The Golden Path forces assembled outside of Baghadur in the dead of the night. They had made a long grueling trip north over the mountain that separated Banapur from Bagdahur stronghold and come one at a time. The time this took was three days and it was the third day for their long and strenuous plan. The Mukti Tigers thought the mountain would protect them from a mass incursion but the underestimated the tenacity of Sabal's strongest warriors. A force of seven hundred was assembled outside of Baghadur, where the current garrison held less than two hundred. In a besieging engagement, they needed at least four times the number of the garrison. But this was a special occasion, with them was the terror of Rook Island, Jason Brody. The CIA spook had smuggled this one-man army into Kyrat under the radar to aid them in their fight against Pagan and the Royal Army. But he was playing with volatile fuel, he was using the pretext that Jason's friends had been taken by Pagan and held in the Royal Palace. There was no way he could know unless he reached the Palace, but by then they would turn on him without opposition and toss his corpse amongst the pile of Royal Army soldiers' corpses. Sabal and Willis made sure everyone who knew where exactly his friends were, were to keep their lips shut. Less the risk the wrath of yet another monster as dangerous as Badala.
For the time being, he'd keep Jason in reserve until he had no other option. While he found the stories mentioned by Solomon on Jason to be rather outlandish, so was Badala. They were both counterparts, but were they equals? If he came today, he'd soon find out.
"Our forces will be in position in five minutes, Sabal." The sector leader reported to him.
"Good, everything is going according to plan."
"I fail to see what attacking this Mukti group has to do with liberating Kyrat, Sabal." Jason stated.
"This is something personal, Jason. Retribution if I may, for those rebels who thought they could just betray us and form their own ideals."
-Even though you're a rebel too….- His other-self also laughed at Sabal's hypocrisy.
"I know you have your doubts but if they're left alone they will attack our flank when we concentrate on retaking King's Bridge and the Airport. It's happened before when De Pleur helped enact that scheme to bring Shanath and Varshakot under our control under the radar. That Amita, might have a sweet face but don't let appearances fool you! She must die tonight!"
The field commanders returned from the front to meet with Sabal.
"All is warriors have taken their positions and awaiting your go, Sabal."
"Good! Then your orders are to take Baghahur, take no prisoners, leave none alive!"
The field commander hesitated for a while as Sabal gave that ruthless command. "Sabal…. These men and women ar-."
"Traitors! That turned away from the ideals of the Golden Path! There is no salvation for them!" Sabal ranted on like a zealous priest, Jason was starting to get uncomfortable with him.
"I've given the order, now follow it!" He ordered without compromise.
"… Yes, Sabal." The field commander clasped his hands in a salute and moved off with haste.
Sabal and Jason watched the first attack upon the stronghold from afar in the hill covered with forest. The Golden Path fighters crept up on the stronghold and had crossed the bridge that isolated vehicles from the inner compound of the stronghold. They moved with guile, the walls were clear of guards as there was an estimated rotation happening inside. Jason peered through the binoculars that was provided to him by Solomon. After a while of monitoring….
"Something's off….."
"What?" Sabal couldn't accept what Jason said as he looked through his own pair to double confirm that everything was as it should be.
"It's-…. Too quiet."
(BOBOBOBOBOOM)
Right in front of the stronghold where most of the fighters had assembled started to erupt into flames. Vaporizing everyone within 10 metres of the detonations from the hidden C4 traps. His words were like a jinx that triggered the next sequence of events to happen.
What little of the survivors left started to scream in agony and shock from the traumatic experience.
"All units converge! Scale that wall!" The Field Commander already knew their presence was compromised and ordered everyone to make a mad dash towards scaling the walls.
Previously where there wasn't a single soul present on the wall, an entire row of armed warriors emerged from behind and fired a heavy rain of lead upon the invaders below. The warriors that had yet to cross the bridge were mercilessly gun down, and those already at the walls were left in a daze, too shellshock to move. The tigers left them alone as they'd clean them up later.
Even before the assault on the wall began, fifty warriors perished.
"Damn the gods!" Sabal cursed while showing a scary face directed towards Baghadur.
