Unbreakable [flashback]

[ekurian]

Greenleaf, Alliance Prison Camp, July 8th 2509

In a secluded section of jungle, the Alliance's prison camp stood as a harsh contrast to the flora and fauna around it. A clearing had been cut in the trees to make way for the hundred miles long, seventy miles wide complex. It was ringed with fifteen foot high, barbed wire topped fencing. There was one entrance, with armed guards at the gate and a watch tower above it. More Alliance soldiers patrolled the grounds; two inside the complex and two outside. Those outside circled around the fencing, while those inside moved up and down the rows upon rows of tents. Most prisoners- those labeled as traitors, independents, criminals- were inside their shared tents, either not wanting to be under the ever vigilant eye of their captors, or, were recovering from recent torture.

Prisoners were regularly dragged to the one building within the complex for interrogation- the Warden's office. The building was about the size of an old log cabin and was made of metal. It had been lowered in by air after the complex had been built. The Prison Warden was almost always in there. Every prisoner in the camp knew what went on in there- either from the stories, or from the experience. Sometimes, those taken there screamed like babies. They'd beg for it to stop and then they'd tell the Warden what he wanted to hear. Those prisoners were never seen again.

Those that endured it, that stayed silent, were usually returned to their tent. Usually. Some, who had been there, resisting all the while, were dragged out and executed in plain sight. The Alliance wanted the prisoners to break, to confess, even if they had done nothing. And what better tool to use to do this than fear?

Standing outside his tent, Quinn watched a pair of soldiers drag one of the newer prisoners- kicking and screaming- to the metal building. The boy must have been around eighteen. Just a year younger than Quinn. Running a hand through his black hair, he watched one of the patrol men pass. Just a month ago, he would have been on the same side of that man. He'd have been fighting for that man, and others like him. Quinn resisted the urge to spit at the soldier and instead, kicked at a rock with the toe of his boot that he'd thankfully been allowed to keep. Many other prisoners didn't even have shoes. The Alliance didn't see the point on spending any 'luxuries' on their prisoners. The food was hardly enough to sustain them all, either. Beneath his thin, stained shirt, Quinn's ribs were starting to show. He'd given away the last of his food.

"Suǒyǒu nàxiē tā mā de húndàn..." he muttered, hearing the boy's screams coming from the Warden's office.

[James Clark]

James Clark had been on Greenleaf for only a week following his arrival he had been heavily interrogated by the warden. The result of this interrogation was a large gash above his left eye which had been tended too by the rather forceful Doctor whom had patched it up in less than a minute. The other result was that his ankle had been thoroughly swollen too the point that he had a limp. The Nurse took pity on him and gave him something too support himself with in the form of a broken broomstick.

The prison camp was not a pretty sight nor did they tend well too the prisoners some of them were skin and bone. James' was exploring the camp as it was the first time he had been out in the open with the rest of the prisoners. He had been in the brig and med bay for the first week of his arrival. Limping across the camp with the aide of his 'cane' he perched himself on a wall next too a man kicking a rock and listened too the screams of a young man going through pain that he had never felt before. James had a high pain threshold and took most of it on the chin. The screams of the boy echoed around the camp.

[benbarrow]

Ben, who had recently been promoted to Captain, was driving in a captured Alliance truck through the jungles on Greenleaf, to the isolated Alliance prison camp. A general retreat had been ordered on the Independents' side, but Ben wasn't going to leave anyone behind. Especially not a good friend like James Clark. He had been captured the week before and when Ben found out there wasn't going to be an effort to release captured soldiers, him, his friends and two other squads went to do a little mission of their own instead of helping pack up equipment and deserting key points like the rest of the soldiers.

Ben drove the first truck in a three-truck column. Next to him sat his best friend and second-in-command Danco Gauss. Both of them were wearing Alliance uniforms and helmets, hoping to trick the prison's guards into thinking they were there to bring the supplies that were scheduled to arrive. Ben and his team were able to intercept and capture the trucks and drive under Alliance flag all the way to the prison.

"I hope vee vill get there in time, Ben." Danco said. "Before zee Alliance ships out ze prisoners to camps around ze 'Verse."

Danco grew up with his little brother as orphans in the streets of Londinium, yet he couldn't hide that he was actually from German descend. Before his parents died, that was the only language he was able to speak. Afterwards he learned just by living on the streets.

"There haven't been reports of any large transporters landing on the planet so far." Ben answered. "So I'm guessing so far so good."

