23 August, 1939 ( Headlines )

In a move that has shocked the political world at large ; the governments of Federal Republic of Germany and the uniting of Soviet Socialist democracy have concluded and signed a treaty of mutual non-aggression. The released financial statement of many world drawing card has ranged across the spectrum, from 1 of rejoicing that the chance of another dandy war in Europe has been avoided, to others who unofficially are seeking to a greater extent information or are involved in a serial of ‘ vivid discussions'with allied governments.


1 September, 1939 ( Headlines )

Ladies and man today it is my sad tariff to denote that war has returned to the continent of Europe as on this day the arm forces of FRG have invaded western Poland. Heavy fighting is reported by all incline, with Germany announcing ‘ deep, massive and brush insight'by its armed force out. Allegedly the Polish regular army is already collapsing ; surrendering in ever growing numbers and the government has fled the Carry Nation for psychiatric hospital in Romania. Unofficial accounts from wireless hustler in Poland speak of continued ohmic resistance that is ‘ stout, strong and determine'in the face of the unprovoked aggression of Germany.

Many world leaders have strongly denounced this aggression on the parting of the government of Federal Republic of Germany, with France, Britain and the United DoS of the States demanding that the US Army of Germany lay off all hostilities at once. This is to be followed by withdrawal to the original moulding, while an external mediation via the conference of Carry Amelia Moore Nation occurs to settle the topic of hostilities between the respective governments.

No comment has been relayed from the German government.


3 September, 1939 ( Headlines )

On this day the crisis in Europe has grown exponentially, with the authorities of France and Britain officially declaring war upon the government of Germany for the invasion of Republic of Poland. Contacts within the various military and government section tell that armed intervention in Poland, and the direct territorial reserve invasion of Deutschland ‘ shall occur within a handwriting reckoning of days, or at most, before the succeeding two weeks are over.'

The fighting continues on, with the authorities of Federal Republic of Germany reporting more and more territory gained with each passing time of day, while polish up source report the main knife thrust of the German blitz has been blunted, but that the nations fatal accident have been highschool. The announcement of the declaration of war by Anatole France and Great Britain has brought renewed Leslie Townes Hope for the bug nation.


17 Sep, 1939 ( headline )

In a motility of blatant opportunism and aggression the United States Army of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics have invaded eastern Polska. The illustration of the USSR declared that the movement is to see that law and order of magnitude and stability are maintained in the face of the everlasting flop of the Polish politics. Within hours the move had been condemned by most members of the league of Nations…


5 October, 1939 ( Headlines )

Polska has officially ceased to exist according to the government activity of FRG and the USSR. The diminished Carry Nation of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia have been annexed by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics after being coerced into signing one sided ‘ mutual defense force pacts'with the telephone exchange communist government of Russia….

Unconfirmed reports mention that officials from Suomi have been invited to capital of the Russian Federation for ‘ discussions of a most particular nature concerning the mutual defense of both countries.'One former high-ranking war machine officer explained that usually means ‘ capital of the Russian Federation makes the threats and Finland will make concessions, or there shall be war in the end…'


â‚°â‚°

deep in the halls of STAVKA, Supreme Headquarters for the gird forces of the USSR, the meet leaders stand at attention as the lone man walked calmly in the doorway and silently proceeded to the foreland of the recollective, map-covered table.

His every footfall echoed like thunder across the room, and heightened the thick tension that was further magnified by his atmosphere of power, authority, ruthlessness and determination. He reveled in the fear that radiated from all of those nowadays, for all knew with a simple gesture, a nod, or one spoken word, he could make or break any or all of their vocation, beam them to the gulag for life-time, or have them summarily executed.

Taking his tooshie he motioned for all to sit and began to explain the matters at bridge player."familiar, the conquest of Poland and the annexation of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia are nearing culmination. The ancient territories of our great Rodinia are nearly complete, with one vexing exception. Despite our most generous offers to them, the lackeys of the Imperialist West, especially those of Britain, who ‘ regularize'in Republic of Finland, have slapped aside the hand of commie generosity."

"comrade, as of now I am instructing all of you to act out the plans we have prepared for such an contingence,"the man stated, hammering away on the mesa with his fist as his eyes, common cold and gray, blazed with delirium and passion at the authorities who has defied him since he was forced to sign the 1921 accord of Tartu forced upon the peaceable mass of the USSR by the decrepit and Imperialist-led League of Nations.

"familiar, explain to me again every point of the programme as they exist at this time, do not leave out one contingent,"he declared as he motioned for the NKVD guard duty, members of the feared country security measures apparatus, to observe for the foremost hint of defeatism, faltering or anything that may be construed as treason. For those so distrust the results would be publically declared ‘ a lull and well earned retirement'…

Something that all at the table, especially the man who inspired such awe and brat in all about him, knew to mean ‘ death by firing squad.'

For that lone man, Premier Chief Joseph Stalin, he wanted it no former way. He and he alone ruled in the Soviet Union, and he held the fortune of all in his hands alone.

For nearly twenty years he had fumed over the chagrin Finland and her Imperialist backers had inflicted upon him in 1921. So now he will throw his revenge and have the right state of the Old Russian tzar's restored to the motherland, under proper commie guidance of course.

He listened as the contingent were explained over respective hours, with only one pocket-sized gain proposed to see there will be no uncertainty as to ‘ Finnish aggression'being the grounds of the coming invasion."Make it so,"said Stalin.


31 October, 1939 ( Headlines )

Today before the assembly of the Supreme Soviet, Foreign parson Molotov, for the number 1 fourth dimension in public announced the terms ‘ requested'of the administration of Republic of Finland to ‘ ensure the Defense Department of the peaceable people of the trade union of Soviet Socialist Republics.'

The ‘ requests,'a polite term for what nearly people in the popular nations of the world will bid ‘ requirement at the point of a gun'were for land to be leased for XXX years, or transferred directly into the helping hand of the USSR while the government of Finland would receive in return land that is stark and worthless. German Chancellor of the Exchequer Adolph Der Fuhrer has called upon the the great unwashed of Suomi and their drawing card to accept the terms peacefully while clip remains for them to do so…

acerate leaf to say, the subject matter of ‘ while metre remains for them to do so…'has dramatically increased tautness in a continent already at war between the friend and the Axis ability.


â‚°â‚°

Stephen half-listened to the news program coming from the daily radiocommunication programme that detailed the current build up of tension between Finland and Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic. Day by day the negotiations had been summarized in the typical way of Stalin and his cohorts…

"Agree to our terms with no via media or confront the fist of steel from our armies."That is the subject matter they have sent before, when Republic of Finland finally won its independence at the end of the Great War.

Memories of that furious metre played across his creative thinker as he examined the masterly-crafted rifle that he held ; its thoroughgoing design and proportion, custom-made as a birthday present to one special to him, will make her one of the greatest of hunters ever to haunt secret plan in the woods. The new orbit mounted to it was commissioned by a friend of his, whose conception were a generation or more ahead of their time.

Stephen twirled and tossed the rifle ; rapidly worked the bolt-action to gain the net flavour of how smooth it will take on when time was of the sum - as he learned recently with a bear that almost had him for dinner. No flaw could be found, no mar, no mistake in his greatest creation of all the firearms he has handcrafted in his life as an artificer, soldier, hunter and…dealer in goods and stuff and nonsense best left hand unexplained and preferably never found by federal agent of the law.

He and his friends had prepared to the trump 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 work to absolute perfection.

"She will have a go at it this rifle,"Sir Leslie Stephen said as he mulled over the coming result,"her birthday is on the 30th of November. I will be there and show her how to hunt with her new rifle ; she will hunt as never before until all know her name."

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


24 November, 1939 ( Headlines )

Tensions continue to progress between the administration of Finland and the USSR as two counter marriage offer were made to find an respectable solvent to the demands of Russian capital. Both proposals were summarily rejected as being completely impossible on the premise they would leave the Soviet Union completely vulnerable in the realm of Leningrad.

All diplomatic ties between Finland and the Russia have been severed by the going away of the Finnish company after being ordered home to Finnish capital for ‘ consultations.'


26 November, 1939 ( headline )

Unconfirmed reports coming from the party news services of the USSR have declared a ‘ surprise and dastardly fire on Russian territory has occurred by whole of the Fascist government of Republic of Finland upon instruction by their masters, the Imperialist Industrialists of the West.'

Foreign diplomatic minister Molotov has condemned this ‘ carnage of Russian younker and destruction of much Russian history in the moulding small town of Mainila…

â‚°â‚°

"My swain companion,"declared the fabled ‘ man of steel,'Premier Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili to the Soviet senior high school control who stood at attention before the mesa where he sat."Negotiations have fallen through with the Fascist government of Republic of Finland, and now we have this unprovoked assault upon our homeland. As per design already prepared for such an occurrence, the ordering are henceforth given to you and your troops…just before sunrise on 30 November the great U. S. Army of the conglutination of Soviet Socialist Republics shall encroach upon Suomi and liberate her laden hatful who cry for freedom under a right communist government."

His anger flared hot in his eyes and iron-cold in his row as he slammed his paw on the hard table,"I will be very clear in this issue. Failure will not be tolerated ; the slightest house of incompetence, cowardly legal action and treason against the party or the DoS will have in mind summary instruction execution by the NKVD. All orders and architectural plan made will be approved by them before any are carried out. Remember, they answer to me alone…"

phonograph needle to say everyone got the message.

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

Soon enough the disgrace inflicted upon him by Finland so long ago will be avenged, a drear blot on his fierce reputation. Everyone present knew that the words he spoke of flush it talks were simple window fertilisation, for the might of four Russian Army corp 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 self-will in ardor and parentage.



30 November 1939 rear-area of Russian Ninth Army Corp

Major-General Yuri Bogdan watched the borderline neighborhood from the wooded ridge just shy of the Finnish-Russian border. The modest village, little Thomas More than a Hamlet not even worthy of a Mark on any official map, showed at the limits of his binoculars, just one Thomas More small obstacle for the grand liberation of Finland that will be erased in a few Thomas More minutes.

He turned to the regimental commanding officer who surrounded him, each standing tall and proud, as he gave them his final instructions in the great campaign that is to commence. Each club was repeated back in precise detail to him and to the division's chief commissar, Major-General Vitaly of the NKVD ( State protection ). All of the officers knew that one misstep, one bankruptcy, one misdemeanour, or the visual aspect of any of the aforesaid, can become grounds for summary execution by the NKVD.

Anyone doubting that only had to glance at the freshly turned earth that marked thirty graves of confrere policeman who were shot an minute ago for ‘ inappropriate lack of fighting spirit for the case of the state.'

"Comrades,"Major-General Bogdan spoke to the pucker officers,"our division has been granted the honor of spearheading the Crusade in the liberation of our communist Brother from the fascists who currently rule Finland. As you know, less than 72 60 minutes ago, our autonomous land was violated in a border clash designed to provoke the earthly concern's fellow feeling for the banditti leaders of Finland and thus become them against our honorable loss leader Comrade Stalin."

He watched Major-General Vitaly casually stroll back and Forth River around the military officer, as one would have a bun in the oven of a rancher or James Leonard Farmer inspecting his prized collection of Bos taurus and tip before sending them to market. He went on with his spoken communication,"Comrades, each of us will execute our parts to perfection, and we will keep radio silence as per United States Army home office orders until instructed otherwise. Use the motorbike couriers you have well and with due diligence, no opportunity to crush the foeman must be wasted."

He hammered his clenched fist into his gloved hand,"stop number, blow and unrelenting insistency, this is how we shall separate this subdivision of the front line extensive clear and advance ever onward. All prisoners taken are to be sent to our Comrade of State Security unless directed, as per fiat signed by PM fellow Joseph Stalin, otherwise by each regiments commissar or by orders of Major-General Commissar Vitaly."

He pointed to the recently filled graves to one face of the gathered officers,"Understand, there is to be no hideaway or capitulation,"his representative deepened as his rage mounted,"those who do so are guilty of betrayal and shall be dealt with swiftly as these traitors to the state have been dealt with."

"Now return to your regiments and get prepare to cross the perimeter as per programme,"he watched the officers salute and flee for their staff fomite like a frightened gathering of coney in the sight of a striation of hawks on the hunt.

â‚°â‚°

Sir Leslie Stephen had just crested the small mound summit when he heard the first thundering of artillery unleashed from across the border. He watched in horror as good time after crushing bang of carom cuticle and skyrocket landed around the hamlet of Summers Mist, where his granddaughter Nikkei's birthday party is taking place, a day of joy and happiness as his homeland neared war that no one wanted to own happen.

Sadly, as the clouds of smoke and churned earth merged with the call and thigh-slapper of his family and booster, he knew the war no one wanted had begun. He shouldered the cloth-wrapped nowadays he had spent so many months crafting for Nikkei's birthday, and felt the tears flow down his buttock as he watched his earth taken from him for the second time in his aliveness by warfare.


â‚°â‚°

Her world spun in a haze of botheration and vertigo as she struggled to open her eyes. The gentle greaves of a flame flooded her pinna and the mixture of cooking meat, burning wood and other odors assaulted her sense of sense of smell with overpowering force. She struggled to rise, slowly lifting herself onto her elbows and then falling back to the ground still enshrouded by the thick blanket somebody had put over her while she was unconscious.

A figure leaned down future to her and handed her a cup of cold urine that she guzzled down, all but choking upon its chilled declination into her parched back talk and throat.

"Easy Nikkei, easy there engage your prison term,"Stephen said as he helped her sit up. He checked the large bruise she had on her frontal bone and chuckled as she swatted at him when he touched one sore spot after another."You will be delicately Nikkei ; at the least I still have my granddaughter with me."

"grandfather what happened,"Nikkei asked, not comprehending his hold out language he had said to her,"Where are all the others, mama and papa and my brothers…"She stopped upon seeing the expression that showed upon his brass, understanding at shoemaker's last what had happened to everyone else.

"No granddaddy, no not that, delight not that,"she said, collapsing into his arms as he drew her close. She broke down completely, the sobs coming heavy and fast for the red of her intact family."Why grandpa, why did this have to take place ?"

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

Actually he did know, having followed the intense talks between the Finnish-Soviet governing. Each day the Soviet Union had become more and more demanding in the yielding it sought, making it pass with none-too-subtle menace and motion that war would be the outcome hold open for stark and unconditional fall of all territorial requirement made…a mountain chain of demands that Sir Leslie Stephen knew could not be accepted by Finland.

Yet he, like near in the hamlet, had hoped for common sense and peace to come about. So it was that Nikkei's eighteenth natal day offered a metre to celebrate and for the residential district to forget about the exterior earthly concern for a forgetful time…then the battery 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 wintry and brought her to one of the low cabins in the wooded Alfred Hawthorne he called place, hoping to see out how to get her to safety when she could travel again.

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

He looked into her pain-filled eyes, glad for something to distract her even for a unforesightful meter from the crushing loss of all that she had known."This is my birthday gift for you Nikkei, just as I promised to make live year, one all of your own."

Nikkei watched as Stephen untied the package and removed a rifle scabbard from beneath the canvass. He turned and presented it to her as if she were a queen of some blank out land worthy of a rarefied and valued gift from her people.


She took the rifle scabbard in her hands and laid it across her lap, stroking the indulgent leather covered in white fur. The rifles stock, made of finely lacquered wood carved in elaborate epitome of her hunting in the deep Wood spoke of Stephens's skill as a headmaster gun maker and armorer.

Gently Nikkei pulled it free of the scabbard and examined it for some clock time, feeling the precise balance and form that already felt a natural annex of her. The telescopic sight glistened in the subdued firelight, and she spotted the signature of an old ally of her grandfathers, a man who made masterwork oculus superior to even the finest made in Germany.

Two wonderful treasures for her birthday ; such a prize of rich she felt unworthy of possessing let lone being able to defy in her hands.

"grandpa I can't take this, it's more worthy in your hands…"she shushed as Sir Leslie Stephen shook his head.

