Chapter 43-44-45

Chapter 43 – Leadership in 2013

The winter sun was softly shining over the SAS A Squadron base in Hereford. Alex Rider, now 26, sat in his makeshift office, reviewing an operational report. He wore his uniform impeccably, and his sergeant's insignia gleamed on his shoulder. His expression was serious, but there was a calmness to his demeanor, reflecting years of experience in the field.

He had been through so much since joining the SAS. War zone deployments, rescue and infiltration operations, and the constant pressure of leading in life-or-death circumstances. Now, as a sergeant, he commanded a team of his own, a responsibility he took very seriously.

Alex's team, consisting of five members, was one of the most respected in A Squadron. There was Corporal Harris, a demolitions expert and a close friend of Alex's since his early days in the SAS. Next up was Trooper Daniels, the team's medic, known for his sarcastic humor that helped ease the tension on missions. Collins, a secondary sniper, rounded out the sniper duo alongside Alex. Finally, there was Foster and Blake, both experienced CQB operators.

They were gathered in the briefing room, waiting for Alex. The mood was light, with Daniels cracking a joke about a miscalculation Harris had made in a recent simulation.

— "And he still had the nerve to say it was just a small mistake," Daniels said, drawing laughter from the others.

When Alex entered the room, the conversations stopped. He had a presence that commanded respect but was not intimidating.

— "Gentlemen, I hope you're ready. We have a new operation," he said, inserting a flash drive into the projector.

The projector showed a remote village in a mountainous region of the Middle East.

— "Our target is a high-ranking insurgent leader who is organizing coordinated attacks against allied forces. He's been spotted in this area, and our mission is to capture him alive. Intelligence suggests he's well protected, so expect heavy resistance."

Harris raised his hand. — "What's the air support for this, Sergeant?"

Alex answered calmly. — "We'll have drones for reconnaissance and two Apache helicopters on standby, but our approach will be silent. I want to minimize civilian casualties and maintain a low profile."

Daniels grimaced. — "So basically, we're walking into a hornet's nest with a twig instead of a flamethrower."

Alex smiled slightly. — "Something like that. But you know I trust each and every one of you to execute this perfectly. Does anyone else have any questions?"

After a few moments of silence, Alex ended the briefing. — "Get your gear ready. We'll be leaving at dawn."

That night, Alex sat in his barracks, reviewing the details of the mission again. Despite his confidence in his team, he knew the weight of leadership rested on his shoulders. He thought about how he had evolved since his days as a rookie in the Army.

He remembered the words of one of his old sergeants: "Leadership is not about giving orders. It's about taking responsibility for success and failure."

As he adjusted his rifle, Foster entered the barracks.

— "Sergeant, I just wanted to let you know that we're ready for tomorrow. We know this mission is important."

Alex nodded, appreciating the gesture.

— "Thank you, Foster. I know I can count on you. Remember, we stick to the plan and look out for each other."

Foster smiled.

— "Always, sir."

The next morning, the team took off in a Chinook helicopter. The sound of the rotors filled the air as Alex reviewed the plan one last time.

— "Daniels, I want you to stay back and maintain a secure position. We can't risk losing our medic."

— "Understood, Sergeant," Daniels replied, though with a hint of sarcasm. "I knew you liked me."

Harris glanced at Alex.

— "What about surprise?"

— "We'll keep the approach as quiet as possible," Alex replied. "But if we're discovered, I want you to be ready with demolitions to create a distraction."

The helicopter landed a few miles from the target, and the team began advancing on foot. Alex led the way, his eyes trained on every movement around them.

Upon reaching the village, the team split into pairs. Alex and Collins climbed a nearby hill to provide cover while the others advanced.

— "Target spotted," Alex said over the radio, adjusting the scope on his rifle. "Four armed guards at the main entrance."

Collins nodded.

— "I'll take the one on the left, you take the one on the right?"

— "On my signal," Alex replied.

The two fired almost simultaneously, taking out the guards without alerting the rest.

— "Entrance clear," Alex said over the radio. "Team one, move in."

Foster and Blake moved quickly, entering the main house while Harris planted explosives along possible escape routes.

The insurgent leader was found trying to escape through a back door. Foster effectively pinned him down while Blake brought up the rear.

— "Target captured," Foster reported.

Alex smiled slightly.

— "Good job, team. Let's extract."

Back at base, the team was greeted with applause from the other operators. Alex watched his men, feeling proud of what they had accomplished.

Daniels approached with a smile.

— "Another successful mission for the ages, Sergeant."

Alex chuckled lightly.

— "And I hope we keep it that way."

As the others celebrated, Alex stepped out into the courtyard, looking up at the starry sky. He knew that each mission was a test, not only of his skills, but of his ability to protect the men under his command.

