Illoia had almost forgotten about the entire incident the next day, being both exhausted from trooping and fascinated with the sounds she was getting from ‘the front’. But she remembered when Tom, halfway through the hike back to quarters, got a call.
“Ld. Tomirosh,” he said. Then he listened for a few seconds and chuckled. “Well, remind him to report to my assembly room at 1300.”
“What’s up?” Ill asked Tom when he got off the com.
“Our Top Ranker had a few difficulties with his assignment,” Tom said. “We are going to have an interesting afternoon.” He then switched to his com and sent out ‘double time home’.
—
They arrived home earlier than usual, about 1030. Fresher, nap,” her husband said, humming in a strange pattern. She hurried off to the fresher, joining the usual crowd. But, unusually, many of them were completely undressed and using soap and the like.
“What’s up?” she asked, joining the crowd.
“Assembly this afternoon at 1300,” one of the lasses, who was scrubbing down a very unwilling small lad, said.
Illoia looked at her com. Sure enough. ‘Assembly’ without any cause given. It was just listed for information, as she was not technically required to come. These lasses probably knew better, though, and she concentrated on getting herself clean and nice looking. She should have known that there was going to be an assembly. Why else would that Mid Ranker be meeting Tom in that room? And Tom had said that things were going to be ‘interesting’.
She finished and hurried back to her quarters, where her husband was waiting for her. Almost two hours later his alarm went off and he sat up. “Full uniform, please,” he said to her, arising and donning his own. She watched him as he set it to a dark, dark black, except for his tabs and his dictators own medals.
“What… what do you want me to set my dress to?” she asked. At his confused look, she added, “Color wise.”
“Ah… hmmm… I think I would prefer Jungle Camo 27. Yes, I think that would work well.”
Ill quickly found and set her dress to that pattern and then, surreptitiously, commed the other top rankers wife. Just a quick text: this jungle camo.’ Tom’s humming seemed to rise in tone as he dressed. Then he turned to her and held out his arm.
Their walk to the assembly area was eerily quiet. She thought she could hear some quiet baby noises coming from ahead but, other than that, nothing. They made the walk down the hall and then turned… into a sea of uniforms. No more, she supposed, than the first day, but the first day she had been there when they came in and this time she was coming from behind the ranks, and then through the ranks, and then up to the front. And all through dead silence. And almost all the uniforms were, like hers, set to Jungle Camo.
Tom walked calmly and quietly, with Illoia on his arm, until he reached the front, and then his loosened grip told her she should go and join the lasses and children along the wall. Tom waited for her to stop moving and turn around and then he began to speak, “Gentlemen, we are gathered today for an informal discipline session. Top Ranker Barcis Korba, front and center please.”
The Top Ranker, who didn’t look as if he had had the same amount of time to freshen, came forward to stand in front of Tom, but his face was completely white. White, if Ill had to guess, with anger.
“Sir! Permission to speak, Sir?!”
“Certainly, Top,” Tom said, his voice quiet and calm, but his humming slightly noticeable between speaking.
“I believe that an informal disicipline session is normally voluntary, and private!”
“You are right, Top,” Tom said, “On both counts. That is normal. As far as the privacy, however, given that your entire company was involved in the… issue, I thought it appropriate that they be present. And given various other circumstances, I thought it appropriate to invite our entire unit.”
His humming increased a bit and he began fingering his shirt, indeed, he began fingering his Dicator’s Own medals. “And, indeed, it is traditional that it be voluntary. Do you wish to volunteer, Top Ranker?”
The silence from the crowd was profound, broken only by a very noisy nursing baby several feet from Illoia, and Tom’s humming. The Top Ranker made to speak several times and then, finally, came out with, “Yes, Sir!”
“Very good. So… let us begin. Now… I gave you an order, yesterday. Do you remember that order, Top?”
The Top Ranker quivered, “Sir! You transmitted your order to me by comp after telling me verbally.”
“That is true. Let me read it:
You are to take your Company a klick south of here, and clear an area 100 meters square of all vegetation higher than ten centimeters. Then I wish you to establish a perimeter in depth and guard it with floating patrols. In depth, expecting attack from any direction at any time.
“That is what I read. Is that what you read, Top?”
“Sir, yes, Sir!”
“Very well. Now, I believe I asked for a Mid Ranker from Euckles Century to be here. Mid Ranker?”
“Sir?” Illoia heard, and saw a Mid Ranker hurrying forward from the opposite side of the room from her.
“Could you relate your story to us, please? Video, if you don’t mind?”
“Sir!” the Mid Ranker said, saluting and, after he fiddled with his com for a few seconds, the walls around changed from the outdoor scene they had been showing to the inside of a barracks…
—
Article 17
Article 17 is a military science fiction story with aliens and romance. It is set in a future reminiscent of Napoleon era Britain. The war was going very poorly until the military installed a dictator. This story follows one of the dictator’s great men: Cladin Tomirosh, Leader, and thrice decorated hero.
—
Thank you for reading Von’s Substack. I would love it if you commented! I love hearing from readers, especially critical comments. I would love to start more letter exchanges, so if there’s a subject you’re interested in, get writing and tag me!
Being ‘restacked’ and mentioned in ‘notes’ is very important for lesser-known stacks so… feel free! I’m semi-retired and write as a ministry (and for fun) so you don’t need to feel guilty you aren’t paying for anything, but if you enjoy my writing (even if you dramatically disagree with it), then restack, please! Or mention me in one of your own posts.
If I don’t write you back it is almost certain that I didn’t see it, so please feel free to comment and link to your post. Or if you just think I would be interested in your post!
If you get lost, check out my ‘Table of Contents’ which I try to keep up to date.
Von also writes as ‘Arthur Yeomans’. Under that name he writes children’s, YA, and adult fiction from a Christian perspective. His books are published by Wise Path Books and include the children’s/YA books:
The Bobtails meet the Preacher’s Kid
and
As well as GK Chesterton’s wonderful book, “What’s Wrong with the World”, for which ‘Arthur’ wrote most of the annotations.
Arthur also has a substack, and a website. On the substack you can listen to some of his published books. Free.
Thanks again, God Bless, Soli Deo gloria,
Von
Other Stories
Article 17 is not my only story on Substack. I have another light dystopia, or cultural sci-fi. And a Sci-Fantasy, with elves and dwarves. And a Morality Play, ala Aesop’s Fables.
Contract Marriage Intro
And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Prologue IP0
Island People is a young adult fantasy book centring on a young prince. The book starts with his kidnapping and follows his adventures as he not only escapes from his kidnapper but gains critical allies and friends.