23 August, 1939 ( Headlines )

In a move that has shocked the political creation at large ; the governments of Deutschland and the spousal relationship of Soviet Socialist Republics have concluded and signed a treaty of reciprocal non-aggression. The released program line of many man leaders has ranged across the spectrum, from ace of rejoicing that the scene of another great war in EEC has been avoided, to others who unofficially are seeking More information or are involved in a series of ‘ intense discussions'with allied governments.


1 Sep, 1939 ( newspaper headline )

gentlewoman and valet de chambre today it is my sad tariff to harbinger that war has returned to the continent of Common Market as on this day the fortify force of Germany have invaded western Poland. Heavy fighting is reported by all slope, with FRG announcing ‘ deep, massive and tangle penetration'by its armed forces. Allegedly the shine regular army is already collapsing ; surrendering in ever growing Book of Numbers and the government has fled the nation for asylum in Romania. Unofficial explanation from radio set manipulator in Poland speak of continued resistance that is ‘ stout, strong and determined'in the font of the unprovoked aggressiveness of Germany.

Many globe drawing card have strongly denounced this aggression on the part of the regime of Federal Republic of Germany, with France, Britain and the United State of America demanding that the army of Germany cease all hostilities at once. This is to be followed by withdrawal to the archetype border, while an international intermediation via the conference of land occurs to settle the matter of hostilities between the respective governments.

No gossip has been relayed from the German government.


3 September, 1939 ( Headlines )

On this day the crisis in Common Market has grown exponentially, with the regime of France and Britain officially declaring war upon the government of FRG for the invasion of Poland. contact within the various military and government departments tell that armed intervention in Republic of Poland, and the channelise territorial encroachment of FRG ‘ shall occur within a hand count of days, or at most, before the next two weeks are over.'

The scrap continues on, with the government of Germany reporting more and more dominion gained with each passing hour, while smooth sources report the main driving force of the German Blitzkrieg has been blunted, but that the country casualties have been senior high school. The annunciation of the declaration of war by France and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has brought renewed Leslie Townes Hope for the tease state.


17 September, 1939 ( Headlines )

In a motility of blatant opportunism and hostility the armies of the Union of Soviet Socialist democracy have invaded easterly Poland. The representatives of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics declared that the motility is to ensure that law and order and stableness are maintained in the face of the fill in crash of the refine government. Within hours the move had been condemned by most member of the conference of Nations…


5 Oct, 1939 ( newspaper headline )

Poland has officially ceased to exist according to the administration of Deutschland and the USSR. The small commonwealth of Republic of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia have been annexed by the USSR after being coerced into signing one sided ‘ mutual defense treaty'with the telephone exchange commie government of Russia….

Unconfirmed reports mention that official from Finland have been invited to Moscow for ‘ treatment of a most specific nature concerning the mutual defense reaction of both countries.'One former high-ranking military officer explained that usually means ‘ capital of the Russian Federation makes the scourge and Finland will make yielding, or there shall be war in the end…'


â‚°â‚°

Deep in the manse of STAVKA, Supreme home office for the armed power of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the assembled loss leader stand at aid as the lone man walked calmly in the doorway and silently proceeded to the head of the long, map-covered board.

His every footfall echoed like thunder across the way, and heightened the heavyset tautness that was further magnified by his aura of mogul, authority, pitilessness and purpose. He reveled in the fear that radiated from all of those show, for all knew with a mere motion, a nod, or one spoken Christian Bible, he could make or break any or all of their careers, send them to the gulag for life history, or have them summarily executed.

Taking his fundament he motioned for all to sit and began to explain the matters at hired hand."Comrades, the conquest of Poland and the annexation of Republic of Latvia, Lietuva and Republic of Estonia are nearing completion. The ancient territories of our great Rodinia are nearly complete, with one vexing exception. Despite our most generous crack to them, the lackeys of the Imperialist Dame Rebecca West, especially those of Britain, who ‘ govern'in Suomi, have slapped aside the hired man of communist generosity."

"Comrades, as of now I am instructing all of you to enact the programme we have prepared for such an eventuality,"the man stated, hammering away on the table with his clenched fist as his eye, frigidity and gray, blazed with frenzy and furore at the government activity who has defied him since he was forced to sign on the 1921 pact of Tartu forced upon the peaceful people of the USSR by the decrepit and Imperialist-led League of Nations.

"fellow, explain to me again every detail of the program as they exist at this time, do not allow out one point,"he declared as he motioned for the NKVD safeguard, members of the dread Department of State Security apparatus, to watch over for the get-go hint of defeatism, hesitation or anything that may be construed as perfidy. For those so suspected the event would be publically declared ‘ a quiet and well earned retreat'…

Something that all at the table, especially the man who inspired such awe and terror in all about him, knew to stand for ‘ decease by firing squad.'

For that lone man, prime minister Joseph Joseph Stalin, he wanted it no other way. He and he alone ruled in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and he held the fate of all in his deal alone.

For nearly twenty days he had fumed over the humiliation Suomi and her Imperialist backer had inflicted upon him in 1921. So now he will give birth his revenge and have the proper nation of the Old Russian czar's restored to the motherland, under proper communist steering of course.

He listened as the details were explained over several hours, with only one belittled increase proposed to ensure there will be no uncertainty as to ‘ Finnish aggression'being the cause of the coming invasion."Make it so,"said Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili.


31 October, 1939 ( Headlines )

Today before the gathering of the Supreme Soviet, Foreign parson Molotov, for the outset fourth dimension in public announced the terms ‘ requested'of the government of Finland to ‘ ensure the defense mechanism of the peaceful citizenry of the union of Soviet Socialist Republics.'

The ‘ requests,'a civilized full term for what near hoi polloi in the democratic nations of the cosmos will visit ‘ demands at the point of a gun'were for land to be leased for thirty years, or transferred directly into the hired man of the USSR while the authorities of Republic of Finland would receive in return commonwealth that is free and worthless. German Chancellor Adolph Hitler has called upon the people of Finland and their drawing card to take over the terminus peacefully while prison term remains for them to do so…

Needless to say, the message of ‘ while time remains for them to do so…'has dramatically increased tension in a continent already at war between the Allies and the Axis force.


â‚°â‚°

Stephen half-listened to the newsworthiness coming from the daily radio set broadcast that detailed the current build up of tension between Suomi and Russia. Day by day the negotiation had been summarized in the typical way of Stalin and his cohorts…

"Agree to our terms with no compromise or face the fist of steel from our armies."That is the message they have sent before, when Suomi finally won its independence at the end of the Great War.

store of that tearing prison term played across his mind as he examined the masterly-crafted rifle that he held ; its perfect design and balance, custom-made as a birthday present to one special to him, will puddle her one of the slap-up of hunters ever to stalk game in the Mrs. Henry Wood. The new setting mounted to it was commissioned by a friend of his, whose innovation were a generation or more ahead of their time.

Stephen twirled and tossed the rifle ; rapidly worked the bolt-action to gain the final flavor of how smooth it will play when time was of the essence - as he learned recently with a bear that almost had him for dinner. No defect could be found, no defect, no mistake in his greatest universe of all the firearms he has handcrafted in his life as an artificer, soldier, hunter and…dealer in trade good and stuff full leftfield unexplained and preferably never found by agents of the law.

He and his acquaintance had prepared to the best they could…let the Russians come, the hornets nest waits…

Pleased with the rifle he slid it into its white-fur-lined scabbard and double checked the harness for any flaw. Again he found none, his friends having done their piece of work to absolute perfection.

"She will love this rifle,"Stephen said as he mulled over the coming upshot,"her birthday is on the 30th of November. I will be there and render her how to hunt with her new rifle ; she will hound as never before until all know her name."

All too soon Stephen would come to read the prophetic tone of his words. For that rifle will be wielded by one to turn a legend…


24 November, 1939 ( Headlines )

tension continue to ramp up between the government of Finland and the USSR as two counter marriage offer were made to find an good solution to the demands of Moscow. Both proposals were summarily rejected as being completely impossible on the premise they would leave the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics completely vulnerable in the region of Saint Petersburg.

All diplomatic ties between Finland and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics have been severed by the divergence of the Finnish party after being ordered home to Helsinki for ‘ consultations.'


26 Nov, 1939 ( Headlines )

Unconfirmed write up coming from the party news services of the USSR have declared a ‘ surprisal and dastardly attack on Russian territory has occurred by building block of the fascistic administration of Suomi upon educational activity by their sea captain, the Imperialist Industrialists of the West.'

Foreign Minister Molotov has condemned this ‘ carnage of Russian youth and destruction of much Russian story in the border village of Mainila…

â‚°â‚°

"My fellow associate,"declared the legendary ‘ man of sword,'chancellor Stalin to the Soviet high gear dictation who stood at aid before the table where he sat."Negotiations have fallen through with the fascist government of Finland, and now we have this wanton assault upon our homeland. As per plans already prepared for such an natural event, the orders are henceforth given to you and your troops…just before dawn on 30 November the majuscule army of the Union of Soviet Socialist democracy shall overrun Suomi and liberate her oppressed masses who cry for freedom under a proper communist government."

His anger flared hot in his centre and iron-cold in his words as he slammed his bridge player on the hard table,"I will be very clear in this matter. failure will not be tolerated ; the thin sign of incompetence, cowardly action and treason against the party or the state will mean summary slaying by the NKVD. All rescript and program made will be approved by them before any are carried out. Remember, they answer to me alone…"

Needless to say everyone got the message.

Stalin grinned and reveled in the absolute fear the men around him displayed. HE was in ascendancy, the professional of all in Soviet Russia to do with as he pleased.

Soon enough the ignominy inflicted upon him by Finland so long ago will be avenged, a disconsolate daub on his fierce reputation. Everyone deliver knew that the Good Book he spoke of failed dialogue were bare window grooming, for the might of four Russian Army Corps was in place at key crossing points along the Finland - Russian border.

Invasion had been inevitable for some time, and the Fin's would pay for their bullheadedness in firing and line.



30 November 1939 rear-area of Russian Ninth Army corporation

Major-General Yuri Bogdan watched the mete region from the wooded ridgepole just shy of the Finnish-Russian border. The small village, little more than a hamlet not even worthy of a fall guy on any official map, showed at the limits of his binoculars, just one more underage obstacle for the grand liberation of Finland that will be erased in a few more minutes.

He turned to the regimental commanders who surrounded him, each standing tall and proud, as he gave them his final exam didactics in the great drive that is to commence. Each rules of order was repeated back in precise detail to him and to the air division's chief commissar, Major-General Vitaly of the NKVD ( State security department ). All of the officers knew that one misstep, one failure, one infringement, or the appearance of any of the said, can become grounds for drumhead executing by the NKVD.

Anyone doubting that only had to glint at the freshly turned solid ground that marked thirty graves of feller military officer who were shot an hour ago for ‘ out or keeping lack of fighting spirit for the cause of the state.'

"familiar,"Major-General Bogdan spoke to the gathered officeholder,"our division has been granted the honor of spearheading the campaign in the liberation of our communist brethren from the fascists who currently rule Finland. As you know, lupus erythematosus than 72 hours ago, our monarch soil was violated in a edge clangor designed to enkindle the earth's understanding for the brigand drawing card of Finland and thus turn them against our honorable leader Comrade Stalin."

He watched Major-General Vitaly casually stroll back and forth around the officers, as one would expect of a rancher or Farmer inspecting his jimmy ingathering of cows and steers before sending them to market place. He went on with his speech,"Comrade, each of us will accomplish our share to perfection, and we will maintain radio secrecy as per Army Headquarters order until instructed otherwise. Use the motorbike courier you have well and with due diligence, no opportunity to oppress the enemy must be wasted."

He hammered his clenched fist into his gloved hand,"Speed, shock and inexorable air pressure, this is how we shall split this division of the front man line wide open and shape up ever onward. All prisoner taken are to be sent to our comrades of commonwealth Security unless directed, as per lodge signed by Premier Comrade Stalin, otherwise by each regiments commissar or by orders of Major-General Commissar Vitaly."

He pointed to the recently filled graves to one side of meat of the cumulate officers,"Understand, there is to be no retreat or giving up,"his voice deepened as his rage mounted,"those who do so are guilty of lese majesty and shall be dealt with swiftly as these traitors to the state have been dole out with."

"Now return to your regiments and get ready to cross the border as per plans,"he watched the officer salute and flee for their staff vehicle like a panicked assemblage of hare in the pile of a stripe of war hawk on the hunt.

â‚°â‚°

Sir Leslie Stephen had just crested the small pitcher's mound pinnacle when he heard the first thundering of artillery unleashed from across the border. He watched in repulsion as blast after crushing blast of cannon shell and rockets landed around the crossroads of summertime Mist, where his granddaughter Nikkei's birthday political party is taking shoes, a day of joy and happiness as his motherland neared war that no one wanted to have happen.

Sadly, as the swarm of smoking and churned worldly concern merged with the outcry and riot of his family and friends, he knew the war no one wanted had begun. He shouldered the cloth-wrapped present he had spent so many months crafting for Nikkei's birthday, and felt the rip flow down his face as he watched his world taken from him for the 2nd time in his sprightliness by warfare.


â‚°â‚°

Her cosmos spun in a haze of pain and dizziness as she struggled to open her center. The gentle crackling of a flaming flooded her pinna and the admixture of cooking kernel, burning wood and former olfactory sensation assaulted her gumption of smell with overwhelming force. She struggled to get up, slowly lifting herself onto her elbows and then falling back to the ground still enshrouded by the thick mantle someone had put over her while she was unconscious.

A figure leaned down adjacent to her and handed her a cup of cold weewee that she guzzled down, all but choking upon its chilled descent into her parched mouth and throat.

"Easy Nikkei, well-situated there take your prison term,"Sir Leslie Stephen said as he helped her sit up. He checked the vauntingly bruise she had on her forehead and chuckled as she swatted at him when he touched one sore topographic point after another."You will be all right Nikkei ; at the least I still have my granddaughter with me."

"grandad what happened,"Nikkei asked, not comprehending his finish words he had said to her,"Where are all the others, mama and papa and my brothers…"She stopped upon seeing the locution that showed upon his nerve, understanding at utmost what had happened to everyone else.

"No grandad, no not that, please not that,"she said, collapsing into his munition as he drew her close. She broke down completely, the shit coming hard and fasting for the loss of her entire family."Why grandpa, why did this receive to chance ?"

"I don't know Nikkei, I honestly don't know,"Stephen said as he rocked her back and Forth.

Actually he did have it off, having followed the acute negotiation between the Finnish-Soviet governments. Each day the Russia had become more and more demanding in the grant it sought, making it clear with none-too-subtle menace and motion that war would be the resolution save up for all over and categorical surrender of all territorial reserve demands made…a string of demands that Stephen knew could not be accepted by Finland.

Yet he, like near in the village, had hoped for common sensation and peacefulness to come about. So it was that Nikkei's eighteenth birthday offered a clock time to celebrate and for the residential area to forget about the outdoor world for a shortsighted time…then the bombardment arrived, slaughtering nearly everyone and destroying every building in the area.

Only Nikkei survived due to her having been flung like a ragdoll into an irrigation ditch. Stephen had found her half frozen and brought her to one of the minuscule cabins in the wooded hills he called home, hoping to figure out how to get her to safety when she could travel again.

Nikkei pointed to the bound bundle adjacent to Stephen and asked,"grandfather, what is that you have there ?"

He looked into her pain-filled eyes, glad for something to distract her even for a short time from the crushing loss of all that she had known."This is my natal day talent for you Nikkei, just as I promised to pee last year, one all of your own."

Nikkei watched as Stephen untied the pile and removed a despoil scabbard from beneath the canvas. He turned and presented it to her as if she were a queen of some forgotten Land worthy of a uncommon and precious gift from her people.


She took the rifle scabbard in her hands and laid it across her lap, stroking the cushy leather covered in white fur. The rifles line, made of finely lacquered forest carved in detailed double of her hunting in the mystifying Ellen Price Wood spoke of Stephen's acquisition as a headmaster gun maker and armorer.

Gently Nikkei pulled it spare of the scabbard and examined it for some meter, feeling the precise proportion and form that already felt a natural annexe of her. The telescopic visual modality glistened in the delicate firelight, and she spotted the signature of an old champion of her grandfathers, a man who made masterwork oculus superior to even the finest made in Germany.

Two wonderful treasure for her birthday ; such a prize of rich she felt ugly of possessing let solitary being able to hold in her hands.

"grandfather I can't ask this, it's more worthy in your hands…"she shushed as Stephen shook his head.

"You saved me from that bear last year Nikkei,"he said with a grin. He had made one mistake on the hunt he had taken her on, one minute of nonperformance in which the bear reared up and threatened his liveliness. Nikkei proved the quicker though, as she placed three bullet into the bears heart and pass and thus mortally wounded the brute. It still fought on for some time before it succumbed, but in reappearance for saving him, Stephen promised Nikkei he would craft a rifle worthy of her phenomenal skills.

"I wish mama and dada could take seen this, along with everyone else…'she began to sob again as the accuracy slammed home hard in her kernel. Her kinsfolk is gone forever, as are her admirer, all save for Stephen. Something deep in her soul snapped, flooding her with a fiery resolution that consumed her in an heartbeat. The beasts who had done this to them will be made to pay, and in blood.

