The Great War

[Dugan195]

Sarah smiled softly as Desmond joked it was a date. Her eyes averted slightly as she took a step out of the gate. She her smile grew as she laughed, "Lets go see what needs done around town."

The two of them walked threw the town and Desmond saw the strict control that the army had going on around the main street. The citizens of the town averted there eyes to the ground and walked silently to and fro as Desmond and Sarah walked by them. All were afraid to talk to anyone from the Empire. Soldiers tipped their helmets and wished them good day as they walked by. Some knew who Sarah was from her father. The school had been turned into a detainment camp where children lined outside the fence looking in at their parents who had been deemed rabble rousers and locked up to keep the town quiet.

As they passed the school Sarah led them into a shop where an older lady was being harassed by two young soldiers. "Look, we are the ones here protecting you so that this shop can keep opening and you can make a damned dollar. Now why aren't you be more reasonable about your prices. Everyone has got to do their part for the war effort don't you know?" The soldier furthest from the door said as he tapped his rifle on the counter of the shop.

The lady cringed as the rifle was pointed at her and back away from the counter, a slight tremble fell over her body. "I'm sorry s'r, but I can't sell it no lower. I make little as it is." The lady said in broken English that made the soldiers laugh as they stood there.  

[Joa-Boo]

Desmond was astonished with the area they had to play with. He could see how broken the people were under the rule of the Empire and ideas swelled in his mind. One way or another he would liberate these people and bring back smiles to their faces. He was appalled as he crossed the school yard and noticed the split families. He took a good look at the people inside the fence. If he could get to them, at some point, those were the radical people he could us to stir things up. They could be a good distraction or willing to do the hard jobs.

Desmond also noticed while passing along with Sarah that most of the guards knew her and trusted her. That inspired a lot of other ideas but he had to be careful to never spoil her cover. That could get ugly. He hoped he too would be able to build this false reputation. If he could get ahold of some money he would be able to start a bribing route. Desmond had a hard time looking away from Sarah. She was bright, well mannered, and a whole lot of fun to look at. He was very excited to see her in action.

Desmond’s excitement built as they headed towards the mechanic shop. Having a good mechanic on their side could be very useful for flipping cars and sabotaging the Empire. It didn’t look like that would be all that difficult after they entered the shop to find the soldiers hassling her.

“Whoa gentlemen what is going on here? That is no way to get a lady to submit it you.” Desmond stepped in while crossing the room to separate the groups. His laugh and smile was meant to keep the guards laughing. “What’s this all about?”  

[Dugan195]

The soldiers turned to face Desmond and sneered, "Who are you?" They looked him up and down and didn't know what to make of him. They couldn't tell if he was someone of authority because he was in civilian clothing. The man pointing the gun nudged it towards Desmond, but kept it away from him if he thought that trouble was about to begin.

Sarah walked forward with her face scruntched up in anger, "I am Sarah Stokeworth, daughter of Govenor Stokeworth. I know this is not in accordance with how the army says to act with the townspeople and unless you want my father making a formal complaint to your commanding officer I would suggest that you two leave," Sarah said stamping her foot, staring them down in anger.

The soldiers looked at each other and then back to Sarah. The one with the rifle lowered it down and spat on the ground next to the counter, "******** this old bat and her shitty s**t anyway. Our garages got better stuff then this crap." The soldiers slowly made their way around the two and left.

The shopkeeper behind the counter let out a breath of relief as the soldiers left. "Thank you Ma'am, soldiers come in here all the time accusing me supporting rebels and bandits. Say they gonna confiscate my shop if I don't let them take what I want."

Sarah turned towards the lady and frowned, "I will say something to my father. The Empire isn't here to extort the people. We are just occupying the town as a strategic location. When the war is over we mean to have as little collateral damgage as possible. The enemy of the Empire is the Arfican government, not the people." Desmond was confused as he heard Sarah spoke. She seemed like a genuine good hearted but loyal Empire lady. It was all an act Desmond knew, but it almost had him convinced. Sarah had to play the part of the Governor's loyal daughter in the day, only to work against the Empire at night. She had to keep up apperances."  

[Joa-Boo]

Desmond waited for the soldiers to leave before expressing his excitement for what Sarah was capable of. With a bright smile he spoke, “You have a lot of passion. I’m surprised you even needed to threaten those soldiers. Had a pretty lady like you stopped me from what I was doing and started to talk about why we were all here, I would follow out of inspiration.” Desmond did not know what the shop keeper knew so he kept up the play. He felt like he was riding in the back seat of this adventure. There was so much he didn't know yet and it made him feel slightly useless. He hopped he would be up to speed soon.  

