Beyond The Frontline

Fragment Kilo

Colt was shocked, to say the least. He watched as Dani had a small but heartfelt reunion with his father, Daren. The two shared a few words, reconnecting after a long separation. Eventually, father and son turned to help with the carts, joining the rest of the group in unloading supplies and distributing items throughout the village. 

By the time the work was done and dusk settled over the village, everyone was drained but visibly pleased with their collective efforts. Dani went to visit his mother in the survivors' camp, leaving Colt to quietly slip back to his own quarters for a moment of solitude.

Upon entering, Colt was surprised to find Ody waiting for him. He had almost forgotten that Ody intended to report on the supply gathering mission. Colt gave a nod before pulling a chair over to the table and gestured for Ody to sit across from him.

Ody began his report, explaining the details of the supply run, the unexpected state of the town, and the need to clear away what remained of Rine's dark aftermath. Colt listened intently, his tired mind focusing on every word, asking questions here and there to clarify or dig deeper into specific points. When there was finally nothing more to say, Ody stood, bid farewell, and made his way out of the house, leaving Colt alone once again.

Now, with the day behind him, Colt could finally feel the weight of exhaustion settle over him like a blanket. Colt went straight to his room, flopped onto his bed, and sleep washed over him almost instantly.

Over the next few days, the village began to settle into a rhythm, working towards recovery and growth under the leadership of Colt. The first major step was a meeting where tasks were assigned and priorities clarified. With everyone understanding their roles, they wasted no time getting to work.

Ody led a small group dubbed the "Scav Team," tasked with daily scavenging runs to Rine. They worked tirelessly, gathering everything of value until there was nothing left to salvage. Their efforts ensured the village was stocked to the brim with essential supplies.

Meanwhile, the survivor group became instrumental in the village's development. With more hands on deck, they focused on building infrastructure to accommodate the growing population. New shelters were constructed, and additional storages were set up to house the influx of materials and goods.

Dani, however, was given a unique task—reconnaissance. He was assigned to assess the state of the capital city, to determine whether it was still holding out or had fallen to the Black Dogs. When pressed for the reason behind this mission, Colt offered only a vague explanation about it being part of a larger plan.

Without delay, Dani set out, equipped with all the supplies he needed for the journey. Before he departed, Colt handed him the M27 rifle once again. Equipped with an ACOG scope, it would allow Dani to survey the city from a safe distance, minimizing the risk of discovery. With that, Dani rode off, knowing the capital was days away.

With these efforts in motion, Colt turned his attention to his own task. Moving tirelessly between the blacksmiths and craftsmen, he focused on the challenging project of creating a functional bolt-action rifle in this world.

After two days, Dani returned to the village, his steed kicking up dust as he dismounted. Without delay, he made his way to Colt, who was in the craftsmen's workshop, carefully examining prototype components for the bolt-action rifle. Spotting Dani, Colt carefully set the parts aside and turned his attention to the scout.

When asked about the capital's status, Dani painted a grim picture. It was still standing, but barely. Black Dogs swarmed the land outside its walls, their numbers stretching into the thousands. Camps dotted the landscape, a clear sign of a prolonged siege. Using the rifle's scope, Dani had observed defenders fighting with everything they had, repelling relentless small-scale attacks.