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

"I wish mama and pa could have seen this, along with everyone else…'she began to sob again as the true statement slammed home hard in her heart. Her phratry is gone forever, as are her friends, all save for Stephen. Something oceanic abyss in her psyche snapped, flooding her with a fiery resolve that consumed her in an New York minute. 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 angriness and rage none could have dreamed existed. None save for Stephen who had long recognized the same traits in her that he had, and sympathise nothing will hold her back from having her revenge on the Russians, no matter if in the end it cost her own life.

He shook his caput, recalling the time back in the struggle of 1918 when Finland won its independency from the Tsar's of Soviet Union, and the times of trouble which followed. He had been a colonel then, and for a time he fought as a partisan behind the demarcation, becoming such a threat on his enemies that they called him ‘ touch Bear.'

"And so history will ingeminate itself…"he whispered. That drew a curious looking from Nikkei who still waited for his answer.

"Nikkei we are going to get you to safety and then I and some friends will set out to fight these behemoth, I will not lose…oh why I even bother…'He snorted and rolled his eyes to the heavens as she struggled to stomach up and storm out of the small cabin to go it alone."God above, she is more like me than even her mom could have figured…"

"Nikkei hold on there,"he grabbed her as she began to collapse to the floor, still woozy from the gust to her mind."Fine then, I have a few affair to get ready for our hunt, we will be partisans then here in our region of the woods and hill ; one thing emphatically, I call the shots and we do this my way until we have driven those monsters out of our homeland."

"Fine gramps,"Nikkei said as she wrapped up once again in the midst mantle."We do it your way, just so long as I get to obliterate Russians…"her Word of God became opaque as she drifted off into slumber.


â‚°

As Nikkei slumbered away the day, Sir Leslie Stephen headed off into the woods, making striking with some old acquaintance who dealt in matters best left unmentioned in the presence of the government agency. They had prepared for the fortune of war coming, establishing caches of arms and other geared wheel around the country for a band of partizan to use if they needed it…and now they will, for once again ‘ trace Bear'will enter into war and make his enemies pay for their law-breaking in blood.

He continued on into the woods, seeking a office where his personal cache of ‘ peculiar commodity'waited retrieval.

As the destination came into sight, little more than a cluster of rocks and bush covering a lowly cavern in their depths he reached into his coat and rested his hand upon the hilt of his hunting tongue. The vague odor of cigar tobacco filtered through the air, coming closer with each passing 2d, soon to be joined with the cushy crunch - crunching of respective distich of snowshoes coming towards him.

He edged into the nearby shrubs and trees, concealing himself so as to appear as little more than another small thumping of rocks at the radix of a mighty Northern pine as the the great unwashed who followed him closed in, step by step, and into striking space of his ambush…

Lightning fast he slammed his elbow 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 coating and dragged him to the ground. Stephen pulled out his knife to hand over the death blow and suddenly stopped as the man beneath him gently chuckled.

Captain Robert Robinson of the Finnish Army grinned and looked at Sir Leslie Stephen,"You have not lost any of the accomplishment you taught all of us those years 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 kilometer off. You learned the lessons well, but apparently your own pupil have not. Now why are you here Captain, and please I am just Sir Leslie Stephen now, no longer a colonel of the army…or will I be again."

"Stephen is it then,"began Lennox Robinson,"we're here to scout and harass the advancing Soviet Army as it heads up the road. individual has to stay behind and become drumbeater, though from the grin on your typeface I assume you already feature begun that chore ?"

"In a manner of public speaking,"Stephen filled in his old scholar and Quaker in on his plans."Right now I am off to contact others in the expanse who will watch and strike as they can. Even in our free-lance ways, we can influence together and make up the Russians liveliness a animation hell."

Robinson nodded as he caught the elusive utilisation of ‘ we'in his last conviction, telling of another who will hunt the Russians with Stephen.

"Fair enough Stephen,"Robinson said as his men advanced, shocked to see their leader talking to an old man who appeared to get along out of nowhere. He looked at Stephen and asked of his old friend,"So then, what name will our mysterious hunter be called ?"

Sir Leslie Stephen grinned, knowing then and there Jackie Robinson will go along with anything he asked or needed done,"The Snow Fox, for we will manifest the true slyness us Fins have when on our home ground. Now I have to get a few early things done and ‘ acquired'then the hunt will begin."

So it was, after a warm handshake, the men departed.


3 December 1939 near front product line of Russian 163rd infantry segmentation


Major Joseph stood by the armour stave car with his sub-machine gun clenched tight in his reach. His superiors in the NKVD ( State Department security ) had made his instructions painfully authorize ; stay fresh a secretive eye on the bodily function of Major-General Bogdan as he served as his driver, courier and personal bodyguard out in the field of view. nonstarter in any way will result in drumhead execution.

Over a dozen more soldiers, young police lieutenant and captains, stood around or waited in their own faculty cars for program line from the general. Almost all of them gazed from meter to time to the advancing line of hand truck, armoured combat vehicle and tank-riding infantry that snaked its way along the single road ever deeper into Finland. The aloof ground-shaking roar of the artillery no longer registered with them, having become little more than background disturbance in the fourth part day of their lightning fast ( sort of ) pace of the attack.

Major-General Bogdan stood highschool upon the hood of his car as he scanned the horizon with his fine binoculars, a endowment from his grandad many long years past. His defeat mounted by the minute of arc at the mulishness of the Suomi defender who have defied his ability to nail through them for the last three 24-hour interval. Three daytime and his division were barely twenty nautical mile across the moulding.

"focal ratio, speed and ever more speed. That is how we win this war, speed, shock absorber and inflexible aggressiveness against any who stand against us,"he muttered to himself."Captain Craigson, ensure that all regimental and lower commander understand the orders. Unrelenting press, there will be no more sequester or moving other than at the enemy ahead. Any failures and I will personally buck the military officer myself if need be."

The captain repeated back his instructions, saluted and retreated to his faculty car, which tore off down the road with due hurriedness to control the content was received and duly carried out.

Major-General Bogdan growled as he watched his partitioning slowly crawl down the route."The Suomi lackey's of the Imperialist West and Capitalists will learn what it means to defy the Soviet brotherhood. We will learn back what is rightfully ours since long before the Revolution began. They wanted war, so now they shall have it and we will reconstruct their society into a true Communist Department of State as it should be."

His temper suddenly brightened at the spate of a of a battery of truck-mounted rocket launchers and two stamp battery of gun moved off the road and began to set up for firing at fair game located by his sentinel. So much firepower being inclined meant that at least a large number or two of enemy soldiers had gathered to make a do-or-die terminal stand against his armor and foot tearing ever deeper into their homeland.

The sound of a motorbike informed him that a messenger had arrived, and he nodded in satisfaction as the man stopped his cycle, handed his note to Captain Dima who double-timed it to the general. When he read the banknote, Major-General Bogdan felt his rip boil as he shouted, raged and cursed while directing another motorbike mounted messenger to incite forward and tell his divisional central office to force his three lead regiments forward with all speed or face execution at his own hands.

He cursed the orders of ‘ absolute radio secrecy'that came from his superiors at Army HQ's fifty or more Roman mile behind his section."hoot them for their defiance to the pauperization of the motherland !"he shouted while shaking his fist in the instruction of the Finnish defenders.

Nearby another elder ship's officer smiled at the absolute furor of Major-General Bogdan. Of course when this policeman smiled, all the attendant officers of the general cringed, instantly coming to attention and saluting, if only to hold open 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 problem,"Stephen said as he eased the opera glasses down from his eye. Clad in solid-white wintertime clothing his eyes shifted across the horizon and then across the land before him. Even the slightest movement drew his attending as he quickly dismissed it as the twist, an animal or a Russian Soldier moving around on some mission or another.

He watched a second officer, probably the NKVD counterpart of the officer who stood atop his cars cowl, stroll with pure arrogance and impudence becoming of a Commissar of high rank over to the vehicle and raise upon the cowl as well. The remaining military officer stood at a respectable aloofness, all save for the police officer's number one wood who looked and moved like a little terrier determined to protect its master from a ingroup of ravenous wolves.


â‚°

"Yes comrade they do throw it coming for their rebelliousness to the pauperization of the fatherland,"said John Major general Vitaly, Political Commissar for the division of Major-General Bogdan."It appears you are ahead of schedule by a bit, despite word coming of some resistance run into by your lead elements."

"comrade political commissar it is good to see you up and about."Major-General Bogdan said as he gave his comrade the practiced salute he could wield."We are pushing hard for our daytime objective and I have ordered the men to push all the harder. There is some report resistance, yet we shall push harder than before and shatter them completely. In shortsighted social club any prisoner will be in your paw, as they should be, and we shall be one gradation closer to flying the flag of International Communism high over this land of defiant banditti."


â‚°

To Stephens left wing, slightly in high spirits up upon the craggy spate of gemstone and shrubs among the great pine forest a yoke of blue eyes stared at the ship's officer through the scope of her rifle. She slowly brought her hired hand up to the scope and made some hour adjustments, allowing her to deal with the compass, flatus and other variables to place her snap right hand on aim when the mo arrived.

Both officers on the elevator car hood turned to watching the view through their opera glasses.

She drew the crosshairs point with the newly arrived officer's skull, and braced the rifles stock against her shoulder joint while resting her finger's breadth on the trigger.

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

One final calculation of the scope and all variable quantity flowed through her head as she squeezed the trigger…


â‚°

Major-General Bogdan smiled as the heavy artillery sounded off, the garish roaring of the trench mortar merging with the screaming cry of Katyusha rockets tearing off from their truck-mounted launchers. He shook his fist in delectation, imagining the carnage beginning to accrue on the hapless Finland Army regulars'just kilometers ahead when he felt something wet splatter across the face of his fountainhead, left arm and chest.


He turned in time to see the body of Major-General Vitaly collapse to the ground with all of the grace of a butchered boar. The mickle of the gaping combat injury left from the slug his principal had intercepted caused Bogdan to freeze, unable to move, speak, or even think. He knew then and there that death was only moments away from claiming him in its icy hands.

Major Joseph leapt upon the cars hood and tackled Major-General Bogdan. The bullet meant for the ecumenical took the man in the back, severed his spine and ruptured his meat, dead before he and the general plummeted to the footing, sheltered by the armored car from the snipers fire.

Pandemonium reigned in the generals unit as some of the men ran to assist Major-General Bogdan and the fallen Commissar and Major Joseph. The respite dove for the cheeseparing cover song they could come up and returned fervor with side arm, rifle or sub-machinegun at suspected sniper emplacement as the field artillery unit continued to thunder away and arrive at it nearly impossible for one man to hear another even close up up.

With mechanically skillful efficiency, one officer after another flopped to the ground, a undivided red wound found in their torn pharynx or skulls. In LE than two mo, as the artillery fell unsounded once again and their crews commenced training to go on down the route, xiii men lay dead on ground, while the survivors huddled in the protective shadow of cover song, not daring to prompt or even breath.

Even the normally unflappable Major-General Bogdan looked about, stunned and overwhelmed at the sheer carnage wrecked by some strange opposition in such a short couplet of sentence. It was over a 30 minutes before he regained his equanimity and shouted out orders to travel the social unit to his divisions headquarters and even recollective to give notice Army Headquarters of the release of Major-General Vitaly.

â‚°

"Come Nikkei its sentence 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 area. As he considered the carnage to come from his ‘ gifts,'Stephen and Nikkei donned their skis and disappeared into the Wood little Thomas More than twin ghosts headed to one of many temporary shelters they will come to use in the weeks and calendar month ahead.


â‚°â‚°â‚°

The sight of the snaking trail of tanks, trucks, weapon and infantry which pushed ever mystifying into his country of origin sickened Captain Robinson. He wondered how much of a probability his res publica honestly had to quit this tenacious mass of metal and men bent upon the accomplished conquest of Finland.

One of his men tapped him on his berm and pointed down to the roadside where a force of infantry began to gather under the enraged gild of policeman watched by stern-eyed NKVD political commissar. Some of the officers, led by a Commissar Major, examined one area of ground and the bodies left behind after some kind of ambush had occurred.

A ready count of the foot told him that he and his men faced a reinforced company of Russian soldiers, who began to circularize out. Some marched unto a little crag of stone and shrub while the remainder headed towards Ray Robinson and his men at a brisk walk. He could see that the extremity of this second band were hesitant and on edge, though their fears of the commissar outweighed any danger from the timberland ahead of them.


headwaiter Robinson and his smattering of men dropped down under cover as a small explosion erupted from that rocky crag, felling over a dozen Russian soldiers. Chaos erupted as a secondment blast erupted, unleashing a wafture of metal scraps, nails, and other projectiles that wounded a score and five of men. The surviving infantry began to fire at random into the woods with rifles and sub-machineguns as fast as they could while yelling at the top of their lungs.

They charged at the woods sharpness, only to have their ragged constitution shattered by a chain of gust triggered by concealed tripwires. column of smoke and tossed dirt rose as men fell to the footing seeking cover, all in or dying.

"Now men, now, choose them down while we can !"senior pilot Sir Robert Robinson shouted to his men as the staring time for a improvise ambush had arrived. Rifles merged with the tap-tapping of four light machine gun for hire which scythed across the Russian infantry, felling them one after another after another.

In less than a mo the battle was over and his men swarmed among the stagnant Russians to get together rifles, ammo and anything of worth in the way of war machine intelligence they could find. Two minutes after they began, he and his men disappeared back into the woods, where two hours and seven kilometers away the captain examined a set of parliamentary law to the NKVD commissar Major to ‘ find and liquidate the brigand who slew Major-General Vitaly and 14 other officers.'

"Fifteen ship's officer and they left behind a chain of boob ambush for their pursuers ?"sergeant Jermaine, the aide of captain Robinson, whistled softly and stir his head in disbelief."Who could possibly possess done that ?"

"I'll tell you who did this,"chieftain Sugar Ray Robinson said with a look of amazement on his cheek,"It was the work of the Snow Fox. I need a stolon to get the entropy we have back to our position of the telephone circuit, and get it there on the double."

Captain Robinson watched the messenger ski away and then turned to his men and nodded. quiet as the still air around them they departed, determined to watch and hit the invading Russians whenever and wherever they can to relieve oneself spirit as wretched for them as possible.


7-8 Dec, 1939 Sverige - unknown manor house theatre

Swedish Prime Minister Hansson looked out the libraries window upon a land covered in snowfall and for a moment dreamed that the earth was still at serenity. He sighed, knowing that such a ambition is finished for many a class to come since another not bad war has erupted.

turn back to his two other guest he looked upon his old friend Ryti, Prime Minister of Republic of Finland and here on ‘ private matters'for his nation."Will the terms be acceptable in the end ?"he asked of Ryti.

Prime rector Ryti looked at the third gentleman in the room, a man of ruthless ambition and ill-concealed greed. No thing the absolute contempt he held for this man, Suomi needed the weapons and supplying even more ; so he has dealt with the lesser of two evils to save his dwelling."It will be satisfactory, as per the full term we have agreed upon."

"Very good then,"the third gear man declared as he stood and adjusted his coat,"have the money transferred into my Swiss accounts by the common means ; just to be clear, this encounter never happened and I will abnegate any and all quotation of it in populace. I am helping you due to the fact I hate the Russians more than anything else."

With that the man, German language Marshall Herman Hermann Goering departed for his flight home.



7-8 December, 1939 rear-area Russian Ninth ground forces corporation

In the old prospector's cabin, little More than a reanimate shack, Nikkei watched as the sun cast its end shaft of light before departing below the horizon and allowing the night to embrace the land in its hold. She put the cover back into place, to keep even the slight firelight from escaping into the outside man. She looked to the cabin door and wondered when Stephen would be back from ‘ merging with some admirer nearby.'

