Unbreakable [flashback]

[Sidney Bainbridge]

Greenleaf, Alliance Prison Camp, September 12th 2509 (T-38 hours) 2000hrs
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The day had gone by and most of the stockpiled items had been moved other then the things Sidney had asked to have left behind. The map was ready to be turned over to Alliance hands at this point. That would get them moving and up in arms about the pending uprising. Most likely it would end up with Sidney and James in the Wardens office as well. It wasn't time to turn it over just yet but at least it was all prepared.

At this point the whole camp was a buzz about the two Major's plans. The guards had even begun to pick up on the moral boost and would be looking to track down the source of it. Things will be starting to get rough for everyone here by morning. The Warden and his guards would be starting to look for a source to all the trouble and beating answers out of people. They all had their orders. They were to point the finger directly at James and Sidney.

Sidney and James were in for a world of hurt that was for sure but if they could tough it out for 38 hours from now it would all be worth it. Sidney pulled his field jacket off laying out out on the table in front of him with the inner lining face up. He had come prepared for the morning. He grabbed a stick off the ground and began to tear at the corer of the lining till he could rip it free. Inside the jacket he had sown in an Independent flag.

There were several soldier sitting in the bunk tent with him and James at the time. "All right gentleman when first light comes were raising the flag over the camp. I need a few volunteers. Just know if you do decide to do this it is going to come with it's fair share of pain." As he spoke he pulled the flag out and held it up for everyone to see. Surely there would be at least one person willing to take on the task.

[Friedrich Hoffman]

Well, it seemed like Friedrich's war was over already. Greenleaf was his first deployment after training, arriving in early July as a replacement. They'd thrown him in with a company originally recruited from his home on Beaumonde, a unit where German became the official first language. That was because a few of men actually couldn't speak anything else.

They had been advancing through the dense foliage of Greenleaf in a large sweep of the area when the skirmish formation ran into the Alliance. A few of the officers in the company went down quick so when the order to retreat along with the other companies was given, the remaining officers continued to press the attack due to the order being lost in translation. Within a few minutes they were the only Independent unit still in the fight and the Alliance force quickly had them surrounded. After suffering well over half their number killed and many more wounded, the order was given to lay down arms.

And that led Friedrich to this hellhole, a prison camp on that same rock. He'd only been there for about a month, much less than many of the others, but it was still awful. Conditions were bad enough without the brutality of some of the guards and especially the warden. In addition, the overall air of defeat permeated the place. Morale was in the toilet from men who had been broken and new arrivals like Friedrich had little resistance against the infectious nature of the defeatism. Friedrich found it was best to stay away from the others lest he lose hope as well.

But the mood was changing of late. Rumor was that a new officer had come to the camp and was openly plotting an uprising. It took a while for the news to reach Hoffman due to his self-imposed isolation but once it did, the plot drove him onward. Finally, someone was willing to lead the men rather than resign them all to this prison. Even if it was destined to be a horrible failure, better that than a life of misery and self-pity.

The first chance he got, Friedrich found the heart of the uprising, two majors who were anything but discreet. The one that seemed to be in overall command, the fresh face in camp, produced a flag that he had hidden away. Now he was asking for volunteers to protect it and when the time came to fly it. It was a great responsibility, an honor, and a terrible risk. Friedrich didn't hesitate but stepped forward immediately to take it. The flag symbolized so much to the cause and could provide hope for the hopeless. Of course it could also play an important role as a signal in the grand scheme of things and greatly distract the guards at the same time.

"I vill take it."

[Sidney Bainbridge]

It didn't take long for a man to stand up to take on Sidney's challange. It was a daring job to be sure. Whoever took it would face the warden for it. Siney would need to make sure the flag went up and all the way. The people on the outside would know he had rallied the troops if the flag went up and that would mean the following day would be the attack.

