Friendly Fire

Colonel Hitchen - (34) Taking Responsibility

Lieutenant Davis was slumped against the tree, his head arched towards the sky. I approached slowly and with caution in mind, not wanting to set him off again.

"Lieutenant?"

He angled his head towards me and shot me a glare sharper than any blade with those rich brown eyes. The longer I stared back, the more I felt like the ground would open up beneath my feet and swallow me whole.

"Look, I know all this is-... well... it's not easy that's for sure but this is what we do. When you were a cadet you knew what the risks were working with military forces. As do they." I gestured toward the training grounds where Sergeant Collins is running his drills with the Cadets.

He simply shook his head after taking a quick glance in their direction. "Half of them are teenagers... they don't know what they're up against or what the risks are... they think they'll go into this and come out alive. Little do they know that not everyone comes back alive or with all their limbs intact. If I had it my way I'd send them all back home to their loving families so they can continue to live and grow. They shouldn't be roped into this mess. Just how many more of them are you willing to lose, Colonel? Because until I have a foolproof plan for winning this upcoming war- and don't say that one isn't coming because once the rebels find out that you have their leader and are going to kill him, all hell will break loose- I won't risk dispatching any more men or women."

My gaze then turned back to the Cadets as they continued with their exercises. "That may be the case... but given everything we've been through, the stories and rumors that float around this place... I'm pretty sure they know what they're getting into. They know the scouts are going missing. They know there is danger after we returned from Nha Trang one member short. They know that out on the routes, there are possible threats after Private Riley nearly bled to death with a gaping knife wound across his stomach. They know how to fight back when the rebels strike our base and what that could very well lead to. If they were to go home, they would've done so already. But they're staying. Staying, because they believe in you to train them, prepare them, dispatch them, and lead them. You'll make a fine Sergeant kid. Stop that twisted mind of yours from thinking otherwise." I offered a hand out to him. "Come on, are you just going to sit here and continue to brood or are you going to seize the day and do what you can to ensure that we will come out of this victorious."

He playfully rolled his eyes at me with a smile on his face before taking my hand and allowing me to pull him back up onto his feet.

"You're right, Colonel. They'll be okay under my wing. I'm sorry for doubting myself, it's just- it's been hard dealing with all this loss, the guilt, all the hard decisions I'm having to make. But you and Sergeant Collins are there to help train me to take on this role."

"That's what we are here for kid, you're not alone with this climb between ranks. You're doing good, Lieutenant. Or should I say, Sergeant?"

He released a soft chuckle. "Nothing is official yet, Colonel. You know that."

I gave him a curt nod. "That I do, but Sergeant Davis has a nice ring to it, don't you think?"

Just before he could answer Lieutenant Willow came towards us in a fast sprint.

"Colonel! There's something you need to see."

⌖ ⌖ ⌖

The three of us were rushed to the interrogation rooms and quickly saw the problem.

"How'd they escape?" Lieutenant Davis piped up while taking a closer look at the surroundings. "Someone must've set them free, they wouldn't be able to get out of these chains or doors without the keys. The keys which..." He turned to me. "The keys which you gave to Private Riley for 'safe keeping' that dimwit must've let them out."

"Do NOT talk about Private Riley like that. He is responsible and trustworthy but do you really think he'd betray us like that? You're forgetting the fact that Rin seriously hurt him. Why would he ever want to go near her again after she nearly killed him? That doesn't make sense."

I too was confused. "If Private Riley had the keys... how'd you get in here then to give them their meals? You would've needed the keys to get into the rooms."

"Woah- don't turn this on me for starters! Lastly, the door requires a 4-digit code combination, dummy! The key is for the restraints!"

"Enough bickering you two!" I roared. "Look. We can try to figure out how they escaped later. Right now, we need to focus on what that could mean for us. If their leader returns to The Resistance with Rin. There's no doubt that they aren't conspiring our downfall. We need to prepare everyone. Set up watches all over this place. We stand our ground here at base. I'll try my best to source out more supplies. Have it delivered by air to reduce any further risks."

I hope that would be the right choice to make, I may not be able to make a trip to get resources but that doesn't mean that the resources can't fly into our base from an outside party.

"Why didn't we do that the minute our supplies started to get raided?! Do you know how many of my scouts would still be here if you just did that to begin with?!"

I knew Lieutenant Willow would turn back to me and state the fact that I could've done just that earlier and bring us out of a bad situation which continued to get worse. But I did have my reasons. "Because I didn't want to risk a chopper being shot out of the sky or giving away our location if The Resistance are out there! But they know where our base is, I have nothing left to lose. Desperate times call for desperate measures."

Lieutenant Willow's hands balled up into fists at her sides but Lieutenant Davis took her hands in his and that gesture alone seemed to calm her right down.

"Do what you think is best Colonel. But... what about the elephant in the room? The Resistance? Like you said. They know where our base is, where our guards and posts are thanks to our little friend Rin."

"Alert Sergeant Collins, summon Private Riley to the briefing room. You can discuss countermeasures there or... you beat The Resistance to attacking and strike them first."

"How the fuck do you expect us to do that? We have no ammo, no gas, our comms are fucked, and you're forgetting that we don't know where The Resistance lies. We can't do anything unless they come here and strike first."

I realized that attacking first would be a dumb idea, I need resources, and fast. Even if we do hold our stand here, we don't stand much of a chance. "I'll figure it out. Just have a plan in place. Update me on the situation later. I've got resources to demand."