The Meeting Part 1

Brotherhood of Freedom Cell Headquarters, Eurasian Tsardom. July 27, 2030; 0450 hours

That morning, Wouter Vos, Vahid Farahani, Tarou Ganji, and Saman reached the Sadko truck. Vos reached the driver’s seat, and using the key, he started up the truck. After Farahani, carrying a suitcase, and Tarou boarded the truck and with the cover for the hole removed, Vos moved the truck of the underground complex.

However, a drone flew above the skies of what used to be Iran’s Bushehr Province that morning and saw the truck.

#

Bushehr. 0500 hours

At an airbase of the Imperial Eurasian Air Force, a man with his blond hair in a buzz cut, very light skin, and dark browns looked at a screen that showed the Sadko leaving the destroyed village used by Farahani’s Brotherhood of Freedom cell.

The airbase was once Bushehr Airport, used for both civilian and military purposes, as Bushehr was a vital facility for both Iran’s militaries, the Iranian Navy and Air Force, along with the Revolutionary Guards. When the Eurasian Empire invaded in 2023 and that victory was imminent for them, the Iranian government reluctantly ordered the destruction of vital facilities in cities facing the Persian Gulf, Bushehr being one of them, to prevent Eurasian forces from using them. However, the Eurasians rebuilt Bushehr Airport, albeit as an airbase for their Air Force.

“Sasha, it’s time for a shift change,” a man said. He had black hair in a ragged crew cut, light skin, and blue eyes.

“Hold on, Hayk,” replied the man named Sasha. “I just found something that left an abandoned village near Banak.”

“What did you find?” the man named Hayk asked.

“From what I’m looking at, it’s a truck.”

“We best report this to the commander. I remember hearing that there seems to be proof that the rebels may be operating near Banak.”

“Agreed.”

#

Tehran. 0838 hours

Vladimir Mirov, Giorgi Kipiani, Nadezhda Aslanova, and Talgat Yusupov appeared again at the office of Aleksandr Mirov. Once the latter stood up, he and the former four saluted each other.

“General-Gubernator, I assume you have something to tell me?” Mirov asked.

“I do,” Aleksandr answered. “A drone operated by the airbase in Bushehr reported a truck leaving an abandoned village near Banak. It could be the truck you spotted the previous day.”

“Still not enough to mobilize properly.”

“Also, I heard something from Šap.”

“The operative in the Brotherhood?”

“Da. According to her, there will be a meeting today at their headquarters at Bandar Abbas. Most likely that truck might have the leader of the cell operating near Banak.”

“And those mercenaries might be involved in this too.”

“Like I said, we could attack now.”

“We need to know what those rebels are thinking of in that meeting. Only after we hear more from Šap that we can make a plan.”

“And why do I have to agree to this again?”

“It’s a fair exchange. I go after those mercenaries, you can finally claim victory over the Brotherhood.”

“I guess that’s fair. You can go back to Shiraz for now. I will call you here again when I hear more from Šap.”

“Spasibo, Dyádya Alik.”

#

Banak. 0901 hours

“By the way, what’s with the suitcase,” Vos asked Farahani as the former noticed the suitcase that was being carried by the latter.

“This is for Jamshid,” Farahani answered. “He’s a pilot who helps deliver messages, or rather messengers, from United Command to any of the cells. Of course, he charges a price.”

“How exactly do you have a pilot and where do we find him?”

“In Jam.”

“You mean the same Jam the Eurasians nuked to force Iran into surrendering?”

“The same. It’s a ghost town because of what the Eurasians did, despite using a Radiation Cleaner. We used the old airport there as our own airbase.”

“And this Jamshid is never caught how?”

“He uses an old C-47 as he flies for rich tourists from the Eurasian Tsardom who pay him millions.”

“And they won’t suspect that he’s carrying a rebel leader?”

“I’ve never exposed my face in past battles. As long as you two are hidden well, the authorities in Jam won’t suspect a thing.”

“Very creative.”