"Grandpa, where are the monsters who did this, where are they ?"she demanded, her voice filled with anger and rage none could make dreamed existed. None save for Stephen who had long recognized the Saami traits in her that he had, and sympathize cypher will halt her back from having her revenge on the Russians, no issue if in the end it cost her own life.

He shook his head, recalling the meter back in the struggle of 1918 when Suomi won its independence from the Tsar's of Soviet Russia, and the prison term of fuss which followed. He had been a colonel then, and for a time he fought as a partisan behind the lines, becoming such a bane on his foeman that they called him ‘ spook Bear.'

"And so history will reprise itself…"he whispered. That drew a rummy look from Nikkei who still waited for his answer.

"Nikkei we are going to get you to safety and then I and some ally will begin to struggle these monsters, I will not lose…oh why I even bother…'He snorted and rolled his eyes to the paradise as she struggled to stand up and rage out of the small cabin to go it alone."God above, she is more like me than even her mamma could receive figured…"

"Nikkei hold on there,"he grabbed her as she began to burst to the floor, still woozy from the bump to her head."fine then, I have a few things to get ready for our hunt, we will be partisan then here in our area of the Mrs. Henry Wood and hills ; one matter emphatically, I call the blastoff and we do this my way until we have driven those monsters out of our homeland."

"fine grandpa,"Nikkei said as she wrapped up once again in the thick cover."We do it your way, just so long as I get to kill Russians…"her word of honor became unintelligible as she drifted off into slumber.


â‚°

As Nikkei slumbered away the day, Stephen headed off into the woods, making contact with some old acquaintance who dealt in topic best left unmentioned in the bearing of the assurance. They had prepared for the probability of war coming, establishing memory cache of blazonry and early gear around the area for a set of partisans to use if they needed it…and now they will, for once again ‘ Ghost Bear'will enter into war and make his foeman pay for their law-breaking in blood.

He continued on into the woods, seeking a billet where his personal cache of ‘ special good'waited retrieval.

As the finish came into hatful, little More than a cluster of careen and bush covering a small cavern in their profundity he reached into his coating and rested his helping hand upon the hilt of his hunting tongue. The faintest odor of cigar tobacco filtered through the air, coming closer with each passing 2d, soon to be joined with the soft crunch - crunching of several duad of snowshoes coming towards him.

He edged into the nearby shrub and tree diagram, concealing himself so as to come out as little more than another minor clump of rocks at the base of a mighty northern pine as the people who followed him closed in, step by step, and into striking aloofness of his ambush…

Lightning fast he slammed his articulatio cubiti into the gut of the man who had snuck up behind him, following up with a fist to his opposition throat, as he grabbed the man by his coat and dragged him to the ground. Stephen pulled out his knife to fork up the death black eye and suddenly stopped as the man beneath him gently chuckled.

sea captain Robert Robinson of the Suomi Army grinned and looked at Stephen,"You have not lost any of the skill you taught all of us those year ago Colonel Stephen. Now if you don't mind, let me up and I will signal my men not to try and shoot you…"

"Like they really could get that close,"Stephen snorted,"I heard them from a half kilometre off. You learned the example well, but apparently your own students have not. Now why are you here maitre d', and please I am just Stephen now, no longer a colonel of the army…or will I be again."

"Stephen is it then,"began Robinson,"we're here to scout and chevvy the advancing Soviet Army as it heads up the road. person has to stay behind and become partizan, though from the grinning on your face I assume you already have begun that task ?"

"In a manner of speech production,"Stephen filled in his old student and friend in on his plans."Right now I am off to meet others in the field who will follow and walk out as they can. Even in our free lance style, we can ferment together and ca-ca the Russians life a living hell."

Robinson nodded as he caught the elusive usage of ‘ we'in his endure sentence, tattle of another who will hunt the Russians with Stephen.

"fair enough Sir Leslie Stephen,"James Harvey Robinson said as his men advanced, shocked to see their leader talking to an old man who appeared to come out of nowhere. He looked at Sir Leslie Stephen and asked of his old friend,"So then, what name will our secret hunting watch be called ?"

Stephen grinned, knowing then and there Robinson will go along with anything he asked or needed done,"The Snow Fox, for we will attest the true craftiness us quintet have when on our rest home ground. Now I have to get a few other thing done and ‘ acquired'then the James Henry Leigh Hunt will begin."

So it was, after a quick handclasp, the men departed.


3 December 1939 near front line of Russian 163rd infantry Division


Major Joseph stood by the armored faculty car with his sub-machine gun clenched tight in his clutches. His higher-up in the NKVD ( state security measures ) had made his statement painfully clear ; keep a close eye on the natural process of Major-General Bogdan as he served as his driver, courier and personal bodyguard out in the field. failure in any way will lead in summary execution.

Over a dozen Sir Thomas More soldiers, Loretta Young lieutenants and captains, stood around or waited in their own staff auto for statement from the full general. Almost all of them gazed from time to metre to the advancing line of motortruck, tanks and tank-riding infantry that snaked its way along the single route ever deeper into Finland. The remote ground-shaking roar of the artillery no longer registered with them, having become little more than setting noise in the quartern day of their lightning fast ( sort of ) gait of the attack.

Major-General Bogdan stood high upon the exhaust hood of his car as he scanned the horizon with his ok binoculars, a gift from his grandfather many long years past. His defeat mounted by the minute at the stubbornness of the Finnish defenders who have defied his ability to smash through them for the last three mean solar day. Three days and his division were barely twenty miles across the border.

"focal ratio, stop number and ever to a greater extent fastness. That is how we win this war, speed, jar and uncompromising aggression against any who stand against us,"he muttered to himself."Captain Craigson, ascertain that all regimental and take down commander understand the orders. Unrelenting pressure, there will be no more pull back or moving early than at the foe ahead. Any bankruptcy and I will personally shoot the officers myself if need be."

The police captain repeated back his command, saluted and retreated to his staff car, which tore off down the road with due haste to ensure the message was received and duly carried out.

Major-General Bogdan growled as he watched his variance slowly crawl down the route."The Finnish ass-kisser's of the Imperialist West and Capitalists will memorise what it means to defy the Soviet Union. We will take back what is rightfully ours since long before the Revolution began. They wanted war, so now they shall possess it and we will rebuild their society into a true Communist state as it should be."

His modality suddenly brightened at the great deal of a of a stamp battery of truck-mounted rocket launchers and two batteries of weapon moved off the road and began to set up for firing at targets located by his scouts. So practically firepower being prepared meant that at least a battalion or two of enemy soldiers had gathered to urinate a dire last stand against his armour and infantry tearing ever abstruse into their homeland.

The strait of a motorbike informed him that a messenger had arrived, and he nodded in satisfaction as the man stopped his bike, handed his line to Captain Dima who double-timed it to the universal. When he read the note, Major-General Bogdan felt his blood boil as he shouted, raged and cursed while directing another motorbike mounted messenger to propel forward and secern his divisional HQ to push his three hint regiments forward with all velocity or face capital punishment at his own hands.

He cursed the Order of ‘ absolute radio set secretiveness'that came from his superiors at Army HQ's fifty dollar bill or more miles behind his division."shit them for their rebelliousness to the needs of the homeland !"he shouted while shaking his fist in the steering of the Finnish defenders.

Nearby another senior officer smiled at the out-and-out cult of Major-General Bogdan. Of course when this military officer smiled, all the attendant ship's officer of the general cringed, instantly coming to attention and saluting, if only to save their own lives, not knowing death stalked all of them from another position…



â‚°

"Say what you will that one has a bit of a temperament job,"Sir Leslie Stephen said as he eased the binoculars down from his eyes. Clad in solid-white winter clothing his eyes shifted across the horizon and then across the land before him. Even the slightest movement drew his care as he quickly dismissed it as the farting, an animal or a Russian Soldier moving around on some mission or another.

He watched a indorse officer, probably the NKVD opposite number of the police officer who stood atop his cars hood, stroll with unadulterated arrogance and freshness becoming of a Commissar of richly social status over to the vehicle and upgrade upon the cowl as well. The remaining officers stood at a respectable length, all save for the officeholder's number one wood who looked and moved like a lowly terrier determined to protect its master from a ingroup of rapacious wolves.


â‚°

"Yes familiar they do have it coming for their rebelliousness to the needs of the motherland,"said Major general Vitaly, Political Commissar for the section of Major-General Bogdan."It appears you are ahead of schedule by a bit, despite word coming of some resistance run into by your leash elements."

"familiar Commissar it is good to see you up and about."Major-General Bogdan said as he gave his Comrade the best military greeting he could care."We are pushing hard for our day objective and I have ordered the men to push all the harder. There is some reported resistance, yet we shall push harder than before and shatter them completely. In unawares gild any captive will be in your manus, as they should be, and we shall be one measure closer to flying the signal flag of International Communism high over this earth of defiant banditti."


â‚°

To Stephens left hand, slightly higher up upon the craggy heap of stone and shrub among the great pine tree woods a pair of blueish eyes stared at the police officer through the compass of her rifle. She slowly brought her handwriting up to the scope and made some minute of arc adjustments, allowing her to deal with the range, flatus and other variables to place her shot right on prey when the moment arrived.

Both officers on the cable car hood turned to watching the horizon through their binoculars.

She drew the crosshairs stratum with the newly arrived officer's skull, and braced the rifles blood against her articulatio humeri while resting her finger on the trigger.

"I'm going for them granddaddy,"Nikkei whispered to Stephen, who nodded in response.

One final examination calculation of the ambit and all variables flowed through her mind as she squeezed the trigger…


â‚°

Major-General Bogdan smiled as the heavy artillery sounded off, the loud thunder of the howitzer merging with the screaming cry of Katyusha rockets tearing off from their truck-mounted launchers. He shook his fist in delight, imagining the slaughter beginning to diminish on the hapless Finland army regulars'just kilometers ahead when he felt something wet dab across the side of his head, left arm and chest.


He turned in meter to see the body of Major-General Vitaly prostration to the ground with all of the grace of a slaughter Sus scrofa. The sight of the gaping wounding left from the bullet his school principal had intercepted caused Bogdan to freeze, ineffective to go, speak, or even think. He knew then and there that demise was only moments away from claiming him in its icy hands.

Major Joseph leapt upon the railroad car tough and tackled Major-General Bogdan. The hummer meant for the general took the man in the backbone, severed his prickle and ruptured his bosom, dead before he and the general plummeted to the ground, sheltered by the armor car from the snipers fire.

Pandemonium reigned in the generals unit as some of the men ran to aid Major-General Bogdan and the fallen Commissar and John R. Major Joseph. The respite dove for the nearest cover they could find and returned fire with pistol, rifle or sub-machinegun at suspected sniper fix as the field of battle gun continued to thunder away and cook it nearly out of the question for one man to hear another even close up.

With mechanical efficiency, one officer after another flopped to the ground, a single red injury found in their torn throats or skulls. In less than two minutes, as the artillery fell tacit once again and their crews commenced training to strike on down the road, thirteen men lay dead on land, while the survivor huddled in the protective shadower of covering fire, not daring to move or even breath.

Even the normally unflappable Major-General Bogdan looked about, stunned and overwhelmed at the sheer carnage wrecked by some unknown foe in such a unretentive yoke of fourth dimension. It was over a half-hour before he regained his composure and shouted out orders to move the unit to his naval division headquarters and even longer to give notice Army headquarters of the personnel casualty of Major-General Vitaly.

â‚°

"cum Nikkei its time to forget and quickly,"Stephen said to her as he finished wiring the last of many ‘ gifts'he had set out earlier to further punish the Russians when they came to investigate the orbit. As he considered the carnage to come from his ‘ giving,'Stephen and Nikkei donned their skis and disappeared into the woods little Sir Thomas More than couple ghosts headed to one of many temporary protection they will come to use in the week and calendar month ahead.


â‚°â‚°â‚°

The mass of the snaking trail of tanks, motortruck, artillery and infantry which pushed ever inscrutable into his native land sickened Captain Edward Goldenberg Robinson. He wondered how much of a probability his body politic honestly had to turn back this unyielding mint of metallic element and men bent upon the pure conquest of Finland.

One of his men tapped him on his shoulder and pointed down to the wayside where a personnel of infantry began to accumulate under the enraged society of officers watched by stern-eyed NKVD political commissar. Some of the officers, led by a Commissar John R. Major, examined one region of ground and the bodies left behind after some kind of trap had occurred.

A straightaway counting of the foot told him that he and his men faced a reinforce company of Russian soldiers, who began to unfold out. Some marched unto a small crag of stone and shrub while the residual headed towards Robinson and his men at a brisk walk. He could see that the penis of this second stria were hesitant and on sharpness, though their fears of the commissars outweighed any danger from the woodlands ahead of them.


headwaiter Robinson and his handful of men dropped down under cover as a small plosion erupted from that jolty crag, felling over a dozen Russian soldiers. topsy-turvydom erupted as a second blast erupted, unleashing a wave of metal fighting, nails, and other projectiles that wounded a mark and five of men. The surviving infantry began to fire at random into the forest with rifles and sub-machineguns as fasting as they could while yelling at the top of their lungs.

They charged at the woods sharpness, only to cause their ragged formation shattered by a mountain range of blasts triggered by obliterate tripwires. pillar of smoke and tossed grime rose as men fell to the footing seeking cover, dead or dying.

"Now men, now, take them down while we can !"maitre d' Robert Robinson shouted to his men as the perfect time for a improvise ambush had arrived. Rifles merged with the tap-tapping of four light machine gunslinger which scythed across the Russian foot, felling them one after another after another.

In less than a minute the battle was over and his men swarmed among the idle Russians to gather rifles, ammunition and anything of Worth in the way of military intelligence operation they could find. Two minutes after they began, he and his men disappeared back into the woods, where two time of day and seven kilometers away the captain examined a set of orders to the NKVD Commissar Major to ‘ find and liquidate the banditti who slew Major-General Vitaly and 14 former officers.'

"XV police officer and they left behind a chain of dumbbell traps for their pursuers ?"Sergeant Jermaine, the adjutant of skipper Robinson, whistled softly and escape from his head in incredulity."Who could possibly have done that ?"

"I'll tell you who did this,"master Sir Robert Robinson said with a feeling of astonishment on his boldness,"It was the workplace of the Snow Fox. I need a blue runner to get the selective information we have back to our position of the lines, and get it there on the double."

Captain Edward Goldenberg Robinson watched the messenger ski away and then turned to his men and nodded. still as the still air around them they departed, determined to watch and hit the invading Russians whenever and wherever they can to take a leak life as miserable for them as possible.


7-8 December, 1939 Sweden - nameless manor house house

Swedish flush rector Hansson looked out the depository library window upon a soil covered in Baron Snow of Leicester and for a present moment dreamed that the world was still at heartsease. He sighed, knowing that such a ambition is finished for many a year to come since another big war has erupted.

Turning back to his two other guest he looked upon his old Quaker Ryti, peak Minister of Finland and here on ‘ secret matters'for his res publica."Will the terms be satisfactory in the end ?"he asked of Ryti.

Prime minister Ryti looked at the third gentleman in the room, a man of ruthless ambition and ill-concealed greed. No thing the absolute scorn he held for this man, Republic of Finland needed the weapon system and supply even more ; so he has dealt with the lesser of two immorality to save his home."It will be satisfactory, as per the damage we have agreed upon."

"Very good then,"the tertiary man declared as he stood and adjusted his coat,"have the money transferred into my Swiss people accounting by the usual means ; just to be pull in, this merging never happened and I will deny any and all mention of it in public. I am helping you due to the fact I hate the Russians more than anything else."

With that the man, German Marshall Woody Herman Goring departed for his flight of stairs home.



7-8 December, 1939 rear-area Russian Ninth Army corporation

In the old prospector's cabin, little more than a revivify hovel, Nikkei watched as the sun cast its last beam of luminosity before departing below the horizon and allowing the nighttime to embrace the land in its suitcase. She put the blanket back into property, to keep even the slight firelight from escaping into the outside world. She looked to the cabin door and wondered when Sir Leslie Stephen would be back from ‘ coming together with some friends nearby.'

She returned to cleaning her rifle with great care, determined to ensure that the weapon of her retaliation was kept in arrant experimental condition for the next trap set by Stephen and her. Step by step as she had been taught so long ago she cleaned and oiled each part in play, ensuring that not one molecule of dirt, moxie, or anything could jam or plug it up at the mo when she would need it most.

The small radio Sir Leslie Stephen had somehow gotten his hands upon whispered intelligence of the outside mankind between the static-filled cries of the aurora borealis dancing smash. What news came from official generator among the Northern and European stations painted a bleak future for her country of origin, as four massive army chemical group have crossed the molding from magnetic north to south, seeking to capture the entire nation.

To the due south, on the Karelian Isthmus the Russians have pushed the Finnish army back to the Mannerheim line. A massive weapon bombardment, nearly two days in length if the reports are to be believed, preceded a massed infantry assault in the neighborhood of Taipale supported with regimental strength weapon, rocket-fire, transmitting aerial bombing and speaker unit used to send calls for yielding of the Suomi army until they were shot apart by Finnish snipers.

Nikkei listened and smiled, pleased to hear the news of the Suomi regular army had dug in cryptical, with well sighted artillery and weapons, and then ripped apart the Russians assault. casualty from the massacre were estimated at 5000 short Russians and twice that injured, along with 500 prisoner. Curiously she heard about the crushing frustration made against the Russian armor, some 80 tanks destroyed or disabled and captured.

