“Well, you can send out your invitations now.” Tomirosh said to Illoia, coming over to where the dependents were all standing staring at her.
“But…?”
“Tomorrow at 1600 would probably be good. Invite everyone in your book, this is going to be a big party, and probably the only one they will get for a while. Certainly the only one like this.”
“But…?”
“Send the Top the list of supplies you will need, who you plan on inviting, everything.”
“Yes, my husband but… is it worth all of this trouble?”
Tomirosh looked at the other dependents, “Dismissed.” he said, quietly, and they all hurried off.
“Social events are very important in a soldier’s family’s life; but that is not the whole reason I am doing this. As you know from our OOB we have a few soldiers, including this Top Ranker, Barcis, who did not have a good reputation with their own commanders. This could be for a variety of reasons but, before I use these troops in battle I need to know what is wrong with them.”
“I found out for the Top. He’s lazy. He should have sent troops out at night and secured the area. Then rotated troops around working and guarding to keep them fresh.”
“And they would have won?”
“Well, no. I gave them a very hard task. One platoon against three fire teams…”
“But I don’t understand. Doesn’t… isn’t a platoon a lot bigger than three fire teams?’
“Yes, Love, but the platoon has a lot of ground to guard, and the fireteams can attack whereever they want to, set up fields of fire, etc. Given our technology a circle is a very hard thing to defend. It used to be that when troops would form a circle they had a firepower advantage. Nowadays they just form a bigger target… more open areas. And a troop that is already set up… well, you know the advantages they have.
“So the fireteam got to set up, attacking unprepared troops, in a circle… they had all the strikes against them. Their leader let them down.
“Tommorrow he will do better. Come, let us go to our room. You have work to do. The Top Ranker needs information, some of which you might need to make up on the fly. Let’s get going.”
Illoia followed Tom and, even as she did her comm started vibrating with messages from Barcis, requests for information. She put them on ‘hold’ and started comming out invitations. First to their own troop, which were all immediately accepted. Then she sent invitations to dependents in neighboring troops, which were almost as quickly accepted. Then she swallowed deeply and opened up a chat-com.
“Oh, Illoia, it’s so nice to hear from you again,” the commander’s wife said.
“Yes, you too. Say, I have a question for you.”
“Yes, dear?”
“I’m planning a party for tommorrow and I was wondering if you and your children would like to come?”
“Oh, I’m sure they’d love that. Your headquarters?”
“Ummm, no. No my husband is preparing a place about a klick away.”
“In the jungle?!”
“They are preparing a place. All sorts of play equipment, tables, and the like.”
“Will it be safe?”
“We’ll have a whole century for protection, ground and sky.”
“Well, the children will certainly enjoy that.”
“Are there other children there who would like to come?”
“Well, certainly, but… how many do you want?”
“My husband said to invite as many as I could.”
“Oh, dear. Well, let me get on the comm…”
—
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.
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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.