Chapter 16: chapter 16

The revelation that Captain Veer was involved with the insurgents left Major Riya and Major Neha in a state of disbelief. They had trusted him implicitly, and now he had betrayed not only their friendship but also their cantonment.As Veer was held in custody, the question of the true identity of "Crimson Dagger" loomed large. It was evident that Veer had been coerced into working with the insurgents due to threats against his wife, Soniya. The rescue of Soniya became a matter of utmost urgency.Neha called for an emergency meeting to strategize their next move. Colonel Rathore and other trusted members of their team were present, their expressions grave.Neha opened the meeting. "We have to find out who 'Crimson Dagger' is and locate Soniya before it's too late. Veer might have been forced into this situation, but we can't ignore the threat 'Crimson Dagger' poses."Riya added, "Our priority is to extract information from Veer regarding 'Crimson Dagger's' identity and about what they were communicating."Veer, who was now a broken man, spoke up. "I'll cooperate fully. I'll tell you everything I know, but please, you have to find Soniya."Colonel Rathore nodded with empathy. "We'll do everything in our power to locate her, Captain Veer. But first, we need to ensure your safety and extract any information that might lead us to 'Crimson Dagger.'"Neha instructed their intelligence officer, Captain Rana, to begin the debriefing of Veer while she and Riya continued to analyse the decrypted messages and other evidence they had gathered from Aman’s conversations.As the debriefing progressed, Veer revealed crucial information about the identity of "Crimson Dagger." He was a terrorist who had been working with the locals. Veer explained that this person only communicated through calls and used code words. Soniya had gone to his mother’s place in Ludhiana, where she had been kidnapped. Veer was told that if he didn't cooperate, parts of her body would be sent to his home every day.Captain Veer also confessed that Captain Sameer had been set up to draw attention away from him and Aman, as suggested by the terrorist and he only had roped in Aman because of their bond.“Why didn’t you tell me once? I thought, we too had a bond?” Riya stared at Veer."Please understand Madam Sir, they had warned me if I tell you anything, Soniya will be killed, I didn’t know how to handle this and gave in to his demands. Please bring Soniya back safely. I'll do whatever it takes to make amends for my actions."The revelation of a terrorist's involvement sent shockwaves through the room. This was an immediate threat, and no one had suspected it to be this significant. Riya felt a mix of anger and determination to catch this person soon.Neha placed a reassuring hand on Veer's shoulder. "The high command will do their best to get her back safely, Captain Veer. Your cooperation has been invaluable, and we believe you're committed to making things right."Neha wasted no time. "We need to apprehend this person immediately. Let's involve the central intelligence and secure any evidence related to him, such as phone calls and message locations during his interactions with Captain Veer!"Colonel Rathore agreed. "We'll coordinate with our intelligence team to locate him. But our priority remains Soniya's rescue. We can't waste any time."Col. Rathore called the high command to debrief them about the new revelations. He was assured that Soniya would be rescued soon, but they needed to find all possible terrorist hideout locations.Hours turned into days as Neha and Riya's team worked tirelessly, following every lead and analysing every piece of information. They discovered that terrorists were hiding in a remote, heavily guarded insurgent camp deep within the forest. They were using drones and local support.Neha knew they couldn't afford to delay the capture operation any longer as the terrorist would soon know Veer has been captured. To give themselves more time, Neha planned  to leverage Veer as a link to deviate the terrorist’s attention and let him continue to pass information to the terrorist but this time as per her directions.She assembled a team of their most skilled and trusted soldiers to launch the mission to capture the terrorist "Crimson Dagger."With that, Neha and Riya set out for the insurgent camp, their hearts heavy with determination and the weight of their mission.As they approached the camp under the cover of darkness, they silently incapacitated the insurgents guarding the area, without firing a single shot. Neha, Riya, and Sameer, who had been redeemed, killed all the guards stealthily and finally reached the place where the terrorist leader was staying.Neha looked through the window and had a clear shot at the leader who was discussing something with two more armed terrorists. Without making any delay, Neha pulled the trigger of her gun, and the bullet pierced the Leader's head and soon after she killed his accomplices too. The Crimson Dagger's reign of terror had come to an end.Amidst the chaos, Riya managed to breach the camp's defences and locate the makeshift prison where local villagers were being held. They were bound and gagged, their eyes filled with a mixture of fear and relief upon seeing army personnel. Among these villagers, Soniya was one of the hostages.Riya was ecstatic to find Soniya there and rushed to free her, her voice filled with urgency. "Soniya, it's going to be okay. We're here to get you out."With Soniya safely in their custody, they made a hasty retreat from the insurgent camp, taking all the evidence they could find through the forest to reach safety.Back at the cantonment, Veer anxiously awaited news of his wife's rescue. When he saw Soniya being brought back, tears welled up in his eyes, and he rushed to her side. They held each other tightly, the weight of their ordeal finally lifted.Col. Rathore approached Veer, his expression serious. "Captain Veer, you kept your promise, and we helped you bring Soniya back. But your actions have consequences, and you will face a court-martial for your involvement with the insurgents."Veer nodded, his gaze filled with acceptance. "I understand, Colonel. I'll face the consequences of my choices."Both Aman and Veer were escorted away for their trials, the cantonment began the process of healing from the wounds of betrayal.In the midst of the turmoil, Riya and Neha found solace in the knowledge that they had rescued Soniya and dismantled the insurgent network within their ranks. The cantonment had weathered the storm and emerged stronger, more vigilant, and more united than ever.The sun set on a chapter of their history marked by deception and danger, but it also marked the beginning of a new era of unwavering commitment to protect their cantonment from any threat, no matter how intimidating.Though now Major Neha was in control of the cantonment and Riya demoted, Riya was happy about finally ending the series of terrible events that had engulfed their dear cantonment into a battleground.One question still lingered in Riya's mind: What were the terrorists planning by shifting their focus from border safety to internal conflicts?~~~~~