On the outskirts of Poznan: (April 1633)

"Attack! Drive the Swedes from our homeland!" said the Great Stanislaw Koniecpolski riding his steed as he curses the German army of the Confederacy

(I cannot rely on my tactics. That damned Wallenstein have convince the Cossacks to defect to their side)

At the same time the Confederated Principality of Europe strikes at its neighbors to the east, another strike force invades east to conquer the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The speed and destructive might of the three armies shocked the Polish magnates.

Tasked with taking the richest provinces of the commonwealth, the first army, led by Gustav Horn invades from the north. Led by Johan Baner, the second army attacks from the south to rally Ukrainian, and Cossack forces in the name of the CPOE/Swedish and Bohemian nations. The smallest army is led by, William V of Hesse-Kassel. He is task with invading straight through the heart of Polish territory, capture Poznan, and ultimately crush the Polish Army, led by its greatest general, Stanislaw Koniecpolski.

The battle started with a mortar barrage from William's army. The mortars simply cannons improved to fire in an arch.

"What the… cannons dropping from the sky!" Yelled a Polish soldier

The cannonballs destroyed all of Stanislaw's cannons, but artillery is not the specialty of the commonwealth's men! He ordered his Hussars, which compromised most of his twenty-five thousand men, to charge directly into the Hessians.

(Those Americans have persuaded their soldiers to drop pikes altogether. Argh, have no choice but to fight to the end!) Stanislaw said in his mind

Lukasz Opalinski leads the charge, within 800 yards a couple dozen Hessians started to fire at the charging horsemen.

Several of his men died instantly, but more of the horses died even more. The staggering casualties have slowed down the charge tremendously.

(So many have died, but we must push through!) "Don't relent!" Lukasz said as the hussars spread out

The attack continues. "It seems the pig-headed Poles are not stopping," said by Rick Mason. "I didn't want to do this. (To the officers) Fire another volley!" said by William

Another volley is fired, this time twice as many gunners. More of the Poles died, and even more of the horses died. The infantry are deserting; the barrage of mortar fire is too much for them. Stanislaw is pinning everything in his hussars. He is pushing them to their limits, but the victory is worth any cost!

"There are only four thousand!" ranted Stanislaw

The hussars might be the pride and elite of Poland, but they are human. Lukasz could see it in their eyes. Their morale is fading. "NEVER GIVE UP, for Poland, for our people!" Lukasz said as he whips the hussars into a furious war chant.

"Fire!" said William. Riflemen step out of their camouflage, and form an arch around the Poles. The sound is deafening and the sight is horrific. The dead bodies caused the hussars to slow down, causing them to be packed like sardines. The murderous volley of the Lee-Enfield rifles pierce, penetrate and mutilate the Poles.

"Uncle!" said by Jozef Wojtowicz, disgusted by the massacre

After two minutes of non-stop slaughter, the Hessians stop firing. Over 17 000 of the Poles are dead or severely wounded, most of them beyond saving. The rest raise their hands and surrender, shaken by the bloody sight.

"No…" Stanislaw said.

"Uncle, look!" his nephew said as Poznan raises the white flag.

"We must retreat my nephew."

(Sound of a loudspeaker) "Hold it Mr. Koniecpolski, I am Rick Mason and I dearly asked that you would surrender yourself to us immediately."

Stanislaw is conflicted by his thoughts. On one hand, he wants to end the bloodshed. No more will he lead men to die like pigs. However, his pride tells him to resist the idea

"If you do not surrender, we will start killing off your men!" said by Rick Mason much to the aghast of everybody else.

"No!" said by Jozef

"Damn you to hell!" screamed Stanislaw

(Rick smiles deviously) "My men will not commit any atrocities!" (William) "Why do you think I brought my men?" he said as his troops show up

Rick's so called group of elite guards, loyal to himself, are named the Praetorian Guard. Armed with up time improvise armor and devastating modern weapons, they seek to eliminate anyone fighting against their master.

Meanwhile in Warsaw, capitol of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth…

With the Royal Castle, King Wladyslaw IV Vasa is enjoying his sleep. For the duration of the day, he received nothing but bad news. Between Gustav's armies invading the commonwealth and reports of Russia receiving up-time technology, the monarch has spent all of his energy calming down the Sejm.

Suddenly, he hears his guards dropping to the ground. Afraid for his life, the king hides under the bed.

(What is going on?) Wladyslaw thought

Several men entered his room, speaking English in a strange accent; they grab him from underneath the bed.

"Looks like we've found the Polack King!" said by Harry Lefferts

"You… Americans…" Wladyslaw is interrupted, gaged, and tied up by the commandos.

"Now what?" said by Larry Wild as he checks what's outside through the window.

"We get this bastard out of Warsaw, without making a mess."

"Good thing we have our sophisticated blowpipes and bows, we've silence or incapacitated all the guards without making a sound!" said enthusiastically by John Range

Back to Poznan:

Stanislaw cursed himself for what he is about to do. "Don't do it! I SURRENDER!" He is accompanied by Jozef, his nephew.

Rick raises his hand, signaling his soldiers to stop aiming their hunting rifles, one flamethrower, and a Vickers machine gun at the prisoners. "You choose wisely Pole."

A few hours later… (Back with the commandos)

The city of Vilnius is located on the Lithuanian half of the commonwealth. Back in the world they came from, it is the capital of modern Lithuania.

"Why are we staying here?" Harry asked his second-in command, John Range

John said, "We need to lay low and let the army sort this mess out." He said while looking through the window.

"And why do we need to lay low in this particular city, while the army is just a day's walk away?"

"We have sympathizers willing to hide us 'till the war is over." John opens the door, allowing several nobles to enter the house

"Hey, you're…"

"I am Janusz Radziwill, a Lithuanian noble, and the one whom worked with Sweden in your timeline." He said as he shakes hands with Harry Lefferts

"Let me guess, we've shown you your historical notoriety and now you want to side with us?"

"Of course! If you can offer a Cossack instigator with protection and enough arms to overthrow the Poles out of Ukraine, then you truly have no problem giving a future King of Lithuania like me not only help but promise me the right to rule Lithuania under Emperor Gustav's United States of Europe!"

A few hours later through a radio communication:

"You should NOT have taken those actions! Giving that order is nothing more than fucking war crime!" (Shouted by Mike Stearns over the radio)

"Convincing an enemy to defect in exchange for giving him a place in our empire, I don't think that's a war crime?" Rick said calmly

"THAT MAYBE FUCKING SO, BUT YOU DO NOT TREAT PEOPLE LIKE FUCKING SHIT! THAT'S WHAT THE PIECE OF SHIT NOBLES ARE DOING RIGHT NOW AND YOU'RE FOLLOWING THEIR STEPS!?"

"You think that superior firepower and conventional warfare just cut it do you? Well… NEWSFLASH the Ottomans and Ruskies (slang for Russians) are trying to do the same! You don't want the United States of Europe to be like America or Prussia then we have to MAKE THEM STOP and only by showing ruthlessness could we do that!"

Mike pauses for a moment, "You are right, but are you doing this for your country or for yourself?"

Rick pauses for a bit then answered: "While I do things for myself, it will benefit our country in the end."

End of chapter