Red Alert in the Underground Bunker

Communications Bunker No. 4 at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Targon was cramped and hot, the smell of sweat and electronics mingling. Outside, the critical Delta Team patrol mission was preparing to enter the zone known as the “Red Arrow” objective.

Sergeant Torres, a cryptology specialist, suddenly slammed her hands on the keyboard. She had just intercepted a classified stream: the Red Arrow objective was completely compromised by a trap.

“Torres, what is it?” Staff Sergeant Blake, the security NCO, strode over. He was volatile, clutching his rifle tightly.

Torres held up the encoded printout: “It’s a trap, Blake! The old report was leaked. If they follow that route, they’ll all be killed.”

“Are you insane?” Blake roared, shoving his chair back. “They left the gate five minutes ago. Your intel hasn’t been confirmed, it’s just noise! You want me to abort an entire mission based on a pirated printout?”

“It’s the truth!” Torres yelled back, pushing Blake away.

The Struggle Among Teammates

The shouting was so loud that Captain Finn, the Station Commander, rushed in. He looked at the clock: T-minus 3 minutes until Delta Team turned onto the compromised route.

Blake, losing control, lunged and snatched the paper from Torres. “I’m ripping this up! We don’t have time for this hesitation, Finn! Orders are orders!”

“No!” Torres screamed, grabbing Blake’s arm and wrestling with him to keep the evidence. They both crashed into the signal processor unit. The alarm lights flashed frantically.

Finn couldn’t intervene fast enough. He knew Blake’s rage stemmed from fear for his team. But the desperation in Torres’s eyes and the data on the screen couldn’t be faked.

Blake, shaking free of Torres, bolted for the comms panel. His goal: transmit a fake “All Clear” signal to ensure Delta Team proceeded, eliminating all doubt.

“Stop, Blake!” Finn bellowed.

Torres was faster. She lunged, driving her shoulder hard into Blake’s back, sending his head slamming into the edge of the metal desk before he collapsed onto the floor.

Finn’s Choice

Blake lay on the ground, breathing heavily, his face bleeding. He still tried to reach for the transmit button.

Finn didn’t look at Blake anymore. He looked at the clock: 1 minute remaining. He snatched the radio microphone, looking directly into Torres’s eyes, who was panting, clutching the crumpled report.

“Authentication code, Torres. Tell me. Now!”

Torres pointed at the auxiliary screen, where a red code was blinking: “Our database is being monitored. The bomb trap is radio-activated. The alternate route is Route 3.”

No further explanation was needed. Finn took a deep breath and issued the command: “Delta, this is Alpha. Abort Red Arrow route. Immediately switch to Route 3. I repeat, Abort. Abort!”

The silence in the bunker was heavy. Blake remained on the floor, staring up at Finn with the look of betrayal. Finn simply looked back, his hand gripping the microphone. He had chosen to trust the cold truth of the data, even if it cost him a physical fight and an irreparable rift among his teammates.