Bounded by Secrets

"Fractured Commands"

On the morning of July 17th, Ayumu's phone buzzed, its sharp sound cutting through the early quiet of the campsite. He glanced at the screen and saw the name of the Defense Minister flashing. With a deep breath, he answered.

"Good morning, sir," Ayumu said, his voice steady.

The minister's tone was brisk but notably satisfied. "Ayumu, I've been reviewing the updates on the mission. It seems like things are progressing well. Much better than last time when I spoke with Ren. I trust you'll continue to handle communication from now on."

Ayumu, though maintaining his calm demeanor, felt a flicker of irritation at the minister's dismissal of Ren. "Understood, sir," he replied, keeping his voice professional.

"Good. I expect regular updates directly from you. No more involving Ren in these calls," the minister added, his tone making it clear this wasn't a request.

Ayumu clenched his jaw but replied evenly, "Yes, sir. I'll take care of it."

As soon as the call ended, Ayumu let out a frustrated sigh, lowering the phone from his ear. He glanced around to make sure no one was nearby before muttering under his breath, "Arrogant fool." He cursed the minister quietly, his annoyance bubbling to the surface.

He respected Ren deeply and believed that, despite his flaws, Ren was more than capable of handling this mission. The minister's constant belittling of him only fueled Ayumu's anger.

"Ren's good enough for all of this," he grumbled to himself, his loyalty to Ren unwavering. It infuriated him that the minister couldn't see what he did-that Ren, though not perfect, was still a strong leader, worthy of trust and respect.

Shaking off his frustration, Ayumu stood up, mentally preparing to face the day. He'd keep the calls professional, but that didn't mean he'd ever stop defending Ren behind the scenes.

The night of July 17th was thick with tension. Ren stood by the fire when an urgent call came through from a badly injured member of Group G. His voice was weak, trembling with fear.

"Everyone... Group G... they're dead... all dead. It's an emergency. The Venpatrons have become extremely dangerous... I barely escaped..." The call ended abruptly, leaving a chilling silence in its wake.

Ren's mind raced. Confusion clouded his thoughts. He quickly dialed Zeo, needing answers. Before he could speak, she cut in.

"Ren, you need to get out. All of you. The Venpatrons are too dangerous now," Zeo said sharply. "I've already ordered Groups F and H to withdraw from the field."

Ren's anger flared at her audacity. "What? You ordered them to leave? How dare you! I am your senior!" he shouted, his voice filled with fury.

Zeo apologized quickly, but Ren wasn't having it. "No one is leaving!" he bellowed. "We need to clean this up!"

"I can't, Ren," Zeo replied, her voice shaking slightly. "I can't risk everyone's lives. The danger is too great."

In a fit of rage, Ren snapped, "Miss Zeo, you are suspended! You have no right to make these decisions!"

Zeo didn't flinch. "I don't care, sir," she responded, her voice cold. "As a civilian, I will still save as many as I can." With that, she hung up, leaving Ren fuming in his tent.

Ren stormed toward Ayumu, needing to know what was happening. When he found him, Ayumu looked grim. "Ren... Group I is dead too. I've ordered Groups A and C to retreat. I don't think Group J has survived either."

Ren's heart sank. "What... are we aborting the mission?"

Ayumu nodded solemnly. "Yes. It's too late. We need to rescue the survivors."