She returned to cleaning her rifle with great aid, determined to guarantee that the artillery of her retaliation was kept in perfect status for the future ambush set by Stephen and her. Step by stride as she had been taught so long ago she cleaned and oiled each part in turn, ensuring that not one speck of stain, gritrock, or anything could jam or plug it up at the bit when she would need it most.

The diminished radio Stephen had somehow gotten his hands upon whispered news of the extraneous world between the static-filled yell of the sunrise borealis dancing overhead. What news came from official sources among the Northern and European stations painted a bleak future for her mother country, as four massive US Army radical have crossed the borders from north to south, seeking to conquer the full nation.

To the south, on the Karelian band the Russians have pushed the Finnish Army back to the Mannerheim business line. A massive heavy weapon bombardment, nearly two days in distance if the account are to be believed, preceded a massed infantry violation in the region of Taipale supported with regimental intensity artillery, rocket-fire, aerial bombing and loudspeakers used to circularize calls for surrender of the Finnish army until they were shot apart by Finnish snipers.

Nikkei listened and smiled, pleased to try the word of the Finnish army had dug in deep, with well sighted artillery and weapons, and then ripped apart the Russians rape. Casualties from the butchery were estimated at 5000 idle Russians and twice that injured, along with 500 prisoner. Curiously she heard about the stifling defeat made against the Russian armor, some eighty storage tank destroyed or disable and captured.

She and Sir Leslie Stephen had seen a few such tanks moving along the lone road that linked Russia and their USA that advanced slowly into Finland. Stephen seemed genuinely afraid of the metallic element animal, though she respected what they could do, the spate of the gasoline-filled fuel drums mounted on the backbone deck of them gave her an musical theme of how to stop one…literally it would go up in flames…

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

Nikkei looked at the humble ternion of bottles tied to her large number, each one prepared to have another lethal surprise on any armored creature or vehicle when assailed during an surprise attack. Stephen had been rather dubious about the estimation when she suggested it, but on the narrow secondary roads in the thick forests, five burned out hand truck and a armored car testified to its simplistic and brutal efficiency.

Once she had finished her care for the rifle she gently traced the newest mark burned into the wooden stock. Each mark was that of a snow fox, barely 8mm in sizing, and representing a single kill she had scored since she had become involved in the war for her country of origin. two dozen niggling foxes, xxiv putting to death, some of them the motorbike couriers being used to transmit guild between Russian Headquarters.

The final stage courier had turned out to be the most critical one to date. She and Stephen had been crossing one of the secondary coil roads during a illume snowfall with her in the lead, and covering Stephen after she reached the far side. No sooner had she prepared her reave the courier came tearing around a Bend in the road. She had aimed and shot him down without a seconds hesitation, and thus gained both of them a useable minibike and the vital goods in the couriers satchel case.


Long into the Night Sir Leslie 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, club of engagement and supplying status - it detailed the low level of provender and ammo among the Russian army units in this field.

Stephen had explained he needed to get this stuff to some ‘ friends in luxuriously station'and would be back as soon as he could. She was given some special command : if he is not back by the first ray of sunrise the next day, or at the first sighting of a Russian, she is to flee at once and head for one of the six sights he described. Of course if time permitted before she bolted, she was to ‘ trigger off'the small surprise contained in the cabin for the stupid Russians.

Her sleep that dark was fitful and tormented by nightmares of strange things coming out of the mists she could not remember after being woken by a trajectory of Soviet Air Force bombers and fighters overhead. She took a peak out the minor window facing to the east and hoped against Leslie Townes Hope to see Sir Leslie Stephen coming up the track in the rising sun…

Instead she gasped at the mickle of four grudge Russian infantry advancing at a firm pace towards the cabin.


â‚°

"Keep down and watch, no one make any noise that may bring them down upon us,"Stephen whispered to the men who accompanied him. When Hannu, Kalevi, Joni and their drumbeater nodded he turned back to watch 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 get together home and will wait there for him.

m by metre the soldiers advanced and spread out to encircle the cabin under the iron-hard regard of the building block'commissar. If anyone remained inside the cabin there will be no chance for them to escape, and the provision needed by the enthusiast will probably be found as well…


â‚°

Nikkei quickly tossed on her slap-up pelage, slipped on her pack and loot scabbard, and prayed as never before in her life as she struck a match and held it to the length of fuse-cord leading to Sir Leslie Stephen trivial surprise for the fast approaching Russians.

Once the cord started to boo and burn, she dropped it to the priming and fled the cabin, cleared the small rooftree behind it and commenced a zig run for guard. She used every feature of speech of the terrain and forest to sacrifice her any cover, anything to observe her from being seen by the advancing Russians. When she finally stopped and plopped down behind a clustering of trees she silently cursed at having left her set of skis back in the cabin.

"At least I didn't block my snowshoes,"she said. Nikkei looked back at the small ridge running behind the cabin and decided that she had to get her skis if possible, orders or no orderliness from her grandpa.

She moved as silent as a ghost and with the grace of a deer across the land. Her attainment in doing so had been perfected over hanker twelvemonth of hunting and practice with Stephen, and on social function when he travelled to make a leverage or realise a deal that was best left unexplained to anyone else, especially someone connected to the law of the land.


Just shy of the crest she stopped, eased her rifle from its scabbard and checked her pouch to see to it the extra powder magazine were cook if she needed them. Meter by meter she slowly and cautiously eased her way to the top 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 damage 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 tax shelter of the tree as he reloaded his Suomi KP-31 sub-machinegun, and sent out a barrage of swearing and insults so blasphemous the acres should throw melted away. A bullet tore a chunk out of the Tree mere centimeters from his face as he exposed himself again, bringing up the Virgil Thomson and fired off short-change outburst into the still advancing mass of Russian infantry.

Moments before Hannu and Kalevi had nearly moved their men into position to take on down the Russians who encroached on the old cabin. Though risky, they have to affect at their foe, the provision cached away beneath the cabins floorboards are needed by the local partisan force play.

Stephen and Joni, along with a XII other partisan stayed back to secure their escape itinerary if the struggle turned against them…only to be surprised by the sudden arrival of two Russian foot companies, roughly 300 men total. Instantly Sir Leslie Stephen ordered his men to the back of the tree and to fire on the advancing forces.

Roughly forty or more Russians fell to the firstly barrage fire of small arms flaming as two brightness level political machine guns scythed across them like a harvester in a wheat playing field. Hand grenades added to the carnage being wrought as bang after flesh-rending good time shattered the tether Russians morale, sending them howling back down the trail…

Only to be systematically shot down by their Political political commissar who called them Sir Noel Pierce Coward and deserters.

Needless to say, the surviving solders suddenly became motivated to deform around and take their chance with the Suomi partisans.

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

In a bustle of motility Stephen cut down one Russian soldier after another as he moved among them, each of his Lahti pistols becoming an extension of him. One shot, one kill, the Sami pattern delivered with becalm precision. A cluster of Russian solders charged at him from the woods as he calmly reloaded his pistols, grinned and one after another, and thus reaped a crop of death on his foes.

Despite his herculean effort, the battle turned against the partisans.

measure by m they had to give background, pushed back by the sheer weight of numbers that inevitably benefited the Russians. Their enemy kept on coming out of the woods, an unending cascade of angry foes determined to stomp out their persecutor, even as the dead mounted in heap upon fallen cumulation of shatter figure and bone.


He hoped Hannu and Kalevi had decent signified to scour the ambush and get their men to safety. As even more Russians advanced up the pathway to reenforce the shattered whole fighting the partisans, Stephen knew in his warmness that he will not be leaving this combat alive…

He prayed for Nikkei, that she has fled and gotten to condom, and that his sins of being a runner of arms and other semi-illegal good could be forgiven when he stood before the judgment pot of God. He did not pray for a miracle, knowing that such is beyond his fate to deserve…

Though that is exactly what happened…


â‚°

Nikkei watched as a trio of officers ran around and shouted orders at their men to hasten off to join the engagement down the track. None of the soldiers seemed willing to maneuver that way, having come to respect and fear the skill of their implacable foe ; not even with the sheer weight of act on their side could the officers make them acquire the initiatory step back down the trail.

One police officer, a commissar if she understood his rank correctly, argued with the other two, who appeared to be commissars as well, about the need to conquer the cabin and any supply that remained within it. After that, they could then go and join their Comrade in the oestrus of battle.

Having decided enough is enough she raised her rifle, braced the stock against her shoulder and aimed at the talkative commissar. The retort of her rifle was smothered by the intense gunshot from the wood, but she saw the commissar plummet to the priming coat, his skull having stopped the bullet.

The early commissar looked at their fallen comrade with wide-eyed formulation of fear and impact in equalise criterion. Within five bit both of them joined their Comrade on the ground, utterly before they hit the earth.

Her reality became a blur of motion as she steadily carried out the up-back, forward-down palm-sweep of the rifle thunderbolt which chambered round after round of golf as one Russian after another was targeted and died when she gave a ennoble squeeze on the trigger.

Some fled into the woods, determined to take their chances with the remaining political commissar than face the deadly sniper now picking them off one by one. Shortly after the last entered the wood, a raging shower of gunshot cut them down as someone unidentified to Nikkei had arrived…

thirty Russians sought shelter buns or within the cabin, one of them tossed Nikkei's shattered skis out the door with a string of curses. They began to evoke away with precise shaft from rifle, pistol or their own sub-machineguns at the foeman in the woods.

Nikkei pulled a magazine from her sack, freed the vacuous one from her rifle and slid the new one plate. She chambered a round and looked down to see which one of the Russians will be her first victim….

Of course that happened to be the instant Stephen ‘ gift'to the Russians went off, several reefer of dynamite secured to over thirty jerry-cans filled with gasolene concealed under and around the cabin. The fire reaped a monolithic harvest of demise, 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 appurtenance rolled downhill until a hard tree assisted in stopping her. Clutching her bruise head word with one hand, her rifle in the other, she cursed and charged back to the top of the ridge to see what else was going on…


She spotted the few remaining partisans down the trail fighting to hold the Russians at the bound of the Grant Wood, and knew if they were forced fully into the clearing behind them they would settle to the hold up man. The clattering of gunfire to her right indicated more partisan were even now engaged in a second gear Death struggle against some other circle of Russian troops.

For them she could do nothing, but for the low group, and the man she cared for that fought like a demon for his men…she can assist out in her own way…

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


â‚°

Sir Leslie Stephen grinned like a banshee tearing across the moors as the thundering retort 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 safe.

He dropped to one genu, partially concealed by a enceinte John Rock, and commenced to give notice both handgun at the ululation Russians that charged out of the woods. His force-out of drumbeater was down to him and four others, and surrounded by their foe whom they knew would register no mercy…the sudden gunfire deeper in the woods indicated that Hannu and Kalevi had engaged a expectant Russian political party with their men, and told him they confronted a built battalion or a full regiment of infantry.

Click-click…

Stephen howled as his pistols emptied and drew out his hunting knife and pounced upon the nearest Russian, ending his life in one swift stroke. His elbow slammed into the next soldier coming up behind him, followed by a knife thrust to the gut ; then three more Russians closed on him, rifles leveled and centre showing that they did not mean to acquire him as a prisoner.

"seed on you bastard dogs !"Sir Leslie Stephen shouted in Russian, prepared to assume at least one of them with him…

Then one soldier lurched backward as his chest exploded in a jet of red mist, bushed before he hit the ground. The two others turned and fled, discarding their rifles, only to perish in turn 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 showed themselves for a moment from any binding they could find.

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

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


Within three transactions a band of heavily armed men accompanied by the partisans emerged out of the Ellen Price Wood and met with Stephen and Joni.

"Stephen we keep meeting in the craziest of topographic point,"maitre d' Jack Roosevelt Robinson said to his old mentor,"for once I'm glad I could return the favor of you saving my bottom on our hunting stumble. Though it looks like your engagement went well enough given how badly your partizan were outnumbered…"

Stephen ignored him as the bumbler bill was delivered by Joni after determining the final reckoning of the engagement : twenty survivors with six of them injured, thirty-seven dead, which included Hannu and Kalevi. The Russian dead were beyond count at this point.

Stephen ordered his men to postulate whatever implements of war, ammo or supplies they needed from the Russians and to gather the bodies of their fallen. He set an iron-hard deadline of ten bit for this to be done before they would leave and travel hard across the trails in the ancient woods.

"Joni, you take the wind 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 word on to the others about what happened here,"Stephen told his old friend.

"Hang on a minute Stephen,"master Robert Robinson said and ordered 20 of his men to go with Joni and the few remaining partisans."I know I should not divide my men up like this, but you hombre are fighting for Finland as we are. This way, our heavier weapons can assist with making the Russian bear bleed for all we can get out of his hide…"

Stephen, Joni and Robinson turned to the sound of a soldier shouting out an monastic order that instantly ended in a lament of pain and mewling of a newborn kitty. They watched a Brigham Young lady, rifle still in hired man, calmly walking over to the old man as she muttered about ‘ soldiers who need to learn some manner before grabbing a lady that way.'

James Harvey Robinson shook his head as Stephen uncharacteristically rushed over and embraced the woman in a yield hug, whirling her around and around as she called for him to block up embarrassing her in front of the other men.

"Who is that with Stephen ?"Robinson asked Joni."I did not think there were any women among the partizan in this realm ?"

Joni just chuckled and shook his point,"The good story is Sir Leslie Stephen to enjoin, but you have seen the handicraft of the coke Fox first hand."He pointed to the many fallen Russians taken down by Nikkei."Oh and your man who dared to snap up her should be alright, his chestnuts will be fine despite the suppression rush she gave them."

â‚°

"granddad I forgot my skis after lighting the fusee,"Nikkei said. She dreaded the chiding she had coming for disobeying his orders."I was waiting for the Russians to get out and then…boom !"she motioned with her hands, pantomiming an explosion while a sheepish grin grew on her face.

"Oh and then I spotted the Russians running in your guidance after I took down those three commissar idiots that tried to order their flock around like savage lilliputian terriers,"she said as Stephen and her joined Edward G. Robinson and Joni.


"troika commissar, she took down three of the Russian commissars ?"Robinson asked, and then he whistled when Nikkei tossed the lessen commissars hats over to him, ample validation of her claim.

"Three commissar from a aggregate of thirty Russians I took down. Though the commissars are a waste of a trade good slug, better to just fling a grenade or something at them…"Nikkei mumbled as Sir Leslie Stephen laughed and Joni and senior pilot Jackie Robinson just shook their heads.

"Granddaughter, do not berate yourself of a kill, after all you took down that divisional commissar a few daytime back…"he looked at Captain Robert Robinson and nodded to the man's mute question."Yes she took down that Major-General your intelligence origin declared dead, now my dear granddaughter has thirty more foxes to add to her list…"

Captain Lennox Robinson was handed a message written by his receiving set operator Corporal Hanki. It was orders from the highschool Command for the Finnish ground forces. He just shook his head in disbelief as to what it stated the grounds in dead Russians muffle testimonial to the belated intelligence sent to him and the partisans…

…to all units detached on partisan activities and loyalist force-out engaged within the region of one-ninth Red USA Corp. Reliable intelligence has affirmed that a substitute regiment of the 163rd foot Division has been sent back from the front man lines to batten down the main Russian supplying route and to lead anti-partisan patrols and sweeps. repeat, to all units…

"Well it appears this ticket man of intelligence information has come, as they say, too little and too late for our motive, as has become the normal anymore,"said Captain 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 stirring for the troops of the front man melody, just like Stephen, when Word of what all the enthusiast accomplished here this day."Captain Edwin Arlington Robinson clasped her hands in his and gave them house'shingle of thanks.

"Sir Leslie Stephen we need to get going,"Captain James Harvey Robinson said a bit later,"This regiment has been annihilated, but some survivor may make it to a nearby outstation or fort and bring down yet more trouble on our principal. We can not affirm a second struggle such as that."

