All Quiet on the Temporal Front by Bennett R. Coles

Author:Bennett R. Coles [Coles, Bennett R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781927559093
Publisher: BookBaby
Published: 2013-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

Now, it’s night time on the surface. We reach the broken entrance to the mine unnoticed, and a quick study of the maps allows me to lead the way through the darkness. Like shadows my platoon moves through the camp, a fighting force in its element again.

Three rebels guard the hostages. Three bayonet slashes and the hut is secure. The hostages are bound and filthy, but otherwise seem in good health. I ignore their frantic questions and quickly check the wristwatch on one of the dead rebels. Twenty minutes to midnight. Twenty minutes until the scheduled execution of the hostages. The rebel leaders are probably already en route with their TV cameras. I grab the Warrant.

“Twenty minutes till showtime. We have to be clear of this compound and back into the mine in three minutes. Get these people ready to move.”

The Warrant does not pass on my orders. He simply stands.

I stare in shock. “Did you hear me? Move!”

I turn to go, but he grabs my arm. “Sir.”

The Warrant has never let me down. I stop, and listen. “Sir, if we go back in time we’re trapped there. You said so yourself. Maybe you’ll find a way to get us home – God knows you got us this far – but I don’t want to risk those odds. I don’t think any of the boys do either, even though they’ll never say it.”

“Warrant, the other option is to fight our way out of a city held by several hundred rebel troops.”

“Yes, sir.”

I look around the hut. My soldiers are checking their weapons and ammo. The hostages have already been assigned as stretcher-bearers. Everyone, even the wounded, have a hungry, anticipatory look in their eyes. They want to fight their way home. It’s not a pretty solution, but it’s better than the one dictated by our orders.

Perhaps if I one day instruct young officers I’ll teach them the value of knowing the hearts of your men, and of leading them with your own. Be decisive. Never show fear. Maintain the objective. And if orders are made irrelevant, then damn those orders.

I consider my options, and make my decision. Come death or court-martial, I am not taking the platoon through time again.

I kick open the door, and lead my men into battle.

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