Episode 17 : Endeavor

"Listen up! You will all be dropped 100 kilometers before reaching the destination site! Don't waste bullets! Always count each shot!!! Prioritize slow movement! Always move in groups! Death is hunting you this time! Always watch your surroundings! Make sure you all return safely as we send you! Disperse! Then gather into three squads as soon as you land on the ground! May God help you!!!" shouted a man with scars on his face to thirty fully tactical elite soldiers dressed in sand-colored uniforms due to the noisy sound of the cargo plane's propellers.

Thirty elite soldiers ran and then jumped out from the back of the plane in turns, falling backwards in the air. They dispersed in the air and dove in different directions.

The thirty elite soldiers descended with mirrored goggles. 500 meters from the ground, they were dropped in the air. 250 meters before reaching the ground, they pulled their parachute cords. Their parachutes came out of their packs and opened, slowing down each elite soldier's descent.

They landed on the ground, released their parachute packs, and began walking while holding their weapons. They all carried Lee Enfield No. 1 Mk 3 rifles, and sten submachine guns, as well as Owen machine guns as their secondary weapons slung on their hips.

Ten soldiers met and formed a squad. They each moved within their squad. Three squads split up and headed towards their respective missions.

"Captain Naseer. Our mission as Alpha squad is to ensure the supplies left at the attacked Israhell base, right?" asked one Arab elite soldier walking behind him.

Captain Naseer nodded. They walked for a week, camping in the middle of the desert. Their journey was guided by a compass. Arriving at the location, they found themselves in a small town. Many civilian and military corpses lay scattered around.

"We're getting closer." Captain Naseer said to his squad.

They moved towards a building. The tallest building in the town. The Alpha squad took their positions. Four elite soldiers stood guard outside the building. Captain Naseer and five other elite soldiers entered the building cautiously, their weapons still facing forward.

The five levels of the building were inspected. No signs of movement. Only corpses. Captain Naseer signaled to lower their weapons.

"Gather whatever is there. Medicines, food, and ammunition. Check the nearby vehicles before taking the items out of the building." Captain Naseer instructed.

The five elite soldiers began inspecting the still-packed items. Medicines were brought to the center of the ground floor along with ammunition.

After collecting the items, two soldiers were directed by Captain Naseer to search for vehicles outside the building. The two soldiers guarding the front of the building went to search for military trucks or civilian lorries.

Two soldiers checked nearby military trucks. They glanced at each other and shook their heads. They moved on to search for other vehicles. A green commercial lorry was found by both of them. The lorry was then inspected.

The lorry key was not found. The back of the lorry was inspected. Good food items were found in packages. One of them pulled wires from the bottom of the lorry's steering, cut them, and then connected two relevant wires. The lorry started after the wires were connected.

They drove the lorry to the front of the base building. The soldiers started helping each other load the items into the lorry. Four elite soldiers were assigned to keep watch while they loaded the items. After completing their task, they began moving away from the town to their next destination. Three soldiers sat in the front seats of the lorry. The other seven sat at the back of the lorry.

At night, the soldiers rested at a small camp they set up in the middle of the desert. A military truck arrived at the camp. A soldier got down from the military truck.Captain Naseer got up from sitting in front of the campfire and met the soldier.

"Captain Zahir. How's it going?" Captain Naseer asked the soldier.

"We've checked five bases. What about you?" Captain Zahir replied to Captain Naseer.

"Same. Ten bases left. We've checked ten out of twenty bases." Captain Naseer explained.

"Gamma squad is left. The third squad. We're still waiting for their arrival." Captain Zahir said.

Elsewhere at night, Gamma squad soldiers were busy loading items onto three trucks.

"Hurry up! Move faster!!! Quick!!! Lazy ones!!!" shouted a Gamma squad captain while pushing a soldier carrying items, making him fall to the ground.

"Captain Qusay, it's already two in the morning. We're tired. We haven't eaten since we landed." one soldier said to his captain.

