BW: Impact Point FILE: 0122

“Can you tell me what happened back there, Stonehard?” Dr. August asked as he scribbled a few words in his notepad but in truth, he was just drawing circles and squares.

James remained stoic. He stared at the Doctor’s face for a brief moment before recalling everything what happened back in the jungles. “My team and I have completed Entry Procedures. We tracked our way according to the map and found the rebel encampment. Just as ordered, we carried out the extermination orders and successfully killed all of them.”

Dr. August studied his blank expression before replying. “The Post-Action reports stated that four of your men were wounded. Do you care to explain that?”

James glanced at the obscured window to his right before returning his glance to the Doctor. “The rebels, I thought they were dead. Seems like some of them were expecting us or maybe they were just coming back from patrol. That’s where they almost had us pinned. But our armors saved us.”

“I know,” Dr. August replied. “What happened next?”

“We tracked our way back to the E-Point. The Attack Chopper provided support fire. We repelled them. I know, we repelled them.”

“That only means that the mission is a failure.”

James didn’t reply. His gaze fell on the steel floor. He was guilty and angry at the same time. His fists visibly clenched, revealing inch long nerves. His knuckles whitened; his teeth gritted.

“No, I consider it a success.” James replied.

“An Observation Post in New Raizen was destroyed. A school containing sixty toddlers was detonated, and to make matters worse, the Xi Rebels openly declared a war when they captured delegates from Loshin IV in the Great Square building. How will you consider that a success?”

“Put us back on the field.” James said hatefully. He almost spat the words.

“I’m afraid, that’s impossible due to your unit’s recent failure. The HCG is considering the dissolution of Project Impact and let the Bladefire Infantry take over the matter.”

James didn’t reply. He wanted to break the Doctor’s face but he restrained himself. It will only make the matter worse.

“Until then.” Dr. August says as he stood to leave.

“Give us a second chance.” James said all of a sudden. August paused and looked at him pitifully.

“I’ll see what I can do.”


-------

Lance Corporal Dinh moved across the moss covered ground towards an open window. New Raizen’s archeologist team has found something worthy of discovery and their orders are to retrieve it. He moved closer to the window and propped his rifle against plinth. Peeking through the scope, he saw a group of archeologists closely guarded by armed guards in green camouflage uniform, resembling the color of their battle dress, except they have black balaclavas covering their entire faces.

Huge chunks of stones with weird inscriptions can be seen around the group. A lighting with a stand kept the vicinity illuminated. A few guards roved across the site, seemingly in high alert to any threats due to the attacks of Dinh’s faction.

He aimed his rifle at a guard’s head. He held his breath before squeezing the trigger. The suppressor prevented the shot being heard across the site. The guard dropped dead in an instant. One of his colleagues sees this and thought that his friend might have just been exhausted. Dinh fired a second time and the guard immediately dropped dead.

This was the signal to the entirety of Xi Rebels hiding in wait. They moved out of bushes, trees and moss-covered structures to lay fire against the guards and the archaeologists. Dinh assisted in the fight by putting down guards and, occasionally, archeologists.

Soon, the fight was over with the Xi Rebels suffering no casualties. Dinh moved to the exit of the building and walked out. The soil was wet and the air was cold. Light rainfall could be felt, although it seemed invisible to the naked eye. He met with the other rebels, who wore a surprised look on their faces.