It was time for patrol. Ethan, as the commander of his small unit, prepared to lead the team. This was something they were used to— it was part of their routine, something they had done many times before. While his group got ready to move out, the rest of the camp continued with their usual training. Soldiers practiced drills, repaired equipment, and loaded supplies as the camp buzzed with activity.
The forest was silent as Ethan led his team into the thick trees. The ground felt soft under their boots, and they moved carefully, staying alert. Ethan walked in front, guiding them with steady confidence. His team trusted him completely, following his every move.
They whispered quietly to each other as they walked, knowing they had to stay focused. The forest was still, but they all knew danger could be hiding anywhere.
Ethan spoke up, his voice steady. "Remember the last patrol we did in the northern sector?" he asked, looking at his team. "It was quiet for hours, and then everything went crazy in seconds."
One of the soldiers let out a breathy laugh. "Careful there, Commander — for a second, I thought you were trying to ditch us and play hero!" The others chuckled, the tension in the forest easing just a bit.
Ethan smirked over his shoulder. "Ditch you? Please. I was blazing the trail so you slowpokes wouldn't get turned around." That got a real laugh from the team — the kind that reminded them they were still human under all the gear.
As they moved forward, the tension in the air seemed to thicken, a quiet weight pressing down. Suddenly, Ethan came to an abrupt halt. "Hold," he said, holding up a hand. The group froze.
He narrowed his eyes, looking around. Something didn't feel right. Then, their radios crackled. The sound was faint but enough to tell them there was trouble nearby. The group quickly got into formation, their eyes scanning the forest carefully.
"Try the radios again," Ethan said in a calm voice. One of the soldiers adjusted the devices and pressed the buttons. "Base camp, do you copy? This is Eagle Squad. Over." They waited, but there was no answer—just static.
The soldier tried again, his voice now louder and more tense. "Base camp, do you read me? Over." Still, there was only silence.
"What the hell's going over there? Why isn't anyone responding?" another soldier asked, gripping his weapon tightly. Ethan's face became serious, he felt there was more at play than they'd been led to believe. "It's not just interference," he said firmly. "It's signal jammers. Someone's intentionally blocking us from reaching the camp."
It dawned on them all at once. Signal jammers meant only one thing: the enemy knew they were here. The air around them grew heavier, as if the forest itself was warning them of the danger of closing in.
"It's a trap," Ethan muttered, his voice low and tight with urgency. Before they could act, the first shot rang out, echoing through the trees.
"Take cover!" Ethan shouted, diving behind a fallen log. Bullets flew past, tearing through leaves and barks. The group scattered, their training kicking in as they returned fire. The enemy had the upper hand. They stayed hidden in the shadows and kept moving closer.
There were too many of them. No matter how hard they fought, Ethan's team was overwhelmed — and one by one, he watched his comrades fall. The noise from the arriving supply copters
drowned out the sound of gunfire, so it never reached the base camp.
Ethan, Tom, and Ryan Carter fought back fiercely, but they were outnumbered. In the wake of chaos, the enemies opened fire. Ethan felt the sting of bullets tearing through his side as he collapsed to the ground, his vision blurring. Tom and Ryan also fell, their bodies hitting the dirt with painful thuds.
After defeating Ethan's unit, the enemy moved toward the base camp. The soldiers in the camp didn't know what was happening because of the noise from the copters. The enemy attacked quickly, catching them by surprise. Before they could fight back, all the soldiers in the camp were killed.