[Dugan195]

Sarah turned towards Desmond and smiled, "Not all the Empire's soldiers are as keen on our true prupose here as you are." Her hair covered the side of her face blocking the view of the shopkeeper. With the view obsecured Sarah winked at Desmond and turned back towards the shop keeper, "Is there anything else you would like to pass on to the Governor? My father is very strict when it comes to the people of this town. He is appalled by the lack of discipline some of the soldiers have with the peoples of this town. I apologize on behalf of the Empire on how our soldiers are acting."

The shopkeeper's mouth was agasp, "Oh no Ma'am, not at all. Thank you yet again. Anything I can do for you?" She said shocked what Sarah was telling her.

Sarah laughed, "No not at the moment, I was just passing threw checking in on the citizens. My friend here just got transferred from another unit and I was showing him around his new post."

The shop keeper looked at Desmond and eyed him up and down, "If there be anything you need sir, just let me know"

After that Sarah begged her pardon and the two of them left the shop. "It's disgusting" Sarah said spitting into the ground as they walked onto the street, "How can the soldiers be so barbaric? Are the soldiers of the Khanate lands just as bad as them? I wouldn't believe so how you and your squad acts."  

[Joa-Boo]

"The name is Desmond. Thank you but I am just glad we could help" Desmond said to the shop keeper before leaving with Sarah.

“It is one of my rules to never compare myself to the enemy Empire. I like to think there is a special place in hell that the empire soldiers spawn from. The imperial oppression of the Empire has hurt my people for so long before they finally backed out. My parents told me all about the terrible things those soldiers would do to exploit the Australians. If they are anything like what my family has told me then no. I cannot imagine any person with a heart to be so evil.” It was obvious Desmond had a deep hatred for the empire. He let his words get ahead of his brain and by the time he could catch it he bit his tongue.

“I’m sorry. I get a little carried away sometimes.” He continued as he walked with her. He pushed out a huge sigh while letting go of the intense emotions he was feeling. “I have been told a lot of terrible things about solders how hold a town captive. What we just experienced fits the profile.” For Sarah’s sake, because she was from the Empire and her father was from the empire, he attempted to be a bit more opened minded in his response.

“Any soldier at war is a bit more forceful in all endeavors. It as if a portion of their morality is locked away for safe keeping until a more peaceful time will allow them to bring down the walls.” Desmond sounded as though he was speaking from a great deal of self-reflect, like he was trying to justify some past event. “I would like to think the Khanate soldiers are any different but war brings out the worst in us. Wouldn’t you say the means are justified by the end? I mean it really has to come down to your reason for going to war.” Desmond couldn’t look at Sarah once while he spoke. He didn’t want her to see into him. He looked off and around. He looked at everything but Sarah.  

[Dugan195]

Sarah bit her lip as they walked down the street. She looked down at the ground as Desmond went off about the Empire, "We aren't all bad you know. Some of us disagree with the Imperialism. People like my Father serve, but that's because that is the type of person they are. My father is a Governor if that makes any sense," she giggled as she looked up, "He really is a good hearted man. I swear. He does his best to change the system from within. I bet there are plenty of soldiers within the Khanate Lands that are just as bad as the ones we just encountered. I don't think it really has to do with where you are from, just the people themselves. I think there are good and bad people everywhere. You can't choose where you are from. A good person could be born in the Empire as easily as a bad person could be born in the Khanate lands. I don't think its fair to say all our soldiers are evil."  

[Joa-Boo]

“No I mean….ahh, I’m sorry Sarah.” Desmond searched for the right words but he was meeting so much resistance in his own head. A battle opened up against his past prejudice against anything empire and honest reasoning that made more sense. He struggled through it but finally came up with the words. “I think you’re right. Like I was trying to say all soldiers have the potential to do evil deeds regardless of where they are from. I know I am no angle in the face of war. A portion of our morality is locked away for safe keeping until a more peaceful time will allow us to tear down the walls.” Desmond was not sure he would be able to repair any of her feels. He could tell she was close to tears and that made him feel absolutely terrible. “You know what, I probably know nothing about the Empire other than the hatful lies I have been told.” Desmond nudged Sarah’s side to get her to open back up. “Your father sounds like a great guy. He obviously raised you right. Not everything out of the Empire is half bad I guess. Tell me more about where you’re from.”  

[Dugan195]

Sarah smiled as he stumbled to retract the things he had just said. "It's alright Desmond I know you didn't mean it that way. Our countries have some history I know, so you might be a little biased. But we should get back to the house and check on the others. I am moving you guys out to countryside to meet up with the rest of the group tonight."

