Doni and his troop wait for Professor Sanchez at the end of the foothills,they were happy everytime he came because they have foods to eat two sacks of rice and five kilos of pork. Prof. Sanchez had been in the piggery business since before the war started, so when the war started he just slaughter his two pigs every month to distribute to each troop, five kilos each camp, his carriage is waiting at the foothills of the mountain.
" We have something to talk about, Doni let everybody know we have a meeting.", Mr.Sanchez told Doni, after about twenty minutes the troop were gathered for an important meeting.
" Prof. we have assigned some of the troop to guard at the end of the bridge, they said we can just relay to them the minutes of the meeting.", Mario said.
" Okay then let's start, because after this I
will proceed to Gilbert's troop, maybe you don't know that Gen. Mcarthur had left the country since march eleven, he had promised to come back, but for the mean time we will fight our own battle, we had decided that each troop will help each other. I know that regarding the tactical operation the three of you, your troop, Gilbert's and Mona's troop, has the best fighter according to major John Reiss, your trainor", Mr. Sanchez said.
" Where are we going to be stationed Prof? and how we'll going to transfer there ", Mario asked.
" some of you will stay here to protect your camp, incase of emergency and besides you have your family here and there are many people that surrounds this area those of you who will join the operation will be at the secret headquarters, you'll be transported there three days from now just wait for my go signal just be ready, when I send two carriages then that's the time ", Mr. Sanchez said.
" Okay sir, I will assign Mario to stay here is it okay if ten of them will be left here?", Doni asked.
" It's okay, anyway some troops will also do that to protect their camps, we cannot let everybody abandon each camp because there are people around dependent on them and Doni please tell your dad that if ever he had important messages I'll just visit him in your house every wednesday night", Mr. Sanchez said.
" Yup, I'll tell mom to inform dad, then it's settled Prof. fiften of us will go and collab with others soldiers to fight.," Doni said.
" Yes,I think that is a sensible number to join in the fight, then okay thank you soldiers, thanks for your cooperation," Mr. Sanchez said, and hurriedly go to his waiting carriage to be with Gilbert's troop. Mr. Sanchez exert too much effort to win the fight with the japs. he is busy distributing foods to each camp during night time because japanese soldiers do not come out from the garrison at night but they usually start early.
" I'm happy because you're here and I'm assured that you're okay, then why they'd have to send you away?", Maria is reluctant to let her son go.
"Mom, I'm a soldier and I'm called to fight for our country it is my moral obligation now to protect our people", Doni replied. Each of the soldiers who want to go with Doni had prepared their things instantly and for some who had been left will stay with Mario.
" Why do I have to stay here,maybe some who will be left like Orlan can defend for themselves incase the japanese soldiers came.",.Mario complainef.
" It's better if there is someone among us who will lead, besides you are much safer here", Doni told Mario.
" I want to go with you that if ever someone will be injured,there's someone who'll help ", Mario reasoned out.
" Mario, I want you to watch and protect our family, I want them to be safe here", Doni explained.
" Okay, but just incase you need back up just let us know", Mario said.
" Don't worry I'll do that", Doni promised, two days after,his father arrive again he had a letter from Danny, in there had written the schedules and the places that will be attacked by the japanese soldiers in the coming days. One of them will be on the next day, Doni felt bad because they won't be there to help them, they'll be fetch on the same day at nighttime.
He informed his dad about the message from Mr.Sanchez and he agreed.
" Doni,please take good care of yourself there, always pray and we will also always pray for your safety", Maria said to his son.
" Yes mom, don 't worry I'll do that, I want you also to take good care of yourself here okay? take good care of my sisters too", Doni told his mom.They have to move faster because the two carriages was already waiting at the foothill of the mountain.They also need to be able to arrive at their destination at the right time.
" I'm glad you arrive safely, how's your trip?", Mr.Sanchez is waiting for them at the gate.
" A bit bumpy prof, are we going to stay here?", Doni asked.
" Yes,this will be our secret detachment for a while", Mr. Sanchez said. there are many people inside, that seemed to be in a meeting.
" Hello everyone,what's up?", Doni greeted,everyone seems in a serious conversation.
" Hello Doni!", everybody answered.
" What's new? why I have the feeling a tragedy had occured", Doni asked with a joke.
" You're right! Aurelio's troop was captured this morning they were killed by the japanese soldiers and some female troop were brought to their garrison", Mr. Sanchez answered.
