Chapter Two – The Rook

1 month earlier.

"Wake up! Bloodsuckers!"

Swinging his legs off the bed, Adrik yelled and reached for his rifle. His fingers grasped the handle and he spun around, dropping to his knee, eyes down his sights. He listened out for the tell-tale sounds of heavy breathing, but then he heard it.

Laughter.

Cursing to himself, he put his rifle back down and rubbed his eyes. Three uniformed soldiers walked into the room, doubled over in laughter.

"You should've seen you face, Rookie!" One chuckled.

"Did you wet the bed this time, Rook?"

"Very funny, guys. Very funny." Adrik shook his head and pushed past them, avoiding eye contact. This, of course, just made them laugh all the more.

Stepping out onto the broken slabs, he took a huge breath of the rank air. He sighed, that was the third time they'd played that same trick, one of these days I'm not gonna bother waking up, he thought to himself, and who will be to blame when my face is eaten.

A burly soldier brushed past him, murmuring "Watch it, Rook." as he strolled over to a line of Ural trucks. Adrik sighed, again. He didn't expect any less, he was the newcomer, and he was still a "kid" in their books. Twenty one years old, and he had only completed training a year ago.

This was, in fact, his first tour of duty. He completed his basic training, and only three months later, he was told he was being deployed to the "Exclusion Zone". Of course, everyone knows what that means. He packed his bags, and said his final goodbyes to his horrified families, and headed off for Specialist training. He then spent another five months being taught about radiation, how to combat it, how do deal with radiation poisoning, how to assist someone else with radiation poisoning. That was the boring stuff. Then he went onto the "What to expect in the Zone" bits, teaching him about mutations, anomalies, how to spot and avoid anomalies, other STALKERs, rules of engagement towards STALKERs, the "factions" within the Zone, and so on.

Then he had to do some revision and refreshment training, then before he knew it, he was on a helicopter flying out towards Chernobyl, or, as his mother had crudely put it, his coffin.

A man walked over to him, a black beret tilted on his head. He looked up and down Adrik, then frowned "Adrik Ivanov?". Adrik nodded, and the Captain sighed. "I wasn't told to be expecting a rookie."

"Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you, sir."

The man snorted, "Captain Kyznetsov," he introduced himself. "You'll be serving in my squad in the Zone. You best get ready, you've got your first briefing in thirty minutes. Be in the command hut five minutes early, understand?"

"Yes, sir."

"Men, I'm sure you'll be happy to know that in less than a month's time, you'll be deep into the exclusion zone."

This statement alone was enough to send a ripple of disturbance through the crowd. Thirty soldiers were crammed into a tiny, metal "Command Hut", along with a huge projector screen, five officers, and two commanders, sitting at the front.

"We've been gathering intel from the 'inhabitants' of the Zone. Word is, one particular Stalker is in the process of actually making a route directly to Chernobyl NPP. As ridiculous as it sounds, he's actually pulling it off so far.

"I'm sure you can guess what this means! You lucky men have been drafted in as a 'Deep Expeditionary Task Force', along with others from various installations around the Zone. Your job is simply to take advantage of this fool's actions, to get right into the NPP and keep everyone else out. No one gets in, until the rest of our forces reaches it, and then still no one is to enter!

Expect a more thorough briefing closer to the date, but for now, that's all you need to know. Is there any questions?"

A few hands rose into the air. "Yes, you, Private."

"How many other men are being used on this mission, sir?"

"Apart from you lot, there are 50 more soldiers. Take note that you are not the main strike force, you are simply a reconnaissance team, your job is to ensure that the land is safe before we send the rest in."

That last sentence caused an uproar within the hut, multiple hands shot up.

"We're making sure it's safe? So... We're cannon fodder?"

"Of course you're not bloody cannon fodder! All safety precautions are being taken to ensure that you are in no risk! If the mission become too hot, it will be cancelled. As simply as that."

Another hand, "How are we entering the area?"

"Your being split up into six man teams, I'm sure you already know who your leaders are. Expect some squad specific briefing in the near future. The plan is to deploy the squads via air before the expected opening, to ensure you can get straight into the action as soon as possible."

Although more hands were still in the air, the commander shook his head and told the men to return to their barracks until further instrutions.

I am seriously regretting signing up to this.