Josephine

𝓔𝓹𝓲𝓼𝓸𝓭𝓮 40: 𝓑𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓓𝓸𝔀𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓘𝓶𝓹𝓮𝓻𝓲𝓪𝓵 𝓢𝓵𝓮𝓭𝓰𝓮𝓱𝓪𝓶𝓶𝓮𝓻

September 15, 1973

Fort Rupert, Quebec

The atmosphere was tense as I stared forward at a crackling, dying fire, surrounded by three slumbering Quebecois rebels. I was leading a commando squad to cause mayhem. I looked to the right and left, making sure no other rebels were in sight. Satisfied that there were none, I thrust my right hand forward and two of the ten soldiers I had brought with me sprung out of the brush we were hiding in.

They sprinted across the grassy plain, maintaining absolute silence. When they reached the three guards they pulled out concealed daggers and killed them by slashing their throats. One of the two gave me a 'thumbs up' which I guess meant they were clear. These soldiers were teaching my common peasantry things every day.

The other eight commandos and I moved along, creeping along, making sure to make absolutely no noise whatsoever. My long navy blue coat dragged along the ground, making me cringe, hoping, no praying it was quiet enough to avoid detection. We continued along the path alongside the forest. The town of Fort Rupert was quiet, but I could see some flickering lights here and there.

"Les Américains! Les Américains!" A voice shouted in the distance, clearly French.

We all froze, fearing we had been spotted, or a patrol had spotted the two dead guards and knew we were here.

"Positions de défense!!" Another screamed out.

Then distant gunfire broke out and I realized we hadn't been spotted. But our main force had been sighted and they were now under attack. I motioned for us to crouch down so we could discuss our next move.

"Those idiots!" I hissed, "I specifically ordered them to hold back and not to advance until we had completed our tasks!"

I rubbed my forehead, making clear my annoyance.

"What's our next move, your majesty?" One of the commandos asked.

I looked up in the direction of combat, my mind calculating every possible strategy and outcome as I usually did. There were many ways to go about this, but which choice was the right choice was the question.

"We could try and flank them... but then they could flank us... We could just crash into their flank, and then march as one force... no-no, the rebels could outmaneuver us- duck down!" I mumbled before hissing.

All nine of us fell to the forest floor as a squad of six rebels dashed by.

"Rapide! Rapide! Nos camarades sont attaqués!!" One of them shouted in French.

I noticed, however, that they no longer were using assault rifles, or if they were, they were in short quantity. Now they had bolt action rifles, like the ones used in the Great War. An interesting development to be sure and I know I can take advantage of it. Once they had passed, I raised my head just enough to see ahead. I thrust my hand forward and the commandos jumped up and leaped over the brush. They flanked around me, keeping me safe as we pursued the six rebels.

Then the sounds of explosions rocked the ground, though it didn't deter us. The rebels were using their cannons now.

"When we get to the battlefield, you must spike those cannons so they cannot use them against us... that or capture them so we can use them... we are in dire need of artillery after all," I explained to them.

"Got it, also stop overthinking everything, you are on the front, you cannot afford that," One of the commandos replied in a hissing tone.

I'll let him speaking to me in such a brash tone pass for now. The further we moved, the louder the gunfire became, naturally.