Operation 337

Chapter Seven

Sometimes, life surprises you, sometimes, it makes you happy, sometimes it makes you worried or sad. My shock made me relieved and yet, somehow, worried. A Challenger II tank rolls over stones and dust, stopping close by me and a driver clambered out.

"I highly recommend you get aboard." The driver finally spoke, still keeping the engine running. It didn't worry me, I'm gonna get in... but he looked suspicious... too suspicious. But I reluctantly climb aboard. I'd never been in a tank before, so it surprised me that they had lights fitted... although, it's kinda the first thing to think about when building a tank: adding a light source.

"How long ya been out there," he said, "it's hot out there."

"I- I've been out there for..." I stopped in my tracks. How long had I been out there for? An hour, hours? I didn't know. In the end I answered, "An hour... maybe more."

"Damn. There's some water," the driver added, pointing to half a bottle of water, "sorry there isn't much, it's 50 degrees after all... and two bottles of water simply won't cut it."

Silence fell... then it dawned upon me; where was the rest of the crew? I decided to pipe up.

"Where are your men?" I ask, taking a small sip of water, I didn't want to waste it.

"Ugh, they died..." He blurted, a tear dropping from is face "... we were hit badly. That's the trouble with Alexis, he doesn't understand."

"Alexis? Who's that?" I sniffed, feeling the pain of loss of my team mates... my friends.

"Come on... Lieutenant Alexis, the most evil person I know..." He adds, but suddenly, a tumultuous sound echos in the distance. Confusion took over me, like a hypnotist. Like an idiot, I peer out of the tank, and I saw British artillery guns facing us. Well... I naturally assume this was Alexis's work. But why go against the British?  Who'd go against their own side? Clearly Alexis.

The driver - whose name was Corporal Spud - got the tank into steaming action. We were speeding along a dust road, and Spud was really pushing this tank to its limits. Shots of artillery fire thudded nearer and nearer to us; at one point, I feared death.

Suddenly, the shots seized. Silence screamed at us. As if saying, death, destruction and dread, on a constant loop. Some part of me wished they'd start the artillery bombardment again; to stop the dreary silence.

What appeared to be a life time later, we arrived in Lostsprings Camp, it felt great being back at my base again. On closer inspection, it appeared different: but I couldn't place why. As we approached further, I realised the fault immediately; the main leader of the base's sign had gone. Was this the doing of Alexis?

It looked horrible inside. It looked baron, ruined. How could anyone possibly live here? Tanks were damaged beyond repair, we eventually came jolting to a rough stop in the middle of the base. It was difficult to get out. But I managed it due to the aid of the Corporal. I jump down, and with horror, I saw a line of men with guns pointed at this wall. It then hits me. They were a firing squad, but how? They didn't do that anymore. Half of me wanted to stop it all; although I feared I'd be shot. I looked around and spotted a door with a sign saying, private nuclear launch station.