Norsemen!

Gunny had landed at a forward airfield at Norderstedt, a small town between Brennan and Hamburg which was a strategic airfield for attack. It was within an hour of Amsterdam and southern provinces. His small plane, the F6F Hellcat, was fast and maneuverable and could carry a few bombs as well making it a versatile little plane. But once he landed he was bombarded with messages at the flight shack.

General Jackson reported the Greek advance on the west coast as well as due south towards Germany. He thinks they will try to capture the port at Lelystad, near Amsterdam and use it for the dreadnoughts to close the English channel. He also informed him of the English, their strength and that he was deploying them at that area to reinforce the Saxons. Germans had reported Greek advances in the south and south east but, he got word from the Russians, who have been silent, that they stopped the Greeks in Belarus.

As he walked to the main office he saw the twenty-three fighter planes hiding inside berms built to protect them against bomb blast as well as four twin engine bombers, all spread out along the side of the flight line near the wood line. He thought he would need those dive bombers here as soon as possible if those dreadnoughts showed up. At the radio room he sent a message to the rear to have them sent out along with more bombs.

As he turned to look for something hot to drink, he heard a low rumbling in the distance of a large flight of aircraft, making his stomach turn of the thought of an attack. He ran out side to see there were no warning flairs in the distance from the watch towers. It must be more of his aircraft sent by Yngvilder, he thought so he stood near the main building to see who it was.

In only minuets he could see a very large flight of aircraft coming in low over the far hills with another large flight higher above them. The rumble of the planes engines made it so loud, the ground crews around him had to nearly yell to be heard but on the wings were round, blue, white and red roundels! The British? He counted to about one hundred fighters that resembled Spitfires and Hurricanes with a dozen twin engine bombers that looked remarkably like the old Lancaster bomber of World War Two.

As they began to land, ground crews directed them to places out of the way to park, as more and more landed they became cluttered making the ground crews curse. There just wasn't enough space for so many aircraft at this small forward base but they had to get them on the ground. Refuller trucks began to run to the flight line to refuel them with other trucks picking up the crews. When the bombers landed, last, they were directed to the end of the runway near the tree line where they had to be camouflaged. Gunny stood there shaking his head with a smile...the Brits have landed!

Gunny stood near the flight shack as the crews were sent to the main building, and it was not near big enough for them all. He sent word to the supply officer to get tents set up for the crews and also had the mess chief send for more chow. This base was going to get huge, he thought.

An English officer walked up to him and saluted.

"Sir! Major John Welsh, reporting for duty!"

He had a big smile.

"Walsh!" Gunny remembered. "It sure is good to see YOU!" He shook his hand warmly.

"And..it looks like you fellas have been real busy the past few years."

"Yes we have and this is not all of us!" He turned looking proudly around. "I sent the other two-hundred and fifty planes east to another forward field General Jackson told us about. Support the ground forces there."

"Sorry for the accommodations but our guys are working on getting some tents set up for you." Gunny said as they walked to the flight shack. "I did not expect this many!"

"Once we got word on the Greek movement, our production facilities went into high gear. We are producing, right now, two fighters a day and one bomber. That will increase soon, however."

"We also have production of small arms, tanks, trucks, etc."

Gunny looked at him with a smile.

"And...I see you went with your time period in clothing as well." Gunny stepped back. "And PARACHUTES? We could use those too!"

"I will have my supply guys get with your people. It's not difficult to produce." HE cocked his head. "You have NO parachutes?"

"Well...not yet." Gunny smiled sheepishly. "Something that was on the back burner but I can see what you mean. We need them, badly!"

Major Welsh was dressed in what the pilots of the nineteen forties wore when they fought the Germans.

"I'm impressed!" The Gunny said with a smile.

"Thank you but I see you went with something completely off the wall. Not anything I have seen before."

"Yes.....it's comfortable and practical." The Gunny said.

"Come inside so we can take a look at the map." Gunny led him into the flight shack.

Gerhold dove into a small ditch as another artillery round came in, throwing dirt and rocks into the air with men screaming. He got up quickly, running to the radio.

"Tell them to hold that line! I will shoot any man that retreats!"

"Sir! We are taking casualties at an alarming rate!" A Lieutenant yelled at him.

"Where are the Greeks? Are they attacking yet?" He yelled back as another concussion pushed him onto the ground.

"Not yet, sir! They seem to be waiting for us to just get slaughtered." The Lieutenant paused. "But our artillery are given them hell!"

"Did you get in touch with the Saxons?" he yelled at the radio man.

"Yes,sir! They say there is no contact yet."

Gerhold thought for a moment. If they are not attacking the Saxon line on his right, that means they must be trying to punch a hold in the line right here. If they break through here, the entire right flank could be rolled up.

"Send word to Skavateland.....we need to be reinforced. The Greeks are trying to break through to turn the flanks."

"Yes, sir!"

"And get our reserves up here on the double! Have our planes attack as well....send word to the air marshal to launch everything he has!"

He turned and grabbed a runner.

"Go tell our tanks to stand by just over the hill. If the Greeks attack, we will use them as mobile artillery. GOT IT?" the runner was off at a run.

General Jackson held a message, as he read it he stood upright.

"Greeks attacking Gerhold at Hanover! And he says they need to be reinforced." He jumped to the map on the wall.

"GEEEE-ZUS! That means they have all ready taken Dusseldorf!" He stared at the map and continued to talk.

"They still have a large force heading for the coast." He turned to the Skipper. "We need to get moving!" He turned to a radio operator.

"Send a message to to all units in the south...major attack by Greeks at Hanover. Large Greek army still near the cost." He rubbed his face with both hands. "Tell our Navy to head to Amsterdam port, make contact with forces there and wait for the dreadnoughts."

He stood rubbing his chin in thought. "Tell our reserve force to pack up. Send the officer in charge orders to reinforce Gerhold near Hanover and for him to make contact immediately."

"SIR!" The operator yelled. "Message from one of our northern provinces!"

'From: Director, Northern Provence

To: State Headquarters

Subject: Contact of Northern Leaders

We have been contacted by the leaders of Norway, Sweden and Finland. They say the Greeks have invaded Russia and threaten their countries and are asking for help. They want to send representatives to the State house for a conference and advice. Also, they want to know if we need their help.'

"GEEEE-ZUS!" Jackson said under his breath. "Not until THEIR lives are at stake do they want us to help them!" He turned to the Skipper.

"I say tell them to go to hell....what about you?"

The Skipper laughed, shaking his head.

"Well.....they are WAY behind the curve, General. They are still in the damn stone age." He paused. "We would have to not only equip them but train them as well."

Jackson looked at him for a moment.

"And that takes time AND money." He thought. "What do they have to offer us in return? I will not just...take them in. Not now. Not after we asked for their help in the last war and they refused."

"I agree so let's see what they have to offer when they get here." Skipper turned to the operator. "Send a message back. "Tell them to get here as soon as possible. We will send a train to pick them up."

"Those sorry bastards!" Jackson shook his head.

King Oswald held several reports in his hand from Gerhold on his left. With the Greeks attacking him in force, there was still nothing happening here. He thought of sending troops to help but....what if the Greeks attack then? His lines would be too thin to hold so may be, that is what the Greeks are trying to do? But! If the Greeks broke through the German lines, the entire lines across the whole country would disintegrate. He only had a little over one hundred and thirty thousand troops and two dozen tanks for the whole line. Artillery was not a factor, he had plenty of that but troops!

He sent word to his officers of what was happening and for them to make preparations accordingly, but to hold position.