"That flag has to reach the top of the poll soldier don't take the task if you don't think you can handle that. I'll find a few people to run interferance to make sure you have the time for it." Sidney walked over to the man sizing him up. His accent was unfamiliar to Sidney but in the end that didn't matter the mans courage was the important part. "Whats your Name and Rank soldier?" This man was taking on a hell of a task and if he pulled it off he would be hero to the people in this camp, he wanted to make sure his name wasn't forgotten.

[Friedrich Hoffman]

"Private First Class Friedrich Hoffman, sir." He replied to the major's question. His accent was still obvious but he did his best to properly pronounce and enunciate every word. He didn't want to seem the outsider and he certainly didn't want there to be any errors in communication like what had got him stuck here in the first place. Luckily there were no sounds that were too difficult for him to say in the short sentence.

"I can do as you ask. No problem for me." The second bit was not as easy as the first to say so Friedrich settled for odd wording over mispronunciation. He hoped that his words still got the point across. Nothing short of death would stop him from accomplishing the mission and he was confident in his ability to get in done without dying, or at least accomplishing the mission before being taken down. If nothing else his confidence and eagerness to fight back might inspire others.

[Sidney Bainbridge]

Good one more soldier commetted to the mission ahead. "Very good Private Hoffman. Just make sure she reaches the top." Everything was in order. Tomorrow the Flag goes up then surely they would have an audiance with the Warden. After that it will be a long day of making as much trouble as they can. With the following morning he would need someone else to take the map to the warden, followed by another meet and beat with the warden to end with his troops coming to the gate.

Major Clark, Make sure this man is taken care of for the night and that we have the men we need to back him up." Sidney walked to the edge of the tent and looked out at the last few straglers still roming the base. "We also need to get a full evaluation of their positions tomorrw. We need to know what to expect."

Sidney turned to face back in at the sodlier in the tent, Hoffman and Clark mainly. "Hoffman, you take care of that old girl shes been with me since the first assault on Verbena and I don't intend on losing her now, you got me?" That flag had flown over every battle feild Sidney had been on and would continue with him all the way to Hera and beyond. She was tattered and warn, even blood stained but she could still fly.

[Friedrich Hoffman]

Friedrich gave a crisp salute as he accepted his new responsibility. Salutes weren't too common around the prisoners so it was certainly more meaningful than any other he had ever given. The news that he'd have support of a kind was comforting. Getting the flag up was possible but avoiding the warden and his punishment was nearly unavoidable without help. It still wasn't certain he could get away but now there was a chance.

"I guard flag to death so long as I possess it." Friedrich replied to the major's last question, still omitting and changing words for clarity. "Once it is up, I don't know if I can guarantee. Should I stay behind and guard flagpole?"

[Sidney Bainbridge]

There was no need to risk more lives. No once it was up they would see it and the count down would begin. "Onces it up private you find your way out of there." He wasn't going to put the kid in more risk then he had to. If it went the way he would want it, it would be him and him alone that would be in that office with the Warden.

In fact he could have raised the flag himself and all but he had to rally these men and that ment they had to do their part to prove to themselves they still could do something. Sidney would just have to make sure he made the boldst move with providing him the time. All he had to do was keep himself from getting shot in the process.


Greenleaf, Alliance Prison Camp, September 13th 2509 (T-28 hours) 0600hrs
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The following morning came quickly Sidney had been up late. He would have been up all night had it not been for the painkillers he had taken before being taken in. Finally they had taken him down for the night.

When he woke up he felt like hell, he was sore all over and more then anything he would have rathered just crashing back out and calling it a day, a life maybe even, but he had work to do and today was gonig to be just as bad as the one before but without the comfort of painkillers. He got up out of his bunk put his uniform back on, making sure everything was perfectly straight and proper. Apperance was everything, He appered unbeatten there for he was unbeatten, unbreakable.

"Everyone up!" He yelled out to everyone in the tent before he walked out. The sun was still below the hills. He looked off to the east and could see the base of his men up on the ridge. They would be up there watching. He walked out toward the flagpole. The time was coming quickly and a few others had gathered. Hopefully the private would be out there soon with the flag.

