Publishedat 23rd of July 2019 10:55:08 AMChapter 95
Keira and their unit were getting prepared for the next basic combat training. The highlight of the training was a field training battle where they would have to use blank ammunition and concealment tactics.
"Alright, Soldiers choose a leader for your platoon!" instructed Zach.
Torin was beside Zach, looking at him with an arched brow because Zach had summoned Drey"s platoon to compete with Keira"s.
Seeing the "jungle" Keira felt excited.
Keira"s platoon chose her and she did the "rock, paper, scissors" with Drey"s platoon leader to determine which platoon would be the offense team and which the defense.
Drey"s platoon leader got to choose and he chose to be the attackers.
After a safety briefing, rifles with bullets with paint were handed to everyone. The offense team had red tags and the defense team blue ones. The offense team, using a mobile tactical vehicle, quickly took off to their designated point-1.5 kilometers south from the creek, near to a bridge.
Keira"s team marched half a mile up the gravel road and began setting up a parameter around the objective, near the old bayonet a.s.sault course.
"It would have been more fun if we were the offense team," said Keira, her tone a bit complaining.
"You suck in the "rock, paper, scissors"!" teased May followed with a laugh.
"By the way, I heard Falcon chirping something about going on an important mission with Wolf. I think they will leave soon…" May mumbled, making sure that only Keira and Lana could hear her.
She heard it during the safety briefing. Torin was blabbering about it with Zach. Since she was close, although not clearly, but she heard Torin complaining about being single and going on a dangerous mission once more.
Then May looked at Lana, with her crazy smile.
"What?!" Lana hissed at May.
"Well, can"t you feel how much that one is. .h.i.tting on you? Gosh, you girls are too funny! I mean, Keira is trying her best to gain attention while you are trying your best to disregard attention… It"s really funny you know," said May chuckling, teasing both Keira and Lana.
Keira did not react because her brain, which just heard the words "dangerous mission", was actively trying to put the puzzle together.
"What the h.e.l.l is wrong with him? If it"s about that darn mission... He could have told me about it. Why would he bully me!" exclaimed Keira with a crumpled face. Out of all the things, what she hated the most were lies that led to misunderstanding.
"Well, it can be, but also don"t disregard the possibility that he may not like it. What you are doing and how bold you are pursuing him... People have different perspectives, Keira. We can"t know what"s inside the head of everyone. Maybe he"s telling the truth that he"s also not ready to accept. That"s why he"s guarding himself," explained Lana in a serious tone.
Keira remained silent and was left in deep thought while May elbowed Lana and whispered, "Are you also not ready? Are you stating your feelings towards Falcon too?"
Then May followed her words with a giggle and poking.
"You two, stop and focus! Wolf might see us and I"m so dead tired to do another mile run, guys." Keira murmured.
After about 30 minutes, the operation officially started and Sergeant Cole called them together to tell them their objectives: they had to safeguard from the offense team the "critical infrastructure and roadway system", which was near their position, and not let them seize it.
According to the directive, the enemy was traveling by foot and capable of calling for indirect fire but not for reinforcements.
"They"re gonna try to overrun, and we have to defend this area," Sergeant Cole said. Then she pointed to two pieces of yarn on the ground and drew lines in the sand, moving around some toy soldiers.
"As you may saw when we came, there"s no way to infiltrate our base from the river"s side because it"s too steep," she continued, pointing to the yarn, then to the brushy area on the sand map where they could set up the perimeter.
"Remember to execute the tactics and techniques, which you have learned on the training…" said Sergeant Cole and looked particularly at Keira as the team leader.
"Yes, Sergeant!" Keira answered with her team before they dispersed.
Once Keira"s team was in place and well hidden in the tall gra.s.s or forest shadows, Drey"s offense team started slowly advancing toward their position.
In a while, branches crackling alerted the defenders, and when the enemy was spotted they opened fire from their M16A2 rifles.
Zach and Torin were monitoring the battle and listing those who had been "hit".
When combatants cl.u.s.tered too close to each other, Zach set off simulated artillery round, "killing" everyone within its strike zone. The soldiers in Keira"s team, who were "killed" removed their helmets and were out of the game.
"Impressive…" commented Torin, as they watched Keira left only with five soldiers.
"She will die soon." Zach murmured seeing how the red team was making a solid advance, with machine gunners on both sides firing aggressively.
Finally, "end" was called, stopping the mock battle, with the red team winning solidly.
Zach with his gloomy face chided Keira"s Team.
"Your mission is to defend this road, right?" Zach asked.
"Yes, General," Keira and her platoon answered in unison.
"Did you do that?"
"No, General"
Then he looked at Keira and shouted, "This is what happens in a real battle! Your life will end in a snap at a battlefield, soldiers! So make sure to instill this in your heads - THIS IS NOT A GAME!"
"You are the team leader and you just killed your comrades with your poor leaders.h.i.+p!" Zach burst out with a dark face.
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