Post by Johan Dieter on Mar 13, 2009 0:33:05 GMT -5
Johan made his way to garage that serviced the vehicles of the 600th SS-Fallschirmjager Battalion. The night was young, but cool and clear. The stars above though partially obscured by the lights coming from the surrounding bases and nearby city, still shone brightly. This was one of those times Johan wished he knew more about the celestial heavens than he did practicing as an amateur astronomer. Regardless he could still pick out some of the more prominent constellations and more popular stars.
At the perimeter, Johan was challenged by a pair of sentries. They were quick to recognize the second in command of the battalion and their superior and after a brief exchange of pleasantries allowed him to pass into the compound.
He passed a series of empty garages before coming upon one that contained a single tank unit. The garage crew was busy working under a portion of the plated armor. They were working so hard that none of them noticed Johan walk into the lighting of the garage bay. He cleared his throat which did get the attention of the mechanics. They paused and looked up, then quickly snapped to attention.
“As you were,” said Johan as he walked in and picked up a wrench from the nearby work table. The crew mostly went back to work but they were not quite as sure of their work now with an officer standing over them. It was always easier to work amongst your fellow enlisted and forget the ranks for the time being. Now they had an officer to look over their shoulders and nitpick at everything they did.
“What seems to be the problem with this fine lady tonight?” asked Johan as he stepped up to the crew.
Only one turned to answer Johan’s question. “Nothing wrong, sir. We’re going through it with the greenhorn and giving it a little maintenance work over.”
“Sounds like a good thing to let our new recruits work like this under the supervision of some of the best tank mechanics in the entire German Army.” Johan could see the uneasiness of the enlisted as they worked. He turned and took off his overcoat and uniform shirt. He set them aside so they would not get dirty and rolled up the sleeves of his white undershirt. “Forget the ranks. Show me what you’re working on.” The crewman smiled at Johan and began talking as the new recruit went to work.
At the perimeter, Johan was challenged by a pair of sentries. They were quick to recognize the second in command of the battalion and their superior and after a brief exchange of pleasantries allowed him to pass into the compound.
He passed a series of empty garages before coming upon one that contained a single tank unit. The garage crew was busy working under a portion of the plated armor. They were working so hard that none of them noticed Johan walk into the lighting of the garage bay. He cleared his throat which did get the attention of the mechanics. They paused and looked up, then quickly snapped to attention.
“As you were,” said Johan as he walked in and picked up a wrench from the nearby work table. The crew mostly went back to work but they were not quite as sure of their work now with an officer standing over them. It was always easier to work amongst your fellow enlisted and forget the ranks for the time being. Now they had an officer to look over their shoulders and nitpick at everything they did.
“What seems to be the problem with this fine lady tonight?” asked Johan as he stepped up to the crew.
Only one turned to answer Johan’s question. “Nothing wrong, sir. We’re going through it with the greenhorn and giving it a little maintenance work over.”
“Sounds like a good thing to let our new recruits work like this under the supervision of some of the best tank mechanics in the entire German Army.” Johan could see the uneasiness of the enlisted as they worked. He turned and took off his overcoat and uniform shirt. He set them aside so they would not get dirty and rolled up the sleeves of his white undershirt. “Forget the ranks. Show me what you’re working on.” The crewman smiled at Johan and began talking as the new recruit went to work.