8th of May 1990 USA, 15:27 Seattle Washington.
Damn, I'm going to miss this. Thought Major Parker as he was on his second slice of pie.
He had been going to the same diner every day since the first shipments of supplies made their way into Seattle, specifically the sugar and flour. Once lunch started, Parker would get in his Humvee and make his way straight for the diner. Reason for this? Because he wanted to savor every moment of civilization to its fullest. And goddamn anyone that tried to stop him.
He had spent 3, maybe 4 months straight fighting in Washington against the Russians. And in that time, he had been outnumbered, outgunned, nuked, and injured. And to add on to all that, there was little to no food. Like ever heard an Army marches on its stomach? How is it soldiers fighting in their own country can't get something as simple as food? Hell, MREs would've sufficed but even that was in short supply. So newly promoted Major Parker had taken it upon himself to make up for this by using his military pay, that was very much 4 months late, and used it by going to a dinner. He would get a American cheeseburger with a side of fries and one, maybe two if he was feeling like he deserved it, slices of American pie.
Parker also knew getting the replacements troops familiar with the unit would only last so long and then when that was done, they would be given a assignment and ship out. Probably in Asia against the Chinese. And did they have pie and cheeseburgers in Asia? Nope, so he was going to enjoy that pie like it was his last one. Probably would be at the pace the war was going. Besides he was helping the local economy, those months of Russian occupation really did a number on the population, so he was just doing his duty by helping the local community. Especially with all the other diners either blown out from battle or looted.
"Don't you ever get tired of going here?" The young waitress asked light heartedly as she walked up to the table to refill his class of water. She had been attending his table since he started going there, so she was familiar with him.
"Miss, when you are deprived of American food for months, you can never get enough." He replied before he took another bite of his Apple pie.
She refilled his water while she rolled her eyes at him, "Whatever you say Major."
"Okay I'm paying, aren't I? Parker asked, finding it ridiculous that she is complaining. Especially as she is the one that receives the tips.
"Yes, but you are hogging all the pie. That stuff is in short supply you know."
"That's why I pay the full price." Parker stated proudly.
"Oh, is that so? Then pay up mister." The waitress demanded as she leaned on one leg while holding out her hand for the check.
" I don't know, with this type of service I might leave out the tip." Parker stated jokingly as he pulled out his wallet.
The waitress unimpressed with his statement put her hands on her hips, "Parker if you don't put in a tip, you can say goodbye to your pie the next time you come here."
Parker would've put in a tip after he paid just to tease her, but when he looked up at her before he gave the cash and see her reaction. He stopped when he saw she had a dead serious face.
Parker was at a crossroad, risk the pie at the expense of a joke. Or just put in the tip and let her win.
The pie won with no competition.
"You're no fun." Parker said, defeated as he put in the tip.
"Someone has to put some manners into you." She said, with a grin on her face as she received the check and the tip.
Her and her smug face. Parker thought bitterly but was quickly forgotten as he heard a squeal of a vehicle's tires coming to a stop outside the dinner. He turned to see what it was, it was a Humvee. And he saw two familiar soldiers jump out and go straight for the diner entrance with purpose. It was corporal Ants and Mike. They entered and scanned the dinner for who they were looking for, their eyes landed on Parker and made their way over. Oh, that's a bad sign. Usually when someone is sent to you it's usually important.
The duo came to a stop at the table while the waitress was still present, probably wanting to hear what the deal was.
"Good afternoon, sir." They both greeted respectfully.
"Afternoon gentlemen, what can I do for you?" He responded, still seated, hoping it didn't require him leaving.
"Colonel Sawyer wants you back at HQ, its urgent." Ants responded with a hint of a Hispanic accent.
Shit that definitely doesn't sound good, "Do you know why?"
"No we don't sir, but the Colonel was preparing to leave along with Webb and his Battalion."
... That was probably my last piece of pie, Parker thought depressingly as he looked at the pie on the table. If Sawyer is getting ready to leave with Webb, it means he got his assignment. And that meant he was leaving.
"Understood, I'll make my way there." Parker said, barely getting it out, hoping he would still be able to finish his last pie.
Mike clearly missing the fact that Parker was trying to finish his final real meal in life, "We been ordered to escort you there."