She and Stephen had seen a few such storage tank moving along the lone road that linked Russia and their army that advanced slowly into Finland. Sir Leslie Stephen seemed genuinely afraid of the metal beasts, though she respected what they could do, the sight of the gasoline-filled fuel tympan mounted on the back deck of cards of them gave her an idea of how to terminate one…literally it would go up in flames…

And part of the ‘ limited ammunition'prepared for her by Stephen and his admirer would do that job quite nicely.

Nikkei looked at the small trinity of feeding bottle tied to her battalion, each one prepared to fork up another lethal surprise on any armored beast or vehicle when assailed during an surprise attack. Sir Leslie Stephen had been rather dubious about the melodic theme when she suggested it, but on the narrow secondary route in the thick timber, five burned out trucks and a armored car testified to its simplistic and brutal efficiency.

Once she had finished her charge for the rifle she gently traced the newfangled scoring burned into the wooden stock. Each cross was that of a blow fox, barely 8mm in size, and representing a ace kill she had scored since she had become involved in the war for her country of origin. Twenty-four little slyboots, xxiv kill, some of them the motorbike couriers being used to impart Order between Russian Headquarters.

The last courier had turned out to be the most life-sustaining one to day of the month. She and Stephen had been crossing one of the lower-ranking road during a ignitor snow with her in the lead, and covering Stephen after she reached the far side. No Oklahoman had she prepared her foray the messenger came tearing around a bend in the road. She had aimed and shot him down without a seconds hesitancy, and thus gained both of them a usable motorbike and the lively good in the messenger satchel case.


Long into the nighttime Stephen had sat in this very cabin after dumping the motorbike, out of gas and appropriately booby-trapped for any curious Russians. The paperwork he looked through contained high-value military codes and communiqués, ordering of battle and supply position - it detailed the low level of provisions and ammo among the Russian army social unit in this area.

Stephen had explained he needed to get this hooey to some ‘ friends in high up office'and would be back as soon as he could. She was given some extra instructions : if he is not back by the beginning ray of dawn the next day, or at the first sighting of a Russian, she is to take flight at once and head for one of the six great deal he described. Of row if metre permitted before she bolted, she was to ‘ aerate'the little surprise contained in the cabin for the stupid person Russians.

Her nap that night was spasmodic and tormented by nightmares of unusual things coming out of the mists she could not think back after being woken by a escape of Soviet Air Force hero sandwich and attack aircraft overhead. She took a peak out the small window facing to the east and hoped against Leslie Townes Hope to see Sir Leslie Stephen coming up the trail in the rising sun…

Instead she gasped at the pile of four score Russian foot advancing at a steady pace towards the cabin.


â‚°

"donjon down and watch, no one make any racket that may bring them down upon us,"Stephen whispered to the men who accompanied him. When Hannu, Kalevi, Joni and their partisan nodded he turned back to keep an eye on the band of Russians advancing towards the cabin in which Nikkei sheltered. He could only pray she had already fled for one of the other encounter places and will await there for him.

beat by metre the soldiers advanced and spread out to circulate the cabin under the iron-hard gaze of the unit of measurement'commissar. If anyone remained inside the cabin there will be no luck for them to escape, and the supplies needed by the partisans will probably be found as well…


â‚°

Nikkei quickly tossed on her great coat, slipped on her plurality and rifle scabbard, and prayed as never before in her life as she struck a lucifer and held it to the duration of fuse-cord leading to Sir Leslie Stephen little surprise for the profligate approaching Russians.

Once the electric cord started to siss and cauterise, she dropped it to the primer and fled the cabin, cleared the minuscule ridgepole behind it and commenced a zig run for safety. She used every feature of speech of the terrain and woods to give her any cover, anything to sustain her from being seen by the advancing Russians. When she finally stopped and plopped down behind a cluster of tree she silently cursed at having left her set of skis back in the cabin.

"At least I didn't forget my snowshoes,"she said. Nikkei looked back at the diminished ridge running behind the cabin and decided that she had to get her skis if possible, lodge or no ordering from her grandad.

She moved as silent as a ghostwriter and with the grace of a deer across the land. Her acquirement in doing so had been perfected over long old age of hunting and practice with Sir Leslie Stephen, and on occasion when he travelled to make a purchase or make a deal that was best left unexplained to anyone else, especially person connected to the law of the land.


Just shy of the crown she stopped, eased her rifle from its scabbard and checked her pouch to ensure the redundant mag were ready if she needed them. measure by measure she slowly and cautiously eased her way to the crest of the ridge, propped herself up on her elbows and gazed upon the Russians below who had just arrived at the old cabin.

She softly cursed at the fact of Stephens surprise for the Russians had not yet gone off, and wondered what had gone wrong with it. Then and there she knew her skis are history as there are far too many Russian soldiers to fight…


â‚°

Stephen pulled back behind the shelter of the Tree as he reloaded his Finnish KP-31 sub-machinegun, and sent out a barrage of curses and insults so blasphemous the earth should have melted away. A bullet tore a chunk out of the tree mere cm from his cheek as he exposed himself again, bringing up the Thomson and fired off short salvo into the still advancing mass of Russian infantry.

import before Hannu and Kalevi had nearly moved their men into position to have down the Russians who encroached on the old cabin. Though risky, they have to strike at their enemy, the supplies cached away beneath the cabins floorboard are needed by the local partizan force play.

Stephen and Joni, along with a 12 early partisans stayed back to procure their escape path if the battle turned against them…only to be surprised by the sudden arrival of two Russian infantry companies, roughly 300 men total. Instantly Sir Leslie Stephen ordered his men to the cover of the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree and to can on the advancing forces.

Roughly forty or more Russians fell to the start barrage of little arms firing as two Light Within machine guns scythed across them like a harvester in a wheat field. bridge player grenades added to the butchery being wrought as blow after flesh-rending blow shattered the jumper cable Russians morale, sending them howling back down the trail…

Only to be systematically shot down by their Political commissars who called them cowards and deserters.

needle to say, the surviving solders suddenly became motivated to deform around and hold their luck with the Suomi partisans.

Stephen reloaded his Suomi three more times before his ammo was exhausted and he cursed as the Russians continued to march on at a very cautious pace. His pistol came out and he moved from screening to cover, hunting the Russians. The first one emerged into his sight and became the first prey he took…

In a ado of motion Sir Leslie Stephen cut down one Russian soldier after another as he moved among them, each of his Lahti pistols becoming an reference of him. One shot, one killing, the same radiation diagram delivered with simmer down preciseness. A cluster of Russian solders charged at him from the woods as he calmly reloaded his pistol, grinned and one after another, and thus reaped a harvesting of death on his foes.

Despite his powerful feat, the battle turned against the partisans.

m by measure they had to yield terra firma, pushed back by the sheer weight unit of numbers that inevitably benefited the Russians. Their opposition kept on coming out of the woods, an perpetual cascade of angry opposition determined to stump out their tormenters, even as the numb mounted in mint upon fallen sight of tattered flesh and bone.


He hoped Hannu and Kalevi had plenty sense to scour the ambush and get their men to condom. As even Thomas More Russians advanced up the pathway to reinforce the tattered units fighting the partisans, Sir Leslie Stephen knew in his heart that he will not be leaving this fight alive…

He prayed for Nikkei, that she has fled and gotten to safety device, and that his sinning of being a smuggler of sleeve and former semi-illegal goods could be forgiven when he stood before the judgment throne of God. He did not pray for a miracle, knowing that such is beyond his luck to deserve…

Though that is exactly what happened…


â‚°

Nikkei watched as a ternion of officeholder ran around and shouted decree at their men to hurry off to join the fight down the trail. None of the soldiers seemed unforced to head that way, having come to esteem and dread the skill of their implacable foe ; not even with the sheer weight of numbers on their side could the police officer make them take the first footmark back down the trail.

One officer, a commissar if she understood his social station correctly, argued with the former two, who appeared to be commissar as well, about the need to seize the cabin and any supplies that remained within it. After that, they could then go and connect their comrades in the rut of battle.

Having decided sufficiency is enough she raised her rifle, braced the inventory against her articulatio humeri and aimed at the talkative commissar. The retort of her rifle was smothered by the intense gunfire from the woodwind instrument, but she saw the commissar plummet to the undercoat, his skull having stopped the bullet.

The former commissar looked at their fallen comrade with wide-eyed expressions of reverence and shock in equal measure. Within five bit both of them joined their comrade on the ground, dead before they hit the earth.

Her world became a blur of move as she steadily carried out the up-back, forward-down palm-sweep of the rifle deadbolt which chambered turn after round as one Russian after another was targeted and died when she gave a gentle squeeze on the trigger.

Some fled into the woods, determined to take their chances with the remaining commissar than face the deadly sniper now picking them off one by one. Shortly after the live on entered the woodwind, a furious cascade of gunfire cut them down as individual stranger to Nikkei had arrived…

Thirty Russians sought protection buttocks or within the cabin, one of them tossed Nikkei's shattered skis out the doorway with a string of condemnation. They began to fuel away with accurate shots from rifle, pistol or their own sub-machineguns at the enemy in the woods.

Nikkei pulled a cartridge clip from her pouch, freed the empty one from her rifle and slid the new one home. She chambered a rhythm and looked down to see which one of the Russians will be her first victim….

Of course that happened to be the instant Stephens ‘ talent'to the Russians went off, various peg of dynamite secured to over thirty jerry-cans filled with petrol concealed under and around the cabin. The attack reaped a massive harvest of death, and left Nikkei not one living Russian to shoot.

Even Nikkei, partly shielded by the crest of the ridge, was flung away and she cursed as she and all of her gear rolled downhill until a heavy tree assisted in stopping her. Clutching her bruised read/write head with one helping hand, her rifle in the early, she cursed and charged back to the top of the ridge to see what else was going on…


She spotted the few remaining partizan down the trail fighting to hold the Russians at the edge of the woods, and knew if they were forced fully into the clearing behind them they would pass to the last man. The clattering of gunfire to her aright indicated more zealot were even now engaged in a second death struggle against some former band of Russian troops.

For them she could do naught, but for the first group, and the man she cared for that fought like a ogre for his men…she can facilitate out in her own way…

She knelt down and braced her rifle, aimed…and commenced the back round of dealing death this very day on the Russians down the trail…


â‚°

Sir Leslie Stephen grinned like a banshee tearing across the moor as the thundering comeback from the detonated ‘ gift'in the cabin carried out to the celestial horizon. He knew then and there Nikkei had fled the cabin and even now was on her way to prophylactic.

He dropped to one knee, partially concealed by a declamatory stone, and commenced to fire both pistols at the howling Russians that charged out of the woods. His force play of partisans was down to him and four others, and surrounded by their enemy whom they knew would show no mercy…the sudden gunfire deeper in the woods indicated that Hannu and Kalevi had engaged a large Russian party with their men, and told him they confronted a reenforce multitude or a full moon regiment of infantry.

Click-click…

Stephen howled as his side arm emptied and drew out his hunting knife and pounced upon the nearest Russian, ending his lifespan in one western fence lizard stroke. His elbow slammed into the next soldier coming up behind him, followed by a tongue thrust to the gut ; then three more Russians closed on him, rifles leveled and eyes showing that they did not destine to get him as a prisoner.

"Come on you bastard frankfurter !"Sir Leslie Stephen shouted in Russian, prepared to study at to the lowest degree one of them with him…

Then one soldier lurched backward as his chest exploded in a jet of red mist, perfectly before he hit the ground. The two others turned and fled, discarding their rifles, only to perish in bout as a precisely placed slug intercepted their skulls.

He watched, absolutely flabbergasted, as one Russian soldier after another died as they turned to flee or register themselves for a moment from any cover they could find oneself.

"Joni,"Sir Leslie Stephen bellowed out as his old champion came into pot, blood streaming down his leg."God man how many of us are left ?"

"You and me Stephen,"Joni said as he handed two full-magazines to Sir Leslie Stephen for his Suomi sub-machinegun."I am fine, let's go and see what we can do for Hannu and Kalevi…"Both men startled at the audio of automatic rifle small arms flack and swooning machineguns began to play in the Natalie Wood, to be followed by stillness so profound it all but screamed at them.


Within three minutes a band of heavily armed men accompanied by the partisans emerged out of the woods and met with Sir Leslie Stephen and Joni.

"Sir Leslie Stephen we keep coming together in the craziest of piazza,"headwaiter Robinson said to his old wise man,"for once I'm gladiolus I could return the favour of you saving my tail on our hunting tripper. Though it looks like your battle went well enough given how badly your partisans were outnumbered…"

Stephen ignored him as the butcher bill was delivered by Joni after determining the final reckoning of the battle : twenty subsister with six of them injure, xxxvii dead, which included Hannu and Kalevi. The Russian dead were beyond count at this point.

Stephen ordered his men to take whatever arms, ammunition or supplying they needed from the Russians and to gather the soundbox of their fallen. He set an iron-hard deadline of ten minute for this to be done before they would leave and journey knockout across the trails in the antediluvian woods.

"Joni, you take the star and get the men to safety. Use what we already have cached and hit the Russians as you can. Usual means for contacting me when it's needed and pass the Holy Writ on to the others about what happened here,"Stephen told his old friend.

"hang on a mo Stephen,"headwaiter Robinson said and ordered twenty of his men to go with Joni and the few remaining partisans."I know I should not carve up my men up like this, but you bozo are fighting for Finland as we are. This way, our clayey arm can aid with making the Russian bear bleed for all we can get out of his hide…"

Sir Leslie Stephen, Joni and Robinson turned to the sound of a soldier shouting out an edict that instantly ended in a wail of annoyance and mewling of a newborn kitty. They watched a vernal madam, rifle still in hand, calmly base on balls over to the old man as she muttered about ‘ soldiers who need to learn some manners before grabbing a lady that way.'

Jack Roosevelt Robinson shook his head as Stephen uncharacteristically rushed over and embraced the char in a carry hug, whirling her around and around as she called for him to give up embarrassing her in forepart of the other men.

"Who is that with Stephen ?"Robinson asked Joni."I did not think there were any fair sex among the partisan in this region ?"

Joni just chuckled and shook his head,"The full story is Stephens to tell, but you have seen the handiwork of the Baron Snow of Leicester Fox first hand."He pointed to the many fallen Russians taken down by Nikkei."Oh and your man who dared to grab her should be alright, his chestnut tree will be all right despite the quelling kick she gave them."

â‚°

"Grandpa I forgot my skis after lighting the fuse,"Nikkei said. She dreaded the objurgation she had coming for disobeying his ordination."I was waiting for the Russians to leave and then…boom !"she motioned with her hands, pantomiming an explosion while a sheeplike grin grew on her face.

"Oh and then I spotted the Russians running in your commission after I took down those three commissar idiots that tried to order their troops around like fierce little terriers,"she said as Stephen and her joined Robinson and Joni.


"deuce-ace political commissar, she took down three of the Russian commissars ?"Edward G. Robinson asked, and then he whistled when Nikkei tossed the fallen commissars hats over to him, plentiful substantiation of her claim.

"Three political commissar from a total of 30 Russians I took down. Though the commissars are a wasteland of a good bullet, better to just toss a grenade or something at them…"Nikkei mumbled as Stephen laughed and Joni and Captain Esme Stuart Lennox Robinson just shook their heads.

"Granddaughter, do not call down yourself of a kill, after all you took down that divisional commissar a few daytime back…"he looked at skipper Robinson and nodded to the man's unverbalised interrogation."Yes she took down that Major-General your intelligence activity rootage declared perfectly, now my dear granddaughter has thirty more foxes to add to her list…"

captain Edward Goldenberg Robinson was handed a substance written by his wireless operator Corporal Hanki. It was lodge from the High instruction for the Finnish army. He just shook his head in disbelief as to what it stated the evidence in dead Russians silent testimony to the belated intelligence sent to him and the partisans…

…to all social unit detached on drumbeater activities and loyalist force play engaged within the area of ninth Red ground forces Corp. Reliable intelligence agency has affirmed that a reserve regiment of the 163rd foot naval division has been sent back from the front line lines to secure the main Russian supply road and to impart anti-partisan patrols and sweeps. repeat, to all units…

"Well it appears this fine piece of intelligence operation has come, as they say, too little and too late for our needs, as has become the normal anymore,"said Captain Jackie Robinson as he showed the message to Stephen, Joni and Nikkei who was surprised at his action.

"Nikkei, like it or not you are now a root of inspiration for the troops of the figurehead contrast, just like Stephen, when Holy Writ of what all the enthusiast accomplished here this day."police captain James Harvey Robinson clasped her deal in his and gave them firms'shake of thanks.

"Stephen we need to get going,"chieftain Robinson said a second later,"This regiment has been annihilated, but some subsister may make it to a nearby outstation or garrison and bring down yet more hassle on our header. We can not support a instant engagement such as that."

As if to underline his point, a flight of Russian bombers passed overhead at that exceptional blink of an eye, which caused everyone to dive for cover on the off prospect they were being looked over. Nikkei watched the airplane go on their way, all the time holding her rifle skyward and wondering if she could pack one down given the chance.

"Sir Leslie Stephen, you and your granddaughter are welcome to descend with us,"Robinson said,"With the way she can shoot and your abilities to set an ambush…"He stopped when his old wise man held up a hand for secrecy. There will be no more give-and-take, Sir Leslie Stephen and Nikkei will preserve on their own, seeking to bleed the United States Army of the Red Bear as much as they can.

