Frozen Flame of Dawn - Chapter 46
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- Chapter 46 - Chapter 46: Chapter 22: Crimson Outburst_2
Chapter 46: Chapter 22: Crimson Outburst_2
The distant outline of the capital city grew sharper, its towering structures casting shadows across the landscape as the helicopters drew closer. The air was filled with the repetitive buzz of the blades, but the tension within the cabin was nearly oppressive.
Billy looked off into the distance with a grim expression on his face. His instincts were getting stronger as the seconds went by.
“I don’t like this, Manas,” Billy muttered, his voice barely audible over the sound of the helicopter. “Something doesn’t seem right. Everything feels worse as we get closer.”
Sitting next to him, Manas let out a short laugh that wasn’t funny at all. “You know, Billy, that paranoia of yours is probably the only reason you’re still alive after all these missions.” Regardless of his comments, his hand tightened over the grip of his rifle, revealing his own discomfort.
Billy’s gaze didn’t waver from the approaching city. “Tell the pilots to land near the north wall. Away from the military camp center, and keep the helicopters close to any cover, try to find less exposed positions.”
Manas told the pilots, and they quickly agreed with him. The helicopters changed course slightly, now moving toward the far-off northern edge of the military camp. Bill turned on the common frequency with a steady yet authoritative voice.
“Listen up, everyone. We’re landing in less than five minutes. If there’s a skirmish—and let’s be honest, there probably will be—do not kill any soldiers unless absolutely necessary. They’re following orders, just like us. Injure if you have to, but no fatalities.” While his tone became increasingly grave, he hesitated. “And no mercy to the team that went with us to the facility, kill them when you have a chance.”
There was a moment of silence in the team, as they let it sink and then acknowledged in response. They loaded and checked their weapons, adjusted their gear, and nodded at each other with determined looks.
There was no need to speak, not now, not over the terrible noise from the helicopter macerating the still-stifling air of the room; and yet, the tension between them is real, a silent understanding passing between them: the next few minutes would determine their fates.
The helicopters touched down at the far end of the military camp, close to the northern wall, not on the central helipad. Dust and debris shot up into the air as the engines shut off, but the soldiers stationed around the camp didn’t seem concerned about the unconventional landing. They stood at the ready, weapons drawn, their faces hard and inscrutable.
Billy and Manas were the first ones to get out. They looked around the area. Things were tense, like when there is silence before a storm. Along the edges of the camp, soldiers stood with their hands too easily on their weapons.
“Doesn’t look friendly, does it?” Under his breath, Manas said something.
Billy didn’t answer, his sharp gaze fixed on a figure walking towards them. Grant. The smugness on his face was unmistakable, his steps slow and deliberate as he closed the distance.
“There you are,” Grant drawled, halting several meters away. He mocked, smiled, smirked with arrogance. “I told you, you wouldn’t get away with it. And here you are, just where you’re supposed to be.”
Billy and Manas shared a brief exchange of glances. Neither of them spoke, but it was clear, the unspoken agreement: It wasn’t going to end without a fight.
“I’ll make this easy,” Grant went on, his voice icy. “Lay down your arms and surrender. Maybe, just maybe, you will survive to another day. But if you fight back, we’ll regard you as traitors and have you tried and executed according to military law. Your choice.”
His eyes glinted with malice as he sneered. “You’d better choose wisely, if you have a choice.”
“You’re a fool if you think we’ll surrender,” Billy finally said, his voice low but steady. “We know what this is, Grant. You don’t plan to let us walk away, no matter what we do.”
Billy and Manas exchanged a brief glance. They didn’t need words; they both knew what had to be done. Surrender wasn’t an option. This wasn’t just about survival—it was about buying time for Ghost to slip away unnoticed and deliver the evidence.
“Now!” Billy hissed, and the two of them lunged at Grant in perfect sync, catching him completely off guard.
Grant barely had time to register their movement before Billy tackled him, slamming him backward. Manas followed close behind, his rifle raised to cover Billy as they closed the gap.
