8 Operation Enigma (1)
Day 04 Jan 2044
In an army camp, Africa.
"Lieutenant Kwame Zeechi, please state your reports."
Inside a huge tent, the higher-ups from African Countries were present. Around forty people were seated at a round table to discuss the disaster that befell the continent.
The huge forest!
Out of nowhere huge weird trees occupied more than one third of the African Continent! Countries disappeared into the jungle overnight, thousands of lives were lost without any contact with the outside world! Therefore, the men present, representing more than one African country, were obligated to work together.
All the men looked anxiously at the lieutenant named Kwame Zeechi.
"Yes, sir!"
Black hair shaved according to army rules and a thin, masculine face. Bright, watchful eyes and a scar that ran just below his right eyebrow and ended in his left nostril left a strong first impression. Kwame was standing upright looking at his superiors.
"Unfortunately, I don't have good news, sir! The trees cannot be cut down, we tried everything but no firearm was able to leave a scratch on it, not even heavy artillery was effective!"
The generals held their breath, tense. It was the first time they had dealt with such a strange situation. Indeed, it would be ridiculous to think that anyone in the world was prepared for this! Unfortunately, now there was only one option left for them: To search for the lost cities, they would have to send more and more soldiers into the forest.
"Besides, all the men we sent in never returned." Kwame knew what the generals were thinking and sighed. "We lost connection with them the moment they entered the forest! The mission was only supposed to last half a day, due to the lack of response we are considering everyone dead!"
The room exploded.
The generals became frantic and the room became a whirlwind of incredulous exclamations and conversations. They sent over a thousand soldiers, all heavily armed and with vehicles but they were all annihilated!?
Whatever was in there, it must be terrifying! Who could claim to know what it was about!? Maybe it wasn't something even from Earth!
"Silence! Everybody calm down!" said one cold-blooded general.
When the room quieted, he continued.
"Just now, I made an agreement with the Robotics Alliance. They will be sending the best equipment they have, thirteen high-end armor suits newly developed. This should be sufficient to get a squad inside that shitty forest and understand what is happening!"
The room exploded again. That was good news! Robotics Alliance was the largest technology company on the planet, not only specializing in military items but in any technological sector. Their items reached thousands of dollars and it wasn't something they could afford. The generals understood that there must be something fishy about it but decided not to talk about it.
When the room quieted once again he continued.
"Lieutenant Kwame Zeechi, you will be responsible for gathering twelve of the best men and leading them on this mission. You must succeed before the other countries try to get their claws into our continent. Understood!?" The old man said seriously.
"Yes, sir!" Kwame saluted.
"You must go, we will be waiting for your good news tomorrow!"
*********
In another tent, much smaller than the one at the meeting that just happened. Two men were lying on their makeshift mattresses. One of them was cleaning his gun while the other read an old book.
On the cover it was written: Bull Body Cultivation Technique.
"Oh c'mon Zander, why are you still reading this sh*t? I didn't think you'd be so stupid to believe in a magical book or whatever they call it." Joked the man who was cleaning his weapon. He had shaved hair like all soldiers in the army, big lips and a wide nose.His dark skin accentuated his playful white-toothed smile.
"Why do you have to be so cynical, Schalk?" Zander ignored his friend's smile. "I can really feel it: this book is making me stronger!"
"Stronger? Ha! It's making you dumber I'd say."
"Doubt it? I'll show you then!" Zander got up from the bed and prepared to punch the floor. Closing his fist, he focused his energy as taught in the book.
However, before he could do anything the tent door flung open.
"Zander, Schalk. You've been selected for a mission tomorrow." A strong man entered their place without warning and stated his demands. He had a scar that ran just below his right eyebrow and ended in his left nostril. Moreover, he carried two big sacks in his hands.
"Yes, sir!" They quickly saluted the lieutenant in front of them.
"I'm the leader of this new squad and we'll be entering the forest tomorrow morning. From now on, you will only answer to me. Understood!?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Okay. Now, I have some presents for you." Without warning, he threw two large packages at them. "This is the Robotics Alliance's newest armor, they called it Project Alpha."
Took by surprise, they almost fell on their butts by the weight of the two sacks.
"Wear this for the mission tomorrow!" Lieutenant Zeechi turned around and left, leaving both soldiers with their eyes widened.
The two looked at each other with understanding: tomorrow their lives would be at stake. Schalk and Zander had already forgotten about the small confrontation they had seconds ago.
**********
The day after,
The sun was rising in the east, but the sunlight was blocked by the huge trees and thus cast shadows on the army camp. It was a gloomy day and there was an ominous feeling in the air.
All men sent before had never returned. Thousands of them, probably dead.
But there was still hope: On the east side of the camp, a new squad had been formed.
Among the group, Zander and Schalk were equipped with their newest armor suit: Project Alfa.
The armor was made of an unknown mixture of metals, malleable but extremely resistant. The stark black metal covered its entire body and was said to be able to withstand high caliber bullets. Even with all the technology built into the suit - which reminded them of Iron Man - the armor was easy to master, acting more like a shell that didn't restrict their movements.
At the front of the group, Lieutenant Zeechi explained the mission and its main objective.
"This is a reconnaissance mission! We are going to scout the forest and understand what is happening inside." The lieutenant then pointed to his helmet. "This suit is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and cameras that shoot in 8k. Anything different that you see, report it. Even if it's an ant, understood?"
"Yes, sir!" they spoke in unison.
"Now turn on the camera in your helmets. This mission is called Operation Enigma! Remember, we don't know if we'll be alone in the forest! Pair up and stay alert!" The lieutenant looked at his squad one more time before entering the mysterious forest, he knew they were tense. "Not just the future of our family, but perhaps the future of the entire Earth rests on our shoulders. Let's go!
"Yes, sir!"
They've trained hard for a moment where they could put their name in history. And so, they went inside the mysterious forest with nothing but hope in their eyes - And their machine guns of course.
