Engage

Opium

Filak woke up first to see how Koch and Wesson were. As soon as he went out he saw them being asleep. They were near the campfire that went out not too long ago.

"Damn, thank God nothing happened during the night. We would've been imprisoned if they found us..."

Skif came out of his tent, stretching and drinking tea. His face was as always covered up with a skiing mask.

"Morning captain."
"Morning, Skif. Good job yesterday - you helped me with your eagle eyes."
"It's an honor... May I ask you a question?"
"Go ahead."
"What is this war to you, captain?"

Filak quietened when he heard that, and sat down on the log, Skif sat near him as Filak sighed.
Skif stayed quiet and let him think. He really was curious.

"First of all-... Ugh... I am only 19... And instead of college I'm stuck on the frontline fighting Russies... I lost my parents due to the war. Thus I turned myself in to the army and was trained to become somewhat of an agent. Basically - this war is my opium. I am using it to run away from my past and... Essentially look for a new life. My old life is in shambles. Thanks to the war I finally have a purpose. I wonder if my parents are proud of me though..."

Filak looked up at the cloudy gray sky. Skif did too, and looked back at Filak.

"I'm sorry for asking this..."
"No, thank you. I had to get this off of my mind really. Thanks for asking me this."
"Ah... Alright..."

...

"We're gonna get in the jeeps we stole yesterday and get the fuck outta here before someone comes. Be sure to eat and make sure we took everything - we're not coming back."

Filak watched everyone load the stuff, as he already finished with his tent and weaponry. Orsis came up to him from behind.

"What is our next step?"
"We gotta get to Cologne ASAP. Prisoners would get transferred if we stall for too long."
"Righto. You'll board the front jeep and I'll be on the back one. We always got your back."
"Thank you."

Everyone boarded their respected jeeps and Filak was on the gun in the first one, he looked out for anyone up front.

Nothing interested happened. Until Filak heard a helicopter and turned the gun around to see 3 helicopters chasing them.

"CONTACT! 3 HEAVY HELICOPTERS!"

Filak opened fire as Orsis shot an RPG at the back one, which immediately went down with a loud explosion, the other 2 kept fighting and Filak shot the pilot out of the first one. They tried shooting back but the jeeps tooks the bullets, not letting them through. The group decided to aim for the rotors - and it worked, the helicopter's rotor began tearing up and eventually hit the cliff, exploding. They quickly drove off until reinforcements arrived.

"Oi, turn right, don't go forward. Probably a base."

Orsis ordered to follow each turn and so - soon they reached a real modern base. It was getting ready to leave, but they opened fire without saying anything quickly destroying some jeeps. There were no helicopters - and so they went all out, Skif peeked out with an SVDS and shot all of the enemies in the windows and towers, while Filak and Orsis took care of the people in trucks, and Heckler shooting out of stolen RPGs. After it was all over, they cheered and drove down to change the Russie flag to the UF flag, then they planted some breaches around the base, and also got some spray paint, and drew a star with SD in it. 

"I could draw better!" Sauer said to Filak, jumping out of the jeep and running to him.
"Then hit it with your best shot." Filak chuckled and gave the spray paint to Sauer, as she drew the new and refined Stardust symbol. It had the S and D embed in the corners of the star, as if it was part of it.
"There, captain! I fixed it!" Sauer cheered, looking at her masterpiece.
"Alright - I admit it... yours is better." He smiled, and everyone looked over the new symbol.

Soon after, after clearing the base for ammo and survivors, they went to the jeeps, got in, and Filak pulled the trigger on the remote explosives. A loud beep could be hear and then they saw the loud explosion. The Stardust logo got a bit dusty on the outer wall - but undamaged.

"There... That's why this is my opium... it's satisfying to watch yourself draw blood and then be proud of yourself. It takes me away from reality for a few minutes."

Skif heard that. He closed his eyes a bit, rethinking what he had said earlier and just now.