CHAPTER 08


   The tent sides were rolled up. Several officers under the tent were gathered around a field table. Dunkis dismounted from his steed as a guard came and took possession of the reigns. Dunkis told his staff to remain as they were as he walked over to the planning session.

He had left his headquarters as soon as the dispatches had arrived. After burning Blekshatten, the group of rebels, and that was what Dunkis was calling them even if no one else was, had not crossed the border into Calden as expected by the Unified Command up in Tallos.  

The group of renegade women had turned northeast and moved into the hills around the rail junction of town of Nubliegst. They had severed rail communications with every town south of that. To the horror of Dunkis he had found that even in areas he controlled there was no rail service at the moment.

When the rebels had moved through the area they had destroyed the tracks by pulling up rails! When Dunkis had ordered crews to go out and fix them he found yet another nasty surprise. The women had heated the rails and bent them around trees tying them in knots. There was no way they could put them back down now! They would need knew rails and the only way to get them down here was by RAIL!! Only a woman would have thought of something so devilishly clever, not to mention nasty, as that. The engineers said there was no way to repair the rails with what they had. When the Empire had left the region most of the rail equipment went with them.  

Hoasenbrak had been running field operations since they commenced to actively pursue this female rebel army. As Dunkis had expected, the Bothi were slaughtered. He was not that sorry that they were gone either. What bothered him was that these Rebels had learned a free lesson in fighting. They were probably very disorganized in that fight but then they could afford to be. Now they had a taste of gunpowder, a dose of reality, and they would learn. Rebels by definition are normally desperate so they take all lessons to heart simply because they have no choice. Considering what these girls were facing, if they lost, it would hold doubly true in this circumstance.

A small folding field chair was brought out for Dunkis. He had too much energy to sit at the moment so he declined it. He looked at the map on the table. Hoasenbrak seemed quite proud of himself, "you approve of my deployments general?"

"No, not from what I see here. You plan on attacking them."

"Why not?" responded Hoasenbrak. "The longer we wait, the more prepared they will be. That is assuming they are smart enough to make preparations. I think not. After all, logically they should have struck out for the Calden border instead of heading so deep into our own territory. They are almost to the borders of the middle republic. Nowhere for them to run now."

What was stupid about where they went? It was as if Hoasenbrak believed the Imperials would be any happier to see them than Dunkis was. These women had nowhere to run! Where ever they would go they would have to fight. They were cornered animals and as such were very dangerous.  

The last intelligence reports indicated that these rebels were also a very large cornered animal. The Constable of Blekshatten had said he estimated about five thousand or more women had left his town. They had also captured the rifles and powder stores there. That meant they would all be armed. Hoasenbrak had only about eight hundred men with him.

"Troop leader," said Dunkis. "The ground is hilly, broken with rock, and full of scrub. That is not to mention those pesky little carnivorous black rats that live in those hills. How do you intend to employ cavalry, out numbered, on the offensive, in conditions such as this?"

An aide to the troop leader handed Dunkis a dispatch. He read it, "They're sending us cannon. It's about time that those half-wits at the general staff realize what is going on down here. When are they supposed to arrive?"

"This afternoon," replied Hoasenbrak with a smile.

"What?" Dunkis knew where the nearest stores of cannon where.  There was no way they could be hauled over land so fast as to get here that quick. "How do they propose to do this?"

"Eighteen,” an aid reported, “twelve pounders, with modern exploding and shot ordinance was entrained at Tallos two days ago. Should be arriving by rail this afternoon at Nubliegst Station."

Dunkis looked down at the order again. What moron sent his artillery to a town that he did not hold? The order was signed by Shlendon, a man that many considered the hero of Falon. He was the man that had defeated the Imperial center in the counter attack that liberated the city. Dunkis would have thought the man had more sense than that. Did the idiots up in Tallos even understand what the situation was down here?  

"Troop Leader Hoasenbrak commence your attack at once. Then you pray that our troops reach that station before that train does. If the train even gets that far in the first place."

Hoasenbrak was not ready for his assault just yet. He also did not hold his superior's concern.  "General, the militia holds the town proper. They have not even been seriously attacked. The station is in our hands."

Dunkis pointed at the paper, "and the countryside belongs to them Hoasenbrak. The rails run through the countryside. Do I need to draw you a picture?"

"Do you really believe that a group of women could seize a train? I mean they are traveling upwards of fifteen miles an hour.” On a side note Hoasenbrak had to comment, “faster than any man should ever really have to go. The point being that is just to fast to stop. Not to mention this one will be heavily guarded as well."

Dunkis had neither the time nor the inclination to listen to such foolishness. He called for his horse and mounted up. He called back to the tent as he prepared to ride off,  "Send the orders to commence operations. Also let the line officers know. I will be leading this battle myself."

