Just You, Then Freedom [Steinbeck]

[Vivienne Rousseau]

- = = -

It was now or never, maintenant ou jamais. Freedom was at her fingertips, its taste on the cold winter air. Her legs and back ached with the pain that arthritis brought, her heart slightly sore as it beat hard in her chest, but they were minor inconveniences. An eternity spent in some God-forsaken labour camp was something Vivienne Rousseau did not want to go back to.

The Germans, how foolish they had been. They had tried to cheat nature, to defy the elements all in the name of Hitler. The convoy had been swerving left and right since it had left the labour camp, but Vivienne's captors had not cared. They had gone faster, trying to get to the next labour camp she and some others were to be deposited at; in all their stupidity, they had rounded a turn too fast. They had tipped over, tumbling down a rocky slope as the prisoners screamed in fear and pain.

That had been roughly a week or so ago, according to Vivienne's mental clock. It was good to have it back, after endless days of working in the labour camp, with nothing to differentiate day and night. The latter now surrounded her, the darkness making the forest slightly eerie, but Vivienne was unfazed. She had spent some time in Poland, and the forest was just like the one she mad once met a few Allied soldiers in. Other them and the Germans, there had been nothing to fear.

Nothing to fear, nothing but fear itself. Even though capture was a possibility, Vivienne was not afraid. If she became afraid, then she would fear the fear, and her judgement would become clouded by the urge to flee. Right now, she needed to flee, to get away from the Germans and back to her beloved France.

They could not stop her. They could try, but she wouldn't - no, she couldn't - be their slave any longer. When that fateful day came in which she was no longer of use, she'd be sent straight to Auschwitz.

That wouldn't happen. Death by poison gas would not be this ferocious giant's end. If she was to die, she would die fighting alongside the Allies. If she was to die, then if she had not told the Allies already, her final words would be of the horrors of the Nazis. Those who opposed Hitler would know of Auschwitz, and the future camp that was Mittelbau-Dora, and of the legendary Erhard Strumfelder and William Luther. They would know of the fates that befell all Jews, Gypsies and all the other races that Germany despised.

Everything would come out. Everything. But only if Vivienne was free.

From her place at the edge of the forest, Vivienne watched the nearby road closely. To free herself of Germany's clutches, she would have to get to the northern woods, and dive into the thick cover there. After that, she could make her way to the border, heading westward until she passed into France. The snow around her was a metre deep, though, and the cold was causing her legs to smart. She had to move quickly, and stealthily as well. The slightest error could be the difference between liberty and death.

Tensing, Vivienne gripped the rifle she held just a little harder, seeking comfort in its solid form. It was a standard-issue Karbine, and there was enough ammunition left in Vivienne's pocket for twelve, maybe fourteen shots. After that, she'd have to get rather...creative with the rifle, since it was dead weight otherwise. That wouldn't be a problem, though, if the Frenchwoman was stealthy. If she moved right, and used the trees to her advantage, Vivienne could get to the road in no time.

That is, if someone didn't come up it first.

[☠ Kyle Steinbeck]

Use this link for the map with no Movements lines!
OOC: I've brought 13NPCs [Privates], one of them is the driver.

The German Opel Blitz truck bounced against the slippery road’s surface against every notching turn and swerve made. The fine smear of dazzling cold ice painted upon the roadway’s surface even had the Opel Blitz truck’s rear-wheels snagging a spin every so often, a dangerous concept of mother nature’s reality, but time was of the essence and the Opel Blitz truck pushed onwards, taking up the opportunity to veer off-road for a brief moment, whenever a cleared patch of dirt or gravel arose. The tyres needed drying and with a mount of friction between their treaded grooves; Gathering some clumped up dirt or grit from driving off the road every so often, gained them that extra stability for the speed they were travelling at, in such horrendous driving conditions.

SS-Obersturmführer Steinbeck sat within the passenger seat to the Opel Blitz truck silently, his warmly gloved hands knitting together the frayed open fragments to his leather coat, in a sheer attempt to preserve his escaping body-warmth for longer. A mild shiver cascaded throughout his body, whilst his hands attempted to drag the soft leather tighter against his chest, his baby blue eyes twinkling against the bright white fairytale surroundings bestowed upon the truck. “Drehen Sie die Heizung Hartman nach oben, es ist einem Eisschrank in hier ähnlich!” he grumbled to the driver beside himself, who followed through the request with a quick “Ja…”, as he slid one of his cold blue nailed fingers against a small plastic slider, pushing it all the way, before dabbing his thumb against a nearby button on the hardened dashboard, turning the heating up.

