Will the truth be known?

......

.......

It was early in the morning and General Kim had privately asked every available pilot to come to HQ. Except for General Bergman.

The squadron commanders of the task force including me had done their part to avoid getting found out. Using the factor of him being an American, Dubois is the lead organizer under a secret order from General Kim. In fact, we'd even managed to reach Kevin Dunbar by video call, ready to listen to his analysis that might give us clue about Bergman's true colors.

No one was sure what the meeting was for, just that it was obviously important for everyone that would be flying. Looking around the room, I then stood at the front, beside Dubois, Kim, and the 808's AWACS operators including Gandiwa. Colonel Sahilatua, the base commander hadn't joined us yet, and everyone had realized that somehow Bergman had been keeping him out of the picture as much as possible.

As a US Air Force technical sergeant was setting our secured call to a secret location somewhere in the US, I looked on the door and to the American colonel. He asked me.

"Any news on Colonel Sahilatua, Wise?"

I hesitated, but the Yank had probably figured out the answer already, and frowned. And I know everyone felt disturbed when the base commander was absent.

"Is there any reason why he's been hiding off in his office, or is he just trying to keep a low profile?" He asked again. This time, Japanese 205th TFS commander Colonel Takayama answered him.

"We figured that bringing everyone here without getting General Bergman's attention, including General Kim here, was tricky enough as it was and bringing Colonel Sahilatua as well as General Bannister would only raise more suspicion than we'd already be facing," she replied, offering a reassuring smile.

"Takayama is correct" It's Colonel Kurniasih. "I spoke with the colonel, and he said that he's alright with sitting back and focusing on a bit of paperwork. He as well as Gen.

Bannister had considered getting in touch with someone to try and warn them about Bergman, but so far he and some others had just been looking into active PMCs for clues, to track down those SOBs that engaged us, and any company with such nefarious plan will surely be protected by a web of shell companies who owned it and other opaque ownership schemes of theirs. Furthermore, most known PMCs with warplanes are mostly serving in a training capacity and international law proscribed them from acquiring aerial ordnances for obvious reasons; Draken International, Airborne Tactical Advantages, Air USA, you name it..."

"However he's not completely off the hook yet, he is doing his part behind the scene so we can keep Bergman off our backs for a little while."

Kim took over, making sure that all necessary security procedures were in place and engaged, including sound absorbers before kicked off the meeting.

"May I have your attention?"

He looked at us, most of them showed curiosity. Knowing that at least we were all happy for now. No telling how bad things could get, though. Kim sighed and said again. "First things first... We have a significant hint that someone inside this task force is going to sell us out. In short, there is a traitor running loose."

One of the 808's AWACS operators, Major Touko Nishimiya, callsign "Hanazawa" spoke up next. "That's what I said. However, Colonel Hutapea knows Colonel Sahilatua's true allegiance to his country and this alliance."

"Correct. I had yet seen any sign of him involved in this mess called 'a rogue squadron' However... I did think that Colonel Sahilatua had less wit and guts to deal with the politics, though." Especially in the war, this scale with loyalties is often questioned, left, and right, with more intensity than the short but bloody Indonesian Civil War, or in the official historiography was included as a part of a greater process called "The Great Reset" resulted in the Fourth Republic.

"The only person that we should keep our eyes open on would probably be once again, General Bergman," Dubois answered, focusing more on the laptop screen than he was on the conversation. With one last click, he finally stood back and looked to the larger screen on the wall.

"We'll get to the bottom of this. Now, that should do it. Kevin is now ready... and the call's going through, so provided everything connects like it's supposed to then we shouldn't run into any issues." Dubois turned slightly to get a clear view of the others, only for General Kim to raise the attention again.

The conversation among the rest of the TF 808 pilots all died down, although Red Cap rolled his eyes at the order. He didn't try and argue, though, and everyone's attention turned to the screen as Kevin answered their call.

