(display: "strength")
The rhythmic thumping of shovels fills your ears as you step out of your tent to survey your men. There aren't that many left, but you will hold the line at any cost.
The smell of wet dirt fills your nostrils as you trudge along the top of the trench, offering small words of encouragement as you go along.
You see a couple of [[your men]] lazing about by their tents, wasting valuable time.<span style="color: red;">The Red Army is glorious.
The Red Army is strong.</span>
As you approach them, you notice them stiffen up and stop talking, among them is your son, Dimitri.
[[//"What do you think you are doing? Back to work before I make you regret it."//->Mean]]
[[//"Do you think this will give you a better chance of survival? You need to consider what it is you are doing here."//->Reason]]
[[//"Dimitri. With me. Now."//->Private]]In response you get a muttered "Yes sir", and the dejected soldiers slowly make their way back to the trenches currently being dug. Your son looks back and glares at you.
You don't want to have to exert your authority like this, but it's your only choice. [[The horde->the horde]] doesn't tire, but men do.
The enemy is far too powerful, and you're going to need every advantage you can get before they arrive, in [[three days time]]."Just taking a break sir," mutters one of the soldiers. They are young men, they don't realize the danger they are in, so you must elaborate.
"If these trenches aren't finished by the time [[the horde]] arrives, we are all dead men."
They all look down, all except your son.
He speaks up, "We're already dead men, they're just here to finish us off."
As the men walk back to the trenches you find yourself yearning for escape.
You quickly pull yourself back to the present.
The enemy is far too powerful, and you're going to need every advantage you can get before they arrive, in [[three days time]].You pull your son off to the side.
"What are you doing?"
"Resting"
"We are in danger, don't you want to see your mother again?"
"Of course father, but do we really have a chance? [[The horde->the horde]] will catch up with us eventually."
"As it stands right now, this is our best chance at survival. We need to make our stand right here."
You send your son and the rest back off to the trenches.
You hope he will see the end of this.
The enemy is far too powerful, and you're going to need every advantage you can get before they arrive, in [[three days time]].The next 24 hours pass in slow motion. Nothing is spotted by the sentries, and the woods are eerily quiet.
The men are getting restless, the anticipation is starting to get to them.
No one likes the thought of getting eaten alive.
You decide to walk around camp.
(set:$trenchKey to false)
(set:$canteenKey to false)
(set:$munitionKey to false)
(set:$ravineKey to false)
(set:$executionKey to false)
[[Trenches]]
[[Canteen]]
[[Munitions]]Your mind turns to the threat at hand.
The horde is an ancient evil, older than the hills themselves.
Everything living in their path gets swallowed up, be it man, woman, or child.
Nearly a third of the Soviet Union had already been swallowed up by the time the threat was addressed.
Entire cities were lost.
You //must// do everything in your power to protect not only the motherland, but the world as a whole.
(display:"strength")
[[Three days.->three days time]] (set:$trenchKey to true)
You inspect the trenches.
You are unsure if they'll help when the time comes.
You repeat your mantra.
(display:"strength")
(if:$munitionKey is false)[[[Munitions]]]
(if:$canteenKey is false)[[[Canteen]]]
(if:$canteenKey and $munitionKey)[You hear a single shot ring out.
[[You run to the source of the noise]]](set:$canteenKey to true)
You drop by the canteen to eat some food and regain your composure.
While you are eating, you overhear some soldiers speaking in hushed tones.
"None of us are going to survive this."
"I've heard some talk of deserting."
"I can't say I blame them, but every man that stays behind raises our chances just that little bit more."
You approach the men and thank them for their bravery.
In response you get some dejected smiles and halfhearted hurrahs.
In your mind you repeat,
(display:"strength")
(if:$trenchKey is false)[[[Trenches]]]
(if:$munitionKey is false)[[[Munitions]]]
(if:$trenchKey and $munitionKey)[You hear a single shot ring out.
[[You run to the source of the noise]]](set:$munitionKey to true)
You walk up the munitions tent and strike up a conversation with Boris, the man in charge.
The discussion eventually turns to planning a large scale trap for the horde. You can either [[blow up the horde]] or [[collapse the ravine]]There is a commotion near the north border of the camp.
All you can see is one of your men being restrained and a body on the ground.
You run up and demand to know what happened.
"He was trying to desert sir."
"Yuri tried to stop him."
"He's already dead."
You have to sit down to take it all in.
Not only are you trying to make do with barely half a platoon, your men are clearly being affected by the dire circumstances.
The perpetrator has already been subdued, and is blubbering through tears.
"I'm sorry... need to get out alive... need to see my wife and child... I told him to let go... I didn't want to do this..."
Boris approaches you.
"He has to be dealt with, to show everyone that this will not be tolerated."