Reaching out, SS-Obersturmführer Steinbeck adjusted one of the fans to point upon-himself, a quick rub between his hands erupting soon after, as if to make what extra warmth he could of the situation. “Herr Obersturmführer, Sektor zwölf ist vorn tot” the young soldier said with an affirm tone, his icy fingers clasped around the steering-wheel tightly, phasing a quick glance to the officer beside himself, awaiting to be told what to do next. “Ja, ziehen Sie den Lastwagen vorwärts hier” SS-Obersturmführer Steinbeck replied sharply, leaning forward a little to point towards the edge of the road to where he wanted the truck to stop; The driver merely nodded and slowly began breaking in advance, a few croaking churns emitting from the road as the wheels found it hard to succumb to a damp amount of friction.

As the Opel Blitz truck slowed, SS-Obersturmführer Steinbeck twisted his body to thump his gloved fist against the rear panel behind his head, notifying his detail of command in the back that they were coming to a stop. “Wachen Sie zurück dort auf!” he called through, hearing a few moans reply reluctantly. “Sie bleiben hier, kümmern sich um den Lastwagen und vergeuden das Gas mit den Heizungen nicht” the SS-Obersturmführer said a little hypocritical of himself, giving the driver a firm stare, before clasping one of his hands against the MP40 slouched against his lap, whilst his adjacent hand clunked open the heavy door to swing open; A full hardy blistery breeze swooping into the warm cabin of the truck. A fine reminder of their beloved weather.

“Kommen Sie heran, kommen Sie heran, fallen Sie aus” he chanted between his escaping warm breaths, the moment he dropped down from the cabin of the truck, slamming the door shut behind himself. Striding down the side of the truck, he thumped the bottom of his gloved fist against the hardened exterior of the truck, watching as the disgruntled troop of his dropped down from the rear of the truck - most of them clutching at their black SS-Tunics, shuddering as they fought to keep their clothing warm from the bitter cold, a few of them reluctant to put their helmets on, as the webbing within them had protruding cold bolts, that gave the scalp a nasty shock. “Arghh... Wir bekommen solche langweiligen Botengänge” one of the soldiers grumbled, whilst shouldering his rifle, a few winded breaths responding to his remark in agreement.

SS-Obersturmführer Steinbeck glared amongst the lousy troop, feeling too bothersome to follow out their orders. “Für Ihren Informationssoldaten sind wir die Aufgabe zugeteilt worden, diesen Flüchtling aus einem sehr wichtigen Grund zu finden. Wo wir stehen, ist Sektor zwölf, einer der letzten Sektoren, die dieser Gefangene verbergen kann. Jetzt schließen und erhalten Ihre Energie von solchen dummen Bemerkungen in der Zukunft” the SS-Obersturmführer snapped, causing the troop of men to straighten up and be quiet, the cold had quite obviously put SS-Obersturmführer Steinbeck in a bad mood - he was never one for being temperamental, but rather a quite placid type of male.

“Verschaffen Sie sich jetzt in Paare und überprüfen Sie Ihre Ausrüstung, Sie haben eine Minute.” SS-Obersturmführer Steinbeck ordered, before he turned his back upon the troop of men lingering behind the truck, to strafe his gaze off towards the nearby scenery of snow and woodlands. Adjusting his officer’s hat, SS-Obersturmführer Steinbeck began to go over his own equipment quickly, clunking back the bolt upon his MP40 to reside a bullet into the chamber, before his hands made quick work on patting down the different compartments upon his waist-belt. Lastly, the SS-Obersturmführer unclipped his holster and slipped out the Lugar, pushing his thumb against the release catch upon the grip, sliding the slim magazine from out of the pistol, making sure it was loaded. Slapping it back into the Lugar, he clunked back the bolt-catch upon the top of the pistol to load, having made sure all of his weaponry was loaded and ready. Now the hunt could begin…


Translations:[/b]

Drehen Sie die Heizung Hartman nach oben, es ist einem Eisschrank in hier ähnlich!
- Turn up the heater Hartman, it is like an icebox in here!

Herr Obersturmführer, Sektor zwölf ist vorn tot.
- Herr Obersturmführer, sector twelve is dead ahead.

Ja, ziehen Sie den Lastwagen vorwärts hier.
- Yes, pull the truck over along here.

Wachen Sie zurück dort auf!
- Wake up back there!

Sie bleiben hier, kümmern sich um den Lastwagen und vergeuden das Gas mit den Heizungen nicht.
- You stay here, look after the truck and don't waste the gas with the heaters.

Kommen Sie heran, kommen Sie heran, fallen Sie aus.
- Come on, come on, fall out.

Arghh... Wir bekommen solche langweiligen Botengänge.
- Arghh... We get such boring errands.

