>>39794592
>>"Pack everything up first. I don't want to handle guns and ammunition while I'm hung over."

Let's get prepared first, then
>"Drinking!"
>"Gambling!"
Both

>>39794592
>>"Pack everything up first. I don't want to handle guns and ammunition while I'm hung over."

>>39794592
>>"Gambling!"

>>39794592
>>"Pack everything up first. I don't want to handle guns and ammunition while I'm hung over."

>>39794592
>"Pack everything up first. I don't want to handle guns and ammunition while I'm hung over. And by all that is sacred I am going to get so trashed you put a match to me and I'd explode."

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>>39794592
You stare at all the equipment you need to pack up and load onto your tank. You're only a small squad, but since you're mostly assigned to independent action, you need to carry a lot of supplies, including things that explode if they're not handled properly. You put your socks back on.

"Pack everything up first," you say. "I don't want to handle guns and ammunition while I'm hung over."

Your whole team groans.

"Look on the bright side," you say. "If we get it out of the way now, we'll be able to sleep in tomorrow."

"I never sleep in anyway." Jetje sighs. "Although I guess it shouldn't take us too long to take care of this and I'd rather have it down right."

"That's the spirit." You pat her on the back. "Danielle, how much of this can we put on the tank?"

"If it's tied securely and we pack it into as few crates as possible, I should be able to carry all of it," Danielle says.

"I'll take care of the medical equipment," Nina says. "We'll need to carry it in our packs. I don't want to take any chances with it."

"So long as it's not too heavy," you say. "We're still not sure where we're going to establish the next defense line, so we might have a long march ahead of us. Anything else?"

"I don't think so," Karl says. "Unless you want to keep some of our 'special goods' in reserve for the next occasion?"

>"No, we should use it all up today. I'd rather not bring alcohol to the battlefield."
>"Set aside a bottle or two in case we get a break."
> "Keep a few bottles in reserve. We'll need them once the war's over."

>>39795080
>> "Keep a few bottles in reserve. We'll need them once the war's over."

>>39795080
>> "Keep a few bottles in reserve. We'll need them once the war's over."
We'll open them at the final day of the war.

>>39795080
> "Keep a few bottles in reserve. We'll need them once the war's over."

>>39795080
>> "Keep a few bottles in reserve. We'll need them once the war's over."

>>39795080
> "Keep a few bottles in reserve. We'll need them once the war's over."
Or as trading material should we need a favour or some gear.

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>>39795080
"Might as well keep a few bottles in reserve," you say. "We'll need them once the war's over."

"I'll pack them with our uniforms and make sure they're padded nice and tight," Karl says.

"That's everything then." You pull your boots back on. "Let's get moving people!"

It takes you a few hours to pack everything, check your supplies off the inventory checklist and prepare a new checklist to requisition everything you're low on, and make sure everything is securely strapped to the tank. Even though the clouds are protecting you from the Sun, you're still covered in sweat by the time you're done.

"We need to recruit some green privates just to act as gophers," Nina says. "This is such a hassle."

"But then you'd have to worry about them during the firefights," Jetje says. "Think of this as exercise. That's healthy, right?"

"There are a lot of ways to stay healthy," Nina says. "Most of them don't involve military equipment."

"What matters is we're done until we need to unpack everything," you say. "So let's enjoy ourselves while we can."

>"Time for gambling!"
>"Time for drinking!"
>"Time for drunken gambling! The best kind!"

>>39795483
>>"Time for drunken gambling! The best kind!"

>>39795483
>>"Time for drinking!"

>>39795483
>>"Time for drinking!"

>>39795483
>"Time for drinking!"

>>39795483
>"Time for drinking!"

And we're hitting the bottle. Roll 4d6!

Rolled 4, 1, 5, 3 = 13 (4d6)

>>39795802

Rolled 4, 1, 5, 3 = 13 (4d6)

>>39795802

Rolled 3, 6, 3, 3 = 15 (4d6)

>>39795802

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>>39795483
"Open the bottles!"

The squad cheers and Karl and Nina open up a bottle of cinnamon schnapps each. It's not as reliable as good old Imperial beer, but the smell alone has the sting of alcohol to it. You could disinfect bullet wounds with these things.

"It's a shame the Empire loves to declare war on other countries at random so much," Karl says. "Their culture is very interesting in some aspects. I don't think Gallia has anything quite like this."

