Greetings readers, I know this is more of a filler chapter, with not much action or anything, but I thought it was important to use it. Also, I do not think I will write a chapter for the Kloden Wildwood attack chapter. I've thought long and hard for a good way to write it, but couldn't think of anything. I might just skip ahead to the Barious Desert part, I've got a good story idea for it just nothing for the Kloden part. And thanks for the constant Reviews, it's encouraging to know that people are reading it and the feedback is great, keep it up :).
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Chapter 12- Squad 7's newest member
Squad 7 was resting on the grass alongside the riverbank, the wounded members of Squad 7 were resting under the shade of a tree close by. Vyse was sitting with Aika on one side of him and Nadine on the other. All of them were watching the many tanks, supply trucks and soldiers from the Gallian Regular army make their way across the bridge and onto the side that Squad 7 had single handedly taken.
"And here they come yet again." said Aika, Nadine nodded.
"Yeah, they always seem to come after we've done all the hard work." said Nadine.
Vyse grinned, "Well then that means all the more glory for us."
Vyse, Aika and Nadine then stood up and made their way over to the tree where the wounded were. Among the wounded were Aisha, Noce, Ted and Juno. Aisha and Noce's wounds were not too serious, Ted was still unconscious after having been blown away by a nearby mortar blast. Juno's gunshot wound was the worst of the injuries.
"It's amazing that we've taken both sides of the Vasel bridge and haven't lost a squad mate yet." said Vyse, Aika punched him in the arm.
"Shh!." she said, moving her head to the left and after Vyse looked he saw Claudia who was helping Mina one of the medics administer first aid to Noce. Claudia gave a quick look in their direction, but continued helping Mina.
Fina, another one of the 3 medics walked up to Vyse, "Your bleeding." Fina pointed out and Vyse touched his left cheek and some blood was on his glove. "Here, let me help." and Fina moved her hands towards Vyse, but Vyse grabbed her hands with his own.
"Don't worry about me, it's just a scratch. In a few days it'll be nothing more then a scar. Besides, there are others who are far more injured then I am, so go and help them...please."
Fina nodded, reached down to her medical pouch and pulled out some white gauze bandages and handed them to Vyse before going back to the other members of Squad 7 under the tree. Aika took the bandages out of Vyse's hand and pressed one of the bandages against Vyse's cheek, wiping away the blood.
"And what's another scar to Vyse the adventurer?." asked Aika, "You've gotten so many of them from our previous adventures that you've seemed to have gotten used to them." placing her hand against Vyse's chest, upper left arm and lower back area. Where Vyse had received scars beforehand.
"Well this'll be the first visible one that everyone can see." said Vyse, grinning.
Ted then let out a soft cough and began to stir, "Ted's waking up!." called out Gina, the 3rd medic. Fina and Mina knelt down next to Gina and waited for Ted to open his eyes. Meanwhile, Marina, with her sniper rifle hanging over her right shoulder by it's strap, was also walking over from the riverbank towards them.
"Oh...where am I." asked Ted, opening one of his eyes, sunlight getting into them and he moved his hand up to block out the sunlight before feeling a hand grab ahold of his.
"Try not to move to much." said a soft, heavenly voice.
Ted looked to the left and saw a beautiful girl with blonde hair and 2 very long bangs with striking emerald green eyes looking down at him. And as he looked to his right he saw 2 more identical girls looking down at him. One of them opened a water canteen and poured some water into his open mouth.
"Whoa...did I die in battle?." asked Ted, "Is this heaven?."
One of the girls giggled and wiped a cool, wet rag across his forehead and down his cheeks.
"Ah...this is heaven." said Ted, chuckling happily.
He then felt someone lightly kick him in the side of the head, "Get up, stop wasting the medics time." said a rather more darker tone of voice.
And Ted looked up and was staring up at a black haired girl, with half of her face covered with the same dark hair. The sight of the 1 visible glaring eye sent a chill down his spine.
"Oh...Marina, your here to...guess this isn't heaven." said Ted, this caused everyone to burst into laughter, Marina then reached down and hauled Ted back onto his feet. But then she took a deep breath and straightened out his uniform for him with her left hand.
"If this is your way of asking me if I'm alright, then yeah, I'm fine...ears are ringing alitte." said Ted.
"Don't be silly, just get back to the squad and let the medics get back to work." ordered Marina.
Ted smiled, then stood up straight and saluted Marina, "Yes Ma'am." and he went to join the rest of squad 7 along the riverbank.
A jeep then began to pull up and once the members of squad 7 saw who was in the passengers seat they immediately stood up and got into formation and came to attention. Captain Varrot then got out of the passengers side, followed by Alicia and Welkin who were sitting in the backseats.
