The almost failed Mission

Steven Sanders hastened out of his tent after his call to Rhea to halt Adrian from leaving camp.

Despite the dishonorable character Adrian displayed by refuting the orders of Steven as the commander leading their mission, Steven couldn't stand to see Adrian quitting midway into their mission.

Especially when they were halfway to completing all the years he had invested to track down this notorious syndicate through this intel he just decoded.

Moreover, he couldn't stand a shorthanded team and risk failure.

Adrian was one of the frontline soldiers who had an impressive performance in the entire duration he has been in the military.

His tactical weaponry and combat skills were top-notch.

What made his background stand out was his unique talent as a formal sniper who never missed a target.

Therefore, Steven couldn't afford to lose one of his best soldiers when they were this close to the finish line, after all the years of the wild goose chase towards catching these criminals.

Moreover, he could sense Adrian's remorse and regret the moment the news about his departure from camp was reported to him.

Even though he would have to face disciplinary measures for this unethical behavior of attempting to leave a mission unfinished.

Nevertheless, Steven knew the reason behind Adrian's hidden dislike and disloyalty was mainly due to Commander Smith's manipulations. Therefore he was thankful for this golden opportunity to convince a competent soldier like Adrian, to his side.

To change his mindset and direct Adrian's loyalty to himself by changing the course of his path away from commander Smith's influence and talking him out of living.

Adrian was a capable soldier whose help he needed amongst others to successfully bring this mission to a fruitful end.

"Sergeant, send a warning across, that if Lieutenant Adrian successfully leaves this camp and is not tracked down or found within the next five minutes, I will discipline every soldier with a hundred push-ups!" Steven warned to the horror of the Sergeant who received this disturbing news.

The Sergeant hurriedly informed all his colleagues, and in less than two minutes Adrian was tracked down and brought back to Camp.

Every soldier knew what it meant to be punished with a hundred push-ups.

It's not the number that scared them, it's the miserable aspects where they will have to do it without a single pause.

The moment there was a pause, the countdown will have to start from one.

It's a never-ending merciless type of punishment every soldier do their best to avoid no matter what.

Even though they wouldn't say the same to Adrian since he had already fallen prey to the punishment by leaving camp in the first place.

Steven entered the disciplinary site where Adrian was brought after his capture.

Adrian sat there like a downtrodden lost puppy with no home to return to whatsoever.

The expense of guilt after an action that weighs a person's spirit was what Adrian was going through right now.

Steven approached him with silent steps but Adrian didn't lift his head from its sunken state.

The ultimate shame of a soldier reprimanding himself for his recent inexcusable actions.

"Lieutenant!" Steven loudly called him to attention with a firm voice.

Well, it was more like awakening Adrian from his distressed state with a harshness that speaks volumes of a "Get back to your senses!" tone.

This finally lifted Adrian's head to meet the concerned face of Steven who still frame his concern with toughness.

"My order was to return to your post, why did you rebuke my orders a second time again!? I need an answer Lieutenant!" Steven's command voice always gets the reaction he wants out of his team the moment he used this tone.

"I am sorry sir, I didn't see myself worthy of being a part of this team or this mission. I came with a different intent and ended up foiling it. An action for which I regret and feel remorseful. Permit me to leave, commander...please!" Adrian finally found his tongue to speak.

He was now filled with anguish and self-blame towards himself.

"I repeat, I thought I ordered you to return to your post. Did you rebuke my order this time by assuming I am not capable of knowing who is worthy of this mission? Did you see me as an incapable leader in that aspect?" Steven emphasized, still in his firm voice to keep Adrian in check.

"No sir, I dare not assume or think that. I.." Adrian stammered before he was interrupted.

"But your actions seem to mean the opposite of what you just said. To my understanding, that is what you mean by rebuking the order I gave clearly. The first was a mistake, that I admit, but this time is unforgivable. We have a mission in an hour, go back and get yourself together then join us in the meeting room. Decide whether you would want to correct your formal mistake by staying loyal to our mission or quitting the IBI altogether. You may leave now..."Steven remained firm and unrelenting.

