Encounter in Strife

Chapter 5: Saving Captain Morgan

Two days after visiting the tribe, Lt. Col. Nara received a distress call from Captain Morgan.

"Sir, we are under attack. Requesting for backup."
Drake can hear the sounds of gunfire and explosions on the other line.

"Captain Shane will back you up; hang in there."
Drake immediately ordered Shane to aid Morgan; Shane followed and mobilized her army without delaying a second.

"Captain, report the situation!"

"Sir, our base was bombed,our defense is weak, and the casualties are in need of immediate care. Plan D is already in motion. I sent the reserved squad to infiltrate the enemy's camp as soon as they attacked us."

During their last meeting, they decided that in case where a company is attacked, they will deploy a squad to infiltrate the enemy's camp as soon as possible.
 
They will use the enemy's attack to their advantage as a decoy, while men will tactically enter Saiku's camp and blow it up with IEDs.

"Tell the squad to report directly to me," he ordered.
 
"Copy Sir"
 
"Strengthen your defense; reinforcement will arrive in 10 minutes. Be careful"
 
"Sir, yes, sir."
 
 
A while later, Nara got connected to another call, which was from the squad leader with the codename Seagull of the infiltration unit that Captain Morgan assigned.
 
"Sir, seagull reporting, sir, we successfully entered the underground base dressed as one of the terrorists."
 
"How many people are in there?"
 
"Half of Saiku's army, sir, including himself. The other half is out attacking our camp, over."
 
"Alright, best of luck. Report your progress."
 
Drake said this and then switched to another call from Shane.
 
"Sir, Captain Morgan is shot, and only one medic is alive, but she's out there on the other side of the base tending to other soldiers," Shane reported.
 
"How is Captain Morgan?" Drake asked anxiously.

Captain Morgan is special to Drake.
Be was the first ever captain to work under him, and they both went through a lot. Morgan is also his roommate back in the military camp and has helped him once when he got sick. Their relationship has basically stood the test of time.

"He's losing too much blood; I'm putting pressure on it."

"Call Zula immediately!"

Drake ordered the soldier standing right before him, which happens to be Ryan.

"Sir, yes sir," Ryan said, and he ran towards Zula's home.

"Zula, the colonel ordered you to come." Zula immediately followed without any questions.

She knew things were bad. From the moment Shane and her company left the base, she knew they were being called in as reinforcements.

Shane didn't even bother to insult her even if she saw Zula, which signifies how urgently they are needed.

And now that she was being called to the base, her instincts told her that she would be needed for medical assistance.

"Sir, she's here," Ryan said.

"Zula, please share your medical knowledge with us," Drake sincerely asked.

His face is as intimidating as ever, but his eyes were filled with sorrow. At that moment, Zula clearly knew that someone important to him was in danger.

"I will," Zula told Drake, and she went over the phone.
 
"Status?" she asked.
 
"Captain Morgan was shot on his left chest with a bullet of 7.62 mm in diameter and is losing too much blood; blood keeps on flowing. We're currently putting pressure on it, but his fever is off the chart." Shane immediately explained
 
"Keep putting pressure on and use any medical kit available." Zula said this and turned to Drake.
 
"Lt. Col., how many minutes will it take to go there?"
 
"10 at full speed"
 
"Let's go," Zula said.
 
"I can't let you, a civilian, be in danger!" Drake said in a firm, ominous tone
 
"Trust me, I won't be in danger." Zula reassured him with a smile.
 
"Keep putting pressure on it as hard as you can, and try to let him stay awake." Zula spoke on the phone and looked at Drake.
 
"We're going. Secure our communication and transportation."
 
She said this as she ran and immediately grabbed the medicinal kit and a stretcher from her house.
 
The soldiers present in the control room were a bit surprised as to how the mighty Lt. Colonel was easily ordered by a stranger and a civilian; however, that didn't matter compared to the danger at hand.
 
Drake, along with a squad that included Ryan, went inside a truck.
 
Zula followed, and upon entering, she went over to the phone.
 
"Is there a medicinal kit?" She asked
 
 
"Yes, inside are gauze, antiseptic, bandage, scalpel, and staple."