No. We will not withdraw from this position. Win or lose, this is where we make our stand.
His lieutanant might be right. If they withdrew to the Caves of Calling, they would no doubt live to fight another day. But there comes a time when “another day” just doesn’t cut it anymore.
Here. Now. Today. This is where the war would be decided. This is where it all would end. One way or the other.
Once they were surrounded, there would be no more escape. No more withdrawing, and regrouping, and returning to the fight. No options anymore.
Maybe the desperation of trying to survive would change the odds somehow. Maybe they’d grow wings. Or maybe they’d just go their graves with a bang instead of a whimper.
It didn’t really matter. Not anymore. Who wins, who loses, just let it end. Just let this war be over.
Strategies discussed. Weapons placed. Positions found.
Then waiting.
Always so much waiting.
They don’t really tell you that, do they, in training? Just how much waiting is involved.
You get this impression that it’s all so fast all the time. Troops sent here and there, flown in, flown out, split-second decisions where your training to obey commands has got to replace all thinking or you’re dead.
Bullshit.
Mostly it’s just waiting. With some moments of terror thrown in every here and there, mostly it’s just waiting.
Well… sounds like the wait is finally over.
Explosions. Gunfire. Flashing lights. Smoke. Dust. Commands yelled and obeyed. Screaming. Pain and blood and suffering. Time, always in slow motion.
Still alive, huh.
How weird that it seems to have worked. We took our stand… and won?
Two days after the war was finally over, Captain Lyles was killed. Officially it was a tragic accident. The greatest hero of our side. The man who decided all our destiny. He who won the war.
Unofficially he ate his own gun.
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