“At 5:30 PM last night, Russian President, Sergey Volodin held a press conference with the POTUS about the current Counter-Insurgency operation happening in the country of Pakistan. The answered many questions regarding the use of American troops in the middle eastern country, yet both leaders refused to answer on the current state of the mission. Many world leaders have come to condemn the actions of the United States and India as of late, yet none have been willing to enforce so called “international law”. Even with the accusations of humanitarian violations being widespread with US troops, each step NATO and the UN has come to take has been blocked by the Russian government…

In other news, the President of the TIPA has declared the formation of a peace and security treaty between the United States and many African countries…”

Episode 4400 – Aftermath of Press Conference between President Volodin and POTUS. First Global News Network (FGNK).

Part 1: Dark Zone

All that remained in the city of Peshawar was nothing but war. It was a war with no fronts, no sides. As the dust settled from firefights and conflicts around the territory, there was no victor, there was no looser. Whatever there was had no value to the people on the ground.

There was only one option for the Rangers; leave the dark zone and return home.

For the Americans, the coalition, it was clear the missions in Peshawar lead to a mass casualty event of allied forces. For the mission to kill or capture “Brutus”, sixteen Delta Operatives had been killed in action or had gone missing. Eighteen members of the Pakistani SSG were much of the same. And for the Rangers, two confirmed casualties.

Yet command knew nothing of what happened. Unless surveillance drones scoured the city trying to locate friendly forces, Peshawar had effectively turned into a “Dark Zone”; a place where information is contained within a designated area without any means to reach outside sources.

Sergeant Randal took one last glance at the body that laid not more than two meters from him. In a cold sweat he averted his gaze and long forgot about the boy he had just held five minutes ago. His gaze returned to the men in front; lined behind Sergeant Malkovich, Randall stood behind the man as they both waited for Captain Thompson to call the next move.

“Captain? We should really head back to the safehouse. It’s out of the way, so I doubt anyone would come looking for us.” Corporal Richard mention gaining a both interested and sharp gaze from Thompson. “There’s a chance that our guys will swing by once they send a search party.”

Slightly annoyed at the Corporal’s interruption, and overwhelmed by the events that had taken place in less than 24 hours, Lieutenant Patterson spoke his mind while walked around the room frustrated, “Do you really think they’re coming for us? Huh? Such a situation would warrant an immediate QRF, MEDIVAC, something! I know they won’t leave us behind, but with the communications blackout, that’s all they can do!”

Seeing that his Lieutenant was about to snap under pressure, Captain Thompson calmed him by patting his shoulder. The near outburst had mired mixed reactions from the Rangers. Not only had they just lost two of their own, but the reality of the situation had begun to set in. Lieutenant Patterson cursed under his breath as he turned around to hide his defeated look from the men looking at him.

“Right then enough of this shit, we need to get a move on before anything happens.” Thompson sternly ordered.

With the men slowly raising from their positions of rest, Patterson glanced behind him. The dead bodies of Private Jackson and Corporal Ramirez laid next to each other. Each of their arms were folded over their chests, Jackson held a picture of his family, while all Ramirez held was a picture of him and a group of Marines that he often shared with others while he was still alive.

With a small and pained smile, Patterson returned to the group who had now gathered at the hole which was the only way out of the covered area of the destroyed building. Weapons raised, and nerves steeled, the men slowly walked out of the debris and into the heat filled city.

It was now late in the afternoon and the sun had begun to set just over the city skyline.

With Sergeant at the forefront of the group, the hour would be long as the world they entered looked eerily similar to the many post-apocalyptic worlds that had been captured on the silver screen. Still, they marched on with the newfound mission of returning home.

Quietly drawing water from his camelback, Randall bided his time walking by attempting to recall one of the many conversations he had with his sister, Holly Randall.

Being five years younger than his sister, the two rarely talked when they were children, but during his junior year in high school, they both opened up to each other as they had matured to a certain extent in their respective environments.

Due to his fathers influence during his years growing up, Randall would try to bring up many topics about law, law enforcement, and the military. In return, Holly often spoke about her tenure in a software developing firm that assisted game development companies big and small.

