Post by erava on Feb 21, 2011 0:57:29 GMT
30 November 1939
Helsinki, 1:00 pm
Russia did not like flying. He had once thought that flying would be like freedom, that you could do anything and go anywhere, that the world would be laid down for you to see. He had been rather upset with the reality. When flying an aircraft, there were rules like on the ground, and you had to keep your eyes straight ahead or up for the most part; very rarely could you look down on the world, and almost never could you admire the view, magnificent though it may have been. There was wind and noise everywhere in the sky, and it was cold. It was so very cold.
No, he had decided after his first flight that he liked his feet on the ground much better.
Still, though he did not enjoy the act of flight, the instruments of flight amazed him. The aircraft that zoomed overhead, so high above their targets, the powerful rapid-fire machine guns mounted on their noses, the bombs that could be dropped so easily from racks on the wings, demolishing buildings and cities at the press of a button without ever coming close. You could kill so very easily from so high in the sky. There was so much power in a flying weapon of war. So much terrifying, fascinating power.
Russia pulled his coat tighter, looked around him, and imagined the people around him dead, and the buildings in flames. The image came to mind easily, and he grinned with satisfaction. Perhaps this is what it was like, he thought, seeing the future.
But now was not the time for such thoughts, he reminded himself. He had a reason for coming here, and his people were waiting for him to finish before they could begin! It would not do to make them wait so long! So Russia reoriented himself and kept following his nose, so to speak, though he liked to think that he was less like a bloodhound searching for its prey than a mother searching for a lost, naughty child. A naughty child had shelled Mainila and killed his people
(excuses excuses you did that yourself just so you could do this and you know it you’re a liar liar liar-- no be quiet that’s not true it wasn’t me it was them I’m telling the truth I am I am I am).
Naughty children had to be disciplined, after all.
Perhaps it should not have surprised him to find Tino still relaxing, even after the morning’s panic. He had always liked his down time, his little Finlyandiya. Again, he tried to imagine how things would be in a few hours’ time. His grin widened. Tino would not be so relaxed then.
With this thought in mind, Russia approached, raising a hand in greeting as he went. “Privyet, Tino!” he called out, his tone perfectly cheerful and friendly. “You got my message this morning, yes?”
Notes
-4 days previously, an "unknown party" shelled the border guard post at Mainila, killing 4 and injuring 9. The Soviets declared it an act of aggression by Finland and used it as an excuse to withdraw from their non-aggression pact. Later research by historians on both sides concluded that the shelling was from the Soviet side of the border.
-At 9:25 am on Nov. 30, Soviet planes dropped leaflets on Helsinki that said, in Finnish, "You know we have bread -- don't starve. Soviet Russia will not harm the Finnish people. Their disaster is due to their wrong leadership. Mannerheim and Cajander must go. After that, peace will come." The bombing of Helsinki began at 2:30 pm.
Translations (though they're pretty basic XD)
Finlyandiya = Finland
Privyet = Hello
Gosh, I hope I did this right and that everything is okay...
Helsinki, 1:00 pm
Russia did not like flying. He had once thought that flying would be like freedom, that you could do anything and go anywhere, that the world would be laid down for you to see. He had been rather upset with the reality. When flying an aircraft, there were rules like on the ground, and you had to keep your eyes straight ahead or up for the most part; very rarely could you look down on the world, and almost never could you admire the view, magnificent though it may have been. There was wind and noise everywhere in the sky, and it was cold. It was so very cold.
No, he had decided after his first flight that he liked his feet on the ground much better.
Still, though he did not enjoy the act of flight, the instruments of flight amazed him. The aircraft that zoomed overhead, so high above their targets, the powerful rapid-fire machine guns mounted on their noses, the bombs that could be dropped so easily from racks on the wings, demolishing buildings and cities at the press of a button without ever coming close. You could kill so very easily from so high in the sky. There was so much power in a flying weapon of war. So much terrifying, fascinating power.
Russia pulled his coat tighter, looked around him, and imagined the people around him dead, and the buildings in flames. The image came to mind easily, and he grinned with satisfaction. Perhaps this is what it was like, he thought, seeing the future.
But now was not the time for such thoughts, he reminded himself. He had a reason for coming here, and his people were waiting for him to finish before they could begin! It would not do to make them wait so long! So Russia reoriented himself and kept following his nose, so to speak, though he liked to think that he was less like a bloodhound searching for its prey than a mother searching for a lost, naughty child. A naughty child had shelled Mainila and killed his people
(excuses excuses you did that yourself just so you could do this and you know it you’re a liar liar liar-- no be quiet that’s not true it wasn’t me it was them I’m telling the truth I am I am I am).
Naughty children had to be disciplined, after all.
Perhaps it should not have surprised him to find Tino still relaxing, even after the morning’s panic. He had always liked his down time, his little Finlyandiya. Again, he tried to imagine how things would be in a few hours’ time. His grin widened. Tino would not be so relaxed then.
With this thought in mind, Russia approached, raising a hand in greeting as he went. “Privyet, Tino!” he called out, his tone perfectly cheerful and friendly. “You got my message this morning, yes?”
Notes
-4 days previously, an "unknown party" shelled the border guard post at Mainila, killing 4 and injuring 9. The Soviets declared it an act of aggression by Finland and used it as an excuse to withdraw from their non-aggression pact. Later research by historians on both sides concluded that the shelling was from the Soviet side of the border.
-At 9:25 am on Nov. 30, Soviet planes dropped leaflets on Helsinki that said, in Finnish, "You know we have bread -- don't starve. Soviet Russia will not harm the Finnish people. Their disaster is due to their wrong leadership. Mannerheim and Cajander must go. After that, peace will come." The bombing of Helsinki began at 2:30 pm.
Translations (though they're pretty basic XD)
Finlyandiya = Finland
Privyet = Hello
Gosh, I hope I did this right and that everything is okay...