Norsemen!

Skipper and Jackson were near the entrance having coffee when the Gunny and Yngvalder walked into the State house.

“Don’t tell me!” Gunny said as he stopped near them. “There are more attacks in the south.”

“Well yes, but the enemy had sever damage to at least two ships with one sunk.” Skipper said as he sipped coffee. “Nothing really to worry about.”

“Besides, Gunny, “Jackson interrupted. “These so called Russians seem to have outdated weapons and equipment from what our intel has gathered.”

“Still,” Gunny shook his head looking at Yngvalder in her uniform.

“We just can’t seem to stop all this crap! I mean it’s one war after another after another.” Gunny walked to a small table that held coffee and sandwiches, grabbing a sandwich and coffee he turned back around.

“If we keep our boarders secure we can thwart any threat that comes our way!” Yngvalder said with coffee and a sandwich in her hands.

Gunny looked at her as she stood in the sunlight coming through the front door. Her uniform was immaculate in every detail. Her newly acquired ribbons on her chest were in several rows showing she had seen action on all fronts. There were a few scars on her face from several battles but he knew , to her, they were simply marks of honor. He smiled looking at her, thinking what it would be like to just retire and live in peace somewhere, may be go fishing every day or something.

“GUNNY!” Yngvalder said loudly. “You were day dreaming again!”

“Oh, sorry,” Gunny finished his sandwich then sat near the three of them.

“Tell me guys. What do you think about these Russians? Will they pose a real threat to us down there? Are the Greeks allies with them? If not, WHO, exactly, are their allies?”

“Hold on Gunny!” Skipper said sitting down. “First, we are still analyzing them and believe me, it is easy!”

“How so, Skipper? With all their lines stretching south, there is not a single place our teams can get through.”

Jackson held up a piece of paper as he sat next to the two, Yngvalder still standing next to Gunny looked on with interest.

“I have the last report from our intel group that went through last week.”

“Are these part of the Hard Corps?” Yngvalder asked with furrowed brows.

“Yes!” Jackson said as he handed her the report.

She found a chair and, pulling it up she began to read even before she sat. After a few seconds a smile came across her face then she handed it back to Jackson.

“What?” Gunny asked as he reached for the report. After he read it, he too seemed in a more pleasant mood.

“Well, gentlemen.” Yngvalder said, slapping her thighs.

“I think we can rest assured we will have a few problems but not as much as we first thought from the Russians.”

After the Gunny finished reading he leaned back in his chair with a loud creak from it’s legs, then taking a deep sigh.

“Well. I see they are years if not decades behind us. May be we can come to an understanding and start trade?” Gunny said with a slight smile.

“We can try but I am not so sure we can send in any emissaries.” Jackson said.

“Why?” Skipper asked as he leaned forward with his elbows on his knees.

“For one thing our guys found out that the Greeks sent in emissaries and they were executed!”

“Holy crap!” Gunny said leaning back with a blank look on his face. “What the hell is wrong with these guys?”

“From what we have gathered they are extremely isolated and distrust anyone.” Jackson stood as he picked up another piece of paper.

“This report was from last week. When they found out about the executions.”

Gunny took it and read in silence with a frown on his face.

“How the hell are we suppose to talk trade with these guys if they execute everyone that comes in?”

“Good question but the main thing is, they will not bother us too much after that Naval defeat at the straights.” Jackson leaned back with a smile. “From the last reports just a few hours ago they were ecstatic about the sinking of their ships. Seems they only HAD four.” Jackson said with a smile.

Gunny laughed loudly and so did Yngvalder while the Skipper just sat there with a smile.

“Well. I can see why you guys are so light on these Russian. Seems they are not much of a threat. And now that we cut the Greeks legs off they are quiet too.” Gunny leaned back in his chair with his hands behind his head. “WOW! You think it’s over then?”

“I think with everything that is happening now, our borders defended now with a strong military and the Greeks cut off, YES!” Skipper said as he stood when a woman walked into the house.

Gunny leaned forward quickly when he saw that.

“Skipper?” he asked with a questioned look.

Yngvalder smiled and put a hand on Gunny’s shoulder.

“Yes, Gunny. He found someone!” Yngvalder said with a broad smile.

“Why the hell didn’t you tell me!” Gunny stood up as she approached and stuck out his hand. “I’ve seen you around here ma’am. But I don’t know your name.”

“Barbra,” she said with an embarrassed smile.

Gunny looked at the Skipper with open mouth.

“You DOG Skipper! Keeping secrets like this.”

Several days later the Gunny and Yngvalder were in their small home as the children played outside.

“Let’s go flying!” Gunny said as he sat on a chair outside near the front door. “I miss flying and we haven’t been up in months.”

“Sounds good to me. How about our old two seater bi plane?” Yngvalder said as she sat in a chair next to him.

“OH YES!” Gunny smiled at the thought of taking that up again. He loved the feel of the wind in his face and the wires in the wings humming at his side and even the taste of the oil as it leaked off the engine.

“Lets go this afternoon then!” Yngvalder said.

“Absolutely!” The Gunny was all smiles as he sipped his coffee and watched the children play. It’s a peaceful world now they can grow up in without war.

General Birger sat outside his bunker when he heard the rumble of artillery in the distance.

"What was that?" He yelled as he jumped out of his comfortable chair.