" Before everything else, I have a letter for you prof", Doni gave the letter to Mr. Sanchez.
" Oh my, if you had been fetch immediately it might had been prevented", Mr. Sanchez said.
" I thought the same way prof, anyway we'll prepare for Christian's troop they're next , we will plan how we can help them," Doni said.
" Here in Christian's group the problem will be,there are a lot of civilians in that area who are still in there homes" Gilbert said.
" Then we need to plan for an evacuation," Mona suggested.
"Mona,you inform the people and tell them to leave the area before that day", Mr.Sanchez instructed.
" A day before? why not they evacuate the area right on that day besides prof, we will ask Christian to send one of his troop to inform the people?", Mona asked.
" Sometimes they search the area very early in the morning, just like what they did to us!" Doni explained.
" Then we need to go to Christian's camp on saturday, We will sleep there, so that they'll have a back up during the attack on monday. besides we need to inspect the area, to know what will be the best option to be prepared before that monday",Gilbert's said.
Mr. Sanchez is always on the go, luckily his placed hadn't been invaded by the japanese soldiers yet, because his house is inside a three hectare land, protected by a hollow block fence, at the gate has more than a hundred trained dogs, surrounded the house. When they bark altogether it was an eardrum damaging sound.. then at a far distance, the piggery, his house, then the ricefield he was commissioned by the government to provide for the needs of his military troops in the whole Negros.
Just like what they had planned they arrive at Christian's camp on saturday, they planned what they'll going to do, where they will hide so the enemy will not notice them.
Christian was very happy when they saw their troop,
" What's the reason of your visit something special to celebrate at?",Christian's tease.
" We are here to back you up," Gilbert explained.
" Back me up for what?," wondering Christian's asked.
" You are on the next list to be attacked by the japanese soldiers on monday", Mona said.
" Really?how sure are you?", Christian asked.
" Okay, if you don't want us here, then we'll leave", Mona teasingly said.
"No,no, you stay, if that is true, then we need you here", Christian said.
" Tomorrow we need to inform the people that they need to evacuate for a while, we don't want any civilians fatalities during the operation", Mona said.
" Yes, I will send eve to inform the people today", Christian said.
" Okay", Mona replied.
" Let's have a meeting today, let's plan our tactical operation properly our gameplan to be used on our enemy ",Doni said.. They had planned for an ambush style because they don't want that the japanese will reach near their camp because many civilians will be in danger.
" Eve,have you talked to the people?", Christian asked that afternoon.
" Yes, but there were some who don't want to leave their homes because of their animals", Eve reported.
" How many of them don't want to vacate their homes?", Christian asked.
" For about six families,some don't beleive they will be harmed by the japanese soldiers", Eve said.
" Then it's up to them, that's their choice, we had warned them already", Doni said.
Early morning that monday, the whole troop were all ready some men left in their camp to protect their campsite. As for Doni, Gilbert and Mona's troop they had waited for the japanese soldiers far from the camp and also far from the home sites they were in the middle., When the japanese soldiers passby, bombs and gunshots was heard. Many japanese soldiers were injured and dead after the tension cleared down, they just let some japanese soldiers runaway,ride back in their trucking service, the only uninjured left is their driver and the one who collected the injured and the dead ones.
When they search the area at the home sites, they found out that all of those who don't listen to their warning were already dead.Most of them died with the use of bayonet.
" We had warned them, but they had chosen to stay, we wanted to help them preserve their lives but they had chosen to die", Mona said., all troop members were shaking their heads,they pity those families,even their pets were not spared. Pity for them,just because they had chosen to
stay. Be alert for now I know they will not come back today, but expect the unexpected always on the lookout. We are not sure what will happened next.
" Aurelio's troop was already down, they were killed and the girls was taken to the garrison. I guess they will be comfort girls for the japanese soldiers.",Mona said.
" From now on we will back you up guys, whoever needs us, we will be their operation partners", Doni said.
" Meaning to say we will be the one that will be the offense and defense against the japanese soldiers", Mona said.
" By the way thanks for your help guys", Christian said. Without you here we might be dead by now..
"You're welcome, as what I've told you be vigilant and be on a look out for the enemies", Doni said.
"Yes, we will be",Be careful on your way home ", Christian told them..
" They better be more afraid of us,then we better go now ,bye!", Mona said.
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