Chapter 4: Sana

Bishop ate the last square of chocolate she had and set the remains of the MRE to the side. It was all quiet on the western front. The armies of Armello weren't moving and neither were they. Now, she was sitting at checkpoint Charlie, having recently been transferred out of the POW camp following the release of several prisoners. They were simply not needed and it was agreed upon that enemy personnel of low importance should be released back into Amrello. Aside from that, there was very little movement between UNGDF territory and Armello territory. Soldiers were sometimes dispatched into Amrello with the support of UAVs to collect rot samples but that job was mainly given to the SCP MTF units. The only personnel who were let off base were MTF, black ops, special forces and CIA operatives. She just sat on the watch tower with her LMG, ready to fill anything full of lead that wanted to attack. A radio was set up at the base of the watch tower, conversations being broadcasted as soldiers who were on patrol reported in on their situation. Of course, nothing ever came up. It was exactly life Afghanistan all over again with the waiting. It drove Bishop mad but she knew the UNGDF was simply waiting until the CIA and black ops guys could establish a coup and replace the King once the war really began.

The majority base defenses were still temporary ones and more permeate fixtures were scarce. Cement walls and concrete barricades weren't as prevalent as Bishop had hoped. There was only enough to defend the base and fortify a few of the checkpoints. In addition to this, the original company had grown to the size of a battalion with a total of 520 soldiers who just sat around doing nothing. She compared it to the Phoney war and began to wonder if they would experience an 8 month hiatus from the war before all hell broke loose. Of course, the Armello creatures weren't capable of blitzkrieg tactics but there were still concerns over the number of troops stationed there and fortifications. It wasn't exactly case of the Ardennes forest for the Armello soldiers to break through but there wasn't exactly a Maginot line either.

She sighed and began to sing along to the tune of Ocean man by Ween which Ramirez had thoroughly antiquated with her with the other night. For a guy who talks like a generic rapper, he did have good taste for rock songs and rap from the nineties. At least it beat Corporal Brown's taste in J-pop or Shannon's taste for Lady Gaga. Bishop preferred rock songs from bands like Queen and Black Sabbath but she also enjoyed some of Taylor Swift's songs.

Today was simply a slow day. She looked down at one of the soldiers below. A squirrel who was originally a Private Richard Harding from Texas, a member of the US national guard.. He carried an MP5 for his small size instead of the standard issue carbines. His previous assignment was helping civilians out of the aftermath of hurricane Harvey. He was one of the soldiers who were a part of the reinforcements in Armello, a batch that was stationed there for about a month now. He climbed up the watch tower and held out a paw. "Hey, got any gum? I'm out."

"Sure, he's a stick."

She gave him a piece of bubble gum flavored gum. He looked at it with disdain but accepted it. "You don't have any mint?"

"Traded a pack of eclipse for two packs of trident from Corporal Brown. One tropical twist, and this one."

"Damn. You got to hook me up with some of that stuff. I haven't had any fruity stuff for a while now."

"I heard a couple guys from fire team seven talking about a stash of canned pineapples."

"You serious?"

"Yeah. Part of a shipment that was damaged in an accident. They managed to sneak away with a few cans."

"Wow. I've got to get in on that."

"What, the fruit salad from the mess not good enough for you?"

"No, it's good. I just hate the fact they put those fucking glace cherries in."

"I hear you. Those things are too sweet for my liking."

"Corpral Brown likes it a lot. Saw him eating a jar of those a while back."

"Least it beats what Shannon does."

"Shannon?"

"The secretary at the HQ. The fox."

"OH, her! Right. What about her?"

"I saw her eating a jar of mayonnaise yesterday night."

"Ugh, you serious?"

"Yeah. I was passing by and I saw her just going to town on a jar of miracle whip."

"Miracle whip? Couldn't it have at least been a jar of Hellmann's?"

"Nope. At least it wasn't Kraft brand."