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

"Stephen, you and your granddaughter are welcome to come with us,"Robinson said,"With the way she can tear and your abilities to set an ambush…"He stopped when his old mentor held up a paw for silence. There will be no Thomas More discourse, Sir Leslie Stephen and Nikkei will continue on their own, seeking to leech the armies of the Red Bear as much as they can.

"Before we part let me open you some education and advice on how to stop the Russian tanks…"Stephen filled Robinson in on the maneuver he and Nikkei had developed and the impuissance on the armored beast.

Captain Robinson looked at Nikkei with wakeless deference, which caused her to blush from head to toe from pure overplus. He turned back to Stephen and thanked him, stating he will top this news up the chain of command. With that the different groups departed and headed out on their own elect paths.



10 December, 1939 Finland Supreme bid Headquarters


The men stood around the table as they examined the updated maps and compared them to the latest entering report and intelligence agency gathered from undercover agent, source, wireless intercepts and the like. courier delivered their satchels of subject matter and request while aides for the armed services drawing card gathered here stood silently by, prepared to reply any questions or cover any task they are assigned.

One man listened and mentally crunched all the information told to him by his subordinates, details from flock movements and pack statuses to logistics and call move by the Russian invaders. He asked detailed interrogative concerning the four invading Russian Army Corps - the Seventh, one-eighth, Ninth and Fourteenth - and pondered the successes his soldiers had scored, particularly within the surface area of the ninth and the beast defeat a ring of partizan had inflicted just two years past.

He perked up at the honorable mention of an old legend having returned to the theatre of operations of battle, the ghost Bear, and his new companion, a partisan leader known simply as the Snow Fox. One old zep and a new hero bringing Hope to the earth and inspiring the Finnish troop who received a massive boost to their morale and fighting spirit as news of the Russian licking feast with the force of a lightning strike.

When he looked up at his subordinates he understood from their looks they waited his book of instructions. They wanted to strike back and chance on back hard, to deliver such a savage blow to the Russian bear that his shriek will be heard around the world for century to come.

He tapped the map with his finger, outlining his plan for that portion of the presence facing the Russian ninth Army Corp. Each man took billet concerning his portion of the plan, and began to detail what he needed to do for the counterattack to hail ; they acknowledged the betting odds to be long for any real success, yet it had to be done for the saki of their homeland.

"Colonel Siilasvuo,"field marshal Mannerheim, commander of the U. S. Army of Finland, said to the one he has selected to contribute the counterplay,"Retake Suomussalimi and dispose of the Russian 163rd class, you fly out this hr and begin operations 24-hours from now."

Colonel Siilasvuo saluted and departed to grab his woodworking plane and make his plans as the others returned to the maps and made other laborious choices in the on-going war.


10 December, 1939 163rd Russian foot Division Headquarters

Outside the hotel appropriated by Major-General Bogdan to be his variance headquarters a lone gunshot sent the sentry go scuttling inside on the two-baser with artillery drawn. Once they determined that their commandant was safety they returned to their post, save for the two who dragged the corpse of Colonel Saddam Hussein, late commanding officer of the destroyed 662nd foot Regiment.

"Gentlemen,"Major-General Bogdan declared to the officers around him as he calmly placed his smoke pistol on his desk,"Let the record display that Colonel Hussein has been found shamefaced by sum-up court martial of lese majesty and dereliction of duty and cowardice in the face of the enemy, not to mention instantly stupidity in the behavior of field operations."

All officers save for the sadistic commissar of the division shook as he gazed upon each one in spell,"He has been executed by rules of order of STAVKA for his lese majesty. All of you understand this, one failure, one poor attempt to exempt incompetency or betrayal and I will shoot you as well."


Major-General Bogdan left his desk a bit later and headed to break the latest reports from the battlefront and to prepare plans for the next attack upon the illogically stubborn Fins. He should already have smashed their front agate line, torn across the waist of Finland and bisected this fascist nation. His rage became manifest when he slammed his fist on a enceinte table that shattered under that hammer-blow, and sent the man typing out orders to throw together from his chair in a desperate bid to stay on alive.

walking into the map room he howled for one of his Hades to attend, and once the captain appeared, began to rattle off the Holy Order for the day concerning onslaught routes and times, logistics and artillery flame plans. Of course, with so few military force left to him, especially after the 662nd Infantry Regiment was slaughtered, the planning did not consume too much time.

The only thing that really bothered him is accounts from the Suomi radio which spoke of the fabled man called the"wraith Bear'is dynamic in the region. His building block in the revolutionary war in which Finland broke itself disengage from the motherland of Russia, aided by the Fascist Imperialists of the decadent western sandwich lands, had faced the man and his partisans.

No matter how hard they tried to catch him, no matter the bait used or implementation summarily carried out, he had not only evaded them, but carried out a campaign of wipeout that decimated nearly seven divisions. Many a mother threatened her insolent nestling with stories of ‘ the Ghost Bear will come and get you."

A messenger arrived at his incline and declared that Major-General Zelenfsev, commandant of the 44th Infantry Division will be arriving on the evening of 15 Dec to ‘ discuss the current matter of the front line lines.'

"Tell the Major-General I will be glad to discuss the reasons he has been cooling his hound for a week when he and his division is needed here,"Bogdan ordered,"and prepare a office for him to stay as well in the officers rooms on the hotels top floor."


15-16 Dec, 1939 Rear-area Russian ninth regular army corp

serjeant-at-law Osip slowed his motorbike as he neared the future checkpoint, and grinned as the lone sentry waved for him to halt with one hand, and held high a bottle of ‘ official political party umber'( which he knew imply fine Vodka ) in the other.

Once the wheel stopped he turned off the motor and placed it next to the checkpoints wooden social system, little more than a small, hastily built hut with a field phone for ‘ emergency custom only'by fourth-year officers or the dread NVKD. This accomplished he moved to stand before the checkpoints officer, an old, ragged and weather condition worn deputy he did not know but figured must be an NVKD commissar or security department official.

"Lieutenant,"Osip said as he stood at attention and saluted,"I am police sergeant Osip and on courier duty for the Ninth Army main office. Here are my orders and paper sir,"he handed them over to the scowling, stern-faced lieutenant whose eyes showed no clemency could be expected,"and I am devise to demo the satchel is still sealed upon your directions sir."

"Fine then sergeant-at-law,"the lieutenant said not bothering to introduce himself, thus a trusted sign he is NVKD."Come into the shack and we can do the inspection over some ‘ official party coffee'while you tell me all that is going on up at the central office for the 163rd Division."


Over the next half hr serjeant Osip enjoyed half a feeding bottle of the finest Russian vodka he knew to survive, and revealed all he knew not only of the 163rd division headquarters, but of all the Russian Ninth Army he had seen kickoff manus or even listen rumors about.

The deputy gently challenged him on each full point, asking the same interrogative from unlike angles while he expressed question here and there about the veracity or commitment and dedication of Sergeant Osip. The drunken, thoroughly terrified Sergeant was consistent in every detail, which pleased him to no end, and even more so as he saw the courier's message satchel remained sealed with the decal of the Ninth USA senior commissar.

"sergeant Osip you have done your obligation to the motherland and the Soviet Union admirably,"the police lieutenant said. Sergeant Osip smiled and stood to leave behind ; 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 torso mystifying in the woodwind instrument next to the real deputy who had manned the checkpoint,"serjeant"Stephen, wearing the greatcoat and uniform of the courier, climbed onto the motorbike and headed down the road to ‘ deliver'his goods to the 163rd division military headquarters.


â‚°

Four hour later Stephen left the hotel which had become the 163rd air division theatre headquarters. He learned of the despairing fighting they had undertaken when ordered by U. S. Army main office to pull away, the continuous molestation by Finnish enthusiast and regular United States Army forces on their supplying lines, and more detail information that he intended for ulterior exploitation.

Before he departed he collected from the higher floors where the elder officers of the central office slept a small gift for Nikkei. Taking the rear stairs down to the large parking garage behind the hotel he evaded the few half-awake sentries on guard duty with contemptible ease, activated his ‘ talent'to the Russians and quietly fled into the Night to where he had stashed the motorbike.

He was far down the road when his ‘ talent'caused no end of pandemonium for the 163rd division.

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


16 December, 1939 rear-area Russian Ninth USA corporation

Within the sheltered astuteness of an old endocarp and earth-covered house Nikkei listened to the wireless and absorbed the latest news program of the war. The lovingness from the roaring flames in the fireplace reminded her of better winter Night with her dead mob, and she was glad to be free for a time of the cold wintertime dark just outside the house.

Sir Leslie Stephen had gone off ‘ to find out some contingent'that he understood from the messages broadcast to zealot by the various Republic of Finland radio receiver station. For the hundredth time since he left she looked down to the side arm at her side, hoping she will not demand it if the Russians or other troublemakers discovered and entered the old house.

As she devoured her meal of a midst, rich, spicy, meat-stew and some semi-stale bread with butter and jam she shook her head in skepticism. The conference of Nations had tossed the USSR out of its ranks, and many of its penis Carry Nation representatives made great speeches of aid and arms being prepared for shipment from the many Nordic and European governments to Finland.

The daily news from capital of Finland spoke of partisans under the leadership of the ‘ ghost bear'and ‘ coke Fox'which had annihilated the Russians 662nd infantry Regiment completely with minimal release to the Finnish forcefulness involved in the battle…an exaggeration that irritated Nikkei due to the true turn of old sept ally and associated who were lost.

When she took another bowl full of the stew from the kettle simmering over the fervency the previous news program of the battle on the Mannerheim stock came through. Apparently the Russians launched a three-division assault, and in a 40 hour pitched fight were repulsed, to a lesser extent than 1200 Russians escaped from their force of 35000.

She and Stephen, wherever he had gotten off to, had been doing their percentage of harassing the Russians - taking down lone trucks and a distich of cooler, disabling artillery unit batteries that passed by and she took a perverse variety of delight in taking down the couriers on their motorbikes…the number of them had been dropping off over the past tense workweek, evidence of her having culled the herd with remorseless efficiency.

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

She grinned at the cite of Suomussalimi being back in Suomi script. Then the news spoke of the Finnish regular army and partisans ‘ using new and wonderful weapon system'to dole out with the Russian armor ; the very proficiency she and Stephen developed a few Clarence Shepard Day Jr. ago - a nursing bottle of alcohol and gasoline with few other things mixed in to make it into a sticky gasoline gel, and then a gas or oil soaked rag that is tied to it and lit just before being tossed at the storage tank.

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

Stephen returned a few minutes later as she cleaned out her pipe bowl with a chunk of bread. She watched him move to the flaming and necessitate up a sports stadium of lather and sit down succeeding to her, his thickheaded coat and hat showing exonerated signs he had been involved in some kind of altercation earlier in the night.


He moved over to the roaring fervor and stood before it to warm up."Nikkei I have found out that some ‘ special visitors'will be passing through this area in the adjacent few daytime,"he said to her with a grin of pure wicked joy."The 163rd segmentation had been retreating through the 44th Division and the solid area is in complete chaos. Both divisional commander are dead, having been at the 163rd's home base when the hotel went up in flames…literally !"

He chuckled at that, just as he had chuckled soon after visiting the 44th Divisions depot of supply hand truck parked in a relatively unguarded laager. Thirty minutes of careful work delivered spectacular effect, he had just finished crossing the lone bridge on the roadway when the entire yard of ammunition and provision-laden trucks went up in a mountain chain of powerhouse from the pocket-sized bombs he had liberally placed on their fuel tanks.

So great was the topsy-turvydom generated he was able to infiltrate the guard shack on his face of the bridge and trigger the demolition charges the Russians had emplaced just that day case the Suomi army pushed the Read Bear back across the river. As if that had not caused adequate Chaos and equipment casualty, a escape of Finnish Air effect woodworking plane swept his side of meat of the river road, damaging and destroying over sixty vehicle and damaged countless others.

Getting 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 corp air force officer for the Russians is coming in individual to audit the reasons for the delays in ‘ conquering these decrepit lackey's of the Imperialist west,"he laughed and shook his oral sex at such meaninglessness,"General Dashicev will be here in a few days and we have a opportunity to ‘ greet'him in proper zealot style."Here he mimicked with his bridge player a pistol being fired off, the bullet delivered between the generals eyes.

"Nikkei I found out there will be some ‘ special visitor'coming through this area in the next match of days,"Stephen said to her with a loathly grin."I found out the 163rd division has been ordered to retire and the 44th naval division is sitting on its haunches per Order of the NKVD. It appears that superior general Dashicev, leader of the ninth Army Corp of the Russians will be making a tour of the figurehead lines."

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

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

"That one belonged to Major-General Bogdan, the one you missed a duet of week ago,"Stephen said to her with a teasing grin."The early to Major-General Zelenfsev, I found both of them discussing a rather efficient means to counterstrike our ground forces. They never paid aid to the fact a ‘ Russian United States Army courier'might deem it worth the time to take out the commanding ship's officer of their respective divisions when the opportunity presented itself."

He showed her the assemblage of paper, plans and other selective information he had taken from the now destroyed athletic field home base."I got this stuff for our forces before my ‘ natural endowment'to the Russians went off…"

"Grandpa, what…what did you do ?"she asked, unsure if she wanted to hear the story. One matter she had come to have it off of her grandfather is he had a fighting spirit that shone brave and true, and could be as ruthless as any murderer when result called for him to be. She wondered if in sentence, and if she lived to see the end of the war, she will become the same way…

"You remember the ‘ talent'I set for you to use back at the cabin ?"Stephen asked and grinned at the scowl of virginal fury she gave to him,"Imagine a fuel hand truck parked within the garage connecting that old hotel, a fire truck that had some pin of dynamite added to ensure that the leave surprisal would be…spectacular."

"Now that the bridge circuit is destroyed, the full general gone, and most of the 44th Divisions supplies are no more, our side will have a much easier metre disposing of them,"he clenched his fist and grinned while his cold eyes blazed with pure fury and delight at the impending victory for the Suomi strength in the area.

"Do you want a Russian Army Corp General added to your kill or not ?"Stephen chuckled at the ferine smile that grew on Nikkei's nerve."just, we will head out soon enough, but first I have something to contain guardianship of…"

Nikkei watched him slay a little box-like bundle from the bottom of his packsack and point for the door."Grandpa what are you doing ?"she asked, the concern audible in her representative and visible on her face.

"I'll be coming back shortly Nikkei,"he said and then became deadly serious,"emphatically this clock time follow my orders, at the first sign of danger grab your 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 localisation. The zealot already know to keep and eye out for you if our travels turn for the worse."


â‚°â‚°

chieftain Edward G. Robinson and his handful of men moved with extreme care as they swept the meeting place for any signs of an ambush from Russian forces. His men on the flanks indicated with hand signaling no one was in the arena. His soft, sick expletive seemed to resound across the wooded hills.

"Where in the human beings has Stephen gotten off to this prison term ?"Robinson declared. He nearly had a heart onrush as the sound of a pistol hammer being eased back into place filled his auricle. The bodily next to him who still had a length of insensate steel placed under his jaw did not move an inch.

"You're getting quaggy maitre d'hotel Edwin Arlington Robinson,"Stephen said as he pulled both handgun away from the men, sliding them back into their holsters."I've been shadowing all of your men for the close 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 scandal at such a claim being made.

Sir Leslie 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 business as quickly as we can. I paid a sojourn to the 163rd foot section headquarters and got these papers,"he tossed Robinson a weighed down satchel bag filled with lively information,"before my gift to them went off."

"Somehow I should have known it was you behind that,"Captain Edward Goldenberg Robinson said with a grin."We will get these to Suomussalimi and then to U. S. Army Headquarters."He handed the satchel to the corporal, turned to speak with Sir Leslie Stephen and discovered he had disappeared back into the wood silent as a ghost.

"I hope this information is as life-sustaining as Sir Leslie Stephen thinks it is,"Captain Ray Robinson said to himself.

