WWI
A small printing shop in Vienna. The machines are diligently working as the big rolls of paper turn. A familiar black carriage, beautifully decorated, passes by the shop. A young man, probably in his late 20s, glances at it as he chops the paper into smaller bits. He is one of two apprentices there. The second, about the same age, is checking the main machine. The owner of the shop, an older gentlemen with glasses, sits at his desk reading the newspaper as usual.
"Ha! Our troops will soon head south. And with such modern equipment! We will win the war quickly and our boys will be home by Christmas" the older man says excited.
The man next to the main machine chuckles shaking his head. He comes over to the other apprentice and whispers: "A week ago, he called the whole thing a road to disaster. Now he is cheering it on like it is a sport's event. Talk about the power of the press."
His friend nods making a side smile. He takes one of the card they have been making. It is of a large hand crushing the imp-like creature in a Serbian national attire with the words "All Serbs must die!"
"I mean, I feel for the young men in that God-forsaken country, but they will be better off without their corrupt government" their boss continues with his eyes still glued to the latest article on the empire's military might.
"Yeah, it's not like they'll die or anything" the first apprentice says sarcastically. The other keeps staring at the card. "Have the recruiters visited you yet?" the first continues.
"Yes" the young man shortly replies with a neutral expression.
Next scene: At a decent upper-middle class estate. The very same young man packs his belongings.
An older woman is crying along with two younger ones. "Please don't cry mother. You are only making this worst" the man says calmly moving towards the front entrance.
"How can I be calm?! You are going to war. And with Serbia?! How could they send you there knowing your ancestry? This whole thing is madness!" she says through tears. And older man, equally shaken, tries to comfort her: "There is nothing we can do, my dear. He needs to answer the call of the emperor."
"Oh stop it! Can't you call some of your influential friends to find him a nice clerk position?" she yells. The young man puts his hand on her shoulder, calming her down.
Seeming completely relaxed, he hugs his family goodbye and walks out.
Next scene: After the battle of Cer. We see him again in full Austro-Hungarian uniform being completely still. His comrades are all running in the opposite direction. The Serbian soldiers are gaining on them. Two of them aim their gun at him bellowing: "Drop your weapon! On the ground!"
He does so calmly, and slowly raises his arms. "Don't worry! I'm one of you" he says smiling.
End of flashback: "And that is how I got here, your Majesty" the same man, now in Serbian uniform tells a group of dignitaries. "Interesting" Serbia in her best uniform says. With her is the old king along with his sons and the royal guard. They have come to the camp in order to boost the moral.
Walking around, the old king comments the random soldiers with the nation. "What is that young boy doing there?" the king asks in shock. We see the boy in question, roughly 8 years of age, sharing food with a group of soldiers. Outraged, king Peter I calls for the boy.
"What is your name little one?" he asks the saluting child.
"Momčilo Gavrilović (Момчило Гавриловић) your Majesty" he replies.
"Tell me why are you here? This is no place for a child."
"Please, your Majesty, don't make me leave! The enemy soldiers have killed my family. I have nowhere to go" the boy cries.
The king's white moustaches twitch. He swallows the bitter ball forming in his throat. Mumbling something to the officer next to him, the king excuses himself complaining of a sudden headache. The boy is allowed to return to his friends.
"My poor boss. He is too old to endure such tragedies. I don't see why he had to return from retirement" the nation sighs.
"If I may be frank, my Kingdom. I assume it is because he is still very popular among the people" her assistant says.
"Thank you, for sharing that bit of exposition with us" she says sarcastically. "Well, it is why I am here, your Kingdom" the assistant adds with a bow. She smirks and continues observing the troops.
After a while she continues: "There is a decent amount of different dialects. Some I recognize hearing in the empire. Have they also changed sides like that young soldier we talked to earlier?"
"More or less, my Nation. Some came right after the war was announced by transport. Others were mobilized and deserted later. I can almost imagine it... Running from bullets of your former comrades to join the opposing army. Not knowing which side's bullets will reach you first. That, is called heroism" the assistant says as if daydreaming.
She chuckles amused: "I see you have a flair for the dramatic." The man bows his head. "It's alright. I like melodrama too. Especially in novels. However, in real life I often find it unnecessary. Heroes are all who joined us because of our just cause. Not just those who had a theatric entrance" she adds.
A group of Czech and Slovak volunteers* pass and salute them. The most famous of them being František Krištof.
*{Most of them will later form the Czechoslovak legion.}
"It is nice to see they too are with us. I wonder how their representatives feel about it?" Serbia says. "Thrilled, hopefully" her assistant replies.
Soon after they notice general Pavle Jurišić Štrum (Павле Јуришић Штрум), known in his youth as Paulus Strum. They greet with a salute. "What have you gotten yourself into old man? I bet giving order's to German lines seems pretty tempting right now" Serbia jokes.
The general smiles and replies in kind: "Wouldn't miss this for the world my kingdom."
Parting, Serbia continues along with her secretary. "I'm happy to see that we are not alone. Sadly, I don't think this would be enough" she says. "With Gods help, there will be more of them" he says.
They head back to join the others. Next on the list is a visit to the wounded and the brave doctors and medical nurses taking care of them. Very soon, they will be joined by nurses from Western Europe, especially Scotland.
On their way, they see a soldier with a strong jaw line and equally strong physic pass by. The nation cannot help but notice that some parts seem a bit out of place for a man. She very noticeably stares into the young soldier making her companion nervous.
"Is something wrong? Do you suspect him of being a spy?" he asks. She does not reply right away.
"Go now. I need to do something" she says serious. Her assistant obeys and leaves her to deal with the matter.
Next scene: The same person, wanting to go to the bathroom, looks around. Believing to be alone, the soldier flinches hearing a voice: "If I may give you some advice...You should tighten your chest more. The hump next to your left rib is very noticeable."
The soldier checks and covers it embarrassed. "My kingdom, please don't tell anyone...I have fought for you in both Balkan wars. I..." she tries to say but the nation shushes her.
"It's alright. The two of us have the same secret. There are two more like us hiding here somewhere" Serbia adds relaxed. The woman in uniform looks stunned. "What is your real name?" Serbia continues.
"Milunka Savić (Милунка Савић), my Nation" the woman answers.
"Well soldier, carry on. I apologize for startling you in such a way" Serbia says. They salute and she leaves the woman alone to do her womanly things in piece.
Well that was a very convenient and informative walk. Still, you get the point, right?
P.S. The first person is not based on a real person but has elements of things real people did.