[Friedrich Hoffman]

Friedrich had distanced himself from the majors since taking up the new responsibility but not enough to be obvious about it and draw attention. The flag was his responsibility now. The guards had little reason to suspect him but they had every reason to suspect the plotting majors. If they got pinched then anyone around them would too. It was best to keep apart as much as possible unless absolutely necessary for communication.

Major Bainbridge was up early the next morning, as to be expected of a military man trying to keep discipline and a semblance that they were all still on duty even if captured. The private shadowed the major toward the camp's flagpole, keeping to the crowds of onlookers and half-hearted supporters rather than joining those who were obviously the major's close men.

Was this the moment? Friedrich hadn't received any specific instruction as to when he was to raise the flag, only that he was to do it. If it was time then it wouldn't take long for the major to spot him and call him over. He was hiding in plain sight after all. The flag was carefully secured, hidden but accessible underneath his jacket.

[Sidney Bainbridge]

Sidney watched the hills for a while. The time had come to make it know that he was in and the camp was ready. he looked over the crowd there were quite the gathering now. He spotted a few guards down the way. they were carrying the Alliance flag. Then he spoted Friedrich. It was time to spring in to action.


Sidny nodded at friedrich to signal him to move ahead with the plan. He waved a few others that were standing around to follow him. "Game time boy. Let's get this over with." He said to them as they all walked toward the guards. THey were going to run interferance so that the Private could get the flag up.

As they approched the two guards with the flag Sidney spoke up. "Guess you haven't heard this camp is now under Independent control." He said boldly, not indicating anything about the flag itself. "Out of the way prisoner. one of the guards repiled as the group began to form a line in the path. Others were gathering around them soon more guards would be there focused on them instead of the flag pole.

[Friedrich Hoffman]

Yes, now was the time. They intended to raise the flag before the Alliance even got a chance to raise their own this morning, that would make it a much easier task though Friedrich had been planning on actually taking down and 'capturing' the Alliance flag.

Sidney and his men began to move to halt the approaching Alliance troops and luckily many more prisoners from the group Friedrich had been hiding among also moved to back-up their comrades. With a wall of bodies obscuring the field of view not to mention drawing attention due to their protest, no one would even notice as the private raised the flag until it was too late, already at the top of the pole.

Friedrich walked, just as Sidney and the others did, so as not to draw undue attention. No one, not even any of the other prisoners, noticed as he reached the pole and began to untie the halyard. Not until he pulled the flag out from his jacket did any bystanders take notice but the sight of the flag was enough to encourage a few of the others to join the line of resistance. In seconds the symbol of the Independent movement was attached to the line and on its way up the pole. Friedrich then secured the line in place and hammered the ends of the cleat down with a stone to prevent the cord from being easily untied. That flag would stay up there long enough to be a symbol to the Independents and a frustration to the Alliance working to get it down.

[Sidney Bainbridge]

Friedrich was quick to move in to action as soon as Sidney had taken point on getting the guard attention. "Sorry Sergent, bit I can't dothat" He said to the Alliance guard that was infront of him. As the two men got close Sidney could see off in the distance five more guards headed there way. Well armed and ready for a fight.

Sidney swung at the gaurd making direct contact and the man went tumbling to the ground. As soon as he did the other guard picked up their pace as the small line began to devolve in to a mob around the two. Only seconds passed and they wee both on the ground huddled to sheild themselves from the attack. "Halt, Halt." one of the approching guards yelled out, but no one seemed to listen.

A shot rang out and from one of the guards sooting a round of at the ground. "Games over guy." Sidney yelled out as he stepped forward from the crowd toward the guards. The rest of the men stopped fighting and stood in place. Sidney walked over toward the guards and as soon as he was in range one of them hit him in the gut with the butt of their gun. Two thers grabbed on to him. It was time for him to have a quick visit with the warden. "Hope you are ready for round two." He said to the guards and two the men. For those who had been informed it was a code for the next part of the plan.

