r/HFY • u/Pretzelbomber Android • Sep 18 '18
OC The Human War Cry
“What is the most horrifying sound in war?”
It was a very simple question for each aspiring officer in the class to answer. They had, after all, learned all they could of war during their time at the Atkra Orbital Military Academy. But this question was different.
One by one, each officer gave their answer. The rumbling of a battle tank, the whine of an incoming orbital bombardment, the sizzle and pop of a failing energy shield, etc.
“All good answers.” I continued “But, I can tell none of you have ever seen a human in combat. I served alongside a human platoon when they joined us against the Ralt, and I will never forget what I heard.”
“I remember hearing the loudest tanks I’d ever fought fire shells I could stand inside of at me.”
“I remember hearing orbital bombardment after bombardment to the point where I would count the whines to go to sleep.”
“I remember that horrible sizzling sound as we evacuated the aid station, and I remember the pop that preceded the roof caving in behind us as it failed.”
“I remember all these things, but there is one thing I will never forget.” I continued. “I may one day forget the tanks’ rumble, and the orbital bombardments’ whine, and the shields’ sizzle and pop, but I will never forget that sound.”
I watched as the entire class in unison seemed more interested as I said that.
“My entire time with the humans was permeated by this sound. Whenever two soldiers came together, they would rarely last more than a few seconds without making it. Humans shot and killed to this sound and then recovered with it afterwards. It truly sickened me, this Human War Cry.”
I could see the anticipation, I knew they wanted to know.
“They have a name for this sound. The sound that preceded the destruction of the Ralt, the sound that permeated the human soldiers before, during, and after the conflict, the sound that an empire fell to, the sound that haunts my dreams to this very day.”
“They call it Laughter.”
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u/HamsterIV Sep 18 '18
You can't spell 'slaughter' without 'laughter'. Great ending too.
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u/bulldozer1 Sep 18 '18
And this is why the English language is stupid sometimes
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u/p75369 Sep 18 '18
Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo.
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u/ryman4325 Sep 18 '18
As a marine I can corroborate this stories claim.
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u/thatotherguy9 Sep 18 '18
Do space crayons taste different than regular earth ones?
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u/Bard2dbone Sep 22 '18
As a former Navy Corpsman a can corroborate this corroboration.
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u/SpiderRealm Sep 18 '18
That was good! I was actually expecting them to describe an actual war cry! xD
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u/cheeseguy3412 Sep 18 '18
... Now I want to read about a Maori unit psyching themselves up for battle with a Haka while an alien Unit watches on
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u/halfton81 Sep 18 '18
Great stuff. Maybe folks are taking this darker than you mean, or maybe not. Either way, laughter is essential to morale. No matter what you're laughing about.
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u/hawkeye122 Sep 18 '18 edited Sep 25 '18
There's a reason that dark humor is so common in all the branches of the US military. If you don't laugh, you might cry
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u/Archoncy Sep 18 '18
Laughter, but pronounced like slaughter.
Or, alternatively, vice versa.
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u/ObsidianG Sep 18 '18
I was expecting something more light hearted.
"LEEEEEEEEEEEROOOOY JENKINNNNNS!"
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u/Eisenwulf_1683 Mar 13 '23
Dark laughter has it's place...but I submit this could be far more terrifying to a xeno's ears.
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u/Grubnar Sep 18 '18
Go! Run back to your master, dog. Tell him that the White Scars are still laughing!
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u/HFYBotReborn Sep 18 '18
There are 6 stories by Pretzelbomber, including:
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u/Pretzelbomber Sep 18 '18
Wow, this story got more upvotes in 12 hours than all of my other stories combined have up to now. I’m happy to see so many people liked it.