Free Ides of March (Time Patrol) by Bob Mayer

It’s considered the first time in modern military history where an award was designed for enlisted men. At the time, all awards went to officers and—”
    “Figures,” Mac said.
    Edith was growing used to Mac and didn’t miss a beat: “Washington came up with it not just for gallantry but for extraordinary service in any way. He said, and I quote: ‘ The road to glory in a Patriot Army and a free country is open to all ’.”
    “That’s pretty cool,” Scout said.
    Eagle nodded. “It is indeed. I keep this?”
    “Yes,” Dane said. “Use it if necessary to get Washington’s attention.”
    “Do we all get something?” Roland asked, hoping perhaps for a better sword.
    Dane pointed. “Scout has the Naga staff. Doc the icon. Eagle the Badge. We don’t have anything specific to a key person on that day for the rest of you.”
    “But I’ve gone through all the downloads,” Edith said. “I’ve supplemented them with some extra information you might find useful.”
    “We appreciate that,” Moms said.
    Dane slid the chalk across the board. “We’re to the last year.”
    15 March 480 B.C. THERMOPYLAE, GREECE
    “The Gates of Fire,” Eagle said.
    “That doesn’t sound good,” Scout said.
    “The Three Hundred Spartans,” Eagle added.
    “Oh. I’ve seen the movie,” Scout said. “Lots of bare-chested, muscular guys on steroids running around hacking at each other. But if I remember rightly, the ending isn’t so great. For them at least.”
    “That’s about the only part they got right,” Dane said. “You’re going on the last day of the battle.”
    “That sounds even worse,” Scout said. “Which side am I on?”
    “Our side,” Dane answered. “The side of our timeline. The Spartans are defeated, but they slow the Persians enough so that eventually they are turned back.”
    “Saving what is known as Western Civilization,” Edith added.
    “Okay,” Scout said. “Why do I have this?” She tapped the haft of the Naga staff. “Am I supposed to fight?”
    Dane turned to Edith Frobish. “Thank you.”
    Edith took the hint and headed for the door. Before she could get out, Doc leaned over and tapped her arm. He whispered something to her. She nodded and departed.
    “Your mission,” Dane said to Scout, as soon as the door shut, “is, for lack of a better word, cloudy.”
    “They’re all pretty cloudy,” Moms said. “What’s different about Scout’s?”
    “We received a report from Amelia Earhart out of the Space Between,” Dane said. “There’s been some unusual activity there. And it’s directed at this time and place.” He tapped the line at the bottom of the chalkboard.
    “What kind of activity?” Moms asked.
    “It appears that other Earth timelines besides the Shadow’s are interested in it,” Dane said.
    “Don’t they have their own Thermopylae?” Scout asked.
    “Of course,” Dane said. “But that date, that year, seems to be a key connecting point in some way between timelines. A strong one. What that means?” he asked, before any of the others could. “That this event, in our timeline, affects more than just us. It affects other timelines.”
    “Good or bad?” Scout asked.
    “It depends on what you do,” Dane said.
    “Vague much?” Scout said.
    “When we first me you in the Space Between,” Moms said, “you told us you were the Administrator of the Time Patrol. Across multiple timelines, not just ours. You have to know more.”
    “Think on this,” Dane said. “If we have to compartmentalize information for security purposes, don’t you think we have to compartmentalize timelines for the same reason? On top of that, there’s the vagaries of the variables . I know it sounds like a cheap catch-phrase, but it’s the reality we all have to deal with. You know too little you screw things up. You know too much, you screw things up. That’s the reason the iron-clad rule for the Time Patrol is that you can never disclose information about the future to