Lysander walked among the staked out tents. It was early yet, but men were out front, stoking up cooking fires and preparing breakfast as best they could. He found a group of young soldiers, some of them looking like they still didn’t need to shave every day, huddled around a small fire.
“Good morning men,” Lysander looked down with a smile. “May I join you?”
The boys scrambled to stand and offer salutes. “Of course, Colonel,” one of them said. “Please.” He indicated an empty chair.
“Relax men. No need to be so formal. I’m just here to talk about the upcoming engagement. Have any of you men ever seen any action?” He knew the answer, but wanted to ask the question anyway.
“No sir,” another of the soldiers said. “But we’ve been drilling hard with the older men in preparation.” Other soldiers from neighboring tents began to gather around as word of Lysander’s impromptu visit spread.
“Good man, good man. I wanted to talk to you about what it’s like in battle. It’s a scary prospect, men, I’m not going to lie. Veterans of many campaigns have been known to feel fear before a fight.”
The men looked surprised at this. “Surely not you, sir,” a third one asked.
Lysander nodded. “Yes, even me.” He could see they didn’t believe him. “Look, I’ll let you in on a secret.” The men all leaned forward eager, to hear any wisdom their commanding officer chose to impart. “You all think I’m brave right?” They nodded. Lysander had a reputation among the men as someone who never backed down from a fight, regardless of the odds.
“Well you’re right. I am. But that doesn’t mean I don’t feel fear. Bravery is not the absence of fear. Bravery is doing what you must in spite of the fear you feel.” The older men gathered around nodded, while the younger ones looked thoughtful.
“Any man who doesn’t feel fear going into a battle is a danger and a fool. Any battle you enter could be your last. Fear is your body’s way of making sure that isn’t the case. The key is to make sure the fear doesn’t take over and stop you from doing what you must.
“Now, as soon as the cavalry shows up, we’re going to be marching into battle. We’ll be part of the biggest exercise of military might the Empire has shown in over two hundred years. We will be victorious. But I want to make sure that each and every one of you is around to tell your grandkids about the desert campaign you took part in.
“So remember – don’t run from your fear. Acknowledge it and deal with it. And trust in the other men in your unit. You’re brothers. Take care of each other.”
With that, Lysander rose from the stool he had borrowed, nodding to the large crowd that had gathered. Some saluted and others called out cheers Overall, the mood of the camp seemed much improved, in spite of the early hour. Lysander congratulated himself on a job well done.
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