February 20th, 1964
Winry took off her protective goggles and pulled the bandana off her head. There, another piece of auto-mail finished and ready to go back on the person to whom it belonged! She glanced at the clock, and decided it was definitely time for a break. She could come back and do the next piece later. After dinner maybe. It wasn't like she had anything else she needed to do this evening.
She stood to go wash up, and was surprised to find someone standing in the doorway when she turned around. "May I help you, Sergeant?"
The man nodded, looking slightly bemused. "General Breda requests your presence in his conference room, Mrs. Elric."
"My presence, may I ask what for?" What would Breda want with her that he sent an official request?
"You may, but I do not know the answer, ma'am," the man shrugged apologetically. "Please hurry. He is expecting you."
How truly bizarre. Winry spent the occasional evening with Breda, Feury, Falman, Franz, or whoever she knew who was around and not on duty. Despite the sheer number of people involved in fighting a war, it could still get lonely, and the hours were often odd. She was grateful that Ethan worked mostly day shifts. It meant they both worked the same hours and she got to see at least one of her children regularly.
Winry cleaned up quickly, bundled up warm, and headed out of the hospital and down the few blocks to the building that housed the war offices. There were plenty of lights coming from the windows she knew to be the war room and other areas confiscated for military use. So whatever was going on, it was going to be another busy night for the command staff.
Breda was not the only person waiting for her in his conference room when she arrived. His entire command staff was present, as well as several other people she did not know of varying ranks. Breda smiled when she entered. "Oh good, you're here. Now we can get started."
"You were waiting on me for a meeting?" Winry stepped up to the table, where a general pulled back a chair and offered her a seat. Still curious, she took it with a gracious nod.
"We could use your perspective," Breda commented, a little vaguely in her opinion. "The short answer is, however; we're sending a team on a mission into Fort Briggs."
Winry looked at the table in front of her. Spread out were maps of the area up to Briggs, and then diagrams of the interior of Briggs itself. "And what, exactly, is the mission supposed to accomplish?" If Breda thought they could get a team there, and inside, alive, than it had to be worth listening to.
"Finding the living refugees, getting them out, and causing as much wanton destruction as possible," Falman commented. "We know, through reliable sources, that there are a couple of ways in and out of Briggs other than the primary gates, despite the fact that you won't find them on any blueprints."
"So how do you expect to find them?" Winry had been in Briggs. It was a long time ago now, but she remembered those walls. They were rather hard to forget.
"One of the escaped engineers," Breda replied. "He brought us a good bit of our initial intelligence, and snuck out through one of these passages. He thinks that, if the timing is done carefully, he could lead another team in and out again. There just wasn't time to make an organized effort, and almost everyone likely to have had the time to escape would be civilian workers without weapons, or lower ranking soldiers working in those sectors." He pulled over the maps of Briggs' interior, pointing to the areas he meant as he went. "We can be fairly certain most of those people are alive. If they had been killed, the Drachmans would be bragging about it."
"I understand the rescue element of the mission," Winry nodded when the explanation stopped. "What I don't fully understand yet is what you want to accomplish as far as destruction, and what this has to do with me."
"Well, to answer you in reverse," Breda smiled, "We need a creative mechanical genius, and you were the first person we thought of."
Was she blushing? Probably. "Well, I appreciate the compliment," Winry replied. "What's the rest of your answer?"
"The best way to cause trouble for the Drachmans at Briggs is to take on Briggs itself," Falman took up the explanation again. "If the heaters don't work, the water systems, the wiring, than Briggs becomes a cave instead of a haven. To survive up there the Fort has to run properly."
Aldon had told her much the same thing years back. Winry nodded. "So you want me to come up with some inventive ways of doing that as quickly as possible and without detection if at all possible."
"Exactly," Breda nodded. "We'd like your input and planning with our Engineers," he gestured to a Brigadier General and a Colonel at the other end of the table, "And, if possible, your agreement to go on the mission and assist with carrying out the plan."
That last part Winry had not expected. "What about my work here?"
"We're not planning to get this rolling until March, get to the Fort by April," Feury replied calmingly. "We'll have time to make sure the auto-mail workshop is covered."
It was a little frightening, but also intriguing, and flattering to be asked to go on such a challenging mission. "You're sure we can even get to Briggs?"
