Battle of Serenity Valley – 2511

Corporal Thomas Jones of the 72nd Pioneer Regiment moved along the ridge with rest of his section, their backs loaded with digging charges and ammo. In the distance the section could see flashes followed by the low rubbles. Two Wolfhounds flew low and fast heading to the front. Thomas didn’t expect them to be flying back. The flare from engines brightened the sky around them and the section ducked instinctively. To the left and right and behind them Thomas could see the rest of 2 Platoon, B Company duck as well. They were all nervous. They had been in Serenity for several weeks now, mostly doing rear guard duties, convey escort, building FOBs for Independent Fighters, guarding POWs (not that there was many coming back) and the myriad of other duties that was the role of a Pioneer in any army.

Their tour in the valley had been pretty eventful. Both sides regarded this as important battle and the Alliance had sent their crack assault battalions to attack the Independent rear lines, and it had been 72nd who’d had repelled them. Thomas didn’t regard the valley or the war as important. He was a conscript, along with most of the men in the regiment, and was only concerned with surviving.

But the ruperts in the headshed had decided that a big push along the valley was what was needed to tip the balance in their favour. To do that they needed to move the big guns forward so that they were in range of not only the front but also the rear lines as the Alliance retreated. But before the artillery could come in, someone needed to build the firing positions. And that someone was the 72nd Pioneers. Bō hóu pì gu!

They arrived at the coordinates given to them and fanned out, taking up defensive positions, waiting for Lieutenant Jamieson and Sergeant Tesia to decide where set the positions. To his left he heard Pioneers Sally and Davies muttering and shifting about.

“Shut the Vloek up, otherwise I’ll paint a nice shiny arrow on your helmets for the Alliance snipers!” he