"We make up for it with better wines," you say.

Aside from Danielle and Roberta, who only drink a little, the rest of the squad quickly passes the bottles around. Karl and Jetje are drinking the schnapps like it's water and William makes a valiant effort to keep up with them, but you, Nina and Vanessa drink with some restraint. If you didn't, you'd be passed out by now.

"I could never afford something this good when I was growing up." Vanessa sighs. "I'm not sure I could afford it now. It's a good thing we stole it!" She devolves into a fit of mad giggling.

"We didn't steal it," Nina says. "We claimed it under spoils of war. Perfectly legal. Right?"

"I don’t know and I don't care until General Gunther says he cares," you say.

>Keep drinking like this.
>Drink with Karl and Jetje.
>See if you can get Roberta and Danielle into the party.

>>39796027
>>See if you can get Roberta and Danielle into the party.

>>39796027
>See if you can get Roberta and Danielle into the party.

>>39796027
>>See if you can get Roberta and Danielle into the party.

>>39796027
>>See if you can get Roberta and Danielle into the party.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aBLvjWnpfA

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>>39796027
You hold out a bottle to Roberta and Danielle.

"You two need to enjoy yourselves some more," you say. "Or at least 'some.'"

"I don't like to drink and drive," Danielle says.

"Alcohol is an unnecessary distraction," Roberta says.

"You're off duty," you say. "Just have a drink."

Half an hour later, Danielle is quietly sipping from the bottle of schnapps when it comes her way. Roberta, on the other hand…

"… so I hung that sack of shit upside down and bled him like a fucking pig as a warning to the rest of them."

Roberta is an angry drunk. She is also regaling you with stories of the time soldiers from the Atlantic Federation tried to kidnap her boss' son. It went very poorly for them.

"So what did you do next?" Vanessa, however, seems quite interested in Roberta's old war stories, particularly the parts about how to track people through an urban or forest environment and brutally murder them.

"I knew the screams would attract attention, so I hid a few yards away in the bushes and waited for the other soldiers to come," Roberta says. "When they got there, I picked them off one by one, starting with the farthest one. Remember, when you're cutting someone's throat, always go for a stab, but a slash. If you stab them in the vein or artery, you're sure they'll bleed out, but if you slash them, you might not hit anything important."

Vanessa nods excitedly at Roberta's advice.

"I think I liked her better when she was quiet," Jetje says. "I wonder why she signed up as a shocktrooper instead of as a scout."

"In modern warfare, killing people with machine guns is more efficient," Roberta says. "Scouting missions are still useful, but they're not quite as prevalent as trench warfare these days."

"Right…"

You take a look at your watch. It's early in the evening, and you still have a few hours before you need to go to sleep.

>Just keep drinking.
>See if you can find Ernestine. It's been a while.
>Go to sleep early.

>>39796537
>See if you can find Ernestine. It's been a while.

>>39796537
>>See if you can find Ernestine. It's been a while.
We need to thank her for the lucky doll providing us with +4 rolls several times.

>>39796537
>Find Ernestine

>>39796537
>>See if you can find Ernestine. It's been a while.

>>39796537
>See if you can find Ernestine. It's been a while.

>>39796537
>>See if you can find Ernestine. It's been a while.

>>39796537
>See if you can find Ernestine. It's been a while.

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>>39796537
"I'm going to go look for some," you say. "Make sure Roberta doesn't get too enthusiastic."

"Yeah… I'm not making any promises," Jetje says. "I really don't want to find out if any of her stories our true."

You slip away and walk around the, looking for Elsa's squad. It's not that hard, seeing as how they're the loudest bunch in the army. Also, Elsa's sitting on a very large pile of Imperial uniforms, all of which are torn and bloody. And she's petting a private who… why, yes, that is a leash and collar he's wearing.

Fortunately, Ernestine's sitting a bit away from the main group. She waves you over when she spots you.

"I was wondering if you were still alive," she says. "It's been a while."

"I've been busy with… everything," you say. "Sorry."

"Don't worry about it," Ernestine says. "The job is what it is. I know I've been fattening my pay."

You feel something wet fall on your cheek, then on your hand. It seems the rain has started. It's slow at first, but in a flash, it turns into a downpour. All the Gallian soldiers start cheering.

"We really lucked out," you say. "I didn't expect we'd get rain on our last day here."

