Post by thomas on Mar 23, 2010 18:02:47 GMT -5
In the wee hours of the morning, the makeshift camp where the 42nd Brigade had landed in preparation for the attack on Odessa was a bustling ball of nervous energy. Excitement and dread both punctuated every word and phrase uttered--on the one hand, everyone knew this to be the turning point of the war: win here and Zeon would be forced to fall back. Lose here, however...
With Marion's permission, Thorvald had bought a case of cheap Russian beer and was passing it out to anyone he could find, so long as Nigel Ferdinand wasn't in sight. This was, Thorvald sincerely believed, the best way to combat anxiety. When some pilots refused on the basis of wanting to be sober for the fight, Thorvald told them of the lorry drivers on Orkney, for whom the local constable had made an exception with regards to the drinking and driving laws on the books: the drivers were not to operate their vehicles UNTIL they had at least two pints every morning, so that their hands wouldn't shake.
Still, the beer didn't seem to be enough. Everyone was still on edge.
Christ, thought Thorvald, who rarely gave much thought at all to coming battles. What can I do for the poor saps?
Something rousing and cathartic, perhaps?
"Maybe..." he muttered. Then, he had an idea. Leaping up onto a crate next to one of the refueling Medeas, he waved his hands and cleared his throat.
"Ahem! Ladies and gentlemen! Pardon me!"
Slowly, all attention focused on Thorvald, who began, putting a hand to his ear:
"Do you hear the people sing?"
Everyone stared at the eccentric pilot.
"I said, do you hear the people sing?"
Still no response from the crowd. Suddenly, the Blue Destiny's eyes turned red and the score from the Tony Award Winning musical Les Miserables began to play.
"Do you hear the people sing, singing the song of angry men? It is the music of a people who will not be slaves again! When the beating of your heart echoes the beating of the drums, there is a life about to start when tomorrow comes!"
Suddenly, another pilot leapt up onto the crate with Thorvald. He threw one arm around Thorvald's shoulder and stretched the other out to crowd: "Will you join in our crusade? Who will be strong and stand with me? Beyond the barricade is there a world you long to see? Then join in the fight that will give you the right to be free!"
Half a dozen marines burst into song, joining the two pilots in front of the Medea.
"Do you hear the people sing, singing the song of angry men? It is the music of a people who will not be slaves again! When the beating of your heart echoes the beating of the drums, there is a life about to start when tomorrow comes!"
Now, Thorvald jumped from the box into the middle of the crowd, beginning to walk amongst the assembled mechanics, taking each one by the hand or laying his arms reassuringly around their shoulders. Every person he touched suddenly seemed fired with a new resolve and confidence.
"Will you give all you can give so that our banner may advance? Some will fall and some will live, will you stand up and take your chance? The blood of the martyrs will water the meadows of Fr..."
Everyone took a collective breath and sang out together:
"EARTH! Do you hear the people sing, singing the song of angry men? It is the music of a people who will not be slaves again!"
Suddenly, a waifish little girl with a broom appeared, sweeping up broken glass in the middle of the spectacle.
"When the beating of your heart echoes the beating of the drums, there is a life about to start when tomorrow comes!"
With this, the music stopped and everyone went back to work.
With Marion's permission, Thorvald had bought a case of cheap Russian beer and was passing it out to anyone he could find, so long as Nigel Ferdinand wasn't in sight. This was, Thorvald sincerely believed, the best way to combat anxiety. When some pilots refused on the basis of wanting to be sober for the fight, Thorvald told them of the lorry drivers on Orkney, for whom the local constable had made an exception with regards to the drinking and driving laws on the books: the drivers were not to operate their vehicles UNTIL they had at least two pints every morning, so that their hands wouldn't shake.
Still, the beer didn't seem to be enough. Everyone was still on edge.
Christ, thought Thorvald, who rarely gave much thought at all to coming battles. What can I do for the poor saps?
Something rousing and cathartic, perhaps?
"Maybe..." he muttered. Then, he had an idea. Leaping up onto a crate next to one of the refueling Medeas, he waved his hands and cleared his throat.
"Ahem! Ladies and gentlemen! Pardon me!"
Slowly, all attention focused on Thorvald, who began, putting a hand to his ear:
"Do you hear the people sing?"
Everyone stared at the eccentric pilot.
"I said, do you hear the people sing?"
Still no response from the crowd. Suddenly, the Blue Destiny's eyes turned red and the score from the Tony Award Winning musical Les Miserables began to play.
"Do you hear the people sing, singing the song of angry men? It is the music of a people who will not be slaves again! When the beating of your heart echoes the beating of the drums, there is a life about to start when tomorrow comes!"
Suddenly, another pilot leapt up onto the crate with Thorvald. He threw one arm around Thorvald's shoulder and stretched the other out to crowd: "Will you join in our crusade? Who will be strong and stand with me? Beyond the barricade is there a world you long to see? Then join in the fight that will give you the right to be free!"
Half a dozen marines burst into song, joining the two pilots in front of the Medea.
"Do you hear the people sing, singing the song of angry men? It is the music of a people who will not be slaves again! When the beating of your heart echoes the beating of the drums, there is a life about to start when tomorrow comes!"
Now, Thorvald jumped from the box into the middle of the crowd, beginning to walk amongst the assembled mechanics, taking each one by the hand or laying his arms reassuringly around their shoulders. Every person he touched suddenly seemed fired with a new resolve and confidence.
"Will you give all you can give so that our banner may advance? Some will fall and some will live, will you stand up and take your chance? The blood of the martyrs will water the meadows of Fr..."
Everyone took a collective breath and sang out together:
"EARTH! Do you hear the people sing, singing the song of angry men? It is the music of a people who will not be slaves again!"
Suddenly, a waifish little girl with a broom appeared, sweeping up broken glass in the middle of the spectacle.
"When the beating of your heart echoes the beating of the drums, there is a life about to start when tomorrow comes!"
With this, the music stopped and everyone went back to work.
