Corvus: Apologies for the wait.
???: Lower your weapons. It's Iglika!
Shadows part, young men emerge. Recognizing the conductress, they lower their rifles.
Corvus: I prefer Corvus. It's more familiar to me.
Corvus: Are they all our people?
She checks their faces, easing only when she sees no strangers among them.
Watch Soldier: Yes, no others, just as planned.
Watch Soldier: Pyrrhos's men are patrolling ahead.
Corvus: Good. Finish this quickly.
Corvus: The passengers believe we're clearing snow ahead of the train.
Corvus: Is Pyrrhos holding up his end?
Watch Soldier: Yes. He'll let you through when the train arrives.
Corvus: Good. And the "cargo"?
Watch Soldier: In the carriage over there, in the woods.
Watch Soldier: We've got horses to pull it over.
Watch Soldier: This way. It'll keep you out of sight.
At her word, the men hurry down the forked path by the tracks.
Watch Soldier: Come on, follow us!
She steps forward, but her coat hem is tugged.
Aima: Conductress, I ...
Corvus: Got it.
Corvus: Don't worry. I'll be back.
The conductress drapes a newly-made scarf over the girl's shoulders until it has all but buried her face.
Aima: ...
Aima: So soft. Thank you, Conductress.
Corvus: I don't want you to catch a chill.
Watch Soldier: Iglika—
Patting her shoulder, she walks alone into the shadows.
Watch Soldier: One, two, three!
Watch Soldier: Phew! Done. That was a heavy one.
Corvus: Alright, time for an inventory check.
Semmelweis: She's added another carriage?
Semmelweis blends into the dark shadows of the trees, examining the train.
A new carriage is pulled up and secretly attached behind the rear cabin.
Semmelweis: What's it carrying? Guns? Ammunition? Controlled substances?
Semmelweis: And those don't look like Serbian troops.
She waits until the soldiers disperse, leaving only two behind.
Aima: ...
Aima lowers her head and clutches her scarf.
Then, she suddenly collapses to her knees.
Corvus: Aima?
The snow falls constantly and heavily.
Their figures lean together in the storm, like ghosts rooted among the trees.
In that moment, all else melts away. The world is only the two of them.
Aima: I'm sorry, I ...
Corvus: Shh-shh. I know. I know.
Corvus: Silly girl. Shouldn't have gotten so close.
Semmelweis: What are they ... Could it be ...
The investigator, hidden in shadow, frowns as she keens her eyes.
Semmelweis: Need to get confirmation.
???: Freeze.
???: Hands up where I can see them.
Semmelweis: ...
She raises her hands.
???: Turn around.
Two soldiers stagger before her, faces ghostly and haggard, like two white flames drifting in the night.
Patrol Soldier II: Good. Don't do anything stupid.
Patrol Soldier II: What did you see just now?
Semmelweis: I saw ...
She flicks her toe, kicking a stone into one soldier's knee.
Patrol Soldier I: Ugh!
He cries out, buckling to the ground.
She lunges, seizing his weapon in the same instant, turning it on the other.
Semmelweis: My turn now.
Semmelweis: Hands up where I can see them.
COMBAT
Two young soldiers lie unconscious in the snow.
Semmelweis: Something's wrong with these soldiers. Slow movements, unsteady steps, and their faces ... oddly pale ...
Semmelweis: Hmm, no bullets in either gun. That can't just be a mistake.
She checks their gear: empty rifles, unmarked tags, and a trinket that draws her eye.
Semmelweis: ...!
Semmelweis: Same shape and size. This looks to be the item the conductress gave that soldier at the station earlier.
Semmelweis: Manus Vindictae. Finally, you rear your head.
She runs her fingers over the familiar symbol, then pulls her communicator from her coat and presses the button.
Semmelweis: Investigator Semmelweis to Foundation, mission number 0073-MV.
Foundation Operator: Go ahead, Investigator.
Semmelweis: Progress update: I've found a Manus Vindictae insignia on a soldier at a station near Belgrade.
Semmelweis: The conductress of the "Danube Dawn" has undertaken suspicious dealings with these soldiers, stopping the train on the pretext of "the railway being blocked by the snow" in order to secretly add an additional carriage.
Semmelweis: I now have reason to believe that the conductress is collaborating with Manus Vindictae. Whatever's in that carriage may be related to our blood-sucking target.
Semmelweis: One more thing: I've lost contact with all members of Squad 77.
Foundation Operator: Mission 0073-MV report received. We will continue our search for Squad 77. Please proceed with your mission, Investigator.
Report finished, she snaps the device shut.
She looks up at the dark sky. The storm is easing.
Semmelweis: Been out here a while. Any longer and I might start to raise suspicion.
Semmelweis: Time to head back.
Time passes slowly.
A few passengers stir awake with the stop; some step out of their cabins, whispering in the darkness.
Train Steward: All passengers, please remain in your rooms. The train is about to depart, and we will reach the border checkpoint soon!
The steward moves between cars, calming their unease.
Between two cars, he sees one door ajar, wind blowing snow inside.
Train Steward: Hm? Why is the door open?
Train Steward: Wait a minute, there's something underneath.
Unwell Passenger: coughing
A passenger leans there, coughing hard, drawing the attention of the steward.
Unwell Passenger: cough Excuse me, when is the train leaving?
Train Steward: Oh! Apologies, sir. In about five, no, ten minutes.
Unwell Passenger: Okay.
He lowers his head with dejection.
When the steward leaves, his eyes roll, lips twitching with a guttural rasp.
*groan*
Low rumbles drown voices, shouts, any stray sound in the train.
The "Danube Dawn" rolls on into the storm, laden with passengers.