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A final inspection, as you went around to various companies, and looked over the best troops, those who would have the hardest task, of breaking and seizing the town of Tristezza itself. They were all equipped with shorter weapons, automatics, many of them, and what seemed like plentiful ammunition but an amount you knew could easily be expended in less time than it took for the blood of a man to run out of his body.
When you went to Elena with the news that you would accompany the attack, she nodded grimly and stood, but you put a hand on her shoulder and set her back down.
“Y’ don’t think I’m gonna stay here,” her voice began to rise heatedly.
“You are not a soldier,” you said, “This is to be real war.”
“Plenty others are gonna have a taste a’ the same,” Elena said defiantly, putting her hand on your wrist and pushing it off her, “I don’t want no special treatment. If not now, then when? What if this is th’ time holdin’ back matters? Did your first battle come only when y’ were nice and ready fer it?”
You pursed your lips. When your first true battle had come and gone, a great many of your friends lay dead, only to ever be seen again when they haunted your dreams and nightmares both. “I would not wish my first battle upon anybody, most certainly not you, Elena.”
“Don’t try an’ trip me up with all th’ bad things that’ve happened t’ you, Bonetto,” Elena growled, “You know that yer worth all th’ pain an’ loss that can be thrown at me, or else I wouldn’t even think t’ come along. I’m not an idjit, blowin’ down th’ same course as th’ wind.”
“This will not be the only battle,” you had to insist, “Please. I am unfamiliar with too much to be able to keep watch over you along with everything else.”
Elena paused. “Swear you’ll let me come next time.”
“I swear it.”
“Swear on yer father’s name.”
“My father’s name,” you touched Elena’s head, “Isn’t precious enough to offer up that way. I don’t know what is, but I’ll give it up should I take back my word.”
That satisfied Elena, but only barely. She pointed an accusing finger. “You come back now,” she said, “An’ you better not have another scar on you.”
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The attack was prepared to spring. Despite nominally being cloaked in black, your battalion was not one for casting down function in favor of fashion, and was mostly cloaked in sheets of greys, blues, and whites in preparation for sneaking up, ready to cast them away when the time came that their concealment would give no further aid. The enemy was passive, and did not notice you, nor pay mind to the outriders that had sniffed out their positions and disposition. No fortifications had been prepared save for those that the village naturally offered- they were practically begging to be pounced upon. Yet…