"Sabal! We're pushing all forces front there's no way to retreat from this, it's do or die!" The Field Commander reported.
"Then give them the best you've got, may Kyra be with you brother!" He saluted to the Field Commander whom was ready to lay his life to capture the stronghold. The Field Commander returned the salute and ran to join his men in the charge.
Jason watched the battle unfold beside Sabal, the warriors had somehow overcome their fear with the encouragement of that field commander fighting alongside them.
The battle raged of for a while, but the Golden Path couldn't stay long in the area. Baghadur had an alarm system that was wired to the Army High Command in the Uttar Region, they had no choice but take control quickly or leave everything behind. At tops, 20 more minutes till the Royal Army QRF would come by fast moving vehicles and helicopters from the King's bridge garrison. While Sabal and his field commanders were skeptical whether the Royal Army would really provide military assistance to their rebel group, they were cautious to include that into the equation.
But Amita was already one step ahead of them.
While their focus was upon the stronghold, they neglected to check their rear where the line of outposts belonging to the Mukti Tigers were. They had voluntarily trapped themselves in a den of tigers.
The first wave of Tigers attacked their support teams in the rear that were manning the mortars against the battlements of the stronghold and providing the infantry with cover fire, no more.
The Tigers in their rear overcame the rearguards quickly and moved on to where Sabal and the Command post was.
Five warriors converged with their bayonets attached to their rifles, intending to give Sabal and his strategists a taste of cold steel. But they didn't count on the person that was with them.
With a swift action, Jason shouldered his custom rifle and made sequential shots at all five of the warriors under two seconds, like they were targets down range. His hollow point ammunition ripped apart the warriors in an instant. One second they had the enemy commander in their grasp, the next they lay on the floor with a hole in their skulls.
"I'll watch the rear, hurry up and take that stronghold!" Jason took the initiative to do his best in delaying the flanking forces from attacking their rears.
"Godspeed, Jason Brody….. Brothers, look to this man whom hails from another country yet fights on our side. We're not alone! We will win this battle for the betterment of our cause!" Sabal gave a short motivation speech, while not crude it made them all understand there was a job at hand. They were receiving slight help from Jason Brody but it was the most important help they would need if they were to conquer the stronghold and stave out the Royal army that was arriving imminently.
"Sabal! Report from the front, garrison forces prove to be a tough adversary despite their numbers under a hundred. They're led by Commander Malla." The dispatch reported. The strategists' faces were sullen and pale. Kamala Malla was a rising star in the Golden Path and one of the reasons there was such a positive feedback in the recruitment their after. She was a legend amongst the Golden Path for her deeds and her mannerism was polite making her popular with the local inhabitants.
"Tsk! Kamala…"
When rumors passed around that Kamala had been dismissed from the Golden Path and joined the Mukti Tigers instead, a large majority within the ranks were opting to leave. Sabal was already having difficulty managing the consequences for that mistake he made in interrogating her for Soren's location. He now knew, Soren was actually Badala using a false alias. This meant that Bhadra was also with him and likely within the Valley of Death in the North. The SOCOM marines had confirmed with him on this from their reconnaissance. But he convinced himself that was alright, since Jalendu Temple was just next door to the Valley. Therefore, they only need advance across King's bridge and take Ratu Gadhi. Then launch a coordinated raid on Badala's unprotected domain to retrieve Bhadra and have her undergo the coronation ceremony a Jalendu Temple immediately. This would instantly challenge Pagan's right to rule over Kyrat, they'd win half the war already.
Now the possibility seemed higher with Jason Brody at their side, he'd just proven to them he was the only one who could contend with the Northern Demon.
"Kill her. If she continues to live, life for us will be harder than ever with the support she could garner."
The contest ended with Pagan receiving the 1st prize in the form of keys to a brand new SUV imported overseas. He had expected something smaller for a token of his performance but it didn't matter.
"I'm gonna run this off a cliff full of C4 and watch it explode!" He said, much to his pleasure and satisfaction. At the end of the day, the SUV was still his and he was entitled to do whatever he wanted with it. It was a vehicle that wasn't what he really needed when he had a small fleet of similar vehicles and some sports cars in the garage that was part of a private collection.
