Fletcher scanned the forest looking for any signs of Imperials. It had been an hour since their successful attack on the Imperial Ragnite mine. They had been trying to lose the Imperials for the past hour but it was proving difficult. He lowered his binoculars and frowned, two Imperial scouts were making their way through the forest. They weren't heading directly towards him but he didn't want to take the risk.

Quickly and quietly he left his position. Through the trees, four of his fellow squadmates were resting. One of the scouts was watching the way they came from and spotted Fletcher. He shook his head when he looked at him. The scout cussed and grabbed his rifle.

"Imperials are still on our tail. We have to keep moving."

A shock trooper stood up, "Son of a bitch. They just don't give up. Come on Doyle, get Kelley on her feet."

Doyle stopped checking his rifle and nodded. He leaned over and shook Kelley's shoulder, "Kelley, you awake?"

She groaned and slowly opened her eyes. "Barely."

Doyle's eyes drifted to her bandaged chest and stomach. "How are your wounds?"

"Still hurt like a bitch."

"Good, means your still alive."

She laughed only to hiss, "Don't make me laugh Doyle. It's fucking painful."

"Sorry, Sorry. Come on. We have to move."

He grabbed her arm and carefully pulled her to her feet. She slung her arm over his shoulder and he put his around her back. She winced, "This fucking sucks."

"I know. Once we get back to camp, the docs will heal you up right as rain."

"Lovely."

The shock trooper smiled, "If you two are done flirting, we need to get a move on." He chuckled when they both blushed.

"We're not flirting," Doyle hissed.

"Sure you aren't."

"Alright knock it off. Fletcher, take point."

He nodded and took point. Despite Kelley being wounded, they made fairly good time. They avoided making too much noise as to not attract the Imp's attention.

Fletcher held his fist up and crouched. The others followed suit.

"What is it?"

He raised a finger to his lips and pointed forward. The scout stood up a bit and saw two Imperials. One was guarding while the other, he couldn't really see what he was doing. He grabbed his binoculars for a closer look.

"We should avoid them. Kelley needs medical attention ASAP."

"Agreed. We'll take a small detour and avoid them."

"Wait. Fuck"

"What? What is it?"

"They have one of our squadmates and they're interrogating him."

"There are only two Imperials right?"

"Yes."

"Well, let's kill them quietly and save him."

"Yeah. Alright, Doyle stay with Kelley. Fletcher, watch our backs."

He nodded and aimed at the Imp on guard. He watched as his two squadmates slowly crept up on the unsuspecting Imperials. The shock trooper targeted the first Imperial and the scout targeted the second. He looked to the shock trooper, nodded, and slowly approached the Imp.

"I'm running out of patience. Tell me where your friends are and I'll make it quick."

He punched him when he finished talking. The Gallians spat out some blood and glared.

"I told you. I was alone. I don't know where my squadmates are."

His head jerked to the side. He spat out more blood and then a tooth.

"Heh. Mad your interrogation isn't working."

"Listen you Gallian bastard. I will break every single one of your fingers so you can never use your hands again."

The Gallians eyes darted behind the Imp and he smiled. "Really? I doubt that."

Before he could do anything two arms wrapped around his neck and he was pulled to the ground. He struggled for a couple of seconds before passing out.

The scout stood up and turned, "You alright?"

"Been better. They weren't the most hospitable hosts."

"I can see that." He pulled his knife and cut his bindings. "Can you walk on your own?"

He rubbed his wrists and nodded. "Yes. I'll be a little slow though."

"That won't matter. We already have wounded and we can't move quickly through this forest anyway."

He looked behind him and waved his hand. Fletcher turned and nodded to Doyle before standing up and walking over to them. The scout grabbed an Imperial rifle and some ammo. "You run into any more of our squadmates?"

"No."

"Damn. Let's keep heading toward the camp shall we."

He nodded and turned to Doyle who nodded and took point once again. They moved as quickly as they could through the thick forest. It became harder and harder to move through the forest slowing them down.

Fletcher stepped over a fallen tree and pushed a branch away.

"Okay. Okay. Can we stop for a minute?"

Fletcher turned his head. Kelley was breathing heavily and was heavily leaning on Doyle. "Sure, but only for a few minutes."

Kelley nodded and Doyle sat her down on the fallen tree.

"How are you feeling?"

"Like shit. Those painkillers aren't cutting it anymore. Do we have any Ragnaid?"

"No, sadly."

"Fuck."

"We should have grabbed Ragnaid off of those Imperials."

"Well we didn't. Nothing we can do about it now."

"Kelley. I know you feel like shit but we need to keep moving."

She nodded, "I know. I'm good now."

"You're not good. Are you sure you want to move now?"

"No. I'd rather sat right here but, that's not an option now is it?"

He helped her up, "Guess not. How far are we from the camp?"

"Not far. It will still be a few hours before we reach it."

"Well, no time like the present. Let's move."

