Operation Storm Forge: No Return

The night had grown heavy with tension as Katsaros and his team crept closer to the enormous bridge. The structure loomed ahead, casting a cold, dark shadow across the river, like a snake slithering across the land. Every step closer felt heavier. The highly trained and alert German guards were clearly visible with their weapons ready to fire.

“We need to get past the guards,” Katsaros whispered to his team. His voice was stiff, but inside, his heart was pounding like about to explode “Pavlos, we need a diversion,” he said

Pavlos, the sharpshooter of the team, nodded without a word. He was always calm, always calculating. Pavlos moved like a cat without making any noise or getting spotted, and in no time was at the edge of the bridge.

The German patrols had no idea what was coming. With a sharp click of his rifle, Pavlos fired a single shot into the air, far enough away from the bridge to cause a disturbance but close enough to make the guards react. The noise echoed through the air like thunder. Immediately, the guards turned, scanning the night, their weapons drawn.

Katsaros signaled to his team. “Now!”

The team moved like shadows, slipping past the distracted guards as quietly and quickly as possible. They took cover in the shadows under the bridge, breathing heavily but silently. Everyone knew what they had to do.

The plan was rig the bridge with explosives so as the explosion would complete make the bridge to collapse. Georgiou, the explosives expert, moved forward first. He was calm under pressure, his hands steady as he prepared the charges.

Katsaros couldn’t help but glance back toward the German patrols. The guards were still distracted, but they wouldn’t be for long. They had only minutes before the Germans realized the shot had been a diversion.

“Georgiou, hurry,” Katsaros whispered. “We don’t have much time.”

The explosives expert nodded and set quickly to work at placing the charges at critical points along the bridge. The soft sound of metal and wires connected was the only noise in the darkness, every click of the timer a reminder of how little time they had left.

Katsaros kept his eyes trained on the guards, he could feel the cold sweat on his neck, could hear his heartbeat thundering in his ears. He glanced at the shadowed faces of his team in the dim light, their expressions just as focused and determined as his own.

Finally, Georgiou took a step back. “Charges are set,” he whispered. “We need to get out of here before they realize what’s happening.”

Katsaros nodded. “Let’s go. We move fast.”

They moved back, back under the cover of the trees, moving swiftly toward the edge of the river. They were almost in the clear when disaster struck.

A German soldier suddenly appeared from behind a nearby rock. He was no more than five meters away from them. The soldier stared straight at them, his eyes wide with surprise. For one moment, it seemed as though time had almost come to a standstill. Katsaros knew they had been seen.

Not even thinking, he dived to cover himself and pulled his teammates with him. The soldier yelled a warning. His voice was sharp, almost panicked, but before he could raise his rifle, Pavlos had opened fire. The gunshot was very loud in the night air and was followed by the body falling onto the ground.

“Run!” Katsaros yelled, and the squad took off. The cry of the German soldier had alerted the rest of the patrol already. In no time, the entire bridge was alive with warning.

They ran, their legs thumping on the ground, breath ragged. The shouts and running footsteps came echoing back to them from behind. But they could not stop. Not now. Not when they were this close.

As they reached the riverbank, the sound of the explosion echoed through the air. At first it felt like a distant thunder, but quickly grew louder. The explosives had detonated and the massive structure had been torn apart in a burst of flames and smoke. The roar of the explosion became deafening, and seconds later the shockwave knocked them to the ground.

Katsaros looked back, seeing the bridge dissolve into the river just in time. The plans of the Germans were shattered. They did it. But he soon realized that they couldn’t stay there. The Germans would be comingin and fast.

The team sprang to their feet, hearts racing as they sprinted into the cover of the trees. The sound of sirens filled the air, and soon, the faint glow of German searchlights began to sweep across the dark landscape. The chase was on.

But Katsaros couldn’t help but feel a small victory. The mission had been accomplished. They had hit the Germans where it hurts. And regardless of what may come next, they had proved that they are not invincible.