Chapter 29 the plan
Welkin was looking at the water as he was thinking. That's when Alicia and Isara came over.
"Welkin!" Alicia said.
Welkin turn to them "Oh, Hey Alicia. What's up?" He said.
"What's up!? You just made an insane promise and dragged Jacob into the mix! That's what's up!" Alicia said.
"I'm sorry Welkin, I shouldn't have argued...this is all my fault" Isara said sadly.
"It's nobody's fault Isara. It's a war, We're all on edge here" Jacob said as he walked over to them "And this mission certainty isn't helping. It's little wonder the troops are upset".
"Yeah..." Alicia said.
"That's why pulling off this operation is the perfect way to bring the squad together" Welkin said.
"That'd be great, If it works..." Frederick said as he walked over to them as well "But how in the fuck can the two of you possibly hope to take back the bridge in under 48 hours?".
Welkin pondered a bit "Well, That's the hard part..." He said. Jacob just smirked "Not really Welkin" he said "Just look at the water and you'll find your answer".
Welkin just looked at him with confusion.
"Just look at the water and I'll find my answer? What's that mean?" He said. Jacob smiled as he walked past him "Just look, Your answers will be right in front of you" he said as he walked over to the parts that Frederick got for him.
Welkin was still confused as he walked over to the dock and looked at the water.
'Look at the water and I'll find my answer huh?' He thought. As Welkin looked at the water he saw some plants under the water, That's when he hatched an idea.
"Aha!".
Alicia just looked at him "Huh? Aha what?" She asked.
"I was hoping, But...there they are" Welkin said "Isara, Alicia, Frederick. Think you can do me a favor?".
The three nodded at him.
"Sure thing Welkin, What is it?" Frederick asked. Welkin then explained to them what he wanted them to do.
"You follow me?" Welkin said. Alicia was in shock "But that's...! Is that even possible!?" She said.
Welkin then looked over at Isara "Isara, Think you can make it by tomorrow?" Welkin asked. Isara nodded "Yes, I'll get to work on it now" she said as she walked away to get to work.
Alicia sighed "...All right. I'll trust you on this" she said.
"Same here" Frederick said.
Welkin smiled "Thanks guys" he said "Well, Let's get started".
-the next day-
Everyone had gathered around as they wanted to hear the lieutenants plan.
"All right, Let's hear this brilliant plan" Largo said "And it's too late to back out now boys. You got that? So let's hear it!".
Welkin and Jacob nodded.
"We're going to strike the enemy encampment on the east bank" Welkin said. The others were not to happy about this.
"Whoa, Hold it. You're askin' us to die for you?!" Edy said.
"One squad ain't breachin' that bridgehead, Buddy boy! That would be suicide!" Rosina said.
Welkin shook his head "We're not taking on the bridgehead" he said "We're taking on this. The river. We use the fog as cover as we cross the river, Then launch a surprise attack".
Theold, Cezary, And Largo all shook there heads.
"Aww, C'mon l! Is this just some game to you guys?" Cezary said. "I'm with ya on that Cezary. Swimmin' a couple of foot soldiers over there ain't gonna do much if we've got no tanks!" Theold said.
Welkin smiled at them.
"Don't worry, I've got that covered. Isara?". Isara walked over to the front of the group "I've fitted the Edelweiss with water-resistant measures to allow for submersion. It will only hold for a few minutes, But it should be enough to cross" she said.
Everyone was silent.
"That's...not a bad idea at all really" Cezary said "Good work dark hair".
"Aheam!" Jacob said as he reached for his gun "Would you mind addressing her again, This time without racial slurs Cezary". Cezary sighed as he looked at Isara "Sorry..." He mumbled "Good work Isara...".
Isara smiled "Thank you" she said. That's when Rosina spoke up.
"Hold on just a sec. Ships come through here! It's gotta be too deep for a tank" she said.
"We're covered. Look. See that over there?" Welkin said.
Everyone looked at the grass that was near the river.
"What's that, Grass?" Susie said.
"Mistlereed. A tall aquatic plant found in the estuaries of some rivers. You can thank Jacob for this one. He gave me the idea, So I checked all around the river. This stretch runs shallow" Welkin said.
"Shallow enough for a tank to drive across. Trust us on this" Jacob said.
Largo had nothing to say, He felt like he had been outmatched.
"Well I'll be damn...guess you guys had a plan after all" he said.
"That's right" Frederick said "First, The edelweiss will cross over and clear out any imperial patrols on the shore".
"Then Lieutenant Gunther will send up a flare, Signaling the rest of us to follow by boat" Alicia finished.
The others nodded.
"Well, What are we waiting for!" Melville said "Let's get started!".
"You're right Melville" Welkin said "We'll see you guys on the other side!".
Everyone then scattered as they started to get ready. Jacob quickly stopped his brother.
"Frederick!" Jacob said.
"Huh? What is it bro?".
Jacob then gave him a case "I've got a new weapon here. A grenade launcher that's the size of a shotgun. The China lake" he said as he opened the case reveling the weapon and 75 cases of grenade ammo for the gun.
Frederick took the weapon as he looked at it and placed it on his back and the cases of ammo on his belt.
"Thanks man" he said.
"Don't sweat it, Something tells me that it might come in handy. Now move out!" Jacob said. Frederick gave him a salute as he ran to the others.
-the other side-
Two imperial soldiers were at the river bank as they looked at the fog that covered the river.
"See anything?" The imperial soldier asked his comrade. The other soldier just shook his head.
"No, nothing so far" he said. That's when he saw something in the water.
"Hey! Take a look at this" he said as he got his comrade "You see that?".
The other imperial looked at the water as he tried to see what the other soldier saw "I think so, What is it?" He said.
"Beats me".
That's when the edelweiss emerged from the water causing the two soldiers to run, Jacob got out of the edelweiss and shot them down with his revolver.
"You guys aren't going anywhere!" He said as he turned to Welkin "Ready to go Welkin?" He asked. Welkin popped his head out of the edelweiss as he stood up halfway. He got the old flare gun as he looked at it.
He then aimed it in the air.
"The edelweiss swims just fine!" He said as he looked at Jacob with a smirk on his face.
"Fall in, 7's!".
