Reich Marshal of the Belkan Reich

RM Vol 4: War – Chapter 64: Case Yellow (Day 16 – Bloodless Takeover)

Gostyń, a town in western Polania, and the home Basilica of Święta Góra, the main Marian sanctuary of the archdiocese of Poznań and a masterpiece of Pompeo Ferrari, with the monastery of the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri. This town used to serve as an important cultural and logistical sight, hosting not only the Holy Hill of the Sardegnian Catholic but also the two Holy Spirit and St. Margaret's Church. However, since the Sardegnian Apocalypse, Disaster, or Cataclysm, Gostyń's spiritual attraction has steadily grown out of favor. At least for the foreseeable future, the town is but another logistical hub, with a set of surprisingly well-maintained roads spanning the four cardinal directions alongside its small but serviceable train station. In the current plummeting economy of Polania, the town clings to its new existence, thanks to the income provided by the diasporas of Gostyń. Riding on trains that ferry them along the Transcontinental Railway, these citizens barter a living thanks to their talents in trade and crafts. This, understandably, forces a major part of the town's populace to be anywhere but Gostyń, leading to the once-populated town being an unlively place where its citizens mourn the days of old.

Like many other struggling towns, Gostyń tries to petition the government for a morsel of aid, but instead... Things for the town are made worse by the recent decision to conscript able men by the Polanian Revolutionary Command Council. This leaves Gostyń in an unfavorable position of being wiped of its relevance due to a severe shortage of population to keep the town running. The situation is even more absurd when instead of providing a standing Army garrison to help protect Gostyń from Demonic incursion or whatever else, the Polanian government instead diverting the garrison away for other purposes. This decision baffles Gostyń's Mayor and his remaining citizens as, other than recently refurbished perimeter walls, the town has no standing force other than the local police station. Although the Months of Demons are close to ending, one can't say for sure that a Demon or Zombie won't appear out of nowhere and bash down their door. To leave Gostyń so undefended means the nation doesn't see much importance in a town that has been a proud part of the Greater Polania region. Even more ridiculous, the replies come from the government officials that the train station at Gostyń must be held at all costs. Hold it, but with what? Disillusioned by the current governing body of Polania, the town's Mayor, Oz, decided to take matters into his own hands.

As an old Great War veteran with a crippled leg, Oz's small mansion has a collection of firearms and the necessary munitions to use them. While these firearms aren't the most modern, with the majority of them still using black powder cartridges, they come in a large enough quantity for Gostyń's Mayor to outfit an emergency militia unit. This town militia is formed from the remnants of Gostyń's police station, the town's elderly, young women who can shoot a rifle straight, and a few adventurers who originated from Gostyń and don't want their home to disappear one day. Ironically, the few adventurers they have are carrying more firepower than all of them combined. As an occupation that involves tracking down and hunting Demons and Zombies, adventures require the best weapon money can buy, and this small group in Gostyń has an MG-34 among them. A surprising fact to be sure, but a welcome one for Mayor Oz. That aside, ever since their inception, the militia has encountered a few run-ins with the Demons. Though each of them is beaten back by the very irregular militias, with some unfortunate casualties here and there. While this may seem inconsequential, without the militia under Mayor Oz's command, Gostyń may have fallen under Demonic hooves long ago. After all, even a singular Chariot-class Demon can bulldoze an entire town if left unchecked.

Struggling to protect their homes day by day, the citizens of Gostyń feel themselves growing more and more distant from the governing body in Warsaw. When military trains arrive, not with supplies, but with preachers who go on and on about Polanian supremacy before crashing into the locals' bars and taverns. The soldiers' unrestrained acts of demanding more from the citizens of Gostyń but returning little to nothing of note have furthered the citizens' flame of resentment. This culminates in them being attracted to the sounds of Belkan propaganda, which constantly airs the wrongful, stupid deeds of their so-called leaders in wild, imaginative ways... Radio comedy skits, mostly, with the occasional pamphlets filled with pages of evidence presented in the form of comic strips. From loyal, or at least neutral citizens of Polania, Mayor Oz and his people of Gostyń find themselves leaning more and more to the prosperous views and tales of the Belkan Reich. So, when the news breaks out to them in the afternoon that a war has started between their nation and the Reich, they are rightfully worried. They are rightfully afraid of potential stray bombs and misfires, after all. However, perhaps the more dominant emotions for the people of Gostyń are excitement and hope.

If the Belkans arrive in town, what's the worst that can happen? Them not required to man the night watch duty? They're already one of the poorest towns in the region!

It's with thoughts like that swirling around in their heads that, when an obviously not Polanian Army motorized convoy comes to the town's gate, Mayor Oz does the unthinkable on behalf of the cautiously excited Gostyń citizens. He straights up push open the gate himself, even with a crippled leg. Much to the surprise of the Belkan Pathfinders, Oz comes to shake hands with them very animatedly, welcoming the 501st paratroopers into Gostyń as if they're prized guests. And in a way, they truly are.

Oz is a veteran to be sure, but he is an old one with a bald head and a set of gray beard that will envy many. In other words, he is wise enough to know when to hop over to the other side. After all, as the Mayor of Gostyń, Oz has the responsibility to care for his people. The Belkan soldiers in front of him right now will be the best chance he has to reverse the downturns that have plagued Gostyń for a long time.