"By Sawyer?" Please not Sawyer, please. If it wasn't Sawyer, it meant he could order them away and he could eat his pie.
"Yes sir."
... Goddamn you Sawyer.
He sighed, "Very well let's get going." He took one last bite of his pie and got up to leave but before he made his way for the exit, he turned to address the waitress.
"Looks like I won't be hogging the pie anymore miss." He said jokingly.
The Waitress changed from curious to somber, "I guess you will..." She then did something unexpected; she gave him a hug.
Parker quite clearly taken by surprise by this action could only return a awkward hug before she let go.
"Hold on a second!" she said before she quickly ran towards the kitchen.
"Girlfriend sir?" Mike asked.
"Nope, I'm pretty sure she has a boyfriend." He responded, curious on what she was doing.
It took a few second before she came back with a bakery box in hand, "Now I'm only giving you this if you promise you come back someday okay."
She gave him the box and he opened it. It was whole apple pie he noted gleefully.
"I can't accept this without pay-" He tried before he was cut off by the waitress.
"It's my treat. And only if you come back alive Major." She said, giving him a smile.
He was about to argue but decided not to after noticing she wasn't going to have any of it, "Well thank you miss, I don't know what to say."
"Start off by getting your butt moving, you have a war to win. And besides you aren't the only one that comes here, I have customers to get too." She said, motioning to the few other occupants of the dinner.
"Can't argue with that, goodbye miss." He said, then turned around to leave.
"Don't die, I need the tips." She said jokingly right before he left the dinner.
The group then made way for the vehicles, "Women." Parker thought out loud, pie in hand.
"Tell me about it sir, I never understood them." Mike hearing Parker, remarked.
"Yeah, it's probably why you're divorced." Ants deciding to add a remark of his own, this time to Mike.
"Okay that was unnecessary."
"Well don't be talking to the Major about stuff like that."
"It was just a comment."
"A comment to the Major."
Parker opened the door to his Humvee and got inside.
"Parker is a chill Officer he doesn't care."
"He's still a officer."
"Well-"
Parker slammed his door shut and started the engine. Blocking the sound of the arguing.
I swear only the Guardsman, he thought while gently putting the pie in the passenger seat.
The other two got into their Humvee and started pulling out into the road, and he followed suit.
Well, hopefully the next assignment is simple.
Sawyers temporary Headquarters.
He had drove into the makeshift military camp with Ants and mike in the other Humvee leading the way, which to be perfectly honest was unnecessary. But it was probably a ploy by Sawyer to get him there quicker he guessed. The camp itself was filled with activity as he passed soldiers dismantling tents, loading trucks, platoons of men marching to their destinations, and finishing up final checks on their vehicles. Guess they were really leaving, he noted.
They finally pulled up the Colonels command tent, which was no different from the rest of the camp with men coming and going preparing to leave. Parker himself getting out of the Humvee and walking to the tent to get the Colonels briefing.
He stepped inside, making sure to take his military cap off, and scanned the tent of military personal packing up equipment and files for the Colonel. He spotted Webb talking to one of his own subordinates and made his way to him.
He managed to hear some of their conversation as he stepped up the pair, waiting for Webb to finish his commands, "I want you to gather all the supplies you can get for the battalion, where we're going, we won't have much, so I want to be as stocked as possible."
The subordinate nodding his head in acknowledgement responded, "Yes sir, is that all?"
Webb having nothing else for him sent him off and turned to parker, "Parker nice to see you, and you finally heard about the new deployment."
Parker was about to defend himself for not knowing but Webb beat him to it, "Don't worry Parker we just received the orders a few hours ago. The Colonel hasn't told us what it is, only where we are going which is back to the mountains. But he will tell us what exactly we're doing once we start moving."
The mountains? Why the hell would we go back there? Parker wondered.
"Thanks Webb, for the info. But do you know where the Colonel is? Parker asked.
"Last I saw him; he was in his tent packing. He probably still is."
Thanks man. And how's the sniper wound? Feeling better?"
Webb rolled his eyes, "It's better than a week ago that's for sure, but it still hurts like hell. But I should be thankful they let me back into the field." He then put on a smile "Actually, I should probably be thankful to Sawyer. He's probably the one that threaten them to let me go."
Parker and Webb laughed at that, knowing it was probably true, "You'll never know i suppose. See ya man."
