"Wind speed 15 knots, distance 340 meters. Black jeep in the middle."
Barnett and I lay under the snow. The winter wind breezed, and light snow fell. The convoy of the Margusian Lieutenant Colonel was rushing towards our direction.
"The one in the back, right?"
"Yeah." Replied Barnett.
On her confirmation, I aimed and fired. The bullet rushed through the winter wind, cracked the window, and pierced the head of the Margusian Lieutenant Colonel. The convoy stopped, and just as they stopped, an Irgin-9 battle tank came in front of them from the forest. It was Valkin. His canon aimed and fired, penetrating through four jeeps. Alfred and Ferry came from behind and opened fire on the enemy soldiers at the end of the convoy. Barnett and I picked up our rifles and joined them. After five minutes, all enemies were neutralized.
"They didn't show any resistance, weaklings." Complained Alfred as he examined his magazine.
"Well, good for us. No wastage of ammunition and time." Ferry added.
Valkin stepped out of the tank and joined the four of us. As he came, I asked him.
"Valkin…Was bringing the tank actually necessary?"
"The new cadets said they had been training for a year. So I thought of testing them." He took a pause. "They are pretty good."
"Seriously?"
"Well…yeah." He shrugged his shoulders.
"Okay…" "We are heading back," I ordered.
We packed our equipment and headed back to Egnisk Command HQ.
Two years have passed since that decisive battle at Egnisk. The Hectagon forces tried to retake Egnisk numerous times, but we were able to repel them all the time. After that battle, the five of us were given medals of valour from Michaela and were promoted to corporals from sergeant. I, being the leader of the squad, was given the title of "The Flame Of Arkania". In those two years, we have been holding the enemy at the borders. But the situation was critical for the southern front. The Dormisian and the Barkilisian fleets were continuously pounding the city. Although they were unable to take Targalia, they had the coastline west of Targalia. The situation was this worse that they had to transfer twenty thousand soldiers from here to Targalia.
Captain Tyrnik was badly injured in our attack on the supply train. A bark pierced his kidney, and he lost it. He was too good to be left workless. So they appointed him to the strategic corps. And now in place of him, we had Captain Pierson. The same captain who was our mentor was now fighting beside us.
We five were tasked to take care of the top brass of the Hectagon army. In the past two years, we have killed 146 of the brass: 2 Generals, 14 Colonels, 10 Lieutenant Colonels, 50 Majors, and 70 Captains. Among those 146, 59 were killed by me alone.
We have all improved significantly. Valkin was steadier and quicker. Alfred switched from an MP5 to an FN SCAR. Ferry can now fly jets and helicopters; he was invited by the air force, but refused to leave us. Barnett can now give coordinates from long distances up to 460 meters, and she moved more quietly. Valkin, after training, can now drive and operate a tank's cannon. I now use the HK416 in addition to the SVD.
We were no longer 15-year-old little brats who could barely use a gun. We were full-fledged soldiers of the Crescent Army, now 17.
Our jeeps rolled into the base. We got off and headed towards the armoury. We placed our weapons in their slots. And headed back to our room. The winter came early this year. The main problem in winter isn't the snow. Its dryness and the fast, cold breezes. And just like every year, it was harsh.
"Sixty," I announced as I sat on my bed.
"You are still counting it?" Ferry asked shockingly.
"Yeah…" I looked at him.
Ferry stared at me. "Are you a maniac? Who counts their kills?"
"I do…" I stared back at him. "I like to flex."
"Grow up, fearless commander. Grow up." And then he lay on his bed. He was asleep in the next minute.
We all went to sleep and were awakened by Captain Pierson three hours later.
"Wake up. The brass is calling you all." He ordered and left.
"Can't they let us sleep peacefully for once?" Valkin whined while he got up.
"WE are in WAR. Not on vacation," Ferry scolded him. "Martin, you are the leader, say something."
"Ferry, I am the leader, not his father." I sighed at him.