"Ha! Right... Fuck Kraft, along with their shitty mac and cheese."

"Fuck Kraft. Annie's is clearly a better brand."

"Annie's? What the hell? I was going to say Devour."

"Well, I like mac and cheese, not mac and cheese plus extra. I don't exactly want a heart attack from eating that crap."

"It isn't crap. It's good."

"Whatever..."

A moment of silence passed and Bishop went again. " I heard one of the nurses got kicked out of the MASH unit and permanently assigned to janitorial duty. What's that about?"

"Yeah, it was nurse Jordan Bridge. Apparently, she was a furry."

"We're all furries now, what the hell does that mean?"

"It means she got caught trying to have sex with one of the rabbit prisoners."

"Isn't that an article one three four? A thirty day suspension if I'm not mistaken... At least for the first time."

"No, that's with fellow soldiers. Fraternization with the enemy is a whole other story."

"Ohh, so she can't exactly be sent back home so she just gets stuck mopping up everyone's shit?"

"Yep, and far away from the prisoners. I thought we would do background checks on everyone who was volunteering prior to coming here."

"I think they did but... You know. I guess they just ignored it or they thought it would be useful for making relations with the locals."

"Hah, now that's something you don't hear every day."

"Well, finding common ground is the first step to peace. And if that effort has to be lead by people who are really weird, then yes. We have to take that risk. Unfortunately, the animals here are just like medieval humans so now we're stuck with a bunch of furries living out their fantasies."

"Well, they're still sexual deviants."

"What, you a closet furry or something? You in denial?"

"No! I'm not some- Some freak!"

"Cognitive dissonance is a strange and uncomfortable feeling in which you hold two conflicting ideas at once. Sounds familiar?"

"Go to hell you dike."

"I'm not a dike."

"You serious? I thought you were into... You know."

"Just because I didn't want to help Martin with a stiffy doesn't mean I'm a lesbian. That guy is just mad because I rejected him in front of a lot of people so he's trying to get me back."

"Really?"

"We're all pent up here Richard. We're stuck on this hill with absolutely nothing to do. We all relieve relief, one way or another. Even if it violates protocol."

"Then why did Martin risk it?"

"He's desperate. You realize how many women are stationed on the hill right?"

"How many?"

"About eleven, including me."

"Serious?"

"Yep, and absolutely no contact with the world back home. We're all desperate for some attention. Besides. I'm way too old for him."

"How old are you?"

"Thirty five. That guy is nineteen."

"Thought he could get a milf huh?"

"I don't have kids."

"Oh... Sorry. I thought... Never mind."

"Besides, even if I did have kids, I must really hate them in order to leave the planet and sign a paper saying I would never go back."

"Wait, I thought-"

"Article one three four."

"No, I mean. We can't go back home?"

"You didn't read the contract or listen to the briefing did you?"

"Damn it."

"What, you've got someone back home waiting for you?"

"My girlfriend... Mia. I dropped out of high school after I got her pregnant to make some money and help pay for bills. In addition to serving part time in the nation guard, I worked on some oil rigs out there."

"Damn... Well, unless she joins the red cross and comes here or the UNGDF changes it's policy on inter-reality travel, you won't see her again for a long while."

"Shit."

"Is it a boy or a girl?"

"Huh?"

"Your baby."

"Oh, a boy. We were planning on naming him Carter."

"Cute. He sounds bad ass already."

He sighed. "I shouldn't have come here. I should have stayed back home and..."

"Don't beat yourself up Rich-"

"Call me Richard."

"Ugh, ass. Well, you couldn't have predicted this. Hell, even I didn't. You're still sending your money back home so, that's still good."

"Yeah but I won't get to see my boy grow up! I'll miss out on his birth, his first words, his first steps... Everything."

"Don't worry, at least you'll be a hell of a better father then my dad."

"I thought your father was a banker who had a really nice mansion in Massachusetts. He didn't leave you now did he?"

