Hello Steemians! A few real-world events inspired to write this Science Fiction story. One was a tragic incident during which a Special Forces operator accidentally gave the wrong coordinates for a bomb strike. The other was the "rescue" of PFC Jessica Lynch during the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Finally, I was inspired by the multiple times that the wrong people get reckonized and the right people get punished. It's the way of the world but Sergeant Gif seeks to set the record straight. I hope you like it.
Remembrance Day
The soldier stood up after the lengthy and, to be frank, quite embarrassing introduction. His dress uniform was too hot for the day but society called for full dress with ribbons and medals. He was glad it was morning and the stage blocked the sun at his back. He approached the podium, shaking a little. He had never spoken in public before and now he was to make a speech; no, it will be a confession. He wasn’t sure how they would receive it but he could stay silent no longer.
“Thank you, Mrs. Mayor and thank you all for being here today. I will try and make this as brief as possible. I know we are all anxious to get a cold ice tea, or maybe something a little stronger.” A chuckled spread across the crowd. So, I won’t keep you from the fried chicken and cole slaw too long.” More smiles and chuckles.
“But it is fitting today that we take time to remember our brothers and sisters who paid the highest price, sacrificed all, giving the whole of themselves, when our nation called. Today, I want you to know the story of a true hero of the Continental Republic. Someone who, for however brief a period of time, became bigger than herself, bigger than any of us who are here today. My captain and the person who saved my life, Debra Long.”
The crowd murmured and then hushed again as Sergeant Gif began again.
“Most of you think you know the story about the battle for Ansari One but I’m afraid the newspapers got it wrong. Yes, it’s true that Capt Long’s E company was out of position and this weakened the right flank. But it was not true that she is to blame. “Ladies and gentlemen, I am to blame for E company being out of position.”
The crowd gasped. This was not what anyone expected the mayor rose out of her seat but Sergeant Gif waved her off.
“Please let me explain. I misread the Armstrong 411 position indicator. These were brand new instruments. They displayed two separate coordinates and I believed we were in the coordinates read on the top but we were at the coordinates displayed on the bottom.
“We maneuvered into an enemy encampment and the Spiralians attacked without mercy. We lost communication when they captured Private Acosta. Contrary to reports, Capt Long did not give up without a fight. She quickly organized the company into combat units and we took the fight to the enemy. We fought for 30 minutes but were outnumbered and outgunned. The Spiralians killed most of us. When they came to my platoon’s position, they killed the captain but not before she took out four or five of them. You see, she kept firing rounds at the enemy while I tried to reestablish contact with battalion headquarters. When the energy blast hit her in the chest, she turned and fell on top of me knocking me down to the ground and saving me from the incoming mortar round.
“To this day, I don’t know how many others were captured or killed. Due to my injuries, they put me in the hospital where I began my recovery. And you know the rest, Space Command sent Special Forces in after me and within a week I was home.
“Where the media and Space Command got the idea that Capt Long was a traitor or at best incompetent, I don’t know. But I will not rest until her reputation is cleared so that on days like today, Remembrance Day, we will honor her with the other heroes of the Continental Republic.”
He picked up the papers he wrote his speech on while the crowd remained silent. Then from the back he heard a single woman applauding. He looked and saw Brigadier General (retired) Long, Debra’s mother clapping her hands and intermittently wiping tears away. The rest of the audience followed suit and soon he had a standing ovation.
He thought to himself “I may not be able to stop the galactic war but at least I can ensure its heroes are properly recognized for what they’ve done.” He turned and walked away.