ORDER

(I never thought I would keep a diary, but as required by regulation - I am, as of now, required to keep one.

In the name of the Nation, I volunteered for the role of Gestalt political leader at C-23 Sierpinski within the first seconds of learning that the past Gestalt Lieutenant was being sent to the capital for health reasons. I am proud that out of all the volunteers, I was the one called for this role! Even though this AEON facility is on the borders of the solar system, its importance cannot be dismissed! And those who did not volunteer, but could have - real ignoramuses who do not realize the importance of this object! After all, it is through such facilities that we get ammunition and many important resources to fight the damn Imperials!

I was sent on the very first flight to Leng, along with other such volunteers, resources and of course the most important Replicas, but! I can't believe I was on the same starship with an FKLR class replica! Even though I couldn't see her, it fills me with awe! I can't wait to get started with the other gestalts and replicas of the administrative corps!)

---

Damn... Damn those interrogators. I should have gotten my hands on them, shouldn't I? Because of them, I'm a spy now, but: "...Since your exploits during the battles on Vineta and your heroic retreat from the planet, thanks to which you were able to save part of the NVA division, cannot be forgotten and we...". After these words I was stripped of my title of hero of the Eusan Nation and sent to Leng to observe and correct the work and "patriotism" of the local gestalts. I was in the wardroom at the moment, watching the other "volunteers" with one eye and the other on the space on the other side of the porthole - after all, I had developed a working habit of covertly observing other people all the time and noticing their misdeeds. Now I understand why sometimes politcom are treated, well... not very warmly. Even now, some of the gestalts occasionally gave me the occasional leer. Eh, but in my unit there were no such looks and I was respected truly, for my deeds, not because of a higher rank, as it happens in most cases. I finally turned away from other gestalts and began to look at the space behind the porthole - what a beautiful space it was.... So unexplored, but still, the way the Nation was exploring it. The Penrose Mission, if I got the hints right, was a one-way ticket. It's not a given that Ships and their small crew will be able to find habitable planets, and the fact that they're being sent two units at a time - a replica and a gestalt - does the trick. It feels more like an experiment than a space exploration beyond the system's borders... but I can only speak my mind about it, and I have no right to say anything against the mission or to express any ideas at all. "Comrade Lieutenant, may I speak to you?" – came a female`s voice. "Yes?" – I turned to the voice. In front of me stood a average woman with brown hair – a fairly common hair color, and the hairstyle was also popular now in Eusan Nation. Judging by her badges, she belonged to the radio crew at the S-23 Serpinski facility. "Comrade Lieutenant, do you know when we'll arrive at Leng?" – woman asked a rather ordinary question after she saluted me. Maybe it was her first time on an interplanetary flight? Well, then it's understandable, I should take advantage of this situation to improve my image among the regular staff of the facility. "Based on my past experience – in about an hour or two. So, I think you can start getting ready to land and meet your new home" – I replied in a relaxed voice. "Thank you for your help, Comrade Lieutenant!" – Woman saluted and headed away from me at a brisk pace. Well, I hope at least somehow, this little "conversation" will make a difference, though I highly doubt it. "The white planet awaits, eh?" – I thought, looking at the distant silhouette of the planet Leng.

...

"Wir sind das Bauvolk der kommenden Welt...~" – I quietly hummed one of the Nation's work songs. But as we exited the ship onto the landing hangar pad, I noticed that right after us the new factory replicas started coming out, ARAR, STAR, STCR and.... Is that a replica of the FKLR model? Hmm, looks like the last one was reassigned to another facility since they brought the newest factory one here. A replica of the EULR model came out to our small group of gestalts. "Comrades Gestalts, please follow me to our transport. It will help us get to the S-23 Serpinski facility"– the replika said and led the gestalts behind her. I followed the procession behind, although I should have been in the lead - I'm a politcom after all. A few minutes later we arrived at the spaceport garage - there waiting for us was a machine 404S, designed specifically for the conditions of the planet Leng. Pretty funny products for 10 people, because of which they carry one or two additional trailers for crew and passengers on a permanent basis. Rotfront has the same vehicles, but they're model 401A, a smaller and more spry model than the 404C. I was brought up to speed before being sent to Sierpinski. So I gladly sat in the proposed transport - despite the fact that the way from the spaceport to the facility is only a kilometer and a half, I, and other gestalt, as well as replicas in particular, do not want to go out in a hundred and forty degree frost. I sat behind STAR, which was obliged to be near the driver and control his actions, well, and the driver, usually EULR replikas, must move along the route without moving away from him not a millimeter. All these measures were taken and kept until now because of the war with the Imperials, because before the drivers were mostly gestalts, and there was no co-driver to control their actions, but after a few "lost" and "lagged" convoy cars, this small directive was formed. Well, now I just have to sit back and wait for the ride to be over - my guess is that it shouldn't take more than fifteen minutes.

***

"...That's all, the briefing is over, the gestalts are free to go. gestalt-officers please stay - there will be an additional briefing for you" - said the tall and cold STCR. Usually the briefing is conducted by EULR class replikas, but it seems that this time the command decided to use another replika to, well, intimidate the regular Gestalt officers, to show them how great the power of the nation is compared to them. I wasn't intimidated by her coldness and stern, intermittent tone, and much of the behavior of the retreads' replikas. Once, even before the battle on Vineta, I was stationed at a facility to "educate" combat and defense replicas, and because of that I even had time to participate in this very "education". So I can say, I find this coolness to be their embellishment and a sign of good qualifications as protector replikas. There are only 3 gestalts left in the class... and 3 replikas. Huh, looks like I'm not the only one so "lucky" - but what could a girl have done wrong to be sent here? They seem to be very diligent while in the military..... Oh God, don't tell me she's a true volunteer... "Politcom Egon Krenz, First Lieutenant Walter Ulbrich, Warrant Officer Sabine Bergmann-Paul, as Gestalt officers at the facility you are required to keep a diary and record all your thoughts in it - the diary will be checked at the end of your term of service at the S-23 Sierpinski facility - all records will be used against you if the Nation deems them anti-revolutionary. Now on to your officer briefing... Oh, God, not that useless "diary" instruction... I'll have to write again about how wonderful the Nation is and how I'm glad I volunteered for the job and how the Imperial dogs are damned and will burn in the flames of the war they started because of their stupid management of the country. And if one were to write something between one's own thoughts and propaganda, the interrogators and the ubiquitous Stasi could easily twist the truth. After about half an hour our officer's briefing was over and we were released, well, as released - we were taken by EULR to the floor with officers' rooms and now, being in my new room, which will be my home for the next fifteen years, I lay down on the bed and thought about the future and what I will be ordered to do at this facility. As I thought about it, I fell into a deep sleep, and finally I passed out.