After the General and his men rode off Hoasenbrak laughed out loud in front of his own staff. "Damn fool. We beat the Imperial Army and he thinks a bunch of women are going to give us problems."


The train had miraculously stayed on the track when it hit the barricade. The engineer had somehow managed to brake quickly enough to slow it down to a crawl just before impact. The barricade itself might not have been Tish's idea but she was the one who made it happen. She was proud of the results. They had an intact train, fully functional, and at little cost. The guards had mostly fled after they fired off one volley. The return fire had convinced them they were sufficiently out numbered to warrant a withdrawal. That was assuming they survived long enough to actually need any excuses at all.

As Tish began examining what they had captured she found the most curious thing on the flatbed rail cars. A crew of girls gathered and started pulling down tarps from the strangely shaped cargo sitting on those cars. Tish could not believe her eyes when she saw what was strapped down under those tarps. Guns! Big huge guns! The things they called cannon! One of ZePure's men, a guy named Roderick, rode up on a horse. He let out a yell, "Tish! We got canister shot and all the powder we could ever need in those rail cars back there!"
"YES!" exclaimed Tish. Then she thought about it for a minute, "Now what does all that mean?"

The several passenger cars had been loaded with civilians. They were now wandering aimlessly around the train. Some were in shock while others seemed to think this was all some kind of entertainment and watched in curiosity. Many shouted and cursed in anger at the women who stopped the train. Tish could not believe that what had really made them angry was that they were going to be late getting into the next stop! Like they were going to be getting there at all!

There was one man on board that seemed to completely understand what was going on. He came walking out of the passenger car straightening his expensive suit and adjusting his top hat. He stood on the rail car platform and began issuing orders like anyone would listen to him. In fact, as Tish watched him, she realized it was more like he thought they were just supposed to listen to him. When one girl asked him why, the fool announced to everyone who he was. The man was a very successful, and well known, Bothi. It never seemed to occur to him that he needed any more credibility so he went on issuing orders. He was shot six times before he could finish his last sentence.  

In the confusion around the train Tish heard a voice calling out from the crowd of stranded passengers. It was her real name being called! Most everyone just called her Tish now. It was a young girl’s voice and a very familiar one. It was a voice that Tish had long since given up any hope of ever hearing again. Then Tish saw the face that went with it. The girl was running out of the crowd yelling, "Valena!"

Tish ran to the girl that was yelling her name. Tish tossed her arms around the little girl and picked her high in the air, "Jerhana! Oh my god, how did you get here?"

Thimina came wandering out from under a rail car. She watched the reunion with fascination, "Who is this?"

"Thimina! I want you to meet my sister Jerhana," exclaimed Tish with a wild grin on her face. "How did you get here girl?" Tish hugged her again. This time Tish couldn't let go, "I thought I would never see you again!"

All that she had seen here had surprised, even shocked, Jerhana. "I was with a Bothi. He was bringing us south to sell. He said there was a shortage in the south now."

Both Thimina and Tish laughed at that. Tish got serious again, "Oh god I thought I had lost you forever. Back in Ninvey where they kept us in that pit…” Tish tried to forget those days. “When those Assur took me out I thought they were going to leave you down there to starve."

Jerhana didn't want to let go of her sister either. She hugged her for dear life. "I almost did. After they took you. They dropped some other girl down there with me. Then out of nowhere these soldiers showed up. Some guy in a weird green outfit jumped down in and got us out. I think he was looking for somebody else though?"

Those Assur were nothing but thieves anyway. Some guy was probably trying to find his own stolen woman. "Wait a minute," asked Tish, "how did you wind up here? The soldiers? Didn't they send you back to Dotticia?"

"They told me they were. Then I found out the locals didn't even report that they found me. Next thing I know I'm with an Assur Caravan headed East." For the first time Jerhana noticed what was slung across Tish’s shoulder. She backed up and pointed, "What... what are you doing with that?"

Instead of answering directly Tish looked around and quickly spotted a dead soldier lying next to the rail car. She tossed his rifle to her little sister. Jerhana held it like it was burning hot, "won't we get in trouble?"

Tish just laughed, "Honey, we are trouble!"


"They're moving," said ZePure. He stood quietly with everyone else after that.  

Julia stepped out past the shade of the tree. She looked off into the small rolling hills. She gripped the sword at her side, played with the hilt, and then she started grinding her fist. What was she supposed to do? If she said stay then this horde of people now following her would do so. They had guns but they were up against a real army now. Julia had no doubt that they would fight because just like Julia they had no other choice. It was certain that some, maybe even all of them, would die if that happened. Julia didn't know if she could live with that.

She had not come here to lead a slave revolt and fight a war! She was a Botanist! She was an explorer! She was not some damn ET Napoleon. She didn’t even like military history! When Pete used to rattle on about it back on Hermes she always fell asleep. Till he had come along Julia had thought Chesty Puller was a playmate centerfold and Patton was that actor in the movie Oliver Twist. She had thought terms like flank, D-Day, breakout, and Super Bowl were all football terms. When did the military start using them? In short, Julia didn’t know how to lead an army and more importantly she was all to aware of that.

