[h1][center][color=olive]|+|-GENERAL HAZEL-|+|[/color][/center][/h1]
[center][color=olive][b]___________________________________________________________________________[/b][/color][/center]

The garrison was quiet, it was a slow day. I was sitting on my desk checking the records of inventory; the boys did not do the inventory right, that means I have more to do today. I got up from my plush, leather chair and grabbed my field cap and coat uniform. I made my way to the door of the garrison barracks when a kid stopped me, "General Hazel! Letter for you from the government building!" Can't say I wasn't surprised - I certainly was - but it's the content that made me as pale as a white ghost. [color=olive]"Bandit clearing in the North? Along with an expeditionary force?"[/color] I saw the kid's reaction the moment I blurted out my thoughts. The kid was the brother of one of the boys in the Regiment, "My brother's goin' out to fight sir?" I was at first, understandably stunned; this regiment had never gone out to combat, they've only really went out to practice and train. The young courier saw my empty stare and felt that it probably meant [i]yes[/i].

He ran out and I was just practically stunned; I had combat experience out in the East on our first expedition. The place was barren and desolate, however, there were places that hadn't been blown to smithereens. I walked out onto the camp drill yard and I saw the kid running towards his brother, who was - at the time - running his laps. His brother stopped and greeted the young courier, the courier -in response- hugged his big brother and stayed there for what seemed to be an eternity. I couldn't hear them talking, but it seemed that the boy was trying to tell his brother something, probably to be careful, probably to come back alive.

I didn't want to break up the moment, but I still had to brief the boys in the camp. I gestured for the Sergeant to come closer, "Sir!" he shouted as he clicked his boots together and saluted, "What can I do for you?" I was hesitant to answer, [color=olive]"Sergeant,"[/color] a pause for just a moment, [color=olive]"Gather all the men in this camp, get 'em to line up in the drill yard, on the double!"[/color] I growled, the Sergeant of course went to the armory and got his trumpet - an old relic - it blared loudly, blurting notes that then formed music. One by one the men filed out and lined up, their uniforms mixed and matched with only the officers having the correct uniform.

once the men were all lined up at the yard I bellowed, [color=olive]"Alright boys, here's the rub! We've gotten orders from the president himself! Our regiment is going to Harrisonburg!"[/color] their expressions turned into one of disbelief, the president never gave out orders unless it was something important to the country. [color olive]"Here are each company's standing orders!"[/color] I continued, as I read the name of each company and their standing orders, [color olive]"Fox, Easy, and Charlie company will head to Harrisonburg! Velvet, Saber, and Gold company will head to New-Jamestown to help cover and shore up the sapper's flanks! Saber and Gold will then stay near the rear of our formation going to Harrisonburg! We'll be picking up militia on the way, the rest of the regiment will protect New-Richmond while we're gone, you get me maggots!?"[/color] I ended, their response was loud and crisp, "We get you General!" I smiled and barked, [color=olive]"Well saddle up! We got a [i]long[/i] road ahead boys!"[/color]