Chapter 11: "Deception and Delaying Tactics: The Dreg Legion's Surprise Attack"

They slowly opened their eyes to a gruesome sight but as expected only one person was standing.

But there was no blood on the ground, Lieutenant James was shivering and had fallen above the ground but the shot was missed.

As they stood in shock, Lieutenant James struggled to catch his breath. "Why did he miss?" he thought to himself.

The rebel force leader had missed but why?

They quickly found out the answer as sirens started near the entrance of the capital street. The UPKF had infiltrated the capital city.

"Fuck.. fuck how, this is impossible we have already captured the 'Sword Legion' only one team was sent here goddamnit how?!" the rebel force leader cursed under his breath.

Lieutenant James let out a dark chuckle as he slowly got back up on his feet, his eyes fixed on the rebel force leader. "Who said we are the 'Sword Legion'?" he said, his voice laced with a mixture of amusement and coldness. "We are the 'Dreg Legion', and this was just a delaying tactic to infiltrate the city." The rebel force leader's eyes widened in shock and confusion, as he realised he had underestimated the 'Sword Legion's intelligence and cunning.

The rebel force leader was taken aback by James' words. "What are you talking about?" he asked, confusion and anger etched on his face.

"We were sent as a decoy to buy time for the Sword Legion to infiltrate the city. Our mission was to keep you busy while they made their move," James explained, his voice filled with a sense of satisfaction.

The rebel force leader couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You son of a bitch," he spat out. "You tricked us!"

James shrugged. "War is not about being fair. It's about doing whatever it takes to win," he replied calmly.

The sound of approaching sirens grew louder, signalling the arrival of the UPKF. James stood up and dusted himself off. "Looks like our ride is here," he said, gesturing towards the approaching vehicles.

The rebel force leader gritted his teeth and raised his gun again, aiming it at James' head. "You may have won this battle, but the war is far from over," he growled.

James didn't flinch. "You're right. The war is far from over. But you just lost this battle," he replied, as the UPKF vehicles screeched to a halt behind him.

The rebel force leader hesitated for a moment before finally lowering his gun and disappearing into the darkness. James and his team quickly climbed aboard the UPKF vehicles and drove off, leaving the rebels behind.

Inside the military vehicle of the Dreg Division, Lieutenant James was briefing his team on the plan they had executed to fool the rebel force leader.

"So here's what we did," he said, "When the 'Dreg Division' came to calm the protestors I knew of these roadblocks being sponsored by the Rebel Force. I knew the rebels would ambush us as they would not set a roadblock if they didn't want to ambush, so I asked the Dreg Division to follow us and turn on their sirens when the team is in danger. Meanwhile, we slipped into the city under the guise of the Dreg Legion, a team they had no idea even existed."

The team erupted into laughter at the thought of how they had pranked the rebel force leader.

"It was like taking candy from a baby," said one of the team members.

Lieutenant James grinned, "Well, we can't take all the credit. The Shield Legion provided us with the intel we needed although they were late but we can't blame them, and the Dreg Division's sudden arrival whom the rebels thought was the Sword Legion was the cherry on top. We just had to make sure we played our cards right."

The team members chuckled, feeling proud of themselves for pulling off such a clever plan. They knew they still had a long way to go before they could secure the capital, but for now, they were enjoying the small victory.

Meanwhile Shawn POV :

"Ohh fuck no! " screeched Shawn as he found out that the communications of the reconnaissance team was handled by the Shield Legion.

Shawn and his team members quickly rushed to their vehicles, their minds racing with the urgency of the situation. As they sped towards Shield Legion's headquarters, the tension in the vehicle was palpable. Everyone was panicking, trying to come up with a plan of action.

Shawn's heart was pounding in his chest as they approached the headquarters.

The vehicles came to a stop, and the team members jumped out, their weapons at the ready. They moved quickly and efficiently, taking cover behind any available obstacles as they made their way towards the entrance.

But, "Stay here I don't want a massacre to happen, " Says Shawn while controlling his seething anger.

Shawn stepped out of the transport and looked around at the desolate landscape. The remote station of the Shield Legion was nothing like the bustling city he had just left behind. The silence was eerie, broken only by the sound of the wind whistling through the abandoned buildings.

He made his way towards the main building, his heart pounding in his chest as he tried to keep his emotions in check. He couldn't believe that the Shield Legion had betrayed them. They had always been allies, working together to keep the interests of the UPKF in their mind. But now it seemed like everything had changed.

As he approached the main entrance, Shawn noticed that the door was slightly ajar. He pushed it open cautiously and stepped inside. The interior was just as deserted as the outside, with no signs of life anywhere.

Shawn's mind raced with a million questions as he approached the remote station of the Shield Legion. He couldn't believe that the team he had trusted and worked with for so long had betrayed them. "They were traitors and bribed by the rebels right?!" he thought to himself, his anger growing with each passing second.

As he walked through the gates of the control room station, he was met by a tense atmosphere when he saw Sergeant Williams lying unconscious and bruised on the floor. The Shield Legion soldiers eyed him warily, their hands resting on their weapons. Shawn knew that he was in dangerous territory, but he had to confront them.

"Where is your commander?" he demanded, his voice cold and steady.

