Chapter 10

A grey dusty Range Rover pulled up outside to the base's only makeshift car garage. As it was stationed, large clouds of tired earth settled.

The Rover arrived later that evening at the expected arrival time. The sun had retreated in earlier hours and left vivid colours of peach and orange across accumulating Cirrus that scattered far over the sky. The cool breeze that blew throughout the day was absent, leaving the evening air chilled without the currents.

The other Scout; who was taller and more mature in appearance, coupled with the twin class Engineer and Sniper departed from the vehicle. Shortly followed behind with the Soldier that accompanied them. Since the Friday had been announced another day without battles, a lazy few wanted to escape the means of the custom battlefield scenery Well possessed. Which was little said than two stations, the kind of run down mills with train lines running through them. Then there were concrete pools in front of both buildings that could be accessed from outside and even led into the buildings behind the large roller steel doors. It could be believed that BLU and RED were in fact, companies that worked stations on the same block. The fact that it was so detailed to suit battles was the only thorn that protruded from the vicinity. Tall, chain-linked fences that had coils of barbed wire at the top sectioned of the impressively large area from the rest of the land.

It had been a long, honest ride into the neighbouring town, which was roughly 200 miles away from RED and BLU. It was worth the ride as the town was spacious for reasons other than battling, civilization and streets that were seen with winter-blossoming trees along the footpaths. Which in all created a picturesque scene with flower petals freshly scattered with the light breeze during the daylight hours.

The twin Sniper had gone especially to get something social in his day. He'd spent roughly 40 minutes talking to the construction boys who were having a lunch break from fixing potholes in the town's main road.
He'd spent even longer with the Florist's wife and their son while it was quiet in the later half of the day.

Both Snipers were Australian and both were extremely social. Not because their jobs involved silence and concentration, but because like many other Australians, they enjoy a good yarn and if given the chance, they will do just that for as long as they can. Of course the oldest of the two Snipers enjoyed listening to others speak more often than himself. He'd rather spend his evening listening to others, recounting their own stories they have experienced over the years than yakking on over his own.

"All ok, Men? Head inside now." Soldier addressed the small group and followed behind the three, only after giving a thoughtful stare towards the opposite base a way across the cement grounds. He was more than a little concerned at the quick cancellation of that day's scheduled battle. He'd taken his concern to go speak to Mr. Collins about it but the Engineer only told him he was concerned due to how unexpected it was. The Soldier sighed, defeated and decided to join the boys on their proposal of a day trip out to town. He'd reached the younger Sniper that morning with a neutral state, "Sydney, I think I'll be joining you afterall. Ok, boys, let's get out if here for the day."

As he turned away and moved further inside, he could only hope that what Mr. Collins said hours before was true.

The arriving group made their way into the heart of the base; sections that could not be accessed so easily during battles.
There, the older Sniper and younger Scout were chatting away with a stranger. The youngest of the team made a motion nervously towards the men, "sorry boys, someone's here."
Scout turned to face the four that just arrived and Sniper's only reaction was a glance towards the Soldier's general direction, "Even'n lads, welcome back."

Soldier acknowledged the Sniper with a small nod and moved to the front. 'First an unexpected cease-fire and a stranger in RED? Something has happened while we were away..' Soldier addressed the young Medic, "RED, are you our newest recruitment? What is your class, son?" He asked, after noticing the lack of a class emblem. "Yes Sir, I am under your current Medic's 'wing', so to speak."
"Very well, that's good, welcome to the base son. Where can I find the good doctor?"
The German Medic joined the room, "It's okay Soldat, I heard you vhen zhe Rover drove past zhe boom gates. How can Ich help du?" The Soldier nodded at Kody to let himself be curtly excused before joining his supervisor, putting around an arm over the German's shoulders as they walked away. "There's something I'd like you to listen about today, Medic." And with that they rounded the corner in the direction of the medical office.

The younger Sniper made his way to join the Scout, Sniper and the new Medic as Mr. Collins went off on his own and the older Scout pardoned himself in French and exited the area.

"What did he just say?" The Scout asked, a bit peeved at the common use of the language he didn't understand. "He said something about excusing himself and then something else about going off to find Spy.. he was muttering so I can't say for sure..." Kody answered him.
He sneered, "Bloody French frogs.." The Scout cursed when he was sure the older couldn't hear. "Hey, come off it Scotty. Jack, the old boy's had a bit of a morning. There was a drive by shooting and someone he was spending the day with was kidnapped during the shots." The Sniper was quick in his defense. The Sniper that had spent the day at base growled, "Shit, Syd.. hope th' poor sod is found again.. I mean, when people go missing like that, they don't go missin' for long, if you know of these days."
Syd sighed and rubbed the back, "you're right Mundy, I hope they also find whoever alive before they find him dead."

The time was roughly midnight by the base's only clock.
The fond, light drinking, leisurely evening had died down to something more playful. Even the hollering and laughter that could be heard from the BLU's base had stopped much like the RED's. The whole team was accounted for in the evening of games. The last few hours of thunderous laughing from within the facilities had settled as the drunken members settled out of their chaotic-drunkeness to something more social. A game had gone for a few rounds that consisted of tables pushed together and golf balls being hit with frying pans as a substitute equivalent of Ping Pong. There was also a thick, sea boat-grade rope which was used to play a really shoddy game of tug-of-war, many of the men barely using all their strength, having wasted it all on laughter and jokes.

Scott, the youngest Scout, had managed to convince a number of the team to play a game of 'jump rope'. Despite its lifespan fit for use at sea, it was already beginning to fray.

Kody took one end as the Soldier took the other. Soon enough, the younger of the two Snipers joined in the beats of the rope, trying not to trip up. Soldier poked taunts at Syd and sure enough the light-hearted teasing threw him off his rhythm. His foot hooked the thick rope as he tried to leave. He staggered, barely catching himself from falling.

The rest of them team were all too intoxicated to keep their balance. The rest of the evening was filled with reddened faces either from having their face, graciously kiss the tiled floor in a drunken affair or from laughing at those who did get a wallop.