23 hours after Calvary academy was attacked, all eligible graduates deployed on their first mission. Designated cadre, junior cadets, those in the infirmary, and medically profiled cadets deployed in an undisclosed location. The Alpha squad had been disqualified to deploy into the capital since two members were not in attendance. Instead, they were sent to Heddison, which was a small property acquired by an affluent family with no affiliation to either of the dueling houses. General Benavides established the city as a safe haven for civilians with support from the Allied Armed Forces.

The platoon disembarked from a chinook helicopter to fields of snow-covered crops and icy streets in what looked and felt like the dead of winter. City folks, both young and old, lined up around tents waiting to receive rations of food, clothing, and medical care. Low murmurs of conversations through the crowds were lost in the thick, icy air that chilled to the bone. Roudan, Yoshida, and Savoi were assigned to a food station. Since the crops long had died from the frost, only broth with a side of imitation beef tripe was offered.

Ensign Broudus, a young male officer who graduated two classes prior, was relieved when he no longer had to man the station alone. He was rather jovial and talkative, despite the dire circumstances. Roudan paid him no mind, but Yoshida took an immediate offense over Broudus’s flirtatious attentiveness toward Savoi. The brutal climate was a drastic change to what she knew back on the island. As she fell into a fit of cursing the weather, her accent could not be masked. Neither Roudan nor Yoshida could deny that it gave a charming compliment to her unique beauty. Ensign Broudus continued to engage her in conversation. Then he was beyond amused and enamored.

Savoi broke from the group, hoping to find anything to spruce up the plain broth they were about to serve. She had to remove her overcoat to squeeze around stacks of unopened barrels. After prying open an unlabeled barrel, she optimistically leaned over, nearly falling inside. Savoi was undeterred by her half-submerged state, but continued her search with flailing legs in the air. Broudus fixed his eyes on her like a starved fox prepared for a kill.

“Hey, buddy. What the hell are you gawking at?” Yoshida growled.

Broudus abruptly snapped out of trance and was met with condemning glares from Yoshida and Roudan.

With a nervous chuckle, Broudus swept his a few strands of blonde bangs from his forehead.

“The academy sure has changed since I was in,” he said.

“What’s the matter? Haven’t you seen an islander before now?” Roudan asked in a protective tone.

The two men cornered him in the back of the tent, away from Savoi’s view. Broudus was slightly shorter than both and was certainly no match for either of them. Yoshida leaned in closer so the fog from his breath hit directly on his face. Broudus shook his head nervously, then accidentally let out a fretful whimper.

Roudan peered at him, then softened his stance. It had been only three years ago that he himself met Savoi. She was the very first islander permitted to enroll at the academy, and quite the anomaly. Nonetheless, she was his little sister. Perhaps not by blood, but certainly by the strings of camaraderie woven together during their time at the academy. The Alpha squad had a strong bond; one that he would protect at all costs.

Broudus pivoted to the side and balanced himself against a wooden table. He was uncertain of Yoshida and Roudan’s relationship with Savoi, so he tried to throw them off with a joke.

“Ha. If more broads like her had been enrolled during my time, I might’ve gotten recycled just to stay in a bit longer.”

“Stop being weird!” Roudan snapped.

Yoshida gripped Broudus by the collar of his coat.

“Listen, wise guy; that young lady is 2Lt. Thomasa Savoi, not some random broad,” he said.

 “Hell yes! She’s a brilliant chemist and our fellow officer-in-arms,” Roudan added.

“You’ll put some respect on her name, and not spout any further derogatory drivel,” Yoshida growled between clenched teeth.

Savoi perked her head from the barrel without noticing the ruckus behind her.

“Hey guys, I think I found something,” she said stiffly.

Broudus used the opportunity to free himself from Yoshida’s grip. He wanted to call out to Savoi, but thought better than to do so as Roudan stood in his line of view. Broudus calmed himself and waited for whatever would come next. Savoi continued to dig head first inside the barrel, completely clueless about her surroundings. The men silently lingered until a gust of ice wind crashed across their faces. Though all AAF personnel wore high-tech fabric snowsuits, their uniforms were no match for the severity of the elements. 

“My goodness, it seems as if hell has truly frozen over and we’re stuck in the midst,” Yoshida groaned. “Damn General Benavides for placing us here.” He slapped Roudan on the shoulder. “I thought you could’ve at least talked some sense into him.”

Roudan shrugged, “Be grateful I got him to do as much. I wasn’t prepared to go on the front lines when we were a few men down.”

Broudus became intrigued by them.

“So, you got to rub elbows with the big wigs back at Calvary?” he asked. Every bit of enthusiasm melted from his face, as Roudan and Yoshida’s glowers dropped the temperature down by 10 notches.

Roudan rolled his eyes.

“The old geezer was hard to read. Over the course of our term, he seemed heavily invested in our squad, yet the sorry bastard didn’t have the decency to acknowledge me by my rank at our last conversation after graduation. I could barely negotiate the terms of our deployment because his smoldering indifference was noted.”

Broudus chuckled.

“Sounds to me like you were considered the chosen one out of many. I’ve met no other cadet who has privately met with him. It makes sense, though.”

Roudan and Yoshida patiently waited for Broudus to continue. Their eager eyes lessened the harshness of the mood. Broudus was glad to find a common ground among them at last.

“Well, I can’t be certain of the story, but it’s what I heard during my 2^nd year.” He continued. “Everyone knows that the General and King Klauvius had a romantic involvement. They hired a segregate to carry their child. It was a son, but he was stillborn. They lost the only known heir to the throne. Perhaps you reminded General Benavides of the child he never got to have, and that’s why he talked to you.”

Roudan and Yoshida glared at Broudus, then looked at each other crossly. They erupted into the sort of laughter that made Broudus feel insulted.

With teary eyes, Roudan cackled.

“I’m sorry, buddy; but that is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.”

Yoshida was so tickled, he could not speak. Broudus took the slight as a cue to walk away. He slid next to Savoi, who was busily mixing some powders together. Yoshida straightened up, but Roudan insisted they leave well enough alone for the time being. The lines of town folks flocked to the tents like vultures to prey. The plaza was bustling with business.

Yoshida whispered to Roudan loud enough that only he could hear him.

“You want to tell me what the real deal is here? That clown Broudus has been stationed in this same spot for six years, and he has nothing to show for it except serving broth.pt serving broth.

 Roudan sighed and then he looked over at Savoi, who was happily enthralled in her duties.

“I was hoping you wouldn’t question my choices, senpai,” he replied.

Yoshida smirked.

“When have I NOT questioned your choices?”

Roudan took him by the arm and led him to the furthest corner of the tent.

“I know we could have been fine to go to the capital, but right now the only thing I’m thinking about is Lilya. She’s carrying my child. I offered to marry her, and I plan to be there to receive our bundle of joy. The truth is, we’re safer here so that I can make all that happen. It might be selfish of me, but I don’t care. The war can wait until I settle my affairs.”