At the rear of the Sadko, Tarou laid despite how he could he feel the engine of the truck. He began to close his eyes, as he couldn’t get much sleep because of how early he, Vos, and Farahani had to wake up for leaving the cell headquarters.

#

Brotherhood of Freedom Cell Headquarters. July 26, 2030; 0850 hours

“So, who will escort me to the meeting tomorrow?” Farahani asked in his room to Vos, Tarou, Sunan Wattana, Anita Hamilton, Saman, Ghasem Madani, and Yusuf al-Saqqaf.

“It has to be someone that can afford to do so,” Ghasem answered. “I can’t come with you, sir.”

“Agreed,” al-Saqqaf added. “Sergeant Madani here is needed to keep the recruits in line.”

“Why don’t I?” Vos asked as he raised his hand.

“Lieutenant Vos, are you sure about this?” Farahani asked as he faced Vos.

“Those bigwigs at United Command might need to hear from a mercenary like me.”

“We did inform United Command that mercenaries would be needed to train new recruits,” al-Saqqaf added. “They would very much like to hear the progress of the recruits’ training.”

“Might I come along as well?” Tarou asked as he raised his hand.

“Why you, Ganji?” Saman asked. “We need you to remain here and train the Walgear pilots?”

“They’ve done well so far,” Tarou answered. “I can trust them to train by themselves. That, and I want to see how things are within United Command.”

“Fair enough,” Farahani replied. “Lieutenant Vos, Mr. Ganji, you two will come with me tomorrow.”

#

Banak. July 27, 2030; 0923 hours

Tarou was now asleep. Despite the situation, Tarou found peace with his rest.

Farahani looked by moving half his body. Seeing Tarou, he smiled and returned to his original position.

#

Outskirts of Kansai City, State of Japan. 1454 hours (Japan Standard Time)

In the portion of land he owned on the outskirts of Kansai City, Akira Ishiguro found Tatev Mirzoyan jumping rope. He looked on with a combination of curiosity and pride that a girl was able to jump rope as if she were a champion.

“That’s enough,” Ishiguro said to Tatev, making her stop. “You’ve managed to do this for hours except for the time we had lunch. Therefore, you’re ready.”

“I am?” Tatev asked.

“Just follow me.”

Wherever Ishiguro went, Tatev followed. As a result, the former led the latter to a tree with a target attached on it. Tatev and Ishiguro stopped before a table that had four pistols on it.

“Pick one,” Ishiguro instructed.

Tatev looked at the four pistols that lay on the table. The four pistols were a 92, a P220, a VP9, and a USP. Tatev touched the P220 with her right hand, yet she hasn’t clenched the grip.

This is a P220, Tatev thought as she touched the P220. Mr. Ganji uses a P226, which is simply a P220 using double-stack magazines.

“Excuse me?” Tatev asked as she turned to Ishiguro. “Are all of these using nine-millimeter rounds?”

“They are,” Ishiguro answered.

“Thank you.” Tatev picked up the P220.

“So you made your choice. Before you fire, remember this: fire twice. Don’t think that shooting someone once will think he or she is dead. Maybe one shot can be enough to kill someone, but you may never know with the one you shoot because he or she might still have enough willpower to try to take you out with him or him. So two shots should be enough to make sure your target dies.”

“Got it,” Tatev replied before focusing on the target.

Holding the P220 with both hands, Tatev aimed at the target. However, her fingers moved. Ishiguro keenly observed, yet he saw Tatev continued to aim. Tatev pulled the trigger with her right index finger, yet she did it slowly. As a result, her hands continued the shake.

Suddenly, Tatev’s right index finger increased its speed in pulling the trigger, firing one round toward the target. With no further thought, Tatev fired again.

“Nice work,” Ishiguro said as he saw the two holes on the target. “Though you will have to work on your timing. Timing is everything. Even one second is enough for someone who shot to gather whatever willpower he or she has left into taking you out with him or her. Remember that.”

“Roger that,” Tatev replied as she faced Ishiguro.

