AN- Oddly enough, this is the first installment that actually has to do with a military operation on a large scale. No real action...yet. But definately in the next chapter.

Read, enjoy, and review!

OPERATION: RETRIEVAL

"Shit, why do they have to be here?" "If they hadn't screwed up in the first place, no one would have had to deal with this situation." "Guys, shut up, he might hear you." "What are the casualties?" "Twelve dead, forty-three wounded." "Including their casualties?" There was dark laughter. "Oh, yeah. I forgot. Make that twenty-two dead, forty-three wounded."

Sergeant Michael Âmul, son of the renowned David Âmul, ignored the whispers as he always did. Because of the fact that the Black Guard only had operational authority in situations involving the royal family, they weren't seen much. As a result, the regular Durvagorian Army resented them. They felt as though the Black Guard was spoiled and not as good as the regulars, even though the Black Guard only accepted the very best of any military force. Unfortunately, this did not make them immune from failure.

Michael stopped just in front of the large group of Durvagorian regulars, gripping the stock of his M14 tightly, glad that his Kevlar balaclava hid his annoyance from view. The weight of his k-pot rested reassuringly atop his head. "What we have here is a hostage situation," he shouted, voice booming across the ruined square of Osgiliath that their base camp had been set up in. Not more than two hundred yards away the third eldest daughter of Aragorn was being held against her will by an armed force.

Cothiel had been taken some two days prior. The Third Black Guard Operational Squad had been in charge of watching over her. It was without exaggeration that the resulting battle to deny her capture cost the enemy more than two hundred of their men. Unfortunately all ten men and women of the Third perished. Most of them were friends of Michael's.

Regardless, he wasn't interested in revenge. He was a trained soldier, as were all members of the Durvagorian Army. The troops of the Third knew the risks of being Black Guards. They knew that they could very well die in service. Michael knew it as well, and could cope with the loss of his friends. He would mourn them, in his own time and fashion. He had a job to do first.

A Durvagorian Captain came up and extended his hand. Michael grasped it firmly and shook it with one quick jerk. They didn't have to like each other, just put up with each other for what would hopefully be a short while. "Captain Dushak, commanding officer of the Second Durvagorian Battalion."

"Sergeant Âmul, leader of the Ninth Black Guard Operational Squad." The handshake ended. "Now that the pleasantries have been concluded, what's the sit-rep?"

"Sergeant," the Captain ground out. "Don't exceed your authority limit. I outrank you."

Michael smirked. "Not any more. Not only did King Elessar give me complete authority in this situation, Lord Donovan did too. You are to provide back-up after my unit goes in for infiltration and hopefully retrieval."

Dushak scoffed. "And what makes you think that you won't screw up like the Third did?"

Michael froze at that, his polarized goggles hiding the shock he felt…and the anger. "Screw up? What the fuck do you mean 'screw up'? Screw up is where you lose twelve men and have another forty-three wounded without killing at least twice that number in enemies, Captain! The Third killed twenty times their number and wounded enough of the rest of the enemy force that they had to hole up in Osgiliath! That's a fucking victory compared to what you've done here!"

Michael had overstepped his bounds and he knew it. He cursed as the Captain blew his lid. "Sergeant Âmul!" the Durvagorian roared. "I demand to see your papers as well as the documents that give you authority here!"

"What the fuck, sir! Cothiel's time is running out, and yet you still find the time to be a jackass!" He pulled open one of his pockets jerkily. "That's a member of the royal family out there! Yet you can't get past the petty prejudices between our branches!" He pulled out the sheaf of parchment and shoved it into the Captain's hands. "There, you prick." Without waiting another moment, Michael pushed past the officer. He really did need to get to the princess before something happened to the Lady.

Once the Captain grabbed his shoulder, Michael snapped. "Wait a minute, I have to get these checked ou-" but before the Captain could finish what he was saying, Michael grabbed the Captain's hand in a bone-crushing grip and flipped him over his shoulder. The Captain hit the ground with a very loud grunt, and Michael had his hands cuffed behind him in seconds.

"Sir, I regret to inform you that you are under arrest under the charge of hindering an operative under direct order of the High King Elessar. You will be provided with a military aid who will act as your lawyer during your court martial. Failure to comply will result in your expulsion of the Durvagorian Military and will possibly result in your termination!" Michael looked up at the Captain's bodyguard. "You are placed with the authority to watch over this prisoner. If he escapes or is aided in any way that can result in his escape, you will be arrested on the charge of assisting a royal prisoner. If you are found guilty, you will be summarily shot. Do you understand and comply with these orders?"

The soldiers looked at each other warily before they turned back towards Michael. He waited for their answer with baited breath. After all, if they refused, he couldn't do anything about it. He was probably in deep enough shit as it was. One did not usually arrest a high-ranking officer on a whim. At least he could count on Donovan for help. But now he had to deal with the situation at hand.

Dushak had a reputation of being a hard-ass, and supposedly his troops resented him. If they resented him to the point where they would help Michael, then he was clear. If they didn't, well then he had a problem. "Sergeant Âmul, we regret to inform you that we will not happily follow these orders," one of the soldiers, a corporal, said. "However, it is our duty to comply with the direct order of King Elessar. We will watch over the prisoner. Don't lose too many while rescuing the princess. Too many have died already."

Michael smirked, though they couldn't see it. He stood tall, and saluted. The troops saluted back. Without another word being said, Michael continued onward. It was time to rescue the princess…

TO BE CONCLUDED