Chapter One

Catholic Cathedral, Washington DC

General Kane walked into the large auditorium, the large door gave a crackly sound that echoed in the auditorium of the empty church hall, there was a man seated on one of the pew at the middle of the church facing the altar, he sat with his gaze on the altar and not turning to look at who came in, General Kane walked up to him

"Colonel West" General said, West looked at him then smiled as he got up and they shared a hug

"So good to see you again General" West said

"You too" General Kane said patting West on the upper arm

"Please join me" West said and they sat down.

West was a very handsome white man with brown hair, a retired Colonel who was known for winning with no losses, a 35 years old Colonel popularly known as The Salvation or Victory Soldier because he brings victory along with him anywhere he went, he led six tours into deadly zones in the middle east and never lost a man, he is popular for taking very few soldiers to achieve very big results and his tactics for victory is a mystery to the military, he made two tours to Africa in Somalia and South Sudan, he remained the fastest rising military officer in rank, been shot six times and is always known for his love for Desert eagle handgun. Of recent West had been down mentally because of a failed investment and now he was about to lose his house and end up in the streets, every other business he had been trying out has been a total flop, now he began to feel like a complete failure, what broke him even more was that, having achieved a lot for his country but finds it difficult to achieve for himself, his pension as a colonel cannot save him from this massive debt and collapse and he swore to never take a loan from any bank because he never forgets what bank loan did to his late father; it was a total disaster for his father forcing his mother to abandon them and flee with a boyfriend; it was something West will never forget or forgive his mother for.

"How did you find me?" West asked General

"Come on West, I know where you go every Friday by this time" General said, West smiled

"How have you been?" General Kane asked

"Never been better" West replied calmly and unfazed then he added

"By the way I'm not interested" West said without looking at General Kane

"I know… that's why I came with my gun" General Kane joked and West laughed then looked at General then looked away to the cross on the altar

"This is the last West I promise" General said

"Exactly what you said the last time" West reminded him

"Yeah I know but… West this is different" General said, West looked at him then looked away

"Send Colonel Crane" West said

"Oh come on West… Krane is a blood thirsty demon, he'd probably kill everybody in Nigeria to get the Americans out" General said and West chuckled

"If I want to shed blood then I will go for Krane… but this is more than blood West, there is more to this than what we see and I know of only one person to call… you… if there was a way I could leave you out of this I would but right now Son, you are the Calvary" General said, West was silent

"The president has personally requested for you on this and he is ready to give you and the boys 10 million dollars if you pull this one" General said

"I don't care about money" West said

"I know, I know… but the cash is still yours to keep" General said, he was happy West was coming in fine

"I guess this is about Nigeria" West said

"Mysterious earthquake, mysterious disappearance, mysterious land, nothing goes in and comes out… it's just freaking crazy West" General said

"I'll get my boys ready"

"Thank you West… make it quick"

"24 hours is all I need" West said

"Then you got it" General patted his back then got up, West got up with him, they shake hands and General Kane left…

Next Day

Club Bar

West walked into a bar, it was slightly warm in there, he looked around, it looked quite boring in there and people didn't seem interested in who was coming in or going out, a group of men by the corner played a snooker game quietly, few persons seated talking quietly—to West it looked like a bar for depressed people; up ahead in the bar was a man seated facing the bartender, that was who West had come for, West walked towards him

"Hello Michael" West said then signaled the bartender for a shot

"Colonel?" Michael looked surprised to see him; Michael Cooper was a Sergeant, very reserved but agile and tough in the field of action, has been on two tours, a smart soldier who had survived dangerous situations but has been unable to get over the sudden breakup with his girlfriend and has refused to forgive himself for quarreling with her that day because he said some hurtful words to her.

"How are you doing Michael?" he asked

"What are you doing here?" Michael asked; the bartender poured West a shot

"Looking for you… you look like shit" West said then drank his shot

"I know Colonel" Michael said then drank his glass empty then signaled the bartender for another

"I want you to join my Salvation Army" West said, Michael looked at him

"Are you for real?" he asked with disbelief

"Julius died of cancer some months back… you are a good replacement" West said

"I have always wanted to be on that team but… I always felt I wasn't good enough" Michael said

"No one is ever good enough Mike" West said

"See you at base 6 hundred tomorrow" West said then paid for his drink and Michael's then walked away

"Thank you sir" Michael said…

West walked up the porch to the front door then pushed the door bell, a pretty African American lady opened the door

"West" she said with a smile, clearly happy to see him

"Hello Bonnie" he smiled, she always looked so beautiful every time he set eyes on her, she hugged him and kissed his cheek

"Come on inside" she said and they walked in; Bonnie had always been on West's team over the years and there had always been an attraction growing between them but both had stayed as best friends even though the other was aware of the feelings of the other, apart from that, Bonnie was a hell of a tough soldier on the field of operation, men have easily judged her strength from her beauty believing she was a pretty soldier and nothing more but she was much more; she had been with West on 5 of his tours

"I can easily say that you abandoned me West" Bonnie said

"Bonnie you left for Syria" West said

"Because you went pitch black on me" she said immediately as she sat down

"I'm sorry Bonnie… just needed to sort things out" he said

"What things? What are you hiding from me?" Bonnie said, West was silent

"We can go on a date and talk when we get back" West said as he sat down

"Get back from where?" she asked

"Nigeria" he said, she sat down

"Never been to Nigeria" she said

"Me too" he said

"I heard what happened there" she said

"Yeah… General Kane called me in and you know I can't move without you on my team" he said

"And you know I am always ready to fight beside you" she said with a smile

"Tomorrow 6 hundred at base" he said and stood up to walk away

"West?" she called and he turned

"Is everything okay?" she asked; she always could sense when something wasn't right with West

"Sure" he said then left.

West didn't want to tell Bonnie about his failed investment and losing the house, he knew she would ask him to move in with her and will not stop until she helped him get back on his feet, West didn't want to put her through all that because he had always known Bonnie to be a one who would not stop sacrificing for him if she knew his state and he surely would feel guilty if he allowed her share that pain with him… he loved her so much and knew she loved him so much, because she loved him so much was the reason he had refused to let her know.

Somewhere around town…

Boxing Training Room

Colonel West entered the boxing room, he walked close to the ring where two guys were boxing; boxers littered the room undergoing various exercises. West watched two men box, he knew one of them and that was Travis, both fighters were black and he watched as Travis knocked down the other

"When are you going to accept my challenge and get knocked out" West said, Travis looked back and smiled, came out the ring

"Colonel"

"Travis" they hugged

"I know you are scared of getting knocked out" West said and he laughed

"Come on Colonel, you ain't signing up for this" Travis said

"Try me" he said

"Colonel, always spoiling for a fight" Travis said

"And you are always knocking out amateur boxers" West said and he laughed as he grabbed a water bottle

"Where have you been Colonel?" Travis asked

"Well, been out for various reasons… what about you, what's up?" West asked

"Got back from Afghan last week" he said as they walked outside

"I'm afraid I will have to pull you out again" West said

"You know I am with you any day, any time" Travis said

"We got an assignment in Nigeria" West said

"The Boko Haram country?" he asked

"Yeah but we are not going there for the terrorists" West said

"So what's up?"

"I'll brief you tomorrow at base 6 hundred"

"Sure thing Colonel" Travis said

"Where is Lawrence?" West asked

"Motherfucker is probably having a threesome right now" Travis said

"(chuckles) Just bring his ass along with you"

"Alright Colonel" Travis said and West left…