Then he looked over to see the flag was up, it seemed the attention to the flag was drawn away. He gave a nod to Friedrich still standing in the area of the flag. More guards were pouring in around them all. Everyone in the area would be in trouble but hopefully Sidney had done enough to keep the attention on himself mainly. In 28 hours from now they would be in the middle of the rescue opporations He just had to survive that long.

Next step would be for everyone to begin harrasing fights with the Alliance guards to draw their attention to inside the fence instad of watching for incoming forces.

[Friedrich Hoffman]

Apparently by 'run interference' the major had meant 'start a brawl with the guards.' Their line of defiance quickly jumped the two guards who approached. Such action was sure to bring swift retribution in the form of lethal force but luckily Friedrich hadn't needed that much time. By the time more guards showed up, the prisoners had already ceased fighting. The flag was up and at least for now they were still more focused on hauling Sidney off than they were on looking around to see if anything else had happened while they were distracted.

Friedrich didn't acknowledge the nod of approval from the major as he was hauled off. Instead, the private attempted to blend back into the crowd and escape the attention of the large influx of guards, live to fight another day. He hadn't been part of the mini riot after all, unless they were in a particularly vengeful mood there would be no reason for him to get swept up in all this simply for being a neutral observer. That is of course assuming that no one had actually seen him and none of the other prisoners who had seen it ratted him out.

[Sidney Bainbridge]

Greenleaf, Alliance Prison Camp, September 14th 2509 (T-15 Minutes) 0945hrs
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The flag had been raised the day before, the map turned over to the warden and Sidney and James had taken a few more beating, not to mantion many others had as well. The warden has running out of patients. An hour earlier he had lined up six random lower ranking prisoners and executed them. Even with that though he had not been able to cursh the rioting. Ever half our or so somone would act up.

The Guards had sent the last night searching through the place for the stored weapons. They had found what they were looking for but luckly the prison was to big for them to find all the new spots weapons were stored. It was only another fifteen minutes till the prison break would happen. Sidney and James had told everyone to begin getting the hidden weapons they had ready. Some of them had even managed to get there hands on a few guns from the guards in the last few hours. Hpefully they wouldn't realize the guns were missing. Others had make shift weapons they had made; single shot guns, steel pole anything they could.

The 217th was not far outside now and they would be trucking in the waepons they would need as well. Sidney sat in his tent with the stock pile of guns. Those he had built a bond of trust with were on their way in to get issued a gun. James of course was one of them along with Sergetn major and one that had proven his worth, Private Hoffman and a few others. "Alright sldiers this is it. You are the front line. Here in a few minutes you will hear an explosion. I expect as soon as that happens we will open fire on the towers trying to take out the tower guards first. Won't be long after that and we will have a second explosion to follow."

That would be their que. WHen the second expolsion goes off the 217th will come flooding in through both holes in the fence and begen arming peple and pulling them out of the camp. Sidney though he had other plans. He had promised the warden a personal escort to hell and he planeed to deliver. "I'll need cover first as soon as the tower guard are out so I can make it to the Wardens litle palace. James will take charge and get the troops rallied and out of the camp, He wouldn;t be far behind though either.

[Friedrich Hoffman]

There had been some fallout from their little 'operation' the previous day. Sidney and a few others had of course been interrogated and beaten. Friedrich had just narrowly escaped the same fate. A few others had even been killed but despite these 'setbacks' morale was actually higher than it ever had been. The flag had flown over the camp and if nothing else it was a sign of defiance that took the Alliance a good while to take down due to Friedrich's sabotage of the pole. Whatever the plan actually was, things seemed to be going according to it. The guards were incredibly busy but seemingly helpless to deal with all the misinformation and real threats arising from rebellious prisoners. Now was the time.

Friedrich found himself in what could be called the command center. It was more an armory of contraband and a surprisingly large amount of actual firearms all stuffed into a prison tent. Apparently he had proven himself enough to be assigned a weapon, both increasing his fighting chances but also marking him as a prime target for the guards. It was no matter. One can not live in fear of what might be. After hearing Sidney's basic outline of the plan, he took the weapon offered and prepared to rejoin the war.