It's been one week since we liberated Hilwarsen from the Imperials. Our division, the whole army actually, was pulled from the frontline for R&R afterward. It's been a welcome break from the action but if the rumors I've been hearing are true, I don't think it will last much longer. Rumer is our army is gathering at Naggiar Plains to face the Imperial army and its spread rapidly despite attempts to clamp down on it. Command always tries to clamp down rumors, but they've been especially harsh on this one and that's all I need to know.

"Hey, Chole, we're going out to eat. Want to come with us?"

She looked up, "Sure. You get permission to go off base?"

Jess waved off her concerns. "Of course I did. What do you take me for? Some fresh-faced recruit?"

Chole shook her head. "Just making sure."

They walked out of the tent and headed for the entrance. The base seems empty even though that is far from the truth. Most of the grunts are out enjoying their R&R so the usually active and chaotic base is rather calm and quiet. So much so that it Kinda creeps Jess and Chole out.

"So where are we going to eat?"

"it's a small local restaurant the name of which escapes me. A know a few people who have eaten there, and they've given it glowing reviews."

"Sounds good. Who else is eating with us?"

"Doyle and Kelly."

Jess approached the guard post and handed the guard a paper. He looked at it before nodding and they left the base.

"How far is it from here?"

"Fifteen minutes on foot."

Randgriz is as busy as ever with people going about their day. "Honestly, here, it doesn't even look like we're at war."

"Well, since we have the Imperials on the run, they don't have anything to worry about. Their lives are becoming normal again."

Chole sighed, "Jess, you know nothing will be normal after this war."

She nodded, "You're not wrong. It's not our job to worry about that though. Leave that to the politicians and the generals."

"Good idea. So, how have you enjoyed your week of R&R?"

She smiled, "It's been lovely. I spent most of the week with my family. They live in a small village so keeping in touch through mail can be difficult."

"That's nice. Sounds like their village avoided the Imperial advance."

"The main force yes. Their village was attacked but the Militia drove them off. They didn't return after that. So, how have you spent your R&R?"

"Well, I visited my mom at the start of the week. She's doing alright. Worried about me, as usual."

"Yeah. When I arrived at my family home my mom started crying when she saw me. Pretty sure I saw my dad shed a tear, but he'd deny it till the day he dies."

Chole smiled at that. "So, anyone significant in your life?"

Chole rolled her eyes. "How many times have I told you that I don't plan on getting married?"

"More than I can count. Still going to pester you about it though." Jess said with a smile. Chole sighed, "Why is my non-existent love life so important to you?"

"As your best friend it's my job to help get you a boyfriend and then tease you relentlessly over it," she said with a grin. Chole raised her eyebrow. "I think that's something only you would do."

Jess waved her hand, "I've known plenty of women who tease their friends about their love lives. That's why I started doing it!"

"Hang on, how can you tease others about their love life when you don't have one?"

"Nobody said I had to have a boyfriend to tease others about theirs."

"...Right. Is that the restaurant?"

"Yep. Doyle and Kelly should be inside already."

They walked inside the small restaurant. It has all the feelings of a family-owned business something Chole greatly enjoys. Kelly waves them over to their table. "Jess, we started thinking you got lost."

"It only took me twenty minutes."

Doyle nudged Kelly, "Told you she wasn't lost." She ignored him. "Since you were gone for so long, we've already eaten."

Jess shot her a deadpan look. "Really? You couldn't wait until I got here?"

"Well, I've just been enjoying their appetizers. Kelly did eat though."

"Not my fault I was hungry."

"You could have just eaten their appetizers. They're called appetizers for a reason you know."

Kelly turned to him, "You can be a real smartass, you know that?"

"One of my talents. Blame my older brothers."

A waiter walked over to their table and took their orders. "So, Doyle, Kelly, how have you been enjoying your R&R?"

"I've greatly enjoyed mine," Doyle said as he took another bite of an appetizer. "I haven't had a chance to explore Randgriz so I've been seeing the sights."

"What's your verdict?"

"Randgriz is an amazing city. The people are nice, the sights amazing, the food is great and the entertainment is leaps and bounds better than what I had in my home town. I think I'll move here once the war is over."

"Hang on, you've been exploring Randgriz for a whole week?"

"Yeah. What do you think I've been doing the whole week?"

"I thought you'd left the city."

"Same here."

"Hmm." He shrugged and took another bite out of the appetizer. "Well, how about I tell you what I've been up to this week."

"Go right ahead."

Just before she started, their food arrived. Chole picked up her fork and took a bite. "Mm. This is really good."

"Damn right it is. My friends actually undersold how good the food is."

"Now you see why I couldn't wait. If the appetizers are this good, then their main course must be divine. I was not disappointed."

"How much will all this cost?"

"One hundred Ducats. Not bad for appetizers, drinks, and the main course."