"Are you all soldiers or slackers?! Get to work! Until it's done, the enemy will kill us!" Captain Qusay yelled at his squad.

After finishing loading all the items, three trucks moved along with all the Gamma squad soldiers.

Captain Zahir and Captain Naseer were awakened by their squad crews and they went out of their tents to welcome Gamma squad's return.

"Three trucks. Quite a lot." Captain Zahir commented seeing Gamma squad arriving with three trucks filled with items.

"Many leftover items from the five bases they checked, I guess." replied Captain Naseer.

"Sorry for being late." Captain Qusay, who had just gotten down from one of the trucks, walked towards Captain Naseer and Captain Zahir.

"Very late. How many bases did you check?" Captain Naseer asked.

"Eight bases." Captain Qusay answered.

"Are you sure? Working fast, huh? No rest?" Captain Zahir asked Captain Qusay.

"No rest. I purposely gathered as many items as possible to avoid waste. The higher-ups are also happy because it reduces costs." Captain Qusay replied.

"The higher-ups are still not happy even though we saved our items. Many of our soldiers died at the hands of Israhell. Moreover, headquarters found out about the existence of the Israhell-resistant soldiers. Headquarters finds it hard to believe. They don't want this matter to reach the prime minister. It's a disaster for our management and us as well." Captain Zahir replied.

"We were sent to kill the Israhell invincible soldiers. Israhell invincible soldiers are just a name, a division of Israeli elite soldiers. Israeli propaganda. We can defeat them." Captain Qusay replied.

"Besides, it's impossible for Israel to have thousands of elite soldiers. Nonsense." added Qusay, dissatisfied.

"Qusay. Your squad is tired. We can't face the Israhell-resistant soldiers when everyone is unprepared." Captain Naseer said.

"We should rest tonight, but it seems your squad didn't rest enough. We don't have much time. We'll move at noon since your squad needs rest." Captain Zahir said to Captain Qusay.

"Only lazy people want to rest." Denied Captain Qusay.

"Open your eyes, Qusay. Twenty bases we checked, all wiped out in just one day. Do you think we can face the Israhell invincible soldiers?" Captain Naseer asked.

"My squad will rest for a while only. Then my squad will continue the investigation and inspection for the remaining two bases.

" Captain Qusay said."Qusay. Your squad will join Naseer's squad. Now, we rest. We'll all return here after checking the bases-" Captain Zahir explained.

"My squad, Gamma squad will move after dawn too!" Captain Qusay interrupted Captain Zahir's explanation in disagreement.

"Your own squad doesn't want to listen to you now. What can you do? Now you have to listen to Naseer. Naseer is your captain now. If you go against Naseer, I will report to headquarters about you causing problems." Captain Zahir asserted.

"Fine. If that's what you want. We'll see after this difficult operation. You'll all be in trouble. I'll just laugh later. Serves you right!" Captain Qusay angrily left.

"Naseer. Make sure you explain to him again. I'll give an explanation." Captain Zahir said.

"Alright. Go ahead." Captain Naseer agreed.

"I found out from secret intelligence reports under headquarters' orders, two of our bases will be visited by the enemy this noon." Captain Zahir explained.

"Israhell invincible soldiers?" Captain Naseer asked.

"Not confirmed yet, but what's confirmed is, two of our bases that we originally owned have been taken over by Israhell soldiers. It's possible that one of those bases is controlled by Israhell-resistant soldiers." Captain Zahir explained further.

"Alright." Captain Naseer acknowledged.

"When your Alpha squad joins Gamma squad. It'll make it easier to oppose the Israhell invincible soldiers." Captain Zahir reassured Captain Naseer.

"Alright." Naseer agreed.

"Since my squad is the best among the three squads, that's why I want your squad to join Qusay's squad. Qusay might cause trouble during the operation. I want you to do something. This is between you and me." Captain Zahir explained at length.

"What do you want?" Captain Naseer asked.

Captain Zahir grinned.