Epilogue: End of one Story, Beginning of another
Freedom is never free.
-Author Unknown
The war would continue for another 2 years before peace was signed on the 4th of august 2014 in a tent, amidst driving snow, on the frozen banks of the Yalu river. The meeting was tense and at time both side threatened too walk away. But both stayed in the end because they both new it could not continue. Neither side could claim out right victory as both side were still left standing. But the cost of continuing was simply too high for the reward either combatants would get. Millions were dead, multiple countries lay in ruins and very little seemed to have changed.
The agreement signed stated that:
North and south Korea were to be united under a pro-US government.
Taiwan lost its defence agreement with the US, on paper leaving it wide open to China.
The west recognised the Chinese claims in Tibet.
And Both sides vowed to respect the others interests in Africa.
The biggest changes however took longer to materialise as the strain of the war began to form cracks in the Chinese government and stirrings from her people started. Only time will tell if this is just a blip on the radar or the start of something bigger. Although America remained the pre-eminent super power it was weakened, tied down in countries such as Somalia, and European countries began to feel the affects of a resurgence of national prestige and power. The rising power of European countries sparks new fears of renewed fighting on the small continent. Russia emerged battered and bruised but with much friendlier relations with her western neighbours and with a stronger government more in line with her new allies.
There wasn't total peace as the fighting in south and central America continued uninterrupted along with areas in Africa, as well as rural Asia.
The Penal corps, along with most of the armed forces, was down sized as their purpose had been fulfilled. Many received their amnesties but nothing more being thrown out onto the streets with very little and as a result most returned to a life of crime willingly or not. Those that didn't began to fill the local morgues. Others were thrown straight back into jail and a few found themselves on death row again. The battalions and their exploits became one of the governments dirty little secrets. Only 4 battalions survived, the 64th,93rd,117th and of course the 16th assault engineers. The Nighthowlers.
Nick never returned to the 16th. Officially this was due to his injuries being too severe, and while that may have been partly true a certain cape buffalo and wolf knew differently. After recovery he tried going straight but like many ex-soldiers it was easy especially due to his species. He was treated with respect in the 16th but back home nothing had really changed. He was still just a sly and untrustworthy fox to most and eventually he slipped back into old habits…until a certain grey doe came barrelling into his life but you already know that story.
He didn't hear or see John, Sasha, Jazz or miss Winters again. Even when he looked he found nothing. They were never mentioned in official reports or the news and eventually he excepted they were gone…and no one cared except him. They were just the nameless faces of those who were now gone.
Thing is though the dead don't always like to stay that way…
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.
- "For the fallen", Laurence Binyon
And there you have it but the eagle eyed among you will have noticed that this is part of a series. As such I will be back to continue the Nighthowlers odyssey.
I will also start a collection of one shots and short stories taking place both before and after the events of the main story, titled "the war diary"
Thank you all for your support and comments :D