"No, but give someone enough money and they become a total shithead. He wanted to instill this sense of... Proper female behavior in me so I joined the army to spite him."

"Isn't that a little extreme?"

"Not when your father is a draft dodger and a hypocrite."

"Wow. You really hate him don't you."

"The only thing I'm thankful for, is the roof, the money, and education."

"What about your mom?"

"You mean his trophy wife? After she had me, I've always been with the maid. She's practically my mom."

"Huh... That must suck."

"Ehh, it wasn't so bad. At least I'm not trying to cling on desperately to some man for money."

"You aren't a feminist or something right?"

"Nah. I mean. Not really."

"You believe in the wage gap?"

"Yeah. It's kind of shitty you know. Gender based discrimination should have ended ages ago."

"You know that's based on average the national average right? And doesn't exactly take into account the various job positions and the hierarchy of the companies right?"

"I... No. Not really, I guess I should have looked it up when I still had the chance."

"See, you need to do your research on this stuff. Doesn't make you sound dumb."

"The same research you would need to realize this land wasn't created by our gods?"

"Hey! Don't insult him. God works in mysterious ways and he must have made this world when he flooded ours. After all, he asked Noah to save two of every animal when he made the ark. This world could have been god's attempt to create a peaceful world of animals and well... Then they turned out exactly like us so he let humanity thrive again."

"You a catholic?"

"Protestant actually."

"Oh. I didn't know."

"Yep."

"What do they say about squirrels and heaven?"

"I was human once, and I'm doing this to protect my people. I'm sure he will understand and make me a human again once I go up there."

"Well... If there is a god up there, let's hope he doesn't smite us for turning into animals or trespassing on another one of his worlds."

"Amen."

Bishop looked at her watch and saw that the shift was almost over. She looked back at the hill to see that the next shift was coming the hill. She turned to Richard. "Hey, tell the guys to get ready, next shift is here."

"You got it boss."

He jumped down and went to go tell the others and she left the tower to pick up the radio. "Dispatch, second shift has arrived, returning to base. Over."

"Copy that Sargent, have a good one. Over and out."

"Over and out."

She set the mic down and went to soldiers standing by the HEMTT. The convoy rolled in and the leader of second shift, a wolf named Jackson Emmitt, came over. "Nothing?"

"Nothing. Been quiet as usual, patrols saw nothing and nothing's approached the checkpoint."

"Alright."

"Yep. You do anything today? Anything happen?"

"Nope."

"Okay. Good talk."

She turned and went to the HEMTT. Jackson stared at her. "That's it? That's all you say to him? No, prying or anything like that?"

"Look, Emmitt is a... quiet type. He's a bit weird but it's not because he's rude or anything. He's an okay guy."

"Okay, if you say so."

The members of first shift filed into the truck when one of the soldiers yelled. "MOVEMENT ON THE ROAD!"

Immediately, the soldiers jumped out of the vehicles and joined the relief shift. They took up fortified positions and aimed their weapons at the lone figure who was walking down the road. It was a large figure, it had a staff and it walked towards the checkpoint at a slow pace. Bishop could feel something was off about this individual but she couldn't tell what it was. When the figure got within 50 meters of the CP and Bishop could see it was a bear. She shouted. "STOP! That's far enough! State your business."

The bear stopped a good distance away from the checkpoint. "UNGDF! I do not wish to fight! I simply want to speak with your leaders!"

"Who are you!"

"I am Sana of the Bear clan! I've come on behalf of the clan to negotiate for peace!"

Bishop looked to Sargent Emmit. "You hear anything about this? Command never informed us of any emissaries coming here to negotiate. What about you?"

"Nope."

Bishop growled. "Wait! Just wait there! We need to speak with the superiors about this."

She turned to Jackson who stood at the base of the watchtower next to the radio. "Jackson, report it in and ask what we should do."