Danco lit up a cigarette. Considering the weather on Greenleaf was tropical, the windows were already up. When Danco lit one up, Ben felt the urge coming up as well.

"Light one for me too, willya?" Ben asked. "It's been hours."

Danco smiled at his best friend, and handed his cigarette over to Ben. He then lit one up again for himself.

Suddenly a thumping came from the small window in between the seats, that lead to the cargo area of the truck. Danco opened it and Jeremy Venkert, another one of Ben's friends stuck his head out into the truck cabin.

"Are you guys serious?" Jeremy asked. "Are you really gonna smoke while we're sitting on a truckload of C4 back here and risk blowing us all to Kingdom Come?"

Ben and Danco looked at eachother and then both laughed simultaneously. Yeah it was dangerous, but the both of them were daredevils. Always had been.

"Don't worry Jer." Ben answered. "Should that happen we'll tell the Boss upstairs to let us in or else we'll sue him for creating nicotine!"

"Oh right, you guys laugh it up!" Jeremy answered. "But if I die because of you two I'll swear I'll ruttin' kill you both!"

Jeremy's threat was idle, Ben and Danco both knew that. They also knew the heat back there and the lack of nicotine was getting to him, so they just laughed again. Jeremy would never hurt them for real, they knew he loved them like a brother.

"Hey Bart!" Ben called to another friend of his in the back. "Give Jer some of that vodka you're always carrying around, see if that relaxes him."

Bartok Nasdek, a real bear of a man, stood up and threw his arm around Jeremy's shoulder in a friendly way.

"Come tovarich!" Bartok said. "Come play cards with me and Jacky. Get your mind of heat, dah?"

Bartok grew up on a space station near Dyton Colony and was the cousin of the infamous Adelai Niska. When he grew up he learned that his uncle was actually a bloodthirsty maniac and ran off to Londinium, because he didn't want to end up working for his uncle and hurt people. Sure Bartok was big and tough, but his heart was made of solid gold.

"Yeah, chill out willya?" Jacky Freeman, the fifth of five close friends said. "Besides, if Ben does blow us up it'll be the ride of a lifetime, even if its our last."

Jacky Freeman came from New Dunsmuir on Beaumonde, and had lived the big city life since he could remember. When he was 15 he went to Londinium hoping to get bigger bucks, but ended up living on the streets just like the rest of the friends.

The five of them lived in an abandoned apartmentbuilding in the black-out zone on Londinium and occupied themselves doing petty crimes and theft just to survive. They led an entire group of runaway, orphaned and abandoned teens. They survived the ambush the Alliance laid out for them, and prison together before joining up with the Independents and fight in the war. Nothing would ever separate them. And they were determined to fight their way to Bernadette where the girls of their group were imprisoned. However, at the time they had no idea they'd never get there.

Jeremy relaxed as Bartok helped him sit down in the rocking truck and started playing cards with the other two, leaving Ben and Danco in the front of the truck.

"Ze Boss upstairs..." Danco sighed. "That vas a good one Ben."

"Whaddya mean?" Ben asked. "Gotta have faith brother!"

Ben jokingly punched his friend on the shoulder. He didn't believe in a higher power either, but it couldn't hurt to joke about it.

"What I mean is guys like us don't go to heaven." Danco answered. "Ve're more likely to head in zee other direction."

Ben shook his head. He didn't believe in heaven or hell. He did believe in reincarnation however, but he didn't feel like discussing that now and just keep a light atmosphere. The mission that lay ahead was going to be difficult enough as it was already.

"Heaven... hell... it doesn't matter." Ben said. "Whatever it'll be, we'll make it our own. We always do, don't we?"

Danco kept quiet and just grinned at his friend. Ben laughed. If there was such a thing as hell, he wouldn't mind going there as long as his friends had his back. With them by his side, he would never fear anything.

Ben and Danco then sat quiet as Ben drove the truck closer to their objective, just enjoying the silence and the beauty of nature as long as they could for the very last time. Things were gonna go to hell soon enough.

[dc]

"Is this it? Am I really gonna die in this place?... Is this really it?"

Jakob McKenna sat slumped against the metal wall where the guards had left him, holding his reopened chest wound in an attempt to ease the pain. With shadow creeping at the edge of vision, he stared at the muddy earth that he sat upon and contemplated the ending of his life. Before this place it had never before filled him with sorrow when he had considered it. Yet dying in such a way as this... becoming helpless... giving up... letting everyone down... That was never how he envisioned things would end up. That was never his way.

"No. I-... I'm not gonna leave yet. Not yet."