None of that mattered now. Like all the girls around her, Julia felt, and knew, that she had no choice. They had no place to run. They could never submit. Dying on a battlefield seemed a lot better way to go than being impaled on a spike. Even stranger was the fact that dying in any form was better than living and being a slave again. Julia really didn’t think that any of these girls could ever do that again. For the longest time she was the only one here that knew what freedom was and now they all did. There was no way any of them would ever submit again.

There was one other choice. Julia had been keeping it in the back of her mind. Unlike the rest of these people she did have a place to go. She was not sure exactly where it was but, she knew her friends, companions, and shipmates were still out there. There was a part of Julia tempted to just run and find them. She wanted to leave this nightmare behind her and never look back. The other part of her, and strangely enough a dark corner of her mind, was dead set against it. Even that was not the deciding factor here though.

Julia dropped to a knee and rubbed her forehead. She closed her eyes in hopes that the pain would go away. What was she supposed to do? Looking at the faces around her, Julia suddenly realized that some of these girls were the closest people she had ever known in her life. They were better friends than anyone she had ever known back home. The thought of one of them dying because she told them to stand up and fight was just too much. The thought of letting them down was even more. That was the deciding factor.

Julia stood, turned, and faced those waiting for her next words.  "Is Tish and her gang back yet?"

Gurcia answered, " Well don’t nobody goes looking at me. I ain’t seen ‘em yet."

"All right," Julia looked to ZePure. "What's their game plan? What are they going to do?"

They were going to fight and ZePure felt his blood boil just thinking about it. He knelt down as everyone gathered around. He took a stick and began drawing in the dirt, "I fought under Dunkis in the Revolution. He knows how to use his cavalry. He'll advance with mounted formations in front. Dismounted will be behind that like so and so, two main bodies. He'll use his cavalry to fix you to one spot. He'll feint with the first dismounted elements to make you commit your reserves. He'll use his cavalry to make sure you can't react to the second one, which will blast away at your weak points. Pretty simple, pretty fucking deadly if you're on the wrong end of his guns."

Julia looked it over.  "We've got more people than he does."

"He's got more speed, better troops, and probably better small arms."  ZePure could always find a problem with something and he was typically a fatalist which led Julia to wonder what he was really doing here. “What he’s got counts for a hell of a lot more.”

Julia used her foot to rub out the simple boxes and lines that ZePure had just drawn. She took his stick and started doing her own. "Gurcia and Ouliat, you take your wing and move over to those hills just north of here. Join your line with Helnocia here in the center, and we'll have Kirsh on the south."

"Kirsh's people are all new," remarked Chree. "And she's got fewer people than everybody else?"

For once, ZePure actually agreed with Chree, "half them girls don't know how to even use their rifles and the half that does is likely to shoot the half that doesn’t by mistake."

Julia continued, "ZePure, you hold your people right here. Chree, get a horse and go find Tish. Tell her to move her tail up here quick. We need her now. Lead them over just behind that rise. Stay out of sight. I'll tell her when to move."

ZePure said, "So I'm the reserve. What's Tish doing?"

Chree had a blank look on her face, "a horse?"

Julia stood and walked away. She stopped. Without looking back, "lets do it, BREAK!"

ZePure took his hat off and scratched his head as he gave quizzical glances to those around him, “What the fuck is a break?”

Under the shade of the tree Julia knelt over once again. She rubbed her eyes. When Julia opened them again she saw Fescan was sitting just to the other side of the tree. He had a real bad habit of popping up out of nowhere. Julia figured that around this place it was going to get him killed one day. This time he had paper instead of canvas and was merrily sketching away with a charcoal in hand.

Without even acknowledging that he had seen her Fescan stated in a matter of fact way. "You should really use some of your magic liquid for those headaches of yours my dear."

Julia stood up and walked over behind him. She leaned up against the tree he was using for shade. She peeked down over his shoulder. He was sketching her again. In the picture she was drawing in the dirt and giving orders to her girls looking on. "Where's ZePure at? You know there were one or two men over there."

"Not as dramatic my dear."

Julia watched him for a second longer. A thought occurred to her, "how did you know about..."

"Aspirin you mean. I know many things. I only wish I knew what this days end would hold so that I could make proper dinner arrangements."

"You know if you still got some of that hooch I could use some right about now.”

Fescan removed the flask from his bag. He unscrewed the cap and turned it upside down. Only a tiny drop fell. "You do not need this for you are so stronger the intoxicant. I find my own thirst all the more diminished in your presence. I wish to taste life at its full rich aroma only with you."