#

Jam, Eurasian Tsardom. 1034 hours (Tehran Time)

Farahani, Vos, and Tarou arrived in the city of Jam. The city, or rather what remained of it, was where the invasion ended in victory for the Eurasian Tsardom. However, the Eurasians achieved this by using nuclear weapons; the Imperial Eurasian Air Force dropped a tactical nuclear bomb onto Jam to force the Iranians into surrendering. Jam had no strategic military yet its population was subject to a nuclear bombing to convince the government in Tehran that if they can bomb a city with a nuclear weapon, the Eurasians will use nuclear weapons against every other city.

Despite that, the Eurasians installed a Radiation Cleaner, a device built based on research from the technology provided by the alien ship that crashed into Afghanistan twelve years ago. Once the Radiation Cleaner finished its job, Jam remained as a ruin to remind the Iranian people what would happen if they continued to resist.

After parking the Sadko at what used to be Jam’s airport, Farahani, Tarou, and Vos met a man with light intermediate skin, brown hair, and dark brown eyes. Farahani and the man shook hands, surprising the mercenary escorts of the former.

“How are you, Vahid?” the man asked.

“I’m well, Jamshid,” Farahani replied before gesturing to the man with the name Jamshid Vos and Tarou. “These two men are coming with me to Bandar Abbas.”

“Wouter Vos.”

“Tarou Ganji.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Jamshid Manesh. Follow me, I’ve already fueled up the plane.”

Jamshid led Farahani, Vos, and Tarou to his C-47 Skytrain transport aircraft. “Impressive,” Vos said. “First time I’ve seen a C-47.”

“It’s partly the reason why my clientele is limited,” Jamshid answered. “Even the rich from the Eurasian Tsardom have never seen a C-47 before.”

“We best hurry,” Farahani reminded.

“Right,” Jamshid replied. “Moving on, gentlemen.”

Jamshid, Farahani, Vos, and Tarou arrived inside the Skytrain. The latter three looked like they had just arrived in a candy store and were finding it difficult to pick what to buy. This was because the Skytrain, first built in the 1930s as the DC-3 civilian airliner, was seen as a rarity as a result of the damage from World War III.

“If you’re done looking, we must prepare for inspection,” Jamshid said.

“What inspection?” Tarou asked.

“Eurasian troops. They come here to inspect the customers I get.”

“And that’s where this comes in,” Farahani added as he showed his briefcase.

“Then we better hide,” Vos added.

“Mr. Ganji, please take my rifle,” Farahani requested as he gave the rifle Tarou took from the Eurasian Walgear pilot he killed yesterday.

“Now hide in the lavatory. Commander Farahani and I will have to talk to the Eurasians.”

Saying nothing, both mercenaries rushed into the Skytrain. They were able to find that the lavatory was located at the rear end of the plane and hid there. Both Jamshid and Farahani, managing to remove his ballistic vest and tossing it underneath the cockpit, came out as soon as they heard the engines of a Loshad. Leaving the Skytrain, Jamshid and Farahani saw two Imperial Eurasian Army soldiers coming out of the Loshad.

“Going out on another flight, Gospodin Manesh?” asked one soldier.

“Da,” Jamshid replied.

“Is he your customer?” another Eurasian soldier asked as he looked at Farahani.

“Why yes, I am,” Farahani replied. “I was just about to pay him.”

“And where are you going?”

“Bandar Abbas,” Jamshid answered. “Just a simple trip to there and back.”

“I see. Thank you.”

Both Eurasian soldiers got back inside the Loshad. After they left, Farahani and Jamshid returned to the Skytrain. As the latter got inside, Vos and Tarou got out of the lavatory with Tarou giving back Farahani his rifle and Vos his vest.

“I suggest you three get seated,” Jamshid requested.

Farahani, Vos, and Tarou said nothing else. As he got into his seat in the cockpit, Jamshid moved the Skytrain.

#

Outskirts of Kansai City, State of Japan. 1530 hours (Japan Standard Time)

“Now, what you need to know next is how to clean up your weapon,” Ishiguro explained to Tatev at a table and chair near the house of the former with the P220 Tatev used, safety glasses, pieces of cloth, and various instruments laid on the table. “Cleaning up your weapon is like cleaning up your body because if you don’t, it will be fatal to you.”

