Unexpected Visitors

A/N: Rewrite! A-10's go BRRRRRT! Pew pew pew! \(^-^)/ (5/19/21). There might be some military procedure errors.

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Staring at the countryside, I'm dozing off to the vibrations of this Joint Light Tactical Vehicle. It's so relaxing... I'm so tired from all of the thing's that I'm doing! I've to attend meetings, inspections, and many other things. The brunt of my work is basically paperwork on top of paperwork. I cannot do all of it! Man. That's why I hired people for that reason! I do care, but I won't simply fire them for that. It's my responsibility. It's the reason why we're able to source high-tech equipment from the major superpowers. But not without cost. And that's a heavy one.

The ways to get the equipment are so complicated that I can't find out who's really running the operations deep within. I do know that I have influence over each and every part of the government. Ranging from the military industry to even an office worker. It's that deep that I don't know who's in there. I believed that it's mostly done for security. Once the Remilitarization started off the bat, it just goes crushing down on my private military. I did foresee this and sourced a ton of equipment. It's probably enough to last an entire decade's worth of arms and equipment. I do have resources for that. I'm just fazing over the weirdest things that I've done.

I got nothing else to think of besides my history. It's just the countryside. Beautiful sceneries. That's all. It's kind of hard to see through this small window. But, it's a way to make me feel active, but in reality, not. The chill draft of air flows from the hole of the gunner's hatch. I can feel it through my uniform. This is the perfect environment for me to sleep in. I just can't sleep just yet. I have to keep pushing my limits.

Taking out my phone, it shines to light once again. I do laugh at how people really saying that they're unfortunate when they have these expensive devices. Swiping left to right, nothing to do. Games on there, but it doesn't really interest me at all. I have to think, think, think! The phone suddenly vibrates in my hand. It's a call from my dad. Should I answer..?

I swiped the green circle and placed the phone next to my left ear.

"Hello?" I spoke.

"Son...I love you..." There was some shuffling in the mic. "Give us ten million Dollars, and we will set your father free." A deep voice resonates from the phone.

"W-Wait, who are you!?!" I shouted at the phone. I can feel intense energy rising within me.

"Hey, Tsutomu, who're you shouting at?" Charles spoke to me in a confused manner.

"Ten million Dollars exactly by midnight, no exceptions. We will execute your father." I just... can't believe it!

"Alright! I will give you your damn ten million. Where do you want it?" I exclaimed.

"Drop it in front of the house, and we make your father leave the premises. On one condition, don't ever follow us. If you do, we will blow up."

"Tsutomu, that doesn't sound good at all. Do you need some help?" Charles asked. I looked at him and nodded. Yes. I really do need help!

"Alrighty." He picks up his radio.

"Nice choice, Tsutomu."

"Hey! How the heck do you know my name-" I yelled straight into the phone.

Christ... they got him...

What can I do? Did I get betrayed by my own?

"My units are on standby. What is the dear lord is happening down there?" Charles questioned me.

In an agonizing way, "My dad."

"Oh. I'm sorry to hear that." He looked down.

"It's alright... I'll get him back," I promised that I would protect my family since I was a little kid. What're they trying to do with the commander of the world's most heavily equipped military? Ten million? That's just pennies! All it takes to preserve my family. Only one is alive. That's my dad.

"Staff Sergeant Holloway, please contact FLAGPOLE," I ordered Holloway.

"Roger that, Commander." I can tell that everyone knows what's happening to me.

"This is Charlie Seven to Six, FLAGPOLE, ordering Bravo Five, Actual Seven Four, and FIREBIRD to be on readiness, Over."

"Wilco Charlie Seven, ordering Bravo Five, Actual Seven Four, and FIREBIRD ETA One minute. FLAGPOLE, Over." The speakers broaden their communications across the vehicle.

"Roger that FLAGPOLE. Charlie Seven, Out."

"Speed towards the base."

"Yes, Commander!"

SSG Holloway sped up the vehicle above the speed limit. Hopefully, the civilians think we are some sort of foreign peacekeeping force down here.

"Tsutomu, what's the location?" Charles asked.

"We will discuss it at the base."

"Alright-o."

After speeding through the dirt road, we've finally made it to one of our bases. No one would ever dare to invade us, as it basically means to invade another superpower. The three of us stepped out of the vehicle and rushed straight towards the operations room.

