Flanders fields

[KarlXII]

Haus's wounds were not bad enough to be sent home with, so he quickly found himself on the front again. He was promoted to Sergeant, and was the second in command to Baummer. His platoon was reorganized, and a whole new batch of recruits came in to fill the spots of the lost men at Messines. They came eagerly, swooped under the same dreams of grand adventure that overtook Haus and Baummer.

However, they quickly realized that life on the front was not as the politicians back home made it out to be. They lost their sense of heroics and adventure, and quickly became like everyone else, a trench soldier.

Haus was saddened to know they were never taught how to deal with frontline life, so he needed to give them a quick crash course. Everything they learned would be happening all around them, there were no simulations, no dud rounds. He, under artillery fire, shouted at the men about the best craters to hide in, how you can estimate the size and distance of a shell. Everything that was taught was meant to help them survive. Through the shells, bullets, rats, disease and filled pants, the recruits became soldiers, the boys into men.

However, there was no way of feeling remorse on the front, death was too common. He always heard the names the men in the platoon called him, how they said he was cold hearted and unkind. This was true, to an extent, as shown later in the day.

It was a normal routine at the front, artillery fire, maybe a charge, maybe a defense. However, one unlucky kid was unfortunate enough to peek above the line, and caught a bullet in his eye. The soldiers was obviously shocked, looking at Haus for assurance. All Haus could say was "This is why you NEVER stick your head over the trench" and he moved on to his routine patrol.

[Mek Simmur al Ragaski]

Great so far SwedishFish! My attention was solely placed on this extract, nice!

[KarlXII]

Baummer told Haus to put the men on high alert. To the officers, this was a case that needed attention, to the enlisted men, it meant something was about to go down. Watch was regulary switched every 2 hours, to make sure the men were fit and ready for anything. Leave, the one thing the men could look forward to, was suspended. Artillery was regulary fired. With the new hightened state of awareness, the men could do nothing they would regulary do. Haus used to walk across the line, maybe head to the rear artillery. Now, he was stuck in his dug out hole.

There were rumors of mutiny. Men in the platoon became tired of trench life, they wanted to go home. The only thing that stood in their way was the officers, and their capital punishment. The Company Commander ordered that any attempted mutiny or desertion was to be punished with the death sentence.

However, Haus was not quick to report this. The already demoralised men could not stand watching a comrade be shot by an officer. Haus would investigate into this, and evaluate wether or not this was serious enough to inflict capital punishment.

However, as soon as he was off to do his tasks, he heard a consistent, loud, barrage. Quickly, mounds of dirt were flying everywhere, and, as if rehearsed, the men got to safety. The barrage threw up anything, a trench wall was torn to pieces, wire flew by the men. This was one of the heaviest barrages Haus had faced. To add to the problem, small arms fire erupted.

Things started to break down, dugouts collapsed, craters were becoming the new cover, and the soldiers were losing it. Haus observed two men huddle in a crater, one got up, Haus did not know why, but he did not need to. The soldier quickly took a bullet, and landed next to the shocked comrade next to him. The other soldier snapped, and shouted "I got to get out of here!" and started to run to the rear. Amazingly, he dodged the artillery, which was seemingly dieing down.

Some men, including Haus, shouted for him to return. Some looked on silently. Haus was sure he heard cheers. However, a noticeable pistol shot rang out, and the fleeing man fell.

It was Baummer.

The lieutenant had inflicted capital punishment. No one said a word, as the barrage was ending. Men got out of cover, some were yelling for help. Haus looked around, and quickly the soldiers were rebuilding trenches, laying barbed wire, and digging buried friends.

Baummer had a casual look, as if nothing happened. One of the men cursed loudly, and with a seemingly animal look, tried to attack Baummer. Haus quickly tackled the attacker down. Baummer, with no emotion on his face, said "Sergeant Haus, get him to the Commander, he will decide what to do" and the lieutenant went to help some men rebuild a wall.

Haus kicked the subdued criminal, the man was no soldier anymore, he was now considered a criminal. After making sure he couldn't resist, Haus vegan to walk him to the Company Commanders HQ.

It was a pity, it wasn't the mans fault.

It was the damned war.