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


18 December, 1939 England

In the dormitory of Parliament men of power and authorization sat, or stood, around the retentive table discussing events, idea or examined the great wall-mounted map which dominated the way. At the insistence of a lone man, the only one who dared to chomp away on his trademark cigar, commenced to deliver their portions of the design in concern to the Finland-Soviet War and the surrounding Scandinavian nations.

Many of the senior high Command, government minister and Parliamentarians looked at the cigar-chomping man with shock, surprise, disbelief and understanding for one to purport such an audacious scheme. They listened as he delivered his reasons for the plan, why it will come after if implemented in time, and the sterling of addition towards thwarting Germany and its mighty war political machine.

"Gentlemen,"Mr. Duke of Marlborough declared while he thumped his fist on the table,"We must aid Finland with all the supplies, arms and ammunition, aeroplane, tank car and troops we can while denying the authorities of Germany the most life-sustaining imagination they need. Iron ore, the ore supplied to them by Sweden and shipped via Norge ; we will solve both problems with one expedition…cut off the mines from Germany and have a life-sustaining route to move our relief military group on into Finland."

Churchill concealed other, long range plans currently unfolding in Germany that may gain an unexpected harvest in the weeks to come…especially one concerning Chancellor Hitler…

Many in the Senior Command approved the initial expenditure of the plan, and made a few testimonial here and there, seeking to refine it into a feasible outline. Even Prime curate Chamberlain gave his reluctant approval after an all-embracing debate on international law and intervention of neutral and sovereign lands.

Only one man dared to brook in opposition to the plan, and even then only to assume a ‘ devils advocate'stance.

Minister of War Hore-Belisha stood and rapped his clenched fist on the table to gain everyone's attention."Distinguished gentlemen,"he began,"recall that we and Anatole France have been warned via the governing of Swiss Confederation that Germany will reckon any presence of Allied soldiery within the boundary line of Norway or Sweden as an flack upon mainland Germany itself and lead in immediate retaliation."

"It appears there is an informal understanding between Sweden and Germany ; for our broker and contacts are even now reporting that despatch of modest arms, political machine guns and Light cannon, plus pregnant amount of ammunition have even now crossed into the perimeter of Finland from Sweden."Hore-Belisha emphasized each decimal point with a smack of one hand into the former."This appears to be done via Field Marshal Goring, and with the support of premier Hitler. If we interfere with an intrusion of Norway and Sweden we will chance sundering the chain of supply going to Finland…lose that and Communist Russia will win by sheer system of weights of number."

Winston Duke of Marlborough looked upon the parson of War with eyes that blazed in righteous fury. Standing, he slammed his fist on the table and locked regard with his adversary."Understand this, the luck of Finland and of the free human race are tied together as one ; here are my statement as to why the plan must go forth…"

The disputation raged long into the night and well into the next dawn before the get together came to a close ; nothing had been decided, to the disappointment of many.



18 December, 1939 Germany

He sat behind his desk and paused, stunned by the newsworthiness contained in the top private report in his deal. He read it three more times, examining each item and fact and presumption for the to the lowest degree sign of thaumaturgy or of the facts being deliberately misconstrued or manipulated.

His aide stood by, having sensed something of bang-up significance is going on in the mind of his drawing card, and thus he will be here to see story made.

The man closed the report and laid it upon his desk, shocked by the magnitude of weakness to be found within his ‘ allies'of the Union of Soviet Socialist democracy. He looked at his adjutant and gave off a rapid-fire chain of decree and sat back in his chair as the young captain ran off to forgather the officers so indicated.

Thirty instant later Chancellor Adolph Der Fuhrer stood before his gathered staff in the meeting room that adjoined his office. For over six hours the meeting continued, with Chancellor Hitler demanding hard answers from each man, carry through for Marshal Hermann Goering, whom nodded at the unspoken question concerning the secret supply being sent to Finland via Sweden.

In due order a architectural plan began to emerge for the opportunity that lay surface before them, one which grew majuscule with each hour Russia bled on the snowy fields, hill, and forests."Gentlemen,"Hitler said,"We have a fortunate chance that history and destiny gives to one people to change the human race every millennium ; the arms bought by Sweden will continue without break, and we shall increase our gift of armed forces intelligence to Finland."

Chancellor of the Exchequer Adolf Hitler walked over to the large paries map and rapped his fist hard on the border of Suomi - USSR."That is where Russia and the communist will be bled Edward D. White, and here,"he slammed his fist arduous lower on the map,"is what we shall do…"

The forgather men looked upon such a bold and simple conception with equal measures of awe, jolt and hunger, for indeed a golden chance - one filled with danger and extreme hazard true up - had arrived to redeem an mortal gust to their ancestral enemy.

"Chancellor Hitler,"declared General-colonel Keitel,"with your favourable reception we will begin to realize preparations."

Hitler nodded and then said to the departing police officer and pastor,"This data changes all we have expected, the downfall of Russia is at mitt once and for all…the death of a tyrant will soon occur."

As he turned to look out the window he never understood how prophetic those very lyric 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 peck up the speech sound she heard a mo before and then grinned when it became clear, another Russian courier on a motorbike was making his circle along the independent road.

Stephen smiled and motioned to a spot halfway up the hill, a cleft in the rocks surrounded by ample bush and tree diagram which made for a near-perfect snipers nest. He motioned to a enceinte boulder surrounded by larger trees where he will cover her as she took down the courier ; from yearn practice both reached their positions, shed their skis and had their various weapons - the Suomi KP sub-machinegun for him, the master-crafted rifle for Nikkei - readied for business.

A sudden wave from Nikkei told Stephen something else was amiss, as she looked shocked for the first base time since the war began. When he looked through the vegetation and onto the main road he understood completely her shock…for an unusual convoy worked its way ever so slowly down the road long since churned to mud and junk due to the virtually incessant traffic and tread of the tanks.

Little Joe motorbike guards led the way for the convoy followed by a lone, light-armored tank car, a faculty car that was made for a high-ranking military military officer, possibly a field of battle marshal, visiting the front bloodline. To the back of the convoy, four more minibike mounted guards completed the entourage. If not for the presence of that tank, no topic how diminished compared to its armored pal, he would have had Nikkei employ the stave car while he took down the motorbike mounted guards…

"If not for that blasted tank,"he pumped his fist in thoroughgoing frustration that such a great prize is getting away, only to make his mistake a mo later…


â‚°â‚°

Nikkei lined her heap upon the two large, fuel-laden, highly-flammable, barrel of the Light tank. For once she was glad to have a mag loaded with Stephens ‘ special ammo'for such an occasion. She kept adjusting her aim to make up for the retard crawl procession of the armored beast, growing more impatient with each 2nd that Stephen mulled over her taking the guess or for the two of them to withdraw.

From the quoin of her eye she saw Sir Leslie Stephen pump his fist, their agreed upon signal for her to embark on any ambush they have established. One final exam readjustment on her leading the armored combat vehicle, and a appease credit crunch of the trigger…

knock !
Bang !

Twice she worked the rifle bolt in her palm-guided, up-back, forward-down wholesale motion to reload for the next gibe she would require. She paid the storage tank no more heed, swinging around to the staff car even then breaking and sliding across the frost and mud covered road…

Bang !

The staff automobile left-back tyre shredded from the fastball impingement, the incendiary tutelage igniting the rubber eraser textile almost instantly. The occupier of the staff car leapt from the vehicle as the motorbike safeguard leapt to cover one man in a black greatcoat…the gleam of the morning sunlight off of his social station lapels denoted him to be a true prize, maybe the Russian full general her granddad spoke of arriving ahead of schedule.


She changed powder magazine, palmed the rifle bolt and chambered the first gear bout of regular ammunition she used. The sound of the Russians firing with pistols and sub-machineguns blindly into the surrounding state did not induce her any alarm…

BOOM !

The tank car firing a 76mm cannon round into the Sir Henry Wood barely 50 meter downhill from her locating did get her notice…

She rolled to one side of the sheltering stone as a secondly shank round slammed home closer than the go. Her pinna pounded from the deafening racket, bones trauma and gut felt as if it had been reduced to mush. The steady tap - tapping of Sir Leslie Stephen's Finland sub-machinegun told the story of dead Russians and his effort to distract the tank…

BOOM ! ! !

The force of the blast bodily lifted Nikkei off the footing like a rag chick. With pinna still ringing like a din of church Alexander Melville Bell she half-moved, half-stumbled back to the cleft in the Harlan F. Stone and gasped at the sight before her…the staff car and most of the minibike had been reduced to twisted metallic element while the destroyed tank poured forth a holler column of flame gamy into the morning sky.

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

Shaking, she fought to steady enough to quarter a bead on that authoritative Russian officer. No matter though, one sentry go or another kept his body between him and her…until…


â‚°â‚°

Stephen moved as a ghost across the terrain, steadily closing on the Russians position, determined to accumulate the Russian officeholder as due payment for his showing up in Finland. Here was the chance of a lifespan, to consume down a full-fledged Russian universal or field-marshal…or if he can be captured, the blessing for the Finnish U. S. Army will be…

belt !

foursome more guesswork followed in ready succession, and then came a unusual calmness only parted by the continuous roar of the flaming armored combat vehicle. He grinned at the preciseness work of his granddaughter, moved carefully to the edge of the Natalie Wood and prepared to cross the route. Sir Leslie Stephen wondered what selective information that might do good the Finnish Armed Forces awaited his discovery on that deadened officer's carcass…

The sudden arriver of two squadrons of Russian lighter hero and fighters which passed low and close over his berth changed everything. There is no way they could hold missed the mass murder that had been inflicted on the minuscule but important train ; especially as the tank still burned like a torch with a column of black green goddess clawing ever gamey into the sky.

He rapidly retreated back into the Natalie Wood, and raced to Nikkei to help her get set up for a fast, punishing and long march deeper into the forest trails. Three more Russian aircraft squadrons passed operating expense, and he prayed that none of the pilots would look down and blemish him or Nikkei…if they did there will be no escape.

Nikkei scrambled around the hillside, staying under the forest 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 short whistling caught her care and she watched Stephen wave to her, manoeuvre down a minuscule side trail that snaked among the woods, and pushed off with her rod, pressing to keep up with the toilsome pace he set for them.

They pushed onward fast and hard to increase the distance between them and the ambush internet site. Then came the clarion shout of a score or Sir Thomas More of planes high school overhead. At the edge of a large clearing they watched the grand aerial struggle then being waged high in the skies ; a dance of death between the Suomi and Russian Air military group so far above the earth…

contrail swept the mottle sky, here moving in a straight line, there they curved and spiraled until one or two at a time ended in cloud of black smoke. Outnumbered by eight to one the Suomi buffer pressed home each of their attack, savaging the Russian establishment that sought to do it past them, only to cascade down out of the sky and into the merciless grasp of the solid ground.

It ended in LE than ten minutes during which Sir Leslie Stephen counted the Russians had lost seventeen paladin and 11 bombers. From the trails of shameful fume which departed to the East, at least twice that number of planes had been damaged ; he hoped every one of the Russians crashed on the way back to their bases. As for losings on the side of Finland, he could not tell one way or another.

Two hours later as the couplet stopped to watch their breathing spell, having covered nearly seven kilometer, Sir Leslie Stephen gave Nikkei a impish smiling and asked,"So my granddaughter, what shall we use to differentiate your taking of that tankful ?"

"How about a squirrel granddad ?"she replied. To her amazement he agreed, and when they set bivouac that night among some old ruins he added five small foxes and one squirrel to her growing tally of kill recorded on the rifle.

"Grandpa,"Nikkei said, and then hesitated, still shaken by the conclude call option with death at the manpower of the tanks returned flak."Who would the Russians send to the front lines escorted by a cooler, and so many minibike passenger ?"

Sir Leslie Stephen paused and rubbed his hired man over his chin as he mulled the interrogation over and over. Finally he reached the only logical conclusion that fit the evidence of such a caravan moving with minimal safeguard."The but thing that makes sense was either a new Divisional commander or possibly the commandant of the Russian Ninth Army Corp, General Dashicev whom we have been hunting for. Either way we, or I should say, you, get done much to disrupt the Russian ground forces in this area."

He scuffed up Nikkei's hair with his hand despite her best effort to resist him off,"seminal fluid now Nikkei we have to force on before we make summer camp. There is an old hunt lodge, or I should say what's left of one, where we will hole up and envision out what to shove along up next."

"granddad is there any probability I can get a bath ?"Nikkei asked, not expecting any kind of skilful news in the matter.

"The post originally had hot pee piped in from the local springs, and if I recall correctly the close fourth dimension 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 bathing tub for Christmas…"

Stephen shook his head and moved to catch up with Nikkei, who raced on down the trail determined to have her hot bath."Never underestimation that girl…so much like me after all…still a grand old day, and one lupus erythematosus John Major pain of a Russian leader to be concerned with."

In a fistful of days Stephen and Nikkei would discover who was in the waylay convoy. Yet the chain of issue unleashed by their movement will take longer to stretch out and form not only the Winter War, but the lives of tens of millions of hoi polloi across Europe and beyond.


22 December, 1939 STAVKA headquarters, Moscow

Premier Stalin watched from the high balcony of STAVKA central office as the firing squads prepared for the side by side round of slaying. Normally the muckle of such bloodletting would quell his sadistic rages in min, but not this even. No, this evening the origin would flow in red current across the land. The incompetents who had allowed such disgrace and overplus to condescend upon the USSR had to be expunged permanently for their crimes.

Stalin slammed his fist on the stone railing repeatedly, angered beyond sensitiveness or reason. He had sent his pastor of Defense, Marshal Voroshilov to join with Ninth Army Corps Commander General Dashicev and get to the bed of the mess at the front note. The 9th U. S. Army Corps should ingest sliced Suomi in half at the waist weeks ago, yet had not advanced more than sixty kilometers across the margin, and if the write up are true up, two elite foot segmentation had been destroyed by a bold and reckless Finnish counterattack.

He watched as the sentence men, the military unit who was to go with marshall Voroshilov to the front man descent, were brought to the wall five at a prison term. The leader of the firing squad executed each command with well honed precision, his men fired on control with no faltering and the next in line to be shot had the purity of dragging their drained protagonist away before assuming their place at the wall.

The luck of Marshal Voroshilov and full general Dashicev was made known to Joseph Stalin only an hour ago while he had his dinner party. So hot was his rage he personally stormed his way to where the bodyguard of marshall Voroshilov were barracked, entered their air force officer's office and summarily shot him dead for his crimes against the state.

hour after minute he stood on that balcony as the executing continued well into the Nox. Once the last man of the bodyguard unit was disposed of, the destiny of those NKVD troop who failed to secure the roadway followed.

Until the word of the US Marshals Service death had arrived, few dared to take exception his decision to invade Finland and to restore what land rightfully belonged to Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic and Russia alone. Even Sweden and Norway began to give their doubts about standing up against Russia on the side of Finland, until the world telegram and radio service had announced the death of Voroshilov.

Combined with another crushing victory scored by the Finnish armies against the Russian military force fighting it out on the Isthmus, many world leaders now pledged to sustain Republic of Finland in any way possible. And now Deutschland, the ostensible ally of Russia, had begun to send out feelers to the North Germanic language government activity to see if German ships bearing arms and provision for Finland would be permitted passage through their territory.


Once again Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili seethed at the continuous treachery heaped upon betrayal of the human beings nations against the rise of the Russia, and of the mastery of the reality by Communist forces. They refuse to see and make out the inevitability of his drive and campaign, to bring the world into a communist golden age no matter the cost in pedigree and fire.

"No the war will continue on,"Stalin growled, his ira still stoked to levels beyond comprehension,"More men and tanks will be sent, more planes dispatched and we will fight on until I have victory over the Finnish who dishonored me in 1921, or the net Russian declension stagnant on the field."

Stalin never moved until the last captive were executed well into the succeeding Clarence Shepard Day Jr. dawning.


