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The original was posted on /r/hfy by /u/Coyote_Havoc on 2025-12-10 01:45:50+00:00.
"He who angers you, conquers you."
-Sister Elizabeth Kenny-
"Advancing on Tockmal. They will not escape again."
The message sent, Lieutenant Steffan ordered his company through the dense forest following the road the little girl had appeared from. He himself had never set foot on Islay until recently, but three of his soldiers had lived in the area all their lives, and were more than willing to scout ahead. His plan was to push toward a farm roughly 300 meters from the village and secure it.
Once that goal had been achieved he would send two platoons out to recon the area focusing one platoon to observe the village from the edge of the woods about 100 meters from the village while the other pushed on an old stone church 400 meters away from the farm and 150 meters north of Tockmal. If possible, he wanted to advance three platoons into Tockmal and begin evacuations while the platoon at the church set up an observation post, attempt to locate the Dexian force, and provide overwatch in the event of an enemy advance.
Lieutenant Steffan had thought over the strategy several times and considered it sound for the most part. He was aware of his shortcomings, 99 Ceithern against a force of unknown size and disposition which is why reconnaissance seemed to be the best option. He also knew that reinforcements were nearby but would take time to muster, and travel through the night would be slow if they didn't wait to arrive the next morning.
Caution was key.
Light had all but.faded from the sky as Steffan's company halted near An abhainn Ghlas, "Green River" was the most likely meaning, but whispered comments about "his grey milk" filled by muffled laughter were heard. Taking cover in the trees Lieutenant Steffan broke out a map he had been issued and studied the area. The river was narrow, more of a muddy stream which lent credibility to the other translation, and the area along its banks were clear for 30 meters to each side. Not the most ideal crossing, but it was where the stream that flowed through Tockmal ended, which meant they were closing in on their first objective.
From here the road turned Southwest, before crossing the... whatever the river was called, but the clearance to each side was much wider. 45 meters to the road, another 60 meters to the river, and 30 to 40 meters to the treeline on the other side. The only advantage was a bridge over the river where the road turned back west and crossing a second fork before coming to a crossroad. Lieutenant Steffan considered his options carefully, before choosing to use the road. It would be the fastest route to their intended destination and they were still over a kilometer from Tockmal where the Dexians had been last observed. They did run the risk of crossing an enemy patrol while.caught in the open, so he decided to delay every platoons departure by 5 minutes and hoping for a gap no more than 300 meters.
Every five minute intervals seemed like an eternity and by the time Lieutenant Steffan's command platoon began its march the lead platoon would have made it.to the crossroads. He took some comfort that there hadn't been any small arms fire heard so far and it only took 20 minutes for Second Company to reform at the crossroad. Lieutenant Steffan directed the Company to move north towards a farmstead near the stream road that led to Tockmar. So far they had made excellent time and he assumed they would arrive at the farm an hour earlier than he had planned for.
"Sir, I hesitate to bring this up..."
It was one of the soldiers who had lived in the area, MacDonal, MacDougall...
"What's bothering you?" Lieutenant Steffan asked, still trying to remember his name.
"The sound sir."
"I don't hear any...."
No crickets, no frogs. No owls cried in the night.
"Shit."
Quickly lieutenant Steffan signalled a halt and put half his troops to either side of the road before advancing the two rear most platoons into the trees and moving under cover to the stream.
/////
La'gir watched the dark trees from the dilapidated stone wall at the farmstead turned Obseration post. He had expected to be on the front line, but that had ended when a patrol had discovered several forward observers mounted on two wheeled pedal driven vehicles. Three of the bodies had been carried in for examination, looking for any intelligence that they might have carried. The human scout force had been unarmed and woefully unprepared for such a deep reconnaissance. The patrol gave chase to several who had fled, hoping.to capture them alive for interrogation.
Believing that the position had been exposed, the current command ordered a forced march east under whatever light remained. It hadn't taken long to find the odd looking building with massive windows and a tower overlooking the area. Scouts reported the building empty but a village was situated just to the south. Further east were the ruins of a large building that would make an acceptable place to house the wounded and further east were several farmsteads that could be easily defended.
La'gir was sent to the furthest farmstead out with a company of 24 other troops. Comms hadn't been established yet since they were the furthest out, but a group would be sent in the morning to relieve them.
They just had to get through this night.
Down the road that went into the trees he could just make out some sort of movement. Keen hearing detected the soft sound of footsteps approaching, and he tried to get a better idea of what was coming through a night-vision scope. He couldn't tell what they were from this distance, but they seemed large. He had seen the wildlife on this planet, an antlered animal called red deet or elk depending on who was asked, and they were fond of heavy woods and wetlands. These animals might be some.sort of deer or elk by the way they...
The herd stopped moving around 100 meters down the road, split into separate packs and took to the trees. La'gir felt a cold chill descent from his ear down his sides as his senses heightened. He wasn't certain due to how many of the creatures were out there, but he could have sworn they were bipedal.
Humans.
La'gir watched as they flitted through the trees, a heat signature here, odd appendages there, until they drew up on the stream just across the road he hadn't been certain. Now he could see them clearly, near 50 of them taking cover along the stream. Carefully he reached down by his side and took hold of the cylinder he had been put in charge of while.on watch. He carefully removed the cap before bringing the cylinder down against the wall as hard as he could. The flare rose in the night sky with a shrill that would have woken the dead before popping.loudly and casting light on near 100 humans lurking just beyond the road.
Weapon raised, La'gir let out a shrill cry of warning and opened fire on the treeline.
It was going to be a very long night.
The Battle for Tockmal had begun.