"Keep walking you maggots!" A soldier shouted as he tugged on the rope.
"Take it easy on them soldier. They're still just like you, fighting for their own country without thinking twice." Leo commented as he blew a cloud of smoke.
"I know! Let's ask the driver to speed up the truck!" Will exclaimed with a massive grin plastered on his face.
The prisoners gritted their teeth as they were dragged around with rope tied around their wrists. A great sense of defeat lingered around them as their captors continued to make them suffer.
"Driver! We're falling behind the convoy!" Leo shouted.
"I guess private was right, they'll just slow us down." Will told Leo.
"Let's lighten up the load then." Leo stood up as he cocked his pistol.
He counted seven prisoners before shooting them each with one bullet. Will quietly chuckled as he watched from the back of the truck. The remaining prisoners began screaming and pulling on the rope as they feared for their lives.
"Here's the deal. Each time you slow down this truck, I'll take another magazine and shoot seven of you. Better start running now." Leo said before sitting down.
"Go to hell you bastards!" A prisoner shouted before spitting at Leo.
"Can't you tell? You're already in hell and we're the demons." Will said before signaling the driver to floor it.
The truck sped up and they dragged the prisoners through the rocky road. Leo wiped his face with a handkerchief as he glared at the prisoners. He picked up his MP-40 and riddled the remaining prisoners, their lifeless bodies now being dragged around as the truck drove faster.
"Will, cut the ropes. If anyone asks, they tried to hold the private hostage so we downed them before they could think of anything else to do." Leo ordered.
"Aye aye sarge. I read you loud and clear." Will replied as he cut the ropes with his bayonet.
They watched as the corpses lay motionless on the ground as the truck caught up with the convoy. Roger radioed in the others that they'll stop in a nearby village along the road. Leo informed the others in his squad to stay alert once they reach the village and to keep their eyes peeled for enemies. His squad mates grabbed their guns and aimed away from the truck as they slowly entered the abandoned village. They watched the windows, looking for any movement within the houses.
"It's clear! Dismount!" Roger shouts from the top of the tank's turret.
"Check the buildings just to be sure. Move it!" Leo exclaimed as he hopped off the back of the truck.
"I got the top bunk!" Will screamed out as he ran inside a house.
Roger jumped down from the tank and checked the other vehicles down the convoy. Made small talk with the other officers and gave his orders.
"Leo, where are the prisoners? Didn't you have them with you?" Roger asked.
"I had to shoot them, sir. They tried to take one of my men hostage so I mowed them down." Leo replied before standing up straight.
"You shot them? All of them?" Roger asked once more.
"Yes sir, I didn't want to let the-" Leo gets cut off as he falls down after being punched by Roger.
"The Valentine treaty protects all prisoners of war. You violated a treaty which makes you criminals. I won't let my unit be tainted by people like you." Roger says before wiping the blood off his hand.
"I-I only did what I thought was right, sir." Leo replied as he sat up and spat blood on the ground.
"Your choice was wrong. Court martial him and his squad, take their weapons and lock them up in a house." Roger told a group of soldiers before walking away.
Leo surrendered and followed the soldiers as they rounded up his squad into a house and locked them inside. Will looked around before trying to open the back door but it was also locked.
"Sir, Major Enfield just relayed a message from high command. We'll be going on a joint operation to take an enemy stronghold." The radioman states.
"Have you sent them our position?" Roger asked.
"Yes sir. They're actually just a few clicks behind us and are nearly here."The radioman replied.
Roger just nodded and headed towards the Pegasus. James and Timothy were sitting on the side of the tank while drinking coffee from their canteens. They greeted Roger before tossing him a pack of crackers.
"You look like someone just took your toy away. Eat up." Timothy says as he takes a sip of coffee.
"Leo's squad fucked up. They're detained right now." Roger replied as he opened the pack of crackers.
"They killed the prisoners? I mean, it was obvious especially because they had that weird kid in their squad." James added.
Roger nodded before shaking his head in disappointment. Meanwhile Leo is helping Will break the hardwood flooring to try and crawl out from under the house.
"Do it quietly Will. Private, distract the guards outside." Leo ordered
"Got it...Hey! Do you guys have a smoke?" The private asks while he knocks on the window.
The guards approached the door and pulled out a pack of cigarettes while the other opened the door and aimed his gun towards it. Leo was able to pry the hardwood enough for a person to fit in, Will was the first volunteer and crawled as fast as he could from under the house. He looked around for anyone that might spot him before running to the front and knocking out the guard with the gun. He then kicked the other in the stomach before pouncing him and knocking him out with a punch to the face.
"Great work Will. Now let's get the hell out of dodge before they notice." Leo whispered before running behind one of the trucks.
The others followed him and climbed on the back of the truck while Will hopped in the front and hotwired the truck. Will floored it and ran over some crates alerting the other soldiers nearby. Roger sprung up and saw Leo at the back of the truck.
"Stop that truck! Those men are supposed to be detained!" Roger shouted to the others as he climbed up the turret and aimed the machine gun towards the truck.
"Will! Don't stop for anything!" Leo shouted as he grabbed one of the guns and began shooting at the wheels of the other trucks.
As their truck was just about to pass the junction, an armored car crashed into the side of their truck and rammed them towards a tree. Will got crushed in the driver seat and was unconscious, Leo and the others on the back was dazed as they tried to figure out what happened. They heard heavy footsteps on broken glass then it was followed by the sound of a gun being cocked back. Leo immediately aimed his gun in anticipation and in his sights was Hilbert's grinning face. Before he could pull the trigger Hilbert shot his arm and the other soldiers inside the truck. Leo screamed in pain as he feels the end of the barrel against his forehead.
"You're sloppy and slow, any last words?" Hilbert asked as his expression changed into a blank and dull one.