Introduction
The pitter patter of rain was the loudest sound at the moment. It was funny, in the middle of the worst war since the Second World War, and all she could think about how loud the rain was. Snow sat in the trench, clad only in her cobbled together uniform, and a blanket to keep the cold away, her AR-15 beside her. She looked down at her stomach, painfully aware of the ribs beginning to show. This wasn't how things were supposed to have gone. When the Rebels had seized control of much of New England and parts of the mid-east, her parents had rejoiced that the shackles of the "fascist" regime had been toppled. Of course she knew better, even at the age of 10 she knew better. Now at 14 years old, she sat alone; her parents long dead from loyalist strategic bombing, most of her friends dead fighting this hopeless war. Forced to serve a gang of rebels calling themselves "liberators," she knew better. They had lost the democratic election in 2020 fair and square, yet they refused to accept it even more vehemently than in 2016. When the rebels initiated their coup, they killed most of the government, seized lots of territory in states already sympathetic to their cause. But that was where their success ended. Many loyalist states banded together and formed their own army, gaining support from the remnants of the old military and banding together to reform the Federal Government. The rebels on the west coast had, for all intents and purposes, already fallen.
Snow shivered. The harsh Maryland air was biting. And her summer clothing was doing little to protect her. Both sides had gotten volunteers all over the world, both sides vying to be recognized on the world stage as the true government of the United States of America. For a time, it seemed like the rebels would win, but no longer. The largely fluid and mobile warfare in the western front had finally ground to a halt. The rebels ran out of supplies, and the loyalists quickly surrounded the rebel strongholds of Los Angeles, Austin, San Francisco, Seattle, and Portland. After a year under siege, they all surrendered quietly, one by one, until all that was left, was the eastern front; but not before a total of 600,000 soldiers and civilians from both sides lay dead from various skirmishes, war crimes from both sides, collateral damage, and massive unrestrained strategic bombing. Even then there had still been some hope; their armies had skirmished all across the Appalachian Mountains, the loyalists struggling for a foothold. The Rebel Commander in Chief, General Robert O'Leary; a 50 year old army veteran and a former brigadier general had brilliantly kept the Loyalists at bay. While the Potomac River protected them from the south, the Appalachians gave them true protection; At least until the fall of Cumberland. Cumberland, Maryland was the most strategic important position of the north east, because it gave access to the entire state of Maryland, which in turn; due to the lack of major natural barriers past the Appalachians, allowed access to all of the east coast above the Potomac.
Snow absently grabbed a nearby trench periscope, and put it up over the top, focusing it. All along the line she could see the loyalist tanks and technicals gearing up, preparing to at last take the city. The fall of Cumberland was largely in part due to a band of loyalist militia men known as the "Maryland Marauders." A group of approximately 10,000 men and women from Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia who banded together under the command of a young, former Maryland national guard combat engineer by the name of Ulysses Robert E. Lee. Lee and his troops had operated for the past four years in the Appalachians, blowing up bridges, burning loyalist towns, tearing up roads, stealing badly needed supplies, and kept almost 50,000 rebel soldiers along with O'Leary Himself tied up in the Appalachians trying to hunt him down and they killed over 20,000 of them. He had earned the moniker "the Mountain Fox." His success in the Appalachians had brought his army international renown. As a result, he was made Commander of all Loyalist Armies of the East, which gave him access to a total of 150,000 troops. Lee wasted no time making use of it. He rechristened his command "The Army of the Appalachians," seized the initiative, and never let it go. Armed with a detailed map of every known pass in the Appalachian Mountains that stretched 20 ft. long, he ordered his forces to seize every single one of them, and once that was done he charged into the rebel territories, seizing large swaths of land inflicting 90,000 casualties, while taking 38,000 of his own. But his real objective had merely been to gain control of the Appalachians, gain a foothold in the Rebel held territories, and wait for reinforcements and armor to trickle in so he could embark on a mass offensive. But first he had to cut off the rebel strongholds of Baltimore and Washington.
