Last Hope (36 page)

Mandisa was wounded for five days while
Martine was wounded for two and he also became a Colonel. However
that did not stop the both of them as they gather around Sandra’s
funeral. Commander made a speech for Sandra and read it on her
behalf. “Today, we gather here in the remembrance our our follow
comrade. Sandra Jones. She was more than a great soldier, or a
great leader. She was family, to all of us. There was something
about Sandra that made you fall in love with her as if she was part
of your family. Sometimes she will be your mom, other time she will
be your older sister, one thing for sure, Sandra will always be
there. I think I have said enough. There is one person who knew
Sandra Jones better than anyone. Mandisa, please take your
stand.”

Mandisa slowly walk to the podem. When
she got there she made a long pause before saying another word.
“Sandra was more than a friend. She was more than my best friend.
She was my soul sister. Sandra and I bounded so well over these
months that even if you separate us, we would still be together,
and I love her very much. I met Sandra Jones when this place was
still just starting out. She was trying to take my man away from
me, Igor. In the beginning, the two of us were rivals. It was not
until I lost Igor where Sandra and I bounded. That was all the way
back in mission seven. This was mission thirty nine. We have been
together for thirty two mission. Over the time we bounded. Not only
did Sandra and I bound in that mission but that was the same
mission where Sara was rescue. The two of us adopted the little
girl and the three of us grew up as a family. Even after death I
can still feel Sandra by my side. only her physical body is gone,
but as long as I still remember her. Her spirit will last forever.
I believe there is another person with more to say.” Mandisa step
back to let Sara take the stand.

Sara took the stand. She was trying
hard not to cry but the tears were already coming out of her face.
“Sandy, was not just a mentor, or a friend, she was the mother that
I never had. I had a family, but they all died the days that the
Sons attack my hometown. Ever since I arrived here. Everyone has
been so kind to me I was grateful for everything. In fact, it was
Sandra who show me Anna. I know what Mandy is feeling right now
because the thought of losing Anny is too much for me to handle.
There are friends, there are best friends, and then there is that
level of friendship that extends beyond that. It’s the level where
no matter what happens. The two of you will never separate. This
kind of love is rare, but it’s there. It’s real. You only die twice
in your life. The first one is when you physically die, the second
one is when the last person had said your name for the last time.
Sandra taught me many things and I will never forget them. I love
you Sandy, very much. I miss you, we all miss you, but I know that
in heaven you are already making friends and you are going to be a
great leader for heaven's army. So even after death, she will be
watching over us. Don’t cry over her death, celebrate. I know that
is what she would have wanted. Sandra, we love you, and we miss
you.”

Mission 41 The Fallen of a
Leader

It has been days, weeks since the last
mission. Adam was able to come back from the testing and pass while
Zoe and Maziah could not pass. Thomas and his friend recruited
Andrea, Jay and Gary for testing. Another ten days went by and they
came back. This time no one was able to pass the test. It was late
one night, when Thomas was having a drink the Commander as he was
talking to Commander about what happen with Andrea, Jay and Gary.
“I don’t know what went wrong this time Commander. No one pass.
None of the chips that we stuck inside those stupid brain of theirs
work.”

Commander drank some wine and let out a
small sigh. “Have you thought about letting a little girl help you
out?”

“
Anna? Commander she is just
a kid. No matter how smart she thinks she is she is not smart
enough to fully comprehend the human brain and the technology that
we are using.”

“
It wouldn't hurt.”
Commander said bluntly and in a soft voice but Thomas was still
able to hear what Commander said.

Commanders phone vibrated on the table.
Commander pick it up but just ignore the text message. “Want to
know what else won't hurt Commander? You answering your phone for a
change.”

Commander just shrug it off. “Nothing
important. I don’t think that the Sons are going to win this war if
I ignore a few missions.”

“
They are not going to win
this war in a few mission but here is what is going to happen
Commander. They are going to realise that you have stop attacking
them and they are going to become much more stronger than they
already are.” Commander just shrug it off and continue to drink his
wine. “Commander, you lost one soldier!” Thomas said upset. “I know
you also lost Soto as well and we are going to miss him but you
have to move on. Sandra was a great soldier and a great leader but
she died Commander. You have to except that and move
on.”

“
There has not been a
mission in which I thought that it was worth my soldiers time
Thomas.”

Thomas was astonish at Commanders
words. “Commander, you skip two missions! What do you mean that you
did not thought that it was worth your time! People died out there
and the only thing you are doing is just giving the sons a smug!
Want to know what I did? I sent in a special mission. I read about
the team that Sara and Anna pick out. So I sent them on a mission
along with Sara’s tank and with Boris because I had one extra want
to know what happen?” Commander tilted his head as Thomas told
Commander what happen. “Everyone died except for two mission. Boris
died still believing in this organization Commander. To be honest,
I like Boris! I am sorry that he died, but the Sons are not backing
down anymore. We can no longer afford new soldiers. What mission
are you waiting for Commander?”

Commander let out a long pause, even he
did not know what kind of mission that he was looking for. “An
opportunity.”

Thomas got up from his chair.
“Commander, if you can’t find an opportunity, then you need to make
one.”

The following day Commander came into
the War Room with really bad news. They lost a satellite and Canada
is in full panic. Another country drop out of the organization as
well. “How come no one inform me of this?” Commander ask in
anger.

Anna came up next to Commander. “We
tried, for many days we try to contact you but you never answer
your phone. So we put you discharge you Commander.”

“
What?” Commander ask in
shock, who discharge me?”