“Got it,” Tatev replied.

“First, move the slide back and inspect if the magazine is empty. Regardless of whether or not it is, remove it.”

Tatev did as Ishiguro instructed. “Next, put on the safety glasses.” Tatev found the safety glasses beside her and put them on.

“Now, do you see the takedown lever?” Ishiguro asked. “It’s on the left side of the gun.”

Tatev looked at the P220 and found the takedown lever. “You found it?”

“I did,” Tatev replied to Ishiguro.

“Now push it down to 6’o’clock position. After that, return the slide to the default position.”

Tatev then pushed the takedown lever downward.

“Next, push it forward again but this time, you’re to remove it.”

Without a word, Tatev did as Ishiguro instructed. Briefly, she returned the slide to the position she set it at a minute before but pushed it further, removing the slide from the P220’s frame.

“Next, remove the recoil guide rod and the spring running across it,” Ishiguro continued. “Do you see it?”

Tatev grabbed the P220’s slide and looked at it. She then found a circular rod with a metallic spring.

“Found it,” Tatev answered.

“Now remove it but from its rear end.”

Using her right hand’s index finger and thumb, Tatev grabbed the recoil guide rod from its rear end and pulled it out of the slide, followed by removing the spring. “Next, remove the barrel,” Ishiguro added. “Like with the recoil spring, remove it from its rear end.”

Tatev found another tube that was once below the recoil spring. As Ishiguro instructed, Tatev grabbed the tube from its rear and removed it.

“Now we can begin cleaning up the pistol,” Ishiguro announced. “Miss Mirzoyan, do you see the CLP bottle?”

“I do,” Tatev answered as she saw a spray bottle filled with liquid and the letters “CLP” on the label.

“Now I want you to spray the slide with CLP and to polish it with a toothbrush. Do you see the toothbrush?”

“Yes, I do,” Tatev answered as she saw a white-colored toothbrush.

“You’ll use that for polishing, but before that, administer the CLP. However, make the firing pin in the slide face downward because if you get CLP there, it will cause problems when you fire the gun.”

Tetev said nothing else. She did as Ishiguro instructed by grabbing the CLP bottle and the slide while keeping the latter’s firing pin facing down. Spraying the contents of the former onto the latter, Tatev put down the bottle and replaced it on her right hand with the toothbrush and polished the slide.

“After you’ve finished with the slide, polish the barrel. First, start with the exterior of the barrel and, like with the slide, spray the barrel with CLP then polish with the toothbrush.”

Tatev saw no need to open her mouth. As soon as she finished polishing the slide, she began to spray CLP onto the slide and use the toothbrush to polish it.

“After you’ve finished polishing with the exterior of the barrel, do the same with the interior,” Ishiguro continued. “To do that, get a piece of cloth and fill it with CLP. Not too much, though. After that, place the cloth with CLP onto the rear end of the barrel and push the cloth inside the barrel with the cleaning rod.”

Tatev looked to her right. She saw a black-colored stick and grabbed it but put it nearest the P220’s barrel. She then grabbed a piece of cloth and the CLP bottle, using the latter on the former. After that, she placed the cloth filled with CLP at its center against the rear end of the barrel after grabbing it with the area on the cloth filled with CLP positioned at the hole leading to the interior of the barrel. Grabbing the cleaning rod, Tatev rammed the cloth across the interior.

“Now grab another piece of cloth, fill it with CLP, and use it to clean up the recoil guide rod,” Ishiguro ordered.

Getting another piece of cloth, Tatev sprayed CLP on it. She got the recoil guide rod next and wiped it with the CLP-filled cloth.

“Now use the same cloth filled with CLP for the recoil spring,” Tatev did as Ishiguro instructed without saying anything.

“Now you must clean up the frame,” Ishiguro explained. “Before doing anything, make the front end of the slide point down then apply CLP.”

Tatev grabbed the slide of the P220 and, while using her left hand to hold the grip, she made the front of the frame point downward. She then grabbed the CLP bottle with her right hand and sprayed its contents onto the areas within the frame that needed to be polished.