Snow heard her comrades begin arming themselves, preparing to fight to the death against General Lees famed "Maryland Marauders." His spearhead to the grand "Army of the Appalachian's" Snow had other plans; the minute the line broke she planned to surrender. She abhorred violence, while her parents didn't believe in god and the rebel government forbade it, she still believed there was a higher power in the universe. And she felt him calling her not to fight, to surrender. So that was what she planned to do. Lee personally led his famed "Maryland Marauders" into Cumberland, surprising the Rebel garrison and taking the town; but not before a fierce battle broke out. Many civilians took up arms against the loyalists, forcing the troopers to defend themselves. What was supposed to have been a quick and decisive win, turned into a week of hell. In the end, over 9,000 loyalists lay dead, alongside 26,000 rebels. A quarter of whom were civilians who took up arms with the rebels. General O'Leary, who had arrived to get a grasp on the situation was himself severely wounded, and carried from the field. It was a mere taste of what was to come.
All throughout Lees Mountain campaign, Snow had paid close attention, memorizing his strategies and tactics. The man was a true military genius. Many on both sides called him the next George Washington, Robert E. Lee (his namesake, despite not being related), Ulysses S. Grant, Erwin Rommel, Heinz Guderian, John Pershing. And Snow was personally inclined to agree with them. In just 6 months, even before the western front had surrendered; he had turned what had been an intractable stalemate, into a near complete victory. He had checkmated the rebel army with the fall of Washington, and Baltimore soon to follow; he had tied up close to 300,000 rebel troops and close to 1 million civilians. After Baltimore, all he had left was Boston, and New York City, and 250,000 rebels and 7 million civilians. It was going to be bloody if the rebels didn't surrender. Lee, with 100,000 men, surrounded Washington and Baltimore. Lacking the numbers to take the cities he resolved to starve them out. Digging vast networks of trenches, he pounded them with artillery by day, and bombed them by night. After two months of laying siege to the two cities, Lee finally got the relief he needed. The majority of forces from the western front, some staying to make sure the rebels didn't take up arms again, finally arrived to the eastern front, Swelling his numbers from 150,000; 100,000 cooped up around the Chesapeake, to over 500,000. Lee was promoted to General of the Army of the United States. The highest rank one could attain, due to the fact that no one by law could be the same rank of, or outrank George Washington. With only 200,000 ragged rebels and 2 million civilians, against 300,000 well trained, well rested, well fed loyalists; Lee gave the rebels in Washington a message, "No terms, except Unconditional and Immediate Surrender. If you surrender now, I promise all will be treated fairly with the exception of all war criminals; whom we shall prosecute under international law." The rebels refused, and Lee attacked. For a month, the two armies tore each other apart. Many civilians joining both sides, many being cut down without mercy by those they sided against. When Washington finally fell, over 500,000 Americans lay dead, half of whom were civilians, and 150,000 belonging to the rebels. By the time Lee began his assault on Baltimore, the total number of deaths in the war numbered over 1.2 million people. All of this was known by Snow; what she did not know was that in three months, the war would be over and the total number of deaths 2.2 million people. She would be dead before the end of the battle.
Snow ducked under the sandbags holding her head and praying under her breath, even as hundreds died around her, her comrades would fight to the bitter end. But she would not; she refused to take a life, even to save herself. She huddled there for hours watching her comrade's fall. This was no place for a fourteen your old girl, and she knew it too. She fired her weapon many times hoping to scare the enemy away, but more always seemed to step forward. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of fighting, her comrades retreated, fleeing into the city to prepare their final defenses. She didn't join them; she stayed huddled in the trench, her weapon tossed away. She watched as many Loyalists charged after the fleeing survivors, some stopping in the trenches and setting up their own defenses in case of a counter attack. Snow just sat there for many hours; covered in mud and blood, whimpering and praying before someone finally noticed her. Imagine her surprise to discover it was the General of the Army himself, Ulysses Lee. His young age did not show, for he was already greying and many wrinkles dotted his face. He wore a simple, mud spattered private's uniform. The only thing signifying his rank was an olive green wool trench coat with 5 silver stars pinned to the shoulders, a brown cowboy hat also having 5 stars, and a close cropped beard. All of which was a carryover from his days as a militia man. He looked at her, a mixture of surprise, anger, and sympathy on his face.