One of the soldiers stepped forward. "He's not here, sir," he replied, his eyes flickering with a hint of fear.

Shawn narrowed his eyes. "Don't play games with me," he said, his voice laced with anger. "I know that your team has been working with the rebels. I want to know why."

The soldier hesitated for a moment before finally speaking. "We were promised power and riches if we helped the rebels," he admitted, his voice shaking slightly. "We couldn't resist the temptation."

Shawn's anger boiled over at the soldier's words. "You betrayed everything that we stand for," he spat out. "You have brought shame to the Shield Legion."

The soldier lowered his head, ashamed. "I know, sir. I am sorry," he said quietly.

Shawn took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. "Where is your commander now?" he asked, his voice still steely.

"He's gone, sir," the soldier replied. "He left as soon as he heard that the rebels were coming. We haven't seen him since."

Shawn clenched his fists in frustration. He knew that he had to report this to the higher-ups, but he also knew that time was of the essence. The rebels were getting stronger by the day, and they couldn't afford to have traitors in their midst.

"Get your team ready," he ordered, his voice firm and chilly. "We're going to the front lines. And take care of Sergeant Williams right now any damage happens to him cause of your torture I will have to send you to Hades.

The soldier nodded, relieved to have a chance to redeem himself. "Yes, sir," he replied, before rushing off to save the Sergeant and rally of his team.

As Shawn made his way back to his own unit, his mind was filled with a mixture of anger, disappointment, and determination. He knew that they had to fight harder than ever before to win this war. And he was going to make sure that the Shield Legion paid for their betrayal.

Shawn took out his HoloSender and called Colonel Henderson.

When the call was picked up Shawn shouted -

"What the hell is going on here?!" he barked, his voice laced with anger and disbelief.

"I'm sorry, Shawn, but we had no choice. The rebels gave us two choices,one we cooperate with them and they gives us the resources of Lithium Ero, two disobey them and get decimated and we had to make a deal to save our own skin," The Commander explained, his voice calm and measured.

Shawn's fists clenched at his sides. "And you didn't think to tell us? To give us a chance to prepare? And what about the UPKF they could have protected you" he spat out.

The Commander shook his head. "I'm sorry, Shawn, but we had to act quickly. We didn't have time to warn you and the UPKF doesn't care about a loss of a few lives hence they would compromise us for the sake of maintaining their presence on the planet," he said, his voice tinged with regret.

Shawn couldn't believe what he was hearing. He had always trusted the Shield Legion, and now they had betrayed them. "You're a traitor," he growled, his eyes blazing with anger.

The Commander voiced reasoning, his face stern. "I did what I had to do to save my people," he said, his voice unwavering.

Shawn's chest heaved with anger, and he took a step forward, his fists still clenched. "You sold us out. You betrayed everything the Shield Legion stands for," he said, his voice trembling with rage.

The Commander didn't flinch. "I did what I had to do to protect my people. And I would do it again," he replied, his voice steady.

"You're a traitor, and you deserve to pay for what you've done," he spat out

The Commander justa stayed silent, and Shawn slowly spoke, his eyes fixed on the ground. "I trusted you," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

The Commander sighed. "I know. And I'm sorry. But we had no other choice," he replied, his voice filled with regret.

Shawn didn't say anything. He knew there was nothing left to say.

UPKF Headquarters in Lithium Ero Planet :

Shawn, The Shield Legion and the 63rd Battalion of the Sword Legion except Lieutenant James's group stand near the headquarters of UPKF on this planet

The UPKF Headquarters in the Lithium Ero Zone is a marvel of futuristic architecture, standing tall and proud amidst a landscape of gleaming skyscrapers. As you approach the building, you can see that it is a massive structure, stretching high into the sky, with a sleek, metallic exterior that seems to glimmer in the sunlight.

As you get closer, you realise that the building is actually floating a few metres above the ground, held up by a network of powerful anti-gravity generators. The effect is breathtaking, as if the entire structure is hovering effortlessly in mid-air, defying the laws of physics.

The entrance to the building is a massive, circular portal that opens up to reveal a futuristic lobby filled with sleek, minimalist furniture and cutting-edge technology. The walls are lined with holographic displays that showcase the latest UPKF projects, and there are interactive kiosks where visitors can learn more about the organization and its mission.

Security is a top priority at the UPKF Headquarters, and the futuristic measures in place are truly impressive. As you walk through the lobby, you can see a network of advanced sensors and scanners that constantly monitor the building and its occupants. There are armed guards stationed at strategic points, dressed in sleek, black armor that looks like something out of a science fiction movie.

The entire building is protected by a force field that is impervious to all but the most powerful weapons, and there are automated defense systems that can respond to threats in milliseconds. The security cameras and drones patrol the exterior, keeping a watchful eye on the surrounding area, while the advanced AI algorithms monitor all communication channels for potential threats.

Overall, the UPKF Headquarters in the Lithium Ero Zone is a stunning example of futuristic architecture and advanced technology. From its floating structure to its cutting-edge security measures, this building is a true testament to the incredible potential of human ingenuity and innovation.

They walked the spiral staircase that had fallen from the building after they walkid kn to force shield.

"Everyone brace yourselves for a storm to occur as we are going to meet the Head of the UPKF's War Department, Niemen Coles."