Hey y'all have you ever heard the saying curse like a soldier till ya get back to the family? Well yeah she curses quite a lot... Have fun!
Katniss and Peeta were put in charge of two different platoons. Katniss was sent off to the Republic Boarders while Peeta was sent to the center of conflict close to what we know as China.
Katniss found herself completely out of her element in this barren desert. Hills upon hills of sand were not reminders of home.
She walked her entire platoon through open landscape fearful someone may open fire on them at any given moment until they came upon strange greenery and they knew they were close.
She was unsure how much time had passed since she had be given this mission that seemed like busy work. She had seen action before entering the desert but this mission was her most important.
They soon came across an abandoned village, it looked to be made of adobe brick work. This place was quite and it seemed haunted. This place was not safe.
"Keep your guard up" She told her men, "We don't know what's around here." They began to search the homes for supplies.
Katniss however ran across a hidden fresh water stream where a girl no older than eighteen sat crouched in the underbrush terrified.
Katniss met this young girls horrified eyes and for a while they just looked at one another. She had stone cold brown eyes that told fear and a life of only fear.
The girl wore no shoes and her traditional garb was worn thin. Katniss opened her mouth to speak but she remembered these women could not speak themselves nor knew English.
Suddenly a little boy appeared from the under brush.
This girl was a mother and as Katniss looked at this girl she noticed a baby cradled in her arms.
Katniss reached into her backpack and pulled out a package of dried meat. She attempted to hand it to the girl but she coward away in fear.
"It's okay" Katniss said then saw the girl's face contort with confusion, "I'm a mother too" She said not knowing the word in her language for mother. She laid the food down and stood up. Eyes locked with the girl she backed away.
She replaced the bushes and crept back to her group.
"Everyone ready?" She asked before a large explosion rumbled the earth. "What the hell?" Katniss shouted in an angry spell. She looked up and saw the most terrifying thing she could have ever dreamed up. Dozens of airships from the Kingdoms. They had the emblem of a smoke stack on the bombs they were beginning to drop on the village.
Suddenly the heavy weight her and her platoon had been carrying seemed to get lighter as they ran.
They weren't sure what they were going to run into and Katniss remembered suddenly what her mission was.
"Wait" she called to her troop as they got deeper into the undergrowth. She knew what lay right in front of them, a Republic camp they were probably abandoning it as they spoke but which way would they go?
Katniss now faced a life or death choice as the earth rumbled under her feet. She charged off turning sharply cutting through the woods with her platoon barely a foot behind her.
Her number one priority was getting her men to meet the others. She knew now that these bombs weren't actually an act of war.
They were instead a push to a battle. Katniss swiftly broke through the trees and found the camp of Oceanian troops.
She led her group over the hills and to the front lines. "Commander" She greeted her superior.
"Bring the guests?"
"Yes sir" She looked over at those fleeing from their Republic camp.
"Everdeen take the right side."
"Yes sir" She said leading her troop to the side they had come. Her first mission in months, a suicide mission, what better way to join an army?
Her men followed her with faith, believing solely in her ability to lead them in the right direction. She was their life line, their commander, their lives depended on her. Just how she liked it.
Hiding in the underbrush her platoon waited for the Republic's forces to open fire which after a short time they did.
Katniss saw the battle field illuminate with the light of gun shots. She swore she could hear the blood pouring out of body cavities. The ground trembled under the might of the gun fire, in all honesty it was the most graceful fighting anyone had seen.
The sand was white until dyed crimson. The sky a misty orange and purple as the sun set making the crystal-like sand gleam. no wind, no clouds all this sandy earth that some how held an entire green ecosystem before breaking off into the endless sand dunes one more.
Suddenly a group of the opposing force turned and opened fire on Katniss's platoon.
"Everyone have enough A&E?" Katniss shouted as if the open fire weren't so bad. "We're moving in" She shouted over the gun fire.
She got up from her knees and still shooting took large steps. Her regiment stopped and fell to their stomachs, shooting rapids. Ever so often they stopped to watch the beauty of sand geysers when their bullets lodged themselves into the sand dunes.
Strange how something destructive looks eerily beautiful isn't it? How something so wrong as war looks beautiful. When was the last time you saw a beautiful explosion? What about the last time you thought someone looked so pretty as their body lays ever so silently in their death? Have you ever seen destruction as beautiful? Have you seen lightning as beauty? How about a tornado? Maybe even someone whose drive destroyed them, in some way we have all seen this.
Katniss heard click and mini explosion of her gun go off as she turned to her men yet again, "You ready?" She asked, out of the blue sudden rapid fire fell upon the regiment. Katniss had only five minutes to look up before she shot back, "ADW" She called back.
Just hold 'em off, she remembered her orders, just hold 'em off.
She looked around the battle field for a sign. The darkness of the night would over cast most signals but not the one she was looking for.
She shot a few more times trying not to feel anything at all. Not sadness for death, not a strange pleasure the scene portrayed in front of her that made fighting look more like exploding stars, Not fear for her life and the lives of her platoon, Not even admiration for their bravery.
