For Our Unity

Chapter III: Exploding Ground

Subsequently Capt. Wuwur ordered the whole to prepare a bivouac for night's rest. While I anticipating a night operation, I start to understand why we were ordered to not advance. And so, the rest of the day was spent to clear up any stragglers.

"Shit, sniper!"

Thankfully nobody reported hits, and thuds from autocannons ahead of us were enough to alleviate our concern. Further beyond the horizon, we can hear intermittent boom of our artillery and roar of jets circling above Rangkasbitung.

Later the entire task force prepared their own bivouacs for shelter while the vehicles return to the FOB in Jasinga. After that in the evaluation debriefing, our entire battalion was told that we were all decorated with our first medal for active combat operation, the Combat Action Medal (Satyalencana Pertempuran) (1) while three members of the 3rd squad, Corporal Indra which was wounded in combat and Pvt. Gibran Martowardojo and Pvt. Diana Effendi - both volunteers from universities like us - who were KIA were also given the Satyalencana Bhakti (2).

In 19.00 Major Wambe personally addressed us and the officers later put those medals in our chests, in a silent ceremony in an abandoned school's field nearby. The pride was immense, as we know that we are not alone, and people cared enough for us.

Followed by debriefing session.

"We've managed to push back the enemy for today, and secure the way to Rangkasbitung in this sector" said Capt. Wuwur in her debriefing. "On the other front, our forces in the Cilegon-Merak Pocket of Resistance - which had been reinforced from Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Jakarta - had advanced into Serang and 15% of the city had been reclaimed, assisted by local fighters holed up in the city and strikes from our naval and air assets. Intelligence said the enemy there was showing the sign of exhaustion after suppressing the Kulon Commune so some fighters from Rangkas have been redirected to relieve them, which means their defense capacity in Rangkas will be reduced. This will be a good opportunity to finish the rebels in this province once and for all. Even that, those people are hard to break, because this is their last stand at all."

"Remember; we have no tolerance with cowards. 15th Brigade's 204th Battalion which had cleared Maja has reported that three of their men had been shot due to attempted desertion while two were sent to penal units after a quick trial. Also, any enemy propaganda leaflet you found must be immediately given to your superiors..."

"...And as I speak, your IFS gear was being recharged and upgraded by our technicians to be more resistant to jamming and additional Michibiki (3) software receivers as backups for the GPS, because the NII possesses GPS jamming capability. The Air Force had neutralized one of their jammers but they still have more in reserve... You were already trained using this system in your basic training alongside the American one, as well as the Chinese and Indian ones so this will not be such a problem. 'Always have plan B' is a relevant saying here."

"...Soldiers scheduled for guard duty, man your position while others may take their rest. Dismissed!"

After briefings, It's my turn for duty tonight, started in 21.30 with my Maximi machine gun that I named Theresa, after my girlfriend back home in Bekasi.

I can't be more grateful with the fact that during the less intense moment of combat, I managed to catch several rounds of 10-20 minutes nap in the foxhole. Don't make me wrong; this pattern is approved (even encouraged) by the highest command. A good rest, even brief, can result in better performance and less chance for mistakes, and most importantly, a chance to commit so-called "human rights violations".

William broke the silent night with a hushed voice.

"Do you know or at least heard what actually causes this conflict other than European Civil War and Middle East World War? Is that economic, like some of the pundits on TV and newspapers said in the beginning? We are becoming a new Korea, Taiwan, or Singapore in terms of economic performance in the last four years so those people definitely wrong this time. Wealth inequality? Come on, I know you and I have pretty much "class privilege" and with due respect to poor people who became it not due to their fault; we cannot all be equal (the same), period. Equality over the law, yes, for example, but some parts, we humans are inherently unequal and no social engineering programs can eradicate it."