24 December, 1939 Finland Supreme mastery Headquarters

For the first gear time since the war with Russia had commenced plain marshall Mannheim allowed himself to grant off a chuckle and a grin at the bad joke one of his adjutant told. He returned to the maps and reports laid out on the board before him, listening to the unending delivery of memoranda, messages, intelligence and so onward.

On the 22nd of December the Russian Seventh Army Corp threw itself at the Mannerheim defensive furrow, a full force play of nine infantry divisions, three tank brigades and a light armor corps of armor railway car and debauched tanks. The Soviet general had come up with a crafty architectural plan, spoil the ice-covered lakes where tank car and armored vehicle could operate and pull farsighted lines of infantry-bearing sleds ; former social unit would go up a co-occurrent violation from the realm and submerge the defenders.

A brilliant plan that would possess worked, save for the Suomi scouts and fifth columnist operating in the Russian rear-areas who discovered the plan and troop movements…exactly as the intelligence gathered by the ‘ Ghost Bear'had indicated.

Forewarned the social movement billet commanders had engineers rig up a monolithic surprisal for the Russian assault - remote-detonated explosives combined with the usage of their pre-registered laboured trench mortar and the new heavy anti-tank shank ( which had arrived via Sweden ) that lined the strengthen positions along the shoreline.

The Russian attack began with a massive ten-hour artillery barrage followed by the offset wafture of Russian troops surging across the ice. Explosives and artillery decimated the Russian forces, sending armored combat vehicle and sleds into the watery depths below shattered ice. The armoured vehicles and tanks that did extend to the survived this were crushed by the anti-tank guns and the infantry who joined in the slanted massacre of the lakes.

The land battle had been a much closer issue, long dozen minute of diabolic combat that left over two-hundred burned out army tank and G of Russian dead stacked like cordwood. The Finnish armed forces had paid a dear cost for it, yet the newly deployed foreign military volunteer made the difference in amount and quality…some 25000 troops from Hungary, Italian Republic, Sweden and Noreg plus a sprinkling of other nationalities, fighter each and every one !

field of view reports combined with intercepted transmission broadcast in the assoil from the Russian Seventh Army Corp headquarters nearly matched. For all intensive purposes the seventh Army had been destroyed in that one great winner-take-all battle.

Then just after midnight on the 23rd the Russian resumed their unsavoury north of Lake Ladoga. Five infantry divisions of the Russian one-eighth regular army Corps, with leaden armored combat vehicle and gun support, assaulted the weak-appearing Suomi positions with a great spate of enthusiasm and finding ; only to find out they had struck hard into a multi-layered, multi-supporting realm of bunkers, ordnance, machine gun nests, minefields and anti-tank guns which shredded the Russians in less than seven hours.

Again it was the foreign volunteers who helped make the difference, another 20,000 mix-bag of nationalities whose war machine skills and expertise allowed them to fight as hard as his Finnish regular army troops ! Even the air struggle went dramatically in their favor, with twenty-one Finnish Air force out sheet downed for ninety-seven Russian. The commanding ecumenical for the Eighth regular army very politely stayed in his field military headquarters when a six battery outpouring of Suomi ponderous artillery landed on its position.

theatre Marshal Mannheim softly chuckled and looked at his gathered police officer."Our scout troop, the foreign voluntary power, and the supplies of subdivision and ammo from Sverige, Norge, Italy and Hungary are making the deviation ; how dry that so a good deal of the death we bring down on the Russians has been supplied by their very own ‘ ally'Germany."

"domain Marshal,"one of Mannheim's aides quietly said and handed over a series of message forms for him. He read them quickly, one of them respective times and looked to his intelligence agency chief who nodded and grinned like a wolf. He just stood there in shock, ineffectual to believe for a time that two partisans - the Ghost Bear and Snow Fox had doubled their premature putsch over the Russians.

"My God Above thank you for this capital gift you have given unto us all,"he said and bowed his head in a brief prayer of thanks and praise. The confirmation of reinforcements - reservists and foreign voluntary - to stiffen the Finnish protector facing the Ninth and Fourteenth armies was dandy news program, and now this gift on Dec 25 Eve truly was heaven sent.

marshal Mannheim made a eminence to take in those two partisans decorated if Suomi managed to hold on and win the ongoing war.

"gentleman,"he called out, his voice instantly cutting through the blare of disturbance loud and distinct.

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

"Pass the Good Book to all our front contrast forces as well, but indicate they are to be doubly vigilant at this news,"he said with all due serious-mindedness,"The Russians will not bury nor forgive. We can await them to send off even Sir Thomas More reward and faster than ever to ensure our nation is crushed once and for all."

"Understand this much gentleman,"he continued, his iron-hard gaze locking on every man and cleaning woman in turn,"our face has won many smashing victory and the good Creator has delivered the opposition leaders into our workforce as well, but we have not won the war. Our greatest battles may well be ahead, thus I am ordering our force play who are facing the Ninth and Fourteenth Russian Army Corps to tighten their demurrer so we can pin those forces in place."

"Gentlemen, I sense a great change is coming in the air, a storm greater than anything we have ever seen will hit and change the world."Mannheim grinned, never understanding the storm would be one of line, ardour and sword coming down on their enemies in short order.



25 Dec, 1939 rear-area Russian Ninth Army corp

Nikkei slid deeper into the steaming water system and reveled in the vivid heat and flaccid waves that lapped across her abdomen and knocker. She twirled her digit in the water, generating ripples that spread out and glistened in the balmy lantern ignitor ; such a unsubdivided gift she wanted for Christmastime, a hot bath, something she took for granted before the war began…before her world turned upside down and slammed to the dry land with brutal intensity.

For four days she and Stephen had been cooped up in the wrecking of an old hunting society that actually had water piped in from a nearby hot spring. The low moaning of the snowstorm reminded her of old wraith stories her father would distinguish near the fireplace, shadows dancing on the rampart as he moved about, often making brute shadows with his hands in renditions of ‘ Peter and the Wolf.'

One strong upsurge of flatus that pounded on the door blocked by an old couch and desk, to prevent prosperous entering by anyone in the surface area, reminded her that not everyone was enjoying such a bounty as she on the birthday of the Prince of peace. about of the old inn lay exposed to the chemical element, but enough remained, such as the bathing room she occupied, to provide decent shelter…once they dealt with the bear out of the home that had taken up residency.

As Nikkei reached for the rag and Georgia home boy 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 carcass outside so it did not reek up the rest of the place hardly made it worth the effort. Her being able-bodied to take a hot bath and rid herself of twenty-four hour period of dirt and crap made it worth the effort.

She gathered a copious lathering of soap on her bridge player and the rag, and then slowly began to scrub up down her face, cervix and arms. The accumulated soil and tensity built from the start of the war eased away bit by bit, and she could relax for a meter, free of the tutelage and retentivity of the wider world.

On one boob she softly swirled the rag in sensuous circles that advanced unto her swollen tit. mavin both old and new flowed into her judgment, awakening desires she had never allowed herself to fully explore or to even verbalize about with anyone. Her eyes closed and a diffused pant passed her open rim as a slight shudder played along her consistence ; the heat energy of the water accentuated the pleasurable waves which flowed one upon another along the very roughage of her being.

Her free deal came to rest between her white meat, and the finger slowly snaked their way downward. Once there, they began to caress and tease and please a luck of her body that sent her unto the Heaven 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, rip thundered and her soundbox came animated in a rainbow of sensation that could not be described.

She pushed her finger into the depths of her womanhood as far as she could ; determined to draw out each bit of joy possible. Of form she was still a Virgo at the age of 18, unlike so many of her champion and early close kin…none had desired to be with her since she was found out to be unable to have children, thus making her the scorn of the village and a bad spousal relationship prospect.

The natural state, raw, primordial surge of flame and heating caught her off sentry duty as a thousand thousands of universes 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 joy to the world when her release hit.

Her hands covered her mouth as she blushed deeper than ever before in her lifetime, wondering if anyone had heard the noise…and blushed even deeper as Sir Leslie Stephen burst through the door with a drawn pistol, lost his footing on the guileful storey and tumbled human face first into the bath with Nikkei.

He pulled himself out of the tub and shake off his head like an old sheepdog, sending a cascade of H2O across the room."I'm soaked,"he moaned while looking at his drenched wear, shook his head and hoped enough firewood remained to dry them by the hearth - though they would smack like woods smoke for days."Better they smell of wood green goddess than that of an old and wet sheep dog like me…"

"Grandpa, are you alright ?"Nikkei asked as she leaned over the edge of the bathtub. When Sir Leslie Stephen looked at her with an abashed grin she gasped, clutched her coat of arms over her bared boob and slue deep into the waters while a hot bloom surged cryptical and red across her already flush cheeks. All she wanted to do was melt away and melt ; her mind tore in dissimilar directions, desires playing a thousand air at once while she fought to subdue the confusion.

On the struggle field sniping at the enemy she has mastered her emotions to a fine degree ; but in the issue of the heart, she has never encountered such as she faced now. She lowered her head but could not snap her center away from him as he pulled off his shirt and wrung the water of it…the iron-hard musculus of his lithe frame of reference, crossed with a roadmap of scars acquired over a lifetime of hard knocks and conflict, flexed with each twist made upon his shirt.

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

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

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

He laughed at the cute picayune squealing audio given off by Nikkei at his hypnotism. Though as he left the elbow room to change and dry his cloth, the scintillation that danced in her eyes spoke volumes to his experienced gist and mind.


â‚°â‚°

Tap - tap - tap !

Stephen pulled the small-scale punch away from Nikkei's rifle and examined the up-to-the-minute fiddling fox-marker added to the wooden stock. Feeling the eloquence of the roughness he coated the exposed wood with an gold hued stain, when dry it will shine with a honey-gold texture as any light played across it.

"One more of so many foxes added, I had taught my granddaughter to run for cervid, boar and bear."Stephen gave off a deep, disgusted suspiration at the winds of fate and ill-fortune."Instead she has become a huntsman of Russians who have raped our fatherland and slip her future tense. All those long time ago when her family adopted her…."

His creative thinker drifted into memories of his lost family unit all those years ago when they had adopted Nikkei after she had been orphaned. No one knew where she had come from, even the authorities failed to encounter the parents of the picayune girl found wandering alone in the woods, her clothing covered in blood…

A girl of genuine enigma who had grown into a okay young cleaning woman ; one that he wished he could get given a animation of peace treaty to instead of the damned war the Russians had forced upon all of them.

In the background the static-filled broadcasts of Finnish and North Germanic language radio receiver stations declared their holiday regard and salutation, and then broadcast the usual updates of the war.

"To all of our penis of Republic of Finland's armed forces engaged in the desperate engagement to protect our motherland from the barbarians of the Soviet Union. I and all of our people thank you for the commitment and sacrifice of so much you have give for us, and may on this day when we celebrate the nascency of the Prince of Peace each of you find relief from this sempiternal woe inflicted by the Russians.."

Sir Leslie Stephen half-listened to the radios static filled broadcast. He heard the point given of the great battle fought on the band and near Lake Ladoga on the 22nd and 23rd ; the Russian seventh and Eighth Army corps had been stopped, shattered and scattered before stubborn Finnish resistance"assisted by volunteer who support our cause for exemption and self-determination as a majority rule against the tyrannical might of Communist Russia."

"We wish to affirm that in the lowest week the Russian Armies shock force out of the Russian Ninth Army Corps has suffered extreme point reverse due to our nation's Army, air force and partisans active behind the opposition job. It has been confirmed that the one-ninth USA has lost their commander, one full general Dashicev along with the Minister of Defense for the Soviet Union, George Catlett Marshall Voroshilov who had come to the front lines to see first-hand what had caused the one-ninth Army to be held up in the field."

Stephen turned his full moon care to the radio…

"My bloke Fin's our honey solders and nationals fighting behind the lines have demonstrated loud and discharge to the humanity why the ninth US Army, along with all other Russian USA Corps, has failed to beat out our nation. In the death of the Defense Minister Soviet Union has learned the lesson we will never surrender and never give in to their strength of enslavement. And so with each battle we undertake against the Russian encroacher, we bleed them and shed blood them more, until the day will come in the near future when they will admit defeat and seek to progress to a just and honorable peace."

"May the time soon come when we can tell in to the full the actions of the two known as the Snow Fox and the Ghost Bear ; may God keep them condom and wield them as instruments of Justice against our ancient enemies from the barbarian solid ground of Russia."

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 hearing of the loot she had bagged. The death of General Dashicev was welcome news, and showed his guesswork as to who occupied the staff car in the caravan they had ambushed. Yet the death of marshal Voroshilov, Russian Minister of defense mechanism, truly marked the smashing loot any partisan sniper could hope to score short of Premier Stalin.

He gently cleaned the rifle with an old rag, gently removing the least tracing of shite, debris or oil his work may sustain left upon it."I made this for my dear Nikkei to hunt cervid 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 come as his heart lodged in his throat. His baby and grandchildren, plus all his friends 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 metre Nikkei will not insist on coming along with me."He looked at the diminished atomic pile of supplies that had been cached away in the basement of the old search lodge. While Nikkei had been taking her bath he had gone down and brought the nutrient, textile, ammo and former sundry goods the two needed as they hunted Russians.

Also, as he had hoped, the two small sleigh he had stored among other good in the stash remained integral and untaken. At to the lowest degree he and Nikkei could carry to a greater extent good on them than they can just upon their back. Plus he had new batteries for his humble radio a friend had built a few year ago…

That piddling transmitter has proven to be a avowedly wonder. Incredibly pocket-sized, lightweight and dependable, he can use it to relay or get voice and Morse-code signals. His old friend in the United States who made it was a genesis ahead of his time, and a simple attachment allowed it to be powered by a hand-cranked generator-system.

When the latent hostility between Soviet Russia and Finland had begun to increase, he and his chap smugglers plus some of the contacts they had within the build up forces began to plan and prepare. Thus a relay-chain of a sorting exists to slip by data and instructions along to those who needed it ; they always are sent in brief transmission of Morse-code to void counter detective work by the Russians.

Other entropy, orders and the comparable are broadcast five times daily by the administration over the public radio broadcast. No matter how much the Russians may try, only the leaders of the drumbeater in specific area behind the lineage possessed the necessary codes to understand them.

"All for the better then,"Stephen softly said to himself."It's past sentence we bleed these Russians as badly as we can and preclude any more chaos falling upon our heads…"

He stopped mumbling at the sound of Nikkei's ghostly footsteps mixed with the crackle of the fire in the fireplace. His gaze moved to his clothing hung over the back of two old death chair near the fireplace, the estrus slowly drying them out after that dip in the tub.

Returning to the rifle, he observed that each division has been lovingly cared for by Nikkei. Stephen nodded his approval, delighted that she had remembered all he could teach her of such matters.

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

Stephen looked up at her, the Light from the flames caressing her in a twirl terpsichore of brightness and shadow. He saw her chewing on her low-spirited lip, obviously troubled by something, or more in all probability what had happened between them in the bathing 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 care or troubled, so please tell apart me and if I have wronged you somehow…"

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

She opened her robe to expose her relegate abdomen, second joint and breasts for him to see, hoping that he will not ferment away from her unspoken question. One hand came to rest on his rose-cheeked impertinence, the heat flowing into her hand as she began to caress his iron-hard, weather-beaten, mark skin in such a blue-blooded way that it twitched with each soft and fragile stroke.

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

Stephen's eyes drank in every sensuous and gentle curvature of her body, the comprehensiveness of her gold whisker, flabby down eyes full of aliveness and pain mixed in match measuring stick, the firm rise and decline of her denudate bosom. As his gaze descended to her most intimate of gem she shifted her leg decent for him to see her bareheaded womanhood and the flimsy glint of wet already gathered there on her skin and surrounding hair.

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

"Grandpa I want this to be my gift to you,"she said to him. He could learn the honey and affection in her voice for him, something that had been there for yr and only now did he infer in full…his adopted Nikkei had fallen in love with him long ago and now sought to impress their carnal knowledge to the next level.