Julia started giggling at that. She mellowed when she saw Zamtha walking up the hill.  "Excuse me for a second Fescan. Keep up the optimism."

This army was short on salutes and long on hugs. It had become the standard greeting now. Julia looked the young lady over. Her oversized brown civilian Jacket with the ugly big buckles drooped down to her knees and the sleeves went way past her hands. Her black pants made bell-bottoms look skinny. The hat on her head was almost as tall as she was and kind of tilted at the top. Zam had picked it up in Blekshatten so that her rifle would not look taller than she was. Julia felt almost like a proud mother now. "You all right? Can you handle it?"

"I'm yelling at them like ZePure does. It seems to work out all right for him. I don‘t know, maybe I‘m doing something wrong."

"I think you should stay with me," said Julia. She wondered what it would have been like if it were Joey standing there instead of a little girl born under another sun.

"I know you can handle it." That sounded strange to Julia coming out of her own mouth. She didn't remember thinking a teenager was ready for anything since she had been one.  

"Julia, I just wanted to say thank you. I know when we first met that… that… the way I treated you. I'm sorry for that. I've never had the guts to tell you before now."

"It's all right Zamtha. I know you don't know this because I never told anybody Zam. Euker… he raped me that night. I think that no matter whatever kind of words that we had before that. What you did to him was more than I could ever ask. I'm not sure that I really liked it, but thank you."

Zamtha got a strange look on her face, "What are you talking about?"

"You killed him. You stopped him. I guess I should say thank you... I just don't know what to say."

"Julia," she had a very strange look, "you killed Euker."

"Zam, I killed Boey and I freely admit to that. I didn't kill Euker. He was stabbed with the knife sweetheart. I remembered him leaving it upstairs."

"No Julia you killed him," she was called by her group. Zamtha gave Julia one last hug, and ran off.


_____________________


The entire little cabin shook. Jack was now getting used to noise around the Inn again. Business was slower than ever but now they had the sounds of children running around teasing an elephant. Dumbo would try and run away, half the time bumping into Jacks cottage, and making him think it was an earthquake. It had taken Jack a long time to train that beast not to scratch himself with the buildings. Now it was all for nothing but, Jack usually half smiled when it happened these days.

Everybody was back now.  That was with the exception of Pete and Gary. Nobody had seen Gary. Pete was still acting like an immature kid up in his cabin. He had run off just after Saiid Junior's funeral. Pam was worried sick right now. She was sure he was at the cabin but, nobody knew why. It was a small matter when you considered that, getting past the noise, at least they were all safe now. Things were starting to function again.  It was just like they had back in the old days. Everybody was trying to get over the shock of what happened in town and they were doing so by pretending it really was the old days.

The bed bounced up and down. Jack woke from his half sleep. He rolled over. Dee was sitting on the edge with her back turned to him. He thought he heard her crying. Jack reached out and scratched her back.  "You OK darlin‘?"

"I'm sorry," said Dee wiping away her tears, "I didn't mean to wake you."

He reached out and pulled her back down on the bed, "What's wrong?"

With tears rolling down her face, "It shows huh? It's just everything Jack. I mean I feel like I'm in some sort of trap that I can't get out of. I'm scared. Right now everything's all right for the most part. That's what we thought before little Saiid died. That's what Pam thought when she tried to get on that train. That's what Julia thought right before..."

"We're safe now Dee," said Jack. His words sounded empty. He didn't know what to say.

"Jack!  We're never going to be safe until we get off this damn rock. You might be. Mountain Man Pete fits right in now. Me! No I had to be born with tits! Jack, I hate this place. What's worse, I'm scared of it. When are they coming for me? Who's going to get killed when they do?"

Jack kissed her on the forehead, "They will. I promise you that. I won't let you out of my sight."

There was a knock at the door. Harry called in, "Hey guys! I think you better come out here and see this."

After rolling out of bed, Jack pulled his pants on and wandered out the door. He felt of his head. What little hair he had left up there was greasy and wild. His face was unshaven, and he had no shirt or shoes on. Whatever disaster was awaiting him now was just going to have to be content with dealing with him in standard morning uniform.  

Pete, on the other hand, was sitting atop his horse. His hair was cut in a rather neat high and tight buzz cut. He was clean-shaven. He was even wearing a Marine Corps issued battle dress uniform. His rank, nametag, and patches were all attached as specified by regulations. The suit even looked pressed! The boots were shined? Jack had to rub his eyes and take a second look to make sure he was not still asleep.  

Pete saluted, "Good morning Colonel Kelly. I came to ask for my resignation back, sir."

Dee laid her arms on Jack's shoulders and leaned over him while he was on the lower stairs. She was giggling, "You look silly in that get up Pete."

Jack scratched his face, "Uh, well... I think I used that paper, you give me a few years ago, when I had to go to the can. I guess that means you always were in. You need your back pay right now? I‘m a little short at the moment but, I could manage an IOU."

