Silence

[Giovanni Facilli]

Guesseppe stood on the concrete of an underground, High Security, top secret Bunker. He looked around, High-Ranking officers and generals running left and right, constantly updating the map, including several skirmishes between UPM and German forces. Guesseppe looked around, and stepped over to a man working away at a Computer. He handed the man a piece of paper, and the man looked up at him, before asking "Polish Resistance Headquarters?"

"Yes, thats correct. I want you to ask them if they can get me a video-meeting with one of their resistance leaders. Tell them its extremely important, and it has to do with the Fate of their nation. Use the Security Code too, so They know the message is straight from us."

The man nodded, and looked back at the computer, quickly working the machine. He looked back up at Guesseppe, and said "We can only wait for now, My Emperor."

"Time will tell..." Guesseppe replied. He stepped away from the man, and down a set of concrete stairs, walking through the masses of Officers, Intelligence Core Soldiers, and other men and women, until he stopped at a large, Steel door. He entered in a code, before placing his palm print on a scanner, finally having his retinas scanned. The steel door unlocked, and he made his way into his office, to wait.

[Nicholas Lorencio]

Walter walked through the dimly lit room, part of a secret underground complex built by the Polish Resistance. He was reading over some briefings, mainly just information on UPM troop movements. Walter still couldn’t believe where he was as he sat down at a desk. Only a few months ago he have been sipping wine in the Presidential building, talking to delegates from some country. Now he was dressed in full battle gear, commanding battalions of armed men against an oppressive force that conquered Poland.

He paused when a young soldier walked in, handing Walter a piece of paper. “We just received this message sir, from the Italian Empire.” Walter thanked the man as he left, questions floating in his head. The Italian Empire? How did they know of the Resistances existence, let alone have the code to the channel to contact them. Walter figured that the ESP, what was left of the Polish Union, for some reason gave this information to the Italian Empire. This still didn’t explain why they would try contacted the Resistance.

Walter looked down on the paper. It stated the message the Italian Empire sent, stating that they would like an audience with a commanding officer of the Resistance. They also stated that a digital message was also sent, and that the Resistance should reply immediately via video communication. Walter placed the paper down, still not sure what this meant. The Italian Empire, as far as he knew, was still neutral, and if the news his men were getting was correct, they showed no signs of changing that soon. However, Walter knew that he should reply, and that this event may be the salvation he needed to win this “war”.

Walter stood up, grabbing his military cap as he left. He walked down the dim hallways, until he came into the intelligence room. Computers and other equipment littered the large room, with soldiers, technicians, and even a few scientists working away. Walter nodded as the guards saluted, then walked to the end of the room and through another room, this one leading down a small flight of stairs. Once he reached the bottom, he walked down a small hallway, to a small yet sturdy door. He saluted the guards, before showing them identification and stating his purpose. After a small check, they allowed him through.

Walter found himself in the room that was the main mission command of the Resistance, the center of all intelligence, communication, and the like. Only three men were present, one commander, an officer, and another guard. They saluted him, (Walter being the top of the command chain), as he entered. “Morning Walter, what brings you here?” asked the commander, a man by the name of Kamil Jurek, a previous 4-star general of the Polish army. “Got a contact from the Italian Empire, not sure how they found us or why they contacted us, but I plan on finding out.” Jurek showed a sign of confusion, but nodded and wished Walter luck, before walking back to the officer and continuing their discussion. Walter then walked through another door, and into a small room that was the communication room.

Walter adjusted himself and then picked up a radio. “Mission control, this is your commander Walter speaking. I want you to let the Italian Empire through communications.” A voice quickly replied, “roger that sir, sending them through.” A few seconds later the screen in front of him lit up and showed the environment of the other speaker. Walter soon identified this man as Guesseppe Franco, the emperoer of the Italian Empire. Walter was a little surprised at this; he figured that this message held some importance after all. Walter took no time in greeting the man. “Hello Guesseppe, long time no see.”

[Giovanni Facilli]

Guesseppe sat at his desk, reading reports on the Empire, before a soldier knocked on the steel door of his bunker. He looked up, and pressed the button under his desk, letting the soldier in. The soldier saluted, and said “My Emperor, Polish Resistance is attempting to connect to video feed.”

“Very good. Patch them through to the Camera and television in this office, as usual.” Guesseppe replied. The soldier nodded, saluting, before stepping out of the office. The steel door swung shut, and Guesseppe looked towards the Television Hanging on the wall, a camera standing below it. Guesseppe watched as the Light on the Camera turned red, before the Television turned on, switching from Fuzz to the Image of the once proud President of Poland, now clearly a Resistance leader.

Guesseppe could see the reaction of Walter, he was somewhat surprised to see Guesseppe, clearly, and Guesseppe returned his greeting. “Yes, I believe this is the first time we have had the chance to speak. I would have invited you to my proud empire, but Circumstances changed before the Invitation could be sent.”

