One Thousand Tears

The artillery has arrived today. They have taken position about a mile behind our position. This way they are in range of the fortified positions of Griffonstone. I gathered Lieutenant Von Lowe and Sergeant Gabriella over a map to discuss how we are going to take back Griffonstone. This was going to be a great challenge for all our troops.

"There are three lines of trenches defending the city here," I explained pointing a talon to each one, "the first is the red line, then yellow and finally the black line, our scouts have returned and reported that they have artillery emplacements, machine gun nests, plus a garrison of one thousand rifles, this is it, my friends, they will fight to the death"

"So will we, you can count on that," said Victoria, "for kingdom...for queen...for the crown,"

"Here is what I think we should do," I said to my gathered officers, "we are going to utilize a curtain of artillery barrages, and have our troops follow behind them, make sure the artillery is accurate and aimed at machine gun nests and the artillery emplacements, we do not want our shells to hit our own troops," I advised to them as a key warning.

"We will focus on taking each line one by one," said Gabby pointing to each line, "I say we should take and hold the red line in a morning attack under the curtain of artillery and take the next division to take the yellow line in the evening, if we take and hold all three lines, then we take the city," she concluded, but Von Lowe saw something else.

"You are ambitious, Gabby, yes you are, but the enemy troops will keep falling back, we need to take note of resistance in the city," said Victoria.

"On the first day we wait, they will attack first, and try and drive us out, the curtain of artillery should for the second and third lines," I concluded,

"Gretchen," Gabby said, her second-in-command saluted her, and was given a message, "I need you to send this message to the artillery corps to confirm our battle plan and be quick about it," Gretchen saluted and was on her way over the hills and through shell holes to get to our artillery positions. She even dodged sniper and machine gun fire.

For months since the meeting we trained our troops behind the lines for the upcoming attack. Instead of charging head on into the enemy lines, our troops will walk across the field and let the artillery do their part. The machine guns will support us from our flanks, and come in behind us. On paper, this strategy should work. It has yet to be tested.

I looked out at the lines. Soldiers moved from position to position, readying for our attack, "This is it, Gabby, the greatest battle in history," I said to my cousin,

"All those months behind the lines come down to this, the end of this war is in sight," said Gabby turning those very beautiful eyes to me, "you know, when the war ends, a new era in the history of the Griffon Kingdom will begin, your majesty," I turned to my little cousin and stroked and lightly tapped her right cheek earning a giggle from her.

I put my talons on her shoulders, "When will it begin?" she asked, it depends on what beginning. We attack at first light. For Griffonstone the beginning has yet to begin. The city will have to be rebuilt from the ground up. What we are accomplishing is only the first step toward ending this war like a hatchling learning how to fly for the first time.

"Soon, make sure your troops are ready, make sure they have plenty of ammunition and full rations," I ordered to the sergeant

She saluted and had her troops ready themselves. If there is anything we have yet to run out of it is food. Gunther was making his rounds giving out the evening rations. We did not hear the usual call out for rations. He is smart enough to know that will alert the enemy. Instead, we watched out for his kettle of food, "Bacon, Split Pea and Lentil,"

"Our spirits are never damp when you are around," I said, getting the bowl of my mess kit filled with the evening rations. Gunther lightly chuckled at my comment. I swear that griffon can make anything edible. There were times when we were short on food that he brought us the morale we needed. We even ate 'Trench Chicken' which is frog.

"That is what I do...besides operate a machine gun," he said with a wink, and went to the others and filled their bowls with food.

Gunther makes a good soup, but the hartkeks are not getting any better. What do you expect from something made from water, flour and salt? You can expect a good meal from the rations, but when it comes to biscuits you might as well eat rocks. Most of the things asked from families back home are tins of cakes, blankets and other comforts.

I wonder if Gunther is married or has a sweetheart back home. The fact he can cook will make him a great husband to any wife. I admire a tercel who can very well take care of himself. After washing out my mess kit, I laid back in my foxhole and looked up at the stars. It was a very clear night, and to think that tomorrow morning we make history.

"It is a beautiful night, I think I saw Orion," said Victoria, joining me in the foxhole and looking up at the night sky, "how are you feeling?" she asked

"It is difficult to say, Gabby left later this evening to deliver the post to the families, some of them maybe the last letters they ever write," I replied, "I do not have anyone to write to, I envy our soldiers," Victoria lightly smiled, and put her hands behind her head. The fate of the entire kingdom depends on this battle. I will not let my troops down.

"Your majesty, you have a chance to make your own family at the end of all this" said the lieutenant, "and trust me, you will find yourself a king, no tercel in there right mind would look over you," Victoria left my foxhole and to her second-in-command, Corporal Monika Krieger. In my opinion, she and Gabby are the best scouts out of all our troops.

Gabby came to my foxhole that morning with a ready rifle. I like a rifle just as much as my pistol. She offered her taloned hand, and a held it for her, "Thanks,"

These soldier are ready for hell. I pulled back the toggle action on the Luger Rifle, and looked down the sights. There were bayonets and rifles sticking up from the trench in front of us. That is the 'red line'. Suddenly, I heard a very familiar whistle through the air, "Here come the guns!" called out Lieutenant Von Lowe. The final battle has begun.