Editing Love and Krieg (section)

===Medal for Valorous Action===
It had never crossed my mind before. I had never looked up Krieger Military/Civilian regulations, but now her silence made sense.

For all the joy she had given me, this seemed like the perfect present. I just wanted make sure it was special.

Awash with her father's approval, the next few days were spent in absolute bliss. Mornings once spent at arm's distance were now all but gone, and ritual tickling sessions (of which I have lost every single one) became a common occurrence. Returns from work were now greeted with ferocious hugs instead of cordial salutes. Less and less of that all enveloping trench coat and I swear, the other day I almost caught her making far more revealing fighting fatigues.

And for a girl that worked so hard on her tough little soldier image, she was awfully fond of cuddling.

So one day, I told her I was skipping work to prepare a surprise for her. She looked confused and a little scared, her blue button eyes ablaze with suspicion. Still, I managed to subdue her with a boyish grin and soon enough she was off managing her trench work outside the house.

I needed this to be perfect. It took me weeks to find a jeweler with affordable prices, or a grocery which sold Krieger Standard Rations. Not to mention sneaking in all these goods inside my bag that I took to and from work. I sent off permits and requests for information, and this too took time to conceal from her.

I had called in at the local Krieg Barracks for her sisters a day earlier. I had gathered the three of them together and explained my plan. They all wore healthy looks of skepticism at the start but at the end they were smiling from ear to ear. I asked them if they had a suitable distraction in mind.

One shared look and a nod later and I was forced out of the barracks. The door to their quarters slammed shut and the giggling behind it began.

I was half way through preparations for tonight's meal when I heard alarm sirens wail off. I stepped outside for a moment only to see the sisters had decided to test out Krieger Female Model 68b #6345's trench works. With an assault.

I was mortified as I watched them charge up the steep mud embankment, complete with their heavy trench-coats and signature gas masks, entrenching tools raised menacingly. I could barely see through the heavy smoke they had laid down but the shovel heads looked decidedly less pointed and more fluffy.

I retreated back into the house, safe in the knowledge that I had some time yet.

A few hours later, all 4 sisters returned from their mock battle. I didn't know how serious their pretend fights could be, but by the tear in their clothes, the bent handles of their entrenching tools and the arm sling Krieger Female Model 68c #6345 now sported I feared perhaps I had gotten Krieger Female Model 68b #6345 into more trouble than I had thought.

Much to my relief, she came through the front door with a victorious grin, her Imperial Regulation Exercise Clothes (which she now wore with alarming consistency) covered in dirt and rips and 'acquired' pillow-head entrenching tools in both (thankfully healthy) arms.

Three of the sisters then promptly dropped their tools and squealed with delight despite themselves as they took stock of what I had done. I had covered the room in convincing razor wire, following Krieg Entrenchment Regulations. Sandbags lined the walls and flood lights had been hastily installed into the ceiling. Mud and dirt covered the normally neat floor. An old autocannon pointed out the back window. I had created a miniature trench in the house. The pleased surprise on Krieger Female Model 68b #6345's face was well worth the effort.

And I wasn't done yet.

I saluted them sharply, something that I had been practicing all week in the mirror. Her pleased look of surprise at what I had done to the living room did not compare with the delighted squeal she let out when she saw what I had done to myself.

I had given up looking for a tailor that could've done what I needed him to, so I had gone through town looking for a suitably willing Krieger Lieutenant. For an unhealthy amount of locally brewed Amasec, he had been wiling to lend me his uniform for a day after I explained what I needed it for.

'Attention! Officer Present!' I barked in the most professional voice I could muster.

All four snapped to perfect parade ground posture, their otherwise flawless military salutes broken by the smiles each and everyone shared. Krieger Female Model 68c #6345 made do with her other not so impaired arm.

I coughed to clear my voice and wipe the smile from my face. 'Today, we are gathered to offer Krieger Female Model 68b #6345 a medal for outstanding service.' I continued.

I reached into a coat pocket and withdrew a small black box.

'Presented with insurmountable odds, Krieger Female Model 68b #6345 mounted an assault on an opposition's position, with no knowledge of opposition strength, disposition or composition. Despite this she managed to fight her way through, showed endurance in the crucible of long combat ops, presented strength in the fires of action and an adorable amount of character.'

I stepped forward and opened the box, revealing the custom medal I had made special for her. I removed in gently from its velvet bed and stepped in front of Krieger Female Model 68b #6345, her body trembling.

Too late to pull out now. Head held high, I took myself one step closer

'Despite her weaknesses and because of her considerable strengths it is no surprise Krieger Female Model 68b #6345 managed to capture the heart of the opposition.' I continued, the professional voice I had worked so hard on disintegrating into a gentle whisper.

'For this, we offer two honours, both are some of the highest local command can present.'

I unfolded the ribbon behind the medal and presented her with the piece of perfectly folded paper I had prepared the night before.

She unfolded the piece of paper. Mock documentation for permanent Permission to Speak that the Departmento Munitorum would have been proud of.

I smiled as she giggled in delight, her salute broken as she clasped the piece of paper with joy. I put one comforting hand on her shoulder as I used the other to pin the medal on her chest.

'The first is a Medal for Valorous Action against the enemy, which requires that the recipient receives Permanent Permission to Speak.'

She laughed, her words seemingly still stolen and hugged me tightly. I returned the hug briefly but then pushed her away. As I lightly moved her back, her eyes betrayed her worry that she had done something wrong.

I fell to my knees.

'Permission to Speak is also needed so Krieger Female Model 68b #6345 can accept the next honour.'

I produced another box, which I opened to reveal a more traditional wedding ring. Krieger Female Model 68b #6345 now held both hands in front of her mouth in surprise. Her sisters had done likewise since I had not told them about this part.

I took the ring and extended it to her.

'Krieger Female Model 68b #6345, will you accept the honour of allowing me to make you a married woman?'

There was a terrible moment of silence as she tentatively touched the ring. And then a sudden movement as she knocked it from me and bullrushed me to the floor, crushing me tightly with an ferocious embrace.

She nuzzled in deep and what she said next was so soft I almost couldn't hear it.

'Yes. Yes!'

The silence broken, the room erupted into delighted giggling and hearty clapping. I hauled both me and her off the floor where she laughed happily into my shoulder as we rocked in each others arms.

Krieger Female Model 68b #6344 was making an audible 'awww' sound as she clapped, whereas her sister Krieger Female Model 68b #6346 was simply laughing with joy, a radiant smile on her face. Krieger Female Model 68c #6345 used her good arm to wipe a single tear from her face.

The rest of the night was spent in good cheer, all 4 sisters celebrating in grand style. For the first time ever, I watched Kriegers enjoy themselves with an unrelenting passion. Even the Rations I had managed to screw up was cause for celebration, which we cheered with a healthy amount of amasec. I didn't even know you could store that much in a woman's bosom.

As the night winded down and the other sisters left, me and Krieger Female Model 68b #6345 settled down to bed. We were both too tired to do anything but look into each others eyes and grin.

But I think, that was enough for both of us.