The Janus Campaign

Just Another Day

Following Princess Pina's instructions, Vermouth and Millet, Knights of the Rose Order, remained at Alnus Hill while their companions, Zivana and Merisa had returned to Italica to keep Vifita, apprised of the current situation. As Pina had instructed them to learn all they could, Vermouth and Millet each carefully observed the goings on around them. With their access sensibly enough restricted, the two stayed around the base corral and the facilities of the 407th Combat Support Hospital for the most part, although the pair had visited the growing refugee community nearby. It was becoming less a gathering of refugees and more an actual town. The invaders encouraged the refugees to take up their old crafts if possible and had managed to convince a few of the local farms to do business with Alnus. Not by threat, but by the offer of a new market where their crops and livestock fetched good prices, paid either in Imperial coin or in paper scrip as the farmers chose. Much of the Imperial coin was confiscated from the pay chests of the legions shattered in the battles at Alnus but interestingly, most of the new businesses in Alnus Town and even a few of the farmers seemed to prefer the scrip issued by the Pacific Allies.

A constabulary made up of locals had been established and even included non-humans in its ranks. Many of these were auxiliaries pressed into service of either the Imperial Army or one of its vassal states. These individuals felt neither love nor loyalty to the Empire and the chance to start anew without the Imperial yoke had been quite appealing to them. And here they lived in relative harmony with men and women, supposedly subjects of the Empire but whose true loyalties had been to their own communities which were no more, and their families, who were here, enjoying a life of comforts unknown in Sadera and security backed up by the "Men in Green."

To encourage trade, the outworlders had opened a store they called a 'PX' or exchange and staffed it with locals who were paid quite handsomely. The array of goods varied from clothing of design and fabrics unheard of in the Empire to metal cooking wares and luxuries like those oh so wonderful bars called 'chocolate', although these tended to be too sweet for more than a small taste for Vermouth's liking.

The day after Princess Pina departed for Tokyo, Colonel Potter invited Vermouth and Millet to a meeting of senior personnel and selected staff. In this case, Henry Blake, Major Houlihan, Captains Pierce, McIntyre, Newsome, and Hunnicutt as well as Father Mulcahy, Radar O'Reilly, Koire, and Parna as well as a bespectacled staff sergeant wearing the insignia of the Veterinary Corps and a Marine wearing the silver bars of a first lieutenant.

"Before we begin, allow me to introduce Lieutenant Jones and Staff Sergeant Panetti. Now, I need people for a couple of details I need to send out. The first one is to go to Alnus Town. As you know, the engineers have built a flour mill for the local residents. We're trying to encourage greater self-sufficiency and a working economy, plus as long as proper sanitation is met, then the local bread might better than what we get back home since all the nutrients aren't processed into oblivion. A few of the natives are setting up bakeries and food stalls and such but they won't be allowed to sell to our people until they pass a basic health and sanitation inspection. Radar?"

"Yes, Colonel?"

"Have you any thought to what we discussed yesterday?"

"Yes, sir. I went over to supply and got a bunch of Charlie flags. We can post them on establishments that pass inspection." Charlie being signal shorthand for 'Yes' or 'affirmative', it would be a sign that did not require translating into English, Japanese, Popularii or any of the other multitude of applicable languages.

"Good thinking Radar. By the way, those sergeant stripes look good on you son. They've been long overdue."

Radar glanced down at his new stripes. He wasn't quite used to them yet. "Thank you, sir."

For her part, Parna was practically preening over Radar's promotion. Somehow, his success felt like hers.

In the meantime, Colonel Potter continued with the matters at hand. "Sergeant Panetti will conduct the food safety inspections in Alnus and in conjunction, I need one team to conduct some basic health screenings and make sure that everyone is up to speed on hygiene practices. Remind them if they feel sick, to come to see us. We don't want them just going on business as usual."

Hawkeye looked over at Sergeant Panetti. So you're the guy who handles food inspections? You know, we've got one of your 'Ten Most Wanted' working in the mess hall right this minute. I don't suppose you have the power to arrest the cook, do you?"

"For assault with a deadly entree," Trapper John added.

Colonel Potter merely rolled his eyes and continued. "The other bunch is going to go out to some of the local villages and extend the hand of a good neighbor. Do a little trust-building As a precaution, Lieutenant Jones and a few of his Marines will accompany them. Lieutenant?" Potter invited.

"My men and I have reconnoitered some of these villages. The residents are friendly enough but the countryside is a bit lawless with bandits. A lot of them are survivors and deserters from the armies that we fought."

