January 1, 1950
1822 Local Time, 1922 Warszawa Time
43 Eaton place, London England
Deep within the President in Exile's residence, in a well furnished room as a fire crackled in a corner two men sat on opposite side of a thick oak table. August Zaleski read over a paper Leszak Kucharski had handed him. He again looked up from the paper at the man, this the representative of the Communist government in Poland. He sat calmly just watching the President in Exile despite the fact that many in the building wanted the man lynched. Finally he spoke, "How do i know this is not some Soviet trick? A ploy to get the entire Government in Exile and the Polish Armed Forces within arms reach to be removed?"
Before the Communist representative could speak another man who had stood in the corner glowering thus far spoke up suddenly and sharply, "That is all it is, Berling is a defector who sold out his country for power from the Soviets and is now just their dog like all the others."
Leszak just smiled at the outburst, "Anders I can understand your feelings fully, as does Berling, with that in mind I have a special note just for you," with that he took an envelope out of his jacket he wore over his suit and laid it on the table though made no effort to get closer to the military officer and Anders made no attempt to do anything but glower at the Communist, "I also have a special message for all free Poles, change is in the wind. If you do not trust me now simply wait a few days for news to reach you as events transpire. As for you Ander's please recall whatever men you have left fifty to a hundred thousand men may be needed in the near future."
January 2, 1950
0305 Local Time
Near Warszawa, Poland
In an action replicated all over Poland Sierżant Aleksy Zajac led a squad of men towards the NKVD barracks house in the darkest hours of the night. The soldiers outside the doors fell in with the others behind him as they approached the thick doors. Looking back at the men behind him he saw only conviction in their eyes, they were taking a great step for Poland today and could afford no mistakes. Raising his booted foot he kicked in the door and quickly rushed in, raising his Mosin-Nagant rifle to his shoulder, there was a single NKVD man standing near the door but was quickly laid out by a savage butt strike to his face. His men fanned out throughout the barracks house bringing rifles to bear on the hastily awoken and groggy NKVD agents. With bayonets to their backs the NKVD agents were swiftly rounded up throughout the building. As they began to march them outside to waiting trucks Aleksy could not be more happy to have not heard a single rifle shot, the NKVD had been smart enough not to try to fight back he only hoped it held true throughout the rest of the nation as Soviet NKVD, military officers, and other personnel were rounded up to be deported to the Soviet Union. Today was a turning point for Poland, either they would regain autonomy from the USSR or be removed from existence by them.
January 2, 1950
0355 Local Time
Presidential Palace, Warszawa, Poland
Sitting behind his desk President Zygmunt Berling read through report after report as they came in, everything had gone more smoothly than expected. The Soviet troops had been caught with their pants down. They had expected anti-Communist forces if anything to strike and instead the soldiers they were supposed to be commanding had turned on them and so far the entire NKVD presence and every Soviet officer was on their way out of the country, Polish officers were taking over with the now absent Soviet ones and a shot had yet to be fired. It was now down to Stalin's response. Berling's thoughts were interrupted by a rapping at his door, "Enter," he yelled and the door opened up to permit a single man to enter. Dressed his parade best Konstantin Rokossovsky strode up to the president's desk and saying nothing stood before him.
"Konstantin Rokossovsky, Polish born, Soviet bred, between two worlds and disliked in both. You are perfect for me," at this the man at last showed some surprise though the president went on unabated, "As you may have noticed Soviet officers and NKVD are being removed from their posts along with any other noteworthy USSR presence. This does not need to be permanent but for now need to be done. We are not braking from the USSR's sphere but cannot survive in the way we are now. Increased autonomy is the term of this day. I want you to be my bridge to Moscow I want you to personally deliver my words to Stalin's ear and in time you may regain you position as Marshal of Poland, for now it will remain vacant unless a man of your stature can be found to fill it or you prove your loyalty to Poland over Stalin. For now though, go to Stalin, tell him that Poland will be free from his control but that we will work with him. We want Soviet industry, we want Soviet guns and tanks, we want if necessary Soviet protection from the west but while we will do our part to help Stalin in his goals of expanding his reach his power in Poland will never be absolute so long as any free Pole lives. Can you do that?"
Konstantin did not respond, he instead turned on his heel to head out, President Berling did not need a response, he knew the man would deliver his words to Stalin for good or ill. In the mean time he looked down at force dispositions, they were not pretty, surrounded on all sides as they were, but Poland was ready this time, with Soviet guns and Soviet tanks Poland would endure his lifetime.