Chapter 48: Callie's Mission.
The dawn was just breaking over Green Arbor, casting a pale golden light over the misty fields. Callie stood at the North Gate, her heart pounding as she looked out over the open landscape. A quiet mix of excitement and nerves buzzed inside her; this was her first mission as lead cadet, and she was determined to make everyone proud.
Ava and Talon were waiting by the gate, their presence a comforting anchor. Ava, still healing but strong and steady, stepped forward and placed a reassuring hand on Callie’s shoulder. “You’ve got this, Callie. Remember your training, stay alert, and trust your instincts.”
Callie nodded, her grip on her rifle tightening. “I will, Ava. Thank you for believing in me.”
Talon gave her a playful nudge. “And if you run into trouble, just remember to stay calm and handle it like we taught you.” His voice held a teasing note, but the warmth in his eyes spoke volumes. “You’re ready, Callie. You’ll do great.”
Echo rolled up beside them in his new mobile unit, the AI’s screen displaying a digital smile. “Good luck, Callie. I’ll be waiting to hear all about your adventure when you get back.”
Callie laughed, reaching down to tap the edge of Echo’s monitor. “Thanks, Echo. I’ll make sure to bring back some good stories.”
The convoy of jeeps rumbled up to the gate, engines humming with readiness. The ADF members and a few scouts from Talon’s new team waited, giving her nods of encouragement as they prepared for the journey. Taking a deep breath, Callie climbed into the lead vehicle, a feeling of pride and purpose settling over her like armor.
As the convoy rolled out of Green Arbor, the familiar sights of home faded behind her, replaced by the rugged terrain that marked the edge of Sentinel-protected territory. The forest grew denser, its shadows longer, and the quiet murmur of wildlife faded into the eerie stillness of the road ahead. Callie felt the weight of responsibility settle on her shoulders, every rock and shadow catching her eye as she scanned the surroundings for any sign of movement.
Her thoughts drifted to Ava and Talon, their words echoing in her mind. *Stay calm. Trust yourself.* She took a steadying breath, focusing on the rhythm of the road, the scent of the earth, and the sharpness of her senses, each one heightened by the thrill—and tension—of her first real mission.
The convoy wound along the East Pass, a narrow stretch notorious for its ambush points and hidden dangers. Callie knew well that bandits often roamed this area, and she steeled herself for any encounter, reviewing her team’s formation and the plans they’d discussed. Despite the quiet morning, a sense of unease pricked at the edges of her mind, like an itch she couldn’t quite scratch.
Hours passed, and the convoy continued without incident, the silence broken only by the soft chatter of the radio and the hum of engines, The convoy continued along the winding road, the trees growing thicker as they ventured deeper into the pass. Callie stayed vigilant, scanning her surroundings, every instinct on high alert. Eventually, they reached a clearing where the fuel and supply trucks awaited them, their engines idling, drivers glancing around nervously.
Callie dismounted from the lead jeep, her boots crunching on gravel as she approached the fuel truck driver, who gave her a respectful nod. “Sentinel,” he greeted her, his voice steady but his eyes betraying a hint of unease.
“Everything okay here?” Callie asked, noting the wary expressions on the other drivers and crew members as they gathered near their vehicles.
“Yes, ma’am,” one of the supply truck drivers replied, adjusting his cap. “But we’ve heard rumors of bandit activity around the East Pass. Been on edge the whole way.”
Callie gave a reassuring nod. “We’ll be your escort. Just stick close to the convoy and keep your radios on. If anything happens, stay behind cover until we handle it.”
The drivers murmured their agreement, and Callie motioned for them to fall in with the convoy. She climbed back into her jeep, taking a deep breath as the convoy resumed its journey, now a larger, slower-moving target but with added strength in numbers.
They had barely moved a few miles when the radio crackled to life, the scout’s voice urgent and sharp. “Movement spotted up ahead. I’m seeing figures in the brush, just beyond the next bend.”
Callie’s heart leapt, but she forced herself to stay calm. “Alright, everyone. Halt the convoy and prepare for possible contact.”
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The vehicles came to a stop, engines idling as silence fell over the forest. The tension was palpable, the air thick with anticipation. Callie scanned the tree line, her fingers wrapped tightly around her rifle as she waited for the scout to report back.
The scout returned, his face tense, voice lowered to a near whisper. “It’s an ambush. Bandits—looks like they’re setting up positions around the bend.”
Callie’s mind raced, her training kicking in as she quickly formulated a plan. She glanced at the convoy, then at the Sentinels and ADF members around her. *This was it. The real test.*
“Alright, here’s the plan,” she began, her voice steady as she outlined the strategy. “We’ll split into two groups. One will stay here with the convoy, keeping a defensive position. The other will flank the bandits, moving in quietly from the side. We need to catch them off guard and push them back before they even know what hit them.”
