The Allied Terran Army, also known as The Allied Army was founded by General Francis Gustafsson of Kazimierz Republic, Princess Amelia Pendragon of Leo Kingdom, and Prime Minister Ahmed of The Antakiyya Confederation in 1908. Intended as a collective effort to repel the alien forces, also known as “The Puppets''. The Allied Army has fought in over 300 battles, 200 hundred relief efforts, and has gained the backing of all Seven Great Nations.
Its success is greatly accredited to General Gustafsson as The Army’s High Commander, owing to his diplomatic skills, sharp mind for battle and charisma, the man known as The Hellraiser is always responsible for leading every major battle in pushing the invading force back and retaking lost land. What was not common knowledge, however, is their trust on scientists, researchers, and inventors. After knowing their nature as very advanced creatures that didn’t live off natural energy, The Army poured over billions of Pieni into their Research and Development department. The result was a slow, yet impactful success, creating strategies and weapons that exploited their unique nature.
Jon Darwins, The Alien Threat: A Brief History
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The Soldiers of Kazimierz do not weep.
Drinks, food, and empty plates were splattered across the camp. The bonfire burned brightly, just like the spirits of the soldiers around it. Men and women, celebrating their hard-earned victory. There was no need for sadness, nor was there a need for regret. They had won, and those who died did not go in vain. Their souls were honored and their names were sung, for they were the martyrs and heroes that had sacrificed their all.
A tent stood at the far corner of the camp. A single, tiny light lit up from its inside, creating a shadow of a man that could be seen from the tent cloth. The faint scent of cigar lingered around the place, wisps of grey smoke circled the tent. A woman stood in front of it, shuffling her feet.
“You can come inside, Colonel.”
The curtains opened, showing a blond woman holding a tray of food. Her fair skin shone softly under the dim light, having been washed from all the dirt, blood and grime of the previous battle.
“You haven’t eaten anything, General.”
He took a whiff of his cigar, barely looking at her. “Are you trying to order your superior around?”
“I don’t remember dying by voluntary starvation to be an honorable death, Sir.”
“I’d die from paperwork before anything else.”
She took a deep sigh, “You can’t lie to me, General. You’ve barely done any of them. The only way you’ll die from them is when someone chooses to use them as an assassination weapon.”
“What are they gonna do with it? Smack me over the head with a fat stack of papers?”
A small smirk appeared on her face. “Ever heard the term ‘Death by a thousand papercuts’, sir?”
“Damn it, Kattar. I know you hate me, but do you hate me that much?”
“I appreciate the compliment, General.”
They were now staring at each other’s eyes, none blinking. Both of them tried to hold their expressions steady. Two seconds. Three, four, five.
Laughter erupted inside the tent. Not a giggle nor a chuckle, but a laugh, something scarce in their world of violence. Just for a moment in time, there were no army or aliens. It was just two kids from a village on the edge of the map enjoying the company of one another.
The General was the first one to stop his laugh, taking a good whiff of his cigar. “Why do you even bother with a tired old man like me? Just put the food in front of the tent. It’s not like anyone bothers to go around these parts of the camp. I can assure you that the tray is empty by the time the sun rises, eaten by yours truly.”
Softly chuckling, she put the food on the desk in front of her, “Can’t fool me like that, Francis. The old man we’re talking about would’ve jumped at any good food in a moment’s notice.”
“Is it wrong to not have any appetite?”
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“Don’t lie to me,” she sighed, “you don’t care about appetite. All you care about is filling your stomach. After all, hunger-”
“-is the enemy. Got it. Well, in that case, can a man not be hungry from time to time?”
“When I said you haven’t eaten, I’m not talking about tonight. You’ve barely eaten anything other than that one piece of ration bar this morning. How could you lead an army when your stomach is grumbling all day long, General?"
“Really now, Nick? General? When we’re alone? After a win? Sometimes I wonder if you’re just trying to get me mad at you.”
Nicole’s smirk returned to her face, “You can’t get mad at me. You can try, but that ain’t gonna happen. The only time you got mad at me was when I accidentally shat on you when I was still a-”
“Damnit, can you not bring that up? I was only nine and I don’t want to remember the whole village chasing me while I was still covered with your literal crap.”
