Dimensional Travels: World at War-Chapter 43: Valleys

The next day, Eric woke up to an empty bed. He panicked for a moment, before realizing that he was still in Reimskin. He sighed as he looked up at the ceiling. "That never ceases to suck." He groaned as he stood up and stretched. After two days of negotiation, they were heading back to Hood Hill.

When the element arrived back at Hood Hill, Eric went with Milano for a staff sync and debriefing. Eric was distracted throughout the meeting, his thoughts wandering towards his pregnant wife. Every day they were separate felt like a dagger in his heart, but he kept putting one foot in front of the other. This was the first step in making their world safer for his child. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"Sir, we have found what we belive are the outposts you hinted at over last night’s transmission." The S2 NCOIC said, breaking Eric out of his day dreaming.

The room went silent.

"How many are there?" Milano responded. "And plot them on a map. I need to know where they are."

The map refreshed on the screen, showing six total encampments. Milano rubbed his face, sitting down. "Of course they would have two per mountain." He said, sitting back in his chair before looking at the apache commander. "Hm. One encampment is probably headquarters. Since they are so far out, the main encampent sends supplies to each of the smaller encampments. I need to get eyes on what actually happens inside those encampments." Milano thought while he studied the map. Each encampment is spread out approximately eight clicks from the other. "We need boots on the ground for this one."

He then turned to Eric.

"Can you do it?"

Eric avoided eye contact with Milano while studying the map. Six encampments, three mountains. It would be a long mission. He looked down at his ring, remembering the promises he made with Mia after he came back from near death. Her worried voice and sobs still beat into his heart when he thought about it.

"Give me one day with my wife, and I will do it." He answered grimly, finally making eye contact with Milano. He knew it was a selfish demand, but he also knew that leaving her alone for so long would tug at both of their heartstrings. He needed to see her one last time before departing.

"Very well. You leave tomorrow at 2100. You’ll bring five soldiers with you, I trust that you know who to bring. Dismissed."

Back at his house, Eric immediately grabbed Mia the moment he walked in the door. He carried her to their couch and held her without saying a word. She squeaked, but let him hold her, sighing as she pressed her head against his chest. She sniffed his shirt, clinging onto it as she met his eyes.

"You’re leaving again, aren’t you?" She said quietly, the hurt in her eyes stabbing into his heart. "Yes." She sighed as she tried to push closer into him, her tail wrapping around his back. "Then hold me. Tell me more stories about your world." Tears fell quietly as they talked through the rest of the night.

In the morning, the couple woke up still on the couch. Eric’s hands were wrapped around her stomach, while her arms coiled around his neck. They looked into each other’s eyes while they stirred. "Do you want breakfast?" He said gently, kissing her as his hands move up to trace gently through her hair. "Please. Eggs and toast." Eric nodded before setting her down, placing another kiss on her head.

As they ate in silence, memories ran through Mia’s head. Rushing through the forest to get to FOB hill, seeing Eric in such bad shape, and not feeling his heartbeat when they brought him back. She slumped over him, hugging his chest once more. "If only I had been born on your world." She said quietly.

He sighed as he leaned against the chair, the uneaten breakfast lost forever to time. He decided not to say anything back as he held her. Any words right now would be meaningless. They stayed like that until night fall.

Eric prepared in silence. After getting dressed, he turned to Mia. The urge to quit nearly won as her tears fell quietly. He stepped forward hesitantly as they embraced. Hands wrapped around each other while he cradled her stomach. Their eyes met. "I love you." He said quietly as they kissed one last time. Breaths hitched as they hugged, the embrace seemingly deleting the rest of the world for the moment.

"I love you too."

He walked out the front door after grabbing the go bag. No more words needed to be said.

Back at the vehicles in front of the village, a group of five soldiers waited for Eric. Magazines were counted and equipment checked before they hefted their rucks. "Alright, you already know the mission, so I will not beat a dead horse. Once we get to approximately 10 clicks out, we will dismount our gear and dress in the local attire. Drones confirmed the presence of civilians in the outpost, and trade being done inside the compound. The first encampment we are hitting will be Sual pass. Any questions?" No one raised their hand. "Alright. Lets go."

It took them three days to reach the foot of the mountains. Tension was running high as they had multiple encounters with monsters. The ammo count was running low. Once their gear was stashed inside of a cave that had belonged to a bear like monster with horns, they made their way up the pass. "Mm, that meat was good sarn’t." One of the soldiers remarked. Eric glared at him. "This is not the time for soldierisms, Hewitt. Until we get into that outpost, we are to remain on High alert."

"Roger Sarn’t."

They waited until nightfall before climbing up the mountain. They stayed in a wedge formation, scanning for threats and potential traps. There were none. "Do these guys not know the basics of home defense?" Hewitt said while stopping at a ledge. Eric sighed as he ducked under a ridge. "This is a good spot. Alright, span out. Kane and Hewitt go to the south entrance. One sleeps, the other watches. Note anything coming in and out. Watch how the guards inspect items, and jot down anything suspicious. Liam and Yates, you are with me. Liam, you are to stay on over watch with the rifle. If anything comes near, you are to alert the rest of us quietly."

After the second night, Eric had the group gather for intel gathering. "Alright, what do you have?" Hewitt was the first to speak up. "Sarn’t, there is a caravan composed of three vehicles that leave from the gate. Some far I have noted that they left at 0300. Kane said they came back on his shift at approximately 1700. They left again at 0300." Eric took a few notes before looking for more information. On his end, nothing of note happened. The guards were thorough and professional, and he had been unable to find any areas of weakness they may be able to exploit. "Good work. We will reconvene same time in two days. Keep making notes of anything you see."

After the fourth night, the group met up once more. "Alright, tell me what you have." Hewitt once more spoke up. "Sarn’t, the caravan followed the same pattern as before." He checked his notes. "It appeared as though they were hauling some kind of food supply. They traveled off west towards the second encampment." Then Kane spoke up. "Roger Sarn’t. When they came back, the guards checked some sort of paper documents the caravan had. I counted one driver per carriage, with four guards escorting on the sides."

Eric compared the notes he had with theirs. "Very well. Here’s what we will do."

Writtel had been stationed out Sual pass for six months. He wanted to be out on the Riemskin missions. Nothing was better than enjoying the destruction of those pagan scum. Every day was the same routine. Wake up at 0200, on the road by 0300, walk for six hours, and walk back for six hours. He grew tired of it. "Man, this fucking sucks. There isn’t even a whorehouse to visit out here. Worst station I’ve ever been sent to!"

Jenes walked over and patted him on the back. "It ain’t too bad once ya get close to leaving. After that year mark when ya can take some R&R? It makes the long wait worth it. I can recommend some of the ladies I know for ya!" Jenes said with a chuckle before resuming his post. They walked endlessly until arriving at HQ. Writtel cleared his head of any stupid thoughts while taking position at the back of the convoy. He raised his mana gun, scanning for threats while the drivers of the carriages recieved the supplies for that day.