Officer Robert Moore walked into the military headquarters' room. The room was dimly lit, and the air was thick with tension. General Wilson, who was facing the opposite direction, turned to face Robert, his expression cold and unreadable.
"Sire, the enemy troops are nearing the borders," Robert said, trying to keep his voice steady.
"You know what to do," General Wilson replied, his tone dismissive. Robert's eyes widened, his eyebrows rising in surprise.
"But, Sire, we can't abandon our troops!" Robert exclaimed, his voice rising in pitch.
General Wilson's frown deepened. Robert's words hung in the air, heavy and thick with dread. He could feel the general's gaze boring into him, and his stomach twisted into a knot. He had to steady his breathing to keep from losing his composure entirely.
"It's an order from the president," General Wilson said, his voice cutting through the silence like a knife. "There's no room for emotion in war."
Officer Robert turned on his heel and marched out of the room, his heart pounding in his chest. The door slammed shut behind him, the sound echoing through the empty hallway. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing pulse. He had done what he could, but he knew in his heart that the decision was a mistake. He could only hope that the troops would be able to defend themselves, despite the odds stacked against them.
.
.
At the Caribbean island, gunshots and explosions could be heard in the distance, and multiple bodies were strewn across the floor.
"Reef!" Keaton called out. He saw a wound on Reef's left shoulder.
"You've been shot," Keaton said, a worried look crossing his face. He ran over to help Reef up. Reef groaned in pain as Keaton struggled to get him on his feet. The enemy's explosives intensified, and they ran to a nearby barricade, crouching down and firing aimlessly
After shooting off many rounds, Keaton picked up his walkie-talkie. "Come in, Commander," he said anxiously, his heart racing as he waited for a response. "Loud and clear," the commander replied.
Hearing the commander's voice filled Keaton with joy. He almost felt like jumping for joy, but he forced himself to remain calm and focused. "We're closing in, over," Keaton said into the walkie-talkie. "Roger that, 10-4," the commander replied, and the conversation ended.
Just as Keaton thought his worries were over, a whistling and shrieking sound came from a distance.
"Where is that noise coming from?" Keaton asked nervously, not really expecting an answer. A missile and a barrage of explosives suddenly landed on the island.
After the explosions and bombing stopped, the few people who had escaped by jumping into the water popped their heads up and panted heavily.
"Reef!" Keaton called, checking to see if Reef was among the survivors. Keaton took a deep breath and plunged into the water, searching frantically for Reef. After what felt like an eternity, he resurfaced, gasping for air.
"Reef!" he called out again, hoping against hope that his friend was still alive. The water was filled with survivors making it hard for him to find Reef.
Keaton felt a wave of despair wash over him as he continued to scan the water for any sign of his friend.
"Keaton!" Reef called out, waving his arm frantically to get Keaton's attention. Keaton swam as fast as he could, fear coursing through his veins as the water around him began to turn red.
People in the water started dying, and Keaton realized that someone on the high ground was shooting a sniper rifle. He ducked down, hoping to avoid being the next target.
"We have to get out of here!" Keaton said to Reef, his voice shaking.
"Hey! Hey! We're not your enemies!" Keaton called out, his voice trembling in fear. The man didn't hesitate to wipe out everyone in the water, and Keaton saw him aiming his rifle at Reef.
In a split second, Keaton pushed Reef underwater and took the bullet meant for him. He felt a searing pain in his side as he struggled to stay conscious.
"Keaton!" Reef yelled, grabbing Keaton's arm and trying to keep him afloat.