“Squad, move to the north wall!” Billy shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. “Use the helicopters as cover and stay alive! We need to hold them off until help arrives!”
The remaining squad members sprang into action, weaving between the helicopters and scattering towards the northern wall. They found cover behind building structure, firing back as the situation spiraled into chaos.
Grant, now regaining his composure, let out an enraged snarl. “Suit yourself Kill them all! Leave no one standing!” His voice echoed across the camp as he pointed towards the retreating squad. “I’ll handle these two myself.”
Grant turned his full attention to Billy and Manas, his movements unnaturally swift. It was clear now—he wasn’t just an average soldier. He was an awakened individual, and his strength was nothing to scoff at. His blows came fast and heavy, forcing Billy and Manas to work together to keep him at bay.
At the same time, Ghost hid in the chaos and took advantage of it to get away. He stayed low and moved between the shadows to get out of the soldiers lines of sight. Even though his heart was beating fast, he never lost his attention. Getting to the Dragon Unit’s headquarters and reporting everything was his only job.
When Ghost reached to the northern gate, he stopped for a moment and looked back at the camp. The situation was dire. His comrades fought valiantly, but the odds were stacked against them. Gritting his teeth, he turned away and sprinted into the shadows, his goal clear.
*****
While on the Road to the Military Camp, Aiden and Tommy were driving in the direction of military camp. The car shook over cracked roads, and with each second that went by, the skyline got bigger.
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But both of them noticed something strange. There’s a lot of soldiers leaving the camp and moving toward the edges of the city.
“What’s with the military suddenly sending their solider out reinforcements when they’ve been sitting on their asses this whole time?” Tommy frowned while asking with his tone laced with suspicion. “Why now of all the time?”
Aiden’s eyes narrowed. He didn’t respond immediately, his hands tightening on the steering wheel. The bad feeling that had been gnawing at him since morning grew stronger. “Something’s wrong, Tommy. This isn’t normal. It feels… planned.”
As they pondered, a figure dashed toward their direction, and before long, they were able to recognize it as one of their own unit members.
“That’s Ghost!” Tommy exclaimed, rolling down the window as he shouted, “Ghost! Over here!”
While Aiden also stooped the car, the young soldier froze mid-step, stunned. As he turned and saw Tommy and Aiden coming out of the car, relief washed over his face. Without hesitation, he sprinted towards the car.
“Captain! Vice-Captain!” Ghost gasped, his voice trembling with urgency as he reached them. He immediately handed Aiden a small data chip, his hands shaking. “This… this has everything. Everything from the mission, the facility… you need to see it. Please help us!”
Aiden’s face darkened as he took the chip, his tone sharp. “What’s going on, Ghost? Speak clearly. Why are you running, and why is the team in danger?”
Ghost took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. “Grant… the mission… it was a setup. The facility was hiding illegal experiments, and they’re trying to silence us. They’re attacking the squad—Billy and Manas are holding them off, but it’s bad, sir. Real bad.”
Tommy’s usual humor vanished, replaced by cold anger. “So that bastard finally showed his true colors.”
“Get in, Ghost,” Aiden said, his tone icy as he started the car again. “We’re going to the camp. Now.”
Ghost didn’t hesitate. He scrambled into the backseat while Tommy climbed into the passenger side. The moment the doors slammed shut, Aiden floored the gas pedal, the engine roaring as they sped toward the camp.
“Explain. Everything,” Aiden said, his voice steady but cold. He didn’t take his eyes off the road, but Ghost could feel the weight of his gaze through the rearview mirror.
Ghost swallowed hard, his mind racing to piece it all together. “We got a military order,” he began, his voice steadying as he spoke. “A mission assignment signed by Vice-Chancellor Rienfeld and Major General Karep. They assigned us to escort a team—to take resources and people from the research facility and bring them back safely. The timeframe was ridiculously short, but Billy and Manas agreed. They didn’t want to risk the rest of the team being targeted if we refused.”
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