Chapter 49 – Training Afghan Special Forces
The military base in Kandahar was in full swing, with operations being conducted day and night. Among these tasks was one of the most challenging and vital: training Afghan special forces. The responsibility fell to Alex Rider and his team, known for their operational excellence and leadership.
Alex knew this was an opportunity to positively impact local allies. While his missions were usually on the battlefield, he now found himself in a mentoring role, something that required patience and strategy.
At the makeshift training camp on the base, Alex and his team waited for the Afghan recruits. The men arrived, some hesitant, others with confident smiles. Most wore worn uniforms and carried old equipment, but there was determination in their eyes.
Alex looked at his team, who stood beside him: Harris, Daniels, Collins, Foster, and Blake.
— "Well, guys, it's time to show them how it's done. Be patient, but don't let any serious mistakes slip by. We need to train them the best we can," Alex said.
The Afghans lined up awkwardly. Alex stepped forward, his tone authoritative but welcoming.
— "My name is Sergeant Alex Rider. We're here to train you to be an effective force against the insurgents. It won't be easy, but if you listen, learn, and apply yourself, you'll leave here as better soldiers. We're here to help you, but you have to put in the effort."
One of the recruits, a tall man named Farid, raised his hand.
— "Are you the famous 'Amazing'? I've heard of you."
There was a murmur among the men. Alex, accustomed to this reputation, simply nodded.
— "What matters here is not what I did, but what you're going to do. Now, let's get started."
The training began with the basics: tactical formations and combat movements. Alex demonstrated each move, explaining the importance of maintaining discipline and communication.
— "If you don't trust each other, you'll be dead before you even see the enemy. Coordinated movement saves lives," Alex said as he corrected the position of one of the recruits.
Collins took the lead in the shooting drills. He positioned himself next to a nervous recruit, helping him hold his rifle correctly.
— "Relax. Control your breathing and squeeze the trigger gently," he instructed.
The recruit fired and hit the target, much to his surprise.
— "Good! That's what we need," Collins praised.
Meanwhile, Alex trained a smaller team in building breach techniques. He demonstrated how to clear a room quickly and safely.
— "Remember: in CQB, every second counts. Get in fast, identify the threats, and never lose focus," he explained.
It wasn't all easy. Some recruits had difficulty following orders, while others were reluctant to trust the British. Farid, the man who had mentioned Alex's fame, seemed especially stubborn.
During a simulation exercise, Farid ignored a direct instruction and disrupted the formation. Alex immediately stopped the exercise.
"Farid, come here," Alex called firmly.
Farid hesitated, but then stepped closer.
"Do you think you can act alone on the battlefield? If you don't follow orders, you're putting all your comrades at risk. That's unacceptable," Alex said.
Farid responded defiantly:
"I know my people and how to fight. Maybe your tactics won't work here."
Alex crossed his arms.
"Then prove it. We'll do it your way. But if you fail, you'll follow my orders without question."
Farid accepted the challenge. The exercise was repeated with his suggested tactics, but it quickly fell apart, resulting in a simulated loss of life for his team.
— "Now do you understand? It's not about who's right, it's about what works. We're here to help you survive and win," Alex concluded.
Farid bowed his head, accepting his mistake.
As the weeks passed, the recruits began to show significant progress. Their formations were more organized, their aim improved, and teamwork became more natural.
Harris commented to Alex during a break:
— "They're starting to get the hang of it. Do you think they'll hold up in the field?"
Alex replied thoughtfully:
— "If they keep it up, yes. There's still a lot to improve, but they're on the right track."
Farid, now more respectful, approached Alex.
— "Sergeant Rider, I wanted to thank you for your patience. I've learned a lot. I can tell you've been a good teacher."
Alex gave a slight smile.
— "That's what we're here for, Farid. But remember, real learning begins in the field."
In the final week of training, Alex and his team taught advanced tactics such as night infiltration and coordination with air support. During a simulation, the recruits were required to breach a fortified facility.
Alex watched from the sidelines as Farid led his team. The execution was nearly flawless, and the simulated insurgents were "neutralized" with no casualties.
— "Good job, guys. That's what I'm talking about," Alex praised.
On the last day, a small ceremony was held to recognize the recruits who had completed the training. Alex handed out certificates of completion to each man, shaking their hands and wishing them luck.
Farid was the last to receive the certificate. He looked Alex in the eye and said,
— "I hope we can fight side by side one day, Sergeant Rider. Thank you for everything."
Alex replied sincerely,
— "If that day comes, I hope you remember everything you learned here."
That night, as Alex reviewed his reports, he reflected on the mission. He knew that the training would not guarantee victory for these men, but he believed that he had planted the seed for them to become better, more prepared soldiers.
