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Resilience


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iii

Resilience

By

Spundan Das Gupta

EDUCREATION PUBLISHING (Since 2011)

www.educreation.in


iv


Resilience

1

The Trident Squad

“It was 3 years ago, a team of 10 soldiers lead by an

inspiring leader, Code Name SHIVA was sent on a

mission to an unknown planet - it was named X601... I

don't know who it was who named it but whoever it was,

he lacked style..., scouts had reported that the planet was

rich in a certain metal, which, if it was mined could

solve the issue of power for our world. The metal, like,

everything else, had its disadvantage... or advantage in

our case, it could be weaponized. I guess we were not

the only people who knew it.

For years, we the soldiers of BASE have been fighting

the ANTI-NATIONALS, a faceless organization who

loves to hire people with not only serious anger

management issues but who have failed miserably in

disaster management too. A lot of good men and women

have died because of them and if they were to be

stopped, well, we had no issues weaponizing it... hell if

it is; even the anti-nationals thought so and thus, began a

race as to who will reach the planet first. Like all old

men in high positions making big decisions... strategic,

in their language... the mission had a catch... yeah, a big

prize if we could first 'catch' it.

The team was assigned to scout an ancient cave; reports

indicated it was... not a natural formation. Well, imagine

that! Code Name SHIVA, I remember told us... the

curious lot... that the old men in high positions were


Resilience

2

explaining the mission in such a way that it could raise

the hair on our skin... there is a word for it but at this

juncture, I don't remember... anyway, Code Name

SHIVA commented that he would be disappointed if

there was nothing really special inside that cave that

could, well, not just raise the hair on the skin but raise

something else too... if you know what I mean.

The team headed for the planet, while we on our world

were eagerly waiting for news. What happened was very

much expected, but the end result was not. Code Name

SHIVA ordered the pilots to activate invisibility even

though we got news that there were no anti-nationals

around. They landed about 4 kms away from the cave,

Code Name SHIVA then ordered the pilots to keep the

engine on standby just in case they were suddenly

attacked and had to escape. The team reached the cave...

indeed, it was not a natural formation, it was built by

whom, there was no clue, reports indicated it looked like

a temple, someone had come here and built a Hindu

temple dedicated to Lord... BRAHMA... Yes, Lord

Brahma... reasons strictly confidential? Nah, there was

no sufficient Intel on the temple, so stamped

confidential.

The rest of the story is where, I have no choice, but to

say that it is all a rumor or a legend... or whatever, you

people want to call it. It is said that the team found

something hidden; something so powerful it could be the

end of everything. There were those who said that they

had found something which if it fell in the wrong hands,


Resilience

3

could mean the destruction of the universe... or, it could

mean control of the entire universe based on whatever

that thing was... not much idea. The team agreed to blow

up the temple and had set the charges, but before, they

could escape, the anti-nationals attacked them.

They were too many of them, 4 soldiers died in the

firefight but not before, they killed 20 anti-nationals...

still, it was a losing battle and there was no way they

could escape, not without destroying the temple. Code

Name SHIVA and his last surviving soldiers fought to

their last bullet. In the end, only Code Name SHIVA

remained and he was badly wounded, there was no back

up... he didn't call for it... there was no way he would

call anyone to learn what he had found. We tried all our

best to contact them, reach them but all we got was a

message - they were under attack by anti-nationals, they

found something, it is DANGEROUS and should be

destroyed.

Then, after, 20 minutes, it was Code Name SHIVA with

his last transmission - we have failed, sir... there was

nothing we could do, nothing except, show you this. It

cannot be found, it should never be found.

It is said that Code Name SHIVA had actually revealed

the video of the temple and in the blink of an eye, it was

destroyed completely by the bombs, a gentle press of the

trigger by Code Name SHIVA and the screen went

blank. 3 years have gone by, the report is classified,

sealed tightly behind doors that even the old men in high

positions don't have access to or maybe, there is no such


Resilience

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report, no such record...it is just a story... but someday, I

feel, the truth will come out and I am waiting for that

day.”

