After a bloody victory and confirmation that the Hectagon Army had retreated into the city, I descended the tower. I moved further forward and stood on the edge of a rock. The lush green plains were now soaked with fire and blood. We had won, but at the cost of 51,000 lives. We still had 105,000 troops stationed inside the Targalia Defence HQ, but still. The Hectagon Army had lost approximately 135,000 soldiers. The loss was too great. We could have simply attacked the city, but neither we nor the enemy were in a condition to fight. We all needed rest and many reinforcements.
I haven't slept since the time I got here. So, my muscles and bones hurt like hell. I walked back to the ruins of the command post and lay down. I had no power to walk or even move. I was so tired.
After five minutes, an Irgis-12 came and stopped near me. Then a jeep came as well. It was Felker and Alfred.
"Well…It seems the Major is tired." Alfred walked towards me and sat beside me.
"Of course. I am human as well."
"Thanks for the information." He laughed.
I laughed back as well.
"Well, neither of us has had any rest since the time we have gotten here. So, we are done." Felker spoke.
"Yes, you are right," I replied. I stood up. "We won, finally. But…"
"…We lost too many." Alfred continued. "This is war. This will happen."
"We lost 35,000 in Egnisk over the span of three years. But here? We lost 51,000 in a mere 16 hours. Now, I understand why this front scared everyone and why they called it hell." I said.
"Same is the condition of the Hectagon Army. They have lost more than 100,000." Alfred continued.
"We have nearly 100,000 in the defence HQ. So we may compensate." Felker said. "But we can't bring back the dead."
We sat and looked at the red plain for some time. Then I got inside the jeep and we headed back to the defence HQ. Nearly five hundred of our forces remained on the coast to establish a temporary post. Some tanks and armoured vehicles were also there to maintain control.
The remaining 91,500 troops reached the HQ. Once we entered, the soldiers in the HQ began to applaud us. Some raised the slogans of Long Live Arkania. This was a big victory for us. So, of course, despite the losses, one will indeed become happy. As my jeep stopped, I got out and began to walk to the central building. The major general and the colonel joined me.
"Well done, Major. You performed well." The major general said.
"I expected this from you." The colonel added as he patted my right shoulder.
I nodded and took deep breaths in response. I was too tired to even speak. We went to the office of General Yarna. All the generals from the operations room were there.
"Good job. You three did an amazing job. I am proud of you." The general spoke as we entered and sat in the chairs. A servant gave us water. I drank it and asked for more. "The losses were great. But facing such a large enemy, this is expected. You and your troops need a break. Now, go and rest."
On his orders, we left the room and headed to our respective rooms.
I got into my room and lay on the bed. Alfred was with me here as well. He didn't leave me wherever I went.
He clapped. "Well done, son. You made me proud." He said and smiled.
I laughed back. "Know your place, Captain," I said and smiled.
"Oh, please, shut up." He laughed. I laughed as well.
"Well, your humour never dies."
"That was good. But not compared to what you did a year ago. All three missions last year. Your decisions were far more jaw-dropping than this one."
"Well, they don't know that it was me. That I was the Captain back then."
Alfred nodded and sat on his bed.
"By the way, happy birthday. Now, you are 19, right?"
"Ahh…You remembered. Thanks a lot. Well, yes, I am 19 now."
Then we went to sleep. After a good sleep of 6 hours, I woke up. Well, not because someone woke me up. It was my routine. When I woke up, it was almost sunrise. I went outside and saw a lot of movement. Tons of vehicles were moving outside the base. I saw Lieutenant Gorgis and walked towards him. He saw me, straightened and saluted.
"Where are they going?" I asked him.
"They are being sent to the Eastern Coastline. Reinforcements for the brigadier. Nearly 3,000."
I nodded and began to look at them. The soldiers who walked near me saluted me and kept marching forward. I responded with a nod. I stood there and went inside my room. Alfred was still sleeping. I picked up my jacket, wore it, and went outside for a walk.
It was a bit cold outside. The soldiers were moving here and there. Many were sad. They had lost their friends yesterday. I kept walking and went past many like them. The vehicles were coming and going. Some were getting repaired while new ones were coming as well.
After a ten-minute walk, I went to the cafeteria for breakfast. Alfred was entering as well while rubbing his eyes.
"Woke up finally?" I asked
"Well…yeah," He replied as he yawned.
Both of us took our breakfast and sat at a table beside some sergeants. They stopped eating and began to look at me and Alfred.
"What? Keep eating." I said to them, and they resumed their breakfast. Probably thinking why a major sat with us.
"How long do you think we will wait?" Alfred asked me.
"Probably for today. We can't for long. They still have the south gate, which faces the sea. So they can easily send reinforcements." I replied.
"Yeah, makes sense. By the way, do you think the war will end before the Phoenix Empire's Attack Fleet Eight arrives?"
"If the information from three years ago, that it will take them nine to ten years to reach, then yes. But I can't say for whom this war will end."
"What do they even have that it's going to take this long? And scaring many of our people?" Alfred asked me.
"Well…who knows?"
We ate breakfast and headed back to our room. I picked up my cap, wore it, and was about to go to my office. But Alfred stopped me.
"You know what they have, right?"
"Yes, I know. I decided not to scare the sergeants." I replied.
"Won't the unknown scare them more?"
"No, knowing what they have is more frightening. That fleet has never lost a ship. Not even a single one has been heavily damaged, ever."
Alfred understood, and then I left for my office. I entered it and sat on my chair. I did some paperwork for thirty minutes. Then I remembered something. I opened my drawer and took out the photobook Alfred gave me. I opened and scanned through it. It had pictures of my father, uncle, and me. As I turned the pages, I came across the picture of a woman. I thought it might be my aunt. But my father had no sisters.
I thought that she might be my mother. My heart felt a bit relaxed when I saw her. I wished that she were my mother. I…could only wish.