Eric and Benitez sat together with Benitez's platoon in their own staging area. His men were given 24 hours rest, with each man agreeing to go back to work with the battalion. They had already experienced the hell of trying to survive alone. Sadly, one of the wounded soldiers had not made it.
"So, tell me exactly what happened, Benitez?" Eric said as he sat down at his desk. His arms crossed as he waited for the man's story.
"Well, Master Sergeant, we were doing weapons qual out on Range 42. I was talking to my LT when suddenly we saw that bright flash of light, and found ourselves in that forest. The next thing my guys and I knew, those creatures were engaging us from all sides."
Eric sighed as the pieces were coming together. That flash of light had done "something." To bring this unit to Brishan. "Very well. You will be put on rotation with Echo company. Make sure to link up with First Sergeant Clesan when your platoon is cleared for duty." He stood up, patting the man on his back. "Good work keeping those boys alive out there Benitez." He said as he went to go brief Commander Milano.
Walking into the command tent, Eric paused with confusion etched on his face. Ever since arriving in this world, the battalion command tent had an open wave radio on, it was scanning for radio signals and potential chatter. Every staff officer was standing in front of the radio as snippets of communication they should not have been hearing were coming in short waves. "And in Killeen the rain should…"
The room was silent as they all turned to Milano, who was tapping his fingers on his desk. "I want officers on that radio at all times. Monitor the chatter, and report to me every 24 hours if you receive anything of significance. Something big is going on here ladies and Gentlemen. We need to be ready for it."
Milano then looked at Eric. "Dryer, report." Eric nodded as he turned from the radio to his commander. "Yes sir, Staff Sergeant Benitez reported that he was on the range when they were brought here after experiencing the same light we did." Eric said.
Milano paused after Eric finished his report. He looked to say something and address the room before a private burst into the room. "Sir! You're going to want to see this!" The private said before laying ten pictures side by side. "These are frame by frame pictures taken of a video the drone took." Milano's eyes narrowed as he took one look at the pictures. "Dryer, come here and look at these reports with me." Eric nodded before walking over. He nearly gasped out loud. In pictures one through three, the regular Brishan forest showed in the scans. In pictures four through ten, pieces of a gas station began to appear one by one.
A Buccees now stood in that forest.
"Dryer, take vehicles to this location. We need to get eyes on it, and if there are civilians, we need to rescue them now."
Eric swallowed his shock and nodded to his commander. "Yes sir."
Eric gathered a quick reaction force as quickly as possible under the time constraints. He kissed Mia on the head while walking out of his tent. "I will be back." He said while cupping her cheek. "You better." She responded gently, holding onto his vest before letting him go. He gathered the men and vehicles he felt were best. Speed and power were crucial here, so he had Humvees that were mounted with .50 cals congregate around the gates of Hood Hill.
"Alright, we have a gas station in the middle of a forest approximately 10 clicks out. Speed and lethality are crucial here. We ignore EVERYTHING except for our target." Eric said. "And gentlemen, pedal to the metal. Fuel is not more important than civilian life here."
The element was ready
Tires squealed and rumbled as the terrain fought against the convoy. They pushed their way through dense forests and thick under brush, following the map to where the gas station was located. "Master Sergeant!" A private yelled from the back as he pointed towards a group of Goblins. "Ignore them!" Eric yelled back as they pushed forward.
Suddenly, their location came to view, and one of the soldiers audibly gasped. Seeing was believing as the scene in front of them stood, a stark contrast against the dark forest. A red and yellow sign with a beaver on it stood brightly lit, as a parking lot full of empty cars stood parked neatly in rows. The gas pumps were still humming, and frightened civilians were crowded against the front doors, some taking pictures of the chaotic scene with their phones.
"Alright, pull up to the entrances! Ignore everything else except access points! I want vehicles scanning pumps 1-30, with over watch on the diesel trucks."
The soldiers spread out to follow his orders, moving rapidly in order to cover each entrance. Scared civilians ran towards the soldiers from the parking lot and fuel pumps, standing near where the trucks were setting up a perimeter.
Eric hopped out of his vehicle, which had parked closest to the front. He slung his weapon as he turned to his LT. "Make sure that overwatch is maintained. I will initiate contact with the civilians."
The LT nodded, calling out orders to the men. Soldiers piled out of vehicles, covering each access point from the forest. The building was secure.
Eric walked up to the front of the store. He stood near the doors as a man stepped out to meet him. "Sir... are you really US Military?" The man said, his eyes wide. "We are all scared here. Everything glowed bright orange, and then we were suddenly here. Whats going on?"
Eric sighed as the man's words came at him in rapid fire. He waved his hand to calm him down. "Sir, I assure you everything is okay and under control. I am indeed from the US Army. I was stationed out of Fort Hood with 1st Cav division."