"As long as you stay off the major highway," Falman nodded. "The Drachmans aren't guarding every backwater road, and as long as we send the mission in plainclothes than there's nothing to distinguish you from anyone else if you're careful."
"Who else is going on this mission?" She hadn't accepted yet, but it was surprising to realize that she wanted to.
"Not more than twenty men," Breda took over the conversation again. "A combination of engineers, demolitions experts, a couple of medics, and soldiers to protect the rest."
It was a lot to think about, but Winry took her time, refusing to be rushed. It was a sound proposition. As she looked at the schematics for Briggs' systems, she could see several ways of destroying them, including rigged timers so that they wouldn't automatically be destroyed while their men were still in the area. "I think it's doable."
"Then you're in?"
"Yes, I'm in." Winry nodded. "Have you chosen the rest of the team?"
"Not everyone," Breda admitted. "That's something else I wanted to ask you. I'd like to assign Aldon to this mission."
Aldon… Winry's heart skipped a beat. Her son going up into the heart of enemy territory. It was a chilling thought, though a moment later she realized that feeling any more worried about Aldon than the others was foolish. He had survived so far, even in combat zones, and he knew the inner workings of Briggs better than most, having worked on them for over a year. "I think you should," she agreed. "He'd be a great asset to the mission, but then you know that or you wouldn't be asking." Not that they had to ask, but Winry appreciated that Breda was actually waiting on her input. If she had said no… she suspected that Aldon would not be sent. "If he agrees."
"It will be an offer, not an order," Breda agreed. Winry suspected his flexibility on the subject was still related to the family's loss of Nancy's son months before, just trying to leave North City at the wrong time. She knew it had been hard on them all. Still, she appreciated Breda's courtesy.
"I think he'll probably take it," Winry admitted. The chance to go straight up to Briggs and take direct action, and find out about his friends… yes, her son would brave that danger.
"Excellent," the general noted as one of those dealing with the engineers nodded. Apparently there was no time like the present to get started. "So… what do you think is the best way to destroy the water-works?"
February 23rd, 1964
Maes Mustang sighed as he headed for the doors of the North City military hospital. It had been another long, boring, relatively useless shift. Oh, not that he hadn't been fairly constantly busy, but fixing busted gurney wheels and corroded toilet pipes hardly seemed like jobs that needed an alchemist, even if he was faster than a mechanic or a plumber.
Every day was like that; menial tasks that were needed, useful, but hardly much in the grand scheme of the war effort. It didn't matter what it said on paper. Technically, Maes was assigned to the hospital as an aide and to protect the hospital. But protect it from what? The war had been pushed far enough away that the fighting couldn't be heard. It was days – and several towns – north of North City now.
He was a State Alchemist! That made him a soldier, not somebody's custodian! It just wasn't fair. Day after day of the same thing, and what good was it doing? Why was he even here if his own unit didn't want him?
"Hey, Maes!"
He paused and turned, a little surprised to see Ethan Elric coming towards him. Ethan looked relaxed, so Maes doubted it was an official issue. "What is it?"
Ethan shrugged and smiled as he joined him. "I just got off duty. I just thought you might like to hang out. I'm going to the pub down the street with a couple of the guys."
"Pub, you?" Maes knew Ethan didn't drink, and he knew why. It wasn't exactly a secret. Of course, it was possible to get a soda pretty much anywhere. Still, it wasn't Ethan's usual kind of hang out spot as far as he knew.
Ethan shrugged. "If I want a good conversation, I go where the people are friendly and talkative. In this case, I'm going with people I know will talk to me, added bonus."
It seemed like a sincere request, but it still felt odd. Ethan had never offered to hang out with him before. "Maybe another time," Maes turned him down politely. "I'm not really in the mood tonight."
One of the things he liked about Ethan; the man didn't push once he was told no. Instead he nodded. "All right, but it's a standing offer. I just thought you might be bored. This isn't really an exciting place except when we wish it wasn't." In other words, when it was full of critically wounded patients.
"That's true," Maes agreed. "Though I wouldn't mind more familiar faces."
"Well that should happen soon," Ethan grinned. "Sara, Will, and the rest ought to be here day after tomorrow, if their next short leave hasn't been delayed."
"They will?" Maes hadn't heard about that. A sudden flare of annoyance hit him. Kane hadn't even bothered to tell him when his unit's leave was? "I wonder if I get leave. No one's mentioned it."