The journey thus far had not been easy, but he was determined to remain a leader his team could trust. After all, for Alex Rider, duty always came first.

Chapter 44 – A Visit to the Past

The clock struck 10 a.m. on a typical cloudy day in England. Alex Rider was off duty for the first time in months, a rare luxury in his life as a sergeant in the SAS. He had a clear destination in mind: the home of Jack Starbright, the woman who had raised him like a son since the death of his parents.

Jack, now in his early 40s, lived in a quiet house on the outskirts of London. The last time Alex had visited her had been before his promotion to sergeant. He felt he owed her not only a visit, but also a moment of peace, something their lives had rarely shared in the past.

Alex's car pulled up in front of the house, a modest building surrounded by a small, well-kept garden. He got out of the vehicle, still wearing a black coat that contrasted with the damp chill of the day. He walked to the door and rang the bell.

Jack answered the door almost immediately, his face lighting up when he saw her.

— "Alex!" she exclaimed, opening her arms to hug him.

He smiled, hugging her warmly.

— "Hi, Jack. It's been a while, hasn't it?"

— "Too long!" she replied, pulling him inside. "Come in, it's cold outside. I made tea."

Alex walked in, taking off his coat and looking around. The house had the same cozy feel as always, with simple furniture and a faint scent of lavender in the air.

— "You haven't changed a bit here," Alex commented, sitting down on the couch.

Jack smiled as he placed the tray with tea and biscuits on the coffee table.

— "Why change? Some good things should stay the same."

Talking About the Past

The two began to talk about the past, reminiscing about the days when Alex was still just a teenager facing unimaginable dangers as an MI6 agent.

— "Remember that time in the House of Horrors?" Jack asked, laughing.

Alex laughed too, shaking his head.

"How could I forget? That was scarier than anything I've faced in the SAS."

"Oh, don't say that," Jack said, placing a cup of tea in front of him. "You've faced things that would make any normal person faint. And look at you now, Sergeant Rider."

He smiled, but his gaze was distant for a moment.

"Sometimes I miss how simple things were. Even though I always had you around. Now my life is so… isolated."

Jack looked at him with concern.

"Alex, you're never alone. I'll always be here, and I'm sure your team sees you as family, too."

"I know," he said, taking the cup. "But it's different. The people I work with trust me to lead them, and that responsibility takes a toll."

Jack nodded.

— "It's the price of being who you are, Alex. But honestly, I'm so proud of you. Look at what you've accomplished."

After a while, Alex turned the conversation to Jack. — "What about you? How are things here? Are you taking care of yourself?"

Jack gave a light laugh. — "I'm great. I work part-time as a teacher at a local school. The kids keep me busy, and, well, life here is peaceful. A far cry from the chaos it was when I lived with you."

— "I miss those days," Alex confessed.

— "Me too," Jack admitted. "But you had to move on, Alex. You couldn't stay stuck in the past. You've done amazing things, and I know Ian would be so proud of you."

The mention of Ian Rider, Alex's uncle, brought a moment of silence between them.

— "Sometimes I wonder what Ian would say," Alex said, looking down at his cup.

Jack put a hand on his shoulder. — "He'd tell you to keep going. Just like you always did."

After tea, Jack invited Alex to take a walk in the garden. The flowers were blooming despite the cold, and the distant sound of birds filled the air.

— "You seem more peaceful today," Jack commented.

— "Maybe because I'm here," he replied. "This place is a refuge, Jack. It always has been."

She smiled, putting her hands in her coat pockets.

— "You'll always have a place here, Alex. No matter where life takes you."

They stopped near a tree that Alex remembered from his childhood. He placed his hand on the trunk, remembering how he used to climb there when he was younger.

— "A lot has changed since then," he said.

— "But some things remain the same," Jack replied, looking at him. "You're still the same Alex I knew. You've just grown up."

When it was time for Alex to leave, Jack walked him to the car.

— "Promise me it won't take you so long to come back," she said, looking at him with a warm smile.

Alex nodded.

— "I promise."

She hugged him again, and Alex felt a surge of gratitude.

— "Thank you, Jack. For everything."

— "Always," she replied as he got into the car.

Alex drove back to Hereford feeling renewed. Visiting Jack reminded him of where he came from and the people who still cared about him. It was a reminder that despite everything, he was never really alone.

Chapter 45 – Infiltration in the Dark

The silence in the cargo bay of the C-130 was interrupted only by the sound of the engine and the rhythmic breathing of the six men ready to jump. Alex Rider, now a sergeant in the Sabre squadron of the 22nd SAS, mentally reviewed the infiltration plan. It was a delicate mission: infiltrate Iran under the cover of night, neutralize a cell that was manufacturing explosives and get out without a trace.

