War and Peace

By

Jacquimac

Part Twelve

We`ve heard the fighting has started again somewhere in the west, how long it will last we don`t know , it all depends on whatever troops and resources each side will commit.

When we first started this conflict we had limited resources due to the length of our supply lines, as usual our allies will not support us but will supply the enemy with weapoms and ammunition.

There wasn`t much we could do except wait for the outcome one way or another this little country will see peace again and be able to continue with their simple lives.

We did have to report to the Admin Center were they informed us that the Commandant and his cronies had been found guilty of misconduct and breaching the Geneva Convention and had been sent home under guard for punishment.

Our status as Military personnel was restored but we were under parole to remain in the settlement until the conflict was decided one way or another or an alternative peaceful settlement was reached.

The weeks went by and we heard conflicting rumours our troops were being pushed further back. the occupying forces were being pushed back. The usual rumoursthat no one was able to confirm one way or the other.

A steady stream of troops and equipment could be seen heading for the front almost everyday, but it didn`t mean much only that the fighting was building up.

At the moment the settlements were being left alone and hopefully the war would go around them, going off previous wars I had little hope of this happening and set everyone to building deep shelters and barrackades as solid as we could make them.
Of course they only made from wood and earth but it was all we had, one good artillery barrage or an armoured assault would destroy them but we had to try.

Artillery shells don`t care who they kill or what they destroy and I had the damage a stray round could do, I had seen war at it`s worst and would do all I could to try and save these people.

Of course the business of day to day living had to carry on and we made one last a trip to the Admin center to get extra medical supplies if they would release them.

As we left the settlement we notice the engineers putting up signs with warnings that these areas anly contained civilian women and children, it would seem the Commanding General was trying to limit civilian casualties as much as possible.

We arrived at the Admin center and were told that extra supplies of food warm clothing and medical supplies would start being sent to every settlement the next day, we were given a few extra things to take back with us.

The following day the supplies arrived as promised and I personaly thanked the officer and asked him to convey the thanks of the settlers to his superiors.

Over the next few days a few off the Older women would go out to the pastures every morning and bring the herds and flocks closer to the settlement.

I was being used as a sort of military advisor and what ever task I set were done with no complaints although at the end each day we were all exhausted, I gave half the settlement light tasks one day and heavy tasks the next. The older children were left to look after the younger children. The elders were kept in the settlement doing tasks like cooking and sewing bags together.

Myself and the medical team were split so that one of us was each group so we didn`t have to keep repeatedly go round checking that things were being done right.

I had never been any good on a horse but I soon learned and took a horse round the neighbouring settlements and started them doing what we were doing, I promised that if time allowed we would come and help them.

We finished the defences in our settlement and a bunch of went to help the other settlements, we were greated at each settlement over the next few days with smiles and eagerness. The settlement elders could see the neccessity of what I suggested but didn`t know were or how to start.

It took around three weeks but eventually all the settlements were prepared for fo the possible onslaught as best we could manage, and all the time we working everyone was all smiles and singing.

I think they realised we cared about their survival as our own, once we were finished I road to the Admin center to try and find out if the area was under immediate danger I told the commandant that the settlements would like to get together in a central location for what possibly could be the last time before the fighting came our way.

He made a few telephone calls and informed us that the area would be safe for the seeable future and suggested we have our get together within the next 72 hours, I thanked him and left to let each settlement know that we would get together the day after tomorrow.