When Tapio awoke, it was at a start. He felt himself pulled from the oil of a nightmare and he was confused by his surroundings. Even as he sat up, and Oscar mentioned something about his watch, he was unsure of where, and when, he was. Was he in uniform? Where was his sword?
Only once he had taken up watch and Oscar settled in did the memories come back to him. He was left wondering why Oscar had let him sleep so long, as the sun had long since set. The driver was whistling some drinking tune as his wife attempted to sleep against his shoulder. Tapio saw they had made great distance, as they were now in another forest that was dotted with lumber camps.
Even back into reality, Tapio had difficulties with the darkness in the trees. The shadows moved into massive mechs with bows of ships and long, far reaching scythes. Every log hit the fur hats of a Rusviet attack party. Once he even thought he saw the eerie glow of observation goggles. Rusviet... or Saxony. Either would mean an imminent attack, and certain death.
He steadied his breathing, though. And tried to push down the ghosts of the darkness. Looming shapes, if made out to be a mech, were unarmored or sported buzz saws to scythes. Campfires of strangers sang old whaling songs of the Nordic lines instead of the distant, barking of Rusviet folk shanties.
Tapio closed his eyes and felt the bumping of the wagon. It wasn't long after that the wagon pulled off next to a campsite with a lodge. The driver bartered for coal for his wagon and food, both of which Tapio stepped in and bought outright. They decided to rest for a few hours, giving the driver and his wife some much needed rest.
The next day Oscar and Tapio were hanging off the back of the wagon again as they passed more farms. Tapio was beginning to relax as they were getting farther and farther away from the Rusviet.
Tapio turned to Oscar, "So, what is in Hammakko? The meeting is in Byskaard."
"Yes, but His Majesty's 'Sleipnir', is in Hammakko," said Oscar, "It's a very fast Drekkar class ship already on its way to Byskaard. It just got some repairs."
"I don't understand why a Drekkar is heading to Byskaard," Tapio pointed back down the road, "The Rusviet are that way."
"I suppose it's because of us," said Oscar, "But you must remember a single mechanized walker is not enough. I suppose an organized-"
"Rusviet troops only charge blindly when their adversaries are meek," said Tapio, "Any resistance could stop them short and shove them back. Their cossacks only respond to strength."
"Tell me, the Tsar is the one who held the peace talks. Why would Rusviets attempt to start trouble again?"
"Well, multiple reasons," said Tapio, "For one, we were not at said peace talks nor signed a peace treaty."
"Oh?" questioned Oscar.
"You see, his majesty did not believe in the war, and could not find a satisfying ally in the war," said Tapio, "We were neutral, and focused on protecting our lands and resources."
"Did anyone tell that to the Rusviet? To Saxony?"
"Did anyone tell that to our king?" answered Tapio, "Perhaps we should have respected the borders of our neighbors as much as we wanted them to respect ours."
"What are you saying?" asked Oscar, "Nordic fighting was only on Nordic lands. Yes?"
Tapio shook his head, "It doesn't matter. I live nowhere near Rusviet lands. Those men outside Södomuonio were invaders."
Oscar was silent for some time. However, at an exclamation from the driver's wife Oscar stood up on the wagon and smiled.
"Hey, that's it," said Oscar, "Hammakko!"
Tapio turned around to look at the town. The wagon was just cresting a short hill and revealing the wide open waters of the Bothnia Sea. Down a small incline sat the town of Hammakko.
The town itself was made up of many buildings. There was a section made of wooden slats and had good brick chimneys in a row. A few older buildings were made of stones in the old style. There were several larger buildings made with sheet metal and iron plates.
Between some of the buildings were pens full of pigs and sheep and a few cows. One area of the town was a shack with a large pile of scrap metal in the back. Down by the shore were several large warehouses and a large, expansive dock system reaching out into the waves.
However, Oscar was pointing excitedly towards the opposite side of the town. There, a structure that looked like an incomplete log wall stood roughly three stories high. It had new steam cranes around front, and an entire area sprawling with lumber, wood planks stacked high, and crates and barrels of various goods.
Next to the wall, however, stood a massive ship on six legs. It's front and back held the sprawling maws of ancient dragons, and even the riveting was designed to look as if it had been assembled with massive, metal planks. On the deck of this ship was a massive cannon, currently pointed up and in the general direction of Tapio. The whole ship gave off the impression of a massive, metal, walking Viking ship.
A Drekkar class ship.
Although many nations would have classified such a behemoth as a mech, Drekkar's were unique as they were immensely large and still function as sea ferrying ships. Even with their massive cannons a Drekkar mech could ferry its crew and supplies over lakes, rivers, and were even used in the Ocean.
"Impressive sight, isn't it?" asked Oscar.
"First time seeing a Drekkar?"
"No, but it will be my first time onboard one," said Oscar, "How exciting."
