Battle of Valerius, Day 3
Ochosenko Jean-Baptiste walked in the command tent his head high, as he always did since his capture. The Steel Vipers and the Burrocks had attacked his command in what they had dubbed “a training exercise”, the Burrocks getting away with large quantities of grain and the Steel Vipers anointing a few “bondsmen”. Ochosenko was happy to have survived, but he had basically served as a gofer and all-purpose servant for the warriors of the Clan.
Three Ajnable (the kind word the Axumite used for foreigners, generally as a slur nowadays) were overseeing a table with a paper map and small wooden dolls. It seemed primitive for them to use this, but that whole camp had been put together quickly. The bespectacled commander of the 51st Battle Cluster raised his eyes from the table when he saw Ochosenko walk in with the paramilitary police officer with him. “Good, he is here”, the Star Colonel said pulling a knife.
Ochosenko started to pull back, his right arm held up by the paramilitary officer. What were the Ajnable doing? It took all of a second, and the rope that was around his wrist fell to the floor. “Congratulation”, one of the Star Captain said, “Warrior Ochosenko Steel Viper. You are freed from your bonds and now will serve the Viper in its fight. With three warriors as witness, you are called to service due to your talents.”
The Axumite man took a few steps forward towards the table with the map at the invitation of the officers in place. Star Colonel Mordechai Nixon started pointing at the map. “We have established a few firebases for our artillery units, while the enemy has fortified the motor pool. They also established a few of their own artillery location, but our air support has spotted them and forced them to relocate.”
Ochosenko understood quickly what was what. The taller wooden men were ‘mechs, the smaller one infantry (or maybe the armored battlesuits they were using) while the blocks meant tank units. This wasn’t the same symbols they used in the Providence, but close enough. “They seem well deployed, Star Colonel”, said Ochosenko. “Will your… our troops be able to take care of it?”
They looked at the deployment orders for a few minutes, discussed air support plans and artillery counter-batteries. But why was the former Axumite here? “Now, Star Captain Cooper”, Mordechai pointed out, “the reason I want you to take this new warrior with you is simple.” The Star Colonel pointed to an empty patch of wood in the middle of the map. “The commander of the enemy garrison really does not want us to go to these woods. If you look at all their movements, it is always to keep us away from there.” A ‘mech unit and a tank unit was about a hundred kilometer to the East. Another unit was moving towards a hilly area in the opposite direction. “Warrior Ochosenko, I have heard that you were a scout and a guide in the Providence military. You know how to manage and find people in the woods. Do you think you can find what they are hiding there, along with Star Captain Cooper?”
The tall Axumite grinned and nodded: “Oh yes. Send me in the woods. I will find your enemies and figure out their scheme.” That was all that Mordechain Nixon had wanted to hear.
(Warrior Ochosenko, 4/4, SPA Forest Ranger, Eagle Eyes)
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