Scene 1: The Hospital Room
The soft hum of the air conditioner was the only sound in the private hospital room at CMH Rawalpindi. Zayan Malik lay unconscious on the hospital bed, his face pale and his body covered in bandages. Ubaid Hussain, Zahid Khan, and Maryam Javaid sat nearby, their expressions grim as they watched over their leader.
Ubaid leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. "Seven nights, and he hasn't moved. I don't know if I can take this anymore," he muttered.
Zahid, always the calm one, placed a reassuring hand on Ubaid's shoulder. "He's a fighter, Ubaid. If anyone can make it through this, it's Zayan."
Maryam, sitting by the window, glanced at them. "The doctors said his condition is stable. We just have to be patient. Besides, he wouldn't want us sitting here sulking. He'd want us to prepare for the next mission."
Ubaid sighed. "You're right, but it's hard to focus knowing he's like this."
The silence was interrupted by a faint groan from the bed. Maryam shot up from her chair, her eyes wide. "Did you hear that?"
Zahid and Ubaid rushed to Zayan's side. His eyelids fluttered, and he let out a weak cough.
"Zayan?" Ubaid called softly, leaning closer.
Zayan's eyes slowly opened, his gaze unfocused at first but gradually sharpening. He looked around the room, his voice barely a whisper. "Where... am I?"
Maryam smiled, relief washing over her face. "You're in CMH, Zayan. You're safe."
Zayan tried to sit up, but Zahid gently pushed him back down. "Easy, boss. You've been through hell. Just rest."
Zayan's lips curved into a faint smirk. "Hell? Sounds like another day at work."
Ubaid chuckled, his tension easing. "Good to see you haven't lost your sense of humor."
Zayan's expression turned serious. "What happened? How did I get out?"
Maryam answered, "We found you in an Indian facility. It wasn't easy, but the team pulled through. Now it's your turn to recover."
Zayan nodded weakly. "Thank you... all of you."
---
Scene 2: The Call to Action
The following morning, the team gathered in Zayan's room, discussing his recovery when Maryam's phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen, her expression tightening.
"It's Major Hamza," she announced, answering the call.
Major Hamza's voice came through, firm and urgent. "Maryam, I need you, Ubaid, and Zahid at headquarters immediately. We have a situation. Time is critical."
"Understood, sir," Maryam replied before ending the call.
She turned to the others. "Hamza wants us at HQ now."
Zahid stood, already grabbing his jacket. "Let's move."
Ubaid looked at Zayan, hesitant. "We shouldn't leave him alone."
Maryam placed a hand on his arm. "He's safe here, Ubaid. And he'd be the first to tell us to go. Let's not waste time."
Reluctantly, Ubaid nodded, and the three of them left the hospital, heading toward ISI headquarters.
---
Scene 3: Mission Briefing
The tension in the conference room at ISI headquarters was palpable. Major Hamza stood at the head of the table, his arms crossed as he waited for his team to arrive. The large screen behind him displayed satellite images and troop movements along the border.
As Ubaid, Zahid, and Maryam entered the room, Hamza didn't waste a second. "Take your seats. We have no time for formalities."
The three operatives quickly sat down, their eyes on their commanding officer.
Hamza pointed to the screen. "This is the situation. Our intelligence has confirmed that a heavily armed convoy of the Indian army is advancing from Jammu and Kashmir into Azad Kashmir. They've already crossed key checkpoints and will reach their target in approximately five hours."
Maryam frowned. "What's their objective?"
Hamza's expression darkened. "They're planning to establish a forward operating base in our territory, which will give them a significant strategic advantage. We cannot let that happen."
Zahid leaned forward. "What's the plan, sir?"
Hamza turned to the team. "We're launching a counter-operation immediately. Wali Hyder will lead the team on the ground. Zahid, you'll be in charge of the battle troops. Ubaid, you'll provide sniper support from an elevated position."
Ubaid nodded, his jaw set. "Understood."
Hamza continued, "Maryam, you'll stay at HQ and coordinate with the extraction team. Your primary task is to ensure communication lines remain secure and to monitor enemy movements."
Maryam nodded. "Got it, sir."
Hamza's voice grew even more serious. "This mission is high-risk. The enemy has advanced weaponry and air support. But failure is not an option. Our forces are already mobilizing, but you'll be the spearhead of this operation. We stop them here and now."
Wali Hyder entered the room, his confident demeanor adding a sense of reassurance. "I'll make sure the ground team is ready, sir."
Hamza nodded. "Good. Zahid, brief your troops. Wali, coordinate with Ubaid on sniper positions. Maryam, get the extraction team on standby. You all know your roles. Dismissed."
As the team stood to leave, Hamza called out, "And one more thing. Failure isn't just about losing territory. It's about losing lives. Make sure every decision you make counts. Good luck."
---
Scene 4: Preparing for Battle
The team dispersed, each member focused on their task.
In the armory, Ubaid examined his sniper rifle, ensuring every part was in perfect condition. Wali approached him, a smirk on his face. "Ready to save the day, sharpshooter?"
Ubaid grinned. "Always. Just make sure you don't mess up on the ground, or I'll have to cover for you."
Wali chuckled. "Don't worry about me. Just make sure you've got my back."
Meanwhile, Zahid was in the briefing room with his troops, explaining the mission. "Our objective is clear. We intercept the convoy before it reaches its target. Remember, precision and coordination are key. We cannot afford mistakes. Is that understood?"
The troops responded in unison. "Yes, sir!"
Back at HQ, Maryam worked alongside the technical team, setting up communication lines and tracking enemy movements. She glanced at the screen, her brow furrowed. "They're moving faster than anticipated. We need to accelerate our timeline."
Hamza, standing behind her, nodded. "I've already sent the orders. Now it's up to them."
---
Scene 5: Into the Fray
As the convoy approached the border, the team moved into position. Ubaid climbed a rocky ridge, setting up his sniper's nest with a clear view of the enemy route.
Through his scope, he spotted the convoy—armored vehicles, transport trucks, and heavily armed soldiers. "I have eyes on the target," he reported through his comms.
Wali's voice crackled in his earpiece. "Copy that. Hold fire until I give the signal."
On the ground, Wali and Zahid positioned their teams, hidden behind natural cover. Zahid glanced at Wali. "You ready for this?"
Wali smirked. "Always."
The convoy drew closer, and Wali raised his hand. "Wait for it..."
The tension was thick as the enemy moved into the kill zone. Finally, Wali dropped his hand. "Engage!"
The battlefield erupted into chaos as explosions and gunfire shattered the silence. Ubaid took out key targets from his vantage point, ensuring the enemy couldn't regroup.
"Truck down!" Ubaid called out as he fired a perfect shot at an armored vehicle, causing it to explode.
Zahid led his troops with precision, coordinating their movements and keeping the enemy pinned down. "Hold your positions! Focus fire on their front line!"
Wali moved through the battlefield like a ghost, taking out enemies with swift efficiency. "We've got them on the defensive! Push forward!"
Despite the chaos, the team remained coordinated, their training and trust in each other shining through.
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The chapter ends with the team holding their ground, but the enemy calling for reinforcements, raising the stakes for the next chapter.