Getting into the Legionaries was the easy part. Any man who looked the part and had the enthusiasm would be accepted, in times of war they were not in the business of being picky, but once we signed that paper we were theirs to mold into the perfect fighting man, and they would have their way.
After I signed my life to the Emperor, we had a couple of days to say our goodbyes and get ready. Of course I bragged to my younger friends that I was now a Legionnaire. Even my little brother Dario said he wanted to join the Legionaries, but being thirteen he was not going to fool any recruiter to let him in. I told him that his time would come.
Even my Father bragged about me to his friends. My father spent some time in the Legionnaires decades ago, but not during wartime, so when he heard that I volunteered for the Legionnaires he was ecstatic. Said I made him proud for doing my duty to the Empire. That's just how it was at the time. Now when wars come up, and people volunteer their parents cry and tell them not to go. In my time it was seen as a given, for any man of age to do his duty, and if he didnt, or was deemed unfit for the military, he was shamed.
A few of the lads who got rejected from the military due to some defect or the other committed suicide a couple of weeks later, it was just how it was at the time. It wasn't seen as a burden, to fight for your country, it was a privilege. We all dreaded being stationed at home, that we would miss out on the great adventure, that is why we joined the Legionnaires. As the poster said, they were the first ones in, the tip of the spear, they would see the most challenging action, and, because of the simple fact that they were legionnaires, they would prevail, no matter how dull or how tight of a situation, they would succeed.
My Mother refused to say goodbye to me. It stung of course. This was her way of objecting to my action, without consulting her first. Because my Father was very pleased with me, she didn't object at the dinner table, or even when I headed off to the train station. She was very distant with me, maybe believing that I would change my mind. I would do no such thing. That was how I left my family, my father, patting me on the back, my Mother, behind him with a couple of tears streaming down her face. My brother telling me that he would join and be with me shortly.
I thought myself a great warrior, like the stories, leaving my home in search of adventure and plunder. That is how I imagined myself walking to the station in my olive green service uniform. With that uniform I thought myself unbeatable, I stood straighter than I have ever stood before. I met my boys at the train station. Bruno was checking his looks in a mirror and Carlo stood awkwardly next to him. "Surprised the Uniform even fits you two, didn't know they made them as wide or as long as you guys"
Bruno Looked at me then promptly looked back in the mirror. "Your just jealous your uniform doesn't fit as well as mine" Carlo looks at him "Looks as if your arms are going to burst out of the sleeve man" Bruno Sneered back "That's the whole point Carlo" Carlo shrugged "Whatever you say" I laughed a little as I put down my duffle bag full of my belongings. "What are you two buggers doing?" I say as I sit on my duffle bag. "Waiting for the two of you" Bruno responds as he straightens his tie. "Speaking of that, where is Felix?" Carlo questions. That was a good question. "Thought he was here with you two". "Doesn't look like it, lets just hope he's not late" Carlo sighs. The minutes passed by and the departing time for the train got closer and closer.
Eventually the train arrived and we got on. "Where the hell is that bastard" I say as I stand in the door leaning out, looking both ways. Down the platform comes a familiar looking man pushing through the crowd of people saying their goodbyes to their sons that they are sending off to the war. The train slowly started moving with a blow from the horn. "Better pick up the pace" I yell. I can see he yells something back but I couldn't make out what he said. Eventually he caught up to where I was and tossed me his duffle bag and promptly jumped in after me. The man was in shambles. Breathing heavy with his uniform all over the place. "Surprise you made, now I got to give Bruno a fiver". Felix with his hands on his knees breathing heavily said in a small exhausted voice. "Piss…off" I laughed and I smacked him on his back.