"No sir," said Pete. He saluted and Jack returned it as best one could after just waking up. Pete gave his horse a pull of the reigns and road off around to the front of the Inn.

Jack let out a deep breath, "Where the hell did he get that uniform?”  

Dee shrugged, “I don’t have a clue honey. You don’t think he’s finally flipped do you?”

Jack scratched his chin and thought about it, “what I think is that I'm going back to bed. Want to join me?"

Dee stood there for a second scratching her head acting like she was thinking about it. Jack reached out and pulled her in slamming the door behind them.


_____________________


The trooper came swooping down from over the hill. He was screaming as he rode by, "Their right is collapsing! Their right is collapsing!"

Dunkis wiped the sweat from his forehead as he walked up to the top of the rise. Every now and then a mini ball could be heard zooming by. Dunkis held out his hand and a soldier brought him his spyglass telescope. He viewed the ground to his front. These women were fighting as hard as he had expected them too.

They had chosen good ground. His mounted elements were finding it hard to move in the tangled undergrowth down there. The enemy was hidden behind slopes, on their bellies, and shooting down on his advancing dismounted troopers. They did not break and run. They fought with desperation, they never surrendered, and they never ran.  That was until now of course.

These women were terrible shots but, the sheer volume of fire more than made up for the weakness. The only relief was that they had yet to use their only advantage, that of superior numbers. They had a pathetic reserve, which was currently holding down their northernmost flank. Dunkis had bluffed them. His one troop of less than a hundred men had tied up their only reserve. Even now though, with their southern most flank collapsing, Dunkis was still worried rather than relieved.

They should not have had a reserve at all! It was a sign that the Virgin Mary knew something about war. Either that or someone over there did. They were organized. They had small unit leaders, troop leaders, in effect they had a viable command structure. More than once Dunkis had seen some woman with a sword go down only to be replaced by another.

Dunkis found himself actually respecting this woman. She had taken an ignorant rabble and over the course of a few months turned them into a real army. It was also frightened him to no end. Things were transpiring just as he had seen. No one else would heed his warnings so if anything was going to be done the responsibility was exclusively his own. Dunkis realized all to well that if the rebellion was not stopped here today it was going to grow into a viable threat. This was not just a threat to his region, his republic, or even the entire east. This rebellion could very well bring about the down fall of civilization. He had to stop it.

"Your horse sir." said an aide just below the rise and safely out of direct fire.

Dunkis walked back down and mounted up. He pulled his sword and held it to his side. "I certainly hope the lads are ready because I am. We have to win this fight today boys. If we do not I would hate to see how strong they are in the next battle."  

If this had been a few months prior then many of these men would have laughed at the notion. After today there would not be many who ever looked at a woman the same way again. Even if the Virgin Mary were to fail then she had accomplished at least that much. Even if her rebel army were to be defeated and scattered the ideas that went with it were now entrenched and would not be dislodged. Dunkis suddenly realized that no matter what the outcome of this day would bring, the world was about to change. He really wondered if it was for better or worse.

The Sub Troop Leader rode up to the head of his column. He gave Dunkis a nod and pulled his horse in beside that of his General. "Sir, the scouts say that we have bad ground ahead. Our charge will be broken up by the scrub and rocks."

"Yes," replied Dunkis, "but this is not to be a conventional charge as such. I am afraid that our arm of service is seeing the end of its day. Just as the elephant did with the invention of cannon. Now instead of charging into battle all the beasts do is pull the very item that out dated their usefulness as a weapon. I find that most ironic don't you? No, we shall use the dips, rocks, and brush for cover. We must get as close as we can without being taken under fire and then charge what is left of their line. If we can break through it we can then put their rear under our fire."

"Coordination sir, how will we...."

"Move to the sounds of the guns," replied Dunkis. "That is to be the standing order for every man in this charge. We are counting on luck that enough of us will reach their lines at the same time."

"What about counter attack sir? We shall be unorganized."

Dunkis nodded to the dismounted soldiers that they were passing, "We are officers. Our job is to make chaos into some kind of order. We shall just have to work a little harder today."


Zamtha rose up on one leg and fired again. She dropped back down behind the crest of the ridge which was now made higher by the piles of bodies lying on it. She found herself too busy to think about the fact that she was surrounded by the bodies of girls that used to be her friends. Zam cracked open the breech of her rifle. It was hot now and she had to use a scarf to touch it. She began the clumsy act of pouring in powder and trying to seat the ball on its rest.  

The thunderous sounds of hundreds of rifles cracking at every instant had almost made her deaf. When the battle started she was just leading a small group of twenty girls. Now she was in charge of the entire center of the line. The Army soldiers were few in numbers but they were crack shots. They also held their fire until everyone could shoot at once.

