A Veteran's Story

By Ray B. May IV

“Five days went by. Five days that were the hardest I have ever dealt with,” muttered Andrew. He was telling his story. The story of his life, of a war torn soldier tired of this world. He put his hand to his dry mouth. His throat and mouth screamed for another drink of water. But it was not to be, for he continued on telling his story. “My heart pounded every morning at the same time! I had no need of a’ alarm clock.” He stroked his throat nervously. “But the end of those five days came bringing with it a terrible battle!” He chuckled softly to himself, a dry, humorless chuckle. He called the waitress over and ordered another glass of water. “Parts of it I can’t even begin to describe to ya’. It was so terrible. The front today that you boys were on is nothing like it was back then.”

He thankfully received the glass of water. Putting the old glass to his lips he took a draft, he then lay the glass on the table with a happy sigh. He continued his vigor renewed, “Marching through dense forest for days sometimes during the wet sometimes during the dry. We met the enemy at almost every turn. Then out of nowhere we were pulled out of that forsaken jungle and sent to higher ground.” He rubbed his bald head as his voice dropped to a low whisper. His listeners leaned in close trying to catch every word of this man’s distant past. “Now the mountains on Corgot are the coldest I have ever had the misfortune to put my feet. We’d march through snow for hours or even days sometimes. My buddy, Johnny, ended up MIA on these mountains! We encountered no enemy there. Most of my squad started to think that it was just a diversion while the ‘Big Boys at the Capitol’ decided what to do with us.” He took another swig of water. “They decided to ship us off planet.” He said mournfully. He hung his head slightly as if it was a terrible thought.

“We were put on a ship and then placed in orbit. We stayed there on extended R&R waiting to be placed back in battle. We got news that the front had shifted from Corgot to Crondoria. They had to let us fight now! The capitol of our great galaxy was being taken over. We got our wish; they sent us directly there. We picked up a few hitchhikers on the way though. The captain of the ship we were on, Triumphant Truth, had orders to pick up the First and Second SAPAW brigades. I thought the strange Cyborgs we were fighting were daunting. Seven feet tall, agile as a scared hare, but they weren’t a’ thing compared with the SAPAWs. The armor they wore alone was seven and a half feet tall! I met the infamous General Sir as well. Leader of the Team Elite, His armor was slightly different from the rest, almost elegant. He had a higher air about ‘im than the rest of them did.

“I think what I hated the most about the SAPAWs was how they could talk together through there COM links with out letting a’ one else know. They could talk behind your back while standing in front of you.” Andrew stopped for another drink. He waited a moment while his voice prepared itself to again work. “When we arrived at Crondoria it had been captured by the rebels. The sunrise on that paradise of a planet looked very bleak. The Mobile Infantry tried but failed to take Crovincia! The Capitol City looked lost, until General Sir stepped up to the plate. He took out the Cyborgs and destroyed R.A.I. 1079 with ease. It seems the Emperor had already evacuated the planet.” He ended in a whisper, “Just as fast as the war started it ended. General Sir made sure of that.

“Most of my squad turned of KIA on Crondoria.” A tear ran down the old man’s cheek as he related the end of his tale. One young woman reached out and grabbed his hand.

“Andy, Thank you for the story,” she said, her delicate voice resting on the old man’s soul.