Food here was better than the usual fair. Someone had gotten their hands on fresh fruit and fresh meat. Evans made sure to get some extra servings and then went to talk with his old friends. He walked up to Turner, who had made her way to a seat in the corner, away from much of the bustle, “Mind if I sit here?”

Turner smiled, “I’m always happy to sit next to the Immortal Jim Evans.”

“Immortal?”

“You’ve got a reputation Evans. You’ve been wounded more times than pretty much anyone else. Don’t have any noticeable scars. And you’ve been reported dead many times,” Turner smiled, “I know Immortal isn’t quite the right word, but it rolls off the tongue better than inextirpable.”

“Inex-what?”

“I do lot’s of crossword puzzles. It means impossible to destroy,” Turner took a few bites of her apple, “I’ve also heard people say ‘The Immortal Soldier.’ But Immortal Jim Evans sounds a lot better.”

“So I’m a folk hero then? The Immortal Jim Evans?” Evans smiled, “Anna would probably be happy if I didn’t die.”

“So how is Zwev doing these days?”

“Good, we’ve got three kids now, and with any luck, a fourth coming in nine months.”

“So you’re one of those couples then?”

“What?”

“You’ve gotta have as many kids as possible as fast as possible. You’ve got more kids than years of marriage.”

“I mean, I figure, I’m gonna go back to farming after the war. So I might as well get started on making farmhands. Free labor basically,” Evans laughed. Then noticed out of the corner of his eye someone standing. He turned to face them. It was the Corporal with the scar across her face, “Hi. Would you like to sit down?”

“Yes Mister Sergeant Evans. It is an honor to meet you Sergeant.”

Evans rolled his eyes at Turner, before replying to the soldier, “Just call me Jim. And what was your name?”

“Corporal Sara Totti at your pleasure Ser… Jim,” Totti put her tray on the table and sat down.

Pointing to Turner, Evans said, “And have you met Kelly?”

“Yes. So, Jim. Is it true what they say?” Totti said as she smiled to Evans.

“What are they saying about me?”

“That you escaped from a prisoner camp powered by your love for your wife?”

“I also have a daughter that I love very much. As well as two baby boys.”

“That story is so beautiful Sergeant… Jim,” Totti smiled and looked upwards, “I hope I can have a husband such as you someday.”

“Well I hope your future husband never has to do anything like that. And I hope my kids never have to go through anything like that,” Evans sighed, “And with any luck, the war will be over before we have to do anything more.”

Totti nodded, “I do not need anymore scars. Now,” She pulled a flask out of her jacket, “May I offer you two Heroes of Urbs some refreshments?”

“Hardly a hero, but what’s in the flask?” Evans smiled.

“Only the best of cheap Ligurian Brandy,” Totti said as she handed him the flask.

Evans took a gulp and made a face, “Is it supposed to taste fruity?”

“You’ve never had Brandy before Evans?” Turner grabbed the flask, took a gulp, and grimaced, “Oh yeah that’s bottom shelf.”

“I’m from a farm, we pretty much just drink Whiskey distilled in town. I’ve also had Wine a few times for celebrations, but that’s all the alcohol experience I have.”

Totti butted in, “Brandy is wine that has been distilled. Once this war is over and I can stay in one place, I will make both of you Heroes a bottle.”

“Well, since you obviously know all about us, why don’t you tell Turner and me about you?” Evans said, “Why don’t you tell us about your scar?”

Totti shook her head, “No no no. It is too stupid. I won’t tell. It was not important.”

“Tell us,” Turner looked at Evans and smiled, “Or we’ll give you a Geology lesson from a former commander of ours.”

“All right, all right. I was in a raid, and I forget to toss a grenade, so when I come in, a man swipes at me with a big knife. Now my face looks unpretty.”

“So what happened?”

“I put my knife in his chest, then he threw up on on my uniform. Then he fell and his knife fell in my…” Totti blushed, “Dairy. I don’t remember much after then.”

“That’s a perfectly fine way to get wounded Sara.”

Evans nodded in agreement, “I broke my leg because I was in an armored car that flipped.

