“Very well, I’ll tell you about my third award…”
“I was part of a scout battalion. The lasses may not know that scouts, like some other elite units, operate differently than regular units. All of our members are one rank higher than that of a regular unit. So the lowest rank are Middys, and then Top Ranker and so on.
I was an Top Ranker, so I had a squad. Scouts operate behind enemy lines. The aliens don’t have scouts, oddly enough. I think they are too social. Aliens don’t like to be alone. At all. Drives them crazy.
So, anyway, I had a squad, and the battalion??? was headed by a Staff major… one of the only times they can be in line. Our job was to infiltrate the lines and do some serious scouting, behind the lines. We were mostly looking for prisoners. The aliens don’t really do supply dumps or com centres like we do, so finding where they take our prisoners was always our big priority.
“Do they take a lot of prisoners?” Eudoria asked.
“All they can,” Tom replied, brusquely. “Anyway, that day we got through the line easy enough. Our troops had that down to a drill… some artillery, a distracting attack, a series of emps and we’re through the line.
“We had agreed to meet up about a klick in and my squad arrived last, having the furthest to go. As we started to get close, I realized that the aliens were gathering, and were going to attack.”
“How did you know?” Eudoria asked, again.
“Instinct,” Tom said. “So I stopped my squad short of the rendezvous point, had them spread out to support the other troops, and went on to contact the sub-commander.”
“You have to understand the terrain to understand this next part. The area we were in was largely scrub brush. Short trees just a little higher than a man. Fighting in this stuff, well, it was rough. Neither energy nor kinetic worked well. Energy got distracted by the branches, kinetic went off early, and you couldn’t see to shoot either one.
So battles in this stuff were nasty and long. That gave me an idea. I contacted the Staff Major and had him stay where he was with some troops to draw fire. A couple of other squads, including mine, would then range in on the aliens and keep them occupied.
Meanwhile I would take a fire team and continue on our mission. Well, the major liked the idea, after a few minutes, and I took off with my team. There were aliens coming in from all directions, but we got past them. My men were used to working with me, and to dodging aliens in this muck
I led them over to where they were keeping our captives…
“How did you find it?” Meriones asked. “I’ve never been a scout myself, but I’ve heard their devilish tricky to find!”
Illoia frowned at the language, but as ‘devilish’ didn’t officially denigrate the deity she had no real reason to complain.
“Oh, instinct,” Tom said. “I’d been doing this for a while. The next bit was trickier. There were three exits, so I posted my lads near them. Had them dig in well, and quietly. Lucky we didn’t get caught at that stage, but the aliens had sent a whole bunch of their own over to cut off my unit. When they were all set I called in the rescue squad and went down in.”
“You went in??” Eukles exclaimed. “By yourself?”
“Yeah. It’s easier than it sounds. I went in by a secondary entrance, and started lighting things up inside. It got real hot for a half an hour there, but my lads on top kept things hopping, and then the rescue squad showed up.”
“They’re elites, too,” Meriones explained. “They come in in a shuttle, fast and low and with plenty of drone support. Tom would have tagged a door for them, and they would blow it and rush in, with heavy weapons.”
He turned back to Tom, “How bad were you hit?”
Tom reddened, “Oh, well, I lost most of my left leg below the knee, and my left arm wasn’t in such good shape. I couldn’t see, either.”
“How long did you spend in regrowth?”
“Only three months. Made the trip back shorter, all narced and Unc’ed.”
“Wow. And how many did you rescue?”
“The team pulled out fifty two survivables.”
“Fifty two!!”
“Yeah. A company had been hit really hard the day before.”
“I never knew they took prisoners! This is the first time I’ve ever heard of it.” Eudoria said.
The lads all looked at her, “Yes,” Meriones said. “Whenever and whoever they can.”
“Why?” she asked. “They don’t exchange them or anything…”
“Never you mind,” Eukles said.
“She’ll need to know,” Tom said.
“Not now, and not here,” Eukles said. “I’ll tell her… when I think the time is right. So that’s how you got your medal? It think you left a lot out.”
“The action took eight hours. I left a lot out.”
Meriones stared at him, “What kind of prisoners?” he asked.
“What?” Illoia asked.
“Tom knows what I mean. Those weren’t just soldiers, were they?”
“No. A company had had their barracks overrun. It was mostly lasses and children.”
“Prisoners?!” Eudoria asked, horrified.
“Yes.
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!
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Thanks again, God Bless, Soli Deo gloria,
Von
Links
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.
Intro // Podcast Version
She was pretty, popular, snobby, and a planetary governor’s daughter. He was the son of shopkeepers, a social misfit, and a decorated hero. She thought she was there to dance. He had other ideas.
A Dance // Podcast Version
As a governor’s daughter, Illoia usually avoided such events, but when the captain made the announcement that there was to be an Article 17 dance, she, too, was forced to attend. If only the scum hadn’t been there too.
The Unbridgeable Chasm // Podcast Version
Eukles and Meriones, brave military leaders, quail at the idea of crossing the gulf between themselves and asking a lass to dance.
There He Is // Podcast Version
The young hero comes in, and Aleshia and Illoyia gossip about him.
Look at the Young Hero // Podcast Version
The young hero comes in, and greets Eukles and Meriones… and announces his intentions.
Target // Podcast Version
Tom, Leader Cladin Tomirosh, sets his sights on the governors daughter. She isn’t impressed.
Fuming // Podcast Version
Tom and Illoia dance, while she desperately tries to get him to go away!
Now’s Our Chance! // Podcast Version
Eukles and Meriones use Tom and Illoia as a distraction and stalk their own girls.
To Slap or Not to Slap // Podcast Version
Meriones introduces himself to his new wife with a slap on the backside.
No Sane Man // Podcast Version
Illoia insults the young hero, and he proposes.
Never You, Darling // Podcast Version
Illoia finds herself unable to turn down his proposal.
A Wild Dance // Podcast Version
Illoia finds being Tom’s Consented Wife hard… with wild New Irish dances and immodest ones.
Registered // Podcast Version
A new marriage is registered. All hail the dictator!
Middy’s Got a Lass! // Podcast Version
Medinia is deliriously happy… she got 17d!
A Duel to the Death // Podcast Version
Illoia wakes up next to her new husband.
A Dowry // Podcast Version
As it turns out, Illoia brings some money into the marraige.
Fitting // Podcast Version
Even soldiers wives have to wear the uniform.
Message // Podcast Version
So, about telling her father. It’s not going to be easy.
Training // Podcast Version
Even soldiers wives have to learn how to shoot aliens.
The Captain // Podcast Version
So, about telling the governor about the marriage you allowed on your ship, Sir…
Presentation // Podcast Version
The absolute last chance to get an Article 17 wife, with everyone all lined up and shaking hands and no real time to talk…
Ma, Pa, Squeakers // Podcast Version
Imagine sending a tick tock message to your family telling them you are married.
Yee Haw // Podcast Version
Illoia is shocked to find that Tom considers his social responsibilities at a weird eating joint.
New Ship // Podcast Version
Telling the Governor // Podcast Version
Aleshia rides down on a shuttle, takes an aircar to the governors mansion, and gets to face his temper.
Hardship // Podcast Version
Marja is finding marriage very hard. Not her husband, just… life.