TWO YEARS LATER
it's been a two year since I joined the military.
Those who had served their time were allowed to return.
And in this two years, I, Dae-seong and Ho-gu became surprisingly good friends.
And we three showed exceptional abilities during our training, making us the top three best recruits in our batch.
And within these two years, I fell in love with a beautiful girl named Anna.
she's from a wealthy family with close connection to the current general.
My dad once told me that having Important connections helps a lot.
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'News have been going around lately, that there's going to be a selection for the special operations forces.
This is an opportunity for me, an opportunity to go higher up the chain, to go on more important and thrilling missions.
And there's a huge pay.'
ON A LATER DAY
All those who were ranked top ten were called to the hall as we were introduced to the special recruiters.
We were given a written examination immediately after the introductions, and were subjected to strict surveillance during the exam
The exam was brain wrecking, the questions weren't just tricky, they tested loyalty, mentality and tactical intelligence.
Not giving us much time to rest after finishing, we were driven to a new location for a another exam.
As our vehicle came to a halt, we came out knowing this was our destination. A partially dense forest.
Our truck had stopped by the road dividing the forest.
We came out, and stood in a fine line by the left entrance of the forest.
The recruiters looked at each other, and nodded, seemly acknowledging our quick action.
One of them turned back to us, cleared his throat, and began speaking.
"This exam is a practical one, inside this forest there's a terrorist group keeping an hostage"
He paused, as if wanting us to understand the gravity of this, his voice came again
"Your mission is to locate and rescue said hostage. And your time starts now.
Hearing those words, we frantically rushed to the truck to gear up.
We strapped in our helmets, wore our vest, and loaded our guns, all in perfect, practiced, unison.
As we finished, our momentum seemed to slow down, and I couldn't let that happen.
"We should split up!, five go right, the other go left, radio in if you find the enemies camp"
I ordered, my voice firm with authority.
Noticing the weary looks on some faces, I spoke again
"Don't be stupid to attack the enemies camp without reinforcement, this isn't a game."
At my words, a few faces dropped, looking at the ground, probably watching an ant's life.
As the five were about to leave, Anna winked at me, her beautiful smile, resonating in me, her shimmering blonde hair, though tugged partially in her helmet, gave a rough, yet smooth beauty.
"Hey"
"Hey!"
"Dae-seong I think he's lost!, again"
A small chuckle escaped Dae-seong lips
While Ho-gu had a large smile, as he elbowed Dae-seong, to keep his attention on me.
I watched Anna slowly disappear into the forest with the other five before turning my attention back to my team.
"Okay guys, let's go"
"Look at him, he's trying to brush that off, haa"
Ho-gu spoke almost laughing.
"He probably wanted to follow her"
Dae-seong added with a teasing tone.
The other two teammates looked at each other in silence, and one of them, Hayoon, was tapping his feet, he was pacing.
Noticing this, I spoke, my expression becoming serious
"Okay guys, we need to move, we've wasted to much time"
"We?"
Ho-gu spoke with a tone of defiance, but before he could start an argument, I shot him a cold look, the ones that leaves no room for argument. And thankfully he didn't argue further.
We moved swiftly through the forest, but we weren't just moving through, we were looking for, foot tracks, disturbed bushes, and even the faintest trace of human settlement, but strangely there was none.
"I think..."
Kang Joon paused, catching his breath, before continuing.
"I think we're in the wrong side"
A tired sweat rolled down his face.
"It seems"
Ho-gu agreed
I stayed silent, my brain, working furiously, trying to come up with our next course of action.
'Crack!!'
"Come in!!!, Come in!!!"
Anna's voice came in from my radio, though it was heavy with urgency, it still sounded serene, even through a radio.
"Shit!!!, is this thing even working?
Anna's voice came again, along with a few smacking sound.
In the background, gunshots were audible.
"Anna I can hear you!!!, speak!!!"
I yelled, with a sudden urgency and worry.
Anna's voice came again, sounding more relieved now.
"We made contact with the terrorists!, these fools attacked head on, and are in a shoot out now!"
"Alright stay put!!, we are coming!!"
I replied already on the move with my team.
"Alright, see you"
And with that, the signal was cut off.
We ran at full speed, yet in an organised formation.
"Okay guys, listen!, our plan now, is to infiltrate the enemies camp, using the current chaos, I can't give details yet, as I haven't seen their camp's layout"
I spoke, bit rushed, as my gears were spinning at full speed, praying for Anna's safety, as I wasn't really full of Goodluck.
~~~~~~
It didn't take long for us to find Anna, and when she saw me, she ran towards me at her peak speed, her hands wide open for a hug, and upon reaching me, she jumped and hugged me tightly, almost squeezing me.
"Anny!, I hope you aren't hurt"
I spoke, my voice, heavy with worry, and her silence only made it worse, I spoke again
"It's okay!, you can calm down!, I'm here"
I rubbed her back, trying to ease her tension.
