General Everhart looked over the latest report on her army with a satisfied smile. It had been a month since the Battle of the Barious Desert and the front had stabilized. Her army was pulled back to the rear lines for R&R and reinforcement. She now had a motorized division along with her mechanized divisions; her mechanized divisions had also been reinforced.

She put the report aside and caught sight of a new report headline. She skimmed over it and shook her head. It was the same thing that had been printed for the past week and a half: Why had Castle Randgriz been put on lockdown?

She knew why. Hell, all of Squad Seven knew why but they were all sworn to secrecy under threat of treason by the Prime Minister himself.

She sighed, "That was a long night."

Princess Cordelia Gi Randgriz had nearly been kidnapped by foreign agents. "If Squad Seven hadn't acted as quick as they did..."

She didn't dwell on it any longer. Squad Seven stopped the kidnapping, and Princess Randgriz was saved. Sadly, they failed to capture any of the foreign agents. If they weren't killed by Squad Seven they took their own life to avoid capture. Gallina Military intelligence went ballistic and questioned her for an hour before the Field Marshal intervened. She shook her head at some of the questions they asked.

Knock knock.

"Come in."

"Ma'am the Field Marshal is holding a strategy meeting in ten minutes."

She nodded and left the office.

The city of Vasel had long since repaired the damage done during the Imperial invasion and subsequent counter-attack by the Gallian army. Along with Randgriz Vasel is used as a muster point for the Gallian army. It is here that the First Army is stationed for R&R and reinforcement.

The Captain of First Mechanized Company looked over the report detailing the reinforcements his company has received. Every squad had received another Half-track with eight soldiers along with it. A few squads received a second tank. Most in the form of a light tank but a fraction of them received a second M1935. He has yet to receive any orders on when they'll move so it's safe to say they'll be staying a bit longer in Vasel.

On the outskirts of Vasel the newly built Vasel Military base is bustling with activity. Dozens of Squads are currently stationed here. Engineers are working on the various armored vehicles in the motor pool.

A Firefly rolled into the base followed by an M1PC carrying eight men. Both vehicles slowed once they entered the base. The commander of the tank unbuttoned and looked around. "Driver, take us to the motor pool."

"Roger."

The tank rotated left while the M1PC continued on. A few soldiers waved as the tank passed and he waved back. The tank slowed and turned right. Numerous armored vehicles came into view and a few engineers stopped what they were doing to guide them. An engineer walked out in front of the tank and waved them into an open spot next to another Firefly.

"Dismount people."

He climbed out of the turret, down onto the engine deck, and jumped down.

The same engineer who waved him in walked up to him. "You one of the reinforcements?"

He nodded, "I'm looking for Lieutenant Bret Jackson, Squad Fifteen."

"Squad Fifteen huh? Lieutenant Jackson might be in their tent. Just look for one with a big 15 on it. You can't miss it."

"Alright, thanks."

The engineer nodded and walked off. He turned to his crew, "Make yourselves comfortable boys. We might be here a while."

He left the motor pool and started looking for Squad Fifteen's tent. It didn't take him long to find it. "That engineer was right. You really can't miss it."

He stepped inside and found the tent empty, save for one man. He walked over to him and saw him holding a picture. "Lieutenant Jackson?"

He looked up and put the picture away. He looked at his rank, "What do you need Sergeant?"

"My name is Daan Vellers and my crew and I have been assigned to your squad."

Jackson stood up, "So, you're our tank reinforcement." He walked past him and Vellers followed him. "You fresh out of training Vellers?"

"No sir. I was the commander of a light tank before it was destroyed. Instead of giving me another light tank they gave me a new crew and put me in command of an M1935."

"M1935. Can't remember the last time I've heard it called that. Is your crew green?"

"No sir. They've been with me since I received my new command."

"Good to know." He looked at his watch, "I need to get to a strategy meeting with the other Lieutenants. Make yourself comfortable Vellers."

He walked off leaving Vellers standing in front of the tent. He stopped a passing soldier, "Hey, you know where the mess is?"

"Yeah. Head down this road and take the first left. It'll be on the right."

"Thanks."

He followed the directions and found the mess hall. Inside, a few soldiers are still eating but most have finished and left. He got his food and found a seat. He ate quietly for a few minutes before someone sat beside him. "You new around here?"

He looked beside him, "Yeah. Sergeant Daan Vellers. Tank commander."

They shook hands, "I'm Chase, Squad Fifteen's tank driver/mechanic."

They ate quietly for a few minutes. "You know your way around Vasel?"

"Not Really."

"Well, a few of my friends are heading into the city later today. Want to come?"

