The Cold War 2: by Nick Venom (book club reads txt) 📕

“Alpha Leader, Wix, reporting in,” Wix said, standing in Wells’s office. 

Wells nodded his head, sitting on his chair. In front of him was his large wooden desk with several memories laying on his desk, teasing him for keeping them there. He stared at them with disgust before erasing that expression from his face. He looked up at Wix, staring at him for a few seconds before speaking. “Good to see you, Wix.”

“Likewise, sir.” 

“Okay… now let’s get to business. Alpha Squad has been ordered to be transferred to Aztec Fortress Ironclad. Riot and Blackhawk Squads will take over your position.” Wells informed him. “You’re departing at 1100 on one of the helicopters. Is that clear?”

“Yes, sir,” Wix responded, saluting his commanding officer. Wells saluted him before dismissing him. Wix took this dismissal, leaving Wells’s office and exiting the building. Waiting for him outside was his squadmates Ash and Gunner. They were sitting on the side of a trench, their feet dangling over where, a day ago, men were crouching in the dirt to survive a continuous spray of gunfire. Now, however, it was an empty pit. Cleanup after the battle happened almost instantly with the new squads in charge. They were energized and itching for a fight, making them the most efficient to cleanse the battlefield and put the dead to rest - including what was left of Grim and Ajax’s bodies. They were badly charred and unrecognizable. Even so, they were still buried alongside the other casualties towards the back of the base. A quick funeral was held for them all. Then the day continued as it normally would. 

“What’s wrong?” Ash asked as Wix approached them. Gunner looked up from his food, furrowing his eyebrows. “You got chewed out?”

Wix shook his head. “It would be easier if I did. We’re being transferred to AF Ironclad.” He informed them. Ash looked surprised while Gunner nearly choked on his food. He quickly scrambled for water, downing in it to free his throat. “Too much for you, Gunner?”

Gunner shook his head. “Sorry… just wasn’t expecting to hear that.” He said, his cheeks blushing. 

“Well, why are we being transferred? What did we do wrong?”

Wix shook his head. “Who knows. Maybe it's because we’re lacking in manpower or our performance was worse than the other squads-”

“I doubt that.” Ash chimed in.

“So do I. Anyways, we’re departing at 1100, so grab your belongings.” He told them, leaning in and stealing a chicken wing from Gunner’s plate. “Thanks for the chicken.” He said before walking away. Gunner stared at him with his jaw on the floor.

“I never offered him any.” He muttered.

Ash smiled. “Leave him, he was never offered much.”

***

Alpha Squad departed at 1100 on the dot, being taken by helicopter on a two-week-long trip. The helicopter was loaded with enough fuel to arrive at the largest Aztec Fortress under their grip. Without this fortress, the Aztec faction had little to stand on aside from small unimportant buildings and dead-end farms. Thankfully, however, the squads protecting the fortress defended it from several tens of assaults that always ended in failures for the Delta faction.

Wix stared at Ironclad from the helicopter, amazed at the sight of the pentagon-shaped building. The tip of the pentagon was angled towards the front of the fortress while the flat side made up the backside of the building.

“Woah,” Ash muttered. He stared at the fortress, amazed by the architecture of the building and the fifty-foot walls. “Why didn’t we have that at the Lost City Base?” 

“Because we didn’t have the manpower and resources,” Wix answered, his eyes still on the fortress. “... Get ready to leave.” He said as the helicopter began its descent. Ash and Gunner nodded their heads in acknowledgment, both of them staring at Ironclad. They could only mutter “Woah” and “Wow” to themselves as they neared the fortress.

After a few minutes, the helicopter reached the ground. The pilot kicked them out as his co-pilot and another soldier jumped out and began refueling the helicopter. They were preparing to return at a moment’s notice.

Wix grabbed his belongings as Ash and Gunner did the same. They began moving towards the building but only made it fifty steps before somebody stood in their way. It was a woman dressed in camouflage with her long charcoal hair tucked under her camouflage cap. Her eyes were a shade of blue that resembled a whitish-blue more than dark blue. Her skin was chocolate-colored. She smiled a beautiful smile at Wix and the others, tilting her head slightly. “Wix?” She asked.

Wix nodded his head, extending his hand out. “Leader of Alpha Squad.”

The woman shook his head. “Angelica Rose, leader of 3rd Ironclad Infantry.” She said before shaking both Ash and Gunner’s hands. “It’s nice to meet you all. Welcome to Ironclad.” Wix nodded, thanking her. “Don’t worry about it.” She said before turning to her side, motioning for them to follow her. “I’m your superior, but the officer in charge is General Berets. I’ll lead you to him.” She said before leading them into the building. As they walked inside, someone caught Wix’s eyes. A redheaded woman dressed in brown walked around aimlessly. Her beauty wasn’t what captured Wix’s attention but her aura. He felt something strange. 

“Are you okay, sir?” Ash asked, standing behind him.

