Norsemen!

Skipper was at his desk in his office inside the State building when he heard the door slam loudly, a brief loud conversation ensued then it got quiet. Ho stood up slowly walking to the door and peeping out. He saw Yngvilder sitting at the long conference table alone looking at a piece of paper in her hand.

“Yngvilder!” He said as he stepped toward her. “What is it? Bad news?”

“Yes!” She said with an angry look on her face. She turned toward him holding out the paper for him to read.

“After action report: Eastern Frontier.” Was the title.

“It’s from General Jackson.” She said flatly.

‘Encounter of Greek forces near German border with Poland resulted in thirty-five dead; eighty-three wounded; loss of one machine gun; two aircraft missing; three trucks destroyed; Greek forces fell back south west; enemy air active; Spotter planes report massive convoy heading north west on two roads.....standing by for orders.’

Skipper sat down scratching his head.

“But why the German border, that far east of us...unless!” His eyes grew wide as he looked at her.

“YES!” Yngvilder nodded. "I think they will come in force from our south. This is a sham to gain our attention."

"Does the Gunny and council know yet?" He asked.

"I sent word just as I entered here." She said, reaching for a pitcher of ale and pouring herself a mug.

"My children were just starting school too!" She stared at the table.

"I also sent word for all air force commanders to report here in one hour."

"It's on then," Skipper said with a low voice.

"I'm afraid so. But THIS time I want it to be the LAST time. We have to follow them all the way to Greece to finish it!" She said with an angry voice as she chugged her ale then slammed the metal mug on the table.

"I am so damn tired of these Greeks!"

She said as she got up and walked away.

"OH!" She stopped and turned facing Skipper. "I got word that most all able bodied Greek refugees have all ready volunteered for our army."

Skipper nodded in agreement.

Rolf and Segrun were at the armory over seeing the new artillery being loaded onto rail cars. The guns were the biggest to roll out so far with a caliber unheard of until Snow and Hennison built them. They told them that the guns were one hundred and eighty-eight caliber and had a range of eighteen miles and weighted nearly two thousand pounds. The shells they used had to be moved with small tractors and trailers with two men loading the rounds into the gun. They also had several newer light guns for infantry to take with them of seventy-five caliber with armor piercing shells for tanks. These smaller ones could also be set up as anti aircraft if needed.

Rolf moved to the side of the flat rail car as two guns were loaded and dogged down to make sure they did not fall off in transit.

"Sigrun? Did you make sure those fifty cals got loaded? We're going to need those!"

"Yep. They are on the other cars along with tons of ammunition."

Sigrun walked to the small Rail shack where the rail master was.

"Any messages from the council or Gunny?" He asked.

"No...nothing."

The train blew it's whistle indicating it was ready to depart. Rolf jumped off the flat bed car onto the dock to watch it pull away.

"They are waiting for these down south. I got word that there are several crews ready to man them as soon as they arrive."

A loud noise of engines over head as five twin engine bombers flew over heading south. They noticed they were painted a dark blue with white stars on the wings and fuselage and had to be part of the Army. The Navy aircraft were dark blue on top and light blue on bottom.

"Amazing isn't it?" Rolf said as they watched them.

"I know what you mean, Rolf, Only about ten years ago we were carrying around swords and shields." They looked at each other and chuckled.

They started to walk down the rail docks towards town.

"What's the best part you like?" Sigrun asked.

"Other than modern medicine? I think it would have to be the light bulb." He laughed. "Sure made my life easier."

They both laughed as they walked away.

Elvar and Hakon entered the State building as Gunny and Skipper were at the long conference table going over reports.

"HAIL to the King!" Elvar shouted as they approached.

Skipper and Gunny stood up startled.

"WHOA! What was that for," Skipper asked.

The two stopped near them with a smile.

"It's not said enough any more." Hakon said as he stuck out his hand.

"Well thanks but we have pressing duties and I need your input here." Gunny said as he pushed a map before them.

He and the skipper noticed their dress, that of a Norse Warrior but with rifles slung over their shoulders and pistols on their side. Each one carried an ax on their belt as well.

Pointing at a spot on the map, Skipper began.

"We have sent out our twin engine bombers, south, looking for anything out of the ordinary. We think the Greeks will strike our southern boarder in mass. They have been probing the eastern frontier in force but we think that is just a deception to draw our attention away."

"General Jackson has reinforced the eastern borders with Germany and Saxony but I believe the main attack will be from the south." Gunny pointed at a line inside France.

"What I need is your army to head south to reinforce what we have there now."

Elvar looked at the Gunny intently.

"You want MY army to reinforce you?" His look was defiance as Hakon stood behind him

"Yes. Is there a problem?" Skipper asked.

