CHAPTER-11 CROSSING PATHS IN CONGUS
Sky and his commando's stepped lightly as they cut a path through the jungle, and finally, after hours of walking, arrived at the outskirts of the E.O.F.'s outpost.
They hid in the bushes and Sky took out his binoculars.
"Lets see...lightly garrisoned...a skeleton crew at most...lightly armored...wait a second...ok we got a squad of heavily armed guys, five of them. they are probably looking for us."
Sky put his optics down and produced a claymore mine and trip wire
"Alright lads lets get to work." Python said setting traps as the rest of them took their supplies and fanned out.
By nightfall, all the traps had been set, and Sky and his squad had met up with the other five special operations squads at a campsite they had set up.
Sky met with the other five squad leaders in the ops tent while the rest of his dragons got some rest.
"From what I've seen, the outpost is lightly garrisoned, and can easily be over taken by our forces, all we have to do is attack them by surprise." Sky explained over a large map of the area on the table.
"Right, at midnight, I will take my squad, along with Sargent Jaco's platoon and attack from the north, while captain Elzar and Sargent Sirus attack from the south. Sky, your squad is headed right up the meat grinder, are you up for that?" Colonel Griza asked
"Aye sir, we can handle it."
"Then ready your squads, we attack at 2400. and be on the lookout for this individual." the Colonel flashed a picture of a green dragon up on the tent wall.
"We want this one alive. Understood?"
"Yes sir."
"Dismissed."
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Noran gathered his squad at the edge of the outpost and addressed them.
"Alright boys, we've got traps set all over this jungle, so for the love of Xavier be CAREFUL." he said as he led his squad through the jungle
He halfway knew the names of his squad members, but didnt really care to learn them. they were expendable, just as he was, and odds are, at least one of them would die within the next week, so it would be better not to get attached.
Using hand signals, Noran told them to spread out, and look for any signs of enemy patrols.
'I'll find them...no prisoners...no mercy.' these thoughts raced through his mind as his finger rested lightly with ever slightly increasing pressure as he walked
Finding nothing, they returned to the outpost, and reported to the dragon in charge.
"Sir, nothing found in sectors 1-5."
"Hmm...they are out there, get ready for another search later tonight, at 2300."
"Yes sir..." Noran said walking out of the tent and back to his squad.
"Alright boys, get some rest, we have another patrol at 2300."
Noran went into his tent and took off all his gear, and pulled out Cera's photo, and the bullet from his gun. he put the photo in his helmet and he drilled a hole through the back of the bullet and put it on the chain that held his dog tags.
He looked into his helmet at Cera, and tears began to flow once more.
He wasnt stupid, he had overheard the colonel over the radio...he is leaving on a helicopter as soon as they are supposed to go out on patrol, along with key high ranking officers. This outpost was a lost cause...the U.D.A. presence in this realm was increasing steadily, and they were the only ones to reinforce this outpost in months...so it looked like he would join Cera soon enough...and he would make sure that he took as many with him as he could.
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2300
Sky and his men were readying their gear when they heard one of the traps they had set go off.
"There we go boys! Our first catch of the day!" Python said excitedly
"No time for celebration, we have to get in position. move out!" Sky commanded, and all squads went into the jungle to set their deadly trap.
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"What was that!" Noran shouted as the explosion rocked their position.
"Pirus stepped on a mine sir! We lost him..."
"Damnit...an hour into this patrol and I've already lost one soldier.."
Noran then heard the noise of a helicopter overhead, no doubt the one that will carry the important ones away from here and leave the rest of the expendable enlisted troops to die.
His squad was about a half mile from the base when he heard a whistling noise, then an explosion, followed by more whistling, then more explosions.
"They're shelling the base! Retreat! Defend the outpost at all costs!" Noran shouted over his radio as him and his squad sprinted back toward the command center in the darkness.
They got there in the midst of the artillery barrage, and only two of his men made it out of the jungle.
"Where's the rest of the squad?" Noran shouted over the blasts
"Traps sir! None of them made it out alive!"
Noran growled and jumped behind a wall of sandbags facing the jungle, ready to kill whatever came at them.
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"Good job boys, the shelling is still hot, so get on the outside of the jungle and start shooting! Understood?" Sky yelled over the noise.
"Yes sir!"
They blended in with the shrubs around the base and began firing at the E.O.F. forces, taking down anyone who was exposed.
The shells stopped falling and the order from the captain came over the radio.
"Charge!"
"Go go go! Move up that hill!" Sky said dashing to the nearest cover as did the rest of his squad. since they were in the middle, the gunfire was almost overwhelming.
"Grenades on three men! One, two, three!" they hurled their grenades at a precise location and they all detonated, silencing the gunfire long enough for them to make the final dash up the hill to the outpost.
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Noran noticed the shells stop coming, so he raised up behind the sandbags and fired a few shots at the charging dragons before they hid in cover.
He signaled to his men to keep firing. he peeked out from around the top of the barrier and saw grenades hurdling towards them, they exploded where his two remaining troops where, throwing their blood and what was left of them on Noran. His ears ringing, he could still hear the whir of the rotor blades of the helicopter beginning to take off. He tried to stand up, but was very dizzy. He managed to get to his knees, but was unaware of where his weapon had landed. He looked down the hill where the enemy was, and saw blurs running towards him. One got right up next to him and said something, but his ears were still useless, so he had no idea what he said, all he knew was that this was it, he would finally see Cera, all this guy would have to do is pull the trigger one time.
Noran felt the comforting cold steel of a handgun barrel on his forehead...he couldnt wait, for sweet relief from the pain of this world.
But instead of a gunshot, he got a smack right between the eyes with the grip of the pistol, knocking him out cold.
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"Move guys! Up that hill! Take out this installation!" Sky yelled charging over the gunshots of the battles of the other squads taking the base.
They got to the top of the hill, where they found two dead soldiers and one covered in blood, obviously dazed
Griffin drew his pistol and put it to the dragons forehead.
"Griffin no! Dont kill that one! He has valuable intel that Spyro said we need. Knock him out and tie him up, he's coming with us!" Sky said stopping griffin just in time
"Damnit...fine" Griffin knocked the green dragon out and tied his hands and feet together and continued with the fight.
"Python! We got a chopper trying to evac! take it down!"
"I got it lads!" Python assembled his rocket launcher and got a lock on the helicopter as it began to pull away from the ground.
The rocket left a smoke trail as it struck the tail of the helicoter and it began to smoke and spin, slowly losing altitude until it slammed into the ground, bursting into flames.
"Light that chopper up! No survivors!" Blaze yelled, opening fire on the wreck, filling it with holes.
The fight wore on for hours, but the E.O.F. was finally overrun, and the outpost was claimed by Spyro's forces.
"So...what do we do with our prisoner?" Blaze asked.
"Restrain him...he needs to be interrogated..." Sky said drawing his combat knife.
Sorry this chap was shorter than the others, but I didnt want the wait to get too long. also, thinking about a new story. its in the works. peace!