"See ya Parker."
Parker then left the command tent with him putting his hat back on and made his way through the camp, the camp being in a park having mud from all the heavy vehicles and rain of Seattle getting on his boots. It didn't bother him one bit after a year of combat, you tended to ignore the mud after a certain amount of time.
He then was in front the Colonels tent, the tent itself open for parker to see the Colonel himself in.
"Colonel Sawyer." He said, announcing himself.
The Colonel having been packing some spare socks into his back heard Parker, stood up and faced him, "Major Parker, nice for you to join us."
Parker knew a defense to that statement would not be wise, so he just got to the point, "I heard we got our assignment Colonel."
The Colonel having always like Parker since France let his tardiness slide and also got to the point, "Indeed we did, we are to pack up the whole unit and move Northeast into the Mountains."
Parker having learned nothing new, "What's the assignment Sir?
"That's for me to know and for you to find out Major." Sawyer responded, eyeing stack of files on his bed, "Don't worry Parker you'll know on the way there."
Parker still confused on why the mountains but just went with it, "Allright sir, I'll get to my Battalion then."
Parker was halfway turned around to leave before the Colonel stopped him, "Parker!"
Parker turned back around and faced the Colonel.
"Have you hunted before?" Sawyer asked.
"No sir. At least not animals."
"Well, you might want to be prepared to do so."
Before Parker could ask why the Colonel stopped him once again, "Get to your battalion Parker, I want us moving by sundown."
"Yes sir." Parker responded and made his way to his battalion.
I guess this won't be a simple assignment he mused.
10th of May 1990, USSR 18:32 Khabarovsk Far Eastern Military District.
"I'm Captain Romanov and I'm here to visit Colonel Orlovsky." Romanov said to the lady at the front desk of the Army hospital.
The receptionist looked up to from what she was doing, "uh yes sir, what did you said his name was?"
"Colonel Orlovsky." He stated again.
"Give me a moment while I look to see where he is. You can wait over there." She said, pointing to a row of waiting seats.
"Of course." He responded. Then made his way over to take a seat.
The lady then walked to a back room, presumably to find where Orlovsky room was.
Romanov sat down and patiently waited for the lady to return.
I wonder how the Colonel is doing, he wondered. He wasn't there when Malashenko shot him in the head in his fit of rage but apparently, he only lost his eye and received no brain damage shockingly. But he didn't regain consciousness until a few days ago so he figured he give him a visit seeing how no one else would or could. Friends like Major Lebedjev got arrested for abandoning America and bringing a entire brigade with him, including himself which he was privately thankful for, and his wife was in Western Russia. And he very much doubted Malashenko would visit if he was even alive or not arrested for shooting a superior for questionable reasoning. So, he was really the only person that could.
He also was glad to get away from training his new Chinese allies. They were committed, he give them that, but God were they stupid sometimes. Like who the hell thinks bayonet charging a MG nest is a good idea? You either suppress it with gunfire and toss a grenade or call in a strike not fucking commit suicide.
He was brought out of his thoughts when he heard a few pairs of few footsteps coming from one of the halls. And when the people the footsteps belonged to entered the lobby, he could tell who they were. it appeared to be a few KGB officials and Army officers.
Romanov immediately stood to attention once he noticed the higher rank on the officer's shoulders. They began to make their way to the exit, but one of them noticed him and observed him for a few seconds as they walked by. He stopped right before the exit making the other stop also, and he walked over to where he was.
The person to which he could tell was a Major General in rank stood in front of him for second, "Are you perhaps Captain Romanov?" The General asked.
"Yes sir." He responded, still at attention.
"At ease Captain." The General said.
Romanov relaxed and waited for more questions
"Are you here to see Colonel Orlovsky by chance?" The General asked again.
"Yes sir, I heard he woke up a few days ago so I figured I give him a visit." He told the General
The General nodded his head in approval, "Indeed he is awake, and well it seems. We just finished talking to him."
Romanov didn't like where this was going.
The General noticing the Captain tense up, "Don't worry he's in no trouble, he wasn't even conscious when he left America so no blame can be put on him." General continued, "And you were just following orders so neither can you. We were just here to propose a new assignment to him. He accepted it."
Delivering a assignment in person and having a choice to accept it? Thats odd, Romanov thought.