It felt difficult to move, but, without thinking, Jakob started to push himself up. He was weak, and a powerful wave of pain and nausea washed over him, causing him to sink forward onto his hand and knees.

“Not now.”

He made only the smallest sound of complaint as he continued the process of forcing himself to his feet. The sickening ache at his side was staggering, but he steadied himself, reaching deep within. His expression slowly shifted to a blank mask that resembled the face of a man that still had some fire within him... a man who didn't halfway wish he could just curl up and die on the ground then and there. He put on that mask and he worked his way along the side of the building to his comrade, one hand on the wall for support.

”Not until I...”

Jakob fell forward awkwardly onto his knees, but slowly and silently picked himself up once more.

Quinn, as a former alliance officer, was an unlikely co-conspirator. He trusted him though. Jakob had looked after Quinn when he first arrived, stopping the misguided from taking out their hatred on the one Alliance soldier who was fair game. Together they had orchestrated rather daring escape attempts on more than one occasion. Needless to say, things hadn’t gone the prisoners’ way. Friends had been lost. Jake himself had been shot pretty bad. Nobody expected him to live as long as he had, but that didn’t stop the guards from regularly torturing him. They didn’t like him much, as he frequently fed them a bunch of lies, mixed with just enough out of date information to create a whole lot of confusion. Even though he knew it was wrong, as the screams grew louder, he couldn’t help but be thankful that it wasn’t him in there for the time being.

“You guys got a smoke?”, he asked as he neared the two men. His tone was even and quiet, despite the fact that he was obviously joking. There was no mirth to be found in this place. Even if he could muster it, the cold reality of their situation made any cheer seem utterly ridiculous — mocking even.

[ekurian]

Looking up, Quinn saw an unfamiliar man leaning heavily on a makeshift cane. He gave this newest addition to their ranks a nod of acknowledgment.

"Welcome to our little paradise," he said, with a half-smile, gesturing with one arm at the camp around them, "It's not much, but we make do."

Attempting sarcastic humour was all he could do to keep himself sane in this place. He had wondered at how all those who had been here longer hadn't lost their minds already. He knew the answer, but never really wanted to admit it, especially not to himself. They were stronger than he was, in both mind and body. If it weren't for that one man, Jakob, Quinn knew he'd have been ripped apart by the other prisoners who were looking for some form of retribution. He also knew that he would probably be a broken, sobbing heap on the floor right now.

"Never let it show on the outside."

"Nice stick by the way," Quinn said to the other man, "Name's Quinn Brennan."

His attention turned to a man approaching. He had recognised the voice- Jakob. Forcing a smile at his friend's attempt at a joke, he waved to him. "Just in time to meet the new guy," he saw the open, bleeding wound on Jake's chest and, pushing down anger, added, "You look pretty in red."

[Sidney Bainbridge]

Greenleaf, Alliance Prison Camp, September 12th 2509 (T-45 hours) 1300hrs
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The doors to the slightly rusted old metal cabin in the center of the complex opened with the kick of a boot from the warden. There was anger and malice on the warden’s face as two soldiers held the arms of a third man. They walked out all thee in step. The man in the middle, Sidney, was bleeding from ear to ear but he had a smile on his face. Sidney looked back at the warden and with a smirk he said ”I’ll let your family know you said hello.” Then he turned to face the tents and others who were looking on. It was time to be strong and walk through the pain. They needed a fool that could be mistaken for a hero and Sidney was damn sure he could give them that.

flashing back to 1 hour earlier.

The gates to the compound opened and a vehicle drove in pulling up next to the wardens building. Eight men jumped out tossing a man in leg irons and shackles on to the hard wet ground. The man made no sound no sign of pain as if he couldn’t feel pain. Oh but he did and he was already in bad shape. He had surrendered himself to them three hours prior and they had beaten him the whole way to the compound.

I’m not going to give them the satisfaction.’ Sidney told himself as they picked him up and walked him in to the building. What he had gone through so far was nothing compared to what he was to face in the building but he had prepared himself for what was to follow. He scrambled to his feet as they dragged him and walked with them providing no resistance. Right before he had surrendered himself he had taken a near over dose of pain killers and caffeine pills to make sure he wouldn’t feel most of it and to keep him awake. He wasn’t in his right mind but he kept himself focused on the mission.

flashing forward to the current time again.

They walked him over to a tent and tossed him to the ground. ”welcome to your new home scum.” one of the guards said as they turned and walked away. Sidney stood up and looked over at them as they walked off. He thought for a second to charge one of them and take them out here and now but that wouldn’t help the mission. He had to stay focused, he had to keep himself going and make sure that things went well here. They were counting on him and if he failed here they would all be out of luck.

