Colonel Lee nodded curtly, his expression unreadable. "Very well, Captain. You're dismissed. Prepare your team for the mission tomorrow night."
Sunny saluted, turned, and walked out of the tent, leaving Colonel Lee to his thoughts.
The commander sat back in his chair, steepling his fingers together as he reflected on Sunny's response. The young captain's words had been unsettling, a stark reminder of the harsh realities of war.
Colonel Lee's eyes clouded over, his mind wandering back to the countless battles he had fought, the friends he had lost, and the orders he had given that had sent men to their deaths.
He shook his head, a wry smile twisting his lips. "The old decide, the young bear the consequences," he muttered to himself, the weight of his years and experience bearing down on him.
Sunny walked back to the 10th squad's encampment, his boots kicking up small clouds of dust in the faint moonlight. The night air was cool and crisp, filled with the scent of smoke and grease.
As he walked, he passed by rows of makeshift tents, their canvas flaps flapping lazily in the breeze. The only sound was the distant rumble of artillery and the occasional bark of a dog.
Sunny nodded to the soldiers he passed, exchanging brief words of greeting. They were all tired, all worn down by the endless fighting and lack of sleep.
He approached the 10th squad's tent, a large, tattered canvas structure that had been patched and repatched countless times.
Sunny ducked inside, his eyes adjusting to the dim light within. The only illumination came from a few flickering candles and a lantern hanging from the center pole. His men were scattered around the tent, some sleeping, others playing cards or cleaning their gear.
He's squad once filled with twenty five men was now down to fifteen of them.... He sometimes felt guilty for the life of the men which had died under he's command, and another part of him told him that they knew what they signed for.
It's all parts off war anyway.....
Sunny's second-in-command, Sergeant Thompson, looked up from his cards and nodded at Sunny. "Captain," he said, his voice low.
Sunny nodded back, his eyes scanning the tent. "Sergeant, gather the men. We've got a mission briefing to go over."
Damn another mission? Some of he's men felt displeased
He couldn't blame them.... he too was tired but he couldn't show it.