Chapter 2

"Sleepless night"

After today's training, the Captain gave us a day off and told us there would be a big surprise waiting for us the day after tomorrow. I guess maybe it´s time to go to the front. All of us know what that means. Some people are excited, some write to their families all night, and others practice in the hanger. Harris isn´t being in the barracks all night. I helped Potato write a letter as he could not spell some of the words. The training time should have been five months, but now we have to finish it in two. Many people quit, worse than that, some people chose other troops. I heard the pressure at the front is too much, the mortality rate has reached over 30%.
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"Birds fallen down"

Today was the first time that we engaged in actual combat. Before we flew, the Captain commanded that we must return alive. I bit a Vulcan in the air, but when I aimed at it, I couldn´t press the trigger, I just couldn´t do it. Then, Shawn, the No. 2 veteran, shot it down. The Captain dispatched squads which were three times larger than the enemy fighters, so the battle ended quickly. Back at the camp, the recruits were very excited. Fortunately, there were no casualties. Duke shot down one aircraft. But despite all the excitement, the Vulcan that Shawn shot down continues to be on my mind.
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"Darkness before dawn"

Loner joined the war in the end, but fortunately, in the first battle he was unharmed and did not injure others. I can see that he is a little unnerved, but I do not know how to make him feel peaceful. Dad told me that every recruit is like this after their first battle and I shouldn´t worry. Oh, I should tell him that the crazy Terry family hysterically ran through countryside shouting, "They are coming here!" We all scoffed at them.
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"Fight in the war"

Today the Captain was furious when he returned from headquarters because the issue concerning the parachutes was rejected by the committee again. The official reason is self-deception. The Captain told us that the committee claims that the parachute would affect the pilot´s morale. That´s so funny! We are the only country whose air force is not equipped with parachutes. The Captain suggested that everyone is equipped with a revolver just in case. Yes, the parachute! I think I know how to fight in the future.
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"The fierce storm"

Our troops are retreating. Our trenches and barbed wire can´t stop the Imperial´s tanks and gas. The poison gas is a cursed thing. Wherever it goes, it leaves dead animals and humans. It may even kill their own front-line soldiers. The Captain says that our tank troops have been in production, and the engineers have developed an anti-gas mask, but I am still very worried. Given the current situation, the Empire will break through very soon. I have to write to Alma so that they may be ready in advance.
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"Where's my lover"

It has been one month, and I haven´t heard from Alma yet. I thought the last letter was very subtle, but perhaps it was destroyed by the examiner. How can I tell them the news? It seems I must make a cipher. Yes, Robert said that he was stocked in a basement for a long time in the Heel Mountain Battle. If I mention the basement at home, he might know what I mean. This time I have to figure out how to write the words in order to deceive the examiner.
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"Take care"

Loner's letter finally arrived. In the letter, Loner told me to remind my father to repair the basement. My father thought he meant to remind us to be ready for war. In that case, the truth is totally different from what the newspaper said, but Dad did not let me warn the others. He would handle it. It is so dangerous at the front line. I should remind Loner to be safe.
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"Lost in the war"

Hasenburg Battle continues for one week. I have shot down three enemy aircrafts. I made sure to specifically aim at the wing so that the enemy has the opportunity to escape with a parachute. I understand that they may come back to drive fighters back to the battlefield again, but I hope they may return more merciful to our soldiers. I am so ridiculous, we do not have a parachute, how can we escape from death? I heard that BP200 was about to service; at that time, I want to request the Captain to allow me to continue driving a BP100. After all, it is difficult to convince the partner of my strategy. I should be responsible for his life.
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"War is not morality"

The Captain asked me to speak with him. He had found out my little tricks and severely criticized me for this dangerous, ineffective way of fighting, but I have always insisted on my ideas. He reminded me that time is of the essence and asked me the question "If your comrades are being followed and locked on, can you shoot down the enemy the first time?" After a moment of silence, I answered him, but it´s so cruel. It seems that from now on, I will try to fight alone. The Captain then warned me that war is not morality.
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"Silently pray for your peace"

The battle of the Hasenburg continued for another two months and ended with the withdrawal of our army. We lost more than 50,000 soldiers. On the offensive side, the Imperial Power loss is nearly at 80,000. The loss at Hasenburg means our last defense is completely broken, and now our homeland is facing the threat. Because of the retreat, communication is limited. I temporarily cannot write to Alma, but she said in her letter that her father renovated the basement. I think they will be fine.
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"I have to be strong"