"Sir! I don't know yet. I am contacting the forward lines." the radio operator said as she spoke into the microphone.

He could hear the familiar sound of incoming artillery rounds and these would be very close to his position.

"TAKE COVER!!" He yelled as he grabbed the radio operator, dragging her inside the bunker with him. This operator had only been here for a few months but had never been in combat so she did not know what the signs were of incoming artillery.

As they dove onto the floor, the ground seemed to heave upwards, then kind of exhale, then there was the concussion of the explosion that pushed them into the earth with force. The young radio operator began to yell in panic.

General Birger grabbed the young woman, pulling her towards him and looked into her eyes with a smile just as some dirt over head fell onto them.

When it was over, the General jumped up, grabbing the operator by her sleeve then drug her outside to get on the radio.

"Call forward. Find out where that came from, FAST!"

He ran to the end of the trench to see the damage and how many casualties there were. Then he heard incoming again.

"GET DOWN!" He yelled as more large shells began dropping all over the front lines. After a few minuets they seemed to be walking the barrage to his left, down his lines.

"General! We have casualties but not that many. Most troops were in the bunkers so we lucked out." A young Lieutenant said.

"Good. Have the men stand by at the ready on line, I do NOT want to be surprised by any new attack."

"Yes, sir!" The Lieutenant was off at a run.

"Operator. Contact Main...State House. Tell them what just happened and that an attack is eminent but we are ready."

"Yes, sir," the young female operator said as she wiped her eyes.

"Are you crying, soldier?" He asked her as he leaned over towards her.

"No,SIR! I still have dirt in my eyes!"

The General began to laugh and slapped her on her back.

The Skipper was in the kitchen of the State House when he got word from Jackson that a major attack was hitting our lines in the south by the Russians.

"What the hell, Jackson?" Skipper seemed furious.

"It's not MY fault they are attacking, skipper!" Jackson was defensive.

"No....it's me! I thought all this was behind us now, that's all." Skipper said apologetically.

"Where's the Gunny? We need to find him and see what he wants to do about this." Skipper asked Jackson.

"Well, last I heard from about an hour ago, he and Yngvalder were going flying in one of those old crates, you know. A bi plane?"

"Well. Send out runners and FIND him. We need to know what he wants to do."

Skipper and Jackson waited for over an hour for the runner to return with news of the Gunny.

"Sir! Beg to report," the runner said. "The Gunny and his wife went flying a few hours ago, from what I was told at the flight office, with only enough fuel for an hours flight. They have not returned yet, sir and that was several hours ago,"

"Oh crap!" Jackson said with a blank face.

"Well! Have they sent out any search parties yet?" Skipper seemed mad.

"Yes, sir," the runner said. "The search parties went out as soon as they did not return on time. Before I even got there."

"OH GEESH!" Jackson said as he sat down, his head in both his palms.

"SIR! Flash message from the airfield!" The guard said as he held the radio microphone.

"This is the Skipper. Who am I talking to?" There was an answer so the Skipper continued.

"What's the status of finding the Gunny?" His face seemed to pale and his knees grew weak then he sat down stone faced and dropped the microphone.

Jackson jumped over grabbing the microphone off the floor, holding it near his ear but stopped as he looked at the Skipper. He knew what had happened.

"What is it?" A general Officer near by asked and Jackson looked at him with a blank stair.

"The Gunny and Yngvalder were found. Dead. Seems their plane crashed shortly after take off over the hills north of the airfield."

"What now, Skipper?" The General asked. "What about the Russians attacking?"

Skipper looked at Jackson with wide eyes.

"The Gunny wanted peace and trade and to build up the entire world, not just this country. Bring it to standards of our own world...but." Skipper could not talk any more. He sat in a chair blank faced.

"Get the hell up, Skipper!" Jackson yelled. "What do you think the Gunny would say? We are neck deep in another war and you want to quit?"

"You're right, Jackson. Another war." Skipper seemed too distraught to speak. "We HAVE to keep on going, like the Gunny says. Suck it up!"

Jackson stood next to the Skipper with his mouth open and eyes wide, staring towards the corner of the hall. The Skipper noticed him not moving so he too looked in the direction Jackson was staring. In the corner stood a bear of a man dressed in the old style Norse clothing, furs and leather with a very long beard and an eye patch.

"I have a message for you two." He said in a deep voice. "I know the Gunny is dead but he told me to deliver to you a message to keep the faith and sue for peace at all cost."

Just then he dropped a large sword the Skipper remembered belonged to the Gunny that was given to him by the Gods. It made a loud ringing as it hit the floor that echoed off all the walls for several seconds then lit up as a brilliant white light as it rose from the floor, point up, as if someone was holding it. A figure of an image became visible as if a ghost that resembled the Gunny in his dress uniform, holding the sword. It stepped forward slightly letting the Skipper and Jackson see that it seemed to be the Gunny! He raised the sword, looked at it briefly, then looked at them with a smile.

"You can do it Skipper. Enough of all this war. Sue for peace through strength!"

Gunny had a broad smile then they saw Yngvalder standing beside him, she too had a wide smile, then they vanished.

Both of them stood silent for a few seconds before the Skipper spoke.

"Well.....I guess we continue to march, Jackson. Get General Birger on the phone. Let's get this peace movement on the road by wiping out the Russians in the south. Once that is done we will DARE them to make another move...OR...they can start trade."