"Who did you have in mind for the two teams, Colonel?" Henry Blake asked.

"We'll need one doctor and one nurse on each detail along with two corpsmen. I'll want Koire to go with the detail going into Alnus Town and Parna, you'll go with the other detail. As for Doctors, I, have a staff meeting with General Hazama I need to attend. That means I'll need to leave you in charge here, Henry."

"Yes, sir." Henry sounded just a little disappointed. Not only did he need a few hours away but he hated trying to deal with both Frank Burns' flakiness and Winchester's imperiousness.

Potter gave him an apologetic look. "Sorry Henry, When I get back, you can have a couple of days in Tokyo."

"Thank you, sir!" Henry perked up. A couple of days back in the real world, actually be able to call home and talk to his wife, then find a Japanese Steakhouse, a cold beer and a hot sake and a soft bed might as well be a trip to paradise.

"You might want to stay clear of Sumida, Henry," Hawkeye suggested. "I don't think the police have forgiven Trapper and me for aggressive passing in a no passing zone last month."

"I suppose you two were drunk and speeding too?" Henry groaned.

"Absolutely not! We were completely sober! We simply flagged down a traffic cop so we could get directions to the Asahi Beer Hall."

"It was only after they got out that Hawkeye started going a little too fast." Trapper put in.

"Can you blame me? She was gorgeous and her partner wasn't half bad either."

"That would be why I got a complaint from the Captain of the Bokotou Police Station." Colonel Potter glared at the two of them. "In the meantime, the doctors we send out will need to be both capable and approachable, doctors who will put the right face on us to the local public. So, Captain Newsome will go into Alnus and BJ will go make the rounds on the villages of Sybaris and Affpuddle."

"Affpuddle?" Hawkeye smirked, looking at Hunnicutt. "Better bring your galoshes."

Potter gave Pierce a look. "Anyway, Margaret?"

Houlihan nodded. "Nurse Cutler will go to Alnus, I'll accompany Captain Hunnicutt myself."

"Good," Potter nodded.

"Colonel?" Father Mulcahy asked.

"Yes, Padre?"

"I'd like to go visit the local villages myself if you'll allow it."

Potter considered it for a moment. With long hours conversing with Saderan patients helping Mulcahy adapt his abilities in Latin to speaking the native Popularii, Mulcahy could be a considerably useful asset. "Alright, but if those marines tell you to hit the deck, you do it, Padre. That goes for all of you."

"Yes, sir. Thank you, Colonel!" Mulcahy answered.

"Yes, sir," Hunnicutt replied seriously.

"Good, now as for the rest, O'Donnell and Conway will go to Alnus and Radar, you and Klinger will join Captain Hunnicutt's team."

"Yes, Colonel." Radar looked up reassuringly at Parna as this was her first trip off base since they had found her.

Then Potter addressed the two young knights in their midst. "As I said, you two ladies are welcome to join the party. See how we do things."

Vermouth paused but a moment. "Millet, you will go to Alnus Town. I will accompany Major Houlihan and Captain Hunnicutt."

"Alright then ladies, get saddled up then, they'll be leaving in an hour."

Village of Sybaris

Before leaving Alnus, Captain Hunnicutt's group was joined by a team from the Army Corps of Engineers, led by Lieutenant Strickland. His task was to make a basic survey of the villages. Ostensibly, his team was to see what services the Allied forces could offer to their neighbors but also,` the higher ups were considering detailing squads to protect villages that chose to trade with them. It was believed that a small force would be adequate to handle most situations and in any case, support would only be a radio call away.

Of course, it was imperative that the locals had to actively agree to this. Every other major nation on Earth was carefully watching the Pacific Forces, looking for any openings or mistakes to exploit in the court of international opinion. Further, public opinion in Japan, The United States, and in other member nations, while currently supportive, could turn without warning. The testimony of Rory Mercury, Tuka Luna Marceau, and Lelei la Lelena before the Diet was helping in terms of maintaining general public support for the expedition but the battle of public relations was a constant struggle unless you lost.

From Vermouth's perspective, it was certainly the oddest 'invasion' she had ever heard of. Diligently, she began recording her observations in a notebook thoughtfully provided by Sergeant O'Reilly. It was odd that even the paper these people used had a different character to it. As she wrote her name, Radar glanced over in curiosity.

Vermouþ Du Idryis, Dauȝter of Count Idryis.

"Pardon my saying, ma'am but I don't think I've ever seen writing like that."