That was all but the few of them out in front of the enemy line. They were small targets, not easy to hit standing so far apart like they were, and their combined actions were keeping up an almost continuous and lethal fire. They were also so organized and that seemed to Zamtha now to count for a lot. Everything those men did was as one. No amount of punishment they took seemed to change that. Zamtha was really starting to wish they had listened more to ZePure.

"ZAM!"  Salenax had to yell right in Zamtha's ear to get her attention.  

"What is it?" Zamtha rose up and fired once more. She no longer even bothered to aim when she did. It seemed rather pointless now, even when there was enough time to do so. Zam found herself going through the motions, like a machine, of reloading, firing, and then reloading again. She was doing it as if ZePure was still standing there yelling at her.  

Salenax pointed down to Zamtha's left. Green jackets on horse were coming out of everywhere. It looked like every little hole, every bush, and every crevice was just oozing horse soldiers. They were charging towards the crumbling line at full speed, picking up momentum as they went. "Salenax, run and find Julia! Tell her what's happening!"

The girl was afraid. As she got ready to get up and run she asked Zam one last question, "Are we going to run! We got to run Zam! everybody's getting killed!"

Zam dropped her rifle and grabbed the girl by the arms, "Where are you going to run to huh!? You got nowhere! We're all you got! You just remember that!"
Zamtha could not help but notice that the rate of their fire was slowing down. She stood up and walked just below the crest of the hill. She had never dreamed of what a battle might be like but, now that she had seen it she realized what had to be done. Shooting at those men was the only thing keeping them back.

As she walked along the line she yelled at the girls around her, "They're not going to be nice if they win! What do you think will happen to us if they do!? This is the only chance you’re ever going to have to be free! So you better take it!” The firing picked up once again.  


Julia was pacing back and forth under her tree. She watched the battle as ZePure came riding up the hill. "Julia! All my boys... I mean girls are pinned down holding the north flank. We got cavalry flooding across Kirsh's lines. They're beating feet for the creek. It's just what I fucking told you would happen."
Julia stopped pacing.  "Where the hell is Tish!"


Jerhana could not believe the tale. Her sister had never lied to her before but, it was just all too unreal. As they walked along Jerhana looked seriously at the guns and supplies they were carrying. She looked at every single girl marching along with their gun on their shoulder. Jerhana could think of only one question to ask her sister. "Why? Why did you do it? It's just so unnatural. I mean things have always been like this. It's just the way they are."

Tish could understand her reluctance. This did seem too insane to be true. It did feel like it was against everything that Tish had ever known. Yet it was as real as it could be and so was Julia. She had taught every one of them what it meant to be true to yourself. "You'll meet Julia. You'll understand then."

"I don't know Val."

"Jerhana, did you think it was right when those Assur stole us? I
mean I know our birth master was no saint, but still. I mean they tied us up and left us in a pit to rot. If nobody had come along to buy me, or when they took you out, those Assur wouldn't have cared if we lived or died. They would have just written us off like overhead in a store. Is that right?"

Jerhana had an answer, "everybody knows the Assur are trash anyway. It's just the way things are. I mean we don't have to worry about keeping a roof over our head. We don't have to make tough choices. All we have to do is what we are told, and everything is fine."

"What if you don't want to do what you're told," asked Tish?

"Oh most men have to do things they don't want to. I know you'll never get one to admit that but... I've seen it though. You remember the guys that worked for our birth master. They used to bitch and moan worse than a woman when they had some work to do."            

"Yeah but they can quit and go somewhere else?" said Tish.

"How? Not a one of them had a lick of sense. They would have starved trying to find honest work."

Someone from up the line started yelling, "A rider! A rider!"

Tish dropped her weapon from her shoulder and ran forward. She was relieved to see it was just Chreelana on a horse, well, barely on a horse. Chree was constantly trying to get the beast to do what she wanted. The horse did not seem all too convinced it should comply. Tish ran out and took control of the animal, "What are you doing back here?"

"I'm lost! I tried to tell Julia I couldn't ride one of these damn things. She thinks just because she can ride like a man that everyone else can too!"

Actually Julia was always insisting she rode better than a man. She had always told Tish that she rode like a Texan. Tish had never quite figured out what that meant but, from the context she had guessed that a “Texan” was supposed to be more than a man. "Well why did she send you back here?"

Chree explained the situation as best she knew it. Tish had heard
the guns all afternoon. She was leading her people right that way. After some basic understanding was established about the landmarks in Chree's head, and the ones that Tish was seeing at the moment, Tish formed a plan of her own.

Chree also explained who was where on the battlefield and that made Tish shake her head, "Kirsh will never hold that line. Chree can you lead the girls over to just past that hill? Think you know the way?"

"If I don't have to get back on that damn horse, I can."

Tish nodded in the affirmative. She was planning on using the horse anyway. "Then do it. I got to go find Julia real quick. When you get over there, tell everybody to make sure their rifles are loaded and cocked. I'll be back real quick like."

