Victory! (JT)

[William Luther]

Unfortunately, with the halftrack out of commission, the victorious forces of Meredet had to be relieved in a series of convoy trucks, the heavier vehicles towed behind them. The Battalion was being pulled off the line for a fortnight, a bit of sanity after so long frantically holding the French line. There was anxiety amongst the men, if they were lucky they would return to France, if they were unlucky the Oestfront would be there fate.

The army barracks they had liberated from the French still had a bright glow as it approached 11 O'clock, despite the fact that a blackout was under effect. Tragically, a few crates of German beer had found it's way in to the trucks on the way back, and whilst none of the soldiers were particularly drunk, they were all in high spirits as they approached the base which was beggining to wind down for the night.

The trucks pulled up, and Luther carefully stepped out, gripping the edge of the Opel as he hit the ground and began shouting out for order. "Come on lads, you know the drill. First things first, sort your gear out, there'll be plenty of this stuff left over tomorrow morning." He was only half serious, though, they had forced a massive victory at the cost of only four men, and repelled a massive American assault. He saw Schneider marching briskly across to the administration block to report this to the Officers of the divison, as the troops spilled out the truck, singing loudly for the whole base to enjoy. Only one thought came from Luther as he grabbed his pack and both of his automatic weapons, this won't end well...

[Edward"Butcher"McMillan]

OOC: I know Luther only likes Germans...but...eh

IC McMillan stood from the desk as the convoy vehicles pulled into the motor-pool. It was his night for guard duty in the mechanical garage and he didn't mind it in the slightest, was always quiet on that end of the base. This night saw the return of Schneider and his men and from the sounds of things they were very proud of something. Ed stepped outside as the trucks came to a halt, the heavier vehicles for towing bringing in a pair of vehicles as well. A puzzled look crept over the Senior Sergeant's face as he squinted to see what was up. Seemed their own Half-Track was fine, but being towed none the less, behind it, another Half-Track...an Allied one at that, looked pretty banged up, seems the men stuck it to the Americans this time around. Edward walked over to the back of the first truck and helped the men down and carried a crate off to the side near the main hanger entrance then walked over to the second truck to continue assisting.

Ah, Luther..." McMillan started as he held out his hand to help, the offer was not returned. "...Glad to see you and your men made it back from the front." He meant it, Ed still received odd looks from time to time, but nothing like when he first arrived, he began to wonder if he would ever be fully accepted by the SS men. He truly hoped so, he was whole heartedly in this unit.

[William Luther]

Luther swung his pack over his shoulders, and slung his StG44 over his left shoulder, using his elbow to keep it pinned back. The MG34 was cradled in both hands as he turned around to face the barracks. First thing he needed to do was find a bunk to ditch his gear. He hiccuped slightly as he faced in to the bright spotlights illuminating the motor pool. He noticed that McMillan had appeared , the large Irishman Wolfram had insiste don bringing over. They'd only met properly in person once before, and it hadn't been the best of occasions. He'd seen the man around base a few times, and he'd grown a soldierly respect for him. Naturally, McMillan was worse than any Aryan around here, but he was still very good, one of the best of the British army.

He gave a nod to the soldier, he wasn't really in a position to take the extended hand with both hands full, "Good evening, McMillan. Have you been keeping well?" He didn't want to start anything now, especially seeing as McMillan had extended niceties to him. "Who's the engineer in charge? Our Halftrack needs engine repairs, the radiator has been shot to bits, while the American one needs a complete new axle, nothing we could have done out there." He didn't want to sound too demanding, but he wanted to get everyone moving, the sooner they were done, the sooner they could black everything out, the Allies had a strong presence in the air, and despite the many AAA installations around, he didn't want to risk some B-17s being rerouted to crush the base.

[Edward"Butcher"McMillan]

Edward lowered his hand as he saw Luther turn with his arms full of gear and then pondered for a moment at the question. "I believe the Engineer on duty is Burkhard, but he was called away a few minutes ago, for what reason I can't recall but I have a pair of them under my command, I'll have them here momentarily." he said as he turned and motioned toward his Sergeant, Klein, and the man jogged over. "Get Moergel and Tilebein down here immediately to start work on these vehicles, once you get back help finish unloading this gear, grab a few more men to help you if need be...GO!" McMillan spat at his subordinate and with a short nod the man took off full sprint back through the large open hangar and across a small courtyard into the barracks.