Captain Shekhar completed his story, perhaps for the

millionth time and looked at his squad.

"Seriously Sonia, how many times will you listen to that

story? Do you really think it is true? Nobody has any

proof of such an incident and yet, you keep listening to

it." exclaimed Mahesh.

"Well, maybe, I am being positive, waiting for the day

when Shekhar would actually reveal the truth. The way

he tells the story, it looks like he knows something but

he is hiding it." said Sonia.

"Oh, my dear Sonia, you are trying to pester me to the

extent that I will reveal everything. Sorry dear, there are

better story tellers than me and their mouths are sealed

tight... direct order from top." said Shekhar, with a

smirk.

"Yeah, hard as it may seem but this is more a rumor than

a story. No proofs, no records, I have a newspaper

cutting which just states that 10 men died, martyred by

anti-nationals, even the pilots couldn‟t make it so all

proof of what actually happened that day were lost." said

Lieutenant Jenny, passing on the newspaper cutting to

Mahesh and Sonia.


Resilience

5

"Great, we have heard the story so many times and it is

today, that you are showing us the newspaper cutting."

said Mahesh.

"Well, you people are exceptional; however, you are yet

to face the true test of a soldier - the test of feeling

helpless in a situation yet still trying to be strong. You

people need the motivation, so here it is." said Jenny.

Mahesh and Sonia looked at the cutting; it was dated

15th November, 2178, exactly 3 years ago.

"Alright, so that is what the ceremony is for down

there.” said Sonia.

The Trident Squad, as they were called, was perched on

a high tower to be on a look out for any anti-national

activities that could happen during the ceremony. They

looked down as everyone was ready to begin the

function - the remembrance of the fallen soldiers of

planet X601.

“One thing I still don‟t understand, why so much fuss…

and media attention for this mission alone? This is not

the first time that BASE lost so many soldiers, yet, this

mission seems to be receiving all sorts of coverage

possible." stated Sonia.

Shekhar looked at Sonia, the latter‟s curiosity was

something that could make even the best speakers go

speechless in a few seconds.


Resilience

6

“This mission was authorized by our Leader, Junaid,

taking control of planet X601 was a priority back then.

Colonizing that planet would mean more power and

resources for our growing population and… definitely, a

new world for people to settle down.” Jenny, realizing

that Shekhar was in a fix, answered Sonia‟s question.

Jenny looked at Shekhar and smiled while the latter

could only scratch his head feeling embarrassed.

“So, you people are saying that this ceremony is a way

to please the families and friends of the fallen souls and

to keep the media‟s mouth shut from asking too many

questions about the failure of this mission. No wonder

my father says that God and Politics are the only 2

„things‟ in this world that are omnipresent.” said

Mahesh, in a sarcastic tone.

The others agreed to that statement and laughed at it.

“Well, there you go, Mahesh. So many unanswered

questions… and the fact, that the leader and the old men

in high positions have no answer is the reason for this

political gimmick. A lot of facts have been hidden from

the media and public. When the time comes, pretty sure,

the floodgates would open with all the answers we

need.” said Shekhar.

Jenny took her binoculars, scanned the area and said,

"There is nothing in sight yet. Oh wait! The General is

here along with Leader Junaid."


Resilience

7

Sure enough, the commentator followed, "Ladies and

Gentlemen, please welcome, Our Leader of the Nation,

Mr. Junaid, and General Bakshi."

All the people present rose up and clapped, Jenny

panned the binocular to another part of the ground and

could see a lot of people holding placards, some were

good… some were filled with criticism of the leadership

council that was responsible for the smooth functioning

of the nation.

"We should have been down there." said Sonia.

"Doing what, listening to boring speeches, speeches are

never going to bring them back. We are soldiers, we are

here to fight and protect... and that is how we can

remember them. These functions, I hate them, they are

more a propaganda for stupid politicians to advertise

their ignorance." said Mahesh, as he tried to cock his

rifle but instead it jammed.