The time was now eleven o' clock, Bhadra and Noore had enough of fun and excitement. They the more responsible of the residence in the homestead. Noore had to report early for her job at the polyclinic and Bhadra wanted to cook breakfast for them early then join the orphans for an outing.
Ajay, Saras and Maya went to the inns pub for a late night drink. After playing scissors-paper-rock with the two which he outright lost, it was decided that Ajay was their designated carer if the two ever got drunk. His maximum was half a glass.
Pushing the swinging doors of the entrance aside, they found the pub to be filled with people from and outside the valley. The Condotierri and Hunters were there as well, having a meal and drinking merrily.
"There they are! The MCs of tonight!" Ricardo called out to which everyone cheered for their arrival with joy and applause.
"Oh my…." Saras chuckles at the red intoxicated faces of the men and women, Ajay wasn't bothered and smiled wryly as he walked towards the bar counter seats which were the only seats available.
"Hi."
"Usual, my lord?" The proprietress of the inn who was managing the pub at this time inquired.
"Half for me. I'm taking them back later." Ajay turned to Maya and Sara who were having a drinking game it seemed with Stella. The proprietress went over to fix his drink, Ajay looked to the other side of the table.
Bipin happened to be at the seat next to him, indulging heavily on the gin that seemed to be the second bottle he'd drunken himself.
"Blight drinking are we?"
He was already slump against the table on one side of his cheek resting on it as he struggled to poured out another cup. Ajay reached out to take the bottle from him, at first he thought Ajay was depriving him of his drink but saw him pour it into his shot cup and hand it to him.
"We won't get another opportunity like this, it's better to let it all pour out then keep it in." Bipin received the cup and waved it to him in thanks before gulping it down.
"Ajay….."
"Yes?"
"….. I want a transfer."
"May I have a reason?"
Bipin took effort to pour another glass on his own this time.
"You're an incontrollable freight train. We can never catch up to you because you move beyond running speeds and when you do stop its not by your intentions but rather because of an opposition that threatens to derail you. At this rate you'll surely die!"
"….."
"I know you know what I'm talking about, but you don't understand any of us! How we felt when you were captured by De Pleur….. how we sat and watch you almost die in the arena! Was there a need for any of this to begin with? To push yourself ahead of everyone else?"
"It's called leadership. I have thousands behind my back, whatever mistake I make translates to hundreds dead."
"It's foolhardy and reckless! You think that by taking the heat you're saving us from suffering but you're stripping us of our pride in our own abilities!... And when you truly fall… We can only blame ourselves for our lack of fortitude and skill."
"… Thanks for worrying for me, Bipin…." Ajay wasn't angry with him, he understood that he was likely this way due to the alcohol, Bipin was telling him his true feelings towards his behavior. Seeing that Ajay didn't get worked up by his attempt to provoke him he went back to his drink.
"You really are like your sister, drinking when you feel down." Ajay smiled as he poured the liquor into the cup for him and a cup for himself that he drank.
"…. She's not my sister…"
"Pffffttt!" Ajay spat out the liquor when he heard him declare such an unexplainable thing. While he was only murmuring, Ajay heard it perfectly word for word.
-Maya's not your sibling?!-
"..W-What do you mean…? Speak!" Ajay demanded as Bipin looked like he was about to fall asleep.
"She was….. ado…pt…. father brought her in one…day….." strength left Bipin and he fell slump to the floor but Ajay's quick reflex caught him before that happened. When he pulled him up and rested on the table, he found him already sound asleep like a log.
"…. What the hell…" Bipin had just thrown a bomb at him that was completely uncalled for, would he wake up remembering what he told Ajay and freak, or should Ajay just pretend he didn't hear what he just said?
Ajay turned his gaze towards Maya whom was having a friendly social gathering with some of the town ladies as well, along with Saras and Stella. Either way, Maya was technically part of the Kadayat family, from the many accounts from Arjun, Maya, Samar and Bipin himself, Maya had kept the family raised in the most difficult of situations. Even if it was only her and Bipin, she had every right to call herself a Kadayat, so Ajay's view towards Maya's existence as a Kadayat didn't change.
