Bless The Evening Fields

Journal Entry

Jr. Sergeant Yasen Honchar, 

CSDA 45th Guard Company, Long March Division II

09/03/504 P.O.

0800 Hours-


Its not clear yet how much time has passed since we've been assigned here, I feel days start to blend together.

After morning exercises, we spent most of the time moving new hardware from Ogleska up north, trading trinkets with the villagers and helping them with odd jobs. It's frustrating, I feel as if I am in constant holding pattern.

They say if weather holds up, we may push further down and begin more patrols around perimeter. Seems mundane doing patrols but I am eager for it, need to move, do something. 

The local village guards are taking some well deserved rest while we are here, given what they have to defend against, and what little they have to do it with, its best if I don't bother them too much. some of my comrades call them "Guerrilla Farmers" but I don't like it. They defend their home, loyal to no one but there families. I see honor in that. besides, we are stretched thin in this region, its good to have someone watching point when we cant.

But, For now, seems okay here. villagers don't seem to mind us too much, they even bring us food occasionally. most of them seem very old or very young. the middle aged are off either fighting the OVFS, or becoming prospectors.

I will end here, I'm running out of space on page. need to trade for some more pens.


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1100 Hours-

Captain Zhabayev pulled us in shortly after lunch, In by 4 groups of the guard squad, 6 others remained on duty. he says villagers are reporting sightings of nearby Poleviks. I'm not sure how I feel about it, they usually don't come this far up north as winter is coming in the next few weeks. the cold normally holds then back, either that or something is pushing them closer up to us. 

He separated us fairly thin. I could tell he didn't think it was worth the manpower for what the villagers were asking. Dima and Yamar were assigned together to escort a group of 3 field workers, Kolisnyk and his team of 4 was assigned to escort 2 groups of harvesters, and me and Aksana were assigned our own individuals strangely. both children, field workers, usually escorted by their older sibling but went off to join the CSDA. I think the parents are also too sick to come with them. 

Her name is Duscha. She is young, 12, but she is good working girl like most here. she is very quiet and seems apprehensive of me. she has not seen me without helmet, maybe if I take off and she sees face, she will be less scared. 

Captain Zhabayev will give us new orders once we are situated with her new escortees.

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1400 Hours-

I helped load her equipment onto the truck when the captain stopped me. he told me "On the field, she is your absolute priority. if she doesn't come back alive neither do you. understand?"

This was...strange? I've never seen him speak to me this way. I think he has a soft spot. He lost his daughter to sickness and now he sees her in every girl. 

But he is right. As of now she is my priority. better I'm to be cut up then her. 

Funny, I started this morning thinking how nothing is happening, the thought of engaging something, even lowly poleviks or other animal seems so exciting, given the off chance I might even see one. Villagers might be full of shit for all I know and are just trying to push us to provide some extra labor. 

We head out for the fields in less then an hour, must get ready. I will pray a prayer to bless the evening fields. 

- Jr. Sergeant Yasen Honchar