It was a rogue idea. But an idea nonetheless, one that could be our only salvation as well.
Matthias and Luciano certainly didn't understand what was to come of flying the highest altitudes possible in a military aircraft over much of the country. I could see the gears turning in their heads as they tried to decipher my intents.
It didn't take long to have an aircraft scrambled for my little experiment, a single direct order from the highest-ranking official in the country easily got many men in the air force to get a sweat on.
I made sure to ask for the highest-flying transport we had available for use. I was expecting a chopper but I was presented with an;
"Airbus A400M, sir." One of the pilots said to me. He was dressed in a very military fashion, one I'd become accustomed to seeing especially with Luciano around me in his uniform all the time.
"Equipment's old but it'll do the job you need it for, Sir." He confidently assures me. I squint, despite wearing shade the sun was particularly scorching this morning.
"And why can't we have a chopper? Do we not have one?" I inquire, I'd be more shocked to learn we didn't have a chopper than to learn of an incited civil war.
The man, squinting as well takes a lax position, beginning to explain what he found very obvious, "Well sir, we have many choppers, but none that can fly as high as you want it to. You asked for the highest-flying vessel we have available, this is it." He finishes gesturing behind him were crew workers worked around the massive aircraft and troops marched in.
Luciano shooed the man aside making him visibly cringe at his luck, "Sir, if you want we can arrange for one immediately." His last words not entirely directed at me as he stressed them and the pilot behind him began signalling others on the base.
I wave my hand as I shake my head clear, "No this is alright Luciano, the pilot knows his stuff. Let's trust him." I begin walking to the giant vessel and I notice the troops again, "Although, what are the troops for?"
"Simply for your safety, Sir." He says curtly, although I sense an air of nervousness about him.
"And yours I suppose." He lets out a chuckle, forced. Obviously not amused at my little joke but putting on a sheepish look anyway. "Luciano, are you afraid?"
He does a double-take at this before responding, "Of course not sir, I am of steady and firm mind. A soldier."
Behind his words, I see quite clearly the same paranoid man who shot me in the head for being too beloved. He must have had many plans of escape if things went south as they are now. Am I drawing him away from his escape route? That was certainly a possibility.
"But it is the soldier's fear of never returning home that returns him home." He smiles genuinely as I say this before I go on to add, "Dead or Alive."
Whether or not he'd been so unfortunate to try my side of the battle in search for possible trump cards I may possess in my deck, or if he was truly loyal to me and my cause. I didn't care. If I got usurped, he'd be the first person I take down with me. I wasn't letting go by any means necessary.
We got into the transport, Luciano looking much more at peace but unable to meet my eyes for whatever reason. My intel-ii tells me the names of everyone aboard the plane and I make quite the charismatic impression on the men placing their lives on the line for their country. A country going about many changes.
I am forced to wear a bullet-proof vest and a parachute and strapped down to the floor of the plane by a strong flexible cord and soon we take off and it's time to try out my wild idea.
Let's see if I'm still sane.
"Luciano!" I call out over the loud hum of the engines, "Let them know its time!"
He nods at my instructions, going on to make so gestures at one of the men and soon a hatch is opened up and I'm allowed to stand, albeit guide by another man wearing a parachute. No doubt to jump after me in the wild case I fall out.
I look out the hatch, and everything looks like green, brown and white squares. I was told the current altitude wasn't enough to view the entirety of Schelar so what I beheld before my eyes was just Mahe, the capitol and main Island of the former country; Seychelles, now Capitol to Schelar.
I crossed my fingers and hoped this worked. Looking over the Capitol I asked in a whisper, "Intel-ii, show me where Gaylord Ralefy is."
Immediately I have the entirety of the island zoomed into view and split into several windows with real-time photos of various men of varying ages, sizes and in many different places. It sudden flood of information has me stagger back into the arms of the man behind me, I give my thanks still wide-eyed and think.
There were so many people named Gaylord Ralefy in Schelar all at the same time it was bothersome, and I certainly couldn't scroll through them all whilst burning fuel hovering over the island.
"Narrow search down to Gaylord Ralefy of Peak View Media please," I say.
Soon I am left with two windows. One with the man I'm looking for and another with his son, Gaylord the second. I smirk as I observe the obscene man discuss fondly with men I assumed were the dreaded Chiefs of my nightmares. It seemed I wasn't completely insane.
I asked for a pen and paper still looking out the open hatch and write down the address and exact latitude and longitude of the humble-looking building the Ralefys wined and dined in.
I stepped back and with a smirk still firmly placed, I break the good news to Luciano.
***
With Luciano and several others working on the faith that I'd divined the location of Schelar's enemies, I find myself waiting for a military operation to begin with a laptop connected to the cameras of the men deployed for the job.
"Sir, we've had our men positioned to secure the perimeter and the area has been quietly evacuated. Your orders?" Luciano asks, his eyes piercing me with doubt. He'd questioned my rash and random choice to raid the building ever since we got back from the base.
Although he wasn't vocal about it, not any longer anyway, I could almost hear him think I was deranged, "Capture and incapacitate everyone. We need them all for further interrogations. Commence the operation."
He nods and relays my orders, soon I begin to see movement on the screen, a hand holding a rifle leading my view. The hustle and bustle and all the military lingo in-between, I didn't understand much of it nor did I attempt to as soon there's sounds of gunfire.
It seems the Ralefys and Chiefs took no chances with their lives. I'm in shock from the suddenness of it, a man dropped instantly by the rapid firing of the rifle in my hands…the hands on the screen.
The servants and civilian men, women and children are promptly ignored but ushered out as the gunfire gives away all elements of surprise. Up the stairs, he goes, swiftly receiving a hard jab in the face by the opposition, as the man falls down the stairs his camera catches the militia that knocked him off his feet being shot in the head. I wasn't spared the gore.
"Stay away! Stay back!"
Ralefy…
I'd switched host and discovered Ralefy holding onto the neck of a young servant girl, a gun positioned dangerously against her head.
"Stand down, Ralefy! You're surrounded." The commander orders. I find my palm sweating as the girl cries out in desperation.
Luciano comes to my side and whispers in my ear, "Sir, we have his son as well as many of the Chiefs gathered here. We can shoot through the girl."
At his words, my head sharply turns to him. "I said incapacitate. If you shoot through her they'll both be dead and a civilian would be dead for absolutely no reason!" I scold. I may have served in the army in one of my rebirths but that absolutely didn't mean I had immune to the dreaded feeling of taking a life…accustomed perhaps but not so much so that I'd kill for no reason.
I sigh as I realize the men are still stalling. I needed to make a decision else the commander on the ground would make one under pressure, "We've got snipers?"
As he nods he begins realizing my intent. He relays the orders and I wait. The men on the screen lay down their weapons. I see Ralefy smile as he drags the girl away with him, pistol still placed on the side of her head.
Luciano switches my camera to that of the snipers, his gun pointed at Ralefy as he backs out from the building, fearfully searching around himself for any vulnerabilities.
I hear the sniper breathe. And then…
BANG!
Right through the knee, the bullet may have grazed the girl but she's alive and Ralefy is screeching in pain. Men come from all directions to hold him down for bonding.
I can't help the grin on my face as the generals within my office jubilate at the success of the mission. I look to Luciano and deliver the line I'd been waiting to all day.
"See Luciano? This is why you should trust me."