He turned and barked "Private! Get this girl to safety she doesn't belong here." He knelt in front of her and said, "What's your name little one?" His voice was rough, like he had gargled glass, but held a certain kindness in it. she sniffled for a minute before answering "Snow…"her voice, in contrast, was almost angelic, and had a musical note to it. He gave her a kindly smile "Snow, now that's a pretty name. Mines Ulysses, but you can call me Sam if you like." She nodded tentatively as he said. "Look, this place isn't safe; I'd like you to follow the Private there, ok? He'll take you to safety, and get you some food and medical care." she nodded again, getting shakily to her feet. The general smiled before turning to continue whatever it was he was doing. Ordinarily, Snow would have observed him closer, and it would later occur to her that he had been surveying the enemy's defenses personally. But the shock of combat, and meeting her idol had numbed her. But more than anything, what she saw next horrified her. One of her comrades was still alive and struggling to point his pistol at the general. None of his guards had noticed thinking the man dead, and Snow was the closest to him. She felt the adrenaline take over as she charged forward, and she screamed "General Look out!" he turned just when she tackled him to the ground, and she pulled him down right as her comrade shot her in the back. The general's guards all shot her former comrade multiple times, but the damage was done, Snow could feel it. She rolled off the general, and he shot up and looked her over, ignoring potential injuries to himself. "MEDIC" He roared, even as his guards rushed forward, both to check him and her.
But they all knew it was hopeless, the single pistol bullet had torn through her spine and severed an artery. Nothing could save her; all they could do now was keep her comfortable. Had she not taken the bullet, it would have killed the General, no doubt about it. She held out her hand, and the General took it. It was almost poetic, General Lee thought as he held her hand, a kid who should have been indoctrinated to kill without hesitation, had instead saved the life of a man she had met only seconds ago, and was the most dangerous enemy of her people. Yet here she lay, dying because she had done what she felt was right. Snow coughed and chocked, trying to say something. Ulysses put his ear to her mouth trying to make out her last words. "Thank you sir," She said. He looked at her incredulously; his expression said it all; he should have been thanking her, she saved his life. Before he could say anything she smiled, and said, "Thank you for freeing us all. Thank you… thank you… than…" then she breathed her last.
December 13th, 2024 was the day Baltimore fell, over 400,000 men, women, and children lay dead. Half were civilians, and most had been conscripted and thrown at the lines in hopes of slowing Lees Army down. It was the day Snow died, giving her life saving someone, rather than live with taking them. Her last name was never discovered. She was buried with full military honors, and is today recognized as one of the most important figures of the 21st century for her sacrifice. Not just for her one deed, although that certainly helped. It was what she represented, that the evils of war and man can still be undone by selfless acts of others. General Lee credited her with saving his life, and many feel that had he died, the war would've been extended for another year, potentially killing another million people. General O'Leary, before his death by capital punishment after the Geneva Trials, went on record stating that she singlehandedly prevented the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people by saving his worst enemies life. During reconstruction, the people of Baltimore built a memorial to their fallen, to both the loyalists and the rebels. The stature was of General Lee kneeling if front of a fourteen year old girl, holding her hand as she lay on the ground; behind them was an obelisk, with the names of all 400,000 people who died during the battle carved into it. Little did many people know, the day Snow died, was the day her new life began.
A/N: Before any of y'all leave this story in disgust over this prologue, just know that this isn't some political message or anything like that. This story isn't about politics, or whos right, whos wrong. This war Is just the backdrop to the main story, in that yes... it happened. Yes... it was bloody and cruel. And our main character fought in it. this becomes important later in the story, but just know I'm not supporting one side over the other. I based the war off the video "The Second American Civil War [Stand Alone]" by youtube user "Charles," because his is a pretty accurate portrayal of how it might play out. Although I did modify some events in this story, but that will be addressed later on.
Please just keep reading. if you read this and just don't like it, please leave reviews. I welcome the feedback, and constructive criticism. Just please don't be a jackass about it.
In any case, See ya' when I see ya.