Harris entered the room with two cups of coffee.
— "Thinking about what, Alex?"
— "Their future. I just hope that what we did here makes a difference," Alex replied.
Harris nodded.
— "It did. You can be sure of that."
Alex smiled and turned his attention back to the report. He knew that even in the shadows of war, the impact of his actions reached far beyond the fighting.
Chapter 50 – Border Raid
The lights were dimmed inside the Chinook as it flew low over the rugged mountains on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. Alex Rider, now a seasoned SAS sergeant, sat calmly, adjusting his gear for the last time before landing. His eyes were fixed on the digital map on his tablet, detailing the layout of the house his team was about to raid.
"Sabre Team, listen up," Alex began, his voice steady over the din of the helicopter. "The target is a heavily fortified house. Intelligence indicates that senior Taliban leaders are gathered here. Our objective is to capture critical information and neutralize any armed resistance. Remember, stay together and stick to the plan. No mistakes."
Harris, always the first to break the tension, smirked.
"No pressure, right, Sergeant?"
Collins laughed, but quickly adjusted his rifle.
— "Just another night at the office."
Foster, the most pragmatic of the group, added:
— "Let's make this quick and get back to base."
The pilot signaled that they were approaching the infiltration point. The helicopter slowed, hovering a few feet above the ground. Alex led his team out, quickly lowering the ropes to the ground.
The team advanced in tactical formation, each member covering an area as they moved silently across the uneven terrain. The night was dark, but their night vision goggles transformed the landscape into shades of green.
Alex raised his hand, signaling for everyone to stop. He whispered into the radio:
— "Movement ahead, on the hill. Harris, confirm."
Harris adjusted his scoped rifle and confirmed:
— "Two armed lookouts. They're distracted."
— "Collins, quietly," Alex ordered.
Collins fitted the suppressor to his rifle, adjusted the sights, and fired two accurate shots. The guards went down without a sound.
— "Clear," Collins confirmed.
They resumed their movement, approaching the house. The target was a two-story building surrounded by high walls. The team positioned itself at the main entrance.
— "Explosive on the door," Alex ordered.
Blake quickly set the explosive. Alex gave the countdown signal, and within seconds the explosion blew the entrance open with a deafening boom.
— "Go, go, go!"
The team entered with coordinated precision, moving quickly through the rooms. Alex led the charge, his rifle leveled, his eyes alert for any movement.
— "First floor clear," Daniels reported.
— "Up," Alex replied, signaling for Foster and Harris to follow him while the rest of the team held their position on the ground floor.
On the second floor, they encountered resistance. Two gunmen opened fire, but Alex and Foster returned fire with accurate shots, neutralizing the threat.
— "Contact neutralized," Foster said, clearing the corner of the hallway.
A heavy door at the end of the hallway caught Alex's attention. He signaled for Harris to check it out.
— "Locked," Harris reported.
Alex used a smaller explosive charge to open the door. When they entered, they found a room full of documents, laptops, and communications equipment.
— "We found the jackpot," Blake said over the radio, as he entered with a backpack to collect everything of value.
A Surprise on the Ground Floor
While Alex and part of the team were on the second floor, Collins reported over the radio:
— "Sergeant, we have movement outside. Looks like reinforcements are coming."
Alex quickly responded:
— "Foster, Harris, keep searching the second floor. Blake and I will reinforce the ground floor. Collins, keep an eye on the entrance."
Alex quickly descended, joining Collins and Daniels at the front door.
— "How many?" Alex asked.
— "At least a dozen, all armed," Collins replied, adjusting his position to cover the entrance.
Alex took a deep breath. — "We've set up a defense. Harris, how long until we're done up there?"
— "Five minutes," came the reply.
Alex glanced at Collins and Daniels. — "We're holding here. Fire controlled. Don't waste ammo."
The first shots came from outside, bullets ricocheting off the structure of the house. Alex and his team returned fire with precision.
Collins, positioned in a window, picked off two enemies who were trying to approach with grenades.
— "Two down," he said, reloading.
Daniels used a fragmentation grenade to disperse a group approaching from the left.
— "They're falling back a bit," Daniels reported.
Alex took the opportunity to give new orders:
— "Collins, keep fire on the entrance. Daniels, cover the left side. Blake, bring up more ammo."
From upstairs, Harris reported:
— "Sergeant, we got everything. We're coming down now."
Alex replied:
— "Good. Get ready to move out."
The team strategically retreated out of the house, moving in formation toward the extraction point. The rescue helicopter was less than a kilometer away, but the enemy was not giving up.
— "Contact on the right!" Foster shouted, opening fire on two insurgents who were trying to flank them.
