It took us three days to reach the Barious and we arrived at camp yesterday. We swapped our original uniforms for ones more suited for the desert. The uniforms we're wearing now are made of a thinner material than the other uniform. They are a lighter shade of blue and the pants were replaced with shorts. They gave me the option for a skirt but I declined. I have never wore a skirt and never plan to.

We're not the only forces that have been sent here but we are the largest. The Third Militia Regiment is the second largest. After that, it's just a handful of platoons from different units. Our role will be that of a rapid reaction force when the Imperials attack.

"Sergeant Brooks."

She looked up, "Lieutenant Jackson needs to see you. He's in the main tent."

Chole out her dairy away. "Thank you."

He nodded and walked away. Brooks exited the tent and shielded her eyes from the sun. When her eyes adjusted, she lowered her arm and headed toward the main tent which was positioned at the back of the camp. She turned a corner and stepped back as a truck rolled past. Gunfire caused her to tense only to relax when she realized it was from the firing range.

It took about a minute to reach the main tent. She opened the flap and stepped inside. There were a few people off to the sides looking over various papers or operating the various radios.

"Excuse me. Are you Sergeant Brooks?"

"Yes."

"Lieutenant Jackson is in the room on the left."

"Thank you."

She walked to the end of the tent and opened the flap. "Ah, Sergeant Brooks."

"Lieutenant. I was told you needed to see me."

"Indeed. We just received interesting intel from our scouting teams." He placed a report on the table. "You know the Barious has dozens of ruins correct?"

"Vaguely. Didn't they find the ruins of a city a few years ago?"

"Yes. Nice to know you're up to date on archaeological finds," he smiled.

Brooks smirked, "Very funny. Now, what do ruins have to do with the scouting reports?"

"I'm glad you asked. Our scouts reported multiple Imperial units searching the ruins. For what, we don't know."

"What use would a bunch of ruins be to the Imperial army?"

"That's the big question now isn't it. The report has been shared with the other units so we might move out soon."

"You want me to get the squad together?"

"Not yet, not until we have a mission start time."

"Alright. Sir, why do you think the Imperials are searching ruins?"

He thought for a minute, "I don't know. I vaguely remember reading something in the newspaper about the ruins being important but I can't remember why."

Brooks snickered, "Maybe the Imperial general is an amateur archaeologist."

"Heh, that would be something. Dismissed Sergeant."

Brooks saluted and left the tent. The harsh glare of the sun blinded her for a second. Her eyes adjusted after a second and she headed to the mess.

"Hey, Chole!"

She turned and saw Jess jogging towards her. "You busy?"

"I'm going to eat. Why?"

"Once you're done eating head to our tent."

Before she could ask why, Jess was jogging away. She watched her with a confused expression before continuing on her way. She reached the mess tent and pushed the flap open. Inside, dozens of her fellow soldiers were eating and the noise drowned out everything happening outside. She grabbed her food and found a free spot next to Ellis York.

"Brooks."

"York."

"You're lucky my brother isn't here."

"Why?"

"He'd make a big scene about which York you were talking to."

"Really?"

"Yeah. He's done it ever since we were kids."

Someone sat down in front of them. "Brooks. York."

"Hi Richard."

Sharp sat down next to Richard and started to eat. "What have you all been doing," Richard asked.

Ellis shrugged and took a bite of bread. "Nothing much. Just been killing time."

"We've all been killing time. Brooks?"

"Same thing."

Richard rolled her eyes. "Sharp, same thing?"

He just nodded, not really paying attention to their conversation.

"Sharp, you owe me one-hundred-thousand Ducats."

He nodded and then started coughing. He hit his chest a few times and looked at Richard. "Hell no I don't!"

"Hey, you agreed to it," she said, smiling.

"I just nodded!"

"Yeah. That's an agreement."

He groaned and dropped his head onto his arms. "Please tell me you're joking," he begged.

She laughed and lightly punched him. "Of course I am. But let that be a lesson. Don't just agree to whatever some says or asks."

They lapsed into silence for a few minutes. "Hey, any of you know where Lieutenant Lane is?"

"Yeah, I think she's at the motor pool. Why?"

"Colonel Adams wants to see all of the Lieutenants of the Regiment. I need to go, thanks."

He turned and left. "I think we're going to have some action real soon."

"Agreed."

