Location: Northern Sector, Virek
Date and Time: May 19, 2553 – 1300 Hours
The ride in the Warthog is bumpy as we tear through the rough terrain toward the northern sector, the roar of the engine and the smell of dust filling the air. Bravo Fireteam sits tight, the tension palpable as we prepare to engage. This isn't a routine patrol. It's an ambush, and the stakes are high.
I glance back at my team—Santiago, Dash, O'Neill—all of them focused, ready. We've been through worse than this, but there's always that edge before a mission. That sense that anything could go wrong, and if it does, we need to be ready to adapt.
"Everyone clear on the plan?" I ask over the comms, keeping my voice steady.
Santiago nods from the front passenger seat, his rifle resting across his lap. "Yeah, we've got it. Block the convoy, hit them from the rear, and don't let them escape."
I feel the weight of the responsibility on my shoulders. Lieutenant Kane gave us the task of taking point on the rear team, which means we're the last line of defense if things go south. Timing is everything, and if we move too soon or too late, the convoy could slip through our fingers.
We approach the staging point—a ridge overlooking the narrow road where the URF convoy is expected to pass. The terrain here is rugged, with dense trees on either side of the road, perfect for cover. We dismount and quickly take positions along the ridge, our rifles trained on the road below.
The seconds tick by, and I can feel the adrenaline building. This is the calm before the storm.
"Stay sharp," I murmur into the comms. "We only get one shot at this."
Minutes later, the sound of engines rumbling in the distance reaches my ears. I raise my binoculars, scanning the road ahead. Sure enough, the URF convoy comes into view—three trucks, heavily armored, moving slowly through the narrow pass.
"Convoy in sight," I report over the comms. "Prepare to engage on my mark."
The first truck rolls into the kill zone, and I feel my grip tighten on my rifle. Everything is about to happen fast, and we need to be precise. The lead team is in position to block the road ahead, and once they spring the trap, it's on us to hit the convoy from behind.
The first explosion rocks the ground as the lead team sets off an IED, sending the front truck skidding off the road in a cloud of smoke and debris. Gunfire erupts as the URF soldiers scramble out of the remaining trucks, disoriented and panicked.
"Go, go, go!" I shout, leading Bravo Fireteam down the ridge.
We hit them hard and fast, our rifles blazing as we push toward the rear of the convoy. Santiago takes out a URF operative trying to flank us, while Dash and O'Neill lay down suppressing fire to keep the enemy pinned.
The chaos of the firefight fills the air—shouts, explosions, the crack of gunfire. But we've trained for this. We know how to move, how to adapt. And right now, we're cutting through the enemy with precision.
As we reach the rear truck, I spot a URF soldier trying to radio for reinforcements. I drop him with a single shot, my heart pounding in my chest as the adrenaline surges.
"Convoy is secure," I report over the comms, feeling the rush of victory. "We've got them pinned. No escape."
The rest of the URF forces are either down or surrendering, their weapons tossed aside as they realize they're trapped. It's over as quickly as it began, but the aftermath still buzzes with tension.
We sweep the area, checking for any hidden threats. Santiago and Dash secure the prisoners, while I make sure the road is clear of any remaining URF forces.
As the dust settles, I feel the familiar weight of the mission lifting, but there's still that nagging feeling in the back of my mind. The convoy is neutralized, but something about this operation feels… too easy. The URF doesn't usually go down without a fight, and I can't shake the feeling that we're missing something.
"Keep your eyes open," I say, glancing around the area. "This could be a diversion."
The rest of the squad exchanges uneasy glances, but they trust my gut. We've been in enough situations like this to know that the URF is always thinking ahead.
As we finish securing the convoy and prepping the trucks for extraction, I take a moment to catch my breath. The firefight is over, but my mind is still racing. It's not just the mission that's on my mind—it's everything else. The balance between leading my squad, the weight of the war, and the personal connection I've just started with Emily.
It's a lot to juggle, but for now, I focus on what's in front of me.
"Good work, everyone," I say over the comms. "Let's get these trucks back to base."
As we load up and prepare to roll out, I can't help but wonder what's coming next. The war is far from over, and every victory feels like a temporary reprieve.
But at least for today, we've come out on top.