"Easy, buddy. I agree with you but for now, fingers on

your triggers, and get into position." said Shekhar.

"Shekhar, something is not right." Jenny exclaimed; "the

Lt. Col (Lieutenant Colonel) is supposed to give the

signal but..."

"Yes, I noticed. We have some really „young‟ officers

being given high post yet they don't know what to do

with it... does not matter. Jenny, signal everyone. Tell

everyone to stay alert, nothing should go wrong from


Resilience

8

here." said Shekhar, as Jenny got on the radio and asked

every squad on all 4 watch towers to stay alert. Within

seconds, the message was acknowledged.

The trident squad took their sniper rifles and then took

their positions. Shekhar saw Jenny cocking her rifle; he

looked at her rifle with great interest. The sniper rifle

was state of the art but Jenny's was different... it was

heavily modified from a standard issue. Every 3 months,

she would walk up to the weapons lab and find out

anything new that they had developed which she could

add to her weapons. Her friendship with Prakash, the

head of BASE Research and Development, was the

reason why it became quite easy for her. The last thing

you know, she would already have the upgraded version

of anything before anyone else, with research and

development team getting the feedback about the new

products absolutely free, and so what was new today?

"Shekhar, I met Prakash again at the lab." said Jenny.

"And I am dying to hear what is new!" Shekhar

commented.

"He said that they are working on a prototype – a tactical

based target indicator that can differentiate between

civilians, soldiers and anti-nationals.” said Jenny.

“I thought we already have that, our weapons are already

pre-loaded with it… even now; it is able to tell who is

good and who is bad.” said Shekhar.


Resilience

9

„But what if… what if an indicator can actually tell you

on the spot whether an anti-national has breached

security and can actually point the arrow towards that

person.” said Jenny, still aiming down sight.

Shekhar had to hear no more. He put down his rifle,

walked towards Jenny and snatched her rifle. Aiming

down sight, he asked, “What are you coming at, Jenny?

Which way should I aim at?”

“The tower right in front and something tells me those

are not our people.” said Jenny.

Shekhar aimed the rifle towards the tower in front and

zoomed in. His blood froze as the target indicator

starting recording and amplifying the voices of the

soldiers in that tower. He heard the voice for a few more

seconds and then, without a second thought, he fired the

rifle… direct hit… a soldier‟s head blasted jolting

everyone who heard the rifle shot. Within minutes, there

was panic everywhere as Shekhar again shot another

soldier.

“They are not our soldiers, they are anti-nationals. Signal

everyone, they shouldn‟t escape.” Shekhar ordered in

anger.

Indeed, the people in the opposite tower were anti-

nationals masquerading as BASE soldiers, they returned

fire. General Bakshi glanced at the firefight going on

between the towers as he along with the other officers

surrounded the Leader and safely had him board his


Resilience

10

convoy. Within minutes, the convoy was on its way

from the ceremony.

Jenny took the sniper rifle from Shekhar and aimed it.

One of the anti-nationals had a detonator with him, she

shot him but it was too late as the man had already

pressed it. A series of explosion was heard.

“Where is the explosion coming from?” asked Sonia.

Mahesh fearing the worst, looked down, the tower they

were in was rigged to explode.

“Those fools have rigged our tower and it is coming

down, we need to get out of this thing!” exclaimed

Mahesh, in horror.

“So this is what you were saying, Jenny… about feeling

helpless in a situation yet trying to be strong.”

Commented Sonia, as the tower was losing its grip and

falling.

“Oh yeah, wish granted, girl!” Jenny replied to that

comment.

“Enough chit chat, you want to live, follow me, or I am

leaving you behind.” saying, Shekhar strapped his rifle

to his back, grabbed a grappler and fired it at the tower

in front, and then holding on to the equipment, jumped.

The others looked at each other and followed suit.

The tower collapsed to the ground as the trident squad

hung on to their grapplers. With a push of a button, they


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