[color=Silver][B][I]Archibald Andrews - Sapper[/i][/b][/color]

Archibald's first impulse was anger, anger that Michael had refused his request. The next impulse was to acknowledge the truth, and continue on with his summary of the plan for attack as though nothing had happened. The impulse after that was to consider how much time had been lost attempting to help someone who only [i]looked[/i] like he needed his help. Finally, all the aforementioned impulses gathered together to compel him to say, [Color=#c0c0c0]"I'm sorry; I shouldn't have assumed. And you're right."[/color]

This was a bad omen; causing unecessary conflict with a fellow soldier. His attempts to help had become annoying, and it had been seen by the rest of his squad. He looked at the Lance Corporals, hoping that their attention had not been diverted by the the minor dispute. If they had been, Archibald will take one last moment to say, [Color=#c0c0c0]"I'm sorry, sir, it will not happen again."[/color]

A promise that he wanted to keep; a promise he was [i]going[/i] to keep. Archibald heard the slight tremble of Jean's voice and knew where it came from, but sympathized with it instead of the contrary. Fear made his commanding officer human, and right now, humanity was what he sought for in said commanding officer. But enough thoughts about that, it was time to charge that hill before the enemy's artillery was ready.

As he ran up said hill, his strong legs proving that indeed, he was able to move fast despite the weight of his equipment, the Sapper drew his rifle while the Lance Corporal reached the foxholes - the reason why it didn't take so long from his perspective, while it took a long time from Jean's, was because, with all due respect, Archibald was suppressing his urge for melodrama.

The Shocktroopers had reached the foxholes, covered by the Gunners' machine gun fire. Grenades were being thrown into the enemy trenches, and all Archibald can do was follow the other troops as they were in their element - Close Quarters Combat. A glance at Jean; the Sapper worried about his Lance Corporal. From his looks and demeanor alone, Jean looked like someone forced into battle; courageous and determined, certainly, but would deny it when pressed. What could have happened to force him into such a bloody conflict?

Shots whizzed above his head, a sign that it wasn't safe to think. In fact, the fact that he can spare time to think at all was the result of the Sappers still having a few seconds to get into shooting range. 

Yet he can't help himself, even as he ducked down to keep a low profile, running in zig-zags like his father taught him in order to increase his chances of survival. Humanity was cruel, innately cruel yet at the same time innately kind. The cruelty of humanity had made this conflict in the first place; whether Cruxian or Yggdist or even Atheist, no religion or lack of can deny that Humanity was a mass of virtues and sins, and those combined to make this war a reality. 

As he finally got into close quarters, shooting at any Imperial unlucky enough to survive the Shocktroopers' onslaught, Archibald finally realized the truth his father had tried to teach him: War was Hell. That was why his family had chosen to embrace the Good News, the Good News of the Cruxian Faith, and its promise of salvation and redemption for those who would reach out and take it.

[I]The Purpose of War Is Ultimately Peace,[/i] he thought to himself, managing to spell out the capitals in his own head. [i]If I survive this, I will teach my children how to avert such a conflict from happening again. May The Savior bless -[/i]

An Imperial Soldier rose up of a heap of corpses, bayonet swinging up to skewer Archibald. Shots fired as the Sapper lifted up his rifle, shooting the enemy over and over again in order to ensure that he was truly dead. At last it was done; he had killed his first man, his first fellow human. [i]It had to be done,[/i] Archibald thought. [i]I hope that Yggist or Cruxian or Non-Believer, he is in a better place now.[/i]

There was no time for further prayers.