No Unwounded Soldiers

While sitting on the ledge of a ten-story insurance building, Bardak looked at the city for anything suspicious. Suddenly, he notices multiple fireworks going off in the sky a few miles from his location. He immediately got up and jumped off the ledge and began jumping from rooftop to rooftop until he reached the location of the fireworks launch site. He stopped on the rooftop of a small medical building and saw more fireworks going off in front of the Angel Falls Museum. He noticed it was the museum workers who were setting off the fireworks as method of attraction to their new exhibit, the World War II exhibit. Bardak felt intrigued and decided to attend the exhibit and learn about the ancient event of World War II. He transported back to his ship to change into his casual clothes. After changing and getting whatever provisions he needed, he transported back to the museum and went inside to purchase his ticket.
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It always puzzled Olga as she looked at anything related to the Great Patriotic War, or World War II as the rest of the world outside the USSR knew it, that it took the same amount of time in this dimension as it had in hers, down to the exact day. Maybe that was the way it worked for all dimensions, she wasn't sure. Perhaps, as much as it sickened her, there was a place where the Axis had won. She also took note that there were far more super-soldiers on both sides, especially the Allied Forces, in this world than her own. Heroes like the Masked Shrike, Proud Citizen and Pinup Girl just to name a few. In her world she was alone, except for the brave soldiers in the field and citizens doing their part on the home-front. The tall, raven-haired woman glanced over the exhibits. Moments trapped in time, some that she remembered vividly, and others that were completely alien to her. The experience was always more than a little surreal for her no matter whether it was watching a documentary on the War or walking through an exhibit like this.

For time to time, Bardak would wonder what life was like before the Republic was created. Although the war lasted the same amount as the one in his dimension, the war in his dimension started 4 years earlier. "Hmmm... Fascinating", he thought to himself as he took his time examining the ancient vehicles and weapons used to fight the Axis powers. He then closely studied most of the battle plans and maps displayed in the exhibit. He concluded the battle strategies and tactics were sufficient for their time. After studying the maps, he proceeded to the down the hall and saw many pictures of famous American generals hanging on the wall; George Patton, Douglas MacArthur, Dwight Eisenhower, Omar Bradley, Mark Clark. He paused in front of these pictures and saluted them out of his respect. He then resumed down the hall and when he turned around the corner he saw someone he didn't expect to see.

The Soviet Superwoman was standing there, dressed in a simple pair of tight blue jeans, sneakers and a featureless red, short-sleeved shirt that showed off every inch of her incredible physique. If it wasn't for her sheer size (and some would say foreign beauty) she would have been dressed like any other tourist to the museum. She was staring at photographs from the concentration camps. Sajmište. Olga still got chills up her spine from what she saw there. She had arrived first, before the advancing Soviet army and at first thought it to be nothing more than a forced labor camp. Blanketed by the ashes that belched forth from the smokestacks there, she descended to find most of the SS had abandoned the site and only a handful of guards remained to give her any feeble resistance. Moving through them quickly she made her way into the crudely constructed barracks capped by a tin roof covered in green tar-paper. She saw the prisoners with their disintegrated bodies, canvases of boil-ridden skin and brittle bones covered in lice. The stacks of bodies piled up like refuse or cord wood. Women...children...She had heard rumors of such atrocities, but like most of the world she did not believe the full extent of them. She knew monsters in the Reich like Ilsa Hauppman and Hermann von Trotha had experimented on human guinea pigs and she had seen atrocities against her own people first-hand by the Nazis...but nothing like this. It was a memory...a day she wished she could forget. She turned away from the evidence and saw someone she recognized.

Bardak stood in near the corner of the room "Soviet-Superwoman? What are you doing here?" he asked with a curious tone in his voice.

"General Bardak, da?" Olga spoke with her thick Russian accent. "I am here doing a little reminiscing...or at least the closest I can come to it."

Bardak looked at the pictures of forced labor camps and dead bodies hanging on the walls. He looked back at Olga "I don't mean to sound rude, but those pictures are not exactly what I call reminiscing. I understand you fought during World War II. I would be interested in hearing the war from your perspective."

"Da I fought in the War..." Olga trailed off; her sapphire blue eyes glancing over the horrific images Bardak had brought her attention back to. "The only things I take back from that war were death and the stinging cold...but that is not the answer you wanted, da, and it is not what the Central Committee wanted either." She tried smiling and looked back at the General. "I am sorry what was it you did wish to know?"

