Lucy Chen is in the army, mirroring Tim Bradford's experience

The mission goes wrong

The sun hung low in the sky as Sergeant Lucy Chen crouched behind a rocky outcrop, her senses heightened by the stillness of the desert. The oppressive heat baked the barren landscape, the ground cracked and dry beneath her boots. She wiped sweat from her brow with a gloved hand, her eyes scanning the horizon for any signs of movement. It was quiet—too quiet.

"All clear," Lucy whispered into her radio, her voice barely a breath. The faint crackle of static greeted her before the voice of her team leader, Lieutenant Davies, cut through the silence.

"Roger that. Stay sharp, Chen. We're in hostile territory. Keep your squad tight and watch your sectors. Over."

Lucy glanced over her shoulder at her team—four soldiers, each poised for action, their faces set in grim determination. They were deep inside enemy lines, a critical reconnaissance mission that would determine the success of an upcoming offensive. Their orders were simple: gather intel, avoid engagement, and get out before anyone knew they were there.

But Lucy's instincts were screaming that something wasn't right. She had been in enough combat zones to know when things were about to go sideways, and the stillness around them was unnerving. She felt the weight of responsibility pressing down on her—these soldiers were under her command, and it was up to her to bring them home safely.

She signaled to her team to move forward, her heart pounding in her chest. They advanced in silence, their movements synchronized and precise, like a well-oiled machine. Lucy's mind raced with scenarios, her training kicking in as she calculated their next move. They were a small unit, vulnerable if things went wrong, but they had the element of surprise on their side.

Or so they thought.

The first shot rang out with a deafening crack, shattering the fragile silence. Lucy's heart skipped a beat as the bullet ricocheted off a nearby rock, spraying dust and debris into the air. Her reflexes took over, and she dropped to the ground, shouting orders into her radio.

"Ambush! Take cover!"

The desert erupted into chaos as enemy fire rained down on them from all directions. Lucy's squad scattered, each soldier diving for cover behind whatever meager shelter they could find—rocks, dunes, anything to shield them from the onslaught. The sound of gunfire was deafening, the sharp staccato of automatic rifles echoing across the barren wasteland.

Lucy's heart raced as she scanned the terrain, trying to pinpoint the source of the attack. Her breathing was shallow, adrenaline surging through her veins. The enemy had them pinned down, and it was clear they were outnumbered. Whoever had set this trap knew exactly where they'd be, and now Lucy had to figure out how to get her team out alive.

"Chen, this is Davies! What's your status? Over!" The lieutenant's voice crackled through her earpiece, barely audible over the gunfire.

"We're pinned down, sir!" Lucy shouted, her eyes darting between the rocks and the distant ridge where muzzle flashes lit up the horizon. "Enemy's got us from the high ground. Multiple shooters, maybe more. We need air support—now!"

"Negative on the air support, Sergeant. We can't risk giving away the main operation. You're on your own for now. Find cover and regroup. Over."

Lucy cursed under her breath. They were sitting ducks out here, and the longer they stayed exposed, the slimmer their chances of survival. Her mind raced as she considered her options. They couldn't outrun the enemy, not with the high ground secured. Their only hope was to hold their position and fight their way out.

"Everybody listen up!" she shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos. "We're not running. Hold your ground and return fire on my mark!"

She peered through the scope of her rifle, focusing on the ridgeline where the enemy fire was coming from. Her pulse steadied, and she slowed her breathing, lining up her shot. Just as she squeezed the trigger, the world seemed to explode around her.

A mortar shell landed just a few meters away, the blast sending her flying through the air. She hit the ground hard, the impact knocking the wind from her lungs. For a moment, everything went black. When she came to, her ears were ringing, her vision blurred. Pain radiated through her body, but she forced herself to move, crawling to a nearby rock for cover.

"Chen! Are you hit?" one of her soldiers, Private Evans, shouted, his voice barely audible over the ringing in her ears.

"I'm fine!" Lucy lied, her body aching with every breath. She wasn't fine—her head was spinning, and she could taste blood in her mouth. But she didn't have time to think about that. Her squad needed her, and she wasn't about to let them down.

Lucy gritted her teeth and raised her rifle again, returning fire as the enemy continued their relentless assault. Time blurred as she fought, her mind consumed by the need to survive, to protect her team. But no matter how hard they fought, the enemy had the advantage. They were being pushed back, their position growing more desperate by the second.

And then, as if to seal their fate, Lucy heard the unmistakable sound of approaching vehicles. She glanced over the ridge and saw dust clouds rising in the distance—reinforcements for the enemy. They were out of time.

"Fall back!" Lucy shouted, her voice hoarse from shouting. "We need to fall back now!"

Her squad began to retreat, moving from cover to cover as they tried to make their escape. But the enemy was closing in fast, and the bullets seemed to come from everywhere at once. Lucy fired her weapon until it clicked empty, then drew her sidearm, her hands shaking from the strain.

They were nearly out of options when it happened—a sharp, searing pain shot through her side, and Lucy stumbled, the ground rushing up to meet her. She gasped, clutching her side as blood seeped through her uniform. She tried to stand, but her legs refused to cooperate, her strength fading.

"Chen!" Evans shouted, running to her side as the rest of the squad fell back. "Hang on, I got you!"

But it was too late. Before Evans could reach her, an enemy soldier appeared from the shadows, rifle raised. Lucy barely had time to register the figure before a sharp blow to the back of her head sent her tumbling into darkness.