"Oh," Ethan looked surprised. "Well, I would assume so, but I guess that's a question for the Sky Fire Alchemist isn't it?"
"Oh damned straight it is," Maes growled. "He hasn't told me anything in weeks! I do my work and send in my reports and all I ever get is a keep it up, Mustang, good work. No real news as to what's going on, or when I can expect to get a real assignment. He's dumped me back here and left me to do work any wet-behind-the-ears kid could handle!"
"Stressed?"
"Yeah, maybe a little," Maes admitted, immediately embarrassed by his outburst. "I think I'm going to go find dinner, then head back to my room and relax. Maybe I'll check and see if there's any new letters at the post." If she was still on schedule, Elena's next letter would arrive in the next couple of days. She wrote very regularly.
"There's an idea," Ethan grinned. "Well, I should go. Take care."
"I will." Maes watched Ethan go. Maybe he should have taken him up on the offer, but he wasn't feeling particularly hospitable, and he didn't want to bring down anyone else's mood. He turned and left the building, heading through the cold dark streets. It wasn't even that late. He hated the North, the cold, and the winter darkness.
The military post was separate from the civilian post office and open later. Maes checked there on the way home and found that, as expected, he had another letter from Elena. This one seemed even thicker than usual; the envelope bulging. That probably meant that the kids had added their own letters.
As he left, he decided he didn't want to hit the Mess for dinner. He was sick of military food and hospital food – and military hospital food was the worst. There was that little place nearby that was still open, with Kala, the bartender and owner. That would do. It was closer, warm, and while he had told Ethan he wasn't in the mood, it was more because he didn't want to have to socialize. By himself, it wasn't required, and the barkeep usually left him alone.
The place was fairly quiet tonight. Of course, ever since the war had pushed back away from the city more than a day's drive, there were very few soldiers actually in North City. He saw a few of the remaining locals. A few had even insisted on returning in the past month, though the military hadn't encouraged it.
Maes ordered a beer and his dinner – tonight's meal, a chunky vegetable and beef stew with herbs – at the bar, and took a seat near the end furthest from the door. It was warmer there. As soon as his food and drink arrived, he opened the envelope.
There were, he found, letters from each of his three children, and he read those first. Young Roy's was a full page and recounted his harrowing adventures in elementary school. Théa's was shorter, but mostly said she missed him and mentioned her friends. Rochelle's was a big colored picture with flowers and kitties and I love you scribbled on it.
Maes couldn't help smiling as he read. Of the three of them, only Roy really had any inclination of what was going on in the world. He was the only one of them old enough to really get it, though Théa was close. He missed them a lot.
Finally he tucked their letters into his pocket and opened the much longer letter from Elena. It was fairly typical of most of her letters. She called him darling, told him first about the news in Central and goings on with people he knew who were still back home. She went to great length about each of the children and what they were up to, their triumphs and tribulations. All of it written in her very neat, flowing handwriting.
Well into the second page, she finally got into the more personal part of her letter.
I am glad to hear that you are feeling better. I am certain that Brigadier General Kane will soon reassign you back to the front. How could they not? You are too valuable and skilled. But, I admit, I shall be a little sorry to hear of it. It puts my heart at ease knowing that you are not currently in immediate danger. It means a certainty that you will return to me. I know you will be happy to fight again, and I am glad for that, but I shall miss the security.
She knew he would be glad to go back to fighting, but she didn't want him to? What did that mean? Did she think he wasn't really that good either? Or maybe she just meant that she didn't really want him fighting. After all, she claimed that she also believed he would go back soon. It confused him. If she felt that way, why had she said anything at all? It seemed, sometimes, that he understood her less every day. Or maybe he was reading too much into it. She was just worried about him. He read on through the rest of her love and missing him, but nearly choked when he got to the next paragraph.
As for myself, little has changed since I last wrote save for one rather interesting bit of news. President Rehnquist has personally requested my presence in the next diplomatic liaison sent to the government in Aerugo for further negotiations in terms of getting possible military support. The previous talks confirmed only that they would not take the opportunity to reopen hostilities with Amestris and honor the current treaty. Rehnquist hopes that, in light of this, they will be willing to concede to actual support. He feels that my presence would be beneficial, and I agree.
