God's Rise | WOTG #2

Fifty-One

C A D E

THE EARTH STOPPED REVOLVING around its slanted axis, freezing time at this very moment as the atmosphere grew quiet. The four of us looked into each other as if to check if we were hearing the same thing.

We would infiltrate the Districts. The most secure place in the world right at this very moment. No one could step out and certainly, no one can sneak past the heavily-guarded borders of the outlying districts. Goldberg made sure of that. He made the capital of the Philippines as a huge cage. If we tried to approach it by land, the sensors would spot us and trigger defense mechanisms. Missiles, bombs or worse Goldberg himself would be alerted we were coming for him.

The lieutenant general sat on her right while the major general busied himself reading a file on his workpad.

"We've already talked about this very carefully," the general said. All eyes nailed on her and all ears waited for the next words coming out from her lips. "The High Committee of the Uprising has decided we'll push through this plan to land our first retaliation against Havierre Goldberg. And all possible contingencies that might lead to the failure of this proposal has been carefully deliberated and discussed to avoid it."

"Wait," entrada ni Bea. "With all due respect, but are you serious? Nakita niyo naman siguro ang kinahinatnan namin sa Fort Dagohoy. Partial forces lang niya what if sa lugar pa mismo kung saan concentrated ang pwersa niya?"

The general looked at her and a smile crawled upon her lips. "Magandang tanong, Ms. Nixon." She leaned in and a hologram appeared in front of her. She tapped a series of buttons and a map of the Districts flashed in the middle of the table. It spun around and around.

"Ang plano ay magsisimula sa paglilipat ng ating pwersa sa Asterisk Farm," panimula niya at napunta ang mapa iilang kilometro ang layo sa hilaga ng Opal District. Doon nakita namin ang malaking farming community na sinugod ni Goldberg na kumuha sa buhay ni Trevon, ang butler ng pamilya namin at caretaker ng Voight Estate. 

Umayos ako sa akinhg kinauupuan at tinitigan nang maigi ang mapa na para bang nakikita ko na kung anong nangyayari mismo do'n. Naalala ko ay nakatingin nga pala ako sa mapa at hindi sa isang portal.

"We'll transfer the skeleton crew of the mission first with the recoinnaisance planes to clear Havierre's forces from the farm and take it," pagpapatuloy niya. "At susunod ang mga ibang staff na magsisilbing technical at back-up support."

"The skeleton crew," pag-uulit ni Ezerina at sumandal siya sa upuan niya sa tabi ko. "Kami 'yon, 'no?"

Ngumiti na naman ang heneral. "You guessed it right, Ms. Arechavaleta," kumpirma niya. "Pero makasisiguro kayo na you'll have all the reinforcement and the right tools with you. Hindi na ulit mangyayari ang nangyari sa Fort Dagohoy. It was such a cowardice for him to trap you in a surprise attack."

"I will be there with you since the general can't leave the base," sabat ni Lieutenant General Loyola. "I'll serve as the head of the operation and all of you will answer to me."

"Yeah, whatever," bulong ni Ezerina. "Kami lang naman lagi kumikilos dito."

"Ano 'yon, Ms. Arechavaleta?" matalim na tanong ni Lieutenant General Loyola. Walang ekspresyon sa kaniyang mga mata at kahit kayang-kaya siyang patumbahin ni Ezerina mula sa kinauupuan niya ay nanahimik na lang siya. She radiated an authority even us could not challenge. All those years serving in the military had surely washed away the littlest dose of fear in her mortal heart.

"Nothing, Ma'am."

"Hindi natin susugurin ang District nang bara-bara lang," pagpapatuloy ng heneral sa kaniyang paliwanag. "Major General Navarro, please."

The broad-shouldered man nodded at her. Hindi ko alam kung balat at laman pa ba ang nasa ilalim ng uniform niya o mga bulto ng semento at bato. Halos kumawala na sa damit niya ang laki ng katawan niya. 

"Papasukin natin ang kapitolyo mula sa unang outlying district in the north and Asterisk Farm will serve as our temporary base during the whole mission. Magpapadala muna tayo ng scouts sa loob ng Opal District para ma-pinpoint ang mga outpost at mga defenses ng lugar." Ang mapa sa harapan namin ay nag-zoom-in sa Opal District at nakita namin ang sapot na mga daan na gumapang sa buong syudad. "Since wala naman mahalagang gusali at opisina dito sa lugar na 'to sa tingin namin ay hindi masyadong pinagtuunan ng pansin ni Havierre na i-guard ang district na 'yon. It would be easy for us. But the next district after that, Sapphire? That's where I know we would need more than a skeleton crew."

"Pero hindi tayo sigardo," kontra ko. "We don't even know what's going inside Goldberg's mind. Baka mamaya naghihintay na pala siya sa Opal District. He's always one step ahead of us."

"Kaya nga kailangan nating gawin 'to," sabat ng heneral. "So that we can walk with him side by side. Isang malaking sugal, oo. The greater the risk, the greater the reward."

"But—"

"If we succeed, we might not need to run anymore," Deo said, sitting on my left. The four of us looked at him.

"Yeah," sabat ni Kato. "Might."

"Besides, he doesn't know the location of this base," the general added. "In fact, he has no idea this military base exists. This knowledge is higly confidential and only the legitimate leader of the state can acquire it. Even the past presidents themselves cannot disclose this base's location. The law commands it. This is our advantage."

"Kailan na ba 'to?" tanong ni Bea. "Can't we at least have our rests first? Nakakapagod tumakbo at magtago at maa-appreciate namin kung bibigyan niyo kami ng isa o dalawang araw para magpahinga."

"At mag-train," sabat ko nang maalala ko ang lagay ni Ezerina.

Those who sat near the apex of the long table murmured and nodded to themselves as if they were the one who could decide for us. General Auxria cleared her throat and all the noise became silent. "Granted. The mission will start two days from now," she said and looked at Ezerina. "Ms. Arechavaleta, I still need that report."

Deo looked at her and she looked at him back. Bea and Kato noticed this and never said a word. By the looks from the expression of their faces, I knew Deo told them about Ezerina's situation. A warning.

"Aayusin na namin lahat ng 'to sa dalawang araw," sabi ng heneral. "Habang kayong apat," tumingin siya sa amin isa-isa, "ay magpahinga at mag-training. Deo will oversee everything."

"Yes, Ma'am," Deo replied.

"Good. That's all settled then," she said. "Our next agendum is . . ." After that, I never listened to her and let my thought wander.

If we succeed, we might not need to run anymore.

Deo's words kept knocking at the doors of my mind and I wasn't sure if I'd welcome it. Or believe in it. Or banish it for good.

When all of this had begun, we have been running ever since. And it was only a matter of time before he caught us. I debated with myself and after turning the words over and over in my head I have finally decided.

The chase would never end if we kept running and running. We were just circling each other waiting who would be exhausted first. 

And we'd make sure it would not be us.