Vellers thought about it for a moment. "Sure. I haven't seen any of Gallia's larger cities."

"Well, prepare to be disappointed. Vasel is pretty dull."

Vellers cracked a smile, "I'll keep my expectations low."

We've been stationed at Vasel for the past two weeks as the army is reinforced. We rarely have R&R for this long and the squad has made good on this. Before you start worrying yes, I have taken time for myself during the last two weeks. Unfortunately, there isn't anything in Vasel that interests me anymore. Don't get me wrong I'll take boredom over fighting any day of the week.

I haven't had a chance to talk to any of the new squad members. Maybe I'll be able to tell you about them the next time I write.

Write back as soon as you can mom.

Love, Chole.

Chole folded up her letter and slipped it into the envelope.

"I'm bored."

"I'm well aware. You've been complaining for the past fifteen minutes."

"Can you shut up? I've heard enough of your complaining."

"I second that notion."

"Notion? What is this, a high school debate club?"

"You had a debate club?"

"Yeah. I wasn't in it but from what I heard, the debates could get pretty heated."

"What in the hell were they debating about?"

"No idea."

"Well this conversion took an odd turn."

"This is what happens when you're bored. Your conversions take weird turns."

"I don't care. Weird conversions help alleviate boredom."

"He's not wrong."

"Changing topic, anybody have an idea on what the hell we're going to do today?"

"No idea."

"I'm drawing a blank."

"Hey, don't look at me. I ran out of ideas a week into our R&R."

"Sergeant?"

"I've been searching for things to keep me engaged all week. No dice."

"Well, hell. There has to be something."

Chole stood up, "Well good luck."

She exited the tent and headed for the post office on base. No one was at the post when she arrived so she left her letter in a tray. She just left the post office when a private stopped her.

"Sergeant Brooks?"

"Yes."

"The Captain has requested a meeting with the Lieutenant and their seconds. The meeting is being held in the Captain's tent."

She nodded, "Thank you private."

It didn't take her long to reach the Captain's tent. She stepped inside finding the Captain, Jackson, Lane, and Jess already waiting.

"Sergeant."

She nodded and stood beside Jess. "Any idea what this is about," she whispered.

"If I had to guess, we've got our marching orders," Jess whispered back.

A few minutes later the other Lieutenants and their 2ICs arrived.

"Ladies and gentlemen, orders have come down from in high. Our division is heading North to Fouzen. I don't have much more than that but an attack on Fouzen is probably in the works."

"Sir, are we stationed directly against Fouzen?"

"No. Our division is stationed on Fouzen's right flank. Any more questions?"

After a few seconds of silence, he nodded. "Brief your Squads. We move in one hour."

One hour later, the Third Mechanized Division mounted up and headed for Fouzen.

A rough bump jolted Brooks from her sleep. She yawned and rolled her neck.

"That's why you don't bet against Cole rookie."

"You just got lucky. I'll win that money back."

Brooks looked to Cole, "What'd I miss?"

Cole nodded to the rookie, "He doubted my ability to predict the weather and I made some money off of it."

Brooks just nodded and tried to get confrontable again.

"Look rookie, I've known Cole longer than you have. I don't know how he does it but he can accurately predict the weather, most of the time."

"Wow. Never thought I'd see the day you would agree with Cole's weather prediction instincts."

"How'd that saying go? Three times is a pattern and I've seen him predict the weather more than three times. Doesn't mean I have to like it though."

"Here's another piece of advice kid: Never play cards with Caleb York."

"Why?"

"We think he cheats."

"But you don't know for certain?"

"He's won every card game he's played. He's either extremely good, extremely lucky, or he cheats. Most of the company thinks he cheats."

"Thanks for the warning. It wouldn't have mattered though, I don't play cards."

"Not right now. When you're dying of boredom though, that's probably going to change."

"Hey, you guys were at the Barious Desert, right?"

Brooks opened her eyes at the question.

"Yeah, why?"

"Are the rumors true?"

"What rumors?"

"That a woman was able to use light as an attack. That she was impervious to all forms of attack."

Hawkins rolled his eyes, "I don't know where those rumors came from but they're false. There was no women who could attack with blue light. We all know the Empire doesn't recruit women into their ranks so that discredits the rumor even more."

He looked away, "Yeah, but..."

"But nothing. They're false. Whoever came up with it is an idiot along with anyone who believes it."

Satisfied that Hawkins had it under control, Brooks tried to get comfortable again.

Brooks groaned as someone shook her shoulder. "Brooks. Wake up. We're here."

She nodded and followed Hawkins out of the M1PC. She looked around at the camp, "So, this is where we're staying."

"Yeah. Come on, the sleeping tents are this way."