It WAS rather unexpected to see the ordinarily-calm Gunner that is Britta so-clearly bothered by something. She didn't seem overly-keen to talk about whatever it was yet, but perhaps later she'd be more open to conversation. Her speaking to the table with the people in charge was her way of saying that while what she was obviously going off to go see to this matter, she wasn't putting the squad above herself and therefore offered to go and get a few supplies while the getting was good. Isaac knew that this had to be serious, since it had taken essentially getting to know her over time, socially and professionally, and then finally the two of them getting drunk and losing some inhibitions before she very-seriously asked her favor of him. All of this was on the wings of 'Mickey' admitting that he liked Lucia, and that Jean might have some juicy info their hated captain, which left a strannge sort of ambivalent feeling...somewhere between intrigued, heartwarming, and concerned. Michael gave out a request for some clean cloth, which was okay, but Isaac was serious about doing right for Michael, so he volunteered the only idea he'd had on the matter. [color=f7941d]"See about getting us some new or better Sapper material, expecially explosives. We may end up seeing an armored car or two."[/color] Anyone would, and that would kinda' mean that [i]every[/i] squad needed extra boom-booms, but it never hurt to ask. Michael was a small target with a big heart and alot of courage. If anyone was going to plant explosives and destroy one of those cars, it was gonna be him. Speaking of him, it looked like Michael really didn't want to talk about Captain Grumpus anymore. Best let the topic drop. When Britta saw that there were no other requests, she nodded at everyone, said [color=ed1c24][b]"I'll be back as soon as I can."[/b][/color], and left. Part of him wanted to go with her, but something in the tone of 'I need to go take care of something' said that the 'I' part of it was most important, for now. So, the farmer NCO remained with the others here as the topic moved onto the topic of love and the mutual feelings thereof. Not a wasted conversation, in Isaac's opinion. Jean looked like he needed someone to help him through the dark and he himself had questions on where he stood with Britta. Still, he added to the conversation, with a smile... [color=f7941d]"Well, of course, I am honor-bound never to speak of the things that may be written in verse. A promise is a promise, and I was the one who politely asked Lucia not to go through our personal mail when she came upon a letter I planted, back on the train, so I can't set a bad precident. I mean, it'd be [i]rude[/i] to talk of what someone might be embarrassed about, even though that kind of warmth and affection would certainly gravitate some towards his person."[/color] He wasn't naming names, [i]Jean[/i], but if a certain fellow, [i]Jean[/i], were to perhaps open himself up to a girl, then he, [i]Jean[/i], might find someone to keep his counsel and support his ever-brittle conscious. Right, [i]Jean?[/i] Hint, hint! Okay, Isaac wasn't being quite that obvious, but he wanted the guy to repair his himself, somehow. He didn't exactly look like he unwound at all, back at the White Hart. The whole [i]gas[/i] fiasco put the pressure back on, but at least they'd had [i]something[/i]... >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> The plan was not so much a real plan-of-action, but more of a vague feeling of what needed to be done. No, not about the supplies, but the [i]other[/i] thing. The thing in her letter. This long and uncoordinated line of the new front into Amone was difficult to navigate, with the only real saving grace being that you had one direction or another to wander, or else you were going out into the open, either farther out or further into the city itself. Either way, that left Britta with basically venturing forth from her squad until she found where she needed to go to get some information. Such things wouldn't come flying into her lap, except in the case of her parents telling her. It'd come in the mail today. She'd seen that Isaac had good news, Diana had been still distressed about home, and she'd gotten only that far when she started reading her own letter and found in the middle of it something that did not sit well with her, even though she understood [i]why[/i]. What she eventually found was some kind of dispatch, which was exactly the one where Isaac had gotten [i]his[/i] information from, and in fact the mail that'd come in on backlog. His awkward embarrassment over the mispoken jerky material seemed alot further back, just now, along with the flavored strips of beef and Diana's cookies. Reading those words had been like a sudden gust of winter air, and then she felt like she was in a whole different world, for the moment. She had to look into this, at least get some details, while she still could. She had to do a bit of cuing to wait her turn at the man with the typewriter and, presumably, all the records. [i][b][color=ed1c24]Listening to them all speak, you'd think Isaac would have a typical Edinburgh accent, but he doesn't. Must be because of where he lives.[/color][/b][/i] Finally, she was next in line, and the man there was all business, because he had alot of people to get through. [b]"Name, rank, current regiment."[/b] [b][color=ed1c24]"Britta Hagen, Private, 15th Atlantic Rifles."[/color][/b] That...seemed to stick out in his mind for a second, and the look he gave her seemed to say 'Oh god, another one' before he settled on... [b]"What do you want?"[/b] [b][color=ed1c24]"Information."[/color][/b] [b]"Of [i]course[/i] you do..."[/b] [b][color=ed1c24]"What does [i]that[/i] mean?"[/color][/b] [b]"Nothing. [i]Lots[/i] of people want information. What information are you looking for, in particular?"[/b] He didn't sound entirely honest with her, there, but she continued. [color=ed1c24][b]"Current assignment or anything else you can get regarding Hans Hagen. He's my brother. I wanted to know if he was here or not..."[/b][/color] [color=00746b][b][i]'...We would be doing better, in fact, but we're worried about your brother. Shortly after you left, he went to join the army, himself. He said he wanted to do you proud. We can understand his attitude, looking up to his big sister, but he is young and now we worry for both of your sakes...'[/i][/b][/color] He took a while to look for information, asking for a current directory on soldiers on assignment. Results came back a negative, though. [b]"Is he new? Our information is not current, and if he recently joined, he won't be on the books for another month."[/b] [b][color=ed1c24]"Yes, he probably is, only trailing behind me a little ways. Can you help me send a message out to [i]him?[/i] Query a location on him and pass him on a note from me?"[/color][/b] [b]"I can do that."[/b] He passed her a piece of paper and a pencil, and she wrote a quick note, just asking for Hans to please write to her in the 15th Atlantic Rifles and talk to her. The dispatch officer accepted it and asked her to to step aside and let him get to the next person in line. With that in mind, she was only slightly put at ease. It was better than being completely unable to contact him or get any information at all, but it was still a little unsettling for her. Britta had made peace with the fact that something may happen to her at any time, but she hadn't done that for Hans, and she could only guess what he was thinking beyond doing what he thought was right because [i]she[/i] did it first. [b][color=ed1c24][i]You're setting a WONDERFUL example, Britta. Good god, am I going to end up like Jean? No, that isn't nearly as likely. Cold as it is, there isn't much hatred for those who aren't of Darcsen descent. Now, I REALLY understand what it was like for him, I guess. Hans, I hope your CO is better than mine...[/i][/color][/b] All she had was Jean and Isaac to clean up the mess that Middleton always made... Well, given that in mind, she had a few errands to take care of. She didn't know how easy or hard it was going to get that Sapper equipment, but Michael was getting that clean cloth, and the rest of the squad... Yes, that sounded like a good idea. She was going to try and make them something [i]nice[/i]...