Operation Spréach
Rónán looked in wonder at the masses of repurposed tractors and trucks slowly trudging along the ice sheets.
When O Riagain had come up with this proposal, many in the Ministry had scoffed at such a project, deeming it a waste of fuel better served heating their homes. After all, the lives of those up in the hemispheres were already forfeit, no?
Regardless of such objections however, and at the direction of Galchobhar himself, he had carried through his proposal. The Minister had explained that the foremost purpose of this project was restoring morale, not necessarily conducting the most materially efficient use of the resources available.
And so we drew up plans.
Modified snow-plows, made of sheet metal and tractors, and ersatz snow carving machines were requisitioned in order to clear a way. A monumental effort ending up in thousands of kilometers of ice roads that would only ever last until summer.
There were a lot of hard lessons, in areas where the sheets were thinner, many a worker lost their lives in the cold undersea. After such incidents, it was determined that a thickness of no less than 20 centimeters of ice was required in order for a transport vehicle to pass safely with one ton of cargo. 30 centimeters for mass transit to be carried over it.
Many trucks and tractors had to be abandoned due to mechanical failure, fated to be engulfed by the seas once warmer temperatures came in.
Nevertheless, as he gazed upon the hastily cleared up harbor of the once great city of Gemreta, all those hard learned lessons were worth it.
A mass of emaciated elves, looked in wonder at the hundreds of trucks carrying more food they had ever seen since that fateful day arrived and were arranged in a semi-circle along the harbor, flanked by a couple of APC's. As they finally reached the frozen over quay, he took out his megaphone, looked intently at the crowd that stood silently before him and recited the speech he had practiced dozens of times.
"People of Gemreta! In the name of the Seelie Reconstruction Authority, and at the behest of our great leader Galchobhar Cu Ruih I come bearing good news. We arrive with the gift of life, and the hope of a better tomorrow. These fine gentleman that have come with me have endured a long and harrowing voyage here, so your cooperation in making their jobs easier would be greatly appreciated. Each citizen will be given a ration of two thousand kilocalories, in a first come, first serve system. We will prioritize women and children. Stocks are limited, so the lines will be closed when they run out. Yet do not despair, and be patient, more is coming!"
And with that, the crowd got moving. With surprising spryness, and an unexpected level of order, the starving denizens of what was once the capital of an enemy nation set themselves up to receive their ration.
In these desperate times, it seemed as if the war that was waged not so long ago was a distant memory, the gift of life serving as a balm to mend the great divisions that had shattered the previous international order.
Rónán thought to himself, that however weird and sometimes insensitive their leader was, perhaps his ramblings had a point. There was no way in sight but to go forward, letting the old world melt away to a bright new future, where all of elfkind walked hand in hand.
As a child surprised him with a hug, desperately sobbing in his musky shirt, white powder on his mouth. He thought to himself that maybe the future was finally here.
