The search and rescue team finally reached the facility. However, little did they know that the enemy had deployed forces to destroy every evidence of their activities in that facility…

“Looks like it’s abandoned…”

“What’s that smell?”

“Smells of… gunpowder…  blood and… decaying flesh…”

“What the hell is this place?”

The section of soldiers lined up behind a metal door as the pointman pushed the door open with his M16 assault rifle. They could not believe their eyes. They lifted up and disengaged their night googles. The room lighted up with faint lights coming out from their torchlights.

“Seems like you’re right, Sarge. This place *is *hell…”

“It’s not an abandoned facility. It’s a slaughter house…”

“Experimentations?”

“And torture,” one soldier replied as he pointed at the dead bodies strung up by metal chains with his rifle.

“Check their tags. They might be the people we’re searching for.”

The soldiers walked towards the dead bodies and searched for identification.

“Sarge, they have dogtags.”

“They’re Oclia dogtags!”

“Check their ID.”

They cross-referenced the identifications on every dogtag with a digital tablet. Hundred and twenty-five names were accounted for.

“Ezerka Nyx is missing.”

“Sarge, I think you might wanna check this out,” another soldier spoke as he bent down to examine the other pile of bodies.

“Slash marks…”

“Who do you think could have done that?”

“If I’d had to guess, I’d say it’s the missing man from our list, Ezerka Nyx,” the Platoon Sergeant replied.

The Second Sergeant got back up on his feet and ordered his men, “comms base. Update them on the situation. Request for backup and the Investigation Department.”

Outside the facility, a few soldiers ran pass Platoon Sergeant Seake and threw up on the sand.

Seake spoke without taking his eyes off the horizon, “if you can’t take it, rest here and take in some fresh air first.”

“Sarge! We’ve got incoming!” A soldier shouted as he ran towards Seake.

“Situation?”

“The sentry guards just reported that hostile forces are just three clicks west from here.”

“Strength?”

“No less than the size of a full Battalion. Their firepower is strong.”

“ETA?”

“With that speed, 25 minutes and closing.”

“Shit. They might be here to clean up. If we retreat now, everything would be gone. Comms base and request for immediate backup! Code Red, Code Red!”

The soldiers scrambled to their designated positions to prepare for the attack.

Sergeant Seake shouted after putting on his helmet, “we are going to hold this fort until the reinforcement arrives. Don’t die before that! Man your stations!”

Machine guns and grenade launchers were placed in position. Though they had not personally witnessed the hostile’s advanced firearms, they knew they were outnumbered in sheer numbers. They could not even imagine how two platoons were going to face off an entire battalion and survive, not to mention firepower which could turn an entire forest into a desert.

“Bro, I’m scared…”

“Dude, just focus on surviving. Fuck it, I’m scared too…”

Strong gales of wind swept the heatwaves in their direction, along with the grainy sands from the desert.

INCOMING!!!

A barrage of shells pelted down the sky like rain, exploding upon touching the ground.

CONTACTED!!!

Rows of tanks drove up the plains. The enemy tanks were huge. Much larger than anything they have seen. Four rows of eight tanks advanced steadily towards them. The first row of tanks fired their cannons, followed by the second row of tanks with their barrels tilted at a much higher angle half a minute later. The third and fourth row of tanks followed closely behind.

“How long before reinforcement reaches?” Seake yelled.

“With enough firepower to rival them? ETA forty minutes!” The signaller yelled back.

“We might not be here in forty!”

The soldiers began firing their rounds at the enemy tanks. Their bullets were unable to piece through the tanks’ reinforced steel. The enemy troops were well-protected by the large tanks. They needed to break down the impenetrable wall of defense before taking down the troopers. The tanks were as good an offence as a defense.

“STANDBY BAZOOKAS!” Seake shouted.

The first line of soldiers knelt on the sand and aimed at the tanks.

“Two to each bogey! Center and spread!”

FIRE!

Bazookas rocketed out from the launchers, damaging the center tanks. Thick black smoke shrouded their vision. Two bazookas should be able to take down standard-sized tanks.

CLEAR! SECOND STANDBY!

The first line of soldiers retreated. Taking their place were another line of soldiers armed with bazookas. They waited for the smoke to clear.

Four rows of eight tanks drove out of the smoke unscathed.

Seake knew that the tanks would take them out faster than them taking out the tanks. They were running low on ammunitions. After all, it was only meant to be a search and rescue mission.

CENTER. FIRE!

This time round, the first tank in the center first row overturned. Two other tanks following closely behind were unable to stop in time. They crashed into the tank. The front formation was destroyed.

MEN, MIDDLE, FIRE!

The firepower was now focused at the center as the soldiers took advantage of the enemy’s formation weakness. However, the tanks were still advancing. It seemed like they had only deterred their time of defeat and death.

The third and fourth row of tanks fired their cannons mercilessly.

There was nothing they could do. How could they possibly defeat a battalion when they were outnumbered and outgunned?

“Soldiers, it’s been an honour,” Seake spoke into his transponder.

He glanced at his digital watch.

(Twenty minutes… They’re not coming…)

They desperately pulled the trigger of their guns, trying to empty their magazines. One thing they wanted on their tombstones was “they gave them hell with every last shot”.