"Watch your left!" Shane Maxiel shouted into the radio, trying to save his wingman from incoming rebel planes. His wingman looked to the left and noticed the plane barreling right toward him. "Trying to be a kamikaze eh? Let's see how you'll do about this!"
Pulling up on the stick, the plane started moving higher, the engine humming louder and louder per second. The kamikaze started following, until it noticed the plane do a flip and start heading right towards it.
"Gotcha!" Pressing the trigger, bullets started hitting the kamikaze, one bullet hitting through the glass protecting the pilot, killing him. The kamikaze's plane started heading down towards the ground.
Shane smiled. "Good shot Harry." He then looked out at the horizon, seeing the battle rage on. The radio buzzed with Harry's voice "We can't fight all of them off…can we?"
Shane sighed. "Just keep fighting! We definitely won't win if we stop!"
*Two years earlier*
Liam Pearson checked his gun one last time as the stealth carrier moved forward. Looking at the rest of his men, he saw determination, yet fear in their eyes. "Don't worry guys, this should be a simple mission. Just get the information and leave."
"But sir…they'll be sure to have the information heavily guarded. We possibly can't—"
"Don't talk that way, EVER!"
"Y—Yes sir."
"Men, I survived worse odds than this. We need this information in order to locate where the rebels took the prince to. Data, you be sure to analyze whatever information we find. Tat, you be sure to keep whatever guards off of Data's back."
Tat, with his dragon tattoo on his arm, shook his head, eager to kill rebel guards.
Everyone else, we search the compound for any prisoners they might have. Though our main priority is to retrieve the information, we cannot leave our comrades behind. Is that understood?"
In unison, everyone said, "Sir yes sir!"
As everyone eased up and tried to relax the rest of the ride, Liam thought back to the day the war started.
The Kingdom of North America, under the rule of a monarchy, had preserved peace and prosperity throughout the monarchy's entire existence. However, two years ago, there were whispers of a rebel faction rising, one that wanted democracy. Six months passed, and, after rising tensions between the monarch and several governors, the first shots were fired when the rebels launched a surprise attack on Seattle. There, they moved swiftly, capturing several territories along the way, most of whom were loyal to the rebels. The war started in 1947.
It is now 1949 and the rebels have made progress, becoming bolder by the day. Two days prior, a rebel task force managed to infiltrate a base where the prince was and kidnapped him.
Liam was bounced by to the present when the transport hit a bump, causing him to lurch forward. Within several minutes, the transport stopped. Liam stood up. "Alright everyone, the transport is stopping here, a mile away from the base to avoid detection. The transport will remain here while we complete our mission. We'll then return and leave, simple as that."
The other five men stood up, weapons in hand. The door opened, and everyone walked out into the cool night air. Even from their position, the men could see the glow of the lights from the base.
Liam led the way, with everyone else following suit. Within ten minutes, they were near the entrance to the base. Hiding behind trees, the task force looked for a way in.
Liam spotted a hole in the gate near a guard tower. Looking at Tat, Liam pointed to the tower. "Take those guards out."
Tat nodded and took aimed his sniper rifle, with a silencer on it. Aiming at the two guards, Tat shot the first guard and quickly changed his target to the second, dropping him instantly.
Liam nodded. "Good job, as always."
Tat grunted his thanks.
Running to the gate, Liam cut the hole larger and ushered his squad into it. Once through, Liam again went to the front and looked about. Keeping his voice to a whisper, Liam said, "Looks like we came here at the right time. There aren't any guards in the area that I can see."
Data nodded his head in agreement. "According to the blueprints our spy gave us, the main building is directly in front of us."
Liam gave a slight nod and gave the signal for the team to advance.
Soon, the team was inside the building, darkened by the night. Liam kept his voice to a whisper. "Okay, you guys know the plan. Tat, Data, you go find the information we need. The rest of us will check out the prison area. Remember, keep your silencers on your weapons, and be careful."
Everyone nodded their heads and went their separate ways.
Liam walked through the rebel base, gun ready for whatever they might face. One of his squad mates, Hex, looked at Liam. "Don't you think it's too quiet? Except for the guards at the guard tower, we haven't seen a single rebel."
"Well, if I considered why that is, we'd never get the mission done. Keep focus, and deal with the hand you're dealt."