Jerhana saw her sister getting on the horse. She ran up to stop her, "We're are you going?"

At the moment Tish didn't have time. She asked one simple question, "Are you going to fight with us?'

"Yes," Jerhana was quick with that answer. Tish looked at her funny so her little sister explained. "I'll fight because you're my sister. After it's over with Val. Don't expect me to try this freedom thing you think is so wonderful. I just don't think it's me."

Tish nodded, "fair enough little sister. You can leave if you want to, when the time comes. There are no slaves here anymore. I'll be back." Tish slapped the horse and took off at a gallop.


Dunkis jumped down from his horse. A sergeant, that he had found after they charged from the gully, did so as well. The horses ran off as bullets began kicking up dirt around them. Dunkis appraised his situation and pointed it out to the Sergeant, "Amazing. We've broken their line, taken their center under fire from the rear, yet they have not run. They're still shooting as us!"

"I had noticed sir,” replied the Sergeant in a practical matter of fact tone that was borderline insubordinate.

It would have been time for Dunkis to order his entire line forward only he didn't have enough men for such a move. One good charge from the center of his line would crack theirs for good. The problem was that most of his line was a bluff right now. He had to mass his real firepower for this charge. If this had been an Imperial Army it would have already abandoned the field since the officers in the black shirts would have thought their position no longer tenable. Bluffs were not working on these women. They were going to stay and fight to the last man, or whatever.

"Sergeant!" yelled Dunkis. "Organize all the men you can and keep putting fire down on that hill. We've currently got them in a crossfire. Maybe we can compel them to leave. I'm going to see if we can renew the charge. We must threaten them somewhere they find critical."  

If losing your right flank was not critical enough Dunkis did not think he was going to find any other. He still had to try. There had to be somewhere on this field that they thought important.

"Anything you say sir," the Sergeant replied as if he had been just given the most mundane of orders.


Julia ran out from under the tree. Tish stopped her horse from the gallop she had maintained since leaving her column. Julia was mad enough to bite nails, "Where have you been?!"

Tish just pointed toward the hill behind her, "I've got my girls over there now. Julia we captured cannon!"

It was too late to put them to any use now. Julia called for Thimina who brought up a horse. Julia jumped up on it. "All right lets get them moving.  Leave a small guard on the cannon and everybody else is going to follow us."

Tish smiled, "I already know. We're heading down there where they broke through. Saw it on the way up here."

"No," said Julia. She was being very short at the moment. "See the center. Zamtha's in charge there right now. They're getting hit from two sides. We're going to go there and then right up their middle."
That made no sense to Tish, "What! What about... oh what the hell."


Zamtha piled bodies up on both sides of her. Bullets were constantly crashing into the dead flesh. The Green jackets to her front were getting bolder, and closer. The ones in her rear were steadily gaining strength. Her pouch was running out of ammo. She rose up to fire at the ones in front of her first. Something that felt like a sledgehammer hit her in the back of the head. Zamtha went rolling out of her cover. Her thumb tensed and discharged her rifle. Everything else was a blur until she regained her senses at the bottom of the hill. Her hat was gone. She felt blood running down the back of her neck.  

There was a cut on the back of her head. She could still move even though it hurt to do so. Zamtha pulled her hand back from her hair. It was covered in blood. "Damn, they shot me?"

A firm hand grabbed her feet. Zam looked down as yet another set of hands grabbed hold. She couldn't make out much detail but her heart sank when she saw the green jackets. They had lost after all this! Somehow Zamtha knew that this was going to happen. Some part of her never really believed they could defeat the army. She just wished they would shoot her now.

There was a loud roar of rifles that drowned out all other sounds. Zam closed her eyes and waited for the final bullet. She mouthed, "Thank you."

A second later Zamtha opened her eyes. The green Jackets were gone. Hundreds of legs were running past her. Their clothing was so mismatched that they could only be her people! Where did they come from!? Zamtha started breathing easier. She heard a voice call her name. A hand gently raised her head onto a soft lap. It was Julia? Zamtha felt a tear, "I let you down Julia."

Julia stroked her hair.  "You're going to be all right Zamtha. Just a scratch. You did just fine honey."

"I'm so glad,” she let out with a sigh of relief. Zamtha felt herself fading out. Just before she did she summed what strength she had left, “I did it for you,"

Julia sighed. That's not why they were here. It compounded her guilt every time they said it. As she watched her troops rush forward into the brush, over the hill, and at the enemy line, Julia wept. Was this victory? If it was then why did she feel so bad?


Dunkis climbed the hill to where his scouting party had held up. They reported capturing the enemy headquarters but that is not what Dunkis saw. Who they had captured amounted to a bunch of children, a couple of young girls, and a few old women under a tree! It was hardly an event that called for passing out medals. Dunkis asked for a report. He listened and grew angry. Finally he said, "Very well, which one is this… this… Thimina?"