“And after the Battle of the Crater, like right after, I tripped getting on the train and broke my nose,” Turner smiled and continued, “So getting slashed with a knife is by far the stupidest way I’ve heard. And you can at least build it up a bit. You fought someone hand to hand. They struck the first blow but you got them in the end”

“To start off, Well, most of you already know each other, but we’ve got a few new faces, so why don’t we go around and introduce ourselves. I’ll start,” Sergeant Major Gabriel, a tired man with many scars, stood up and said, “Chris Gabriel, I’ll be your Sergeant Major.”

Being the First Squad leader, Evans went next, “Jim Evans. First Squad Leader. Finally escaped Officer Country.”

There were a few laughs. Evans’ Marksman went next. She was a slender woman who carried herself with a sense of pride. Her uniform was meticulously cleaned. She even spoke with an accent unbecoming of her rank, “Corporal Emily Johnson. I am most pleased to be returning to the front as Mister Evans’ personal hunter.”

Tiscornia went next, “Dom Tiscornia. Rifle Leader for Sergeant Evans.”

Second squad was next. Turner was the Sergeant. Still a beautiful woman even with her dirty face and uniform, “Kelly Turner. Second Squad Leader.”

After that was Kempe, a shorter woman with reading glasses, “Vivien Kempe. Rifle Leader for Second Squad.”

Delage followed. He had matured since Evans remembered him. The handsome man introduced himself with a smirk, “Victor Delage. I shoot bullets fast with my machine gun.”

Next was the perpetually smiling Canina, “Alida Canina. Sergeant of 3rd Squad. Yes I know my name is hilarious, but it was a gift from my husband so I can’t return it.”

The next Corporal Evans almost didn’t recognize. She had been so peppy when he was in the platoon. But after many battles and several wounds, she seemed… darker, “Rachel Hunt. Rifle Lead for Sergeant Canina. And I intend to kill every last Vledscan I set my eyes on.”

The next was a short man Evans didn’t recognize, “Too follow that cheeriness, I’m Paul Fitzsimmons. Rifle Grenadier.”

The next was Sergeant Hardin. Evans’ first Corporal, but had been out with wounds for a few months, “Max Hardin. Fourth Squad. Glad to be back in the show.”

Next was a tall, black haired Ligurian woman with an ugly scar across her face. She smiled, “Sara Totti. I am the Rifle Leader for Sergeant Hardin. Do not mind the scar. I am a very happy person.”

And finally, a happy looking man, tapping the table with his four fingered left hand, “Rog Baldwin. Rifle Grenadier. How I lost my left pinky even.”

Sergeant Major Gabriel smiled, “Now that we’re all acquainted, time to get to the meeting. We’ll have dinner afterwards if you all want to catch up.”

Evans walked into the office. Tiscornia was leaning on the desk, “Hey Evans. Good to see you. How’s Zwev and the kids?”

“Anna’s fine. Got to spend a few nights with her and the kids before being shipped back here. So, how’s the Squad? I tried picking Howe’s brain, but her brain’s on Nivelle.”

“Seems good so far. Two team leaders are Lances Callahan and McGilligan. Callahan’s been with us for a while. Never really been that noticeable, but he’s survived since Northern Gate, and that ain’t nothing. He’s got a good grenade throwing arm. Personally, I like him. He wants to go to university to study history. Get’s along with everyone pretty well. Cool head under fire.

“McGilligan is a transfer, I sent a letter to her last unit asking for any information, but she’s got some medals and has been in since the first Tsiv River. Seems to have plenty of command experience. Personally, she’s a bit of a loner, mostly just reads books when off duty.

“For the Privates, Howe is still a bit nervous about going back combat. She can run pretty fast and can fire the fastest. You know her personally already so we can skip that.

“Nivelle is a good kid. Strong as an ox. Good with bayonet play. And I know it’s a stereotype, but he’s a good cook. Terrible with jokes. Though Howe laughs at everything he says.

“Sheppard follows orders well. A bit tetchy with dirt. So you needn’t worry about her during inspections. Plus her rifle is very clean. I’ve actually been getting her to clean my rifle. She says she likes it. And never wear civvie clothes around her. She is up to date on all the fashion and will go on about how some sort of thing is last season. What the hell is last season?

“Madison is…. I really don’t know, came in a few days ago. Says he wants to be a Pastor when the war is over. So I’ve been calling him Pastor Junior.

“Next is the Marksman team. Leader is Corp Johnson. You’ve managed to perfectly miss her career. She was a marksman with the 202nd up until White Beach. She took some shrapnel there and when she recovered she was reassigned to a training battalion to teach shooting. She complained until she finally got back to the front. She kinda acts like she’s a lady though.