"Well, we will need supplies , arms, ammunition and clothing." Hakaon said.

"Not a problem," Gunny stepped back to stretch. "Just let me know how many soldiers you have and we will get right on it."

Elvar nodded his head in agreement.

"I can have thirty thousand here in two days. They are standing by less than twenty miles from here but....we do need those arms and ammunition!"

"Wait." Skipper moved to the other side of the table picking up a piece of paper and a small book. As he went through it he spoke without looking at them.

"Our train schedule is open for troop movement tomorrow morning and can be at your position by zero nine hundred. It will have the needed supplies on it...pick you up then transport you south."

"Fine," Elvar said with a smile. "I need to get back then to go with my troops."

"Elvar!" Gunny said as he turned. "This will be a lot worse than the last time."

"With all the modern weapons?" He smiled holding onto his ax. "We always have our back ups."

Yngvildr heard the phone ring in the small four man flight office as she waited out side.

"Yes, sir. Will do, sir." He hung up and ran out side.

"Sir!" He saluted her. "Gunny said to go!"

She smiled broadly then turned towards her pilots that were lounging around the flight line. She could see in plain sight dozens of small fighters Gunny called Hellcats lined up ready to go.

"PILOTS!" She yelled.

"Bombers are in the air, load up and lets go!"

She had all ready briefed the pilots, they were to meet the bombers south of Amsterdam then take a heading of zero-five-zero degrees and head towards the frontier, searching for anything Greek. If they found anything they were under orders to attack then return.

The deep growling of the radial engines was music to her ears as fifteen aircraft taxied for take off.

King Oswald of Saxony read the message from Gunny saying he thinks a Greek assault will come from his direction or from across France. He rubbed his chin in thought , remembering all the small attacks he had been repulsing in the last few days. That would make sense he thought.

The message also stated there were reinforcements heading his way and that if the Greeks did NOT attack....THEY would attack. At least the Germans were on his flank and he knew they would hold to the last man, just like he and his soldiers would. He smiled at the message.

"About time we get this whole damn war out in the open and end it."

Yngvilder was in the lead plane flying just over two thousand feet, clear skies and not too much turbulence to fight when the radio crackled.

"Raven one this is Raven four." Raven one was her call sign with Raven four the bomber group.

"Raven four, go!" She said looking out the side at her other fighters in formation.

"Our rear aircraft reported something trailing us at about a mile out and below."

"Roger...on it!"

"This is Raven one to scout five, over." She was calling a flight of two aircraft.

"Scout five, go."

"Contact at our six about a mile out. Check it out."

"Roger."

It was silent for several moments as they flew on scanning the ground for any sign of the Greek army. The bombers were actually the ones searching with binoculars for movement on the ground but she also tried to look on occasion.

Minuets went by and the radio crackled.

"Raven one this is scout five," a females voice said.

"Go Scout five."

"CONTACT! Six Greek fighters below us on our heading. They seem to have been shadowing us."

"Raven flight! Numbers two and four stay in place. The rest follow me."

She banked her Hellcat to the right heading behind the bombers. Just as she leveled off she could see what looked like bees circling each other in the distance with red tracers emitting from all aircraft.

"This is Raven leader.....break and go after them."

Her flight broke into three distinct flights and began to attack. She saw a thick black smoke trail ahead but she did not know who it was. Then she could see the enemy in their mustard yellow planes, circling and dodging as her pilots went after them.

"This is Raven leader...do NOT let any get away!"

She flew over head watching the fight below, making sure they did not get ambushed from other enemy planes. As she banked, looking over the side at the twisting fight, she could see there was only one yellow plane left with several of her blue planes circling, trying to get a shot in, then with a blink of an eye it burst into flames.

"This is Raven Leader...head count."

"Number nine has been hit, radio out and engine rough." Someone reported.

"Try to head back home and I will contact ground to be on the look out for him."

She made contact with a ground unit, informing them of the damaged plane and for them to be on the watch. She then turned he attention back to the bombers when the radio crackled from the bombers.

"This is Raven four!" The female voice was excited. "CONTACT!"

"Raven four, Raven one. Do you have contact with enemy ground forces?"

"That is affirmative!" She said. "It looks like the whole damn Greek army!"

She tried looking over the side but couldn't unless she banks her plane.

"Report size, position and direction to the rear." She said.

"Roger but it's impossible to estimate the size!" There was silence for a moment. "It's HUGE!"

"How far does it stretch?" She asked.

"I can't see the end of it even from up here. It looks like millions! And all heading north, north west in many columns."

Yngvilder leaned back in her seat with wide eyes.

"Oh my Gods!"