Disclaimer: This is a work of original fiction. Any resemblance to actual locations, characters, events and incidents are purely coincidental.

Chapter 1.1 -- The other side (Part 1)

Eight months later...

Although both of them reach the safe zone, they are never the same again. Though 1st-Lieutenant Freida adopts Kodey and Erika, they find it difficult to move on, since their mother’s death haunts them. With a strong desire to protect his sister, Kodey joined the reformed New York National Guard as a foot soldier. As for Erika, she enrolled herself in farming and first aid courses to help her move on from her mother’s death.

House Unit 2-4, Residential District, Grand Isle Safe Zone, Grand Isle, Vermont, USA, 7 November 2020, 0830 hrs

“Kodey, Erika! We need to go now. I still have to drop Erika at the farm center.” Eleanora calls out as she stands at the door waiting for them. “Coming, Miss Freida.” the two of them reply as they rush across the hallway. “Both of you need to prepare your stuff first before we leave on time. We will get penalised if we are late again.” Eleanora warns. 

Kodey and Erika nod while looking away from her gaze. Aware that they are having a hard time moving on from their mother’s death, Eleanora lets out a sigh before speaking to them. “Kodey, Erika. I know that both of you loved your mother very much, but you two need to accept her death and move on.” The Lieutenant comforts them before continuing on. “Hence, I will take care of both of you and please call me mom instead.” .

Acknowledged that the Lieutenant spoke the truth, both Kodey and Erika finally accept their mother’s death and move on. Still, they are glad that Lieutenant Freida adopts them and cares for them until their father reunites with them. “Alright, mom. Thank you.” They thank the Lieutenant in unison. Glad that her adopted son and daughter finally understood the need to move on, a smile appears on Lieutenant Freida’s face. “Good. Time to leave now.” Freida opens the door and they depart from their home.

Above Grand Isle Safe Zone, Grand Isle, Vermont, USA, 7 November 2020, 0830 hrs

At the same time, above the safe zone in the air...

A Predator military drone with Young Templars’ military markings on it is flying above undetected. The military drone would circle around the safe zone as its camera spies on the buildings and its inhabitants.

Unknown Room, Clinton County Government Centre, Plattsburgh, New York, USA, 7 November 2020, 0832 hrs

A Young Templar stares at the computer screen while controlling the military drone with a joystick. As he looks at the computer screen, he sees survivors and soldiers moving around in the safe zone. However, something on the computer screen caught his eye, and he quickly zoomed in to see what it was. Sure enough, he spots several civilian delivery trucks that contain the logo of LifeCure Global Pharmaceuticals. Also, he spotted several children and teenagers playing at a nearby playground as well.

After seeing the logo and the young ones, the Young Templar immediately alerts his superior, Captain Taylor Oak, about his findings. “Madam, I spotted several LifeCure Global Pharmaceuticals delivery trucks inside the Grand Isle Safe Zone. Also, there were children and teenagers playing on the nearby playground,” the Young Templar reports to her. Captain Oak comes to see the computer screen, and her eyes are wide open upon seeing the delivery trucks and the young ones playing nearby.

“Good job, 2nd-Lieutenant. I want you to capture a screenshot of the trucks and the nearby playground as well, and have it printed out immediately.” Taylor orders the 2nd-Lieutenant Young Templar to print them out for her immediately.

“On it, madam,” the 2nd-Lieutenant replies in acknowledgement while saving the screenshots of the delivery truck and the nearby playground before printing them out. Once printed out of a nearby printer, Captain Oak puts the screenshots in an envelope with classified, labeled on it. Then she leaves the room as she heads to the command center in the building’s basement to report to the higher ups.

Command Center (Basement), Clinton County Government Centre, Plattsburgh, New York, USA, 7 November 2020, 0836 hrs

After undergoing a security check by members of Young Templars’ military police, Captain Oak enters the command center. She intends to report to Colonel Arlo Ross and Major Daxton Reid about the screenshot pictures.

“Sir, Captain Taylor Oak of the 5th Recon Company reporting in.” Taylor salutes at the two high-ranking Young Templars. “At ease, Captain.” Daxton acknowledges and informs her to be at ease. “Do you have anything to report?”

“Yes sir, I got something to report about our findings after surveilling the Grand Isle Safe Zone.” Taylor informs Daxton as she opens the envelope to take out the screenshots. “Our Predator drone spots several LifeCure Global Pharmaceutical delivery trucks located inside the safe zone. Also, there were several children and teenagers living inside the safe zone as well.” .

“Thank you for the report, Captain Oak. Let me see the pictures the drone had captured.” Daxton requests. Captain Oak nods and she passes the screenshots to Major Reid for him to see. Upon seeing the screenshots, he quickly informs Colonel Ross about the pictures and requests for his next course of action.

“Thank you for the details, Major Reid.” Arlo thanks the two Young Templars for reporting to him. “Operation SkyEye is complete and we shall move on to Operation NightStorm. NightStorm will begin tonight at 0100 hours and please inform all our combat Templars of the 14th North American Regiment to attend one last briefing at 1400 hours before moving out at 2300 hours. Also, tell Ravens Section 10 to be in standby mode for the upcoming military operation.” .

Colonel Ross takes a deep breath before giving out an order that he dislikes the most. “Lieutenant-Colonel Samora, please send a message to the 2nd Grim Reapers Operations Wing requesting AC-130 air support for Operation NightStorm. Also, Major Beech. I want you to bring out some Grudgies that we currently have and use it to storm the safe zone during the start of the operation.” Arlo instructs both Lieutenant-Colonel Morisa Samora and Major Riley Beech respectively, before looking at the red-haired captain. “One more thing, Captain Oak. I want your reconnaissance team to continue using the Predator drone to spy and monitor the safe zone during the entire upcoming operation. So that you and your team can provide information on the enemy’s movements to us.” .

“Roger that, sir. My team will do our best.” Captain Oak assures. “Good. Then we are all set for tonight’s military operation. If not, all of you are free to go to make preparations.” Arlo dismisses his staff officers as he ends the discussion. All the Young Templar officers salute at Colonel Ross before heading off to prepare for the upcoming Operation NightStorm.

To be continued...

End of Chapter 1.1

Note: All the characters, places and storylines of the Hellwave story are owned by Jeremy Mountbatten. All rights reserved by the author. Feel free to give some feedback and don't forget to like and subscribe. If you want to support me, you can tip me on Ko-Fi (link provided below).

Support me on Ko-Fi --> https://ko-fi.com/jeremymountbatten

Hellwave's Discord Server --> https://discord.gg/PNmBvYTkvE