"Squad Salute!." shouted Largo and everyone brought their right hands up and gave a salute and kept it there.
Captain Varrot returned the salute as she walked up to the squad, "At ease." she said and everyone assumed the at ease position. Captain Varrot then looked down at a clipboard she was carrying. "I'm looking for Claudia, Claudia Mann." said Varrot.
Welkin looked around and spotted her by the tree, still with the medics. "Claudia!!." he called out and Claudia raised her head, wiped her hands on a rag and ran up to Welkin. Welkin then motioned to Captain Varrot with his right hand.
After seeing Captain Varrot, she quickly came to attention and gave a salute to Captain Varrot, "Ma'am, Claudia Mann reporting as ordered." she said, Varrot returned the salute with one of her own.
"At ease.", Claudia going to at ease position, "Report that I read from Lieutenant Gunther says that you went above and beyond in the last battle, preforming an act of great heroism and courage that saved the lives of many of Squad 7's soldiers." said Varrot.
"Ma'am??." asked Claudia.
Captain Varrot smiled, "You've been recommended for an Accommodation, and I agree." said Varrot, "But I don't think we need to head back to Randgriz for a whole formal ceremony, not when I happen to have this handy.", Captain Varrot reached into her coat pocket and pulled out a silver metal attached to a blue, red and white ribbon. She then attached it to Claudia's uniform on her left chest area.
"Congratulations Claudia Mann, you saved alot of lives this day." said Varrot, saluting Claudia Mann once again. "I have one more issue I'd like to discuss with you."
Claudia nodded, "Yes Ma'am?." said Claudia.
"I heard about what happened to your Squad, Squad 8." said Varrot, Claudia's eyes looked down at the ground and she nodded again. "You therefore have 2 options, option 1 is that you return with me to Randgriz city and once we've recruited new members for squad 8 you will join them. Option 2 is that you are free to continue serving in Squad 7 for the remainder of the war...if you so wish. What is your answer."
Claudia hesitated for a moment, she then looked at Vyse, Aika, then the rest of Squad 7. She then walked up to Lieutenant Gunther and came to attention in front of him. "Sir, with your permission, I would like to remain in Squad 7." she said.
Welkin smiled, "I had hoped you would say that.", he reached into his pocket and pulled out a Squad 7 uniform patch and handed it to Claudia. She took it, then shook Welkin's hand. "Welcome to Squad 7, your new unit and family."
Everyone in squad 7 then began to clap and cheer, warmly welcoming the newest addition to Squad 7.
Later on into the evening Claudia Mann was walking along the side of the riverbank, and soon after she came to a stop and looked out into the river. She took off the metal pinned to her chest and looked down at it.
"If only I was this strong when I lost my squad and friends..." thought Claudia, she then clenched her fist together and drew her hand back.
"Claudia!!." called out a voice and Claudia looked back and saw Vyse and Aika walking towards her.
"What are you doing?." asked Aika, reaching Claudia and standing next to her.
"Nothing I just..." started Claudia, her voice cracking.
"Just what?." asked Vyse
Claudia's eyes began to tear up, "I just don't think I deserve this medal. I mean, I wasn't even able to save my own squad."
"I disagree." said Vyse, "Today I witnessed the greatest act of courage I have ever seen. And this comes from a guy who has travelled the world and seen more then most people ever will."
"Yes, you were willing to give your life to protect your squad." said Aika, "Who knows, had you not done what you did, myself or Vyse might not be standing here."
"But still, if you really don't want that medal, then keep it and save it. You don't need to wear it all the time." said Vyse.
Claudia nodded and tucked the medal deep into her pants pocket, she then looked back at Vyse and Aika and smiled. "Thanks guys, I'd glad your in my new Squad now."
Vyse walked up to Claudia, smiled and rubbed his hand on top of her head. "Glad to have you with us as well." said Vyse, "Now come on, we're heading back to Randgriz for a much deserved Respite."
Once they were back in the city, everyone from Squad 7 piled into 2 troop transport trucks and began the drive back to Randgriz. On the way, A large convoy of Regular army troop transports were driving towards them and Vyse, Aika, Nadine and Claudia recognized the same soldiers who had mocked them earlier.
But this time, once the two trucks were just about to pass eachother the Regular Army soldiers did not shout taunts or anything. But when the eyes of the Regular Army Soldiers and the Militia Soldiers met, the Regulars gave a nod of respect to the Militia soldiers this time.
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The story so far: you like it, don't like it. Lol, I'm usually told I move at a snails pace when I write, because I like alot of detail in my stories. Should I keep the stories shorter or longer from now on?.