Tapio returned his attention to the town. Here, people were moving from all over. Women walked the markets with children running around. Men stood around and laughed loudly.
A large, boxy mech walked through the center of town, a crate in its arms. It was a Jotunar. It had a boxy body with viewports that closed into slits to protect the operator. It had two, boxy legs that slowed its steps but helped support its balance. Two long, bulky arms were used to assist the operator with carrying heavy supplies, but it had three movable digits to assist with other more specialized tasks.
Tapio noted the Jotunar still had the left hand fastened with a small cannon of its own. It appeared Hammakko was not entirely devoid of defense. However, a single Jotunar was far from a solid defense in the modern age.
Tapio also took note that their wagon did not appear to be headed into the town itself. Instead it stayed on a rough dirt road that circled the town.
"Are you not stopping for supplies?" asked Tapio.
"Although we wish we could, even with your money we cannot afford passage," said the driver, meaning onboard the large mech, "If help from the army does not arrive soon, we must keep moving to ensure our safety."
"You do not believe the invaders will come this far, do you?" asked Oscar.
"Sadly, I cannot say. However the oil fields are not far off from here," said the driver, "And Hammakko is on the shore. I cannot endanger my family."
"You will do as you must," said Tapio, "Oscar, pay the man. When we are our closest to the dock, we will walk from there."
"It's alright, I will drop you off at the dock," said the Driver.
They continued moving around the town at a steady pace. They came across a shepherd bringing his sheep herd back into town, but a dog ensured the sheep stayed out of the way of the wagon until they had passed.
Soon Tapio and Oscar were leaping out of the back of the wagon, stretching and maneuvering the trunk off the back. Oscar paid the driver and he was on his way, heading back up the dirt road to turn left and onward.
Oscar grabbed the other side of the trunk and Tapio and him made their way towards the dock.
"We're lucky the ship is still here," said Tapio, "We might have made it just in time. Or we will be waiting for the castoff."
"Actually, I am carrying orders for that, as well," said Oscar, grunting a little, "The ship was waiting for us, and should be casting off shortly after we get onboard."
The pair walked towards the dock. The area was lined with vendors and makeshift food vendors. One popular vendor with a cart on legs was selling sausages and lamb legs. Another vendor has furs hanging for sale. They could spot a builder with a wagon haggling over the price of lumber with one worker.
And the Soldiers. They passed several Nordic soldiers walking through the market. They were dressed more officially than Oscar. They had blue-grey pants and great coats. They had leather webbing with ammunition pouches strung to them. One carried a Frankish light machine gun with a distinct curved magazine, the other had a rifle slung over his shoulder. However, next to their modern look they also each had a sword and scabbard strapped to their belts and they were wearing Spangenhelm.
They looked terrifying and intimidating, but that was undercut by their laughter and jovial tone as they spoke loudly through the market. As they approached the dock, another soldier dressed more like Oscar noticed the crate. His eyes appraised Oscar, before making eye contact with Tapio and nodding.
Tapio returned the knowing nod. Judging by the greying of the man's beard, he deduced he was most likely also a veteran of the Great War.
Before they knew it they were at the base of the land dock. From here, Oscar had to strain his neck to look up at the Drekkar walker. They were stopped at a small checkpoint, where they lowered the trunk. Oscar did most of the talking.
The young man manning the station seemed to get excited at Oscar's words, and Tapio found his mind wandering. He looked up at the massive walker. Last time he was in this position was before a raid. He stepped underneath it, and eyes the small metal rings protruding from the back of the legs leading up to the deck of the ship. Last time they didn't have a dock to help them up.
The older soldier from before appeared at Tapio's side. Looking up the leg rungs with him.
"Is he your son?" asked the soldier.
"No."
"Mhmmm" the soldier was quiet for a little while before he continued, "So, where is it you've come from?"
"East," said Tapio, "Outside of Södomuonio."
The soldier nodded, "Is it true? Cossacks in the Kingdom?"
Tapio looked at the soldier before looking back at the ship, "It is. I encountered them myself."
The soldier said nothing. They stood in silence for some time.
"Tapio," said Oscar, walking up behind the two, "Let's go. The Captain will be casting off soon."
Suddenly the air was filled with a single, long blast from a horn on the Sleipnir. It rang out throughout the whole town and over the waves of the sea. Tapio recognized it as a signal. It would be calling the crew back and grabbing the attention of anyone who needed to know.
The other soldier walked away, swiftly. Tapio nodded to Oscar.
"They took your trunk onboard for us," said Oscar, "It'll be by our bunks. If there's anything further we'll need, we might have a moment to do so. But we really should ensure we're onboard."
"No, best be on deck so the ship may cast off when it can," said Tapio.
Tapio walked off towards the staircase that spiraled up to the top of the dock. Oscar reluctantly followed behind him.