Amongst men

"Phillip, how have you been without me?" Jeremy asked.

"He's been really great, he looks up to you a lot." Hilbert replied.

"Is that true, Phillip?" Jeremy asked once more before giggling.

"Yeah, I have to take over while you're busy getting stronger." Phillip added before looking away and blushing.

Edward and Tristan laughed as Phillip tried his best not to smile. Jeremy wrapped his arm around Phillip's neck and gave him a nuggie.

"I'm proud of you, bud. I knew you had it in you." Jeremy complimented Phillip.

"I already know that. You don't have to keep on treating me like a kid." Phillip complained.

Jacques watched them from the distance with a smile. He noticed the smiles on their face and he's pained that he keeps on taking them away. Seeing them during these small moments of happiness gives him enough reason to keep moving forward with all of them.

"Major, you look happy." Hilbert commented as he walked towards Jacques.

"I rarely see you smile. It just reminded me of Frederic." Jacques replied.

"I don't want you to see such a great man through me. I'll stain his honor." Hilbert mumbled.

"You're the only part of him that's left. He told me how you admired him as your officer." Jacques added.

Hilbert felt a knife bury itself deep into his heart. He clenched his fists and tried his best not to cry. He wanted to tell Jacques but he was scared that the truth is too much for him to handle. His emotions are constantly conflicting each other but he has to hide it and not let it break him from the inside. He has to be strong, he has to redeem himself for what happened in Operation Thunderbolt.

"Major, Hilbert. Come and celebrate with us." Jeremy stated as he clung his arm on Hilbert's shoulder.

"I'll just catch up with you guys. I have to do a sit rep." Jacques replied before walking away.

"What are we celebrating?" Richard exclaimed as he ran towards them while carrying Eugene over his back.

"Captain, slow down! I'll fall if you run too fast!" Eugene shouted as he desperately clung around Richard's neck.

The men laughed as they watched Richard and Eugene horsing around. Jeremy gave Hilbert a pat on the shoulder before running towards the others.

"Let's wrap this up and finish celebrating later." Jeremy stated.

"I agree with the Corporal..." Eugene mumbled as his face grew pale.

"Yeah, I think we should celebrate later." Richard added before chuckling.

"Hilbert, gather the others. The doctor gave me a message for the four of you." Jeremy ordered.

"I'll look for Hugo." Hilbert replied before walking away.

Hilbert walked back to the hill and walked past the prisoners who were sitting down on the grass. They watched him as he walked by, recognizing him as one of the soldiers who attacked the camp a month back. They glared at Hilbert and mumbled insults.

"Заткнись, свиньи." Hilbert stated as he walked further away.

The prisoners were silenced after hearing Hilbert speak in Russian. They weren't expecting him to understand Russian. Hilbert smirked and walked away towards the group of soldiers standing around Hugo.

"Hugo, the doctor has a message for us." Hilbert stated.

"He waited long enough." Hugo replied before walking towards Hilbert.

"This way-" Hilbert stops mid-sentence as Jeremy and the others arrived.

"I see that your surgery was a success." Hugo commented.

"I've never been better." Jeremy replied before smiling.

"Since we're all here, how about you pass on the message?" Hilbert asked Jeremy.

"I will be independent from the four of you. The doctor wants to see how well I'll perform in contrast to all of you." Jeremy stated.

"I guess this is like how we are to the Major's unit. I'm guessing you'll be having your own squad." Johann added.

"My former squad will do. This means that the four of you will become your own squad." Jeremy replied.

"I guess the Major will be the one assessing your performance in combat. He is the one who's mostly being contacted by the doctor." Teresa commented.

Jacques approached them and informed them of their next objective. Hugo explained to Jacques about what the doctor said about the combat assessments for Jeremy.

"I'll be sure to make full reports of his performance in combat." Jacques stated.

"Are we really going to mount an offensive for Moscow?" Johann asked.

"High command seems to be sure that this won't turn out like Operation Barbarossa." Jacques replied.

"If this fails then third time's the charm." Jeremy joked.

"They have us, things will be different than before." Teresa added.

Jacques nodded in agreement to Teresa. They failed during Barbarossa but things are different now. Russia may have the upper hand when it comes to numbers but the Lanstonian military is made up of the best men their country can offer.

"We will begin preparations. I want Hugo's squad to assist Roger's company." Jacques ordered.

"I'll report to him as soon as I can." Hugo replied.

"Jeremy, take your squad and get the prisoners back to the city." Jacques ordered once more.

"Yes, sir." Jeremy replied before running off.

The other four went to Roger's company who were on their way back south. Jacques called the rest of the men and they began falling back towards the city. They began checking munitions and preparing supplies onto their logistic trucks. Once Roger's company arrived, they also began resupplying. They were still exhausted but as the 1st Autonomous task force, they were expected to be the tip of the spear.

"We'll leave by daybreak. You know what to do, Roger." Jacques stated.

"Don't worry, I'll take the front and you watch my back." Roger replied before smiling.

"Wipe that grin off your face." Jacques jokingly said.

"What? So I'm not allowed to smile now?" Roger asked before laughing.

"Hey Teresa. The dog's hogging the Major again." Johann stated.

"I know, I can see clearly from here." Teresa replied as she squeezed Johann's prosthetic arm.