Sara came walking up to Commander with
a suit on and a clipboard. “I did. Under Article 138 of the United
States military. Under Article 138 of the Uniform Code of Military
Justice, any member of the armed forces who believes himself or
herself wronged by his or her commanding officer may request
redress. A discretionary act or omission by a commanding officer,
under color of Federal military authority, that adversely affects
the complainant personally and that is. In violation of law or
regulation. Beyond the legitimate authority of that commanding
officer. Arbitrary, capricious, or an abuse of discretion,
Materially unfair.”

“
You can’t redress me, I did
nothing wrong! I did none of those things!”

“
You were failing to become
a Commander, Commander. You let a satellite become destroy. We lost
another country because of that. Canada is in full panic once more.
I lost Boris out on a mission that you did not even conduct but
Thomas did and I don’t even like the guy!”

“
You can’t redress me
because you are not even in the military.” Commander told Sara in a
stern tone.

Sara pull out her dog tags that was
saved from Igor. “I may not be a soldier, but I am a citizen that
the government owns. I may not understood everything before I got
here, you help me with that Commander. You, Mandisa, and Sandra all
show me the military life and I quickly adapt. The council did not
even know who I was, I just sent them my letter and in a few days,
you were no longer in command Commander.”

“
So who is in charge now?”
Commander look at his assistance but his assistance only shook her
head.

“
I am.” Sara says with a
smile. “Technology, your assistant will be the one in charge,
however, she does not want to be, so she gave the role to
me.”

“
This is not chess Sara.
This is real life. You send your men out there, they will die under
your orders.”

“
I’m fully aware of that,
however I also know that I can’t stop being Commander. The moment I
start doing what you have been doing for weeks now, the sons had
won. I am not going to let that happen. I am not going to let
Sandra’s death, or any of their deaths die in vain Commander. If
you excuse me, I must get back to work. Anna, please escort our ex
commander out of my room.”

“
I’m sorry Commander, but
will you please leave.” Anna told him as she grab his arm and
lightly drag him out of Sara’s room.

Sara was talking with the other people
around the place to see what was going on. “How many days is it
going to take before we get another satellite?”

“
Twenty days
ma’am!”

“
Call me Sara, Sara
Rosemary.” She told her co-worker. “We just hire sixteen new
soldiers. I want six of them to go to canada to keep it in line. We
can not lose another country.”

“
Which soldiers do you want
Sara?”

“
I want at least one of each
class, then pick the rest. I have no idea what these new soldiers
can do. They will be on patrol.”

“
Should we send at least one
veteran with them for protection?”

“
No. Thomas thought about
the same thing, instead, Boris died trying to save them all. I want
them to learn the battle front hand and support one another and not
use a veteran. Our vetrans are becoming less and less. I need them
for bigger missions.”

“
What if the whole squad
dies?”

“
That is a risk that we are
going to have to take. Even if we send a team full of veterans.
There is always a chance that they could all die.”

“
Sara, an airplane has been
spotted by one of our satellites, orders?”

Mandisa was talking with Commander as
he explain the situation. “Sara kick you out of command? Can she
even do that?”

“
Under Article 138
accordingly she can.” Commander says with a sigh.

“
I am.” Mandisa stop what
she was saying then let out a small sigh. “I’m wrong. I am not
surprised anymore. Sara is a very smart girl Commander, you help
raise her you know.”

“
I’m aware of that Mandisa.”
Commander said with a sigh.

“
So who is in charge now?
That assistant of yours?”

Commander shook his head. “Nope. Sara
is.”

“
Sara is?” Mandisa said in
shock. She thought about it for a while then let out a small
chuckle. “Commander Sara Rosemary. Has a nice ring to it, don’t you
think Commander?”

Commander let out a small chuckle. “It
does, however, don’t call me Commander anymore. I think what Sara
did was right. I was losing myself Mandisa. I did so many things
that I am not proud of. If Sara did not redress me, perhaps I would
had sunk this organization.”

Mandisa's pager went off. “I guess Sara
want’s me to get ready for a mission.” Mandisa said as she got up.
“No matter what happens Commander. You will still be my Commander.”
She says with a smile. “You were there from the beginning. You had
a strong start, but you don’t have to have a weak finish. You did
the best that you could, and that is all that matters.”

Once on the plane. The pilot told the
team that there was a message coming from the Commander. “Attention
team Sierra do you read me?” Sara’s voice came through the
intercom.

“
Sara?” Martine said in
question.

“
It appears to us that the
Sons have been trying a new tactic. We are calling this Bait. They
will have a ship waiting for us, then we go in after them upon
which they ambush us. That is not going to happen this time. This
time we will be getting the uphand on them. Expect heavy resistance
and be on your toes. Good luck out there team, come home
safe.”

“
Uh, what just happen?”
Martine ask confuse.

“
Oh yea.” Mandisa said with
a fake laughter. “Sara is our new Commander now. She redress our
old one.”

Out of everyone on there. Katrina,
Mandisa, Martine, Andrea, Chang, and Maizah. Martine was the only
one that seem to be in shock. “How is that possible?” He ask in
question.

Maizah gave Martine a pat on his back.
“I always thought she would had been a better leader
anyway.”

As the plane landed and everyone was
getting out Chang said this to Martine. “You seen how easily she
beats you in video games right? I think she may be a better leader
than you Martine.” He said with laughter.

As the team got off the airplane A
brute and a heavy appear, everyone pick their targets, no one died,
then six more heavies appear and another brute. “Sara was not
kidding, they were waiting for us!” Martine said in
surprise.