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860 Words
In a while, they reach the open plot and find the chopper waiting for them. The whipping blades of the chopper kick up a strong current of air that Vihaan almost falls to his knees.
They board the chopper. In a moment, they are up and cutting through the air to the insertion point.
Alpha 1 pulls out a map to plan out their attack.
Vihaan for the first time gets to see a vague picture of the hell he’s going to.
ALPHA 1 - (points at a section in the map) The camp lies in a clearing behind this hill. One kilometre north of insertion point.
CHARLIE 2 - According to Intel, the terrain is hostile. In addition, the camp is equipped with a tanker plus a good number of soldiers.
Vihaan is disturbed.
VIHAAN - Wait a second. If we have just 24 hours to complete this mission, how are we supposed to get to Tikrit that fast? It’s a long way!
ALPHA 1 - There are a couple of cheats here too, sir.
VIHAAN - Cheats?
Alpha 1 doesn’t reply. Rather he fixes his gaze at an approaching mist of dark clouds.
Vihaan is perplexed.
VIHAAN - What? What is it?
They fly straight into the clouds. And as they do, time stands still. They are surrounded by nothing but an endless grey.
Vihaan covers his ears as the hum and buzz grows unbearably painful. His head reels and feels heavy.
VIHAAN - (moaning) Stop… stop… stop it…
He can’t bear it anymore. He must throw up… Now!
CHOPPER – NIGHT
Vihaan keels over, gags throatily, but nothing comes out!
CHARLIE 2 - (helps him up) You alright, Captain?
He sees nothing but a solo shade of irritating, dull grey. He hears nothing but a low humming sound. Lightning flashes around them at spots. The chopper’s deafening noise drowns it all.
VIHAAN - (faintly) Stop… I can’t take it anymore.
CHARLIE 2 - Hang in there, sir. We’re almost there.
They fly through a dense tower of thick grey clouds into a hot cloudless afternoon sky.
The humming disappears. The grey disappears. They’re surrounded by the deep blue sky and an endless desert of flaming yellow sand below. Vihaan looks around, dumbfounded.
VIHAAN - Wait… what just happened?
ALPHA 1 - (winks) Cheats employed.
CHARLIE 2 - Welcome to the city of Tikrit. We’re ten kilometres away from the insertion point.
Vihaan is impressed. They had just gone through a portal into another country!
PILOT - Approaching the insertion point. Prepare to land.
Vihaan and his team equip themselves quickly and wait at the door.
In a couple of minutes, the chopper makes a touch-down. The whirling blades sweep up a torrent of dust and sand into the air.
The men jump down and move in as the chopper rises into the air and disappears. They shield their exposed noses with a scarf and eyes with dark goggles as they proceed to the enemy camp.
Vihaan trudges along the desert dunes with his team. It’s damn hot! The sweltering breeze hits the men hard on their faces and almost scorches them alive. He looks up at the blazing sun briefly and is instantly hit by another wave of nausea and blindness.
ALPHA 2 - It’s around 45.6 degrees Celsius.
Occasionally, a strong gust blows up a wallop of sand into the air.
As they close in on the hill, their wireless devices sputter and crackle softly. It’s Col. R.B. Singh.
COL. R.B. SINGH - Company leader calling team Raven. Come in please.
The men respond: “Team Raven reporting, sir.”
COL. R.B. SINGH - Excellent. You are now approaching the enemy camp. Be wary, our opponents are heavily armoured and extremely hostile. Charlie 1 and Charlie 2, I need you to go around the perimeter and cover up for Bravo and Alpha 1.
“Done sir,” they respond.
COL. R.B. SINGH - Alpha 2, you will stay ambushed on top of the hill. Take down the watch tower.
ALPHA 2 - Yes sir!
COL R.B. SINGH - Bravo and Alpha 1, you will proceed to the enemy camp, rescue the hostages and lead them to the extraction point.
ALPHA 1 - Yes sir!
COL R.B. SINGH - Bravo, do you read me?
Vihaan is lost. All these instructions give him the chills. Just like in the game! He can’t imagine what’s waiting for him down there. Anything could happen.
COL. R.B. SINGH - Bravo! Come in please!
VIHAAN - Yes sir.
COL. R.B. SINGH - Stay awake, Captain! It will cost you.
VIHAAN - Yes sir. Sorry sir.
COL. R.B. SINGH - And remember, Bravo, you need to get the hostages to EP unscathed. If you or any of your hostages get killed in the process, you die for good.
VIHAAN - (after a brief pause) Understood, sir.
COL. R.B. SINGH - Excellent. All the best, boys!
Wireless transmission ends!
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- Writer
