All's Fair in Love and War

Chapter One: Reassignment

Captain John Miller sighed heavily. He peered at the beach below him and watched the grids of soldiers march across the blood swept sand. Miller removed his helmet and ran his fingers over his head in disbelief. Three days ago the beach below him was strewn with dead soldiers and now the bodies were gone and in their place were the rows of tanks and military vehicles. But that wasn't what the captain couldn't believe.

Half hour ago Colonel Anderson had summoned him to an urgent briefing. Miller had stepped under the canopy of the tent where Anderson was busy talking on a communicator. Miller silently waited and removed his helmet. Miller glanced around the tent and at the little luxuries these men had, hot cups of coffee, what looked like corn beef and cheese sandwiches and even hot water to shave in. Miller's attention was snapped back to the Colonel as he addressed him.

"Airborne was supposed to win an open door for the rest of us. Instead they miss -dropped, scattered everything into the wind. What's your situation?"

"Yes sir." Miller moved towards a large map that was draped across the table, "Sector four is secure. We took out towed 88s here, here… and here." The captain picked up a pencil and pointed at each designated spot on and around Omaha beach. "They'd already gotten four of our Shermans and some deuce-and-a-halves.

These two minefields are actually one big one. We tried going through way up the middle of it, but it turned into a mixed high-density field, little bit of everything. Spreng mine 44s, pot mines, A-200s, the wooden bastards that the mine detectors don't pick up.

This road here…" Miller indicated with his pencil, "They placed big mushrooms, Teller mine 43s, I guess for our tanks, from here to the edge of the village. So we marked 'em and called the engineers."

"Resistance?" Asked Anderson.

"We had higher support expectations, sir. There was an understrength company without artillery. Wehrmacht 346 Infantry, Von Luck Kampfgruppe. We ended up with 23 prisoners. We turned them over to MPs from the 29th." As Anderson circled round the table, Miller kept his eyes thoughtfully, on the map.

"What about our casualties?"

"Well…" Miller dived his hand into his jacket pocket and groped for a small bit of paper. He folded it out and glanced at the numbers on it. "The figures were 35 dead… and times two wounded." Hastily Miller stuffed the paper back into his pocket as if he couldn't bear to look at it any more and stared again at the map. "They just… didn't wanna give up those 88s."

Anderson nodded, knowing the cost of what it probably meant to the Captain. "It was a tough assignment, that's why you got it."

"Yes sir"

"John I got another one for ya." Miller turned slowly.

"Yes, sir." He said with mild curiosity.

"This one's straight from the top." Said Anderson. Miller had given Anderson a querying look.

"Sir?"

"A private in 101st Airborne had three brothers K.I.A'ed and he's got a ticket home." Anderson had waited for Miller's reply, but when Miller didn't say anything, he continued, "And I need you and a selected few to go get him." Anderson didn't seem at all fazed by Miller's surprised expression but asked him why nonetheless.

"You seem surprised Captain. Something the matter?" Anderson raised an eyebrow. Miller had been too stunned to mutter a single syllable instead he just scratched his head in confusion.

"Sir, nothings the matter, it's just that…well…" Miller began but Anderson stopped him.

"One more thing Captain. Your gonna have a new recruit to your team. Well, two technically but we'll get to that in a bit." Anderson turned to one soldier and signalled to him. The soldier stepped over; his face turned down and obscured by his helmet. "John I would like you to meet Private Shea." Anderson nodded to the private. "She will be accompanying you on your mission." Miller blinked in confusion. Did…did he just say she? No he must have misheard him.

"Is he any good in combat?" Miller asked Anderson but he had been looking at the Private.

"I've got a pretty good aim with a sniper but I prefer using a rifle." Said the private in a feminine voice. A feminine voice? Miller scowled and had tilted the private's helmet back to see his face. Miller gasped when the soldier's helmet fell back and a woman's face appeared, curtained by auburn hair. The private stood her ground and looked defiant.

"A…a…a woman sir?" Miller stammered. Anderson merely nodded. "But what…why…?" stammered Miller.

"John, you know as well as I that women aren't allowed in combat. So this lady is going with you. She's on her way home too." Answered Anderson. Private Shea gave a small smile which instantly vanished when Miller looked at her with a slight quizzical look. "John your gonna need an interpreter as well. Find one that can speak both French and German." Finished Anderson.

"Yes sir." Miller saluted to Colonel Anderson and had marched out of the tent with Private Shea hot on his heels.

Looking back on those moments, Miller almost laughed. He glanced over to his small squad. They were already getting aquatinted with Shea and Upham, Upham was the new interpreter, the corporal seemed a bit uneasy around the others, Miller couldn't really blame him for being nervous. Shea on the other hand seemed to fit right in. The boys were obvious surprised and maybe a little shocked with the idea of a woman in their squad. Someone must have cracked a joke since they all started laughing.

As he watched the group exchanging tales, Captain Miller's thoughts wandered back to their mission, he scowled at the mere thought.

His thoughts were penetrated by Sergeant Horvath's shout.

"All right guys, lets pack up and move out! Captain Miller, ya coming or are you enjoying the view?"

"Still liking ass sarge?!" came the quick remark from Private Reiben.

"Reiben I swear to God I'm going to shoot you myself if you don't get a move on." Horvath said between gritted teeth. Reiben gave a satisfied smirk and fell in line behind Mellish and Caparzo.

"Didn't say a word Sarge'."

"Captain Miller! Captain!" shouted Horvath as he waited for his friend.

"Yeah, yeah I'm coming." Replied Miller as he stood up and moved after to his squad.

"Fubar." He muttered under his breath as he picked up his gear and led his men out into Normandy.

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Author's Notes:

Hope you guys liked the first chapter . I know its kinda short but please whatcha guys tink...