"Yep."

He scrambled over to the radio to report the situation. Bishop stood up. "Private Trumbull, follow me. Let's search her."

A ox carefully got up from his position with a aa12 and followed her as she went to the bear with her SAW. She came over to see that the bear was nude with the exception of the cape and a sash with pouches. "Alright, staff to the side, arms up. I'm going to give you a pat down to check for weapons. No sudden moves you get me."

The bear gently set her staff to the side and Bishop went over. She began to pat Sana down for any weapons, mainly checking her cape for anything that might be concealed within. She came up with nothing and turned to Trumbull. "Alright, she's clean."

She then turned to the bear. "Now, can we get any verification on your identity? Proof that you are really a member of the bear clan?"

"Of course."

She reached into her bag and pulled out a wrapped piece of parchment that was sealed with wax. "The elders have told me to give this letter to you so that we may negotiate."

Bishop looked at the letter and put it in her vest. "Alright, I'll take this up with our commanders. Just wait here okay? Don't approach the checkpoint until we've got the all clear."

"I shall wait here."

She got of the road and sat cross legged in the grass. Bishop and Trumbull ran back to the CP. Bishop addressed her soldiers. "Alright guys, get back to the truck. I'll deliver this message to command personally. Jackson, you know what you are doing right?"

"Yep."

"Good. I'll radio back once we've got this whole thing sorted."

She got in the driver's seat of the truck and smiled. Finally, something.

The lieutenant scrutinized the authenticity of the letter. While they wanted to believe they had actually come into contact with the isolationist bear clan, they still had some doubts. The lion looked up. "Are you positive this individual was a member of the bear clan. For all we know, she could be an Armello spy or some sort of saboteur."

"I don't know sir. I've never seen a bear but this person looked like she was a shaman of some sort. She had a staff and was naked when she came over. She could be a crazy person but we aren't sure."

He sighed. "Damn it. I don't like this one bit. Maybe we should just turn her away. That's probably the safest option."

"Sir, with all due respect. I believe such an act could be misinterpreted as an act of aggression. I doubt we would want to fight sorcerers sir."

"Then what do you suggest Sargent? The bears have stayed out of Armello ever since we arrived and suddenly she shows up out of the blue? It just doesn't make sense."

"Lieutenant, they don't exactly have any means of communicating with us without sending people on foot. Maybe we should go over instead."

"What the hell do you mean Sargent."

"What I mean is, we send a small team over to their clan territories with her to verify she is being honest. Sir."

"You expect me to risk the lives of our men simply for some chance that we could have peace with one of the clans in Armello. Hell, we know the least about them because they keep weeding out our spies and sending them back! How the hell do we expect to know what they are thinking"

"I understand it's risky sir, but this could be our chance to get our footing into some of the political affairs in Amrello. Hell, we could even figure out more about magic within Armello and other stuff. The bears know this the best after all."

"Sargent I... god damn it, I'll have to take this up with the Doctor. Just get out okay?"

"Yes sir."

Bishop sat outside the barracks enjoying a small cup of vanilla pudding. Command had told the men at the CP to let Sana stay until they could finish discussion. Of course, this was no problem for Sana who was more then willing to wait, even if it did pose a slight security risk. They offered her a cot inside the check point but she refused and wandered into the forest to rest. The doctor and the lieutenant were having a heated discussion on what to do regarding the peace offering. Bishop knew something big was going to happen and she was keen to find out what. She wasn't exactly pissing vinegar just to get some action but it would be a change of pace to actually get off base and go somewhere interesting for a change. She wanted to see Armello rather they stay on this hill and wait till she grew old. Bishop threw away the pudding cup and went inside the barracks. Inside, there were a few other men who were tucking in for the night. She went over to her bed and stripped out of combat uniform and packed it neatly into her footlocker as she fished out her tooth brush and tooth paste. Ramirez came over and looked at her. "Soooo... I heard something about a bear at checkpoint charlie."

