Brady Young watched as the family drove away. He wasn’t sure what they had witnessed, but if their horrified faces were an indicator, it wasn’t anything pleasant.

Born on a base and raised by two high ranking military officials, Brady knew no other life. This life was chosen for him, but he slotted himself into it seamlessly. He took pride in protecting the country that had awarded him freedom. He took pride in putting his work above all other facets of his life. He was a dedicated soldier, and he was willing to die that way.

He sighed, knowing this was long from being over. He had hated that his generals hadn’t sent troops in earlier and stopped this catastrophe before it began, but he was promised that the politicians were “fixing the problem.”

Brady watched as the last car shrank on the horizon. He wasn’t sure exactly what awaited him ahead, but luckily the news reporter on scene had given them all valuable information.

“Alright team,” he addressed the young men and women before him. “We’re going in fairly blind here, but we’ve got basic commands. Do not let them pass this barricade and apprehend as many of them as possible. Alive. Do I make myself understood?”

A chorus of, “Sir, yes, sir,” followed his question.

Brady looked at each of the grunts he’d trained and worked beside for a year. “We’ve got this.”

The group looked into his eyes, searching for a solution. A solution to the hell they’d suddenly found themselves in. The answer to their questions was simple: fight.

Brady knew how they felt, hell, he felt the same. He’d only ever been deployed once and the battle he encountered had minimal bloodshed and even less injury. It was over before it began.

Now, his country was being invaded. The enemy was walking into his house and expecting to start a fight with no repercussions. He wasn’t about to let that happen. He’d fight for the freedom and lives of every man, woman and child in Caledorn.

“Alright. Alpha team with me. Beta, take up the rear.” With those simple instructions, the twenty-man team got into position and followed Brady through the empty street.

They took slow steps, every angle was covered with the gaze of well-trained eyes. They wouldn’t be taken off guard.

A crackling in his ear caused him to raise his hand, stopping his group immediately.

From an ear piece he heard, “Corporal Young. The enemy was last seen approximately seven blocks from your current position. Your initial orders of taking the Reds alive has changed. You have the clear to kill them all. Over.”

Brady took a moment to swallow the words he’d heard, they left a distinct taste of bile in their wake.

“Sir, yes, sir. Over,” the words left his mouth with the same conviction he had always said them. If he was ordered to kill, then kill he would.

He didn’t turn towards his team when he spoke with clarity. “Orders changed. Kill on sight. They are about five blocks out, so keep the chatter to a minimum.”

Out of his peripherals, Brady saw the few in his eyeline nod their understanding. He took that as an understanding from them all and continued his mission.

Through the silent walk, Brady took note of the empty buildings and alleys sprawled out before them. He was thankful the residents had decided to heed the warning and flee. He didn’t like the idea of having to protect anyone else, nineteen was enough.

As his crew crested a slight hill on the street, he saw the sea of red accumulated in the distance.

Brady pointed to one notable feature that stuck out on the street, a stuffed animal left behind. The pink elephant looked new and untouched, only slightly marred where it landed in the street. Brady gestured to the item and whispered to his crew, “When the line gets there, we fire.”

Everyone nodded, understanding his direction without further explanation. They were setting up an ambush for the Remdian army to fall into.

Using simple hand signals, Brady directed his beta team to higher vantage points while the rest of them wove between buildings and stayed out of sight. They spread out around that one pink elephant, whose synthetic fur would soon be soaked in blood.

Brady and his team set-up in various apartments, hiding behind curtains and other household items. They tucked themselves into small areas, barely visible. They also took the time they had to plan their own exits, for as they all knew, as soon as they shot their first bullet the Remdian army would know their position.

Brady slipped into a dark alley ahead of the rest of his team, closer to the incoming army. He deemed it a suitable position to attack anyone who tried to flee.

He searched the alley for anything useful to take cover behind. Luckily there was a large dumpster in the middle of it. It rested about two inches off the ground on wheels. Brady clicked the safety on his gun and clipped the firearm to his back. He pushed the dumpster closer to the entryway.

Once satisfied, he found a window nearby that would act as a quick getaway if he needed. Conveniently the window was unlocked so as he pried it open, it gave way with ease.

Having spent too much time setting up his nook, he quickly tucked himself behind the dumpster, pulled his gun back into his hands and got into firing position. He lined up his weapon to fire directly into the street, where the Remdian soldiers would be walking unaware.

When he was satisfied he took a deep breath. And waited.

In the silence of the street, he could hear the marching of his enemy getting closer.

Seconds passed like hours as he waited for them to enter his line of fire.

The unified steps matched the rhythm of Brady’s heart as it thumped away to the hostile beat.

Finally, dark red uniforms overcame the street.

He readied his finger on the trigger.

He couldn’t see the elephant from where he was but as soon as the first shot was fired, he’d reciprocate with reckless abandon.

Another crackle in his ear pulled his concentration for a moment.

“Five… four…” the feminine voice of one of his team rang through his ears.

Callie, you better be hidden you damn fool. Brady thought through the countdown, knowing she was risking her position to update the team.

“Three… two…”

Another part of Brady was damn proud. They’d rain hell down on them at the same time now.

“One…”