The two made their way back to the house and once they were safely in the guest house Sarah smiled as she started to brew some tea and asked a servant to bring food, "Alright so the rebel camp is situated in a swamp a couple miles from the town. It isn't the nicest of places, but what can you expect when waging a guerrilla war right?" Sarah said with bubbly naive ignorance, it was clear from the way she talked that she had no real experience with this type of thing, the three feared for when she got a real taste of what war was. Sarah was eager to help the cause, but her affluent upbringing left her with little understanding of what was to come.

Masamba looked at her as she spoke and his expression fell flat, would her resolve hold when the time came? Would she remain loyal to the cause should her father be threatened? He was a high priority target for the rebels given his status. Masamba knew Sarah was no spy, atleast for now, but he feared if she was more talk then she knew.

As night fell the group rested up for the journey. Sarah pulled around a jeep and smiled as she climbed out, "So I was thinking that me and Desmond would ride up front and act like we are going out on a midnight ride for pleasure and the rest of you would hide in the trunk covered until we sneak past the guards that will be patrolling the streets tonight.

Masamba looked at the personal jeep and looked at the group, "I'm sorry Miss Stokeworth, but I don't see how you intend for the three of us to fit back there."

Sarah looked at him with a puzzled look on her face then back at the jeep. Her face scruntched up for a second as she thought of a a solution. A big grin fell on her face as she turned back to the group, "Oh I know, how about you sit in the back as our servant! That would be perfect Masamba!"  

[Joa-Boo]

Desmond was shocked to see it for the first time. Sarah was so natural at waving those soldiers off earlier at the shop and knew so much about the city. He figured, as their point person, she was a seasoned spy with combat experience. He picked up on it as soon as Masamba had and a worried look took over. He hope Sarah didn’t notice. He didn’t want to bring it up like this. Regardless, at some point he needed to have a conversation to test her. Masamba past the combat test. He did a great job. However, men have a natural stomach for war. For some, the love killing others when they get the chance. Reggie once confined in Desmond that he gets the same high from using cocaine as when he is firing his gun at a line of enemies. The thought shot up a red flag in Desmond. He looked over at his friend and could tell Reggie was in bad shape. He needed his fix. There is no way he could ask him to go cold turkey in the middle of an operation. His mind wondered back to Sarah as she distributed the tea. Things could get pretty hard for all of them, would she be able to handle it?

The biggest grin grew along Desmond’s face when Sarah got out of the jeep. He hid it flawlessly by faking a look out. His eyes searched the streets until he could regain composure. Desmond couldn’t make up his mind: was she into him or was this the only way it worked out. Desmond bit his lip. That is no way to be thinking right now.

Desmond’s as well as everyone else’s face dropped open with a gasp. They assumed Sarah was not trying to be racists but it was. Then again it worked. All of the heads whipped around to see how Masamba took it.

“Masa you don’t have to do that if you don’t want. We can all cram.” Suzuki felt so awkward after Sarah’s comment she had to say something.

“She’s right. It will work out. I’m sorry if this makes you uncomfortable Masamba but we all have part to play. This is strictly business. You’re going to have to play as our servant.” Desmond made eye contact with Sarah to show her he had her back. “Since I am just the guest and have never had a servant you’re going to have to be Sarah’s servant. She will order you until we are in the clear.”  

[Dugan195]

Masamba blushed as everyone looked back at him. The minute she said he had felt a bit of rage and hatred for her, but he quickly realized it was not meant as a racist view of Sarah's, but simply a practical role that would be accepted by the Empire. As she grew up in the Empire it would be normal to have an African servant in the terriotory so she wouldn't pause to suggest it, even if she didn't agree with the idea herself, plus her maid had been african.

"That is fine Desmond. This is Empire land, having a black servant would not be strange in these parts, especially for the governor's daughter. I know it was not meant to offend."

Sarah looked at Masamba blankly for a second as the realization about what she said came to her. "Oh my, I am so sorry Masamba, that was so untactful of me. I shouldn't have said it like that!"

Masamba put up a faint smile, "I know Miss Stokeworth, it is quite alright, it is actually a good idea. Nor should it draw suspicion"

With that being said the group crammed into the car and made it out of the city with no hassle. They drove threw the nighttime desert towards a swamp off in the distance. Sarah smiled as the wind blew her hair, "Alright you two, feel free to sit up and climb in the back, we are outside of the Empire patrol's now, way to far out. We should be at the base in about an hour. Then you ca meet the rest of the gang!"  

