High School Soldier
First job on the front line

five days later, in the 21st Northern Border Zone. This is the real mission that Team 12 First Lieutenant Commander Nio Candranala wants.

It is a place that is a potential war zone, consisting mostly of arid grasslands and wastelands and decorated with dozens of giant stones, which can be called the Northern Line. Up ahead, it is enemy territory, aka the territory of the Luan Empire which has only controlled a small part of the Holy Land since the establishment of a young country called the Yekirnovo Kingdom. Perhaps that is why they continue to fight with Yekirnovo and its allies, in order to regain territory and regain control of the Holy Land that was previously largely controlled by them.

There are dozens of units each unit of power between one team of 12 people to a unit as large as a company, one unit sent to guard the border is Team 12. Because it is impossible to send all the contingent soldiers of Indonesia, Russia, and North Korea to patrol the border, the contingents of Yekirnovo and Arevelk sent 500 to 1,000 of their soldiers to stand guard in the zone unguarded by the contingent from the other world (Indonesia, Russia, and North Korea).

Field uniforms with shades of desert brown and dark gray, which they get from the latest production that is special for Peace Forces in other worlds, the, and instead of the new field uniform being removed from the warehouse in a dusty state. There is nothing prohibiting soldiers to wear accessories such as ‘keffiyeh’ wrapped around the necks of some male members, they will get scattered if they run a mission without wearing a thread.

(olog note: keffiyeh is a scarf that is often used by the people of the Middle East, as well as troops who carry out missions there.)

Although this was the front line, and war could happen at any time, these team members instead looked rather bored. Usually, they would get messages to go around doing patrols in zones that were often seen the movement of the Alliance Forces. However, they choose to stay inside the tent, or climb trees and watch around using binoculars rather than draining fuel to patrol.

Some of them want to take a walk in the ‘kumer’ enemy warriors, or the ruins of buildings around here. About 2 kilometers from the border line, there are thousands of mounds as high as 30 centimeters which is a marker if there are people buried there… it was precisely the grave for the Alliance soldiers who were killed during the raid of the Expeditionary Force earlier. Their hope was that if they crossed the border line and went around the enemy's grave, they might be able to find the treasure left behind by the enemy soldiers who had been killed in the previous war.

Some team members are seen doing mundane work, such as preparing groceries, cleaning and tending to tents, or spending time as they please.

The sound of footsteps wearing heavy-sounding warrior boots approached a team member named Hendra with the code name ‘Founder’. The Corporal Two-ranked young man sat on a branch of a tree that was about to die, while monitoring around with binoculars affixed to his eyes.

“Hendra! Hendras! You see anything?”

Nio was like an unexpected guest from Hendra who had been comfortable with the calmness since separating from the rest of the team this morning. Nio looked from under one of his members who was sitting on top of a tree branch 5 meters above him while chewing a very hard ‘biscuit soldier’. At least, with a biscuit with a level of violence said to be half of the bricks it makes soldiers who eat it can feel full all day by eating a biscuit alone.

Hendra has stated that the tree he climbed was his, and became his territory to monitor the situation around. And Nio is a border violator without the slightest guilt.

“Nothing since this morning, Lieutenant. Since our first day here, I've only seen a few horsemen, and a building that looks like a fortress that I estimate is 7 kilometers from where we are.”

“To be exact our distance from the fortress is only 5 kilometers, we should continue to be aware of the troops in the fortress.”

“...ready... execute.”.

Although she considers Nio as a nagging border-breaker and disturbs her composure from the noise of the other members, she still needs Nio to help her with some things. Nio, who is two years younger than him, is considered a veteran alongside other former Expeditionary Force personnel, who survived the Alliance's major raid some time ago.

“Oh yes, the food is ready, so do not forget to eat. Or do you want me to bring him here?”

Hendra was silent for a moment after hearing Nio's words which were like a mother who was very understanding with her son.

“Thanks, Lieutenant. But after this I'll be there soon.”

Nio answered him with a nod, and Hendra again monitored the surroundings with binoculars that had a maximum range of 10 kilometers. Nio then looked at the expanse of land corresponding to their field uniform, and a 1-meter-tall peg mounted along the border line was seen 3 kilometers ahead of Nio and Hendra. The clear blue sky left them barely aware of being near the enemy's nest, and some other rare sights such as fantasy animals approaching the female members who were cooking.

This was another world that was connected with a special magic called the Gate, and made them easily enter and exit this world. However, it created a hell called ‘medan war’, and Nio made it through. He was a believer in heaven and hell, especially a heaven devoted to warriors like himself. Every time he saw his new subordinates, he felt like protecting them and would not let any of them fall on this otherworldly battlefield, and will not allow the existence of a second Chandra-Chandra and so on. Apart from the team members are not entirely from Indonesia, but the members who come from North Korea, Russia, and other worlds are the responsibility, he said, and Nio felt that protecting them was an obligation and he had to do it just like protecting the person he wanted to protect.