"Hey!" Ricardo called out as he came over to the table to return the empty glasses to the proprietress over the bar counter.
"What's happening? Um- Shangri-lager please!" Ricardo asked before calling for another pint of lager from over the counter.
"Nothing." Ajay turned to watch the girls again, pondering about his previous thoughts.
"So which one takes your fancy?" He pointed out bluntly. Somehow, Ricardo got the wrong idea that he was interested in one of them and began talking about them.
"….." For some reason, he didn't feel like correcting him about his assessment and wanted to see how it would play out. There was some intention behind Ricardo socializing with him when it was very rare that it usually happened at all.
"Say, Boss. What do you think my chances are with Stella?"
-So it turned out to be this.-
Truth be told, this was the first time he was aware that Ricardo had a thing for Stella. But then it was also staring right in his face. Ricardo had spent the most time patrolling or doing duties with her, at first he thought they had some sort of symbiotic relationship due to camaraderie. Now it was starting to make sense.
"What's your overall history with her actually?"
Seeing that Ajay was willing to somehow lend his input on his advancement in relationship he happily told him of their history. At the moment, the rest of the condotierri were having a singing contest with Anish and Hurk. Anish always seemed to click well with others, Hurk was their student/intern.
The story of their status as dishonorably discharged paratroopers began in seven years ago in the Lebanon War during a confrontation with the local Hezbollah fighters who mistook them for invading IDF formations. They came under intense fire from the houses and called for extraction, but by that time the other UN peacekeeping troops had left the immediate zone. Samson shouted into the radio for any form of fire support from the nearby IDF artillery battalion instead of relying on his superior. From Ricardo's account, their Commandant wasn't the most reliable person out there and was posted to their battalion just to clock time serving in Folgore before climbing up the ranks to a higher position that was afforded to him. Samson's action threatened his competence and integrity as their leader and would make those at home question his leadership qualities. So he jammed their communication in the area, hoping for the Hezbollah to finish them off. Which they didn't, and through Samson's diplomatic attitude he managed to convince the Hezbollah they were here on UN duties. When they headed back and charged the superior, someone from the High Command was watching over him instead and during the trial had convinced the judge to favor their incompetent superior. Samson was charged with insubordination, the rest decided to leave the paratroopers because they lost belief in the system that favors the elite few over the many.
Ricardo wasn't actually interested in joining Samson like the rest, but when Stella quit he decided to chase after her instead of staying on. He received quite a reprimanding from her for leaving like her it was especially different in Ricardo's case as he was a commission officer like Samson who had a career ahead of him, but she was no better.
"When you do somehow hook up with her I suggest you write a romantic novel about it."
"Yeah! I think I should!" Ricardo and Ajay shared a laugh.
"There's nothing stopping you from getting to know her better personally. Propose to take her out to a nice spot you found, bring some scotch or brandy for a drink. Give a pretext, maybe say it was thanks for all the things she'd done for you over the years. From there, see how things work out in the future, but I'm sure you'll have the confidence to work things out after that."
Ricardo looked at him amazed, Ajay gave him a very analytical assessment of his situation and a useful suggestion to add to it.
"Where did you learn to be such a player?" Ricardo patted him on the back cheerfully.
"From my senior, my high school senior. We knew each other since junior high. Though that was a long time ago…. And I'm not a player."
Ajay wondered how she was doing after their separation, she left for LA without returning any reply but then, Ajay had to more important things to deal with, such as his mother's cancer then death and last will.
"Ok! That's fine, thanks for the advice!" Ricardo dashed towards the group of ladies excitedly to put Ajay's words into action, without planning beforehand might he add. It was pretty comical to watch him being laughed at by the other girls with Stella, she seemed to accept his proposal to which he fist-pumped the air in victory. Causing the ladies and Ajay to snigger at his all too obvious behavior, Saras turned her head towards where Ajay was as she realized it was he who had some part in Ricardo coming over. She left her seat which has quickly occupied by Ricardo with his thanks, the man was smooth talking his way with the group as if he hardly needed Ajay's encouragement at all.
"Playing the matchmaker are you?" She said as she sat next to him.