"I have forgotten since the war began what it meant to be live and free of worry and ire,"she said, her oculus releasing a lone bout down her cheek."I want to be your salute grandfather for tonight, to prompt us both what life means ; I don't expect to hold it through this war, so lots death has already come close…and with that cooler firing at me…"she shuddered at the computer memory of how close she had brushed with expiry that day.

She moved to Stephen and sat down on his lap with her wooden leg crossing behind his back. Her one hired hand brought his to catch one's breath on her heart ; the mere speck of his skin on hers sent a thrill and chill blazing across her being. When he began to caress her breast, teasing more and Thomas More fiery undulation of joy from her dead body, she leaned into him and all but melted away as the soft C does before the flaming of a fire.

He kissed her cheek and softly bollocks up comfort of his heated breathing time on her neck. Stroking her hair he looked once again into her oculus and seen the lovemaking and nervousness playing against one another."Are you sure this is what you want Nikkei ? You only have one first base time in such matter and I want you to be absolutely sure…"

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

So it was that they entered the former of songs, and fulfilled the sure-enough dance of all, two warmness and two bodies coming together in one ; the call of passion and primaeval release echoed throughout the old ruins until Stephen released his life story semen into Nikkei, and then collapsed from the exertion. The two cuddled and caressed one another while sharing loving smiling and whispering words meant for them alone.

An hour later as Nikkei contently slept away, her gentle stertor meeting with the crackling flames, Stephen gave her a grin and softly kissed her on the cheek before laying down for his own rest. He made for sure though that his pistols and hunting knife were within sluttish grabbing distance if they were needed.


28 December, 1939 Suomussalimi, Suomi

Colonel Siilasvuo returned the messenger salute and dismissed him with a chance wafture of his manus.

Two day ago he had been alerted to of import teaching that will go far at his HQ ; and given the current weather that raged just outside the hotels thick stone walls, it had to be something between extremely urgent and insane for a courier to be risked in temperatures, snow and idle words that were the worst in recorded history.

Since him and the 27th Infantry Regiment, now reinforced by three additional regiments of reservists and foreign volunteers, he had waged relentless guerrilla warfare to bleed the Russian Ninth US Army corp white and hold them to this region when from all accounting they could hold been used on the band during the last Russian assault.

However the Russians had dug in deep and still managed to keep him from mounting a successful bang across the river. He could defend and not attack, and the Saami for them…a foiling that grew all the more with each expiration day. Even his raiding parties had met with minimum achiever, save for sniping at the Russians who hid in their gird positions.

Only Captain Robinson and his men, aided by the partisan led by the old colonel Stephen and his aide called"Snow Fox"have scored massive success upon success upon winner. When he considered the repute of the old colonel, commonly known as the"wraith Bear'in the last majuscule war, it is petty wonder the man leads and coordinates the partisans to such a phonograph record, even as he and the Snow Fox carry out their own two-person crusade upon the hated Russians.

He opened the mailboat and withdrew out the sheaf of documents and photo, and whistled when he gave the top Sir Frederick Handley Page - social club from subject marshal Mannerheim himself - a cursory glance. They explained in brief and concise detail that John Roy Major reinforcements were expected to be arriving inside two week for the Russian Ninth ground forces Corp…

Colonel Siilasvuo raged, cursed and complained as he stormed out of the old hotel which housed his field main office. He shouted above the ululation wind for his senior officer to gather around him as he woke his device driver to take him down riverside…he had been forbidden from launching anything inviolable than raid across the river to slice apart the remaining lastingness of the Ninth United States Army while time remained. So he had chosen to audit the forward demurrer and ensure the Russians received a warmly welcome when they struck.

As expected, the vindication were inviolable and growing secure with each overtaking day ; with log and Edward Durell Stone trap housing simple machine guns, anti-tank cannon and fighting perspective for infantry. early positions inside the town had already been made ready…when the Russians struck the river and Charles Percy Snow would be red with their blood.




28 December, 1939 Israel Baline, Deutschland

"Ah yes, I will accept this one here,"admiral Donitz said as he looked over the beautiful gold-chain necklace set with fine diamonds. He held it in both hands and admired the fiery bursts which came out as the light played across each gemstone. The jeweler had promised the natural endowment would be crafted to flawlessness, and so he had achieved yet again with the gift for his dear wife.

"Klaus what do you think of it ?"Donitz asked of his bodyguard and driver. He moved around to look the man so he could see the wonderful magic wrought by Karl, his personal jeweler and one of the few men he called a avowedly master of that trade.

"full 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 gift of heart for her."Major Klaus, polite as ever turned back to watching the store and all of the hoi polloi within it, plus those who paused even for a moment to look through the storefronts windows. His hand never strayed far from the hairgrip of his pistol.

The sound of sirens caused everyone to turn and follow the street as the motorcade of prime minister Der Fuhrer began to reach by. Donitz looked at his watch and smiled,"Punctual as always, I noticed some work was being done on his fomite endure night as I left the office. Did you think of to make that looked into Klaus ?"

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

Admiral Donitz expression changed from delight to shock and then abject horror as the prime minister car came into sight, and disappeared in a deafening explosion 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 clouds of rubble and dope. He made his way out to the street where many vehicles burned, and all too many masses lay on the basis in kitty of red. One look at the twisted, burning remains of the Chancellors car told him there would be, could not be, any survivors ; but he rushed over to see if against all odds his land drawing card had somehow survived.

The military date swarmed the area to benefit control as fast as potential ; one officer threatened admiral Donitz until he showed his military machine papers and then took ascendency over the panorama. All too swiftly the truth was confirmed when the firing of the prime minister car were extinguished at long last.

chancellor Hitler was dead, assassinated by a bomb placed within the car that had detonated the petrol tank.

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

He never expected their plan to do work. Now that it had, his allies in the German governance would secure his succession to the Chancellorship and, as promised for the support of Goering and his cabal, would deal with Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic once and for all…of path he still had to make a ‘ phone cry'to the mastermind behind this mad game to see his own survival.


30 Dec, 1939 capital of the Russian Federation, Russian Federation

Everyone in the room jumped at the single gunfire that seemed to growl and rebound about the confluence room for the High bidding of the Russian Armed Forces. Quickly they resumed their stance of full tending, each expecting to be the adjacent 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 pistol. He gave a nod and two NKVD guards rushed over and dragged the organic structure of full general Voroshilov, who of late had been recalled to Moscow for ‘ individual audience regarding the war.'

"I will tolerate no more bankruptcy in the topic of this war with Finland,"he growled,"each day our res publica loses yet Sir Thomas More influence, deference and position around the world. I have since the give way offence of 22-23 December given social club for massive reinforcements to deploy in the areas of the one-seventh and Eighth army army corps, we have peace with the Germans and thus our front line with them is now reduced to second and third rank unit ; the elite power being redeployed will be in billet by the end of Jan, when the final exam offensive shall begin."

"The Ninth U. S. Army Corp shall carry special offence ; they have consistently failed and thus will not be of any more major usage."He smashed his clenched fist onto the table many sentence to accentuate his breaker point.

Stalin went on for some time berating the world for all style of sensed slight and plot of ground being carried out against him and the Soviet conjugation. His rage grew to such heights and depth that many of the men gathered feared he would either die of a stroke ; or have everyone shot down on the spot by the sub-machinegun wielding NKVD bodyguards who circled behind each man like a observance and waiting vulture.

From one side an ship's officer appeared, delivered various substance forms to Stalin and then bolted for his life after being dismissed with a daily wave. As he scanned them his mood swung from passion to outright joy back to a stewing, stewing rage that promised death to someone before the dark passed.

"Gentlemen,"Stalin declared with a forced composure and smile while holding up the tierce content phase in one paw,"as I stated, we have peace with Deutschland and now it is guaranteed for some prison term to come. Our agents in the German language High Command have confirmed the word being broadcast over the radio."

He paused and grinned,"Hitler is dead. Someone managed to place an volatile device inside of his armoured car, and uncalled-for to say the carnage wrought was phenomenal. full admiral Donitz has been sworn in as the new Chancellor of Germany and thus will take many months to fully dispose of his rivals and gain full control over his res publica's governance."

The faculty officeholder and minister of religion shouted and cheered at the tidings of Hitler's end, and gave off Call for the long life story of Premier Joseph Stalin, the Soviet marriage and the inevitable mastery of the human race by Communism. By almost universal joint spontaneity they began to sing the national birdsong of Russian Federation, their allegiance and belief in their cause having been reconfirmed by the population at large.

Wisely Stalin withheld the two other substance that arrived at the same time. They detailed the trend of general Timoshenko and Shaposhnikov, the newly appointed co-commanders of the Republic of Finland front. During the flight of stairs to headquarters near a stop up airport the plane carrying them, escorted by XII battler, was jumped by a turgid numeral of Finnish fighters.

Every one of the Russian pilots fought until their planes went down in flames. Despite their best efforts, the plane carrying both superior general had been shot down as well with no survivors. Once again the leadership of his armed effect had disappointed him, and the report of flagging morale among the infantry along with some unit of measurement on the edge of mutiny confirmed the military officer were deliberately failing, seeking cause to drum out him once and for all from power.

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

None of the jubilant officers before him knew what hit them when with a nod 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 cursory chance event of his pen, was sent to the NKVD communications commissar and dispatched.

Within forty-eight hours the blood bath had finished, completely decimating the Russian armed force-out higher command and replacing all officers of John R. Major or gamey rank with Political commissars. He gave new ordering to all of the Russian armed military unit ; any hint of disloyalty or lack of right Communist spirit will ensue in that man's entire platoon or company being summarily executed en mass.

Stalin never understood just how deadly he had misjudged the unfolding Sir Ernst Boris Chain of events his madness and lust for lineage would unleash in light order…


30 December, 1939 FRG, OKH High control

Admiral Donitz, newly sworn in prime minister of Germany and all of her people looked out the window of his office and the pristine snowfall from the latest violent storm. Just over twenty-four hours ago Chancellor Adolf Hitler had been assassinated by a bomb planted inside of his armored staff car ; in short order of magnitude the Gestapo had discovered and captured a ring of Russian spies and agents who caused Hitler's death.

Their capital punishment warrants were the first matter taken fear of by Donitz after taking the oath of office. Now he had a monumental choice to make, one discussed long into the Night by him and the High program line. He had been cognizant of plans being drafted, on Hitler's edict, for an invasion of Russia…he wondered if Adolf Hitler had been aware of his pending death, not that it mattered now.

Adolf Hitler's Death at the script of mistrust Russian agent, proven or not, gave them the effectual and lesson justice for the invasion to come in. The Major universe leaders, even those of France and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, had been contacted via manoeuver or third-party transmitted cables of the plan to treat with Russian Federation and Stalin for their perfidy in assassinating the German Chancellor.

Many had responded with the usual commiseration and various degree of admonishment 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 instant the cables were sent out.

What did shock him was that from England, or more precisely the two cables received from England. One from the parliament condemning Russia and urging heartsease talks are held between Russia and Federal Republic of Germany to resolve this matter ; the latter, and thus the most important as far as Donitz was concerned came directly from Churchill…


To the premier of FRG, Admiral Donitz,

In concern to the matter of Soviet Union and their exhibit atrociousness to the proper conduct of congress between governments I say this much. So long as marshal Hermann Goring continues to supply arms to Suomi via Sweden and no hinderance with our own arms dispatch to Finland comes about, we wish you God speed and decisive triumph over the godless Russian government of Stalin.

"valet,"Chancellor Donitz began as he turned to face up the foregather High statement,"nearly of our forces are in place already since the invasion of Poland and we have managed to secretly increase our forces there by a large level. Have all of you discussed and familiarized yourself with the architectural plan and overall goals ?"

Each military officer in turn affirmed his role and detailed any finis minute concerns, item and so forth. Satisfied that all is in lieu Donitz sat behind his desk and signed the ordering laid out before him…

"man"he said,"Operation Wotan, the intrusion and wipeout of the Soviet jointure, will start at 12:01 a.m. on 10 Jan, 1940. Joseph Stalin has inflicted pain and parentage upon us, and now we will pay him and his mass back a million fold."

Stalin sewed the tip with the seeds of war in Republic of Finland, and now he will draw the crop of sword and blood and fire born of the whirlwind coming back upon him.


30 December, 1939 England, unknown location

"Thank you for the call,"Churchill said into the phone,"it had been most unexpected but delicious none the less and I wish you triumph in your Crusade against Russia."

He hung up the phone and sighed at the chain of events now coming forth to realisation. The Russian-Finnish war promised to leech Russia white-hot as Finland continued to hold up mutual sense, logic and notion in their uniform crushing of one Russian Army Corp after another in horrendous engagement around their nation.

Even he had listened to the growing tales told on the radio of such hero as the Baron Snow of Leicester Devil, wraith Bear and the Snow Fox. mortal who had managed to bring down lot slaughter at key times and emplacement on the Russians, and both co-commanders for the Finland Front perished with intelligence agency given to the Republic of Finland Air Forces from Britain.

Of course, the character assassination of Hitler carried out by disloyal German who assumed the Brits agent who controlled them were actually Russian, had yielded a type to save the Western existence. Soviet Union and Germany will hemorrhage each other white, and by the time they deal with one another, United Kingdom and Anatole France will be quick to face the German United States Army who will come at them.

As a historian Churchill understood all-too-well what forces of death and destruction he has unleashed, but for the interest of a devoid future and saving 10 of millions of lives, he chose the lesser of two evils set before him.

One former matter caused him no end of care ; the simpleton fact of Admiral Donitz being capable to aim a direct phone call to John Churchill's ‘ unavowed'location meant the man had agentive role all over England. agent that for some cause he used for his own mysterious purposes and never shared with his fellow Germans.

John Churchill shook his forefront, mentally replaying the conversation word by give-and-take he had with the new Chancellor of Germany. He examined each nuance, mannerism and inflexion for the slightest edge it may ease up him in any succeeding dealing with Admiral Donitz. The sheer ability, audacity, and guile of the man were incredible to hear and see as he described to Winston Churchill dates, times, places and conversations of English penetration agents and spy who had manipulated the Russian agents into assassinating Hitler…

Donitz had shielded the side agents from his colleges in the Gestapo, and delivered to the English embassy in Switzerland for repatriation. John Churchill folded his mitt together and tapped his fingertips one upon another as he tried to decipher this composite enigma enshrouded within a conundrum that represented Donitz…no matter what ; Donitz had proven to be an opposer Worth watching very, very closely.


8 January, 1940 rear-area Russian ninth United States Army Corps

political commissar General Kolya stood on the household front porch and watched the initiative stars of the dark emerge in the crystallise sky. It reminded him of the small agriculture small town he had grown up in, and many others he had been based near or within since the revolution and subsequent authorisation of the commie party.

Of course of instruction this particular proposition Finnish residential district, once called Summers Mist, had been exterminated in the outset hour of the war. These people had refused to see the inevitable, that their government had been corrupted and taken over by the Imperialists of the W and thus they had paid for the perfidiousness of the Finland government who refused to comply with the lawful demand of Moscow.

"Unbelievable, in the center of this war we have such a wonder as the dark to see,"he stated to the Hades and to Commissar Major-Generals Romanov and Cranston, commanders of the 51st and 58th foot variance."Now then, I have plans set out for dealing with these troublesome partisan once and for all…."


â‚°

From a wooded J. J. Hill that looked down on the corpse of summer Mist Stephen watched with sharp interestingness the cluster of tent and fomite which marked the corp central office unit. The assembling of officers standing out in the moth-eaten told him aloud and clear that they were older Russian commanding officer ; unity that would learn a final exam and very deadly lesson.

He and Nikkei had learned of the headquarters new location from one of many motorbike riding couriers they had disposed of since Christmas Day. Her furore at the mere view of Russians standing amidst her old rest home only was surpassed by his own, and tempered by the chance to score one Sir Thomas More Major victory over the invaders.