Für Ihren Informationssoldaten sind wir die Aufgabe zugeteilt worden, diesen Flüchtling aus einem sehr wichtigen Grund zu finden. Wo wir stehen, ist Sektor zwölf, einer der letzten Sektoren, die dieser Gefangene verbergen kann. Jetzt schließen und erhalten Ihre Energie von solchen dummen Bemerkungen in der Zukunft.
- For your information soldier, we have been assigned the duty of finding this fugitive for a very important reason. Where we stand, is sector twelve, one of the last sectors this captive may be hiding. Now shut-up and conserve your energy from such foolish remarks in future.

Verschaffen Sie sich jetzt in Paare und überprüfen Sie Ihre Ausrüstung, Sie haben eine Minute.
- Now get in pairs and check your equipment, you have one minute.

[Vivienne Rousseau]

OOC - I have made the map a PNG to conserve quality. I'll switch it over to JPEG on request, though.

- = = -

The sounds of a vehicle moving across the road caught Vivienne's attention. Despite her hardened heart, a twinge of fear still managed to come through, and her hands tightened their grip on the Mauser rifle. Headlights shined brightly in the darkness, cutting the night's veil in half, and the slight squeal of breaks pierced the otherwise still air. A gust of wind, blowing handfuls of powder across the landscape for a moment, the air becoming still moments afterwards.

Vivienne mentally swore in her mother tongue. There were Nazis about.

It was inevitable; there were several roads that ran to France nearby, and the forests were thick enough that a fugitive could escape easily. The higher-ups - as stupid as their underlings said they were - could be quite intelligent when it came to scaring rats out into the open. To them Vivienne just happened to be one of the bigger, sneakier ones.

The Frenchwoman, however, would not give up so easily. As slowly as she could, half-crouching, she slowly made her way around the edge of the forest in a semi-circle. Every few moments, she would pause, as not to arouse suspicion, and would move faster when the wind blew in the direction she was going. If she moved with the wind, she could blend in with the forest more easily.

Part of Vivienne had been prepared for this. Key word, part. She had been hoping on a clean, quick getaway, without anyone getting too close. Those Nazis, though...this was their turf. Their homeland. They probably knew every river and rock on German soil, and knew where one such as Vivienne Rousseau could hide. Vivienne had to be careful, and work with what nature had provided, all while not knowing what might be in front of her as compared to the Nazis.

Vivienne stopped, only a few feet away from the edge of the tree line. There was a large structure blocking her vision - it was most likely a pile of debris - but she could hear faint voices, carried towards her as the wind changed direction again. From what knowledge she had of German and what she could hear, she could tell they were looking for her.

Her lips turned upwards into a smirk, and her tongue ran across them, making them moist. They wouldn't find her that easily...if she was careful. She had to act natural, blend in with the forest. If she just kept that in mind, then she would reach her objective soon enough.

[☠ Kyle Steinbeck]

OOC: Yeah, PNG and BMP preserve the quality of the map. Don’t save the map as JPEG!

Cuffing the back of his leather glove up against his nostrils, SS-Obersturmführer Steinbeck sniffed hard, as the cold began to set in upon his sinuses. Damned weather done nothing but drag the human body down, if it wasn’t aching and catching a chill from the bitterly cold climate, you were contracting the yearly flu or illness that developed from such a radical change within the atmosphere. ‘Freshens up the Earth for the new-year!’ they say, but those words were far from true, the winter months done nothing but kill off the weak and wound the strong, there was no good outcome from such a horrible climate, not even Santa Claus could compensate for the misery it brought every year.

Holstering his Lugar pistol, SS-Obersturmführer Steinbeck clipped his holster back into place to secure his sidearm and slowly turned upon the hinds of his heels to face the awakening men scattered in a rounded group behind the truck. “Jeder hat einen Partner?” the SS-Obersturmführer questioned firmly, a few nods beckoning from the soldiers, whilst a couple murmured “Ja - Ja”. Once SS-Obersturmführer Steinbeck primarily had all of their attention, he licked his drying lips from the bitter cold and nodded himself, pointing out towards the two nearest soldiers. “Sie zwei, Fortschritt unten die Straße für fünfzehn bis zwanzig Yards und beobachten die südliche Seite davon Waldland. Gehen Sie außer dem Zaun nicht, erst als ich die Ordnung gebe - verstehen? Ich werde eine Mannschaft ins Waldland bringen, ich brauche die Straße, um sicher zu bleiben.” the SS-Obersturmführer said with a questionable look, but the soldiers being questioned merely stood straight and clacked their boots together, spitting out “Jawohl!, before they moved off down the road.

Looking to the other soldiers, pacing about within their spots coldly, SS-Obersturmführer Steinbeck pointed out another two nearest to him. “Sie zwei - Dieselben Ordnungen, aber behalten einen Abstand von fünf Yards zwischen sich selbst und den anderen. Ich will Sie, das südliche Waldland beobachtend. Mich zu sparen, diesen--wiederholend…” he said, suddenly pausing, as he pointed out yet another paired up duo of soldiers, speaking again. “Sie zwei werden auch hinter dem zweiten Los, Fünf-Yard-Abstand vorwärts gehen. Ich will Sie alle, um dem südlichen Waldland - gegenüberzustehen, gehen jetzt!” he barked out, sending the four soldiers, who clacked their boots together and acknowledged the orders, off into the general direction of the first pair sent out.

