Friendly Fire

(22) - The Assignment

I drew in a deep breath as I entered the briefing room to find Colonel Hitchen still sat at the head of the oval-like table. Staring me down. Analyzing me.

"Sir?"

He said nothing and gestured with his hand to an empty seat at his side. It made me feel a little at ease to sat beside him rather than at the opposite end of the table where our gazes would be forced to lock. I know I'm not in any trouble.

"Anything on the scout route you took her on?"

"Nothing. Just a basic tour of the route."

I prayed he didn't hear the gunshot that Cadet Bones had fired at that damn rabbit.

"Good."

We both sat silently for a moment before I decided to break it.

"What have I missed?"

"Not much. I was informing the others of Private Bane's replacement. Sergeant Collins still hasn't found one yet. We need another force member. And soon. It can't just be you and Liutenant Davis doing all the heavy lifting while Private Riley is taking it easy to allow that wound of his to heal properly."

"What about yourself and Sergeant Collins? Can't one of you step in for once?"

I didn't need an answer. I knew what role those two claim to play here.

"You know damn well that Sergeant Collins is working hard to train your scouts, the Cadets, and new recruits. I have other military bases and forces to run and maintain. We can't afford to help you with your duties or upcoming assignments and missions."

Lies. All of it. Sergeant Collins are training the lower ranks to be pawns to their sick and twisted games. Colonel Hitchen doesn't know when to heel and yield. We as a force aren't enough to stop this rebellion. To stop this pandemic. It's inevitable. I fear if we continue to fight then some of us won't be as lucky as Private Riley.

"Right..." I whispered under my breath as my fears do sink in further. Either way, we lose and fail.

"I'll give you a new assignment. Cadet Bones. She has so much spirit, so much desire to join our side. I think if trained properly, she'd be a good asset."

I frown at his order. I am in no position to run drills or train somebody.

"What? Isn't that Sergeant Collins' job?"

He simply shook his head. "Sergeant Collins runs over the basics again and again and again. Cadet Bones seems confident enough to aim higher than that. I really think she can easily get to Private Riley's level and possibly even a little better."

I hesitated for a moment. I have only trained scouts to go along the trails and report back to myself and Lieutenant Davis. I don't know how I can teach someone to shoot, fight in combat, and help memorize formations and protocols. That type of training takes years. The last part took the 6 of us 4 years to master. Adding a new person into the mix to replace Rin is another set up for failure, she will never meet the level we need her to be at in the small time frame that this rebellion is uprising worse and worse. An order is an order. I have to obey. I must obey.

"Very well... on top of Private Bane's replacement... what else did you inform the others of?"

"The rebellion itself. We are starting to squalor. Our resources are near to nothing. Be careful with how many bullets you fire. How many bombs you use. Our gas. I have informed those on kitchen duty to be resourceful with our food supplies as well. However, to be very careful. Langply seems to be spreading nearer and nearer to our location somehow."
I lowered my head and nodded softly.