[ WP ] War has been raging for years upon years now . You are a reporter embedded in a famous military unit among your newest allies in this war , humanity .

( Oh, this dovetails so nicely into my world. I am so jumping in. ) 
 
 Now that we were no longer dodging mortars and the intermittent - and wildly off-target - missiles, I could actually get a breather. Check the camera's still there - it is. Erase the footage of me screaming like a little girl, definitely. Start over again. `` Ahem. As ma-'' stop, clear my throat again, take a drink of water from the canteen. `` As many of you already know by now, the fighting out here is fast, frequent, and furious. For the past two weeks, I've been embedded with the BDM 42nd'Red Vipers', a premiere special forces team, and for the past two days we've also been joined by the BDA 2957th'Volunteers.''' 
 
 I shoved the camera, turning it toward the bloodied and mud coated humans covering in the trench next to the Bovi. They were at most, half the size of their counterparts, and even that was a stretch. `` It was n't so long ago - just 2 years in fact - that we would be shooting at each other. But that's all changed. Now we're fighting side by side, for the same worlds.'' Switching the camera to autofollow, I rose and approached the two nearest humans. `` Excuse me, you mind if I ask a few questions?'' 
 
 `` Not gon na make us sound like idiots or monkeys?'' Racism and prejudices against the humans were still pretty rampant. There was a preceding war, they had lost, and we had brought them under our government when their atrocities had been revealed. It was... painful. But that was n't my job or my concern. I wanted to tell the story of soldiers, and race did n't matter. 
 
 `` No. None of that horseshit. You as people. I'll be gentle too. Fair enough?'' They nodded in agreement. `` So,'' flipping the camera back on, `` can you tell me why you joined up with the volunteers to start with?'' 
 
 The woman actually smiled a bit, pushing the worst of the mud off her body armor. `` That's easy. They said'the bad guys are coming for your world, we need help.' Went straight to a recruiting station and signed up. This world's my home, figure I owe it at least that much.'' 
 
 Nodding, I turned toward the man, who shrugged and tried to look sheepish. `` She says it better than me. I was military before, though, so I knew they needed bodies. Signed up that day, have n't been home since.'' 
 
 `` I see - so how did you end up with the legendary Red Vipers, a special forces regiment.'' 
 
 Scratching his chin and ignoring the blood, he shrugged again. `` Honestly, I do n't know. I told them, I'm military, I want to be near the front lines, where can I do the most help? They looked up my records and said'we want you to help with the Vipers.' I used to fight the Vipers, so I knew who he meant.'' 
 
 `` I just said put me up front,'' the woman offered, `` put me up front and let me protect my neighbors. I wo n't complain about anything, just give me a shot. Next thing I know, I'm meeting this tall drink of water who tells me I better ask for help when I need it, and I better get it when I ask.'' 
 
 Nodding, I flipped the camera to face me. `` The Red Vipers have been at the front of many battles, despite being on the flanks and behind enemy lines. They were the first to respond to this new incursion just last month, even though they've been fighting for 7 years straight. Tell me, how do the Vipers you work with look?'' 
 
 `` Scary,'' the woman offered calmly, `` they see a target, they go for it, they make it dead, and they get everyone out. Sure, we get a few wounds, but we live.'' 
 
 `` Yeah,'' the man agreed, `` best of the best of the best, definitely. They're tired as hell, you can see it, but they're still fighting top form. We have n't lost anyone since I got here.'' Inadvertently answering the question as to why he'd been embedded here. Of course, my thoughts get interrupted as a MAC/90D set opens up full rate on an enemy something. Even in the trench, I can feel the wind from the launching shells and reloads. 
 
 That's when it occurs to me; they said social interest. I turned toward one of the Bovi - looks like a Major. `` Sir, can I ask you a few quick questions?'' He grunted and nodded, using a soaked handkerchief to try and clear some of the mud from his muzzle. `` You've had the volunteers here a few days now. How would you describe the relationship?'' 
 
 That actually made him pause, thinking about it, not necessarily in diplomatic terms. `` A week ago, would've refused. Sat'em down as aides. But frankly, having seen them fight? Maybe they ca n't haul an AMR, maybe they ca n't carry a hundred kilos at a go, but damned if they do n't have it where it counts.'' Rising to his hooves, he turned and actually saluted the two humans. `` I'd take these two into hell with me - done themselves more than proud.'' 
 
 Predictably, they both saluted back, clearly stunned. That setup always worked for the propaganda stuff. Besides, folks like that never shirked their duties. They'd fight twice as hard just to prove they were every bit as good as the other species. `` Then can I ask you all.. how do you think the battle is going here?'' 
 
 Looks were quickly exchanged, and the Major took over again. `` Official canned answer, we expect to rout the enemy any hour and completely destroy their assets. Unofficially, we've taking a pounding but they're getting it worse. Soon as we get some air support, it's mopping up time. We're in a good position, we have the best people, we'll be home for breakfast at least.'' 
 
 `` So we're winning?'' 
 
 `` Yep. We're winning,'' he agreed, `` just as soon as the air support gets here.'' There was a scream of engines approaching, and he looked up while also pointing. There was no mistaking that it was a Hog II ground attack aircraft. There was an unusual whirring as the main gun fired, the camera tracking as it moved off into the distance. And did n't turn around. `` Well shit. Bingo ammo. So we wait a little longer.'' 
 
 All I could do was turn toward the humans, who looked elated and dejected at the same time. `` So what are you thinking?'' 
 
 The woman shrugged helplessly, but the man shook his head confidently. `` Bad call, should have sent fresh planes. Gotten some of ours out of mothballs faster, maybe. But, if the Major says we can take them out? I would n't doubt it for a minute. We'll win. Then we'll go find another fight and win that too. Biggest mistake these idiots ever made was invading our homes. Every inch they want to take, we'll make them fight and bleed for.'' 
 
 I could n't have asked for a more perfect close. Flipping the camera to face me again, I put on my best smile. `` And there you have it. This is Larry Sun for DFIC, signing off.''