Sidney walked in to the field tent. They were tattered and warn, providing the minimum amount of shelter for the prisoners. Inside was a group of people who looked just as tattered and warn as the tent they were now living in, if you could call it living. ”You all look like a bunch a gor’ram corpses. If yer wearing that uniform start actin’ like your soldiers.” He yelled at them as he walked in. He showed no sympathy toward the lot of them and they didn’t need sympathy they needed discipline.

flashing back to half an hour earlier.

Sidney had been in with the warden for half an hour now and even through all the pain killers he was feeling it. The warden wasn’t the type to mess around, neither was Sidney. ”Stop with your games and tell me what you know about the Independent forces around this area and the pain will stop.” The warden told him and it wasn’t the first time. Sidney smiled again and looked the warden square in the eyes.

”As I told you before warden, my men are a few days from breeching your walls. 200 men are on the march to your facility and will reach here in a few days time. They will come from the west, It will start with a loud explosion from the southern fence then a few minutes later it will be followed by another on the western side. Once they enter the camp..” Sidney paused, this was his favorite part of the plan ”and in minutes they will have armed hundreds of the prisoners. I will stand here with you and watch as your men fall. Then when they finally reach your little shack you think of as your castle I will take you inside and slowly I will ripe your flesh from your face and watch you fade in to the darkness that will someday consume us all. The wardens fist slammed in to Sidney’s face and Sidney paused again as he rolled his head back up to look the warden in the eyes again.

”Then when we are done here and we take Greenleaf for good. I will hunt your family down and send them on their way to whatever hell you believe in.” Sidney told him. The warden had asked for the truth and Sidney was giving it to him. His men had planned an escape for the prison and they were only a few days out from it. Sidney was here to rally the men who were prisoners. He would get them ready for what was to come. He was the motivator of the troops, that immovable rock that they could cling to for support at least that was the plan. The prisoners needed a moral boost and a clear plan for this to work and he had no chose but to give it to them.

Now why he told the warden the whole plan was so he wouldn’t believe it and when Sidney was passing it around it wouldn’t be given a second glance. For now he just had to hold on to consciousness till they brought him out to the other prisoners. He had to stand strong, not one sound to give the impression of pain.

flashing forward to the current time again.

He walked the line of bunks looking over each person. Not one of them looked like they had any real spirit left. There was no rank on anyone as per standard in a prison. It wasn’t allowed to solute an officer or talk of rank. That was the kind of thing that got people killed. ”In case you all don’t somehow know. I am Major Bainbridge. Commander of the 217th Tactical Forward Assault Force. Unless there is someone of Higher rank here that would put me in charge and I expect those I command to stand up when I enter the room along with offer the proper solute. “ Sidney said boldly, he knew they wouldn’t be to receptive of it but he had to push hard as he only had a few days to whip them back in to shape and cause some chaos around the place.

[James Clark]

Since his arrival at the Alliance's Prison Camp on Greenleaf two months ago James, Quinn and Jakob had done a great job at raising a little bit of resistance as best they could. They had acquired various weapons that were hidden under various different places. The place had been ready to raise up arms against the Alliance. However the recent open execution of the most senior officer Brigadier General Foley had left morale in tatters. They had lined Foley and three over men up and shot them in open execution by firing squad in the yard infront of everyone.

James was left as one of the most senior officers in the Camp. Along with Quinn and Jakob who were both Captains. Major Clark sat at the table playing cards with Brennan and McKenna begging for a miracle to arrive and it did. In the shape of Major Sidney Bainbridge his former commanding officer, mentor and good friend whom he hadn't seen in a very long time. Exchanging a look with Brennan that mean't 'were in business' James rose to his feet with the aide of his cane. He was behind all the men "You heard the man" he bellowed at the troops "Stand at attention". The crowd parted in the middle and James limped forwards although he was on even terms with Sid he wanted to rally everyone. He stood a few feet away from Sid "Major Clark reporting for duty, sir".

[Sidney Bainbridge]

Sidney looked on as stern faced as every while the crowd of sick and tired troops sat idol, trying to figure out what to do. At that moment from the back of the room a voice called ordering the men in the tent to show the proper respects. The voice was familiar to Sidney and only took him a moment to recognize. It was the voice of Captain James Clark, at least last time Sidney say him he was Captain. Now a Major and Sidney’s best Chance at rallying the troops.

