Chapter 11: The Calm Before the Storm.
The dim light of the command tent flickered over the faces of those gathered, their expressions hardened with the knowledge that the coming hours would test them all. Ava and Talon stood among their fellow Sentinels, along with Miko and the key team leaders of the Arbor Defense Force (ADF). Commander Sterling, standing over the map table, looked around the room before addressing the gathered force.
“We’ve been taking heavy losses to this Reclaimer force,” Sterling began, his voice low but carrying the weight of his words. “We lost a whole unit a few days ago. No communication, no survivors... nothing. We have to assume they’re all dead at this point.”
The atmosphere in the tent grew colder, the gravity of those words hanging heavy in the air. The mention of fallen brothers and sisters sent a ripple through the crowd. Every Sentinel and ADF member understood the price of failure, and it wasn’t lost on any of them that their numbers were already stretched thin.
“But now, we have a better understanding of their tech and their tactics,” Sterling continued, his tone shifting slightly as a small glimmer of hope emerged. "This might give us the edge we need. We can't afford to be on the back foot any longer."
With that, he gestured to the Reclaimer tech specialist they had captured earlier, who stood under guard at the edge of the tent. His name was Keith,—a man whose life depended on the information he could provide. The guards escorted him forward to the map, where Keith hesitated for a moment, clearly aware of the eyes on him.
Commander Sterling nodded toward him, his voice cold but firm. “Tell them what you told me.”
Keith swallowed hard, stepping closer to the table. His fingers traced the lines of the map as he began to speak, his voice uncertain at first, but steadying as he explained. “The Reclaimers are moving a convoy through this area,” he said, pointing to a path marked with a rough, dotted line. “They’re transporting supplies and personnel to reinforce their forward operating base—here.” His hand moved to a heavily marked location, surrounded by ridges and dense terrain.
He looked up, meeting the eyes of the soldiers around him. “The FOB is heavily fortified. They’ve been using tech—drones, jammers, and advanced targeting systems. They’ve been able to knock out your radios, disrupt communications, and paint targets from the air for precision strikes.”
A murmur passed through the group, a mix of anger and concern. Sterling stepped forward again. “This convoy is their weak point. If we hit it hard, we can cripple their ability to resupply and reinforce their base. We’re going to hit the convoy first.”
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
Sterling’s eyes then shifted to Talon. “Talon, I want you and the other scouts to lay some traps—set IEDs. Take out the lead vehicles. Once that first vehicle is disabled, we hit them.”
Talon nodded, his expression serious and focused. “We’ll make sure they don’t get through.”
Sterling then turned to Ava. “Ava, I need you and the ADF to hit them as soon as Talon’s team springs the trap. You’ll move in with the rest of the Sentinels and sweep them. This needs to be quick and decisive.”
Ava nodded firmly, her resolve clear. “We won’t let them breath.”
The tent was quiet for a moment, the weight of the mission hanging over everyone. The losses they’d sustained, the knowledge that their brothers and sisters had been wiped out just days before, weighed on them all. But now, they had a plan—a way to hit back.
Sterling’s voice cut through the silence. “This is our chance to push back and cripple them. We can’t afford to miss it. Remember who we’re fighting for—those we lost, and those still waiting for us back home.”
As the briefing ended, Ava and Talon stepped out of the command tent, the weight of the mission heavy on their shoulders. Outside, the camp was a hive of activity. Sentinels and ADF troops moved with purpose, preparing for the assault ahead.
Ava paused near a group of ADF soldiers loading up their gear. “This is more than just a mission,” she said quietly to the group. “We’ve lost people. Good people. We’re not going to let their deaths be for nothing. Today, we hit them where it hurts.”
The soldiers, somber but resolute, nodded in agreement. The mood was one of quiet determination—there was no room for doubt now.
Miko approached, checking his rifle and adjusting his gear. “They’ve trained for this,” he said, his voice steady but serious. “The Reclaimers might have tech, but we’ve got the terrain, and we’ve got each other.”
Ava turned to him, her expression resolute. “And that’s what’s going to make the difference.”
She continued through the ranks, offering brief words of encouragement and exchanging nods with the soldiers. Every face she saw reminded her of the stakes. This was more than just another battle—it was personal.
As they approached Talon, who was overseeing the final preparations for the vehicles, Ava rested a hand on his shoulder. “You ready for this?” she asked, her voice steady.
Talon’s usual smirk was gone, replaced by a look of focused intensity. “Ready as ever. We’ll take out the lead vehicles and funnel them straight into you.”
Ava gave a short nod, her voice soft but firm. “Let’s make sure they don’t know what hit them. And remember—everyone’s got your back out there.”
Talon clapped her on the shoulder, a grin finally breaking through. “Always do. Let’s show them what Sentinels are made of.”
With the final preparations in place, the convoy of vehicles roared to life. Engines hummed, and the soldiers fell into formation, ready to move out. Ava’s voice cut through the noise, strong and commanding, “Move out! Keep sharp, and watch each other’s backs. We’re not just fighting for ourselves—we’re fighting for those we’ve lost.”
The convoy rolled out, dust rising as they moved toward the intercept point. The night was still, but every soldier could feel the storm that was coming.