Tarkovia is a large country if not the largest located between East and West. We have no less than 8 time zones with an area that makes the greatest conquerors in our history jealous. Prosperity is assured by the Tsar our supreme leader. And because our mother country is so big, she needs a lot of people affiliated to her protection. Until recently I was just a student at the university in my hometown, today I have discovered a talent for shooting that is second to none. My name is Aliosha Antonov and until yesterday I was still considered the best shooter in the world, I had no idea that the world was so big.
-What do we do with them? *Asked a man with curly hair*.
The guy who appeared to be the boss had his rifle in his hand. He wore an outfit perfectly adapted to the cold of the mountains very similar to that of our army. His rifle was wrapped in bandages, too, probably to keep the snow out. This guy was black, about three feet tall and his hair was gray unlike his peers. This last held my card in hand and to see his face he had difficulty understanding it. Kneeling in the snow I observed the surroundings, my boss was on his knees too. No one had escaped.
-You. *Said the chief to me in my language*/
How come he understood us. In so little time.
-You seem to understand what they say which means that you speak Elysien.
I hesitated to answer but ended up doing it.
-I did a bit at my university. You know what it is ? A place where ...
-I know what it is. *He replied dryly*.
So the curly-haired guy approached me and took my notebook. He flipped through quickly and handed it back to me.
-It's not them. *He said*.
-Are you sure on that Lars?
- They're border guards. Nothing to do with the Republican Guard. *He said on his nerves*.
- At least we are sure of one thing, we are indeed in Tarkovia.
- What do we do Keith? *Asked another slightly bearded man*.
-We are waiting. He said as he sat down. Dimitri you set up camp. Blanca you put yourself on surveillance. Jessie's group should be arriving soon.
-Well received.
He was active in an almost military discipline. Which was strange because none of them had uniforms. It was this guy, his aura gave me the impression of being in front of a seasoned warrior.
-So comrade. Explain to me how it is that you are waiting for us here at the right time. And watch out, I know when someone is lying to me. *He said loading his gun*.
It all started yesterday, I had just been summoned by my captain to the border guard office.
-Caporal Antonov?
-Yes captain. *I answered by bowing*.
- Break it up. I heard you were a good shot is that right?
-That's right.
- How far do you carry your Corporal shots?
-Up to my target sir. Indicate me and I will kill her.
-Right answer. *He said*. Sergeant Kazimir come in.
The door opened and a scary looking man entered. He must have been a head taller than me, his beard was very poorly groomed pointing downwards. His face looked like he had lived 100 years and yet it was just traces left by the battles during his life.
-I have a mission for you. You will travel to the northern border of Elysion. Sergeant Kazimir is familiar with the area and will guide you.
-If I may allow myself what the target is sir. I have never killed a human being so I would like to know ...
My captain opened his drawer but instead of pulling out a dusty old file he just put a gun on the table and looked me straight in the eye. He didn't need to say more, this mission was going to go unreported. We then set out in the direction of the northern border. To be honest, this border was one of the least welcoming places in the world. The Elysian Alps formed a gigantic natural wall not to mention the freezing temperature that emanated from it. The reason we still haven't invaded Elysion is precisely because of the extent of this border. You can get men through it, but horses or equipment would take too long and until we get there we'll all be dead. Unless I go over it I really don't see any way. Makes me think I saw one of his flying stuff on TV once.
-It's okay, you hang on? *My boss told me*. We are almost there.
Our group was actually made up of 2 groups. Kazimir and his friend as well as me and my boss plus my two comrade. We were skiing while leading the way and had they stayed behind. Although I found it suspicious, I said nothing. You end up at the top of a mountain.
-Here it is. The jawbone of the Midgard. *Said my boss*.
-It is true that after looking at it it looks like a mountain range. *I said*.
-Go, don't dawdle. *Kazimir said*. The meeting point is near.
-Not far away ? But how far do we go like this?
-You shut up and walk forward. *Said Kazimir's sidekick before jostling me*.
- You calm down the junky. *Said my boss*.
-Don't touch me the bumpkin. He said before drawing his gun.
My two companions immediately pointed him with their rifles. What was going on? Why did it suddenly go into a spin?
-We won't take one more step until you tell me where we're going. *Said my boss*
- Go ahead or I'll splash your brains on the floor.
- Enough it becomes ridiculous. Said Kazimir who was strangely calm. Petrov lowers your gun.
As I explained my story, Keith said, stared at Petrov's corpse in the background.
-Is he Petrov?
-Yes. A real ringworm. I replied.
After lowering our weapons Kazimir decided to explain everything to us. Our target was a certain Elias Rashford. An Elysian deserter who was to finance a rebellion by sending weapons across the Alps. He had a transaction with one of our generals. We have to kill them both and end this rebellion.
-Did you understand ?
-Yes, sergeant.
-Now Sergeant Kajenka if you want to go ahead and move your ass.
Too many gray areas in this story, but we will comply without flinching. We end up arriving at the scene of the exchange. So we position ourselves in the heights, and I was finally able to get my rifle out. I swallowed a puff of snow to prevent my breath from betraying my position, I was completely lying rifle against my shoulder with Mikaïl as a pointer.
-You only shoot on my order. Kazimir said. The exchange will take place after nightfall.