"What's the situation at the house?" I asked Colonel Rodriguez. The post commander.

"We've lost all communications with the security forces there. It's likely to assume that they're all dead."

I slammed my fists on the desk. How could they? I've spent tons of time with them, and they're gone? Just like that?

"Are the units ready?" I asked him.

"Yes, Commander."

"Get them moving."

"Yes, Commander!" He quickly orders his subordinates to move out.

"I will get mines to move out. They will be under your command. Tsutomu," Charles affirmed.

"I appreciate it. Charles." I smiled at him.

"Haha, no need to thank me, I got saved a bunch of times by you." He laughed.

"Alright, we will be moving there once the area is secured."

"Kay, kay,"

My heart beats on rapidly. How will this turn out?

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After walking around for a long time, "FIREBIRD has confirmed visual of the tangos, Commander." I finally got the reports.

"How much are there?" I asked Rodriguez.

"Twenty inside, ten on the outside. They appear to be lightly armed, with some AK-47's and some M16s. No affiliation that we know of. Bravo Five and Hector Seven have secured the perimeter. Actual Seven Four is flying around. They will BINGO in around a couple of hours before doing aerial refueling."

"Alright, thank you." He nodded and went back to his usual things.

"Time to go. I'm gonna be there at the ground." I told Charles.

"Alright, coming with you! You don't need to go walking all over the place." He laughed.

"I get it. Just come."

"Alright, alright!"

As we step outside, I could see dozens of vehicles parked alongside the concrete. Good heavens. It really brightens up the base as I see some recognizable soldiers doing some jogging around the base. I went towards the helipad, where they're waiting.

Warrant Officer Williams saluted, "Good evening, sir! The Fifth Airborne will happily be your escort for this journey." I saluted back.

Both Charles and I jumped onto the UH-60 Blackhawk for the trip to the screwed-up area. I found out that there are actually four helicopters escorting us. UH-60's, and one of them is an Apache. Talk about a glorified escort. During the way, Charles was just doing his usual. Talking, talking, talking. The best person to bring on boring road trips.

"Why are surfers called surfers?"

I didn't even bother to reply to Charles' joke.

"A person who feels like a bad day in the water is ten times better than a good day out of it." Charles jeered.

"That sounds like a definition..." I implied.

After that, he's talking a bit too much.

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"We've arrived, sir!" William announces from his seat.

I saluted back, "Thank you for this."

"No, thank you! it was an appreciation to have you on here!"

I laughed, "Okay, Charles, we're here."

Both of us hopped off the Black Hawk.

"I guess you really do like to travel on the ground." Charles jokingly says.

"At least I don't shout over the loud engines of the helicopter."

He shut himself up for a minute.

I approached the XO of Bravo Five. Which is SSG Holloway. Not the proper rank, but he does his job damn well.

"What's the current situation here, Holloway?" I can hear APCs, tanks, and trucks roaming around the area, soldiers on guard.

"Sir, the tangos inside are remaining put. We aren't finding any suspicious finding within the house they're in. Luckily, they aren't firing at us right away. Every part of where they would escape is blocked off by one of our vehicles. Your orders on the ten million Dollars, sir?"

"Present it to them. I want my father to get out of there as fast as possible."

"Yes, sir!" He radioed in with my orders.

"Alright, don't let Bravo Five drop their guard..."

After one team member of Bravo Five dropped the ten million dollars at the front gate, one of the tangos grabbed it, inspected it, and gave a thumbs up to someone inside.

"They got the money." The person on the other side of the radio communicated.

I was basically sweating at that point. Will my dad be released?

My phone vibrates again. I quickly answered it.

"We will be releasing your father shortly. Thank you for your cooperation, Tsutomu." The caller hung up. Phew. I hope they darn release him...

After a quick time of what feels like hours, one soldier has visual on my father. Matching the description. Okay! Okay! Don't let my hopes up.

My radio crackles, "Uhh, Charlie Six, This is FIREBIRD. We have picked up six Bogies, not receiving our calls. Holding Hands, Seven-One Clicks away. Executing jamming. Over." What?

"Received, FIREBIRD, maintain contact with the Bogies, Over."

"Wilco, Charlie Six. FIREBIRD, Out."

What the heck is happening!?! I don't have time to contemplate what's happening! What's actually happening is that my father is alive and well from that bad situation out there! I can't believe that after all of these years of seeing wars after wars. I shed some tears. I tried to wipe away my tears without anyone looking at me.

