"Freeze, don't move or we'll shoot!"
Ian Dietrich looked at these people with a cold expression and said, "Look at them. A group of leeches who seem to want to surrender. They're like cockroaches, they live until the end."
"They seem to be at their limit. They've been through hell, just like us."
The deserters, upon noticing the presence of the soldiers, showed signs of nervousness and fear on their faces. They raised their hands in a sign of surrender, their eyes avoiding direct contact with the soldiers.
"Please, don't hurt us. We don't want to fight anymore.
"We've seen horrible things. We disagree with what the Red Army is doing.
"I understand that you've made this decision. But now you're in S.C.T.-controlled territory. Why should we trust you?"
"We just want to find a safe place to live. We no longer want to be part of that massacre."
The soldiers exchanged glances, evaluating the sincerity in the deserters' words. They knew they couldn't make hasty decisions in the midst of chaos, but they also understood the importance of redemption and giving a chance to those who had been swept away by the tide of war.
But Ian Dietrich looked at all this with a smile on his face. He looked at the soldier who was his right-hand man and said, "Soldier Jim, let me give you some advice. Never trust these kinds of lunatics, they'll end up killing you."
Jim, who hadn't witnessed the brutality of the Red Army, looked at his captain and asked, "But sir, haven't they surrendered?"
"Let me make something very clear to you, a child, a damn child controlled by that garbage made the captain lose a hand. Tell me, who uses children in the end of the world for that kind of situation?"
Jim looked at these people with less and less attention, nodded with understanding, and said, "What do we do with them?"
"The children can be spared, the young ones will be sent to the labs as the base needs test subjects." Ian looked at the man in the middle and said, "And I want to interrogate that idiot as soon as possible."
"Yes, sir." Jim said with a military salute.
One of the soldiers who had stepped forward said, "Alright, we'll take them with us. But know that there won't be second chances if you betray our trust."
The deserters nodded with gratitude, visibly relieved by the soldiers' decision. The soldiers led them to their base, walking together amidst the rubble and destruction. The path was uncertain, but the hope for a fresh start shone in their weary eyes.
But when Jim approached the soldier at the front, he nodded upon receiving the order and said, "You and you, the children must be moved from this place. The young ones should be sent to the base, as for the others, keep them all."
"Wait, you said you wouldn't harm us!"
"Hey, wait!"
"No, no, please!"
Bang, bang, bang!
"There is no mercy against the enemy."
...
Ian Dietrich, with long patience and a penetrating gaze, approached the leader of the Red Army camp, who was bound to a chair. The room was filled with tense silence, only interrupted by creaking wood and the faint breeze seeping through the cracks of broken windows.
"Who are you and what led you to join the Red Army?"
The leader of the Red Army camp, with a defiant look, responded in a hoarse voice, "You wouldn't understand our purpose. We are here to fulfill our sacred mission, to cleanse this corrupted land."
Ian furrowed his brow, maintaining composure in the face of the enemy leader's defiant response. "I'm not interested in your religious fanaticism. I want clear answers. How many more are in your group? What is your next target?"
The leader of the Red Army seemed restless, his dark eyes reflecting a deep madness bubbling within. Suddenly, his features contorted, and he began uttering words in a strange language, a mix of fanatic screams and prayers.
"The impure will be purged! Divine power guides us! The new era is approaching! The blood spilled in the name of our faith will sanctify this land!"
Ian exchanged a concerned look with Jim, his right-hand man, while the present soldiers remained alert at the unexpected reaction of the enemy leader.
"It seems sanity has abandoned you. There is no place for your religious delusions in this world. You are just like the rest of your army: fanatics blinded by violence and despair."
The leader of the Red Army continued screaming, his incomprehensible words mixing with whispers and deranged laughter. Ian stepped away from the scene, letting the rest of the soldiers handle securing the prisoner.
As he walked away, Ian couldn't help but reflect on the nature of war and how it had led people to lose their humanity and descend into madness. It was a constant reminder of the importance of maintaining sanity and mental stability in the midst of adversity, so as not to become a reflection of those they fought against.
"Die..."
Bang!
The SCT forces withdrew from the place where they had eliminated the members of the Red Army, returning to their base camp in the darkness of the night. Fatigue and tension hung in the air as the soldiers prepared to rest and recover before the next confrontation.
The lights of the camp dimly illuminated, creating a somber and silent atmosphere. The muffled sound of dragging boots and whispered voices filled the air as the soldiers moved cautiously. There was a sense of anticipation in the atmosphere, knowing that tomorrow they would have to face the enemy once again.
The soldiers dispersed into small groups, some seeking refuge in their tents, others engaged in hushed conversations. The weariness was visible on their faces, marked by the dust and sweat of battle.
As the night progressed, a tense stillness settled over the camp. The soldiers knew the battle was not yet over, and tomorrow they would face new challenges. Despite the physical and mental exhaustion, they remained alert and ready for combat.
Inside the tents, tired sighs and the hum of communication equipment could be heard. Some soldiers inspected their weapons and gear, ensuring they were ready for the next engagement. Others lost themselves in their thoughts, recalling the scenes of violence and destruction they had witnessed during the day.
In the midst of darkness, the SCT camp was an island of preparation and determination. Though the future was uncertain, each soldier held onto the conviction that they were on the right side and were willing to fight until the end.
With hope for a better dawn and confidence in their training and camaraderie, the soldiers finally surrendered to rest, mentally and physically preparing to face the enemy once again at daybreak. Tomorrow would be another day of battle, and the SCT forces were determined to prevail and secure victory.