I was remiss to accept at first, but Gracia Hughes and Elicia Elric both assured me that Roy, Théa, and Rochelle are welcome with them for the time that I would be gone. So I am going to accept the assignment. I am sure the children will not mind, since they will be able to play with Sara's children more regularly again. I also think that Aerugo can be persuaded to protect their own investments, and promote their International image, by aiding us and am grateful for the opportunity to do my part.
I will, of course, write you regularly from Bueáire, and be home as soon as I am able. Be well my love.
With all my love and devotion, Elena
Elena was going to Aerugo, just like that. Well, he supposed he couldn't fault Rehnquist's logic. Elena's family had been very influential in Aerugo until their deaths, and very popular in some circles; circles which now had control of the country again in many respects. Elena Albaraçan Mustang would definitely be an influential statement in the retinue. That, and Elena did have fantastic skills as a diplomat. So why did it feel wrong? Maybe it was because they would both be gone from the kids, something that had never happened before. Or maybe it was something else.
"Want another?" Kala asked, coming over.
Maes looked down at his empty soup bowl and drink. She was referring to the beer he realized. "Sure," he nodded simply, looking back down at the letter. It left him feeling dissatisfied and confused. He should be happy to get a letter from his wife.
So why did he feel like he'd failed her? Elena was being asked to go do something important, and here he was doing practically nothing. Even his father was more useful! Plenty of stories were coming in from the East about Roy Mustang's latest exploits. The great Flame Alchemist was at it again; along with True Soul and Strong Arm; the old time heroes making it big once more with their alchemical talents.
What word of him? Nothing. The Firebrand Alchemist might as well not exist. He had screwed up again, and his commanding officer no longer trusted him to do anything important.
"What did that beer ever do to you, handsome?"
Maes jumped so hard he nearly spilled what remained of his second glass. Looking sideways, he found himself looking straight at… Elena? No. Only a moment later he knew he wasn't looking at his wife. That was ridiculous. But there was a very lovely brunette with dark eyes sitting at the bar next to him who did bear a reasonable resemblance at a glance. Her voice was similar too, but without the attractive lilting accent Elena had never lost. "Excuse me?"
The woman chuckled. "You were glaring at it. Was it that bad? I usually like the drinks here."
Oh. "No, sorry. I was thinking," Maes shrugged, setting down the glass. "You're local?"
"Yeah. I'm Eileen," she smiled. "I work at the pharmacy. You're a State Alchemist."
"Umm… yeah. How'd you know?" Maes had never met her before, had he? He was certain he would have remembered a woman who looked this much like his wife.
He felt a tug at his pocket and looked down. She had one finger on the chain. "Dead give away," she replied. "That and I've seen you around a while."
"Keeping an eye on me?"
It was meant as a joke, but her expression turned a little more pleased. "Maybe. Am I not allowed to notice attractive guys? There aren't enough around lately for a single girl."
Was she hitting on him? Maes was almost certain of it. He reached for his cup again, turning just enough that his wedding band was visible on the hand still on the bar. "That's too bad. I suppose you're allowed to notice who you want of course."
She got the hint. He could see it in her eyes. "Well I'm glad I have your approval," she smiled easily. "Sorry, you looked lonely."
"I miss my wife." Maes made it as casual a statement as he could. She didn't need his personal history.
"I hear that a lot," Eileen admitted. "I hope you're one of the few who actually means it. You seem like a good guy." Her drink arrived then, and she stood up. "Have a nice night." Then she turned and walked away, that was it.
Maes watched her go, wondering at her statement. Her hips moved a lot like Elena's used to… He shook himself. What was he thinking? He didn't compare Elena to other women. She was beautiful, and he loved her. If you love her so much, why are you so afraid of cheating?
Sometimes Maes hated talking to himself. His mind liked to produce uncomfortable questions. If he was so sure he loved his wife, why was he so concerned about cheating? Why was he always paranoid that she was having too much fun with other men when she was out of the country on diplomatic assignments? She had never given him any reason to think she was anything other than faithful.
Or maybe I just can't accept that things are that simple. Nothing was ever that simple. Here he was, far from home, where no one would ever know… and he had turned down the only woman who had hit on him since he got here. That was a good thing. It was what he was supposed to do. But if she looked so much like his wife, why wasn't he more attracted to her? Bullshit. Of course you were attracted. You were looking at her ass.