"I'm hardly the person to talk to in those situations, I just lent him my honest opinion. He seemed to already possess the skills to help him talk with Stella." Saras lightly chuckled.
"If he really was able to do what he did then how does it explain him going to seek advice from you first?"
"….."
Ajay knew what she meant, even so he didn't see himself as a person with fantastic social skills and charisma, in fact he was the complete opposite.
"What about you?"
"Hm?"
"You moved out to give Ricardo a chance to sit next to her and talk did you not?"
"….. Touché, then." She smiled.
"Lady boss! Two glasses of that nice 15-year scotch, please."
"Sure, anything for milord!" The proprietress responded as she went to the shelf to retrieve her revered liquor by everyone else.
"What's the occasion?"
"Think of it as a reward for all the effort you and 3rd Company have put into at "the site"."
Ajay handed her the glass filled with the revered scotch. "Cheers." (Click)
Ajay gulped down the glass while Saras took hers slowly.
"Um-… Ajay. There's something I'd like to-….."
"Hmmm?"
"N-No…. nothing, it'll be alright." Her change of heart in telling him something important made him wonder what she had intended to tell him. Ajay decided to let it go, he was sure she'd tell him when she felt like it.
"Less worry, tonight is the one exception to the trials we'll have ahead of us later." Saras nodded agreeing to what he said and held her cup to receive the liquor which he poured. He did the same for himself.
"Aren't you already at you're given limit?" She said reminding him who was bringing them back if they were too drunk to walk home.
"Gimme a break!" Ajay and Saras laughed together and shared more as they talked about their family history. Saras spoke about the significance the Roka clan had in with the protection of the Royal Family, also some details on Ghales' origin which held the same rank as theirs.
The night went on with the patrons merry making and drinking all to the benefit of the proprietress's pockets which were filled with cash by now. Her husband, the owner of the inn took over as she turned in for the night.
The swinging doors flung open alerting every one of the newly arrived disruptive presence.
"The hell is you-!"
"Is Lord Badala here?!" The Royal Army dispatch courier asked urgently. Everyone who saw his desperate expression quieten down as it seemed important enough that he'd ask for Ajay.
"Over here." Ajay waved from the seat, mentally preparing himself for what the courier had to deliver to him.
"Urgent dispatch from High Command, my lord!" He hurried over to pass the slip of paper to Ajay. Ajay picked the telegram slip from the courier and read it.
His eyebrows frowned at the message.
"What's the matter? What's so important?" Saras asked, Ajay handed her the slip of paper.
"Baghadur is being attacked."
The Golden Path had unsuccessfully tried to enter Baghadur in the dark of the night and tried to lay siege upon it but were nowhere near capturing the walls. The Mukti Tigers had been watching their movements for the past three days and anticipated the attack to come around this time, it was a matter of how would they combat this bold strategy laid out by Sabal's commanders. Which was by practicing an even bolder plan of action to keep the Golden Path warriors out or at least wear out this particular group of troops to lose confidence in furthering their attempt to take Baghadur and ending the Mukti Tigers' occupation of the Northern part of the Pacchim Valley.
And who was the devisor of this audacious plan, her name was Amita. But she had in fact learnt this strategy from Badala.
From her experience in that surprise attack from Ratu Gadhi she understood the psychological impact it could pose for an invading force that had its sneak into the compound thwarted. Rather, it was Badala that opened her eyes to the multiple possibilities that were afforded in commanding a group such as the Mukti Tigers.
"Now they'll have a taste of what I felt then….." She monologue from the overseeing parapet.
"Kamala, concentrate efforts to keep them off the cliffs!" Amita said over the commander's radio.
*On it!* She responded quickly as she understood why what was getting at from her observation up on the walls where she fought. The Golden Path fighters tried to bunch up at the cliff near the walls to get breathing space from the automatic fire that was chopping them down in the open ground around the walls and at the bridge.
Baghadur only had a garrison of three hundred, as for where the rest of the Mukti Tigers were, they were spread out guarding the refugee camps and outposts that numbered up to eleven hundred warriors and growing. It grew because of the model which the Mukti Tigers stood for and also because Kamala was in their group. During her rise, Sabal had spent numerous amount of resources to publicize her as the hero of the Golden Path that defeated the Royal Guard Chief. Everyone knew who she was and what type of character she had which made her the hero they looked to for comfort in oppression. That symbol was taken by the Mukti Tigers or rather it defected to them and so did the peoples' overall support.