Now there were only six left…
Adjusting his MP40 to lay more comfortably against his stomach, he rounded up the last six soldiers with a hand gesture for them to step closer. “Sie - Aufenthalt hier und Hilfe schützen den Lastwagen mit Hartman. Ruhe von Ihnen, folgen Sie mir, wir sind dabei, diese Ratte auszuspülen, wenn sie in diesem Teil des Waldes sind. Wir werden Nördlich der Sektor später, nicht genug von uns überprüfen, um beide Stücke des Grunds sofort zu vollbringen. Wollen jetzt wir sich bewegen” and with that said, SS-Obersturmführer Steinbeck turned to face the wooden fence behind-himself, patting the snow from off the top of the fence with his gloved hand, before taking a good grip and pulling himself up and over the wooden frame separating the road from the wildlife. Dropping down the opposite side, he patted the ruminants of snow that caught to his leather coat, from off himself, before turning to await the five soldiers ordered to follow him to climb over themselves…

“Kommen Sie! Offene Augen! Unser Ziel wird gemeint, um zwischen sechs bis sieben Fuß hoch zu sein, eine Flasche des Schnapss wird dem Soldaten gegeben, der zuerst entdeckt” he laughed out, watching as the men finally climbed over the fence, grinning to themselves at the proposed award that could be available to them, before they turned to begin walking southwards slowly, from out of the ditch.



Translations:[/b]

Jeder hat einen Partner?
- Everybody have a partner?

Sie zwei, Fortschritt unten die Straße für fünfzehn bis zwanzig Yards und beobachten die südliche Seite davon Waldland. Gehen Sie außer dem Zaun nicht, erst als ich die Ordnung gebe - verstehen? Ich werde eine Mannschaft ins Waldland bringen, ich brauche die Straße, um sicher zu bleiben.
- You two, advance down the road for fifteen to twenty yards and observe the southern side of this woodlands. Don't pass beyond the fence, not until I give the order - understand? I will be leading a team into the woodlands, I need the road to remain secure.

Sie zwei - Dieselben Ordnungen, aber behalten einen Abstand von fünf Yards zwischen sich selbst und den anderen. Ich will Sie, das südliche Waldland beobachtend. Mich zu sparen, diesen--wiederholend…
- You two - Same orders, but keep a spacing of five yards between yourselves and the others. I want you observing the southern woodlands. To save myself repeating this --

Sie zwei werden auch hinter dem zweiten Los, Fünf-Yard-Abstand vorwärts gehen. Ich will Sie alle, um dem südlichen Waldland - gegenüberzustehen, gehen jetzt!
- You two will also advance behind the second lot, five yards spacing. I want you all to face the southern woodlands - now go!

Sie - Aufenthalt hier und Hilfe schützen den Lastwagen mit Hartman. Ruhe von Ihnen, folgen Sie mir, wir sind dabei, diese Ratte auszuspülen, wenn sie in diesem Teil des Waldes sind. Wir werden Nördlich der Sektor später, nicht genug von uns überprüfen, um beide Stücke des Grunds sofort zu vollbringen. Wollen jetzt wir sich bewegen.
- You - Stay here and help guard the truck with Hartman. Rest of you, follow me, we're going to flush out this rat if they're in this part of the forest. We'll check the Northern sector afterwards, not enough of us to accomplish both pieces of ground at once. Now, let's move.

Kommen Sie! Offene Augen! Unser Ziel wird gemeint, um zwischen sechs bis sieben Fuß hoch zu sein, eine Flasche des Schnapss wird dem Soldaten gegeben, der zuerst entdeckt.
- Come! Eyes open! Our target is meant to be between six to seven foot tall, a bottle of schnapps will be given to the soldier who spots 'em first.

[Vivienne Rousseau]

OOC - Right-o, I shall remember that. Now, hopefully I can get out of what I think is a pincer maneuver...

- = = -

Perhaps closing her eyes wasn't the smartest thing to do, but right now, she needed it. It would not be sight that led to freedom - no, her eyes were too weak, unsuited for the current conditions. Her four other senses, however, would help her. She could smell the cigarette smoke and liquor on the breath of the soldiers as they approached, hear them as they spoke in the tongue of their "Fatherland". She could feel the ground for any indentations, spent casings and the like, and taste the blood on her jaw should she receive a blow to it, perhaps enough to tell her if the wound would be troublesome. Eyes were useful, yes, but she could do without them. Vivienne had to.

