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CHAPTER 7
Arriving at my room-office-command post, I communicated with the other security chiefs in the other two ships. From a secure communication channel told them what happened and asked them to increase surveillance on civilians of greater importance. The Russian Brigadier informed me that in his ship so far, they had only small altercations that had occurred among civilians. Fabien, the French Brigadier, also reported a corpse, but for medical reasons, we agreed communicate every 4 hours through this secure channel and report to us of ant the events in each ship. I felt strong and calm so far facing the enemies of NIRMANA 394. I gave other Brigadiers instructions and also asked for their discretion. I let my body rest for a moment and lied in bed, just wanted to relax my muscles a bit for five minutes before continuing my work.
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My father took out of the fridge two cold beers, they were covered with a thin white frosting, after he opened it, uncovered a white smoke that escaped through the mouth of the bottle. We were in the backyard and a coal burner showed red flames over coal rocks, he was cooking burgers. It was spring and the trees in the backyard were fully bloomed, the grass bright green. The lake gleamed, with midday sun and invited to jump into the water.
The old man, with the wave of his hand, called me to sit beside him on the bench, as a boy I helped build to put in front of the lake and under the shade of the trees. Arriving at my side, he put his hand over my shoulder, which I was surprised, my father was not an affectionate person. Remember the day we built this together? He asked, looking at me tenderly sitting by his side.
- Yes. I remember. It was now, spring. I felt you hammering outside my room, I saw you cutting the wood. I remember I wanted to help. You put my hands for the first time a smaller hammer with some nails. I think I was about nine years. I spent my days running from here to there. That afternoon was the first time I felt like a man, but ended up mistreating my fingers with the hammers. After that I sat every evening on this bench made with freshly cut wood of pine forest. I was proud of it.
- Yes. Until the day you left. - My father starring at the shiny reflections on the lake. I did not look at him because I knew he would have a tear running down his cheek. I let him vent completely.
- The day you left with your military uniform, you were just a kid. That war in Iraq that lasted so many years. Your mother God rest her soul prayed every night without you knowing it. We were also at war with you, every word, every report we kept informed.
Until you returned as a corporal. Then another war and another. Your mother could not take it. I always knew that one day your mother could bear the uncertainty of whether you came back or not. With every war, we filled this country with deaths, young brave men like you. We got up every morning expecting officer’s visit with the yellow envelope.
Every night giving thanks to God for another day without the bad news.
- You never accepted that I wanted to be in the military. I said loudly and almost standing up.
- No! We never accepted that you were fighting causes that were not yours.
- In the military you abide orders, that's what you never understood. I said emphatically.
- And men break them when they are not fair, dammit!
The noise of the bottle crashing against the rocks of Lake woke me up. I was dreaming again with my father, very far away from this ship and all these problems. How I wished, I could be there even if it was in a controversial conversation with him. There, in my backyard, under my tree, sitting on my bench..
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Shinde Suraj suddenly appeared at my door telling me there was some kind of commotion in the top command post, General Singh had called me several times through my intercom and seeing that I did not respond he sent the Shinde for me. I must report urgently to the central control room of NIRMANA 394.
Upon arriving there I found joy among all flight captains. Some hugging, others laughed, others cried. I searched for answers, when I found general Singh, and saw him sitting with documents in his hands. When he saw me, he stood up and almost ran to where I was standing, I was watching the excitement in the control room. The General handed me the documents to read, and was waiting for my reaction. I could not believe what my eyes were reading. It was the latest report from Earth, where the nuclear warheads were reported as been found. At present the Iranian president was trying to surrender to coalition forces.
The nuclear warheads were hidden in the African desert. There were exactly twelve nuclear warheads.
Without much thought I embraced the general and almost kissing on his cheeks I said:
- I told you General that soon we would fighting and winning other battles.
The man did not feel sorry I hugged him in front of everyone, in short, the joy was present in the air, no one noticed our warm embrace. When do we receive the order to return? Was the question I asked.
- We must wait orders from the Ministry of Defense. According to the report, we'll be firing engines in about five hours. The other ships were also informed of this and the joy is general in all command posts. Civilians have not been informed as of yet to avoid causing disturbance, due to the joy, as soon as we decide to return. As for the murder case, we will resume investigating in land and the guilty will be brought to justice. Take advantage of this time and go to the hospital. Get the wound on your arm treated. I’m sure we will be greeted by the president.
- Thank you, General. I will go to the hospital now. You have given me great joy.
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I saw her at the hospital. I was able to stop for a few minutes and stare. For the first time I stood silent before her beauty. The white coat contrasted with her black hair and straight up the middle of her back. I was still, watching jealously as she examined the throat of a boy sitting on a dark metal table. I felt like hugging her around her waist and tell her the great news. She wore tight military pants that hugged her thighs, which caused my thoughts to wander in other territories. In her hands a pen, which she played with and the boy. I envied that smile. She looked up and saw me watching her.
- Brigadier? What can I do for you?
- Yes -was my answer- The General has ordered me to come and check my wound. The band is stained with blood.
- Come on in, please sit. I’ll be with you shortly. She finished with the boy in only seconds, I wanted to think that it was because she wanted to come to me as soon as possible. She came to me prepared with scissors in hand. Without my permission she took my arm and cut the band at once. I kept staring at her but
I dared not say a word. Finally, I thought that upon my return, I would not see her again, my military life did not allow me such luxuries of love and family life . I do not know if she felt the lack of concern on face. Sometimes women have that sixth sense that allows them to read a man’s mind easily. I know men would give anything to find out what a woman thinks even if he has been by her side for more than twenty years.
- Something wrong, Brigadier? Anything new you want to share with me? I see in his eyes a tranquility and happiness do you want to share with me?
- Indeed, there is good news, but you know I cannot share confidential information with other non-military personnel.
- Do not worry. I understand perfectly. I reacted when she spilled rubbing alcohol on my wound. As if in revenge for my refusal to tell the doctor the news, she while smiling. It really hurt me, but I must admit I also liked her reaction. A little game began between us. She bandaged my arm and ended the necessary treatment. I stood and walked to the door. I turned around and looked at her. I found myself face to face with her eyes full of light. She was looking at me. I gave her a wink and in a single sentence said- We will soon return, The Dr. as her prize to my confession gave me a smile.
I decided to gather my soldiers and prepare them for the return. I had to organize everything and still not relent in our mission. We had to take care of all civilians and make sure they went back to earth safe.
Almost as I began talking to everyone an alarm sounded throughout the ship. I ordered my sergeants to remain calm and return to their posts. I ran to the command post. My legs did not respond fast enough. Upon my arrival everyone was glued to the glass that left us to look outside. A dead silence pervaded the room, no one was in place. Only lights on the controls reassured me that the ship was in operation. I did not ask or say anything. I approached the glass. I could not believe what was in front of my eyes. The planet until a few minutes ago, covered in blue and white was now a deep orange. From our place we could see the seething atmosphere in flames, smoke in several parts of the parts of earth. It was a heartbreaking spectacle. I swear in my ears I could hear the screams of horror of thousands of innocent men and women. It was all a ball fire and death. The blue was lost while tears welled down the faces of all around me. I do not know if that moment lasted hours or minutes. For me it was eternal. The color of death covered the entire planet. Not a free space. Many hands on their heads in disbelief. Others were still staring into the end of life of our species. Everyone was crying. I searched general Singh. I found him in a chair unarmed. With his shirt open. Hands detached from his chair. I looked for answers in his your eyes, I asked a question:
-What do we do now?
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