Europa- 20XX- War museum, Edinburgh- Valkyria

"Grandpa! Grandpa! Is that you in that photo?" A boy joyfully asked his Grandfather as he struggled to keep up with his over-energetic grandson.

Coming to see the photo hanging in a display case showcase four people in the Federation military uniform, two male and two female and a dog. All of the soldiers were standing behind a tank that was similar to the one that was being displayed at the entrance of the museum. The grandfather stared at the picture only to see his younger self with pride as his memories flashed all the time he spent during, on how he lived and fought back then.

"Never thought I'll see this photo again." The old man's eyes then were drawn to the writing beside the wall, it reads 'Edinburgh Army 101st Division, 1st Battle Brigade, 32nd Armored Ranger Battalion, 2nd Regiment, Platoon E commanders, NCOs, and mascot- By Miles Arbeck'

"Miles?", The old man chuckles, "I see you donated that old thing huh?"

Seeing the picture slightly tilted, the old man's instinct was to reline the frame but as he did another picture fell out from behind. With a closer inspection of the frame the old man could see the frame was slightly broken but what was more surprising was the picture he found from behind.

It was 5 people in an unusual military uniform and a large vehicle that looked very advanced for its time. He flipped the photo to see writing that said,

"History would never know about us. But that will not stop our fighting spirit." -Alistair Marsden, leader of Oracle Squadron of the Royal Marines Commandos

The old man widened his eyes in surprise as he stared deeply into the photo, remembering the face he saw in that photo.

"Marines... Alistair? I missed you old friend"

****

Many years ago- Afghanistan- 20XX

*SPLASH!*

a bucket of cold water splashed into Private Terry Fisher's face, abruptly returning him to consciousness. He coughed and wheezed out the water from his mouth and nose. The Private's mind was racing as his survival instinct started to kick in and started to hastily move his body to move about but worryingly he found himself tied to a chair.

He jolted his head to the right and left to view his surroundings, Private Terry could see that he was being held in a small room that was only being lit by a sole light bulb on the ceiling. His face was a mess, his mouth was bleeding, his right eye was swollen shut, and a deep cut on his left cheek.

Upon realising his situation, terror is the only thing the private feels. Suddenly, Terry coughed out blood and then looked up to see a bearded man who held a dripping bucket. This was something out of Terry's nightmare when he saw the man's face that showed a mix of hatred and delight.

"So Englishman tell me... Do you have a family?" the man said in English with a strong Arabic accent. "I would be pleased to know before you'll be on live television for your beheading. And so we could pass any last words for you."

Terry didn't know what was worst, being beheaded or having a terrorist passing on a message to his family. After being drugged and beaten all night long, he just wants a quick end to his pain but not like this.

Terry attempted to speak but was halted with a bloody cough.

"How about I shoot you instead." The Private chuckles.

"Perhaps your ego needs a little adjustment."

His captor nodded to an armed grunt who happily cracked his knuckles. Terry didn't know how much more pain he could endure before his mind would collapse.

As the young private thought, this is going to be the end. But abruptly the door of the room started to be hastily knocked.

A loud shouting of desperation could be heard in Arabic as the person knocked on the door. The interrogator angrily spoke back in his native language before the knocking became silent.

After muttering under his voice the interrogator faces the Private with murderous intent. "Where were we?"

In an instant, the door of the room came open with a thunderous crash as it swung into the room. Two defining noises were heard that almost may the private's ears bleed and without a moment past the two captors is dead. Terry saw a silhouette from the outdoor light, it could've been days since he saw the light from the sun.

Terry raised his head for his vision to slowly recover from the brightening sun. "Terry?" A voice echoed through his ringing ears.

The Private then recovered his vision only to see familiar faces, one was an Asian man who wore the standard-issue uniform of the Royal marine. He has two green lines that stretch from his eyes to his cheeks and was carrying an L128A1 Combat Shotgun. Terry could also see a bright red cross on one of his many pouches.

"Thapa?" Terry weakly said as he held back his tears. The private couldn't express the amount of relief that he has for both himself and the two marines. The only thing he could think to do was to nervously chuckle, "You madman. You fucking madman... Where's your girlfriend?"

