25-12-YC121

The Tribal response has been one of polar extremes.  Oona Aldeland has offered to provide transports to remove the civilians from East Nav.  Maira Blackfire appears willing to provide armed cover, and has, at least, agreed to observe any ceasefire agreement.  If we can finalise details, then all may be well, at least for the innocents here.

Conversely, the usual rabid suspects are vowing to murder everyone in the settlement, innocent or not.  Elsebeth Rhiannon has all but washed her hands of the situation, but I must admit I expected very little else.  A couple of other Tribal fools are, as one might expect, simply baying for blood.  At least they have revealed their intention to use NBC weapons.  Forewarned is forearmed, as they say, though our equipment against such attacks is only basic.  Furthermore, knowing that this is a possibility, I am less inclined to allow the civilians that have offered to assist us in the final stages to do so.  I shall try to persuade them to leave for safety.  I believe, however, that they fear reprisals for being considered collaborators, so perhaps remaining with us is a more palatable fate.

Another group of civilians, around 30, appear to have decided that they have had enough of invaders.  They wish only to defend their home, and are not a part of my forces.  I admire their resolve, and I cannot blame them for wanting to keep another set of troops away from what is left of their property.  I have tried to speak with them to get them to leave, but they refuse.  Therefore I have agreed that they can arm themselves with basic weapons from the civilian stock we secured in the settlement, and have negotiated that rather than spread themselves out to their individual properties - not that there is anything left of any of them - they should, for safety's sake, group together in the administrative building on the East side of the settlement.  If an evacuation is arranged, I will inform the enemy of the presence of these civilians, who are merely defending themselves.  God Willing, they will avoid these brave souls.

The evacuation itself I shall try to arrange to take place at the transport station on the North side of the settlement.  It seems to be the most logical place, and the wide plaza is not entirely covered in rubble, allowing any transports relatively easy access.  This will also place the majority of activity on the opposite side of the town to my troops.  There is a minehead on the South side, with access to the workings.  Normally this would make very little sense, as it would only serve to trap us, but it may, firstly, provide some additional protection against any unconventional weapons, and secondly, one of the civilians who has joined us is a Mine Foreman, Sher Zamora his name, and he speaks of the workings coming up to the surface again some distance from East Nav.  These exit points are only small, however, barely more than ventilation shafts, and it is just as likely they have collapsed or been covered over, or are otherwise unusuable.  We shall see.  Perhaps God shall smile upon us, though if it is our Fate to die here, in this small mining town, then we shall go to it bravely, with hymns on our lips, Faith in our hearts, and the mounds of the enemy dead before us.

It is Yoiul.  I miss Mama, Papa, Kostya, and Felix, and Dzerzhinsky, of course.  I miss Okhrana and Cheka too.  Silly Hounds, I do so hope Felix is looking after them properly.

I wonder if Ishta has found Sasha yet.  Poor Mama, having two of her children away this year, and after Kostya had arranged some shore-leave!  At least, God Willing, she will get Sasha back.