The training ground at KMA was unusually silent that morning, the kind of silence that carried a weight of anticipation. Dew clung stubbornly to the grass, glistening in the faint golden light of dawn. Naina stood at the edge of the field, her hands clasped behind her back, eyes fixed on the far horizon. It was one of those moments when the quiet around her seemed louder than any gunshot.
Today was not just another day in their schedule.
Today was the start of Operation Sentinel — a field exercise designed to push the Super Six to their limits. The mission would simulate a real rescue operation, with unknown challenges, shifting objectives, and the presence of a “shadow enemy” planted by the Academy to test their tactical decision-making.
Captain Rajveer Singh Shekhawat arrived without the usual sound of footsteps that announced his presence. One moment he wasn’t there, and the next, he stood beside Naina. She didn’t turn, but she knew.
“Sir,” she greeted quietly.
“Thinking about the mission?” Rajveer’s tone was casual, but his eyes scanned her face with the precision of someone reading a map for hidden routes.
“I’m thinking about the stakes,” she replied, finally looking at him. “The exercise is meant to prepare us for real-life situations… but lately, real life seems to be catching up with us faster than we can train for it.”
Rajveer’s jaw tightened slightly. “That’s exactly why you have to take this seriously, Naina. Remember, drills aren’t just practice—they’re the rehearsal for a scene you might have to play when the script is written in blood.”
Her eyes darkened. “Like Kargil… like Bhaiya.”
Rajveer didn’t answer immediately. He knew what was behind that look—an ache that time had dulled but never erased. Finally, he said, “Yes. And it’s because of people like your brother… and others who didn’t make it home… that we’re here now. Ready?”
Naina took a deep breath and nodded. “Always.”
---
The Briefing
Inside the command tent, the Super Six—Naina, Huda, Alekh, Pooja, Ali, and Yudi—stood at attention. The large tactical map spread across the table was dotted with red markers and blue flags. Major General Abhimanyu Rai presided over the briefing, but Rajveer was the one outlining the mission parameters.
“Your objective,” Rajveer began, tapping a finger against a blue marker, “is to locate and extract a high-value hostage—codenamed Falcon—from this sector of simulated hostile territory.”
He moved his hand to a cluster of red dots. “Opposing forces will be hunting you. These are highly skilled, trained to exploit your mistakes. You will have no direct comms with the base—only field signals and hand radios that may be jammed.”
Alekh smirked. “Sounds like a walk in the park, Sir.”
Rajveer gave him a level look. “Then I hope you enjoy parks filled with landmines.”
A few chuckles broke the tension, but Rajveer didn’t smile. “Remember—time is critical. Every hour you delay increases the risk to the hostage. And one more thing…”
His gaze swept over the group, his voice dropping slightly. “The enemy will have a commander in the field. You won’t know who they are, but they will be unpredictable. Treat them like they’re two steps ahead of you—because they will be.”
---
Into the Field
The mission began at 0600 hours. The Super Six moved in two teams—Naina, Huda, and Alekh in Alpha; Pooja, Ali, and Yudi in Bravo. Their route led them through dense undergrowth, the ground damp and uneven from last night’s rain.
BẠN ĐANG ĐỌC
Left Right Left: The Return of the Hero
Phi Hư CấuLeft Right Left: Rajveer's Last Mission follows the emotional and heroic journey of Captain Rajveer Singh Shekhawat, who is presumed dead after a betrayal within the army. Years later, as a new threat looms over the nation, his former student Naina...