It was part of war and McMillan had a short report to fill out as he was the ranking man on duty to care for things that night. "I'm assuming your men were able to secure the bridge until relieved since you have returned, did we suffer any casualties?" not that he was upset, this was a big step for the SS if they would have been able to take that bridge, he only assumed they were successful as they returned at all, not to mention they returned with spoils. Ed waited for the man's reply, if there was one before he went on. Clearing his throat he leaned it slightly closer to Luther as they made their way toward the hangar "Listen, there have been rumors floating about, I don't know which ones you have heard of but I was hoping I could have a moment when things calm down to discuss a couple things with you." It was more of a question really, but he was trying to keep the guy from head butting him and walking away, after all McMillan was many things Luther didn't like, had Ed not had the success he did on the battlefield he figured Luther, along with many others would have killed him by now as his ancestry wasn't exactly welcomed in the unit.

[William Luther]

Luther nodded thankfully as McMillan sent some men scurrying to see to the vehicles, it was one less job for him to have to worry about seeing to. "Yes, we managed to hold the bridge, although we had to get rid of one of the smaller ones - the enemy set off a mine on it that's what crippled there hafltrack. We had a few losses from there sniper, but single-handedly, I equalled that number and exceeded it, that's not including the kills by the other soldiers around here."

Luther followed on towards the hangar, the large building for the most part covered in darkness, but as they turned the corner in to it, he saw a table in one corner illuminated. As McMillan began talking to him about rumours, he took the chance to empty his arms on the bench, he decided to give McMillan a chance to talk, partially because he didn't want to cause an incident and shadow his report, and partially because fatigue was starting to set in now that he was out of the combat zone, and if they got in a fight he may not have won. "I've heard lots of rumours, McMillan, leat of all that you're coming up for a Commission, congratultions are in order for that, and I've also heard that the higher-ups are trying to siphon off SS men for new units. You wouldn't know much about that now, would you?"

[Edward"Butcher"McMillan]

"Yes I have heard the rumors as well." McMillan stated as he took his seat and offered Luther a chair. He cleared his throat and looked around quickly to see that they were alone for the most part. "But the actual facts I do know, They put me up for a promotion again, don't think I can fight it this time, seems they think I've done more than needed and want me to lead a bunch of new guys toward the same glory. Seems they are starting up some unique unit, I'm not entirely sure yet what the specifics are but I've been told that if this all goes as planned I might be able to pick a few trustworthy men to help start up the unit, you know lay the ground work and stuff." He pulled out his canteen and took a long drink before reaching out and setting it at the far end of the desk offering it to Luther.

"Now weather or not that part is true is beyond me, but IF it just so happens to be and they let my input into the matter count for something, which I also highly doubt, I was going to suggest that you come with me. I know you have strong ties here and I understand that, but I honestly can't think of anyone else I would want training my men from green to glory." McMillan started to worry, he knew Luther's stance on non-Aryan races and to serve under someone of the nature would be an insult to him, Edward was only hoping the complimenting gesture and the availability of promotion in a new unit would interest him enough to overcome his disgust for the idea. "Also being a new unit there would a very high chance that withing a few short months you would get your commission as well, if you wanted it that is, I didn't want mine and I expect you might follow the same path, but you would be leading the unit right alongside me. If your interested, I assume you must be tired, but if you have a moment I'd like to hear your thoughts on the matter, least until the engineers arrive."

[William Luther]

Luther settled down on to one of the high stools by the bench, the hard wood reminding him he wasn't sat on the padded leather seat in the front of the convoy truck anymore. He shifted slightly to make himself a bit more comfortable. He brought his right arm up, resting the elbow on the bench and began rubbing his stubble with his hand as he listened to McMillan, enjoying the feel of the little bumps under his fingers.

He realised that the Irishman was extending an invitation to him to the unit, and he opened his mouth once, trying to from a reply, before closing it and rethinking. "McMillan, you are not German, you are not Aryan. You don't understand the beauty of the Fuhrer's plans, the master Germany. You look around this base, and ninety-nine percent of the men are the perfect Germans, pure-blooded warriors, the best men in the world at their physical peak. Being accepted from the Heer in to the Schutz-Staffel is the greatest honour that can be bestowed upon any pure German. No man would volountarily leave this organisation, this structure of perfection." He was struggling to find a way to convey just how important this place was to the generation that had been saved by Hitler from the catastrophe of the Weimar, who had had their eyes opened by the man at the shortcomings of society and then accepted in to his elite guard, the pillars of German society.

