"The great masses of the people will more easily fall victims to a big lie than to a small one." Adolf Hitler.
Part IV: The Final Push
(Two weeks prior to D-Day)
"Remind me why we're here again?" asked Arthuria as she hugged herself, shivering in the cold of the Alaskan winter. The lake nearby was frozen solid, the ground was inches deep in snow, the sun barely pierced through the thick clouds of the dim-lighted morning. The Arctic wind was very strong; it sent chills through Arthuria although she was wearing three layers of thick winter clothing. She was looking at Rina nearby, sitting at a stump of a fallen tree, rifle slung behind her, her hair waving with the wind.
"We're on patrol?" suggested Rina, her nose and cheeks red from the chill of winter.
"No, the reason why we came here, to Alaska, the most god-forbidden place to assemble an invasion force," said Arthuria, shivering in the cold. Her teeth were clattering uncontrollably.
"To see the war till its end," replied Rina, looking out to the valley nearby. She saw something moving in the valley. She quickly took out her binoculars and looked the thing that was moving in the valley below. It was a bear. She sighed before keeping them in her pocket. Then she heard footsteps. She looked around and smiled.
"Hey, Rina. Did you spot anything lately?" asked Jonsey.
"Nothing, Jonsey. Just a bear," replied Rina.
"You've been out here for some time. Go back to HQ. I'll take it from here," said Jonsey. Rina walked towards him and pecked him on the cheek.
"Take care," said Rina before she started trekking back to headquarters. Arthuria walked next to her.
"I see. You're here because of him," commented Arthuria.
"You can say partly, but still I want to see the war till its end," replied Rina.
"Did he get lucky with you?" teased Arthuria. Rina gently nudged Arthuria, giggling.
"Oh I can see it in your eyes, Rina," teased Arthuria again. Rina took a handful of loose snow and threw it to Arthuria. It hit her square in the face. Arthuria was stunned.
"HEY! No one throws snow at Arthuria!" remarked Arthuria jokingly. She took a handful of snow and threw it at Rina. Rina dodged it and giggled.
"I'll get you!" exclaimed Arthuria, chasing Rina all the way to the headquarters.
After a ten minute trek through the snow-covered forest, they reached the base. The old American flag swayed with the winds, together with the new Australian and Canadian flags beside it. Helicopters with supplies landed in the base; M1 Abrams, Leopards and T-90 tanks were lined up and being de-iced by the maintenance crew. Some T-90s broke from the line up and started moving towards the exit. Some soldiers in white winter uniform marched with rifles resting on their arms. Rina and Arthuria reached the guard post and saluted to the guard on duty. The guard saluted back. Another guard inside the guard post saluted at them and asked how they were.
"Commander Rina, how's the patrol coming up?" asked the guard, with an accent hinting that he was Canadian.
"You can say we're safe for another night," replied Rina. Then her stomach growled out loud enough that the guard on duty also heard it. Rina blushed in embarrassment.
"A little hungry, eh? I tell you what, the cafeteria's open. They're serving hot soup today," said the guard.
"Thanks for telling me. C'mon Arthuria, I'm hungry," said Rina before getting through the post and heading for the main building of the base, where the cafeteria was.
They got into the cafeteria and the place was vibrant and packed. The people were lining up and taking their rations packed in white polyester packaging and cups of soup in white polyester cups. The aroma of the food further inflates their hunger, which they finally managed to take it after waiting at the long line. Rina and Arthuria then walked back to their barracks with the food.
After reaching their barracks, there were several women donned in their uniform wearing their winter coats as they prepare for outside patrol. One of the women spotted Rina and they saluted to her.
"Commander Rina," said the woman, and the others follow suit. Rina saluted back and said a few words.
"Careful out there. It's really, really cold," commented Rina before walking back to her bunk. Rina and Arthuria sat down and took a sip from their hot soup. They opened their tetra packs and ate the baked potato with tomato sauce on it. Then the base commander came into the room.
"Commander Rina," called the commander.
"Yes, Commander Phillip," said Rina, munching on her baked potato.
"You're being transferred to Winnipeg, where our coalition forces have finally taken over. From there, you will be coordinating strikes into the Nationalist mainland," explained Commander Phillip. Arthuria looked pleasing, since it was warmer there than Alaska, Eielson Airforce Base.
"Will Jonsey be there?" asked Rina. Arthuria stared at her. Commander Phillip shrugged.
"He'll be there after a few days, Rina. He has to help train our Resistance troops for our landing on the small farming community of Terrace. Better keep it out from Nationalist control," said Phillip.
"Why didn't you ask me? I could've train them," said Rina, her voice very insisting of Jonsey coming along at the same time.
"Rina, new recruits. Out of the two which I would send first is you, because you're experienced in winter, desert and tropical warfare. He's a sniper, see, and we need sharpshooters. We can't afford to lose numbers," explained Phillip. Rina pouted, hoping for sympathy from Phillip to send Jonsey with her. Arthuria faced her friend.
"Rina, trust me. He'll be all right. Like Phillip said, he would come a few days after. Isn't that right, Commander Phillip?" said Arthuria, giving Commander Phillip a death glare, making sure he wasn't planning to send Jonsey together with the new recruits on securing the farming community. Commander Phillip's face was straight, showing that he was sincere in his words before turning around and started leaving the bunk.
"The plane leaves at 1:30 pm. Don't be late," said Commander Phillip before leaving the bunk.