Chapter 387 Exchanging Fire
The soldiers, under Wilmot's command, moved toward the residential area to regain control and ensure the safety of the city's inhabitants.
As the soldiers entered the residential neighbourhoods, they were met with an eerie silence that hung heavy in the air.
Doors and windows of the buildings lining the streets were tightly closed and shuttered.
It was as if the entire area had been sealed off from the outside world.
The absence of normal daily sounds—no laughter of children playing, no chatter among neighbours, and no hum of activity gives the soldiers a sense of foreboding.
"This is giving me the creeps," one soldier muttered, his voice barely above a breath.
"Yeah, it's like a ghost town," another responded, scanning the desolate streets.
The soldiers advanced cautiously, their footsteps breaking the unnerving quiet that had settled over the area.
The hollow echo of their boots on the pavement seemed to magnify in the hushed surrounding, as if the silence itself was watching their every move.
"It's too quiet, you know," a third soldier remarked, gripping the strap of his rifle tightly.
"Keep your guard up and stay alert, soldiers." said their squad leader. He looked toward the neighbourhood, "We don't know what kind of foe—"
Bang!—
Their conversation was interrupted by a sudden burst of gunfire.
"Enemy presence! Take cover!"
The sudden crack of gunfire shattered the stillness, jerking the soldiers into immediate action.
Panic briefly flashed across their faces, but their training kicked in, and they swiftly sought cover.
Bullets whizzed by, striking nearby walls and sending dust and debris flying.
The soldiers quickly assessed their positions, trying to locate the source of the attack amid the maze of buildings and narrow streets.
"I don't see a damn thing!" one soldier exclaimed, peering over a wall.
"Same! They're good at hiding, damn it!" another soldier gritted his teeth.
Bullets continued to fly, making it impossible to discern the exact location of the secessionist forces.
The enemy was concealed within the labyrinth of buildings. Their exact locations are masked by the twisted alleys and structures of the urban landscape.
The secessionist forces, determined to hold their ground, used every available vantage point to engage the soldiers.
"Stay low and don't shoot randomly! Conserve your ammo." Barked the squad leader, "We need to pinpoint their position first."
Rapid bursts of gunfire punctuated the exchange. The soldiers fired in the direction of suspected enemy positions, hoping to flush them out. As a result, smokes began filled the air, obscuring their vision further.
"Cap! Over there! Movement on the third floor, three buildings down to the left!" One soldier yelled.
Their heads swivelled in unison, focusing on the northwest building.
"I see them!" the squad leader exclaimed. "We need to close in to their position!"
Without further ado, the soldiers zeroed in on the enemy position. Shots echoed through the streets as they began to unleash gunfire in the direction of the assailants.
As they successfully identified the secessionist force's position, the soldiers began a coordinated advance.
They maintained a steady barrage of shots, suppressing the secessionist forces' ability to respond effectively while making use of whatever available cover they could find.
"We are getting closer. Get ready to breach in!" said their leader.
Bang—
But just as they were preparing to make their move, a sudden gunshot rang out, followed by the sound of a bullet passing them.
The soldiers immediately sought cover. Their hearts pounding in response to the unexpected threat.
"What the..." the leader wanted to say something but got cut off mid-sentence by another the sharp crack of gunfire.
"Enemy spotted across the street, Cap! They're closing in on our position," one of the soldiers warned urgently.
"You've got to be kidding me!" the leader cursed under his breath.
The situation had taken a dire turn.
Now, they were faced with the daunting challenge of battling not one but two secessionist teams simultaneously.
The soldiers steeled themselves for the impending clash.
But just in the nick of time, another squad arrived to support the besieged soldiers.
Their squad leader quickly assessed the situation and shouted orders, reminding everyone to exercise caution and highlighting the potential presence of hostages. "Provide cover for our brothers."
Gunshots were fired, forcing the incoming secessionist rebels to halt their advance.
The newly arrived squad rushed to their position and asked, "You guys okay?"
"Not really but you came just in time. How's the other place faring?"
"It's under control," the newly arrived leader informed. "But you need to be careful. They might have taken hostages."
"Understood," the leader responded. "I'll leave you guys to deal with the other group. We're going to tackle the ones inside this building."
The leader of the newly arrived squad nodded in agreement. "Alright, but don't take too long. We need to end this before nightfall."
He glanced at the sky, realizing that the sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting an orange hue across the city.
The soldiers had been so absorbed in their intense firefight that they hadn't noticed the advancing twilight.
The newly arrived squad promptly moved into position, covering their comrades as they prepared to breach the building.
Meanwhile, the besieged soldiers burst into the building and began their ascent to the third floor, where they believed the secessionist fighters were holding their ground.
"Keep in mind the possibility of hostages." The leader's voice carried a tone of caution as he reminded his team.
The soldiers nodded in acknowledgement as they cautiously scoured the ground floor of the building, checking every room and corridor for any sign of secessionist fighters or potential hostages.
As they made their way toward the second floor, their footsteps echoed in the dimly lit building.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
The tension in the air rose as they approached the staircase. Weapons were raised and fingers poised on the triggers.
Bang!—
Bang!—
On the second floor, they encountered sporadic gunfire.
The leader swiftly signalled his team to take cover behind a corner, where they waited for a lull in the firefight.
After a few tense minutes, the gunfire subsided and no presence of enemy was found.
The soldiers seized the opportunity to advance to the third floor.
They moved cautiously, checking each room and hallway for any signs of the secessionist fighters.
New n𝙤vel chapters are published on f(r)e𝒆webn(o)vel.com