And the bonus is? These soldiers are very, very professional. The Belkan Pathfinders carry with them the air of mud-and-blood veterans despite being much younger than the Mayor of Gostyń. They are polite, amicable to everyone, and very respectful to the women of Gostyń, even when a couple of them try to work their charms. If these standards are the norm nowadays in the Belkan armed forces, then it will be a matter of days before Warsaw is under siege. As for the equipment that they've come carrying with them, Mayor Oz doesn't have much comment about that as he doesn't even know where to start. As long as those weapons remain pointed away from his people, all is fine.

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At first, Mayor Oz feared there would be a communication barrier between his people and the Belkan soldiers. His grasp of the Belkan language is shoddy, rusty at best after years of unused. But then the leader of the Belkan soldiers speaks in accented, but fluent Polanian, surprising both him and the onlookers crowding the path leading further into Gostyń.

"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Captain Adler, Army Airborne, 501st Division." He then stops for a few seconds before adding. "We are here as part of an advanced force in the Reich's counter-offensive against the Polanian military's undeclared attack."

The Mayor of Gostyń sighs softly before nodding. "Then we welcome you with an offer of peace. You shall find that the citizens of Gostyń are welcoming, despite our meager offerings." Although Mayor Oz finds it strange how the Belkans are already so deep in Polania, he is not in a position to question it, at least not yet.

Captain Adler replies respectfully.

"We wouldn't want to impose, sir. After all, we arrive to secure the town and its train station. Us being foreigners here may cause some unwanted discomfort..." But then Captain Adler darts his eyes around, seeing the curiosity and expectant, hopeful looks the Gostyń people are giving the Pathfinders. "Though I guess that won't be an issue, after all."

Mayor Oz laughs. "Well, the white flags are big enough signs already, have they not?"

Captain Adler smiles wryly. "I guess that's true."

"I do see your concern though, Captain, but if we need to discuss anything else then such an open setting is not advisable." Mayor Oz adds. "Come, Czarny's place has the best Bigos around. Given your dusty exterior, you must crave a good seat and a hot bowl of stew already. We can talk more when we're in the town proper."

Captain Adler nods.

"That's fine by me, sir. But do you mind if my Platoon scouts out the town while we're at it? We need to punch a report back to our commanding officer."

Mayor Oz replies amicably. "You can rest assured that your men, and ladies, of course, will have free reign around the town. That is so long as no one peeks into a lady's bathroom. We will have trouble then."

Captain Adler looks back at his unit with a raised eyebrow. "If I see any of my Pathfinder do that, I will kick them out of a plane without a parachute."

It's unknown if the rest of the Pathfinders can understand Polanian, but some give Captain Adler and the Mayor thumbs-ups. After that, the conversation is taken deeper into Gostyń, with the Pathfinder Platoon split up, covering the whole town in search of potential threats, if there are any. Their VECTOR commando jeeps are parked just outside the restaurant Czarny which Mayor Oz recommended. It's a cozy, and private place, sitting just shy of the main road that leads to the center of the town. As promised, Mayor Oz has the restaurant's chef bring out bowls of Bigos, otherwise known as hunter's stew, a Polish dish of chopped meat of various kinds stewed with sauerkraut, shredded fresh cabbage and spices. It is served hot and can be enriched with additional vegetables and wine. However, due to the lack of ingredients, the stew is made from whatever the locals have: venison, potato, carrots, and even eggs. The menu is quite literally changing every day out of necessity.

Sitting at the dining table, both Captain Adler and Mayor Oz discuss the handover of authority. Gostyń will temporarily be overseen by the 501st Airborne Division. However, Mayor Oz and his people are given the leeway to operate as they see fit, provided they do not endanger Belkan war plans. To alleviate the shortage of necessities in the town, the 501st Division will redirect some of its military supplies like medicines and MREs for town people. As an important foothold and a logistical node, Gostyń will be fortified by the paratroopers. An agreement is made between the Mayor and the Captain that empty buildings will be requisitioned by the paratroopers who will also act as the town's garrison. Mayor Oz's militia though, has reverted back into a police force, with most of its members returning to whatever they are doing before. The Belkans don't ask the Gostyń citizens to participate in a war against their people but are asked to take the spectator seats and not to interfere in actions the Belkans take against the Polanian Army. However, any Polanian POWs will be vetted, and if they're citizens of Gostyń, they are to be treated appropriately.

Overall, the agreement is surprisingly lenient in Mayor Oz's opinion, but it surprisingly fits how the Belkan Reich usually operates. The Reich is so powerful that any superfluous or overbearing act is meaningless and only harmful in the long run. Rather, they tailor their approach for specific occasions, using the carrots and the sticks to carry out their conquest. Gostyń, however, remains one of the rare cases where the town is pretty much defenseless and the citizens are truly happy for another country's takeover. It's so smooth to the point of it being unreal, but it's in fact very real. While it's a shame that the Belkans may have been killing some of Gostyń's youngs these past few days, it's the nature of war.

If anything, they blame the leaders in Warsaw more than the Belkans.

"Fortress, this is Reaper 1. Gostyń is secured and is a friend of the Reich. We should get started on making sure they stay that way and for the Polanian Army not to barge in and ruin the pot. It'll be a shame if we lose access to one of the best stews I've ever had, sir."