"However, our loyalties lie not with us, not with the unit, but with the Fuhrer. If he deemed this unit of the upmost importance, it would be my sworn duty to do as he asked of me, to help push this unit up above the likes of American or British units, to make it almost as good as the SS, something obviously impossible if it is not based from the Aryans. I do not look for ranks, for accolades, I am happy where I am being amongst the most respected men in the SS, the cadre of senior NCOs, a commission at the moment does not appeal excessively, but if I was ordered in to the unit, I would happily go it to train men to help further the cause of the Fatherland."

[Edward"Butcher"McMillan]

Edward followed along beside Luther until they came upon a make shift seating area, nothing more than a few random shoddy pieces of furniture thrown together really, but the soldiers made due. He pulled up a partially broken chair and took a seat diagonally across from William, his 'chair' resting lower than the stool of Luther, therefore he would be looked down upon literally, usually it was figuratively, which was also about to happen. Ed listened as Luther spoke of the 'Master Germany' and the Fuhrer's plans and all that stuff that he had heard time and time again. It used to upset him quite fiercely, but after Ed thought about for a while it he realized that it was an ideal that so many believed in, and it's what was used to reach down deep and pull out that extra bit of energy or power or strength or whatever you wanted to call it to change a defeat into a victory. Needless to say Ed no longer was upset by such ideals, but neither did he share the belief, after all he was not Aryan, but he was hand picked by one of the most feared members of the elite SS and still had only lost two men under his command while earning nothing but victory for the Fatherland. So he would continue to smile inside at these faux beliefs that he was the living exception of, so long as these beliefs kept the morale up and the soldiers moving forward.

Then Luther went on with something that Edward really did respect, although he felt this was where he belonged and where he needed to be, William's personal loyalties still, in the end, rested with Germany. Although the man felt it an honor to be an intrigal part of the SS, he knew that if his services were needed elsewhere he would be the soldier the men looked up to and follow orders. One thing they both agreed on, Neither wanted to be an Officer, but McMillan had been ordered this time, there was no turning it down, it was going to happen. "I respect that, I honestly do...not that I think my words mean much of anything to you as I'm not Aryan and I've come to terms with that, but if the desicion is in my hands I'll try and make sure you remain here, with the SS, after all even though you are a great soldier and a good leader, I wouldn't want to jeopardize that or anyone that followed you if you weren't fighting right where you wanted to be. Every little bit helps in combat, I won't bring it up again unless you request such."

[William Luther]

Luther flinched slightly, as a group of soldiers walked past the thin metal walls, signing very loudly and very badly. He didn't blame them, though, they'd pulled off a fair feat, holding off quite a large enemy advance on to their position, and it was always good to get out of the line of fire, to be somewhere where you didn't need to be worried about being shot whenever you lifted your head.

He looked down at McMillan, the seating working fine, asserting him in a position of authority in McMillan's head just because of the basic human social hierachy that had existed for years. He hadn't intended it to happen, but he was glad it did, it meant there was less pressure on him. "I'm glad you see things from my point of view. The SS has been my home since before this war happened, and even though I would if commanded, I wouldn't relish the idea of leaving it."

He looked in to the shadowy expanse of the garage, thinking for a few moments before turning back to McMillan. "If this does happen, and you get told to reccomend somebody, then I would have nothing against you if my name came up. And, if the Generals decide that it's a position for which I'm best suited, I'll go to it. But until then, I'll carry on being loyal here in the SS." One of the things he'd noticed with McMillan, was that they hadn't exactly got off to th best start, there had been a lot of resentment with most of the division to letting the Irishman in, but he had realised that now the war was closing in, he'd be fighting with a lot more men, and he needed to know they wouldn't stick a knife in his back given half a chance. He hoped he'd managed to get an idea of friendship going between the two soldiers, McMillan was one of those guys Luther knew he didn't want to have turning against him.

[Daniel Brennan]

Mod Post

CP:
Luther: 6CP

McMillan: 6CP

~Dan