"Anulak report. How goes the flank attack?" The platoon she sent out earlier to attack the rear had not responded in a while. "Anulak?" There was no response from the small detachment sent to attack the Golden Path in the rear where the logistics were likely unguarded.
"Anulak! Anulak!"
*Your fellow traitor is dead.* She received a response from someone that wasn't her sergeant she dispatched from the small garrison within Baghadur. It was a voice she recognized better than most, a voice who annoyed her more than any other.
"Sabal."
*You had this coming, Amita.*
"I should be saying the same thing, you're a shameless bastard that attacks his own brothers and sisters!"
*You mean brothers and sisters that plot behind my back?!*
"Then what do you call yourself? Badala was right, you really are a pushover that lets the tides carry you. The only thing you own is your insatiable ambition but you lack the means so you have others to the work for you."
*I'm getting a lecture for you? Did you fall so low you had to whore yourself to Badala to get help?* Sabal laughed madly on the radio. Amita found his insult and foul language to be distasteful and not worth addressing.
"Ten Minutes till the QRF arrive, you'd better save it for running with your tail between your legs before you don't even have time to escape." Amita gave her last message to Sabal before offing the radio channel and switching back to Kamala.
"Kamala, hold out for nine more minutes. The Royal Army should arrive by then." Amita could confidently say so because the Royal Army 3rd and 5th Royal Heli-borne Dragoon Battalions had been performing routine collaborated exercises and emergency drills in the event the alarm was pressed and the stronghold was in danger of being overrun.
*Right! We'll do our best!* Then minimum response time was twenty minutes for the full force of five hundred trained soldiers came by helicopter. Baghadur just had that strategic importance that it couldn't fall into the Golden Paths hands because it watched over the Airport and the path immediately out of Banapur.
-I pray to Kyra they may not be too late…- Amita said a silent prayer.
Ajay stamped his feet impatiently within the helicopter, the accompanying troops were at a loss of what to do with him. They were five minutes away from Baghadur.
Upon receiving the message from High Command, Ajay rushed to the Arsenal to get equipped, leaving everyone who was in no condition to fight in their drunken state behind. The helicopter that was laden with troops was waiting for him at the compound of the Arsenal.
He returned and hopped on board the chopper in full gear. His custom-made attire with the grappling gauntlet and bullet-proof vest, he wore the mask as he always did. His weapons consisted of the kukri he carried with him everywhere, a handgun, an assault rifle and the newest addition to his personal arsenal. The refurbished double-barreled rifle chambered in the special Yeti killing Nitro .700. Samar had personally worked on rebuilding it into a more shooting friendly device as it originally was a beast to handle. Under the influence of Rage, he hardly felt its actual arm bruising recoil so Samar tailored it into an over-under barreled rifle instead of the original side by side barrel configuration. The stock held an internal buffer piston to mitigate the felt recoil as much as possible. The extractors and breech was polished to increase the speed of reloading that deadly sabot slug. It turned out that the slug fragmented on impact upon something soft and became akin to a micro-grenade but still had the kick and characteristics of a normal slug that was already devastating.
Samar theorized it could shoot down helicopters as well as it kills Elephants or Rhinos in one hit. It was the most powerful weapon in his hands at the moment.
"My lord, reports assess over seven hundred Golden Path warriors have besieged Baghadur currently. Is it really necessary for your lordship to be present where it could have been left to us?" The Captain of the 1st Company of the two battalions inquired.
He had good reason to ask as he and his Battalion had been training with the Mukti Tigers and the QRF drill to the Stronghold every day for two weeks.
"The fact that they dared to bring only seven hundred to attack a stronghold tells you they're confident in taking it before we arrive or have a way to repel us." Ajay's reply made the troops uneasy when he shared his concern, because it made perfect sense.
Arjun wouldn't just call for him to manage the reinforcement of the Mukti Tigers as and when he wanted. It was serious enough to warrant his action on the field.
