First Light in Numubya · 2:22am Oct 11th, 2021
The sergeant peered over the edge of the embankment. He pointed a long, spindley hoof at the largest of several dozen shell craters. “That one there. There’s a skull at the bottom.”
Springa followed his gaze, willing her head to shrink into her helmet until there was no exposed flesh left. There were still snipers hiding on the other side of the embankment. Based on the number of ponies getting dragged out of this section of trench every day, she concluded that they were very good shots.
“See it?” the sergeant asked again. He had such an enthusiastic voice. It made him sound psychotic--not that she’d ever say it out loud.
“There’s gotta be a meter of water at the bottom,” Springa said. “Could be a rock for all we know.”
“A rock? Are you--” the sergeant cut himself off. “Keep looking. I swear it’s down there.”
She risked getting her head taken off for another moment, just to humor him. “I have no doubt you and your squad have been doing your best to secure it. Whatever it is. We’re in the business of securing earth as much as earthly remains.”
“But do you see it?”
She retreated from the edge and slid down into the trench. “No, sergeant. I don’t.”
“It’s right down there. One of ours.”
Springa turned up her collar. The sun hadn’t fully risen yet. That surreal desert chill she was still struggling to acquaint herself with hadn’t loosened its grip quite yet. “I’m sorry, but I can’t see it. And if I can’t see it, I can’t authorize a mission to retrieve it.”
The sergeant blew up. “I should call the admiral about this... this... dereliction of duty! This is an insult to you and every one of the ponies who serve under you.”
The sergeant went on. The ponies Springa had allegedly disrespected--the same ones who, had she not heard the sergeant and intervened, would have been vaulting the trench and sliding down into the embankment to fish for their comrade--did their best to blend into the muddy trench walls.
Springa left the sergeant to vent his frustration and resumed her morning stroll down the line. Every visit to these trenches made her acutely aware of how much nicer her jacket was than the rank and file ponies under her command. She hoped they didn’t hold it against her.
Little mercies were all she had to offer them now. She could only hope they helped.
Dang man.
I'm loving these.
They're so good.
Springa is getting more and more interesting each time.
5594359 Thanks man! I love getting your comments too
the Numubyan daydreams are keeping me sane during a long hunt for a new day job, lol.
5594397
looking for a job sucks.
Just remember, you're interviewing them too.
What sort of work are you looking for?
5594417 I went back to school during covid and got a degree in data science/web design. So I'm looking for my first job in that field! I really want to find a job in new york city and move there.
5594429
Oh cool.
Wish I had money to hire you. I need some of that.
Keep working at it. Just get a job somewhere, work for a year, then move jobs. That's a field where moving jobs every year or two tends to be a good thing.
5594437 That's what I hear too. Thanks for the advice