"Hopefully you will accept it also. The colonel could continue to need your experience." The General informed.
"Wait I'm also getting this assignment?" Romanov asked, wondering how he was involved.
"Maybe." The General said not elaborating. And before Romanov could ask further about it the General was already leaving.
"Don't worry about it Captain if the Colonel likes you enough, you'll know what's it about." The General said leaving the building.
What the hell is that supposed to mean? He wondered.
"I found his room, its 213." The receptionist said, coming back from the back room.
Romanov turned around and faced the lady, "Thank you miss." And he made his way for room 213.
Outside Room 213.
Romanov found the room and knocked on the door and waited a moment.
"Come in." He heard from the inside, clearly the Colonels voice.
He opened the door and walked in, only to find the Colonel facing away from him and finishing up dressing himself in military attire.
"Colonel?" He asked confused, he was expecting to find him in bed resting. Not looking like was ready to go back to duty.
The Colonel turned around and looked to where the familiar voice came from, "Romanov?" He smiled, "Oh Romanov it's good to see you." He walked up to Romanov and put out his hand for a handshake. The eye batch over his left eye visible.
Romanov shook his hand and determined the Colonel did not lose his strength while on bed leave, "It's good to see you too Colonel"
They broke the handshake and the Colonel observed Romanov for a moment.
"A Captain now I see, congrats." Orlovsky remarked.
"Thank you, Colonel. You look good considering past events." Romanov replied.
The Colonel amused by his comment laughed a bit but dropped his smile, "I'm sure I do Romanov, I'm sure I do." He turned around to retrieve a couple of files on a table near the head of the medical bed,
Romanov curious about what the General told him and why the Colonel looked to be ready to leave, "I expected you to be in bed, resting. Not leaving."
The Colonel, having retrieved the files walked back to Romanov, "I've been offered a assignment, and I accepted it." He motioned to the files in his hand, "I was actually about to go and find you captain and ask if you wanted to assist me with this assignment."
"I have a choice?" Romanov asked.
The colonel smiled once again, "This assignment allows me to pick who i want for it. And I wanted you to assist me."
"What's the assignment?"
"That would be a secret captain. The only way for you to know is if you accept." The Colonel said, while lightly hitting him on the chest with the files for asking such a question.
A secret assignment with such autonomy? Highly unusual, thought Romanov. He was debating over if he should accept or not. On one hand it was the Colonel and the first thing he thought of doing was asking if he wanted to join him, it means he trusted him enough to get the task done. But on the other it probably means no actual front-line combat, which is what he actually wanted.
He was interrupted from his thoughts by the Colonel, "If what you worried about is not seeing enough combat, that won't be a issue I've been informed."
Not a issue? Good enough for him, "I accept Colonel."
"Perfect!" The Colonel responded, "Prepare to move what remains of the Brigade from America West Captain." He handed one file to Romanov, "And congrats Romanov, you been promoted to Major."
"Wait what? But-" Was all Romanov got out before the Colonel stopped him.
"Romanov I been granted authority on promoting who I see fit and what units to assist us in our task. So, let's get going." The Colonel said, as he made his way out of the room. And with Romanov quickly following after him.
"So, Colonel now that I accepted what's our task?" Romanov asked as he caught up to the Colonel.
The Colonel looked to the Captain, "To prepare a force for a expedition and lead it into a unknown land."
"...Pardon me sir, what?"
"It's in the file Romanov, better start reading now. You'll need to catch up." The Colonel responded, as they walked out of the hospital doors.
He opened the file an on the first page, it showed picture of a Archway. And labeled under it said, a portal to a other world. Is this a joke? He thought, as they made their way to his UAZ he took the hospital in.
"Is this real Colonel?" Romanov asked as he made his way to the driver side, still observing the file.
"It very much is Romanov." He replied, getting in the passenger seat.
Romanov got into the driver seat, setting the files on the dash and asked, "Sir is it wise to be out of the hospital so soon?"
"I am perfectly fine, and this assignment is urgent so let's get to the brigade. We need the brigade there as soon as possible."
"And where is that sir?"
"The Urals, Romanov. Now get going."
Romanov started the vehicle and made their way for the brigade. The only thing going through his mind was, better not be a other doomed venture.