Sajani Tails

      The elven command tent didn’t need lights. The equipment running inside the plastic enclosure gave off enough glow to see and the two heavy flaps which made up the entrance made sure none of the light escaped. They’d been camped at this position for three days and his soldiers were getting nervous. They knew the basics of this war’s plan. Standing still wasn’t part of that plan, even if it did get them regular sleep and meals.

      It made General Sestus nervous too, although he didn’t show it. He studied the screen in front of him and carefully issued his orders with his usual calm precision. The soldier nodded to him that everything was complete. Perhaps it was time to sleep. It’d been more than a day for him and while lack of sleep didn’t really make him irritable, it could muddle his thinking.

      “Sir,” the operations duty officer interrupted his thoughts, “Central is on the line. They want to know why we haven’t changed position. They’re worried…”

      “How comforting, isn’t it, captain?” General Sestus interrupted. “Ah, they do care about us, their little chess pieces out on the lonely and dangerous board. Doesn’t it just warm your heart? Make you feel loved?”

      The sarcasm was lost on the poor man. Sestus was sure the soldier recognized it but was too terrified to respond. That’s a pity, General Sestus thought. It’s not much fun to play a game if no one knows the rules.

      “Tell them we’re still waiting on the squad of scouts we dropped near the Rhidayar border. Their last known position was heading towards Xahusha, but they’re still maintaining radio silence.” Aspects only know why, General Sestus thought to himself. It wasn’t like these primitives would overhear, but protocol was protocol and best to maintain in the face of doubt. “Wait,” he said slowly and ponderingly to the duty officer. Placing a hand on the shoulder of the communications soldier next to him he said, “Try their frequency one more time. It won’t hurt to have up-to-date information.”

      “Yes sir,” the soldier responded. After a moment, she told him, “They’re online.” An image appeared on her screen. It was of a ragged golden brown wolf man. His face was right up to the screen.

      “Oh, hello there,” the wolf said cheerfully in the grating language of its world, “I was wondering what that did. You must be the people who made this wonderful machine.”

      The soldier working the station translated for him. The general just stared unbelieving at the screen for a moment and then said to the communications soldier, “Tell it we didn’t make it.” He wasn’t sure why he said that, but it gave him time to think. The communications soldier translated dutifully.

      “Ah, that’s a pity,” the wolf replied. “I was really hoping I could ask some questions. It’s a marvelous machine.”

      “Ask it how it obtained our vehicles.” The message was relayed.

      “Well, I don’t mind telling you,” the wolf said cheerfully, “they aren’t your vehicles anymore. Sajani, the lady of rust, now claims them. She says she’ll use them to take the battle to you. Isn’t that exciting? She’d probably love to talk to you, come to think of it, but she’s off at the gate right now.”

      This one seemed fairly willing to chat at least. “Ask it again.” The question was repeated.

      “Sajani captured them. They tried to shoot her down, but she managed to take out all ten of your soldiers. Sir Simon started to tell me about it once, but she interrupted. Now that’s a story I wish she was more willing to tell.”

      “No doubt,” General Sestus said with sarcasm. The communications worker dutifully relayed the message sans the dark tone.

      “I know! It was just her and Sir Simon and he had a broken arm. She only had three arrows and a flare gun!”

      “Terminate the connection and give their location to the duty officer,” the general said. Anger was beginning to well up in him and he didn’t like the lack of self-control it could mean. “At least one of these wolves isn’t the stupid dog we thought she’d be.”