I always thought war would be different. Somehow, I had ideas of large battles, death and destruction, all that stuff. But no, here it's just some people in tanks rolling up and saying "we run things now, here's the new rules, please follow them and we won't have any trouble". When the State came for our little splinter state of Vesnistan, there was essentially no resistance despite us being in a border region. There were no soldiers of our army stationed nearby, so this Red Army just walked in and walked out, shooting only one guy, and that was the weird overeager patriot that was waving a gun around, so that was expected. And as far as I can tell, much of the rest of the country was the same. So now we are part of the State, and that brings with it a lot of changes, though most of them seem largely benign.

But this morning, on my daily walk through the village, I spot a poster hanging out on the local store's front door. It reads quite simply: "Single males of ages 18-30 are required to congregate at the village hall tonight at 8 PM. Anyone that reads this message is required to spread it to anyone it may concern."

That wording is sufficiently ominous that I remember something curious: A small group of soldiers setting up in the old village hall that was left empty after the old mayor was deposed. Is this related to this poster? Strangely enough, however, as I spend the next few hours walking about the village and talking to people about this strange poster, it seems that everybody else isn't as scared as I am. In fact, everybody I speak to that is required to go to this meeting like I am seems downright eager to do so. As I think about it, I do remember that I spent most of the last two weeks cooped up at home, working on my novel. Apparently most of the others were visited by some of the soldiers, who helped them with daily tasks and such, which I suppose does help with ingratiating oneself with the general population. I was probably just not visited because I hardly left the house. While that does ease my worries somewhat, some does remain.

In the end, there's nothing I can really do about that, and soon enough, I find myself standing in the meeting room of the village hall alongside about nine other people from the village, milling about and chatting. Seems like everybody else is either younger, older or already in a relationship, and we really are the only ones that fit the strangely specific criteria. But before we can manage to figure out just what the purpose of all this is, a soldier steps out in front of us. He doesn't look like much, but he has an aura about him that somehow has all of us quieting down and giving him our attention without him ever saying a word.

After a short moment of silence, he addresses us. "The State provides! Comrades, you are very lucky indeed! Your village has been quite forthcoming in making sure the transition to integration goes smoothly, and as such, you are going to be privy to a very rare honor indeed! My name is Comrade Fedorov, and I am a member of the 3rd Support Battalion, the First Comrade's chosen ones. And I am here to tell you that you will be the founding members of the 1st Volunteer Support Battalion, a group that will eventually stand just as tall as the 3rd! Of course, we will have to build it up first, so you will at first be subordinated to the 3rd, but suffice it to say that you will soon be just as glorious!" he explains, conviction and intensity clear in his voice.

There is a murmur between the ten of us. This does seem like a promising offer—after all, Vesnistan is gone, and getting on the State's good side as a collaborator would be a smart move. Still, this is all a bit quick. However, Fedorov doesn't give us a lot of opportunity to think about our doubts. "Now, I will make it clear that you will be the first to have a new mandate placed upon you. All of you will from now on live your lives in accordance with the First Comrade's teachings! And in order to make that clear, you will now take part in the 3rd's initiation. As page 33 of the First Comrade's teachings says: 'The first part of being a good comrade is knowing of the greatest love.' And the greatest love... is that between men of the State!" he says, and at first, we don't really get it.

But then, two of us do. Without a word being spoken between any of us, those two step closer to each other, placing their lips on each other in a tenuous, timid kiss. I'm shocked that they're going for it this quickly, but Fedorov simply claps his hands in glee. "Excellent! You two are truly ready to become great comrades! See, this is what it's all about!" he yells, a wide smile on his soft face. "I knew that you had it in you to personify the First Comrade's teachings, and you will be the ones to bring this wisdom to the rest of your village, and then... the rest of the State!"

Before long, everybody else seems to be getting into it as well. There's two holding each other in an embrace, three starting to pull at each other's clothes... eventually, all of the other nine are in their own little groups, starting to explore the world of male-on-male love, leaving me standing there alone, flabbergasted at it all. For some reason, I just can't bring myself to join in, and I can feel my hands shaking ever so slightly. This is all so bizarre... but also appealing. Almost involuntarily, I find myself biting my lip watching two guys kissing while shirtless. But then, my hands stop shaking because they suddenly find themselves held firmly. Looking back to my front, Fedorov is standing right in front of me. "Ah, Comrade Kuznetsov. I've heard of you... a shy, introverted writer, no? I suppose it makes sense for you to be the odd man out, but I promise you, there is nothing to fear! Men of the Red Army do not fear anything, and most of all, they do not fear showing love. So if you would allow me, I would gladly be your partner tonight. May I introduce you to a whole new world of pleasure?" he asks, nothing but kindness visible in his expression.

I'm sure he can tell that while I am timid and nervous, there is a part of me that wants to do this. Everybody around me seems so into it all of a sudden...