Now standing directly in front of Sidney then wounded major presented himself for duty. With a swift flick of his arm James saluted to Sidney and Sidney returned his solute and both lowered their arms to their side at the same time. ”Good ta see ya Major. Looks like you are the luck one to receive the battle field promotion to X.O of this camp.” Sidney explained as the rest of those in the tent one by one stood up and began to fall in behind James. ”The rest of you have now officially been drafted to the 217th Tactical Forward Assault Force.”

Sidney took a moment to look over the bunch of men who were now starting down an open path a decent against their captors. At the while Sidney was desperately trying to hold on to his sanity from the mass amount of drugs he had taken. Though unsteady and ready to collapse he held his composure as if nothing was wrong. ”We have less than 72 hours to get this camp in order before you will return to the battlefield and I expect nothing less than perfection do you understand me. I am sure you have all met our good warden by now and are looking forward to a little pay back.” Sidney continued to lay it on thick. Any good commander knew not only did you need an inspired force but also a force that was seeking something, be it freedom, peace or vengeance. In this case vengeance was the easiest to find. ”In less than 72 hours you will all get a chance for some face time with the Warden and his men.”

Sidney walked the line of men for a few minutes completely silent. Looking at the shape of the men, some were wounded like Major Clark, others just falling apart from moths in the camp. They weren’t much but if they had the motivation they would make it out of here yet. ”Alright carry on men, Major Clark I’ll need you to give me the rundown of what our situation in and I will fill you in on the details from outside the camp.” He stated with a presence unseen in the camp in a long time. He sat down on the end of one of the bunks signaling James to take a seat on one of the other bunks so they could formalize the plan. There already seemed to be the starts of a rejuvenated spirit in the tent. Soon it would be time to see that spirit spread across the whole camp.

[James Clark]

It was an amazing quality to have. The ability to rally the troops and improve morale with only a few short sentences. Major Bainbridge was a true leader. Watching as everyone began looking like they had a little bit more life in them, give a man something worth fighting for and he would show you something new. "I hope you have a plan Major" James was overjoyed to meet his good friend and C.O again but there would be time for talking later. Pulling out a battered hand drawn map of the camp he showed Sidney "These five X's indicate where weapons are stashed and the two O's show where we have dug tunnels leading to the outside, we also have a radio that can transmit but cannot receive" James was walking or rather limping with the aide of his cane as he walked "I don't think I'm going to be much use to you Major".

[Sidney Bainbridge]

Sidney looked the map over as James showed it to him. It was exactly the kind of thing he was looking for. He listened to James as he explained what he knew. Though he was injured he was going to be of good use to Sidney in the coming days and he had the support of the men here it seemed.

Sidney stood up and started to walk out the ten with James beside him. "Good to see you have a resistance going. I need you to move the weapons tonight to a different location then on the map and replace them with rudimentary weapons. brooms, steel pipes and that means your cane as well." Sidney began to explain. He had already decided the move they would make to seal the deal, the check mate if you will, to his plan.

As they walked a younger soldier walked up toward them "James I was wond..." He began to say but Sidney cut him off. "I assume you mean Major Clark soldier. I expect you will address him as such." Sidney snapped

"but sir..." He was cut off again.

"No but soldier what is your rank and name." Sidney inquired.

"cor.. corporal Thomas, sir." He replied under confidently.

"Good corporal. I have a mission for you. I expect you to inform everyone in this camp that it is now under the command of Major Bainbridge. You have two hours to report back to me." Sidney said sternly. when he meant two hours he meant not one minute more. The corporal could tell the seriousness in Sidney's voice and with a quick solute he ran of on his mission.

Sidney turned back to face James and continued with his plan. "we need to make the next few days hard for the warden and he needs to know it is you and me doing so. We will need someone to tell him later we are trying to make plans. This will get his focus on us. Then the men can continue to prepare. The map will come in about an hour before the planned arrival of the 217th. It will need to be turned over to the warden." Sidney continued as they kept walking. Sidney had almost a regal sense about him that people notice and he could see it coming back to James as well. "when the warden lays eyes on that map he will have us in that shack in no time and his men will be on the hunt for the weapons. This will divert his forces from the fences so the 217th can brech the walls easier."

Sidney knew he was putting himself and James at risk with having them be fingered for the map but they wouldn't execute them right on the spot. No the warden would want to brake them first and he would need more then an hour for that.

