Seamus took the map case and slung it over his shoulder.

"I wasn't planning on visiting any service stations anyway. The prices will probably be highway robbery. Literally."

Brandenbuger laughed and tossed a loaded HK G36C onto the table.

"Change the rate of exchange." He said. He walked off laughing at his own humor.