A LOOP IN TIME

"The world? One in chaos, and its people apathetic.

And that's the very reason I am here: to reverse the wrongs, to restore it to its proper order.

I barely know much about the military or their modus operandi, but I know a tale that begins with a delicate mission by an opulent world power nation trying to eradicate terrorists, not hunger, from a small area zoned 'Third world country.'

Billy, a newbie, was to have his very first field experience, and it was a mix of unexplainable emotions for him. They had arrived on stealth mode a couple of days and even camped in hide sites on an isolated area of one of the country's small towns, "Ashfur," where the mission was meant to be carried out. They awaited clear orders from above before taking any point of action. It wasn't long before commands were sent for the military task force there in Ashfur, which was received, and the Message ended exactly at 10:45 a.m.

"You have one to two hours at maximum to clear off every human living in area terminal six zero East and west wing of the town Ashfur.

There are no aerial supports coming through, so do this clinically and as quickly as possible."

These were the exact orders given through the broadcast, and immediately every soldier rushed all around in order to arrange themselves. When they were all done, they stood in row salute positions. The head of missions gave a little more brief on how delicate a mission it is, delegated two soldiers to the control units, and a few others to protect them and the hide site camps.

Billy gave a sigh of relief as he had always wanted the experience of field fighting and not just the "behind the screen" work he was accustomed to. When little thoughts of excitement crossed his mind, he heard his name being shouted out loud by the mission's head and superintendent.

"BILLY! You're on with the East wing team. The enemy size is smaller on the east wing according to the stats, so the threats are lower, and with this, you can prove yourself,"

With him was Sergeant Nelson, a highly skilled personnel with much experience in such operations, and three other first-timers.

Their team had the fewest numbers to go through the east wing.. Things were all set for them, and they were headed to the allocated zone with their local means of communication, the walkie-talkie, a physical map, and compass for directions. At the front was Sergeant Nelson, with Billy following behind, giving a gap to the other three foot soldiers on their way. They had just arrived at the point of the mission, the denoted East wing of the map, and Nelson handed over the binoculars to Billy. He saw movements from below a rocky hill with an orange-sanded terrain. There, they spotted a small camp of civilians who looked unarmed and harmless. Billy dropped the binoculars, puzzled, and said,

"I don't get it."

Nelson asked,

"What's the problem, kid?"

He then takes back the binoculars. Billy continued,

"I think there's a mix-up somewhere.

These people do not appear to me as terrorists and too sufferable for every one of them to be wiped out unjustly"

While squinting his eyes through the binoculars, Nelson replied,

"Looks can be deceiving and most times Untruthful."

Billy reached out to his walkie-talkie to report his observation of the location.

"I'm contacting the base"

as he reaches out to drop his observation of the location. Then he receives a message from the control room unit.

"At this moment, we can't do anything with such information as we're unable to reach the General at the base."

Billy replies,

"What could possibly be wrong, sir? You can make contact with them using the satellite communication device. Please, we're running out of time."

He receives another message from the control room unit,

"We just had a solar storm that started at 11:00 am, and the CME has affected satellite-based communications. Stick with the mission's previous command. Following an order from above shouldn't be so hard, Corporal Billy."

It was another sigh of panic for Billy as he considered his moral obligations in this kind of action. Nelson, who was slowly becoming impatient with Billy's actions, picked a brown cigar from his pocket, placed it in his own mouth, and prepared to take a few puffs. He then told Billy, "Causing harm to a few humans to save the rest of the world is still a win, kid. Wanna know why we fight wars? Wars are fought for the greater good of peace; that's just the human condition. Kid, don't mess up your only shot to be something in the force, because this is our life, and we live by orders!" Then he calls out the other three soldiers, who were on a slow-paced race to reach where they both were. Nelson places his hand on the shoulder of Billy, facing the other three Sergeants as he grins with the lighted cigar. "Let's do this!"