The Security Chief writes a story

Posted on Sun Apr 24th, 2022 @ 12:15am by Lieutenant Commander Aurelia Taylor

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: The Taylors Cabin
Timeline: After 'briefing the Bad Guys but before Evacuation
1057 words - 2.1 OF Standard Post Measure

ON

Lia sat at her table, on it was a pad of paper and a pen. She had decided to attempt to write something, but an Author or even a writer she was not. *What the hell do I write about?* she thought. Grabbing a coffee, she again sat looking at the table. Her mind worked overtime, but she had decided that she needed to get back to basics. All the hustle and bustle of shipboard life, and married life was making her feel disconnected from people and especially Gary. Living as his wife had become some sort of a job, and certain people expected her to act as a loving wife 24/7.

They didn't know that Gary and she had an understanding, outside on duty she was Commander Lia Taylor Security chief. But here in private, she was Lia. Wife and companion to Gary, and it was her wish to keep it that way. So to get out some of her frustration, she set herself a challenge. Write a short story the old fashioned way, with pen and paper. She had forgotten that English wasn't her best subject, and creating some sort of reasonable storyline could prove difficult for her.

"Ancient Romans!!" she suddenly exclaimed. History, more exactly military history, had always been a hobby of hers. She didn't broadcast it as much as her Anime passion, because it could be a very difficult subject for some people to fully understand. Rigid mindsets about political groups or military formations could start arguments quicker than dry brushwood, and of course what one believed in politically then became a focus of attention. And Lia really wanted to avoid that sort of problem, as politics played no part in her historical adventures.

With a subject chosen, Lia now decided to write a fictional account of a Roman battle. It wasn't something she had studied to deeply, but with her own training and combat experience to draw from she thought she could make a reasonable attempt at. So slowly she began to write her short story:-

I am Marcus Quintus Flavia, Roman Centurion. Stand and face me Barbarian, or does your blood run cold as is your heart?” The man unsheathed his sword, “Roman, you are both brave and stupid. Can you not see I have men to support me in my endeavours, you stand alone”. Marcus gave out a bemused grunt, “A Roman never stands alone, behind me stands the Empire. I may fall, but the Empire will not. You and your supporters will be crushed by the weight, of Roman feet as they march over you dead bodies”. Both men circled to gain advantage, Marcus using his shield to fend off sword jabs from the other, “What is your name Barbarian? How do your people call you?” Holding his own shield higher he slapped it with his sword, “Here is my name Roman, cast your eyes upon it. For it is the last vision of this earth you shall have”.

Marcus lunged, “A loud boast of an empty vessel, keep your name I care nothing for it or you”. The Barbarian responded and brought his sword crashing down on Marcus’, the jarring of his own sword made Marcus’ arm numb. Spinning quickly round Marcus used his shield and drove it into the Barbarians unguarded back, the man fell to the ground but rolled away fast. In his haste he had dropped his own shield and Marcus now stood upon it, “That was a foolish thing to do Barbarian, I now stand upon your name. You will swiftly join your name in the mud beneath my feet, where are your supporters now?”
The Barbarian glanced about, “Do not crow yet Roman, I still have my teeth and I can still give you a fatal bite”. He slowly moved backwards towards a wicker fence, Marcus watched and followed but kept alert to ambush. “Stand little Barbarian, why do you leave so rapidly? I to have teeth, but my sword will drink your blood soon enough. As will my shield, as it removes you head”.

Marcus stopped and glanced about him, his men were fighting hard, several other Barbarians lay dead about them. But there beneath a tree lay a slain Roman, others dotted this field of slaughter their red cloaks marking them out. “Stand you turd of a whore, in ambush you exalted. You seem silent now, does fear grip your tongue?” The Barbarian laughed, “It is you who fear Roman, these pieces of shit you lead are all but gone. How do you wish to die? Believe me on this, it will not be quick. I shall have you screaming for death to take you, but I shall make death wait and have you suck upon your own cock before you die”. Marcus noticed that other Romans were now backing towards him, slowly their shield were forming a wall between them and their enemy. “Circle Legionaires, stand together and face these pox ridden arses”, Marcus yelled. The other Romans quickly joined together and a solid shield wall encased them.
Marcus did a quick head count, twenty men. Twenty men left out of eighty, the Barbarians number three or four times that.

Stopping to pick up his shield, the Barbarian taunted Marcus. “Seek you a way out of this Roman? You seek in vain, for there is no way out save death its self”. Marcus spat back, “Then come and get us louse, or are you to talk us all to death?” The other Romans laughed at his response, but in their heart of hearts they knew only a miracle would save them. Barbarian archers now formed a skirmish line and took aim at the surrounded Romans, a shouted command and the air was filled with iron tipped destruction.

Reading back her words, Lia wondered what Gary or the others onboard would make of this story? It was short, no doubt about that. But did it hold the reader? Was it any good? Perhaps she would let Gary read it one day and find out, until then she would work on it slowly. Who knows, she might even make it a fully fledged book. But for now it would sit in her drawer beside her bed, and wait until she had the courage to show it to the world.

OFF

 

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