The Memorial Day Murders

Chapter 22 : Deployment

The Secretary of Defense eyed the team and nodded. "According to the Pentagon we have located a Taliban encampment several kilometres south of your bases. This isn't a normal camp however, as according to the sources we currently have, one of the lieutenants of the Taliban, Sayyid Bin Masir, will be there." We tensed on the spot. Since that major battle the group has seemingly gone quiet, no news. "Sayyid isn't just a lieutenant, he is also one of the closest allies to the leader of the Taliban. If we can take him out, this will be a major blow to the group."

"I'm sorry sir, but what exactly is Masir's value in the group?" I asked.

"Yes, I'm glad that you asked lieutenant." the SecDef angled his head. "Sayyid Bin Masir is known as Aldhiyb within the Taliban."

"The Wolf." I said.

"You know your Arabic lieutenant. Aldhiyb has carried out multiple attacks on our armed forces, we believe that he's the brains behind the ambush of your team." Hearing this I clenched my fists tight. At last I know the name of the murderer. "But Aldhiyb is a sly as a fox, catching him won't be easy."

"Which is why we assembled the six of you to form a team." the President then said.

"When will we begin the search sir?" Dominic boldly asked.

"The first thing in the morning." the secretary replied. "Before you all scramble to grab the leading position we have already decided on who to lead." Everybody held their breath, anticipating on seeing who bears the burden of leading. "Lieutenant Isabella Stark."

"Yes sir." I stepped forward, followed by a salute.

"Commander Dominic Hayes."

"Yes sir." the man himself replied, stepping forward with a salute as well.

"The two of you will be charge of this operation, lead the assault on the compound and take out Aldhiyb although capturing him alive is also an option."

"Yes sir." I responded. Then the president turned towards a different direction and the screen cuts to black. "Pack your bags. It's going to be hellish soon." I gave the order. They all nodded and fanned out of the room.

I heard someone knocking at the door of the dormitory I shared with Olivia when packing my things and since she wasn't in the room I believed that the person knocking on the door wasn't her. When I opened the door I found myself facing my elder cousin Brian Park. "Hi, are you busy?" he asked, almost in a sheepish manner.

Ten minutes later

"So, you have been studying at West Point the whole time?" Brian asked, trying to break up the awkward silence.

"Your dad didn't mention that? Even Uncle Byun and Uncle Kim?" I asked him back.

"No, they... Uncle Kim's busy in Busan and my father has to help monitor the situation on the war here in Afghanistan."

"The letter came in a few days before I ended my voluntary service." I explained. "I didn't tell the family, especially grandmother and grandfather because I know that they will worry."

"How's your studies?"

"I have graduated from my studies in International Relations and is now pursuing my studies in Finance, all at West Point."

"How can you, like, go to school if you're here?"

"They have online classes."

"Oh." Brian said. He has recently been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, a promotion I received upon my rescue. "Congratulations, on the leadership." he then said.

"The government has been planning this op, and they wanted me and Dom in charge. Can't say that I have a choice."

"Grandmother and grandfather would be proud to see you now Isabella." he said.

"You're not so bad yourself, Burqa only housed the best soldiers fighting in this war. We have lost most of the men during that ambush."

"I heard that you're the only survivor."

"I am." I replied. "I have been resting for weeks, taking time to catch up with my studies. But now I'm not waiting anymore, it's time for payback." I said.

"The terrorists have threatened the world for too long." Brian concluded. "What I have seen on television is horrifying."

The next day

The sun is starting to rise when the Chinook transporting us to our destination landed on the empty tarmac. The Chinook dropped it's ramp and we climbed into the transport chopper. The SAS pilot who saved us earlier is a man called James Collins, a relatively young pilot a year older than me. James is the son of Charles Collins, the former ambassador of the United Kingdom to Norway. I recalled meeting James once when I was little, when my mom and I went sightseeing in London. We met the Collins when we rode the London Eye. It was one of the good times I enjoyed with mom. Once we're all seated in the helicopter the Chinook took off, soaring in the morning skies with noise reducing rotors. Everyone in the helicopter knows that they have only once chance and they need to succeed. Our destination lays four kilometres south, an abandoned small town eight kilometres from the said destination. I checked my M4 carbine in silence when Brian watched me tightly, still probably thinking that I could shot myself accidentally. "I don't think you should worry about the lieutenant." Dominic said. "I've seen her discharge a whole clip."

Brian glared at Dominic as he didn't really know the familial ties between me and Brian. "I'm not what I was before Brian, should stop worrying about me." I said.

"Two clicks from your drop off location soldiers!" one of the pilots shouted. "Ready your parachutes."

"You heard the pilot soldiers!" Dominic commanded. "Let's go! Check your gear and make sure it's working." Ten minutes later the ramp of the Chinook dropped open. "Ready cap?" he asked me.

"What do you think?" I asked. We broke into a sprint and jumped, free falling towards our destination. Everybody followed and reaching a certain height we deployed our parachutes. Due to the current wind we have to divert the chute ourselves and landed smoothly on the desert ground. But one of the soldiers forgot to steer the chute properly and landed face first in the sand, causing some of us to laugh and some holding back the urge to. "Come on soldiers, quit laughing and prepare yourselves." I said, folding the chute and putting it back into my backpack.