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The original was posted on /r/hfy by /u/Coyote_Havoc on 2024-12-25 23:27:45+00:00.

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“Lo, there do I see my Father. Lo, there do I see my mother and my brothers and my sisters. Lo, there do I see the line of my people back to the beginning. Lo, they do call to me, they bid me take my place among them in the halls of Valhalla where the brave may live forever.”

-The Viking Prayer-

“Like the face of the moon, chaotic, crater ridden, uninhabitable, awful.”

The poet Wilfred Owen used these words to describe the no man’s land of World War One, and those words were apt to the destruction then on earth as well as now in what remained of this battlefield. Even if it were just these descriptions of what remained from the attack they would due, but Wilfred Owen had one final description that also fit most appropriately.

“The Abode of madness.”

No structure on this side of the Ashlea remained in tact and many had been erased completely. The torn remains of assault carriers and escorts mingled with the bloody chunks of gore that had been pilots, crews and soldiers. Craters 7 and a half meters wide and 3 and a half meters deep replaced the once vibrant grassy fields just beyond the town. For an orbital bombardment or heavy artillery this destruction would be expected, but this…

This had been inflicted by one company of infantry. 100 humans who had slapped together whatever they could find to wreak annihilation on a superior force, wiping them from the field as if they were nothing more than annoying insects. This was the power of these humans, these Gallóglaigh, and Commander Ertha could see how they had earned their moniker from Dexian mythology as Flamewalkers.

“What happens now?”

Lieutenant Aubrey took a seat on a pile of rocks that had once been a house or a barn.

“That depends on you and yours.”

“What would you ask of us?” Ertha questioned. “There are not many Dex left who are uninjured.”

A grim smile crossed Aubrey’s face. “The Regiment XO told me of this thing that humans use to do to their enemies. Prisoners would be made prone, then their backs would be opened by severing the ribs from the spine, lastly their lungs would be pulled out and positioned to resemble wings.”

Ertha could feel the blood drain from his face and anxiety clutched his heart.

“Why… what purpose would that serve?”

“There is another option on the table. We have four dead and are in need of a burial detail.”

Ertha knew he was being played, but he didn’t want to take his chances either.

“Im not versed in human funerary rites, but I opt for the later.”

“Im not versed in the meaning of funeral rites, up until about a year ago I was part of a Convict Regiment.”

“Youre a criminal?”

Aubry snickered darkly at the question. “I’m Gallóglaigh, that is all you need to be concerned with.”

/////

"You willingly gave aid and comfort the the enemy?’

Admiral Freng’s eyes belied what she had expected of Ertha and his troops, and death was just a part of her orders that needed to be carried out. She hadn’t been there to witness the battle and she hadn’t had to weigh the option of death by torture either.

“I made the decision to save as many Dex as remained.”

“You made that decision?”

“And I would do it again.” Ertha responded. “Tell me Admiral, how many Dex have died already?”

“He made the best decision Admiral.” General Thall commented, intentionally drawing her attention away from the disgraced commander.

“How many lives did.you save Ertha?”

“One hundred and twelve.”

“From an entire division with engineer support as well as your own forces, to save one hundred and twelve. From your description of events, it seems that you were fortunate. We can use that to our favor.”

Thall Crissed from Ertha over to Admiral Freng with a dangerous look in his eyes.

“Admiral, it appears that the initial scouting of this planet was inaccurate, or that the enemy had reinforced before you arrived. It doesn’t matter which at this point in time, but it would warrent immediate reinforcements.”

Freng knew where this was going. Neither would have to loose face in the eyes of high command for failure to take the planet and any inquiry as to why their primary mission had been halted could be explained by a gap in intelligence. Invasions are particularly dangerous endeavors, with a success rate between 30-40 percent. That alone is an accepted universal truth.

“Commander,” Admiral Freng spoke softly, “you are herby reinstated to your rank and the troops you saved are placed under your direct command. In addition, you and your forces are to be reassigned to the Frigate D’atall while your troops recover. Dismissed.”

“One last question,” Thall broke in, “would you describe the burial you performed one more time?”

“Yes sir,” Commander Ertha replied, relief flooding.his body, “we were ordered to place the bodied next to each other in a crater next to the main road. Afterward we piled dirt over the bodies and finally placed a ring of standing stones around the burial. Afterward I was informed by Lieutenant Aubery that we could follow the river back to Brodick.”

“Thank you commander.”

General Thall remained silent as Ertha left the room, more focused on the map than anything else.

“What was that all about?” Admiral Freng demanded after a moment.

“We are going to need reinforcements in the near future if we are yo successfully take this planet.”

“Not that, the burial.”

“The burial,” Thall chuckled, “the ring of stones indicate that they are not just burying their dead or marking their place. They are honoring their dead.”

“They’re mourning them.” Admiral Freng nodded in understanding. “Perhaps we should give them some time to come.to terms.”

“Exactly my thought Admiral,” Thall smiled wickedly, “while they are otherwise occupied we could send out raids with our remaining forces, capture some more of the planet, and when reinforcements arrive we can corner them here.”

“That is utterly deplorable,” Thall mocked, “the closest settlements are Rathlin, Islay and Jura in this quadrant. Islay is the most populated and not far from Jura which seems to be focused on Agriculture. I suggest we start there.”