Chapter 10, Land of the Phoenix

Karl remembered he was running in the forest in hopes of losing the Red Army but he felt like his feet was sinking into the ground.

"Vhat?" He looked to see his feet were sinking, Karl grabbed his leg trying to pull himself up but found himself unable to, Karl begin to curse as he kept struggling.

He kept sinking deeper til he reached head deep and as he was sinking, Karl woke up.

He begin coughing and looked around seeing he's inside some metal room. "You okay?" He turned to see Patrick the American Soldier he met in the Forest with the Stormwalker Mech.

"J-Ja..." Karl said rubbing his eyes, was he dreaming his life before meeting Patrick? Karl stood up and walked to Patrick who was still operating the Mech.

The rocking motion must of made Karl fall asleep. "Where are we?" He asked.

"No idea" Patrick answered, "Ve're lost aren't ve?" Karl asked.

Patrick bite his lip hissing before he spoke "Yep..." He says continuing to pilot the Stormwalker. Karl rubbed his eyes together then sighed.

"Does this verdammnt thing have a radio?" Karl asked, "I looked it doesn't have one however I met some Anti Bolshevik Militia who gave us some food" Patrick took out a piece of bread handing it to Karl who took it.

"They sounded Russian but their flag was white and red with a white eagle on it" Patrick said then Karl nearly choked on his bread.

"Those were Polish! We're in Poland!" Karl shouted, "Is that bad?" Patrick asked.

"Ve're in the middle of a war where almost every nation is fighting against Bolshevism, Poland is one the newest republics...Where is Allied Forces?" Karl said.

"British Troops are in the North with some French and others, Americans are in the South which is Siberia and I believe Japan is fighting in the Far East" Patrick said.

"You said Allied Command is in Kyiv so if we're in Poland then he need to head Southeast then" Karl suggested which Patrick nodded then pushed the throttle making the Walker run faster.

The Walker ran through the forest and past destroyed Mechs of Russian and other European origins. A battle happen here and it's unclear who was the victors.

"How are you piloting a Mech?" Karl wondered, "Well when I enlisted I was made into a Engineer just when the Great War ended but we had to deal with some trouble in Mexico so I either was on Border Patrol or help fixing Planes, Tanks even some Mechs"

"And every since the War of independence began I was brought to Siberia, out of fifty Engineers either become Pilots or Mech Crew members luckily I did a lot of reading when I was a kid" Patrick says.

"War of independence?" Karl questioned, "Oh right that's what we call it in the States since America is fighting for these Nations Independence" Patrick answered.

"Ve call it Zweiter Weltkrieg after zhe Weltkrieg didn't end any war...Berlin is in a uprising against other Communists, Revolutions springing up and those Reds have created a United Revolutionary Front" Karl said.

Suddenly shouting caught their attention, the Walker stopped as a few Mechs approached them.

It has a cylindrical torso but with a taller and more narrow upper body, longer legs and a pair of arms. The left arm even has a "hand" which is used to cycle and stabilize the weapon or to grab objects. Its main engine is housed in the back with two smokestacks clearly visible, and on the hull is a mounted searchlight for night operations.

On the breastplate was the Polish Eagle, the Mech held a large rifle with a fix bayonet on it this was the Śmiały Mech one of the German Mechs turned Polish.

Patrick open the hatch and stepped down as outside where a few of the Śmiały with one armored car and plenty of armed Troops.

"Friendly! I'm a Engineer of the United States Mech Service! I'm trying to get to Allied Command in Kiev" Patrick said.

They talked among themselves til one who looked to be Important approached Patrick while Karl just stepped out. "The roads leading to Kyiv are blocked off by Red Army so you need to fight them off so help us"

"Alright we'll help, I'm Patrick Bishop this is Karl Ludwig" He says introducing Karl who folded his arms.

The Pole leader nodded then climb back into one of the Śmiały Mechs while Karl and Patrick entered the Walker.

The Walker followed the Poles into a large town where the People are armed with rifles, shotguns and other weapons.

"Poland...This nation has vast history this country has been taken by numerous nations but also rose like a Phoenix" Karl says, "Their determination to rise up...i have my respect for them"

Patrick chuckled a bit to which Karl looked at him, "What?" He asked shrugging at Karl.

One the Mechs stopped their marching and the Crew exited their machines. Karl and Patrick walked into a main building inside High ranking Officers looked at them with confusion.

The one leading them spoke in Polish then one of the main heads spoke in English, "Welcome to Polska our Nation is currently fighting for our right to exist I'm glad the Allies came to help us but I excepted an army" He says.

"I'm Marshal Jakub of the 9th Polish Rifle Regiment with me is Marshal Antoni and Captain Oskar with the 77th Saxon Armored Battalion" He says.

"Patrick Bishop, Engineer and Pilot for the United States Mech Service" He saluted, "Karl Ludwig Strumtroopen of the 2nd Shock Unit" They said as Patrick spoke.

"We're trying to reach Allied Command to warn them of Zeppelin which is in Bolshevik hands I believe it's their main command to guide their troops" Patrick says as Marshal Jakub narrowed his eyes.

"Zeppelin? I know the Germans had them but the Bolsheviks? that monster can flatten Warszawo" He says drinking from a battle.

"We need to reach Allied Command but Red Army are blocking the paths so we'll help you clear them out" Patrick said.

"Good we can use as many helping hands, we have some American Pilots within our Air Force and we have only a few Mechs so please grab any ammo or weapon to your liking" Jakub says.

Then Patrick and Karl saluted Jakub who returned the salute with two fingers.

Patrick and Karl stepped out to help the Poles from the upcoming Red Army attack.