Plura Ater Nox
Chapter 32
General Dwight Marshall left the small-scale campaign in the capable hands of Captain Russell Stonewall and Captain JC Andreas, with Lieutenant Marcus Faulkner as second in command and the one who made the calls. The general trusted his friend and fellow veteran from the first war more than he trusted the new generation officers.
He had left instructions with Chelsea for her to take over as a temporary messenger between the base and the headquarters on Downing Street and White Hall Street. The messenger who normally held this post was being sent to the front as part of the small army that was issued to the allied captains. That messenger was the best they had and it was time to send him it.
This decision came after General Marshall had finished a conference call with Prime Minister Churchill, who explain that D-Day was upon them and the allied forces would be launching a full-scale attack on the coast of France. The Prime Minister also said that any small-scale attacks were left to the discretion of the officers, who saw it fit to attack weaknesses in the German defence line.
Once being told such, General Marshall relayed the plans of his captains over to Prime Minister Churchill, whom he greatly respected and saw as a man who would put an end to the German menace. He explained what exactly was going to be done and what they had discovered. He left out the small details such as the fact that the men heading the campaign all had a past together in ancient China and had decided to use weapons only until they were facing the Germans alone and then would rain fire and brimstone on those Nazis…literally.
Following the conference call, the general packed up and went out of his office and turned to his secretary. "Miss Llewellyn, I need your help. With the others gone, you're the only one I can trust. I need you to accompany me to London."
"Sir!" Chelsea replied, saluting his smartly. She then lowered her hand. "But I thought you wanted me to be the messenger?"
"I do, but I need you to do your correspondence from headquarters on Downing Street. There is going to be a large influx of calls in from the front and they will require more secretaries who they don't want to train." General Marshall explained.
"When does the boat leave sir?"
"In forty-five minutes. Don't worry about bringing anything. There are supplies over in London." The general replied, as he locked the door to his office. He had everything he needed in his briefcase that he had left by Chelsea's desk.
"Yes sir. Do I need anything from my desk?" Chelsea asked, as she unconsciously twirled the simple yet elegant engagement ring that Brennan had given her. She bit her lip. She wanted to ask more, but she didn't want to impose. It was enough of an honour to be allowed to go to the military headquarters in London.
The general shook his head.
Smiling up at him, Chelsea hid her feelings of anxiety. She had heard of the routine German bombardment of London and feared for her life if she ever had to go. Never had she in her wildest dreams thought she would go to London in the heat of the war.
~~~~
Meanwhile, while General Marshall and Chelsea prepared to embark on a call to London, the group that would be leading a small-scale invasion on the coast of France was preparing to leave the dock at the allied base in southern England. They planned on landing in the dark of the night, utilising the blackness of the night and the lack of light to their advantage in order to get a decent foothold on the coast before their GI machine guns rained Nazi hell upon the force.
"Attention!" Captain Stonewall stood at the head of the group; his eyes narrow, as his gaze shifted over the rank and file under his command. "Men, take a knee."
Complying, the small force stopped what it was doing and turned to face the English Captain, their attention fully directed to him. Many of them had been with him from the start of the war. They had been with him when they had been in Dunkirk. He had been their confidence, hope and courage when it looked like the Germans would do them in.
Mixed with them was the group of men that had been under the command of Captain JC Andreas. The two captains had merged their groups together into one larger force. They shared the role of leader equally.
To the side, there was a small group of local men who had taken up arms after the Nazis had shown their true colours. These men had once formed a chunk of the IRA, a rebel force that hated England and pledged allegiance to the Nazi-Germans. They wore guerrilla combat uniforms, setting them apart from the military. They too however, did put their names up in the name of peace and victory when two of their fellow rebels had told them of a chance to return a favour to the Germans who betrayed them.
While they listened wholeheartedly to the speech given by the captain, they didn't follow his order; they placed their loyalties with Séamus Kennedy and Brennan Mackenzie, who they trusted to lead them. These men were very young and to them, Séamus and Brennan spoke volumes of years of experience. They entrusted their lives to these two men.
Clearing his throat, Captain Stonewall began, "Men, we've been through a lot. We lost men at the battle for Dunkirk. Many of them nobly gave their lives so that their families could live in peace for another day. Those who didn't die are those who are before me now. It is now your turn to pick up the torch and light the flame.
"I won't lie to you. I can't say how many of you will live and how many of you will graciously sacrifice your lives for the good of your country, but there is going to be a cost if we are going to rid Europe of the evil that has it in its iron grip. By heaven or hell, we will expel those Nazi and bring those who committed atrocities to justice!"
Captain Stonewall removed his hat and ran his fingers through his hair and turned away from his men for a minute before he turned back to continue his pre-victory speech. His sighed; his thoughts straying briefly over to Angelique, a kind-hearted woman who's life had been prematurely taken from her.
