Talk:AFOH/@comment-14850713-20160502045828

IC:

A Jaguar IFV drives up to a firebase somewhere in Tanzania. An officer steps out and walks towards the observation post as restless troops perform maintenance checks on Roland mobile howitzers and SMA missile launchers. The officer looks at the high resolution screen showing the massive Scarlet Empire fortifications in the distance and silently admires the range of the post's electro-optic sensor. SE soldiers can be seen scurrying among the gun turrets.

"Not a normal day, I suppose," the officer remarks to the cluster around him.

"No Sir. They've been at it all day," someone answered. The troopers in Firebase Alpha are used to eyeballing their SE counterparts whom they're sure can also see them despite the vast expanse of land in between. The unusual movements started as soon as news of the Israeli offensive filtered through.

The senior NCO comes forward. "Do you think they'll attack, Sir?"

"If they wanted to we wouldn't be standing here having this conversation, Sergeant," replied the officer, still looking intently at the screen.

"I'm sorry, Sir". Then after a brief pause, "How about us, Sir? Will we attack?"

The officer straightens up and faces his subordinate. He can see the anxiety on his face as well as on the men around him. "Negative. According to Brigade, the Israeli attack was not coordinated with High Command. Technically, we have no quarrel with those f*ckers. We will only fight if they mess with us."

"We are ready for that, Sir."

"I'm sure you all are, Sergeant." The officer looks around at the men and, sensing their acknowledgement, prepares to leave. He takes one more cursory glance at the screen. The operator has panned the camera to another location, and the screen now shows a South African Union patrol inspecting the tank traps. "I hope it doesn't come to that", he mutters to himself as he makes his way to the waiting Jaguar.