"Please come home safe, Arthur."

Arthur pocketed the letter from his wife, its rough texture crinkling beneath his fingers. The stifling jungle heat pressed against the army tent. He lay on his bunk, clad in uniform, sweat clinging to his skin. His thoughts drifted to his wife and their unborn child. He could almost feel her touch and her smile.

The tent flap rustled, and Ronald, his childhood friend, stepped inside. Ronald's robust and cheerful demeanor contrasted sharply with Arthur's somber frame.

"Major's calling," Ronald said in a sharp voice.

Arthur pushed himself up, squinting against the dim light filtering through the tent. "Major? Isn't it a few hours early for the briefing?"

Ronald busied himself with strapping on his helmet, his eyes shifted towards the letter peeking out from Arthur’s pocket. "Early or not, he seemed agitated," Ronald replied, voice tinged with concern. "By the way, is that a letter?"

Arthur hesitated, his fingers curling protectively around the letter. "Oh, this?" He pushed it deeper into his pocket, as if safeguarding a cherished treasure. "Sara sent it. Seems like everyone's doing fine back home."

Ronald tossed a helmet at Arthur and sighed. "Wish someone wrote to me too."

"Get married, you idiot," Arthur teased as he donned his helmet. "How long are you going to stay single?"

"Don't worry about me," Ronald said with a grin. "I'll find a fine girl when this war ends.", said Ronald as he exited the tent.

With a sigh, Arthur conceded and turned his attention to the locket that dangled from a chain around his neck. He opened it gently, revealing a faded photograph of Sara.  “I will be back soon”

He closed the locket and placed it beneath his shirt. Picking up his rifle, he exited the tent. The scenery that greeted him was stunning: lush green trees, the chirping of birds, and the sun breaking through the clouds. It would have been idyllic if not for the presence of the army camp.

"Let's go," Ronald said, spotting Arthur.

The army had set up camp in the heart of the forest, with the objective of capturing a hill that housed an enemy camp blocking Allied invasion routes. The plan was to launch a surprise attack at midnight.

As Arthur followed Ronald, his attention wavered when they heard a series of gunshots from the opposite direction. Few moments later, they saw a group of soldiers rushing toward the Major's tent.

Arthur and Ronald looked at each other and started to follow them as well. When they reached the Major's tent, they heard shouting coming from inside. As the previous soldiers came out of the tent, both Arthur and Ronald went inside.

"Sir?" Ronald whispered.

"What took you so long!" Veins popped up on the Major’s forehead as he shouted.

"Sorry, sir," Ronald replied meekly, while Arthur remained silent.

"Anyway, there have been enemy sightings in the north. Take your unit and support the line until further orders. Dismissed!"

Saluting, Arthur and Ronald left the tent quietly. Chaos engulfed the camp as soldiers grabbed their weapons, rushing to their battle stations. The jungle echoed with gunfire. Reaching the northern trench line, they joined Private William, manning a machine gun.

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“Give me a sitrep!” Yelled Arthur as he placed his rifle and started firing at enemy soldiers. Ronald started doing the same as well.

"Sir! Some soldiers were spotted in the woods. Looks like a reconnaissance squad. Some may have slipped through I’m afraid." William reported.

Arthur's face darkened at the news. "This is bad," he muttered, continuing to fire until the last enemy soldier fell. They defended the camp successfully, but Arthur sensed more trouble ahead. Leaving the trench, he sprinted back to the Major's camp.

"Hey, where are you going?" Ronald called out as he glanced back at Arthur sprinting towards the Major's camp. Soon, he started to follow his friend as well.

“This can not be a simple reconnaissance squad”, replied Arthur in a serious tone.

Before Ronald could respond, a thunderous explosion cut him off. They turned to see a tank emerging from the woods, accompanied by numerous foot soldiers. Their eyes widened in horror, realizing the dire situation.

"Report this to the Major!" Arthur ordered Ronald as he ran back to the front line

The area Arthur had occupied moments ago was on the verge of being overrun. He jumped into the trench he had left and began firing his rifle.