“Now use the brush,” Ishiguro instructed with Tatev putting down the bottle and replacing it with her toothbrush, using it to polish the slide. “Don’t forget to apply some of the CLP you sprayed onto the slide with that toothbrush.”

Tatev continued by applying what Ishiguro added. “Once you’ve finished, wipe any dirt out of the slide. To do that, use a piece of cloth and fill it with CLP”

As Tatev finished with the frame, she grabbed the slide again with her left hand. With her right hand, she grabbed another piece of cloth and filled it with CLP. She then used the cloth to wipe the interior of the slide.

“Now, if there are areas where you can’t reach with your hands, use the cleaning pick that has a hook in it and use it to push the cloth onto the portions that you can’t reach by hand.”

Finding the black-colored cleaning pick Ishiguro spoke of, Tatev placed the cloth onto the portion of the slide she couldn’t reach with her fingers. Using the cleaning pick, Tatev pushed the cloth onto that portion of the slide and moved the cloth to clean.

“Next, you need to clean up the portion of the slide near the extractor,” Ishiguro continued. “Now you’ll need to use the pipe cleaner. If you’re having trouble finding it, it’s the white-colored rope.”

Tatev then found the object Ishiguro described. She then used it—the pipe cleaner—against the extractor of the P220’s slide to eliminate the substances lurking around the extractor.

“Now clean up the barrel again,” Ishiguro ordered. “This time, you can use the same cloth.”

Tatev grabbed the barrel and with the same cloth, she cleaned up both the exterior and the interior of the barrel. “Now then, clean up the frame again, but this time, use a new piece of cloth and fill it with CLP before beginning.”

Finding another piece of cloth, Tatev also got the CLP bottle and sprayed the CLP onto the cloth. “This time, you’ll have to clean up the front of the slide. I recommend using the cleaning pick.”

Tatev then pressed the cloth filled with CLP against the front of the frame. She then pushed the cloth onto that portion of the frame with the cleaning pick and began scrubbing.

“Once you’re finished, revert the takedown lever back to its original position because there’s an area in the frame that has to be cleaned separately,” Ishiguro added.

Putting down the cloth as she finished, Tatev reverted the takedown lever to the original position. Because of that, she now saw a portion of the front end of the frame she never touched before and pressed the cloth filled with CLP against it. Using the cleaning rod, Tatev cleaned up that portion with the cloth.

“Try cleaning up the rails again,” Ishiguro recommended. “Also, push the cloth onto the magazine chamber.”

Tatev took up Ishiguro’s recommendation and went for the rails again. After that, she proceeded to the magazine chamber. Once she finished, she looked at the gun to see if there was anything else to clean up until she saw nothing.

“If you’re done, now’s the time to lubricate the gun,” Ishiguro announced. “But before that, make the takedown lever point down again.”

Tatev complied without saying anything. “Now, do you see the white sachet?” Ishiguro added.

Turning to her left, Tatev found a white-colored sachet with letters written in blue. Among the words was “Mill-comm” with “TW25n” written below. “I do,” Tatev answered.

“Use it,” Ishiguro instructed. “First, place the TW25n onto the rails.”

After opening the sachet, Tatev applied the TW25n onto the rails. First, she applied the TW25n onto the rails of the frame then applied onto the slide’s frames.

“Now lubricate the barrel,” Ishiguro continued. “At this point, you can use either the TW25n or the CLP. Your choice.”

“I’ll go for the CLP,” Tatev replied.

“It’s your choice. Also, you don’t have to use too much CLP. Put enough that it will create a fingerprint and spread it across the barrel.”

Grabbing the barrel with her left hand, Tatev grabbed a needle bottle filled with CLP. After administering a small dose of CLP onto the barrel, Tatev put down the needle bottle and used her right hand index finger and thumb to administer the CLP throughout the exterior of the bottle. As she finished, she found a fingerprint on her right index finger.

“You can stop there with the barrel,” Ishiguro instructed. “Now re-insert the barrel onto the slide and lubricate the recoil guide rod next.”

