
"Glorious Leader, Orbi-Sat detects spike in non-aligned movement. Orbi-Gun system online."
"Excellent. Thanks."
"Imperial Forces arrived unscathed. Tribal leaders are also mobilized."
"Good....good. Air Force is back up, our army is reinforced, Navy is good....what do you say of our own excursion onto enemy territory?"
"Undetermined chances of victory to loss."
"Well then....gather a militia. We'll need a geurilla force. Imperial troops are too used to combat back home. They're still the best....but we'll save'em for here, where their best."
......
In a small village in the south, just north of the tribal mountainlands, a young girl was running into town, a rifle slung over her shoulder and a newspaper in her hand. An older man, in his forties, was chopping wood for a fire.
"Tora, hold it. That rifle on safe?"
"Yea, pa, don't worry! Besides, I got news."
"From?"
The girl handed her father the paper. He grinned slightly as he read it.
Militias Called to Arms
"Hell I'll be damned. Ain't been a militia in a while. Why, I was in one back when we was settlin' this place. I'm too old now, of course..."
"I wanna join the militia pa..."
The man looked at Tora with a strange look, and then chuckled.
"Well, you can handle yourself, I'll give ya that. Your sister would think your crazy, not joinin' the Army with her, but....well hell, you probably wouldn't last with the Army's rules. Sure, go on with the Militia. Just don't get yourself killed, girl."
All around the village that night, word was going around about the girl who joined the militia. Several boys from the other side, as well as some ex-miners and a few cops joined up as well. Tomorrow the militia would be meeting for its debriefing and formation.