The Suomi radio set place conducted their veritable updates of the war, now reduced to a strand of violent skirmish on the battlefront lines and aerial struggle between the Suomi and Russian air forces. The messages sent to partisan units behind the blood line confirmed this, plus directed them to strike as hard as they can when opportunity presented itself.

He looked over at Nikkei's location to his right and slightly up the hillside. Concealed among a cluster of rocks, Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree, shrubs and a C. P. Snow cloak set up as a hunters blind he could barely shit out her outline as she lay as low to the ground as potential. With a gesture he informed her to shoot when the best chance presented itself.

Sir Leslie Stephen returned to watching the cantonment with his binoculars, noting a rumbling dance orchestra of trucks passing behind the commander'tent…




â‚°

Commissar superior general Kolya turned to face the obtuse convoy of hand truck that snaked its way up the road and passed his tent. One isthmus of NKVD personnel riding in the back of a truck saluted as they passed, as did the side by side and the future after that. His centre surged in pride at this noble-minded presentation of proper political sprightliness and loyalty to the state which he will use to inspire and terrify the Russian infantry into proper shape.

On his desk sat a pile of reports that many units in his command were in near mutiny, having refused to comply with lawfully given social club by their new NKVD officers. All of the old military officer had been, as per Stalin's parliamentary procedure, been executed ; though Kolya included all of the officers and not spared the lieutenants and captains as Stalin had done.

Two Clarence Shepard Day Jr. ago he had assumed control condition of the Ninth army Corp and now he has to deal with this rising ; and if composition are true, it is spreading like wildfire in a drought stricken forest through the Russian Army…especially with units being sent to reinforce the Finnish Front.

He turned to the two divisional commanders and waved at the passage truck,"Gentlemen these are the true fondness and individual of the State ; you will whip the men of your new whole into soma and then we shall distribute 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 feast. A man who thought himself to be a star or loss leader of men, and instead he is just one Sir Thomas More rooster - fat, proud, chesty and filled with his own self-worth…and about to pay the price for that farthermost hubris…

She squeezed the trigger…

flush !


â‚°

commissar Major-Generals Romanov and Cranston watched in slack-jawed horror as their air force officer toppled forward as a marionette cut relinquish of its strings. The home base guard, gathered police officer and stave looked at the ruby soil that flowed from beneath the fallen man across the white snow ; for an eternity of time they could not pull their consistency to act, horrified at having death visit them so far behind the front 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 round. She aligned the crosshairs on the following officer, one among many, who stood around in suspend terror…

Bang !
Bang !



Twice more her rifle barked, the noise covered by the incessant backfiring of the truck. As per Sir Leslie Stephen design she immediately backed from her position, pulled down the snowfall cloak and worked her way down the hillside with him. interior ten minutes they were skiing hard and fast to vacate the area.


â‚°

Colonel Idenorph, NKVD commander of the military headquarters guard watched the three general fall one after the next. He called out monition of a sniper and looked in the direction of the backfiring truck which had a man who held his pistol in the focus of the fallen generals.

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

Instantly the XX men who had assembled by this time leveled their sub-machineguns and opened fire, tearing the truck, driver and NKVD guard to shreds. A grenade was lobbed into the open backside and reduced the vehicle to twisted alloy and a roaring fire that marked the grave 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 takeover was underway by traitors to the state."Cut them all down, everyone of the traitors…"

His last instruction ended in a gurgle and spray of line of descent as a burst of slug tore his chest open.

Pandemonium reigned as factions of NKVD troops tore into one another, leaving scores dead and many Thomas More wounded upon the snowy wrecking of Summer Mist. This chaos only escalated when Captain Ray Robinson and his men stumbled onto the scene, already prepared to foray into the HQ, and swept the situation clean and jerk of any survivors.

After destroying anything they could not contain off they departed as silently as ghosts and reported to the Republic of Finland senior high program line another success for the ‘ Ghost Bear'and the ‘ Snow Fox,'who initiated the pocket-size civil war at the headquarters.


â‚°

quaternary minute and various kilometer later, Stephen hugged Nikkei and scuffed her hair's-breadth in congratulations. They set off for the next hidden cache and tax shelter from which they will design the succeeding strike against the Russians.

"grandfather what do you imagine all that gunshot was about after we left ?"Nikkei asked of Stephen.

"I imagine the Russians were killing one another off,"Stephen shrugged and grinned,"or a bunch of our soldiers arrived in time to take reward of the chaos you created and exterminated the full home base and that convoy of trucks. semen Nikkei we have to cover a lot of ground tonight and I want to get going while we have the Moon to take us…"

With that they moved off as silent as decease amidst the mystifying woods.




9 Jan, 1940 STAVKA headquarters, Soviet Russia

The coconspirator gathered for the final time, knowing they are send no subject the outcome. One by one each went over his part of the plan, the purpose of his troops or government department, and the mingy timeline they had to maintain to the minute once everything began.

One small hurly burly in the plan, one slipup of any sort and it will be all over. But the interest of their failure would be the death of Russia and imposition of a High German warlord and government over the mother country for God alone knew how many generations.

The agent of the NKVD had recently received confirmation of the German language fortify forces gathering en mass along the German-Russian frontier in what had been Poland. An immense force of motorize infantry and of cooler, aeroplane and bombers…an incredible clenched fist of iron prepared to smash place into a step down Russia.

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

The troops will no longer follow orders given by Joseph Stalin or his men and called upon the German language to invade and liberate their country of origin from the oppressiveness of Communism.

The High German promptly responded, declaring to the humanity they will start up their ‘ sacking of Russian Federation'unless Joseph Stalin steps down or is removed before 10 January, 1940. Each had cringed as Donitz explained on the radio that he held only Stalin and his henchman, and not the Russian soldiers or Russian population creditworthy for the assassination of chancellor Hitler…

So the conspirators 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 world-wide to live on Stalin's rabidity, told the gathered men."Give the orders, in one 60 minutes it begins…"

With those words the men departed to write their homeland.


9 January, 1940 Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany

"general has this been confirmed ?"Chancellor Donitz said into the telephony. His staff waited in tense quiet, each one wondering if the result being reported in Russia are true ; and if not true, will their Chancellor give the net order to set out the invasion of Russia.

"Thank you,"Donitz said and slowly hung up the earphone. He breathed deeply, turned to his stave and smiled in unfeigned delight."Gentlemen, the news program have been confirmed, Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili and his henchmen are beat and General Zhukov has been sworn in as the new chancellor of Russia. The parliamentary law have already been confirmed by our listening posts and agent in Russian capital, all conflict save for local self-defense is to cease immediately inside Republic of Finland and a ‘ request'made to our government to mediate peace talks between Finland and Russia."

"ordination are to be sent at once that the intrusion of Russia is hereby cancelled."Donitz saved his greatest surprisal for death as he held up a letter delivered earlier by the embassador of Switzerland."I have here the personal letter of Winston Churchill who has accepted our offer of a return to the status-quo of 1939 between our country. We will take out from Polska, though it shall remain as a vassal government in our firmament of influence."


"gentleman,"Donitz continued,"we have peace at last and Germany has become a human beings powerfulness once again. The affront and infamy inflicted upon us in the Great War has been erased forever…"

With that the prime minister dismissed his men and returned to the day to day grind of running a government. He did intermit briefly to ponder how the time to come will go from here on out. peace treaty has come to Common Market as far as Germany is concerned, though Italy's potentate Mussolini is making his usual blustering randomness about Northern Africa…

"Let the man face the British people and Daniel Chester French alone if he is stupid enough to admit them on alone,"Donitz declared.


10 January, 1940 rear-area of Russian Ninth Army army corps

In the depths of their sheltered camping Stephen, Nikkei and Captain Robinson listened to the voice of Field Marshal Mannheim come realize and distinct over the radio set. They could scarcely believe their ears…

"To all citizens and soldiers, strange volunteers and partisans who have been involved in the denial of our fatherland against the military force of a dictatorial Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic ; this day, a bang-up day of jubilation for us all, I am glad to proclaim that the tyrant of Soviet Union, Premier Stalin is short. His successor Premier Zhukov has ordered all Russian forces are to cease hostilities at once after a monumental demonstration of the Russian peoples collective resolve led to their solders refusing to take orders anymore."

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

"The premier of Germany, Admiral Donitz, has graciously extended the offer of his administration being a electroneutral mediator for peace talks to be held by voice of Suomi and Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. This marriage offer has been supported in the last hour by the government of Great Britain and France and the United Department of State. Ladies and gentleman, as will be confirmed in short order by the governments prescribed program, our valiant struggle of majority rule against commie 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 mother country on the presence lines, and from behind enemy pipeline, hero such as the Snow the Tempter, Snow Fox and wraith Bear. lady and valet de chambre, the war is over…"

The remaining words were drowned out by the corporate vociferation of joy and joy by Nikkei, Sir Leslie Stephen and maitre d'hotel Sir Robert Robinson and his men. Nikkei leapt into Stephens impregnable arms and kissed him as hard and long as she could, knowing that at long last she and he will generate family and construct a new lifetime in the ancestral home of their people.

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

"Nikkei please call me Stephen,"he insisted upon,"as soon as we can we will head home, or anywhere else you wish to. I have several belongings across the neighborhood from my…other bodily function,"he rolled his eyes to the heavens at the amount of money of money he had stashed away from being a smuggler.

"Grandpa…sorry, Stephen…"Nikkei said,"That old hunting lodge. 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 break the romantic kiss and such,"said Captain Ray Robinson with a wide grin,"but I have orders to see the two of you to domain marshal Mannheim at once. He wants to see the both of you ; it appears you have made a rather utmost impression on the man…"

Jack Roosevelt Robinson shook his read/write head and stopped talking as Nikkei and Stephen headed to their shelter, determined to have a private celebration of their own."It can waitress a bit, it can wait…thank God the war is finally over."

So it is that the inaugural clash between eastward and West, between Communist Russia and those who love to be gratuitous has come to an end. The madness of Stalin has ceased, the mighty and unstoppable Red Bear beaten, humiliated and humbled by one nation united for the defense of their homeland, and due to the fearlessness and determination of the ace known in history to arrive as ‘ C Fox'and"ghost Bear'history has changed forever…

The yearn feared European war ceased before it even began as Germany brokered a live on peace treaty between Soviet Russia ( now led by Zhukov ) and Finland. All territorial gains and pre-war title made by the USSR were fully dropped, and the final outside border established under the eyes of achromatic parties from the United body politic and The Netherlands, Belgium and early venial powers.

Germany and England entered into an awkward truce with one another, born by prime of life curate Churchill having gained a ‘ grudging respect'for chancellor Donitz of Deutschland, who forged a turn of industrial and sell deals of mutual benefit to the two land multitude. Though many doubted the loyalty of the new German Chancellor, his subsequent restoration of Republic of Poland and the Balkland states to full sovereignty helped ease these doubtfulness in the end.

Italy's dictator Benito Mussolini made his usual griping and threats to restore the vastness of the archetype conglomerate of Rome across the Edwin Herbert Land of northerly Africa. He dismissed the warnings of France and Britain as ‘ small barks and yips of vote out Empires.'

Chancellor of the Exchequer Donitz delivered two messages to Mussolini - the number one being an stern ‘ discouragement'for him to ‘ not upset the stream balance of superpower in a EC now finding peace and prosperity again.'

Benito Mussolini promptly dismissed this ‘ utter cowardly behavior of the new German Chancellor'and prepared his body politic to go to war. Thus he in short order received the 2nd, and final, subject matter of Donitz : a bomb in the bathtub…and a Restoration of a free and democratic means of popular government under the combined security of UK and Germany.

Through freely and openly held elections Donitz continued to head Germany and her people for twelve to a greater extent long time until voluntarily refusing to run for a third six-year term of office. He declared ‘ it is time for the next generation, those who have never seen the face of war, but the joy of peace, to lead.'

Until the end of his days Donitz, as with First Duke of Marlborough, remained dynamic as diplomat for their respective Carry Amelia Moore Nation, and even held a grudge respect for one another ; although Churchill still got annoyed to the end of his days when asked about a ‘ certain phone birdsong he received one night from Donitz…"

France became a country that descended into political chaos in the years to do ; one government alinement rose and fell after another. Not until after the Pacific Ocean war and loss of the Daniel Chester French territories to the victorious Nipponese did a new disposal under Chenier bring some common sense of hope and stability to the nation. But as a whole, the best days were bum France as her colonies in Africa broke innocent and became freelancer nations.

The Scandinavian state continued to prosper beyond anyone's wildest of dreams in the class to hail ; in meter they formed an economic alliance which grew to equal that of FRG and England combined, and before the end of the 1950's had wrested almost half the American moment market from those two various nations.

On November 1, 1941 full admiral Isoroko Isoroku Yamamoto ascended to swelling and absolute restraint of the gird forces of the Empire of Japan. With the boon of the emperor moth, the willing diplomatic aid of Premier Georgi Zhukov of Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic and of prexy Roosevelt of America, Yamamoto pulled all soldiery of Japan from china in a staged secession that seen the colonial office of European Union and USA begin to do the same.

No one knows to this particular date the truth of the matter, yet on Dec 5, 1941 United States President F. D. Roosevelt, on his way to Japan at the personal invitation of the Emperor Hirohito, disappeared with the large cruiser Chicago that he travelled upon. The only content of alert received was that of"fire in the forward engine elbow room has reached the ammo magazines…"then silence.

Newly sworn-in President Truman called for the matter to be investigated, and American naval personnel were sent to the last experience position of the Chicago. Two Brits corvettes, One Canadian seacoast Guard vessel and three Japanese waster arrived on the scene to only witness a subject area of debris and oil slicks covering miles of ocean.

What has been documented is the first American vas, a destroyer whose skipper despised the Nipponese, on the scene immediately assumed the Nipponese watercraft had sunk the Chicago ; he demanded their giving up and when they rightfully refused, stating they as with the British and Canadian vessels were searching for survivors, commenced to fire upon them - one vas sunk, heavy harm done on the other two Japanese ships who retaliated and sunk the destroyer in turn.

Thus commenced the keen Pacific War, or as many now call it"The War of Empires."On December 7, 1941, a hostile Congress, whipped into a hysteria by a small handful of anti-Japanese fanatics declared war on the Empire of Japan and directed President Truman to take aim the war until ‘ unconditioned capitulation of the Empire of Japan occurred.'

Seeing the opportunity for territorial addition and nifty influence across the Pacific Ocean, on Dec 10 and 11, French Republic and England joined the United province in declaring war upon the Nipponese for ‘ criminal offence of such magnitude as to hold common common sense or decency.'

Everyone expected the Japanese imperium would fall by the end of 1942, and program were already being prepared for the division of the home islands. Germany declared disinterest in the subject, as did Russia ; though both had supply special engineering and imagination to Japanese Archipelago in secret to develop the war-ending means…

deuce-ace long and blooming years of protracted struggle resulted in Isoroku Yamamoto bringing victory for the Empire of Nippon ; seven decisive naval and land meshing ended in Japan's favor, with the net treaties ending the war leaving Japan in will power of Indo-China, portions of Bharat and Sri Lanka, and to the highest degree of the Pacific. Though the Filipino's were restored to USA after they were to be declared ‘ neutral territory.'

Many historians have learned that the pacification was wrought with an unspoken scourge from Japanese Archipelago to loose the new super-weapon they had developed and tested just before their last military triumph - the atomic dud. In a private diplomatic cable to the leaders of America, England and France, Emperor Michinomiya Hirohito stated if the home islands were attacked, the new ‘ superintendent bomb calorimeter'would be used in retaliation upon the offending Allied nation.

In due sentence the Winter War will pass into history, but it will not be forgotten as the clock time when a Democratic nation dared to do the impossible and within that war, the actions of Nikkei and Stephen changed the earth forever. Thus comes to a close the caption of the C. P. Snow Fox.


( fin