Chapter 7: Hydra

A being with several heads that is replaced when cut. This is the very thing Hydra represents, a mythical being with many heads in a single body. It is the name of a secret organization that exist for world dominance. They have no loyalty towards Nation-States but only to their interests. To name a few members, one of them is Cobra, an agent of theirs. He is currently working as an undercover for the organization while gathering intelligence from the Terrorist Caliphate whose waging war in the Gulf of Arabia.

Cobra is the butcher he is known by many in the organization and is one of their proficient assassins. In the siege of Dalisi and Infante of the region of Bangsamoro in the Republic of Easting, he and his spies were feeding information to both sides. They did so to manipulate the situation to their favor to profiteer from the conflict.

A man in his thirties arrives in front of the embassy of Qina in the country's capital of Tondo. He is of brown complexion, dyed hair and wearing black suit and tie with black shoes and sharp shades. A connection of his from inside allowed him in despite of his tardiness.

"I apologize for my late arrival, traffic as usual is crazy in this country." The man said to the ambassador.

The ambassador smiled instead and offered him a seat. The man in the suit then takes an envelope full of confidential and sensitive documents gathered by his connections. He presents it to the ambassador before him and said, "Here are the documents that you wished me to find. I hope your higher ups will be pleased and satisfied."

Deming Zhao the ambassador opened the case and was pleased with what he saw. As what the man promised he was able to deliver it including those that he specified. The ambassador then shifts his gaze and then expressed his gratitude.

"You have done a great service to our country. What shall I give to you in return to your services?" He asks the man in front of him.

The man then replied to him and said, "I am someone who does not exist but merely a person who wishes to extend the goodwill of my organization."

"What organization are you talking about?" Deming Zhao asked.

"We do not work or serve loyalty to anyone or nation. By delivering you these information I believe that we share the common goal and purpose." The man continued.

"You are?" Deming Zhao asked.

"You can call me Erick. That's the only name you will know about me." The man in suit said and stood up.

"You wish to leave now? We still haven't negotiated how you are going to be compensated for your efforts." Deming Zhao said to him.

"The organization gives us enough. Your compensation is of no use to me. By the way, there's one thing I would like to ask a favor instead." Erick the man in suit said.

"Anything for you my friend!" Deming Zhao smiled in reply.

At the Presidential palace in the country's capital. Reports of plots of destabilization have shocked the president. He orders an emergency meeting of his cabinet and concerned military officials about the matter. Not many in his cabinet took the plot seriously thinking that it could be a fake news or a prank. However it consistently pointed to the same source, it is from a man named Roman Villamor. The head of a communist reformist movement group: The Reds. They are hiding in the mountains and fought a guerrilla war against the government for decades. Despite of their leader's self-imposed exile, they still continued to fight.

Their leader has been in exile for too long yet his cronies and supporters still continued to fight. They think and call themselves as revolutionaries, who in principle fought against oppression. They firmly believed that the current government is the evil entity that oppress and corrupts the people. In reality however, they are the ones who are brainwashed and taken advantage of by their leaders.

"Roman and his revolution has failed. He is of no real threat to us!" A cabinet member said.

"Despite of that he still continued fighting in the mountains in the Bisaya and some parts of the Bangsamoro region. We may have weakened their fighting capability but not their resolve." An intelligence officer replied.

The president hearing their squabble told them to shut up for a while and then started to speak, "Roman may be a troublemaker but I know that he do not have the resources to take the fight to us. That's why his goons are now hiding in the mountains and are at the mercy of our military. The problem is, these people that are included in the plot. Is this Romulo, the one who gave this information credible enough?"

All of a sudden an official approached the president and informed him of the progress at the city of Dalisi. Hearing the good news he cracked a smile to his face but all of a sudden his mood changed.

"You said the city of Infante is under attack?"

"Yes sir, we were unable to pinpoint where they are coming from. All we know that by 1000 hours explosions were heard in the city and armed men started their rampage." The Intelligence officer replied.

"What is the use of modernizing the military if most of you are still incompetent!?" The president yelled.

"Sorry sir, our surveillance capabilities is still limited as of the moment. But at this moment we are holding them off."

"I do not want to hear excuses I want my military officials do as what they are tasked to. I want the situation under control!"

Back to the outskirts of the City Hall. The Colonel told the Lieutenant and his men to prepare for assault. They were laying plans in how to assault the enemy position, when and where to attack and the situation of the hostages. There were at least fifty hostages held inside the grounds of the City Hall. Any reckless attempts will trigger the traps and bombs that are set up by the enemy.

"We do not want those civilians dead under my supervision. The Grey Hounds will lead the assault. The remaining teams will follow. Elements form Special Action Unit of the Police and the Rapid Reaction Force of the military will assist you in this mission. As much as possible keep the casualties to a minimum. We have to make sure that this mission will go well. Am I understood!"

"Sir, yes sir!" Replies the men of Task Force Praetor of the Grey Hounds and the rest of the men from the police and military.