In the early morning darkness, the forest erupted in chaos. Thunderous blasts shattered the stillness, each explosion sending fireballs skyward. Smoke billowed in dense, choking plumes. Trees convulsed and bent, their branches snapping under the force of the shockwaves that tore through the forest with relentless fury.
"Owl 3, we've released all ordnance. Can you confirm the impact and damage?" Agila 2 inquired, his voice steady as he sought confirmation of the effectiveness of their bombing run.
"Owl 3 to Agila 1, impact confirmed. Target is destroyed," Owl 3 responded to the weapons systems officer, his voice clear and confident over the comms.
"Owl 3, can you provide additional imagery of the impact site?" Agila 2 requested, seeking further details for the post-strike assessment.
"Affirmative, sending it now," Owl 3 answered, immediately transmitting the additional imagery.
"Command, Agila 1. Target at Grid 12-34-56 has been successfully neutralized. We're RTB," Agila 1, the pilot, reported to command. With their mission complete, they adjusted their heading and began their journey back to base.
Multiple F-15 EX Strike Eagles headed back to base after a relentless 30-minute bombardment. Their targets, identified as high-value structures crucial to the enemy, lay in ruins.
"Looks like it's done," Cpl. Romolo commented on the sudden silence, keeping a steady grip on his rifle as he scanned the perimeter. He adjusted his position slightly, shifting his weight to relieve the tension in his legs, his eyes constantly moving to take in every detail of the surroundings.
"They're done and RTBing, that's what I heard," Staff Sgt. Amaro replied, crouching lower to get a better view of the forest ahead. He raised his binoculars, meticulously scanning for any unusual movements among the trees. His fingers flexed around the grip of his weapon, ready for any sudden developments.
"Get ready for anything now, especially for moving forward later. Report any unusual movements in the forest—don't take chances," Amaro added, his tone firm and commanding.
"Aye sir," his squad responded in unison, their voices steady but measured. Each soldier remained at their position, alert and prepared, their eyes and ears attuned to any signs of movement or changes in the environment.
0507H
Eastern Defensive Positions, San Lorenzo Forest, Philippines
The soldiers waited in tense silence after the 30 minutes of intense air strikes. Suddenly, a massive explosion shattered the quiet, sending shockwaves rippling through the forest. The ground heaved violently, causing soldiers stationed around the perimeter to lose their balance. Some tumbled to the ground, while others dropped to their knees, struggling to maintain their footing. A few lay flat on their stomachs, gripping whatever they could find—tree trunks, rocks, or the earth itself—to steady themselves against the relentless tremors. The forest around them seemed to quake, the impact of the explosion reverberating through every corner of their positions.
"What the fuck is this shit?!" PFC Raf shouted, his voice tinged with panic as he struggled to steady himself against the violent shaking of the earth.
"Well, if it's this big, the commies inside shouldn't be alive right now. In fact, everything and anything in there should've turned to ashes," PFC Robert replied, attempting to calm Raf as he surveyed the chaotic scene. Trees all around them swayed erratically from the force of the shockwave, some uprooted and crashing to the ground as the explosive power reverberated through the forest. The soldiers braced themselves against the aftershocks, their grips tightening on their weapons and surroundings.
As the tremors from the explosion subsided, the soldiers observed an unusual phenomenon. From the center of the blast, instead of the usual grey and black smoke, there emerged plumes of black, purple, and white smoke, casting an eerie, otherworldly glow. The vibrant colors danced through the trees, creating an unsettling contrast to the devastation around them. Some soldiers caught glimpses of the strange hues while others missed it, their attention absorbed by the chaos.
Simultaneously, the electronic equipment of every soldier and vehicle faltered. Radios, GPS units, and other critical devices flickered and stuttered, their screens momentarily going blank before shutting down completely. The disruption was brief, lasting only a few minutes, but it left the soldiers temporarily cut off from their communications and navigational aids, adding an extra layer of uncertainty to the already tense situation.
"What the hell was that? An explosion, then an EMP??? Was it a nuclear bomb?" Pvt. Isaac asked in a panic, his voice trembling as he anxiously checked himself for any signs of radiation exposure. His hands moved frantically over his gear and uniform, his eyes darting around in fear as he tried to assess the situation amidst the lingering confusion and eerie glow from the smoke.
"Of course not, the explosion wasn't big enough for a nuclear bomb," Sgt. Ricko reassured, his voice steady despite his own uncertainty. "There's no such thing as a nuclear bomb that small. Still, let's hope we're right." He glanced around, surveying the smoke and damage. "Although, I'm not sure about the EMP. The electronics weren't totally fried, but something definitely disrupted them." His gaze returned to the malfunctioning equipment.
The sudden electrical malfunctions affected only those soldiers and vehicles caught in the shockwave of the earlier explosion. This selective disruption led some soldiers to theorize that an EMP might have been triggered by the blast, explaining the sudden and localized failure of their electronic equipment.
"Did you guys see that purple smoke earlier?" SPC Raggy asked, glancing around as he helped other soldiers to their feet. He cast a puzzled look toward the center of the explosion, wondering if anyone else had noticed the strange, colorful smoke and the eerie illumination it casted.
"There were white and purple smokes?" PFC Raf replied, brushing dirt and dust from his shirt and gear with quick, distracted movements. He missed the unusual illumination, having been on the ground and focused on keeping his balance during the explosion. The vivid colors hadn't registered in his mind at the time, as his primary concern had been bracing against the shockwave.
"There's no way you missed it; it was bright as hell," PFC Robert responded, sitting on a fallen tree. He shook his head in disbelief, clearly surprised that anyone could have overlooked the intense, vivid lights. The illumination had been so glaring and unusual that it seemed impossible to ignore.