"Stop acting like the mother, Ferry," Alfred added.
We all broke into laughter. Barnett patted his shoulder as she walked past him. Ferry stood still, staring at us. We went to the office of General Yarna, knocked, and went inside. I don't know why, but we no longer felt that 'spiritual pressure' of the top brass. We stood quietly. He stared at us; we stared back.
"Two years ago, when you came here, I thought that you would be another batch of kids. Though you did kill the Knights, I still had no hope in you." He finally spoke. "But, after taking Egnisk and killing some leaders of the Hectagon army, you proved yourself. You five will go to the capital with Pierson."
"Why, sir?" I asked.
"They want to promote you."
"But we weren't called there last time. Why now?"
"I thought the same, but the supreme commander called me and told me to send you there." He paused and went through some documents. "Go, prepare, and head to Pharkis."
We saluted and left his office. None of us could understand why we were called to Pharkis. I admit we killed many enemy commanders, but still, it wasn't that big of a feat that the supreme commander himself called us.
We informed Captain Pierson. He gave the same reaction. We prepared and we began our journey to the capital.
It was cold. Clouds covered the blue sky. The sun peeked through the clouds, but its warmth wasn't enough. The road was barren, lifeless, and hopeless. The area where people lived, where children laughed, was now empty. The green fields were now all brown and sad. The war has made both the people and nature sad. After a journey of three hours, we were in the capital. The same barren and lifeless atmosphere lingered here. As our jeep drove through the roads, the children ran with it. The people smiled. The elder and the young all smiled. I smiled back.
Our jeep stopped in front of the grand palace. And we got out. The one who welcomed us was none other than our Captain Tyrnik. We saluted each other.
"Welcome, brave soldiers of Arkania." He said with a warm smile.
The five of us nodded and smiled back. Then he took us to the office of the supreme commander, Michaela Zarkis. He knocked, we entered, and on Michaela's command, left. He ordered Captain Pierson to leave as well.
"We finally meet…" He said, stood from his chair, and walked towards us. "…The flame of Arkania." And placed his hand on my shoulder. His sound wasn't of happiness, not of seriousness. It felt different. Like he was mocking me. I couldn't name this feeling. But it made me uneasy.
A Lieutenant Colonel stepped forward and opened a box. Inside it were badges worn by lieutenants. He picked and pinned the badges on our uniform one by one. Then he saluted us. And we saluted him.
"You and your squad have proved yourself worthy in the past two years." He walked towards the door. "Come, I have something for you."
We followed him, walked through the corridors, and reached a door. He opened it, and we followed him inside. We were in the main hall. Half of the palace was destroyed when Zaphlis bombed the capital three years ago. They rebuilt it, but only the offices and the main hall.
The table and the chairs were arranged, and there was food on them. It looked like a banquet. No…It was a banquet.
He gestured for us to sit.
"This is a gift from me for your efforts. Enjoy." He said, whilst he stared at me. I felt the same uneasiness. We followed ethics and didn't overload our plates. We ate little.
"Eat more, no need to hold back. Who knows if you will get this food again?" He was staring at me; this time, the smile faded.
What he said brought this strange feeling to us. We looked at each other and ate a little more. But his gaze didn't come off me.
After eating for fifteen minutes, the waiters presented tea. And after drinking it, he stood up. We did as well. On his command, we followed him outside the hall and to the entrance of the palace. It was time to leave.
"You all are amazing. You have been a great help to the country. Just like many others, you are the heroes of this nation as well. I will pray for your safety."
He extended his hand towards me, and I shook his hand. And he placed his other hand on my shoulder. He held my hand and shoulder tightly, very tightly. He came near me and slowly said something.
"The days ahead are harsh; be careful."
The words had it, a warning. Not of a senior, not out of care. But something much different, more like hate. I felt it. It brought shivers down my spine. I don't know why.
After that, we sat in our jeep and left.
His words, 'be careful,' echoed in my mind. I couldn't forget it.