[[Pull out your service pistol]]
[[Tie him up]]You send Boris and a few other men to go set up explosives in rocky outcroppings at the base of the ravine.
You pray that this will thin their numbers.
(set:$ravineKey to false)
(if:$trenchKey is false)[[[Trenches]]]
(if:$canteenKey is false)[[[Canteen]]]
(if:$trenchKey and $canteenKey)[You hear a single shot ring out.
[[You run to the source of the noise]]]You send Boris and a few other men to go set up explosives in rocky outcroppings along the top of the ravine.
You pray that this will delay the horde.
(set:$ravineKey to true)
(if:$trenchKey is false)[[[Trenches]]]
(if:$canteenKey is false)[[[Canteen]]]
(if:$trenchKey and $canteenKey)[You hear a single shot ring out.
[[You run to the source of the noise]]]You quickly draw your service pistol.
The PMM glints menacingly in the early morning sun.
You take five quick strides over to the restrained man, put your gun against his skull, and pull the trigger two quick times.
His lifeless body slumps to the ground alongside Yuri.
Now two are dead.
Everyone around you is shocked, they knew the penalty for deserting, but no one expected the punishment to be dealt out so swiftly and without mercy.
Even Boris seems a bit taken aback.
(set:$executionKey to true)
You go back to your [[tent]] to collect yourself."Tie him up and keep him in the munitions tent, he'll be dealt with."
You hear murmurs all around you, the men realize that this is necessary, but that doesn't make them comfortable with it.
As the man is hauled off you can't help but notice the despair in his eyes.
(set:$executionKey to false)
You go to your [[tent->peaceTent]] to collect yourself.You lie down in your tent to contemplate the morning's events.
You think back to what was troubling your comrades, the kind of desparation would drive one to hurt those around him in an attmept to escape.
Was it right to summarily execute him?
Had you been in his place it would've been nice to have a night to reminisce about better times, before you were all plunged into this nightmare of a reality.
Your thoughts drift to how your son must be feeling as you fall [[asleep]].You lie down in your tent to contemplate the morning's events.
You think back to what was troubling your comrades, the kind of desparation would drive one to hurt those around him in an attmept to escape.
You wonder what is going through the mind of the deserter while he waits for his ultimate end.
Is he thinking of himself? his wife? his child?
Your thoughts drift to how your son must be feeling as you fall [[asleep]].Boris shakes you from your slumber.
"Bad news sir, the first wave will be here tomorrow by sundown."
This is indeed bad news, you were hoping to build more fortifications in order to slow them down and give your men a chance to keep up with the seemingly insurmountable numbers.
That is no longer an option.
This may well be your [[last stand]].You gather your men in the middle of the camp.
As you explain the situation to them, you start to hear murmurs among them.
Your eyes eventually find their way to your son, whose face has turned ivory white.
You dismiss your troops.
You then start the long trek to check on the explosives that Boris's team had set.
You soon arrive at the (if:$ravineKey is true)[[[top of the ravine]]] (else:)[[[bottom of the ravine]]](set:$ravineKey to false)
(set:$executionKey to false)
(set:$trenchKey to false)
(set:$canteenKey to false)
(set:$munitionKey to false)You arrive at the top of the ravine.
Sure enough, the entire cliffside is dotted with explosives, all connected by a long detonating cord.
You follow it to make sure there are no breaks along its path. This plan //must// work
You follow the cord all the way to a blind in the treetops, far away from the trenches.
This is a perfect plan to keep Dimitri safe.
You make your way back to [[camp]].When you arrive at the base of the ravine you spy a massive tarp conspicuously placed in the center.
Once you lift the corner you are greeted with the sight of enough explosives to level a city block.
A long detonating cord snakes its way out of the hole, and you follow it to make sure there are no breaks. This plan //must// work.
You follow the cord all the way to a blind in the treetops, far away from the trenches.
This is a perfect plan to keep Dimitri safe.
You make your way back to [[camp]].You arrive back at camp to start preparing for the worst.
Munitions are checked.
The trenches are fortified with sharpened logs.
Every man steels himself for what is to come.
[[Night falls]].All around camp the men start to gather around fires, both for warmth and for company in what may be their final hours.
The anticipation weighs heavily on you as you silently finish your rations in your tent.
[[Find your son]]
[[Go to bed]]You make your way through the camp, stopping occasionally to talk to an old comrade or two, but with a singular goal in mind.
(if:$executionKey)[[[Find Dimitri.->byDeadGuy]]]
(else:)[[[Find Dimitri.->withPrisoner]]]Your heavy head hits your cot.
These past few days have made you //wish// you were dead.
You hope to god that your son lives to see the end of this.