Bardak walked closer to her and places his right hand on her right shoulder, "I didn't mean to bring back those types of memories. The ancient war of WWII that I know is different from this WWII, so I just wanted to know what life was like back then from your perspective."

The tall woman smiled to herself as she spoke, "Ancient war...and to me it only feels like a decade has passed. I am always reminded of it. What was life like? Leningrad was the first place I was sent to, September 8th, 1941. It was a jumble of blocked streets lined with corpses, broken cement and an enormous cloud of burning, blinding smoke. Even animals fled this hell and the hardest stones were ground to meal under wave after wave of bombings. Only men endured in this nightmare place. The Germans paid with blood for every piece of ground they had gained. 165,000 of my countrymen died there by the time the fighting was over. I remember I was told 'There is only one road, the road that leads forward. Leningrad will be saved by you, or wiped out with you!’ That was my first experience with the War Comrade Bardak. It would not be my last sadly."

Bardak paused in silence for a few moments, "I had no idea...I'm sorry about your losses in the war, though I understand what its like to fight such a horrific event." Bardak guided Olga to a near-by bench and they both sat down and resumed there talking. "I understand if you think of the "ancient war" term I used was confusing. In my time, most of the knowledge and relics of WWII is gone... thanks to the Teraisians."

Olga shook her head. "It is not confusing; it is just still odd to me. To this world the War has been over for more than 60 years now. A lifetime ago. To me it is still only about ten years ago that it ended. I have come to grips with it, but it reminds me how different this reality is to my own. I am sorry but I have never heard of the Teraisians. You are from a different reality as well, da? From the future if I remember correct. How I must seem like a relic from the past for you as well, more than to even the peoples here." she chuckled shaking her head. "There is no need to apologize for asking me about the War. The military sacrifices, dedication and unshakable will of the Russian people were what made us stronger in the end, better than the Germans. It was the civilian casualties that made no sense and I suppose they never will. So many dead." Olga shook her head quietly and looked down at her sneakers.

Bardak nodded "I understand how you feel and yes I am from a different reality and from the future." Bardak then looks at their surroundings and looks back at Olga "Everything is a bit primitive than what I am used to, but everything and everyone had to start somewhere. As for the why I asked about the war, it’s because all the relics and monuments from this time and ancient time was nearly destroyed in my past. When the Teraisians came, they destroyed many of the world’s nations, along with their national treasures and monuments. During the war, all the nations eventually put aside their petty differences and fought alongside each other. It took six long years but they finally defeated the Teraisians. After the war, nearly 80% of the cities and nations were destroyed. The death toll of the Teraisians war was in the billions before it ended. Your Stalingrad was completely destroyed and it took nearly 20 years to rebuild."

The muscular Russian heroine looked over to her companion with a somber expression. "War never changes does it comrade General?" she said in a quiet voice before sitting up and wiping away at her damp eyes. "I am sorry to be so emotional and melancholy about this topic. You are curious about it from historical point of view. I can tell you what I know, but it is of course from my own dimension and the experiences there."

Bardak nodded, "The only things that change in war are the death toll and method of fighting it." Bardak and Olga stood up, then he placed his right hand on her left shoulder, “Its okay, I completely understand you feelings toward this topic. I also understand your viewpoint and experience is from your own dimension, but I would like to hear it regardless." Bardak and Olga began walking toward the other room.

"Despite many differences the War appears relatively identical in both my dimension just as it was here. Americans here in Angel Falls have little idea of the Soviet Union's experience in the Great Patriotic War. This is not their fault, as none of their cities were besieged by the Germans. No part of their population was enslaved, or starved or murdered, and not one of their villages, towns or cities was completely razed to the ground. For every American soldier killed fighting the Germans, eighty Soviet soldiers died fighting them. Eleven million Soviet soldiers and civilians were killed during the conflict overall General. Hitler had made plainly clear his intentions to wipe out what he called the 'Slavic sub-human' and take our land away from us. Einsatzgruppen moved behind the soldiers, butchering our people through a campaign of ethnic cleansing. We fought back with a savagery unheard of anywhere else during the War. It was the reason I was drafted from a simple farm-girl to a super-soldier and given my amazing gifts."

Bardak closed his eyes and tighten his fist for a few moments. He then opened his eyes and relaxed his hand, "So that is what happened in your dimension. I knew the war was horrible but I didn't know it was like this. The WWII that I know lasted just as long as the ones in both this and your dimension, but it took a different turn and a different outcome."

