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Radio Patrol VP-86

Ostmark

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When Horst Grasser was sworn in as Chancellor of the Republic of Ostmark he solemnly pleged, in violation of the official formula, to never act against the interest of the working classes and to defend the sovereignty of the nation in the face of capitalist exploitation. It was in that moment that his detractors understood that their days of sorrow were about to begin, whereas the newly sworn in and self-styled People's Chancellor promised not only revenge, but a swift, radical and sometimes brutal turn of the tide.

One of his first official acts as Head of Government and de-facto dictator of the People's Republic of Ostmark, was the approval of the None Shall Freeze, None Shall Starve Initiative. In early October 2018, the number of homeless was estimated at 92.000. A huge, terrible social plight that affected citizens of all ages and social extraction. The first artificial OstMarks minted by the reformed People's Central Bank of Ostmark were immediatly invested in the distribution of food, medicines, blankets, hot beverages and the construction of temporary shelters for the homeless and the poor.

After almost six months, the plight of homelessness is virtually non-existent, but recent reports have highlighted the presence of several individuals in the industrial wasteland in the western outskirts of the capital city. Formerly the industrial heart and core of the nation, during the Days of Sorrow it became a cemetery of ruins and decayed buildings where huge factories burstling with activity once stood. It sadly became a place for homeless and socially excluded people who looked for shelter and cheap shots of heroin and crack, including families with children and elder men and women who lacked the financial means to afford expensive fees in private retirement homes, a collateral effect of the austerity measures adopted by former Chancellor Franz Kohler.

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On the night of the between the 2nd and the 3rd day of March, 2019, at 0045 Hours, the local dispatch of the Volkspolizei ordered Radio Patrol VP-86, Anwarter Baumann and Wachtmeister Schmidt, to investigate reports of suspicious activities in the former production facilities of a pharmaceutical company in Arbeitstrasse.

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"Dispatch, this is Radio Patrol VP-86 reporting in from Arbeitstrasse, over" said Anwarter Baumann on the radio. After a few seconds, a crackly voice from the radio replied "Copy, proceed with your assignment VP-86. Dispatch over and out". Wachtmeister Schmidt scouted the area from the inside of the vehicle "I can't see anything, they still haven't fixed the lights in this area. Use the search light". Baumann followed the order. The powerful light placed on left mirror of the patrol car lighted up the sorroundings, and the two men silently stared at the gigantic skeleton of concrete and rusty iron "Do you think there are still people out here?" asked the Anwarter. "Possibly. Get ready, we're moving in. Get the flashlight, the megaphone and the crowbar". Wachtmeister Schmidt is a 56 years old man, an old one if compared to the average age of the officers of the Volkspolizei. He sure acted as a veteran, an old guard of Ostmark's law enforcement who served for almost 30 years.

The two officers stepped out of the car. When Anwarter Baumann reached for the shotgun, Watchmeister Schmidt vigorously slapped him on the back of his head "You don't need that. We are not hunting boars" "But what if they attack us?" "They will not. I've done this before. So if we meet anyone let me do the talk. Understood?" "Jawhol" "Good, now follow me and keep that flashlight up. And watch your steps too. I'd be submerged by paperwork if you cracked your face open with that crowbar. Understood?" "Jawhol herr Wachtmeister".

Step by step they finally reach the entrace of the factory. As expected, the occupants barricaded the doors with wooden boards and plastic sheets to fend off intruders and probably preserve heat. Wachmeister Schmidt carefully opens a breach in the makeshift barricade with the use of the crowbar and enters the building, followed by the young Anwater. Baumann is visibly disgusted by the smell of urine and feces "Oh my God..." "Keep walking and watch your steps". Wachmeister Baumann signals the Anwarter to stop and to hand over the megaphone "Give me that". After a few tests, Schmidt places the microphone infront of his mouth and presses the Push To Talk botton "This is the People's Police". The metallic voice echoes across the corridors and halls of the abandoned building.

A loud bang is heard in the distance, followed by footsteps. Someone is running. "What was that??" "Keep calm. Stay behind me". At the end of the corridor, Watchmeister Schmidt peaks into one of the many rooms. When he takes a step back, Anwarter Baumann immediatly noticed how his partner's face suddenly became pale. Schmidt's face was shocked. He covered his nose with the left hand, closed his eyes and moved over to the next room "What?? What's going on??". Visibly confused, Baumann decides to peak into the room only to notice the bodies of a young man and a woman on the ground. Most certainly dead, and judging by the unbearable smell and the level of decomposition, they must have been laying there for at least three weeks. The floor was covered with syringes and dirty, rotten matresses. The room probably serves as a hotspot for heroin addicts who crave for their daily doses of death. Baumann couldn't hold it but throw up on the ground. Schmidt notices him and gently grabs him by the shoulder "I know, but there's nothing we can do. Let's go..". His tone is suddenly calm, almost friendly, which is unusual for the Wachtmeister, but even three decades of service can't get you used to such scenes. They keep walking along the corridor.

"Baumann.." "..Yes Wachmeister?" "Give me the megaphone again, let's make another try. I think we are close" "Yes Sir..". The Watchmeister grabs a hold on the microphone and again presses the Push To Talk botton "Comrades, this is the People's Police" again, a loud noise, this time much closer, can be heard coming from the end of the corridor. Anwarter Baumann, visibly shaken, unholsters his pistol and takes aim in the dark. Baumann quickly grabs his partner's wirsts and forces him to lower the gun "Anwarter!!". After a few moments of hesitation, Baumann places his pistol back in place on the right side of his utility belt.

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A shadowy figure appears in the corridor. Followed by another one, and another one, and another one. After a few minutes, the whole corridor is crowded with men and women, young and old, some of them are holding babies to their chests, or older children by their hand. Baumann is standing in the middle of the corridor, eyes wide open. The Wachtmeister raises the flashlight to check on their faces and their condition. All of them are wearing dirty and damaged clothing, some have no shoes, others are visibly ill, possibly suffering pneumonia or bronchitis.

For a few minutes, a creepy and unnatural silence descended over the abandoned facility, with coughing and the cries of the young ones being the only exception. Schmidt took a few steps forward. The group suddenly reacted by taking a few steps back, probably out of fear. The veteran of the People's Police slightly raised his hands. After a few seconds, he friendly extended his right hand and said "Kameraden.. come with us. The days of sorrow are over".
 
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