FOR THE LEGION, RIGHT?

WAR 114, DAY 452, Hermit's Rest, UMBRAL WILDWOOD --- 0700 on a cold, snowy morning. I was Embedded with the combat engineers of Charlie Company, Colonial Special Engineering Regiment. They were digging in at the river by the Bulwark near Hermits Rest, the Regional Capital. There, with dirt flinging everywhere, it was seemingly impossible to tell which way Warden troops would come from.

Then we get the word. "Run. RUN!" Yells a Captain pointing at me and my cameraman. Astonished and not knowing why, we picked up our gear and moved as fast as we could when we heard the fire rockets coming in. And, boy, did they come in. The rockets screaming was so loud. I now understood why NCOs were adamant that every man knew how to use hand signals. Turning my head, I saw the captain with his hand above his head, pointing and circling. This meant everyone was to rally in the bunker. Many engineers ran for it, but unfortunately, a few did not make it. The smoke, flames, and carnage made navigation very difficult.

Once safely inside with my cameraman, I asked Captain Easy Six of 1st platoon "What makes you do it, what makes you build under this kind of artillery fire?" "The thrill of it!" He said with a grin. Looking around at the other men huddling in the room I could see no thrill on their faces. I then asked him how often they are interrupted during operations. "Every time. We know they are coming. It’s just a matter of giving it your all before they do. It’s for the Legion right?" With that, he felt the rockets had let up enough so he and his men could return to work.

They stood and walked out the door with hammers and shovels in hand. The fires outside were still burning. "For the Legion", a Staff Sergeant mumbled to himself. The captain empowered him to think about the sacrifice of the men and women still in this fight. Empowered him to do more!

Writer: [PRESS] Ernie Smiles

Sources: [CSER] Easy Six

Editor: [PRESS] Jean Baricave

Date of Publication: 19/07/24