A Second Opinion

When Sarge said he was going to make the soldiers run formation, Andy thought he would be watching soldiers running in the courtyards or something. Turned out he actually wanted them to go through drills regarding their posts in the castle. He began this by first asking Andy what he thought they’d need for the coming fight.

“I mean, who or what exactly are you fighting?”

“Airships,” Sarge answered. “Warmongers, they’re called. Four pieces of 50mm artillery. Nice little nests for soldiers to shoot from. Good for bombing runs and troop deployment.” The man turned to stare at Andy.

What does he expect from me? How am I supposed to know how to defend this place? Andy ultimately just stared back.

“Nothing, huh?”

“What can I say? I was never a big fan of real-time strategy games.” The words left Andy’s mouth before he could think them through. Immediately, he realized no one here knew what RTGs even were.

“Real-time strategy game,” Sarge repeated, not as a question, but rather like he was mulling the words over. “Those like war games?”

Andy shrugged. “I guess, maybe. I mean, a lot of them are about war.”

“Hm. Well, think it through, anyway. The defense, that is.”

He said nothing more of it for the time being. Instead, he focused his task on sending out the drill orders to everyone. The message went down the line, causing men inside the castle to arm themselves and move to defense positions. Sarge made no reaction as he watched them. It seemed he was more concerned with his way to the top of the castle’s wall. From there, Andy got a clear view of the lake all the way out to the horizon. Just outside, there was a bit of land stretching from the foot of the castle’s base to the edge of a cliff. All along it were lined mortars and mounted machine guns. Men poured out of an open gate. Rifles slung on their backs, they took up positions at the mounted weapons in pairs. One handled the ammunition, the other handled the weapon. Clicks sounded as belts were loaded into the machine guns, and thumps came from mortar rounds being dropped into chambers. A man with a sniper rifle could be seen in a nearby tower, using the scope of his gun to scan below. When the sounds died out, Sarge bellowed a command to undo it all. Some of the men groaned.

“Twenty for every one of you that groans. You, you, you, you, and you.”

The men he singled out immediately dropped to the ground. After they were done and back inside the wall, Sarge ordered everyone to do it all again. Round and round they went, prepping their weapons and un-prepping them. Andy just watched.

Eventually, Sarge asked him, “Seeing their work here, you have any suggestions?”

Andy shook his head.

“Really? Nothing at all?” Sarge pushed.

“No,” Andy snapped. “And I don’t know why you keep asking me these things. I’m not a soldier. I’ve never been a soldier. I will never be a soldier. I don’t know a damn thing about a Warmonger! Would these mortars even take one down?” He held his hands up. “Maybe if it’s like a Zeppelin or something. But I don’t know!”

Sarge made no expression.

“You keep asking me questions about this or that, well the answer is the same. I don’t know.”

“Then let’s start with something you do know.” Sarge turned to the soldiers. “Again!” Turning back to Andy, he continued, “What is a Zeppelin? I think I’ve heard Spartan or Viking use that word before.”

“It’s like an airship. Has a ton of hydrogen in a big canvas balloon thing that it uses to fly.”

Sarge’s eyes lit up. “Then you’re familiar with the base concept. Think one of those with big guns.”

Andy swallowed. “Still didn’t tell me the range of those.” He pointed at the mortars.

“Those average a max range of about 300 yards. Without boosters, of course.”

“Of course,” Andy said, his eyebrows raised.

“Don’t give me sarcasm, boy. With the boosters, maybe over a mile. The height of this place also helps.”

Andy looked at the horizon, taking it in. They were high up. He didn’t know exactly how high, but it was high enough. Those mortars probably could reach an airship from this spot. Maybe not. He was never really good with gauging distances at a glance. It was one of the things Suzie always made fun of him for. He wished he had a friend here. It probably would make the whole situation bearable.

“You’re thinking something.”

“And?”

“Tell me.”

Andy took a deep breath. “I’m thinking I would like to be home right now. I’m also hoping this could all just be a dream. But, since I never was a lucid dreamer, that probably isn’t the case.”

“Drop the attitude, kid.” Sarge’s voice was a bit softer now, almost like an uncle talking to a niece or nephew. “You think you’re the only one who wants to be home right now? You’re not.”

Andy said nothing. He understood enough about this place for Sarge’s words to leave a sting.

“You have as much say in being here as I do. As they do.” Sarge pointed at the men below continuing their monotonous drills. “You should keep that in mind.” Switching back to his old tone, he yelled, “That’s enough! Back to work.”

No words were exchanged as the soldiers filed back into the castle. They stood there for a few minutes, continuing to gaze at the horizon. Andy could see the beginning of the trees, and could even make out where they started making way for the plains. He thought about home, the wide open fields of Wyoming. Without realizing it, he was smiling.

Sarge noticed. “Yeah, it’s something. The Drügeldorfs knew what they were doing building this place.”

“It reminds me of a view I once saw when I was up in the mountains with my dad.” Andy looked away. Digging up the memory now brought more frustration. He had to get his mind off it somehow, and he only had one idea. “Who’s the Drügeldorfs?”

“An old family. Made a fortune mining out these mountains. At some point they became nobles. Castle was abandoned a couple centuries ago.”

“A perfect place for a military base,” Andy thought out loud. He nodded at the armaments. “Those things could work. If these Warmongers really are similar to Zeppelins or dirigibles.”

“It’s the best we could get up here,” the soldier lamented. “They’ve got some that are better range-wise, but they were too big. Had to settle for those.”

“You said this thing dropped bombs?”

“And troops.”

Andy felt a chill. Either option sounded like a bad time. He also didn’t want to think about the inevitability.

Sarge must have sensed his unease. “Castle Drügeldorf is the best possible place to be. It’s why we chose it. The enemy may be closing in, but they’re going to have a bad time.” He patted the younger man on the back. “Let’s go. There are other units I want to evaluate today.”