[[You fall asleep]].You finally come across your son sitting by the shallow grave that had been dug for the deserter.
As he looks up, you see that there are tears in his eyes.
He cannot believe your brutality or the callous way you command your men.
You try explaining to him that in order to preserve the chain of command and ensure everyone's highest chance of survival, the function of the platoon cannot be compromised in any way.
Deserters only create other deserters.
You get up and [[walk back to your tent->Go to bed]] You finally come across your son sitting by the deserter's tent.
As he looks up, you see that there are tears in his eyes.
He cannot condone the callous way you command your men, especially when they are all putting their lives on the line for their country.
You try explaining to him that in order to preserve the chain of command and ensure everyone's highest chance of survival, the function of the platoon cannot be compromised in any way.
You then explain that not only did this man try to desert, but he had murdered one of his own comrades in his attempt. This cannot go unpunished.
Deserters only create other deserters.
You get up and [[walk back to your tent->Go to bed]] You rise with the sun.
The cold morning air fills your lungs and sharpens your mind.
You decide to go on a walk to scout out some positions to fall back to.
You arrive at a peak that has a good view of both the camp and the area surrounding the ravine.
In the far distance you see trees rustling with activity.
They are coming.
[[RUN TO CAMP]]
[[SAVE YOURSELF]]You run back to camp as fast as your legs will carry you.
As you sprint through, you shout to anyone that can hear you to prepare themselves.
Word quickly spreads as the whole camp gets ready for the oncoming menace.
[[Into battle]].You trip on a stick and die.
Coward.You and your men sit still in the trenches.
Off in the distance you hear a rhythmic thumping.
It sickens you.
You have instructed Dimitri to blow the charges as soon as the bulk of the horde has passed into the ravine.
While you think this, the [[first one]] scrambles its way into the ravine.Scaly and grotesque, its large claws gave it purchace as it scrambled towards the line.
It is soon joined by others.
There are far fewer than you anticipated, but still a difficult amount to deal with, if it weren't for your trump card.
You hear Boris mutter.
"Look at the jaws on those things."
You can't help but sympathize with him.
Their appearance was otherworldly, like a boogeyman from old tales to scare your children.
Your children.
Dimitri.
You mutter [[a prayer]].
(display:"strength")The battle is fierce, you and your men expend magazine after magazine, thinning the horde as you go.
Something is wrong.
The ravine should've been rubble by now, but there the explosives were, still intact.
Boris notices as well.
He puts his hand on your shoulder.
"Someone has to go and blow the charges."
Without another word, he rises up and out of the trench.
You shout to your men around you, focusing your fire to clear a path for Boris.
If he was going to sacrifice himself, it was not going to be in vain.
You watch as he makes his way to a part of the detonating cord that ran about 100 yards away from the trench, practically inside of the ravine.
You watch as your oldest comrade is blown to pieces.
The rest of the battle passes by without incident, and while a few of the creatures survived the blast, your men are able to deal with them with no casualties.
You gather the wounded and head back to camp.
You instruct a group of your men to form a party to [[find your son]].Days pass.
Your fears have been realized.
If Dimitri wasn't killed by one of those beasts, then he must have fled under his own power.
Your son is thrown at your feet.
Your mind races.
Despite your confusion and protesting your men insist that he deserted.
The realization hits you like a ton of bricks.
Your son has to die.
[[Pull out your service pistol->killSon]]
[[Tie him up->delayKillSon]]You draw your pistol.
As you slowly walk to your son's side, memories of him growing up flash through your mind.
Your hand shakes violently as you raise your gun to the side of his head.
[[Pull the trigger]]
[[Cry]]"Tie him up."
(if:$executionKey is true)["No."
One of Boris's men stands before you with tears in his eyes.
"He must be given the same treatment as my brother."
Your heart sinks.
[[Pull out your service pistol->killSon]]]
(else:)[Your son is tied up and thrown in the same tent as the other deserter.
He will be executed once you return to Moscow, but at least it will not be by your hand.
(display:"strength")]You don't even hear the shot.
You slump to the ground alongside your son's body.
You have preserved order.
(display:"strength")Tears waterfall from your eyes.
Many men around you avert their eyes, unable to watch a man execute his own son.
Even your fingers feel heavy.
[[Pull the trigger]]
[[Cry more]]You start sobbing.
Some of your men gather around you, placing their hands on you in solidarity.
One of Boris's men walks up to you and takes your gun from your hands.
(if:$executionKey is true)[He grimly raises it to your sons head.
You cry out as he remorselessly executes your son.
After all, you did kill his brother.
Order is preserved.]
(else:)[Your son is tied up and thrown in the same tent as the other deserter.
He will be executed once you return to Moscow, but at least it will not be by your hand.]
(display:"strength")