Her team nodded, the nervous energy turning into a focused readiness as they moved into position. Callie led the flanking team, moving through the underbrush with careful steps, the weight of her responsibility settling heavily on her shoulders.
Each step closer to the bandits brought a heightened sense of tension, the stillness of the forest broken only by the distant sound of rustling leaves and the faint murmur of voices from the ambush site.
As they neared the bandit camp, Callie motioned for her team to take cover, her own pulse pounding in her ears. She lifted her radio, her voice a whisper. “Everyone ready? On my mark.”
In that moment, with the ambush in her sights and her team waiting for her signal, she felt the weight of everything Ava and Talon had taught her. This was her moment to prove herself, to show she could lead as a Sentinel.
“Three… two… one…”
"Now!"
Callie’s voice broke through the silence as the team sprang into action. In a single, coordinated movement, the flanking group emerged from the cover of the trees, their weapons raised and ready. The bandits, caught off guard, stumbled in shock, scrambling for cover. Shouts and gunfire erupted, the sharp cracks of rifles echoing through the dense forest.
Callie moved with precision, her mind focused, her training guiding each step. She took down one bandit after another, her shots finding their marks as she advanced through the chaos. The bandits, momentarily stunned by the ambush, began to retreat, though some managed to regroup, returning fire with a desperate intensity.
“Push forward!” she called, her voice carrying over the gunfire. Her team pressed on, outmaneuvering the bandits and gaining ground with each step. The sound of gunfire, the acrid smell of gunpowder, the adrenaline coursing through her veins—it was a sensory overload, but she stayed sharp, every movement precise and calculated.
In the midst of the fight, Callie spotted a bandit moving around to flank her team, his figure hidden in the shadows of the trees. She quickly adjusted her aim, squeezing the trigger and watching as he fell before he could get a shot off. Her heart pounded with a mix of fear and exhilaration—this was everything she had trained for, but it was unlike anything she’d ever experienced.
Suddenly, a deafening explosion rocked the ground near her, the shock-wave sending her flying backward down a steep embankment. She tumbled uncontrollably, her body slamming into rocks and debris, her rifle slipping from her grasp as she careened down the slope. Her vision blurred, the world spinning around her, before she felt the icy rush of water as she plunged into a fast-moving river.
The cold was a shock to her system, stealing the breath from her lungs as the current swept her away. Callie struggled to keep her head above the surface, gasping for air as she fought against the relentless pull of the water. Her training echoed in her mind: *Stay calm. Conserve energy.* But the river was merciless, battering her against rocks and dragging her farther from the convoy with each passing second.
Desperately, she clawed at the water, her muscles screaming as she tried to swim towards the shore. Finally, her hand caught on a low-hanging branch, and she clung to it, using every ounce of strength to pull herself out of the river’s grip. She collapsed onto the muddy bank, gasping for air, her body aching from the brutal journey.
For a moment, she lay there, her eyes closed as she caught her breath, the world silent except for the distant rush of the river and the occasional crackle of her damaged radio. She forced herself to sit up, taking stock of her injuries and her equipment. Her rifle was gone, and her radio sputtered faintly, but she still had her knife and a pistol with a few spare magazines.
She reached for the radio, bringing it to her lips. “This is Callie… do you copy? I was swept downriver but I’m okay. Give me your coordinates, and I’ll make my way back.” Her voice was hoarse, each word a struggle.
Only static answered her.
A wave of panic surged through Callie, her breaths coming faster as the reality of her situation settled in. She was alone—freezing cold, drenched, and disoriented, with the forest pressing in around her. The silence felt overwhelming, a heavy reminder of how far she was from the safety of her team.
She tried the radio again, her voice trembling. “Hello? Does anyone copy?”
But the radio stayed silent, fizzing and crackling uselessly. Her heart raced, a sense of helplessness beginning to creep in as she looked around, her vision blurred from exhaustion. Her soaked clothes clung to her, the cold biting through her skin, and she felt herself shivering uncontrollably.
Struggling to calm her mind, she wrapped her arms around herself, trying to push back the fear. But every nerve screamed at her to move, to find warmth, to survive.
The forest seemed to close in tighter, shadows stretching across the ground as the last light faded. Callie’s knees buckled, and she sank down onto the ground, gasping for breath as she tried to hold on to what remained of her courage. She wasn’t sure where she was or how she would get back—but somewhere deep inside, a small voice urged her to keep fighting, to survive.
As darkness crept over the forest, Callie clutched her pistol, forcing herself to stay alert. She had no choice now. She would survive. She had to. But in that moment, lost and alone, it felt like the longest road she had ever faced.