Chapter 45: Briefing Milano
After eting up at the Caravan point in clean gear they had acquired from a shop, the elent proceeded to move as if they belonged. Paperwork was checked, and they left the compound. Once they got far enough away, they pushed the carriages off the side of the mountain and retrieved their gear. They dressed quickly back into their uniforms, and began heading to their next location.
"Alright. Since we have confird that these outposts are not strictly military, we need to verify the rest operate in the sa manner." Eric said as they began the journey towards the next encampnt. "We will spend a few days monitoring each encampnt, and then head back to Hood Hill. The teams will be the sa we had originally. Rember, jot down every little detail you notice. If a guard looks away for a second, or if he falls asleep, i want to know minute, second and ti."
Juel stood at the front of his station, waiting for the caravan to arrive while looking at his watch. It was already well past ten minutes since they should have arrived. He turned to his comrade. "Yo, Misa. Ain’t they supposed to be here? I’m not going crazy, right?" Misa looked at his watch as well and frowned. "Yeah man. They should have been here a while ago." Misa grabbed his mana lens, searching down the path. "Yeah man, they ain’t nowhere in sight. Better report it up."
"Roger."
Juel went inside, reporting to his watch NCO. "Hey sarn’t, the caravan hasn’t arrived. Yesterday, they were attacked by bandits. Could the bandits have attacked again?"
The watch NCO looked at Juel while sifting through reports and nodded. "Alright, take so of the guys and patrol the route. Find thr carriages if you can. If they are late due to whatever reason, we will discipline them. If it is sothing else, I will inform the watch commander."
The NCO waited at his desk while filing paperwork until lunch. When the soldiers hadn’t returned, he growled. "What the fuck are those idiots doing?" He said while slamming his fist on the desk in irritation. He left his office and knocked on the door next to his. "Sir, it’s . We have a situation."
Eric watched the commotion at the gates while a recon elent was dispatched from the gates. "It seems they noticed." Eric said while checking his watch. It had been roughly thirty minutes since the first guard had ntioned the caravan wasn’t here. He had watched as one of the guards went inside. He took notes. "So it seems their doctrine is to wait and confirm, then send out a team to search for the missing personnel." He mumbled. "They’re spaced evenly apart. Smart."
Eric then laid out on the crest he was sitting on so the soldiers would not see him. He had finished his part of the observation. He began to walk quietly towards the soldiers waiting at where they had thrown the carriages. Liam and Yates were waiting for him as they scanned for the recon team from the empire. "These guys are coordinated and disciplined." Liam whispered to Yates. "All those ani and webnovels where enemy empires are filled with gooners are so full of chickenshit."
Yates looked at Liam and shook his head. "Shut the fuck up man. We need to focus. Rember, we can’t be seen." He hissed under his breath.
As the recon squad arrived, Yates took out his phone and recorded every action they took. Liam stood with his weapon out, ready for contact should the recon team notice them.
As the n searched, one of the soldiers looked over the ledge. "Sir! I found the carriages!" Another soldier walked up, looking over the ledge. He sighed and took note of the destroyed wreckage. He saw the bodies of the forr drivers and guards, most half eaten. "Alright, report them as deceased. We will need to start sending more guards with the caravans." He said to another man. "Roger sir. I will let the other Encampnts know."
One month later, Eric and his team arrived at the bottom of the Esponia mountains. They retrieved their gear and began the three days trek back to Hood Hill. "Hey Sarn’t, are recon missions usually that boring?" Hewitt asked, sighing. The first few days had been exciting, but the notoriety had worn off quickly after simply watching the third encampnt. From then on out, it was simply a monotonous task.
Eric laughed as they ca within view of Hood Hill. "Yes Hewitt. And this one was actually pretty quick. Sotis they can last for multiple months, not just one." He said while they crested the hill. "You guys are all dismissed. Link back up with 1SG Hammond. You should have a three day pass, but verify with him first."
Eric headed into the command tent. He had already radioed ahead to inform Milano they would be coming in today, so the commander was waiting for him. "Good job out there Dryer." Milano said while Eric sat down. "Thank you sir. Just doing my job."
"Very well. Tell
what you saw." Eric nodded and handed over both Yates’ and Liams’ phones "Sir, we infiltra-" Eric’s words cut off as Milano glowered at him. "You did... WHAT?"
Eric shrugged. "Well you told
boots on the ground, so I thought you literally ant... boots on the ground?" Milano sighed as he looked up at the ceiling. "Im telling Mia." He murmured, and Eric went pale. "Moving on."
Sir, the issues are graver than originally thought. They have civilians inside of each compound. Not just Brishan civilians...
Earth civilians too."
Milano nodded and looked through the footage. He handed the phones to a nearby lieutenant. "I want the videos of those compounds downloaded, and then scrubbed. I don’t need the soldiers to spread around unnecessary rumors and hearsay." He then turned back to Eric. "As promised, you and the elent that went on the mission are permitted a three day rest period. Also, I’m still telling Mia. At no point did I tell you we needed you to go in and fucking scope the place out like you’re in a spy mission."
Eric shrugged again. "Sir, if I hadn’t, we wouldn’t know that there are Earth civilians there too." He said while walking out. He had a wife to surprise.
Back in front of the house, Eric stood in front of his front door. He had thought about this mont for almost a full month. What would he say? What would he do? Their relationship was new, and their marriage was in its infancy. He stepped forward, going to open the door before being slamd into. A wall of fur and human flesh blurred into him as arms wrapped around his neck. A gentle voice whispered into his ear as lips caressed his chin. "Welco ho."
Eric smiled as he picked her up, dropping his go bag outside of the house in place of her limber body. "How are my girls?" He said softly, running his fingers through her hair. "Mm. I think it will be a boy." She replied with a grin, nuzzling against his chest while he sat on the couch. They sat in silence for a few monts, breathing each other’s presence in. "God i hope not." Eric said with a chuckle. " I was like a loose horse out in the wetlands as a kid. If we have a boy anything like that, I might end up dying before the war could take ."
A gentle laugh answered his monologue. She strokes his hand with hers, placing it on her belly so that he could feel the slight bump now growing. "Yeah, and if we have a daughter I know you won’t be able to stop spoiling her. Everything she wants she will get, and I will have to punish you both!" Her eyes narrow when Eric looked up at the ceiling, not answering.
"And our son?" She continued. "When or if we have a son, I know I will have to keep my eyes on both of you so that you don’t put firecrackers in Kar’s tea or sothing like that!"
Again, silence answered her accusation. "Hmm. I need to fix that patch in the ceiling while pleading the fifth." She grabbed his chin, forcing him to look at her. "I missed you." Her voice quiet as she snuggled against him. "I know you will always co back, but I worry. I worry so much."
"Nature of the beast, my love." Eric said, kissing her as they recline on the couch. "I wish I could stay here with you and focus on making surr you don’t move a muscle, but for our child and for our future, we have to keep doing missions. We have to keep pushing forward."
"But why you?" She scread, her voice hurt and confused as she started crying into his chest. "Why are you always the one doing it?"
"Because I’m the only one who can." His soothing voice answered.
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