Lesdonia's Defiance

Lesdonia’s Defiance

(At the borders of Lesdonia, Sercane and Vednan, 1843)

            Rain storms pounded the camps repeatedly with heavy downpours of rain. It was enough flood the area. However, the camps were situated on higher ground. It had been two weeks since the army moved from its location near the southern borders of their beloved Lesdonia. General Veilan sat on a stool in his tent looking over a map of the area. Next to this map sat a note with symbols instead of letters. His eyes scanned the map searching for a better route for his own men to cross the rivers that bordered Lesdonia, Vednan, and Sercane. This map showed the entire landscape of what used to be the Brevarian Kingdoms.

            Years ago, before the invaders conquered most of their neighbors, or annexed them, a vicious empire forced annexation onto the peaceful set of kingdoms. This act began a war over this issue. Those kingdoms were once rich states that prospered. Most of them were now part of Lesdonia, and Sercane while the rest were now under the bootheel of this invading force that calls itself the Nazdar Empire. Veilan is a commanding general for the forces of a totalitarian confederation of militarized states that included Lesdonia, Sercane, and the Dwarf state of Khazdgul. This collection of states once called themselves the Goriv Confederacies. They were often at war with the Vednan, and the Khets who used to call themselves the Seth Empire before the Nazdar. For decades they fought numerous wars against them over economic gains. Between their borders lay a mountain range full of minerals. This current war was different they had a new enemy this Nazdar Empire who came down from the skies with the clear message of conquest.

            Veilan sipped on a mug of hot cider while studying a map of old Brevaria and the smaller map of the area he was in. Rivers and small valleys covered this landscape from Sercane to Lesdonia. As he observed the map he located where their camp was on this map. Next to the maps sat a note with codes inscribed on them. The codes formed a message that revealed a route on the map. Some where there sat shallow depths on each river. The codes revealed the locations of every shallow depths his men could cross like a land bridge or fjord. Not only does he need to find every possible route, Veilan must locate certain routes hidden from view. Even the watchtowers could not see these routes despite being set up in between the rivers as a look out. Fiver rivers needed to be crossed while avoiding the watchtowers that had the Nazdar machine guns. Stationed in pairs of two or three the enemy watch towers covered the area behind the other pairs. Their locations were marked on the map to keep track of where they are.

            Veilan picked up the note and observed it. The code itself was made up of symbols from ancient rune texts of an ancient civilization. Each encoded symbol represented a month in each season. The dates of old festivals and gods of the season harvests formed the coded message that was the message in the encoded symbols. Using calendars, and record on the harvest gods Veilan began jotting down the dates of each old festivals, and the ordered number of the represented months. Each number deciphered from the symbols represented the third letter of harvests, gods, and the months of the year.

            He placed a thin sheet of paper over the encoded note. These symbols could still be seen through it. He wrote down each letter decoded over the symbol it deciphered from the code. In a matter of time Veilan saw a message unfold before his eyes. It revealed every route his men could take while crossing the rivers. Reading the message Veilan marked down all the routes suitable for the covert operation. On the map several routes were bellow a patch of trees whose branches stretched over both sides of the rivers. This worked well for the movement of Veilan’s troops. Veilan glanced at the routes marked on the map. He quickly picked out a set of routes on both sides of the map. When he was done General Veilan summoned his Colonels, and other commanding officers to discuss moving out ahead of schedule.

            “Sir, if we move out now how would our allies find us? It is crucial to our mission to stay put and let our allies find us.” One of his colonels pointed out to him.

            “By the time they arrive here, the only thing they’ll find are ruins of a camp and rotting corpses. These invaders and their Grevaskii pets’ patrols are very close in discovering our location.” Veilan argued. Another colonel spoke up to his critical General.

            “General sir, I don’t agree with my fellow officers. Your decision to move out now would leave the enemy confused and distraught. Have your found any other alternative routes?” He asked the General. Veilan pointed at the secret route on the map with a dagger.

            “Here is a route I found, deciphering this code I was given by local spy. Some of these routes are well hidden by brush and large stones in the river bed. This will give us the advantage to evade the eyes of the watch towers.” Veilan explained to them.

            He showed them the locations of every watch tower on the map. Another officer gave his own suggestion on the matter. He cleared his throat before speaking, drawing attention to the him. All eyes rested on him alone.

            “Concerning the watch towers, should our artillery take them our and make the crossing easier. Why aren’t we using the bridges east of us?” The colonel asked the whole tent.

            “Colonel MaNoy, destroying those towers now will not only set off an alarm, but within less than an hour an army will overrun us. Attempting to cross any bridges will result in staggering losses. Think of our casualties already and those of Sercane. Every bridge on those rivers are heavily guarded by hundreds of Vednan and Khet soldiers.” Veilan expressed, denouncing the idea.

            “However, our artillery will be useful once our forces reach the other side. After a day of crossing the artillery will open fire on the towers. Our troops should be dug in by the time they cross. By then they should be waiting for the enemy forces to converge on this position.” Veilan drew a line behind the last par of towers.

            “Gentlemen be sure to mark these routes on your maps, I have assigned each of you a route and task for this operation.” Veilan informed the officers.

            The meeting was adjourned, and the officers returned to their posts. They marshalled the men the very next morning. At dawn the men were aroused and marshalled to their stations and ranks. It was the perfect morning for the covert crossing. A great mist had emerged over the rivers, covering the area. This proved to be a good shield for their forces from the watchtowers’ view.