A melancholic sigh caressed his lips as he turned back. He knew it was the fault of the Nazis that she had been killed. Her life would have been spared otherwise.
Inflamed with passion, he continued, "I cannot promise you that this will be an easy fight. We have learned that the Nazis are bloody nasty bastards who don't go down easily. There will be a lot of blood and toil, but I do promise you victory. Even if you die before we achieve it, you will have done your part to make this world a better place.
"And hold to your heart these words. Prime Minister Churchill once said, without victory, there is no survival. And you know what, he was right.
"We have survived this far. Victory will be ours!"
Cheers erupted from the small group gathered as a rippling chorus of "long live the king!" and "god bless America!" sounded from the gathered rank and file.
Captain Andreas watched silently. He waited until Stonewall stepped aside. Taking the chance, he paced in front of the group. He pivoted to face the group. He was going to address his platoon directly, when Séamus stepped forward and announced, "The IRA volunteers are leaving ahead of the group. We will look like locals. We can scout the area and transmit information back. The Germans won't count on us doing this."
"You fool! You're leaving without back-up! It'll be your death!" Captain Andreas slapped the boy across the face. "Where the bloody hell is your head? That is against the plan. No one faces the damned Germans without a fucking Panzer division to plough through the Siegfried Line!"
"We aren't under your bloody command, you foolish Yankee." Séamus retorted angrily, his eyes flaring. "My men will never follow you, even out of morbid curiosity! You let a damned Nazi infiltrate our ranks all because you're foolishly blinded by an ancient love for some woman that you never had the guts to tell and is now playing you for a patsy!"
The icy sapphire blue eyes of Captain JC Andreas filled with rage. The azure kanji of kokoro flashed, as his aura became pronounced. "How dare you, boy! I'm your superior and you will show me respect."
"No, we never will." Séamus replied scathing, his words biting. He pivoted. "C'mon men, we'll launch our own campaign. We'll teach those Nazis that betraying the IRA is a costly error!"
"You gave your word and you're backing out, what kind of man are you, Kennedy?"
"I'm a man of honour; a man who will not lead his men to a meaningless death."
"Why shouldn't I be surprised? Your brother turned his back on honour and dignity. The fact that you followed is only a confirmation of weakness in your family blood's line."
"Then count me into, you self-righteous asshole." Brennan declared. "I'm with Kennedy and Dallas. They are men of honour. I sooner trust my life in their hands than I ever would in yours. At least they have common sense."
"Are you sure?" Captain Stonewall asked softly.
"Sure as they are. I trust Kennedy's common sense. He's saved my ass plenty of times, and he'll pull through. He's loyal to those who return it." Brennan replied curtly, before he turned.
Jeremiah and Séamus pivoted as well and follow Brennan out of the area, their men in stride behind them.
She stood on the side lines. She had been watching the whole exchange and not liking it one bit. A frown caressed Aimée's features. That was supposed to happen! She growled mentally. This certainly put a dent in the events that were supposed to follow.
Captain Andreas turned to Captain Stonewall. "We have to make a change of plans stat! The IRA defected and proved to be a weak-kneed militia that only looks out for it-self."
"Andreas, D-Day is upon us, we can't make any changes now! We have to keep to the plan. They were only a small of it." Captain Stonewall explained.
"I don't take kindly to any forms of insubordination." Captain Andreas retorted angrily. "I want a plan that will be suitable to our needs."
"This one is."
"No it isn't!"
"We are here; it's too late to change it now."
"It's not too late. We are going to make the changes now."
"Fine, let it be that. Then you make the changes to your plans without us." Captain Stonewall replied icily. He turned and faced his men. "Attention! Follow me; we're leaving this dishonourable riff-raff behind. We will not follow anyone who will not honour his word!"
"Sir!" There was a rippling chorus through the British ranks as they stood up and grabbed their Tommy guns.
Aimée bristled in anger. This was falling apart! This wasn't supposed to be happening! They were supposed to be working together, not fighting each other. How could she make her plan work now if these incompetents couldn't work together? She needed to think of something and fast!
Her eyes strayed over to Julien César. She smirked to herself. At least she would accomplish part of her plan. It wouldn't have the same fulfilment, but it would suit her needs…
With an air of self-satisfaction, Captain Russell Stonewall broke the last of the alliance and led his men on a search for a man they could trust into.
A young man, a private trotted up to the captain's side. "Sir! Permission to speak?"
"Permission granted."
"Could we join General Eisenhower, General Montgomery or General Patton?" the private asked. "It's just a suggestion, sir."
"Noted, private. Private, you're dismissed."
"Thank you for your consideration, sir."
"Men! I need one who is quick to take haste and find me General Patton, General Eisenhower or General Montgomery." Captain Stonewall turned sharply and held up his hands. "If anyone is, step forward!"