Then she saw it, the signal, "Fall back" She called. Everyone began their run back into the underbrush. Katniss bringing up the rear saw two of her men leaning on one another for support.
This made her smile at the bitter sweet taste war left in her mouth at this point. War the worst invention of human kind, the thing that bloodies text books and tears apart families, brings out the kindness of a human being. It brings out our light, our giving hearts and kind souls as we help one another and ultimately try and save them from their ultimate fate.
Breaking Katniss from her trance she was knocked down by the shear force of a grenade thrown. She was the only one relatively in the rang of fire. She stood immediately, "Hurry" She shouted to her men. She turned around and shot again, she would admit she wasn't nearly as good with a gun as she was with a bow. She had to admit however that she was damn good for only having three weeks of training.
Running backwards she fired more shots before running into the safety of the over grown territory.
She found her regiment gasping for breath. She took notice of her own sudden fatigue, "Everyone present"
"Yes ma'am" Sergeant Gibson answered, he was from Australia and well liked by everyone. He was one of three Aussi's in Katniss's regiment. Katniss thought how odd it was that these people who didn't know she existed not two months ago trusted her so easily.
"Great job boys, Lets head back to base so I can give the AAR"
"Another battle a success" Officer Roberts laughed. "What does that make? a perfect six?" Roberts was from district six and one of the funniest people she had ever had the pleasure of knowing.
"For you eight maybe Ricky and I have been soldiers since our little rebellion" Major Ryans slapped Major Evans on the back. Ryans and Evens had grown up together in eight, Evens actually married Ryans little sister before this war.
"Best not get in Lieutenant Colonel Everdeen's way" Privet Harris spoke up. "She'll blast ya to hell and back." Katniss felt weird hearing her maiden name used but there was no other Everdeen in the army even though her full title was Lieutenant Colonel Everdeen-Mellark her regiment just used her first title.
Harris was notable the cockiest bastard Katniss had ever met. He surpassed her first impressions of Finnick, but it was hard to hate the guy. Born and raised in Australia's outback he was very handsome, and knowing that very well he enjoyed making young girls swoon.
"Thanks Collin, How you holding up Miles?" Katniss walked over to their only injured member.
"Mighty fine ma'am" He laughed. Major Bennet was born and raised on a small island off the coast of South America, his family owned a sugar plantation and if you had to chose one would say he was the kindest guy in the regiment.
"Privet Johnson, Privet Kevin hurry up." Katniss called, "Ya know we don't leave anyone behind." The youngsters of the group hustled excitedly to join their leader. Johnson and Kevin were from districts ten and three respectively. They were the youthful spirit the regiment needed. These two were the best of friends even though they hadn't known each other until the war.
"Corporal Owens, did you happen to catch the shooting star?" Harris spoke up.
"My head ain't up in the clouds boy" Owens shoved his friend playfully. Owens was the only other Aussi in the group and was also the biggest teddy bear one could ever know.
"Was it everything you dreamed of kids?" Major Evens asked.
"Sadly it was prettier then I thought it'd be" Gibson responded.
"Well they ain't all like that but glad you can appreciate the beauty of death" Major Ryans laughed heartily. "after all our first fight in the desert and we did a damn good job." They joked the whole way back to camp.
Katniss broke from her group in search of the Major General leading this expedition.
"Lieutenant Colonel Everdeen" She saluted her superior. The Major General was from South America and had to be the jolliest man anyone had ever met.
"Sir"
"Give me the AAR"
"Everything went according to plan sir."
"That's what we like to hear." He laughed. "Your next orders are in." He slid a packet toward her.
She opened it and read it, "Do you really think a platoon of ten people can accomplish this sir?"
"You seem very capable Everdeen, your men trust you with their lives." He took a seat and ran his hand through his grey hair. "With those two things anything and everything can be accomplished."
"Thank you sir"
"It's been a pleasure. At ease" They saluted once again before Katniss exited to meet her boys.
"We got orders boys" She announced, "We leave in the morning at six oh hundred hours."
"They like us that much huh?" Owens laughed.
"Course they do" Roberts scoffed, "We got the best leader."
"Get some shut eye boys we've got a big, big day tomorrow." She quoted smiling to herself being the only one to understand her hint at Effie.
When morning came round Katniss and her regiment got on a hover craft and were flown to northern Siberia. AKA the most barren and unwelcoming place on earth.
Snow up to your knees in the middle of summer. Screw that actually during the slightly less cold winter.
They arrived at their base where Katniss received further information on their strategy.
"Alright boys we got our orders" Katniss said entering her troops bunk house.
"Suicides I bet" Bennet smirked as he rolled onto his stomach to face her.
"You'd win that bet" Katniss laughed.
"Oh goodie Christmas came early boys" Harris jumped off the bed he laid on. "When do we head out?"
"We hit the bitching cold in thirty-nine hundred hours."