He paused, relaxing in his comfortable chair behind his desk, before continuing. “I suppose I should cut to the chase, seeing as we are both very busy. The Italian Empire has taken notice of the growing threat in the East, and it was advised that we inform the Polish Resistance that in the coming months the Italian Empire will launch an all-out Liberation of Europe, and, hopefully the world. My officers have gathered from my own sentiment that we not allow Poland, or for that matter, any of Europe, to remain in UPM Control for over Six Months.

Unfortunately, For security reasons, and the fact we have not set a definite date yet, I cannot tell you where, or even when, the Liberation will begin at this time, but I can tell you that it will be coming very soon. The Polish Resistance is an extremely valuable asset to the Liberation, and most of my high ranking officers have been pressuring me to ask you and your group for a few favors, if that is not too much to ask.”

Guesseppe paused, allowing time for Walter to Reply.

[Nicholas Lorencio]

Walter waited patiently while the Italian leader spoke. Walter expected the Italian Empire to join the war soon, but the news still shocked him. Even more surprising was that they would be starting their offensive quite soon, at least that’s what Walter got from Guesseppe’s words. Despite the surprises, Walter was overjoyed inside at the news, although he didn’t let his body show it.

After Guesseppe finished speaking, Walter leaned back against the wall in thought. He pondered this new piece of information, and what it meant. After a brief moment Walter looked at Guesseppe, standing straight up and folding his arms behind his back.

“I know that before this war, Italian and Polish relations were not at their peaks. We did not view each other respectively after the breakup of the Central Powers. In honest perspective, with the Italian-German war, Poland viewed Italy as enemies for waging war with one of her most trusted allies. But, for the sake of the Polish people, I am putting this all aside. If this means the freedom of my people and the liberation of my nation, then you have the full support and help of the Polish Resistance.”

Walter walked to the side and grabbed a few papers, mostly statistics and Intel. He then walked up to Guesseppe once more. “We have major troop concentrations in Warsaw, Lublin, Gdansk, Wroclaw, and Poznan, although we have at least a minor concentration of troops in ever Polish city. Altogether our force numbers in the thousands, mostly former soldiers of the Polish army, with the help of devoted civilians.”

“We have gathered plenty of Intel from the UPM. Troop movements, locations of key commanders, and defensive positions are just some of the things we know. We have ears in almost all the major cities. The one thing we lack is proper equipment. Small arms are not a problem, but we lack equipment for larger operations, such as tanks and artillery. If the Italian Empire were to provide such things, as well as a few more, then maybe we could get somewhere.”

Walter placed the papers down and then glanced up. “Overall, the Polish Resistance is ready.”

“Just tell us what to do.”

[Giovanni Facilli]

Guesseppe listened to Walter, Ever word about the relationship between the Italian Empire and Poland, and perhaps, the rest of Europe, was true, and it was still a fresh wound for him. He held the late Alessandro solely responsible for what he called the drain of Italian Influence in Europe. When the Italian Empire went to war with Germany, and didn’t even march one soldier over the boarders of Germany before the Peace-Treaty was called, it was another insult. If he was going to do something, he should have done it right.

As Walter continued, explaining troops counts of the Polish Resistance in Major Cities, Guesseppe picked up a pen which sat on a pad of paper, writing the names of each of the cities down for his generals. As Walter mentioned the need for heavy equipment, Guesseppe nodded, his air-force could drop them light to medium tanks, resources, and even troops, which would be needed severely as the Italian Armies made their final push to liberate Poland, and every city behind the lines under control by the Polish resistance and Italian Soldiers would make the march easier.

As Walter finished, Guesseppe nodded, having listed what resources were needed on his pad of paper, he set the Pen down, and folded his hands together, placing them on the desk. He looked at the Television screen, before replying.

“Yes, I believe that the Italian Air-Force would be more than capable of dropping resources, including light to medium armor, and whatever other resources your men would need. We’re also inclined to drop a company or two of our Most-Elite airborne troops, Members of the Giovanni Guard, into Warsaw, along with Weapons, Ammunition, and anything else needed. The High Command of my Empire views that if we can take Warsaw from the UPM, it will be more than just a military victory, but a huge Moral Boost for men of all nationalities fighting this war against the UPM. The first capital liberated from the UPM has a nice ring to it.”

He paused, and continued.

“What I’ve come to ask you and your resistance for is for you to do your very best, if not better, to screw up everything the UPM Tries to do when we Begin the Liberation. The plan is three phases, and each phase has a special, key place, for the Polish Resistance. Every step of the way We’ll need you and your good men to do things ranging from blowing up Bridges to slow down Armored Columns, to starting an entire uprising in an occupied city so that UPM Troops are distracted while we drive towards that city.”

“Its going to be a big task, and I know the Polish Resistance is up for it. I will have my military command stay in constant contact with You and your fellow Resistance Members, and I hope to see you soon, hopefully at the Liberation Parade in Warsaw, when we finally liberate it.”

The Camera cut off, and Guesseppe stood up from his desk, walking out of the room, before a group of Generals walked over to him, handing him file after file.

Its going to be a long war…