Alex's eyes swept over his team as he adjusted his HALO (High Altitude Low Opening) gear. Each of them trusted him as their leader, and he trusted their abilities: Corporal Harris, an explosives expert; Daniels, the medic; Collins, the tracker; Foster, the heavy support; and Blake, the communicator.

"Five minutes to jump," the loadmaster warned, pulling the bay door open. Icy wind invaded the room.

Alex stood up, adjusting his helmet.

— "Everyone ready?" he asked, his voice steady over the radio.

— "Ready," Harris confirmed, followed by a series of affirmative responses.

Alex looked at the team, giving them a thumbs-up gesture.

— "Remember, this is a precision mission. We come, we do the job, and we leave. No fuss, no trace. Let's show why we're the best."

A slight smile spread across Collins's face.

— "Always confident, huh, Rider?"

— "Confidence keeps a cool head," Alex replied, moving toward the door.

The green light came on.

— "Showtime," Alex said.

They jumped, one by one, disappearing into the darkness.

The fall was silent, the wind whipping around the men as they descended rapidly toward the mountainous terrain of Iran. Alex kept his eyes on the altimeter on his wrist. At 2,500 feet, he deployed his parachute. The impact was soft, and he landed at a designated landing area, quickly gathering up his gear.

— "Sabre team, confirm position," Alex radioed.

— "Daniels here, all clear."

— "Harris confirmed."

— "Collins in position."

— "Foster and Blake safe," the last two added.

Alex looked around in the darkness, locating each of them in turn.

— "Arrow formation, Collins in front. We're moving."

The target was a camouflaged facility in a secluded valley. The terrorist cell used the facility to manufacture improvised explosive devices (IEDs), which were being smuggled into conflicts in the region.

Collins led the way, his tracking equipment ensuring they avoided enemy patrols. The team moved like shadows, each movement calculated and silent.

— "Approaching perimeter," Collins reported.

Alex raised his fist, signaling for everyone to halt. He crawled to the nearest ledge, peering through his night vision binoculars. The facility was protected by a barbed wire fence and patrolled by armed guards. Two trucks were parked at the entrance, indicating that the material could be coming out soon.

"Blake, comms with HQ," Alex ordered. Blake adjusted his radio. "This is Sabre 1, in position. Target confirmed."

"Received, Sabre 1. Clearance to proceed," the HQ operator replied.

Alex turned his attention back to his team. "Harris, cut the fence. Collins, cover. Daniels and Foster, stand by to move in with me."

They moved quickly, Harris using bolt cutters to cut through the fence. Within minutes, the team was inside the perimeter. Alex led the group to the main building, where the explosives were being manufactured. The entry was quick and silent, with Collins taking out a guard with a knife before he could alert the others.

— "Rider, movement to the right," Foster whispered, pointing to two men approaching.

Alex gave a signal, and the two were silently eliminated by synchronized gunfire from silenced weapons.

Inside the facility, Harris began inspecting the explosives.

— "This is enough to start a small war," he commented.

— "Can we deactivate everything?" Alex asked.

— "Aye. I'll need five minutes."

— "You have three," Alex replied.

While Harris worked, Daniels monitored the security cameras, making sure no one noticed their presence.

— "Rider, we have two trucks ready to go," Blake reported over the radio.

— "Foster and Collins, cover the exit. If anything moves, stop."

They quickly took up positions, while Alex remained at Harris's side.

— "Thirty more seconds," Harris said, sweating as he defused the last set of explosives.

— "Movement at the entrance!" Foster called over the radio.

Alex ran to the entrance, where two guards had noticed the cut fence. Before they could alert the others, Collins and Foster took them down.

— "All clear," Collins reported.

Harris appeared beside Alex, breathing heavily.

— "Explosives defused. They're in ready to evacuate."

As the team retreated to the extraction point, an alarm sounded in the facility. Alex cursed under his breath.

"I think they've discovered the bodies," Daniels said.

"Defensive formation," Alex ordered, as gunfire began to echo in the night.

They moved quickly, firing back as needed. Foster used his heavy rifle to keep the enemy at bay, while Harris covered their flanks.

"We're almost at the extraction point," Blake reported.

When they reached the rescue zone, the helicopter was already waiting, its blades slicing through the air.

"Get in, get in!" Alex shouted, covering the team as they boarded.

As soon as the last man was in, the helicopter took off, speeding away from the danger zone.

Back at base, Alex gathered the team for a quick debriefing.

"Mission completed successfully," he said. "Explosives neutralized, no casualties. Good job, guys."

"You didn't do too bad yourself, Rider," Harris said, smiling.

Alex gave a small smile.

"It was a team effort. Everyone here showed why they're in the Saber."

As the team relaxed, Alex sat alone for a moment, staring up at the night sky. Missions like this reminded him of why he did what he did: protecting lives and keeping the peace, even in the shadows.

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