"I do understand. It's your family." Charles patted me on my right shoulder.

"Alright, that's enough."

"Mkay then." Charles went somewhere else that I don't know.

"Fire those Patriots!" One of the soldiers shouted over the radio.

"Roger that, firing, Over." The comms are being overloaded. What's happening?

From that, I heard the first shots fill the evening skies.

"Contact! On our two!" More chatter is being talked on every local frequency.

"Fourteen tangos identified in the forest! Over!"

"This is Rhino Four. We've eliminated a convoy of technicals, Over."

"SSG Holloway, what's going on!?"

"Sir, we've made contact with an unknown enemy force that is surrounding us. Presumably, it's affiliated with the ones inside the house. However..."

"Don't tell me..."

"An explosion happened right above your father, Commander."

I stood there in shock. I looked at the video communications. Have I done too little? What... is happening?

"This is Actual Seven Four. Commencing air support, Over."

I hear BRRTS happening simultaneously. Enough to shake the air around the whole area.

"Commander! Are you here?"

I don't get it...

"Air Avenger Four, firing on heavy targets."

KABOOM-KABOOM-KABOOM. AC-130...

I ran towards where my father is living. I don't believe it. What? I ran, and I ran. I ran. I ran. I ran. I ran through the fires of bullets, smoke, and the booms of sounds.

"Cover fire for the Commander!"

As I got to the front gate, I can see blood spattered all across the lawn and the walkway. Looking around the front yard, I just see pieces of flesh scattered. I opened the gate, and I kneeled to where my father once was. I picked up his bones. Is this... my father? Is it? Is it? Question. Question... I picked up the carcass and tried to reassemble my father. He's alive.

"Commander!"

I snapped back as there was a loud explosion happening right at the house on the left of me. I looked down and saw a disgusting mass of human flesh and tattered clothing. My hands were literally covered with blood.

"Fire on the windows! Rhino Four!" I can hear soldiers shouting.

KABOOM.

My ears picked up people screaming inside. And a loud thud in the distance over the hails of gunfire.

SSG Holloway and my soldiers were grabbing me out of the fighting. I can see them fighting for my survival. I don't want them to die like my father...

"Call in additional reinforcements, Holloway."

"After we get you to safety! Commander!"

I chuckled, "That's why I picked... you." I feel kind of sluggish.

"Commander?! Stay with us!"

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I hear beeps. Reminiscent of the hospital. What life is there?

"Commander, do you want the reports?"

I looked to my left and saw Charles sleeping with his mouth open. As I focused on the one who said it, I can see that it's Post Commander Rodriguez. "Yes, Rodriguez."

He sat down on the nearby chair, "Bravo Five, Hector Seven, and Actual Seven Four were able to push back an international coalition of soldiers back out of the perimeter. We were able to identify some of them being from the Delta Force, SAS, and many other elite units from the major superpowers. We have ten casualties on our part compared to the sixty-four. Some survivors are in custody."

"They had a grudge on me for the war, and now they're making me feel the same way they do." I pondered.

"I guess you can put it that way, sir. Your father... was pronounced dead." He coughed.

"Th-that's alright, Rodriguez. I can manage." I can't. This is the end. What else can I do?

"Alright, Commander. I will be leaving you for now." He left the room, and the door made a ka-bang sound when closing. I sighed. Why do I even exist? I don't care about anyone or everything. I just wanted now to be the end of my life..! I will be going to the middle-east. I can't just hold in these tears anymore. Father, you're were the only one who cared for me. The thing's that I've done... caused my father to leave?

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As I continue staring at the white area,

"You are very interesting, Tsutomu." The feminine voice speaks.

"Yeah yeah, I'm interesting enough for you." When was I interesting at all?

"No, you are different from the others. You hold one of the greatest accomplishments and, yet, you don't accept it. Choosing to die instead of creating a new future for yourself." I thought about that, and I feel grateful for it, but it's just not enough.

"Yeah, that's all I could do for now." I sat comfortably on the bed. I stare at the white void during this conversation as there's nothing to look at besides the nice bed I'm sitting on.

"How about this," Those words piqued my interest.

"You will be reincarnated into a new, more elevated system like this. The one I've shown you since the beginning. There's no presence of your modern idea on weaponry. A new world."

"This sounds kind of neat." What the heck world is this?