Rescue

As the massive ships churn through the icy waters towards the operation site, the tension in the air is palpable. We’ve been moving for almost two days now, and still, the fog and haze of the storm loom heavy in every direction. It’s as if the world around us has been swallowed by the cloud. The sea is calm—too calm—but the cloud ahead, dark, endless, and impenetrable, casts a foreboding shadow over the operation. It’s as if we are about to step into the maw of some unseen beast, and every second that ticks by feels heavier than the last. The time for hesitation has passed.

I glance at the tactical display, watching as it flickers in and out of reliability. We’re close now, too close to turn back, and still, the veil before us stretches out like a massive, suffocating wall. We don’t have the luxury of time to second-guess. The mission has been set in motion, and we’re damn well going to see it through.

I turn to Lieutenant Aarohi, who is sitting next to me, her eyes glued to her tablet as she runs over the data again. It’s not good news, as expected.

"Signal Kranti’s communication center," I order, my voice steady but firm. "Tell them to send the air force as soon as we’re within range."

Aarohi acknowledges my command with a simple nod, fingers already flying across the tablet screen as she relays the message. I watch her for a moment. She’s efficient, precise—an officer who knows her duty.

Her eyes flick up to meet mine for a brief second before she reports. "Sir, we’re nearing the veil. The storm conditions are still worsening. We can’t rely on any sensor or radar data until we breach it."

I nod, acknowledging the situation. There’s no turning back now. "No other choice," I mutter under my breath. "We’ll get through this."

Aarohi doesn’t respond, but I can tell she understands the gravity of the situation. She’s been by my side for too long not to.

"I’m not sure how much the aircraft will be able to do in this situation," Aarohi says, her voice breaking through the silence. She taps on her tablet again, bringing up the weather data. "That cloud is too dense for them to gather any real intel. I don’t know if they’ll be able to do anything effective."

I glance at her, my expression hardening. "The air force isn’t for reconnaissance. They’re part of the show of force. We need to intimidate them into surrendering, not fight. If they think we’re willing to open fire, it may be enough to make them back down. The fewer casualties, the better."

Aarohi nods, her brow furrowing slightly. She knows the weight of what I’m saying. "Yes, sir."

"The other factions should have already arrived by now, holding their positions. This is a joint operation. Everyone’s got a stake in this," I continue. The world’s superpowers are all aligned on this mission, all aiming for the same goal: stopping the criminal faction that has been running operations in this area for far too long. If they’ve gotten wind of our approach, they’ll be preparing themselves. It’s a dangerous game, one that has no room for error.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

I turn back to the window, my mind racing over possible contingencies. I don’t like it, but there’s little we can do. We’re too far into the operation now to pull back. The mission must succeed, no matter the cost.

And then, a sudden shift in the air makes my instincts flare.

I turn my attention back to the view, my heart rate increasing slightly. Something is moving within the veil. It’s just a flicker at first, too small to identify, but as I focus, it grows clearer. Something is coming toward us, fast and purposeful.

"Alert the crew," I bark into the comms. "Something’s coming through the veil. Prepare for contact. Stay sharp."

Aarohi’s fingers fly over her tablet, trying to pull up anything useful, but the interference from the storm is too much. She shakes her head. "Nothing on the radar, sir. It’s not showing up."

I narrow my eyes, my pulse quickening. "Whatever it is, we can’t afford to take chances. All units, take aim! Ready your weapons. We’ll fire if necessary."

I don’t hesitate. This could be a trap, or it could be an attack, but I won’t let my crew be caught off guard. I hand over the command center to Lieutenant Karan and make my way to the deck. I need to be at the front, watching this unfold in real time.

As I step out onto the deck, the wind hits me hard. It’s cold, biting, the kind of wind that makes you feel alive. The ship’s engines hum beneath my feet, and I grip the mic tight in my hand. My voice carries over the deck, cutting through the stillness.

"This is Major Varun of the Bharat Navy! Halt your advance immediately! This is a restricted zone. If you do not comply, we will open fire!"

For a moment, nothing happens. The ship keeps moving forward, but at a much slower pace. The figures on the deck are hard to make out, but they’re there, and they’re moving in a way that doesn’t look like a retreat. There’s a hesitation, like they’re not sure whether to stop or push through.

"Hold your fire!" I shout. "Let’s see what they do."

I squint against the wind, trying to make out the figures better. They’re waving. I can barely make out their faces through the mist, but there’s something about them. They don’t seem hostile—just… confused.

I’m about to give the order to open fire when Aarohi’s voice comes through my earpiece, urgent but calm.

"Sir, it’s them. The rescue squad. Their faces match the data we received. It’s them. They’ve made it."

Relief floods through me. "Understood. Stand down, everyone. Lower your weapons."

The ship finally slows to a halt at a safe distance from us. A man steps forward, and he shouts at the top of his lungs. "Hello, sir! I’m Lieutenant Benjamin, US Navy! I’m the leader of this rescue mission!"

I breathe a sigh of relief. For a moment, it feels like the weight of the world has been lifted off my shoulders. Finally, some good news. I step forward, a small but genuine smile tugging at the corner of my lips.

"Lieutenant Benjamin," I call out, my voice steady. "Major Varun, Bharat Navy. Welcome aboard."

As Benjamin salutes me, Aarohi steps forward as well, offering her own greeting. She introduces herself briefly, and I see her eyes flicker with the same relief I’m feeling. The worst has passed—for now.

I shake Benjamin’s hand firmly, his grip strong and sure. "You’re a sight for sore eyes," I tell him. "We’ve been waiting for you."

"Thank you, sir," Benjamin replies, his expression earnest. "We’ve had a hell of a time, but we’ve made it through."

I look around, making sure the crew is getting to work assisting the rescue squad. The soldiers are already on the move, helping the squad members off the ship and onto ours. I take a step back and look at Benjamin, my eyes narrowing slightly.

"Now," I say, my voice lower, more serious. "What’s really going on over there?"

Benjamin’s eyes flicker. There’s hesitation there, but he’s a professional. He tries to smile, but it’s thin and strained. "Ah, about tha—"

Before he can finish, there’s a sharp, unnatural sound—like metal scraping against stone. The noise cuts through the air like a knife, and then, in an instant, Benjamin is gone.

I stand there frozen for a second, unable to comprehend what just happened. One moment, he’s standing in front of me, the next—nothing. I feel a strange warmth drip down my cheek, and I raise a hand instinctively to touch it.

"Blood," I whisper to myself, barely able to make sense of it.

I look down, and I see Benjamin’s boots—still on the deck, as if he’d simply vanished into thin air.

A cruel silence falls over the deck. No one moves. No one speaks. It’s like time itself has stopped. The men around me seem just as stunned, paralyzed by what just transpired.