Chapter 6 Into the Desert

It's a Beautiful Morning "Elias! said it's time I'm going now to the Base please mum take care of Clara! for me, I promise I will be back don't let anything hurt her okay mum" and I also need your prayers mum pray for me bye!" He left home with smile on his face

The harsh wind of the desert surrounded them, particles of dust coated in its wake, prickling the skin. Elias and crew proceeded with caution, their eyes have been trained on the horizon for any signs of danger. The mission was one of precision and vigilance.

As they neared a ridge, Elias motioned for the team to stop. He dropped to a crouch and pulled binoculars to his eyes, scanning the terrain. There was a small settlement in the distance, it looked abandoned but Elias had learned long ago that looks can be deceiving.

"We'll move cautiously," he said, voice firm. "Keep your head on a swivel and stay on a line of communication."

They pressed forward in formation, weapons raised. Each step, tense, lingering indicatively of an approaching danger. Elias' thoughts were on the mission at hand, but a small part of him couldn't shake off all the other times he had done this. The burden of those memories weighed on him, yet he ignored them.

Out of the corner of his eye, a movement: He stood up, raised his hand, and told the crew to stop. They hunkered down behind a cluster of rocks with their eyes on the settlement. A minute later a figure came out of one of the buildings, then several others. They were armed.

"Guess we've found our rogue faction," Elias muttered. He activated his radio. "Base, this is Team Alpha. We have visual on the target. "Waiting for further orders."

"Copy, Team Alpha. Proceed with caution. Engage only if necessary."

Elias acknowledged the order, then turned away to his team. "We'll observe for now. Gather intel. No engagement unless it's absolutely required."

They resided there, taking in the settlement from their view. Hours passed, the sun relentless above them. Elias's mind had stayed sharp, his focus laserlike. This was what he knew, what he had done over and over again.

That was the act of sacrificing it in service of his duty, but even as the event unfolded, he began to ask was this the last mission? How many more times would his services be required? And when, if at all, would he find the redemption he yearned for?

At night, the temperature in the desert plummeted. Shadows darkened the landscape, shielding Elias and his team. They made the choice to get closer, taking advantage of the night to do so.

Elias took the lead, his senses peaked. Every noise, every motion etched in his brain. Our settlement was hauntingly silent, the wind occasionally tossing leaves and a bird call echoing from afar.

They arrived at the outskirts of the settlement and positioned themselves. Elias motioned for two of his men to scout ahead. He saw them shift and blend into the darkness.

It was only minutes later that one of them returned. "Multiple hostiles. "Looks like they're hiding something."

Elias weighed their options. They could get down while they could now divide the hostiles and take them out and secure what they are guarding. But something urged him to hold off, to try to learn more before taking action.

"Hold position," he ordered. "We're just going to watch a little longer."

As the night dragged on, tension hung in the air. Elias knew the following hours would be decisive. A misstep, however slight, can be disastrous. But he also knew they had a job to do, a responsibility to carry out.

And so, as the stars twinkled above and stretched around them in the desert, Elias readied himself for whatever else lay ahead and was determined to see the mission through.