Damn it, he was over-thinking things again! He had to get out of here; out of North City, and back out on the firing line where he belonged. He finished his beer, paid for his meal, and left. The next time he saw Kane, he was going to make the man assign him back to combat missions! Otherwise, he was going to think himself crazy well before the war ended.
February 28th, 1964
"I'm glad you finally made up your mind," Alyse's mother smiled as she handed Alyse a clean blouse.
Alyse took it, contemplated it for a moment, then went ahead and put it in her suitcase. "So am I," she admitted. It had taken so long to come to terms with the fact that, while she had no fantastic skills to offer in fighting the war, there were things she would rather be doing than sitting around Central doing practically nothing. She had no weddings to plan currently, and likely none until the war was over. The office she worked for at Headquarters was downright dead. Other than a couple of very small private dinners between some of the Assembly, President Rehnquist, and the current visiting dignitaries from other countries, there was almost nothing that needed planning for the military in the way of those kinds of events. Even when there was, often she was not assigned a major part. She was still one of the younger members of the team, and a civilian besides.
So, it was time to go where she felt needed and, strange as it was to admit, where she wanted to be. Not that she expected to see combat, but she could work as an aide, or more likely she would be assigned nursing duties any child could handle. Still, it was something she could do directly to help. That, and hopefully it meant she would be able to see and talk to people she desperately missed.
"Are you sure you'll see him?"
Alyse turned her head over her shoulder as she picked up the pants, and couple of skirts, she had decided to take with her. "The letter that came yesterday said they were being transferred back to the North City area," she pointed out. "So there's a good chance. Certainly better than by staying here."
That was another decision she had come to. She needed to talk to Calvin, and she wasn't going to wait until the end of the war. What if something happened to him and he didn't know? For that matter, there were things she needed to know. She was sick of waiting and worrying about everyone.
"This is true," Elicia nodded, smiling. "You'll probably see Will too."
"Aunt Winry and Ethan are in North City. If I end up working in the hospital, I'll probably see them often." She would be glad for that. Sara and Aldon might be through as well. Sara almost certainly would be if she saw Will since they were in the same unit. "The only ones I probably won't see are Daddy and Uncle Edward."
"It's a shame they're so far flung out there," her mother sighed, leaning against the doorframe. "But you might see them on leave. It's almost enough to make me want to come with you."
That surprised her. Alyse turned around. "To the war, Mom? Even with the Drachmans?"
"I did say almost," Elicia smiled sadly. "No, I don't want to see the fighting or the dying, even if the Drachmans are the ones dying. But I miss your father, and Winry and Edward, and so many family and friends out there risking their lives for everyone else. But I'm not involved in Investigations anymore, and this really isn't their department anyway. If this had happened several years ago, I might have gone. Now, well… there are plenty of things I can do here, helping Ren and the kids, and my part in taking care of Trisha and James, and now Riza's grandchildren. Cassie called a couple of days ago. She's thinking of bringing the boys and coming up to Central for a visit once school is out."
"That will be nice," Alyse smiled. She wouldn't have minded seeing Cassie and the boys, but she couldn't have it both ways, not right now. She did one last inventory of her suitcase; shirts, pants, socks, undergarments of both types, sleepwear, skirts, shoes, toiletries… yes, everything was marked off her neatly written check-list. "I bet the kids have a great time." All five of Aldon's boys, Trisha, James, and Minxia would probably run all over the place together.
"Oh I'm sure they will," Elicia chuckled. "Don't forget the presents we made everyone."
"As if I could," Alyse chuckled. There was a huge basket of baked goods for everyone. She, her mother, and Aunt Gracia had been busy baking up a storm the last few days. There wasn't much else they could send up to war that would be appreciated and useful. "After all the complaints about the food, I shall be considered an angel of mercy."
Her mother surprised her again, scooping her up into a sudden hug. "Good, because I'm going to miss having you around. You tell everyone they better come home safe, or they'll have to deal with my wrath."
Alyse couldn't help giggling. "I'm sure they'll quake in fear, Mom."
"If they ever want to eat my cooking again they will," Elicia winked, stepping back. "Are you ready?"
Alyse nodded and picked up her suitcase. She was already dressed for travel, and the weather. She was glad her mother had offered to drive her to the train station though. "Yes, I'm ready." Even if I wasn't, it's too late now. Here I go.