The face of the CIA analyst showed up on their screen, appearing a bit pixelated at first before the feed cleared up and everyone was able to see him clearly. "Ah, I see everyone's here. Thank God!" he said, in a surprisingly chipper tone for how early it was in the continental United States. "I wanted to speak with you all without the presence of a certain general. Initially, the Agency is worried that he might be involved with the UCC. However, after some more digging, I did find some other things that indicated he's not with the UCC... but he has his own agenda with some other people inside this alliance. I can't say anything for certain, but I do want to talk with you about a few other things."

......

"Now we're talking, are you are trying to quiz us or something else?" Charge asked, raising an eyebrow. He had a playful smirk in an effort to break the ice somehow.

Kevin smiled at this, sheepishly answering her. "Well, it depends, really. We'll see how the conversation goes." He looked away from them and typed something into his own computer before turning back to them.

"I've sent over some data I've put together, along with a recording of a transmission some of our allies received while your friend was retreating from the combat area after taking few losses... We believe that its Squadron Commander, which we had just found out, is this man by the name of Colonel Aschberg, an active duty US Marine Aviator, might have intended for the entire task force but especially the Thunders, to hear this, but they didn't pick it up. However, AWACS Union had captured it. I spent the last few days trying to clean up as much of the interferences and encryption as I could, so it's a lot easier to hear him."

We watched as Major Dawie Uys, callsign Union, took over the keyboard and clicking a few times before an ID photo of Aschberg appeared on the screen.

The sound-proofed room was filled by the voice of the Marine officer... "This is a good part to make our presence known by those globalist dogs... and we'll surely be back, much stronger than before. Get ready for more surprises..."

Everyone looked a bit startled and thoughtful as the message and it took a couple of moments before anyone finally spoke up, a Luftwaffe pilot named Wolfgang Krueger, ranked Major. "Sounds a bit weird to me. The UCC made our troops on the ground to pay a high price every single strip of land we have taken lately, but this one, it's a way different game... What are those people planning, anyway? This is more like radical leftists back in the homeland..." as the German is looking at the screen with his brow furrowed. The gears were obviously turning in his head as he tried to work out some theories and answer his own question, but he wasn't fast enough. If he was, then he kept it to himself as everyone else began to ask their own questions. Including me, even with the fact I already figured out what those rogue pilots true allegiances are.

Kevin continued. "I also captured another message, but this is more personal in nature, from another pilot present in the squadron..."

The message said, "Still there, Wise? One day we will meet again." I clenched my fist, knowing that the only man who can say that is Captain Maulana.

"...It's clear that we had an inside threat to our cause. There are a number of UNC officers, including pilots, who had gone rogue, both from the Grand Alliance and the Pact. Our civilian leadership had kept this development tightly from the public eye... These officers want to fight the UCC in their own way but as we see from this message..." said Kevin. "... they had their own agenda that is unprecedented and it definitely is global in nature. The previous attacks against our combat satellites and various cyberattacks, then this rogue squadron, were only a warm-up. Everyone can be their target, and their basis for this anti-establishment ideology was already there before the crisis in 2020 and 2030s... However, we're helped by the fact that their manifesto is basically open for everyone. The Global Revolutionary Alliance Manifesto by Alexander Dugin. That proposed alliance is the basis of the name of this movement, the Global Revolutionary Movement, or GRM. I dare to say that the Russians are having a philosophy of theirs blown back on them, and the entire world as the result."

I raised my hands. "Lieutenant Colonel Hutapea requesting permission to speak."

"Cleared to speak, Colonel Hutapea," said General Kim to me, and I stood up.

"This quotation of that manifesto might help us to begin knowing their method. Thence, the revolution of the XXI century must be truly planetary and plural in its ultimate goals. All nations of the earth must revolt against existing world order jointly and severally, teamwise, but in the name of different ideals and to approve different normative in reality. To have future, we must conceive it as a complex bouquet of opportunities, the realization of which is being prevented by the current world system and the global oligarchy. If we don't crush it all together in the name of different purposes and different horizons, we won't get nor bouquet, nor any other future, nor more of other futures. Let each society fight for its own design of the future. Revolution of the XXI century will be successful only if within its framework all nations will fight against the common enemy in the name of different goals."

"Great figure, Colonel Hutapea." exclaimed the CIA analyst. "The GRM had deliberately avoided a centralized structure and acceptance of all spectrum of politics to confuse its opponents on who're pulling the strings."