"Before we parting let me feed you some instructions and advice on how to stop the Russian tanks…"Stephen filled Walker Smith in on the tactics he and Nikkei had developed and the helplessness on the panoplied beasts.

Captain Esme Stuart Lennox Robinson looked at Nikkei with profound deference, which caused her to blush from mind to toe from virtuous embarrassment. He turned back to Stephen and thanked him, stating he will pass this news up the chain of command. With that the different groups departed and headed out on their own chosen paths.



10 December, 1939 Finland Supreme program line headquarters


The men stood around the table as they examined the updated maps and compared them to the latest entrance theme and intelligence agency gathered from undercover agent, informants, radio intercepts and the similar. Couriers delivered their satchels of messages and postulation while aides for the armed forces leaders gathered here stood silently by, prepared to answer any questions or handle any job they are assigned.

One man listened and mentally crunched all the information told to him by his subordinates, details from troop motility and battalion statuses to logistics and anticipated move by the Russian invaders. He asked elaborated questions concerning the four invading Russian army army corps - the Seventh, one-eighth, Ninth and Fourteenth - and pondered the successes his soldiers had scored, particularly within the area of the Ninth and the savage defeat a band of partisans had inflicted just two Day past.

He perked up at the honorable mention of an old legend having returned to the force field of battle, the shade Bear, and his new companion, a partisan leader known simply as the Snow Fox. One old poor boy and a new hero bringing hope to the land and inspiring the Finnish soldiery who received a monumental boost to their morale and fighting feeling as tidings of the Russian defeat spread with the force of a lightning strike.

When he looked up at his subordinates he understood from their looks they waited his instructions. They wanted to come upon back and strike back hard, to deliver such a wildcat puff to the Russian bear that his scream will be heard around the world for centuries to come.

He tapped the map with his finger, outlining his plan for that helping of the front facing the Russian ninth USA Corp. Each man took notes concerning his circumstances of the program, and began to detail what he needed to do for the countermove to issue forth ; they acknowledged the odds to be long for any real winner, yet it had to be done for the sake of their homeland.

"Colonel Siilasvuo,"Field marshal Mannerheim, commanding officer of the US Army of Suomi, said to the one he has selected to lead the counterattack,"Retake Suomussalimi and dispose of the Russian 163rd part, you fly out this minute and begin performance 24-hours from now."

Colonel Siilasvuo saluted and departed to catch his plane and lay down his plans as the others returned to the maps and made other hard selection in the ongoing war.


10 December, 1939 163rd Russian foot Division main office

Outside the hotel appropriated by Major-General Bogdan to be his variance headquarters a lone gunfire sent the guards scuttling inside on the forked with weapons drawn. Once they determined that their air force officer was good they returned to their stake, save for the two who dragged the corpse of Colonel Hussein, late commander of the destroyed 662nd Infantry Regiment.

"Gentlemen,"Major-General Bogdan declared to the officer around him as he calmly placed his smoking side arm on his desk,"Let the record show that Colonel King Hussein has been found guilty by summary court martial of treason and delinquency of tariff and cowardliness in the face of the foe, not to mention outright stupidity in the deportment of subject field operations."

All officer save for the sadistic political commissar of the division shook as he gazed upon each one in turn,"He has been executed by purchase order of STAVKA for his treason. All of you understand this, one failure, one pitiful attack to excuse incompetency or treason and I will bourgeon you as well."


Major-General Bogdan left his desk a import later and headed to break the latest reports from the nominal head and to prepare design for the next attack upon the illogically refractory cinque. He should already have smashed their front line, torn across the waist of Finland and bisected this fascist nation. His rage became evident when he slammed his fist on a large table that shattered under that hammer-blow, and sent the man typing out gild to throw together from his hot seat in a desperate bid to stay alive.

walking into the map elbow room he howled for one of his aides to attend, and once the captain appeared, began to rattle off the ordering for the day concerning approach road and time, logistics and gun fervidness plan. Of course, with so few effect left to him, especially after the 662nd infantry Regiment was slaughtered, the planning did not exhaust too much time.

The just thing that really bothered him is accounts from the Finnish radio which spoke of the legendary man called the"Ghost Bear'is combat-ready in the part. His building block in the revolutionary war in which Republic of Finland broke itself release from the motherland of Russian Federation, aided by the Fascist Imperialists of the decadent western lands, had faced the man and his zealot.

No thing how hard they tried to fascinate him, no subject the hook used or executions summarily carried out, he had not only evaded them, but carried out a cause of destruction that decimated nearly seven divisions. Many a mother threatened her barefaced child with stories of ‘ the ghost Bear will come up and get you."

A messenger arrived at his position and declared that Major-General Zelenfsev, commander of the 44th infantry Division will be arriving on the even of 15 December to ‘ discuss the flow thing of the front lines.'

"Tell the Major-General I will be glad to hash out the reasons he has been cooling his dog for a week when he and his division is needed here,"Bogdan ordered,"and get up a place for him to outride as well in the officers room on the hotels top floor."


15-16 December, 1939 Rear-area Russian ninth Army Corp

police sergeant Osip slowed his motorbike as he neared the next checkpoint, and grinned as the lone lookout man waved for him to turn back with one hand, and held high a feeding bottle of ‘ official political party coffee'( which he knew meant fine Vodka ) in the other.

Once the cycle stopped he turned off the motor and placed it next to the checkpoints wooden social structure, little more than a modest, hastily built hut with a theatre of operations phone for ‘ parking brake usage only'by senior police officer or the fear NVKD. This accomplished he moved to place upright before the checkpoints officer, an old, taunt and brave worn police lieutenant he did not know but figured must be an NVKD political commissar or security official.

"deputy,"Osip said as he stood at attention and saluted,"I am serjeant-at-law Osip and on messenger duty for the Ninth U. S. Army Headquarters. Here are my orders and composition sir,"he handed them over to the scowling, stern-faced police lieutenant whose eyes showed no clemency could be expected,"and I am make to show the satchel is still sealed upon your way sir."

"fine then Sergeant,"the lieutenant said not bothering to innovate himself, thus a sure sign he is NVKD."Come into the shack and we can do the inspection over some ‘ functionary party coffee bean'while you tell me all that is going on up at the headquarters for the 163rd Division."


Over the next half hour serjeant Osip enjoyed half a bottle of the all right Russian vodka he knew to exist, and revealed all he knew not only of the 163rd part HQ, but of all the Russian Ninth Army he had seen beginning hand or even heard rumors about.

The deputy gently challenged him on each distributor point, asking the Saame question from different angle while he expressed doubts here and there about the veracity or loyalty and commitment of sergeant-at-law Osip. The drunken, thoroughly terrified serjeant-at-law was consistent in every point, which pleased him to no end, and even more so as he saw the messenger's message satchel remained sealed with the decal of the ninth regular army senior commissar.

"Sergeant Osip you have done your duty to the motherland and the Soviet Union admirably,"the Lieutenant said. Sergeant Osip smiled and stood to leave ; he never saw the Lahti pistol that moved to just shy of his skull, nor heard the gunshot that killed him.

After disposing of the consistence deep in the Sir Henry Wood next to the existent lieutenant who had manned the checkpoint,"Sergeant"Stephen, wearing the overcoat and uniform of the courier, climbed onto the motorbike and headed down the road to ‘ deliver'his commodity to the 163rd naval division headquarters.


â‚°

Four hours later Stephen left the hotel which had become the 163rd division field headquarters. He learned of the desperate fighting they had undertaken when ordered by Army headquarters to retreat, the continuous molestation by Finnish zealot and unconstipated United States Army forcefulness on their supplying lines, and Thomas More elaborate data that he intended for later victimisation.

Before he departed he collected from the mellow floors where the fourth-year officer of the military headquarters slept a modest gift for Nikkei. Taking the back stairs down to the large parking service department behind the hotel he evaded the few half-awake sentries on guard tariff with contemptible ease, activated his ‘ gift'to the Russians and quietly fled into the night to where he had stashed the motorbike.

He was far down the route when his ‘ giving'caused no end of bedlam for the 163rd division.

As he motored on down the back lead and lowly route on his stolen motorbike, Stephen grinned as old memories returned concerning the last war. Compared to his honey for hunting and deal making ( in illegal arms and former trade good such as Vodka banned from being exported ), only the joy of killing Russian soldiers once again surpassed them.


16 December, 1939 rear-area Russian one-ninth United States Army corp

Within the shelter depths of an old stone and earth-covered firm Nikkei listened to the radio and absorbed the in style news of the war. The fondness from the roaring flames in the hearth reminded her of better winter nighttime with her numb family, and she was glad to be free for a time of the cold wintertime Nox just outside the house.

Stephen had gone off ‘ to encounter out some details'that he understood from the messages broadcast to drumbeater by the assorted Finland radio Stations. For the hundredth sentence since he left she looked down to the pistol at her face, hoping she will not involve it if the Russians or former trouble maker discovered and entered the old house.

As she devoured her repast of a thick, rich, spicy, meat-stew and some semi-stale moolah with butter and jam she shook her head in mental rejection. The conference of Carry Nation had tossed the Soviet Union out of its ranks, and many of its penis body politic representatives made great speeches of aid and arms being prepared for freight from the many Scandinavian and European authorities to Finland.

The daily news from Finnish capital spoke of drumbeater under the leadership of the ‘ Ghost bear'and ‘ C Fox'which had annihilated the Russians 662nd foot Regiment completely with minimum release to the Suomi strength involved in the battle…an exaggeration that irritated Nikkei due to the true phone number of old family friends and associated who were lost.

When she took another bowl to the full of the stew from the kettle simmering over the fire the latest news of the battle on the Mannerheim line came through. Apparently the Russians launched a three-division assault, and in a 40 time of day pitched engagement were repulsed, less than 1200 Russians escaped from their military unit of 35000.

She and Stephen, wherever he had gotten off to, had been doing their portion of harassing the Russians - taking down lone trucks and a distich of tanks, disabling artillery unit electric battery that passed by and she took a reprobate kind of delight in taking down the messenger on their motorbikes…the issue of them had been dropping off over the preceding week, grounds of her having culled the herd with ruthless efficiency.

Details from the battle for Suomussalimi were broadcast. The 27th foot Regiment of Finland had executed a chain of daring assaults from three different focussing, isolated and destroyed key whole of the Russian 163rd Infantry naval division. That unit, plus the 44th infantry division were being harassed and worn down in non-stop raiding and skirmishing that the Finnish Army excelled at.

She grinned at the acknowledgment of Suomussalimi being back in Finnish hands. Then the news spoke of the Finnish United States Army and partisans ‘ using new and wonderful weapon system'to deal with the Russian armor ; the very proficiency she and Stephen developed a few days ago - a feeding bottle of alcohol and gasoline with few other things mixed in to reach it into a viscous gasoline gel, and then a gas or oil soaked rag that is tied to it and lit just before being tossed at the armoured combat vehicle.

Net result…one cooked tank car, especially if you can hit the engine, interior fuel army tank, or the commonly mounted barrel of reserve fuel mounted on the after deck.

Stephen returned a few minutes later as she cleaned out her sports stadium with a chunk of bread. She watched him displace to the fire and call for up a bowl of stew and sit down succeeding to her, his thickly coat and hat showing clear signs he had been involved in some sort of altercation earlier in the night.


He moved over to the yowl fervor and stood before it to warm up."Nikkei I have found out that some ‘ particular visitors'will be passing through this area in the next few twenty-four hour period,"he said to her with a smile of pure wicked delectation."The 163rd Division had been retreating through the 44th class and the completely area is in nail Chaos. Both divisional commanding officer are utter, having been at the 163rd's central office when the hotel went up in flames…literally !"

He chuckled at that, just as he had chuckled soon after visiting the 44th variance storehouse of supply hand truck parked in a relatively unguarded laager. Thirty transactions of thrifty work delivered spectacular effect, he had just finished crossing the lone bridge on the roadway when the entire K of ammo and provision-laden trucks went up in a Ernst Boris Chain of powerhouse from the small bomb calorimeter he had liberally placed on their fuel tanks.

So great was the Chaos generated he was able to infiltrate the guard shack on his side of the bridge and trigger the demolition charges the Russians had emplaced just that day incase the Suomi United States Army pushed the Read Bear back across the river. As if that had not caused enough pandemonium and damage, a flight of stairs of Finnish Air violence planes swept his incline of the river route, damaging and destroying over sixty vehicle and damaged countless others.

acquiring back to Nikkei took some time, longer than he anticipated, but a few ‘ borrowed'motorbikes from a few now deceased couriers helped out.

"It appears the Ninth army Corps commander for the Russians is coming in person to scrutinise the reasonableness for the holdup in ‘ conquering these decrepit lackey's of the Imperialist west,"he laughed and shook his head at such nonsensicality,"General Dashicev will be here in a few days and we have a chance to ‘ greet'him in proper partizan style."Here he mimicked with his hand a pistol being fired off, the bullet delivered between the full general eyes.

"Nikkei I found out there will be some ‘ peculiar visitors'coming through this sphere in the adjacent match of sidereal day,"Stephen said to her with a wicked smile."I found out the 163rd partitioning has been ordered to retreat and the 44th section is sitting on its haunches per orders of the NKVD. It appears that General Dashicev, loss leader of the one-ninth U. S. Army Corp of the Russians will be making a tour of the front lines."

"How…how did you find this out grandpa ?"Nikkei asked, shy if her grandfather was pulling her leg or if he was telling the Truth. She just sat there and shook her head word in awe at his audaciousness as he explained all he had been up to while gone. Then he told her the news show she never dreamed of hearing, but confirmed by two jam chapeau he pulled out of his release and tossed into her lap…

The hats which belonged to two now deceased person Major-Generals.

"That one belonged to Major-General Bogdan, the one you missed a couple of weeks ago,"Sir Leslie Stephen said to her with a teasing grinning."The other to Major-General Zelenfsev, I found both of them discussing a rather efficient way to counterstrike our army. They never paid tending to the fact a ‘ Russian army courier'might take for it worth the clock time to take out the commanding officers of their respective divisions when the opportunity presented itself."

He showed her the assembling of report, design and former info he had taken from the now ruin field headquarters."I got this stuff and nonsense for our forces before my ‘ gift'to the Russians went off…"

"Grandpa, what…what did you do ?"she asked, unsure if she wanted to hear the report. One matter she had come to hump of her grandfather is he had a fighting flavor that shone brave and dead on target, and could be as ruthless as any murderer when events called for him to be. She wondered if in time, and if she lived to see the end of the war, she will turn the same way…

"You remember the ‘ natural endowment'I set for you to use back at the cabin ?"Sir Leslie Stephen asked and grinned at the frown of complete fury she gave to him,"Imagine a fire truck parked within the garage connecting that old hotel, a fuel motortruck that had some stick of dynamite added to ensure that the resulting surprise would be…spectacular."

"Now that the bridge circuit is destroyed, the generals gone, and most of the 44th class provision are no more, our incline will stimulate a much easygoing time disposing of them,"he clenched his fist and grinned while his frigidity eyes blazed with pure fury and delectation at the impending victory for the Finnish force out in the area.

"Do you want a Russian regular army corp full general added to your killing or not ?"Stephen chuckled at the feral grin that grew on Nikkei's font."Good, we will head out soon enough, but first I have something to guide care of…"

Nikkei watched him withdraw a diminished box-like bundle from the bottom of his backpack and head for the door."Grandpa what are you doing ?"she asked, the concern audible in her voice and visible on her face.

"I'll be coming back shortly Nikkei,"he said and then became deadly serious,"emphatically this time follow my orders, at the starting time sign of danger snap up your power train and flee as fast as you can. No leaving your skis behind or coming to find me alright ?"He waited until she nodded,"You know the meeting places we discussed before, as I have said, if you have to flee head for one of the six locations. The partisans already know to keep open and eye out for you if our travels turn for the worse."


â‚°â‚°

chieftain Robinson and his handful of men moved with utmost care as they swept the meeting place for any signs of an ambush from Russian forces. His men on the flank indicated with manus signal no one was in the expanse. His gentle, disgust swearword seemed to echo across the wooded hills.

"Where in the humankind has Sir Leslie Stephen gotten off to this time ?"Robinson declared. He nearly had a meat attack as the phone of a side arm malleus being eased back into place filled his pinna. The somatic succeeding to him who still had a distance of cold brand placed under his jaw did not affect an inch.

"You're getting sloppy Captain Robinson,"Sir Leslie Stephen said as he pulled both pistols away from the men, sliding them back into their holsters."I've been shadowing all of your men for the last half hour ; you did not even see the Russian patrol waiting for you just down the trail…"

"What patrol, we did not see any house of a patrol - ours or theirs ?"the corporal exclaimed in sheer indignation at such a claim being made.

Stephen pointed over his shoulder to where six Russian infantry lay dead."Like I said, you and your men are getting sloppy. Now let's get down to commercial enterprise as quickly as we can. I paid a visit to the 163rd Infantry sectionalization home base and got these papers,"he tossed Esme Stuart Lennox Robinson a heavy satchel bag filled with vital information,"before my gift to them went off."

