Republic of Tactics

Republic of Tactics: Chapter 20

Chapter 20

I see Olden enter as well. He should be in the Squad 2 Eagle.

"What are you doing here?" I ask.

"They thought it'll be better to have the Asherman brothers in the same squad." He takes a seat across from me.

Soon, the doors close and we leave the ground before I realize.

"Attention please. We might have to pass through a storm so be aware." The pilot says on the speaker. It has been almost an hour after take off, tiredness wanting to close my eyes for sleep. The other soldiers are sleeping too, drooling and snoring in the thunder's roar. Only for four.

"Hey. What are your names?" I ask the four, who are playing cards on a glass table.

"Hey, I'm Scarlet, this is Keene, Joyse and Flux." Says Scarlet. She is a blonde woman, around thirty and has stunning blue eyes. I look at Keene. A man in about his early forties with a pale skin and brown hair that is pulled back. Joyse is a young lady with an amiable smile. Both her hair and eyes are a shade of hazelnut which looks lovely. Flux and me are somewhat alike, the dark hair and brown eyes. Only his body is more muscular than mine, and he's taller, about twenty. "Well you know us." I smile him. Olden waves gratefully.

"Great to have you along." I say. The cabin becomes dark now that we're inside a dark storm cloud with lightning lighting the sky. I sit on the floor near the couch that is now a poker table.

"So. After we kill the congress, what are your future plans?" Joyse asks.

"Um.... I don't know. How many congress members are there anyway?" I ask back.

"About fifty or sixty. Sixty-two with the presidents." Flux answers, he's griping onto the seat with all the turbulence shaking the aircraft.

"Then, I guess we'll be free after then." I say from the bottom of my heart. I could've said that nothing will change if another anti-rebel leader took the throne. Although in a way we will be free. Free from all the wickedness and the government's ascendancy that hold citizens prisoners from justice.

"I guess. The Alphas killed my wife during a bombing." Keene recalls.

"Revenge for the entire country is at our hands." Scarlet adds. Squinting at the cards that are hard to see in the dark.

For the next hours, I drift off to sleep only to be awaken by thunder claps in the sky. It is about dawn when I feel the Eagle begin to descend. We past the storm and the morning sun shines in the gray cabin. We have a breakfast of beans and sliced ham with bottled water. Plus energy drinks to boost us for the battle. After breakfast, something totally unexpected betides.

"Parachutes on!" Yells a soldier by the cockpit seats. He attaches a backpack onto his back and assists others.

"Parachutes? What's going on?" I question.

"We have to land in York right now!, because our schedule is delayed. Sorry commander, the pilot just got informed." The man says.

Olden helps with my parachute, my uniform already heavy and big already. I've always wanted to parachute off a plane, but not during a war. There are large panels on the floor of the Eagle, you stand on them and they open one at a time. Dropping you straight into the sky. We'll jump at fifteen-hundred feet, landing in a large grassy area before entering York.

Ten soldiers have already been dropped and I'm up next, then Olden and my four allies. They agreed on sticking together as a smaller group, so they became my allies now that they promised to keep me alive in our dangerous trek.

I am standing on the metal panel, googles on, waiting for it to open, to release me into the air. I don't know if it's in my head, but I hear a drumming like noise that picks up in speed. Like the sound of a train's chugging mixed with the whistles of a violin. My heartbeat catching up to its rhythm. My breaths become faster and I find myself trembling. Panic? Anxiety?

I quickly remember why I'm here. A fight for justice. Revenge.

The drumming noise now pounding acceleratingly in my ears. The sensation of my heart in my throat when the panel opens.