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A Very Merry Fordo Saturnalia!
It was already night, the cease fire now in effect.
A fragile yet sustained hope for the better. That perhaps, this was their last battle and the war, perhaps being over. That, was their hope, their wish for the upon coming year. Those poor soldiers shivering in the trenches.
It was there were Captain Fordo’s squad found themselves to be at as well on this, kind of a special eve. The one they were all missing now because of this one battle.
One of the troopers was humming a familiar tune, having started it out of the blue, perhaps an ear-worm from some holo-radio station, but making an accurate version of it just the same. After all it was he eve of Saturnalia, an ancient celebration around the galaxy for most humanoids, among those the clones having adopted the tradition from the Mandalorians.
Captain Fordo heard it too. And soon enough, he was smiling. It was good hearing his troops being merry despite their situation. The lot of them forgotten, left on the battlefield in a manner of speaking, all the while those in charge deep in negotiations for a peace-treaty. Whether or not it would happen, well, that was still debatable. Still, they were ordered to stay put for now and until such time they were relieved from duty, this was their place as soldiers they were no matter what time of the year it might have been.
This wasn’t their first time celebrating something in the trenches, perhaps though, it would be the last? As, there was hope in the air right now when just a few rotations before there had been none.
Fordo was listening to the humming intensifying as more and more troopers were joining in. And so soon enough, the Captain too catching in on the tune. The voice clear and bright.
“Joining us eh, Cap?” One of the troopers closest to him asked.
“Why not? After all, we don’t really have much in festivities around here.” Fordo let out a small chuckle, jumping back in on the chorus.
And so, the troopers of war all sang their hearts out in the otherwise silent night, their voices carrying far across the enemy lines.
After several songs completed, there was a spell of silence, the rations passed around for the moment.
It was then when they all heard it. The somewhat monotonous singing, repeating the same songs the troopers had just sang. The song that of… droids? The singing coming from somewhere close to the No Mans Land.
“Is that?”
“Clankers!”
“Yeah, they’re singing our songs.”
It wasn’t pretty by any means, but it had a ring to it just the same. The fact that their very enemy was feeling… well, whether the droids felt something was up for debate for some still, but clearly, they were having some holiday cheer amongst them and repeating the songs word for word.
Fordo peaked out from the trench.
“Hey, clanker!”
“Roger?”
“Yeah, well whatever…” Fordo glanced at the others around him, expectant they all were. “Would you like to join us for some Saturnalia cheer?”
“With you? The clones?”
“Yes!” Fordo rolled his eyes.
There was a spell of silence again.
“You sure you won’t shoot us?” The clanker voice asked then.
“We have a truce. And it’s the eve of Saturnalia.” Fordo continued. “None of us are too eager in fighting tonight.”
There were low murmurs to be heard from the clanker side, the troopers waiting patiently.
“Alright. What do you suggest?” The clanker asked again.
Fordo looked at his men and then as if agreed, they all nodded.
“We could get out of here, put fires, roast marshmallows and sing songs. You seem pretty good at it.” Fordo then suggested.
There low murmurs continued.
“Agreed.” The clanker then said.
“Good. We’re coming out then.”
Fordo motioned to his men, the lot of them grabbing whatever gear they needed for the celebration they had at hand and started up towards the middle of the battlefield, the No Man’s Land, which was neutral territory.
As they troopers were moving towards the rendezvous point, the clankers were advancing as well, seemingly cautious.
“Hey, is okay. We have a truce.” Fordo repeated.
“We do.” The lead clanker responded.
Soon enough, the rather timid combatants were meeting in the middle. With hands exchanged for shakes, sealing nonverbally the truce between them. Soon after fires being lit, with offerings of varied spread for anyone to enjoy and before anyone knew it, the merry seasonal songs were elevated high into the night air.
A unique scene if anyone was to stumble upon this was for sure. Something of a Saturnalia miracle perhaps happening?