"Somehow I should give known it was you behind that,"maitre d' Robinson said with a grin."We will get these to Suomussalimi and then to United States Army Headquarters."He handed the satchel to the corporal, turned to speak with Stephen and discovered he had disappeared back into the woods silent as a ghost.

"I hope this info is as vital as Stephen thinks it is,"Captain Sir Robert Robinson said to himself.

He had no idea just how utile and vital it was to Field marshall Mannheim, whom gave off a shout of triumph that shocked many of his subordinates…


18 December, 1939 England

In the dorm of Parliament men of mightiness and authority sat, or stood, around the longsighted hold over discussing events, ideas or examined the smashing wall-mounted map which dominated the room. At the insisting of a lone man, the lone one who dared to chomp away on his trademark cigar, commenced to fork up their portions of the plan in concern to the Finland-Soviet War and the surrounding Scandinavian nations.

Many of the senior high school Command, minister of religion and parliamentarian looked at the cigar-chomping man with seismic disturbance, surprise, disbelief and apprehension for one to purpose such an audacious outline. They listened as he delivered his reasons for the design, why it will succeed if implemented in metre, and the greatest of gains towards thwarting Federal Republic of Germany and its powerful war motorcar.

"gentleman,"Mr. Churchill declared while he thumped his clenched fist on the mesa,"We must aid Republic of Finland with all the supply, branch and ammunition, carpenter's plane, armoured combat vehicle and troops we can while denying the government of Germany the most critical resourcefulness they need. atomic number 26 ore, the ore supplied to them by Kingdom of Sweden and shipped via Norway ; we will figure out both problems with one expedition…cut off the mines from Federal Republic of Germany and have a vital route to incite our rest period effect on into Finland."

Churchill concealed other, retentive range architectural plan currently unfolding in Federal Republic of Germany that may gain an unexpected harvest in the calendar week to come…especially one concerning Chancellor of the Exchequer Hitler…

Many in the Senior dictation approved the initial outlay of the plan, and made a few good word here and there, seeking to refine it into a workable lineation. Even Prime Minister Chamberlain gave his reluctant approval after an extensive argument on international law and intervention of achromatic and sovereign lands.

Only one man dared to stand in opposition to the plan, and even then only to assume a ‘ devils counselor-at-law'posture.

Minister of War Hore-Belisha stood and rapped his fist on the table to gain ground everyone's tending."Distinguished valet,"he began,"recall that we and French Republic have been warned via the government of Switzerland that Germany will regard any presence of Allied troops within the borders of Norway or Sverige as an attack upon mainland Deutschland itself and result in quick retaliation."

"It appears there is an loose agreement between Sweden and Deutschland ; for our agents and contact are even now reporting that shipments of small-scale blazon, motorcar guns and unaccented cannon, plus substantial amounts of ammo have even now crossed into the borders of Republic of Finland from Sweden."Hore-Belisha emphasized each point with a smack of one hired man into the early."This appears to be done via area marshal Goring, and with the keep of Chancellor Hitler. If we interfere with an invasion of Norway and Sweden we will gamble sundering the range of mountains of supplying going to Finland…lose that and Communist Russia will win by sheer weight of number."

Winston Churchill looked upon the minister of War with optic that blazed in righteous fury. Standing, he slammed his clenched fist on the table and locked gazes with his opposer."Understand this, the fate of Finland and of the unloose world are tied together as one ; here are my logical argument as to why the plan must go forth…"

The debate raged long into the dark and well into the next sunrise before the meeting came to a end ; nothing had been decided, to the disappointment of many.



18 December, 1939 Germany

He sat behind his desk and paused, stunned by the news program contained in the top hidden report in his hands. He read it three more times, examining each detail and fact and assumption for the least signaling of magic trick or of the facts being deliberately misconstrued or manipulated.

His aide stood by, having sensed something of great implication is going on in the mind of his leader, and thus he will be here to see account made.

The man closed the composition and laid it upon his desk, shocked by the order of magnitude of failing to be found within his ‘ allies'of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. He looked at his aide and gave off a rapid-fire Chain of orders and sat back in his chairperson as the youth sea captain ran off to collect the officers so indicated.

Thirty hour later Chancellor Adolph Hitler stood before his gathered staff in the meeting room that adjoined his spot. For over six time of day the merging continued, with prime minister Der Fuhrer demanding hard result from each man, save for marshall Goring, whom nodded at the unsaid head concerning the secret supplying being sent to Finland via Sweden.

In due Order a plan began to go forth for the opportunity that lay assailable before them, one which grew greater with each time of day Union of Soviet Socialist Republics bled on the snowy fields, hills, and forests."Gentlemen,"Hitler said,"We have a golden opportunity that story and portion gives to one people to vary the world every millenary ; the weapon bought by Kingdom of Sweden will continue without interruption, and we shall increase our giving of military intelligence operation to Finland."

Chancellor Hitler walked over to the large wall map and rapped his clenched fist hard on the moulding of Suomi - Russia."That is where Russia and the Communist will be bled Stanford White, and here,"he slammed his fist knockout lower on the map,"is what we shall do…"

The collected men looked upon such a bold and unproblematic construct with equal measures of awe, shock and hunger, for indeed a golden opportunity - one filled with danger and extreme risk avowedly - had arrived to deliver an deathly blow to their ancestral enemy.

"Chancellor Hitler,"declared General-colonel Keitel,"with your blessing we will begin to make preparations."

Adolf Hitler nodded and then said to the departing ship's officer and parson,"This info changes all we have expected, the ruin of Russia is at helping hand once and for all…the Death of a tyrant will soon occur."

As he turned to expect out the windowpane he never understood how prophetical those very watchword happened to be…



20 December, 1939 rear-area of the Russian Ninth Army Corp

Nikkei paused as she and Stephen neared the top of the hill and motioned for him to do the same. She strained to pick up the sound she heard a moment before and then grinned when it became pass, another Russian courier on a motorbike was making his rounds along the principal road.

Stephen smiled and motioned to a smudge halfway up the hill, a cleft in the rocks surrounded by ample shrub and trees which made for a near-perfect snipers nest. He motioned to a large boulder surrounded by gravid trees where he will cover her as she took down the courier ; from long practice both reached their locating, shed their skis and had their several weapon system - the Republic of Finland KP sub-machinegun for him, the master-crafted rifle for Nikkei - readied for business.

A sudden Wave from Nikkei told Stephen something else was imperfectly, as she looked take aback for the first clip since the war began. When he looked through the vegetation and onto the briny road he understood completely her shock…for an unusual convoy worked its way ever so slowly down the route long since churned to mud and junk due to the penny-pinching constant dealings and treads of the tanks.

quaternity motorbike guards led the way for the convoy followed by a lone, light-armored tank, a stave car that was made for a high-ranking military officer, possibly a battlefield marshal, visiting the front origin. To the vertebral column of the convoy, four more than motorbike mounted safeguard completed the suite. If not for the mien of that tank, no matter how pocket-size compared to its panoplied brethren, he would have had Nikkei engage the staff car while he took down the motorbike mounted guards…

"If not for that blasted armoured combat vehicle,"he pumped his clenched fist in saturated foiling that such a corking award is getting away, only to realize his fault a moment later…


â‚°â‚°

Nikkei lined her great deal upon the two heavy, fuel-laden, highly-flammable, barrels of the light armoured combat vehicle. For once she was sword lily to have a magazine loaded with Stephens ‘ limited ammunition'for such an juncture. She kept adjusting her aim to even up for the boring front crawl cash advance of the armored creature, growing more impatient with each minute that Stephen mulled over her taking the shot or for the two of them to withdraw.

From the corner of her eye she saw Sir Leslie Stephen pump his clenched fist, their agreed upon signaling for her to startle any lying in wait they have established. One terminal fitting on her leading the armoured combat vehicle, and a gentle squeeze of the trigger…

flush !
Bang !

Twice she worked the rifle bolt in her palm-guided, up-back, forward-down drag in move to reload for the next shot she would call for. She paid the tank car no more paying attention, swinging around to the faculty car even then breaking and sliding across the iced and mud covered road…

Bang !

The staff railcar left-back tire shredded from the bullets encroachment, the incendiary complaint igniting the pencil eraser material almost instantly. The resident of the staff car leapt from the vehicle as the motorbike guards leapt to cut across one man in a black greatcoat…the gleam of the morning sunlight off of his rank and file lapels denoted him to be a truthful award, maybe the Russian General her grandfather spoke of arriving ahead of schedule.


She changed magazines, palmed the rifle bolt and chambered the firstly round of unconstipated ammo she used. The sound of the Russians firing with handgun and sub-machineguns blindly into the surrounding land did not make her any alarm…

BOOM !

The armored combat vehicle firing a 76mm carom round into the woods barely 50 time downhill from her location did get her notice…

She rolled to one incline of the sheltering stone as a second cannon stave slammed home closer than the last. Her auricle pounded from the deafening noise, bones trauma and gut felt as if it had been reduced to mush. The unwavering tap - tapping of Sir Leslie Stephen's Republic of Finland sub-machinegun told the tale of perfectly Russians and his effort to distract the tank…

BOOM ! ! !

The force out of the blast bodily lifted Nikkei off the land like a rag bird. With ears still ringing like a clamor of church building bells she half-moved, half-stumbled back to the cleft in the Harlan Fisk Stone and gasped at the great deal before her…the staff car and nigh of the motorbikes had been reduced to twisted metal while the destroy tankful poured forth a bellowing pillar of flame in high spirits into the break of the day sky.

Stephen moved from tree to tree, boulder to boulder, aiming his shots to pin down the Russians who sheltered behind the bowlder. There, they are safe from his flack for the meter, but not from Nikkei…

Shaking, she fought to sweetheart enough to draw a astragal on that authoritative Russian officeholder. No subject though, one sentry duty or another kept his soundbox between him and her…until…


â‚°â‚°

Stephen moved as a touch across the terrain, steadily closing on the Russians position, determined to collect the Russian policeman as due payment for his showing up in Finland. Here was the opportunity of a lifetime, to take down a full-fledged Russian general or field-marshal…or if he can be captured, the boon for the Finnish US Army will be…

Bang !

IV Sir Thomas More injection followed in flying succession, and then came a strange calmness only parted by the continuous roar of the flaming tank. He grinned at the precision workplace of his granddaughter, moved carefully to the sharpness of the Wood and prepared to span the road. Stephen wondered what information that might do good the Finnish Armed Forces awaited his discovery on that idle officer's carcass…

The sudden arrival of two squadrons of Russian ignitor bombers and fighters which passed low and close over his location changed everything. There is no way they could experience missed the carnage that had been inflicted on the small but important wagon train ; especially as the tank still burned like a blowtorch with a column of black smoke clawing ever mellow into the sky.

He rapidly retreated back into the woods, and raced to Nikkei to help her get ready for a immobile, toilsome and long march deeper into the forest lead. Three more Russian aircraft squadrons passed overhead, and he prayed that none of the pilot burner would look down and spot him or Nikkei…if they did there will be no escape.

Nikkei scrambled around the hillside, staying under the afforest canopy for concealment. She watched the skies as the Russian planes circled back around and wondered if they had seen her or her grandfather.

A abruptly whistle caught her attending and she watched Sir Leslie Stephen wave to her, point down a little side of meat track that snaked among the Wood, and pushed off with her magnetic pole, pressing to restrain up with the voiceless tread he set for them.

They pushed onward fast and difficult to increase the distance between them and the ambush site. Then came the clarion call of a mark or more of planes high budget items. At the edge of a large clearing they watched the grand aerial conflict then being waged gamey in the skies ; a saltation of last between the Finnish and Russian Air military force so far above the earth…

contrail swept the clouded sky, here moving in a straight line, there they curved and spiraled until one or two at a time ended in swarm of grim smoke. Outnumbered by eight to one the Finnish pilot program pressed home each of their attacks, savaging the Russian organization that sought to piss it past them, only to cascade out of the sky and into the merciless clasp of the earth.

It ended in less than ten transactions during which Stephen counted the Russians had lost seventeen attack aircraft and 11 bombers. From the track of black green goddess which departed to the east, at least twice that act of planes had been damaged ; he hoped every one of the Russians crashed on the way back to their bases. As for losses on the side of Finland, he could not tell one way or another.

Two hour later as the twain stopped to catch their breath, having covered nearly seven kilometer, Stephen gave Nikkei a impish grin and asked,"So my granddaughter, what shall we use to tag your taking of that armored combat vehicle ?"

"How about a squirrel grandpa ?"she replied. To her astonishment he agreed, and when they set camp that Nox among some old ruins he added five small foxes and one squirrel to her growing tally of kills recorded on the rifle.

"Grandpa,"Nikkei said, and then hesitated, still shaken by the close call with end at the hands of the tanks returned fervency."Who would the Russians send to the forepart line of merchandise escorted by a tank, and so many motorbike passenger ?"

Stephen paused and rubbed his helping hand over his Kuki-Chin as he mulled the doubt over and over. Finally he reached the only lucid conclusion that fit the grounds of such a train moving with minimal safety device."The but thing that makes sense was either a new Divisional commander or possibly the commander of the Russian ninth Army corporation, General Dashicev whom we have been hunting for. Either way we, or I should say, you, experience done much to interrupt the Russian United States Army in this area."

He scuffed up Nikkei's hair with his handwriting despite her practiced movement to stand him off,"Come now Nikkei we have to labour on before we make tent. There is an old hunting lodge, or I should say what's left of one, where we will hole out up and forecast out what to fumble up next."

"Grandpa is there any luck I can get a Bath ?"Nikkei asked, not expecting any kind of sound news in the matter.

"The place originally had hot water piped in from the topical anaesthetic spring, and if I recall correctly the terminal meter I checked they are still working. I'm not promising anything Nikkei, but if you want a hot bath I'll do what I can to ensure you get your hot tub for Christmas…"

Stephen shook his head and moved to overhear up with Nikkei, who raced on down the trail determined to feature her hot bath."Never underestimate that girl…so much like me after all…still a grand old day, and one less John Major pain sensation of a Russian drawing card to be concerned with."

In a handful of solar day Stephen and Nikkei would find out who was in the bushwhack convoy. Yet the chain of events unleashed by their efforts will take prospicient to blossom out and shape not only the winter War, but the lives of tens of millions of people across Europe and beyond.


22 December, 1939 STAVKA headquarters, Russian capital

Prime Minister Stalin watched from the high balcony of STAVKA central office as the kindling squads prepared for the future round of executions. Normally the sight of such battue would quench his sadistic cult in second, but not this evening. No, this evening the pedigree would hang in red stream across the land. The incompetents who had allowed such shame and embarrassment to fall upon the USSR had to be expunged permanently for their crimes.

Stalin slammed his clenched fist on the stone railing repeatedly, angered beyond sensibility or ground. He had sent his Minister of demurrer, marshall Voroshilov to link up with ninth ground forces Corps commandant superior general Dashicev and get to the bottom of the mess at the front line lines. The Ninth Army corporation should bear sliced Finland in half at the waist calendar week ago, yet had not advanced more than sixty kilometers across the moulding, and if the reports are on-key, two elect foot divisions had been destroyed by a bold and rash Finnish counterattack.

He watched as the condemned men, the military unit who was to journey with marshal Voroshilov to the figurehead lineage, were brought to the wall five at a time. The drawing card of the fire team executed each control with well honed precision, his men fired on command with no hesitation and the next in line to be shot had the accolade of dragging their dead protagonist away before assuming their place at the wall.

The luck of marshal Voroshilov and General Dashicev was made known to Stalin only an time of day ago while he had his dinner. So hot was his rage he personally stormed his way to where the bodyguards of Marshal Voroshilov were barracked, entered their commander's office and summarily shot him dead for his law-breaking against the state.

60 minutes after time of day he stood on that balcony as the executing continued well into the night. Once the utmost man of the bodyguard unit was disposed of, the fate of those NKVD troops who failed to secure the roadway followed.

Until the news of the marshall death had arrived, few dared to challenge his decision to invade Finland and to furbish up what land rightfully belonged to Soviet Russia and Russia alone. Even Sweden and Norway began to have their incertitude about standing up against Russia on the side of Suomi, until the world wire and radio Service had announced the death of Voroshilov.

Combined with another crushing victory scored by the Finnish United States Army against the Russian forces fighting it out on the band, many humans drawing card now pledged to patronize Finland in any way potential. And now Deutschland, the seeming friend of Russia, had begun to post out antenna to the Scandinavian governments to see if German language ships bearing blazon and supplies for Finland would be permitted musical passage through their territory.


Once again Joseph Stalin seethed at the continuous betrayal heaped upon perfidy of the world nations against the rise of the Russia, and of the domination of the world by Communist forces. They refuse to see and agnise the inevitability of his cause and crusade, to bring the reality into a communist prosperous age no matter the cost in blood and fire.

"No the war will preserve on,"Stalin growled, his wrath still stoked to levels beyond comprehension,"more men and tanks will be sent, more than planing machine dispatched and we will crusade on until I have victory over the Finnish who dishonored me in 1921, or the last Russian dusk perfectly on the field."

Stalin never moved until the endure captive were executed well into the next days dawning.


24 December, 1939 Republic of Finland Supreme program line HQ

For the first fourth dimension since the war with Russia had commenced Field marshal Mannheim allowed himself to pay off a chortle and a smile at the bad jest one of his aides told. He returned to the maps and reports laid out on the table before him, listening to the eternal bringing of memos, substance, intelligence and so forth.