"By the way, back to the message from Aschberg... has the US military made any statement pertaining to this movement?" Evy asked all present in the room. Everyone looked as if they were trying to make sense of the speech. It was vague but definitely threatening.

General Kim replied to her. "Actually the US military high command and other allied states in the Grand Alliance did refer to a string of officers and enlisted ranks going AWOL, especially after two US Army officers were being investigated in a conspiracy to mutiny and insurrection, mostly in cyberspace, manipulating racial divisions. People are scrambling for evidence, with many scenarios here are possible..." Kevin pressed a few buttons on his computer and the horrified officers of the 808 were shown, on the projection, the Washington DC being hit by a kinetic rod strike, cyber attack on stock markets across the globe, and important financial institutions, definitely designed to cripple the financial system in the larger scale than 1930s Great Depression and series of recessions in early 2000s, especially the 2020 Second Long Recession induced by COVID-19.

"Pro gold standard folks that I know on the net won't even agree on this kind of violent insurrection, despite their strong support to the 5th Amendment of Indonesian constitution, much more for those overseas, fellow brothers and sisters in faith, especially Americans." I muttered as I looked at the scene of massed riots on several world cities which ensued after the cyber-attack engineered financial crash showed on the film.

The AI-assisted, awfully realistic, computer simulation continues for a few minutes, showing more anarchy worldwide generated by various factors linked to the movement. Much worse, it shows clearly that even the GRM is willing to partner with Islamists, in this case, Shiite Iranian revolutionary variant, to the consternation of European Community officers in the room.

"How about the Pact, General?" asked a Filipino pilot, Major Bernard Hotchkiss, not long after the simulation ended.

"They are much more silent on this matter, with only the Russians who hinted on a group of 'disloyal troops unrelated to the UCC' on their ranks."

"That's correct General," confirmed Kevin, still focused on the camera.

"And finally, what the UCC say about this?" asked an Indian pilot. "We all know that the public face of their war effort is their war minister, but I dare to say that they are close to well, reduced to insurgents, with their division... A larger insurgency is up ahead."

"Indeed" answered Kevin on his screen "Publicly, Minister al-Husayni has basically pulled himself out from direct visit on the remaining UCC forces and his addresses nowadays are online ones. Especially with he publicly acknowledged divisions between their military including within the elite Quds Legion. The Grand Vizier went public to say that al-Husayni is in need of 'rest' because of 'health reason'."

"The CIA had confirmed that he's actually under house arrest. He's as charismatic as Grand Mufti Omar, popular with the troops, and either he realized he have been used as a pawn or he wants to exploit the opportunity to seek power for himself. And to prevent that, the Caliph took action. Before I forget, our intel so far leads to a second scenario."

We left the room with more questions and were greatly disturbed by the anti-Western idea of the movement, but a sense of closure for us to know who is our not-so-new enemy, which means a three-pronged war.

"Honestly there are some of their points which are legit... but this is... a planned genocide not much different than the UCC." It's what I told Evy as I called her that night for a private chat, as lovers, not officers. "This is not a time to love our enemies, it's judgement time, without mercy. Just like what we do back in motherland to finally get rid of those desert monkeys."

"Colonel!"

I found myself in a mix of feelings right now, a mix of anger, eagerness to fight, but also... a little regret of what I had just said. I am about to blow up, but miraculously I managed to reply at her.

"Evy..." I croaked. "Just tell me what are you thinking. It's just two of us."

"I can understand your desire, your love, but also the hate to what they had done..." she openly broke the hierarchy of rank to embrace me. The usual soothing aura of hers enveloped me. "You are a good commander of all of us, but you should slow down and breath deep, as you cannot fight with a clouded mind. And you can always be better in looking at our enemies as human beings worthy of respect, just like you always preached to us and also in many times you did it well."

"It's okay for a leader to cry, remember that."

So I embraced her and let my tears out for a little while. I admit, Evy is just like my parents, always understanding and always ready to make me feel comfortable especially when I was still a kid and in not so rare occasion, I am so lost in my feelings.

War is hell, and for people like me, it's many times hotter.

......