Việt Nam Shoukan

Chapter 7: Skirmish

Qua Toyian-Lourian Border, Kingdom of Louria
Central Calendar 1637 (2028), June 26th

"Sir, those barbaric elves must be eliminated at this moment, we cannot wait any longer for our liberation!" A shout could be heard from a Lourian officer.

"I agree, and we shall roll through these countries like butter, including that "Socialist Republic of Vietnam". Whoever they are, they should not be any match for the might of the Lourian Kingdom!" Another officer added on to the first.

All the officers in the tent were yelling out their desire to invade the Qua Toyians to bring liberation to the entire continent.

"Our forces have gathered up much strength throughout the past months, should we not be able to swiftly past all those elven and demi-human defenses of theirs with the way our slaves have been able to supply all the necessary supplies to launch such liberation?!"

"I do agree with my colleague here! We should launch our attacks now, and not wait! All our soldiers are impatient!"

The commanding officer in charge gave a simple sigh to how his junior subordinates were all trying to persuade him to launch an attack on Qua Toyne so that they could liberate the continent and go back home to their families, instead of waiting for another eight months.

"I understand that you all want to go home to your wives and children, However, if we launch an offensive move now, it will cripple our forces in the long term. That "Socialist Republic of Vietnam" you all claim to be weak, could be strong. We must be cautious in our approaches. For now, the best thing we can do is to launch small raids along this border to test their strength. Once we get accurate assessments, compile numbers, and get orders from the people who are superior to us. Plus...is this not an adventure? We are going to new places!" The commanding officer tried to assure them.

"The soldiers are getting agitated, sir! They've been eating nothing but bread and little salted meat at this point!"

The soldiers outside heard the commotion and begin shouting at their commanding officer.

"We want food!" One of the soldiers yelled out.

"We want to see our families again! You drafted us to have us stay here in the middle of nowhere near the border with those elves! At least you could have let us bring our slaves!" Another cried out.

In the midst of the chaos of things demanded, ranging from food, better equipment, use of slaves for relief and others, the commanding officer had no chance but to relent. He sighed at the proposition.

"Fine then. We will attack one of the elves' bases on the border, but no more. That liberation will start when the king orders us to. We will be there to assess the strength of the elves, nothing more. There will be blood spilled, and I expect that, so that is why I will only be sending only a small team. Now all of you, stand at attention!"

At the sound of the commanding officer's loud voice, all the soldiers who were seated stood up, heads looking straight and still as rocks. As the commander walked down the field to pick out his best men to be sent on this little raid, one of the soldiers picked up a rock and seemed to be inspecting it.

"These rocks on the border seem to have some shine in it," the soldier said to his compatriot, who didn't look amused.

"It is just a rock, what is it going to do? Are the elves going to jump from it? See? Nothing. It is nothing special at all, so why are you picking up that rock you fool. Put it down before the commander comes to scold us both."

"But it is so special. It even has purple lines running throughout it. Maybe we can see this for some money in the kingdom-"

He looked up as the commander towered over him.