"Yes sir."
Within a minute, Liam and the rest of the squad were in front of the prison hold. Peeking out from behind a box, Liam saw three guards, one snoozing in the corner and two others talking. Liam motioned to Hex and both aimed their weapons at the talking guards. They both pulled the trigger at the same time, the silencer not waking the sleeping guard. The two other guards slumped to the ground, blood pouring out of their heads. As Hex and Liam walked through the entrance to the prison, after taking the keys from one of the dead guards, Thomas, the last member of the squad, stood watch.
Liam and Hex were walking down the corridors, looking into the cells. Hex sighed. "I don't see anyone."
"There has to be at least someone here, otherwise they wouldn't be guarding this place."
"Yeah…you're probably right."
At the end of the corridor, the two spotted a stair case, but the corridor also took a right, leading to more cells.
Liam whispered to Hex, "You keep going down the corridor. I'll go up and see what I can find."
Hex shook his head and continued down the corridor, while Liam stealthily walked up the stairs. As Liam passed cell after cell, with no prisoners, he wondered why they would have guards posted if they had no prisoners he could find. However, as he walked to the last cell on the second floor, he saw a man lying on a tattered bed. Taking out the key he had taken earlier, Liam opened the door and walked to the man. "Sir, are you—"
The man looked up at Liam. Even in the darkness, Liam could clearly see who the man was. "Y—your majesty?!"
The prince groaned and slightly shook his head. "No…get out of here while you can…"
Liam picked up the prince, who had been severely tortured. "Never! We'll get you out of here!"
Rushing down the corridor and down the stairs, he quickly found Hex, unable to find any other prisoners. Soon, the three of them, including Thomas, were running down the halls they had just passed.
"Thomas, go to the command center and get Tat and Data. We need to get the prince out of here right away!"
Thomas shook his head and ran down another hallway, still not meeting any guards.
As Liam neared the entrance to the building, he set the prince down, who groaned in pain. "Your majesty, what did they do to you?"
"G—get out of here! Leave me! I'm dead anyways."
"Stop talking like that your—"
Liam spotted Thomas running towards them. "Thomas, where are Tat and Data?"
"Dead! I found their bodies in the command center, bullets through the back of their heads!"
Liam gasped. "We've got to go now!"
Picking up the prince, he rushed outside, along with Thomas and Hex, and made their way to the gate. However, half way there, Liam heard a loud bang, along with a scream from Thomas. Looking at him, Liam could see a bullet had ripped through Thomas's chest.
"Thomas!"
Soon, more guns started firing, causing Hex and Liam to quickly take cover. Taking out his gun, Liam placed the prince down and poked his head out, trying to find out where the gunfire had come from. Not even a second later, he had to duck his head right back to protect himself from the gunfire.
"There are several shadows out there, guards! I could see about seven of them."
Hex nodded his head and leaned to the right, firing a couple shots. "What do you want to do sir?!"
"We've got to get the prince out of here! Hex, you take the—"
Before Liam could finish his sentence, he spotted a shadow move to the side of Hex. Moving his gun toward the shadow, Liam tried to aim at the shadow, saving Hex. However, he heard a gun sound, Hex's body collapsing from a bullet to his head. Liam fired this gun, dropping the shadow.
However, Liam heard a wheezing sound from below him. Looking down, he could see the prince, his eyes wide in pain. "Your majesty, what's—"
The prince lunged out and grabbed Liam. "You've—got to—go."
Liam noticed blood starting to seep out of his mouth. Moving his eyes down to the prince's chest, Liam spotted a bullet hole. "Your majesty, I will not!"
"I—don't have—much time" The prince pulled out Liam's hand and put a necklace in his hand. "Give this—to my father, and tell him….."
Liam felt the prince's body shudder, then become limp. "Your majesty!?"
The prince didn't respond, his body already becoming cold. Liam started breathing heavily and peeked around the corner. The shadows hadn't changed their position. As soon as they saw Liam, they opened fire once again.
Liam looked at the fence behind him, seeing the hole they had entered through earlier. Looking at the prince's and Hex's bodies, he clenched his fists. "I'll be back! I promise!"
Liam, still crouching, made his way to the gate. The guards noticed him and started firing. Sprinting, Liam made it to the hole and ran into the safety of the forest, the necklace still in hand.