"I am, sir!" the same private replied eagerly, taking a step forward.
Reaching into his jacket, he too out a writing tool and a piece of paper. Scribbling the note, Stonewall held it out to the private. "God speed, son."
"Yes sir!"
"Son, what's your name?"
"Private Henry Howorth."
Captain Stonewall saluted the boy. "You're dismissed, private."
"Sir!" Private Howorth saluted his superior and dropped his weapons to the ground and ran with speed in the direction of where the American barracks were. He vanished against the horizon quickly.
Spotting a member of the United States Armed Forces by the Thunderbird patch on the sleeve, Howorth ran over to him. "Private Howorth of the Royal Armed Forces, serving under General Dwight Marshall! I have a message for General George Patton from my captain, Russell Stonewall."
Acknowledging his ally, the other private led his English counterpart over to where his superior was.
"Sir! I have a man from the ranks of General Dwight Marshall, with a message from Captain Russell Stonewall." The private explained, after he got permission to speak. "He wishes to speak to General Patton."
The officer turned to Private Howorth. "Go with haste, the general is about to address the 3rd army. Get to him before he starts."
Saluting the officer, Howorth ran for all he was worth. He kept the directions in his head and in a matter of two minutes, found the man in question.
Smartly saluting the American General, Private Howorth held out the paper he had been given. "General Patton, sir! I bring you a message from Captain Russell Stonewall, officer in the ranks serving General Dwight Marshall."
Taking it, General George Patton scanned the note and handed it back to the boy. "Tell your captain I welcome the company and its commitment to driving that son of a bitch back to hell."
"Sir! It'll be an honour to serve you!" Private Howorth replied, saluting the general again before he turned and ran back to where he had left his group awaiting the reply.
Gazing around, Stonewall waited patiently for his runner to return with the message. He began to wonder if the youth was having any trouble. He had to remind himself that he had sent the boy off to track down three high ranking officers, so finding them was a bit of a hit and miss task.
His eyes lit up when he saw his private return.
"Sir!" The private ran up to his captain. "General Patton will let us work with him."
"Good work, Private Howorth." Captain Stonewall replied, saluting the young man.
"Thank you, sir!"
"Men, we are going to join the barracks of the 3rd Army. Our small-scale force has fallen apart. We will not lay any Nazi bastards to waste if we go into by ourselves. This is why we have allies." Captain Stonewall, as he led the march over to where the 3rd Army, 6th Division was.
"…no bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. You won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country..."
The men under the command of Captain Russell Stonewall took a knee at the back of the rank and file, their sites fixated toward the front where General Patton could be seen preaching to his men, boosting their morale. They didn't turn to their captain; they remained intent on listening to the words of this veteran fighter.
Sighing softly, Captain Stonewall turned his gaze to the sky as he listened to the words of the general. His thoughts trailing from the reality of war to the earlier life and Nuriko… They bounced back to the presence and Angelique.
He shut his eyes, his heart heavy. How he wished he could have had a chance with Angelique. If Nuriko had really been a woman, he would have married her instead of Houki, who had a stunningly identical appearance to Nuriko. That chance had been blown, and when he had been presented with a second chance that had seemed like a pleasing, it had been stolen away from him in a shot of bitter alcohol and quick dissolving pills.
~~~~
True to their word, the IRA volunteers had left ahead of the other allied forces. They were on a lone merchant ship sailing across the English Channel. Séamus was leading them, with Jeremiah and Brennan serving him as his advisors. They would lead the group into Calais and destroy the German forces holding base there.
Leaning on the rail of the merchant ship, Séamus smoked a cigarette, inhaling slowly, as he watched the ship come closer to land. He could see the far off French coast. They would be there soon, so long as the German U-boats didn't blow them out of the water.
Next to him stood Jeremiah, who just stared out at the water, not saying anything for a long moment before he drew a deep breath. "It took a lot of courage to stand up to Andreas."
"You did it before, didn't you?"
"True, I did." Jeremiah nodded and sighed. "I wonder if Stonewall is still working on the same team as Andreas?" he mused.
"I heard before we left that he defected." Brennan explained, as he wandered up to the twins.
"It might have been a good idea to join him, he seemed decent." Jeremiah remarked.
Séamus shrugged and flicked the butt of his cigarette into the water. "But it's too late for that now." He turned and headed back to the cabin.
TBC…
Author's Notes: it looks like it's going to take a while for this to end, eh? I guess none of you expected me to do this? Actually, neither did I. That's the beauty of this. Most of this comes as I type, it is hardly pre-planned. The idea to use a historical figure in this wasn't mine, it came from my Neesan, who suggested that I used General Patton. I agreed… I guess it added a little flavour. Also, Downing and White Hall are streets in London where the Cabinet War Rooms are located. It's where all the parliamentary meetings during WWII were held.