Mistakes Made

8 - High Risk, High Reward.

"A factory?", Alex said as she stared at the folder. I nodded as I leaned back in the office chair, "Yes. The same factory located in an area known for its high number of infected. Rats, Luckers, Graveminds—you name it. Squad D was sent there once to attempt to clear out said area. It was a bloodbath—the reason why we're so undercapacity." "No way! So, the Gravemind we encountered the other day was made at this factory?" "Supposedly. It would make sense as to why there's so many infected roaming the area."

"But why? Why would they want to use the infected as a weapon? Why do that when you can just, you know, kill them? " "That's what we need to figure out. My guess is that whoever is behind this wants power. Imagine having control over any infected you come across, people would have no choice but to bow at your feet." "A lunatic with a god complex. How lovely.", she scoffed as she closed the folder and placed it back on my desk with furrowed eyebrows.

She began pacing, looking very deep in thought, "So, if this factory is where it supposedly all started, there has to be something that explains how all this came about. Data files, labs, equipment, journals—something!" "Probably. The only problem is no one has managed to get close enough to investigate without getting torn apart. It's almost like the infected are guarding the place." "The only reason why nobody has been able to get close is because the automatic response to seeing an infected is run in, guns blazing. If we could just sneak in—" "No.", I interrupted, "Going anywhere near this factory is a suicide mission. We don't have enough manpower to fend off against the hundreds of infected."

She stopped pacing, her eyes fixed on mine, "Look, I understand that you're a bit wary of the whole idea of even stepping foot in that place because of what happened last time with your squad but think about it. All direct assaults have been met with failure. You can't expect a different outcome by doing the same thing over and over again. We need to change our strategy if we want to make progress." "I said no. Every stage of the infected will be swarming the place. There's no way the two of us alone will make it out alive regardless of if we change strategies or not." "But commander—" "I'm not risking your life for information that might not even be there. I think it's best we hand this over to the higher ups. They'll probably sort something out—"

"No! They won't! You know they won't! This is the goddamn military—we work with the government! It'll be swept under the rug with all the other stuff they have to hide from the public! By the time a decision is made, this mastermind could have enhanced their tech and overrun us with something so unimaginably strong. We have to act before it's too late!" "You're acting out of line, Alexander.", I was becoming increasingly aggravated by her persistence, "You're choosing to go against my orders—your superior. I'm doing what's best to handle the situation and you're telling me no. That's not how a subordinate behaves in the military. It's clear that your head is filled with the idea of playing the hero so let me help you clear your mind by giving you two options. You can forget you ever saw this and go back to doing your job, gaining more experience to become a skilled soldier in Squad D. Or you can continue with your idiocy and I'll send you to general to be re-assigned. Maybe then you'll learn your place in the military and how to behave like an actual soldier, and not a petulant child. The choice is yours."

She glared at me with anger. Pure anger. It made me uncomfortable seeing the usually cheerful and happy soldier so consumed by anger and frustration. "I'll take my chances with the general.", her voice was cold and defiant. I hated how she sounded just like me in that moment.

Without another word she turned away and stormed out of my office, slamming the door behind her. I tried to convince myself that I made the right decision but I couldn't shake off the feeling of doubt the moment the door had slammed shut.

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