The Fight for Freedom (Book One in the EDSOR Military Academy Trilogy)

Chapter 24- Infiltration

I woke up with a little boy standing next to me. Freaky man! Who was that stalker?

I rubbed my eyes and saw that it was Malcolm. “You illiterate child! What are you doing in my dormitory?”, I demanded as he held out a paper at my face. I clutched it as I read the message.

“President Jesse, The EDSOR architects and engineers have completed the fortress surrounding the school. From afar, it would look like the Great Wall Of China. Thank you for your patience. We hope we will be able to help in the war in whichever way we can. The new recruits from the other schools, especially Philippine Science High School, have done their parts too. For glory, to the inevitable, for EDSOR –Respectfully yours, Malcolm, EDSOR Head Architect.

PS: We would also like to remind you about the fatal accident of Stephan, the brother of Thomas. He fell from the construction site while working yesterday. We apologize for his accident, and we will see to his immediate recovery in the coming days.

Yes! The long awaited fortress was finally completed. After so many days of struggling, I am glad that they’ve managed to pull it all off. The postscript made me feel guilty as if I were the one at fault. Poor Stephan! He’s only thirteen and he had to experience this! Oh god, please spare his life! He has contributed so much. Please don’t take him away from Thomas.

Before I start lamenting over this, I heard a siren, which jolted me out of my sleepy reverie.

It was ringing in my ears. It was coming from the Student Council Room. Malcolm jumped on my bed and screamed at my face. Oh gosh! What a scary child! I got out of my bed as I took a peek outside the dormitories. Everyone was frantically running away from their rooms to the La Salle Gymnasium which was just nearby the dorms.

I was also panicking. What is this? “Malcolm!”, I yelled. “Follow me! Stop sitting on my bed!”, I shouted as I pulled him and joined the crowd.

“All EDSOR Student Council Members, please proceed to the Council Room at once. This is an emergency!”, I heard Alyssa’s voice from the speaker. “Jesse Hope, we need you right away”, she added as the voice recorder stopped. The siren continued.

“Malcolm, go to your team and don’t leave them. Tell the others to wait for further announcements”

He nodded his head as I ran to the ICA building. Girls were shrieking and I could hear boys yelling at the top of their lungs. My heart was pounding on my ribcage as I avoided stampedes and nearly collided into the fortress that surrounded the school. I couldn’t simply die right now…

When I arrived, Paulo was hyperventilating as he pulled me inside the room. “President, you’ve gotta listen to this voice recording that came from our radio communications system”

All the War Council members were already seated around the King Arthur table. I sat at the boss’ chair, the comfortable white chair that made me look like a queen. Alyssa was heavily sweating as she pressed the Play button.

“Greetings President Jesse. I am Kazim from the Militician Army. Rest assured that we won’t be attacking you in an ambush. We pity that history would deem us unfair to do such to a bunch of illiterate children. I would consider myself very kind and considerate to inform you that we’ve just hacked your radio communications system as you have done to ours. We are now settled in Muntinlupa City and it won’t take us very long to get to your puny academy. I’d say we’d be attacking your well built fortress tomorrow afternoon. Expect heavy rainfalls, floods and landslides. Yours truly, Kazim Klan.

This voice recording played on our own radio telecommunication system, the only access we had to the outer world, left me astounded. My jaw dropped after I heard the message. There was a very long silence before I was able to utter a single word.

“So what’s our plan of action, Jesse?”, Lexine’s voice echoed throughout the room. I dreaded this day when all preparations would finally come to action. I placed my hands on my forehead and groaned.