The wind had shifted, blowing towards the soldiers instead of away from them. Vivienne strained her ears, and just managed to catch a few German words on the wind. Although she couldn't tell what they were saying, the Frenchwoman had a feeling the Nazis would be coming towards her.

So, she played it safe.

As stealthily as she could, the monstrous woman moved in a roughly diagonal line, towards the northwestern part of the southern woods that stuck out a little. Vivienne wanted to make sure there was enough distance between her and the Nazis that she could make a break for it, and hopefully, get out of their firearms' range before they shot. She was strong, but against a speeding bullet, she was as vulnerable as any human being when not filled with adrenaline.

Suddenly, the woman stopped, just a few yards from the tree line. Getting down on her stomach, she loaded the gun as fast as she could, remembering to turn off the safety with shaking hands. For a few moments, Vivienne would remain still, her hand over her heart as she wheezed slightly. Her jaw clenched, and the woman breathed out slowly.

It was her heart again. A stab of pain had suddenly appeared, just as the woman swore she heard a few faint, German words. It would take a minute or so to go away entirely, and Vivienne hoped - not just hoped, but begged to God - that there wouldn't be anyone behind or in front of her when she got up...

[Daniel Brennan]

Viv: She has remained unseen while moving through the forest, despite her large stature. However, a few clicking sounds from the loading of her rifle have been heard by the nearest German troops. They haven't been able to pin-point her location, though and they only know that she is in the forest, somewhere near the road.

~Dan

[☠ Kyle Steinbeck]

OOC: Thanks Dan!

OOC: Again, I think we should wait for a mod-mark, to see whether any of my soldiers have spotted you in the woodlands, with the use of the truck’s headlights and etc…

Ca-Clunk - the faint, yet sharp noise emitted from the woodlands and immediately a few soldiers lumbering themselves along the roadside stiffened to a halt. “Tat Sie hören das!?”[/I] one of the soldiers questioned to the partner he was paired up, who nodded quickly to swing the rifle from off his shoulder, clasping the wooden frame in both hands. “Ja…”[/b] he murmured out afterwards, cautiously approaching the wooden fence before himself, straining to look out into the woodlands through the fog of darkness.

“Hartman! Harman! Bringen Sie den Lastwagen hier, wir brauchen etwas Licht unten auf den Wald. Wir haben etwas gehört!” the cautious soldier cried out, flagging his arm out towards the truck a few yards back. Hartman, the driver, merely winded the window down and leant out, pulling a questionable look off towards the soldiers ahead of him. “Bringen Sie gerade den Lastwagen hier unten!”[/I] he yelled out again towards Hartman, who heaved out a heavy breath to slump back into his seat, starting up the ignition again to churn the gear-stick into gear, before slowly bumbling the truck forwards, watching as the men ahead grooved outwards into a pattern to accommodate the truck as it swerved inwards - hopefully getting enough of the headlights from the front of the truck to shine downwards upon the woodlands below.

“Aufenthalt-Alarmsignal, SS-Obersturmführer Steinbeck und einige Männer ist da unten gegangen, wir können nicht erlauben, dass dieses Weibchen, um zu kommen, uns passiert, wenn sie da unten ist” the soldier said firmly to his comrades, who listened intently to his words as they all swung their rifles off into their grasps, lingering closely to the wooden-fence, gazing off into the woodlands now it was lit up somewhat. One of the soldiers loaded their rifle loudly, clunking the bolt upon the stock, too and from, loading the chamber quickly as he glared off into the woodlands, a mean demeanour stamped across his face; All of them alert and awaiting for some sign of their fugitive.

**********

Meanwhile, SS-Obersturmführer Steinbeck dragged his jackboots through the thick snow, his warmly gloved hands cradling his MP40 tightly against his torso. “Raum, Raum” he quietly ordered to the group of soldiers lingering aside him, causing them to immediately gain some ground between one another. They needed to be spaced out enough, that they covered a good chunk of terrain in one sweep. They had very little manpower for searching the presumed sector she was seen to be in, but they were only a quick troop gathered together to commence this search. Everyone else was too busy with their evening dinner! Fools.

As SS-Obersturmführer Steinbeck trekked through the snow, carefully moving into the woodlands alongside his men, they all abruptly froze as the truck behind themselves began to rear-up and move. A few shouting voices could be heard in the distance; Immediately, SS-Obersturmführer Steinbeck flagged his hand out towards the small band of men beneath his immediate command to gain their attention. “Sie haben etwas bemerkt, bleiben Sie still, Augen offen, Schuss, wenn Sie auch haben, aber zielen auf die Beine! Dieser Gefangene ist lebendig gefragt” he ordered to the men before him, who quietly responded with a “Ja…”[/b], their hands making quick work in swinging their rifles from off of their shoulders, holding them in a fashion that had the rifles pointing outwards from their hip and waist.