"Of course, he missed it. He was laying face down, trying hard not to cry! HAHAHA, his face back then—Hahaha!" SPC Raggy cackled, clutching his stomach as he tried to stifle his laughter. He pulled out his phone and showed the picture to his squadmates, struggling to contain his amusement as he relived the moment. The image captured PFC Raf's startled expression.
"YOU FU—" PFC Raf erupted, his face flushed with embarrassment and anger as he lunged for Raggy. His curse was cut short as he saw the clear photo Raggy had managed to snap amidst the chaos. The others, including the Platoon, Squad, and Team Leaders, as well as squad members, struggled to suppress their laughter. They exchanged amused glances and smirks as Raf tried to grab the camera from Raggy,
"Okay, hahaha—alright, okay okay okay that's enough," Lt. Howard said, still chuckling as he wiped tears from his eyes. He took a deep breath and composed himself before asking, "You all good?" His tone was both concerned and slightly amused as he checked on his troops, ensuring everyone was accounted for and okay after the chaos of the explosion.
"All good, sir," each soldier replied one by one, their voices steady as they calmed down from their laughter. The mood lightened as they recovered from the tension of the explosion.
"But that light from the explosion was weird," Pvt. Isaac remarked, squinting at the lingering smoke and debris from the blast site. "There were purple and black lights mixed in, almost like something you'd see in space." His gaze shifted over the colorful smoke clouds, his curiosity piqued by the unusual, otherworldly illumination that accompanied the explosion.
"Could it've been their weapon depot?" PFC Raf asked, glancing at his squadmates before turning his attention back to the lingering smoke and the odd lights. His confusion was evident as he tried to piece together the unusual combination of colors and the scale of the explosion.
"Could've been," PFC Raggy replied, his tone reflecting uncertainty as he stared at the swirling smoke and strange lights. The possibility of it being a weapon depot was just one of many theories swirling in his mind, and he, like the others, was left to piece together the mystery of the explosion.
The tactical headsets of the Platoon Leaders and Squad Leaders crackled to life, cutting through the murmurs of confusion. "Command to all units: Stand by and hold your positions. Maintain high alert and wait for further orders," the authoritative voice crackled through the radio, commanding attention.
Lt. Howard stood up, his gaze sweeping over the platoon with a commanding presence. "1st Platoon, Command has ordered us to stand by. Maintain high alert and wait for further orders. Nobody better wander off. If you're injured, head to your respective medic or find the nearest one!" His voice was firm.
"You heard the man," Staff Sgt. Amaro said, his voice carrying the weight of the command as he moved through his squad. He methodically checked each soldier's status, ensuring everyone was accounted for and in good condition.
"Hey, Raggy, send me those pictures later," Lt. Howard said with a smile, his tone light despite the situation. He gave a brief chuckle.
"Wait, what?" Raf questioned in shock, his confusion clear as he processed the laughter and the ongoing jokes. His eyes darted between Raggy, Howard and the others, trying to make sense of the situation amidst the remnants of the earlier chaos.
"Yes, sir," Raggy returned the smile and looked at Raf, laughing once more. The others who overheard the exchange couldn't help but smile and chuckle,
"What the fuck! Nooo, Lieutenant, don't spread the pictures, pleaseeee!" Raf pleaded, his voice a mix of desperation and embarrassment. His plea only fueled the laughter among the squad.
All of them smiled as they looked back towards the forest.
0525H
Malacañang Palace, Situation Room
"What was that?" the man at the head of the table asked, his voice tinged with shock as he stared at the aftermath of the unexpected and bizarre explosion. He turned to the Army General and the Secretary of National Defense beside him, seeking their insights on the mysterious event that had just unfolded.
"We are not sure either, Mr. President," General Rawner replied, his voice tinged with uncertainty. He, too, was visibly shocked and confused, struggling to make sense of the strange and unexpected explosion that had just occurred.
"We are going to look into it, Mr. President," Secretary Theo of the Department of National Defense added, his expression reflecting the same confusion. He assured the President that a thorough investigation would be conducted to uncover the details behind the mysterious explosion.
"Alright, contact DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources), DOH (Department of Health), and PNRI (Philippine Nuclear Research Institute). Send NICA (National Intelligence Coordinating Agency) and ISAFP (Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines), and dispatch the Army HAZMAT team as the first responders. I want a thorough investigation with no gaps. Ensure this remains confidential and out of the public eye for now. Also, General Rawner, instruct your men not to disclose anything to the media or anyone else. And make sure the involved departments are under strict orders to keep this information contained," the President directed, his gaze returning to the big screen as he massaged his temples, clearly troubled by the unfolding events.
"Yes, Sir!" both nodded in acknowledgment. "We will lock down the forest immediately and ensure that no one enters without permission," Army General Rawner added.
"The people living near the forest didn't see it, right?" the President inquired, his concern evident. He was worried that the local residents might have witnessed the explosion and its aftermath, potentially exposing the incident to public knowledge.
"We can only hope, sir," Secretary Theo responded, his concern clear. "The explosion and the clouds it emitted were significant, and it's likely they felt the earthquake as well. There's a chance the local residents might have seen or sensed something, which could lead to complications if we try to keep it hidden from the public."
All of them looked at the big screen in front of them and sighed in unison.
"Alright, Dismiss—" The President began, but his words were cut off by the sudden ringing of both telephones on the table and the smart cell phones in the pockets of General Rawner and Secretary Theo. The unexpected noise interrupted the moment.
The three of them look at each other in confusion.
To be continued…