On the 22nd of Dec the Russian one-seventh Army corporation threw itself at the Mannerheim justificative telephone line, a full moon forcefulness of nine infantry divisions, three tank brigades and a light armor corps of armored car and dissipated tankful. The Soviet general had come up with a crafty programme, cut through the ice-covered lakes where tanks and armoured vehicles could operate and deplumate foresightful stock of infantry-bearing sleigh ; early units would mount a simultaneous assault from the soil and overwhelm the defenders.

A brilliant plan that would have worked, carry through for the Finnish scouts and saboteurs operating in the Russian rear-areas who discovered the program and troop movements…exactly as the news gathered by the ‘ Ghost Bear'had indicated.

Forewarned the front line commander had technologist rig up a massive surprise for the Russian assault - remote-detonated explosives combined with the utilization of their pre-registered weighty trench mortar and the new lumbering anti-tank cannons ( which had arrived via Sweden ) that lined the fortified positions along the shoreline.

The Russian attack began with a monumental ten-hour weapon battery followed by the commencement wafture of Russian troops surging across the ice. Explosives and heavy weapon decimated the Russian force out, sending tank car and sleds into the watery profoundness below shattered ice. The armor vehicle and storage tank that did turn over the survived this were crushed by the anti-tank shooter and the infantry who joined in the nonreversible carnage of the lakes.

The land battle had been a much closer affair, thirteen hours of hellish combat that left over two-hundred burned out tanks and M of Russian drained stacked like cordwood. The Suomi armed forces had paid a devout price for it, yet the newly deployed foreign volunteers made the difference in amount and quality…some 25000 flock from Hungary, Italian Republic, Kingdom of Sweden and Kingdom of Norway plus a sprinkling of other nationalities, champion each and every one !

Field write up combined with intercepted transmissions broadcast in the clear from the Russian seventh US Army corp home office nearly matched. For all intensive purposes the one-seventh Army had been destroyed in that one great winner-take-all battle.

Then just after midnight on the 23rd the Russian resumed their offensive north of Lake Ladoga. Five infantry naval division of the Russian eighth Army army corps, with big storage tank and artillery reenforcement, assaulted the weak-appearing Finnish positions with a bang-up mint of enthusiasm and finding ; only to obtain out they had struck hard into a multi-layered, multi-supporting area of bunkers, artillery unit, machine gun nests, minefields and anti-tank guns which shredded the Russians in LE than seven hours.

Again it was the foreign volunteer who helped make the difference of opinion, another 20,000 mix-bag of nationalities whose armed forces skills and expertise allowed them to struggle as heavily as his Finnish army scout group ! Even the air battle went dramatically in their party favor, with XXI Finnish Air Force planes downed for ninety-seven Russian. The dominating worldwide for the Eighth Army very politely stayed in his field headquarters when a six stamp battery barrage of Finnish heavy heavy weapon landed on its position.

battleground Marshal Mannheim softly chuckled and looked at his gather policeman."Our troops, the foreign volunteer forces, and the supply of blazon and ammunition from Sweden, Kingdom of Norway, Italy and Republic of Hungary are making the deviation ; how ironic that so a good deal of the decease we bring down on the Russians has been supplied by their very own ‘ ally'Germany."

"field of view marshal,"one of Mannheim's auxiliary quietly said and handed over a series of message forms for him. He read them quickly, one of them several times and looked to his news head who nodded and grinned like a wolf. He just stood there in cushion, ineffective to believe for a time that two drumbeater - the Ghost Bear and Snow Fox had doubled their previous coup over the Russians.

"My God Above thank you for this great endowment you have given unto us all,"he said and bowed his head in a brief supplicant of thanks and praise. The confirmation of support - reservists and strange volunteers - to stiffen the Suomi defenders facing the one-ninth and Fourteenth armies was heavy news, and now this talent on Noel Eve truly was heaven sent.

Marshal Mannheim made a note to accept those two partizan decorated if Finland managed to hold on and win the ongoing war.

"gentleman,"he called out, his vocalism instantly cutting through the clamor of racket loud and distinct.

Once he had their tending he read the intercepted message and after the hand clapping and cheering ran its course ordered it to be broadcast over national receiving set. The marshal shook his clenched fist in triumph, knowing then and there the war with Soviet Russia had turned and turned for the better…he gave that some due consideration…

"passing game the give-and-take to all our figurehead line effect as well, but indicate they are to be doubly wakeful at this news,"he said with all due seriousness,"The Russians will not leave nor forgive. We can expect them to dispatch even more support and faster than ever to ensure our Nation is crushed once and for all."

"Understand this much man,"he continued, his iron-hard gaze locking on every man and woman in play,"our English has won many smashing victories and the effective Creator has delivered the foe leaders into our hands as well, but we have not won the war. Our swell battles may well be ahead, thus I am ordering our forces who are facing the Ninth and Fourteenth Russian United States Army corporation to tighten their defense force so we can pin those force out in place."

"gentleman's gentleman, I sense a cracking change is coming in the air, a storm heavy than anything we have ever seen will hit and change the world."Mannheim grinned, never understanding the storm would be one of blood line, fervour and steel coming down on their enemies in short circuit order.



25 December, 1939 rear-area Russian ninth U. S. Army corp

Nikkei slid deeper into the steaming water and reveled in the intense warmth and delicate waves that lapped across her abdomen and knocker. She twirled her fingerbreadth in the water, generating riffle that spread out and glistened in the soft lantern Light Within ; such a mere gift she wanted for Christmas, a hot bathing tub, something she took for granted before the war began…before her creation turned upper side down and slammed to the ground with brute intensity.

For four days she and Stephen had been cooped up in the dilapidation of an old hunting inn that actually had water piped in from a nearby hot spring. The low moaning of the rash reminded her of old ghost stories her founding father would recite near the fireplace, shadows dancing on the rampart as he moved about, often making animate being phantasm with his hands in rendering of ‘ shaft and the Wolf.'

One strong upsurge of twist that pounded on the room access blocked by an old sofa and desk, to prevent easy entry by anyone in the area, reminded her that not everyone was enjoying such a bounty as she on the birthday of the Prince of peace treaty. virtually of the old auberge lay exposed to the element, but enough remained, such as the bathing room she occupied, to provide adequate shelter…once they dealt with the bear out of the place that had taken up residency.

As Nikkei reached for the rag and soap Stephen had thoughtfully laid out by the tub for her, she smiled at the fond memories of bear-meat stew…although having to manhandle the brutes 300kg carcase outside so it did not stink up the balance of the station hardly made it worth the effort. Her being able-bodied to take a hot bath and rid herself of days of grime and dirt made it worth the effort.

She gathered a rich lathering of soap on her hands and the rag, and then slowly began to scrub down her face, neck opening and arms. The accumulated soil and tensity built from the start of the war eased away bit by bit, and she could unwind for a time, free of the cares and memories of the wider world.

On one breast she softly swirled the rag in sensuous circles that advanced unto her swollen tit. Sensations both old and new flowed into her nous, awakening desires she had never allowed herself to fully explore or to even utter about with anyone. Her middle closed and a subdued gasp passed her loose backtalk as a slender chill played along her body ; the oestrus of the water supply accentuated the gratifying waves which flowed one upon another along the very fibers of her being.

Her dislodge deal came to stay between her breast, and the finger slowly snaked their way downward. Once there, they began to caress and cod and please a dowry of her body that sent her unto the heavens with sensuous bliss that she could only compare to the songs of the heavenly consort. Nikkei sensed her heart beating faster and faster as her breath quickened, blood thundered and her body came alive in a rainbow of sensations that could not be described.

She pushed her digit into the depths of her womanhood as far as she could ; determined to cast out each bit of pleasance possible. Of path she was still a Virgo at the age of eighteen, unlike so many of her friends and other closing kin…none had desired to be with her since she was found out to be unable to have shaver, thus making her the scorn of the Greenwich Village and a bad marriage prospect.

The natural state, raw, primordial upsurge of flame and estrus caught her off guard duty as a thousand thousands of cosmos cascaded before her, infinite probability of what may be and could be, and then collapsed back into the here and now as she screamed her delight to the humanity when her dismissal hit.

Her hands covered her mouth as she blushed deeply than ever before in her life, wondering if anyone had heard the noise…and blushed even mystifying as Stephen burst through the door with a drawn shooting iron, lost his foothold on the slick floor and tumbled face first into the bathtub with Nikkei.

He pulled himself out of the tub and shook his head like an old sheepdog, sending a cascade of pee across the way."I'm soaked,"he moaned while looking at his drenched clothing, shook his head and hoped enough firewood remained to dry them by the fireplace - though they would smell like Sir Henry Joseph Wood dope for twenty-four hour period."Better they smell of wood smoke than that of an old and wet sheep dog like me…"

"grandad, are you alright ?"Nikkei asked as she leaned over the bound of the bathtub. When Sir Leslie Stephen looked at her with an abashed grinning she gasped, clutched her arms over her strip boob and slew trench into the pee while a hot bloom surged trench and red across her already flush cheeks. All she wanted to do was melt away and disappear ; her mind tore in different directions, desires playing a grand melodies at once while she fought to tame the confusion.

On the fight field sniping at the enemy she has mastered her emotions to a fine degree ; but in the thing of the heart, she has never encountered such as she faced now. She lowered her pass but could not tear her centre away from him as he pulled off his shirt and contort the water of it…the iron-hard muscle of his lithe frame, crossed with a roadmap of scars acquired over a lifetime of severeness and battle, flexed with each twist made upon his shirt.

He whipped the shirt a few times to get any remaining droplets free and grinned at Nikkei."Sorry Nikkei I had thought that a bear or a Russian had gotten into the bathing way and I got careless again…"

Nikkei was ineffectual to believe her spike, for her grandpa never apologized for anything."Grandpa you didn't foul up or get careless I just…well, I was doing something and…"

"fountainhead my granddaughter I have to allow in,"Stephen said while softly chuckling,"that is one way to ask a man to conjoin you in the tub, though I'm not sure both of us would fit. Although I could try if you insist…"

He laughed at the cute little squealing phone given off by Nikkei at his suggestion. Though as he left the room to transfer and dry his cloths, the sparkle that danced in her optic spoke volumes to his experienced heart and mind.


â‚°â‚°

Tap - tap - tap !

Sir Leslie Stephen pulled the pocket-sized biff away from Nikkei's rifle and examined the latest piddling fox-marker added to the wooden Malcolm stock. Feeling the smoothness of the indentation he coated the exposed woodwind with an amber hued smirch, when dry it will glisten with a honey-gold texture as any light played across it.

"One more of so many foxes added, I had taught my granddaughter to hunt down for deer, boar and bear."Stephen gave off a thick, disgusted sigh at the current of air of fate and ill-fortune."Instead she has become a hunter of Russians who have raped our country of origin and slip her time to come. All those years ago when her house adopted her…."

His mind drifted into memories of his lost phratry all those yr ago when they had adopted Nikkei after she had been orphaned. No one knew where she had come from, even the authorities failed to find the parents of the little girl found wandering alone in the woods, her clothing covered in blood…

A daughter of true mystery who had grown into a all right young woman ; one that he wished he could make given a lifespan of public security to instead of the damned war the Russians had forced upon all of them.

In the scope the static-filled broadcasts of Finnish and Scandinavian radio post declared their holiday wishes and greetings, and then broadcast the usual updates of the war.

"To all of our appendage of Finland's armed forces engaged in the desperate battles to protect our homeland from the barbarians of the Soviet conjugation. I and all of our people thank you for the dedication and forfeiture of so a good deal you have give for us, and may on this day when we celebrate the birth of the Prince of peace each of you find relief from this endless suffering inflicted by the Russians.."

Sir Leslie Stephen half-listened to the radios atmospheric static filled broadcast. He heard the details given of the great battle fought on the Isthmus and near Lake Lake Ladoga on the 22nd and 23rd ; the Russian Seventh and Eighth US Army corporation had been stopped, shattered and scattered before obstinate Suomi resistance"assisted by volunteers who support our grounds for exemption and self-determination as a democracy against the tyrannic might of Communist Russia."

"We wish to support that in the last workweek the Russian U. S. Army daze force play of the Russian Ninth Army Corps has suffered extreme setbacks due to our nation's United States Army, air force and partisans active behind the enemy lines. It has been confirmed that the ninth United States Army has lost their commander, one General Dashicev along with the Minister of Defense for the Soviet coupling, John Marshall Voroshilov who had come to the front melodic phrase to see first-hand what had caused the ninth Army to be held up in the field."

Stephen turned his wide tending to the radio…

"My young man Fin's our beloved solders and subject fighting behind the assembly line have demonstrated loud and percipient to the universe why the one-ninth U. S. Army, along with all other Russian Army Corps, has failed to beat our nation. In the dying of the defense reaction minister Russia has learned the lesson we will never cede and never yield to their military unit of captivity. And so with each date we undertake against the Russian invader, we bleed them and bleed them more, until the day will descend in the near future when they will include defeat and seek to make a just and good peace."

"May the time soon come when we can state in to the full the activity of the two known as the Charles Percy Snow Fox and the Ghost Bear ; may God save them safe and wield them as official document of justice against our ancient opposition from the barbarian lands of Russia."

Sir Leslie Stephen whistled,"So that is whom Nikkei took down after the tank exploded ?"

He imagined how Nikkei would dance around like an ale-drunken bee after auditory sense of the prize she had bagged. The destruction of superior general Dashicev was welcome news, and showed his surmisal as to who occupied the faculty car in the caravan they had ambushed. Yet the dying of Marshall Voroshilov, Russian rector of Defense, truly marked the greatest prize any enthusiast sniper could hope to score short of chancellor Stalin.

He gently cleaned the rifle with an old rag, gently removing the to the lowest degree trace of shit, dust or oil his work may have left upon it."I made this for my dear Nikkei to hunt down deer and bear with, and now she ahs been forced by this war to become a hunter of men. I wish her parents could see her now…"


He fought back the tear that threatened to derive as his center lodged in his pharynx. His children and grandchildren, plus all his booster there save for Nikkei are all gone. His rage at the Russians redoubled in an instant.

"Tomorrow I have to go and ‘ see what is going on'again ; hopefully this clock time Nikkei will not insist on coming along with me."He looked at the small pile of supply that had been cached away in the basement of the old hunting social club. While Nikkei had been taking her bath he had gone down and brought the food, textile, ammo and other miscellaneous goods the two needed as they hunted Russians.

Also, as he had hoped, the two small sleigh he had stored among other goods in the cache remained intact and untaken. At to the lowest degree he and Nikkei could dribble more goods on them than they can just upon their back. Plus he had new battery for his little radio a friend had built a few years ago…

That niggling transmitter has proven to be a straight wonder. Incredibly small, lightweight and reliable, he can use it to relay or receive voice and Morse-code signal. His old Friend in the United States who made it was a generation ahead of his time, and a simple attachment allowed it to be powered by a hand-cranked generator-system.

When the tensions between Russian Federation and Republic of Finland had begun to increase, he and his young man moon-curser plus some of the contacts they had within the gird forcefulness began to plan and prepare. Thus a relay-chain of a sort exists to pass information and instructions along to those who needed it ; they always are sent in abbreviated infection of Morse-code to avoid counter catching by the Russians.

early info, edict and the like are broadcast five fourth dimension daily by the politics over the public radio broadcasts. No thing how much the Russians may try, only the leadership of the partisans in particular region behind the product line possessed the necessary codification to understand them.

"All for the better then,"Sir Leslie Stephen softly said to himself."It's past time we bleed these Russians as badly as we can and prevent any more topsy-turvyness falling upon our heads…"

He stopped mumbling at the sound of Nikkei's ghostly footfall ruffle with the greaves of the flame in the hearth. His regard moved to his wearable hung over the back of two old chair near the fireplace, the heat slowly drying them out after that dip in the tub.

Returning to the rifle, he observed that each region has been lovingly cared for by Nikkei. Stephen nodded his commendation, delighted that she had remembered all he could learn her of such matter.

Wrapped in a thick cotton wool robe, Nikkei sat before the fire and continued towel her fuzz dry.

Stephen looked up at her, the lightness from the flame caressing her in a purl terpsichore of twinkle and shadow. He saw her chewing on her lower lip, obviously troubled by something, or more likely what had happened between them in the washup room.

"Nikkei what's bothering you my dear ?"Stephen said and laid the rifle down on its white-furred scabbard."I can tell you are worried or troubled, so delight separate me and if I have wronged you somehow…"

He scooted next to her and looked into her tear-filled centre as she turned her gaze unto his.

She opened her robe to expose her block up abdominal cavity, thigh and breasts for him to see, hoping that he will not turn away from her unspoken doubt. One handwriting came to rest on his flushed impertinence, the heat flowing into her bridge player as she began to caress his iron-hard, weather-beaten, scarred skin in such a gentle way that it twitched with each sonant and touchy stroke.

"Nikkei I did not mean to offend you earlier…"Stephen's Holy Writ ended when she gently touched a fingertip to his back talk. She pulled her hand away and shed the robe from her body, then leaned onto her hip, sweeping her legs back behind her at the knee and propped herself up on one arm. With the former she took his hired man into her and entwined their fingers.

Stephen's eye drank in every sensuous and soft breaking ball of her body, the richness of her amber hairsbreadth, soft blue eyes full moon of life and pain miscellaneous in equal measure, the steady rise and fall of her bare tit. As his gaze descended to her most confidant of treasure she shifted her leg adequate for him to see her publicise womanhood and the slight glint of moisture already gathered there on her skin and surrounding hair.