After SS-Obersturmführer Steinbeck spoke, he gave a silent command with his hand again, strafing the flat of his palm off towards the direction they were going to search. Immediately, the small band of men quietly began to advance through the woodlands, their booted feet treading carefully between the hardened dirt beneath their feet, their eyes wandering cautiously about themselves, ready to strike anything that sprung up before them. Thankfully, with the addition of the truck pointing at a slanted angle up ahead, they were able to see a little better into the woodlands, as the beaming lights lit up the trees upon one side, cascading a dim light across the dirt before their feet. They were getting closer and they could feel it…


Translations:[/b]

Tat Sie hören das!?
- Did you hear that!?

Hartman! Harman! Bringen Sie den Lastwagen hier, wir brauchen etwas Licht unten auf den Wald. Wir haben etwas gehört!
- Hartman! Harman! Bring the truck the up here, we need some light down on the forest. We've heard something!

Bringen Sie gerade den Lastwagen hier unten!
- Just bring the truck down here!

Aufenthalt-Alarmsignal, SS-Obersturmführer Steinbeck und einige Männer ist da unten gegangen, wir können nicht erlauben, dass dieses Weibchen, um zu kommen, uns passiert, wenn sie da unten ist.
- Stay alert, SS-Obersturmführer Steinbeck and some men have gone down there, we can not allow this bitch to get pass us if she's down there.

Raum, Raum.
- Space out, Space out.

Sie haben etwas bemerkt, bleiben Sie still, Augen offen, Schuss, wenn Sie auch haben, aber zielen auf die Beine! Dieser Gefangene ist lebendig gefragt.
- They have noticed something, remain silent, eyes open, shoot if you have too, but aim for the legs! This prisoner is needed alive.

[Daniel Brennan]

Viv: Due to her prone position on the ground, the soldiers on the road didn't succeed in finding the Frenchwoman. However, the lights from the truck are lighting up a lot of the foliage around her and if she attempts to make a run for it, she will definately be seen by the German's.

~Dan

[Vivienne Rousseau]

- = = -

Vivienne considered getting off the ground, but then, angry voices came to her. Her heart began hammering again as she realized just how close they sounded, and she froze, not daring to move. A car switched on, the squeal of tires heard as they reluctantly moved across the road.

Despite every inch of her being screaming at Vivienne to run, the Frenchwoman remained motionless.

Light flooded the world around her, turning every leaf and twig she could see into a silhouette. The snow glowed brightly, and the woman slammed her eyes shut, not daring to make a sound. From what she could tell, the headlights of the vehicle she had heard before were being used as a makeshift searchlight.

Note à l'individu: utilisez les oreilles meilleures. Ces nazis sont comme des chiens, dans l'intéret de Dieu…

The next time she had to load, she would dive further into the forest, to make sure no one could hear her. For now, though, she would remain still as stone. The light from above would reveal even the smallest of movements; to even twitch was dangerous. She could only move from where she was once the Nazis convinced themselves nothing was there.

In her mind, safe from ears that could possibly use it against her, Vivienne said a silent prayer. Even though she repeatedly told herself not to be so, she was scared. Bullets spared few, and the Nazis were the same; she could not fight them as easily in the snow, too, what with her heart and her arthritis. They were soldiers - they had been trained to kill, while all that Vivienne had were some dirty tricks and street smarts she had picked up in the camps.

========================

Translations:

Note to self: use ears better. Those Nazis are like dogs, for God's sake...

[Daniel Brennan]

Viv: She hasn't been seen at all yet and the Germans are starting to think that they imagined the sounds after all


~Dan

[☠ Kyle Steinbeck]

Hartman rested his hands against the steering-wheel, watching as his comrades before him strained their eyes to gaze off into the woodlands. A fair bit of it was lit up from the truck’s headlamps, with numerous shadows strewn across the dirt terrain, like magnificent shadow puppets. Smiling softly to himself, he leaned back within his seat and rubbed his hands together, merely waiting to leave the forsaken place, but either way, he wasn’t too bothered - he wasn’t required to get out of the truck and walk about in the snow, so he was quite content on sitting there, just waiting for everyone else to finish their game of hide and seek.

