There is a jubilant glee in the air, now that significant portions of Northern Spain are freed, and soon, more of it will be freed, as well. For now, though, we can focus on whittling down the Carlist's armies in the united offensive pocket, Collectivizing and organizing Worker's and Peasant's governments in the region, and reorganizing and reinforcing frontline units.

1940, Liberated Basque Country.

Gennaro doesn't understand Rafael's obsession with talking to every farmer he meets. He also doesn't understand how he's able to converse so confidently as if he was also a farmer. He's known Rafael for several years now, long before the Civil War, and he knows for a fact that he's lived in towns and cities his whole life and never once milked a cow, until now, as he watches with a look of revulsion on his face as Rafael helps out this Basque farmer with milking a cow while discussing crop yields in '39.

"How can you do that?"

"Do what?" says Rafael, while removing the gloves and thanking the farmer for the chance to help him out.

"You worked in a gun factory. You made rifles all day. I know you enjoy reading farming manuals, but you're not just- you- what's up, man?"

Rafael sighs and looks off into the distance. "Don't you have any dreams beyond achieving liberation, and then back to the factory?"

Gennaro shrugged. "I don't know, you mean aside from like, starting a family, eating and drinking well, dying old?"

"Is that what you plan to do?'

"It's what I hope everyone plans to do."

Rafael picks up his rifle and hands Gennaro his pistol from where they left them leaning on a wall, and they both begin walking through the countryside, past columns of SWF troops, Monarchist prisoners, artillery and AA batteries, and back to their squad. "Well, then, I want to do that, but I don't want to live in the city. I hate the city, Gennaro. I hate it to the point where I become incomprehensible and babbling."

Gennaro coughs as Rafael gathers his next statement. "It's all, what, dust and screaming, cramped, apartments, I hate it, Gennaro. Even worse is the factory, which is smoke and soot and machinery and CLANG CLANG CLANG POW POW POW all the fucking day long. I've had enough of that, Gennaro. You know why I like reading farming manuals?"

"Their clever insights and witty agrarian comments on how to best live life?"

"N- well, yes, but also because I don't want to be a spot on an assembly line for murder weapons. I want to farm. I want to harvest crops. I want to engage in animal husbandry. I want to live a life worth living, Gennaro, in the open air, where there's sun. Hopefully far away from any factories or towns."

Gennaro nods a little. "I don't know, the countryside always makes me nervous. No roads, no people, wild animals, farmers with shotguns. Forests, mountains to slip and fall on. Frenchmen, if you're in really dangerous countryside."

Rafael shrugs. "Those were always part of the charm, to me."

They continue walking, and return to the shed where they've been put up for the night. Savannah ambles over to them. "Hey, guys, the votes for the leader of the company are in."

"Oh? That's good."

"Yeah, congratulations!"

She pats Rafael's shoulder, before continuing to walk past them.

"What? What's that supposed to mean?"

She doesn't respond.

Rafael gives Gennaro a look, and points a thumb in her general direction. "So, on top of her being an anarchist, she's vague in conversation. Are you sure that's the girl you like?"

"Ahahaha!" replies Gennaro, nervously, "So funny, you make me laugh, let's go, no time to joke anymore!"

They enter the shed, and immediately, somebody uncorks a bottle of wine, somebody else tosses some improvised confetti in their faces, and from under a bunk, the new Squad Leader starts passing out some hand pies.

"Heyy, it's tonight's VIP! Welcome to the party!"

"I'm sorry, what?"

"You're the new Company Leader, man!"

Rafael stares off into space, confetti bejeweling his thousand yard stare, as Gennaro joins in with the drinking, and everyone begins chanting for a speech.

Rafael regrets many things. Most of all, being friends with enough people to get himself elected into any position of power, ever.

Why is he friends with all these people.

What did he do to deserve this.

He's sorry.