Alex took up position, covering the team as they ran toward the helicopter.
— "All aboard!" the pilot called over the radio.
Alex was the last to board, making sure no one was left behind. As the helicopter took off, the sound of bullets faded away.
Inside the aircraft, Blake was examining the material he had collected.
— "We have a lot of stuff here. This is going to be a lot of work for intelligence," he said.
Alex looked at his exhausted but intact team.
— "Good job, guys. Another successful mission."
Collins, with a tired smile, replied,
— "Just another night at the office, Sergeant."
They all laughed, relieving the tension of the mission as the helicopter took them back to safety. Alex knew this was just one of many operations, but every victory like this made a difference in the war on terror.
Chapter 51 – Farewell to the Warrior
Alex Rider sat in his apartment in Hereford, enjoying one of his rare days off. With a cup of coffee in his hands, he was surfing the internet, reading the day's news. Then a headline caught his eye, stopping him in his tracks:
"Chris Kyle, 'The Legend,' Killed by Veteran with PTSD."
Alex felt a tightness in his chest. He put the cup aside, his hands shaking slightly. Chris Kyle, the legendary American sniper he had known and admired, was dead.
He immediately searched for more information, discovering that the funeral would be held in Texas, in the United States. Without hesitation, Alex booked himself on the next flight to the United States.
The Texas heat was intense, but the mood at the funeral site was somber. The parking lot was filled with military, civilian, and emergency personnel vehicles. Men and women in formal uniforms were gathered, many of them expressing their sadness and respect for the man who had saved so many lives.
Alex arrived wearing an impeccable black suit, his striking appearance blond, tall, with a neatly trimmed beard—standing out in the crowd. He discreetly looked for Chris's widow, Taya Kyle, but before he could approach her, he spotted a familiar figure in the crowd: Jocko Willink, Chris's former team commander in SEAL Team 3.
"Commander Willink," Alex called, approaching.
Jocko turned, surprised to see Alex.
"Rider? Is that you?"
Alex smiled slightly and held out his hand.
"Yes, sir. It's been a while."
Jocko shook his hand tightly, scrutinizing him appraisingly.
"Still young, but I see you're much more… mature. What are you doing here?"
"Chris was my friend," Alex replied sincerely. "I couldn't help but come pay my respects."
Jocko nodded, his expression serious.
— "Chris talked about you. He said you were an exceptional sniper, but what he admired most was your determination. It's good to see you here."
Alex simply nodded, feeling the weight of the moment.
As the ceremony progressed, Alex remained silent, watching the military rituals. He spotted Taya Kyle, Chris's widow, surrounded by friends and family. Her eyes eventually met Alex's, and she seemed surprised to see him.
After the ceremony, as many paid their respects, Taya approached him, curious. "Hello," she began, her voice hesitant but polite. "I don't think we've met. Were you friends with Chris?"
Alex bowed her head respectfully. "Yes, Ms. Kyle. My name is Alex Rider. I met Chris during my deployment in Iraq. He taught me a lot. He was an exceptional man."
She studied him for a moment, taking in his youthful, athletic appearance. "You look... young. He's never mentioned you to me."
Before Alex could respond, one of Chris's old teammates, who was also present, intervened.
— "Oh, Rider! Chris was always talking about you. He always said it was amazing what you did for someone so young. He called you 'the Amazing One.'"
Taya looked back at Alex, now understanding a little more.
— "Chris looked up to you, it seems."
Alex looked away for a moment, clearly uncomfortable with the compliment.
— "I looked up to him a lot more," he said finally.
Later, as the guests began to disperse, Taya found Alex again.
— "Thank you for coming," she said, sincerity in her voice.
— "I couldn't stay away," Alex replied. "Chris was a friend and a mentor. He changed my life in ways he may never know."
Taya studied him for a moment.
— "You seem like someone with a purpose. Someone who understands the weight of what Chris did."
— "I try," Alex said, a sad smile on his face.
Taya seemed to hesitate before continuing:
— "It's rare to see someone so young in an environment like this. Especially someone so... distinguished. You must be very good at what you do."
Alex didn't answer right away. He pulled a small card from his suit pocket and handed it to her.
— "If you need anything, don't hesitate to call me. Anything, anytime."
She took the card, surprised by the gesture.
— "Thank you, Alex. That means a lot."
He nodded respectfully.
— "It was an honor to know Chris. And it's an honor to be able to help, even from afar."
As Alex left the funeral home, he looked out at the Texas skyline, a heavy feeling in his chest. Chris Kyle wasn't just a hero; he was a friend.
As the plane took off later that night, Alex stared out the window, lost in thought. He knew Chris's legacy would live on forever, not just in military records, but in the lives he had touched including Alex's.
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