“Finally is Ollie. Just like your wife, he has an unpronounceable Silesian name so his name was shortened to Ollie in bootcamp. He joined the show after Northern Gate. Good shooter. He’ll be the spotter for the Corp. Plus, he’ll fight like Hell if you need it. At Third Tsiv, he held with a few other soldiers to cover our retreat.

“And that covers the whole lot. Our Lieutenant hasn’t been assigned quite yet, so Captain Gates just stops in every once and a while to check in.

“We’re having a Sergeants and Corporals meeting later so you can meet the other Sergeants in the Platoon. Corporals and me. Still refuse that promotion on principle.”

Evans nodded, “So how are you doing Dom? Last time we talked at Tsiv you weren’t doing so hot.”

“I’m taking it day to day Evans,” Tiscornia laughed grimly, “How is it that someone who has nothing in the world makes it out of that mess when all these kids with everything get killed.”

Coming to a slow halt, the train pulled into the station. If you could call it that. It was a small wooden platform with scattered piles of crates. There was one wooden booth so the two soldiers on duty could have some shelter for their shift. Beyond the platform was a thick maze of tents. And just beyond the tent city, Evans could make out the drilling grounds. There was Platoon of soldiers practicing their marching.

“202ND INFANTRY, STOP FOR THE 202ND INFANTRY!”

Using his cane to push himself up, Evans grabbed his pack and made his way off the train. He didn’t really need the cane for most walking, but the pack was a bit easier to lift with it. Plus the doctor told him to use is it for the next two weeks. Luckily, these two weeks were just getting his new squad put together. And Tiscornia had already started that. Because, even better, Tiscornia was the rifle team commander.

Apparently, the army had selected the 202nd as a trial for a new fighting system. Instead of having the standard Sergeant commanding two three soldier teams with a Corporal as an assistant, Now, the Corporal was in charge of the two rifle teams, and there was an additional two person special team. Evans was assigned a marksman team. The Corporal would have a scoped rifle and the Lance Corporal would have a spotters scope and regular rifle. So his was considered a Rifle Squad. Two of the other squads in the platoon would be Grenadier Squads with a dedicated rifle grenadier and assistant each. The fourth squad in the platoon was the Automatic Squad. They had an Automatic rifleman and an assistant.

As he got onto the platform, Howe greeted him, “Sergeant! Lance Corporal Tiscornia told me to guide you to our squads tent and to take your bag Sergeant.”

“So you’re in my squad Private Howe?” Evans let Howe take the bag from him.

“Yes Sergeant! I won’t let you down. I owe you,” she smiled and started walking off the platform.

“You owe me nothing Private, I was just doing my job,” Evans walked next to her, occasionally remembering to use the cane properly, “So, What can you tell me about the rest of the squad?”

“I don’t really know them that well besides Lance Corporal Callahan and Privates Nivelle and Sheppard. As well as Lance Corporal Tiscornia,” Howe took a breath and continued, “Lance Corporal Callahan has been in for a while. He was at the Crater Battle where everyone got all those awards. He’s one of those smart people who aren’t all mean about how smart they are. Mostly he’s shy and likes to read books on his own. Next would be Nivelle. He was born in Newacre, but he grew up in an Ambarian community, so he still has that accent. Which just adds to his overall… cuteness. He know’s a lot of plays and is so funny. Ooh, and when we were in Newacre before we shipped here, his family came to see him off, and they had the cutest little dog.”

Evans rolled his eyes at the description.

Not noticing, Howe continued, “Finally is Sheppard, she looks like she should be in one of those moving pictures. She seems a bit full of herself, and she has a boyfriend that she talks about a lot. She does have like the most beautiful dresses when we’re on leave, and, like I don’t know where she gets the money, her parent’s work in a factory in Strongfield. I thought for a bit that it was her boyfriend, but she doesn’t seem like one of those women.”

Evans took a moment to formulate his response, “I meant to… inquire about their abilities as soldiers. Not the gossip and who you have a crush on.”

Blushing, Howe pointed to the tent, “Here we are Sergeant. Lance Corporal Tiscornia is in your office. I’ll put your pack in your bunkroom.”

“Thank you Private.”