"Now that we have our food, I'll tell you what I've been doing with my R&R. I started off the week by visiting my hometown. It's three hours from Randgriz and, sadly, it was not spared the wrath of the Imperials."

"Is your family okay?"

"Yeah. They fled before the Imperials arrived. They're rebuilding now and most of the residents have returned. It hurt, seeing the damage that had yet to be repaired but, one day, my hometown will be the same. Once this war is over, I'm going back to help rebuild."

"That's great Jess."

"It's the right thing to do. I spent three days there catching up with my family and helping with the repairs before I headed to Vasel to see my twin sister for the first time in over a year."

"You haven't seen your sister in a year?"

"Sadly yes. She works for a multinational company, so she travels to different countries. Makes scheduling a nightmare. Ironically, this war is why I could meet her this week. She was supposed to be in Vinland this week, but the outbreak of war caused her company to reschedule her trip."

"There's something you don't hear very often."

"I know right. If I'm being honest though, I wish she was in Vinland, far away from the war."

"You know she wishes the same for you."

"Oh I know. It's easy to see how much she worries about me. She gets very clingy. I basically had to pry her off me when she hugged me." Jess had a fond smile on her face as she remembered her sister's reaction to seeing her. "I spent a day with my sister and she told me everything she has been doing in the past year. Will, not everything, the summarized it all in about an hour."

"Sounds like your sister is really busy."

"All the damn time. I don't remember the last time she took a vacation. Something I sternly reminded her about. She said she would but, she can be a bit of a workaholic, so we'll see. After that, I told her what I've been doing in the army. Told her about the friends I've made and some of the battles we've fought."

"Did you tell her it was our division that liberated Hilwarsen?"

"Actually, she brought it up. She heard about it over the news. Said she was proud of me and what I helped in doing."

"Damn straight she should be proud."

They ate the rest of their meal in comfortable silence. Once they finished, they paid the bill, left a tip, and exited the restaurant. "So, what do we want to do now?"

"Forgive me Damon but have you lost your mind?"

Sitting around a large table are the Generals of the Gallian Army. The war map shows all of Gallia and clearly shows both the Gallian and Imperial armies are massing at Naggar Plains. "Attacking the Imperial center at Naggar will cause massive casualties. Casualties Gallia can't replace."

"The Imperial army is but a shadow of its former self! We can smash them at Naggar and drive them out of Gallia for good! As for the casualties, this is war Everheart! Casualties are expected!"

"I know that General! It's our job the limit our casualties as much as possible and win the battle! If we go with your plan we might, might, win but it will be a Pyrrhic victory at best!"

"Then what do you suggest!? We can't let such an Imperial force go unchallenged!"

"I agree. Instead of attacking the Imperial center, we hit their flanks. My army will attack their right flank while the newly formed Eighth Army will attack their left flank. Once we break through, infantry divisions will follow behind to wrap up the stragglers and cover our flanks. We will drive into the Imperial's rear line, encircle their entire army, and bring this war to a swift end."

"How do you know this plan will work? You have used it against the Imperials in the past."

"Concentrating our force will ensure the best chance for victory. If we pull forces from our center-"

"WEAKEN OUR CENTER! ARE YOU TRYING TO HAND THE IMPERIALS A VICTORY!?"

"I am not! In order for my plan to have the highest chance to succeed we must weaken one of our fronts."

"Could we pull from our flanks instead of our center?"

"We could, but that will significantly decrease the opportunity to incircle the Imperial army."

The generals mulled over both plans which have been presented.

"I agree with General Damon. Our armies are equally matched. There is no need for a complex plan. We attacked head-on, break their lines, and drive them from Gallia."

"You make it sound so easy. I motion we attack all along the front and not just at the center."

"That will spread our forces out. Granted, it will also prevent the Imperials from massing their forces."

"If I could make a change to your plan Everheart?"

"Go on."

"We make it look like we're massing our forces for a frontal attack by pulling some of our forces from the flanks. We follow up by launching our attack and once we have the Imperials focused on the attack your army smashes into their right flank while the Eighth army smashes into their left flank. These attacks won't have as much strength, but with the Imperials focused on the center, that shouldn't matter."

After a few minutes of debate, everyone agreed that Everheart's and Damon's plans had the best chance to succeed but they couldn't decide on which one to implement. Arguments and counterarguments filled the room until the Field Marshal, who has been silently listening to his subordinates, cleared his throat. Everyone stopped debating and looked toward him.

"Since we can't come to an agreement, I propose a compromise. We will pull forces from the center and move them to the flanks for Everheart's plan. General Damon, I'm assigning two militia divisions to your command to recoup your loss in force. Now, I am well a where of how the army views the Militia but without their courage and sacrifice, we would have lost this war months ago. Do not treat them like fodder. Am I clear?"

Everyone answered, "Clear sir."

"Good. Now, let's go win this war."