“Ich weiß, dass ich etwas hörte” one of the soldiers said in slight frustration, plumes of mist escaping his lips as he breathed heavily, gazing off into the woodlands for any sign of where the noise had come from. His companion smirked a little, nodding, having heard something himself, but perhaps it was trick of the mind. They were cold, perhaps tired and hunting about in the dark for someone who didn’t really seem relevant on wasting their energy for; It wasn’t like they were on a mission to save one of their friends or a downed pilot, no, just a pesky Jew, who was more than likely dead by now. The temperature was bitterly cold, not many would be able to survive in such a rough terrain with nothing but the dirty garments from the prison camp upon their backs, she didn’t have a chance…

As the soldiers glared off into the woodlands, one of them raised their rifle and narrowed his sight off down the barrel, slowly moving his iron-sights between each tree, focusing his attention directly upon each object his eyes trailed over, looking for any protruding arms or legs from behind the objects. “Ehh... Je eher wir nachhause kommen, desto eher ich mich erwärmen kann” the soldier said in a rugged tone, as he continued to slowly move his iron sights along the tree-line, wanting to just get home sooner rather than later.

**********

SS-Obersturmführer Steinbeck however, continued to quietly work his way forwards, catching a glimpse of what seemed to be a large rock up ahead. “Psst - Sie drei, grenzen Sie ringsherum link an. Sie zwei, Flanke-Recht” SS-Obersturmführer Steinbeck ordered, before he looked back up front, treading through the snow again as they departed the brief realm of woodlands, into a clearing with a large mound of rocks protruding from out of the ground. Pacing quickly through the dim lit area, SS-Obersturmführer Steinbeck clasped both of his hands against one of the slippery rocks, hoisting himself up off the ground, just enough for him to swing his right leg up and lodge his jackboot into one of the many grooves denting the rock’s surface.

Grunting beneath his breath, the SS-Obersturmführer clambered up onto the rock and very carefully stepped over to another platform of rock, levelled off smoothly, allowing him to clamber up once again. Once he’d hoisted himself up, with a couple of shocked looks from his comrades as they passed into the woodlands, phasing out of sight from between the trees and foliage; SS-Obersturmführer Steinbeck cradled his MP40 across his stomach and panted out a winded breath, the short climb having made him sweat a little, particularly as the bitterly cold night had his body aching already.

Licking his lips, SS-Obersturmführer Steinbeck cleared his throat to speak; “Gefangener! Wir wissen, dass Sie dort sind, und wir ließen Sie völlig umgeben. Herausgekommen jetzt und Übergabe, kein Schaden wird zu Ihnen gebracht, ich werde dazu selbst sehen” SS-Obersturmführer Steinbeck yelled out, his voice echoing every so slightly between the trees, his baby blue eyes panning off a long look across the dense terrain beneath himself, only hearing the brief steps of his subordinates treading through the woodlands below. “... Wenn Sie sich nicht ergeben, gibt es wenig ich kann für Sie tun.” he yelled out once again, letting out a long sigh afterwards, awaiting for some sort of cry of surrender to emit from the woodlands anytime soon.


Translations:

Ich weiß, dass ich etwas hörte
- I know I heard something

Ehh... Je eher wir nachhause kommen, desto eher ich mich erwärmen kann.
- Ehh... The sooner we get home, the sooner I can warm up.

Psst - Sie drei, grenzen Sie ringsherum link an. Sie zwei, Flanke-Recht.
- Psst - You three, flank around left. You two, flank right.

Gefangener! Wir wissen, dass Sie dort sind, und wir ließen Sie völlig umgeben. Herausgekommen jetzt und Übergabe, kein Schaden wird zu Ihnen gebracht, ich werde dazu selbst sehen.
- Prisoner! We know you are out there and we have you completely surrounded. Come out now and surrender, no harm will be brought to you, I will see to this myself.

... Wenn Sie sich nicht ergeben, gibt es wenig ich kann für Sie tun.
- ... If you do not surrender, there is little I can do for you.

[Daniel Brennan]

Viv remains unseen, the foliage protecting her from the eyes of the German riflemen.

~Dan

[Vivienne Rousseau]

- = = -

She couldn't move. To move was to be captured, to move was to die. The Nazis could yell at her all they wanted, she wasn't moving, or even coming out of the forest, for that matter. They were liars. Murderers. Thieves. Those arrogant pigs would shoot her if she fought back, and she didn't need her legs kneecapped, preventing her from running away...

The woman flinched ever so slightly, biting hard on her lower lip as another stab of pain went through her heart. If she didn't get out of there, her heart and lungs would not be able to keep her going. Even with warm winter clothing, the ground was still cold, and it was hard on the more troublesome aspects of her body.

And if she really was surrounded...and if her heart did give up on her...

No, Vivienne couldn't think that. She had to save her ideas for later. No trying to mimic an eagle owl, no knocking snow over with her boot to try and make the Nazis think a rabbit had sprung from the bush. It may have worked in works of literature, and even for some in the real world, but now was not the time for that. They had not seen her, and it would stay this way if she just stayed put.

Fearing nothing but fear itself? What a stupid thing to say...non, to apply to all things. Fear could sometimes be your friend. It could help you survive, and reinforce one's common sense. Fear had kept the Frenchwoman on the ground, and had kept her from doing anything stupid. She now just had to make sure that it didn't take over entirely, and hinder her progress. If it did...she would die, plain and simple.

