Silent and Deadly
Prologue
Vladek Ramanov, a Sniper from the 34th Derodian, held his sniper rifle tight and wiped off the steam from his goggles. He had been lying prone in the snow for nearly two hours awaiting his target, a traitor guard commander who was supposed to be coming through this valley. He sat and watched. Two hummers passed by, 'Could this be his convoy?' Vladek asked himself. He calibrated his scope sight. A salamander stopped, a very ornately decorated figure walked down from the Salamander. Vladek took his aim and whispered to himself, "Gotcha." He fired and when he gazed again the commander was still alive! A body guard had unwittingly stepped in front of Vladek's target. The commander and his guards were aroused and in panic. He fired again, but the commander had turned on his refractor field. Now the salamander's autocannon was focused at him. "Damn," Vladek yelled. The two hummers that had passed by a moment ago came back and their heavy stubbers sprayed bullets in his direction. He pulled out his tread fether, "Eat this." He said as the rocket zoomed off destroying the salamander and all those in its vicinity, including the commander. Vladek threw a smoke grenade to the ground and ran into the deep forest where the 34th were stationed.
Vladek saluted his commander. "Hmmm, Vladek, it's not like you to miss a single shot," Sami said as she paced in front of her so called Elite Sniper. Vladek nodded as he saluted again. "We can't let this slip you know, but I will let it go this once," Sami said, "You're lucky if you hadn't had the reputation you have now, I would've easily demoted you, now go." He bowed, the Derodian way to show respect to a high officer when you exit his or her quarters. Alexa watched Vladek as he exited the tent. "It's not like you, at all, to miss a shot." She said, Vladek sighed, "I told you, Alexa, I didn't miss, the commander's guard stepped in front of him when I fired." Alexa sighed, "Alright, whatever you say." She took her snow mask and slipped it on, "Gotta run, I'm due on the eastern side of the forest in an hour." Vladek locked his right arm with Alexa's, an appropriate way to show affection to those Derodians were fond of. "Good luck."
Vladek sat in the conference tent, it was his lunch hour. He set his tray next to Sabrina's, Sofia's and Vladi's. Vladi, a new recruit, picked up his spoon and reluctantly ate the slop inside, "What the hell is this shit!" Sabrina gazed at him, "Protein bases and stimulants." He shuddered. Sofia, Sabrina's younger sister, looked at Vladi, "It's like eating a bowl of snot, but you'll get used to it." "Sofia, do you know where Alexa is?" She smiled, "Always straight to the point aren't we? She's at the range." Sofia said, "Ever since she fell in love with you, she's been sooo intent on matching your skills." Vladek finished his proteins and put his dishes near the wash station, "Thanks guys, see ya at the front." Sabrina shooed him off, "Yeah, whatever, just go and get her." She said, "I haven't seen her at all today."
Alexa walked down the range to look at her score, "Damn, 1 off from the marks men medal for killing 5 nonstop." She sighed, "Vladek already has 8 of those." "Hey Alexa!" She turned to see Vladek standing at the range entrance. She ran over to him and they locked arms like they usually did, "You've gotta teach me how you shoot like you do." Vladek sighed and said, "That'll be difficult since you don't have the eyes that make me the best shooter in the regiment." He said, "Every 1 out of 100 Derodians born have these eyes." Vladek blinked twice and his pupils turned small, see that target?" Alexa nodded, "Yeah but its just a dot!" "Yeah well watch." Vladek fired three shots, and blinked twice. "Pull that up," Alexa run down there, and came back. "All bulls eyes," He nodded, "But with a lot of training, I can teach you!" "All troopers report to the conference tent on the double!"