We arrived back at the camp just as dusk was setting it. It took longer to return, as Private Twitch couldn’t walk very fast. Ironside and Speedy were on either side to help her keep balance.
As we approached the entry point, Private Blooms cried out “Who goes there?!” sounding panicked.
“Just open the damn gate, Private. We got injured here!” I yelled, completely ignoring protocol.
“Y-yes sir!” she squeaked, and ran over to the gate, pulling it open.
I walked with Ironside and Speedy to help get Twitch onto the field gurney, and lay her down on her stomach.
“Alright, Private. I’m going to have to check the wound to make sure it’s still okay. Don’t start squirming or I’ll get the Sergeant in here to hold you down again.”
“Yes sir…” she said, a hint of fear in her voice.
“What the hell is that, Private? Do I hear fear in that voice!?” I barked, causing her to jump slightly. “I don’t remember giving you the right to feel fear.” I turned my head and called out “Private Ironside! Did I give this little filly the right to be afraid?!”
“Sir, no sir!” He replied sharply.
I stood up and walked over to the two of them, worry obvious on their faces. I quietly spoke to them. “Look, I need your help. Twitch has been through a hell of a lot today, and you two giving her that face isn’t going to do her any favors.”
“Sir?” Speedy began.
“Listen to me. I need you two to keep her calm while I work. Just talk to her like everything’s normal. Don’t make her stress any more than she already is.”
I stepped back to the gurney and said “Alright, Private. Wing up!”
Ironside and Speedy knelt by her head and began to talk to her. Slowly she raised her injured wing. I pulled a loop of rope that was hanging from the center pole above, tying it gently around the wing to keep it up.
“You got nothing to complain about, Twitch.” Ironside began. “You got the first hit, and probably the best story ever for an injury! How many ponies can say a million year old device in some creepy vault couldn’t keep them down, eh?”
Twitch chuckled softly, coughing. I picked up the surgical scissors from the med kit next to the gurney and began to cut away the stained bandage. The wound had stopped bleeding, but there was still a ragged hole through the meat of her wing. It was almost perfectly round. I’d never seen a wound quite like it before. I grabbed a small light from the med kit and shined it into the open wound. Whatever that piece of metal was, it looked like it had grazed the bone.
I took a small piece of gauze from the kit and glanced at Ironside and Speedy, who both nodded in acknowledgement. They took Twitch’s hooves in theirs, and she squeezed her eyes shut in anticipation. I rolled the gauze into a loose ball, and gently pushed it into the wound. Twitch moaned with pain, bucking slightly.
I grabbed the roll of gauze and gently wrapped the injured wing, affixing it in place with medical tape. Twitch relaxed her body, and I took the rope off the wing, standing up to move to the head of the gurney.
“Alright, Private. You earned yourself some rack time and double rations. Don’t get too used to it though. I expect you healed up and ready to report for duty ASAP.”
I made my way to the tent flap and gestured for Ironside to follow.
“Alright, Private. I’m down two troops now, and honestly Starch was useless back there. You seem to know what the hell you’re doing, and I respect initiative.”
“Thank you, sir.” He replied, unsure what I was getting to.
“Like I said, I need troops who know what they’re doing. That’s why I’m promoting you for now. It’s a brevet promotion, so it can be taken back at any time, but for now...” I said, putting out my hoof “Congratulations Private First Class Ironside.”
He looked up at me in amazement, and reached his hoof out to shake mine. “I don’t know what to say, sir.” He said, meekly.
“Just say thank you, sir.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Go speak to the Sergeant about getting that rank fixed too. You’re out of uniform.”
After the newly minted PFC had left, I set about finding Private Blooms. Something had spooked her, and I intended to find out what. I quickly spotted her still standing by the gate staring out into the dark, and walked up next to her.
“What’s going on, Private? You seemed ready to attack when we got back.”
“I’m sorry, sir. We’ve all been a bit tense.” She said, her voice quavering. “PFC Quill has the log book. It’d probably be best if you got word from him…”
“Carry on then.” I said, and turned to walk away. Private Blooms called back to me, asking “Sir? How long are we going to be stuck here?”
“Not long, Private. Not if I can help it.” I replied, and headed to the barracks tent.
Opening the flap, I found PFC Quill, the log book open in front of him. I stepped up next to him, and he jumped up to attention.
“Anything noteworthy, Quill?” I asked.
“Yes sir.” He said unsurely.
“Go relieve Private Blooms. I’ll send for the three of you if I need any clarification.”
Quill stepped out of the tent and went to find Blooms. I picked up the log book and headed back to my tent. Sitting at my travel desk, I opened the book to today’s date, and began to read.
~0900Hrs. The rest of the unit has been gone for an hour now. Pvt. Blooms reports loud rustling in the distance off of the main gate.
~0922Hrs. Pvt. Shore reports seeing an unidentified figure in the woods, moving away from the camp. Unsure if animal or other.
~0945Hrs. Pvt. Bloom reports seeing an unidentified figure crossing the path to the main gate, appx. 1000 yards away, moving into the forest. Could not identify or accurately describe figure.
~1330Hrs. While on gate duty, noticed two figures moving through forest appx. 1000 yards away, heading away from camp. Could not accurately identify or describe figures.
“I saw you promoted Ironside” said a voice from the open tent flap.
I looked up and saw Sergeant Flathoof standing at the entrance to my tent. “Come in, come in…” I said absentmindedly, still looking over the log. “The kid did well today. Better than some, definitely.”
“Yeah, that’s true. He makes a decent field medic.”
“I figure it’ll help with morale around here anyways. There’s not much left to go around anymore…” I said, still staring at the open book on the desk. “Take a look at these logs.” I said, sliding the book across the desk to the Sergeant.
He looked over the page briefly and then to me. “We’re being scouted.” he said.
“Yeah, that much is for sure, but by who? There’s not one description in here.”
“Well, whoever they are, they’re keeping their distance. At least they haven’t made their move yet…” the Sergeant began looking back at the page.
“Yeah, but why not? It would have been the best time to attack. Most of us were out at the damn ruin. There were only three of us here. Why not attack then?”
“Take your wins as you can, sir.”
“I’m not so sure this was a win, Sergeant…”