And no matter how many times she said it, Vivienne Rousseau found she had to say it again and again, just to get herself to focus. The cold, the pain, the terror...it was beginning to get to her head. She even felt a little dizzy now...

[Daniel Brennan]

(I felt like a change)
Viv: Still not seen.

~Dan

I think it suits you. - Nathan

I think the two of you need to hook up it seems LOL!! -JT

[☠ Kyle Steinbeck]

OOC: Sorry if my post is a little shoddy.

Moistening his lips with a long idle lick, SS-Obersturmführer Steinbeck silently observed the unfolding situation of what seemed to be a ghost hunt. His gloved fingers ran along the cold stainless steel to his MP40, limply hanging across his front, whilst his pearly blue eyes shifted against the bitterly cold breeze, trying to see through the dense woodlands from his precarious perch upon atop of the icy mound of rocks. Personally, Kyle knew no living human being could survive the bitter climate this far out into the woodlands, the escapee they were hunting after was either; Dead, torn-up by the wildlife or truly a fighter for making it this far…

Bellowing out a long sigh, SS-Obersturmführer Steinbeck took one last long look around, before shouting out “Fein! Haben Sie es Ihr Weg!”, his tone of voice a little firm from the frustration of being kept out in the cold any longer than he should have been. A simple surrender from whomever may have been lurking in the woodlands, would have sufficed all of their suffering quickly. “Fünf-Yard-Abstand, Bajonette der üblen Lage und spült diese Ratte schnell aus. Ich bin zu kalt, um solche dummen Spiele zu spielen” SS-Obersturmführer Steinbeck grunted out, becoming a little agitated and annoyed that they were now forced to prolong their aching search for the fugitive - he did try to bargain.

Whilst SS-Obersturmführer Steinbeck cautiously lowered himself from atop of the icy rock to climb down, the soldiers pacing into the woodlands froze for a brief moment, as their pale hands unsheathed their Karbiner 98k Rifle bayonets, that were hanging from their hips and protruding along the smoothes of their thighs. A multitude of clangs sparked from out of the silence, as the soldiers clunked the hand-grips that embellished a groove, downwards against the underside of their barrel-ends. With a quick pat and firm wriggle, the bayonets were securely attached and the few men wandering the woodlands, slowly adjusted their tight hold grips upon the rifles to await the presence of their commander to approach; SS-Obersturmführer Steinbeck’s jackboots clacked against the hardened frozen dirt beneath his feet, a seething annoyance illuminating from his demeanour, beginning to get a little fed up.

Approaching the few subordinates nearby himself, he barked out “Ich will dieser Zeitverschwender fand! So suchen Sie jedes Stück des Laubs mit Ihrem Bajonett, ein schneller Stoß oder zwei wird sie ausspülen. Wollen jetzt wir diese Suche fortsetzen” and with that, the soldiers littering the woodlands continued their patrolling search deeper into the woods. The truck’s beaming lights were also becoming more apparent, as the dazzling light protruding from between the trees, glistened against the sharp bayonets attached to the rifles - every fatal lunge made into a nettle bush or shrubbery littering the soldier’s pathways, shimmered a flash of light now and again, followed by a soft grunt made by the soldier and the impending cry of pain from whomever may be hiding. Unfortunately, none came and the small squad continued onwards very carefully.

SS-Obersturmführer Steinbeck lingered closely to a couple of his men, clutching at his own piece of gunnery hanging against his front, watching the men’s progress. Contemplating on the thought of calling down for some more manpower to help with the search, the SS-Obersturmführer glanced to the roadway situated along their right, watching the German soldiers along the fence-line keep an open and weary eye. “Sie ist hier irgendwo aus…”[/I] Kyle mumbled to himself incoherently, treading through the dirt slowly, praying that a fleeing figure wouldn’t suddenly emerge from out of the darkness - immediately, they would all be oppressed to shoot. Not a good outcome.



Translations:

Fein! Haben Sie es Ihr Weg!
- Fine! Have it your way!

Fünf-Yard-Abstand, Bajonette der üblen Lage und spült diese Ratte schnell aus. Ich bin zu kalt, um solche dummen Spiele zu spielen.
- Five-yard spacing, fix bayonets and flush this rat out quickly. I am too cold to be playing such silly games.

Ich will dieser Zeitverschwender fand! So suchen Sie jedes Stück des Laubs mit Ihrem Bajonett, ein schneller Stoß oder zwei wird sie ausspülen. Wollen jetzt wir diese Suche fortsetzen.
- I want this time-waster found! So search every piece of foliage with your bayonet, a quick stab or two will flush them out. Now let's continue this search.

Sie ist hier irgendwo aus…
- She’s out here somewhere…