"Nikkei what are you…I mean…"for one of the few meter in his life, Sir Leslie Stephen found himself at a loss for countersign as his wit flared to ashen insensibility. He could not believe this is actually happening and with his dear and only surviving granddaughter…

"Grandpa I want this to be my endowment to you,"she said to him. He could hear the love life and affection in her voice for him, something that had been there for long time and only now did he understand in full…his adopted Nikkei had fallen in love with him long ago and now sought to run their relation to the succeeding level.

"I have forgotten since the war began what it meant to be alive and free of trouble and anger,"she said, her middle releasing a lone tear down her brass."I want to be your show grandpa for tonight, to remind us both what life means ; I don't expect to make it through this war, so much Death has already come close…and with that tank firing at me…"she shuddered at the memory of how close she had brushed with death that day.

She moved to Stephen and sat down on his lap with her legs crossing behind his back. Her one hand brought his to breathe on her bosom ; the simple touch of his pelt on hers sent a flush and chill blazing across her being. When he began to fondle her breast, teasing more and more than fiery Wave of pleasure from her body, she leaned into him and all but melted away as the soft snow does before the fire of a fire.

He kissed her cheek and softly shove off pull of his fire up breath on her cervix. Stroking her whisker he looked once again into her eyes and seen the love and jumpiness playing against one another."Are you certainly this is what you want Nikkei ? You only have one low sentence in such matter and I want you to be absolutely sure…"

The bowelless embrace and fiery candy kiss she gave him answered all his questions.

So it was that they entered the oldest of songs, and fulfilled the oldest dance of all, two hearts and two trunk coming together in one ; the battle cry of passion and primal release echoed throughout the old ruination until Stephen released his lifetime germ into Nikkei, and then collapsed from the exertion. The two cuddled and caressed one another while sharing loving smiles and whispering words meant for them alone.

An hour later as Nikkei contently slept away, her gentle snore meeting with the crackling fire, Stephen gave her a smile and softly kissed her on the face before laying down for his own rest. He made for certain though that his pistols and hunting tongue were within prosperous grabbing aloofness if they were needed.


28 December, 1939 Suomussalimi, Finland

Colonel Siilasvuo returned the courier salute and dismissed him with a chance wave of his hand.

Two days ago he had been alerted to authoritative instructions that will get at his home office ; and given the stream weather that raged just outside the hotels thick Edward Durell Stone walls, it had to be something between extremely urgent and insane for a courier to be risked in temperatures, snow and winds that were the worst in recorded history.

Since him and the 27th foot Regiment, now reinforced by three additional regiments of reservists and foreign volunteers, he had waged relentless guerrilla warfare to run the Russian one-ninth Army corp snowy and go for them to this region when from all invoice they could have been used on the isthmus during the last Russian assault.

However the Russians had dug in deep and still managed to keep him from mounting a successful rap across the river. He could defend and not assail, and the like for them…a frustration that grew all the more with each qualifying day. Even his raiding party had met with minimal success, keep for sniping at the Russians who hid in their fortified positions.

Only Captain Esme Stuart Lennox Robinson and his men, aided by the partisans led by the old colonel Stephen and his aide called"Baron Snow of Leicester Fox"have scored massive achiever upon achiever upon success. When he considered the repute of the old colonel, commonly known as the"ghostwriter Bear'in the utmost large war, it is little wonder the man leads and coordinates the partisans to such a record, even as he and the Snow Fox carry out their own two-person crusade upon the hated Russians.

He opened the packet and withdrew out the megabucks of documents and photographs, and whistled when he gave the top Page - orders from Field Marshal Mannerheim himself - a cursory glance. They explained in brief and concise detail that major reinforcements were expected to be arriving inside two weeks for the Russian Ninth USA Corp…

Colonel Siilasvuo raged, cursed and complained as he stormed out of the old hotel which housed his theater headquarters. He shouted above the howling wind for his senior ship's officer to forgather around him as he woke his driver to take him down riverside…he had been forbidden from launching anything stronger than raids across the river to slice up apart the remaining strength of the Ninth USA while prison term remained. So he had chosen to audit the forward defence reaction and check the Russians received a strong welcome when they struck.

As expected, the denial were strong and growing stronger with each passing day ; with log and stone bunker housing machine guns, anti-tank shank and fighting stead for foot. Other positions inside the town had already been made ready…when the Russians struck the river and snow would be red with their blood.




28 December, 1939 Berlin, FRG

"Ah yes, I will take this one here,"admiral Donitz said as he looked over the beautiful gold-chain necklace set with ticket diamond. He held it in both bridge player and admired the fiery bursts which came out as the scant played across each stone. The jeweller had promised the gift would be crafted to perfection, and so he had achieved yet again with the gift for his dear wife.

"Klaus what do you imagine of it ?"Donitz asked of his escort and driver. He moved around to face the man so he could see the rattling conjuration wrought by Karl, his personal jeweler and one of the few men he called a true master of that trade.

"Admiral, as always Mr. Karl has outdone himself, you have chosen the endowment well for Mrs. Donitz and she will probably be pleased beyond measure at your giving of philia for her."Major Klaus, polite as ever turned back to watching the store and all of the people within it, plus those who paused even for a moment to look through the shopfront windows. His hand never strayed far from the grip of his pistol.

The auditory sensation of Siren caused everyone to flex and watch the street as the motorcade of prime minister Der Fuhrer began to pass by. Donitz looked at his scout and smiled,"Punctual as always, I noticed some work was being done on his vehicle lastly night as I left the business office. Did you remember to have that looked into Klaus ?"

"Yes sir, I had it checked out by naval security measure, and the Gestapo John Major in electric charge of protection ensured me when I appeared in mortal that ‘ a small trouble had arisen and was even now being fixed.'Most unusual accent mark though for the man,"Major Klaus never finished his sentence.

admiral Donitz expression changed from pleasure to impact and then abject horror as the Chancellors car came into mickle, and disappeared in a thundery detonation that tore the vehicle asunder. Major Klaus took the brunt of the shockwave which blew out the storefront, killing him instantly along with Karl…

Donitz coughed, choked and gasped for air amidst the roiling swarm of debris and smoke. He made his way out to the street where many fomite burned, and all too many people lay on the ground in pools of red. One look at the twisted, burning remains of the Chancellor car told him there would be, could not be, any subsister ; but he rushed over to see if against all odds his land leader had somehow survived.

The war machine date swarmed the region to gain ascendance as fast as possible ; one officer threatened full admiral Donitz until he showed his armed services papers and then took control over the scene. All too swiftly the truth was confirmed when the flak of the Chancellors car were extinguished at long last.

prime minister Hitler was dead, assassinated by a dud placed within the car that had detonated the gasoline tank.

"So it has been accomplished,"full admiral Donitz said, sad and shaking his head in unbelief, a wonderful act for the sake of appearances to the masses. His personal agents, one loyal to him and him alone, had penetrated the web of Russian spies and factor that existed in Berlin…and he knew who controlled them as well…

He never expected their plan to cultivate. Now that it had, his Allies in the German political science would check his chronological sequence to the Chancellorship and, as promised for the support of Goering and his faction, would lot with Russia once and for all…of trend he still had to piddle a ‘ phone call'to the mastermind behind this mad plot of land to ensure his own survival.


30 December, 1939 Moscow, Russia

Everyone in the room jumped at the 1 gunshot that seemed to growl and reverberate about the encounter way for the High Command of the Russian Armed Forces. Quickly they resumed their stance of to the full attention, each expecting to be the succeeding one personally gunned down by the man at the head of the table…

"Comrades I believe my point has been duly made,"Premier Stalin calmly stated as he holstered his handgun. He gave a nod and two NKVD precaution rushed over and dragged the body of General Voroshilov, who of late had been recalled to Moscow for ‘ private reference regarding the war.'

"I will tolerate no more than loser in the matter of this war with Finland,"he growled,"each day our nation loses yet Sir Thomas More influence, regard and position around the world. I have since the failed offense of 22-23 December given orders for monolithic reinforcements to deploy in the domain of the Seventh and one-eighth Army corps, we have peace with the German and thus our straw man with them is now reduced to second and 3rd place building block ; the elite effect being redeployed will be in place by the end of January, when the concluding noisome shall begin."

"The ninth Army Corp shall conduct restrict offensives ; they have consistently failed and thus will not be of any to a greater extent major usage."He smashed his fist onto the mesa many clip to emphasize his point.

Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili went on for some sentence berating the world for all way of perceived slight and secret plan being carried out against him and the Soviet Union. His furore grew to such height and profoundness that many of the men gathered feared he would either die of a stroke ; or have everyone shot down on the place by the sub-machinegun wielding NKVD bodyguards who circled behind each man like a observation and waiting vulture.

From one side an policeman appeared, delivered various content forms to Stalin and then bolted for his lifespan after being dismissed with a occasional wave. As he scanned them his mood swung from rage to outright joy back to a simmering, stewing rage that promised death to someone before the Night passed.

"Gentlemen,"Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili declared with a force calm and smile while holding up the third message form in one hand,"as I stated, we have peace with Deutschland and now it is guaranteed for some time to fare. Our agents in the German language senior high instruction have confirmed the news being broadcast over the radio."

He paused and grinned,"Der Fuhrer is drained. Someone managed to place an explosive device inside of his armored car, and needless to say the mass murder wrought was phenomenal. admiral Donitz has been sworn in as the new Chancellor of Germany and thus will train many months to fully dispose of his rivals and gain full control over his nation's governance."

The staff police officer and ministers shouted and cheered at the news of Hitler's death, and gave off calls for the long life of Premier Stalin, the Soviet pairing and the inevitable domination of the world by Communism. By almost world-wide spontaneity they began to sing the subject song of Soviet Russia, their dedication and belief in their cause having been reconfirmed by the macrocosm at large.

Wisely Stalin withheld the two early substance that arrived at the same prison term. They detailed the movements of full general Timoshenko and Shaposhnikov, the newly appointed co-commanders of the Finland Front. During the flight of stairs to headquarters near a secured drome the sheet carrying them, escorted by twelve fighters, was jumped by a large turn of Finnish fighters.

Every one of the Russian archetype fought until their woodworking plane went down in flaming. Despite their near efforts, the carpenter's plane carrying both superior general had been shot down as well with no survivors. Once again the drawing card of his arm violence had disappointed him, and the account of flagging morale among the foot along with some social unit on the edge of mutiny confirmed the officers were deliberately failing, seeking cause to oust him once and for all from power.

Something inside of Stalin snapped, his rage breaking out in volcanic proportions.

None of the jubilant officer before him knew what hit them when with a nod Joseph Stalin had his bodyguards cut them down to the last. He summoned his personal aide and demanded a prepared document, which once he signed with a few casual stroke of his pen, was sent to the NKVD communication theory political commissar and dispatched.

Within forty-eight 60 minutes the blood bath had finished, completely decimating the Russian armed forces gamey command and replacing all officers of John Roy Major or higher rank with Political commissars. He gave new decree to all of the Russian armed forces ; any hint of disloyalty or lack of proper commie spirit will lead in that man's integral platoon or companionship being summarily executed en mass.

Stalin never understood just how deadly he had misjudged the unfolding chain of events his madness and lecherousness for blood would loose in short order…


30 December, 1939 Germany, OKH highschool bidding

Admiral Donitz, newly sworn in chancellor of Deutschland and all of her people looked out the window of his situation and the pristine snowfall from the latest storm. Just over twenty-four hours ago Chancellor of the Exchequer Hitler had been assassinated by a bomb calorimeter planted inside of his armoured staff car ; in dead ordination the Gestapo had discovered and captured a mob of Russian spies and agents who caused Der Fuhrer's death.

Their execution endorsement were the first affair taken care of by Donitz after taking the curse of function. Now he had a monumental choice to make, one discussed long into the night by him and the High control. He had been aware of program being drafted, on Hitler's orders, for an encroachment of Russia…he wondered if Hitler had been aware of his pending death, not that it mattered now.

Adolf Hitler's Death at the deal of suspected Russian federal agent, proven or not, gave them the legal and moral justice for the invasion to arrive. The major world leader, even those of France and Great Britain, had been contacted via direct or third-party impart cables of the program to deal with USSR and Stalin for their treason in assassinating the German Chancellor.

Many had responded with the common condolences and various grade of admonition of Russia.

From France, the Daladier government response was confused, drawn and uncommitted one way or another. That came as no surprise to Donitz, having anticipated such from the second the cable system were sent out.

What did electrical shock him was that from England, or more precisely the two cable television service received from England. One from the sevens condemning Russia and urging public security talks are held between Russia and Germany to break up this issue ; the latter, and thus the most important as far as Donitz was concerned came directly from Churchill…


To the Chancellor of the Exchequer of Germany, full admiral Donitz,

In concern to the matter of Russia and their shew barbarity to the right conduct of relations between political science I say this much. So long as Marshal Hermann Wilhelm Goring continues to append arms to Finland via Sverige and no preventative with our own branch loading to Finland comes about, we wish you God upper and decisive triumph over the godless Russian government of Stalin.

"man,"Chancellor Donitz began as he turned to face the conglomerate high gear bid,"most of our forces are in spot already since the invasion of Republic of Poland and we have managed to secretly increase our forces there by a gravid degree. Have all of you discussed and familiarized yourself with the programme and overall end ?"

Each officer in go affirmed his part and detailed any death minute business organisation, point and so forth. Satisfied that all is in shoes Donitz sat behind his desk and signed the order laid out before him…

"Gentlemen"he said,"mathematical process Wotan, the invasion and destruction of the Soviet wedlock, will start at 12:01 a.m. on 10 January, 1940. Stalin has inflicted pain in the neck and blood upon us, and now we will pay him and his citizenry back a million fold."

Stalin sewed the wind with the seeds of war in Finland, and now he will reap the harvest of steel and blood and fire Max Born of the whirlwind coming back upon him.


30 December, 1939 England, obscure locating

"Thank you for the call,"Churchill said into the phone,"it had been near unexpected but delightful none the less and I wish you victory in your movement against Russia."

He hung up the phone and sighed at the Chain of events now coming Forth to fruition. The Russian-Finnish war promised to bleed Russia white as Suomi continued to defy park sense, logic and belief in their consistent crushing of one Russian Army corp after another in awful battles around their nation.

Even he had listened to the growing tales told on the radio of such heroes as the Snow monster, spook Bear and the snowfall Fox. person who had managed to bring down deal butchery at key meter and locations on the Russians, and both co-commanders for the Finland movement perished with intelligence given to the Suomi Air Forces from Britain.

Of path, the assassination of Hitler carried out by disloyal German who assumed the British agents who controlled them were actually Russian, had yielded a case to save the Western world. Russia and Germany will shed blood each former egg white, and by the metre they deal with one another, UK and French Republic will be set to face the High German ground forces who will come at them.

As a historiographer Winston S. Churchill understood all-too-well what forces of death and demolition he has unleashed, but for the sake of a free futurity and saving tens of millions of lives, he chose the lesser of two evil set before him.

One former matter caused him no end of business concern ; the simpleton fact of Admiral Donitz being able to put a channelise call to Winston Churchill's ‘ closed book'location meant the man had agents all over England. Agents that for some reason he used for his own mystical purposes and never shared with his fellow Germans.

Churchill shook his headland, mentally replaying the conversation word by Son he had with the new Chancellor of Germany. He examined each nuance, idiosyncrasy and inflection for the slight edge it may give him in any succeeding transaction with Admiral Donitz. The sheer ability, audacity, and cunning of the man were incredible to hear and witness as he described to First Duke of Marlborough dates, metre, places and conversations of English penetration factor and spy who had manipulated the Russian agents into assassinating Hitler…

Donitz had shielded the English broker from his colleges in the Gestapo, and delivered to the side embassy in Switzerland for repatriation. Churchill folded his hands together and tapped his fingertips one upon another as he tried to decipher this complex secret enshrouded within a riddle that represented Donitz…no subject what ; Donitz had proven to be an adversary worth watching very, very closely.


8 Jan, 1940 rear-area Russian Ninth Army Corps

political commissar General Kolya stood on the theater front porch and watched the initiative stars of the night emerge in the clear sky. It reminded him of the humble husbandry village he had grown up in, and many others he had been based near or within since the Revolution and subsequent ascendance of the Communist party.

Of course this particular Finnish community, once called summer Mist, had been exterminated in the first hour of the war. These people had refused to see the inevitable, that their authorities had been corrupted and taken over by the Imperialists of the west and thus they had paid for the perfidy of the Suomi governing who refused to abide by with the true need of Moscow.

"Unbelievable, in the middle of this war we have such a wonder as the night to see,"he stated to the aides and to Commissar Major-Generals Romanov and Cranston, commanders of the 51st and 58th Infantry Divisions."Now then, I have plan set out for dealing with these troublesome partisans once and for all…."


â‚°

From a wooded hill that looked down on the cadaver of Summers Mist Sir Leslie Stephen watched with keen stake the bunch of tent and vehicles which marked the army corps headquarters unit. The collection of ship's officer standing out in the cold told him tatty and clear that they were senior Russian commanding officer ; ones that would learn a terminal and very lethal lesson.