Thump

Soon, a sound to his side made him glance over. Private William, who had manned the machine gun, lay lifeless, a bullet piercing his skull.

Boom

An explosion in front of the trench sent Arthur sprawling. As he struggled to his feet, he heard the cacophony of explosions and cries of pain. His vision blurred, and he staggered up, using his rifle for support.

"Sergeant!"

A hand reached out to Arthur from outside the trench. He grasped it, and they pulled him out. He looked back to see a colossal crater where he had been moments ago, contemplating the catastrophic outcome had the explosion occurred within the trench.

Rejoining his fellow troops, Arthur sprinted back, urgency driving his every step. "Establish a perimeter!" he commanded, his determination renewed. He directed the troops to regroup and fortify their position.

Noticing Ronald waving behind a sand wall, Arthur swiftly joined him, crouching for cover. "What about reinforcements?"

Ronald's voice trembled as he replied, "The enemy has cut off our line. The logistics team is trying to restore it."

Arthur buried his face in his hands, overwhelmed by the grim news.

Boom

Another deafening explosion shook the ground behind them. Ronald attempted to peek over the wall but quickly withdrew as enemy bullets rained down. "How is a tank in this jungle !?"

"We can't stay here," Arthur shouted over the gunfire. "We need a plan."

Agreeing, Ronald said, "Let's head to the center of the camp. Our men must have gathered there. It's our best chance."

They exchanged determined nods and, with adrenaline surging, dashed towards the center of the camp. The ground trembled as explosions rocked the forest.

They encountered remnants of their unit, disoriented and scattered. Arthur rallied the troops he could find, issuing orders and establishing a new defensive line.

"Keep them at bay!" Arthur ordered, taking cover behind a fallen tree. 

However, the tank advanced relentlessly with the enemy soldiers using it for cover. Arthur watched as one of his men fell, a bullet ripping through his chest. The young soldier lay lifeless with his eyes fixed on the gray sky.

"We can't hold them off much longer, sir!"  A soldier said, his voice strained.

Arthur and Ronald continued their valiant stand, but it was a battle against overwhelming odds. The tank drew nearer, and the enemy foot soldiers pressed relentlessly. 

A sudden blast threw Arthur to the ground. Dazed and battered, Arthur struggled to regain his senses. The world around him spun, and his ears rang from the deafening explosion.

Arthur's side seared with pain, blood staining his uniform. His left arm had blasted off. His breaths grew shallow, and his strength waned.

"Arthur!" Ronald's voice reached him.

Through the haze, Arthur saw Ronald crawling toward him. Blood was dripping from Ronald’s forehead.

"Stay with me buddy, Stay with me." Ronald muttered, tears mingling with dirt on his face.

With a feeble grip, Arthur seized Ronald's arm. "Just retreat… Go back, go back and tell her I am sorry"

Tears streamed down Ronald's cheeks as he shook his head. "I am sorry Arthur… I am sorry"

“Just go!” Arthur screamed as blood came out of his mouth

Summoning his last reserves of strength, Arthur rose to his knees, his vision blurred by pain and fatigue. The enemy drew closer and he knew this was the end. But he refused to go down without a fight. 

As Ronald retreated, Arthur placed his rifle on a tree trunk and started to fire it with his right arm. He fired round after round, even as his body faltered.

The enemy soldiers drew ever closer, their dark silhouettes moving through the dense foliage like phantoms of death. Arthur's breath came in ragged gasps. Yet, he refused to surrender without a fight.

The towering tank, a colossal beast of war, loomed large on the battlefield. Its massive turrets swiveled ominously in Arthur's direction, their barrels pointing straight at him, like the cold fingers of fate reaching out to claim him.

And then, darkness descended.

The world fell silent, and pain dissolved into nothingness. Arthur felt weightless, as if he were soaring above the battlefield, looking down at his lifeless body. He watched as Ronald, tears still in his eyes, fought on.

But in that fleeting moment before he drifted away, a whisper reached Arthur's ears, a voice from beyond. It was a voice he recognized, filled with love and longing.

"Please come home safe, Arthur."