"Good things are bound to happen eventually." Ernestine playfully smiles and pokes at your belt buckle. "You know, there's this ruin I use for spotting. No one ever goes there, so I also use it to clean up, and since we're getting a shower anyway… maybe you can wash my back? I don't mind returning the favour."

>"That sounds like a great idea."
>"Let's just stay here."

>>39797096
>>"That sounds like a great idea."

>>39797096
>"That sounds like a great idea."

>>39797096
>"That sounds like a great idea."
"You had me at 'You know'."

>>39797096
>"That sounds like a great idea."

>>39797096
>"That sounds like a great idea."

>>39797096
>>"That sounds like a great idea."

I almost forgot, roll 4d6.

Rolled 3, 4, 5, 2 = 14 (4d6)

>>39797409

>>39797409
What, for not being spotted? LOL

Rolled 1, 5, 1, 5 = 12 (4d6)

>>39797409

Rolled 4, 6, 4, 4 = 18 (4d6)

>>39797409

>>39797409

Rolled 6, 5, 1, 1 = 13 (4d6)

>>39797409
annnnnnnnnd let's try that with dice. double lol.

>>39797474
+1 ain't so bad

>>39797475
Rookie mistake I blame my phone posting layout

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>>39797096
"That sounds like a great idea." You lean down and lightly kiss her.

"Good." Ernestine grabs your hand and pulls you away from the camp. The ruins aren't far, but at the pace she's going, you're nearly out of breath by the time you get there.

She takes a towel out of her pack and starts taking off her clothes.

"I know I said I didn't expect any commitment," she says, "but I need it really badly right now."

You laugh and take off your jacket.

It doesn't last nearly as long as your first time together and the accommodations aren't nearly as comfortable, but Ernestine falls asleep on top of you with a smile, clinging to you for body heat - it's still raining and you couldn't bother getting dressed again, so it is fairly cold.

You lie on the stone ruin and gently stroke Ernestine's hair. You've had less comfortable beds, and the towel makes a half-decent pillow, at least. Eventually you fall asleep…

>… why is everything burning?
>… why is everything red?
>… why won't the noise stop?

>>39797585
>>… why is everything red?
Kos, or some say Kosm....Grant us Eyes.

>>39797585
>… why is everything red?

>>39797585
>>… why won't the noise stop?

tinnitus

>>39797585
>… why is everything red?

>>39797585
>>… why is everything red?

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>>39797585
Your boot sinks in the red mud. You look around. The bodies are all bleeding out. They're not corpses yet, or else they wouldn't be bleeding anymore. You don't recognize the wounds. Shrapnel, maybe? Yeah, those are shrapnel wounds.

Like that general you killed. Idiot jumped on top of a grenade. Who the fuck does that? A hero would do it, but generals aren't supposed to sacrifice themselves for their subordinates. It fucks up the chain of command.

You ignore the bodies and keep moving. Shrapnel wounds aren't your job. Your job is bullet wounds. They still bleed, but it's cleaner when it's done right.

You see your target in the distance. He's wearing a Gallian uniform. Why is he Gallian? You're here to shoot Imperials, not Gallians. You try to put your rifle down, but you can't. You have your orders. You have to kill him.

But you can't do it from here. You're still too far away and you don't have a good angle.

>You crawl in the mud and approach the target.
>You circle around the target to find high ground.
>You hide in the bushes and wait for the target to move.

>>39797933
>>You circle around the target to find high ground.

>>39797933
>>You hide in the bushes and wait for the target to move.

>>39797933
>You circle around the target to find high ground.
Why are the ice cream captchas so hard for me?

>>39797933
>>You circle around the target to find high ground.

Looking for high ground it is. Roll 4d6!

Rolled 4, 1, 6, 2 = 13 (4d6)

>>39798159

Rolled 1, 1, 2, 5 = 9 (4d6)

>>39798159

Rolled 3, 5, 3, 5 = 16 (4d6)

>>39798159

Rolled 1, 4, 3, 5 = 13 (4d6)

>>39798159

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>>39797933
You circle around the military encampment and find a cluster of ruins. You climb on top of a ruined tower and lie down to prepare your shot. Through your rifle's scope, you see the Gallian officer. He's just standing there. Doing nothing.

You pull the trigger like you always do. The target dies like it usually does. There's a stream of blood pouring out of its chest where its heart should be.

