Episode 3: Making Friends and Influencing People
"Did she just speak English?" The Eagle Union GI asked in shock.
"I think she just did." Clarence said, his voice showing no signs of shock.
Lucia just rolled her eyes.
"Just because I chose to speak German, doesn't mean I don't know English."
"But why speak kra, er, German to us if you know English?" The GI asked, a little confused.
"Because I felt like it. Now, are you going to go through with your offer of help, or is this where I leave?"
"Er, right. This way, toward the tanks." Clarence turned and walked toward the two tanks parked a few yards meters away, taking care not to be in the tank's line of fire.
As they walked toward the tanks, Lucia noticed that two of them didn't look like most Eagle Union. Most tanks from the Eagle Union were these tall machines with squat, rounded turrets. These things were long and sleek with widely spaced tracks. The turret was placed so far forward; the tank appeared like it was looking for trouble. The gun sticking out from the turret was about as long as the tank itself. On the tank facing her, what looked like two cylinders sat at a forward angle on top of the turret.
"Impressive ain't she?" One of the men on top of the tank called out, noticing Lucia staring at the tank.
"Can it Irwin. She's a kraut. How would she know English?" A GI responded to the tanker.
"Pretty impressive. You better not have stolen it." Lucia called out in her own response.
Both the tanker and the GI shared the same looks of shock and confusion as the first Eagle Union GI, but quickly hid them.
"Well miss Ironblood, I can guarantee this tank is 100% pure Eagle Union. The mighty T26E4 'Super Pershing'. Can put a hole through any one one of your tanks any day."
"Don't get too confident. Ironblood engineering is the finest in the world."
"Alright you two. Knock it off."
"Aw come on Walter, can't we have a little fun?"
"Fine, go ahead Byron. Talk it up with Lucia. It's not like I can write you up for 'fraternizing with the enemy' anymore." Walter responded before jogging off to another group of GIs.
Later that same day, around 19:23
"What do you mean Byron, you had half your arm covered in Ironblood watches."
"C'mon Bill, it isn't my fault Ironblood has such good watches. If I remember correctly, you had SS runes on your holster."
Lucia sat beside Clarence as the members of third platoon made fun of one another over their exploits in the last war. The fire was a small one, a precaution against being spotted by explorers, or as the GIs called them: 'those pale, yellow-eyed little pains in the ass'.
As the evening wore on, Lucia decided that it might be a good idea to broach the subject on her mind.
"Um, excuse me." Lucia said.
All eyes converged on her, making Lucia a little uneasy.
"C'mon, there's something on your mind. What is it?" A tanker named Mason Salsbury said.
"Well, I have a little underground set up, and I was wondering if you GIs would like to join."
Lucia noticed a few apprehensive looks from the GIs.
"You don't have to if you don't want. It is perfectly okay if you don't want to get involved in a whole new war."
Byron looked up from the tin of SPAM he'd been eating.
"Permission to speak for the company Commander?"
"Go ahead. It's not like you've spoken for the company without permission before." The Commander replied.
"Well Lucia, in case you hadn't noticed by now, we're already fighting a new war. The remains of A company will join your underground."
Clarence looked toward Salisbury, who understood what Clarence was asking.
"As the commander of Easy company, I, Captain Salisbury, will pledge my companies support to your underground. I can't speak for the crew of the Super Pershing, so I'll let Staff Seargent Joseph decide."
"I saved your ass today against those 'explorers' or whatever you call them." Staff Sgt. Joseph replied, "The crew of the mighty Super Pershing will join you in your fight."
Lucia smiled, this was more than she had hoped for. She had gained two companies of former enemies now allies to the underground she had made up on the spot.
"Alright, now that we have all agreed to help, what's our first move?" Bill asked.
Lucia pondered that question for a few moments. She really hadn't thought about what the first move might be.
"Well, I know one thing for certain." Lucia stated.
"Whats that?" Clarence asked, turning to look at her.
"We need a method to keep in contact with each other where the sirens will have problems figuring out what we are saying." Lucia began, "And I know just where to find one."
"Where's that?" Captain Salisbury asked, all business.
"It had best wait untill morning. You are going to need your sleep."