Cloverleaf Peacekeeping

[Greywall]

Jelani Bandile had dozed off leaning against the glass pane of the train coach as his comrades read books or smoked to pass the time. He joined the Royal Army years ago and was now a private first classman, Gordon was still a private for constantly butting heads with the platoon captain, McVeigh was the squad medic and McCollister was one of the best riflemen in the platoon. 

They were part of the larger deployment of the Royal Southern Zedonian Colonial Army (RSZCA: RISZCA as its called), thousands of troops were being deployed to stop Xagreau aggression to the Mil'Nor. Most of them were Xaspeshi Zedons, descendants of human Toulian natives, a few Gaelics here and some immigrant soldiers. Bandile wrote to his father prior to his deployment knowing he would be worried, but after this deployment his platoon were promised extended leave for five months with pay. 

The train came to a stop at a large encampment, "Alright lads, get off let's go!" the sgt called out as the platoon stirred and stepped off onto the dirt below. Jelani was surprised to see such a large gathering of Royal soldiers; this was the first major deployment of UKUG military assets since the Hawaiian War. "Step up for equipment laddie" the sgt said lightly patting Jelani, like many Gaelics he wore a kilt and Clan pin, his friends McVeigh, McCollister and Gordon wore their kilts as well. Jelani being none Gaelic wore pants and a metal emblem showing Xaspeshi pride. He took a kit, cooking equipment, shovel, backpack, compass, canteen. He then stepped to the trucks handing rifles out. "Here lad, check it out first." said a quartermaster, he was handed a McCarron model 4 rifle. It was a firm and slightly heavy rifle, he looked it over seeing the UKUG stag printing on the metal but also 'Made in Lusatia' below it. 

He was given several stripper clips of 30-06 and told more would be given to his squad commander. His platoon was assembling at a row of tents after receiving their equipment where Captain Timok was instructing them, "Alright lads, we're here. The Xagreau have assaulted a Mil'Nor town to the North so were gonna rest here tonight, eat breakfast and start our trek that way following. We're building an airstrip here for aerial support and artillery will set up to support us. You are guests here; remember you represent the United Kingdom and his majesty the King. Do not disappoint. Dismissed!" the platoon broke up with the four friends linking up, "This is it, can you believe? Actual action!" McVeigh said excitingly. "Oh piss don't sound excited this is war" McCollister complained. They bickered back and forth all the way to the tent, some other soldiers were inside laying down for the day, Jelani placed his equipment by his bed and locked his rifle into the footlocker. 

Sargent Eli Mularkey was probably the stereotypical Gaelic, wearing his sideburns down long and showing his short stature filled with muscle as he entered the tent, "Chow's in fifteen, turkey and vegetables. Eat all you want cause it's shite army rations after tonight!" he said in a booming loud voice, he stepped out and repeated this to every group. Jelani felt the pangs of hunger, "food sounds good, you lot comin'?" he  said to his group, they all jolted toward the exit including the soldiers laying about. The turkey-or rather turkeys were being smoked and carved. The cooks piled up food for the soldiers about to leave for combat, peas, beans, cabbage, carrots and onions were cooked as well. Gordon complained about no potatoes, but he fixed a full plate regardless. Jelani grinned at the savory flavor of the turkey, it was perfect, spices and dry rub had been long cooked into the skin and the meat was juicy and cooked to perfection, "Army cooking corps does it again" he said with half a mouth full. The others nodded, "if only our rations were better" Gordon complained. A light hand swatted Gordon at the back of the head, it was Mularkey, "quit yer jabbin' and eat Gerdan" Gordon grunted "fuckin' highlander". 

After the meal Jelani went to his tent as his comrades decided to play a game of football to blow off steam, he preferred to draw, pulling out a notebook he bought in Fuar before going into Mil'Nor. He drew sketches of the Mil'Nor countryside and wanted to sketch his time in the deployment. He mused what he and his comrades were heading into before drifting off to sleep. 

[Greywall]

They had been marching all day, Jelani's feet were tired and sore but it was his lower back that ached the most from the equipment he now carried and the rifle slung on his back. He tilted his service slouch hat and wiped the sweat off his forehead despite the cool autumn breeze that swept around him. Some of the men were singing a song mocking the Xagreau for invading Mil'Nor, it had become popular among the colonial ranks.





“Oh gentaki lad here we come, marching south west to bear all arms, to arms, to arms, to arms to xaggy land.

With hammer nail we shall deliver, the punch that ulster Gaelia delivers. To arms, to arms, to arms to xaggy land.

We marching down to xaggy, hurrah, hurrah, we marching down to ole xaggy to kick ole gen taki. To arms, to arms, we fight for Mil’Nor! To arms, to arms, we’ll fight for Mil’Nor

March with no worries here we go, lads remember we fight for Iron clover. To arms, to arms, to arms to xaggy land. Wrath of the Gaelic shall be known, justice for all Mil’Nor knows to arms, to arms, to arms to xaggy land.

We marching down to xaggy, hurrah hurrah, we marching down to ole xaggy to ole gent taki. He’ll know, he’ll know, the wrath ulster Gaelia! He’ll know, he’ll know the wrath! Of ulster Gaelia!"

Captain Mularkey was grinning carrying a shotgun preferring it over a rifle as he bellowed out, "Alright we're almost there!". The Gaelic forces arrived at nice flat hollow North of Harrlowsburg. "The general and his staff are going to check with the Mil'Nor, you gits make camp." Mularkey ordered as the group got to work raising tents and squads were assigned to keep watch. They learned the Xagreau had been pushed back and learned of the Xaspeshi invasion forcing the invasion to a halt. Many of them celebrated thinking the Xagreau retreat signaled the war would be over soon, but as they began to sit down and eat in the cold Northern Mil'Nor night Mularkey arrived with news, "We're going to pursue the retreating Xagreau army, the entire deployment here has been tasked with chasing them to the borderlands and challenging them in the open until our Valderan allies can mobilize on their end for proper invasion of the state. Eat up, tomorrow morning we leave at first break of light." 

Jelani ate a meal of potato soup and some hastily made bread the army cooks whipped up, his friends told stories of what they had heard about Xagreau but his thoughts were now on the prospect of going into battle.