Ten minutes later, Brooks left the tent with Ellis by her side. He was curious about what Jess wanted to show her back at their tent and asked if he could come with. She agreed, not seeing any reason not to. They reached the tent and opened the flap. The tent was empty.

Sara frowned, "She tells me to come to the tent and she isn't even here."

"Maybe she got sidetracked."

"Maybe. What could have distracted her though?"

The flap was thrown open, "Goddammit!"

Standing before them was a very irate Jess.

"Jess?"

"It's fucking ruined." Before they could ask, she stormed out. They stood there for a few seconds, "What was that about?"

"I think she wanted to surprise us but it went wrong."

"Isn't that good for us?"

"Depends on what the surprise was."

"Well, what now?"

Brooks shrugged and walked out of the tent leaving Ellis standing there.

She looked for Jess and saw her retreating form, she followed her. The sound of gunfire grew louder as they approached the firing range. She walked over to the quartermaster, acquired a rifle, and picked a lane. Deciding that talking to her would be a waste of time, Brooks let her be.

"Ah, son of a bitch."

Chase pulled his head out of the tank's engine compartment. He grabbed a rag and wiped some oil from his face. He tossed it aside, took a drink of water, and went back in. "Okay, let's see..." He checked the engine over and nodded. "Not as bad as I thought. Maybe I won't have to pull it out."

"Hey, Chase!"

"Downs, I'm a little busy at the moment."

"This is important man. Lieutenant Lane is inspecting the motor pool."

Chase stopped what he was doing and pushed himself out of the compartment. "Really? Why?"

"No idea. Figured I should let you know. How's your inspection going?"

He wiped his hands, "I think it'll pass. How's yours going?"

"Just finished ten minutes ago. You need any help?"

"No. I'm almost done."

He nodded, "See you later Chase."

Chase grunted, "See ya Downs!"

He spent the next few minutes checking over the engine one last time. He nodded, "Alright. She's good to roll anytime." He put the engine cover back on. He grabbed his water, poured a little on the rag, and wiped his hands. He jumped down and saw Lieutenant Lane. She wasn't inspecting the motor pool, she was helping the mechanics work on one of the half-tracks.

"Huh. Didn't expect that."

He spotted four mechanics pointing toward Lane and talking. He walked over to them and picked up their conversation.

"I had no idea Lieutenant Lane was a mechanic."

"I had my suspicions."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I started noticing her lingering around the motor pool a couple of weeks ago. I started seeing her two or three times a week and formed my idea from there."

"Why didn't you tell us?"

He shrugged, "Didn't cross my mind."

"Sup ladies."

One of the mechanics smirked at him. "I only see one lady here Chase."

"Yeah, that's Lieutenant Lane."

He sighed, "No, you idiot. Chase caused us ladies and I threw it back at him."

"Oh. Oops."

"Let me guess, he's a new guy?"

"Yeah. Only arrived about a week ago."

"Fucking new guy right?"

"Hey!"

They all had a good laugh at his expense.

"Well, I don't know about you but I'm going to hit the showers."

"Calling it a day Chase?"

"Hell yeah. I've done what I needed to do and I'm not working out in this heat for another damn minute."

"Amen to that. We'll catch you later Chase."

He gave a one-finger salute and headed for the showers.

Two days later, a jeep entered the camp. It headed straight for the main tent and stopped in front of it. The passenger exited the jeep and walked up to the entrance. The two guards saluted as she entered. She headed straight for the briefing room. Standing around a large table with a map on it are the commanders of the various divisions that make up the First Army. They were surprised to see her.

They snapped to attention. "General Everhart! We weren't expecting you."

"Good. That means the Imperials will not know I'm here. At ease."

She walked up to the map which had friendly and enemy forces marked out by plastic figures.

"Prime Minister Borg is breathing down my neck about why my army is stationed in the Barious even though he ordered us down here to this godforsaken desert in the first place. So, what do you have for me so I can get Borg off my back."

"Ma'am, the Imperials are interested in the many ruins scattered throughout the Barious. Our scouts have reported large concentrations of Imperials around these four ruins."

"What do the Imperials want with a bunch of ruins?"

"We do not know ma'am. They've deployed a large number of forces to secure them though."

"I can see that. Does Captain Varrot know of this?"

"Yes ma'am. We have started planning for an offensive to hit all four main ruin sites simultaneously. Planning should be completed by next morning."

"Excellent."