As Adrian stood up with a newfound spirit and determination at his captain's words, Steven felt relieved. Since he was worried about whether he was too hard on the poor soldier. But from Adrian's reaction the way he tackled the situation the best. It produced a positive unexpected response immediately.

However, Steven didn't allow his relief to overtake his fierce approach as he added before Adrian could move to exit the room.

"This is now my third and last order, I hope you wouldn't throw my chivalry back at my face. I know I don't have to spell it clearly for you. In any case, I would be happy to fight alongside you, side by side, to complete this mission we started together. I hope you think so too." This time around, the concern was evident in Steven's tone as Adrian turned guiltily to look at him.

"Captain, Why don't you hate me, or punish me for what I did. Especially for the words I unethically spat out in contempt before you. Why are you making me more guilty than I already am." Adrian was close to tears.

"Hold it right there, Boy! who said I won't punish you? That will come later. For now, we have a mission to prepare for... Meanwhile, see you in the meeting room. I take back my words about giving you an option. This is now an order. I will see you in the meeting room in the next five minutes...You are dismissed!" Steven left Adrian and moved towards the meeting room to begin the preparation for their attack.

While Adrian was left feeling more ashamed and the tears that threatened his eyes all along slide down his left cheek...

More than Steven, Adrian desperately wanted to see this mission to its end. He never quits midway into a mission before.

Leaving midway always made him feel like accepting defeat, which normally felt like a bullet pierced into his heart.

Even though this time around, after his outrageous outburst, Adrian realized leaving was the only option left to follow, since he wouldn't want to work with somebody he does not trust if he were in the captain's shoes.

After beating himself up for his disgraceful actions, Adrian stood up with newfound hope and loyalty toward his commander Steven, intending to repay his debts, as well as this second chance Steven had offered, and make it worthwhile.

From today, he promised to give his utmost loyalty to make sure they complete this mission to success.

A few minutes later, Captain Steven and his team, along with a determined Adrian set out of camp to the destination of 5he ongoing negotiations, and to track down their targets who has eluded them for far too long.

At the site where the team took their position awaiting their captain's signal to proceed, suddenly push forward into action mode the second they saw their captain's signal, and infiltrated the building.

"Lieutenant Adrian block the exit while I fill in the secret escape route." Steven gave the order to Adrian before he moved to secure the route the culprits might use to escape.

They were now trapped!

A few moments later, gunshots were heard, coupled with hasty vibrant footsteps of soldiers as they moved to track the escapees from the scene.

The fugitives' security were engaged in shootouts with the military and half of them were shot down as the chase continued.

The culprits went in the direction of the stairs and began ascending in a hurry while their security engaged in a shootout to cover them for their escape.

"Don't lose any of them even if you have to shoot to stall their movements...Move! move! move!" The second group Steven formed and placed at various routes accompanied by their leader's voice was heard as the chase intensified.

Soon, the sound of a helicopter was heard hovering above the building which hastened the movement of the soldiers since they now realized the culprits' route of escape was with the helicopter, which was why they kept ascending the stairs to the rooftop.

The IBI soldiers who got to the rooftop first were met with intense firing from three of the gunmen inside the helicopter, all in their aim to cover for the fugitives as they land to pick them up.

Two soldiers were gunned down in the process and fell to their deaths after shooting two of the gunmen.

Even though the IBI shot one of the three escapees in the leg, they still successfully boarded the helicopter and escaped.

Meanwhile, back at the secret route of escape, was a lady wearing a black overall leather suit with a ninja mask covering her eyes.

She slided to move towards the escape passage when Steven came out of his hiding spot to hold a gun to her head.

"Freeze or I shoot!" Slowly the lady turned with a smirk plastered on her lips which were also painted black.

And her long dark hair was in a long braid in a ponytail hanging behind her.

She raised her hand in surrender as her eyes set on the soldier holding her captive with his gun.