"Oh yeah. An ambassador for the bear clan came to negotiate for them."

"Just the bear clan?"

"Just the bear clan."

"Why not the rest of Armello? What the hell are they doing out there?"

"The rest of Armello is damn bent on going to war. The bears must have not been able to talk them out of going to fight."

"Still though..."

"Maybe if we make a deal and the bears show the terms of our agreements to the other clans, maybe they'll follow suite."

"You really think that?"

"Fuck no. We killed their boys out there... They aren't going to let that slide so easy."

"But still, fighting will cost them more, what is the point!"

"Hell if I know. Duty? Honor? They surrender after their boys get slaughtered without even getting into a fight, it will make them look bad. Rebel groups and militias will probably rise up to try and overthrow the government or attack us. Then we have something worse on our hands."

"Damn it..."

Ramirez still looked very uncomfortable. Bishop knew why. "You know, you can still talk to the psychiatrist. No one will judge you for it..."

"Not now."

" I'm just looking out for you because you are my squad mate. I know you aren't ready to kill again like you did on our first day here but you can't work at the mess hall forever. You're going to be called eventually."

"I know... It's just."

"I understand but I really recommend you see the psych for help. I don't want to deal with another day one but you need you to be ready for a fight."

"I know... I won't let you down sarge."

"Good man."

She got out of her footlocker and went to the bathrooms to get ready for the night.

Bishop walked along side Sana as they went through the prison camp so she could inspect the prisoners. As a bear clan mage, she asked that she be let into the prison camp to aid any prisoners. Command was reluctant to let her in but decided to when she mentioned she would use the Wyld to aid them. r Sana was disturbed by the prosthetic limbs and the scars from the battle but she was slightly relieved knowing the prisoners were being treated well. She inspected the prosthetic arm of a dog prisoner. "These prisoners... They speak of laws and obligations you all hold to protect the enemy. Why?"

"Because it's pointless to attack non-combatants and those who can't fight.. Then again. It's not like we want to kill."

"At least your people are doing what you can to save those who could be saved."

"Still... One hundred and three men out of four thousand three hundred and twenty three isn't... It isn't good."

Sana simply nodded and left the prisoner. She observed the prisoners as they milled about the area in addition to their amenities, diet and daily habits. She turned to Bishop. "Where are the common soldiers?"

"They're here as well but a few have been released."

"You mean you mix the officers and the foot soldiers together?"

"Yep. Most of the officers are dead and a lot of the prisoners are crippled or wounded to the point where if they did organize an escape, they couldn't actually carry it out because most of them couldn't even hope of making it far. There are about nineteen prisoners who are fully capable of escape."

"Why did your people decided to release some of the prisoners?"

"They weren't considered a threat. Most of them were farmers or craftsmen who were drafted into the ranks. Those guys aren't exactly the smartest and they don't know much about the inner workings of Armello. Officers and people of interest are kept behind for interrogation and security reasons."

"I see. What did you do with the dead?"

"We took the bodies and incinerated them for safety reasons. Some of them were corrupted with rot so we had to make sure we eradicated every trace of it before anyone else got sick. We left the ashes in a mass grave not far from here in the woods."

"Good. As grim as it is, we can't risk the rot coming back to Armello."

"Yeah. Right."

"That is why we've contacted you people. We can tell you all are doing your best to destroy the rot, what ever form it may take."

"Excuse me?"

"We see your people raining fire down from the skies and reducing the fowl beasts to ashes followed by your iron birds to destroy what is left. Those are you're people are they not?"

"No, they are... I just thought they were more subtle about it."

"The sound of the fire can be heard from miles around and the shrieks of dying banes can be recognized by anyone. We are thankful your people have come to Armello. Even if you're original intentions weren't to destroy the rot."

"Well. If it protects the civilians, then we will do whatever it takes."

"And for that, we are thankful."