Tatev inserted the barrel into the slide of the P220. Grabbing the recoil guide rod, Tatev squeezed the needle bottle with CLP once against the barrel. After that, she spread the CLP across the barrel.

“Once you finished applying CLP onto the recoil guide rod, re-attach the recoil spring. I recommend having the recoil guide rod be inserted through the recoil spring’s tight end, which is red. Do you see the tight end?”

With her right hand, Tatev got the recoil spring and found a red-colored portion. “I see it,” Tatev answered.

Ishiguro said nothing else. Tatev did as he suggested and ran the recoil guide rod across the tight end of the recoil spring.

“If you’ve finished, return the recoil guide rod to the slide above the barrel,” Ishiguro resumed.

Holding the slide with her left hand, Tatev used her right hand to insert the recoil guide rod back to where she found it.

“Next, apply some CLP onto the spring and the hammer in the frame’s trigger mechanism,” Ishiguro instructed.

Using her left hand to hold the P220’s frame, Tatev used her right hand to hold the needle bottle filled with CLP. She administered the CLP onto the portions of the trigger mechanism, found in the frame’s rear end, dictated by Ishiguro.

“Once you’ve finished, re-attach the slide to the frame,” Ishiguro dictated. “Push the slide as far as you can and after that, revert the takedown lever to its original position, then revert the slide to its original position.”

Tatev started by combining the slide with the frame. After that, she moved the slide to the frame’s rear as far as she could before moving the takedown lever. Only then does she revert the slide to its original position.

“Before we conclude, check for excess lubricant,” Ishiguro added. “No need to tell me what to do if you do find excess lubricant.”

Tatev examined the pistol and found that there was still excess Tw25n coming out of the rear end of the rear end of the overall pistol rails. Finding an unused piece of cloth, Tatev removed the excess Tw35n.

“We’re almost there,” Ishiguro said. “Now test the sliding action to see if the lubricant is working for the pistol.”

Tatev moved the P220’s slide back and forth. Ishiguro nodded as he heard the sound that came from the moving of the slide.

“Now test out the pistol. First de-cock it.”

Tatev found the P220’s cock. Finding a particular button between the grip and the hammer, Tatev pressed it. “Next, hold the trigger and move the slide backward.”

Using her right hand, Tatev held onto the pistol’s grip. Using her right index finger, she pulled the trigger firmly and moved the slide backward again as Ishiguro instructed.

“Now let go and press again to see if the trigger is reset.”

Tatev slowly let go of the trigger. She then pulled it again, hearing the hammer move.

“Before we conclude, I recommend that you should wipe off the last of the grease.”

#

Bandar Abbas, Eurasian Tsardom. 1154 hours (Tehran Time)

At what used to be Bandar Abbas International Airport, the female infiltrator calling herself “Šap” neared a door with a sign above it that read “Lounge Room,” in both English and written Farsi. Kneeling with her right leg, “Šap” laid onto the floor a small cockroach. She then brought out her smartphone and used it as the remote control for the “cockroach” by moving the “cockroach” onto the lounge room. After that, she now found what, or rather who, was inside the lounge room.

However, she neared the door, so she hid the smartphone without exiting the application. She then stood beside a male guard who didn’t know that the one standing beside him was a female.

“You really got to work on how long you spend in the bathroom,” the man opposite “Šap” said.

“Sorry,” “Šap” replied.

#

1200 hours

Jamshid’s Skytrain reached what remained of Bandar Abbas International Airport. Both Tarou and Vos, seated at the right side of the plane, saw the damage the entire city, including the airport, has sustained.

“Damn,” Vos said as he saw the damaged airport. “Will Jamshid be able to land this on a damaged runaway?”

“He’s done this before,” Farahani answered.

“I really didn’t think those Revolutionary Guards would be that determined to keep on fighting.”

“Be careful. Some of the other cell commanders, even the General, were former Revolutionary Guard officers.”

“No kidding.”

“I’m serious.”

“And you call your overall commander the ‘General’?” Tarou asked,

“Yes,” Farahani answered. “The General started the struggle despite having retired before the invasion. He was able to unite every resistance group despite differing political beliefs.”