She eventually released me, her face, though she had calm down, still showed a bit of fear, not just any fear, but the fear of "death".
'Damn, is it just me or she looks cute right now'
The thought came, and I immediately waved the thought cloud away, and focused on the situation.
Anna took a few breath and started briefing us on the situation.
After her explanation, my plan to infiltrate the enemies base, was the best course of action.
"Okay, this is what we are going to do, Kang Joon and Hayoon, both of you will go and provide support to Anna's team, try to drag the fight as best you can, while I, Ho-gu and Dae-seong, will infiltrate their base"
I spoke with undeniable charisma, I turned to Anna and continued.
"Anna, your role here, is to stay safe, and if you see things are becoming too dire, you can go and call the instructors."
Anna nodded at my words.
We moved according to plan, our actions filled with purpose.
I, Ho-gu and Dae-seong moved with perfect synergy, swift, yet measured, our rifles, pointed at every blind spot, corners, and a few terrorist, who were gunned down instantly.
We moved through the building, checking rooms after rooms. And soon we found the hostage, and two guards watching him.
We made quick work of the guards before they could even react
Released the hostage, and started the escorting process.
And In under a minute, we were out of the building.
"The Hostage as been secured!, retreat!"
I spoke over my radio, strapped to my vest.
"Okay!!!"
Kang Joon replied loudly, his voice overshadowed by rapid fires.
We moved through the forest, and to the truck by the road side with the instructors, without waiting for the others. it was the best course of action.
~~~~~~
At the others arrival my team was rewarded, full marks, for my quick thinking, and our team coordination.
Anna's team on the other hand, failed, they failed to listen to my warnings, attacked without strategy, and got hurt.
Only Anna passed, and that was because she had called for backup, before things went south.
We were driven back to camp, while those who got injured were taken to the hospital.
We were told to prepare our luggage, as we would be shifting camps.
Time flew by, and it was night now, I lied on my bed, for the last time, the earlier event, still fresh in my memory, a small smile crept on my face.
'This was, what I was looking for'
~~
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FOUR YEARS LATER
Four years passed in the blink of an eye.
And a lot happened within those years.
For the first two years, I worked on solo missions, with seventy nine successful missions, under my belt.
I was later on given a squad and made, it's captain.
"Phantoms", a squad made for speed, efficiency, and silence. I was given a chance to pick it's members, and of course, Ho-gu, Dae-seong, kang Joon, and Hayoon, were picked.
And not just because we were friends, but because each of them, became exceptional in something.
Ho-gu became an heavy weapon specialist, and a formidable boxer.
Dae-seong, became a melee weapons specialist
Hayoon, became a sniper.
and Kang Joon became a expert marksman.
~~~~~~~
Presently our squad has been called, for a mission. A confidential one.
We were briefed about the mission
A group of terrorist, called the "Exodus", attacked one of our research facility, and stole a very dangerous prototype.
The terrorists group were last spotted in China.
Our mission was to attack their assumed base, and retrieve the stolen prototype.
We were given two weeks to prepare ourselves, and strangely, I felt weird about this mission, maybe I'm just nervous.
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D-DAY
ON A HELICOPTER
"Okay guys, once we land we will have to take refuge at that abandoned construction site, we will prep up there and head over to the enemy's base afterwards to retrieve the asset, OKAY!"
I said loudly to ensure they heard me from the loud noise.
As everyone replied with enthusiasm "YES SIR!!!".
"Let's go guys!"
I ordered as the helicopter went lower to the ground.
We came down from the helicopter and ran towards the building
As suddenly we were getting shot at from the building.
"EVERYONE TAKE COVER BEHIND THOSE ROCKS!!!"
I shouted on top of my lungs, almost tearing it.
"It seems like the enemies knew we were coming"
Dae Seong shouted
"Yeah, what are we going to do now"
Ho-gu added
"they seem quite a lot.....
"WAIT!!!! am trying to think"
I interrupted loudly, before Kang Joon could complete his sentence.
As I continued looking at the building, it seems to be about twenty-nine people shooting,
we can't push foolishly, they have the advantage of been on higher ground.
Then an idea struck me
"Ho-gu please prepare our RPG"
I instructed
"Okay then buy me some time"
Hogu replied quickly
"Guys, let's cover for him"
I said loudly as my voice continued to be overlayed by rapid gunfires.
After short while of continuous gun fires Hogu was done as he then lunches it at the enemies continuously
While the rest of us used the chaos to run into the building.
Noticing we've made it through, he lunches one more before running to join us.
"Good job Ho-gu"
I complimented him with a small smile behind my mask, before turning to address my squad.
"Now, is our turn to strike back, it's time show these scums, the might of the Phantoms"
I spoke, my voice, carried vigour, fury, and authority.