[James Clark]

James was battered and bruised wounded and hurting mentally and physcially. But the minute he saw Maj. Sidney Bainbridge appear he knew that things were about to change. He showed it with how he dealt with the Corporal. Sidney and him were going to get them out of this mess and if he died trying then so be it. "Well that told him" James gave a chuckles his former CO hadn't changed at all he was still the same respected no-nonsense man. When Sid told him the plan about moving the weapons it took him barely a moment to respond "I'm game" he told Sid with a nod leaning heavily on his cane.

[Sidney Bainbridge]

Greenleaf, Alliance Prison Camp, September 12th 2509 (T-43 hours) 1500hrs
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James and Sid walked the camp for a while at first they only got limited notice. Everyone could tell that Sidney was new to the place by the way he walked. He still had pride and hope left in him but as time passed and the word of the new duel Major leadership that had now formed in the camp.

"James do you really think this group of misfits will be able to be rallied up again?" Sidney asked of James as they walked on. They turned around the dining facility tent and the heard a young voice all out. "Officer on Deck!" in a loud and commanding voice. There was a group of about 50 soldiers now standing in formation. "Sergent Major Bernard reporting sirs. ranking enlisted on the post." The voice explained to Sidney and James.

It seemed they did indeed have the will to muster once more. Sidney could see the corporal in the grop with a huge grin on his face. Sidney saluted the NCO and walked over to the corporal. "You got a reason to smile corporal?" Sidney asked in a voice that suggested he was proud of the young fellow. "It seems Corporal Thomas here is an over acheiver. I told him to inform the camp of my arrival and I come to find out he managed to get the pathetic bounch to actually form up. I expect the rest of you to follow his example." Sidney said sternly. He had to remain hard on them they would need it if they were to succeed in getting reformed in such a short period.

Sidney Turned to James with a slight grin. "I'm glad to see you didn't let them completely slip." James was a damn good soldier and he had everything it took to be the best of leaders. This would be his chance to shine these men had been around him for a while and would trust him. Sidney would be the hard as and James would be the one people would rally to.

[James Clark]

James in all honestly couldn’t believe that Sidney had come back for him. But after all the two of them had been through since they met three years ago it didn’t surprise him. The news of the two senior officers taking control of the camp had spread like wildfire. Man left right and centre appeared to look at the two as they walked around the camp. James stopped briefly leaning on his cane as his leg had began to hurt and to answer the question ”Give these men something worth fighting for and you’ll see these boys become men” James told Sidney, these men were down but they weren’t out.
They walked into the dining facility tent as Bernard arrived along with some others. Thomas had tone good indeed. James watched as Sid gave one of his talks to the men and women of the camp. These men were ready to strike back at the enemy. They just needed a little more time. James turned to Sid returning his grin ”What did I tell you!” he told Sid as he sat down on a bench. He wasn’t used to exercising his leg so much but he was gonna have to get used to it if he was going to leave this place.

[Sidney Bainbridge]

Sidney was pleasantly surprised at the turn of events James was right there was still fight left in these men after all. "Effective immediately you are all drafted in to the 217th, seems Central Command is affording me the opportunity to turn the unit in to a Battalion." He said as he walked the line of people. Inspecting everyone along the way.

They were still in poor condition but they seemed to be willing to find that inner fire needed to fight again. Some of these men had been here over a year and likely lost all hope by now. "Don't let me confuse you, The 217th is the most dangerous unit you will be part of. Central Command has a way of finding the spots where no one should be sent and sending us there. We see the worse of the worse and many don't survive, but there is no other group that can claim having sent as many purple bellies to hell as we can." Yeah real motivating right, Stay in this prison or go and die on some god forsaken rock somewhere else. Sidney had been hardend by the war. Willing to make the needed sacrifice and he believe everyone had the right to know. "If that doesn't sound like something you want to be part of you are welcome to stay behind here, Any questions?"

Sidney walked back over to James and stood at his side. He trusted James after all they had been through togehter and he would be glad to have James serving under him again. He gave James a nod suggesting it was his opportunity to talk.

[James Clark]

James Clark took a look at everyone assembled as Sidney gave them a rousing speech. James sometimes wondered how his fellow Major did it. It just came naturally to him once Sid had finished speaking he motioned for James to start the camp was so quiet you could hear a pin drop "Ladies, Gentlemen" he began "The road ahead is uncertain and it is never going to be easy" he paused briefly and looked out at them all "I'm not going to lie to you it's not going to be easy but I'll be damned if I'm going to lay down and let these purple bellies beat me". He took a few steps towards them "Remember the only easy day was yesterday!" he shouted out to them.