1st September 1977
Island of Mykonos, Greece
Shepard, now without his peacekeeper uniform and wearing a tuxedo and tie combo, couldn't feel more anxious in his entire life. He fought and survived so many battles, Brighton beach, Cannes, Gibraltar, Tokyo harbor, even Leningrad in the mission to capture former Premier Cherdenko, who was now frozen in an ice cube along with former General Krukov and other prisoners of war. But nothing was compared to what he proposed to the three most powerful people in the world.
"What happened Shepard? Afraid of parties and people?" his friend and partner in crime Steve Brody teased.
He and Shepard were together since 12 years old. Together at school, together at the army, together at the peacekeeper corps. Now, after 15 years, together they organised a party for the aforementioned powerful world leaders and the rest of their high command. Everyone was there.
The Soviet Premier brought Commanders Oleg Vodnik, Nikolai Moskvin, Zhana Agonskaya, Vera Belova and the leader of the Soviet Underground resistance, Dasha Fedorovich herself.
Emperor Tatsu's commanders also followed, Kenji Tenzai, Shinzo Nagama, Naomi Shirada, Takara Sato and intelligence officer Suki Toyama.
Commanders Warren Fuller, Giles Price, Lissette Hanley and Lydia Winters accompanied Field Marshal Bingham.
All these people were sitting on the high table, a bit of an awkward situation. They were talking between their own compatriots mostly.
"Come on now comrades, this is supposed to be a party. Were is the fun and laughter? And the vodka?" Oleg nearly shouted, trying to alleviate the situation.
"Is food and drink the only thing in your mind you commie bastard?" commander Fuller interjected.
Oleg laughed and then teased:
"Ohoho, if you had brown hair, you would remind me of my wife. Always teasing, but I put her in place, hah." and did the slap animation.
"What woman would marry a fat barbarian like you?" commander Nagama asked, voice full of contempt.
"At least he has wife. You are still virgin."
commander Moskvin teased.
Commander Hanley smirked and tried to put more fuel in the fire:
"Is that why you carry commander Kenji around like that? He's like the son you'll never have?"
All the Soviet and Allied commanders laughed, while Shinzo silently fumed.
"Ahahaha, I like you little girl." Oleg said between laughs. "Are you interested..."
"Not in a million years red." Hanley cut him short.
The atmosphere was lighter and happier between the lower officers and party guests. Allied and Imperial engineers sharing blueprints, ideas and thoughts on technology, soviet conscripts drinking and playing cards with allied soldiers, spies trying to sweet talk imperial archer maidens into dancing together, with level of success from face slap to near acceptance, and imperial soldiers doing target practice by throwing ice cubes at glasses and bottles. Shepard saw a drinking contest between a javelin soldier and a flak trooper with many betters shouting, an arm wrestling match between a tesla trooper (without his armor) against an imperial tankbuster, also with many betters gathered around and also the guards he met in the summit three days ago.
"Steve, how the fuck did I manage to do it?"
Flashback, two weeks ago...
"What do you propose?"
Shepard thought for a bit and finally answered:
"What else unites us, except war?"
Suddenly, one of the conscripts said:
"Oh, oh, drinks and food!"
Everyone turned to the conscript's direction.
"Uhhm, did I say something bad?" he asked nervously.
Shepard said:
"Hey, that's it! A big party with drinks and food could work perfectly!"
"Are you sure about that sergeant?" Tatsu asked.
"Well, everyone likes a big party with food and drinks, right?" Shepard said.
"We often let the soldiers drink in order to, how is the american saying? Blow off steam?" asked the Premier.
Bingham was in deep thought, but finally answered:
"Yes, a big event like that could work. Something that unites us other than war."
"Sir, with all due and respect, you should also invite some lowly soldiers like us, to gauge the reactions." Shepard interjected.
"An excellent suggestion, lieutenant Shepard. Your mission is to organise a party that successfully brings a ceasefire. Do you agree Emperor Tatsu and Premier Sokolov?" Bingham announced.
"It could work." Sokolov said nonchalantly.
"Alright, I am willing to give you a chance. One chance." Tatsu said seriously and showed his index finger:
Shepard was in complete shock:
"Uhhm, sir, th.. this is a bit sudden. Lieutenant a.. and organise a party..."
"Don't worry son. You will have help. You. Will you help lieutenant Shepard at his mission?" Bingham asked Steve.
"Uhhm, I'll try my best sir." Steve stuttered.
"Brilliant! Now gentlemen, is there anything else..." Bingham asked the other two leaders, only to be interrupted by Sokolov.
"I will not allow this event to be organised only by these two. You and you. You will help these soldiers to organise it. Do not fail." He said pointing the two conscripts,
who were both shocked beyond imagination.
" The Empire will not tolerate not having a say to this situation. Imperial warriors, your Emperor demands you to work with these gaijin to show them how the work is done!" Tatsu said to his subordinates.
Despite the initial shock, the imperial soldiers answered in perfect unison:
"As you command Emperor!"
"It is settled then. You are given a blank check and two weeks time to complete the mission.Do us proud." Bingham said, exiting the room with Tatsu and Sokolov following.
The six soldiers were left inside the room, fully armed and armored, completely dumbfounded and awkward.
"So, when do we start fellas?" Shepard tried to break the ice.
He earned a whack on the head by Steve who said:
"Hey, pull your shit together man. We have to introduce ourselves first. Also, FUCKING LIEUTENANT? What the hell?"
"My name is Nikita Kirlov, this is my friend Anton Levedev." said the conscript who gave the idea to Shepard.
"Imperial warriors Hiroshi Nakayama and
Katashi Miyoshi."
"Pleased to meet you all, I am sergea.., ehm, lieutenant Gregory Shepard, this is my friend and partner in crime, sergeant Steven Brody."
"So, any ideas?" Steve asked everyone.
Nikita raised his arm and said:
"I stand by my original idea, we need drinks, strong like vodka. And vodka."
"Bah, sake is a lot better than your paint thinner." Katashi interrupted.
"We have a much bigger variety. Whiskey, rum, absinthe, vermout, gin, tequila and the list goes on." Steve added.
Shepard, to defuse the tension said:
"Hey, we should bring everything so that anyone can choose whatever he wants. And personally, I always wanted to try sake. Vodka I tried and I like it, but something new is always appreciated."
"Hmph, maybe there's still hope for you barbarians. To show good will I'll try your beverages too." Hiroshi answered.
They were all talking about specifics, details, decorations. Only Anton was quiet, thinking about something.
"Hey Anton. Why are you not talking?"
Nikita asked his fellow conscript.
No answer.
"Is he always like that?" Shepard asked Nikita.
Suddenly, Anton rised from his chair and shouted jubilantly:
"Aha, i got it!"
Everyone looked at each other and they asked at the same time:
"What?"
"The location for the party!" Anton said.
"Where?" asked Shepard.
"The island of Mykonos. Think about it. Perfect location, neutral ground, relatively untouched by the war. It's the best location, yes?"
"Where is this island?" asked Katashi.
Shepard, smiling slightly said:
"Greece."
AN
The plot thickens. How will six soldiers who just met each other cope with a mission that doesn't demand to shoot each other? Maybe there's another plan in motion? Or it's just a desperate leap of faith by the three leaders?
