The Centauran Wars.

Chains.

It's been a week since we caught Alexis. Today, me and James were given a three-day leave to camp Mira. Alexis, and the girl whose name is Alice are coming with us. Not for a small break but to await punishment.

They said at camp is where we'll get our new stuff. We'll also be in charge of taking some recruits to the front once we leave. When I asked why the only thing my NCO said was.

"Most of the drill sergeants have been killed. Others are ironically less experienced than you are. They don't want to admit it, but they're scared. They want to stay in the comfort of their little office."

That was two days ago. Yesterday, we caught some corvuns trying to raid our trench. They would be here with Alexis and Alice, but the soldiers who caught them weren't fond of their intrusion that whole night. I didn't sleep. They made the Corvuns pray for the release of death. Our NCO only turned a blind eye, and when asked about it by another NCO, his response was.

"I never heard any screams. Did you, Jacob?"

I was standing next to him, eating my breakfast. I swallowed and said.

"No, sir, I didn't hear a thing."

My NCO nodded at me approvingly. The other stared at me. He knew I was lying, but he couldn't say anything. It was two words against one.

My NCO and I started to know each other more. His name was Sargent Stafford, but his full name was Shawn Stafford. He was thirty-five and had served in Blackton before this. He told me about the losses they took.

Later on that day, he told me that in two weeks, I'd be taken off the front and to assault training. When I asked why in two weeks and not now he told me.

"The Warrant officer didn't tell me. But there's a battle to be expected. Who's going on the offensive? I don't know."

I only hope I'm not here for that battle.

Today, we took Alexis and Alice out of their cells and to one of our NCO's cars. A model T if I'm not mistaken. It's my first time getting in this.. thing.

Alexis looks back at me and then at the car. He seems scared of it. I stare at him, annoyed, and say.

"Get in the damn car."

He gets into the car. Albeit with a lot of trouble considering his hands are binded. Alice gets on next, then I get on the left side of the car and James on the right. Our rifles were on our laps but still aiming at the prisoners.

The NCO gets in his car. It wasn't Stafford but some other guy I've never met.

"Good morning." He says in a tired tone.

"Good morning, sir." Both I and James say.

He begins to drive the car and then lets out a loud and long yawn. I look at James, and James looks at me and shrugs his shoulders.

As we leave the area, we cross three or more trenches already set up and filled with reserves.

I should have gone with the reserves.

As we make it to a dirt road, you can begin to see the beauty of the country. It wasn't muddy or full of blood... there were no corpses around, and it smelled like nature.

Speaking of smell, I just only noticed that I smell horrible. I had already gotten used to the smell, but out here, you seem to become aware of it once more.

My clothes were filled with mud and dirt. Dried-up blood, which I honestly didn't know if it was mine or from a corpse on no man's land.

It's quiet. It's quiet, yet you don't feel tense because of the silence. Instead, you feel..  comfortable?