The Reunion

The colonel watched the unending stream of refugees when a captain came running up to him. The younger officer looked worried.

“Colonel,” he said gasping for breath, “we’ve spotted infantry to our north disrupting the flow of refugees. They appear to be setting up a roadblock. Many of the refugees are turning back towards Princesa.”

The colonel was quiet for a second. “Do you have an estimate on their strength?”

“At least a company, Sir!”

“Captain,” the colonel noticed the town was becoming more crowded, “contact all your OP’s and let me know immediately what they report. It appears whoever this is has managed to either encircle us or there is more than one unit. Assume all communications are being monitored. I have a feeling we are on our own here.”

“Do you have a plan, Sir?” asked the captain.

“I do,” replied the colonel, “but I need that information, so hurry.”

“Yes, Sir!’ The captain rushed off.

The colonel looked at the two soldiers sitting with him in the jeep. Both were non-commissioned officers who served with him for some time. He looked at the radio and then at the man sitting next to it.

“I’m afraid to ask, Colonel,” said the sergeant powering up the radio.

“I have a feeling before today is over, we’ll have to resort to the strategies that have worked for our people for hundreds of years.”

“We’ll make it more portable, Sir,” said the second sergeant getting out of the front seat and moving to help the other enlisted man.