[Joa-Boo]

“This is so exciting. I just love meeting another undercover crew. They are always filled with the most interesting people.” Suzuki was ecstatic about the arrival. She climbed out with Reggie from their hiding place and the two breathed in the cool African night. This place was so beautiful. It was tragic to think that all of it was riddled with war.

“Soon enough Suzuki. Let’s be on our best behavior team. We want to make a good impression on our new family. We will probably base here for a long time.” Desmond said as he followed the thrill. “Anything I should know before we get into the base?”  

[Dugan195]

Sarah looked at Desmond and smiled, "It isn't as nice as my dad's house I'm afriad. It is in a swamp, lots of bugs, terrible beds. The food isn't the best. Alot of it the rebels catch during the day. Sometimes they get shipments in, actually that's one of my main jobs for them is to smuggle supplies out. I would have some now if it wasn't for the fact I was already smuggling you guys out."

Within an hour they were driving threw a swamp until they came upon a small camp built in a ring of trees. Desmond noticed instantly platforms constructed into the trees surrounding the base, defensive positions. Sand bags formed a ring around the entrance of the camp, some had machine guns attached to them. It was a small defensive position, honestly it wouldn't take much to over run it, but it was better then nothing.

Sarah parked the jeep outside the sand bag line and climbed out of the car, "We got visitors!" She shouted as a few Africans came out of little tents and shacks. There were about a dozen men in their prime, with another half dozen men who were older. A couple children and women floated in and out of the tents as well. Desmond eyed the number ot be about two dozen people inside this camp, probably only 15 or so who could actually fight. Not much, but big enough as a guerrilla group.

As the five walked up to the camp, an older black man in a old African Confederation uniform, Lt., came up. "Hello there, you must be the specialists that the Khanate sent us. Wonderful, we have been anticipating your arrival. I am Ziaire, former Lt. of the African army, and proprietor of this lovely camp." Ziaire extended his hand to shake the newcomers. His face was filled with aged lines, and his beared was white. His smile was soft, but Desmond could tell those lines were earned threw hard work. Zairie might be past his prime, but Desmond didn't don't this old dog had a trick or two still up his sleeve.  

[Joa-Boo]

“We are the specialist team you ordered. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I am Desmond, leader of this team. This here is Suzuki, Reggie, and Masamba. I am very eager, as I can assume you are, to turn this fight around.” The group stepped out of the jeep in unison with Desmond naming them off. The lined up to greet their host before making themselves comfortable around the camp. “Thanks for the ride Sarah.” Desmond made sure to let her know before fully immersing himself in the camp. He wanted to be up to date on what they had, what was going on, and what was already in motion.

“I think it is a little late for all of us. We should wait until the morning before making any battle plans.” Richie, who was looking fairly beat up, mumbled his words to the back of Desmond’s head. It was a fair request but hardly one that any of the others shared. Desmond knew all too well why that was.  

[Dugan195]

Ziaire smiled and patted Desmond on the back as they entered the camp. The camp had nothing really of importance going on. Aside from some simple weapon cleaning it seemed like a normal run of them mill civillian camp site. Upon closer inspection it was quite clear to the whole group that Ziaire was one of the few and possibly only member of the group with real military experience. They had expected hardened gurillias trained for this type of warfare, but what they found instead was an assortment of civillians who had banded together haphazardly in the swamp.

Ziaire was introducing people to the group when a young boy around the age of 13 came running into the camp. "Ziaire, Ziaire! Help Ziaire!" He said and he slid to a stop almost collapsing to the ground in exhaustion.

Ziaire jumped up from the crate he was sitting on and ran to the boy, "Cato, what's wrong?"

The boy looked up at Ziaire with fear in his eyes, "Nakai and Rudo, they went gamble with the Blood Lions and got caught cheating. They are holding them captive and are going to kill them. We have to go help them."

Ziaire ran a hand threw his beard and sighed, "Oh my, what trouble those boys get themseleves into. Well can't be helpped now. Alright, feel free to take the night to rest. I have to go try and rangle some of my sheep back to the herd, black sheep that they are hahahaha" Ziaire said as he picked up a carbine off from next to the crate and slung it over his shoulder, "Miss Stokeworth, mind letting me borrow that Jeep of yours? This seems to be a matter of urgency." Sarah nodded and tossed him the keys as she started to move to sit in the passenger seat, "I'm sorry Miss Stokeworth, but you can't come."

She turned around mortified and stomped her foot, "And why not!"

Ziaire sighed again as he walked towards the jeep, "Why is it always the younger generation that gives me trouble. HAHA! I'm sorry Miss Stokeworth but the Blood Lions are in town to much to risk exposing your connection to us. They might turn you in for a reward. I'm afraid you will need to stay here tat the camp."