“And you’re not worried about what would happen if you win?” Vos asked.

“I do. It’s a miracle I was even allowed to command my own cell.”

#

1218 hours

After the Skytrain landed, Vahid Farahani, Wouter Vos, and Tarou Ganji got off the plane. The three see a man carrying a G3.

“He’ll lead us to the meeting room,” Farahani explained. “So we follow him.”

“This should be good,” Vos said to Tarou.

The man with the G3 continued leading Farahani and the two mercenaries throughout the ruined terminal. The four stopped before a door with a sign above that read “First Class Lounge” in English and written Farsi. Two men guarded the door, and both carried the same rifle as Farahani.

“Who are they?” one guard asked.

“They’re with me,” Farahani answered.

“Very well, come in,” the other guard said.

The door was open for Farahani, Vos, and Tarou. As the three come inside, they found that the room was filled with men like Farahani. Farahani then sat down and crossed his legs and, reluctantly, Vos and Tarou followed suit.

The men who occupied the room all sat on the floor with their legs crossed. Everyone, including Farahani, Tarou, and Vos, surrounded a man in his late seventies with light skin, gray hair that included his beard, and dark brown eyes.

“We will now commence this meeting,” a man said before hitting the ground with his G3.

“Thank you, Commander Esfahani,” the bearded man said before facing everyone else. “Gentlemen, we meet again because we will discuss our next offensive.”

Everyone but Farahani, Vos, and Tarou began to talk amongst themselves about the idea of an offensive. “Be quiet!” the bearded man shouted, restoring order to the room. “Yes, we don’t have enough manpower to properly attack every Tsarist unit that occupies our country, so Commander Farahani and his mercenary escorts will explain.”

The bearded man gestured to Farahani, Tarou, and Vos with everyone else in the room, focusing their attention on him. Farahani and the two mercenaries stood up in response.

“For two days, we’ve trained new recruits,” Farahani explained. “These two men, Wouter Vos and Tarou Ganji, have assisted greatly in training the recruits. For a suggestion on how to conduct an attack against Eurasian forces, I suggest finding a target that is vital in which case the Eurasians will focus on us while leaving various positions lightly guarded.”

“Sounds tempting,” the bearded man remarked before he turned to the other cell commanders. “What’s your opinion?”

A man with short brown hair, dark intermediate skin, and blue eyes raised his right hand. “Yes, Commander Bakhtiar?”

“General, everyone, you must know by now that I’ve always agreed with Commander Farahani’s ideas,” the man who raised his hand said. “However, I believe that whatever attacks we plan from here on out will need adequate planning. In addition, Commander Farahani will need enough time to finish training his troops.”

“I concur,” another Brotherhood cell commander.

“But why do we have to rely on Commander Farahani?” another commander asked with his tone being contrary. “The last time Commander Farahani led an offensive, we lost many men and women.”

Farahani tried to charge at the commander only for Tarou and Vos to prevent him from doing so.

“Order!” the bearded man called the General with Esfahani hitting the floor with his G3. “If any of you don’t wish to agree to the idea, I suggest that Commander Farahani conduct the attack on his own.”

Barely calming down, Farahani sat down with Tarou and Vos following. “Now then, it is my order that dictates the courses of action within the Brotherhood as a whole. Therefore, for our attack, we will go with Commander Farahani’s suggestion because we’ve already heard from his second-in-command Lieutenant Dabri that Commander Farahani was able to acquire three Walgears. I have faith Commander Farahani will conduct such an attack if he was able to achieve such a feet.”

The General turned to Farahani. “Commander, do you have a target for your attack?”

“Bushehr,” Farahani answered without hesitation.

Every other commander with the exception of Bakhtiar complained with Farahani’s suggestion. Despite Esfahani’s repeated banging of the floor, the complaining continued only for Tarou to raise his Sikiyn against the ceiling and shoot twice, making every Brotherhood cell commander stop complaining.

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Gospodin – Russian for “Mister”. Cyrillic: господин