Kalistani Major History

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The Statrican Diaries
Day 31

Our new base was finished this week.  Since losing the firebase, we've been on the go, and we've moved much deeper into the hills than we expected we would.

On the march to our new position, we came across several villages.  We explained who we were and what we were doing:  I of course did the talking and introduced myself as "Tanya", though I had the distinct feeling that at least a couple of the peasants were literate enough to recognize me, maybe from old pictures or something.  At any rate, at some length, we acquired food and supplies, though the peasants in these parts were very apprehensive about selling us much.  It seems that they are expecting the war to arrive at any moment, and are holding on to what little they had.  And of course, the Statrican currency we had on us, this weird, purple scrip, was never enough to acquire what we do need. 

With the approval of the other commanders, I've dispatched three dependable Comrades, Ivan, George and Sylvia, to the Capital City to try to get some more supplies.  They've been gone for three days, but I imagine that things are tense around the capital. 

In addition, we've asked them to secure a meeting with the Statrican Socialist Party, one of the little nascent political movements in Statrica.  Shabazz was supposed to secure this before we left, but we've received no word from him.

We are coming up on the rainy season here in Statrica, which means that many of the roads in this part, if you can call them that, will quickly become impassable.  It will mean we will also live in mud.  Not much different, I suppose from back in Ananto during this time of year, but, this place is...  well, lets say, it lacks the charms of home.

I secretly long to return home and play music.  We allow the militias a very limited amount of music during the day:  At night the sound travels for miles, and will give away our camp site quickly.  Strict light discipline, strict noise discipline.  Guerra only allows the Militia to smoke one day a week, and as for ODEN stuff, that's gone now.

Its really quite austere here, but for now, we are sitting in a well defended place, and at least have covered fighting positions which will keep us shielded from the relentless sun and Lourenne over flights.  Morale seems high, though perhaps there is a few grumblings about home and chow...  Same complaints all militia have all the time.  At least we have cards to keep us occupied.

We engaged the Louis again two days ago.  The rearguard of F platoon phoned in and let us know that that a platoon was coming up the road behind the patrol.  Guerra ordered the rearguard to form a quick ambush and then catch up with rest.  They did, and destroyed one five-ton.  The rearguard counted six Louis casualties.  But in return fire, Louis mortally wounded three of the Rear guard who had to drag them the twenty miles back to camp.  They all three died yesterday.  Louis, meanwhile, turned around and headed back.  Our guys weren't spotted, laying low until it was sure that Louis was out of the area, and treating the wounded.

Such a result is becoming a little too common.  3 guys here, 5 a few days ago.  Quinella Platoon, 3co was encircled and lost 7.  Our guys had to strip them to keep Louis from finding anything on them. From now on, we go as Statricans, and we carry no identifying information on us.  So if Louis kills our men, which they seem rather adept at doing, at least they are not able to determine where we're from.  We've had far too many close calls.

Now, if only these hardheaded conservative peasants would get on board.  They are a little too close to the Canrillaise, perhaps...  when you ask them to do something, they say they will and then take their sweet time about it, hoping you will forget that you asked.  Its a good thing we aren't here for them:  If we had to defend this country for the people who lived here, the entire column would be demoralized entirely.

Tomorrow, Guerra, Filbert and Machado will join me in splitting the Column.  I'm thinking threes, but It will be hard to maintain communication with three columns.