"Leaves us enough time to screw round a bit" Johnson laughed.
"Don't get too wild boys we're still on an army base." Katniss smirked at her men before leaving the room.
She made her way to the communications room. She sat down in front of the large computer and called Peeta's line.
He picked up as soon as the ringer went off, "Hi" She smiled.
"Haven't heard from you in a while started to get worried" He smiled and she did too, "Where you stationed?"
"Siberia, do you know what month it is?"
"Uh... July?"
"Yep and the snow is literally half way up my shin."
"Lord" He laughed. "Hey you been given orders?"
"I leave tomorrow."
"They're keeping you busy"
"What about you?"
"I'm alright, I'm at headquarters"
"You've been there the whole year when ya gonna get out there?"
"That's not what people of my rank do Katniss" he chuckled.
"Ah" Her computer 'rang' with a call. "It's Prim and the kids" She saw a smile flash in his eyes.
"Hi mommy! Hi daddy!" Peony answered.
"Hi princess" Katniss smiled.
"Mama! Da!" Leif crawled onto his sisters lap.
"Hi Leif" Peeta cooed "How are you?"
"Goo" He said leaving off his ending sounds.
"Where's Auntie Prim?" Katniss asked.
"I'm here Katniss the reception's just awful, where are you anyway?"
"Some place where it snows in summer."
"Does it really snow in summer mommy?" Peony asked in a child like fashion.
"It does sweetie." Then her computer rang again this time it was Finnick, he was home for the time being because Annie had just had their twins, little Brooklyn and her brother Rainer.
"Hi Finnick join in why don't ya?" Katniss greeted, he held a tiny pink swaddled baby. "Finnick she's darling."
"Annie they're on" Annie walked over with a similar blue swaddled baby.
"Hi little ones" Peeta laughed.
"Unc Fin, Aun Ann"
"Yes Leif that's Finnick and Annie" Peony confirmed.
"Hi baby" Annie said bouncing her little boy. Katniss felt suddenly the rumbling she had familiarized with that of bombs dropping. She was in so much shock she screamed and covered her head from the falling bits.
Everyone on her web chat was yelling her name asking what was wrong.
She simply had no time to answer her loved ones. She looked one last time at the images of her family before shutting it down and running to her bunk room.
"Looks like we're leaving early boys. Dress warm" She yelled over the drop of another bomb.
"What's happening?" Privet Kevin asked.
"The Kingdoms are telling us to get our sorry asses on the road." Officer Roberts shouted zipping up his largest jacket before slinging his bags over his shoulders.
"The want us to get the fuck off their territory" Major Bennet shouted.
"And want us to kick their sorry asses faster" Harris laughed.
"Enough chit-chat this is work now boys. Move it!" She shouted as they quickened their pace.
They followed their leader into the freezing cold winters of Siberia, they ran as fast as snow guarded legs could carry them. Into the forest at high speed until they finally looked back at the now abandoned base.
Katniss didn't look long because the night was slowly reaching its peak darkness. "Alright, we've got to keep moving." Katniss said trudging up the thick taiga forest. "It'll be good to get a head start anyway.
"Where are we going ma'am?" Bennet asked following her lead.
"Into insanity" She laughed.
"Well aren't we always?" Gibson chuckled.
"Yeah they've sent us to hell and every time we manage to somehow scrape by." Harris laughed. This was good light heartedness in a place so dim.
"It's a place they have actually named insanity," She said, "It's the school they taken disabled children to. We're on a mission to capture the place before they cut open innocent children for science."
All was silent except the humble trudging of snow.
"I've always hated science" Harris spoke up.
"Shut up you narcissistic bastard" Owens laughed.
"I'm with him I got a D in physics" Gibson laughed.
"You god damned Aussi's never know how to handle any thing serious" Evens slapped Harris on the back.
"Well ya know what they say. Ya don't have to be smart to join the army! You just have to have a target painted on your back" Ryans cackled.
"No one has ever said that." Katniss laughed.
"Like you'd know" Evens snorted.
"They do say 'you don't have to be smart to get shot you don't have to be dumb either' back in district three say that anyway." Kevin spoke up.
"What in hell goes on in those districts?" Gibson asked.
"That's classified information I'm likely to tell you some day" Katniss playfully snapped.
"You don't want to know" Johnson said, "Trust us."
"Yeah we kind of sucked ass five years ago." Evens confirmed.
"Hell we suck now." Katniss said setting down her pack and setting up camp.
"Bull, we are way better now." Ryans protested helping his leader.
"You gonna tell us now?" Owens asked.
"It isn't exactly a campfire tale nor a bedtime story" Katniss smiled with her eyes.
"We're men Lieutenant we can handle it!" Bennet snickered at Harris's remark.
"Fine." Katniss agreed. "After we set up camp!"
And Yay! It's done! These next few will be pretty short because there is so much plot I have to fit in them that I don't want your amazing brains to implode. Love y'all thanks again and stay lovely!