Chapter 19

The next morning saw us begin the ending of Sin Loos rule anywhere. Calveen and I started our troups moving after having told them what wax happening and why we were going to move more quickly. The women in our brigades were incensed and were almost reckless. I had to slow one young woman down before being too far out in front of the rest killed her. He mother had been one of the Luray women killed in the attack and she was out for vengeance. I talked to her squad leader and told him to take her in hand and keep her with him. Five minutes later, she out front again. I shot two Sin Loos who were converging upon her. She managed to fight off a third though she was wounded in the process.

I said, "You will now slow us down and cost lives because you will not listen to orders. Where is your squad leader?"

"He-he's behind me."

I looked up to see him approach with the rest of the squad less two. "Where is the rest of your squad?"

"One was injured and we bandaged him and I have one man staying with him."

I looked at another one of his members. "You, take her back to where the other wounded member is. The four of you will stay there until your wounds can be properly dressed and your condition assessed." He nodded and picked up the young woman and started back. "The rest of you will stay with me." They nodded and we proceeded to continue our movement taking out opposition as we found it. The squad leader was a little too cautious and not willing to be a real leader. By mid afternoon, it was over and we were victorious.

Calveen, Jonathon, and I met and shook hands. He said, "Handor, well met. Your people were essential to our success. Thank you and the people of The Oaks and of our alliance thank you for your leadership.

"Now, we will have to start the hard work. We must clear out the vermin and let people of good will govern the Sin Loos. It will take time and be difficult."

"Jonathon, I agree. Somehow, we must get them to see the light. I think we should set up here in the square and bring the survivors and the prisoners together. Also, we each have a mate involved in our councils and who ought to appear prominently in our deliberations.

"However, I first have an issue for Susan to resolve before then relating to a woman in battle."

Susan and Katina came forward together to congratulate me on the victory. I saw Janet greet Jonathon along with another woman. I said, "Susan, I have a hearing that I want you to adjudicate along with Stephanie and Katina. It's a difficult issue in which orders were disobeyed. That's all I will tell you. We will meet now with the squad in question." The four of us quickly walked over to where the squad was gathered around their wounded. The squad leader looked at me worriedly.

I said, "There are two related charges in this matter. First is against this person." I pointed at the young woman struggling to stand despite her wounds. "She is charged with insubordination for failing to obey a direct order." I looked at the squad leader and said, "The second person under charges is the squad leader who is charged with failure to obey orders and failure of leadership under fire. The minimum punishment he faces his being removed from service in disgrace. He is hereby demoted from squad leader by me as of this moment." His skin paled, as did the young woman.

She began to speak but Susan cut her off. "Haven't you done enough? You will not speak until commanded. Stephanie, Katina, and I will act as a court of inquiry to determine if the charges against your squad leader require further punishment and then will look to your behavior." Tears came to the young woman's eyes as she realized that her behavior may cost her squad leader his life and had already ruined his career.

Chairs were brought for Susan and Katina and they were seated. The rest sat upon the ground. I remained standing. I said, "I bring these charges. I looked at the squad leader and said, "Were you ordered to keep this person behind you on the battlefield by a senior commander?"

"Yes Sir."

"Was she later found out on her own after you failed to keep her in her assigned place requiring her rescue and involving her being injured?"

"Yes Sir."

"Do you have anything to say in mitigation of these charges?"

"No Sir."

"Judges?"

Susan looked at all three of us with distaste. She huddled with her mother and Katina for a second and looked up at the rest. "Our judgment is guilt and the sentence must be death."

"No!" The young woman wailed.

I moved on remorselessly. "The other charges involve this young woman. She was found out in front of our lines away from her squad. At some risk, an officer brought her to her squad and ordered her to stay with her squad. She was later found out alone. Her actions resulted in her wounds when she was rescued and again brought back to her squad."

Stephanie looked at her and said, "Are these charges true?"

"Yes Senior but I..."

She interrupted. "The first two words are more than sufficient." Her voice was cold.

I said, "Have you anything to say that would mitigate the charges against you."

She was crying. "Yes Sir. These butchers killed my mother. I swore to avenge her death. I am willing to die for insubordination but my squad leader shouldn't suffer for my actions."

Stephanie replied, "Unfortunately for your squad leader, his failures cost him his career and will cost him his life. When you are in a military group, failures by one can affect the lives of many. Had your quest for vengeance been known, you would not have been allowed to come on this campaign.

"It is now our additional sad duty to pronounce our verdict for you." She shifted in her seat. "This tribunal has decided that you are to end your service in disgrace. Return to Lu and pack your belongings. You are also exiled forever. Your failure exposed a young man's failings and will cost him his life. Are you satisfied?"

"No!" She wailed. "I didn't mean for him to be hurt. He's a good man and shouldn't be punished for me." She was sobbing.

Katina said, "What did you think would happen? You volunteered for service and swore a public oath to obey your superior officers' lawful decisions. Squad leaders are responsible for their squads' activities. I know you were taught that." Her voice hardened. "Handor, you must gather a firing squad and enforce this tribunal's judgment."

The young woman went to her knees before the three. "Please," she pleaded, "please, don't make him die. He is a good man and tried to keep me from leaving but he had responsibilities to the rest of his men and I used that to give me an opportunity to disobey orders."

Katina said, "Did you know that your squad leader was responsible for your activities?"

She nodded slowly still crying.

"Knowing that, you still managed to put him in this position. I am sorry for him since he was unable to have the trust of his squad so that they all would obey his orders. You obviously had no care for him nor felt any responsibility to him. That's a failure of leadership. Everything you say is making his situation worse not better though dying in disgrace is as bad as it can be. Take her away!"

We removed her as she sobbed hopelessly. A misplaced quest for revenge ruined two more lives. The young man was still standing at attention awaiting his death.

Stephanie looked at him and said, "What is your name, young man?"

"I am Albert, Senior."

"I am no longer Senior, Albert, though I appreciate the title. If your execution were delayed, would you help by serving me while I serve on Handor's council?"

"Yes, Senior. It would be an honor to serve in any way."

Stephanie looked at me and said, "Handor?"

I said, "As commander and Mayor, I hereby order Albert's execution stayed indefinitely and he may serve Stephanie. However, Albert, your military service is over."