I stayed still for a long time. I didn't want anything to bother me so I went into Hibernation altogether. Breathe, breathe, wait, stalk, follow patiently, and wait, the target. These are my watchwords and I never got rid of them. I spent my training shooting targets, but this is the first time I had to hit a human. About 500 meters hard to say if I will succeed. The telescope I had attached to the side did not help me much as the scope ended up covered in snow. I decided to take it off and trust my instincts. Night fell and I only had to move to scratch my nose. It was then that he finally had movement. Trucks came out of nowhere and pulled up. Men then emerged from the thickets of grass.
-What ... were they waiting?
Since when were they there? What my job was to liquidate my target once identified. Petrov took binoculars and watched. A man got out of the trucks and approached a tall black man. The latter was holding a crossbow. What a primitive.
-The officer is Colonel Brakiev. Don't shoot this one.
The other man lowered his hood.
-It's him. Prepare yourself .... You only shoot at my command.
-Yes. *I say cocking my gun*
-Where is Kazimir? Asked my boss.
-Sure go shit. *Petrov replied*/
-Ah ....
The transaction seemed to go well. I just had to wait for the order. One of these two men was to die.
-And that's where it all went wrong. *Keith said*.
-Hey?
-It turned sour. Lars resumed.
Time passed and I still did not receive the order. Until I saw Colonel Brakiev raise his fist as if to give a signal. Suddenly a gunshot rings out. By instinct I also opened fire on Elias. I turned my head to Petrov but he was lying on the ground with a bullet in his neck.
-Ruuuun. *Yelled my sarge*
A second shot was fired and he took a bullet in the thigh.
-Sergeant.
-You don't stop.
We started running to the other end of the mountain and then got out our skis before hitting the mountain. Despite the darkness, adrenaline kept us from slowing down. The trees paraded one after the other. Suddenly a big fellow "Keith" came out from behind a tree with an ax in his hand and hit me. By reflex I protected myself with my rifle but the strength threw me to the ground. The other two were stopped in the same way. This is how we found ourselves all 4 attached.
-You are just simple guards it seems. Keith said.
-It's the truth.
-I see it. Too bad for you Blanka is much more precise. *He said pointing the other*
The one was was scary. His camouflage uniform looked like foliage he'd put on his body. Already that could not see his eyes he remained just as silent giving a sinister air.
-Follow, patiently, patiently track, stand still, and hit the target.
Seb just repeated a few things about my creed.
-You need something to be a seasoned sniper .... Cold blood. Something Blanka owns and you don't. The cold blood not to move no matter what. Even if you see a friend of yours collapsing you stay at your post without saying anything and you continue to administer death.
-Administer death?
- Basically being a good sniper is above all being a hell of a son of a bitch and having no attachment to life.
I then saw Kazimir who came out of nowhere. Or not, he had a gun in his back and a woman was holding him. They make women fight, these barbarians are not ashamed of anything.
- You're late Jessie. *Lars said*.
-Always watch twice. We inspected this mountain from top to bottom before coming. And we found that.
-And you are ? Keith asked
- My name is Kazimir and I work for the central intelligence office.
-Are you a spy? Lars said.
-A friend without a doubt. It was I who organized this little ambush. Failed from what I see. *He said looking at Petrov's corpse*.
-So why should we keep you alive?
-Apart from your father's injury the transaction went smoothly, thank me.
-I'm going to kill you. *Keith said, pointing his pistol at this traitor's forehead*
-Do it. But if I don't send my report to my superiors, they'll send a battalion and artillery to raze this area.
-You bluff.
-Exactly. Or Not. Do you want to take the risk?
Keith stared at him grimly. He looked serious and not at all at the same time. The young man lowered his gun that said.
-You want an exit voice towards Tarkovia, I can offer it to you.
-And you win what?
-I saw how your men fought. Your fighting tactics, your strategies, no one fights like that. Here is the deal that I propose. You train my guys for a year so we can pull off our coup. And when the time comes, we'll help you against Elysion.
-And why should I believe you?
-Your father has just left. It was the terms of his agreement with my superior, Colonel Brakiev.
-That's what he meant by doing of yourself. Keith whispered.
-He is right. *Jessie said* I was just coming to tell you. Our fathers want us to stay here in Tarkovia.
-And for how long?
-A year. It's time to train our men.
Keith stood up and began to laugh slowly. He reengaged his gun and even gave Kazimir a hug before shaking his hand manly.
-3 months..
-Hey ...
-Your men will be ready in 3 months. As for you Kazimir I feel that we will get along well.
- Obviously comrade. But what should I call you actually ...
-Call me Seb.
-Serberio.
I don't know what went through Keith's mind, why he accepted this deal which they considered unfavorable. But that seemed to please him.
-What do we do with those.
-Leave my buddy alone. Gun the others.
-No don't do that ... They have a family. *I said*.
But they executed my friends. It was this bastard Kazimir who pulled the trigger. What was going on in the minds of these warmongers. Why did I feel like violence was all they were looking for or it was something else. Keith had been released into the wild by his father and Kazimir had been released here by his country.
Winter 1015 I am recruited in spite of myself in a training program of the intelligence services with at its head a foreign Elysian better known under the name of SEB.
-Aliosha my friend, I will make you the best sniper.
End of the chapter.