A Sergeant brought the little blonde headed girl forward and pushed her to the ground. "Sir, according to the records we had. This one here was owned by the same master as the Virgin Mary."

Dunkis ground his teeth, "Do not call her that!"  

He then pointed at Thimina "Where is your leader Mary?"

The girls said nothing. Dunkis did not have the time to waste. "Sergeant take her to the rear."

As the prisoners were marched off, Dunkis took in the view from here. Everything could be seen from this point. She was smart, very smart, to have placed herself at this point. He would have chosen this very place for his own headquarters had the terrain been reversed. Just before Dunkis was ready to leave he noticed a man sitting on a rock nearby. He asked one of his men what was known of this man. More importantly where had he come from? Dunkis did not recall him sitting there when first arriving.  

Dunkis approached him, "who the devil are you?"

"Oh does it really matter. If you insist however my name is Fescan. I paint. Would you like to make a purchase perhaps?"

"I think that finding you here makes you a traitor and I should have you shot." The man kept on sketching. Dunkis asked, "This does not bother you?"

Fescan put his charcoal down. "Why should you bother me General? Your army is the one in retreat." Fescan pointed to the distant hills.

The man was right! The women were pouring through his weak center. They had already cut off his line of retreat. The only men of his, that he could see fighting, were in small groups that were desperately staving off their own deaths. "Good God! Sergeant! We have to leave now!"

They found the first stray horses and mounted up at the bottom of the hill. Dunkis had one last chance. He rode through the scrub and rounded up as many survivors as he could find. He would lead a charge into the rear of the advance. A sudden appearance by what might seem an overwhelming force could change the momentum of the battle. It could demoralize the enemy while giving his men the emphasis to rally and reorganize. Dunkis realized it was a long shot but it was the best he had.

The plans did not come to pass. His group collided with a group of women who were probably trying to get to the same place he was. They had no clue the other was there until they were face to face. A confused and desperate fight broke out that quickly degenerated into an every man, or woman, for themselves.  

Dunkis never saw who it was that pulled the trigger of the weapon that hit him. He felt the pain and grabbed his leg as he fell from his horse. The shooting began to die away as it was replaced by the crackling noises of small fires raging here and there. A thick smoke and a sickening smell were filling the air around him. Dunkis took his scarf and tied it around his leg. If he made it back to his own army there was little doubt the surgeon would hack it off.

To this, Dunkis resigned himself. He looked around at the carnage that had been left by the brief and desperate fight. If anyone had survived it on either side they had ran off now. All that Dunkis could see around him were bodies. He heard cries of wounded nearby but, from experience, he could tell those who did were done for. Even if their wounds were not fatal, as his, there was yet another threat looming in the scrubby little bushes around him. The fire was getting closer.

Something moved. Dunkis raised his pistol as he saw a young girl drag herself up slowly. She had a giant gaping hole in her thigh.  It was the work of a pistol at short range. Dunkis had seen such wounds before. Since they were both equally incapacitated Dunkis lowered his weapon, "What is your name girl?"

She collapsed and caught her breath. She coughed out in pain, "Jerhana."

Dunkis took his canteen out, "Do you want some water Jerhana. The least we can do is be comfortable until one side or the other finds us."

The arid smell, as well as the thickness of the smoke, was growing. The crackling sounds of the fire were growing louder. Now there was a new sound, a kind of screeching noise, that was growing even louder than the flames. Dunkis looked up the small hill he was at the base of. There were three of them running from the brush. They were being driven by the fire no doubt. Dunkis raised his arm and fired a shot. The small black rats scattered only to be replaced by five more. Dunkis shot his last two rounds but they had little effect.  

He looked at the girl, "Well, I don't think we're going to be found by either side, Jerhana. Look, they're already starting to cover the dead."

Jerhana held her head as high as she could. The black, sleek, and long tailed rodents were ripping the flesh like it was paper. "What are they? What are they doing?"

Dunkis tossed his pistol at the mob that was growing. They did not even bother to scatter this time. "They'll get the dead flesh first. Once it's gone, we'll be next for sure."

Jerhana lowered her head on the ground. "I didn't want this!"

Dunkis remained calm, "Whoever does little girl. I'm curious though. Is this freedom you are looking for, really worth the price?"

Jerhana had only experienced a few hours of it herself. She had been so content in her old place. She had had everything she ever wanted out of life. She slapped away one of the rats. It kept a respectable distance but grew bolder by the moment.

Jerhana looked back at the soldier, "You know what. It was. I never would have believed it. It was when they told me I could leave if I... do you hear me. If I wanted to! That's exactly why I stayed."

Dunkis nodded. He had suspected as much. "Come here if you can child. We can keep them off a sight longer if it is the two of us."

Jerhana never made it.