Hendra who prefers to stay away from things he doesn't like or makes him unsettled keeps an eye around, while occasionally giving time off for his eyes and himself. He had a body that was not very side by side, and was slightly taller than Nio as well as two years older than him. After feeling long enough to perch on the tree branch and its stomach that has been churned after smelling the distinctive fragrant aroma of roast meat from the direction of the place of cooking, Hendra came down from the tree quickly as he was highly trained for this, or before joining the TNI Main Force Command he often did work that required him to climb trees.

The daily patrol in anticipation of the Alliance's surprise attack, made Hendra take the task as his chance to gain some calm. Then, the 12th Team, which was mostly special soldiers, did not have to worry about the enemy's surprise attack, given their combat power as well as communications to the center were fast enough to respond to any requests and orders from the soldiers serving on the front lines.

“Ta-da…! This is what I call the otherworldly roast chicken.”

“Surely it doesn't taste good, Ratna.”

“Hei! watch your talk, Russian! I am Ratna, the person who will become a famous military chef in the future.”

“Then, finish this war first.”

“Betul.”

Warrior Two Ratna or code name ‘Koki’ is one of the 12th Team members who volunteered for the task of cooking today. He looks like a 1st grade High School kid, but he's actually the oldest member on this team. He is 25 years old this year, and a former nutrition science student at one of the universities in the city of Surakarta.

Edera, who is a contingent of volunteer personnel to help this team to become a road guide or informant, or they could be on duty if they needed an assassin who could finish off a target in a short period of time without throwing a single bullet just responding as necessary to a team member coming from the Russian contingent. He was one of the volunteers assigned to assist the unit tasked with guarding the border zone. For Edera, although the task on the front line is not expected, but the existence of Nio makes him served with pleasure.

A female soldier from the Russian contingent named Cyzarine Zefanya laughed after seeing Ratna's reaction after her comments on the cuisine of the girl who uses the ingredients in the form of world poultry meat similar to chicken, which is very similar to chicken, but as big as a goat. The ingredients for the seasoning are imported directly from Indonesia, which is in the form of instant spices.

(olog note: shadowin tuh chicken same gedenya ma goat:v)

The three of them were at a cooking place made of the stone arrays they found around the campground. Although the success makes Ratna look upset, Zefanya's joke is a boredom breaker that hit the three of them.

Zefanya's bright blue eyes lead to Nio and Hendra walking side by side. The two of them seemed to be heading somewhere, and did not turn towards the three of them who were preparing the dish. Meanwhile, in addition to feeling jealous of the blonde hair that looks very beautiful in his eyes, Ratna and Edera are also equally curious about the bandage wrapped around part of the body to the face of the Russian girl.

“He smiled quite often apparently. Unlike the rumors I heard from the officers,” Zefanya looked with a slightly surprised look with Nio who spoke while slightly smiling with Hendra.

“That was just a rumor, but he did seem to smile a lot. What do you think, Edera. Haven't you been with the captain a lot since the beginning he was assigned here?”

Edera was quite surprised by the question she received, and the face of the person who gave the question, aka Ratna, looked very curious and followed Zefanya who also felt that way. He was only afraid that the rumors that made Nio his object also contained about his right hand that had been cut off, and the rumor makers said that the cause was one of the volunteers.

Ratna then smiled and apologized to Edera, “Ah, sorry I didn't seem to notice. Actually you and the captain have no duty today, so we can give time to you both.”

“What are you saying?! I don't think of anything like that!”

“Attack? Do you intend to mempe*kosa Nio hah?!”

“That's how to play Russian.”

**

The team was lucky enough to have water resources, as they were near a small lake. Teams wash clothes or others in the water source that is always filled with water. At least, the small lake can be used to swim and play water.

“What are you doing? The water turned out to be quite warm, quickly enter!”

Nio was quite agitated when the small lake they ‘kuasai’ was filled with male members who were stark naked, and showed missiles each equipped with two eggs. Who invited them is Hassan with the code name ‘Barista’, he was soaking while leaning on one of the rocks in the lake. Others have been seen choosing to swim with each other, or comparing the size of their missiles to others.

Then, the other thing that Nio was worried about was if there was someone who happened to pass by and saw them naked. He was not worried about the female members, as they definitely had no thoughts of peeping at the men. However, the male members who are all teenagers who are immature in some ways always strategize every night to perform a non-combat operation called ‘peek’. Nio always warned them not to do so, or the women would cut off their missiles and eggs.

