Thread: Beginning Of The End (Xavierroll & IronMaiden24)

They acknovledged our status report regarding the crash, and aproved of my decision to investigate the shooting. But they also said that comunications have been disrupted, except local. So there is no vay for you to contact your people. Basicly they didnt give me any specific orders... I dont like it. I informed him. And yes... I most certinly did not like it. I culd tell by the tone of voice from the oficer across the radio that things vere bad. And the simple fact that I vas basicly being told to use my own judgement from nov on, told me that the chain of command vas breaking down. Jebote... I cursed softly under my breth, roghly translated as 'fuck' in English. A choked-out sound from behind made me slow the van dovn and take a look... one of my team-mates vas geting vorse, nov shudering on the vehicle's floor, clearly in pain, another holding his head up. Corporal, he vont last much longer! that one exclaimed, a trace of real fear in his voice. A fear, that despyte my best eforts, vas starting to grip me as wel. Are ALL of us eventualy going to end up like that?! I culd see that question on the faces of the others, as well... But I brutaly quenched it dovn, trying to keep a calm tone Check the medical locker and give him a shot of morphine... maybe... it wil help. Vith the pain at least... sounding a lot more confident of it than I vas. I vas no doctor, not even a field-medic, but it semed reasonable. He noded, vhile the second one opened the locker to get the morphine. Both of them stil seemed to be resisting the ilness reasonably well, aside from pale faces and shaking hands. For now at least... I made eye-contact vith the soldier in pain, reaching-out behind vith one hand and puting it on his sholder, then spoken gently but firmly Hold on, keep fighting it... thats a order! Surender is NOT a option. Ever! He gave me a smile, despite the pain... I'm trying... Natalija. breaking protocol and using my name. I didnt mind, smiling back, before I turned forvard again... fighting the tears in my eyes, again brutaly quenching my fear, and sadness. The outskirts of the vilage vere just ahead, beyond the rise. By now, I culd hear distant gunfire even thru the thick skin of the van. Something vas definitly going-on there! Strangely enogh... I actualy smiled tightly at the notion, in grim satisfaction, priming my VHS. Good! Something tangible, something I CAN fight and defeat, for a change, and not think about this... this... this THING thats killing all of us slovly! Vho-ever and vhatever those troblemakers are, they picked the vrong village to raid! I vas angry. Denying it wuld be pointless. Angry at this vhole thing, and angrier at the fact that all of us vere simply on a timer, until this disease kills us too. And absolutly furious - for being totaly helpless to do anithing about it but vatch my team die 1 by 1! I stoped the van, behind a large rock next to the road, then spoke out-loud Everyone out! Stay low and use cover until ve have a idea vhat we'r up against. in English, for the benefit of our guest, reaching-in a compartment next to the seat, for the standard army-isue binoculars that vere there, and also a pack of phosphorus flares, since it vas geting dark outside and they might come in handy. Other then that, each of us vas armed the same vay a VHS vithout a grenade launcher, a sidearm 9mm pistol, a combat-knife, and a pair of nonlethal flashbang hand-grenades. Nothing heavier, since our original asignment vas simply to provide security at a hospital in the city. Sory I cant join the fun... the soldier in pain grined at me, his voice noticably less strained. The morphine seemed to be helping him. Next time... for nov, you have your own fight too - and I expect you to win it! I grined-back at him, trying to keep as much optimism in my voice as I could muster. Even to my ears it sounded a bit...hollow... hovever. Looking at him for a moment more, I culdnt help but think how this wuld likely be the last time I'd see him alive. Then I exited the van.