Vermouth looked up equally curious. To her understanding, the young Sergeant was equivalent to a scribe, a position of learning. In a way, he reminded her of a calmer version of Hamilton.

Captain Hunnicutt shook his head. "Now, now Radar. It's never polite to read a ladies private thoughts." He gently admonished.

"Oh! Nothing like that, I assure you both." Vermouth dismissed mildly. "What seems so unusual to you?"

"Well, you've got a 'b' with a little tail on it and what's with the '3' here?" Radar pointed to the fourth word.

BJ chuckled. "Well, Radar, those are actually letters of the alphabet we don't use anymore. If I remember my language arts courses, that 'b' with the tail is called 'thorn' it's just a 'th' sound. The other one is called a 'yogh'. It's a rough 'gh'. We don't use that sound much except when we're speaking 'Klingon'."

Radar frowned. "Oh! No. How am I going to get my paperwork done now? I'm gonna have to get a new keyboard."

For her part, Vermouth made a mental note to find out about this 'Klingon'.

In the meantime, Lieutenant Jones finished conversing with the village mayor and guided the bemused old man over to the small convoy of iron carriages. Although the presence of both an Imperial knight and a Warrior Bunny did initially create just the slightest confusion for the locals, introductions proceeded fairly smoothly and with permissions given, Strickland's survey team got to work mapping out the village and its environs.

After some initial hesitation, a few of the locals finally came forward for medical attention. With Radar and Klinger and even Father Mulcahy fetching supplies from their Hummer and Parna assisting in translation, Captain Hunnicutt and Major Houlihan began to tend a few of the residents. It was not the same as the long shifts they had endured in surgery after the fierce battles but there was something about treating the normal injuries and maladies of an ordinary life.

Their last patient of the day was a young woman who was expecting her first child. Her husband being fraught with worry.

"I begged her to entreat the blessings of Miritta before we were married but Cara refused. She was afraid my feelings for her would change. I swear it's not true!"

"Miritta?" Father Mulcahy asked in a tone that was a mix of concern and curiosity.

"Miritta is the Goddess of Fertility. She is supposed to protect expectant mothers," Parna explained, translating into English. "But this protection comes at a price. Her followers are expected to either serve as prostitutes in brothels run by her priestesses or a couple may make a tithing instead." Parna scowled. "Of course, Miritta's priestesses favor human followers.

"Good Heavens!" Father Mulcahy exclaimed.

"Don't sound so surprised, Father," Hunnicutt told him. "It seems Miritta's interest is in spreading certain seed as widely as possible as it were."

"It's barbaric!" Margaret objected.

"Margaret, your judgments are showing," BJ said mildly. While privately he agreed with the Major, It was not their place to value judge the local cultures or belief systems.

"My apologies, Doctor." Intellectually, Margaret knew BJ was right. They would not be able to establish trust and a working relationship with these people by condemning their beliefs And they could not help people like Cara and her husband without their trust and cooperation. Still, it rankled the Major to no end.

Captain Hunnicutt looked at the couple with a gentle smile. "I've never confused myself for a god but I think we can help. Cara? If you'll allow it, Major Houlihan and I are going to give you a brief examination and then we'll see if we can find out anything about how the baby is doing." BJ paused as Parna translated this.

"I won't have to give myself to Miritta's will?" The young woman asked in surprised relief.

Once Parna finished translating, BJ shook his head. "We have a different union. Father?" He gestured to Mulcahy. "Would you take this young man outside while we take a look at this young lady?"

"Of course, BJ." Mulcahy gently led Cara's husband out of the room.

"Don't worry, my son. Cara is in very capable hands. Now … Why don't you tell me about Miritta and the other gods? I've met the Apostle of Emroy. A very intimidating presence, I must say. But I would like to know more. If you wouldn't mind?"

With the young man and Mulcahy outside, BJ and Houlihan set to work. A while later, BJ stepped outside and gestured to Cara's husband.

"Come on in. Cara's been listening to something you might want to hear," Hunnicutt announced with a broad smile.

The young man stepped inside to see his wife propped up comfortably as Hunnicutt placed the chest piece of his stethoscope to Cara's belly and nodded in satisfaction as he then slipped the earpieces into the young man's ears.

"Hear that? That's the heartbeat of a strong, healthy baby. I'll drop by every once in a while to make sure everything progresses smoothly but it looks to me like, in about three months, you'll be having a healthy baby. Come on Margaret, let's give these two some time alone."

Some days made everything else all worthwhile.