His thoughts were centred around the safety of Kamala, she was just as important to him as the Mukti Tigers. Kamala was one of the few people whom he recognized as a reason to take responsibility for the people under the Golden Paths domain and within the Golden Path. That they were worth saving because in light of all the madness there were a few people who believed in good for the people and the organization.
Ajay recalled the times he spent patrolling with Kamala. Back then he still possessed a vengeful spirit towards the higher echelons of the Golden Path and Sabal and was considering assassinating them on a few occasions. The security was almost negligible back then, and they all stayed in one villa which he could just seal and burn down. That would have sent the Golden Path into anarchy and the old guard had no choice but to step in, but then those self-entitled twats wouldn't lead men to needlessly die when they were gone. The old guard would maintain its non-offensive stance but that was all.
-Should I have brought her to the Valley then? But then Amita would've had trouble recruiting without her charisma and being in the Valley instead of where her kin were might make her feel caged rather than protected.-
Kamala had also been a very special friend to him, one of the very few he had for a long time that didn't judge him based on his status as Badala, Ajay Ghale or Soren. She could be silly at times, due to her clumsiness but she would laugh at it and continue on with the best effort that she could give. She was honest, too honest for her own good. But it was what inspired people to be like her, the ideal of the Golden Path.
Ajay knew that the Golden Path and the people that led it had been anything but what they preached to the population. Mohan, Sabal, Amita when she was still part of them. They all held personal ambition behind their intentions. One wanted to rule through authority, one by tradition, and one through commerce.
"My lord, we've reached the outskirts of Baghadur." The captain reported as the troops opened the compartment doors allowing the cool air to rush in. They sat on the ledge ready to jump off when the helicopter landed.
From far he could make out the garrison at Baghadur weren't doing very well at this stage, although there were plenty of Golden Path warriors lying around the outside of Baghadur the Mukti Tigers had been pushed all the way to the stairs towards the inner sanctum of the complex. Smoke bellowed from the wall which had been breached at the side, allowing the warriors to enter and attack the garrison directly. For some reason Ajay's heart started to palpitate as he had a bad premonition about the Tigers' predicament and about Kamala's wellbeing.
"Pilot! Bring us over the compound, hurry!" Ajay ordered their pilot to which he dived quickly to the destination that Ajay pointed out.
-Please make it in time!-
Kamala and her guarding garrison within the walls of Baghadur fought like it was their Alamo. The Golden Path were swarming the area around the walls and river. Thankfully there were no vehicles with mounted weapons available to the Golden Path forces whom crossed the mountains that could only be ventured by foot. At most, they brought mortars that seemed to stop raining when Sergeant Anulak attacked the flank. Kamala was not sure of his current outcome, because the attacks were getting fiercer. She hoped he was alright.
"Kamala! They just keep coming! We're sustaining heavy casualties; we might not be able to keep this up!"
"Just hold on for six more minutes! The Royal Army QRF should be here by then!"
The Golden path were really pushing for one last desperate attempt to take the stronghold to hold out against the Royal Army Dragoons that were on their way at any moment. If they failed, they'd have to run for the protection of the forest and back whence they came with the Dragoons hot on their tail, so would die from being gunned down while running that was why everyone was dedicated to beating the Mukti Tigers. A turning point helped to bring them closer to victory in the form of a shaped charge planted against the wall to their left.
(BOOOM)
A hole in the wall appeared which caused the Tigers to wear looks of concern, but they didn't dally as they stood ready to face the invaders.
"Fall back to the compound!" Kamala called out to the fighters on the wall, they obediently followed her in dismounting the wall to hold out behind the sandbags in the centre of the compound. The snipers provided cover for them to reach the barricades. There they fought the Golden Path warriors that entered through the breach and tried to surround them in the compound. Some of them went towards the gate, hoping to open it from inside for the rest of their companions outside.
"Focus fire! The gate!" Kamala saw their move in advance and ordered a heavy volume of fire to cut down the fighters that tried to ruin their day further.