Olga met his eyes with her own. Her expression was solemn like many of the statuary of her that had decorated her USSR and Eastern Europe. "Mine as well took many different turns and came out significantly altered. In my home, the US and British invasion of occupied France bogged down a few weeks after their success at Normandy. With their supply lines cut off by German Special Forces, they were forced to capitulate and surrender in the hedgerow country of France. There was no second front to be opened in Europe. This also paved the way for my Soviet Union to consequently become the only global super-power at war's end with Germany's defeat solely at our hands."

Bardak paused for a few moments and responded with a calm yet solemn expression, "In my dimension, Hitler rose to power four years earlier than this war. His General, Erwin "Desert Fox" Rommel successfully conquered most of Africa within a year and made his way toward South America. After another year, he conquered most of South America and attempted to take America. America entered the war 2 years after the war started because of Rommel's air attacks on many of the towns and cities near the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Rommel was later killed in an air-raid and the American and British forces began to liberate all the areas which Rommel controlled. Meanwhile, the Russians took an all-out defense strategy and formed a nearly impenetrable line that extended from Demyansk to Rostov. Despite all the air-raids and battles, the Germans never made it past that line. The line held until the Russians began to go on the offensive when the Allies landed. Every day, the Allied powers would come closer toward Berlin. A few months before the war was over, Hitler was getting desperate and attempted to call an all-out offensive; every soldier, every piece of artillery they had, would go on the offense and wouldn't stop until the Allied forces were destroyed. However before Hitler’s all-out offense began, Stauffenberg and his conspirators attempted to assassinate Hitler and his staff.... they succeeded. After two weeks of setting up their own government, they immediately ordered all their troops back to Berlin and called for a truce with the Allied forces."

"Interesting how different things have occurred with both of our histories, da? Here in Angel Falls timeline, Hitler committed suicide. In your world he is assassinated by his own peoples and in my world I personally handed him over to the Red Army who brought him back to Comrade Stalin in Moscow. He was given a private war-crimes trial along with several other high-ranking Nazis and executed. I missed some of these events only to arrive back for the finale of the war in the Pacific. I had been sent briefly to another dimension by the woman who would later become Genocide, testing out a version of the device that the aliens would later use to send me here. I was able to escape from that world, but not from Angel Falls. I fear that it may be because I no longer have a home-world to return to..." Olga stopped briefly for a second time, taking a deep breath before continuing. "In any event, the US dropped the atomic bombs on Japan and then attempted to drop one on Moscow as well, our 'allies' turning on us in fear and ignorance. They did not succeed due to my re-emergence."

Bardak nodded as acknowledgment, "Indeed, the events are the same in any dimension, its just what happened in those events that change." Bardak and Olga continued to walk down the hall and into a room filled with model weapons and vehicles. While they were looking around, Bardak resumed the conversation, "I'm sorry if I may bring back some horrible memories but what did these aliens look like? I may know what species those aliens are."

Soviet Superwoman looked at a case containing a miniature model of the Soviet model T-34 medium tank remembering how much larger and imposing they had seemed to her up close. "The alien wore very impressive powered battle-armor, but they were tall with orange skin and long, almost equine faces. It is alright General, it has been so very long since I even spoke of them, and it is good to finally discuss it with someone. They employed a great number of robotic minions and utilized energy weapons and of course the advanced portal technologies. Perhaps you know what they were?"

Bardak puts his right hand on his chin and took a few moments to think about the alien. He then moved his head back in a moment of surprise and got out his BTR. He then presses a few buttons on it and suddenly, a picture of an alien appeared on the screen with alien language all over the monitor. He gave his BTR to Olga, "Was this the alien you saw?"

Olga looked at the bulbous headed creature shown on the view-screen. It was uncanny in its resemblance. She remembered the first one of their ships that had appeared: a giant, technological monstrosity that seemed to blot out the sun. It was enormous and emitted a low-frequency humming sound that caused the teeth to ache and minor headaches in everyone below as it passed by them miles overhead. Bizarre fighter ships streaked out of it in all direction, opening fire on the populace and buildings on the ground with green streaks of energy. The Soviet air force put up a fight, but it was quickly apparent that they were no match for the invaders who quickly scattered them from the skies. Olga had proved to be more resilient, smashing her way from one fighter to the next as she cut a path through to the carrier ship.

"Yes, that's one of them." she replied in a quiet voice, "What are they?"

