16.4: Brother, 0650 Filial Affliction (1)

Eisburg, Capricorn  Ludwig Waltz, eldest son of the esteemed Waltz family, had a routine. Every morning he greeted the sun with a cup of coffee: two teaspoons of sugar—no more, nor less. And that’s how he started this morning. Continuing on with his morning ritual, he read the political column of the morning paper andContinue reading “16.4: Brother, 0650 Filial Affliction (1)”

16.3: Swindler, 0707 Homebound

Aquarius  Cadence Morello couldn’t believe her luck She wasn’t the type to swear, but as soon as she laid eyes on Cvetka Akulova, she had to suppress her inner sailor. If it weren’t for her profession constantly forcing her to be in situations like these, she might’ve turned tail and run. Hell, if it wasn’tContinue reading “16.3: Swindler, 0707 Homebound”

16.1: Captain, 0500 Insubordination

Before Volker Weingartner was hauptmann of the 212th Division of the Border Force, he was a teacher at Vollmond Elementary. Rather, he was a professor, holding first a degree in psychology and then numerous degrees in literature ranging from Capricornian folklore to classical Signum epics before finally attaining a degree in military tactics. Nothing tooContinue reading “16.1: Captain, 0500 Insubordination”

15.5: Second Lieutenant, 0310 Captured

Unoccupied Territory, Argoan-Capricornian Border  Death was like a bad whiskey. Drink enough of it—get exposed enough to it—and you got used to it. Sometimes forgot about it. The bitter taste of it lessened into something shrugged at, maybe grimaced at lightly in passing. The line, smudged. Until it was someone you knew. Someone you reallyContinue reading “15.5: Second Lieutenant, 0310 Captured”

15.4: Advisor, 0101 Distance Pain

Unoccupied Territory, Argoan-Capricornian Border  No matter how hard Atienna scrubbed, the blood wouldn’t come off. Rubbing her gloves against the overgrowth eating away at the stream bank failed her as did plunging her gloved hands into the stream’s icy depths. All it did was numb her hands to the point where they felt as ifContinue reading “15.4: Advisor, 0101 Distance Pain”

15.3: Lance Corporal, 0610 Enemy Encounter

Unoccupied Territory, Argoan-Capricornian Border Grenadier Klaus Kleine was accustomed to seeing dead bodies. He’d seen his first five years ago in his city-town of Buchstadt before he’d even been officially deployed. That day, the newspapers had praised Capricornian victory against an Argoan onslaught from Abschnitt 45 to 51, pushing forth celebrations all across the country.Continue reading “15.3: Lance Corporal, 0610 Enemy Encounter”

15.2: Combat Medic, 0705 Head Trauma

Unoccupied Territory, Argoan-Capricornian Border  Underground doctor-turned-combat medic—Sanitäter as the rank was called in Capricornian—Nico Fabrizzio’s mind was always full of ‘what if’s. For example—what if Cadence was his little sister? What if flowers fell from the sky instead of snowflakes—instead of ash? What if conductors didn’t exist? What if the pictures at the theater wereContinue reading “15.2: Combat Medic, 0705 Head Trauma”

15.1: Advisor, 0001 Log Open

Unoccupied Territory, Argoan-Capricornian Border  “—stop bullshitting, Vogt.” “It’s the truth…” “Stein’s right. Why in saint’s name would you lie about something like that? What’s wrong with you?” “Fischer, it’s the truth!” “Like how you said it wasn’t you who woke up screaming about the damn Aquarians three nights ago?” A cackle. “Vogt’s still dreaming aboutContinue reading “15.1: Advisor, 0001 Log Open”

14.4: Soldier, 0000 Miscalculation

Unoccupied Territory, Argoan-Capricornian Border  From his perch in the trees, Capricornian Oberleutnant Werner Waltz scanned the clearing through his scope. Bodies littered the marshy ground below, painted over with silver from the moonlight slithering in between the skeleton forestry. The light could not pierce through the fog that crept along the fallen leaves and branches.Continue reading “14.4: Soldier, 0000 Miscalculation”

12.2: A Duet Between a Soldier and Advisor

Twin Cities, Gemini  Pulling Sefu closer to herself, Atienna tuned her ears to the sound of the small footsteps drawing nearer from down the road. Yulia sank to her knees, arms widespread. A beat after, a familiar boy flew into the woman’s arms from the side of the street. He wrapped his arms around herContinue reading “12.2: A Duet Between a Soldier and Advisor”