The newspaper reported the news of the failure of the Hasenburg Battle, and Dad gathered the people in the town for a meeting. He then informed everyone of the emergency situation and let everyone decide whether to leave or stay. Most of the people chose to leave. Father and I wanted to go west to our aunt´s house for a while, but we saw that several villagers were unable to leave the town, so we changed our minds. I believed that my father and I would be helpful in this difficult time. Dad started digging in the basement.
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"Hope everything is frozen"

The fighting is everywhere. We are carrying out our reconnaissance task more and more frequently. Today I have detected the southern city of Narcissus. The abandoned city is nearly empty. The large forest on the eastern side of the city was burned away. Some of the bodies were hastily buried in trenches, there are more corpses just scattered around on the landscape. When the snow returns, I hope it will freeze all of this. Do I still have that point of morality?
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"Another sleepless night"

What I was worried about happened. In the evening,\u00a0a group of military vehicles passed by the town. They were very impatient. Only one officer got off and gave my father a few words. He persuaded the people in the town to leave, for the enemy was coming towards the town. Dad quickly summoned the rest of the people and told them the truth. The Lawrences and the Eagles decided to leave; they were all frightened. In fact, there were less than ten households in the town left. Dad let the rest of the people rest earlier that night. We would discuss countermeasures the next morning. Another sleepless night!
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"The fire is warm"

Today "troublemaker" Todd secretly slipped out of the basement. I found him just before he almost got caught by the enemy. When we came back, my father was furious; I had never seen him be so severe. But in fact, Todd was not actually a mischief, but rather he just wanted to help me pick up the firewood. Last night I thought of Loner, and I was unable to sleep. Todd was shocked because I did not usually cry, so I just lied to him claiming that it was just a yawn. I promised to collect firewood with him later.
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"The incurable wound"

Tomorrow is the major battle in Yonkers. The Captain asked me to speak with me. He told me that enemy now refers to me as the Red Solo. It sounds appropriate. We all know that this will be the showdown battle, and the Captain even brought out a bottle of whiskey. I had never seen him drink before. We talked about recruit training, the battles, but we both avoid some topics because most of the 32 comrades are no longer in the brigade service anymore.
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"Golden dream and my lover"

Last night, I dreamed that you and I were in an amusement park and we were meeting each other for the first time, so I tried my best to convince you to ride with me on the carousel. We spun in circles and circles; then, the carousel became a plane. Together we flew in the air. In my dream, the plane is red and glowing golden light. As you drive the plane, you speak to me, but the wind is so strong that I couldn´t hear anything. Come back early dear. You have promised to make a horse for me, but I haven´t received it.
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"Sunshine in the warm afternoon"

Today it is sunny. No shells landed, and no enemies passed through. It´s been nearly a week since the last batch of invaders appeared. In the morning my father patrolled and then decided to take the children on a walk. In the morning we went to the woods to gather some firewood. Along the way, I look to see if I can find some hazelnuts and pine nuts. We lay the blanket on the grass in front of the yard, so we can sleep in the warm sunshine. Dad stays awake as he must ensure everyone´s safety.
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"We are bait"

The war is an instigation! It´s unbelievable! At a Yonkers cocktail party, I met General Kyle, my father´s old friend. He recognized my last name, but Dad had never mentioned him to me before. After the reception, the general told me the truth of the war. The rise of the Empire disturbs the government. They thought the war was inevitable and our odds of victory are becoming smaller and smaller, so the Department of Defense retrieved some important information from a spy lurking in the Empire. They made the Imperial Army ensure the victory, and then they launched the war. It is so terrible! The government used the people and the lives of soldiers as bait!.
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"People cover their eyes"

General Kyle retired, and after he knew the truth of the war, he took the initiative to resign. But, the war was in full swing at the time and the Department of Defense did not agree with his resignation. After our victory in the Yonkers Battle, the main force of the Empire was weakened. Victory is just around the corner. General Kyle is now useless to the Department of Defense. Before he left, he asked me if I needed help, and I told him that I had been arranged to Parry Island. I will be a garrison chief there, and I just need to stay away from this disgusting war. In the afternoon, I bid farewell to General Kyle and wished him all the best.
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"It become dark suddenly"

"The enemy has been in the house for two days. They appeared suddenly and we had no time to escape, but fortunately they did not appear earlier, otherwise I could not have sent the letter to Loner. In the basement, we all must speak quietly and try to not move around. Dad found out there are enemies near the tunnel´s exit, then he said that our troops must come immediately, but I knew this to be unlikely.
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