A review by wealhtheow
Clarkesworld Magazine, Issue 73 by Matthew Johnson, Neil Clarke, Genevieve Valentine, Jeremy L.C. Jones, Yoon Ha Lee, Theodora Goss, Daniel Abraham

4.0

This short story is set centuries before [b: Ninefox Gambit|26118426|Ninefox Gambit (The Machineries of Empire #1)|Yoon Ha Lee|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1446557461s/26118426.jpg|46065520], featuring General Jedao as he builds his military reputation. Great use of tactics, great worldbuilding tidbits, and fantastic character development for Jedao. It's also fascinating to read what the Kel were like before formation instincts were programmed into them.

If you're not sure whether you'd like [b: Ninefox Gambit|26118426|Ninefox Gambit (The Machineries of Empire #1)|Yoon Ha Lee|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1446557461s/26118426.jpg|46065520] (it's too long, it's got gore, whatever), or just can't get a hold of it, I'd recommend trying this story first.