The gas station went silent as the company commander spoke. Terrified eyes and quiet whispers met his steely gaze as he stood against the front counter, his arms crossed. "Well?" He answered the silent gaze. No one spoke. "You all are free to leave at any time." He called out to the crowd. "However, if any further civil unrest is displayed, the parties involved will be detained for twenty four hours."
Eric stood by the counter as the now silent crowd internalized the commanders words. The commander turned to Eric as he slung his weapon. "Before you leave, draw up a fire-watch plan with Sebrine. I need gunners on every access point, and .50 cal's on the rooftops on overwatch." Eric nodded and turned to go talk with Sebrine. "Yes sir. We'll get it done."
As Eric and Sebrine were drawing up overwatch and fire-watch positions, civilians began to talk amongst each other as a sense of normalcy began to return to the atmosphere. A young man stood up and looked at the others around him. "Nah, fuck this. I ain't sitting here with my thumbs in my ass." He turned to leave while Eric stood there watching him.
"Sir, you are free to do so." Eric intoned, holding his hands on the collar of his vest while gesturing towards the exit with a nod. "However, you should be aware that once you step out of those doors, you will no longer be allowed back into the building." The man looked at Eric, his chin clenching as he made eye contact. "Whatever, fucking bozo." He said while pushing past Eric. He walked out to his car while ignoring the pleas for him to stay. A woman of his age began crying as she watched the man go. "We were supposed to get married this year." She said while watching the young man leave. Her hands cradle her stomach. "He's going to leave us behind."
As the woman's sobs echo through the station, more families leave. Eric watched them go, a silent statue against the counter as the final count came in. Twenty civilians in total left, eighty remained. Sebrine and Eric shared a look as they went back to work.
"How can you be so heartless!" A voice than rang out, and Eric sighed inwardly, turning to the elderly woman who was now screeching at the Senior NCO's. "You would just leave those families to die? You would leave them to walk way!"
Sebrine stepped forward to stare the woman down. His voice even as he responded "We have to give choices to people ma'am. This is an unprecedented situation. Our orders are to leave those that wish to leave to their own devices. We do not have the time, nor the manpower to assist those that wish to go into the world."
The elderly woman sat down as Sebrine ended his speech. She leaned against her chair as she sobbed with the young lady from earlier. Their sobs rang through the atmosphere of the station, the somber sound overpowering the silence elsewhere in the store.
After assigning all the watches to the necessary personnel, Eric left the battalion's new outpost. He drove through the forest with his squad, the truck silent as each soldier pondered the decisions they had made. "Hey, Sarn't, is that smoke to our 3?" One of the younger soldiers said as he pointed in the direction of a small clearing. "Yes, it is." Eric responded quietly. He drove ahead, approaching the scene, and then parking one hundred meters away.
A grisly scene awaited the soldiers after they dismounted. Two vehicles were on their side, with the bodies of five civilians sprawled out. Some were dismembered, while others had been partially consumed. No one spoke as they searched the scene.
There were no survivors.
"Lets go." Eric said gruffly while turning his back to the scene. A soldier vomited behind him, but he said nothing.
Back at Hood Hill, Eric gave his report directly to Milano. He included details of the company commander being shot with an arrow. "Sir, i believe with high confidence that the gas station has enemy surveillance." Eric concluded. "The attack happened while Captain Parker and I were drawing up sectors of fire with first sergeant Sebrine."
Milano leaned back in his chair as he looked at the freshly mapped area surrounding where the store was located. "I agree." He said simply while tracing potential avenues of approach to the beaver sign. "We need more men there, but we are already stretching logistics. You will go to Riemskin and secure reinforcements as well as additional supplies for the new outpost. You will leave at 0500 tomorrow."
"Yes sir. I will get it done." Eric responded simply as he walked out of the tent. "It never ends, does it." He said inwardly, the grisly scene he saw in the forest overlapping with the memory of a village in the desert.
Arriving at home, Mia was waiting for him when he walked into the kitchen. She didn't say a word before rushing to hug him. She wrapped her arms around him before holding him gently. "It was bad, Mia." He began to speak before she shook her head. "Shh. No words." She responded while leading him to the table. She sat in his lap while holding him, letting her embrace console him.
They stayed like that for a few more minutes before Eric finally exhaled. He looked into her eyes, kissing her on the forehead while stroking her hair. "We are getting married after we get back from reimskin." Eric finally said, searching her eyes for any hint of denial.
She chuckled in response and kissed him, leaning her head on his shoulder before murmuring in his ear. "It's about time. I can't let you keep calling me 'your wife' while I don't have a ring on my finger." He sighed and looked up at the ceiling. Scratching his neck while avoiding her pointed glare.
"The LT ratted me out, eh?"