The other soldiers immediately notice you and start to fire at your location.

>You run away.
>You keep shooting.

>>39798313
>You keep shooting.

>>39798313
>>You run away.
Mission accomplished. Onto next.

>>39798313
>>You run away.
I have the feeling we just shot someone close/familiar to us just then....

>>39798313
>You run away.

>>39798313
>>You run away.
Wake Up

Running away it is. Roll 4d6!

Rolled 6, 4, 3, 5 = 18 (4d6)

>>39798584

Rolled 3, 4, 5, 1 = 13 (4d6)

>>39798584

Rolled 4, 1, 1, 5 = 11 (4d6)

>>39798584

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>>39798313
You turn around jump off the ruin. You stumble as you land in the muddy sand, but you run away as fast as you can while bullets fly past you. You turn around and look at what's behind. The soldiers are running after you. Imperial uniforms. Gallian uniforms. You can't tell the difference anymore. You want to run faster. But you can't.

That's when you wake up.

You slowly open your eyes. Ernestine is leaning over you, a concerned look in her eyes. Your head is resting comfortably on her thighs. She hasn't gotten dressed yet.

"Nightmare?" She asks.

"Yeah." You sit yourself up. "It's been a while since the last one. I was hoping… I guess that doesn't matter."

"The captain's the only person I know here who doesn't have them," Ernestine says. "You know what she's like. I like her well enough, but personally, I'd rather have the nightmares."

"I guess that's one way to look at it." You reach out and pick up your clothes. The sun's rising. You'll have to leave soon.

Ernestine does the same.

"Do you ever wonder if the nightmares will stop once the war's over?" She asks.

>"Of course they will. We'll come up with other things to dream about."
>"Of course they won't. Maybe they shouldn't. Maybe we should remember."
>"I'm not sure the war will ever end for people like us."

>>39798788
>"Of course they will. We'll come up with other things to dream about."

>>39798788
>>"Of course they won't. Maybe they shouldn't. Maybe we should remember."

>>39798788
>>"I'm not sure the war will ever end for people like us."

>>39798788
>>"I'm not sure the war will ever end for people like us."
PTSD!

>>39798788
>"Of course they will. We'll come up with other things to dream about."

I'm going to ask for a tiebreaker vote for this one.

>"Of course they will. We'll come up with other things to dream about."
>"I'm not sure the war will ever end for people like us."

>>39799035
>"Of course they will. We'll come up with other things to dream about."

>>39799035
>>"Of course they will. We'll come up with other things to dream about."

>>39799035
>"Of course they will. We'll come up with other things to dream about."

>>39799035
>>"I'm not sure the war will ever end for people like us."

>>39799035
>>"Of course they will. We'll come up with other things to dream about."

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>>39798788
"Of course they will," you say. "We'll come up with other things to dream about."

"That sounds fun." Ernestine straightens up her clothes and then kisses you again. "Come find me the next time you want to 'clean up.' I like it when you show me those other things."

"I'll do what I can."

You walk together part of the way, then split off to return to your respective squads.

Karl and Jetje are both up even though it's the crack of dawn. They look functionally hung over. They should be in decent shape by the time you get wherever it is you're going.

Everyone else in the squad looks like a mess with their dishevelled hair and uniforms.

"I can imagine how most of them ended up like this, but Danielle?" You turn to Karl and Jetje, who both shrugged.

"She kept drinking without saying anything for about two hours, then she passed right out," Jetje says. "I can't tell if she's an experienced drinker or a lightweight."

"It's a good thing we're done packing," you say. "I'll see if I can scavenge some coffee for breakfast. Come meet me when you're done with your training."

The other officers are starting to wake up their squads, and soldiers everywhere are grumbling about packing up their camp. It's a really good thing you decided to take care of that before you started celebrating.

You'll be leaving this place in an hour or two to go off to wherever the 33rd pushed back the Imperials. The war's been "almost over" for a while now, and it seems like it'll be "almost over" for a while yet, but you do have something to look forward to once everything is done.

>>39799232
And that is all for today's thread. As usual, the next thread will be next Wednesday at around 7PM EST. We'll be moving on to the next story arc.

As always, thank you for playing and good night.

And Jesus Christ, captcha, a cup of tea with a slice of lemon in it is not a fucking soup.

>>39799260
Thanks for running

>>39799260
Thanks for the run, QM.