Fliogro War chronicles: Winter contingency

Chapter 1

The days got longer. The weather got older. The snow was up to our knees, making it hard for anyone to walk. The trees were dying due to the deadly cold of the winter. If any unfortunate soul was caught outside without any winter gear they were as good as dead. That was the winter in northern Fliogro

I grew up in the north and knew how to survive its harsh weather. I remember my mother taking me out every day to learn the winter surviving skills her mother taught her. Who knew those lessons would come in handy? If my mother was alive I would thank her. But she's not.

The other Captains were unbearable to say the least. Just standing near them gave me an unneeded headache. I was so close to taking of my winter helmet and letting the cold take my life.  And I would've done it too, don't think I would've.

"Where is the Colonel?" one of them asked "She should've been here hours ago"

I wanted to say "she'll get here when she get's here", but I held my tongue. Wasn't worth it to start an argument with such women. You know the type always must be right enough though they know they're wrong. Girls like that make me sick.

In order to keep whatever brain cells I had left, I walk over to what was left of my company. In the past few days I had lost 20 of my soldiers. After nonstop fighting I could tell they were tired and not in the high spirits. And waiting for the Colonel wasn't making anything better.

"Lt. Chamber" I call out.

A smaller women makes her way towards me. At first glance you won't think she was an Imperial soldier. Even though you couldn't see her face through her winter helmet you could she was beautiful. Under all that armor hid a girl with short jet black hair, a pale face that would make any girl fall in love. Her eyes were her best feature. Her left eye was a light blue and her right a shade of red which no one had on Fliogro. It made her unique. Which was one of the reasons it was easy for me to talk to her. The other was she reminded me of the Empress herself. They could be sisters.

"You called for me ma'am" her voice was muffled by the helmet but I could still make out the words.

"I did" I look behind me at the other Captains "Doesn't seem like we'll be going anywhere soon and I the rest of the Captains are simply whining about it. Have the girls set up camp"

"What about the Colonel ma'am"

"I know her well enough to know that she'll be here just not on time. She also has a knack for being a lone wolf."

"Shouldn't we go find her ma'am?"

I think before I answer. If the Colonel ran into some wanna be heroes I bet she had a chance. But if it was a group trying to take from our flank, that's a different story. If we lost the Colonel the other Caps would have a field day. But we have taken my losses over that last few days and our soldiers wouldn't perform well without rest and a hot meal. Shit what should I do?

"I want to go back for the Colonel but we are too beaten up" I sigh "If we go back and run into the enemy we might not make it out"

"I understand ma'am. I'll tell the girls to set up camp" she walks back to the group.

I start to pray and hope nothing happens to the Colonel. The Empress would have my head if she died. The north is important to the Empire. Many resources such as coal and iron are mined there. If the rebels got their hands on it the war was as good as over.

I watch as the girls start shoveling snow to make foxholes. I start to make a plan. One that would change my life forever