the Last Run (1987) by Leonard B Scott

weapons were new, as was their equipment, but the most striking thing about the soldiers was how well-fed they all looked. One thing he had learned since coming to the south was that the liberation army lived day to day on scant rations. There had been days-sometimes weeks-when he had been given only a handful of sticky rice for a day's ration. Perhaps serving with the Guard Battalion would not be such bad duty after all.
    Nuu looked at the young colonel sheepishly. "Comrade Colonel, do you think they have a uniform that will fit my frail bones?"
    Sy laughed and patted the boy's shoulder. "Yes, my friend. I will see to it."
    "Sy, you have returned!"
    Sy turned around at hearing the familiar voice call his name. "Yes, Senior Colonel Chinh, I have come back to haunt you after sending me away so long."
    Nuu backed up against the earthen wall and stood at attention. He had never seen a senior colonel before but recognized the four silver stars on the officer's shoulder insignia.
    The old colonel warmly shook hands with the young officer and motioned to Nuu. "Is this a hero from the Thirty-third Regiment that ambushed the column?"
    Sy smiled. "Yes, comrade Colonel, and he was my escort on my difficult journey back. He desires only a new uniform before being assigned to the Battalion."
    Colonel Chinh looked at the small frame of the private and winked. "I think he desires a good meal first." Chinh turned to the sergeant posted at the entrance. "Call the senior sergeant and have him pick up this hero of the Thirty-third. Tell the sergeant to feed him well and assign him immediately."
    The colonel took Sy's arm and began leading him down the corridor. "Now tell me about the ambush. We received a report, but we have been waiting on your firsthand account. The general is very interested."
    Sy looked over his shoulder at Nuu. "I will check on you tomorrow and see to the RPG-7. Thank you, my friend."
    Nuu nodded only slightly as he stood at attention, still shaking from his shock that a senior colonel would address him as a hero.
    The two officers turned right at the second corridor and walked down wooden steps to the second of four levels. The first was the security level, which housed the troop billets and Logistics Directorates rooms. The second level was the largest and held the staff billets and Political Directorates rooms. The third level, their destination, was the Military affairs section and held the large briefing and planning rooms. On the fourth level were generators and communications equipment. The complex was like a buried ship, complete with kitchens, sewage facilities, and electric ventilation. Surrounding the main headquarters tunnel were many smaller tunnels designed to confuse an attacking force. If an attack did come the entire headquarters could escape without detection by utilizing four main communications tunnels that exited kilometers away.
    Colonel Chinh walked into the briefing room and sat down at a large table. "It is unfortunate a platoon was left behind, but. . ."
    "I understand, comrade," said Sy.
    The colonel's eyebrows raised. "Yes, and that is why the general sent you. He knew you would understand and appreciates your loyalty. Not many can see the future as we do." Chinh motioned to a nearby chair. "The Tall One is about to leave the headquarters to visit General Sang's consolidating division. He plans a political meeting in conjunction with the visit for which you will need to make arrangements."
    Sy grinned ironically. "He plans to tame Sang, the Tiger?"
    The colonel laughed. He was glad to have Sy back. Sang, the Second Division commander, was making himself a thorn in the general's side by his verbal attacks on current strategy. Sang was too impatient; he needed to be put in his place.
    "Yes, he will give advice to the Second Division commander, and probably a lot more than advice." The colonel leaned closer to Sy and lowered his voice. "The general needs to get out of the tunnels. He has been very