Lance Corporal Tej Thapa chuckles, "Holding her own out there, Fish. And she is not the only person I brought with me. Croft's waiting at the rendezvous."

"Thank you... All of you." He then had fallen unconscious.

Seeing the young Private falling unconscious, he hastily cuts off the zip tie that tightly straps Terry onto his chair and quickly assesses his wounds, but luckily the damage was significantly more tamed than what it could have been. Just looking at the Private was enough to horrify many people but to the Nepali marine, it was another day on the battlefield. Tej then picks up the Private and puts him on his two shoulders before heading out of the room.

Tej reached for his radio and called in another marine, "Mac. I got Fish, how's the situation?"

"Kinda busy! Help could be useful right now Thapa." An angry female voice erupted from the radio.

Tej sighs, "Always in a pickle huh?"

The Lance Corporal quickly dash off out of the building with the injured private on his shoulders. He certainly felt the strain on his two shoulders not only from Terry but also from his equipment.

It was hard to keep a silent presence with a heavy load of his guns and gears. There were a few close calls with the enemies who cautiously patrolled the street but thanks to the ongoing firefight with his fellow partner, he managed to pass through them with ease.

Tej took a turn into a narrow alley, thinking it was a shortcut but as he exited the alley he came face to face with a Taliban fighter.

"Ah, bollocks..."

Without hesitation, the Taliban raised their gun at Tej and was about to fire, but the Nepali marine quickly drew his pistol and emptied his entire magazine at the fighters. Tej knew those shots would draw some attention and hastily he dash off into the street.

Sitting inside of a Toyota pickup truck, Corporal David Croft anxiously waited for one of his teammates to arrive.

*Thud!*

David's adrenaline suddenly rushed through his veins as a sound could be heard from the back of the truck. The Marine rushed out of the truck, guns locked and loaded as he cautiously made his way to the back trunk.

"Thapa? Fish!" David lowered his gun at the sight of his teammates. "Jesus... What the hell did they do to him?"

"He's still ok. Barely..." Tej replied grimly as he wrapped up the young private with bandages.

David looked at Terry with remorse, thinking of how such a thing could happen to him. Never in his life that David would ever put himself in Terry's position. But as he looked away to face Tej and watched him carry Terry to the back seat of the vehicle, he found something odd.

He never once sees Tej without his partner in crime. He tapped the Nepali on the shoulder and asked, "Where's Macmillian?"

"She's busy," Tej replies as he swapped his shotgun for his SA80A2 Assault rifle. Hearing gunfire intensifying by the second he cocked the gun and prepared to head out. "Take care of fish, Croft. If I don't get back before 5 mikes then leave and don't look back. Got it?"

"Got it," David said reluctantly. "Try not to get yourself killed Doc."

"I'm impossible to kill." Tej cheekily replied smiling.

Tej ran headfirst into the alley without a second thought, running into the gunfire without fear. The only thing he thought of at that moment was his voice constantly telling himself, 'We all could survive'.

With the sight of a Taliban fighter, the Nepali raised his rifle, cheeks on the buttstock, eyes down the sight and without hesitation he pulled the trigger.

The Jihadist's head jolted back and his blood painted itself on the other member's face. Tej wasted no time in taking quick and precise shots, ensuring that all of his enemies were stone dead.

Soon several more Taliban fighters emerged into the street and returned fire, sending the Nepali a volley of lead, forcing Tej to dive into cover.

"God bloody damn it!" Tej's voice echoed through the street as a tracer of the bullets flew past the Taliban fighters fired on him through the dense alley of an abandoned mess. It was filled with garbage and unburied bodies from the previous battle that took place a few days ago.

One Taliban took out a grenade and tossed it at the marine. Tej suddenly froze in fear at that moment but just in time, he was tackled out of cover.

"Thapa! Watch out!" A female screamed with a thick northern Scottish accent. She pushes herself and her partner into cover and away from Grenade and drags him into another concealment to avoid the incoming wall of lead.