Nicole giggled softly. Francis, exasperated, replied with a sigh. “Honestly, you’re such a hassle sometimes.”
“Sometimes?”
“Sorry, my bad. I meant that you are the hassle.”
“The one and only.”
Francis smiled, taking a whiff of his cigar. A comfortable silence now rested between the two as the old friends talked like they used to. “You should go outside, Nick. Everyone’s celebrating. There’s probably a lot of better things for you to do.”
“Such as?”
“I… Getting drunk, perhaps? Chat about stuff with random soldiers? Getting it on with some younger guy? Honestly, I don’t know. Do whatever you want. Griffith will come with the clean up crew first thing in the morning, so it’s not like we have anything that we have to do.
“First off, your third suggestion is disgusting. Second, just because I can doesn’t mean I should. Also, what about you? I don’t see the General being alone on the night of a win being good for the army’s morale.”
A puff of smoke came out from his mouth, covering his face. “I… I just prefer to be alone right now. There’s nothing wrong with that, right?”
“So, what do you want me to do?”
“Just… Just leave me a-”
“Leave you alone and depressed like this? Yeah, no chance. I know you were keeping an eye on her during the assault. You think I didn’t realize? I’ve seen the expression you took when the fortress fell. However you spin it, your daughter was right in the middle of it and only god knows what happened to her. You can’t keep this to yourself”
“The Soldiers Kazimierz don’t we-”
“Weep? Those men have the comfort of knowing their lost comrades are at peace with them and death. Do you?”
Francis gritted his teeth, looking away. “I’m fine. Stop worrying about me.”
“Your estranged family member just went MIA, possibly killed. I’ve seen the look on your face when she acts cold and pushes you away. You’ve taken that face since the battle ended. Even a damn buffoon could tell that you’re hurting.”
Francis didn’t respond, simply choosing to take another deep puff of his cigar.
“You’ve just finished the biggest assault you’ve ever led. For fourteen years, you’ve spearheaded the fight against those alien bastards. For fourteen years, I’ve seen you rise and fall, fighting through everything. I’ve seen you angry, sad, and everything in between. But I’ve never seen you like this, and both of us know why. You’re compromised, Francis. Please, for yours, mine, and the army’s sake, walk away while you-”
“No,” He interrupted her, “You know I can’t. Not now. Especially when we’re so close.”
Nicole grimaced. “You’re risking the entire army. It’s that something you’re willing to do?”
Francis closed his eyes, emotions flooding. He took a deep breath, in and out.
"Please, Francis."
“We don’t quit while we’re ahead, Nick.”
Their eyes stared into each other. She could see the sadness behind the thin smile and his old, wrinkled face. It was the smile he wore during all those years, hiding his true emotions deep within him. It pained her to see him like this.
“You should get some sleep, Colonel.” Said Francis, “today was a big day. You deserve your rest. We’ll continue searching for Captain Alma in the morning.”
His tone shifts always scared Nicole. There was something chilling about seeing her oldest friend go all serious, even with the years between the two of them. She took a small breath and straightened herself, knowing that it was him telling her that he had enough of her. “Asking permission to leave, sir.”
“Granted. Don’t worry about the food, Colonel. I’ll make sure to finish it before dawn.”
Nicole saluted The General before leaving, taking one last glance at the man. He didn’t respond, but chose to look away and take another deep puff of his smoke. If this was the same boy she adored when she was still a child, then he would’ve cried his heart out.
She passed the tent’s curtains, seeing the bonfire had already been put out. She walked around the camp, seeing both men and women passing out. If it was 20 or 30 years ago, then she and Francis would be here after a night of drinking and celebration. It was nostalgic, in a sense. Songs, shouts, and cries. She could see soldiers bawling their eyes in their sleep, mourning in sadness. It made sense. After all, losing your precious friends and comrades still hurts, regardless of honor.
The Soldiers of Kazimierz do not weep.
What a bunch of bullshit.