Episode 5: Only Fools Rush In
"Do you have a map of the city?" Lucia asked, turning to Captain Salisbury
"I should." Captain Salisbury said, walking around to the back of the jeep.
"That's odd," Captain Salisbury said, looking through the container of maps, "It should be here."
Lucia looked toward Captain Salisbury, then back at the hood of the jeep. Moving toward the map of northwestern Germany, she noticed the corners of several other maps under the top map. Shuffling through the maps, she came across the map she was looking for.
"Captain Salisbury, I found it." Lucia said, pulling the map out from the middle of the pile.
"Why was it there?" Captain Salisbury asked, a little miffed.
"I took all the maps of major cities out with the map of northwestern Germany. I was going to tell you, but the fräulein here sidetracked me." Commander Berlin told Captain Salisbury while glaring at Lucia.
"You sidetracked yourself." Lucia retorted, getting even more irritated at Commander Berlin.
"Alright. Enough of this. We are never going to get anything done if we keep arguing and fighting amongst each other, we won't get anything done." Captain Salisbury said, turning toward Lucia, "Lucia, could you please enlighten us to the sirens defenses?"
"Certinly. Now, from what I've heard, the explorers are mostly within the inner city limits. The device is located in the crypt underneath the cathedral. At least one platoon of explorers are inside the cathedral grounds. There are also groups of former SS who have sworn allegiance to Observer Alpha, who is the head siren around here." Lucia said, pointing out the different areas of interest. "The second platoon is positioned in a ring around the cathedral, with the third platoon following suit. The second company is in a triangle around the outermost ring. I don't know where, and I am inclined to believe they are constantly moving."
"That sounds like a lot of explorers." Commander Berlin stated, having put aside his earlier reservations.
"You mentioned SS men. Where would they be?" Captain Salisbury asked Lucia.
Lucia looked back at the map and drew a circle with her finger around the city's outer limits. "There is about a regiments worth of former SS men in the outermost limits of the inner city."
"So now we know what we're up against. Any idea on how to defeat them?" Commander Berlin asked Lucia, no hint of hostility in his voice.
"We can't directly defeat them. We can only do our best to avoid direct contact with them and only engage when absolutely necessary." Lucia told Commander Berlin. "I also was hoping you two could offer some input."
"Well, like you said, a direct assault is off the table. That means we won't have support from the armor." Commander Berlin said, turning toward Captain Salisbury.
"Correct. The city lays just outside of the range of our Shermans, and consequently, the Pershings. However, we do have several Jeeps that certainly have the range to get us there."
"There is one problem with that idea Captain." Commander Berlin said.
"What's that?" Lucia asked, walking to the side of the jeep to try and find the problem.
"The Jeep only fits four people. Since we only have four Jeeps in working condition, we are only going to be able to have thirteen others with us." Commander Berlin said to Lucia. "Given the forces opposing us, even that ammount may attract undo attention."
"I agree." Captain Salisbury stated. "Also, I belive that Commander Berlin and I should stay back with the rest of the men. The ammount of sirens you described, paired with the SS men, this is going to be dangerous."
Lucia thought about what the two officers had said and come to a relatively simple but dangerous idea.
"We could send one fully loaded jeep to retrive the device. It is a fairly small group, which should be able to effectivly manouver in an enviroment that requires stealth."
Commander Berlin glanced at Captain Salisbury; this was a risky plan.
"Sending four men into such a heavily defended city seems like sucide. It also dosen't allow for that much weapon diversity."
"Lucia has a point Commander. The smaller the group, the easier they can get around. I will assume however, that there will be only three of our men going." Captain Salisbury said.
"Correct. I am going and that is final." Lucia said, with a glare toward Commander Berlin. She didn't quite like the man, not after everything he had said.
"No objection here. In fact, for the first time, I agree with Lucia." Commander Berlin said, "As much as I don't like saying it, she may be the best chance we've got at making sure our men get back in the least damaged condition."
"I will do my best Commander Berlin." Lucia told him, standing straighter than she had ever before.
"Good. Do you know how to fight?"
"Yes sir. I was a member of the Ehrenfeld Group. When our leader Hans Steinbrück was on the run, he organized a 'nazi hunt'. I was one of the members of the group chosen to go with him, and shot a member of the SA right off his bike."
"Good. I don't need to teach you how to shoot. Can I trust you to keep my men safe?" Commander Berlin asked.
"You can sir. I'll get them back in one piece." Lucia said to Commander Berlin.
"I'm holding you to it. Let's go get some volunteers."
Lucia followed Commander Berlin and Captain Salisbury back to the central clearing where the GIs were gathered. Upon the arrival of their commanding officers, the men who had sat to begin eating stood up, and those who were standing already stood straighter.
"Attention!" Captain Salisbury called.
The men scrambled to get in line. They stood five abreast, backs straight, and eyes forward.
"By now I'm sure all of you have heard about Lucia here." Captain Salisbury started, gesturing to Lucia, who simply nodded her head in greeting.
"In addition, you also should of heard about how we have accepted her invitation to join her underground." Captain Salisbury continued.
"Lucia has brought to our attention that our normal radios would not work in continued operation against the sirens. Thus, we have decided to send out a three-man team with Lucia to obtain a new method of communication." Commander Berlin picked up, "Now comes the important part of the operation. Which one of you men under my command will go with Lucia?"
At first, there was silence, and then a private stepped forward.
"I'll go."
A murmur rose throughout the crowd.
"Shorty thinks he's invisible." Someone said, which elicited a few low laughs.
"Can it. Alright Buck is the first voulenteer. Whos next?" Commander Berlin asked, looking around at the assembled men.
Another silence fell over the clearing, this one lasting less time.
"I will." Private Schnider spoke up, stepping from the second row.
"That's two. Who will be our last voulunteer?" Captain Salisbury asked.
This time, there was no silence, the third volunteer stepping forward as soon as the Captain finished speaking.
"Count me in." A Byron Mitchell spoke up, "we would be like those guys in North Africa."
"The Rat Patrol? C'mon Byron, we could never equal them." Private Schnider replied, which brought forth another round of low laughs.
"Alright quiet down. We have our three volunteers, the rest of you are dismissed." Commander Berlin said to the assembled GIs before turning to the three volunteers, "You three, follow us. Captain Salisbury, you can go too."
Captain Salisbury nodded and turned to leave with the rest of the GIs. The group of GI's and Lucia then turned and headed toward the second clearing, with Lucia in the lead.
"Alright. It's time you knew where you were going." Commander Berlin said to the men upon arrival at the jeep.
Lucia took the opportunity and informed the men: "We're headed to Paderborn."