Chapter 20: chapter 20

Riya nodded at Raj and then turned to the rest of the team. "We have a chance to catch these terrorists while they're regrouping at their camp. Let's move quickly and quietly."With their primary objective of disarming the missile accomplished, the team made their way back through the dense forest, retracing their steps to the terrorists' camp.As they approached the camp, they could see the terrorists gathered around a campfire once again. They seemed unaware of the danger that lurked nearby.Neha's voice came through the secure line, providing updates. "The force will be reaching you any minute, neutralize these terrorists."Riya knew that they had to seize the opportunity before it was too late. She whispered to her team, "We'll split up and take them by surprise. Remember, our primary goal is to capture them"The team proceeded with caution, taking up positions around the camp. Priyanka remained with Riya, her camera ready to capture the unfolding events.As they launched their surprise attack, chaos erupted in the terrorists' camp. The element of surprise had worked in their favour, and the terrorists were caught off guard.Riya's team moved swiftly, using lethal force to incapacitate the terrorists.But just as they were gaining the upper hand, one of the terrorists managed to trigger a distress signal. It was a high-pitched alarm that echoed through the forest, alerting the other terrorists in the vicinity.Neha's voice crackled through the secure line. "Riya, you need to wrap this up quickly. Looks like more terrorists are on their way to your location."Riya knew that time was running out. They had to apprehend the terrorists and secure any remaining evidence.The team pressed on, subduing the terrorists one by one. But it was clear that they were running out of time. The sound of approaching footsteps grew louder, indicating that the more terrorists were closing in.Just as they were about to apprehend the last terrorist, a gunshot rang out. One of Riya's team fell to the ground, he was spot dead. A bigger group of terrorists had arrived, and they were heavily armed.Riya and her remaining team quickly took cover, engaging in a firefight with the incoming terrorists. It was a tense and dangerous situation, and they were outnumbered.Priyanka, who had been taking cover with Riya, felt a surge of fear. She knew that her photographs would be of little use if they didn't make it out of this alive.Neha's voice came through the secure line, filled with urgency. "Riya, fall back and regroup. We can't risk losing more lives."Riya knew that Neha was right. They couldn't win this firefight, and their priority had to be their safety.But in that moment suddenly the cosmos had other plans. Plan of not letting Riya loose. Neha's Special Force Soldiers came gushing into the scene, firing heavily on the terrorists. Riya was relieved, she again asked her team to open fire, and the team started firing again.As they killed the terrorists one after another, a sense of joy and triumph was building up in Riya's team. The soldiers had saved Riya from another failure this time.Riya's team continued to exchange fire with the incoming terrorists, but the soldiers who had rushed to their aid quickly turned the tide of the battle.Under the combined assault of Riya's team and the Special Force Soldiers, the remaining terrorists were swiftly neutralized. The firefight that had once seemed dire now turned in their favour.Amidst the chaos, Priyanka, who had been crouched beside Riya, continued to document the intense battle with her camera. Her hands trembled with fear and adrenaline.Once the last terrorist had been subdued, Neha's voice came through the secure line once more. "Riya, the area is secure. Good work."Riya acknowledged the message with relief. They had successfully captured the terrorists and prevented them from regrouping. It was a victory, albeit a hard-fought one.As the soldiers secured the captured terrorists, Riya's team regrouped to assess their injuries and take a moment to catch their breath.Sameer, one of Riya's trusted team members, approached her. His face was smeared with dirt and sweat, but his eyes were filled with determination. "We did it, Madam Sir Riya. We stopped them."Riya nodded, a sense of pride welling up within her. "Yes, Sameer, we did. But we couldn't have done it without the soldiers who arrived just in time. We owe them our thanks."Priyanka, who had finished taking photographs, chimed in, "These images will tell the world about the bravery of our soldiers and the dedication of our team, Major."Riya smiled at Priyanka, appreciating her dedication to capturing the truth. "You've done an excellent job, Priyanka, thank you, my friend, Riya reminisced about her college days with Priyanka, when they used to beat the boys who tried to tease them and they both laughed. We have done it again together, this time more dangerous boys!"With the captured terrorists in custody, Riya's team and the soldiers began the process of gathering evidence from the camp. They confiscated weapons, communication devices, and documents that could provide valuable insights into the terrorists' plans.As they worked, Neha arrived at the scene, her expression a mix of relief and determination. "Riya, excellent work. We've neutralized this threat, but we can't afford to become complacent. We need to interrogate these terrorists and find out more about their organization."Riya agreed. "Yes, Neha. We also need to analyse the documents we've recovered. They might contain information about any plans or targets."Neha turned to the soldiers who had joined the operation. "Thank you for your timely assistance. You've made a significant difference today."The soldiers nodded in acknowledgment, and one of them spoke up. "We received a tip about the terrorists' presence in this area. We knew we had to act quickly."Riya's team and the soldiers worked together to transport the captured terrorists back to the cantonment, where they would be held for interrogation. Neha started to document the entire process, ensuring that every detail was captured.Back at the cantonment, the captured terrorists were placed in a secure holding area, and the interrogation process began. Riya and Neha took the lead in questioning the terrorists.One of the terrorists, who seemed to hold a slightly higher rank, spoke up. "You may have stopped us today, but there are others out there. Our cause will continue."Neha leaned in closer, her voice firm. "We'll do whatever it takes to stop your organization. Your threats won't deter us."As the investigation continued, Riya's team discovered that the terrorists had been planning a series of coordinated attacks on civilian targets."Neha, we need to inform the authorities and other security agencies about these planned attacks. We can't let innocent lives be at risk."As the information was relayed to the authorities, the cantonment went on high alert. Security measures were intensified, and civilians were urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.In the days that followed, Riya's team and the soldiers received commendations for their bravery and quick thinking. They had prevented a major terrorist attack and had dealt a significant blow to the terrorist organization.Priyanka's photographs were published in newspapers and magazines, highlighting the heroism of the soldiers and the resilience of the cantonment. The public was made aware of the ongoing threats and the need for continued vigilance. Priyanka's photographs served as a record of their success.But even as they celebrated their victory, Riya couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the terrorists' plans than they had uncovered. The captured terrorists had hinted at the existence of other operatives, and Riya knew that they couldn't rest until the entire organization was dismantled.Colonel Rathore shared Riya's concerns. "We need to keep up the pressure on these terrorists and gather more intelligence. We can't let our guard down."Neha nodded in agreement. "We'll continue to interrogate them and track down any leads. Our mission is far from over."As the sun rose for the next day and the white snow clad mountains shined, the cantonment’s sense of accomplishment was strengthened by the chilling wind of Leh, and the colours in the sky were sharing their happiness.Neha, Riya, and their teams were now the new heroes and they prepared to face whatever challenges lay ahead. But for Riya the path to success was still far away.~~~~~