Kamala's group fought till there were only twenty standing, the rest were escorted to the sanctum to receive first aid, on the floor in need of aid or dying. Another breach occurred near the walls of the first to allow yet more to enter, the Golden Path quickly put pressure on Kamala's group till they chose to abandon the compound for the heavily fortified steps towards the inner sanctum where they would likely butcher all the wounded warriors and non-combatants inside.
"It's time, where are they?!" The warriors started to get frantic as reinforcements had yet to show itself.
"They'll be here!" Kamala said adamantly with assurance. They stood with Kamala through thick and thin, her words were guaranteed so they ignored their inner voice for self-preservation for their team mates. That was until he came.
As the yard seem to be empty of Golden Path warriors, the ones inside had died but the rest outside weren't coming through except for that person that entered on his own. It wasn't hard to make out his appearance to know he was a foreigner.
"Kill him!" Kamala called out to the dumbfounded garrison warriors. They quickly snapped out of their stupor and fired at him.
He skillfully leaped into cover before the bullets started to pepper the ground where he was, then the cold-blooded killing began.
(Bang) (Bang) (Bang)
Those shots were in quick succession but they weren't pot shots they were dead centre hits on three warriors near Kamala. She saw the real danger that had befallen their group, her feet shivered but turning around would mean the death of the rest of her comrades that stood by her while she ran.
"Cover!" She shouted to her men and to wake her frozen feet from where she stood. They immediately went into cover. She knew at this moment, that man was likely taking this opportunity to advance.
"Suppr-(Splat)!" One of the warriors stuck his head out to shot back from cover and got hit with a precise shot to the head.
Kamala turned around to the high points to find that the snipers had long been dealt with, again it was by that man. Just what type of monster did Sabal bring with him to their home?
Her men were starting to succumb to fear as she was, they were pinned down against the sandbags as their only means of protection and concealment against that killer's marksman-like shooting.
Kamala knew that any second he would be upon them and they'd all lose the opportunity to fight back against him, she wasn't sure of his close combat prowess but if his shooting was this inhuman then his fighting could be the same. She made a gamble and stood up risking being shot, she tried to aim her weapon at the man but found that he had his rifle already pointed at her.
At that moment, she felt the rifle was about to cut her life thread. She would die like all the others in Baghadur and the Golden Path would step over and desecrate their bodies. After all she did, working her hardest for others like her to have a place they could call home, so that the people who suffered under the oppression from De Pleur and Sabal could find asylum under their protection. The refugees hiding within the inner sanctum, her friends lying wounded seeking treatment. All helpless, but not as helpless as she was now. Time slowed to the point she could harbor these thoughts, she wondered if she was truly fated to die now.
-Bhadra… Soren…. I'm sorry, your friend is heading off first…- Kamala closed her eyes ready to embrace death at the hands of another. A tear fell from her eye, it held the regret of not seeing her dear friends one last time.
(Bang)
The sound shot off, but the bullet never came, she half-opened her eye to find that man turn on reflex with his rifle raised parallel to his body to block something.
An impact was what made that sound, the sound of a blade smashing against the metal receiver of the rifle the foreigner held. Had he not turned around he would have been chopped in two by the one holding that kukri. The blade passed through the rifle towards the man's head but he quickly dodged and back stepped holding half of his rifle in each hand. The one that broke his focus was-
"Badala!" A companion answered in surprise in place of her.
He saw the Mukti Tigers, saw Kamala in a pinch but his helicopter had yet to reach their destination so he jumped out and used his wingsuit to reach the rest of the way. He held out his kukri with the momentum of his flight to cleave that bastard in half. But he wasn't expecting this quick a reaction from him. Ajay stood between them and the foreigner whom drew a machete from his scabbard and stood at the ready to receive whatever was thrown at him.
"Soren…." Kamala murmured.
Ajay kicked off the steps as he leaped towards the assailant with fleet-footedness.
Ajay swung his kukri with all the fury in his swing. Determined to not only parry aside that blade he held but to take off the head off the one that nearly ended Kamala's life.
Author's notes:
Good news for me. I've manage to finalise the plot that i've been working for some time, hopefully the chapters ahead will be much smoother. Though unlikely, I may speak and write english as my 1st language but that doesn't make me the literature king.