The shockwave of the exploded grenade pushed her to the ground but quickly she recovered. Tej looked up to face his partner with relief.

"Thanks, Mac."

"I thought you're supposed to be supporting me!" She angrily shouted.

"I'm pretty sure it's pronounced, you're welcome."

"Uh!"

Scarlet went to peek over the cover to get a good look at their attackers but rapidly the jihadists fired at her immediately, almost hitting her by an inch. The female soldier could swear she saw her Scarlett red hair floating in her vision when she ducked back into cover.

A hail of bullets was unleashed onto the two Marines' cover. Lance Corporal Scarlet Macmillan gritted her teeth in frustration and angrily shouted, "God damn it, they're everywhere!"

Seeing the situation unfolding, her Nepali partner bravery moved out of the cover and returned fire at his attackers. Despite the inaccuracy of the jihadists, some bullets were finding their marks but that didn't stop the Nepali marine from aiming down into the scope of his assault rifle with his dark green eye as he laid down a few accurate fires at his attacker's position. Foolish or not, the Nepali hoped that this would draw fire towards him knowing very well that most of his enemies are inexperienced by the way they're handling their weapons.

Hastily, Scarlet rolled out of cover and started to help her partner by taking out the jihadists with one precise shot to each of their skulls.

Slowly suppressing their enemies they retreated to the alley. Tej saw a quick opportunity to put down some behind them. It took some time before the smoke full-formed and when it did, the marines ran for their lives into the alley where home awaits.

Meanwhile, David's head was leaning against the driving wheel as well as constantly checking his watch and hoping that his two partners are back before the time expires.

'Come on guys.' he mentally mutters over and over again.

"Croft..." A voice weaky said, David, jerked his head to see Terry who had finally reawakened. The Private was relieved to see a familiar face and better yet he finally saw the sun shining brightly on his face.

"Stay resting, Fish. We'll be home when the two get back."

"The two?"

Suddenly a heavy thudding sound was heard from the rear of the truck and it was followed by a loud, rapid knock. Quickly, David was shocked to see the Nepali and his Scottish partner on the boot. Tej was knocking on the glass of the rear window whilst shouting, "Drive! Fucking DRIVE!"

Right there, David ignites the engine and pushes the accelerator to the floor. Soon a group of Taliban came from behind the vehicle and opened fire at them. Tej and Scarlet lay flat on the trunk to avoid the incoming fire as David navigates his way around the town. Swarms of Jihadists started to appear everywhere from rooftops to the road, Desperately trying to kill the trespassers.

"Looks like we rattled the Hornet's nest." David loudly mutters as he spends the wheel to turn sharply to the right towards the town's exit.

Tej looked up to assess the situation, but as he viewed the rooftops his pupils shrunk as his eyes caught a glimpse of an RPG-wielding Taliban. With instinct, he fired at the Jihadist with pure desperation with all of his shots focused on the man. But rocking of the truck made his shots fly far too wide and all of them missed.

Tej knew he had no time to reload his rifle. He knew by the time had passed the Taliban fighter would open fire and all of his teammates would be engulfed in a violent fireball. He closed his eyes in defeat and prayed a miracle could happen.

*BANG!*

His right ear violently rang as a rifle shot was fired. He saw the Taliban's head jolted back with his blood splattered on the building. Tej turned his side to see Scarlet eyes' down the scope of her gun with its barrel smoking, she then turned to face her partner.

"What would you do without me?" she asked, smiling

Tej laid back and sighs in relief before smiling back at his partner, "Nice shot."

Scarlet let out a chuckle for a brief moment as she suddenly fisted a pain coming from her leg. Tej looked down to see a pool of blood pouring from her left thigh. His partner went pale and soon passed out.

"MAC!" Tej rips open his velcro pouch and takes out a bandage and a zip tie. Hastily he tied up the upper thigh and applied pressure to her leg. "Stay with me, Mac... Stay with me..."

*****

I've decided to completely rewrite the story. I'm very sorry for this, but I think this will be for the better as my writing has improved. I also will be improving on some aspects of the old story. I'm very surprised that this book is this popular. Thank you so much for your support and I'll see you next time.