Wix snapped out of it before glancing at Ash. “Yes, I am.” He muttered before turning towards Angelica. He followed her to the third floor and through a series of hallways before arriving at a normal wooden door with a sign hanging over it. The sign read “Commanding Officer’s office”.

Angelica stopped at the door, knocking on it three times before taking a step back. “Come in.” A voice responded. Angelica took the person’s offer and opened the door, walking inside. Wix and the others followed behind her, moving in a single-file line. 

Sitting behind a desk was a man who appeared to be in his late forties with strong black hair. He was dressed in the same camouflage outfit that the rest of the soldiers wore but had his rank on display. He glanced up at them as they walked in, allowing them to see his charcoal eyes and wrinkle-less face in great detail.

“You’re Alpha Squad?” He asked.

Wix took a step forward, saluting him. “Alpha Leader Wix reporting in.”

The man nodded his head before rising from his chair. “I am General Alex Berets, the commanding officer overseeing AF Ironclad. It’s great to see you all in great health. Please sit down.” He motioned to three wooden chairs in front of the desk. Ash and Gunner took the offer instantly while Wix hesitated for a few moments. However, he soon gave in, sitting in between Ash and Gunner. 

“Good, firstly thank you all for coming here. I will try to answer any questions you have regarding your transfer and purpose here.” He said as he sat back down. He glanced up at Angelica, swiftly dismissing her. “Okay, Alpha Squad you will be in charge of training our recruits.”

“Permission to speak, sir?” Wix asked.

“Go ahead.”

“Why are we being assigned to recruit training?”

“Ironclad has been hit with more and more attacks and we can’t spare enough men to train the recruits. The last attack, which was a week ago, costs us nearly an entire platoon. We need a dedicated platoon to train the recruits until they’re battle-ready. That’s where your squad comes in.”

Wix nodded. “Thank you for answering my question, sir.”

Berets nodded his head. “Following that, your squad will be disbanded and rebranded as the Iron Alpha Squad here once the recruits are ready.” He said, receiving three sets of furrowed eyebrows. “Don’t worry, I understand your confusion. You’re being rebranded because it’ll serve as a fresh breath for you all. We all need a fresh breath amidst the death and agony here. You guys got that?”

Wix and the others nodded their heads. They were still confused about the rebrand but didn’t have the power to refuse it. They went along with Berets’s decision. 

Berets didn’t recognize this confusion, instead, moving on to the next matter. “Tomorrow will be the first day of training as I’m sure you’re all pretty tired now. Your task is to make sure the recruits, named collectively as the Black Spirits, can handle the war physically and mentally. I need them to know how to handle a gun and have the mental fortitude to kill. Do keep in mind that this squad consists of conscripts and refugees. They will give you some trouble initially, but I have trust that they will do well once they understand what to do. You all understand?”

Wix and the others nodded. “Good, then you’re dismissed for the day. Angelica will lead you to your dorm in a minute.” He informed them. They rose from their seats, exiting the room.

As they walked outside, Angelica walked inside and approached Berets. She whispered into his ear. “Can we trust them? They’re training our future. Are they experienced enough?” She asked.

Berets grinned. “They’ll fit the bill. I’m sure of it.”

***

Angelica led them to their dorm on the second floor of the building. Instantly, Wix and Ash fell asleep once their heads touched the soft pillows. Gunner was similar, but he didn’t fall asleep instantly. He touched the pillow with his head and wrapped himself in the blanket before closing his eyes. He had on a grin as he rushed to meet up with his dreams. They were tempting him, motioning for him to come closer. He was nearing them, sprinting as quickly as he could.

However, somebody stood in his way and it wasn’t Angelica. It was something that shot him out of his bed, waking him up. It terrified him, whatever it was - it was enough to make him sweat. 

Gunner glanced at Wix and Ash, biting his lip. They wouldn’t understand. Nobody would.

TBC…

The next day came faster than Wix, Ash, or Gunner wanted. It was now June 2nd of 3022, their first full day in Ironclad. 

Gunner rose before the others. He was still dressed in the same clothes from yesterday, deciding to take a quick shower and put on an identical set of camouflage clothes. Wix and Ash, who woke up twenty minutes later, followed his lead. They all dressed up and left their dorm, bumping into Angelica on their way out. She told them where they needed to be, which was a large room on the first floor known as the Training Room. They followed the stairs that Angelica recommended, being spat out some distance from the door to the room. 

“Are you ready, sir?” Ash asked as they approached the door.

Wix glanced at him. “As ready as I am to teach recruits.”

“You make it sound like it’s the worst job ever.” Gunner chimed in.

“It is when they’re teenagers who only know how to whine and complain. Of course, some adapt well and can handle the stress, but many don’t. Have you ever wondered why there are more small squads than platoons?”

“I assumed it was because we lacked men,” Ash remarked.

Wix opened his mouth to respond but