Being pulled back into reality due to Thompson walking up to him, Randall steeled himself as he waited for his Captain to open his mouth.

“You thinking of something?” Thompson asked with a semi-bright look on his face.

Confused about his deposition, Randall responded with a line of caution, “Uh, yeah. You?”

“I think you know what’s on my mind.” Thompson wearily said as he tugged at Jackson’s dog tag in his combat vest.

“We can’t do anything now. If we return home, we can make the best of the opportunity that was provided.” Thompson looked worried as Randall continued, “In hindsight the call to search for the strike team was the wrong call, so was our engagement with the insurgents. To put it bluntly sir, I do blame you for what happened, but I’d rather be under you than any other officer.”

“Yeah, I’m probably going to be investigated for this event and who knows, perhaps I’ll be court marshaled.” Thompson said with a quiet laugh, “But I don’t think you’re wrong Randall. I was just like you when I was a junior officer, I would’ve blamed myself as well.”

Surprised at not getting disciplined or ridiculed, Randall came to understand Captain Thompson more than he had previously. Even with his abrasive words, it seemed that Thompson understood what he was thinking of more than he initially observed.

“Just don’t let it go to your head. It would suck if the squadron saw you break down or something…” Randall admitted as he faced forward with a face of indifference.

“Hey Captain! There seems to be some sort of water pump over here!” Richard called out from the rear of the group making everyone stop in their place.

Though annoyed by the sudden call, Thompson walked to the rear of the group, and he did indeed saw a water pump that was exiting from the side of a building.

“Alright. Everyone let’s stop for now. Five-minute break.” Thompson decided as he withdrew his canteen.

Breaking off from the path they were following to the safehouse, Staff Sergeant Baker was the first to reach the pipe. He kicked over a small dog bowl and turned the valve on. What came out was crystal clear water, and a wave of relief spread over the Rangers that stood behind the Combat Controller.

“First part of SERE; Survive!” Baker said with a cheeky smile gaining collective groans from the army personnel that stood before him.

Part 2: Missing in Action

It had been more than five minutes. Thirteen had passed to be exact.

Unsure of when he and his men were going to, or even if they were going to escape Peshawar alive, he stopped himself from forcing his men from moving from their positions of rest. Without exchanging a word with the others, Patterson, Randall, and himself had taken up watch until time had reached the fifteen-minute mark.

Malkovich was cooking a small meal with three MREs he had obtained from himself and PFCs Green and Simon. The aroma was appetizing, yet for now they would only gain a small portion to keep them going for another two days.

“Fuck…” Patterson whispered while kicking a rock by his foot.

“Patterson?” Thompson questioned as he leaned against a wall.

“I almost made a mistake, didn’t I?” Patterson lamented, “How do I put it? Ah I don’t know anymore…”

“I’m sure a few of us were reaching our breaking points not long ago.” He said calmly.

“Yeah…”

Randall gazed away from the two as they finished their conversation. Behind him the other men had begun to eat their meagerly small portions from the stew Malkovich had cooked up. Luckily for the group the building they found themselves in was a small house, and more so that Malkovich was a self-accomplished cook that was able to whip up something tasty from the materials he was provided; three MREs, a pot of water, and several spices such as salt, pepper, and garlic.

Obtaining a small bowl and silver spoon from Baker, Randall placed his bowl beside him as he stared outside from a window. Down below a stray dog had wandered onto the property and was looking for a place of shelter. As much as he wanted to run out there and secure the dog inside of the building, he knew he couldn’t. Such an action would put his squadron at risk, and the dog might go feral and bark non-stop.

Taking a spoonful of the stew and placing it in his mouth, the complex tastes removed all his thoughts from the last 24 hours. As he returned his attention outside, the dog was long gone, and Randall made the assumption that it had either moved to another location or had found a place of rest.

“So, what now? How long till we reach one of the patrols that were investigating the city exits?” Richard asked suddenly breaking the silence.

