Indefinite Ceasefire and Christmas Long Holiday
As the 12th month of the year 2488 approached, the situation on Meinhoff became tense once again. Both the Terran Confederacy army on the planet and the secretly armed Kel-Morian people were ready to fight again. This dark blue planet, which was not particularly beautiful or charming in the universe, was filled with an oppressive atmosphere of impending war.
Officers like Augustus, who were appointed to take over surface factories, had already received prior notification from the Marine Corps High Command to all levels of frontline combat units: the war was over and would not continue.
When the first ceasefire agreement expired, more Kel-Morian factories, mines, and even spaceports above Meinhoff had been taken over by the Terran Confederacy forces. Only less than 8% of light industry remained outside the control of the occupying forces, and the Federal Marine Corps Supreme Command established its command center in Meinhoff's largest city.
Everyone knows that the Kel-Morian Combine has been defeated, but they have not surrendered. Some of the Kel-Morian Combine's more militant planets have refused to comply with Moria's order for an indefinite ceasefire, so localized warfare continues.
Augustus knew that this war would eventually drag on into 2489, or even several more months. The governments of the Kel-Morian Combine and the Terran Confederacy would spend a considerable amount of time negotiating a final "peace agreement," arguing endlessly at the negotiating table over even the smallest interests.
At the negotiating table, the two sides were not on equal footing. Undoubtedly, this peace agreement would be an extremely harsh and unequal treaty for the defeated Kel-Morian Combine, an arrogant insult from the Terran Confederacy.
The Kel-Morian Combine may have to cede most of its mining guilds or even colonies in the Koprulu Sector to avoid being annexed.
However, for Augustus and his Heaven's Devils, this was truly good news. Once the war ended, either remaining in the army or retiring and returning home through normal procedures would be a good option.
So, on a sunny day like December 20th, Augustus and his men gathered for a meal in the workers' canteen of the New Apollowin mining factory. It was the best place they could find to dine together, as the local restaurant industry was not well-developed, and mid- to high-end restaurants could only be found in the city.
On a table made up of five long alloy tables joined together, there was a not-so-lavish spread of food. Forty-odd soldiers in brown uniforms were eating heartily while chatting and talking about their dreams for the future.
Although Meinhoff was a world with extremely scarce resources, Augustus still managed to purchase some decent ingredients at a high price, and asked the factory cooks to prepare some more palatable food than individual rations and steamed potatoes with stew. More than a month later, the Heaven's Devils were once again enjoying cheeseburgers, grilled sausages, Charcoal Grilled Steak, and creamy bacon pasta, and savoring the expensive Mar Sara tea.
"To be honest, this vacation means nothing to me," Harnack said, stuffing food into his mouth. "Shiloh is so boring. I only joined the army for the thrill. Sigh, it's a bit sad, but my relatives in town probably think I'm dead."
"Then why did you apply for it?" Raynor was furious, unable to go home to reunite with his family before Christmas.
In a few days, the first batch of rotated soldiers will be able to go home for Christmas—more Resocialized Soldier will take their place, while another group of unfortunate men will remain on duty, Raynor being one of them.
About a third of the people in the Heaven's Devils were given a week-long vacation, while the rest would have to wait until after Christmas. Augustus's application was approved, and he would return to Korhal IV from the Meinhoff interstellar launch port the day after tomorrow.
At this gathering of the Heaven's Devils, their Power Armor technician, Fick, was also invited. Although this short technician did not have the hooded skull tattoo, he undoubtedly gained the approval of the other Heaven's Devils.
"There's no harm in applying, isn't there? I don't have to go out for training. Wouldn't it be better to just stay in the barracks and sleep all day?" Harnack said. "To be honest, I've lived alone since I was a child. For me, Christmas is just about finding some fun little trinkets. Santa Claus has never visited my tattered stockings. I even built a chimney without a stove at home specifically for that."
"That's because your socks smell too bad," Amy Brandon chimed in.
"Well then, Hank, come back to Korhal with me," Augustus said after swallowing the food in his mouth. "I'll show you what a real big city is like."
"Great!" Harnack nodded.
"Tychus, where are you planning to go for your holiday?" Augustus then asked Tychus, who was sitting opposite him.
"Me? I will never leave these sparkling little crystals of Meinhoff, not even for a minute or a second," Tychus said. "Even on vacation, I will not leave my post. I love the Marines."
"Jim, after I'm gone, remember to have Kulovsky and his men keep a close watch on the gates, and make sure the walls are electrified." Augustus scoffed, "Don't let Tychus bring any women in; this is a military camp!"
"Also, you need to make proper arrangements for our newly recruited workers. That Kel-Morian man Rory Swann is now an external engineer for the Heaven's Devils; give him the best treatment."
"No problem," Raynor said gleefully. "I can guarantee not even a fly will get in."
"How do you know Jim won't 'go along with me'? He's at that age where he's full of fantasies about women." Tychus raised an eyebrow. "You never let Jim go out and have fun with us, that's not right."
Even the strictest parents should understand the importance of balancing strictness and leniency.
"I didn't say he can't go out and have fun." Augustus shook his head. "I'm just telling you not to lead him astray. When Kydd first came, he wouldn't utter a single swear word, but after getting to know you guys, now he's talking about shit and pee all the time."
"At the strip club, you and Josephine were both incredibly wild. Jim is still so young; I don't want to see him become addicted to debauchery and pleasure. When Omo died, he was already showing signs of excessive alcohol dependence." Augustus looked at Raynor, whose face was flushed.
"I trust Jim because he never lets me down."
"Alright, I'll go find some fun then." Tychus gave up and began to imagine the beautiful bodies of women. "I wonder what it's like to be with Miss Kel-Morian."
When the image of the short, stocky, bearded Kel-Morian miner flashed through his mind, Tychus let out a disgusted hiss, as if he had swallowed a dead fly.
Augustus talked with the others for a while longer. Besides those who wanted to stay in Meinhoff and those who were preparing to go home, Ward and Zander wanted to go back with him. The former did not want to return to the sad place of the past, while the latter came from the slums and was also homeless.
As for Londerstein, although he would also return to Korhal to reunite with his family during the holidays, he departed a day later Augustus. Josephine, on the other hand, didn't mention going home at all, as if a gang of thugs were waiting to hang him the moment he returned to Korhal.
After all that talk, Lisa, who seemed to have been forgotten by Augustus, finally spoke up, "Augustus, aren't you going to ask me how I'm planning my vacation?"
"I remember your family is from Tarsonis. Don't you want to go back and see your father?" Augustus looked at Lisa sitting next to him. Lisa had now broken free from her drug addiction, and her once somewhat dull long hair now shone with a bright ginger-yellow luster and a faint fragrance.
"What's so interesting about him? He's just an old man." Lisa crossed her arms. "I was just planning to go to Korhal for a trip."
"I just... I just wanted to stop by and visit your mother."
"Alright then," Augustus said, shrugging.
"I truly feel sorry for poor old Anthony Cassidy."