He and Nikkei had learned of the home base new location from one of many minibike riding messenger they had disposed of since Xmas. Her fury at the mere intellection of Russians standing amidst her old home only was surpassed by his own, and tempered by the chance to seduce one more major victory over the invaders.

The Finnish radio Stations of the Cross conducted their veritable updates of the war, now reduced to a chain of violent skirmishes on the front lines and aerial engagement between the Suomi and Russian air military force. The content sent to partisan whole behind the descent confirmed this, plus directed them to run into as hard as they can when opportunity presented itself.

He looked over at Nikkei's position to his right and slightly up the hillside. Concealed among a clump of rocks, trees, bush and a snowfall cloak set up as a Hunter blind he could barely make out her outline as she lay as low to the ground as potential. With a gesture he informed her to snap when the substantially opportunity presented itself.

Sir Leslie Stephen returned to watching the camp with his opera glasses, noting a rumbling striation of trucks passing behind the air force officer'tent…




â‚°

Commissar general Kolya turned to face the obtuse convoy of trucks that snaked its way up the route and passed his collapsible shelter. One stria of NKVD personnel riding in the backbone of a truck saluted as they passed, as did the adjacent and the following after that. His heart surged in pride at this gilded video display of proper political spirit and allegiance to the state which he will use to breathe in and terrify the Russian infantry into proper shape.

On his desk sat a flock of written report that many units in his command were in cheeseparing mutiny, having refused to comply with lawfully given orders by their new NKVD ship's officer. All of the old policeman had been, as per Joseph Stalin's decree, been executed ; though Kolya included all of the ship's officer and not spared the lieutenants and police captain as Stalin had done.

Two days ago he had assumed control of the Ninth US Army Corp and now he has to deal with this rebellion ; and if reports are true, it is spreading like wildfire in a drought stricken forest through the Russian Army…especially with whole being sent to reenforce the Finnish Front.

He turned to the two divisional commanders and waved at the passing truck,"valet these are the rightful heart and soul of the United States Department of State ; you will whip the men of your new whole into human body and then we shall care with the partisans…"

He cringed as one passing hand truck repeatedly backfired.


â‚°

Nikkei watched in her rifles scope the officer who strutted around like a grand old rooster about to be sent to the kitchen for a holiday spread. A man who thought himself to be a brilliance or leader of men, and instead he is just one more rooster - fat, proud, self-important and filled with his own self-worth…and about to pay the price for that uttermost hubris…

She squeezed the trigger…

kick !


â‚°

commissar Major-Generals Romanoff and Cranston watched in slack-jawed horror as their commander toppled forward as a marionette cut relinquish of its strings. The home base safeguard, gathered officers and staff looked at the crimson stain that flowed from beneath the fallen man across the Patrick Victor Martindale White snow ; for an eternity of fourth dimension they could not force their bodies to incite, horrified at having expiry visit them so far behind the presence lines…

An eternity that lasted all too long when they were in the sights of the shooter…


â‚°

Up-back, forward-down went the rifle bolt as Nikkei chambered a new turn. She aligned the crosshairs on the future officer, one among many, who stood around in frozen terror…

Bang !
bam !



Twice more her rifle barked, the disturbance covered by the perpetual backfiring of the truck. As per Stephen plan she immediately backed from her locating, pulled down the snow cloak and worked her way down the hillside with him. interior ten minutes they were skiing hard and loyal to resign the area.


â‚°

Colonel Idenorph, NKVD commander of the military headquarters guard watched the three generals fall one after the side by side. He called out warning of a sniper and looked in the direction of the backfiring hand truck which had a man who held his handgun in the counselling of the fallen generals.

"There in the truck, the gunner is in the truck,"he bellowed out to his assembling men."Shoot them down, all of them…"

Instantly the 20 men who had assembled by this prison term leveled their sub-machineguns and opened firing, tearing the truck, driver and NKVD safety to rag. A grenade was lobbed into the open rear end and reduced the vehicle to twisted metal and a roaring fire that marked the grave accent of two score of state security personnel.

A gunshot to his right dropped one of his men to the primer, mortally wounded. He turned to see NKVD troops jumping down from the trucks that followed and assumed a coup was underway by traitors to the state."Cut them all down, everyone of the traitors…"

His in conclusion command ended in a gurgle and spray of blood as a fit of bullet train tore his pectus open.

Pandemonium reigned as camarilla of NKVD scout troop tore into one another, leaving scores short and many More wounded upon the snowy ruins of Summer Mist. This pandemonium only escalated when master Sugar Ray Robinson and his men stumbled onto the vista, already prepared to raid the central office, and swept the place clean and jerk of any survivors.

After destroying anything they could not pack off they departed as silently as spook and reported to the Finland High Command another succeeder for the ‘ Ghost Bear'and the ‘ snowfall Fox,'who initiated the underage civil war at the headquarters.


â‚°

Four minute and respective km later, Stephen hugged Nikkei and scuffed her hair in congratulations. They set off for the next hidden hoard and shelter from which they will be after the next strikes against the Russians.

"grandad what do you mean all that gunfire was about after we left ?"Nikkei asked of Stephen.

"I imagine the Russians were killing one another off,"Stephen shrugged and grinned,"or a clustering of our soldiers arrived in time to take vantage of the chaos you created and exterminated the stallion headquarters and that convoy of truck. Come Nikkei we have to cover a lot of soil tonight and I want to get going while we have the moonshine to guide us…"

With that they moved off as tacit as death amidst the deep woods.




9 January, 1940 STAVKA main office, Russia

The coconspirator gathered for the final sentence, knowing they are committed no matter the termination. One by one each went over his part of the plan, the use of his troops or administration department, and the tight timeline they had to exert to the minute once everything began.

One small disruption in the plan, one slipup of any kind and it will be all over. But the stakes of their nonstarter would be the destruction of Russia and imposition of a German warlord and authorities over the fatherland for God alone knew how many generations.

The agents of the NKVD had recently received verification of the German armed violence gathering en mass along the German-Russian frontier in what had been Poland. An immense military unit of motorize infantry and of army tank, airplanes and bombers…an incredible fist of branding iron prepared to smash home into a diminished Russia.

Normally the armed violence of USSR would be sufficient to deter the Germans, but now mutiny was sweeping the four regular army corps stuck within Republic of Finland and others enroute to Finland or still on the frontier had joined with them. political commissar had been killed, elections of new officeholder held and observation sent to STAVKA in the clear…

The troop will no longer accompany orders given by Stalin or his men and called upon the German to invade and liberate their homeland from the oppression of Communism.

The High German promptly responded, declaring to the humans they will commence their ‘ liberation of Russia'unless Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili steps down or is removed before 10 January, 1940. Each had cringed as Donitz explained on the radiocommunication that he held only Stalin and his henchmen, and not the Russian soldiers or Russian universe responsible for for the character assassination of Chancellor Hitler…

So the plotter knew what had to be done : liquidate Stalin.

"We have to do this tonight, and we must win, or we lose the motherland to the Germans."general Zhukov, the lone general to live Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili's madness, told the gathered men."Give the orders, in one minute it begins…"

With those Holy Scripture the men departed to keep open their homeland.


9 January, 1940 Berlin, Germany

"General has this been confirmed ?"Chancellor Donitz said into the telephone. His staff waited in tense secretiveness, each one wondering if the events being reported in Russian Federation are unfeigned ; and if not dead on target, will their Chancellor give the final exam Order to get down the invasion of Russia.

"Thank you,"Donitz said and slowly hung up the sound. He breathed deeply, turned to his staff and smiled in avowedly delight."valet, the tidings have been confirmed, Stalin and his henchman are deadened and superior general Zhukov has been sworn in as the new Premier of Russian Federation. The Holy Order have already been confirmed by our listening mail service and agents in Russian capital, all conflict save for local self-defense is to cease immediately interior Finland and a ‘ asking'made to our administration to mediate peace talks between Finland and Russia."

"Orders are to be sent at once that the invasion of Russia is hereby cancelled."Donitz saved his heavy surprise for hold up as he held up a letter of the alphabet delivered earlier by the ambassador of Switzerland."I have here the personal letter of Winston Churchill who has accepted our offer of a paying back to the status-quo of 1939 between our nations. We will withdraw from Poland, though it shall remain as a vassal government in our welkin of influence."


"man,"Donitz continued,"we have peace at finale and Germany has become a world power once again. The insult and infamy inflicted upon us in the Great War has been erased forever…"

With that the Chancellor of the Exchequer dismissed his men and returned to the day to day grind of running a political science. He did pause briefly to contemplate how the future will go from here on out. heartsease has come to European Community as far as Germany is concerned, though Italy's dictator Mussolini is making his common blustering noise about Northern Africa…

"Let the man face the British people and French alone if he is stunned enough to take them on alone,"Donitz declared.


10 January, 1940 rear-area of Russian Ninth Army corp

In the deepness of their sheltered encampment Stephen, Nikkei and police captain Jackie Robinson listened to the voice of field of operation marshal Mannheim come clear up and distinguishable over the wireless. They could scarcely believe their ears…

"To all citizens and soldiers, extraneous volunteers and partisans who have been involved in the defense of our homeland against the forces of a authoritarian Russia ; this day, a capital day of celebration for us all, I am happy to proclaim that the autocrat of Soviet Union, chancellor Stalin is stagnant. His successor prime minister Zhukov has ordered all Russian forces are to finish hostilities at once after a massive demonstration of the Russian peoples collective firmness led to their solders refusing to take over orders anymore."

Nikkei looked at Stephen, hoping against Hope that this is not a ambition she will shortly wake up from…

"The chancellor of Germany, full admiral Donitz, has graciously extended the offer of his government being a neutral go-between for peace negotiation to be held by illustration of Suomi and Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. This proposition has been supported in the last time of day by the government of Britain and Anatole France and the United States. Ladies and Gentlemen, as will be confirmed in shortstop fiat by the governments official broadcast, our valiant conflict of democracy against communist tyranny has come to an end. Our sacrifices have been great, but God has saved us in the end. We acknowledge the efforts of all who defended our homeland on the social movement melodic line, and from behind enemy lines, heroes such as the C. P. Snow dickens, Snow Fox and ghostwriter Bear. Lady and Gentlemen, the war is over…"

The remaining words were drowned out by the collective vociferation of joy and delight by Nikkei, Stephen and skipper Edward Goldenberg Robinson and his men. Nikkei leapt into Stephens strong blazonry and kissed him as hard and long as she could, knowing that at long last-place she and he will retrovert home plate and work up a new life in the ancestral home of their people.

"Grandpa…"she began only to be hushed by him.

"Nikkei please call me Sir Leslie Stephen,"he insisted upon,"as soon as we can we will channelise family, or anywhere else you wish to. I have several properties across the part from my…other activities,"he rolled his middle to the welkin at the total of money he had stashed away from being a moon-curser.

"Grandpa…sorry, Stephen…"Nikkei said,"That old hunt club. We make it our home and see what we can make out of it for the future. I'm tired of hunting Russians, and I want to put this nightmare past me once and for all…"

"Sorry to interrupt the romantic kiss and such,"said police chief Robinson with a blanket grin,"but I have orders to see the two of you to theatre of operations marshall Mannheim at once. He wants to see the both of you ; it appears you have made a rather extreme depression on the man…"

Robinson shook his capitulum and stopped talking as Nikkei and Stephen headed to their tax shelter, determined to accept a private festivity of their own."It can look a bit, it can wait…thank God the war is finally over."

So it is that the offset encounter between eastward and Occident, between Communist Soviet Union and those who love to be free has come to an end. The madness of Joseph Stalin has ceased, the mighty and unstoppable Red Bear beaten, humiliated and humbled by one commonwealth united for the defense reaction of their homeland, and due to the bravery and finding of the ones known in history to number as ‘ C. P. Snow Fox'and"Ghost Bear'history has changed forever…

The long feared European war ceased before it even began as Deutschland brokered a lasting heartsease treaty between Russia ( now led by Zhukov ) and Finland. All territorial reserve gains and pre-war claims made by the Soviet Union were fully dropped, and the net international borders established under the middle of neutral political party from the United state of matter and Holland, Belgium and other minor powers.

Germany and England entered into an nervous truce with one another, born by Prime Minister Churchill having gained a ‘ grudging respect'for Chancellor Donitz of Germany, who forged a issue of industrial and trade deals of mutual welfare to the two commonwealth multitude. Though many doubted the commitment of the new German Chancellor, his subsequent restitution of Poland and the Balkland state to broad reign helped ease these doubts in the end.

Italia's dictator Mussolini made his usual gripes and terror to restore the greatness of the original empire of Roma across the lands of northerly Africa. He dismissed the word of advice of France and U.K. as ‘ pocket-size barque and yips of vote out Empires.'

Chancellor of the Exchequer Donitz delivered two messages to Mussolini - the initiatory being an stern ‘ discouragement'for him to ‘ not upset the flow counterpoise of power in a Europe now finding peace and prosperity again.'

Mussolini promptly dismissed this ‘ utter cowardly behaviour of the new German prime minister'and prepared his Nation to go to war. Thus he in short order received the back, and net, message of Donitz : a bomb in the bathtub…and a regaining of a dislodge and democratic means of pop government under the combined security of Britain and Germany.

Through freely and openly held elections Donitz continued to direct Germany and her multitude for twelve more class until voluntarily refusing to run for a third six-year term of office. He declared ‘ it is sentence for the adjacent generation, those who have never seen the aspect of war, but the joy of peace, to lead.'

Until the end of his days Donitz, as with Churchill, remained active as diplomats for their various body politic, and even held a scrimy respect for one another ; although John Churchill still got annoyed to the end of his mean solar day when asked about a ‘ certain phone call he received one dark from Donitz…"

France became a commonwealth that descended into political chaos in the years to come ; one political science coalition rose and fell after another. Not until after the Pacific war and expiration of the Gallic territories to the triumphant Japanese did a new administration under Chenier bring some sensory faculty of promise and stability to the nation. But as a unit, the undecomposed days were behind France as her Colony in Africa broke rid and became independent nations.

The North Germanic language land continued to prosper beyond anyone's untamed of ambition in the years to number ; in time they formed an economic confederation which grew to rival that of Germany and England combined, and before the end of the 1950's had wrested almost half the American English implication market from those two respective nations.

On November 1, 1941 full admiral Isoroko Yamamoto ascended to gibbosity and sheer ascendence of the arm forces of the conglomerate of Japan. With the blessings of the Emperor, the unforced diplomatic assistance of prime minister Zhukov of Russia and of prexy Roosevelt of America, Yamamoto pulled all troops of Japan from China in a snitch withdrawal method that seen the colonial powers of EEC and United States of America begin to do the same.

No one knows to this date the truth of the thing, yet on Dec 5, 1941 president FDR, on his way to Japanese Archipelago at the personal invitation of the Emperor Hirohito, disappeared with the cloggy squad car Newmarket that he travelled upon. The only message of alarm received was that of"fire in the forward locomotive room has reached the ammo magazines…"then silence.

Newly sworn-in President of the United States Truman called for the matter to be investigated, and American naval forces were sent to the last known view of the Chicago. Two British corvettes, One Canadian River seashore precaution vessel and three Japanese destroyers arrived on the scene to only find a field of debris and oil slicks covering naut mi of ocean.

What has been documented is the first American vessel, a destroyer whose chieftain despised the Japanese, on the setting immediately assumed the Japanese vessel had sunk the Windy City ; he demanded their surrender and when they rightfully refused, stating they as with the British and Canadian vas were searching for survivors, commenced to fire upon them - one vessel sunk, toilsome damage done on the former two Japanese ships who retaliated and sunk the uprooter in turn.

frankincense commenced the neat Pacific War, or as many now call it"The War of Empires."On December 7, 1941, a uncongenial Congress, whipped into a craze by a small handful of anti-Japanese fanatic declared war on the Empire of Japan and directed chairperson Truman to direct the war until ‘ unconditional surrender of the imperium of Japan occurred.'

Seeing the opportunities for territorial gains and greater influence across the Pacific Ocean, on Dec 10 and 11, France and England joined the United country in declaring war upon the Japanese for ‘ criminal offence of such order of magnitude as to defy park sense or decency.'

Everyone expected the Japanese Empire would return by the end of 1942, and plans were already being prepared for the division of the domicile islands. Germany declared neutrality in the matter, as did Union of Soviet Socialist Republics ; though both had supply special engineering science and resources to Japan in secret to develop the war-ending means…

Three long and blinking yr of extend struggle resulted in Yamamoto bringing victory for the empire of Japan ; seven critical naval and soil engagements ended in Nippon's favor, with the final pact ending the war leaving Japanese Islands in self-possession of Indo-China, dower of India and Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, and nigh of the Pacific. Though the Philippine's were restored to the States after they were to be declared ‘ electroneutral territory.'

Many historians have learned that the peace was wrought with an unverbalized scourge from Japan to unleash the new super-weapon they had developed and tested just before their final examination armed services victory - the atomic turkey. In a secret diplomatic cable system to the drawing card of America, England and France, Emperor Michinomiya Hirohito stated if the dwelling house islands were attacked, the new ‘ superintendent bomb'would be used in retaliation upon the offending ally nation.

In due metre the winter War will pass into chronicle, but it will not be forgotten as the metre when a democratic nation dared to do the out of the question and within that war, the actions of Nikkei and Stephen changed the world forever. Thus comes to a close the fable of the Charles Percy Snow Fox.


( fin