“If I remember correctly there were fifteen patrols on the south side, the direction we are heading.” Malkovich said as he poured a bowl for Thompson. “Each one was responsible for processing those wanting to leave the city, and to stop any insurgents that were trying to escape.”

“The Big Red One was handling that right?” Simon asked as he took off his glasses.

“Yeah, something like that.” Randall suddenly interjected.

Not being able to conclude what their next move should be, the men chatted amongst themselves quietly as they finished the pot of stew. Captain Thompson ate alone as he stared aimlessly outside. Watch duty was something he had always hated since his days as a Lieutenant in the regular infantry, yet he didn’t mind the solidarity this time around.

Patterson noticed the current state of his superior, yet he made no move to confront him about it. In the same fashion Thompson had seen that the Lieutenant was generally concerned about his disposition, but he too decided not to invite him over.

All Thompson wanted was an alcoholic drink to make him more depressed than he already was. Beer and champagne wouldn’t cut it, he would need something stronger like whiskey or vodka.

Across the room Randall was listening to Sergeant Malkovich. The two were speaking about what would happen within the next week if they got back to coalition forces.

“-do you think a blackout has happened in each city?” Malkovich wondered as he lowered his now empty bowl.

“Nah-can’t be. Satellite communications should still be up, if anything a third party has stepped in and set up jamming rigs all over the city.”

“The Russians?”

“No?” Even Randall himself was unsure of his own answer, “President Volodin did basically give us the go ahead to assist Pakistani forces…”

“True. We did participate in joint training with one of the infantry battalions a few months back…”

A bright light flashed over the building. The men were blinded for a mere second as their eyes adjusted to the bright light now flooding the building, they were in.

“Fuck, get down!” Staff Sergeant Baker shouted as he and the others crashed into the ground waiting for a hail of bullets to pass over their heads.

“Captain! Did you see anything!?” Patterson yelled as he crawled to his rifle against the wall, “Are we surrounded! Answer me God damn it!” He kept shouting towards the dazed Captain Thompson who was laying on the wall with a shocked expression and a pale face.

“I-I. No!” Thompson snapped out of his dazed state as he withdrew his handgun from its holster. “There was nothing to see even before the lights! It could be a helicopter!”

“Then where the fuck is the chopper!?” Green shouted in confusion and anger as he rose into a crouched position right below a window, “How come none of us can hear it!?

“Everyone stop-shouting, now!” Randall bellowed gaining control of the situation. “Everyone one just shut the fuck up for a moment!”

The room went silent to the booming voice that came from Randall. The Sergeant silently stood up and readied his rifle as he approached the door.

“Serg-” Green attempted to speak but he was cut off by a very pissed of Randall.

“Shut the fuck up! Cover me!”

He placed his hand on the doorknob and twisted it. The others quickly scrambled into positions to provide fire support, but in the event that the “enemy” opened fire, Randall was going to immediately die. Opening the door, the light blinded Randall as he stepped out into what looked to be a void. Long gone were the streets of Peshawar, all that remained was a white haze.

Seeing that he wasn’t getting shot, and the fact that he had lowered his guard, the Rangers left the house one by one as they stepped into this new environment.

“Sergeant, I pretty sure sunlight tends to be yellow or orange or some other shit, not white.” Simon said as he lowered his rifle in confusion.

“Captain?” Malkovich said as he looked forward towards Thompson who was glancing around confused.

“I-I don’t know…” Thompson said wearily, “Was it a nuke?”

“Sir, I’m pretty sure a fucking nuke would’ve eviscerated us all. Our retinas could be fucked by the explosion, but we would’ve died from the heat wave or the radiation.”

Looking behind him, Randall brought up a question that started a flurry of murmurs, “Hey, where the fuck is the building?” He lowered his rifle out of confusion and gazed at the white void that had replaced the building.

Publicly Available Information: Global Network Communication:

Using Satellites and on ground radars, the United States and its allies use a complex and highly advance system to establish communications with both governmental and civilian devices.

With the Advance Warfighter program established by a joint program by DARRPA and Boeing industries, the US military has unparalleled communications anywhere in the world.