"Oh, Steven! It's you again! Aren't you tried with all the cat and mouse chase?" The lady's voice was as familiar as the voices in Steven's nightmare for the past ten years of hunting her.

"Clara Johnson! or should I say, Clara Kurt! It's over! Don't even think I would allow you escape this time around?" Steven began to step closer to approach her while still holding a gun to her.

"Of course, I know you won't! So, did you miss me all these years? As a matter of fact, this is the first time we finally meet face to face after your successful escape from my hands ten years ago with Rachel right? Anyway, how is she faring..." Clara stood confidently despite the gun pointed at her head.

"Don't you dare utter her name with your foul tongue... It's over now Clara or Deashot! I know you like that name a lot" Steven replied maliciously.

"Says who? you? Did I tell you I was giving you an option? Anyway..what about that girl. What is her name again...Kristine

"Don't you dare, Clara. Don't even think about it or I am afraid I might pull the trigger to see your death." Steven shifted to attention when Clara began to close the distance between them.

"If not for the law binding me with this uniform, I would have shot you without hesitation. So it's better you surrender yourself! or run, so I could have the pleasure of shooting you right this instant and end your history for good!." Steven's fierce tone could make one crumble from lost hope but not Clara.

"Oh, Steven! Where was all the love you felt for me in the past? Did Rachel make you forget me?" Clara said seductively, sending tempting glances Steven's way.

But Steven looked on with disgust, to Clara's disappointment.

"Anyways, enough with the cock and bull shit...I am going to get out of here this instant and you wouldn't know what hit you." Clara changed her seductive tactic to threat.

"Believe me, all the years you thought you were in hiding away from me, I just laughed! Did you really think I would allow you and Rachel to go away with my treasure? My only way to a fortune? Both of you are still alive today because of that girl. There is a purpose I let you all go after running away with her, and I have been keeping track of you ever since. However, It's still not time, and that's why you are still enjoying your peaceful family moments till now. But I assure you, it won't last, be prepared. Everything is finally beginning to fall into place and it won't be long." The moment these words were out of Clara's mouth, Steven suddenly heard a loud knockout sound, and that was the brief distraction Clara took to escape from him as smoke filled the entire area and kept her away from sight.

It was as if she set the trap knowing full well that she would be stopped. It's like she even knew the exact time of the knockout, then puff!! She's gone!

Steven growled angrily when the smoke finally died down to reveal an empty spot where Clara stood before. He hissed with regrets and pain for allowing Clara to escape from his clutches once again.

To add to Steven's frustrations, Adrain appeared at that moment to report about the rest of the culprits' successful escape with the helicopter, and Steven threw a fit of anger and rage which shocked Adrian since he had never seen his captain this angry and almost at the edge of breaking down.

"Another failed mission!" Steven uttered to himself but audible enough for Adrian to hear it.

"No captain! It was almost a success but not failed!." Adrian reported.

"What do you mean?" Steven was up to attention with newfound hope.

"I found out what they were doing here, everything that has to do with the emergency meeting they held. They were planning to divert the shipment to a different course. However, my opinion is that, since they all came personally to embark on this, it could only mean that what is on that ship is far beyond our comprehension. Much much more valuable than their life, and that's why they risked it.

The shipment seems to be the greatest they have ever undertaken. Hence, we still have a chance to track down the ship, and that will serve as evidence to catch them all, since they weren't able to succeed in the diversion due to our intrusion." The more Adrian reported, the more Steven's interest multiplied in everything he just said.

"The control room they occupied will help us track down the shipment now. They left many traces behind for our successful mission going forward, sir." Steven immediately stood up upon hearing this.

"Follow me!" And he didn't need to say it twice for Adrian to run behind him as they moved toward the control room.

It seemed his hunch was correct this time too, about involving Adrian in the mission, they now have a traceable route to hunt them down.

Steven ordered the rest of the soldiers into the control room to gather every piece of evidence they could get their hands on before they head to their base for further investigation.

And from the look on Steven and Adrian's faces, everything they gathered was enough to plan another successful mission in the future without any risk of failure.