Bardak took a deep breath and looked at Olga "That is a Chtranqua!! I have encountered them a few times in my years of service, and those times I will not forget."
He took another deep breath then looked at Olga, "The Chtranqua... are a VERY dangerous race. They have a reputation for being devious conquerors and ruthless warriors. When they invade a planet, they do not stop until every inch of that planet and its people are under their complete control. The Republic received distress calls from neighboring systems saying they require our help in protecting them or liberating them from the Chtranqua. The forces which I commanded were sent to liberate the conquered planets. After a few months of fighting them on each planet, some of the Chtranqua would take as much of the planets resources; previous metals/minerals, energy crystals, sometimes even vast amounts of water; with them and leave the planet, leaving the people with extremely little resources to survive. Other times, the Chtranqua would keep fighting until the last one was killed. Even with our technology, it would take around 1-3 years to restore the civilization of each world before they could sustain themselves. You mentioned you stopped them from invading your world. That was very fortunate you succeeded, I don't want to imagine what would have happened if the Chtranqua succeeded."

"I stopped them..." Olga looked down at the floor for a long moment before taking a deep breath and looking back up, "but who is to say what happened after they sent me here? I am so afraid for my world because it may no longer be there. I have been gone a long time and the one chance I did have to go back failed. It is why I decided to stay here and fight for this Earth as if it were my own, so that the same fate does not befall this one be it from aliens or disaster or from super-human threats. This is my home now and I will defend it and the people of it. I think you understand what I mean General."

Bardak placed his right hand on her shoulder, "Believe me... I know EXACTLY how you feel. Ever since that alien attack, I have not been able to contact my fleet. I do not know if there in a different system, different galaxy, or even in this time line. I'm not even sure if any of them made it out alive. However, I know my fleet is strong and defiant. There is a good chance there still out there, looking for a way back. If your people are as defiant and brave as you, then I'm sure they will be okay. I will also defend with my life as well. Sure this dimension is completely different that the one I come from, but its Earth nonetheless and it will always be my home, in this dimension or the next."
The Soviet Superwoman smiled at the thought of her people standing defiant, just as they had against the Nazis and then the rest of the world. The Soviet peoples had never backed down from any threat...ever. "History shows that there are no invincible armies and that there never have been" Stalin had said in a speech once and those words rang true in her ears even today with all this world's modern technology and hi-tech weapons. The possibility that they could defeat the extraterrestrial menace was one she had thought of many, many times in private to give herself hope when her heart needed lifting. It felt good to hear someone else tell her she might be correct, especially one who had been in a very similar situation.

"Thank you General," she said in her thick Russian accent, “it means a great deal to hear you say that to me Comrade."

Bardak smiled and replied, "Your Welcome, I'm glad I could help!" They continue examining the relics from WWII until they reach the museum restaurant and bar. Bardak and Olga walked toward the bar and sat on the stools. Bardak looked at the bartender, "Alveni…um..Guinness, please!" he said with slight disappointment knowing the drink he desired wasn't in there menu, or served on this planet.

"Just a water with piece of lemon for me please." Olga smiled to the bartender as she took her drink order in turn. When he turned away to get the drinks, she gave a somewhat sheepish look to the General. "I promise Maia I would be cutting back."

Bardak gave her a slightly amused but understanding look at Olga, "I completely understand... Congratulations by way the way, you two make a wonderful couple. If there is anything Maia or you need, feel free to tell me. I will do everything I can to help you both." The bartender returns with their drinks and gives them what they ordered. Bardak got out enough money to pay for his drink and Olga's. Bardak turned to Olga and raised his Guinness to her, "To your Soviet Union and to my Republic fleet... May they fight and live on with bravery, strength, honor, and defiance."
Olga raised her glass in return, feeling even more silly to be having such an impressive toast with regular water. Still, she knew Maia would be happy that she hadn't imbibed today and the sentiment remained the same. She tilted her head towards the General and smiled. "To bravery, strength, honor and defiance...and to long lost friends and to new friends as well."

Bardak nodded as a reply, then they clinked both glasses together and took a sip of their drinks.
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This was a collaborative effort put together by myself and the creator/owner of General Bardak . We wanted to show how completely different wars had affected both of our characters differently, but at the same time given them a great deal in common despite all that. It was also a great opportunity to explain some of what their time-lines were like and what they did during their respective conflicts.

The image was created by our mutual friend. who always does tremendous work.

Soviet Superwoman is my creation and property and General Bardak belongs to

This tale takes place in