Nio hopes that what he sees now are female members swimming, and not male members who are ‘missile’ which is not at all interesting. He felt enough ‘trauma’ to soak with the men since ‘rudalya’ became the center of attention of Expeditionary Force personnel when visiting the capital Arevelk a few months ago.

The personnel who were going to take a shower or some sort of body cleanse did not need to worry, as Nio had set a limit that was pulled 20 meters from the edge of the lake. Then, the border zone is a region that is very feared by local residents, so it is very rare for people to cross here unless it is very tight.

They also often go around looking for additional foodstuffs in the form of edible plants and edible wild animals. That's why they were so lucky to have Edera on their team, because without the girl they thought they would eat poisonous plants and animals, then die silly. The supplies they were carrying should have been able to keep them afloat for a month, but they also wanted to taste the grilled meat instead of the very loud rations and biscuits of the army despite being very filling.

Then, there was the voice of the female members calling out to Nio, and it kept repeating itself and made Nio's ears uncomfortable. He paused his intention to join the male members soaking together, and approached the source of the voice.

Two female members of the North Korean contingent that made Nio wonder “Why do they recommend all female prospective members?” it was heard telling Nio to quickly approach the two of them.

However, the more Nio approached them, he saw if the faces of the two members who came from North Korea were agitated. It made Nio feel a bad premonition in his heart, and made him even more curious about the report that the two of them would give.

“There are hundreds of enemy horsemen approaching here, an estimated time of sixty minutes for them to arrive at our place!”

The North Korean girl named Nam Ae Ri really showed a very clear face of panic.

“Who is in charge of monitoring the situation?”

“Oh it's me”

The one who answered Nio's question was Ae Ri's colleague named Ro Ga Eun, her face showed an expression that exceeded anxiety.

Nio's eyes narrowed sharply towards the territory of the Luan Empire, and saw his audible male members still comparing the size of their anu with others. He could hear rumbling sounds that might be coming from the Alliance's cavalry.

“Accepted. Thanks for your report, are the other women ready for combat?”

“They are ready in position, and ready to welcome the enemy.”

That did not mean if this team fought it would be an easy fight, because the estimated number of enemies numbered hundreds of the Alliance's cavalry.

“Come to leave, captain.”

The one who spoke earlier was Ferdi with the code name ‘Teacher’, he and all the male members had re-worn their field uniforms.

When Nio and the male members who had been wearing full combat clothes while carrying assault rifles in front of the chest arrived at the place where three units of armored vehicles were parked, the, the entire female members had been waiting for them with smiles mocking the late men. Three tactical vehicle units have automatic weapons in the form of 12.7mm heavy machine guns with control systems, so team members do not need to stand when the vehicle is speeding to fire a heavy machine gun.

Hundreds of enemies were still much better than facing 300,000 warriors who attacked three times a day. It is said that the Alliance managed to destroy most of the armored vehicles, and made the Expeditionary Force soldiers fight with swords and shields. There is no battle without loss. And death will approach every living thing suddenly.

“All is complete, right?”

All the members are already in tactical vehicles, and Nio is in one of them and sits next to the driver named Arif with the code name ‘Pulis’. The young man heard every word from Nio speaking from his wireless communication device. Nio's voice explaining the tactics they were going to use was so calm, and made all the members prepare for battle.

After choosing a location to carry out an ambush in the form of several stones that were as big as a house, Nio exhaled heavily in a comfortable vehicle. He had been estimating since being ordered to lead one of the teams if he had to lead his subordinates to battle again.

Tactical vehicles could move much faster than a horse protected by metal plates, and were ridden by a soldier wearing metal armor as well which slowed his movements slightly. The vehicle that Nio and four other members boarded with the addition of Edera will lure the enemy to chase them while shooting, and the enemy will be, the second vehicle will carry out explosive attacks using grenades and rocket launchers while carrying out fire as well, and the third vehicle will be a fire aid while separating some of the total number of enemies and then annihilating them with the weapons they have.

Even without looking, Nio could feel how much power and formation the horsemen were riding on. Nio knew that the Alliance's cavalry were very flexible and used the tactic of ‘attack then lari’, where they would attack who was their main target, and disregarding those who were not their main targets, he said, they will then retreat if they reach their destination or reduce the number of their enemies.

“To the Undead, the enemy is 500 meters away from our place!” a member codenamed Nurse, aka Gita reported the situation she had seen from an aerial drone she had flown and landed an aerial drone near the lake.

The Undead is the code name given to the superiors who knew Nio had fought in the middle of life and death.

After the second and third vehicles had hidden behind the enormous rocks, the first vehicle that Nio was riding on moved towards the enemy to lure them. Situations like this, where small forces have to look for opportunities to defeat larger forces look like a reckless thing, but for that they are trained.

**

(tactical vehicle illustration, image source pinterest)