They didn't run into any more Imperials and reached the camp in two-and-a-half hours. Doyle handed Kelley over the medics and they headed to their tents for some well-deserved rest.

I haven't written in this diary of mine for a while. I've been a bit busy but for now, I have some downtime.

Four days ago, four squads from our division attacked four Imperial Ragnite mines. All four mines were destroyed but Squads twelve and three hundred took heavy losses.

A loud crack of thunder caused Chole to jump. The rain and wind are loud enough to rival a battleship's broadside. Chole reached down and picked up her pencil from the floor.

"Fuck me I'm not going to get any sleep thanks to this storm." Her bunkmate grumbled and jumped down. He stretched and walked over to a few of her squadmates who were playing cards.

The tent flap was thrown open. "Goddamit! Cole! I thought you said this storm wouldn't be here for another thirty minutes!"

"I can be wrong Thomson."

Chole couldn't see him but she could hear the smile in his voice. Thomson sighed, "I never should have trusted that sense of yours."

"To be fair, he was right."

The deafening sound of thunder caused everyone in the tent to stop for a brief second.

"Told you."

Sadly, there were no Darcsen poisoners at the mines. My guess is the Imps moved them closer to Fouzen.

Even though Fouzen is a mining city you would never be able to tell from our camp. There is thick forest to the North, East, and West. To our South are steep hills with trees dotted across the landscape. It's nice to see that Fouzen's mines haven't completely destroyed the beauty of the land.

A strong gust of wind caused the tent to shake and shudder.

"Are we sure this thing will last?"

"Valkyrur I hope so."

"If it doesn't will just invite ourselves into another tent. Whether or not the squad occupying said tent likes it doesn't matter."

"Let's just hope that doesn't happen. It would be a lot easier for everyone involved."

There was another crack of thunder and Chole swore her bones raddled.

"Damn, glad we finished our patrol before this rolled in."

"So am I."

Chole felt a tap on her shoulder and looked up. "You want to play cards with Hawkins, Justin, Blake, and me," Sara asked.

"Sure." She closed her diary and put it in her footlocker. She followed Sara over to where Hawkins, Blake, and Justin were sitting around one of the bunks.

"Chole. Take a seat. We're about to deal our hands."

Chole took a seat and grabbed her cards as Hawkins dealt them.

"So, are we betting anything?"

"I don't have anything to bet," Sara answered.

Chole shook her head, "I'm not into betting."

"Well the ladies aren't in. Blake, Justin?"

"I'm never betting anything again," Justin said.

Everyone looked at him, surprised at such a strong answer.

"Sounds like there's a story behind that."

"There is, and if I have my way, no one will ever hear it."

"Fair enough. Looks like we won't be betting anything this time around."

With that, the game started.

"So Chole, are you much of a card player?"

"No. I've played maybe half a dozen times and I got my ass kicked every time."

"Heh. Well that's why we're playing something simple."

"Because I suck at cards?"

"No no. Honestly, no one here is partially good at cards. That and I find the simpler games are more fun."

"See? Hawkins knows what he's talking about," Blake said with a smile.

Justin shrugged and placed down a card. "I played a few of the more complex games, it's different."

"Of course it's different. I tried playing one time and I was fucking lost."

"Did you try to learn anything about the game before you played?"

"No, and I don't think it would've helped."

The next few minutes passed in relative silence. If you discount the roaring of rain and wind, the booming of thunder, and the noise their fellow squadmates were making.

Blake sighed, "Well, I'm out."

"I think I'm out as well." Chole muttered. She placed her next card and sighed. "Yep. I'm out." She laid down on the bed she was sitting on and rubbed her eyes. "I need to try and get some sleep. Cole! When's this storm going to end!?"

"...In two and a half hours. Sadly, it's going to be an hour before it starts to lessen."

"Fuck." She stood up, "Thanks for the game. We should play again sometime."

"Hey, you're always welcome to join Chole. We were going to play another game after this one. You in?"

"Sadly no. I'm going to try and get some sleep. I'll see you in the morning."

"Night Chole."

"Night."

She walked over to her bunk, climbed into the bed, closed her eyes, and tried to fall asleep.

Chole's eyes slowly opened. She blinked a few times and rubbed her eyes. She yawned and rolled over to go back to sleep.

"Everyone up!"

Chole's eyes snapped open and she quickly got out of bed. Her bunkmate jumped down and stood at attention next to her. Her entire squad stood at attention.

Jackson stood at the entrance and nodded. He slowly walked forward, "Listen up ladies. We just received orders to move out in one hour. An Imperial army was spotted in the Barious Desert. As our defenses are weak in that area the First Army is being sent to reinforce. Carry on."

He stepped out and the tent stormed into action. Chole quickly put her uniform on, made her bed, and left to get some breakfast. After she ate, she went to the armory and grabbed her gear. With that done, she headed to the tent to rest until they moved out.

The hour seemed to pass by in a few minutes and in the blink of an eye she was loading up in one of the half-tracks with the rest of the Division.